South Africa: R131bn COP26 financing not meant for Eskom debt

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan says the R131 billion COP26 climate financing to help SA transition from coal to low-carbon energy has nothing to do with covering Eskom debt.

Gordhan said this when Ministers in the Economics cluster responded to oral questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

This finance is not for the debt of Eskom. This finance is for the transition project itself that was announced between several developed countries and our President Cyril Ramaphosa at the beginning of COP26. But let me clarify, this is an offer from the developed countries, it is not a deal.

IFP MP Elphas Buthelezi had asked what the plans were for the climate change financing that was recently announced in Glascow during climate change negotiations.

Gordhan said one of the issues at COP26 that were quite sharply debated was who would finance the transition to lower carbon energy.

He said in South Africas case, 41% of the countrys emissions actually come from electricity production and therefore, on the one hand, we have got to prepare for the transitioning of Eskom and other such equipment or facilities that we have at a national level to a more climate friendly and decarbonised state.

He said South Africa put forward three projects for consideration for those who would be interested in financing the transition, which in the main, has to be the developed countries, through or with multilateral financial and other institutions.

And those three projects were the Eskom just energy transition project, secondly the green hydrogen project and thirdly, transitioning SAs automobile industry to the production of electric vehicles, he said.

Gordhan said the just energy transition is a project that Eskom has developed at the Komati power station and once it gets the appropriate backing - financially speaking - it would have an important impact in terms of repurposing the power station, retraining workers who are currently employed at the power station and preparing new workers into the new energy situation that we would be moving to while mitigating the impact on communities that are in some relationship with the power station or the coalmines themselves.

He said negotiations will now take place at a technical level to appreciate whether these offers will be compatible with SAs financial requirements and capabilities.

The Eskom debt issue as we know has been very much with us. But let me emphasise that this financing has nothing to do with Eskom debt.

Secondly, the Eskom debt was accumulated because a decision was made by previous governments to finance the development of Medupi and Kusile through the tariff applications to Nersa and not by any equity injections. Thirdly, there are various proposals that we will consider together with the National Treasury and other stakeholders how the Eskom debt should be dealt with and clearly, among the role-players that have to take part in this process will be government itself, the PIC

What we will have soon is a pro-forma balance sheet of a new Eskom with a different distribution of debt with the acceptance and buy in of the lenders that have lent money to Eskom.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Northern Cape police pounce on R1m drug lab

The polices war on drugs produced positive results this week when detectives from the Northern Cape Organized Crime Unit confiscated drugs worth approximately R1 million when they pounced on an alleged drug laboratory in Kimberley.

In a statement, the Northern Cape SAPS said the team, which was assisted by the SAPS Multi Dimension Organised Crime unit, arrested a 43-year-old male for dealing and manufacturing the suspected drugs.

The house was raided at midday on Wednesday in Carters Glen.

Provincial SAPS spokesperson, Captain Sergio Kock, said police confiscated equipment and utensils used in the manufacturing process. These included pots, scales, spoons, ovens, and an assortment of chemicals allegedly utilised for the manufacturing of drugs.

He said refuse bags filled with suspected cocaine, tik and kat were seized.

The house was raided at midday on Wednesday in Carters Glen.

The Frances Baard District Commissioner, Major General Johan Bean, commended the members for the huge breakthrough and reiterated that we will keep on squeezing the space for criminals to operate, as drugs will be one of the focus areas this festive season.

Meanwhile, the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Gauteng on Tuesday granted an alleged fraudster R10 000 bail for their alleged involvement in their employers missing R4 million.

It was alleged that between September 2019 and August 2021, Newtowns First National Bank (FNB) Operations Manager, Zandile Sibiya (39), fraudulently processed forex payments through the International Banking Centre System and transferred approximately R4 million into her own bank account.

Through FNBs forensic analysis, the matter was referred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation at the Johannesburg office for further investigation, said Hawks provincial spokesperson, Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.

She said an extensive investigation led to a warrant of arrest issued for Sibiyas apprehension.

The Ormonde resident handed herself in, accompanied by her legal representative and the investigation team subsequently charged her with fraud.

She appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on the same day and was released on bail with no conditions.

The case was postponed to 18 January 2022 for docket disclosure. - SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Temporary load shedding reprieve

Eskom says it expects to lift load shedding from 9pm this evening with the utility moving to implement Stage 1 on Friday morning.

This was announced by Eskom Chief Executive Andre de Ruyter.

He said several generating units at the power utility's power stations have returned to service over night with more expected to return at a later stage.

Dam and diesel levels have also been recovered.

However, de Ruyter warned that the lifting of load shedding will depend on the utilitys ability to prevent any unplanned breakdowns.

Peak demand for evening peak is anticipated to come in at 27 908MW...with load shedding Stage Two [currently implemented], that will give us adequate supply. We will lift load shedding[but] this is subject to the units returning that we have indicated [including] Matimba 2, Matla 6 and Tutuka 4, he said.

Addressing the loss of at least three generating units at Matimba power station yesterday, de Ruyter explained that the trip was caused by workers at the plant.

A team had been working on the ACC fans  the cooling fans that provide cooling to the station  [and] this team managed to drop an extensive cord onto the unit two transformer, a flash resulted which tripped the station board and shutdown all coolingand that led to those units shutting down, he said.

The Chief Executive said the utility will be investigating the incident.

We have difficulty believing that this is entirely coincidental so we have despatched a forensic team on site; they will be investigating. We will also be deploying additional security on site in order to ensure that we can protect our asset

My fundamental point of departure has always been not to attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence. But when you have three simultaneous unit trips like this, it certainly does arouse suspicion. We have no hard evidence at this point in time but it certainly is coincidental that this incident has taken place right now, he said.

De Ruyter revealed that yesterday evening, Eskoms most reliable power station, Lethabo, suffered damage to one of its two coal conveyor lines which feeds the power station.

At around 6pm, so immediately before evening peak, one of the towers collapsed in such a way that it fell onto theline and thereby rendering both those lines inoperable. Again, we are investigating.

The consequences of this disruption would have been that after about six hours, Lethabo would have run out of coal and therefore, have had to shut down, he said.

De Ruyter said Eskoms distribution management, a third coal supply line was devised to feed the power station.

He added that the utility is now investigating the transportation of coal to power stations.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: NSFAS eligibility criteria consultations underway

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is currently holding stakeholder consultations on the proposed eligibility criteria and conditions for financial aid to be effective from the 2022 academic year.

Some transitional arrangements, NSFAS said, would be implemented in 2023.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the entity noted that NSFAS Act 56 of 1999 mandates the Board to develop criteria and conditions for the granting of bursaries to eligible students, in consultation with Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister, amongst other provisions.

The Board believes that for NSFAS to be an effective and efficient provider of financial aid in a sustainable and responsive manner, all stakeholders must be engaged. It is for this reason that for the first time ever, NSFAS is consulting all the relevant stakeholders on the proposed funding guidelines.

The stakeholders that are being consulted include the student leadership, university vice-chancellors, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college principals, some spheres of government and others.

All the inputs of these stakeholders will be considered in the final document that will be presented to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation for consideration, NSFAS said.

NSFAS said under normal circumstances, it would not have communicated to the public until the consultative process has been concluded and Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister having applied his mind on the proposed reforms.

The entity said, however, that the current consultation process that is underway for the proposed 2022 policy changes, has not been concluded.

More stakeholders in the higher education sector are being consulted [and] all stakeholders are given an opportunity to make inputs, and the process is on-going. All inputs will be considered, and recommendations will be made to the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation.

Proposed 75% progression rule

Explaining the proposed 75% progression rule, which was reported in the media early this week, the entity said the proposed policy is aimed at encouraging students to pass their courses and/or modules, and just with the pass mark.

The proposed policy, if implemented, would only apply as of the 2023 academic year, and would not be applied to students who entered higher education for the first time, also referred to as FTEN students. This is in recognition of the transition that many students make from high school to university.

It should be noted that NSFAS funds students that would not otherwise be able to access higher education to ensure that they qualify and ultimately contribute to the economy.

Therefore, this progression criteria is aimed at ensuring that students complete their qualifications within the allowable timeframe to ensure return on investment and to provide more opportunities to deserving students, NSFAS said.

It said all other matters contained in the proposed funding guidelines, including student accommodation, are subject to consultative processes.

All these policy considerations are aimed at ensuring sustainability of the scheme and for the well-being of students, to ensure that they succeed.

In this instance, the entity has the South African Union of Students on the proposed guidelines and as the entity, we are awaiting their submission, NSFAS said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: SARS studying tax information release court ruling

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is considering its next course of action after the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg ordered that the revenue collector release former president Jacob Zumas tax information.

In a statement, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the Service had noted the judgment. The matter was brought by media house, Arena Holdings, and investigative unit, Amabhungane.

Kieswetter said the matter of taxpayer confidentially was not about a particular individual, but what tax authorities around the world regard as an essential principle of trust between themselves and their taxpaying public.

It is also central to our strategic intent to achieve voluntary compliance. Taxpayers need to be assured that SARS will not simply disclose the information they have in good faith, and as required in law, disclosed to us, he said.

SARS original decision to oppose the application, Kieswetter said, was taken based entirely upon these principles.

He said the issues were undoubtedly important to him as SARS Commissioner, the SARS institution, and to the general public. This, Kieswetter said, was evident in the extensive affidavits that the revenue collector filed before the hearing in the High Court opposing the relief sought.

It is also important to note that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development both opposed the application for access to a taxpayers confidential tax information.

I have noted the numerous commentary on the judgment, both in the formal media and upon social platforms, and I fully understand that the media, tax and legal professionals, and as well as taxpayers are eager to understand what SARS' position is and what our intentions are.

"I wish to assure the community that the judgment, and SARS' options, are currently being fully deliberated and considered. Once these deliberations are concluded, a final decision will be made, and I give the assurance that we will engage again once this decision is made.

SARS assured taxpayers, traders and tax professionals that the tax confidentiality provisions, as contained in the relevant legislation, remain binding on SARS and all SARS staff, and that any unauthorised disclosure of confidential taxpayer information remains a criminal offence.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: President hails Nation Orders recipients as champions

Champions of freedom, peace, human rights, social justice and equality is how President Cyril Ramaphosa described the recipients of this years National Orders.

The President was speaking at an award ceremony to honour esteemed South Africans and eminent foreign nationals at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Thursday.

National Orders are the highest awards that a country, through its President, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals.

President Ramaphosa said that recipients of the National Orders have honoured and upheld the values which combined represent the highest ideals of humanity.

Through these national orders, we recognise many outstanding individuals who defied great odds and made immense sacrifices not only for us to attain freedom, but so that such freedom is meaningful, he said.

The President conferred the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the Order of Ikhamanga, the Order of the Baobab, the Order of Luthuli and the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.

Conferring the Order of Mendi for Bravery, the President said that the awards of this Order are made to South Africans who have performed acts of bravery, often putting their lives in great danger or losing their lives in their efforts to save others.

The awards are made to people who, in the most exceptional manner possible, have placed the lives of their fellow men and women above any risk that they themselves faced, he said.

Conferring the Order of Ikhamanga, which is awarded to South Africans who have excelled in the field of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport, the president said that this is awarded to some of our countrys most dedicated and outstanding athletes, to musicians whose brought us comfort and hope during the darkest days of apartheid.



We confer it on the artists who make our democracy enjoyable and who remain the conscience of the nation, reminding us through their works to fulfil, and not betray, the promise of freedom. These are the people who use their tremendous talent not only to entertain, provoke and inspire, but to strive for a better, more just and humane society, he said.



The Order of the Baobab is awarded to South African citizens for distinguished service in the fields of business and the economy, science, medicine, and for technological innovation and community service.



The President said that these people, some of whom are unfortunately no longer with us are pioneers who laid the path along which others would follow.



We honour those who worked from the ashes of apartheid to build a new society in which the economy is truly inclusive and the countrys wealth is shared among all its people. These are people who challenge prejudice, who fight for people living with disabilities and for all those who are marginalised because of nothing other than the circumstances of their birth, he said.

The Order of Luthuli is awarded to South Africans who have served the interests of South Africa by making a meaningful contribution in the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice, peace and conflict resolution.



These are the peacemakers, who walk into battle armed only with the conviction that there is no dispute too great or complex that it cannot be resolved peacefully through dialogue. They are the jurists who believe in transformative constitutionalism.

"They see the purpose of law to be the pursuit of justice in the interests of the dispossessed, the injured, the wronged and the vulnerable. They are the women and men who confront oppression and exploitation wherever they manifest, the President said.

Speaking on the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo, President Ramaphosa said that the country honours these remarkable human beings who stood alongside the countrys people, at home and in exile, who provided material and other assistance to students, activists and combatants.

In doing so, we express our sincere and eternal gratitude to them for joining a struggle that was not theirs, in a land far from their own, and for giving so much, for so long, to so many, he said.

President Ramaphosa congratulated all the recipients who were honoured today and further said this is a roll call of heroes and heroines, of people who have been prepared to devote their talent, their energy, their lives to the affirmation and the advancement of others.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: Government to prioritise fixing services in dysfunctional municipalities

From sewer flowing in the streets to dry taps and poor roads, these are the urgent challenges that Deputy President David Mabuza says the three spheres of government will prioritise, among others, in 64 dysfunctional municipalities once councils have elected their leadership.

Responding to questions from provincial delegates at the National Council of Provinces, the Deputy President said the 64 municipalities, which are named in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) 2021 State of Local Government Report will be prioritised to ensure that service delivery is addressed and that the dignity of the people is restored.

We are going to focus our attention mainly on the 64 municipalities as identified by CoGTA. Of course that does not mean that we will turn a blind eye to all the municipalities that are struggling, he said.

The Deputy President said government would utilise the district development model as a platform where national, provincial and local governments can meet and plan together.

The situation where our people live is very dire. We saw sewer running in the streets. We saw taps that are dry, there is no water. There are no roads. So our people are yearning for services.

We are waiting for these municipal councils to confirm the leadership of these municipalities so that we can start to hit the road and attend to [the] ailing infrastructure that continue to disrupt services meant for our people.

This we are going to do working together as the three spheres of government, he said.

The Deputy President said all municipalities remain a priority in meeting peoples basic needs.

He said access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity and basic refuse removal is what makes peoples living spaces liveable. Governments rapid response measures aim to address in good time any emerging challenges at municipal level to prevent the collapse of services to the people, he said.

Some of the areas that require improvement are on leadership capacity, managerial capacity, technical, project execution - especially in infrastructure projects and financial management skills, to ensure the sustainability of all municipalities.

Some of the challenges and weaknesses are well documented by the Auditor-General. For instance, in the report of the municipal audit outcomes presented in July 2021, the AG confirmed the audit results of the outgoing administration showed little improvement.

He said the 2021 state of local government report highlighted the fact that 64 municipalities are dysfunctional and that they need urgent support. Mabuza also said that the municipalities are characterised by infighting, poor weak decision making, performance, revenue collection, among others.

In this regard, the Deputy President said CoGTA and the National Treasury are working in collaboration with other sector departments, as well as the SA Local Government Association (SALGA) to develop implementation plans to address the issues identified in the report.

One of the critical areas needing prioritisation is the network infrastructure investment and maintenance, especially fixing the water and sanitation infrastructure.

The Deputy President called on Parliament to prioritise support and to improve its oversight function on local government affairs. He also said government and Parliament should work together to ensure that municipalities have political stability and focus on people-centred service delivery.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: The best of HK yet to come: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam

It gives me great pleasure to join this signature webinar organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) as well as by the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. As Peter has told you, because of the COVID-19 situation, we could not be physically in London to enjoy the annual dinner of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in London, which has been organised for several decades before and after Hong Kong's reunification with the Mainland of China. I still remember when I attended the TDC dinner in London for the first time in my capacity as the Chief Executive and that was September 2017, the theme of my speech, which was also supplemented by a four-minute video screened for the first time during that occasion, was "the best of Hong Kong is yet to come". I thought that was quite well-received by the guests at the dinner and also subsequently when we showed this video on other occasions. More than four years have gone by and today, you have to forgive me, I am going to convey the same message that the best of Hong Kong is yet to come. But on this occasion, I am conveying that message to you with more certainty, more confidence, and more optimism. In the next few minutes, I will try to give you the reasons for my confidence and optimism in a very succinct manner because I have only a few minutes to tell you about this very lengthy journey that Hong Kong has gone through since my last attendance at the Hong Kong TDC dinner in London.

The first reason for my confidence and optimism, which will underline Hong Kong's continued success, is "one country, two systems". Hong Kong is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China. Our audience and our friends in the United Kingdom should know better than most other people in other parts of the world about the importance of "one country, two systems", which has underlined Hong Kong's success in the last 24 years. "One country, two systems" being such an innovative concept and Hong Kong being such a free and internationally connected society, we did experience problems along the way. But now, we are back on the right track of "one country, two systems" as a result of two very decisive decisions and actions taken by the central authorities in response to the unprecedented challenges that Hong Kong has encountered in the latter half of 2019 - the global COVID-19 situation has given us other challenges. These two important decisions are the enactment and implementation of the National Security Law on June 30 last year and the decision to amend Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the Basic Law to improve Hong Kong's electoral system in order to ensure that it will be "patriots administering Hong Kong".

By now, I suppose many of you are quite familiar with the provisions in the National Security Law, and have heard and read about the enhancements to the electoral system, because under this improvement we have already had one round of public election - the election of the 1,500-member Election Committee, which is now far more broadly representative. In less than four weeks' time, on December 19, we will have the seventh-term Legislative Council Election and then on March 27 next year, it will be the election of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In case you have read something negative about these important decisions, let me clarify that once and for all. The National Security Law is not draconian at all, as described by some of the western media. We have done a very detailed comparison of the National Security Law that Hong Kong has with those adopted in other parts of the world, including the United States, the UK, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. And ours, I would say, is not draconian at all, and at the end of the day, this piece of legislation only targets four very well-defined offences undermining national security. Now that we have implemented this law in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong authorities - the investigation is done by the Hong Kong Police, prosecution by Hong Kongs Department of Justice and trial by the Hong Kong courts - after almost one and a half years, it is for all to see that the National Security Law has not stifled any rights and freedoms of individuals in Hong Kong. Quite on the contrary, it has protected and safeguarded the rights and freedoms of the great, great majority of the Hong Kong people so that they now feel at ease and very safe to go out to travel on the Mass Transit Railway and also to speak their mind about the issues that they have a particular view. Indeed, under the National Security Law, Article 4 specifically provides for the safeguarding of human rights and freedoms as enshrined in our Bill of Rights Ordinance and also in the international covenants as applied to Hong Kong.

Coming to the improvements to the electoral system, the only purpose is to ensure that Hong Kong, being a part of China, is going to be administered by people who are patriotic to the nation. That is not a very ambitious or very unreasonable requirement. I am sure all over the world, one would like to see their parliamentarians being people who are patriotic to the nation, who are prepared to swear allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and to uphold the Basic Law of Hong Kong and Hong Kong being a part of the People's Republic of China. And what is more, we have been telling people and I am sure in time to come it will be proven, once the new Legislative Council assumes office, that it is not a "yes" chamber. We are not expecting the 90 members of our Legislative Council to be all pro-government, that they will not object to any government policies or initiatives, that they will always vote "yes" whenever there is a government proposal. That will not be the case. I am sure the 90 members coming from a broad-based electorate will make sure that they are serving the best interests of Hong Kong and the executive led by the Chief Executive will certainly work with the legislature.

So that would be the basis of my confidence and optimism. That is where we could be very certain that as Hong Kong moves forward, we will continue to enjoy the benefits and privileges under "one country, two systems", because the paramount concept of "one country" is now being safeguarded. Hong Kong will no longer be a gaping hole for external forces or for the anti-China elements to undermine national security through all sorts of activities in Hong Kong. And we will have a reasonably sensible and pragmatic Legislative Council to work with the executive in order to take forward many of the policy priorities and measures to improve the business environment that we want to introduce.

The second reason for my optimism is, again despite all the things that you have read and heard from the western media, Hong Kong's traditional strengths and Hong Kong's core values have not been undermined. If any, they have been strengthened - as I have mentioned about law and order, safety and so on. Hong Kong's strengths and core values - I know them very well, you know them very well - they are the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the freedoms and the rights, as well as our international connectivity and the robust regulatory regime in the financial systems and in other areas, which are not interfered by the Government. Coming to the rule of law, again to the UK audience, the best evidence lies in our continued privilege to have illustrious judges in the UK serving on the Court of Final Appeal (CFA). Next Monday, I am going to administer the swearing-in ceremony of the Right Honourable Lord Hodge, who has accepted my appointment to sit on the Court of Final Appeal. Actually, his appointment took place after the National Security Law was in place. That is very good evidence that - I am not saying that CFA judges are pro-Hong Kong SAR Government - they have confidence in the independence of our judicial system that it will not be interfered by the Government or by the Central People's Government, and hence they are willing to be associated with our Court of Final Appeal. And of course, other CFA judges from overseas common law jurisdictions have accepted my re-appointment in the last 12 months or so.

Talking about the financial system, Hong Kong is a very important international financial centre but there is always room to enhance our role as an international financial centre. In the last few years, we had the Insurance Authority coming into place to regulate insurance companies in Hong Kong. We have recently enacted a piece of legislation to move on to full-fledged regulation of professional accountants in Hong Kong by the Financial Reporting Council. This will really put Hong Kong on par with international standards all over the world.

I can continue to quote to you a lot of indicators which prove the point that I have made that Hong Kong's competitive strengths have not been eroded. For example, we are still ranked as the world's freest economy by the Fraser Institute this year. We have regained the world's number three as a global financial centre, which we have lost in the last two years, but now this year the latest index gave us back the world's number three, after New York and London. And we are the sixth-largest trading economy in the world and in terms of foreign direct investment, both inflow and outflow, we are the world's number three and number four. All these indicators show that nothing that I am proud of and that you attach importance to has changed or been undermined in the last two years as a result of the National Security Law or other things that have happened in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a very important stock market - we are the world's fifth largest. What is exciting is the changes that we have made to the listing regime in 2018. As a result, we are seeing more new tech companies. We are the world's number two in terms of biotech listing, and we are welcoming back a lot of Mainland enterprises which are seeking secondary listing in Hong Kong. To me, because my Government attaches importance not only to the traditional economy, but also to new areas like innovation and technology, and art and culture, I am very pleased to share with you that as a result of the things that we have done, we are now ranked as the world's number two, after only the US in terms of digital competitiveness by the Institute of Management Development in Switzerland. And in terms of culture, Hong Kong was the world's number two in terms of art auction value last year, after New York.

All these wonderful things have given me the confidence that as we move forward, we should definitely be doing better because of the third factor. The third factor is the continuous, staunch support from the Central People's Government. This year was the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan of our nation, which was promulgated in March this year. And as usual, there is dedicated reference to Hong Kong in the 14th Five-Year Plan along with Macau, but this year we have been given far more than we have seen in the last two Five-Year Plans. In addition to supporting Hong Kong to continue to enhance and strengthen our role as an international finance, trading, transport and legal hub, for the first time, we have got reference in the national plan to the development of an international innovation and technology centre, an East-meets-West cultural exchange hub, an IP trading hub in Asia-Pacific and an international aviation centre, as we will shortly welcome the third runway and the third runway system in the Hong Kong International Airport. On top of that, we have been implementing for two years already the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which provides abundant opportunities with an economy which is bigger than the whole of Australia or the whole of Korea, and with a growing population now already amounting to 85 million people. The nation's support really goes beyond just finance, trade and technology. Shortly after the Tokyo Olympic Games, when our athletes have done so well and after they have attended the National Games in Xi'an, the central government has endorsed that Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong will co-organise the 15th National Games in 2025.

Let me finish by saying the fourth factor which has a lot to do with myself as the Chief Executive. I am coming to the end of my five-year term. In the last four and a half years, I have been advocating a proactive government, especially because the Hong Kong SAR Government used to be preaching "small government" and non-intervention. The time has come - I said four years ago - for us to be far more proactive in order to strengthen our international competitiveness. We have adopted many, many policy initiatives in quite a range of areas, particularly in innovation and technology, investing over $130 billion in the past four years, rolling out a lot of tax measures, and also legislation to support Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre, particularly in asset and wealth management. Because we know that there is a lot of wealth in Asia, that is why you need to look at and realise these opportunities. Year-on-year, in 2020, we have seen a 20% increase in assets under management in Hong Kong. This is bound to grow with the launching of the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in September this year.

That is where I want to end. On this occasion, four years and two months after my last attendance in the London TDC dinner, I am still preaching the same thing, that is: the best of Hong Kong is yet to come. But on this occasion, Hong Kong's future is grounded in a very solid foundation. I welcome you to come and discover and realise the many new opportunities in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the Discovering & Realising New Opportunities in Asia webinar on November 18.

This story has been published on: 2021-11-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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by Melani Manel Perera

For two days, police have questioned Fr Cyril Gamini Fernando, a member of a committee representing victims, after he accused the intelligence services of failing to follow certain leads in connection with the 2019 massacres.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday massacres shows no progress; yet the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been questioning Fr Cyril Gamini Fernando for days on end. Today, he refused to be questioned for a third consecutive day.

The clergyman is a member of the National Catholic Committee for Justice to Easter Sunday Attack Victims, a group set up in the wake of a series of attacks against three churches and four hotels on Easter Sunday in 2019 that left 280 people dead and more than 600 wounded.

At an online forum on 23 October, Fr Gamini said that intelligence operatives had provided assistance to Zahran Hashim, the leader of the National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ), a movement blamed for the attacks.

Major General Suresh Sallay, director of the State Intelligence Service (SIS), branded the claim as false, and filed a complaint against the priest two days later.

For his part, Fr Cyril noted that Former Attorney General Dapula de Livera made a very serious statement about a grand conspiracy behind the Easter attack. Yet, neither the CID nor the police have taken any statement from him so far.

What is more, no one has acted upon the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, nor has any victim be questioned.

Two and a half years have already gone by without the truth being revealed, Fr Cyril laments. Behaving like this is completely unjust.
Vietnam commemorates Covid-19 victims

A requiem was held in HCM City on Thursday to commemorate those who died from Covid-19.



A requiem was held in HCM City to commemorate people who died from Covid-19 on November 18.





The event was organised by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in HCM City at the Vietnam Quoc Tu Pagoda in District 10.







The requiem saw the attendance of Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, First Deputy Patriarch of the Patronage Council of the VBS, To Thi Bich Chau Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of HCM City, representatives from the people's committees of the city and districts, and family members of the deceased Covid-19 patients.













Monks recited sutras and made offerings to the victims.



Authorities in HCM City have set up teams to receive and handle corpses and burials, cremations, transportation and delivery of the dead Covid-19 patients ashes to their families.



On November 19, various ceremonies will be held simultaneously in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to commemorate the people who lost their lives to Covid-19.



Candle lighting rituals will also be performed in Thu Duc City and all districts of HCM City to pay tribute to victims in the pandemic. All religious establishments in the city will ring bells and vessels at ports will blow their horns.



The city asks residents to turn off lights and light candles in memory of the deceased at the same moment.



Meanwhile, districts located along Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe and Tau Hu-Ben Nghe canals will release coloured lanterns at 8:35 pm the same day.



The fourth and biggest Covid-19 wave that started in late April has claimed more than 23,300 lives in Vietnam, including over 17,000 in HCM City.
Deals worth over 1 bln USD inked during China-LAC business summit

Xinhua) 16:59, November 17, 2021

CHONGQING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Deals worth nearly 1.1 billion U.S. dollars were signed during the 14th China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Business Summit held in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The two-day summit that concluded Wednesday saw the inking of 18 cooperation agreements including eight deals between Chinese and Latin American companies covering fields of animal husbandry, minerals, automobiles and medical equipment.

China is the second-largest trading partner of the LAC region, and the annual bilateral trade volume has exceeded 300 billion U.S. dollars for three consecutive years. The LAC region is also the second-largest destination for China's outbound investment, with more than 2,700 China-funded enterprises operating in Latin America and the Caribbean.

First held in 2007, the summit is China's first economic and trade promotion platform for Latin America. The 15th China-LAC Business Summit will be held in Ecuador.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
What will a modern socialist China bring to the world?

Xinhua) 08:13, November 18, 2021

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Under the leadership of the 100-year-old Communist Party of China (CPC), China is seeking to become a "great modern socialist country" by the mid-21st century.

The modernization drive of the world's second largest economy, and the top trading nation in goods, is expected to bring huge dividends to a world plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic, surging protectionism and the growing threat from climate change.

As Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee said, "China's development is an opportunity for the world."

A ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is held at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

NEW OPTION

Transforming and transcending, a modern China comes with a brand new approach, path and model, providing new possibilities for the ever-changing world.

China's peaceful rise, unprecedented in both scale and speed, has in fact shown that there has never been a one-size-fits-all development model, and the style adopted in the West is not the only viable route to modernity.

Although modernization theory has its origins in the West, modernization is by no means equal to Westernization. Beijing is determined not to follow the Western path of aggression, colonization and expansion, neither plundering and colonizing foreign countries nor transferring domestic conflicts and crises abroad in its modernization drive.

China, however, has no intention of selling its own development path to the world. The Chinese model of modernization offers a new option to other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence.

The communique of the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee said that the world's largest ruling party has "led the people in pioneering a uniquely Chinese path to modernization, creating a new model for human advancement, and expanding the channels for developing countries to achieve modernization."

IMMENSE OPPORTUNITIES

When a population of 1.4 billion crosses the threshold of modernity, enormous global opportunities will be unleashed. This is especially true when China is expected to continue to contribute, according to experts, between 25 percent and 30 percent of global economic growth in the next five to 10 years.

Chinese leaders have been reiterating the nation's willingness to invite countries around the world to "get on board the express train of China's development."

The recent fourth edition of the China International Import Expo, which has drawn nearly 3,000 businesses from 127 countries and regions, has showed China's willingness to further open its vast market. Over 70 billion U.S. dollars worth of tentative deals were reached for one-year purchases of goods and services at the "world-class platform."

China has been reiterating that it will not change its determination to open up at a higher level. Committed to shortening the negative list for foreign investment and protecting intellectual property rights, China aims to pursue a new round of opening up featuring institutional and systemic openness, thus creating a market system that is in line with international rules, regulations, management and standards.

A view of the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

Twenty years after China's WTO entry, the overall tariff level has dropped to 7.4 percent from 15.3 percent in 2001, lower than the 9.8 percent the country promised when entering the world trade body.

Multinationals are also expanding their footprints in China's thriving digital economy, whose market scale rose 9.6 percent year on year to 5.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020, ranking second in the world, according to a report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

In an increasingly fluid world, reform, a common task that almost every country faces, is one of the most important reasons behind China's transformation. British scholar and political commentator Martin Jacques has described it as "the most remarkable economic transformation in modern history."

The CPC has displayed a remarkable ability to reform, and it has pledged non-stop efforts in making reforms.

In its key development blueprint for the next five to 15 years, aimed at guiding the country's march toward modernization, China has pledged an array of reform measures. These include a high-standard market system, more market dynamics, as well as enhanced government economic governance capacity.

As was said by American economist David Blair, a prosperous China would be good for the rest of the world "because it provides markets, innovation and competition." China's deepened reform and its unswerving pursuit of high-quality development will benefit the world by providing fresh investment opportunities in a vast market that is opening wider.

Behind China's domestic policies and modernization drives, such as rural vitalization and the new development paradigm of "dual circulation," are immense investment opportunities.

China boasts a middle-income group of over 400 million people, the biggest in the world. Chinese consumers are also expected to reshape the global economic landscape.

The most recent proof of China's robust consumer market can be seen in the nation's demand for imported goods remaining solid during this year's Double Eleven shopping spree, in spite of supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Former Goldman Sachs chief economist, Britain's Jim O'Neill, told Xinhua that the Chinese consumer remains the most important economic development issue for China, and the world economy, for the next decade.

GREEN AGENDA

As China strives to become greener, no smart foreign businesses would want to miss out on the decades-long investment opportunity and broader market behind China's carbon-cutting pledge.

Since China's leadership announced last year the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, China has walked the talk. The latest example of the country's green efforts came at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, where Beijing announced that it would foster a green, low-carbon and circular economic system at a faster pace, press ahead with industrial structure adjustment, and rein in the irrational development of energy-intensive and high-emission projects.

After the world's largest developing country completes the most dramatic reduction in carbon emissions intensity in just 30 years, it will not only benefit the massive transition of the Chinese economy to a low carbon one, but also bear great significance to the rest of the world.

The South China Morning Post said in a recent opinion article that a succession of practical measures from China might well prove an attractive template for other developing nations.

Volunteers patrol a forest area in east China's Zhejiang Province, July 20, 2021. The forest area covering some 22 hectares was launched in 2017 aiming to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

NEW APPROACH

Fifty years after the restoration of its lawful seat in the UN, the People's Republic of China has been moving closer to the world's center stage. It was described by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as "a strong supporter of multilateralism."

The world's most populous country has shown its deep understanding of the changing world by proposing a new approach to international relations, based on mutually beneficial cooperation and the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration on global governance.

China does not intend to subvert the current international order and replace it with one that it dominates. China is committed to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order.

The international order and governance system that China believes best suits the world, and best suits people of all countries, is something "that should be decided by all countries through consultation, and not by a single country or a few countries," according to Xi.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China, U.S. reach consensuses on journalist visas

Xinhua) 08:14, November 18, 2021

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- A foreign ministry spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed that China and the United States have reached three consensuses, including one on the issuance of one-year multiple entry visas to journalists, to create favorable conditions for the media representatives of both countries.

"After multiple rounds of consultations, China and the United States have recently reached three consensuses based on the principles of mutual respect, reciprocity and mutual benefit," spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing when answering a media inquiry.

The two sides agreed to ensure that journalists from either country currently based in the other country can enter and leave that country normally on the premise of strictly observing laws and consular regulations, he said.

The two sides also agreed to issue one-year multiple entry visas to journalists from the other country, and the U.S. side pledged to immediately initiate domestic procedures to address the "duration of status" issues for Chinese journalists. The Chinese side promised to give equal treatment to American journalists in China after the U.S. policies enter into force, Zhao said.

Additionally, both parties will approve visas on an equal footing for new journalists who meet application requirements in accordance with laws and regulations, he said.

"This achievement was hard-won, meets the interests of both sides, and is worth cherishing," Zhao said, expressing hope that the United States will honor its words, implement the relevant policies as soon as possible, and work with China to continue creating favorable working and living conditions for the media of both countries.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Amid worsening refugee crisis on Poland-Belarus border, calls grow for prompt, responsible solution

Xinhua) 08:15, November 18, 2021

Children are seen at a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus, Nov. 14, 2021. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

LONDON/WARSAW/MINSK, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- It is a heart-breaking scene with no clear end in sight at the border between Poland and Belarus: thousands of migrants try to warm themselves by building small fires out in the open in the freezing winter as hypothermia, hunger and exhaustion continue to prey on them.

Stranded at the border without the prospect of entering Poland, their gateway to the European Union (EU), these refugees, mostly from the war-torn Middle East, are holding their ground, determined to leave hardships at home behind.

More than 10 refugees have died since the crisis started in August. On Tuesday, fresh clashes erupted. The Polish Border Guard agency posted a video on Twitter showing them turning a water cannon on a group of migrants in a makeshift camp. The border forces said this was done in response to attacks by migrants with stones.

As the months-long standoff on the EU's eastern border is expected to drag on, the international community is urging an early and responsible settlement to prevent the situation from descending into a humanitarian catastrophe.

BLAME GAME

The EU, still reeling from the 2015 refugee crisis largely fueled by the wars in Syria and Libya, has made its reluctance to receive more migrants publicly known this time.

Accusing Belarus of sending migrants over the border to spark another refugee crisis in revenge for existing EU sanctions, the EU on Monday decided to move ahead with imposing further sanctions on Belarus.

Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, underlined after a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday that the full responsibility lies with Belarus for "artificially creating the migrants' flow." He said the EU would work with international organizations such as the United Nations in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to those in need.

"By expanding the scope of the sanctions, we will be able to target those responsible for exploiting vulnerable migrants and for facilitating illegal border crossing into the EU," Borrell said.

Minsk denied the accusation and said it has been helping to solve the issue by actively repatriating the migrants.

So far, 166 individuals and 15 entities have been subjected to the EU's sanctions on Belarus. According to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the sanctions have dented his country's ability to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis.

Lukashenko said last week that the Western countries didn't just simply stir up trouble in the Middle East, they destroyed the statehood that existed there.

The actions of the Western states had not improved life in the countries they had invaded, Lukashenko said, noting that migrants were invited to go to Europe by high-ranking European government leaders, who are guilty of destroying their homes.

The West is using refugees to fulfill its own political ambitions, Aleksei Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research, told the Belarus 1 TV channel.

According to him, the situation at the Poland-Belarus border is an opportunity for the EU to justify a possibility of new sanctions against Belarus and Russia.

"We see how hard the European media are trying to put the blame for it on Belarus and even Russia and are calling for sanctions on these two states," Avdonin said.

Belarusian journalist Vadim Elfimov said: "I can advise the European Union one thing: calculate your steps in advance. When you entered Iraq, when you destroyed Libya, Afghanistan, other countries, you had to think that sooner or later these consequences would come to you."

"We cannot solve its migration problems for the European Union," Elfimov said.

PROTRACTED STANDOFF

The border standoff has added to the migrants' ordeal and left local people weary.

Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesperson of Poland's minister-special services coordinator, told Xinhua on Wednesday that about 4,000 migrants are estimated to be currently at the Poland-Belarus border, almost all of them are camping or moving on the Belarusian side.

Hundreds of refugees are stuck on the Belarus side of the border near the Polish village of Kuznica alone, Polish military sources said. The Polish government has denied them entry and created a no-go zone within three km from the border in September. Only the authorities and local inhabitants can enter and leave freely.

Up to 15,000 Polish soldiers aided by police and border guards are currently stationed at the border to keep out the refugees.

However, some migrants have managed to cross the border through the heavily forested areas that straddle the two countries, often spending nights in the open in freezing temperatures which are continuing dropping further.

Local inhabitants are frightened by the situation, while expressing sympathy for the migrants' humanitarian plight. "I am afraid to go out at night," says Martyna Biaous, a 16-year-old who lives in Kuznica and works outside of the no-go zone.

"You know they are hungry and cold and you know they are desperate. I really feel for those people, but you don't know what they can do." One morning, Biaous said, her grandmother found traces of people in her backyard. "And one of my friends once found some sheltering in her family's greenhouse."

Maria Zlonkiewicz, a worker for the non-governmental organization (NGO) Bread of Salt Initiative, recounted the suffering of a group of migrants, who had been at the border for over two weeks, but were not allowed to apply (for international protection) even though they asked for it.

"They have already been handled by the Polish Border Guard eight times. Accompaying these young children is a woman who is unable to move by herself and in this cold weather, they were thrown back and forth through that barbed wire, sometimes by the Polish services, sometimes by the Belarusian services," she said.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Wednesday that the migrant crisis on the border with Belarus "will not be resolved quickly."

"We have to prepare for months, if not years," he told a local radio station.

CALLS FOR EARLY SOLUTION

There have been growing calls to set aside the differences and settle the refugee crisis so that migrants won't need to suffer more in the freezing cold.

Visiting areas near the border on the Polish side on Tuesday, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic said the situation was "extremely dangerous."

"We need to find a way to de-escalate, to make sure the focus is really on stopping the suffering," she told reporters.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday during her weekly briefing: "It is just necessary to sit down at the negotiating table. The parties need to establish contacts perhaps even in a virtual format and do everything so that the situation will somehow be resolved, so that it doesn't escalate further."

"There is only one way out of this situation -- negotiations, contacts, dialogue with those countries that are now at the forefront," she said.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Tuesday: "We hope that the relevant sides will, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, properly handle the issue through dialogue and consultation following the humanitarian principle."

"China opposes the wanton use or threat of unilateral sanctions in international affairs," Zhao added.

The first flight to repatriate around 300 Iraqi migrants from Belarus will leave the country on Thursday, Iraq's Consul in Russia Majid al-Kilani told Sputnik on Wednesday.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Shandong expo opens in Kenya amid deepening China-Kenya ties

Xinhua) 08:24, November 18, 2021

NAIROBI, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The fourth edition of the Shandong Export Commodities Expo opened in Kenya's capital city Nairobi on Wednesday to help deepen China-Kenya commercial ties.

Zhang Yijun, Minister-Counselor at Chinese Embassy in Kenya said that the three-day event will provide a broad platform to showcase Chinese advanced manufacturing and machinery to Kenyan companies.

"The expo will also establish a long-lasting thriving avenue leading to a bright trade and economic cooperation future between China and Kenya," Zhang said.

According to the organizer, Afripeak Expo Kenya, altogether 103 companies are participating in the exhibition, amongst which 83 are foreign exhibitors mainly from China.

The fourth edition of the exhibition will adopt a virtual and physical event model and showcase modern Chinese made agricultural machinery, construction machinery, hardware and tools, solar and new energy products, auto parts, chemical products and medical equipment.

Zhang said that enhancing unity and cooperation with Africa has always been high on China's diplomatic agenda.

The Minister-Counselor observed that China is the largest trade partner and project contractor of Kenya.

He noted that through the first nine months of 2021, the total trade volume between China and Kenya jumped by 29.9 percent to reach 560 billion shillings (about 5 billion U.S. dollars) despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Zhang, last year, the Chinese direct investment in Kenya reached 172 million dollars and the amount of newly signed contracts reached 3.2 billion dollars.

Zhang added that China is willing to work with Kenya to share growth opportunities and draw up a growth blueprint in pursuit of a better tomorrow.

Gao Wei, CEO of Afripeak Expo Kenya, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global economy, and in order to promote local industry, a Kenyan pavilion was added to the Expo in order to provide 20 local companies with an opportunity to showcase their products and link up with potential Chinese buyers.

Erick Rutto, first vice president of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), said that the exhibition is a fitting launch-pad for growing trade cooperation between China and Africa.

"It is an important signal to the world that China remains open for business despite the growing wave of trade protectionism," he added.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
China to introduce targeted re-lending for clean, efficient coal use

Xinhua) 08:24, November 18, 2021

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China will put in place targeted re-lending to support the clean and efficient use of coal amid efforts in green and low-carbon development, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.

Given China's coal-dominated energy resource endowment, it is important to act in light of the national reality and work hard to make coal use cleaner and more efficient.

"At present, coal is the energy source that we can truly rely on ourselves for supply. It will remain so for quite a long time to come, and this bears on China's development," Li said, "That said, we need to pursue a transformation in the path of development, that is we cannot stay on the path of energy-intensive development."

On top of the financial instruments introduced earlier to support the reduction of carbon emissions, a targeted re-lending program with a quota of 200 billion yuan (about 31.3 billion U.S. dollars) will be rolled out in support of clean and efficient use of coal, to shape policy steps of a sizable scale and facilitate green and low-carbon development.

In line with market principles, the 200-billion yuan targeted re-lending program, which focuses on priority areas and is more operable, will provide targeted support for safe, efficient, green and smart coal mining, clean and efficient coal processing, clean and efficient use of coal-fired power, clean industrial combustion and heating, clean residential heating and comprehensive utilization of coal resources, and vigorously promote the development and utilization of coalbed methane.

Specifically, national banks will issue loans at their discretion to eligible projects within the supported areas, at a rate basically on par with the prime rate of loans of the same maturity. The People's Bank of China may provide re-lending support to these banks in the equivalent amount of the loan principal.

"There is huge potential for the clean use of coal. At present, the energy intensity of coal is still relatively high. We must accelerate the commercialization of the mature technologies we have, seek steady upgrades based on practices in our country, and continue to deepen international cooperation," Li said.

Such measures as lowering project capital contribution as appropriate, proper tax incentives, intensified funding support from government special bonds and accelerated depreciation will be explored in a holistic way, to step up support for projects featuring clean and efficient use of coal.

"Financial, fiscal and tax support can make a big difference. We need to fully consider the combined use of multiple financial, fiscal and tax policies to help lower costs and promote efficiency," Li said.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Lawmakers in Sierra Leone commend China's support for development

Xinhua) 08:25, November 18, 2021

FREETOWN, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Members of the parliament in Sierra Leone extolled China on Wednesday for its support to the West African country's economic and social development.

Speaking in a salon organized by the Chinese embassy in Sierra Leone, Ibrahim Kargbo, Chairperson of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said he is happy to see China's growth over the years, and its relationship with Sierra Leone is flourishing.

"The Chinese have always used their resources to help other nations develop," he said, adding that most of the development support given to Sierra Leone over the years like the construction of the national stadium, hospitals, and other areas are due to the good existing relations between the two countries.

Emilia Lolloh Tongi, another member of the parliament, lauded China's provision of vaccines during the fight against COVID-19, construction of roads, and support in areas of agriculture, health, and education.

She further called on China to help Sierra Leone with the required skills on food self-sufficiency.

On his part, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Hu Zhangliang pledged China's continued support to Sierra Leone at all times.

"We value the relationship with Sierra Leone, and we are committed to bringing more development to the country," he said.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
2 mln more China-donated COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Cambodia, greeted by PM

Xinhua) 08:25, November 18, 2021

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks at a ceremony for the arrival of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

"Cambodia's success in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign is inseparable from China's vaccine supply," said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, noting that "China is a true, ironclad friend who always provides timely support to Cambodia in difficult times without any strings attached."

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- An aircraft carrying 2 million more doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine donated by China arrived in the Cambodian capital on Wednesday.

The vaccine arrival was greeted by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

The event was livestreamed on the prime minister's official Facebook page, the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK), Fresh News, the kingdom's largest online news provider, and several other TV channels.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the airport, Hun Sen said that with China's timely and regular vaccine supply, Cambodia has achieved herd immunity earlier than originally planned and recently reopened all sectors in the country.

From Monday, the Southeast Asian country allowed quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated international travelers. Under the new scheme, the travelers will be free to visit anywhere in the country if they test negative for COVID-19 72 hours prior to departure and have a negative result of a rapid test upon arrival.

Workers unload China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021.(Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

"Cambodia has become one of the most fully COVID-19 vaccinated countries in the region and around the world, that has achieved a solid herd immunity," Hun Sen said. "Cambodia's success in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign is inseparable from China's vaccine supply."

The Southeast Asian country has so far got a total of 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from three sources, through bilateral procurement, the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVAX Facility, and donations. Of the total, over 90 percent were bought from or donated by China.

The prime minister added that to date, Cambodia has administered at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 14.08 million people, or 88 percent of its 16-million population. Of them, 13.2 million, or 82.6 percent of the total population, are fully vaccinated with two required shots, and 2.07 million, or 13 percent, have got a third or booster shot.

A batch of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines is unloaded at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Luo Jun/Xinhua)

Hun Sen said Chinese jabs have protected people's health and saved the lives of Cambodians, while helping Cambodia recover its economy in the new normal.

"China is a true, ironclad friend who always provides timely support to Cambodia in difficult times without any strings attached," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said it was the seventh batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Cambodia.

"Now, we're pleased to see that Cambodia has achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in world, and the number of confirmed cases has dropped to double digits, and most of them are mildly ill," he said.

The ambassador said he was elated to see Phnom Penh has returned to its energetic former self as businesses have reopened, and that he hoped the kingdom's socio-economic development would be back on course soon.

Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the Chinese donation is a new testament to the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," he told Xinhua. "Cambodia-China joint COVID-19 fight is a good example for cooperation between countries. Undoubtedly, it will help raise bilateral relationship to a new high and our people-to-people bonds will be further strengthened."

A worker transfers China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said China's vaccine donation highlighted a close friendship between the countries, promising support and joint efforts in combating COVID-19 as well as in post-pandemic economic recovery.

"With China's vaccines, Cambodia is able to accomplish the nationwide vaccination program, achieve a strong herd immunity and reopen the country to fully vaccinated foreigners," he told Xinhua. "Cambodia is now safer to conduct business activities and traveling in the new normal."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Reforms to boost nation's market fairness

(China Daily) 08:41, November 18, 2021

Lujiazui, the financial center in Shanghai, forms a perfect backdrop to the Bund area. (Wang Gang/For China Daily)

Actions include strengthening anti-monopoly regulation to promote common prosperity

China will accelerate reforms to encourage fair competition in the market, spur the vitality of smaller companies and offer private business owners greater tax incentives to give back to society, which is crucial for the country to achieve the goal of common prosperity, experts said.

Promoting common prosperity, a major component of the Chinese leadership's historic mission of achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, was highlighted in the resolution adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The four-day key Party meeting ended on Nov 11.

The idea of building common prosperity will be the overarching theme that underlines the next phase of China's development and will be the strategic goal in the country's pursuit of high-quality growth in the new era, said Liu Xueliang, a senior researcher at the Institute of Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Measures have been taken to better regulate monopolistic behavior, excessively high incomes and the abuse of market dominance by some companies, which jeopardize fair competition. Policymakers will continue to take measures to foster fair market practices, which is part of the broader objective of building common prosperity, Liu said.

The State Council has appointed Gan Lin as the new head of the country's anti-monopoly bureau under the State Administration for Market Regulation, according to an announcement posted on the website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security on Monday.

The appointment is seen as the country's latest move to strengthen anti-monopoly regulation after several internet giants, including Alibaba and Tencent, were fined or investigated over their alleged monopolistic practices.

Fostering fair market competition and ensuring equal market access for all enterprises is an important precondition for China to improve its market-based economy and to fully unleash the country's growth potential, which is in line with the country's overall objective of building common prosperity, said Yu Miaojie, deputy dean of Peking University's National School of Development.

"It will help to ensure that all market entities, especially smaller firms, get equal development opportunities and help spur their vitality, which will contribute to achieving the goal of common prosperity as smaller firms are important job providers and wealth creators," Yu said.

China's top leadership has vowed to deepen reforms and advance high-quality development to promote common prosperity. Han Wenxiu, an official with the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, said development is the top priority for China to promote common prosperity and China will foster an environment where people can enjoy equal opportunities, equal rights and fair rules amid the country's development.

Han also said that for enterprises, promoting common prosperity means that they "manage their operations well", which includes running their business legally and honestly, paying taxes according to regulations and fulfilling social responsibilities.

Xu Hongcai, deputy director of the China Association of Policy Science's economic policy committee, said that the resolution adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee sent out the signal that China will solve development problems and narrow the wealth gap through promoting high-quality development, which requires further reforms to get rid of monopolies and unfair competition that prevents the market from playing a crucial and efficient role in resource allocation.

Han, from the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, also said that China encourages entrepreneurs to actively participate in charitable activities, adding that donations are voluntary and must not mean "killing the rich to help the poor".

Some experts said that China needs to further reform its tax policies, such as improving tax incentives for charitable donations and giving private business owners and wealthy individuals greater incentives to donate to charitable causes.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The making of the CPC's landmark resolution

Xinhua) 08:49, November 18, 2021

Balloons are released during a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held in Beijing from Nov. 8 to 11, has adopted a landmark resolution on major achievements and historical experience of the Party over the past century.

It is the century-old Party's third resolution on historical issues. Seventy-six years have passed since its first resolution on historical issues and 40 years since the second.

Noting that learning from history is a vital characteristic in Chinese culture, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has stressed that the Party has consistently attached great importance to reviewing its historical experience.

From that consideration, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in March decided that the sixth plenary session would focus on a comprehensive review of the Party's major achievements and experience in its century-long history. A working group was established, with Xi as its chief, to draft the document.

Xi also chaired the first meeting of the group in April, officially starting the drafting work.

At that meeting, Xi stressed that the drafting of a document of high quality on the Party's history is arduous but glorious work since this process would build a broader consensus and stronger unity in will and action among all Party members. It would also rally and lead Chinese people of all ethnic groups in achieving new and great success in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

When the framework of the draft document was taking shape, Xi presided over another plenary meeting of the group on the drafting work.

A ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is held at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

On July 1, members of the drafting group came to Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing to listen to Xi's speech at a grand gathering celebrating the CPC centenary, which has become the key basis of the drafting work.

Xi has reiterated the need to promote democracy and draw on collective wisdom during the drafting process to make the draft resolution a solid document, epitomizing collective wisdom and consensus.

As early as April 1, the CPC Central Committee issued a circular to conduct discussions and solicit opinions on the agenda of the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee from both within and outside the Party.

In more than 20 days, 109 views and suggestions from various regions, departments, and sides were gathered, and the drafting group compiled a summary of 753,000 Chinese characters accordingly.

On Sept. 10, Xi chaired a symposium to solicit non-communists' views and suggestions on the draft resolution, at which non-communists voiced their opinions and submitted 10 written materials.

Xi gave specific instructions that all pertinent suggestions should be absorbed and embodied in the resolution.

During the drafting process, Xi convened a series of meetings of the drafting group, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and its Standing Committee.

He also studied and edited each draft of the resolution and offered concrete suggestions and requirements.

On behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi delivered a work report at the plenary session on Nov. 8 and explained the draft of the resolution to the session.

Plenum attendees were divided into 10 groups for deliberation on the draft documents. They offered 138 suggestions, based on which 22 revisions were made to the draft.

On Nov. 11, the resolution, with over 36,000 Chinese characters, was unanimously endorsed.

This landmark resolution sounded the clarion call for the century-old CPC marching towards the future, which will lead the Chinese nation to its great rejuvenation.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Innovation center pumps new life into BRICS cooperation

Xinhua) 08:53, November 18, 2021

Photo taken on Sept. 7, 2021 shows the inauguration ceremony of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

XIAMEN, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Enterprises from BRICS countries are strengthening ties and finding more cooperation opportunities despite COVID-19, partly thanks to an innovation center launched last December in the Chinese city of Xiamen.

Benefited from the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center, Xiamen Rockwise Information Service Co., Ltd., a stone trading platform, has attracted around 30,000 stone suppliers, including over 700 dedicated to stone imports from other BRICS countries.

Despite COVID-19, stones worth more than 60 million yuan (about 9.4 million U.S. dollars) were imported from Brazil, India, and South Africa to China in the first ten months of this year through the platform, said Lu Ni, one of the partners at the company.

Lu said the establishment of the innovation center, which focuses on policy coordination, talent cultivation, and project development, has enhanced their confidence to expand the stone business with other BRICS countries.

BRICS is the acronym for an emerging-market bloc that groups Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It is home to over 40 percent of the world's population and about a quarter of the world economy.

The BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center was launched in Xiamen in December last year. At the center's inauguration ceremony in September, 28 projects with a total investment of over 13.4 billion yuan were inked by BRICS enterprises.

It has provided a foothold for companies to use technological innovation and digital transformation brought by the new industrial revolution.

Huanchuang (Xiamen) Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the disposal of solid waste and service operations. Its customers are in Russia, India, and South Africa.

"The innovation center provides a new communication channel for BRICS enterprises and helps us expand overseas markets," said Li Xuefeng, deputy general manager of the company. "And the local government offers us more services involving talent and technology support."

Li's company plans to launch more high-tech products and promote their equipment and production lines. They also want to provide integrated solid waste disposal solutions to other BRICS countries.

In early November, the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution Innovation Center held a virtual meeting with Russia's "Silicon Valley" Skolkovo innovation center to seek cooperation opportunities.

Yuri Saprykin, vice president of the Skolkovo Foundation, said the Skolkovo innovation center attaches importance to and looks forward to deepening cooperation with Xiamen's innovation center. The center expects both sides to speed up collaboration and promote the development, operation, and market expansion of Russian and Chinese entrepreneurs in the two places.

Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira, distinguished professor of public policy at Tsinghua University, said Xiamen's innovation center is an excellent example of building the industrial revolution partnership between BRICS countries, which was meaningful not only for BRICS but a positive experience for the world.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Virus infections rising in almost half of US states

Xinhua) 08:55, November 18, 2021

A woman and her children cross a road in Evanston, north of Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on Jan. 26, 2021. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

A surge in coronavirus cases has hit at least 21 states, and hospitalizations also are rising in areas even with high vaccination rates.

As winter approaches, federal data shows that the daily case average in the US is now 78,500, a 23 percent increase over the past two and a half weeks, according to ABC News.

Several states including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, New Mexico and California have approved COVID-19 booster shots for anyone aged 18 or over in a bid to stop the surge.

At least 68.8 percent of people aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But the unvaccinated are still at a greater risk of contracting or dying from the virus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vermont, a state where 72 percent of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19, reported 50 percent more coronavirus cases on average over the past two weeks. On Nov 11, there were 591 cases in Vermont, the highest case count on record.

In Essex County, the county with the lowest vaccination rate in Vermont, there were 1,022 cases per 100,000 people reported from Nov 2 to 8.

The US saw its first national increase in hospitalizations in 10 weeks, ABC News reported. There were at least 47,000 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals, an increase of 2,000 patients since Nov 8.

Hospitals in New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho said their intensive-care units were filling up with COVID-19 patients.

In Colorado, 94 percent of ICU beds were full as of Nov 12, and nonemergency surgeries were suspended to handle the crisis.

Dan Weaver, vice-president of communications at the University of Colorado Hospital, said in a statement: "We have been proactively postponing most non-urgent and nonemergent surgeries."

The hospital said that nearly 90 percent of coronavirus patients in their ICU were not vaccinated as of Nov 11.

Colorado state officials said on Monday that people attending public indoor events in Denver with more than 500 people must show proof of vaccination.

In New Mexico, the seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 cases is 1,000 per day, according to data from the state. It has risen 48 percent on average, over the past two weeks.

Mandate extended

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham extended until Dec 10 a statewide mask mandate that requires masks to be worn inside public spaces, irrespective of a person's vaccination status, CNN reported.

New York City also reported a rise in coronavirus cases. The average of daily cases was 1,074 as of Sunday, 32 percent higher than it was two weeks ago, The New York Times reported.

According to the city's COVID-19 data web page, 80.3 percent of New York City adults are fully vaccinated.

New York Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued an advisory on Monday for all adults to receive a booster shot, as long as they had their last dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine six months ago.

He urged healthcare providers not to turn anyone away who wants the booster.

Chokshi tweeted: "Booster doses can provide one more layer of reassurance, allowing us to breathe a bit easier, either for ourselves or our loved ones, particularly as we gather and travel around the holidays."

By Tuesday, 765,811 deaths had been reported in the US, data from Johns Hopkins University shows.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Premier pledges to expand opening-up

China Daily) 09:01, November 18, 2021

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends the World Economic Forum special virtual dialogue with global business leaders, delivers remarks and holds dialogue and exchanges with participating global business leaders at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Nov 16, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has adopted a series of measures that effectively eased pressure on the supply of electricity and coal, and the country's future energy supply is guaranteed, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.

While addressing the World Economic Forum Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders, Li said that China will consider its national conditions and push forward the low-carbon transition in a balanced and orderly way on the premise of ensuring the steady and safe supply of energy.

The dialogue was chaired by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, and nearly 400 business leaders from over 40 countries participated.

During the dialogue, Li said that China's economy has in general sustained the momentum of steady recovery this year while facing new downward pressures.

However, the fundamentals of China's long-term economic development remain unchanged, as the country's total number of 150 million market entities have provided resilience and vitality for the Chinese economy and strongly supported employment, he added.

Next, China will step up cross-cyclical adjustments, will not resort to "floodlike" stimulus, and will introduce a mix of tax and fee reductions at an appropriate time to keep its economic operations within a reasonable range, Li said.

The premier also reiterated China's firm commitment to expanding opening-up, saying that China will promote international cooperation and build a market-oriented and world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework.

He also said that China will treat all types of market entities on an equal basis and protect intellectual property rights in accordance with the law.

Enterprises from all countries are welcomed to invest in and prosper in China, Li added.

Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is undergoing many twists and turns and global economic recovery faces increasing uncertainty, Li said that China stands ready to join hands with all parties to fight the virus and ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains.

China will also improve its trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and step up international macroeconomic policy coordination, in order to promote the steady recovery of the world economy, he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Canadian Youtuber brings Chongqing to the world

Xinhua) 09:05, November 18, 2021

Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2021 shows the night view of southwest China's Chongqing. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)

CHONGQING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Walking on the streets of southwest China's metropolis of Chongqing, Alex White, a Canadian Youtuber, came upon one nice surprise after another.

Alex White himself used to have some preconceptions before he visited the city. In 2019, he and his wife decided to spend their Christmas holiday in a Chinese city with about the same size population as his home country Canada, when Chongqing jumped out.

When he researched Chongqing on the Internet, he found few relevant results, and one picture even indicated that Chongqing was a highly polluted city.

However, when they were actually there, the inland municipality gave the couple a far better impression.

"Chongqing has a wonderful infrastructure, even better than that of New York or any city I have ever been. The monorails crossing the buildings are amazingly designed, not to mention around 14,000 bridges it has," said White.

Delighted with the creative urban planning of Chongqing with about 30 million people, he made up his mind to pay another visit to the city later. The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, stood in the young man's way.

Since being in China in person became almost an impossible dream temporarily, White helped build a personnel network composed of Chinese and foreign Youtubers, hoping to facilitate exchanges on aerial shots and other images of Chongqing.

Using materials shared via the network, Alex White updates one video every week on the platform, covering directions to Chongqing's characteristic bridges and skyscrapers.

The works of the Canadian Youtuber with over 90,000 followers of his channel, named Reporterfy Media, have changed many people's impressions of the city and the country.

"Many didn't know Chongqing well until they saw my video. And they grow a love for this city and change their former views about China," he said. "This is what I want to do, leaving legacy videos which are timeless, educational, and will not lose its glory in the future."

Besides, White introduced a group of foreign vloggers to iChongqing, a local English news outlet in Chongqing, helping showcase the city's latest technology development and booming tourism.

As the pandemic eased, he finally got the chance to visit Chongqing in September. The minute he stepped off the plane, he couldn't wait to begin his video shooting.

"I don't want to miss a single bit of my quarantine process, and I want to show the world this. I think China did a smart job," he said. "When the plane landed, the quarantine work began and left no room for potential risk. The technology also helps a lot, like the contact tracking, a health QR code, and the test result shown on WeChat."

Every foreign vlogger in China has a city as their muse, which inspires video production and creation, according to Alex White.

"Chongqing is my city," said the Canadian Youtuber, "And I want the world to see its beauty."

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
5G, industrial internet give a leg up to traditional mining industry

09:16, November 18, 2021 By Qiao Dong, Yuan Taoxiong ( People's Daily

In recent years, 5G and industrial internet have seeped into the development of China's traditional mining industry, driving the upgrading of the sector and ensuring safe and orderly production. They have injected new impetus into the high-quality development of the mining industry.

Two employees are controlling excavators at a 5G information center of a cement company in central China's Henan province. (Photo from dahe.cn)

Two-hundred meters under a coal mine of Jinneng Holding Group in Datong, north China's Shanxi province, coals are excavated, screened, loaded and transported under the collaboration of multiple devices.

All the work is completed remotely by operators on computers in a ground control center, where a big screen is showing real-time videos of each underground channel and checkpoint, as well as all relevant indicators.

The integration of 5G and industrial internet not only ensures more effective and precise remote control for coal mines, but also significantly improves the efficiency of relevant enterprises' safety inspection.

He Junying is an employee of Bin County Coal Co., Ltd. who works in the Jiangjiahe coal mine of the company in Bin county, Shaanxi province. He received an alert from a smart big data platform the other day that said abnormal vibration was detected on the suspension arm of a coal cutter. He immediately contacted the technology center in Shanghai that's responsible for analyzing the data on the platform, and experts from Shanghai informed him of the analysis result and gave him advice on maintenance via a remote analysis system.

An unmanned excavator works at a mining site of a cement factory in central China's Henan province. (Photo from dahe.cn)

Shaanxi Shengwei Building Materials Group Co., Ltd. developed an intelligent self-diagnosis system at the end of the last year. The system checks devices every five minutes with sensors deployed in places that manual inspection is not able to reach. General manager Wang Yong of the company told People's Daily that 5G and industrial internet have brought immediate changes as the incidence of unexpected machine shutdowns dropped 70 percent after the system was installed, and the maintenance cost has also been cut by 30 percent.

"What really makes inspections smart is real-time monitoring," said Lyu Le, director of 5G technology for energy businesses of China Mobile's Shanxi branch. The company has specifically developed technology of synchronized timing by 5G stations for underground work, which has a precision of less than 100 nanoseconds.

"I had a rough time when I worked as a truck driver in coal mines in the past years, as I had to endure the coldness of winter and the heat of summer," said Li Mingxin, an autopilot truck dispatcher of a cement company under a coal mine group in central China's Henan province. Now the man works in front of a computer in an office building and is able to manage over 20 autopilot trucks just with clicks on the mouse.

"The computers can automatically plan transport routes, and control the trucks via 5G signals," Li said, adding that such approach is highly efficient.

A smart dispatch center of a coal mine of Jinneng Holding Group in Datong, north China's Shanxi province, dispatches vehicles. (Photo from the official website of Jinneng Holding Group)

General manager of the cement company Xiao Zhanding introduced that 5G, internet of things and Beidou navigation technologies are advancing the smart construction of coal mines. Tackling human-machine and machine-machine collaboration problems caused by lagged signal transmission, the company has made all mining procedures unattended and controlled remotely, including excavation, transport and monitoring. It has improved both the safety and efficiency of the work.

From unattended operation to automatic monitoring, automated devices are getting more and more synergetic. "Shared data is the key," said Li Shouqing, director of the industrial internet business division under the Shanxi branch of China Unicom.

For instance, all the data of the 18 sub-systems in the Jiangjiahe coal mine is shared in all procedures to conduct real-time monitoring of the operation of each system and the underground environment, and analyze abnormal data, he introduced.

"The analysis result is timely sent to a dispatch center, which has further enhanced the capability of the coal mine of dispatching, emergency handling, and decision making," the director said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
East China city logs over 10 billion express parcels

Xinhua) 09:20, November 18, 2021

Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2021 shows staff members are dealing with express parcels to be sent in a logistics center in Zhuji City, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

HANGZHOU, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- As of Nov. 12, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, had logged more than 10 billion express parcels this year, the country's first to reach such a massive delivery volume.

The data was released on Wednesday by the local postal authorities. Currently, about 30.4 million parcels are delivered from Jinhua to corners worldwide every day.

Meanwhile, the average annual growth of the city's express sector exceeded 55 percent. To date, Jinhua's total scale of express delivery accounts for about one-tenth of the country and half of Zhejiang.

In 2020, the city's express delivery raked in approximately 28.4 billion yuan (about 4.4 billion U.S. dollars), providing a solid foundation for online retail businesses of physical goods worth over 1.1 trillion yuan.

On Nov. 10, one day before the country's annual shopping spree, Jinhua announced that all its villages were accessible to China's express delivery services.

Jinhua, which also administers the county-level city of Yiwu, known as the world's supermarket and China's major e-commerce hub, has been striving to develop a digital economy, online retailing, and cross-border e-commerce over the years. E-commerce giants home and abroad have been attracted to the city to build their own storage.

China's annual "Double Eleven" festival, which falls on Nov. 11, was first started by Alibaba's e-commerce platform in 2009 and quickly grew into a major shopping event.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Int'l institutions, foreign media congratulate Xinhua on 90th founding anniversary

Xinhua) 10:33, November 18, 2021

BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- International institutions, foreign government agencies and media organizations have congratulated Xinhua News Agency on its 90th founding anniversary, expressed appreciation for its professional achievements, and pledged more cooperation.

In their messages, they extended sincere and warm congratulations to Xinhua, noting that it has done an excellent job in informing its audience about China and the fast changing world.

Hailing Xinhua as a reliable, credible and efficient source of information, they said the agency has always been dedicated to conveying people's voice and providing quality news products and services.

Xinhua is an influential media outlet on the global stage, they said, noting that the agency, by using both traditional and frontier technologies, has reached a wide range of audiences across the world, and has set an example among its peers on keeping pace with the changing media world with its continuous commitment to the research and development of new technology.

Highlighting the sustainability and productivity of their relations with Xinhua, they said they are very delighted to be working with Xinhua in multiple areas, and are looking forward to strengthening and improving the long-standing and fruitful cooperation.

A total of 148 congratulatory messages have been received from organizations and media groups worldwide, including Agence France-Presse, Al Jazeera Media Network, Italian news agency ANSA, German news agency dpa, Korean Central News Agency, Middle East News Agency, Prensa Latina, Reuters, Rossiya Segodnya, South Africa's Independent Media Ltd., TASS, The Associated Press, Vietnam News Agency, Yonhap News Agency and United Nations organizations.

Xinhua News Agency started as the Red China News Agency in Ruijin, which is located in east China's Jiangxi Province, on Nov. 7, 1931, and changed its name to Xinhua News Agency in January 1937 when it was in the revolutionary base of Yan'an, a city in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Xinhua now operates over 200 branches both at home and abroad, with its news services offered to 8,000 media institutional subscribers worldwide in 15 languages, covering more than half of the world population.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Police station named after Chinese policeman underscores Chinas support for local communities in South Sudan

People's Daily Online) 11:00, November 18, 2021

Recently, the ninth Chinese contingent of United Nations Police (UNPOL) deployed for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) held a ceremony marking the completion of a renovation project for the Dongxing police station, with the name of the renovated police station having been christened after Sun Dongxing, a former Chinese peacekeeping police officer who previously served in the northeast African country.

Photo shows Sun Dongxing. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

The ninth Chinese contingent of UNPOL launched the project to renovate the dilapidated police station, which was rebuilt 13 years ago in Wau, capital of South Sudans Western Bahl EL Ghazal state.

Back then, 37-year-old Sun from Xuzhou in east Chinas Jiangsu Province became a Chinese peacekeeping police officer in Wau and donated his personal savings of $8,000 to help restore the police station. It is the only local police institution in the locality named after a UN police officer. Sun also donated $5,500 to another two local police stations with an aim to improving the working conditions of local police. He always got personally engaged in these renovation projects, ranging from the design of construction drawings and the purchase of building materials to overall project supervision.

Photo shows Sun Dongxing and children in South Sudan. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Suns selflessness was lauded by local police officers along with other locals, who also expressed their gratitude to the Chinese government and people.

I felt so proud to be a Chinese policeman at that time, Sun said, recalling that he and other Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan always kept in mind that they represented the image of the UN and China.

Now, after 13 years, with the support of the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan, Tianyuan Construction Group Co., Ltd., which is constructing the China-aided Jur River Bridge in Wau, undertook the latest renovation project for the Dongxing police station on Sept. 25 and completed the project on Oct. 10.

Sun Dongxing shakes hands with a local policeman in South Sudan. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

We felt obligated to carry forward the spirit of Sun when we learned about the story behind the police station, said Yang Xiao, manager of the groups South Sudan branch, adding that the company also donated furniture to the police station.

Yang introduced that the head of the police station spoke highly of the Chinese contingent of UNPOL and the Chinese construction team. Besides, many local residents, who are familiar with the story behind the police station and know that Dongxing is a Chinese name, also extended their gratitude, Yang said.

The Dongxing police station symbolizes the Chinese contingent of UNPOLs fruitful results in South Sudan and the friendship between China and the African country, said Liao Jie, head of the ninth Chinese contingent of UNPOL in South Sudan.

Photo shows Sun Dongxing posing for a group photo after the first renovation project of the Dongxing police station. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

We came to South Sudan to help local people, Liao said, explaining that the UNMISS awarded UN peacekeeping medals to all of the 10 members of the ninth Chinese contingent of UNPOL deployed in South Sudan in October for their contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts in the country.

Liao added that the Chinese contingent of UNPOL will continue to improve the working conditions at the Dongxing police station and enhance the capacity of the local police force to deliver public services.

Photo shows the Dongxing police station after the latest renovation. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

Photo shows a group photo of members from the ninth Chinese contingent of United Nations Police deployed for the UN mission in South Sudan next to the Dongxing police station. (Photo provided by the interviewee)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Tibetan college graduate returns to hometown to take on task of greening, restoring grassland

People's Daily Online) 13:16, November 18, 2021

Cattle, sheep herds and lush grasslands form a part of the childhood memory of Padma Chodron, a 24-year-old Tibetan woman from Konggar County in southwest Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region. However, due to ecological degradation, she hasnt been able to appreciate the fullness of the gifts from nature for some time now.

Padma Chodron acquires data about grass and soil on the grassland, Nov.10, 2021. (Photo/Trinle Tendar)

In winter seasons, due to a scarce supply of grass, the cattle and sheep had nothing to eat other than chewing paper boxes, Padma Chodron recalled.

After her graduation from Tianjin Agricultural University, Padma Chodron joined a grassland restoration project that encompassed work carried out on nearly 300 mu (20 hectares) of degraded grassland in Qusum County. The project also represented Chinas first pilot grassland ecology restoration project at an elevation of between 4,000 and 4,500 meters. Padma Chodrons job has been to monitor the conditions of the grassland and acquire data for scientific research.

Plagued by desertification and marauding rats, the ecological functions and economic effects of the grassland have since undergone a sharp drop. Thus, the question of how to restore the grassland became an urgent task for Padma Chodron and her colleagues.

After they planted grass plants, Padma Chodron would go check on the grass once every half a month to analyze the height, coverage and density of the grass, as well as the pH value of the soil. At a lab established for research purposes, there are 10 professors and engineers from universities and research institutes working alongside Padma Chodron. So whenever she stumbled upon any problems, the young woman could always get support from the experts.

Photo taken on Aug. 25, 2021 shows lush green grassland in Qusum County, Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo/Padma Chodron)

In June 2021, Padma Chodron and local villagers planted grass in patches of soil. It was not until August when the rainy reason arrived when the grass started to begin growing well. At present, the grass has grown to a height of 60 centimeters. To record the growth of the grass, the young Tibetan would venture towards the grassland with tools in hand to measure and write down data on the grass she found and the soil down beneath her feet. In view of the successful cultivation of the grass, the department supervising the pilot decided to increase the area of grassland to be restored under the project to 20,000 mu.

This was good news for Padma Chodron, who hoped that the project could be further expanded so that she could contribute even more to restoring the ecological environment in her hometown.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Xinjiang residents share personal stories to debunk lies on human rights condition

Xinhua) 16:08, November 18, 2021

Students read textbooks at a primary school in Awat Township of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lei)

URUMQI, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- All ethnic groups in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have equal access to education, freedom of religious belief and other basic rights, local residents told a press conference on Thursday.

Addressing the briefing held in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, locals shared their personal stories to refute the fallacies concerning the region's human rights condition concocted by Western anti-China forces.

Rural schools in Xinjiang, with continuous improvements to the environment and quality of teaching, have helped change the destiny of many students, said Sanam Ibrayim, a rural school teacher from Changji.

Expounding the developments, Ibrayim said one of his former students, Zulfiya Wali, who grew up in a poor Uygur family, was admitted to a major university in Beijing two years ago.

Every time Wali returns home for vacation, she would encourage local children to study more at school and even help them with their studies, Ibrayim added.

In recent years, Xinjiang has continuously increased its investment in education and implemented a series of policies to subsidize or exempt tuition fees for students.

Alim Rahmudul, an Imam from Changji, said that conditions of Xinjiang's mosques have seen great improvements such as expanded indoor space, air-conditioning and hot water supply all throughout the year.

"The mosques are thronged by religious practitioners during major Islamic festivals," he said, adding that people are free to choose their religious faith or no faith in Xinjiang.

Xinjiang attaches great importance to the preservation and development of the fine traditional culture of all ethnic groups and has promoted the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritages.

Abduwali Haliq, a musician living in Changji, is a good player of Tambur, a classic string instrument from Xinjiang. He enjoys exchanging skills with other musicians and always teaches local children to play the instrument.

"Those who fabricated the 'cultural genocide' nonsense should not lie through their teeth," said Haliq.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
U.S. remains greatest culprit for climate change: World Politics Review

Xinhua) 16:11, November 18, 2021

A firefighter battles against a wildfire dubbed Dixie Fire in Lassen National Forest, Northern California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2021. (Photo by Dong Xudong/Xinhua)

"Since 1850, when industrialization began producing human-made atmospheric carbon in substantial quantities for the first time, the United States has created 509 gigatons of carbon, or a fifth of the cumulative total," World Politics Review said.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States is "still by far the greatest culprit" for climate change, as has been commonly understood by climate specialists and yet rarely emphasized in U.S. coverage, World Politics Review (WPR) has reported.

In an article released last week, the online publisher of in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs, said that the huge discrepancies in cumulative carbon emissions between the United States and "belated entrants into the industrial age," such as China and India, point to the differentiated responsibilities that these countries are to burden.

Photo taken on Dec. 6, 2017 shows a view of Los Angeles City in heavy smog. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

"Since 1850, when industrialization began producing human-made atmospheric carbon in substantial quantities for the first time, the United States has created 509 gigatons of carbon, or a fifth of the cumulative total," the WPR article said.

It urged U.S. media and politicians to stop blame-shifting or scapegoating responsibilities with "flirting with apocalypse" narratives and instead focus more on global solidarity for Africa -- a continent in dire need of concrete actions and assistance, if humanity is to walk out of the crisis together.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Five-arch bridge built in Ming Dynasty resurfaces during dry season of Poyang Lake

(People's Daily App) 17:06, November 18, 2021

The water volum of East Chinas Poyang Lake changes at a wide rage seasonally, as an old saying goes that it is a lake in wet season but a line in dry season.

As Poyang Lake enters the dry season in winter, an ancient stone bridge which was submerged under the water resurfaced.

The stone bridge was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In ancient times, these stone bridges were important transportation facilities for the people in the lake area.

(Compiled and produced by Xu Shilin)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
French brand LOreal under fire in China over delayed deliveries, misleading marketing

17:21, November 18, 2021 By Dennis Meng ( People's Daily Online

Staff members transport packages at a logistics center in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. With orders pouring in at midnight Wednesday, this year's Singles' Day shopping spree peaked on multiple e-commerce platforms in China. (Xinhua/Zhang Haoran)

Sophia went on a shopping spree during the Double Eleven shopping festival. She and many of her friends had planned to spend big on cosmetics. The price tags, as they believed, would be just too tempting to turn down. But her shopping journey didnt end with the act of payment. After all the ordering came the long wait, and only after unpacking each of the parcel would she feel that her shopping revelry come complete. This year, however, that completeness was partially ruined when an eye cream marketed and sold by the French cosmetics company LOreal was never delivered.

I am so mad at LOreal, and its bot-filled customer service ignored my requests for days, if not weeks, said Sophia, during an interview with Peoples Daily Online. Sophia pre-ordered the eye cream on Oct. 20 on Taobao, Alibabas most popular e-commerce platform, during a live-streamed event, a prelude to this years Double Eleven festival, and later paid the full balance on Nov. 1. But even after the weeks-long shopping carnival came to an end on Nov. 12, Sophia still hadnt received the product.

In a series of requests she sent to LOreals customer service on Taobao, Sophia reiterated that it was unreasonable for it to take so long for the delivery and that the shopping platforms receipt confirmation would automatically be signed, even despite having had no status updates on the whereabouts of her package. The second they knew I was asking about the delivery, they sent me directly to their bot colleagues, she sighed.

Sophia is one of many thousands of consumers who have encountered similar headaches after purchasing LOreals products in recent weeks. Under the comments sections of LOreals official account on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform, angry customers posted screenshots of their complaints together with their purchasing records, demanding answers, with the rallying cry I want my money back! being one of their most commonly-used catchphrases.

Delayed delivery isnt the onlymaybe not even the biggesttrouble the French brand has found itself bogged down in recently, as a stack of complaints are being directing specifically at LOreals pricing mechanisms. Many Chinese customers who pre-ordered LOreals facial masks co-promoted by the company and livestreamers such as Li Jiaqi and Viya had found that they could buy the same masks three weeks later at only 60 percent of the price. I saw their promotion messages online on October 20 that read The Lowest Price of the Year and here I came, an Internet user quipped on Weibo. But guess what? On November 11, I saw a much LOWER price.

Following the heated disputes surrounding LOreal, Viya and Li Jiaqi separately announced on Nov. 17 that they would suspend their cooperative partnership with LOreal and that if the French company refused to offer any solutions within 24 hours they would personally compensate customers for the advertised price difference. LOreal meanwhile did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Dong Chunhua, professor at the East China University of Political Science and Law, said during an interview that such practices had apparently violated Chinas Consumers Rights and Interests Protection Law, which forbids false advertising, including scenarios in which a retailer advertises the years biggest discounts only to later continue selling the same products at still lower prices. According to the law, consumers whose legitimate rights and interests are infringed upon in receiving services may demand compensations from suppliers of the services, she added.

On Nov. 18, LOreal issued a statement in response to the latest episode, in which the company apologized for bringing about puzzlements to buyers because of the perplexed and complicated promotion mechanisms. The company said that the reason why a few customers bought their products at lower prices after the initial promotion period ended was that they might have used multiple coupons across the platform. We are working with relevant departments to conduct a sound and thorough investigation and we will do our best to provide customers affected with fair and proper solutions as soon as possible, the statement read.

For many, the statement isnt enough to appease their anger and disappointment. I want an apology and a refund, Sophia said. Next year, maybe I would think twice before buying any of their products.

Name has been changed for privacy.

(Web editor: Meng Bin, Bianji)
Trung An Hi-tech Farming JSC in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has won a bid for 15,000 tonnes of rice from the Republic of Korea, CEO Pham Thai Binh announced on November 17.

Under the contract, the company will export 15,000 tonnes of 100-percent broken rice at a Free-on-Board (FOB) price of 369 USD per tonne, to be delivered to the RoKs Port of Gwangyang sometime between March and June 2022.

Since the beginning of 2021, Trung An has won contracts to ship 48,763 tonnes of rice of different types to the RoK. This year, the RoK granted a 50,000-tonne quota for rice imports from Vietnam.

In the third quarter of this year, Trung Ans revenue declined 8 percent year on year to 500 billion VND (22.08 million USD). However, its pre-tax profit surged 66 percent to 40 billion VND, the highest ever since it was listed on the Hanoi Exchange (HNX) in 2019.

The rice exporter expects to earn 3.5 trillion VND in revenue and 105 billion VND in post-tax profit in 2021./.

VNA
Global players set to gather at international industry convention The 2021 World Manufacturing Convention will kick off on Friday in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province, adding a further boost to the provincial government's ambition to become a regional hub for smart manufacturing among domestic and global players. The four-day event, approved by the State Council, aims to deepen manufacturing ties between Anhui and the world, and is expected to attract a large number of participants from countries and regions across the world, including those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The convention, with a focus on digital empowerment and high-quality development, will be held both online and offline. A special exhibition area of 27,000 square meters at Hefei Binhu International Convention and Exhibition Center will host 23 major events categorized into four aspectsopening and closing ceremonies, keynote forums, 600 project matchmaking activities and 10 parallel forums. South Korea will be the country of honor at the conference, while Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang will be the regions of honor. During the past three sessions of the annual WMC, a total of 1,752 projects have been signed with a total investment of 1.8 trillion yuan ($281.5 billion), and 1,518 of those projects have started construction. Manufacturing is the foundation of the national economy and provides fundamental support for high-quality development. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the added value of China's manufacturing industry surpassed that of the United States in 2010, making China the largest manufacturing country in the world. Party secretary of the province Zheng Shanjie said the new mission entrusted by the central authorities to Anhui is to create an important and influential source of scientific and technological innovation, a gathering place for emerging industries, a new center for reform and opening-up, and a comprehensive green transformation zone for economic and social development. He noted that it is necessary for Anhui to further accelerate the progress in investment projects, while paying close attention to industrial innovation and keeping up with emerging industries and core technologies. Thus, the province should actively promote the transformation of more scientific and technological achievements into real productivity, he said. Meanwhile, it is also imperative to improve the internationalization of Anhui's cities, manage the pilot free trade zone in the province well, and elevate the level of opening-up to the outside world, striving to create a modern and beautiful Anhui, Zheng said. Anhui Governor Wang Qingxian stressed that technological innovation as an outstanding advantage in Anhui's development, and it should vigorously attract investment and talents, putting scientific and technological innovation at the forefront. It is necessary to make investment and project management a core part of economic work in Anhui, supporting high-quality development with high-quality investment, he said. The province should use modern marketing and other means to innovate industrial development models in a bid to continuously improve people's livelihood and promote common prosperity, Wang said. Through the annual WMC, the construction and implementation of a number of large projects have made positive contributions to Anhui's steady economic growth and the upgrading of its industries.


China will put in place targeted relending to support clean and efficient use of coal to facilitate green and low-carbon development, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday. Given China's coal-dominated energy resources, it is important to act in light of the national reality and work hard to make coal use cleaner and more efficient. "At present, coal is the energy source that we can truly rely on ourselves for supply. It will remain so for quite a long time to come, and this bears on China's development," Li said. "That said, we need to pursue a transformation in the path of development, we cannot stay on the path of energy-intensive development." On top of the financial instruments introduced earlier to support the reduction of carbon emissions, a targeted relending program with a quota of 200 billion yuan ($31.3 billion) will be rolled out to support the clean and efficient use of coal. The program will provide targeted support for safe, efficient, green and smart coal mining, clean and efficient coal processing, clean and efficient use of coal-fired power, clean industrial combustion and heating, clean residential heating and the comprehensive utilization of coal resources, and promote the development and utilization of coal-bed methane. National banks will issue loans at their discretion to eligible projects in the supported areas at a rate basically on par with the prime rate of loans with the same maturity. The People's Bank of China, the nation's central bank, may provide relending support to the banks equivalent to the amount of the loan principal. "There is huge potential for the clean use of coal. At present, the energy intensity of coal remains relatively high. We must accelerate the commercialization of the mature technologies we have, seek steady upgrades based on practices in our country and continue to deepen international cooperation," Li said. Measures such as lowering project capital contributions, proper tax incentives, increased funding support from government special bonds and accelerated depreciation will be explored to step up support for projects featuring clean and efficient use of coal. "Financial, fiscal and tax support can make a big difference. We need to fully consider the combined use of multiple financial, fiscal and tax policies to help lower costs and promote efficiency," Li said.


By Huang Jianfeng, Zhou Jiawang

BEIJING, Nov. 18 -- The finals of the 2nd Beijing Veterans Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition, jointly hosted by the Beijing Municipal Veterans Affairs Bureau and the Office of Beijing Integrated Military and Civilian Development Committee, were held online recently.

A total of 107 veterans' entrepreneurial and innovative companies or teams from Beijing competed in three categories including "emerging industries", "traditional industries and life service industries", and "innovative teams".

Projects of the Cloud XR software products and service, the Internet Plus nursing care service platform, and the individual protective equipment won the first prizes respectively in the three categories. At the same time, there are six second prizes and nine third prizes.

As for now, about 4,300 veterans in Beijing have successfully established enterprises with an output value of about 8.3 billion RMB yuan ($1.25 billion). Among them, more than 1,400 companies have registered capital of more than 10 million RMB yuan ($1.57 million). Companies in high-tech fields such as aerospace, new-generation information technology, and biomedicine accounted for more than 36 percent. The organization of entrepreneurship competition for veterans will strongly support and maintain a good atmosphere for veterans to seek employment and entrepreneurship.
Ukrainian soldiers are working in Lugansk, east Ukraine. (Photo credit: Xinhua News Agency)

By Li Wei and Hai Ning

In recent years, the term arc of crisis has often been used in the speeches by leaders of the EU and its members and the reports by European think tanks. It was originally used to describe the strip from South Asia through the Gulf region to North Africa, but it also fits the situation in regions around Europe now, stripping of the intense Cold War backdrop then.

After the European debt crisis in 2009, the Ukraine Crisis in 2014 lent another heavy blow to the relation between Europe and Russia and reversed the expansion of the EUs influence. The 2015 turmoil in the Middle East resulted in a refugee crisis that exposed the EU to a surge of terrorist attacks and sharply rising economic and social pressures.

In such a strategic environment, the EU issued its second A Global Strategy for the European Unions Foreign and Security Policy in 2016, in which it eagerly put forth the concept of strategic independence, posing a stark contrast to the rosy tone of good governance in its first such strategy released in 2003.

The EU has tried to manage its crisis and improve the surrounding environment through multilateral actions and diplomatic means inrecentyears, but to little avail. Turbulences frequently take place along the new arc of crisis and seem ready to spread and get more complicated.

Most of the troubles afflicting the EU should be attributed to Americas overt or covert instigation. Washington buried many mines in the EUs neighbors and then went ahead and shifted its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific, leaving the EU to eat the bitter fruit and clean up the mess.

Regarding Russia, the EU still has to follow America and NATOs strategic intentions, and its hard for France, Germany and Italy to take any concrete action on their strong wish to improve the relation with Russia.

There doesnt seem to be any hope of a breakthrough for the US-agitated Ukraine Crisis yet, and the two plus two Normandy regime co-initiated by France and Germany doesnt break the stalemate either. The EU also needs to follow Americas lead on the Iranian nuclear issue and Palestine-Israel issue.

At the same time, Russia and Turkey, two countries on the edge of Europe, are biding their time to fill the strategic vacuum around Europe left by the US. As the EU is increasingly bogged in its dilemma and Turkey is getting more confident, the EU countries like Greece, Cyprus and France are in acute opposition against Turkey on many matters.

When Ursula von der Leyen became the President of the European Commission in 2019, she proposed to build a geopolitical commission dedicated to enhancing the EUs presence in international and regional hotspot issues. That marked a turn in the EUs approaches and tools of neighbor governance from idealistic to pragmatic driven by previous setbacks.

Not only does the political circle wish to reinforce the EUs authority in global affairs, but the public also feels the same way. Data from the EUs official poll agency Eurobarometer shows that at least 70% of Europeans support the EU in playing a strong part in the world, but tension and fluctuations are unlikely to subside around Europe for quite some time to come. The new arc of crisis, like a thick cord, is tying the EUs hands on the international stage.
City authorities in Delhi have told the Supreme Court they are considering a weekend lockdown, similar to what was implemented during the pandemic. If so, it would be the first of a kind "pollution" lockdown.

The world's most polluted capital city has recorded levels for dangerous particles known as PM 2.5 that settle deep inside lungs many times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization. The haze that covers the city is a mix of fumes, including vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust, farm fires and fumes caused by the burning of waste in the open. In winter, the pollutants hang over the city due to low wind speeds.

Environmentalists pointed out that these steps would only marginally mitigate the air pollution crisis that grips New Delhi every winter. "The emergency action is not a magic bullet that will address the pollution crisis," said Anumita Rowchowdhury, executive director research and advocacy at New Delhi's Center for Science and Environment. "It only ensures that it will not worsen the pollution but it will not clean the air."

A panel of the federal environment ministry has also banned construction activity until the end of the week and barred trucks, except those carrying essential commodities, from entering the city as part of the series of emergency measures.

With the Indian capital enveloped in a haze of toxic smog, authorities ordered six thermal plants in the city's vicinity to shut temporarily, closed schools and colleges indefinitely and imposed work-from-home restrictions to control pollution levels that turned severe on several days this month.

The toxic smog is not restricted to the capital city -- skies across much of North India also turn grey at this time of the year leaving millions gasping for air.

But while Delhi has taken some steps to combat the dirty air by shutting down coal-fired power stations and switching most industry and public transport to clean fuel, the same standards have not been imposed by neighboring states, experts point out. "Air does not respect political boundaries. The time has come to take a regional approach and scale up stringent action in the entire Indo-Gangetic plains," said Roychowdhury. "For example, Delhi is the only city to have switched industry to natural gas, imposed clean fuel standards for vehicles and shut down coal plants. But the same needs to be done elsewhere. We really need to ramp up our energy transition."

However, phasing out coal, which still powers 70 percent of India's electricity grid, will not be easy. As North India battled its annual air pollution crisis, Indian delegates to the recent climate summit held in Scotland said developing countries were entitled to the responsible use of fossil fuels. "How can anyone expect that developing countries can make promises about phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies?" Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav asked at the summit. "Developing countries have still to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication."

India and China were blamed for watering down a commitment to phasing out coal at the summit.

But in India, environmentalists said the country's concerns were genuine. "The dilemma that India faces is, how quickly can it make the transition from coal?" said Chandra Bhushan, who heads the Delhi-based International Forum for Environment. "While coal does contribute to air pollution and climate change, we cannot shut down coal right away and replace it with renewables in a hurry. This is going to be a process."

Meanwhile, the severe air pollution has led to a public health emergency with many residents in Delhi and other North Indian cities struggling with respiratory problems and doctors warning it is a serious health hazard.

The dirty air kills more than a million people every year in India according to a report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, a U.S. research group.
The government on Wednesday decided to cut the minimum interval between full vaccination and booster shots from six months to four for elderly patients as the daily infection tally soared above 3,000.

On Thursday morning, the daily tally of new infections stood at 3,292, the most since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 522 people were seriously ill with coronavirus, surpassing the conservative "red line" the government had set itself, and out of 345 beds available for COVID-19 patients in Seoul's ICUs, only 67 were left.


Both have been at Naver for only a couple of years, Choi in charge of global business and Kim in charge of mergers and acquisitions.

Korea's No. 1 Internet portal Naver has appointed a woman as its new CEO. A board meeting on Wednesday picked Choi Soo-yeon (40), as CEO and Kim Nam-sun (43), as chief financial officer.

Naver has pledged to overhaul its work culture after an employee committed suicide in May because of bullying from a senior colleague. Choi and Kim will co-head a transition taskforce to come up with new management principles by the end of this year.

One IT industry insider said, "After being criticized for losing the venture spirit, Naver appointed a millennial as its new leader in the hope of making a fresh start. Both Choi and Kim are experts in mergers and acquisitions, which signals that the company aims for global expansion."

Choi is the youngest person ever to be appointed CEO at the search portal. Born in 1981, she graduated from Seoul National University in 2005 and joined Naver's marketing team. She went to law school in 2010 and passed the New York bar exam but returned to Korea and worked as an M&A attorney and joined Naver again in 2019.

Choi had been working under Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, taking legal advisory roles in overseas investment and acquisitions. Another IT industry insider said, "If the current incumbent was a specialist in service planning, Choi is an expert in global mergers and acquisitions."

Kim also graduated from Seoul National University and got a law degree from Harvard University. He worked in the mergers and acquisitions team at Macquarie until being scouted by Naver in August last year.

Critics say the new CEO lacks experience in key service businesses and may only be a placeholder for the founder. The fate of current CEO Han Sung-sook, whose contract has not yet expired, was apparently not discussed at the board meeting.

Naver said it will await the decisions of the taskforce, but Han is widely expected to be shunted into an overseas advisory role.

The Internet portal's annual sales surpassed W7 trillion and its main areas of business have expanded from search engines to e-commerce, finance, web content, metaverse and robots (US$1=W1,182). There is speculation that the latest appointment would allow more flexibility and independent management of each business.
Three out of every 10 Koreans want to travel overseas within a year, preferably to Hawaii, Australia and Germany.

Credit card company Visa conducted a poll in 14 countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region last year and this year to gauge how they feel about resuming travel.

Overall four out of 10 consumers in the region wanted to go on an overseas trip within the next 12 months, but in Korea the proportion grew from 27 percent in November 2020 to 32 percent this September.

Hawaii, Australia, Germany, Russia, the U.S., the Philippines and Indonesia were the top choices of Koreans.

Visa said consumers are giving priority to safety when traveling overseas amid the coronavirus pandemic and prefer shorter trips.
South Korea is selling W4.15 trillion worth of Cheongung II intercept missiles to the UAE (US$1=W1,182).

The UAE's Defense Ministry tweeted Tuesday that it plans to acquire the anti-missile M-SAM system for 12.9 billion dirhams.

The system, which was developed to intercept North Korean ballistic missiles, was first deployed warfare-ready here late last year.

The two governments are expected to sign the contract by the end of the year after some fine tuning.

The deal covers not only intercept missiles but also a three-dimensional phased-array radar and a fire-control system, and provides a welcome boost to South Korea's defense industry.

The two countries have a checkered relationship including a spat over murky military agreements signed during previous administrations, but they patched it up. South Korea has dispatched a unit of troops to the Gulf country to help train its special forces since 2011.
"It is," Claude added, "also a way of confronting the Academie Francaise that stays in its conservative corner and continues to ignore and scorn users of the French language."

"It is very important that dictionaries include the 'iel' pronoun in their referencing as it reflects how the use of the term is now well accepted," said Dorah Simon Claude, 32, a doctoral student who identifies as "iel."

Though at first the change went mostly unnoticed, boisterous debate broke out this week in a nation that prides itself on its human rights tradition but that also fiercely protects its cultural heritage from foreign meddling. In one camp are the traditionalists, including some political leaders, who criticize the move as a sign that France is lurching toward an American-style "woke" ideology. In the other is a new generation of citizens who embrace nonbinary as the norm.

Le Petit Robert introduced the word "iel" -- an amalgamation of "il" (he) and "elle" (she) -- to its online edition last month. While the term is gaining currency among young people, it is still far from being widely used, or even understood, by many French speakers.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer is not in the same camp. He went to Twitter on Wednesday to say that "inclusive writing is not the future of the French language." The 56-year-old former law professor warned that schoolchildren should not use "iel" as a valid term despite its inclusion in Le Robert, seen as a linguistic authority on French since 1967.

Francois Jolivet, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party, also made his distaste plain. Nonbinary pronouns are, he suggested, a worrying sign that France is embracing a "woke" ideology. Jolivet wrote a letter to the bastion of French language, the 400-year-old Academie Francaise, claiming that Le Robert's "solitary campaign is an obvious ideological intrusion that undermines our common language and its influence."

The general director of Le Robert editions, Charles Bimbenet, jumped to the dictionary's defense Wednesday in a statement. Far from dictating which terms should be used, he said, Le Petit Robert was elucidating the word's meaning, now that it is growing in currency nationwide.

Since "the meaning of the word 'iel' cannot be understood by reading it alone," Bimbenet said, "it seemed useful to us to specify its meaning for those who encounter it, whether they wish to use it or... reject it." "Robert's mission is to observe and report on the evolution of a changing and diverse French language," he said.

 Warning on Neutrality

In 2017, the Academie Francaise warned that moves to make French more gender neutral would create "a disunited language, with disparate expression, that can create confusion verging on illegibility."

Gendered languages like French are seen as a particular hurdle for advocates of nonbinary terms as all nouns are categorized as either masculine or feminine, unlike in English.

Not all European countries are moving at the same speed as France. In Greece, where all nouns have not two, but three possible genders, there is no official nonbinary pronoun, but groups who support them suggest using "it."

In Spain, after Carmen Calvo, a former deputy prime minister and affirmed feminist, asked the Royal Spanish Academy to advise on the use of inclusive language in the Constitution, its reply the next year was crystal clear: "Inclusive language" means "the use of the masculine to refer to men and women."
In recent times, the rise in steel prices has almost become the topic of most concern to everyone. Facing the continuous rise in steel prices, many leading steel stocks have seen a significant increase in performance, which has also triggered a large num...
According to a press release published by Boeing on November 18, 2021, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) accepted the first of five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft that will be operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF).

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (Picture source: Aviationwire)

Norway's first P-8A aircraft, named Vingtor, was delivered to the NDMA during a ceremony at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

The milestone comes four years after the NDMA entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy for the P-8A, and two years before the new aircraft are scheduled to begin taking over maritime patrol duties in Norways high north.

Norways four remaining aircraft are all in advanced stages of production and will be delivered to the NDMA in 2022. The five P-8As will replace the RNoAF current fleet of six P-3 Orions and two DA-20 Jet Falcons and will be operated by 333 Squadron at Evenes Air Station.

Norwegian companies Nammo, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Andoya Space and Berget currently have agreements with Boeing that are part of a tailored industrial cooperation plan related to Norways acquisition of five P-8A aircraft. Boeing continues to work with the NDMA and Norwegian industry to expand that plan and support economic growth throughout Norway.

The delivery to Norway also marks the 142nd P-8 aircraft delivered to global customers, including the U.S. Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Indian Navy, and the United Kingdoms Royal Air Force. First deliveries to New Zealand, Korea, and Germany will take place in 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively.

To date, the global operating P-8 fleet has amassed more than 400,000 mishap-free flight hours. The P-8 is long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. In addition, the P-8 performs humanitarian and search and rescue missions around the globe.

The P-8A can be armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. The Harpoon also called AGM-84 called is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security). It gives the Poseidon the ability to challenge enemy naval movements, either in support of offensive operations or in order to defend friendly forces.
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Weekly News Digest November 18, 2021  In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITIs Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.



CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items. EveryLibrary Starts Petition to Help End Book Banning in the U.S. EveryLibrary shared an update on censorship measures in libraries and urges everyone to sign its petition to lawmakers. Librarians around the United States are facing measures that mean that they may soon find themselves under attack for stocking books against racism and about the lives and experiences of LGBT Americans, EveryLibrary notes. It calls out the following states: In Texas, school librarians are facing an increased workload as a result of an order to survey their collections for titles deemed potentially dangerous.

In Wyoming, a recent violent public outcry forced library staff to cancel a program for children.  Many have called for the removal of books that they disagree with accompanied by criminal charges and arrests for librarians found to be in noncompliance.

In Indiana, a bill that would punish schools and public libraries for sharing harmful material with minors, was withdrawn before its final reading in the Senate by the author of the bill, Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville. View the petition, titled Dont Ban Books in the United States, here. Government should not get to dictate reading material that is available in libraries, says John Chrastka, EveryLibrarys executive director. Were encouraging the people who are alarmed by these recent acts of legislation to sign our petition. Our lawmakers must hear from the voters that they support freedom of speech in libraries. For more information, read the press release.

Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor Brandi Scardilli
[November 18, 2021] Announcing General Availability of Version 12 of the Market-Leading Majesco P&C Core Suite Majesco, a global leader of cloud insurance platform software for insurance business transformation, today announced the general availability of the version 12 of the market-leading Majesco P&C Core Suite, including Majesco Policy for P&C, Majesco Billing for P&C and Majesco Claims for P&C. Majesco was named a Leader in the September 2021 Magic Quadrant for P&C Core Insurance Platforms, North America [1] and named a Dominant Provider in the May 2021 Novarica Market Navigator Property/Casualty Policy Administration Systems. Insurance leaders are replacing their legacy or modern, on-premise core with next-gen SaaS (News - Alert) core platforms that are built on the cloud, leverage APIs and microservices, integrate with robust ecosystem of partners, and AI/ML-enabled reflecting a major technology and business shift that requires carriers to be agile, innovative and a step ahead of ongoing market shifts. "We are excited about our latest release to help insurers, reinsurers, startups, greenfields, brokers and MGAs rethink and strengthen their business with advanced, innovative core capabilities," said Manish Shah, President and Chief Product Officer at Majesco. "The demand for broader digital and data capabilities with core offers companies intelligent core to meet today's demands while preparing for tomorrows with speed and flexibility. We will continue to work with our customers, partners and the industry to drive outside-in capabilities that enable them to meet their customer demands, needs and expectations." The release highlights Majesco's continued strategic investment in the Majesco P&C Core Suite with a deep focus on digital enablement, innovative capabilities, and embedded intelligence that keeps the industry at the leading edge of change. Key elements for the P&C Core Suite release include: Cutting Edge Self-Serve Bureau Adoptions - Commercial Lines and Workers' Compensation insurers now have a cutting-edge capability to stay current with the latest rates, rules and forms to remain compliant with regulatory changes and ISO, NCCI and other bureau content. The innovative self-serve capability enables simplicity, independence, consistency, and efficiency through a wizard-based adoption process while providing an auto adoption option to update Majesco Policy for P&C with the circulars with no manual user intervention. Next Gen Customer Experience - Majesco Digital Customer360 for P&C is pre-integrated with Majesco P&C core and offers a holistic, seamless, and compelling experience across policy, billing, and claims - a shift from the typical transactional experience to a true customer experience. Next Gen Underwriting Workbench - Majesco Digital Underwriter360 for P&C is pre-integrated with Majesco P&C Core, providing insight-driven underwriting that enhances underwriting effectiveness and profitability, drives underwriter productivity, and creates greater transparency and collaboration with brokers. Advanced Billing Expertise for Large Commercial & Loss Sensitive Policies - Majesco Billing for P&C expands expertise for Large Commercial and Loss Sensitive policies with advanced billing capabilities including capture of estimated and deferred vs. billable premiums, roll over of escrow and deposits, retrospective audits, paid and incurred losses, large third-party deductibles, dividends and more. Embedded Intelligence - Signals, an advanced analytic capability of Majesco Business Analytics (MBA) is fully pre-integrated with Majesco P&C Core Suite. Leveraging robust machine learning capabilities, it empowers the ability to detect patterns, outliers, trend changes and other business events that generate automated alerts and notifications to Underwriters and Claim Adjusters for further investigation. The embedded analytics enhances end user effectiveness with insight learning and contextual analysis using natural language explanations and data visualizations. Enriched Auto Reconciliation and Balancing - A new capability for Majesco Billing for P&C that automatically reconciles the trial balance, including general ledger feeds daily, while providing automated alerts to specific users with precise details in case discrepancies that provide increased visibility to accounting and finance. Containerization and Auto Scaling - Majesco P&C Core Suite has been re-architected as Docker images, orchestrated using Kubernetes and deployed as Helm charts enabling insurers to run on any Cloud to provide portability, agility, speed-to-market, and ease of environment consistency management for companies accelerating their business transformation on the cloud. Strengthened Data Privacy and Security - Majesco P&C Core Suite is "Veracode Verified" with the "Veracode Standard" certification. The Majesco P&C Core Suite follows conventional best practices such as firewalls, Dynamic Application Security (News - Alert) Testing including external certifications, but now with the "Veracode Standard" certification, addresses security at the software code level through Static Application Security Testing. "Recent Aite-Novarica research shows that core systems implementations continue to be a top priority for insurers in 2022. Carriers are finding that solutions with advanced self-service capabilities, robust out of the box policy and billing functionality and the ability to deliver an exceptional customer experience are critical in achieving business goals in a timely manner. Version 12 of Majesco P&C Core Suite provides key digital, policy, billing and architectural enhancements that can help insurers improve both internal operations and customer service," said Martina Conlon, Head of P&C Insurance Practice at Aite-Novarica Group. [1] Gartner (News - Alert) , "Magic Quadrant for P&C Core Platforms, North America", Sham Gill and James Ingham, September 14, 2021. In 2019, this report was titled "Magic Quadrant for P&C Insurance Core Platforms", North America". Gartner Disclaimer

GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose About Majesco

Majesco is the leading software partner to both the P&C and L&A insurance markets to modernize, optimize and innovate their businesses at speed and scale. Over 330 insurers, from greenfields, start-ups and MGAs to the largest insurers, reinsurers and brokers use Majesco's next generation SaaS platform solutions of core, data, and analytics, digital, distribution, absence management and a rich ecosystem marketplace of established and InsurTech partners to build the future of insurance. Our technology, expertise and leadership help insurers innovate and connect to build the future of their business. With over 825 successful implementations and over 65% of our customers on Cloud with Majesco platform solutions, together we have an amazing track record of innovation and real-world results. For more details on Majesco, please visit www.majesco.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005223/en/

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Xinhua News Agency: It is reported that Premier Li Keqiang recently attended the World Economic Forum Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders. Can you brief us on the meeting and its outcomes?

Zhao Lijian: On the evening of November 16, Premier Li Keqiang attended the World Economic Forum Special Virtual Dialogue with Global Business Leaders, delivered remarks and had interactions and exchanges with business leaders. Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab chaired the dialogue, and nearly 400 entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries attended the event.

In his remarks, Premier Li stressed that the world is still seeing the flare-ups of the pandemic, weak global economic recovery and increasing uncertainties and destabilizing factors. China stands ready to work with all parties to fight COVID-19, promote economic recovery and keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded. We will firmly uphold the basic norms governing international relations based on the UN Charter, safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, and enhance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. We should strengthen macro policy coordination, maintain global financial stability and promote steady recovery of the world economy.

Premier Li Keqiang talked about Chinas current economic situation, pointing out that China is advancing epidemic control and economic and social development in a coordinated way, and the economy overall has continued to recover. In the meantime, we do face some new downward pressure, but the fundamentals of China's long-term economic growth have not changed. Following the requirement of basing ourselves on the new development stage, applying the new development philosophy, fostering a new development paradigm and pursuing high-quality development, we will strengthen cross-cyclical adjustments to ensure that the economy operates within proper range and stays on a steady course. We will unswervingly open wider to the world, promote international cooperation in various fields and at various levels, foster a world-class, market-oriented business environment governed by a sound legal framework, treat all market entities as equals, and protect intellectual property rights in accordance with the law.

Premier Li Keqiang commended foreign enterprises' support for China's reform and opening-up as well as modernization, stressing that as long as we enhance confidence, face up to difficulties, and uphold openness, inclusiveness, solidarity and cooperation, we will create a bright future for world economic development.

Premier Li also answered questions from business representatives of various countries on energy supply, green development, medical and health care, urbanization and other issues.

MASTV: German Chancellor Angela Merkel now acting in a caretaker capacity said it would be wrong to completely decouple from China and that it would hurt Germany and Europe. She advised the new government and the European Union to continue to work with China. Do you have any response? Separately, according to a Bloomberg report, China is accelerating plans to replace American and foreign technology, quietly empowering the Information Technology Application Innovation Working Committee to vet and approve local suppliers in sensitive areas from cloud to semiconductors, so as to draw up a white-list. The Committee has now been entrusted by the Chinese government to help set industry standards and train personnel to operate trusted software. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, Chancellor Merkel attaches importance to developing relations with China. She visited China for 12 times during her term, and helped to deepen and substantiate practical cooperation and friendly interactions in various areas with China, which has brought tangible benefits to the two countries and the two peoples. China highly appreciates this. In the meantime, China always believes that mutual respect, equal treatment, exchanges and mutual learning, and win-win cooperation should be the mainstream in a globalized world.

On your second question, the Bloomberg article is pure disinformation. China is not formulating any plan to replace American and foreign technology or authorizing the Information Technology Application Innovation Working Committee to vet local suppliers to draw up a white-list.

China is committed to opening up to the world. We welcome more foreign companies to provide technology, products and services that meet Chinas requirements. Our consistent position of supporting economic globalization and fostering an open world economy has not changed and will never change.

CCTV: According to reports, the seventh batch of COVID-19 vaccine assistance provided by China to Cambodia arrived on November 17. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Banh received the vaccines at the airport. Could you share more information on China-Cambodia vaccine cooperation?

Zhao Lijian: China and Cambodia are close neighbors and iron-clad friends. Since COVID-19 started, the two sides have been working together to overcome the difficulties with mutual assistance. After its self-developed vaccine was given conditional approval for general public use, China provided doses first to Cambodia and overcame difficulties to guarantee supply, demonstrating the strength of our community with a shared future.

We are glad to see that under Prime Minister Hun Sens strong leadership, Cambodia has completed its phase-one vaccine rollout ahead of schedule, brought the epidemic under effective control at home, and resumed socioeconomic development in an orderly fashion. China stands ready to continue providing vaccine support and anti-epidemic supplies assistance to Cambodia based on its needs.

CNR: We noticed that a video conference commemorating the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Flying Tigers in China for the war of resistance was held in Beijing the other day. Can you talk about the relevance of the commemoration under current circumstances?

Zhao Lijian: On November 16, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) hosted a video conference in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the arrival of Flying Tigers in China for the war of resistance. Zheng Jianbang, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee attended the event and delivered a keynote speech. Qin Gang, Chinese Ambassador to the US, delivered remarks via video link. CPAFFC President Lin Songtian, family members of General Claire Lee Chennault, representatives of Flying Tigers veterans, and heads of organizations including the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, the Flying Tiger Historical Organization and the US Sino Friendship Association all delivered remarks at the event. Around 200 people from various sectors in China and the US attended the conference online.

The story of the Flying Tigers carries with it the deep bond of friendship forged with the ultimate sacrifice by the Chinese and American people. Over the past eight decades, the story has been passed down from generation to generation and remains as relevant today as ever. Our two countries should carry forward this bond of friendship, enhance mutual understanding and pursue peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation on the basis of mutual respect. Just as President Xi said during the virtual meeting with President Biden, as the worlds two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the US need to increase communication and cooperation, each run their domestic affairs well and, at the same time, shoulder their share of international responsibilities, and work together to advance the noble cause of world peace and development. China and the US need to work together with the rest of the international community to jointly address global challenges, promote global development, and safeguard a fair and equitable international order. That encapsulates the relevance of our commemoration and inheritance of the Flying Tigers spirit today.

The Chinese side stands ready to work with the US to implement the spirit of our two heads of states virtual meeting, maintain dialogue and communication, strengthen exchange and cooperation, and advance exchanges at various levels and across all sectors to inject more positive energy into bilateral ties and promote the sound and steady development of our relations.

Bloomberg: The Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary said that three Chinese coast guard vessels blocked and water cannoned two Philippine boats en route to supply food to soldiers in a military outpost in the South China Sea. Could the foreign ministry comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: On the evening of November 16, two Philippine supply boats trespassed into waters near Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao without China's consent. Chinese coast guard vessels performed official duties in accordance with law and upheld China's territorial sovereignty and maritime order. At present, the sea area of Ren'ai Jiao is generally tranquil. China and the Philippines are in communication on this.

The Paper: Yesterday the Peoples Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region held the 60th press conference on Xinjiang-related issues in Beijing and shared the regions experience in counter-terrorism and deradicalization. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: At this press conference on Xinjiang-related issues, the spokesperson of the regional government shared seven key takeaways from Xinjiangs counter-terrorism and deradicalization experience. First, follow international principles on counter-terrorism. Second, uphold rule of law in theory and practice. Third, protect human rights in fighting terrorism. Fourth, avoid associating counter-terrorism and deradicalization efforts with any particular region, ethnicity or religion. Fifth, uphold justice through severity tempered with clemency and bring back those who have gone astray by preventive education. Sixth, sustain and improve peoples livelihood. Seventh, take part in practical international counter-terrorism cooperation. The seven takeaways crystallize the hard work and wisdom of the officials and people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang in fighting violent terrorist crimes and protecting peoples safety and property. They also underpin Xinjiangs stability, flourishing economy and improving living standards. At the press conference, some victims of violent terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and their families shared their stories, saying they abhor the threat posed by terrorism and the crimes carried out by terrorists and hope what happened to them would never be repeated.

I want to stress that Xinjiang-related issues are in essence about countering violent terrorism, radicalization and separatism, not about human rights or religion. In the face of the grave and complex counter-terrorism situation, Xinjiang has taken a host of decisive, robust and effective deradicalization measures. As a result, Xinjiang has seen no violent terrorist case for five years in a row. The region now enjoys social stability and harmony, as well as economic development and prosperity. The local people are living a safe, happy and fulfilling life. These facts can best reflect the human rights situation in Xinjiang as it is and speak volumes about the effectiveness of Chinas Xinjiang policy. They are the most powerful response to all sorts of lies and disinformation on Xinjiang. With the concerted efforts of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, we believe that the region will embrace an even brighter future.

Hubei Media Group: On November 12, the US Department of the Treasury designated four entities and two individuals including the Eritrean Defense Force, the Peoples Front for Democracy and Justice, and Hagos Ghebrehiwet W Kidan, who is economic advisor to the Eritrean President, pursuant to an Executive Order President Biden signed on September 17. Does the Chinese side have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China consistently holds that international law and basic norms governing international relations should be complied with as countries interact with each other. We oppose interference in other countries domestic affairs with the use or threat of unilateral sanctions. Past experience has shown that the unilateral sanctions imposed by certain countries failed to produce any constructive effect on regional peace and stability. On the contrary, they often had a devastating impact on the economy and livelihood of the affected countries and were unanimously rejected by the international community. China hopes that the parties concerned will prudently handle relevant issues and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

China Review News: Anne Neuberger, Deputy Assistant to the US President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology on the National Security Council, who is in Japan for a visit, said on November 17 that under the Taiwan Relations Act, we ensure that Taiwan can maintain sufficient self-defense, including in cyber. She also expressed concerns over the cyber attack launched by Chinas mainland and others that may undermine cross-Strait relations. Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: The so-called Taiwan Relations Act cited by the US side gravely violates the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiques and essentially places domestic law above international obligations. It is illegal, null and void. On the Taiwan question, the US should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiques, rather than something it unilaterally concocted. What truly undermines cross-Strait relations is Taiwan independence separatist activities and external interference. China consistently opposes and cracks down on all forms of cyber attacks. As is well-known, the US is the notorious empire of hacking. The US should stop playing the trick of the thief crying stop the thief, and stop instigating cross-Strait confrontation, to avoid severely harming China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Bloomberg: A report from the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission said that the US should bolster its ability to deter a Chinese attack against Taiwan and strengthen oversight of Chinese companies. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on the report? In addition, White House officials said the US is seeking ways to discuss issues of strategic stability with China as concerns in Washington mount over Beijings growing nuclear arsenal. Does the foreign ministry have any comment on that?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, this commission you mentioned concocts the so-called report on China year after year, which interferes in Chinas domestic affairs and undermines China-US relations. The report, awash with disinformation and malicious slander, mirrors the commissions persistent ignorance and entrenched bias against China.

The relevant US institution should reject the Cold-War zero-sum mentality and ideological bias, follow the trend of the times and the aspiration of people of the world, plant more flowers and fewer thorns, do more things conducive to promoting mutual trust and cooperation between our two countries instead of the opposite.

On your second question, I noted the clarification made by the US side on this.

Associated Press of Pakistan: As per reports, an Indonesian diplomat based in Pakistan has recently said that ASEAN can connect with global networks like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative. What is your response?

Zhao Lijian: We appreciate the remarks made by the Indonesian official. China is ready to work with other parties to continue to advance high-quality BRI cooperation and form synergy between regional development plans so as to inject impetus into economic recovery and sustainable development in the region and beyond.

NHK: Taiwan held a ceremony this morning to commission the first squadron of F-16V fighters. The ceremony was chaired by Tsai Ing-wen and attended by the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Do you have any comment?

Zhao Lijian: China's position on the Taiwan question and US-Taiwan relations is consistent and clear-cut. China opposes any official contact between the US and Taiwan. We hope that the US side will earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of three China-US Joint Communiques, speak and act with prudence on the Taiwan question and refrain from sending any wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces. The crux of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait is that the Taiwan independence separatist forces spare no effort to split the motherland and collude with external forces. What they do is just like an egg knocking itself against a stone and an ant trying to shake a huge tree, which is doomed to fail.

Bloomberg: The US and Japan announced the formation of a new trade partnership to strengthen their alliance and coordinate on third country concerns. And the second question is China's ambassador to the EU has said some businesses see the EU creating new trade barriers through discriminatory practices. It is reported today that China's Hisense Group is reported to be considering a $1 billion bid for a unit of Siemens. What does China want to see if Hisense does indeed make a bid?

Zhao Lijian: On your first question, how the US and Japan grow their economic and trade ties is their own affairs. The most basic principle to follow when countries conduct cooperation is that they should not target or undermine the interests of any third party.

On your second question, the Chinese Ambassador to the EU already expounded on Chinas position. Relevant measures of the European side violate the spirit of the WTO and the market principle of fairness and justice. They have added to the uncertainties that are experienced by foreign businesses, including Chinese companies, in their operation in Europe. Such measures have increased the difficulties and burden of enterprises. They are not conducive at all to maintaining the stability of global supply and industrial chains or promoting economic recovery in the post-COVID era. The European side should earnestly abide by basic principles of the WTO, remove the disturbances of protectionism, and advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

With regard to the specific situation about the cooperation, I would like to refer you to competent authorities in China and relevant companies.

China Daily: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on November 17, designating Russia, China and other eight countries as Countries of Particular Concern for violating religious freedom. Do you have any response?

Zhao Lijian: China firmly opposes the groundless accusation and smearing against China's religious freedom by the US side. The Chinese government protects citizens' freedom of religious belief in accordance with law. In China, there are nearly 200 million religious believers, over 380,000 clerical personnel, about 5,500 religious groups and over 140,000 places of worship registered for religious activities. People of all ethnic groups in China fully enjoys the freedom of religious belief.

Facts speak louder than words, and a lie repeated a thousand times does not become truth. The spread of Islamophobia and other extremist ideologies in the US has caused a lot of tragedies. Instead of reflecting on itself, the US has frequently used religious issues to interfere in other countries' internal affairs in disregard of facts. The US side should face up to its own problems, manage its own affairs well, respect facts, set aside prejudice and stop using religious issues to interfere and smear other countries.
The Lithuanian government, in disregard of the Chinese sides strong objection and repeated dissuasion, has approved the establishment of the so-called Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania by the Taiwan authorities. This act creates the false impression of one China, one Taiwan in the world, flagrantly violates the one-China principle, and renounces the political commitment made by Lithuania in the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. It undermines Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, and grossly interferes in Chinas internal affairs. The Chinese government expresses strong protest over and firm objection to this extremely egregious act, and will take all necessary measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Lithuanian side shall be responsible for all the ensuing consequences.

There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory, and the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. We demand that the Lithuanian side immediately correct its wrong decision. We also have this stern warning for the Taiwan authorities: Seeking "Taiwan independence" by soliciting foreign support is a totally misguided attempt that is doomed to fail.
On November 17th 2021, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone held its second online Information Salon with media friends and friendship organizations to exchange information on Chinas development and China-Sierra Leone relations.

The Salon was attended by H.E Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang and diplomats of the Embassy, Honorable Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Parliament Members Hon. Aiah Kassehgbama, Hon. Loloh Tongi, Hon. Unpha Koroma, President of SLAJ Mr. Ahmed Nasralla, station managers, editors and journalists from various media institutions.

Ambassdor Hu introduced the main contents of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the preparation work of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to be held in Senegal, the Taiwan question and relevant information about the virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden of the United States.

Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo and other Hon. MPs expressed their admiration over Chinas rapid development and highly commended Chinas flourishing relationship with Sierra Leone and other African countries. They reaffirmed their support for the One-China policy.

The Embassy diplomats answered questions related to Chinas economic development, climate change response, whole-process peoples democracy, fighting Covid-19, 2021Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Members of forth estate shared their insights on relevant topics.




By Trend

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is ready to continue with local currency operations in Azerbaijan, Dmitry Pankin, President of BSTDB said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

"While a key raison detre for MDBs is the mobilization of external resources (foreign currencies) at attractive rates, and this will remain the case, there is nevertheless a growing demand for local currency lending in many markets where MDBs operate in order to help expand and deepen those markets, contribute to de-dollarization policies, and help catalyze greater external involvement in financial activities denominated in local currencies. BSTDB was the first MDB to undertake a local currency operation in Azerbaijan, and we intend to continue such a presence in collaboration with Azerbaijani banks to help promote financial sector development. We expect that this will be especially beneficial for the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, which needs to develop substantially in order to support non-energy growth and to generate employment opportunities," he said.

Pankin noted that the Bank is making certain adjustments to its business model, but it is not overhauling it extensively.

"The basic model of multilateral development banks (MDBs) is to mobilize external resources for investment in the country of operation, so as to undertake investment in priority sectors that otherwise might not take place due to the perception of prevailing country risks. Fundamentally, this will not change for the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, although there will be certain new features and changes of emphasis within the overall framework.

One of these has already been underway since 2018, and that is to shift more financing towards infrastructure investment in order to help Member States to deal with the extensive investment needs they face, which have become worse after years of under-investment that followed from the 2008 financial crisis. Azerbaijan in this respect has been less affected, as investment- particularly public investment in infrastructure- continued at a relatively healthy pace with the likely exception of the economic slowdown between 2015-2017. Having said this, investment rates have fallen in recent years in Azerbaijan, and going forward we will be keen to work both with public agencies and with private firms in order to help investment recover."
By Trend

Azerbaijan's transit opportunities can make its roads an alternative to the Suez Canal, Director General of the Transit and International Affairs Department of Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization (RMTO) Javad Hedayati told Trend.

According to the official, Azerbaijan's roads and road infrastructure are at an advanced level. Azerbaijan has invested in this direction and done great work. The Azerbaijani state has taken steps in this direction with a very clear and transparent strategy.

The incident involving a ship in the Suez Canal last year and the long-term closure of the canal was a threat to international trade. After this incident, many countries began to think about finding a solution to this restriction, he added.

Hedayati noted that Azerbaijan can connect Iran to Russia, the Caucasus and the Black Sea in the west of the Caspian Sea.

In addition, this route, where Iran and Azerbaijan are located, can connect East Asia, China, South Korea and India, which have several trillion dollars in trade with European countries, he said.

The director-general emphasized that Iran and Azerbaijan should make the most of this golden opportunity. Because if transit roads are not used in the next 2-3 years, this opportunity may not be easily obtained again. In this regard, it is important to activate the route between the two countries. So that, this route can always maintain its activity.

"Currently, this route is just being focused on, it needs to be fully activated. Digitization of documents, permit forms, reduction of truck stops at the borders, coordination of controls are positive steps to be taken in this area. Because this route is a very ideal route, Hedayati said.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Ramin Aslanov's photo works will be exhibited at Heydar Aliyev Palace on November 23.

The main goal of the project is to support talented youth, form aesthetic taste and show the beauty of Azerbaijan.

All proceeds from the sale of works will be transferred to the YASHAT Foundation.

Set up by the presidential decree in December 2020, the foundation's work covers the families of servicemen killed or disabled during the war and also the families of employees of state bodies (institutions) who became disabled or lost their lives while serving in the liberated lands or while removing the consequences of military operations in the liberated lands.

YASHAT receives donations made through voluntary financial assistance provided by Azerbaijani citizens, Azerbaijanis living abroad, other individuals and legal entities, as well as other sources not prohibited by law.

The exhibition will be followed by a concert. The music pieces by a prominent composer People's Artist Jahangir Jahangirov will be performed as part of the event.
By Trend

The recent events on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia testify to the importance of launching the delimitation and demarcation processes rapidly, Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said during a weekly briefing, Trend reports.

Russia holds talks with both Azerbaijan and Armenia to solve the situation peacefully, spokesperson said.

Zakharova said that the Russian defense minister held phone talks with his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts.

As a result of these mediation efforts, clashes have ceased since yesterday evening, spokesperson said. We continue to work together to ease the tension.

Zakharova said that Moscow calls on both sides to show restraint, prevent new incidents and resolve all disputes only through political and diplomatic means.

We are ready to continue to assist the sides in the interests of maintaining peace and stability in the region, Zakharova added.
By Trend

Javier Colomina Piriz, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and NATO Secretary Generals Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia has expressed concern over the persistent tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

NATO supports the normalisation process and the settlement of the remaining issues, he wrote on Twitter.

Seven servicemen of the Azerbaijani army were killed and 10 were wounded as a result of the military provocation committed by Armenia on November 16 on the state border with Azerbaijan.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev has said that the formation of children loyal to national values is of exceptional importance, Azertag reported on November 18.

He made the remarks in an address to participants of the All-Republican Forum of Azerbaijani Children on November 18.

Children are the future of society. The formation of our children as individuals loyal to our national values and high moral standards is of exceptional importance for the progress of our country, he said.

He noted that the consistent social policy of Azerbaijan to protect childrens rights also serves this purpose.

The president emphasized that many of the issues raised at the last forum are fully reflected in the 2020-2030: Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Children, which aims to ensure the comprehensive protection of childrens rights.

You are lucky to be living in our country as it has entered the new century and the new millennium as an independent state. You should be proud to be witnessing the glorious and dignified history of our victorious people, he said.

Aliyev underlined that with the victory in the Patriotic War, the Azerbaijani army restored not only historical justice but also the rights and freedoms of more than a million refugees and IDPs, which had been violated for more than 30 years, thus avenging our innocent children who fell victim to enemy provocations.

He added that today Azerbaijan is on the path of rapid development.

The fact that our country is getting stronger and stronger every year is also a guarantee of your happy and prosperous future. The current generation will entrust mighty Azerbaijan to you. That is why you must always work hard and represent the Motherland with a deeper realization of your responsibilities. I believe that you, as a spiritually rich generation, will grow up in the spirit of Azerbaijanism and spare no effort for the future development and success of our Republic, he said.

Your [children] participation in this Forum, which brings together all Azerbaijani children, is a manifestation of the great confidence shown in you. I do hope that the discussions you will hold within the Forum will mark the beginning of a new stage in the implementation of our countrys children policy, he added.
By Trend

OSCE calls for de-escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Swedish Foreign Minister, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde wrote on Twitter, Trend reports.

Welcome ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan after Russian mediation and called for de-escalation. Deep regret for loss of lives, she wrote.

Seven servicemen of the Azerbaijani army were killed and 10 were wounded as a result of the military provocation committed by Armenia on November 16 on the state border with Azerbaijan.




By Trend

Armenia may lose Zangazur as well in case of a war, well-known Russian political analyst, TV presenter and public figure Maxim Shevchenko told Trend , commenting on Armenias recent provocative actions on the border with Azerbaijan.

This confrontation is a consequence of the incompleteness of the political process after the war in 2020, the analyst added. I am sure that there is a desire within the Armenian society for revenge, bitterness from defeat, and hope for an external ally who will come and save.

Shevchenko added that when Nazi Germany was suffering defeat from the end of 1943, its fate was obvious.

Nevertheless, there was hope that Stalin would quarrel with Roosevelt, a miracle weapon would appear, the analyst said. It is necessary to repulse the provocateurs, but at the same time to follow the peace process by assisting the Armenian society to find this way of peace.

Shevchenko thinks that Armenia can lose a lot in case of a war.

During these two days Azerbaijan has clearly shown that as a result of the screams of the Armenian side, Armenia may lose Zangazur, an analyst said. Armenia expects Russia to stand against Azerbaijan. This is a naive approach. Moreover, this is a criminal approach, as it draws Russia into the region. Russia will not interfere, will not fight for Armenia.

Moreover, Shevchenko commented on the statements of the Armenian side regarding the alleged inevitability of a confrontation between Russia and Turkey.

The Armenian side constantly says that a clash between Russia and Turkey is inevitable, the analyst said. I don't think this is inevitable. We see quite normal cooperation. We see that President Putin and President Erdogan hold phone talks and meet.

Shevchenko added that Russia is building a huge nuclear power plant in Turkey.

The negotiations on the sale of the most advanced Russian weapons systems to Turkey are being held, an analyst said.

Shevchenko said that therefore, these are very dangerous illusions that can lead to terrorist and sabotage actions, like the recent incident in Azerbaijans Dashalti village.

Armenia is under the illusion, there is nothing more dangerous in politics than illusions, the analyst added.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov and German Foreign Ministry's Plenipotentiary for Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia Matthias Luttenberg have considered cooperation and development of economic ties as part of bilateral political consultations.

The discussion took place between the delegations of the foreign ministries of the two countries n November 16, the Foreign Ministry reported on November 17.

During the consultations, the officials focused on the current state of Azerbaijani-German relations and prospects of cooperation. The sides noted wide potential opportunities for bilateral economic cooperation.

Furthermore, the officials touched upon the relations in the fields of culture, science and education, by appreciating the activities of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Goethe Center in Baku.

Khalafov briefed the guests about the post-war regional situation and the signing of trilateral declarations among Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia.

Moreover, the deputy minister spoke about the rehabilitation of liberated lands by Azerbaijan and recalled the scale of the Armenian destructions on those areas during the 30-year occupation.

In turn, Luttenberg said that Germany was interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan in various fields.

Azerbaijan and Germany's collaboration in international organizations was also mentioned by the two parties.

The officials also focused on other regional and international issues of mutual interest.

It should be noted that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Germany amounted to $817.5 million in 2020. In addition, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $659.8 million in January-August 2021.

The German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan), as the official representative of the German economy in Azerbaijan, provides information services and supports companies in their market and business research since 2012. The AHK Azerbaijan emerged from the German-Azerbaijan Business Association (DAWF) founded in 1999. With more than 140 member companies (as of April 2020), the AHK Azerbaijan is the most powerful European economic association in Azerbaijan.
By Trend

Armenia's actions on the border with Azerbaijan were initially doomed to failure, Russian historian and political analyst, professor Oleg Kuznetsov told Trend, commenting on the recent aggravation of the situation in the region.

According to Kuznetsov, a degrading country has the same degrading army.

Even those who do not have a higher military education understand that military operations by the forces of a motorized rifle battalion in the modern war between Azerbaijan and Armenia will not lead to any tactical or even operational success, even if it is short-term, he noted.

"These actions, cannot be called in any way except as reckless and adventurous, and if the Armenian army undertook reconnaissance in force or worse, a military-political provocation, then it was initially doomed to failure, Kuznetsov stressed.

He added that the meaning of this military adventure was clear from the very beginning - to attack the Azerbaijani positions, provoke a counterattack, declare it an "invasion" of the Azerbaijani army into the sovereign territory of Armenia and turns to the Kremlin for military protection.

He noted that it was a primitive combination, intended to drag Russia into someone else's adventure.

The Armenians did not even hide their preparations for the provocation. Last weekend, Semyon Pegov (founder of the WarGonzo project) arrived in Yerevan, who appears in Armenia only on the eve of some kind of a military mess, and from that moment it became clear to any adequate analyst that the scent of gunpowder was smelled. In Baku, I think, they read this news in the same way, so it is not surprising that the day before yesterday's adventure of the Armenian army was met by the Azerbaijani military fully armed and ended in defeat," Russian political analyst said.
By Trend

The proposals of children put forward at national forums in Azerbaijan are taken into account when preparing state programs, Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Issues Bahar Muradova said this at V All-Republican Forum of Azerbaijani Children, Trend reports.

According to Muradova, children are also expected to come up with interesting proposals at this forum.

Children express their opinions, dissatisfaction and wishes, which are summarized and reflected in the documents adopted at the forum. Then all this is taken into account in decisions, developed state programs, action plans and individual projects. From this point of view, the forum facilitates the work of adults to a certain extent. Naturally, we try to realize their dreams and wishes within our capabilities. Until today, a number of state programs have been adopted on the basis of children's proposals, she said.

Today's forum is dedicated to very serious issues. I think by the end of the day we will hear some interesting suggestions. Protecting the rights of children is the duty of all countries, and Azerbaijan also takes a responsible attitude to this issue, Muradova added.

The V All-Republican Forum of Azerbaijani Children is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the State Committee on Family, Women and Children, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Regional Development Public Association and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The forum involves about 350 children who are distinguished by their activity, special skills and abilities, who have leadership qualities, and who are also participants in summer schools organized by the state committee.
By Trend

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss the OSCE's assistance in resolving the situation in Azerbaijans Karabakh region during the talks with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde in November 19 in Moscow, Trend reports with reference to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The issues related to the OSCE's mediation in the Geneva discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus are also expected to be discussed, the message said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the topic of raising the OSCEs profile in the fight against common transnational threats for the participating countries, namely, terrorism, drug trafficking, challenges in the use of ICT, transnational organized crime, human trafficking will be discussed.

The Russian side has prepared a draft declaration on countering the use of the internet by terrorists for the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting as terrorists are also intensively using the internet amid COVID-19 pandemic, the message said.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Turkish firearm manufacturing company TISAS has exported defence products to over 60 countries, the companys board director Murat Alemdaroglu has told Yeni Shafak.

We export the majority of the products that we manufacture to the U.S. In addition, we export to more than 60 countries, Alemdaroglu stressed.

The company is represented with its polymer and steel-bodied pistols, as well as 5.56 and 7.62 infantry rifles at the ongoing SAHA EXPO Defence and Aviation Fair in Istanbul, where many domestic defence industry companies are also taking part.

Alemdaroglu underlined that despite the challenges of the pandemic, the defence industry grew quite faster compared to other sectors. He added that the numbers and demands in exports were high during the pandemic period.

With the pandemic, contractions occurred in some sectors, but the defence industry gained great momentum during this period. Especially in the last two years, the sector has seen a great rise, he stressed.

He noted that the defence industry has gained great impetus and a good defence fair was held a few months ago in Turkey.

Alemdaroglu added that the company is trying to come together with the representatives of foreign countries at the fair and familiarize them with its products.

In addition to our polymer and steel-bodied pistols, we have infantry rifle models at our stand. We also manufacture infantry rifles. We have two different infantry rifles as 5.56 and 7.62 groups. Their production still continues, he stressed.

Alemdaroglu noted that the products that the company exports are mostly envisaged for law enforcement officers and for individual uses.

"We have directed the majority of our production to export. Our target in 2021 is to produce approximately 150,000 weapons and export them. I hope we will achieve this goal in December, he concluded.

Established in 1993 in Trabzon, TiSAS is a Turkish firearm manufacturing company, mainly focused on manufacturing pistols. Its firearms are used worldwide by civilians, police and military.
By Trend

The head of the Directorate of Facilities under Construction at the Azerbaijani Health Ministry, Zahid Garibov, was dismissed from this position, the ministry told Trend on Nov. 17.

The respective order was signed by the first deputy minister of health, acting minister of health of Azerbaijan Teymur Musayev.

By another order of Musayev, Elshad Hajiyev was appointed as the head of the Directorate of Facilities under Construction.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Some 2,200 veterans of the Second Karabakh War have been assigned disability and relevant social benefits, the Labor and Social Protection Ministry has reported.

The State Agency for Medical and Social Expert Assessment and Rehabilitation under the ministry works in this area, together with the corresponding agencies. Documentary work is being done to assess the disability of servicemen who were wounded in the war.

Initially, a document establishing a link between injury or illness with military service from the defence, justice ministries, military medical commissions of the Internal Troops and the State Border Service, and a referral from a medical institution (form 88) for assigning disability and social benefits, are entered into the electronic system.

After the prompt registration of documents, the State Agency for Medical and Social Expertise and Rehabilitation assesses the disability. Then the electronic system assigns the corresponding social benefits to the persons of the above-named category.

2,904 servicemen of Azerbaijan's armed forces were killed in the Second Karabakh War that started with Armenia's firing at Azerbaijani civilians and positions in 2020. Over 100 Azerbaijani civilians were also killed during the war that lasted from September 27 to November 10.

It should be noted that the ministry takes consistent measures to provide social support to martyrs families, war veterans and civilians affected by the war. It plans to give about 3,000 apartments and private houses to martyrs families and disabled war veterans in 2021.

Azerbaijan allocated over AZN 9 million ($5m) to compensate damages to its citizens who suffered from Armenia's aggression during the six-week war over Azerbaijan's Karabakh region.
UAE-based Azizi Developments said it has achieved rapid progress across its three premium off-plan projects within MBR City, Park Avenue I, II and III, a vibrant and well-connected residential community strategically located on the Meydan Avenue in Dubai.

The Park Avenue project comprises 372 residential and 29 retail units upon its completion, with each of the three buildings coming with its own fully equipped gym and swimming pool.

Built around the concept of connected serenity, Azizis Park Avenue project is the epitome of a strategic, easily accessible and convenient location that is its own little getaway within the city.

CEO Farhad Azizi said: "We are delighted to see such swift progress, with Park Avenue I now being 19 per cent complete, Park Avenue II being at 18 per cent, and Park Avenue III being at 23 per cent."

"Surrounded by greenery and within proximity to Azizis French Mediterranean-inspired master-planned community, Riviera, the upcoming Meydan One Mall, the Meydan Grandstand, The Track, and only a 10-minute-drive to Dubai Mall and Downtown Dubai, these contemporary homes are ideally located for those wanting access to some of the citys most vibrant points of interest while also being able to bask in the tranquillity of their own community with panoramic views of Dubais skyline," he stated.

Azizi pointed out that its revamped procurement processes, as well as way of working with only the best, most trusted contractors with proven track records, had resulted not only in faster construction, but also in substantially higher quality levels that are sure to excite our valued investors and end-users.

"With the sophisticated, opulent and contemporary lifestyle granted by the Park Avenue projects, it is in high demand from both domestic and international investors," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has issued requests for qualification (RFQs) for the development of the Juranah Independent Strategic Water Reservoir (ISWR) project located in the Makkah region that will boast a total storage capacity of 2.5 million cu m.

A total of 34 companies have expressed their interests in the project including 21 Saudi firms, said a statement from SWPC.

The project is being implemented on a BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) model and the development work will include the water reservoir and all associated infrastructure and facilities.

According to SWPC, international companies that have expressed their interests in the Juranah ISWR project include Spanish infrastructure heavyweights Acciona and Abengoa Agua; Marubeni (Japan) and Chinese construction majors - China Railway Construction Corporation, China Gezhouba and Powerchina Group.

Of these EoIs, 21 are from Saudi companies including Ajlan & Bros Energy Company (Abilitii); Al Rajhi Holding Group; Al Bawani Water & Power; Al Yamama; Alfanar; Nesma; AlKawther Industries;

Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies; Amiantit; Petrojet, Taqa, Thabat Construction and Marafiq.

In addition, there are some GCC players in the fray such as Metito Utilities and Qantara (UAE); Kuwait-based Gulf Investment Corporation; Orascom Construction and Bahrain-based Lamar Holding, it stated.

SWPC said a private sector developer/developer consortium will be selected for the project following a competitive tender process which will be responsible for the development, financing, procurement, implementation and operation and maintenance of the water reservoir.

The successful bidder, through a special purpose vehicle, will provide the required storage capacity to SWPC under a 30-year water storage agreement.

The utility company said its obligations under the agreement will be backed by a credit support agreement from the Saudi government.

Synergy Consulting IFA is the lead and financial advisor; while Amer Al Amr Law Firm is the legal advisor and WSP Middle East the technical advisor for the project.-TradeArabia News Service
Sabic affiliate Hadeed and The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) have signed an agreement to initiate discussions on the possibility of steel supplies and solutions for The Red Sea Project and to set a framework for knowledge exchange.



Yousef Al-Benyan, Sabic Vice Chairman and CEO, who attended the signing ceremony, commented: We are truly happy to be associated with the Red Sea Development Company and its ambitious tourism project. We have been part of Saudi Arabias industrialisation and economic development for decades, and Hadeed has contributed considerably to the countrys construction evolution.



With the latest MoU, we have demonstrated our continued commitment to the kingdoms rapid transformation and our constant efforts to promote its diverse economic development as envisioned in Vision 2030.



John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC said: We are pleased to sign this MoU with Sabic, an established Saudi institution, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for collaboration. TRSDC actively seeks to work with industry-leaders who are able and willing to support us in the delivery of our commitments to people and place.



The MoU sets the foundation for a mutually beneficial relationship related to sustainable and advanced steel products and solutions, and to drive the implementation of best practices in the building and construction sector.



The Red Sea Project is described as a unique, luxury tourism destination that will embrace nature, culture and adventure, setting new standards in sustainable development and positioning Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.  TradeArabia News Service
Coinciding with The International Superyacht Summit 2021 to be held on December 8 and 9 on the iconic Queen Elizabeth 2 in Mina Rashid Marina, Fabulous Yachts will invite superyacht Captains to DP World Flow Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The invitation is on behalf of P&O Marinas and Oceanco for a cocktail party in honour of their invaluable contribution to the success of the superyacht industry, and particularly their recent inputs in the UAE.

Hamza Mustafa, Chief Operating Officer, P&O Marinas said: Captains are very important to us and our overall strategy. With this in mind it is our intention to create an attractive environment for captains and crew. We wish these valuable seafarers to feel at home here and will build the facilities needed, including crew lounges, gyms, clubs and other recreational facilities. We also intend to provide the necessary training centres allowing these professionals to maintain certificate validity on site. We aim to create an ecosystem where all categories of the leisure marine sector are happy, and the superyacht Captains make up an important part of this group.

Paris Baloumis, Group Marketing Manager, Oceanco added: As a superyacht builder, we highly value the relationships with captains and crew. They deliver the ultimate experience for owners and their guests, which is crucial to the existence of our industry. They also provide us with important feedback on operational matters that helps Oceanco to continue our ongoing process of development to meet the emerging needs of owners. In some senses, we are the two hands that work together to create the best possible experience of yacht ownership. This is why we are delighted to be able to connect with the community of captains and crew in Dubai, where a number of our Oceanco fleet yachts are based and have visited.

Captain Tony Crabbe, CEO, Fabulous Yachts applauded the appreciative comments of Mustafa and Baloumis and added: "Superyacht Captains are a very important element within the superyacht industry and they often hold the "final vote" in determining, for the owner, a suitable destination or cruising ground. Our local superyacht captains have always been important supporters of the aims of our summit. They have taken an active role in giving us first-hand advice on the areas where we need to encourage change. They have constructively criticised some of the local regulatory frameworks while frequently offering possible solutions. Much of this work has been done through roundtable discussions and by individual reports of actual experiences. We thank all of those captains and hope to continue our close relationship with them.-- TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme has launched key initiatives worth SR6 billion ($1.6 billion) in co-ordination with Riyad Bank as part of its efforts to improve the kingdom's ranking in 10 indicators of global ease of doing business.

The initiatives 'We finance, you manufacture' and 'We invest, you manufacture' will contribute to realizing at least 35 goals of the Saudi Vision 2030, improving Saudi Arabias ranking in 10 indicators of global ease of doing business and developing 14 economic and social aspects, said the statement from NIDLP.

The first initiative is aimed at localising 50 products in five sectors with a value of SR4 billion, while the second initiative aims at financing investment funds specialized in the industrial sector in three sector with a value of SR2 billion.

The two initiatives were designed to be of joint numerical targets between NIDLP and the Riyad Bank targeting the localization of 50 priority products in five important sectors, which are Saudi Arabias payment balance, the transport sector, machinery and equipment, food, medicines and medical devices.

It includes three categories for the small, medium and large enterprises that serve local and foreign investors, where the value of imports of these five targeted sectors in 2020 reached more than SAR70 billion.

These initiatives were launched under the sponsorship of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources and NIDLP Chairman Bandar Al Khorayef, and in the presence of Riyad Bank Chairman Eng Abdullah Mohammed Al Issa.

According to NIDLP, both initiatives accord with several strategies, such as localizing the manufacturing of products and Sharik Program in terms of partnership between the public and private sectors, localizing the payment balance of Saudi Arabia, and the national investment strategy.

They also aim at increasing the contribution of the local content, enhancing the financing environment in the kingdom for localizing the industry and encouraging local and foreign investors to enter the industrial sector and expanding existing factories to cover new products in a way that accords with the goals and aspiration of the Saudi Vision 2030 that seeks to increase the contribution of these sectors in providing a diversified, solid and sustainable economy.-TradeArabia News Service
Global progress on energy efficiency has recovered this year to its pre-pandemic pace, but that was already well short of what would be needed to help put the world on track to reach net zero emissions by mid-century, said the International Energy Agency (IEA) in a new report.



Total annual investment in energy efficiency worldwide needs to triple by 2030 to be consistent with a path towards reaching net zero emissions by 2050, according to Energy Efficiency 2021, the IEAs annual market report on the topic.



The IEAs latest global assessment of market and policy trends in energy efficiency highlights the urgent need for stronger implementation of clean energy policies  with energy efficiency at their core  in order to reach international climate goals. This is the first update of the IEAs energy efficiency market report since a raft of new spending commitments aimed at supporting the economic recovery were announced by governments over the course of 2021.



The report comes shortly after the end of the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, whose final statement specifically called for the rapid scaling up of energy efficiency measures, recognising their key role in decarbonising energy systems.



We consider energy efficiency to be the first fuel as it still represents the cleanest and, in most cases, the cheapest way to meet our energy needs. There is no plausible pathway to net zero emissions without using our energy resources much more efficiently, said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.



A step change in energy efficiency will give us a fighting chance of staving off the worst effects of climate change while creating millions of decent jobs and driving down energy bills.



The report notes that governments have scaled up existing, employment-intensive efficiency programmes, but it also highlights that substantial potential for job creation remains untapped. For example, investments in the energy efficiency of buildings  a well-established driver of construction jobs  are expected to rise by 20% in 2021 compared with pre-pandemic levels.



Even with this record level of spending, the report details how 4 million more jobs could be added by 2030 by further increasing spending on efficient buildings, appliances and other measures in line with the IEAs Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario.



After its worst year in a decade in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic shifted the centre of economic activity away from services and towards industry, the rate of improvement in global energy intensity  a key indicator of how efficiently the worlds economic activity uses energy  is expected to recover in 2021 to 1.9%. This is line with the average annual rate of improvement over the past 10 years but well below the 4% needed between 2020 and 2030 in the IEAs pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.



As energy efficiency offers some of the fastest and most cost-effective actions to reduce CO2 emissions, front-loading efficiency measures into net zero strategies will be crucial for closing the gap between climate ambitions and current trends.



This years report examines over 40 energy efficiency milestones mapped out in the IEA Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050 that can enhance efficiency and help get emission reductions on track.



In addition to well-developed energy efficiency policies such as appliance standards  which in some countries have avoided electricity usage equivalent to their total wind and solar power generation  the report also underlines the increasingly important role for digital technologies in energy efficiencys future.



Rapid uptake of digitally connected devices is helping to expand the scale and scope of benefits from energy efficiency, and can deliver a cheaper, easier and more cost effective clean energy transition.  TradeArabia News Service
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) this week awarded Baker Hughes two contracts for equipment and services across multiple upstream fields and projects in the UAE. The contracts were announced at this years Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec) from November 15 to 18.

As part of Adnocs largest ever wellheads award globally, Baker Hughes Surface Pressure Control (SPC) product line in the Oilfield Equipment business has been awarded a major contract for the manufacture, supply, storage, and servicing of surface wellhead and tree systems with local partner Al Ghaith Oilfield Supplies & Services Company.

The contract covers Adnocs onshore and offshore fields in the UAE for the next 10 years, as well as a long-term service contract to cover the repair, maintenance, and spares for the projects equipment.

In addition, Baker Hughes Oilfield Services (OFS) business has been awarded a contract to manufacture, supply, store, install and service liner hanger systems over five years with local partner Uni-Arab Engineering & Oilfield Service. The contract will leverage Baker Hughes in-country workshop and further supports the UAEs emphasis on local manufacturing through in-country value strategy and localisation.

These are strategic deals for Baker Hughes within the UAE, strengthening our footprint and significantly increasing our presence in the region, said Ayman Khattab, vice president of Surface Pressure Control for Oilfield Equipment at Baker Hughes. Our localised presence and strong record of execution in the UAE makes us a partner of choice for Adnoc. We are supporting the UAE and Adnocs growing energy needs and committed to transforming the industry by providing reliable technology and delivering operational excellence.

The first delivery of the surface wellheads and trees contract work will be in early 2022, and the first delivery of the liner hanger systems contract is planned for the second half of 2022.

The awards are an integral part of Adnocs 2030 strategy and support its supply chain and ecosystem development, local capabilities, and job creation for local talent. Additionally, the awards will help enable Adnocs drilling needs as it expands its production capacity. Baker Hughes business model supports Adnocs in-country value program and vendor managed inventory (VMI) service, maintaining an agreed inventory of required equipment in Abu Dhabi and allowing Baker Hughes to be more efficient and reduce delivery time.-- TradeArabia News Service
Russian company Severstal is presenting large-diameter pipes for oil and gas pipelines, including special-purpose products designed for operation in non-standard conditions at Adipec, from November 15 to 18 at Abu Dhabi.

These include LSAW (longitudinal submerged arc-welding pipe) made of steel grades that extend the service life pipelines in acidic environments, as well as LSAW with high strain capacity used for gas transportation sections in seismically unstable regions.

Severstal, one of the worlds leading steel and steel-related mining companies, is taking part for the second time in Adipec, the largest international exhibition for energy professionals.

The company is presenting innovative products and integrated supply solutions for customers engaged in the extraction, transportation, and processing of oil and gas.

Since 2018, Severstal has significantly increased its LSAW exports to the international market. In the last two years, clients have purchased pipes for projects in regions including Egypt, the US, Bangladesh, Great Britain, Peru, Bulgaria, Brazil, and export volumes have more than tripled since 2019. It has passed 36 qualifications from leading market participants, including Adnoc, EGPC, Petrojet, and Gasco. Severstal is also developing relations with its Middle East partners with an intention to commence supplies to this region in the near future.

Severstal has a production capacity of about 600 thousand tonnes of LSAW per year for offshore and onshore oil and gas pipelines. The company provides a full production cycle and is therefore able to adapt products to individual customer requests, as well as control the quality of products throughout the entire production chain.

Dmitry Goroshkov, Director, Sales and Business Development, Energy Sector, AO Severstal Management, said: Projects in Mena countries tend to be highly specialised requiring the highest level of technology. Pipes must withstand a huge range of temperatures and have a particular margin of security. We have experience in implementing these kinds of projects. Severstal is constantly developing additional measures to protect our pipe products, and we have already achieved great things.

Severstal has successfully completed a number of projects in Europe that required a custom-tailored approach (Turkstream and Polish Slovak Gas Interconnector). For Turkstream, the company has supplied 260,000 tonnes of LSAW for the offshore section.

During the production of these pipes, the company complied with the increased requirements for the geometry of pipes and implemented a solution to reduce project costs. More than 11,500 tonnes of 18 m LSAW have been supplied for Polish Slovak Gas Interconnector. The use of longer pipes made it possible to reduce the costs of the pipelines construction and improve its reliability and efficiency. To complete deliveries for this project, Severstal used a multimodal transport logistics scheme, which included transportation by road, sea, and rail.

By meeting unique requirements and offering cost-effective solutions, Severstal helps oil and gas companies implement challenging projects around the world.-- TradeArabia News Service
The UNWTO leadership has addressed an informal meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Tourism, further strengthening ties with the European institutions.

The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union included tourism on its programme of work, recognising the sectors heightened relevance and importance for inclusive, post-pandemic recovery, according to a press release from UN organisation.

Addressing the ministers, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commended European leaders for protecting tourism jobs and businesses, and for playing a leading role in restoring confidence in international travel through harmonised rules and protocols and the introduction of the EU Digital Covid Certificate.

At the same time, the Secretary-General also provided the EU Ministers with an overview of UNWTOs own work leading the sectors response to the crisis, as well as more recent achievements advancing tourisms climate action.

Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, played an active role in the UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee, created to unite the sector and provide clear, harmonised recommendations for recovery, and has also visited the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid for face-to-face talks with the Secretary-General.

This latest intervention further strengthens the ties between UNWTO and the European institutions, building on the work done prior to the pandemic. In February 2020, the UNWTO leadership visited Brussels.

As well as addressing the European Parliament, Pololikashvili also met with Ministers and Secretaries of State for tourism of European countries, making clear the role the sector can play in driving inclusive growth across the region and in advancing the ambitions of the European Green Deal.

More recently, the UNWTO leadership returned to Brussels in October, with a more in-depth agenda focusing on tourisms place in recovery and future growth for European economies and societies.

Following on from the informal meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Tourism, UNWTO also took part in the 20th European Tourism Forum, also held against the backdrop of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Europes Tourism Ministers will then be part of the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain, from November 30 to December 3.-TradeArabia News Service
Remede Spa at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is encouraging residents and visitors to invest in their own wellness and join them for a special skin care masterclass. The session will take participants on a journey through the British skin care brand Elemiss popular products.

Under the care of the spas therapists, participants will receive bespoke skin care recommendations whilst testing out the range of cleansers, moisturisers, serums and other products.

Taking place on November 24, guests can redeem their AED150 ($41) entry fee on any of the Elemis products. Participant are also gifted with an AED150 Remede Spa voucher that can be used until the end of December, along with a goodie bag.

The Elemis range prides itself on being a body and skin care brand with an aromatherapists soul, an artists spirit, and a scientists commitment to results'. Founded in London, by harnessing the powers of nature to achieve clinically proven results, Elemis is able to tackle signs of age and leave skin firm, glowing, smooth and healthy.

Hosted in small groups, the MasterClass with Elemis will run throughout November 24 in 90-minute sessions.-TradeArabia News Service
Help India!

Three children of No 1 and No 3 Dholpur villages in Darrang district of Assam, where the state government carried out forceful evictions of Muslim families on September 20 and 23, died following the ordeal.

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Mahibul Hoque | TwoCircles.net

ASSAM  Following the eviction drive carried out by the Assam government in Dholpur villages in Darrang district in September, three children have died from the villages due to inaccessibility of proper medical care as a consequence of the eviction, their families said.

Three children of No 1 and No 3 Dholpur villages in Darrang district of Assam, where the state government carried out forceful evictions of Muslim families on September 20 and 23, died following the ordeal.

The three dead children include a one-day-old infant, a four-month-old and a one-year-old.

26-year-old Anowar Hussain and his wife Fatema Khatun were expecting their second child when the couple received the ultimatum to remove their belongings or else face eviction on September 20. Anowar was relentlessly trying to get whatever he could take away before the police moved a bulldozer over his house. As the only man in the family, he was struggling to shift his tin-walled house to the plot of land identified for the temporary settlement of the evicted families.

Seeing that I am struggling, my wife could not keep herself from helping me in taking the heavy tin walls away, Anowar said, expressing sorrow that the exertion cost the life of his unborn child later.

Fatema was nine months pregnant when the eviction drive by the Assam government was carried out. After the eviction day, she started feeling pain and we rushed to the district civil hospital in Mangaldai. But from there, the doctors immediately referred us to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Anowar told TwoCircle.net.

Doctors at the medical college told the couple that their child was healthy and did not require special treatment. On September 27, Fatema gave birth to the child but the newborn baby died soon after.

An inconsolable Fatema said, I wished for a second child and we would have looked after the two children. I would have made sure that he was not illiterate so that he would know how to keep documents ready whenever the government asked. Her reference to documents is a general phenomenon in Assam among the Miya community specifically as time and again the community members have to produce the documents before government officials to assert their land ownership, citizenship proof, or proof of residence.

For 35-year-old Rohim Ali and 25-year-old Mesiran Begum of the same village losing their 4-month-old son was the biggest pain inflicted upon the family by the state government though the family also lost their home and livelihood.

Rohim lamented that he and his children were forced to stay in the gusty cold wind and rain. I did not manage to set up a shelter and we were all drenched in the rain. The cold wind made it worse, he said.

After spending the night in rain, Rohims daughter, deceased Muslem Ali developed cold and fever and required medical treatment. The family was not able to get her any. The situation at that time was so sensitive that I could not take her to the public health centre at Gorukhuti. Everyone was scared that the local Hindutva goons will beat us. So, I got her whatever medicine the local pharmacist gave, Rohim said.

Despite the fear, I even tried to take the child to the health centre but the RSS people on the way stopped me and sent me back, Rohim added.

Gorukhuti state dispensary is located in the Hindu area and the road that leads to the health centre goes through the camp where police, local youths and BJP MLA Padma Hazarika was camping during the time.

Akkas Ali and Minuara Parvin of Dholpur No 1 were also robbed of their only girl child because of government apathy and the eviction drive. The family was also evicted on September 20 and had to endure the rain causing their 1-year-old daughter Akhi Aktara to fall sick.

She had severe breathing problem and cough because of the cold. Though she was born healthy and was around 3 kgs when we last weighed her, the cold killed her, Akkas said. He held the government responsible for his daughters death.

Echoing the sentiments of Rohim, Akkas said, The road to Gorukhuti public health centre was blocked by the police and we were so scared that we could not gather any courage to take her to the hospital. Eventually, my daughter did not survive the cold.

Infant Akhi died on October 16 due to respiratory complications.



The fear of police torture and local goons, who the evicted people claim were RSS people, made accessibility to proper medical treatment for these evicted people fraught with risk. This is what led to the death of the children, he said.

Following the eviction drive, the Darrang district administration had sent one medical team to treat the injured persons on September 23. No other medical or any assistance was provided by the district administration after the eviction.

The district deputy commissioner had earlier said that the evicted families would receive aid on humanitarian grounds, a tag locals say was presenting them as non-citizens.

Mahibul Hoque is a SEED fellow with TwoCircles.net. He tweets at @H_Mahibul
The sportswear brand claimed Indonesias traditional puppet shadow play as Malaysian. After setting off an angry reaction to its online ad, the company apologised and changed the ads caption.

Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Indonesians were angered by Adidas Singapore after the well-known sportswear company posted an ad on social media claiming that Wayang Kulit was a Malaysian tradition.

Wayang Kulit is traditional form of puppet-shadow play originally found in Java and Bali as early as the 10th century. The puppets are usually made out of water buffalo hide. UNESCO declared it part of humanitys immaterial patrimony in 2003.

On 11 November, Adidas launched a new shoe collection dedicated to Southeast Asian countries. Six artists were chosen to pay tribute to Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia through original designs.

Created by Jaemy Choong, the Malaysian one depicts characters clearly inspired by Malaysian tradition, which has its own version of shadow play.

However, a video ad posted by the company on its Instagram page shows figures that look more like Indonesian puppets with the caption claiming that Wayang Kulit originated in Malaysia, not in neighbouring Indonesia.

Stung by fuming Indonesian netizens, Adidas Singapore was forced to change the wording, which now reads: Originating from Indonesia, Wayang Kulit has inspired other parts of Southeast Asia.

The sportswear company also posted a public apology on Instagram Stories saying that neither the artist nor the brand wanted to claim that a typical Indonesian art form was Malaysian.

The tribute to Indonesia was instead done by Yeri Afriyani, a designer and entrepreneur from Bandung who owns the fashion label Calla, famous for its imaginative and colourful patterns.
The Afghan central banks reserves are blocked in the United States. A Taliban official writes to the US Congress. Half of the population is already suffering from malnutrition while little snow is forecast this winter, with a probable drought come spring. Local sources tell AsiaNews that investments in development projects are needed to avoid doubling the number of people needing emergency aid next year. However, international donors fear UN sanctions.

Kabul (AsiaNews)  At least 87 children have died from a measles outbreak in Afghanistan, this according to Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organisation. Vaccines are in short supply, and For malnourished children, measles is a death sentence, Harris explained.

World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley had already raised the alarm at the end of October. More than 22 million people, half of Afghanistans population, including 3.2 million children, are at risk of acute malnutrition.

It is impossible to know how widespread COVID-19 is, but the coronavirus-related death rate is bound to rise because of a collapsed healthcare system and rampant malnutrition, this despite the countrys youthful population, local sources told AsiaNews.

At present, internally displaced people are the most at risk. During the months of the Taliban advance, some 3.5 million people fled their homes, and are now dying at a higher frequency in refugee camps or on roads.

The latest appeals by international organisations in favour of the Afghan population closely tied reflect the seriousness of the situation, which is affected by the current diplomatic impasse.

In an attempt to go beyond the deadlock, Taleban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi yesterday sent a letter to the US Congress requesting that the reserves of the Afghan Central Bank blocked in US banks, amounting to approximately nine billion dollars, be made available. Muttaqi wrote that if aid does not arrive from abroad, the winter will be catastrophic.

This leaves the US government in a quandary. Helping the Taliban to help the population would mean funding a government of fanatics who have no idea how to run a large and complex country like Afghanistan.

For example, by banning women from working and banning foreign currency transactions, the Taliban have done nothing but complicate countrys the economic and financial crisis.

What is more, as yesterdays attack in a Shia area of the capital, the "Koranic students" are not even able to keep a lid on the Islamic State group.

No other nation currently wants to invest in development projects in Afghanistan; donors fear that they will run into UN sanctions because the new ministers of the Islamic Emirate are wanted for terrorism or linked to al-Qaida.

The big donors are financing instead emergency work and food aid (as it should be right now) but if the livelihoods of local populations and national food production are not taken into account, the number of people in need of food assistance will double next year, local sources told AsiaNews.

Nature is not helping either. Local agriculture depends on water runoff from mountain glaciers, but a thinning ice sheet and low snow accumulation this winter will mean no water for farming in the spring.

Local farms, which get at least 70 per cent of revenue from the Afghan government and the World Bank, are in danger of closing down and so the progress made in twenty years of work could be wiped out in just a year.

In addition to the pending humanitarian disaster, the economic crisis has all the potential to encourage terrorism, United Nations envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said yesterday:

The ongoing paralysis of the banking sector will push more of the financial system into on unregulated informal money exchanges which can only help facilitate terrorism, trafficking and further drug smuggling," Lyons warned, adding: "These pathologies will first affect Afghanistan but then they will infect the region.
by Sumon Corraya

According to statisticians, with the increase in population there should have been 20.2 million, but instead there are only 12.7 million. Among the causes are emigration due to discrimination and a high mortality rate due to poor living conditions. Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council: "In 1971 we did not fight to create an Islamic state".

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Bangladesh today has 7.5 million fewer Hindus than it should have had according to the proportions of the religious communities at the time of the country's birth, fifty years ago. This is a figure that is causing discussion just a few weeks before the anniversary of the end of the war of independence, which took place on December 16, 1971.

The first census - held in 1974 - recorded a 13% share of Hindus; today, however, there are only 8.5%. Based on these figures - and bearing in mind that in the meantime Bangladesh's population has grown from 76 million to around 150 million - statisticians concluded that there should be 20.2 million Hindus in the country. Instead, the latest census data recorded just 12.7 million.

The Hindus are the only religious community in the country to record this heavy decrease in population. Among the causes indicated by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) are low fertility rates, but also emigration (often due to discrimination) and high mortality rates (due to poor living conditions).

The decrease of Hindus in what is now Bangladesh is a phenomenon that began even before independence. Suffice it to say that in 1901 the community made up 33% of the population. However, despite the fact that in 1971 the country was born proclaiming equal rights for Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, in practice Hindus do not feel safe, as recent clashes during the Durga Puja festivities brought to the fore.

My uncle's land," says Proshan Jet, a young Hindu from Gazipur, "was forcibly taken away by Muslims. We are often persecuted because of our faith. For this reason many of our relatives have left for India or Europe". This is also confirmed by Rana Dasgupta, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council: "Hindus are forced to leave the country because they do not have equal rights. We, people of all faiths, in 1971 did not fight to create an Islamic state".
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Chechen authorities speak of a 92% vaccination rate. Activists denounce coercive methods: those who refuse the vaccine risk dismissal. Local doctors propose Islamic medicine. Muslims believe that "through illness Allah purifies from sins". In Tatarstan no-vaxers locked up in asylums.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - The Chechen Ministry of Health announced yesterday that 92% of the population has received the first dose of the vaccine for Covid-19, and over 40% have already had a booster. For the authorities of Chechnya, a Caucasian republic part of the Russian Federation, "herd immunity has now been achieved". The information is somewhat surprising, given the widespread reluctance to vaccinate throughout Russia and the Caucasus.

Members of the humanitarian association Memorial have in recent days denounced the coercive methods of the Chechen administration, which threatens to have anyone who refuses vaccination fired. According to an investigation by Kavkaz.Realii, the main cause of opposition to treatment against Covid is attributed to the Muslim religion professed by the majority of local inhabitants.

Chechen doctors, after all, have also largely been against vaccines, and have had to submit to the obligations of local authorities. According to Musa X (last name withheld for security reasons), an oncologist practicing in the Chechen capital Groznyj, "Sputnik-V has not passed all the tests, and there are no proven defenses against recent variants of the virus."

Many doctors try to propose Islamic medicine instead of vaccines, referring to the treatments that the Prophet Muhammad himself would have undergone: herbal infusions, blood transfusions, reading of the Koran and more. Dr. Musa is even more perplexed than with official medicine: "I too am religious, I read the Koran and pray, but I have not seen the indication that vaccines are forbidden by Islam anywhere".

The doctor describes Chechnya as "a highly obscurantist region full of artificial and archaic prejudices", where there is no shortage of conspiracy theories about Covid as a population control project. There is a widespread opinion that man dies when his time has come", and no doctor is able to counter this opinion.

Another popular saying in Chechnya is that "our ancestors did not vaccinate themselves and survived, it is better treat ousrselves with the sunna", that is with the religious tradition. According to Musa, Islamic medicine helps only "on a psychosomatic level". In the Soviet times people believed in the directives of the State, but now this trust is not so widespread, especially after the wars that have devastated the country, establishing a more authoritarian regime even than that of Moscow, to which he professes absolute loyalty.

According to another doctor interviewed, Magomed S., besides religious motivations, ignorance is simply widespread, even among medical personnel. The same defects are also found in neighboring regions, such as Ossetia and Ingushetia. Those who refer to Islam refuse to vaccinate children because "the little ones are under the protection of Allah", to whose will everyone must submit anyway. Still it is said that "through illness Allah purifies from sins, so if you get sick it is an act of mercy.

An Arabic teacher in Groznyj, Madina E., states that she does not have enough knowledge to evaluate the matter fully, "however, man cannot avoid what Allah disposes, and he does not suffer from anything that has not been prescribed to him". The greatest precaution that can be drawn from the Koran, according to Medina, are the words of Muhammad when he orders not to move away from areas infested by leprosy, in order not to infect people living elsewhere; on the other hand "Islam states that one should not do what causes damage to oneself, and we have seen many cases in which the vaccine causes damage to people".

In another Islamic region of Russia, the republic of Tatarstan, authorities are beginning to lock up no-vaxers in asylums. The local government has introduced mandatory QR-Code (Green Pass) for all workers.
by Nirmala Carvalho

Eating habits are targeted in Hindu nationalist strongholds. Local authorities claim that non-vegetarian food vendors cause traffic snarls and offend religious sentiments. Yet, about 71 per cent of Indias population consumes non-vegetarian food. A member of the Indian Social Institute says that the goal is to impose one culture, one religion, one ideology.

Ahmedabad (AsiaNews)  Four municipalities in Gujarat, the state from which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails, have adopted bylaws banning the preparation and display of non-vegetarian food in public.

Municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara, and Bhavnagar ordered the removal of non-vegetarian food carts from their main streets claiming that meat, fish and eggs offend religious feelings and food carts cause traffic snarls. The bans will remain in place until the roadside carts are "properly covered".

In India, strict vegetarians are a minority. India's Sample Registration System Baseline Survey 2014 found that 71 per cent of the population ate non-vegetarian food.

As for causing traffic problems, Hindu extremists use the issue as a pretext against religious minorities. In Gurugram, a city in Haryana, a state ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Muslim Friday prayers were banned for that same reason.

However, Article 21 of the Indian Constitution protects personal freedom and Article 301 upholds freedom to trade, according to Benjamin Bara, a researcher at the Indian Social Institute in Delhi.

If the carts and stalls are not following a protocol, or their food quality is creating severe problems to the health of citizens, then a proper warning should be given, Bara told AsiaNews. Removing all the stalls from a lane is not the solution but poses a serious threat to people's livelihood, not to mention a service to the public.

For Jesuit Fr Vincent Ekka, also of the Indian Social Institute, such bylaws are a violation of human rights as well as peoples right to a livelihood. What is more, they target a particular community to curtail their right to sell and eat non-vegetarian food.

In a multicultural society like India, attacking eating habits is part of a broader discourse and an attempt to impose one culture, one religion, one ideology, etc. This is very dangerous for a country like India and its democracy.
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Summary

In Chapter 1, Gwendy Peterson, a congresswoman, wakes early on December 16, 1999, and jogs around Pennsylvania Avenue and the National Mall. She and her parents had visited the Mall when she was a child, but she had never dreamed she would work there.

In Chapter 2, Gwendy greets Harold, the security guard who scans her identity badge. He asks about Gwendys husband, Ryan. She replies she hopes he will be home in time for Christmas.

In Chapter 3, in her office, Gwendy scans a newspaper article her mother has sent her. There have still been no signs found of Carla Hoffman or Rhonda Tomlinson, two teenage girls who disappeared days apart.

In Chapter 4, the narrator describes Gwendys past achievements in the present tense. Gwendy graduates from Brown University and then attends the Iowa Writers Workshop. After the workshop, she gets a tattoo of a feather...
Castle Rock, Maine

Castle Rock, Maine is Gwendys fictional hometown. When she was 12-years-old, a man named Richard Farris approached Gwendy and gave her the button box. Gwendy returns to her hometown of Castle Rock when the box returns to her when she is an adult. At the time she is there, the residents of the town are being plagued by a man who has abducted three local girls.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the town to which Gwendy travels for her job as a congresswoman. She remembers visiting Washington with her parents when she was a child, but she never dreamed she would work there. The day before Gwendy and the other members of Congress are supposed to leave for the holiday vacation, Gwendy is shocked and scared when she finds the button box in her office.

Walk-in Closet

During a nightmare, Gwendy dreams that...
Health literacy researcher to present Perry lecture

Health literacy researcher Kimberly Kaphingst will discuss Enhancing the Reach and Effectiveness of Health Information: The Importance of Health Literacy  a topic of particular significance during the pandemic  during the 33rd Annual J. Warren Perry Lecture on Nov. 29.

The lecture will take place at 1 on Zoom; registration is required.

The J. Warren Perry Distinguished Lectureship is presented by the School of Public Health and Health.

Kaphingst is a professor in the Department of Communication and director of cancer communication research at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. She has worked in the health literacy field for more than two decades, studying the topic in a multitude of contexts including asthma, cancer, diabetes, environmental health and more.

In her current work, Kaphingst focuses on health literacy and health communication research in the context of genetic and genomic information. One of her major areas of interest is how patients with varying levels of health literacy respond to genetic testing. She is currently principal investigator on a study funded by the National Cancer Institutes Moonshot Program that is comparing approaches for delivering genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer among primary care patients.

Kaphingst is also a member of the Utah Center for Excellence in ELSI Research and the Consortium for Families and Health Research at the University of Utah. Before joining the University at Utah, she was an associate professor for the Washington University School of Medicine. She received her doctor of science degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The J. Warren Perry Distinguished Lectureship honors the late J. Warren Perry, founding dean of the School of Health-Related Professions  now the School of Public Health and Health Professions. A pioneer of the field of allied health, prolific and accomplished scholar, administrator, author and lecturer, Perry was a national figure in his field.
Campus News

Despite pandemic, UB remains a leading host for international students

By JAY REY

Attracted by the excellent academics and extracurricular opportunities available at UB, international students discover a welcoming, inclusive community and strong support services, both of which enhance their experience here and help them be successful. 

Despite the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, UB continues to rank among the nations top universities when it comes to hosting international students.

UB is ranked No. 27 by the Institute of International Education in its latest census, The Open Doors 2021 Report on International Educational Exchange, which was released this week.

International students at UB totaled 6,161 during fall 2020, according to the report by the Washington, D.C.-based organization.

The number includes international students studying online at UB while still abroad amid the pandemic. That number also includes the 2,521 who continued in the U.S. with postgraduate Optional Practical Training, which allows for a period of temporary employment in their field of study.

We are excited to report that UB remains a major contributor in the international market by enrolling smart students and producing an impressive number of educated students for the global workforce, says Lee Melvin, vice provost for enrollment management.

Among universities in New York, only New York University, Columbia University and Cornell University hosted more international students than UB, according to the report.

The leading countries sending students to UB in fall 2020 were, in order: China, India, Korea, Canada, Taiwan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

UBs success in enrolling outstanding students from around the world reflects our commitment to providing enriching experiences  and our current students sharing their experiences with other students, says Nojin Kwak, vice provost for international education.

Attracted by the excellent academics and extracurricular opportunities available at UB, international students discover a welcoming, inclusive community and strong support services, both of which enhance their experience here and help them be successful, Kwak says.

Aniruddh Devaiya, a senior electrical engineering major at UB, can attest to that.

As a freshman coming from India, Devaiya arrived at UB both amazed and anxious. But he was fortunate early on to find a good group of friends, as well as others at the university who would provide him advice and guidance through his undergraduate journey.

Overall, he has accomplished what he set out to do while at UB.

I have always looked for available opportunities and how I can make the most out of them, he says. The electrical engineering department provided an excellent undergraduate curriculum that had great course selection and gave me the flexibility that allowed me to specialize in my subject area while exploring other majors.

Johnathan Lim, president of the Singapore Student Association, had some hesitancy about coming to UB, but the senior is grateful to the universitys large international community for helping him fit in and not feel left out.

I feel very welcomed and confident, Lim says, and as time goes by, when there are new students coming in, I would also do my best in guiding them.

This is the 19th straight year that UB has ranked among the top 30 institutions in the annual Open Doors report, which has long served as a benchmark for higher education. UB came in at No. 27 on the list last year, as well.

The number of international students at UB last fall was down 572 from the previous year, according to institute figures. But thats a reflection of how the global pandemic has impacted international students studying at universities across the U.S.

In the 2020-21 academic year, 914,095 international students pursued studies at U.S. colleges and universities  a decrease of 15% from the previous academic year, according to the report.

Much of that decline came in the category of new international students studying at U.S. universities for the first time. Those numbers dropped 46% from the prior academic year.

A snapshot from this fall, however, shows that the number of international students has already rebounded for the 2021-22 academic year, according to the report.
Completed in 1925, the five-story Pioneer Trust and Savings Bank building was constructed in the monumental Classical Revival-style by noted Chicago architect Karl Vitzthum, who designed more than 50 banks during his career. Pioneer Bank was acquired by Banco Popular in 1994. The new owners moved across the street in 2008, and the Pioneer Bank building has been vacant ever since.
"We've had quite a few meals. Quite a few great Italian meals," added Preston, who plays Gotti's wife, Victoria. "Victoria cooked us dinner, an amazing dinner in the same house that she and John lived in for many years, and the family was in and out and we spent all day long together and it was wonderful and then we've had other meals together. We had a great meal just when we landed here four or five days ago after the whole family had seen the film and that was incredible because they loved it. That was thrilling."
Judging from Being Blago, which runs about two and a half hours, the man remains liked by many, partly because hes so transparent in his needs. He tells himself and the world hes through with politics, though always leaving a window or a door open. Even though he knows his wife, Patti, will leave him (she says so, plainly, on camera) if he reenters that sphere.
Ideally, there would be more time for the dance-offs that surely would work better in Act 2. The show wants to explore the fusion of Irish step dancing and Black dance forms from the South, merging into tap and jazz, a fusion justified by history. Here again, though, there clearly were worries about which of the two would gain the origin story, as if the audience cared. Riverdance argued that the Irish created everything decades ago. All this show has to do is treat the two cultures with equanimity and allow all the sensational dancers to do more of their thing and bring us the kind of joy that might help us appreciate this little piece of Eden and actually serve the shows broader thematic agenda.
In an email, Giddings did not comment directly on the censure. She criticized Rep. Scott Bedke, who is the speaker of the House, the lawmaker who oversaw the censure hearing and her opponent in the lieutenant governor primary race. Stopping this kind of unabashed corruption is exactly why I serve in the Legislature, and its exactly why Im running, she said.
In DuPage County, we do not tolerate the type of violent forcible felony that these men are accused of, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said of the ULTA Beauty theft. The allegations that these six individuals traveled to DuPage County to commit this crime at the onset of the holiday season will not be taken lightly and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
A couple of months later, Kersh picked up a second case after allegedly shoving a security guard in the chest while she was trying to stop him from walking out of a Jewel without paying for a bottle of tequila and a bouquet flowers. He was charged with retail theft along with aggravated battery; the latter charge was dropped as part of Thursdays plea.
The journalist, who the Tribune is not naming because he wasnt charged with a crime, was pulled over Wednesday night for running a red light as he drove about a block behind the jury bus, Kenosha Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said. The judge said the journalist was told by his boss in New York to follow the bus.
Under Wisconsin law, any individual who knowingly possesses a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is within 1,000 feet of the grounds of a school is subject to a fine up to $1,000. A sheriffs spokesman said the incident was resolved without action when he voluntarily put away his rifle.
The request was signed by the foreperson, a white woman in her mid-50s who appeared to be taking copious notes during the trial. During the selection process, the soft-spoken woman said she had driven through downtown Kenosha after the unrest to look at the damage. She said it would not influence her decision in the case.
If you cant be downtown or want to avoid the crowd: The parade will air several times on WLS-Ch. 7  6 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 11, and at 8 a.m. Dec. 25. It will also be rebroadcast on networks throughout the United States and in Canada.
There are several requirements for anyone seeking a part-time law enforcement officer certification from the ILETSB, including a physical fitness test and about 560 hours of classroom courses on topics ranging from civil rights and civil liability and Illinois criminal offenses to control and arrest tactics and firearms. An individual can get a waiver for the training requirements if they can show theyve gone through similar training with another police department or in another state.
I offer this statement strictly to assure a complete and accurate factual record for the committee on a very important question that remains open because it resides as a matter of record to this point in negative, undeclared, space, Ferguson concluded. The conjecture drawn from that negative space is not supported by any evidence and, as such, may best be understood as a symptom of the very mistrust the public has of police, policing and government that are at the core of so many of our present societal ills and challenges.
Prosecutors said Stevenson drove from Chicago to Elgin after arranging to sell marijuana to Dyson and McDaniel on the afternoon of April 29, 2018, a states attorneys office news release said. With the two victims in the front seat of a car parked in the first block of Longwood Place, Stevenson climbed into the back seat and ultimately shot Dyson in the back of the head and McDaniel in the back.
Under the circumstances  self-defense could be cited, he wrote. However, Kyle Rittenhouse was where he never should have been in the first place. Hes not a hero or a martyr. Hes a kid with a gun he never should have had in the first place, in a situation he inserted himself into, and got in over his head. Resulting in two deaths that would have not happened otherwise had he not been there. He must face the consequences of both his actions, and his ill-advised way of thinking.
Exhibition brings together artists of the Chang'an school and their unique brushwork, Lin Qi reports.

In October 1961, six painters from the China Artists' Association's branch in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, held a group exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing to show their "exercise works" in the style of classical Chinese ink painting.

Neither the artists nor cultural circles at the time anticipated the exhibition would become a phenomenon, giving rise to a new style in Chinese ink art, the "Chang'an school of painting", after the old name of Xi'an.

The paintings on show impressed people with a refreshing representation that was rooted in the rich history and culture of Northwest China, as well as exhibiting a modern temperament and an innovative spirit.

The new look presented by the school is summarized by critics as "learning from tradition on one hand and sourcing inspiration from life on the other".

Six decades have passed and the principle is still held dear by a number of ink artists hailing from or now based in Shaanxi.

A Journey From Chang'an, a show that started on Nov 11 at the National Art Museum of China and runs through Nov 21, is a reenactment of the history 60 years ago. It brings together the works of the six founding painters and more than 100 paintings by 32 artists who continue to paint in the style.

The exhibition expresses the features of the school-"renovating while based on traditions and keeping up with the time", says Deng Feng, a senior curator of classical Chinese paintings at the museum.

He says the school rose to prominence when the style of classical Chinese painting underwent changes in the 1950s and '60s to meet cultural demand.

The school provides a vivid portrayal of the natural environment of the northwest and the people laboring on the land, "rendering such motifs an atmosphere of revolutionary romanticism", he adds.

"The school was driven by an effort to make breakthroughs in traditional brushwork combined with a quest for the truth of life."

Later, generations of artists held on to the spirit to develop more dimensions of the style, Deng says.

A distinctive feature of the school is the use of references to the northwestern region as being shaped by the Yellow River and the Loess Plateau in depictions of majestic and desolate landscapes. One can also see the different approaches to the landscapes by two generations of painters.

Deng says those born in the 1930s and '40s prefer a "quasi-realistic" style to present the panoramic views of the mountains and water, by which they accentuate a historical narrative and symbolic expressions in their artworks. While young and middle-aged painters reduce the presentation of details, but favor showing the beauty of forms in which they hint at the mentality of modern people.

"When the six painters left for Beijing 60 years ago, carrying their works from Xi'an, they were paving a way to connect the fine art circles of Shaanxi with the outside world," says Xing Qingren, director of the Shaanxi Province Art Museum in Xi'an which holds in its collection dozens of the paintings on show.

"They lit up the sky and pictured a collective image of people in the northwest, and their paintings joined to form a grand new work to voice their awe for art and love of life," says Xing, who is himself a pioneering artist of the Chang'an school.

He says the torch has now been passed on to the younger generations and the current exhibition is like a "second journey" of equal significance to the one in 1961, "a platform where people can discover future master painters".

After Beijing, the exhibition will travel to Nanjing, Jiangsu province, where it will be held at the Jiangsu Art Museum from Dec 1 to 8, and return to the Shaanxi Province Art Museum from Dec 18 to Feb 20.
What is it like to exercise in space? Simple things can be harder in microgravity, while difficult tasks might suddenly be a breeze. A video released on Tuesday shows Zhai Zhigang, a crew member of Shenzhou XIII, practicing tai chi on the Tiangong-1 space lab module with flowing and graceful movements.

The three taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu have been in orbit for about a month since they began their six-month mission to build the space station on Oct 16. Chinese netizens have long been curious about what really goes on inside the space station. While people were still amazed by Wang Yaping's zero-gravity hair style, Zhai showed his "flying" skill and was obviously good at it.

In fact, the tradition of Chinese astronauts practicing tai chi started in 2012 when the country's Shenzhou IX crew member Liu Yang first did so in space and called the experience comfortable.

For space travelers, fitness is a top priority. They must exercise to counter the gravity-free conditions as the experience of "muscle and bone loss" in space will affect their health and ability to work in the long term. Before returning from the Shenzhou XII mission in September, taikonaut Nie Haisheng also practiced tai chi on board the Tianhe core cabin during an Earth-space video call with Hong Kong youths.

Apart from doing tai chi, Chinese taikonauts also play ping pong, ride a stationary bike and run on a treadmill to help train their breathing.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that China will unswervingly expand its opening-up and create a business environment that is market-orientated, law-based and up to international standards.



Li made the remarks while attending a special virtual dialogue with global business leaders hosted by the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. Nearly 400 entrepreneurs from over 40 countries attended the meeting.

"China's economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy, and opening-up is a fundamental state policy of China," he said, vowing to unswervingly expand opening-up, promote multi-field and multi-level international cooperation, treat various market entities equally, and protect intellectual property rights in accordance with the law.

China, a big global market and an important investment destination, welcomes enterprises from around the world to invest and do business here, Li said.

He said he appreciates foreign enterprises' support of China's reform, opening-up and modernization drive, emphasizing that by facing up to difficulties with confidence and by upholding openness, inclusiveness, solidarity and coordination, the world economy will embrace a bright future.

Concerning China's economic situation, Li said the fundamentals for sound economic growth remain unchanged. "China's market entities have reached 150 million, creating over 700 million jobs, which is why China's economy remains resilient and vibrant."

He pledged to maintain a stable macroeconomic operation, take the needs of market entities into consideration when making policies, roll out more combined tax and fee cut measures in a timely manner, and help market entities -- especially the large number of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises -- overcome difficulties.

Answering questions on the energy supply issue, Li said that, to address recent shortages of electricity and coal, a series of measures have been taken and the energy shortage has now been relieved, with the future energy supply guaranteed.

"On the basis of our national conditions, we will promote a low-carbon transition in a balanced and orderly manner on the precondition of ensuring a stable and safe energy supply," he said.
China and Africa have maintained robust economic and trade cooperation, despite COVID-19, as their bilateral trade has set a record high in the January-September period.



Trade between China and Africa rose 38.2 percent year on year to 185.2 billion U.S. dollars in the January-September period, reaching the highest level in history for the same period, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Qian Keming said Wednesday.

China's direct investment in Africa hit 2.59 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months, up 9.9 percent, year on year. The growth rate is 3 percentage points higher than China's overall outbound investment, Qian said, adding that the growth rate outperformed the pre-pandemic level in the same period of 2019.

Chinese enterprises signed 53.5 billion U.S. dollars in new contracts in Africa in the period, up 22.2 percent year on year, with a turnover of 26.9 billion U.S. dollars, up 11.6 percent year on year.

These figures fully demonstrated the confidence of Chinese enterprises in Africa's future development, Qian said.

The Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) takes place in Senegal at the end of November.

Against the backdrop of COVID-19, the 55 FOCAC members will gather again, which shows the strong willingness of China and Africa to deepen cooperation, Qian said. Qian believes the conference will boost the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership and chart the course for sustainable and high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation. He also said it would play a positive role in building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trade partner for 12 years straight. The bilateral trade defied pandemic pressure to hit 187 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.

Ever since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, trade between China and Africa and China's direct investment in Africa have increased 20 and 100 times, respectively, said Xu Bu, president of the China Institute of International Studies, at a forum in October.

China-Africa trade is generally balanced from a long-term perspective. Since 2000, China has imported 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars of goods from Africa and exported 1.27 trillion U.S. dollars of goods to Africa, Qian said.

Regarding sustainable development, Qian said China is ready to strengthen policy coordination with Africa. China would boost green, low-carbon, and clean energy cooperation and conduct technology exchanges to support Africa in enhancing its capacity to adapt to climate change and achieve sustainable development.
As Chinese consumers embrace cute dolls and warm clothing made from Peruvian alpaca fur, Uncle Mamani, a Peruvian craftsman, has also embarked on a journey for the better. He and his family work for Warmpaca, a brand set up by Chinese and Peruvian co-founders manufacturing alpaca fur products. This year marks the company's fourth time participating in the annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, once again proving an expo highlight.

Peru is home to the alpaca, a domesticated camelid mammal that roams the high altitudes of the Andes and bears soft and light fur which, after processing, can be used to generate a variety of products. Many Peruvian families rely on the raising of alpacas or selling of alpaca souvenirs for a living. Established in 2018, Warmpaca has developed around 200 varieties of products ranging from dolls to clothes and scarves. It has seen the floor area of its stand at the expo expand from only 9 to 30 square meters this year.

"Since China has been observing a consistent rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resumption of Chinese market demand has propelled the economic recovery of Peru," Ma Yuxia, one of the co-founders, told Beijing Review.

According to Ma, the company has brought together several self-employed craftsmen in Peru to engage in joint production. In the past, those people mostly sold alpaca fur products at fairs and their income was unstable. Today, Warmpaca helps them improve the quality and design of the handcrafted products, and connects them with the Chinese market, in turn enhancing their profits.

To boost trade and exchange, Peruvian trade promotion associations have provided the employees of Warmpaca with training on doing business with China. "Last year, the epidemic rendered some Peruvians unemployed. Since China's orders have resumed this year, the income of the craftsmen has again gone up," Ma said.

While Warmpaca has observed expanding presence in the Chinese market, other products from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations have traveled far and wide to reach Chinese consumers. Liu Fuxue, Deputy Director of the CIIE Bureau, said at a promotional event in May that nearly 600 enterprises from over 20 LAC countries had participated in the previous editions of the expo over the past three years, with the total exhibition area reaching up to 20,000 square meters. Despite the geographical distance and lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 CIIE continued to bridge the gap and forge closer ties between China and the LAC countries.

Reciprocal relations

Agricultural and mineral products count as key exports of the LAC countries. For many of them, China, with its growing demand, constitutes a large trading partner. The distinctive products of the different countries were on display during this year's CIIE, such as beef from Argentina and Uruguay, cherries from Chile, propolis from Brazil, as well as cocoa and coffee beanstheir overall world famous specialties.

By liaising with Chinese enterprises, many LAC coffee producers today tap into the Chinese market which features a growing consumer base seeking more diverse flavors. The expo's Colombian Pavilion introduces its visitors to coffee beans produced in the country's western Antioquia Province. The region has received investment from Zijin-Continental Gold, a subsidiary of China-based Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd., in coffee planting and promotion.

"We are connecting coffee farmers from the Colombian countryside with China," Gabriela Urrego, a staff member with Basal Trading, told Beijing Review. According to her, the company based in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, serves as a platform for China-Colombia trade. Its products range from low-calorie green coffee made from non-roasted beans to ground coffee, both of which have gained rising popularity among Chinese aficionados.

Geisha Coffee produced in Panama also met with Chinese consumers at the expo. According to Jean Paul Langenstein, production manager of Carmen Estate Coffee in the country's capital of Panama City, the company started selling coffee to the Chinese market a long time ago, but only in small quantities through a limited number of intermediary companies. At the end of 2019, when Chinese retailer Dashang Group purchased its plantation, the company was finally able to export its coffee to China directly.

"China has a fast-growing coffee market, making it an important market for Panamanian products. The fact that China has been able to host the expo in the pandemic situation has provided opportunities for global exhibitors to bring their products to the Chinese customers," he told Beijing Review.

The Chinese market has changed much over the past years, with consumer preferences shifting from instant to roasted coffee, and boutique brands are gaining traction. The country's boutique coffee market is swiftly growing, bearing the prospects of more opportunities for Panamanian producers, Langenstein added.

A good fit

As LAC enterprises eye further expansion in the Chinese market, their Chinese counterparts are also entering the LAC marketplaces. China's tech giant Huawei has launched business in countries such as Uruguay and Argentina, as well as developed training programs for exchanges on technologies between engineers from China and LAC countries.

These exchanges have boosted economic ties. Data from the General Administration of Customs of China showed that bilateral trade totaled around $289 billion in the January-August period this year, up 46.8 percent year on year.

According to an article by Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Yang Wanming in November 2020, China has been the second largest trading partner of LAC since 2015. The latter has in turn become the largest overseas supplier of agricultural products and the second largest destination of outbound direct investment (ODI) for China.

A total of 19 LAC countries have signed memorandums of understanding for Belt and Road cooperation with China. Under this framework, China and these countries have intensified cooperation on COVID-19 response and expanded mutual support in diverse sectors including infrastructure and technology.

Yang stressed that over 2,500 Chinese enterprises have established offices in the LAC nations, creating more than 1.8 million jobs for local people. Despite the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, Chinese ODI in those countries surged 21 percent year on year.

Mei Xinyu, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said China and the LAC countries bear mutually complementary industrial structures. Facing global challenges such as the pandemic and energy crunch, both sides are supposed to seek closer cooperation in the pursuit of solutions.

"Although the application of photovoltaic, solar and wind power in the LAC countries has not yet become full-fledged, its use of hydropower is leading in the world. China and those countries can work jointly on building better hydropower infrastructure," Mei told Beijing Review. He concluded that the cooperation can receive further expansion to the financial and e-commerce sectors as China has kept opening up its doors and seen initial progress in these aspects.
China will put in place targeted re-lending to support the clean and efficient use of coal amid efforts in green and low-carbon development, a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.

Given China's coal-dominated energy resource endowment, it is important to act in light of the national reality and work hard to make coal use cleaner and more efficient.

"At present, coal is the energy source that we can truly rely on ourselves for supply. It will remain so for quite a long time to come, and this bears on China's development," Li said, "That said, we need to pursue a transformation in the path of development, that is we cannot stay on the path of energy-intensive development."

On top of the financial instruments introduced earlier to support the reduction of carbon emissions, a targeted re-lending program with a quota of 200 billion yuan (about 31.3 billion U.S. dollars) will be rolled out in support of clean and efficient use of coal, to shape policy steps of a sizable scale and facilitate green and low-carbon development.

In line with market principles, the 200-billion yuan targeted re-lending program, which focuses on priority areas and is more operable, will provide targeted support for safe, efficient, green and smart coal mining, clean and efficient coal processing, clean and efficient use of coal-fired power, clean industrial combustion and heating, clean residential heating and comprehensive utilization of coal resources, and vigorously promote the development and utilization of coalbed methane.

Specifically, national banks will issue loans at their discretion to eligible projects within the supported areas, at a rate basically on par with the prime rate of loans of the same maturity. The People's Bank of China may provide re-lending support to these banks in the equivalent amount of the loan principal.

"There is huge potential for the clean use of coal. At present, the energy intensity of coal is still relatively high. We must accelerate the commercialization of the mature technologies we have, seek steady upgrades based on practices in our country, and continue to deepen international cooperation," Li said.

Such measures as lowering project capital contribution as appropriate, proper tax incentives, intensified funding support from government special bonds and accelerated depreciation will be explored in a holistic way, to step up support for projects featuring clean and efficient use of coal.

"Financial, fiscal and tax support can make a big difference. We need to fully consider the combined use of multiple financial, fiscal and tax policies to help lower costs and promote efficiency," Li said.
At a time when the global economy has been largely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China-Latin America trade has managed to buck the declining trend and posted a stellar performance.



In the first three quarters of 2021, trade between China and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region amounted to 331.88 billion U.S. dollars, a remarkable increase of 45.5 percent year on year, showed data released Tuesday at the 14th China-LAC Business Summit.

Political, business and academic representatives from China and the LAC region attended the two-day conference that took place in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality online or offline.

Commitment to opening up

During the summit, Chinese and LAC enterprises signed eight cooperation agreements involving animal husbandry, minerals, automobiles and medical equipment, with a total contract value of nearly 1.1 billion U.S. dollars.

"China's demand for beef from the LAC region is increasing every year," said Zhang Xinhao, chairman of Jinshangxu International Trade (Chongqing) Co., Ltd.

The company signed deals with Uruguayan and Brazilian companies to import beef worth a total of 200 million U.S. dollars from Uruguay and Brazil in the following five years.

Despite the fallout of the pandemic, China has remained committed to the opening-up policy and retained its hallmark of "world market."

Fernando Lugris, Uruguay's Ambassador to China, said that China accounts for 60 percent and 80 percent of the country's beef and mutton exports.

Delivering a video speech, Omar Angel Perotti, governor of Santa Fe Province of Argentina, said Santa Fe's export value to China has gained a 25 percent increase year on year in 2021.

In 2018, China was the fourth largest export destination for Santa Fe Province, but jumped to the top in merely one year.

Robust investment

The largest deal of this year's summit came from China's Tibet Summit Resources Co., Ltd., which inked a contract worth 700 million U.S. dollars for battery-grade lithium carbonate with the provincial government of Salta, Argentina.

The company will invest a battery-grade lithium carbonate project with an annual output of over 100,000 tonnes in Salta.

Zhang Jieyuan, the company's deputy chairman, said the project will rake in a considerable amount of tax revenue for the local government and create many job opportunities.

According to data from China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the LAC region is the second-largest destination for China's outbound investment, with more than 2,700 Chinese-funded enterprises operating in the region.

Transport infrastructure has been a major investment area for the LAC region, and energy is developing into a new frontier of cooperation opportunities.

From 2005 to 2020, the number of infrastructure projects funded by China that had been put into operation or are currently under construction in the LAC region totaled 138, with an investment of more than 94 billion U.S. dollars. The projects have created over 600,000 jobs for locals, data from the Latin America and the Caribbean Network on China showed.

Clean energy and infrastructure projects funded by China have improved the living conditions of people in the LAC region, said Luiz Eduardo, executive vice president of Vale of Brazil.

Rosy future

To further expand areas of cooperation in a new development paradigm, the Chongqing Initiative by Business Communities of China and LAC Countries was released at the summit.

The proposals under this initiative include jointly tackling the challenges of COVID-19 and upholding the multilateral trading system, and pushing for economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

It also called for continuing to promote infrastructure connectivity, effectively promoting financial integration, vigorously engaging in cooperation on innovation, and fully supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

"China and the LAC region are highly complementary to each other in the economy, and have compatible development strategies and great potentials for cooperation," said Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the CCPIT.

Zhang added that joint efforts of China and the LAC region will promote a higher level of cooperative partnership and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
As of Nov. 12, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, had logged more than 10 billion express parcels this year, the country's first to reach such a massive delivery volume.

The data was released on Wednesday by the local postal authorities. Currently, about 30.4 million parcels are delivered from Jinhua to corners worldwide every day.

Meanwhile, the average annual growth of the city's express sector exceeded 55 percent. To date, Jinhua's total scale of express delivery accounts for about one-tenth of the country and half of Zhejiang.

In 2020, the city's express delivery raked in approximately 28.4 billion yuan (about 4.4 billion U.S. dollars), providing a solid foundation for online retail businesses of physical goods worth over 1.1 trillion yuan.

On Nov. 10, one day before the country's annual shopping spree, Jinhua announced that all its villages were accessible to China's express delivery services.

Jinhua, which also administers the county-level city of Yiwu, known as the world's supermarket and China's major e-commerce hub, has been striving to develop a digital economy, online retailing, and cross-border e-commerce over the years. E-commerce giants home and abroad have been attracted to the city to build their own storage.

China's annual "Double Eleven" festival, which falls on Nov. 11, was first started by Alibaba's e-commerce platform in 2009 and quickly grew into a major shopping event.
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Chinese police in October busted more than 180 gangs for luring telecom and online fraud victims. They arrested over 1,400 suspects, according to the Ministry of Public Security Wednesday.

The ministry also released 10 typical cases of such crimes on its website. In one case, ten suspects colluded with telecom and online fraud gangs overseas and scammed victims by sending them false part-time jobs and investment information.

Chinese law enforcement authorities had cracked 262,000 telecom and online fraud cases from January to September and arrested 373,000 suspects in these cases.
An event marking the publishing of Xi Jinping's works in the languages of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Beijing on Wednesday.

Eight books made their debut -- the first volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Hindi, Pashto, Dari, Sinhalese and Uzbek, its second volume in Uzbek, as well as "Zhejiang, China: A New Vision for Development" and "The Belt and Road Initiative" in Russian.

The event was jointly sponsored by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and China International Publishing Group.

The works by Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, open a window for the SCO countries to understand the CPC and China in the new era, said Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and director of the State Council Information Office.

SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov and diplomats to China from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka, among others, attended the event.
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Central African Republic (CAR) rebels reportedly killed 12 civilians and injured 15 others in the attack on an army base and surrounding neighborhood, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR reported the Monday attack occurred in a village of Ouham-Pende prefecture by "presumed combatants from the 3R (Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation) armed group."

"Twelve civilians were reportedly killed and 15 were injured and are receiving medical treatment at a local hospital," Dujarric said. "People also fled the area of the attack."

He said the peacekeepers were preparing to send members to the incident area in the northwest of the country to help ensure the protection of civilians.

Violence involving government forces, rebels and militias has wracked CAR in recent years. UN peacekeepers have been in the country since 2014.
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A British F-35 fighter jet has crashed into the sea during a routine operation in the Mediterranean, the country's Ministry of Defence said Wednesday.

The pilot ejected and returned safely to the royal navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the ministry said.

It added the incident happened at 1000 GMT over international waters and hostile action is not thought to have been involved.

An investigation has begun and would likely focus on potential technical or human error, reported the BBC.

There are eight British F-35 jets on the carrier and 12 from the U.S. Marine Corps.

The supersonic fighters, which cost 92 million pounds (about 124 million U.S. dollars) each and are built by the U.S. firm Lockheed Martin, are based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, according to the BBC.
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At least four civilians were killed and two others wounded in twin explosions in western part of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan on Wednesday, witnesses said.

"The first explosion, apparently a roadside bomb blast, hit a public mini-bus in a busy road in Dashti Barchi neighborhood, Police District 13 roughly at 4 p.m. local time, killing four commuters and wounding two others," eyewitness Sayyed Ahmad said.

The vehicle was destroyed in the explosion.

The second blast occurred about 30 minutes later in nearby Dehbori area Police District 3, he said, adding that the Taliban security forces have cordoned off the areas for precautionary measures.

There was no immediate report on the casualties of the second explosion.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet.

Dominated by the minority Shiite Muslims, the neighborhood has been the scene of bomb explosions which targeted public places and vehicles in recent years. The Islamic State (IS) affiliated militants claimed responsibility for the majority of the attacks.

On Saturday, three people were killed and several others wounded in a bomb attack which hit a mini-bus in Dashti Barchi.
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Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Wednesday called for the release of Afghanistan's central bank assets frozen by the United States government.

Afghanistan and the U.S. are no longer in direct conflict, and the "fundamental challenge" of the people is "financial security," Muttaqi said in a letter.

Following Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in mid August and announcement of the caretaker government on September 7, the United States has frozen the country's assets in U.S. banks. Washington has reportedly frozen some $9.5 billion in assets of the Afghan central bank, decrying the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

Muttaqi said in the letter that Afghanistan understands the concerns of the international community and the U.S., but stressed that freezing the country's assets cannot resolve any problem.

"We are of the belief that freezing Afghan assets cannot resolve the problem at hand neither is it the demand of the American people, hence your government must unfreeze our capital," he said.

"We are concerned that if the current situation prevails, the Afghan government and people will face problems and will become a cause for mass migration in the region and world, which will consequently create further humanitarian and economic issues for the world," he added.

Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said in September that the freezing of Afghan overseas assets is one of the major causes for the current economic difficulties in the country. These assets belong to Afghanistan and should be used for Afghanistan, not as leverage for threat or restraints, he said.
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An aircraft carrying 2 million more doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine donated by China arrived in the Cambodian capital on Wednesday.

The vaccine arrival was greeted by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

The event was livestreamed on the prime minister's official Facebook page, the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK), Fresh News, the kingdom's largest online news provider, and several other TV channels.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the airport, Hun Sen said that with China's timely and regular vaccine supply, Cambodia has achieved herd immunity earlier than originally planned and recently reopened all sectors in the country.

From Monday, the Southeast Asian country allowed quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated international travelers. Under the new scheme, the travelers will be free to visit anywhere in the country if they test negative for COVID-19 72 hours prior to departure and have a negative result of a rapid test upon arrival.

"Cambodia has become one of the most fully COVID-19 vaccinated countries in the region and around the world, that has achieved a solid herd immunity," Hun Sen said. "Cambodia's success in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign is inseparable from China's vaccine supply."

The Southeast Asian country has so far got a total of 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from three sources, through bilateral procurement, the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVAX Facility, and donations. Of the total, over 90 percent were bought from or donated by China.

The prime minister added that to date, Cambodia has administered at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 14.08 million people, or 88 percent of its 16-million population. Of them, 13.2 million, or 82.6 percent of the total population, are fully vaccinated with two required shots, and 2.07 million, or 13 percent, have got a third or booster shot.

Hun Sen said Chinese jabs have protected people's health and saved the lives of Cambodians, while helping Cambodia recover its economy in the new normal.

"China is a true, ironclad friend who always provides timely support to Cambodia in difficult times without any strings attached," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said it was the seventh batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Cambodia.

"Now, we're pleased to see that Cambodia has achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in world, and the number of confirmed cases has dropped to double digits, and most of them are mildly ill," he said.

The ambassador said he was elated to see Phnom Penh has returned to its energetic former self as businesses have reopened, and that he hoped the kingdom's socio-economic development would be back on course soon.

Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the Chinese donation is a new testament to the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," he told Xinhua. "Cambodia-China joint COVID-19 fight is a good example for cooperation between countries. Undoubtedly, it will help raise bilateral relationship to a new high and our people-to-people bonds will be further strengthened."

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said China's vaccine donation highlighted a close friendship between the countries, promising support and joint efforts in combating COVID-19 as well as in post-pandemic economic recovery.

"With China's vaccines, Cambodia is able to accomplish the nationwide vaccination program, achieve a strong herd immunity and reopen the country to fully vaccinated foreigners," he told Xinhua. "Cambodia is now safer to conduct business activities and traveling in the new normal."
The report "Aerospace Foams Market by Material (PU Foams, PE Foams, Melamine Foams, Metal Foams, PMI / Polyimide Foams), End-Use (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, And General Aviation), Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2024 "The aerospace foams market size is projected to grow from USD 4.4 billion in 2019 to USD 6.5 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2019 to 2024. Increasing demand for low weight and fuel-efficiency, which requires the extensive usage of foams in a broader number of areas in the aircraft, is driving the global aerospace foams industry . Moreover, the steadily growing global aviation industry is one of the key factors driving the growth of the aerospace foams market.

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The commercial aircraft segment is projected to lead the aerospace foams market in terms of both, value and volume during the forecast period.

Based on end-use, the commercial aircraft segment led the aerospace foams market in 2018 in terms of both value and volume. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the increase in the number of air passengers and high demand for low-cost operators in the regions such as Asia Pacific, Middle East, and South America is driving the growth of the commercial aircraft segment. Furthermore, the surge in the growing demand for LCC from Southeast Asia, India, and Australia is aiding in the growth of the overall commercial aircraft segment and thus propelling the demand for aerospace foams as well

The PU foams material segment is projected to lead the aerospace foams market in terms of both, value and volume from 2019 to 2024.

Based on material, the PU foams segment accounted for the largest share of the aerospace foams market in 2018. The PU foams segment is projected to lead the market in terms of both value and volume during the forecast period. PU foams are available in a variety of forms ranging from low to high density with varying rigidity. The PU foams are compatible with a multitude of aerospace applications such as seating, airframes, interiors, and packaging in the aerospace industry. The growth in this market is attributed to extensive usage of the PU foams in aerospace seating and cushioning application due to their unique properties of durability, lightweight, and recyclability, among others.

The aerospace foams market in South America is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in terms of both, value and volume during the forecast period.

The South America aerospace foams market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in terms of both value and volume from 2019 to 2024. Brazil and Argentina are the key countries contributing to the increasing demand for aerospace foams in this region. Factors such as the end of the recession cycle in Brazil and Argentina coupled with the positive growth prospects for Colombia, Chile, and Peru, and the rise air traffic have increased the demand for aerospace foams in this region. Furthermore, the abolishment of previous restrictions on foreign ownership and control in national airlines of Brazil, by the Brazilian Congress is responsible for the growth of the aerospace foams market in South America.

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BASF SE (Germany), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Boyd Corporation (US), Rogers Corporation (US), FoamPartner (Switzerland), Armacell International S.A. (Luxembourg), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), ERG Materials and Aerospace Corp (US), UFP Technologies, Inc. (US), Zotefoams Plc (UK), General Plastics Manufacturing Company (US), Solvay SA (Belgium), Pyrotek Inc. (US), and Greiner AG (Austria) are some of the leading players operating in the aerospace foams industry. These players have adopted the strategies of expansions, acquisitions, new product launches, investments, new technology developments, partnerships, mergers, collaborations, and agreements to enhance their position in the market.

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Contraceptive Pills market information, by drug class (Monophasic, Triphasic and Others), Combination pills (Monophasic and Multiphasic pills)- Forecast to 2027

Global Contraceptive pills Market - Overview

Anti-conception medication pills which are also called as oral contraceptive pills are a kind of female hormonal anti-conception medication technique and are extremely viable at avoiding pregnancy. These pills are small tablets that a patient swallow every day. These birth control pills are been used from ancient times but the save and effective methods are introduce and available from 20th century. Contraceptive drugs are used to prevent the unwanted pregnancy by blocking the normal process of ovulations or by altering the process which support the fertilization of egg. Most pills contain two sorts of manufactured (man-made) female hormones: estrogen and progestin. These are like the estrogen and progesterone regularly made by the ovaries. These pills are called "combination oral contraceptives," and there are a wide range of these kinds.

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Global Contraceptive pills Market  Competitive Analysis

Merck & Co., Inc (US), Pfizer Inc (US), Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel), Bayer AG (Germany), Allergan plc. (Ireland), Janssen Global Services llc. (US), Mankind Pharma Ltd. (India), Piramal Enterprises Ltd (India), Reckitt Benckiser Plc (UK), Church & Dwight (US), The Female Health Company (US), Mayer Laboratories (US), Cooper Surgical (US) are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Contraceptive Pills Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.

Global Contraceptive pills Market  Overview

Contraceptive pills are likely to witness considerable demand in the years to come. The observation offered by Market Research Future (MRFR) unfolds that the global contraceptive pills market is expected to enter a phase of maturity in the foreseeable future. According to the report, the market is prognosticated to record a CAGR of 2.2% across the projection period 2016 to 2022.

Anti-conception medication pills which are also called as oral contraceptive pills are a kind of female hormonal anti-conception medication technique and are extremely viable at avoiding pregnancy. These pills are small tablets that a patient swallow every day. These birth control pills are been used from ancient times but the save and effective methods are introduce and available from 20th century.

Contraceptive drugs are used to prevent the unwanted pregnancy by blocking the normal process of ovulations or by altering the process which support the fertilization of egg. Most pills contain two sorts of manufactured (man-made) female hormones: estrogen and progestin. These are like the estrogen and progesterone regularly made by the ovaries. These pills are called combination oral contraceptives, and there are a wide range of these kinds.

Globally the market for contraceptive pills is growing at a low rate but with increasing prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases will upsurge the growth of this market in coming future. According to a recent study report published by the Market Research Future, the global contraceptive pills market is booming and expected to gain eminence over the forecast period. The market is forecasted to demonstrate a spectacular growth by 2022, surpassing its previous growth records in terms of value with a prominent CAGR during the anticipated period (2017  2022).

Increasing need of population control and increasing incident of abortion has driven the growth of the market. Governmental initiatives for minimizing unwanted pregnancy, increasing awareness and healthcare expenditure, and increasing in use of contraceptives drugs has provided fuel for the growth of the market. While the side effects of the treatment and strict governmental rules in many countries may hamper the growth of the Contraceptive Pills Market Size

Geographically, North America commands the largest market for the contraceptive drug market. Approximately 3 million women in North America experiences unplanned pregnancy. Beside this 90 % of the women use some of the method of contraception. Thus increasing number of abortion and rate of unplanned pregnancy has driven this market in North America. Major market of North America is contributed by US which is followed by Canada. Increasing awareness and minimizing the healthcare expenses by curbing number of abortion in US encourage contraceptive use among women. North America contraceptives drug market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9 % during forecasted period.

The market for contraceptive pills is characterised by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of contraceptive pills appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. Major players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the emerging nations, making it putting pressure on the regional players, especially in terms of features such as type, product portfolios, and pricing.

The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. The contraceptive pills market appears to be highly competitive owing to the presence of several large and small key players accounting for a substantial market share. Well established players are getting into various product launches in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.

For instance, in 2015, Pfizer Inc. has introduced SAYANA, first injectable contraceptive in UK which can be self-administered.

While, in 2015, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has launched Beyaz which is a generic contraceptive drug. It is one of the most successful product of the company and in 2016 it has annual sales of approximately $133 million in the US. Recently, in March 2017, the company has launched a new product Minastrin in the market. Moreover, the company has launched the generic version of Janssens birth control pills Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. Into the brand name of Tri-Lo-Sprintec (norgetimate and ethinyl estradiol) tablets.

Therefore, the growing partnerships and product launches to expand their presence in various parts of the globe for their competitive products has spurred the growth of the market.

Browse Complete Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/contraceptive-pills-market-2122 .

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Market Scenario

Point-of-care testing allows patient diagnosis, in an ambulance, the home, the field, or in the hospital. The results of care are timely, and allow rapid treatment to the patient. Point of care technology market is growing rapidly due to the evolving healthcare industry, especially in developing nations. The major factors that propel the growth of the market are development in diagnostics, patients with chronic diseases, increasing growth in medical technology, and other uses of point of care technology. Moreover, increasing investment in research and development among the developed countries will also boost the growth of the market positively during the forecast period. Furthermore, advancement of diagnostic laboratories and adoption of automated lab systems, is likely to fuel the growth of the market. On the other hand, complexity of documentation and investment cost involved in this type of care technology, may hinder the growth of the market during the forecasted period.

also read @ https://www.medgadget.com/2019/07/point-of-care-technology-market-finds-industry-will-cross-with-healthy-cagr-9-5-till-2023-by-new-upcoming-enhancement-with-abbott-techno-medicaco-ltd-siemens-ag-alere-inc-etc.html

Point of Care Technology Market  Competitive Analysis

The global point of care technology market includes a host of key players, including Alere Inc. (U.S.), Johnson Johnson Services, Inc. (U.S.), PTS Diagnostics (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Techno MedicaCo., Ltd. (Japan), Abbott (U.S.), Nova Biomedical (U.S.), Instrumentation Laboratory (U.S.), Quidel Corporation (U.S), BD (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (U.S.) Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (U.S).

March 21st, 2019, according to a published journal by the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, it was ascertained that a point-of-care HbA1c test using venous blood sampled or finger stick can be leveraged upon to precisely diagnose diabetes in adults.

April 9th, 2019, Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., one of the pioneering companies in point-of-care diagnostics, announced the approval from the health regulatory agency of Brazil, namely Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA), of its new DPP Zika/ Chikungunya/ Dengue System.

Market Segmentation :

The global Point of care diagnostics market segmentation is divided on the basis of type of products and end-users.

By type of products, the market is divided into cardiac markers, HbA1c testing, glucose testing, and coagulation, and others.

By end-users, the market comprises of hospital, ambulatory care, home care, clinics, and others.

Regional Analysis:

The regional segmentation of the point of care technology is divided into Asia Pacific, Americas, Europe, and the Middle East Africa.

The report by MRFR identifies the Americas to hold a majority of the share in the global market to lead the standings. The region is expected to grow and expand further due to huge investment therein and the strong economic conditions therein, one which aids the research and development activities in the healthcare sector. Increasing incidences of surgeries coupled with the growing demand for products relevant to this technology is expected to boost the market growth in this region.

Europe stands out as the second largest regional market following Asia Pacific. The proliferation and the expected growth of the market depends upon the ameliorating importance of research in the healthcare industry. This, in turn, is increasing the investment pool of research and development activities in the Asia Pacific region. The Asia Pacific market is expected to showcase the fastest growth potential owing to the widespread prevalence of communicable diseases and a burgeoning demand for more diagnostics. Add to this, both India and China have also entered the market with growing investment in the research and development activities of healthcare domain. The Middle Eastern African region holds the least share in the global market due to lack of economic stability and poor development in the medical facilities.

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Coronary Stent Market Research Report: By Type (Bare-Metal Stents, Drug-Eluting Stents, and Bio Absorbable Stents), by Mode of Delivery (Balloon-Expandable Stents and Self-Expanding Stents), by End-User (Hospitals & Clinics) -Forecast Till 2027

The worldwide Coronary Stent Market Size is estimated to rise to have a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecasted time frame of 2023.

also read @ https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/coronary-stent-global-market-industry-analysis-growth-trends-opportunity-and-forecast-2018-to-2023-2021-01-17

Coronary Stent Market Overview

Coronary stents are a small tube-like device that is placed into the coronary arteries of a patient in order to keep the arteries open in the coronary heart disease treatment and prevent the same from any kind of blockage. It is used for broadening the narrowed arteries and helps curb-down chest pain and the chances of heart attack. According to the recently published report by the team of Market Research Future (MRFR), the global coronary stent market is projected to grow at a rate of 7.8% during the review period.

The market is identified to be driven by a number of factors, including the wide-spread prevalence of heart-related diseases and a proliferating demand for diagnosis and treatment methods. Additionally, the growing availability of diagnostic services for coronary heart diseases is also pushing the growth of the market. A growing percentage of positive outcomes with stenting and the emergence of a number of advancing technologies in the coronary artery field is adding to the market growth of the device. It is also worth noting that alternative treatment methods for curing coronary artery diseases and a number of product recall cases are likely to hinder the market growth of coronary stents.

Coronary Stent Market Segmentation

Global coronary stent market segmentation is classified on the basis of mode of delivery, type, material, and end-user.

By type, the market segments into drug-eluting stents, bioabsorbable stents, and bare-metal stents.

By material, the market comprises cobalt chromium, metallic stents, stainless steels, platinum chromium, nickel titanium, and others.

By end-user, the market includes hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, cardiac centers, and others.

By mode of delivery, the market divides into self-expanding and balloon-expandable stents.

Coronary Stent Market Regional Analysis

segments into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.

North America is the dominant region of the lot and is primarily driven by the surging patient population suffering from coronary heart diseases, an increasing pool of geriatric population, and growing investments in the healthcare sector. Latin America, on the other hand, is slated to be one of the fastest growing regional market owing to the rising demand for coronary heart disease treatment options and the availability of technologically advanced devices for diagnosis purposes.

With Germany and the UK being the major contributors, the European coronary stent market is expected to flourish in the forthcoming years. An increasing emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of heart and other related diseases has majorly driven the market in this region. The increasing healthcare expenditure is another key contributor to the markets growth.

Asia-Pacific stands out as the fastest growing market amongst all the mentioned regions. This projection can be primarily attributed to the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and a rising focus on performing early diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. The Middle East & African region is forecasted to exhibit a slow and steady rise in the growth ladder. The regional market is starting to show positive signs with an increasing number of healthcare facilities offering treatments for chronic diseases and an increasing growth of the medical device sector, especially for diagnostic devices. In Africa, increasing awareness concerning coronary heart diseases is pushing the market growth herein.

Coronary Stent Market Competitive Landscape

Coronary Stent Market Sizeincludes some highly noteworthy players including B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), MicroPort Scientific Corporation (China), Vascular Concepts (India), Terumo Corporation (Japan), BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG (Germany), Translumina GmbH (Germany), Biosensors International Group, Ltd. (Singapore), Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. (India), Elixir Medical Corporation (U.S.), Boston Scientific Corporation (U.S.), STENTYS SA (France), Medtronic plc (Ireland), Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Reva Medical Inc. (U.S.), and others.

Coronary Stent Industry Overview

Feb 8th, 2019, CeloNova BioSciences, Inc. (CeloNova), an innovative global medical device leader, announced the signing of a three-year group purchasing agreement with HealthTrust for their new game-changing Coronary Stent named COBRA PzF(TM) NanoCoated Coronary Stent (NCS) System.

Feb 22nd, 2019, Biotronic announced the approval of Osiro, an ultrathin-strut coronary stent, from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of coronary artery disease. It was approved in Europe eight years back and has been implanted upon millions of patients globally.

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Home Medical Equipment Market Research Report: By Functionality (Therapeutic Equipment, Patient Monitoring Equipment, Mobility Assist & Patient Support Equipment) and By End-User (Hospitals, Emergency Clinics, Homecare Settings)  Forecast to 2027

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Home Medical Equipment Market Influencer

Rising coverage and favorable reimbursement policies of home medical equipment in developing and developed countries is impacting the growth of the home medical equipment market.

Market Highlights

According to MRFR analysis, Home Medical Equipment Market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2015 and was valued at USD 24,504.33 Million in 2018.

Home medical equipment consists of a broad range of devices intended for use at home or other non-clinical settings. The delivery of healthcare services will see an evident shift from clinical to homecare settings is positively influencing the home medical equipment market.

The rising geriatric population, improving healthcare expenditure, and the need for cost-effective treatment is rising the demand for home medical equipment.

Regional Analysis

On a regional basis, the Americas is anticipated to dominate the global home medical equipment market owing to the rising demand for invasive and non-invasive monitoring devices and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region. For instance, in 2018, an estimated 1,735,350 cases of cancer were diagnosed in the US. Moreover, the presence of advanced healthcare technologies in the Americas is projected to boost the market growth. Europe accounted for the second-largest share in the market in 2018. This is attributed to improved medical infrastructure and growing patient awareness about home medical equipment.

Asia-Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region is due to the growing geriatric population, rising interest of major key players in emerging markets, and quality healthcare infrastructure in this region. The Middle East & Africa is expected to account for the least share of the global home medical equipment market. This is attributable to the limited healthcare infrastructure and lack of awareness about home medical equipment in this region.

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Key Players

Carefusion Corporation (US)

GE Healthcare (US)

Medline Industries Incorporated (US)

Omron Corporation (Japan)

Resmed Corporation (US)

Stryker (US)

Arkray Incorporated (Japan)

Smiths Group PLC (UK)

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland)

Abbott (US)

Philips Healthcare (US)

Invacare Corporation (US)

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Global Bowel Management Systems Market is marked to expand steadily at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period of 2017-2023 and reach the valuation of 2.188 Bn by the end of 2023 from 1.72 Bn in 2017.

The Bowel Management Systems Market In-Depth competition analysis of the major companies in the report, sector of the report includes the market depictions, requirements, and product portrayls, manufacture, competence, contact figures, cost, and revenue.

Major Key Players

The key strategies followed by the players operating in the global Bowel Management Systems Market were innovation, product development, acquisition, and expansion.

Coloplast (Denmark), Medtronic (Ireland), 3M (the U.S.), B. Braun (Germany), C.R. Bard (the U.S.), Consure Medical (India), Cogentix Medical (the U.S.), Aquaflush Medical Limited (the U.K.), Axonics Modulation Technologies (the U.S.), ConvaTec (the U.K.), Hollister (the U.S.), MBH-International A/S (Denmark), Mederi Therapeutics Inc. (the U.S.), Welland Medical limited (the U.K.), and Wellspect HealthCare (Sweden).

Market Segment Analysis

For scope of the report, MRFR offers a comprehensive segmental analysis of the global bowel management systems market

By Product

Irrigation Systems

Colostomy Bags

Nerve Modulation Devices (NMD)

Other Products and Accessories

By Patient Type

Adult Patients

Pediatric Patients

By End User

Home Care

Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Regional Analysis

Geographically, the global Bowel Management Systems Market has been divided into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa

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Key Study Highlights:

This report for Bowel Management Systems Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance.

The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.

About Market Research Future: MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.
Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market Research Report by Product (Disposables, Monitors, Minimally Invasive, Others), Type (Invasive, Non-invasive, Others), End-user (Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Care Centers, Home Care Settings, Others), and Region, forecast till 2027

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Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market - Segmentations

The global hemodynamic monitoring systems market has been segmented on the basis of product, type, end-use, and region.

By product, the market is segmented into disposables, monitors, minimally invasive, and others. Among these, the segment - monitors accounts for the largest segment.

By type, the market is segmented into invasive, non-invasive, and others. Out of these, the Invasive accounts for the major segment.

By end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals, clinics, ambulatory care centers, home care settings, and others. The segment hospitals and clinics is the largest segment.

By region, the market is segmented into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Out of these, the Americas region dominates the market, whereas the Asia Pacific region accounts for the fastest growing region.

Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market - Geographical Analysis

North America accounts for the leading share in the market for the hemodynamic monitoring systems. Factors positively impacting the market growth in the region include the high per capita health care expenditures and rapid uptake of advanced technologies in the growing healthcare sector.

The Europe hemodynamic monitoring systems market accounts for the second-largest market, globally. Attributing to the increasing healthcare expenditure, availability of advanced treatment facilities, and government initiatives, the market is estimated to register a remarkable CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023). Increasing cardiovascular issues in the region are becoming paramount concerns which, in turn, are contributing to the market growth.

The hemodynamic monitoring systems market in the Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a promising market. Growing number of aging populaces alongside the prevalence of cardiac disorders growing at an alarming rate are driving the market in the region. Also, some of the other dominant factors such as the faster adoption of healthcare technology, government initiatives to improve the quality of healthcare, favorable insurance, and reimbursement policies are fostering the growth of the APAC market.

Hemodynamic Monitoring Systems Market - Key Players

Some of the market leaders profiled in the report are Argon Medica, Teleflex Incorporated, Osypka Medical, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation; PULSION Medical Systems SE, LiDCO Group plc, Cheetah Medical, Deltex Medical Group Plc., ICU Medical, Osypka Medical GmbH, CareTaker Medical, CNSystems, NI Medical, and Uscom.

Innovation, mergers & acquisitions, product launch, and regional expansion remain the key strategies for these players to maintain their market positions.

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Global Vitamin Test Market Research Report, by Type (Vitamin B12, Carotene, Folic Acid Test), Technology (high-performance liquid chromatography), End-User (Hospitals and Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Diagnostic Centre)  Global Forecast Till 2027

The global vitamin testing market is expected to witness tremendous growth during the forecast period at a CAGR of ~9.2% .

Market Highlights

The Vitamin test market is expected to witness tremendous growth owing to the rising prevalence of vitamin deficiency. Other key factors such as the change to sedentary lifestyle, increase in smoking, and increasing consumption of junk food and packaged food, growing geriatric population, rising consumer awareness for vitamin benefits, and technologically advanced laboratories are contributing towards the growth of the market. However, factors such as, high cost of vitamin test, limitations of the tests like false positives and false negatives and lack of awareness in developing countries are expected to restrict the market growth during the forecast period.

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Intended Audience

Pharmaceutical companies

Biotechnological institutes

Government and private laboratories

Research and Development (R&D) companies

Medical research laboratories

Market research and consulting service providers

segmentation

The global vitamin test market is segmented on the basis of type, technology, and end-user. the vitamin test market, by type, is categorized into vitamin B12 & folic acid test, folic acid (folate) test , carotene (beta carotene) test, vitamin K1 test, vitamin E test, vitamin d 25-dihydroxy (calcitriol) test, vitamin C test, vitamin B12 test, vitamin B6 test, vitamin B5 test, vitamin B3 (niacin) test, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) test, vitamin a (retinol) test, vitamin B1 test. On the basis of Technology, the market is segmented into high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), radioimmunoassay, ELISA tests, chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. On the basis of end-user, the market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic centers, research centers, and others.

Regional Analysis

The Americas is the largest in the market owing to the increasing prevalence of vitamin deficiency and growing healthcare expenditure. According to the United States Department of Agriculture in 2014, 50% of Americans are deficient in vitamin A, vitamin C, and magnesium. Such a high incidence of vitamin deficiency drives market growth in this region.

Europe (UK, Belgium, France, and Netherlands) is the second largest vitamin test market during the forecast period. The increasing in awareness for vitamins and vitamin testing drives the market in this region. The European Laboratory of Nutrients (ELN) is an advanced laboratory for testing the nutrient levels in European population. Every year European Laboratory of Nutrients (ELN) organizes an international symposium titled 'Advanced Clinical Nutrition  Nutrients for Prevention and Cure of Disease'. Thus enhancing vitamin testing market in this region.

Asia-Pacific was projected to be the fastest growing region for the global vitamin test market in 2017. The market is expected to witness growth owing to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases in this region. Also, the presence of technologically advanced countries like China and Japan in this region is expected to influence the market growth in this region.

The Middle East and Africa accounts for the least share due to low per capita income and lack of availability of well-trained healthcare professionals. However, the rising healthcare services both at the hospital level and in the community are expected to influence the market in a positive way.

Key Players

Some of the key players in the global Vitamin test market are VitaMe Technologies Inc., R-Biopharm AG, Abbott Laboratories, ImmunoDiagnostics Inc., F. Hoffman-La Roche, Siemens AG, Diazyme Laboratories, DiaSorin SpA, ORGENTEC Diagnostika GmbH and others .

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Alternative jewelry brand chooses Centric Software PLM to streamline processes

CAMPBELL, Calif., November 18, 2021  Ask and Embla, the alternative jewelry brand, has selected Centric Softwares Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source and sell products such as apparel, footwear, sporting goods, furniture, home decor, cosmetics, food & beverage and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Founded in 2013, Ask and Embla is an alternative jewelry brand that embraces and brings together a community of individuals of all alternative styles and modalities. Headquartered in Singapore, the growing company also has remote teams in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Australia, Sweden, and Ukraine and proudly works with a large radius of dynamic and diverse individuals.

As the company grew and product lines expanded, Ask and Embla struggled to keep track of product data and development timelines. Suppliers were also missing timelines and quality standards.

Ryan Gomes, Managing Director at Ask and Embla says, Keeping track of developments was challenging as there are different timelines based on the type of product or material were developing. We needed to ensure that our processes were consistent and that we could keep track of all product development information in one place.

As a young team just starting out our internal product development processes, we needed to hone the collective experience in best-practice processes from the top companies in the world.

Ask and Embla selected Centric PLM to reliably track product development and supplier information in one digital hub. The company will be able to easily follow up on developments, gain better visibility of the critical path, drastically improve information management as well as speed up product creation and ensure suppliers are meeting the correct standards and deadlines.

Centric PLM will ease administrative stress and the stress of not having information about product developments available when we need it. It will also provide a quick way to onboard new team members to our processes, explains Gomes.

Centric PLM appealed to Ask and Embla as teams felt familiar with the spreadsheet-like interface. The features matched many of the features we were trying to develop on spreadsheets. We were confident we could onboard teams quickly, adds Gomes.

We are delighted to partner with Ask and Embla, says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. We look forward to working closely with their diverse and growing teams to equip them with the digital tools they need to drive development, efficiency and growth.

Learn more about Centric PLM.

Request a Demo

Ask and Embla (www.askandembla.net)

Found in 2013, Ask & Embla is an alternative jewelry brand that embodies being part of something different. They embrace the spectrum of all alternative styles and modalities, fusing the essence of classic and alternative styles to craft expressive jewelry for anyone and everyone to furnish comfort in their own skin. (Ask & Embla celebrates the misfits, the believers, the round pegs in square holes and everyone in between  empowering individuals to proudly own who they are.)

Centric Software (www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley, Centric Software provides a Product Concept to Consumer Digital Transformation Platform for fashion, retail, footwear, luxury, outdoor and consumer goods including cosmetics, beauty and food and beverage. Centrics flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric PLMTM, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, quality and product portfolio optimization innovations specifically for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric SMB focuses on core tools and industry best practices for emerging brands. Centric Visual Innovation Platform (CVIP) offers highly visual digital board experiences for collaboration and decision-making. Centric Software pioneered mobility, introducing the first mobile apps for PLM, and is widely known for connectivity to dozens of other enterprise systems including ERP, DAM, PIM, e-com, planning and more as well as creative tools such as Adobe Illustrator and a host of 3D CAD connectors. Centrics innovations are 100% market-driven with the highest user adoption rate and fastest time to value in the industry. All Centric innovations shorten time to market, boost product innovation and reduce costs.

Centric Software is majority-owned by Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the world leader in 3D design software, 3D digital mock-up and PLM solutions.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including being named by Red Herring to its Top 100 Global list in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Centric also received various excellence awards from Frost & Sullivan in 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2021.

Centric Software is a registered trademark of Centric Software Inc. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Centric Software

Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, jforsythe@centricsoftware.com

EMEA: Kristen Salaun-Batby, ksalaun-batby@centricsoftware.com

APAC: Lily Dong, lily.dong@centricsoftware.com
The report "Waterproofing Systems Market by Type (Waterproofing membranes, Waterproofing Chemicals, and Integral Systems), Application (Building Structure, Roofing & Walls, Roadways, Waste & Water Management), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" size is estimated at USD 52.7 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 72.0 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.4%. The demand for waterproofing systems in emerging economies, such as APAC, MEA, and South America, is increasing owing to the growth in the construction industry. The fluctuation in raw material prices is challenging the waterproofing systems market. The demand for waterproofing systems is rising, owing to the growing demand for cost-effective and efficient waterproofing materials. This increase in demand for environment-friendly waterproofing systems and the construction of green buildings provide growth opportunities to the market. On the other hand, the potential health and environmental issues are the major restrain for the market.

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Based on the application, the building structure segment is estimated to lead the overall waterproofing systems market in 2020.

Waterproofing of building structures provide effective and long term protection form these exposures and ensure efficient protection of building structures. Building structures are areas excluding roofs and walls such as balconies, basements, foundations, retaining walls, storage rooms, belowground constructions, and others. Growth in demand for residential and commercial construction in emerging economies such as China, India, Indonesia, Chile, Nigeria, and others is driving the consumption of waterproofing systems in building structures.

Based on type, the waterproofing membranes segment is projected to lead the overall waterproofing systems market during the forecast period.

Waterproofing membranes are materials that are used to prevent water ingress in any building structure. These are available in sheet form of liquid applied. These systems are easy to handle, easy to apply, highly efficient, flexible, and also provide improved strength, tear resistance, weathering resistance, UV stability, and elasticity to the applied surface. They are used for applications, such as roofing & walls, building structures, waste & water management activities, tunnel liners, bridges & highways, and others.

Based on region, APAC is estimated to lead the waterproofing systems market in 2020.

APAC is projected to be the fastest-growing market for waterproofing systems. The rising population, increased demand for residential buildings, rapid industrialization, and increased urbanization are driving the APAC waterproofing systems market. China is the largest market for waterproofing systems in the region. China is also a major producer and consumer of waterproofing systems in the region as it has a huge manufacturing base. Apart from China, India, and South Korea are projected to grow at a decent rate during the forecast period.

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The key players in the waterproofing systems market include Sika AG (Switzerland), BASF SE (Germany), Soprema (France), GCP applied technologies (US), Fosroc (UK), Mapei S.P.A (Italy), Carlisle Construction Company (US), Tremco (US), Pidilite Industries (India), and Henkel Polybit (UAE). These players have established a strong foothold in the market by adopting strategies, such as expansions, mergers & acquisitions, agreements & partnerships, and new product launches.

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A family court last month had stayed the adoption process of the child and directed the police to submit a detailed report in a sealed cover. (Representational Image/DC)

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major development in the controversial 'baby kidnap' case, the Child Welfare Committee here has issued an order directing the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare (KSCCW) to bring back the child to Kerala in the next five days.

The one-year old boy, currently in the foster care of a couple in Andhra Pradesh, is suspected to be the child of Anupama S Chandran who raised allegations against her parents for kidnapping her baby soon after his birth and given in adoption through KSCCW without her consent a year ago.

When the child is brought back to the state, a DNA test would be carried out to identify his biological parents, as per the order which also directed to provide the baby an escort of a Special Juvenile Police Unit during his journey from Andhra.

The development was a great relief for Anupama and her partner Ajith who are on a stand-in-protest in front of the KSCCW office at Thycaud here for some days demanding to get her baby back.

"The General Secretary, KSCCW is directed to produce the child before the CWC here within five days on receipt of this order," it said.

The DNA test of the baby should be conducted without any delay and till its results come, the child shall be under the care and protection of the District Child Protection officer, the order added.

As informed by the KSCCW authorities, the couple reached the office and collected the copy of the order in the morning.

Expressing happiness over the development, she said she would continue her protest till she gets the baby in hand.

The legal battle against the KSCCW authorities and everyone those behind forcibly separating the child from her would also taken forward, she added.

"Feeling very much happy and relieved now. I hope I can see my baby soon. I believe that there wont be much formalities after the DNA test and I would get my child by December beginning," an excited Anupama told reporters here.

The woman's allegations of forcible taking away of her new born child by her father, a local CPI(M) leader, has triggered widespread political controversy in the state.

Her allegations against senior party leaders for not helping her in the issue had put the Marxist party leadership in a fix.

The Opposition Congress-UDF even took the issue to the state Assembly and termed it as one of the most heinous "honour crimes" reported in the state.

The government had announced a departmental probe into the incident.

The 24-year-old Anupama had accused her parents of having taken away her new-born child forcibly from her soon after its birth a year ago and alleged that though she had complained about it to the police several times since April, they were reluctant to register a case against the family members.

However, Peroorkkada police here has said a case was registered against six people, including her parents, sister and husband, and father's two friends, and said the delay happened as they were awaiting legal opinion.

A family court last month had stayed the adoption process of the child and directed the police to submit a detailed report in a sealed cover.
Finance minister T. Harish Rao asked officials to launch more modules and options on Dharani to make the portal more user-friendly and to resolve the issues being faced by people during property registrations on the portal. (DC File Image)

Hyderabad: Finance minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday said the state government had been addressing grievances and complaints raised by the people on Dharani portal in an expeditious manner.

Harish Rao chaired the Cabinet sub-committee meeting to review the progress of Dharani portal and to discuss the measures to be taken to make the portal more user-friendly. The meeting was attended by Cabinet sub-committee members including ministers G. Jagadish Reddy, Sabitha Indra Reddy, V. Prashanth Reddy and the officials of departments concerned.

"As many as 98,049 applications were received on Dharani portal which pertain to the 'list of prohibited properties'. Of them, 82,472 have been resolved so far. Over 10 lakh property registrations were done on Dharani within a year of its launch indicating the huge success of the portal. Dharani, the brainchild of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, will remain in history as a milestone in land administration and management of land records," Harish said.

He asked officials to launch more modules and options on Dharani to make the portal more user-friendly and to resolve the issues being faced by people during property registrations on the portal.

Officials informed the ministers that several new modules and options were launched on Dharani since its launch last year to make it more user-friendly but due to lack of awareness among people, revenue staff and Mee Seva operators, there was a delay in resolution of complaints.

The Cabinet sub-committee asked officials to conduct awareness and training programmes on Dharani modules and options to officials and staff of revenue department, stamps and registration department and Mee Seva operators in all the districts. They also asked collectors to attend zilla parishad and municipal meetings to create awareness on Dharani options and modules among ZPTCs, MPTCs, corporators, councillors and officials by giving power-point presentations.

The committee also instructed officials to set up Dharani help desks at all collector offices to enable people to file their grievances and seek redressal.
The Weather department also predicted that Strong winds (speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph) are very likely. (AP file photo)

Chennai: The Indian Meteorological Department predicted on Thursday morning that the coastal region of Tamil Nadu is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls in the southern coastal region of Andhra Pradesh-- Rayalaseema and adjoining areas of north Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours.

Following a red alert issued by the IMD in Chennai, the various parts of the city received heavy rainfall on Thursday. "Intense rainfall has begun over coastal Tamil Nadu since early hours of today" IMD tweeted.

The Low-Pressure Area (LPA) over Southeast and adjoining Southwest Bay now lies as a Well Marked Low-Pressure Area over Southwest and adjoining West-central Bay off north Tamil Nadu-south Andhra Pradesh coasts, IMD informed.

"It is very likely to intensify into a Depression during the next 12 hours," said IMD.

The Weather department also predicted that Strong winds (speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph) are very likely to prevail over Southwest and adjoining West-central Bay of Bengal and along and off Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-south Andhra Pradesh coasts.

"As Rough to Very Rough Sea conditions are also very likely to prevail over Southwest and adjoining West Central Bay of Bengal and along and off Tamil Nadu-Puducherry-south Andhra Pradesh coasts, Fishermen are advised not to venture into these areas till 19th November morning," said IMD in an official statement.

As per IMD, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Ranipet are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall due to the low pressure around the coast on Thursday.

Meanwhile, all schools and colleges in the Theni district will remain closed in the wake of heavy rainfall, announced the District Collector on Thursday.
A report from Baramulla said that two CRPF jawans and two civilians were injured in a grenade attack on a police party in Palhalan township. Representational Image. (PTI)

Srinagar: Five separatist militants including a commander of The Resistance Front (TRF), which the police authorities insist is an off-shoot of proscribed Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) organization, were killed in two separate gunfights in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Kulgam district on Wednesday.

In neighbouring Pulwama district, the police claimed that it arrested two LeT 'associates', before they could set two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) off to target the security forces. Meanwhile, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and as many civilians were injured in a grenade blast in Palhalan township of northwestern Baramulla district on Wednesday.

A police spokesman here said that the gunfights occurred in Kulgams Pombay and Gopalpora villages on Wednesday afternoon when the security forces moved in to flush out militants dead or alive. He said that among the five militants killed in the encounters was TRF district commander Afaq Sikander.

Earlier the police had claimed that two militant associates of the LeT were arrested by it along Pulwamas Circular Road. A joint naka was laid by the Pulwama police, the Armys 55 Rashtriya Riles and the 182nd Battalion of the CRPF at Circular Road of Pulwama which arrested two active associates of LET namely Amir Bashir Dar and Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat, the police said. It added, Two ready-to-use IEDs were recovered from their possession.

A report from Baramulla said that two CRPF jawans and two civilians were injured in a grenade attack on a police party in Palhalan township.

Meanwhile, a massive search operation was earlier during the day launched by the Army in the Uri sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district following it foiled an infiltration bid from across the de facto border.

The Army sources said that the infiltration bid was made by a group of heavily armed men near Dhulanja post in Rewand Nallah area of Uri sector. Later the whole area was cordoned off and the search operation launched, the sources said, adding that a brief exchange of fire took place between the Army troops and the armed group but no casualties were reported.
HYDERABAD: The directions issued by the municipal administration and urban development department to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) authorities to impose a fine of `50,000 for violating parking norms in 2018 seem to have fallen in deaf years.

The state government in March 2018 issued orders to regulate parking fees in commercial complexes. However, none was penalised for violating parking norms. Though the authorities have the right to demolish commercial structures for violating parking norms, the enforcement wing seems to be going slow on its implementation.

As per the parking rules, the owner of a commercial establishment has to provide parking space for its employees and customers. The GHMC sources said given the traffic chaos and lack of parking facilities at many commercial establishments, the parking space norms would be revised soon. As per the norms, 44 per cent of a commercial complex area should be set aside for parking. Now, the proposal is to ensure one car park for every 50 sq. metres instead of 80 sq. metres to provide more parking space.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, GHMC chief city planner (CCP) S Devender Reddy said the corporation has complete authority to demolish the structure without issuing any notice. He said while granting building permission for a commercial structure, the owner of it should sign an undertaking that he would adhere to the parking norms. Reddy said converting parking spaces for some other purpose was a blatant violation. He also made it clear that cancer hospitals would be given an exception to avoid the radiation. He said this apart, independent houses were also given exceptions. The CCP clarified that the corporation would initiate stringent action on violators if brought to their notice.

For the remaining structures, as per the orders, the first 30 minutes of parking at commercial complexes should be free. From 30 minutes to an hour, a person is exempted from parking fees if he produces a bill of any amount that acts as proof that he had shopped in the respective mall or multiplex. Otherwise, the prescribed parking fee for the duration may be collected. Above an hour, a person must get free parking if the person produces a bill or movie ticket whose amount is more than the parking fee. If not, the prescribed parking fee for the said duration must be collected.
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues and other TRS leaders held a dharna here on Thursday in protest against the NDA government's alleged anti-farmer attitude and unhelpful stance over paddy procurement in the state.

"We started this battle because our farming community may suffer due to the Centre's policies, and as the Central Government of the day is showing reluctance, negligence towards farmers and agriculture," Rao said.

"We say you change your attitude, come to the rescue of farmers, withdraw the autocratic farm laws and change the policy to instal metres at agriculture pump sets. This battle is not going to end today and we have to fight till the end," he said, addressing the gathering at Dharna Chowk here.

The fight will have to be intensified in the future, till the interests of Telangana farmers are safeguarded, by combining forces with the "struggle of the farming community in north India," he said.

Though he urged the Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal 50 days ago to inform the target for procurement of paddy from the state, there has been no response from the Centre, he alleged.

He said he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (urging the Centre to direct the FCI to confirm the target of rice procurement from the state during ensuing Rabi season, among others).

"We will continue our fight till Centre does justice to our farming community," he said.

Saying that the TRS was criticised by BJP when it held dharnas recently on the paddy procurement issue, for holding protests despite being in power, Rao said Modi, as Gujarat Chief Minister, held a protest for 51 hours in 2006.

"A message is going out from this that pitiable circumstances of CMs, Ministers and MLAs having to sit on dharna prevail in this country," he said.

The dharna by Rao and other TRS leaders came against the backdrop of a war of words between ruling TRS and BJP over paddy procurement and a clash between the activists of the two parties during state BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar's visit to procurement centres this week.

Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday alleged that the state government did not start procurement of the rainy season crop which made farmers wait at procurement centres since the Dussera festival.

Farmers would not have died of heart attack at procurement centres or committed suicides had the government started procurement properly," he claimed.
The passage of the bill comes almost a year after President Arif Alvi approved the new anti-rape ordinance that was cleared by the Pakistan Cabinet, calling for the chemical castration of rapists with the consent of the convict and setting up of special courts for speedy trails. (Representational Image/PTI)

Islamabad: Sex offenders convicted of multiple rapes in Pakistan could face chemical castration after Parliament passed a new legislation that aims to speed up convictions and impose tougher sentences.

The bill is a response to a public outcry against a recent spike in incidents of rape of women and children in the country and growing demands for effectively curbing the crime.

The passage of the bill comes almost a year after President Arif Alvi approved the new anti-rape ordinance that was cleared by the Pakistan Cabinet, calling for the chemical castration of rapists with the consent of the convict and setting up of special courts for speedy trails.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021 bill was passed along with 33 other bills by the joint session of parliament on Wednesday. It seeks to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Chemical castration is a process duly notified by rules framed by the prime minister, whereby a person is rendered incapable of performing sexual intercourse for any period of his life, as may be determined by the court through administration of drugs which shall be conducted through a notified medical board, according to the bill.

Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed protested over the bill and termed it un-Islamic and against Sharia.

He said a rapist should be hanged publicly, but there was no mention of castration in Sharia.

Chemical castration is the use of drugs to reduce sexual activity. It is a legal form of punishment in countries including South Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic and in some states in the US, according to media reports.

Critics say fewer than 4 per cent of sexual assault or rape cases in Pakistan result in a conviction.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
Russia knows the EU's weak point: the border policies for each member, like the Polish border that are getting lit up by the migrant chaos there.

Brussels accuses Putin and Lukashenko of orchestrating a hybrid war using middle eastern immigrants getting ugly on the Poland-Belarus border.

As far the EU leaders know, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko are picking away at the bloc's unity, and fears of the bloc's safety worsen.

Putin chips away at the unity of EU member nations

Moscow has the upper hand, and the leaders of the European Union are now worried over Ukraine, and the overloading border eating at unity among members, reported the Express UK.

Last Monday, the French president Emmanuel Macron told the Kremlin that NATO wouldn't let go of Kyiv without a fight. An immense buildup of weapons and troops is at the doorstep of Ukraine. Notwithstanding the Belarus border conflict taking a lot from Brussels to manage, cites the EU Observer.

An EU expert Wolfgang Munchau said that the Kremlin is the overlord of both crises simultaneously, pushing the bloc's buttons where it is vulnerable. The members cannot decide on a single move, whether defence or migration.

The Eurointelligence director Munchau called it a two-pronged attack on security and border policies at the east borders; it's Putin's gain.

Both the Kremlin and Minsk nudges on the EU to do something to show its belly has succeeded. Brussel's is barely coping but fraying at the edges. Russia knows the EU's weak point due to these concerted actions.

Read Also: Russia Probes EU's Reaction in the Ongoing Migrant Crisis at the Poland-Belarus Border

It gets worse as the sanctions over migrant smuggling won't work on the Belarus border. Even if the migration stops, what is left is a humanitarian crisis to solve at the borders; dilemmas follow one by one.

Brussels agrees to pursue more sanctions directed at Belarus leader for his involvement in the hybrid war against the Polish border's integrity. By Lukashenko called what they planned ludicrous and desperate.

Macron told Putin that there is only one discussion between the west, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. He stressed to Putin what he thought of the tense atmosphere on the Ukrainian border, the National News noted.

A French adviser told the media of NATO's solidarity in standing up to the Russian army, also saying it's willing to keep Kyiv's interests, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well.

Belarus-Poland border crisis could be a distraction

Dmitry Peskov ignored the US statement that Belarus is a distraction that is supposed to pull attention from Ukraine. He cited the US State Department statement is muddling everything up for its gain.

The EU says the weaponized migration is for sanctions against Lukashenko winning the election, but Russia and Belarus denied it.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, had talked to the Belarus leader to assist refugees on the phone; informed an aide. Aside from Belarus, the Chancellor spoke to Putin as cooler heads in the EU were not present. No progress was made.

Munchau insisted that called won't do much except for Lukashenko, who is legitimized by the Chancellor's actions. Russia knows the EU's weak point, and the calls are proof of that; it should alarm NATO, who are now outclassed in handling this crisis. Even Macron's call seems to be irrelevant.

Related Article: Movement of Russian Armor and Troops to the North Ukraine Border A Reminder to NATO Putin is not Playing Games

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The development of China's DF-100 anti-ship missiles that boast an impressive range remains unverified, which is no comfort for the US military. If it does as advertised, it will end up like a turkey shoot with a horrible tonnage of US ships sunk even before making a shot.

Due to this fact, the US forces have chosen to spread out their forces to avoid a clumped target, but it still does not ensure success.

China's DF-100 anti-ship missile capabilities threaten the US

Development of the DF-100 ship-killer with its supersonic speed and long-distance range has made it a threat to shipping close enough to take out, reports the Nationalist interest.

The kill zone is a no man's land dictated by the anti-access and area denial concept that will keep even the vaunted US navy at arm's length, leaving acres of ocean free of a carrier strike group deadly package of strike planes.

On October 1, 2019, the People's Liberation army showed what it could do. America took the Asian sleeping giant for granted, and now it's a thorn on its side. It shows how Beijing likes to make a big show of its arms, letting the west panic as its somewhat hobby.

The Biden administration wants to make the world believe it can handle China. But for every new military hardware developed only shows China's DF-100 anti-ship missiles is monstrous capability.

Read Also: US Navy Destroyer Sent to South China Sea After China Tests Aircraft-Carrier Killer Missiles

PLA's new DF-100 missile could be cruise or ballistic

Military parades of Beijing, mobile launchers are bearing the DF-17 and DF-100 missiles that fly at ultra-fast speeds, according to The Diplomat. They were part of a parade to show the achievements of the People's Republic of China.

It seems that the PRC does not always reveal its hand in its arms; for example, the DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile was known to the west for a while, cited Missile Threat CSIS.

Most foreign intel got their eyes peeled about China but does keep quiet to protect their sources in China. According to Janes, the DF-100 is a supersonic cruise missile, but some argue it can be called an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). But another idea is that it can also skim the ocean, but no one has verified its actual fight path.

Another suggestion about this ship-killer touted as an aircraft carrier buster is a strategy to augment other missiles in the PLA's arsenal. They are all dedicated to stopping a US naval ship. Also, the DF-100 might be hypersonic at one stage of its flight.

One Chinese paper revealed something more about the ship-killer missiles, stating it has a range of 2,000 to 3,000-kilometers that is perfect for large targets like carriers, transports, and all the escort ships sailing in the vast ocean. US strategy relies heavily upon getting this hardware in striking distance, but the advent of long-range rocketry is not an empty threat.

Many would quip that the sensors and targeting systems would be up to par, but the PLA is advancing faster than thought, and the US may not be as secure. Can the US navy breach the vast distances covered by China's DF-100 anti-ship missiles in its A2/AD bubble? So far, that's a big negative, but a loss of major tonnage in the Indo-Pacific due to such weaponry is not a joke.

Related Article: China Making It Hard for the US Forces to Hit Back at Them

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In the greater chance of a conflict with Russia, Ukraine buys new military hardware necessary if that should be the outcome. Despite denials by the Kremlin, there is nothing ominous with troop deployment, and Kyiv does not trust easily.

The foreign minister of Ukraine has aired the possibility of a conflict with Moscow because of the annexation of Crimea several years back.

Kyiv has the backing of NATO and the UK, with the US joining them if the Russian federation pours over the border. But, this brings the risk of kicking in World War 3.

Ukraine buys military hardware to increase capability

Moscow denied its troops were building up at the border shared with Ukraine, while NATO was concerned with other pressing matters like the Belarus-Poland border. Last Monday, Dmitry Kuleba met with German and French officials and told them that they might be caught flat-footed if the Russian army decided to roll out into his nation's border, noted RT.

Kuleba told the representatives that Russian would outsmart them if they didn't prepare this early. By the time they are ready, it will be too late.

He added that Putin is not one to trifle with, and he'll do what is necessary to get the job done and not waste time over red tape and non-sense.

Urgently he pressed his French and German counterparts, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas, as Kyiv cannot deal with Russian forces alone.

But he told them if another option would be better, it was preferred to fighting the ex-Soviet army, though defending Ukraine is a given option, reported the Daily Star.

Read Also: Movement of Russian Armor and Troops to the North Ukraine Border A Reminder to NATO Putin is not Playing Games

Tensions have been growing between Russia, Ukraine

Dmitry Peskov, a Russian spokesman, told earlier about the build-up of forces near the disputed border, it should not be of anyone's concern. Stress that the Kremlin does not have any ill intent.

Kyiv signed a new treaty with Britain that would involve loans for Ukraine from London to acquire and build British vessels for its forces.

The Ukraine government took out a 1.7 billion loan with a deal to buy two minehunters, with eight capable missile ships and one frigate, Sky News noted. But, in the meantime, there will be an arm for its current surface fleet.

In a joint statement, Ben Wallace, the defence secretary with Oleksii Yuriyovych Reznikov, the Ukrainian counterpart, said no one wants conflict one bit. Neither is the desire to undermine or belittle the Russian Federation in any capacity to goad it.

A week ago, all the papers were signed, with the deal complete as attested by the Ministry of Defense, and other agencies were formalizing the agreement.

According to a Ukrainian source that stated that Russian troops seen as aggressive were deploying to the border, as mentioned by the Defense Ministry. The source added eyes were on the objective and said it's a growing crisis as well.

Pictures from an American satellite tried to spill the beans of the build-up of forces on either side on the Crimean border still contested.

Places of interest with Russian armour like tanks, infantry vehicles, mobile artillery close to Yelnya at the Border. The US insisted there was trouble, but both countries ignored them.

Ukraine buys new military hardware from the UK as they worry if a unified NATO would be there or a splintered bloc.

Related Article: Russia Probes EU's Reaction in the Ongoing Migrant Crisis at the Poland-Belarus Border

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Both Russia and China teamed up to cooperate after the debris anti-satellite missile attack sent the debris almost hitting the international space station (ISS). The move to conglomerate resources in the space domain has sent aftershocks to the Americans in particular.

NASA reported the action nearly endangered everyone on the space station, including the Soviet cosmonauts. Along with the ISS, the Tiangong had to be alert if any space junk would come their way.

China-Russia Consortium space weather center is under way

According to Brandon Weichert, an expert on the subject, both Beijing and the Kremlin will benefit as the main opponents of Washington and Brussels. Even the UK will not find it easy, reported Express UK.

He added that Russia is only the second power in the space race, with China getting there and trailing behind. But if this alliance in space does anything, it will make China and Russia a force to reckon with.

Both adversaries of the west will add better technology of outer space and funding that the two nations bring to the table. Their coordination will chip away US dominance in space, which Washington is not keen on.

A space weather center will be erected in Beijing, which was announced only today. It means space will be more contested as the US might fall behind in the race to reach the cosmos.

Called the China-Russia Consortium (CRC) space weather center operated by organizations in either country, it was announced via the national weather service of China, noted the Globaltimes.

Funds boosted by Chinese involvement in co-projects with the Kremlin will make the US edgy, also make the competition between the great powers in the east and west shall rumble. Russia and China teaming up to cooperate is a game-changer for both nations.

Read also: Chinese Astronauts of Tiangong Station Executes First Space Walk, Stayed Out for Seven Hours Working

Russia, China cooperate for space advancements

Mr. Weichert made it clear that leaders in Russian and China hate the west, which the United States leads. Either of them is willing to take apart Washington to benefit their respective interests, like the Indo-Pacific and an eastern Europe under Moscow's control.

Controlling space is the key to dominance that will be one chance of sending the US packing and defeating them and their allies.

If the coordination between China and Russia develops more with their outer space partnership, the link to the US will not flourish but stagnate. Given enough time, the dominance of America will wane.

Putin is not interested in anything the US offers. Nothing is going right with US and Russian; instead, good is lost with the US. The Kremlin's relationship with the US appears to be spiraling out of control.

The immediate hit on the space station was caused by the ASAT that destroyed an old cold war satellite, a Cosmos 1408 spy satellite, cited Space News.

Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu stated that a new system was tested and a promising tech. He added it hit the space object squarely but said the fragments are not lethal or harmful pieces that formed pose no threat.

Russia and China teaming up to cooperate to pool their resources and know-how in space will mean competition from the west. But they complement goals in conquering space to gain an advantage over the US.

Related article: NASA Chief Calls Out Irresponsible Russian Anti-Satellite Missile Test After ISS Performed Evasive Action To Avoid Collision with Space Debris

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Analysts see China's military's deployment of long-range bomber warplanes near its border with India as a forceful but calculated message to its neighbour.

Last week, during the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force's 72nd-anniversary celebration, state-run news station China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast images of H-6K bombers flying near the Himalayas.

While the bomber jets are usually stationed near Beijing, the South China Morning Post said they were relocated to Xinjiang province last year, closer to a territory disputed by both India and China.

China warns India with bomber planes stationed at the border

The Western Theatre Command is in charge of the military regions of Xinjiang and Tibet and security along China's border with India. A military analyst, Antony Wong Tong, told SCMP that stationing bomber planes near the Indian border were "certainly a warning to India."

However, Song Zhongping, a former PLA artillery instructor and military expert, stated that the PLA would not assault populated areas. For land and sea combat, the H-6K planes are commonly equipped with CJ-20 missiles. The planes stationed near the Indian border, on the other hand, were equipped with short-range KD-63 missiles rather than the longer-range CJ-20 missiles.

Per The Independent, the CCTV footage did not include photographs of the CJ-20, according to Zhou Chenming, a researcher at Beijing's Yuan Wang military science and technology institute.

Tensions between India and China have been building since discussions between the two nations' military commanders broke down in October. During a brutal fight between the Chinese and Indian military in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in June of last year, scores of Indian soldiers were killed.

According to reports, the incident was the worst in 45 years, and it resulted in a military standoff with China and many rounds of discussions between the two nations. In reaction to reports of bomber planes being deployed along the border, the Indian Air Force dispatched Mig-29UPG and Su-30MKI fighter fighters to their bases in Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, all of which are disputed by both India and China.

China is engaging in a "border war" with India and poses a serious threat to its neighbours, according to senior Republican congressman John Cornyn, who detailed his trip to New Delhi and Southeast Asia to learn about the issues that nations in the area face.

Read Also: Russia, US Reach Agreement To Continue Monitoring Emissions; What's Behind Kremlin's Shift in Tune on Climate Change?

China poses a serious threat

Senator John Cornyn, who is also the Co-Chair of the India Caucus, and his Congressional colleagues just returned from a trip to India and Southeast Asia, where they saw firsthand the problems that China poses.

Cornyn warned Senate lawmakers on Tuesday that the most immediate and serious dangers come from countries closest to China's borders. He added that he had the opportunity to lead a congressional delegation to Southeast Asia last week to better grasp the region's risks and problems.

China is a menace to freedom of passage in international seas and a perpetrator of heinous human rights violations against its people, particularly the Muslim Uyghur minority. According to Cornyn, it is at war with India and has threatened to attack the Republic of China, also known as Taiwan.

"We met with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and Cabinet officials to address concerns presented by China as well as other common goals," Cornyn said of their trip to India, as per News18.

Following a violent conflict in the Pangong lake regions on May 5, last year, the border standoff between the Indian and Chinese forces erupted. Both sides steadily increased their deployment by bringing in tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy equipment.

The two parties concluded the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February due to a series of military and diplomatic negotiations.

However, at their 13th round of military negotiations on October 10, India and China failed to resolve the impasse in eastern Ladakh's remaining contention spots. They took a ride on a naval plane in contested seas in the Philippines, he added.

Related Article: China Defends Joining India on Coal "Phase Down" Instead of "Phase-Out" as Beijing Hits Production at All-Time Highs

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Former United States President Donald Trump's former senior aide, Steve Bannon, pleads not guilty to contempt of Congress proceedings despite surrendering himself to the FBI after defying the House Select Committee's subpoena that was part of its investigations of the Jan 6. Capitol Hill riot.

The notice of Bannon's plea came in advance of the scheduled hearing on Thursday morning that will become the former aide's first appearance before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols. The latter will be overseeing the former Trump aide's case and any possible trial for contempt for his failure to testify or turn over documents in the committee's investigation of the events on Jan. 6.

Bannon Pleads Not Guilty

However, according to the former aide's filing, Bannon believed that the judge did not need to read his charges in open court. The proceedings could result in the court skipping a formal arraignment on Thursday. The situation would also lead to the virtual status conference set for the morning becoming a simple check-in where they will discuss timing and other procedural steps in Bannon's case, CNN reported.

Bannon made his first appearance in federal court on Monday after a federal grand jury indicted him on two counts of contempt of Congress last week. During his surrender, the former Trump aide said he will be fighting the congressional subpoena, telling reporters that his prosecution was a politically motivated attack by U.S. President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Read Also: Donald Trump Recorded Multiple Messages Addressed to the Jan. 6 Capitol Rioters That Got Rejected, New Book Claims

On Oct. 21, the Democrats-led House of Representatives voted to hold Bannon in contempt, giving the Justice Department, that Garland leads, the authority to decide on any charges. Former President Trump has sought to prevent the House Select Committee from acquiring House records. He also told his allies to defy subpoenas and not cooperate with the Jan. 6 investigations.

Inciting the Capitol Hill Riot

Trump has long claimed that a former United States president had a right to keep requested materials confidential under what is known as executive privilege. One of his former senior aides, Bannon, who is a prominent figure in right-wing media circles, was a crucial part of the former president's win in the 2016 elections and served as the Republican businessman's chief strategist in 2017, Yahoo News reported.

While Democrats and other critics of former President Trump celebrated Bannon's criminal charges last week, many are now seeing the negative influences of politically pursuing the former aide. Some have argued that the underlying purpose of the prosecution, which is to force Bannon to cooperate with the committee, will not be reached.

Some say that Bannon could prefer to risk it and accept a fairly short jail sentence, allowing him to receive support for being a martyr for Trump supporters. But even if the former Trump aide cooperates with the committee, whether or not the public learns anything new about him or Trump and their alleged involvement in inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot remains to be seen.

During Bannon's podcast the day before the unprecedented storm of the Capitol, the former aide said that "all hell is going to break loose tomorrow." Additionally, the former president has publicly encouraged his supporters to breach the Capitol, an act that has caused him to be the first American president to be impeached twice, The Hill reported.



Related Article: Trump Lawyers Urge Judge To Block Attempts To Release Former President's Tax Returns, Question Democrats' Motives

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The pandemic and the ensuing economic collapse wreaked havoc on agricultural and meatpacking workers, who were among the most affected. Fortunately, they may soon receive a stimulus check since the US Department of Agriculture has chosen to award them $600 from a $700 million aid package.

The COVID-19 virus has impacted negatively the meatpacking and farm workers who must collaborate closely. According to the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents 80 percent of the nation's pork and beef sector and a third of poultry workers, the virus killed 132 workers in the meatpacking business and impacted or exposed 22,000 others.

US workers will get a piece of stimulus check

Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, stated that during the first phase of the pandemic, the meatpacking facilities were hit by some of the heaviest attacks and that every worker deserved recognition and assistance. As a pilot project, grocery shop employees will get a small piece of the stimulus check package. The help to grocery employees is estimated to be roughly $20 million, as per Digital Market News.

The workers were exposed to both physical and financial dangers because they had to pay for their own safety gear. Officials expect that the award would cover part of the costs of workers purchasing personal protective equipment as well as the losses experienced due to unpaid leave while the virus ravaged these businesses.

Per The East County Gazette, costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will be covered as part of this relief. This covers the expense of personal protective equipment (PPE), dependent care, and setting up quarantines.

While praising the country's accomplishments on Labor Day, Vilsack noted that farmworkers and meatpackers have been confronting tremendous hardships, which must be acknowledged. As a result, the stimulus check grant program is just another tool used by the administration to alleviate the suffering of pandemic victims.

According to sources, members of the UFW Foundation worked relentlessly to push legislation intended at implementing a farmworker stimulus check program.

Read Also: Surprise Stimulus Checks Ranging $1,000-$2,000 Being Sent To Eligible Americans; Who's Getting Them?

Is there another stimulus payment for American families?

Families will get a surprise stimulus payment of up to $1,086; however, you must first determine if you are qualified for the federal assistance. Several states will provide financial assistance to their residents in the form of bonuses ranging from $500 to $2,000.

The action comes months after President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan issued its last stimulus payment. In March, a letter was sent out. If your home comprises a family of three without an income and you live in New Hampshire, you may be eligible for a $1,086 check.

Other states around the country are stepping forward to give stimulus checks to their people. Residents seeking government aid must adhere to the state's qualifying requirements.

In the meantime, while Vermont does not give a direct payment, it does offer to cover up to $7,500 in moving fees for anyone migrating to the state. The only condition is that the person must be migrating due to job loss in the hospitality or construction industries. Georgia government handed out a letter to teachers and other educational workers in March 2021, as per The Sun.

Related Article: Some Americans To Receive $1,400 Stimulus Checks in April 2022 With Others Getting $1,800 Child Tax Credit Payment Next Year

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A married couple with eight children who went to Atlanta to develop their businesses were killed in a murder-suicide only weeks after the woman said she was having trouble adjusting to life in Georgia and sought for prayers.

Keianna Burns, 44, fatally shot her 46-year-old husband, Ronnell Burns, at their house soon before 9 pm on November 6. She then took her own life.

Entrepreneur couple found dead in Atlanta home

Burns had posted a video online hours before the incident showing her dancing and singing with her young daughter, whom authorities claimed was with a relative at the time. She had asked her friends to help her get through a difficult moment a few weeks earlier, on October 30, as per Daily Mail.

Six months before the incident, the family relocated to Atlanta from St. Louis, Missouri, to increase their Kritique Designs Beauty & Barber Salon and Primerica Insurance customer base. On social media, Keianna Burns created a beautiful image of her life.

She flaunted a new Maserati Levante that her husband had given her last year, as well as images of her trunk filled with Louis Vuitton shopping bags. Despite keeping up appearances on social media, she recently admitted that she had troubles adjusting to her new life and new environment.

The family's Atlanta house had no history of domestic violence, according to police. They have biological children as well as children from past marriages.

Ronnell Burns was previously married and went on a Divorce Court episode with his first wife, whom he claimed of cheating on him. His ex-wife accused him of destroying her credit. Ronnell revealed in a YouTube video that he and his current wife had considered divorce as well.

Read Also: Missing New Jersey Teen Runs Away From Her Mom Who Stabbed Her, Threw Bleach in Her Eyes For Losing Benefits Card

Georgia jail break

Meanwhile, police confirmed Wednesday that all five dangerous convicts who overpowered two guards in a coordinated escape from a Georgia jail last week had been apprehended. Late Friday, a daring escape took place inside the Pulaski County Law Enforcement Center. Due to staffing difficulties, Pulaski County Sheriff Danny Brannen told WMAZ-TV that only two jailers were on duty that night instead of the typical four.

Tyree Williams, 33; Tyree Mantan Jackson, 27; Brandon Pooler, 24; Lewis Wendall Evans, 22; and Dennis Penix, Jr., 28 were identified as the escapees. When an inmate attacked one of the two jailers who was chatting to another inmate inside a cell soon after 11 pm, the inmates were supposed to be on lockdown, FOX5 Atlanta reported.

According to the sheriff, the convicts threatened to kill the guard and took her car keys before assaulting the second jailer. During the event, no jailers were hurt. The two convicts then broke into three other inmates' cells, stole two Tasers from the jail, and fled in the jailer's personal vehicle, a 2015 white Kia Sedona.

For the escapees, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation issued a statewide notice on Saturday. On Sunday night, two days after the breakout, officials made their first break in the investigation. Jackson, 27, was apprehended without incident during a felony traffic check in Warner Robins, roughly 25 miles northwest of the correctional facility, according to Warner Robins police.

Police and the US Marshals Services arrived later Sunday night. The Southeast Regional Task Force (SERFTF) of the United States Marshals Service executed a search warrant at a residence in the city and discovered Evans, who was brought into custody without incident.

According to John Edgar, deputy commander of the United States Marshals Service, detectives tracked down Penix and Pooler on Tuesday and discovered them hiding in the rear of a mobile home. Williams, the fifth fugitive, was apprehended early Wednesday hiding behind a building, according to Warner Robins police. All five convicts have serious criminal history. Williams was arrested and charged with criminal murder and home invasion.

Penix was charged with the murders of two men in 2017 in connection with a drug deal. Pooler was charged with child maltreatment, Jackson was charged with auto break-ins, and Evans was charged with obstructing an officer, Fox News reported.

Related Article: Husband Stabs Wife To Death in Washington After Restraining Order Against Him was Denied

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Law enforcement agencies from various countries, including the United States, Britain, and Australia, issued a joint statement that raised concerns regarding an Iranian government-backed hacker group that poses a threat to cyber security.

The joint cybersecurity advisory released on Wednesday was made by a coalition of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, Australian Cyber Security Center (ACSC), and British National Cyber Security Center (NCSC). The cooperative statement linked a group of hackers to the Iranian government.

Iranian Government-Backed Hacker Group

The group of agencies also put a label on the hacker group, which is now considered an advanced persistent threat (APT). The decision was made after its members exploited Fortinet and Microsoft Exchange in March and October, respectively. The attack allowed the group to gain access to the systems as part of its plans to distribute ransomware.

The joint statement raises concerns that the group has actively targeted "a broad range of victims across multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the Transportation Sector and the Healthcare and Public Health Sector, as well as Australian organizations," Fox News reported.

The situation is a rare case of the United States government publicly linking the Iranian government with ransomware. The crime is commonly used by cybercriminals rather than a nation's government. It serves as a sign that the American federal government's ransomware problem extends farther than just Russia.

The group of hackers is believed to be exploiting known flaws in software that Microsoft and Fortinet made. They then locked the systems with ransomware, the joint statement of various agencies revealed.

Read Also: Most Americans Believe Joe Biden is Not in Good Health, Mental Condition, New Poll Reveals

"These Iranian government-sponsored actors can leverage this access for follow-on operations, such as data exfiltration or encryption, ransomware, and extortion," said the advisory, CNN reported.

A cyber threat sharing group for bis U.S. health care providers, the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center, said that it would immediately share the U.S. government advisory with its members. The group's chief security officer, Errol Weiss, said they were taking the matter "very seriously."

Rise of Cybercrimes

Microsoft said in a blog post on Tuesday that the company had experienced six different Iranian hacking groups deploying ransomware since September 2020. Cybercrime typically works by encrypting a computer's data, preventing the owner from accessing it until an extortion payment or ransom is sent to the attackers.

An analysis by the global tech company read that as Iranian operators have begun adapting both their strategic goals and tradecraft, they have, over time, have evolved into more competent threat actors. They are now capable of conducting a full spectrum of operations worldwide.

However, a spokesperson for Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident, Reuters reported. The situation also comes as the U.S. has, over the past two years, identified several foreign ransomware attacks, the majority of which were made by the Ryuk and Darkside groups.

These two hacker groups were tied to Russia by American authorities. However, they did not tie the cybercriminals to the Russian government, who has long since assured the American government that they were cracking down on the criminals.



Related Article: Donald Trump Recorded Multiple Messages Addressed to the Jan. 6 Capitol Rioters That Got Rejected, New Book Claims

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In only five days, the Pacific Northwest has received over a foot of rain, causing rivers to reach significant flood levels and deluging highways and towns.

According to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, roughly 500 residents were displaced Monday due to floods in Whatcom County, Washington, which is located in the northwest region of the state near the Canadian border.

Flooding and mudslides stopped Interstate 5 in Bellingham, Whatcom County, overnight. In the aftermath of "severe" floods and mudslides in the province's southern portion, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth stated during a news conference Tuesday evening that one fatality had been reported on Highway 99.

Floods occur faster in Washington and Canada

According to David Boone, assistant head of the Vancouver Fire Rescue Services' operations section, about 300 individuals were stuck in their automobiles on Highway 7 east of Vancouver.

On another section of Highway 7, 500 people were detained in their cars for more than 24 hours, but they were able to drive out after the roads were cleared, he added. Per ABC News, Highway 5 in British Columbia was also closed due to flooding, with one official describing the situation as "a disaster waiting to happen."

The storms, which began on Sunday, destroyed roads, prompted the closure of an oil pipeline, shut down Canada's two main railways, and restricted land access to Vancouver, the country's largest port.

On Tuesday, officials in the small town of Sumas, Washington, posted on Facebook that hundreds of people had been evacuated and that an estimated 75% of homes had been flooded. A 59-year-old man, named as Jose Garcia by authorities on Tuesday, remained missing after his pickup was washed into a flooded area southwest of the city, as per Sky News.

At least two additional persons have been reported missing, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. On Tuesday, the Sumas River flooded, overwhelming rescuers in Abbotsford, British Columbia, forcing the evacuation of 1,100 families.

Read Also: Family Says Washington Father Who Kills Young Daughter's Boyfriend After Selling Her to Sex Traffickers is Not a Hero

More deaths are expected

Community members worked together to rescue trapped livestock from a farm, using Jet Skis to assist in the rescue. Impassable roads, according to Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, were causing turmoil as officials attempted to send residents to evacuation locations.

After days of torrential rain created mudslides and floods and forced the shutdown of the West Coast's main north-south roadway near the Canadian border, almost 50,000 Washington state electricity customers were still without power Tuesday, officials said.

Rains triggered by an atmospheric river spreading across the Pacific and into Washington and Oregon were diminishing, and road personnel were able to restore southbound lanes of Interstate 5 near Bellingham, Washington. However, the northbound lanes of the highway were remained closed in the region.

About 158,000 electricity customers were without power on Monday during the storm's peak, and Bellingham schools were canceled for the second day in a row on Tuesday. Authorities said one individual was remained missing Tuesday north of Bellingham after being observed clinging to a tree in floods.

Floodwaters swamped business districts and partially submerged cars in communities north of Seattle, and winds gusted at speeds of 60 mph (96 kph), including one gust of 58 mph (93 kph) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Evacuations were ordered in multiple areas as floodwaters swamped business districts and partially submerged cars in communities north of Seattle.

Although the National Weather Service issued flood advisories for many rivers in western Washington, forecasters projected drier weather on Tuesday. Gov. Jay Inslee announced a severe weather state of emergency in 14 counties, saying the state's Emergency Management Division would coordinate the response with the help of the Washington National Guard, Business Standard reported.

Related Article: At Least 18 Dead After Heavy Rainfall Causes Floods, Landslides in India as Country Fights Climate Change

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On a visit to Kyiv on Tuesday, British defense minister Ben Wallace visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a show of support at a time when Ukraine and NATO nations are concerned about Russian army activities near Ukraine's borders.

The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed "unwavering" support for Ukraine this week, saying it will stand behind Kyiv in the face of Russian aggression while rejecting the Nord Stream 2 project.

Britain supports Ukraine against Russia's hostility

Zelenskiy hailed a framework agreement to use British money to improve Ukraine's naval capabilities, allowing Ukraine to acquire missiles, build missile ships, and create a military facility on the Sea of Azov, according to a statement released after their meeting.

Russia's military movements near Ukraine's borders have alarmed Ukraine and NATO members. In turn, Moscow has accused Ukraine, the US, and its allies of destabilizing behavior, notably in the Black Sea. General Nick Carter, Britain's most senior military commander, said there was a higher potential of an unintentional conflict between the West and Russia than at any point since the Cold War, as per Reuters.

After Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the commencement of combat in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists in the same year, relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated.

After the Defense Secretary signed a new contract with Ukraine amid concerns with Russia, the UK would sell warships and missiles to the country. Wallace has agreed to strengthen Ukraine's naval capabilities in the face of rising Russian aggression, which has resulted in thousands of refugees camped out for the second week at the Polish-Belarus border.

Warsaw has accused Vladimir Putin and Belarusian despot Alexander Lukashenko of instigating the situation, as per The Daily Telegraph via MSN. To strengthen its maritime footprint, the UK signed a pact with Ukraine in early November that allows British exports to flow to Ukraine.

The agreement will allow Kyiv to seek loans from the United Kingdom to purchase British warships and missiles. The contract will cover the purchase of two mine-hunting boats, the joint manufacturing of eight missile ships, and the supply and fitting of weapons systems to existing ships.

Read Also: China Sends Long-Range Bomber To India Border, Poses Grave Threat To Neighbors

UK signs deal to help Ukraineian navy

There will also be a combined manufacture of a frigate and technical assistance for the country's naval infrastructure construction. It comes after a week of rising tensions, including Russia's assertion that RAF surveillance plane was redirected over the Black Sea while in international airspace.

The RAF was then compelled to activate a rapid response alert to follow two Russian nuclear-capable aircraft over the North Sea, while Russia tested an anti-satellite missile in orbit earlier this week.

Boris Johnson cautioned on Wednesday that the Kremlin would be making a "tragic, tragic mistake" if he believed there was anything to gain from military adventurism in Ukraine. The Prime Minister was asked by MPs at the Liaison Committee what military help the UK was willing to provide Poland and Ukraine to stop Russian aggression.

Per Daily Mail, it comes as Boris Johnson advised Vladimir Putin not to make a "tragic error" as tensions on the Russian-Ukraine border escalate. The Prime Minister was questioned on the difficulties between Belarus and Poland, as well as the situation in Ukraine, when appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee.

For months, tens of thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have gathered at the Belarus-Poland border. Belarus' authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been accused by Brussels of inciting migrants to cross the country's borders in punishment for EU sanctions implemented in reaction to his draconian reign.

Hundreds, though, were reportedly transported to a neighboring warehouse on Belarusian territory on Wednesday, according to sources. The build-up of Russian military on Russia's border with Ukraine has also caught the interest of Downing Street.

After the Ukrainian defense ministry stated that roughly 90,000 Russian troops were in the vicinity, the Kremlin denied rumors that it was planning an invasion. Because Poland has a NATO security guarantee, any move against it may spark a response from the whole alliance, Johnson said the two scenarios are "quite different."

Related Article: Putin Deceives NATO on the Ukraine Border Leaving them in Panic Over Possible Invasion

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The return mission to the moon has not been decided, but Northrop Grumman is designing the new moon rover for that purpose. A new lunar vehicle will be utilized for astronauts when everything is set for the Artemis mission.

Last Tuesday, the aerospace firm said it won the contract for the next generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) or rover as the chief space transport on the moon.

To build it, Northrop Grumman will tap several firms like AVL, Michelin, Lunar Outpost, and Intuitive machines.

Cost of the project

NASA inspector general informed that it had abandoned the planned date for the return mission with reasons for it are the time needed to test the hardware, reports the Daily Mail.

Development and testing of the HLS and brand-new spacesuits will need to be extended by the agency from 2024 to several years later, as mentioned last Monday.

Part of the inspector general's report says that NASA does not cost the space program correctly. A total cost of $93 billion from 2021to 2025 will be spent for the Artemis program, adding the $25 billion for Artemis III, cites Euro News.

Another reason said the watchdog audit is the case filed by Blue Origin had pushed back the return mission to the moon with the first woman and person of color.

The details of the report

The aerospace firm got the LTV contract after August the US space agency requested bids to build the space rover according to specifications to travel in the moon's lunar pole. Northrop Grumman is designing the new moon rover for this express purpose.

Read Also: NASA Asks the US Government for Budget To Develop Nuclear Powered Rockets To Prevent Chinese Domination of Space

Initial plans are to build a permanent base camp in the zone that would need a vehicle capable of moving astronauts and working for at least a decade. Also, the base will be where several missions are going to be housed permanently.

Steve Krein, vice president of civil and commercial space in Northrop Grumman's tactical space systems division, said in a statement that all the people involved would create the vehicle which suits NASA's costs and specs to help in the exploration of the lunar body.

A component like the battery will be built by AVL, including autonomous driving and engines for mobility.

NASA has worked with Intuitive Machines in conjunction with the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. This new initiative will add to capabilities for the Artemis missions.

Northrop Grumman added that the Nova-D spacecraft uses a quad of liquid methane/oxygen engines from the Nova-C moon landing.

Part of the Lunar Outpost job will be in fast innovation, stopping dust and technology for thermals in developing the MAPP (Next-Generation Mobility for the Lunar Surface) rover as the best build for the moon.

Michelin will create an airless tire for the LTV, which is crucial for mobility.

Another company that tried for the lunar transport vehicle (LTV) is GM to include a proviso for an electric type rover. GM was the firm that designed the Apollo rover.

To be clear about the Artemis launch date reveals it was supposed to be on February 2022 but got moved to 2024. The mission will be the first one since the last in 1972 for the Apollo program.

Northrop Grumman is designing the new moon rover that will be a new one, designed with current tech and made to last for several missions after.

Related Article: Artemis Accord: The Outer Space Treaty for Peace on the Moon

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Despite being asked to join the rest of the royal family at Sandringham, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be coming to the UK for Christmas.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also set to skip the Queen's traditional Christmas lunch for her extended family, which is typically held at Buckingham Palace. They are presently staying in a $14 million house in California.

Queen invites Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to traditional Christmas lunch

This year's lunch is scheduled to be hosted at Windsor Castle, as the Queen recovers from a poor back that prompted her to skip the Cenotaph's Remembrance Sunday ceremony. It's reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle declined the invitation to avoid the negative press that would accompany a visit to the UK.

"There's a lot that goes into the logistics and organizing of the family Christmas, so of course, staff know Harry and Meghan aren't coming," a royal source told Page Six. If they were, they would have told their family about it by now.

After Prince Philip's death in April, this is the Queen's first Christmas without him. The monarch, who is 95 years old, has also had health issues that have caused her to miss previous events and even resulted in a brief hospital admission.

The last time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle spent Christmas at Sandringham was in 2018, a year before the Megxit. The Queen is frequently accompanied to a church service by Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton at Sandringham over the Christmas season.

The story was met with silence at Buckingham Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's representatives have been contacted by MailOnline. It comes after Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance on Ellen, her first big TV interview since her infamous Oprah tell-all alongside Prince Harry, amid worries she may be set to spill more Royal Family bombshells.

Read Also: Princess Diana Never Wanted To End Her Marriage With Prince Charles Despite Affair With Camilla Parker Bowles, Royal Expert Reveals

Meghan Markle to do another bombshell interview

After being hospitalized for a night in October and then having to cancel her presence at the Remembrance Day service in Westminster due to a back strain, the Queen has had a number of health issues in recent weeks.

The Queen's family frequently visits Sandringham to spend the holiday season and attend the annual local church service. Her Majesty was seen carrying out an engagement for the first time in over a month today, after suffering from illness and injuries.

She met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in person last week but was not documented doing so. This comes after the Queen declared yesterday in a passionate speech to the General Synod delivered by Prince Edward in her absence due to sickness, "None of us can slow the passage of time."

The 95-year-old monarch spoke fondly of her late husband Prince Philip, noting that it had been half a century since they both attended the General Synod's inaugural gathering.

The reports that the Sussexes would not be attending Christmas come as Meghan Markle prepares to do another explosive TV appearance on The Ellen Show, for which a preview clip has been posted. On her official Twitter account, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres announced Meghan's appearance on her show, as per MIRROR.

Related Article: Queen Elizabeth Fresh Health Scare: Monarch Pulls Out of Remembrance Day Event at the Last Minute; Royal Author Doubts if Palace Divulges Full Story

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The United States government is struggling to contain a drug epidemic in the region as officials announced on Wednesday that more than 100,000 Americans have died of fentanyl overdose between April 2020 to April 2021, marking a record high milestone.

The recent announcement is the first time that deaths related to a drug have reached six figures within any 12-month period. The average death per day was 275, and the number of victims was equal to the number of residents in Roanoke, Virginia.

Fentanyl Overdose Deaths

The newly released data showed that the number of fentanyl overdose deaths outnumber fatalities from all types of drugs in 2016. The government, health care providers, activists, and others have tried to control the issue to no avail, and instead, the problem is getting worse.

While the new figures are still provisional, final tallies are not expected to change by a significant amount. The numbers represent a 28.5% increase from the same period the year before. Experts are blaming the financial, social, mental health, housing, and other difficulties brought by the coronavirus pandemic as being the primary reason for the issue, the Washington Post reported.

On Wednesday, United States President Joe Biden's administration officials said that they will expand access to medications such as naloxone, which is able to reverse an overdose of an opioid. They will do this by encouraging states to pass laws that will give residents more access to the drugs and promote their use by Americans.

Read Also: Most Americans Believe Joe Biden is Not in Good Health, Mental Condition, New Poll Reveals

The director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Rahul Gupta, said that no one should lose their life because of as simple a reason as not having access to naloxone. The medical professional added that the incident was happening across the country and noted that naloxone's availability varied greatly depending on the area.

While more recent numbers through September suggest that the issue with fentanyl overdose has slowed down, the recently reached peak suggests a public health crisis. This could even be made worse and not given enough attention due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New York Times reported.

A Tragic Milestone

In the last two decades, the number of deaths related to drug overdose has been increasing and was accelerated in the last two years because of the coronavirus pandemic. Democratic President Biden called the incident a "tragic milestone" in a statement as officials urged Congress to set aside billions of dollars to address the massive problem.

Gupta noted that the number of fentanyl overdose victims was unacceptable and required an unprecedented response from the federal government. A Columbia University expert on drug abuse issues, Katherine Keyes, called the data "devastating." She added that the number of deaths was never before seen in the United States.

The victims of drug overdose have now surpassed fatalities from events such as car crashes, guns, and even flu and pneumonia. The total number of drug-related deaths is now much closer to matching that of diabetes, which is the No. 7 cause of death in the United States, Yahoo News reported.



Related Article: Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Connecticut Records 8 COVID-19 Related Deaths of Residents With Underlying Health Issues

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Jacob Chansley, aka "QAnon Shaman," was one of the first 30 rioters who flocked to the US Capitol on Jan. 6.

According to reports, Chansley is the second rioter who has been sentenced to 41 months in prison, which is one of the longest sentences handed down to insurrectionists as of late.

Jacob Chansley believes he's a good man

But during his sentencing, Chansley refused to refer to himself as an insurrectionist or a domestic terrorist. Instead, he told Judge Royce C. Lamberth that he was a good man that broke the law.

Chansley added that if he were given a chance to go back in time, he would make better choices and not participate in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. However, the harm has already been done.

Assistant US attorney slams Jacob Chansley in court

However, not everyone bought his statements in court, especially Assistant US Attorney Kimberly Paschall, who told the judge that if Chansley maintained peacefulness on Jan. 6, they wouldn't be discussing his fate in court.

According to Paschall, Chansley shouted chilling statements while inside the US Capitol, and he also wrote a threat-filled note on then-Vice President Mike Pence that said it's only a matter of time before justice is served.

Read Also: Donald Trump Recorded Multiple Messages Addressed to the Jan. 6 Capitol Rioters That Got Rejected, New Book Claims

Even though Chansley did not assault any of the police responders that day, he still served as a demonstrator, who later became the face of the Capitol riot after his photo wearing a Viking hat with fur and horns made front-page news.

Lamberth echoed Paschall's statement by acknowledging that what Chansley did was terrible and horrific. However, the judge also believes that Chansley regrets his actions, according to the Huffington Post.

Jacob Chansley suffers from mental illness

According to reports, prosecutors initially asked Lamberth to sentence Chansley to 51 months in jail. They said that such a lengthy sentence would serve as a warning to those planning protests in the near future.

His lawyer asked the court to give Chansley a lower sentence because his client reportedly feels remorse for what he did. Chansey's lawyer also cited his client's mental illness, which he has been battling for years.

However, Lamberth's decision to give Chansley a 41-month prison time is what he deemed fit for the rioter.

"I broke the law, and if I believe in freedom, and if I believe in law and order, and I believe in responsibility, then I should do what Gandhi would do, and take responsibility. I hope that you see my heart and my desire to live the life of Christ or Gandhi," Chansley told Lamberth via CNBC.

Scott Fairlamb sentenced to 41 months in jail

Last week, Lamberth gave New Jersey man Scott Fairlamb a similar sentence for assaulting a police officer during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Fairlamb also apologized to the court for his misdemeanor and said that he was somehow misunderstood. After all, Fairlamb claimed that he has respect for authorities because his brother works as a Secret Service agent, according to MSN.

Related Article: New Jersey Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Prison for Assaulting an Officer at the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
An Iowa man is awaiting his sentencing on Dec. 13 after he was charged with first-degree murder.

According to reports, Steven Vogel killed Michael Williams, a black man whose body was found in a ditch. After his murder, Vogel reportedly wrapped Williams' body in cloth and plastic before asking help from other people to throw the remains in a ditch. Firefighters patrolling the area were the ones that found Williams' body.

Man that helped Steven Vogel testified against him

On Tuesday, Vogel was found guilty of abusing a corpse. His mom and three other people were also charged with abusing a corpse and accessory to the crime, but they all pleaded not guilty.

The three Grinnell residents, later identified as Julia Cox, Roy Garner, and Cody Johnson, were accused of destroying evidence of the killing. In court, the latter testified against Vogel and said that the Iowa resident told him that he killed "Black Mike" by clubbing his head from behind and then hanging him with a rope.

Assistant Attorney General Scott Brown slammed Vogel for killing Williams even though he knew that his victim had a family.

"He had a life, and [Vogel] took it from him. He strangled the life out of him. [Vogel] takes him to a ditch in rural Jasper County. They toss him away, they put an accelerant on his body, and they light him on fire," Brown said via Des Moines Register.

Read Also: Body of Missing North Carolina Woman Found on the Side of the Road; Last Man Seen With Shameka Johnston Arrested in Connection to Her Murder

Michael Williams' family not satisfied with court's decision

But even though Adam DeCamp, a special agent in charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said that justice was served for Williams and his family, the victim's relatives are convinced that Vogel should've also been charged with a hate crime.

Williams' aunt, Paula Dee Terrell, accused authorities of minimizing the role that race played in the victim's murder. They insisted that Vogel is a white man and Williams is black, and their race might have played a huge factor in the victim's demise.

However, a spokesperson for the attorney general's office denied Terrell's allegations by saying that Vogel wasn't charged with a hate crime because there was insufficient evidence to prove this claim.

DeCamp also said that if there were sufficient evidence suggesting that Williams' murder was a hate crime, then they would've charged Vogel as such.

Love triangle reportedly caused Michael Williams' death

However, DeCamp said that the two men's issues had to do with their involvement with the same woman. Williams reportedly dated the same woman that Vogel was with for years, and the latter couldn't take it, so he killed the former, according to NBC News.

According to CBS News, Vogel told witnesses that he killed Williams due to jealousy over a love triangle with an unnamed woman.

Vogel's attorney did not deny their client's involvement in Williams' killing in their closing statements. Instead, they said that the incident was not deliberate, and they also said that there is not enough DNA evidence to prove that Vogel killed Williams.

Related Article: Alabama Woman Charged With Capital Murder After Striking His 76-Year-Old Neighbor In The Head, Leaving Him To Die

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The EU is at crossroads with the crisis at the Belarusian Border that surprised Brussels. How they allow the migrant and border problem in Belarus has gotten out of control, not as a humanitarian crisis that is overloading the Polish border.

Allowing the situation to get out of control has caused dissension with members of the Bloc.

The world focuses on the people seeking to gain entry, but it is unclear if the EU will take them in.

No hope for immigrants

According to the Polish defense minister, Mariusz Baszczak, any hope for a quick resolution has faded as the migrants pile up. Also, the conditions at the border are inhospitable, reported the Express UK.

He added that about 4,000 asylum seekers have come from the Middle East. They intend to enter through Poland and Lithuania as a backdoor to the greater EU member states.

One fatality was recorded when a teen boy froze to death in cold as the area reached negative three degrees Celsius. He is only one of the eight people who passed away since they rushed the border. However, there might be more who died said Pole activists.

The EU issued blistering charges that Lukashenko had initiated a hybrid war that used migrants as weaponized to force entry into Poland's border. Most were people from the ravaged areas of the Middle East. Upon entry to Belarus, there is no option but to seek entry illegally, noted NPR Org.

But the whole of the EU would not allow it to solve the crisis at the Belarusian Border.

Read Also: Putin Says That the EU Should Recompense Belarus to Stem Migrant Flow Into Poland; Citing Turkey in 2016

No short solution in sight

Mr. Baszczak has spoken to Poland's Radio Jedynka last Wednesday saying that it would take time to sort out. He added that it won't be a joke to unfurl the problem which might take years to fix.

A state of emergency is declared as the frontier was going out of hand. This is a move to shut out media and organizations that gave aid to refugees.

Last Tuesday, the situation took a turn for the worse because the Poles employed teargas and started shooting illegal crossers with water cannons to knock down those who dare cross over.

This week, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to reason with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko for a solution to the worsening border crisis. Her spokesperson Steffen Seibert remarked she tried to convince him to give care and a chance to get back to their country, cited France 24.

Polish President Andrzej Duda told the German leader that any agreement must be okay and not over their head.

Josep Borell as well the spokesperson for the EU foreign affairs chief said that the Belarusian leader Lukashenko is not legitimate. He alleged that the Belarus elections were rigged in August 2020.

Mr. Borell said that he is sanctioned for fraudulent elections, human rights, and oppression of the people.

But, the EU has relented and donated a significant amount for food, blankets, hygiene, and first aid to be given to asylum seekers stuck with nowhere at the border.

Will Brussels relent in the crisis at the Belarusian Border to solve it? Whatever action they take, the damage is already done especially amongst EU members.

Related Article: Belarus Tells the EU To Shut Up or Their Gas Supplies Will be Cut Over Accusations About Border Crisis

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The global Apple mobile phone repair product name distribution center transferred to Zhengzhou

Recently, Zhengzhou Customs held a press conference to release the import and export situation of Henan Province, including the names of mobile phone repair tools in the first three quarters. According to customs statistics, in the first three quarters of this year, the total import and export value of Henan Province was 309.57 billion yuan, an increase of 21.2% compared with the same period last year (the same below), while the national foreign trade import and export decreased by 7.9% during the same period. Continue to significantly lead the national average.

It is understood that in the first three quarters of this year, in the province\'s foreign trade import and export, the mobile phone manufacturing industry continued to grow rapidly. In the first three quarters of this year, Henan Province exported mobile phone repair tools, such as ipad a1599 lcd, totaling 97.73 billion yuan, accounting for 55.4% of the province\'s total export value. The total import of integrated circuits, cameras, automatic control instruments and appliances for measurement, detection, and analysis, printed circuits, ipad a1599 lcd, and capacitors for mobile phone production totaled 67.65 billion yuan, accounting for 50.8% of the provinces foreign trade imports. Imports and exports around the mobile phone industry have become a ballast and stabilizer for Henans foreign trade growth. With the launch of a new generation of Apples mobile phones, the monthly import and export scale of Henan Province in September reversed the previous four consecutive months of decline. Exports have risen significantly, setting a new high since December 2013.

Through the joint efforts of the customs and enterprises, the Foxconn mobile phone material storage and distribution center have successfully moved from the Hong Kong warehousing to the comprehensive bonded area, which is the "port warehouse inward movement." The relevant person in charge of Zhengzhou Customs told the reporter: The inside port warehouse has reduced the overall repair time of mobile phones by half, and has also greatly reduced the logistics costs, labor costs, and warehousing costs of the enterprise. The mobile phone material storage and distribution center have been moved from the Hong Kong warehouse. After arriving in the comprehensive free trade zone, the logistics cost alone has been reduced by nearly 40%." The realization of global Apple mobile phone repairs completed in the Xinzheng comprehensive free trade zone has also led to an increase in the cargo volume and value of aircraft in the airport area. The global "Apple" Zhengzhou repair also enabled the province\'s mobile phone imports in the first three quarters of this year to increase significantly compared with last year. The province imported 7.41 billion yuan in mobile phones in the first three quarters, while only a small amount of imports last year.

Analysis of the current market demand status of the global ipad a1599 lcd industry

The global population of nearly 7 billion provides the basis for the continuous growth of the mobile phone market, and with the continuous improvement of population quality, having smart phones has become an inevitable choice for people to meet their personal communication needs. According to statistics, as of January-June 2021, global mobile phone shipments were 2.481 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%.

With the continuous advancement of technology, people have higher and higher demands for quality and enjoyment, and most consumers have begun to pay attention to the quality and function of ipad a1599 lcd. The ipad a1599 lcd follows the continuous development of mobile phone products faster and faster. According to statistics, as of January-July 2021, global shipments of ipad a1599 lcd are approximately 2.579 billion pieces.

In terms of import and export, according to statistics, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd in 2019 was US$701 million, a year-on-year decrease of 2.23%, and the export value was US$20.624 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.84%; as of January-November 2020, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.88 Billion U.S. dollars, and the export value is 18.969 billion U.S. dollars.

Analysis of the demand for ipad a1599 lcd in the market segments of the mobile phone accessories industry

From the perspective of global mobile phone accessories market demand, according to statistics, as of January-March 2020, China export demand for smart phone ipad a1599 lcd was 898 million, a year-on-year decrease of 7.49%. The demand for ipad a1599 lcd is closely related to the output of mobile phones. According to statistics, as of April-June 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China is 1.39 billion. From the perspective of market demand for ipad a1599 lcd, according to statistics, as of July-September 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China was 1.207 billion. In terms of ipad a1599 lcd shipments, according to statistics, as of 2019, the annual shipment of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.38 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%.

The ipad a1599 lcd supplier

Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. Oriwhiz team aims to provide the best quality cellphone replacement parts and repair tools to all customers. We provide comprehensive solutions for cellphone, digital devices, computer repair shops with powerful and handy cellphone repair packages, repair tools, and repair machines. Browse our product category to select an item you like or contact us for wholesale and distribution issues via: info@oriwhiz.com.
The unique value of outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage for advertising and marketing

In today\'s era of information explosion, all kinds of information are flooding people\'s lives at all times. Under this circumstance, the primary purpose of the company\'s advertising is to grab people\'s attention, attract people\'s attention, and then further achieve the marketing purpose.

How can outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage help advertisements catch people\'s attention?

Correspondingly, many industry colleagues have come to each other. Good advertisements must have good ideas, and it is best to be interesting and fun. This will inevitably attract people\'s attention. It can be said that this idea is correct.

How does advertising capture peoples attention?

In fact, in terms of display form, we choose a good LED advertising media channel, which will also achieve good results, and it will be more straightforward. With good creativity, marketing is also Satisfactory results will be achieved.

What kind of advertisement can catch people\'s attention?

According to market research, the display form of LED advertising can easily arouse the interest of passers-by and grab the attention of pedestrians. LED advertising has the characteristics of bright colors, strong three-dimensional effects, and playable video, and has a decisive advantage in visual impact.

Through outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage advertising, at a specific time and place, select a specific group of people to push content, it is easy to quickly attract people\'s attention and attention, if coupled with good ideas and interesting forms, it can promote The rapid spread of information further enhances marketing effects.

The development of LED advertising to this day has become an advertising carrier that can reflect the prosperity of the area. Where there is a business district, there must be a large screen, and the place with a large screen is basically a business district. Choose the landmark LED advertising industry. Further, expand the influence, and enhance the role of brand influence

Outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage resource management

The operators of outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage resources mainly have several forms of cooperation according to the situation of resource ownership:

1) The building owner builds its own screens, and the owner builds its own advertising media company to operate and is responsible for its own profits and losses, such as Jingcheng Media.

2) The building owner leases the right to use the site, the advertising media company invests in the construction of the screen and operates it independently, and the media company pays the owner for the use of the site, such as Phoenix City Media.

3) Screen equipment manufacturers hold the owners of the screens, operate by self-built advertising companies, and pay or not pay for the use of the venues, such as Lianjian Optoelectronics and Lianjian Cultural Media.

4) The screen owner outsources the operation to a professional advertising company, and the professional advertising company pays the screen owner to the screen owner.

The resource-dependent building has architectural value and regional value, but it does not directly bring value to the media resource itself. The operator manages resources from the following aspects:

1) Management in the form of traditional outdoor advertising media

The geographic location characteristics of the packaging point resources, and the revenue from the advertising time of the selling point resources.

2) Operate by way of video media

The electronic outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage possesses the technical capabilities of multi-terminal simultaneous release, selection, and control of advertising time slots. Operators operate screens in the form of video media or TV media and provide advertisers with diversified time products, that is, video websites and TV advertisements are copied to the big screen. Under this business form and philosophy, the operator is not considering the value of location but is doing traffic in front of this screen to enhance the traffic value of this media screen. For example, Phoenix Media combined with Phoenix Satellite TV\'s content to permanently broadcast the city network news content on its screen; Windows Internet uses video content operation to transplant common interactive forms on the mobile phone to the large screen, thereby enhancing the value of time.

Outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage advertiser

Advertisers advertise on outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage, essentially not because they want to market the people covered by the big screen, but because of the topic. These advertisements posted on large screens attached to landmark buildings have their own attention and topical hot spots. Passing audiences take pictures of these large-scale, fresh, and interesting advertisements and upload them to social networks, combined with various media platforms. Create momentum, which aroused the attention of the second spread.

Advertisers placing advertisements on outdoor LED raspberry pi digital signage are not only a recognition of the geographical location of the large screen, but the large screen or the building attached to the large screen as a unique IP locally, even nationally, and globally.

The raspberry pi digital signage application

1.Information display: passenger flow in the scenic spot, publicity in the scenic spot, event announcements, broadcast announcements, etc.;

When there is a lot of traffic during holidays, the raspberry pi digital signage will play a bigger role. The RISINGLCD raspberry pi digital signage can show scenic spots, release warm reminders, real-time environmental monitoring information, temperature reports, etc., which not only allows scenic visitors to take the lead in enjoying the beauty of the scenery but also makes playing more convenient, safe and enjoyable.

2. Performing stage beauty: folklore art performances, presenting wonderful moments;

Now the scenic spots will fully excavate local art and folk culture to produce rich programs to attract tourists. RISINGLCD raspberry pi digital signage makes full use of its excellent video playback function and color display effect. The stage is designed with a raspberry pi digital signage, a flexible and changeable background, and the sound and light effects of the stage are also true and magical. It brings a strong visual impact to the visitors, makes the audience feel immersive, and allows visitors to appreciate the strong Regional style stage performances.

3. Inquiry and interaction: practical interactive screens in scenic spots;

For example, query maps, tour routes, watch introductions to scenic spots, conduct interactive visits, and other rich activities (query interaction). At present, the RISINGLCD raspberry pi digital signage has been widely used. Ticket collection machines, inquiry machines, etc. all use the Internet + cultural tourism to realize the conversion from offline to online and increase user retention.

RISINGLCD raspberry pi digital signage relies on the advantages of excellent performance, ultra-high price, spot supply, and localized services. The installation of S-LCD displays in scenic spots has become a trend and trend in the development of smart tourism. In the future, S-LCD displays will undoubtedly have more room for development and penetrate into more application areas in scenic spots.

The raspberry pi digital signage supplier

RISINGLCD (WITH BRAND OF RISING STAR) is a professional highlight LCD manufacturer from China, as a superior global supplier, a modernized high-tech enterprise with 100 employees including 20 highly qualified and well-trained engineers. Due to our 2, 000 square meters factory and a monthly production capacity of 10, 000 pieces, we can meet your demands. Specializes in manufacturing and distributing all types of LCD modules, LCD monitors, LCD digital signage, Touch Screen, etc. Now our products have been widely used in games, finance, communication, electricity, transportation, hospitals, estates, travel and government lines, stations, 4S shops, museums, exhibitions, libraries, hotels, and entertainment KTV. Our markets cover Asia, North America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Central, and South America, and Oceania. For more information about LCD, welcome to contact us via: sales@risinglcd.com
Elon Musk's tweeted about world hunger, and all eyes are on the CEO, including the United Nations,

The United Nations has released a plan for how it will spend roughly $7 billion on how to solve world hunger, in response to a challenge from Tesla creator Elon Musk.

Furthermore, Elon Musk sold Tesla Stocks had gained $900M from it.

Elon Musk Tweet World Hunger

Three weeks ago, David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations' World Food Programme, or WFP, told CNN that around 2% of Musk's $279 billion net worth might be used to help end hunger. He went on to say that a $6.6 billion donation will "avert starvation" next year in a tweet.

Musk replied via Twitter after seeing the interview that if the United Nations give him something, he would sell his electric car company's stock, which is worth more than $1 trillion.

That is provided they have an an explanation on how to solve world hunger using the funds.

Read Also: Elon Musk Ready to Sell Tesla Stocks to End World Hunger, But There's a Catch

How to Solve World Hunger By United Nation

As reported by CBS News, about $3.5 billion of a $6 billion gift would go toward buying food for people mostly in Africa and the Middle East, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen.

The money would also go for food distribution by air, river, or truck in those and other countries.

According to the United Nations, the proposed proposal will feed 42 million hungry people. The WFP plan also includes the following:

First, the $700 million will be spent on developing food voucher programs in 43 countries where they don't presently exist, including office and satellite-office buildings and their security, as well as the monitoring of distributions and outcomes, ensuring that the help reaches the most disadvantaged.

Second, in nations where such programs already exist, $2 billion will be spent on cash and food vouchers.

Third, spending $400 million to improve global supply-chain logistics and develop a global hunger monitoring system.

However, the said proposal does not specify how much money, if any, would be spent to address hunger in the United States.

The United Nations is a global organization. $6 billion, he said, would not be enough in addressing solve world hunger.

According to the organization, the money would offer one meal per day to millions of people experiencing famine.

Elon Musk Sold Tesla Stocks

Tesla CEO Elon Musk continued to sell his company's stock on Monday, November 15.

However, more is on the way, according to his most recent file.

Musk's Tesla stock sold for $931 million, another Tesla stock sale, bringing his total stock sales in the last six trading days to $7.8 billion.

The Tesla stock transactions on Monday are part of a two-month-old plan to exercise a larger block of stock options before they expire in August.

Elon Musk Tax

According to CNN, company insiders, such as CEOs, are allowed to set up a stock-selling plan that will allow them to sell their shares without being influenced by any non-public knowledge they may have about the company.

However, some might view this as part of Elon Musk's tax avoidance tactics to prevent him from paying a larger sum of money.

The sales are the result of a Twitter poll he conducted on November 6 and 7, in which he asked followers if he should sell 10% of his company's stock to boost his taxable income.

However, the Monday sales were prompted by his desire to exercise stock options before they expire in August, as well as the obligation that he pay taxes on those shares once he does so.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Net Worth Gets $25 Billion Boost from Tesla Stocks 20% Increase: Is Jeff Bezos Still the Richest Man?
Ethereum plummeted a massive 13 percent on Tuesday night to $4,100, triggering concerns among investors about its immediate future.

This quick Ethereum price drop has led to the 55-day uphill run making a screeching halt. Bulls had forecasted Ethereum value to reach $5,500 last week after it attained a record-high $4,800 a few days back--a rise of more than 900 percent year-on-year.

Currently, ETH stands at $4,319.12, a rise of 2.96 percent in the last 24 hours, as per CoinDesk's real time tracker. Ethereum price predictions see it regain momentum towards $4,500 in the next days.

Factors Behind Ethereum's 13% Crash

Because of this, investors remain confident about Ethereum despite the big Tuesday loss, as they understand that the token's 3.4 percent daily volatility would justify the 10 percent negative price shift, Cointelegraph noted in a report. But there are external factors to the crash, such as the approval of the U.S. Infrastructure Bill on Monday.

Read Also: Ethereum Price Prediction: Experts Get Hyped on Ether, Warns About Meme Coins Like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu

The bill necessitates digital asset transactions worth above $10,000 to be reported to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It has not been clear, however, if this will apply to entities or individuals building blockchains and crypto wallets.

Another factor could be the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) denial of VanEck's spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund application request. The SEC likewise noted "fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices" in denying the request, together with a lack of transparency on Tether's USDT stablecoin, Cointelegraph added.

Is Ethereum a Good Investment? Pros and Cons You Need to Consider

Because of this, a nagging question remains: is Ethereum a good investment? With all the gains and advantages the coin has, investors should not worry too much, The Motley Fool said in a post.

While investing in cryptocurrencies is risky and highly speculative, which means no one is sure if they would succeed in the long term, analysts have seen Ethereum's potential being one of the most formidable tokens in the cryptocurrency market.

Its blockchain is among the most popular for decentralized applications (dApps), which includes non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi). Such dApps need the use of the Ethereum token, called Ether. Because of this, once dApps have been widely adopted, the use of the coin will also grow and in effect, its price would surge further.

Ethereum is also shifting from its proof-of-work (PoW) protocol to one that is proof-of-stake (PoS), which is faster, allowing more transactions per second and less-energy intensive. In addition, Ethereum 2.0 is set for release in 2022 and this upgrade to the blockchain would require 99 percent less energy and even faster transactions. This would allow Ethereum to beat competitors in the crypto space, such as the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, which still utilizes the PoW protocol.

On the other hand, investors should deal with potential downsides of the coin, such as its facing still rivalry from the so-called "Ethereum killers" such as Cardano, which capitalize on the weaknesses of Ether. Cardano uses a PoS mining protocol and accepts dApps in its blockchain. To remain competitive, Ethereum needs to innovate regularly.

And, just like other cryptocurrencies, Ethereum is highly speculative. While Ethereum has strong potential, there are no guarantees that it will still exist in the next decades.

As such, before investing, you need to consider the amount of risk you can tolerate. If an investor is risk-averse, cryptocurrencies are not the right choice. But if you can realistically afford to lose, then Ethereum and other cryptocoins would be a worthy investment, especially in the long run.

Related Article: Ethereum Price Prediction: Finance Expert Forecasts $8000 Price Surge Before End of 2021!
The Samsung Black Friday Sale 2021 listings are finally here, and it features discounts up to $1000 off. Samsung offers all types of electronics, from tablets and laptops to TVs and home appliances. They also have discounts for the all-new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Last month, both Walmart and Amazon revealed their Black Friday Sale 2021 listings early. This is because the retailers anticipate major supply issues and labor shortages on holiday sales. Releasing the listings early helped customers plan out their budgets and choose their favorite products ahead of time. More recently, the major technological brand and company, Samsung, decided to follow the strategy.

Samsung listed exclusive offers for TVs, projectors, home appliances, laptops, tablets, smartphones and many more. Some of these listing featured shocking discounts that fans definitely don't want to miss.

Samsung Black Friday Sale 2021 Event Details

Note, however, that according to USA Today, the Samsung Black Friday deals might officially start on November 26. Unfortunately, its timeframe and events details have yet to be revealed.

Customers should keep in mind a few more Samsung service benefits for the sales. These are services like:

Trade ins

Free haul

Free shipping

No-contact delivery

Simple returns

Monthly credit payments

Samsung Care+

Typically, customers have to pay upfront for their purchases. However, Samsung reportedly offers a payment option for selected products that credit the amount as payable for 48 months. There will be no down payment and zero APR financing for this payment method.

This is a golden opportunity for Samsung fans who want to buy a new product but do not have enough budget. Just remember to settle your bills before the due date!

Lastly, consumers should know that some special offers include promos and freebies during purchase. This could be wireless earbuds or a discounted qualifying soundbar for a new home appliance. Freebies will only be available while supplies last.

Read Also: Rivian Stock Price Prediction: Elon Musk Reveals "True Test" for New Tesla Competitor

Samsung Black Friday Sale 2021 12 Best Deals You Can Get

To get an idea of Samsung's incoming sales, USA Today listed some of the best discounts and offers available.

Samsung The Frame TV: $44.99 (save between $150 to $1000).

Samsung 43-Inch Sero QLED 4K UHD Smart TV: $999.999 (save up to $1,000).

Samsung The Terrace QLED 4k Smart TV: $2,799.99 (save between $300 to $700).

Samsung Jet Bot+ Robot Vacuum with Clean Station: $599 (save up to $200).

Samsung AirDresser with Steam Refresh and Sanitize Cycle: $1,349 (save up to $150).

Samsung NX60T8711SS/AA Smart Slide-In Gas Range: $1,699 (save up to $600).

Samsung 23-Cubic-Foot Bespoke 4-Door Flex Refrigerator: $2,898.91 (save up to $1,000.05).

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 with trade-in from $129.99

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 with trade-in from $709.99

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G with trade-in from $299.99

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G with trade-in from $649.99

Keep in mind that more exciting deals might be revealed in the coming weeks.



Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Study Says New Payment Is Critical: Will $2000 Online Petition Be Completed Before 2022?
Last month, Facebook changed its company name to Meta as an indicator of its new focus with the metaverse. Many investors noticed this change and the opportunities linked to it. Experts predict massive profits coming to the company's stock exchange.

When Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the name change, he said that Meta would be "the next evolution of social connection. Our company's vision is to help bring the metaverse to life, so we are changing our name to reflect our commitment to this future."

Facebook and Meta: What Is Metaverse

For reference, Merriam-Webster described "Meta" as an informal word "showing or suggesting an explicit awareness of itself or oneself as a member of its category: cleverly self-referential." On Zuckerberg's vision, this seemingly implies a world heavily based around a digital lifestyle.

On the metaverse video reveal, posted by Cnet, the company conceptualizes people operating with digital avatars. The metaverse manages all sorts of situations, like work, businesses, marketing, socializing and even home lifestyle. It is worth noting that, by extension, the metaverse could also incorporate the wide industry of gaming.



To emphasize, Zuckerberg believes that metaverse would be the combination of internet connectivity and smartphone utility.

Read Also: TikTok $92M Lawsuit: File for a Claim and Get a Piece of the Multi-Million Fine, Here's How

Metaverse Prediction: Experts Reveal Top Companies to Invest In

Although the metaverse is still in development, a lot of fans are already looking forward to its completion. One of the experts who pointed out Meta's growing potential is the investment banking company Morgan Stanley. According to Forbes, Morgan Stanley listed out companies that could earn billions from Meta.

Morgan Stanley said that the metaverse could see an $8 trillion market if it succeeds as the "next generation social media, streaming and gaming platform." On top of its basic functions, Meta could profit as an advertising and e-commerce platform for offline products and purchases.

By now, Meta should be investing billions of dollars for its metaverse project. However, the loss might not be that big since Meta has already established a durable business core and strong free cash flow. This development assures interested investors of their financial security in the company.

Morgan Stanley also emphasized gaming companies tied to Meta, one of them being Roblox. With its 47 million daily active users, Roblox might get a huge boost off Meta's ongoing progress. The same logic applies to Unity Software, an engine widely used in the video gaming industry. Gamers adopting meta could bring huge profits to all involved parties.

Lastly, Morgan Stanley said stock from companies that focus on augmented reality, like social media platform Snap, might be boosted in the future markets. Unfortunately, they did not elaborate on other company choices.

Note that this stock price prediction heavily relies on Meta's success. The critical determiner for its market surge is the completion of the metaverse and its incorporation to the general public.

However, just like any other stock prediction, readers should take this information with a pinch of salt.

Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Study Says New Payment Is Critical: Will $2000 Online Petition Be Completed Before 2022?
Microsoft's answer to the challenge of distant learning is Microsoft Windows 11 SE.

This SE version of Microsoft's new operating system isn't a pricey special edition. Instead, it's a condensed version made for teachers.

Following the October release of Windows 11, the tech giant has released Windows 11 SE, a new student-focused operating system on Nov. 9.

Microsoft Windows 11

Windows 11 SE was created with kids and instructors in mind to provide a simple, distraction-free environment for children.

According to CNET, this isn't the first time Microsoft has released a student-oriented operating system. Windows 10 S was designed with students in mind as well, although Microsoft claimed that this version of Windows 10 just restricts the download of select programs, comparable to parental restrictions.

Windows 11 SE, on the other hand, is a different operating system that focuses more on remote management.

Several school-aged youngsters needed access to trustworthy gear and software to continue their education after many schools across the United States launched remote learning during the pandemic.

With this in mind, Microsoft created Windows 11 SE.

What is Windows 11 SE, and what does it do?

According to Microsoft, Windows 11 SE is a cloud-first operating system developed for K-8 classrooms, with a simpler architecture and regulated app installation.

Users won't find this program in stores since it is for classroom usage. Instead, Windows 11 SE comes preloaded on a limited number of Microsoft PCs that the company intends to sell to educational institutions.

Read Also: Microsoft Surface Duo 2 Reviews Are Mixed: Great Futuristic Design, But Full of Bugs?

Is it possible to install Windows 11 SE on a laptop at home?

The answer is no. Users can't upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 on their laptops by installing Windows SE.

However, when a device has been erased by an IT administrator, users can purchase another version of Windows and install it on a Windows 11 SE-enabled device if necessary.

However, the device won't be able to change back to Windows 11 SE, so proceed with caution.

Which programs are compatible with Windows 11 SE?

Microsoft Office, Teams, Minecraft for Education, and OneNote are all pre-installed on Windows 11 SE, and you can also download apps like Google Chrome and Zoom.

Only administrators can use Microsoft Intune for Education to download and administer other apps.

The following is a list of the six different types of programs that may be downloaded from Microsoft:

Apps that filter content

"Solutions" for taking tests

Apps for people with disabilities

Apps for effective classroom communication

Apps for diagnostics, management, connectivity, and supportability are all essential.

Browsers

Spotify and Messenger are not included in the list. On Windows 11 SE devices, this means fewer distractions.

Apps that run on a web browser, on the other hand, will continue to work, according to Microsoft.

Users can't change any of the operating system's settings either. Only administrators can change them, just like with the apps.

Administrators will also be able to remotely wipe the gadget.

How does Windows 11 fare in comparison?

The primary distinction between Windows 11 and Windows 11 SE is that Windows 11 was created for personal use, whilst Windows 11 SE was created for remote administration in IT or school environments.

The various intentions have an impact on how users obtain the operating system and what programs can be executed on it.

Users can upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11, and there are no program restrictions in Windows 11.

Only administrators, and even then, from a limited selection, can add apps to Windows 11 SE. Aside from that, the systems are similar in appearance and operation.

Related Article: Xbox Gift Card Fraud: How Did a Microsoft Employee Steal $10 Million, Get Bitcoins in Massive Con Job?
Seen above is Hyundai Card's mobile app that allows foreign national residents to apply for credit cards in English. Courtesy of Hyundai Card



By Park Jae-hyuk



Conventional financial companies in Korea are accelerating their efforts to enable foreign national resident customers to use a variety of financial services without visiting traditional staffed outlets, while the country's three internet-only banks are still inaccessible to local foreign residents.



Hyundai Card said Thursday that it has started allowing residents of foreign nationality to apply for credit cards in English using its mobile app.



According to the card firm, its app enables foreign resident customers to choose among its 15 types of credit cards. The customers are also able to get advice from Hyundai Card's telemarketers in English.



The company has automated the procedure for verifying the Korean residence cards of foreign nationals.



As a result, it takes only a minute to screen applicants who are foreign nationals residing in Korea and issue app-based credit cards, allowing them to make transactions online and offline, according to Hyundai Card.



"When foreign resident customers had to use the Korean language or our customer service center only to apply for credit cards, they faced difficulties in checking information about our cards and it took a long time for them to receive their cards," a Hyundai Card official said. "In order to solve these problems, we established a new digitized application system for foreign resident customers."



Shinhan Bank also collaborated with Shinhan Card in October of last year to enable foreign residents who have accounts at the bank to apply for Shinhan's credit cards via the Shinhan SOL Global mobile app, which is offered in 12 languages, including English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Bahasa Indonesia.



According to the bank, foreign nationals who have Korean residence cards and accredited digital certificates can apply for Shinhan's credit cards online.



"Before we launched the service, our foreign resident customers had to visit offline branches to apply for credit cards," a Shinhan Bank official said.





Hana Bank employees promote the bank's service that allows residents of foreign nationality to open their bank accounts using its mobile app, in this October file photo. Courtesy of Hana Bank
Kyoto Life Insurance headquarters in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kyobo Life Insurance

By Anna J. Park



While Kyobo Life Insurance has announced its plan to go public on the country's benchmark KOSPI in the first half of next year, many market watchers remain skeptical of the plan, given the deep-seated disputes that have been dragging on for years between the insurance firm and its foreign financial investor consortium.



One of the major reasons for their skepticism is that it's highly unlikely for a firm to be granted permission to pursue an initial public offering (IPO), when the candidate firm's major shareholders are involved in serious legal disputes.



Not only is Kyobo Life quarreling with its financial investors  a consortium led by Affinity Equity Partners, which purchased a 24 percent stake in Kyobo in 2012  over a put option contract, but the insurance company is also involved in a legal case. Last year, the firm accused related officials at Deloitte Anjin of violating the Certified Public Accountant Act, by colluding with the financial investor consortium to inflate the fair market value of Kyobo shares subject to the put options.



The Korea Exchange (KRX), the country's bourse operator, said that it's still too early to make a clear-cut judgment on the matter, leaving the window open for the possibility of the IPO.



"Regarding whether legal disputes could make a company's IPO impossible, the exchange first needs to thoroughly review the comprehensive impact of the ongoing legal disputes on the IPO candidate company's overall management situation," a KRX official said, stressing that it's too early to predict the feasibility of the IPO for the time being.



As of now, Kyobo Life remains the only unlisted private company among the country's top three insurance companies. It attempted to go public in 2018, but failed to follow through with its IPO plan, due to an arbitration case hanging at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), as the firm fought hard with the investor consortium over the put option contract. The ICC concluded the case in September, saying that the investor consortium is within its rights to execute the put option.



While the put option price should be readjusted, the two sides' don't seem to have narrowed their differences.



In an official statement announced by the investor consortium, Thursday, they once again urged Kyobo Chairman Shin Chang-jae to carry out the put option, before making any attempts to pursue the IPO.



"As the ICC ruling confirmed the validity of the put option contract and the violation on the part of Chairman Shin, we urge Chairman Shin to immediately follow through on the put option obligation," the statement read. "Once Chairman Shin implements the put option obligation, the disputes among the shareholders will be resolved, and there will be no barriers to Kyobo Life's IPO."




The government said Thursday that nine potential investors have officially submitted bids to buy a state-held stake in Woori Financial Holdings.







The state-run Korea Depository Insurance (KDIC) is the largest shareholder of Woori Financial Holdings with a 15.13 percent interest. The government seeks to sell a 10-percent stake by the end of this year as part of efforts to recoup public funds.







The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said nine potential investors had submitted proposals to buy the stake by the 5 p.m. deadline on Thursday. Final bidders will be announced on Monday after a review of the applicants, it added.







The financial regulator did not provide the names of the applicants. They reportedly include Hoban Construction, Harim and Korea Investment Holdings reportedly dropped its bid after expressing intent in a preliminary bidding process.







The planned stake sale is in line with a government road map to dispose of its interest in the major financial holding company by 2022.







The government injected about 12.8 trillion won ($10.8 billion) into Woori Finance to keep it afloat in the aftermath of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. Woori Finance was renamed Woori Financial in early 2019.







The government sold a 28 percent stake to institutional investors in 2016, and the state deposit insurer offloaded an additional 2 percent for 149.3 billion won in April this year. (Yonhap)




Financial firms will join race to sell IRP products to Citi's retirees



By Lee Min-hyung



Mirae Asset Securities will gain an upper hand in the race to attract as many customers as possible from Citibank Korea, after the lender's planned exit from the domestic consumer banking market.



A group of 2,300 Citibank Korea employees applied for voluntary retirement in exchange for receiving an attractive set of incentives valued at around 1.77 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in total. Each employee will be able to receive as much as 700 million won for their retirement payment.



Citibank employees can choose to receive the amount directly to their payroll account or sign up for individual retirement pension (IRP) products from financial firms selling IRP products. Citibank Korea recently invited a group of four companies  Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Kyobo Life Insurance and Mirae Asset  to introduce their products to employees.



Given that IRP accounts offer a series of tax benefits to retirees, most of the employees from Citibank Korea are expected to sign up for one of the IRP products, rather than choosing to receive the severance payment with reduced tax benefits.



Industry officials argue that Citibank Korea employees will have a preference for the securities firm, due to the high profitability of Mirae Asset's IRP products, which is almost double that of most insurers.



As of the end this September, Mirae Asset's average profitability for its IRP products reached 7.55 percent, the highest among the nation's financial firms, according to data from the Financial Supervisory Service.



The three other insurers fall far short of Mirae Asset in IRP product profitability. Kyobo Life's IRP profitability during the same period came in at 3.98 percent. Samsung Life and Samsung Fire also reported 2.72 and 1.86 percent, respectively.



"Given the rapid growth of the securities industry, securities firms will attract more capital from the market," an industry source said.



As well as topping the IRP profitability list, Mirae Asset also maintained its industry leadership in operating profit until the end of this year's third quarter, increasing the likelihood for Citibank's severance capital to flow into the securities firm, according to the official.



"Considering the latest market trends, customers are opting for financial products with higher returns, rather than preferring to sign up for safe products with lower returns," the official said.



Insurers also hold expertise in operating IRP products, but in this era of mass liquidity, securities firms are grabbing most of the attention of customers, according to him.



According to data from Mirae Asset, its reserve for IRP products increased by 2.3 trillion won this year alone, and this increase is the largest among retirement pension product operators here.



Mirae Asset is expected to go all-out to capture the opportunity to widen its customer base and market share further by attracting more customers from Citibank Korea.



Data from the lender showed that around 2,300 employees applied for the voluntary retirement program during the two weeks between Oct. 28 and Nov. 10. This number amounts to almost 66 percent of the lender's total workforce here.



W1 trillion in pension products



The industry expects Citibank Korea officials to sign retirement pension products worth over 1 trillion won. This amount is an unprecedentedly high level among overseas-headquartered companies operating here. Back in 2015, Standard Chartered Bank Korea offered about 600 billion won in severance payments, and GM Korea also spent 500 billion won to pay retirement allowances in 2018.



Citibank Korea plans to finish its internal procedures for the voluntary retirement program by April 2022, so other financial firms are expected to join the race to sell more IRP products to Citi's retirees.



"This is a rare opportunity for financial firms, when considering the size of the severance payment," another industry source said. "More market players will jump into the race until Citibank Korea finishes the shutdown of its retail banking operations."



He shared the outlook that IRP operators would keep a closer watch on the banking industry, as the number of bank employees will be on the gradual decline amid the rise of digital banking.



"Aside from Citi's case, voluntary retirement has in recent years emerged as a boom in the banking industry. A group of Korea-headquartered major commercial banks wants to scale down their workforce handling conventional banking, as digital platforms are replacing much of the work done by human beings."



Banks are also shutting down their branch offices, and the pace at which they are doing so is likely to pick up more steam down the road.



"This means that more bank industry officials will seek voluntary retirement in the next few years, which comes as an opportunity for IRP operators."




John R. Stomberg, the Virginia Rice Kelsey 1961s Director of the Hood Museum of Art, left, and Kim Sung-lim, an associate professor of art history at Dartmouth College / Courtesy of the Korea Foundation



Korea's modern and contemporary art gaining momentum, while exhibitions in West remain outdated



By Park Han-sol



Many, many years ago, the increase in trade between Western Europe and Asia following the Age of Discovery, which began in the 1400s, built Western Europeans' fascination with what they called "the Orient."



They had discovered "exotic" Asia thorough its arts and design. The artists' enthrallment eventually took the form of "Chinoiserie," which originated from the French word for "after the Chinese taste."



Inspired by motifs in Chinese art, the style is a European imitation and evocation of what they perceived to be the art of East Asia. The popularity of Chinoiserie reached its peak in the 17th century, as it paired well with lavishly embellished Rococo decorations.



Then, as trade with Japan became possible in 1858, Europeans' interest in Asian culture switched to Japan, as seen in the phenomenon called "Japonisme"  referring to the popularity of Japanese art and design among a number of Western European artists in the latter half of the 19th century.



Now in the 21st century, Korean art has begun to draw attention from Europeans and North Americans, according to Kim Sung-lim, an associate professor of art history at Dartmouth College.



"Japonisme spread across the Impressionist and Post-impressionist artists, who were looking for something different and found Japanese Ukiyo-e prints very attractive and adopted them in their own work," she said during an interview with The Korea Times last week. "And now, since the late 20th century, we have the Korean Wave, or hallyu."



Kim herself has experienced directly the growing interest in Korean culture and art among Americans in her classes.



In the past, she said, her students were mostly Asian Americans, but they have gradually become more racially and ethnically diverse. Their interests these days extend far beyond K-pop to Korea's politics, social movements, chaebol and industrial development, inter-Korean relations and Korean artists, among many others.



John R. Stomberg, the Virginia Rice Kelsey 1961s Director of Dartmouth's Hood Museum of Art, also joined in the interview, which was held before the Korea Foundation Assembly for Overseas Museums at the Westin Josun Hotel in Seoul.



He added that Korean art, which ranges from works that appeal to traditional tastes to those born from innovative techniques, presents a distinction that can be quite exciting for audiences overseas: "While it has understated aesthetics that date for a long time  which can be seen in furniture [like wooden cabinets, lacquerware], for example  it's also tech-savvy, adventurous and innovative," he said.



"So it's an amazing moment to see innovation and tradition projecting forth into the future and creating an art that's really dynamic."





The 2021 The Korea Foundation Assembly for Overseas Museums, attended by more than 50 academics, directors and curators of museums here and abroad, was held at the Westin Josun Seoul, Nov. 11. Courtesy of the Korea Foundation



While Korean art has started to gain momentum in the international art scene, the way works are typically presented in museums overseas is considered old-fashioned and in need of an update.



It is true that more art institutions have been making strides in recent years to acquire and exhibit the works of modern and contemporary Korean artists, but their permanent Korean collections still tend to rely heavily on ceramics, lacquerware and paintings from the Goryeo (918-1392) and Joseon (1392-1910) dynasties.



As such, for visitors, their understanding of Korea runs the risk of becoming limited to what they see inside the glass display vitrines  which are seen as relics of bygone eras instead of as a continuous cultural stream that persists to this day.



"What happened in the U.S. and Europe is that, in the popular mindset, [the image of] Korea became stuck in the 17th and 18th  maybe 19th  centuries because so many of our museums have works from those eras," Stomberg noted. "It's time for museums to bring more contemporary Korean culture to the U.S. and Europe."



This sentiment was echoed by several other museums' curators during the assembly's plenary session, which followed the interview.



"Korean art is often presented as 'no longer,'" Jessica S. Hong, the curator of modern and contemporary art at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio, remarked during her speech. "But it is a continuous stream. Korean contemporary artists are also looking at previous historical practices and in dialogue with past traditions. So thinking about temporality in a different way [is crucial]."



One of the latest attempts made by the Hood Museum of Art to expand the scope of Korean art presented to its audiences is the exhibition of the contemporary Korean ink-and-wash painter, Park Dae-sung, scheduled to take place in the fall of next year.





Contemporary Korean ink-and-wash painter Park Dae-sung poses in front of his panoramic piece, "Snowscape of Bulguksa Temple" (2021), which was presented last summer at the exhibition, "Insight," at the Insa Art Center in central Seoul. Courtesy of Gana Art



Curated by Professor Kim, the traveling show will highlight the works of the 76-year-old artist, who is renowned for continuing the traditional styles of Korean landscape paintings, while adding daring, modern touches.



Some of his pieces capture the familiar features of ancient ink-and-wash paintings  mountainous valleys, waterfalls and pine trees  but in a dynamic bird's-eye view or fisheye perspective. Others are notable for their sheer size and imposing presence. His large-scale paintings slide down along the ground as they cannot be contained on the wall alone.



"Park's works are very much of our time; the way they take up space, demanding to be taken as objects that exist in our world with us and having that kind of stand-up power rather than being diminutive. It's a very contemporary posture for the art," Stomberg added. "And yet, they're also quiet, contemplative, harmonious and beautiful."



In addition to organizing such temporary exhibitions that introduce a wide range of Korean artists and styles to the U.S. and Europe, Professor Kim highlighted the fundamental need for an increase in jobs for people who can critically represent Korean art to audiences overseas.



"I think in the last 10 years or so, there have been a great number of [individuals with] Ph.D.s in Korean Studies and art, but there is still a very limited number of jobs for them," she said. "I would also like to have more platforms where more artists, scholars, curators and critics get together and collaborate."





The late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee / Korea Times file

Art donation culture in the U.S., Korea



Back in April, the news of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's art trove being donated to state-run museums made headlines across Korea. Part of the reason for such heated interest was the sheer extent and size of the collection: more than 23,000 pieces spanning from the early Bronze Age all the way through to the turbulent modern era.



But a bigger reason lies in the fact that this event took place in Korea, where art donation has not been, and is still not, a prevalent practice. For example, according to data released by the National Museum of Korea, as of March of this year, only 6.9 percent of its entire collection comes from individual or corporate donors. Last year, a mere seven pieces were added to its donation list.



It's an entirely different situation for museums in the U.S., says Stomberg, whose job as the Hood Museum of Art's director entails working with donors on a regular basis: "We have an enormous donor class who wants to give art to the museum, so much so that I often have to spend my time saying no to donations that are not appropriate or up to our standards."



Such an active culture of art donation largely stems from the U.S. federal government's incentive program, which makes donations to nonprofit organizations  such as museums, symphony orchestras and dance companies in the cultural sector  tax-deductible.



As a result, these organizations' survival often paradoxically hinges on private donations in lieu of federal support for the arts, which remains marginal  a system that also has downsides due to the lack of consistent basic government support.



Nevertheless, many are expressing hope that Lee's collection can help boost the art donation culture within Korea. Stomberg provided an important word of caution in regards to maintaining curatorial and scholarly independence when receiving donations.



"You have to develop policies and standards so that your curators can be driving what type of art appears in the museum... [Otherwise,] you can really shift the vision of a museum and the direction towards the donor's vision, rather than with that of the director and the curator."




Ra Jong-yil Shigeru Ishiba

The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo will host the KOR-ASIA Forum 2021 at the Westin Josun Seoul hotel in central Seoul, Nov. 25.

Under the theme of "New Korea-Japan Relations: For a Future with Cooperation and Respect," the event will review the current diplomatic dynamics between Korea and Japan and explore a new way forward in relations between the neighboring countries.

Among the speakers at the forum, Gachon University chair professor Ra Jong-yil, who served as former Korean ambassador to Japan and presidential secretary for national security, and Shigeru Ishiba, former Japanese defense minister and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretary-general, will deliver special lectures on the future of Korea-Japan relations.

Shin Kak-soo, a former Korean ambassador to Japan and vice foreign minister, and Shinsuke Sugiyama, a former Japanese ambassador to the U.S., will discuss the "recovery of diplomacy." Rep. Kim Han-jung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and LDP lawmaker Rui Matsukawa will debate the politics of reconciliation.

Japanese movie director Hirokazu Kore-eda who won a Palme d'Or at Cannes; Shim Eun-kyung, the first Korean actress to star in an NHK drama series in Japan as the heroine; and Japanese prizewinning novelist Keiichiro Hirano will engage in a conversations on cultural exchanges between the two countries.

The forum will also feature a lineup of speakers including diplomats, politicians, scholars, journalists and artists, to look at bilateral relations from a broader perspective.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken / AFP-Yonhap



The United States has designated North Korea as a state violator of religious freedom, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.



North Korea is one of 10 countries designated as "country of particular concern."



"I am designating Burma, the People's Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom," Blinken said in a released statement.



DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name. It marks the 20th consecutive year the North was designated a state violator of religious freedom.






gettyimagesbank



The United Nations on Wednesday adopted a resolution on North Korean human rights, condemning what it called "systematic" and "gross" violations of human rights in the reclusive state.



The resolution was adopted unanimously by the U.N. General Assembly Third Committee, which has now adopted a North Korea-specific human rights resolution for the 17th consecutive year since 2005.



The resolution said the U.N. "condemns in the strongest terms the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity."






A man wearing a face mask walks past a banner reminding the precautions against the coronavirus in Seoul, Oct. 29. AP-Yonhap



South Korea's new coronavirus cases hit an all-time high on Thursday since the start of the pandemic amid eased social distancing rules, putting health authorities on alert over further upticks.



The country reported a record high of 3,292 new daily cases, including 3,272 local infections, raising the total caseload to 406,065, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



Thursday's daily caseload marks the highest since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January last year and exceeds the previous record of 3,270 reported on Sept. 25.



The surge in daily cases came after the country began easing antivirus restrictions for a gradual return to pre-pandemic life under the "living with COVID-19" scheme earlier this month.



Daily cases have stayed in the quadruple digits since July 7 amid growing cluster infections.



The country added 29 more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 3,187. The fatality rate stood at 0.78 percent.



Of the locally transmitted cases, 1,423 were reported in Seoul, 965 in the surrounding province of Gyeonggi and 195 in Incheon, a port city just west of Seoul.






People wait in line for coronavirus testing at a public health center in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap



Daily new infections surge to all-time high at 3,292



By Lee Hyo-jin



The government's inconsistent COVID-19 vaccination policies are inconveniencing the public, with some beginning to lose trust in the inoculation program due to frequent changes to dose intervals and age limits.



The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced Wednesday the shortening of the interval between primary vaccinations and booster shots to four months, from the previous six, for people aged over 60 and residents at nursing homes.



The dosage gap will be reduced to five months for those aged over 50, as well as priority groups including police officers, firefighters and soldiers.



In addition, the government has suspended the administration of the Moderna vaccine on individuals aged under 30 due to higher risk of heart inflammation in that age group. Beginning Thursday, those who have received a first Moderna dose will be administered with a Pfizer one for their second dose.



The health authorities view that a swift rollout of booster shots is crucial at this point when the country is facing setbacks in its COVID-19 pandemic exit strategy due to a continuing rise in the number of seriously ill patients and daily infections.



However, the flip-flopping on inoculation policies has led to public confusion and opposition to vaccination.









A 27-year-old Seoul resident surnamed Jeon, who was fully vaccinated with Moderna in late October, said, "The decision to suspend Moderna on people in their 20s made me very nervous. I don't understand why the government has made such a belated decision when many young people have already received the vaccine.



"Also, the government had previously restricted mixing Moderna with other products, but it has reversed its own policy. It is doubtful whether they are making the decisions based on scientific data."





A medical worker at Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul receives a COVID-19 booster shot, Oct. 25. Yonhap
From left, South Korea's First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-kun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori pose before their trilateral meeting at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs



Moon's end-of-war proposal drifting due to Dokdo dispute



By Nam Hyun-woo



South Korea and Japan clashed with each other during a U.S.-hosted trilateral vice-ministerial meeting, as the vice ministers from Seoul and Tokyo did not participate in a scheduled joint press conference due to the latter's insistence on Japan's territorial claims on South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo.



First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-kun, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori were due to hold a joint press conference after their trilateral meeting at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time), but Sherman appeared alone on the stage to field questions from reporters.



In a separate press conference at the South Korean Embassy, Choi told reporters, "Japan conveyed its stance that it could not participate in the press conference due to the National Police Agency commissioner general's visit to Dokdo."



"We agreed to the U.S. attending the press conference alone to announce the outcome of the trilateral meeting," Choi said. "This is because we recognized the importance of the meeting."



National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong visited Dokdo, Tuesday (KST) to encourage the Dokdo Security Police detachment stationed on the islets.





South Korea's First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-kun, center, speaks to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori during their trilateral meeting at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By Kang Seung-woo



As the United Arab Emirates is close to purchasing Korean-made mid-range surface-to-air missiles (M-SAM), the envisaged weapons exports is expected to pave the way for local defense companies to gain global standing.





A South Korean guided missile is fired from a launcher of the Cheongung-II anti-aircraft missile defense system. Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration
This file photo shows a COVID-19 vaccination center in Gimhae, Aug. 26. Yonhap



The government of the southeastern city of Gimhae apologized Thursday for ordering mandatory COVID-19 tests of foreign children registered at the city's daycare centers amid a backlash over xenophobia and rights violations concerns.



A government memo obtained by Yonhap News Agency earlier this week showed the municipality, located 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, ordered 93 daycare centers to cooperate with preemptive tests of foreign children under their care on Monday and Tuesday.



The city government explained the decision was made in light of an increase in COVID-19 cases connected to a daycare center for foreign nationals in the city.



The order eventually prompted backlash online, with some accusing the local government of unscientific and xenophobic administration and potentially infringing on the rights of children and parents by ordering the children to undergo mandatory tests.






Sim Sang-jeung, center, the presidential candidate of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party, speaks during a talk show with young women in their 20s at U-Plex in Seoul, Thursday. Sim and other participants talked about various factors that make young women's lives difficult. Yonhap
Students head to a high school in Seoul to take the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), also known in Korean as the "Suneung," a national college entrance exam that is held once a year, Nov. 18. Approximately 509,000 test takers nationwide are taking the CSAT this year, according to the education ministry. Yonhap
Leading candidates hit for narrow-minded views



Diplomatic acumen is one of the qualifications required by presidential contenders. Yet it is questionable if the leading candidates of the ruling and opposition parties have any diplomatic sense or proper foreign policy proposals.



Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the governing Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is under attack for a diplomatic discourtesy. During a meeting with U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff last Friday, Lee said that America played a part in helping Japan colonize Korea in 1910 through a secret deal.



He mentioned the Taft-Katsura Agreement to remind Sen. Ossoff that the U.S. was responsible  one way or another  for the loss of Korea's sovereignty to Japan. The secret deal was made in 1905 between former U.S. Secretary of War William Howard Taft and then Japanese Prime Minister Katsura Taro.



It is an established historical fact that under the agreement, America condoned Japanese rule over the Korean Peninsula in return for U.S. control over the Philippines. But Lee's remarks were abrupt and out of context. It was improper to refer to the agreement when he met with the Democratic U.S. senator who was visiting Korea to advocate for the Seoul-Washington alliance.



Later Lee explained that he mentioned the agreement because Ossoff showed interest in Korean history. This, however, sounded like a lame excuse. He has only invited criticism for committing a diplomatic discourtesy. He should have realized that such remarks could be seen as an expression of his anti-U.S. sentiment.



As some critics argued, the progressive candidate might have been trying to rally his supporters around anti-American sentiment in the lead-up to the March 9 presidential election. If that is the case, Lee cannot avoid criticism that he is hell-bent on winning the poll even at the cost of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.



It is not the first time that Lee has triggered controversy over Seoul-Washington ties. In July, he said that U.S. troops who entered the peninsula following Korea's August 1945 liberation from Japan were "occupation forces."



He cannot lead the country in the right direction with such anachronistic views, if he is elected president. He should immediately discard his narrow-minded viewpoint about history and the alliance with the U.S.



Yoon Seok-youl, the candidate of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), has also touched off controversy. During a press conference hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club last Friday, he said that Korea can allow additional deployments of the U.S. anti-missile system, known as THAAD, on its soil as it is a matter of sovereignty.



Yoon should have taken a more cautious approach to such a sensitive security issue, considering a feared backlash from China, which imposed economic retaliation on Korea for the 2017 deployment of a single THAAD battery here.



He also promised to change the "master-servant" approach in inter-Korean relations, criticizing President Moon Jae-in for playing into the hands of North Korea to promote his active engagement with Pyongyang. However it is wrong to describe the North as a master and the South as a servant.



We urge both Lee and Yoon to have a better understanding of key diplomatic and security issues. They should present better foreign policy visions designed to protect our national interests and enhance our international status and reputation.


By Donald Kirk





The names of pivotal dates and places in history should appear fairly clear. Korea's history, however, is not so simple. Take the meeting in July 1905 between the U.S. secretary of war, William Howard Taft, and Katsura Taro, who served as the prime minister of Japan during the period in which Japan assumed control of Korea in 1905, and then in 1910, made the entire peninsula a colony.The Taft-Katsura meeting is hardly mentioned in U.S. history texts, but in their discussion in Tokyo, they vaguely agreed that Japan would hold sway over the Korean Peninsula, while the U.S. would retain the Philippines free from Japanese interference.That understanding, well known in Korea though not in the U.S., came up again when Lee Jae-myung, running to succeed President Moon Jae-in in the March presidential election, gave a lesson in history to Jon Ossoff, the winner of a run-off election last January for the U.S. Senate. Ossoff's victory in Georgia was crucial in insuring the Democratic Party's tenuous hold over the Senate. In Korea, Lee, as the candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, will if elected build on Moon's efforts at reconciliation with North Korea.Lee, however, offered a somewhat simplistic view of the conversation between Taft and Katsura. He referred to an "agreement" when, in point of fact, there was no formal agreement. There were unclassified notes on the meeting that happened to be discovered nearly a decade later by an American scholar. Lee attributed Japan's takeover of Korea to that alleged agreement.One thing is sure: Japan had designs on Korea long before Taft and Katsura talked about ways to end Japan's war with Russia, in which the Korean Peninsula was the major prize. Korea had also been at the heart of the Sino-Japanese War, which ended in 1895 with Japan defeating China, taking over Formosa/Taiwan and asserting authority over Korea during the final stages of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).The U.S. went along with Japan viewing Korea in 1905 as their "protectorate." Neither that assurance nor Japanese disinterest in the Philippines was pivotal, however, since Japan already had Korea in its clutches and the U.S. had driven the Spanish out of the Philippines and then defeated Philippine nationalist forces.The Taft-Katsura meeting was a prelude to negotiations chaired by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt that culminated at the Portsmouth naval yard in Maine in September 1905 with the signing of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War. The Japanese had triumphed, defeating the Russian fleet in the straits between Korea and Japan. For overseeing the settlement to the war, Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize.For Korea, the real lesson of the Taft-Katsura "memorandum," as the notes on their talks are sometimes called, is that the U.S. historically has overlooked Korea's interests versus those of the three surrounding great powers, China, Russia and Japan. Similarly, the deal between the U.S. and the Soviet Union for dividing the Korean Peninsula at the 38th parallel after the Japanese surrender in World War II shows the U.S. tendency to see Korea as a secondary concern in resolving global or regional conflict.Again, however, Lee, in his history lesson to Senator Ossoff, fudges facts when he blames the Korean War on the U.S. for masterminding the North-South division. He glosses over who invaded whom, and which totalitarian powers endorsed the invasion.It's true, had Korea not been divided, Kim Il-sung would not have ordered an invasion. It's not at all clear, though, who would have led a united Korea after the Japanese surrender and whether the peninsula would have existed in peace or been roiled by civil war with sides supported by China, Russia, or the U.S. and their allies, as in the Korean War.Now Korea faces another critical moment, when the South is urging all sides to come together on a declaration stating that the Korean War is over. Sure, the shooting stopped with the 1953 armistice signed at Panmunjeom, but that's not enough for those who say, "Yes, but we've never declared it's really, really over, much less signed a peace treaty."Will the U.S. again be blamed for wondering whether such a proposal plays into the hands of North Korea and its big-power allies, China and Russia? Should the U.S. agree to a statement as a favor to South Korea's President Moon, who wants to leave it as his legacy? So far no one knows if North Korea's Kim Jong-un and China's Xi Jinping will sign anything. One thing is sure: The blame game will go on, whoever's really to blame.Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com ) has been covering North-South Korea issues for decades.
By Andrew Hammond





Expectations had been set low for this week's first presidential summit between Joe Biden and Xi Jinping. Yet, they spoke for an unexpectedly long three and a half hours, with the Chinese leader greeting his U.S. counterpart as his "old friend."



While it is much too optimistic to say that bilateral ties have now turned a corner, atmospherics have  at least temporarily  improved and this underlines that the direction of bilateral relations need not inevitably be toward ever greater hostility. The occasional warmth of the summit builds from the unexpected bilateral climate cooperation deal announced at the Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.



Amidst the wide-ranging security and economic-related disagreements that exist between the two sides, this month's climate accord indicates that there may remain scope to work together where there are clearly defined common interests. After all, tackling global warming is a key political priority of both nations, and Xi said in the meeting that "humanity lives in a global village, and we face multiple challenges together. China and the United States need to increase communication and cooperation."



The fact that Biden and Xi have a personal backstory, getting to know each other originally when they were both vice presidents, may prove helpful too. This is because, while potentially very difficult economic and security fundamentals will largely determine the course of ties in coming years, personal chemistry helps, and Biden told Xi that "we need to establish some common sense guardrails, to be clear and honest where we disagree, and work together where our interests intersect so that competition does not turn into conflict."



The importance of this personal factor was shown during the Trump presidency when the then-U.S. leader's erratic nature accentuated the natural zig-zags in ties. During the Obama years, by contrast, relations remained generally cordial, in significant part because of the commitment of Xi and Obama to bilateral stability. At that time, Xi even outlined a desire to fundamentally redevelop a new type of great power relationship with the United States to avoid the conflictual great power patterns of the past.



That latter goal still lacks any obvious definition the best part of a decade later, and the dynamics of the bilateral relationship have changed very significantly in the intervening years. This is not just because of the controversies of the pandemic, or the extra uncertainty injected into ties by Trump.



Take the example of Taiwan where China's recent incursions into the disputed island country's Air Defense Identification Zone have alarmed many in Washington. During the summit, Biden said he opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the strait, while Xi said that the U.S. president is playing with fire on the issue.



Even if such tensions can be managed in coming years  a big "if"  there are wider in-built hazards in the bilateral landscape. This includes U.S. legislation requiring the U.S. Commerce Secretary to deliver a "Report on Chinese Investment" in the United States to Congress every two years up to 2026.



The bill singles out Chinese investment as a security threat, and zeroes in on Beijing's "Made in China 2025" plan. This, and other legislation such as the Hong Kong Democracy Act, have set the seeds for future strife with the Chinese defense ministry asserting that they "abound in Cold War thinking, exaggerate the level of the China-U.S. confrontation ... undermines the atmosphere of development of China-U.S. military ties, and damages China-U.S. mutual trust and cooperation."



Amidst all these challenges, a key question that Xi will be pondering is how long Biden will be in power. For while the Chinese president is tightening his grip with a third term, it is not certain that his U.S. counterpart will even seek a second one, by which time he will be in his early 80s.



This is a non-trivial point as Xi would be more likely to engage, substantively, with Biden if he knows the latter will be in power for eight rather four years. Both may ultimately favor a strategic dialogue to try to find a framework, or "grand bargain," to renew bilateral relations, but this is the type of initiative that may require more than a single U.S. presidential term to formulate.



Xi is also acutely aware that, for all of the new U.S. president's indications that he might row back some of Trump's overt hostility to China, Biden has yet to reverse any of his predecessor's fundamental policies. Indeed, he has reaffirmed several of them, including rejecting nearly all of China's maritime claims in the South China Sea.



The most likely prognosis for U.S.-China ties in the short to medium term is therefore one of biding time and tensions. However, this is not inevitable, despite the growing conventional wisdom that views bilateral ties from an ever more pessimistic prism.





Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics.


A customer at a smartphone shop in Seoul tries out Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold 3 smartphone, Aug. 23. Yonhap



By Baek Byung-yeul



Samsung Electronics is reportedly planning to diversify its smartphone production base, which is currently concentrated in Vietnam, to other countries such as India and Indonesia, in an effort to minimize risks on concentrating production in one place, as well as rising labor costs.



According to a report from local tech news site TheElec, Samsung is set to reorganize its global smartphone production system. "The main goal is to redistribute production concentrated in Vietnam, Samsung's largest overseas smartphone production base, to other regions," the news outlet said.



To achieve this, production capacity for 19 million smartphones will be transferred gradually from Vietnam to India and Indonesia next year, TheElec said. For the plan, production lines in India and Indonesia will also be expanded. Samsung has an annual mobile phone production capacity of 182 million in Vietnam.



Rising wages are one of the reasons why Samsung is trying to diversify its production base. According to data from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), a Vietnamese high school graduate with a manufacturing job makes an average $370 monthly salary in their first year as of 2021, while in India the figure is $300 and Indonesia, $290.50.



Vietnam has been highlighted as an attractive place that can replace China with its young labor force and relatively lower wages, but manufacturing companies are nowadays required to be cautious with their investments, as wages there continue to increase.









According to the agency's report elaborating strategies for companies seeking to enter Vietnam, the minimum wage showed a double-digit increase rate until 2016, but since 2017, it has been increasing in single digits. The agency pointed out that continuous wage increases are a risk because they are a cost increase factor for manufacturing companies.



Another reason for restructuring its smartphone business strategy is to disperse its concentration from Vietnam. Due to the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in Vietnam this year, Samsung had to shut down its production facilities there.



"In Vietnam, there were production disruptions in certain places due to lockdowns that affected our operation," Kim Sung-koo, vice president at Samsung's mobile communications business, said during the company's conference call for second-quarter results in July.



Samsung is operating two Vietnamese production sites in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen, which produced 182 million smartphones in 2020, accounting for around 60 percent of Samsung's total mobile phone production.



Samsung plans to invest $90 million and $50 million in expanding production lines in India and Indonesia, respectively. Under this reorganizing plan, its Vietnam base will be responsible for 50 percent of the total smartphone production next year, while India will account for 29 percent and Indonesia will account for 6 percent, TheElec reported.





Samsung Electronics' smartphone factory in India / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics




By Kim Hyun-bin







An LG Humanitarian Award was given to Kim Min-seong, a Daegu Metropolitan City worker who detected an imminent ceiling collapse and evacuated the people in harm's way while incurring injuries himself.







The awards ceremony was held last week at Daegu City Hall, with LG Welfare Foundation CEO Jung Chang-hoon and Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin in attendance.







Kim visited a large meat distribution center in Daepyeong-dong, Gyeongsan District, in September and was able to detect signs of possible ceiling collapse. He helped evacuate 20 people who were inside the building.







Without Kim's quick judgment, the situation could have led to a serious accident, but due to Kim's swift actions, casualties were prevented.







The incident was widely reported nationwide through media outlets.







"It's a dizzying moment even thinking about it now. The accident occurred in less than three to four minutes after the first crack was discovered. I did what I had to do and am deeply grateful to the LG Welfare Foundation for the award," Kim said.







"I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the employees to the LG Welfare Foundation for its excellent social project and coming down to Daegu to give out the award. Kim's sacrifices should be made as a role model case for Daegu city officials," Mayor Kwon said.







The LG Humanitarian Award was established in 2015 to reflect the will of late Chairman Koo Bon-moo, who wanted to award righteous people who sacrificed themselves for the national and social good.


SK bioscience's vaccine production plant in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of SK bioscience



By Kim Bo-eun



SK bioscience may lose a major customer, as its contract to manufacture AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines will expire at the end of this year. The government has decided that it will terminate the use of AstraZeneca's vaccines at the end of 2021, given that it has secured sufficient volumes of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.



The two companies signed a contract in July last year for SK bioscience to manufacture AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. SK has been manufacturing the vaccines at its plant in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. The vaccines produced here have been supplied both locally and globally.



AstraZeneca said that SK could continue to manufacture its vaccines even if local use is terminated, given that the majority of them are exported.



"Discussions are ongoing over future plans, and we hope for the decision to be reviewed," an AstraZeneca official said, Thursday. "AZ has contributed to coping with COVID-19 in the early stages and supported Korea's plan to become a trusted global vaccine hub. We wish to move on to the next chapter of the partnership for public health and the development of Korea's bio-health industry."



An SK bioscience official said, "It has not been decided yet whether the contract will be extended. The matter will be decided between the companies, regardless of the government's decision on local vaccine use."



Under their contract, SK bioscience received technological transfers to manufacturer the vaccine. AstraZeneca also assisted the SK affiliate in the development of its own vaccine candidate.



SK bioscience, however, at the same time said that it is in discussions with multiple vaccine makers over possible contract manufacturing deals at its Andong plant. It said that the possible fallout that could occur from not renewing the contract with AstraZeneca could well be offset by contracts with new clients.



"Talks are ongoing with vaccine makers, given that there continues to be high demand for COVID-19 vaccines globally, especially in developing countries," the SK bioscience official said.



According to the official, five of the nine lines at SK bioscience's Andong plant have been designated for COVID-19 vaccines: one is used for AstraZeneca, three for Novavax and one for SK's own vaccine candidate.



SK bioscience is also contract manufacturing U.S. firm Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine. Korea's public health authorities said this week that they are looking to approve the vaccine.




Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, poses with Moderna Chairman Noubar Afeyan on the sidelines of his visit to the head office of Flagship Pioneering, a bio investment venture established by the Moderna co-founder, Wednesday (KST). Courtesy of Samsung



By Kim Yoo-chul



Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong held talks with Moderna Chairman Noubar Afeyan and Verizon Wireless CEO Hans Vestberg, in a bid to expand their business partnerships amid hyper competition in the biotech and telecom markets.



In a rare statement released by the company headquarters in Korea, Thursday afternoon, Samsung said its vice chairman had a discussion on various pending issues with Afeyan, who is also Moderna's co-founder, in Boston, Massachusetts, Wednesday (KST).



The meeting, arranged by Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, took place at the head office of Flagship Pioneering, a bio investment venture established by Afeyan.



Regarding the specifics of the in-person encounter, Samsung said a lot of measures and steps for broadening the long-term mutual partnership in vaccine- and biotech-oriented businesses were proposed.









Moderna has accepted the government's repeated request to let Samsung Biologics manufacture its COVID-19 vaccines at Samsung's domestic plant for use by residents in Korea, because the country is accelerating its move to increase booster shots.



"The bio business was identified as one of Samsung's growth engines with Vice Chairman Lee handling this directly," a Samsung spokesman said.



Although Lee was in prison until this summer after a corruption conviction related to the impeachment and jailing of former President Park Geun-hye, Cheong Wa Dae said the decision to release Lee on parole was made because of his possible expanded role in addressing vaccine and chip shortage issues. A few days after his release, Samsung said it would invest heavily in the bio business.





Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, right, poses with Verizon Wireless CEO Hans Vestberg during his visit to Verizon headquarters in the U.S. state of New Jersey, Thursday morning (KST). Courtesy of Samsung
Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Sung-wook and ASML CEO Peter Wennink pose after discussing the Dutch chip-making equipment manufacturer's investment plans at ASML Korea's headquarters in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. ASML pledged to invest a total of 240 billion won ($203.2 million) in a semiconductor cluster to be built by the ministry, and Gyeonggi Province and Hwaseong City local governments there by 2024. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy
Protesters shout slogans as they hold a Philippine flag during a rally in front of the Chinese Consulate in Makati city, Philippines, July 12. Chinese coast guard ships blocked and used water cannons on two Philippine supply boats heading to a disputed shoal occupied by Filipino marines in the South China Sea. AP-Yonhap



Chinese coast guard ships blocked and used water cannons on two Philippine supply boats heading to a disputed shoal occupied by Filipino marines in the South China Sea, provoking an angry protest to China and a warning from the Philippine government that its vessels are covered under a mutual defense treaty with the United States, Manila's top diplomat said Thursday.



Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said no one was hurt in the incident in the disputed waters on Tuesday, but the two supply ships had to abort their mission to provide food supplies to Filipino forces occupying the Second Thomas Shoal, which lies off western Palawan province in the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone.



Locsin said in a tweet that the three Chinese coast guard ships' actions were illegal and he urged them ''to take heed and back off.''



The Philippine government has conveyed to China ''our outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident,'' Locsin said, adding that ''this failure to exercise self-restraint threatens the special relationship between the Philippines and China'' that President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have worked hard to nurture.



There was no immediate comment from Chinese officials in Manila or Beijing.



The incident is the latest flare-up in the long-simmering territorial disputes in the strategic waterway, where China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims. China claims virtually the entire waterway and has transformed seven disputed shoals into missile-protected island bases to cement its claims, ratcheting up tensions and alarming rival claimants and Western governments led by the U.S.



National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon told reporters in Manila that the government will deploy coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries vessels instead of Navy ships to back up Filipino forces and enforce Philippine fishing laws at Second Thomas Shoal, which Filipinos call Ayungin and China refers to as the Ren'ai reef.



The number of Chinese surveillance ships has increased in recent weeks in the far-flung shoal and also around Thitu, a larger Philippine-occupied island in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea's most hotly contested area, he said.



Philippine forces won't be deterred from traveling again to the shoal following the incident, he said.



''We will continue the resupply and we do not have to ask the permission of anybody because that is within our territory,'' Esperon said.





The BRP Sierra Madre, a marooned transport ship which Philippine Marines live on as a military outpost, is pictured in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, March 30, 2014. Reuters-Yonhap
Four upgraded US-made F-16 V fighters fly during a demonstration at a ceremony at the Chiayi Air Force in southern Taiwan on November 18, 2021. AFP-Yonhap



Taiwan held a ceremony on Thursday to commission the first squadron of its most advanced F-16 fighter, a US-made jet that will strengthen the island's defences against threats by China.



President Tsai Ing-wen oversaw the ceremony at an air base in the southern city of Chiayi alongside Sandra Oudkirk, Washington's de facto ambassador to Taiwan.



"This represents the steadfast promise of the Taiwan-US partnership," Tsai said.



"I trust that in holding fast to democratic values, there will definitely be more countries with similar values who will stand with us on this front."



The F-16V is an upgraded and much more sophisticated version of Taiwan's other ageing F-16 fighters which date back to the 1990s. The island also has French-made Mirage jets and its own indigenous warplane.



A fourth-generation multi-role fighter, the F-16V boasts more advanced radar systems as well as more sophisticated weaponry, navigation and electronic warfare systems.



It is however less advanced than fifth-generation fighters like China's J-20, Russia's Su-57 as well as the US-made F-22 and F-35 warplanes.



Taiwan is in the middle of upgrading 141 older F-16s to make them the V version and has also ordered 66 new F-16Vs.



The deployment of the first squadron comes at a time of soaring tensions between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan's fate.



The self-ruled democracy of 23 million is claimed by Beijing which has vowed to one day take the island, by force if needs.



The ceremony prompted a fiery response from Beijing at a press briefing, with an official saying "China opposes any official contact between the US and Taiwan".



Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian urged the United States not to send "wrong signals to separatist forces", adding that those supporting Taiwan's independence "have spared no effort to split the motherland and collude with foreign forces".



"Their actions are akin to throwing an egg against a rock," he said.



Chinese sabre-rattling has reached new heights under President Xi Jinping with Beijing sending record numbers of warplanes routinely crossing into Taiwan's air defence zone and state media regularly publicising invasion drills.



In the last decade, China has built up its military to the point where Taiwanese and US military officials have publicly voiced fears it could soon pull off an invasion.



Washington diplomatically recognises Beijing over Taiwan.



But it opposes any attempt to change Taiwan's status by force and is bound by an act of Congress to help the island maintain its own defences.



The F-16V deal was approved by the administration of Donald Trump as he feuded with China on a host of issues but his successor Joe Biden has maintained similar support for Taipei.



Maintaining Taiwan's defences has become a rare bipartisan issue in Washington.



China has lambasted military sales to Taiwan and imposed sanctions on US arms giants such as Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in response. (AFP)






Pro Boise Towne Square Boise , Idaho , United States Apple Retail Summary

Posted: Nov 16, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200314446 Do you want to help grow Apple's community? We seek perfection. We are idealists and problem-solvers. Forever tinkering with products and processes, always on the lookout for better. A job at Apple will be demanding. But it also rewards forward-thinking, original thinking, and tenacity. And none of us here would have it any other way. Are you highly skilled at presenting elegant solutions that simplify the complex? Are you an extremely knowledgeable salesperson? As a Pro, you understand how Apple can help customers discover their passions, and how our products differ from our competitors. You have an eye for opportunity and demonstrate your breadth of expertise in technology to craft unique value propositions and insights that differentiate Apple solutions in the market. You provide authoritative recommendations of Apple's products that build loyalty and improve the customer experience, and help drive skills and knowledge of technology across your team. Key Qualifications Extensive track record of top performing sales and customer experience results maintained over extended periods of time.

Mastery of Apple services and products as well as third-party solutions across different industries and fields, for personal, business, educational, and creative professional use.

Knowledge of business solutions and industry trends. Description You drive sales by designing complete solutions with Apple and complementary product-service offerings. You demonstrate and advise how customers can integrate technology into their homes and scale solutions across small to medium size businesses and educational institutions. You demonstrate a real passion for technology to become the go-to resource across the store for our Hardware, Software, and Services. You use knowledge about Apple technology, technical expertise, and creativity to meet customer needs and stay up to date on new information, product and service offerings, and company initiatives, by using internal tools and resources, on-the-job experiences, and peers. You partner closely with store leadership, Global Retail Support, and peers within your Region. You contribute to success across all store areas and flex appropriately to meet business needs. You will identify emerging technology and consumer trends and share how the team can use those insights to develop new sales opportunities and maintain technology industry knowledge and macro-movements within verticals to anticipate how technology can be utilized. You will lead and assist with briefings, provide recommendations for deployment and set up, and identify when to pull in additional support. The Pro mentors others in the Product Zone on specialized product knowledge and purchasing options, including financing and carrier contracts and shares practices on ownership and customer loyalty within the Product Zone and with the larger store team. You maintain expertise in all Apple products and services (in store and online), our ecosystem, and many third-party products to offer complete solutions while actively approaching and engaging with our customers to understand their needs and present customized solutions. You set up the customer's newest Apple products. The Pro brings Apple solutions to life through demos, personalization, and answers to customer questions. Build memorable experiences that showcase the benefits of Apple products. You will provide troubleshooting advice and introduce the advantages of shopping with Apple - often to multiple customers at the same time. You will support peers at the Genius Bar as needed to share knowledge and assist in providing ownership options all while providing world-class customer service to customers, and maintaining accuracy in all operational duties and transactions. Note: Apple benefits programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements. Education & Experience Additional Requirements Able to effectively communicate and work with business owners and C-level executives.

Self-starter and able to achieve individual goals while also influencing the success of the overall team.

Able to collaborate cross-functionally within the store and among key partners.

Familiar with a CRM.

Superior teamwork, interpersonal, and customer service skills.

Drive for results, and make things happen.

Can tackle customer concerns using composure, listening, and presentation skills.

Strong time management and multitasking skills.

Curious to seek out information and share with the broader team.

Flexible about work, often performing multiple activities simultaneously.

Able to prioritize tasks effectively.

Provide and receive feedback from others.



If you live in Colorado, please click here .








Description

Req #19711 Wednesday, November 17, 2021 Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a subscription-led and digitally focused media and marketing solutions company committed to empowering communities to thrive. With an unmatched reach at the national and local level, Gannett touches the lives of millions with our Pulitzer-Prize winning content, consumer experiences and benefits, and advertiser products and services.



Our current portfolio of media assets includes USA TODAY, local media organizations in 46 states in the U.S., and Newsquest, a wholly owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom with more than 120 local news media brands. Gannett also owns the digital marketing services companies ReachLocal, Inc., UpCurve, Inc., and WordStream, Inc., which are marketed under the LOCALiQ brand, and runs the largest media-owned events business in the U.S., USA TODAY NETWORK Ventures.



To connect with us, visit www.gannett.com . At REACHLOCAL, A Gannett, Inc. company and part of the USA Today network, we offer a total digital marketing system for local businesses, comprised of web presence solutions digital advertising solutions. Our mission is to help local businesses around the world get more customers. We believe in working hard to deliver results for our clients and having fun while we build meaningful relationships with everyone around us. That is why we are one of the first digital marketing companies to achieve the Local Search Association (LSA) Certification and have been named a Facebook Marketing Partner, a select group of companies recognized for their ability to drive exceptional advertising and marketing results from Facebook.

Were looking to build our teams with B2B hunters for our DIGITAL MARKETING SALES CONSULTANT role.Bring your talent and we'll equip you with exceptional sales tools, technology and world class products. With our 6-week training program and 90-day onboarding plan you will have the tools and skills to succeed in your new role A bit about us REACHLOCAL is a refreshingly agile, vibrant, and fast-paced100% digital marketing company focused on small and medium sized business. We attract and bring together like-minded talented, passionate, and ambitious people who like to collaborate, have fun, and learn together. We keep it 'real' and will encourage you to think 'outside the box' and do what's right for our customers. Helping local businesses grow through online marketing is our mission, and our people know they're here for a good cause, bringing this to life every day by providing exceptional solutions and services to partner with SMBs. Our client first approach coupled with a genuine desire to understand our clients' needs, expectations, and goals is the driving force behind who we are, what we do, how and why we do it. As a Digital Marketing Sales Consultant, youll have an opportunity to sell a broad set of solutions from our extensive market-leading portfolio such as SEM, SEO, Social Media, YouTube, OTT/CTV, Targeted Display, Websites, Live chat and much more. What we're looking for... A sales professional who builds trust and likes to share in your clients' success

Experienced B2B hunter with digital/advertising sales experience

Well-crafted sales process/methodology

Outstanding communication, influencing, and negotiation skills

No fear approach to new business development through cold-calling and networking

Proven ability to build rapport and develop strong business relationships

CRM experience (e.g. Salesforce.com or similar)

Ethical with a high level of personal integrity and initiative

Digital marketing knowledge and experience (e.g. SEM, SEO, Display, Social etc.) What's in it for you Competitive salary coupled with uncapped residual commissions and quarterly bonuses

Fast paced industry that keeps it exciting

Award winning products and service that give you confidence you can deliver for our clients A great work environment that allows you to build your own schedule Full benefit package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K & more Unlimited Vacation Days subject to performance Monthly business expenses What you will bring B2B solution sales, new business development and cold-calling experience

A well-crafted sales process/methodology

Outstanding communication, influencing, and negotiation skills

No fear approach to new business development through cold-calling and networking

Proven ability to build rapport and develop strong business relationships

CRM experience (e.g. Salesforce.com or similar)

Ethical with a high level of personal integrity and initiative

Digital marketing knowledge and experience (e.g. SEM, SEO, Display, Social etc.) You can find out more about our awesome products at https://www.reachlocal.com/us/en/digital-marketing-services. If you think you tick all the boxes, have the right attitude, able to work autonomously, manage your own day and be part of a winning team this is the opportunity you've been waiting for! Send us your application today so you too can be part of our success story. About REACHLOCAL, Inc. REACHLOCAL is headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, with over 35 locations throughout the United States, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil. ReachLocal is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings are welcome and will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by state, federal or local law. It is the intent of the Company to comply with all applicable federal, state and local legislation concerning equal opportunity in employment. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee.



#Sales #REACHLOCAL Gannett Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employees race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where Gannett employs employees. In addition, Gannett Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicants disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals application for employment with Gannett Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact Gannett Co., Inc.s Recruitment Department at Recruit@gannett.com. Job Family Outside Sales

Job Function Marketing Solutions

Pay Type Salary Other details

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Requirements

None








Cellar Assistant

Job Locations US-OR-Carlton

Company Summary



Hampton Lumber is a family-owned forest products business headquartered in Portland, Oregon, employing about 1,600 people primarily in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. Hampton owns approximately 130,000 acres of U.S. timberland, managed on a sustainable basis, certified through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and nine sawmills in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia with normal lumber production capacity in excess of 2.2 billion board feet.

Perform daily operations in the tasting room, including but not limited to:

Hosting visitors: telling the Studio and tenant winery stories, serving wine, selling wine club, and completing wine sales

Maintaining a clean work environment, including cleaning tables & glassware after visitor departure, daily cleaning tasks and overall care for a welcoming, clean tasting room

OverviewEEO Statement

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law.


Description

At Liberty Mutual, our purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. Thats why we provide an environment focused on openness, inclusion, trust and respect. Here, youll discover our expansive range of roles, and a workplace where we aim to help turn your passion into a rewarding profession. Liberty Mutual has proudly been recognized as a Great Place to Work by Great Place to Work US for the past several years. We were also selected as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT on IDGs Insider Pro and Computerworlds 2020 list. For many years running, we have been named by Forbes as one of Americas Best Employers for Women and one of Americas Best Employers for New Graduatesas well as one of Americas Best Employers for Diversity. To learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion please visit: https://jobs.libertymutualgroup.com/diversity-inclusion We value your hard work, integrity and commitment to make things better, and we put people first by offering you benefits that support your life and well-being. To learn more about our benefit offerings please visit: https://LMI.co/Benefits Liberty Mutual is an equal opportunity employer. We will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, veterans status, pregnancy, genetic information or on any basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Seeking Manderin, Cantonese, and Spanish Speaking Sales Professionals 5k Sign On Bonus for new candidates that have an active P&C, or active Life license, or 2+ years sales experience! *To qualify for the Sign-On Bonus, Applicants must be new (not applied in the past 6 months) and apply from 1/15/21 to 12/31/21 and started by 2/1/22 to qualify. Bonus will be scheduled on day 30 for next period pay out date. There is a 1 year payback clause if your employment is terminated prior to your first year anniversary. Do you want to join a Fortune 100 company where youll be rewarded for developing new clients, discovering new markets and providing customers with the products they need? As a Liberty Mutual field sales representative, youll enjoy a diverse, supportive environment, along with a competitive compensation program, including base salary, uncapped commissions and a bonus structure, and comprehensive benefits. Field sales representatives also receive ample opportunities for recognition and rewards, including earning awards, bonuses and recognition trips. In this full-time role, youll also stay ahead of the curve with industry-leading, paid sales training and mentorships with successful colleagues. We encourage you to apply and bring your expertise if youre a: Passionate salesperson : Youll use your knowledge and enthusiastic work ethic to generate prospects and sell Auto, Home and Life Insurance products within an assigned territory

Competitive go-getter : Ready to earn uncapped commissions and bonuses? Youll have your chance while engaging in friendly (and rewarding!) competitions with your sales team and the opportunity to win recognition awards

People person : Using your interpersonal skills and market insight, youll identify and cultivate prospective clients, and tailor products and services to meet the needs of existing customers

Relationship builder: Youll play the long game, building strong relationships within local community and organizations, and maintaining open lines of communication for future sales opportunities Experience Previous employment in sales where you have successfully turned prospects into customers

A state insurance licenseor willingness to earn one with Liberty Mutuals training and supportin Property & Casualty, Life, and Accident & Health Skills Effective written, oral communication and presentation skills

Well-developed persuasion and negotiation skills

Great interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build rapport with prospective and existing customers

Effective time management and organizational skills Knowledge Ability to learn insurance coverage and underwriting guidelines

Familiarity with finding, building and growing leads and customer base Education A Bachelors degree or equivalent experience



Requirements

See job description.




Do you have a craving for a new culinary career while complimenting the learning environment of students?

Sodexo K-12 School Services is looking for an Executive Chef 2 to join our team. Sodexo has partnered with school districts throughout the state of Oklahoma to bring innovative dining options for students and staffs.



The Executive Chef 2 is a Senior Culinary person that supports the day to day operation within Norman Public Schools. This is an opportunity for a chef who has a passion for training and customer service. A best qualified candidate will have excellent leadership experience, be a proven trainer and a self-motivator. Additionally, the successful candidate will be well organized and able to manage multiple projects at one time. They will have a focus on employee development, safety/sanitation, quality and standards.

Additionally this position is responsible for:



Ensure Sodexo Culinary Standards including recipe compliance and food quality;



Have high expectations for customer service and quality of food;



Have the ability and willingness to develop and train frontline employees;



Have a passion for food and innovation



Emphasis on food presentation, quality, execution, menu design & implementation;



Experience managing food and labor cost controls to meet targets;



Demonstrated experience providing strong leadership, including supervision, direction and training, to a diverse team of employees;



High level of computer literacy and skill-set;






System ID 750044

Category Facilities

Relocation Type No

Employment Status Full-Time

Unit Description

You are a strategic, innovative facilities leader ready to help clients optimize their business. Sodexo is currently looking for a Facilities Maintenance Coordinator for a large pharmaceutical company in Rahway, NJ. The Shipping Coordinator position is responsible for coordinating the transportation of all chemicals, biologicals, research samples, and equipment worldwide in direct support of a research facility. Shippers must assure that all materials are classified, packaged, and identified properly in accordance with the Global Trade Compliance, DOT, IATA, and Osha regulatory requirements to assure material is moved safely and compliantly with minimal interruption to business continuity. Responsibilities: Review shipping request documentation for accuracy and completion for all inter-site, domestic and international shipments.

Retain shipping documentation per the regulatory requirement / client's record retention policy.

Provide guidance to requestors on accurate completion of shipping documentation.

Assist requestors with locating GHS/CLP compliant safety data sheets.

Review safety data sheets to determine whether material is considered dangerous goods.

Classify material based on the DOT / IATA regulations and assure that shipment is compliant with all requirements.

Understand the global trade compliance requirements and assure that these requirements are met.

Create commercial invoices in advance of shipments and submit to couriers for pre-approval prior to shipping material.

Package cold chain shipments to assure materials maintain correct temperature requirements.

Use temperature monitoring systems to record temperature excursions during travel.

Manage GMP freezers and log book per client requirements.

Assure GHS/CLP labels are affixed to materials and packages per the Osha Haz Com requirements.

Provide compliance support to shipment requestors as needed.

Troubleshoot software system issues with software administrator to assure business continuity.

Administration of Ariel classification and labeling tool including but not limited to: data entry, location maintenance, account maintenance, etc...

Train and develop team members on shipping procedures.

Collect metrics on number of Inter-site, domestic, and international shipments processed.

Implement new policies and procedures to govern and control all distribution tasks to assist in achieving a more accurate and efficient shipping process.

Help support facility specific cost savings targets to contribute to the account achieving significant savings.

Act as an interface with client, visitors and guests where applicable

Act collaboratively to solve problems and resolve spontaneous and unique situations with professionalism and service orientation.

Ensure delivery of committed services and overall satisfaction with client.

Demonstrate leadership, responsiveness and creativity in finding solutions for service delivery

Read and understand the applicable Service Level Agreements, help achieve the Key Performance Indicators and score favorably on the client satisfaction surveys.

Seek to continuously improve processes, systems and overall client satisfaction.

Ensure appropriate follow up with customers to help resolve requests / issues.

Develop/maintain positive relationships with internal/external customers and facilities staff.

Work with key personnel to effectively implement process improvements for operational Procedures in an effort to proactively optimize the overall location and item level accuracy while maintaining the highest possible productivity levels. Understanding and usage of safety data sheets.

Ability to utilize information from safety data sheets, cover sheets, and aerial tool to create GHS/CLP labels for mixtures. Requirements: 4 Year College Degree preffered

Advanced knowledge and handling of chemicals and abide by safety measures.

Ability to work in a non-stop, fast-paced, multiple task environments.

Ability to work in multiple sites.

Ability to work over time when needed.

Excellent internal and external customer service.

Possess strong written, verbal and people skills.

Possess proficiency and knowledge in MS Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook).

Knowledge of Integration Point preferred but not required.

Strong problem solving abilities.

Ability to lift 50lbs.

Ability to handle/manage large, heavy shipments.

Ability to operate manual/powered pallet jack.

Ability to work in a cross functional team setting. Learn more about Sodexo's Benefits Not the job for you? At Sodexo, we offer Facilities Management positions in Corporate, Schools, Universities, Government and Agencies, Health Care and Senior Living locations across the United States. Continue your search for Facilities Management jobs. Working for Sodexo: How far will your ambition, talent and dedication take you? Sodexo fosters a culture committed to the growth of individuals through continuous learning, mentoring and career growth opportunities. Apply Now! Are you ready to start your Sodexo career? Apply now!

Position Summary

The Operations Support Specialist will assist in providing general customer support to resolve issues. Will also assist in providing problem analysis and resolution, either via direct communication with the account or by informing the manager of issues that will require a more in depth effort. Assists in answering questions and inquiries from customers via the telephone, Internet, fax and other technologies, using established fact-finding procedures, customer service methodologies, knowledge of pertinent processes and procedures, and familiarity with policies, vendors and specified products. Works with other departments for vendor and product compliance. Be able to handle a large volume of inquiries every day. May supervise less than two full time employees.

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education Requirement - High School Diploma, GED or equivalent



Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.


In the end, the much anticipated opposition demonstration of 15N in Cuba did not materialise. The organisers ties with Washington and with counterrevolutionary and terrorist elements removed any legitimacy from their call to mobilise.

[Tambien disponible en espanol]

Selective police repression did the rest. After calling off the demonstration, the public face of 15N, playwright Yunior Garcia, ended up leaving for Madrid. But perhaps the most significant development in these few days  about which the Western capitalist media has been silent  has been the rise of the red scarf movement.

The total failure of N15 has dealt a severe blow to all those who were expecting and had prepared the ground for large anti-government demonstrations, police repression and regime change. The US had issued stern warnings of more sanctions should the Cuban government carry out a crackdown, in the typical double standards of imperialism, which turns a blind eye to brutal repression of peaceful demonstrators and police killings in its own country. European Union MEPs tried to land on the island shouting, we want the same for Cuba that we have in Europe. They were referring to so-called human rights  rights about which the Polish police in the same capitalist EU show a very different regard for when they deploy tear gas, barbed wire and water cannons against refugees at their border seeking asylum and humanitarian protection.

But all of them had made a serious mistake: they had underestimated the deep rooted anti-imperialist sentiment and instincts of the Cuban people. On 11 July, a few thousand came out to protest in various cities on the island. Their motivations were varied: many came out to protest against deteriorating living conditions and the daily hardships that they suffer. The US blockade (which Trump tightened substantially and Biden has left intact) is above all responsible for this deterioration, which has been severely aggravated by the pandemic (which eliminated vital tourist income), and worsened by the Ordenamiento package of measures applied by the government since 1 January. Added to all this are the chronic problems caused by the bureaucratic mismanagement of the planned economy and the negative impact of the measures of opening up to the capitalist market.

The total failure of N15 has dealt a severe blow to all those who were expecting and had prepared the ground for large anti-government demonstrations, police repression and regime change / Image: Archipielago, Facebook

Among those who came out to protest against the government on J11 there was also a layer of young people unhappy with the states arbitrariness, censorship, and stifling bureaucratism. Finally, openly counterrevolutionary and annexationist layers were also present. By virtue of the fact that they were the only participants who were really organised and in possession of clear ideas and a programme, it was the latter who dominated the protests politically.

However, this drawing together of distinct sources of discontent was not repeated ahead of 15 November. The organisers, the so-called Archipelago platform, made their call exclusively in relation to the democratic rights of those jailed and indicted as a result of the J11 protests. The organisers made no reference to the state of economic hardship, and no attempt to connect with the sectors hardest hit by the economic crisis, some of whom had come out to express their frustration on J11.

Worse than that, while Archipelago tried to frame their call in terms of non-violence in the face of state repression, of dialogue and consensus in the face of imposition, in reality many of those who came out to publicly support the call were openly counterrevolutionary elements and even terrorists. Neither Yunior Garcia nor Archipelago ever distanced themselves from such elements. On the contrary, their entire strategy was based on creating the broadest unity of action against the Cuban government. In practice, their argument about being neither of the right, nor of the center, nor of the left as usual turned out to mean, a united front with the most repulsive reactionary layers against the revolution.

What ended up deflating the call for a march on N15 were Yunior Garcias proven links with Washingtons multimillionaire efforts to provoke a transition in Cuba  i.e. regime change and the restoration of capitalism, a plan that also has a clear annexationist component.

The Cuban people have many criticisms about the situation they are facing, rightly so, and many of them are directed, justifiably, at the government and the state. These criticisms are not the exclusive preserve of those who consider themselves to be part of the opposition, but are also widespread among those who openly support the revolution. But in Cuba, for any protest or critical movement, to appear to be linked to US imperialism represents the kiss of death.

Once these links became known and entered the public domain, the N15 protest had zero chance of success. Yunior Garcia himself, realising that it was going to be a flop, decided to call it off a few days prior. Alleging the potential for police repression, he advised his followers not to go out on N15. To save face to the extent that he could, he announced that he would go out on 14 November alone, marching to the statue of Cubas independence hero, Jose Marti, in the Parque Central of Havana, to make an offering of a white flower. He called on all Cubans to go out for a walk, individually, on the 15th, dressed in white and to organise pans and pots banging and clapping from their balconies. None of that unfolded.

Faced with this situation, Yunior Garcia stayed at home rather than going out alone / Image: Archipielago, Facebook

Selective repression, with measures such as the arrest of well-known activists in the previous days, undoubtedly played a role. But most important of all was the fact that the organisers had been politically discredited, and had additionally gone from being defiant to compliant towards the government. On 14 November, Yunior Garcia did not leave his house, as he had announced. His building was surrounded by an act of repudiation made up mainly of women and plainclothes policemen. It is important to note that these acts of repudiation have met with opposition and rejection by many of those who support the revolution, who consider that a political response must be given and not one of personal harassment, which harks back to the worst times of the Stalinist repression of the Quinquenio Gris (the five grey years of 1971-76).

Faced with this situation, the man who styles himself as Cubas answer to Vaclav Havel [the Czech playwright who led the so-called Velvet Revolution leading to capitalist restoration], stayed at home rather than going out alone, as he had announced his intention to do to his followers. Had he attempted to leave his house, he would most likely have faced arrest, which would have caused an incident that the international media, Washington and Brussels would have used to redouble their campaign against the Cuban Revolution. But it has subsequently become clear that he had already made his mind up to leave the island a couple of days later, showing the true caliber of his leadership and the degree to which he is prepared to sacrifice for the cause in which he believes. Obviously, on Monday 15 November, the masses dressed in white did not materialise on the streets.

Another significant factor in the failure of 15 November was the fact that it coincided with official lifting of all restrictions on tourism and on children returning to face-to-face classes after many months of lockdown measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. The lifting of restrictions has been possible due to the impressive mass vaccination campaign, with Cuban-made vaccines, which has led Cuba, in a short space of time, to become one of the countries with the highest vaccination rates in the world, including children over the age of two years.

In other words, the possibility of street protests was directly counterposed with its potential negative impact on tourism, which everyone understands is crucial for the Cuban economy; and on education, one of the most dearly held conquests of the revolution.

Anyone who believes that the main factor in the failure of N15 was the official ban on the protest and the police measures taken to implement it has understood nothing. It is enough to look at other Latin American countries (e.g. Chile, Ecuador, Colombia to mention but a few recent examples) where the most brutal police repression has not only resulted in arrests, but has left people dead and maimed, and yet it has failed to prevent massive popular protests.

The Cuban Revolution faces very serious difficulties and it is obvious that there is a critical mood among broad sectors of the population. But that does not mean that those who are critical are going to join a clearly counterrevolutionary demonstration, which is in open opposition to the conquests of the revolution, and which is linked to the very imperialist power that for 60 years has used every means in its attempts to crush the will of the Cuban people to decide their own future.

On the other hand, the failure of 15N does not mean that everything has returned to normal in Cuba. The problems facing the revolution (imperialist aggression, unequal terms of trade that Cuba experiences in the world market, the existence of the bureaucracy, etc.) are still there. They are serious and must be addressed.

The red scarves

For this reason, perhaps the most significant element of the developments in Cuba in recent days has been the sit-in of the red scarves. This is not because of its numerical importance, but rather because of its political importance. And of course, none of the international media paid any regard to the activities of the red scarves. The vultures that they are, they had only come to the island seeking pictures of violence, repression, and the fall of the regime.

Shortly after the 11 July protests, a group of young Cuban revolutionaries decided to organise a public action against the blockade and in defense of the revolution, but to do so outside the official institutions. Finally, after delays in obtaining permission, a 48-hour sit-in was called at the statue of Jose Marti in central Havana, from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 November. The organisers decided to call themselves the red scarves. Activists from various groups joined in  from the Martin Luther King Center, Cimarronas, La Tizza, the Our America Project, LGBT activists fighting for the new Family Code, artists and university students, etc.

Perhaps the most significant element of the developments in Cuba in recent days has been the sit-in of the red scarves / Image: Gerardo Hdez Nordelo, Twitter

The sit-in brought together dozens of revolutionaries for two days of culture, art, music and political discussions, braving inclement weather. The character of the sit-in was analogous to that of the Tangana in the Trillo, the rally in defense of the revolution that was organised after the gathering in front of the Ministry of Culture on 27 November, 2020, and indeed, some of the participants were the same individuals although the initial organising nucleus was different.

At that time, a group of young revolutionaries launched the call for a revolutionary rally in the Trillo park where the statue of the black Cuban patriot, Quintin Bandera, is located. Quickly, the official institutions (UJC, FEU, etc.) tried to co-opt the event, smoothing over its most critical edges in order to turn it into a simple music festival, although they did not manage to completely drown out its political content.

The red scarf sit-in included a spectrum of political trends, but the common thread was that of clear opposition to the imperialist blockade, the defense of Cuba and of the revolution, whilst at the same time adopting a critical, left-wing stance. This was reflected in the political discussions that took place in parallel to the artistic-cultural activities.

One of the songs that Cuban troubadour Tony Avila performed during the sit-in sums up the political spirit of the activity well. In Mi casa.cu [My Home.cu] Avila talks about the changes that his house needs, but warns that these changes should in no way damage the houses foundations. More than this, it is not just that the revolution needs a few changes while maintaining the basic conquests (which are based on state ownership of the means of production), but that the revolution and its foundations can only be defended by making those changes.

The red scarf sit-in included a spectrum of political trends, but the common thread was that of clear opposition to the imperialist blockade, the defense of Cuba and of the revolution, whilst at the same time adopting a critical, left-wing stance / Image: Los Panuelos Rojos, Facebook

During the sit-in there was a very significant political speech given by Luis Emilio Aybar, from Proyecto Nuestra America and La Tizza, in which he once again emphasized a series of ideas contained in his recent articles: Those of us who are revolutionaries, communists, anti-imperialists, are aware of everything that is wrong, because we are part of the people and we suffer those evils, evils which can not only be explained by the blockade, but also because on many occasions we do things wrong, and we also want to combat that. Aybar clearly warned against false solutions and false promises: If the state companies do not work, we are told that they must be privatised. If they introduce a blockade against us, we are told that we have to surrender the country so they don't block us.

Mentioning the recent statements by President Diaz-Canel about peoples power, Aybar pointed out: The problem is that things cannot belong to everyone if we do not have power over them, the power to change them. Socialism is synonymous with the empowered people, people with the capacity to transform their reality, not with the powerless people.

Clearly these are crucial questions and they point in the right direction. The planned economy needs workers democracy in the same way that the human body needs oxygen. Bureaucratic planning leads to waste, privilege, corruption, and laziness. The conquests of the revolution can only be defended through the real and decisive participation of the working class in the management of the state and the economy.

The best way to combat the counterrevolution is to make the revolution, said Aybar, who ended his speech with a series of very significant slogans, chanted by the public, which included: Down with bureaucratism, down with corruption, down with inequality, down capitalism, down with machismo, down with homophobia and its counterpart: long live the revolution, long live Fidel and long live the socialism!

Excelente la iniciativa de los @PanuelosRojos_ para defender la revolucion cubana desde abajo y de manera autonoma. La conclusion de Luis Emilio Aybar de Nuestra America resume el caracter de la sentada de 48h de los #PanuelosRojos pic.twitter.com/2rlPOUiO6t  Jorge Martin (@marxistJorge) November 15, 2021

Even sharper and more forceful was Ariel Cabrera, a communist student from Santa Clara who could not travel to Havana but who left a message of support to the red scarves. His statement was clearly anti-imperialist, but at the same time against the bureaucracy, against any attempt at capitalist restoration (whether they come from declared enemies or those who call themselves friends) and in favour of the workers having real power in the workplaces and neighborhoods and in favour of mechanisms of democratic workers management in state enterprises.

What Cabrera raises here is absolutely correct. These are precisely the changes that the house of the Cuban Revolution, to paraphrase Avilas song, requires if it is to fight the attacks of the imperialists and the danger of capitalist restoration: workers control and workers democracy.

As could have been expected, at the end of the sit-in, President Diaz-Canel appeared, precisely when Tony Avila was singing about the necessary reforms his house required. There was a clear attempt by the officialdom to politically co-opt the event. Photos and reports of the sit-in of the red scarves and the presence of the president appeared in all the official media. However, none of them mentioned the most poignant speeches and discussions that took place there. No mention was made about fighting bureaucratism. There was no reference to workers control or decision-making by workers. This also raises another question which must necessarily be addressed in order to defend the Cuban Revolution: the state media must be open to all currents of revolutionary opinion.

The creation of the red scarves is significant in two very important ways: as a step forward in the autonomous organisation of young revolutionary communists, and in fostering the discussion of very advanced ideas about how to defend the Cuban Revolution / Image: fair use

The creation of the red scarves is significant in two very important ways: as a step forward in the autonomous organisation of young revolutionary communists, and in fostering the discussion of very advanced ideas about how to defend the Cuban Revolution. We welcome this initiative, and we vow to support and offer to participate in it in whatever way we can, as an absolutely necessary process of discussion and political clarification which has begun.

The position of the International Marxist Tendency is clear: We must defend the Cuban Revolution. That means first of all opposing the imperialist blockade and the aggression to which the Cuban Revolution is subjected, and the defence of the nationalised character of the means of production on which its conquests are based. We oppose capitalist restoration and the bureaucracys control of the economy and the state, which undermines the revolution. The planned economy requires workers' democracy, the democratic participation of the working class in all decisions. The fight for the defense of the Cuban Revolution is also waged in the field of the international class struggle. Workers' democracy has its corollary in proletarian internationalism, the struggle for international socialism that would break the isolation of the revolution.
Yesterday was the bloodiest day of the Sudan coup so far. A nationwide march was met with the deadliest clampdown yet by the security forces. This massacre must be a final warning to the masses: only armed self defence by any means necessary can guarantee a victory for the Sudanese Revolution.

Last week, coup leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced a new Sovereign Council, with the top spots occupied by himself and General Hemeti  Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, commander of the Janjaweed militias responsible for the majority of the counter-revolutionary repression.

This is despite Burhan continually insisting that he has not launched a coup, but merely stepped in to correct the transition to democracy; that he is committed to facilitating a civilian government and would not participate in any government himself.

Burhans audacious manoeuvres enraged the masses, who made their stance clear in a planned national demonstration on the weekend: NO negotiations with the coup-plotters, NO power-sharing arrangements, NO compromise with the generals, but full transition to a civilian government!

This second March of Millions was broken up by violent suppression, with several people killed as the crowds were forced back by live ammunition and tear gas.

17 November massacre

In response to this outrage, and the juntas refusal to restore internet coverage, despite a court ruling from the Sudanese legislature demanding they do so, the Resistance Committees and Sudan Professionals Association called for a third nationwide demonstration on 17 November.

Video shows massive protest in AlHaj Yousif district of Khartoum, as part of todays nationwide demonstrations calling for an end to military rule. #Nov17march#SudanCoup pic.twitter.com/ylYdncaxcy  Munchkin (@BSonblast) November 17, 2021

This date is significant, as it was originally intended for the transfer of control of the previous Sovereign Council from the army to the civilian government, before Burhan launched his coup on 25 October and dissolved it.

Despite enduring almost a month of continual repression: in the form of beatings, bullets, arbitrary arrests and a near-total communications blackout, the masses via their resistance committees organised yet another massive national protest.

Figures and footage are naturally sketchy, but at least 16 towns and cities were involved, and hundreds of thousands hit the streets.

But this time, the military and police wasted no time. They cut not only internet coverage, but also phone lines, isolating the masses, and deployed troops directly to planned meeting places for the marches.

The crowds were met by an onslaught from the security forces, with most of the worst violence concentrated in Khartoum.

The twin city Bahri in the north, where the local Resistance Committee has been especially active, was singled out for particularly sadistic repression. Power was cut to the neighbourhoods, which were surrounded by troops, who fired teargas into the streets, trapping people in their homes as they hunted for stragglers.

Video shows the moment #SudanCoup forces shot teargas into a private residence.



Children are inside the home. https://t.co/d4cKRSXXmT  Munchkin (@BSonblast) November 18, 2021

There are also reports that the security forces fired teargas canisters into hospitals, which were quickly overwhelmed with casualties.

At least 15 protestors were killed, bringing the total number of dead to 39. The oldest victim was 70. One was a shopkeeper in Shambat, who was not involved in the protests. The security forces went into his shop and told him to give up people hiding inside, and when he said no one was with him, they shot him.

Hundreds more were injured, with a significant number of the victims inundating hospitals suffering from gunshot wounds to their heads and torsos: suggesting the counter-revolutionary troops were given shoot-to-kill orders.

It is very likely that the death toll is a lot higher, as many people were left in a critical condition, and the lack of communications makes an accurate estimate impossible to come by.

In a statement that would be laughable were the circumstances less tragic, the junta (which still denies the use of violence against protestors) complained that 30 police officers had suffered from asphyxiation from tear gas!

By any means necessary!

The masses awoke this morning in a state of shock and outrage. At the time of writing, the security forces have still not ceased their repression, but are continuing to patrol and harass passersby at random in Khartoum and Bahri. They have also launched a campaign of arrests targeting prominent members of the resistance committees.

This video in high quality shows the moment of sniping one of the peaceful demonstrators from a

close distance, shoot to kill.

What kind of people are these! What is all this cruelty and hatred?#SudanCoup#Sudan#AgainstMilitaryCoup#17#17@amnesty@hrw pic.twitter.com/CqCNVD2MHE      (@A7md_Elamin) November 18, 2021

By all accounts, these atrocities by the coup plotters are only motivating the masses further to continue their protest, and the resistance committees have carried on barricading the roads into their neighbourhoods to impede the military.

The SPA condemned the violence and asserted its position for no negotiations, compromises or partnership with the military, while many resistance committees are calling for a day of civil disobedience. Much of the country remains shut down by strike action.

The blackout makes it difficult to gauge the mood, but based on comments trickling out of social media, it seems that at least a section of the masses on the ground are becoming frustrated at repeatedly facing down an armed counter-revolution with only peaceful methods.

As we have said many times: the only way to win victory is for the masses to organise defence committees and meet the counter-revolution with arms in hand. Ultimately, this will require fraternisation with sympathetic elements of the armed forces, but in the short-term, the masses must prepare to fight by any means they can.

As Lenin wrote about the workers and peasants organising revolutionary self-defence against the fascist Black Hundreds in the 1905 Revolution:

They must arm themselves as best they can (rifles, revolvers, bombs, knives, knuckle-dusters, sticks, rags soaked in kerosene for starting fires, ropes or rope ladders, shovels for building barricades, pyroxylin cartridges, barbed wire, nails [against cavalry], etc., etc.). Under no circumstances should they wait for help from other sources, from above, from the outside; they must procure everything themselves.

In some instances, the masses in Sudan have resisted the police and security forces using nothing but stones and their bare hands.

The people are outgunned, but the military is outnumbered: if they are organised and ready to fight, the masses can stop the heavily-armed counter-revolution in its tracks.

Until a section of the soldiery is won over, they must make do. What they must not do is continue the suicidal policy advocated by the SPA and the leaders of the Resistance Committees of walking defenceless into the sights of the security forces.

No negotiations! No compromise! No partnership!

The renewed call by the SPA and Resistance Committees for peaceful civil disobedience must be resisted fiercely from below. These methods are precisely what is feeding the confidence of the counter-revolution and leading to more and more bloodshed.

The leaders of the revolution must allow the masses to fight back, organise them to do so, and make a general appeal to any wavering elements of the armed forces to mutiny and join the class brothers and sisters. If the revolutionary leaders are unwilling to take these measures, they must step aside for leaders who will.

Some, particularly petty-bourgeois elements of the Sudanese expatriate community, are calling on the UN to send in a peacekeeping force to strongarm civilian rule. We must say, this is a bankrupt notion.

Look at Haiti, or Uganda, or anywhere else the UN has intervened in the name of peace and democracy to see how successfully these lofty ideals are upheld by the organs of imperialism.

Moreover, Volker Perthes, the UN Special Representative responsible for Sudan, has been negotiating behind the scenes with both Burhan and Hemeti for a return to a military-civilian powershare. Far from insisting on civilian rule, the UN wants to maintain these butchers in power!

What the UN, a body controlled by the imperialist nations, fears most is a revolutionary overthrow of the Sudanese junta, which could set off a domino effect of revolutions throughout the region, in countries where the masses share similar conditions as those in Sudan. Their attempts at organising a negotiated settlement only serve to throw dust in the eyes of the masses and sow illusions that somehow the interests of the revolution and counter-revolution can be reconciled.

But both the revolutionary masses and the military understand that such an arrangement is impossible. Neither can or will tolerate the other in power, in any capacity. There can be no reconciliation between the revolution and the counter-revolution: there can only be total victory for one or the other.

We quote Trotsky in his warning to the revolutionary forces in Spain, while they were locked in bitter conflict with Francos fascist Falange:

Revolutions [are] the locomotives of history Whoever lags behind falls under the wheels of the locomotive, and consequently  and this is the chief danger  the locomotive itself is also not infrequently wrecked. It is necessary to think out the problem of the revolution to the end, to its ultimate concrete conclusions. It is necessary to adjust policy to the basic laws of the revolution, i.e., to the movement of the embattled classes During revolution the line of least resistance is the line of greatest disaster.

The Sudanese Revolution has shown tremendous power and resilience. Were it a matter of courage alone, the masses would have won ten times over already. And they can still win.

But revolution is a matter of practical realities. The fact is that the Sudanese masses will simply be mown down by the ruthless counter-revolution if they are not prepared to take up whatever arms are available to them and press forward.

In their counter-offensive, they can rely on no forces but their own. The crocodile tears and empty platitudes of the so-called international community and imperialist talking shops like the UN will not save Sudan from dictatorship. Only the independent class struggle of the masses can achieve this.

The masses must be prepared to resist all attempts to strike a compromise with the old Bashir regime. These counter-revolutionary creatures must be smashed, and their wealth seized by the people to rebuild the country on the basis of genuine workers democracy, under the authority of a worker and peasant government.

The reserves of the revolution are deep, but they are not infinite, and must not be wasted on useless pacifism. To do so would be an insult to the martyrs who have already fallen. Burhan and the generals must be treated with all the mercy they have shown to the people!

Arm the masses! Defeat the coup! Victory to the Sudanese Revolution!
Huawei and Mauritius Telecoms my.t 360 Digital Operation Platform have won the Most Innovative Product or Service Award at the 2021 online AfricaCom Awards ceremony. The AfricaCom Awards is the most influential technology, media and telecommunications awards ceremony in Africa that recognizes innovative and outstanding contributions to the African telecommunications industry.

my.t 360 is an innovative digital Operation And Maintenance (O&M) platform developed by Mauritius Telecom and Huawei. The platform features Huaweis SmartCare and AUTIN solutions, which cover customer experience management and intelligent operations respectively. By adopting the latest technologies such as big data analytics, the my.t 360 Digital Operation Platform automates each users customer journey, and provides all-round, real-time, and multi-dimensional customer insights. It also offers automatic and intelligent O&M operations that improve O&M efficiency and increase customer satisfaction.

Mauritius Telecom, a carrier that provides both telecommunication services and content, has embarked on a digital transformation journey since 2015 and is committed to making innovation a core competence of the company.

Over the past few years, our CEO has been motivating us to go beyond the traditional management of a network to be a more agile, proactive, and customer experience-focused network, said Mauritius Telecom CTO Girish Guddoy on accepting the award. We have been setting the foundation with the my.t 360 project, we will now be able to have a 360 degree view of the customer, proactively identify issues that impact service and generate automated real time data and relevant analysis for a truly efficient operation.

David Zhang, Account Director of Huawei Mauritius said,

We are grateful for the innovative cooperation opportunity with Mauritius Telecom. We will continue to enable carriers through digitalization to provide better service experience for consumers.

We are proud to accept this award with Mauritius Telecom, says Samuel Chen, Vice President at Huawei Southern Africa Region,

We believe that our customer-centric solutions have significant potential across Africa. The adoption of this particular solution as a catalyst for carrier organisational and digital transformation is becoming a significant factor in creating synergies, operational efficiency and improved services levels. This award shows how effective it can be, especially when carriers are as committed as Mauritius Telecom.

The AfricaCom Awards brings together decision-makers in the telecommunications industry from African countries, including government officials, carriers, investors, and industry analysts, to discuss the latest development trends of the industry. With the irresistible wave of digitalization, the rapid development of the mobile internet has transformed our lives and brought about incentives and challenges to societies and businesses. As digital capability becomes a core aspect of competition among businesses, telecom carriers are eager to identify new innovation opportunities to discover new growth paths.

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Gilford Steamer Gilford would join Gilmanton, part of Laconia under proposed redistricting

by Erin Plummer Gilford might share a representative district with Gilmanton and one ward of Laconia if proposed redistricting legislation is signed into law.



The House Redistricting Committee has been examining redistricting options under HB 50.



On Wednesday, Gilford Town Administrator Scott Dunn updated the selectmen on the proposed plan and what that would mean for Gilford.



Currently Gilford is joined with Meredith in Belknap County District 2.



According to the proposed map for Belknap County, Gilford will be put into a district with Gilmanton and Ward 6 in Laconia (the area around Paugus Bay). The new district would have four representatives.



Meredith would have its own district with two representatives, according to the proposal.



"It's unfortunate that we were not able to convince, or they did not consider, rather, giving Gilford two representatives unto itself as Meredith came out of this with," Dunn said.



According to the proposed map, Alton would be paired with Barnstead for a district. Currently Alton is in Belknap District 5 with Gilmanton and Belknap District 8 with Gilmanton and Barnstead.



Belmont and Laconia Wards 1-5 would be in their own individual districts as well. Belmont and Laconia Wards 1-6 currently have their own districts (Belmont in District 6 and Laconia in District 3) and share District 9.



Towns that will continue to share a district are New Hampton and Center Harbor (currently District 1) and Sanbornton and Tilton (currently District 4).



Full maps and plans for the proposed redistricting can be found at



The plan still needs to go through the legislature for review. If approved, it would then go to the governor. Gilford might share a representative district with Gilmanton and one ward of Laconia if proposed redistricting legislation is signed into law.The House Redistricting Committee has been examining redistricting options under HB 50.On Wednesday, Gilford Town Administrator Scott Dunn updated the selectmen on the proposed plan and what that would mean for Gilford.Currently Gilford is joined with Meredith in Belknap County District 2.According to the proposed map for Belknap County, Gilford will be put into a district with Gilmanton and Ward 6 in Laconia (the area around Paugus Bay). The new district would have four representatives.Meredith would have its own district with two representatives, according to the proposal."It's unfortunate that we were not able to convince, or they did not consider, rather, giving Gilford two representatives unto itself as Meredith came out of this with," Dunn said.According to the proposed map, Alton would be paired with Barnstead for a district. Currently Alton is in Belknap District 5 with Gilmanton and Belknap District 8 with Gilmanton and Barnstead.Belmont and Laconia Wards 1-5 would be in their own individual districts as well. Belmont and Laconia Wards 1-6 currently have their own districts (Belmont in District 6 and Laconia in District 3) and share District 9.Towns that will continue to share a district are New Hampton and Center Harbor (currently District 1) and Sanbornton and Tilton (currently District 4).Full maps and plans for the proposed redistricting can be found at http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committee_websites/Redistricting_2021/plans.aspx The plan still needs to go through the legislature for review. If approved, it would then go to the governor.

Gilford Steamer Additional terrain, lodging in proposed plan for Gunstock SantaLand brings out families for holiday fun Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Littleton Courier Rotobec fire draws municipal aid response

by Angel Larcom

Firefighters returned to Rotobec last week for the third time in less than six months as the company's air filtration system ignited again. (Photo by Angel Larcom) (click for larger version) LITTLETON  Firefighters were once again called to the Rotobec facilities in Littleton's Industrial Park last week. It was the third fire for the company in less than six months.



Ongoing issues with the building's dust collection system remain a challenge, despite recent system upgrades. Littleton Fire Captain Chad Miller said last week's blaze came as a surprise.



"At the first fire, we didn't have experience with that type of air-handling system. The company has been proactive all along and taken steps to resolve the issue, so the emergency call surprised all of us. They've added detection and suppression systems and worked closely with OSHA and the EPA to figure out the problem," noted Miller.



Municipal aid responded to the 911 call at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 and remained on-site until approximately 3:15 p.m. Firefighters and EMTs from Bethlehem, Lisbon, Sugar Hill, Whitefield, Saint Johnsbury, Vt. assisted the Littleton team, while the Franconia Fire Department provided station coverage.



Last week's blaze posed no additional risks for area firefighters, unlike the June 15 incident, which brought excessively high temperatures and humidity levels. No injuries were reported.



The building was evacuated as smoke and carbon monoxide levels rose within the production area. Firefighters vented the area and monitored air quality before Rotobec employees were allowed back into the structure.



"Our biggest concern was making sure that the fire was contained to the hopper, which is external to the building, and that it didn't extend into the production area. The building has a large, open area with welding gasses, acetylene and other flammable items," said Miller.



According to Miller, the repetitive fires have had a significant impact on the company's production.



But, he said, "Rotobec has been doing everything possible to prevent this from happening. They want the system to work and work well."



The air filtration system was designed by Concept Air, a Canadian HVAC company based in Quebec. Concept Air engineers have conducted investigations and to assist Rotobec in pinpointing the problem. LITTLETON  Firefighters were once again called to the Rotobec facilities in Littleton's Industrial Park last week. It was the third fire for the company in less than six months.Ongoing issues with the building's dust collection system remain a challenge, despite recent system upgrades. Littleton Fire Captain Chad Miller said last week's blaze came as a surprise."At the first fire, we didn't have experience with that type of air-handling system. The company has been proactive all along and taken steps to resolve the issue, so the emergency call surprised all of us. They've added detection and suppression systems and worked closely with OSHA and the EPA to figure out the problem," noted Miller.Municipal aid responded to the 911 call at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 and remained on-site until approximately 3:15 p.m. Firefighters and EMTs from Bethlehem, Lisbon, Sugar Hill, Whitefield, Saint Johnsbury, Vt. assisted the Littleton team, while the Franconia Fire Department provided station coverage.Last week's blaze posed no additional risks for area firefighters, unlike the June 15 incident, which brought excessively high temperatures and humidity levels. No injuries were reported.The building was evacuated as smoke and carbon monoxide levels rose within the production area. Firefighters vented the area and monitored air quality before Rotobec employees were allowed back into the structure."Our biggest concern was making sure that the fire was contained to the hopper, which is external to the building, and that it didn't extend into the production area. The building has a large, open area with welding gasses, acetylene and other flammable items," said Miller.According to Miller, the repetitive fires have had a significant impact on the company's production.But, he said, "Rotobec has been doing everything possible to prevent this from happening. They want the system to work and work well."The air filtration system was designed by Concept Air, a Canadian HVAC company based in Quebec. Concept Air engineers have conducted investigations and to assist Rotobec in pinpointing the problem.

Littleton Courier Ammonoosuc Habitat for Humanity seeks director Grafton County Nursing Home relaxes visitation restrictions Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Meredith News Local thrift shop recognized for helping Inter-Lakes programs

by Erin Plummer MEREDITH  Inter-Lakes' Superintendent gave special recognition to Heart and Hands Thrift Store for some generous donations made to some programs that greatly help students.



Last Tuesday night, the Inter-Lakes School Board unanimously approved accepting a $500 donation from Heart and Hands Thrift Shop toward food and supplies for a coming regional training for suicide prevention.



In early 2022, Inter-Lakes Middle High School will be hosting a two-day workshop to train students and staff in the Suicide Prevention Education Program and will be working with the NH Department of Education and NAMI NH. Outreach Coordinator Lisa Ransom wrote a memo to the board saying the district held a big training session in 2018 and the time had come to train a new generation.



In addition to working with Inter-Lakes students and staff, representatives from two other high schools will also be part of the event.



Superintendent Mary Moriarty said the topics of mental health and suicidal ideation are especially concerning for teenagers given the recent times. She said both Ransom and guidance director Holly Vieten have been working to address these issues.



"I'm sure I can't adequately express gratitude to Heart and Hands," Moriarty said. "What an amazing organization, their generosity is absolutely outstanding."



The $500 will go toward buying food and supplies for the estimated 25 attendees at the workshop.



"That training is really exceptional and the voices of peers I think is incredibly life changing in many cases and I think that this is important programming that we're doing," Moriarty said, "and the support of Heart and Hands to make that happen, to have food and supplies for that event, really does make the event. It raises it to the level of professionalism that It deserves."



Moriarty said Heart and Hands also greatly helped with another program for students. Moriarty said Ransom brought it to the district's attention that many students needed after school programming. They also learned there were staff members who were writing personal checks to help cover these costs.



The district approached Heart and Hands about possible assistance and they provided seven scholarships for students to take part in Meredith's after school program.



"Being able to reach out and to have a quick response of how many do you need, how can we help, so that's life changing for the people receiving those scholarships and for their families," Moriarty said. "It eases a burden, and it helps to eliminate barriers for kids relative to having supervision and support after school hours. I can't say enough for Heart and Hands. We really are incredibly appreciative." MEREDITH  Inter-Lakes' Superintendent gave special recognition to Heart and Hands Thrift Store for some generous donations made to some programs that greatly help students.Last Tuesday night, the Inter-Lakes School Board unanimously approved accepting a $500 donation from Heart and Hands Thrift Shop toward food and supplies for a coming regional training for suicide prevention.In early 2022, Inter-Lakes Middle High School will be hosting a two-day workshop to train students and staff in the Suicide Prevention Education Program and will be working with the NH Department of Education and NAMI NH. Outreach Coordinator Lisa Ransom wrote a memo to the board saying the district held a big training session in 2018 and the time had come to train a new generation.In addition to working with Inter-Lakes students and staff, representatives from two other high schools will also be part of the event.Superintendent Mary Moriarty said the topics of mental health and suicidal ideation are especially concerning for teenagers given the recent times. She said both Ransom and guidance director Holly Vieten have been working to address these issues."I'm sure I can't adequately express gratitude to Heart and Hands," Moriarty said. "What an amazing organization, their generosity is absolutely outstanding."The $500 will go toward buying food and supplies for the estimated 25 attendees at the workshop."That training is really exceptional and the voices of peers I think is incredibly life changing in many cases and I think that this is important programming that we're doing," Moriarty said, "and the support of Heart and Hands to make that happen, to have food and supplies for that event, really does make the event. It raises it to the level of professionalism that It deserves."Moriarty said Heart and Hands also greatly helped with another program for students. Moriarty said Ransom brought it to the district's attention that many students needed after school programming. They also learned there were staff members who were writing personal checks to help cover these costs.The district approached Heart and Hands about possible assistance and they provided seven scholarships for students to take part in Meredith's after school program."Being able to reach out and to have a quick response of how many do you need, how can we help, so that's life changing for the people receiving those scholarships and for their families," Moriarty said. "It eases a burden, and it helps to eliminate barriers for kids relative to having supervision and support after school hours. I can't say enough for Heart and Hands. We really are incredibly appreciative."

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Plymouth Record Enterprise Bonan to become Fire Chief in Holderness

by Donna Rhodes

Plymouth Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Bonan will soon be moving across the river to serve as the first fulltime Fire Chief for the Town of Holderness. (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) PLYMOUTH  On Friday, Nov. 5, Plymouth's Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Bonan announced that after 17 years with Plymouth Fire-Rescue Department he would soon be leaving his position to take on the role of Fire Chief for the Town of Holderness.



Immediately following Bonan's announcement, his fellow firefighters and EMTs posted the following sentiments on their Facebook page: "Deputy Chief Bonan, Thank you for your seventeen years of unrivaled dedication to Plymouth Fire-Recue and our community! Your presence will be sorely missed. Good luck with the next chapter!"



Bonan first came to Plymouth as a Call Firefighter in October of 2004 when he was attending college at Plymouth State University. Upon graduation from PSU he was then hired as a fulltime firefighter on Jan. 8, 2008.



Proving to be hard-working professional, Bonan moved up to the rank of Captain in September of 2015 when that position opened. Four years later he was sworn in as the town's new Deputy Chief on the same night that the previous Deputy Chief, Tom Morrison, was sworn in as the new Chief.



Chief Morrison said that during his tenure with the department, Jeremy additionally served as president of the Plymouth Firefighters Association's, participating in and often leading activities and fundraisers while serving the community's needs as well.



"It's certainly sad to see him go," Morrison said this week, "but this is a great opportunity for him to become the first full time chief for the Holderness Fire Department."



He added that Bonan is moving in a positive direction in his career and believes he will serve the Town of Holderness well in the future, just as he has in Plymouth. Morrison is also grateful that, although he's taking on the full time job as chief across the river, Bonan plans to continue on as a Call Firefighter for Plymouth and maintain a role with Plymouth Firefighters Association.



Bonan's last day as Deputy Chief will be Thurs., Dec. 2. An Open House will be held at the fire station that day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. when the public is invited to stop by to wish him well in his new career and enjoy some light refreshments.



Applications are still being accepted for anyone interested in filling the duties of Deputy Chief. Qualifications and other information on the job opening are available on the Plymouth Fire-Rescue Facebook page as well as in the Help Wanted pages of this paper. While the position will remain open until it is filled, the first review of applications received will get underway on Monday, Nov. 29, with Oral Interviews expected to start shortly thereafter. Interested parties are asked to submit a cover letter and resume addressed to Chief Tom Morrison, 42 Highland St., Plymouth, N.H. 03264. PLYMOUTH  On Friday, Nov. 5, Plymouth's Deputy Fire Chief Jeremy Bonan announced that after 17 years with Plymouth Fire-Rescue Department he would soon be leaving his position to take on the role of Fire Chief for the Town of Holderness.Immediately following Bonan's announcement, his fellow firefighters and EMTs posted the following sentiments on their Facebook page: "Deputy Chief Bonan, Thank you for your seventeen years of unrivaled dedication to Plymouth Fire-Recue and our community! Your presence will be sorely missed. Good luck with the next chapter!"Bonan first came to Plymouth as a Call Firefighter in October of 2004 when he was attending college at Plymouth State University. Upon graduation from PSU he was then hired as a fulltime firefighter on Jan. 8, 2008.Proving to be hard-working professional, Bonan moved up to the rank of Captain in September of 2015 when that position opened. Four years later he was sworn in as the town's new Deputy Chief on the same night that the previous Deputy Chief, Tom Morrison, was sworn in as the new Chief.Chief Morrison said that during his tenure with the department, Jeremy additionally served as president of the Plymouth Firefighters Association's, participating in and often leading activities and fundraisers while serving the community's needs as well."It's certainly sad to see him go," Morrison said this week, "but this is a great opportunity for him to become the first full time chief for the Holderness Fire Department."He added that Bonan is moving in a positive direction in his career and believes he will serve the Town of Holderness well in the future, just as he has in Plymouth. Morrison is also grateful that, although he's taking on the full time job as chief across the river, Bonan plans to continue on as a Call Firefighter for Plymouth and maintain a role with Plymouth Firefighters Association.Bonan's last day as Deputy Chief will be Thurs., Dec. 2. An Open House will be held at the fire station that day from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. when the public is invited to stop by to wish him well in his new career and enjoy some light refreshments.Applications are still being accepted for anyone interested in filling the duties of Deputy Chief. Qualifications and other information on the job opening are available on the Plymouth Fire-Rescue Facebook page as well as in the Help Wanted pages of this paper. While the position will remain open until it is filled, the first review of applications received will get underway on Monday, Nov. 29, with Oral Interviews expected to start shortly thereafter. Interested parties are asked to submit a cover letter and resume addressed to Chief Tom Morrison, 42 Highland St., Plymouth, N.H. 03264.


Plymouth Record Enterprise Hometown Holiday Celebration returns to Plymouth Dec. 3 & 4

PLYMOUTH  The Town of Plymouth and the Plymouth Rotary are pleased to announce that they will be holding their annual Hometown Holiday Celebration once again this year, and while there are a few minor changes due to COVID, for the most part it will be holiday cheer as usual for 2021.



The fun begins on Friday, Dec 3, from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. when PSU's Festival of Trees kicks off in its new location, the Silver Center for the Arts on the university campus beside Main Street. Dozens of beautifully and even cleverly decorated trees will be on display. Visitors to the displays will be able to purchase tickets for a chance to win one of the trees for their own home decor. The festival will also take place on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., when the winners' names will be drawn at the end of the night. Money raised through the Festival of Trees will benefit the PSU Operating staff's scholarship program for New Hampshire students.



At 8-10 a.m. Saturday morning, the 10th Annual Jingle Bell 5K Trail Run/Walk will be held at Plymouth Elementary School. Those interested in participating in the event are asked to email ssanborn@pemibaker.org for information and to register.



The Wreath-Making Workshop is back this year and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday morning at 320 Fairgrounds Rd. in Plymouth. Kathie and Dick Flanders are hosting the popular event, which benefits Plymouth Historical Society. The cost is $5 per wreath, with greens and a frame provided; participants need only bring their own decorations for the finishing touches. Kathie Flanders encourages those who have never made a wreath before to come try their hand at the craft.



"There will be people on hand to instruct and help anyone who needs it," she said.



Reservations are required and may be made by contacting Dick Flanders at 455-2013. Masks are also recommended.



Fun for Plymouth Elementary School students in grades K-5 takes place at the school campus from noon until 2 p.m. Sat. with the Kids Outdoor Holiday Bash. Presented by Plymouth Recreation Department, there will be all kinds of outdoor games and activities for them to enjoy. Those interested in being part of the Bash are asked to call the rec. department in advance at 536-1397 to register.



At 2 p.m. on Saturday, everyone is invited to attend the PSU Holiday Concert at the Silver Center for the Arts. Tickets for this fun family event are $5 for adults (free for children under 12) by calling 535-2787 or going online to plymouthstatetickets.universitytickets.com/. Due to the indoor location, masks are required for the concert.



Heading back outside in downtown Plymouth, businesses along Main St. will be open and inviting people to stop in from 4-5 p.m. that day to enjoy their hospitality. Then at 4:30 p.m., a half-hour Holiday Carol Sing Along, led by Tim Keefe, will take place on the Town Common. At 5 p.m., crowds will gather along Main St. for the much anticipated Holiday Parade. There will be marching bands, illuminated floats, walking entries, horses, dancers and more. As always Santa himself will then make his appearance atop a shiny red fire engine to bring the parade to a close.



"After concessions made due to COVID in 2020, Plymouth Rotary is really pleased to hold its traditional holiday parade format once again this year," said Rand.



The holiday cheer doesn't end there though. After the parade, Santa and his elves from the Pemi Youth Center will be visiting children outdoors near a cheery bonfire on Green St., across from the senior center. People can also partake in a "Chill Buster" Barbeque beside the fire, where Alex Ray and the Plymouth Rotarians will be serving up dishes of chili, chowder, burgers and hot dogs at family-friendly prices. A separate $1 "quick line" will be available to those who just want a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate.



After a good night's sleep, there are two more scheduled activities on Sunday. Santa will be back at the PSU Ice Arena from 2-4 p.m. to glide around the rink with everyone. There will also be the opportunity for photos with Santa. There is no charge to skate and ice skates will be available for those who need them, however people who attend will need to wear a mask.



Finally, the Pemi Choral Society will be performing their Winter Concert, "Snow Angels," at the Silver Center for the Arts from 3-5 p.m. Sunday afternoon as the town wraps up another exciting Hometown Holiday Celebration. Admission to the concert is by free will donations at the door and again masks will be required.



Rand said the Hometown Holiday Celebration has been a tradition in Plymouth since the 1980s when the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce developed the idea for a weekend celebration to kick off the holiday season. In time, the event became sponsored by Plymouth Rotary, an event they have continued to organize ever since. This year they are grateful for the many sponsors who have joined them in making the celebration possible. Patron Sponsors for 2021 are: Micah's Property Maintenance; Mayhew Funeral Home; Plymouth State University; and The Common Man. Major Sponsors are Noyes Insurance; Northway Bank; Andrews Construction; Dead River Company; RM Piper; Speare Memorial Hospital; Suzan Gannett Creations; Woodsville Guarantee Savings Bank; Meredith Village Savings Bank; and the Town of Plymouth. PLYMOUTH  The Town of Plymouth and the Plymouth Rotary are pleased to announce that they will be holding their annual Hometown Holiday Celebration once again this year, and while there are a few minor changes due to COVID, for the most part it will be holiday cheer as usual for 2021.The fun begins on Friday, Dec 3, from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. when PSU's Festival of Trees kicks off in its new location, the Silver Center for the Arts on the university campus beside Main Street. Dozens of beautifully and even cleverly decorated trees will be on display. Visitors to the displays will be able to purchase tickets for a chance to win one of the trees for their own home decor. The festival will also take place on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., when the winners' names will be drawn at the end of the night. Money raised through the Festival of Trees will benefit the PSU Operating staff's scholarship program for New Hampshire students.At 8-10 a.m. Saturday morning, the 10th Annual Jingle Bell 5K Trail Run/Walk will be held at Plymouth Elementary School. Those interested in participating in the event are asked to email ssanborn@pemibaker.org for information and to register.The Wreath-Making Workshop is back this year and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday morning at 320 Fairgrounds Rd. in Plymouth. Kathie and Dick Flanders are hosting the popular event, which benefits Plymouth Historical Society. The cost is $5 per wreath, with greens and a frame provided; participants need only bring their own decorations for the finishing touches. Kathie Flanders encourages those who have never made a wreath before to come try their hand at the craft."There will be people on hand to instruct and help anyone who needs it," she said.Reservations are required and may be made by contacting Dick Flanders at 455-2013. Masks are also recommended.Fun for Plymouth Elementary School students in grades K-5 takes place at the school campus from noon until 2 p.m. Sat. with the Kids Outdoor Holiday Bash. Presented by Plymouth Recreation Department, there will be all kinds of outdoor games and activities for them to enjoy. Those interested in being part of the Bash are asked to call the rec. department in advance at 536-1397 to register.At 2 p.m. on Saturday, everyone is invited to attend the PSU Holiday Concert at the Silver Center for the Arts. Tickets for this fun family event are $5 for adults (free for children under 12) by calling 535-2787 or going online to plymouthstatetickets.universitytickets.com/. Due to the indoor location, masks are required for the concert.Heading back outside in downtown Plymouth, businesses along Main St. will be open and inviting people to stop in from 4-5 p.m. that day to enjoy their hospitality. Then at 4:30 p.m., a half-hour Holiday Carol Sing Along, led by Tim Keefe, will take place on the Town Common. At 5 p.m., crowds will gather along Main St. for the much anticipated Holiday Parade. There will be marching bands, illuminated floats, walking entries, horses, dancers and more. As always Santa himself will then make his appearance atop a shiny red fire engine to bring the parade to a close."After concessions made due to COVID in 2020, Plymouth Rotary is really pleased to hold its traditional holiday parade format once again this year," said Rand.The holiday cheer doesn't end there though. After the parade, Santa and his elves from the Pemi Youth Center will be visiting children outdoors near a cheery bonfire on Green St., across from the senior center. People can also partake in a "Chill Buster" Barbeque beside the fire, where Alex Ray and the Plymouth Rotarians will be serving up dishes of chili, chowder, burgers and hot dogs at family-friendly prices. A separate $1 "quick line" will be available to those who just want a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate.After a good night's sleep, there are two more scheduled activities on Sunday. Santa will be back at the PSU Ice Arena from 2-4 p.m. to glide around the rink with everyone. There will also be the opportunity for photos with Santa. There is no charge to skate and ice skates will be available for those who need them, however people who attend will need to wear a mask.Finally, the Pemi Choral Society will be performing their Winter Concert, "Snow Angels," at the Silver Center for the Arts from 3-5 p.m. Sunday afternoon as the town wraps up another exciting Hometown Holiday Celebration. Admission to the concert is by free will donations at the door and again masks will be required.Rand said the Hometown Holiday Celebration has been a tradition in Plymouth since the 1980s when the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce developed the idea for a weekend celebration to kick off the holiday season. In time, the event became sponsored by Plymouth Rotary, an event they have continued to organize ever since. This year they are grateful for the many sponsors who have joined them in making the celebration possible. Patron Sponsors for 2021 are: Micah's Property Maintenance; Mayhew Funeral Home; Plymouth State University; and The Common Man. Major Sponsors are Noyes Insurance; Northway Bank; Andrews Construction; Dead River Company; RM Piper; Speare Memorial Hospital; Suzan Gannett Creations; Woodsville Guarantee Savings Bank; Meredith Village Savings Bank; and the Town of Plymouth.

Plymouth Record Enterprise Plymouth Holiday Parade kicks off the season Ashland selectmen discuss use of old school for town library Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Winnisquam Echo Franklin Savings Banks promotes five employees

FRANKLIN  Franklin Savings Bank is pleased to announce the promotions of five employees to include Joseph Thornton, Julie Buker, Sue Paradis, Amy Rankins and Annette Slipp. Joseph Thornton was elevated to a newly created position of SVP, Chief Administrative Officer; Julie Buker advanced to VP, Retail Banking & Branch Administration Officer; Sue Paradis was promoted to VP, BSA, Risk Management, Security & Information Security Officer; Amy Rankins was elevated to AVP, Human Resources Officer; and Annette Slipp advanced to AVP, Credit Manager.



"I am very pleased to recognize these individuals for their unwavering support and dedication to the bank, our customers and our communities. They exemplify the spirit of community banking and lead by example each and every day," commented Ron Magoon, President & CEO. "We applaud them for their contributions to the bank and wish them continued success in their expanded roles."



Thornton joined FSB in 1992 as a Teller Supervisor, then later advanced into several key positions in retail and human resources where he most recently served in the role of SVP, Retail Banking & Branch Administration Officer. In his new position, Thornton will assume oversight of administrative operations for retail, business development, deposit operations, compliance, and facilities. Thornton holds a BS in business administration from Southern NH University based in Manchester.



Buker began her tenure with FSB in 2010 as a Branch Manager, then was promoted to Customer Contact Center Manager and most recently to VP, Branch Operations Officer. She is a graduate of the Northern New England School of Banking and New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College. In addition, she has a BA in graphic design from Plymouth State University of Plymouth.



Paradis started with FSB in 2014 in the IT area. She later transitioned into the risk management area where she was elevated to AVP, BSA, Risk Management, Security & Information Security Officer. She is a graduate of the Northern New England School of Banking and received her BSA certification from the Independent Community Bankers Association in 2018.



Rankins joined FSB in 2017 as an Executive/HR Assistant, then was promoted to Human Resources Officer. She has an MBA in human resources management from Southern NH University and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the HR Certification Institute.



Slipp started with the bank in 2019 as Credit Manager. She has seven years of prior banking experience and more than 25 years of experience in credit servicing and management. In addition, she attended Plymouth State University and Granite State College.



Established in 1869, Franklin Savings Bank is an independent, mutually-owned community bank, offering a full array of commercial lending, personal banking and investment services throughout the Central Lakes Region and southern New Hampshire. Headquartered in Franklin, the Bank has offices in Bristol, Boscawen, Tilton, Gilford, Merrimack and Goffstown, as well as an office in Bedford for business lending. The Bank also offers investment, insurance and financial planning services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Independence Financial Advisors. As a recognized leader in providing the latest in financial services technology, Franklin Savings Bank remains committed to serving the needs of businesses, families and the communities it serves, through a dedicated team of employees, a diverse line of financial products and services, and continued investment in emerging technology.



Since 2009, Franklin Savings Bank has donated more than 11 percent of its net income to charity. Visit FRANKLIN  Franklin Savings Bank is pleased to announce the promotions of five employees to include Joseph Thornton, Julie Buker, Sue Paradis, Amy Rankins and Annette Slipp. Joseph Thornton was elevated to a newly created position of SVP, Chief Administrative Officer; Julie Buker advanced to VP, Retail Banking & Branch Administration Officer; Sue Paradis was promoted to VP, BSA, Risk Management, Security & Information Security Officer; Amy Rankins was elevated to AVP, Human Resources Officer; and Annette Slipp advanced to AVP, Credit Manager."I am very pleased to recognize these individuals for their unwavering support and dedication to the bank, our customers and our communities. They exemplify the spirit of community banking and lead by example each and every day," commented Ron Magoon, President & CEO. "We applaud them for their contributions to the bank and wish them continued success in their expanded roles."Thornton joined FSB in 1992 as a Teller Supervisor, then later advanced into several key positions in retail and human resources where he most recently served in the role of SVP, Retail Banking & Branch Administration Officer. In his new position, Thornton will assume oversight of administrative operations for retail, business development, deposit operations, compliance, and facilities. Thornton holds a BS in business administration from Southern NH University based in Manchester.Buker began her tenure with FSB in 2010 as a Branch Manager, then was promoted to Customer Contact Center Manager and most recently to VP, Branch Operations Officer. She is a graduate of the Northern New England School of Banking and New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College. In addition, she has a BA in graphic design from Plymouth State University of Plymouth.Paradis started with FSB in 2014 in the IT area. She later transitioned into the risk management area where she was elevated to AVP, BSA, Risk Management, Security & Information Security Officer. She is a graduate of the Northern New England School of Banking and received her BSA certification from the Independent Community Bankers Association in 2018.Rankins joined FSB in 2017 as an Executive/HR Assistant, then was promoted to Human Resources Officer. She has an MBA in human resources management from Southern NH University and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the HR Certification Institute.Slipp started with the bank in 2019 as Credit Manager. She has seven years of prior banking experience and more than 25 years of experience in credit servicing and management. In addition, she attended Plymouth State University and Granite State College.Established in 1869, Franklin Savings Bank is an independent, mutually-owned community bank, offering a full array of commercial lending, personal banking and investment services throughout the Central Lakes Region and southern New Hampshire. Headquartered in Franklin, the Bank has offices in Bristol, Boscawen, Tilton, Gilford, Merrimack and Goffstown, as well as an office in Bedford for business lending. The Bank also offers investment, insurance and financial planning services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Independence Financial Advisors. As a recognized leader in providing the latest in financial services technology, Franklin Savings Bank remains committed to serving the needs of businesses, families and the communities it serves, through a dedicated team of employees, a diverse line of financial products and services, and continued investment in emerging technology.Since 2009, Franklin Savings Bank has donated more than 11 percent of its net income to charity. Visit www.fsbnh.bank to learn more or follow the bank on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter. Instagram and YouTube.

Winnisquam Echo Bear girls looking to build off successful 2020-21 campaign Locals earn football All-State honors Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 03:59:44|Editor: huaxia

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Children are seen at a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus, Nov. 14, 2021. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

by Xinhua writers Xu Feng, Zhang Zhang and Shi Hao

LONDON/WARSAW/MINSK, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- It is a heart-breaking scene with no clear end in sight at the border between Poland and Belarus: thousands of migrants try to warm themselves by building small fires out in the open in the freezing winter as hypothermia, hunger and exhaustion continue to prey on them.

Stranded at the border without the prospect of entering Poland, their gateway to the European Union (EU), these refugees, mostly from the war-torn Middle East, are holding their ground, determined to leave hardships at home behind.

More than 10 refugees have died since the crisis started in August. On Tuesday, fresh clashes erupted. The Polish Border Guard agency posted a video on Twitter showing them turning a water cannon on a group of migrants in a makeshift camp. The border forces said this was done in response to attacks by migrants with stones.

As the months-long standoff on the EU's eastern border is expected to drag on, the international community is urging an early and responsible settlement to prevent the situation from descending into a humanitarian catastrophe.

BLAME GAME

The EU, still reeling from the 2015 refugee crisis largely fueled by the wars in Syria and Libya, has made its reluctance to receive more migrants publicly known this time.

Accusing Belarus of sending migrants over the border to spark another refugee crisis in revenge for existing EU sanctions, the EU on Monday decided to move ahead with imposing further sanctions on Belarus.

Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, underlined after a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday that the full responsibility lies with Belarus for "artificially creating the migrants' flow." He said the EU would work with international organizations such as the United Nations in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to those in need.

"By expanding the scope of the sanctions, we will be able to target those responsible for exploiting vulnerable migrants and for facilitating illegal border crossing into the EU," Borrell said.

Minsk denied the accusation and said it has been helping to solve the issue by actively repatriating the migrants.

So far, 166 individuals and 15 entities have been subjected to the EU's sanctions on Belarus. According to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the sanctions have dented his country's ability to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis.

Lukashenko said last week that the Western countries didn't just simply stir up trouble in the Middle East, they destroyed the statehood that existed there.

The actions of the Western states had not improved life in the countries they had invaded, Lukashenko said, noting that migrants were invited to go to Europe by high-ranking European government leaders, who are guilty of destroying their homes.

The West is using refugees to fulfill its own political ambitions, Aleksei Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research, told the Belarus 1 TV channel.

According to him, the situation at the Poland-Belarus border is an opportunity for the EU to justify a possibility of new sanctions against Belarus and Russia.

"We see how hard the European media are trying to put the blame for it on Belarus and even Russia and are calling for sanctions on these two states," Avdonin said.

Belarusian journalist Vadim Elfimov said: "I can advise the European Union one thing: calculate your steps in advance. When you entered Iraq, when you destroyed Libya, Afghanistan, other countries, you had to think that sooner or later these consequences would come to you."

"We cannot solve its migration problems for the European Union," Elfimov said.

PROTRACTED STANDOFF

The border standoff has added to the migrants' ordeal and left local people weary.

Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesperson of Poland's minister-special services coordinator, told Xinhua on Wednesday that about 4,000 migrants are estimated to be currently at the Poland-Belarus border, almost all of them are camping or moving on the Belarusian side.

Hundreds of refugees are stuck on the Belarus side of the border near the Polish village of Kuznica alone, Polish military sources said. The Polish government has denied them entry and created a no-go zone within three km from the border in September. Only the authorities and local inhabitants can enter and leave freely.

Up to 15,000 Polish soldiers aided by police and border guards are currently stationed at the border to keep out the refugees.

However, some migrants have managed to cross the border through the heavily forested areas that straddle the two countries, often spending nights in the open in freezing temperatures which are continuing dropping further.

Local inhabitants are frightened by the situation, while expressing sympathy for the migrants' humanitarian plight. "I am afraid to go out at night," says Martyna Biaous, a 16-year-old who lives in Kuznica and works outside of the no-go zone.

"You know they are hungry and cold and you know they are desperate. I really feel for those people, but you don't know what they can do." One morning, Biaous said, her grandmother found traces of people in her backyard. "And one of my friends once found some sheltering in her family's greenhouse."

Maria Zlonkiewicz, a worker for the non-governmental organization (NGO) Bread of Salt Initiative, recounted the suffering of a group of migrants, who had been at the border for over two weeks, but were not allowed to apply (for international protection) even though they asked for it.

"They have already been handled by the Polish Border Guard eight times. Accompaying these young children is a woman who is unable to move by herself and in this cold weather, they were thrown back and forth through that barbed wire, sometimes by the Polish services, sometimes by the Belarusian services," she said.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Wednesday that the migrant crisis on the border with Belarus "will not be resolved quickly."

"We have to prepare for months, if not years," he told a local radio station.

CALLS FOR EARLY SOLUTION

There have been growing calls to set aside the differences and settle the refugee crisis so that migrants won't need to suffer more in the freezing cold.

Visiting areas near the border on the Polish side on Tuesday, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic said the situation was "extremely dangerous."

"We need to find a way to de-escalate, to make sure the focus is really on stopping the suffering," she told reporters.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday during her weekly briefing: "It is just necessary to sit down at the negotiating table. The parties need to establish contacts perhaps even in a virtual format and do everything so that the situation will somehow be resolved, so that it doesn't escalate further."

"There is only one way out of this situation -- negotiations, contacts, dialogue with those countries that are now at the forefront," she said.

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Tuesday: "We hope that the relevant sides will, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, properly handle the issue through dialogue and consultation following the humanitarian principle."

"China opposes the wanton use or threat of unilateral sanctions in international affairs," Zhao added.

The first flight to repatriate around 300 Iraqi migrants from Belarus will leave the country on Thursday, Iraq's Consul in Russia Majid al-Kilani told Sputnik on Wednesday. Enditem

(Xinhua correspondents Lu Jinbo, Lin Hao and Li Jizhi contributed to the story.)
Source: China Daily| 2021-11-18 08:45:43|Editor: ZD

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A woman and her children cross a road in Evanston, north of Chicago, Illinois, the United States, on Jan. 26, 2021. (Photo by Joel Lerner/Xinhua)

By BELINDA ROBINSON in New York

A surge in coronavirus cases has hit at least 21 states, and hospitalizations also are rising in areas even with high vaccination rates.

As winter approaches, federal data shows that the daily case average in the US is now 78,500, a 23 percent increase over the past two and a half weeks, according to ABC News.

Several states including New York, New Jersey, Colorado, New Mexico and California have approved COVID-19 booster shots for anyone aged 18 or over in a bid to stop the surge.

At least 68.8 percent of people aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. But the unvaccinated are still at a greater risk of contracting or dying from the virus, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vermont, a state where 72 percent of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19, reported 50 percent more coronavirus cases on average over the past two weeks. On Nov 11, there were 591 cases in Vermont, the highest case count on record.

In Essex County, the county with the lowest vaccination rate in Vermont, there were 1,022 cases per 100,000 people reported from Nov 2 to 8.

The US saw its first national increase in hospitalizations in 10 weeks, ABC News reported. There were at least 47,000 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals, an increase of 2,000 patients since Nov 8.

Hospitals in New Mexico, Colorado and Idaho said their intensive-care units were filling up with COVID-19 patients.

In Colorado, 94 percent of ICU beds were full as of Nov 12, and nonemergency surgeries were suspended to handle the crisis.

Dan Weaver, vice-president of communications at the University of Colorado Hospital, said in a statement: "We have been proactively postponing most non-urgent and nonemergent surgeries."

The hospital said that nearly 90 percent of coronavirus patients in their ICU were not vaccinated as of Nov 11.

Colorado state officials said on Monday that people attending public indoor events in Denver with more than 500 people must show proof of vaccination.

In New Mexico, the seven-day rolling average of COVID-19 cases is 1,000 per day, according to data from the state. It has risen 48 percent on average, over the past two weeks.

Mandate extended

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham extended until Dec 10 a statewide mask mandate that requires masks to be worn inside public spaces, irrespective of a person's vaccination status, CNN reported.

New York City also reported a rise in coronavirus cases. The average of daily cases was 1,074 as of Sunday, 32 percent higher than it was two weeks ago, The New York Times reported.

According to the city's COVID-19 data web page, 80.3 percent of New York City adults are fully vaccinated.

New York Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi issued an advisory on Monday for all adults to receive a booster shot, as long as they had their last dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine six months ago.

He urged healthcare providers not to turn anyone away who wants the booster.

Chokshi tweeted: "Booster doses can provide one more layer of reassurance, allowing us to breathe a bit easier, either for ourselves or our loved ones, particularly as we gather and travel around the holidays."

By Tuesday, 765,811 deaths had been reported in the US, data from Johns Hopkins University shows.

(Source: China Daily)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 09:30:24|Editor: huaxia

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A worker transfers China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

With China's timely and regular vaccine supply during the past months, Cambodia has reached herd immunity earlier than planned and has recently reopened all sectors in the kingdom.

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Traffic jam, usually a kind of annoying experience in modern big cities, now signals vigor and hope of the recovering Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia.

It took half an hour more time on Wednesday morning by driving from downtown to the Phnom Penh International Airport, than months ago when the Southeast Asian country struggled to curb COVID-19 with strict restrictions on social and business activities.

With China's timely and regular vaccine supply during the past months, Cambodia has reached herd immunity earlier than planned and has recently reopened all sectors in the kingdom.

Photo taken on Nov. 17, 2021 shows a traffic jam on Norodom Boulevard in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

Chheang Lida, a 34-year-old fruit vendor at the Old Market in the Cambodian capital, is swamped with clients on Wednesday as her sales have almost returned to the pre-pandemic era after the country has fully reopened, buoyed by its high vaccination rates.

Selling fresh fruits such as bananas, oranges, persimmons, grapes and strawberries, Lida said sales have recovered after the government allowed wedding ceremonies and religious functions to be resumed, which resulted in the growing demand for fresh fruits.

"During the pandemic restrictions, there was no even a client in an hour, and sales were on the sharp decline, earning only 70 U.S. dollars in revenue a day, but the sales have now recovered around 80 percent, making around 500 dollars in revenue a day," she told Xinhua.

"I'm elated to see the reopening of all sectors in the country after disruptions caused by COVID-19 for nearly two years," she said. "We hope that our economy will rebound soon."

Lida and all of her family members, with the youngest aged five, have been fully vaccinated with two doses of China's COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine.

"We are totally confident in the efficacy of the Chinese vaccine in protecting us from the COVID-19," she said.

A vendor prepares fruits at a market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

Cambodia has so far administered at least one dose of vaccines to 14.08 million people, or 88 percent of its 16-million population.

"Cambodia has become one of the most fully COVID-19 vaccinated countries in the region and around the world, that has achieved a solid herd immunity," Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at the capital's airport while receiving a new batch of 2 million doses of China-donated Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.

"Cambodia's success in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign is inseparable from China's vaccine supply," he added.

The Southeast Asian nation has so far received a total of 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from three sources through bilateral procurement, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s COVAX Facility, and donations. Of them, over 90 percent were bought from or donated by China.

Hun Sen said Chinese jabs have protected public health and saved the lives of the Cambodian people, as well as helped restore Cambodia's economy in the new normal.

"China is a true ironclad friend who always provides timely support to Cambodia in difficult times without any strings attached," he said.

"China's vaccine supply to Cambodia and other countries is a testament to China's commitment to promoting COVID-19 vaccines as the global public goods and to campaigns against COVID-19," he added.

Yon Saosopheap, a teacher at the Tuol Svay Prey High School in Phnom Penh, said Chinese vaccines have helped Cambodia achieve herd immunity and reopen its borders to all fully vaccinated international travelers.

"They not only help protect people from COVID-19, but also enable the kingdom to reopen its social and economic activities in all sectors, especially in education and tourism sectors," he told Xinhua.

"China's help will undoubtedly lift our two countries' ties to a new high, and we will keep this kind support in mind forever," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said he is pleased to see Phnom Penh has regained its former vigorous scene, as businesses have been reopened, and he hoped that the kingdom's socio-economic development would recover soon.

"I'd like to reiterate that our assistance to Cambodia will not stop until the pandemic is finally defeated," he said. "The Chinese people will always stand with the Cambodian people to fight against this pandemic."

Cambodia reported 51 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the national total caseload to 119,687, the Ministry of Health said, adding that five new fatalities were confirmed, bringing the overall death toll to 2,881.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 09:34:39|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2021 shows trucks in Aqina dry port in Khani Chahar Bagh district of Faryab province, Afghanistan.(Str/Xinhua)

AQINA, Afghanistan, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Aqina is a border crossing with rail service connecting Afghanistan to Turkmenistan, and onward to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Europe. It is an essential trading point linking Afghanistan with countries to the west.

A handful of local businessmen who met to drink tea complained about worsened business situation. They said their business have been destroyed after the freezing of Afghan assets by Washington.

"Our business is a failure. We cannot get money from the banks, so we can't import enough goods. Business has never been worse," said Aqina oil importer Mohammad Daud Niazi.

Niazi's business is all but non-existent, after the United States freezing over 9 billion U.S. dollars in assets belonging to the Afghan central bank following the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in mid-August.

Washington withdrew all U.S. forces in Afghanistan in August leaving behind political uncertainty, extreme poverty, economic instability, and pretty much bankrupting the country and leaving the people to clean up the mess.

Many Afghans blame the chaotic situation in part on the U.S. freezing of Afghanistan's central bank assets, which prompted local people to withdraw whatever they can from banks. To avoid bankruptcy, the central bank has placed severe restrictions on withdrawals.

"We can't withdraw enough money and so can't import enough goods," another trader Abdul Rashid told Xinhua. "Every day we can import up to five wagons of flour from Turkmenistan. We have no money to do anything else."

It's a similar story for the customs department in Aqina. Mawlawi Jawid also blamed the United States. "We used to import flour, wheat, oil and gas from Turkmenistan by truck and rail," he said. The official also confirmed that up to 500 tons of fuel is imported every day.

The Taliban caretaker government whose formation was announced on Sept. 7 has repeatedly called upon the United States to unfreeze assets with aid agencies warning of acute food shortages for more than 22 million Afghans in coming winter. Enditem

A man unloads sacks of flour from a truck in Aqina dry port in Khani Chahar Bagh district of Faryab province, Afghanistan, Nov. 2, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2021 shows trucks in Aqina dry port in Khani Chahar Bagh district of Faryab province, Afghanistan. (Str/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhuanet| 2021-11-18 13:15:00|Editor: Zhang Qian

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A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)

A primary school in Hefei City, east China's Anhui Province, has set up an "innovation studio" in a bid to broaden students' horizen by enriching their knowledge of science and arts. At the studio, students are encouraged to make the paintings from their textbooks "come alive" with the help of sound, light, and even programming. Such activities are in line with the "double reduction" policy, namely reducing students' excessive homework and off-campus tutoring during their nine-year compulsory education. (Xinhuanet/Yang Xiaoyuan)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 13:18:31|Editor: huaxia

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China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are seen in China's Hong Kong, Oct. 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu)

HONG KONG, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Thursday strongly condemned and opposed the various unfounded allegations made by a report of the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

It said that in the 2021 USCC report, the commission made unfounded allegations on Hong Kong affairs ranging from the national security law in Hong Kong to the financial hub's business environment.

"The HKSAR government once again urges the United States to respect the international law and basic norms governing international relations. Any attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of China through Hong Kong will not succeed and we will continue to discharge our responsibility of safeguarding national security resolutely," said a spokesperson for the HKSAR government in a press release.

The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in the HKSAR said the report is a pack of lies and far-fetched analogies and will be consigned to the dustbin of history.

"The U.S. does not reflect on and solve its own problems but is obsessed with pointing fingers at Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. Its 'lecturer-mentality' has been so ingrained and must be corrected now," said the office in an online statement.

"We urge some institutions and politicians in the U.S. Congress to respect the overarching trend, change course, stop scapegoating others and interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and follow the spirit of the virtual meeting between the presidents of China and the United States, so as to create favorable conditions for mutual respect, peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation between China and the United States," the office said.

"DOUBLE STANDARDS, BIASED QUOTES"

Regarding the 2021 USCC report, "we deeply regret that there exist double standards, biased quotes and groundless comments due to the lack of understanding of and respect for Hong Kong's implementation of national education," said the HKSAR government spokesperson.

The spokesperson said stability had been restored in Hong Kong following the implementation of the national security law, which ensures the resolute, full, and faithful implementation of the principle of "one country, two systems."

"Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy remains protected and the legitimate rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong people under the (HKSAR) Basic Law are well-protected," said the spokesperson.

The four categories of offenses endangering national security clearly stipulated under the national security law are narrowly defined, and there is no question of law-abiding persons inadvertently violating the law, said the spokesperson.

"The allegation made in the report regarding an HKSAR government circular on national security education directed at the universities is false. The relevant circular is only applicable to secondary and primary schools as well as kindergartens," the spokesperson said.

"Implementation of national education, including national security education, is the legitimate duty of education authorities all over the world. Different places have different approaches to implement national security education and develop their students' sense of national identity, including knowledge of their own history, culture, respective constitution, geography, etc.," the spokesperson said.

"DEPLORABLE ATTEMPT"

In fact, the national security law has not only ensured a safe and stable environment in Hong Kong but also reinforced Hong Kong's position as an international financial center and is conducive to attracting more global investors to do business and invest in Hong Kong, said the spokesperson.

"Since the implementation of the law, our financial market has remained steady. The banking sector is as robust as ever, financial services remain promising and development opportunities, both in Hong Kong and in the Chinese mainland, continue to open up," according to the spokesperson.

Hong Kong was ranked the world's third-largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the World Investment Report 2021 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

And according to the latest surveys, there are 9,049 companies in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas or in the Chinese mainland, increased by 10 percent from 2017, as well as 3,755 start-ups in Hong Kong, a jump of 68.5 percent from 2017.

"Despite the deplorable attempt of the U.S. government to put pressure on multinational enterprises operating in Hong Kong by issuing a 'business advisory' in July 2021, the American Chamber of Commerce remarked that Hong Kong remained a critical and vibrant facilitator of trade and financial flows between China and the rest of the world," said the spokesperson.

The American Chamber of Commerce also noted that the national security law did not impact commercial law; Hong Kong had the excellent infrastructure and free flow of information and was still an ideal place for international companies to do business; it would definitely not advise companies to withdraw from the Hong Kong market, according to the spokesperson.

"These comments are the best testimony to the merits of Hong Kong as a business place," the spokesperson said.

FAIR, OPEN, HONEST ELECTIONS

"We must seriously point out the report's unfounded allegations against the improvement to the (HKSAR) electoral system," said the spokesperson. "The HKSAR government is committed to ensuring public elections being conducted in a fair, open, and honest manner."

To ensure that the electoral system of the HKSAR accords with the principle of "one country, two systems" and the actual situation of the HKSAR and that the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" can be fully implemented, the improvement to the electoral system of the HKSAR is both timely and necessary, the spokesperson said.

In response to the report's unreasonable questions towards the prosecutorial decisions and judicial independence of the HKSAR, the spokesperson said the decisions are made without political considerations and no one should interfere with independent prosecutorial decisions which are carried out strictly in accordance with the law.

"The constitutional duty of judges, in the exercise of their judicial power, is to apply the law and nothing else. Such duty does not change when judges decide cases arising from or involving political controversies," said the spokesperson. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 13:20:24|Editor: huaxia

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-- More than 10 refugees have died since August. The crisis at the Poland-Belarus border is getting worse as the cold winter is arriving.

-- The EU blamed Belarus for sending migrants over the border in revenge for existing EU sanctions, while Minsk denied the accusation saying it is working to solve the issue.

-- The global community is urging an early and responsible settlement to prevent the situation from descending into a humanitarian catastrophe.

by Xinhua writers Xu Feng, Zhang Zhang and Shi Hao

LONDON/WARSAW/MINSK, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- It is a heart-breaking scene with no clear end in sight at the border between Poland and Belarus: thousands of migrants try to warm themselves by building small fires out in the open in the freezing winter as hypothermia, hunger and exhaustion continue to prey on them.

Stranded at the border without the prospect of entering Poland, their gateway to the European Union (EU), these refugees, mostly from the war-torn Middle East, are holding their ground, determined to leave hardships at home behind.

More than 10 refugees have died since the crisis started in August. On Tuesday, fresh clashes erupted. The Polish Border Guard agency posted a video on Twitter showing them turning a water cannon on a group of migrants in a makeshift camp. The border forces said this was done in response to attacks by migrants with stones.

As the months-long standoff on the EU's eastern border is expected to drag on, the international community is urging an early and responsible settlement to prevent the situation from descending into a humanitarian catastrophe.

Photo taken on Nov. 14, 2021 shows a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

BLAME GAME

The EU, still reeling from the 2015 refugee crisis largely fueled by the wars in Syria and Libya, has made its reluctance to receive more migrants publicly known this time.

Accusing Belarus of sending migrants over the border to spark another refugee crisis in revenge for existing EU sanctions, the EU on Monday decided to move ahead with imposing further sanctions on Belarus.

Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, underlined after a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday that the full responsibility lies with Belarus for "artificially creating the migrants' flow." He said the EU would work with international organizations such as the United Nations in order to ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided to those in need.

"By expanding the scope of the sanctions, we will be able to target those responsible for exploiting vulnerable migrants and for facilitating illegal border crossing into the EU," Borrell said.

Josep Borrell attends a press conference after the meeting of foreign ministers of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium, on Nov. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

Minsk denied the accusation and said it has been helping to solve the issue by actively repatriating the migrants.

So far, 166 individuals and 15 entities have been subjected to the EU's sanctions on Belarus. According to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the sanctions have dented his country's ability to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis.

Lukashenko said last week that the Western countries didn't just simply stir up trouble in the Middle East, they destroyed the statehood that existed there.

The actions of the Western states had not improved life in the countries they had invaded, Lukashenko said, noting that migrants were invited to go to Europe by high-ranking European government leaders, who are guilty of destroying their homes.

The West is using refugees to fulfill its own political ambitions, Aleksei Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research, told the Belarus 1 TV channel.

According to him, the situation at the Poland-Belarus border is an opportunity for the EU to justify a possibility of new sanctions against Belarus and Russia.

"We see how hard the European media are trying to put the blame for it on Belarus and even Russia and are calling for sanctions on these two states," Avdonin said.

A child is seen at a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus, Nov. 14, 2021. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Belarusian journalist Vadim Elfimov said: "I can advise the European Union one thing: calculate your steps in advance. When you entered Iraq, when you destroyed Libya, Afghanistan, other countries, you had to think that sooner or later these consequences would come to you."

"We cannot solve its migration problems for the European Union," Elfimov said.





PROTRACTED STANDOFF

The border standoff has added to the migrants' ordeal and left local people weary.

Stanislaw Zaryn, spokesperson of Poland's minister-special services coordinator, told Xinhua on Wednesday that about 4,000 migrants are estimated to be currently at the Poland-Belarus border, almost all of them are camping or moving on the Belarusian side.

Hundreds of refugees are stuck on the Belarus side of the border near the Polish village of Kuznica alone, Polish military sources said. The Polish government has denied them entry and created a no-go zone within three km from the border in September. Only the authorities and local inhabitants can enter and leave freely.

Up to 15,000 Polish soldiers aided by police and border guards are currently stationed at the border to keep out the refugees.

Children are seen at a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus, Nov. 14, 2021. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

However, some migrants have managed to cross the border through the heavily forested areas that straddle the two countries, often spending nights in the open in freezing temperatures which are continuing dropping further.

Local inhabitants are frightened by the situation, while expressing sympathy for the migrants' humanitarian plight. "I am afraid to go out at night," says Martyna Biaous, a 16-year-old who lives in Kuznica and works outside of the no-go zone.

"You know they are hungry and cold and you know they are desperate. I really feel for those people, but you don't know what they can do." One morning, Biaous said, her grandmother found traces of people in her backyard. "And one of my friends once found some sheltering in her family's greenhouse."

Maria Zlonkiewicz, a worker for the non-governmental organization (NGO) Bread of Salt Initiative, recounted the suffering of a group of migrants, who had been at the border for over two weeks, but were not allowed to apply (for international protection) even though they asked for it.

"They have already been handled by the Polish Border Guard eight times. Accompaying these young children is a woman who is unable to move by herself and in this cold weather, they were thrown back and forth through that barbed wire, sometimes by the Polish services, sometimes by the Belarusian services," she said.

Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said on Wednesday that the migrant crisis on the border with Belarus "will not be resolved quickly."

"We have to prepare for months, if not years," he told a local radio station.

People transport wood used for heating at a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus, Nov. 14, 2021. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

CALLS FOR EARLY SOLUTION

There have been growing calls to set aside the differences and settle the refugee crisis so that migrants won't need to suffer more in the freezing cold.

Visiting areas near the border on the Polish side on Tuesday, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic said the situation was "extremely dangerous."

"We need to find a way to de-escalate, to make sure the focus is really on stopping the suffering," she told reporters.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday during her weekly briefing: "It is just necessary to sit down at the negotiating table. The parties need to establish contacts perhaps even in a virtual format and do everything so that the situation will somehow be resolved, so that it doesn't escalate further."

"There is only one way out of this situation -- negotiations, contacts, dialogue with those countries that are now at the forefront," she said.

Staff members of the Belarusian Red Cross deliver supplies to a refugee camp near the Belarusian-Polish border in Belarus, Nov. 14, 2021. (Photo by Henadz Zhinkov/Xinhua)

Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Tuesday: "We hope that the relevant sides will, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, properly handle the issue through dialogue and consultation following the humanitarian principle."

"China opposes the wanton use or threat of unilateral sanctions in international affairs," Zhao added.

The first flight to repatriate around 300 Iraqi migrants from Belarus will leave the country on Thursday, Iraq's Consul in Russia Majid al-Kilani told Sputnik on Wednesday.

(Xinhua correspondents Lu Jinbo, Lin Hao and Li Jizhi contributed to the story.) (Video reporters: He Xiyue, Zhang Zhang, Li Jizhi; video editors: Zhu Cong, Zhu Jianhui)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 14:30:30|Editor: huaxia

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A firefighter battles against a wildfire dubbed Dixie Fire in Lassen National Forest, Northern California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2021. (Photo by Dong Xudong/Xinhua)

"Since 1850, when industrialization began producing human-made atmospheric carbon in substantial quantities for the first time, the United States has created 509 gigatons of carbon, or a fifth of the cumulative total," World Politics Review said.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States is "still by far the greatest culprit" for climate change, as has been commonly understood by climate specialists and yet rarely emphasized in U.S. coverage, World Politics Review (WPR) has reported.

In an article released last week, the online publisher of in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs, said that the huge discrepancies in cumulative carbon emissions between the United States and "belated entrants into the industrial age," such as China and India, point to the differentiated responsibilities that these countries are to burden.

Photo taken on Dec. 6, 2017 shows a view of Los Angeles City in heavy smog. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

"Since 1850, when industrialization began producing human-made atmospheric carbon in substantial quantities for the first time, the United States has created 509 gigatons of carbon, or a fifth of the cumulative total," the WPR article said.

It urged U.S. media and politicians to stop blame-shifting or scapegoating responsibilities with "flirting with apocalypse" narratives and instead focus more on global solidarity for Africa -- a continent in dire need of concrete actions and assistance, if humanity is to walk out of the crisis together. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 19:54:29|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee met on Thursday to review documents including the National Security Strategy (2021-2025), regulations on awarding military honors, and the 2021 advisory report of the national science and technology advisory commission.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 22:28:08|Editor: huaxia

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A man dines in an outdoor area of a restaurant in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 18, 2021. Xining on Thursday eased its COVID-19 restrictions as the city continued to record zero locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Public transport, shops and restaurants resumed operations with COVID-19 prevention measures in an orderly manner. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Citizens buy vegetables in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 18, 2021. Xining on Thursday eased its COVID-19 restrictions as the city continued to record zero locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Public transport, shops and restaurants resumed operations with COVID-19 prevention measures in an orderly manner. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)



A staff member disinfects Xining Railway Station in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 18, 2021. Xining on Thursday eased its COVID-19 restrictions as the city continued to record zero locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Public transport, shops and restaurants resumed operations with COVID-19 prevention measures in an orderly manner. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

A citizen takes a walk at a park in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 18, 2021. Xining on Thursday eased its COVID-19 restrictions as the city continued to record zero locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Public transport, shops and restaurants resumed operations with COVID-19 prevention measures in an orderly manner. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Children play at a park in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 18, 2021. Xining on Thursday eased its COVID-19 restrictions as the city continued to record zero locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Public transport, shops and restaurants resumed operations with COVID-19 prevention measures in an orderly manner. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Passengers are about to board a train at Xining Railway Station in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 18, 2021. Xining on Thursday eased its COVID-19 restrictions as the city continued to record zero locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. Public transport, shops and restaurants resumed operations with COVID-19 prevention measures in an orderly manner. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 22:25:20|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 14, 2021 shows a night view of Lujiazui in Pudong of east China's Shanghai Municipality. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Foreign business people believe that China's commitment to further opening up and promoting international cooperation in various fields and at various levels is very important for safeguarding global free trade.

BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's strong economic resilience and active improvement of business environment will bring more impetus to global economic recovery, and China's opportunities are also opportunities for the world, overseas experts say.

In recent years, the trend of de-globalization and rising trade frictions have put obstacles in the way of the world economic development and international cooperation, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made them worse. Facing great challenges, China, as the largest and most dynamic emerging economy, has always demonstrated its firm determination to open up wider to the world.

China will unswervingly expand its opening-up and create a business environment that is market-orientated, law-based and up to international standards, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made the remarks while attending a special virtual dialogue with global business leaders hosted by the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, which boosted the confidence of overseas business communities.

Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021 shows a view of the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the main venue for the 4th China International Import Expo, in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo)

Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, said China's rapid development has promoted the world economy and provided other countries with opportunities to get rich together.

China is committed to reform and opening-up, continuously improving its business environment, opening up its vast market to the world, and establishing greater economic interaction with other countries, Lins said, adding that the just-concluded China International Import Expo is a vivid example.

Foreign business people believe that China's commitment to further opening up and promoting international cooperation in various fields and at various levels is very important for safeguarding global free trade.

Cai Weicai, senior vice president of Thailand's Kasikornbank noted that China has been a strong promoter of free trade in the world.

As the world's second largest economy, China has set an example by actively following multilateralism, opening its market to the outside world and firmly opposing trade protectionism, he said.

An Italian designer talks with household appliances exhibitors during the 130th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

The global business community is reassured by China's willingness not only to promote global economic recovery and maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, but also to embrace free trade and multilateralism as effective ways to maintain world peace, said Philippe Monnier, an international business executive and former executive director of Greater Geneva Berne Area's Economic Development Agency.

Experts think that China's adherence to market opening provides long-term investment opportunities for foreign investors.

Capital inflows into China have been very strong, with foreign investors actively investing in Chinese stocks, buying Chinese government bonds as a global reserve asset for much of the year, and foreign direct investment in China have also been growing strongly, said Mehran Nakhjavani, partner of emerging markets with research firm MRB Partners.

A visitor learns about African products during the Second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)

Daniel Haber, French economist and former adviser to the French minister of foreign trade, said that the Chinese economy is the main engine of global growth, and France and other Western economies wish a more resilient Chinese economy.

China is accelerating the development of innovative and productive industries and services, and many Chinese products and brands enjoy international renown, Haber added.

Many foreign companies have invested in China, deepened their understanding of China's economic development and benefited from market competition and cooperation, he said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 10:22:41|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 protesters were killed on Wednesday during demonstrations in Sudan, the health ministry of the dissolved Sudanese government said.

On Wednesday, Khartoum and other cities witnessed huge demonstrations against measures recently adopted by the Sudanese army commander, including dissolving the government and appointing a new sovereign council.

The protesters gathered in the cities of Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman. Due to closure of the bridges linking the three cities and the intensive security presence on main roads, the protesters failed to reach central Khartoum, where vital government utilities sit, including the government headquarters, the Republican Palace and the Army Command.

The protesters raised banners demanding restoration of the civilian government led by the removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok as well as release of political detainees.

The Sudanese police has not yet issued any comment about the events which accompanied Wednesday's protests.

The mobile phone service was cut off inside Sudan shortly before Wednesday's demonstrations began, with intensive presence for the security and police forces on the main roads.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25 and dissolved the sovereign council and government. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 12:40:10|Editor: huaxia

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CAPE TOWN, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ozow, a South African payment service provider, on Wednesday announced series B funding of 48 million U.S. dollars led by Chinese internet giant Tencent.

"This series B funding round will enable us to provide millions more people with easy, fast, and secure alternative payment solutions," according to the South African start-up's latest blog post.

The company also said its service cuts down the process time of the electronic funds transfer transactions from three minutes traditionally to 20 seconds.

The company's series A funding was held in June 2019. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 19:13:04|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- South African companies exhibiting at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF21) in Durban said they are getting business leads which will lead to deals.

The managing director of Legratron Electronics Itumeleng Matshego said he held meetings with many companies from Botswana, Egypt, Ghana who showed interest in his products.

"We are optimistic that we will be able to achieve our goal as we have already held several meetings with business people from various countries. The meetings did not only touch on our offerings, but also on current developments in those countries specifically in terms of technology where Legratron can find synergies. We are hopeful that we will soon sign deals as the businesses we met have shown keen interest in our products," said Matshego.

Legratron is one of the 80 South African companies that were helped by the government to showcase their products and services in the IATF21. So does jam manufacturing company Jacobs Food Group.

Sales Manager Koo Schuurman is optimistic of clinching deals.

"We have received satisfying reviews and we should be closing a deal with a big client from Ghana who says our jams will be good for their market. Both the taste and the packaging of the jam have impressed him. We are hopeful that by the end of the trade fair we will have concluded several deals that will see our products finding their way to other parts of Africa,"She said.

The IATF21 is taking place in Durban, South Africa on Nov.15 to Nov. 21. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 22:19:10|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Thursday called for the promotion of local products in order to improve the manufacturing sector in the country.

In remarks delivered during a conference of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM), the Zambian president said the importance of the manufacturing sector to the government's economic transformation agenda could not be overemphasized as it was a vital sector in job creation.

The Zambian president however said businesses should ensure a steady supply of goods and services and ensure that prices were affordable.

The government, he said, was ready to work with manufacturers to grow their businesses and has since urged the association to come up with a list of issues that have been hindering the growth of the sector.

According to him, the capacities of local businesses need to be enhanced to ensure value addition, adding that the government was working at creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry said the manufacturing sector was vital to the realization of industrialization and economic transformation.

The conference was held as part of the 10th Annual Manufacturers Week which runs from Nov. 15 to 19.

On Wednesday, the commerce minister launched the "Proudly Zambia Expo" where local firms are showcasing their products. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 22:32:21|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security personnel on Thursday recaptured three terror convicts who escaped from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Monday, said government sources.

Senior government officials confirmed the arrest of the trio at a remote village in the southeastern county of Kitui as they were trying to escape to Somalia to rejoin al-Shabaab, the al-Qaida linked terror group.

Fred Matiangi, the cabinet secretary for the Interior and Coordination of National Government, said intelligence provided by local communities led to the arrest of the terror convicts, adding elite security units were mobilized to arrest the three terror convicts who were said to be armed, dangerous and planning to carry out retaliatory attacks in the country.

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti said the three terror convicts -- Musharraf Abdalla Akhulunga alias Zarkarawi, Mohammed Ali Abikar and Joseph Juma Odhiambo alias Yusuf -- were brought to Nairobi.

The police had placed a bounty of 60 million shillings (about 534,935 U.S. dollars) on any individual who would provide information leading to the arrest of the three al-Shabab militants.

Abikar was charged and convicted in 2019 over his links to al-Shabab and for abetting the Garissa University attack in April 2015 that left 148 people dead, while Odhiambo was arrested in 2019 for trying to join the Somali terror group. Akhulunga was arrested in 2012 over a foiled attack on Kenya's parliament and charged with possessing explosives, ammunition and firearms. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 22:57:52|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from attacks by armed bandits on villages across two local government areas in Nigeria's northwestern state of Sokoto earlier this week has risen to 43, the office of the state governor said Thursday.

A statement from the office of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, governor of the Sokoto state, said the death toll from the attacks in the Illela and Goronyo local government areas rose from 15 to 43 when the governor and other officials visited the areas Wednesday.

The attacks took place Sunday night till the early hours of Monday, Tambuwal earlier confirmed in a separate statement, saying the murderous act was committed by bandits, as gunmen are commonly called in northern Nigeria.

"This is not a small occurrence. It is upsetting. This incident really touched us," said the statement Thursday, quoting the governor.

Armed banditry has been a primary security threat in Nigeria's northern and central regions, leading to deaths and kidnappings in recent months.

In September, the Nigerian military operations against the bandits were intensified with a sudden shutdown of the telecommunications services in Sokoto and other neighboring states in the country's northwest region.

The government of Sokoto had also banned weekly markets in Illela and Goronyo to hinder the activities of bandits. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 23:38:07|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Thursday that it has instituted a serious audit of how mining licenses were issued in the past.

"As government we have instituted a serious audit on how licenses were issued in the past. There were a lot of irregularities in the manner the licenses were issued," Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Paul Kabuswe said in parliament.

He said the current government was not going to allow what happened in the past in the way licenses were being issued which saw the issuance of licenses even in areas where it was not suitable to conduct mining activities.

According to him, the issuance of licenses will now follow strict adherence to laid down procedures, adding that any applicant that will not abide by the requirements will not be granted the license.

He further said all licenses that will be found to have been irregularly issued will be repossessed.

The ministry, he said, will now be working in close collaboration with other ministries such as the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment before issuing any mining licenses. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-19 00:18:59|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations food agency and East Africa's bloc on Thursday warned of worsening drought conditions in the Horn of Africa region.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) called for urgent action to mitigate the impacts of drought across the region. "Due to the threat of worsening drought conditions, food insecurity will likely rise during the first half of 2022 across the Horn of Africa," the two organizations said in a joint statement issued in Nairobi.

IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu and the FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, Chimimba David Phiri, said urgent action is thus required now to safeguard livelihoods, save lives, and prevent possible starvation in some areas. Vulnerable communities in the IGAD region, including Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Sudan, continue to experience a complex mix of re-enforcing shocks and stresses that are eroding their resilience to food and nutrition insecurity.

As of October, some 26 million people were already facing high levels of food insecurity, according to the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, which is co-chaired by the IGAD and FAO.

The two organizations said drought conditions are already affecting the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya, southern and central Somalia, and Belg-receiving areas of southern and south-eastern Ethiopia as consecutive poor rainfall seasons have driven below-average crop production, rising cereal prices, poorer rangeland conditions, reduced livestock production, and drought-related animal deaths in many areas.

A forecast by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre says the start of the current October-December rainy season has been significantly delayed, with little to no rainfall observed to date in many areas, raising the probability of another poor season.

"Should this occur, agricultural and pastoral conditions will further deteriorate, causing households already struggling with the effects of multiple, concurrent hazards to employ negative coping strategies and reduce their food consumption," the two organizations said.

This, they said, is a major source of concern as food insecurity in the region has historically increased sharply following consecutive poor rainfall seasons.

IGAD and FAO said the increased frequency of climatic hazards, combined with the effects of other stressors, is threatening hard-won gains.

"It is, therefore, crucial to act now to protect these resilience gains and prevent more people from sliding into food insecurity and malnutrition," they said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-19 00:36:46|Editor: huaxia

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MAPUTO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique will promote ocean literacy through formal education, awareness and conservation activities, so that its economic and social growth is sustainable and does not harm the environment, said the country's President Filipe Nyusi Thursday.

Nyusi made the remarks while addressing the opening of the 2nd edition of the "Crescendo Azul" (Growing Blue) Conference, which took place under the motto "Investing in the Health of the Ocean Is Investing in the Future of the Planet," in the tourist resort of Vilankulo, southern province of Inhambane.

Speaking to around 1,500 participants in physical and virtual forms, the president said the country has an ambitious commitment to the issues of the sea and the planet.

"It is our expectation that Crescendo Azul will make a major contribution to the future of humanity as well as the climate environment," said Nyusi, stressing that intelligent ocean governance is a strategic focus to protect the planet, as it is the main weapon to combat the harmful effects of climate change.

Another global concern is the misuse of resources, which will lead to habitat destruction, and pollution, overfishing, while piracy and terrorism put pressure on humanity's wellbeing, he said.

Mozambique has a coastline of more than 2,600 kilometers, which gives it potential for economic development, and the exploitation of marine resources should be guided by a strong, integrated, and long-term commitment, said the president.

"Investing in the health of the oceans presupposes the development of a sustainable, socially just, equitable and inclusive blue economy, as well as promoting peace and stability," he said.

The two-day event brought together prominent personalities, including the President of the Republic of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, and politicians, diplomats, businesspeople, and scholars in oceanology, from Portugal, Indonesia, Seychelles, among others.

Participants of the Crescendo Azul conference will also debate maritime spatial management plans that involve several countries in the Indian Ocean region. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-19 00:37:57|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Thursday said that United Nations staff detained as part of Ethiopia's ongoing large-scale law enforcement move will be released if police could not provide evidence.

The statement was made by the spokesperson for Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dina Mufti, as he emphasized that reports on the detention of UN personnel do not have anything to do with the organization that they are working for.

"What the government does is implement law enforcement. Only those who contravene with the laws and regulations prevailing in the country are accountable," the spokesperson told journalists in his periodic briefing.

He stressed that if the police do not have evidence for their arrest, they will be released from detention.

On Tuesday, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for the immediate release of 10 UN staff members detained four days ago in Ethiopia.

"As far as the secretary-general is aware, the staff members are being held without charge, and no specific information has been provided regarding the reasons for their arrest," said a statement made by his spokesperson.

Mufti added that "nobody is going to be scrutinized or held by anyone because of being from a particular ethnic group, from a particular country or from a particular region." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-19 01:36:26|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Internet service in Sudan resumed on Thursday after it has been cut off since Oct. 25, official SUNA news agency reported.

The internet service is returning gradually through all communications companies, SUNA quoted informed sources as saying.

The internet service was disrupted on Oct. 25 after the General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan adopted measures including dissolving of the Sovereign Council and the government.

On Nov. 9, a Sudanese court issued a ruling requiring the communications companies to immediately restore the internet service, but the ruling was not implemented at that time.

Sudan has been suffering from a political crisis after Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and government. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-19 04:09:23|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen on Thursday met with U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman to discuss current situation concerning the expanding conflict in northern Ethiopia.

Mekonnen, who is also Ethiopia's foreign minister, said that forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have "continued committing atrocities in the Afar and Amhara regions, creating massive humanitarian and economic damages," according to the Ethiopian Government Communications Service.

The deputy prime minister called on the United States to force the TPLF to withdraw its forces from the two regions.

Mekonnen said that humanitarian flights will be allowed in Lalibela and Kombolcha, rebel held areas in the Amhara region.

He also announced the permission for 369 humanitarian aid trucks to enter the Tigray region.

The conflict that erupted a year ago on Nov. 4 in Ethiopia's northernmost Tigray region between forces loyal to the TPLF and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), has over the past months spread across neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.

The two officials further discussed the conditions of U.S. nationals across the East African country, according to the Ethiopian Government Communications Service.

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said that the African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson's High Representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, is in Ethiopia as part of the 55-member pan African bloc's efforts to bring peaceful resolution to the conflict. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 17:33:50|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the special summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Monday via video conference, a Vietnamese spokesperson said Thursday.

Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks at a regular press briefing in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.

This is an opportunity for the leaders from both sides to assess China-ASEAN cooperation in the past 30 years and set out important directions in the time to come, Hang said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 18:39:04|Editor: huaxia

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Afghan workers unload humanitarian aid donated by Russia at Kabul International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 18, 2021. The first batch of Russia's humanitarian aid arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua)

KABUL, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of Russia's humanitarian aid arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday.

Three planes carrying 36 tons of humanitarian aid landed at the Kabul airport. The aid, including flour, cooking oil and blankets, has been handed over to Afghan officials from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

Expressing gratitude to Russia for the aid, the Afghan officials receiving the aid called on other nations to support the war-torn country at this moment when Afghans are facing food shortage.

Russia, according to a statement from the NDMA, will send 108 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghansitan in three rounds, with the first round arriving on Thursday morning and the remaining two in the near future. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 16:31:41|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli couple jailed in Istanbul for suspicion of espionage was released by Turkey and returned to Israel on Thursday, according to a joint statement by Israeli prime minister and foreign minister.

"After joint efforts with Turkey, Mordi and Natali Oknin were released from prison and are on their way home to Israel," the statement said.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid expressed their gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government "for their cooperation."

Photos released later by the Israel Airports Authority showed the couple arriving at the Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv in central Israel.

Bennett published on his Twitter account a photo of the couple hugging their son and daughter at the exit of the plane, and wrote: "Welcome home."

The couple was arrested for espionage last Friday after taking photos of the Ottoman-era Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul while taking a tour on a ferry. Parts of the building are used as the Istanbul office of Erdogan.

After the arrest, Lapid denied the couple worked for any "Israeli agency." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 17:31:16|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed cooperation between the two countries and regional security in a phone conversation, the Ukrainian presidential press service said in a statement on Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed the partnership between their states in the sector of defense, as well as the implementation of projects in aircraft construction and development of the naval fleet.

In particular, Zelensky invited Turkey to buy Ukraine's An-178 transport aircraft that has recently been put into mass production.

Zelensky and Erdogan noted the readiness of their countries to complete the preparation of the Free Trade Agreement.

Besides, they discussed collaboration between Ukraine and Turkey in the energy sector and ways to diversify their energy supplies.

The two leaders also exchanged their views on the relevant initiatives to enhance security in the Black Sea region.

Zelensky and Erdogan agreed to hold the 10th meeting of the High-Level Strategic Council between Ukraine and Turkey in February 2022 in Kiev. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 22:18:28|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog on Thursday, saying bilateral ties are important for the security and stability of the Middle East.

The two leaders also discussed regional developments, the Turkish president's office said in a statement.

Differences over bilateral and regional issues can be minimized if the two countries act in the same understanding, Erdogan said, noting that dialogue is for the benefit of both sides.

The Turkish president underlined that peace, tolerance and the culture of co-existence should prevail in the region and emphasized the necessity for resumption of the peace process between Palestine and Israel.

The phone conversation came following an Israeli couple has been released by Turkey after being detained on suspicion of espionage after taking photographs of the Turkish president's residence in Istanbul during a tour.

Turkey's relations with Israel have deteriorated since 2010 when a Turkish-led flotilla aimed at breaking Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip ended in a clash with Israeli forces and the death of 10 Turks onboard.

Reconciliation attempts have not yielded yet a full recovery of bilateral ties. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 23:50:07|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Britain and China have seen increasing cooperation in the electric vehicle (EV) sector over the past decade, as the two countries strive to pursue ambitious emission reduction targets, Mike Hawes, chief executive officer of a leading British automotive trade body, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

His remarks came just a few days after the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which concluded in Glasgow on Nov. 13, with negotiators agreeing on a new global pact to tackle climate change.

Noting that the development of EVs is "absolutely important" for the two major economies, Hawes, head of the British Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said "road transport is a major contributor of that transition" in the global ambition to achieve the net zero goal.

"The UK government has set out its ambition that it wants the road transport to be 100 percent zero emission by 2035," said Hawes. "I think if you look at in both investment and trade between China and the UK, that have been increasing over the last 10 years or so."

China has announced that it would strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

"In terms of investment into the UK, we've seen Chinese companies set up research and development centers," said Hawes, listing a couple of Chinese firms which have invested in the country, including Geely, Changan, SAIC, BYD and so on.

"We've seen most recently a real vote of confidence in the UK when Envision (a Chinese smart energy technology company) had announced a massive expansion of its battery production facility in Sunderland in the northeast of England to support Nissan."

In terms of the institutional communication with the Chinese counterpart, Hawes said the SMMT has a memorandum of understanding with China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on cooperation.

"Because whether you're based in China, whether you're based in the UK, the automotive industry faces similar challenges around decarbonization, connectivity, automation, and so forth."

As to the British auto industry, Hawes said now the country is not part of the European Union, so "we can pursue a trade policy that's unique to the UK that will probably have a focus on the growing markets, and China, Asia Pacific markets are growing rapidly."

China certainly has been a big market for British exporters, especially for premium brands, such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, etc, Hawes said.

"There's also the challenge that needs to be met in terms of making sure your products match local tastes, local culture, local demands," said Hawes. "To be really successful, you have to tailor those vehicles to an individual market."

Seeing the auto industry, particularly around the EV section, as "a global player", Hawes said there would be "great, tremendous opportunities for new entrance as well as existing players, because you need to put the products on the market that attract people."

"Whether the individual companies can take advantage of those opportunities, it depends on their own strategies, it depends on their own technology, and depends on their attitude towards trade, their attitude towards overseas investment," he added.

"That is about performance, it's about range and it's about affordability," said Hawes. "So whoever can meet those objectives will succeed in that transition." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-19 06:54:28|Editor: huaxia

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GENEVA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The discussion about democracy must be global, and in the era of globalization and climate change, a concept of "the world" rather than just "a nation state" is essential, Martin Jacques, a well-known scholar and political commentator, said Thursday.

Speaking at a webinar on democracy and human rights co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of China in Geneva and the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation in Geneva, Jacques argued that China does have that concept and this is why the Chinese proposition for a community with a shared future for humankind is fundamental to a new way of thinking about the world and democracy.

The West is concerned whether individual states are, in its terms, democratic, as it does not address whether the international system is democratic, and it will be unsustainable in the era of globalization, he explained.

"The rise of China together with new and overarching phenomena, such as the pandemic, climate change, and globalization, is forcing a major rethink about democracy and also human rights," he argued.

Jacques was until recently a Senior Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University. He is a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Modern International Relations at China's Tsinghua University and a Senior Fellow at the China Institute, Fudan University.

For him, if in most of the last 70 years the Western democracy has enjoyed a strong and successful history, its future looks clouded in uncertainty.

"Ultimately, any form of governance only works if it can deliver for its people," he stressed, citing a New York Times columnist that "China can still get big things done" while America, not so much.

Unlike the Western democracies, which are consumed by the present, China thinks in the long term, said the scholar, adding that both the pandemic and climate change are quintessentially long-term issues, which need a stronger role of the state.

He said the failure to stop the pandemic in the United States was because the government could not or would not play this role.

"The ability of government and society to think in the long term and operate and plan accordingly will become imperative. Much closer relationship between the government and the people will be essential for any effective response. The Chinese governance is much better placed than Western governance to handle these challenges," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-18 15:41:06|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Biden administration should reflect on its foreign policy and focus on promoting common development instead of competing with China, The Washington Post has reported.

In an opinion piece published last Thursday, the newspaper suggested that the United States build "an open international system" that allows all participants to thrive and prosper.

"Were that central achievement of American foreign policy to be sacrificed to gain some temporary tactical advantage against Beijing, it would be a mistake and a historic tragedy," it said.

Commenting on the joint agreement between the United States and China on enhancing climate action last week, the report said "when thinking about the cutting-edge issues of the future -- such as climate, pandemics, cyberwarfare and cybersecurity -- it's difficult to see how much can be achieved without some collaboration between the United States and China."

"Coming as it did after years of strained relations between Washington and Beijing, it highlights the central dilemma for U.S. foreign policy going forward. Should it be focused on solving the largest and most challenging global problems, or should it be focused on competing with China?" it added. Enditem


ARMED police on Wednesday allegedly pounced on MDC Alliance activists that were gathered at Vova shopping centre in Nkayi, Matabeleland North province to meet their party leader Nelson Chamisa, who is on a meet-the-people campaign throughout the country.

Chamisa has been traversing different rural areas in the country to drum up support ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections.

However, his tours have encountered violent attacks by Zanu PF supporters.

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Gift Ostallos Siziba yesterday claimed that Chamisa was attacked in Nkayi on Wednesday.

Armed with AK47s and tear smoke, the State unleashed terror on thousands of citizens of Nkayi.

Vova shopping centre was turned into a war zone by trigger-happy regime agents who were petrified that if president Chamisa addressed the people, they would be fired, Siziba said.

A whole battalion comprising high-ranking police officers, Central Intelligence Organisation officers (CIOs) and mujibhas were stationed in Nkayi, he said.

However, Siziba could not reveal how Chamisa managed to escape the attack.

Earlier, he had told Southern Eye that Matabeleland North embraced the MDC Alliance leader.

Fellow Africans, the democratic movement as led by Advocate Chamisa has been welcomed warmly by compatriots in this part of Zimbabwe.

In Tohwe, Nkayi, Turk Mine, Vova the citizens were clear on the task and agenda to liberate Zimbabwe and change our concrete realities.

The message remains: Its time for citizens to converge and prepare for change, Siziba said.

Indications are that Chamisa had initially managed to navigate his way into Matabeleland North, and met supporters in various places like Tohwe and at Turk Mine.

Later, there was a massive gathering at Vova shopping centre where the police pounced on the crowd and dispersed it.

In a social media Facebook post on Wednesday, Chamisa said: Im in Nkayi, Matabeleland North. Just had a fulfilling citizen and community interface, listening to citizens concerns, hopes and aspirations. Great conversations at Nkayi centre, Vova, Tohwe, Zwelabo and Gwelutshena. Nkayi is ready for change. A new great Zimbabwe is loading.

Contacted for comment, Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda said: Yesterday (Wednesday) I was not at work and I am not privy to that issue.

During the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirais era, Matabeleland North was a no-go area as it was under the late former Senior Assistant Commissioner Edmore Veterai.

Tsvangirais armoured BMW X5 vehicle was in 2008 impounded by police in Lupane over allegations that it had been improperly imported.

The car was impounded at the height of the 2008 election campaigns.

Police said they were keen to interview South African businessman Adrian Espag in connection with its importation. Another no-go area for the MDC in the province was Nkayi. Newsday
You have skills, but all you need are academic qualifications and certificates, we are just a call or a text away, reads an advertorial by bogus company Legitimate Zimbabwe Academic certificates.

Whether they are scammers or they have a way of issuing fake academic qualifications, what still remains a fact is that its an offence to sale or buy fake academic qualifications.

Lately, it has been discovered that many people at various workplaces are basking, enjoying packages that come with their jobs while they dont have academic qualifications to sit in that particular office.

Even though some companies came up with academic standards that their workers should obtain, many DO NOT HAVE THE QUALIFICATIONS.

These are the people that scammers are targeting.

In as much as it is painful to go to university for four years at an old age, it cant be tolerated for one to buy academic qualifications.

Get Legitimate academic certificates registered with any university system. Pass SAQA or any Verification, reads the advert which is circulating on social media.

According to the advert, it seems the Midlands State University (MSU) and the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) are the targeted institutions that have documents that can be forged.

The counterfeit company, even gives guarantee that the certificates will be registered in the system meaning they have people who complete their shenanigans from the inside.

The phone number for inquiry on the advert is registered under the name Nigel Tanyaradzwa (maybe its a pseudonym) who upon receiving a call from this reporter said he doesnt know anything about such a company.

I have been receiving a lot of phone calls and WhatsApp messages on my number with people asking me if its possible that I fabricate academic documents for them.

There are people who are tempering with my phone number because I dont offer such services. The police are already investigating this case because I am being framed, said Tanyaradzwa in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Doctor Tariro Ndawana, who is a senior lecturer at MSU under the faculty of Social Sciences on the department of Media, Communication, Film and Theatre said institutions lose their credibility because of such illegal business.

In as much as this person is trying to make dirty money out of it, the bigger picture is, it is going to affect the institutions reputations that these people can copy their certificates and transcripts for sale in black market.

The affected universities will lose their value, and it will even affect students who were issued degrees in a legitimate manner because their documents wont be trusted anymore on the market, said Ndawana.

Thabani Mpofu, the director of communication and marketing at Nust did not respond to questions sent to him by the time of publication.

Faking academic documents is not a new phenomenon.

In 2015, the New York Times carried a story based on a billion-dollar industry which consisted of over 3 000 diploma mills.

These were fake universities that copied and sold certificates for all level of degrees, worldwide.

In October 2020, the chief operations officer of the Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education (Zimche) Mrs Florence Chimbumu was fired after she was exposed by an internal auditor that she had fake academic documents.

Reactions of the matter on Facebook

We work hard to get these certificates. Musatijairire. This will discredit our hard-earned credentials.  Petronella Chaparadza Mareya.

This is not a good idea. Its criminal!  Winston Mathias. Is this item still available?  Shamiso Kaviza.

And what about us that worked for four good years for these (degrees)?  Goboza Nobuhle. B Metro


A recent spiritual battle between Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa and a sangoma ended with the shaman, not on the ropes, but on the canvass after the prophet delivered a knockout punch.

The knockout punch saw one of the suspected armed robbers linked to a gang that recently robbed a Beitbridge businessman of R1,2 million and US$3 500 being nabbed while at a sangomas house, where he seeking spiritual protection to keep him from being arrested.

The arrest of the man comes after the businessman consulted a local Apostolic faith leader for divine intervention to recover his stolen money.

Beitbridge businessman (right) giving a touching testimony at Madzibaba Mutumwas shrine following the arrest of armed robbers who took his money

According to a source close to the investigations, Charles Chekenyere (27) from Madziva Village in Chivi was reportedly arrested on Thursday last week while consulting a sangoma.

After being arrested, Chekenyere sang like a bird as he implicated Marshal Mutekwa (27), Anold Musimudziwa (29), Julius Chibharo (35) and Moses Kwangwari (37) for being responsible for a spate of armed robberies in Masvingo, Beitbridge and other areas.

Police recovered a Toyota Wish vehicle registration number AFI 8727, which the suspects were using as a get-away car and property purchased using the proceeds of the armed robbery cases, which include a Nissan Caravan vehicle registration number AFO 9137 and a Toyota Mark X vehicle registration number AFO 6242.

Chekenyere and Mutekwa are believed to be part of a four-gun wielding gang that broke into the Beitbridge businessmans house in the early hours of the morning on October 9 and got away with R1,2 million, US$3 500, two cellphones and four wrist watches, among other valuables.

Beitbridge businessman who is a victim of R1,2 million heist receiving prayers from Madzibaba Mutumwa at his shrine in Selbourne Park suburb

Another suspect, Freeman Ndudzo of Dulivhadzimu, who is also linked to a number of robbery cases in Beitbridge was arrested on November 5.

Upon his arrest he was found with four pistols believed to be imported from South Africa and intended for use in robbery cases in Zimbabwe.

The arrests came after the businessmans frequent visits to Apostolic faith leader Madzibaba Emmanuel Mutumwa of the Johane Masowe eChishanu shrine in Selbourne Park suburb in Bulawayo to make the armed robbers return his money to him.

He visited the prophet four times, the last time, November 15, he gave a touching testimony of how Madzibaba Mutumwa had helped him to have the three suspects, who allegedly raided his house, arrested.

Pictures and videos in possession of B-Metro show the businessman in white robs while kneeling before Madzibaba Mutumwa receiving prayers. In some videos, the businessman is seen giving testimonies and explaining the purpose of his visit to Madzibaba Mutumwa, saying he had come to seek divine intervention after he lost his money to armed robbers.

When reached for comment the businessman confirmed that he consulted Madzibaba Mutumwa for divine intervention so that he can recover his money.

Its true that I consulted him (Madzibaba Mutumwa) and that is when he told me that the suspects will be arrested.

Three of the suspects have since been arrested. I had no doubts that his prayers worked. People should also know that when having such problems, its all about believing when one consults any man of God, the businessman said.

Meanwhile, the arrest of Chekenyere while at a sangomas house has put a spotlight to beliefs that some armed robbers were turning to traditional healers or sangomas for protection and powers to execute their crimes.

Commenting on the phenomenon of criminals resorting to sangomas for ritual ceremonies, Madzibaba Mutumwa said only prayer can make juju powerless.

Although as a prophet I dont believe that muthi can make one evade arrest, I know it can make them oblivious to their surroundings and to subsequently believe they are above the law. Little did they know that even the muthi power was not enough to stop the police from arresting them. When the businessman from Beitbridge consulted me after he lost his money to these armed robbers, I made it clear to him that the suspects will be arrested despite the fact that they were using juju to execute their crimes.

These suspects usually visit sangomas for muthi they believed would keep them from being arrested or from being convicted in court upon being arrested. But as a man of God, I always pray and make sure that their rituals become useless so that they can be arrested, said Madzibaba Mutumwa.

Suspected armed robbers in handcuffs linked to the R1,2 million heist

Madzibaba Mutumwa is on record claiming to have the powers of establishing causes of bad events and protecting people against evil and many victims of theft and burglary are reportedly flocking to his shrine to consult.

A self-styled sangoma from Makokoba, who did not want to be named, said some sangomas were cashing in on the trend, claiming they have powers to fortify armed robbers to become invincible when executing their crimes.

Some of the armed robbers equate a heist with going to war, so before they commit a robbery, they need a sangoma for protection and to cleanse them from bad luck. For example, one doesnt not just walk into a shop or house with a rifle, position himself to attack and start shooting unless they believed they were invisible, said the sangoma.

The president of the Zimbabwe Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha), George Kandiero also confirmed that armed robbers were consulting sangomas for ritual ceremonies they believe would keep them from being arrested or convicted in the event that they were arrested.

A lot of armed robbers especially those who believe that they have a spirit (shavi/idlozi) that manifest and influence their actions are always consulting sangomas for protection and to know if their ancestors agree with what they are doing at that particular time when they want to commit a robbery, said Kandiero.

He, however, said members of his association were not involved in aiding armed robbers.

Quoted recently in some sections of the local media, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi neither confirmed nor denied the influence of sangomas on the rise of armed robber cases in Zimbabwe.

We are yet to receive reports of such cases happening under the dark world of sangomas fortifying armed robbers to be invincible. We will be, therefore, grateful when you unravel such activities which will therefore help us deal with crime, Asst Commissioner Nyathi was quoted as having said. B Metro
A 36-year-old Zimbabwean man was arrested for allegedly kidnapping and killing seven women, among them a fellow countrywoman in Limpopo province, South Africa after luring them on the pretext that he was offering them jobs.

Themba Dube, who was allegedly involved in a series of kidnappings and murder of his victims between July last year and August this year, was on the run until his arrest this month.

He was arrested after he was found in possession of a suspected stolen cellphone that belonged to one of his victims.

Limpopo spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Ms Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Dube faces seven charges of kidnapping and seven counts of murder.

The alleged serial killer appeared yesterday at Seshego Magistrates Court facing seven counts of murder, kidnapping, robber and defeating the course of justice.

He was remanded in custody to 27 January next year pending further investigations.

Dubes victims include Sarah Moitswadi Mathiba (42), who was reportedly kidnapped at Lebowakgomo last month. 34-year-old Lesotho national, Moleboheng Mothibeli, who was reported missing in Polokwane in October and Eva Khomotso Makhura (41), who was reported missing at Seshego last month.

Other victims include Mpho Sanah Sinyatsi (34), Andrea Cholo (25), Chisimango Gumbo (48), a Zimbabwean, who was reported missing at Seshego in August and Jane Letswalo (42), whose body was found next to Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Dubes modus operandi was to lure women to Limpopo with the promise of employment.

The accused was still in custody when the investigations led to the discovery of seven bodies of women dumped at different locations in Seshego, Polokwane, Mankweng and Westenburg policing areas, said Malabi-Dzhangi.

She said the following victims had been positively identified by their next of kin. However, forensic investigations are underway to determine if the bodies positively match those of the deceased.

Police investigations are continuing to determine if the suspect can be linked with other cases. We are appealing to anyone who might have a family member missing around Seshego, Mankweng, Lebowakgomo, Polokwane and surrounding areas to contact their nearest police station, said Ms Malabi-Dzhangi.

Dube was on police wated list in connection with at least 14 charges of rape and robbery.

Limpopo provincial spokesperson for the SAPS Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the horrific crimes were committed between July last year and August this year.

It is alleged that the suspect committed these despicable acts in the Tzaneen policing area under Mopani District at Pharare, Mogophong, Mogoloboto and Burgersdorp villages. The female victims aged between 22 and 46 were reportedly lured by the suspect, who falsely advertised non-existent domestic and security employment opportunities on social media, Facebook platform, Brig Mojapelo said.

He said the suspect patiently waited for the unsuspecting victims at taxi ranks and bus terminals. On their arrival, he would make some excuses and walk with the victims utilising a road that passes through the bush to arrive at their destination.

He would then ultimately rape and rob them of their belongings and then flee the scene, said Brig Mojapelo.

After tracking him for three months, officers arrested Dube on 6 November at Letaba hospital.

This after he was admitted with a gunshot wound allegedly sustained in Burgersdorp village near a graveyard on 2 November 2021, said Brig Mojapelo. Chronicle
IAEA denies its cameras had role in Iran nuclear site attack

IRIB



In this image, made from an April 17, 2021 video released by the state-run TV station

Islamic Republic Iran Broadcasting, various centrifuge machines line a hall at the Natanz Uranium Enrichment Facility.

By AFP

VIENNA

Petroleumworld 11 17 2021

The UN nuclear watchdog on Wednesday "categorically" denied its cameras played a part in a June attack on an Iranian nuclear facility, after Tehran said it was investigating the possibility.

In a report seen by AFP, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said its "Director General categorically rejects the idea that Agency cameras played a role in assisting any third party to launch an attack on the TESA Karaj complex."

Iran has told the IAEA that "its 'security and judicial authorities' were 'investigating whether the terrorists have used the Agency cameras to launch an attack on the complex'," the report said, referring to a building near the city of Karaj about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital Tehran.

The latest report comes just days before talks are due to restart in Vienna on reviving the 2015 deal on Iran's nuclear programme.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is also scheduled to visit Iran on Monday, according to Iran's atomic agency.

Iran has called the incident at Karaj a "sabotage" and has accused its arch-foe Israel of carrying out.

Also in the report on Wednesday, the IAEA said Iran had increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, defying commitments made under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Its estimate of Iran's stockpile, as of November 6, was 2,489.7 kilogrammes, many times in excess of the limit laid down in the 2015 agreement with world powers.

The total amount now includes 113.8 kg enriched to 20 percent, up from 84.3 in September, and 17.7 kg enriched up to 60 percent, up from 10 kg, the report said.

______________________________________
US throws support behind treaty to curb plastic

Andrew Harnik/ The Associated Press.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at an Oceans Plastics Event at United Nations

Environment Program in Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021

By Shaun Tandon / AFP

NAIROBI

Petroleumworld 11 182021

The United States on Thursday threw its support behind negotiations on a treaty to curb plastic pollution, ending a key holdup in international efforts to clean up the planet's oceans and save marine life.

On a visit to the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States would back talks in the Kenyan capital in February on a treaty to address plastic.

"Our goal is to create a tool that we can use to protect our oceans and all the life that they sustain from growing global harms of plastic pollution," Blinken said.

"As we know, our health -- our survival -- is bound up in the health of our oceans. We have to do more to protect them," he said.

About eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans each year, killing or injuring one million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals, according to UN figures.

Blinken's statement is the latest US effort to ramp up environmental protection under President Joe Biden, who has made the fight against climate change a key domestic priority.

Likely mindful of political realities in divided Washington, where treaties need ratification by the Senate, Blinken called for a plastic treaty in which countries would come up with their own plans of action.

The United States has seen bipartisan calls to clean up oceans with former president Donald Trump signing an act aimed at curbing plastic pollution in the oceans.

But environmentalists say that the previous administration stymied international efforts by opposing a treaty and blaming the problem squarely on China -- a major source of plastic processing but of material often coming from the West.

An investigation last year by environmentalist campaigners Greenpeace said that industry groups were lobbying the Trump administration to press Kenya in trade negotiations to reverse its rules and take in plastic trash.

The idea appears dead, with the Biden administration not pursuing trade talks.

Blinken, who is promoting climate action on a three-nation trip to Africa, praised Kenya as an environmental leader including for its ban on single-use plastic bags.

The United States is one of the only nations not party to the Basel Convention, a UN treaty reached in 1989 that regulates the movement of hazardous waste.

- Calls to improve coordination -



Plastic pollution has soared over the past half century with the advent of cheap, single-use bags and other "disposable" plastic that can stay in the environment for thousands of years.

In the Pacific, an accumulation dubbed the Great Pacific Plastic Patch is around three times the size of France.

A growing number of nations have moved to curb plastic pollution but environmental experts say that a binding, international approach is vital to coordinating efforts.

A study last year backed by the Pew Charitable Trusts said that plastic pollution in the oceans can be decreased by 80 percent in 20 years using existing technologies if there is ambitious and concerted action.

Blinken's support for the plastic effort comes on the heels of the COP 26 summit in Glasgow where the United States and China said they would work together on climate, a rare example of cooperation amid tense relations between the world's two largest economic powers.

In Nairobi, Blinken pressed China to join another climate initiative -- an alliance led by the United States and the European Union to cut back on methane.

Methane, emitted by oil and gas production and agriculture, spends less time in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but is far more potent and is seen as a key area where the world can take action.

"If the world's major methane emitters join us, including China, that would be the equivalent of taking every ship out of the seas and every plane out of the skies in terms of emissions," Blinken said.

______________________________________
Colombia Cano Limon - Covenas pipeline oil flow halted since Monday

bnamericas



Pipeline Cano Limon-Covenas

Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta / Reuters

BOGOTA

Petroleumworld 11 18 2021

The flow of crude oil through Colombias Cano Limon - Covenas pipeline has been halted since Monday, a spokeswoman for oil transportation company Cenit said on Wednesday, following an incident in the countrys Norte de Santander province.

The pipeline, which runs from the Cano Limon oil field to Covenas in the Caribbean, is frequently the target of bombings by leftist guerrillas the National Liberation Army (ELN), while criminal groups steal oil for processing in clandestine refineries via illicit valves.

The unspecified incident in Tibu municipality was discovered during a flyover of the area, Cenit said in a statement on Monday. The company is a subsidiary of Colombias majority state-owned oil company Ecopetrol.

The army has been deployed to secure the area and to allow technical teams to evaluate the damage

Norte de Santander is the latest epicenter of violence in Colombias long internal armed conflict, and a new 14,000-strong military was created last month to stem bloodshed, which is fueled by rising cocaine production.

An average of 3,299 barrels of crude oil were being stolen each day in Colombia through June 30 according to Cenit, the majority of which came from the Cano Limon - Covenas pipeline.

Dwindling supplies of cheap gasoline being smuggled from Venezuela have coincided with a surge in theft of crude oil in Colombia since 2016, as criminal gangs look to replace the fuel which is a key component in the production of cocaine.

______________________________________
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
The New York Times, November 2, 2021

By Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Sami Sahak and Taimoor Shah

At least 25 people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded during an attack by the Islamic State on a military hospital in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday, according to local officials, with gunfire and explosions echoing throughout the city into the afternoon.

The attack, which included armed gunmen and at least one suicide bomber, targeted the 400-bed Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan military hospital in one of Kabuls more affluent neighborhoods, where both wounded soldiers who fought for the former government and Taliban fighters were being treated.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said the attack was carried out by several members of the Islamic State, including a suicide bomber who detonated his explosives at the gate to the hospital. A car full of explosives outside the hospital also exploded, wounding dozens, and several Taliban fighters were killed and wounded in the ensuing gun battle, Mr. Mujahid said.

The Islamic State Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K, took responsibility for the attack hours later.

One of those killed was Mawlawi Hamdullah Rahmani, a senior commander responsible for the Talibans Kabul corps and one of the first Talibs to enter the presidential palace after the government collapsed in August, said Wahidullah Hashimi, a Taliban government official.

One doctor at the hospital, who declined to be named out of fear for his safety, said that the gunmen had entered a ward filled with wounded Taliban fighters and shot them in their beds.

Another doctor who was hiding inside the hospital said he could still hear gunfire within the building early Tuesday afternoon. Another person inside said the attackers had entered several floors and opened fire on anyone they saw, adding that some doctors and nurses had locked themselves on the third floor.

The fall of the Western-backed government in August and the Taliban takeover of the country have been followed by an increase in attacks by ISIS-K across Afghanistan. The terrorist group has taken advantage of the Talibans difficulty in securing urban centers.

A shopkeeper outside the hospital, who declined to be named, said the initial blasts had been 10 minutes apart, and there were a lot of people on the ground. He was wounded in the back, he added.

This complex attack on the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan hospital is most likely the first of its kind for the Taliban to contend with: armed actors and a suicide bomber entering a large, crowded building full of civilians. The Western-backed government dealt with such incidents by deploying commandos, who were almost always supported by NATO special operations forces.

The Taliban, known for carrying out these types of attacks during the past 20 years as insurgents, have little support or experience when it comes to dealing with such an event on their own.

Qari Saeed Khosty, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, confirmed on Twitter that there had been at least one explosion at the hospital and that Taliban forces were responding to the attack.

Islamic State suicide bombings in Kabul, the northern city of Kunduz and in Afghanistans second-largest city, Kandahar, have killed at least 90 people and wounded hundreds over the past several weeks.

In August, an Islamic State suicide bomber killed roughly 170 civilians and 13 U.S. service members at the gates of Kabuls international airport.

The Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan military hospital has been attacked repeatedly in past years, by both the Islamic State and the Taliban.
NPR, November 13, 2021

RUCHI KUMAR

At 32 years old, Dr. K is old enough to remember the first time the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1995.

She was 7 when girls were banned from school. "For years, my mother ensured that we continued our studies in secret classes conducted by women teachers in their homes," she says.

Inspired by her mother, who worked as a gynecologist, she enrolled to study medicine after the fall of the Taliban in 2001. By 2016, she had become a surgical resident at the country's only burn center, in the western province of Herat.

In her five years of practice, Dr. K has treated hundreds of women whose husbands set them on fire or thrown acid on them  as well as women suffering from domestic violence who chose to end their lives to escape the abuse, often opting for self-immolation.

Now she says her life is in danger because of her work.

With the Taliban back in power, Dr. K asked that she be identified only by the initial of her last name. She reports that she has been threatened by Taliban commanders acting on the wishes of an ex-husband of one of her jailed patients, now released, as well as men who blame her for their incarceration and divorce.

Spousal abuse is rarely reported  yet numbers are high

It is difficult to come up with an accurate count for the degree of domestic violence  and self-immolation  in Afghanistan. For many reasons, women rarely report spousal abuse. They're worried about the stigma of filing a complaint and often afraid of reprisals, including losing their children. Nonetheless, in this deeply patriarchal country, the numbers for reported cases are high. In 2020 alone, 7,191 cases of domestic abuse were reported by the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs, which was established in 2001 and has been now abolished by the Taliban. By contrast, India, which has a population of 1.38 billion compared to Afghanistan's 38 million, documented 5,297 domestic violence cases in 2020.

Then there are the self-inflicted burns that Dr. K has treated. Self-immolation "is a complex phenomenon, because this is the final message of a woman before she dies, particularly when there is little option for disclosure or seeking help,," explains Ayesha Ahmad, senior lecturer at University of London, who has extensively researched gender-based violence in Afghanistan. "There is also symbolism in the act of self-immolation  it is a form of disclosure in itself. A woman will set herself alight and run out of her house, with the surrounding community as her witness. It is her voice, it is her scream, it is her desperation and it is also her drawing a line that she is not going to endure violence anymore."

In the course of her work, Dr. K says the hospital would see at least two such cases  of self-immolation and/or burn victims  a week. Sometimes family members will say that the burns were caused by an accident  for example, the explosion of cooking gas cylinders. But, says Dr. K, in private conversation with their doctors some of these women will confess that they set themselves on fire.

"I can't forget this one case; a woman who was brought in during my shift," she says. "After setting her on fire, her husband tried to bury her in the yard. Fortunately, the sand helped put out her burns, and neighbors rushed her to the hospital," Dr. K says, recalling what the patient told her.

As the woman lay writhing in pain from her burns, her family members pressured Dr. K not to share the woman's account with the police. "They were afraid her husband would target them for revenge. But I made note of her condition and her statement that her husband had been the attacker, which was used by the police to arrest him," she says.

Threats against women  and caregivers  under the Taliban regime

However, since the Taliban takeover, Dr. K says, men like this woman's husband have been released and are hunting for the doctor. The Taliban released all prisoners when they took over provinces and recruited them for their battles.

Women she has treated have told her that they have been threatened by a husband who is among the released prisoners. Dr. K herself has been threatened over the phone as well.

"There are many such perpetrators who were convicted based on the medical reports I filed," she says.

Similar threats were also reported by social workers who provided support to women survivors of domestic violence. "The change in the administration of the country has brought our work to a grinding halt. The Taliban do not approve of our activities," Marzia, an Afghan psychologist specializing in cases of domestic violence, tells NPR. She asked that only her first name be used for the same reasons that Dr. K requested to have her identity shielded.

Marzia, who is currently in hiding because of threatening calls she received from the ex-husbands of women she helped, described one incident in the wake of the Taliban takeover. One of her patients told her that her husband was "a drug addict who would physically abuse her." She told the doctor that her husband had tried to behead her with a large knife.

"My colleagues and I intervened and filed a complaint that landed him in jail. But he has been freed now and is threatening her," Marzia says. "Last I heard she has been on the run with her kids, much like I am," she adds ruefully.

"In another case, I had helped one of my patients seek divorce from a very violent man," she says. "He never accepted the court ruling but couldn't do much. However, now with the Taliban in power he has sought their support to overrule the divorce and is threatening her as well as me, whom he blames for the divorce."

Fears of a bleak future

As doctors, psychologists and social workers  many of them women  struggle to operate under the changed realities, there is a growing concern over the worsening violence against women.

Dr. K is not the only doctor who has stopped providing services to women who have self-immolated or been attacked by a spouse. At the same time, there is concern that violence against women has worsened since the Taliban takeover. That's what Marzia and others believe.

Ahmad also warned of a likely rise in domestic violence in the absence of agencies and in the wake of rising conflict in the country as the Taliban tries to solidify its power or some such.

"We understand from global literature that during conflict, domestic violence soars," says Ahmad, pointing to the Taliban's cutting back on protection for women as a key reason.

Marzia has been trying to provide what little support she can to the women she was working with at the time of the fall, using phone calls and messages via systems like Whatsapp.

"But I am unable to reach many of my patients. I am extremely worried about their safety," she says.

And Dr. K has been unable to return to the hospital because of the threats she has received. Patients have called her for treatment, even urging her to go back to work. But she is afraid for her life.

"I'm also mentally stressed. I am a doctor who has become a patient herself," she says.

Ruchi Kumar is a journalist who reports on conflict, politics, development and culture stories in India and Afghanistan.
Posted by Liam on at 08:43 AM CST

Hey there,fans! This week on the site were delving into one of the most iconic scenes and locations from the original trilogy, the Mos Eisley Cantina. Make sure to read our  Expand Your Mind  article to learn about the location, but stay tuned throughout the week for more articles and Bobbys great video content Mos Eisley saw the debut of the first bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe: Greedo. Compared to the fearsome gang of veteran hunters introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, Greedo isnt exactly the brightest bulb in the galaxy far, far away. A frequent employee of the Hutt clan with a personal vendetta against Han and Chewie, the would-be assassin overestimates his own abilities in what proves to be a fateful confrontation.Although the original scene was re-edited and reworked in each of the subsequent re-releases of, it wasnt an easy sequence to shoot from the beginning. Paul Blake played the character in the original shoot, using some of the heaviest prosthetic work out of any of the original creatures. None of the other cantina characters have an extended dialogue scene, and so the vocal work was filled in later by Larry Ward. Maria de Aragon also embodied Rodian during pickup shots that altered Greedos costume.Greedos age has been a matter of debate within thecommunity. Original novels and comics referred to Rodian as a young bounty hunter with little experience. A character named Greedo appeared in a deleted scene from, in which he accuses a young Anakin Skywalker of cheating on the podrace. The two duke it out before Qui-Gon Jinn shows up to break up the brawl. It was assumed that this character was Greedos father, Greedo the Elder.However, subsequent canon changed the sequence to signify that Anakins childhood bully was the same Greedo his son-in-law would slay over thirty years later. To confirm this new direction, Greedo popped up inthird season, voiced by Yoda actor Tom Kenny. In the episode Sphere of Influence, Greedo is hired alongside a group of kidnappers by the Trade Federation to kidnap the daughters of Baron Papanoida (a character George Lucas himself played in).Papanoida and his son Ion track down Greedo to Jabbas palace and capture him, and they transport him back to the Mos Eisley cantina itself. Greedo is much luckier in his younger years. Amidst an action-packed firefight where Papanoida and Ion face off against Trade Federation goons, Greedo manages to escape.Within the Expanded Universe, Greedo popped up in the epic comic series. In the bounty hunter crossover, a treasure hunt for a mysterious artifact brings together Han, Chewie, Greedo, Lando, Boba Fett, Dengar, IG-88, Zuckuss, 4-LOM, Bossk, and many other criminals. Greedo and Han part on tense terms, setting up their later exchange.What do you think,fans! Are you a secret Greedo fan? Would you like to see him show up in a future Disney+ show? Let us know in the forums , and as always, may the Force be with you!
Posted by Jay on at 10:08 AM CST

Marvel has sent out solicitations for their February 2022 titles, including 8comics and one Trade Paperback!CHARLES SOULE (W)  STEVEN CUMMINGS (A)Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUSabacc Card Variant Cover by DAVID LOPEZKnights of Ren Variant Cover by RAHZZAHWarriors of Dawn Variant Coverby VALERIO GIANGIORDANOEnemies of Dawn Variant Coverby CLAYTON CRAINSyndicate Variant Cover by KHOI PHAMConnecting Variant Cover by ARIO ANINDITOTHE ASSASSINS!QIRA sends two killers to do what they do best to continue with her plan to plunge the galaxy into chaos. The relentless, Force-blinded OCHI OF BESTOON and the mysterious, unstoppable DEATHSTICK each have a target, and nothing will get in their way!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ORDER USING UPC 75960620229400211CAVAN SCOTT (W)  ARIO ANINDITO (A)  Cover by PHIL NOTOVARIANT COVER BY MIKE MCKONE  VARIANT COVER BY CASPAR WIJNGAARDTHE EDGE OF DESTRUCTION! From Hero of Hetzal to murderer? Can Keeve Trennis stop Marshal Avar Kriss from making a fatal mistake? Death and danger await the Starlight Jedi as they finally close in on their enemy. Tying directly into Claudia Grays Star Wars: The Fallen Star, phase one of Star Wars: The High Republic enters its cataclysmic final wave of stories. Everything is about to change.32 PGS./Rated T $3.99DANIEL JOSE OLDER (W)DAVE WACHTER (A)Cover by DAVID LOPEZVARIANT COVER BY DAVID LOPEZVARIANT COVER BY TBA It all comes crashing together in this finale as Emerick and Sian come face to face with mystery they've been hunting. Who will survive? Phase one of Star Wars: The High Republic culminates in this crashing conclusion.32 PGS./Rated T $3.99GREG PAK (W)  RAFFAELE IENCO (A)  Cover by RYAN STEGMANLucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by CHRIS SPROUSETHE QUEEN'S SHADOW RETURNS! Darth Vader continues his quest to destroy the agents of Crimson Dawn, abetted by an unlikely crew of heroes and assassins. But every twist in the tale gets thrown into question with the shocking return of SABE, handmaiden of Padme Amidala! Who's the hero? Who's the villain? And will they choose chaos or order in the age of Crimson Reign?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99CHARLES SOULE (W)  RAMON ROSANAS & MARCO CASTIELLO (A)Cover by RAMON ROSANASVARIANT COVER BY CARLO PAGULAYANACTION FIGURE VARIANT COVER BYJOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHERLUCASFILM 50TH ANNIVERSARY VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS SPROUSESTRANDED ON ASTAR DESTROYER! After a mission gone wrong, ace Rebel pilot SHARA BEY (POE DAMERONS mother) was left for dead aboard the TARKINS WILL, a huge Star Destroyer. Shara survived and has been hiding deep inside the massive ship ever since, evading COMMANDER ZAHRAS notice. But her time is up. Can she live long enough to escape?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ORDER USING UPC 75960609600802111CHARLES SOULE (W)GUILLERMO SANNA (A)Cover by RYAN BROWNVARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTOVARIANT COVER BY TBAACT TWO: Marchion. The Wreckage. The Hunt. The Storm. In which the Eye of the Nihil exults after a job well done. In which Marchion Ro reveals the source of the Jedi's greatest fear. In which the future of the Nihil is revealed.40 PGS./Rated T $4.99ETHAN SACKS (W)  WILL SLINEY (A)  Cover by E.M. GISTCONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY WILL SLINEYVARIANT COVER BY TBAYOUR TICKET TO THE HOTTEST RIDE IN THE GALAXY! The Halcyon comes under fire from pirates  with little chance of escape! Who is the mysterious Resistance spy on board that may lead to the fiery end of the ship's 275-year run? And find out how, years earlier, bounty hunter AURRA SING and a mysterious partner gambled with their lives during the galactic starcruiser's era as a flying casino!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99CAVAN SCOTT (W)  ARIO ANINDITO (A)  Cover by PHIL NOTOVARIANT COVER BY PASQUAL FERRY  VARIANT COVER BY TBAEVERYTHING CHANGES! Phase one of Star Wars: The High Republic reaches its galaxy-shaking conclusion. Only one person can save the Jedi from the mysterious monsters that stalk Starlight Beacon. Who will live and who will die?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99Written by DANIEL JOSE OLDERPenciled by DAVE WACHTERCover by DAVID LOPEZA murder the likes of which the Order has never seen before! One Jedi Master is dead. Another is in a state of complete shock. And Jedi investigator Emerick Caphtor must solve the case before its too late. The fate of the Jedi, the Hutts, the Nihil and everyone in the galaxy hangs by this tangled thread of lies and deceit. Emerick will need to dive into the darkness, testing himself and his Jedi ideals like never before. And hell need help. Luckily, private eye Sian Holt lives in the shadows. Together, the two will follow the trail wherever it leads  if they can work together, that is! From Coruscant to one of the most crime-riddled and dangerous planets in the galaxy, this mystery could bring down the High Republic! Collecting STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC  TRAIL OF SHADOWS #1-5.120 PGS./Rated T $15.99ISBN: 978-1-302-93298-5Trim size: 6-5/8 x 10-3/16
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has distanced herself from the 'Hinduism vs Hindutva' debate, and said that former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid's view on the whole issue was personal.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, she has tried to distance herself from the sensitive debate.

Speaking in Chitrakoot after performing "Parikrama" of Kamtanath temple and offering prayers, she said, "Nobody can define it for me, this is my faith, it is his personal opinion."

The Congress is facing a stiff resistance within the party on the issue of the Hindutva debate. On Wednesday Manish Tewari had said that the Congress should not enter into such debates.

Tewari said, "Congress philosophically should not indulge in this debate which is miles away from its core ideology."

Tewari emphasised that the party should stick to its core ideology and should not deviate from it as the party leaders in the past tried to toe a 'soft-Hindutva' line to counter the BJP.

He said, "Those people who believe in 'Liberalism and Secularism' should be in the party, otherwise if you want religion to be part of politics then you should be in the right wing parties not Congress, which believes in secularism."

Priyanka tried to control the damage ahead of the state polls and distanced herself from the controversy as she herself is spearheading the campaign in Uttar Pradesh. She has visited all the important temples in the state so far. On Wednesday, she visited Kamtanath in Chitrakoot and the women dialogue was also conducted at the Ram Chat.

Salman Khurshid in his new book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times', in a passage 'The Saffron Sky' reads: "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years."

Rahul Gandhi while speaking at a party function last week said, "What is the difference between Hinduism, as we know it, and Hindutva? Are they the same thing? If they are the same thing, why don't they have the same description? Why do they have different names? Why do you use the word Hinduism, why not just use Hindutva, if they are the same thing? They are obviously different things."
An eight-year-old girl on Thursday approached the Kerala High Court seeking Rs 5 million as compensation after she and her father were falsely accused of mobile phone theft by a woman police officer and shamed publically.

In her petition, the girl stated that despite several pleas, no action was taken against the woman police officer, hence they want justice from the court.

Following public shaming, she went into a state of shock and had to undergo counselling sessions and that episode continues to haunt her, her petition read.

The incident occurred on August 27, when 38-year-old Jayachandran and his daughter were out on the main road in the outskirts here near Attingal to watch the movement of a huge trailer carrying equipment to the ISRO unit.

Suddenly Rejitha, the woman officer finding her mobile missing, accused Jayachandran who was standing near the police patrol vehicle, of stealing it. She even said that he must have passed the mobile to his eight-year-old daughter, his accomplice.

She publicly humiliated the father and the daughter and threatened to take both of them to the nearby police station. This was witnessed by a large crowd.

Later, Rejitha found out the mobile phone in the vehicle. The entire episode was filmed by an onlooker.

He shared it on social media and it went viral.

On August 31, Jayachandran approached the state police chief Anil Kant seeking action against Rejitha, as his daughter was in a state of shock for being publicly admonished.

Promising action, Kant, asked South Zone IG Harshita Attaluri to conduct a probe and Rejitha was transferred.

However, it was found out that Rejitha was transferred to a more convenient location and there was actually no action taken against her.

Finding no further action in September, the family observed a day long sit-in in front of the Kerala Secretariat protesting inaction against the woman police officer attached to the pink patrol unit . When this also went unnoticed, the family decided to move the court.
By Peggy Kelly

She is always at the annual Santa Paula Optimist Club Christmas Parade, either helping with organizing and even judging, but now Robin Gillette will lead the 69th annual procession as grand marshal.

Gillette, the principal of Renaissance High School, was selected by her club peers to lead the parade, which will step out into downtown Main Street on Saturday, Nov. 24, at 10 a.m.

The theme of the 2018 Christmas parade is Christmas Dreams. Optimist Pacific Southwest District Governor Cathy Hicks said it is only fitting to select Gillette, who has lived her dreams as she raised her two daughters and developed her career as an educator in the Santa Paula High School system as a teacher, vice principal and now principal at Renaissance High School.

Robin is helping students live their dreams as she works with them in an alternative educational environment, said Hicks. Robin said there are many different methods in education to reach the same goal.

Hicks noted that Robin has

been very active in the community over the years, but she has not been as visible. The Optimist Club likes to recognize folks who are helping our community in a quiet way but they may not be getting recognition.

Robin is involved in a variety of activities in the community to help students attain their dreams, said Optimist and Parade Coordinator Ron Merson.

Gillette was at first hesitant to accept the honor. I was really shocked; I never thought about it, said Gillette, who described the honor as surreal and humbling to have this  spotlight shined on you for doing the things that I love to do.

She said she is looking forward to the parade. Theyre fun. I really love judgingI asked Ron can I come back really quick and judge after being driven along the parade route?

Gillette said she has always enjoyed the parade and the holiday spirit it evokes, although sometimes Christmas can happen at any timefor example, when I see students doing well, graduation when we move the tassels...for me, this is huge and all of us at RHS get to share in such an epic moment for the students and their familys lives. In a way, I am living a dream. How many people can honestly say they love what they do? Each day is a new adventure and I thank Robin Gillette God for my family, friends, that town where I was raised, and to know that the Lord has put me in the places where Im needed to be. How blessed is this?

The parade offers an emotional respite, and Gillette particularly enjoys all the entries and the Christmas spiritit seems like the last couple of years there have been so many emotions. The parade brings our town together, our families and the kidsand I especially like seeing the kids, enjoying being a part of the oldest holiday parade in Ventura County.

The 69th annual Santa Paula Christmas Parade will feature marching bands, toy soldiers, floats, automobiles, fire engines, police vehicles, veterans organizations, equestrians, community groups, churches, youth groups, Santa Claus and more. Each year, there are thousands of people who want to be a part of the merriment by lining Main Street to enjoy the parade, which stretches from Seventh to 11th streets, and ring in the holidays with cheer.

Floats may be self-propelled or towed by another vehicle. It is desirable for the float theme to be carried out so that all spectators can enjoy the entry, whether coming or going.

The parade is held rain or shine; for safety reasons, entrants must not throw candy to spectators. The parade will be filmed by Bob Allen of KADYTV.com and archived for viewing on demand.

All decisions of the judges are final. Judging will be based on execution of the theme, originality of design and spectator appeal.

Parade applications can be downloaded at http://www. ci.santa-paula.ca.us/Xmas%20 Parade%20Application.pdf or picked up at the Santa Paula Times, 120 Davis St.

For more information, contact Merson at 805-525-9439 or at santapaulaparades@hotmail. com.
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/18/2021 -- According to a research report "Aircraft Insulation Market by Platform (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing), Type (Thermal, Acoustic & Vibration, Electric), Material (Foamed Plastics, Fiberglass, Mineral Wool, Ceramic-based Materials), Application (Airframe, Engine) and Region - Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market size is projected to grow from USD 5.5 billion in 2021 to USD 8.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2021 to 2026. The market is driven by various factors, such as increase in demand for lightweight materials, introduction of advanced acoustic and fire resistant materials resulting in safer operations of aircraft, declining cost of composite materials, and increasing demand for military helicopters.



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The aircraft insulation market includes major players DuPont (US), Triumph Group, Inc. (US), Transdigm Group, Inc. (US), Zotefoams (UK), BASF SE (Germany), Rogers Corporation (US), Safran Group (France), and Evonik Industries (Germany). These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. COVID-19 has impacted their businesses as well. Industry experts believe that COVID-19 has slightly affected aircraft insulation production and services globally in 2020.



Increase in demand for lightweight insulation materials will drive the demand for aircraft insulation



Increase in demand for lightweight insulation materials is a key factor that is expected to drive the aircraft insulation market. There is an increase in the use of composite materials to manufacture aerostructures. These materials include concrete, fiber-reinforced polymer, metal composites, and ceramic composites. These materials are combined to make composite materials that have high strength, flexibility, and are lightweight as compared to aluminum or steel. Furthermore, these materials are corrosion-resistant, which keeps the covers of an aerostructure tight under any weather condition.



Investments made towards research & development of new materials in the aircraft insulation market have led to the development of advanced composite materials, such as Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs), Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), and Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). These composites have heat absorption capacity, less weight, noise cancellation capability, vibration absorbance, etc.



Such advancements in the aircraft insulation technology are expected to lead to their demand during the forecast period.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Aircraft Insulation Market"

146  Tables

47  Figures

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The thermal insulation is projected to witness a higher CAGR during the forecast period



Based on type, the thermal insulation are projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. Thermal insulation refers to the use of materials with low thermal conductivity to reduce the transfer of heat between different aircraft components and parts. The thermal insulation system helps maintain a comfortable internal environment while the aircraft is in flight, and dramatically reduces noise levels and vibrations.



The foamed plastics is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period



Based on material, the foamed plastics is projected to grow at the highest CAGR for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. Plastic foams are widely used in a cabin in seat cushions and mattresses to absorb heat, noise insulation, vibration, etc. The aerospace industry uses various materials such as polyimide and polyurethane foams, combining acoustic and thermal insulation to be used in aircraft cabin in linings, wall panels, and rest of the areas or insulation blankets for door areas of the aircraft.



Airframe segment projected to witness highest CAGR during the forecast period



The airframe segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. The airframe of an aircraft includes aircraft wings, flight control surfaces, fuselage, etc. It is the backbone of the aircraft, and is responsible for a safe, efficient, and reliable flight. The use of lightweight and high-strength composite materials for the development of the structure of an aircraft is anticipated to drive the growth of the aircraft insulation market.



Unmanned Aerial Vehicles segment projected to witness highest CAGR during the forecast period



The unmanned aerial vehicles segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. UAVs include all military and non-military drones used for different applications such as surveillance, security, and battlefields. The market for UAVs is growing at a healthy rate and is not much affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, insulation is required to protect critical components of drones such as electrical systems and cameras. Hence, such factors are driving the growth of the segment.



The North American market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2021 to 2026



North America is projected to be the largest regional share of the global aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. North America has the largest commercial aircraft fleets and military aircraft in the world. It also has the largest number of OEMs and MRO companies of the aircraft insulation market. The largest aircraft deliveries are also seen in the North American Region. It also accounts for the largest passenger traffic. The North American region also spends the most in technological and R&D programs. It also has the largest defense spending in the world. North America is home to some of the giants in the aircraft manufacturing industry, like Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Lockheed Martin etc.



DuPont (US), Triumph Group, Inc. (US), Transdigm Group, Inc. (US), Zotefoams (UK), BASF SE (Germany), Rogers Corporation (US), Safran Group (France), and Evonik Industries (Germany). are some of the leading players operating in the aircraft insulation market report.



Related Reports:



Aircraft Cabin Interiors Market by Type (Aircraft Seating, IFEC, Aircraft Cabin Lighting, Aircraft Galley, Aircraft Lavatory, Aircraft Windows & Windshields, Aircraft Interior Panels), End User, Aircraft Type, Material, Region - Global Forecast 2025



Aircraft Fire Protection Systems Market by Product (Fire Detection System, Alarm & Warning, Fire Suppression), Application (Engine, Cabin & Lavatory, APU, Cargo Compartment), Fit (Linefit, Replacement), Aircraft Type and Region - Global Forecast to 2022



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



Contact:

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MarketsandMarkets INC.

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Berlin, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/18/2021 -- Rapid digitisation during the pandemic changed the threat landscape for every organisation, in Europe and all over the world. This saw many countries seeking to adopt a new cyber security strategy, as was the case in Germany just before the Bundestag elections. One of the goals of that strategy is to ensure that "new technologies can be used securely, freely and in a self-determined manner." The necessity of this step is obvious as new statistics show that there is an urgent need for cyber security talent across Germany. The Federal Situation Report for Cybercrime revealed that every fourth to fifth German company with 500+ employees has already been a victim of ransomware attacks, for example. This is driving the demand for greater regulation and also for organisations to start investing more heavily in creating more robust cyber security defences via a comprehensive cyber security team.



As a cyber security recruiter, Glocomms has been focused on helping to ensure that organisations can reach the business-critical talent required to help respond to the current level of threat. The firm was established in 2013 and supports enterprises and individuals across Germany in most major locations, including Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Munich. In addition to being a well-established cyber security recruiter the firm is also able to provide dedicated and specialist hiring support in many other areas of technology, including commercial services data & analytics, cloud & infrastructure and development & engineering. Flexibility and vision are key to this - Glocomms uses a combination of permanent, contract and multi-hire solutions to create options for every situation. As a result, today the firm works with many different types of employers, from agile start-ups to well established tech brands. While Glocomms has resilient networks across the country in Germany this is not all the firm can offer, as it is also part of an international workforce of 1,000+.



Glocomms is a specialist cyber security recruiter with a wealth of resources to bring to the table. The firm has built up a database of more than a million mid-to-senior professionals over the years and has a strong network of professional connections. It is also the recruitment partner of choice to hundreds of world-leading companies as part of the Phaidon International group, which operates across 6 countries. Plus, the team at Glocomms has been trained extensively to ensure that standards of delivery are seamless, even during the challenging conditions of 2020. Glocomms ensures that consultants receive training and development on a regular basis and all work with best-in-class recruitment technology and strategies. Thanks to its market position as a go to cyber security recruiter there are currently many different roles available via Glocomms including Enterprise Account Executive, Cloud Engineer [Network Focused], B2C Back End Developer, Channel Development Manager and Fortinet FTE Security Consultant.



"Like for many sectors, 2020 marked a defining moment for recruitment. Challenged by uncertainty, but unwavering in our commitment to our clients, we have endured through 2021 with a sense of duty to clients and candidates", commented Paul Norman, Executive Director at Glocomms. He went onto say, "as we reflect on the challenges of virtually securing and retaining talent, we're inspired by a team who have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and continue to help all our clients secure top talent on a global scale."



To find out more information about Cyber Security recruiter in Germany visit https://www.glocomms.de/.



For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital  020 7100 0726.



For all other enquiries please contact Glocomms Germany : +49 30 72 62 11 444.



For more information about Glocomms Germany services, please go to https://www.glocomms.de/.



About Glocomms Germany

Glocomms Germany supports organisations across Germany looking to secure key talent to help build the workforce of the future. The firm was established in 2013 and has extensive industry and candidate connections and a deep well of expertise in the specialist recruitment market.
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/17/2021 -- The report "FEP Heat Shrink Medical Tubing Market by shrink ratio (1.3:1, 1.6:1), Application (Drug delivery devices (catheters), Surgical and Vascular Instrument, Flexible Joints, Electrical Insulation) - Global Market Forecast to 2024" The FEP heat shrink medical tube market size is estimated to be USD 103 Million in 2019 and projected to reach USD 146 Million, by 2024, at a CAGR of 7.2%. FEP heat shrink medical tubing is used as a protective covering and coating of medical devices. The chemical inertness, high thermal resistance, and moisture resistance of this type of medical tubing are suitable for coating, encapsulation, and tube joining and covering of a surgical and vascular instrument. The demand for these instruments has risen since the demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures is on the rise.



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1.6:1 shrink ratio is the most demanded heat shrink ratio for the FEP heat shrink medical tubing market.

The 1.6:1 heat shrink ratio is the most preferred heat shrink ratio in the industry as it can cover more irregular shaped parts, and it also reduces the downtime required to apply on the medical devices. The use of 1.6:1 shrink ratio is more common in microcatheters, surgical and vascular instruments, and medical shafting, among others.



Drug Delivery Devices is the largest and fastest-growing application for the FEP heat shrink medical tubing market.

Drug delivery devices are the largest application for the FEP heat shrink medical tubing market. This can be attributed to its usage in microcatheters. Microcatheters are specialized, thin-walled, small-bore catheters, or delivery/access devices. FEP heat shrink medical tubing is being preferred for this application as it possess chemical resistance, moisture resistance and can withstand gamma sterilization.



Speak to Analyst @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=88280405



Shift in manufacturing facilities for medical devices from developed countries to APAC-the major driver of the FEP heat shrink medical tubing market.

APAC is estimated to be the fastest-growing market for FEP heat shrink medical tubing. The high growth rate of the market in the region is attributed to the shifting of medical device manufacturing facilities from developed countries to developing countries, especially in India and China. This shift is due to the availability of cheap labor, supportive government policies. The major countries covered for the forecast are China, Japan, and India. India is the fastest-growing market for the FEP heat shrink medical tubing market during the forecast period due to its significant growth in FDI and increased healthcare expenditure.



The key companies profiled in the FEP heat shrink medical tube market report are Zeus Industries products ltd. (US, TE Connectivity (US), Parker-Hannifin (US), Teleflex Inc. (US), Junkosha Inc. (Japan), Elringklinger Kunststofftechnik GmbH (Germany), Medical Extrusion Technologies, Inc. (US), Polyflon Technology Ltd (UK), Polyfluor Plastics bv (Netherlands), Tef-Cap Industries Inc (US), Optinova(US)



Get 10% Customization on this Report @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=88280405



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA : 1-888-600-6441

sales@marketsandmarkets.com
Berlin, Germany -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/18/2021 -- With COP26 currently under way, sustainability and climate commitments are at the top of the agenda. There are some clear challenges for European banks when it comes to changing the way that existing investments are managed to funnel resources towards more sustainable choices. This is something that has been highlighted by a recent report that revealed that many well-known European banks, including HSBC, BNP Paris and Deutsche Bank are still investing tens of millions of Euros in firms that are involved in deforestation. Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015 around 15 billion has been earned by some of the top banks through deals in place with agribusinesses that are implicated in deforestation processes. This has led to claims that many of these banks - which have very visibly made sustainability commitments - have been engaged in 'greenwashing.' The challenge now will be for banking and financial services firms in Europe to find paths to profitability that avoid the pitfalls of these old, damaging connections.



Selby Jennings is one of Europe's leading financial services recruitment agencies and has been supporting organisations and individuals across the sector since 2004. The firm's sphere of expertise includes a broad range of different fields including risk management, corporate and investment banking, quantitative research and trading, financial technology, investment management and legal and compliance. Few financial services recruitment agencies can offer the same breadth of experience as Selby Jennings, which is why the firm is a go to today for enterprises of all sizes, from innovative start-ups to large global brands. Selby Jennings has many different resources to offer clients, including a database of more than a million mid-to-senior professionals. Using a combination of permanent, contract and multi-hire solutions the firm is able to design options and strategies that are tailored specifically to individual need. It is also a key partner for ambitious candidates keen to take a career-defining next step.



As one of the few genuine financial services recruitment agencies with a global presence, Selby Jennings is a perfect fit for the international landscape that is banking and financial services today. The team in Germany is part of an international workforce of 1,000+. In addition, the firm is the recruitment partner of choice to hundreds of world-leading companies as part of the Phaidon International group, which operates across 6 countries. Agility and flexibility have been vital to ensuring consistent service delivery even through the challenges of the past year or so. The internal workforce at Selby Jennings has facilitated this thanks to the investment made in development of staff by the business. Consultants are trained continuously and also work with best-in-class recruitment technology and strategies. There are many different roles available through Selby Jennings today, including Infrastructure Debt [Director], Business Data Analyst [Banking], Cross Asset Sales Trader and Senior Model Risk Quant.



"Like for many sectors, 2020 marked a defining moment for recruitment. Challenged by uncertainty, but unwavering in our commitment to our clients, we have endured through 2021 with a sense of duty to clients and candidates", commented Matt Nicholson, Managing Director at Selby Jennings Europe. He went onto say, "as we reflect on the challenges of virtually securing and retaining talent, we're inspired by a team who have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt and continue to help all our clients secure top talent on a global scale."



To find out more information about Financial services recruitment agencies in Germany visit https://www.selbyjennings.de



For any media enquiries please contact Gary Elliott at Iconic Digital  020 7100 0726.



For all other enquiries please contact Selby Jennings: +49 30 72 62 11 444.



For more information about Selby Jennings services, please go to https://www.selbyjennings.de



About Selby Jennings

Selby Jennings knows that building the right team isn't easy. However, with the support of the right hiring partner, access to key networks and contacts, it's possible to reimagine the process of recruitment to make it more positive, satisfying and productive.
Astronomers from the University of Sydney, the Breakthrough Initiative, Saber Aeronautics and NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced this week the TOLIMAN (Telescope for Orbit Locus Interferometric Monitoring of our Astronomical Neighbourhood) mission, which will look for planets in the habitable zone around stars in the triple-star system Alpha Centauri. Toliman is also the Arabic-derived name of Alpha Centauri.

Alpha Centauri, also known as Rigil Kentaurus, Rigil Kent and Gliese 559, is located in the constellation of Centaurus.

This triple system is made up of the bright binary star formed by Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, plus the faint red dwarf Alpha Centauri C.

The two brighter components are roughly 4.35 light years away from Earth. Alpha Centauri C, better known as Proxima Centauri, is slightly closer at 4.23 light years.

Compared to the Sun, Alpha Centauri A is of the same stellar type G2, and slightly bigger. Alpha Centauri B, a K1-type star, is slightly smaller and less bright.

Alpha Centauri A and B orbit a common center of gravity once every 80 years, with a minimum distance of about 11 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.

Three planets are currently known in the Alpha Centauri system: a warm sub-Neptune around Alpha Centauri A and two planets  Earth-mass Proxima b and much massive Proxima c  around Proxima Centauri.

Our nearest stellar neighbors  the Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri systems  are turning out to be extraordinarily interesting, said Dr. Pete Worden, executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives.

The TOLIMAN mission will be a huge step towards finding out if planets capable of supporting life exist there.

Astronomers have access to amazing technologies that allow us to find thousands of planets circling stars across vast reaches of the Galaxy. Yet we hardly know anything about our own celestial backyard, added TOLIMAN project leader Professor Peter Tuthill, an astronomer in the Sydney Institute for Astronomy at the University of Sydney.

It is a modern problem to have; we are like net-savvy urbanites whose social media connections are global, but we dont know anyone living on our own block. This blind spot in our local knowledge has important consequences.

Getting to know our planetary neighbors is hugely important, he added.

These next-door planets are the ones where we have the best prospects for finding and analyzing atmospheres, surface chemistry and possibly even the fingerprints of a biosphere  the tentative signals of life.

These nearby planets are where humanity will take our first steps into interstellar space using high-speed, futuristic, robotic probes, said Pete Klupar, chief engineer of Breakthrough Watch.

If we consider the nearest few dozen stars, we expect a handful of rocky planets like Earth orbiting at the right distance for liquid surface water to be possible.

TOLIMAN is a mission that Australia should be very proud of  it is an exciting, bleeding-edge space telescope supplied by an exceptional international collaboration. It will be a joy to fly this bird, said Dr. Jason Held, CEO of Saber Astronautics.

Even for the very nearest bright stars in the night sky, finding planets is a huge technological challenge, said TOLIMAN team member Dr. Eduardo Bendek, a researcher at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Our TOLIMAN mission will launch a custom-designed space telescope that makes extremely fine measurements of the position of the star in the sky. If there is a planet orbiting the star, it will tug on the star betraying a tiny, but measurable, wobble.

_____

Peter Tuthill et al. 2018. The TOLIMAN space telescope. Proc. SPIE 10701, Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VI, 107011J; doi: 10.1117/12.2313269
Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU ) recently reported a 14% year on year increase in revenue for the first four months of the financial year (to the end of October 2021). The Company is now providing guidance for the six months to 31 December 2021. Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) is expected to be above $17 million, compared to $8.9 million in the prior comparative period (pcp). Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) is expected to be at least $26.5 million (pcp: $16.8 million).

The significant uplift in expected earnings is being driven by volume growth in target segments and positive market conditions, improved gross margin disciplines and continued reduction in percentage operating costs. This guidance assumes no return to lockdowns before 31 December 2021 and is subject to any impact of the recent IFRS Interpretations Committee agenda decision on Software as a Service (SaaS).

Steel & Tube CEO, Mark Malpass, commented: We are seeing the benefit of improvements made to the business over the last few years, combined with a backdrop of robust economic activity. Market conditions look to remain positive for at least the medium term as the economic cycle is expected to be stronger for longer. The current residential boom is expected to moderate, while industrial building, infrastructure and manufacturing are all expected to continue to grow.

Steel & Tube has the largest offering of steel products in New Zealand and we have invested in inventory, particularly essential, high demand products. Our focus remains on customer service, continued digital offerings, growing sales in attractive segments and gross margin dollar improvement. We have a strong pipeline of secured work in place and are well positioned to take advantage of opportunities.

The company is not providing guidance for the second half of the financial year at this stage, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 impacts. The company notes that there are seven (6%) less trading days in the second half of the financial year.

Please see the link below for details

Steel & Tube - Earnings Guidance 1H FY21

Source: Steel & Tube Holdings Limited

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The Glasgow Climate Pact kicks the climate can down the road.

by Reynard Loki

After more than two weeks of negotiations during the United Nations COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, diplomats from almost 200 nations finally agreed on two major points: ramp up the fight against climate change and help at-risk countries prepare. Specifically, governments agreed to meet again next in 2022 with more robust plans to slash carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent by 2030, significantly reduce emissions of methane (which has even more global warming potential than CO2), and nearly double the aid to poor countries to help them mitigate the effects of climate change. Notably, nations agreed to initiate reductions in coal-fired power and to begin slashing government subsidies on other fossil fuels, representing the first time a COP text mentioned coal and fossil fuels.

Alok Sharma, COP26s chief organizer, called the Glasgow Climate Pact a fragile win.

Acknowledging the deal is imperfect, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry registered his support. You cant let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and this is good. This is a powerful statement, he said. We in the United States are really excited by the fact that this raises ambition on a global basis.

And while the agreement represents a step forward, it has been roundly criticized by scientists, climate activists and representatives from small, poorer nations who will feel the brunt of the climate impacts much sooner than big, richer ones.

Shauna Aminath, environment minister of the Maldives, denounced the final COP26 deal as not in line with the urgency and scale required. The Maldives has supported life and human civilization for millennia, but 80 percent of the archipelago of low-lying islands in the Indian Ocean is poised to be uninhabitable by 2050 due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. What looks balanced and pragmatic to other parties will not help the Maldives adapt in time, Aminath said. It will be too late for the Maldives.

COP26 has closed the gap, but it has not solved the problem, said Niklas Hoehne, a climate policy expert from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Long before the annual climate chinwag, there was an air of futility about what has been described as our last and best chance at securing a livable environment for future generations. How could there not be? The leaders of more than 150 countries have been trying to lower humankinds global warming emissions since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks started more than a quarter-century ago. And since the first summit was held in 1995, global emissions have, instead, skyrocketed.

The summits host, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnsonwho joined activists in invoking the mantra keep 1.5 alivewas unimpressed with his guests, saying during the G20 summit (held in Rome in the days leading up to COP26) that all the world leaders pledges without action were starting to sound hollow and criticizing their weak commitments as drops in a rapidly warming ocean.

Science has put a deadline on us. In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levelsa limit decided by the Paris agreementhumankind must achieve net-zero emissions (i.e., whatever amount we emit into the atmosphere, we must also remove) by 2050. But that target seems highly unlikely. Big polluting nations like the United States, China and Russia not only continue to burn fossil fuels at an alarming rate but also continue to drill for more oil. Chinathe worlds biggest emitter, responsible for more than a quarter of humanitys total emissionsand Russia have pushed their own net-zero targets to 2060. India has pushed it to 2070. That is kicking the climate can down the field, to be dealt with by future leaders. (A quick glance at a graphic created by the Economist showing the quick and steep drop in emissions that China must undergo to achieve its own target underscores the magnitude, and perhaps folly, of winning the war against the climate crisis.)

In the United States, a divided nation has ossified a gridlocked legislature that hasnt passed many game-changing climate laws. Much environmental protection has been exercised through executive actions, such as regulations imposed by federal agencies, which can be simply overturned by the next administration. When a Democrat is in the White House, environmental protection is higher on the priority list. When a Republican is in the White House, its more about protecting polluters. The country lacks the necessary strong federal and state climate legislation to protect people and the environment from toxic, global-warming pollution, protect fenceline communities (which are often poor communities of color and Indigenous communities) and hold polluters to account.

One of the bright spots of the summit was a landmark $19 billion agreement between more than 100 nationstogether responsible for about 85 percent of the worlds foreststo end deforestation by 2030. Healthy, intact forests are critical in the climate fight as they prevent around one-third of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

But in a press statement, Dan Zarin, the executive director of forests and climate change at Wildlife Conservation Society, said that the Glasgow Climate Pact does not mean that the world has solved the climate crisis. He pointed out that even if all the participating nations pledges to reduce emissions (known as nationally determined contributions or NDCs) were achieved, the world would not hit the 45 percent reduction needed by 2030 to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the Glasgow Climate Pact, countries only agreed to strengthen their NDCs by the end of 2022.

President Joe Biden, who attended the summit, hailed the forest agreement, which aims to restore almost 500 million acres of ecosystems, including forests, by 2030. Were going to work to ensure markets recognize the true economic value of natural carbon sinks and motivate governments, landowners and stakeholders to prioritize conservation, said Biden, adding that the plan will help the world deliver on our shared goal of halting natural forest loss.

But activists were less enthused. The forest agreement is one of those oft repeated attempts to make us believe that deforestation can be stopped and forest can be conserved by pushing billions of dollars into the land and territories of the Indigenous Peoples, said Souparna Lahiri of the Global Forest Coalition, an international coalition of NGOs and Indigenous Peoples organizations defending the rights of forest peoples.

[R]eferences to the rights of Indigenous peoples are relatively weak in the Glasgow text, said Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, a lawyer from the Igorot people in the Philippines and chief policy lead at Nia Tero, a nonprofit advocacy group for Indigenous peoples. Specifically, she said that [w]e will have to watch closely the implementation of [COP26s] new carbon scheme, referring to the finalization of rules that will manage the creation of the international carbon market, and were part of the 2015 Paris climate accord.

In addition to the lack of Indigenous representation in the final text of the Glasgow Climate Pact, people from poorer island nations that are most susceptible to the impacts of sea level rise were also underrepresented at the talks, mainly due to COVID-19 restrictions. Just three out of 14 climate-vulnerable Pacific island states were able to send delegates to COP26, while the fossil fuel industry sent more than 500 delegates.

Ultimately, the climate pledges made by nations do not match the climate policies of those nations. And since the pledges are non-binding, there is no legal stimulus to ensure that actual policies line up with those pledges. The NDCs are voluntary measures, said Lakshman Guruswamy, an expert in international environmental law at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Theres no way of implementing, imposing, or trying to enforce a non-binding agreement.

No penalties, no legal ramifications, no climate court, no climate police. All people have is civil society. Its up to us regular people to stand up, speak up and mobilize; to inspire care for the climate and the environment in young people; and to rethink and retool our own personal behaviors to be in line with the ultimate goals we have for the future. There can be no significant change without both the political will behind candidates who will fight against climate change and public pressure to hold elected officials to their word. What many engaged citizens in the U.S. dont realize is that its not enough to participate only once every four years by voting in presidential elections. Real change happens when people take an active role in their local communities. It starts at home, with our families, our friends and our neighbors.

Make no mistake: Our personal decisions as consumers play a decisive role in the state of the global climate. While large oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions, we consumers are complicit, writes Renee Cho, a staff writer for the Columbia Climate School. We demand the products and energy made from the fossil fuels they provide. One scientist found that 90 percent of fossil fuel companies emissions are a result of the products made from fossil fuels.

Sadly, according to a recent poll, even though a majority of people believe that climate change is a serious issue, few are actually willing to change their lifestyles to help save the environment. Citizens are undeniably concerned by the state of the planet, but these findings raise doubts regarding their level of commitment to preserving it, according to the survey of 10 countries, which included the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Rather than translating into a greater willingness to change their habits, citizens concerns are particularly focused on their negative assessment of governments efforts The widespread awareness of the importance of the climate crisis illustrated in this study has yet to be coupled with a proportionate willingness to act.

Even if consumers become more willing to adapt their behaviors to make them more climate-friendly, they are not necessarily knowledgeable as to how to make those changes. [I]ndividual consumers are not capable of identifying the behavior changes that are really worth doing to help the climate, writes John Thgersen, an economic psychologist at Aarhus University, in the journal Behavioral Sciences.

Emmanuel Riviere, director of international polling at Kantar Public, which ran the 10-country survey to coincide with COP26, said the poll results contained a double lesson for governments.

First, they must measure up to peoples expectations [b]ut they also have to persuade people not of the reality of the climate crisisthats donebut of what the solutions are, and of how we can fairly share responsibility for them.

This article was produced by Earth | Food | Life, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

Reynard Loki is a writing fellow at the Independent Media Institute, where he serves as the editor and chief correspondent for Earth | Food | Life. He previously served as the environment, food and animal rights editor at AlterNet and as a reporter for Justmeans/3BL Media covering sustainability and corporate social responsibility. He was named one of FilterBuys Top 50 Health & Environmental Journalists to Follow in 2016. His work has been published by Yes! Magazine, Salon, Truthout, BillMoyers.com, CounterPunch, EcoWatch and Truthdig, among others.
It was clear from the first day of COP26 that the focus of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 was going to be on coal and not on all fossil fuels.

by Vijay Prashad and Zoe Alexandra

Two major gains took place at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Glasgow, Scotland, which concluded on November 13: the first was that there would be another COP in 2022 in Egypt, and the second was that the world leaders expressed their aspiration to keep global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius alive. These were, however, the only gains made at the end of COP26 to address the pressing issue of climate change.

After more than two weeks of intense discussionsand many evenings of corporate-funded cocktail partiesthe most powerful countries in the world left the convention center pleased not to have altered the status quo.

The focus of the discussions and negotiations by world leaders during COP26 seemed to be on the change of a word in the Glasgow Climate Pact, the final document that will be adopted by nearly 200 nations. Initially, the countries had begun to agree to the phase-out of coal; the final version of the document, however, merely said that the countries would phase down coal. During the last hours of the COP26 summit on November 13, Swiss Environment Minister Simonetta Sommaruga took the microphone and expressed her profound disappointment with the change. The language we had agreed on coal and fossil fuel subsidies has been further watered down as a result of an untransparent process, she said.

Sommaruga is correct. The process has been untransparent. Only a handful of world leadersfrom the most powerful countrieshad the opportunity to put pen to paper on this pact; the majority of world leaders only saw a draft of the Glasgow Climate Pact and were then provided the final document. Civil society associations were barely allowed to enter the hall, let alone to have the opportunity to sit with the pact and give their input on it. As President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen put it bluntly, never before has a responsibility so great been in the hands of so few. Why this responsibility was, however, entrusted to the hands of so few goes unremarked in her speech.

Words and Meanings

During the COP26, thousands of documents appeared on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website, which included reports, statements and proposals relating to COP26. It would take an army of lawyers to scour through the text of these documents and make sense of them. Most of them are submissions made by a range of governments, corporations and corporate-funded platforms as well as civil society organizations.

It was clear from the first day of COP26 that the focus of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 was going to be on coal and not on all fossil fuels. Right through the negotiations, this was the fault line, with the Western countrieswhich are largely non-coal reliantputting the emphasis on coalwhich is used mainly in the Global South, with India and China in the lead. To make the COP26 about coal allowed fossil fuel use in general (including oil and natural gas) to receive a breather. While pressure mounted to cut subsidies for fossil fuels, the Global North was able to gather consensus that only inefficient subsidies would be cut with no timetable provided for these cuts. Sommaruga, who spoke so forcefully against the phrase phase down when it came to coal, said nothing regarding the allowance for efficient subsidies to underwrite fossil fuel use. It is far easier to blame India and China for their reliance on coal than to agree to phase down all fossil fuels.

Climate Finance

On November 15, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China attaches high importance to energy transition. But he specified that there are some issues that need to be looked at before that. First, no energy transition can take place without awareness that not everyone has access to electricity and energy supply is not adequate. Cutting coal tomorrow will condemn billions of people to a life without electricity (about 1 billion people still have no electricity connection, with most of them living in the Global South). Second, Zhao said, We encourage developed countries to take the lead in stopping using coal while providing ample funding, technological and capacity-building support for developing countries energy transition. The developed countries had agreed to fund the Green Climate Fund to the tune of $100 billion per year by 2020, but the actual amounts disbursed have been far smaller. No agreement on finance was reached at the COP26. We need concrete actions, said Zhao, more than slogans.

Glasgows COP26 was filled with corporate executives. They swarmed the hotels and the restaurants, holding private meetings with government leaders and with Prince Charles. The International Chamber of Commerce told governments to wake up, while the U.S. Business Roundtable said that the private sector cannot shoulder the burden alone. The implication here is that the corporations are on the right side of the climate discussion, while the governments are being hesitant. But this is partly the work of the spin doctors. Most corporations that have made net-zero pledges have done so in a nonbinding way and without a timetable. At the conclusion of the conference, it seemed that neither the powerful governments nor their corporations were willing to tie their hands to a real agreement to mitigate the climate crisis.

Peoples Summit

Just some blocks down from the grand halls of the official summit, peoples movements, Indigenous organizations, trade unions, youth groups, migrant groups, environmentalist organizations, and many more met as part of the Peoples Summit for Climate Justice from November 7 to November 10. Their message was simple: corporations and their pliant governments would not do the job, so people need to find a way to set the agenda for system change. The more than 200 events organized as part of the Peoples Summit addressed a range of topics from the role of militarism in emissions, to building a global Green New Deal, and even holding a Peoples Tribunal to put the ineffective UNFCCC on trial.

Emotions at the Peoples Summit oscillated from excitement over being together in the streets after nearly two years of confinement due to COVID-19, to dread at the imminent disappearance of the low-lying island states. Participants from Tuvalu and Barbados talked about the impact of the inaction by the Global North as they see their islands disappear, their homes flood, and their present vanish. Why are you asking us to compromise on our lives? asked Mitzi Jonelle Tan, a climate activist from the Philippines and spokesperson for Fridays for Future.

The Peoples Tribunal called for the disbanding of the UNFCCC and its reconstitution from the ground up as a Climate Forum that does not allow the polluters to make the decisions. This newly constituted Climate Forum would demand meaningful financing for a green transition as well as an end to the plunder of natural resources and to wars of aggression.

Asad Rehman of War on Want spoke to the presidency of COP26 with words that resonated far from Glasgow: The rich have refused to do their fair share, more empty words on climate finance. You have turned your backs on the poorest who face a crisis of COVID, economic and climate apartheid because of the actions of the richest. It is immoral for the rich to talk about the future of their children and grandchildren when the children of the Global South are dying now.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma.

Zoe Alexandra is a journalist with Peoples Dispatch and reports on peoples movements in Latin America.
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Canadian special event CF3BP

Look for special event station CF3BP from York Region (North of Toronto) to be active from Nov 13th to Dec 12th, operated by members of the York Region Amateur Radio Club.



Activity is to mark the anniversary of the first transatlantic amateur radio transmission from Canada by Edward Rogers Senior from Pickering College on Main Street in Newmarket using the call 3BP. He was one of the few amateurs to successfully transmit across the Atlantic and the only Canadian to succeed, using a 500W spark gap transmitter.

The ARRL sent Paul Foreman Godley, 3ZE, who was an expert in receiver technology to the British Isles to carry out the tests. The tests proved that shorter wavelengths could be used over long distances and with much lower power than thought possible.



Club members will be operating various bands and modes during the event using

the CF3BP call. A schedule will be available at https://www.yrarc.org/ in addition to self-spotting, etc. Parks on the Air, (POTA) operation is planned, weather permitting.

A commemorative QSL card is being designed for anyone who contacts one of the stations.

Further information will be on the web site. Logs will also be uploaded to LoTW, eQSL, and qrz.com.



Chris Sullivan

President,

York Region Amateur Radio Club
Jeanette KN6DAD used WSPR data to investigate Sporadic E The EI7GL blog reports on the recent TAPR PSR newsletter article titled 'Detecting Putative Sporadic E Propagation in WSPRNet Spot Records'



Jeanette Zhou KN6DAD outlined how she used data from the WSPRnet website to investigate Sporadic-E propagation.



She writes... "WSPRNet propagation data were downloaded from http://wsprnet.org/drupal/downloads and solar indices were from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) (gfz-potsdam.de) in February, 2021.



WSPRNet spot records of 28, 50, and 144 MHz transmissions during 2020 were then used for the analysis, combining related spot records with the same timestamp and sender call sign to remove duplicates.



Putative sporadic E propagations were identified as when a transmissions distance was about 1200 km in the above identified bands; the total number of records used for the analysis was 1,118,989. "



Read the EI7GL blog at

https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/ei7gl



Read Jeanette's article published in TAPR PSR #150 page 7

https://files.tapr.org/psr/psr150.pdf



TAPR PSR Newsletter archive

https://tapr.org/tapr-file-archive/

https://tapr.org/newsletter-signup/
By Nina Baker

bakernin@grinnell.edu

Steven Vogel, 32, was found guilty on Tuesday, Nov. 16, of the first-degree murder of Grinnell resident Michael Williams and of abuse of a corpse.

Williams body was found burned in a ditch near Kellogg, Iowa on Sept. 16, 2020. Officials identified strangulation as the cause of death and believe that he died four days prior.

The trial began Friday, Nov. 10. The prosecution presented evidence that Vogel had allegedly admitted to murdering Williams out of anger involving a love triangle with Vogels girlfriend, the Des Moines Register reported.

The Register also reported that Cody Johnson, 29, who is also charged with abuse of a corpse and accessory to murder, testified that Vogel admitted to hanging Williams with a rope. Johnson also said that Vogel referred to Williams as Black Mike.

At a Nov. 13 memorial held at Central Park in Grinnell, multiple speakers said that Williams death was an instance of racist violence and described it as a lynching.

There was a Black man lynched, in this city, in this town. And we should stand up and yell about it and make sure this doesnt happen again, said a Grinnell man at the memorial, who did not name himself.

The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Iowa-Nebraska National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) previously stated that they do not believe race was a motivating factor in the crime.

According to Iowa Public Radio, President of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP Betty Andrews said she would consider revising that statement in light of new evidence. When asked after the trial, Andrews said that the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP was still making determinations as to whether Williams murder was a hate crime.

According to the Des Moines Register, Vogels defense attorneys, Aaron Siebrecht and Marc Wallace, did not deny that Vogel killed Williams, but said that the killing was not premeditated and the prosecutors did not have enough DNA evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Alongside Johnson, Julia Cox, 55, and Roy Garner, 57, are charged with abuse of a corpse and accessory to murder. Each individual will be tried separately.

Vogels sentencing will take place at 1 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Poweshiek County Courthouse in Montezuma. A first-degree murder charge in Iowa carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Remittances to the Mena region are projected to have grown by an estimated 9.7% in 2021 to $62 billion, supported by a return to growth of host countries in the European Union and the upsurge in global oil prices, said the World Bank in a new report.



The increase was driven by strong gains in inflows to Egypt (12.6 percent to $33 billion) and to Morocco (25 percent to $9.3 billion), return migration and transit migration respectively, playing important roles in the favourable outturns, according to estimates from the World Banks Migration and Development Brief.



Remittance receipts for the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) surged by 15.2 percent, driven by growth in Euro Area. Flows to several countries fell in 2021, including Jordan (6.9 percent decline), Djibouti (14.8 percent decline), and Lebanon (0.3 percent decline).



For the developing Mena region, remittances have long constituted the largest source of external resource flows among ODA, FDI, and portfolio equity and debt flows. The outlook for remittances in 2022 is one of slower growth of 3.6 percent due to risks stemming from Covid-19. Remittance costs: The cost of sending $200 to Mena fell to 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2021 from 7 percent a year ago.



Remittance inflows to Sub-Saharan Africa returned to growth in 2021, increasing by 6.2 percent to $45 billion. Nigeria, the regions largest recipient, is experiencing a moderate rebound in remittance flows, in part due to the increasing influence of policies intended to channel inflows through the banking system. Countries where the value of remittance inflows as a share of GDP is significant include the Gambia (33.8 percent), Lesotho (23.5 percent), Cabo Verde (15.6 percent) and Comoros (12.3 percent).



In 2022, remittance inflows are projected to grow by 5.5 percent due to continued economic recovery in Europe and the US. Remittance costs: Costs averaged 8 percent in the first quarter of 2021, down from 8.9 percent a year ago. Although intra-regional migration makes up more than 70 percent of cross-border migration, costs are high due to small quantities of formal flows and utilization of black-market exchange rates.



Remittances to South Asia likely grew around 8 percent to $159 billion in 2021. In India, remittances advanced by an estimated 4.6 percent in 2021 to reach $87 billion. Pakistan had another year of record remittances with growth at 26 percent and levels reaching $33 billion in 2021.



Globally, remittances to low- and middle-income countries are projected to have grown a strong 7.3 percent to reach $589 billion in 2021. This return to growth is more robust than earlier estimates and follows the resilience of flows in 2020 when remittances declined by only 1.7 percent despite a severe global recession due to Covid-19.



For a second consecutive year, remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (excluding China) are expected to surpass the sum of foreign direct investment (FDI) and overseas development assistance (ODA). This underscores the importance of remittances in providing a critical lifeline by supporting household spending on essential items such as food, health, and education during periods of economic hardship in migrants countries of origin.



Remittance flows from migrants have greatly complemented government cash transfer programs to support families suffering economic hardships during the Covid-19 crisis. Facilitating the flow of remittances to provide relief to strained household budgets should be a key component of government policies to support a global recovery from the pandemic, said Michal Rutkowski, World Bank Global Director for Social Protection and Jobs.



Factors contributing to the strong growth in remittance are migrants determination to support their families in times of need, aided by economic recovery in Europe and the US which in turn was supported by the fiscal stimulus and employment support programs. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Russia, the recovery of outward remittances was also facilitated by stronger oil prices and the resulting pickup in economic activity.  TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain's Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has signed a MoU with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) to launch a health passport, which ensures that citizens and residents travelling between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia meet criteria set by both the kingdoms to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The move supports the efforts of the National Taskforce for tackling the coronavirus, said a statement from iGA.

It aims to align the Covid-19 precautionary and monitoring measures of both kingdoms to streamline traffic via the King Fahd Causeway.

It capitalizes on the technical compatibility of the BeAware Bahrain and Saudis Tawakkalna apps by linking the health passport information hosted on the two apps with the two kingdoms main passport systems, which helps determine the eligibility of travelers based on Covid-19 health rules.

Linking the systems will provide a comprehensive and accurate database of travellers, which will ease procedures and save the public time and effort, it stated.

It will enable King Fahd Causeway employees to immediately inspect travellers personal and health data, as well as enhance security and privacy, it added.

The agreement was signed by iGA CEO Mohammed Ali Al Qaed and SDAIA President Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi at a ceremony held at SDAIAs premises in Riyadh, in the presence of Shaikh Hmood bin Abdulla bin Hamad Alkhalifa and other officials from both countries.

Al Qaed thanked HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, for his directives from the onset of the pandemic, which prioritizes the health and safety of citizens and residents.

He also commended the efforts in combatting the virus, led by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and supported by the Minister of Interior, Lt- General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, adding that the MoU reflects the close ties between the two countries and highlights their efforts to combat the virus.

The iGA launched the BeAware Bahrain app on March 31, 2020, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and Big Data.

Today, it has become a comprehensive government eSystem, offering a wide range of pandemic-related services such as vaccine and booster shot registration, PCR test results issuance, test appointment bookings, and services for travelers, such as arrival and departure declarations, payments for tests for arrivals, and more.

Al Qaed said that BeAware Bahrain has contributed to achieving Bahrains eParticipation, Digital, and Open Data policies, which were adopted in October.

The aim is to enhance the availability of information and eServices used by various sectors, encourage innovation, and support business.

Dr Alghamdi thanked King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the SDAIA Chairman for his follow up and directives to enhance relations between the two countries, deploy technologies in achieving the highest levels of safety for travellers, and ease movement between the two countries.

The MoU underlines the strong relationship between the two kingdoms and their commitment to the protection of citizens and residents from the impact of the pandemic.

Dr Alghamdi said that Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to launch an eGovernment platform such as Tawakkalna, which supports efforts by government entities to limit the spread of Covid-19.

"Users were able to easily access a range of pandemic-related services through the app, most notably the health passport, which sped up travel procedures by allowing access to PRC test results, information on vaccine doses, and Covid-19 insurance policies. The health passport is linked to borders systems and is required for verifications prior to the issuance of airplane tickets," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
EDGE, a leading technology company for defence, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel's primary defence and aerospace development and manufacturer, have partnered to set up a maintenance centre for a selection of IAI's systems in the UAE.



The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI, and Omar Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President Head of Program Acquisition at EDGE during a ceremony at the 2021 Dubai Airshow.



In addition to maintenance, the centre will advance local marketing of these systems. The agreement covers electro-optics advanced systems including IAI's POP family (Plug-in Optronic Payload) systems, Mini-POP and MOSP (Multi-Sensors Optronic Stabilised Payload) surveillance payloads for land, naval and air applications.



IAI's POP is a Plug-in Optronic Payload electro-optical sensor system, equipped with a powerful laser designator and eye-safe range finder. The MiniPOP is a dual-axis that includes a continuous zoom colour day camera and a thermal imaging camera, a laser pointer, eye-safe laser rangefinder, and automatic tracker. The MOSP is a highly stabilised long-range reconnaissance and targeting multi-sensor family of payloads for Airborne and maritime applications.



Al Zaabi said: This agreement with a leading global industry player such as IAI will create many opportunities for the expansion of EO/IR services here in the UAE and further afield. By combining IAIs expertise in the field and our own experience in providing advanced solutions locally, we can expedite complex maintenance processes for the benefit of our customers, while expanding the scope of collaboration on future opportunities.



Boaz Levy added: Localisation and cooperation are central and critical to our UAE strategys success. The partnership with EDGE Group will allow us to provide full advanced and world-class solutions for the final customers, including maintenance facilities and capabilities. We will work together to provide state of the art EO/IR systems and optimise turnaround time to better serve local end-users and provide the highest value; resulting in greater availability and performances of mission critical system."



Both companies will also form a standing joint committee to identify opportunities in this field within the UAE, and to expand future cooperation in other countries.  TradeArabia News Service
Ericsson and King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) have announced an initial three-year research and development (R&D) partnership focused on three research projects aimed at advancing telecommunication networks with cutting edge technologies.

The partnership aims to understand the key features and requirements of next-generation communication systems.

With current optimization algorithms often entailing considerable computational complexity and processing overhead, Ericsson and KAUST will utilize machine learning (ML) for frequency-selective wireless channels, with the aim of using deep learning to solve channel estimation and resource allocation problems for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems.

Moreover, as future communication networks will have more emphasis on high data rates, low latency, and high security, Ericsson and KAUST will look into transparent and flexible intelligent surfaces for 5G and beyond enhanced communication.

The partnership will also focus on 6G capabilities moving to higher frequencies such as Terahertz (THz) for higher data rates. In particular, Ericsson and KAUST researchers will study backup solutions for THz communications to guarantee uninterrupted high-rate backhaul in 6G dense networks.

Professor Bradley, VP for Research at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology said: "We are excited to collaborate with Ericsson to develop novel architectures for future communication networks. As the demand for enhanced communications continues to expand globally, innovative technologies are increasingly needed to solve the major challenges of 5G and future 6G networks."

"KAUST faculty and facilities offer an empowering environment for this cutting-edge research partnership and we look forward to working closely with colleagues from Ericsson to address the key challenges," he stated.

With Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 having ambitious communication technology goals, the partnership between Ericsson and KAUST will study and envisage the characteristics of the next generation of 6G communication systems and provide future-proof, high-quality networks and solutions that will prove vital to the country in its realization of Vision 2030.

On the agreement, Engineer Emad Alaoudah, Procurement and Support Services Vice President at stc, said it is a by-product of stcs Rawafed programs vision to enable local content while contributing to the kingdoms ICT sector.

"Our partners and institutions play an important role in creating world-class networks for now and the future with a key role in empowering Saudi capabilities and devolopment of local high-tech industry," noted Alaoudah.

"Collaboration is a critical part of this process and this agreement is an example of partnerships that can support Saudi Vision 2030s digital transformation mandate," he added.

KAUST and Ericsson believe that the research output will vastly contribute to the development of next-generation 5G and 6G networks. The results of this partnership will also contribute to the ICT research ecosystem and will be published in top-tier journals.

Additionally, the exchange of students and researchers between KAUST and the Ericsson Research, Sweden, will allow for an enhanced transfer of knowledge, education and training.

Magnus Frodigh, Vice President & Head of Ericsson Research, said: "We are delighted to partner with KAUST as we believe an ecosystem of strong collaborative partnerships is important in enhancing communications networks."

"Our partnership with KAUST is part of our aspiration to encourage regional innovation by funding local research projects. By working together on fundamental research areas, our partnership with KAUST will help develop and grow the ICT sector of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and also help us meet the demands and opportunities of the 6G era," stated Frodigh.

"Ericsson and KAUSTs research will be a key enabler to government-sponsored digital initiatives aimed at promoting technological innovation throughout the country. It will also lay the groundwork for research into the future of communication helping the Kingdom to become an engine of innovation and creativity," he added.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat are the fourth, sixth and eighth best cities respectively to relocate to, according to new research.



Home to millions of expats, Dubai is the best relocation destination if you are looking to move for better weather, as it scored a perfect 10. The average temperature in Dubai is 28.2C and there is 68mm of rainfall per year, says the research by money.co.uk.



With very similar weather to Dubai, Abu Dhabi ranks in the top 20 cheapest relocation destinations, while Muscat has an average temperature of 27.3C.



The best city in the world to relocate to is Austin. Austin has the third-best internet speed of any city in the rankings, at 87.5 Mbps. Additionally, the city scores highly in terms of average temperature (20.4C), and high average monthly salaries at $5,501.



Further insights:



Basel, Switzerland is the most expensive city to relocate to as the annual cost of living is 53,748, which is over 25,000 more per year than the average annual living cost of 28,716.

The most affordable relocation destination is Istanbul where average annual living costs are only 12,753. This is 40,995 less per year than moving to Basel, and 15,963 less than the average.

The Qatari city of Doha is the top relocation destination located on the coastline, this city scored 7.53/10. Water temperatures in Doha are 24.83 degrees on average, it also has high wages of 41,033



The study analysed factors that are often taken into consideration when deciding where to relocate to, including house prices, living costs, average salary, weather conditions, number of restaurants and green spaces, internet speed and life expectancy, to reveal the best places to relocate to around the globe.  TradeArabia News Service
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On 15 November 2021, the Secretary General of the WCO, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, and the Superintendent of the Guatemalan Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT), Mr. Marco Livio Diaz, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing the RILO for Central America, consisting of Guatemala (as host country), Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

The virtual ceremony between the WCO and Guatemalas Customs Administration was attended by Guatemalas Ambassador to Belgium, Mr. Jose Gabriel Lambour Penalonzo, who had come to the WCO Secretariat premises especially for the occasion.

The WCOs Secretary General said that establishing the RILO for Central America strengthened the intelligence community in the Americas and Caribbean region, adding to the two RILOs already established in the region, namely the RILO for South America in Chile and the RILO for the Caribbean in Bermuda.

The RILO for Central America also reinforces the global network of WCO RILOs, which now numbers 12 offices that play a key role in exchanging information and intelligence to combat trafficking in all its forms at national, regional and international level.

The RILOs support the WCO Secretariat and Members in enforcement actions, using the secure CENcomm3 communication platform to facilitate information exchange aimed at a practical application of risk management to identify and facilitate legitimate trade while curbing illegal trafficking that is harmful to the health, safety and security of our society.

For easier communication between the member countries of the RILO for Central America and increased participation by all Spanish-speaking countries in enforcement actions, the Secretary General announced that the new version of CENcomm would be available in Spanish, thanks to funding from the Government of Japan.

Finally, the Vice-Chairperson of the Global RILO Meeting, who participated in the signing ceremony, welcomed the RILO for Central America by inviting it to take part in the 29th Meeting to be held on 18 and 19 January 2022.
NEWARK, N.J. - Dr. Anil Nanda, the renowned neurosurgeon who left LSU Health Shreveport three years ago amid questions about billing practices, has been suspended by his current employer in New Jersey.

Nanda, who heads the Department of Neurosurgery at Rutgers Universitys two medical schools, was put on paid administrative late last week after allegations about his professional conduct, a university spokesman said. The spokesman would not provide specifics about what led to the disciplinary action but said an outside law firm is investigating.

Nandas attorney declined comment on the situation, the Star-Ledger newspaper reported.

Nanda was chairman of LSU Health Shreveports neurosurgery department until he was demoted to a professor role in 2017. He left the medical school the following year to become chairman of the neurosurgery departments at New Jerseys Rutgers University and Robert Wood Johnson medical schools.

Nanda and LSU Health refused to say why he was demoted, but documents from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said its inspector general found instances where Nanda had been improperly double-billing for surgeries in Shreveport, including instances where he was not present in the operating room but billed the government as if he were.

In a civil settlement with the government near the time of Nandas demotion, LSU Health Shreveport paid more than $700,000 in fines and restitution. No criminal allegations were ever made against Nanda, who worked in Shreveport for 28 years.

Rutgers spokesman Peter McDonough refused comment on the reason why Nanda was placed on leave there.

But two people familiar with the situation said a hospital had received complaints about the scheduling of two operations that other surgeons might have actually performed. In at least one of those cases, Nanda was attending a virtual symposium, according to the sources, who spoke on condition they not be identified because it is an ongoing investigation.

Beginning last year, Nanda was the subject of an ethics complaint from former and current colleagues at Rutgers about excessive spending on meals and trips and a management style that was driving away top talent.

Diomedes Tsitouras, an attorney who serves as executive director of the medical faculty union at Rutgers and represents clients who have filed grievances against Nanda, said university officials told him that matter was still being investigated.

Nanda declined comment last year when KTBS News contacted him about that matter.

(nj.com contributed to this report)
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 63F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
The IMF says the Central Bank of Nigeria should take steps to address possible risks with the digital currency.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that it would help Nigeria with technical assistance and policy advice in the management of its e-naira digital currency.

The IMF made this pledge in a note released by its African Department on Tuesday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) officially launched the "eNaira"--a central bank digital currency (CBDC)--on October 25, 2021. It is the second CBDC fully open to the public after the Bahamas.

Other countries and regions, such as China and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, have been conducting CBDC pilots with a subset of their citizens.

The IMF noted that given the size and complexity of Nigeria's economy, the launch is drawing substantial interest from the outside world--including from central banks.

The IMF said its Monetary and Capital Markets Department has been involved in the eNaira rollout process, including by providing reviews of the product design. The 2021 IMF Article IV mission emphasized the need for monitoring risks and macro-financial impacts associated with a central bank digital currency.

Like all digital currencies, the eNaira carries risks for monetary policy implementation, cyber security, operational resilience, and financial integrity and stability. The IMF said the eNaira wallets may be perceived, or even effectively function, as a deposit at the central bank, which may reduce demand for deposits in commercial banks.

Since it is tied to digital technology, the IMF argued that there is a need to manage cybersecurity and operational risks associated with the eNaira.

Financial integrity risks, such as those arising from the potential use of the eNaira for monetary laundering, are mitigated by using a tiered identity verification system and applying more stringent controls to relatively less verified users.

"The IMF is ready to collaborate with the authorities on data analysis, cross-country studies, sharing the eNaira experience with other countries, and discussing further evolution of the eNaira including its design, regulatory framework, and other aspects," the organization said.
At an #EndSARS protest in 2020 in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the Endsars Frontiers on Wednesday, the group said the government should apologise to "the victims of police brutality and military oppression in Nigeria at large, and specifically the Lekki toll gate massacre.

One of the groups at the forefront of last year's #EndSARS protest has demanded a "sincere" apology from the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria over the "massacre" at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020, by the Nigerian army and the police.

In a statement signed by the #EndSARS Frontliners on Wednesday, the group said the government should apologise to "the victims of police brutality and military oppression in Nigeria at large, and specifically the Lekki toll gate massacre."

On Monday, hours after the state government received the reports of the judicial panel of inquiry and promised to make it public, one of the reports on the Lekki shootings was leaked.

According to the report, the Nigerian Army "shot, injured and killed unarmed, helpless and defenceless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian flag and singing the National Anthem."

At least, 46 unarmed protesters were either shot dead, injured with bullets, or assaulted by security forces.

The Nigerian government, represented by Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, has repeatedly stated that reports of a 'massacre' at the Lekki toll gate is "fake news."

The group described the presentation of the reports as a landmark development; however, the "value of the report will only be realized when the government takes steps in good faith to ensure transparency and accountability in implementing its recommendations."

Demands

The group raised concerns over the increase in cases of police brutality, extortion, and harassment in Lagos State, "as some police officers continue to act with impunity, searching phones with slaps and beatings, torturing and extorting young people, amongst other heinous crimes."

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The group said it is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to protect and defend its citizens.

The group demanded that the government at the state level must ensure that the reports of the panels across the country are finalised and made public.

They demanded that all persons found culpable of any illegal activity be prosecuted and compensation should be given to victims of police brutality as recommended in the report.

"As directed by NEC, all state governments proceed to set up human rights committees to conclude with other cases and ongoing issues with the first order of business being investigated into the unlawful incarceration of #EndSARS peaceful protesters in Lagos, Abuja, Oyo and other states," the statement read.

Describing Lagos State as an "extremely problematic hotspot," the group demanded a digital central registry where cases of police brutality and extortion are reported and the "Attorney General of the state in collaboration with appropriate officers of the Police Service Commission take steps to ensure a monthly review and accelerated action against offending officers."

#EndSARS Frontliners also demanded the government fulfil all promises made regarding police reform.

"A memorial of this horrific occurrence must also be installed at the Lekki Toll Gate, to forever mark the memory of the deceased, and honour their martyrdom," the statement read.
The Director-General/CEO of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, has said that Nigeria's primitive agricultural practices are facing various challenges, adding that only science and technology holds the key to overcoming these challenges.

The DG, while speaking at the 5th edition of the OFAB media awards in Abuja, said the agricultural biotechnology sector in the country is undergoing a rapid transformation with scientists and researchers working round the clock to improve various crops.

He said: "so far, we have made progress with three crops: Cotton, Cowpea and Maize.

"Cotton and Cowpea are already with farmers while Maize will get to the farmers in one and a half years' time, it has already been de-regulated by the National Biosafety Management Agency, meaning the genes of insert have been certified safe by the agency."

Prof Mustapha said the next phase of commercialisation is very crucial to the successes already recorded, stressing that the many years of research and advocacy will be in vain if the country fails to get the products to farmers.

"The federal government has fully recognised agricultural biotechnology as one of the pillars that will make meaningful contributions to our quest for a food secured Nigeria, hence the establishment of necessary research institutions and regulatory agencies to ensure that the country takes maximum advantage of the tools of science and technology for national development," he said.

He said the Nigerian government must encourage its scientists to continue to work for the good of the country and the people.

"We have over 16 research institutes all over the country with the mandate to improve various crops.

"These institutes must be encouraged to carry out their mandates in order to ensure that the country attains self-sufficiency in quality food production," he emphasised.
Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, has disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in its fight against terrorism and banditry in the North east flown about 7, 000 hours in over 4, 600 sorties and about 3, 700 missions from January, 2021 to date.

The Naval Chief made the disclosure while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Navy on Tuesday for the defence of their 2022 budget proposal.

Amao said that NAF has inducted 16 newly acquired aircraft into its fleet through the support of the Federal Government and the National Assembly.

He also said NAF has been actively involved in the airlift of INEC staff and also contributed over 400 troops to provide security before, during and after the recently concluded Anambra elections.

According to him: "From January 2021 till date the NAF aircraft have flown about 7, 000 hours in over 4, 600 sorties and about 3, 700 missions in the ongoing counter terrorism and counter insurgency operations in the north east and operations against the bandits in the northwest. The NAF personnel have also enjoyed quality and local and foreign training. Between 2021 to date, a total of 2, 155 personnel have undergone both foreign and local training. Currently 390 are undergoing training in different countries across the world, while 3, 523 personnel are undergoing local training in various military institutions and other para-military institutions.

"In line with the leading key driver of my vision the NAF has deployed doctrinal documents in all areas of our competences. Again looking at the welfare of personnel which is another key driver of my vision, in this regard this administration has embarked on various projects that have so far, had significant impact on personnel across NAF units from January till date. One of the responsibilities of the NAF is providing aid to civil authorities in support of the government, the NAF airlifted materials and staff of government agencies such as the National Centre for Disease Control during the lockdown occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic. The NAF also is periodically involved in the airlift of officials of the National Emergency Management Agency.

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"In winning the hearts and minds of the citizens, especially our host communities, the NAF has been conducting humanitarian and welfare programmes across the nation. It is important to state that these achievements would not be possible without the assistance of the NASS through funds appropriated to the NAF as well as the support of the FG. We pledge to continue to do more."

Thereafter, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Shehu Koko excused Journalists from covering the defence session in details, as he said that it was of the sensitive nature.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has revealed that the central bank has so far disbursed about N3 trillion to households, small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), smallholder farmers, pharmaceutical companies as buffer against the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise Television on the sidelines of the recently-concluded Nigerian International Partnership Forum in Paris, France, Emefiele noted that the insinuation that the CBN was overreaching its statutory bounds, was baseless, explaining that the bank had continued to play its monetary management role effectively.

He also reiterated that the monetary and fiscal authorities were working hand in hand to deliver a stronger economy to Nigerians.

Emefiele pointed out that the job of the CBN was to complement the efforts of the fiscal side, emphasising that it had never happened in the country where the central bank would lend funds for a tenure of 10 years with a two-year moratorium, like the CBN had done in recent times.

"And I can tell you this, between 2020 and now, our data shows that we have disbursed at least N2 trillion, almost N3 trillion in loans to households, to MSMEs, to smallholder farmers, to pharmaceuticals and health institutions.

" We have also given these funds to some of our large agricultural companies that want to get back again to business, to manufacturing companies who are accessing long term 10 years loan with two-year moratorium with single digit rate. I have data that shows we are playing our part," he said.

On the recently launched "100 for 100 ", he noted that it was floated to support employment creation, assuring that the central bank would do everything possible to provide foreign exchange to import plants and machinery.

He added that the programme would complement the plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to create millions of jobs and make credit available at a cheap rate even for a long tenure.

"In terms of the prerequisites, at least 80 per cent of the employees within these new corporate entities would have to be Nigerian," Emefiele insisted.

He added, "We know that people would like to play some games but I can assure you that the central bank has the resources to monitor.

"Even our current intervention programmes, whether in agriculture or in manufacturing, those who have accessed those facilities will tell you that at least twice a year, our people go to check and investigate to know whether those projects have been set up and are meeting their objective."

He maintained that the insinuations that there was no alignment between Nigeria's fiscal and monetary policies were baseless, stressing that on Covid-19 for instance, the CBN had been working with the finance ministry to reduce the devastating impact.

"If you ask the Finance Minister, we are always in contact and she would tell you that there are no issues about the relationship between the monetary and fiscal authority. So, when people say there is no synergies, again, I wonder where that is coming from.

"When the COVID-19 hit, Mr. President tasked the Finance Minister and I to work together to bring us an immediate response and I went back to the Bankers' Committee and we came up with immediate response.

"And the Minister of Finance and I had opportunities several times to go back to brief the president. So, it is left for you to respond whether there is collaboration between monetary and fiscal authority there.

"After that, the president said we should establish the Economic Sustainability Program (ESP) chaired by the Vice President. The central bank played an active part in the development of that program to the extent that the fiscal authorities were only meant to contribute N500 billion and monetary authorities were left to provide almost about N1.5 trillion," he added.

He expressed joy that Nigeria now produces and consumes its own rice, stressing that the wheat programme had also taken off with expected yield very encouraging.

He stated that Nigeria would not be a guinea pig for cryptocurrency use, saying the CBN has now launched its own digital currency which is safer and more secure than crypto.

Emefiele stated that with e-naira, some payment products that were costly, will be reduced forcing the banks to review their processes, saying that Nigeria will not make its platforms available for crypto. "Why is it encrypted. It means that there's level of illegality associated with it," he stated.

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He argued that no country with high level financial standards endorse cryptocurrency, insisting that "we will not allow it to happen."

Emefiele disclosed that he was always in contact with the minister of finance, budget and economic planning, insisting that there are no issues concerning the relationship between the monetary and fiscal authorities. "So, when people say there is no synergy, again, I wonder where that is coming from," he said.

The CBN governor added that the current administration would continue to focus on the provision of infrastructure and deliver legacy project.

"By the time we sit back after we have left this job and we see it doing well, we would thank God we had an opportunity to serve our country," he noted.

According to the CBN helmsman, it was high time Nigeria stopped relying on an economy that depends on oil.

"We must diversify the economy into the non-oil sectors. We must deepen our economy so that we can truly position ourselves as a country that is self-sufficient," he explained.
Blog

Access to quality essential medicines is not only a human right, but also crucial to realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as set out by the United Nations. While the Nigerian government is putting in place programmes to improve the health of Nigerians and deliver priority health interventions, challenges still exist within the pharmaceutical sector, such as the inconsistent availability of essential medicines as well as their high cost. The incorrect use and storage of essential medicines remains a challenge, especially with regards to life-saving maternal medicines used to manage complications. A recent study found that healthcare workers lacked sufficient knowledge about the storage practices for maternal medicines, with only 46% of healthcare workers being aware of the correct temperature at which to store the widely used uterotonic, Oxytocin.

Procurement and supply challenges

The supply of maternal medicines, as with all other medicines, in Nigeria is guided by a National Drug Policy (NDP) which was introduced in 1990 and reviewed in 2005. According to a 2004 study assessing medicine supply strategies in Nigeria, the major procurement methods are open tender and direct procurement. Some of the challenges experienced with these methods include late placement of orders and delayed payment, causing delayed supply of these life-saving medicines.

These delays can be fatal when health facilities run out of medicines to prevent and treat maternal complications. This is known as 'stock out' or as this article put it, 'E no dey, come tomorrow'. One of the most common pregnancy related complications in Nigeria is haemorrhage or blood loss and studies have shown that it can kill a woman within 2 hours if not properly managed with the right medication. These women do not have until "tomorrow" to come back for medication that will save their lives, so it is critical to ensure that health facilities have regular supply of quality maternal medicines.

National Drug Policy (2005)

Nigeria's 2005 National Drug Policy aimed to 'make available, at all times, adequate supplies of essential drugs that are effective, affordable, safe and of good quality to ensure the rational use of such drugs and to stimulate increased local production of essential drugs.' However, a recent survey revealed that compliance with the policy was inadequate as medicines are meant to be procured in bulk through the central medical store, based on an expressed need by facilities.

The survey report revealed the challenges with current procurement processes which include the fragmented and uncoordinated management of medicines between programs, states, and facilities. It also indicated that despite the existence of the policy document, most programs devised their own selection, procurement and distribution systems which are intended for the same public facilities and managed by the same health workers.

This has led to a duplication of efforts, wastage of scarce resources, weakening of the health system, and undermining the existing national supply system. The report highlighted the need for procurement, warehousing, and inventory management, as well as distribution to be managed by an autonomous drug management agency.

Impact of lack of direct policy on maternal medicines

Quality maternal medicines are vital in reducing maternal deaths. However, in Nigeria, due to the challenges associated with policies for medicine procurement, women continue to die or experience adverse outcomes when giving birth because they do not have access to quality, lifesaving medication. Women in especially hard-to-reach communities are hardest hit when it comes to accessing quality healthcare and medicines.

Policies determine strategies and the effective implementation of the policies should be a key outcome of policy development. Policy gaps exist in Nigeria's national drug procurement landscape and the issues include the proliferation of substandard medicines as well as poor service delivery. Identifying and addressing these key policy gaps are important first steps in ensuring that medicines that are used for a woman who is giving life, are of the right quality to save her life and that of her unborn child, as well as enabling her to have a full recovery after giving birth.

A Senior Drug Procurement Officer with the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, was asked about the challenges in the procurement of quality medicine and mentioned that "having too many players in the procurement chain gives more room for circulation of substandard and fake drugs, especially in rural areas". The lack of adherence to the 2005 National Drug Policy and subsequently the lack of a national policy that directly addresses the procurement, supply, and sales of maternal medicines in Nigeria has given rise to the proliferation of substandard maternal medicines and falsified medicines.

Improving the procurement of maternal medicines

To curb the proliferation of fake and substandard drugs, the federal government must develop a policy that gives them autonomy over the national and sub-national procurement of drugs, including maternal medicines. According to the Procurement Officer, "There must be a policy that gives the federal government full charge and control of what drugs come into the country and what drugs are manufactured in the country and circulated in our hospitals. The policy must be developed with provisions that address current lapses in availability and affordability of quality maternal medicines".

This policy should include the following components:

Provisions that ensure a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with manufacturers and a stringent accreditation system for suppliers, ensuring the regulation of prices while ensuring adherence to quality standards.

A streamlined and monitored system for private sector involvement in distribution where needed, to ensure last mile distribution of life-saving medicines.

Provision made for annual procurement plans as determined by service providers, who are trained in quantification and forecasting of drug supplies; and strict guidelines that stipulate that procurement is done according to the annual procurement plans.

The drug policy in Nigeria should back legislation for autonomous procurement agencies.

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It is best practice for national drug policies to include a medicines and supplies management information system, linking federal medical stores, state medical stores and health facilities to ensure functional audit, trail of movement of medicines and generate information for use in the selection, quantification and forecasting of medicines.

Taking steps towards improved policies -- Ekiti and Kaduna States

In a recent post, Honourable Commissioner for Health and Human services, Ekiti State, revealed that the state Governor had signed the Drugs & Health Commodities Management Agency Bill into law in Ekiti State. This means that the state now has legislation backing the establishment of an agency responsible for the procurement, supply, distribution and sale of medicines.

A few weeks before the signing of the drug policy in Ekiti State, the Kaduna State government partnered with local pharmaceutical companies to ensure the appropriate and seamless supply of essential medicines. The government, through the Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA), signed an MoU with the companies under the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), to ensure the supply of quality and affordable essential medicines to the citizens of the state.

Ultimately, a collaboration among core technical and policy partners is essential to develop a strong national drug policy for Nigeria, one that ensures that every woman has access to quality life-saving medicines during delivery.
El Canciller Maurtua se reunio esta manana con miembros de la Comision Especial de Seguimiento de la Incorporacion del Peru a la @OCDE_fr (CESIP-OCDE) del @congresoperu, donde destaco los avances y los beneficios que genera nuestra vinculacion con esta organizacion internacional. pic.twitter.com/YSSD1FqaW0
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian government today approved the 2021-2026 draft action plan.

Introducing the details of the plan at the Cabinet meeting today, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said that the package covers the strategic goals, the actions for achieving those goals, the expected results, timeframes and financial sources.

A total of 439 goals have been set, the action plan consists of 1276 measures.

I would like to note that this action plan also reflects the implementation process of Armenias commitments assumed by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the EU, as well as the actions to be taken within the 2.6 billion Euro aid package to be provided to Armenia under the EU economic and investment plan. This document is in accordance with both the main provisions of the EAEU strategic programs and also the strategic partnership frameworks approved by the international organizations and donors for Armenia, in particular in terms of political targets and goals, deputy PM Grigoryan said.

He emphasized that this document must become the governments main working plan.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in his turn noted that everything connected with this action plan has been discussed publicly.

The action plan includes all those measures which we have announced publicly, such as investments in education, science, infrastructure development, social assistance and other areas, the PM said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Last updated: 16:13 (GMT+4)

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. An unspecified number of Armenian citizens are among 380 people who are being evacuated from Afghanistan by the Russian military, TASS reported citing the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to the report, three Russian IL-76 military transport planes are en route to Afghanistan to evacuate more than 380 people  citizens of Russia, as well as other CSTO members  Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The evacuees include also Ukrainian and Afghan nationals.

The planes are carrying more than 36 tons of humanitarian cargo.

Updates: 16:13 (GMT+4) The Armenian foreign ministry reported that according to preliminary information there are two Armenian citizens in Afghanistan.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. No significant incidents have taken place at the eastern border of Armenia as of 14:00 November 18 and the situation is under the control of the Armenian military, the Armenian Unified Information Center reported.

Commenting on the videos on border clashes disseminated online in the recent hours, the agency said that the videos are constantly studies by relevant authorities. The events seen in the videos which have been circulating so far have taken place earlier.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting today with Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, Pashinyans Office told Armenpress.

Akylbek Japarov arrived in Armenia for participation to the session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council on November 18-19.

Welcome in Armenia. I would like to personally congratulate you on your appointment as the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. I hope and I am confident that with joint efforts we will manage to continue developing the relations between our countries.

Of course, we participate in the activities of common organizations, that is the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, our countries are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

And of course, our bilateral relations are very important for us, and we highly appreciate them. I hope we will manage to develop also these relations and especially boost the commercial ties. Once again congratulations and welcome in Armenia, Pashinyan told the Kyrgyz PM.

In turn the Kyrgyz PM thanked Pashinyan for the welcome and said: The level of commercial relations between our countries was not so perfect in the past two years under the conditions of the pandemic, but the rates of the past 6-9 months show that we are starting to boost them. However, the overall volume of the trade turnover, so to speak, is small.

I would like to discuss with you the trade-economic cooperation and issues relating to our partnership in the organizations you mentioned, both in the economy and the CSTO in order to be able to assist one another both in difficult and good times.

The officials, then, continued discussing the agenda of the Armenian-Kyrgyz relations and the cooperation development prospects.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde held a phone conversation with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on recent developments in the region.

Called for continued de-escalation. Reiterated support for process through Minsk Group Co-Chairs and my Personal Representative, Linde tweeted.

On November 16, the Azerbaijani military launched a major attack on Armenia from the eastern border, deploying armored equipment and artillery.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Eurasian integration is among the priorities of the Armenian government, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his remarks at the meeting of the heads of government of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Yerevan.

Pashinyan firstly congratulated the new Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, wishing success to his responsible position. He said that Armenia is ready to make efforts in the future as well to maintain the constructive dialogue between the governments of the two countries.

Hosting this session, we have tried to create as convenient conditions as possible for the discussion of the agenda. In addition to discussion of issues on the agenda, the live communication of our delegations is also very important, the Armenian PM said.

The prime ministers of the EAEU member states arrived in Armenia today for the participation in the session of the Eurasian Inter-governmental Council session.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, 18 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 18 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.25 drams to 476.24 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 1.19 drams to 539.63 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 6.54 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 3.33 drams to 642.54 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price stood at 28452.14 drams. Silver price stood at 386.72 drams. Platinum price stood at 16741.95 drams.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenias booth at the 2021 Philoxenia International Tourism Exhibition drew hundreds of visitors, who had the opportunity to learn more about Armenian culture. The exhibition took place in Thessaloniki from November 12 to 14, while following the proper Covid-19 protocols, Asbarez reports.

Visitors received information about the country, hotel accommodations, religious sites of interest, gastronomy, as well as Armenian wines, spirits, and beverages. A wide range of travel agents and tour operators from several countries including Greece, Switzerland, India, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, Ukraine, Latvia, Russia, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and even Turkey had already prearranged dozens of physical meetings with the Chambers executives in the framework of the Philoxenia Hosted Buyers Program.

A number of local officials, among whom were the General and Honorary Consuls of several countries, as well as members of the Parliament, local governors, and mayors, paid a visit to the biggest stand that Armenia has ever had at any fair held in Greece.

Armenias participation was organized by the Hellenic-Armenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Greece, which consistently contributes to the promotion of all touristic destinations in Armenia. The event was held under the auspices of the Embassy of Armenia to the Hellenic Republic.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The narrow-format sitting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council took place in Yerevan, which was attended by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov and Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich.

First, Prime Minister Pashinyan met the partners of the EEU member states, then a ceremonial photoshoot took place.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Prime Minister, at the beginning of the narrow-format sitting, Nikol Pashinyan delivered a welcoming speech, where he particularly said,

Honorable Heads of Government,

I welcome all of you in Armenia at the regular session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council.

I am glad to welcome the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, respectful Akylbek Usenbekovich Japarov, and wish him fruitful work in his responsible post.

Today's meeting is a very significant event for us. We are glad to have the opportunity to receive distinguished guests in Yerevan, to hold a meeting of the Intergovernmental Council and thereby contribute to the strengthening of our Union.

Cooperation within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union is one of the priorities of our Government. We are ready to further continue making every possible effort to improve the mechanisms of cooperation and the effective functioning of the integration space.

Dear colleagues, I wish you all fruitful work and constructive discussion.

We tried to create the most comfortable atmosphere for our meeting. I hope we will be able not only to work on the issues on the agenda, but also to take the opportunity for direct communication and exchange of views.

Afterwards, the participants of the sitting proceeded to the discussion of the issues on the agenda. In particular, a wide range of issues related to the development of cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture and healthcare within the EEU was touched upon. Issues related to the introduction of new regulations in the markets of different spheres, customs regulations, as well as the EEU 2022 budget were also discussed.

The expanded-format sitting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will be held on November 19.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in Yerevan Thursday on a working visit until Friday.

November 18, 2021, 15:31 Russia PM arrives in Yerevan

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: In the Armenian capital, Mishustin will attend the meeting of the intergovernmental council of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

The current issues of deepening integration within the framework of the EEU are on the agenda of this meeting, the press service of the Russian government says in a statement, news.am informs.
The Taliban radical militant group is ready to pay a new visit to Russia, if it receives an invitation, Taliban Spokesman, Deputy Information and Culture Minister in the interim Afghan government Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters on Thursday, Tass informs.

November 18, 2021, 16:21 Taliban ready to pay new visit to Russia, should invitation be received

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 18, ARTSAKHPRESS: "As you know, our delegation visited Russia recently. And, undoubtedly, if we receive a new invitation, we will respond to it and will pay a visit," the spokesman said, replying to a question from TASS.

The Taliban radical militant group (outlawed in Russia) launched a large-scale offensive to seize control of Afghanistan after the United States declared its intention in the spring of this year to withdraw its troops from the country.

On August 15, the Taliban entered Kabul without encountering any resistance while Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stepped down and fled the country. The Taliban declared on September 6 that they had established control of the entire Afghan territory and on September 7 they announced an interim government in Afghanistan that has not been recognized by any country so far.

On October 18, a delegation of the Talibans interim government led by Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi paid a visit to the Russian capital to participate in the 3rd meeting on Afghanistan in the Moscow format.
The second enclave or cluster is of at least 60 buildings in Arunachal Pradesh

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said that China has built villages well within their side of the Line of Actual Control and China has not anywhere transgressed into Indias perception of LAC. (PTI)

New Delhi: New satellite images suggest China has built a second village in Arunachal Pradesh sector and more villages in disputed territory with Bhutan as part of its salami tactics. "This village (in Arunachal Pradesh) appears to be within the survey of India and McMahon line boundary... geography however, restricts access allowing Beijing to move unchallenged, such land grabs alter maps and promote sinicization of local features hindering future challenges to Indian territorial claims, " said satellite image expert whose Twitter handle identifies him as @detresfa.

The second enclave or cluster is of at least 60 buildings in Arunachal Pradesh, said a report by a news channel based on satellite images accessed by it. The news report said that the

"new enclave did not exist in 2019 according to the satellite images; a year later, it can be seen."

The village lies 93 kilometers east of the first China-constructed village in Arunachal Pradesh, which was reported by the Pentagon earlier this month. In a report to the US Congress, Pentagon said that in 2020 China had built a large 100-home civilian village inside disputed territory between China's Tibet Autonomous Region and Indias Arunachal Pradesh state in the eastern sector of the LAC.

However, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said that China has built villages well within their side of the Line of Actual Control and China has not anywhere transgressed into Indias perception of LAC. "As far as we are concerned, there is no such village development that has taken place on our side of the LAC," Gen Rawat had said on the Pentagon report.

Meanwhile, @detresfa said that disputed land between Bhutan and China near Doklam shows construction activity between 2020-21, and China having built four villages spread through an area roughly 100 square kilometres. The construction is still going on.

China is also developing a network of large heliports across the Tibetan Plateau and along its tense border with India that can be of major use in a crisis.
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Ethiopia's state-appointed rights commission said on Wednesday some human rights were not being upheld during the current national state of emergency and expressed concern about conditions in detention centres that it was unable to access.

Ethiopia declared the state of emergency on Nov. 2, a year after a conflict erupted between the federal government and forces aligned with the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), the political party controlling the northern region of Tigray.

"Overall in its investigation, the commission has found that the state of emergency was not executed in a manner that upholds the principles of human rights such as 'utmost necessity, proportionality and impartiality'," Ethiopia's Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said in a statement.

Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu, police spokesperson Fasika Fanta, and the spokesperson at the attorney general's office, Awol Sultan, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The six-month state of emergency allows suspects to be detained without trial for as long as the proclamation lasts and allows house-to-house searches without a warrant.

Thousands of people are estimated to have been arrested across Addis Ababa since the state of emergency was declared, EHRC said.

EHRC said it was denied access to many detention centres.

Most detainees are being held in police stations, and when they get too full, in youth centres and schools, EHRC said, adding some are taken to Aba Samuel high security prison.

EHRC only obtained complete data from Kirkos, an Addis Ababa district, where 714 people were detained as of Nov. 11.

It called for the immediate release of vulnerable detainees including the elderly and breast-feeding mothers.

Detainees, many of whom are Tigrayan, believe they were arrested for their ethnicity, the EHRC said. Police have previously said https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-embassy-ethiopia-allows-voluntary-departure-some-staff-family-2021-11-04/?enowpopup the arrests are not ethnically motivated but are aimed at detaining TPLF supporters.

Some detention centres are overcrowded and do not provide adequate access to health care, EHRC said.

(Reporting by Addis Ababa Newsroom; Editing by Gareth Jones)
MULHOUSE, France, November 17, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CellProthera SAS, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a novel cell therapy for the regeneration of damaged heart tissue and other impaired organs, has strengthened its executive management team to foster the development of its main clinical program and extend it to new therapeutic indications.

Ibon Garitaonandia is appointed Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). His extensive experience in drug discovery and in the development of novel stem cell products will accelerate the translation of CellProtheras cell therapy platform into new treatments for regenerative medicine. He has 15 years experience in stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and has worked at the Richmond Research Institute in London, Histocell in Spain and International StemCell Corporation in California, the first company to receive global regulatory approval to conduct a human pluripotent stem cell-based clinical trial for Parkinsons disease.

Henk Streefkerk, MD PhD, takes the role of Chief Medical Officer (CMO). He brings decades of leadership in clinical research to boost the strategic development of the company and advance its pipeline of novel therapeutic solutions. After graduating from the University Medical Center Utrecht, Henk worked as Clinical Pharmacologist for Organon/Schering-Plough in the Netherlands. He then joined Actelion in Switzerland before taking the positions of Translational Medicine Expert and later Senior Brand Safety Leader with Novartis in Basel. After Novartis, he worked as Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer of a biotech specialized in oncology in Basel.

Olivier Friedrich is appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO). His solid history of helping companies and start-ups to scale up in their development journey is key for CellProthera as it enters its next stage of development. A lecturer at EM Strasbourg in Finance and Regulation, Olivier brings 15 years of experience in corporate finance, internal control, accounting and tax matters. He held leadership positions with Ernst & Young for more than 10 years, leading financial audits and due diligence transactions for a wide spectrum of industrial firms and as CFO, supporting the cash and financing management of listed companies in the energy and car industry.

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"The arrival of these three talents - all experts in their field - in the executive management team is a great boost to our ambitious, multi-indications development program and position us ideally to accelerate our pathway to market.", stated Matthieu de Kalbermatten, Chairman of CellProthera. "The wealth of their international experience will be useful to shape and steer the company effectively during the next clinical and regulatory stages."

CellProthera develops a medical innovation that enables a heart damaged by a heart attack to regenerate by injecting stem cells originated from the patient's own blood.

As such, each patient becomes his own source of medicine!

The stem cell product ProtheraCytes is obtained from a proprietary technology developed by CellProthera. It is injected into the heart tissue to be regenerated. In a few months, the heart muscle will regain its functionality, thus avoiding future treatments that are often severe, and in some cases, the need for a heart transplant.

Contact us! www.cellprothera.com/fr/

The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006054/en/

Contacts

Press contact: Mediatiser  Antoine Monnier / amonnier@mediatiser.tv
Germans, Austrians line up for shots as COVID cases soar across Europe FILE PHOTO: Police patrol streets to check people's vaccination status

By Emma Thomasson and Francois Murphy

BERLIN/VIENNA (Reuters) -Germans and Austrians are rushing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as infections soar across Europe and governments impose restrictions on the unvaccinated, figures showed on Wednesday.

Germany and Austria have among the lowest rates of vaccination in western Europe and are now the epicentre of a

new wave of the pandemic as winter grips the continent.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week said he was cautious about rising cases in Europe, warning of gathering "storm clouds" of infections.

Britain has had much higher case loads than the rest of western Europe since the summer, but those rates are coming down just as they are rising in central and eastern Europe.

The German health ministry said 436,000 people received a shot on Tuesday, including 300,000 boosters, the highest number in about three months. Queues have been forming at vaccination centres around the country.

"It is a sign that many citizens have recognised the need,"

government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said. But he added that the vaccination rate was still not high enough.

About 65% of Austria's population is fully vaccinated and about 68% of Germany's, well behind the Netherlands and countries like Italy and Spain that were much harder hit in the early waves of the pandemic.

The Netherlands said it was running short of COVID-19 tests as it registered more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row, the highest since the pandemic began.

Sabine Dittmar, health expert for Germany's Social Democrats, said she hoped 1.4 million people could be vaccinated a day if shots are administered at companies, by family doctors and by mobile vaccine teams, as well as at vaccination centres.

DEMANDING PROOF

In Austria, the number of vaccines administered daily has jumped to about 73,000 in the last week, from around 20,000 in October, official data showed, although the vast majority of those were boosters rather than first shots.

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Austria has ordered a lockdown on the roughly two million people who are not fully vaccinated. It has one of the highest infection rates on the continent, with a seven-day incidence of 925 per 100,000 people, compared with 320 in Germany. Its total death toll from the pandemic stands at 11,848

Neighbouring Switzerland, which has not imposed restrictions on the unvaccinated, has had less success with a new vaccination drive - it only persuaded 35,000 to get their first shot in the last week.

Parts of Germany - including the capital Berlin - are demanding proof of vaccination or recent recovery from COVID-19 for all indoor leisure activities, a restriction that could be extended nationally at a meeting of officials on Thursday.

Germany also plans to force people using public transport or attending workplaces to provide a negative COVID-19 test, or proof of recovery or vaccination.

Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday described Germany's coronavirus situation as dramatic.

Germany reported 52,826 new infections on Wednesday - a jump of a third compared with a week ago and another daily record, while 294 people died, bringing the total death toll to 98,274.

"It is not too late to opt for a first vaccine shot," Merkel told a congress of German city mayors. "Everyone who gets vaccinated protects himself and others. And if enough people get vaccinated that is the way out of the pandemic."

The Czech Republic will ban people who have not been vaccinated from access to public events and services from Monday, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Wednesday, and negative tests will no longer be recognised.

The restrictions, to be approved by cabinet on Thursday, come after a spike in new infections to a record 22,479 on Tuesday.

Slovakia reported a record number of cases on Wednesday, and Hungary and Poland had the highest numbers in more than six months. Sweden plans to introduce COVID-19 vaccine passes at indoor events where more than 100 people attend.

(Additional reporting by Michael Shields in Vienna and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam;Writing by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Riham Alkousaa and Nick Macfie)
BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke again with Belarus's Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday, stressing the need to let the United Nations and the European Commission provide aid to migrants stranded at Belarus's border with Poland.

"Chancellor Merkel spoke again with Mr Lukashenko," her spokesperson wrote on Twitter. "She stressed the need, with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organisation for Migration and the cooperation of the European Commission, to provide humanitarian aid and repatriation facilities to the affected people."

As in the statement following Monday's phone call, spokesperson Steffen Seibert made no reference to Lukashenko being Belarus's President, referring to him purely as "Mr Lukashenko". Germany and most western countries do not recognise the victory he claimed in last August's election.

Belarus said the pair had come to "an understanding" in the call.

"Having discussed the refugees issue in depth, the parties came to a certain understanding on how to act and move further in solving the existing issues," BelTa state news agency quoted Lukashenko's press office as saying.

Lukashenko and Merkel agreed that the EU and officials from Belarus officials would talks as soon as possible, BelTa said.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin and Andrey Osroukh in Moscow; Editing by Madeline Chambers)
The 284% revenue growth is attributed to cross-industry demand for Interplay, Iterate.ais powerful low-code platform, and Signals, the unique innovation tracker analyzing 12.8 million technology companies in real-time



SAN JOSE, Calif. and DENVER, Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iterate.ai , whose innovation ecosystem enables customers to build production-ready low-code applications up to 17x faster than traditional programming, today announced that it has ranked 407 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 27th year. Iterate, which was also one of the 100 fastest-growing California companies, grew 284% during the 2017-2020 time period considered by Deloitte.

Iterate.ai earned its spot on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 without VC funding support. In addition, Iterate does not employ any sales people, and it also has virtually no marketing expenditures; most new business is initiated by world-of-mouth recommendations made by existing customers. The company anticipates continuing fast-paced revenue growth and momentum, forecasting 65% growth in 2022 in its most conservative projections.

Iterate.ais accelerated revenue growth is fueled by the unique strengths of the digital innovation ecosystem it provides to customers. The Interplay low-code platform unlocks incredibly rapid development, commercialization, and iteration of digital applications by leveraging code modules within an intuitive drag-and-drop environment. With 465 pre-built API nodes, Iterates patented low-code technology empowers customers across industries to leverage AI/ML, IoT, natural language processing, blockchain, data APIs, and countless advanced technologies without requiring the expensive and hard-to-find expertise to build or wield those technologies in-house. Interplay removes the complexity of testing and deploying these technologies by eliminating the need for hard coding. Iterates ecosystem also includes Signals , the companys real-time innovation tracker that helps customers connect the dots between seemingly unrelated technologies and find new platforms that can give them a competitive advantage .

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As organizations have embraced low-code strategies to leverage the most cutting-edge and competitively advantageous technologies, our maturing business has grown from small service retainers to now include seven-figure software licenses from global enterprises, said Jon Nordmark, CEO, Iterate.ai. Iterate has been at the forefront of enabling customers with low-code access to many of the most innovative technologies. Were proud that our efforts have allowed us to be recognized within the Deloitte Technology Fast 500.

Each year the Technology Fast 500 shines a light on leading innovators in technology and this year is no exception, said Paul Silverglate , vice chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology sector leader. In the face of innumerable challenges resulting from the pandemic, the best and brightest were able to pivot, reinvent and transform and grow. We celebrate the winning organizations and especially the talented employees driving their success.

The pandemic has underscored the urgent need for tech solutions in a variety of areas across health care, fintech, energy tech, entertainment, to name a few, so reliance on innovators like the winners of the Technology Fast 500 is more important than ever, said Christie Simons , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloittes audit & assurance practice. These companies are not only at the cutting edge, transforming the way we do business, but most importantly, recognize the strategic importance of ongoing innovation, especially in the ever-changing world of technology.

About Iterate.ai

Iterate is the worlds simplest, safest, and quickest way to get innovation done. The innovation platform facilitates the steps along your innovation workflow: from dreaming big with trend analysis and emerging tech evaluation, to building fast with microservices software for rapid application development. Iterate's platform has two patents granted and nearly a dozen more pending. The companys solutions appeal to executives and corporate innovators who seek low-risk, systematic ways to scale in-house, near-term digital innovation initiatives and long-term strategic planning. Iterate has a global presence in North America (Silicon Valley, Colorado), Europe, and Asia (India).

About the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Now in its 27th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2017 to 2020.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the companys operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

CONTACT: Iterate.ai Contact Kyle Peterson kyle@clementpeterson.com




The MoD said the pilot ejected and is safe (MoD/PA) (PA Media)

A British military fighter jet has crashed into the Mediterranean the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The pilot on board the F35 ejected from the aircraft before it crashed into the ocean, and has been found safe.

The F35s, estimated to be worth around 100 million each, are on board the 3 billion warship HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Former soldier Tobias Ellwood who chairs the Commons Defence Select Committee, said he had many questions about the crash.

F35B Lightning jets are on board the flagship aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (Cpl Lee Matty Matthews/MoD/PA) (PA Media)

The incident happened at around 10am UK time on Wednesday.

An MoD spokesman confirmed: A British F35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning.

The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.

Jets from the vessel previously participated in strikes against the remnants of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The 65,000-tonne Royal Navy flagship is returning to the UK from its maiden deployment, which included exercises with the Indian military.

It was part of the carrier strike groups deployment to the Indo-Pacific amid heightened tensions with China in the region.

The jets are operated by the renowned 617 Squadron, also known as the Dambusters squadron.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss spent time on board the vessel last month on the final day of her two-day visit to India.

Read More

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Cayuga County has reported a higher than expected growth in sales tax revenue for 2021. This is encouraging news for our local economy and a testament to our supportive community. In these challenging times, whether supply chain issues or concern for our area businesses compelled you, shoppers chose to spend their dollars locally. As we do every year around this time, we at the Cayuga Economic Development Agency are asking you again to think local while you are holiday shopping.

Tied-up inventory and labor uncertainties have led large retailers to launch their Black Friday deals far in advance of the actual shopping holiday. Im sure your mailboxes and inboxes have already been stuffed with big box offers. Save some of your holiday budget for Small Business Saturday, too.

Small Business Saturday, which occurs the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, is a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. This year, Small Business Saturday is Nov. 27. Many of the small businesses in our community will be participating in the festivities this year by offering promotions and special deals, so head to our downtowns and local stores to check them out.

Rather shop from the comfort of your home or office? Visit the social media page or website of your favorite local store, restaurant or business. Sign up for the Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District weekly email, which has holiday specials, discounts and incentives for Small Business Saturday and other information about businesses in downtown Auburn. The Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce offers an online directory that lists chamber member businesses by category and will aide your local holiday shopping adventures. Search for #shopcayuga on almost any social media platform for a plethora of posts suggesting where to shop local.

All of this searching for gifts will surely work up an appetite. Head over to the Cayuga County Office of Tourisms website for a listing of local restaurants and craft breweries. While you place your order, why not add a gift card or two to check off of your list that stocking stuffer, employee gift or present for the person who has everything?

The Taste NY store at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center (25 South St., Auburn) has nothing but made-in-New York items, many from right here in Cayuga County. Cant pick just one thing? They also put together local product holiday baskets. And dont forget about swag, tickets, memberships and gift certificates from your favorite arts venue or historic site.

Small Business Saturday is about more than just shopping, its about community sustainability. Buying from our Cayuga County small retailers and service providers means that the businesses themselves can continue to operate and grow. In turn, the local business can then reinvest a portion of those dollars locally. They can invest in the growth of their own business by improving their building or adding new product lines. They can invest in their workers, who then can go out and spend more money locally. They can invest in other local businesses by sourcing products and/or services locally, and then those businesses can go on to invest in all the same ways. The other aforementioned investment you make by shopping local is through sales tax. Sales tax revenue helps local governments pay for services and programs, which helps to offset property taxes. Shopping local means that a portion of your sales tax dollars help our local community.

Lets keep this trend of revenue growth going for our county. Local spending has exponentially positive effects that arent exclusive to promotions or to Small Business Saturday. Thank you for continuing to buy from our local businesses all year round. Every dollar you spend locally is an expression of support, which is essential to the well-being of our local economy and community.

Devon Roblee is marketing coordinator for the Cayuga Economic Development Agency. For more information, call (315) 252-3500 or visit cayugaeda.org, or contact her at droblee@cayugaeda.org.

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My earliest memories of chestnuts go back to my childhood, back to my days at Genesee Street school. The original one. There were three or four huge chestnut trees near the building, and during the fall season you could seldom get away without being hit by half a dozen chestnuts thrown by other kids or falling from a tree. It wasnt bad while the green husks were on, but when you got hit by the bare chestnut, you knew it.

At that age, I could not understand the warning that you should not eat those nuts. They were poisonous. I could not understand why we could eat them at home, but these could be very poisonous. Mostly they would cause diarrhea, nausea and lack of coordination, even death. Eventually, it was explained that these were a totally different kind  same genus, different species.

The edible chestnut is very good for you. Slightly sweet and with some crunch, they are loaded with nutrients. They are very versatile and can be added to any number of dishes, like salads and poultry stuffing. I have been served a delicious chestnut soup, and I remember my Mom using chestnut flour in her cooking. Her chestnut flour cake was delicious. They are certainly not a cure-all, but looking at the nutrition charts and other information on the web, I would say that they contribute to our well-being in many ways. Chestnuts are truly a health food.

Actually, the chestnut tree thrived here and was a most important timber tree in the Northeast. Then, in the late 19th century, this native American tree was infected with chestnut blight, a disease from China. There was no cure, and the trees were devastated. By the early 1930s they had all but disappeared. It has been estimated that that between 3 and 4 billion trees died.

Today, some are being grown in North America, but it is not a big crop. If you have chestnuts on the table this Thanksgiving, they probably came from the 1.8 million tons that China produces. Turkey and Korea are the next largest producers, while Italy is fourth on the list with a paltry 39,000 tons.

I enjoy them as a snack at this time of the year. First they are healthy, and two ounces has about a hundred calories  almost no fats, salt or cholesterol, and only 22 grams of carbs. Try getting a candy bar with those numbers. Actually, it has been in only recent years that I have been able to easily enjoy them. They are now available without that difficult-to-remove shell. You had to roast them or boil them, peel them and eat them before they dried out. Now I see them at grocery stores in jars, making life easier. I have always dreaded doing my Thanksgiving stuffing, because peeling that pound of chestnuts took a lot of time when you were busy.

Then, walking through Costco several years ago, there they were  shelled, moist and in 2-ounce packages, six to the box. It was heaven and I enjoy them all the time. And my turkey stuffing tastes better now that I dont have to use all those terrible words while peeling chestnuts.

So now that I have found a good source of peeled chestnuts, while researching for this column I learned that the easiest way to peel chestnuts is to steam them. Cut each chestnut in half, horizontally, and place them in a steamer basket. Put 2 inches of water in a pot and place the steamer basket so it is an inch or two above the boiling water. Cover the pot and let them steam for 15 or 20 minutes. Cool slightly, and your knife will easily lift the half chestnut out for you.

Chestnuts are for more than eating out of hand. Be daring. Think of the possibilities. Add them to a salad for flavor and a bit of a soft crunch. Bake an acorn squash with chestnuts, apples and leeks. I would bet that oven-roasting a sliced acorn squash with chestnuts and pomegranate seeds would have a wonderful flavor. The possibilities are endless. Bon appetite.

Be safe. Wear the mask.

Carmen Cosentino operates Cosentino's Florist in Auburn with his daughter, Jessica. He was elected to the National Floriculture Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2008, received the Tommy Bright award for lifetime achievements in floral education. In 2016, Carmen and Jessica were presented Teleflora's Tom Butler Award, naming Cosentino's the florist of the year at the company's annual meeting in Hawaii. Carmen can be reached at cosenti@aol.com or (315) 253-5316.

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After gradually declining over the past several weeks, the number of Cayuga County residents hospitalized with COVID-19 has started to increase.

The Cayuga County Health Department reported in its situational update Wednesday that 14 county residents were in an Auburn or Syracuse hospital with the coronavirus. That's up from six a week earlier.

A similar pattern can be seen in regional hospitalization data reported by the state Department of Health. Its figures showed there were 144 COVID-19 patients in Central New York hospitals as of Monday, the highest level in more than 10 days.

For Cayuga County, all of the reported hospitalizations are for residents age 50 and older, with 11 of them age 60 and older. Half of the 14 are vaccinated.

In recent days, state officials have been urging vaccinated residents to get booster shots if they are eligible, and Gov. Kathy Hochul said anyone who lives in a high-risk region  which covers all of Central New York, Western New York and the Finger Lakes  get a booster if they are outside the waiting period from a previous shot.

"Anyone who lives in a high-transmission area and personally feels at risk of catching this virus  and it's hard to imagine anybody who doesn't  should go and get a booster now," Hochul said Tuesday.

The governor also urged New Yorkers to be careful and smart during the holiday season.

"Before I had Thanksgiving dinner, I would want to know before I invited anybody outside of my immediate family if they are vaccinated," she said. "That is a fair and legitimate question to ask. If grandma and grandpa are there, I would take the time right now to make sure they got their booster shot."

In addition to reporting hospitalization numbers, the county health department said it placed 36 more people into its isolation program on Tuesday, with 25 of those residents not vaccinated. The total number of active cases climbed to 246, up from 212 a week ago.

The department is also continuing to administer vaccine clinics for children ages 5 to 11, the demographic most recently authorized by federal health agencies to be eligible for the Pfizer shot series.

The department has clinics scheduled at Auburn's Casey Park, Genesee and Seward elementary schools on Thursday. Next week, clinics are set at the following times and places: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at Cato-Meridian and and Moravia elementary schools; 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at Port Byron elementary school; and 9 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, at Weedsport elementary school.

The health department said parents should contact the schools directly for information on registering their children.

In addition, a county-wide clinic for children is also scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 20, at the Fingerlakes Mall. Advance registration is required and can be made by visiting cayugacounty.us/health. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, 59 appointments were available for that clinic.

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A canal rewatering project is gaining momentum in Cayuga County as the local tourism industry  particularly recreational boating  looks to receive a significant lift.

Representatives of the Cayuga County Planning and Economic Development Department, the town of Brutus and Bergmann Associates DPC in Rochester presented the findings of the first phase of the Erie Canal Re-Watering and Trail Connections Project during a public information meeting held in Weedsport Monday night.

Phase 1 involved a flood study to determine whether the 3.4-mile portion of the Enlarged Erie Canal between Schasel Park in the village of Port Byron and Aqueduct Park in Brutus can be rewatered to support recreational boating activities. Also impacted by the project is the town of Mentz.

The project is funded by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, Brutus and Cayuga County.

Construction would begin following acquiring additional funding and support for the final design.

The plan calls for infrastructure work at Schasel Park, a new regulated dam at the east end of the canal project, dredging to meet the original dimensions of the now-defunct canal section, and replacement of the culvert at Centerport Road. A new bridge will be constructed at Centerport Road, and no new water sources will be added.

John Steinmetz, community planning consultant for Bergmann Associates, helped provide an overview of the project at this week's public meeting. As lead on the project, the engineering firm is handling the hydrology, environmental, bridge design and trail enhancement portions of the plan.

The goal is to primarily create a recreational destination and regional attraction, Steinmetz said. He noted the project will result in economic development and an upgrade in quality of life for residents, while providing venues for recreational enthusiasts such as cyclists who use the Erie Canal Trail and people who may be attracted to operating hand-powered boats such as kayaks on a rewatered trail.

It will add to the vitality and quality of life for residents and also attract visitors and potentially economic development that comes with that, he added.

Steinmetz said the goal is to establish relatively consistent water depths of approximately 3-to-4 feet in the rewatered portion of the canal.

That can be accomplished without aggravating any flood issues that the area particularly Port Byron  has experienced in the recent past, the first phase study showed.

The project's first phase encompassed a drainage study and assessment of alternatives, while the second phase involves testing, permitting, bridge and trail design. Phase 2 is expected to be complete by December 2022.

For the project to come to fruition, state Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation grant representatives need to approve the plan.

Greg Hutnik, senior planner/GIS (Geographic Information Systems) analyst with the county planning and economic development office, spoke about the tourism impact for the canal corridor communities in the county.

The proposed project is needed to help surrounding towns and villages leverage NYS Canal Heritage investments, he said. This project is an essential component of an overall strategy to capitalize on economic opportunities available as a result of recent and robust state investment in the new Lock 52 Canal Heritage Park on the New York State Thruway and along the Empire State Trail system.

The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor has made nearly 100 grants to communities and nonprofit organizations since 2008 that have spurred nearly $2.5 million in additional investments in heritage preservation, recreation and education, according to the organization.

Recent grants were received earlier this year to improve the Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron and the Montezuma Audubon Center.

Hutnik said the study showed that flooding issues "will not be exacerbated by the recommended solution to re-water the Enlarged Erie Canal in the project area, and may even help reduce the chances for flooding."

Total project funding for the full design and engineering phase  including the flood study  is $557,735, of which $418,300 is funded through the state grant and the remainder shared between the town of Brutus and Cayuga County, Hutnik said.

New York state was among the states with the greatest declines in travel, tourism and outdoor recreation employment due to the pandemic. Despite this, Hutnik said it is feasible to take on a tourism-related project of this magnitude.

Projects that promote tourism are even more needed in light of this reported decline in tourism, he said.

In tandem with the public information meeting, a three-day conference hosted by the Canal Society of New York State and the state Canal Corp. concluded Monday in Schenectady.

This years conference focused on enhancing and promoting the canal system, a priority under the states Reimagine the Canals initiative launched in 2019.

The initiative is aimed at celebrating the history and recreational potential of the Erie Canal as a driver of economic development and tourism for canal-side communities and the state while leveraging infrastructure upgrades to lessen the threat of flooding and improve quality of life.

The state has reportedly built off those goals during the pandemic by highlighting the canal system as a destination of outdoor recreational activities and promoting new ways to experience the historic waterway through camping, kayaking, fishing and more.

Cayuga County has 12 miles of canal, from the Richmond Aqueduct in Montezuma to Lock 51 on the Onondaga/Cayuga County line.

Jeremy Boyer can be reached at (315) 282-2231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @CitizenBoyer

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- The premium EV brand of Dongfeng Motor, VOYAH, introduced the brands second vehicle model, also the worlds first luxury large-size battery-electric MPV model, at an event last night.

Photo credit: VOYAH



The VOYAH MPV has enriched the brands product lineup, given that the other existing model, the VOYAH FREE, is an SUV. The company plans to build its product lineup across SUVs, MPVs, and sedans in the next three years and introduce at least one new model every year.

Photo credit: VOYAH

The VOYAH MPV is considered spacious compared to other models in its class, with dimensions of 5315mm in length, 1980mm in width, 1810mm in height, and 3200mm of wheelbase. The profile of the car inherits the brands signature yacht design concept.

Photo credit: VOYAH

As a pure-electric vehicle, the MPV is built on Dongfeng Motors electric platform ESSA, with a performance approach. The car can run from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds, the fastest MPV on the market.

The MPV also adopts a double wishbone suspension in the front and a multi-link suspension in the back, as the worlds first among MPVs.

As an intelligent MPV, the VOYAH MPV is equipped with an infotainment and office system with 5G connectivity, L2+ autonomous functions, and OTA capability. The vehicle has a super-strength rigid body and intelligent fatigue detection system, ensuring maximized safety.

The VOYAH MPV will be showcased at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show, starting November 19th.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto, the EV startup owning the brand NETA is reportedly raising another financing round with an $800 million bottom line and a $1 billion top limit.



NETA U Pro; photo credit: NETA Auto



Last week, there were talks about HOZON Autos pursuit for an upcoming IPO in Hong Kong, with its goal of raising roughly $1 billion for the IPO. Sources close to the matter also said that the company sought professional consultation for the potential IPO happening as early as 2022.

At the time, HOZON Autos PR said that they were not familiar with the matter, much like they responded this time for the financing rumor.

NETA V; photo credit: NETA Auto



On November 8th, HOZON Auto announced that it has partnered with major battery player CATL for corresponding technology development and enhancing the automotive supply chain. CATL would also participate in the automakers D2 round of financing.

Earlier, at the end of October, HOZON Auto landed RMB4 billion ($625.665 million) in its D1 round of financing, where the leading investor, 360 Security, poured RMB2 billion ($312.832 million).

Notably, the rumored financing round took place after the D1 round and right before its reported Hong Kong IPO. It is reasonable to assume that this $1 billion worth of financing round is HOZON Autos Pre IPO investments, indicating the IPO is coming soon.
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

SAIC VW denies production suspension of Santana

SAIC Volkswagen, the joint venture of SAIC Motor and Volkswagen Group, said that the production, sales, and service of the Santana, is undergoing normally, and sales remain stable.

Photo credit: SAIC VW

Great Wall Motor receives RMB 636 million as subsidies

Great Wall Motor said that from May 14 to October 31, the group and its subsidiaries received a total of RMB 636 million subsidies from government. The sum accounts for 11.86% of the groups net profit attributable to shareholders of the period.

ZTO Freight set up new firm in Guangzhou

ZTO Freight registered a new company in Guangzhou with a registered capital of RMB 1 million. The new companys business scope ranges from loading and moving to car rental, sales of automotive parts.

Leapmotor increases registered capital

The registered capital of Leapmotor increased to RMB1.012 billion. The company was founded in 2015 with business scope covering from the development, design of new energy vehicles and automotive parts.

SGMWs 25,000,000th vehicle rolls off production line

SAIC-GM-Wuling (Wuling) celebrated a historic moment with its 250,000,000th vehicle rolling off the production line, marking the milestone of the first Chinese company to produce and sell 25 million vehicles.



HOZON Auto reportedly kicks off Pre-IPO investment round

HOZON Auto, the EV startup owning the brand NETA is reportedly raising another financing round with an $800 million bottom line and a $1 billion top limit.



MAXIEYE completes RMB300 million B round led by Desay SV

China's intelligent driving and mobility solution developer, MAXIEYE, completed its Series-B round of financing with RMB300 million ($47.05 million) raised, led by Desay SV, according to the company.



SenseTime joins hands with FAW subsidiary for intelligent vehicle mass-production

AI company SenseTime has teamed up with the AI development arm of FAW Group, FAW Nanjing Technology, to promote the development and mass-production of new-generation intelligent vehicles.



Ambilight closes Series C round, with BYD, NIO Capital as strategic investors

Electrochromic technology developer Ambilight Inc today announced that it has completed the Series C round financing, through which it managed to raise hundreds of millions of dollars.



VOYAH unveils first electric MPV, showcasing at Guangzhou Auto Show

The premium EV brand of Dongfeng Motor, VOYAH, introduced the brands second vehicle model, also the worlds first luxury large-size battery-electric MPV model, at an event last night.



WeRide introduces driverless Robotaxi with GAC Group, OnTime

China's leading autonomous driving startup, WeRide, announced today that it has entered into another strategic cooperation with GAC Group and its subsidiary mobility service platform OnTime to further its Robotaxi commercialization.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- AI company SenseTime has teamed up with the AI development arm of FAW Group, FAW Nanjing Technology, to promote the development and mass-production of new-generation intelligent vehicles.

Signing ceremony; photo credit: SenseTime



The two companies will work together in the aspects of intelligent assistant driving solutions, autonomous driving technologies, smart cockpit, data platform service, and many others.

FAW Nanjing is a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Chinas major auto group, FAW Group. The company completes FAW Groups automotive AI layout, with a target to remold the human mobility experience.

With FAW Nanjings ample onboard data resources and SenseTimes SenseAuto intelligent vehicle platform, the mass-produced vehicles of FAWs Hongqi brand will be incorporated with a slew of advanced intelligent technologies.

Photo credit: SenseTime

From visual perception, multi-sensor integrated perception ADAS functions, to intelligent cabin services based on driver/passenger perceptions, the two companies aim to bring users a more intelligent and safe onboard experience.

Moreover, the partners will also create a data closed loop of R&D-testing-optimization to improve their algorithm iteration and shorten the product development cycle.

As of now, SenseAuto has attracted over 30 automakers worldwide, providing services for over 50 vehicle models. The company plans to deploy its SenseAuto products on over 20 million vehicles in the coming years.
LOS ANGELES  San Francisco-based Kink.com has signed a deal with Skinfluential Media, the management arm of Mr. Skin, to oversee operation of the companys flagship website. The deal will allow owner and CEO Peter Acworth to focus more fully on content development, toy design, and emerging sextech to grow the Kink brand.



Mr. Skin is a gold-standard in content management and branding, says Acworth. From our first conversation, I was impressed by their teams creative energy and clear enthusiasm for our vast library of content. By letting them grow the site and our overall audience, my team can now more fully concentrate on bringing and developing new content and product.



Acworth returned to the helm of Kink.com in September, after a three-year hiatus. He immediately began looking to streamline operations so that the company could more effectively move into growth markets like toys and fan content. Skinfluential Media, an industry leader known for successfully managing and marketing large libraries of content, quickly emerged as a leading contender.



When Peter approached me with the opportunity to take over management of Kink's subscription business, I was immediately intrigued, says Sam Rakowski, president of Skinfluential Media. I've always respected the brand he built and their unique position in the adult industry. My vision is to help evolve Kink.com from a massive warehouse of content to more of a museum-like experience, focusing on content curation and discovery for Kink's users while adding more interactive features.



Skinfluential Media will manage site operations and grow the companys subscription business, integrating best-in-class technology to improve user experience and pioneering new partnerships to expand the brands reach.



After nearly 25 years of running a website, its liberating to be able to think again like a start-up, and to prioritize innovation and growth, says Acworth. This is the beginning of an exciting new era for both me and the company.
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A poster at an ongoing exhibition of French luxury powerhouse Christian Dior in Shanghai has been slammed by social media users as "uglifying Chinese women."

The picture was taken by famous Chinese portrait photographer Chen Man, considered China's Annie Leibovitz in fashion photography. It shows a woman of Asian origin with her eyes rolled back, swollen eyelids, freckles, smoked eyeshadow and long fingernail protectors, which were worn by people of nobility during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), holding a Lady Dior, one of the brand's well-known handbags.

Chinese social media users were largely spooked by the "eerie and creepy atmosphere" portrayed in the poster and were offended by it.

Others suggested that the well-known photographer was pampering to Western tastes and stereotypes.

The fashion brand has removed the controversial poster from its social media platforms but didn't offer any explanation.

Most netizens consider that Western brands choose models with slanted and narrow eyes and freckles because these traits fit their perceptions of Chinese women.

Netizens discovered a previous collection of 12 covers taken by Chen for the iconic British fashion magazine i-D contained similar elements.





Christian Dior is not the first fashion brand to draw the ire of netizens. Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana infuriated Chinese people with several videos it released to promote a fashion show in Shanghai in 2018.

In the videos, a Chinese-looking woman is being told how to use chopsticks to have Italian food.

A voiceover in Chinese that many users slammed as "condescending" and "patronizing" tells the model how to "use this stick-shaped cutlery to eat your great traditional Pizza Margherita."

The show was canceled at the last minute and the two founders of the brand apologized.





A Chinese-looking woman is being told how to use chopsticks to have Italian food in the video.
A man was hiking near a stream in Waipio, Oahu when he came across a "horrific" stench. It smelled like alcohol, but really intense, like "a beer pub that hadn't opened its doors for three or four days," according to local activist Carroll Cox, who came more than a week later to investigate after contacted by the hiker.

Turns out booze of some sort was the culprit contaminating the stream, which contained 1.2% alcohol, thanks to Paradise Beverages, "the state's largest distributors of alcohol and liquor," according to The Washington Post. Paradise owns a warehouse right near the spiked stream.

From The Washington Post:

Cox said he was not surprised by the striking stench near the beverage company in Waipio, which is about 15 miles northwest of Honolulu. He said that kind of thing is "commonplace" in Hawaii  in the past, he's found streams contaminated with paint and cement.   Cox and a few colleagues drove northbound on the freeway near Paradise Beverages. They could smell the reek as they looked for the storm drain. They soon found ropes attached to a guard railing, which they used to rappel down.  Cox filed his complaint on Nov. 8, and the health department notified him the next day that the Hawaii Department of Transportation was inspecting the drain pipe because it is the state agency's property. Later that day, Cox learned that officials determined the dumping was coming from Paradise Beverages, which "was directed to stop the discharge," the email reviewed by The Post said. Paradise Beverages and the state departments of health and transportation did not immediately respond to The Post's requests for comment early Thursday. Cox said he is pleased with how quickly the departments responded to his complaint. But he added that he is still cautious knowing that politics tend to "creep into the matter of environmental issues."

Paradise Beverages, meanwhile, says it "still isn't sure what's causing the spill."
A woman who threw hot soup at an employee in a Temple, Texas restaurant was arrested Wednesday and charged with assault. As is now often the case, the abusive behavior might have gone unpunished were it not for viral video of the coup de soup.

After calling to complain, Martinez "returned to the restaurant and started a verbal altercation," police said. During the altercation, Martinez stated the soup she picked up was hot and that the plastic lid placed on top of it had melted. After calling to complain, Martinez "returned to the restaurant and started a verbal altercation," police said. During the altercation, Martinez stated the soup she picked up was hot and that the plastic lid placed on top of it had melted. "She then proceeded to throw the soup at the victim and left before officers arrived," police said.

Adds local Deputy Police Chief Allen Teston: "If a citizen believes they have received poor service we advise them to remain civil until the problem is resolved."

The customer, identified as Amanda Nicole Martinez, 31, has also been banned for life by Sol De Jalisco.

Correction: Temple is in Texas, not Arizona.
I've written here before the Rod of Iron Ministries Church, an off-shoot of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, which went viral back in 2018 for hosting a group wedding vow renewal ceremony where people also married their guns. Earlier this year, Rod of Iron Ministries founder Pastor Hyung Jin "Sean" Moon bought a new compound for the church in Texas which further amplifies its creepy cult vibes; the family also owns a firearms manufacturing company, under the leadership of his elder brother, Justin.

The two Moons are the children of Sun Myung Moon, a Korean immigrant and self-proclaimed Messiah figure who also owned several successful business ventures and invested in many others. One of those investments  as I just learned from this delightful New York Times article about the secret history of sushi  was a company called True World Foods, founded by a member of the Unification Church named Takeshi Yashiro. Though sushi certainly existed before the founding of the Unification Church, Moon's business ventures helped to popularize the food in the United States:

By the time Yashiro and the other "fish pioneers" listened in the ballroom, Unification Church International had already poured more than $10 million into shipyards and seafood operations on every coast of the continental United States, including a processing plant in Alaska. It would go on to spend tens of millions more. But someone needed to sell the catch. Moon's idea, the pioneers say, was for them to peddle it door to door from refrigerated vans, and to proselytize at the same time. [] It is tempting to perceive True World Foods as a profit-minded conglomerate with a colorful yet ultimately peripheral religious back story  the sushi equivalent of Marriott, which has been guided for decades by public shareholders and has sometimes made business decisions at odds with the Mormon beliefs of its founding family (by serving alcohol, for example). Instead, it's more accurate to imagine a fish company guided for most of its history by the equivalent of Joseph Smith and his immediate disciples. Throughout True World's existence, foundational aspects of its identity  who will lead, where and how and when to expand, messaging at annual meetings, what purpose the business should serve, what sacrifices employees should accept and why  have defied the business world's usual gravity and been shaped, directly or indirectly, by the pull of Moon.

It's a long, fascinating article, with lots to unpack about both the evolution of sushi, and about international trade, Korean and Japanese diaspora, and the questionable legal power of religious business entanglements. I recommend reading the whole thing. But mostly, it's pretty wild to think that a Christian Nationalist gun cult could be so intimately tied to the sushi industry.

The Untold Story of Sushi in America [Daniel Fromson / New York Times]

Image: Public Domain via PxHere

Full disclosure: I also write for Wirecutter, which is owned by The New York Times Company, which publishes the New York Times.
WASHINGTON  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to claim a moral victory Thursday after his day at the White House did little to defuse an escalating continental dispute over President Joe Biden's plans to encourage Americans to buy more electric vehicles.

Trudeau and several senior cabinet ministers arrived in the U.S. capital hoping to convince Biden that his proposed tax incentive worth up to $12,500 to a prospective new-car buyer would kneecap Canada's auto industry.

They depart Friday with little to show for their efforts, leaving behind an administration that sounds unwilling to plot a different course and determined to focus its efforts on selling American-made cars and trucks built with U.S. union labour.

"In a relationship as big and as deep and as all-encompassing for so many of us, as is the relationship between Canada and the United States, there are always going to be challenges coming up," Trudeau said.

"As we solve some, new ones will arise, and what is most important is that we have strong, direct lines of communication and that we engage with them in constructive ways. That is exactly what we've done."

During their customary fireside photo op in the Oval Office, Biden offered little evidence he was in a conciliatory mood, offering the usual bilateral pleasantries but promptly shutting down questions about the burgeoning dispute.

"We're going to talk about that, to some extent," Biden said, noting that the measure  part of a $1.75-trillion climate change and social spending measure central to his Build Back Better agenda  was a long way from becoming the law of the land.

"There's a lot of complicating factors."

As the meeting continued far from the glare of TV cameras, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was herself taking questions about Canada's claim that the proposal violates NAFTA's continental trade successor, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

Story continues

"We don't view it that way, I think its safe to say," Psaki said.

"The electric vehicles component of the package is something the president is personally very excited about because he believes it's an industry of the future, an industry that can help create good-paying union jobs.

"It will help consumers. It will help incentivize the purchasing of electric vehicles and the driving of electric vehicles  something that's good for our climate."

As if to punctuate the trip, the House of Representatives was debating the Build Back Better legislation throughout the evening, precisely as Trudeau was taking questions at the Canadian Embassy, with hopes high that it might pass before daybreak.

The bill will face a rougher ride in the evenly divided Senate, where passage is far from guaranteed, and West Virginia Sen. Joe Mancin  a moderate Democrat  has already expressed misgivings about the tax-credit measure.

The proposal is a major concern for automakers in both Canada and Mexico. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday warned it could become "the dominant issue" of the Canada-U.S. relationship.

But it wasn't the only sore spot: Trudeau said he directly raised concerns about the administration's strident Buy American protectionist policies, as well as the cross-border Line 5 oil pipeline, which Michigan is trying to shut down.

He made the remarks following what he called an "extremely effective" trilateral summit at the White House with Biden and his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador  the first so-called Three Amigos summit since 2016.

Trudeau was noncommittal when asked whether the federal government would consider a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, which Biden said earlier was something he was considering.

The trilateral summit between Trudeau, Biden and Lopez Obrador unfolded in the ornate East Room of the White House.

Seated at a large oval table with Biden on one side and Trudeau and Lopez Obrador safely physically distanced on the other, they each spoke of prioritizing the physical and economic health of their shared continent and respective residents.

"Our North American vision for the future draws on our shared strengths, as well as three vibrant democracies with dynamic populations and economies, wishing to work together," Biden said.

"We can meet today and we can meet all the challenges, if we just take the time to speak to one another, by working together."

Trudeau thanked Biden for playing host and described himself as being among friends with a shared priority of "ending" COVID-19 and ensuring strong supply chains between all three countries.

"We are three countries with extremely strong ties between our people, with our values and visions for the future strongly united," he said.

He described the USMCA as a "world-class" deal that protects workers' rights and allows all three countries to work together on the climate crisis.

Canada and Mexico agreed to redistribute millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses they received from the United States to other Western Hemisphere countries.

Biden is also reviving a North American working group on violence against Indigenous women and girls, an initiative Trudeau announced with former U.S. president Barack Obama in Ottawa in 2016.

The three leaders also plan to strengthen their united effort to address the migration crisis that has seen millions of asylum seekers from Central America crashing Mexico's borders. Venezuela's economic and political crisis is expected to produce six million refugees by the end of the year.

Canada is expected to be added to the U.S.-Mexico supply chain working group to make it a North America-wide effort aimed at minimizing future disruptions for the continent. The new working group will look at defining essential industries, including critical minerals.

Trudeau used his first day in Washington on Wednesday to talk up Canada's competitive advantage on critical minerals, which are used in batteries for computers, cellphones, electric vehicles and other essential items.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2021.

James McCarten, The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the U.S. was planning a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
By Vera Eckert, Stephen Jewkes and Isla Binnie

(Reuters) - As world leaders hammered out a deal last week to slow climate change, gas engineer Michele Ricciardi was digging into a practical problem: How thousands of miles of pipelines across Italy and Europe can safely carry hydrogen.

The Italian is at the forefront of gas carriers' efforts to prepare for a lower carbon future: If fossil fuels are phased out in coming decades, natural gas companies believe that should not mean the infrastructure that carries them must go too. They want to repurpose pipelines to carry zero-emissions hydrogen after countries wean themselves off natural gas.

The effort by nearly two dozen companies reflects the accelerating pace of planning taking place in the global oil and gas industry, from drillers to refiners, keen to adapt as governments and activists ramp up the pressure to slash greenhouse gases. Besides practical preparation, the transition puts firms into competition with other energy sources for funding, even as they invest billions of euros in markets they can't predict.

The hydrogen project - involving Italy's Snam SpA, Spain's Enagas S.A. and Germany's Open Grid Europe (OGE) among others  would rely on vast solar farms as far flung as the Sahara desert to create the energy needed to produce hydrogen from water.

That fuel would then be piped to Europe's industrial heartland along the existing web of natural gas pipelines  a 198,500 km (123,300 mile) network that, if untangled, could encircle the equator four times.

"Once we have the sun of the Sahara in German factories ... that's like the Roman roads we are still walking on today," Ricciardi's boss Marco Alvera, chief executive of Snam, told Reuters. "It's forever."

The companies want to form a European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) to prevent the pipelines from rusting up into what the industry calls "stranded assets." They calculate that some 69% of existing pipelines can be converted for up to 81 billion euros ($94 billion).

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The project is one of hundreds of plans to build a hydrogen economy, which the European Union says could involve investments of up to 460 billion euros by 2030.

A hydrogen supply network could add to Europe's energy security: The bloc currently relies on natural gas to meet 28% of its energy needs, with a third of the gas from Russia. Politicians have recently accused Moscow of holding back supplies as gas prices climbed to record levels. Russia says it has filled all its contractual requirements.

"I think it's a brilliant idea," Frans Timmermans, European Commissioner for Climate Action, told Reuters. Adapting existing natural gas networks to transport hydrogen is about 25% of the cost of building a new infrastructure for renewable energy, he said.

But the European Union is not providing cash for the venture - that must come from industry or national governments. So it will need political and industrial support.

To succeed, the gas grids need to be able to direct hydrogen blended with natural gas to the customers who can use it  like steelmakers, chemical companies and refineries. The supply needs to be safe, and volumes big enough for it to be affordable.

Eventually - if green hydrogen can be provided in huge quantities - the auto industry and home heating suppliers may also start to use it. But that wouldn't be before 2030, studies show.

The gas grid companies say their main challenge now is the fact Europe has no regulatory framework for them to adapt the network. "The regulation needs to define hydrogen as a gas that can be transported and used similarly to natural gas," said Maria Sicilia, strategy director at Enagas. If the regulation sets standards, she said, the networks can be interlinked.

VOLATILITY

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, mostly occurring bound to oxygen in water. But it's also one of the most highly combustible. In the past, dozens of hydrogen airships that exploded or burned, including the Hindenburg fire of 1937, have convinced many that hydrogen is highly risky.

Snam and other companies say their industry has decades of experience, having built the infrastructure in the first place, so hydrogen need be no more hazardous than other fuels used today. If hydrogen leaks into the open air, it rises and its concentration falls rapidly below the explosive level, according to Zukunft Gas, a German gas lobby.

From his office near Snam's critical gas-flow room at Milan headquarters, Ricciardi and his team have for the past three years combed bit by bit through Europe's biggest gas transport network to make sure it can handle the gas. Snam has said it is ready to spend more than 3 billion euros on the replacement of gas pipelines that are hydrogen-compliant.

"We've been moving natural gas around for the last 80 years," says Ricciardi, whose job is to establish standards that the industry can agree to make pipes safe. "Now we've got to do it with hydrogen."

Flammability is just one problem. Compared to natural gas, hydrogen also leaks more easily because its molecules are smaller. Its flow patterns are different, and it even attacks some grades of steel, making them brittle.

The changes needed will vary by gas grid, but companies must examine pipes meticulously to make sure the steel is sound and the seals airtight. Compressor stations along the way may need to be adapted, and installations will be fitted with sensors to track leaks and then vent and divert them.

The oil and other industries already use hydrogen as a feedstock - Germany's supply amounts to the equivalent of about a tenth of its power usage, mostly in steel and chemicals. But that gas is made using fossil fuels and is known as "grey" hydrogen [nL4N2S72U5].

The pipeline network already includes four lines connecting Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia with Spain and Italy.

"The problem now of course is that it is filled with natural gas," said Ad van Wijk, a professor of future energy systems at Delft Technical University. But "the backbone is already in place," he said. He advocates linking up Europe and Africa to run Europe's energy system on 50% renewable energy and 50% green hydrogen.

Cost is another concern. So far, "green" hydrogen has been produced mostly for experimental projects. It costs four to five times more than the grey variety to produce.

To cut that, the industry and consumers need to scale up production and demand.

Snam's Alvera says solar panels in southern Spain, the Sahara and parts of the Middle East can provide cheap renewable electricity to power electrolysis plants which pump hydrogen into the repurposed pipes. Spain is already one of the cheapest sites in Europe to produce renewable electricity, according to industry association Solar Power Europe, and costs are projected to fall.

Meanwhile, the companies say they can also carry gas produced from fossil fuels but with the resulting emissions captured - known as "blue" hydrogen.

Thomas Deser, a senior portfolio manager at huge German fund Union Investment, is sceptical. He believes that "before the middle of the decade, without subsidies, you cannot make any money from producing green hydrogen."

RIVAL CLAIMS

The hydrogen backbone is now in competition for state money. Germany is Europe's biggest energy consumer. Berlin has pledged 9 billion euros up to 2030 to develop a green hydrogen industry, two billion of it earmarked to boost imports from partner countries such as Morocco, Chile, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

But electricity is another fast-growing source of relatively clean power, and Germany's electricity transmission network is also in growing demand. Germany plans to spend 1 billion euros by 2025 on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, plus hundreds of millions more on purchasing premiums and tax breaks.

The country is home to the world's biggest carmaker by volume, Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen AG. While car firms are developing hydrogen fuel-cell prototypes alongside battery cars, Europe's automakers don't see hydrogen as their first choice of power.

VW has already committed billions of euros to battery-based electric vehicle technology. It told Reuters it believes changes in powering mobility must take place in large volumes. Herbert Diess, VW's CEO, tweeted in May that "the hydrogen car is proven to NOT be the climate-friendly solution," saying "electrification has established itself in traffic."

Nonetheless, new demand for hydrogen is emerging: Globally, 359 large-scale projects had been announced by July 2021, according to the Hydrogen Council and consultants McKinsey, which said 80% of new initiatives were in Europe.

Snam says it has successfully tested a mix of natural gas and 30% hydrogen to fire furnaces at an Italian steel company.

In Milan, Ricciardi says ramping up blending rates is tricky, so standards are crucial.

"We're working on the new rule book to make sure the network is up to the job," Ricciardi said. "There's a lot riding on it."

($1 = 0.8648 euros)

(With reporting from Vera Eckert in Frankfurt, Stephen Jewkes in Milan and Isla Binnie from Madrid; Edited by Veronica Brown, Richard Valdmanis and Sara Ledwith)
Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Children learn about safe hygiene practices at outdoor handwashing facilities at Matavha Primary School in South Africa. Credit: WaterAid/Eben Liebenberg

Access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation services remains essential to protecting human health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally, more than 2 billion people lack access to basic sanitation, including toilets. The United Nations General Assembly officially designated Nov. 19 as World Toilet Day in 2013 to raise awareness and inspire efforts to bring solutions to these communities.

A study of 130,000 health clinics in low- and middle-income countries showed that 50 percent of the clinics didnt have piped water. Additionally, 785 million people do not have clean water close to home. Without access to safe toilets and clean water, women often wait for the cover of darkness to have privacy and safety, children can succumb to life-threatening, waterborne diseases, and millions of girls miss school because menstruation becomes too hard to manage.

Kimberly-Clark and the Kimberly-Clark Foundation have formed partnerships and programs to help address this global health crisis. In 2014, Kimberly-Clark launched 'Toilets Change Lives,' a multinational program that supports solutions to the global sanitation crisis. Through consumer awareness, NGO partnerships and on-the-ground activations, the company brings toilets, sanitation education and increased health, safety and dignity to many of the worlds most vulnerable communities. Since the programs launch seven years ago, the Toilets Change Lives program has impacted the lives of more than 7 million people across 15 countries.

"The challenges faced over the last few years have put health and safety at the global forefront while illuminating social and environmental gaps that still need to be bridged," said Jenny Lewis, Vice President of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation. Were committed to doing our part to address long-standing social inequities by creating effective programs and forging strategic partnerships that create lasting change in communities across the world.

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As part of its global ambition and purpose to provide Better Care for a Better World, Kimberly-Clark is working to improve the lives and well-being of 1 billion people in vulnerable or underserved communities around the world by 2030 with the smallest environmental footprint. Several programs run by the company and its foundation are combining with other efforts and strategic partnerships to create positive social outcomes in areas that support three of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

Caring for the health and well-being of people at all stages of life (SDG 3);

Challenging stigmas and championing the progress of women everywhere (SDG 5); and

Championing a world where all enjoy access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6).

Additionally, Kimberly-Clark recognizes that the smallest environmental footprint is just as essential to helping people live a better life, and the company is focused on the areas where it can make the biggest difference  climate, forests, water and plastics.

MORE THAN JUST A TOILET: ACCESS TO SANITATION IMPACTS COMMUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME

Kimberly-Clark, Plan International and Water For People Team Up to Help Latin America Communities

This year, the Toilets Change Lives program has provided resources in nine countries in Latin America  Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia and El Salvador. This was done in partnership with Kimberly-Clark's customers as well as NGOs such as Water For People and Plan International.

These efforts are part of Water For Peoples Healthy Nicaragua Campaign, which reached 450,000 people with messages about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In Peru, the effort was connected to a government-led water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) roundtable to support the implementation of a national plan to prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as COVID-19.

With billions of people around the world still lacking access to water, sanitation and hygiene services, Water For People and Kimberly-Clark are working together and combining resources that deliver measurable impact, said Eleanor Allen, CEO of Water For People. The Toilet Changes Lives program provides the worlds most vulnerable communities with access to reliable and safe sanitation services.

Plan International Supports Latin America Communities

Kimberly-Clark continues to look for opportunities to support the communities and regions where it operates. Recently, in response to COVID-19 economic hardships and local shutdowns that limited access to essential items, the Kimberly-Clark Foundation partnered with Plan International, a development and humanitarian organization that works in more than 75 countries across the world, to help children and their families in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador gain access to sustainable sanitation and hygiene facilities along with education.

In Brazil, Plan International and Kimberly-Clark built and repaired nine bathrooms, including 17 toilets, providing 1,686 youth with access to new facilities. Additionally, the two organizations delivered more than 81,000 menstrual health kits to 49,553 women living in Brazil, giving them access to essential products like sanitary pads, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap. In Ecuador, the foundation and Plan International delivered hygiene kits to 465 families, which included flyers to educate parents and kids on handwashing best practices.

Additionally, in Colombia, Plan International built and renovated 17 toilets in three schools, and 462 families received hygiene kits (soap, cleaning materials, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.). For the rest of 2021, Plan International will continue virtual training activities with children, their families and their teachers in the schools where the project is implemented.

Access to safe and clean toilets is essential for girls to unlock their full potential, especially during COVID-19, said Shanna Marzilli, Interim President and CEO of Plan International USA. Collaborating with Kimberly-Clark and its Scott and Neve brands has allowed girls and their families to lead healthier lives, and we are thrilled to have expanded our partnership to El Salvador this year.

WaterAid Provides Sanitation Access in African and Asian Communities

Kimberly-Clark and WaterAid are working together to improve hygiene behaviors among communities in Lagos, Nigeria. With a goal of benefitting 45,000 people, WaterAid Nigeria is partnering with institutions and local governments to increase the awareness of safe hygiene behaviors among pregnant and breastfeeding women, promoting hygienic practices, setting up handwashing facilities, distributing hygiene kits in public facilities (such as schools, community centers and primary healthcare centers) and partnering with Lagos authorities to accelerate change by including hygiene behavior change recommendations in their large-scale hygiene promotional campaigns. As part of this project, WaterAid plans to construct 25 toilets across five secondary schools.

In Uganda, WaterAid is implementing a water, sanitation and hygiene project in the developing city of Mbale to ensure that 111,300 residents across six urban settlements have access to safe and reliable water, toilets and hygiene facilities.

Transforming Public Sanitation Services in Bangladesh

Kimberly-Clark and its Andrex brand have partnered since 2017 with WaterAid on an initiative to transform public sanitation services through the construction and management of inclusive public toilets across three cities in Bangladesh. In 2021, Kimberly-Clark renewed its commitment to supporting WaterAids programs by investing in work that will increase access to public toilets in three new cities, providing 8.7 million uses of decent toilets and access to clean water.

The nine public toilet blocks in this program have generated over 1.6 million uses since 2017, well above the projected 700,000 uses.

Additionally, WaterAid coordinated training for 26 local women across three cities in Bangladesh to oversee the operation and maintenance of public toilets and ensure high standards of cleanliness. These female employees increase the confidence of other women and encourage them to use the toilets, challenging the perception that public toilets are unpleasant, unsafe and unhygienic.

Watch the story of Sanjida and her family in Bangladesh, and learn more about the impact that toilets provide for communities around the globe.

KIMBERLY-CLARK AND TOILET BOARD COALITION COMPLETE FEMALE-FOCUSED INNOVATION LAB PILOT

To help address some of the worlds biggest sanitation issues, Kimberly-Clark, its foundation and the companys Kotex brand partnered with the Toilet Board Coalition, which the company helped found in 2015, to create the Women in the Sanitation Economy Innovation Lab. The lab aims to develop and catalyze women-led, early-stage businesses within the sanitation economy. The Innovation Lab recently completed its first pilot, which included five startup businesses from Kenya, the U.S. and the U.K., along with 11 Kimberly-Clark employees who served as mentors to the group.

The participating businesses received mentorship and training to help them address some of their biggest business challenges and positively contribute to some of the worlds most pressing sanitation issues. Participants reported that the Innovation Lab improved their business operations and internal processes.

We are proud to have Kimberly-Clarks Kotex brand providing strategic support and mentorship to the Women in the Sanitation Economy Innovation Lab initiative, said Greg Davies, CEO at the Toilet Board Coalition. The program is designed to incubate innovations and business models from around the word to meet consumer demand, close the gaps on hygiene  including womens health  and promote the empowerment of women by supporting business solutions led by women.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Kimberly-Clark Corporation on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/kimberly-clark-and-its-toilets-change-lives-program-brings-clean-water-and-sanitation-solutions-to-7-million-people-across-15-countries-327672341
WINNIPEG  The Manitoba government has decided to not appeal a court ruling that said the federal government has a right to impose a carbon price on provinces.

Instead, Premier Heather Stefanson is hoping for a more amicable negotiation with Ottawa than her predecessor, Brian Pallister.

"This is an opportunity, I think, for us to press reset with the federal government and have more of a collaborative relationship with them," Stefanson said Wednesday.

"From the conversations that I've had so far with the prime minister, I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll be able to come to some deal that will be obviously in the best interest of Manitobans."

Pallister planned in 2018 to have a flat $25 per tonne price on carbon. That was lower than the minimum escalating level set by the federal government, but Pallister said Manitoba deserved credit for billions of dollars spent on clean hydroelectric projects, which utility customers continue to pay for.

Pallister said Manitoba's emissions plan, which included wetlands improvements and subsidies for fuel efficiency in the trucking industry, could meet or exceed federal emission targets without imposing a high carbon tax.

Ottawa brought in a "backstop'" carbon price on provinces that did not meet its demands, and promised to return the money, mainly to individuals through income tax rebates.

Manitoba took the issue to Federal Court and lost last month.

Stefanson did not provide any indication that Ottawa has softened its demand or agreed to give Manitoba a discount for its energy development.

"I think that those discussions are ongoing. I'm not going to reveal that right now."

Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew said Manitoba should reach a deal with Ottawa and come up with its own carbon-pricing plan.

"Spending money on pointless court battles is not doing anything to solve the climate crisis," he said.

Canada's carbon price started in 2019 at $20 a tonne and is set to rise to $170 a tonne by 2030. The current price of $40 a tonne adds about 8.8 cents a litre to gasoline, or about $3.50 more to a 40-litre fill-up of a car.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 17, 2021.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
Data Analytics

How Analytics and Data Management Guided Universities Through the Pandemic

IT and analytics teams have had their time to shine during the past 18 months, as they integrated systems, built dashboards and tackled data governance challenges in order to provide the information needed to keep the campus community safe.

When the pandemic's impact first struck campuses in March 2020, many university leaders developed newfound appreciation for their IT department's data analytics teams, which helped create dashboards offering situational awareness about cases, testing, contact tracing and later vaccination rates. Engagement with analytics accelerated enterprise-wide, as data became critical to health, safety and decision-making.

"IT and analytics have always been valued, but a lot of times we're sort of in the background," said Joe Barnes, chief information security officer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), who was involved in the university's response efforts. "When the leadership team realized they needed dashboards, and we were able to produce them in short order, they asked us how we did it so fast. It was because we already had the tools. It's been nice to see increased awareness around the value of getting the right data in hand to analyze. I think the leadership definitely has seen the value in terms of how we've been able to gather data and respond."

Scientists at UIUC developed their own COVID test called SHIELD Illinois that requires only a small amount of saliva from an individual and provides results within 24 hours.

It was deployed on the UIUC campus to enable in-person learning during the 2020-21 academic year. Its implementation on a large scale provided quick results, which in turn enabled rapid contact tracing and isolation of positive cases. But buttressing its effectiveness was a data management effort to tie disparate systems together to make testing and tracing work for thousands of students, faculty and staff.

"The analytics team saw that the issue was really just data flow," Barnes explained. Because UIUC's business intelligence teams had already been using Splunk's data platform, they decided to make it a component of the COVID-tracking ecosystem, which they stood up in a matter of weeks. "A student goes to the testing center; their sample is sent to the lab; the lab inputs some information into their system and then that data is sent into Splunk, and then routed over to our health center to do notifications," Barnes said. When the test results would come back, a student with a positive result would get a text within 30 minutes saying someone's going to be reaching out to provide more information. He said Splunk's data platform has been key to the creation of a public data dashboard that has kept students and faculty current with the latest data on testing and new cases.

A software development team at UIUC also built a mobile app to provide pandemic resources to support community health. The Safer Illinois app is used for building access privilege, exposure notification and the option to connect with healthcare professionals.

"We built the Safer Illinois app quickly and the timing was a bit lucky," Barnes recalled. About 18 to 24 months prior to the pandemic starting, the university had begun to create an open source mobile platform geared around student success. "We had our soft launch the fall before the pandemic started," he said. In 2020 they quickly repurposed it as a COVID safety app. "You could use it at a testing center to scan in with the app. When your results came back, you would get your results and test history."

The app also was used for building access. "We hired a bunch of wellness support people to check the apps at building entrances," Barnes said. "You could show your digital ID, and it would say if you were clear to enter or if you were positive or out of testing compliance." The app was regularly updated as the CDC guidelines were changing, and it added vaccine status when the vaccine cards came out. "We had the ability for you to upload your vaccine card into our medical record system, and then that ties back into the Safer app," Barnes said. "We're still using it today for building access."
This week, the widely popular Google (News - Alert) Cloud network experienced a service outage, which resulted in many websites generating error messages when guests visited certain pages.

The service error hit a number of notable websites, including Snapchat, Discord, and Spotify (News - Alert) among others. According to an official incident report, the outage only affected Google network, and was partially fixed roughly twenty minutes later.

Google Cloud Networking experienced issues with Google Cloud Load Balancing (GCLB) service resulting in impact to several downstream Google Cloud services. Impacted customers observed Google 404 errors on their websites. From preliminary analysis, the root cause of the issue was a latent bug in a network configuration service which was triggered during routine system operation.

Shortly after revealing a partial resolution to the problem, Google updated the report, stating the issue was fully resolved.

The issue with Cloud Networking has been resolved for all affected projects as of Tuesday, 2021-11-16 11:28 US/Pacific.

Although the networking issues were temporary, a number of online business owners affected by the outage turned to social media to voice their concerns about the situation. The incident clearly demonstrates how many organizations depend on Google services to keep operations afloat.

The last two decades solidified Google as a leader in almost all areas of digital technology. While certainly still true, this incident should remind users Google is still vulnerable to the same problems facing less prominent service providers.

Edited by Maurice Nagle
(CNN Business)  Natural gas prices in Europe soared on Tuesday after Germany confirmed that it has suspended the process of certifying a controversial new Russian pipeline called Nord Stream 2.

The German energy market regulator said in a statement that it could not certify Nord Stream 2 as an independent operator because the company was based in Switzerland, not Germany.

The decision comes at a time of rising tension between the European Union and Russia over Ukraine and a migrant crisis on the Belarus-Poland border.

"Following a thorough examination of the documentation, the [regulator] concluded that it would only be possible to certify an operator of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if that operator was organized in a legal form under German law," the German regulator said.

European gas futures prices gained 10%, piling on the pain for businesses and households already paying much higher bills. Leading energy traders have already warned of the risk of rolling blackouts in Europe in the event of a colder than average winter and some analysts say the suspension of Nord Stream 2 certification means it now won't begin commercial operations before the middle of 2022 at the earliest.

"Nord Stream 2 is the pipeline that can change the supply game in Europe and tip the scale, so delays in its utilization mean the current tight gas market conditions will persist through the winter," said Carlos Torres Diaz, head of gas and power markets at Rystad Energy.

The European Union gets about 40% of its imported natural gas from Russia. Nord Stream 2, which bypasses Ukraine and connects Russia directly to Germany, was completed in September despite years of opposition from countries including the United States, which warned that it would boost Moscow's influence in Europe.

Risk of 'rolling blackouts'

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that the European Union faced "a choice" between standing with Ukraine or approving Nord Stream 2.

"We hope that our [European] friends may recognize that a choice is shortly coming between mainlining ever more Russian hydrocarbons in giant new pipelines, and sticking up for Ukraine and championing the cause of peace and stability," Johnson said in a speech in London.

Russia has denied withholding gas from Europe this year in order to gain political leverage, but deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said last month that "early completion of the certification" for Nord Stream 2 would help "cool off the current situation."

Natural gas prices have rocketed this year in Europe, where the fuel plays an essential role in power generation and home heating. Leading industry experts were already warning of the risk of shortages this winter, before Tuesday's news.

"We haven't got enough gas at the moment, quite frankly. We're not storing for the winter period," Jeremy Weir, CEO of energy trading company Trafigura, told a conference organized by the Financial Times. "So hence there is a real concern that. . . if we have a cold winter that we could have rolling blackouts in Europe."

Ukraine warns of Gazprom 'tricks'

Germany's energy regulator said Nord Stream 2, which is owned by Russia's state-owned Gazprom, was planning to establish a German subsidiary to own and operate the German section of the pipeline. Once the main assets and staff have been transferred to the subsidiary, and provided it satisfies all relevant legal requirements, the certification process could resume, it added.

Ukraine welcomed Germany's decision to put the approval process on hold. But it urged the West not to fall for what it called "Gazprom's tricks" in announcing the formation of a German subsidiary.

"This is a mockery of European rules. This does not correspond to neither the spirit nor letter of the European legislation on gas pipeline certification," Yuriy Vitrenko, chief executive of Ukraine's state energy company Naftogaz, said in a Facebook post confirmed to CNN by the company's press office.

"In particular, we call on the US government to impose sanctions under US law on the Nord Stream 2 operator, which Gazprom claims to be creating. These new sanctions should last at least until Russia stops using gas as a weapon and acts in accordance with European rules," he added.

 Matt Egan, Anna Cooban, Chris Liakos and Julia Horowitz contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Gas prices soar as Germany suspends approval for Nord Stream 2 pipeline."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy's Udenna Corporation is taking a major blow from accusations being thrown at the company's Malampaya deal, affecting thousands of employees, the embattled firm's president said Thursday.

Raymundo Martin Escalona, president of Udenna Corporation, turned emotional during a virtual briefing as he lambasted recent allegations against the group.

"All of these accusations, I think personally it's really political. Some people are trying to attack this administration and there's not enough for them to attack this administration and they try to attack anyone who are perceived to be close to this administration," he said.

"I think it's unfair because we're a collateral [damage] and they don't realize there are livelihoods at stake," the official added.

The Senate Energy Committee has been digging into the deal involving the sale of shares in the Malampaya to Udenna, as they questioned the firm's capability to run the natural gas facility.

If Udenna fails to manage the facility, the panel's chairman, Sen. Sherwin Win Gatchalian said up to four million households and 20% of the country's power supply would be affected.

The senator even branded the transaction as "lutong macau", which means the decision was already preordained.

Gatchalian said the deal must be undone and personalities involved should be held accountable.

In October, a complaint was lodged against Energy Chief Alfonso Cusi and Udenna's chairman Dennis Uy, claiming the government lost billions of pesos in profits after the Malampaya buyout.

If only the government took control for the remaining three years of the Malampaya contract, it could have gained an additional 42 billion, the complaint noted.

However, Escalona said: "At the end of the day, the government enjoys 64% of revenues from Malampaya for doing nothing."

"So the consortium is left with 40% of all those revenues. From those revenues they deduct all expenses operational whatever thats part of the business endeavor and were relegated to the net [income] at the of the day. PNOC-EC still gets 10% being 10% owner," he said.

The Udenna president said Malampaya has already provided $12 billion worth of revenues to the Philippine government.

These accusations, Escalona said, are "very destructive" to the group as they already affected Udenna's ability to financially close pending transactions.

"It's affecting livelihood as well of thousands of our employees," he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will provide a platform for national candidates to conduct virtual meetings or "e-rallies" via livestreams on the agency's official social media channels.

Under its rules and regulations for the campaign period, the poll body said candidates will be given 3-10 minutes of airtime for their e-rallies, during which they can answer questions from the live comment section.

Comelec said it will be releasing a schedule of the e-rally time slots for the streams that will take place every night beginning Feb. 8, 2022.

The slots will be assigned at random based on a televised raffle on Jan. 8, it added.

Here are the number of slots allotted per candidate:

Presidential: 10 minutes, three slots per night

Vice-Presidential: 10 minutes, three slots per night

Senatorial: 3 minutes, five slots per night

Party-list organizations: 3 minutes, five slots per night

Political parties: 10 minutes, three slots per night.

Comelec also set guidelines on online campaigning, which includes requiring disclaimers that indicate when posts are paid, or free advertisements.

The posts should bear the legible or audible words "political advertisement paid for," followed by the name and address of the candidate or party that will benefit. It should also include "political advertisement paid by" followed by the name of the payor. The rule also applies to any printed, published, and broadcasted election promotions.

Social media "associates," including paid digital influencers and online content creators who will use their channels "to promote or defeat the election of a candidate," are also considered "individual contractors" who are subjected to reportorial requirements, the poll body said. The contractors must submit a form and other documents containing details of their transaction.

Comelec set the campaign period for presidential, vice-presidential, senatorial and party-list group candidates on Feb. 8 until May 7 2022. Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates of the House of Representatives, regional, provincial, city and municipal posts will be from March 25 to May 7, 2022.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  A veteran lawyer who defended martial law under Ferdinand Marcos will represent the late dictator's son and namesake in responding to petitions questioning his presidential bid.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., said former solicitor general Estelito Mendoza "volunteered" to serve as Marcos' counsel in the petitions filed before the Commission on Elections.

A copy of Mendoza's notice of appearance was also issued to the media on Thursday morning.

The 91-year-old lawyer also previously got President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Sen. Bong Revilla, and former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile out of detention from their plunder cases.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez said Marcos was granted a seven-day extension by Comelec to respond to the first petition filed on Nov. 2 seeking to cancel his candidacy due to his tax conviction when he was vice governor and governor of Ilocos Norte. But Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the request for extension remains pending and more petitions have been filed against Marcos' candidacy.

Lawyer Theodore Te, counsel for the petitioners in the Nov. 2 bid, pointed out that Rule 23 Section 4(6) of the Comelec Rules of Procedure and Supreme Court stresses the "non-extendible" deadline within the five-day period to file an answer.

Marcos was initially given a Nov. 16 deadline to submit his verified answer to the first petition which was already raffled to the poll body's second division.

His camp repeatedly claimed that the plea was nothing but a "predictable nuisance petition."

Marcos is also facing at least two other petitions with the same premise surrounding his tax conviction. One was a petition-in-intervention by some tax professionals to join the Nov. 2 cancellation bid, while the other one was a petition for disqualification by martial law victims and rights advocates on Wednesday.

RELATED: More groups to file petitions vs Bongbong Marcos presidential bid

RELATED: Martial law victims file petition to disqualify Marcos from 2022 presidential race

Rodriguez said these petitions, which were being filed "in trickles," prompted his team to ask for more time to study how to respond since a different remedy has to be applied for each petition.

"Parang sini-systematize nila paunti-unti," he pointed out. "Bakit di nila pagsabay-sabayin kung nagmamadali pala sila? Upon briefing, these are all trash petitions subalit kinailangan pa rin naming sumagot."

[Translation: They are systematizing how to file in trickles. Why don't they just file all at the same time if they are in a rush. Upon briefing, these are all trash petitions but we still have to answer.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  President Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio expressed their desire for "deeper security engagement and coordination" by considering a Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting or 2+2.

In a phone call, the two leaders discussed a host of issues touching on coordination in maritime security efforts, support for the country's infrastructure programs, and the situation in Myanmar, according to the Office of the President.

Duterte said he looks forward to the projects aimed at strengthening the two countries' cooperation in maritime security, such as maritime domain awareness, connectivity and preservation of the marine environment.

He also acknowledged Japan's support for the government's Build, Build, Build program, the peace process in Mindanao and the ongoing transition of the Bangsamoro Region.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan also released a statement on the 25-minute conversation, saying Kishida committed to continue supporting the Philippines' infrastructure development, COVID-19 pandemic response, and maritime law enforcement.

The ministry added that Kishida voiced opposition against changing the status quo in the East and South China Seas. The two leaders also discussed cooperation to achieve a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" - which aims to open the region as "international public goods" - and the "ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific," which seeks to promote an environment of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

They also tackled working closely in dealing with North Korea, particularly its "abductions issue" and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Duterte congratulated Japan after its draft resolution on the elimination of nuclear weapons submitted to the United Nations General Assembly was adopted, the ministry said.
(CNN) -- Iraqi Kurds and other migrants who traveled to Belarus in recent weeks, spending their life savings on airfare and waiting in limbo in freezing makeshift camps in the hopes of crossing into Europe, now face the prospect of being sent back home.

Hundreds of increasingly frustrated migrants stranded at the Belarus-Poland border rushed a checkpoint on Tuesday, throwing rocks, wooden branches and other debris at Polish security forces standing shoulder-to-shoulder with riot shields just meters away. Attempts to breach the barbed wire border fence descended into a dangerous clash, with Polish officers reacting with water cannons and tear gas.

Hours after the confrontation broke out, Belarus border guards moved many of the migrants to shelter in a nearby warehouse, where they spent the night on thin mattresses, receiving hot tea, bread and medical treatment from the Belarusian Red Cross, the UN Refugee Agency and other aid groups. But it was not clear what was next for the migrants, many of whom feared that their new accommodation was just a first step in a process of being deported back to their home countries.

Families leaving the scene of clashes on Tuesday night with exhausted children in tow were defeated. Asked by CNN where he would go next, one man said: "Back to Iraq. Goodbye Belarus."

But on Wednesday afternoon, there were still around 600 to 700 migrants staked out at the border fence, refusing to budge.

Heshw Muhammad, a 27-year-old from Iraqi Kurdistan, said she's been camped out there for more than two weeks in the cold with her husband and their young daughters, 2-, 4-, and 7-years-old. She says the family have nothing left in Iraq and are terrified of being sent home.

"Before my children die, we need help. I have [a] message, we want ask to go to Germany," she said.

Tuesday's violence, the worst in a standoff on the European Union's eastern frontier, underlines the grim human toll of the geopolitical deadlock playing out between Belarus, an ally of Russia, and Poland, a member of the EU bloc and NATO. Neither side has been willing to back down, leaving migrants stuck in the middle. At least nine people have died on the border in recent weeks, many from hypothermia, according to the Polish border guard agency.

Ahmed al-Hassan, a 19-year-old Syrian man who drowned in a river last month while trying to cross from Belarus, was buried in a small town in northeast Poland on Tuesday. His grieving family in Syria watched the torchlit funeral service via video link.

Thousands of migrants like al-Hassan -- mostly from the Middle East and Asia -- began appearing on the Belarusian side of the border over the summer, walking by foot through forests, rivers and swamps, to reach Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, on their quest for a better life in Europe. Few have made it.

And even for those who have crossed into Poland, it's uncertain whether they'll be allowed to stay.

CNN spoke with two brothers from Afghanistan, age 20 and 21, who walked by foot for days through forests in Belarus and across the border into eastern Poland, where they said they were met by a smuggler that drove them into Warsaw. But soon after arriving in the capital, they were arrested by police.

The brothers were being treated in a hospital in eastern Poland for hypothermia. They say they're desperate to join their uncle in Germany, but aren't sure whether they'll be allowed by Polish authorities to continue their journey.

"When the government changed [and the] Taliban took control of Afghanistan, everyone left their jobs and my parents are not working at the moment, there is no money, no food ... I can't get education, it's been a long time that schools and universities are closed," one of the brothers said. "That's why I want to go to Germany."

The brothers were taken away from the hospital by Polish police after CNN left. It's not clear where they were taken.

Poland is under fire by international aid organizations who say they are violating international law by pushing asylum seekers back into Belarus, instead of accepting their applications for international protection. Poland stands by its actions, saying they are legal.

Authorities on the other side of the border in Belarus told CNN on Wednesday they were waiting to hear from officials in Munich about a possible "humanitarian corridor" to ferry migrants into the country. President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday offered to fly them to the German capital on its state-run airline if Poland refused to open its border.

But that option looks incredibly unlikely. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass said Monday evening Germany would not take in the migrants, and that the European Union's plan was for them to go back home.

In their second phone call in almost as many days, German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Lukashenko on Wednesday to underline the need to ensure humanitarian care and return opportunities for the people affected, with the support of the UN and in cooperation with the EU Commission.

Earlier on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the commission would be mobilizing 700,000 (about $791,000) to deliver food, blankets, hygiene and first aid kits to refugees at the Belarusian border. "We are ready to do more. But the Belarusian regime must stop luring people and putting their lives at risk," von der Leyen said.

The EU has blamed Belarus for manufacturing the crisis on the bloc's eastern border, alleging that the government has opened the flood gates to people desperate to flee a region beleaguered by unemployment and instability. EU officials have called it a "hybrid war," which they say is designed to punish Poland for taking in the president's political opponents and pressure the bloc into lifting sanctions on Belarus. But it has had the opposite effect.

On Monday, Europe said it would slap new sanctions on Belarus targeting "everyone involved" in exacerbating the border crisis. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell announced at a press conference in Brussels that the new sanctions on "people, airlines, travel agencies and everyone involved in this illegal push of migrants against our borders" would be confirmed in the coming days.

It will be the fifth round of sanctions on Belarus by the EU following a disputed presidential election and crackdown on dissidents.

Lukashenko's government has repeatedly denied such claims, instead blaming the West for the crossings and accusing it of poor treatment of migrants.

To back up its own portrayal of the crisis, Minsk has allowed CNN and other international media outlets to visit the border and report on the scenes of migrants camped out there. Many have been staying in flimsy tents, with temperatures dropping well below freezing at night.

Warsaw, meanwhile, has tried to keep the crisis from view, blocking the Polish side of the border to journalists, aid workers and doctors amid an extended state of emergency.

On Wednesday, CNN spoke with families who had sought shelter in the warehouse about a kilometer from the border, which normally houses cargo. Sprawled out on blankets and sleeping bags, their belongings heaped in piles around them, they were relieved to get out of the cold but worried about their future and bruised by the ordeal, which has seen some spend thousands on Belarusian visas and flights to Minsk.

Many of the migrants say they traveled to Belarus in search of employment opportunities, medical care for family members, and a more stable life in Europe.

Twenty-eight-year-old mother Shoxan Bapir Hussain, her husband and four-year-old son, Azhi Ali Xder, were among them. CNN first met the family a few days before in the freezing border camp. Hussain said the warehouse was better, warmer. "We have food, we have [a] bed," she said.

Hussain's family embarked on the journey from Iraqi Kurdistan because of her son, whom she said needs surgery for a back condition. Azhi, who has splints on his legs, can't walk. It's those hopes and dreams that have kept people here in spite of the conditions.

"I wish to go to Germany ... I think Germany has humanity," Hussain said.

This story was first published on CNN.com "They gave up everything to get to Europe. Now they may be sent home".
(CNN)  Attention red cup fans: Starbucks is giving away reusable holiday cups for one day only.

Customers who order a handcrafted holiday beverage from US Starbucks locations on Thursday will receive their drink in a "limited-edition reusable red cup."

Starbucks said supplies are limited and the offer applies to all order methods, including through its app, in-person, or via Uber Eats.

This year's reusable cup design features a "classic holiday red, with playful swirls of shimmering ribbon dancing against a starry sky," according to a press release. The same design is also used on its paper cups as part of the chain's broader holiday theme introduced earlier this month.

The cup is made from 50% recycled materials and customers can bring it back to Starbucks for a 10-cent discount on future drink orders.

To receive the reusable cup, customers must order a handcrafted holiday drink or fall beverage (hot, iced, or blended). Those items include the apple crisp macchiato, peppermint mocha, pumpkin cream cold brew, and toasted white hot chocolate. Regular brewed and iced coffee is not included in the promotion, nor are the holiday coffee blends, such as Christmas Starbucks Reserve.

Starbucks' holiday-themed cups have become a tradition that drums up excitement among its loyal customers. This year, the chain expects to achieve record-breaking sales and anticipates more than $3 billion will be added to Starbucks' gift cards.

This story was first published on CNN.com "How to get your free reusable holiday mug at Starbucks"
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Presidential hopefuls on Thursday touted economic recovery plans before a major gathering of businesses in a bid to gain their support in next year's elections.

The annual conference organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), whose members comprise most businesses in the country, heard promises that ranged from providing financial assistance to help small businesses, boosting the health care system, and social reform, among others. The speeches were pre-recorded.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he would devote the first two years to strengthening the national health system battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also promised better facilities to address malnutrition and mental health issues.

The mayor said he will call on local governments to take advantage of higher share in tax proceeds in line with a Supreme Court ruling on internal revenue allotment. He added that local officials should use the additional funds to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) obtain credit from government financial institutions (GFIs).

The so-called Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court stemmed from a petition filed by Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas and the late Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Jr. It ruled that local governments are entitled to a share of all national taxes and not only from the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

RELATED: Moreno, Marcos present similar proposals to curb effects of rising oil prices

Senator Bong Go vowed access to credit and financial aid for distressed businesses. He added he will direct GFIs to expand credit programs for affected MSMEs. He mentioned in particular the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso microfinancing program of the administration.

In broad strokes, he promised to enhance the National Rice Program, Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, and other programs for farmers and fisherfolk, and introduce tax reforms.

Senator Ping Lacson said he will push for free COVID-19 testing.

The lawmaker presented strategies to help MSMEs recover, including comprehensive and targeted stimulus packages, eviction and foreclosure moratorium, bigger loans with lower interests from GFIs, and employee retention incentives.

Senator Manny Pacquiao said he will push for the creation of more jobs, free housing for informal settlers, and better health care services to promote economic recovery. He added he wants zero-interest loans for small businesses to generate work opportunities.

Pacquiao vowed to intensify revenue collection to do away with incurring more debt, while also improving non-tax revenues.

Vice President Leni Robredo proposed more support for health care workers and accessible COVID-19 testing. She also vowed to strengthen local health services.

Robredo said she wants more investments in local infrastructure, in particular those supporting the agriculture sector, along with MSMEs. She also said she wants more credit for MSMEs through government guarantee programs, alongside a stimulus package worth at least 100 billion for capacity building.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc. saw earnings inch up for the first three quarters of 2021, its latest disclosure read.

In a filing with the local bourse on Thursday, the integrated property developer reported a net income of 6 billion for the period  9% up annually.

VLL reported real estate revenues of 14.5 billion from January to September, easing by 20% from last year with slower construction activities in the provinces amid varying lockdown levels.

Still, the listed firm said its leasing income grew by 25% to 6.2 billion, also citing how newly opened commercial centers contributed to topline growth.

VLL chairman Manny Villar expressed optimism for the industry, particularly with the sustained rise in overseas Filipino remittances. Demand from Filipinos abroad helped pull reservation sales up to 43.9 billion for the nine-month timeframe.

The company also reported capital expenditure stood at 18.4 billion as of end-September, mostly spent on construction and land development. Land acquisitions, however, stayed muted with VLL looking at maximizing its current land bank.

With the holiday season coming up and the relaxation of the mobility restrictions across the country, we are excited to welcome more customers to our commercial centers, said the real estate tycoon and former senator.

VLL has launched 7.2 billion in projects during the period: a high end project, five affordable projects, and two mid-rise buildings.

Shares of VLL finished at 3.83 each on Thursday, up 1.86% from yesterdays close.
(CNN)  Young Dolph, the rapper behind albums like "Rich Slave," died in a fatal shooting in Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday at the age of 36, according to Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis.

The rapper, whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was reportedly buying cookies at Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis when someone drove up and shot him.

"This shooting is another example of the senseless gun violence we are experiencing locally and nationwide. Our hearts go out to the Thornton family and all who are affected by this horrific act of violence," Davis said.

People we've lost in 2021

No suspect information is available at this time, according to Davis.

"All of us at APA are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our dear friend and client, Young Dolph," a representative of the management company said in a statement to Variety. "The world has lost an icon, a great man and beloved artist who has been taken too soon. His dedication, drive, hard work and loyalty to all those around him always came first and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this most difficult time. "

CNN has reached out to APA representatives for comment.

A native of Chicago who grew up in Memphis, Young Dolph released his debut album, "King of Memphis" in 2016. He went on to have several hits, including "Blue Diamonds," and "RNB" featuring Megan Thee Stallion. His fifth studio album, 2020's "Rich Slave," rose to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2017, he was nearly killed in a shooting incident in Hollywood. He spent weeks hospitalized after sustaining three gunshot wounds.

"I've been targeted since I was 17, 18, 19," Young Dolph told The Guardian about the incident in a 2018 interview. "I just knew that I was good."

He added that he wasn't "a person that lives in fear."

Following the news of his death, fellow artists and fans paid tributes to Young Dolph.

"God bless Dolph  independent Memphis rapper born in chicago. loved by millions of ppl," Chance the Rapper tweeted. "Always showed love everytime I seen him this is tragic God bless his family man."

"R.I.P. to my friend Dolph. this broke my heart," wrote Gucci Mane.

Young Dolph is survived by two children.
(CNN)  A self-portrait by Frida Kahlo has become the most expensive work by a Latin American artist ever to sell at auction, fetching $34.9 million in New York on Tuesday.

The price achieved by the painting "Diego y yo" ("Diego and I") more than tripled the previous record of $9.8 million, set by a work by Kahlo's husband  and the inspiration for her painting  Diego Rivera, in 2019.

The auction house behind the sale, Sotheby's, said in a statement that the price tag "places Frida Kahlo center stage among the great titans of art history." The sum also smashed the public auction record for a work by Kahlo of $8 million, set in 2016, the auctioneer said.

"Painted in the same year her beloved Diego embarked on an affair with her friend, the Mexican Golden Age (actor) Maria Felix, this powerful portrait is the painted articulation of her anguish and sorrow," said Sotheby's director of Latin American art, Anna Di Stasi, in a press statement following the auction. "You could call tonight's result the ultimate revenge, but in fact it is the ultimate validation of Kahlo's extraordinary talent and global appeal.

"'Diego y yo' is so much more than a beautifully painted portrait. It's a painted summary of all of Kahlo's passion and pain, a tour de force of the raw emotive power of the artist at the peak of her abilities."

Kahlo painted bust self-portraits, a format first popularized during the European Renaissance, throughout her career, and they are among her most famous works.

Completed in 1949, five years before her death, "Diego y yo" is the artist's final self-portrait of the 1940s.

Following her second marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera  the couple remarried in 1940 after divorcing a year earlier  Kahlo was influenced by subjects ranging from Aztec and Eastern mythology to medicine and botany. She also depicted her debilitating health issues and her turbulent relationship with Rivera, creating a personal iconography in her work.

Kahlo met Rivera when she asked him to critique her work, and the ups and downs of their relationship became a key subject of her art.

"Diego y yo" depicts Kahlo wearing a huipil, a type of blouse traditional to the women of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. She wears this particular red huipil in many of her best-known self-portraits, and in a famous series of photographs by Hungarian-American portraitist Nickolas Muray.

Kahlo's loose hair, usually tightly braided, appears to almost strangle her. She has red flushed cheeks, and a tearful gaze.

In the middle of her forehead are the head and shoulders of Rivera  a symbol of his central position in her mind. Rivera, in turn, is depicted with a third eye in his forehead.

"Frida Kahlo is a global icon of modern art whose work is beloved around the world," Di Stasi said in a statement announcing the sale in September. "'Diego y yo' epitomizes the painstakingly detailed rendering, complex iconography, and deeply personal narratives that are hallmarks of her mature painting."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Frida Kahlo self-portrait fetches a record $34.9 million"
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Three Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and fired water cannon on two Philippine boats en route to transport supplies to military personnel in Ayungin Shoal on Nov. 16, government officials said on Thursday.

National Security Adviser and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea chair Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said two Chinese vessels blocked the Philippines' boats, while another one of its vessels blasted a water cannon for an hour.

No one was hurt, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr, but the Philippine boats had to abort their mission to bring food.

Locsin also said he talked to Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi to condemn and protest the incident since Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which the Philippines considers part of Palawan province.

"I reminded China that a public vessel is covered by the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty. The acts of the Chinese Coast Guard vessels are illegal. China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must take heed and back off," he said in a statement.

He warned that China's "failure to exercise self-restraint threatens" the warm ties between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it will continue to provide supplies to troops in Ayungin Shoal.

"We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory," Locsin said.

The Kalayaan Island Group is part of the Philippines exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The Philippines said it has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the island group. However, China has been claiming the area through a historic nine-dash line, which a 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling has invalidated.

Increasing Chinese presence in PH waters

Esperon expressed alarm after more of Beijing's vessels were spotted in Ayungin Shoal and Pag-asa Island. He said there are usually only two Chinese maritime militia in the area of Ayungin, but the number increased to 19 in the past week. In Pag-Asa Island, the number of Chinese vessels spiked to 45  which the official described as a "record number."

"Very aggressive sila so we are protesting that... Some of them remain there, hindi sila umaalis dyan, maaring mabawasan, maaring mabawasan but last week umabot sila ng 45, masyadong marami," he said in an interview.

[Translation: They are too aggressive so we are protesting that. Some of them remain there. The number may go down. but last week it reached 45. That's too much.]

He said the DFA has been continuously filing diplomatic protests for China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has filed over 150 this year alone.

Outrage

Lawmakers and local officials expressed outrage over the outright disrespect for Philippine territory.

Kalayaan Vice Mayor Hermoso Ornopia said he will lead the passing of a resolution to "condemn in the highest terms" the militia's harassing actions.

"Hindi tama na tayo ay aapihin sa ating sariling bakuran. Habang ginagalang natin ang karapatan ng atin mga kapitbansa, ay atin din namang marapat ipaglaban ang ating soberanya," he said.

[Translation: It's not right that we are being oppressed in our own territory. Although we respect the rights of our neighboring countries, we must continue to fight for our sovereignty.]

Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros showed supposed for the DFA's move to protest China's "incessant bullying."

CNN Philippines' Lara Tan, Tristan Nodalo, and David Santos contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  The immunity provided by COVID-19 vaccines wanes faster in senior citizens and immunocompromised people than the general population, a vaccine expert said on Thursday.

"'Pag elderly or immunocompromised, mas maaga din magwe-wane yan. Mayroon pong mga data  three months, four months, five months palang bumababa na," Nina Gloriano, head of the vaccine expert panel of the Department of Science and Technology, told a Laging Handa briefing.

[Translation: For elderly and immunocompromised, it will wane earlier. There are data that shows it drops after three months, four months, five months.]

"Pero sa general population, ito iyong health population, iyong mga 18 hanggang siguro mga 60, mga six months po," she added. "Pero iyong iba maganda pa rin ang immune response after 8 months, after 10 months."

[Translation: But for the general population  these are the 18 until maybe 60, it is about six months. But others produce good immune response even after eight months, after 10 months.]

The government plans to offer booster shots to senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals after healthcare workers.

Gloriani said elderly people can receive any COVID-19 vaccine approved to be used as a booster shot unless they have specific medical reasons not to do so.

The Department of Health will issue the final guidelines on the use of booster shots for senior citizens.

Approved to be used as booster shots are Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines.

"Lahat po, posible ro'n," Gloriani said. "Pwede po sila, basta walang contraindication sa kanila."

[Translation: All of them are possible for use as booster shots, provided they have no contraindication.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18) President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday questioned the accomplishments and qualifications of one presidential candidate, who he claims is into cocaine and a "weak leader."

"There is even a presidential candidate na nag-cocaine (who uses cocaine)," Duterte said during his speech before the anti-insurgency task force in Mindoro.

"Anong nagawa ng tao na 'yan? What contribution has he made para sa Pilipinas? Nagdo-droga 'yan ng cocaine," he added.

[Translation: What has this person done? What contribution has he made for the Philippines? He uses drugs, cocaine.]

Duterte further dropped hints that the presidential hopeful appears to have a strong family name and following.

"Basta sinabi ko sa inyo, he is a very weak leader, ang character niya. Except for the name, ang tatay," Duterte argued. "Pero siya, anong ginawa niya? If that is what the Filipino wants, go ahead. Basta alam ninyo."

[Translation: I'm telling you, he is a very weak leader, his character. Except for the name, his father. But what has he done? If that is what the Filipino wants, go ahead. But at least you know.]

Last month, several presidential aspirants said they support the proposal for candidates to undergo mandatory drug tests ahead of next year's elections.

They have yet to react to Duterte's latest claim.

In the same event, the President reiterated his support for his ally and former aide, Senator Bong Go.

"I am not into politicking, but let me just state for the record ang kandidato ko pagka-presidente ay si (my candidate for the presidency is) Bong Go," he said.

Go is running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), an allied party of the PDP-Laban faction which he and Duterte are part of.

The chief executive is seeking a Senate seat in 2022  also under PDDS.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Companies that are part of the ongoing motorcycle taxi pilot study are urging the government to allow helmet sharing, which has been prohibited to stem coronavirus transmission.

Angkas, Joy Ride and Move It, the firms sanctioned to provide motorcycle taxi services amid the pandemic, requested that they be permitted to share helmets with passengers, subject to strict disinfection procedures.

The three players believe this could lift the burden among frequent riders, especially workers, of buying a personal helmet, said the Department of Transportations motorcycle taxi technical working group (TWG) in a position paper dated Nov. 16.

In pushing for the amendments to protocols, the TWG noted that the companies also cited the decline in COVID-19 cases nationwide. They also said they believe COVID-19 spread could still be prevented through other measures, such as sanitation of helmets or mandatory use of disposable helmet liners.

Additionally, the motorcycle taxi service providers are requesting that fully vaccinated drivers seeking to join the pilot run be allowed to present their vaccination certificates instead of negative RT-PCR test results.

The TWG endorsed both proposals, which it submitted to the Department of Health and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Sec. Vince Dizon, an appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte, denied on Thursday that he is working with any 2022 presidential candidate.

This clarification came after presidential aspirant Isko Moreno's chief campaign strategist Lito Banayo claimed that Dizon is going to serve as their deputy campaign manager and head of statistical research team.

"I am not involved in any political campaign," Dizon said in a statement.

He said he remains focused on the governments COVID-19 vaccination and recovery efforts since he is the presidential adviser for COVID-19 response, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer, and testing czar.

Banayo issued another statement saying they support Dizon's pandemic tasks "even as we will welcome him in our team eventually."

Moreno is going against administration bet Senator Bong Go, among others, in the upcoming presidential election.
(CNN)  A comedian's powerful monologue addressing some of India's most sensitive issues including rape and farmers' protests has split opinion in the country, with right-wing activists calling for his arrest while supporters rally to his defense.

Comedian Vir Das performed "I come from two Indias" -- a speech chronicling what he perceives as the country's dual personality -- at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., on November 12. A six-minute video of the speech uploaded to YouTube Monday has garnered more than 850,000 views at the time of publishing.

"I come from an India where we worship women during the day, but gang rape them at night," Das said in the monologue.

"I come from an India where we take pride in being vegetarian, and yet run over the farmers who grow our vegetables," he added, referring to the deaths of at least eight people last month when a car linked to a federal minister allegedly ran over several people during a protest against controversial farm laws.

The hashtag #VirDas is trending in India, with more than 60,000 tweets as of Wednesday afternoon.

Ashutosh Dubey, a legal adviser to the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party said he filed a complaint with the Mumbai police Tuesday against Das' "inflammatory" comments.

In a post to Twitter, Dubey accused Das of "defaming and spoiling the image of India in the USA."

Indian filmmaker Ashoke Pandit said Das "should be immediately arrested" for his comments.

"I see a terrorist in this man called #VirDas," he wrote on Twitter Tuesday, adding Das should be "tried under terror laws."

In a statement posted to Twitter Tuesday, Das defended his monologue, adding that he "takes pride" in India.

"The video is a satire about the duality of two very separate Indias, that do different things," he said. "Like any nation has light and dark, good and evil within it. None of this is a secret."

Meanwhile, Das has received support from several opposition politicians, journalists, and activists.

Shashi Tharoor, a lawmaker with the opposition Congress Party, said Das "spoke for millions" in a post on Twitter.

"A stand-up comedian who knows the real meaning of the term 'stand up' is not physical but moral," he said.

Another Congress lawmaker, Kapil Sibal, also backed Das. "None can doubt that there are two India's [sic]. Just that we don't want an Indian to tell the world about it," he wrote on Twitter Wednesday. "We are intolerant and hypocritical."

In recent months, some Indian comedians have raised fears about what they say is an escalating crackdown on free speech by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Muslim comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested in January for allegedly making "indecent remarks" about Hindu gods, according to CNN affiliate CNN-News18. Faruqui was granted bail by the Supreme Court in February, News18 reported.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Indian comedian Vir Das sparks explosive online debate with controversial tale of 'two Indias''
(CNN)  A British F-35, one of the newest stealth fighter jets in the UK military, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday morning while operating off the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the UK Defense Ministry said in a tweet.

The pilot ejected and was returned safely to the ship, and an investigation of the incident, which occurred during routine flight operations, had begun, the ministry said.

Britain operates the F-35B, a single-engine, short-take-off vertical landing variant of the US-developed steath jet, which cost about $115 million each to build.

In June, F-35s operating off the Queen Elizabeth flew combat missions over the Middle East against ISIS, the first combat action for a UK aircraft carrier in more than a decade.

"The ability to operate from the sea with the most advanced fighter jets ever created is a significant moment in our history, offering reassurance to our allies and demonstrating the UK's formidable air power to our adversaries," British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement at the time.

British F-35s saw their first combat in 2019, flying strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from a Royal Air Force base on the island of Cyprus.

With plans to acquire 138 F-35s, Britain would be the third-largest operator of the Lockheed-Martin produced jets, behind the United States and Japan.

Both the US and Japan have lost F-35s to accidents.

In September 2018, a US Marine Corps F-35B crashed in South Carolina, the first-ever of an F-35.

In April 2019, a Japanese F-35A crashed into the Pacific Ocean off northern Japan, killing its pilot. The Japanese Defense Ministry later attributed the incident to spatial disorientation  meaning, the pilot couldn't sense his surroundings adequately, and essentially flew the stealth fighter straight into the ocean during the night training mission.

In May 2020, a US Air Force F-35A crashed in Florida during routine training, but the pilot ejected safely.

The British crash comes on the last leg of a voyage for Queen Elizabeth, leading what the UK calls Carrier Strike Group 21, which saw it go as far as Japan and South Korea to participate in exercises with allies and partners, as the Royal Navy tries to increase its global presence.

When the strike group departed the UK in the spring, Britain's Ministry of Defense described it as the largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave British shores in a generation.

US and Dutch warships are part of the strike group, and 10 US Marine Corps F-35s have been operating off the Queen Elizabeth along with eight British stealth jets.

When a version of this carrier strike group sailed together during military exercises off Scotland last fall, the UK Defense Ministry said it carried "the largest concentration of fighter jets to operate at sea from a Royal Navy carrier since HMS Hermes in 1983."

It also said it was "the largest air group of fifth-generation fighters at sea anywhere in the world." Fifth-generation fighters are the most advanced warplanes in the air.

There was no immediate word on whether the UK would try to recover the wreckage of the F-35 from the Mediterranean.

When the Japanese F-35 crashed in 2019, there was speculation the wreckage could be a target for potential adversaries, such as Russia and China that could gain access to its advanced technology. But both the US and Japan dismissed that idea.

This story was first published on CNN.com "British F-35 fighter jet crashes while flying off aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth"
(CNN) -- Fueled by the coronavirus pandemic and an increase in fentanyl use, the US drug epidemic exploded while Americans were locked down.

From May 2020 through April 2021, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the US, according to provisional data released Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That's a horrible new record for drug overdose deaths -- a near-30% rise from the same period a year earlier and a near-doubling over the past five years.

The drug epidemic grew in tandem with the Covid-19 pandemic, which claimed about 509,000 deaths in the same period.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl -- a painkiller 50-100 times more potent than morphine -- accounted for the bulk of those drug overdose deaths: around 64,000.

The pandemic played a role. "In a crisis of this magnitude, those already taking drugs may take higher amounts and those in recovery may relapse. It's a phenomenon we've seen and perhaps could have predicted," Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, told CNN.

Enough fentanyl to kill 333 million people. Read this line from CNN's report: The US government has seized enough fentanyl this year to give every American a lethal dose, Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram said Wednesday at a White House press briefing, calling the overdose epidemic in the US "a national crisis" that "knows no geographical boundaries, and it continues to get worse."

Deadly fakes that look like prescription pills. Illegal drugs are often made to look like prescription pills, available online and sold through social media, according to a US Drug Enforcement Administration warning in September.

That same month the DEA announced more than 800 arrests and the seizure of more than 1.8 million pills as part of a two-month sweep.

The agency noted fentanyl has been seized in every state and it issued an urgent warning in September about fake prescription pills laced with the drug.

A scant 2 milligrams can be deadly, and they're often cut in with counterfeit Oxycontin, Percocet or other drugs.

Who abuses drugs? A lot of people. An estimated 10.1 million Americans ages 12 and above misused opioids in 2019, including 9.7 million prescription pain reliever abusers and 745,000 heroin users, according to CNN's reporting.

Who is dying? A Google search yields scores of stories like these:

 There's the 28-year-old man in Northern California who died after taking a fake pain pill that contained fentanyl.

 There's the 11-month-old baby left unsupervised in North Carolina who died from a fentanyl overdose. Her mother and grandmother are facing charges. (While searching on Google for specific cases of fentanyl deaths, I saw reports on a lot of toddlers eating their parents' pills: A 15-month old's father charged in his overdose death in Southern California. A mother of a 1-year-old in Alabama arrested after the child overdosed.)

 There's the family of a prisoner in Alabama who died of a fentanyl overdose but didn't find out until months later.

 There's the teenager outside Los Angeles who bought what he thought were prescription painkillers from a friend of a friend and died from fentanyl poisoning.

 There's the 25-year-old woman in Las Vegas who thought she was buying Percocet but died after taking fake pills with fentanyl.

The stories are everywhere.

Where are they getting the drugs? Look at these two stories from Las Vegas: A 27-year-old man is accused of selling fentanyl-laced pills over Snapchat to a 32-year-old man who died of fentanyl toxicity.

A 21-year-old woman who went by the Snapchat username "yungdrugaddict" was charged with second-degree murder for selling fentanyl-laced pills that killed a woman of the same age.

What does Snapchat say? In an October 7 statement on its website, Snapchat argues it is improving its work with law enforcement and using artificial intelligence and reports from the community to identify and remove drug dealers from the platform.

How does fentanyl get to the US? Chemicals used to make the drug are often shipped from China to the US or Mexico for production by drug cartels in Mexico and then smuggled to the US.

The drug can come in small mailed shipments of less than a kilogram.

A Chinese government crackdown on fentanyl has slowed this method. India is another source of fentanyl in the US.

Here's a passage from the DEA's fentanyl report:

Fentanyl is being mixed in with other illicit drugs to increase the potency of the drug, sold as powders and nasal sprays, and increasingly pressed into pills made to look like legitimate prescription opioids. Because there is no official oversight or quality control, these counterfeit pills often contain lethal doses of fentanyl, with none of the promised drug.

What is President Joe Biden doing? The administration notes it put $4 billion in funding from the Covid-19 relief package, known as the American Rescue Plan, toward combating overdose deaths, including expanding services for substance use disorder and mental health.

Biden told reporters Wednesday his administration is also "working to make health coverage more accessible and affordable for all Americans, so that more people who need care can get it."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Americans are overdosing on a drug they don't know they're taking".
" " Clearing your online browsing history is a simple matter of following the steps, no matter which browser you use, from Chrome, to Firefox, to Apple's Safari, but may have to be repeated on different devices. Yui Mok/PA Images/Getty Images

Your web browser history is a peek into your inner world, motivations and behaviors. And as such, you might not want your Google digital diary shouting its contents to anyone who peeks over your shoulder at just the wrong moment.

You can manage this sensitive history no matter which browser you use, from Chrome, to Firefox, to Apple's Safari, but the steps are all a little different. And keep in mind that if you have multiple devices  and more than one browser on each device  that you may have to repeat some of these processes so that your main squeeze doesn't know that you've been, for example, searching for an engagement ring online.

Here's how to view and delete your history in various browsers. We'll start with Chrome, which is made by Google. Google is now such a ubiquitous and powerful search engine that the company's products, such as its Chrome browser, log your previous searches by syncing them between your various devices (laptop, tablet smartphone). However, once you delete your history in one device, it will remove it from all devices. These steps will remove searches using other search engines as well.

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In Google Chrome:

Click or tap the menu icon with three dots on the upper-right side of the browser window. Click or tap History > History (CTRL+H). On the left hand side, scroll to Clear Browsing Data. A box will appear which will ask you how much history you want to delete. If you want to completely clear out your history, also click the boxes for cookies and other site data and cached images and files. Then click Clear Data. That'll clear out your previous searches. You may also want to prevent Chrome from auto-completing searches in the future. In Settings, (also found by tapping on the three dots on the upper-right of your browser) click Sync and Google services, and scroll to Other Google Services. Under Other Google Services, find Autocomplete searches and URLs and toggle this switch off (to the left). If you need to clear your mobile history, tap on the three dots, then on History. Click on Clear Browsing Data, then tap Clear Data.

For Firefox:

Click or tap the menu icon with three lines on the upper-right side of the browser. window. Click on the Library icon from the drop-down menu. Click on the History icon that comes up in the drop-down menu inside the Library tab. Click on the View History sidebar. You'll see options ranging from "Today" to "Older Than 6 Months." Right-click on the option you want and press Delete. For mobile, tap the three-bar menu icon on the upper right side of the browser, then tap Settings. Tap Search, scroll down, and then clear the Show search history check box.

For Safari (desktop):

Click the Safari menu, then click the History tab. Click on Clear History and Website Data. From the drop-down menu, choose the time frame you want to delete (most likely all history.) Click Clear History.

For Safari (mobile):

Go to the Settings icon on the home screen. Scroll down to Safari. Tap on Clear History and Website Data. Keep in mind that this process deletes every bit of your browsing data, as well as browser cookies.

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For Internet Explorer:

This will depend on the version you are using. For older versions:

Click on the Favorites button (the star icon) in the top right hand corner. Select the History tab and click on how you want to view your history (date, site, etc.) Right-click on whatever you want to delete and select the Delete option.

For IE 10 or 11:

Click on the Tools button (the wheel). Select Safety and then Delete Browsing History. This will give you several options on deleting files, cookies and history.

To delete search activity from Google Maps, YouTube and Other Google products:

On your computer:

Go to your Google account (https://myaccount.google.com/) Scroll the left hand panel and click Privacy & personalization. Under "Activity and timeline," click My Activity. From the left hand panel, click Delete activity by. Select the date or time you wish to delete and hit delete.

On your Android phone/tablet:

Open your device's Settings app to Google or click on the Google icon from your phone's main screen. Click on Google Account or Manage Your Account (depending on which way you arrived at the account) Click on Manage Your Data & Personalization Under Activity and time, click My Activity To the right of the search bar, click on the three dots and select Delete activity by Select the date or time you wish to delete and hit delete.

On your iPhone/iPad:

Open the Gmail app. If you don't use Gmail, go to https://myaccount.google.com/) Click on Menu (three bars), then Settings, then your account, Click on Manage your Google Account At the top, click on Data & Personalization Under "Activity and timeline," click My Activity At the top right of the page, click on the three dots and select Delete activity by Select the date or time you wish to delete and hit delete.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Signing into any Google service, like Gmail, also automatically logs you into Chrome, and thus, offers up your search history. That could be a problem, particularly on a shared devices. Use these steps to prevent automatic Chrome login.

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Originally Published: May 14, 2019
Source: AdobeStock/Zerophoto

The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his cohorts have long banged the drum about creating a crypto-powered economy  but it appears that either the message has got through to citizens, or Venezuelans have been adopting crypto of their own accord.

Per monthly web traffic data from SimilarWeb and Alexa, some of the most-visited websites in the country are now crypto gaming sites, exchanges and crypto price trackers.

The heavily sanctioned Maduro regime, which has been at loggerheads with the United States and its allies for many years now, may not have gone so far as to adopt bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender, El Salvador-style.

But some may argue that it laid the groundwork for El Salvadors move. Washington-led sanctions have essentially cut off above-board trade with most international players. And it seems that Maduro has given state-run firms the green light to conduct under-the-radar deals using cryptoassets rather than fiat, as a means of payment.

This has led to the Venezuelan state amassing a sizeable stash of both bitcoin and ethereum (ETH). Coffers have been further bolstered by crypto mining  with even the army ordered to get in on the act.

What is more, the government has issued its own, allegedly oil-backed coin named the petro (PTR), which it has claimed has found use in international locations.

Furthermore, a dazzlingly large array of businesses in the country  from fast-food eateries to gas stations, department stores, and supermarket chains  accept mainstream tokens such as BTC, ETH, and major altcoins.

Overseas Venezuelans and family members have also been encouraged to remit crypto to relatives in the country using the state-operated Patria platform.

Indeed, only Facebook.com, the Google homepage, and YouTube placed higher than Patria on the Alexa site, beating out Google Venezuela, Instagram, Amazon, and Wikipedia.

The crypto exchange Binance's site made number 21 on the Alexa list, followed by the price tracker CoinMarketCap. Other standouts were the crypto games Block Farm Club and Axie Infinity (at #28 and #30 respectively, and the bitcoin advertising network CoinPayU at #33.

In the SimilarWeb list, Patria featured outside the top 10 at #12, but CoinMarketCap, which last month featured at #12, placed higher than it did on Alexas list  at #19.

There was also a place at #28 for the BTC price tracker PooCoin, while Binance ranked at #23. Other price trackers like CoinGecko also featured  and FreeBitcoin.in ranked at #41, several places ahead of the likes of LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Pinterest.

By contrast, not a single crypto-themed site made the SimilarWeb global top 50, nor the corresponding Alexa list.

____

Learn more:

- In Venezuela, USD, Not Bitcoin, Still Reigns Supreme  Report

- Bitcoin Pay Gets Traction in Venezuela While Crypto Gathers Pace in Argentina



- Venezuela Paying Iranian, Turkish Companies in Bitcoin  Report

- Venezuelan Retailing Heavyweight Starts Accepting Bitcoin, Altcoins



- Venezuelan Army Engineers Start Mining Bitcoin

- Bitcoin in Venezuela: Saving The People From Inflation
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Labor Department sues Peterbilt, alleges Denton whistleblower was fired

A Gaudet / DRC file photo Denton-based truck manufacturer Peterbilt allegedly violated federal whisteblower protections by retaliating against an employee who raised concerns about COVID-19.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against Paccar Inc., which does business as Peterbilt Motor Co., alleging the company last year fired an employee concerned about COVID-19.

An investigation by the agency found the Denton-based truck manufacturer violated federal whisteblower protections by retaliating against an employee who raised concerns about exposure to the virus in March 2020. The employee raised concerns with a supervisor at the Denton facility about working within six feet of other workers in the plant. The supervisor told the employee the workspace would be cleaned, but after Paccar learned the employee had expressed concerns about the companys response publicly, the employee was fired, according to a news release announcing the suit.

Before being fired, the employee reached out to the Denton Chamber of Commerce to ask what action was being taken to address COVID-19 concerns at the Peterbilt plant, which employs roughly 2,000 people. The chamber told the employee the question was best directed to Peterbilt management and forwarded his email to said management, according to federal court documents. Peterbilt fired the employee the next day, stating he had disclosed trade secret information in his email to the chamber, and that he was also being fired for poor performance.

Both stated reasons were untrue and are a pretext for unlawful retaliation for [the former employees] expressing his valid complaints related to workplace safety and COVID-19 at defendants facility and his attempts to ensure a safe workplace, the complaint reads.

The employee filed a retaliation complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in April 2020.

The Denton Chamber of Commerce declined to comment for this article, citing the active lawsuit.

The suit filed by the Labor Departments Office of the Solicitor asks the court to order the company to comply with anti-retaliation provisions in the Occupational Safety and Health Act; reinstate the employee to his former employment position with the company; pay the employee back wages, interest, compensatory and punitive damages and other remedies; and expunge the employees personnel record.

The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. It does not list how much in back wages and other damages the plaintiff seeks.

Our investigation found that PACCAR terminated a worker for reporting their concerns that the companys response to the dangers of the coronavirus would not prevent its spread, Regional OSHA Administrator Eric S. Harbin said in the release. Every worker has the right to report safety concerns of any kind without fear of retaliation.

Peterbilt is Dentons largest private employer. Paccar representatives declined to comment, and calls to Peterbilt were not returned by Wednesday evening.
MTN Group has transferred its majority 82.8% shareholding in MTN Yemen to Emerald International Investment, thereby exiting the market.

Emerald is a subsidiary of Zubair Investment Center - an affiliate of Zubair Corporation - which is the minority shareholder in MTN Yemen. The unit has 4.7 million subscribers and employs 719 people.

In August 2020, South Africa-headquartered MTN Group announced plans to exit several Asian markets - including Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan  over the medium term in order to strengthen its focus on its core African markets. In a press release, MTN described the move as furthering the delivery of its Ambition 2025 strategy of simplifying its portfolio and reducing risk.

The decision to exit Yemen was driven by a need to simplify the portfolio and focus our limited resources on executing a pan-African strategy, said MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita. The group has emphasised its desire for a clean exit from both Yemen and Afghanistan after it clashed with authorities in Syria over the sale of its local unit.

MTN noted that its Yemeni unit contributed 0.3% to MTN Group EBITDA for the first half of 2021, and that the units 2G licence is due for renewal at the end of 2021.
Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at the UNSC on The Situation in Afghanistan

Statement

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

And thank you SRSG Lyons for your briefing, it is deeply appreciated. Ms Karim  Im really grateful for your briefing, especially when sharing your testimony at this time is not without risk, I want to assure you of that.

Mr. President,

Since we last met on 9 September, little of what we had hoped for has come to pass while much of what we feared has come to be.

The much promised inclusive government is nowhere in evidence. There is no credible dialogue, representative of all Afghans, towards a future governance. There is no stability.

Instead, what we are seeing and what the Afghan people are living with is violence, fear and repression at the hands of the Taliban.

Mr. President,

Women and girls in Afghanistan remain under attack. They are being targeted by the Taliban for their education, for their work, for their activism, for demanding their fundamental rights. Put simply, they are being targeted for their gender. This is deliberate and driven by a desire to repress and control - to take away womens autonomy, their choice and their freedom.

Many Afghan women have come to the difficult conclusion that their lives, their futures, are only possible outside of Afghanistan. But despite assurances regarding safe passage -that this Council stipulated in Resolution 2593 - the Taliban has not respected that choice either.

Reports regarding the killing earlier this month of womens human rights defender and economist, Frozan Safi, demonstrates all too clearly the terrifying dangers women face. Ms Safi and her three colleagues intended to leave Afghanistan. A call received was thought to be about an evacuation flight. Instead of safe passage, those women found only hatred and, in the end, horrific, fatal violence.

I have said it before, and I will say it again today. We cannot look the other way while the women of Afghanistan are being targeted and attacked. The courage and fortitude of countless Afghan women, such as our briefer Ms Karim, Ms Safi and her colleagues, should be recognised. But the international community also needs to be clear with the Taliban. Their actions are not without consequences.

Mr. President,

Today marks 61 days of the Talibans restrictions on girls attending secondary school. Each day marking an unconscionable loss to Afghanistans own future. A generation of girls are being deprived of an education because of the fear and suspicion of some men. Every child has an equal right to education, regardless of gender.

It is also reported that the rights of children in Afghanistan have significantly deteriorated since August  with increased child labour, child recruitment and use, child trafficking, and child marriage.

The erosion of rights for women and children in Afghanistan under Taliban control has been both stark and swift. Their protection and the upholding of their rights must be central as a focus of all our deliberations on the future of Afghanistan.

We also strongly condemn recent terrorist attacks, violence, intimidation and forced displacement targeting minorities. We condemn the repression of Afghan civil society and Afghan journalists.

Mr. President,

Words almost fail to capture the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis now underway in Afghanistan, as winter approaches and millions, millions, face starvation.

We have been warned, including today by SRSG Lyons, of the gravity of the situation. The international community and this Council must listen. The international community and this Council must act.

The Taliban now bear primary responsibility for the conditions facing the people of Afghanistan. But the international community also needs to move beyond pledges and rhetoric and take action to prevent widespread suffering and death. Humanitarians must be allowed to deliver in all parts of the country. At this critical time, UN and NGO partners on the ground cannot and should not be impeded in their life-saving operations. This Council has a role to play in facilitating the humanitarian response. We need to deliver on this  it is our duty and our obligation.

Mr. President,

Since August, this Council has been clear about what we expect from engagement with the Taliban. We said we would judge them by their actions and not by their words. This Council, and the international community, must reaffirm publicly, without ambiguity, that the rights of all Afghans, especially women and girls, children and minorities must be protected. That message surely stands along in its own right.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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By May Pham November 18, 2021 | 02:00 am PT

E-commerce platform Buy2sell has been celebrated as one of the 100 most prestigious enterprises at the Top Vietnam Award 2021.

Top Vietnam Award honors organizations, enterprises, entrepreneurs and intellectuals with outstanding achievements in production and business activities, scientific research, creating jobs and stable income for employees and contributing to social security.

The event was organized by Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations, Business and Brand Development the Center under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, in coordination with government agencies.

Buy2sell's representative receives the award. Photo by Buy2sell

The 100 enterprises were honored and received award certificates and gifts from the Vietnam Presidential Office. Buy2sell has been recognized for outstanding performance in 2021 for economic and social development.

Buy2sell is a Singaporean B2B e-commerce company that distributes imported products to countries in Asia Pacific. Founded in 2015, Buy2sell operates in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea.
While the health ministry has complained about low vaccination rates in certain localities, local authorities say the problem is actually a lack of distributed doses.

In a November 14 document, the Ministry of Health said that around 18 million distributed vaccine doses remained unused. Over 5.2 million of these doses were in the north and 8.2 million doses in the south, the ministry said.

The localities with high numbers of unused vaccine doses included Hanoi with 760,000, Thanh Hoa with 639,000, Nghe An with 910,000, Ho Chi Minh City with 506,000 and An Giang with 1.2 million doses.

As of Wednesday morning, data published on the Covid-19 vaccination portal showed that Hanoi has around 177,899 unused vaccine doses, HCMC, 290,300 and Thanh Hoa, 44,193. Nghe An had used up every vaccine dose it had received.

Trinh Huu Hung, director of the Thanh Hoa Department of Health, rejected the health ministrys claim that the province was slow in vaccinating its residents.

Hung said the 639,000 unused vaccine doses in Thanh Hoa cited by the ministry was "inaccurate."

"We havent received those 639,000 doses," he said, adding that it would take a few days before the doses would actually arrive, and some more time before the people could receive them.

"If its quick, maybe three days. Maybe it would take an entire week for us to receive the doses, and another 3-5 days to use them up," Hung said.

Hung added that some Covid-19 vaccines require both shots to be of the same type, like the Abdala vaccine produced by Cuba. As such, spare doses would need to be stored for being given as second or third shots, as needed, Hung said.

"At this moment in time, if we exclude the vaccine doses being stored to be used as the second and third shots, Thanh Hoa almost has no vaccine doses left," he said, adding that the province has no problem with its personnel and capacity for vaccination. Thanh Hoa can administer up to 200,000 doses a day if necessary; and the province has administered 1.8 million doses so far, Hung added.

Meanwhile, the Nghe An health department said the province has been given 871,000 Abdala vaccine doses. Of these, 435,000 doses would be second shots, and the rest would be third shots.

Second shots would be given until Thursday as scheduled, the department said, adding that it would take 2-3 days to use up the doses.

Nghe An has received 1.9 million vaccine doses so far. Around 400,000 people in the province have received two doses.

Boot on the other foot

Son La is currently the locality with the lowest vaccine coverage, with only about half of its adult population receiving at least one vaccine shot and 14 percent receiving two shots. As of Wednesday, Son La had received 551,610 doses, and had administered 508,122 of them.

Trang Thi Xuan, deputy chairwoman of the Son La Peoples Committee, said the provinces low vaccine coverage was due to a lack of doses.

She said a large number of doses were prioritized for major localities and those in southern Vietnam, which meant that Son La only received a small amount.

"Whenever the doses are distributed, we vaccinated our people as quickly as possible. We even receive spare doses from localities that could not vaccinate their people in time," Xuan said, reiterating that the problem lies in the fact that the province has not been given enough doses by the health ministry.

Tran Le Doai, deputy chairman of the Nam Dinh Peoples Committee, also attributed the northern provinces low vaccine coverage to the lack of doses distributed by the health ministry. Only around 58 percent of its adult population have received at least one dose, and just 13 percent have received two doses.

"Our problem is the fact that we dont have enough vaccine doses to give, not our vaccination speed. We could give out 100,000 shots a day," he said.

In Cao Bang, deputy office head of the provincial Peoples Committee Vu Anh Tuan also said the province lacked enough vaccine doses to cover the population despite its high vaccination speed. Cao Bang has only covered 65 percent of its population with at least one dose, and 41 percent have received two doses.

The Cao Bang Peoples Committee Tuesday requested more doses  around 742,000  to cover 70 percent of its population. Another 103,000 doses would also be needed to vaccinate children aged 12-18, the province said.

Vietnam has vaccinated 65.2 million people with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot. Around 36.8 million people have received two shots.
Vietnam welcomes first foreign tourists after two years of border closures

A flight carrying 29 foreign tourists who had booked a package tour to Vietnam under a vaccine passport program landed at Da Nang Airport Wednesday afternoon.

This was the first group of foreign tourists visiting Vietnam after nearly two years since the country closed its borders and canceled all international flights in March last year due to the pandemic.

The passengers, citizens of Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, the U.S., and the U.K., boarded a Vietnam Airlines flight departing from Incheon Airport.

They came to Vietnam for tourism activities and visiting relatives.

Upon their arrival, they were required to make health declaration and transferred to New World Hoiana Resort in Duy Xuyen District in Quang Nam Province that borders Da Nang to stay there for seven nights.

While staying at the resort, they can enjoy beaches, use services at two restaurants and a casino. They can visit UNESCO heritage sites Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary and other attractions.

After completing the tour package, some tourists will fly home while others stay in Vietnam to visit relatives.

Quang Nam is scheduled to welcome another 300 international passengers on two flights on November 18 and 25.

To be eligible for visiting Vietnam, all tourists need to furnish certificates showing they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid and tested negative for the novel coronavirus within 72 hours before departure from South Korea.

They are required to install the IGOVN and PC-Covid health declaration applications on their smartphones while in Vietnam.

Quang Nam is one of five localities to get the green light from the government to welcome back fully immunized tourists from November onwards along with Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, and Da Nang.

209 South Korean tourists are expected to arrive in Kien Giang's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday.
Vietnams constitution provides for freedom of expression, including for the press. But as the U.S. State Departments most recent human rights report on Vietnam noted, In practice, the government did not respect these rights. The State Department observed, The government also continued to use broad national security and antidefamation provisions to restrict freedom of expression. In addition, the report said, The lawexpressly forbids taking advantage of democratic freedoms and rights to violate the interests of the state or lawful rights and interests of organizations or individuals.

In its latest prison census, the Committee to Protect Journalists found that as of December 1, 2020, Vietnam held at least 15 journalists behind bars for their work, making it the second-worst jailer of journalists in Asia.

This unfortunate trend has continued into 2021. On October 28, a Vietnamese court convicted five journalists affiliated with the Bao Sach, or Clean Journalism, group and sentenced them to multi-year prison terms for abusing democratic freedoms under Article 331 of the Penal Code.

Truong Chau Huu Danh, founder of the Bao Sach group, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars. Doan Kien Giang and Le The Thang received sentences of three years each, while Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao and Nguyen Thanh Nha were given two-year sentences. In addition, all five have been prohibited from working as journalists for three years after completing their prison terms.

In a written statement, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said the United States is deeply troubled by the convictions. We understand this group of journalists focused on investigative reporting on corruption, which, of course, is not a crime, he said. The five convictions are the latest in a troubling trend of detentions and convictions of Vietnamese journalists and citizens exercising their rights to freedom of speech and of the press, as enshrined in Vietnams constitution.

The United States calls on the Vietnamese authorities to protect these freedoms, to release these five journalists and all those unjustly detained, and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their views freely and without fear of retaliation, Mr. Price declared. We urge the Vietnamese government to ensure its actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of Vietnams constitution and its international obligations.
The US is in the midst of an unprecedented overdose epidemic, with more than 100,000 deaths recorded in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) latest annual review. This marks a 28.5 percent increase from last year's figure, and it is the first time there have been more than 100,000 deaths from drugs in a single year.

Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years of age, and the death rate continues to rise. It has surpassed those caused by car crashes, guns, flu and pneumonia, killing people at a rate higher than the HIV epidemic at its peak.

How did we get here?

The US Department of Health and Human Services explains how opioids have become so widespread. In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies told the medical community that patients would not become addicted to opioid pain relievers, particularly commonly prescribed after surgeries. This led to the drugs being prescribed more and more often, leading to a significant number of patients becoming hooked on what is basically legal heroin.

When people had their prescriptions end, they turned to alternative measures to get their needs. This has created a black market for opioid substitutes, including heroin and fentanyl. The latter of which is particularly damaging, contributing to nearly two-thirds of all drug overdose deaths. It is a synthetic copy of heroin, with no natural base.

The CDC estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement.

What is being done?

In 2017, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a 5-Point Strategy To Combat the Opioid Crisis.

Improve access to prevention, treatment, and recovery support services,

Target the availability and distribution of overdose-reversing drugs,

Strengthen public health data reporting and collection,

Support cutting-edge research on addiction and pain,

Advance the practice of pain management.

President Biden made a similar pledge in his election campaign:

Hold accountable big pharmaceutical companies, executives, and others responsible for their role in triggering the opioid crisis,

Make effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services available to all, including through a $125 billion federal investment,

Stop over prescribing while improving access to effective and needed pain management,

Reform the criminal justice system so that no one is incarcerated for drug use alone,

Stem the flow of illicit drugs, like fentanyl and heroin, into the United States  especially from China and Mexico.

The president spoke about the overdose deaths before boarding Air Force One on Tuesday.

"Were working to make health coverage more accessible and affordable for all Americans, so that more people who need care can get it. We are strengthening prevention, promoting harm reduction, expanding treatment, and supporting people in recovery, as well as reducing the supply of harmful substances in our communities. And we wont let up", he said.

"To all those families who have mourned a loved one and to all those people who are facing addiction or are in recovery: you are in our hearts, and you are not alone. Together, we will turn the tide on this epidemic."

Whether these measures can be imposed is another story, as funding from big pharmaceutical companies has protected the industry from serious repercussions
The Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vince Jr. made history on 18 November when he announced that Muhammad Abdul Aziz and Khalil Islam who fifty-six years ago were charged with the assassination of Malcolm X would be exonerated.

The announcement came after a team comprised of the district attorney's office and lawyers representing the two men completed an investigation that lasted almost two years into the conviction. The investigation was opened after the 2020 documentary series, Who Killed Malcolm X? reinvigorated public interest in the case.

Where can the documentary be watched?

Netflix members can stream all six episodes from the comfort of their homes. The series was released just before the pandemic, and when many were locked down, many viewed it and their interest prompted the investigation. In response to the findings of the investigation, Vance said confirmed what many activists and historians had argued for decades: "These men did not get the justice that they deserved."

Those interested in learning more about similar cases may also be interested in the Academy Award-winning film, Judas and the Black Messiah which details the story of the FBI's involvement in the killing of Black Panther Leader Fred Hampton. Hampton who served as the Chairmen of the Chicago Black Panther Party was killed at twenty-one during a police raid on his home in 1969, just four years after the assassination of Malcolm X.

Responses to the news

Muhammad Abdul Aziz, who has maintained his innocence responded to the decision saying since he was found guilty he knew that illegal and corrupt forces had been at work. In a statement to the press, he said that it is now clear that the "process that was corrupt to its core  one that is all too familiar."

One of the lawyers, David Shanies released a statement in light of the news explaining how both men had "experienced the agony of decades in prison for a crime they did not commit. They were robbed of their freedom in the prime of their lives and branded the killers of a towering civil rights leader. Muhammad is now 83, and Khalil passed away years ago without ever having had the chance to see his name cleared."

The Innocence Project, an organization that works to overturn wrongful convictions was also involved in the investigation has also released a statement on the historic move. Barry Scheck, one of the founders of the Innocence Project said "The assassination of Malcolm X was a historic event that demanded a scrupulous investigation and prosecution but, instead, produced one of the most blatant miscarriages of justice that I have ever seen."
Harvesting pepper in Dak Lak (Photo: VNA)

The General Department of Vietnam Customs said pepper export revenue soared by 47 percent annually to 719 million USD in the first nine months of this year, mainly driven by rising world price. Meanwhile, the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA) estimated that 230,000 tonnes of pepper were shipped abroad as of the late October, bringing home around 800 million USD.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trades Department of Export-Import Administration, pepper imports of most key markets rose in early 2021, except for China which only bought 41,000 tonnes in January-September this year, down 7.2 percent annually. Therefore, its import demand is predicted to soar later this year, thus exerting a positive impact on Vietnams pepper export prices.

Notably, Vietnams share in Chinas pepper imports hiked from 25.66 percent in the first nine months of 2020 to 30.54 percent in the same period this year.

However, the VPA said the volume of pepper stock in Vietnam for the last two months of the month is not high, estimated at around 25,000  30,000 tonnes available for export this year. With the export prices of some 4,000 USD per tonne, earning revenue could reach around 100 million USD or beyond in two remaining months of this year.

Vietnamese cashew nuts occupy Chinese market

Cashew nuts imported from Vietnam into China increased sharply in turnover in the first 9 months of 2021, helping Vietnam gain share in the market of billions of people.

Photo for illustration. (Source: congthuong.vn)

According to the Administration of China Customs, the country's cashew nut import turnover in September 2021 reached 22.24 million USD, up 17.7% from the previous month.

In the nine months, Chinas cashew imports were valued at 125.84 million USD, up 23% over the same period last year.

China imported cashew nuts from Vietnam with a turnover of 110.88 million USD, up 28.7%. Vietnams cashew nut market share in Chinas total import turnover increased from 84.17% in the first 9 months of 2020 to 88.12% during the same period of 2021.

Vietnamese cashew nuts in China enjoy increase in both turnover and market share compared to other suppliers: Togo, 4.6 million USD, accounting for 3.63%; Benin, 3.3 million, USD, 2.61%; Ivory Coast, 2.8 million USD, 2.23%; and Cambodia, 1.6 million USD, 1.23%.

Vietnam accounts for more than half of Korean shrimp imports

According to the Korean Customs Administration, in the first nine months of 2021, the RoK imported 71,440 tons of shrimp, worth 533.7 million USD, up 2.9% in volume and 13% in value compared to the same period in 2020.

Vietnam accounts for more than half of Korean shrimp imports.(Photo: congthuong.vn)

Vietnam is the largest shrimp supplier to the RoK in the first 9 months of 2021. Vietnamese shrimp accounted for 51.2% in volume and 49.5% in value, representing 36,500 tons and 264.1 million USD, down 1% in volume but up 8.5% in value from the same period last year.

In the 9 months, the countrys shrimp imports from Thailand, Ecuador and China all increased very strongly compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, RoKs shrimp imports from Vietnam decreased by 1% in volume, causing Vietnams shrimp market share in the countrys total imports to decrease to 51.2% in volume and 49.5% in value in the first nine months of 2021.

HCM City expects to welcome international tourists from December 2021

The Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City Department of Tourism has just developed a draft scheme to welcome international tourists using vaccine passports from December 2021, instead of from the beginning of 2022 as planned, with 3 phases.

From December, HCM City plans to pilot welcoming tourists with vaccine passports. (Photo: plo.vn)

Specifically, in the first phase from December 2021, the city will pilot greeting international arrivals under package and closed travel programs by air and waterways in selected areas and tourism service establishments.

In the second phase from January 2022, the southern hub will allow all qualified tour operators to serve international tourists.

Photo for illustation. (Source: qdnd.vn)

During the period, tourists can join tourism programs combining multiple destinations after completing the tour program in HCM City within 7 days. In the immediate future, HCM City will connect with other provinces and cities such as Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh, and may add some other localities.

The third phase will fully reopen to the international tourist market. The starting time will be based on the actual epidemic situation and the evaluation of the results of welcoming international tourists in the first two phases./.
According to the Korean Customs Administration, in the first nine months of 2021, the RoK imported 71,440 tons of shrimp, worth 533.7 million USD, up 2.9% in volume and 13% in value compared to the same period in 2020.



Vietnamese shrimp account for more than half of RoKs shrimp imports. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

Vietnam is the largest shrimp supplier to the RoK in the first 9 months of 2021. Vietnamese shrimp accounted for 51.2% in volume and 49.5% in value, representing 36,500 tons and 264.1 million USD, down 1% in volume but up 8.5% in value from the same period last year.

In the 9 months, the countrys shrimp imports from Thailand, Ecuador and China all increased very strongly compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, RoKs shrimp imports from Vietnam decreased by 1% in volume, causing Vietnams shrimp market share in the countrys total imports to decrease to 51.2% in volume and 49.5% in value in the first nine months of 2021./.
Photo for illustration. (Source: congthuong.vn)

According to the Administration of China Customs, the country's cashew nut import turnover in September 2021 reached 22.24 million USD, up 17.7% from the previous month.



In the nine months, Chinas cashew imports were valued at 125.84 million USD, up 23% over the same period last year.

China imported cashew nuts from Vietnam with a turnover of 110.88 million USD, up 28.7%. Vietnams cashew nut market share in Chinas total import turnover increased from 84.17% in the first 9 months of 2020 to 88.12% during the same period of 2021.

Vietnamese cashew nuts in China enjoy increase in both turnover and market share compared to other suppliers: Togo, 4.6 million USD, accounting for 3.63%; Benin, 3.3 million, USD, 2.61%; Ivory Coast, 2.8 million USD, 2.23%; and Cambodia, 1.6 million USD, 1.23%./.
Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defense; Charge dAffaires, Marie Damour; U.S. Defense Attache Thomas Stevenson, and other Vietnamese and U.S. officials at the ceremony.

This five-story (S8) building provides lodging for instructors and students attending UN training courses. Valued at over USD1 million, the facility has 12 units for instructors, 20 units that can accommodate 40 students, a dining facility, and a reception room.

Addressing the ceremony, Ms. Marie Damour expressed pride that the U.S. continued to support the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping in its efforts to become an international-class training center for United Nations Peacekeeping. She affirmed that the work shows the importance of the bilateral partnership between the United States and Vietnam, symbolizing the U.S. commitment to enhancing UN Peacekeeping efforts. Helping to improve training facilities at the center is not only for the Vietnamese peacekeepers, but also for regional partners participating in UN missions.

Before the S8 building, the U.S. sponsored the construction of the S5 building at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations. This is a training base used to help Vietnamese forces prepare to deploy the Level 2 field hospital to South Sudan and organize U.N. training courses for neighboring countries in the region.

Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Head of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, expressed his gratitude for the effective and practical support of the U.S. for Vietnam in UN peacekeeping, considering the building a symbol of the defense cooperation relationship between the two countries. The support of the U.S. as well as international partners has contributed to improving Vietnam's capacity to participate in UN peacekeeping operations, as well as helping the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations to become a regional and international training center on UN Peacekeeping.

Since the signing of the U.S.-Vietnam Peacekeeping Memorandum of Understanding in 2015, the Office of Defense Cooperation in the U.S. Embassy Hanoi has provided over USD11 million to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations for training, technical assistance, equipment and infrastructure. This support includes funding a Peacekeeper Training Facility, which enabled Vietnamese personnel to prepare for three UN medical missions in South Sudan. The handover of this building highlights the U.S. commitment to strengthen Vietnams peacekeeping capabilities and to the enduring relationship between our two countries./.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam UNESCO National Committee, this is the fifth time Vietnam was elected a member of the Executive Council of UNESCO. The previous four times took place in the years 1978-1983, 2001-2005, 2009-2013 and 2015-2019. It is good news for multilateral diplomacy, he said.

He added that Vietnams membership on the UNESCO Executive Board reflected the accurate policy of the Party and State in increasing international integration. Moreover, it also demonstrated the country's increasing position and prestige in the international arena; and the recognition of the international community for Vietnam's contributions in its relationship with UNESCO.

UNESCO is one of the important specialized agencies of the United Nations, in charge of cooperation in education, science, culture and information-communications.

These are all fundamental fields associated with national development and contribute to peacekeeping in the region and the world.

The UNESCO Executive Board consists of 58 member states with a four-year term of office. It ensures the overall management of UNESCO, prepares the work of the General Conference and sees that its decisions are properly carried out.

Vietnams membership in the UNESCO Executive Board offers good opportunities for Vietnam to show dual responsibility in protecting national interests, and capitalising on UNESCOs ideas and initiatives to serve the national construction and development in a sustainable, concerted and comprehensive manner.

At the same time, Vietnam will have chances to contribute to international issues that UNESCO is paying attention to./.
Mr. Viboon Kromadit, CEO of Amata Group, and Ms. Somhatai Panichewa, Director General of Amata Vietnam Company, introduced to Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh about Amata Groups investment and business strategy in Thailand, Vietnam South and countries in the region.

Over the past 46 years since its establishment in 1975, Amata Group has become a leading business in Thailand operating in the fields of hi-tech and smart city development.

Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh works with Amata Group (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Amata Group focuses on two main strategies: zoning to attract FDI and taking the lead in applying new technologies and circular economy models in industrial park infrastructure development.

In Vietnam, Amata Group has invested in 3 large industrial park projects including Amata City Bien Hoa, Amata City Long Thanh and Amata City Ha Long, and is in the process of pre-feasibility study of Mong Cai Smart City Project.

Amata Group affirmed its commitment to continue pouring high-quality FDI into Vietnam, and said that a number of large enterprises that have successfully invested in Amata City in Chonburi have committed to investing in Ha Long Smart City and Mong Cai Smart City.

Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh highly appreciated Amata Groups vision and strategy in the field of hi-tech, especially sustainable development orientation through smart city project, in which Vietnam has demand to attract investment.

He affirmed that the government of Vietnam always focuses on attracting FDI, especially high-quality FDI sources, considering this a driving force for economic reform, improving competitiveness, and contributing to achieving the green and sustainable growth goals of the country.

Mr. Thanh suggested Amata Group continue to invest and call for more investors with great potential in clean and modern technology in Amata's industrial parks in Quang Ninh province, contributing to implementing the Vietnamese Government's commitment on reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh and the delegation also visited the Lumada Hi-tech Center in Southeast Asia of Hitachi Group, and the wastewater treatment plant applying circular economy./.
The project aims to strengthen the capacity of institutions to support child-centred and climate-sensitive actions through policy, advocacy and regulatory interventions, which will benefit all children in viet Nam . The project interventions are designed to enhance the capacity of key sectors to effectively respond to children's needs in an integrated manner, with focus on climate change, nutrition, water and sanitation, social and child protection. The project will be implemented by Viet Nam Disaster Management Authorities (VNDMA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), other line ministries and development partners.

Source: UNICEF

The climate crisis is a childs rights crisis, said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam. Viet Nam has been facing climate change related natural disasters such as drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta Region and consecutive storms that caused heavy floods and landslides in Central Region last year. Children are the least responsible for climate change, yet they will bear the greatest burden of its impact. UNICEFs global report issued this year on the Childrens Climate Risk Index shows that children and young people in Viet Nam are among those most at risk of the impacts of climate change, threatening their health, education, and protection. Many communities affected by climate change have pre-existing vulnerabilities and have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project plans to equip children, families and communities with knowledge and life-skills to cope with climate change and natural disasters in Central and the Mekong Delta regions, especially in Soc Trang, Ca Mau, and Bac Lieu provinces. An estimated 20,000 people including 9,000 children will benefit from increased access to improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and 10,000 children under five years old will be screened for severe acute malnutrition for possible interventions by 2025.

Children will play a central role in this project as agents of change for a safe, clean, and green community. The project aims at developing climate change and environmental policies with and for children, enabling childrens participation, and reducing children's vulnerabilities and deprivations while advancing progress against international commitments such, particularly the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The project is also aligned with Tokyo Strategy 2018 for Mekong-Japan Cooperation, which was adopted by the Heads of Government of Japan, Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam for the tenth Mekong Japan Summit. The strategy states that recognizing the current situation where climate change could pose a serious threat to the Mekong region, and cause serious disasters, Leaders reaffirmed their efforts to strengthen the response capability and to work together to tackle climate change in the region, reiterating their strong commitment to fully implementing the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, the project will contribute to the Mekong-Japan Initiative for SDGs toward 2030, which was adopted in 11th Mekong-Japan Summit in 2019 to push forward sustainable development in the region. One of the key priority areas of the initiative are environmental and urban issues including climate change mitigation, building climate resilience, and disaster risk reduction and disaster management.

Yamada Takio, Ambassador of Japan to Viet Nam and Rana Flowers signed on Exchange Note at MARD on the day with a witness of Nguyen Hoang Hiep, MARD Vince Minister. The effects of climate change have already become evident, and we need to address the changes with a sense of urgency. Vietnam has its own vulnerability to the impact of climate change, and in fact, we have already witnessed the damages caused by severe droughts, heavy floods and landslides in Vietnam. We also need to give due consideration to vulnerable people including children, by improving coordination between the local community and the authorities of the related sectors such as health, sanitation, water, and education, said Yamada Takio.

The Vice Minister also emphasized The signing event for project funding agreement today marks an important milestone in the strong and long partnership between the Government of Japan, the Government of Vietnam and the UNICEF. In the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hopes that the Japanese Government and UNICEF will continue to share experiences in developing public-private partnership projects to strengthen the resilience of the governance systems and DRM infrastructure; produce recommendations to the Government of Vietnam on the implementation of multidisciplinary behavior change communication campaign in disaster risk management; raise awareness of both people and leaders, especially at local levels, to contribute to the promotion of a sustainable and resilient society to natural disasters.

The project will accelerate the partnership for the protection and promotion of child rights in climate change and disaster risk reduction between UNICEF and VNDMA who have been collaborating since the emergency response to drought and saltwater intrusion in 2016-2017, which was also supported by the Government of Japan. It will also seek to introduce innovative and sustainable technologies on disaster resilience and climate responsiveness for drought and flood-prone areas, and will draw on experience from Japan and other countries. UNICEFs support through this project will complement the efforts of development partners including JICA by enhancing capacities of officials, service providers, children, and communities./.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks at a ceremony for the arrival of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Ly Lay/Xinhua)

"Cambodia's success in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign is inseparable from China's vaccine supply," said Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, noting that "China is a true, ironclad friend who always provides timely support to Cambodia in difficult times without any strings attached."

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- An aircraft carrying 2 million more doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine donated by China arrived in the Cambodian capital on Wednesday.

The vaccine arrival was greeted by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

The event was livestreamed on the prime minister's official Facebook page, the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK), Fresh News, the kingdom's largest online news provider, and several other TV channels.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the airport, Hun Sen said that with China's timely and regular vaccine supply, Cambodia has achieved herd immunity earlier than originally planned and recently reopened all sectors in the country.

From Monday, the Southeast Asian country allowed quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated international travelers. Under the new scheme, the travelers will be free to visit anywhere in the country if they test negative for COVID-19 72 hours prior to departure and have a negative result of a rapid test upon arrival.

Workers unload China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021.(Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

"Cambodia has become one of the most fully COVID-19 vaccinated countries in the region and around the world, that has achieved a solid herd immunity," Hun Sen said. "Cambodia's success in its COVID-19 vaccination campaign is inseparable from China's vaccine supply."

The Southeast Asian country has so far got a total of 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from three sources, through bilateral procurement, the World Health Organization (WHO)-led COVAX Facility, and donations. Of the total, over 90 percent were bought from or donated by China.

The prime minister added that to date, Cambodia has administered at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to 14.08 million people, or 88 percent of its 16-million population. Of them, 13.2 million, or 82.6 percent of the total population, are fully vaccinated with two required shots, and 2.07 million, or 13 percent, have got a third or booster shot.

A batch of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines is unloaded at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Luo Jun/Xinhua)

Hun Sen said Chinese jabs have protected people's health and saved the lives of Cambodians, while helping Cambodia recover its economy in the new normal.

"China is a true, ironclad friend who always provides timely support to Cambodia in difficult times without any strings attached," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said it was the seventh batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Cambodia.

"Now, we're pleased to see that Cambodia has achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in world, and the number of confirmed cases has dropped to double digits, and most of them are mildly ill," he said.

The ambassador said he was elated to see Phnom Penh has returned to its energetic former self as businesses have reopened, and that he hoped the kingdom's socio-economic development would be back on course soon.

Lim Heng, vice president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the Chinese donation is a new testament to the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed," he told Xinhua. "Cambodia-China joint COVID-19 fight is a good example for cooperation between countries. Undoubtedly, it will help raise bilateral relationship to a new high and our people-to-people bonds will be further strengthened."

A worker transfers China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Nov. 17, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua)

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said China's vaccine donation highlighted a close friendship between the countries, promising support and joint efforts in combating COVID-19 as well as in post-pandemic economic recovery.

"With China's vaccines, Cambodia is able to accomplish the nationwide vaccination program, achieve a strong herd immunity and reopen the country to fully vaccinated foreigners," he told Xinhua. "Cambodia is now safer to conduct business activities and traveling in the new normal."

Editor: ZAD
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with president of the Peruvian Congress, Maria del Carmen Alva, via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, Wednesday met with president of the Peruvian Congress, Maria del Carmen Alva, via video link.

Calling China and Peru good brothers with mutual trust, good partners enjoying common development, and close friends jointly shouldering responsibilities, Li said China-Peru relations have experienced fast development. They have deepened mutual political trust, improved economic and trade cooperation, and have fruitful outcomes in people-to-people exchanges.

China is willing to work with Peru to earnestly implement the significant consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries to promote the development of the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said.

As China and Peru are developing countries, Li called on the two sides to continue to strengthen mutual political support and strategic communications, deepen mutual political trust, and jointly safeguard international fairness, justice, and multilateralism.

Li also expressed China's readiness to accelerate the negotiations concerning upgrading free trade agreements with Peru, deepen investment cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, and the digital economy, and strengthen anti-COVID-19 cooperation.

Li said the NPC is willing to continue high-level exchanges with the Peruvian Congress and ratify, amend, or promulgate legislative documents conducive to the development of bilateral ties. Li also recommended learning from each other regarding legislation, supervision, and state governance.

For her part, Alva said Peru attaches great importance to relations with China and is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with the NPC to promote cooperation in political, economic, trade, anti-pandemic, and other fields. Enditem

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with president of the Peruvian Congress, Maria del Carmen Alva, via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Editor: ZAD
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen have discussed in detail the energy security of Europe during a telephone conversation.

"The President of Ukraine said that our state is ready to reduce the cost of gas transit through its territory and provide its own underground storage facilities for storage of strategic fuel reserves," the press service of the head of state said on the president's website on Wednesday.

In this regard, Zelensky reiterated that the Nord Stream 2 project is primarily a security threat to the whole of Europe and presented a number of proposals aimed at preventing the energy crisis in Europe. In particular, the officials discussed the idea of creating a regional platform to strengthen energy security, the press service said.
Kaplor 7 LLC (Odesa), which on September 14 offered the highest price for the integral property complex of the Odesavynprom winery put up for sale by the State Property Fund (SPF), paid the necessary amount to the budget  UAH 234.9 million.

"Recently, the buyer of Odesavynprom paid UAH 235 million, although the public had doubts that it would transfer the money," SPF Head Dmytro Sennychenko said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He said that the practice of using a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) is quite widespread abroad. According to him, even in case of refusal to purchase, the budget receives a deposit of 10% of the starting price, and such receipts, for example, only with the sale of distilleries amounted to UAH 30 million.

Sennychenko added that the winner of the recent auction for the sale of Electronmash  also a little-known company Lorten Group, which offered UAH 970 million with the starting price of UAH 66.7 million  nevertheless signed the auction protocol, which gives reason to expect payment within up to 60 days.

According to the terms of the auction for the sale of Odesavinprom, the buyer is obliged to keep the production of wines, to provide social guarantees to employees for at least three years. It is obligatory to conclude a protection agreement for the building of Sovkhozvintrest  an architectural monument built in 1895.

According to the unified public register of legal entities and sole proprietors, Kaplor 7 LLC was registered in January 2017. Its charter capital is UAH 500,000. It is engaged in the production of wines and trade in household goods. The ultimate beneficiary is Natalia Holub (earlier Raisa Kurpedinova).

Odesavynprom includes 97 real estate facilities (28 units of buildings and structures, 69 amphorae for wine storage), as well as technological equipment, vehicles, etc.

The enterprise is located on land plots with a total area of 2.67 hectares.

In March 2021, the SPF extended the lease agreement for the Odesavinprom property for six months with PJSC Odesavynprom before its privatization. The lease agreement with the tenant was concluded in 1992, after which it was repeatedly renewed.

PJSC Odesavynprom is engaged in the production of cognacs, still and sparkling wines under the French Boulevard and Guliev Wines brands, and also provides its facilities for bottling Crimean brands.
As a result of hostile actions, four servicemen of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) were wounded, another one received a combat injury, the press center of the JFO headquarters said in the morning report.

"The soldiers are in a medical facility. The health of the servicemen is satisfactory," the press center said.

Over the past day some 14 violations of the ceasefire regime were recorded by Russian-occupation forces, nine of which with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements.

The enemy reportedly opened fire in the direction of Nevelske with 120 mm mortars. In the Novooleksandrivka area, the occupation forces twice fired from 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, as well as from heavy anti-tank grenade launchers. Not far from Zolote-4, Russian-occupation forces fired at Ukrainian positions twice, using 120mm mortars and heavy anti-tank grenade launchers. Near Kryikivka, enemy troops fired from 152 mm artillery. Near Prychepylivka, the enemy opened fire three times using 152 mm artillery, 82 mm mortars, anti-tank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. In the direction of Krymske, the enemy fired from 82 mm mortars and anti-tank grenade launchers. Ukrainian positions near Maryinka came under fire from 82 mm mortars. In the direction of Lebedynske, the Russian armed formations fired from grenade launchers of various systems. In the area of Shumy, the occupation forces used heavy anti-tank grenade launchers.

In addition, in Luhansk region, an unmanned aerial vehicle, probably of the Orlan-10 type, was seen flying over the contact line.

Ukrainian defenders opened fire in return, without using weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements, and forced the enemy to stop shelling.

"As of 07.00 am, on November 18, 1 violation of the ceasefire was recorded by Russian-occupation forces. Near New York, the enemy fired from grenade launchers of various systems and large-caliber machine guns. There are no casualties among servicemen as a result of enemy actions," the headquarters said.
Ukrainian investigating authorities will study the materials contained in Bellingcat's report, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova has said.

"There is an investigation, it is being conducted, what other interrogations will be conducted by the investigation, I think it would be better for you to ask the SBI directly. We have prescribed a fairly large list in our prosecutorial instructions," the prosecutor general told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday, answering a question of Interfax-Ukraine whether the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies will study the materials of the investigation in the framework of the criminal case and whether Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak will be re-interrogated.

"All materials [investigations], which are carried out by journalists, are always carefully studied by us, they are always attached to the case. Therefore, they will be studied, they will be enclosed," she said.

Venediktova said that criminal proceedings against Wagnergate were opened by several law enforcement agencies.

"Then these cases were combined and were transferred, among other things, to the State Bureau of Investigations," she said.

According to her, all the instructions of the prosecutor's office as part of the investigation were in the summer of 2020.

"What has been done, what has not been done, I think it is now incorrect to pronounce it, this is the story of the independence of the pretrial investigation agency and the possibilities of the prosecutor's office," the prosecutor general said.

When asked what she personally thinks about the assumptions that were made in the Bellingcat investigation, Venediktova said: "I cannot speak with assumptions and evaluations, I can speak with established facts and procedural constructions that we operate with."

The prosecutor general stressed that the prosecutors were involved in the investigation of the Temporary Commission of Inquiry (TIC).

"I would not want to give assessments [...]. Let us wait for some results," concluded Venediktova.
Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) of Ukraine Dmytro Sennychenko announced his resignation of his own free will.

"Resignation is my personal desire and my plans," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.

Sennychenko said that he originally planned to work in this position for about two years. According to him, he managed to achieve the main tasks set, namely to ensure the stability of the processes in the fund, to create a team, to digitalize the processes and to consolidate the improvements in laws and regulations.

The SPF head said the decision to resign was not connected with the auction for the sale of Bilshovyk.

Sennychenko said that after submitting the application, he had already had a meeting with the president and prime minister. According to him, his application has already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada.

The SPF head said that after his resignation he intends to rest for at least two months.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree enacting the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine dated August 20, 2021, which imposes sanctions on 28 employees of the intelligence and special services of Russia.

Relevant document No.584/2021 was published on the website of the head of state and comes into force on the day of its publication.
The European Commission is developing a project to provide buses to Ukrainian schoolchildren who live on the contact line in eastern Ukraine, Head of the Ukraine Support Group in the European Commission, Deputy Director General of the European Commission's Directorate General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Katarina Mathernova has said.

Mathernova told Interfax-Ukraine that based on the results of the mission, the European Commission is planning specific support for those who live on the contact line. In particular, it is developing a bus project for schoolchildren so that children can get to school. The commission also pays special attention to regional non-governmental organizations, supporting them institutionally, as well as to health support issues, the EC officials study with their financial institutions and partners where they can help in terms of infrastructure. According to Mathernova, the infrastructure needs in this region are significant.

She expressed hope that the project of buses for children will be put into practice within a few months.

Mathernova also said the situation has already been studied, and she thinks that the EC partners, and it will be the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCR), will be able to reach a concrete result. Most likely, this is about months, and then there will be a tender for suppliers of buses. The European Commission also needs to discuss this with the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that when they receive the buses, there will be resources to service and maintain them.

Mathernova said the EU will pay for the buses, but the running costs are fuel, maintenance in normal practice falls on local partners.
The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement offers much more integration than the EU and Ukraine have been able to achieve so far, Head of the Ukraine Support Group in the European Commission, Deputy Director General of the European Commission's Directorate General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Katarina Mathernova said.

Mathernova told Interfax-Ukraine that the European Commission officials have come a long way since the signing of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Association Agreement in 2014 with the final entry into force in 2017. The president formulated it very correctly, it is that there are huge opportunities to go even deeper, even further. This document, its political and economic part, suggests, as well as offers, much more integration than we were capable of to achieve so far.

According to her, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen sees the great potential of the Agreement, which has not yet been implemented, and invites both the Ukrainian side and their team to make much more efforts to use the existing opportunities in full.

Mathernova said that, in particular they discussed the internal market in the area of digitalization and telecommunications. The officials also discussed the fact that in the summer thet started, and Ukraine became the first country of the Eastern Partnership, cyber dialogue. As well as they started and will continue to conduct a dialogue on the so-called Green Deal. This is a forum headed by Mathernova and Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna.

The Deputy Director General of the European Commission's Directorate General for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations said the last meeting of the forum was held in Kyiv in September 2021, before that it was in Brussels, and the next round will be in Brussels, most likely in January next year. In other words, the EU plans to do this on a regular basis, so that this is a forum in which they can discuss the necessary changes that are needed for the Green Transition, as well as funding issues and so on.

She said the Energy Efficiency Fund is just one example, one project that the European Commission sees as critical to help Ukraine reduce energy dependence. According to the official, the Energy Efficiency Fund is bringing results right now. Almost 200,000 people in Ukraine have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by this fund in two years.

The head of the Ukraine Support Group in the European Commission said the Ukraine-EU summit, which took place in Kyiv on October 12, was very good. In addition, this was the first visit of President Ursula von der Leyen to Ukraine in her current position. According to Mathernova, after the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed for this reason, it was important to make this visit. She believes that it was a necessary summit that provided an opportunity to reaffirm the depth of relations between Ukraine and the EU, the commitments they have to each other and the desire to work together on a number of common initiatives.

Mathernova believes that a striking example of this is that after the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement at the EU-Ukraine summit, immediately, literally the next day, Wizz Air announced a direct flight between Kyiv and Brussels.

She said that is great, adding that directly during the summit, the officials also discussed deepening sectoral integration between Ukraine and the EU. Moreover, during the summit, the leaders reaffirmed their full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
Ukrainian tourists who could not leave Turkey as a result of the death of one of their group members are returning return to Ukraine on Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

"A group of Ukrainian tourists who previously could not leave the territory of Turkey as a result of the death of one of the group members in the territory of the Mugla province in Turkey on October 17 will return to their homeland today," Kuleba said at an online briefing on Thursday.

He noted that according to the results of the work carried out by the diplomatic institutions of Ukraine in Turkey with the competent authorities, in particular with the prosecutor's office of the city of Fethiye and the Turkish forensic examination, it was possible to speed up the pretrial investigation of the case and ensure a quick and safe return of citizens to Ukraine.

"Citizens are returning today in two groups to Zaporozhia and Kyiv. Consular officials of Ukraine in Turkey will continue to monitor the criminal case on the death of our citizen. We will never desert our people, and this is our unshakable principle," Kuleba stressed.

As reported, a group of Ukrainian citizens flew to Antalya in mid-October and went on a hike along the Lycian Way, but had to remain in Turkey to this day due to the investigation being conducted into the death of one of the group members. Until the completion of all investigative actions, in particular the examination of the object that was used to injure, the court temporarily prohibited the Ukrainian's companions from leaving the territory of Turkey.
A U.S. citizen and a Ukrainian citizen were planning the assassination of incumbent Minister of Agrarian Policy Roman Leschenko in connection with his activities in 2018, Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky has said.

At a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, the Interior Minister said that the police were checking information that a Ukrainian citizen and a U.S. citizen were preparing an attempted murder of a man who was a collector and extorted funds. This crime was solved and later it turned out that these same people were planning an attempt on Leschenko.

"The person from whom they tried to take away the property - Roman Leschenko ... this [attempted murder] is associated with his activities in 2018 ... The U.S. citizen had to leave, the crime had to be committed after his departure," said Monastyrsky.

In turn, head of the National Police Ihor Klymenko clarified that the U.S. citizen was the main mastermind of the murder of Leschenko. He and other detained citizens of Ukraine are charged with kidnapping, extortion, and attempted murder.

Answering a question about the motive for the order, the head of the National Police said: "First, it's money."

According to the minister, law enforcement officers staged a fake murder and sent video and photos to the masterminds.

The masterminds came to the house to make sure the order was fulfilled.
Hollywood actor, film director and producer Sean Penn, in creative collaboration with a Ukrainian production team, plans to shoot a documentary about the events in Ukraine, the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Headquarters said on Thursday.

"In creative cooperation with the Ukrainian production group, the winner of two Oscars plans to shoot a documentary about Ukraine. The main idea is to tell the general public about the events that are now taking place in our country," the message released after Penn's visit to Donbas reads.

It notes that the Hollywood actor was able to see with his own eyes the consequences of the Russian aggression, having visited one of the settlements of the Azov region, "which most of all felt the full force of the "brotherly" love of the supporters of the Kremlin expansion."

"During the visit, the director had the opportunity to communicate with Ukrainian servicemen, who today, as part of one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defend Ukrainian lands and give a worthy rebuff to the enemy," the JFO headquarters emphasize.

They add that it came as a surprise to the American delegation that a significant percentage of Ukrainian military personnel are women, "who not only serve in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but, on an equal basis with men, perform combat missions and lead combat units directly on the line of confrontation."

As reported, on November 16, Hollywood actor, film director and producer Sean Penn first arrived in Ukraine.

Sean Penn won two Oscar Awards for his leading roles in Harvey Milk (2008) and Mystic River (2003).
On Monday, November 22, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host press conference entitled "Is the crisis deepening in Ukraine? New dimensions and aspects." Participants include Director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; co-founder of the national platform Dialogue on Peace and Safe Reintegration Oleh Sahakyan (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of places in the press center is limited, the presence of a PCR test or a certificate of vaccination is required. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
KYIV. Nov 18 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Oleksandr Afonin, President of the Ukrainian Association of Book Publishers and Book Sellers, expressed regret that the presidential program for paying UAH 1,000 to vaccinated citizens does not apply to the purchase of books, and urged the authorities to stop considering the cultural sector as something secondary, marginal and unnecessary.

"What else needs to be done to destroy culture, education and publishing? The answer is this: the Ukrainian government, in particular the executive, should continue to do what it has done and is doing so far in relation to the cultural sector, the humanitarian sector in general. This means considering the sphere of culture as something secondary, marginal, optional, as some kind of load that does not need support from the government, and in general does not in any way affect the state of society, its development, its economy, moral, psychological and social status," he said in a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

In particular, Afonin said that book publishing should not be left exclusively in the position of market relations, but on the contrary, it is necessary to provide support from the government.

He also noted the importance of programs to promote books and reading, which would be funded by the government. The sector also needs tax incentives, affordable lending against government guarantees, subsidies, direct institutional assistance, as well as the fight against piracy.
British investor Tamaz Somkhishvili sent a notification of a dispute to the Government of Ukraine on the basis of the Agreement between Ukraine and the UK on the reciprocal protection of investments

Kyiv, November 18, 2021: Tamaz Somkhishvili, the beneficial owner of the Ukrainian enterprise Kyiv-Terminal LLC and a long-term British investor in Ukraine, sent a notification of a dispute to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on November 8, 2021 and a proposal of amicable settlement of the investment dispute on compensation of losses in accordance with the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments. If the investor and the state fail to reach an amicable settlement of the dispute within three months after the receipt of this notification, the investor will be ready to commence arbitral proceedings against Ukraine.

Since 2018, British investor Tamaz Somkhishvili has not been able to compensate for his losses - $ 98.5 million, incurred as a result of the termination of the investment agreement on the reconstruction of the Kharkiv square by the Kyiv authorities.

The foreign investor made every effort for the peaceful settlement of the issue of the compensation of losses, negotiating with the representatives of the Government of Ukraine and the Kiev City State Administration (KCSA) management. The latter did not question and confirmed the investor's right to compensation for losses, but insisted that the amount of losses be determined by Ukrainian courts.

However, in the courts, representatives of the Kyiv authorities, as well as the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, changed their position and began to unfairly declare that Kyiv-Terminal, and thus the investor, has no right to compensation for any losses at all. This is despite the fact that the legislation of Ukraine directly provides for the obligation of the authorities to compensate for the losses that the authorities caused by their actions to investors.

In turn, the Prosecutor's Office of the city of Kyiv took an even more unreasonable position, stating that the investor's entry into the project with the authorities is the investor's activity at his own risk. In fact, this means that any violations on the part of the authorities are the problem of investors, not the authorities.

The investor, desperate to defend his legal rights within the national legal field and faced with an unfounded and unfair position of the authorities, sent a notification of a dispute to the government of Ukraine.

For Ukraine, which is already among the leaders of the respondent states in international investment arbitrations, this public dispute may undermine the efforts of the President and the Government to attract foreign investment and send an extremely negative signal to the international investment community.

This case is not only a case about the fulfillment of the state's obligation to compensate the investor for losses caused by the authorities. It is also a matter of whether government authorities are capable of resolving disputes in a fair and civilized manner. In our case, the investor was faced with the exact opposite situation. However, do these authorities understand that they are questioning not only their own reputation and the reputation of the country, but also the rationality of the existence of many state institutions for attracting investments and holding numerous investment forums. What is the point of these initiatives if the state cannot fulfill its obligations on existing investments?,  commented Taras Dumych, a legal adviser to Tamaz Somkhishvili and partner at Wolf Theiss international law firm.

***

For more information, please contact Maria Bukhtoiarova, a representative of CFC Big Ideas, which is a communications advisor to Tamaz Somkhishvili, by email at: mb@cfcbigideas.com or by phone: +380 99 317 93 46.
Egypt has codified a host of COVID-19 restrictions, including those regulating facemasks and public gatherings, assigning jail penalties and fines for violators in accordance with the newly issued epidemics and pandemics law.
Egypt has lifted the curtain on its first two locally made drones, the EJune-30 SW and Nut, which were displayed during the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX 2021) held between 29 November and 2 December.
Sidelined after a decade leading Ethiopia's army, General Tsadkan Gebre-Tensae did not expect to don his uniform after retirement. But when war erupted in Tigray, the renowned military strategist was back, ready to fight the army he had once commanded.
Former President Donald Trump lashed out with profanity at Benjamin Netanyahu for congratulating President Joe Biden on his victory in last year's election, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.
Egypts Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany and more than 30 Arab and foreign ambassadors as well as influencers observed on Friday morning the biannual solar alignment at Ramses II Temple in Abu Simbel.

The biannual solar alignment at Ramses II temple is an astronomical phenomenon that takes place biannually on 22 October and 22 February.

During phenomenon, which occured at 5:52am and lasted for nearly 20 minutes. sun rays enter the temples sanctum to light three of four statues. The three statues belong to King Ramses II and the deities Amun-Re and Re-Hur-Akhty. The God of Darkness Ptah remains in shadow to symbolise his connection to the underworld.

All precautionary safety measures were taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The attendees took a group photo in front of the temple with the respective flags of their countries.

On Thursday, El-Enany and the ambassadors toured the Abu Simbel temple and parts of the Ramses II temple.

On Friday, the group also visited the temple of the wife of King Ramses II, Queen Nefertari.

The tour was attended by the Aswan governor and top officials from the tourism and antiquities ministry.

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Prince of Wales, Charles, and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, will be visiting Egypt from 18 to 19 November at the request of the British government and will be received by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Entissar El-Sisi on arrival.

The visit, the first overseas tour by a senior member of the royal family during the pandemic, will also include a visit to Jordan, a statement by Prince Charles office read.

During their visit to Egypt, the royals will also hold discussions with Al-Azhars Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb on religious harmony and the role of faith in protecting the environment.

This will serve to further strengthen religious ties between the UK and Egypt, the statement added.

Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley explained on Monday that the royals will visit the sites of ancient and modern Egypt.

This visit is a strong proof of the importance of the relations between the UK and Egypt and consolidates our humanitarian links, Bayley said in a recorded video that the embassy posted on Facebook.

He stressed that the visit will be "historic" and will demonstrate our joint friendship and commitment.

The visit will review Egypts commitment to protecting the environment as Cairo bids for the presidency of the UN Climate Change Conference, which is set to be held in November 2022.

The prince has a deep and longstanding interest in these issues and will be taking the opportunity to discuss how we best work together to combat climate change, the statement added.

Egypt has recently announced plans to allocate 50 percent of the states new investments to green projects by 2024 as part of the country's vision to integrate environmental considerations and combat climate change into the overall development plans.

The visit, which will be Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla's first visit to Egypt since 2006, also underlines the countrys close relationship with the UK and highlight religious tolerance across Egyptian society as well as efforts to preserve cultural heritage.

Additionally, the Duchess of Cornwall will focus on womens empowerment in the country and will be briefed on the stories of Egyptian female leaders as well as matriarchs supporting their families.

Moreover, Prince Charles will celebrate the UKs support for efforts to protect cultural heritage by meeting a number of craftspeople and conservationists.

The prince will also meet with young entrepreneurs in Egypts private sector to discuss innovative businesses in the country and opportunities for adopting environmentally friendly practices.

The royal couple will then visit Alexandria to celebrate Egypts ancient culture, according to the statement.

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Other important discoveries made by the mission include the tomb of the mayor of Memphis, Ptah-Mas; the royal ambassador to foreign countries, Basir; and the supreme commander of the army, Eurkhi.

Mohamed Othman El-Khosht, Head of Cairo University, explained that this is another important discovery made by the universitys mission in Saqqara, highlighting the top priority the institution affords to field work alongside research and scientific work.

He pointed out that the area where the new discovery was made includes the tombs of top officials of the New Kingdom, among with is the tomb of the renowned military commander Haremhab.

According to Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the discovery is important because of the several titles the tomb owner possessed in life. He was the royal scribe, the head of the treasury, the supervisors of cattle and was responsible for sacrifices to the deities at Ramses II temple in Thebes.

The head of the archaeological mission, Ola El-Egazy, added that the tomb architecture is similar to its neighbours. This style is known as a tomb-temple because it consists of an entrance in the form of an edifice, followed by one or more courtyards. The tomb ends at the western side with a shrine for deities headed by a pyramidion.

The entrance of the tomb is the only uncovered part and it is carved in stone engraved with scenes depicting the tombs owner, she added.

The entrance leads to a first hall with painted walls showing scenes depicting the offerings processions.

Many stone blocks were found under the sand, as well as several Osirian columns, some of which are still lying in sand while others are standing in their original place. All these pieces will be studied to be put back in their original places inside the tomb, El-Egazy said, adding that the mission had completed all the required work on the tomb of the supreme commander of the army during the reign of King Seti I and his son, King Ramses II.

Ahmed Ragab, dean of the Faculty of Archeology, said that excavation work in Saqqara began in the 1970s at the New Kingdom cemetery south of the road leading to the pyramid of King Unas. Headed by Professor Sayed Tawfiq 1983-1986, this mission resulted in the discovery of many tombs dating back to the Ramesside period, including the tomb of the royal vizier Nefer-Ranpet.

The universitys current mission, headed by Ola El-Egazy, started in 2005 and has continued through the present.
The United Nations said Wednesday that Ethiopia had detained 72 drivers working for the World Food Programme (WFP) in a northern city along the only functional road leading into the famine-threatened Tigray region.

"We confirm that 72 outsourced drivers contracted by WFP have been detained in Semera. We are liaising with the Government of Ethiopia to understand the reasons behind their detention," a UN spokesperson said.

"We are advocating with the government to ensure their safety and the full protection of their legal and human rights," the spokesperson added.

News of the detained drivers comes one day after the UN said 22 Ethiopian staff had been detained in the capital Addis Ababa following government raids that lawyers and rights groups say target ethnic Tigrayans.

Six of those employees were freed while the remaining 16 were in custody Tuesday night, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at the world body's New York headquarters.

Officials say such raids target supporters of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group, which has been locked in a gruesome war with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government for the past year.

Information on the ethnicity of the drivers detained in Semera was not immediately available, though the UN has in the past hired ethnic Tigrayans to transport food and other aid into Tigray.

Abiy sent troops into Tigray last November to topple the TPLF, a move he said came in response to rebel attacks on army camps.

Though the 2019 Nobel Peace laureate vowed a swift victory, by late June the TPLF had regrouped and retaken most of the region including its capital Mekele.

Since then Tigray has been under what the UN describes as a de facto humanitarian blockade.

Only 15 percent of necessary aid has been able to cross from Semera into Tigray since mid-July, with hundreds of thousands of people living in famine-like conditions, according to UN estimates.

Last week, the UN said no aid trucks had entered northern Ethiopia since October 18.

Movement of aid workers in and out of the region by road has been barred since October 28.

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Boeing has reached an agreement with the families of victims of the 737 MAX crash that killed 157 people in Ethiopia, and has admitted responsibility for the crash, according to legal documents filed in a Chicago court on Wednesday.

"Boeing is committed to ensuring that all families who lost loved ones in the accidents are fully and fairly compensated for their loss," the company said in a statement passed to AFP.

"By accepting responsibility, Boeing's agreement with the families allows the parties to focus their efforts on determining the appropriate compensation for each family," the aerospace giant said.

Flight 302 to Nairobi, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, crashed southeast of the capital Addis Ababa six minutes after taking off on March 10, 2019.

The accident resulted in the grounding of the 737 MAX fleet, and the worst crisis in the history of the American aircraft manufacturer, as it came after a 737 MAX operated by Lion Air crashed in Indonesia in October 2018, killing 189 people.

The lead lawyers for victims' families hailed the agreement as "historic" and a "significant milestone for the families in their pursuit of justice against Boeing."

"It will ensure they are all treated equitably and eligible to recover full damages," said lawyers Robert Clifford, Steven Marks and Justin Green in a statement.

The agreement proposed Wednesday does not mention specific sums, but said that jurors will be responsible for assessing amounts of compensation based on the evidence presented.

The families of the victims will be able to take steps to obtain compensation in US courts. The 157 people who died were of 35 different nationalities.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those lost on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302," Boeing said.

"Since the accidents, Boeing has made significant changes as a company, and to the design of the 737 MAX, to ensure that accidents like those never happen again," it added.

The 737 MAX, a new version of the legendary medium-haul plane originally released in 1967, tarnished the reputation of the aircraft manufacturer and cost it billions of dollars.

The planes remained grounded for 20 months before being gradually allowed to fly around the world since the end of 2020. Airlines have brought back into service more than 200 of the aircraft.

A hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday in Chicago to ratify this preliminary agreement. There will then be mediations, but if they fail, each family will be able to present their case to a jury to seek damages, according to the law of the state of Illinois, where Chicago is located.

In January, Boeing agreed to pay more than $2.5 billion to settle certain lawsuits. The aeronautical giant admitted that two of its employees had misled the FAA, the aviation regulator in the United States.

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Hundreds of Sudanese protesters took to the streets Saturday despite a heavy security presence, two days after the military sought to tighten its grip by forming a new ruling council.

The pro-democracy protests come nearly three weeks after top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ousted the government, detained the civilian leadership and declared a state of emergency.

"Dozens gathered and began chanting against military rule and marched on to meet up with other rallies," said Mohieddine Hassan, a witness from Al-Shajarah district in southern Khartoum.

The military's October 25 takeover drew widespread international condemnation, as did a deadly crackdown on street demonstrations by people demanding it restore the country's democratic transition.

Any hopes the demonstrators had that the military would back down were dashed Thursday, when Burhan named himself as the head of a new ruling Sovereign Council that excludes the country's main civilian bloc, triggering more condemnation from the West.

"No, no to military rule", "Civilian (rule) is the people's choice", and "Down with the entire council", the protesters in southern Khartoum shouted on Saturday.

Hundreds of protesters also gathered in the capital's twin city of Omdurman, witnesses there said.

The protests occurred despite the heavy presence of military, police and paramilitary forces in Khartoum, where bridges connecting the capital to neighbouring cities were sealed off, AFP correspondents reported.

The security forces also blocked roads leading to the army headquarters in Khartoum, the site of a mass sit-in protest in 2019 that led to the ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir, the correspondents added.

Call for restraint

The United Nations has called on the security forces to refrain from violence.

"In light of tomorrow's demonstrations in #Sudan I once again call upon the security forces to exercise utmost restraint and respect the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression," said UN Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes.

Saturday's demonstrations have largely been organised by informal groups known as "resistance committees" in neighbourhoods and towns across the country which emerged during the anti-Bashir demonstrations in 2019.

The committees have called for multiple protests since the coup and mobilised crowds via text messages as Sudan has largely remained under a rigorous internet outage with phone lines intermittently disrupted.

But despite the efforts, "civilian opposition to the coup has been diffuse and fragmented", Jonas Horner of the International Crisis Group said in a report last week.

The crackdown on demonstrations so far has left dead at least 15 people, according to an independent union of medics, leading to punitive measures by the international community.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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Two more Sudanese protesters died in the hospital from wounds after being shot during mass protests against last month's power grab, a doctors union said Monday.

That raises the death toll from Saturday's protests to seven, all but one from gunshots, the Sudan Doctors Committee said. More than 200 others were wounded when security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters in the capital city of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman, the committee said.

Sudanese police denied using live ammunition, saying its forces only resorted to tear gas to disperse demonstrators allegedly attacking police stations and vehicles. They said at least 39 policemen were wounded in Saturday's clashes protests.

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets across Sudan Saturday to rally against the military's takeover last month.

The Oct. 25 takeover upended a fragile planned transition to democratic rule, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government.

The power grab has drawn international criticism and massive protests in the streets of the capital of Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. At least 23 protesters were killed since Oct. 25, according to the doctors committee.

The committee said the new deaths include 13-year-old Remaaz Hatim al-Atta, who was shot in the head in front of her family's home in Khartoum, and Omar Adam who was shot in his neck during protests also in Khartoum. Both were shot on Oct. 25 and pronounced dead in the past 24 hours, it said.

Saturday's demonstrations came as the military has tightened its grip on power, appointing a new Sovereign Council. The council, chaired by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, held its first meeting Sunday, and said in a statement that a civilian government would be formed in the coming days.

Cracks, meanwhile, started to surface among the pro-democracy movement over a call by a group of political parties and movements to return to the pre-coup power-sharing deal between the protesters and the generals.

The Sudanese Professionals' Association, which spearheaded the uprising against al-Bashir, criticized the call, insisting on handing power over to civilians.

The SPA said it would work with the Resistance Committees and other groups to topple the military council and establish a civilian government to lead the transition to democracy.

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The UN voiced alarm on Tuesday at surging arrests in Ethiopia since the country introduced a state of emergency on November 2.

The United Nations human rights agency said most of those detained in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as well as in Gondar, Bahir Dar and other locations were of Tigrayan origin.

"According to reports, at least 1,000 individuals are believed to have been detained... with some reports putting the figure much higher," spokeswoman Liz Throssell told reporters in Geneva.

The arrests have occurred since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government declared a state of emergency two weeks ago, when Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters threatened to march on the capital.

Lawyers have also said that thousands of Tigrayans have been arbitrarily detained since the announcement of the measures, which allow the authorities to detain without a warrant anyone suspected of supporting "terrorist groups".

Among those arrested since the state of emergency was declared are a number of UN staff.

Throssell said 10 local UN staff as well as 34 drivers subcontracted by the UN were still being held.

"We call for all those still in detention to be immediately released," she said, adding that if that does not happen, "a court or other independent and impartial tribunal should review the reasons for their detention, or they should be formally charged".

She acknowledged that it was "challenging" for the remaining UN rights agency staff to do their work, adding that, "This is why we have reports of at least 1,000 people detained, but we're not in a position to give a more definitive number."

Detention conditions were generally reported to be "poor", she said, with many of those detained held in overcrowded police stations.

Throssell decried that many of those detained had reportedly not even been informed of the reasons for their detention, let alone formally charged.

"We are also concerned at some reports of ill-treatment in detention," she said, adding that while the agency had no specific evidence of torture in detention, this was clearly a concern.

The war between the Ethiopian authorities and the TPLF has over the past year killed thousands and displaced more than two million people, and has left hundreds of thousands in famine-like conditions.

The UN says all sides in the conflict have committed serious human rights violations.

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Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council and General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan late on Tuesday reiterated that the military has no intention to continue in power.

Al-Burhan made the remarks when he received the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, in presence of the US Charge d'Affaires in Khartoum Brian Shukan, the council said in a statement.

Al-Burhan emphasized the readiness and openness of the military to lead an unconditional dialogue that leads to achieving stability and development in the country, said the statement.

He further stressed adherence to the constitutional document and conducting a comprehensive dialogue with all political forces to complete the structure of the transitional authority and make the democratic transition in the country successful until reaching a free and fair election in July 2023.

Al-Burhan further promised to release the political detainees, unless a criminal charge is proven against any detainee, saying "steps to release political detainees have already begun, and any detainee who is not found guilty of a criminal offense will be released."

Meanwhile, Molly Phee conveyed Washington's keenness on the democratic transition in the country as well as making the transitional period a success, statement said.

She expressed hope that the Sudanese would be able to resolve the current differences on their own, noting that the role of the United States is confined to facilitating the dialogue among them, it added.

Sudan has been suffering from a political crisis after Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25 and dissolved the sovereign council and government.

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Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called on Wednesday for the drafting of an integrated vision to fulfil the needs of the Palestinian people and help the Palestinian Authority (PA) overcome the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories.

Shouky made the comments at a ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) for coordinating international aid to the Palestinian people, which was held earlier today in Norway.

Shoukry underlined Egypt's efforts to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinians and to reconstruct the Gaza Strip, highlighting the steps implemented in this respect in coordination with the PA.

The economic crisis in the Palestinian territories has worsened on the heels of the recent Israeli war on Gaza in May, the COVID-19 pandemic, and delays in the payment of salaries by the PA.

In a recent report, the World Bank expressed concern about the PAs financial situation, saying it was no longer able to borrow from local banks. It said that the PAs budget deficit will be $1.36 billion in 2021, making it even more difficult to meet its obligations by the end of the year.

In Gaza, which has been under siege for 14 years and suffers from stiff restrictions by Israel, poverty and unemployment rates are soaring. Israel's recent 11-day onslaught on Gaza increased the enclave's suffering, destroying dozens of its buildings and badly damaging much of its infrastructure.

In May, Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced the allocation of $500 million as part of an Egyptian initiative to reconstruct the Strip. Egypt has also sent Gaza several tonnes of humanitarian aid.

According to media reports, several challenges now face reconstruction given complicated political conditions; Israel wants to link a prisoner-exchange deal to reconstruction in Gaza, something the Palestinian side rejects.

During his speech to the AHLC, Minister Shoukry asked all international donors to continue to provide support to the Palestinians people, according to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Shoukry urged the international community to live up to its responsibility to provide an environment that is conducive to the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis to reach a comprehensive settlement that is based on UN Security Council resolutions, the statement added.

Shoukry also voiced Egypt's appreciation and continued support for the AHLC, saying it represents an important international mechanism for coordinating efforts and communications between concerned parties to support the brothers in Palestine.

The AHLC was established in 1993 following the Oslo I Accord. Its main aim is to develop an institutional and economic basis for a future Palestinian state based on a negotiated two-state solution.

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Egypt was re-elected on Wednesday to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) until 2025 with 130 votes, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Wednesday.

The UNESCOs Executive Board consists of 58 member states, each with a four-year term in office.

The Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of the UN agency, along with the General Conference  which elects members of the executive board  and the Secretariat.

Previously, Egypt was re-elected in November 2017 for a four-year term in the board with 141 votes.

Egypts re-election to the Executive Board for successive terms underscores the international recognition Egypt has garnered for its active role and position within the UN in general and the UNESCO in particular, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez said in the statement.

Hafez highlighted the historical relations linking Egypt and the UNESCO and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis recent participation in the organisations 75th anniversary celebration.

In his speech on 12 November at the UNESCOs headquarters in Paris, El-Sisi stressed that Egypt looks forward to bolstering its fruitful cooperation and long partnership with the UN body.

We hope to further develop and deepen [this partnership] to implement the noble objectives of this organisation in serving culture, science, and human civilisation, El-Sisi said.

Egypt is proud of being among the founding states of the UNESCO, El-Sisi said, noting that relations between the country and the organisation have developed over decades to become a model of constructive cooperation at all levels.

Hafez also made it clear that this victory is a result of the culmination of efforts made by the foreign ministry, its embassies, and missions abroad to mobilise votes in favour of Egypts re-election to the Executive Board.

The UNESCO consists of 193 members and 11 associate members.

The organisations mission is to contribute to building a culture of peace; eradicating poverty; and fostering sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication, and information.

In 2019, Egypt was elected as a member of the Executive Board of the UNESCOs Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.

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Egypt and Qatar have signed agreements to supply fuel and basic construction materials to the Gaza Strip, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said following a ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in Oslo on Wednesday evening.

"These collaborative efforts will contribute to improving living conditions [in Gaza]," Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan Al-Muraikhi said at the meeting which brought together international donors for the Palestinians.

Al-Muraikhi's speech was light on the details of the agreements. Thus far, Egypt has not released a statement.

The AHLC was established in 1993 following the Oslo I Accord. Its main aim is to develop an institutional and economic basis for a future Palestinian state based on a negotiated two-state solution.

During his virtual participation in Oslo's AHLC meeting on Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry requested an integrated vision to fulfil the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, reconstruct the Strip, and ease the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories.

In Gaza, which has been under Israeli siege for 14 years, poverty and unemployment rates are soaring. Israel's onslaught on Gaza in May increased the enclave's suffering, badly damaging much of its infrastructure.

The World Bank said the war caused up to $190 million in economic losses, in a territory where unemployment already hovered around 50 percent. Over 4,000 homes were demolished or partially damaged, according to the World Bank.

The economic crisis in the Palestinian territories has aggravated on the heels of the recent Israeli war on Gaza, the COVID-19 pandemic, and delays in the payment of salaries by the Palestinian Authority.

Following the mediation of a ceasefire between the Israeli and Palestinian sides to end the May war, Egypt allocated $500 million to reconstruct the Strip. Egypt has also dispatched massive engineering equipment and crews to participate in the Gaza Strip reconstruction alongside tonnes of humanitarian aid.

The World Bank has estimated that rebuilding Gaza after the latest devastating war will cost up to $485 million.

In recent months, Israel has stiffened restrictions on the enclave, barring entry of construction materials and fuel. According to media reports, several challenges now face Gaza's reconstruction given the complicated political conditions.

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Egypt's Court of Cassation rejected on Thursday an appeal against the placing of former 2012 presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah and 26 others on the country's terrorism list.

In November 2020, a Cairo Criminal Court placed Abul-Fotouh and Abdel-Fattah along with 26 others on the states terror list for a five-year period in the case 1781/2019.

The list included El-Hassan Khairat El-Shater, who is the son of Khairat El-Shater, the former deputy supreme guide of the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood.

In a document, the State Security Prosecution said the defendants in the 1781/2019 case are accused in other cases of various terror-related crimes including belonging to an outlawed group; inciting against the state; calling for suspending the constitution; attempting to overthrow the regime; threatening national security; and spreading chaos.

Under the anti-terrorism law, which went into effect in 2015, any person placed on the terror list is subject to a travel ban and having their assets frozen.

Today's decision of the Court of Cassation is final.

Abul-Fotouh, 70, who was arrested in February 2018, faces charges of assuming a leadership position in an outlawed group and committing a terror financing crime, said his lawyer, Khaled Ali, last August.

He is also accused of possessing weapons and ammunition, promoting the ideas of terrorist groups, and deliberately disseminating false news inside the country and abroad, Ali added.

Abul-Fotouh, who is the head of the Strong Egypt party, is a former long-time leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood. He quit the group in 2011 and ran for president as an independent in the 2012 elections.

Meanwhile, activist and blogger Abdel-Fattah, 40, who was arrested in September 2019, faces charges of spreading false news and assisting an outlawed group in the case 1356/2019.

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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.

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.

The royal couple were welcomed earlier in the day by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany at Cairo International Airport as they start a two-day visit to the country, their first since 2006.

During the meeting, President El-Sisi expressed his hope that the visit would represent a new phase in the historical relations between the two countries, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

The British royal visits have always represented a prominent milestones that remains enshrined in the political and popular memory of both Egypt and Britain, the statement quoted El-Sisi as saying.

El-Sisi expressed Egypts solidarity with the United Kingdom over the terrorist attack that took place in Liverpool on Sunday.

He stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation between Egypt and the United Kingdom to promote the values of tolerance, peace, and acceptance to undermine the extremist interpretations that are adopted by terrorist groups.

Moreover, El-Sisi noted that the Egyptian state ensures the freedom of religion, upholds the principles of equal citizenship and non-discrimination between all citizens, and promotes a culture of pluralism and acceptance of the other, the statement noted.

Furthermore, the president called on the international community to adopt a multi-level strategy to deal with all parties supporting terrorist organisations as well as confront extremist ideologies and promote the values of tolerance and coexistence.

El-Sisi stressed to Prince Charles the significance of consolidating national institutions in the countries in the region that are facing various crises.

He said such a step will help fill the power vacuum that allows terrorism to grow and spread to the rest of the world, adding that these are determinants that represent, in their entirety, the constants and principles of Egypts policy in dealing with the regions crises.

On his part, the crown prince praised the private relations between Egypt and the United Kingdom, noting that Egypt plays a pivotal and balanced role  under President El-Sisis leadership  in dealing with many international issues and maintaining security and stability in the region.

He also voiced his appreciation of Egypts efforts over the past years to combat extremist ideologies and terrorism.

Prince Charles also expressed his countrys interest in bolstering cooperation with Egypt to benefit from its experience in consolidating the role of religions as an incubator for positive social development that grows the individuals awareness on his role and duties towards his society, its stability, and development.

Additionally, the president and the crown prince discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in a number of fields, especially academia and health.

They also addressed means of boosting coordination on climate change in light of the multiple initiatives sponsored by Prince Charles in this field as well as Egypts preparations to host the 27th United Nations Conference of Parties (COP27) in 2022, the statement said.

Earlier on Thursday, the royal couple met with Al-Azhars Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb at Al-Azhar mosque, where they discussed religious harmony and the role of faith in protecting the environment.

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An Egyptian emergency state security misdemeanour court sentenced lawyer and former MP Ziad El-Eleimy to five years in prison on Wednesday for spreading false news on social media among other charges

The court also sentenced journalists Hossam Mones and Hisham Fouad to four years in prison on the same charges.

El-Eleimy served as an MP representing the Egyptian Social Democrartic Party in the 2012 Parliament.

The prosecution charged the 13 defendants with crimes including cooperating with a group established in violation of the law, disseminating false news and information about the political and economic conditions in the country in order to destabilise public peace and undermine trust in state institutions.

In June 2019, El-Eleimy, Mones and Fouad and the rest of the defendants in the case were arrested for what the interior ministry described at the time as a hostile plot dubbed Hope Cell to disrupt the national economy.

In the same case, Activists Mohamed Bahnasy and Hossam Nasser received three years. Meanwhile, Labour activist Fatma Abul-Maaty received a three-year sentence in absentia.

The court also imposed a fine of EGP 500 on all defendants in the case.

The ruling is final and cannot be appealed.

Unlike ordinary courts, emergency state security court rulings cannot be appealed.

The defendants, however, have the right to petition for clemency.

In April last year, a Cairo criminal court said the terrorist-designated Muslim Brotherhood leaders had tasked members and associates of the group in Egypt, including the Hope Cell defendants, with providing logistical support and weapons to carry out the scheme against the state.

According to the court, the plot sought to "provide financial support for hostile actions against the Egyptian state with the aim of harming national interests and economic security, and carrying out aggressive actions against the army and the police to topple the regime."

In July of this year, the Court of Cassation upheld a ruling placing the 13 defendants in the case on the country's terrorism list for five years.

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Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb affirmed to Britain's Crown Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker  the Duchess of Cornwall  his keenness to enhance scientific, religious, and cultural ties with the United Kingdom and the Anglican Church.

El-Tayyeb, the head of the world's leading Sunni Muslim institution, received the royal couple on Thursday in Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo.

The meeting sought to discuss means of enhancing dialogue among religions and to review ongoing social crises across the world, at the top of which is climate change, Al-Azhar said in a statement.

Prince Charles hailed the El-Tayyeb's efforts over the past years in countering extremism and promoting a culture of dialogue among religions.

The prince said he has followed closely El-Tayyebs recent efforts to spread tolerance and acceptance, including during the grand imam's recent visit to the Vatican where he met with Pope Francis.

In the October meeting, El-Tayyeb and the pope discussed work on the initiatives agreed upon in the Document on Human Fraternity, which was signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019, with the aim of reinforcing the principle of coexistence among religions.

These initiatives included the construction of the Interfaith Abrahamic Family House that is scheduled to open next year in Abu Dhabi, comprising a church, a mosque and a synagogue.

The courage and wisdom of Prince Charles and other world leaders have encouraged Al-Azhar to extend dialogue bridges with various cultures and religions, El-Tayyeb told the royal couple.

These bridges include those forged with churches in the east and west, including Canterbury and Vatican, El-Tayyeb affirmed, noting that this openness has yielded important results.

These efforts have been crowned by signing the Document on Human Fraternity with Pope Francis, El-Tayyeb said.

Al-Azhar held numerous rounds of talks with the Cathedral of Canterbury and his dear friend Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, El-Tayyeb said during Thursdays meeting.

It also extended communication bridges between youth from east and west to spread peace, tolerance and love, El-Tayyeb affirmed.

El-Tayyeb praised Al-Azhars strong scientific relations with the UK, which has allowed Al-Azhar graduates to earn the highest scientific degrees from major British universities.

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla arrived in Cairo earlier today.

They were received by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Entissar El-Sisi at tyhe Ittihadiya Palace in Heliopolis..

They later also visited the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx.

A phenomenal moment at one of Egypts great sites of rich ancient history, the royal couple wrote on Twitter, posting a photo of themselves alongside the Sphinx.

Prince Charles visited on his own Bayt Al-Razzaz in Historic Cairo and inspected handicrafts.

During his visit to Egypt, the prince will celebrate the UKs support for efforts to protect cultural heritage by meeting a number of craftspeople and conservationists.

Prince Charles will also meet with young entrepreneurs in Egypts private sector to discuss innovative businesses in the country and opportunities for adopting environmentally friendly practices.

Meanwhile, Duchess Camilla visited Ezbat Khairallah area in Cairo to follow up on an initiative supervised by the British Council aiming to empower women and youth and improve the lives of needy families.

During her visit to the country, the duchess will focus on womens empowerment and will be briefed on the stories of Egyptian female leaders as well as matriarchs supporting their families.

This is the third visit for Prince Charles to Egypt. He visited the country in 1981 and 2006.

Earlier in the week, the royal couple visited Jordan as part of the first overseas tour by a senior member of the royal family during the pandemic.

The couple are scheduled to visit Alexandria to further celebrate Egypts ancient culture.

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The presidential yacht was the first ship to cross the Suez Canal in 1869, and will be the first vessel to pass through the new extension on Thurdsay

At the heart of the preparations for the upcoming inauguration of the new Suez Canal waterway on Thursday the 150-year-old presidential yacht, El-Mahrousa, stands out because of its long association with the Suez Canal.

The yacht earned its spot in Egyptian history when it became the first ship to pass through the Suez Canal after the waterway was opened in November 1869. Aboard the ship were Egypt's ruler Khedive Ismail and a number of royal guests.

Mahrousa yacht 1

The ship is the oldest active yacht in the world, and the seventh largest.

El-Mahrousa is still in service, and on Thursday it will carry President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his guests from all over the world along the new waterway, the largest-ever addition to the canal.

Many Egyptians still associated El-Mahrousa with the Suez Canal and with Egypt's former royal family, but the history of the ship goes beyond those associations.

The story of the yacht began in 1863 when Egypt's ruler, Khedive Ismail, ordered the British shipbuilding pioneers the Samuda brothers, who were based in London, to build him a royal yacht. The luxurious vessel was designed by Oliver Lang, who designed Queen Victoria's first steam yacht, with the aim of being a state-of-the-art ocean-going steamer.

In August 1865 , the 411-foot and 5-floor vessel was handed over to its Egyptian crew, who sailed it from the River Thames to Alexandria.

Two years later the yacht embarked on its first official mission, transferring Egyptian troops to aid the Ottoman forces that were cracking down on the Cretan revolt in Greece.

The strong historical bond between the yacht and the Suez Canal began in 1869, before the canal was opened. Early in the year Khedive Ismail took his yacht on a tour of Europe to invite kings, queens and emperors of the continent to attend the inauguration of the Suez Canal.

In November 1869, El-Mahrousa became the first ship to officially pass through the newly inaugurated waterway.

Onboard alongside the khedive was Eugenie de Montijo, empress of France and wife of Napoleon III, who gave the khedive a piano as a gift. It is still located on the yacht today.

Other well-known figures who have been on board include Reza Pahlavi, the shah of Iran; King Abdelaziz Al-Saud, the founder of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Josip Tito, ruler of Yugoslavia, and Menachem Begin, Israeli prime minister.

Mahrousa yacht

A witness to Egypt's modern history

In a small note of historical irony, the yacht in 1879 carried the man who commissioned its construction, Khedive Ismail, to his exile in Italy, after he was ousted by his son Khedive Tawfik.

In 1914, the ship played the same role once again, taking Khedive Abbas Helmi II to his exile in Turkey.

The biggest irony of all was on 26 July 1952, when El-Mahrousa carried the last king to rule Egypt, Farouk I, and his infant son, Ahmed Fouad II, in favour of whom he abdicated, to their exile in Italy, thus witnessing the final chapter of the royal dynasty of Mohamed Ali.

Mahrousa yacht

In the newly founded republic, El-Mahrousa was renamed El-Horreya, meaning freedom, but the new name was little-used by ordinary people. Assigned to the Egyptian navy where it was docked at Ras El-Tin naval base in Alexandria , El-Horreya continued to play an active role, including transporting president Gamal Abdel-Nasser to many places.

El-Horreya

The yacht was also frequently used by president Sadat on important events and trips.

In June 1975, the ship was once again the first to pass along the Suez Canal at the huge celebrations marking the reopening of the channel for naval movement following its closure after the 1967 and 1973 wars.

Sadat

The following year the ship took part in the celebrations marking the bicentennial of the US, crossing the ocean.

In September 1979, Sadat made a famous trip to Yafa on board the El-Horreya, during the peace talks between Egypt and Israel.

In December 1980 Sadat made one final trip on board the ship, as it was the first vessel to pass through the newly inaugurated expansion of the Suez Canal.

Under former president Hosni Mubarak, the ship was less active. Instead, the Egyptian navy would use it in ceremonies to mark the graduation of students from the naval academy.

In 2000, Mubarak decided to changed the name of the ship back to El-Mahrousa.

El-Mahrousa

Renovating El-Mahrousa

The five-floor yacht has undergone major alternations in its 150 years.

In 1872 , it was lengthened by 40 feet. In 1905, it was subject to a major rebuild in Scotland where it was lengthened by another 16.5 feet and its two paddle-wheels were replaced by steam turbines.

In 1912 , a telegraph was installed on the ship.

In 1919 El-Mahrousa underwent another major alternation in UK, so that it was powered by diesel oil instead of coal. This required that the ship be lengthened for a third time, this time by 27 feet.

Mahrousa

Mahrousa2

Mahrousa3

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The British Crown Prince Charles Windsor and his wife Camilla Parker  the Duchess of Cornwall  arrived at Cairo International Airport on Thursday in their first visit to Egypt since 2006.

The royal couple were received at the airport by Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany.

They will be received by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his wife, Entissar El-Sisi, at Ittihadiya Presidential Palace later on Thursday, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said.

The two-day visit will tackle British-Egyptian cooperation in the field of climate change and religious tolerance, Gareth Bayley, the British ambassador to Egypt said last week.

The royal couple have already been received by Al-Azhars Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb at Al-Azhar mosque as well. They are set to hold discussions with El-Tayyeb on religious harmony and the role of faith in protecting the environment.

Bayley explained last month that the royals would also visit the sites of ancient and modern Egypt.

This visit is a strong proof of the importance of the relations between the UK and Egypt and consolidates our humanitarian links, Bayley said in a recorded video that the embassy posted on Facebook at the time.

The royal couples visit to Egypt was preceded by a similar visit to Jordan, both of which are part of the first overseas tour by a senior member of the royal family during the pandemic.

Additionally, the Duchess of Cornwall will focus on womens empowerment in the country and will be briefed on the stories of Egyptian female leaders as well as matriarchs supporting their families.

Moreover, Prince Charles will celebrate the UKs support for efforts to protect cultural heritage by meeting a number of craftspeople and conservationists, according to the statement.

The prince will also meet with young entrepreneurs in Egypts private sector to discuss innovative businesses in the country and opportunities for adopting environmentally friendly practices.

The royal couple will then visit Alexandria to celebrate Egypts ancient culture, according to the statement.

In 2006, during a five-day tour of Egypt, Prince Charles and Camilla visited the Egyptian Museum, Al-Azhar Mosque in Old Cairo, Temple of the Oracle in the oasis town of Siwa, Al-Azhar Park, and Brooke Animal Hospital in Cairo.

They also visited at the time the Commonwealth Cemetery where the Duchess of Cornwall paid tribute to her fathers comrades who died in front of him in the aftermath of the Battle of Al-Alamein.

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Sudanese security forces fired teargas Thursday at anti-military takeover protesters who had stayed on the streets of northern Khartoum a day after 15 people were killed, witnesses said.

Dozens of demonstrators manned makeshift barricades built the previous day in the capital's northern districts in protest against last month's widely condemned military takeover.

Top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan -- Sudan's de facto leader since the April 2019 ouster of president Omar al-Bashir -- detained the civilian leadership and declared a state of emergency on October 25.

The move upended Sudan's fragile transition to full civilian rule, drawing wide international condemnation and a flurry of punitive measures and aid cuts.

"We condemn violence towards peaceful protestors and call for the respect and protection of human rights in Sudan," said the US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs on Twitter.

Burhan insists the military's move "was not a military takeover" but a step to "rectify the course of the transition" to civilian rule.

Thousands took to the streets on Wednesday in Khartoum and other cities but were met by the deadliest crackdown since the military takeover.

At least 15 people, mostly from northern Khartoum, were killed on Wednesday alone, according to medics, raising the death toll of protesters to 39 in recent weeks.

Wednesday's demonstrations were organised despite a near-total shutdown of internet services and disruption of telephone lines across Sudan.

By Thursday morning, phone lines had been restored but internet services remained largely cut.

Bridges connecting the capital with its neighbouring cities reopened and traffic again flowed through many streets in Khartoum.

Security forces were seen removing makeshift barricades of bricks and rocks from some streets in eastern and northern Khartoum, said an AFP correspondent.

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Iraqi flight returning migrants takes off from Minsk

AFP , Thursday 18 Nov 2021

An Iraqi Airways flight from Belarus, where thousands of migrants have camped on the Polish border for weeks, has taken off from the capital Minsk, according to the airport's departures board.
Three members of the Iranian security forces, including a colonel, were killed in clashes with an armed group in the southeast of the country, state news agency IRNA reported.

The police chief of Kerman province, Abdolreza Nazeri, quoted late Wednesday by IRNA, said security forces clashed with "an armed group of bandits" while patrolling an area bordering with Sistan-Baluchistan province.

Three of the security forces were killed and six others wounded in "the confrontation that lasted for almost 24 hours", he said.

At least two members of the armed group were also killed, IRNA said, saying it has a "long history of evil and instability in the southeastern region", without naming the group.

IRNA pointed to illegal activity and smuggling in the area of the clashes.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said in July that four of its members were killed in clashes with "bandits" in the area of Khash in Sistan-Baluchistan.

The province lies on the border with Pakistan and is a flashpoint of clashes between security forces and armed groups.

The clashes often involve smuggling gangs as well as separatists from the Baluchi minority or extremist militant groups.

Members of the security forces have also been kidnapped in the province.

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The Polish army on Thursday said it had detained a group of about 100 migrants who crossed the Belarus border during the night, accusing Belarusian forces of leading the operation.

The incident came as Belarus, which has said it wants to defuse the crisis, prepared a first repatriation flight for migrants to Iraq that will have between 200 and 300 people on board.

Thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, are camped out or staying close to the Poland-Belarus border in dire conditions aiming to cross into the European Union, in a crisis that began over the summer.

The EU says Belarus engineered the crisis in retaliation for sanctions on the ex-Soviet country. Minsk and its main ally Russia have rejected the charges and have criticised the EU for not taking in the migrants seeking to cross over.

In the latest border incident, the Polish defence ministry said that Belarusian forces had first carried out reconnaissance and "most likely" damaged the barbed wire fence along the border.

"Then the Belarusians forced the migrants to throw stones at Polish soldiers to distract them. The attempt to cross the border took place several hundred metres away," it said.

"A group of about 100 migrants was detained," it said, adding that the incident happened near the village of Dubicze Cerkiewne.

"Belarusian special forces led yesterday's attack," it said.

Video footage released by the defence ministry appeared to show Polish soldiers surrounding a large group of migrants crouched down in a wooded area at night next to some barbed wire.

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The Kremlin on Thursday said that Europe should not blame Russia for "all problems", as tensions with the West simmer over Ukraine and the migrant crisis on the Belarus-Poland border.

"Russia has an interest in everybody in Europe finally coming to their senses and stopping considering Russia the culprit of all troubles," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

On the same time Ukraine said on Thursday it was seeking more military aid from its Western allies after they voiced concerns over Russian troop movements along the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters that Kiev wanted both political support and agreements on "the supply of additional defence weapons for our army".

**Story edited by ahram-online

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G7 foreign ministers urged Belarus Thursday to end a migrant crisis on its border with Poland, accusing it of callously engineering the stand-off and putting lives at risk.

Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States charged that President Alexander Lukashenko's regime orchestrated irregular migration across its borders.

In a joint statement also signed by the EU and issued by the government in London, the ministers said: "These callous acts are putting people's lives at risk.

"We are united in our solidarity with Poland, as well as Lithuania and Latvia, who have been targeted by this provocative use of irregular migration as a hybrid tactic.

"We call on the regime to cease immediately its aggressive and exploitative campaign in order to prevent further deaths and suffering."

Several thousand migrants, most of them from the Middle East, are camping in freezing conditions along the Polish border in the hope of getting into the EU.

The West accuses Minsk of having deliberately created the surge, in response to sanctions imposed after the government's crackdown on opposition movements in 2020.

International organisations should be allowed "immediate and unhindered" access to migrants trapped on the border, to deliver humanitarian assistance, the ministers added.

"The actions of the Belarusian regime are an attempt to deflect attention from its ongoing disregard for international law, fundamental freedoms and human rights, including those of its own people."

In June, G7 leaders said they were "deeply concerned" by the actions of Kremlin ally Lukashenko after the forced diversion in May of a flight carrying a prominent critic, who was arrested with his girlfriend when the plane landed in Minsk.

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The International Space Station remains at increased risk from orbiting debris following this week's Russian weapons test, NASA said Thursday.

On Monday, Russia launched a missile to destroy a satellite orbiting just above the space station.

NASA said late Wednesday that the highest threat to the station and its seven residents was in the first 24 hours. Hatches between many of the station compartments were closed as a precaution, but they were reopened Wednesday.

The U.S. Space Command is tracking more than 1,500 satellite fragments, but hundreds of thousands of pieces are too small to see. NASA and the State Department have condemned the missile strike, saying it also puts satellites and China's space station at risk.

NASA said it's reviewing an upcoming spacewalk and other station operations, to assess the risks before proceeding. The spacewalk to replace a bad antenna is targeted for Nov. 30. The space agency also plans continued inspections for potential damage.

The space station currently is home to four Americans, two Russians and one German.

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The 31st annual meetings of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) along with its business forum will kick off on 10 May 2022 in Marrakech and will last over 3 days.

These meetings will be the first to be held in person since the onset of the pandemic in late 2019.

The EBRD said that  as per its recent commitments at the UNs Conference of Partners (COP26) and the Paris Agreement  it aims to increase its green investments to more than 50 percent of the total business volume by 2025.

It is expected to showcase how its partners and country members could benefit from such commitments in the meetings.

In its 29th annual meetings, held in 2020 virtually, the EBRD named Egypt as the largest country of its operations and investments in the Mediterranean region for the third year in a row.

The EBRD invested a total of 1 billion in Egypt in 2020.

The EBRDs country strategy draft for Egypt revealed

At the same time, the EBRD published on Thursday the draft of its country plan for Egypt from 2020 through 2027, which is anticipated to come into effect by February 2022.

Following the Arab uprisings in 2011 and a drop in growth, Egypts economy made a strong recovery thanks to fundamental macroeconomic and structural reforms. Supported by two IMF programmes in recent years, growth reached 5.6 percent in FY2018/19 on the back of significant public investments and domestic consumption, accompanied by a primary budget surplus, sustainable debt levels, and stronger foreign reserves, the draft said.

It also pointed to the significant efforts made by the country to increase socio-economic inclusion, particularly for youths and those living in remote and rural regions, as well as to improve the operations and governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and the civil service.

Regarding the green transition, the draft said that Egypt has made noticeable progress in the green agenda, especially through Egypts Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy to 2035 and innovative financing solutions such as the issuance of the first green bond in Africa and the Middle East.

The bank noted that Egypt was one of the few EBRD member countries to witness positive growth amid the first wave of the pandemic, as the countrys economy continued to grow at a rate of 3.6 percent during FY2019/20.

The bank also said that Egypts structural reforms were successfully implemented across key sectors, including education, social safety nets, and subsidies.

However, Egypt is still facing substantial transition gaps, according to the draft.

The significant role of the state in the economy, primarily through SOEs, at times constrains competitive forces and does not provide a level playing field for the private sector. Removing trade barriers could additionally strengthen competition from abroad.

Economic governance requires further significant improvements, as public utilities and some SOEs continue to be hindered by limited financial sustainability and operational inefficiencies.

Meanwhile, the draft noted that despite the efforts to address inclusion gaps, challenges affecting access to finances and other economic opportunities still persist, particularly in regard to women, young people, and remote and/or less developed regions.

It also referred to Egypts growing population that is exerting pressure on the countrys resources and public services, including water, energy, and transportation, which are all already strained by global climate change.

Accelerating the adoption of green measures in these sectors as well as addressing water scarcity will also be essential for the countrys growth over the coming years.

As of May 2021, the EBRDs investment portfolio in Egypt adds up to 4.2 million across 105 projects with operating assets worth 2.7 million, according to the draft.

As part of the recently concluded 2017-2021 country strategy, the EBRD signed eight credit lines for its partner financial institutions for a total of 917 million and invested 46.4 million into SME Equity Funds in Egypt  such as SPE Capital Fund, Lorax Capital Fund II, Badia Impact Squared  to ensure the availability of long-term financing for SMEs in the country, according to the draft.

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Egypt prioritises projects localising the producion of green hydrogen, especially after the selection of Sharm El-Sheikh to host the UN Climate Change Conference in 2022 (COP27), Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouy said in a meeting on Thursday.

Egypt was picked last week to host the Climate Change Conference (COP27) in November 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Madboulys statement came during a meeting to review the vision of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) concerning the localisation of the green hydrogen industry after receiving three offers from global alliances to set up projects for the production of green hydrogen in the regions of Ain Sokhna and east Port Said.

The meeting, which was headed by Madbouly, was attended by Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, Chairperson of the SCZone Yehia Zaki, and the Executive Manager of Egypt's Sovereign Wealth Fund Ayman Soliman.

Global demand in the near term will increase on low-carbon fuels as countries gradually shift towards a green economy to reduce carbon emissions, Zaki said.

This is an opportunity for Egypt to move into a leading position in the region in the production, use, and export of green fuels, he added.

Green hydrogen  hydrogen made without fossil fuels  has long been described as the fuel of the future for being abundant, cheap, and clean-burning.

It has been identified as the clean energy source that could help bring the world to net-zero emissions.

During the meeting, Zaki stressed that Egypt has the essential capabilities for localising the production of green hydrogen and the expansion in its projects.

Egypt, he added, has the potential to produce renewable energy at competitive prices due to the country's distinguished geographical location and close proximity to Europe, one of the key importers of clean energy products.

Furthermore, Egypt has the necessary infrastructure to export green hydrogen to European countries based on the natural gas export network, he stated

Another edge for Egypt has an additional edge, he continued, since about 15 percent of global shipping traffic passes through the Suez Canal, which creates an opportunity to raise the canals competitiveness by turning it into a global hub for supplying ships with green fuel.

In October, Shaker had stated that green hydrogen would be introduced in Egypts 2035 Energy Strategy.

In August, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and the German giant Siemens Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of the green hydrogen industry. This came months after the Ministry of Electricity signed in January an agreement with a German company to start studies for establishing a pilot project for producing green hydrogen in Egypt.

In July, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged the preparation of an integrated national strategy for the production of green hydrogen in light of the growing international interest in this promising source of energy for the near future.

The strategy is meant to empower Egypt to generate and use hydrogen using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

In March, the ministry signed with the Belgian DEME Group a cooperation deal to conduct studies on the production of green hydrogen in the country.

Egypt has advanced from the 26th place in 2020 to the 20th among the worlds top 40 markets in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) for 2021.

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The government is raising the price of the wheat it buys from farmers by 13 per cent to encourage them to cultivate more land.

In a move meant to encourage farmers to increase the amount of land planted with wheat, the government has announced it will raise the price of the wheat it buys from farmers by 13 per cent during the coming season in 2022.

The new prices were decided by the ministries of supply, agriculture, and finance ahead of the cultivation season. In a joint statement, the three ministries said on Thursday that the government would buy an ardab of wheat for between LE800 and LE820 instead of the LE705 to LE725 it used to pay in previous seasons. One ardab is around 150 kg.

The decision is based on the international rise in wheat prices to their highest in a decade. The price of wheat has increased worldwide because of bad weather, hikes in fertiliser prices, and increases in import costs.

Egypt is the worlds largest importer of wheat, paying large sums to import the countrys needs. International tenders this year recorded their highest prices in five years.

Ali Moselhi, the minister of supply and internal trade, said the price the government will pay farmers for wheat would be decided according to international prices in the three months before the harvest season.

He said that farmers would be able to sell their crop for a price 20 per cent higher than last year.

Egypt grows some nine million tons of wheat at present, or 55 per cent of local consumption. The government buys around half this from farmers to produce subsidised bread for ration-card holders, Moselhi explained, adding that there are 71 million card holders in Egypt, each entitled to five loaves of bread a day.

The decision to raise prices would incentivise farmers to grow more wheat, said Hussein Abu Saddam, head of the Farmers Syndicate. He said the price set by the government was equal to international prices and should act as an incentive.

Farmers could make LE11,000 in profit from each feddan of wheat sold, Abu Saddam said. If the international price of wheat increases, the government may have to raise what it pays farmers further, he added.

Egypts farmers are not obliged to sell their crop to the government unless they are likely to make profits, he added. Farmers are free to sell their wheat to the government, the private sector, which uses it to make pasta, or to bakeries that produce pastries and sweets.

There are some 3.5 million feddans of land cultivated with wheat in Egypt, with each feddan producing between 18 and 24 ardabs.

Tarek Hassanein, head of the Chamber of the Grain Industry in the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said that the countrys farmers sell 100,000 tons of wheat to the private sector and 3.5 million tons to the government.

He expects that new seeds distributed in Minya and Beni Sweif and grown in the coming season will increase the quality and quantity of the harvested wheat.

The governments decision to announce an increase in what it will pay for wheat ahead of the harvest season is the result of the international hike in prices, said Amr Al-Hosni, head of the Wheat Division at the Chamber of the Grain Industry.

He said the government should have announced that it will buy wheat from farmers for between LE5,500 and LE6,000 per ardab to match current international prices and expects the government to buy about four million tons of wheat from farmers during the next season, up from 3.5 million tons this year.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 18 November, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities launched a new website for the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, Cairo, marking the museum's 119th anniversary.

The website is part of the ministry's development project for the museum and its overall digital strategy.

The website was designed by an Egyptian digital company with funds from the European Union.

Work on the website began in April in collaboration with international experts, said Khaled Sherif, assistant to the minister of tourism and antiquities for digital transfer.

The website contains information about the museum, its collections, and services, he added.

Photo galleries on the website show the museum during its construction and shortly after its official inauguration. There are also photos depicting distinguished artefacts as well as a digital plan of the museums halls and sections.

Tickets to the museum are sold on the website, he stated.

The Egyptian Museum in Tahrir was inaugurated in 1902 to house a treasured collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts, a library for rare books and a conservation centre. The museum is now under development with a new lighting system, new displays, and visitors services. Late last month new electronic gates were installed.

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The man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery spoke publicly about the killing for the first time Wednesday, testifying at his murder trial that the 25-year-old Black man forced him to make a split-second life or death decision by attacking him and grabbing his shotgun.

Travis McMichael reacts to question during his testimony in the trial of he and his father Greg McMichael and neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Brunswick, Ga. The three are charged with the February 2020 slaying of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery. [Photo: AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, Pool]

I was thinking of my son," a teary Travis McMichael told the jury of the moment before he pulled the trigger. "It sounds weird, but thats the first thing that hit me.

He was the first witness called as defense attorneys for the three white men charged in Arbery's death opened their case, building on arguments that their clients were lawfully trying to stop burglaries in their neighborhood and that McMichael opened fire in self-defense.

The Feb. 23, 2020, shooting of Arbery after he was spotted running in the defendants' neighborhood deepened a national outcry over racial injustice after cellphone video of his death leaked online two months later. The slain man's family got support not only from civil rights activists, but also from powerful figures including Georgia's governor and President Joe Biden.

The three men on trial  Travis McMichael; his father, Greg McMichael; and neighbor William Roddie Bryan  have had virtually no defenders aside from for their attorneys. Travis McMichael's testimony marked the most personal and detailed account yet of why the men suspected Arbery of wrongdoing and why McMichael shot him.

He had my gun, McMichael, 35, testified. He struck me. It was obvious that he was attacking me, that if he would have gotten the shotgun from me, then this was a life or death situation, and Im going to have to stop him from doing this so I shot.

He said warnings between neighbors and social media chatter about car break-ins and suspicious people had been increasing since 2018 when he moved in with his parents in the Satilla Shores subdivision just outside the port city of Brunswick.

A man building a house five doors down from the McMichaels installed security cameras after items were stolen from a boat in his open garage. Those cameras recorded Arbery inside on four nights and on the day he was killed.

Travis McMichael said he was aware of the theft when he spotted Arbery, whom he didn't know, lurking and creeping outside the unfinished home on Feb. 11, 2020. He testified that when he tried to confront the man, Arbery reached for his waistband. McMichael fled and called 911.

Im not going to chase or investigate somebody who might be armed, he testified.

But he did chase the same man 12 days later, after his father came running into the house in almost a frantic state and told him the guy who has been breaking in down the road had run past their house. Father and son armed themselves and headed out in Travis McMichael's pickup truck.

They came upon Arbery running, and McMichael said he drove next to him, yelling at Arbery to stop so they could talk. McMichael said that when he told Arbery police are on the way, Arbery ran faster  deepening his suspicion of the man.

A Black pickup  driven by Bryan  eventually joined the pursuit. It was Bryan who recorded the shooting on his cellphone.

McMichael had stopped and gotten out of his truck. Bryan's cellphone video shows Arbery running toward the truck. McMichael is standing with his shotgun by the driver's side door and his father in the truck bed.

McMichael testified that he pointed his gun at Arbery  saying his intent was to get him to back off  and Arbery then turned and ran around the passenger side.
Kyle Rittenhouse's attorneys asked the judge to declare a mistrial even as the jury in the murder case was deliberating Wednesday, saying the defense received an inferior copy of a potentially crucial video from prosecutors.

Kyle Rittenhouse pulls numbers of jurors out of a tumbler during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. The jurors selected through this process will not participate in deliberations. [Photo: Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool]

Judge Bruce Schroeder did not immediately rule on the request, the second mistrial motion from the defense in a week. The jury deliberated a second full day without reaching a verdict and will return in the morning.

At issue was a piece of drone video that prosecutors showed to the jury in closing arguments in a bid to undermine Rittenhouse's self-defense claim and portray him as the instigator of the bloodshed in Kenosha in the summer of 2020. Prosecutors said the footage showed him pointing his rifle at protesters before the shooting erupted.

Rittenhouse attorney Corey Chirafisi said the defense initially received a smaller compressed version of the video and didn't get the higher-quality larger one used by the prosecution until the evidence portion of the case was over.

He said that the defense would have approached things differently if it had received the better footage earlier and that it is now asking for a level, fair playing field.

He said the mistrial request would be made without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could still retry Rittenhouse.

Last week, the defense asked for a mistrial with prejudice, meaning Rittenhouse could not be put on trial again. That request was prompted by what the defense said were improper questions asked by prosecutor Thomas Binger during his cross-examination of Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial on homicide and attempted homicide charges for killing two men and wounding a third with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during a tumultuous night of protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Black man, by a white police officer. Rittenhouse, a then-17-year-old former police youth cadet, said he went to Kenosha to protect property from rioters.

He shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28. Rittenhouse is white, as were those shot. The case has become a flashpoint in the debate over guns, racial injustice, vigilantism and self-defense in the U.S.

He could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

The dispute over the video erupted after the jurors asked to rewatch footage on Day 2 of their deliberations.

Defense attorneys said they would object to the jury viewing the drone video. The same footage prompted heated dispute earlier in the trial over technical questions of whether a still image taken from the video was distorted when it was enlarged.

The prosecution contends the video proves Rittenhouse lied on the stand when he said he didnt point his rifle at protesters. But the key moment in the video is hard to decipher because of how far away the drone was and how small a figure Rittenhouse is in the frame.

A smaller file size or lower-resolution video file is fuzzier and grainier, particularly if played on a larger screen, said Dennis Keeling, adjunct professor in the cinema and television arts department at Columbia College Chicago. Thats why people working with video footage are careful to check file size, length and other details after making a copy to ensure the new version is what they wanted, he added.

Prosecutors told the judge Wednesday that the jury saw the highest-quality version during the trial and that it was not the state's fault that the file size got smaller when received by the defense.
Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Jan. 6 rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison.

Supporters of President Donald Trump, including Jacob Chansley, right with fur hat, are confronted by U.S. Capitol Police officers outside the Senate chamber inside the Capitol during the capitol riot in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. [File photo: AP]

Chansley, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, was among the first rioters to enter the building. He has acknowledged using a bullhorn to rile up the mob, offering thanks in a prayer while in the Senate for having the chance to get rid of traitors and scratching out a threatening note to Vice President Mike Pence saying, Its Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!"

Though he isnt accused of violence, prosecutors say Chansley, of Arizona, was the public face of the Capitol riot who went into the attack with a weapon, ignored repeated police orders to leave the building and gloated about his actions in the days immediately after the attack.

Before he was sentenced, Chansley told U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth it was wrong for him to enter the Capitol and that he accepts responsibility for his actions. He emphasized he wasnt an insurrectionist and is troubled with the way he was portrayed in news stories in the aftermath of the riot.

I have no excuse, Chansley said. No excuses whatsoever. My behavior is indefensible.

The judge said Chansleys remorse appeared to be genuine but noted the seriousness of his actions in the Capitol. What you did was terrible, Lamberth said. You made yourself the center of the riot."

The image of Chansley holding a flagpole topped with a spear tip and looking as if he were howling was one of the most striking to emerge from the riot. He previously called himself the QAnon Shaman but has since repudiated the QAnon movement, which is centered on the baseless belief that former President Donald Trump was fighting a cabal of Satan-worshipping, child sex trafficking cannibals.

He is among 650 people charged in the riot that forced lawmakers into hiding as they were meeting to certify President Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. More than 120 defendants have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanor charges of demonstrating in the Capitol that carry a maximum of six months in prison.

Chansley and Scott Fairlamb, a New Jersey gym owner sentenced last week for punching a police officer during the attack, have received the longest prison sentences out of the 38 Capitol riot defendants who been punished so far.

Chansley, who has been in jail for 10 months, sought to be sentenced to time served. His lawyer, Albert Watkins, said his client has longstanding mental health problems that were worsened by being held in solitary confinement due to COVID-19 protocols and is in dire need of mental health treatment.

In the year before the Capitol riot, Chansley appeared in costume at pro-Trump events, protests over face mask requirements and at a gathering of Trump supporters in November 2020 outside an election office in downtown Phoenix where votes from the presidential race were being counted.

His attorney has said Chansley was horrendously smitten by Trump and believed like other rioters that Trump had called him to the Capitol, but later felt betrayed after Trump refused to grant him and others who participated in the insurrection a pardon.

Watkins has said Chansley had been under pressure from family members not to plead guilty because they believed Trump would be reinstated as president and pardon him.

After spending his first month in jail, Chansley said he reevaluated his life, felt regret for having stormed the building and apologized for causing fear in others.

He twice quit eating while in jail and lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) until he was given organic food.

The judge had previously rejected Chansleys claims that the six-foot flagpole he carried during the riot wasnt a weapon and that the metal spear tip was an ornament, saying the sharpened six-inch point could have been used to stab people from a distance.

Billeaud reported from Phoenix.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 23:22 | All, Japan

Japan's new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi spoke by phone Thursday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, telling him that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are important and conveying concern about the repeated intrusions of ships sent by Beijing into Japanese waters near the Senkaku Islands.

The conversation with Wang, who is also a state councilor, was the first since Hayashi became Japan's top diplomat on Nov. 10. During the call that lasted about 40 minutes, Hayashi also voiced "serious concern" over human rights issues in Hong Kong and China's far-western Xinjiang region, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

Wang urged Japan not to "cross the red line" on Taiwan, while emphasizing the necessity of building Sino-Japanese stable relations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Japan and China will mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties next year, but their relations remain tense over territorial, security and wartime issues.

Hayashi and Wang agreed that the two countries should stabilize relations and take advantage of the anniversary to promote economic and people-to-people exchanges, according to the ministry.

A Japanese government official said they did not discuss a potential first visit to Tokyo by Chinese President Xi Jinping since he took office in 2013. The visit had been set for spring last year but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Japan-controlled Senkakus in the East China Sea are claimed by China, which frequently sends coast guard ships near the uninhabited islets as its buildup of maritime power intensifies amid regional tensions and rivalry with the United States.

While speaking to Hayashi, Wang referred to Xi's virtual meeting earlier this week with U.S. President Joe Biden and said that Beijing has "healthy communication" with Washington, according to the official.

In addition to the long-standing islet issue, Japan, which is calling with the United States for the defense of a rules-based international order and democratic values, has had a strained relationship recently with China over human rights issues and Taiwan, regarded by Beijing as internal affairs.

Just ahead of the conversation with Wang, Hayashi spoke by phone with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian for about 25 minutes and both sides agreed to deepen maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, the ministry said.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 21:53 | All, Coronavirus, Japan

Japan has inoculated 75.7 percent of its population with two COVID-19 shots, the highest among the Group of Seven industrialized nations, according to government data released Thursday.

With the progress of its vaccination program for the country's population of around 125 million, Japan, which had trailed many leading democracies such as the United States, has now topped Canada, which had the highest inoculation rate of 75.5 percent.

New coronavirus cases have sharply decreased in Japan as its vaccine rollout that started earlier this year gathered pace, with 163 new cases confirmed across the country Thursday, compared to a peak of over 25,000 reported in August.

Nationwide, severe COVID-19 cases have also been on the decline recently, with Thursday's figure of 76 down two from the previous day, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

The government tally also showed the total number of COVID shots provided in Japan reached 195.32 million, and the number of people who received at least one shot rose to 99.4 million, or 78.5 percent of the population.

The number of people who had a second shot climbed to 95.91 million, and the rate of fully inoculated people aged 65 or older surpassed 91 percent, according to the data.

A tally by the University of Oxford's Our World in Data project showed that Italy ranked third among G-7 nations after Japan and Canada, with a vaccination rate of 72.7 percent as of Wednesday.

Canada, however, led G-7 nations in terms of the rate of people who received at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot at 79.0 percent.

The G-7 also includes Britain, France, Germany and the United States.

Other than the G-7 members, eight nations, including Singapore and Spain, reached higher fully vaccinated rates than Japan, at 91.9 percent and 80.2 percent, respectively.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 14:17 | All, Japan

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda will remain as head of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association beyond next May, serving a rare third straight term, the industry body said Thursday.

Toyoda's extended tenure comes as the auto industry focuses more on electrification as momentum builds toward decarbonization. Japan has vowed to lower carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050.

Toyoda, 65, has served as chairman of the association, which includes makers of passenger cars, trucks and buses among its members, since 2018, and a third term will see him in the position through May of 2024.

"Member companies told me that they want to move on under the same leader in times of such a big change as carbon neutrality," Toyoda told an online news conference.

"I decided to accept the extension if my experience gained from crisis response up to now can help (the industry) overcome difficult times," Toyoda said, revealing that he was not sure until the last minute whether to accept the request to stay on.

In recent months, the auto industry has been pounded by the COVID-19 pandemic-caused parts shortages that have forced them to curb output, in a blow to the export-reliant Japanese economy.

Executives of Japan's three major automakers -- Toyota, Nissan Motor Co., and Honda Motor Co. -- have traditionally filled the post of chairman, which has a two-year extendable term.

The association will have six vice chairmen from May, increasing the current four, as Nissan President Makoto Uchida and minicar maker Suzuki Motor Corp. President Toshihiro Suzuki will take the post.

Honda President Toshihiro Mibe will replace incumbent Toshiaki Mikoshiba, the Japanese automaker's chairman, as vice chairman at the association.

The association has pledged to make all-out efforts toward carbon neutrality, but Toyoda has stressed the need for a change in government energy policy, which relies on thermal power generation. Moving away from emissions-heavy electricity sources used in Japan, and thus its car manufacturing industry, is critical in the decarbonization drive.

Among the association members, Toyota has unveiled a goal to roughly quadruple its global sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids, from current levels to 8 million in 2030.

Nissan aims to have new vehicles it sells in key markets electrified from the early 2030s, while Honda has unveiled plans to make electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles account for all of its sales by 2040 -- the first Japanese automaker to declare a complete departure from gasoline-powered cars and hybrids.

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KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 11:20 | All, Japan, World

Japan's special adviser to the prime minister on human rights issues expressed willingness to urge Japanese companies to identify and address human rights risks in their supply chains amid growing awareness of the issue in the global corporate sector.

In an interview with Kyodo News on Wednesday, Gen Nakatani, who took the newly created post in early November, acknowledged that there are concerns about human rights issues in China and other nations, saying Japan will work closely with like-minded nations to back international efforts to protect basic human rights.

"Japan has been under intense scrutiny over how we protect human rights at the government, corporate and individual levels," said Nakatani, a former defense minister.

The process of identifying and addressing risks to human rights is known as human rights due diligence. Europe has seen moves to incorporate such due diligence into legislation and the United States blocks products by companies with human rights concerns, Nakatani said.

Investors are stepping up their scrutiny of how companies address human rights issues in their supply chains, especially in light of allegations of forced labor in China's far-western Xinjiang region and other abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority there.

Listed firms on the Tokyo Stock Exchange have been urged to respect human rights under corporate governance guidelines by the bourse's operator.

"It's the responsibility of companies to respect human rights," Nakatani said.

On the domestic front, the special adviser said he will seek to respond to issues related to non-Japanese workers, including technical trainees from developing nations who seek to gain technical expertise by working in Japan.

Japan introduced a technical internship program in 1993 to transfer skills to developing countries, but the scheme has often been criticized at home and abroad as a cover for importing low-cost labor.

By tapping Nakatani as his special adviser and appointing Yoshimasa Hayashi, known for his pro-China stance, as foreign minister, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is seen as attempting to keep the right balance in dealing with Beijing, an increasingly assertive yet key trading partner.

Ahead of the 2023 presidency of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, Nakatani said Japan aims to take the lead in creating "a system for international coordination" and an environment for companies to step up efforts toward respecting human rights.

Nakatani is an advocate of introducing sanctions on foreign government officials believed to be human rights offenders, similar to those under the U.S. Magnitsky Act.

But sources with knowledge of the matter have said Japan will not create such legislation, at least for the time being, as Kishida apparently seeks to keep his diplomatic options open in dealing with China.

"We will consider what we can do on all possible fronts," Nakatani said when asked about the possibility of Japan introducing such sanctions.

The United States and other Western nations have imposed sanctions on China for alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

On the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Afghanistan, the special adviser said Japan will continue its efforts to accept Afghans who have cooperated with the Japanese government and people who used to study in Japan.

Related coverage:

New Japan foreign minister vows to defend shared values amid China rise

China hopes for stable ties under new Japan foreign minister

Ex-defense chief Nakatani to be Japan's adviser on human rights
KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 22:29 | All, Japan

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's leadership election is expected to be a four-way race later this month as two more lawmakers on Thursday announced they will run and attempt to revive the fortunes of the nation's main opposition party.

Junya Ogawa, 50, a former parliamentary vice minister for internal affairs and communications, and Chinami Nishimura, 54, a former senior vice minister of health, labor and welfare, declared their candidacies to succeed Yukio Edano, who resigned as party leader after a poor showing in the recent general election.

CDPJ policy chief Kenta Izumi, 47, and Seiji Osaka, 62, a former special adviser to the prime minister, have already announced their respective bids ahead of the start of campaigning on Friday.

At a press conference, Ogawa, who is serving his sixth term as a member of the House of Representatives, said, "We need to expand our support base to take power. It is necessary to gain the trust and sense of affinity from conservative voters."

Whoever is chosen will be tasked with reforming the CDPJ and leading the party into the House of Councillors election next summer.

Nishimura, the sole female candidate among the four, said she managed to secure the prerequisite endorsements from 20 fellow CDPJ lawmakers, which she had yet to obtain the previous day when she announced at a press conference her desire to run in the Nov. 30 election.

"I will stand at the forefront to help people who face difficulties due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and to reduce unfairness in society," Nishimura told reporters.

To declare candidacy in the party leadership race, one must obtain endorsements from at least 20 Diet members, while local assembly members and rank-and-file party members will cast their votes in addition to lawmakers.

If none of the candidates secure a majority vote in the initial voting, the top two candidates will face each other in a runoff.

The election was called as Edano announced his resignation after the party failed to make expected inroads in the Oct. 31 House of Representatives election, instead losing 14 seats that it held pre-election to drop to a 96-seat total.

The disappointing outcome raised questions about Edano's leadership and strategy of working with other opposition parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, in the election to field single opposition candidates in hopes of better challenging candidates backed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition.

Related coverage:

2 declare bids for Japan main opposition's leadership race
KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 13:54 | All, Japan

Japan looks to secure 500 billion yen ($4.4 billion) to help develop and apply key technologies, such as artificial intelligence, as it aims to strengthen its economic security, government sources said Thursday.

The government intends to include the policy in its economic package to be formally adopted Friday along with its plans to help create production bases for semiconductors and vaccines, they said.

The move comes amid intensifying international competition for advanced technologies and concerns over China regarding technology transfer, intellectual property protection, market openness and transparency.

The government plans to set up a fund for addressing issues related to economic security over the long term, compile bills for boosting that security, prevent technology drain and promote the creation of domestic production bases for vaccines.

Amid a global chip crunch, the government also seeks to support the production of semiconductors in Japan by creating a subsidy program, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s Kumamoto plant expected to be the first to be eligible.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has emphasized economic security, creating a ministerial post to handle the issue when he came to power last month.

Since a tit-for-tat tariff trade war intensified between China and the United States in 2018, Japanese policymakers have become more concerned about their country's economic security, given that many Japanese firms have expanded their operations in the two nations.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 19, 2021 - 00:32 | World, All

The U.S. government sought the help of Yohei Sasakawa, Japan's special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, to win the freedom of American journalist recently jailed for 11 years by a military court, the envoy revealed Thursday.

Sasakawa, chairman of the philanthropic Nippon Foundation, made the remarks in an interview with Kyodo News amid his "personal" visit to Myanmar, where the military ousted the elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last February.

He said he was asked by the U.S. government to intercede with the military in the case of Danny Fenster, the managing editor of online news magazine Frontier Myanmar, who was arrested on May 24 at Yangon's airport, charged with dissemination of false information and other offenses, and sentenced last Friday to 11 years in jail.

On Saturday, Sasakawa, who has visited Myanmar frequently in the past, held a meeting with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the top commander of the armed forces.

Just two days later, Fenster was released after being jailed for almost six months, and was flown out of the country in the company of former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson.

Sasakawa said that even before the U.S. government made the request of him given his good connections with Myanmar's military brass, he had been urging them to release the journalist.

In releasing Fenster, military authorities said he was amnestied at the request of Sasakawa and other intermediaries from Japan and the United States "in view of the existing friendly relations between Myanmar and those countries and on humanitarian grounds."

Sasakawa also revealed in the interview that he met with an executive of the Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy during this visit.

Suu Kyi, who has been under detention since the Feb. 1 coup, has been charged with a litany of offenses, most recently electoral fraud related to last November's general election that her NLD won resoundingly.

Related coverage:

Myanmar frees American journalist given 11-year jail sentence

U.S., Japan highlight ties with S. Korea after 3-way presser derails
KYODO NEWS - Nov 19, 2021 - 04:52 | All, Japan

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and her Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori on Thursday underscored the trilateral cooperation involving South Korea, after a territorial dispute between the two Asian allies led Mori to pull out of a planned three-way press conference a day before.

While agreeing that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region, the two officials "reaffirmed the importance of U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea trilateral cooperation, which seeks to tackle the global challenges of the 21st century," the State Department said in a press release.

Republic of Korea is the formal name of South Korea.

Sherman, for her part, stressed the U.S. commitment to defending the rules-based international order amid China's growing assertiveness in the region.

She also expressed the "unwavering U.S. support" for those working toward the peaceful restoration of Myanmar's path to democracy following the February military coup, according to the department.

Recently, an American journalist sentenced to 11 years in prison by a court in Myanmar was freed and flown out of the military-run country, a move that was facilitated by Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the philanthropic Nippon Foundation and Japan's special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, and others.

Sherman and Mori also discussed North Korea and their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The bilateral talks took place a day after the trilateral meeting among the two and South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun was held at the State Department.

A joint press conference was planned after the trilateral talks, but the Japanese government decided not to attend in an expression of protest against South Korea over a recent visit by the country's top police official to a pair of Seoul-held, Tokyo-claimed islets in the Sea of Japan.

In addition to the dispute over the islets, known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, the relationship between Tokyo and Seoul has remained sour over wartime compensation issues.

The gathering on Wednesday was the first trilateral vice-foreign ministerial-level meeting since Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took office in October. The joint press conference was apparently a chance to showcase their unified stance in the face of North Korean nuclear threats and other challenges in the region.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2021 - 20:51 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan will spend a record 55.7 trillion yen ($488 billion) on an economic stimulus package aimed at easing the impact from the coronavirus pandemic, government sources said Thursday.

The package, including policy measures funded by the private sector such as emergency bank lending to struggling businesses, will be worth 78.9 trillion yen, the sources said. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will approve the package on Friday.

Expanded from an earlier plan of around 30 trillion yen, the fiscal spending, also including government "zaito" investment and loan programs as well as local government expenditures, will be larger than the 48.4 trillion yen outlay for a similar package compiled in April last year by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration.

Kishida, who took office last month and led the Liberal Democratic Party to victory in the Oct. 31 general election with a pledge to craft a stimulus package worth "tens of trillions yen," is set to increase support for households and companies in an attempt to meet his goal of redistributing wealth.

Among the key measures in the package are 100,000 yen handouts in cash and vouchers for children aged 18 or younger in households with an income of less than 9.6 million yen, which is expected to cost about 2 trillion yen.

Another 2 trillion yen will be allocated for financial aid for struggling families and students, while small companies reeling from the pandemic are expected to receive financial support of up to 2.5 million yen each.

To boost consumption while promoting use of the unpopular "My Number" identification card system, the government will give shopping points worth up to 20,000 yen to individuals who already have or newly acquire the cards.

To fund the package, the government aims to pass a supplementary budget in an extraordinary parliamentary session to be convened by year-end.

The size of the extra budget for the fiscal year through March is expected to be 31.9 trillion yen, according to the sources.

The government will issue new bonds to partly finance the budget, a move that would worsen Japan's fiscal health, already the worst among major developed countries.

As for other measures, the monthly salaries of care workers, nursery school staff and nurses, whose pay is regulated and widely seen as insufficient compared with other industries, will be raised.

Following a recent sharp drop in the number of coronavirus infections in Japan, the government will also restart the "Go To Travel" subsidy program in an effort to prop up the pandemic-hit tourism sector. The program has been suspended nationwide since December amid the spread of the virus.

To help households and firms suffering from surging prices for gasoline and other oil products, a new subsidy program for oil distributors will be set up to contain prices once they hit a certain threshold.

With the aim of beefing up the nation's economic security, around 500 billion yen will be earmarked to encourage the development of key technologies including artificial intelligence, amid intensifying global competition for advanced technologies and concerns about intellectual property protection.

The government also plans to help create semiconductor production bases amid a prolonged worldwide chip crunch.

Some policy measures under the package will be covered by the initial budget for fiscal 2022, to be drafted next month.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 19, 2021 - 12:06 | All, Japan

The presidents of Mizuho Financial Group Inc., one of Japan's major banking groups, and its banking unit Mizuho Bank will step down to take responsibility for a series of system failures, sources familiar with the matter said Friday.

The resignation of Mizuho Financial President Tatsufumi Sakai and Mizuho Bank President Koji Fujiwara comes as the Financial Services Agency plans to issue an additional business improvement order for the two companies by the end of November.

The sources also said the Finance Ministry is considering ordering the companies to take measures over their alleged violation of the foreign exchange and foreign trade law in September.

The banking group company has started the process to choose Sakai's successor with the aim of finalizing the pick by the end of this year, though the timing could be pushed back to around next spring if the current top management opts to implement thorough preventive measures before handing over leadership, according to the sources.

Mizuho Bank, one of Japan's megabanks with branch offices across the country, experienced system glitches eight times this year, affecting automated teller machines and causing other problems.

Regarding the Sept. 30 system glitch, which caused delays in some of its money transfers for foreign exchange trades, the Finance Ministry believes Mizuho Bank failed to take necessary steps to prevent money laundering before foreign currency remittances, the sources said.

The agency is expected to notify Mizuho Bank of its findings in the near future, following the investigation of the series of system issues.

The agency's view is that the glitches have stemmed from mismanagement by inexperienced operators, as the system itself appears to have no major problems, sources close to the matter said.

Although Mizuho Bank drew up preventive measures in June after experiencing four system glitches, the bank has since been hit by such problems an additional four times.

In June, Mizuho Bank announced remuneration cuts ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent for Sakai and 10 other executives as a way to take responsibility for the glitches.

Shortly before the pay cuts were announced, Fujiwara was expected to resign, but the bank put off the decision to replace him in hopes of seeing progress with the preventive steps.

Related coverage:

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Japan gov't to issue order to Mizuho over bank system failures
New Delhi:

As the hype surrounding Avengers: Endgame slowly subside following a month after its release, new never-seen-before moments are slowly surfacing. With Russo Brothers lifting the ban on spoilers alert, we have previously also seen footages of what happens behind the blockbuster hit. Mustering up his Hulk courage after Avengers crew like Chris Pratt, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo on Friday released breakers behind the most emotional scene-Tony Starkas funeral.

While we are bawling out eyes out over Tony Starkas death after he sacrifices himself as he wields the Infinity Gauntlet, vanquishing Thanos once and for all giving us one of the most tragic cinematic deaths to date, it looks like the vrew behind the box are having the time of their lives.

Dressed in all black for the funeral, the footages shared by Ruffalo looks more like they are attending a wedding as they put the biggest smiles. Weare filming a wedding, they said. #TBT #AvengersEndgame,a Mark tweeted.

Captain America also went on to tweet two videos of Mark, Tom, and Hemsworth filming away.

Tom Holland, the first person to go to when it comes to spoilers given his adorable nature of not swallowing in movie secrets also shared video of Captain America with Fat Thor pointing back the camera towards him. aI donat know why Iam so stressed posting this. The movie is already out, I guess when Barry [Curtis] said no cameras we all heard bring your cameras,a he wrote.

While it looks like Avengers crew are the least bothered with Tonyas death, some fans donat feel the same way. In fact, there has also been a petition to bring Iron Man back to life which means the Russo Bothers remaking the whole Endgame movie again, which we are sure is unlikely to happen.A

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said his visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka from Saturday reflects the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and that it will further cement ties with the two maritime nations.

PM Modi will first travel to the Maldives, in his first bilateral visit after retaining power in the Lok Sabha polls. From Maldives, he will go to Sri Lanka on Sunday.

"I am confident that my visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka will further strengthen our close and cordial ties with our maritime neighbours, in line with our 'Neighbourhood-First Policy' and the vision of security and growth for all in the region," the prime minister said.

It is learnt that the Maldives will honour PM Modi with the Order of Nishanizzuddeen, a prestigious award.

In a pre-departure statement, he said his visit to Sri Lanka is to express India's solidarity with the government and the people of the island nation in the wake of the "terrible terrorist attacks" there on April 21.

"The people of India stand firmly with the people of Sri Lanka, who suffered great agony and destruction in the wake of the horrific terror attacks on Easter. We fully support Sri Lanka in the fight against terror," he said.

Sri Lanka was hit by a wave of bombings on Easter Sunday in which over 250 people were killed.

PM Modi will be the first head of government to visit Sri Lanka after the dastardly attacks.

About his visit to the Maldives, Modi said India considers the country as a valued partner with whom it shares deep bonds of history and culture.

"Our bilateral relations with the Maldives have been greatly strengthened in the recent past. I am confident that my visit will further deepen our multi-faceted partnership," he said.

The prime minister visited the Maldives in November to attend President Ibrahim Solih's swearing-in ceremony.

The relations between India and the Maldives deteriorated after the then President Abdulla Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 last year. However, ties were back on track under Solih's presidency.

On Saturday, PM Modi will address the Parliament of the Maldives.

Since June 2014, PM Modi addressed parliaments of 10 countries including Bhutan, Australia, Fiji, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Afghanistan, the US (Congress) and Uganda.

Officials said a slew of MoUs are expected to be signed including budgetary support by India for development projects in Maldives.

Both PM Modi and the Maldivian President will jointly inaugurate two defence-related projects - a coastal surveillance radar system and composite training centre for Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF).

On Sri Lanka, PM Modi said India's ties with it have gained considerable momentum in the last few years.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena visited India last week to India to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

"I look forward to meeting the Sri Lankan leadership during my visit," PM Modi said.

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Islamabad:

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a congratulatory letter to his new Indian counterpart S Jaishankar has said that Islamabad wants talks with New Delhi on "all important matters" and remains committed to efforts for establishing peace in the region, according to a media report on Friday.

Qureshi wrote the letter to Jaishankar to congratulate him for taking over as the External Affairs Minister. Former foreign secretary Jaishankar assumed charge as the External Affairs Minister on May 30.

Qureshi told Jaishankar in the letter that "Islamabad wants talks with New Delhi on all important matters and remains committed to efforts for establishing peace in the region," the Express Tribune reported quoting diplomatic sources.

Tensions between the two countries worsened after the Pulwama terror attack and both the countries were almost on the brink of a war after India's military planes struck a terrorist training camp in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26 and Pakistan carried out a counter-offensive the next day.

Breaking the ice in bilateral ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 26 spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on phone and expressed his desire to work together for peace and prosperity in the region.

Modi on his part called for creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism for fostering peace and prosperity in the region.

India has rejected Pakistan's offer of talks, maintaining that terror and talks cannot go together.

No bilateral meeting has been planned between Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Khan on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek, the External Affairs Ministry said on Thursday in New Delhi.

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New Delhi:

Three of a family, including a woman and her two children, were killed in a massive fire that broke out in a private school in Haryanas Faridabad on Saturday. The school was located on the first floor of a building at Dabua Colony. According to initial reports, a garment shop on the ground floor caught fire due to short-circuit. Soon, the fire spread to the school premises, where a woman and her two children were present.

The woman, a teacher in the school was living in the school premises with her two children. They sustained burn injuries in the fire and fall unconscious due to suffocation. Later, they were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Although, three precious lives were lost in the fire, an even worst tragedy got averted as there were no students in the school due to summer vacations. The fire tenders were trying to douse the flames and rescue operations were on.

Reacting to the incident, the police said that the situationw was brought under control and the exact cause of fire will be ascertained. "Fire dept is here, situation now under control, we'll ascertain the cause of fire," the police said.

This is a breaking news story. More details will be added soon. Please refresh the page for the updated version.
Dhaka:

A Bangladeshi pilot, who flew a special plane to bring Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back from Finland after her three-nation visit, was caught without his passport at Qatar's international airport, according to media reports.

Captain Fazal Mahmud of Biman Bangladesh Airlines was denied entry at the immigration of Doha International Airport in Qatar on Thursday after it was found that he travelled without passport, the airline officials said.

The flag carrier sent the passport of the pilot in another flight to Qatar later, Civil Aviation Secretary Mohibul Haque told bdnews24. The airline is now sending another pilot to bring Prime Minister Hasina back to Bangladesh, he added.

The prime minister is in Finland as part of her official trips to three countries. She had earlier visited Japan and Saudi Arabia. She is scheduled to return home on Saturday.

Fazal flew a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Dhaka to Qatar on Wednesday night to bring Prime Minister Hasina back home. The issue of him carrying no passport was discovered when the flight reached Qatar. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said actions will be taken against the pilot after an investigation into the incident.

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Washington:

Nicotine in e-cigarettes may hamper mucus clearance from the human airways, increasing the risk of infection and injury, according to a study.

The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found that exposing human airway cells to e-cigarette vapour containing nicotine in culture resulted in a decreased ability to move mucus or phlegm across the surface. This phenomenon is called "mucociliary dysfunction".

Researchers from the University of Kansas, University of Miami and Mt Sinai Medical Center in the US report the same finding in vivo in sheep, whose airways mimic those of humans when exposed to e-cigarette vapour. "This study grew out of our team's research on the influence of tobacco smoke on mucus clearance from the airways," said Matthias Salathe, a professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. "The question was whether vape containing nicotine had negative effects on the ability to clear secretions from the airways similar to tobacco smoke," said Salathe.

Mucociliary dysfunction is a feature of many lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cystic fibrosis. The study found that vaping with nicotine impairs ciliary beat frequency, dehydrates airway fluid and makes mucus more viscous or sticky. These changes make it more difficult for the bronchi, the main passageways to the lung, to defend themselves from infection and injury.

The researchers note that a recent report found that young e-cigarette users who never smoked were at increased risk of developing chronic bronchitis, a condition characterised by production of phlegm that is also seen in tobacco smokers. Salathe said the newly published data not only supports the earlier clinical report, but helps explain it.

A single session of vaping can deliver more nicotine to the airways than smoking one cigarette, according to researchers. Salathe said absorption into the bloodstream is lower, possibly exposing the airways to high nicotine concentrations for prolonged periods of time. The study also found that nicotine produced these negative effects by stimulating the ion channel transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). Blocking TRPA1 reduced the effects of nicotine on clearance in both the human cells in culture and in the sheep.

"Vaping with nicotine is not harmless as commonly assumed by those who start vaping. At the very least, it increases the risk of chronic bronchitis," Salathe said. "Our study, along with others, might even question e-cigarettes as a harm reduction approach for current smokers with respect to chronic bronchitis/COPD," said Salathe.
New Delhi:

The Uttar Pradesh police has arrested fourth person for allegedly defaming Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media, according to reports. The man, a resident of Yogi Adityanath's home constituency Gorakhpur, has been arrested for allegedly trying to malign the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's image on Twitter. This was the fourth such arrest in less than a week.

Earlier, a freelance journalist was arrested for allegedly sharing an objectionable post against Yogi Adityanath on social media, triggering nation-wide condemnation of the police action. An FIR registered against Prashant Kanojia by sub-inspector Vikas Kumar at Hazratganj police station on Friday alleged that the accused made "objectionable comments against the CM and tried to malign his image".

Gorakhpur police officals posted the picture of arrested man on their Twitter handle.

Kanojia had shared a video on Twitter and Facebook where a woman is seen speaking to reporters of various media organisations outside the CM office claiming that she had sent a marriage proposal to the UP chief minsiter and that the two used to talk through "video conferencing".

Similarly, a private television news channel head and its editor were on Sunday remanded in 14-day judicial custody for allegedly broadcasting defamatory content against Adityanath. The arrested duo were Nation Live channel head Ishika Singh and editor Anuj Shukla.

"They were produced in a local court today (Sunday) which remanded them in 14-day judicial custody," Gautam Buddh Nagar Senior Superintendent of Police Vaibhav Krishna said.

During a debate on the Noida-based news channel on June 6, a woman had allegedly made defamatory statements against Adityanath, according to officials. The polilce alleged that during probe they also found that the channel did not have any requisite licence to operate.

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New Delhi:

The brutal murder case of a two-and-a-half-year-old baby in Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh has sparked a nationwide outrage demanding strict action against the accused. Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding death penalty for the accused. In a heinous incident of revenge crime in Aligarh, the two-and-a-half-year-old girl was strangled to death and her eyes gouged out after her parents allegedly failed to repay a loan of Rs 10,000, the police have said.

The body of the minor girl was spotted by locals as stray dogs nibbled at it in Tappal area. The body was found with broken hands in a dumping ground not far from the minor's house.

A case of kidnapping was registered on May 31. The accused have been arrested and they have confessed to the crime. It was a case of personal enmity but there is no sign of rape. The minor was strangled to death and her eyes were gouged out. The accused are in jail now, Akash Kulhari, SSP Aligarh, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The body of the girl was later found from a dump over five days later.

Earlier in the day, BJP ally Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece Saamana, reminded the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh to stay true to its 'Beti Bachao' slogan. Saamana did not stop short of mentioning that it was only because of the pressure from the family of the child and public outrage that the Uttar Pradesh government and the police sprung into action. "When the child went missing, the cops were slacking and even the investigation began after a delay. When the parents threatened suicide, the cops began rushing and arrested two people. Slogans of 'Beti Bachao' are rendered useless at times like these."

The Shiv Sena mouthpiece also said that incidents such as these are a blot on humanity and force the society to hang its head in shame.

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San Francisco:

Facebook said Friday it would stop allowing pre-installation of its social networking apps on Huawei devices to comply with US sanctions against the Chinese technology giant.

The social media giant said it took the step after US President Donald Trump's order barring Huawei from US technology exports over concerns that it works with Chinese intelligence. "We are reviewing the Commerce Department's final rule and the more recently issued temporary general license and taking steps to ensure compliance," a Facebook spokesperson told AFP.

The California company said people with existing Huawei smartphones with Facebook apps will continue to be able to use and download app updates provided by Facebook. The move by Facebook is the latest to isolate Huawei, which had become the world's second largest smartphone vendor despite security concerns voiced in Washington.

Google last month said it would cut ties to Huawei, making it harder to obtain major apps from the US giant. The Google decision would leave Huawei without the Play Store, the marketplace for most Android apps, and other elements of the mobile operating system.

Facebook -- which is banned in China but has more than two billion users worldwide -- said its decision would affect its core social network as well as applications such as Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, which each have at least one billion users.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur in Keralas Thrissur district. PM Modi left Kochi at 9.20 am and his helicopter landed at the Sree Krishna College ground at 9.50 am. The prime minister reached here in a special naval helicopter from the Kochi naval airport.

The prime minister arrived in Kochi late on Friday night and was received at the naval airport by Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and state Devaswam Minister Kadakampally Surendran. He stayed at the Government Guest House in Kochi.

After an hour-long darshan at the temple, the prime minister addressed a party meeting -- Abhinandan Sabha -- being organised by the BJP Kerala State committee. This will be Modis first public meeting after assuming the chair of the prime minister for a second consecutive term.

In his first public engagement after leading the BJP to a grand victory in the general election, retaining power for a successive term, Modi said he made Kerala his first stop after the win despite having no MP from the state since it was as dear to him as his constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Terming the just concluded Lok Sabha election to 542 seats as a festival of democracy, Modi lauded and thanked the electorate of Kerala for their contribution to it.

The country has seen that people are God in elections, he said.

Political parties and political pundits could not gauge peoples mood. So did those involved in conducting (poll) surveys. But people gave a strong mandate for the BJP, he said and thanked the voters for choosing his party.

The recent polls proved that people rejected negativity and accepted positivity, he said.

Elections have their place in democracy and it is the responsibility of the winner to take care of 130 crore people. Those who made us win or those who did not, both are our (people). Kerala is as dear to me as Varanasi is, Modi said.

The BJP was not working for mere electoral politics and was keen on building the country and ensuring India gets its place of pride in the international arena, Modi added.

On the Nipah virus issue, he said the Centre was working shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kerala government to provide all required assistance.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

A clash broke out between the police and BJP workers after the cops allegedly stopped a rally of BJP MP Dilip Ghosh at Gangarampur in West Bengalas South Dinajpur on Saturday. In the incident, one police sub-inspector and two civic volunteers received injuries and have been admitted to a nearby hospital.

aWe are meeting people to thank them for voting for us. The police are not allowing us to meet people. Section-144 has been imposed at places. Trinamool Congress supporters are attacking us, a few of our supporters and police personnel have been injured,a Ghosh told news agency ANI.

West Bengal: Clash broke out between BJP workers&police in Gangarampur,South Dinajpur after police allegedly stopped the rally of BJP MP Dilip Ghosh in the area. One police sub inspector & two civic volunteers who were injured in the clash have been admitted to a nearby hospital. pic.twitter.com/ljR1qIuPvI a ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2019

West Bengal has witnessed widespread tension since the Lok Sabha Elections were announced in March earlier this year. Sporadic violence was reported during the 7-phase-long polls across state. Both the BJP and Trinamool have blamed each other for the bloodbath.

It should be noted that family members of over 40 BJP workers, who were killed in political violence in West Bengal, were also invited for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on May 30 last month. It was the very reason for which Mamata Banerjee had turned down the invite and said that the BJP was trying to politicise the oath-taking ceremony.A

The rift has only deepened since the May 23 verdict which saw the BJP creating history in Bengal. The saffron party won 18 seats in the state with ruling Trinamool Congress getting 22 seats. The double-digit growth has given the BJP every reason to cheer. How important is the Bengal win was reflected in BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shahas victory speech at party headquarters in New Delhi on May 23.

The highly polarised elections in Bengal saw many firsts also. In an unprecedented move, the Election Commission of India had barred campaigning a day early, before the seventh and final phase, after a bout of clashes led to the damage of property, including a bust of reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

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New Delhi:

Narendra Modi arrived in the Maldives on Saturday on his first foreign visit after re-election as Prime Minister to strengthen the bilateral ties, reflecting the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. Modi was received at Male airport by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. While Modi visited the Maldives in November 2018 to attend President Solih's swearing-in, this visit is the first by an Indian prime minister at a bilateral level in eight years.

The two-day state visit of Prime Minister Modi is aimed at further cementing ties with the Indian Ocean archipelago.

President Solih and Modi exchanged plasantaries upon the prime minister's arrival at Republic Square where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome.

The prime minister also inspected the guard of honour. Foreign Minister Shahid said in a tweet that it was a great honour to receive Modi at Velana International Airport on his first state visit overseas.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi was conferred with the Maldives' highest honour "Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen".

"The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen" is the Maldives' highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries, Shahid said on Twitter.

Later, the prime minister addressed the Maldivian Parliament, the Majlis, an indication of India's important position in the neighbourhood.

TOP QUOTES OF PM MODI IN MALDIVES PARLIAMENT:

aRelations between India, Maldives are older than historya

'Neighbourhood First' is our priority. Relations between India and Maldives are older than history. From time immemorial, blue waters have washed our shores. They have also nourished our cultures and civilisations.

aDecision to invite me to Maldives Parliament touched hearts of every Indiana

I am very happy to be present at Peopleas Majlis today. This decision to invite me was taken in the very first meeting after Mohamed Nasheed became Maldives' parliamentary speaker. This gesture has touched the hearts of every Indian.

aIndians are with people of Maldivesa

I want to reiterate that the people of India are with the people of Maldives to strengthen their (latter's) country.

aState-sponsored terrorism is the biggest threat todaya

#WATCH PM Narendra Modi at Maldivian Parliament, "Terrorism is a danger not just for a country or region but an entire civilization. State sponsored terrorism is the biggest threat today. It is time for a global conference on terrorism." pic.twitter.com/dvTPvSs4aF a ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2019

Terrorism is a danger not just for a country but the entire civilization. State-sponsored terrorism is the biggest threat today. It is important for the world community to come together to fight the challenge of terrorism and radicalisation.

aHappy that Maldives working towards sustainable developmenta

I am happy that Maldives is working towards sustainable development and has become a part of the International Solar Alliance.

aIndia will contribute in conservation of Maldives' Friday Mosquea

I felt great to have announced today that India will contribute in conservation of Maldives' Friday Mosque. There's no such mosque elsewhere in the world like this historical mosque made up of coral.

(With PTI inputs)

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Lucknow:

A journalist has been arrested for allegedly sharing an objectionable post against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media, police said. An FIR was registered against Prashant Kanojia by sub-inspector Vikas Kumar at Hazratganj police station on Friday night in which it was alleged that the accused made "objectionable comments against the CM and tried to malign his image".

When contacted by PTI, a senior police official initially said that the journalist has been arrested. But he later clarified that no arrest has yet taken place. Later, the Lucknow police issued a press release confirming the arrest.

He has been charged under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 505 (public mischief) and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.

"He has not told about his association with any news agency during interrogation. Probe is on in the matter," the release said.

Kanojia had shared a video on Twitter and Facebook where a woman is seen speaking to reporters of various media organisations outside the CM office claiming that she had sent a marriage proposal to the CM.

The verified Twitter handle of Kanojia @PJkanojia said that he is alumnus of IIMC and Mumbai university and is associated with some media organisations.

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New York:

NASA said Friday it will open up the International Space Station to business ventures including space tourism -- with stays priced at USD 35,000 a night -- as it seeks to financially disengage from the orbiting research lab.

"NASA is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as we've never done before," NASA chief financial officer Jeff DeWit said in New York.

There will be up to two short private astronaut missions per year, said Robyn Gatens, deputy director of the ISS.

The missions will be for stays of up to 30 days. As many as a dozen private astronauts could visit the ISS per year, NASA said.

These travellers would be ferried to the orbiter exclusively by the two companies currently developing transport vehicles for NASA: SpaceX, with its Crew Dragon capsule, and Boeing, which is building one called Starliner.

These companies would choose the clients and bill for the trip to the ISS, which will be the most expensive part of the adventure: around USD 58 million for a round trip ticket.

That is the average rate the companies will bill NASA for taking the space adventurers up to the ISS.

But the tourists will also pay NASA for their stay in space, for food, water and use of the life support system on the orbiter.

That will run about USD 35,000 per night per astronaut, said DeWit.

The space station does not belong to NASA. It was built along with Russia starting in 1998, and other countries participate in the mission and send up astronauts.

But the US has paid for and controls most of the modules that make up the orbiter.

The new space tourists to the ISS will not be the first: US businessman Dennis Tito had that honour in 2001. He paid Russia around USD 20 million for the trip.

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New Delhi:

As various agencies failed to trace missing AN-32 military aircraft even after six days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone providing credible information about the location of its Russian-origin transport aircraft.A

The announcement was made by Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command.

"Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for the person(s) or group who provide credible information leading to finding of the missing AN-32 transport aircraft," A IAF spokesman Ratnakar Singh said.A

Wing Commander, Ratnakar Singh, Defence PRO, Shillong: Air Marshal RD Mathur, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakhs for the person(s) or group who provide credible information leading to finding of the missing AN-32 transport aircraft pic.twitter.com/MbgSvxNG3T a ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2019

"IAF is using all its assets and taking help of Army, Arunachal Pradesh civil authorities and other national agencies to locate the missing AN-32 transport aircraft," Wing Commander, Ratnakar Singh added.A

Finder may contact IAF on- 0378-3222164, 9436499477/9402077267/9402132477.

AN-32 aircraft, with eight crew members and five armed forces personnel onboard, went missing on Monday afternoon, around 33 minutes after taking off from Jorhat in Assam for Menchuka, near the border with China.

According to reports, the plane went missing 33 minutes after it took off at 12.27 am.A A A

A statement issued by the IAF spokesman said the search team has been trying to trace the aircraft with advanced technology and sensors sourced from different agencies, including Isro satellites.A A A

"The inhospitable terrain and thick vegetation is affecting the mission. Add to that, inclement weather and low visibility throughout the day posed a serious challenge to the aerial operations," he said.A A A

Along with local people, the Indian Army, the state police and the ITBP carried out intense search operation all Saturday to no avail, Singh rued.A A

"The IAF has increased the deployment of its helicopters and transport aircraft for the operation and expanded the search area significantly over the past few days.A A

"The data and imaging collected from airborne sensors and satellites are being analysed closely for clues," he maintained.

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New Delhi:

The United States gave Turkey time until July 31 to backtrack on Russian S-400 missile deal, news agency AFP reported. Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan has sent a list to the Turkish defence minister describing actions that the United States will take in order to suspend Turkeys participation in the F-35 programme by July 31 if the NATO ally goes through with its acquisition of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defence systems.

Meanwhile, the head of state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec said on Friday that Russia will begin delivering S-400 air defence systems to Turkey in two months.

"Everything is on track with the Turks. I hope that we will begin to deliver in about two months," Sergei Chemezov told NTV channel, according to Russian agencies.

"The credit money has been spent, the technology was produced. And we completed training of all the military personnel," he said.

Turkey's S-400 purchase has ruffled feathers in the US, and Pentagon officials warned of "devastating consequences" for the NATO member which also plans to buy F-35 fighters from the US.

Washington wanted Turkey to opt for American Patriot missiles instead of the S-400 system, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russia made a better proposal.

He said this week Turkey was "determined" to buy from Russia. Russian agencies reported that the purchase concerns four systems valued at USD 2.5 billion.

"We have made an agreement (with Russia). We are determined. There is nothing like backtracking from that," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the official Anadolu news agency.

Ankara's desire to buy the Russian S400 system has been a major source of contention between NATO allies Turkey and the United States, which has threatened sanctions.

Last week, a top Pentagon official said the consequences would be "devastating" for Turkey's joint F-35 fighter programme and its cooperation with NATO if the country goes ahead with plans to buy the Russian missile defence system.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi:

The Tripura Board of Secondary Education has declared TBSE 10th Result 2019 today, June 8, 2019. The candidates who have appeared for the examination are asked to keep all the details ready for the fast and easy access to the results. The scorecards are now available on the official website of the board i.e tbse.in. Alternatively, the candidates can also check the results by clicking on the link given below.

CLICK HERE FOR TRIPURA BOARD CLASS 10 RESULTS

LIVE UPDATES:

9.20 am: CHECK TRIPURA BOARD RESULT HERE

CLICK HERE FOR TRIPURA BOARD CLASS 10 RESULTS

9.19 am: Results were announced after the press conference.

9.15 am: Tripura Board of Secondary Education has declared TBSE 10th Result 2019. The official link has not been updated till now. Candidates can check their SCORES here.

9.12 am: TBSE 10th Result 2019 declared. This year 47,596 students have appeared for the exam.

9.10 am: THE CANDIDATES CAN CHECK THEIR RESULTS HERE

CLICK HERE FOR TRIPURA BOARD CLASS 10 RESULTS

9.00 am: TBSE 10th Result 2019 declared.

8.58 am: Tripura Board of Secondary Education to declare TBSE 10th Result 2019 today at 9am.

8.50 am: The press conference will begin in few minutes. The candidates who have appeared for the examination are asked to keep all the details ready for the fast and easy access to the results.

8.48 am: The TBSE 10th results will be announced after 9 am today on the board's official websites at tripuraresults.nic.in and tbse.in.

8.45 am: The results will be available on this page as well.

8.45 am: TBSE Madhyamik Result 2019: Details of the exam

This year, the Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) conducted the TBSE Class 10 Board Exams 2019 March 2 to April 26. This year, 47,596 students appeared for the board exam in the state.

8.45 am: Results to be out in next 15 minutes.

8.41 am: TBSE 10th Result 2019: Complete details

Name of the board: Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE)

Name of the exam: TBSE 10th Result 2019

Date and time: June 8

Websites: tripuraresults.nic.in and tbse.in

8.38 am: The Tripura Board class 10 results will be announced shortly.

8.37 am: A total of 46,585 candidates including 21,739 boys and 24,846 girls appeared in the Tripura Board Madhyamik exam 2019 and Madrasa Alim examinations held at 76 centres and 151 examination venues across the state.

8.32 am: The Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) will declare Tripura Madhyamik Result 2019 today (Saturday, June 8) after 9 am.

8.22 am: Neither NIC nor Tripura Board of Secondary Education is responsible for any inadvertent error that may have crept in the results being published on NET. The results published on net are for immediate information to the examinees. These cannot be treated as original mark sheets. Original mark sheets have been issued by the Board separately, said a notice on the website.

8.19 am: The Tripura Board 10th exam 2019 was held from March 2 and concluded on April 3, 2019. The Tripura Board of Secondary Education revised the date sheet for Tripura Madhyamik result 2019.

8.17 am: Tripura Board of Secondary Education will declare TBSE 10th Result 2019 today, June 8, 2019. Candidates who have appeared for the exam can visit the official site of TBSE at tbse.in, tripuraresults.nic.in.

8.10 am: This year Class 10 Board examination started on March 2 and concluded on April 26, 2019.

7.47 am: This year, 47,596 students have appeared for the exam conducted by the Board. The Board has already released Tripura 12th Result for all streams.

7.46 am: The result was declared on June 12, 2018. TBSE conducted the Class 10 Exam from March 6 to April 10 at around 51 centres in 2018.

7.45 am: In 2018, 47, 615 students appeared for the TBSE 10th Exam 2018. As many as 21449 students achieved 1st division while only 37 students got 2nd division. 2472 students secured 3rd division.

7.44 am: TBSE class 10 Results will be available on the official website of the board i.e. tripuraresults.nic.in.

7.31 am: The candidates are asked to keep all the details ready for the fast and easy access to the results.

7.30 am: The TBSE class 10 Results to be announced at 9.00 am.

For the convenience of the students, we have mentioned the steps through which the candidates can check their results:

Step 1: Visit newsnation.in/board-results

Step 2: Click on 'Madhyamik Examination (10th Standard Examination) - Year 2019'.

Step 3: Enter your details like hall ticket number, date of birth as mentioned on your admit card.

Step 4: Click on submit button.

Step 5: Your result will be declared on the screen. Download the result and take a print out of it.

About Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE)

Before the establishment of Tripura Board of Secondary Education (TBSE) in the year 1976, it had been the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education that reserved the rights to grant affiliation to High and Higher Secondary Schools of Tripura. Post 1976, the Tripura Board took over and its first public examinations Higher Secondary Examination [old system] and Madhyamik Pariksha (Secondary Examination) [new system]) were conducted in the same year. Two years later in 1978, the Tripura Board launched the implementation of the Higher Secondary (+2 stage) Examination.
New Delhi:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to be allotted late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Krishna Menon Marg residence in the central Delhi, government sources said on Thursday. Vajpayee had moved to the Krishna Menon Marg bunglow in 2004 after his government was voted out, and stayed there with his family for nearly 14 years. His family vacated the house in last November after his death in August.

"The official bungalow of former prime minister on Krishna Menon Marg has been allotted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah," a government source told PTI. According to sources, Shah, who is also the BJP president, recently visited the house and suggested some changes following which renovation work has started.

"The renovation work should be completed in a month or two," another source said. Shah, who took charge as a Union minister for the first time earlier this week following a landslide victory of the BJP-led NDA, is currently staying at 11 Akbar Road residence.

When Vajpayee had moved to the Krishna Menon Marg house, he had got the municipal number of the bungalow changed from 8 to 6-A. After the Modi government came to power in 2014, it was decided that no government bungalow previously occupied by a leader in Delhi would be converted into any memorial after their death.

The government has already built memorial for Vajpayee 'Sadaiv Atal', near the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, a place designated for last rites of presidents, vice-presidents and prime ministers.

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New Delhi:

India has called on G-20 countries to adopt principle of 'significant economic presence' while addressing challenges to tax profits made by the digital companies. Addressing the two-day meeting of the G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors in Fukuoka, Japan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman noted the urgency to fix the issue of determining right nexus and profit allocation solution for taxing the profits made by digital economy companies. "FM (Finance Minister) noted that the work on tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of economy is entering a critical phase with an update to the G20, due next year.

"In this respect, the FM strongly supported the potential solution based on the concept of 'significant economic presence' of businesses taking into account the evidence of their purposeful and sustained interaction with the economy of a country," a finance ministry statement said. Sitharaman expressed confidence that a consensus-based global solution, which should also be equitable and simple, would be reached by 2020.

The minister said that with almost 90 jurisdictions now adopting the automatic exchange of financial account information (AEOI), it would ensure that tax evaders could no more hide their offshore financial accounts from the tax administration. "She urged the G20/Global Forum to further expand the network of automatic exchanges by identifying jurisdictions including developing countries and financial centers that are relevant but have not yet committed to any timeline.

"Appropriate action needs to be taken against non-compliant jurisdictions. In this respect, she called upon the international community to agree on a toolkit of defensive measures, which can be taken against such non-compliant jurisdictions," the statement said. Sitharaman also highlighted the need for the G20 to keep a close watch on global current account imbalances to ensure that they do not result in excessive global volatility and tensions.

"The global imbalances left a detrimental impact on the growth of emerging markets. Unilateral actions taken by some advanced economies adversely affect the exports and the inward flow of investments in these economies," the ministry said. She also urged the G20 to remain cognizant of fluctuations in international oil market and study measures that can bring benefits to both the oil exporting and importing countries.

Earlier speaking at the Ministerial Symposium on International Taxation, she raised the need for international cooperation on dealing with fugitive economic offenders who flee their countries to escape from the consequences of law. "FM urged that closer collaboration and coordinated action were required to bring such economic offenders to face law," the statement added.

The G-20, grouping of developed and developing countries, meeting concluded Sunday.

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Ahmedabad:

Gujarat has been put on alert following IMD prediction of the deep depression in the Arabian Sea developing into a severe cyclonic storm and causing heavy rainfall in the coastal areas in the coming days, a senior official said Monday. With the warning of a heavy rainfall in parts of Gujarat, the state government has decided to deploy NDRF personnel in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from on Tuesday morning. The government will also put the Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard on alert.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of heavy rains with winds blowing at the speed of over 110 kms on June 13 and 14 in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. It has also advised fishermen against venturing into the sea in the next few days while ports have been directed to flag a danger signal.

"A heavy rain warning has been issued for Saurashtra and Kutch on June 13 and 14 due to the depression in the Arabian Sea which will turn into a severe cyclonic storm," state meteorological department director Jayanta Sarkar told reporters in Chennai.

After the weather warning, the government convened a high-level meeting in which it decided to deploy 15 teams of the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) immediately. "We have alerted all district collectors of coastal Gujarat to take immediate steps keeping in mind the likelihood of a cyclone," Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Pankaj Kumar told reporters.

READ | Monsoon hits Kerala coast after week's delay: India Meteorological Department

"Besides, we have called a meeting of all the defense forces. We have decided to deploy 15 teams of NDRF in coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch from tomorrow morning. We have asked the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard to remain ready to help the state in any untoward situation," he said, adding that the government is monitoring the situation along with the MeT department and ISRO.

On Monday, the depression over south-east adjoining Lakshadweep and east-central Arabian Sea, moved northwards with a speed of about 31 kmph. It lay centered at 8.30 am on Monday near latitude 12.5N and longitude 71.0E over east-central and adjoining south-east Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area, about 240 km northwest of Aminidivi (Lakshadweep), 760 km south-southwest of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and 930 km south-southeast of Veraval (Gujarat), a release of the MeT department said.

It is very likely to intensify further into a deep depression during the next six hours, into a cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours and into a severe cyclonic storm thereafter. It is likely to move north-northwestwards during next 72 hours, it said. "It is very likely to cause an adverse impact in terms of wind and rainfall over Saurashtra and Kutch, mainly on June 13 and 14," the release said.

Gujarat is at present reeling under severe heat wave as the maximum temperature in major cities, including Ahmedabad, has been over 43 degrees Celsius since last week of May.

READ | Believe it or not: Temperature nears 51C in Rajasthans Churu as north India reels from heat wave

Sarkar said the severe cyclonic storm is likely to cause heavy rains and winds in the coastal districts of Saurashtra, like Bhavnagar, Amreli, Junagadh, Jamangar, Porbandar, Dwarka and also Kutch.

"We have asked the state government to issue a warning to fishermen that they should not venture into the sea and have also asked those who are in sea to come back immediately. We have also asked all the ports to display the danger signal number 1," he said. The setting of monsoon will be further delayed in Gujarat after the cyclonic storm, he added.

The monsoon usually sets the state around June 15. But as it got late to arrive in Kerala this year, it was expected to be delayed by a week in Gujarat. However, the cyclone could disturb its advancement and further delay the monsoon, another official said.

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New Delhi:

Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Saturday expressed hope that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend its Governing Council meet on June 15. The chief minister has refused to attend the meeting of Niti Aayog to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it is fruitless as the body has no financial powers to support state plans.

We have invited her with all due respect and I am still hoping that she will accept my personal invitation and attend the meeting on June 15th and give us the idea as to how to improve Niti further, Kumar told reporters here.

Modi is set to chair the fifth meeting of the Niti Aayogs Governing Council to discuss various issues regarding the countrys development. Banerjee conveyed her decision not to attend the meeting in a letter written to the prime minister. Given the fact that the Niti Aayog has no financial powers and the power to support state plans it is fruitless for me to attend the meeting of a body that is bereft of any financial powers, Banerjee wrote.

Kumar said Niti Aayog has the power of persuasion and it will use its two toolscompetitive and cooperative federalismto move forward. No financial incentive necessarily needed because that financial incentive existed in Planning Commission for four decades, (but) I do not see what they have changed... growth did not go up, he said.

When asked about unemployment, Kumar said it is linked to growth and added that informal sector has created a lot of jobs which has not been captured in the data. Earlier, speaking at a function on accelerating Indias economic growth, Kumar said greater focus is required in sectors like health, education, agriculture, exports and in pushing private investments.

We need to reverse the decline in growth. You will see in the Budget that the government will make use of whatever fiscal space it has, he said. He added that the government will make sure that private investment revives, which is key to push growth and we should clock at least 7.5 to 8 per cent growth in the next five years.

Talking about agriculture, he said the story needs to be changed in this sector as huge opportunities exist in agro-processing, where rate of investment is very low.

There are problems, so we will be taking steps to remove the Essential Commodities Act and may be APMC (Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) to be replaced by APLM (Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing). I hope to see that. Agro-processing and exports requires huge attention from government and industry, he said.

On exports, Kumar said Indias share in global exports is just 1.7 per cent, which is unacceptable and it should be increased significantly to push the economy. Elaborating on improving the health sector, he said so far 37 lakh people have already benefited from the governments ambitious Ayushman Bharat programme.

When this scheme covers all 40 per cent of the population, then you can imagine the impact of that on health and welfare of people, he said. He said that bigger hospitals are still out of the supplier network of this scheme and negotiations are going on to bring them in.

On government hospitals, you will soon see Niti Aayog coming out with a ranking of 740 district hospitals in the country and that is the way we want to improve, he informed. He added that there is a need to give special focus on reducing under-nourishment as one cannot build a knowledge economy if a large base of population is malnourished. Further, he said focus is required on quality of basic education as it is still not accessible.

Talking about labour reforms, he said, You will see action very soon. But you have to see action not in terms of hire and fire. You have to have labour reforms where labour gets his due and rightful participation but yet investors get the flexibility to be able to change its composition of labour force. We will action in the coming Parliament session.

He added that states have huge inventory of land which can be utilised by industry to set up units.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister offered prayers at the Guruvayur temple on Saturday morning after reaching there by a special helicopter from the Naval Airport in Kochi. He is now addressing the BJP workers in Thrissur.A PM Modi will return to Kochi at 12.40 pm.A He will thenA embark on a state visit to Maldives, this will be his first overseas visit after his re-election. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy will induct his council of ministers today.A US President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday that NASA should stop talking about going back to the Moon, which caused confusion since his administration aims to restart Moon landings by 2024. "For all the money we are spending, NASA should NOT be talking about going to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago," Trump tweeted from Air Force One while returning from a visit to Europe.

Here are all the latest news of the day:

11.35 pm:A Retd Army Officer Md Sanaullah, who was declared a foreigner and detained by police in Assam: I served in Army for 30 years, including twice in Jammu and Kashmir and once in Imphal. I thank the High Court for granting me bail, I'm an Indian and will remain an Indian, I'm assured I'll get justice.

11.10 pm:A Amaravati: Villagers facing severe water crisis in Melghatas Sonapur village. Locals say, "It's acute water crisis in our village. We've to go down 40 feet everyday for water. Such a situation arises here year after year. Govt is doing nothing to help us."

11.00 pm:A CWC 19: Jason Roy shines as England thrash Bangladesh by 106 runs.

10.54 pm: Mumbai: Two dead and several injured after a car ran over them today while they were sleeping on footpath in Vikhroli area. Injured have been taken to a nearby hospital.

10.37 pm:A Haryana CM ML Khattar in Mohindergarh: It's possible only in BJP that a party worker reaches the topmost rank. This is BJP where from one of the party workers sitting before you, a worker named Narendra Modi can become country's PM and a worker named Amit Shah can be the Home Minister.

10.02 pm:A Mumbai: Fire breaks out at a shop in Akbar Ali Compound on New Link Road, Jogeshwari (W).A

09:27 pm:A Tamil Nadu: Text in Hindi language on signages' at BSNL office, Post Office and outside Trichy Airport found painted black, today.

08:45 pm:A Gujarat: Indian Air Forceas South Western Air Command today celebrated the birth centenary of late Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh in Gandhinagar.

08:38 pm:A MoUs exchanged between India and Maldives-MoU for cooperation in field of hydrography,field of health, establishment of passenger and cargo service by sea, cooperation in customs capacity building, training and capacity building for Maldivian civil servants and agreement on sharing white shipping info.

08.18 pm:A Bihar: 14 children have died in Muzaffarpur reportedly due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Sunil Shahi, Superintendent SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, says, "Total 38 patients were admitted, of which there are 14 casualties. Some of the admitted patients still have high fever".

08.14 pm:A French Open 2019: Dominic Theim defeats Novak Djokovic to enter finals.

08.10 pm:A Delhi: Decapitated body of a woman found inside a box in Jahangirpuri area, body yet to be identified; police investigation underway.

08.07 pm:A Delhi: Union Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah has called a meeting of all State Committee General Secretaries of the party on 13-14 June, to discuss the upcoming state committee elections, among other issues.

08.00 pm:A Bihar: A minor girl has died after being allegedly raped by a neighbor in Gaya, yesterday. DSP, Gaya City, says, "The accused has been identified and belongs from Jharkhand. We are trying to locate him."

07.53 pm:A Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has urged the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Krishna Murari to put in place a fast track trial mechanism for speedy trial of rape cases.A

07.41 pm:A Delhi Police Cyber Crime Unit has arrested three Nigerian nationals for duping people of lakhs of rupees in the name of matrimonial proposals, visa assistance and job offers.

07.22 pm:A Nitish Kumar on Prashant Kishor to work with Mamata Banerjee: He will tell about it himself tomorrow at National Executive meeting. He joined our party last year, he is associated with election strategy organization too and whom so ever he works for under it has nothing to do with our party.

06.13 pm:A Chhattisgarh: Naxals torched vehicles engaged in road-construction in Sukma, today.

05.14 pm:A Wayanad: Congress President Rahul Gandhi holds a road show in Sultan Bathery.

Wayanad: Congress President Rahul Gandhi holds a road show in Sultan Bathery. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/qB5g8c6qHf a ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2019

04.43 pm:A 17 Councillors of Darjeeling Municipality join Bharatiya Janata Party at Delhi. All 17 Councillors were earlier with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

04.31 pm:A ED has issued second summon to Praful Patel, former Aviation Minister, in connection with airline seat scam case. ED has asked him to appear on June 10 or 11. Earlier, Patel was summoned for questioning on June 6, but he sought another date due to prior commitments.A

04.20 pm:A BJP MP Dilip Ghosh: We are meeting people to thank them for voting for us. Police is not allowing us to meet people, Sec 144 has been imposed at places. TMC supporters are attacking us, a few of our supporters and police personnel have been injured.

04.08 pm:A West Bengal: Clash broke out between BJP workers and police in Gangarampur, South Dinajpur after police allegedly stopped the rally of BJP MP Dilip Ghosh in the area. One police sub inspector and two civic volunteers who were injured in the clash have been admitted to a nearby hospital.

04.04 pm:A Gujarat: A 20-day-old infant killed in Ahmedabadas Meghaninagar area after 5 goons attacked infant&her family on June 6. Mother of the infant says, "Some goons entered our house&attacked us. We don't have any personal enmity with them." Police have arrested 3 out of the 5 accused.

03.59 pm:A Leaders of Maharashtra Congress hold a meeting in Mumbai, as state Legislative Assembly elections are due to be held later this year.

03.49 pm:A Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Male Airport. PM Modi is on his state visit to Maldives, this is his first overseas visit after his re-election.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Male Airport. PM Modi is on his state visit to Maldives, this is his first overseas visit after his re-election. pic.twitter.com/BRNFyE9WJI a ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2019

03.45 pm:A Rajasthan: Mercury touches 43 degrees Celsius in Dholpur as heatwave continues across the region.

03.35 pm:A Hyderabad: Telangana Congress party has launched a 36-hour hunger strike at Dharna Chowk after the Speaker of Telangana Assembly accepted the representation for the merger of Congress Legislature Party with TRS, submitted by 12 defected Congress MLAs.

03.27 pm:A Madhya Pradesh: Police detained two persons in connection with the rape and murder of a minor girl in Ujjain. Sachin Atulkar, SP, says,"SIT was formed for the investigation. The suspects are being interrogated. Further investigation is being done."

03.25 pm:A University Grants Commission has written to Vice Chancellors of all Universities to organise a Yoga demonstration on 21st June- International Day of Yoga.

03.20 pm:A India Met Department: Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions very likely to prevail over Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during next three days.

03.17 pm:A Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa is visiting Air Force Station Jorhat in Assam to review the ongoing search and rescue operations for the missing AN-32 transport aircraft with 13 personnel on board.

03.11 pm:A Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan in a letter to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, states "I invite you to work together with us for the larger good of people of Delhi and be a part of Ayushman Bharat." Delhi CM on Friday had ruled out his govt implementing Ayushman Bharat scheme.

03.07 pm:A Sunitha Devi, Scientist, Meteorological Department: Monsoon has set in over Kerala today and we are expecting that it might further advance in next 48 hours covering the remaining parts of Lakshadweep and Kerala as well as Tamil Nadu.

03.00 pm:A SSP Aligarh on murder of 2.5 years old girl: 4 people including main accused Zahid and his wife arrested. Body was wrapped in a cloth belonging to Zahid's wife. We've met victim family and they've demanded that the accused should be hanged till death. Charge-sheet to be filed.

SSP #Aligarh on murder of 2.5 years old girl: 4 people including main accused Zahid & his wife arrested. Body was wrapped in a cloth belonging to Zahid's wife. We've met victim family and they've demanded that the accused should be hanged till death. Charge-sheet to be filed pic.twitter.com/hGek7wrQLe a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 8, 2019

12.30 pm:A We stand with the family of 2.5-year-old girl who was murdered in Tappal and no advocate will appear in court for the accused. No advocate from outside will be allowed to fight the case. We will fight for the child, saidA A Anoop Kaushik,General Secretary, Aligarh Bar Association.

12.25 pm:A People choose their 'jan pratinidhi' for 5 years but we are 'jan sevak' who is committed to serving the people, life long, says PM Modi.

12.14 pm:A We believe that elections have a place of their own but after elections the more important responsibility is towards the 130 crore citizens. Those who made us win our ours, those who did not make us win are also ours. Kerala is as much mine as is Varanasi.

12.11 pm:A Some Pundits think that BJP could not open its account in Kerala but Modi is going there to thank people. What is in his mind? But this is our culture, our thinking, says PM Modi.

12.10 pm: BJP wants to grow India's prestige in the world, says PM Modi.

12.07 pm: BJP workers don't just work for polls. BJP workers in Kerala work for the people, says PM Modi.

12.04 pm:A Blessed to have come to the land of Guruvayur again, says PM Modi.A Be it Udupi, Guruvayur or Dwarkadhish, for us - the people of Gujarat, there is an emotional connect. Coming from Gujarat, the land of Dwarkadhish, to Guruvayur gives one a special feeling.

12 pm: PM Modi address BJP workers in Kerala.

11.25 am:A At the national level we're fighting poison. Mr Narendra Modi uses poison, I'm using a strong word but Mr Narendra Modi uses poison of hatred to divide this country. He uses anger & hatred to divide the people of this country. He uses lies to win election, says Rahul Gandhi in Kerala.

11.20 am:A Congress President Rahul Gandhi holds a road show in Kalpetta of Wayanad district. He started day by meeting his well-wishers.





10.45 am:A Indian Coast Guard has detained an Indonesian vessel with Iranian crew off the coast of Dwarka in Gujarat. Some suspected substance was observed on the vessel, investigation is still underway. The vessel claims to be on its way to Kuwait.

10.33 am:A Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur.





10.25 am:A Aviation security fee for domestic passengers will be levied at rate of Rs 150 per embarking passenger. Fee for international passengers will be levied at rate of Rs US$ 4.85 or equivalent Indian Rupees per embarking passenger with effect from July 1, saysA Ministry of Civil Aviation.

10.14 am:A Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assumes charge of his office at the state secretariat in Amaravati.





9.50 am:A Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Thrissur.A PM Modi reaches Guruvayur to offer prayers at Lord Krishna temple.

Prime Minister @narendramodi arrives at Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur.



LIVE updates here:https://t.co/yKQOu6sZ8z pic.twitter.com/OrOprkUIwX a News Nation (@NewsNationTV) June 8, 2019

8.41 am: As many asA 382 officers join the Indian Army today after the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. As many as 459 officers took part in the parade including 77 foreign cadets from friendly nations.

Uttarakhand: 382 officers join the Indian Army today after the passing out parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun. 459 officers took part in the parade including 77 foreign cadets from friendly nations. pic.twitter.com/GrbnZtWaAY a ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2019

7.35 am:A Security tightened at Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur of Kerala's Thrissur district where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer prayers today.

7.30 am:A Fire breaks out at a chemical godown near Jagannath Ghat in Kolkata earlier this morning. 20 fire tenders are present at the spot. Fire fighting operations are underway.





7.20 am:A Exchange of fire underway between terrorists and security forces in Verinag, Anantnag district ofA Jammu and Kashmir.

6.45 am: It is Day 2 of Congress president Rahul Gandhi's visit to his Parliamentary constituency Wayanad after a thumping victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections.

6.42 am:A US President Donald Trump suspends plan to impose tariffs on Mexico, says Mexico 'has agreed to take strong measures' on migrants, reportsA The Associated Press.

6.40 am: PM Modi willA embark on a state visit to Maldives, this will be his first overseas visit after his re-election.A

6.35 am:A Prime Minister will offer prayers at the Guruvayur temple onA A morning after reaching there by a special helicopter from the Naval Airport in Kochi. PM Modi will return to Kochi at 12.40 pm.

6.30 am:A NASA shouldn't talk about going to Moon, focus on 'other things': US President Donald Trump.

6.25 am:A Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy will induct his council of ministers today.A

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

AAP's disgruntled Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba Saturday claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked party workers of her constituency to choose between her and the party.

Lamba also accused Kejriwal of "dividing" the party at a time when it should be kept united.

"Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in his meeting with party workers, proposed an option in front of the workers of Chandni Chowk assembly constituency that either choose between the party and MLA Alka Lamba," Lamba tweeted.

No immediate response was available from the AAP.

Lamba has been at odds with the party for quite some time now.

In April, she had engaged in a bitter Twitter spat with AAP's Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj, who had taunted her to resign from the party.

Following this, Lamba had addressed a large crowd outside Jama Masjid and said the party was repeatedly demanding her resignation.

Lamba had alleged that the party leadership was "weakening" her and she was being accused of attempting to switch over to the Congress.

Lamba won the Chandni Chowk assembly seat in the 2013 Delhi elections. Before joining Kejriwal, Lamba was part of the Congress's women wing.

She had earlier announced that she would leave the AAP next year.

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Hong Kong:

A huge peaceful protest in Hong Kong against controversial plans to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland descended into violence early Monday as police fought running battles with small pockets of demonstrators. Organisers said more than a million people took part in the Sunday march - the largest protest since Hong Kongs 1997 handover to China - confronting the citys pro-Beijing leadership with a major political crisis.

The city government is pushing a bill through the legislature that would allow extraditions to any jurisdiction with which it does not already have a treaty - including mainland China. The proposals have sparked an outcry and birthed an opposition that unites a wide cross-section of the city.

Sunday saw huge crowds march in blazing summer heat through the cramped streets of the financial hubs main island in a noisy, colourful demonstration calling on the government to scrap its planned extradition law. The march passed without incident.

But shortly after midnight violence flared as police moved to clear small groups of protesters who had vowed to stay overnight outside parliament. Demonstrators hurled bottles built barricades as police moved in moments after the protest permit expired.

Officers used pepper spray hoses to push the crowds back, who shouted We have a right to protest! Skirmishes continued overnight as protesters and police played cat and mouse in the nearby streets.

The scenes were reminiscent of 2014, when police used tear gas against pro-democracy demonstrators, setting off two months of demonstrations that took over key intersections of the international finance hub. Just hours earlier protesters had been celebrating the huge turnout, hoping it would prompt the government into rethinking the law.

The government cannot ignore these numbers, protester Peter Chan, 21, told AFP. If they really choose not to response to our demands we will not rule out more action.

For more than six hours on Sunday dense crowds snaked their way through the city chanting Scrap the evil law! and Oppose China extradition!

Police, who historically give much lower figures than organisers, put the peak crowd size at 240,000 - still their second highest estimate for attendance at a protest since handover.

The citys population is around 7.3 million and the organiser figure for Sundays protest outstripped 2003, when an estimated half a million demonstrators forced the government to shelve a deeply unpopular national security law.

But it is unclear if the financial hubs current leadership will be moved. The citys appointed leader Carrie Lam has staked her political reputation on the bill.

Ignoring the protests could fuel public anger or prompt more widespread clashes, with organisers saying they would upgrade their actions if the government did not drop the bill.

But backtracking by Lam might embolden opponents and anger Beijing. Several senior Communist Party leaders in China have voiced support for the bill.

In a statement late Sunday the government showed no sign of compromise, urging legislators to proceed with the bills second reading on Wednesday. Opposition to extradition has come from a wide political and social spectrum.

Lawyers, business groups, activists, journalists and western powers have all voiced alarm. Hong Kongs leaders say the law is needed to plug loopholes and stop the city being a bolthole for mainland fugitives.

They say dissidents and critics will not be extradited and have urged the bills quick passage to extradite a Hong Kong man who is wanted in Taiwan for murdering his girlfriend.

But critics fear the law would entangle people in Chinas opaque and politicised court system, and say the government is using the Taiwan case as a Trojan Horse. In recent weeks Lams administration has made some key concessions.

They have removed nine economic crimes from a list of extraditable offences and said that only offences that carry seven years or more in jail will be considered, up from three. Requests will only be considered from Chinas top prosecuting authority.

Those steps have received a cautious welcome from some business groups, but others have seized on the concessions as a tacit admission that Chinas courts are not impartial.

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Washington:

President Donald Trump says he has suspended plans to impose tariffs on Mexico, tweeting that the country has agreed to take strong measures to stem the flow of Central American migrants into the United States.

I am pleased to inform you that The United States of America has reached a signed agreement with Mexico, Trump tweeted Friday night, saying the "Tariffs scheduled to be implemented by the US on Monday, against Mexico, are hereby indefinitely suspended."

He said Mexico has agreed to work to stem the tide of Migration through Mexico, and to our Southern Border and said those steps would greatly reduce, or eliminate, Illegal Immigration coming from Mexico and into the United States.

According to a US-Mexico Joint Declaration released by the State Department late Friday, the US said it will work to greatly expand a program that returns asylum-seekers who cross the southern border to Mexico while their claims are adjudicated.

Mexico has also agreed to take unprecedented steps to increase enforcement to curb irregular migration, including the deployment of the Mexican National Guard throughout the country, especially on its southern border with Guatemala.

And the US said Mexico is also taking decisive action to dismantle human smuggling and trafficking organizations as well as their illicit financial and transportation networks.

Trumps decision marked a change in tone from earlier Friday, when his spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters in Ireland before Trump took off: Our position has not changed. The tariffs are going forward as of Monday.

Trump has often said unpredictability helps him negotiate.

The 5 per cent tax on all Mexican goods , which would increase every month up to 25 per cent under Trumps plan, would have had enormous economic implications for both countries.

Americans bought $378 billion worth of Mexican imports last year, led by cars and auto parts.

Many members of Trumps Republican Party and business allies had urged him to reconsider ? or at least postpone actually implementing the tariffs as talks continue ? citing the potential harm to American consumers and manufactures.

US and Mexican officials met for more than 10 hours Friday during a third day of talks at the US State Department trying to hash out a deal that would satisfy Trumps demand that Mexico dramatically increase its efforts to crack down on migrants.

The talks were said to be focused, in part, on attempting to reach a compromise on changes that would make it harder for migrants who pass through Mexico from other countries to claim asylum in the US, those monitoring the situation said.

Mexico has opposed such a change but appeared open to considering a potential compromise that could include exceptions or waivers for different types of cases.

The joint declaration, however makes no mention of the issue.

Trump in recent months has embraced tariffs as a political tool he can use to force countries to comply with his demands ? in this case on his signature issue of immigration. And he had appeared poised earlier Friday to invoke an emergency declaration that would allow him to put the tariffs into effect if that was his final decision, according to people monitoring the talks.

If negotiations continue to go well, Trump can turn that off at some point over the weekend, Marc Short, Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff, told reporters earlier in the day.

Talks had gotten off to a shaky start Wednesday, as the US once again pressed Mexico to step up enforcement on its southern border with Guatemala and to enter into a safe third country agreement overhauling its asylum system.

But as talks progressed Thursday, US officials began to grow more optimistic, with Short reporting Mexican receptivity to potential asylum changes.

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador held out hope during his daily news conference that a deal could be reached before Mondays deadline.

Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who said Thursday his country had agreed to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to its border with Guatemala, tweeted the news late Friday that there would be no tariff application on Monday.

Thanks to all the people who have supported us by realizing the greatness of Mexico, he wrote.

L?pez Obrador also tweeted. Thanks to the support of all Mexicans, the imposition of tariffs on Mexican products exported to the USA has been avoided, he said, calling for a gathering to celebrate in Tijuana Saturday.

Beyond Trump and several White House advisers, few in his administration had believed the tariffs were a good idea, according to officials familiar with internal deliberations.

Those people had worried about the negative economic consequences for Americans and argued that tariffs ? which would likely spark retaliatory taxes on US exports ? would also hurt the administration politically.

Republicans in Congress had also warned the White House that they were ready to stand up to the president to try to block his tariffs, which they worried would spike costs to US consumers, harm the economy and imperil a major pending US-Mexico-Canada trade deal.

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Today, banks and financial institutions have reached every nook and corner of the country. The banking system has become so easy that there is no need to go to a bank for any kind of financial transaction as the online banking business is booming.

But, this was not a scenario some eight and a half decades ago. Earlier, merchants used to provide loans and trade in investments. People used bags and boxes to save money. A few rich people used to run money-changing services in city areas for transactions like currency exchange.

It has already been 85 years since the beginning of the banking era in Nepal. This week (November 15) was the 85th anniversary of Nepal Bank Limited, the oldest bank in Nepal.

Nepal Bank was the result of a proposal made by Prime Minister Juddha Shamsher Rana to King Tribhuvan in 1937. After the king approved the proposal, Juddha Shamsher asked some people close to him to start preparations for establishing a bank. Ten people came forward ready to invest, and the government also became a shareholder. Side by side, 12 employees were hired. On November 15, 1937, Nepal Bank was inaugurated by King Tribhuvan, marking the beginning of the banking era.

Nearly two decades after the establishment of the Nepal Bank, the need for a regulatory body was also felt. As a result, on April 26, 1956, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) was established and run with the employees of Nepal Bank.

Nepal Bank, which has such a proud history, was about to collapse at some point. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nepal Bank, Krishna Bahadur Adhikari, divides the journey of Nepal Bank into four periods.

The golden age

According to the CEO, the period from the establishment to 1988 is considered the golden age as it did not have any other competitor for a long time. The bank did a good job during this period.

Thakur Singh Kathait, an Indian, was the first general manager (GM) of Nepal Bank. As he could speak Nepali well, it was not difficult for him to work. He initially even brought some staff from India.

After Kathait, British citizen Richard (full name not immediately available) became the second GM of Nepal Bank. After him, Ananda Bhakta Rajbhandari was appointed as the third GM, making him the first chief executive officer in the history of banking in Nepal.

Rajbhandari, who entered the bank as a lower-level employee on June 15, 1946, was appointed acting GM in 1963 and GM in 1965. As he resigned with effect on December 15, 1980, the board of Directors of the bank appointed him as a full-time advisor with more attractive facilities than GM, urging him not to leave the bank. He held that post for two years.

During that period, two more GMs were appointed in the bank. The government in 1982 appointed Rajbhandari again as the GM. Repeatedly extending his tenure, the government made him serve until he retired on January 26, 1989. He also remained an advisor to the board of directors of the bank for the next two years.

We consider that period to be the golden age of Nepal Bank. There are still customers who take Ananda Rajbhandaris name, states Adhikari, He successfully drove the bank.

The transition phase

The political changes that took place in 1990 also affected the banking sector. After the restoration of the multi-party system in the country, the bank was no longer centred on one person. After the exit of GM Rajbhandari, the downfall journey of the Nepal Bank began.

According to Adhikari, the bank was finding it difficult to maintain its status; progress was a far-fetched thing at that time. After the intrusion of politics, the management got badly disturbed. At that time, there were both internal and external reasons for such adverse impact on the bank, says Adhikari.

This period lasted till 2001. During this period, the nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio of the bank increased to 60 per cent.

At that time, the bank had 6,000 employees, but its capital was only Rs 380 million. Rs 10 billion was its negative net worth. As the deficit kept on increasing, the employees had to be paid from the deposits of the general public. We now make a profit of Rs 3 billion a year, at that time, we had a loss of the same amount, informs Adhikari.

The bank was not able to conduct an audit since 1998. The bank got into so much trouble that it was like a confirmed collapse.

During the Maoist insurgency, branch offices in rural areas were unsafe. Many such and loss-making branches closed at that time. Closing the loss-making branches reduced the banks expenses.

The reform phase

Nepal Banks CEO Krishna Bahadur Adhikari

While the Nepal Bank was said to be on the verge of collapse, another state-owned bank, Rastriya Banijya Bank, was also in trouble. After the banks went through a very rough patch, the government launched the Banking Sector Reform Campaign.

A team of experts from the USA was called in to reform the two banks and reengineer the central bank. Nepal Bank Limited is technically insolvent, that was the essence of that team, says the CEO.

That study showed all the weaknesses in the bank including managerial incompetence, loan irregularities, and a very lax record system. After that, the NRB took direct control of Nepal Bank on March 14, 2002. At that time Bhavani Devi Sharma was the GM. The NRB appointed Basu Dev Joshi as the coordinator to lead the bank.

About five months after the NRBs takeover, Nepal Bank was taken over by a foreign management team in 2002. After the expiration of the contract of the foreign management team in 2007, the NRB itself had taken the managerial responsibility till 2014.

Thus, the period from 2002 to 2014 became a period of reform, says Adhikari. During that period, non-performing loans decreased, timely audits were carried out, and the use of technology was improved.

Devendra Pratap Shah became the CEO of Nepal Bank Limited for the first time in an open competition in March 2015. That marks the end of the struggle phase of the bank, says Adhikari.

Market-directed phase

The NRB handed over control of Nepal Bank after preventing it from collapsing. And through open competition, the bank appointed a chief executive officer. According to Adhikari, this phase can be called the market-directed phase.

According to him, services are being provided by using technology. Formerly closed branches have reopened and other branches have been expanded even in remote areas. From 96 branches in 2003, there are 213 branches now. There are seven provincial offices and 47 extension counters in operation.
Home  Just In  OnePlus Nord 2 5G in Nepal: Will the new phone be able to retain the brands standard?

OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a mid-range smartphone from one of the most famous smartphone brands, OnePlus. Since the OnePlus 9 series is competing for premium supremacy, it needs something more to prove the flagship killer title it was originally known for; Nord 2 5G is just the one to compete for that title.

OnePlus has always been known to provide flagship-level performance at an affordable price range. Accordingly, the newest model, OnePlus Nord 2 5G has come up with some promising features along with some problems in comparison with its competitors. Hence, it is not sure if it can retain the brands standard in the Nepali market.

Here, we are providing the detailed features of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G and giving our verdict of the review.

Specifications

Dimension Height: 158.9mm

Width: 73.2mm

Thickness: 8.3mm

Weight: 189 grams Display 6.43-inch Fluid AMOLED, 90HZ, HDR10+ SIM Dual SIM Resolution 1,080*2,400 pixels Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 5 OS Android 11, OxygenOS 11.3 Chipset MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G(6nm) GPU Mali-G77 MC9 Storage 128GB/256GB Card slot Not available RAM 6GB/8GB/12GB Camera Front: 32MP, f/2.5

Rear: 50MP, f/1.9

8MP, f/2.3, 119 (ultrawide)

2MP, f/24 (monochrome) Sound Loudspeakers with stereo speakers Battery 4500mAh, Li-Po

Fast charging 65W

100% in 30 minutes Sensors Under-display fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass Colours Gray sierra, blue haze, green-wood Price Rs 59,999 (8/128GB)

Rs 69,999 (12/256GB)

Design and display

Photo: OnePlus

The design of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is identical to its predecessor, OnePlus Nord. Only the camera setup on the back of the phone differs. The Nord 2 is of a pretty solid build, it has a Gorilla Glass 5 back and front and a plastic frame whereas the internal chassis is made of aluminium. It has a thickness of about 8.3mm and weighs around 189 grams. It has an under-display fingerprint sensor to lock and unlock the phone and is pretty fast. There is no IP certification on the phone.

Photo: OnePlus

There is a 6.43-inch fluid AMOED single punch-hole display on the phone that has a refresh rate of 90Hz and supports HDR10+. It has a maximum resolution of 1,080*2,400 pixels while the screen-to-body ratio of this phone is 85.8%.

Cameras

OnePlus Nord 2 5G has a triple camera setup on its back whereas there is a single camera on the front. At the back, it gets a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor as the main camera accompanied by an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP monochrome sensor. Surprisingly, there is no macro sensor on this phone. The rear camera can record videos in 4K at 30fps and 1080p up to 240fps and has a gyro-EIS for stabilisation.

The 32MP upfront camera can record videos in 1080p at 30fps and has a gyro-EIS as well. It has a dual video mode as well, with which you can record videos from both the back and front cameras simultaneously.

Performance and battery life

Photo: Mediatek

OnePlus Nord 2 5G runs on Android 11 based OxygenOS 11.3, which is a unified code with Oppos ColorOS 11.3. This time, OnePlus has collaborated with Mediatek to include AI features to Dimensity 1200 and it has brought improvements in camera, display and performance. This is also the best Mediatek chipset to date and can be compared to Qualcomms Snapdragon 870 chipset in terms of performance.

Photo: OnePlus

Giving life to the phone is a 4500mAh non-removable Li-Po battery that supports 65W fast charging. This incredible feature allows the phone to get fully charged in just 30 minutes. This is probably the fastest charging phone in Nepal at the moment.

Storage, connectivity and others

Photo: OnePlus

OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes in two variants in Nepal: 8/128GB and 12/256GB. There is also no slot for a microSD card for memory expansion.

The phone supports a 5G network as the name suggests, and there is a slot for 2 nano sim cards. Other connectivity options include Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, USB Type-C 2.0 and also is NFC enabled. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the phone, but there are also stereo speakers for audio.

The price of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is Rs 59,999 for the 8/128GB variant and Rs 69,999 for the 12/256 GB variant. The company also has recently launched the Pac-Man edition of the phone.

Verdict

OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a well-built smartphone backed up by a solid processor. It has good-quality cameras as well. The build of the phone is incredible with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both back and front. This provides a premium feeling on the phone. OnePlus has tried everything to make this phone a proper flagship killer, but unfortunately for OnePlus, this is a packed division now and this category is no longer untouchable.

The 90Hz display, surely, is impressive, but there are phones like Poco F3, Poco F3 GT, Realme GT Neo 2 and Samsung phones that offer a higher refresh rate of 120Hz and higher touch sampling rate. OnePlus Nord 2 5G also does not have an IP certification like Poco F3 and the latter comes cheaper and has a faster processor. The Oxygen OS, however, is the best OS in the segment and provides a smooth experience for the users. The battery backup is almost the same as in other phones in this price category, but it holds a great advantage in charging time as it gets fully charged only in 30 minutes.

The price is also a deciding factor here; OnePlus Nord 2 5G costs more than its competitors. But, overall, in features and specifications, OnePlus Nord 2 5G goes back and forth against its competitors in this category. It has superior build quality and camera while the performance may be inferior compared to some. This is a packed division and the buyer may find it difficult to choose one. The choice on purchase may depend on what their priorities are. But, nonetheless, OnePlus is definitely one of the best.
Krishna Prasad Kadariya (72) lives inside the Pashupatinath temple premises. He wakes up at 2 am every day, takes a bath and does his nitya puja (daily worshipping rituals). Then, he opens up the door of a gurdwara in Nirmal Akhada and takes out the Guru Granth Sahib by 4 am. As a ritual, he folds his hands, bows his head and leaves the holy book open (prakash). He goes by his work all day and then in the evening closes the book and keeps it at rest (sukhaasana) in the evening. This is a cycle of rituals equivalent to humans waking up and sleeping daily.

For more than three decades now, he has been working inside the Pashupatinath premises as a priest and caretaker of the gurdwara. But, Kadariya is not a Sikh; he is a follower of Vedic Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) and believes strongly in Pashupatinath. This work does not bar me from performing the rituals because of my religion. And, it has also kept me close to Pashupatinath, he says, Every day a mul-mala (garland) goes from the gurdwara to Pashupatinath as an offering and I am privileged to do so, and I would want to continue this for many years to come as well.

A gurdwara at Nirmala Akhada in the Pashupatinath temple area. Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

On the other side of the city, in the north of the Shova Bhagawati temple, near Khusibu, is 45-year-old Laxmi Karki, who also goes by her day like Kadariya. Starting her day at around 6 am, she takes out the holy book for prakash and takes care of the gurdwara all day and closes the book for sukhaasana. Karki is also a Hindu devotee in practice.

Both Kadariya and Karki believe that there is a lot to learn from Sikhism and the words of Guru Nanak. Yet, as the Sikh community in Nepal gears up to celebrate the 552nd Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurparva this year, Sikhism in Nepal continues to be underwhelmed in several aspects.

Understanding Sikhism

Sikhism is a religion mostly practised in the Punjab state of India, but the religion found its way to Nepal following the footsteps of Guru Nanak.

Gyani Gurbakhsh Singh of Kupondole-based Gurdwara Guru Nanak Satsang talks about Sikhism in Nepal. Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

Gyani Gurbakhsh Singh (64), a Sikh priest at Kupondole-based Gurdwara Guru Nanak Satsang, explains, About 500 years ago, Guru Nanak came to Nepal. He stayed at different places in Kathmandu and preached his words, talked about the right way of life. Many sages, priests and commoners came and sat in front of him and believed his words. And, that marked the start of Sikhism in Nepal.

The places he preached at are today made into gurdwaras, he adds, saying anyone who wants to learn and embrace the teachings of Guru Nanak is welcome to do so with doors of gurdwara always open to them.

But, the main priest is saddened that many misinterpret and vaguely misunderstand Sikhs and Sikhism in Nepal. Singh, who identifies himself as a Nepali Sikh, says, I am a Nepali, but my appearance is misunderstood by many. I accept the words of Guru Nanak Sahib, I do not cut my hair, wear a pagadi, wear a kadaa and hold a kirpan (a kind of knife). But, this is a matter of prejudice and those who do not understand either fear or pass comments that are not correct.

The reason why we do not cut our hair is that Guru Nanak says our hair is our source of energy, so we do not cut the source. The pagadi is to protect the head, where lies our identity [much like a CPU of a computer]. We carry a weapon with us to always be ready to fight and protect others and the kadaa is to protect our hands that carry the weapons and fight. It is all a reasonable ask and for us to be protectors and serve people. All this does not talk about which country we belong to, Singh stresses.

Singh, a popular face among all Sikhs in Nepal, wants people to first learn the difference.

Many Punjabis, the residents of Punjab, follow Sikhism. But, not all who follow Sikhism or adorn pagadi are Punjabis. I am a Nepali, not Punjabi or Indian. My forefathers were Nepali Sikhs, and so am I.

So, he says, they are just like others. There are people who follow different religions, we are also the same.

The underwhelming aspects

Gurdwara Guru Nanak Satsang in Kupondole, Lalitpur. Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

Sikhism in Nepal has been in practice for a long. People reach Kupondole to offer their prayers to Guru Nanak and every year on Guru Nanak Jayanti, they get together and organise langar (a feast) to mark the day. However, apart from the Kudpondole-based gurdwara, there are not many who know that there are other gurdwaras in Kathmandu.

There are two inside the Pashupatinath area, but people are unaware of its existence.

Other gurdwaras are also not as extravagant as the ones in Kupondole. Be it in Pashupati, Shova Bhagawati or Balaju, these gurdwaras are nestled away from the public eye, operating all in hush-hush, and in the shadow of Hindu temples. gurdwaras here have scattered, limited or no audience in the day except on Guru Nanak Jayanti. Caretakers Kadariya and Karki are the caretakers, but they leave the space locked, only to open when visitors come in and for sukhaasana.

Outside these gurdwaras, people are still unaware of the religion. Even residents around the gurdwaras believe that only Punjabis come in to offer their prayers. Even Singh, outside the gurdwaras premises, faces a great ordeal to make people understand the values of Sikhism. Unless someone comes here to know more, people outside are not easy to talk to, he complains.

Peoples conversion to Sikhism in Nepal is another topic that gets heavily misunderstood. Though a caretaker of the gurdwara, even Kadariya holds a strong opinion that changing ones religion and following another religion is not right but says, Guru Nanaks words are true and we can follow them without changing our religion too.

A gurdwara at Shova Bhagawati. Photo: Nasana Bajracharya

Likewise, Karki adds, My family follows Hinduism; I could not just drop the religion. But if one can follow the words of Guru Nanak, of avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, meat and tobacco, it does result in a healthy lifestyle.

Though Kadariya disapproves, some people have changed their religion and now follow Sikhism in Nepal. A woman who reached Kupondole shares she was the first in the family to follow Sikhism some 50 years ago and now her children do too.

But, Singh still has some grievances to pour, There are people who understand, who come and serve here, pay their respects and donate to the needy like on Gurparva. And, some people follow blindly because their family follows the religion. The latter are not the true followers. If you have to follow any religion, follow them only after you understand it or make attempts to understand it at the very least. Thats the word of Guru Nanak and that is how it should be.

Sikhs in Nepal are likely to continue to face underwhelming exposure. Nevertheless, as the Guru Nanak Jayanti nears, the gurdwara in Kupondole is gearing up to prepare for the langar and the celebration for the day including 48 hour-long akhanda paath.
Home  Politics  US assistant secretary Donald Lu in Nepal: Meeting with PM Deuba today

Kathmandu, November 18

Donald Lu, the United States assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs, is in Kathmandu since Wednesday on an official trip.

Lu is scheduled to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday, informs the PMs secretariat.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Lu will pay a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Minister Narayan Khadka on Friday.

During the trip, he will also monitor US-assisted development projects in Nepal and take stock of progress. The US Embassy in Kathmandu says he will also visit heritage sites.

Similarly, Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Kelly Keiderling will arrive in Kathmandu on Thursday. She will be meeting Nepali officials and emerging civil society leaders upon her arrival.
Acquisition

Analysis: Are better debriefings driving down protests?

Prevailing wisdom says every contract gets hit with a protest. That is often true for the headline grabbing multibillion-dollar vehicles.

But the truth is most contracts aren't worth billions and most contracts don't get protested.

In fact, the government's 2021 fiscal year marked the fifth in a row that the number of protests filed with the Government Accountability Office fell, according to its annual bid protest report to Congress. The one caveat is fiscal 2018, when there was an increase of below 1 percent.

Fiscal 2021 saw 1,897 cases filed at GAO, down 12% compared to fiscal 2020 that saw 2,149 cases.

It is important to note how GAO counts cases. Each case does not represent an individual contract or task order award. A single contract can have multiple cases associated with it. For example, Company A files a protest and then makes supplemental filings. GAO counts each filing as a separate case, even though all the cases involve the same procurement.

The five-year decline (from 2017 to 2021) followed a rise in the number of cases from fiscal 2012 to 2016. That excludes fiscal 2013, which was down 2% from fiscal 2012.

GAO doesn't speculate on what's behind the decline. But it is worth noting that starting in 2018, the Defense Department started conducting what are called "enhanced" debriefings that allow for more dialogue with companies after they've lost a contract. That means unsuccessful bidders get more information on where their bid fell short without necessarily filing a protest.

Our own research in 2018 concluded that many companies filed protests simply to learn why they lost.

The House Armed Services Committee's report on the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act also talks about the value of enhanced debriefings to reduce bid protests.

"In order for the Department to gain the full benefit of enhanced debriefings, the committee emphasizes the demonstrated value of meaningful, in-person debriefings to avoid unnecessarily costly and time-consuming bid protests," that report states.

The committee wants the Defense Department to provide a briefing on efforts to implement enhanced debriefings by Dec. 30.

A second reason that might be driving down the number of protests is limits on GAO's jurisdiction over large, multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts.

Task orders under civilian IDIQS must be worth at least $10 million. For defense contracts, the task orders must be worth at least $25 million.

Anything under those thresholds, you can't file a protest at GAO.

As agencies increasingly use these vehicles, it is reasonable to expect fewer protests.

When you get past the annual number of cases, GAO other measures hold steady.

The rate of sustained protests -- cases where GAO decides in favor of the protester -- was at 15%for fiscal 2021. That is the same rate as in 2020 and 2018.

The rate was 13% in 2019 and 17% in 2017.

GAO also measures the "effectiveness rate," which combines the sustained cases with the cases where the agency took some sort of corrective action to address issues raised in the protest.

The rate in fiscal 2021 was 48%, which also is in keeping with the numbers we've seen over the last five years: 51% in 2020, 44% in 2019 and 2018, and 47% in 2017.

Those high percentages explain one motivation for why companies protest -- they are seeking some action by the agency and they are getting it.

It is also worth noting that of the 2,017 cases filed in fiscal 2021, only 581 went to a full decision by GAO, or slightly more than one-fourth.

Of the 581 that went to a full decision, only 85 were sustained, or 14%.

GAO also reported that of its 2021 protest cases, 401 were protests involving challenges to task order awards. In 2020, GAO heard 417 task order protests, down from 373 in 2019, when there was a 35-day government shutdown.

GAO also notes the most common reasons it sustains protests -- unreasonable technical evaluation; flawed discussions; unreasonable cost or price evaluation; or unequal treatment. Or sometimes a combination of more than one.

This article was originally published in Washington Technology.
Management

White House releases 'vision' for management agenda

The Biden-Harris Management Agenda Vision document offers a blueprint for what's coming in the PMA

The "Biden-Harris Management Agenda Vision," released by the White House on Wednesday, sketches set of workforce, IT and acquisition priorities that the administration says will help the government deliver on the Biden administration agenda and restore trust in government.

"One of the central questions of our time is whether American democracy can still deliver  can we come together to meet the most pressing needs of our people," he wrote. "The president's management agenda is a blueprint for our government to deliver for Americans the government they deserve as we continue to build back better."

The new vision focuses on three priority areas  workforce; services delivery and customer experience; and the business of the federal government.

The White House says that more pieces of the PMA will be released in coming months and weeks.

Efforts will be "multi-stage, multi-year, administration-wide," said Jason Miller, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget during a briefing with reporters.

On the workforce front, the administration says that it wants to fuel a "talent surge" in government of qualified, diverse workers. That'll include improving competitive hiring, adapting hiring processes and "transforming" the vetting process to support better mobility while still identifying risk.

The Biden administration also said that it wants to build up a personnel system to "sustain the federal government as a model employer," and pointed to empowering federal workers and ensuring that they can join a union.

The vision also says that the White House intends to continue to use flexibilities like telework and alternative work schedules first brought into government on a wide scale because of the pandemic.

On the tech side, the administration proposes designing and building government service delivery mechanisms that cut across agencies for "key life events." The document references navigating disaster assistance or losing a job as example of events where "government customers spend too much time filling out duplicative paperwork or navigating multiple interactions spanning multiple agencies just to receive government services for which they are eligible."

Agencies will identify barriers to service to inform these efforts to "making sure that we are acting as one federal enterprise from the customer's viewpoint," said Miller.

The IT section of the vision also includes improving service design, digital products and customer experience on "high-impact" service providers in the federal government.

"We intend to leverage the scale of common capabilities while designing safe and secure products that better meet what the customer needs," the document says, listing a unified login credential and customer feedback tools as potential examples.

Getting the funding for these efforts will include the normal budget and appropriations process as well as existing resources like the U.S. Digital Service and Technology Modernization Fund, Miller said.

The final set of priorities in the new vision focus on the "business of government," with lines of effort covering improving the acquisition system to support domestic manufacturing and to address climate change.
Cybersecurity

Federal government still in the dark on ransomware

A top Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official said he was unable to provide a "definitive assessment" to lawmakers as to whether Russian-linked cyberattacks have decreased since President Joe Biden discussed ransomware with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a June summit meeting and during an hour-long phone call in July.

Rob Silvers, undersecretary for strategy, policy, and plans for DHS, suggested his department lacked critical data and information about ransomware attacks targeting the private sector and civilian agencies, while expressing support for cyber incident reporting requirements featured in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act currently making its way through Congress.

"It's difficult to assess because the vast majority of ransomware incidents are not reported to the government," Silvers told the House Homeland Security committee when asked if the amount of Russian-linked cyberattacks have fluctuated since earlier this year, adding: "I can't make a definitive assessment at this time."

Top cyber officials have sought to answer similar questions around Russian-linked ransomware and cyberattacks in recent weeks with occasionally differing responses, arguably underlining the need for a standard set of incident reporting requirements.

Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger said in a press briefing last week the federal government has seen "a decrease in some key actors" among major ransomware groups.

Still, Neuberger said it remained unclear whether the trend represented a "sustained reduction" and added: "We're watching the trend over a period of time and using that to encourage improved resiliency."

At a separate House hearing on Tuesday, Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI's cyber division, said the FBI has "not seen a decrease in ransomware attacks in the past couple of months originating from Russia."

Vorndran also expressed support for cyber incident reporting requirements, while urging lawmakers to include the FBI along with CISA in the reporting requirements in proposed legislation expected to be included in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Brandon Wales, executive director of CISA and another witness at Wednesday's hearing, sought to reassure lawmakers and the agency's federal cyber partners about the incident reporting requirements.

"I don't see any of the changes that are being discussed changing CISA's fundamental role as the lead for civilian cyber defense," Wales said when asked about the ongoing debate to include the FBI in congressional reporting requirements. "Regardless of what is passed by Congress, we will work to ensure that the FBI and other law enforcement partners and other federal agencies that need to have this information  they will get it as soon as possible."

In June, Biden said he handed Putin a list of 16 critical industries which he told the Russian president were "off-limits" from cyberattacks, including energy and water systems, as well as information technology, health care food and agriculture.

In July, Biden told reporters that he had "made it very clear" to Putin that "the United States expects, when a ransomware operation is coming from their soil even though its notsponsored by the state, that we expect them to act."
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/  Following the successful event for two years in a row, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) conducts the virtual UMKM EXPO(RT) BRIlianpreneur 2021, from 9-16 December 2021, involving 500 curated MSMEs to exhibit their products virtually.

BRI presents 500 MSMEs at the MSME EXPO(RT) 2021 event which will be held virtually on 9-13 December 2021

Sunarso, President Director of BRI said, "This year, we are focusing on the business matching session, targeting over 105 buyers from 30 countries. With this, the MSMEs can expand their market reach to an international level and win the global competition."

UMKM EXPO(RT) BRIlianpreneur 2021 showcases Indonesia's top-quality export products across sectors that are rich with Indonesian heritage and cultures. They include food and beverages (F&B), fashion, accessories and beauty, and home decor and craft. These sectors, particularly F&B and fashion, are expected to make a positive contribution towards Indonesia's export value, which in August 2021 reached up to US$ 20,36 Billion or a 21,75% increase compared to July 2021, according to Central Bureau Statistic[1].

This year, the UMKM EXPO(RT) BRIlianpreneur 2021 will be fully online with the Business Matching session conducted from 13-15 December 2021. After successfully scoring 74 contracts from 24 countries amounting to US$ 57,5 Million last year, BRI aims to target even further this year with an estimated potential deal of US$ 65 Million.

This goal is achievable with the current curated participants, including CV Pelangi Nusantara (Pelanusa), a home industry that was initially started as a woman development community in 2012. Since then, Pelanusa has exported their high-quality products abroad, such as to Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

"BRIlianpreneur has allowed us to empower our network of over 20 groups of prominent artisans across the country by transforming our mindset to be more digital-savvy. Through our waste fabric-based crafts such as home decorations, we want to preserve the local heritage of Indonesia," said Endahing Noor Suryanti, owner of Pelanusa.

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Another participant is Mutiara Handicraft, an SME business built to empower the disabled community. They produce patchwork and waste-based crafts, such as doormat and blankets, with competitive prices and colorful designs.

The program is also featuring inspiring talk shows from experts and prominent speakers; virtual expo; 3D expo; virtual trip; DIY workshop; and MSMEs Awards.

To join the business matching, potential buyers can now register online and download the catalogue www.brilianpreneur.com/umkm/

For further details about the event and registration, please visit www.brilianpreneur.com.

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SOURCE PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BRI)

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Adhera Health strengthens its commitment to people living with chronic conditions with a new advisory board made up of senior international healthcare, medical, academic and technology officials from NYC Health+ Hospitals, Stanford University, Infanta Sofia University Hospital, University of Valencia and HERE Technologies.

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adhera Health, a Precision Digital Therapeutics company, announced today the formation of a new digital therapeutics advisory board. The board will provide feedback on Adhera Health's Explainable Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) offerings and strategies to help the company improve people and patients' self-management and adherence to healthier lifestyles.

Adhera Health Inc. logotype green logo (PRNewsfoto/Adhera Health)

The board members are:

Professor Jose A. Pagan, PhD , Professor and Chair of the Board of Directors of NYC Health+ Hospitals

Dr. Pablo Villoslada Adjunct Professor in the Clinical & Translational Neurosciences Incubator Department at Stanford University

Rosa Banos, Ph.D. , Professor of Psychopathology at the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments at the Polibienestar Research Institute of the University of Valencia

Dr. Francisco Zambrana, MD , a clinician at the Oncology Service of the Infanta Sofia University Hospital in Madrid, Spain

Charity Rumery, General Manager of the Americas region at HERE Technologies

Rocio Esteve, Co-Founder of the California Spain Chamber of Commerce.

"It's an honor to be part of this amazing lineup of digital therapeutics experts. We share a vision to support people living with chronic conditions and personalize the therapeutic approach to their changing health journey," said Jose A. Pagan. "As pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations and patients navigate the growing digital health landscape, this board will bring to Adhera Health the crucial perspective of medical practitioners and researchers, healthcare business leadership and technology experts. We plan to bring valuable insights to Adhera Health as they develop AI-based behavioral change interventions, partner with medical researchers and provide people living with chronic conditions the best evidenced-based research to improve their health and overall happiness."

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"I am beyond excited to work with our new digital therapeutics advisory board, who will provide invaluable insights on how Adhera Health can support people and patients in their evolving health journey," said Ricardo C. Berrios, Founder and CEO of Adhera Health. "The Advisory Board will help guide the ongoing development of our Adhera Health platform, which uses real world evidence and Explainable AI for precision digital therapeutics. It's another step to upholding our mission of serving people and patients with digital and human solutions for good."

About the digital therapeutics advisory board

Jose A. Pagan, PhD, is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health Policy and Management in the College of Global Public Health at New York University. He is also Adjunct Senior Fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania and Chair of the National Advisory Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Health Policy Research Scholars. Pagan is a health economist who has led research, implementation and evaluation of projects on the redesign of health care delivery and payment systems. His focus is in population health management, health care payment and delivery system reform, and the social determinants of health. He is currently a member of the Committee on Systems Approaches to Improve Patient Care by Supporting Clinician Well-Being at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He also has served on the Board of Directors of the Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science and the American Society of Health Economists.

Pablo Villoslada, M.D is an Adjunct Professor in the Psych/Major Laboratories and Clinical & Translational Neurosciences Incubator Department at Stanford University. He has been active in Neuroscience and brain diseases research for more than 20 years, contributing to the application of systems biology to neurological diseases, development of new therapies or biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases, and developing new neuroimaging technologies for monitoring brain diseases. He has published more than 170 scientific articles in journals in the field of neurology and has been granted 9 patents in biomarkers and new therapies for brain diseases.

Rosa Banos, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychopathology at the Department of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments at the Polibienestar Research Institute of the University of Valencia and head of the LabPsiTec-Valencia research group. Her research has focused on the field of mental health, seeking to study the description and understanding of mental disorders, and the development of effective and efficient treatments. In recent years her research activity has focused on the study and application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the promotion of mental health, healthy lifestyles, quality of life and well-being, as well as the development and validation of impactful, efficient and cost-effective psychological intervention programs.

Francisco Zambrana Tebar, MD, is a clinician at the Oncology Service of the Infanta Sofia University Hospital in Madrid, Spain, with previous experience as a Medical Oncologist at the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. His research area is focused on lung cancer and immunotherapy genitourinary cancer.

Charity Rumery is General Manager of the Americas region at HERE Technologies, a location and technology platform. Charity has extensive experience leading customer-centric strategies and a deep understanding of technology. Charity has also spent several years providing technologically advanced solutions to the healthcare industry for both the improvement of patient experience as well as operational efficiencies.

Rocio Esteve is Co-Founder of the California Spain Chamber of Commerce and spent several years as an information technology executive in the Insurance Industry where she led transformational projects for the company (AXA / Wintherthur). She also worked at Accenture as a consultant implementing IT solutions in relevant industries to Adhera Health's focus. She graduated with an Electrical Engineer degree from UPV (Spain) and holds an MBA from ESADE

About Adhera Health

Adhera Health is a Palo Alto, California based company leveraging forefront research in behavioral science combined with an advanced personalization technology platform to create digital and human solutions that empower people with chronic conditions to achieve long lasting positive personal health outcomes, both physical and mental. Adhera Health's solutions are based in real world evidence that has been validated in peer-reviewed scientific journals and are implemented in multiple global customers, including Fortune 500 and small and medium sized health systems.

Media Relations: Ms. Paivi Salminen

psalminen@adherahealth.com

+1 650 681 9664

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc . (NASDAQ: AKAM), the world's most trusted solution to power and protect digital experiences, today announces that the company is included in the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and the FTSE4Good Index . Such indexes offer investors a way to integrate environmental, social and governance ("ESG") factors into their investment decisions.

Akamai Technologies, Inc. logo (PRNewsfoto/Akamai Technologies, Inc.)

The DJSI was launched in 1999 and was among the first set of global indexes to track the largest and leading sustainability-driven publicly listed companies. After applying a range of financially relevant and industry specific ESG criteria, a total sustainability score is assigned to each company. Based on this score, Akamai once again met the criteria to be included in the DJSI North America, as it has since 2013. The company's scores improved over last year in all three assessment categories: Governance and Economic, Environmental Dimension and Social Dimension.

Additionally, earlier this year, the FTSE4Good Index Series announced its inclusion of Akamai for the seventh consecutive year. FTSE4Good is a global sustainable investment index series, designed to identify companies that demonstrate strong ESG practices measured against international standards. Its tradable indexes meet the needs of investors who want instant and cost-effective exposure to ESG-minded companies like Akamai.

"Akamai believes that business can be a greater force for good," said Nicole Fitzpatrick, deputy general counsel and chief ESG officer, Akamai Technologies. "We have taken significant steps to assess, measure, and report on our ESG progress. Inclusion in these two indexes is recognition of Akamai's commitment to creating a company culture that embraces sustainable business practices."

Akamai continues to make progress in its ESG performance. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 30% since 2015 and powering its edge platform with 50% renewable energy, to the millions invested in global STEM education programs for underserved students, to employee volunteerism and disaster relief efforts, giving back to the planet and the community is a big part of the company's identity and a key reason for its success as a business.

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About Akamai

Akamai powers and protects life online. The most innovative companies worldwide choose Akamai to secure and deliver their digital experiences - helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. With the world's largest and most trusted edge platform, Akamai keeps apps, code, and experiences closer to users - and threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's security, content delivery, and edge compute products and services at www.akamai.com, blogs.akamai.com, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

Gina Sorice

(646) 320-4107

gsorice@akamai.com

Investor Contact

Tom Barth

(617) 274-7130

tbarth@akamai.com

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SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.
MEXICO CITY, November 18, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb-" (Good) of Orion Reinsurance (Bermuda) Ltd. (Orion Re) (Hamilton, Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Orion Res balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The ratings also reflect the companys strongest risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and the expertise of its management team. Partially offsetting these positive rating factors is the small size of the company, which limits business diversification given the inherent concentration risk.

Orion Re was founded in December 2004, and licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority to act as a class III insurer without restrictions of any kind in its class. Orion Res main line of business is difference in conditions insurance, but the company also retains specific life and non-life insurance business. Orion Re has experience and recognition in the public services industry, as well as strategic alliances to support recognized Latin American reinsurers.

As of December 2020, the companys gross written premium were concentrated in Colombia and Mexico, with the rest in nine other countries, primarily throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Orion Res growth has fluctuated over the past five years, which is consistent with the small size of the company. Premium sufficiency has yet to be achieved; however, the company has maintained marginally profitable bottom-line results, which are expected to improve as the companys business expands. The results also are supported by the income from the Rent-a-Captive business, which has presented a consistent growth over the past years.

Orion Res risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by BCAR, has shown improvement in the past two years, mainly as a result of a more conservative approach in the investment policies, which reduced asset risk. However, due to the companys size and operation, the scores are sensitive to changes in its balance sheet structure, and Orion Res premium volume.

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AM Best does not expect positive rating actions in the medium term. Negative rating actions could occur if premium growth, changes in the investment and/or underwriting risk profile, or deteriorating operating results reduce risk-adjusted capitalization to a level that no longer supports the ratings.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006271/en/

Contacts

Olga Rubo, FRM

Financial Analyst

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 134

olga.rubo@ambest.com

Alfonso Novelo

Senior Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

alfonso.novelo@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Jim Peavy

Director, Communications

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

james.peavy@ambest.com
Lead Investor Madison Dearborn Partners to Remain Majority Shareholder

HPS Investment Partners to Become a Significant Investor

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankura Consulting Group, LLC ("Ankura" or "the Company"), an independent global expert services and advisory firm, along with its lead investor Madison Dearborn Partners ("MDP"), a leading private equity firm, today announced a strategic investment from HPS Investment Partners, LLC ("HPS"), a leading global investment firm, which will become a minority equity owner. The investment values the Company at $1.5 billion and is expected to close this calendar year.

Ankura Logo (PRNewsfoto/Ankura)

This marks a significant milestone in Ankura's remarkable growth story. The initial investment by funds managed by MDP in Ankura in 2016 helped launch the firm on a trajectory that has enabled Ankura to grow to more than 1,600 employees serving more than 3,000 clients across 55 countries. In this short time, Ankura has dramatically expanded and enhanced its services and solutions while attracting industry-leading practitioners from across the globe. With the backing of the investor group, Ankura enters its next phase of growth, grounded in its unwavering mission to Protect, Create and Recover Value for its clients.

"This new investment from HPS, alongside the continued commitment and support from MDP, demonstrates the strength and performance of our business and the abundance of opportunity and runway ahead of us," said Kevin Lavin, Chief Executive Officer of Ankura. "While our growth story, to date, is remarkable, we believe we are now positioned to accelerate our growth, creating even greater opportunities for our colleagues, and broadening the scope and end-to-end execution of services and solutions we provide to our clients around the world."

"We are thrilled with the progress that the Ankura team has made since 2016, creating a leading firm and demonstrating exceptional performance," commented Matthew Raino, Managing Director and Co-Head of the MDP Financial & Transaction Services team. "We are excited to continue working with Ankura in further building a truly differentiated consulting firm providing excellence and innovation to its clients, and we look forward to partnering with HPS in this journey."

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MDP's capital markets group has structured and arranged the investment from HPS. Jefferies LLC and William Blair & Company are acting as financial advisors to Ankura. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal advisor to HPS and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal advisor to Ankura.

About Ankura

Ankura Consulting Group, LLC is an independent global expert services and advisory firm that delivers services and end-to-end solutions to help clients at critical inflection points related to change, risk, disputes, finance, performance, distress, and transformation. The Ankura team consists of more than 1,500 professionals serving 3000+ clients across 55 countries who are leaders in their respective fields and areas of expertise. Collaborative lateral thinking, hard-earned experience, expertise, and multidisciplinary capabilities drive results and Ankura is unrivaled in its ability to assist clients to Protect, Create, and Recover Value. For more information, please visit: www.ankura.com.

About Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC

Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC ("MDP") is a leading private equity investment firm based in Chicago. Since MDP's formation in 1992, the firm has raised aggregate capital of over $28 billion and has completed over 150 investments. MDP invests across five dedicated industry verticals, including financial and transaction services; basic industries; business and government software and services; health care; and telecom, media and technology services. For more information, please visit www.mdcp.com.

About HPS Investment Partners

HPS Investment Partners is a leading global investment firm that seeks to provide creative capital solutions and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our clients. We manage various strategies across the capital structure that include syndicated leveraged loans and high yield bonds to privately negotiated senior secured debt and mezzanine investments, asset-based leasing and private equity. The scale and breadth of our platform offers the flexibility to invest in companies large and small, through standard or customized solutions. At our core, we share a common thread of intellectual rigor and discipline that enables us to create value for our clients, who have entrusted us with approximately $75 billion of assets under management as of September 2021. For more information, please visit www.hpspartners.com.

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SOURCE Ankura
The insurer will also double match all employee donations towards this cause

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Following extreme weather in British Columbia, Aviva Canada is donating $50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts in the province. The funds will go towards the Canadian Red Cross' British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather Appeal. Aviva Canada will also double match all employee donations towards this cause.

Aviva Logo (CNW Group/Aviva Canada Inc.)

"The devastating situation in B.C. is yet another reminder that climate change is making Canadians extremely vulnerable - physically, emotionally and financially. As insurers, we must help Canadians mitigate and adapt to climate change and bend the curve on these alarming trends," said Jason Storah, Chief Executive Officer of Aviva Canada. "We are here to support impacted customers in these challenging times and are committed to get them back into their homes and businesses as soon as conditions permit."

Canadians wishing to help people impacted by this disaster can donate to the Canadian Red Cross at www.redcross.ca, or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

About Aviva Canada

Aviva Canada is one of the leading property and casualty insurance groups in the country, providing home, automobile, lifestyle, and business insurance to 2.4 million customers. A subsidiary of UK-based Aviva plc, Aviva Canada has more than 4,000 employees focused on creating a bright and sustainable future for our people, our customers, our communities, and our planet. Launched in 2019, Aviva Canada is investing in safer communities through Aviva Take Back Our Roads, which uses data driven solutions and strategic collaborations to make safer roads a reality for all. In 2021, we announced our plan to become a net zero carbon emissions company by 2040, the most demanding target of any major insurance company in the world.

For more information, visit aviva.ca or Aviva

Canada's blog, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

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SOURCE Aviva Canada Inc.

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MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - The Bargain! Shop is excited to announce its return to New Waterford, Nova Scotia. The new Bargain! Shop located at 3385 Plummer Avenue is set to officially open on Friday, November 26th. The Grand Opening will coincide with the Bargain! Shop's Black Friday weekend sale. Starting on Friday, November 26th through Sunday, November 28th Customers can enjoy many incredible deals. As part of the Grand Opening, there will also be a ribbon-cutting event at 9:00am on Friday, November 26th.

The Bargain! Shop proudly announces its return to New Waterford, Nova Scotia (CNW Group/Red Apples Stores ULC)

The Bargain! Shop proudly announces its return to New Waterford, Nova Scotia

Customers can visit the store over the Grand Opening weekend and enter for a chance to win a shopping spree valued at $1,000. Ballots will be available in-store, with no purchase necessary.

"We are very excited to open our doors in New Waterford again," says Clinton Wolff, President & Chief Executive Officer of Red Apple Stores. "We are proud to be a part of this community and look forward to seeing our returning Customers and serving new Customers. We have added many exciting new products for our Customers to enjoy including a lottery kiosk."

The relocated and redesigned Bargain! Shop offers an improved shopping experience as well as the value and convenience Customers have come to expect. The store will boast an assortment of brand-name fashions, toys, grocery, and home products priced right every day.

Come join us as we celebrate our new store in New Waterford, Nova Scotia.

Like and follow us on Facebook for sneak peeks and join our E-club so you don't miss out on exclusive offers.

About Red Apple Stores ULC

Red Apple Stores ULC is Canada's favourite chain of over 140 small-town general merchandise retail stores.

For the past 20 years, our storesbranded as The Bargain! Shop or Red Apple Storeshave been your reputable neighbourhood retailers, who bring you big-name brands, quality products, and big savings at convenient locations in your small towns. We offer some of the best deals and unexpected finds on your everyday needs, and we continually strive to excite and delight our Customers with all the brand name toys, home product, food and fashionbut at low, affordable prices! We are known in our communities for our super-friendly customer service, creating a welcoming environment for shoppers and treating customers with dignity and respect.

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One of our core values is serving our communities. From holiday food and toy drives to other charitable events throughout the year, we love giving back to the neighbourhoods that we do business in.

Learn more about our stores at TheBargainShop.com or visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/TheBargainShopStores

SOURCE Red Apples Stores ULC

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Leading wind energy producer selects Gastops' MetalSCAN MS3500 series sensors for gearbox condition monitoring systems on all new wind energy projects.

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Gastops, a world leader in critical component condition intelligence systems, today announced that Boralex has achieved a significant milestone in its geared wind turbine upgrade program with the installation of its 350th MetalSCAN Oil Debris Monitoring (ODM) sensor. As a global wind energy producer and long-time Gastops partner, Boralex considers asset management optimization as a key factor of its performance.

Boralex Selects MetalSCAN by Gastops (CNW Group/Gastops)

"Boralex is a market leader in implementing new innovative technologies like MetalSCAN. They have been a valued partner and close collaborator of Gastops' for many years." said Cedric Ouellet, Director of Energy & Industrial at Gastops.

"The Condition Monitoring System (CMS) is a critical element in the management strategy of our wind assets, helping us reduce our operating costs, increase the reliability and predictability of our energy production, and eventually meet our commitment to our customers," said Giannino Martin, Operational Excellence Deputy Director for Boralex. "Boralex relies on the proven performance of MetalSCAN ODM technology from Gastops as an integral part of our CMS for all of our wind turbines installed in France and equipped with gearboxes in order to optimize the performance of our assets."

In addition to its geared wind turbine upgrade program, Boralex has specified Gastops' new MS3500 ODM sensor series for all new wind energy projects in France including geared turbines. The MS3500 gives the company remote connectivity to real-time condition monitoring data and the earliest reliable detection of critical component damage available on the market today.

"MetalSCAN is a simple, intuitive, reliable and extremely scalable condition monitoring technology for geared wind turbines. It allows us to obtain crucial information to identify anomalies and complete the picture to understand the health of our fleet and unambiguously determine the remaining useful life of our assets," said Jerome Gardyn, CMS Analyst at Boralex. "We are extremely excited about the new features, capabilities and lower price point introduced with the MS3500 series."

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In France, Boralex operates more than 500 wind turbines ranging an installed power of more than 1GW of green energy.



About Gastops

Gastops is the world's leading provider of intelligent condition monitoring solutions used in Aerospace, Defence, Energy, and Industrial applications to optimize the availability, performance, and safety of critical assets. We offer peace of mind to our customers with innovative online monitoring sensors, at-line analysis, complex modeling and simulation, world class laboratory testing, engineering, design, and MRO services that predict performance to enable proactive operating decisions. Gastops has been providing powerful insights into the condition of critical equipment since 1979.

For more information, visit www.gastops.com

About Boralex

Boralex has been producing accessible, affordable renewable energy for more than 30 years. With operations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom and is France's largest independent producer of onshore wind power, the company has more than doubled its installed capacity to 2.5 GW since 2015 and is currently developing wind and solar projects with an additional 3 GW in production capacity and nearly 200 MW in storage capacity.

Boralex is an industry leader balancing the pursuit of profitable, sustainable growth with an unwavering commitment to its social responsibilities and active participation in the fight against global warming.

Boralex trades under the symbol BLX on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit www.boralex.com

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SOURCE Gastops

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Cher Scarlett, one of the lead organizers of the #AppleToo movement, is leaving the company on Friday. Scarlett was the face of the movement and connected with workers with grievances to air via Apple's Slack channels and on social media. The former Apple security engineer was also one of the workers who filed a complaint against the tech giant with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing the company of suppressing workers' organizing efforts and interfering with surveys involving gender pay equity.

According to Bloomberg, Scarlett reached a settlement with the iPhone maker regarding the NLRB complaint and has already requested a withdrawal. She didn't divulge the details of the settlement, but her lawyer Alek Felstiner, told Bloomberg News: "The matter was settled privately and the request for withdrawal is pending before the board. We hope the crucial organizing work at Apple will continue."

Friday is my last day at Apple.



Im taking a bit of time to decide where Id like to go next, and will announce when Ive made that decision.



  Cher Scarlett  (@cherthedev) November 17, 2021

It's unclear what will happen to the #AppleToo movement with Scarlett's departure. Its website, which publishes workplace stories from Apple employees and workers, hasn't had an update over the past 10 days. That said, Scarlett isn't the only face of the movement. Most of the posts on the website are by Janneke Parrish, the other #AppleToo lead organizer who was fired by the company back in October. Apple fired its former program manager for allegedly sharing private information, something that Parrish denies. When details of a company meeting were leaked to the press, Apple investigated Parrish and confiscated her work devices. She deleted some apps and work information before doing so, which Apple interpreted as being noncompliant with its investigation.

Aside from Scarlett, former Apple senior engineering program manager Ashley Gjvik also filed a complaint with the NLRB. She said she spent months talking to Apple about unsafe working conditions and sexism in the workplace and was put on indefinite paid administrative leave after raising her concerns. Apple fired Gjvik in September.
The Leading CI/CD Platform Attributes 360% Revenue Growth to Surge in Demand for Developer Tooling

SAN FRANCISCO, November 17, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CircleCI, the leading continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform, today announced it ranked No. 336 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 27th year. CircleCI grew 360% during this period.

CircleCIs chief executive officer, Jim Rose, credits a surge in demand and CircleCIs 100% dedication to CI/CD for the companys 360% revenue growth.

He said, "As software has cemented itself as the backbone of nearly every industry, developer tooling has gained major traction. On behalf of the entire team at CircleCI, were humbled by this recognition and look forward to continuing to help software engineering teams deliver business value quickly, securely, and at scale."

CircleCI was also listed as a Technology Fast 500 award winner for 2020.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the companys operating revenues. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

"Each year the Technology Fast 500 shines a light on leading innovators in technology and this year is no exception," said Paul Silverglate, vice chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology sector leader. "In the face of innumerable challenges resulting from the pandemic, the best and brightest were able to pivot, reinvent and transform and grow. We celebrate the winning organizations and especially the talented employees driving their success."

About CircleCI

CircleCI is the leading continuous integration and delivery platform for software innovation at scale. With intelligent automation and delivery tools, CircleCI is used by the world's best engineering teams to radically reduce the time from idea to execution. The company has been recognized as an innovative leader in cloud-native continuous integration by independent research firms and industry awards like the DEVIES, Forbes Best Startup Employers of the Year, and Deloittes Technology Fast 500.

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Founded in 2011 and headquartered in downtown San Francisco with a global, remote workforce, CircleCI is venture-backed by Base10, Greenspring Associates, Eleven Prime, IVP, Sapphire Ventures, Top Tier Capital Partners, Baseline Ventures, Threshold Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Owl Rock Capital, Next Equity Partners, Heavybit and Harrison Metal Capital. Learn more at https://circleci.com.

Follow CircleCI on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117005947/en/

Contacts

Summer Falgiano

press@circleci.com
With more than 20 years of experience in affordable housing finance, Oakes will support the companys plans for accelerated growth into markets nationwide

Belinda Oakes, CFO at CPP

Belinda Oakes brings more than 20 years of affordable housing finance experience to CPP as the companys new chief financial officer.

Belinda Oakes brings more than 20 years of affordable housing finance experience to CPP as the companys new chief financial officer.

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community Preservation Partners (CPP), one of the nations most active affordable housing preservation developers, today announced the appointment of Belinda Oakes as chief financial officer. Oakes will be responsible for the development, oversight and maintenance of financial policies and accounting systems and functions, ensuring proper financial controls are in place. Working closely with various divisions throughout the company, she will provide strategic direction to support CPPs plans to grow its acquisition and development pipeline across the U.S.



Belinda has significant experience and is an industry leader specialized in affordable housing finance, said Anand Kannan, president of CPP. She brings an unmatched level of sophistication and expertise to our accounting and finance team that will serve as the backbone to the tremendous growth we are anticipating at CPP over the next several years. We look forward to being led by the best in the business during this next chapter.

As part of the executive leadership team, Oakes will lead the controller function and oversee accounting functions including business planning and financial forecasts, in addition to sharing in the oversight of housing acquisition and re-syndication activities. She will work collaboratively with the asset management, development and construction management teams to elevate deals, analyze potential capital transactions, provide long-term goals and assist with forecasting. Additionally, she will foster banking, legal and other strategic relationships to further the growth potential of CPP.

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Having been part of the industry for more than 20 years, I understand the importance of affordable housing preservation, said Oakes. I have always admired CPP for their ability to get deals done and prowess to execute on their purpose of preserving affordable housing. I am excited to join an organization whose goals are aligned with my professional experience and personal passion for company culture and vision.

Prior to joining CPP, Oakes spent more than 19 years at Highridge Costa Companies, in a series of roles, most recently as vice president accounting and taxation. Earlier in her career she spent time at Novogradac & Company LLP, Oracle and Arthur Andersen. She volunteers as the treasurer and CFO of the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Golden Gate University and is a certified public accountant. Oakes resides in Hermosa Beach, California with her husband and son.

About Community Preservation Partners

Since its founding in 2004, Community Preservation Partners (CPP), an affordable housing rehabilitation company, has invested more than $2.6 billion into neighborhoods across the United States, keeping housing costs affordable for thousands of seniors, families and individuals. Having developed more than 12,500 low-income housing units, and positively changing the lives of thousands of low-income residents, the award-winning firm continues to expand nationally with headquarters in Irvine, California and Reston, Virginia. With its creative mindset and unwavering vision, CPP proposes big, bold and better solutions that build community and serve the greater good. Creativity. Performance. Purpose. A different way to home. For more information, visit www.CPP-Housing.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5fd2dde9-c057-4e1d-8044-a7bfd42bb1fc

CONTACT: Media Contact: IDEA HALL Janelle Kruly 714-858-0945 Janelle@ideahall.com




Lauren Perry and Jenny Vu

GoFundMe Lauren Perry and Jenny Vu

Lauren Perry and Jenny Vu are still on their road to recovery after being seriously injured on what was supposed to be a happy birthday trip.

The Oklahoma couple and their Irish Setter named Ivan  who did not suffer any injuries  recently decided to travel to Washington State to celebrate Perry's 24th birthday, according to NBC affiliate KFOR.

"I was so excited," Perry told the outlet, explaining that on the day of their accident they made a 2.5 hour trip to visit Ruby Beach.

During their beach day, Perry and Vu "stopped for a moment" at an area a few feet away from the shore line to take some pictures and videos, according to a GoFundMe set up to help cover their medical expenses.

However, things took a sudden turn when Perry turned around just in time "to see a huge wave coming their way," per the GoFundMe. "The girls tried to get away in time, but it was too late."

Reflecting on what was going through her mind during the scary moment, Perry told KFOR that she wanted to help Vu to safety.

"I had time to say, 'Go Jenny  run!' " Perry recalled. "I tried to push her forward just as it crashed."

The couple later found out that they were hit by a rogue wave, which is "very unpredictable" and "greater than twice the size of surrounding waves," according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lauren Perry and Jenny Vu

GoFundMe Lauren Perry and Jenny Vu

After being struck by the wave, they were pushed "face first" into rocks below, and were also struck in the water by a driftwood tree, according to the GoFundMe.

"All I remember is just water covering my entire body, and I told myself to close my eyes and hold my breath," Vu told KFOR. "And so when I did, a giant tree hit me, and I blacked out."

Although Perry was able to get the attention of some bystanders who came to their aide, she remembers being incredibly concerned that they wouldn't make it.

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"I kept screaming out, 'Is Jenny alive? Is Jenny okay?'" she told Fox affiliate KOKH.

RELATED: Michigan Girl, 11, Who Survived Plane Crash That Killed 4 Others Was Saved by Her Dad: 'He Cradled Her'

Things then took another turn for the couple.

After being rushed to Forks Hospital, where "doctors and nurses did everything they could to stabilize" them, the couple were sent off to a second hospital in an ambulance, according to the GoFundMe.

Halfway through the trip, "the ambulance blew a tire...and crashed into a tree," per the fundraising campaign. "Lauren and Jenny were not fully strapped down correctly to the gurneys and were flung around during the accident."

"I just remember screaming this entire time because we were in so much pain at this point," Vu recalled to local CBS station KWTV.

RELATED VIDEO: Man Who Lost Leg in Accident Accomplishes Dream of Running a 5K: 'A Very Fulfilling Moment'

Upon arriving at the second hospital, Vu learned that she had 10 "fractured ribs, lacerations on her liver, internal bleeding, pulmonary contusion, a broken pelvis, and a concussion," per the GoFundMe.

Meanwhile, Perry suffered from "internal bleeding, lacerations on her liver, a broken pelvis, and [a] pulmonary contusion."

Both needed pelvis surgery.

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Although Perry and Vu have since been released from the hospital, they still have a long road to recovery in front of them.

Doctors recently told Perry she may be able to start walking again in 10-12 weeks, but doctors do not have a timeframe for when Vu  who can get the bar in her pelvis removed next month  will be able to start walking, according to KWTV.

Due to their injuries, the pair have also been unable to return to work at Tinker Air Force Base, per the GoFundMe.

RELATED: Texas Bride, 34, Paralyzed After Being Hit by Large Wave During Honeymoon in Maui

The couple says the entire process has been incredibly difficult.

"It's been hard. We're 24, and we've had our home we built. We had our dogs. We had our careers we were starting," Perry told ABC affiliate KOCO. "We worked so hard to get where we were at, and it's like we don't even get to be there and enjoy it."

"It's still unreal to me," added Vu. "I feel like it's all a dream, [and] any moment we will wake up from this."

Those interested in donating to their GoFundMe can do so here.
DENVER and ORANGE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DispatchHealth, the nation's first comprehensive in-home medical care provider, today announced its partnership with UCI Health, to provide patients same-day, in-home medical care. The partnership is designed to improve access to care, deliver a better patient experience and reduce the total cost of care for patients throughout Orange County, California.

DispatchHealth Logo (PRNewsfoto/DispatchHealth)

DispatchHealth's unique model of care has proven to save an average of $1,100-1,700 per acute care visit.



"UCI Health is honored to be the first healthcare system in California to offer our patients and the community this exciting program," said UCI Health CEO Chad T. Lefteris. "As Orange County's only academic health system, we are dedicated to finding novel ways to improve access to care, especially among patients whose health needs do not require a hospital stay."

DispatchHealth's complete platform delivers, provides, and coordinates medical care to patients in their homes. Patients can request DispatchHealth's acute medical care for a wide range of injuries and illnesses, including viral infections, COPD exacerbations, congestive heart failure and more.

"Healthcare is rapidly changing and what our patients want has evolved throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our innovative partnership with DispatchHealth is one more step forward towards building a community benefit and part of our spectrum of solutions to expanding access to care, in a high-quality, safe and sustainable way," said UCI Health Executive Director of Virtual Care Susanna Rustad. "DispatchHealth will help us meet our patients where they are and where they want to receive care, in their homes."

To request care, patients can call 949-594-0447 or visit DispatchHealth.com, no referral is needed. Once requested, an emergency care-trained DispatchHealth medical team arrives at the patient's home equipped with the necessary tools and treatments to treat the patient in the home, including on-site diagnostics and a CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act)-certified lab. DispatchHealth is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including holidays.

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"For the past eight years, DispatchHealth has focused on lowering the access to care barriers while also providing the best patient experience. Many health systems have a strong desire to deliver home-based care, and DispatchHealth can provide a proven platform to quickly extend care outside of the typical clinic and hospital setting," said Dr. Mark Prather, CEO and co-founder of DispatchHealth. "Our partnership with UCI Health combines both organization's focus on value-based care with the proven convenience of effective care in the home."

Additionally, as part of this partnership, patients identified as being at high-risk of readmission will have access to proactive in-home care 24-72 hours post-discharge from an acute care hospital stay. This service, known as DispatchHealth Bridge Care, helps identify gaps in care and bridge the patient back to their primary care physician or specialist in the community.

Since its founding in 2013, DispatchHealth's unique model of care has proven to save an average of $1,100-1,700 per acute care visit. The UCI Health and DispatchHealth partnership brings a combined focus on continuous improvement of patient health outcomes at a lower cost.

About DispatchHealth

DispatchHealth is building the world's largest in-home care system to deliver trusted and compassionate care to all. DispatchHealth offers on-demand acute care and an advanced level of medical care for people of all ages in the comfort of their own homes. DispatchHealth's emergency medicine and internal medicine trained medical teams are equipped with all the tools necessary to treat common to complex injuries and illnesses. DispatchHealth works closely with payers, providers, health systems, EMS, employer groups and others to deliver care in the home to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, hospital stays and readmissions. Acute care medical teams are available seven days a week, evenings and holidays and can be requested via app, online or a quick phone call. DispatchHealth is partnered with most major insurance companies. For more information, visit DispatchHealth.com.

About UCI Health

UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system in Orange County. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, Calif. The 418-bed acute care hospital, listed among America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 21 consecutive years, provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center is home to Orange County's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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SOURCE DispatchHealth
- Suit claims Ms. Taylor violated first amendment rights of Dr. Simon

- Suit seeks declaratory relief from the court

RENO, Nev., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr Fred Simon, M.D, a Republican candidate for governor, has filed a lawsuit in the second judicial district court of Nevada against the Washoe County School District and Board of Trustees President, Angela Taylor, for violation of his first amendment right to free speech and for violation of Nevada's Open Meeting Law.

Dr. Fred Simon says the Washoe County School Board is arrogant and dismissive of parents. They go out of their way to stifle and restrict the participation and speech of parents and their policies are harming school children.

The action stems from an incident on Sept 28 where Dr Simon testified during the public comment period at a Washoe County School District Board of Trustees Work Session meeting. (view video here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1etjdp47NWKnK9kcCT6bcmkbkGfaurZP-/view?usp=sharing)

After interrupting Dr. Simon multiple times, approximately one minute into his testimony, Ms. Taylor abruptly recessed the proceedings and the entire Board retired.

This action by Ms. Taylor is just one of many examples of the violation of Nevada Open Meeting Law by Ms. Taylor.

Parents in Washoe County have been showing up in large numbers at school board meetings attempting to exercise their first amendment rights only to be subjected to unreasonable and possibly unlawful tactics to prevent their participation.

"Angela Taylor and this Board are not listening to the parents who have elected them," said Dr. Simon. "We have been respectful and have presented stacks of data to this board on the harm to children from mask mandates, vaccines, and the Board's implementation of Critical Race Theory curriculum in the classroom. Ms. Taylor believes that she has the power to squelch speech; speech that is our right under the Nevada and US constitutions."

"Parents have every right to speak their mind and criticize the Chair and Board Members for their failings or arrogant, dismissive behavior," said Dr. Simon. "Parents are sick and tired of school board Trustees that are implementing policies that actually harm their children."

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www.simonforgovnv.com

Cision

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SOURCE Simon for Nevada
Connected customer experience consultancy strengthens strategic leadership in Chicago

CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Today, Envoy announced that Jeff Brecker has joined the connected customer experience consultancy, as managing director of its Chicago office. This appointment reflects the company's commitment to delivering best-in-class, digitally-led experiences for customers across six core practice areas including: brand and strategy, B2B and B2C websites, e-commerce platforms, digital products and environments, and marketing and media.

Jeff Brecker, Managing Director, Envoy Chicago (CNW Group/Envoy)

For more than 20 years, Brecker has built, scaled and successfully operated multiple award-winning marketing organizations. Most recently he worked with an array of Fortune 500 brands and start-ups, helping them transform their internal creative, communications and design teams, thereby driving innovation and exponential business growth.

Previously in his career, Brecker served as vice president at Kimberly-Clark where he led global creative, design and content development for all sectors and brands across 170 countries. His depth of agency experience includes managing director responsibilities at R/GA Chicago, where he launched multiple new PepsiCo brands and spearheaded the global Brand AI practice. In addition, Brecker has held senior leadership roles at Digital Kitchen, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy and DDB, and is a recognized leader with exceptional strengths in creative, technology and production, along with operations and structure.

Recognized with some of the industry's highest honors, Brecker's work has garnered a host of awards and multiple gold Cannes Lions, notably the Cannes Lions Design Grand Prix for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' digitally infused interior design.

"Jeff is a trusted advisor and an innovative, strategic leader who has a solid track record of growing business by nurturing key client relationships and recruiting top talent," said Kevin Bauer, CEO, Envoy. "He has an impressive track record in aligning and scaling design thinking across all operations, from product development to marketing, with flawless optimization and delivery; Jeff's approach will give both Envoy and our clients a great competitive advantage."

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As managing director, Brecker will be responsible for strengthening, optimizing and scaling Envoy Chicago's team of 25, which services clients' end-to-end needs across three pillars: brand innovation, digital transformation and growth acceleration. Envoy's Chicago office, the heart of the agency's digital environments team (formerly Leviathan), transforms distinctive physical environments into exceptional experiences. By blending artful content, digital technology and physical space, the team designs destinations that engage audiences, changes perceptions and drives transactions for bold clients worldwide.

"I saw this as an incredible opportunity to join a highly creative, independently-held organization, full of some of the most talented creatives, technologists and strategists in our industry," said Brecker. "Envoy's enviable client and category expertise along with this team's deep understanding of true consumer engagement that goes way beyond marketing is what makes the agency so unique."

The agency has experienced tremendous growth momentum this past year with the appointment of Caroline Murphy as chief growth officer for North America and the unification of its three agency brands: Envoy, Bulldog Drummond, and Leviathan, now operating under the Envoy name.

Envoy's current portfolio includes: McDonald's, Acorns, Vizio, Arlo, TaylorMade, Verizon, Nike, HyperX, and Diageo. To learn more about Envoy and its current career opportunities, please visit https://www.weareenvoy.com/careers.

ABOUT ENVOY

Envoy is an end-to-end digital consultancy that helps organizations accelerate growth through connected customer experiences. Trusted by iconic brands and tomorrow's category leaders, Envoy's multidisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and technologists deliver unprecedented levels of impact through brand building, ecommerce, and digital products. Headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in San Diego and Chicago, Envoy transforms experiences for clients such as T-Mobile, VIZIO, Arlo, Nike, and Diageo. To learn more, visit Envoy's website and follow the team on LinkedIn.

Envoy Logo (CNW Group/Envoy)

Cision

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SOURCE Envoy
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: The logo of SK Hynix is seen at its headquarters in Seongnam

By Stephen Nellis, Joyce Lee and Toby Sterling

SEOUL (Reuters) -Plans by Korea's SK Hynix to overhaul a huge facility in China so it can make memory chips more efficiently are in jeopardy, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, because U.S. officials do not want advanced equipment used in the process to enter into China.

The potential setback could make SK Hynix, one of the world's biggest suppliers of DRAM memory chips that go into everything from smartphones to data centers, the next https://www.reuters.com/article/us-xilinx-results/huawei-exposure-roils-xilinxs-revenue-forecast-idUSKBN1X22KV victim https://www.reuters.com/article/micron-tech-results/micron-yet-to-regain-license-to-sell-to-huawei-pressuring-sales-idUSKBN26L07P of the geopolitical struggle between the United States and China.

SK Hynix production plans call for the company to upgrade a mass production facility in Wuxi, China, with some of the latest extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) chipmaking machines made by Dutch firm ASML, three people with knowledge of the matter said.

The United States in the past has objected on the grounds that shipping such advanced tools to China could be used to strengthen the country's military.

A senior White House official declined to comment specifically on the matter of whether U.S. officials would allow SK Hynix to bring EUV tools to China. But the official told Reuters the Biden administration remains focused on preventing China from using U.S. and allied technologies to develop state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing that would help China modernize its military.

The Wuxi factory is critical to the global electronics industry because it makes about half of SK Hynix's DRAM chips, which amounts to 15% of the global total. Any major changes could have an impact on global memory markets, where analyst firm IDC says demand is growing at 19% in 2021 alone.

As newer styles of chips make up a greater share of SK Hynix's production in two to three years, the company will need the EUV machines to control its costs and accelerate production, a source with knowledge of the company's operations in China said.

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The extent of the concerns inside of SK Hynix have not been previously reported. If the situation is not resolved in the next several years, SK Hynix could stand at a disadvantage against rivals such as No. 1 memory chipmaker Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and the United States' Micron Technology, the other two major players in the DRAM market. Both Samsung and Micron are also shifting to ASML's EUV machines but are not using them at factory locations where the machines face export restrictions.

The question of the ASML machines has drawn enough concern within SK Hynix that Chief Executive Lee Seok-hee raised the issue with U.S. officials during a visit to Washington, D.C. in July, according to two people briefed on his visit.

SK Hynix declined to comment on the matter, adding that it operates flexibly according to various market environments and is doing its best to respond to market and customer demands without issue.

The Trump administration successfully mounted an extensive campaign https://www.reuters.com/article/us-asml-holding-usa-china-insight/trump-administration-pressed-dutch-hard-to-cancel-china-chip-equipment-sale-sources-idUSKBN1Z50HN to block the sale of ASML's technology to China's state-backed Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, lobbying the Netherlands government with White House officials sharing a classified intelligence report with the country's Prime Minister.

An ASML spokesperson said that the company abides by all export control laws and views them as a "valid tool" for governments to ensure national security. But the company said the overuse of those controls "might impact the production capacity needed to stay ahead of the increasing demand of semiconductors."

"It is likely that widespread use of export controls could exacerbate microchip supply chain issues, which are already a major concern of governments and policy makers around the world because of the spill-over effect to other industries" such as the automotive industry, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Analysts do not believe that U.S. officials would view SK Hynix's efforts to bring an EUV tool into China any differently than earlier efforts by Chinese firms.

"They're really caught between a Chinese rock and a U.S. hard spot," said Dan Hutcheson, chief executive officer of VLSIresearch, who added that the rules would likely apply to any chip manufacturing operations in China, foreign or domestically controlled. "Anyone who puts an EUV tool in China gives China the capacity. Once it's there, you have no idea where it will go after that. The Chinese could always seize it or do whatever they wanted to do."

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco, Joyce Lee and Heekyong Yang in Seoul, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Alexandra Alper in Washington; editing by Peter Henderson, Chris Sanders and Edward Tobin)
MONTERREY, Mexico, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA or the Company) (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSAUBD, FEMSAUB) announced today that Envoy Solutions, FEMSAs specialized distribution subsidiary in the United States, reached an agreement to acquire Johnston Paper Company, Inc., (Johnston Paper), an independent specialized distribution company based in Auburn, New York. Johnston Paper will enhance Envoy Solutions existing footprint in the Northeast by increasing its reach into the Upstate New York area. This transaction represents another important step in FEMSAs strategic path to build a leading national distribution platform in the United States. Revenues of the acquired business for the last twelve months as of October 2021, were over US$ 90 million.



The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2021.

About FEMSA

FEMSA is a company that creates economic and social value through companies and institutions and strives to be the best employer and neighbor to the communities in which it operates. It participates in the retail industry through FEMSA Comercio, comprising a Proximity Division operating OXXO, a small-format store chain, a Health Division, which includes drugstores and related activities, and a Fuel Division, which operates the OXXO Gas chain of retail service stations. In the beverage industry, it participates through Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world by volume; and in the beer industry, as the second largest shareholder of Heineken, one of the worlds leading brewers with operations in over 70 countries. FEMSA also participates in the logistics and distribution industry through its Strategic Business Unit, which additionally provides point-of-sale refrigeration and plastic solutions to its business units and third-party clients. Across its business units, FEMSA has more than 320,000 employees in 13 countries. FEMSA is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability MILA Pacific Alliance, the FTSE4Good Emerging Index and the Mexican Stock Exchange Sustainability Index, among other indexes that evaluate its sustainability performance.

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CONTACT: Media Contact (52) 555-249-6843 comunicacion@femsa.com.mx www.femsa.com Investor Contact (52) 818-328-6167 investor@femsa.com.mx www.femsa.com/inversionista




By Alexis Raymond

Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Cisco Systems Inc.

Now that the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge 2021 winners have been officially announced, we want you to learn more about each winning team and the story behind each innovation. The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge is an annual competition that awards cash prizes to early-stage tech entrepreneurs solving the worlds toughest problems. Now in its fifth year, the competition awarded its largest prize pool ever, $1 million USD, to 20 winning teams from around the world.

GramHeet won this years Peoples Choice Award of $10,000 USD, garnering the most votes from a public online competition among 43 finalists. GramHeet is addressing multiple factors that make smallholder farming a financially unviable profession in India  and force many farmers to abandon agriculture. The organization is currently serving more than 1000 farmers who have seen their income increase by 30 percent. They hope to scale their work in 35 villages in two districts to eventually reach the 118 million smallholder farmers across India who own less than five acres of land.

I recently met with the organizations co-founders, CEO Pankaj Mahalle and COO Shweta Thakare, to learn how their solution is helping farmers and their families reap higher incomes from their produce.

What problem is your solution trying to solve?

Pankaj: There are multiple issues that farming communities are facing in India. Even though production has increased a lot, farmers income has not. In fact, it is decreasing day by day. Farmers dont have storage space in their houses or in the village, but they need cash quickly after harvesting their crops  either to repay money lenders or to buy agri-inputs for the next crop cycle. As a result, farmers are forced to sell their produce right away and they often dont get what their produce is worth. They are selling by force, not by choice. Also, due to poor post-harvest infrastructure, foodgrain losses are huge  losses alone in India are equivalent to the total agriculture production of Australia. All this has pushed 62 million farmers in India into a vicious debt cycle, and 75 percent of them want to quit farming if alternative employment opportunities are available to them.

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Shweta: Also, highly male-dominated agri markets neglect the women farmers in the agribusiness value chain, even though the contribution of women farmers is around 70 percent. Our digital platform allows women farmers to own their produce which they grow, and includes them back into the value chain.

How does your solution work?

Pankaj: Since agrarian distress is a complex issue, solving it requires a holistic approach with several inter-linked micro-solutions. Even if one such aspect goes missing, it doesnt bring about the necessary change. Thus, GramHeet proposes an integrated model that aims to provide a one-stop marketplace for farmers at the village level called GramHeet Mandi (Village Trade Centre), in collaboration with Community Based Organizations that operate as franchises. As a social enterprise, we are committed to the farmers-first approach and want to ensure that their income increases significantly.

At the Village Trade Centre, we provide integrated post-harvest services like storage, post-harvest credit, primary processing, and market linkages to address distress selling. Farmers can avail these services through our digital platform. When farmers bring their produce to GramHeet Mandi, they get instant credit with minimal interest. With this support, they can hold their produce for three to six months, and when the prices get favorable, they can sell easily from their home through a single click on their mobile app.

Shweta: Apart from better price realization, farmers get the agency to hold the produce and make the decision when to sell and at what price. Our innovative model ensures absolute transparency through quality analysis labs, efficiency through digital platforms, and affordability and accessibility through the Village Trade Center.

What inspired you to develop this solution?

Shweta: I come from a smallholder farming family. I have seen my parents working on the farm day in and day out. Every year we cultivated with the hope that this year we will be able to repay the loan we had taken from the village moneylender, but that never happened. But even after working so hard, the income was not enough to feed the family of four. The family situation got worse and it was difficult for us to manage family expenses through farming; the vicious debt cycle led us to leave the village and find other livelihood sources in the city. All these experiences left a deep impression on my heart which motivated me to start GramHeet.

Pankaj: I come from a very small village in the Yavatmal district, which is unfortunately called the Suicide Capital of India. The district has recorded the highest number of farmers suicides in India, and 53 percent of the 189,000 smallholder farmers are in a vicious debt cycle. I saw how difficult farming was, and how my parents struggled. They were not able to buy new clothes for us even though we are cotton-growing farmers. These lived experiences propelled me to start our organization.

How has winning a prize in the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge helped you advance your business? How will you use the prize money?

Pankaj: Because of this global award, the local government and stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem have started recognizing and approaching us for collaborations. This prize will help us to modify our quality analysis lab technology. Still, there are some aspects we do manually for quality analysis of food grains, and we want to develop affordable and accessible quality analysis technology for the smallholder farmers.

What advice do you have for other social entrepreneurs?

Shweta: Once you get a clear understanding of the problem you want to solve, then it will be easy to build the solution more effectively. For any entrepreneur who wants to address complex issues in society, it is essential to understand the problem holistically, then focus on the solution that will be easily scalable for the community.

Pankaj: When you are solving the complex issues of society, uncertainty and risk will be an inherent part of your journey. You need to accept that, and draw the picture that you want to see in the world, and work toward it.

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Sixteen-episode series features leading respiratory health influencers dedicated to delivering the highest level of care to patients and improving health care access for underserved communities.

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE /November 18, 2021 / The American Thoracic Society, a global leader in respiratory health, is premiering an inspiring docuseries about the Society's commitment to advancing global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Helping the World to Breathe draws awareness to innovative, multidisciplinary partnerships and advanced technology to develop treatments for patients with lung disease. The 16-episode series features some of the leading respiratory health specialists throughout the world discussing how bringing together subspecialties with diverse perspectives and tailored rigorous clinical training help to shape a culture of collaboration, which in turn may improve access to care and reduce long standing health inequalities.

During a critical period of self-examination of our health care delivery system, Helping the World to Breathe addresses some of the most important issues facing our health care system and medical institutions today. The collaboration features a separate three-part series on improving access to care and reducing health inequalities; spotlighting diversity and inclusion; and demonstrating excellence in multidisciplinary work and collaboration. The docuseries is presented and narrated by the award winning journalist Randall Pinkston.

"ATS members represent a wide spectrum of respiratory disease subspecialties and their expertise is informed by diverse perspectives," said Lynn Schnapp, MD, ATSF, ATS president. "It's exciting to see these expert clinicians and researchers come together to share how their collaboration with other disciplines and with the patients themselves raise the standards of care and challenge them to look critically at blind spots in how that care is delivered."

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The programs are presented by the ATS and produced by dBase Media (DBM), based in the Washington D.C. area. ATS is the world's leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Founded in 1905 to combat TB, the ATS has grown to tackle asthma, COPD, lung cancer, sepsis, pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress, and sleep apnea, among other diseases. ATS focuses on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional development, impacting global health, and transforming patient care.

The ATS and DBM leadership teams collaborated with 13 leading institutions that influence how the respiratory field is delivering care to support patients. Through the diverse contribution from industry authorities and leading academia, the result was the framework for this video series Helping the World to Breathe.

The ATS films feature:

Lynn Schnapp, MD, ATSF, president of the American Thoracic Society, discusses how ATS has expanded its focus on respiratory health beyond the Americas and to the rest of the world.

Juan Celedon, MD, ATSF, immediate past president of the American Thoracic Society, talks about the importance of developed nations and major societies working together to reduce and eventually eliminate health disparities.

Gregory Downey, MD, ATSF, incoming president of the American Thoracic Society, discusses the ATS's collaboration with other members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies to raise respiratory health to a top priority in global decision-making.

Enid Neptune, MD, incoming chair of the Respiratory Cell & Molecular Biology Assembly at the American Thoracic Society, shares how ATS members are working together to advance policies that support the public health of our communities.

Neeta Thakur, MD, MPH, Health Equity and Diversity chair at the American Thoracic Society, shares the opportunity ATS has to greatly influence the future workforce and bring more diversity into pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Other featured participants include:

Chiesi Group talks about becoming the largest international pharmaceutical group B Corp certified, and their plan to become carbon neutral by the end of 2035.

The COPD Foundation Nebulizer Consortium (CNC) highlights being a leading example of collaboration across multiple disciplines with the goal of ensuring safe use of nebulization for both patients and healthcare workers.

4DMedical shares their breakthrough development of a non-invasive lung imaging technology that can improve the lives of millions of people and provide equity in health care.

Johns Hopkins Medicine's Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine discusses how technology is playing a role in interventional pulmonology and how novel devices are aiding in lung cancer diagnostics.

The University of Michigan shares how its Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Division is forging innovative partnerships to develop new treatments, particularly in oxygen delivery and assisted ventilation.

Physician leaders from Penn Medicine's Harron Lung Center discuss how they are reshaping the future of pulmonary care. The integration of their clinical, research and teaching missions leads to better patient outcomes and improves access to care in underserved communities.

Pulmonx-maker of the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve- shares how their breakthrough device is a viable, safe and proven treatment option for patients struggling with severe COPD/emphysema.

Members of the Division of Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care Medicine at Stanford Medicine discuss their focus on diversity and gender equity to better reflect the community they serve.

The Division of Respiratory, Critical Care, and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine talks about its commitment to impactful research, reducing health disparities and improving access to people of lower socioeconomic status, as well as racial and ethnic minorities.

The Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at UCLA shares their commitment to improving access to care while making meaningful changes in diversity and representation within the medical profession itself.

The Vanderbilt Lung Institute spotlights a new program that applies a comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach and a unique integration of patient-centered resources to deliver personalized, state-of-the-art clinical care and research.

Members of Yale School of Medicine's Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine (Yale-PCCSM) highlights how the diversity and cohesion of their team creates the ideal environment for clinical excellence, compassionate care, rigorous training and cutting edge research

Patients and Physicians at Yale PCCSM discuss the need to increase awareness and effective therapies in Pulmonary fibrosis, and Yale's collaboration with Three Lakes Foundation aims to accelerate a cure for pulmonary fibrosis, using innovative approaches to create a cellular blueprint of the scarred human lung.

Watch the entire series Helping the World to Breathe here premiering Nov. 18.

Share via Twitter:

@atscommunity premieres new docuseries! Watch now to learn how #clinicians, #researchers and allied health professionals are delivering #respiratory care to support patients, including those in underserved communities. https://bit.ly/3Fu5BH9

About the American Thoracic Society

Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical society dedicated to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health through multidisciplinary collaboration, education, and advocacy. Core activities of the Society's more than 16,000 members are focused on leading scientific discoveries, advancing professional development, impacting global health, and transforming patient care. Key areas of member focus include developing clinical practice guidelines, hosting the annual International Conference, publishing four peer-reviewed journals, advocating for improved respiratory health globally, and developing an array of patient education and career development resources.

Please visit our website to learn more.

About dBase Media

dBase Media (DBM) provides high resolution film production and a digital first communications strategy for leading professional associations, academia and global corporate brands since 2001. They apply advanced data insights across an omni-channel content distribution network to provide measurable outcome-based-accountability for its clients. DBM uses data mining, historical trends and predictive analytics to distribute content across heavily consumed video platforms such as CTV, YouTube, social media, mobile & desktop, broadcast TV. DBM applies insights through data analysis from search engines, social media, site visits, geographic location (geofence), 3rd party sources and more. DBM operates robust multi-stack software platforms for precise message targeting and comprehensive reporting transparency and insights to track and optimize ROI performance. For more information, contact Mitch Johnson 703-242-9700 or visit https://dbasemedia.com/.

SOURCE: dBase Media





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DES MOINES, Iowa  United Auto Workers members approved a new six-year contract with Deere & Co. Wednesday, ending a five-week strike of the agriculture and construction machine maker.

About 61% of voters approved the agreement, which includes boosts to hourly wages and retirement benefits. The company will also maintain the health insurance program, in which workers do not pay premiums.

The vote comes after the 10,100-member union rejected two previous contracts proposed by Deere and the UAW, setting off the first strike of the company since 1986.

"UAW John Deere members did not just unite themselves," UAW international President Ray Curry said in a statement. "They seemed to unite the nation in a struggle for fairness in the workplace. We could not be more proud."

About 61% of voters approved the latest agreement, according to UAW Local 450, which represents about 1,000 workers at the company's Ankeny plant. Workers had rejected two previous proposals over the last six months.

The local also announced that workers would return to their shifts beginning at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Since Oct. 14, about 10,100 workers in Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas had been on strike. The workers voted down previous six-year contract proposals on Oct. 10 and Nov. 2.

After the first rejection, in which nine out of 10 members voted against the contract, the company doubled its wage offer to 10%, boosted retirement benefits and preserved the pension program it had previously planned to cut for new hires.

UAW members come and go from the Adventureland Palace Theatre where they're voting on a third proposed contract with Deere & Co., the makers of John Deere products, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Altoona.

After workers rejected that proposal, company and union officials met to hammer out another contract. The third deal was almost identical to the second, except Deere executives amended elements of the company's incentive program.

Union leaders hope the changes will make performance targets more attainable for employees, allowing them to earn bonuses in their weekly paychecks more quickly and often.

Ratification meetings across Iowa were more subdued Wednesday than they had been before the first two votes when some UAW members admonished union leaders for failing to extract more concession from the company.

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More: UAW members weigh consequences as they consider whether to reject John Deere's third offer

Big profits. Big concessions.

The strike came as Deere celebrated the prospect of record profits, with executives projecting in August that the company would earn $5.7-$5.9 billion for the fiscal year that ended Nov. 1  a 62% bump over 2013 earnings, the company's previous record year.

Executives will reveal whether they actually hit those targets Nov. 24, when they host an investor call.

John May, the company's CEO, earned $15.6 million in 2020, a 160% increase over his 2019 pay. The increase coincided with his promotion to the top spot, and was still lower than the $21.7 million that then-CEO Samuel Allen received the year before.

More: Iowa Poll: Majority of Iowans support Deere workers over the company as strike enters second month

Nevertheless, May's big pay bump was a rallying point among UAW members, with some displaying signs asking for their own 160% raise. Employees also said they were willing to hold out for more money because they had worked through the height of the pandemic, when some other companies slowed or halted production, and knew Deere was struggling to hire in a tight labor market.

In the first contract introduced in early October, Deere offered 5% and 6% pay increases and re-introduced quarterly cost-of-living adjustments, a feature of previous Deere-UAW contracts that the company had eliminated in 2015. Deere also offered workers $3,500 bonuses if they ratified the contract.

The company proposed a boost to the pension program that would have given a 25-year employee about $100 extra every month upon retirement. Deere also offered lump-sum payments of $20,000-$50,000 for workers when they retire, depending on their length of service. At the same time, the company proposed to eliminate the pension program for workers hired after Nov. 1.

UAW members come and go from the Adventureland Palace Theatre where they're voting on a third proposed contract with Deere & Co., the makers of John Deere products, on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Altoona.

After members rejected the contract, Deere upped its offer. Employees would get 10% pay bumps and ratification bonuses of $8,500. The company also promised to preserve the pension program for future workers and boost payments to retiring employees, giving a 25-year worker about $250 extra every month.

The company threw in a second lump-sum payment for those workers: $2,000 for each year at the company as of 2021. Union leaders told employees that the money is supposed to pay for health insurance until they qualify for Medicare.

Under the contract approved Wednesday, workers on the lowest end of the pay grade, like those in foundry support, will see an hourly wage increase to $22.13 from $20.12. The skilled trades positions at the top of the pay grade, like electricians, will see hourly boosts to $33.05 from $30.04.

Members split on what to do

Outside of the Palace Theatre at Adventureland Park, where Des Moines Works employees voted Wednesday, members were divided on whether to extend the strike.

Chuck Smith, a welder, declined to say which way he voted. But he told the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, that the company can afford to pay rank-and-file workers better, even though a Deere spokesperson said the company had "economically exhausted" its offers last week.

More: Timeline shows key dates in the John Deere strike

Smith pointed out that even in 2015, a down year by Deere's standards, the company earned a profit of $1.9 billion. "Look at what they're paying executives," he said. "Look at what they're giving their CEO. It's corporate greed."

But Bob Loney, a maintenance welder, warned that workers may regret a longer strike. Loney has been with the company since before October 1997, when the union and Deere agreed to cut benefits and wages for new employees. That means he is in line for a better retirement plan than most employees at Des Moines Works.

"They're going to push too hard," he said of the co-workers voting against the contract. "And Deere's going to push back harder."

Dustin Garland, a machinist on the company's cotton pickers, voted for the contract because he was pleased that Deere preserved the health insurance program in which he pays no premium.

Garland picked up a part-time job at Amazon.com's Bondurant fulfillment center during the strike, a job he doesn't like as much as his work at Deere.

Forklift driver Randy Oldham, meanwhile, said he approved the contract Wednesday because he knows how miserable strike duty in December and January would be.

"I'm an old man," he said. "And I don't want to be picketing in the cold."

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: John Deere employees vote to approve contract proposal and end strike
CARY, N.C., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its 20th birthday celebration this year, medical leverage, a communications company, gifted more than 20 hours of service to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County on Saturday, November 13, 2021. Eight medical leverage team members worked from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. building homes in the Maybrook Townhomes neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, more than doubling medical leverage's 20 hour service goal.

Horizontal (PRNewsfoto/Medical Leverage)

Reflecting on how best to celebrate 20 years in business, founder and president of medical leverage, Dave Oury, says, "I believe we all have a responsibility to serve the community we live and work in every day, so we really wanted to give back to our community to celebrate 20 years of improving life through communications for our clients. We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity to fulfill its mission to bring people together to build affordable homes, communities, and hope."

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, visit www.habitatwake.org.

To learn more about medical leverage, their work, and how they are helping achieve success for their clients, please visit www.medicalleverage.com. Further, follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/medical-leverage.

ABOUT - medical leverage is a medical communications company that provides full-service solutions to pharmaceutical, biotech, biopharmaceutical, medical device, and medical diagnostic companies. We elevate healthcare communications through education by partnering strategically with life science companies and providers.

For 20 years, we have had the distinct honor of working with marketing, medical affairs, sales training, and market access teams within US and international companies. We know that behind every program there is a product and behind every healthcare professional there is a patient. We focus on our clients, so they can focus on healthcare professionals and, ultimately, their patients.

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SOURCE Medical Leverage
Key players in Smart Cities field gathered to pitch

TOKYO, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play Japan KK (Based in Shibuya, Tokyo, CEO: Philip Vincent, hereinafter "Plug and Play Japan") held a Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka, a Demo Day to present the results on their accelerator program. The event was live-streamed from Osaka on November 12, 2021. A total of 12 companies (six startups and eight corporate partners) from the Batch 2 program presented on stage to showcase their work in the Smart Cities area.

Plug and Play Logo (PRNewsfoto/Plug and Play)

About Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka

Plug and Play Osaka was established in 2020 as the branch office of Plug and Play Japan in Osaka and has been striving to build a startup ecosystem through the Smart Cities program by supporting the growth of startups and the creation of innovations with major corporations.

This set of startups who took part in Batch 2 of the accelerator program, which ran from July 2021 to November 2021, focused on four key areas: Sustainability, Experience, Clean Tech, and Smart Life. The program provided opportunities for business matching, startup business growth support, and fostering a culture of innovation. At the end of the program, "Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka" was held and a total of 12 startups and a handful of corporations took the stage to present the results of the program, their initiatives, and their services and products.

The event was held in a hybrid format with both online streaming and in-person demo booths that were set up at the venue to allow participants to experience some of the startups' products and networks.

Batch 2 Selected Startups (alphabetical order):

Be Bridge Co., Ltd. (Japan)

http://www.bebridge.com

Providing solutions that utilize the xR (AR / VR / MR) platforms

Bergen Carbon Solutions (Norway)

https://bergencarbonsolutions.com

Manufacturing and provision of carbon nanofiber (CNF)

Carbon Clean Solutions (UK)

http://www.carbonclean.com

Carbon dioxide (CO2) separation technology for industrial and gas processing applications

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Dreamwaves (Austria)

https://www.dreamwaves.io

Development of an audio navigation app

FlaVR Labs (USA)

http://www.flavrlabs.com

Development of digital taste

Leakmited (France)

http://www.leakmited.com/

Locating leaking pipes using AI and satellite imagery

Scenery Scent Co., Ltd. (Japan)

https://www.sceneryscent.com

Producing scent spaces that create a "memory" of dreams and/or excitement

Serendious Co., Ltd. (Japan)

https://www.serendious.com/

Providing "SERENDIOUS," a matching service between artists/creators and exhibitions/sales spaces

At the Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka, Plug and Play selected two startups that received the most votes in their respective fields and a select group of corporate partners that provided energetic support from program construction to operation, and announced the awards. Please see below for more details.

[EXPO Startup Award]

Plug and Play names a demo in each vertical "EXPO," and startups in each EXPO that earn the largest number of votes from the audience receive an award. Award winners acquire the opportunity to give their pitches in front of venture capitalists and international corporations at Plug and Play global offices.* EXPO Winners are written from the following:

*The schedule and destination of EXPO Winners are under discussion.

International Startup: FlaVR Labs

Japan Startup: BeBridge, Inc.

[Startup Friendly Award]

Startup Friendly Awards were given to the following partners in honor of being friendly to startups in the process of their meetings/collaborative projects. The award goes to the corporate partners in each vertical based on the largest number of votes from startups selected in the Summer/Fall 2021 Batch.

Winner: Resona Holdings, Inc.

[Corporate Innovation Award]

Corporate Innovation Awards were given to the corporate partners who have passionately engaged with Plug and Play Japan's Summer/Fall 2021 Batch accelerator program from designing the program to operating itself.

Winner: Kintetsu Group Holdings Co.,Ltd.

About the accelerator program in Plug and Play Japan

Plug and Play Japan provides accelerator programs to accelerate innovation by connecting Plug and Play Japan's corporate partners with Japanese and international startups. Through these programs, corporate partners are able to connect with participating startups with technologies and services that could accelerate their innovation activities. For startups, they have the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of major corporations.

Summit (Demo Day) is the final step of the accelerator program where startups give pitches outlining their results from the program. It is a great opportunity to get the latest updates on innovative technologies, meet cutting-edge startups, and develop new business partnerships.

About Plug and Play Japan

Plug and Play Japan was established in 2017 as a subsidiary of Plug and Play, which is a global innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley. Our major strength is to provide "consortium-type programs with our extensive global network" and support startups through "Venture Capital Investment."

By working closely with 45+ official corporate partners, Plug and Play Japan supports Japanese and international startups to scale their businesses and to enhance collaboration with industry-leading corporations.

Plug and Play Website: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/about/

Company Overview

Company: Plug and Play Japan KK

Founded: 2017/7/14

Address: Shibuya Center Place 3F 1-16-3, Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Representative: Phillip Vincent

URL: http://japan.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

Inquiry regarding this Press Release

Plug and Play Japan KK

The person in charge: Haruka Ichikawa

TEL: +81 80 4495 9319 / Mail: press-japan@pnptc.com

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SOURCE Plug and Play
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Slater Vecchio LLP has filed a lawsuit against the long term care home provider Revera, Inc., and their relevant entities, for their alleged negligence in failing to protect residents and their visitors from the spread of COVID-19 within their homes.

In particular, the lawsuit claims that Revera failed to comply with applicable regulations and guidelines regarding: (1) outbreak planning and response, (2) supply and access to PPE, (3) visitor and supplier screening, (4) resident isolation and testing, (5) staffing levels, and (6) employee testing and screening. The regulations and guidelines were instituted by governmental health authorities in British Columbia. As a result of the alleged failure to comply, some residents of Revera Care Homes died, while others contracted the virus without receiving the required care and treatment required.

The lawsuit seeks to represent all people who were resident in affected care homes and their families. This includes the following care homes: (1) Royal City Manor, (2) Arbutus Care Home, (3) Capilano Care Centre, (4) Holywood Manor, (5) Lakeview Care Home, (6) Glenwarren Lodge, (7) Revera James Bay, and (8) Revera Sandringham.

Slater Vecchio LLP is looking for class members in this action. If you believe that you or someone you know contracted COVID-19 while staying at the following facilities or any other BC long term care facility, we would like to hear from you. Please visit our website to fill out our form:

https://www.slatervecchio.com/bc-care-homes-class-action/

About Slater Vecchio LLP

Slater Vecchio LLP is a boutique law firm located in British Columbia. Over the past 20 years, Slater Vecchio has represented thousands of clients and has grown into one of the largest personal injury and class action firms in the province. Slater Vecchio's goal is to exceed every client's expectations, not only with the best results possible, but throughout the experience as we work together.

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SOURCE Slater Vecchio LLP

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2021/18/c1287.html
AID system based on DBLG1 and MEDISAFE WITH, Patient wearing MEDISAFE WITH

AID system based on DBLG1 and MEDISAFE WITH, Patient wearing MEDISAFE WITH

AID system based on DBLG1 and MEDISAFE WITH, Patient wearing MEDISAFE WITH

TOKYO & PARIS, Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terumo Corporation, a global leader in medical technology, and the French company Diabeloop, a pioneer in therapeutic AI, announced today that they have signed an agreement for a comprehensive strategic partnership. With this agreement, in addition to the current joint development of the AID system for Japan, they will work closely to bring Automated Insulin Delivery solutions to Europe with potential further global expansion.

The AID system is used for insulin-dependent diabetes management. It automates and personalizes the treatment and contributes to reducing the heavy mental burden associated with the chronic condition. Hosted on a dedicated handset, the Diabeloop-developed self-learning algorithm is connected to a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump. It analyzes the data in real time, and decides whether to maintain current insulin settings or adjust insulin delivery. In Europe and the US, more and more people with diabetes are using or looking to use AID systems for better glucose control and improved quality of life.

DBLG1, the state-of-the-art-algorithm solution of Diabeloop is currently available in several European markets.

In 2018, Terumo launched "MEDISAFE WITH", an insulin patch pump that is designed to be wearable and lightweight for patient comfort and freedom. In addition, Terumo is the exclusive distributor of the Dexcom CGM system in Japan since 2019.

Since 2020, both companies have been working on the joint development of an AID system in Japan, with the aim of helping Japanese people with diabetes.

"We always want to offer more choices to people living with diabetes. This new agreement will allow both companies to keep contributing to diabetes care with a real impact on clinical results while proposing safe and highly effective personalized solutions." said Erik Huneker, founder and CEO of Diabeloop.

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"We believe that this partnership will provide better treatment options for patients with diabetes around the world. Our vision is for our products and solutions to help patients manage their diabetes better and to make them feel unrestrained from diabetes," said Yoshiya Kikawa, general manager, DM and Consumer Healthcare Group of Terumo.

Based on this strategic partnership agreement, the two companies will accelerate and strengthen collaboration for AID systems. By combining the technologies of both companies and further addressing unmet medical needs, both Terumo and Diabeloop will strive to support more patients with diabetes in Europe, while looking at other regions and countries.

"It is our great pleasure to enter into this comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. We have been providing cutting-edge solutions in the diabetes area since 1982. Together with Diabeloop, we are confident that we will be able to provide healthcare professionals and patients with value-added solutions not only in Japan but for all corners of the world," commented Hikaru Samejima, President of Terumo's General Hospital Company.

"We are thrilled to reinforce our partnership with global leader Terumo with this new agreement and expand our contribution to personalized diabetes management via Diabeloop's interoperable solution. Together we will be able to bring innovation to more people living with diabetes in Europe as well as the rest of the world", declared Marc Julien, co-CEO of Diabeloop.

About Diabeloop

Diabeloop's mission: to relieve people living with Type 1 diabetes from 100+ daily therapeutic decisions and reduce their heavy mental burden. Initially conceived from a medical research project, Diabeloop was created in 2015 by Dr. Guillaume Charpentier, now Chief Medical Officer, and Erik Huneker who has co-managed the company with Marc Julien since 2016. This complementary management team works with experienced partners such as French technology research key-player CEA-Leti.

In 2018, DBLG1 System, Diabeloop's first medical device for automated diabetes management, obtained CE marking, followed by DBL-hu, its solution for highly unstable Type 1 diabetes management in 2020.

A second round of financing of 31 million euros concluded in November 2019 to speed up the international commercial rollout of the DBLG1 iController and support an ambitious R&D program.

Today, Diabeloop gathers the personality, the passion and the skills of over 100 talented individuals who work hard to improve the quality of life for every person living with diabetes.

About Terumo

Terumo (TSE:4543) is a global leader in medical technology and has been committed to "Contributing to Society through Healthcare" for 100 years. Based in Tokyo and operating globally, Terumo employs more than 25,000 associates worldwide to provide innovative medical solutions in more than 160 countries and regions. The company started as a Japanese thermometer manufacturer, and has been supporting healthcare ever since. Now, its extensive business portfolio ranges from vascular intervention and cardio-surgical solutions, blood transfusion and cell therapy technology, to medical products essential for daily clinical practice such as transfusion systems, diabetes care, and peritoneal dialysis treatments. Terumo will further strive to be of value to patients, medical professionals, and society at large.

Press contact:

Stephanie JEGU

stephanie.jegu@diabeloop.com

Related Images













Image 1: AID system based on DBLG1 and MEDISAFE WITH, Patient wearing MEDISAFE WITH





AID system based on DBLG1 and MEDISAFE WITH, Patient wearing MEDISAFE WITH



















Image 2: Diabeloop, Terumo





Logos of Diabeloop and Terumo









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Nordlander Recognized for Building Next Generation of Transformative Leaders, While Navigating a Pandemic and Driving Exceptional Company Growth

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ -- Carl Jung is often quoted as saying that life begins at forty. If that's the case, it seems that some of us are getting a strong head start. ThoughtExchange, the world's only Enterprise Discussion Management platform powered by patented anti-bias technology, congratulates its Chief Operating Officer Jessica Nordlander for becoming a recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 for 2021.



As a female technology executive for more than a decade, Nordlander is known for breaking barriers. An XGoogler and once named "Sweden's Most Innovative Leader," she originally started working in Canada in 2013 and joined ThoughtExchange in 2019. Through her role as COO, Nordlander's leadership helped ThoughtExchange navigate COVID-19 and ultimately emerge with 600% year-over-year usage growth in the first three months of the pandemic. Representing ThoughtExchange at major conferences such as Collision, Nordlander is a thought leader within the areas of corporate innovation, hybrid/remote work and the future of leadership and digital workplaces. She uses her experience as a female executive to further educate the next generation of leaders and create workplaces that remove bias and unlock performance. Additionally, Nordlander lives in and works remotely from the small city of Nelson, BC proving a successful career in technology is no longer only possible in big cities.

ThoughtExchange

Canada's Top 40 Under 40 is an annual leadership award that recognizes exceptional achievement by 40 outstanding Canadians who are under the age of 40. The program is supported by several prominent organizations including: Caldwell, PwC Canada, Gluskin Sheff, BNN Bloomberg, National Post, Air Canada, ergoCentric Seating Systems and Inline Reference Check. Nordlander and other honorees were selected out of hundreds of nominees by a respected and independent Advisory Board made up of 30 diverse leaders from across Canada. Four key criteria were assessed to select the recipients: Vision & Innovation, Leadership, Impact & Influence and Social Responsibility.

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"Jessica is the type of executive whose leadership transcends the role she holds inside a company," said Dave MacLeod, co-founder and CEO of ThoughtExchange. "Yes, her ideas have been critical to driving exponential growth for ThoughtExchange, but it's her ability to think beyond just her role; to drive change and inspire leaders in enterprises around the world to think differently that sets Jessica apart. We are proud and honoured to have her talents on our team and stand alongside her in celebrating this well-deserved recognition."

"It's an honor to be recognized by Canada's Top 40 Under 40 following an unpredictable year," said Jessica Nordlander, COO of ThoughtExchange. "We were faced with changing the company's entire go-to-market model and balancing it with the wellbeing of our employees as the world was thrown the massive curveball that's COVID-19. I strongly believe that companies achieve greater success when they work holistically and inclusively so I thank my team at ThoughtExchange for fostering this culture and trusting me to lead during these turbulent times."

The 2021 Top 40 Recipients were announced today in the National Post. Recipients will be honored at a series of events to take place in the coming months.

About Canada's Top 40 Under 40

Founded in 1995 by Caldwell, Top 40 has recognized almost 1,000 outstanding Canadians and is the country's most coveted award for young business and community leaders. Recipients have a remarkable track record of continuing achievement; Top 40 alumni now include hundreds of nationally and internationally prominent CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs in the private, public and social economy sectors.

About ThoughtExchange

ThoughtExchange is the only Enterprise Discussion Management platform powered by patented anti-bias technology. Modern leaders use ThoughtExchange to quickly gain critical insights and improve decision making. Whether you're engaging ten stakeholders or a community of 10,000 people, ThoughtExchange allows leaders to drive strategic discussions at scale.

Leaders use ThoughtExchange to increase alignment, improve performance, and drive better results. Unlike traditional surveys, respondents feel more comfortable answering questions candidly and our dynamic analytics make it simple for leaders to see which topics matter most.

ThoughtExchange was founded in Rossland, British Columbia, but our teams enjoy working remotely from anywhere.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Reese

Kickstand Communications

thoughtexchange@meetkickstand.com

603-305-4155



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SOURCE ThoughtExchange

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Titan Hospitality continues to elevate the consumer experience by creating all-new concepts that allow guests to explore wine flavors from around the world at its iconic brands - Smashing Grapes, Blackwall Hitch and Blackwall Barn & Lodge

Titan Hospitality Wine Passport

Titan Hospitality Wine Passport

Titan Hospitality Wine Passport

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Titan Hospitality, a premier restaurant management group in the Mid-Atlantic region, announces its all-new dining experience: the Wine Passport program invites guests to experience wine flavors from around the world that are paired with delicious appetizers. For more than 10 years, Titan Hospitality and its award-winning, iconic collection of restaurant brands, including Smashing Grapes, Blackwall Hitch, and Blackwall Barn & Lodge, have been creating and offering unique, unforgettable experiences for its guests.



The Wine Passport program, which is now available at each Titan restaurant located across the Mid-Atlantic, will take participating guests across the globe to enjoy and try world-class wines. Each location will represent a different country by offering a featured bottle of wine and appetizer option, giving guests bold, rich, sweet, and tangy tastes from France, Australia, Spain, Italy, and Argentina. Titans expert sommelier hand-picked some of the finest wines produced in each region for guests to explore the depth and sophistication of the flavors in that area. Each bottle of wine is paired with a house-made appetizer infused with ingredients indigenous to each location, including spicy crispy tuna tartar, rockfish, shrimp ceviche, and more.

At Titan Hospitality, we are focused on delivering superior and innovative experiences, and that includes delighting our guests with worldly flavors, wines, and dishes that leave an impression, said James King, CEO of Titan Hospitality. Through this Wine Passport program, our renowned wine experts, Chef, and team members will bring dynamic wines and flavors from all over the globe to our collection of Titan restaurants here in the Mid-Atlantic, and we are thrilled to delight our customers with this new concept and experience.

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Guests who embark on Titans Passport Wine journey will have the chance to visit each restaurant location at their leisure. This includes Smashing Grapes, an upscale, coastal California-inspired kitchen and wine bar, which recently opened its doors in the charming city of Annapolis. Guests will also visit Blackwall Hitch, a chic urban restaurant that offers a comfortable yet sophisticated vibe that evokes a seaside getaway with music and an oyster bar. Finally, restaurant-goers will visit Blackwall Barn & Lodge, which provides a friendly and welcoming atmosphere with a charming barn and impeccable service.

Titan Hospitality Wine Passports are available for purchase on any Titan restaurant website or in person at Blackwall Hitch, Annapolis, Blackwall Hitch, Alexandria, Smashing Grapes, Annapolis, Smashing Grapes, Gambrills, and Blackwall Barn & Lodge. There are two Wine Passport options, Passport A, a $550 value for only $400, or Passport B, which is a $355 value for only $250. They can also be purchased for holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.

To discover more about Titan Hospitalitys Wine Passport, visit https://www.blackwallhitchalexandria.com/shop/wine-passport/

TITAN HOSPITALITY

Titan Hospitality Group is a premier restaurant management group in the Mid-Atlantic region with over 25 years of restaurant management experience. Headquartered in Crofton, Maryland, Titan Hospitality owns, operates, and is affiliated with five restaurants in Maryland and Virginia, including Blackwall Hitch, Blackwall Barn & Lodge, and Smashing Grapes locations in Annapolis and Gambrills, Maryland. www.titanhospitality.com.

Media Contact:

April Evans

Uproar PR

615-522-7396

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/423d0ae2-5b73-43c7-914d-c9cb8ec813ee




PARIS, November 18, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toluna received the France-Israel Chamber of Commerce Award at its 29th annual gala, recognizing Tolunas contribution to the development of economic trade between the two countries.

Toluna, the leading consumer insights provider and parent company of Harris Interactive and KuRunData, today announced an award from the France-Israel Chamber of Commerce (FCI) for its contribution to economic trade between the two countriesand large-scale collaboration of teams.

The honor was awarded at FCIs 29th annual gala dinner in Paris, which brings together over 400 corporations and personalities from each nations political and economic scenes. Awards are presented to winners for their contributions to the development of bilateral trade. At this years dinner, guests of honor included Mr. Jean-Michel Blanquer (France Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports), Mr. Eric Danon (Ambassador of France in Israel), and Mrs. Ronit Ben Dor (Manager, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel).

Tolunas Founder and CEO, Frederic-Charles Petit, was accompanied at the gala by Nathalie Perrio-Combeaux and Patrick Van Bloeme, Co-Presidents and Co-CEO of Harris Interactive & Toluna France, as well as Jean-Daniel Levy, Senior Vice President of Harris Interactive France and Director of Politics and Opinion Department. Each was congratulated on-stage by the Minister, as well as the President and Vice President of the CCFI.

"On behalf of our teams in France and in Israel, I am very proud that Toluna has been honored with this award," said Frederic-Charles Petit. "This award is recognition for our impact on innovation and technology in the field of research and surveys. "

Founded in 2000, Toluna is a technology company that delivers real-time insights at the speed of the on-demand economy. In 2006, the group decided to create an R&D center in Israel, a centerpiece of its development strategy. "We are in Haifa for the quality of its engineers, its developers and its ecosystem," added Petit. "Just a few hours from Paris, Israel is the Silicon Valley of the Middle-East. For us, it's the assurance of continuing to innovate at the speed of the digital economy. "

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Toluna has offices in 19 countries, and its global panel connects more than 40 million consumers in 70 countries to its Toluna Start platformallowing them to engage with brands in real time.

About Toluna

Toluna delivers real-time consumer insights at the speed of the on-demand economy. By combining global scale and local expertise with innovative technology and award-winning research design, we help clients explore tomorrow, now. Toluna is the parent company of Harris Interactive Europe and KuRunData. Together, we strive to push the field of market research toward a better tomorrow.

About the France-Israel Chamber of Commerce (CCFI)

With its experience and influential partners, the CCFI provides support and assistance to business networks in Israel and France with the goal of facilitating and accelerating economic and technological trade between the two countries. It provides advice and practical information necessary for the establishment of French companies on Israeli territory. It also supervises prospecting missions for Israeli companies interested in the French market.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005563/en/

Contacts

Articulate Communications for Toluna

Audra Tiner

toluna@articulatecomms.com
The Truliant Foundation contributes to the Mathematics and Science Education Network (NC-MSEN) at Winston-Salem State University.

Pictured left to right are: Atticus Simpson, Truliant Foundation; Dr. LaTanya Afolayan, Vice Chancellor of Advancement/Executive Director of WSSU Foundation; Mr. Joseph Baker, NC-MSEN PreCollege Coordinator; Mr. Keith Penn, NC-MSEN Program Specialist; Sherri Thomas, Truliant; Dr. Frank Ingram, Associate Provost. Photo credit: Winston-Salem State University.

Pictured left to right are: Atticus Simpson, Truliant Foundation; Dr. LaTanya Afolayan, Vice Chancellor of Advancement/Executive Director of WSSU Foundation; Mr. Joseph Baker, NC-MSEN PreCollege Coordinator; Mr. Keith Penn, NC-MSEN Program Specialist; Sherri Thomas, Truliant; Dr. Frank Ingram, Associate Provost. Photo credit: Winston-Salem State University.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Truliant Federal Credit Union announced today it will launch the Truliant Foundation to further support its commitment to community and social responsibility to give back to the neighbors it serves.

The Truliant Foundation will provide support to internal and external credit union programs and funding initiatives. It will collaborate with organizations who align with Truliants mission and community focus areas. Moving forward, all of Truliants existing grant, donation, and scholarship programs will be funded and managed as programs of the Truliant Foundation.

As weve grown, so too has Truliants commitment to our member-owners and the diverse communities they represent. Establishing the Truliant Foundation expands on the People Helping People philosophy of credit unions and our legacy of helping underserved populations. It creates a platform to deepen connections with partners as we increase contributions over time, said Sherri Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer at Truliant.

The first new program of the Truliant Foundation is the establishment of the Truliant Employee Relief Fund. It will provide financial assistance to employees experiencing financial hardship due to events beyond their control, including disasters, extended illnesses, injuries, and other special situations. The Employee Relief Fund will provide grants to employees for their own needs or for those of their immediate family members.

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The fund was launched with personal donations from 100 percent of Truliants senior management, an amount matched by Truliant to start the fund.

Truliants leadership team shares the vision of this fund as an important investment in our employees, so much so that 100 percent of them gave in recognition of their concern and support of our employees, Truliants Thomas said. We are grateful for our managements support as anchor investors, providing not only a conduit for financial wellness, but in taking this step so early to unlock the potential of our foundation.

As its first major gift, Truliant contributed to the Winston-Salem State University Foundation to support the Mathematics and Science Education Network (NC-MSEN) program. The gift will be used at the historically black university to eliminate disparities in education and to prepare middle and high school students for careers requiring math and science.

The foundation will engage Truliant employees in its commitment to give back by establishing a volunteer-led Advisory Board made up of diverse employees from all levels of the organization. The Advisory Board will be active in the distribution of community support based on the needs of the communities where they live and work and will include reviewing giving requests and participating in financial education grants, Community Mini Grants and scholarship programs.



The advisory board gives our employees an outlet to make their voices heard. They live, work and play in our communities - so who better to provide thoughtful contributions around how we can best serve local social and economic needs, Thomas said.

In the last five years, Truliant has contributed more than $1 million in scholarships, grants and charitable gifts to more than 400 community-focused organizations and 100 local students who are pursuing higher education. Truliants community focus areas include:

Community Development: Organizations that cultivate relationships, social responsibility, civic engagement and collaboration to build community.





Economic Mobility: Organizations providing personal guidance and activities to build financial stability and social prosperity for individuals and their families.





Financial Wellness: Organizations that are specifically engaged in activities that promote and improve financial inclusion and financial literacy.





Youth & Education: Organizations supporting education and programming from middle school through high school.

About The Truliant Foundation

The Truliant Foundation supports Truliant Federal Credit Unions commitment to community and its social responsibility to give back to the neighbors it serves. Established in 2021, the foundation provides support to community partners working to enhance the quality of life in member communities. The donor-advised fund was created by Truliant and is administered by the Carolinas Credit Union foundation. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Learn more at Truliant.org/Foundation.

About Truliant Federal Credit Union

Truliant is a mission-driven, not-for-profit financial institution that improves lives by providing financial guidance and affordable financial services. Chartered in 1952, Truliant now serves 280,000+ members and has more than 30 Member Financial Centers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

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CONTACT: Heath Combs Truliant Federal Credit Union 3362932054 heath.combs@truliantfcu.org




Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen meets with President Joe Biden to discuss the federal debt limit in October. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen set Dec. 15 as the latest deadline for when the U.S. could default on government debt.

Today, an independent group of analysts at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) have confirmed the deadline, projecting a debt limit X Date of when the U.S. will no longer be able to pay its bills as a possibility beginning in mid-December without any action from Congress.

The relative clarity on this mid-December deadline comes as Yellen confirmed that a $118 billion transfer to the Highway Trust Fund  part of the just-signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal  will, indeed, be completed by Dec. 15.

The news underscores a pile-up of end-of-the-year priorities facing Congress. In addition to the debt limit issue, lawmakers hope to pass the ambitious Build Back Better Act, Congresss annual defense policy bill, as well as a bill focused on China called the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. And there's also the issue of averting a government shutdown by Dec. 3.

Because of the unpredictable nature of government spending, the BPC says there is a chance the debt limit default date could drag into the new year, as late as early February, though they warn the Highway Trust Fund transfer means there is a greater likelihood than usual that the X Date will fall towards the front portion of BPCs range.

In her letter to Congress this week, Yellen made assurances that the government could stay open through Dec. 15 and complete the Highway Trust Fund transfer. But there are scenarios in which Treasury would be left with insufficient remaining resources to continue to finance the operations of the U.S. government beyond this date.

Wrightson ICAP LLC, a research firm that analyzes Federal Reserve and Treasury operations, has a slightly more optimistic outlook. Earlier this week, the group wrote their base case is that the Treasury will have enough fiscal resources even after the [Highway Trust Fund] transfer to meet its obligations until late December or the early part of January.

Shai Akabas, BPC director of economic policy, said either way, action is vital before Congress leaves for its December holiday recess, scheduled for around Dec. 10. Based on the data we have right now, failing to act before then would be a high-stakes gamble, he said in a statement.

Story continues

A sofa the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington DC sums up the group's mission with one pillow featuring the Democratic Party symbol of a donkey and the other with the Republican Party Symbol of a elephant. (Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)

Oxford Economics recently did its own analysis and found that December tax collections would need to be quite high  about 20% higher than they're forecasting  to push the debt limit date into February, but even that would leave Treasury with a dangerously low cash cushion.

Experts warn that crossing the deadline would lead to a market crash, a possible downgrade of America's credit rating, and the government being unable to pay for things like veterans benefits, federal salaries, and Social Security payments.

Yellen, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and Wrightson ICAP expect to update their debt limit forecasts in the weeks ahead as the deadline draws ever closer.

Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

What is the debt ceiling? Yahoo U explains.

Billions set aside in the infrastructure bill could lead to discounts on your internet bill

Maximizing infrastructure impact means 'routing new dollars through old plumbing': Transportation Secretary

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A local affiliate of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan has claimed responsibility for two explosions in Kabul that killed at least one person and wounded six others.



The casualties were reported after the first blast on November 17 in the heavily Shi'ite Muslim neighborhood of Dasht-e Barchi in western Kabul, Tolo News said, citing a Taliban official.



Three women were among the wounded, said Saeed Khosti, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry of the Taliban-led government.



A Taliban official who spoke to AFP said two people died, adding that initial information showed that the bomb was attached to a minibus. An investigation has been launched, the official said.



The second explosion happened several hours later in the Charahi Shaid neighborhood, also in western Kabul, Tolo News and other local news agencies said.



Eyewitnesses said there were casualties in the second blast, but the exact number was not immediately clear.



The militant Sunni group Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) claimed responsibility in a statement posted on an affiliated Telegram account, saying the two explosions killed 20 Shi'a.



The blasts were the latest in a series of attacks in recent days claimed by IS-K. The radical group has emerged as the main security threat to the Taliban since it seized power in August.

The Dasht-e Barchi area is heavily populated by members of the mainly Shi'ite Hazara community, which has been the target of repeated attacks by IS-K militants.



Last week, a journalist was killed and at least four other people were injured when a bomb destroyed another minibus in the same area in an attack also claimed by IS-K.



Hazara represent Afghanistan's third-largest ethnic group. They have faced long-term discrimination and persecution in predominantly Sunni Afghanistan.



The jihadists earlier this month raided Kabul's National Military Hospital, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 50 others.



The UN envoy to Afghanistan said on November 17 that IS-K had grown and now appears present in nearly all 34 provinces.



UN Special Representative Deborah Lyons told the UN Security Council that the Taliban's response to IS-K's expansion "appears to rely heavily on extrajudicial detentions and killings" of suspected IS-K fighters.



"This is an area deserving more attention from the international community," she said.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, Reuters, and AFP
The UN's special representative for Afghanistan has warned about a potential "humanitarian catastrophe" in Afghanistan as she appealed to the international community to find a way to provide financial aid to the country.



Deborah Lyons told the UN Security Council on November 17 that 60 percent of Afghanistan's 38 million people now faced crisis levels of hunger and the situation will likely worsen over the winter.



Lyons said the international community must find ways to provide financial support to the Afghan people, who she said "feel abandoned, forgotten, and indeed punished by circumstances that are not their fault."



She said financial sanctions on the Taliban "have paralyzed the banking system, affecting every aspect of the economy."



This includes pay for health-care workers in state hospitals and staff in food security programs, and the international community "needs urgently to find a way to provide financial support" to change this.



She assured council members that the UN will make every effort to ensure that funds will not be diverted to the Taliban.



After the Taliban seized power in August, the United States froze nearly $9.5 billion in assets belonging to Afghanistan's central bank and stopped shipments of cash.



The moves were part of a pressure campaign aimed at getting Afghanistan's new rulers to create an inclusive government and respect the rights of women and minorities.



Afghanistan was also scheduled to access about $450 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but the IMF earlier this year said that Afghanistan would no longer be able to access its resources.

Lyons said the "paralysis of the banking sector will push more of the financial system into unaccountable and unregulated informal money exchanges." That will only help facilitate terrorism, human trafficking, and drug smuggling that will eventually "infect the region," she said.



"The reality of the current situation threatens to heighten the risk of extremism," Lyons said.



She said a negative development has already been the Taliban's inability to stem the expansion of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) extremist group, which now appears to be present in nearly all provinces. The number of attacks attributed to IS-K has increased significantly from 60 last year to 334 this year, she said.



China and Russia again urged the unfreezing of Afghanistan's reserves, but U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis made no mention of the frozen assets in his comments to the council.



He criticized the Taliban for ignoring calls earlier this year by the Security Council and the international community to peacefully pursue a political settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan and instead choosing a battlefield victory. "And we are now seeing the terrible consequences of this choice unfold before our eyes," he said.



Lyons said the only way to avoid losing much of the progress of the last 20 year is for the Taliban to avoid its past isolation and engage in a policy dialogue with other Afghan parties, the wider region, and the international community.



She said the goal should be to spell out a road map with concrete steps to establish "constructive relations between Afghanistan and the world at large."



The Taliban government has not been recognized by any country or the United Nations. Afghanistan's UN seat is still held by the representative of the previous government, Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai.



Isaczai told the council that Afghanistan was facing "a crisis of historic proportions" and if the current trends continue, "Afghanistan will experience near universal poverty."

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
When the Taliban seized control of most of Afghanistan in mid-August, one of the inevitable ripple effects was going to be a crackdown on suspect Islamic groups in the Central Asian states north of Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan has emerged as the Central Asian country most actively engaging with the Taliban government, in no small part because Tashkent wants to keep trade routes through Afghanistan open.

But Uzbek officials are also taking measures to ensure that no one in Uzbekistan finds inspiration in the Taliban conquest and wants to try changing the Uzbek government.

RFE/RLs Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik, reported on September 10 that 29 women were detained in the capital and districts in Tashkent Province for spreading Hizb ut-Tahrir propaganda among the population. On September 17, a group of 12 men were detained, also in Tashkent, for spreading Hizb ut-Tahrir propaganda on the Internet.

Hizb ut-Tahrir is a global organization based in London whose ultimate goal is to unite all Muslim countries into an Islamic caliphate, though it says it uses peaceful methods to pursue that goal.

Six people described as leaders of a Hizb ut-Tahrir group were detained in the southern Kyrgyz town of Kyzyl-Kiya in early October and, on November 4, another Hizb ut-Tahrir leader who was an Uzbek citizen was also detained in southern Kyrgyzstan.

In early October, Ozodlik spoke with an official in the Uzbek Interior Ministry who said, under condition of anonymity, that while many suspected Islamic radicals have been under observation in recent years, there have not been any raids or special operations against such groups since Shavkat Mirziyoev became Uzbek president in 2016.

The same source indicated there has been a policy change recently, claiming that some 200 people were detained in September as part of Operation Safety Zone, most of them from the banned group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

But in Uzbekistan it is not only Hizb ut-Tahrir members who are being detained.

On November 9, the State Security Service (MHH) detained a group of jihadists in Syrdarya Province.

Reports did not identify any specific group or say how many people were in the jihadist cell that was uncovered, only that the leaders initials were B.T., he lived in the Havast district, he and his associates regularly posted material online calling for jihad, and that B.T. was planning to go to Syria to join an unspecified terrorist group.

On November 8, the MHH brought a suspect back from an unnamed neighboring Central Asian state who was trying to make his way to Syria.

The man, identified only as S.S., was a member of Katibat al-Tawhid wa al-Jihad, an Uzbek jihadist group that was active in northwestern Syria and was allied with Jabhat al-Nusra, the Al-Qaeda wing in Syria.

S.S. was arrested and jailed in 2018 when he was identified as part of a group on Telegram posting and discussing sermons by extremist clerics and calling for jihad.

There were reports on October 30 that the MHH returned an Uzbek citizen identified as I.O. from an unnamed country.

I.O. was accused of being a member of the Islamic State militant group who fought in Iraq and Syria from 2015 to 2021.

The MHH said the man returned to Central Asia with the intention of carrying out a terrorist attack in a Central Asian state in September, though no details were given about which country it was.

In a sign that the Uzbek authorities search for terrorists is never-ending, on September 30 the MHH announced it had detained a suspect in the deadly February 1999 bombings in Tashkent.

The MHH identified a man as Y.J. and said he had trained in Chechnya and was a member of the "Islamic Movement of Turkestan."

Uzbek authorities were praised for freeing many Muslims who were wrongly imprisoned under authoritarian President Islam Karimov.

But many of those who were freed were under observation, a fact the Uzbek government confirmed and has confirmed again since the Interior Ministry source who spoke with Ozodlik said: Most of [those recently detained] were previously included on the [blacklists and had] previously served in prisons.

The Uzbek government has reasons to be nice to the Taliban, but Tashkent does not want Taliban influence or inspiration inside its country. The more concerned Uzbek officials are about such possibilities, the more frequent the detentions and possible imprisonment of members of "suspect" Islamic groups.
Pakistani lawmakers have adopted legislation providing chemical castration for serial rapists amid growing public demand for action following several high-profile rape and child sexual abuse cases.

A bill passed by a joint session of parliament on November 17 states that the government must establish special courts to expedite rape trials and ensure sexual abuse cases are decided "expeditiously, preferably within four months."

The proposed law will now go to President Arif Alvi for signing.

Chemical castration is a drug or hormone treatment that temporarily suppresses sex drive.

In September 2020, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that his administration was preparing a draft bill that would include exemplary punishment for sex offenders following major countrywide protests triggered by the gang rape of a woman in front of her children on one of the countrys major highways.

Earlier this year, two men were sentenced to death in the case, which rekindled the debate over how to handle the thousands of reported cases of rape and child sexual abuse in the Muslim country of 220 million -- and the countless cases that go unreported.

The Karachi-based nongovernmental organization War Against Rape estimates that less than 3 percent of sexual assault and rape cases result in a conviction.

Human rights campaigners have argued that reforms in Pakistans police and judiciary and an increase in awareness campaigns for parents, children, and communities are the best approach to fighting and preventing sexual abuse.

In December 2020, Amnesty International called chemical castration without consent a "cruel and inhuman" punishment.

"Instead of trying to deflect attention, the [Pakistani] authorities should focus on the crucial work of reforms that will address the root causes of sexual violence and give survivors the justice they deserve," the London-based human rights watchdog said in a statement.

Chemical castration is a legal form of punishment for sex crimes in countries including Russia, the Czech Republic, and South Korea, as well as in some U.S. states.

With reporting by CNN
Pakistani authorities have released the jailed leader of a radical Islamist party who was behind protests that triggered deadly clashes with police.

Saad Rizvi, the leader of Tehrik-e Labaik Pakistan (TLP), was released from prison in the eastern city of Lahore on November 18 and was greeted by hundreds of supporters as he reached the party's headquarters, the Rehmatul Lil Alameen Mosque.

Rizvi was arrested in April amid violent demonstrations against France linked to the publication of political cartoons depicting Islams Prophet Muhammad.

His release comes a week after his name was removed from a terrorism watch list, under a deal to end a 10-day protest march toward Islamabad that resulted in deadly clashes with police. The protesters had called for the expulsion of Frances ambassador and Rizvis release.

On November 7, the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan announced it had lifted the ban on the radical Islamist group, saying the party will now be allowed to participate in mainstream politics in the "larger national interest."

The TLP, which gained prominence in 2017, campaigned in the election the following year on the single issue of defending the countrys blasphemy law, which calls for the death penalty for anyone who insults Islam.

With reporting by Dawn and Reuters
Christmas SchemingorSittin on the Dock of the eBay" opens Friday at Iron Springs Chateau and runs through Dec. 23. Set on Christmas Eve at The North Pole-Santas Workshop in Cascade, two elves are distraught to find the toy warehouse running on empty. And they're suspicious of two of their fellow elves, who are acting oddly. But this is a melodrama, which means happy endings for all. The 40-minute show is followed by an olio, with song, dance and jokes.
Not even 10 seconds go by before the guys from Yonder Mountain String Band find a way to brag on Colorado.

Im here with Dave and Ben, Adam Aijala says upon answering the phone. Were in Syracuse for a show tonight.

This is when a reporter might let out a filler response like, Oh, thats cool.

Well, not really, Aijala says. Colorado is cooler.

None of them  Aijala, Ben Kaufmann or Dave Johnston  are Colorado natives, but all three have lots of love for the place that changed their lives.

They each moved to Boulder in the 1990s, each following whispers about the areas budding acoustic music scene. They found just that  an encouraging community to forge the path for jamgrass music  and they found each other.

Bassist Ben Kaufmann moved across the country in search of the polar opposite of New York City, where he was attending film school.

I identified with the people in Colorado, Kaufmann said. There was something very liberal and open and curious about the people here. The feeling I had was that you could come and show up and maybe good things would happen to you.

He was onto something.

Fast forward a couple of decades, after yearly appearances at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and sold-out performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Yonder Mountain String Band is a fiercely beloved jamgrass group known for blissful concerts and for pioneering its style of improvisational and feel-good string music.

And Yonder Mountain is one of Colorados biggest bands, as evidenced by the late October announcement that it will be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

Looking at the scene now, its hard to imagine a time when it was unheard of for bands armed only with acoustic instruments to play sold-out shows at iconic rock clubs and esteemed festivals, the Hall of Fame announcement said. Yonder Mountain String Band cultivated a rock-and-roll-inspired bluegrass that would prove to be both inspirational and durable.

After mentioning how the band inspired the likes of Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass and The Infamous Stringdusters, the entry stated, Yonder Mountain is still as Colorado as it gets.

Its an honor, said Kaufmann, specially to be inducted in the same class as like-minded bands such as The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon and Hot Rize.

Going in with those other bands, thats the lineage of Colorado bluegrass to Colorado jamgrass. That is the chronology, he said. I dont believe wed exist without all those bands.

They doubt, too, theyd be at this level without help from Colorados venues, fans and promoters.

The whole reason we got enough courage to tour and leave Colorado for shows was because everyone here pumped us up, Aijala said. We got this feeling like, Yeah, this is going to work.

When speaking of favorite venues in Colorado, theres one place theyre not talking about: Colorado Springs.

In their 23 years together, the band has never played a show here.

It just never occurred to us to play Colorado Springs, Johnston said. Colorado Springs has always felt like it was its own world and then theres Boulder and Denver and Fort Collins.

Yonder Mountain will break their silence here with a concert Friday at the Pikes Peak Center. Its perhaps one small example of the bands next chapter, what Kaufmann calls their third life in terms of bluegrass cat lives.

Yonder Mountains climb hasnt been completely smooth.

Jeff Austin, one of the bands four founders, left the group in 2014 and died in 2019.

One of their biggest challenges, which is also a big point of pride, has been constantly working, as the bands business model was built around touring.

The million dollar question for Yonder has been, What is it gonna take to get a year off? Kaufmann said. The answer, I guess, was that it takes a pandemic.

They used time off to record a new album, which is due out in a couple of months. They also reflected on how to shake up their live shows and better incorporate newer members Allie Kral and Nick Piccininni.

Kaufmann said hes excited about the bands changes, what he calls their third life. But longtime fans might have other thoughts.

The Yonder Mountain fan base is very attached to their vision or version of the band, Kaufmann said. So is this something theyre going to notice? Absolutely.

If their past shows here are any indication, fans will keep showing up.

In Colorado, its a very complex and wonderful relationship, he said. The fan base in Colorado, we love them like they are our family.

Yonder Mountain made it to the top because of that family. And because of each other. The only thing Kaufmann might brag more about than Colorado is his best friends.

This band would not have survived with that mutual respect and friendship, Kaufmann said. I love these guys with all of my heart.
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Four people were taking into custody in Pueblo Wednesday following an incident in which police shot a suspect in connection with a stolen vehicle, officials with the Pueblo Police Department announced.

Just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, police were called to the 1100 block of West 12th Street in regards to a person being threatened with a gun. The individual was suspicious about a travel trailer hitched to a truck and approached it. As the person did so, they were threatened by a man with a firearm, police said. Police confirmed that both the trailer and the truck had been stolen.

Police arrived and engaged in a short vehicular pursuit of the truck and trailer. The driver of the truck lost control of the trailer and crashed into a building in the 1300 block of West 18th Street, police said. After that, four occupants, two men and two women, exited the truck and fled on foot, according to police. One man was carrying a handgun.

Officials with the department say that after a short pursuit on foot, an officer shot the armed man. He was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The other three occupants of the truck were also taken into custody and may face criminal charges, pending police investigation, officials said.

Police said the 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Team is investigating the shooting. The officer who fired at the suspect was placed on administrative leave in adherence with standard protocol.
The pilot killed in a plane crash near Estes Park while battling the Kruger Rock fire has been identified as Marc Thor Olson, according to Colorado Fire Aviation, the company that owned the aircraft he was flying.

The plane Olson was piloting went down near the south end of Hermit Park just before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, officials said. The fire he was battling was 40% contained as of noon Wednesday and has grown slightly to 145 acres.

Tuesday night's operation was believed to be the first of its kind in the United States  a fixed-winged aircraft used to attack a fire at night using night-vision goggles, according to Gazette news partner 9News.

Olson was described as a highly decorated veteran who served for 32 years in both the U.S. Army and Air Force. He began flying planes in 1979 and amassed more than 8,000 total flight hours and 1,000 hours of night flight, including in combat and civilian fight, according to the statement.

Olson told 9News he was excited to make "history" with the Tuesday flight.

"Pretty cool thing to be a part of, I think," Olson told the TV station before taking off from Northern Colorado Regional Airport. "This is the culmination of about five years of pretty hard work."

In a statement posted to Facebook, Colorado Fire Aviation said it was "deeply saddened by the sudden, tragic loss of one of our brothers serving as a tanker pilot."

Prior to the accident the Larimer County Sheriff's Office had reached out to Colorado Fire Aviation to see if the Fort Morgan-based company would help with firefighting operations, the Sheriff's Office said in a news release Wednesday.

Several hours later the plane made a successful drop of water on the fire zone, and Olson reported the winds were "not too bad at the fire and said he would head to Loveland to get a load of suppressant to make a second drop," according to the release.

About an hour later, Olson reported that the air was turbulent above the fire and that and because of the conditions, he could not make the drop. He said he was going to make one more pass and then return to Loveland  but around 6:37 p.m., crews heard the plane crash.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said on Wednesday that it has been studying the use of aircraft in night operations on woodland fires at its center in Rifle.

Through its studies, the organization found that aerial support at night potentially offers increased advantages in fighting a wildfire because of low temperatures, increased humidity and reduced winds. However, most of the studies focused on helicopters and not fixed-winged aircraft, according to a news release.

"The use of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft at night, using vision technology, is widely and successfully used by the U.S. military and in certain public-safety environments, but there is less research and practical experience with fixed-wing assets in wildland fire suppression," officials said in a news release.

Tuesday night's crash wasn't the first time a fixed-wing air tanker crashed while responding to a wildfire. In 2002, a four-engine World War II vintage PB4Y crashed on while dropping retardant on a 4,100-acre fire near Estes Park, according to The Los Angeles Times.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board determined the cause of that crash was fatigue cracks that caused the wings to snap off.

Six years later, firefighting pilot Gert Marais of Fort Benton, Mont., was killed when his single-engine plane crashed after dumping fire retardant at Fort Carson, according to a 9News report.

Colorado Fire Aviation said it is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board as the agencies investigate the crash.

As of Wednesday evening the fire has grown to 145 acres since igniting on Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

"Crews are making good progress on efforts to create containment lines along the south and east portions of the fire," Incident Commander Mark Mendonca said in a news release. "Given the more challenging terrain, efforts to contain the north flank of the fire are expected to take a few more days."

Additional crews arrived throughout the day from across the county, state and region, officials said.

Firefighters continued working to contain the fire overnight.

An investigation by the Sheriff's Office revealed the blaze began around 7 a.m. Tuesday after high winds knocked over a tree, which fell into a nearby power line. That created an arc, which ignited the fire.

Residents within the areas of Fish Creek, Hermit Park and Big Elk Meadow remained under mandatory evacuation Wednesday evening. Little Valley and Meadowdale Lane along the west side of U.S. 36 were downgraded to voluntary evacuation orders, according to the Sheriff's Office.
An 11-year-old Westminster girl who was reported missing for nearly 24 hours was found safe Wednesday afternoon, the Westminster Police Department announced.

Police said the girl was found in unincorporated Jefferson County thanks to a tip from a citizen. More information about the nature of her disappearance will be released Wednesday evening, police said.

The girl went missing after leaving her Westminster home around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to walk to a park. Her mom called the police at around 5:30 p.m. when she didnt return home.

Police said they searched for the girl nonstop since she was reported missing, including door-to-door searches and combing the neighborhood and surrounding parks and lakes using foot patrols, a bloodhound, thermal cameras and drones.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert and an Endangered Missing Alert for the girl Wednesday, hours before she was found.

In a statement, Westminster police said they were concerned about the girl's safety because of the length of time she was missing and the cold weather in the area overnight.

The agencies involved in the search included the Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada, Broomfield, Wheat Ridge and Golden police departments, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, CBI, FBI, Ralston House, Westminster Fire Department and more.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper plans to conduct a virtual town hall on Wednesday to talk about the $1.1 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law earlier this week by President Joe Biden. The Colorado Democrat also plans to take questions.

The town hall is set for 5 p.m. MT and can be joined using various online platforms.

Hickenlooper, a former two-term governor, was a member of a bipartisan group of 22 senators that wrote the infrastructure package, which passed the Senate in August and the House earlier this month.

This bill is historic," Hickenlooper said in a statement. "Coloradans sent us to Washington to get things done, and our bipartisan infrastructure bill delivers. Together, were modernizing our roads and bridges, jumpstarting our transition to clean energy, and creating good paying jobs across the country.

The bill incorporated legislation sponsored by Hickenlooper intended to make it more affordable to charge electric vehicles by requiring states to review utility rates set for their use.

Another Hickenlooper-authored provision in the bill requires that the Department of Transportation return a $28.9 million deposit on a long-ago repaid federal loan to the Regional Transportation District.

Participate in the town hall via the senator's website or watch it on his Facebook or YouTube pages. Those with questions can submit them ahead of time here.

It will be Hickenlooper's third virtual town hall since he took office earlier this year. During his campaign, he pledged to hold at least four town halls a year.
How common are ransomware attacks? Lawmakers want to find out.

After his local library had to shut down because of a ransomware attack, Indiana state Rep. Mike Karickhoff realized the state didnt know much about the frequency of such security breaches.

Spurred by similar crimes across Indiana last year, he decided to author a bill requiring all public agencies to report cyberattacks to the state.

Its like neighborhood watch, said Karickhoff, a Republican. If your subdivision starts having burglaries, you tell everyone in the area youre having these burglaries. Thats how the alarm bell goes off.

His measure passed both chambers unanimously, and Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed it into law in April.

This was not a red or blue thing, Karickhoff said. Everyone understood that this could do great harm quickly and its nobodys fault if theyre taking security measures and they still fall short.

Despite the magnitude of the problem, most states dont have such statutory requirements, so they cant always warn other agencies that might be hit or help bolster their defenses. But thats starting to change.

This year, North Dakota also enacted a law requiring government entities to report to the state all cyberattacks, including ransomware (in which computer systems are hijacked until agencies pay a ransom or restore them on their own). West Virginia did the same, but its law specifies that they must be qualified cybersecurity incidents, such as those that substantially affect the ability of an agency to conduct business.

And in Washington state, legislators passed a measure that requires all state agencies to report a major cybersecurity incident to the state office of cybersecurity.

Its a new thing. Theres a realization that this reporting is very beneficial in terms of understanding whats happening, said Pam Greenberg, a senior fellow at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Its a growing acknowledgement of the problem and doing something to address it.

All 50 states already have security breach notification laws that require businesses to report a data breach to consumers whose personal information was compromised, according to Greenberg. Many states also require government entities to do the same, as well as report such breaches to the attorney generals office or state information technology office.

But ransomware and other cyberattacks dont always involve a release of personal information, she pointed out, so they may not have to be reported.

Ransomware attacks can be devastatingand costly. In Baltimore, for example, hackers crippled thousands of computers in 2019, demanding ransom, which city officials refused to pay. It wound up costing the city at least $18 milliona combination of lost or delayed revenue and the expense of restoring systems.

Indiana cybersecurity officials say the states new reporting law has been working well since it went into effect July 1. So far, the state technology office has received 73 reports from governments, according to Tad Stahl, director of the Indiana Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Five involved ransomware, 36 involved compromised email and the rest were other types of cyberattacks.

The law requires that every government entity appoint a contact person responsible for reporting a cyberattack and notify the state IT office who that person is. So far, about 500 people have signed up, Stahl said.

Its extremely helpful information to know, both for what it confirms that you suspect as well as what you didnt know, Stahl said.

In North Dakota, Michael Gregg, chief information security officer for the states IT department, said the new reporting law that took effect in August will help bolster state-local government relationships.

The big thing is it gives us another avenue to go out and communicate with these entities and better partner with them and provide them the resources they may not have, Gregg said. We also can go back and figure out what lessons have been learned.

At least one other state has paved the way: In North Carolina, cybercriminals have struck nearly two dozen local governments, school districts and public colleges with ransomware attacks since the beginning of 2020.

North Carolina cybersecurity officials only know thatand who got hit and howbecause a 2019 state law requires that all public agencies report such incidents to the state.

Data lacking

No one has complete data showing how many state and local governments are victimized in ransomware attacks.

When we go up to Capitol Hill, we get asked all the time, What are the numbers? Its hard to say, because no one keeps stats and sometimes it isnt reported, said Meredith Ward, policy and research director at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

In the groups annual survey last month, state chief information officers overwhelmingly named ransomware as their top cybersecurity concern.

If reporting were required in all 50 states, it would allow state cybersecurity officials to offer locals assistance with training and other resources, Ward said.

Cybersecurity is an all-hands-on-deck, team sport, she said. We tend to have these siloes in government, and cybersecurity is one of those issues where that cannot remain the norm. Its too big of an issue, too big of a risk.
The meeting was held in the presence of a large crowd of people, as well as civil and military actors and tribal sheikhs.

He began with a minute of silence for the souls of the martyrs, then the co-chair of the Civil Council in Tabqa, Sefin Hammou, welcomed the attendees.

The co-chair of the Executive Council in Tabqa, Hind Al-Ali, touched on the latest developments in the region, especially the special methods of war pursued by some agendas, especially the Damascus government to shake confidence between the Autonomous Administration and the people, especially with regard to handing over areas to the Damascus government.

Hind Al-Ali confirmed that the reason for prolonging the life of the Syrian crisis is the intransigence of the Damascus government, its rejection of dialogue and its attempt to impose its conditions, and this is what the Autonomous Administration does not accept.

Hind stressed, "We are with the unity of the Syrian territories, but we reject the central mentality, and one of our priorities is also to expel the Turkish occupier from all Syrian lands."

She added, "When the Syrian regime abandoned these areas to ISIS, the Syrian Democratic Forces, which were formed from the people of the region, came to rid the people of the oppression and terrorism of ISIS, and we tell them we will not retreat or surrender, because these lands were liberated with the blood of our martyrs who gave their most precious possessions, which is their lives, and we will not deviate from the path they set."

In turn, the co-chair of the Defense Office in the Tabqa area, Hakki Muhammad, said, "Our military forces are present and will not take a step back, and we have liberated these areas from the largest terrorist organization in the world, and we will not surrender."

"The rumors that have emerged in the recent period are aimed at destabilizing security and stability in the region, but they will not work with the presence of our conscious and educated people, and the presence of our military forces that believe in the blood that their comrades provided to liberate these areas," said Hakki Hammou.

In turn, the head of the Tabqa sub-district in the Future Syria Party, Yasser Al-Kurdi, stressed, "We, as a political party, always call on the Damascus government to sit at the dialogue table, the Syrian-Syrian dialogue that will save all Syrian regions from this crisis and solve all problems and crises, but it always rejects this dialogue."

In conclusion, the discussion was opened to the audience for discussion.

It is worth mentioning that the Civil Administration organized similar meetings today in the western countryside of Tabqa in the village of Al-Bu Asi and in the northern countryside of the town of Al-Jarniyah.

A

ANHA
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. WNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. WNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph.
" " Notre Dame, arguably the most beloved cathedral in the world, burns in Paris on April 15, 2019. Philippe Wang/Getty Images

On the evening of April 15, 2019, the world watched in stunned silence as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Our Lady of Paris, burned. The medieval edifice was the site of countless historical events, from the coronations of Napoleon Bonaparte and Henry VI of England, to the beatification of Joan of Arc. French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to rebuild the structure, which retained its crowned double towers but lost its famous spire and two-thirds of its original wooden roof, made from 5,000 oak trees. Before the fire was completely extinguished, one European billionaire pledged $113 million euros to reconstruct the 800-year-old gothic cathedral. But what went into building it in the first place?

The cornerstone of Notre Dame Cathedral was laid in 1163 C.E., by order of King Louis VII, whose only other claim to fame was that he was the first husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine (which was basically like marrying 12th-century Beyonce). Built on Ile de la Cite, a natural island in the middle of the river Seine and the site of the first settlement that developed into what is now Paris, Notre Dame was plopped down on top of the rubble of two older churches (that had earlier replaced an ancient pagan temple) and a small medieval neighborhood. Maurice de Sully, then bishop of Paris, convinced the crown to invest an astronomical amount of money in the project  the cathedral ended up costing almost $1 billion in today's figures.

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In the Middle Ages, the Church began granting forgiveness of sins to people who either went to fight in the Crusades or went to work building one of the lavish cathedrals that were popping up around Europe. The Notre Dame cathedral as we know it today took nearly two centuries to build  it was completed in 1345 C.E.  and more than 1,000 carpenters, masons, metalsmiths and other laborers worked on its construction. Of course, many of these people never saw it completed, although Bishop Sully celebrated the first Mass at Notre Dame's altar in 1182 C.E.

Notre Dame was built during a time when architects were pushing technology to its limits in the quest to make a taller building with thinner walls and more windows. The original plans for Notre Dame called for much thicker walls to hold up a heavy roof. Several lead architects worked on Notre Dame in the two centuries of construction, and over time they figured out that the way to support Notre Dame's enormous, spectacular stained glass windows and 115-foot (35-meter) ceiling was to add flying buttresses to keep the walls from flopping outward.

In recent centuries, Notre Dame Cathedral has taken a bit of a beating due to a cocktail of pollution, natural weathering from rain and cold, and some hard-core neglect and mistreatment during the French Revolution. Victor Hugo's novel "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" made much of the cathedral's decay, which resulted in some restoration in the mid-19th century.

But now, still more restoration is needed for the building that Hugo called "a symphony in stone," which has watched over Paris for the better part of a millenia.

"Every face, every stone, of this venerable monument," wrote Hugo of Notre Dame, "is a page not only of the history, of the country, but of the history of science and art."

Now That's Interesting Notre Dame's spire was not original  it was added on during a major restoration in the 1840s.
Mr. Lindley is a Seattle writer and attorney with experience in public service law, teaching, research and consulting. He is a past chair of the World Peace through Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association, and investigated the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a staff attorney with the US House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations.

Bill Mauldin couldnt help himself. Ever since his hardscrabble childhood in the Southwest, the renowned cartoonist championed the oppressed, the underdog.

As an enlisted soldier in Europe during World War II, Mauldin braved Army censors and the wrath of Gen. George S. Patton to depict the grim reality of war with his iconic drawings of Willie and Joe, dogface combat infantrymen who slumped in contrast to the Hollywood stereotype of eager, handsome, high-spirited American soldiers. Instead, Willie and Joe were weary, disheveled, bearded, often rain-soaked and mud-caked, in dread of death beyond their fetid foxholes, dependably irreverent and ironic, and real.

Willie and Joe made Mauldin a hero to his fellow grunts, won him a Pulitzer Prize by age 23, and set him on a course of drawing, writing and activism for fairness and justice.

In the sweeping first biography of the celebrated cartoonist, Bill Mauldin: A Life Up Front (W. W. Norton), historian Todd DePastino recounts Mauldins unsettled childhood, wartime exploits, early fame, personal struggles, and his post-war commitment to civil rights and justice. Artist Jules Feiffer said the biography portrays a twentieth century life that reads like Huck Finn transplanted.

DePastino also wrote the acclaimed history Citizen Hobo: How a Century of Homelessness Shaped America, and edited the new cartoon collection, Willie & Joe: The WWII Years (Fantagraphics). Hes currently working on a history of the 1877 labor unrest and the railroads. He teaches at Waynesburg College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

DePastino recently discussed his Mauldin biography from Pennsylvania.

Robin Lindley: Did your work on Bill Mauldin grow out of your earlier history of homelessness, Citizen Hobo?

Todd DePastino: Two illustrations for that book were Bill Mauldin cartoons. The problem of that book was writing a history of this wide-ranging, homeless subculture, a counterculture, of mainly young men that rambled over the country from the Civil War until World War II. This huge subculture of homeless men existed for 75 years, then vanished after Pearl Harbor. And a couple laughed and said they didnt disappear, they went into the army, like Willie and Joe.

I wasnt familiar with Bill Mauldin or Willie and Joe. I went to my library and found a yellowed, 1945 edition of [Mauldins book] Up Front, thumbed through it, and I couldnt believe what I saw. The drawings pulled me in, captivated my attention like nothing has for a long time. Id never seen anything like these cartoons. They werent about highly motivated paratroopers or Marines or flyboys. They were sardonic. They were dark. They were anti-establishment, anti-war. They seemed to tell a whole other story, like a hidden transcript of the war: the extreme fatigue, the extreme hardship, the extreme trauma of combat. These cartoons captured that and were published in Stars and Stripes, an official publication of the United States Army. How did these anti-Army cartoons end up in an Army publication? That was the scholarly question that animated my research at first.

Then I learned more about Bill Mauldin. I learned he lived for almost 60 years after the war, and lived with the great celebrity. I learned of his involvement in left-wing politics after the war, and of his dropping out of cartooning, then coming back to cartooning and winning another Pulitzer, running for Congress, going to Vietnam and being at Pleiku, going to Korea. He had such an adventurous life. I said theres more here than a scholarly article on his cartoons, theres really a biography, and I couldnt believe no one had written a biography of him.

When I start work on a book, I try to find a reason not to write it. It was more frustrating than Citizen Hobo because in a biography, youre trying to crack the code of a human life, to render a life in its contradictions, complexity, randomness into some coherent narrative, and its very hard to do. Youre also trying to plumb the depths of a personality and find out whats the secret to this character. You keep believing just a little more research, one more interview, one more archive, and youll discover the secret. You never do, and thats the humbling thing about writing biography. All you can do is tell what you know with as much coherence as you can, and a lot is left to the reader to connect the dots of the character.

And in looking for a reason not to write the book, I asked people why there has never been a biography of Bill Mauldin, and they said people dont write biographies of cartoonists. That made me want to write it even more.

RL: And he was also a journalist and commentator.

TD: Yes. One of the best conversations I had was with Stanley Meltzoff. Hes about 88, was an illustrator on Stars and Stripes, and was responsible for discovering Mauldin. He has tremendous insight on twentieth-century cartooning, book illustration and art. He said, To call Bill Mauldin a cartoonist downgrades what he did, what those pictures meant to people. To call him an artist almost reifies himwe think of artists as alienated, detached, contemplating the eternal verities, working aloneand Mauldin wasnt like that. His art was meant to be consumed that day by the people around him. He was drawing what he saw and publishing it on a daily basis. That is not what we think of as art, and to call it art thinks abstracts what he was doing.

Stanley Meltzoff said [Mauldin] was a picture makermaking pictures of people lives in extremely traumatic situations. And he was making pictures that had a therapeutic effect. These combat soldiers would see themselves depicted and were somewhat cheered because they got the sense that somebody understood, and that the person who understood, Bill Mauldin, was making his understanding public and showing others what their lives were like.

When Mauldin's cartoons first hit the home front, Americans had never seen Army infantry soldiers depicted this way. In all the Hollywood movies and magazines they might be a little dirty but they were rugged and handsome and motivated and gung ho for victory. And Willie and Joe werent like that at all. They were just trying to survive and get through.

RL: They never made the recruiting posters.

TD: No. But Mauldin was amazed to learn that rear-echelon soldiers were scruffing up their clothing to look like Willie and Joe, so they had a fashion impact. Before Willie and Joe, it was fashionable to look like you were in the Air Corps.

RL: Doesnt Mauldins work resonate now as we fight yet another war?

TD: We seem to have to learn the lesson in each war that it takesI hate the phraseboots on the ground. It takes armed individuals taking territory to win war, whether youre talking about World War II, Vietnam, or Iraq.

It isnt generally discussed, but our game plan for Europe in World War II failed. We had expected to win that war through long-range artillery, through aerial bombardment, naval power. It turned out that we discounted the number of combat troops we would need on the ground, so we never had enough men in Europe, which is why the war took as long as it did, and which is also why Willie and Joe were on the frontline for so long. Those guys should have been taken out after 14 days, and they werent. They were kept in 30, 45 days in combat straight. We didnt have enough replacements. We hadnt planned for a long, intense ground war. Does that sound familiar?

I would like to go back through the cartoons. Some are universal because the experience of combat [holds] universal truths. I feel like a fugitive from the law of averages. Thats a universal feeling in combat. You wonder when your number will be up.

RL: Mauldins overarching themes of fairness and justice seem to arise from his childhood.

TD: He was so shaped by his environment, the rugged, desert southwest. He had seen plenty of people pushed around and bullied by cattle barons and land baronsmore powerful people, including his poor farm family. He learned a powerful lesson: to maintain your independence you have to push back against authority. He had a reflexive sympathy for the underdog that nothing could squelch. He was always ready for a fight. Some of that came from his unstable family background. He valued independence more than anything. Growing up close to the dust bowl, he saw a lot of people just fighting to survive, and he assimilated that perspective into his life and work. He identified with people who were oppressed. Willie and Joe were oppressed. You could imagine them unemployed or on a picket line before the war.

I live in Pittsburgh, and come from here, and I see them as Pittsburgh steelworkers. I talked with the animator Ralph Bakshi the other day, and he comes from Brooklyn, and he always sees them as Brooklyners. Wherever youre from, you imagine Willie and Joe as the representative outsiders.

Mauldin always identified with outsiders. He was an outsider in his community in New Mexico. He was scrawny. He didnt have the skills to be a rough, tough rural entrepreneur. He had a bookish quality that wasnt valued there.

RL: His father also treated him as an outsider.

TD: Exactly. And his father was an outsider in his own right. His father was abandoned at age eight, and raised in a brothel. He was a hell raiser, and an unstable but charismatic, very smart, and raised himself, and Mauldin followed in his footsteps and raised himself.

RL: And Mauldins work ethic was so strong. He worked day and night at drawing, even during the war.

TD: Yes. He was fastidious and extremely disciplined about his work. He said many times that he did not think of himself as an artist. To him that term connoted things he didnt like: the sense of an alienated genius waiting for inspiration to strike. That wasnt him.

His ethic in terms of cartooning came from Hillbilly Larry Smith, a local Alamogordo cartoonist who has gone down in history as the creator of the jackelope postcards. If Hillbilly Larry wanted to eat, hed bat out a few cartoons and take them to a restaurant and trade them for a meal. Thats what he taught Bill. Bat it out. Every second you waste is money youre losing.

He never treated his art as precious or timeless. He viewed himself not as an artist but as a craftsman. He was fastidious. He felt he had to get every detail right. The captions were as important to him as the drawings. He needed to get the right tone and texture of the discourse in the captions.

He always saw himself in working class terms as a craftsman; as somebody who traded his work for money and for a position in society; as somebody whose craft entitled him to have a voice. And for him, it was always a voice for those who didnt have voicesthe silent majority of the down and out who had no voice in societyhe saw himself speaking for them.

RL: Who were his influences as an artist?

TD: His initial influences were cartoonists, then he learned about Hogarth and Daumier from Rayson Billey, a Chocktaw Indian in the 180th Infantry Regiment of the 145th Infantry Division. Rayson Billey was the biggest, meanest soldier you could imagine, and yet he was also one of the most educated, intellectual men Mauldin had ever met. The combination fascinated Mauldin. Here was an American Indian who was fighting for his citizenship. That spoke to Mauldinit fired his conscience and imagination. He identified with these Chocktaw warriors in his company. He wanted desperately to get their approval, and to be a good soldier for them. Rayson Billey was one of his heroes through his life, and it was Rayson Billey who taught him about pictorial satire. He had taken a class on it at Oklahoma University, and Mauldin hadnt been to college.

RL: And for years, Mauldin thought Rayson Billey had been killed in the war, then he met him years later.

TD: Yes. Rayson Billey is listed in a few official histories of the regiment as being killed in action, and he wasnt. He was missing in action. He was captured a couple times. He killed his captors, and was subsequently wounded at Anzio, and removed. He was wounded several times. Through all the wounds and captures, he was lost in the shuffle. He went back home Oklahoma and didnt travel much. Then he made his way to the 145th Division reunion in 1982, I believe, and surprised Mauldin there.

RL: What was Mauldins relationship with Gen. George S. Patton?

TD: I never say this in the book, but hope it comes across. Patton in many ways was Mauldins doppelganger, his double. That is, somebody who is like you in a significant way, and yet different. From day one when he first saw Willie and Joe, Patton was gunning to have Mauldin removed from [Stars and Stripes], and Mauldin was protected by his division commander.

Patton hated the cartoons as much for the disheveled appearance of the characters as for the insubordination expressed in the cartoons. Patton was a spit and polish guy and he didnt like soldiers looking sloppy. I think Patton didnt have much of a sense of humor, and didnt understand a lot of humor, but he understood the pictures well enough to know these guys were disheveled and therefore insubordinate.

But what Patton had that Mauldin admired was an expertise, a craftsmanship and a passion about all things military. Mauldin shared that passion. Mauldin loved anyone who was passionate about their craft, and he also loved the military. He loved the military like many love their families: theres nothing you love more and nothing infuriates you more than your family. In many ways the army was his family. He was a young man, and the army was an early home for him, and he never quite escaped its reach and influence.

His relationship with Patton was fascinating because he saw a lot of himself in Patton. Both had a secret sense of his own importance and his own destiny. Mauldin had this will to power. He wanted to be a spokesman for the GI. He embraced the role as a kind of leader of enlisted men in Europe. He loved being a leader, though he would deny it at times.

RL: He must have relished his role as a voice for the downtrodden.

TD: Definitely. He was spokesperson for the downtrodden, for outsiders who had been forgotten by mainstream society. The home front had no idea what these guys were going through. He relished that role of a lifetime. And Patton had a similar sense of his importance and destiny.

You have these very different characters from very different backgrounds meeting on February 27, 1945 at the ducal palace in Luxembourg, and they are confronting each other. Its mainly a top-down confrontation with Patton lecturing Mauldin for 45 minutes on the importance of military discipline with examples reaching back to antiquity, and Mauldin is given five minutes to rebut. Its one of those great poignant moments in a lifetime when you face your adversary who has a lot in common with you.

How Mauldin behaved afterward is so telling because, although he was dressed down by Patton, when he emerged from the meeting and ran into Time-Life correspondent Will Lang, Lang asked for Mauldins version of the meeting for an exclusive. Mauldin said, He said his piece, I said mine. I dont think we changed each others mind, but we parted as friends. And that infuriated Patton when he heard about it later. But Mauldin had to get the last word in, and he got the last word in with that comment. And on the day of the meeting, he published a cartoon criticizing Patton, and so that if he was silenced at the meeting, he would still get the last word in.

RL: My dad was in the infantry in the South Pacific and survived terrible fighting in New Guinea, and Bill Mauldin struck a chord with him.

TD: I can imagine. And its interesting that Mauldins cartoons werent reprinted in the Pacific Stars and Stripes, and Douglas MacArthur made sure that they werent. MacArthur didnt like Mauldin any more than Patton did. Pacific soldiers had heard about him, and read Ernie Pyles column about, but they hadnt seen the cartoons. Often, the people from home would mail soldiers in the Pacific cartoons, or late in the war they began mailing servicemens editions of Up Front.

RL: And Mauldins work became important in 1943 when President Roosevelt and Gen. George C. Marshall decided to show civilians the reality of the war so they would understand the seriousness of the war.

TD: Yes. Before then, every battle was a victory; every step a soldier took was a step toward the end of the war. Expectations on the home front ballooned that the war would be over by Christmas 1943. Of course, the war planners and the president knew better than that, and [by] the summer of 1943 they had to dampen expectations. And they also wanted to raise money through bond drives, and they had to protect themselves from criticism about wage and price controls, rationing, and the scarcity of goods.

The idea was to begin publishing images of American war dead, and of soldiers in grim situations. You think youre sacrificing by only getting three gallons of gas a week and not getting butter every week, but these soldiers are living in foxholes and encountering artillery fire and fighting a very lethal enemy, and we need to give them all the support we can muster.

Mauldin was part of this new publicity campaigna campaign of selective truth. Certain images would be released. American war dead would be shown, but theyd be face down in the sand, not in twisted or grotesque positions. This is still Hollywoods version of war dead.

Mauldin knew he couldnt get away with everything he wanted to say about the gruesomeness of combat, and especially about battle fatiguewhat we now call post traumatic stress disorderwhere soldiers literally forgot their own names, couldnt respond, couldnt hear, were nearly catatonic. Hed seen this time and again. He had seen men walk to the front as though they were going to the gas chamber, and this is something he couldnt [show] in cartoons.

Theres one wonderful cartoon of Willie in a hospital bed. Hes unbandaged, and hes staring straight ahead. Theres officers standing around him, and one says to another, Couldnt he at least lie at attention? The cartoon captures so much. That is one of Mauldins comments on battle fatigue. Willie is catatonic, and the brass wont acknowledge the trauma these guys are experiencing.

RL: Do you think Mauldin was affected by posttraumatic stress disorder?

TD: He certainly had a special survivors guilt. Not only did he survive, but he became a rich and famous celebrity. Hes everything he ever wanted because of the war, and very rapidly. And it didnt escape his notice that the worse the war got, the more popular he became.

Eric Severeid said, Combat gives men new eyes. They see things with a clarity theyve never seen before. That was true for Mauldin throughout his career. Whenever hes at a crisis moment, his art is the best, as in World War II. As you trace his development, the captions are sharper and the drawings much more vivid.

He carried that paradox his whole life. On the one hand, he had connived to escape combat by working on the paper. He knew if he failed he would be given a gun and sent to the lines, and he didnt want that. So he abandoned his comrades who he admired so much to work on this newspaper. He survived combat and his whole company got wiped out. He felt that he exploited these people, and he could have been one of them.

And he had never told the whole truth. The whole truth was unpalatable, so by drawing Willie and Joe he made it palatable. He allowed Willie and Joe to survive the war. They never would have survived. By the end of the war, he was distraught and bitter about this. He told his editor he was going to kill Willie and Joehave a mortar explode and [show] pieces of clothing and helmet. His editor said well never print it, so he didnt do it. He took Willie and Joe home with him, and I think he regretted that.

RL: That must have been very painful for him.

TD: Yes. He couldnt stand going to Memorial Day services or reunions. The older he got, the more affected he became by memories of the war.

RL: Mauldins interest in justice carried over to his work after the war.

TD: Red baiters and racists were his main targets. Civil rights was one issue that defined his cartooning all along. He so identified with outsiders. He was part Native American, and an outsider himself.

It infuriated him when he saw discrimination. He first thought about it when he saw Japanese-American soldiers from the 442nd Regiment fight with valor in Italythe most highly decorated unit in American military historyand he saw them return to the United States and be denied access to restaurants, bars and home ownership. That infuriated him. When he heard anti-Semitism from Southern senators after the war, that infuriated him. Black soldiers returning to segregated schools and neighborhoods outraged him.

He came home bitter and disillusioned, thinking that nothing could justify the slaughter he witnessed; nothing could justify the catastrophe of the war. He was desperate to find some meaning for the war. He ultimately hit on the idea that if were not living up to the American ideals of freedom and democracy, the war was true hypocrisy and an unmitigated catastrophe. So he [was] a crusader for civil rights very early on in 1945, not only for African-Americans, but for Jewish Americans, Nisei, Mexican-Americans, Native-Americans. He was at the forefront of all this.

The Red baiting he saw also infuriated him. He knew, as all the soldiers in Europe knew, that the Red Army had defeated Nazi Germany. Most American soldiers were grateful that the Red Army had absorbed the Wehrmachts hardest punches [and] the Americans were spared the slaughter of the Eastern front.

Bill Mauldin, like many Americans, came home very grateful for the Red Army and with warm feelings for the Soviet Union. He couldnt stand the idea of the war being over just a week, and already there was talk of a Third World War with the Soviet Union. He couldnt stand the lack of diplomatic initiative. Eventually, when he [learned of] the actions of Josef Stalin in the Soviet Union and the imperialism and unilateral territory grabs in Eastern Europe, he was upset, and he couldnt stand American communists defending that.

He was a sort of man without a country for a while. He was caught between the left, which he saw as apologists for the Soviet Union, and the right, which he saw as [having] a fascist enthusiasm for a catastrophic war with the Soviet Union. He was a lone voice of independent liberalism for a while.

RL: And he soon gained an adversary in J. Edgar Hoover.

TD: It didnt take long. By late 1945, the FBI opened a file on him, kept him under surveillance, collected his cartoons, kept a record of speeches he gave, and the groups he joined. All of that was used in his 1956 congressional race by his opponent who had access to that raw FBI data.

RL: Did you review the FBI files?

TD: I did. Informants were sending in cartoons that they read in papers. He was under surveillance at an El Paso, Texas, army base in 1949. All his contacts with organizations are listed: American Youth for Democracy, the Anti-Fascist Joint Refugee Committee. And things were added into the early Seventies.

RL: And he ran for Congress in 1956 in a very conservative district in New York as a liberal Democrat.

TD: He ran an exhausting campaign. He flew his own airplane and drove his own jeep, and he outscored any Democrat before him. He took it very seriously, and didnt want to be just a celebrity candidate.

RL: Mauldin went back to cover both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and survived a mortar attack at Pleiku when visiting his son.

TD: Yes. His son just happened to be stationed at Pleiku [in 1965], a little base, and no one expected that the Vietnam War as we know it would start there, but it did. This was the first direct Viet Cong attack on American troops. Mauldin just happened to be there with his son at the wrong time. The mortar attack came, and he saw the dead and wounded. He was the only correspondent there. He took some photographs, did some sketches, and helped with the dead and wounded.

He wouldnt say this, but I think he avoided combat in Korea. He didnt want to hang around the front lines. Hed had enough of that in World War II. He was reluctant to go to begin with, but he was offered so much money, he couldnt pass it up. He went to Korea but went back and forth between Japan and Korea a lot, and on a naval ship. The same in Vietnam. He stayed in Saigon, except for a day or two in Pleiku. He just happened to be there at the wrong time, saw combat again, and he didnt like it. He said he didnt like it any more than the first time, and he wasnt eager to do it again.

RL: Didnt Mauldin support the war right after the attack on Pleiku?

TD: He did. As Mauldin put it, the war was personal. He saw friends of his son hurt and killed, and he went through the terror, and he was outraged. He believed the American effort there was right then, and he liked President Johnson, and he trusted him for a while, but was always skeptical. In fact, an early cartoon from 1964 on the Gulf of Tonkin showed prescience and a real skepticism about the war effort. He was hawkish after Pleiku for a while, but he said it didnt take him long to realize it was an ill-defined adventure that would cost a lot more in life than [they were] hearing. By 1968, he was radically against the war.

RL: And Mauldin was a friend of LBJ?

TD: Yes. As long as he embraced the war, LBJ liked him. In some way he was a kindred spirit with Mauldin. Two smart, ambitious shit kickers, as LBJ put it, from the Southwest, with a shared fierce sense of humor. They were two men with a sense of grievance toward those who were better bred. But when Mauldin turned against the war, he was frozen out, and never invited back to the LBJ Ranch or the White House.

RL: He also challenged the machine of Mayor Richard Daley in Chicago.

TD: He said Daley reminded him of Mussolinia real bully in how he ran the city. He saw it as his mission to puncture Daleys authority whenever he could. The 1968 riots at the Democratic Convention in Chicago re-radicalized him. He entered his last great renaissance in 1968, and his art dramatically improved.

RL: Did you meet Bill Mauldin?

TD: No. I began work on this book just months after he died. But his family was wonderful. They were extremely helpful, and this couldnt have been done without their cooperation. His sons that I worked with and Chris Lund, his third wife, not only shared memories but also offered interpretations, and some were quite strong. One son really wanted to pull back and not impose an interpretation on me. He wanted me to figure it out for myself and let the chips fall where they may. They didnt want a whitewash or elegy to him. They wanted a serious, probing book about his life and work.

RL: I met him briefly in 1982 at a Washington, DC art gallery group show of editorial cartoons, and he was very charming and warm.

TD: He was one of the most charismatic people a lot of his friends had ever met. Even later in life when he was at a detox center for alcoholism and other problems, his son said he had the patients and the staff wrapped around his finger with his charisma, and that helped keep people at arms length, strangely enough. He used his charisma to keep people from probing too deeply, getting too close. He had a contradictory personality. He was garrulous, charismatic, extremely engaging, and great observer of people and human nature, but he was a loner, very private, and insisted on keeping many things to himself.

RL: It was very moving to read of his last years. He had a lot of medical issues, but veterans admired him and sought him out. Have you heard from many veterans?

TD: I have, and its heartbreaking. These old men with a deep connection to Mauldins work thanking me for writing the book. These people have incredible traumatic memories from 60 years ago.

And Mauldin got hundreds of letters on his deathbed. One was in shaky, spidery scrawl from a woman who thanked Mauldin for drawing for her husband who was killed in action in 1944. She was writing about a trauma that occurred to her 60 years [earlier]. It taught me how those traumas are so fresh, and how intimately connected Mauldin is with that generations grief.
Theres a new leader but familiar face at the helm of Dairy Management Inc., the research and promotion program supported in part by dairy checkoff dollars. This fall, Barbara OBrien was selected to serve as the next CEO and president of Dairy Management Inc. and as well as president and CEO of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

It is such an honor to be asked to serve as the CEO, she said of her new role during a media press conference.

OBrien does not have a dairy farm background, but for the past 20 years, she has worked at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), overseeing various aspects of the organization. I was so compelled by the business, she said of her early experiences at DMI, that I never left.

She said she can relate to the farmers work ethic and humility, and the work done by DMI is all about the farmers and what they do every day to feed people.

This last couple of years, seeing the resurgence in hunger, feeding people has become so much more critical, she said.

As a DMI staff, she said they consider themselves to be stewards, of both the investment dairy farmers make in this program and of what has been done previously.

The building blocks are in place. Its an amazing set of companies to drive trusted sales around the world on behalf of dairy farmers, she explained. The challenge is to take that to the next level, to ensure we are doing everything we can for dairy farmers.

In the near term, OBrien has set a few priorities. One is to look at the various enterprises that make up DMI and foster stronger integration. While each enterprise has its own mission, Our real power is working together on those priorities that benefit farmers and the category, OBrien said.

She is also looking to improve transparency and communication with farmer funders, to help them see and understand the work of DMI and to give feedback. OBrien also believes there are efficiencies that can be captured by working more closely together to maximize the return on every dollar that farmers put into the program.

Long term, the organization will be guided by domestic and global customer and consumer needs. Its about winning the next generation of consumers, OBrien said, plus driving demand and sales domestically and abroad and putting U.S. dairys leadership in the spotlight for the rest of the world to see.

OBrien reminded the audience that 85% of DMI programs, staff time, and checkoff dollars are devoted to generating impact and results in the current year. About 10% goes into near term (next one to three years) research and partnerships that help evolve the organizations plan. A small portion of staff time and checkoff dollars, 5%, is dedicated to long term planning and future work.

Ultimately, its about working together to accomplish what we know we can accomplish for U.S. dairy, OBrien said of DMIs role in the dairy industry. We are going to continue to drive results for farmers. It is what they expect, and it is what they deserve.





To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021

November 15, 2021
" " If your turkey doesn't come with a pop-up timer already, you can purchase one and insert it before you roast it. Joshua Yospyn/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

If there's one thing ubiquitous with the American holiday of Thanksgiving, it's eating turkey. Millions of people throughout the United States sit down to a big meal that typically includes turkey as one of the main courses. Dining on a big roasted or fried bird has been a staple for centuries because turkey is one of the foods believed to have been shared between the pilgrims and Native Americans when they celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. (Although we now know that it's more likely they may have eaten fowl like ducks and geese along with some venison, explains NPR.)

For many people, roasting a turkey is a little bit easier thanks to a simple little gadget known as the pop-up timer. This smart piece of technology lets you know when your turkey is done so you don't have to stress over it. All you have to do is wait until the red indicator stick pops up and you know the bird is done and it's time to eat.

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But have you ever wondered how that timer knows exactly when your turkey is completely cooked? Read on to find out.
Facebook and its parent company Meta have been accused of using underhanded tactics to target teens. Photo: Shutterstock

Facebook cant catch a break, remaining in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week, unable to hide behind its new name.

The social media giant that now goes by Meta has been accused of lying, and continuing to target advertising using their personal data, and prioritising profits over the wellbeing of children.

This appears to contradict the companys announcement that it would limit how advertisers reach kids in an apparent bid to be a better corporate citizen.

A new report produced in Australia this week suggests that the social media behemoth has been targeting children for their perceived commercial vulnerabilities.

This includes collecting information and data on children such as browsing history, mood, insecurities, peer interests and more.

The research shows conversion APIs including Facebook Pixel and app SPK  two core machine learning tools in Facebooks ad delivery system armoury  are still active on teens accounts.

This means they still receive advertising personalised to their interests.

The research has been led by Elena Yi-Ching Ho and Dr Rys Farthing of Reset Australia, an organisation that works to counter digital threats to democracy as part of a global initiative.

Leave them kids alone

It polled 400 young people aged 16-17 across the nation, which found that 82 per cent of young people have been served ads so targeted to them that it made them feel uncomfortable.

It also found that 67 per cent of teens want a complete ban on this sort of surveillance advertising.

Reset Australia first revealed that Facebook was allowing advertising to target young people on age inappropriate issues back in April this year.

This included ads for gambling, extreme weight loss, alcohol and smoking.

Facebook subsequently announced that it would stop the practice, instead adopting a more precautionary approach after listening to advocates for young people.

But research published this week accuses Facebook of lying, saying it has not limited its use of surveillance advertising to teens.

Facebook is simply allowing their AI to target teens, using all the same personal data.

This is hardly a precautionary approach to advertising for children. Instead, it means the most private, intimate details of young people are still being harvested to fuel Facebooks intrusive advertising system.

All theyve changed is the user facing interface for advertisers, but not changed their system at all, Dr Farthing, director of data policy for Reset Australia said.

The only thing that has changed is that advertisers themselves are no longer able to specify that they want to target children interested in weight loss, for example, but Facebooks AI will do that for them, he said.

New code

The new research comes after the federal governments privacy review announced plans for an industry-drafted code that better protects childrens data rights.

Reset Australia says its clear Facebook cant be trusted to help draft a code which puts childrens interests first.

Data-driven advertising can be more misleading for children than traditional advertising and can increase commercial pressures leading to consumerism, disappointment and parent-child conflict, Reset Australia says.

Given the power of their AI, this may actually be worst for children. For example, if youre an energy drinks company wanting to target stressed out students, you cant ask Facebook explicitly to find them, but you can trust their AI ad delivery system will, Dr Farthing says.

The fact is that the result will be precisely the same, and Facebook knows this, he says.

The advocacy group is calling on Facebook to go on the record to end surveillance advertising.

It points out that multiple organisations around the world have passed regulations, or are in the process of enacting them, to address this.

Reset Australia accuses Facebook of putting its own interests first, saying the company is unable to act in childrens best interests.
A $111 million shot in the arm for the nations first coordinated strategy in quantum technologies fell short of expectations for the industrys peak digital advocacy body.

The Federal Governments funding announcement is predicted to unlock thousands of jobs in the coming years, which was broadly welcomed by the industry.

It is hoped the plan will deliver $4 billion in economic value and create 16,000 new jobs by 2040 for Australia.

This investment will help secure future economic opportunities for Australian businesses, create jobs and importantly, it will help keep Australians safe, Prime Minister Morrison said.

But the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) says the funds wont go far enough to deliver a leading national Quantum Strategy.

CEO Ron Gauci has been actively advocating for quantum-specific funding and acknowledged that the funding is a good start. Hes hoping for close consultation with industry to ensure Australia is not left behind.

The government needs to execute at speed and scale, or we will continue to lose highly skilled people offshore and get left further behind on these critical technologies, he said.

Funding announced in Mays budget for the national AI strategy is still yet to be accessed by industry. We need the government to move at speed to harness the opportunities such as quantum and AI offer Australia.

The federal government needs to develop a national strategy that will propel the ICT sector forward to ensure Australia doesnt become a laggard, he says.

Gauci points to Canada as an example, which has invested $390 million ($C360 million) over seven years to launch a national quantum strategy.

His comments come after Prime Minister Scott Morrison identified quantum technologies as one of its nine technologies for initial focus, unveiling a $111 million shot in the arm for the technology.

The quantum investment includes $70 million for the Quantum Commercialisation Hub to foster strategic partnerships with like-minded countries to commercialise quantum research and help Australian businesses access new markets and investors.

The hub will be supported by the development of a National Quantum Strategy and quantum technologies prospectus.

Morrison says this will align industry and government efforts and help businesses access new markets and investors.

The strategy will be informed by a national committee on quantum, comprised of a group of industry stakeholders and experts, led by Australias chief scientist, Dr Cathy Foley.

Minister for the Digital Economy Jane Hume said the government is grasping the opportunities in quantum technology as a jobs creation vehicle and to boost the nations research, innovation and productivity.

The global quantum industry is expected be worth at least $86 billion by 2040, Hume said.

By embracing and fostering this technology, we can increase the power of computing, as well as help create more reliable navigation and more secure communications. Its the logical extension of our investment in digitisation and a focus of the Digital Economy Strategy, she said.

In welcoming the news, The University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Mark Scott said the nation is at a crucial stage of transitioning from fundamental research to the translation of quantum physics into real-world machines.

These have the potential to contribute huge shifts in pharmaceutical design, personalised medicine, cyber security, transport optimisation and hundreds of yet-to-be released applications, Scott said.

The nation needs to continue fostering a culture of openness in developing the fundamental science that underpins quantum technology, he added.

Just like the early pioneers of classical computers last century could not imagine the invention of the smart phone, artificial intelligence or the internet, our quantum pioneers are laying the basis for a complete paradigm shift in technological development.
The Australian Labor Party has announced it will provide free broadband for a year to 30,000 homes which have no Internet connections, as part of its broadband policy for the upcoming election.

In a tweet, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said: "Labor will provide a year of free broadband access for up to 30,000 families with no internet at home."

He did not offer any further details. The statement comes a day after Albanese said the party would, if elected, provide $2.4 billion to extend fibre to an additional 1.5 million homes over and above those which the Coalition has promised to wire.

Every student in Australia should have access to the internet. Labor will provide support for up to 30,000 families who currently don't have internet at home with free broadband for a year.@MRowlandMP @Tanya_Plibersek pic.twitter.com/bJAeq6fDl0  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 18, 2021

Reaction to Albanese's tweet was mixed, with the very first one being from Labor voter Philip Parker who said: "If thats the sort of nonsense policy agenda were likely to see, then as a Labor voter Im disillusioned about Labors prospects at the next election."

Another Twitter user asked whether the offer was means-tested, adding that it should be given only to those who had electric vehicles and solar hot water and power so they would not contribute to higher emissions.

But a third user, named Scott Francis, said: "Doesn't seem like the sort of policy that needs to be means tested - if you don't currently have Internet at home you aren't likely to be dining on lobster and prawn.

"Seems like a great program for equity  as a teacher, I know students without reliable Internet are disadvantage."
Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 47F. WNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 47F. WNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Killeen, TX (76540)

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
1. Yes. The Schlueter Group has extensive experience and contacts. Its a good investment.

2. Yes. The firms namesake has a background as a legislator and knows Killeen well.

3. No. The expenditure is a waste of money. Our lawmakers should be doing that work.

4. No. The contract should be shorter, incentivized and based on performance benchmarks.

5. Unsure. Its not always easy to quantify the outcomes of lobbying efforts.

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Black Leaders: Redistricting Process Is Rushed, Inconsistent, Incomplete

African American leaders in California are keeping a close eye on the commission drafting congressional, state Senate, state Assembly and Board of Equalization voting maps. They are concerned about the outcome of the redistricting process.

Last Wednesday, the California Citizens Redistricting Commission released the first draft maps of the redrawn lines for the states voting districts. By state law, the finalized versions of the new political districts have to be completed by Dec. 27.

But advocates like James Woodson, the policy director of the California Black Census and Redistricting Hub (CBCRH), are asking the commission to press pause and reevaluate the maps they have come up with so far. The CBCRH, also called the Black Hub is a statewide coalition focused on racial equity and fairness in the redistricting process.

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The Black Hub appreciates the commissions hard work and its early release of the maps for public input. At the same time, the Black Hub is deeply concerned that the process for developing the maps has been rushed, inconsistent, and incomplete, said Woodson. It has resulted in maps that have ignored the interests of many Black communities and millions of residents in the states most populated areas.

For example, draft maps released by the commission last month collapsed the only two congressional districts in Los Angeles County represented by Black U.S. Congressmembers, Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) and Karen Bass (D-CA-37), into one district. After advocates and activists complained about African Americans losing political power, the commission separated the single district it was proposing into two constituencies again. But because California lost one seat in the U.S. Congress due to an overall drop in the states population, according to

the U.S. 2020 Census numbers, advocates worry that it will cause a ripple effect, which will change the racial and political composition of districts across the state.

The Black Hub leaders and other advocates in the state are urging Black Californians to speak up and provide input to ensure their communities do not lose representation or resources.

Its not just about us losing political power. Its also about us losing assets, said Kellie Todd Griffin, a resident of the Los Angeles County city of Carson, where the number of Black residents accounts for more than 25 % of the citys total population. Los Angeles County, where California is expected to lose one congressional seat, is home to about 40 % of African Americans in the state.

Griffin, who is an organizer and entrepreneur, is known in Californias political circles for her outspoken advocacy on behalf of Black Californians. She says with the Olympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, there will be a lot of development and an increase in revenue for government and businesses in Carson. Redrawn political districts, she fears, could hurt her city and others nearby economically.

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When you look at the maps, you see that our congressional district in Carson has been attached more to Redondo Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes instead of being connected to cities like Long Beach and Compton and places like that, Griffin said. There is also an assumption that Blacks and other minorities in the area vote the same on issues. As we know, that is not always true. We have specific issues that affect us Blacks differently. So, we vote differently on them  from some criminal justice reforms to the Crown Act.

One of the realities driving the leaders concern is the possibility that the Black vote in five different regions of California will be diluted.

Rather than adhere to map priorities from BIPOC communities, we are concerned that, in an effort to prioritize all voices, some commissioners have mistakenly and unknowingly elevated voices from less diverse, affluent communities in the process, and at the expense of BIPOC communities, said Woodson.

According to CBCRH, because the proposed maps chop up and split districts where African Americans live, Black political power will be diluted in Los Angeles County, San Diego County, the Central Valley, the Bay Area and the Inland Empire. To address the problem, they have submitted proposed maps to the redistricting commission that will protect Black political power and representation.

Another major concern is the compressed timeline on which the commission is working, which limits the time for citizens to influence the line drawing process. This year, due to pandemic-related federal delays, census data the commission relies on to redraw maps was delayed. Instead of its usual release in March, the U.S. Census Bureau did not provide that information until Sept. 21.

The Black Hub is deeply concerned that the process for developing the maps has been rushed, inconsistent, and incomplete. It has resulted in maps that have ignored the interests of many Black communities and millions of residents in the states most populated areas, said a statement released by CBCRH last week.

Every 10 years, California appoints a new redistricting commission after the U.S. Census. It is tasked with mapping or re-drawing the states electoral lines based on population shifts in the state population over the decade between census counts.
Compton Community Engages Prayer to Fight Crime

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The callous murder of Pastor Reggie Moore enraged Comptons faith community, resulting in the marshaling of the most powerful weapon in their arsenal  prayer!

An ecumenical and multicultural group of concerned citizens answered the call of the Rev. Dr. Michael J. Fisher to join him in a vigil and rally to beseech Gods guidance in catching Moores killers as well as erasing the criminal element from the city.

Moore, an associate minister at God of Christ Church in Compton, was fatally shot on October 24 near his church. His family said the 67-year-old minister had just finished a Bible study class and was going to his car when the attack occurred in the 1100 block of Compton Boulevard near Dwight Avenue.

We are coming together to pray because our position in the city as clergy is to always cover the city in prayer. The second reason were doing it is so the neighborhood and community will know that the clergy is not divided on this issue about peace in our streets and unity in our neighborhood, asserted Fisher, who is the senior pastor of Greater Zion Church Family and president of Pastors for Compton.

Were publicly standing together to declare that we wont operate in fear. Were also going to work toward a solution of protecting and guarding our city.

About 75 clergy and community members participated in the vigil, which was sponsored by Pastors for Compton, along with ministerial alliances headed by Pastor Jack Wilson and Pastor George Thomas. Also, elected officials attended the event including Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Mayor Emma Sharif and Councilmember Isaac Galvin.

Gipson, as well as ministers such as Pastor Rayford Owens and Bishop Jawane Hilton, prayed for safety in the streets of Compton and for the peace of God to rule the city.

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Bishop Johnny Withers implored, I need somebody to shout, God stop the stubbornness of this city. Stubbornness go back to hell where you came from. I come to pray that whatever demonic force has loosed itself in this city, I bind up and send them back to hell where he has come from!

With equal fierceness, Pastor Hector Monarrez affirmed, In Ephesians 6:10, the Bible teaches that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We war not against humanity, but the type that the devil declares anything goes. That goes for gunning down a pastor!

The entreaties to God not only resulted in shouts and applause, but also inspired audience members to use their influence to improve Compton. Resident, Wanda Sanders said that the rally was a unifying event to seriously do something to redirect the trajectory of crime in the city.

When you got people just walking down the street and their lives are gone, you know weve really got to do something about that. As a people, we come together in numbers and begin to pray because prayer changes things, Sanders said.

In order for things to change, youve got to get to the heart of the people. Once you change their heart, youll change their mind, she added.

Fisher also appealed to the public to support future events focused on uplifting Compton. The ministerial groups plan to unite with other organizations to hold faith-based activities like prayer rallies and tent revivals.

We may also ask the public to lend support by coming to City Council meeting and challenging some of the policies we know are not good for our neighborhood and demand that better resources are brought to our community, said Fisher.

But, our faith is in the power of prayer. We know that when two or three are gathered in His name, we can expect great things to follow, he insisted.

This is just the beginning of what I believe will be many ecumenical gatherings that well have in Compton in 2022. Its everybody coming together under the strong name of Jesus Christ!
Engagement Announced for White and Patterson-Garner

Two of L.A.s rising stars in finance and diplomacy will soon unite in wedded bliss, according to an engagement announcement by their parents.

Kyrra R. White, the daughter of Dan and Karen White, and Mr. Paris Patterson-Garner, the son of Lynn Patterson and the late Ralph Garner, are planning to marry, transforming their childhood friendship into a lifetime commitment. White and Patterson-Garner, both native Angelinos, have known each other since they were students at View Park Elementary School in South Los Angeles.

The young professionals have since achieved considerable success in their respective fields. White serves as a senior consultant at Deloitte Transactions and Business Analytics LLP where she advises clients on merger and acquisition related transactions. A graduate of Bentley University, she double-majored in Corporate Finance and Accounting and Global Perspectives.

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Patterson-Garner, who earned a degree in political Science at the University of LaVerne, is completing his Masters degree at Georgetown Universitys Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also a Charles B. Rangel Fellow in International Affairs and will become a diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service upon graduation.
Family of Unarmed Man Killed by Colton Police to Receive Record $5.4M

The three young children of Christian Vargas, a 25-year-old man who died in 2016 after a violent confrontation with police, have settled their federal lawsuit against the City of Colton for $5.4 million.

In an announcement, civil rights attorney Carl Douglas said the award was the largest settlement involving an officer-involved-shooting in the citys history.

When anyone first hears that the city of Colton paid $5.4 million to settle a wrongful death shooting case, their first reaction is usually wow, something really bad must have happened, and they would be right, said Douglas.

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Something really bad did happen. A young mans life was taken for no good reason at all because two reckless police officers decided to exercise street justice at the conclusion of a high-speed stolen car chase. The passenger in the car was shot in the back of his head, while raising both hands up in the air, and three young babies were left without a father forever.

The settlement stems from September 12, 2016, when police were chasing a reported stolen car in Colton. The chase ended in the 900 block of East C Street in front of Washington High School when the car accelerated forward ramming the patrol car pushing it into one of the officers. Officers fired eight bullets into the drivers side of the car after it had come to a complete stop and both suspects had raised their hands in the air in an effort to surrender.

The driver, Joseph Carter, was struck three times in the hand, arm, and face and survived. The passenger, Christian Vargas, who was unarmed, was struck four times in the hand, both arms and head, and died at the scene. He died just six days after his 25th birthday.

I am glad that our two daughters will now be taken care of, but I cry every time I think about the father that they will never come to know, said Alicia Guzman.

Stephany Ebarra added, Our son misses his dad so much and cannot understand why his life was taken away from him. It is hard for me to explain it in a way that makes any sense.

Attorney Douglas added, No amount of money will ever adequately compensate Mr. Vargas children for the pain these officers caused, but at least the city of Colton has stepped up to do their part to say they are sorry. This case has taken far too long for justice.
Gov. Newsom Signs Executive Order Supporting Healthcare Facilities

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order allowing out-of-state healthcare workers to supplement staffing at healthcare facilities across California.

The order is an extension of a state COVID-19 provision that also allows certain medical personnel and emergency medical technicians to continue supporting the states COVID-19 response, including administering vaccines, according to the governors office.

Although 88% of Californians 18 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, cases are on the rise as California loses its top position among states with the lowest case rates.

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Newsom has raised concerns about cases increasing during the winter months.

COVID cases are beginning to rise  winter months mean people indoors & more possibilities for spread. The unvaccinated are now almost 7 [times] more likely to get COVID, 10 times more likely to be hospitalizedand 18 [times] more likely to die. Keep your immunity up. Get your booster, Newsom tweeted.

The executive order allows health care facilities to use alternative spaces like parking lots to administer vaccinations. California health officials are encouraging any adult who wants a COVID-19 booster shot to get one as eligibility has been extended to all adults.

During a press conference Wednesday, the governor warned Californians not to become complacent.

It was around this time last year that folks started to put their masks down a little bit and started to feel like we can spend a little time together outside of our households, Newsom said. Were looking forward to all that, Im looking forward to all of that, seeing friends and family. I just want to remind people to do it with some common sense and the kind of protections were here today to promote.
Local Churches Plan Thanksgiving Services

Ministries throughout the greater Los Angeles area will sponsor Thanksgiving Day worship on Thursday, November 25. The following is a list of some of the churches holding services.

Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church will worship via Zoom and Facebook Live, announced Pastor Mary S. Minor. Call the church office at 323-296-5610 to obtain the meeting I.D. and passcode information.

Crenshaw United Methodist Church will host a virtual worship celebration at 10 a.m., shared Pastor Royce Porter. The co-sponsors are the California-Pacific Black Methodist for Church Renewal. For details, call 323-292-0141.

Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church will hold a virtual service at 9 a.m. via Facebook Live and YouTube, said Pastor DeNon A. Porter. Information is available at 323-759-4996.

Other programs are planned in observance of the holiday. The activities include a gospel concert sponsored by ZM Nation on Wednesday, November 22, at 7 p.m., at Greater New Canaan Church of God, 5835 Brentwood St., in Los Angeles. Performers include Geneen White, The Zion Messengers, The Flint Cavaliers and Michael Larry and The Gospel Soul Touchers.

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Project Cheer and Relationship Community Church co-host a drive-thru food and toy giveaway on Saturday, December 4, at 12 p.m., at 8301 Elm Avenue in Rancho Cucamonga. To learn more, call 909-600-5716 or email [email protected]

Holman United Methodist Church, led by Pastor Ken Walden, presents a Virtual Hot Cocoa Sip on Saturday, December 4, at 3 p.m. The donation is $20. To participate, visit holmanUMC.com.
Love Peace and Happiness Celebrates Thanksgiving Day

Bishop Leon & Dr. Jacqueline Martin and the Love, Peace and Happiness Family will host their Annual Thanksgiving Day Celebration on Thursday, November 25, at 11 a.m., in their edifice located at 4951 S. Figueroa St., in Los Angeles.

Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks and sharing, so we invite you to join us. The mass choir and praise team will sing songs of praise and worship and testimonies of praise will be expressed, said Bishop Martin, who will deliver the sermon.

Also, a bottle of anointed oil will be given out to all those present in the service. You dont want to miss this time of giving thanks unto the Lord for all of his provisions throughout the year, he added.

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The public is invited to attend. For more information, call (800) 757-6552.
Ranting and Raging Against Critical Race Theory: An Epidemic of Racist Reaction to Truth

In the midst of the pandemic of Covid 19 and the continuing pathology of oppression, there has emerged an epidemic of racist reactions to the truth of the real founding and functioning of the United States of America. Signs of it appeared in reaction to Nikole Hannah-Jones 1619 Project, recentering U.S. history from 1776 and the independence of Whites to 1619 and the enslavement of Black people. But it has taken a more vicious, vile and destructive role in the miscasting and misusing of critical race theory. These racist reactions are diagnosed and engaged here as an epidemic to indicate its diseased, rapid spreading, and widespread character. Indeed, these racist reactions are symptomatic of the systems underlying pathology of racism which by any truthful and honest assessment is clearly a human psychological and social disorder.

Thus, in no way should we assume this latest outburst and outbreak of racist reaction under the banner of anti-critical race theory is new, isolated or unique. On the contrary, it is rooted in the system and the widely held fundamental beliefs, thoughts, fears and fantasies of its guardians and beneficiaries  White folks. In at least 20 states Republications have passed legislation to ban reading and teaching what they call critical race theory without knowing or bothering to explain what it really is. And school boards, hyped into hysteria-like emotions and anger, have followed suit. Indeed, there has been talk of not only banning, but also burning books on race and other troubling subjects that are deemed and condemned as causing discomfort, shame and guilt in White folks and division in the country.

Surely, there was and is no expressed concern about the discomfort, shaming, racial division, degradation and destruction imposed on Blacks and similar others vulnerable by White folks historically and currently. At the very founding of the country, White people had an opportunity to actually build a new kind of country united in freedom, justice and equality. But they, themselves, decided to divide the country into those worthy and unworthy, dominant and dominated, free and enslaved. Also, they enshrined it in constitutional and general law. So, they shouldnt blame their history on us. It is a history they made with all its continuing radical evil and they must be held accountable for it. And it is through righteous and relentless struggle that we hold them accountable and dare achieve a country worthy of the name, free, just and democratic.

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These people dont want to be told the truth, reminded of the horror and hell of the Holocaust of enslavement, the savagery of segregation, and the continuing killing of Black people, especially Black men, under the color and camouflage of law. They want us to forget it, accept their self-congratulatory narratives as history, curriculum and reality. And they want us to forgive them without their conceding the crime; to reconcile with them without their naming the reason we would need to do it in the first place; and without the accountability of truth and social correctives needed before we can overcome the unfreedom, injustice and inequalities the founding fathers put in place as a constitutional order of White supremacy.

Whatever incomplete, distorted or woefully unaware conception White folks have when they mention critical race theory, they are not speaking simply of some new cherished hatred or hostility. On the contrary, you can count on it, figuratively bet your life on it and you can pretend a capacity of prophecy by it. For you, I and even White folks in their saner and more sociable moments, know its about Blackness, Black people and any and all things associated with them.

This is not to deny that it also is a problem with other people of color and vulnerable groups, but given the bottom place Blackness has on the scale of Whites racial hierarchy and the assertiveness of Black people in the history of resistance, Black is at the center of it all. So, it turns out that in spite of the countrys (read White peoples) pious announcement of a new and long needed racial reckoning, it was more pronouncement than practice. It was for them an opportunity to manipulate race instead of erasing racism. And they do this, not simply to win votes and offices, but to win hearts and minds for racial and racist struggles they wage on every level. Moreover, they do it as an expression and performance of their own racial commitment and will to dominate.

Dr. Derrick Bell, considered a, if not the, founding theorist of critical race theory, talked of critical race theory as a realistic way of African Americans understanding and engaging the racist reality of America which would free them to think and plan within a context of reality rather than idealism. Dr. Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, a law professor at UCLA and Columbia, and one of the key theorists of CRT stated that It is a way of seeing, attending to, accounting for, tracing and analyzing the ways that race is produced, the ways that racial inequality is facilitated, and the ways that our history has created these inequalities that now can be almost effortlessly reproduced unless we attend to the existence of these inequalities.

After all the misinformation and disinformation concerning critical race theory, it is important to know how Dr. Bell formulated its fundamental tenets. They are: (1) racism in America is normal, not abnormal; (2) it is not simply individual, but systemic; (3) law is one of the key elements in its construction and maintenance; (4) race is a social construction and is embedded in the legal system; (5) Whiteness is legalized as property and yields both power and privilege; (6) the importance of developing counter narratives to the false and confusing dominant narrative of the country; and (7) the need for constant resistance and struggle to eliminate racism and all forms of oppression.

Beyond the ignorance, insecurities and violence that seek to hold back the march of history and humanity forward, one can see the usefulness of critical race theory. For simply defined, it is a way of analyzing and understanding systemic racism and its role in the founding and functioning of U.S. society, especially from the vantage point of law. Beginning as a law school conversation among scholars, like Derrick Bell, Kimberle Crenshaw, Richard Delgado, Mari Matsuda, Patricia Williams and others, it has indeed become, in spite of willful distortions, a valuable tool of both analysis and struggle.

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Professor Bell cites Nana Martin Luther Kings essay, Testament of Hope which King wrote of setbacks, sorrows, suffering and the perverse character of his adversaries. King stated that his adversaries expected him to become hard, grim and desperate. But King said, They fail, however, to perceive the sense of affirmation generated by the challenge of embracing struggle and surmounting obstacles. In Kings words and work Bell contends, There was a deep message of commitment to courageous struggle whatever the circumstances or odds. Here, as elsewhere, Bell advocates a realism that at times invites pessimism. But in the end, he continues to call us to courageous struggle against the radical evil of racism.

Urging us to resist and continue the struggle, regardless, Nana Derrick Bell tells us that the struggle for freedom is an expression of our humanity which is expanded in and through this struggle. Thus, he says, Resistance must be grounded in struggle; thus, the realization of our (enslaved) forbears, that the struggle for freedom is, at the bottom, a manifestation of our humanity that survives and grows stronger through resistance to oppression, even if that oppression is never overcome. But, of course, we will overcome and already have overcome obstacles few believed we could. For as our honored ancestors, our models and mirrors in countless ways, taught us in word and deed, we are indeed, those who ride the storm and remain intact; those who conduct (their) blooming in the noise and whip of the whirlwind; and those who specialize in the wholly impossible.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, The Message and Meaning of Kwanzaa: Bringing Good Into the World and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org.
Tensions Flare in Arbery Death Trial as Jesse Jackson Visits

A judge denied mistrial requests on Monday at the trial of three White men charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery after defense attorneys claimed jurors were tainted by weeping from the gallery where the slain Black mans parents sat with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

The mornings testimony was largely disrupted by arguments outside the jurys presence over Jacksons appearance. The judge said he found one defense lawyers complaints last week about Black pastors to be reprehensible, and that no group would be excluded from his courtroom.

Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael armed themselves and pursued the 25-year-old Black man in a pickup truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020. Their neighbor William Roddie Bryan joined the chase and took cellphone video of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery three times with a shotgun.

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Tensions flared in the courtroom Monday morning soon after Jackson sat in the back row of the courtroom between Arberys parents. Defense attorney Kevin Gough asked the judge to make the civil rights leader leave to avoid unfairly influencing the jury.

Gough, an attorney for Bryan, also complained last week when the Rev. Al Sharpton joined Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, and father, Marcus Arbery Sr., inside the Glynn County courtroom. Gough told the judge Thursday we dont want any more Black pastors coming in here.

There is no reason for these prominent icons in the civil rights movement to be here, Gough said Monday. With all due respect, I would suggest, whether intended or not, that inevitably a juror is going to be influenced by their presence in the courtroom.

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley declined the request. Courtrooms are generally open to the public, although the judge has limited seating in the public gallery because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The court is not going to single out any particular individual or group of individuals as not being allowed into his courtroom as a member of the public, Walmsley said. If there is a disruption, youre welcome to call that to my attention.

Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse he came to coastal Brunswick to support justice for Arberys family, not in response to the attorneys prior remarks about Black pastors.

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As the judge said, it was my constitutional right to be there, Jackson said. Its my moral obligation to be there.

Jackson acknowledged that it was Arberys mother who wept very quietly in the courtroom after prosecutors showed a photo of her son to a witness.

Goughs mistrial request was joined by the two other defense teams. Franklin Hogue, an attorney for Greg McMichael, said he fears the defendants arent receiving a fair trial in the community.

Jason Sheffiled, one of Travis McMichaels attorneys, said the weeping caused some jurors to look and see Jackson, an icon whose autographed picture hung in my mothers loft for decades.

Several jurors did look over. Their faces changed (showing) the emotion and sympathy they felt, Sheffield told the judge.

Walmsley warned the attorneys their own statements may have lured some high-profile figures to the courthouse.

I will say that is directly in response, Mr. Gough, to statements you made, which I find reprehensible, the judge said.

Walmsley singled out a comment Gough made to back up his Black pastors remark last week in which he said: If a bunch of folks came in here dressed like Colonel Sanders with white masks sitting in the back before the judge cut him off.

Outside the courthouse last week, Sharpton denounced the disproportionately white makeup of the jury. Walmsley allowed the jury to be sworn in over objections by prosecutors who said several potential jurors were excluded because they are Black, leaving only one Black juror on the panel of 12. Glynn County, where the trial is being held, is nearly 27% Black.

Sharpton said hell return to the courthouse, and activists said 100 Black pastors will join him.

Bryan and the McMichaels are charged with murder and other crimes. Prosecutors say they chased Arbery for five minutes to keep him from exiting the Satilla Shores subdivision outside the port city of Brunswick. The chase ended when Arbery, trailed by Bryans truck, tried to run around the McMichaels truck as it idled in the road ahead. The video shows Travis McMichael confronting Arbery and then shooting him as he throws punches and grapples for the gun.

The McMichaels told police they suspected Arbery was a burglar after security cameras recorded him several times inside a home under under construction, five houses away. The defense says Travis McMichael opened fire in self-defense.
The Family of Michelle Avan hosts the 1st Annual Michelle Movement Walk in Your Light 5K Walk/Run: Shining a light on the tragedy of Intimate Partner Violence, as we Celebrate its Survivors

On the morning of August 5, 2021, the body of Michelle Avan was found in her home by her son brutally beaten to death. What Trevon and Nyah Avan, would soon come to know is their mother died at the hands of an intimate partner. The family of Michelle Avan will host the 1st Annual Michelle Movement Walk in Your Light 5K Walk/Run to honor her legacy and shine a light on Intimate Partner Homicide. In addition, the Michelle Movement is increasing public awareness of District Attorney George Gascons blanket policies that undermine the ability of the DAs office to prosecute perpetrators of Intimate Partner Homicide to the full extent of the law.

Who: The children of Michelle Avan, Trevon and Nyah Avan, family, friends, survivors of intimate partner violence and families of victims, domestic abuse advocates, and supporters?

What: The Michelle Movement Walk in Your Light 5k Walk/Run: Shining a light on the tragedy of Intimate Partner Violence, as we Celebrate its Survivors. The 5K Run/Walk is a community event to raise awareness and begin discussions about Intimate Partner Violence and Homicide.

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The event will provide a safe space for men, women, and children to publicly take a stand to combat violence against women, uplift survivors of Intimate Partner Violence, and honor victims of

Intimate Partner Homicide. Standing together we will show that Intimate Partner Violence is not tolerated in our homes, workplaces, schools, or anywhere else in our community. It is also a demand for District Attorney George Gascon to reconsider adding special circumstances to the Michelle Avan case and reevaluating the district attorneys policies on prosecuting perpetrators of Intimate Partner Homicide.

Covid Protocol:

Proof of vaccination or recent test required for all guests and visitors

Beginning November 8, guests and visitors aged 12 and older should be prepared to show proof of vaccination to enter campus. Either a physical CDC-issued vaccine card, or a digital copy (available from the State of California) will be accepted. This proof must be accompanied by a photo ID.

The mandate requires that individuals are fully vaccinated, which means that two weeks must have passed after the second dose of a two-dose series, or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

As an alternative, guests or visitors who have a medical or religious objection to obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination may produce a negative COVID-19 test taken in the past 72 hours, together with a photo ID.
U.S. Advisory Panel to Consider Expanding Eligibility for COVID-19 Booster Shots

An influential U.S. advisory panel will discuss expanding eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to all adults Friday, a move that could make the shots available nationwide as early as this weekend.

Some cities and states already allow all adults to get boosters of Pfizers vaccine, but it is not yet official U.S. policy. In the last week, California, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia and

Colorado expanded the shots to all adults. New York City made a similar move. Pfizer asked U.S. regulators last week to allow boosters of its COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 or older. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to sign off on Pfizers application before the advisory panel meets Friday. The final step  CDCs official recommendation  could come soon after the meeting.

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The move would greatly expand who is eligible. Boosters are now recommended for people who initially received their second Pfizer or Moderna shots at least six months ago if theyre 65 or older or are at high risk of COVID-19 because of health problems or their job or living conditions. Boosters are also recommended for people who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Nearly 31 million Americans have already received a dose beyond their original vaccination, including those with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients who need an extra dose to be fully vaccinated.

While all three vaccines used in the U.S. continue to offer strong protection against severe COVID-19 illness and death, the shots effectiveness against milder infection can wane over time.

Pfizer has submitted early results of a booster study in 10,000 people to make its case that its time to further expand the booster campaign. The study found that a booster could restore protection against symptomatic infection to about 95%, even as the extra-contagious delta variant was surging. Side effects were similar to those seen with the companys first two shots.

Members of the panel, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, have debated in prior meetings whether there is sufficient evidence that boosters are currently needed for all adults.
Thursday, November 18, 2021

The Kansas City Star reported on a judicial misconduct oral argument held last month before the Kansas Supreme Court

The Kansas Supreme Court is trying to decide whether it is disqualifying for a judge to share nude photos of their private life online.

The question was raised Thursday in a disciplinary hearing for retired Russell County Magistrate Judge Marty Clark.

Clark, who resigned from the bench in May, shared nude photos of himself with another couple on Club Foreplay, a dating website for swingers.

The Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct became aware of the photos when the husband in the other couple filed a complaint last year.

Todd Thompson, of the judicial conduct commission, said Thursday that Clark and his wife met the couple once before sharing photos. In addition to sharing photos, he said, Clark exchanged salacious text messages with the wife in the couple that included discussion of having sex in his chambers.

In March the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded Clark had violated the ethical standards by failing to avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety in (his) personal life and protecting the public impression of the judiciary.

Thompson argued Clark should be barred from ever being a judge again unless he receives significant education on the role and integrity of the judicial branch.

We all have standards that we think is appropriate or inappropriate behavior, Thompson said. Just taking pictures of your genitals and distributing them in any way to the public in my opinion does nothing to enhance the integrity of the judiciary.

Clarks attorney, Chris Joseph, argued the court would set a dangerous precedent by punishing Clark for sending nude photos in a private channel, on his own time.

I dont think you look at morality as a basis for discipline  unless there is a connection to the job, Joseph said.

He argued that any communication or photos sent in a private channel could become public if the receiving party chose to place it on social media.

Justice Caleb Stegall said it would be troubling if judges could be censured for private communication.

The Supreme Court justices questioned where the line was between appropriate and inappropriate and public and private.

Are you suggesting its just you know it when you see it? asked Justice Kenyen Wall of determining inappropriate conduct.

Justice Melissa Standridge argued that taking the photos and using the social media platform may have inherent consequences on the perception of the judiciary.

If you post something its out there, Standridge said. Its the old adage of dont write anything down you wouldnt want on the front page of the Wichita Eagle.

An earlier of this story mistakenly referred to the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct as the Kansas Judicial Council.

As he is no longer a judge and is not an attorney, the court raised questions as to its jurisdiction to impose sanction.

There were also questions about the extent to which the private behavior of a judge should be sanctionable. (Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/11/is-entirely-private-behavior-of-a-judge-sanctionable.html
The Indian capital of New Delhi is covered with dangerous smog. The situation has closed schools and forced officials to consider declaring a lockdown -- a stay-at-home order.

Pollution in New Delhi has reached severe levels on several days this month. Officials have ordered schools and colleges to close and ordered people to work from home in an effort to control the pollution. Six power plants in the city were also ordered to close temporarily.

The federal government has also banned construction until the end of the week. It has also barred trucks from entering the city, except those carrying important items.

Environmental experts note that these steps would only partly help the air pollution crisis that troubles New Delhi every winter.

The emergency action is not a magic bullet that will address the pollution crisis, said Anumita Roychowdhury. She is with the New Delhis Center for Science and Environment. The steps will not worsen the pollution but it will not clean the air, Roychowdhury added.

New Delhi is the worlds most polluted capital city. It has recorded levels for dangerous particles, known as PM 2.5, many times higher than normal levels. PM 2.5 is an air pollutant that is damaging to the lungs in high levels.

The smog that covers the city is a mix of pollutants, including car emissions, industrial pollution, dust from building projects, farm fires and pollution caused by trash burning. In winter, the pollutants hang over the city because of low wind speeds.

City officials in New Delhi told the Supreme Court they are considering a weekend lockdown, similar to what happened during severe periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. If that happens, it would be the citys first pollution-related lockdown.

The unhealthy smog is not only in the capital city. The air across much of North India also turns gray at this time of the year.

Delhi has taken some steps to fight the pollution, from shutting down coal power plants to changing most industry and public transportation to clean fuel. But nearby states have not taken the same reforms.

Air does not respect political boundaries, Roychowdhury said. She added that the time has come to take a more widespread approach to fighting the problem.

However, discontinuing coal will not be easy. Coal still powers 70 percent of Indias electricity system. Indian officials who attended the United Nations climate talks in Scotland said developing countries should be able to responsibly use fossil fuels.

How can anyone expect that developing countries can make promises about phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies? Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav asked at the meeting.

India and China were criticized for weakening a promise among countries at the meeting to start discontinuing coal.

But in India, environmentalists said, the countrys concerns were real.

While coal does contribute to air pollution and climate change, we cannot shut down coal right away and replace it with renewables in a hurry, said Chandra Bhushan. She leads the Delhi-based International Forum for Environment.

For now, the severe air pollution has led to a public health emergency. Many people in New Delhi and other North Indian cities are struggling with breathing problems.

Research by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago found that the dirty air kills more than one million people every year in India.

Im Dan Novak.

Anjana Pasricha reported this story for Voice of America. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

________________________________________________

Words in This Story

smog  n. fog mixed with smoke : a cloud of dirty air from cars, factories, etc., that is usually found in cities

magic bullet  n. something that solves a difficult problem easily

address  v. to give attention to something)

particle  n. a very small piece of something

emission  n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source

approach  n. a way of doing or thinking about something

fossil fuel  n. a fuel such as coal, oil, or natural gas that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals

phase out  v. to stop something gradually over a period of time in a planned series of steps or phases

subsidy  n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function

contribute  v. to help to cause something to happen
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We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jeff.pownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips.
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Genomics England, a government owned company, recently announced a pilot program of whole genome sequencing to screen for genetic diseases in 200,000 healthy seeming newborns.

But should every newborn baby have their whole genome sequenced? Experts debate the issue in The BMJ today.

Extensive clinical evidence has shown that screening for genetic diseases saves lives, and research has shown that it can be cost effective, say Leslie Biesecker and colleagues at the US National Human Genome Research Institute.

Routine genome sequencing in newborns will eventually happen, they write, but rather than screening newborns for all diseases, they advocate a phased rollout, where the genome sequence is generated at birth and over time, variants are disclosed sequentially at appropriate ages to help reduce the burden of genetic disorders.

Such a rollout of genomic information should be guided by oversight bodies, with informed consent and appropriate opt-outs, they explain. It should also reside in a repository linked to his or her medical record, readily accessible to healthcare providers and available for reanalysis to keep pace with growing knowledge.

To realize the anticipated benefits of routine newborn genome sequencing, they say progress is needed in several areas including data quality, appropriate information management and clinical decision support systems.

But they reject the call for all non-genetics healthcare professionals to be extensively trained in genetics and genomics as "impractical and unnecessary."

Only by sequencing the entire genome of a person early in life can the full potential of genomic diagnosis be realized, they say, providing opportunities to make diagnoses more quickly and accurately and to bring targeted and gene based therapies to the bedside with minimal delay.

"By embracing a health ecosystem that offers universally available routine newborn genomic screening, we can maximize learning to ensure that the benefits of genomics reach the broadest range of people, minimizing disparities and bringing greater health to all," they conclude.

But David Curtis at University College London argues that a person's genome is a vast quantity of personal data, and no grounds justify routinely acquiring this from all citizens before they are old enough to have the capacity to provide informed consent.

He points out that only a tiny number of genetic conditions require action before an individual is able to consent to screening, and processes already exist to test newborns for these rare but serious conditions.

Genome sequencing can also provide information about the risk of developing many conditions for which no specific intervention is available, he explains. But even if some adults are interested in obtaining this risk information, "there is no justification for assessing the risk of future health problems in newborn babies without their consent."

He cites examples where newborn genome sequencing might be of benefit to wider society, but again says this "cannot be used as a justification for sequencing babies' genomes."

And he raises concerns that our most personal data might be misused, noting that some governments are reportedly carrying out mass collection of DNA, with the potential to use it for repressive practices up to and including forced organ harvesting.

So, why should we be contemplating genome sequencing of babies, who have no say in the matter, when as a society we have not agreed that all adults, for whom the potential health gains seem much greater, should undergo this process, he asks?

Let us first answer the question, "Should all adults have their genome sequenced?" If the answer is no (as mine is), then we should restrict medical testing of newborns to the small number of conditions for which it is agreed that testing provides a real benefit to them," he concludes.

Explore further Genomic sequencing of healthy newborns does not disrupt family dynamics

More information: Should all babies have their genome sequenced at birth? BMJ (2021). Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Should all babies have their genome sequenced at birth?(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n2679
A man is vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Germany in November 2021.

The United States is set to become the latest country to widen COVID booster eligibility beyond the immunocompromised, elderly and high risk.

Many scientists tracking the data believe it's the right time for the movethough some have expressed misgivings, since the original vaccines are still holding up well against severe disease and death among the general population.

Why now?

Boosters have been a contentious issue for medical experts.

An independent panel advising the Food and Drug Administration in September initially voted against having boosters available for everyone, demanding narrower criteria.

This time around, US media has reported the FDA is set to broaden eligibility without convening the outside experts. So what changed?

For Vincent Rajkumar, an oncologist and professor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota who closely follows the latest COVID research, one of the strongest lines of evidence comes from a clinical trial carried out by Pfizer.

The company said vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease was restored to 95.6 percent when a booster was administered in a study involving 10,000 people over the age of 16.

Then there was the example of Israel, which fought back its Delta wave with a nationwide booster campaign, said Rajkumar.

Most recently, data released this week by the UK Health Security Agency about over-50s appears to show vaccine efficacy after a booster rose to beyond the level of protection by first two doses at their peak.

"So I think the answer to the pure science question 'Does the booster work?' Yes, there's no question it works," he said.

Rajkumar is also worried about the impact of breakthrough cases.

While people who get infected while fully vaccinated are much less likely to get sick enough to go to hospital or to die, new data out of Minnesota shows "deaths among the vaccinated are not zero."

Currently, they are around one per 100,000 per week, compared to around 14 per 100,000 among unvaccinated. Those most at risk of dying from COVID after vaccination are the elderly and immunocompromised, such as people with cancer or organ transplants.

"Me getting a breakthrough is putting them at riskand that's why if I don't get an infection it's good," said Rajkumar, about his decision to get a booster.

Notes of caution

Not all scientists are as enthusiastic.

Celine Gounder, a leading infectious disease specialist and professor at New York University, wants more evidence about long term immunity before advocating boosters for all, and hasn't gotten one herself yet.

For her, the controversy stems from a lack of agreement about what society is aiming to achieve.

"Are you trying to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death? Or are you trying to prevent infections and transmission?"

Either way, boosters aren't necessarily the answer, she says.

The best way to reduce severe disease and death is to bring down community transmission by reaching those who aren't yet vaccinated.

The vast majority of hospitalized cases and deaths are currently unvaccinated people.

Vaccinated people who end up with a severe case are overwhelmingly elderly and immunocompromised, who everyone already agrees should receive a booster.

Gounder also thinks it's unrealistic to believe boosters will block transmission.

The coronavirus' rapid incubation period in the body, and the fact that current vaccines induce greater immunity in internal organs than they do in the mucus of the upper airway, mean boosters will never eliminate all infections.

The potential downsides of a booster bonanza, critics say, is that vaccine holdouts might conclude the shots are ineffective.

Another risk is a greater number of cases of vaccine-linked heart inflammation (myocarditis), especially among younger males.

Gounder doesn't rule out eventually supporting a three-dose series, two-doses spaced further apart, regular boosters or another combinationbut says these need to be studied more thoroughly.

Global equity

Experts are in broad agreement that boosters alone can't resolve the pandemic while the poorest countries, especially in Africa, remain stuck in the single digit percentages for people covered by their primary vaccination series.

Last week, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus decried the fact that rich countries are administering six times more vaccine doses everyday than low-income countries are delivering primary doses.

"It would really be unfortunate if we do all this hard work of vaccinating, and then find ourselves set back yet again, because of an emerging variant in some other part of the world," said Gounder.

Explore further Pfizer asks FDA to OK COVID-19 booster shots for all adults

 2021 AFP
Examining health care fault lines, global supply chain instability, and vaccine production efficiency is critical in preparing for future global pandemics. This is why a COVID-19 commission must be created by the U.S. government, experts argue in the latest issue of Science. Credit: Egan Jimenez, Princeton University

Examining health care fault lines, global supply chain instability, and vaccine production efficiency is critical in preparing for future global pandemics.

This is why a COVID-19 commission must be created by the U.S. government, experts argue in the latest issue of Science. Such a body would be similar to the 9/11 Commission, which investigated the country's susceptibility to terrorist attacks.

Drawing on their scientific expertise, a group of former members of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) under President Barack Obama presented concrete recommendations for such a commission to examine, including: stabilizing public health agencies, examining earlier outbreaks, reviewing pandemic preparedness, and evaluating the United States' responses to COVID-19.

"Eight bills have already been introduced in Congress to create such a commission, though most include only broad requirements," said co-author Christopher Chyba, professor of astrophysical sciences and international affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. "We know that future pandemics are coming. We call for a clear-eyed assessment of why the United States fared so poorly overall in this pandemic, as well as how particular successes were achieved. This will help the country do better next time."

Such a commission could learn from historical events including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrinatwo incidents in which the federal government failed to act proactively despite long-standing warnings. Strained relationships between state and federal governments also complicated critical responses.

Looking toward future disease outbreaks, the authors make the following recommendations for the commission to investigate:

Stabilizing public health agencies. This includes repairing budgetary shortfalls, expanding training programs for workers, and elevating the prestige of front-line public health workers.

This includes repairing budgetary shortfalls, expanding training programs for workers, and elevating the prestige of front-line public health workers. Examining earlier outbreaks . Assessing historical events, including their causes and the U.S. response, can help the commission pinpoint neglect in the system and propose solutions to ensure consistent attention to threats.

For example: When and how did the U.S. find out about the initial COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China? How was that information disseminated within the U.S. government? American experts previously based at the CDC equivalent in China were pulled out starting in 2017. Could they have helped?

. Assessing historical events, including their causes and the U.S. response, can help the commission pinpoint neglect in the system and propose solutions to ensure consistent attention to threats. Reviewing pandemic preparedness. An examination that goes beyond the health care system and into supply chain vulnerabilities, clinical trial methodology and testing, and vaccine distribution, is needed.

For example: Was the U.S. too reliant on foreign manufacturers, which, in part, caused supply chain issues? If more attention was paid to the supply chain, could the vaccine stockpile have been replenished more effectively?

An examination that goes beyond the health care system and into supply chain vulnerabilities, clinical trial methodology and testing, and vaccine distribution, is needed. Evaluating the U.S. response. Quarantining, social distancing, wearing masks, and travel bans were enacted as first-level responses. Were they effective? With regards to vaccines, the commission should examine government efforts to accelerate development.

The authors also suggest the commission look at how COVID-19 impacted hospitals, fiscally and structurally, to be better prepared for the future. An evaluation of health equity is also needed since COVID-19 disproportionately affected people of color.

Chyba's co-authors include Christine K. Cassel of the University of California, San Francisco; Susan L. Graham of the University of California, Berkeley; John P. Holdren of Harvard University; Ed Penhoet of the University of California, Berkeley; William H. Press of the University of Texas, Austin; Maxine L. Savitz of the National Academy of Engineering; and Harold Varmus of Weill Cornell Medicine.

The paper, "Create a COVID-19 Commission," was published as a perspective in the Insights Policy Forum section of Science.

Explore further New recommendations to improve diagnostic testing response for current COVID-19 pandemic and future emerging outbreaks

Provided by Princeton School of Public and International Affairs
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Several personal protective and social measures, including handwashing, mask wearing, and physical distancing are associated with reductions in the incidence COVID-19 and should be continued alongside vaccination, suggest experts after reviewing the latest evidence in The BMJ today.

However, they say more stringent measures, such as lockdowns and closures of borders, schools, and workplaces need further assessment to weigh their potential negative effects on general populations.

Public health (or non-pharmaceutical) interventions are known to be beneficial in fighting respiratory infections like influenza, and countries around the world are implementing various public health measures to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Yet, previous reviews have not been robust enough to allow researchers to make firm conclusions about the effectiveness of such measures in reducing COVID-19 incidence rates.

To plug this knowledge gap, the researchers trawled databases for studies that assessed the effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and COVID-19 mortality.

In all, 72 studies met their inclusion criteria, of which 35 evaluated individual public health measures and 37 assessed multiple public health measures.

Of the 35 studies of individual measures, 34 were observational and one was a randomized controlled trial. They were carried out in Asia (11), the United States (9), Europe (7), the Middle East (3), Africa (3), South America (1), and Australia (1).

Results from 8 of these 35 studies were analyzed in detail, which indicated a statistically significant 53% reduction in the incidence of COVID-19 with mask wearing and a 25% reduction with physical distancing.

Handwashing also indicated a substantial 53% reduction in COVID-19 incidence, although this was not statistically significant after adjusting for the small number of studies included.

Detailed analysis was not possible for other measures, including quarantine and isolation, universal lockdowns, and closures of borders, schools, and workplaces, due to differences in study design, outcome measures and quality.

The researchers point out that high quality evidence on the effectiveness of public health measures is still limited. However, their comprehensive search strategy to identify and select studies for review minimized bias and suggests the results are robust.

As such, they conclude that personal and social measures, including handwashing, mask wearing, and physical distancing are effective at reducing the incidence of COVID-19, while more stringent measures, such as lockdowns and closures of borders, schools, and workplaces "need to be carefully assessed by weighing the potential negative effects of these measures on general populations."

Further research is also needed to assess the effectiveness of public health measures after adequate vaccination coverage, states lead author Dr. Stella Talic at Monash University, Australia.

The lack of good research on public health measures for COVID-19 is a pandemic tragedy, argue researchers led by Professor Paul Glasziou at Bond University, Australia in a linked editorial.

Considering the central importance of public health and social measures for initial pandemic control, the uncertainties and controversies around their effects, and the immense research effort being put into vaccine and drug development, this lack of investment in research on public health measures is puzzlingat just 4% of global research funding for COVID-19, they explain.

They point to a recent initiative by the World Health Organization, backed by the Norwegian government, to strengthen "the global evidence base to provide actionable and evidence-informed guidance on such measures for decision-makers" as a positive development.

But they warn that this is only achievable if the global community of public health researchers, practitioners, and decision makers are ready and have the capacity to conduct the much needed trials, and funders are ready to fund them.

Explore further Sweden to lift most COVID measures

More information: Effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and covid-19 mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis, The BMJ, DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-068302 Effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of covid-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and covid-19 mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis,
Gene therapy might soon offer a new option for children with a rare genetic disorder that damages tissues throughout the body, researchers are reporting.

In a study of eight children with the condition, called Hurler syndrome, researchers found that the gene therapy was safe over two years. It also showed potential for beating the current standard treatment, stem cell transplantation.

If the gene therapy proves safe and effective in the longer term, experts said, it may well replace stem cell transplants in the future.

"I do think this is a triumph," said Dr. Christopher Dvorak, who co-wrote an editorial published with the study Nov. 18 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"It's likely to change lives in the not-too-distant future," said Dvorak, a specialist in pediatric stem cell transplantation at the University of California, San Francisco.

Hurler syndrome is one of about 50 genetic diseases known as lysosomal disorders, where children are born lacking key enzymes needed for body cells to function normally.

Hurler syndrome arises when a child inherits a flawed copy of a gene called IDUA from each parent.

The IDUA gene governs an enzyme that breaks down certain complex sugars. In children with Hurler syndrome, those sugars accumulate in cells, causing damage throughout the body, including the brain, eyes, heart and bones.

Enzyme replacement therapy can help with some of those issues, but it does not cross into the brain, said Dr. Walla Al-Hertani, director of the lysosomal disease program at Boston Children's Hospital.

So doctors have turned to stem cell transplants.

The process involves using chemotherapy to deplete a child's own blood-forming stem cells, and replacing them with healthy stem cells from a donor, often from umbilical cord blood. Those healthy cells provide a supply of the needed enzyme, including into the brain.

However, there are downsides.

Even after a transplant, both eye and joint disease can continue to worsen because those areas have a lesser blood supply, explained Al-Hertani, who was not involved in the new study.

And because the treatment involves donor cells, there is a risk of serious immune system reactions, which means ongoing immune-suppressing medication.

Gene therapy could potentially address those issues. For the new study, an international research team tested the approach in eight children with Hurler syndrome, who were about 2 years old, on average.

The tactic involved removing a sample of the children's own blood-forming stem cells, then using a safety-modified virus to deliver a functioning IDUA gene to the cells. After the children had chemotherapy to deplete their remaining blood stem cells, the gene-corrected cells were infused back into their bodies.

Within a month, the researchers found, the children were showing high IDUA activity in their bloodthree to 12 times higher than what's seen in healthy donorsand a sharp reduction in abnormal sugar accumulation.

That high IDUA activity is key, according to lead researcher Dr. Bernhard Gentner of San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, Italy.

Gentner said it suggests that gene therapy might allow more efficient "cross correction" of cells in various body tissues, including the boneswhere stem cell transplantation is not effective.

At this point, Gentner's team reports, the children have shown normal growth, and are stable in their learning and thinking skills, and stable or "improved" in imaging of the brain and spine.

Al-Hertani said the children need to be followed longer to see whether their enzyme activity remains high, and whether the gene therapy is, in fact, more effective than standard transplants.

But in general, Al-Hertani said she believes gene therapy is "the future" when it comes to treating these rare genetic disorders.

"Our goal," Gentner said, "is to make this new treatment available to patients as soon as possible."

To that end, he added, U.K.-based Orchard Therapeutics has been granted a license to further develop the gene therapy. A phase 2 study is in the "advanced" planning stages, Gentner said.

Dvorak said he does have some concerns about equitable availability should gene therapy become a standard treatment for Hurler syndrome.

In theory, any medical center that treats the condition should be able to offer gene therapy. But it's possible it will roll out in a more limited way, according to Dvorak.

"It's also going to be quite pricey," he said. "I do have concerns that there could be socioeconomic disparities in access to it."

Hurler syndrome affects an estimated one in 100,000 newborns, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The disorder is part of newborn screening in some U.S. states, Dvorak said, but not all.

Explore further A decade after gene therapy, children born with deadly immune disorder remain healthy

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UCLA team achieves biopsy-free virtual histology of skin using deep learning and RCM. Credit: Aydogan Ozcan, PhD.

Instead of surgically removing a sample of skin, sending it to a lab and waiting several days for results, your dermatologist takes pictures of a suspicious-looking lesion and quickly produces a detailed, microscopic image of the skin.

This could become routine in clinics, the result of a new "virtual histology" technology being developed by researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, according to today's article in Light: Science & Applications, a journal of the Springer Nature Group. Histology is the study of the microscopic structure of tissues.

"This process bypasses several standard steps typically used for diagnosisincluding skin biopsy, tissue fixation, processing, sectioning and histochemical staining. Images appear like biopsied, histochemically stained skin sections imaged on microscope slides," said the study's senior author, Aydogan Ozcan, Chancellor's Professor and Volgenau Chair for Engineering Innovation of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at UCLA Samueli.

The technology, which has been in research and development for more than three years, may provide a new avenue for rapid diagnosis of malignant skin tumors, reducing the number of unnecessary invasive skin biopsies and allowing earlier diagnosis of skin cancer. Previously, this technology has only been applied to microscopy slides that contained unstained tissue, acquired through a biopsy. This report is the first to apply virtual histology to intact, unbiopsied tissue.

"The current standard for diagnosing skin diseases, including skin cancer, relies on invasive biopsy and histopathological evaluation. For patients, this often leads to unnecessary biopsies and scars as well as multiple visits to doctors. It also can be costly for patients and the health care system," said Dr. Philip Scumpia, assistant professor of dermatology and dermatopathology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital and a member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. "Our approach potentially offers a biopsy-free solution, providing images of skin structure with cellular-level resolution."

The research team, led by Ozcan, Scumpia and Dr. Gennady Rubinstein, a dermatologist at the Dermatology & Laser Centre in Los Angeles, created a deep-learning framework to transform images of intact skin acquired by an emerging noninvasive optical technology, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), into a format that is user-friendly for dermatologists and pathologists. Analyzing RCM images requires special training because they are in black and white, and unlike standard histology, they lack nuclear features of cells.

"I was surprised to see how easy it is for this virtual staining technology to transform the images into ones that I typically see of skin biopsies that are processed using traditional chemical fixation and tissue staining under a microscope," Scumpia said.

The researchers trained a "convolutional neural network" to rapidly transform RCM images of unstained skin into virtually stained 3D images like the H&E (hematoxylin and eosin) images familiar to dermatologists and dermatopathologists. Deep learning, a form of machine learning, constructs artificial neural networks that, like the human brain, can "learn" from large amounts of data.

"This framework can perform virtual histology on a variety of skin conditions, including basal cell carcinoma. It also provides detailed 3D images of several skin layers," said Ozcan, who also has UCLA faculty appointments in bioengineering and surgery and is an associate director of the California NanoSystems Institute. "In our studies, the virtually stained images showed similar color contrast and spatial features found in traditionally stained microscopic images of biopsied tissue. This approach may allow diagnosticians to see the overall histological features of intact skin without invasive skin biopsies or the time-consuming work of chemical processing and labeling of tissue."

According to Rubinstein, this is an exciting proof-of-concept study. "The only tool currently used in clinics to help a dermatologist are dermatoscopes, which magnify skin and polarize light. At best, they can help a dermatologist pick up patterns," said Rubinstein, who also uses reflectance confocal microscopes in clinic.

The authors said several steps remain in translating this technology for clinical use, but their goal is to provide virtual histology technology that can be built into any devicelarge, small or combined with other optical-imaging systems. Once the neural network is "trained," with many tissue samples and the use of powerful graphics processing units (GPUs), it will be able to run on a computer or network, enabling rapid transformation from a standard image to a virtual histology image.

Future studies will determine if this digital, biopsy-free approach can interface with whole-body imaging and electronic medical records to usher in a new age of "digital dermatology" and change how dermatology is practiced. Additionally, the research team will determine if this artificial intelligence platform can work with other AI technologies to look for patterns and further aid in clinical diagnosis.

Explore further Virtual histology approach lays groundwork for tissue analysis during surgery

More information: Jingxi Li et al, Biopsy-free in vivo virtual histology of skin using deep learning, Light: Science & Applications (2021). Journal information: Light: Science & Applications Jingxi Li et al, Biopsy-free in vivo virtual histology of skin using deep learning,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41377-021-00674-8
Figure 1. A 30-day readmission rates as a percentage of total hospitalizations for AECOPD; B 30-day readmission rates for males and females as a percentage of total hospitalizations for AECOPD (P

Patients who earn less than $38,000 per year, identify as male or were treated in an urban hospital have a higher risk of being readmitted to a hospital within a month of discharge, according to a new University at Buffalo study.

The research, published in October in BMC Public Health, found that sociodemographic and economic factors were associated with increased readmissions for patients treated for heart failure, pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction, and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

The findings could help researchers and clinicians develop new tools, policies and interventions to improve patient discharge planning and mitigate against readmission, says lead investigator David Jacobs, PharmD, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacy practice in the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

"Evidence suggests that up to 80 percent of a patient's health outcomes are a result of social, behavioral and economic factors rather than their medical care," says Jacobs. "Social and economic disparities will continue to play an important role in patient care and health outcomes. Current readmission policy does not adequately account for patient sociodemographic factors, which may further drive health inequity."

The study is one of few to explore how social characteristics influence hospital readmissions in the United States. Early hospital readmissions are associated with increased health care costs and remain common in the U.S., particularly within the Medicare population, says Jacobs. And, he adds, social risk factors that impact health outcomes are disproportionately represented in high-needs populations.

Hospitals that exceed expected 30-day readmission rates are fined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP). These policies penalize hospitals in low socioeconomic areas and safety net hospitals, which serve medically and socially vulnerable patients and consequently have higher 30-day readmission rates, he says.

"Providers and hospitals recognize the association of social needs with patient outcomes, yet they may be reluctant to assume responsibility for a patient's social-related needs given their complexity coupled with increasing clinical demands," says Jacobs. "Hospitals should not be penalized for treating higher risk patients when social risks are outside a hospital's control."

Simple solutions to complex patient needs

The research examined the Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify adult patients admitted to hospitals between 201015 with any of four conditions targeted by the HRRP: heart failure, pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction and AECOPD. Stroke was examined as a control condition as it is not targeted by the HRRP.

The data contained information on more than 19.2 million hospital admissions and over 3.6 million readmissions within 30 days, which accounted for nearly half of U.S. hospitalizations during the period. Thirty-day readmission rates were assessed in relation to three sociodemographic and economic characteristics: gender, household income, and the location of the hospital in an urban or rural setting.

According to the investigation, female gender, higher household income and receiving treatment at rural hospitals were associated with decreased odds of 30-day readmission for the targeted conditions. The study also found that patients age 7590 accounted for the highest percentage of readmissions, except for those treated for AECOPD, where patients age 4064 had the highest readmission rates.

Findings on the relationship between hospital location and readmission rates are conflicting, says Jacobs. Patients who need surgery or require additional resources, such as treatment by a specialist, are often referred to urban hospitals, he says. "Urban hospitals, therefore, may be associated with higher odds of 30-day readmission because they see complex patients from both urban and rural areas," he says.

Patients with a lower household income may have more difficulties affording prescriptions or accessing transportation to follow-up appointments, he adds.

"Policy change, innovative care delivery models, and community-level interventions that address social and economic needs beyond the hospital should be explored and tested to mitigate hospital readmissions and minimize health inequity," says Jacobs.

Explore further Readmission rate 19.2 percent after acute exacerbation of COPD

More information: Frances Murray et al, Socio-demographic and -economic factors associated with 30-day readmission for conditions targeted by the hospital readmissions reduction program: a population-based study, BMC Public Health (2021). Journal information: BMC Public Health Frances Murray et al, Socio-demographic and -economic factors associated with 30-day readmission for conditions targeted by the hospital readmissions reduction program: a population-based study,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11987-z
House finches and blackcapped chickadee visiting a bird feeder equipped with a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. We monitored birdfeeder usage of common backyard birds with RFID tagging to inform our predictions of the impact of bird-delivered ivermectin on West NIle virus transmission. Credit: Nick Komar

New data indicate that mass treatment with ivermectina drug that was a workhorse of tropical medicine long before it emerged as a controversial COVID-19 treatmenthas eliminated river blindness transmission in two states in Nigeria, the first Nigerian states to achieve this distinction in a country that has the world's highest burden of the disease.

The findings, presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) by researchers from The Carter Center and Nigeria's federal and state ministries of health, represent a major milestone in a decades-long effort to eliminate a leading cause of preventable blindness. River blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, is caused by tiny parasitic worms transmitted by infective bites from blackflies that breed in rapidly flowing rivers. In humans, the worm's embryonic larvae routinely produce eye lesions that eventually can lead to blindness. River blindness is found widely in Africa, and there are isolated pockets of disease in Brazil, Venezuela and Yemen.

"Nigeria is where the fight to eliminate river blindness will be won or lost, which is why we are excited to have evidence indicating that the Plateau and Nasarawa states, with a combined population of more than five million people, appear to be the first in the country to have stopped disease transmission," said Dr. Abel Eigege, a Program Director for The Carter Center in Nigeria. "It's taken 25 years of hard work by community volunteers to distribute the medicine, and particularly strong commitments from Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health, Merck's ongoing donation of ivermectin, and many donors and partners. But we are hoping this success can accelerate elimination efforts elsewhere in Nigeria and throughout Africa."

In a separate presentation, The Carter Center's Dr. Emmanuel Emukah reported that there is also evidence that disease transmission has been "interrupted" in Nigeria's Delta State. Interruption is a critical first step towards achieving elimination since it allows ivermectin treatments to be stopped and post-treatment surveillance to be launched before elimination is declared. He also presented evidence indicating that four other Nigerian states may soon reach the interruption stage.

While the US Food and Drug Administration warns against using ivermectin for treating COVID-19, in 1998 it found that ivermectin was safe and effective in humans for treating river blindness and a human intestinal infection known as strongyloidiasis, caused by parasitic worms. River blindness elimination efforts have focused on mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns in which a single dose of ivermectinand in a form approved for use in humansis given repeatedly, once or twice a year, to the entire treatment eligible populations of villages in areas where river blindness is transmitted. The global campaign was catalyzed in part by the Mectizan Donation Program that was launched in 1987. Eigege said one reason the campaigns have been embraced by people in local communities is that ivermectin has additional benefits in treating other afflictions they routinely suffer, including intestinal worms, scabies and lice.

Dr. Frank Richards, who spent 22 years leading The Carter Center's River Blindness Elimination Program and now serves as a senior advisor, said it's been frustrating during the pandemic to see ivermectina drug that has great value for treating neglected tropical diseasesbe reframed as a dangerous drug for humans and one that only should be used for treating worms in livestock and pets.

"It is extremely important for the public to recognize that there are formulations of ivermectin approved by the FDA for treating specific conditionslike river blindnessin humans that are incredibly safe when given at recommended doses," Richards said. "Ivermectin is of enormous proven value for a number of neglected tropical diseases that are a significant burden for millions of people. Before ivermectin arrived, we really had nothing to safely treat river blindness. Look at where we are now. Ivermectin has eliminated river blindness from four countries in the Americas, and, in these ASTMH reports from Nigeria, it is showing that it can do so in Africa as well."

Richards added that such impact is one of the reasons why the developers of ivermectin won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Performing radio telemetry to locate tagged birds in nocturnal roosts. Mosquitoes feed on birds in nocturnal roost sites. We characterized roosting habits of common backyard birds to inform our predictions of the impact of bird-delivered ivermectin on West NIle virus transmission. Credit: Chilinh Nguyen

Adding ivermectin to birdfeeders to fight West Nile Virus in humans

Meanwhile, in a separate presentation at the ASTMH Annual Meeting, researchers at the University of California, Davis and Colorado State University presented evidence that adding ivermectin to backyard bird feeders has a potential to reduce local transmission of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the U.S.

WNV is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes. But birds serve as key amplifiers of the virus in nature, keeping it circulating in local mosquito populations and maintaining its threat as the most common mosquito-borne pathogen in the U.S.

"We found that widespread use of ivermectin in backyard birdfeeders could reduce neighborhood transmission of West Nile Virus by about 60%," said lead author Dr. Karen Holcomb, a recent Ph.D. graduate from the Chris Barker lab at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. "That's because a low dose of ivermectin is harmless for birds, but it gets in their blood and can be lethal for mosquitoes that feed on them."

Holcomb said the approach could help prevent or control local outbreaks like the one that led to more than 800 confirmed and probable cases in Arizona earlier this year and killed 67 people. The disease often causes thousands of infections each year and even people who have few symptoms from WNV can experience long-term neurological problems. There are no drugs to cure an infection or vaccines for humans to prevent the disease, which emerged in the U.S. in 1999 and is now found in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.

Holcomb and her colleagues initially used backyard chickens to test whether mixing ivermectin into birdfeed could have a large enough impact on mosquito populations to affect WNV transmission. They found evidence of increased mortality in mosquito populations that fed on the treated chickens and a reduction in WNV infections in chickens that ate the ivermectin bird feed compared with those that did not. Based on the positive results from this work, they then moved to evaluate its potential impact with wild birds that are regular visitors to backyard birdfeeders.

Holcomb and Barker collaborated with Dr. Brian Foy, Ph.D., an expert in both WNV and ivermectin at Colorado State, to identify bird species that meet four key criteria: They make frequent trips to birdfeeders; they roost at night in areas near birdfeeders; they are bitten frequently by WNV vector mosquitoes; and they are present in large numbers in suburban neighborhoods across the U.S. By tagging birds and using cameras to monitor feeders as well as locating birds at night with radio telemetry, they determined that offering a wide range of common backyard bird feed blended with ivermectin could produce a sharp drop in local West Nile Virus infections if efficacy and spatial coverage are high enough.

Foy, who also is exploring ivermectin's potential to reduce malaria transmission, said misguided interest in using ivermectin for COVID-19 could divert supplies needed for proven uses, like fighting river blindness, or for developing novel applications, like fighting malaria and WNV. He said he already has experienced difficulty finding enough ivermectin for his workand what he is finding seems to be of lesser quality.

"I understand that at the beginning of the pandemic, when we had nothing, it was valid to at least consider a drug like ivermectin because there was some evidence of general anti-viral properties," he said. "But we have vaccines and a growing number of proven treatments, yet the demand for ivermectin, which has no demonstrated benefit so far to treat COVID-19, seems to be growing."

"This research demonstrates that ivermectin, when used correctly, can prevent millions of life-threating and debilitating parasitic infections," said ASTMH President Julie Jacobson, MD, DTM&H. "We must follow the science and continue to shed light on its best use as a frontline defense against neglected tropical diseases."

Explore further Ivermectin and COVID-19

Provided by American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba find that risk factors for metabolic syndrome are similar in both lean and obese individuals, and that the risk level conferred by these factors tends to be higher in non-obese people. Credit: Lightspring/Shutterstock

Researchers from Japan have found that lifestyle habits play an important role in predicting the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in non-obese individuals, not only obese individuals.

In a study published this month in Preventive Medicine, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed that the level of risk that lifestyle factors confer for metabolic syndrome tends to be higher in non-obese than obese individuals in Japan.

Metabolic syndrome is a complex of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes than people who do not have these traits.

"It is known that non-obese individuals with some of these characteristics (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) are also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes," says lead author of the study Professor Fumi Takeda. "However, it is unclear what lifestyle factors put non-obese people at risk of developing metabolic syndrome."

To answer this question, the researchers analyzed data from almost 100,000 Japanese adults who underwent specific health checkups consisting of a medical examination and a self-administered questionnaire about lifestyle factors such as eating, drinking, smoking, and exercise habits.

"The results showed similarities in risk factors for metabolic syndrome among both obese and non-obese individuals," explains Professor Takeda. "We found that older age, male sex, weight gain greater 10 kg since their 20s, current smoking, slow walking, quick eating, and greater alcohol consumption put individuals at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, regardless of whether they were obese or not."

A lack of regular exercise was linked to metabolic syndrome in obese, but not non-obese individuals.

"Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome can occur even in non-obese individuals who have similar lifestyle habits to obese individuals," states Professor Takeda.

Given that these lifestyle factors can lead to metabolic syndrome even in lean people, counseling lean older men regarding smoking cessation and reducing alcohol intake, among other lifestyle factors, could help prevent the development of metabolic syndrome, and thereby decrease their risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life.

Explore further Study finds 'healthy' obese people more likely to develop heart failure than those of normal weight

More information: Ayako Kikuchi et al, Risk factors for multiple metabolic syndrome components in obese and non-obese Japanese individuals, Preventive Medicine (2021). Journal information: Preventive Medicine Ayako Kikuchi et al, Risk factors for multiple metabolic syndrome components in obese and non-obese Japanese individuals,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106855
A section of heart tissue that reveals the nexus glia of the heart (green) interact with neurons (blue) and heart cells (red), likely to modulate heart function. Credit: Nina Kikel-Coury, CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Glial cells in the heart help regulate heart rate and rhythm, and drive its development in the embryo, according to a new study publishing November 18th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Nina Kikel-Coury, Cody Smith and colleagues at the University of Notre Dame. The discovery provides the most detailed portrait yet of a critical population of cells that had been previously poorly understood.

Glia are a diverse set of cell types, originally named after the Greek word for glue, and include cells that surround and nourish neurons, and others that mount immune responses within the central nervous system. In the peripheral nervous system, glia are present and presumably active in multiple organs, including the gut, pancreas, spleen, and lungs, although their function is not clear in most cases.

Recently, a cell population in the heart that expresses a known astroglial marker has been reported, and a part of the developing heart called the outflow tract includes a group of cells derived from an embryonic structure called the neural crest, which is the source of most peripheral glial cells.

These intriguing clues led the authors to look more deeply at the identity and function of these cells. Beginning in zebrafish, they found an abundant group of cells in the heart's ventricles that produced glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP), a classic marker of glia. GFAP-positive cells were also found in the hearts of mice and humans. Those cells were concentrated in the so-called outflow tract in early development, a structure that forms in the heart during development and contributes to the pathway that connects the ventricles to the arteries leaving the heart. Killing these cells increased the rate of nerve development in the embryonic heart, suggesting they play an inhibitory or delaying role in cardiac innervation. By a variety of methods, including tracking individually labeled cells as they migrated, the researchers showed that the glial cells that take up residence in the outflow tract begin their journey in the neural crest. They termed these cells nexus glia.

But what is the role of these glial cells in the mature heart? When the authors removed the cells, the heart rate increased; when the cells were reduced by depriving them of a key gene that drives their glial development, the resulting heart beat irregularly. A major subdivision of the peripheral nervous system, called the autonomic system, regulates many aspects of physiology, including heart rate, through its two branches, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. By treating zebrafish with chemicals that increase activity of one branch or another, they showed that cardiac glia control heart rate through their modulation of both branches.

The results greatly expand the understanding of the role of glial cells in the heart and suggest that glia may also play critical roles in the development and function of other organs where they have been glimpsed. "Our findings indicate an extensive and under-explored network of organ-associated glia that have functional roles dependent upon the environment," Smith said. "Further understanding of these specialized astroglial populations is therefore necessary, given their potential impact on organ physiology."

Smith adds, "Astrocyte-like cells in the PNS are poorly understood. We show that an astrocyte-like cell functions early in development to regulate autonomic-nervous system control of the heart."

Explore further New glial cells discovered in the brain: Implications for brain repair

More information: Kikel-Coury NL, Brandt JP, Correia IA, O'Dea MR, DeSantis DF, Sterling F, et al. (2021) Identification of astroglia-like cardiac nexus glia that are critical regulators of cardiac development and function. PLoS Biol 19(11): e3001444. Journal information: PLoS Biology Kikel-Coury NL, Brandt JP, Correia IA, O'Dea MR, DeSantis DF, Sterling F, et al. (2021) Identification of astroglia-like cardiac nexus glia that are critical regulators of cardiac development and function.19(11): e3001444. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001444
(HealthDay)Lyss Stern lost her sense of smell when she was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March 2020, and it still hasn't returned.

Stern, 47, a New York City author and mother, has seen countless doctors and taken many types of medicine, vitamins and supplements to get her sense of smell back. She also undergoes acupuncture regularly and saw an energy healerall to no or very little avail.

"Yesterday, my husband asked 'what's that smell?' and I had no idea," Stern recalled. "It was eggs boiling over in the kitchen that almost caught fire."

Unfortunately, she's not alone. As many as 1.6 million people in the United States will develop olfactory dysfunction or loss of smell from COVID-19, a new study projects. Some, like Stern, develop chronic dysfunction that lasts for six months or more.

"Given the surge in acute COVID-19 infections last fall and winter and the ongoing cases, there is a pending tidal wave of new cases of chronic olfactory dysfunction that deserves our attention," said study author Dr. Jay Piccirillo, a professor of otolaryngologyhead and neck surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "We have to try to figure out what to do for these people, and the sad news is that we don't have any effective treatments for chronic COVID-19-related loss of smell yet."

Without the ability to smell, you can't taste food or detect harmful odors such as gas and smoke. Like Stern, many people with chronic loss of sense of smell report a poorer quality of life, and feelings of depression as well.

Exactly how COVID-19 can rob you of your ability to smell isn't fully understood yet, but many viral illnesses cause similar symptoms.

"We think that the virus attacks the supporting cells in the nose that help olfactory nerves do their job," Piccirillo said. Olfactory nerves are responsible for our sense of smell.

To get a better sense of how many people will lose their sense of smell due to COVID, the researchers culled data on new daily U.S. COVID cases, frequency of loss of smell, and rates of recovery.

Based on these numbers, they estimate that more than 700,000and possibly as many as 1.6 millionAmericans will have chronic loss of smell due to COVID-19. The actual number may be even higher as the data included only state-reported positive cases, and not all COVID cases get reported.

Once supporting cells in the nose recover, smell returns for about 90% of people with COVID, Piccirillo said. Researchers still aren't sure why some people, like Stern, experience chronic loss of smell.

"People whose supporting cells get more infected and had a heavier load of the virus are more likely to have persistent loss of smell," Piccirillo said.

The findings were published Nov. 18 in JAMA OtolaryngologyHead & Neck Surgery.

Meanwhile, the phones have been ringing off the hook at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago due to the growing numbers of people with chronic loss of smell from COVID, said Dr. Alan Hirsch, its neurological director.

"There is no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for smell and taste loss from COVID-19," said Hirsch, who reviewed the findings. "Instead, doctors will try medications and supplements that have shown to be effective in other virus-related smell and taste deficits."

Other causes of loss of smell include age, smoking and certain neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, Hirsch said. These come on slowly, and many people don't notice or complain. COVID-related loss of smell comes on quickly.

People with COVID-related loss of smell are younger than those who are affected by other causes of olfactory dysfunction and will have to live with this troublesome symptom much longer as a result, he said.

"We will continue to see more cases of COVID-19-related loss of smell and as people age, this will be added on to age deficits to make the loss that much more pronounced," Hirsch said.

If it's been more than a month since you recovered from COVID-19 and you still can't smell, you should see a specialist to learn if there is more you can do to recover it, he suggested.

"Food and danger are important things to smell," said Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, who also reviewed the study.

"You may lose interest in eating because everything tastes the same and lose weight without wanting or needing to," Horovitz said. "It's important to work with a nutritionist to make sure your body is getting all of the nutrients it needs if you can't smell."

More information: The American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery Foundation has more about The American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery Foundation has more about smell loss related to COVID-19 Amish M. Khan et al, Growing Public Health Concern of COVID-19 Chronic Olfactory Dysfunction, JAMA OtolaryngologyHead & Neck Surgery (2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2021.3379

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Young children's ability to laugh and make jokes has been mapped by age for the first time using data from a new study involving nearly 700 children from birth to 4 years of age, from around the world. The findings, led by University of Bristol researchers and published in Behavior Research Methods, identifies the earliest age humor emerges and how it typically builds in the first years of life.

Researchers from Bristol's School of Education sought to determine what types of humor are present in early development and the ages at which different types of humor emerge. The team created the 20-question Early Humor Survey (EHS) and asked the parents of 671 children aged 0 to 47 months from the UK, US, Australia, and Canada, to complete the five-minute survey about their child's humor development.

The team found the earliest reported age that some children appreciated humor was 1 month, with an estimated 50% of children appreciating humor by 2 months, and 50% producing humor by 11 months. The team also show that once children produced humor, they produced it often, with half of children having joked in the last 3 hours.

Of the children surveyed, the team identified 21 different types of humor. Children under one year of age appreciated physical, visual and auditory forms of humor. This included hide and reveal games (e.g., peekaboo), tickling, funny faces, bodily humor (e.g., putting your head through your legs), funny voices and noises, chasing, and misusing objects (e.g., putting a cup on your head).

One-year-olds appreciated several types of humor that involved getting a reaction from others. This included teasing, showing hidden body parts (e.g., taking off clothes), scaring others, and taboo topics (e.g., toilet humor). They also found it funny to act like something else (e.g., an animal).

Two-year-olds' humor reflected language development, including mislabeling, playing with concepts (e.g., dogs say moo), and nonsense words. Children in this age group were also found to demonstrate a mean streak as they appreciated making fun of others and aggressive humor (e.g., pushing someone).

Finally, 3-year-olds were found to play with social rules (e.g., saying naughty words to be funny), and showed the beginnings of understanding tricks and puns.

Dr. Elena Hoicka, Associate Professor in Bristol's School of Education and the study's lead author, said, "Our results highlight that humor is a complex, developing process in the first four years of life. Given its universality and importance in so many aspects of children's and adults' lives, it is important that we develop tools to determine how humor first develops so that we can further understand not only the emergence of humor itself, but how humor may help young children function cognitively, socially, and in terms of mental health.

"The Early Humor Survey addresses an important gap of when different types of humor develop. It has the potential, with more research, to be used as a diagnostic tool in early development in terms of developmental differences, and to help inform early years educators and the UK's national curriculum for 0-5 years."

Explore further Study: Ability to produce humor linked to higher intelligence levels in schoolchildren

More information: Elena Hoicka et al, The Early Humor Survey (EHS): A reliable parent-report measure of humor development for 1- to 47-month-olds, Behavior Research Methods (2021). Elena Hoicka et al, The Early Humor Survey (EHS): A reliable parent-report measure of humor development for 1- to 47-month-olds,(2021). DOI: 10.3758/s13428-021-01704-4
Credit: DOI: 10.1038/d41586-021-03416-3. Sources: Natl Statistical Inst. of Bulgaria/YHRD/Hungarian Central Statistical Office

Poor ethical standards, unclear consent processes, stigmatizing presentation: Six researchers, Dr. Veronika Lipphardt, holder of the Professorship of Science and Technology Studies, the sociologists Dr. Mihai Surdu and Dr. Nils Ellebrecht, and the mathematician Prof. Dr. Peter Pfaffelhuber, all four from the University of Freiburg, the bioethicist Dr. Matthias Wienroth of Northumbria University/UK, and the human geneticist Prof. Dr. Gudrun A. Rappold from Heidelberg University Hospital, examined several hundred publications and five databases. Matthias Wienroth of Northumbria University/UK, and human geneticist Prof. Dr. Gudrun A. Rappold of Heidelberg University Hospital have examined several hundred publications and five databases and discovered numerous problematic aspects in the handling and interpretation of DNA data from the Roma population group. The issues center around poor ethical standards, unclear consent processes and a stigmatizing portrayal of this group. The researchers have presented their findings and subsequent recommendations in Nature. The New York Times also reported the findings.

Incorrect basic methodological assumptions

First of all, the researchers identified a fundamental problem in collecting genetic data from Roma, who are currently Europe's largest minority group with 10 to 12 million people: Lipphardt and colleagues analyzed more than 450 papers published between 1921 and 2021, about two-thirds of which were published in the last three decades. Many of the researchers assumed that the Roma were a genetically isolated, clearly definable group originating from India, which therefore applied to all European Roma. According to Lipphardt's team, this is an erroneous assumption with far-reaching consequences. Test persons or their DNA who come from isolated communities or localities represent only these and cannot represent larger population groups. Moreover, most Roma have not lived in isolation for centuries, but have ancestors from many different countries in Europe. "Portraying them as an isolated, foreign group could contribute to stigmatization and exclusion," Lipphardt explains. "In addition, the recruitment of individuals, some of which was carried out in very limited areas where people live together in close communities in isolation, carries the risk of biased samples that distort scientific results and their interpretation in terms of content" adds Rappold. "Thus, this is also not a representative cross-section of Roma in Central Europe."

Insufficient procedures to obtain consent

The researchers also showed that two key ethical requirements are rarely met, especially in forensic genetic studies: informed consent from all subjects and approval by an ethics committee. The research team found that for many samples, records of consent from the individuals whose DNA was collected either did not exist or the procedures to obtain consent were inadequate. "In many cases, particularly in the late twentieth century, data and samples were collected from people, including prisoners, without adequate consent or record of consent, and then given to research groups or placed in public databases," Lipphardt explains. In other cases, participants appear to have given some sort of consent, but it's unclear whether they have actually been told what their DNA would be used for. From interviews with geneticists, the research team learned that participants in some studies were told only that their data would reveal whether they were carriers of genetic diseases, but not that their genetic information could be posted in public databases used by law enforcement, which in some cases did happen. Police departments have also uploaded their own collected data to such research databases. For example, the Freiburg researcher and her colleagues report on an example from Baden-Wurttemberg. The State Criminal Police Office in Stuttgart had collected data from dozens of people from Afghanistan and Romania and uploaded it to a public database in 2017 without indicating whether the individuals had consented to the use of their data.

Moreover, Roma are overrepresented in the examined public databases accessed by law enforcement agencies. In Bulgaria's national database, for example, 52.7 percent of records are categorized as Roma, 36.9 percent as Bulgarians, and 10.3 percent as Turks, even though Roma make up only 4.9 percent of the Bulgarian population. The consequences of this overrepresentation for those affected are currently unclear. However, we know from the overrepresentation of marginalized population groups in police databases that this circumstance already stems from particularly strong surveillance and, as it were, further solidifies it.

The researchers' recommendations

"In our view, research and peer-review practices need to change across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from forensic genetics to molecular anthropology," Surdu says.

Because of increased global awareness of the injustices faced by minorities, some scientists and journal editors are already trying to make changes. Last year, two journals retracted six papers that used DNA from ethnic minorities in China. In addition, Lipphardt and her colleagues say an international oversight committee needs to be established. As a first step, this committee could draw up a list of population groups for which problems with DNA data have been identified. Researchers, editors, forensic investigators, organizations, or victims could then check to see if the population they are working with or whose rights they are advocating for, is on the list. In addition, researchers should check the DNA data of suppressed groups stored in public databases.

In addition to establishing uniform ethical standards, all researchers should be required to publish the informed consent form templates they use to collect DNA data. Marginalized groups from whom scientists want to collect and use DNA would need to be involved in research projects from the outset. Scientists should engage in a two-way dialog with people about the benefits and rewards, as well as the risks, of DNA submission. These risks are different today than they were 30 years ago, when many DNA samples were collected worldwide.

"Especially because human genetic variation has so often been misunderstood or even misrepresented and misinterpreted in the sciences in the past, these challenges need to be addressed to maintain trust in science as well as in health care, law enforcement and criminal justice," Lipphardt emphasizes.

Explore further Lack of awareness of the sensitivity of DNA data

More information: Veronika Lipphardt et al, Europe's Roma people are vulnerable to poor practice in genetics, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Veronika Lipphardt et al, Europe's Roma people are vulnerable to poor practice in genetics,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/d41586-021-03416-3
Electron micrograph of a negatively stained human papilloma virus (HPV) which occurs in human warts. Credit: public domain

In the push to eliminate cervical cancer, researchers delivered hopeful news Nov. 17 at the 34th International Papillomavirus Conference in Toronto.

A randomized controlled trial of 2,275 women in Kenya showed that a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was highly effective. The current standard for women is a three-dose regimen.

"The single-dose vaccine was highly effective at 18 months for HPV vaccination," said Ruanne Barnabas, principal investigator of the trial and a professor of global health at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "The single-dose efficacy was the same as multiple doses."

This news could greatly hasten the pace of vaccinations and brings renewed energy to the push to make cervical cancer the first cancer to be wiped out globally. Currently, just 15 percent of women are vaccinated against HPV, according to an analysis published in March in Preventive Medicine, which outlined a course of action to eliminate the disease.

Barnabas said the KEN-SHE trial could help the World Health Organization reach its goal to have 90 percent of 15-year-old girls vaccinated against HPV by 2030. She said a single-dose vaccine would simplify logistics and decrease costs. The abstract was presented on the same day that the WHO is marking the first anniversary of its commitment to eliminate a cancer.

"These findings are a gamechanger that may substantially reduce the incidence of HPV-attributable cervical cancer and positions single-dose HPV vaccination as a high value and high impact public health intervention that is within reach for us," said Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) acting director general, Professor Sam Kariuki.

Like many African countries, the Kenya HPV vaccine program rollout has faced the challenges of vaccine delivery, low uptake of the second HPV dose coupled with global HPV vaccine shortages.

In the trial, women 15 to 20 years old were randomly assigned a therapy and followed from December 2018 to June 2021:

760 received a bivalent vaccine that covered two strains of HPV (16/18), which represent 70 percent of cases;

758 received a nonavalent vaccine that covered seven strains of HPV (16/18/31/33/45/52/58), which represent 90 percent of cases;

757 received a vaccine that protects against meningococcal meningitis.

After 18 months, the bivalent vaccine was 97.5 percent effective against HPV 16/18 and the nonavalent vaccine was 97.5 percent effective against HPV 16/18. The nonavalent vaccine was 89 percent effective against HPV 16/18/31/33/45/52/58. Even if women tested positive for one strain of HPV, the vaccine protected them from other strains of the virus.

The majority of participants (57 percent) were between 15 and 17 years old and most reported one lifetime sexual partner (61 percent). To be eligible, participants needed to be sexually active, have no more than five lifetime partners, be HIV-negative, and have no history of HPV vaccination.

Researchers said more studies need to be done to test how long the vaccine lasts.

"This trial brings new energy to the elimination of cervical cancer. It brings great hope to the women living in countries like Kenya, who have a high burden of the disease," said Dr. Nelly Mugo, co-principal investigator on the study and senior principal clinical research scientist with the Center for Clinical Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute in Nairobi. She also is a UW associate research professor of global health.

Researchers said one impetus for the trial was the cervical cancer ward at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. They said they want the ward empty.

"I believe that I will see cervical cancer eliminated in my lifetime," said Dr. Maricianah Onono with KEMRI. "So, let's do thisone shot for every woman!"

According to the WHO, most sexually active women and men will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives and some will be repeatedly infected. The peak time for acquiring infection among both women and men is shortly after becoming sexually active. While nine out of 10 HPV infections go away by themselves in two years, others lead to cancer of the reproductive system, mainly cervical cancer. HPV also can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, and oropharyngeal cancer (throat, tongue, and tonsils).

Worldwide, cervical cancer kills a women every two minutes, according to the WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus. Most of those deaths are in Africa, which bears 80 percent of the cervical cancer burden, according to the WHO.

This trial comes 15 years after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first HPV vaccine. Merck produced Gardasil in 2006, which prevented four types of HPV (6/11/16/18). Since then, two other HPV vaccines have been introduced: Cervarix (which prevents HPV 16/18) was approved in 2009, and Gardasil-9, which prevents an additional five high-risk HPV types, was approved in 2014. However, due to cost and limited vaccine supply, coverage has been low in areas with the highest cervical cancer burden.

Barnabas said women have been given multiple doses of the HPV vaccine because of gaps in evidence for the effectiveness of a single-dose vaccine and concerns about clinically meaningful differences in efficacy.

More information: A randomized trial of single-dose HPV vaccination efficacy among young women: Journal information: Preventive Medicine A randomized trial of single-dose HPV vaccination efficacy among young women: newsroom.uw.edu/sites/default/  icacy_ipvc_final.pdf
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

While suicide levels in the USA fell during the first year of the pandemic, Australian researchers warn the lower suicide rate now faces the challenge of dealing with the COVID-19 health and socio-economic gap in society.

Echoing similar trends during the great Spanish Flu pandemic (1918-1920), provisional National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data from the first stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 show an estimated 17.7% increase in overall mortality but a 5.6% decline in US suicides compared to 2019 mortalities (from 47,511 to 44,834 suicides).

"These findings should be cautiously interpreted because further research is required to analyze the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US suicide rates among vulnerable populations including by race-ethnicity, as disadvantaged groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 related health and economic impacts," says Professor Tarun Bastiampillai, from Flinders University's College of Medicine and Public Health, and Monash University.

Clinician and academic neuropsychiatrist Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi from ANU Medical School, is network coordinator of the Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA) in Canberra. Co-authors are Flinders University Associate Professor of Psychiatry Stephen Allison and Flinders University Professor Tarun Bastiampillai, who is also affiliated with Monash University.

"Research on social cohesion and welfare support measures is also needed to better understand their impacts on pandemic-induced suicide risk for vulnerable US communities."

Major crises are often associated with a reduction in suicide because great upheavals in society such as war and pandemic can sharpen collective feelings, stimulate community spirit and social resilience, the Consortium of Australian-Academic Psychiatrists for Independent Policy and Research Analysis (CAPIPRA) researchers say in a new article in The Primary Care Companion for Central Nervous System Disorders.

The latest study compared the latest findings with similarly lower suicide rates before and after the major historic Spanish Flu pandemic (1918-1920) which killed an estimated 1%-2.7% of the world's population and reduced US life expectancy by 13%. While the headline US suicide rate fell by 26% during that pandemic, declines were even more evident among non-White (mostly Black) population (51% versus 23%) compared to the pre-pandemic period (1910-1917).

This mirrors a separate study (Pirkis et al) which found that suicide rates in 21 countries (16 high income and 5 upper-middle income) have either been stable or lower since the start of the worldwide pandemic last year. We need to remain vigilant and be poised to respond if the situation changes as the longer-term mental health and economic effects of the pandemic unfold, The Lancet Psychiatry study concludes.

It also follows two recent papers from CAPIPRA researchers, including Flinders University Associate Professor Stephen Allison, which examined the impact on Spanish Flu on suicide rates in the USA and New Zealand.

Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi, from the Australian National University (ANU) Medical School and CAPIPRA Network Coordinator, says greater social and cultural cohesion among many non-White communitiesled by strong family and kinship bonds, religious beliefs, higher levels of resilience or other factorsappears to be somewhat protective during times of great adversity.

"Communities with higher levels of social integration are more likely to 'pull together,'" Associate Professor Looi says.

"And while there has been the additional secular sociocultural changes brought by the Black Lives Matter movement, these communities are bearing disproportionate pressures from the extended pressures of the current pandemic."

Explore further Alert on Australian youth mental healthcare and youth suicide

More information: Tarun Bastiampillai et al, Spanish Flu (19181920) Impact on US Suicide Rates by Race, The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders (2021). Tarun Bastiampillai et al, Spanish Flu (19181920) Impact on US Suicide Rates by Race,(2021). DOI: 10.4088/PCC.21com03088 Jane Pirkis et al, Suicide trends in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time-series analysis of preliminary data from 21 countries, The Lancet Psychiatry (2021). DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00091-2 Tarun Bastiampillai et al, Pandemics and Social Cohesion, The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders (2021). DOI: 10.4088/PCC.20com02882 Journal information: The Lancet Psychiatry
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Switzerland's health minister on Thursday insisted new COVID-19 restrictions were not necessary despite daily new cases quadrupling in a month to an all-year high.

"We are clearly facing the fifth wave," Alain Berset told a news conference, adding that the course of the pandemic "will depend on the behaviour of all of us".

Though the virus is spreading particularly among younger people less likely to suffer severe illness from the disease, Berset said the surge in cases was more worrying as "the number of adults who have no immunity is too big".

A vaccination drive last week lifted the sluggish jab uptake of recent months and ministers hope the increased pace can be sustained.

Switzerland had 10 percent of the population fully vaccinated by April 23, racing to 50 percent three months later on July 29. But in the subsequent months that progress has tailed off drastically.

Around 65 percent of the Swiss population are now fully vaccinated, while a further two percent have had the first dose of a two-jab course.

With case rates having shot up since mid-October, the Swiss authorities fear an overload of hospital cases as the winter kicks in.

Last week, COVID-19 hospitalisations increased by a quarter, while deaths were up more than 80 percent to 53 fatalities.

Intensive care units are 77 percent full, with 17 percent of the overall capacity taken up by COVID-19 patients.

'Danger zone'

Bern University epidemiologist Christian Althaus called for a return to working from home, free tests and greater mask-wearing indoors, given the surge in cases.

Any restrictions on the freedoms of vaccinated people must be justified, he told the Neue Zurcher Zeitung newspaper, adding: "We must not let unvaccinated people take society hostage."

Althaus said that given the creeping vaccination rateneighbours Germany, France and Italy all have higher ratesSwitzerland could be in for a rough winter.

"We are not out of the danger zone yet. Given the current situation, we could find ourselves once again in a critical situation by Christmas," he said.

As part of its famous direct democracy system, Switzerland will vote on November 28 on its COVID-19 laws, including the COVID certificate for fully vaccinated, recovered or tested-negative people.

The pass facilitates international travel and entry to public events and indoor spaces such as restaurants and concert venues.

The landlocked European country, population 8.6 million, has recorded nearly 931,000 positive testswith nearly 6,000 more added on Thursdayand 10,926 deaths during the pandemic.

Explore further Half of Swiss double-jabbed against Covid

 2021 AFP
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday announced the reorganization and designation of the heads of its three divisions.
More than 800 Activision Blizzard employees and contractors have signed a petition calling for CEO Bobby Kotick to be removed as CEO. Workers walked out in protest earlier this week, following a report published by The Wall Street Journal, which alleged that Kotick knew about sexual misconduct incidents at the company and neglected to inform the board of directors about them. The report also notes that Kotick has been accused of mistreating women on numerous occasions.

Today over 500 current ABK employees and contractors signed a petition calling for the removal of Bobby Kotick as our CEO https://t.co/QP9sOJ76bK  ABetterABK  ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) November 18, 2021

"We, the undersigned, no longer have confidence in the leadership of Bobby Kotick as the CEO of Activision Blizzard," the petition reads. "The information that has come to light about his behaviors and practices in the running of our companies runs counter to the culture and integrity we require of our leadershipand directly conflicts with the initiatives started by our peers."

The signees asked for Kotick to step down and for shareholders to choose a new CEO without his influence. The petition notes that Kotick "owns a substantial portion of the voting rights of the shareholders." When employee advocacy group A Better ABK shared the petition on Twitter, it said more than 500 workers had signed it. Hundreds more added their names within a couple of hours.

Among the claims in the report are one that Kotick was the person who wrote an email sent to employees by executive vice president of corporate affairs Frances Townsend after California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard in July. "A recently filed lawsuit presented a distorted and untrue picture of our company, including factually incorrect, old and out of context stories  some from more than a decade ago," the memo read. Hundreds of Blizzard employees slammed the message and demanded "immediate corrections" from company leaders.

Story continues

The report also shed some light on the departure of Jen Oneal, who was named as a co-lead of Blizzard in August but announced three months later that she was leaving her position. In a September email to the company's legal team, Oneal (who is Asian-American and gay) is said to have written that she had been "tokenized, marginalized, and discriminated against" and that she was paid less than Blizzard co-lead Mike Ybarra. IGN later reported that Ybarra and Oneal asked management for equal compensation, but Oneal said they were only offered equivalent offers after she tendered her resignation.

Following The Journal's report, the Activision Blizzard board publicly gave its backing to Kotick. However, the backlash is intensifying. Before the petition, Polygon and Eurogamer called for him to resign in editorials. A group of activist shareholders, who hold around 0.6 percent of stock and have long criticized Kotick, demanded that he step down.

On top of that, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan told his employees that he was disheartened and frankly stunned to read The Journal's report. We outreached to Activision immediately after the article was published to express our deep concern and to ask how they plan to address the claims made in the article, Ryan wrote in the email, which was leaked. We do not believe their statements of response properly address the situation.

This week's report and ensuing pressure on Kotick follows a torrid few months for leaders at Activision Blizzard. After DFEH filed its lawsuit, it emerged that the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the company. Activision Blizzard is also facing a class action lawsuit from shareholders, who claim it violated securities laws. In addition, workers and the Communication Workers of America filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the company.

When asked for comment, Activision Blizzard directed Engadget to the statement the board of directors made on Tuesday. "The goals we have set for ourselves are both critical and ambitious," it said. "The Board remains confident in Bobby Kotick's leadership, commitment and ability to achieve these goals.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden arrives to attend a morning service at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine Catholic Church in Greenville, Delaware, Sept. 20, 2020.
MTN has announced an exit from its operation in Yemen.

According to the network operator, the transaction is in line with its intention to exit the Middle East, as first announced in August 2020.

Effective 17 November 2021, MTN Group transferred its majority shareholding in MTN Yemen to Emerald International Investment LCC.

Emerald is a subsidiary of Zubair Investment Center LLC, an affiliate of Zubair Corporation LLC, which is the minority shareholder in MTN Yemen.

The decision to exit Yemen was driven by a need to simplify the portfolio and focus our limited resources on executing a pan-African strategy, said MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita.

We would like to thank the 719 employees of MTN Yemen for their commitment over the years, and the 4.7 million subscribers of MTN Yemen for their custom and trust in the brand, Mupita stated

We wish Emerald well in the next phase of development of this business as they work with the team that served MTN well over the years.

In the first half of 2021, MTN Yemen contributed 0.3% to MTN Group EBITDA.

MTN Group held 82.8% of the shares in MTN Yemen, whose operating licence for its 2G network is due for renewal at the end of 2021.

Now read: MTN sells its towers in South Africa
SpaceX will fly the first orbital test of its massive Starship rocket early next year and expects a dozen or more launches in 2022, founder Elon Musk said.

The chance of success on the first flight into Earth orbit is relatively low, Musk said Wednesday at a virtual session with members of the National Academy of Sciences. The company will launch Starship in January or February and sees multiple orbital test flights next year.

Its the biggest rocket ever designed and were close to our initial orbital launch, Musk said.

The stainless steel rocket and Super Heavy booster beneath it will be rapidly and fully reusable, Musk said, calling that combination the Holy Grail of rocketry. Starship is designed to transport as much as 100 tons of cargo and people to orbit at a fraction of the cost of prior designs.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. plans to use a modified version of the vehicle to land NASA astronauts on the moon in 2025 or later as part of the Artemis program. Beyond the moon, SpaceX plans to ferry hundreds of tons of supplies and people to Mars to advance Musks goal of building an inhabited city there.

SpaceX has launched Starship on several test flights to an altitude of about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from its assembly site in South Texas. For the orbital flight, the company plans to circle the Earth once and then ditch the vehicle into the Pacific Ocean about 60 miles northwest of Kauai.

In more than an hour of remarks, Musk said humanity needs a second planet, given various risks facing Earth, including nuclear weapons, large comets, pandemics, declining birth rates, artificial intelligence and religious extremism.

Weve got sort of the candle of consciousness flickering in the darkness here, he said.

Now read: South African company gives satellites a boost
Jazz represented freedom to me, said Larry Vuckovich, jazz pianist extraordinaire. It represented the United States. As a boy, I lived under Nazi and then Titos repression in Yugoslavia but jazz, especially improvisation, was freedom.

Vuckovichs family was given refugee status and allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1951 when he was a teenager. They settled in San Francisco. He and his wife now live in Calistoga.

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San Francisco in those days had over 20 jazz clubs; it was hard to decide which to choose.

Trained as a classical pianist, Vuckovich became mesmerized by all types of jazz: boogie-woogie, bebop, Big Band to Cuban Latin and beatnik poetic jazz. He listened to the greats including Miles Davis and John Coltrane as well as the Big Bands of the day. He was the only student Vince Guaraldi ever taught.

Jazz music takes in all the world. It comes from African music, but its shared by all people, Vuckovich said. Its always evolving. Jazz takes Latin and South American music and gives it a rhythm of its own. Theres Middle Eastern, gypsy, and romantic jazz.

Hes happy to share the origins of jazz and has many stories of the legendary jazz performers hes known and with whom hes shared the stage. Sometimes solo and other times with invited artists, he plays jazz and tells anecdotes on his weekly Saturday night streaming presentations (www.larryvuckovich.com). Past presentations are also archived on the site.

Besides an opportunity to play my streaming programs, it also gives me a chance to share my experiences in jazz with listeners, and at the same time I give them some history about the great masters who created this music," he said.

Larry Vuckovich performs Dec. 23 Larry Vuckovich Bay Area All-Stars will perform Dec. 23 at Yoshi's on Jack London Square in Oakland at 8 p.m. in a wide-ranging program of blues, ballads, swing/bebop, Latin salsa, Balkan ethnic and funky boogaloo sounds. Tickets at yoshis.com.

Also, the wonderful composers are mentioned. What is so unique about America is that a number of great standards were written by people who came from other countries. Look at these tunes and how much more American can you get? Autumn in New York, I Cant Get Started, You Make Me Feel So Young. These were written by Russians, immigrants of Russian descent. The famous song Flamingo, which Duke Ellington recorded, featuring wonderful vocalist Herb Jeffries, was written by a Romanian.

I am fortunate to have played with so many greats, learned so much from them and heard meaningful stories, said Vuckovich in a follow-up email. I think the Napa Valley audience will enjoy knowing some of experiences with (just to name a few) Tony Bennett, Jon Hendricks, Vince Guaraldi, Cab Calloway, Dexter Gordon, Bobby McFerrin and others.

When Mel Tormes tours stopped in San Francisco, Vuckovich was his first-call pianist. He was the house pianist from 1974 to 1984 for KGO radio. He got to know Lenny Bruce and opened for him several times.

Vuckovich has received numerous accolades including being named a Jazz Legend at the Fillmore Jazz Heritage Center in San Francisco, having his birthday proclaimed Larry Vuckovich Day in San Francisco, receiving the Buddy Montgomery Jazz Legacy Jazz Pioneer Award and getting the Lifetime Achievement Award from his former country of Yugoslavia. He said of that award, Im the only cat from the old country living in the U.S. who has played with so many greats over a period of six decades.

Hes also a composer and performed his original composition on albums and CDs for his production company Tetrachord Music. One of his favorite local memories was being commissioned by the late Richard Miami to write an accompanying piece for one the classic Saturday movie showings at Copia. The haunting composition, titled View from Telegraph Hill, fit the dark film noir tones for the 1951 film House on Telegraph Hill, and was later featured on Vuckovichs album High Wall. The album placed in the Top 10 of the JazzWeek National Public Radio charts.

I want to mention a historic jazz event that happened in Napa Valley in 2013, Vuckovich said. Bruce Hopewell presented a tribute to the highest-selling jazz recording of all time - 'Kind of Blue' by Miles Davis."

"At the time, the last living member on the recording, former Miles Davis drummer Jimmie Cobb, was the headliner. I was honored when presenter Bruce Hopewell asked me to organize the band and play in this production at the Lincoln theater in Yountville. This is only one of my many exciting jazz experiences, but at the same time one of the highlights of jazz events that Napa Valley ever had.

If he had a chance to go back in time, what would he like to do?

If I could take what I know now, Id go back and play with the great (alto saxophonist) John Handy, who was my instructor at San Francisco State," he said. "Id want to play also with (bebop tenor saxophonist) Dexter Gordon. It would be good to go back with the experience, knowledge and strengths I have today.

He added, I want to say when I started playing jazz, there was no racism, and we were all good with the brotherhood of the spirit and nature of the music. What we played was more than notes and music theory. The good ones talked the music. When you listen to (tenor saxophonist) Lester Young play 'Stardust,' it hits you, it talks to you.

Vuckovich finds much of todays music boring and unimaginative.

Jazz is always evolving but with pop music, everythings packaged, he said.I have been fortunate to have played with so many greats, learned so much from them and heard meaningful stories. I look at my performances as a way to pay back the masters of this great music, who dedicated their lives to living it and playing it."

"I want to spread the word of the music they produced; pass it on to the audiences whose spirits can be uplifted in these difficult times. The audiences, I believe, feel good about learning something new and getting inspiring musical messages.
Reports of a domestic assault inside an apartment drew law-enforcement officers to a south Napa neighborhood and closed a street, but no assault is known to have happened and the apartment in question was found to be empty, according to Napa Police.

Officers were called to the 1800 block of Atrium Parkway at about 4:17 p.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance in an apartment. Some of the reports stated that the man and woman were arguing, that objects had been thrown from a balcony, and that a man was holding a woman over the balconys edge, Officer Adam Davis said later Wednesday.

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Police arriving at the scene found the apartment quiet, with no apparent noises within, according to Davis. For nearly an hour, officers tried to contact anyone who might be inside, making announcements from outside the door and deploying an aerial drone supplied by the Napa County Sheriffs Office, Davis said.

Police blocked access to Atrium Parkway beyond The Meadows retirement home, and sheriffs deputies, a Napa Fire truck and an American Medical Response ambulance joined Napa Police at the scene.

Just before 6:10 p.m., a man behind the roadblock was heard shouting in English and Spanish for someone to Come out with your hands up! Little else was audible save for the brief barking of a dog a few minutes earlier.

Eventually, officers managed to enter the apartment but found no one inside, according to Davis. The residents also were located and were found not to have been at home when the alleged incident was reported to police, and were not victims of a crime, Davis said.

Napa Police is looking into why the incident was reported as an assault, according to Davis.

Law enforcement officers began leaving Atrium Parkway shortly after 6:20 p.m., more than two hours after the initial calls to police. A 5:15 p.m. Nixle alert by police warning people to avoid the area was lifted just before 7 p.m.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com

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Jay Scott has been named President and Advertising Director of Napa Valley Publishing, which publishes the Napa Valley Register, St. Helena Star, and Weekly Calistogan, in addition to a number of magazines and websites.

He replaces previous President Davis Taylor, who retired in August.

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I am extremely honored to lead this group of talented individuals and continue to carry the respect of the people of Napa and the surrounding areas under the banner of Napa Valley publishing, Scott said. I look forward to the opportunities to meet, interact, and become ingrained with the great people in our community.

Scott comes to the company from Adtaxi, a national digital marketing agency. As Director of Digital Sales, he was responsible for a national sales team targeting E-commerce, Automotive, SMBs, Retail, and Legal Services.

Prior to joining Adtaxi in April of 2017, Scott served as a Regional Sales Manager for Hearst Bay Area, where he was instrumental in growing monthly digital revenue for a traditional print brand The San Francisco Chronicle. There he led both a sales team and a team of project managers to generate new strategies and products lines that produced new revenue opportunities.

Scott holds a bachelors degree in marketing from the University of Toledo, and when not pursuing his professional passion of transforming cultures and sales operations, he spends time with his wife Jennifer, and two children Hillary and Andrew.
Kelly Hampton is used to helping others. She works as a personal care provider. Shes a dedicated mother and friend. She feeds the hungry in her neighborhood. She even acts as the eyes for her dog Buddy, whos mostly blind.

Now she's trying to help herself.

She's leaving the Bowl.

Im scared to death, Hampton admitted. Losing her home, one that she built from scratch, is almost too much to bear.

For the past two years Hampton, along with her son Joey, have lived at the homeless camp between the Napa River and the OLE Health parking lot. Called the Bowl, it has been home to as many as several dozen people, tents and makeshift dwellings.

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To make sure the site can be used for flood control and allow planned maintenance in the channel of the Napa River, the Bowl residents were told to leave by Nov. 17, said a statement from local agencies including the city and county of Napa.

Residents were offered reserved beds at the Napa winter homeless shelter on the Expo grounds on Third Street.

On Tuesday morning, Hampton and her son and friends began moving her belongings from her camp to a storage facility on Jackson Street. Abode Services, which runs the south Napa homeless shelter, prepaid a number of months of rent.

Hampton had mixed emotions about the change, she said.

On one hand, Its a huge relief, to finally be leaving the homeless encampment, Hampton said. I hate it up there at the Bowl, she said, citing the lack of water, toilets, power and security.

At the same time, the unknown of the move is frightening.

I dont know how its going to work with my hours and my job," she said of living in the shelter. What about if she gets off work before the shelter opens? Will she have any privacy or personal space? What about her dog? She's also very afraid of contracting COVID-19 at the shelter, said Hampton.

Two years fly by

Hampton, who grew up on Third Street in Napa, said she never planned on living at the Bowl for a day, let alone two years.

She became homeless after losing her lease at a mobile home park. Another blow came when her partner died. Hampton eventually found her way to the no man's land of the Bowl. Then she lost her job. The months continued to pass.

Her son Joey, who is also homeless, built his own wooden structure next to hers. They created a small community in their immediate camp area.

There was a fire pit. Signs and decorations. A cooler for perishable food. Yes, there were some troublemakers, but Hampton avoided them as best she could.

The Bowl became a community, said Joey. People were neighbors.

Last week, when he heard the news that the Bowl would be shut down, Joey lashed out fiercely. From inside his home, he yelled and cursed furiously about the closure and how it would affect him and his mother.

One week later, Joey seemed more resigned to the move.

Its a much-needed thing for everyone up here, he admitted. Ive been wanting to get my mom out of here for so long, Im glad to go."

I dont like living like this, said Joey. Yet at the same time, because he made his home at the Bowl so comfortable, and lived there for so long, Its kind of almost enabled me to continue to be OK with it. If it wasnt for this eviction, its possible that I could be here forever, he acknowledged.

He just wishes he had more choices  and more time to move.

It sucks that the ultimatum (is) a shelter or a tent, he said. Yes, the shelter offers a roof, food, water, showers, and electricity. But theres all the rules also.

He doesn't have much to feel optimistic about, said Joey. "I dont really see much light at the end of the tunnel.

Joey said the Bowl community always suffered from many misconceptions as well as the stigma of homelessness.

People are shocked when they come up here and look, he admitted.

Im embarrassed every time somebody looks over here and takes pictures, said Joey. He feels ashamed. Its like Im being judged.

Sometimes he cant help but react. Ive heckled people, and yelled at them to go away, he said. If I was on their front porch doing that to their house, they wouldnt like that very much.

Another longtime Bowl resident is Kyle Legg, 28. This native Napan said hes been homeless for about eight years.

I dont understand the sudden, abrupt need for us to immediately vacate, said Legg during an interview this past Friday at the Bowl. Its unfair. I dont think just sending us all to the winter shelter is going to work, he said.

Theres people with PTSD, anxiety, mental health disorders, living in the Bowl, he said. Legg said hes been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

According to Legg, aside from the death of one resident, Chuck Hughes, theres really been no problems here."

I thought this was a great resolution for the problem, of homelessness.

What did Legg think of the help offered by Abode Services?

Its cool. I appreciate everything theyve done so far, but it wouldnt be beneficial for all the residents who live here. According to Legg, I think some people like living outside."

He didnt plan on going to the winter shelter, said Legg.

"Its not a solution for me. Too many people. Its too confined." Hell just move his tent somewhere else  The warmest driest spot I can find.

Will McHaney spent the past week loading his belongings at his camp at the Bowl into the back of his truck.

I got to outfit the back of this to sleep in, and Im going to put a solar panel on top, he said.

McHaney was trying to figure out the location of his Abode-provided storage facility so he could move his belongings as well.

Yes, he knew about the free blue moving bags provided by Abode but he said he didnt want to use them because anyone who saw him with the blue bags would know he was homeless.

Another homeless man, who goes by the name Duck, said he had lived behind the former Borreson's News Services newspaper building on Soscol Avenue for several years before he found himself at the Bowl.

Duck said he previously lived in Wisconsin where he owned his own home. He has two children and worked at a machine operator at a cheese factory.

I was living a clean and sober life, but started smoking pot again and drinking beer again, and that started a downward spiral into homelessness.

On Tuesday Duck said he had a lead on getting housing at a new complex on Soscol Avenue in Napa called the Manzanita Family Apartments.

Im also working on SSI for my neck and back, said Duck.

Demolition begins

By Monday morning, some demolition of the vacant Bowl camps had begun. Front-loaders broke down walls and grabbed at pieces of wood, old tents, furniture, and other materials.

Its sad, said Brandon Gardner, the citys homeless outreach specialist.

Gardner thought there were about 15 people still living at the Bowl as of early this week.

During an interview at the Bowl on Tuesday, Gardner said My hope is people can get to the (winter) shelter and we can get them to new housing. The more new housing we got the better off we are. In the meantime, we have the shelter. Which is good.

There was a space reserved at the winter shelter for everyone at the Bowl camp, he said.

Our team has been out there to help individuals by providing information, support, and whatever else they might need," said Scott Wagner, Abode Services' director of housing and services, northern region. "Were doing our best to answer questions and assist former residents of the Bowl and surrounding areas during what is a very difficult time for them.

How to help If you are interested in donating time, money, or items, contact Wendi Moore at Abode Services at 707- 271-7818 so that your donation can be coordinated with services that link clients to shelter and permanent housing.

According to the Nov. 8 release, the city and county have collectively invested over $10 million to upgrade and expand shelter accommodations and fund permanent housing projects for clients exiting homelessness.

In April 2022, 32 new year-round shelter beds will become available to coincide with the anticipated seasonal closure of the Winter Shelter. These newly available year-round beds will be prioritized for the clients who utilize the Winter Shelter, said the release. Additionally, the city and county have partnered with Burbank Housing and applied under Project Homekey, a new statewide program, to create 54 permanent housing units for people exiting homelessness by September 2022. We expect this application to be funded, said the release.

You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com

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The Napa County Farm Bureau is partnering with the St. Helena Hospital Foundation to host Ag Vaccine Day for Napa Valley Ag Workers  COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster Shot Clinic providing COVID-19 booster shots for all ag workers in Napa County.

The Napa County Farm Bureau/St Helena Hospital Foundation vaccine clinic will occur on Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Napa Boys & Girls Club at 1515 Pueblo Ave. in Napa. All ag workers, including all vineyard and winery employees, are eligible for this clinic.

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The following will be available for all Napa County Ag Workers:

Pfizer  1st and 2nd Doses, 3rd Booster Shots;

Moderna  1st and 2nd Doses, 3rd Booster Shots;

Flu Shots.

Napa County ag workers need only bring their vaccine cards with them to the clinic. Appointments are not necessary.

Our partnership with St. Helena Hospital Foundation has led an ongoing effort to ensure that our agricultural community in Napa Valley responds appropriately to COVID-19 by making the health and safety of our ag workers our #1 priority right now, said Ryan Klobas, Chief Executive Officer of the Napa County Farm Bureau. I highly encourage all interested Napa Valley ag workers to attend our upcoming clinic to ensure they are vaccinated or receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

Any ag employers or employees in need of assistance or have questions can contact the Napa County Farm Bureau offices at (707) 224-5403.
Napa and other counties across California are opening up booster doses of the coronavirus vaccine to all adults 18 and older amid concerns about climbing infection rates heading into the holiday season, health officials announced Wednesday.

Those who have received the COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna may receive a booster six months after their second dose, in line with the guidance released last week by the state Department of Public Health. Previously, such federal and state authorities had recommended third doses only for certain groups at higher risk of contracting the virus.

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In a news release, Napa County Public Health urged those in higher-risk groups  including people 65 and older, those with pre-existing medical conditions, and those working in high-risk settings  to receive boosters as soon as possible. A previous recommendation for those who received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine to get a follow-up dose two months later remains in effect.

Boosters are essential for higher-risk individuals, but were learning that boosters are quite beneficial for most people, the countys public health director Dr. Karen Relucio said in the statement. This recent change in guidance from CDPH allows us to take a more expansive approach to our booster campaign. If you have been vaccinated in the spring, you are likely eligible for a booster now. Getting a booster is an important way to protect ourselves, our families and friends, and our community as we enter the busy holiday season.

Vaccine boosters are being offered by medical offices, pharmacies, health care systems, and community groups, among others. Residents are not required to receive a booster from the same entity that provided their original doses. Any eligible person seeking a booster shot should consult with their medical provider, or access the booster through a retail drugstore.

Napa County hopes to avoid winter COVID-19 surge Rising COVID-19 numbers have Napa County officials concerned about a possible winter surge.

The expansion of booster availability comes on the tail of an increase in COVID-19 infections that Relucio on Tuesday said has health officials on the lookout for a rise in hospitalizations in the coming weeks, as colder weather and family gatherings draw more people indoors. In recent days, Napa County, which had spent several weeks mostly in the substantial tier of viral spread, has risen to the high tier, with the seven-day average of new cases per 100,000 people jumping from 6.3 last week to 10.9 this week, she told the Board of Supervisors.

(The daily report is the number of cases the county becomes aware of on a given day, not the number of positive cases found by labs that day, according to the county.)

Napa County Farm Bureau facilitates COVID-19 booster shots for ag workers COVID-19 booster shots will be available for all ag workers in Napa County beginning this week.

On Wednesday, Napa Countys COVID-19 informational website reported 10 new positive tests, with seven people hospitalized in the county due to the virus. A computer model built on forecasts from COVID ActNow, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford University estimates that local hospitalizations could rise to 14 by the start of December.

To search for available vaccination clinics or for more information, visit Napa Countys COVID-19 website at countyofnapa.org/2739/Coronavirus-COVID-19. Californias online vaccination scheduling system MyTurn is available at myturn.ca.gov.

You can reach Howard Yune at 530-763-2266 or hyune@napanews.com

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Kopirkin: Russia is ready to make all efforts to contribute to normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations

Armenia MFA: '3+3' platform needs to refrain from duplicating formats with mandate to settle conflicts

RT: US may build facilities in Georgia and Armenia to support its 'defense activities'

Armenia 2nd President: We will continue the struggle, all the phony cases will be crushed

MFA: Armenia calls on Azerbaijan to refrain from provocative rhetoric

Hero of 44-day Karabakh war Garik Hovakimyan's sister Mariam is born

Republican Party of Armenia Executive Body holds session chaired by Serzh Sargsyan

Iranian Embassy: Iran supports '3+3' platform during meeting held in Moscow

Armenia ex-defense minister on Prosecutor General's Office imposing attachment on his assets

Alen Simonyan: Armenia is in one of the most crucial stages in its history, and opposition is demanding my resignation

PM: Armenia is committed to contributing to global mission of strengthening democracy, and we hope we're not alone

Armenia MOD: Soldier who was injured from gunshot fired by fellow serviceman has regained consciousness

Armenia Deputy PM: Omicron variant is not sufficiently explored

First meeting within scope of '3+3' regional platform held in Moscow

NEWS.am daily digest: 10.12.21

Armenia soldier killed while resisting Azerbaijanis' attack, 8 are injured, 6 of whom are in severe condition

Armenia PM introduces new Head of State Supervision Service Romanos Petrosyan

Armenia human rights activists: There were cases when POWs were brought to territory under Azerbaijan's control

The book Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman was translated and published on the initiative of Ardshinbank

Armenia regional governor, IFRC Secretary General discuss return of Armenian POWs originally from Shirak Province

Armenia human rights activist: Number of Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan is 80 more than the confirmed one

Pashinyan: Environmental sphere is of strategic importance for Armenia

Armenia President: We must understand that we are entering completely different era for humanity

Dollar goes up somewhat in Armenia

Armenia State Revenue Committee chief meets with French Development Agency Regional Director

Opposition 'Armenia' faction MPs Artur Sargsyan and Mkhitar Zakaryan released from penitentiary institution

Head of Armenia's Norabak village: Azerbaijan has military post that is 2 km from us

Armenia finance minister receives France Ambassador and French Development Agency Regional Director

Armenia opposition MP Ishkhan Zakaryan leaving 'With Honor' faction

Russian and Armenian Deputy FMs meet in Moscow

Armenia PM highlights importance of speedy conclusion of full-format agreement between Iran and EEU

Armenia opposition MPs Mkhitar Zakaryan and Artur Sargsyan to be released without court decision today

Armenian opposition MP Armen Charchyan is released

Armenia MOD: Armenian side has one casualty, few soldiers are injured, exchange of fire is over

Armenias Pashinyan: High-tech component development also important in Eurasian integration context

Armenia Deputy PM dismisses his two assistants

Nazarbayev says Azerbaijan can become observer country in Eurasian Economic Union

Head of Armenia village: The Azerbaijanis tried to advance in direction of Sotk, but our soldiers didn't let them

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan attacked in eastern direction of border

Special court hearing underway on case of Armenia opposition lawmaker behind bars

Artsakh officials visit Stepanakert memorial

2 more die of coronavirus in Karabakh

Vardenis protesters dismiss Armenia MOD statement on obstructing car taking wounded soldier to Yerevan

Armenia FM briefs Francophonie chief on regional security issues (PHOTOS)

Armenia Police: 13 people apprehended near MFA building

Armenia protesting residents reopen Martuni-Vardenis motorway due to border tension

Armenia parliament passes changes to some laws

Armenia MOD: Deputy commander was told in Vardenis that car taking wounded soldier to Yerevan would be obstructed

347 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia opposition movement staging protest inside MFA building

Armenia has new environment minister

Artsakh MFA: Referendum on independence is solid legal basis for statehood

Special court session to be held on case of imprisoned Armenia opposition MP

Biden promises Zelenskyy to punish Russia in case of invasion of Ukraine

Newspaper: Armenia parliament recent fight case to have former ones fate

Newspaper: What is reason for recent long visit to Armenia by ex-commander of Russia peacekeepers in Artsakh?

Petition to arrest one of accused Armenia soldiers returned from Azerbaijan captivity is granted

Russian Aerospace Forces consider practice of reconnaissance and strike UAVs during Karabakh conflict

Investigative Committee: Motion filed for arrest of 5 of 10 POWs returned to Armenia on Dec. 4

Armenia State Revenue Committee chief hosts Iran Customs Administration head

Armenia Shirak Province ex-deputy governor Boris Aleksanov dies

Constitutional Court announces decision on release of arrested MPs of opposition 'Armenia' parliamentary faction

Iran, Azerbaijan discuss cooperation in petrol and natural gas sectors

Lavrov: We understand the complexity of the situation in Armenia, but it's not right to speculate Russia's role

Cem Ozdemir who initiated adoption of Armenian Genocide resolution is Germany's first minister with migration history

Armenia FM, France Secretary of State sign 'Roadmap for Armenian-French Economic Cooperation'

Armenia PM scheduled to deliver speech at Summit for Democracy on Dec. 10

Zakharova says news about recall of Russia's Ambassador to Armenia is misinformation

Opposition 'Armenia' Alliance: 3 deputies of parliamentary faction will be released

Attorney: MP Armen Charchyan needs to be released immediately by virtue of Armenia Constitutional Court decision

Armenia ex-environment minister Romanos Petrosyan appointed Head of State Supervision Service

Armenia MOD: 2 Armenian soldiers receive slight firearm injuries as a result of Azerbaijanis' provocation

NEWS.am daily digest: 09.12.21

Zakharova: Moscow hopes Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders reaffirm commitment to implementing agreements

Zakharova on Aliyev's statement and murders of Armenian peaceful civilians

Ex-chief advisor to Armenia PM Hakob Simidyan appointed Minister of Environment

Joe Biden's Summit for Democracy kicks off, Armenia PM is also participating

Armenia environment minister sacked

Residents of Armenia's Vardenis shut down Martuni-Vardenis road in support of opposition alliance's leader (PHOTOS)

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan opened intense fire toward Gegharkunik Province military positions

Armenia President meets with Emir of Qatar

Azerbaijan opened fire on Artsakh village tractor operator, says Machkalashen mayor

Parliament ruling majority obstructs decriminalizing severe insult in Armenia

Armenia deputy defense minister: No group has come from Moscow for demarcation

Armenia parliament approves several amendments to laws in first reading

Ambassador: American Studies center at YSU will play important role in deepening relations with Armenia

Armenia Parliament Speaker receives IFRC Secretary General-led delegation

Armenia PM receives IFRC Secretary General

Dollar still gaining more value in Armenia

Armenia Parliament Speaker sues opposition MP Aregnaz Manukyan for previous allegations

Law will lead to positive changes in Armenia universities administration, says US ambassador

Georgia formally refuses attending '3+3' regional cooperation platform meeting

Armenia MFA officials pay tribute to innocent victims of genocides

2 Azerbaijanis killed in mine explosion near Karabakh's Karin Tak village

MFA: Armenia will continue to work diligently to raise awareness of genocides

American Studies center to open at Yerevan State University

Gerasimov: Russian military in Karabakh working to restore peaceful life in region

Armenia opposition MP: Authorities present at household level establishment technical furnishing on frontline

Bomb threat in Yerevan building

Armenia: 6,500 people in border communities to receive cash for winter needs
A Los Angeles couple who were convicted of trying to steal $20 million in COVID-19 relief funds were sentenced to years in federal prison, although they remain fugitives, according to CBS News.

CBS Los Angeles reports Richard Ayvazyan, 43, and his wife and co-defendant, 37-year-old Marietta Terabelian, remain at large after the FBI says they removed their electronic tracking bracelets in August.

Ayvazyan was sentenced Monday in absentia to 17 years and his wife got six years, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney's office.

Ayvazyan's brother, Artur Ayvazyan, 41, was sentenced to five years.

Prosecutors said the three Encino residents and others used dozens of phony or stolen identities - including those of elderly or dead people and foreign exchange students who briefly visited the United States - to submit applications for some 150 federal COVID-19 business relief funds.

They backed up the applications with false tax documents, and payroll records, officials said.

The Justice Department says this is the first case of pandemic relief fraud in the country to go to trial, CBS Los Angeles reported.

"The defendants used the COVID-19 crisis to steal millions of dollars in much-needed government aid intended for people and businesses suffering from the economic effects of the worst pandemic in a century," U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison said in a statement.

Instead of going to struggling businesses during the pandemic, the millions received were used for down payments on luxury homes and to buy "gold coins, diamonds, jewelry, luxury watches, fine imported furnishings, designer handbags, clothing, and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle," the U.S. attorney's office said.

In June, Richard Ayvazyan, Terabelian, and Artur Ayvazyan were convicted of conspiracy, bank and wire fraud.

However, Richard Ayvazyan and Terabelian cut their tracking bracelets in August while awaiting sentencing and went on the run, authorities said.

Four other people have pleaded guilty to various charges in the case. A fifth person awaits sentencing but has asked to withdraw her guilty plea.

The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward offered for information about their whereabouts that might lead to an arrest.
The situation in Sisian is calm, the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides are holding negotiations over the detection of missing persons and return of captives. This is what commander of the Sisian detachment Ashot Minasyan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

There are no negotiations over the military posts, the Azerbaijani troops havent retreated. According to unverified data, Azerbaijan has seized three military posts. Those posts were very important because we could see not only our training center, but also the airport in Sisian, the Kapan-Meghri-Yerevan interstate road that stretches to Sisian region, he said.

Asked why Azerbaijan attacked and caused escalation, Minasyan said the following: Azerbajians goal is to have the corridor, which the leader of our country had given consent to, but had refused to fulfill the promise later because to give the corridor would mean to destroy Armenia. I believe the negotiations are being held to maneuver the words road or corridor.

According to the detachment commander, the ceasefire achieved through Russian mediation cant be sustainable, and Azerbaijan will cause escalation again.

Minasyan added that he is preparing to send a letter to the Ministry of Defense to permit the detachment to participate in the military operations, if necessary.

The situation in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border was extremely tense yesterday. At around 1 p.m. the units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan launched an attack on Armenian military posts. The adversary used artillery, armored vehicles and firearms of various calibers. Starting from 6:30 p.m. the fighting stopped and the situation became relatively stable, based on an agreement reached through Russias mediation.

The Ministry of Defense reported that today at 10 a.m. the situation on the eastern border of Armenia is relatively stable, and the ceasefire agreement is mainly maintained.

The Ministry of Defense has reported only one casualty, that is, the death of contractual serviceman Meruzhan Harutyunyan (born in 1991). There are 13 captured servicemen, communication with 24 servicemen is lost, and their fate remains unknown.
Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan today held phone conversations with Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov, and also with Foreign Minister of Sweden, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde, as well as U.S. Assistant Secretary Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried on November 17, the press release of the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads.

Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan presented to his colleagues in detail the situation resulting from the military operations unleashed by the Azerbaijani armed forces against the sovereign territory of Armenia on November 16.

Ararat Mirzoyan noted that these actions were preceded by aggressive rhetoric and threats of use of force against the territorial integrity of Armenia by the high leadership of Azerbaijan, as well as by the infiltration of the Azerbaijani armed forces into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia since May 12, 2021, in the direction of Syunik and Gegharkunik regions.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized that in response to Armenia's efforts to de-escalate the situation and establish stability in the region, the Azerbaijani authorities have launched another aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia.

Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the need for targeted response and consistent steps by international partners to restrain the blatant encroachments and provocative actions of Azerbaijan on the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia.

The interlocutors also touched upon the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. In this context, the forthcoming visit of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs to the region was emphasized.

The sides exchanged views on humanitarian issues that need to be urgently addressed. In this regard, Ararat Mirzoyan stressed the need for unconditional repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and others detained.
Taron Sahakyan, whose body was transferred from Baku to Yerevan yesterday, was a Senior Lieutenant and a veteran of the 44-day war [in Nagorno-Karabakh]. He was born in Voskepar village of Tavush Province, moved to Koghb and also lived in the Russian Federation for a while. A few months ago, he started military service at the regiment in Jermuk. Sahakyans father is also a serviceman based in Yerevan, and the mother lives with the sons family in Jermuk.

During a conversation with Pastinfo, resident of Koghb Arsen Aghababyan said he had seen Taron a year ago and was recently told that he is in Armenia and is serving for the homeland. The news about the return of Tarons body from Baku proved the news that Taron had fought until the end and was then captured. There are unspecific data that the Armenian side captured the enemys servicemen during the Azerbaijanis provocation, after which the Armenian side received an order to release them. Taron, who had captured the enemies, released them, after which he was captured.

Based on the data that we have, the Armenian side captured the Azerbaijanis. The Armenians received an order to return the Azerbaijani captives, and the boys did just that and were captured. Based on our data, the body of Taron was terribly tortured. I dont know what kind of a sheep gave the order to release the Azerbaijani captives. Based on the data that we received, Taron was brutally killed, even beaten to death. I saw the photo and still cant come to my senses, Aghababyan said.

Lurer.com informed that it had talked to Taron Sahakyans brother, who refuted the news that his brother had been captured and that his body was tortured and unrecognizable. Im currently at the morgue, there is no such thing. My brother wasnt captured, and he wasnt tortured to death. Taron died from a fracture that he received after a grenade explosion on the spot, Roman, the brother, stated.

As already reported, on November 17, through mediation of Deputy Commander of the Southern Military Okrug of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, the body of a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Armenia who participated in the battles that took place after the Azerbaijani provocation on November 16, was transferred from Baku to Yerevan via a special flight. The serviceman was identified, and it was reported that he was Senior Lieutenant Taron Sahakyan (born in 1990).
Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan today received recipient of the State Prize of Armenia for global contributions to the IT sector, President of Synopsis and CEO, Dr. Chi-Foon Chan.

As reported the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the minister welcomed the renowned scientists visit to Armenia, expressed gratitude to the authors of the initiative for organizing and holding this major initiative in Armenia and mentioned that its a great honor for Armenia to host famous people in the technology sector who have had an impact on the development of technologies.

Khachaturyan presented the development of the technology sector in Armenia, talked about the policy on Armenias economic development and the opportunities for the use of technologies and stressed that the Armenian government has set the objective to make efforts to shape, enhance and advance a technology-based economy.

Chi-Foon Chan shared his impressions of Armenia and mentioned that the first time he visited Armenia was 17 years ago. Many people would ask me why Armenia and where it is located, and I would have to open the map and show them. I didnt know a lot about Armenia. I knew it is the first Christian nation. I was very impressed with the countrys history, but what impressed me the most was the fact that people appreciate and value education and are very family-centered, he said, adding that Armenia has many talents in the IT sector who need to be granted the opportunity to show themselves in the foreign markets and maximally use their knowledge and potential.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the histories of both countries, the development of economy through technologies, philosophy and politics, human relations and several other topics.
Naira, the mother of serviceman Abgar Nazaryan who fell in the third war in Nagorno-Karabakh, posted a comment on her Facebook page. The comment reads as follows:

Join us. Dont keep silent. We are to blame for being indifferent and conforming.

I, Naira Nazaryan, other of eternal hero of the 44-day war in Artsakh Abgar Nazaryan, demand the resignation of scapegrace Nikol Pashinyan, who has seized power in the Republic of Armenia. Under his administration, Armenia has only been defeated, has been humiliated and has sacrificed its young generation. He says he is ready to be executed, if the people decides to execute him.

Let us execute the scum inside the country so that he does not transfer Yerablur Military Pantheon and the other pantheons of Armenia to the Turks in the future.

The parents of eternal heroes of the 44-day war have joined and continue to join this call, and among them is Melanya Aroyan (mother of Aziz Aghajanyan) and Elizaveta Budaghyan (mother of Arman Ohanjanyan).
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ruben Rubinyan today met with the delegation led by Vice-President of the Seimas of Lithuania Andrius Mazuronis.

As reported the National Assembly of Armenia, Ruben Rubinyan highly appreciated the current level of the friendly relations between Armenia and Lithuania and added that, according to him, Lithuania is one of Armenias key partners in the European Union.

Rubinyan talked about the subsequent provocation that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces made on Nov. 16 in the eastern direction of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, viewing it as aggression against Armenias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Vice-President of the Seimas stated that Lithuania supports Armenias territorial integrity and is in favor of the exclusion of military force. Mazuronis viewed the reforms taking place in Armenia as impressive and emphasized that Lithuania has also taken this path and can share its experience.

During the meeting, the parties also talked about the need to intensify parliamentary cooperation.
President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian delivered a speech during the thematic discussion on climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the new challenges conditioned by climate change and the pandemic held on the sidelines of Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore.

In his speech, Sarkissian particularly emphasized that the rapidly changing world and mankind are confronting several challenges and threats, including the urgent issues caused by climate change and the coronavirus pandemic. He viewed manifestation of collective responsibility, daring steps and the use of combined efforts as necessary in order to find solutions to the issues, emphasizing that green technologies are the path to take to move forward.

Attaching importance to all countries commitment to create a green and peaceful future, Sarkissian regretted to record that there are countries which continued to commit inhuman acts even during a horror like the pandemic. He stated that last year, during the difficult period of the pandemic, Armenias neighbor Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale and devastating war against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and just two days ago, the Azerbaijani forces launched an attack against territories of Armenia that are not far from Jermuk and Lake Sevan and are strictly sensitive in terms of environmental protection and water resources. Sarkissian added that Azerbaijans aggressive actions have caused human casualties and caused great damage to the population and nature. President Sarkissian provided the participants of the discussion with details about Azerbaijans provocations on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the encroachments against Armenias territorial integrity.
A demonstrator is arrested outside of the Kenosha County Courthouse as the jury deliberates in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse on November 17, 2021. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Two protesters were arrested outside of the courthouse in Kenosha as the jury deliberated in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

Cops on Wednesday arrested a 20-year-old man on charges of battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

A 34-year-old woman was also taken into custody for disorderly conduct, police said.

Two protesters who gathered in front of the Wisconsin courthouse as the jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial deliberated inside were arrested after a clash outside the building on Wednesday, police said.

Cops on Wednesday arrested both Anthony Chacon, 20, on charges of battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest and 34-year-old Shaquita Cornelious on a charge of disorderly conduct, Kenosha County Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. David Wright told Insider.

Authorities said cops were stationed to "keep crowds of citizens and media from interfering" during the arrests outside of the Kenosha County Courthouse.

"The Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department fully recognize the importance of media coverage surrounding the trial," police said in a statement. "The media and public have a responsibility to give space to law enforcement and allow them to perform their duties. Please do so."

A Fox News reporter said they witnessed Chacon  whom the outlet reported was wearing a "Fuck Kyle" black T-shirt at the time  body-slam a reporter and attack a counter-protester before he was taken into custody.

Demonstrators, including supporters of Rittenhouse, have continued to gather outside of the courthouse since deliberations in the high-profile homicide case began on Tuesday.

Rittenhouse has been charged with shooting three men  two fatally  with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during the August 2020 unrest that erupted in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Rittenhouse  who was 17 when he traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois  has testified that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injured 28-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz.

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Prosecutors in the case have argued that Rittenhouse was the aggressor in the incident.

The jury in the case continued to weigh the five felony charges against Rittenhouse on Thursday. A judge earlier in the week threw out a misdemeanor weapons possession charge against the teen.

Read the original article on Insider
web_plus145_fea_amazing_nilsa-hernandez_credit-katherine-freites.jpg

When Nilsa Hernandez left her native Venezuela for neighboring Brazil, it was a matter of life or death for the now 64-year-old activist. A crisis in her home country meant she no longer had access to the life-saving medical care necessary to keep her viral load undetectable.

I began to feel the consequences on my health. Thats why I immigrated to Brazil. It was the way out because I wanted to live, recounts Hernandez.

So, she picked up her life, leaving practically all she had ever known behind. Hernandez moved from Ciudad Bolivar in Venezuela to Rio Branco, the capital of the Brazilian state of Roraima, where she could access treatment through the countrys public health system. However, once she reached Brazil, Hernandez faced new challenges, like being unhoused, in addition to discrimination and violence. It was through the kindness of others that she was eventually able to find a small house to rent, and that marked a turning point for the former grocer, who decided she needed to help those in similar circumstances.

Thats why I dedicate myself to supporting my compatriots, who arrive in the country in a similar situation to the one I had when I arrived here, she says.

To that end, Hernandez created Valientes por la Vida (Brave for Life), a volunteer initiative that seeks to help other Venezuelans living with HIV who, like her, moved to Brazil for treatment, but have little to no resources or information about how to receive it once there. Hernandez is rightfully proud of the work she and Valientes are doing.

My greatest achievements this year were helping save many lives and sharing hope and knowledge with compatriots who have come to Brazil from Venezuela in search of a way to take care of themselves, to stay alive, to live a healthy life, she says. Im pleased and proud to be able to volunteer so that the human side, which we all have, can be used to help renew hope for those who need it most.

Despite her difficult, life-saving work, Hernandez is reluctant to call herself a leader. I dont really consider myself a leader, she demurs. Because the leaders are everyone else, including people like me, who are living with HIV. They all exercise different types of leadership; theyre brave in their fight for a better life. I consider myself a guide, helping people find information, welcoming, and supporting them in their needs.

While theres no question Hernandez is doing great work for her community, Valientes por la Vida is grappling with difficulties raising the funds needed to continue and expand that work. We do what we do with a lot of love and heart, but there comes a point where its not enough, she explains. I have the will, but thats not always enough. I dont like to ask for these things; Im more of a doer, but if Im asking for this now, its because we need everyones support.
SheKnows

Lourdes Leon has already proven that she is paving her own path. The 25-year-old dancer, choreographer, and model has landed some pretty major campaigns including Swarovski, collaborations with Stella McCartney, Rihannas Savage X Fenty and so much more. Each step of the way, Lourdes has completely set herself apart from her famous mom, and in []
Lucille Ball gives her daughter Lucie Arnaz love backstage. Michael Ochs Archives / Stringer/Getty Images

Aaron Sorkin said Lucille Ball's daughter told him to "take the gloves off" when writing her mother.

"I know my mother wasn't an easy woman,'" Sorkin recalled Lucie Arnaz telling him.

Sorkin's film, "Being the Ricardos," highlights three events in Ball and husband Desi Arnaz's life.

Aaron Sorkin has faced criticism from some "I Love Lucy" fans for casting Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball given that Kidman doesn't look much like the comedy legend. But Sorkin, who wrote and directed the film based on a fictionalized week in Ball's life, recently told The Hollywood Reporter that the opinions he valued the most were those of Ball's children.

According to Sorkin, having the explicit support of Ball's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, was key in his decision to make the film. However, he said he wanted to make sure he had her approval to tell the whole story  the good, the bad, and the ugly.

"We all had lunch together, and she said to me, 'I know my mother wasn't an easy woman,'" Sorkin told THR. "'Take the gloves off.' In other words, you can go for it."

Arnaz appears to be pleased with what Sorkin ultimately created. In October, she posted a video to Instagram calling the movie "friggen amazing," though she'd previously revealed she had reservations about some things depicted in it.

Arnaz arrives at 27th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala. Steve Granitz/Getty Images

"I couldn't get my way and have them taken out, but they weren't accurate," Arnaz told Palm Springs Life in an August interview. "And it's not just theatrical license, it just wasn't true."

Sorkin told THR he understood Arnaz's critique. "If anybody did a movie about my parents, no matter how great the writer or the director, no matter how great the actors, no matter how well they captured my parents, I can't imagine liking the movie," he said.

He also addressed Arnaz's August comments directly, explaining that he took artistic liberties with the timeline of events that the film portrays, placing three incidents  Ball's "Red Scare" (criticism that she was a communist), Desi's cheating scandal that made the cover of Confidential magazine, and Ball's pregnancy  in the same week, when they didn't even happen in the same year.

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The legacy of Ball's legendary sitcom "I Love Lucy" remains largely untouched in "Being the Ricardos." According to Sorkin, scenes from the show account for "less than three minutes" of the film, although it featured pretty prominently in the early teaser footage released for it.

"Being the Ricardos" premieres theatrically December 10 and is streaming on Amazon Prime starting December 21.

Read the original article on Insider
For almost a year, Arizona's ballot review offered false comfort to his supporters that former President Donald Trump's 2020 loss in the swing state owed to cheating or problems in the election system.

The resulting recount by Republican partisans raised money for both parties, eroded public confidence in fair elections and again thrust Arizona into the spotlight as a state defined by its political far-right fringe.

Democracy in Doubt series Part 1: White House phone calls, baseless charges: The origins of the Arizona election review

Here are some of the people who figured most prominently in the spectacle:

The key players

Ken Bennett: Senate President Karen Fann tapped the former Arizona secretary of state to serve as the Senate's liaison to the ballot review, becoming the public face for the effort. Bennett joined the review thinking he could improve public confidence in Arizona's voting systems but soon found himself in conflict with other leaders of the review.

Andy Biggs: The three-term Republican congressman from the East Valley heads the conservative House Freedom Caucus and is among the staunchest defenders of former President Donald Trump in Washington. He said the 2020 election was riddled with fraud and was deemed one of the three most significant boosters of the "Stop the Steal" rally in Washington on Jan. 6 by its main organizer.

Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa

Rusty Bowers: The Mesa Republican is the speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. Trump and his top allies contacted him repeatedly before Congress certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory, in hopes he would help switch Arizona's electors from Biden to Trump, or at least hold official hearings casting doubt on the election results.

Democracy in Doubt series Part 2: 'Asked to do something huge': Audacious pitch to reverse Arizona's election results

Karen Fann: The Prescott Republican is the president of the Arizona Senate. She rejected a proposed joint audit of Maricopa County ballots by an accredited firm that would have included the House and the county. Instead, she opted for a Senate-only review by partisans with no election auditing experience. As the review wound down, Fann ordered a separate ballot count in a move seen as reflecting concerns over the recount by her handpicked vendor. She is retiring when her term expires in 2023.

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Eddie Farnsworth: The former Republican chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee in December 2020 issued the surprise subpoenas to Maricopa County officials for their ballots and election equipment, putting the Senate on the path to the ballot review. A close friend and ally of Biggs, Farnsworth retired from the state Legislature in January.

Adrian Fontes: The former Democratic Maricopa County recorder helped administer the 2020 elections in Arizona's most populous jurisdiction. He lost his reelection bid in the same election where voters narrowly favored Biden. Fontes is running for secretary of state next year.

Bill Gates: A lawyer by trade and a Republican member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, he made a last-minute appeal to try to convince Fann not to punish the county board for seeking legal guidance over the subpoenas.

Maricopa County Supervisor Clint Hickman

Clint Hickman: The West Valley Republican headed the county supervisors at the end of 2020, when it shared oversight of the election with Fontes and when Trump publicly cast doubt on the results. He did not return Trump's calls to his cellphone after the election, and he and Bowers tried in vain to broker a deal with Fann to conduct a cooperative audit using an accredited firm.

Rudy Giuliani: In the weeks after the election, Trump's personal attorney reached out to several key Arizona Republicans in hopes of switching the state's electors from Biden to Trump. Giuliani also sought a legislative hearing that would lend credibility to his claims of widespread fraud in the election.

Democracy in Doubt series Part 3: As Trump's hold on Arizona politicians tightened, one state senator said 'no'

Paul Gosar: The six-term Republican congressman represents northwestern Arizona and is one of Trump's most vocal supporters. He prominently backed "Stop the Steal" rallies in Phoenix and Washington, D.C., and was identified as the "spirit animal" of the effort. He participated in a video conference with Bowers and Biggs intended to convince the House speaker that Maricopa County's election results were tainted by fraud.

Cyber Ninjas CEO and election review leader Doug Logan

Doug Logan: He is the CEO of Cyber Ninjas, the Florida-based company that oversaw the hand recount of 2.1 million ballots in Maricopa County. Logan and his company kept a low profile until the 2020 election, when he made clear he viewed the results as fraudulent. He has defended the findings of the ballot review and called for an overhaul to Arizona's voting systems.

Warren Petersen: The East Valley Republican replaced Farnsworth, who retired from the Legislature, as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He helped issue a second round of subpoenas to Maricopa County officials, who produced the records to allow the ballot review to move ahead.

Randy Pullen: The former chairman of the Arizona Republican Party and former treasurer of the Republican National Committee worked behind the scenes for months urging a GOP-led audit and helped shape the way the state Senate carried it out. He later became co-liaison to the review as doubts about Bennett grew among those supportive of the undertaking.

Jack Sellers: The Republican has chaired the county supervisors since Jan. 6 and tried to convince Fann, whom he's known for years, to not hold the governing board in contempt for its decision to not fully comply with the Senate's subpoenas. The board sought a court order regarding the subpoenas.

Donald Trump: The former president lost Arizona by the narrowest margin of any state in the country in 2020. Beginning on election night and continuing ever since, he has blamed his loss on widespread fraud even as his advisers warned him in advance he could lose the state. He dispatched Giuliani and others to help convince Republicans to take action after the 2020 election.

Democracy in Doubt series Part 4: 'Youll get nothing out of this': Partisans with limited experience stumble through gaffe-prone 'audit'

Some of the rest

Dozens of others played a role, either in fundraising or in other activities related to the election review.

THE ENABLERS

OANN host Christina Bobb

Christina Bobb: She is the One America News correspondent who is also a lawyer and advocated for fundraising to sustain the ballot review. She attended school in Arizona for a time.

Patrick Byrne: The former CEO of Overstock.com provided millions to help fund the ballot review and an organization he is affiliated with helped screen volunteers to work on the recount in Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Jovan Pulitzer: He is a Texas-based inventor who has hunted for treasure and claims to have developed technology that could spot fraudulent ballots.

Phil Waldron: The retired Army colonel claimed an expertise in election security and was in close contact with Fann in the weeks before the ballot review got underway. He was present at a December 2020 meeting with Giuliani, Fann, and Bowers where attendees urged action from the legislative leaders.

THE POLITICIANS

State Sen. Paul Boyer, LD-20

Paul Boyer: The Glendale Republican state senator prevented the chamber from holding the county supervisors in contempt.

Mark Brnovich: The Republican attorney general of Arizona and U.S. Senate candidate rejected fraud claims in the early days after the election, but has opened an investigation after Cyber Ninjas' report.

Katie Hobbs: The Democratic secretary of state and gubernatorial candidate gained national prominence during the 2020 election and in the months that followed for maintaining the election was properly administered and free of widespread fraud.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona election 'audit': A look at the key players
The Daily Beast

Bridgeport Police DepartmentThe remains of a Connecticut man were discovered buried five feet under a garage more than eight years after he vanished, and now the local landlord who led detectives to his body faces murder charges.Bridgeport police said on Thursday that strong evidence suggests the two men arrested in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Aryndel Castro had beaten and choked him to death on the night of Sept. 22, 2013. After murdering Castro, Shawn Gibson, 45, and Terrance B
Axios

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu were the closest of political allies during the four years they overlapped in office, at least in public. Not anymore. "I havent spoken to him since," Trump said of the former Israeli prime minister. "F**k him."What he's saying: Trump repeatedly criticized Netanyahu during two interviews for my book, Trumps Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East." The final straw for Trump was when Netanyahu congratulated President-elect Biden for h
Education may be a big issue in the 2022 election to the benefit of Republicans.

Pat Orr

Much has been made of the recent Virginia Gubernatorial election in which newcomer Glen Youngkin ousted long-time politician Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe was expected to win and regain a job he had previously held.

As a stalwart of the Democratic establishment and ally of the Clintons, he had a lot of favors to call in from his days as National Chair of the Democratic Party. He had a massive war chest, a big-name line-up of surrogates coming to Virginia to stump for him.

Two things eventually doomed McAuliffes chances, his utter disdain for parental concerns about what was being taught in Virginia schools and his total lack of humility. It was going to be his way or the highway. Voters showed him the highway.

The other near shocker was how close Phil Murphy of New Jersey came to losing to a Republican.

One could surmise that Governors facing re-election next year might shift their focus or attitudes a bit. Both liberal and conservative Governors are being challenged. Some are swimming against a tide of moderation that is sweeping America. Others are jumping in the deep end of conservative anti-progressive policies.

Two states could not be more opposite in that respect than Texas and Michigan. Gretchen Witmer of Michigan has been in the spotlight since she was passed over for a possible Vice-Presidential slot with President Joe Biden. She is a staunch supporter of unions and has gone to great lengths to protect them in her state. While parents are taking action to bring the topic of school choice into the forefront of the 2022 election cycle, Whitmer is doing her best to bury it.

At the end of October, the GOP-dominated Michigan legislature passed school choice legislation that will force Whitmer to choose between teachers unions and students. The Michigan program creates tax-credit scholarships up to $7,800 per student. Funds could be used for private-school tuition, tutoring costs, transportation, and other education-related expenses. Not one Democrat voted for this legislation. That may linger in the minds of parents as they go to the polls in 2022.

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A June poll by the American Foundation for Children found that 74% of voters support school choice. Even more worrisome for Whitmer, another poll reported that 49% of Michigan voters support school choice, and 55% of parents like the tax-credit scholarship idea.

Governor Tony Evers is under fire in nearby Wisconsin for his unwavering support of teacher unions that have continued to demand and get school lockdowns. A Wisconsin poll finds that 57% of parents are concerned about students falling behind. Evers slogan when he ran was that he would be the Education Governor." The fact that he has rolled over to every teacher demand since being elected could cause a 20 point drop in his approval rating among likely voters since March.

Over in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf is term-limited out, and Republicans are eager to see if parents have the same concern for their childrens schools that were a factor in Virginia. The Rust Belt may be going from Blue to Red in 2022. There are challenges in most states where Democratic Governors exhibited extreme overreach in their mandates and orders during and after the peak of COVID-19 that cost jobs and businesses to evaporate.

The national mood may have shifted dramatically since Biden was elected and appears to be struggling to govern. Student performance and the future of education cuts across partisan lines. While observing virtual learning, many parents were shocked to see what their children were being taught.

Down in Texas, Greg Abbott has grabbed the bull by the horns and demanded the State Board of Education, Texas Education Agency, and Texas State Library and Archive Commission to develop standards to prevent what he termed pornography and other obscene content in schools.

He will be challenged by one well-known progressive, Robert Francis (call me Beto) ORourke. There will be 36 state Governor races in 2022, 16 Democrats and 20 Republicans.

Californias ultra-progressive stance towards race and gender curricula is one more reason that parents leave this state. It should be a motivator for volunteers and campaign cash to support the voter-sponsored initiatives to both permit parents a role in public education decisions and a second to create a tax-credit scholarship plan similar to the one awaiting Whitmers signature in Michigan.

Contact Pat Orr at avreviewopinion@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Around Town: Governors preparing to get schooled
Liliboas / iStock.com

You have a personal milestone on the horizon  i.e., wedding, baby shower, birthday  and you know youll be receiving lots of gifts. Celebrations are exciting, and youre grateful people want to give you gifts, but to be honest, you just want cash.

Modern Money Etiquette: Answering Thorny Questions About Tipping, Gifts and More

More: Should You Pay a Friend Who Does You a Professional Favor?

Whether you dont really need anything right now or know your well-meaning loved ones tend to miss the mark on gifts, youre not sure if its OK to straight up ask for money.

The quick answer is no, said Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting, based in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She said events like birthdays, graduations and weddings are not fundraisers, so it is not appropriate to outright ask for money.

These are major lifecycle events that are celebratory in their own right, she said. As the honoree, you should be grateful and humbled that your friends and family are marking the occasion with you. The invitation is not an invoice.

Tips: Do You Still Have To Buy a Gift for a Destination Wedding?

However, she noted that your guests are excited to celebrate with you and will likely want to offer their well wishes by presenting you with a tangible gift.

While it has been and remains to be gauche to ask outright for cash, there is a lovely, little loophole, she said. If that is what you prefer, you guide them to the cash-as-a-gift option.

Smith said you can accomplish this by discreetly steering them toward a monetary gift.

Be Aware: 6 Rude Money Questions You Should Never Ask (or Answer)

If and when they ask what you would like for your birthday, graduation, wedding, you may reply with a statement along the lines of, I truly already have all I need, right now I am saving up for a trip, car, house,' she said. Now your guest has the information and can make their decisions accordingly.

While this should get your point across, Smith said it still might not work, because people have different ways of thinking about gift-giving  which is perfectly OK.

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Do understand that there are some people and some cultures where giving cash is the preferred option and other people and some cultures where they will do anything to avoid giving cash, she said. Even for baby showers and wedding showers, where the entire purpose of the event is to give gifts, some prefer items instead of cash.

More: Wedding Etiquette: How Much To Give (and Spend)

On the other side of the debate, Jennifer Porter, a Seattle-based etiquette expert and founder of Satsuma Designs, said it is absolutely OK to ask for cash as a gift for a major life milestone.

Asking for money as a gift has one important caveat and that is the ask must include a concrete plan for what the cash gift will be used, she said.

In fact, Porter said requesting money with a clear purpose is a welcome guide for gift-givers.

Someone Owe You Money? How To Get It Back Without Ruining the Relationship

Our modern world is expensive, she said. Friends and relatives really do want to give whats wanted from a new couple, parents or graduates.

She also emphasized the importance of writing a thank you note for the gift.

[It] should include a reflection on either how important that purpose is and that it has been secure[d] [or] purchased with their gift or that it is gaining interest in an account and will be used in good time, she said.

See: Do You Tip on Takeout Orders or Not?

Essentially, different people have different views on whether or not its OK to ask for cash as a gift. Therefore, its best to consider your audience when deciding if its appropriate to request money, and if so, how to go about it.

If your gift-givers are of a more traditional mindset, you might opt for Smiths more subtle approach. However, if youre relatively certain people will be fine with your cash-only request, Porters idea of requesting money with a purpose will likely go over just fine.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Asking for Cash as a Gift: Can You? And How Should You Do It?
Aurora, Colorado  CBS Denver has learned the City of Aurora has agreed to pay $15 million to the family of Elijah McClain to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed over McClain's death. The sum was confirmed to CBS Denver by three sources familiar with the tentative agreement.

All requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak about the settlement.

City officials have acknowledged an agreement was reached, but said details would not be made public until the deal was finalized. McClain, 23, died in 2019 several days after a confrontation with Aurora police.

Aurora police approached McClain on August 24, 2019, as he was walking home from a trip to a convenience store.

A citizen had called police saying McClain "looked sketchy." When Aurora officers approached McClain, the verbal confrontation turned physical and a chokehold was applied. Paramedics injected McClain with ketamine, a powerful sedative, and he went into cardiac arrest. McClain was not armed.

Days after the confrontation, McClain was taken off life support and died. A subsequent autopsy said his cause of death was "undetermined."

Elijah McClain. / Credit: Mari Newman

His mother, Sheneen McClain, filed a federal lawsuit in 2020 against the City of Aurora and the police officers and fire department members involved in her son's death. Last month, her attorneys announced the case had been settled in principle resolving all claims in the federal civil rights case.

They did not release financial details as Sheneen McClain and Elijah McClain's biological father, Lawayne Mosley, are still addressing how the settlement will be split. A court hearing is scheduled for this Friday.

The $15 million settlement would surpass the $12 million wrongful death settlement in the case of Breonna Taylor who was shot and killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, in a botched drug raid.

While the McClain settlement falls short of the $27 million the City of Minneapolis agreed to pay to the family of George Floyd, it will easily be the largest in Aurora Police history, according to a review of past police civil case settlements.

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From 2010 through 2019, a spreadsheet compiled by Aurora administrators and obtained by CBS Denver shows the city paid out $7,397,814 for the entire 10 year period. There were no settlements of police cases listed for 2019 and 2020.

The largest previous wrongful death police case settlement in Aurora was $2,600,000 for a 2015 death.

CBS Denver has learned that in 2019, when the McClain death occurred, Aurora carried an insurance policy with a cap of $10 million. Multiple Aurora officials say in this case, the $5 million difference between the insurance policy and the settlement amount will likely be drawn from Aurora's general fund.

That $5 million draw likely won't have a large impact on Aurora residents since city sales taxes are up. For 2021, sales taxes are up 15.2% or $24.1 million from 2020. For 2021, sales taxes are expected to total $47.7 million more than was projected.

Qusair Mohamedbhai, an attorney representing Sheneen McClain, said he was not at liberty to comment on any terms of the settlement with Aurora.

Mari Newman, who represents Elijah McClain's father, said she could not comment on terms of the settlement.

A state grand jury has indicted the three Aurora police officers and two paramedics involved in McClain's death. Charges range from manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide.

Major police related settlements:

George Floyd  City of Minneapolis paid $27 million for Floyd's death.Elijah McClain  Aurora, Colorado, agrees to pay $15 million in pretrial settlement.Breonna Taylor  Louisville, Kentucky, agrees to pay Taylor's family $12 million and reform police practices following no-knock raid.Laquan McDonald  Chicago paid the 17-year-old's family $5 million after he was shot and killed by police.Freddie Gray  Baltimore settled with Gray's family for $6.4 million in 2015 over Gray's in-custody death.Philando Castile  St. Anthony, Minnesota, paid Castile's mother $3 million and another $800,000 to his girlfriend after an officer shot and killed Castile.

College basketball player praised for helping clean stadium

Wisconsin jury finds 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty

Special Report: Kyle Rittenhouse found not guilty on all charges
SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Reserve Bank of Australia, like some other major central banks, has stepped up research into running its own digital currency, but remains unconvinced of the merits, its payments chief said on Thursday.

The comments, made at a financial services conference, follow an Australian Senate report last month that called for laws to be changed in ways that were more amenable to digital currencies.

Most major economies are now considering whether to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC) - an internet-only cash equivalent that is different to cryptocurrency since it is not de-centralised - although none have done so yet, said Reserve Bank of Australia head of payments policy Tony Richards.

However, "given the possibility that the balance could shift towards a case for issuance of retail CBDCs, the Bank has been stepping up its CBDC research", Richards said in a speech at the Australian Corporate Treasury Association.

Noting that the European Central Bank and Sweden appeared to be the most advanced of the major economies to consider a role for CBDCs, Richards said the U.S. Federal Reserve was more cautious.

"Reserve Bank (of Australia) staff have also not been convinced to date that a strong policy case has emerged in Australia for a CBDC," he said.

"Australia's existing electronic payments system already provides households and businesses with a wide range of safe, convenient and low-cost payment services."

Amid the rush to internet-only money, which has been spurred along partly by the shift toward online living during the pandemic, Australia's biggest bank also said this month that it was offering some cryptocurrency trading services via its smartphone app.

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
US actor Alec Baldwin "chose to play Russian roulette" with safety in the minutes leading up to the fatal movie set shooting of a cinematographer, a new lawsuit alleged Wednesday.

The suit is the second to be filed in a week over the killing of Halyna Hutchins during rehearsals for low-budget Western "Rust" in New Mexico last month.

Script supervisor Mamie Mitchell -- who made an emotional 911 call moments after the accident -- is accusing Baldwin and his fellow producers of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and deliberate infliction of harm.

"The events that led to the shooting by Mr. Baldwin of a loaded gun do not constitute simple negligence," Mitchell's attorney Gloria Allred told reporters in Los Angeles.

"Instead, in our opinion, Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian roulette when he fired a gun without checking and without having the armorer do so in his presence.

"His behavior and that of the producers on 'Rust' was reckless."

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and assistant director Dave Halls are also named in the suit.

Cinematographer Hutchins, 42, was shot and killed as Baldwin rehearsed a scene in which he fires a gun at the camera.

The Emmy-winner was handed the firearm by Halls, who declared it "cold" -- industry lingo for an inert weapon. Halls later told investigators he had not fully checked it.

The live bullet passed through Hutchins and hit director Joel Souza in the shoulder.

"Mr. Baldwin, and industry veterans knew that the gun in question should never have been given to him by the assistant director. And then he could not rely upon any statement by the assistant director as to whether or not the gun was safe to use," said Allred.

Industry practice is for the armorer to demonstrate the gun is safe and for that person to hand it directly to the actor, she said.

"Mr. Baldwin knew that this was the norm and that it was not followed. And he did not check the gun himself."

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Last week chief lighting technician Serge Svetnoy sued Baldwin and others alleging negligence.

Experts say a rash of civil legal action is expected in connection with the tragedy.

Adan Mendoza, sheriff of Santa Fe County, where the incident happened, has spoken of "complacency" on the set.

Mendoza said previously his officers seized more than 500 rounds of ammunition from the set, which they believed to be a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and some suspected live ammunition.

District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies has previously refused to rule out criminal charges over the incident, which has sparked calls for the banning of functional weapons on Hollywood sets.

hg/mlm
Migrants at Belarus-Poland border Maxim Guchek/BELTA/AFP/Getty Images

If Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko wanted to take revenge on the European Union by flooding it with asylum-seeking migrants he routed to the Polish border, as appears to be the case, his plan backfired. "Lukashenko's regime is now struggling over what do with thousands of stranded people he lured from the Middle East and beyond," The Washington Post reports.

Belarus on Wednesday began bussing migrants amassed in the cold at the Polish border to warehouses promising food, warmth, and shelter. But "having helped funnel desperate migrants to Europe's doorstep," The New York Times reports, "Lukashenko suddenly has to deal with people like Bale Nisu, a 21-year-old Kurd from Iraq who has taken a liking to Belarus, and would like to settle here."

Belarus isn't Nisu's first choice  like the other migrants, he wants to get to Germany or elsewhere in the EU. "He lamented that he had spent more than $4,000 and days freezing in the forest only to end up in a poor, highly repressive former Soviet republic with little to offer in the way of jobs and other opportunities," the Times reports. But Nisu said "Belarus looked far more enticing than returning to Iraq, or more encounters with Polish soldiers and border guards. He said he wanted to apply for asylum in Belarus," which he called "a very, very good country."

"Dictators don't usually have to worry about having their country praised," the Times notes, but Lukashenko "could face a serious headache if migrants start demanding political asylum in Belarus. It is a predominantly Orthodox Christian nation with scant experience of taking in foreign immigrants and, like Poland and other East European countries, has been generally hostile to non-Christian settlers from outside Europe."

Lukashenko could deport the migrants back to Iraq, Syria, and their other countries of origin  and many of the migrants fear he will do just that, the Post reports. But "Belarus has spent weeks denouncing Poland for violating international law by refusing to consider asylum requests and pushing back migrants ... who make it across the border," the Times reports.

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Lukashenko was probably hoping to win concession from the EU, inspired by Europe's decision to pay Turkey generously to stem a flow of Syrian asylum-seekers during a 2015 destabilizing flood of migrants," independent Belarus analyst Dmitry Bolkunets tells the Post. "But Lukashenko miscalculated and now there's no way out."

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Friday November 19th, Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) is celebrating 7 years of giving back to the service community with Black Rifle Friday. The veteran-founded coffee company is a leader in hiring, inspiring, and serving active duty service members, veterans, and first responders. Black Rifle Friday is an opportunity for the company to honor its mission-forward legacy.

In addition to making the biggest product release of the year online and in-stores, BRCC will be launching its first-ever in-store gift cards at select locations and giving customers an opportunity to grab some BRCC swag. Coffee-lovers can stop into BRCCs coffee shop in Clarksville at 2570 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. and enter a raffle to win gift cards valued at $25 - $50. Winners will be announced every hour (must be present to win). At 12 p.m., BRCC Clarksville will select the winner of a $150 gift card from all entries (need not be present to win).

Black Rifle Coffee Company is a veteran-founded coffee company that serves premium coffee to people who love America. Founded in 2014 by Green Beret Evan Hafer, BRCC develops explosive roast profiles with the same mission focus the companys hundreds of veteran employees learned while serving in the military. The company is committed to supporting veterans, first responders, and the American way of life. With every cup of coffee, they give back.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Black Rifle Coffee celebrates seven years with gift card giveaway
This house at 1213 S. High St. in Bloomington was burned down in a firefighting exercise.

Bloomington Fire Chief Jason Moore expressed regret about the recent controlled burn that caused lead ash to fall on a city neighborhood and he said such training events will not be repeated.

I can assure you, we do not  intend to conduct another controlled burn in an acquired structure again, the chief said Tuesday evening during a meeting of the Bloomington Board of Public Safety.

More: A controlled house fire spread lead paint chips in Bloomington. Here's what we know.

The Bloomington Fire Department on Nov. 5 burned a house at 1213 S. High St. as part of training exercises. Residents in the area reported dust and paint chips falling onto their neighborhoods, mostly west of the fire.

A local contractor initially alerted officials to the presence of lead in the fallout. Researchers from Indiana University's Environmental Resilience Institute have confirmed that some of the paint chips contained extremely high lead values.

City officials have said they followed proper protocols, including following a list from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which did not include checks for lead.

'It's not worth the risk'

Some city council members have said they are considering local legislation to prevent a repeat, and Moore said he would push for legislation at the state level to prevent such burns from happening across the state.

Bloomington Fire Department Chief Jason Moore addressed the Bloomington Board of Public Safety Tuesday evening and talked about the lead paint fallout from the recent controlled burn.

We are going to be at the state level asking for this change, he said.

Even if the lead issue were addressed at the state or local levels, Moore said he wont sign off on another such burn in Bloomington, even though it provided valuable training for firefighters.

I dont know what else is in a home that may be a health hazard in the future, he said. Its not worth the risk.

While some lead paint chips remain in the area, Moore said recent air monitoring has indicated that ongoing cleanup efforts are not propelling lead dust into the air. City officials have said they expect cleanup to cost at least $118,000  though expenses are likely to rise. As of Tuesday evening, contractors had performed lead remediation at 59 homes.

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City of Bloomington: Lead cleanup cost from training fire likely to exceed $118,000

The city has set up a website with information about the event at bloomington.in.gov/bfdburninfo.

Moore said the fire department plans to offer tests to allow affected residents to check their blood lead levels, though staff were still learning how to administer those tests.

Boris Ladwig is the city government reporter for The Herald-Times. Contact him at bladwig@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington fire chief regrets lead fallout, says won't be repeated
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  An advance team of Canadian soldiers went to work Thursday and more were due as some major highways reopened to limited traffic in British Columbia, but officials said the situation remained critical after floods and mudslides that forced evacuations, blocked transportation routes, caused the death of at least one person and killed thousands of farm animals.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the good news is that the significant rainfall has ended and no further major precipitation is expected for the rest of the week.

The situation remains critical, but there is an improvement, he said in Ottawa.

British Columbia's premier, John Horgan, has declared a state of emergency after record rainfall drenched much of the provinces south for more than 48 hours. One person is confirmed dead in a landslide that swept vehicles off a road near Pemberton, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the number of people believed to be missing at the site had been raised to four.

The province's public safety minister, Mike Farnworth, said at an afternoon news conference that the cost of repairing damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure is going to be substantial.

It is far too early at this point to understand what the total damage is going to be, he said. The province has the fiscal capacity to be able to rebuild.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Highway 7, which connects Vancouver to the interior of the province, was reopened to alternating, single-lane traffic. Another major route is expected to be opened by the weekend.

Other highways could take months to repair, Fleming said.

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said talks were underway with Canadian and U.S. border officials to reach an interim agreement to allow cargo trucks to detour through border crossings to reach their destinations.

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said 120 soldiers would arrive in British Columbia late Thursday to join a nine-member team from the Edmonton-based 3 Canadian Division Immediate Response Unit that arrived a day earlier to assess the situation for planning and coordinating relief efforts.

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An additional 160 military personnel were preparing to leave Edmonton with a convoy of military vehicles and equipment, she said.

Farnworth said the soldiers will assist with evacuation efforts, help with logistics and operate equipment.

About 17,000 people remain out of their homes, with 6,900 properties under evacuation order, he said. An additional 2,700 properties are on alert for possible evacuation.

The weekend storm left all major routes between the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, where Canadas third largest city of Vancouver is, and the interior of the province cut by washouts, flooding or landslides.

With dairy farms underwater around the city of Abbotsford and transportation routes closed, the province could face a shortage of milk products.

There will be a short-term interruption, but everybody thats involved in the industry is trying to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible to get this whole supply chain thing back to some semblance of normality, Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the British Colombia Dairy Association.

On his farm near Agassiz, Schwichtenberg is tending to 50 head of cattle brought from flooded areas around Abbotsford.

Schwichtenberg said 59 dairy farms scrambled to save their cows. Some were able to load their animals on trucks. A YouTube video shows one person on a jet ski leading a cow through water up to the animal

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said he had heard that about 2,000 cows had died in the flooded area.

Schwichtenberg said closed roads are preventing trucks from collecting milk from farms.

If youre milking but the tracks cant get to your farm, then you have to dispose of the milk because its a perishable product, he said.

Lana Popham, the provinces agriculture minister, said residents shouldnt worry about food shortages.

Our food is secure. Were just re-gigging routes to get it to folks, she said. Were definitely not going to run out of food.

Flooding is also delaying deliveries of Pfizer Canada products, including the companys coronavirus vaccine.

Weather conditions have resulted in an unfortunate delivery delay of our medicines to BC, Pfizer said on Twitter. We are working to ensure the supply chain has sufficient inventory of critical products for patients.
Marc Byrum

A third person has announced his candidacy for Madison County Sheriff.

Marc Byrum issued a press release on Friday announcing his intent to run for the office after working in the department for 25 years serving in different roles including in the narcotics unit, SWAT team commander and leading the departments firearms training.

Over the years, as both a law enforcement professional and as a citizen, I have observed a growing crime problem within our community, Byrum said. I have witnessed firsthand many inefficiencies and shortcomings in the Sheriffs office.

I will be fiscally responsible, and will fight to improve the working conditions, bolster morale in the sheriffs office, and recruit and retain the most effective deputies, correction officers, and support staff of any law enforcement agency in West Tennessee.

A lifelong resident of Madison County, Byrum grew up in the Mercer community, and is a graduate of South Side High School and Lambuth College. He and his wife Pamela live in Jackson.

Byrum joins incumbent John Mehr and Jackson Police Chief Julian Wiser in the race for Sheriff.

Mehr has said in multiple public appearances he plans to run for re-election, and Wiser announced his retirement from JPD earlier on Friday with the intent to run for the Republican nomination for sheriff.

No announcements are official as Dec. 20 is the first day petitions can be pulled for candidates seeking office in the 2022 local elections.

County primaries are May 3 with the general election to be held in August.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Byrum announces candidacy for Madison Co. Sheriff
The Telegraph

Its that time of year again. Yes, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released the new photograph they will use for their 2021 Christmas cards. Cue inevitable social media excitement and a frenzy among Royal watchers as they study it for clues about the state of the monarchy.
The city of Chicago announced three mixed-use projects Thursday totaling $126 million for Humboldt Park and South Shore as the ambitious Invest South/West initiative to spur development in disadvantaged communities hits the two-year mark.

The three projects, selected from six proposals to the citys planning department, include residential, commercial and historic redevelopment on previously fallow sites, and are all led by minority developers.

These three projects demonstrate that Invest South/West is working where it matters most, in the hearts of the neighborhoods that have been overlooked by the city and private sector for too long, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a news release Thursday.

Launched in October 2019, Lightfoots Invest South/West initiative is a three-year program to invest $750 million in developments across 10 neighborhoods on the South and West sides. In early March, Lightfoot announced $67 million in investment proposals for the first three developments to be built in the Austin, Auburn Gresham and Englewood neighborhoods.

In August, the city announced four mixed-use projects and three peripheral developments valued at $200 million for South Chicago, North Lawndale, Bronzeville and New City.

The largest of the three new projects announced Thursday is Team Pioneros, a $53.9 million proposal to renovate the vacant landmark Pioneer Bank building at the northwest corner of North Avenue and Pulaski Road in Humboldt Park as an entrepreneurial incubator space.

The project, which is led by Park Row Development and JGMA, also plans to redevelop an adjacent parking lot as a nine-story residential tower with 75 units of affordable housing, offices for Humboldt Park Family Health and a potential library branch serving the West Side neighborhood.

Completed in 1925, the five-story Pioneer Trust and Savings Bank building was constructed in the monumental Classical Revival-style by noted Chicago architect Karl Vitzthum, who designed more than 50 banks during his career. Pioneer Bank was acquired by Banco Popular in 1994. The new owners moved across the street in 2008, and the Pioneer Bank building has been vacant ever since.

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The Pioneer Bank building was approved for landmark designation by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks in 2012.

Thrive Exchange is a $47.3 million proposal for a mixed-use project on multiple sites near the Cheltenham station on the Metra Electric line at 79th Street and Exchange Avenue, straddling the South Shore and South Chicago neighborhoods.

A joint venture between DL3 Realty, Revere Properties and Claretian, the project plans to create 39 residential units on the south side of 79th Street and rehabilitate the nearly century-old, three-story Ringer Building for commercial use and 24 adjacent condominiums.

The Ave. is a $25.3 million proposal to redevelop the southwest corner of Chicago and Central Park avenues in Humboldt Park into a five-story, mixed-use complex with 44 residential units and 21,000 square feet of commercial space for a restaurant, gym and day care center.

A joint venture led by KMW Communities and Preservation of Affordable Housing, the proposal would supplant two small commercial buildings, including the West Side offices of Neighborhood Housing Services, which would move into the new development.

Unlike previous Invest South/West projects, the latest round does not include any development of city-owned property. All three of the new projects are led by minority-owned firms, said Maurice Cox, commissioner of the citys planning and development department.

The promise of Invest South/West is that Black and brown developers would be given a chance to participate in an unprecedented opportunity, Cox said. Emerging minority developers are being given an opportunity to build these flagship mixed-use developments in communities that they know well, forming the kinds of joint ventures that are needed to deliver the projects.

The 10 projects selected this year total nearly $326 million in development costs, but the projects have helped to generate closer to $1.4 billion in committed private and public investments associated with the targeted Invest South/West commercial corridors, Cox said.

The proposals still need to go through the citys formal review process that includes the Plan Commission and City Council. Cox said the first round of projects should be ready to break ground next year. The city will seek additional rounds of proposals over the next year, Cox said.

rchannick@chicagotribune.com
Weeks before Chicago Public Schools reopened for full-time, in-person learning in August, facilities chief Clarence Carson repeatedly assured Chicago Board of Education members that buildings would be clean and disinfected the way they should be.

Carson is now out of a job amid complaints of dirty schools. And at Wednesdays monthly board meeting, CPS officials once again assured board members that custodial services are a priority, with incidents of filthiness isolated to a few of the districts 600-plus schools.

Were not going to make excuses, CPS CEO Pedro Martinez told the board. We will continue ... to make progress. We did some deep cleaning on Friday with classes being canceled. Were going to do more deep cleaning this weekend, during the Thanksgiving holiday. Were not going to stop, board members.

Officials promised a comprehensive facilities update at next months board meeting. In the meantime, CPS said it has held custodial job fairs this week as Martinez blamed grime woes on last-minute janitorial no-shows. CPS capital planning and construction executive director Ivan Hansen was appointed acting chief facilities officer last week, with the district saying it has reiterated expectations and emphasized the need for better communication with principals.

CPS handed school custodial responsibilities to the Philadelphia-based Aramark service firm in 2014. Despite reports of inadequate cleaning of schools, the board in July approved a three-year contract with Aramark for up to $369 million. Outside CPS headquarters Wednesday, members of the Chicago Teachers Union chanted Aramark has got to go.

CTU leaders called for spending COVID-19 relief funds to hire more custodians as well as nurses, social workers and substitute teachers.

We are hearing what we have been experiencing for years. And I want to underscore years, that our buildings are not clean because we are not paying for clean. We are paying for dirty, CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates said.

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CPS custodians rallied last week to decry staffing and supply shortages and demand Aramark and district accountability. Board member Lucino Sotelo acknowledged CPS inconsistent track record on facility cleanliness.

Theres a reason why we have that extra scrutiny, and we need to have that extra scrutiny to make sure that we do not allow for those filthy buildings to continue, Sotelo said at Wednesdays meeting.

When you have a provider that has a responsibility to be there, and they dont show up, theres got to be consequences for both the provider and the people that dont show up. Right? So we need to hold them to account.

tswartz@tribpub.com
By Gabriel Crossley

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's property sector, a major driver of economic growth, has weakened sharply this year as Beijing cracks down on speculators and indebted developers in a broad push to ease financial risks, with prices of new homes down for the first time in six years.

In the near term, many analysts expect authorities will try to stabilise the sector, which accounts for a quarter of gross domestic product by some measures, although there is uncertainty over which policy levers Beijing would pull.

Authorities would have to address and navigate challenges on multiple fronts: debt risks, cost-of-living pressures, worried homeowners, and the need to boost economic growth.

DEBT RISKS

Concerns over growing financial risks are a primary driver of the crackdown.

China's property sector is heavily reliant on credit. As of the end of the second quarter, Chinese developers owed 33.5 trillion yuan ($5 trillion), or a third of the country's GDP, according to Nomura.

Since authorities last year unveiled the "three red lines" - a significant policy plank aimed at limiting developers' liabilities-to-assets, net debt-to-equity, and cash-to-short term borrowing ratios - many companies have grown desperately short of cash.

GRAPHIC: Cost of housing in China's big cities far outstrips incomes https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-ECONOMY/xmpjoldbdvr/chart.png

A string of missed offshore debt payments and sell-offs in shares and bonds followed, with China Evergrande Holdings, the world's most indebted developer, repeatedly lurching to the brink of default.

Bankers and analysts say that Beijing is unlikely to relax the "three red lines" policy any time soon.

COST OF LIVING

Authorities have also slapped lending restrictions on mortgages to deter speculative home buying.

China's major cities have some of the highest-priced real estate in the world compared to average local earnings.

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It would take decades of savings to afford an apartment in Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen for someone with a standard salary in those cities.

GRAPHIC: China tier one city house prices https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/jnpwexrybpw/ChinaTier1CitiesPriceOct2021.png

Many who work in these megacities must eventually return to their home towns or move to cheaper inland cities. Cost-of-living pressures have led some young people to embrace a passive lifestyle known as "lying down."

President Xi Jinping has pledged to reduce inequality and ensure that housing is for living in, not speculation.

GRAPHIC: China's households put their wealth in real estate https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-ECONOMY/akpezmyglvr/chart.png

Prices of new homes dropped 0.2% on average last month from September, according to Reuters calculations, the first decline since 2015.

HOMEOWNER INTERESTS

On the whole, the interests of millions of concerned homeowners are likely to act as an important brake on government policy to excessively cool the sector, say analysts.

Some two-thirds of the wealth of China's 1.4 billion people is tied up in residential property. Over 90% of urban households own homes, one of the highest rates in the world.

Buying is fuelled by expectations that the government will ensure sustained growth in the sector, as well as by strong social pressures to purchase a house before marriage.

GRAPHIC: China's real estate sector has global weight https://graphics.reuters.com/CHINA-PROPERTY/znpnekqkgvl/chart.png

Worries that a too-rapid slowdown could spark a market freefall and social unrest will weigh heavily on China's stability-obsessed government as it tries to balance the risks and rewards of pushing through reforms.

GROWTH WORRIES

Concerns over growth could also limit regulators.

Property and related industries account for about a quarter of China's GDP, analysts estimate, and drive demand for mountains of steel, cement and other materials.

GDP growth is already slowing sharply this year, with the pace easing off to just 4.9% in the third quarter from a blistering 18.3% in the first.

GRAPHIC: China GDP by sector https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/zgvomklbyvd/ChinaGDPbyProductionType.png

A further significant economic downturn could have ramifications across the world.

If China's current property slump follows the pattern of the last one in 2014-2015, global GDP growth could be dragged 0.7 percentage points lower in the last quarter of 2022, with metal and iron ore prices plummeting, according to a report by analysts at Oxford Economics.

A more severe deterioration could have China's GDP growth bottoming out at 1.0% in the first three months of 2023, and global growth taking a substantial hit.

"The worst hit countries would be those for whom exports to China are particularly important and commodity exporters," said the Oxford analysts.

(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
(Reuters) - Chinese state-owned asset manager China Huarong Asset Management said on Wednesday it will receive fresh capital worth 42 billion yuan ($6.59 billion) from a state consortium led by Citic Group as part of a restructuring plan.

Huarong intends to issue a maximum of 39.22 billion domestic shares and not more than 1.96 billion shares listed on the Hong Kong exchange to a consortium of investors including Citic Group, China Cinda Asset Management and China Life Insurance, among others.

"It is of the view that the Issuance is the only practical measure to solve the capital insufficiency difficulty of the company and to satisfy the regulatory requirement," Huarong said in the filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange.

The deal would allow Citic Group to assume the Chinese government's controlling stake in the embattled asset manager as part of a plan by regulators to fold financially shaky state asset managers into financial holding groups.

Citic Group would subscribe to no more than 18.82 billion shares in Huarong while China Cinda, in a separate statement, said it would contribute about 4 billion yuan to pick up a 4.89% stake in Huarong.

Huarong, one of the four state distressed debt managers and counts China's finance ministry as its largest shareholder, had missed a March deadline for filing its 2020 earnings, sparking a rout in its U.S. dollar-denominated bonds that spread to other Chinese issuers.

Bonds rebounded in August after the state-backed rescue plan, and its divestment deals amid a regulatory push to sell non-core assets as part of its business revamp, Reuters has reported.

In its Wednesday statement, Huarong said that it would sell its 40.5% stake Huarong Xiangjiang Bank, and 79.9% stake in its financial leasing unit. It previously revealed similar divestment plans in consumer finance unit, and securities unit.

On Tuesday, Huarong has been granted approval to raise 70 billion yuan of financial bonds in the interbank market, as it continues to recover its credit profile and re-focus on its main bad loan business.

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In August, Huarong announced a first-half 2021 profit of 158.3 million yuan ($24.5 million) and a nearly $16 billion loss for 2020.

($1 = 6.3780 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru, Cheng Leng and Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Uttaresh.V)
A Chinese man living in California has been charged with cyberstalking in Minnesota after he used a female students likeness to create fake profiles under her name on dating, pornography and social media websites, the Minnesota U.S. Attorneys Office said in a release on Wednesday.

Posing as the victim, authorities said Ki Cheung Yau, 27, would communicate with others online, allegedly inviting them for sexual encounters, including violent ones. On two occasions last January a man unknown to the victim showed up at her home apparently to meet her for sex, the release said.

Yau's alleged harassment started in January of 2020.

ZAYN MALIK PLEADS NO CONTEST TO HARASSMENT CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY SHOVING GIGI HADID'S MOTHER YOLANDA

The alleged victim was later forced to move and change her cell number because of the ongoing harassment. She discovered the profiles in her name with other private information last February, the statement said.

Yau made his initial court appearance in California on Tuesday and will be removed to Minnesota to appear before a judge there.

The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI and the St. Paul Police Department.
The Daily Beast

WikiCommonsThe FBI is on alert after a number of local media outlets in Albany, New York, received disturbing letters from someone purporting to be the Chinese Zodiac Killer.The contents of the letters have not been disclosed, but they have prompted the Bureau to ask all media outlets not to open any forthcoming letters to try to preserve forensic evidence. Did the Zodiac Killer Lead a Bomb-Making, Bear-Slaying Youth Posse?Police have determined that the Zodiac Killer is responsible for the
As a bloody conflict inside Ethiopia enters its second year, experts fear the worst is still to come and could destabilize the Horn of Africa. Yahoo News explains what you should know about the civil war that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced upwards of 2 million people.

Video Transcript

- More than a year in, a bloody civil war in Ethiopia has claimed Tens of thousands of lives and displaced upwards of two million people. And experts fear the worst is still to come.

TANYA RIVERO: Diplomats are scrambling to find a peaceful solution as concerns grow that Ethiopia will fall into an all-out civil war. The conflict between Ethiopia's federal government and Tigrayan rebels started more than a year ago and continues to escalate.

- There's a sense of urgency within the international community that the fighting needs to stop, and urgently so, because it has every possibility of turning into a civil war.

- Ethiopia is a major strategic ally of the US, but Washington says it's ready to impose sanctions if fighting there continues.

ANTONY BLINKEN: The conflict there threatens not just that country, but its neighbors as well.

- With political power in Africa's second-largest nation at stake, Ethiopia's federal government remains at odds with fighters from the northern Tigray region, known as the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, who have been steadily advancing south towards the capital, Addis Ababa, since early October.

- The TPLF party dominated Ethiopian politics for decades. That was until Abiy Ahmed came into office in 2018. Since then, the Tigray leadership has claimed the federal government is unfairly targeting their ethnic group in corruption crackdowns. For his part, Abiy accuses the TPLF of attempting to destabilize the country.

- Earlier this month, the Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency across the entire nation.

- The Ethiopian government has called the fight against the Tigray rebels an existential war. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the Nobel Peace Prize two years ago, has vowed to bury his enemies. Abiy also declared a nationwide state of emergency that allows any armed citizen of military age to be conscripted.

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- The memorandum worries critics who fear lawlessness looms in a brewing situation that many believe could have been avoided.

- The government of Ethiopia says there is no plan for a ceasefire as they do not negotiate with insurgents.

- Atrocities have been committed by both the TPLF and Ethiopian forces.

MICHELLE BACHELET: We have reasonable grounds to believe that during this period, all parties to the Tigray conflict have committed violations of international human rights, humanitarian, and refugee law. Some of these may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

- As a result, millions of Ethiopians have had their lives drastically affected.

- The war continues, the humanitarian situation in the North remains worrying.

- The UN says the fighting is disrupting the flow of aid into the region, and the humanitarian situation is worsening. More than 400,000 people in Tigray are estimated to be living in famine-like conditions.

ANTONIO GUTERRES: The country is facing an immense humanitarian crisis that demands immediate attention. All efforts should be squarely focused on saving lives and avoiding a massive human tragedy.
By Anthony Deutsch

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Two environmental groups on Thursday lodged a complaint against Ahold Delhaize to the Dutch market regulator, saying the supermarket group fails to meet EU reporting directives by not disclosing how much plastic packaging it uses.

The complaint is the first of its kind in the Netherlands, said environmental law charity ClientEarth and Dutch NGO Plastic Soup Foundation, sent to the country's Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).

Ahold is "failing to disclose key information on its use of plastics and for failing to report plastic-related risk to its investors, in breach of its legal requirements," they said in a statement sent to Reuters.

In response, Ahold told Reuters it reports on environmental matters to the UK's Ellen MacArthur Foundation. It said it is taking steps to reduce plastic use at its stores, and "will work towards disclosing quantitative progress on plastics and packaging in its annual reports."

With more than 7,000 stores in 10 countries, Ahold Delhaize is a leading supermarket operator in the Benelux and U.S. east coast, where it owns the Stop & Shop, Food Lion, Giant and Hannaford chains.

The EU's 1995 Non-Financial Reporting Directive requires large companies to report material information on environmental issues which potentially pose a financial risk to their business.

AFM said in a statement to Reuters it has encouraged companies to voluntarily report on non-financial issues since 2013, and oversees compliance with the EU directive.

Since 2017, public companies with more than 500 employees "have been obliged to report on non-financial (matters) in their management reports as part of their annual reporting," it said.

AFM said it can order a company to publicly correct a "material deficiency" in reporting, but lacks the power to impose fines in such cases.

Roughly 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced annually, nearly equal to the weight of the entire human population, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.

With companies increasingly urged to be more environmentally friendly, Ahold should be more transparent about its plastic use, the NGOs said. "Yet Ahold Delhaize has not disclosed this information to investors - which is a breach of EU law."

(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Richard Chang, Kirsten Donovan)
Days after being found guilty in the Sandy Hook defamation cases, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is begging his supporters to send him money to keep his right-wing website Infowars running.

Its going to take a lot of money to fight this and a lot of money for the appeals, Jones said. I cant spend the money we have paying our crew and running our independent media outlet that reaches millions of people without your support.

Claiming that Infowars was doing its most important work ever, Jones begged wealthy people to send him money.

Make a $10 donation, a $1,000 donation, he said. Wealthy people out there  your free speech is being destroyed! InfoWars is just the first domino to fall and if wealthy folks dont start spending their money promoting liberty, promoting freedom, were going to lose this country!

He concluded by saying that he had never issued an alert this serious but he needed help right now.

After being found guilty in the Sandy Hook lawsuit, a jury now decides how much Alex Jones has to pay. So, tonight he is urgently begging for cash. Ive never issued an alert this serious .. save InfoWars! pic.twitter.com/QVVh3mG3Xy  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) November 18, 2021

In a major legal blow, Jones has been found guilty in all four defamation cases brought by the families of eight victims of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Twenty six people, including 20 school children, died in the shooting.

For years, Jones spread bogus theories, claiming the shooting was a false flag operation engineered by the government to bring about stricter gun control laws, and falsely accused the families of being crisis actors who faked being the victims of the shooting.

The families of Sandy Hook victims were subjected to years of in-person and online harassment over the claims. They successfully argued that Jones made money from spreading the bogus conspiracy theories through his Infowars channel.

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Juries will now decide how much Jones has to pay the families in damages and court costs.

While Jones keeps his financial circumstances largely hidden, he is thought to be worth around $5m, largely gained through the sale of supplements on his Infowars network.

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About as hyperbolically evil as Mr Burns: Cameron Diaz in The Counsellor' (Chockstone Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Overcooked and naff. A grievous disappointment. Odd, distant and vaguely embarrassing. No one seemed to like Ridley Scotts The Counsellor when it was released in 2013. Those critics werent wrong, but they also werent entirely right. See, The Counsellor is glitterbomb, switchblade-in-your-lipstick camp. Its a misunderstood festival of accents, beheadings and Rosie Perez in a prison onesie that only becomes more enthralling each time you watch it. Which few do, because most seemed to give up midway through the first round.

Next week, Scott returns to heightened territory with House of Gucci, a true-crime story starring Lady Gaga as a glamorous Italian murderess. Early reviews have been kind, but some have criticised the film for not going full-tilt into camp, or following Gagas flamboyant lead when it comes to its overall tone. Its worth asking: did the failure of The Counsellor frighten off Scott from the sordid and deranged? And is it his secret masterpiece?

The Counsellor stars Michael Fassbender  smack in the middle of a long and potentially ruinous run of off-beat choices  as a Texas lawyer embarking on some light drug smuggling. Penelope Cruz is his doomed fiancee, Brad Pitt his cartel go-between and Javier Bardem his boss. Cameron Diaz  as Bardems girlfriend  scowls on the films fringes with a gold tooth and a collection of pet cheetahs, and at one point has sex with a car windshield.

For Fassbenders character, an easy payday becomes a long, winding road to hell. There are barrels of cocaine, electronic devices that disarticulate their targets, a henchwoman played by late-Nineties TV personality Donna Air. Nothing makes sense, archetypes reign supreme, and every character speaks in the same gravelly timbre, rattling off cod philosophy about the nature of sex and violence.

But good god is it potent. First-time screenwriter Cormac McCarthy  who hasnt written any scripts since, possibly by force  doesnt really know how to write a Hollywood movie. Scenes go on far longer than they typically should, and there is an audaciousness to its depravity that feels at odds with modern filmmaking. Scott rises to the challenge. His directing is dense and suffocating, like being trapped in a windowless room. Characters look as if they might keel over at any moment from thirst; luxury estates are photographed with the same stuffy sterility as jail cells.

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Together, Scott and McCarthy come off like conmen: two oddballs whove convinced a major American film studio to bankroll their wacky experiment. Just a handful of US studio movies since The Counsellor  think Darren Aronofskys debauched Mother! or James Wans jaw-dropping Malignant  come anywhere close to its free-wheeling madness.

Similarly, no one since has delivered a performance quite as thrilling as Diazs. As automobile fetishist Malkina, she snarls every line and swans around in an endless parade of leopard-print mini-dresses and kaftans, like a raging psychopath in a Boohoo ad. Contorting her face into expressions of sadistic glee or vulgar disgust, Diaz is about as hyperbolically evil as Mr Burns in The Simpsons. On top of that, her performance is entirely re-dubbed, reports at the time claiming that Diaz initially gave Malkina a thick Bajan accent not unlike Rihannas. After it bombed with test audiences, Diaz apparently had to re-record it all. Not to be overly dramatic or anything, but it is frankly a hate crime that raw footage with Malkinas original voice is collecting dust on a 20th Century Fox shelf somewhere.

I worry that  echoing Scotts modern timidity when it comes to camp  The Counsellor also frightened Diaz off acting. The actor didnt do press for the film and then retired 18 months after its release, leaving The Counsellor the last gasp of Diazs often underrated fearlessness. Does Diazs performance work? In a conventional sense, not at all. But in a movie of massive swings and questionable taste, she sticks out for attempting to match its chaos.

I miss Diaz, and I miss this Ridley Scott. Forget Blade Runner; Ill stick with the movie in which Brad Pitts head flies off outside Liverpool Street Station.

House of Gucci is released on Friday 26 November, while The Counsellor can be streamed on Disney+ now

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The Amarillo Public Health Department reported an increase of 184 new COVID-19 cases and two more COVID-19 linked deaths in Thursday's COVID-19 report card.

That brings the total number of cases in Potter and Randall counties to 49,355 and the total number of deaths to 927 since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

Of the total, 2,564 cases were reported as active in Thursday's report card, an increase of 99 net active cases from Wednesday.

There have been 45,864 reported COVID-19 recoveries, an increase of 83 recoveries from Wednesday.

Thursday's COVID-19 report card, issued weekdays by the Amarillo Public Health Department.

Thursday's report card also shows that Trauma Service Area A, which includes Potter and Randall counties, as well as the majority of the Texas Panhandle, is recording a 11.20% COVID-19 hospitalization rate as of Wednesday.

Potter County saw an increase of 64 COVID-19 cases, bringing the county's total to 24,376 since the start of the pandemic. Of the total, 1,080 are active, an increase of 30 net active cases from Wednesday. There have been 22,735 recoveries and 561 deaths related to the virus, according to Thursday's report card.

Randall County saw an increase of 120 COVID-19 cases, bringing the county's total to 24,979 since the start of the pandemic. Of the total, 1,484 are active, an increase of 69 net active cases from Wednesday. There have been 23,129 recoveries and 366 deaths related to the virus, according to Thursday's report card.

As reported in Thursday's COVID-19 update, 441,530 COVID-19 tests have been conducted since the start of the pandemic, with 14 tests pending.

The Amarillo Health Department is administering boosters for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

Amarillo Director of Public Health Casie Stoughton said booster shot is currently available to individuals 18 and older who live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions and/or live in high-risk environments. Those 65 and older who have gotten both shots are also eligible to receive the booster regardless of the situation.

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Stoughton spoke about the need for those individuals who have not received both doses of the vaccine to get their second shots as soon as possible, so that they can receive the booster shots.

According to previous reports, the city offers the Moderna vaccine for individuals 18 and older, as well as doses of the Pfizer vaccine for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17.

As of Nov. 1, the recently approved COVID-19 shot is now available for those between the ages of 5 and 11.

Immunizations are available at Amarillo Public Health, 850 Martin Road, during the following hours:

 Monday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The upcoming schedule for the citys mobile vaccination clinics is:

 Monday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Panhandle Independent Living Center, 417 W. 10th Ave.

For more information on the city's COVID-19 response, visit www.amarilloalerts.com .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo report Nov. 18 184 new COVID-19 cases, 2,564 total active
COVID-19 vaccines do a great job of preventing hospitalization and death, but their protection against infection starts to fade at about six months  even in young, healthy people.

That's why by the end of the week, booster doses may be recommended for all adults  or at least those over 30.

There's no down side to getting a third shot, said Ted Ross, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Georgia in Athens, who got a booster shot himself.

Side effects are unlikely to be any different than with the first two. The U.S. government bought so many doses so long ago that many will go to waste if they aren't used soon, he said. And adding protection seems like a good idea when 1,000 Americans die every day from COVID-19.

How does COVID-19 affect me? Dont miss an update with the Coronavirus Watch newsletter

"The thing boosters might help with is to help dampen the surge or increase we're going to see this winter," as people travel and spend more time indoors, Ross said. "That peak or that slope will hopefully not be as steep."

His view is consistent among many experts: although the first two shots are probably enough to prevent hospitalization and death, a third will buy extra protection while the pandemic is still a part of daily life.

"Vaccinations work, and boosters optimize vaccination," presidential adviser Anthony Fauci said Wednesday at a White House news conference.

Shyrel Ritter, a certified nursing assistant at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, receives her COVID-19 booster shot at her workplace in New York on Sept. 27.

By the end of Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration is likely to authorize COVID-19 booster shots for anyone who wants one and is at least six months past their initial vaccination.

An advisory committee and the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will probably give boosters for all a thumbs up Friday, though there is some chance they will restrict shots to those over 30 because of a rare side effect seen mainly in young men.

Adolescent and young men have seen rare but relatively high rates of myocarditis, a swelling of the heart muscle, within a week or two of vaccination. Myocarditis, which can also be caused by a COVID-19 infection, is usually mild and short-lived when it follows vaccination.

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The Biden administration said it pre-purchased enough doses for every American to get a booster at no cost.

For the short term, only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be available as booster doses for everyone six months after their initial shots, but the FDA and CDC are likely to add Moderna boosters soon.

Extra doses have been available for several months for people with compromised immune systems, including blood cancer patients and organ transplant recipients who were unlikely to get good protection from their first two shots.

When will everyone be vaccinated for COVID-19? Here's how the vaccine rollout is going

The federal government authorized boosters after six months for those 65 and older, younger people with health problems and those with jobs that put them at extra risk for infection with COVID-19.

Those who got the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine are encouraged to get a second shot at least two months after their first.

Some states, including California, New Mexico and Colorado, and the city of New York, made boosters available to everyone who received earlier doses more than six months ago.

The CDC said it's safe to mix vaccine brands, getting a Pfizer-BioNTech shot after two of Moderna's or vice versa. Data suggests that either of those vaccines, which are similar, would be more protective than a second J&J shot.

President Joe Biden receives a COVID-19 booster shot in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus Monday, Sept. 27, 2021.

Boosters of the Pfizer-BioNTech or J&J vaccines are identical to initial shots; boosters of Moderna are half the size of the earlier dose.

It's not clear whether this will be the last COVID-19 shot people will need  or whether immune protection will continue to fade or the virus will change enough that a new vaccine is needed.

Against some viruses, three doses provide lifelong protection, while for others, such as the flu, annual shots are required to protect against a changing pathogen.

Tracking COVID-19 vaccine distribution by state: How many people have been vaccinated in the US?

Dr. Julie Morita, executive vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said she wants to wait to see the data presented to the CDC advisory committee before deciding whether to get a booster shot.

Other experts are convinced.

Do boosters work, and will they bring cases down? I think it's a resounding yes, said Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, a cancer specialist at the Mayo Clinic, who has been closely following the pandemic.

People  even a small percentage of vaccinated ones  are dying of COVID-19 in Minnesota, where Rajkumar lives. Those who've been vaccinated die at a much lower rate than the unvaccinated, he said. Five out of every 100,000 vaccinated Minnesotans over age 65 dies from COVID-19, compared with 89 out of 100,000 unvaccinated people.

Dr. Lilian Abbo, center, receives a flu vaccine from Nicholas Torres, left, and a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shot from Douglas Houghton, right, at Jackson Memorial Hospital Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Miami.

Getting booster shots into older people is imperative to protect them, he said, but getting everyone else booster shots will cut down on infections overall, which will make everyone safer.

Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams said everyone should get a COVID-19 booster as soon as they're eligible.

People are tired of wearing masks, he said, and if they're going to take them off, they need to compensate with boosters.

Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson: Comparing the COVID-19 vaccines

"We need to double-down on the other tools in our tool chest that we know can be effective," said Adams, who served as surgeon general from 2017 to 2021. "We need to recognize that boosters lower spread in the community because they bump back up  to 94%, 95%, 96%  vaccine efficacy against spread."

About 15% of people eligible for boosters have gotten them  which Adams blamed on a lack of information about their benefits and who was eligible. Opening boosters to everyone should help reduce that confusion, he said. It will be much easier to convince a vaccinated person to get a booster than to convince an unvaccinated person to get an initial round of shots, Adams said.

Infection with COVID-19 provides some protection, but it's not clear how much or how long it will last, Ross, of the University of Georgia, said. People who are vaccinated develop more antibodies than those who were infected but not vaccinated.

Vaccines won't eliminate COVID-19, just as polio vaccinations haven't eliminated that disease despite a half-century of global effort, he said. But they will allow society to live with COVID-19 the way we live with the flu.

"To try and have 100% of prevention of infection of any circulating virus is not a likely outcome, but if you prevent severe disease, you prevent hospitalization, you prevent death, I think that's a goal that's achievable," Ross said.

The FDA authorized booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for people 65 and older and workers at high risk for COVID-19 exposure.

Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said everyone needs a booster regardless of their age, health status or profession.

"The initial thinking that no boosters are needed for all adults is undergoing a critical review by clinicians and scientists alike," Glatter said via email. "In my view, this change in thinking arose not only from clinicians experience taking care of patients with breakthrough cases of COVID-19, but alongside recent data demonstrating reduced vaccine effectiveness over time, especially 6 to 8 months after completion of the two-shot series."

Protecting against infections too mild to notice  as a booster does  will prevent people from unintentionally passing the virus along to others, Glatter said.

"The bottom line is that we need to respect the delta variant, which means getting the third dose should be a priority for all adults, especially as the holidays are closely approaching, the weather is getting colder, and we will be gathering together inside," Glatter said.

Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID vaccine boosters for all adults could be recommended by Friday
For two years, Victor Hurtado studied and researched the Italian Doges Palace as an undergraduate art history major at the University of Texas at El Paso.

And in the summer of 2018, he saw the palace in Venice, Italy, with his own eyes.

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I just stood there awestruck. I was looking at that building and I couldnt speak for a minute, Hurtado said. I had studied it. I had read about it. I had listened to podcasts about it. But nothing compares to seeing it in person.

Hurtado and his classmates saw the landmark in Venice as participants of the ROMA AETERNA study abroad program. But since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has put similar trips on hold.

The programs director, UTEP art history Professor Max Grossman, has had to cancel the visits in 2020, 2021 and again for 2022. Other professors and students in study abroad programs at UTEP have also faced cancellations.

I have become numb. At this point its like, OK, another year? Grossman said.

For many students, this means they have already or will graduate without the chance to travel and learn abroad.

Hurtado said the loss of the study abroad program isnt just about educational experiences, but also about personal development.

It just really made me a different person, Hurtado said. It made me a better person and enhanced my perspectives of world cultures. I would say that if it werent for studying abroad, I would be much different.

The suspension of the programs also affects UTEP professors abilities to conduct necessary research.

I conduct primary research in support of my publications, my conference papers and my other academic activities. My study abroad program is a creative way to get me to Italy so that I can go visit the archives and other primary source materials, Grossman said.

Due to a mandate from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, colleges and universities cannot require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Students are also not required to disclose their vaccination status, according to UTEP protocols.

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The inability to know if students are vaccinated complicates their entry into Italy, Grossman said.

And as countries have different COVID-19 risk levels, uncertainty about students safety is a constant challenge for UTEP, said Dania Brandford-Calvo, the executive director of the Office of International Programs and Study Abroad.

Our students (are being denied), not by us, not by a society, not by border restrictions, but by an epidemic, she said. Its saddening.

As the future remains uncertain because of COVID, so does the future of study abroad programs, Grossman said.

This is a critically important educational experience that is unavailable to our undergraduates, he said.

Disappointment at opportunities missed

Study abroad programs were immediately canceled in March 2020 after UTEP and universities across the nation transitioned to online and remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brandford-Calvo said. The university now monitors country conditions before approving international travel for students or faculty.

Brandford-Calvo said the school looks to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data to monitor COVID-19 levels. If a country is categorized as having a level three or four risk, meaning high or very high COVID-19 transmission levels, respectively, it is unlikely a program in that country will be approved.

Stephanie Nevarez, a current UTEP masters student studying occupational therapy, was planning to study for a week in Ciudad Juarez during March 2020.

The trip was canceled a week before the scheduled departure.

It was upsetting but at the same time I was very understanding of the situation because I was a little scared to travel to another country during the time of a pandemic, Nevarez said.

The week-long program for masters of occupational therapy students allows them to fulfill class credit and work in a clinic where they can treat patients south of the border.

The opportunity to work and learn in a different country would have allowed her to expand her cultural competency skills, she said.

When it happened I did feel that by not having that experience it was going to hinder my education as an occupational therapy student and was going to maybe deprive me of some experiences, Nevarez said.

The value of studying in other countries

Hurtado said his experience in Rome had a profound impact on his education.

Just knowing that I have done research about it (Doges Palace) and that I could finally see it in person, do some more research about it there in person really just helped me broaden my academic profile, he said.

Hurtado said the experience helped him solidify his academic interests and inspired him to apply for a masters program in art history in the future.

Grossman said Hurtados experience is one of the many results of studying abroad.

Ive had students who have been on my study abroad program (and) have gone on to Ph.D. programs, to work for auction houses, museums, art galleries, because study abroad is a fundamental part of their training, he said.

Octavio Macias, a UTEP alumnus who graduated in 2018 with a bachelors degree in art history, attended Grossmans study abroad program in 2017.

He said the experience gave him valuable tools as he completed his masters in musicology at the Peabody Institute in Maryland.

I really liked being able to go to Peabody with all my training and having translated primary texts (or) primary sources from Latin, Italian, (or) Spanish. Theres something to be said about coming with hard archaeological facts (because) no one can argue with you, Macias said.

While the trip was important for his education, he feels that the effects were even greater for his personal life.

Italy really makes you grateful for being alive, Macias said. It reminded me of how wonderful and splendid life can be and what it means to have a true quality of life.

He explained that issues like universal health care, reliable public transportation, and devoting more time for friends and family are cultural priorities that Italians promote, which led him to readjust how he views his personal life.

Macias said the experience abroad was so profound that he hopes to move to Spain next year.

Its just liberating (to) have options (and) you give yourself (those) options, he said.

He also said that study abroad programs teach students social skills faster than what universities may offer.

Theres nothing that makes you learn faster than being in survival mode and you dont feel that if you stay in a classroom (or) the library all day, Macias said.

For Hurtado, the study abroad experience planted a travel bug in him and heightened his understanding of others.

He recalled observing how Italians eat dinner at 8 or 9 p.m. and take walks outside afterward.

Youre immersed and you feel like youre walking along with them. Youre participating in their culture and by extension that feels like youre part of their culture, he said.

For current UTEP students, programs in Europe and China have been canceled, a UTEP spokesperson said in an email. Countries such as Australia, South Korea, Kuwait and Oman are approved, the official said.

Brandford-Calvo said the approval of study abroad programs is largely based on risk management and being able to secure healthy environments for students.

Our programs, the university and individuals are liable when involved in these types of endeavors, liable for litigation, she said.

The current state of UTEP study abroad opportunities

Prior to the pandemic, approximately 475 UTEP students traveled abroad every year, Brandford-Calvo said. Her goal was to increase that number and send 600 students abroad by the summer of 2020.

But only 12 students are currently abroad, she said.

When study abroad halted, what halted  besides the fun, more credits and going away  was the opportunity for building those bridges that expand the worldview of the student. The most significant aspect of studying abroad is that you will expand, not immediately, but your worldview will expand, Brandford-Calvo said.

UTEPs spokesperson said one of the biggest challenges are the different international laws regarding COVID-19.

When programs remained opened, measures to enter (a) country and/or region have required 15 to 21 days quarantine periods, recent proof of a negative COVID-19 test, and/or a vaccination card (not all vaccines have been accepted), the UTEP spokesperson said in an emailed response.

For Grossman, this means that if students arrive unvaccinated in Italy, they are required to undergo a five-day quarantine and be tested every 48 hours, according to Italian law.

With hotels and trips already planned and paid for in advance, Grossman said the potential of a student needing to quarantine would be an out-of-pocket cost and a disruption to the groups plans.

Ive also learned that if a student of mine were to get sick (with COVID) in Rome  even just suspicion of COVID not necessarily a positive test  as program director, I cannot leave Rome, he said.

A waiting game

With a third year of program cancellations, many students are inching closer to graduating and will miss the opportunity to study abroad.

I have a number of students who have been hoping to attend my program for the last three years and each year I have to tell the same people Im sorry. Im hopeful that we can do it next year. And then of course, we cancel again, Grossman said.

While Nevarez wasnt able to study abroad during her academic career, she currently is in Dallas completing her last clinical rotation before graduating in December.

Going to Dallas was the first time that she left El Paso and she said shes already been exposed to new cultures. Its helped her make up for the loss of new experiences she would have gained in a study abroad program.

Although only miles away, traveling to Juarez can be a new world for many students, said Dahlia Castillo, the director of the Juarez study abroad program and professor of occupational therapy.

The cultural shock piece affects everyone differently. (Every year) students have different reactions, Castillo said.

Since the border has been open to only essential travelers, which includes students, Castillo was able to take American students to Juarez in August and has plans to return next year.

They are (our) neighbors and we are more alike than we are different, but were still extremely different, Castillo said.

Castillo is also one of the directors of the Spain study abroad program. Like Rome, the Spain program has been canceled for three years because of the pandemic.

Both Castillo and Grossman said that all they can do is wait.

Im going to wait till theres more predictability. Im hoping that a year from now the risk of COVID will be a lot lower and that Texas law and Italian law will fit together more closely, Grossman said.

Now an administrative assistant at UTEPs Upward Bound program, Hurtado works with local high school students to help prepare them for college. He tells students about his experience abroad in hopes that hell inspire them to attend one themselves.

As long as I inspire one student, as long as I get that little travel bug into one student, Ive done my job, he said. And as long as I do that, Ive at least got someone who might pass the word on to two or three students.

Brandford-Calvo said UTEP is still functioning as if the programs will be restored soon.

We never stopped working, recruiting, advising and guiding students who wanted to go abroad because we knew that the momentum had to be maintained for when the doors opened up again, she said.

This article originally appeared at El Paso Matters.

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By Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet

PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic and Slovakia tightened restrictions on people who have not had COVID-19 shots on Wednesday to try to encourage more to get vaccinated and ease the burden on hospitals.

The measures echo steps taken against unvaccinated people in Austria and parts of Germany as Europe faces rising infections.

The Czech government approved plans to allow only those who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months to enter restaurants, attend certain events and use various other services from Monday.

Slovakia took a similar step, in what Prime Minister Eduard Heger called a "lockdown for the unvaccinated".

The Czech Republic, a country of 10.7 million, reported a record 22,511 cases for one day on Tuesday and hospitals have been filling up although the number of patients - at about 4,500 - is about half the peak seen in March.

Both governments will also require testing for COVID-19 at workplaces.

"The main goal of these measures is motivation for vaccinations," Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said.

With 58% of the population inoculated, the Czech vaccination rate is below the European Union average. Slovakia has the EU's third-lowest rate, with 45% of the population inoculated, and many Slovak hospitals have filled up, especially in the east.

Bianka Krejciova, a spokesperson for Svet Zdravia, which runs 13 hospitals, said the situation in hospitals in eastern Slovakia was worse than in the previous wave of infections.

Many hospitals in both countries have reduced non-urgent care, and the Czech army has sent personnel to help.

About 10,000 protesters opposed the planned restrictions in the Czech capital Prague on Wednesday and some vaccination centres have faced verbal attacks.

"We fear that from Monday, when stricter restrictions come into place, it will get worse," said a spokeswoman for the St Anna University Hospital in Brno, the second biggest Czech city.

(Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet; Writing by Jason Hovet; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Bernadette Baum and Timothy Heritage)
By Victoria Waldersee

BERLIN (Reuters) -Daimler will produce the first in-house electric motor at its oldest plant in Berlin, the carmaker said on Thursday, providing relief to workers worried that the diesel motor production site was on the brink of deep job cuts.

Workers who feared for their positions after Daimler said in September 2020 its Berlin site would end production of the 6-cylinder diesel motor within a year would also be offered retraining in software and coding, the German company said.

Around 450 of the plant's 2,300-odd workers have applied to attend a pilot 160-hour training course in software development, works council chairman Michael Rahmel said on a press call, with around fifteen selected for the first round of training.

Investment in the 120-year-old Berlin-Marienfelde plant, previously pinned at a two-digit million euro amount, will rise to a low three-digit million euro amount in the next six years, Daimler said.

The motor, known as an axial-flux motor and designed by the British startup YASA which Daimler acquired earlier this year, weighs a fraction of its diesel equivalent and can boost the range of an EV by up to 7%, YASA's founder Tim Woolmer told Reuters in July.

Woolmer said at the time that Daimler had briefed YASA to bring costs down in future iterations of its motor so the carmaker could use them across its entire EV range.

The e-motor is simpler to produce than its diesel equivalent, meaning the plant will eventually require less workers - but the exact number of future job losses was not yet clear, head of production Joerg Burzer said on a press call. A start date for production of the motor was not provided.

The digital training campus, which Daimler partnered with Siemens in March to develop and which will go live in 2022, would also create new jobs, Burzer said.

"If we make an effort here in coming years, there could even be more jobs than before," head of IG Metall Berlin Jan Otto said.

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Production of the 6-cylinder diesel motor and some components would continue at the factory in the short-term but was being wound down, Burzer and union representatives said.

The factory's employees are guaranteed their positions until the beginning of 2030 under an existing union agreement.

"A year ago, we didn't know what would happen at the plant. Today we're embarking on what will hopefully be a successful transformation with our heads held high," Michael Rahmel, works council chairman at Berlin-Marienfelde, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by David Evans and Kirsten Donovan)
(Reuters) - The three defendants on trial for murdering Ahmaud Arbery after he ran through their neighborhood in Georgia last year rested their cases on Thursday, and prosecutors said they would not call any rebuttal witnesses.

The jury was told to return on Monday morning to the Glynn County Superior Court in Brunswick for closing arguments.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Nov. 18Until a few years ago, residents of the southern Maine town of Wells had commonly used a mascot depicting an offensive stereotype of Indigenous people for decades. Then something happened that prompted them to retire it for good.

The inciting incident occurred in October 2017, when a Lisbon woman and mother of a visiting high school football team's quarterback called behavior she witnessed at a game in Wells "the most ultimate display of racism" she had ever seen.

"Your team, students and spectators mocked our families' heritage, including my son, quarterback Lucas Francis, by painting their faces, banging on fake drums that included 5-gallon buckets, singing mock chants, performing mock dances, and continuously making hand-over-mouth sounds," wrote Amelia Tuplin in a letter to the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District superintendent.

Tuplin is full-blooded Mi'kmaq, from the Abegweit First Nations people of the Wabanaki confederacy.

A new Maine-made film picks up the story right there. The hour-long documentary, "We are the Warriors," captures residents of the small Maine town publicly grappling with accusations of racism and the impact of harm caused by their longstanding depictions of Indigenous people in their town mascots.

The film centers the progress of the town's mascot advisory committee, a volunteer group of 26 current and former teachers, students, coaches, parents and administrators who were assembled after Tuplin's letter. The committee invited several members of Maine's tribal communities to offer perspective on the situation.

The nearly completed film is the work of David Camlin and Megan Grumbling, who began production in 2017. Camlin and Grumbling graduated from Wells High School in the 1990s, and leaned on old friendships and contacts with the school and community members for access into a fraught public discussion.

"A lot of people were invested in the process and willing to have their beliefs and traditions challenged in a pretty significant way," Camlin said.

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Maine became the first state in the United States to ban the use of Native American mascots in public schools, passing a state law in 2019. The town of Skowhegan was the last to make the switch, voting in October of 2020 to change their mascot from the "Indians" to the River Hawks.

When it comes to retiring the use of racist depictions of Indigenous people in sports teams, Maine is surely ahead of the curve. Many U.S. towns and cities still use depictions of native people in mascots and other iconography, and lawmakers in Utah, Colorado and other states have recently looked to pass similar legislation banning the offensive imagery in public schools.

National sports franchises are also beginning to make changes. Washington's football team retired the "Redskins" moniker in 2019, and Cleveland's Major League Baseball team will be known as the Guardians, not the "Indians," next year. The Atlanta Braves recent World Series victory cast light on the team's fans' behavior, which includes a chant-and-gesture called the "tomahawk chop" that is broadly seen as racist by Indigenous people.

Wells High School has used "The Warrior"  with a Native American wearing a feathered headdress  as its mascot in some form since the late 1940s. The rendering is meant to derive, according to Wells historians, from the Abenaki, the tribal communities displaced from what is now southern Maine during the expansion of English settlement from Boston. The mascot advisory committee decided in February 2018 to keep the Warrior name but do away with all associated references to Native American imagery, led by Superintendent Jim Daly and football coach Tim Roche.

Some Wells residents interviewed in the film said they grew up seeing the mascot as a way of remembering or honoring Indigenous people. That describes Roche, who discussed in interviews with the filmmakers how the public process helped evolve his perspective.

"I think our alumni are attached to the warrior head because of what we thought it might represent," Roche said. "I think everybody thought we were honoring the Native Americans  and I really think with great intentions."

But as the film captures, the public process of hearing accounts from tribal members swayed the opinions of many who had originally supported keeping the mascot.

Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador and one of several Indigenous Mainers in the film, said that while this line of reasoning is common, it's wrong because it relies on depictions that are inaccurate and frozen in time.

"We're still here," Dana said in the film. "We're not something to be thought about in history books."

The problem, according to Dana, with using mascots and other stereotypes of native people is that non-Natives shouldn't be the ones to decide how to represent people they know very little about. When kids, Native or otherwise, only see representations of Indigenous people through stereotypes and other racist depictions, they learn that "Native Americans aren't people; that they're mascots," and "there's no honor in that."

Camlin and Grumbling had a lot of help making the film. The Wells graduates, both white, enlisted a team of producers and editors that include Joanna Weaver, Sierra Henries and Mali Obomsawin of the Sunlight Media Collective, a media group formed by Wabanaki peoples in the Penobscot region.

The filmmakers are screening work-in-progress cuts of the film the next two weekends and are soliciting donations through their fiscal sponsor, the Massachusetts-based Documentary Educational Resources. They plan to add a sound designer and an ensemble of Wabanaki musicians to the final mix and hope to circulate the film in public broadcast channels next year.

The hope is to inspire communities to take a similar approach that Wells did, which, as Camlin puts it, is to "really make an effort to understand why native people want these mascots to be retired."

"Maine's gone through the process," he said. "It's time to take that example and make it available to other communities across the country."
By P.J. Huffstutter and Tom Polansek

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Michigan dairy farmer Doug Chapin has been unable to buy bottles of veterinary penicillin for his cows for more than a month.

In Minnesota, pig farmer Randy Spronk reformulated feed rations due to a shortage of the widely used ingredient lysine, an amino acid that helps livestock grow.

Supply-chain disruptions are hitting America's meat producers and sending them scrambling for alternatives as they seek to care for farm animals and keep down costs.

Shortages of some medications like penicillin reflect in part a competition for raw materials between people and animals, as the COVID-19 pandemic shifts demand and disrupts global trade through shipping logjams and port bottlenecks.

Supply issues, in turn, have veterinarians questioning long-standing farm practices and are forcing changes within the food sector. WH Group's Smithfield Foods, the world's biggest pork producer, told Reuters it has seen shortages and substituted products and manufacturers when necessary to maintain animal care.

In farm states including Iowa and Minnesota, farmers said they are struggling to find lysine, typically a cheaper feed alternative to soybean meal.

The main supply issues surround dry lysine products out of China, said Archer-Daniels-Midland. The Chicago-based commodity trader ended dry lysine production this year and sells a liquid version.

Farmers like Spronk are feeding more soybean meal to pigs at a higher cost to replace dry lysine. The shift helped lift Chicago Board of Trade soymeal futures to a four-month high on Wednesday.

"It's to the point where literally producers are having to reformulate to pull lysine out or lower the lysine level to try to extend it," Spronk said. "You can't get it."

SCRAMBLE FOR SUPPLIES

For medications, Chapin and his family are trying to stock up on penicillin and other products in case animals fall ill. One of the most commonly used drugs in livestock production, penicillin can treat respiratory diseases and other conditions.

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"I always figured the next bottle is just a phone call away," Chapin said.

Widespread penicillin shortages across the country have caused challenges for cattle and dairy operations, said Patrick Gorden, president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. Veterinarians have struggled to find even a few bottles of Pen-G, an injectable antibiotic for treating ill cattle, sheep and swine.

Similar shortages are emerging for some tetracyclines, a class of antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in farm animals, veterinarians said.

"In some cases, we've looked at alternatives to therapy or had conversations as to whether this treatment is really all that effective or needed at all," Gorden said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists shortages of nine veterinarian drugs that began in the wake of the pandemic. The agency said it contacted manufacturers and does not know when they will resolve supply issues.

"These shortages should not limit veterinarians' ability to provide appropriate medical treatment or euthanasia to pets or livestock," said Jose Arce, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

But the food and pharmaceutical sectors are feeling an impact.

The world's largest animal-health company, Zoetis Inc, does not manufacture penicillin products but reported "localized constraints" on other products as the pandemic has impacted supply chains. The company declined to name these medications.

Ireland-based manufacturer Bimeda Inc has two veterinary penicillin products on FDA's drug-shortage list, including Pro-Pen-G.

North American and Chinese suppliers of an FDA-approved material used to manufacture penicillin suffered supply outages early this year, Bimeda spokeswoman Mary van Dijk said. She declined to name the material. A Chinese supplier also experienced quality issues that took about six months to resolve, she said.

Another problem is raw materials normally used to make antibiotics for animals have been diverted to manufacture amoxicillin for humans, van Dijk said. The drugs share common starting materials, and demand for human amoxicillin rose during the pandemic, she said.

Amoxicillin can be used to treat ear infections in children, sore throats and other conditions.

"The supply disruptions are not entirely solved," van Dijk said.

(Reporting By P.J. Huffstutter and Tom Polansek in Chicago; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Marguerita Choy)
French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the Drusie & Darr in the Hermitage Hotel, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Nashville.

Fine dining is back at its original home in Nashville.

Drusie & Darr, a new restaurant from renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, opens Wednesday, Nov. 18 in The Hermitage Hotel's former Capitol Grille space. The all-new restaurant features an updated interior and a menu from Vongerichten, who has more than 30 restaurants throughout from Paris to New York to Tokyo.

"We kept it as authentic as it could be," Vongerichten said. "I feel like the vibe is back, just (updated) for today."

The five-star Hermitage Hotel was arguably Nashville's first fine dining destination. The onsite restaurant, most recently called the Capitol Grille, opened with the hotel in 1910 and has been led led by iconic culinary talent including Nashville-based chefs Sean Brock and Tyler Brown.

Vongerichten said he's excited to add to the hotel's history and to be part of Nashville's rapidly evolving restaurant scene.

"It's a special town. So much culture," Vongerichten said. "I feel like it's a place to be at the moment."

Drusie, left, and Darr Hall, right, work on a meal with Chef William Weaver in the kitchen of The Hermitage Hotel June 15, 1965.

Drusie & Darr's interior includes several nods to the hotel's culinary history. The restaurant is named for longtime hotel manager Dick Hall's two children, Darr and Drusilla "Drusie" Hall, who grew up roaming the halls of the luxury hotel. Several design elements have been preserved, from original molding and plaster on the walls to the bar area's ornate ceiling and glass.

Drusie and Darr Hall: The Hermitage Hotel is home sweet home for two kids in June of 1965

The famously swanky men's restroom is as green as ever  and it now has a pink-tinged counterpart at the women's restroom.

"Most important for us was really to get the essence," Vongerichten said.

A look inside the restaurant of the Drusie & Darr in the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.

What's on the menu at Drusie & Darr

Drusie & Darr represents Vongerichten's deepest foray into the American South. He's brought some of the dishes that have won his restaurants Michelin stars and James Beard Awards -- including ahi tuna tartare and molten chocolate cake -- but is excited to experiment with local ingredients and cuisines.

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"Traveling is my inspiration, so coming to the South, I'm learning all about history here, the food, people cooking," Vongerichten said. "It's not just bringing something that we do in New York."

One example: Vongerichten had never cooked with catfish before coming to landlocked Tennessee, where the freshwater fish is a staple. He said the restaurant will source ingredients locally wherever possible, which contributes to its modern flair.

"You don't eat today the way you were eating 50 years ago," Vongerichten said. "I feel like we have a better product now than we ever had before because people are sourcing the right way."

The opening day menu hadn't been finalized at press time, but Vongerichten said it will be "Asian-inspired, mixed in with a little bit of the South, mixed in with what we do in New York." Expect dishes including wood-fired black truffle pizza, crispy sushi, steaks and other "vegetable forward" dishes.

Drusie & Darr

Hermitage Hotel; 231 Sixth Ave. N.; 615-244-3121

Cole Villena covers business at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network  Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jean-Georges Vongerichten opens Drusie & Darr at The Hermitage Hotel
CHINA-ECONOMY-FORUM-BOAO

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and his daughter Sara Duterte arrive for the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2018 in Boao, south China's Hainan province on April 10, 2018. Credit - AFP via Getty Images

Outgoing Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte finalized his candidacy Monday for a senate seat in elections scheduled for May 2022, just days after his daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio filed her bid for the vice presidency.

The move is seen as an effort by the Dutertes to enhance their prominence in a country notorious for its dynastic politicsas well as an attempt by the the 76-year-old leader to evade accountability for his war on drugs. The brutal crackdown has left more than 20,000 dead, by some estimates, and seen Duterte become the focus of an International Criminal Court probe.

Philippine presidents enjoy legal immunity while in office, but are constitutionally barred from serving more than a single six-year term. While immunity wont continue in the senate, securing a seat in the upper chamber would still afford Duterte important protections: privilege from arrest for certain crimes while congress is in session, and formidable political clout.

Maybe he still wants to be in the mixto be a Senate President, to still be a player, says Richard Heydarian, associate professor of politics at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

Read More: The Philippine Elections Will Be a Test of Rodrigo Dutertes Legacy

True, Duterte may have to surrender his dream of a dynastic successorat least for now. His daughter, Duterte-Carpio, has been edged out of the top spot in pre-election polling by the son (and namesake) of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who is now the top choice to become the Philippines next leader.

But by not vying with Marcos Jr., and instead standing for vice president alongside him, Duterte-Carpio will bolster the positions of both families in the country of 110 million.

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The Dutertes have now settled for silver, Heydarian tells TIME. It seems contesting the gold would be a lose-lose for both sides, because that would have split the vote of the pro-administration side between the Marcoses and the Dutertes.

For Philippine voters, however, the long-standing problem of dynastic politics remains. If she wins the vice presidency, Duterte-Carpio might also shield her father from legal battles, ensuring a long wait in store for those hoping for swift justice for abuses carried out during his bloody reign.

Relatives of victims killed in the drug war prepare backstage before performing in a play at a Catholic school on July 6, 2019 in Manila, Philippines. The play is part of a series of activities organized by the Catholic Church to help relatives of victims killed in the drug war cope with the trauma of losing their loved ones. Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Dynastic politics in the Philippines

Global politics is rife with dynasties, from the Shinawatras of Thailand, to the Bushes and Kennedys of the U.S., and the Nehru-Gandhis of India. But what makes the Philippines unique, according to the dean of the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), Ronald Mendoza, is the sheer extent to which such families run the countryeven though the constitution specifically requires the state to prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.

I dont think its matched anywhere else in the world, he tells TIME. As if to prove the point, Dutertes two sons are eyeing congressional and mayoral seats in the upcoming elections.

Research by ASOG showed that 80% of the governors, 67% of congressmen, and 53% of mayors who won office in the 2019 Philippine elections belonged to fat dynastiesthe name given to families holding multiple elective posts.

Many businesses are also concentrated in the hands of relatives or cronies of political families, adds Mendoza, who observes blatant increases in wealth among politicians while in office. The overlap between politics and economics is not a very healthy one, because its the same overlap that will actually snuff out competition, he says.

More from TIME

Read More: Manny Pacquiao Campaigns for President With Dutertes Playbook

A report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in 2019 claimed to find spikes in the wealth of members of the Duterte family after they entered public office. The family denied wrongdoing, countered that the money came from private ventures. But whatever the truth, it seems clear that rule by political families has been generally associated with negative outcomeswhether in the Philippines or elsewhere.

Dynasties tend to thrive in the poorest Philippine regions, where politicians find it easier to wield patronage. Once in office, families gain access to government coffers. Thats why the fight for regional power can be stiff, and in areas with two or more competing clans, it can even become bloody: the warring of two political families in the southern province of Maguindanao caused the deaths of 58 people, including 32 journalists, in 2009.

Bills have been proposed to impose term limits on government officials who are related to each other, but these have languished when tabled before congressmenmany of whom belong to political dynasties themselves.

Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte (C), son of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, attends a senate hearing in Manila on September 7, 2017. NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images

The Duterte family on the national stage

Duterte-Carpio was vice mayor to her father in 2007, during one of his terms as the mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, and she is the citys mayor today. With her vice presidential bid, she will be hoping to make the same leap into countrywide politics that her father did in 2015.

If she succeeds, and if her brothers follow the same path, the Dutertes may emerge as the next national dynasty of consequence.

The other Duterte children certainly dont seem short of ambition. Paolo Duterte has faced accusations from political opponents of links to drug smuggling and organized crimeallegations that he was eventually cleared ofbut he has managed to acquire congressional experience and for a time was deputy speaker of the house for political affairs. The youngest sibling, Sebastian, was elected vice mayor of Davao City in 2019.

Read More: What Maria Ressas Nobel Prize Means for Philippine Reporters

Critics argue that family politics, and the machinations of the leading dynasties, are ultimately a distraction from the real issues facing the Philippinesfrom pandemic recovery and graft to lagging infrastructure and povertypreventing the emergence of the kind of leadership required to take the country forward.

Says Mendoza: What we get is the telenovela that captures our imaginations and distracts us from the deeper questions that we must ask them to answer in order to be better judges of who would be the best leader for us in May 2022.
Photograph: Kevin Mohatt/Reuters

The city of Aurora, Colorado, has reportedly agreed to pay $15m to the family of Elijah McClain to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed over his death at the hands of police.

It will be the highest police settlement in the history of Colorado, ABC News quoted an official close to the matter as saying. CBS News said three sources familiar with the agreement confirmed the $15m total for the settlement, which will close a civil rights lawsuit filed by McClains family.

Related: Elijah McClain death: Colorado police had no legal basis to restrain man, report finds

In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for the city of Aurora, Ryan Luby, said: The city of Aurora and the family of Elijah McClain reached a settlement agreement in principle over the summer to resolve the lawsuit filed after his tragic death in August 2019.

City leaders are prepared to sign the agreement as soon as the family members complete a separate but related allocation process to which the city is not a party.

The agreement comes more than a year after McClains family sued the Aurora police department and medical officials, accusing the police of a longstanding pattern of racism and brutality.

The lawsuit alleges McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, was unlawfully stopped on the street and officers later sought to justify their aggressive treatment by filing an assault charge against McClain and suggesting connection with a gang in a police report notation.

On 24 August 2019, police stopped McClain as he walked down the street wearing a ski mask and headphones, after a 911 call from someone who reported him as sketchy.

Body camera video showed an officer getting out of his car, approaching McClain and saying: Stop right there. Stop. Stop  I have a right to stop you because youre being suspicious.

The officer turns McClain, who seems startled, and repeats: Stop tensing up. As McClain tries to escape the officers grip, the officer says: Relax or Im going to have to change this situation.

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As other officers restrain McClain, he begs them to let go: You guys started to arrest me and I was stopping my music to listen.

Police put him in a chokehold, and paramedics gave him 500mg of ketamine.

Police have said McClain refused to stop walking and fought back when officers tried to take him into custody. They also thought he was trying to take an officers gun.

In the video, McClain tells officers: Let go of me. I am an introvert. Please respect the boundaries that I am speaking.

McClain suffered cardiac arrest and was declared brain dead and taken off life support. A prosecutor said last year there was not enough evidence to charge the officers. The governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, directed the state attorney general to open a new investigation.

In February 2021, an independent investigation found that police officers did not have a legal basis to stop, frisk and use a chokehold on McClain.

According to the report: Body worn camera audio, limited video and  interviews with the officers tell two contrasting stories. The officers statements on the scene and in subsequent recorded interviews suggest a violent and relentless struggle.

In September, the state attorney general announced that a grand jury had indicted three officers and two paramedics.

The attorney general, Phil Weiser, said all five indicted were charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Some face additional charges.
HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong clothing chain popular with democracy supporters said on Thursday it will shut its stores by the end of 2022, citing landlords' reluctance to renew leases and complaints leading to investigations by various government departments.

Originally a children's clothes chain, Chickeeduck became known for selling protest-themed items, including shirts that made humorous puns of pro-democracy slogans.

It gained popularity among democracy activists last year when owner Herbert Chow refused a request from his landlord to remove a statue of a protester in helmet, gas mask and goggles. The shop moved to a new location where the statue is still up.

In early May, national security police cordoned off the area of a Chickeeduck shop and searched its premises with a warrant, with police saying they responded to complains from the public. This month, authorities ordered one of the shops to remove a bronze statue of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo outside the entrance, saying it obstructed the street.

"Chickeeduck has been experiencing disturbance from evil forces in the past 18 months," Chow said in a statement.

"We have never given up on voicing out against injustice and will never consider backing off. However, the feasibility of the business going forward is now in question and we are thinking of wiser and more sustainable strategies for the company."

The government's Security Bureau and the Hong Kong police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Chow did not elaborate on the future strategy after his 32-year-old company's "exit" from the Hong Kong market, but said the firm planned to continue as a "brand for Hong Kongers."

Chickeeduck has sold shirts that read "Liberate Sausages, Vegetables of our time" and "Five meatballs, no sauce left"  puns echoing slogans of mass 2019 demonstrations: "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our time" and "Five demands, not one less."

The "Liberate Hong Kong" slogan was "capable of inciting secession," a major offence under the city's national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, a judge ruled earlier this year.

(Reporting by Jessie Pang; Writing by Marius Zaharia)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian banks have allowed office employees to work from home during the pandemic, but with almost 80% of the population double vaccinated, they are gradually bringing them back to offices, albeit with hybrid work arrangements.

Below are the major banks' plans for bringing staff back to work locations, with some setting return dates, while others' intentions are more fluid:

Royal Bank of Canada: Most of the bank's 61,000 employees are still working from home, but many have begun returning to offices or will do so over the coming weeks and months. Many of those will adopt a hybrid work model, working some days from home and some days in the office.

Each business group and region is determining the best work arrangements for them, and employees will receive at least four weeks' notice before they return to offices.

Toronto-Dominion Bank: Employees working from home are not expected to return to the bank's locations before 2022, but is "monitoring the evolving situation." The bank is preparing for employees to return to TD premises when conditions allow.

Bank of Nova Scotia: Scotiabank plans to begin a phased return for head-office employees working remotely from Jan. 17. The return will be staggered for different groups and most head-office staff will follow a hybrid working model.

Bank of Montreal: Some employees who were working from home returned to BMO locations in June, and others started during the fall. The timetable for a full-fledged return will differ by groups, teams and geographies.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: Most Canadian employees working from home will return to offices on a hybrid basis in early 2022.

In addition, the banks have put in place mandatory vaccination policies that employees will need to follow to return to their premises.

(Reporting by Nichola Saminather; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Some seven hours after the family pit bull killed his newborn, an enraged Timothy Settles set fire to a New London house where he had argued over who was responsible for the tragedy, a newly-released court document shows.

The heated, but brief, argument broke out only a few hours before the blaze, which injured no one. Settles was drinking outside the house and arguing about whose fault it was the dog ripped his son from the arms of Settles mother in Norwich the night before, fatally injuring his and his girlfriends big-eyed, 1-month-old baby, Carter. Alcohol fueled his anger, investigators say.

You cant blame my mother, Timothy Settles shouted during the argument with the mother of his baby and her friends, his mother told investigators. Sheila Settles had been waiting for her son in a nearby car and could hear the heated exchange, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Timothy Settles, 33, of Merchant Street in Norwich, disappeared after the fire and couldnt be found for months, police say. He eventually surfaced and was arrested last week on charges of first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief. He was in custody at the Corrigan Correctional Center Wednesday on $510,500 bail, prison records show.

The warrant gives the first explanation of how the house that burned in New London early on May 11 was connected to the deadly dog attack in Norwich the night before.

Deadly mauling

According to police and the affidavit, Settles girlfriend, Jerren MK Johnson, was with her baby and Settles mother at Johnsons home on McKinley Avenue in Norwich the night of the May 10 tragedy. Sheila Settles had come up from New York City to visit; Timothy Settles was not there.

Johnson was in the kitchen cooking and Sheila Settles was holding her grandson when the familys dog, a pit bull mix, attacked the baby and ripped him out of her arms, the warrant says. Police said the dog, which has been euthanized, was not provoked; the family had the 8-year-old dog since it was a puppy.

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The baby suffered traumatic injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said at the time.

After he learned of his newborns death, Timothy Settles drove his mother in her car to the multifamily house on Rosemary Street in New London where Johnsons best friend, Tanzy Hazel, lived, the warrant says. He knew Johnson, his girlfriend, was with her.

Settles gave the mother of his baby a hug, and the three talked outside, it says. Sheila Settles told investigators that she waited in the car with the window open, and a short time after their arrival she could hear an argument between her son and some of the people on the porch. It was about 1:30 a.m.

She couldnt hear the entire argument, but Sheila Settles told police she did hear Timothy raise his voice and say, You cant blame my mother. Her son then returned to the car and drove a short distance to a Holiday Inn which she later learned was in New London, the warrant says.

They sat in the car while she tried to make arrangements to have a relative send them money so they could get a room. She was having trouble getting the cellphone app to work, however, the warrant says.

In the meantime, she learned her son had grabbed several bottles of alcohol earlier when he went to the McKinley Street home where the attack had occurred, according to the warrant.

Sheila stated that while they were in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, Timothy was drinking, getting angry, then he started smashing bottles in the parking lot of the hotel, the warrant says.

Concerned for their safety

She told police her son has become violent with her in the past when he was drunk, and she believed his drinking was making him unable to act reasonably. So she secretly called 911 to get help calming him down, the warrant says.

Before police arrived, Settles decided he was going to drive back to the Rosemary Street house because he couldnt get a hold of his girlfriend on the phone, it says.

Sheila stated that she was concerned for their safety and tried to talk with Timothy, but he began talking about crashing the car and/or running people over, the warrant says.

When they arrived at the house in New London about 3:10 a.m., Timothy began pounding on the door, but no one was answering and that seemed to anger him more, his mother told police. She stated that at this time she was becoming so frightened by her sons actions that she jumped into the drivers seat and drove off, heading back to her residence in New York City, according to the warrant.

Johnson and Hazel were not at the home. An upper-floor resident went down to see who was banging on the door and talked to Settles, who appeared upset and showed her a picture of his son Carter. He told the woman that his infant had died the day before, the warrant says.

The woman called Hazel while her cell was on speaker phone, and when she answered, Hazel said to tell Settles she was not there and to call the police if he refuses to leave. The resident then told Settles hed have to leave and she locked the buildings interior door, leaving the exterior door to the porch and hallway outside Hazels first-floor apartment unlocked.

House was on fire

The woman went back upstairs and watched TV for a while when she realized the house was on fire, the warrant says. She called the fire department and was able to get her elderly mother out of the house. The building was not a total loss; the heaviest damage was in the front part of the house.

Surveillance video from a nearby business confirmed that Settles was at the scene of the Rosemary Street house around the time of the fire, the warrant says.

It wasnt clear Wednesday if Settles has a lawyer. He didnt meet the financial threshold for representation by a public defender at his arraignment, said Sean Kelly, supervisory assistant public defender at Superior Court in New London, so Kelly couldnt comment specifically on the case.

Generally speaking, it was a tragic circumstance, Kelly said. Its a bad scenario all around.

Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.
A $17.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program will help fund improvements to University Boulevard in Alberta and downtown Tuscaloosa. [File photo]

A primary thoroughfare through Tuscaloosa is set for a $27.2 million upgrade, city officials said.

And federal dollars is covering most of the bill.

The office of U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, announced Tuesday that Tuscaloosa will receive a $17.15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportations Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.

This funding, which requires a $10.1 million match from City Hall, will go toward improvements to University Boulevard between, essentially, downtown and Crescent Ridge Road.

No more walking in ditches, said Council President Kip Tyner, who has worked for years to secure funding to bring sidewalks to portions of District 5.

Specifically, the grant will fund improvements on two sections of University Boulevard: between Lurleen Wallace Boulevard North and Wallace Wade Avenue and between 25th Avenue East and Crescent Ridge Road.

The upgrades will include improvements in transportation, technology and the citys stormwater drainage network. Also part of the improvements be the addition of bike lanes, sidewalks and reconfiguring the roadway to prioritize the well-being of pedestrians, officials said.

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said he expects engineering work to begin in earnest later on in fiscal 2022 and take about 18 months to complete.

Construction could begin as early as the second half of 2023, assuming the engineering and environmental studies dont turn up any unforeseen issues.

Tuscaloosas share was part of an overall $18.45 million RAISE grant package awarded to Alabama.

While Tuscaloosa received the largest cut of this award, the city of Auburn also received $1.3 million for STEP UP Alabama: Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian in Underserved Communities Program in Alabama.

These funds will go toward the demolition of an existing facility and construction of a new, multipurpose transportation facility that will serve as a road equipment and fleet maintenance shop, heavy equipment storage garage and community storm shelter, among other uses.

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Additionally, the project will purchase vehicles and heavy equipment needed to support road construction, maintenance and emergency management activities on tribal lands, Shelbys office said.

I am very pleased that Alabama will receive more than $18 million for local infrastructure improvements through DOTs RAISE Grant Program, Shelby said in a news release. These are worthy projects that support increased safety and economic growth opportunity for communities in our state.

The livelihood of rural areas in Alabama relies on our core infrastructure, and any enhancements to that will undoubtedly benefit the area for years to come.

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Federal grant to fund road, sidewalk work in Tuscaloosa
Siding with Oklahoma and a dozen other states, a federal judge in Alabama ruled this week that it was unconstitutional for Congress to prohibit states from cutting taxes if they accepted relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act.

U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler called the tax mandate an unconstitutionally ambiguous condition on the States receipt of federal funds and issued a permanent injunction against enforcement of the mandate.

Similar lawsuits involving state challenges of the mandate have yielded different results, meaning the question could wind up in appeals courts and, potentially, the U.S. Supreme Court.

Oklahoma Attorney General John OConnor and state legislative leaders hailed the decision on Wednesday.

Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor

More: Oklahoma House speaker says his tax cut bills don't violate stimulus plan

The federal court rightfully rejected the Biden administrations unconstitutional attempt to dictate state tax policy, said Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, an Oklahoma City Republican. This is a consequential victory for Oklahoma, federalism and the effort to challenge federal overreach at every turn.

How much did Oklahoma get from the American Rescue Plan?

The American Rescue Plan Act, approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden early this year, sought to prevent states from cutting taxes and using the bills relief money to fill the hole in revenue.

The provision on tax cuts had particular relevance to Oklahoma since the state Legislature approved a package of tax cuts this year worth an estimated $347 million per fiscal year. The state is expected to receive nearly $1.9 billion in aid from the American Rescue Plan Act, not counting funding for education.

In March, former Oklahoma Attorney General MIke Hunter joined 20 other state attorneys general in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saying that the tax cut provision in the relief bill was so broad it could prevent states from taking action to balance their budgets.

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In the lawsuit ruled on Monday in Alabama, the Biden administration defended the provision, saying states are free to cut all the taxes they want, as long as they do not use the federal aid to offset any decreased revenue.

But in ruling for the states, Coogler said the provision was a federal invasion of state sovereignty and that the restriction on direct or indirect state tax cuts pressures States into adopting a particular  and federally preferred  tax policy.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Siding with Oklahoma, judge rules against tax provision in relief bill
On the first day of his trip to Africa, Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the recent string of violent conflicts roiling the continent, even as the Sudanese government cracked down on pro-democracy protesters and Ethiopia's prime minister claimed a "sophisticated narrative war."

Why it matters: "Despite the grand gesture of American support for the continent signaled by ... Blinkens trip, the developments illustrated the frustrating limits of U.S. diplomacy in a tumultuous region," the New York Times writes.

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State of play: In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has faced accusations of government-sanctioned ethnic cleansing and mass sexual violence against the Tigrayan people. Some State Department officials have pushed to declare the actions a genocide.

In Sudan, a recent coup wiped out hopes of moving toward democratic elections. Abdalla Hamdok, the countrys civilian leader, has remained under house arrest for more than three weeks.

In Somalia, disputes over a long-awaited election erupted into violence in the capital. Meanwhile, the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabab has wrested control of most rural regions and attacked cities almost daily.

In Kenya, locals duel with fear of both al-Shabab and the country's military, who residents say commit extrajudicial killings against ethnic Somalis, according to the Washington Post.

And in Nigeria, human rights groups say authorities continue to intimidate and harass people who organized against SARS, a police unit with a long record of abuses that was finally disbanded after years of protests, BBC reports.

What he's saying: "We are deeply concerned about escalating violence, the expansion of fighting throughout the country and what we see as a growing risk to the unity of and integrity of the state," Blinken said about Ethiopia at a news conference on Wednesday. "Regardless of what we call it, it needs to stop."

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"There needs to be accountability, and we are determined there will be," he added.

Warning of a global "democratic recession," he noted that "even vibrant democracies like Kenya are experiencing these pressures, especially around election time."

"The United States is hardly immune from this challenge, Blinken said. "Weve seen how fragile our own democracy can be."

Worth noting: The U.S. has imposed sanctions on some Ethiopian officials and withdrawn security assistance, per the Post.

Don't forget: The Biden administration's top foreign policy officials skipped Africa and prioritized Asia in early trips.

What to watch: Blinken is expected to travel to Nigeria later this week, where he. will give a speech on U.S.-Africa relations. He'll also visit Senegal during the five-day trip.

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By Sharon Bernstein

(Reuters) - Florida on Thursday banned schools and businesses from requiring vaccination against COVID-19 and set the stage for a possible withdrawal from the federal agency aimed at protecting workplace safety.

Governor Ron DeSantis, a right-wing Republican widely believed to be planning a run for the U.S. presidency, signed the new laws in a community called Brandon, the same name used as a euphemism for a coarse epithet in a chant against Democratic President Joe Biden.

"Were making sure that people have a right to earn a living, people have a right to have protections at their place of employment and that parents have protections to be able to direct the upbringing of their kids," said DeSantis.

In a later announcement of the bills' signing on Twitter, DeSantis referred to "the free state of Florida."

Echoing anti-vaccine rhetoric, DeSantis repeated a misleading claim that vaccines do not protect against coronavirus infections, and said "natural immunities" should qualify people to return to in-person work.

The bills drew immediate condemnation from public health officials and Democratic leaders.

"Gee," California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on Twitter. "What could go wrong..."

The bills were passed in a three-day special session of the Republican-dominated Florida legislature called by DeSantis with the goal of thwarting coronavirus vaccine mandates imposed by the federal government as well as by private employers and school districts.

The laws allow employers to ask employees to become vaccinated, but also require them to allow people to opt out for religious, health and other reasons. People who previously had COVID-19 would be exempt despite evidence the vaccines provide greater protection against reinfection as well as serious cases that require hospitalization.

Employers who refuse to allow the exemptions can be fined up to $50,000 per violation. The new laws also ban government entities from requiring vaccinations. Schools districts may not require vaccinations or ask teachers and students to wear masks.

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The laws also ban school districts from requiring otherwise healthy students who have been exposed to COVID-19 to quarantine before returning to class.

The legislature also directed the governor's office to develop a plan to set up the state's own agency for the protection of workers, which would replace the authority of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Florida is among several conservative states suing the federal agency to stop it from enforcing the Biden administration's vaccine mandate.

About 61,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Florida, the third-most-populous U.S. state, although new cases have decreased dramatically there in recent weeks as the summer surge ebbed.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by Peter Cooney)
TALLAHASSEE  With Republicans touting their defense of personal freedom and Democrats condemning the special session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis as a political stunt, lawmakers approved measures Wednesday aimed at blocking any kind of vaccine-or-test mandates.

The outcome of the three-day session was never in doubt.

The Republican-controlled Legislature finished work Wednesday night on a package of bills that both defy the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine-or-test requirements for larger businesses and stop local governments from enacting such standards.

DeSantis called lawmakers back to the Capitol primarily to fight the White House in what Democrats condemned as a political play to enhance the governors national image and affirm his support among Floridians who refuse vaccinations.

What are we doing? asked Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton. We are agreeing with a loud minority that vaccines are bad.

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She added, We are devolving into making sure we are taking care of our political health, not our public health.

Republicans saw the action differently.

Today were doing something to protect peoples rights, said Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach. We are a Legislature and governor who believe in individual rights, including liberty. Its not a charade. Its not a stunt.

Pro-vaccine, anti-mandate

After the House completed work on the four-bill package supporters dubbed the keep Florida free agenda, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, struck back at criticism that it pushed the state further away from promoting vaccines as a means to blunt the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can be for a vaccine, and for the opportunity for people to get a vaccine, and still not support a massive government-forced vaccination, Sprowls said.

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Sprowls added that he supports COVID-19 vaccinations, But there are a lot of people who dont feel that way, for a variety of different issues  whatever that issue is, the bill that we passed today will help them have the opportunity to say this isnt right for me,  he added.

Florida and more than two-dozen mostly Republican-led states are already suing to block the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule, which has been put on hold temporarily by a federal appeals court.

The rule requires that companies with 100 or more employees ensure by Jan. 4 that workers are fully vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 at least once a week.

The legislation approved Wednesday (HB 1) prohibits Florida businesses from going forward with such policies. The potential conflict between the federal rule and state law has worried businesses  which remained largely silent during this weeks session  because it could expose them to potential lawsuits and federal penalties if the OSHA standard is upheld by courts.

Republican lawmakers are betting it wont survive the legal challenge.

Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, who sponsored the bill that eliminates the authority of state health officials to order vaccinations, said the theme of the session was to show that executive authority is not limitless.

Democrats call new laws a threat

Democrats said the governors push and the Legislatures mostly party-line approval of the four bills were a threat to efforts to halt a pandemic that has killed almost 61,000 Floridians and sickened more than 3.6 million.

Were here in a kind of a one-upmanship situation with the Biden administration. Thats what this is all about, said Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere.

The Biden administration was clearly in the cross-hairs of Florida Republicans.

Florida lawmakers approve a package of bills sought by Gov. Ron DeSantis to defy the White House on vaccine-or-test mandates.

Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, said, This bill will inject some common sense into the confusion and contradictions were seeing come out of Washington.

Along with the political shadings of the session, outnumbered Democrats warned about possible consequences of ignoring federal standards, especially for health care providers. A separate federal rule, which has not been halted by courts, requires vaccines for health care workers, potentially jeopardizing millions of Medicare and Medicaid dollars for Florida hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.

The OSHA rule, whose fate may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, grants vaccine exemptions for religious and medical reasons. But Floridas Republican-led Legislature are adding more opt-outs for employees.

The additional opt-outs give credence to medically-suspect claims that having had COVID-19 gives a worker immunity, that eliminates the need for vaccinations. They also add anticipated pregnancy as a reason for not getting vaccinated, giving strength to disputed claims about vaccine risks.

Fines for businesses

Fines of $50,000 for larger companies that dont allow an employee to opt-out would be imposed, $10,000 on smaller firms, under legislation approved Wednesday.

Even if the OSHA requirement is upheld, DeSantis is readying another attack, telling the National Federation of Independent Business-Florida this week that he would use federal stimulus dollars to pay any federal penalties imposed on Florida businesses.

My view would be dont comply,  DeSantis told an NFIB-Florida dinner in Tallahassee.

The Biden administration is almost certain to challenge that use of federal dollars intended to help state economies battered by the pandemic.

The primary bill (HB 1) breaking with the OSHA rule cleared the House and Senate in party-line votes Wednesday, and also would strengthen the states Parents' Bill of Rights, used by DeSantis to fight mask requirements in several county school districts.

The measure underscores that parents have the sole authority to ask children to wear masks and ban districts from requiring vaccines for kids, which none have yet advanced.

Another (HB 5) would include early steps aimed at a longshot attempt at withdrawing from OSHA and creating a new, Florida-only workplace safety agency. A public records exemption (HB 3) shields employees who complain about a companys COVID-19 vaccination policies.

The bill (HB 7) sponsored by Andrade would repeal a longstanding and never used law that allows state health officers to order vaccinations.

The legislation empowering the state-ordered vaccines was approved unanimously by the 2002 Republican-led Legislature, as a response to the 9/11 attacks and the mailing of anthrax spores to the National Enquirer offices in Boca Raton, which killed a company employee.

While concerns about terrorism fueled the law, Florida Republicans now are concerned about government-ordered vaccines.

COVID-19 is not done with us or the people we represent, said House Democratic Co-Leader Evan Jenne of Dania Beach.

But he said the overarching purpose of the session was to show that Gov. DeSantis can do what he wants, adding that GOP lawmakers responded by genuflecting and kissing the ring.

John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Legislature endorses DeSantis approach on vaccine mandates
A food delivery driver has been arrested after he walked into a college students Hamden home and stood at the foot of her bed Tuesday night, police said.

The same man, who police identify as Adiel Viana-Ribeiro, 24, of Bridgeport, had earlier tried to break into another college students home through a window, police said. Investigators believe he targeted the women because they live in homes to which he had made deliveries.

Viana-Ribeiro also works for a ride-hailing service, said police, who didnt say which college the students attend.

Hamden police said they responded to a report of an attempted burglary at a house on Kimberly Road about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. One of the people in the home, a female college student, said someone tried to break into the residence through a window. The man fled after she shined a flashlight at the window, police said.

Later, a similar complaint was made from a residence on West Woods Road, which runs perpendicular to Kimberly Road. A different female college student said a suspect came into the house through an unlocked door while she was asleep, police said. The student yelled out upon finding the suspect at the foot of her bed, and the man fled.

Hamden police tried to stop the suspect after spotting his car in the neighborhood. The man took off, but was later stopped on I-84 near Exit 16 with help fromstate police, Hamden police said.

Police did not say whether Adiel Viana-Ribeiro was armed. They said evidence was located in the vehicle, but didnt elaborate.

Viana-Ribeiro is charged with first-degree burglary and criminal attempt to commit first-degree burglary, both Class B felonies; engaging police in pursuit and reckless driving, among other charges. He was held on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Meriden Dec. 29.

Christine Dempsey can be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.

Seamus McAvoy can be reached at smcavoy@courant.com
A former Olathe police officer is suing the city, claiming she was fired because she spoke out against practices at the department.

Brittany Conge filed the lawsuit against the City of Olathe in Johnson County District Court on Wednesday.

The suit called Conges job performance as a detective exceptional, noting that she was promoted to detective early in her career.

In at least one instance during her time with the department, Conge involved herself in protecting the legal interest of a crime victim and raised specific concerns within the department as to that individuals protected legal rights, the suit claims.

The suit also alleges that she at least once questioned the propriety of legal charges instituted improperly by one or more of her colleagues.

Because she voiced concerns, Conge said she was wrongfully scrutinized and reprimanded by her supervision, according to court documents.

Conge said she was fired on Feb. 18, 2020, in an act of retaliation.

She is asking that the city pay her $75,000 in damages.

Sgt. Joel Yeldell, a spokesman with the Olathe Police Department, said he could not comment on the claims in the lawsuits because it was pending litigation. Cody Kennedy, a spokesman for the city, said he also could not comment on the suit for the same reason.

Conges attorney could immediately be reached for comment Thursday morning.
Members of the Fort Myers City Council looked at more than a dozen possible redistricting scenarios Wednesday and then without public input narrowed the number of district map proposals by more than half.

Thirteen proposals for new election district maps, 11 drawn by city staff, were discussed for the first time in a public meeting Wednesday. Five will be presented for public review. Two privately prepared proposals were also discussed briefly by the council.

A series of public hearings on redistricting of Fort Myers city council seats will begin in December. The hearings will include sessions in each ward, citywide hearings, and possibly a daytime virtual conference for night workers.

Related: Cape Coral redistricting commission begins its work, new maps due in 2022

Other news: Lee County sticks to redistricting plan despite pleas from minority community

Read more: Lee NAACP set to battle for majority minority commission district

Draft maps for possible Fort Myers City Council districts. Council members: Teresa Brown, Ward 1; Johnny Streets Jr, Ward 2; Terolyn Watson, Ward 3; Liston Bochette, Ward 4; Fred Burson, Ward 5; Darla Bonk, Ward 6.

Redistricting is meant to even the numbers of people who live in each district based on the 2020 Census. The populations of Fort Myers voting districts fell significantly out of balance in the past decade, mainly due to rising property values and new construction south of Colonial Boulevard. The boom doubled the population of Ward 6 in the city's southeast quadrant.

"We're going to try to even that out," said Richard Calkins, the city's information technology director.

He said the city staff wanted to be "minimally disruptive" to current voting districts in creating alternative rezoning scenarios for council consideration.

"We are trying to restore proportionality," Calkins said. "A (voting) ward that grows twice as large as it originally was actually dilutes that ward's voting strength because there are more people and each persons vote counts less in electing their representative."

Draft maps for possible Fort Myers City Council districts. Council members: Teresa Brown, Ward 1; Johnny Streets Jr, Ward 2; Terolyn Watson, Ward 3; Liston Bochette, Ward 4; Fred Burson, Ward 5; Darla Bonk, Ward 6.

Ward 6 Councilwoman Darla Bonk said that since the only issue in her ward was how to reduce its population by half, she would not offer opinions on how other wards should be redrawn.

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"I'm just going to lose people," Bonk said of the need to redistrict thousands of voters out of her Ward 6 to other districts.

Councilman Johnny Streets Jr., who is among members who could feel an impact from sprawling territory and changing racial demographics, likened decisions on council district lines to children's games that rarely produce a winner.

"It's like jumping on the bunkbed  she's losing, I may be gaining, they may be losing," Streets said. "We're not going to be able to keep what we got so we are going to have to look at change."

For much of the session council members and staff talked about what to show to what was repeatedly referred to as "the public."

Draft maps for possible Fort Myers City Council districts. Council members: Teresa Brown, Ward 1; Johnny Streets Jr, Ward 2; Terolyn Watson, Ward 3; Liston Bochette, Ward 4; Fred Burson, Ward 5; Darla Bonk, Ward 6.

The session was attended mainly by people paid to be there. The audience included five members of the council, nine city employees, three attorneys, three members of the NAACP, two Fort Myers police officers and one reporter.

With a small audience on hand, public discussion began about the critical and fundamental issue of how district maps are carved out.

Public notice for the special council meeting was found only on an agenda posted layers deep on the city's website.

That entry was also the only public indication that Wednesday's meeting would not be held at City Hall.

Draft maps for possible Fort Myers City Council districts. Council members: Teresa Brown, Ward 1; Johnny Streets Jr, Ward 2; Terolyn Watson, Ward 3; Liston Bochette, Ward 4; Fred Burson, Ward 5; Darla Bonk, Ward 6.

The meeting was held in the city's business incubation campus, the Southwest Florida Opportunity Center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in outer Dunbar.

Council members spent some of the Wednesday afternoon meeting deciding which of the 11 council district maps would be presented to the public.

City Manager Marty Lawing said the city could have created more than the 11 maps reviewed by the council, but as more maps were produced, their individual importance to the process would be reduced.

Draft maps for possible Fort Myers City Council districts. Council members: Teresa Brown, Ward 1; Johnny Streets Jr, Ward 2; Terolyn Watson, Ward 3; Liston Bochette, Ward 4; Fred Burson, Ward 5; Darla Bonk, Ward 6.

Two attorneys from the GrayRobinson law firm, hired to provide legal advice on redistricting, participated in the session.

George Levesque, who joined the session online, and Tim Moore, both of the GrayRobinson Tallhassee office, were present. Moore delivered a presentation on legal aspects of redistricting.

The city is expected to commence public meetings on redistricting by Dec. 7 and will finalize the new zoning districts in January.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers councilors step gingerly into redistricting process
China Evergrande Group's chairman, Hui Ka Yan. Xiaomei Chen/South China Morning Post via Getty Images

Evergrande's founder, Hui Ka Yan, has been selling personal assets or pledging them to raise funds.

The money has gone toward bond interest and staff salaries and to keep building projects going.

A report last month indicated Chinese authorities told Hui to use his money to pay company debt.

China Evergrande's founder and chairman, Hui Ka Yan, has already used about 7 billion Chinese yuan, or $1.1 billion, of his own money raised from selling and pledging assets to keep the company going, according to China Business News.

Currently, it's just Hui "personally raising money" for Evergrande, CBN reported, citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter.

With $300 billion in liabilities, the real-estate giant is the world's most indebted developer. It has managed to pay off several overdue coupons just in time, averting a default that could send the rest of the sector  and possibly the rest of the world  into crisis.

Unnamed sources told Bloomberg in a report last month that Chinese authorities had instructed Hui to use his own money to pay down the debt.

According to CBN, Hui has raised $1.1 billion since July 1 from selling personal assets or pledging them. The money has been injected into Evergrande for basic operations. The company is not conducting any corporate fundraising now but still has to pay bond interest, staff salaries, and keep building projects going, CBN reported.

The outlet did not specify which personal assets Hui sold, but reports of the billionaire pledging and disposing assets have been rife. According to Reuters, Hui has pledged two luxury properties in Hong Kong and sold art and calligraphy from his collection to raise funds.

Evergrande meanwhile, is said to have sold two of the company's private jets for more than $50 million last month. It has been holding fire sales of its corporate assets, incurring huge losses to free up liquidity.

Earlier Thursday, Evergrande said it was selling its entire stake in the film and streaming-television company HengTen Network for 2.13 billion Hong Kong dollars, or $273.5 million  at a loss of 8.5 billion Hong Kong dollars. And last week, Evergrande sold the Dutch electric-motor maker e-Traction for 2 million euros, or $2.27 million  a 97% discount on its purchase price.

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Creditors are also eyeing Hui's other assets, including a 60-meter yacht called Event that is estimated to be worth $60 million and a private Airbus jet, Reuters reported, citing Chinese media reports.

Since Evergrande owes $300 billion, $1.1 billion from Hui's personal stash wouldn't make much of a dent in its debt pile, but the effort could still count for something.

"He needs to show that he is using at least some personal assets to pay off some debts," Zhiwu Chen, the director of the Asia Global Institute think tank, told Bloomberg. "He needs to show a lot of good will in order to avoid more serious consequences," Chen added.

Evergrande did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
French lawmakers voted on Thursday to end wild animals being used in live circus shows, spelling an end to performing tigers, lions or bears.

Performances of wild animals will be prohibited in two years and owning them outlawed in seven years, under the wide-ranging animal rights legislation that has been under debate since 2020.

The law, once signed by President Emmanuel Macron, will also ban live dolphin shows in the next five years and immediately end mink farming, meaning the country's last operator will close.

Macron's centrist Republic on the Move (LREM) party called the legislation "a historic step in the animal rights combat".

Circus owners denounced it, while some environmentalists said it did not go far enough.

The foundation of France's most famous animal advocate, veteran actress Brigitte Bardot, welcomed "a major advance for the animal rights cause in France".

As well as the measures targeting circuses, the new law will raise the maximum penality for mistreating animals to up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($85,000), and will tighten restrictions on the sale of pets.

Loic Dombreval, the LREM co-sponsor of the law, conceded that other controversial issues had not been included within the scope of the legislation, which won cross-party support in both houses of parliament.

"There will inevitably come a day when... we will debate sensitive issues such as hunting, such as bull-fighting, or some animal-rearing practices," said the lawmaker, who is also a veterinarian.

- 'Arbitrary law' -

Environmentalists had called for measures to improve the conditions inside industrialised animal farms, which will require "a change in our agricultural model", Senator Daniel Salmon said on Thursday.

Issues such as hunting and bull-fighting are especially sensitive because they are staunchly defended by supporters in rural areas as long-standing cultural practices.

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Farms that make foie gras pate in France -- which force-feed birds such as geese and ducks to artificially bloat their livers -- have also long been targeted by campaigners.

The 120 circus owners in France are likely to protest against the restrictions placed on their livelihoods and have warned that some animals might end up abandoned.

"It's an arbitrary law because there are not mistreated animals in our circuses," William Kerwich, head of the circus animal trainers' union, told AFP.

He said there would be a reaction from his members on Monday, and a legal appeal.

The new legislation also bans the use of wild animals in television shows, nightclubs and private parties.

Polls show that a vast majority of French people support the law, and dozens of cities and towns around the country have already banned travelling circuses that use animals.

The changes will bring France into step with more than 20 European countries that have either banned or heavily restricted the use of animals for entertainment.

reb/adp/js/pbr
PONGARA NATIONAL PARK, Gabon (AP)  Loss of habitat and poaching have made African forest elephants a critically endangered species. Yet the dense forests of sparsely populated Gabon in the Congo River Basin remain a last stronghold of the magnificent creatures, according to new research that concluded the population is much higher than previous estimates.

Counting forest elephants is a far bigger challenge than surveying plains-dwelling savanna elephants from the air. It takes difficult and dirty scientific work that doesnt involve laying eyes on the elusive animals that flee at the slightest whiff of human scent.

Instead, researchers have been trekking for years through dense undergrowth collecting dung from Gabons forest elephants and analyzing the DNA from thousands of samples to determine the number of individual elephants in each plot of land examined.

Now the survey by the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society and the National Parks of Gabon, released Thursday, has concluded that the central African country of about 2.3 million people harbors about 95,000 forest elephants.

Previous estimates put the population at 50,000 to 60,000  or about 60% of the worlds remaining African forest elephants.

Herds have nearly been decimated elsewhere in the region Gabon shares with conflict-ridden countries such as Cameroon, Congo and Central African Republic, according to researchers.

Central Africa has the largest number of forest elephants in the world, although figures have fallen by more than 86% over a 31-year period, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which cites increasing threats of poaching and habitat loss.

The latest new survey in Gabon is the first nationwide DNA-based assessment of a free-ranging large mammal in Africa, according to the researchers. The technology is also being used to count elephants and tigers in India.

Gabon is quite unique, certainly for forest elephants. But actually across Africa where elephants occur, its very unique in that ... what we call potential elephant habitat pretty much covers the entire country, said Emma Stokes, the WCS Africa regional director.

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We found elephants were distributed across almost 90% of the total surface area of the country, she said. And you know, Gabon has forest cover of up to 88% of the country. Thats very unusual.

In Gabon, tourists may still see some elephants on the beaches and coastal forests of the Atlantic coast. But, unlike their bigger savanna cousins that roam the plains of southern Africa in abundance, most forest elephants live in dense forests so counting them is painstaking work.

The solution: Trail their dung for genetic material. For three years, research teams would spend a month in the bush, walking 12 kilometers (about 7 miles) a day seeking elephant fecal samples, breaking only for a week at a time.

The team trudged through patches of savanna, thickets, densely wooded wetlands and rivers following elephant tracks marked by broken tree branches, old dung piles and footprints, looking for fresh dung.

We got some dung here, Fabrice Menzeme, a ranger, shouted after walking for about three kilometers (1.8 miles) in Pongara National Park on the Atlantic coast during fieldwork in 2020. Animated team members rushed in. Upon closer inspection, disappointment followed. The dung was more than a day old.

Researchers want the dung steaming fresh, Stokes said. So, its warm, its fresh, it has a sheen to it. And the idea is to take the outer surface of that dung pile; a very small amount is needed in purpose-built tubes that are taken out by the field teams.

The fecal swabs were put into small test tubes and taken to a government wildlife genetic analysis laboratory in the capital, Libreville, where scientists extracted DNA from about 2,500 samples collected countrywide.

Extracting DNA from dung samples is a bit like a cooking recipe, following several steps to remove vegetation and seeds arising from elephants diet or bacteria or organisms that develop on the dung, said Stephanie Bourgeois, a research scientist with the parks agency and co-author of the research paper. Thats why you have to clean them and try to purify your DNA before you do your analysis.

DNA is unique for every individual, the same for humans as it is for elephants. So DNA is just a tool to help us identify individuals and the number of times we sample each of these individuals, Bourgeois said at the laboratory. We use a complex statistical model and from this we estimate the number of elephants that are in the area we sampled.

This is Gabons first nationwide elephant census in 30 years. Only 14% of the elephant habitat in the country had been surveyed in the last decade, according to researchers. Previous surveys relied on dung counts, which can be more expensive, more difficult and less reliable than DNA sampling on large-scale surveys, they said.

This is an exciting paper because it substantially raises the population estimates of forest elephants in Gabon and establishes a new, rigorous country-level monitoring methodology," said John Poulsen, associate professor of tropical ecology at Duke Universitys Nicholas School of the Environment, who was not involved in the research.

At the same time, Poulsen said, the government of Gabon now has an enormous responsibility for conserving forest elephants in the face of poaching, and especially human-elephant conflict and crop-raiding."

About 65% to 70% percent of all African forest elephants surviving today live in Gabon, according to Lee White, Gabons minister of water and forests.

Thats an indication of the fact that Gabon has resisted the slaughter and the tragedy that has played out in the countries around Gabon, said White.

Conservation efforts include massive public awareness campaigns and efforts to deter cross-border poachers.

You see it around Africa. Countries that have lost their elephants, have lost control of their natural resources, have often actually lost control of their countries, White said. The countries that have almost no elephants have been through civil wars and are much less stable than the countries that have preserved their elephants.

Still, the minister said, Gabon is facing elephant problems of its own in addition to cross-border poaching for ivory, which he says has declined since China banned ivory imports.

One big problem, he said in an interview at the recent climate conference in Glasgow, is human-elephant conflicts that kill about 10 people a year. When I go into rural Gabon, I get a lot of angry people who are screaming at me because the elephants have eaten their crops and, tragically, even occasionally have killed their relatives.

One reason elephants are raiding village crops, White said, may be that global warming has dramatically reduced the abundance of forest fruit over the past 40 years. So, it looks like climate change is starting to impact the forest, he said. And that means the elephants are hungry.

___

Associated Press reporter Allen G. Breed contributed from Raleigh, North Carolina and AP reporter David Keyton contributed from Glasgow, Scotland.

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
This story was updated at 6:30 p.m. with more accurate information on the schools affected by the lockdown.

LAS CRUCES - Gadsden High School was placed in lockdown Thursday, according to a news release.

The news release said the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office recommended the lockdown as DASO continues the investigation into threats made against the district this week.

The lockdown was lifted after a few hours, according to school officials. However, security concerns were enough to prompt the district to push learning online for Friday. Only Gadsden High School will be online on Nov. 19. The other schools in the district will operate as normal.

Gadsden High School in Anthony on Wednesday, April 15, 2021.9

"Gadsden High School school administration has already informed parents as to the continued lockdown situation for Thursday," Luis Villalobos said in the news release. "Extended security has also been given to Gadsden middle school and Gadsden Support services all located on Washington Street in Anthony, New Mexico."

Other are reading

The lockdown situation is a continuation of the investigation currently going on regarding threats to the Gadsden high school that we received Tuesday, according to Villalobos.

We believe this to be the same perpetrator who made threats against the school two days ago, DASO Captain Jeremy Hash said. We believe these are an intention to disrupt the school, but not a credible threat.

Villalobos said this lockdown is not related to a lockdown in nearby El Paso on Thursday.

Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com or on Twitter @Just516garc.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Gadsden High School lockdown lifted, will go to remote learning Friday
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's vaccine advisory committee recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all people aged over 18 on Thursday as the number of coronavirus infections hits a new record in Europe's largest economy.

The committee, known as STIKO, said it also recommends booster shots to be administered with an mRNA vaccine and that a booster should be given six months after the last vaccine dose.

A shortening of the vaccination interval to five months can be considered in individual cases or if there is enough capacity, it added.

(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa, editing by Emma Thomasson)
Google has formed a key partnership to help provide loans to micro and small businesses in India, the firm announced at its annual event for the South Asian market.

The company said it has partnered with Small Industries Development Bank of India, the countrys apex regulatory body for overall licensing and regulation of micro, small and medium enterprise finance, to launch a $15 million financial assistance program to deliver timely micro credit to enterprises.

The loans, which will be disbursed by SIDBI, will be offered at competitive interest rates, and its ticket size will range from 25 lakhs Indian rupees ($33,728) to 1 crore ($135,000). Eligible firms will be using the loan to finance purchases of new equipment and machinery, scaling their production infrastructure and fulfilling their working capital needs, said Shalini Puchalapalli, director of Customer Solutions at Google India, at the event.

With todays announcement, we believe that working with the broader ecosystem we can drive a wide-ranging positive social impact. We also hope that this will encourage more organizations to invest in public-private partnerships and further strengthen our economy, she said.

The program will prioritize women-owned businesses and those that are engaged in production of equipment for the countrys fight against the pandemic, she added.

"Today, we feel proud that SIDBl's efforts in reviving the sector are backed by a strong collaboration with Google," said Sivasubramanian Ramann, chairman and managing director of SIDBI, at the virtual event.

Google, which last year committed to invest $10 billion in India over the course of five to seven years, is the latest tech giant to explore helping disburse loans to businesses in India.

In August, Facebook launched a similar program to help small and medium-sized businesses secure loans in the South Asian market. Facebook has inked tie-ups with lending partners to grant small ticket loans  ranging between 500,000 Indian rupees ($6,720) to 50,00,000 ($67,200)  at a predefined interest rate of 17%-20% per annum.
USFWS via Wikimedia Commons

A Colorado couple accused of stealing more than $2 million worth of real estate from a local man, then possibly planning to flee to non-extradition countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, or the African archipelago of Cape Verde, have been named as suspects in his mysterious death.

Earlier this month, police in Longmont, Colorado arrested Savuth Yin, 26, and Yulisa Yin, 24, who are accused of forging deeds to illegally transfer ownership of multiple properties owned by 77-year-old Fred Oelke, a real estate broker whose body was found on Sept. 15 and identified publicly by authorities on Wednesday.

Although cops have not yet revealed any information about the cause and manner of Oelkes demise, or whether they believe there was foul play involved, bond motions filed in court by the Boulder County District Attorneys Office and cited by local outlets state that both Yins are suspects in a death investigation surrounding the suspicious death and attempted cover-up of the death of Fred Oelke.

According to a Nov. 12 arrest affidavit obtained by The Daily Beast, the bizarre series of events began Sept. 14, when a funeral home in Longmont received several emails and phone calls from someone suggesting they were related or connected to a male who had died in his home.

The person was insistent that the funeral home immediately cremate him, and offered to pay extra for expedited service. Suspicious, the funeral home called police the next day. When cops arrived at Oelkes residence, they found him dead.

Fred lives alone therefore it is unknown who was aware Fred was deceased inside and why the person(s) did not call police directly, the affidavit states.

Roommate Killed HimAfter He Shot Himself in the Head: Cops

On Oct. 29, a Longmont police investigator interviewed one of Oelkes tenants, Laurie Lapinski, who said she had received a number of strange phone calls from someone calling himself Fredrick Hampton. Hampton told Lapinski that he was handling all of Oelkes affairs now that he was deceased, and told Lapinski that she was going to have to move out. After Hampton returned her rental deposit by leaving money orders in her mailbox, Lapinski called the Boulder County Recorders Office to find out who actually owned the home she was living in, according to the arrest affidavit.

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Lapinski was told that numerous quitclaim deedsthat is, property transfershad been filed for Oelkes properties by a Nathaniel Turner, and were transferred to an LLC. The investigator contacted the rest of Oelkes tenants, who all had similar stories about being contacted by Hampton and told to vacate the premises. Lapinski did not respond to a request for comment.

A longtime friend of Oelkes, Thomas Dunn, told police that Oelke owned seven homes in the area, six of which he rented out. Dunn, who spoke at Oelkes funeral and was named Oelkes personal representative by the Boulder County Courts after Oelkes death, said he had been unable to locate any of the keys to Oelkes properties or any of the leases. Dunn told investigators that he thought someone had broken into Oelkes home and stolen the items, in addition to the titles for two of Oelkes cars.

Detectives obtained copies of the quitclaims, which transferred ownership of Oelkes properties, all worth several hundred thousand dollars, to Savuth Yin for $0. They had the signatures of Oelke and his ex-wife Karen. But Karen Oelke, who did not respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment, told police that she hadnt signed any quitclaims, and that Oelke had bought out her shares in the properties in 2012, when they divorced. The signatures on the quitclaims werent hers or Oelkes, she said. Furthermore, the affidavit says, the signatures had been verified by notaries who didnt exist, according to the State of Colorados licensing database.

Total loss: $2.875 million.

Police followed the money, and found the LLC that now owned the properties had been set up on Oct. 5, nearly three weeks after Oelkes remains were discovered. The LLCs setup fees were paid with a MasterCard issued to Nathaniel Turner, and the entity was linked to a Longmont, Colorado cleaning company owned by Yulisa Yin. Detectives recognized Yin as one of Oelkes renters, and learned that Yulisa Yin had just received her associate-level real estate brokers license on Sept. 23.

On Nov. 10, police executed a search warrant at the Yins home. The pair refused to speak to investigators, who found paperwork inside the house revealing that the Yinswhose cleaning company received more than $14,000 in PPP loans this yearwere being sued civilly by Oelkes estate, along with several firearms hidden in the couch cushions, a handgun with the serial number filed off, the MasterCard used to establish the LLC, and four notary stamps in the name Samantha Smith, one of the nonexistent notaries seen in the phony quitclaim deeds.

Cops also found a notebook on the front table, which contained a raft of disturbing entries, according to the affidavit.

A handwritten checklist indicated the Yins intended to get passports, hire an attorney and settle the lawsuit, pay off debts, sell everything, and leave in 2-3 months.

A second page was titled, Asylum, and listed Cuba, Brazil, Cape Verde Islands, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Costa Rica (maybe). Another column with the heading No to these places listed three other South American countries which are not identified in the affidavit.

Due to these comments, I am concerned Yulisa and Savuth plan to leave the country, concludes the affidavit, which is signed by Officer Rachael Sloan-Stogsdill.

The Yins were arrested and booked into the Boulder County Jail on Nov. 10. Although the DA asked for their bail to be set at $25,000 and for the duo to be put under electronic home monitoring as they posed an extreme flight risk, the judge released them on $500 cash bond each.

New Tenant Killed by Landlord for Complaining About Heating, Cops Say

Oelkes sister Lynn told The Daily Beast that she and the rest of the family know nothing more about what happened to my brother then what was reported in the news, saying that the police have not given any updates.

But Thomas Dunn, who recalled Oelke as a great guy who enjoyed fast cars and motorcycles, called the terms of the Yins release appalling.

Fred was found dead in a [COVID] mask, and he never wore a mask, Dunn told The Daily Beast, adding that Oelke told another friend right before he died that he was going to meet with some tenants who were behind on their rent. Thats sort of suspicious right there, said Dunn, who is wondering no one has been charged with Oelkes murder.

When the police first learned about these allegations, they moved quickly and put a lot of hard work into this case, Shannon Carbone, spokeswoman for the Boulder County DAs Office told The Daily Beast. As a result, the District Attorneys Office filed serious charges regarding the financial crimes. The investigation into the death is ongoing and our team is committed to reaching the right outcome.

Dunn, who was reluctant to say too much because he doesnt want to piss the detectives off, said Oelke, who drove a Ford Model T roadster in high school and bought a Corvette once he became successful, was well-known around Longmont. A pharmacist by training who grew up on a farm in North Dakota, Oelke started his career in real estate in the 1970s and at one time, employed 30-plus agents, according to Dunn.

He was an upstanding, top-of-the-line realtor for 40 years, Dunn said. He always wore a nice suit, really super, super, super generous, kind guy.

Some of those suits were later enjoyed by Regan Sample, a neighbor of Oelkes who also sells real estate. When he was getting started in the business, Oelke was in the twilight of his own career and handed down a portion of his business wardrobe to Sample.

He and I bonded on building our businesses up in a grassroots way, Sample told The Daily Beast. Its such a sad way for someones life to end. This guy whos done a lot of good in the community, just being left there like that.

Savuth and Yulisa Yin, who do not have lawyers listed in court records and could not be reached, are scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 3.

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A preliminary hearing for a Hagerstown teen charged with murder and attempted murder in an Oct. 23 shooting on North Mulberry Street in the city was postponed Wednesday in Washington County District Court.

No date was immediately set for a new hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for the case against Gage John Coles, 17, to proceed, according to Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Christine Remsburg.

District Court Judge Mark D. Thomas granted Remsburg's request for a postponement after she explained that the investigator in the case was not available to testify and that the evidence was scheduled to be presented to a grand jury on Monday.

Remsburg said after the brief proceeding that if the grand jury returns an indictment, there would be no need for a preliminary hearing.

She also noted that a defense motion to transfer the case to juvenile court was pending.

Coles is charged in the death of John Anthony Leonard IV, 27, and the wounding of Jaseye Stephens, 22, both of Hagerstown, city police said earlier.

Coles was arrested as a fugitive from justice Oct. 26 in Ellenton, Fla., and held without bail until he was released "to another agency" on Nov. 3, according to Manatee County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office records.

He was booked into the Washington County Detention Center the next day and was being held there Wednesday without bail, authorities said.

The 200 and 300 blocks of North Mulberry Street in Hagerstown was the scene of a shooting Oct. 23 that left one man dead and another badly injured.

Officers served search warrants at a home in the 200 block of North Cannon Avenue and one in the 300 block of North Mulberry Street around 6 a.m. Oct. 26 that provided information that led to Coles' arrest later that morning. The searches turned up other evidence including a handgun that was to be tested to see if it is the weapon used in the shootings, police said.

Leonard and Stephens were both shot twice, including Stephens being shot in the femoral artery. Responding officers used a tourniquet on Stephens to help save his life, police said.

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Earlier: Hagerstown teen apprehended in Florida in connection with fatal shooting over weekend

More: Shootings, police chase in Hagerstown bring prison terms for man, woman

Leonard was pronounced dead at Meritus Medical Center following the 7:10 p.m. shooting, police said.

Stephens was taken to Meritus and then flown to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore with life-threatening injuries, police said earlier. Later, police said his injuries were no longer life-threatening and he was expected to survive. The hospital said he was no longer listed as a patient Wednesday.

The victims were friends who were together when they were shot following a dispute between two groups that spanned the 200 and 300 blocks of North Mulberry Street, according to police.

Coles is charged with first- and second-degree murder as well as attempted first- and second-degree murder. He is also charged with reckless endangerment, two counts each of first- and second-degree assault and firearms offenses, police said.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown teen's hearing on murder charges postponed
A scene from a previous "Dickens of a Christmas" at Ohio Village.

Among the many things that have changed between 1890s-era Ohio and present-day Ohio, the way that Ohioans celebrate Christmas is not one of them.

In fact, many of todays enduring Christmas traditions have their roots in that time period.

We see floor-to-ceiling Christmas trees starting to become a thing, said Andrew Hall, senior experience director at Ohio Village, the Ohio History Connections recreation of a small community as it existed about 120 years ago.

Electrified Christmas lights are starting to become popular, especially amongst either wealthier individuals or ... large department stores, Hall said.

Christmas decorations are just all over the place in the 1890s. We have a joke here in the Village that, if it wasnt moving, the Victorians would put a decoration on it, and if it couldnt move fast enough, they would still put (on) a decoration.

More: Columbus restaurant Chapmans Eat Market makes the cut in New York Times list

Starting Nov. 27, Greater Columbus families curious to learn about the many similarities  and some significant differences  between Christmas then and now can check out Dickens of a Christmas, an annual attraction that not only dresses the Ohio Village in period-appropriate holiday decor, and features assorted Ohio Village residents gussied up in their holiday finery, but also offers numerous activities, events and presentations.

The event, which was not held last year because of the pandemic, will take place Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December.

The Dickens of the title, of course, is Charles Dickens, the English novelist who, through his literary works, including A Christmas Carol, helped pave the way for the sort of Christmas celebrations depicted at the Ohio Village.

In a lot of historic texts from the time period, really from the (1860s) all the way up to the turn of the 20th century, (Dickens) is referenced as being the father of Christmas, said Hall, who speculates that Americans of the period were attracted by Dickens romantic depiction of Christmas.

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Guests to "Dickens of a Christmas" at Ohio Village are greeted by Santa.

Dickens and his more lighthearted, kind of jovial tone to his writing, definitely struck a chord with people, Hall said. He took a time of year that, especially in a lot of rural America, ... tended to be a bit more dreary.

Numerous craft opportunities at Dickens of a Christmas include making Victorian-era Christmas cards in the villages Newspaper Office.

Christmas cards during this period, Hall said, get to be interesting and obscure and sometimes ridiculous. My personal favorite is a Christmas card of a mouse riding a lobster, and it just says, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ... We today look at it and we wonder, What were they thinking?

Nosegays, or small arrangements of pine greens, pine cones and ribbons, can be made in the villages Pharmacy; and popcorn and cranberry strings for Christmas trees can be made in the Schoolhouse.

More: Behind-the-scenes: Filmmakers tap Dispatch archives for Netflix Billy Milligan documentary

Santa Claus will be on hand each day and night; although dressed in Victorian-era garb, youngsters are sure to recognize him.

Instead of the red jacket and pants, he has a very dark-colored red robe (and) he wears a green vest, Hall said. But anybody who knows Santa will recognize him the moment they see him.

The villages Church will also be the setting of an interactive presentation of A Christmas Carol at 7 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

There are a couple of actors who run the show, and they pull members of the audience in to play the parts of a couple of the different characters as they go through the story, Hall said. (A puppet version of the show will be performed Dec. 4.)

Food trucks will be on site each night.

New to Dickens of a Christmas this year will be the inclusion of Jewish holiday traditions.

We have talked a lot about exploring Hanukkah and other Jewish traditions in the past, but this year, we finally have taken the initiative and the time to do the research, said Hall, who said the Ohio History Connection worked with the Columbus Jewish Historical Society to recreate Hanukkah traditions as they would have been celebrated in the 1890s.

In the villages H&P Womens Study Club, traditional Hanukkah foods will be on display, experts will discuss historical celebrations of Hanukkah and all in attendance will have a chance to play with a dreidel, a spinning top.

Hall himself will portray Charles Dickens during Dickens of a Christmas.

He was like a pop celebrity of his time, Hall said.

tonguetteauthor2@aol.com

At a glance

"Dickens of a Christmas" will take place at Ohio Village at the Ohio History Connection, Interstate 71 and East 17th Avenue, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 and 18; noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 and 19; timed tickets allow for entry at 5:30, 6 or 6:30 p.m. Saturdays; and noon, 12:30 or 1 p.m. Sundays

Tickets cost $16, or $12 or ages 4 to 12, free for age 3 and younger; Ohio History Connection members  $11, or $7 for youth members, free for age 3 and younger; all must be purchased online, www.ohiohistory.org

COVID-19 policies: masks required while indoors

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Hanukkah, Christmas traditions come to life at Ohio Village
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Years after coming under scrutiny for contributing to ethnic and religious violence in Myanmar, Facebook still has problems detecting and moderating hate speech and misinformation on its platform in the Southeast Asian nation, internal documents viewed by The Associated Press show.

Three years ago, the company commissioned a report that found Facebook was used to foment division and incite offline violence in the country. It pledged to do better and developed several tools and policies to deal with hate speech. But scrolling through Facebook today, its not hard to find posts threatening murder and rape in Myanmar.

The breaches have persisted -- and even been exploited by hostile actors -- since the Feb. 1 military takeover this year that resulted in gruesome human rights abuses across the country.

One 2 1/2 minute video posted on Oct. 24 of a supporter of the military calling for violence against opposition groups has garnered over 56,000 views.

So starting from now, we are the god of death for all (of them), the man says in Burmese while looking into the camera. Come tomorrow and lets see if you are real men or gays.

One account posts the home address of a military defector and a photo of his wife. Another post from Oct. 29 includes a photo of soldiers leading bound and blindfolded men down a dirt path. The Burmese caption reads, Dont catch them alive.

Despite the ongoing issues, Facebook saw its operations in Myanmar as both a model to export around the world and an evolving and caustic case. Documents reviewed by AP show that Myanmar became a testing ground for new content moderation technology, with the social media giant trialing ways to automate the detection of hate speech and misinformation with varying levels of success.

Facebooks internal discussions on Myanmar were revealed in 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 received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press.

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Facebook has had a shorter but more volatile history in Myanmar than in most countries. After decades of censorship under military rule, Myanmar was connected to the internet in 2000. Shortly afterward, Facebook paired with telecom providers in the country, allowing customers to use the platform without needing to pay for the data, which was still expensive at the time. Use of the platform exploded. For many in Myanmar, Facebook became the internet itself.

Htaike Htaike Aung, a Myanmar internet policy advocate, said it also became a hotbed for extremism around 2013, coinciding with religious riots across Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslims. Its unclear how much, if any, content moderation was happening at the time.

Htaike Htaike Aung said she met with Facebook that year and laid out issues in the country, including how local organizations were seeing exponential amounts of hate speech on the platform and how preventive mechanisms, such as reporting posts, didnt work in the Myanmar context.

One example she cited was a photo of a pile of bamboo sticks that was posted with a caption reading, Let us be prepared because theres going to be a riot that is going to happen within the Muslim community.

Htaike Htaike Aung said the photo was reported to Facebook, but the company didnt take it down because it didnt violate any of the companys community standards.

Which is ridiculous because it was actually calling for violence. But Facebook didnt see it that way, she said.

Years later, the lack of moderation caught the attention of the international community. In March 2018, United Nations human rights experts investigating attacks against Myanmars Muslim Rohingya minority said Facebook had played a role in spreading hate speech.

When asked about Myanmar a month later during a U.S. Senate hearing, CEO Mark Zuckerberg replied that Facebook planned to hire dozens of Burmese speakers to moderate content, would work with civil society groups to identify hate figures and develop new technologies to combat hate speech.

Hate speech is very language specific. Its hard to do it without people who speak the local language and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically, Zuckerberg said.

Internal Facebook documents show that while the company did step up efforts to combat hate speech, the tools and strategies to do so never came to full fruition, and individuals within the company repeatedly sounded the alarm. In one May 2020 document, an employee said a hate speech text classifier that was available wasnt being used or maintained. Another document from a month later said there were significant gaps in misinformation detection in Myanmar.

Facebook took symbolic actions I think were designed to mollify policymakers that something was being done and didnt need to look much deeper, said Ronan Lee, a visiting scholar at Queen Mary University of Londons International State Crime Initiative.

In an emailed statement to the AP, Rafael Frankels, Facebooks director of policy for APAC Emerging Countries, said the platform has built a dedicated team of over 100 Burmese speakers, but declined to state exactly how many were employed. Online marketing company NapoleonCat estimates there are about 28.7 million Facebook users in Myanmar.

During her testimony to the European Union Parliament on Nov. 8, Haugen, the whistleblower, criticized Facebook for a lack of investment in third-party fact-checking, and relying instead on automatic systems to detect harmful content.

If you focus on these automatic systems, they will not work for the most ethnically diverse places in the world, with linguistically diverse places in the world, which are often the most fragile, she said while referring to Myanmar.

After Zuckerbergs 2018 congressional testimony, Facebook developed digital tools to combat hate speech and misinformation and also created a new internal framework to manage crises like Myanmar around the world.

Facebook crafted a list of at-risk countries with ranked tiers for a critical countries team to focus its energy on, and also rated languages needing more content moderation. Myanmar was listed as a Tier 1 at-risk country, with Burmese deemed a priority language alongside Ethiopian languages, Bengali, Arabic and Urdu.

Facebook engineers taught Burmese slang words for Muslims and Rohingya to its automated systems. It also trained systems to detect coordinated inauthentic behavior such as a single person posting from multiple accounts, or coordination between different accounts to post the same content.

The company also tried repeat offender demotion which it lessens the impact of posts of users who frequently violate guidelines. In a test in two of the worlds most volatile countries, demotion worked well in Ethiopia, but poorly in Myanmar -- a difference that flummoxed engineers, according to a 2020 report included in the documents.

We arent sure why  but this information provides a starting point for further analysis and user research, the report said. Facebook declined to comment on the record if the problem has been fixed a year after its detection, or about the success of the two tools in Myanmar.
The Shelby County Health Department won't say what it is doing about Shelby County municipal school districts that aren't complying with required masking in schools.

Millington, Arlington and Collierville Public Schools are mask-optional despite the health department's directive. Michelle Taylor, the health department director, said the health department is investigating and "exploring" other options about the municipal district's lack of compliance with the order.

The health department's ability to mandate masks remains tenuous. A pair of orders from federal judges across Tennessee have, so far, kept from taking effect a state law that bans mask mandates.

Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor speaks to the press during a press conference addressing COVID-19 Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021.

Those measures have kept power in the health department's hands and allowed them to continue to mandate masks in schools for now. A federal judge in the Western District of Tennessee told the health department it must enforce its mask mandate as part of a responsibility to protect kids with disabilities, as required by federal law.

Taylor would not say what her department would do next about the recalcitrant school districts. She said the department continues to dialogue with the Tennessee Department of Health about what steps it could take.

More: Masks required inside all schools in Shelby County, health department says

The state law in question passed during a Tennessee General Assembly special session aimed at curbing what local and state governments could do in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new law not only bans mask mandates but strips local health departments of much of its authority.

Transmission number rises, 5,000 kids vaccinated

COVID-19 cases are once again growing in Shelby County. The transmission number is now 1.07, according to Taylor.

That growth in the transmission number has, unsurprisingly, accompanied a rise in COVID-19 cases. There were 1,171 active cases in Shelby County Thursday, according to health department data.

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Taylor emphasized that Shelby County has a heightened level of natural and vaccinated immunity following the summer surge of the delta variant. Taylor also noted that natural immunity wanes relatively quickly and asked the public to get vaccinated.

About 5,200 kids between the ages of 5 and 11 have been vaccinated, per health department data. Taylor said she was satisfied with that pace of youth vaccination but encouraged anyone seeking vaccination to go to www.vaccines.gov.

Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government, politics and energy for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County schools 'investigated' for not complying with mask order
BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Hungary will make a third, booster shot against COVID-19 mandatory for all healthcare workers and will require protective mask wearing in most closed places from Saturday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Thursday.

Gergely Gulyas also told a government briefing that only vaccines can provide protection against the coronavirus as case numbers are rising.

"The government's advice is that everyone should get a booster shot, which is possible to get four months after the second dose," Gulyas said.

Hungary reported 10,767 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, its highest daily tally since the end of March, and 131 people died of the virus the previous day.

The daily number of new infections is getting close to the peak of 11,265 reached during the third wave of the pandemic.

Hungary has hardly any restrictions in place and the vaccination rate is below the European Union average.

The steady rise in new COVID-19 infections prompted the Hungarian Medical Chamber to call on Wednesday for strict measures.

The chamber called for a ban on mass events and mandatory mask wearing in closed spaces and said that entry to restaurants, theatres and cinemas should be conditional on a COVID-19 immunity certificate.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves; Editing by Timothy Heritage)
A hush fell over South Korea Thursday as more than half a million students sat the gruelling, high-stakes national university entrance exam, with authorities taking extraordinary measures to minimise distractions.

The nine-hour test is crucial not only for securing spots in top universities, but is also considered key for elevated social status, lucrative careers and even marriage prospects.

The enormous pressure on students in South Korea's ultra-competitive education system has been blamed for teenage depression and suicide rates that are among the highest in the world.

One parent was keen to ease the stress ahead of the 2021 exam, locally known as "Suneung".

"I just want to tell my daughter that I'm proud of her for working so hard up until this point, and that this test, regardless of the result, doesn't define who she is as a person," Koh Min-soon, the mother of a test-taker, told AFP on Wednesday.

Since last year, Covid-19 has added to the pressure on students, parents and education authorities.

All classes became online for exam takers in the two weeks leading up to the test, while the students and their families were advised to stay at home as much as possible in that time.

More than 509,000 students are taking the test this year, the education ministry said.

At the Ewha Girls' Foreign Language High School in central Seoul, some test-takers arrived holding hands with their visibly nervous parents.

Outside the school gate, some people were seen praying while others took selfies with friends and family.

Throughout the exam, which started at 8:40 am, students were required to wear face masks.

South Korea has seen a surge in cases in the run-up to the exam, reporting nearly 3,300 infections Thursday -- its highest-ever daily case count.

Students arriving for the test were checked, and those showing Covid symptoms had to take it in separate designated spaces.

Some 70 students will sit the exam despite recently testing positive for the coronavirus, at medical facilities with desks and chairs specially prepared for them.

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- Extraordinary measures -

The national importance of the exam is reflected in the extraordinary measures South Korean authorities take to remove any disturbance for test-takers.

Public offices, banks and the stock market open an hour later than usual to help ease traffic and ensure students arrive on time for the exam.

All take-offs and landings at the country's airports are suspended for 35 minutes during an English listening test. All planes in the air must maintain an altitude higher than 3,000 metres (10,000 feet).

The South Korean transport ministry said 79 flights -- 16 of them international -- have been rescheduled because of the exam.

Police car and motorbike escorts were available in school areas for any students stuck in traffic or running late.

At Ewha high school, one student arrived in a police car and got pats of support from officers as she headed inside.

"It's a very important day for the test takers, and the past year has been very tough for them," an official at the National Police Agency told AFP before the exam.

"So we are just trying to do what we can to show support."

cdl/qan/oho
An Idaho lawmaker who shared the personal information of a 19-year-old student intern online after the teenager accused another lawmaker of rape was formally censured by the Idaho House of Representatives on Monday.

The representative, Priscilla Giddings, a Republican from White Bird, Idaho, was stripped of a committee assignment because she had shared an article that included the interns personal details on Facebook and in a newsletter with her supporters.

Giddings, who is seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, shared the information after the intern in March accused state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger of sexual assault.

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Von Ehlinger, 39, who resigned in April, has denied any wrongdoing. He pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges this month and is scheduled to stand trial in April 2022.

Sharing a persons information online without their consent, a practice called doxxing, has often been used against women speaking out about sexual abuse. In May, Colorado made it illegal to share the personal information of public health workers and their families online for the purposes of harassment.

During a two-hour debate in the Idaho Statehouse on Monday, Giddings said she had not done anything wrong. I would not have done anything differently, she said. I think my intent was pure.

There was boisterous clapping and cheering from the public gallery after she spoke.

In an email, Giddings did not comment directly on the censure. She criticized Rep. Scott Bedke, who is the speaker of the House, the lawmaker who oversaw the censure hearing and her opponent in the lieutenant governor primary race. Stopping this kind of unabashed corruption is exactly why I serve in the Legislature, and its exactly why Im running, she said.

Erika Birch, a lawyer for the intern, said her client watched the debate and was hurt by Giddings comments and by the other House members who voted against censure, in part because the internship was an opportunity for her to learn from those very people.

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Birch described Giddings as kicking somebody while theyre down and then refusing to accept any accountability for her action.

In September, the former intern and her lawyers filed a tort claim against the Idaho Legislature, which said the intern, referred to as Jane Doe, feared for her and her familys safety.

Ms. Doe suffered and continues to suffer extreme emotional distress including suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety and panic attacks, the tort claim said.

The intern, who had been working for another House Republican, told the ethics committee in March that von Ehlinger had sexually assaulted her after they had dinner at a Boise, Idaho, restaurant that month. Instead of taking her back to her car, von Ehlinger drove her to his apartment and raped her, she testified.

After the intern filed a police report, Giddings shared a blog post on her Facebook page and in her newsletter that included a photo of the intern, her full name and other identifying information. She also disparaged the woman in the posts.

In April, Giddings denied sharing the information in an ethics committee meeting. During the meeting, a member of the committee showed lawmakers that the post was still on the representatives Facebook page.

The bipartisan House Ethics and Policy Committee in August found in a unanimous vote that Giddings engaged in conduct unbecoming of a representative.

On Monday, the House voted to formally censure Giddings in a 49-19 vote that also stripped her of her assignment on the Commerce and Human Resources Committee. She will keep other committee assignments. House members who voted for censure said they did so partly because Giddings had at one point lied about sharing the interns personal information while under oath.

Several Republican lawmakers defended Giddings during a two-hour debate Monday.

Rep. Heather Scott, a Republican from Blanchard, spoke about Giddings military service and how it contrasted with the behavior described by the ethics committee.

Do you really know what she did wrong to punish her? Scott said.

Toward the end of the debate, after Giddings spoke, several other Republicans voiced approval of the censure.

Rep. Caroline Nilsson Troy, a Republican from Genesee, said she was voting in favor of the punishment because House members had a responsibility to look after student interns.

When we are sent young men and women of this state to care for in this body, Nilsson Troy said, I feel we have the responsibility to care for them to a higher standard  that standard we expect of ourselves as representatives.

 2021 The New York Times Company
Reuters

Chinese buyers have been making large purchases of French wheat and barley along with Ukrainian corn and barley in the last week, trade sources said, taking advantage of a pause in surging prices to cover some of their feed grain needs. While the total volumes bought were not yet clear, the sources said importers had secured at least several hundred thousand tonnes of grain from France and Ukraine. The deals point to China's continued major grain import requirement, despite the arrival of its domestic corn crop and difficulties in its pig industry, and further illustrate the readiness of buyers to seize on falls in international prices.
Trooper Jacob Ridgway

RICHMOND, Ind.  A Wayne County resident was honored with an Indiana State Police Lifesaving Award.

Trooper Jacob Ridgway was recognized for two February incidents, according to a news release.

On Feb. 9, he responded to a residence for a possible suicide attempt and saw a man inside with apparent self-inflicted injuries. The man answered the door, but said he did not need medical attention, the release said.

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Still, Ridgway prevented the man from shutting the door and placed him in custody so he could not further injure himself. After receiving treatment, the man admitted he had attempted suicide and credited Ridgway with saving his life.

On Feb. 28, Ridgway responded to a call where a woman was screaming while talking to Wayne County emergency dispatchers. When he arrived, Ridgway found the woman lying on the floor bleeding. He and another officer entered the room and provided medical aid, including Ridgway applying a tourniquet to stop the woman's bleeding.

Ridgway, who has been a trooper six years, mostly patrols Wayne and Delaware counties and is a field training officer. He also is a member of the clandestine/methamphetamine team and the tactical intervention platoon. During his career, Ridgway has also served as a drug recognition expert and a standardized field sobriety test instructor.

Trooper Nicholas Albrecht

Trooper Nicholas Albrecht was chosen the 2020 Trooper of the Year for the Pendleton District.

He was chosen for the award as a result of his work ethic and ability to work with others, the release said.

The Winchester High School graduate and Delaware County resident mostly patrols Wayne, Randolph and Delaware counties. During his seven-year career, he has served as a tac-med instructor and field training officer, and he is a member of the tactical intervention platoon.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Indiana State Police honor Wayne County resident with Lifesaving Award
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In Pennsylvania, elected district attorneys determine whether or not to charge officers who kill or use force against civilians. There is little recourse should anyone disagree with the decision.

After State Police troopers shot and killed 19-year-old Christian Hall in December 2020, the department conducted an investigation and sent its findings to Monroe County District Attorney E. David Christine Jr., a Republican and the longest-serving DA in the countys history.

Christine regularly works with State Police and depends on troopers to help build cases, as they are responsible for coverage in the majority of the county he oversees.

His office said troopers were brought in from outside the local jurisdiction to conduct the investigation. Officials determined the shooting was justified because Hall had what troopers at the scene believed to be a deadly weapon.

Halls parents, Fe and Gareth, disagree and have asked federal agencies and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General to look into the case.

A district attorney can ask the state attorney general to investigate a criminal case if its office doesnt have the resources, or if there is a real or apparent conflict of interest, according to state law. But its nearly impossible for the Attorney Generals Office to intervene on its own.

David Rudovsky, a longtime use-of-force expert and senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, said there is an inherent conflict of interest when a local prosecutor is asked to investigate law enforcement.

Everybody recognizes with local police and a local DA, they are working together every day, he said.

The Monroe County DA declined to refer the case to Democrat Josh Shapiros office, stating no such conflict existed.

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Our resources are not only more than adequate, but if you would compare the relative experience of Mr. Christine or myself to the attorney general himself, youll find a guy who has never tried a case before, never been in prosecution before, Michael Mancuso, an assistant district attorney, said of Shapiro. He has maybe a fraction of the experience we have.

Jacklin Rhoads, communications director for Shapiro, said the office is well-equipped to handle such investigations and has had 39% more criminal cases referred to it under Shapiro than under the previous administration. That includes 10 from the Monroe County district attorney, according to Shapiros office.

I would say thats blatantly untrue, Rhoads said of Mancusos statement. We have high-caliber prosecutors in our office that are capable and we have the resources to take on cases like this. And I think weve demonstrated that over the last five years.

While all DAs have the option to send Shapiro cases when law enforcement kills someone, that rarely happens.

Police officers in Pennsylvania have killed at least 108 people since 2017, according to a Spotlight PA examination of databases maintained by the Washington Post and Fatal Encounters.

During that time period, three fatal use-of-force cases have been sent to Shapiro for review, said Molly Stieber, press secretary for the Attorney Generals Office.

In June 2017, Philadelphia officer Ryan Pownall shot and killed 30-year-old David Jones during a traffic stop. Kelley Hodge, the citys interim district attorney at the time, asked Shapiros office to investigate because of an undisclosed conflict of interest. Shapiro sent the case back to the District Attorneys Office in 2018 after Larry Krasner was elected. The trial has been repeatedly delayed.

Krasner asked Shapiros office to investigate the August 2018 fatal shooting of Jeffrey Dennis by Philadelphia undercover officer Richard Nicoletti because Krasner once represented Dennis as a defense attorney. Shapiro announced his decision to not press charges in December 2018.

Spotlight PA was unable to independently identify the third instance. Stieber, of the Attorney Generals Office, said she could not discuss the case because it was presented to a grand jury but no charges were filed.

State Sen. Art Haywood, D-Montgomery, wants to change the way use-of-force cases are investigated in Pennsylvania so families of victims and the public will have more faith in the findings.

He has drafted legislation requiring an independent law enforcement agency to investigate these cases, and giving the state Attorney Generals Office the power to review those investigations without a referral from the local district attorney if no charges are filed.

Under the bill, the governor, key lawmakers, and the attorney general would receive a detailed report about the investigation from the independent agency if the local DA decides not to file charges.

Haywood had not introduced the legislation as of mid-November but said he believes the bill has gained some support among law enforcement. A previous version went nowhere in the GOP-controlled legislature.

Police reform has traditionally languished in the legislature, though there are exceptions.

After the murder of George Floyd by then Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, lawmakers passed and Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill requiring all law enforcement agencies in the state to consult a new database of disciplinary actions, performance evaluations, and attendance records as part of a background check on new officers.

Another bill signed into law requires the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission, which also maintains the new database, to train local police on how to treat people of diverse backgrounds. The bill also requires annual training on use of force and de-escalation techniques.

WHILE YOURE HERE ... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr urged the country's paramilitaries on Thursday to purge what he called undisciplined members and for non-state armed groups to hand over their weapons.

Sadr's remarks come after Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim militia were accused of an attempt to kill outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi by armed drone on Nov. 7.

The militias are disputing the result of an October general election that handed them a crushing defeat and have also staged sit-ins in Baghdad which turned violent this month.

Sadr, who commands his own militia but opposes all foreign influence in Iraq, including that of Iran, is seen as the main Shi'ite rival of the paramilitaries Tehran has backed.

"You must step back in order to regain the trust of the people," Sadr said in a statement delivered to news cameras from his base in the southern holy city of Najaf.

"What you're doing right now will tarnish your history and increase your alienation from the people."

Sadr did not refer explicitly to recent events, but addressed his message to what he called the losing parties in Iraq's election.

He called on Iraq's state paramilitary grouping the Popular Mobilisation Forces, which is dominated by the Iran-aligned factions, to purge "undisciplined elements" and for non-state armed groups to dissolve themselves and lay down their weapons.

Sadr will likely have a big say in the formation of the next Iraqi government, a prospect that worries his main rivals the Iran-backed groups, according to Iraqi officials and independent analysts.

"If you want to participate in forming the next government, you must hold those corrupt among you to account," he added.

(Reporting by John Davison; Editing by Alistair Bell)
BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraqs influential Shiite cleric who emerged as a winner in last months general elections on Thursday called on the countrys myriad pro-Iran Shiite armed factions to disband if they want to join his upcoming government.

Muqatada al-Sadr also asked the factions to hand over their weapons to the government-sanctioned umbrella known as Popular Mobilization Forces. In turn, he also asked the PMF to purify its ranks from undisciplined elements and surrender corrupt individuals to the judiciary.

The militias are certain to reject the demands, which in turn could complicate al-Sadrs efforts to form a government after the vote. It could also increase tensions between Shiites who support the pro-Iran factions and al-Sadrs own followers.

The pro-Iran factions lost a significant number of parliament seats in the Oct. 10 elections and have called the vote fraudulent, rejecting the results. Their supporters have held protests outside Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone, home to government offices and foreign embassies.

The protests turned deadly earlier this month, when demonstrators tried to enter the Green Zone, demanding a ballot recount. One protester affiliated with the militias was killed in an exchange of fire, for which the militias blamed Iraq's incumbent Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Tensions were further ratcheted up after a failed assassination attempt against al-Kadhimi at his residence the next day. The prime minister suffered a light cut and several of his guards were injured in the Nov. 7 attack by armed drones on his Green Zone residence. There was no responsibility claim for the attack, although suspicion immediately fell on the armed factions.

Your losses cant be a pretext for ruining the democratic process, al-Sadr said at a rare press conference Thursday, addressing the factions.

Political analyst Ihsan al-Shammari, who heads the Iraqi Political Thinking Center in Baghdad, said al-Sadr's comments underscored clear and deep Shiite divisions," which will not help speed up the formation of a new government. Shiite armed factions serve as Iran's arms in Iraq, he said, and are being used to pressure political leaders.

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As the winner in the elections, al-Sadrs bloc will seek coalition partners and name the next prime minister. The protests staged by supporters of hard-line Iran-aligned militias appeared to be aimed at pressuring al-Sadr to ensure that they are part of the next Cabinet.

But al-Sadr's call on Thursday practically ruled that out, instead asking the armed factions who function outside the PMF to disband.

The PMF is an umbrella group of mostly Shiite groups officially under the prime ministers command. It was created during the war against the Sunni extremist Islamic State group, which in 2014 seized large swaths of western and northern Iraq. IS was eventually defeated but the thousands of mainly Shiite paramilitary fighters who fought against it never disbanded or surrendered their arms.

Some of the most Iran-friendly militias under the PMF have shown signs of splintering into new, previously unknown groups, allowing them to claim attacks targeting U.S. interests under different names to mask the extent of their involvement.

A senior official with Kataib Hezbollah, one of the hard-line pro-Iran-militias, said he welcomed in principle al-Sadr's call to hand over weapons. But that can only happen, Abu Ali Al-Askari said, after al-Sadr's own armed group, Saraya al-Salam, surrenders its weapons, as Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters should also do.

"Only after these two things happen can the project of limiting arms in the hands of the state succeed," Al-Askari said.

Al-Sadr commands the devotion of millions of Iraqis, including those who fought in his former Mahdi Army militia, a force that battled U.S. troops in the early days of the U.S.-led occupation. In 2014, al-Sadr revamped the militia under the name the Peace Brigades  Saraya Salam  that fought against Islamic State militants.

He recently announced the closure of the offices of his Saraya al-Salam fighters in various provinces  a largely symbolic move apparently meant to show he is serious about bringing all arms under state control.
David Shukman

As he leaves the BBC after decades of reporting, the BBC's science editor David Shukman reflects on how climate change became our most pressing problem - and how he's witnessed the natural world itself drastically altering.

Short presentational grey line

His face was flushed and his voice was loud. You're making it all up about global warming, a man shouted as he approached me. We were in the Royal Society, the UK's leading scientific academy, and a panel discussion about climate change had just finished. It's nothing to do with carbon dioxide, he bellowed, before security guards led him away.

Climate change has aroused passionate debate because it raises questions about our lifestyles and modern economies. And in the early days of my reporting, the picture was not as clear as now. The basic physics had long been understood: that adding certain types of gases to the air will trap more heat.

But nearly 20 years ago, the United Nations climate science panel was still cautious, saying it was "likely" not "certain" that human activity was driving up temperatures.

Researchers were gathering more evidence all the time and I witnessed much of their work: in a crevasse in Antarctica where bubbles of air, trapped in the luminous blue ice, held clues about the ancient atmosphere; watching an Oxford professor kneeling in the Kalahari desert to count grains of sand to calculate how far the dunes might spread with global warming; and riding an armoured vehicle through Siberia to research how the permafrost is melting.

The Kalahari desert is becoming drier, killing buffalo that can't adapt to changing conditions

And this fieldwork, combined with data from satellites and results from models run on supercomputers, led to a landmark conclusion recently: that it's now 'unequivocal' that it's us heating up the planet.

At the same time, the implications of a more hostile climate were becoming clearer. A rise in the global temperature of up to 2C used to be thought of as "safe". And on my first trip to the Greenland ice sheet, in 2004, researchers were talking of the melting ice as more of a problem for the future. That was soon to change.

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David Attenborough has spoken with the BBC's science editor several times over the years

We now know that a rise of just over one degree is proving dangerous. And returning to the same spot in Greenland 15 years later was a shock. Where towering cliffs of ice once stood there was now bare rock. The remaining ice seemed diminished. In the mild temperatures I felt uncomfortably hot while meltwater was pouring into the ocean, raising its level.

And this creates a profound unfairness about climate change. While a city like London can defend itself with the gleaming steel of the Thames Barrier, many communities around the world are unprotected.

David witnessed for himself the changes taking place in our planet's icy regions

In Gabura, on the coast of Bangladesh, a feeble embankment was breached by a storm and, when we visited back in 2009, the village was being flooded every high tide. We waded into the water to film a large and desperate crowd using mud to try to hold back the sea.

There was no other option. You might think international aid would have made a difference over the past decade or so. It hasn't. Seawater is still poisoning the wells and the fields. There are sandbags on the embankments now but they're no guarantee as the level of the sea keeps climbing, as distant Greenland loses its ice.

Like all developing countries, Bangladesh was told 12 years ago that by now there'd be a steady flow of a guaranteed amount of finance from the richest nations. It's a promise that's remained unfulfilled. And this was a major source of contention at the COP26 climate conference.

There is a pattern at many of these annual events - and I've now been to 10 of them.

Global leaders make emotional speeches about saving the planet but then leave their negotiators to protect national interests by haggling aggressively over each line. In Glasgow, the trickiest tussle was over coal, with India and China demanding that the words "phasing out" were altered to "phasing down".

The COP26 president Alok Sharma had to hold back tears. The pressures of corralling nearly 200 countries are intense. At a conference in Bali, the chair actually broke down. And at another gathering, in Copenhagen, many African delegates walked out in protest. Meanwhile the gases raising temperatures have been steadily increasing.

In 2018, David reported on a crisis of plastic pollution in Indonesia

Yet there are some positive signs. When I first watched a windfarm being built, it was a slow process and very expensive, and the idea of planting turbines out at sea seemed outlandish. Now both wind and solar power are far cheaper and are therefore more plausible and attractive to investors. So are batteries. The giant car makers are having to go electric.

Most countries - and many companies - have committed to being carbon neutral by the middle of the century. Some are more sincere about this than others. But greater scrutiny and more public awareness mean there's less room to dodge and hide. It's becoming harder to greenwash. And the annual conferences, for all their watering-down of final conclusions, do provide momentum and a sense of direction.

So along with feeling despair at the damage that extreme weather is causing to the most vulnerable people, I'm also inspired by a new level of engagement, a surge of clever innovations and a younger generation mobilised and determined to find a way through.

Humans can be staggeringly short sighted but also ingenious when faced with real trouble. At the very least, there's always another conference.

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TOKYO (AP)  Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, in a telephone call Thursday with his Chinese counterpart, stressed the importance of peace and stability between China and Taiwan and expressed serious concern about the situation in Hong Kong and China's Xinjiang region.

Hayashi also told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that he is gravely concerned about increased Chinese activities in regional seas, including near a Japanese-controlled island claimed by Beijing, Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The foreign ministers of the two Asian neighbors, whose relations are often stained over territorial disputes and wartime history, pledged to pursue dialogue and cooperation in economic relations, the ministry said.

Hayashi told Wang that he had serious concern" about the situation in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, the ministry said, without describing it further. China has cracked down on pro-democracy activists and lawmakers in Hong Kong and is accused of violating the human rights of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

The ministry said Hayashi stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait amid growing tensions between China and Taiwan. China claims that the self-governing island is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to unite with it if necessary.

Japan sees Chinas increasingly assertive actions in the region as a national security threat and has been building up its defense on its southwestern islands.

New Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has created a new Cabinet post for international human rights, focusing mainly on China, and appointed former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to the position.

Beijing has denied human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang and says countries that make such accusations are interfering in its domestic affairs.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea as well as Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea, says it has the right to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Japanese officials say Chinese vessels routinely violate Japanese territorial waters near the East China Sea islands, sometimes threatening fishing boats.
Its a tactile store, Jonathan Anderson said as he guided a visitor around Loewes refurbished boutique on Avenue Montaigne on Tuesday night, pointing to a wall-hanging that looks like a painting, but is in fact stitched from colorful threads. Each time, we add a different layer to what Loewe is about.

Ceramics, tapestries, rugs and vintage furniture heighten the residential feel of the two-level store, reflecting Andersons mission to bring culture and craft into the retail experience.

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Art is a way to tell people about me and to understand who I am, and people who I think are important and inspire me, he explained in an interview, seated on a blue whipstitched Utrecht armchair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld, his sneakers resting on a colorful carpet by British textile designer John Allen.

No sleek, minimalist temple for Anderson, a fan of the Arts and Craft movement and an enthusiastic cheerleader for basket weavers, tapestry makers and potters.

Hes fascinated by the fact that famous midcentury sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore dabbled in textile art, and a tapestry Moore made for the British pavilion at the 1948 Venice Biennale gets pride of place behind the Georgian-style spiral staircase that is the main architectural detail of the store.

A Henry Moore tapestry punctuates the Georgian-style staircase. - Credit: Courtesy of Loewe

Courtesy of Loewe

I like things that are a bit cozy. I like light that changes throughout a store so you have darker areas, moodier areas, he said. A boutique should unfold into different little zones, so you dont feel like youre in a vacuous space. I hate anything that feels like a mausoleum.

Ditto overly bright stores.

Harsh lighting can be really unflattering. I hate when I go into a store and it feels like youre in the bathroom of an airplane, he said with a wry grin.

Anderson is also bringing artsy and cozy elements to a new Casa Loewe store in Lisbon, slated to open Nov. 26, and a new boutique in Honolulu, programmed for Nov. 26. Meanwhile, a refurbished Miami location is slated to re-open later this month as the LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton-owned brand updates the network. Most of it has been completely redone since the Northern Irish designer joined the Spanish house in 2013. Recent new locations include Shanghai, which quietly opened in late September.

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The unit in Miamis Design District, slated to be unveiled during the Art Basel Miami fair on Nov. 29, boasts a striking, large-scale wall drawing by Sol LeWitt that wraps the entire store in graphic bands of primary color.

A wall painting by Sol LeWitt dominates the refurbished Loewe boutique in Miamis Design District. - Credit: Courtesy of Loewe

Courtesy of Loewe

Anderson explained that Loewe worked with the Paula Cooper gallery to acquire the plans and rights to recreate Wall Drawing #1138, a work from 2004.

An 18th-century stone granary building, known as an horreo in Spain, had been the main feature when the Miami unit opened in 2015, then Loewes first retail location in North America.

Anderson hinted that the horreo will become the centerpiece of a public art project to be unveiled next year.

The designer collaborates closely on stores with Loewes in-house architect Paula Aza Custodio, who carved out a double-height ceiling dressed in maple wood slats for the revamped Avenue Montaigne unit, which is flanked by mens and womens Dior boutiques.

Pausing in front of a until full of velvet-lined niches  some sheltering leather goods and jewelry, others hand-painted vessels  Anderson brushed some white lint from one of the cubicles, showing off his meticulous approach to displays.

The designer worked in visual merchandising at Prada under the late Manuela Pavesi before launching his JW Anderson label in 2008.

Ive always had this thing for the visual communications of a brand, and I think its super important  this whole world that youre trying to let people into, he mused.

The 2,300-square-foot Avenue Montaigne boutique employs rugged, natural and sustainable materials including concrete for floors  and wood, clay and artisanal ceramics for display podiums. A few cubes in clear Perspex, once used as seating for a Loewe runway show, are stuffed with everyday objects such as Brillo pads.

All the artworks in Loewe stores are acquired and owned by the maison, and Anderson said he and Aza Custodio have found themselves at many provincial auctions snapping up artworks and design objects.

Indeed, Loewe has already put together such a collection of Picasso ceramics that the designer is mulling an exhibition for them.

Works in the Paris store include a large painting by American artist Walter Price; a stoneware sculpture by Japanese artist Takayuki Sakiyama, and several works by Cape Town, South Africa-based artist Zizipho Poswa.

A double-height ceiling brings in lots of natural light. - Credit: Courtesy of Loewe

Courtesy of Loewe

Anderson also draws on participants in the annual Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, established in 2016, to fill its boutiques with unique objects. A wooden bench by Jim Partridge and Liz Walmsley, finalists in the 2019 competition, stands in the Paris store, as does a sculpture by the winner of that year. Inspired by a bag of oranges, the blob-like object by Genta Ishizuka was realized with a lacquer technique dating back to seventh-century Japan.

The Miami store features a display of almost two dozen black ceramic vessels and jars by Japanese artist Kenta Anzai, along with more Utrecht chairs, bright wool carpets and transparent cubes filled with imitation fruits and pom-poms.

All works and objects are chosen with specific boutiques in mind, and Anderson said materials that are available locally are favored to reduce the environmental impact.

He also exalted the portability of artworks and design objects of a scale that would be found in private homes.

We can move things around, he said. It means we can keep reinventing the store.

SEE ALSO:

CEO Talks: Loewes Pascale Lepoivre on Cerebral Whimsy and a Billion-Euro Ambition

Inside New Loewes Art-Stuffed Paris Boutique

Chinese Designer Wins 2021 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize

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(Bloomberg) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. was removed on Thursday from a $700 million Louisiana municipal-bond deal after the banks stance on guns drew criticism from state Republican officials.

Most Read from Bloomberg

After a fiery meeting, the state bond commission voted to have Wells Fargo & Co. replace JPMorgan, the largest U.S. bank, as senior manager on the deal.

The decision came after state Treasurer John Schroder, a Republican, said his team was scrutinizing JPMorgans gun policies following Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimons comments to a Congressional committee earlier this year that his firm wont finance companies that make military-style weapons for consumers.

Im not selling our Second Amendment rights to corporate America, Schroder, the panels chair, said at the meeting in Baton Rouge.

In 2019, Louisiana began asking banks whether they have policies that infringe on citizens rights to bear arms as part of the firms application to underwrite bond deals. At the time, JPMorgan said it didnt.

But in advance of this bond sale, Schroder said his office asked banks in the underwriting pool whether they finance the manufacture of certain weapons for civilian use.

JPMorgan didnt submit an answer to that query, and that lack of response led to their disqualification from underwriting the sale, Schroder said. A JPMorgan spokesperson didnt have an immediate comment after the vote Thursday. Allison Chin-Leong, a spokesperson for Wells Fargo, declined to comment.

JPMorgan Risks Losing Louisiana Muni Business Over Gun Stance

Originally, JPMorgan was chosen to underwrite the bonds after offering a lower fee than other banks, but now Wells Fargo will match that fee, Lela Folse, director of the bond commission, said during the meeting Thursday.

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Matthew Block, executive counsel for Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, questioned the process around disqualifying the bank.

This is a road, and it leads us to someplace that none of us know where were going, he said during the meeting, noting the state has already stopped hiring Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. to underwrite bond sales over gun issues. Block said other banks would offer less competitive borrowing terms as a result.

Telling the World

We are telling the world -- not just Louisiana, not just New York -- the world, that three of the biggest banks to loan us money at a good rate of interest, we dont want to do business with them, he said.

In addition to Wells Fargos involvement in the sale of the gas and fuel-tax bonds, Morgan Stanley, UBS Group AG, Loop Capital Markets and Blaylock Van are co-managers. Proceeds will go to refinancing existing debt.

JPMorgan is also facing a hit to its public-finance business in neighboring Texas because of a GOP law that seeks to punish Wall Street banks for wading into social issues. In September, a law went into effect there that bars state and local governments from hiring banks that moved to curtail ties to the firearms industry in the wake of mass shootings.

Bank of America, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also saw their muni business halted in Texas because of the law.

Louisiana lawmakers passed similar legislation this year that would have barred the state and local governments from engaging in public contracts with firms that have discriminatory practices with firearm associations, retailers and manufacturers. But Governor John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, vetoed the bill, saying it would cost taxpayers money.

Schroder said he was considering the intent of the legislature when it came to the decision to remove JPMorgan.

Louisiana is a much smaller market for muni deals than Texas. The state sold about $881 million of bonds last year, while Texas issuers including local governments and state agencies sold about $58 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

The Texas law covers a wide swath of municipal borrowers. Still, Citigroup has moved to restart its underwriting there, raising questions about the measures effectiveness. On Wednesday, the bank won a Texas bond deal sold through an auction, its first deal since the state legislation went into effect Sept. 1.

(Updates with Wells Fargos decline to comment.)

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Gov. Kevin Stitt has spared the life of high-profile death row inmate Julius Jones.

Following a recommendation from the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, Stitt on Thursday granted clemency to Jones, reducing the inmate's sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole," Stitt said in a statement.

As a condition of granting clemency, Stitt ordered that Jones shall never be eligible to apply for or be considered for a commutation, pardon, or parole for the rest of his life. Stitt's official Twitter account posted about the decision, linking the full executive order.

After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.https://t.co/fLsnYnxInw  Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) November 18, 2021

Jones was scheduled to be executed Thursday, pending a decision by Gov. Kevin Stitt that could grant him clemency. Jones, 41, has been on death row since 2002, when he was convicted for the 1999 murder of Paul Howell.

Jones was 19 at the time of the murder and still maintains innocence, offering instead that co-collaborator Christopher Jordan committed the crime and framed Jones by placing the murder weapon in Jones' parents' house.

Follow along: From a murder charge to requests to commute his execution, explore the timeline of Jones' case

Jones' mother, Madeline Davis-Jones, has been one of his most outspoken supporters, asserting that Jones was with her at home during the time of Howell's murder. Howell's sister, who witnessed her brother's murder, maintains that she saw Jones fire the gun  Jones' DNA was later found on a bandana the gun used to kill Howell was wrapped in.

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It's up to Stitt: Julius Jones loses in federal appeals court, fate now rests with governor

Letter to the editor: Gov. Kevin Stitt can support death penalty, still spare Julius Jones

Stitt's silence thus far has spurred contention, especially on social media  #JusticeforJulius and #JuliusJones have been trending nationwide for the past day. Here's how prominent Oklahomans and others reacted to the news on Twitter.

Oklahoma lawmakers weigh in

Will Joyce, mayor of Stillwater, took to Twitter to express his support for the Pardon and Parole Board's recommendation that Stitt grant Jones clemency. Norman Mayor Breea Clark called out Stitt for declining to meet with Jones' mother; in a thread, she asserted "The world is watching."

I hope and pray that @GovStitt will follow the recommendations of the Pardon and Parole Board to grant clemency to #JuliusJones. The death penalty cannot be undone. If we truly value the sanctity of life, we should always choose mercy when there's even a shred of doubt.  Mayor Will Joyce (@stillwaterwill) November 17, 2021

At bedtime tonight, my son & I read a book about a mothers unconditional love for her son. All I can think about right now is the mother of #JuliusJones. The entire world is advocating for her son, & the man who holds her babys life in his hands wont even meet with her. #cruel  Mayor Breea Clark (@clarkfornorman) November 18, 2021

Oklahoma City State Representative Forrest Bennett catalogued Jones' supporters sitting in at the Capitol, singing songs and awaiting Stitt's decision.

Oklahoma's House Minority leader Emily Virgin has also voiced her support for Jones as she called for the governor to stop the impending execution.

Please dont kill Julius, @GovStitt. Were begging you.  Emily Virgin (@EmilyVirginOK) November 18, 2021

Oklahoma City Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon has supported calls for Jones' clemency on numerous occasions leading up to the planned execution, now she also approves of the decision by Downtown Oklahoma City to cancel a tree lighting festival that was planned for tonight in Bricktown.

Thank you @DowntownOKC for recognizing the need to set aside celebration today. #justiceforjulius https://t.co/R2xwWf6RrQ  JoBeth Hamon  (@jospacebear) November 18, 2021

As the day continues in uncertainty on whether Julius Jones' execution will proceed, advocates in Indian Country have made clear they do not want capital punishment being carried out there, "not on our land" has been the message coming out of McAlester. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. has voiced his nation's concerns on the death penalty.

The Jones case gained international attention, evidenced by German Ambassador to the U.S. Emily Haber's tweets in support of a ending the death penalty across the country. Haber's tweet quoted a statement put out by European Union Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis calling for Stitt to grant clemency.

As Germans, abolishing the death penalty was one of the lessons we took from our history. Today, I join in calling for clemency for #JuliusJones.



I hope all the U.S. will join the historic process to abandon capital punishment. https://t.co/1HqxLpqd0U  Emily Haber (@GermanAmbUSA) November 17, 2021

Community leaders from all sects offer support

Members of Oklahoma's religious community spoke out, including Bishop and author T.D. Jakes who called for "justice" from Gov. Stitt and pointed out the widespread support Jones has received. Another bishop, Talbert Swan, cited Stitt's political affiliation, questioning the meaning of his "pro-life" platform.

#JuliusJones awaits a decision that either saves his life or condemns it. If our courts are to be called a justice system, then justice must be done. @GovStitt, there are many like me, including @KimKardashian, who seek complete and total clemency! pic.twitter.com/Cpu79mxYg4  T.D. Jakes (@BishopJakes) November 17, 2021

Conservative Christian @GovStitt allowing the state sanctioned murder of #JuliusJones tells you everything you need to know about the white evangelical pro life movement.  Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) November 18, 2021

Bernice King, a minister and the youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. King quote tweeted a video of students walking out of Oklahoma City schools on Wednesday, writing "It's the right thing to do" in reference to Stitt's option to stay Jones' execution.

In a two-tweet thread, Vice President and Dean of the University of Oklahoma Dr. David Surratt also cited the Pardon and Parole Board's clemency recommendation, asking Stitt to uphold the processes put forth in Oklahoma's state consitution.

The Oklahoma Pardon & Parole Board includes a committee duly appointed by the Governor & two gubernatorial judge appointees. This board has twice recommended clemency in the case of #JuliusJones after significant review & consideration. 1/2  Dr. David Surratt (@DrDavidSurratt) November 17, 2021

Celebrities speak out

Some high-profile public figures have tweeted about Jones, bringing more national attention to the case. Kim Kardashian created an informative thread of tweets explaining the potential outcomes Stitt could decide on. She delved into the history and procedures behind Oklahoma executions, ending the thread by calling Jones' impending execution a "tragic miscarriage of justice."

I want to give u all an update on Julius Jones. We are all anxiously awaiting a decision from Governor Stitt.  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) November 16, 2021

Alicia Keys echoed Kardashian's sentiment, quote tweeting King's call for action and tagging Stitt directly. Chance the Rapper also tweeted at Stitt, asking him to "do the right thing."

Do the right thing @GovStitt Do not murder Julius Jones today. Keep emailing and calling the phones ppl. Keep praying. #JusticeforJulius  https://t.co/6DBZ6Teu2c pic.twitter.com/r9l5g46HpQ  Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) November 18, 2021

Stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell posted a video to his Twitter thread explaining some background on Jones' case and expressing his belief in Jones' innocence. Bell linked petitions in the tweet, urging others to show their support to Gov. Stitt.

#JuliusJones is scheduled to be executed by Oklahoma @GovStitt tomorrow on November 18. Julius did not commit the crime hes accused of. WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD! Make videos. Share videos. Contact your folks in Oklahoma!https://t.co/MBXGCcfClBhttps://t.co/MBXGCcfClB pic.twitter.com/Ag3GnJzvOi  W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) November 18, 2021

In similar fashion, Mandy Patinkin sat down behind a camera to offer his thoughts. Patinkin also referenced the Pardon and Parole Board and provided his followers with resources to contact the governor' office prior to to Stitt's decision.

Pardon & parole board recommended 3-1 to grant clemency & commute his sentence to life with the possibility of parole. Link in bio to contact Governor Stitt and respectfully ask that he follow the boards recommendation to grant clemency. Please take action now. #justiceforjulius pic.twitter.com/VLthhQI52G  Mandy Patinkin (@PatinkinMandy) November 16, 2021

Head Coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, voiced his support of Jones' innocence, citing the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voting 3-1 in favor of clemency. "Here we are literally hours away from an innocent man being executed."

NBA star Dwayne Wade is also supporting justice for Julius Jones.

Entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, also sat down and wrote a letter to Governor Stitt on Jones' behalf.

An open letter to @GovStitt of Oklahoma. I hope you will follow your own Parole Boards recommendation and grant clemency to Julius Jones: https://t.co/P9jBCjBfux #JusticeforJulius pic.twitter.com/4KfOXaNo9m  Richard Branson (@richardbranson) November 18, 2021

Still more to do

The Black Times shared a video of a protestors rejoicing, crying, and hugging once the decision came through.

#Breaking #News @GovStitt has granted Julius Jones clemency, hearing that he commuted his sentence to life without parole. pic.twitter.com/wsAQD5Eown  The Black Times Oklahoma News (@TheBlackTimesOK) November 18, 2021

While celebrating Stitt's decision, many supporters of Jones are calling for more action, including ending the death penalty in Oklahoma entirely and freeing Jones from prison. Author Anna J Stewart called for Jones' release from prison.

When you ALMOST get it right... set #JuliusJones free! https://t.co/eIHzy6dmG1  Anna J Stewart's vaccinated & still wears a  (@AJStewartWriter) November 18, 2021

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Julius Jones has been granted clemency. Here's what people
Oklahoma's governor has halted the execution of prisoner Julius Jones hours before he was due to be put to death.

Kevin Stitt said he was commuting the sentence to life imprisonment without parole.

Hundreds of students earlier walked out of school demanding clemency for Jones.

Jones was sentenced to death in 2002 for killing Paul Howell during a carjacking three years earlier. He maintains his innocence.

His case has attracted the support of celebrities including reality TV star Kim Kardashian and anti-death penalty activists.

Jones' execution by lethal injection was scheduled for 16:00 local time (2200 GMT) at the state penitentiary in McAlester.

But Gov Stitt, a Republican, said he intervened "after prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case".

After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.https://t.co/fLsnYnxInw  Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) November 18, 2021

The state's Pardon and Parole Board earlier recommended in a 3-1 majority vote that Jones' sentence be commuted to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The case has attracted widespread attention in recent years, partly due to the 2018 ABC documentary series "The Last Defense".

More than six million people have signed a Justice for Julius petition which states he was put on death row because of "fundamental breakdowns in the system tasked with deciding".

Jones was found guilty of fatally shooting Mr Howell, an insurance executive, during a 1999 carjacking on his driveway.

In October, he was among five people who won stays of execution from a three-judge panel of the 10th Circuit US Court of Appeal.

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"I did not kill Mr Howell," he wrote in a letter to the parole board in April, after exhausting his appeals.

"I did not participate in any way in his murder; and the first time I saw him was on television when his death was reported."

But Mr Howell's relatives have said Jones' calls for clemency have victimised them further.
Kevin Gough, the defence attorney for William Roddie Bryan, in Glynn County Courthouse (AP)

The footage of Black 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery being chased and gunned down by three white men in a mostly-white neighbourhood near Brunswick, Georgia, last February sparked outrage across the world, with his name becoming a rallying cry for protesters demanding an end to systemic racism.

But, inside the Glynn County Superior Court where the three men are now on trial for his murder, much of the controversy has centered around an attorney for one of the defendants.

After the defence has spent the last 18 months arguing that race had nothing to do with the shooting death of Mr Arbery, attorney Kevin Gough has been making a string of complaints about Black pastors attending the trial.

Mr Gough, who represents William Roddie Bryan Jr, first raised eyebrows (even among those in his own defence team) when he complained last Thursday about Rev Al Sharptons presence in the courtroom and argued that having high-profile members of the African-American community present at the trial was intimidating and an attempt to pressure or influence the jury.

We dont want any more Black pastors coming in here, he told the court, before launching into a bizarre comparison to bringing in Colonel Sanders dressed in white masks.

The following day, the attorney stood up in the court and apologised to anyone who might have inadvertently been offended by his comments and the judge refused his request to ban Black pastors from the courtroom.

But, on Monday, Mr Gough was at it again, asking the judge to remove civil rights leader Rev Jesse Jackson from the courtroom.

As his argument fell on deaf ears, he then chose another line of attack on the veteran civil rights leader - complaining that his face mask was down below his nose.

Mr Gough, meanwhile, has been maskless for the entirety of the trial, even admitting during his complaint against Rev Jackson that he is not a big believer in masks.

The attorney made yet another play the following day, filing a motion to keep a record on who appears in the courtroom.

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Then on Wednesday, he asked the judge to declare a mistrial because of Rev Jacksons presence in the courtroom.

Despite each request being denied by the judge, Mr Gough persevered again on Thursday in asking the court to exclude Rev Sharpton and Rev Jackson from the courtroom.

The attorney admitted that even he had lost count of how many times he had raised the complaint. Once again, his request was denied.

While Mr Goughs complaint about Black pastors has proven unpopular, its perhaps also surprising coming from an attorney who used to be a public defender and previously had a strong relationship with the local NAACP chapter.

But Mr Gough isnt one to shy away from controversy.

The experienced criminal defence attorney hit headlines back in 2016 when he was fired from his role as Circuit Public Defender for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit and threatened to go on hunger strike.

And he has a bizarre link to the trial of Mr Bryan and his co-defendants Gregory and Travis McMichael after this firing came about in part because of his criticism of the very same district attorney now facing criminal charges for her handling of the McMichaels arrests for Mr Arberys murder.

The Arbery family attorney Ben Crump, Rev Al Sharpton and Ahmaud Arberys family outside the courthouse last week (AP)

Now 59, Mr Gough is a well-known figure around the legal world of Brunswick where he has worked as an attorney since 1987.

He attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia before studying at the University of Georgia Law School.

For the three decades since, he has worked as an attorney in Georgia including as an assistant district attorney and then as Brunswick Judicial Court public defender, according to his company website.

He was appointed to the role of Brunswick Judicial Circuit public defender in 2012 - a role where he represented the poorest, most disadvantaged clients until his dramatic firing four years later.

He also spent two years as the legal director of the Poor and Minority Justice Association of Georgia - a civil rights origination defending poor and minority communities and founded by well-known minister Clayton Cowart.

In 2020, Mr Gough represented a group of worshippers of the ministers Redeeming Love Church of God the Bibleway who continued holding church services in defiance of the states shelter-in-place order during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, Mr Gough runs his own criminal defence law firm Kevin Gough Firm LLC.

Mr Gough is also a proud Republican and has twice been elected as chair of the Republican Party of Glynn County and has served on the district and state committees of the Georgia GOP, according to a biography on the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Before his controversial defence strategy as Mr Bryans attorney, Mr Gough last hit headlines over his 2016 firing as Brunswick Judicial Court public defender which divided opinion in the local area.

Just two weeks before he was ousted by the Georgia Public Defender Council, the firebrand public defender had given an interview with CBS47 criticising Jackie Johnson, the district attorney of Brunswick at the time.

He accused the DA of holding cases hostage, delaying the pursuit of justice for poor clients, wasting taxpayer money, and being too cozy with local police officers.

He also said Ms Johnson wanted him out of his position.

Kevin Gough surrounded by members of the Brunswick NAACP chapter after he was fired as Brunswick Judicial Circuit public defender in 2016 (CBS47)

Days later, the council released a statement saying Mr Gough had been terminated amid allegations of poor representation of defendants and ill-treatment of assistant public defenders in his office, Brunswick News reported at the time.

Mr Gough denied the allegations and claimed he was being retaliated against for speaking out against the DA.

Surrounded by members of the Brunswick NAACP chapter, he announced to the media that he was going on hunger strike until he was reinstated and until issues raised by the NAACP Brunswick chapters Legal Redress Committee Chairman Rev Zack Lyde were addressed.

Civil rights activist Rev Leonard Small also spoke out in support of Mr Gough saying supporters were ready to fight for the rights of people unable to afford an attorney.

Take the person who is most capable of defending the poor, the needy and the downtrodden and remove him from the office, what will they replace it with? With someone who will go about to get along, he said at the time.

However, the then-Georgia Public Defender Council Executive Director Bryan Tyson who fired Mr Gough said his firing was down to several reasons including claims the attorney had retaliated against a female employee in his office who had complained about being sexually harassed by another employee.

Mr Tyson told the appeals hearing that Mr Gough had created a culture of fear and intimidation in the office and had also engaged in a media campaign against Ms Johnson, reported the New York Times.

Ms Johnson has since been ousted from her role as DA and criminally charged over her handling of the investigation into Mr Arberys death.

Ms Johnson has known Gregory McMichael for several years, after the former police officer spent two decades working as an investigator in her DAs office.

On the day of Mr Arberys death, prosecutors said Gregory McMichael called the DA and left a voicemail asking for advice.

Ms Johnson is accused of directing police officers not to arrest Travis McMichael for Mr Arberys death and showing favour to her former colleague during the investigation.

Ms Johnson then recused herself from the investigation.

Jackie Johnson in a mugshot after being arrested and charged over her handling of the investigation into Ahmaud Arberys death (Glynn County Sheriffs Office)

No charges were brought against the McMichaels or Mr Bryan for three months after the shooting, until footage of the incident was leaked online and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case.

This September, Ms Johnson was charged with violating the oath of a public officer and obstruction and hindering a law enforcement officer over the case. She denies the allegations.

Before the case of Mr Arberys death, Ms Johnson also faced accusations of mishandling an investigation into the police shooting death of 35-year-old mother-of-two Caroline Small.

Ms Small was unarmed when two Glynn County police officers opened fire on her car, with eight bullets passing through the windshield and striking her in the head. The two police officers were never charged.

Several former prosecutors in Ms Johnsons office accused her of prosecutorial misconduct and a cover-up in that case.

Mr Goughs ties to the DA have come full circle as he is representing Gregory McMichaels codefendant Mr Bryan in the trial currently taking place at Glynn County Courthouse.

Aside from his repeated complaints and his racially-charged comments about the make-up of the public gallery in the trial, Mr Gough has also garnered attention throughout the trial for other reasons.

Kevin Gough with his client William Roddie Bryan Jr during the trial of the three white men accused of murdering Ahmaud Arbery (AP)

He has made repeated requests for a mistrial - including once before opening statements and once because Mr Arberys mother became emotional in court at the sight of her sons bloodied corpse.

He also claimed it was against the jurors constitutional rights to come to the trial on Veterans Day.

And he complained that the jury pool lacked any bubbas or Joe six-packs - white men aged over 40 without college degrees - claiming he wanted a diverse jury.

This was before he and the other defence attorneys struck Black prospective jurors from the pool leaving a jury of 11 white people and one Black person in a move the judge described as an act of intentional discrimination.

This week, Mr Gough gave his opening statements after he was the only defence attorney to make the unusual request to wait to give his opening statement until after the prosecution rested its case.

He tried to distance Mr Bryan from the McMichaels saying that - where the father and son picked up their guns - he had picked up his cellphone before jumping in his pickup and chasing Mr Arbery.

That speak volumes about Mr Bryans intentions, Mr Gough said - before making his latest striking comment that his clients home looked like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Read More

Ahmaud Arbery: Travis McMichael takes the stand to give my side of the story in shooting of Black jogger

Jurors see graphic photos of Ahmaud Arberys gaping gunshot wounds and white t-shirt stained red with blood

A modern-day lynching or citizens arrest?: How race is central to the trial of Ahmaud Arberys killers

Were going to bring 100: Ahmaud Arbery family lawyer reacts to defence complaint of Black pastors in court
Former Trump Victory Committee finance chair Kimberly Guilfoyle (Getty Images)

Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host now dating Donald Trump Jr, was personally involved in fundraising efforts for the rally attended by former President Donald Trump on the day of the Capitol siege, texts obtained by ProPublica show.

Ms Guilfoyle bragged about raising millions in one text, sent just two days before the riot occurred, to Katrina Pierson, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman. Ms Pierson was one of several subpoenaed by the House committee investigating the 6 January attack for her role in organising the rally outside of the White House at which Mr Trump directed crowds of his supporters to fight as Congress certified his election defeat.

In one text, Ms Guilfoyle said that she wanted to introduce her boyfriend onstage at the event, adding to Ms Pierson that she had "raised so much money for this, according to ProPublica.

Another text claimed that one donor alone, Julie, had donated 3 million for the event.

A lawyer for Ms Guilfoyle claimed that the content of that text and others was inaccurate in a statement to ProPublica, but did not elaborate on what Ms Guilfoyle was supposedly talking about if not the rally that occurred two days later. The attorney also had no explanation as to what other event at which she would ask to introduce her boyfriend, or why else she would be speaking to an organiser of the 6 January rally.

Ms Guilfoyles attorney also disputed the assertion that a text by his client reading this is the list we approved proved that she had a role in approving speakers for the rally, despite it being in response to a text from Ms Pierson which read: All I know is that someone leaked a list of speakers that the WH had not seen or approved, according to ProPublica.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Guilfoyles attorney for further comment.

Neither Ms Guilfoyle nor Mr Trump Jr have been the targets of subpoenas by the House select committee tasked with investigating the 6 January attack on the Capitol thus far. Ms Guilfoyles newly reported role in the rally that day could change that, as the committee has already targeted a broad number of individuals associated with the event.

Story continues

Ms Guilfoyle served as chair of the finance committee on the Trump Victory Committee, a joint fundraising effort launched by the 2020 Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.

She gave an impassioned speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention, and in a backstage video to Trump supporters the day of Capitol attack, she directed viewers to have the courage to do the right thing, fight! as a smiling Trump Jr. looked on.

Read More

McCarthy says Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene might get committee assignments back

No settlement for separated migrant families amid criticism

Biden bill includes boost for union-made electric vehicles
Colorado's first foray into the emerging technology of using fixed-wing aircraft to fight wildfires at night ended in tragedy Tuesday when a specially equipped plane crashed in rugged terrain near Estes Park, killing its pilot.

CO Fire Aviation identified its pilot killed in the crash as Marc Thor Olson. In a post on Facebook, the company said Olson was a highly decorated veteran of the Army and Air Force with 32 years of service and that he had amassed more than 8,000 total flight hours with 1,000 hours of night vision goggle flying, including in combat and in his civilian life.

"Our family is deeply saddened by the sudden, tragic loss of one of our brothers,'' the post stated. "We ask that family and friends be given distance and time to process and heal as we grieve this loss.''

In the post, the company said it is fully cooperating with the proper authorities and partners during the investigation and that it is "gravely aware of the inherent dangers of aerial fire fighting and the questions that remain.''

Olson was the pilot and sole occupant of the Air Tractor AT-802 in the crash, according to a previous release by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office.

The Fort Morgan-based operation is among a handful of pioneering companies using new technology to fight wildfires at night. It demonstrated the plane's capabilities during a demonstration in May at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport, from which Tuesday's flight took off.

The cause of the crash is being investigated by National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration.

Ben Miller, director of Grand Junction-based Colorado Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting, said the crash was heartbreaking and that the aviation community lost a friend.

"There are some new things we try for all the right reasons and after all the correct processes and yet it turns out with the worst scenario,'' Miller said. "We should look at the pilot as a hero for his willingness to advance technology and honor the sacrifice he made.''

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Here is how the crash unfolded and a look at the new technology's pros and cons.

More: What we know about the Kruger Rock Fire near Estes Park

Weather conditions caused problems

The fire started about 7 a.m. Tuesday due to strong wind that blew a tree onto powerlines that sparked the fire, according to the sheriff's office.

By noon Tuesday, the northwest wind was variable at 5 to 13 mph and gusting to 25 to 34 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. Wind was gusting to an estimated 45 mph along the ridges near Kruger Rock, where the fire started.

The wind prevented the use of aerial support to fight the fire during the day, and steep, wooded terrain and swirling winds prevented firefighters from battling the blaze from the ground.

Fortunately, the northwest wind was blowing the fire away from the southeast edge of Estes Park and didn't imminently threaten structures. But the fire prompted the sheriff's office to issue mandatory evacuations of nearby residents and businesses, and Estes Park High School was closed.

By late afternoon, the wind helped the fire crest the ridgeline and push it east onto Roosevelt National Forest ground toward U.S. Highway 36, where some businesses and residential subdivisions were evacuated.

Fire command told the Coloradoan the forecast was for the wind to subside by late Tuesday afternoon, which might allow for aerial support.

The weather service had issued a red flag warning for much of the Front Range until 5 p.m. Tuesday. The warning area was near but did not include Larimer County.

Photos: Kruger Rock Fire burns near Estes Park

Tracking the flight

Larimer County was in command of the fire and requested the use of the Air Tractor AT-802 owned by CoFire Aviation, with which the county has a verbal "call when needed'' contract for its services, a sheriff's office spokesperson confirmed.

FlightAware shows the plane left Fort Morgan Municipal Airport at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. It dropped a load of water on the fire, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, arriving at the Loveland airport at 4:38 p.m. It then left for its second fire mission at 6:13 p.m. and contact was lost at 6:36 p.m.

Flightradar24 shows the plane left the airport and circled in the fire area several times before it crashed.

The National Weather Service in Boulder said its data indicated wind in the area at the time of the crash to be from the northwest at 17 mph, gusting to 34 mph.

The sheriff's office said the wreckage was located at 9:49 p.m. in the vicinity of the south end of Hermit Park.

The park is home to the county-managed Hermit Park Open Space, which is about 2 to 3 miles southeast of Estes Park and about a mile from where the Kruger Rock Fire started. It sits among ponderosa pine forests and meadows at 7,880 to 8,964 feet with Kruger Rock jutting upward to 9,400 feet.

New technology comes with risk, rewards

Co Fire Aviation co-founders Chris Doyle and Kyle Scott first started looking at the possibility of conducting night firefighting operations in 2010, according to an article in Aerial Fire magazine.

According to the article, Olson was in charge of designing "an intensive training program'' and selecting the latest technology to aid in mission safety, which most notably came with advances in night vision goggles to help pilots see better.

In 2017, the company began testing of the technology with the Oregon Department of Forestry, with whom it signed a contract for its services.

That same year, it signed a five-year contract with the state of Colorado to provide on-call aerial firefighting services.

The Division of Fire Prevention and Control stated in its Wednesday release that the plane that crashed was contracted by Larimer County and that it was "not a state-owned aircraft or an aircraft flying under a state contract.''

The agency, which has conducted studies of the use of aircraft in night operations on wildland fire through its Center of Excellence in Rifle, said it is too early to know the cause of the crash and whether it was related to night operations,.

In a 9News interview in May before the demonstration in Loveland, company spokesperson Zachery Sullivan said the plane drops retardant from an altitude of 60 to 80 feet, adding, "That is pretty close to the ground, day or night.''

He went on to address the misconception of a pilot's vision during nighttime operations.

"There's all these things out there that could cause an accident. You can see them better at night than you can during the day,'' said Sullivan, a tanker pilot. "A power line is extremely difficult to see during the day. We always look for the power poles, not the power lines, but with this technology we see the lines.''

In addition to night vision goggles, the technology includes using airplanes with infrared lights and people on the ground with lasers to direct drop zones.

Despite the inherent risks, some experts say the technology is accurate, effective and safe because night flying usually involves less wind and cooler temperatures, and because fire conditions usually subside at night.

Helicopters have been used in night fire suppression operations for several years before fixed-wing aircraft began flying the missions.

Miller pointed out the U.S. Department of Defense has used the technology during "millions of hours of flight time.''

"The concept of putting aircraft at high speed close to the ground and releasing stuff from aircraft at night is nothing new,'' he said. "Close air support in either case is similar.''

Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports  you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: What to know about night aerial firefighting after fatal Kruger Rock fire plane crash
Lake Local Schools Board of Education

Wednesday meeting

KEY ACTION: Approved the purchase of three new buses.

DISCUSSION: The purchase was made in accordance with the Council of Government Cooperative bid. Each bus cost $93,705 each, less a to-be-determined trade-in amount.

OTHER ACTIONS:

Held the monthly Hartville Lions Club, Uniontown Lions Club and the Lake Board of Education recognition program. The following students and staff were recognized: Avery Gerbetz and Levi Hibbs, third grade; Elizabeth Hawrylak and Brody Kutzera, fifth grade; Olivia Lemos and Evan Wensel, eighth grade; Shayla Wood and Ethan Armstrong, 12th grade. Also, recognized Joan Kostiuk, teacher of the month, Stacy Booth employee of the month, and Kari Willoughby, volunteer of the month.

The board approved an overnight trip for the Lake Middle/High School band to Disney World Park in Orlando, Florida. The cost will be paid by the students. If the trip is canceled, the school will help facilitate a refund, but it will not be responsible for non-reimbursed funds.

Accepted a $100 donation from the Lake Elementary PTO to benefit the Lake Local Schools Care Team.

Authorized sending the five-year forecast to the Ohio Department of Education as required.

UP NEXT: Meets 6 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Lake Elementary cafetorium.

 Patricia Faulhaber

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Lake Local school board approves buying school buses
The law firm that represented Marylands historically Black universities in a long-running lawsuit against the state is donating $12.5 million to colleges and nonprofits from the fees it was awarded when the case settled.

The Kirkland & Ellis firm, led by attorney Michael D. Jones, represented alumni and supporters of Marylands historically Black colleges and universities as they challenged systemic underfunding of the schools by the state government. After a 15-year legal and political saga, the case was settled this year when state lawmakers approved hundreds of millions of dollars in extra funding for the HBCUs in future state budgets.

As part of the settlement, the state agreed to pay $22 million in legal fees and costs, with $12.5 million going to Kirkland & Ellis. The remainder went to the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, which also provided legal representation for plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Kirkland & Ellis is now sending all of the money it received back into the community because it took the lawsuit on a pro bono, or charitable, basis.

So many of us became lawyers to fight injustice and give our clients a fair shake not only in the courtroom, but also in society. This case has allowed me, and my colleagues, to do just that, Jones said in a statement. Im gratified by this entire experience, including knowing that this donation will go directly to helping future lawyers gain valuable experience and to fight for justice for others.

The donations include:

$5 million to the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice in New Orleans to create an endowment that will fund paid internships for students at civil rights and public interest organizations.

$3 million to Morgan State Universitys Robert M. Bell Center for Civil Rights in Education to fund the centers racial justice initiatives and fellowships for students.

$2 million for the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law to establish a fellowship program for students including those studying law at HBCUs.

$1 million to the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education for fellowships and internships, particularly on Capitol Hill.

$600,000 to Howard Universitys Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center.

$600,000 to the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, which is the group that brought the HBCU lawsuit in Maryland.

$250,000 to the African Methodist Episcopal Church Second District for advocacy work and scholarships for HBCU students.

Under the law that was passed and the legal settlement, for the next decade, an extra $57.7 million per year will be divided among the states four public HBCUs: Coppin State University and Morgan State University in Baltimore, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne.

University leaders have been working on plans for how to spend the money, which will start flowing in 2023. Ideas include expanding academic programs for in-demand fields such as technology and healthcare, providing more services and financial aid to low-income students and expanding graduate and certificate programs.
A Democratic congressman is asking defense leaders to strip all military benefits from Michael Flynn, President Donald Trumps first national security adviser, for his violent efforts to undermine American democracy.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. and a former Marine who served in the Iraq War, said the move is needed to make an example of the retired lieutenant general, who has courted controversy in recent years.

Over the past months, Mr. Flynn has made inflammatory and deeply troubling comments, including suggesting the U.S. military seize voting machines and deploy its capabilities to swing states, Gallego wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday.

Just this week, reporting suggests that he attempted to influence at least one [Defense Department] official to seize ballots and otherwise involve the DoD in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. These outrageous actions are unacceptable for anyone who currently serves or previously served in uniform.

Lawmaker wants to strip benefits from veterans involved in Januarys attack on Congress

Flynn served for 33 years in the Army, including a stint as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. He later served as a key defense policy voice for Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and was named as the presidents national security adviser in January 2017.

He lasted only 22 days in that position before being forced to resign from the post. A few months later he pled guilty to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian officials during the campaign.

Trump later pardoned Flynn, who has espoused increasingly radical views about government conspiracies.

The 2020 election accusations stem from a new book released this week  Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, written by ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl  which states that Flynn pushed Defense Department officials to take possession of state ballots to stop the Democrats from stealing the election.

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Gallego said Flynns actions amount to treason.

Any retiree or servicemember who suggests committing treasonous acts such as overthrowing our democratically-elected government forfeits their moral entitlement to the support of the people of the United States, he wrote.

College wont revoke retired Army three-star Michael Flynns honorary degree

Insurrectionists like Mr. Flynn should not enjoy the benefits meant for those who have honorably upheld their oath to defend this country.

Earlier this year, Gallego requested that Veterans Affairs officials deny benefits to any current or former military members involved with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building as lawmakers certified the 2020 presidential election results. VA leaders did not follow through on that request.

Flynn is also facing potential legal action for refusing a subpoena from a House committee investigating the January 6 attack.
By Tyler Clifford and Brendan O'Brien

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A lawyer for Andrew Cuomo on Thursday called on New York state Attorney General Letitia James to recuse herself from any decisions regarding the sexual harassment case against the former governor, saying her gubernatorial campaign created a conflict of interest.

"Her office must recuse as she is campaigning for governor," said Rita Galvin, a lawyer for Cuomo, calling attention to James' campaign announcement a day after the Albany County Sheriff's Office charged Cuomo with a misdemeanor sex offense.

"Her judgment in those months was absolutely compromised by her political motivations," Galvin said, referring to the weeks before James' office issued a report that found Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women.

Cuomo has denied wrongdoing. He said in August he accepted "full responsibility" for what he characterized as ill-conceived attempts to be affectionate or humorous, but said he would resign for the good of the state.[nL1N2PH1JI]

James' office says it is standing by the sexual misconduct report and the women who came forward with allegations against the former governor.

In a statement, the office characterized Cuomo's tactics as "school yard bullying" and a way for the former governor to keep his name in the spotlight.

"Todays embarrassing press conference was simply dramatics and faux outrage," the statement said. "If Andrew Cuomo didnt want to be accused of sexual harassment, he shouldnt have sexually harassed multiple women in the first place.

James, 63, announced on Oct. 29 that she would challenge fellow Democrat Kathy Hochul, the former lieutenant governor, who replaced Cuomo when he stepped down on Aug. 24 after more than 10 years in office. The gubernatorial election is to be held next November.

James said the five-month independent investigation concluded that Cuomo had engaged in conduct that violated multiple federal and state laws.

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Galvin called the report's contents into question, saying that James had personal motivations to redact certain parts of transcripts and evidence.

The redactions had motivations to cause less damage to some and more damage to others, she said. Galvin also requested that tens of thousands of documents used in the investigation be released.

A criminal complaint charging Cuomo with a misdemeanor sex offense was filed on Oct. 29 in a court in Albany, the state capital.

Galvin also called for James to recuse herself from any investigation that is looking into whether Cuomo and his administration misused state resources to write and promote a book he published last October about his leadership during the early months of the pandemic.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Leslie Adler)
Henry Montgomery arrives in Baton Rouge, La. after being released from the Louisiana State Penitentiary, after serving 58 years in prison, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.

In 1963, Henry Montgomery was skipping school when a plainclothes officer walked up on him. As a Black teen living in the South, he was startled by the white man so he shot him. Montgomery was just 17 and didnt know the man hed just shot was East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Deputy Charles Hurt. Montgomery was initially sentenced to death but was later re-sentenced to life in prison.



On Wednesday, after 58 years in prison, a three-member Louisiana parole board voted unanimously in favor of Montgomerys parole.

Read more

NBC News notes that Montgomery, who spent his entire adult life in Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, was upbeat after learning of his release.

Its wonderful. Everything has changed. Its a whole new game, he said.

Montgomery, who has always taken responsibility for his crime, was remorseful for what happened that day in 1963.

Im really sorry that I, that this happened, Montgomery said during his hearing, NBC News reports. I am going to have to live with this all my life, the rest of my life.

From NBC News:

Greeting Montgomery upon his release was Andrew Hundley, the first former juvenile lifer in Louisiana to have been released because of Montgomerys Supreme Court case. After his release following nearly 20 years in prison, Hundley co-founded the Louisiana Parole Project, a nonprofit group that helps former inmates re-enter life outside prison. Montgomery will now be part of the program. Today, Henry being home is a symbol of hope, Hundley said. For individuals who go to prison when they are young people, Henry coming home is a message to them that their lives matter and that they can redeem themselves and that they are better than the worst mistake that they ever made. Hundley said it says a lot about Montgomerys character that he was happy and full of grace in knowing that people were able to come home after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that holds his name.

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Not everyone was happy to hear that Montgomery was being released. Hurts daughter, Linda Hurt Woods, noted that she doesnt believe Montgomery is sorry.

I dont believe hes sorry. He made a decision at 17 years old, she said. You know right from wrong at 17 years old. I did. I was raised if I made a mistake, I suffered the consequences.

In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that life sentences for juveniles were unconstitutional. The decision said in part that science showed that it is increasingly clear that adolescent brains are not yet fully mature in regions and systems related to higher-order executive functions such as impulse control, planning ahead, and risk avoidance, NBC News notes.

In 2019, Montgomery told NBC News Lester Holt he wasnt upset that several juveniles had benefited from his case and hoped that more would be released.

Montgomery was denied parole in 2019 and was still upbeat.

Im going to keep my mind on trying to get out, he said. You got to keep your hope alive.
Former Lubbock County Republican party chairman Carl Tepper on Wednesday announced his candidate for the Lubbock-based Texas House District 84 seat in the March primary.

Tepper, a commercial real-estate developer and businessman, released a statement Wednesday, announcing his candidacy with the endorsement of State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock.

"Carl is a staunch supporter of small government, low property taxes, the Second Amendment and the sanctity of life," Perry said in a statement. "Carl is a proven product, a personal friend, and the right person for the challenges we face as a nation, state and community."

Tepper is running for the the Lubbock County-based HD 84 seat currently held by State Rep. John Frullo, also a Republican. Earlier this month, Frullo announced he will not seek re-election to the seat he's held since 2010.

Tepper is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a military aviator with over 20 combat-support missions and was awarded the Air Medal for actions during the Persian Gulf War, according to the release. He then graduated from Texas Tech and is now a commercial real estate professional in Lubbock.

Tepper

With the Biden Administration doing everything it can to undermine Texas' booming economy, create chaos on our border, and insult our values and way of life, Texas needs strong conservative leaders to step up and fight back, Tepper said. "As your state representative, I promise to always stand up for our values and economy, and we need genuine Red Raiders to defend Texas Tech."

Tepper says he was the first Republican Party leader in Texas to endorse Donald Trump for President and was later appointed a surrogate speaker and Statewide Field Director for the Trump campaign. He was an active Chairman of the Lubbock Co. Republican Party and was elected by his peers to serve as President of the Texas Republican County Chairmens Association, a great honor and tough job.

Tepper and his wife Robyn reside in Lubbock with their daughter, Claudia, and are members of the Indiana Ave Baptist Church. Tepper is active in his community, a longtime volunteer with The Salvation Army, President of the Sunset Saddle Club, and a frequent guest host on NewsTalk KFYO.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock realtor, businessman Carl Tepper running for Texas House 84 seat
MADEIRA BEACH  When 77-year-old Bill Gay bought a condo in Madeira Beach nearly a decade ago, he pictured a relaxing retirement in the walkable coastal town of about 4,000 residents.

But once Gay began following local commission meetings, he decided to put his free time to work  suing the city.

I dont golf and my knees are shot, so I cant play tennis anymore, said Gay, a former government consultant. But I am interested in honest government.

In a lawsuit filed last month against the City of Madeira Beach and four commission members, Gay alleged that officials violated the Sunshine Law when they decided behind closed doors to fire city attorney Ralf Brookes, replacing him with former city attorney Tom Trask, in a ploy to push development deals.

The stakes in this case are especially high. If a court rules in Gays favor, a turnover in Madeiras governing ranks would likely follow.

Thats because a city charter amendment, passed by voters in 2019, requires commissioners who knowingly violate the Sunshine Law to forfeit their office.

... a Commissioner shall forfeit office if the commissioner is found by the Florida Ethics Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction to have knowingly violated the Sunshine Law, Ethics Laws, or Public Records Laws. A Special Magistrate shall make the final decision concerning forfeiture of office if a Commissioner requests a forfeiture hearing, the charter reads.

Gay has fought and won a Sunshine lawsuit against the commission before.

In 2017, he brought complaints against the city alleging that commissioners violated the Sunshine Law when they used a secret ballot process to appoint local developer Housh Ghovaee to the commission in 2016, and did not follow appropriate procedures when approving development plans for a large hotel.

The court ruled in Gays favor in both cases, finding that the city had violated the law. Ghovaee was removed from the commission, and the development project was scaled back. The city paid Gays attorneys about $135,000 in legal fees.

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Notably, Trask was the city attorney for Madeira Beach at the time. Soon after, he left his position. He did not work with the city again until his reappointment last year.

In the current lawsuit, Gay points to the previous rulings as context and builds his case around four public meetings held in April 2020 during which Brookes was fired and Trask rehired.

Commissioners were well aware that during Trasks former tenure as City attorney in 2016-17 he was responsible for advising the City in matters which the court found violated the Sunshine and Public Records laws, the lawsuit reads. By appointing Trask, the Commissioners had confidence they could proceed with their redevelopment plans without complying with the Citys rezoning ordinances, just as they had during Trasks Former Tenure.

The development plans referenced are for the Schooner Resort, a planned nine-story hotel on the west side of Gulf Boulevard, which would become the tallest hotel in the small beach city. The commission approved plans for the project in July, and a petition has since been filed in court in opposition.

(The commission) violated the Sunshine Law before, and theyre doing it again, Gay said. There is a rule of law and our city officials need to follow it.

Named defendants in the case are Madeira Beach Mayor John Hendricks and commissioners Douglas Andrews, Nancy Hodges and Helen Price. The city also is a defendant in the complaint. Commissioner David Hutson is the only sitting board member not to be named. He was not serving at the time.

Hendricks and Andrews declined multiple requests for comment on the case, citing pending litigation. Hodges and Price did not return repeated requests for comment. Andrew Salzman, the attorney representing the defendants, also did not respond.

Sunshine refresher

Floridas Government-in-the-Sunshine Law was established to ensure government agencies operate with openness and transparency. The law protects the publics right to engage with the government by requiring governing agencies and elected officials to make all decisions relative to public office in the sunshine, and not behind closed doors. Floridas open government laws are among the strongest in the nation.

Pamela Marsh, president of the Florida First Amendment Foundation and a former U.S. attorney, said that the law is foundational to a healthy democracy. It protects the public by giving citizens the ability to participate in government decision-making.

The law protects the publics right to be heard because thats the way good governance happens, Marsh said.

Among other things, Floridas Sunshine Law requires that all discussions of government business among elected officials occur during open meetings, where the public can listen in and where there are set rules about how the meeting is conducted and documented. If two or more elected officials discuss business outside of the publics view, that constitutes a violation of the law.

The Sunshine Law requires that meetings of boards or commissions must be open to the public; reasonable notice of such meetings must be given, and minutes of the meeting must be taken, reads the website for the office of Floridas Attorney General.

In addition to laying out rules for open meetings, the law provides the public with a right to access documents pertaining to official business. That includes emails, meeting notes and personal memos made by those working in a governmental role.

The appointment of a City Attorney was a matter which foreseeably was to come before the Commission and the interviews by members of a collegial body were subject to the Sunshine Law. The interviews, therefore, should have been in public at a public meeting, the lawsuit states.

Gaps in the timeline

While there isnt explicit documentation in the lawsuit filed by Gay that commissioners discussed business outside of public meetings, Gays argument leans on the fact that there were no public interviews or discussions prior to the vote as evidence that a consensus on the hiring decision had been formed outside of the publics view.

The complaint also makes reference to comments made by a commissioner that showed a direct dismissal of the law, as well as citing a memo left by former commissioner John Douthirt suggesting that the four named defendants violated open meetings requirements when they interviewed Trask.

Videos of the meetings and minutes cited in the lawsuit were reviewed by the Times.

The complaint begins on April 14, 2020, when commissioner Douglas Andrews made a motion to dismiss city attorney Ralf Brookes during one of the first commission meetings of the newly elected board.

Brookes declined to be interviewed for this story.

The next day, commissioners gathered for a work session.

At various points during that session, Hendricks, Andrews and Hodges each spoke about the need to abide by the Sunshine Law. The conversation was in regard to proposed changes in the commission handbook and had nothing to do with the city attorney vacancy.

At one point, Andrews said he hoped the administration would operate more in the light than have those that have come before.

There were too many secrets, Andrews said of past administrations. I want to make sure that doesnt happen again, that we are discussing (business) in front of our constituents and our citizenry because I think its really important that we do, and its the law.

Later in the meeting, Andrews took a different tone.

I think part of the problem is that we all dont have each others backs, Andrews said. Look theres nobody that can say theres a violation unless one of us gives out information that this is being discussed or they overhear you discussing and then you have committed a violation. This to me is a little issue and nobody has ever gotten hand slapped for this violation in the past.

At the very end of the meeting, Andrews recommended the commission consider Trask for city attorney.

I did have a conversation today with a potential interim city attorney, Andrews said.

During a work session on April 21, commissioners agreed to hold private interviews with Trask the following day. Similarly, they agreed to call a special meeting for April 28, for the stated purpose of appointing an interim attorney.

In a personal memo written by then-commissioner Douthirt on April 22, submitted as evidence, Douthirt writes that he was contacted by Trask, who already had spoken with the other commissioners, asking if hed like to interview him. Douthirt writes that he declined.

A little honesty would be nice both now and in the future from the commission. It seems to me you had already made your mind up on this, the memo reads.

Two days later, a retainer agreement to pay Trask and his firm $7,000 monthly for legal services was posted to the city website.

On April 28, with no public comment or commission discussion, commissioners voted to appoint Trask as interim city attorney.

Fewer than two minutes passed from the time the agenda item was raised to the time that a vote was taken.

The lone no vote was cast by Douthirt.

The lawsuit states that the private interviews conducted the previous week were neither noticed nor public.

As a result of (the private meetings, the commission) decided to appoint Trask and his law firm as City Attorney and negotiated the terms of his Retainer to be voted upon, the lawsuit reads. ...The only people who could possibly want him back are the ones who benefit (from his appointment).

Although the appointment of Trask was to be interim, the commission voted at the same meeting to table a request for proposal for legal services to fill the position permanently. It has never been reinstated. Trask remains city attorney today.

In an interview with the Times, Douthirt said the commissions handling of the matter is one of the reasons he chose not to seek reelection after serving two terms ending in March.

It wasnt done in the sunshine, Douthirt said. People used to accuse the previous commission of talking among ourselves, and we tried very hard not to be in the same place because of that. But in my heart of hearts, I believe (other commissioners) do talk among themselves and I believe what (Andrews said) really shows that.

Blatant disregard

Sunshine lawsuits arent all that common, according to Frank LoMonte, director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida. Thats because they can be difficult to prove and lengthy to litigate. Often, the reward for doing so is limited to reversal of a government decision. There isnt monetary gain.

For someone to actually take a Sunshine case to court requires a really, really motivated person, because at the end of the case theres not much meaningful relief, LoMonte said. Being sued for a Sunshine violation is a big deal.

LoMonte said that he couldnt comment on the specifics of the case, but he said, the appointment of a city attorney is a major decision, and for any governing body to make that decision without public interviews or discussion is cause for concern.

When a decision of that magnitude is made in a snap, it raises all kinds of suspicions that the real meeting took place outside of the public eye, LoMonte said. You dont normally make a decision of that consequence in a minute. That starts to sound like the decision was really reached offline.

Marsh, from the Florida First Amendment Foundation, said regardless of the outcome of the case, the comment made by Commissioner Andrews dismissing the serious nature of Sunshine Law violations was concerning.

To watch that video (of the meeting) is appalling. There is clearly some evidence that the commission has some blatant disregard for the Sunshine Law, Marsh said, adding that should commissioners doubt the significance of the law, they just need to look at the City of Sebastian, where earlier this year, council members were prosecuted criminally, sentenced and fined for secretive behavior.

This law does have teeth and there are repercussions, Marsh said.

The job of a city attorney is to advise the city on complying with the law, she said.

Not how to circumvent it, or try to stretch it and expand it, Marsh said. But to comply with the spirit of the law.

Gay said thats part of the reason he feels so strongly.

They ignore the citys development code. They ignore the Sunshine act. They do pretty much whatever they want, Gay said. The only way to level the playing field is to take them to court, so that is what weve been doing.

Since the complaint was filed in October, attorneys representing the defendants have submitted two motions to dismiss the case.

Attorney Marcy LaHart, who is representing Gay, called the motions an act of pettifogging.

Theyre trying to slow down the inevitable by fixating on minute details that have no effect on the substance of the case, LaHart said.
Ballard's Maker Bar blocks the shot by CAL's Cole Hodge Tuesday night. The Bruins won 66-61. Feb. 2, 2021

Ballard High School senior Maker Bar, a top contender for Kentuckys 2022 Mr. Basketball award, has signed with the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The 6-foot-10 center averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 1.7 steals last season for a Ballard team that went 21-3 and reached the semifinals of the Sweet 16. He joined former stars DeVante Parker and Kelan Martin as the only Ballard players in Chris Renners 23 seasons as head coach to finish the season with an efficiency rating over 500, doing so with 10 fewer games.

Bar chose UMKC over Eastern Kentucky, Iona and Western Kentucky.

Meeting with the staff and meeting with the players, I felt like I was home, Bar said. It was the love I got from there. And the No. 1 thing is they have the course I want to do with electrical engineering. I just fell in love with the school.

Previous coverage: How Maker Bar made it from South Sudan to Ballard

Bar said he also developed a solid relationship with UMKC assistant coach Steve Payne.

They were the first coaches to come watch me on my first day of practice, Bar said. Just the way he cares about me, Ive never seen any coach do what he does.

Bar was one of two players in the Class of 2022 to earn first-team All-State honors from The Courier Journal last season, joining Ashland Blazer guard Cole Villers.

Bar was born and raised in South Sudan, a landlocked country of 12.7 million people in East-Central Africa. He moved to the United States in the summer of 2019 and played the past two seasons at Ballard.

UMKC is a member of the NCAA Division I Summit League and finished 11-13 last season. The Kangaroos are 2-2 this season after beating Kansas Christian 99-36 on Wednesday.

They like the versatility Maker has, Renner said. Hes not a low-post player. They see his ability to shoot the basketball, his ability to guard on the perimeter. That was a big selling point to them.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Ballard basketball star Maker Bar signs with Missouri-Kansas City
Police had been looking for Travis Shane Tarrants since just before noon Monday, when a man wearing camouflage clothing showed a bank teller the handle of a gun, placed a bag on the counter and demanded money during a robbery.

A surveillance camera outside Old National Bank on West Third Street in Bloomington showed a man matching the appearance of the robber parking a truck near the bank and later leaving in the vehicle. The license plate was visible, and police were looking for the driver.

On Tuesday, detectives in the area of Lake Monroe saw the truck northbound on Ind. 446 near Cutright State Recreation Area. They confronted 45-year-old Tarrants in the parking lot of the nearby Fishin' Shedd and told him he was under arrest, accused of robbing the bank.

"As officers were in the process of handcuffing Tarrants, he resisted arrest and attempted to get back inside his vehicle. At one point while officers were trying to gain control of Tarrants, he grabbed an officers handgun and attempted to remove it from the officers holster," Bloomington Police Department Capt. Ryan Pedigo said in a news release.

No shelter: Low-barrier homeless shelter not in works for Bloomington this winter

Tarrants was subdued and taken to jail. Police said a search of the truck he was driving turned up a backpack that contained clothing that matched those worn by the bank robbery suspect and also a black BB pistol that resembled the one shown during the robbery.

After speaking with investigators, Tarrants, who has a Spencer address, was transported to the Monroe County Jail on $15,000 surety and $1,500 cash bond. He is charged with three felonies: armed robbery, attempted disarming of a law enforcement officer and resisting law enforcement resulting in injury.

An initial hearing in Monroe Circuit Court was scheduled for Thursday. It won't be the first time Tarrants will stand before a judge and hear the criminal charges against him read aloud.

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Robbery suspect recently released from state prison

Tarrants was released from state prison earlier this year after serving a 5-year term he received after pleading guilty to two counts of felony stalking in connection with a bizarre 2016 case in Jackson County.

According to a detective's report filed in Jackson Circuit Court, Tarrants applied in the spring of 2016 for a fourth-grade teaching position and basketball coaching job in the Springs Valley School Corp. in Orange County.

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When he didn't get hired, police say he retaliated by accusing the man who got the job of having sex with students, threatening to kill the man's fiancee and baby, and sending dead animals in the mail to school officials and the hired teacher.

The report says there were four calls to the Department of Child Services alleging sexual abuse perpetrated by the man who got the teaching job instead of Tarrants. The calls came from a pay phone located behind the West Baden French Lick Museum. Tarrants was employed there as the director.

Threatening phone calls, messages and dead animals connected to previous case

A Springs Valley teacher who served on the museum board of directors identified the voice on the recorded calls as Tarrants, court records show.

The museum director also was accused of threatening in voicemail messages to kill the newly hired teacher, his fiancee and their child unless the teacher resigned.

"This is no joke. We're coming after you and your (expletive) little baby and this is not a joke. Tell (the man) to resign or you die," one message said.

A July 2017 plea agreement dismissed two felony allegations of intimidation for the threats and also two misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief accusing Tarrants of using white spray paint to put threatening messages on the two victim's cars.

Then there were the dead wild animals. "Four packages containing dead skunks and one raccoon have been placed in the U.S. mail," the detective's report states.

One package, with two dead skunks inside, was sent to the school district office in Seymour where the fiancee was a teacher. Another two, each containing one dead skunk and with return addresses of area high school sports officials, were sent to the teacher who go the job Tarrants wanted.

A fourth package, with a dead raccoon stuffed inside, was sent to a Jackson County school and had the fiancee's return address.

Four months ago, 45-year-old Tarrants filed a petition in Owen Circuit Court to change his name.

The request was put on hold when he failed to appear for a court hearing to address his petition, which "appears to be defective in that it does not allege whether petitioner has felony convictions," the court docket said, which would prohibit changing his name.

Contact reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com, 812-331-4362 or 812-318-5967

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Old National Bank robbery suspect Travis Tarrants has bizarre past
A Marshalltown woman who accused police of roughing her up while executing a search warrant has lost cases in both civil and criminal court.

Holli Lillibridge suffered a setback in her yearslong legal battle against the Marshalltown Police Department last week as a federal court judge dismissed her lawsuit against the department. The court ruled that Detective Juan Tejada and his superiors did nothing wrong during and after the May 10, 2019, confrontation, which Lillibridge said left her with heavy bruising.

The order granting summary judgment to the defendants came after Lillibridge was convicted in March of making false statements in her complaint to the department about Tejada's actions. Her appeal in that case is pending.

Jennifer and Chad Frese, Lillibridge's attorneys, did not return messages seeking comment.

Lillibridge's trouble began after her husband was charged with sex abuse. Although he was acquitted at trial, Lillibridge took photos during his case from the street of Marshall County Attorney Jennifer Miller's home. Chad Frese said at the time she did so out of frustration during the "very emotional" case against her husband.

Police subsequently obtained a search warrant for Lillibridge's phone during a harassment investigation, and on May 10, Tejada approached her at the county courthouse, where her husband's trial was approaching closing arguments.

More: Court: Lawsuit against Des Moines police officer who pepper-sprayed George Floyd protester can go to trial

As summarized in Judge Stephanie Rose's order, Tejada began reading the search warrant to Lillibridge, who pulled out and began manipulating her phone. When he ordered her to stop, she turned away from him to shield the phone and continued using it. Tejada then grabbed her arm to turn her back toward him and took the phone away.

Days later, Lillibridge filed a complaint with the Marshalltown Police Department, but her account varied in key ways from that captured by Tejada's body camera. Lillibridge claimed she had told Tejada she had money in the phone case before he seized it, and did not mention that she was using the phone despite his orders to stop.

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She also accused him of sexually assaulting her due to reportedly brushing against her chest as he seized the phone.

Holli Lillibridge has filed a lawsuit against the city of Marshalltown and three of its police officers after she said her arm was bruised by an officer who grabbed her.

Marshalltown police subsequently charged Lillibridge with filing a false report, and in December 2019 she filed her federal lawsuit.

In her decision, Rose found Tejada's actions justified under the circumstances.

"It was entirely reasonable for Tejada to be concerned about the destruction of evidence by plaintiff when, after he began reading the search warrant to her, she immediately removed her phone from her pocket and manipulated the screen, and failed to cease when he ordered her to stop, even after telling her 'thats what Im here for,' " Rose wrote.

From September: Appeals court denies immunity to Des Moines officers who handcuffed, searched inside Black man's pants

Rose also dismissed Lillibridge's claim that her false report charge represented an abuse of process. Marshalltown police officials sought the county attorney's opinion before filing charges, on which she was subsequently convicted by a jury, both of which support the legitimacy of the case, Rose said.

The decision ends Lillibridge's civil case unless she appeals. In her criminal case, she was sentenced to a year of probation in lieu of a 90-day jail term. That sentence has been put on hold while her appeal plays out.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Woman grabbed by Marshalltown police during phone search loses lawsuit
A Massachusetts woman faces a firearms charge after her gun accidentally went off Monday night at a Walmart checkout, officials said.

The 31-year-old woman admitted that her 9 mm handgun discharged in the store in Northborough, about 30 miles west of Boston, Northborough police said.

The woman said the trigger was accidentally pulled while she was digging through her purse at the checkout, according to police.

Upon arrival officers determined that nobody was struck and there were no injuries. The projectile was recovered from the floor," police said in a statement.

The Worcester woman faces a charge of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of an occupied building. Worcester is about 10 miles east of Northborough, where the Walmart is located.

Police said a state agency will review the circumstances of the discharge because the woman's toddler was with her when the gun went off, NBC Boston reported.

The child was fine. His father was also present. The father immediately took the child away, Police Lt. Brian Griffin said at a news conference.

The gun, the ammunition and the purse were voluntarily surrendered, police said. The womans firearms license was suspended, NBC Boston reported.

Clearly, it was a reckless act, Griffin said. That firearm should have been in a holster, at the very least.

Contact information for the woman could not be found through public records.
Mindy Kaling wants young women watching her new show to be more relaxed about sex than she was.

I am repressed. I grew up repressed, the 42-year-old actress and producer told the Daily News. But I dont want to watch repressed people. It doesnt feel modern for girls to have that same attitude toward sex.

So Kaling created The Sex Lives of College Girls along with co-producer Justin Noble. The comedy, which premiered Thursday on HBO Max, follows four freshmen randomly assigned to live together at the fictional Essex College, a quintessential New England liberal arts school.

Together, aloof New Yorker Leighton (Renee Rapp), jock Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott), aspiring comedian Bela (Amrit Kaur) and sweet but naive Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) try to figure out the next stage of their lives.

College is really being dropped into a city full of people with totally different backgrounds, who come from totally different spaces with their own sets of beliefs that make you challenge and question your own, Scott told The News. You dont know who you are at 18. No one does.

The Sex Lives of College Girls, like its title not-so-subtly implies, is more concerned about extracurriculars than midterms. Its about wanting sex, having sex and regretting sex.

Sex is so much more than the act, Chalamet, sister of star Timothee Chalamet, told The News. Its everything before and everything after.

By design, the sex isnt always great. More often, its not even on the table as much as the perpetually horny Bela searches for it. On the cold, brick campus of Essex, which Kaling described as a Northeast Hogwarts, its all messy.

Its realistic about college. Students have sex with people who are right for them and wrong for them, strangers and The One.

Its like a love letter to that period in our lives  that period of time when youre 18 to 21 and pretending to know everything that life is going to throw at you, Noble said.

The humor is in the disorder, but also in the four women  random roommates thrown together by fate or the housing department.

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Even though they fight and have conflict with each other, the one thing that they all have in common is a very frank attitude about sex, even though they approach it really different, Kaling said. We want characters that are layered and real and that we love, even if they are flawed.

Noble conducted research by touring campuses and quizzing college women on what reality looks like for them. Then Noble and Kaling tried to make it universal, to take the stories out of a specific time and place and make them relatable to everyone.

For Kaur, the universality of The Sex Lives of College Girls was about showing a world she never got to see before.

I grew up feeling alone because I didnt see people who looked like me. I thought Brown people just didnt have sex, the Indian-Canadian actress told The News.

There are so many different experiences in the Black experience, in the Brown experience, in the Latinx experience, and there are so few of us that we dont get to see the breadth of that.

The cast contrasted their show to classics like The O.C. and The Vampire Diaries, where the romance is messy but the sex is always perfect.

Were not living in Bridgerton,  Rapp said. Well, maybe you are and thats great; have fun. But I sure as hell am not. Sex is weird.


Metro Nashville Public Schools is no longer requiring students or staff who might have been exposed to COVID-19 to quarantine.

The decision, told to families on Wednesday, brings the district into compliance with new state law.

Legislation signed into law by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee last week curtailed the authority that local governments and schools had to put in place measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. The new law gives the state health commissioner the sole authority to implement quarantine policies.

Though the district continues to require universal masking due to challenges in federal court and a federal judge's order, neither it or the local health department can authorize or require quarantines, according to an email sent to students and families Wednesday night.

"Any student who is identified as a close contact will be notified of best practices but will not be required to quarantine," according to the email.

ROLLING BACK COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs sweeping COVID-19 legislation into law

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 are still required to stay home from school for 10 days, as well as any students who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or any other illness.

In the email, the district encouraged families of students who are found to be close contacts of a COVID-19 patient to take the following steps "to protect themselves and the people around them":

Get tested immediately for COVID-19.

Wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure.

Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days and isolate if symptoms develop.

Get tested again 5-7 days after close contact.

Though the same law also prohibits government entities, including public schools, from implementing mask requirements except in the most dire circumstances, a federal judge called for a temporary halt of enforcement of the law Monday as a lawsuit plays out in court.

MASKS: New Tennessee COVID-19 law banning school mask mandates is unconstitutional, lawsuit says

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MORE: Tennessee's new law on school mask mandates remains temporarily on hold, federal judge says

Metro Schools has been one of the few school districts to continually require staff and students to wear masks this school year. Other districts also have not enforced quarantines at all, despite Tennessee Department of Education guidance in August that told school leaders quarantines "were expected."

For more information on Metro Schools COVID-10 policies, visit: mnps.org/covid-19.

Stay up-to-date on Tennessee's top education news by signing up for our new weekly newsletter, School Zone. Sign up here.

Want to read more stories like this? A subscription to one of our Tennessee publications gets you unlimited access to all the latest news throughout the entire USA TODAY Network.

Meghan Mangrum covers education for the USA TODAY Network  Tennessee. Contact her at mmangrum@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Metro Nashville Public Schools students, staff no longer required to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19
SANTA FE  New Mexicos Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a major rebuke to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, ruling that the Legislature deserves a leading role in how state government spends more than $1 billion in federal pandemic aid.

The high court sided unanimously with a bipartisan team of lawmakers who said that it was wrong for Lujan-Grisham to make decisions about how to spend the aid  without input from the Legislature.

Democratic state Sen. Jacob Candelaria of Albuquerque teamed up with Republican Senate minority leader Gregory Baca to initiate the constitutional clash over executive and legislative powers.

Candelaria told justices that the stakes were too high amid the coronavirus pandemic and economic turmoil to allow just one person  the governor  to determine how New Mexico spends about $1.6 billion in federal aid. He asked the court to err on the side of accountability by ensuring legislative oversight.

More: Gov. Lujan Grisham touts community schools in visit to Las Cruces

Theses funds can be appropriated in either a transparent, public and legislative appropriations process  or they can be appropriated in a closed-door process in which only the governor may determine unilaterally how to appropriate these funds without the need for, or the inconvenience, of public debate, committee hearings or bargaining majorities in the House and Senate, Candelaria said.

Chief Justice Michael Vigil delivered a shortly worded order that froze pandemic relief funds until legislative appropriations are made. The governor retains veto power on spending legislation.

Justices plan later to provide a written opinion, which could influence the decision making process for future federal aid.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hails the Legislature's accomplishments and calls for a special legislative in session in the coming weeks to approval recreational cannabis legalization in Santa Fe at the close of a 60-day legislative session on Saturday, March 20, 2021.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat running for reelection in 2022, has used the relief funds to replenish the state unemployment insurance trust, underwrite millions of dollars in sweepstakes prizes for people who got vaccinated, prop up agriculture wages amid a shortage of chile pickers and provide incentives for the unemployed to return to work. Decisions still are pending on more than $1 billion in federal relief for New Mexico.

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In written court briefings, Lujan Grisham said a state Supreme Court decision nearly 50 years ago upheld the governors discretion over federal funding at universities and should hold true broadly regarding federal pandemic relief funds.

More: Michelle Lujan Grisham's criminal justice proposals attract scrutiny. Here's why.

An additional four long-serving Democratic senators joined in the effort to rein in the governors spending powers.

Critics of the governor have said she was overstepped her constitutional authority, blocking the Legislatures representation of diverse views on how to spend the pandemic relief money.

The Legislature convenes for a special session in December on political redistricting and again in January to draft a state budget.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NM Gov. needed state Leg. input before spending COVID aid, court says
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it was restoring a 2008 veto of the environmentally controversial Yazoo Pumps project, almost a year after the Trump administration had approved it.

The project, which would build flood pumps in the Yazoo backwater of the south Mississippi Delta, has been waiting to be completed since 1941 and would alleviate increasingly common destructive flooding in the region.

In 2008, George W. Bush's administration opted to veto the project after determining its completion would violate the Clean Water Act and cause serious environmental harm.

"We must ensure that protecting people, preserving natural systems, and supporting agriculture are all part of the solution, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said about the decision to restore the veto. EPA understands the urgency and is ready to work with its federal partners and local stakeholders on a transparent process to find a solution to flooding in the Yazoo backwater area that is both durable and environmentally protective.

Donald Trump's EPA approved the project last year, overriding the veto, and was received as a win by Mississippi's Republican U.S. Senators and Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, whose district includes the entirety of the Delta.

The decision by Biden's EPA to restore the veto has Mississippi Republicans fuming, their ire directed at both Thompson and what Gov. Tate Reeves calls "radical environmentalists."

"It seems like every day, the Biden administration finds a new way to fail Mississippians, Reeves said in a statement. The Trump administrations Environmental Protection Agency realized the importance of protecting the Mississippi Delta and its residents when they allowed this project to proceed."

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who campaigned in part on getting the pump project completed, called the decision a terrible day for Delta residents before blasting Thompson.

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"Congressman Bennie Thompson destroyed this project, taking one position in his district but working against it in Washington," Hyde-Smith said.

Thompson, in response, said Hyde-Smith's characterization of his position is wrong, calling for her to produce a list of people he's spoken to against the pumps project.

"If she cannot produce the list, it is clear she is not telling the truth," Thompson said.

Thompson has long supported the completion of the pumps project, regularly discussing its importance in interviews with the press and on campaign stops throughout the Delta.

However, the Congressman did send an August letter to the EPA asking it to investigate why the Trump administration, in the 11th hour, decided to push the project through while overlooking the environmental damage, according to E&E News.

"Since I represent constituents on both sides of this issue, it is critical that science and law, not politics, drive infrastructure projects that impact my district," Thompson wrote in that letter. "It is my desire to see all the best scientific and legal means available applied to address flooding or reduce flood risks in my district."

Environmentalists oppose the project, fearing its completion would destroy a diverse wildlife habitat for migratory birds and other species. Proponents of the pumps say it will stop dangerous flooding and lead to more agricultural development.

Cataclysmic weather events tend to leave huge swaths of Sharkey and Issaquena Counties underwater. The pumps, according to the Mississippi Levee Board, would lessen the flooding but not mitigate it entirely.

Lee O. Sanderlin is an investigative and political reporter covering the state of Mississippi. Got a story tip? You can call him at 601-559-3857, send it to LSanderlin@gannett.com or message him on Twitter @LeeOSanderlin.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: EPA blocks Yazoo Pumps project; Republicans outraged at decision
Officials from Athol American Legion Post 102 delivered warm winter clothing to the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center on Nov. 17. Pictured from left: Post 102 Commander Peter Newman, Auxillary Director Roberta Newman, MVOC Executive Director Stephanie Marchetti, MVOC Food Pantry Manager Shawn Kerwin (kneeling), and Post 102 Service Officer Scott Hume.

GARDNER  Needy veterans throughout the region will be warmer this winter thanks to the generosity and warmth of spirit of members from three American Legion posts.

Representatives from the E.H. Phillips American Legion Post 102 in Athol donated dozens of winter coats Wednesday to the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center.

MVOC Executive Director Stephanie Marchetti said the donation came about a few weeks ago after she had casually mentioned to Scott Hume, service director of Post 102, that her organization was in the middle of a winter coat drive.

We had happened to meet at another veterans event, and wed never met before, and within a couple of days (Scott) had called and said he wanted to help, Marchetti explained. I just mentioned we had a need (for winter clothing) and here we have dozens of jackets.

Hume said the coat drive was a joint effort among Post 102, the Eugene M. Connor Post 193 in Winchendon, and American Legion Post 40 in Orange. He said the three branches began collecting donated clothing for men and women last month and continued through Veterans Day.

We saw a need for our troubled veterans out there who maybe need a nice, warm jacket for the winter, and wed like to help as much as we can within the community, Hume said. . Its a great feeling to know that people are really generous, and hopefully some veterans will find a nice coat that fits.

Post 102 Commander Peter Newman said giving back to the community is one of the most important things the American Legion could do  both for veterans and non-veterans  throughout the year.

This is what its all about, Newman said.

Legion officials had put out the call for warm winter clothing on various social media accounts, and the response was immediate, he said.

This is what you get. It was a great response, he said.

Shawn Kerwin, food pantry manager at MVOC, said he was touched by the outpouring of support.

Its amazing how many guys come in looking for a coat  sometimes we give away 20 a day, Kerwin said. Some of the veterans dont even own a winter coat, so this is a really good thing. All of these coats will be used.

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Marchetti said the coats would be available to anyone who might need one.

We will prioritize them for our veterans, but ultimately we just want folks who need them to have them, she said. If there are other folks in the city or community who need them, and we have them, well provide them.

Marchetti said MVOC was also in touch with other local organizations to track the need.

This morning, I had a woman from the Gardner Emergency Housing Mission come by because she had a homeless couple who needed some clothes, so we gave them a couple of jackets and gloves and scarves. They werent veterans but they are cold and its winter so we helped them out, Marchetti said. And I know if we needed something from (GEHM), wed give them a call too. I think ultimately the goal is to just help people who need it, and if we all know each other that means we can source it out to the right place.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center continues mission to keep vets warm
(Bloomberg) -- European stock investors are in for a bumpy ride next year, according to Morgan Stanleys Graham Secker.

Most Read from Bloomberg

While markets should overall trend higher, a double-digit slump in 2022 is pretty likely, Morgan Stanleys chief European equity strategist said in an interview. Equities have gone up for 18 months in a straight line with no correction of any meaningful magnitude, Secker said. I dont think this will carry on for another 12 months.

The warning adds to a series of cautious outlooks for 2022, following an unstoppable climb that pushed equity markets in Europe and the U.S. to successive records after the pandemic-induced slump. Strategists from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to Credit Suisse Group AG expect stocks to continue advancing into next year, albeit at a more muted pace.

We would be a buyer of the correction, but we also have to recognize that markets have gone up an enormous amount over the last 18 months, so probably the majority of the cycles returns from equities has already happened, Secker said by phone. Decelerating economic growth and the winding down of policy support mean European and global markets will grind up, rather than repeat this years rally.

Lets be clear, the outlook is not as good over the next 12 months as the last 12 months, Secker said.

Secker sees three main risks for the year ahead in Europe:

Demand surprises to the downside, leading the economy toward a stagflationary environment that will put pressure on corporate margins.

Political risks ranging from the French presidential election to a sharp deterioration in trade relations between the U.K. and the European Union.

Impact from the European Central Banks possible tapering on peripheral European debt.

Still, his base case is that none of these risks will materialize, while global headaches, such as supply chain disruptions, will also start to ease. The most probable scenario is a continuation of economic expansion for another 2-3 years at least, which will create a benign environment for corporate earnings, he said.

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Morgan Stanleys strategist prefers European and Japanese stocks over the U.S. and emerging markets. European equities trade at a record low valuation versus real bund yields and U.S. stocks, making them an attractive bet, he said.

Among European markets, he singles out opportunities in German stocks, which have been underperforming amid concerns that a slowdown in China will hit the countrys export-oriented economy.

The valuation of Germany against the rest of the Eurozone is at a 30-year low, the DAX looks quite oversold, and I think part of this reflects market concerns around China, he said. In the first quarter of next year, we might get a more positive environment around China, which will also support Germany.

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2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Jonathan Fletcher

For the first time ever, Gov. Roy Cooper will sign a budget passed by the North Carolina General Assembly. It is important that we understand the significance of this major announcement because it demonstrates what good leadership can accomplish, even in the middle of partisan gridlock.

The governors part in the process is perhaps the most straight-forward. It comes down to one persons yes or no decision based on the work done largely by other people. If those people do their job well enough, they can even overrule his opinion anyway.

Still, the governors decision to back off of his self-drawn lines in the sand and finally come to the negotiation table is to be commended. It avoids needless time wasting of overriding his veto, even though legislative leaders had reportedly secured the votes necessary to do so.

The real secret to the success of this budget process can be found in the leadership of the General Assembly. Getting 170 people to agree on anything is an impossible mission from the start, but getting even a simple majority of those people to agree is a feat of its own.

Rarer still is the ability to get a veto-proof supermajority in agreement, but that is exactly what Senate Pro Tem Phil Berger and Speaker Tim Moore have managed to do, along with their leadership teams.

Gaston Countys own Senate Majority Leader Kathy Harrington has been an integral part of that process and she continues to represent us well in her Senate leadership role. These key leaders have demonstrated that they can get stuff done and do it well.

The accomplishment of a budget deal itself is important, but looking at how they got here is just as important. Speaker Moore and his team did not strike a deal by calling their Democrat colleagues insulting names, threatening them, or using political posturing.

Sen. Harrington did not spend her time tweeting about how difficult the other side was to deal with. They all rolled up their sleeves, reached across the aisle, and worked to find common ground with people on the other side. They held strong to their core conservative beliefs, but they were willing to listen and respond with understanding to the concerns of representatives from across the state.

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That is the type of leadership that gets things done for the people. That is the type of leadership we need to continue to send to represent us in Raleigh and its the type of leadership we need to restore to Washington D.C.

As we head into the primary season, Republicans across Gaston County will be choosing between multiple conservative candidates in a host of local, state, and federal contests, including many races that have been uncontested for years.

As you make your decision in each race, I encourage you to look for those leaders that are willing to get things done. We need strong, conservative fighters that will go to bat for our partys platform, but we also need those people who know what the best tools to win that battle are.

Sometimes its strong speech and standing your ground, other times its listening and working through differences in opinion. Campaign rhetoric, TV sound bites, and funny tweets are not what gets our conservative principles into government, so they shouldnt be the basis for who we support.

Pay attention, be informed, and most of all  vote!

Jonathan Fletcher is chairman of the Gaston County Republican Party.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: N.C. budget passage demonstrates Republican leadership
Natalie Wood and Kirk Douglas. John Springer Collection / Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images

There have long been Hollywood rumors regarding an alleged assault against a teenage Natalie Wood.

In a new memoir, Natalie's sister, Lana Wood, is naming the alleged perpetrator for the first time: Kirk Douglas.

Lana told Insider she didn't include the story to "get back" at Douglas, but to provide insight into Natalie's life.

Lana Wood, the younger sister of famed actress Natalie Wood and an actress, herself, is done keeping Hollywood's secrets.

In her new memoir, "Little Sister: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood," Lana lends her confirmation of what, for years, was a persistent Hollywood rumor.

The former "Bond Girl" alleges that in the summer of 1955, while the two sisters were filming John Ford's "The Searchers," their mother, Maria Zakharenko, took the girls to LA's Chateau Marmont, where she instructed a teenaged Natalie to go inside the hotel to meet with a powerful industry icon.

The tale of an assault committed against a then-up-and-coming Natalie, who later starred in classic films like "Rebel Without a Cause" and "West Side Story," has spurred whispers and theories for years. But for the first time, more than 65 years after the alleged assault took place, a person who knew Natalie directly is naming the accused perpetrator.

"Kirk Douglas was ushering me into his suite," Lana remembers Natalie telling her years later, as she wrote in her memoir

"Then she got very quiet," Lana wrote, "and her eyes filled with tears. I could barely hear her when she added, 'And, uh...he hurt me, Lana.'"

Douglas, who starred in films like "Spartacus" and "Paths of Glory," died in 2020 at the age of 103. He would have been in his late 30s at the time of the alleged assault and married to Anne Buydens.

Lana, a young girl at the time, remembers waiting with their mother in the car outside the Marmont for Natalie to emerge.

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"It seemed like a long time passed before Natalie got back into the car and woke me up when she slammed the door shut. She looked awful," Lana wrote in "Little Sister." "She was very disheveled and very upset, and she and Mom started urgently whispering to each other."

When the two sisters spoke about the alleged assault as adults, Lana remembers Natalie describing the incident as an "out-of-body experience," saying she was "terrified" and "confused," though never mentioning the word "raped" or "molested."

In "Little Sister," Lana estimates that Natalie was 15 and herself, 7, at the time of the assault, but in the summer of 1955, Natalie would have been 16 or 17, and Lana would have been 9.

In response to questions about the discrepancy, a publicist for Harper Collins told the Los Angeles Times: "The book is a memoir and reflects present-day recollections of events that happened over six decades ago."

Nobody left to protect

After Natalie told Lana about the assault later in life, the younger sister said Natalie swore her to secrecy.

But with the impending 40th anniversary of Natalie's drowning death off the coast of Santa Catalina Island and Douglas's 2020 passing, Lana believes her older sister would forgive her for breaking her word, as there's "no one still around to protect."

"This is for Natalie," Lana told Insider in an interview. "That episode really hurt her for her entire life. Things like that don't go away."

The 75-year-old said she had no apprehensions about including the story in her new memoir after years of widespread speculation. In "Little Sister," Lana wrote about seeing inaccurate or incomplete variations of the story in print over the years as the rumor mill ruminated on the details.

Douglas' name had been raised before but never confirmed. When he died in 2020, Natalie's name trended alongside his on Twitter.

Lana, who had previously discussed the alleged assault, but never named a perpetrator, told Insider that she was bombarded by the press following Douglas' passing with requests to confirm the rumor or discuss his relationship to Natalie. At the time, she refused to comment.

"I think that would have been a very cold thing to do," she said. "Out of respect for his family, I would not say anything."

A representative for Michael Douglas, Kirk Douglas' son, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, but earlier this month, the actor, through his publicist, told the Associated Press, "May they both rest in peace," in response to questions surrounding the allegation.

In his own 1988 memoir, "The Ragman's Son," Douglas wrote about meeting Natalie for the first time.

"'Oh, Mr. Douglas, would you please sign my jacket?'" Natalie said, according to Douglas' book. "As I obliged, the woman who was driving got out and introduced her. 'This is my daughter. She's in movies, too. Her name is Natalie Wood.' That was the first time I met Natalie. I saw her many times afterward, before she died in that cruel accident."

Lana told Insider she didn't include the anecdote to "get back" at Douglas, but instead, wanted to provide insight into some of the struggles that shaped Natalie's life.

"This is my chance to let everybody know what happened to Natalie," she said. "You aren't just born a certain way. She went through quite a lot."

Actress Natalie Wood poses for a portrait with her mother and sister Lana at home in Los Angeles,CA. Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

'Suck it up'

The girls' mother was a Russian immigrant, who according to Lana, was "overly concerned with Natalie and stardom."

In her memoir, Lana alleges that Zakharenko set up the meeting between Natalie and Douglas in the hopes that "many doors might be thrown open for her, with just a nod of his famous, handsome head on her behalf."

Zakharenko's advice to Natalie following the incident, according to Lana, was to "suck it up," telling her daughter not to talk about the alleged assault in order to protect her burgeoning career.

But in a book that is dedicated to telling the truth about Natalie's life  and death  the younger sister said she couldn't leave out the more challenging details surrounding her mother's reaction to Natalie's struggles.

"It was the truth and it's something I had to write about," she told Insider. "I'm not oblivious to how my mom was. Nobody is perfect."

Reliving 'heart-wrenching' memories

The new memoir, which primarily focuses on the aftermath of Natalie's mysterious 1981 drowning death, was a labor of love, Lana told Insider. But that doesn't mean writing it was easy.

"It was terrible, absolutely ripping my heart out," Lana said about the writing process, which required her to delve back into her sister's tragic death and ongoing familial strife.

"I would have to stop, walk out of the room ... and not do any more for that entire day or two days," she added.

But she hopes the project will keep Natalie's memory alive  "not simply as a movie star, but as a person who had a full life."

Read the original article on Insider
Actress Natalie Wood is shown with her co-star Christopher Walken during filming of her last motion picture Brainstorm. Bettmann / Contributor (Getty Images)

The circumstances around Natalie Wood's 1981 death have long been the focus of intense speculation.

The actress was yachting with her husband and co-star Christopher Walken when she disappeared and drowned.

In an interview, Natalie's sister, Lana Wood, told Insider that she doesn't hold Walken responsible.

The 1981 drowning death of actress Natalie Wood has long been one of Hollywood's most persistent mysteries.

Now, 40 years after the tragedy off the coast of Santa Catalina Island, Natalie's younger sister, Lana Wood, 75, is diving back into the unsolved case in her new memoir, "Little Sister: My Investigation into the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood."

But in a book that frequently accuses and alleges  Natalie's husband Robert Wagner takes the brunt of the blame, though the authorities who initially investigated Natalie's death and the famed celebrity coroner who classified her death as "accidental drowning," face Lana's fury as well  there is one familiar face whom Lana says she does not hold responsible for the tragedy: Christopher Walken.

Lana told Insider the award-winning actor has continued to prove helpful amid the ongoing investigation into Natalie's death, albeit privately.

A mysterious drowning death

The Oscar-nominated Natalie, who starred in Hollywood hits like "West Side Story" and "Rebel Without a Cause," was 43 when her body was found floating in the ocean off Catalina Island on Thanksgiving weekend in 1981. She had been vacationing on a yacht with her husband, Robert [RJ] Wagner, her "Brainstorm" co-star and friend Walken, and the ship's captain, Dennis Davern.

Los Angeles County coroner Thomas Noguchi ruled her death an accidental drowning, noting her blood alcohol content was 0.14%, and suggesting the actress may have slipped into the freezing water while trying to tie up the vessel's dingy.

But Lana was skeptical of the proposed explanation due to Natalie's lifelong fear of "dark waters," claiming her sister never would have attempted to re-board the vessel's dinghy on her own in the middle of the night.

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In 1992, more than a decade after Natalie's death, the yacht's captain, Dennis Davern, contacted Lana, admitting that he hadn't originally told police everything he knew about that fateful night. He alleged the holiday had been tense from the start and remembered Wagner expressing anger about Natalie inviting Walken on the trip. The captain also told Lana that he heard Wagner and Natalie fighting at the back of the boat before learning Natalie had gone missing.

Davern's admissions to Lana came around the same time she gained access to the original police report, sparking her own investigation into the incident. According to Lana, she was struck by a number of elements, including reports that both Wagner and Walken had been interviewed by authorities for less than 10 minutes in the immediate aftermath of Natalie's death as well as witness statements that appeared to have been dismissed by the initial investigators.

In 2009, a crowdsourced petition, spurred by Davern's new revelations and Lana's amateur sleuthing, called for a new investigation into Natalie's death, and two years later, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened Natalie's case, citing "additional information."

In 2018, detectives labeled her death "suspicious," and later that year, authorities officially named Wagner a "person of interest" in Natalie's death.

Splendour, the boat owned by Robert Wagner, docked off Two Harbors , Catalina Island the day after the body of Hollywood legend Natalie Wood was discovered in the chill November waters of Two Harbors,Isthmus Photo by Paul Harris/Getty Images

Decades of silence

Despite having already won an Oscar for his 1978 performance in "The Deer Hunter," Walken was a relative newcomer to Hollywood when the then-38-year-old accompanied Natalie and Wagner on their Thanksgiving holiday in 1981. In the decades since her death, Walken, now 78, has rarely spoken publicly about that night.

Five years after Natalie's death, Walken told People: "I don't know what happened. She slipped and fell in the water. I was in bed then. It was a terrible thing."

"Look, we're in a conversation I won't have. It's a fucking bore," he added.

The few times he has spoken publicly about her death, the actor has maintained it was an accident, telling Playboy Magazine in 1997 that Natalie had gone to bed before the men and reiterating the coroner's dingy theory, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"The people who are convinced that there was something more to it than what came out in the investigation will never be satisfied with the truth. Because the truth is, there is nothing more to it," Walken told the outlet.

In a 2020 HBO Documentary produced by Natalie's daughter, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Natalie's husband, Robert Wagner admits that he and Walken fought about Natalie's career on the night she disappeared.

But despite Walken's longtime public silence on the matter, Lana told Insider that the actor has spoken with the current detectives working Natalie's reopened case.

"He did tell them everything he witnessed and he knows," she said. "However, he made them promise that they would never reveal anything that he has said."

Lana, who has worked closely with the LASD detectives working the case, said the investigators didn't even tell her what Walken disclosed in order to honor their agreement.

"All they told me was that they did speak to him," she said. "[The detective] said he told them everything."

A representative for Walken did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment or confirmation regarding Lana's claims about the actor, nor did a spokesperson with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

But a detective for the sheriff's department previously told Insider that Natalie's death is still considered suspicious, given the remaining unanswered questions.

"Her husband at the time, Robert Wagner, is the last known person to be with Ms. Woods [sic] prior to her death, and Investigators would like to interview him," Detective Ralph Hernandez said in a statement. "The goal of the investigation is to confirm the truth of how she ended up in the water, thus providing the manner of her death."

The case will remain open until it is solved, he added.

A representative for Wagner did not respond to Insider's request for comment. The 91-year-old has previously denied wrongdoing in Natalie's death.

Lana's memoir, which was released last week, delves into the sisters' adolescence in Hollywood, as well as the aftermath of Natalie's death, as the younger sister attempts to set the record straight on Natalie's life and death, and keep her memory alive  "not simply as a movie star, but as a person who had a full life."

Read the original article on Insider
Slightly more than half of Kansas residents approve of Gov. Laura Kelly's job performance, according to polling released Thursday from the national outlet Morning Consult.

Slightly more than half of Kansas residents approve of Gov. Laura Kelly's job performance, according to polling released Thursday from the national outlet Morning Consult.

The firm periodically will assess the approval rating for each governor nationally. In Kansas, 54% of residents approve of Kelly's performance, with a margin of error of plus or minus of 4%.

It is the first snapshot of Kelly's favorability in over a year and it comes ahead of an expected matchup with Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt in the 2022 governor's race.

It also comes just days before legislators are set to return to Topeka for a special session focused on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Schmidt has filed three lawsuits in opposition to the mandates amid conservative pushback to the requirements, while Kelly came out against the directives in a statement earlier this month.

More: Who's running for Kansas governor (and more) in 2022? A look at what to expect in next year's election.

In August 2020, Kelly saw her rating at 46%, according to a survey from a group of research universities tracking public opinion on COVID-19 policy responses. That is a decline from her rating of 68% in April of last year.

Kelly's office cheered Thursday's news in a statement.

"Governor Kelly has turned around Kansas broken budget, shes helped recruit billions in new business dollars and thousands of new jobs to the state, and shes fulfilled her promise to fully fund Kansas schools, all while leading a balanced, steady response to COVID-19," said Reeves Oyster, a Kelly spokesperson.

Various internal polls from the fall show the tilt between Schmidt and Kelly to be a tight one presently.

Data from Republican-leaning pollster Remington Research shows Schmidt with a 44-40 lead, with 16% of voters surveyed undecided.

A competing poll from the left-leaning Clarity Campaign Labs, commissioned by the group EMILY's List, shows Kelly with a slim 47-44 lead. That poll pegged Kelly's approval rating at 53%.

Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Gov. Laura Kelly's approval at 54% ahead of reelection run, poll says
WASHINGTON  The Senate confirmed President Joe Bidens pick for ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith, by a voice vote Thursday after Sen. Josh Hawley removed his objection to the nomination.

Hawley, R-Mo., said he had lifted his procedural hold on Smith after she sent him a letter agreeing to seek an increase of NATOs defense spending target. Member nations have agreed to spend a minimum of 2% of their gross domestic products on defense.

I wanted to get from her a sense that ... she would really be a voice with our allies in NATO to say that part of making sure this alliance is relevant and revitalized for the next century is we need to look beyond 2%, Hawley told Defense News. We finally got there and she was willing to say that.

Politico first reported Hawleys move.

Hawley, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was under increasing pressure amid ratcheting tension between Russia and the West. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on Moscow to explain its troop buildup near Ukraine  another example of its troubling military moves.

Smith served as as deputy national security advisor to then-Vice President Biden after shed been the director of European and NATO policy at the Pentagon. Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Smiths nomination to the Senate calendar on Oct. 19.

Hawley has said he is blockading nominees to leadership positions at the Pentagon and the State Department. He has said he would relent if Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan resign over their handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Reuters

Most of the 43 COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant identified in the United States so far were in people who were fully vaccinated, and a third of them had received a booster dose, according to a U.S. report published on Friday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that of the 43 cases attributed to Omicron variant, 34 people had been fully vaccinated. Fourteen of them had also received a booster, although five of those cases occurred less than 14 days after the additional shot before full protection kicks in.
Johnny Thai, 11, receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a pediatric clinic in Santa Ana last week. Children ages 5 to 11 are given a smaller dose of the vaccine. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

On Saturday, Denise Iserloth took her two sons, ages 8 and 11, to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

A few hours later, the older boy lost his balance and fell twice. Both boys complained of stomachaches and nausea.

Soon, Iserloth found out why.

The clinic, Sutter Health in Antioch, had given her sons twice the dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that children their age should receive.

Twelve other children also received the double dose.

Medical professionals have assured Iserloth that the short-term effects should wear off in a few days and that the long-term risks are likely to be minimal.

But thats little comfort to the mother who already had deep reservations about getting her children vaccinated.

I was frantic when I got the call that this happened, Iserloth said. Ive been crying every day. I cant eat and I cant sleep.

California began to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 this month after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the shots for that age group.

Iserloth, 38, of Oakley, was worried about side effects and a family history of allergic reactions but wanted to ensure that her sons could attend school as statewide vaccine mandates for students gradually take effect.

She also wanted them to be fully vaccinated for future family trips.

I was trying to be proactive, even though I was not ready to get them vaccinated, Iserloth said. Because I know that we failed them at distance learning, and so I quietly got them vaccinated. I decided to get them both vaccinated at the same time in one trip to the clinic. Then, the clinic failed miserably.

In a statement, Sutter Health pediatrician and COVID-19 vaccine task force chair Dr. Jimmy Hu said the 14 children received vaccines with an incorrect amount of diluent.

Children ages 5 to 11 receive a smaller dose than older age groups, so a diluting substance is added to the shots they receive as part of a two-dose regimen.

Instead of 10 micrograms of messenger RNA, the 14 children received about 20 micrograms, according to Sutter Health.

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As soon as we learned of this, we contacted the parents and advised them of CDC guidance in this situation, Hu said in the statement. The safety of our patients is our top priority, and we immediately reviewed our processes to help make sure this doesn't happen again.

Dr. Edward Jones-Lopez, an infectious-disease specialist with Keck Medicine of USC, said the mistake at Sutter Health was not ideal but also not of grave concern.

However, it could give some a false sense that vaccines are unsafe for children, when the risks of not being vaccinated are much more serious, he said.

In general, theyre very safe, and an increased dose, in this case by error, if its going to cause some trouble, its going to be from the injection of the vaccine, he said. Like any vaccine we give in childhood, they can cause fever, flu and other side effects.

While vaccines can cause flu-like symptoms, medical researchers  including Jones-Lopez  agree they do not cause the flu.

Iserloth said that Sutter Health has not elaborated on how the mistake was made or what her family can expect next.

Every answer that every pediatrician has told me is they expect my children to be fine, but there is no guarantee, said Iserloth. I have this immense mom guilt.

By Tuesday evening, her children were feeling a little better, though she had to pick up her 11-year-old early from school after he felt nauseated.

She is certain of one thing: Her children will not be getting second doses of the vaccine until her questions are answered, she said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PATERSON  Charles Florio  the developer who helped put former mayor Joey Torres in prison four years ago  is asking the New Jersey Attorney General to investigate Torres once again.

Florio alleged that Torres is illegally soliciting donations to run for mayor even though his 2017 guilty plea precluded him from holding public office for the rest of his life.

In a Nov. 11 letter sent by Florios lawyer to the attorney general's office cited the masquerade ball Torres held last month at the Brownstone banquet hall to celebrate his 63rd birthday, an event for which tickets were $75.

It is in the publics (sic) best interest that your office investigates the recent events and activities to ensure that the letter and spirit of the courts order is not being violated and that Mr. Torres is not unlawfully profiting from honest taxpayers and donors under these seemingly deceptive and wrong practices, wrote Florios lawyer, Richard Mazawey.

Torres brushed aside Florios request for a probe, calling the allegations baseless. Torres said all the money collected for his birthday party was used to pay for the event and that people made out their checks to the catering hall.

Joey Torres during his birthday celebration and masquerade ball at The Brownstone on Thursday, October 28, 2021.

To me, this is harassment, Torres asserted, adding that he would consult with his own lawyer for s possible complaint against Florio.

Torres has said he is considering running for mayor in 2022, citing a change in New Jerseys law restoring convicted felons voting rights as the basis for his bid. Several political insiders have said Torres  if he ran  would pose a serious challenge to incumbent Andre Sayegh, a close ally of Florio.

Mayor's race: Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is seeking reelection next year. He's already raised $200K

Patersons Joey Torres: A genie now 'out of that bottle

We all know where this is coming from, Torres said, this is Florio doing Andres bidding. Its very, very clear.

Sayegh did not respond to a message seeking his comment about Florios assertions about Torres.

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Torres beat Sayegh in the 2014 mayoral election. A year after that contest, Florio hired a private investigator to follow Torres around. Those efforts resulted in video recordings of city employees working on renovations at beer distribution business being launched by the Torres family, which the attorney generals office cited as evidence in its criminal case against the then-mayor.

A fire destroyed the Paterson armory in 2015. Paterson officials gather at the site of the armory on Thursday August 20, 2020 to break ground on a new project led by developer Charles Florio to transform the lot into 138 apartments, commercial space as well as a police substation. Charles Florio speaks.

Torres eventually admitted in court that the city employees were paid overtime with taxpayers dollars for the hours they spent at the beer business. He served almost 13 months in state prison on an official misconduct conviction.

The attorney general's office did not say whether it would probe Torres activities. Back in September, the attorney general's office issued a statement regarding the possibility of Torres running for mayor.

The court order that Mr. Torres signed and consented to following his guilty plea forever disqualifies him from holding the office of mayor in Paterson, the attorney general's office said in a statement. His disqualification is so clear that we will not comment on a hypothetical question about him running as a candidate.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ developer Charles Florio investigation of Joey Torres
The Philippines on Thursday accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of firing water cannon at boats delivering supplies to Filipino marines in the disputed South China Sea, and ordered Beijing to "back off".

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said he had expressed "outrage, condemnation and protest" to Beijing over the incident, which he said happened Tuesday as the Philippine boats were travelling to Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly Islands.

"Fortunately, no one was hurt; but our boats had to abort their resupply mission," Locsin said in a statement on Twitter, describing the three Chinese vessels' actions as "illegal".

Locsin described the Philippine boats as "public", suggesting they were civilian vessels, and said they were covered by a mutual defence pact with the United States.

"China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas," he added. "They must take heed and back off."

China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said two Filipino supply boats entered waters near the shoal "without China's consent" and its coast guard acted lawfully to "safeguard China's sovereignty".

"Currently, the area around the Second Thomas Shoal is generally peaceful, and China and the Philippines are maintaining communication on this," Zhao said, without confirming if water cannons had been used.

Tensions over the resource-rich seas spiked this year after hundreds of Chinese vessels were detected at Whitsun Reef, which is also in the Spratly archipelago.

China claims almost all of the sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, with competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The contested waters also have valuable fishing grounds and are believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits.

Beijing has ignored a 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that its historical claim over most of the sea to be without basis.

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-'We do not ask permission' -

China controls several reefs in the South China Sea including Scarborough Shoal -- which Beijing seized from Manila in 2012 -- and is just 240 kilometres (150 miles) west of the main Philippine island of Luzon.

It has asserted its stance by building up small shoals and reefs into military bases with airstrips and port facilities.

After China occupied Mischief Reef in the mid-1990s, the Philippines marooned a derelict navy vessel atop the nearby Second Thomas Shoal to assert Manila's territorial claim. Members of the Philippine Marines are based there.

Locsin said the shoal was within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, and warned China's "failure to exercise self-restraint threatens the special relationship" between the two countries.

"We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory," he said.

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte has sought to pivot away from the United States, the Philippines' former colonial master, towards China since taking power in 2016 and has appeared reluctant to confront Beijing.

But facing growing domestic pressure to take a harder line, Duterte has insisted Philippine sovereignty over the waters is not negotiable.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday: "We will continue to assert our sovereignty... over our territory."

In July, Duterte walked back on a decision to axe a key military deal -- the Visiting Forces Agreement -- with the United States during a visit by Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.

In a joint statement issued this week, the two countries reaffirmed "our treaty commitments" that include "obligations to respond to an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either the United States or the Philippines."

cgm-amj/oho
Street clashes again shook Khartoum as internet services returned to Sudan on Thursday, a day after 15 protesters were killed in the bloodiest violence since the country's October 25 coup.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken led a chorus of international condemnation over the crackdown and demanded that Sudan's people be allowed to "assemble peacefully and express their views".

The demonstrations on Wednesday were organised despite a near-total shutdown of internet services and the disruption of telephone lines.

Police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse anti-coup protesters and tore down makeshift barricades before dozens of demonstrators returned to rebuild them only to face more tear gas.

"Protesters responded by hurling stones at the police," one of the witnesses said.

The official news agency SUNA said later that "internet services are gradually returning through all telecommunication companies."

AFP journalists were able to access the internet, including social media networks through VPNs.

- 'Stop the repression' -

On October 25, top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan -- Sudan's de facto leader since the April 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir -- detained the civilian leadership and declared a state of emergency.

The move upended Sudan's fragile transition to full civilian rule, drawing international condemnation and a flurry of punitive measures and aid cuts.

Burhan insists the military's move "was not a coup" but a step to "rectify the course of the transition" to civilian rule.

Thousands took to the streets on Wednesday in Khartoum and other cities but were met by the deadliest crackdown since the military's takeover.

At least 15 people were killed, most of them in north Khartoum, doctors said, raising the overall toll since the coup to 39 dead.

But police said they had recorded only one death among protesters in north Khartoum. Another 30 had suffered breathing difficulties from tear gas inhalation.

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They said they had fired no live rounds and used only "minimum force", even as 89 officers were wounded, some of them critically.

UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said "it is utterly shameful that live ammunition was again used yesterday against protesters."

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association Clement Voule said he had "received alarming reports of increased use of lethal force by the military against peaceful protesters".

The European Union said the "perpetrators of these violations will be held accountable" and that the blackout must "not prevent the world from being informed about these human rights violations".

By Thursday morning, phone lines had been restored before internet services returned.

Bridges connecting Khartoum with its neighbouring cities reopened and traffic returned to the streets of the capital.

Last week, Burhan formed a new Sovereign Council, the highest transitional authority, with himself as chief and military figures and ex-rebel leaders keeping their posts.

He replaced members from the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), Sudan's main civilian bloc, with little-known figures.

- 'A way forward' -

The FFC is an umbrella alliance that spearheaded the protests which led to the ouster of Bashir in 2019, and its mainstream faction has supported the anti-coup protests of recent weeks.

Since the coup, Burhan has removed clauses referring to the FFC from the 2019 power-sharing deal between the military and the civilians from the bloc.

This week, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee met with the generals and the ousted civilian government in a bid to broker a way out of the crisis.

Phee has called for the reinstatement of ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is effectively under house arrest.

Burhan has vowed to hold the planned elections in 2023, reiterating to Phee on Tuesday that his actions aimed to "correct the trajectory of the revolution".

On Thursday, a senior US official said Washington was convinced that Sudan's military wanted to find a way out of the crisis.

"Everybody, it seems to me, wants to find a way back, which is not the feeling I think you would get from the outside," said the senior official on Blinken's plane on a trip to Africa.

"There is a lot of room for finding a way forward."

bur/dv
The completion of the first Polkadot parachain auction was occasion for its creator, Gavin Wood, to herald a newfound freedom from the economic constraints of Ethereum smart contracts.

Wood, a co-founder of Ethereum who helped develop the smart contract programming language Solidity, said Polkadots economic lease-holding model for parachains (literally, parallelized chains) is exactly why users dont need to buy a platform token, or need to know anything about the frameworks overarching native token, DOT.

Its a model that stands in stark contrast to Ethereum and most of Ethereums competitors, according to Wood.

The users of applications that are built on Ethereum are enslaved to it in an economic sense, said Wood in an interview with CoinDesk. These users have to own ether on Ethereum and oftentimes some other token that allows them to use whatever application that is built using Ethereum smart contracts. This is a huge limitation.

Imagine, said Wood, if every time you did a Google search you had to pay Google a tenth of a cent for electricity.

That just doesnt make any sense, he said. This is the key difference between the application model of free execution with Polkadot versus the smart contract model of transactive execution that you get with Ethereum and Ethereums competitors.

Polkadots approach

From a high level, the Polkadot framework allows application developers to build their own blockchains with their own rules, and for those chains to be able to communicate with one another.

The interlinked blockchain system benefits from the pooled security guarantees of the Relay Chain, which connects the various parachains and serves an important role in validating Polkadots randomized proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

Bitcoin mind warp

Rather provocatively, Wood said Ethereum is actually closer to Bitcoin than many of its adherents would freely admit.

Its really Bitcoin, but with some extra scripting, he said. Its up to the Ethereum miners which transactions they include, in exactly the same way as Bitcoin miners can choose to include this Bitcoin transaction rather than that Bitcoin transaction.

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The vagaries of Ethereum miners are part of a more fundamental problem with a blockchain implementation that was not designed to accommodate actions or tasks at the application level. Everything happens at the user level in smart contracts, said Wood.

Parachain race

Polkadots first closely fought auction saw the two leading projects, Moonbeam and Acala, collect over $1.3 billion worth of DOT each in a bid to snag the first parachain slot. Taking this into account, its been said Polkadots expensive competition to secure leasing awards isnt an open system in the same way that Ethereum is.

Wood pointed out the economic model of parachain auctions still allows for parathreads, a pay-as-you-go approach thats somewhere between a parachain model and the smart contract model where users pay. But with an important difference. On Polkadot its still the blockchain paying the system, he said, so that blockchains users dont have to hold the token and dont have to pay for the application.

You get much more freedom as an application provider, said Wood, both the economic freedom to not pass on this exposure to DOT tokens the way Ethereum requires you to do, and technical freedom to allow you to actually use the full gamut of blockchains capabilities.

Read more: Acala Wins First Polkadot Parachain Auction, With $1.3B in DOT Committed

Looking ahead

The winners of the first batch of auctions will go live together in mid-December, with many more to follow. Looking ahead, Wood pointed to some technology areas he is interested to see being worked into the Polkadot universe.

This included asynchronous smart contract platforms focused on future levels of composability between blockchains and blockchain shards, which he called smart contracts 2.0. Other interesting areas being tackled using Substrate were trusted execution using Intel SGX type of environments, and zero-knowledge proofs tech, both for shielding and privacy, as well as throughput efficiency via rollups.

He also mentioned more crazy stuff, such as common-good parachains with non-profit motives.

I do my best to build something very abstract and general, so it can be used for things beyond what I can see, said Wood. Theres definitely a feeling of accomplishment when you see what youve built being used for something you didnt envisage.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during an event in Sochi, Russia in October 2021. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

Putin in a new speech blamed the West for recent tensions with Moscow.

The Russian president said the West wasn't respecting Moscow's "red lines."

Meanwhile, Russian troops have amassed on Ukraine's borders, sparking criticism from the US and NATO.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday effectively blamed the West for growing tensions with Moscow, as US officials continue to raise concerns about Russian troop movements on the border with Ukraine.

"We're constantly voicing our concerns about this, talking about red lines, but we understand our partners  how shall I put it mildly  have a very superficial attitude to all our warnings and talk of red lines," Putin said in a speech on foreign policy, per Reuters, claiming that Western strategic bombers with "very serious weapons" have been flying within roughly 12.5 miles of Russia's borders.

Back in September, the Kremlin warned that NATO expanding military infrastructure in Ukraine would cross "red lines" for the Russian president. The Russian president has repeatedly complained about US and NATO military activities in the Black Sea and Eastern Europe.

Putin during his Thursday speech also said that relations between Washington and Moscow at the moment are "unsatisfactory." But he signaled that Russia is still open to dialogue with the US. President Joe Biden and Putin met in Geneva in June, but the summit was largely fruitless.

Putin's remarks came as NATO and the US criticize Russia over its military presence near Ukraine, as Ukrainian troops continue to fight a war against Kremlin-backed rebels in the Donbass region. Russia, for its part, denies involvement in the conflict.

The US has provided over $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, the same year that Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine and the war in the Donbass region began. Over 13,000 people have been killed in the conflict so far.

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"We'll continue to call on Russia to act responsibly and be more transparent on the buildup of the forces around on the border of Ukraine," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a press conference on Wednesday.

"We're not sure exactly what Mr. Putin is up to," Austin added.

Similarly, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday said, ''In recent weeks, we have seen large and unusual concentrations of Russian forces close to Ukraine's borders."

''Any further provocation or aggressive actions by Russia would be of serious concern,'' Stoltenberg said.

Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said the Biden administration is concerned Russia "may make a serious mistake of attempting to rehash what it undertook back in 2014, when it amassed forces along the border, crossed into sovereign Ukrainian territory, and did so claiming falsely that it was provoked."

The Kremlin has denied any plans to launch an invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said there were 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine's borders.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Nov. 17  To the Editor:

As the New Hampshire Legislature takes up the debate about critical race theory in schools under the proposed "repeal and replace the divisive concepts legislation, I am reminded that when I was in 8th grade English class, required reading included the books Black Like Me and To Kill a Mockingbird. That was in 1969predating Critical Race Theory by a decade. (Frankly, I did not know that the CRT existed until last year when the political right made it a cause celebre.)

Black Like Me, published in 1960, is a nonfiction book by a white journalist who had his skin temporarily medically darkened to pass as a Black man to explore life on the other side of racism.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most widely read American classics dealing with racism in this country, especially as it relates to racial bias in our legal system. Set in the 1930s, Atticus Finch, the father character in the book says to his 6-year-old daughter, You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of viewuntil you climb into his skin and walk around in it. Under the newly enacted law, this book could be conveniently deep-sixed.

In the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird," the character Atticus Finch spoke about trying to see things from another's point of view.

My English class read these books when I was 13. I was lucky to have had teachers supported by a progressive public school system over 50 years ago in then blue-collar Worcester, MA asking us to walk around in it. Kids are never too young to become aware of race in this country. They weren't in 1930, 1960, or 1969. Todays youth deserve the same courtesy and respect.

Really, Governor Sununu, you disappoint Atticus Finch.

James T. Lalos

Portsmouth

Ken McCord is testing the limits of new Seacoast Media Group opinion policy

Nov. 15 -- To the Editor:

About two weeks ago Howard Altschiller announced a new policy for opinion pieces:

"Beginning today we will prioritize letters and opinion columns addressing local topics. We want to talk about whats happening in our cities and towns as well as the states of New Hampshire and Maine. Those who want to engage in Fox News v. MSNBC style partisan bickering have plenty of other outlets. And well let you in on a secret, the locally focused letters and columns are much better read than the national ones."

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More: Altschiller: Opinions on Seacoast subjects wanted; national bickering, not so much

Since then the paper has published two pieces by Ken McCord who has demonstrated his penchant for writing pedantic, error-ridden, political screes, making him the poster-boy for Those who want to engage in Fox News v. MSNBC style partisan bickering . McCord continues his rants against Democrats by cocooning them within his opinion that whatever happens in the world has an effect on the people of New Hampshire.

More: McCord: World and national affairs impact and shape Seacoast lives

Surely Mr. Altschiller, you can see through this tepid attempt to get around the papers policy to publish opinions that pertain to local people and local issues.

I could write a letter about Republican states having higher rates of COVID infections and deaths and tie it to Portsmouth by mentioning how this has created a dire shortage of cranberry jelly at Market Basket. If more Republicans got vaccinated and followed safe practices, then wed have plenty of cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving!

Maybe Ill work on it.

Priscilla Hodgkins

New Castle

NH legislation banning vaccine mandates would prolong deadly COVID pandemic

Nov. 17 -- To the Editor:

The House Education Committee today recommended passage of HB 255 banning vaccine requirements for employees to return to the workplace. This bill irresponsibly dismissing basic public health protocols to curb and end the COVID pandemic. Instead, by making it illegal to require a vaccine to return to the workplace, infection rates will smolder on and prolong the public health threat of COVID.

The current spike in COVID infections and higher risk of serious illness were accurately predicted and correlates directly with unvaccinated populations. The rights and liberties of the immunocompromised, chronically ill, and elderly to live without the fear of the potentially lethal virus are being disregarded. Granite Staters deserve to be protected from the prolonged infestation of COVID which can leave serious long-hauler symptoms and organ damage in many survivors, young and old.

More: NH House panel passes amendment blocking businesses from mandating vaccines

The greatest threat to public health is allowing a prolonged COVID outbreak which incubates new mutant variants. Soon, a variant could immerge that is resistant to our current antibodies, creating a new novel virus problem.

The science is basic and irrefutable. This legislation and other actions to undermine herd immunity development can result in real harm and serious long term suffering to New Hampshire citizens.

Ken Cohen

Kensington

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH, Maine residents on Critical Race Theory, vaccine mandates
Luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises is finally back on the high seas in the United States, sailing out of Miami this week for the first time in 20 months, the company shared with Travel + Leisure.

The Seven Seas Explorer took off from Miami on Nov. 15 for an eight-night sailing through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica. That ship will end its journey in Colon, Panama.

Then on Thursday, the Seven Seas Mariner took off from Miami, and the Seven Seas Navigator will follow next, departing from the city on Jan. 6, 2022.

"We are absolutely delighted to sail from the global home of cruising once again," Jason Montague, the president and CEO of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, said in a statement provided to T+L. "Our return to Miami is another huge step forward as we reintroduce our fleet to the seas and offer our guests the unrivaled Regent experience once more."

Cruise ship on the water

Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas

The Seven Seas Explorer, which can accommodate up to 750 guests and had previously been traversing the Mediterranean, will sail throughout the Caribbean until March 2022 when it will head back to Europe.

The cruise line's return to service will continue next year when the Seven Seas Voyager sails from Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 15, 2022.

Regent, which is part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, requires all guests and crew to be fully vaccinated as well as take a COVID-19 test before boarding, according to the company. The ships are also capacity controlled for social distancing and have a dedicated public health officer on board.

All Regent cruises come with complimentary shore excursions in every port, round-trip business class airfare on intercontinental flights from the U.S. and Canada, unlimited internet access, free valet laundry, gratuities, and more.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer's hiring of a lawyer who worked for anti-Islamic groups  and his top deputy's subsequent direction that staff keep "an open mind" to their new colleague  is drawing condemnation from 20 advocacy and religious organizations.

In a letter sent Wednesday, the groups said it was "deeply concerning" to see video of Spencer's Special Deputy City Attorney Celia Jackson in a staff meeting saying that people hold "different views" in response to criticism of the recent hiring of new Assistant City Attorney Jennifer DeMaster. The Journal Sentinel published the video earlier this month.

"Would it be acceptable to hire staff who have actively worked to suppress the constitutional rights of Black Americans or Jewish Americans?" the group wrote. "We certainly hope not."

"We are deeply concerned about the message your office is sending to people of all faith, especially Milwaukee Muslims, by employing a former member of a designated hate group. More importantly, we are concerned that Ms. DeMasters anti-Muslim extremism will impact her ability to make impartial decisions."

The coalition called for Spencer to fire DeMaster unless she "publicly renounces her past efforts to restrict the rights of Muslims and pledges to treat all people equally under the law" and asked Spencer to meet with local Muslim leaders.

DeMaster worked from 2015 to 2017 as a legal analyst for the Clarion Project, which has been labeled one of the major proponents of Islamophobia in the United States. The position followed her work as law clerk at the American Center for Law and Justice, where she prepped attorneys on "Sharia law (and) radical Islamic ideology," according to a resume she filed in federal court.

In 2020, DeMaster wrote a book titled "Babylon Unveiled," in which she argued that Islam is not a peaceful religion.

Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told the Journal Sentinel on Thursday that Spencer had not responded to the letter or reached out in response to concerns Muslim leaders had previously voiced.

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"Everyone's got the right to free speech, and attorneys have the right to express their personal opinions in their free time," Mitchell said. "What is concerning is the idea that an assistant city attorney would have a history of trying to restrict the legal rights of certain people of faith in this country because of bigotry."

Spencer did not respond to phone calls or texts on Thursday. He also hasn't made DeMaster available to explain her views.

Spencer, who was elected last year, has said he would be an advocate for underrepresented groups. The City Attorney's Office website says Spencer "is committed to being a voice for the voiceless and ensuring that the City Attorney's Office and Milwaukee are places where all feel welcomed and protected equally under the law."

But Mitchell said in his interview that Spencer can't remain silent about his decision to hire DeMaster. Specifically, Mitchell said, the city attorney needs to make clear if officials erred in overlooking her past work for anti-Muslim groups or if she concealed this activity.

"Mr. Spencer's ongoing failure to address community concerns about Jennifer DeMaster indicates that Islamophobia is an acceptable form of bigotry within the Milwaukee City Attorney's Office," Mitchell said.

The letter was sent by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim advocacy organization in the nation, along with leaders of the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition, the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance and the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. It was also signed by local officials from Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish and Hindu religious communities and five Christian denominations.

Jennifer DeMaster served as a legal analyst on several conservative outlets on topics ranging from the Trump impeachment hearings, the Middle East and the suicide of Jeffrey Epstein. This is a screen grab of an appearance on i24 News, an Israeli channel.

Muslim leaders raised concerns about DeMaster's ability to be impartial when the Journal Sentinel broke the news of her hiring earlier this month.

Her hiring last month comes amid an exodus of staffers from Spencer's office over a range of issues, including allegations of sexual harassment, a toxic work environment and unprofessional leadership of the agency.

"The citizens of Milwaukee deserve to be able to turn to the City Attorney's office for unbiased support," Janan Najeeb, President of the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition, said in a statement. "If it is okay to hire an ethically challenged Islamophobic attorney now, it gives the green light to hire other bigoted attorneys that target other communities under the guise of having few options."

She also called on other elected leaders at City Hall, who have been largely silent on DeMaster's hiring, to step up.

"Mayor Tom Barrett also can't sit this out; he has a responsibility to the citizens of Milwaukee. The responsibility ultimately sits with him," she said. "If it is true that no one wants to work for City Attorney Tearman Spencer, then the mayor and Common Council need to evaluate how to repair the severe damage that Mr. Spencer has done."

In a statement, Barrett said he had been clear that "hate has no place in city government."

"It is incumbent on the City Attorney to make certain bias, discrimination, and offensive characterizations of peaceful religions are not part of his offices future," Barrett said.

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Faith groups urge Tearman Spencer to fire lawyer with anti-Muslim ties
WASHINGTON (AP)  An independent review has concluded that the Defense Department and its top leaders acted appropriately before and during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, despite sharp criticism from some local and congressional leaders that the military did not respond quick enough as protesters breached the building.

The Defense Department's Office of Inspector General, in a report released Wednesday, said military and defense leaders did not delay or obstruct the department's response. It said decisions made by two officials at the time, acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, were reasonable in light of the circumstances that existed on that day and requests from D.C. officials and the Capitol Police.

Criticism has centered on the fact that it took about three hours for members of the District of Columbia National Guard to respond to the Capitol  a timeline the Pentagon has defended as appropriate and necessary to determine the mission, equipment and riot preparedness of the citizen-soldiers and get new orders approved and delivered to commanders.

The IG report is one of a number of investigations and reviews of that tumultuous day, which saw a violent mob overrun police barricades, break into the Capitol and hunt for lawmakers, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, who had to be swiftly escorted out of harm's way.

The Pentagon inspector general, by law, is an independent authority that conducts audits, evaluations, and investigations of Pentagon activities.

The inspector general focused narrowly on the military response to the Jan. 6 riot, while other probes are looking more closely at the roles of then-President Donald Trump and his supporters, including whether they fueled the assault or planned it. Many gathered at a rally before the riot and then marched up to Capitol Hill.

More than 600 individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the insurrection, Seven people died during or after the rioting, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbit, who was shot and killed while breaking into the House chamber.

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Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison. Chansley, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, was among the first rioters to enter the building.

The Pentagon inspector general found that the process followed by the military was appropriate, and noted that many of the Guard were not trained in law enforcement. It described a chaotic and confusing situation and said initial reports to the Defense Department were contradictory.

The report also said that McCarthy, the Army secretary at the time, was within his authority to require the D.C. Guard to lay out a mission plan before he would authorize their deployment. Others had questioned that decision, saying it delayed the troops' response.

Maj. Gen. William Walker, commanding general of the D.C. Guard, told senators in March that the chief of the Capitol Police at that time requested military support in a voice cracking with emotion in a 1:49 p.m. call as rioters began pushing toward the Capitol. Walker said he immediately relayed the request to the Army but did not learn until after 5 p.m. that the Defense Department had approved it.

The IG report found that defense officials correctly went through the approval process.

Military personnel are trained to respond to civilian emergency events, not by sending individuals into an uncertain situation as they become available, but by assembling and deploying a force capable of decisive operations, the report concluded. Military doctrine requires that commanders first determine essential details, conduct a mission analysis, and then develop a thorough plan.

The IG made several recommendations. It said the department should develop specific plans for a military response to a civil disturbance within the National Capital Region, including how federal agencies must request support. And it recommended the military train with federal and local agencies on how to better coordinate when large-scale events are planned.

It also recommended that Guard personnel should be given reliable radio and communications equipment.

The report dismissed suggestions that concerns about the optics of sending Guard forces to the Capitol while Congress was in session fueled any delay, saying that McCarthy asked Miller to approve sending troops within minutes after his call with Capitol officials. It said such concerns did not impact the Pentagon response.

___

AP National Security writer Robert Burns contributed to this report.
Police officials and ER pediatricians at VCU Health said they were speaking out to raise awareness about the issue and educate families on best practices.
(Bloomberg) -- Citadel Securities and Robinhood Markets Inc. won dismissal of a proposed class-action lawsuit brought by retail investors who accused the firms of colluding during Januarys meme-stock frenzy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga in Miami said that the plaintiffs failed to show there was any agreement between Citadel Securities and Robinhood to act in concert. In a Wednesday ruling, she dismissed the case without prejudice, giving the investor group until Dec. 20 to possibly file an amended complaint.

The lawsuit alleged that Citadel Securities amassed a substantial short position in GameStop Corp. and other stocks that exploded in value, and that the market-maker pressured Robinhood to stop customers from purchasing those shares, which the online brokerage did on Jan. 28.

The request from a market maker to limit order flow sent to it is not equivalent to a demand to restrict trading, Altonaga wrote in her decision.

Conspiracy Theories

We are pleased that the court agreed that there is no basis for the plaintiffs conspiracy theories and summarily dismissed the case, Citadel Securities spokesman David Millar said in an emailed statement.

Robinhood spokeswoman Jacqueline Ortiz Ramsay likewise said in an emailed statement, This further confirms that the conspiracy theory of collusion has no basis in fact.

The legal battle has drawn attention to the complex machinery behind the execution of trades. Robinhood sends customer orders to Citadel Securities and other trading firms to be carried out, and accepts remuneration from those firms in whats called payment for order flow.

Citadel Securities said it first learned of Robinhoods trading restrictions on certain stocks during Januarys meme-stock frenzy from Twitter, rebutting accusations that the two firms colluded. E*Trade Securities and Interactive Brokers were also named as defendants in the case.

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Vague and Ambiguous

The judge said the investor group were only inferring that such pressure was applied based on a few vague and ambiguous emails between two firms in an otherwise lawful, ongoing business relationship.

She also said the fact that some firms not named in the suit imposed trading restrictions of their own in the wild trading environment rendered the claim that the named defendants engaged in a conspiracy implausible.

The plaintiffs said that the firms identified in their lawsuit could collude because of the close-knit and secretive nature of their industry. The judge said these were generic descriptions that did not alone prove a conspiracy took place.

Read more: Griffin, Robinhood Strike Back at Fresh Outrage Over GameStop

Though the investor group still has a chance to respond to the judges decision to dismiss the case, Robinhood and other defendants will continue to prevail given the lack of evidence, Bloomberg Intelligence litigation analyst Elliot Stein wrote in a note Thursday.

Brokers parallel conduct, even if intentional, was justified in light of clearinghouse collateral requirements, Stein said.

The case is In re: January 2021 Short Squeeze Trading Litigation, 21-2989, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami)

(Updates with new Bloomberg Intelligence quote in final paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
LAKELAND  For 14 years, Tom Sharpe has helped to get the holiday season on track for audiences from coast to coast as the drummer-percussionist for Mannheim Steamroller.

The six-piece band, backed by orchestras, returns to RP Funding Center Youkey Theatre on Nov. 19.

Formed in 1974, the group is renowned for its holiday-themed albums bridging modern sound technology and classical instrumentation. More than 28 million albums have been sold in the United States alone.

Sharpe, 51, said for many of their audiences, the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas shows, much like TV Christmas shows, signal the beginning of the holidays. Speaking from Pensacola, the drummer  who lives in the Chicagoland area  said he and the rest of the band looked forward to coming back after having to skip 2020.

Were back at it, ready to spread the joy. Thats what its really about for us as a group. Weve become part of (the audiences) Christmas traditions, he said. To not be able to do that last year was hard. This such is a part of peoples Christmas it goes down from generations. To know were back spreading that joy again is a really special thing.

The 2021 show will be directed by Mannheim Steamroller founder, percussionist-composer Louis Chip Davis and coproduced with MagicSpace Entertainment. The show, two hour-long sets and an intermission, will feature the songs of the original classic Christmas hits from the first Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album.

There will also be Carol of the Bells from 1998s A Fresh Aire Christmas along with other traditional songs from the first album, such as Deck the Halls, Silent Night and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

Chip does a great job of making sure the favorites are in there, said Sharpe. (He) does a great job of balancing those by keeping an eye forward and adding things that are newer. It doesnt matter if someone knows a piece or not, if its a good piece, theyre going to love it.

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Mannheim Steamroller's musicians and crews come from across the U.S. Oftentimes, Sharpe said, orchestra members come from area and state symphonies and universities in the areas in which Mannheim Steamroller is playing.

Sharpe said those regional selections help keep performances fresh and alive for audiences, wherever the band is playing. He added that also holds true for Mannheim Steamroller members and keeps them motivated.

This is the MH Christmas tourit is just going to go on forever. Its just one of those things that we as a band, we feel honored to be the ones to bring this music at this time, he said. Here we are in mid-November in Florida and were going to be playing sold-out shows. This does really kick off the season for everyone; we want people to leave inspired and energized and they just got something special.

Scott Sloman, RP Funding Center assistant director-booking manager, said area residents and those from beyond look forward to Mannheim Steamroller to help usher in the season.

We can think of no better way to kick-off the holiday than with Mannheim Steamroller, he stated via email. They have become a family holiday tradition since their first performance here in 2008 and we are proud to have been selected to be part of their 35th anniversary tour.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Mannheim Streamroller Christmas by Chip Davis

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19; pre-show dining, 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: RP Funding Center Youkey Theatre, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland

COST: $93, $62, $51; Center Stage pre-show dining $20.95

INFO: www.rpfundingcenter.com; 863-834-8100; 888-397-010

Mannheim Steamroller comes to the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Friday.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Mannheim Steamroller bringing its annual holiday show to RP Funding Center
Left: Kyle Rittenhouse. Right: The Kenosha County courthouse. Getty/Getty

The jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse case has been deliberating since Tuesday.

On Thursday, schools around the courthouse were closed to in-person learning in anticipation of a verdict.

Officials said the decision to close certain schools was "out of an abundance of caution."

A handful of schools located near the Kenosha County courthouse switched to virtual learning on Thursday in anticipation of a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, according to a letter sent to local parents.

The jury in the high-profile case started deliberations on Tuesday, and tension has been mounting outside the courthouse. On Wednesday, a rifle-toting demonstrator showed up outside the courthouse, and two protesters were arrested after a clash.

When reached for confirmation of the school closures, the Kenosha Unified School District's chief communications officer, Tanya Ruder, forwarded Insider a letter that the district sent to parents. The letter explained that Harborside Academy and Reuther Central High School, each located within blocks of the courthouse, switched to virtual learning beginning on Wednesday.

On Thursday, three more schools near the courthouse  Brass Community School, Frank Elementary School, and Washington Middle School  also switched to virtual learning. Ruder told Insider that these schools will continue virtual learning through Friday.

The letter said that the district decided to close the selected schools for in-person learning "out of an abundance of caution due to the proximity of the school boundaries to the courthouse and the number of students who walk to and from school."

"Unfortunately, a verdict has not been reached in the Rittenhouse trial and activity surrounding the courthouse continues to grow," the letter said.

The parents of students attending schools remaining open are also being allowed to keep their children at home, if they are concerned about the atmosphere caused by the Rittenhouse verdict nearing.

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"We understand that this may impact our students in various ways, which is why we want to remind families of schools not listed above that you may choose to keep your children home if you feel that is in their best interest. If you decide to call them in, they will be excused," the letter said.

Read the full letter below:

Kenosha Unified School District

Read the original article on Insider
Serena Williams has expressed her concern about Chinas Peng Shuai (Nigel French/PA) (PA Archive)

Serena Williams has joined the calls for an investigation into what is happening to Chinese player Peng Shuai.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion has become the latest in a growing number of players and organisations expressing concern about the welfare of the 35-year-old, who has not been seen since making allegations of sexual assault against Chinas former vice-premier two weeks ago.

A letter purportedly from the Chinese player appeared on state media before quickly being removed as worries continue to mount.

I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai, Williams wrote on Twitter.

I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent.

I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuai pic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6  Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) November 18, 2021

Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time.

Head of the WTA Steve Simon, whom Chinese media claimed was the recipient of the former world doubles number ones letter, has insisted Pengs voice must be heard, suggesting the issue could jeopardise the tours future in China despite the huge sums of money at stake.

I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communications, to no avail, he said in a statement.

Peng Shuai must be allowed to speak freely, without coercion or intimidation from any source.

Her allegation of sexual assault must be respected, investigated with full transparency and without censorship.

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Serena Williams and Venus Williams attend the 2021 AFI Fest Closing Night Premiere of King Richard (Getty)

Serena Williams says she is still traumatised by an experience at Indian Wells in 2001 when she was booed by the crowd after accusations she reached the final after her father, Richard, pulled sister Venus out of their semi-final clash.

Venus pulled out just before their semi-final match citing tendonitis - a day after Russian player Elena Dementieva said Richard Williams would decide whos going to win - allowing Serena to advance and play Belgian Kim Clijsters in the final the following day.

The crowd of nearly 16,000 fans booed 19-year-old Serena as well as Venus and Richard when they took their seats. Although Serena came from behind to win the title in three sets, she said she was in no mood to celebrate.

I remember I was playing this infamous match at Indian Wells ... That was a rough one for me, Serena, 40, told Will Smith in a Red Table Talk interview ahead of the release of King Richard - a film about their father.

It was so hard. Ill never forget driving back ... I remember just getting in the car and I was just bawling. I was at the gas station, there was no celebration and I was just crying and crying and crying.

Serena did not return the following year to defend her title at the tournament that is sometimes called the fifth major, with the American boycotting the event until 2015.

Even when I went back 14 years later, it was very traumatising, said Serena, a 23-times Grand Slam champion.

Talk about post-traumatic stress and mental anxiety. I remember sitting in the bathroom thinking, Wait, Im not going to go back. I just dont think I should do this. What if they start booing again? It was really hard for me.

Read More

Venus and Serena: Watching King Richard was a surreal experience

Novak Djokovic insists freedom of choice essential on Covid vaccine

Peng Shuai: Concerns over welfare of Chinese tennis player after supposed letter
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (PHOTO: AFP via Getty Images)

SINGAPORE  Singapore is easing up on COVID-19 restrictions "step by step" as it moves into the endemic phase of the pandemic, "without having had to make unsettling U-turns", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Acknowledging that it has had to change course on its COVID journey, PM Lee told Bloomberg editor-in-chief John Micklethwait on Wednesday (17 November) that the city-state is trying to reach an end point without paying the high price many other societies have, a report by The Straits Times said.

At the same time, it is trying to persuade Singaporeans that it is necessary to accept a few thousand COVID cases a day. Nevertheless, there will be casualties, mainly old people.

"It is just the way life is and it is the way influenza and pneumonia and other diseases carry off old folks by the thousands every year. We accept that and we have to manage this going forward without letting it go out of control," said Lee, who was speaking at a gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on Day 1 of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum (NEF).

When Micklethwait asked if the 61,000 unvaccinated individuals above 60 are preventing the country from opening up further, Lee noted that the "human cost" of writing them off would be a high one.

"The terrible trauma that society goes through  you have people who are sick, whom you cannot treat, who die waiting for oxygen or waiting for a bed  I would much rather not have to do that."

The PM noted that trust is critical in changing course, easing restrictions and reopening borders."It is not my logic which persuades people, but they watch you, they listen to you. They either have confidence in you and faith in you or they decide: Well, he sounds good, but I am not following him."

Last month, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung denied that Singapore's COVID management strategy amounted to a "flip-flop", claiming that its "middle-of-the-road approach" and strict controls throughout the large part of the past 20 months of the pandemic has helped avert the "many tragic deaths" seen in other countries.

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He also addressed the "inconsistencies" in the country's COVID policies. "If we are prepared to live with some inconsistencies, then we have a basis to move forward...Eventually, everyone will get there."

Prevailing COVID restrictions that allow groups of up to two to dine in at F&B outlets  families from the same household were allowed to dine in restaurants in groups of up to five from Wednesday  are set to expire on Sunday. It is unclear if the restrictions would be extended.

Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
WASHINGTON  A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce.

Oklahomas newly appointed adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, announced last week on behalf of Gov. Kevin Stitt that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The policy defies a Pentagon directive issued in August that makes vaccination mandatory for all troops, including the National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch.

The order I issued came directly from the governor. That is the lawful order to the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard, Mancino said in an interview, adding that he had been vaccinated.

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Pentagon officials said Wednesday that failure to follow valid medical readiness requirements could jeopardize the status of service members, who could face dismissal or other punishment.

The officials insist that Stitt has no legal standing, although experts on the obscure laws governing the National Guard disagree. They note that unless National Guard members are federally deployed, they are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates. Guard members can only serve one boss at a time, said John Goheen, a spokesperson for the National Guard Association of the United States.

The Pentagon is not without redress. It could deny funding to state units or impede the promotions of Guard members who refuse to be vaccinated. Officials said Wednesday that Guard members who refused vaccination also could face dismissal, as with active duty troops.

Oklahoma may be able to take this step as a legal matter, but there are definitely things the federal government can do in response that might make it a painful Pyrrhic victory, said Eugene Fidell, an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Law. The governor and state adjutant general thus might find themselves commanding some very unhappy personnel.

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The Pentagon is bracing for other states to follow Oklahomas lead. None have so far, but many are believed to be closely watching the situation, which could become the subject of lawsuits. This could be contagious, Fidell said.

National Guard troops have been caught in the political cross hairs over the years, such as in 2018, when several governors said they would withhold or recall their troops from the border with Mexico when the Trump administration separated children from adults who illegally crossed into the United States. In 1986, several governors balked at sending Guard troops for maneuvers in Honduras that President Ronald Reagan had ordered.

But these rare conflicts in the military have never centered on vaccine mandates, which have existed for decades.

The Oklahoma standoff, while limited in scope, shows the headaches Biden faces as he pushes a Jan. 4 deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers. The new rule, which applies to companies with 100 or more employees, would cover about 84 million workers, and is already facing fierce resistance.

Stitt is one of several Republican state officials who have been resisting Bidens vaccine mandates covering federal employees and contractors.

Some governors who have been more resistant to mandates have declined to join Stitt.

I took an oath, and I intend to do what I promised the country I would do, Gen. Thomas Carden, the head of the Georgia National Guard, told a local reporter last week. Its cut and dry for us.

Spokesmen for the National Guard in North Dakota and Florida  whose governors oppose vaccine mandates  said they were following the Pentagon order, while officials in Texas were more vague.

The decision whether or not to receive a vaccination is a personal matter each soldier and airman must weigh. The Texas National Guard provides the resources necessary for each service member to make informed decisions, an unidentified spokesperson said in response to an email query. The official added that the states Guard members would be subject to a mandate only when they were serving in a federal status, suggesting that Texas could be following Oklahomas lead.

While a vast majority of active duty troops have been vaccinated, the percentage of those in the National Guard has lagged averages for the civilian population. In Oklahoma, 89% of airmen in the Guard have been vaccinated, while only 40% of Army guardsmen have had shots.

Mancino issued his memo a day after Stitt dismissed his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Michael C. Thompson, a proponent of vaccines. Thompson told The New York Times that the governor offered no explanation and that his firing was political.

Theres not another reason for it, he said.

 2021 The New York Times Company
In The Know by Yahoo

A TikTok user is sparking a wide-spanning debate after sharing the special request on their Starbucks drink order.

The video, which is sparking a conversation about what baristas should and shouldnt be asked to do, comes from a user named @dahgari. In the clip, the TikToker shared what happened when they asked for a customized note on their drink.

Its just the latest Starbucks-related video to go viral on TikTok, where baristas jobs have always been a hot topic. On the one hand, current and former baristas have used the app to share their wildest workplace mishaps and their biggest money-saving hacks. Meanwhile, others have used the platform to explore how the TikTok secret menu trend has led to some near-impossible drink orders.

In @dahgaris video, she started by showing the custom request she placed with her order.

Im studying for a hard exam, she wrote. Can you please write something that makes me happy?

Then, she showed the baristas response  which was no response at all.

The TikTok ended with @dahgari showing her cup, which featured no special note of any kind. Her disappointment immediately spawned a massive debate.

Many users criticized the TikTok user, claiming that she was asking for way too much.

Can we not make service workers do emotional labor on top of how hard they work [and] how relatively poorly theyre paid? Not cool, one user wrote.

Watch this tiny NYC apartment living room get a gorgeous makeover in just one day

They dont get paid enough for that, another added.

Theyre a barista, not a therapist, another wrote.

While many agreed with that criticism, some users also thought TikTokers were being too hard on @dahgari.

Yall are taking this so seriously, one user wrote.

Others pointed out that the average barista simply doesnt have time to write a custom message  especially right now. As Forbes reported in 2017, the holiday season is almost always Starbucks busiest time of year. December is typically the most popular month, with November and October following closely behind.

Story continues

Bag designer Brandon Blackwood walks away with vintage Chanel during epic shopping spree

In The Know is now available on Apple News  follow us here!

If you enjoyed this story, check out Adriana Urbinas recipe for pumpkin bread with flax seeds!

More from In The Know:

3 pumpkin recipes that go beyond pumpkin pie

Saving the season: My 2 personal favorite techniques for preserving seasonal foods

These 2 Latin America-inspired sauce recipes will change your life

20 fridge essentials to always have stocked

The post Starbucks customer sparks debate after sharing their special order request appeared first on In The Know.
A coalition of state attorneys general is launching an investigation into how Instagram, owned by Meta, draws in young users and affects their well-being, some of the states involved announced Thursday.

Why it matters: Meta has made it clear it wants to entice young users in order to compete with companies that have been more popular with kids and teenagers, like TikTok and Snapchat.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

What's happening: The AGs are investigating the photo and video sharing app in response to revelations from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen on internal research showing Meta knew Instagram could have bad effects on users.

At least eight states, including New York, Nebraska and Massachusetts, are involved. The AG investigation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Yes, but: Tech companies like Meta have armies of lawyers and endless funds to fight off state action, if the AG coalition's investigation turns into a lawsuit.

Earlier this year, a federal district judge dismissed a state AG antitrust lawsuit against Meta.

Flashback: In September, Meta abandoned plans for an Instagram app for kids after lawmaker outcry.

What they're saying: "These social media platforms are extremely dangerous and have been proven to cause both physical and mental harm in young people, said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Our coalition will not hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to protect children and young adults from the harms Instagram and other social media platforms risk to so many.

Nebraska AG Doug Peterson said: "When social media platforms treat our children as mere commodities to manipulate for longer screen time engagement and data extraction, it becomes imperative for state attorneys general to engage our investigative authority under our consumer protection laws."

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Breaking news

Updated Thursday at 2:50 p.m.

Deputies have cleared from the school, according to an updated news release. The investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff's Office does not anticipate releasing additional information at this time due to the open investigation.

St. Paul School District officials posted on the district Facebook page that all middle and high school activities are canceled today.

Superintendent Joe Wehrli told the Statesman Journal at about 2:30 p.m. that all was good. The district will be back in school under the normal schedule Friday.

Original story

The Marion County Sheriffs Office is investigating a possible bomb threat at St. Paul High School.

Sgt. Jeremy Landers told the Statesman Journa the Sheriff's Office was notified of the threat at 10:15 a.m. Thursday. It is still an active investigation as of 11:25 a.m.

Deputies are onsite at the school and staff has evacuated students as a safety precaution. At this time no device has been located and the investigation is ongoing.

The St. Paul School District is notifying parents of evacuated students and will share information on impacts to school operations, Landers said in a news release.

St. Paul is located about 20 miles northwest of Salem. St. Paul High School had 144 students enrolled in the 2020-21 school year.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information becomes available.

Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6745, Twitter @NataliePateGwin, or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.

This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Keep up on local news in Marion and Polk counties by becoming a Statesman Journal subscriber and get unlimited digital access to stories that matter.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Authorities investigate possible bomb threat at St. Paul High School
Nicola Sturgeon was challenged during First Minister's Questions on early release for prisoners - Fraser Bremner/Getty Images

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to drop proposals that could allow violent criminals to be released from prison after serving only a third of their sentences, in the wake of the "horrific" rape and murder of a pensioner.

Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory leader, raised the case of Esther Brown, who was attacked and murdered in her own home in May this year by Jason Graham, a registered sex offender with 23 previous convictions.

Graham had previously been jailed for seven years for rape in 2013, but was released on licence in 2018. Mr Ross said Graham had not been "monitored properly".

Although Graham was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years' imprisonment this week, the Scottish Tory leader said it was "not nearly enough for such a horrific crime".

Speaking at First Minister's Questions, he quoted Miss Brown's friends, who said the length of the sentence was "very disappointing" and added: "We need to see change in the justice system."

But he warned that a new Scottish Government proposal for violent criminals to be eligible for release after a third of their sentences would make the system more lenient and endanger public safety.

Douglas Ross raised the case of Esther Brown in his question to Nicola Sturgeon - Fraser Bremner/Getty Images

In a direct challenge to Ms Sturgeon, he concluded: "The SNP Government has a choice to make  empty our prisons by letting even more criminals out early, or protect the public and put victims first."

Glaring flaws in Scotlands justice system

The exchanges at Holyrood occurred shortly before the Scottish Government confirmed it is to press ahead with an increase in the age of criminal responsibility, from eight to 12, with effect from December 17.

All prisoners serving fixed sentences of less than four years are currently automatically released at the halfway point and most are released unconditionally.

Criminals serving four years or more can be considered for release by the Parole Board for Scotland two years into their sentence. This does not apply to those serving "indeterminate sentences", such as life sentences, for which there is no automatic early release.

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Under the new proposals, those serving shorter sentences could be automatically freed after a third of their terms, while criminals with longer sentences could also be released at this point, subject to the Parole Board's agreement.

The Scottish Government argued the changes would help prisoners rehabilitate and reduce the country's prison population, pointing out that the latter is much higher than in other countries.

But Mr Ross said: "The tragic case of Esther Brown is yet another damning example of the glaring flaws in Scotlands justice system.

"Jason Graham was released early. He wasnt monitored properly. Grave mistakes were made  and this is not an isolated example. Nicola Sturgeon cannot honestly say that her Governments approach to justice is keeping Scottish people safe."

Esther Brown was murdered by Jason Graham, who was released on licence in 2018 - Police Scotland/PA Wire

Jason Graham 'wasnt monitored properly' after his release from jail, said Douglas Ross - Police Scotland/PA Wire

He said she had not kept a promise she made six years ago to end automatic early release, meaning "more dangerous offenders are being released early all the time".

Calling for a Victims Law to restore confidence in the justice system, he said: "The SNPs latest consultation would take our justice system even further in the wrong direction, risking public safety. Its too late for Esther Brown, but this must change."

Ms Sturgeon expressed her condolences to Miss Brown's family and and admitted the systems put in place to protect the public from registered sex offenders "did not work in this particular, tragic case".

She said there would be a "significant case review" to identify failings and learn lessons, but rejected Mr Ross's claim that Scotland has a "soft touch" approach.

"It is important that we recognise that it's necessary to have in place a justice system that punishes those that deserve to be punished, but that also promotes rehabilitation and tries to reduce re-offending," the First Minister said.
Police

ASHLAND -The Ashland County Sheriff's Office arrested a Mansfield man in connection with the hit-skip crash involving an Amish buggy Oct. 27, according to an Ashland County Sheriff's Office news release.

More: Kroc Center holds first pediatric COVID-19 vaccination clinic

Over the last few weeks, the Ashland County Sheriff's Office has followed up on tips and information received from citizens in reference to this crash that occurred on U.S. Route 42 near Ashland, the release said.

A 43-year-old male and 8-year-old juvenile were ejected from the buggy and taken to a hospital for minor injuries, while the vehicle left the scene and authorities were looking for that vehicle, the October T-G story on the incident reported.

According to the release, the Ashland Police Department received a call that led APD detectives and sheriff deputies to a local business where the suspect worked. After questioning, he was taken into custody and transported to the Ashland County Jail to await official charges, the release added.

As of Thursday afternoon, charges haven't been filed, according to court records.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Suspect in October Amish buggy hit-skip brought to jail
STOCKHOLM --News Direct-- The Curt Bergfors Foundation

STOCKHOLM, November 18, 2021 /3BL Media/ - B4Plastics and GreenWave are given the 2021 Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize for their development of materials for biodegradable fishing gear and sustainable ocean-based food production, respectively. Each prize amounts to $2 million. This means that the world's biggest environmental award is all about food.

For this year and onwards, the Curt Bergfors Foundation has decided to increase the amount of money given to each winner - from $1 million to $2 million.

No other human activity contributes more to the degradation of our environment than the way we eat. It is therefore clear to me that the worlds biggest environmental prize should reward innovative solutions that have the potential to drastically change this. By doubling the amount of money tied to each of the prizes, we intend to accelerate the winners ability to reach their full potential and contribute to a sustainable food planet that can support us all, says Curt Bergfors, Founder of the Curt Bergfors Foundation.

B4Plastics

A significant part of all plastic pollution in the oceans is due to lost or abandoned fishing gear, so-called ghost nets. In addition to threatening marine life while they are still intact, these nets, cages and ropes are eventually ground down to microplastics by the movements of the sea and absorbed into the food chain. Up to 30 percent of all the fish we catch never leaves the ocean but dies unnecessarily, caught in gear that keeps fishing untended.

Within the GLAUKOS project, Belgian company B4Plastics is developing strong bio-based polymer materials for fishing gear that are completely biodegradable, unlike current plastic materials. Using these new materials makes it possible to predetermine the lifespan in water of a net, for example. This guarantees that the equipment, if lost or left in the ocean, neither continues to harm marine life over time nor contributes to pollution as does conventional gear.

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GreenWave

The methods used today to extract food from the oceans are often anything but sustainable - the oceans are becoming depleted and we humans are responsible. Considering how much of the earths surface is covered by water, and despite the unsustainable methods in use, the proportion of food currently originating from the sea is surprisingly small. It is clear that we need to look for not only more, but also significantly better ways to produce food from the marine environments.

US nonprofit GreenWave describes themselves as a global network of regenerative ocean farmers. The organization has developed a scalable system for ocean-based food production with a very small environmental footprint. To grow their idea to a point where it can create change globally, their system and everything needed to use it is shared through an education-based model. This contrasts with a more traditional business where an idea is scaled up within a company itself and thereby limited to that companys own growth rate. GreenWave's goal is to provide knowledge, materials and support to 10,000 independent ocean farmers managing 1 million acres of seaweed and shellfish within ten years.

The winners are selected by the Curt Bergfors Foundation based on a recommendation from the Food Planet Prize jury. The chairmanship of the jury is shared between between leading earth scientist and global sustainability expert Johan Rockstrom, Professor and Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and and award-winning chef Magnus Nilsson, Head of MAD Academy, and Director-General of the Food Planet Prize. The jurors represent the entire food system, from farmers and food producers to decision-makers and researchers. This variety of perspectives ensures the necessary balance between science and practice in the decision-making process.

Read more about the prizewinners and why they received the award at foodplanetprize.org.

Here you can also download photos of the winners and the jury, as well as submit nominations for the 2022 prize.

For more information, and to reach spokespersons Johan Rockstrom and Magnus Nilsson, please contact:

Press@foodplanetprize.org

The Curt Bergfors Foundation was established in 2019. The foundation's mission is to support a rapid transition to a sustainable global food system through research grants, awards, and information campaigns. Most of the activities are centered around the Food Planet Prize. The vision is global food security and a healthy planet.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from The Curt Bergfors Foundation on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/swedish-philanthropist-awards-worlds-biggest-environmental-prize-394348132
Much of eastern Wisconsin's recreational, historical and scientific significance centers around a prominent landmark  but how much do its residents actually know about the Niagara Escarpment?

The Niagara Escarpment, sometimes called "the Ledge," is a land formation that appears as a discontinuous series of exposed cliffs arching from southeast Wisconsin to New York, according to Bob Bultman, a Door County board member and ecological restoration specialist.

"You basically have this big wrinkle in the landscape," he said.

It's most prominent from Dodge County north along the east side of Lake Winnebago and the western side of the Door County peninsula, though the formations can be seen as far south as Brady's Rocks in Waukesha County.

From Wisconsin, the escarpment island-hops around the Great Lakes, traveling through Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Canada on its way to the Niagara area of New York  which inspired the name.

The Niagara Escarpment travels through eastern Wisconsin and around the Great Lakes to the Niagara area of New York.

Popular state parks along the escarpment corridor include High Cliff State Park in Calumet County, and Potawatomi and Peninsula State Parks in Door County.

Much of the teaching and conservation efforts are piloted by the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network, for which Bultman is a member of the steering committee.

The network, a program of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, formed in 1998 and teamed up with local plan commissions, conservationists and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to "facilitate conversation and awareness" of the escarpment and its complexities, according to founding co-chair Eric Fowle.

Rare plants, animals make the escarpment unique to the Great Lakes area

White, blocky cliffs that are part of the Niagara Escarpment line the Lake Michigan shoreline at Cave Point County Park in Door County.

The escarpment itself is the steep face of a cuesta, which is a ridge with a gentle slope on one side, according to a Geoscience Wisconsin study.

It formed after one type of rock in the landscape, called dolomite, proved mightier than the softer shale rock as the glaciers carved through the Great Lakes area.

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"When the shale was scooped away, that dolomite stood proud," Bultman said.

The escarpment, and the corridor around it, has different characteristics depending on the area and the bedrock, but it creates its own microclimate in local habitats and ecosystems, he said.

Factors include whether the cliff or ridge sides face the sun, or whether the rocks are in areas prone to flooding.

As a result, the escarpment area houses numerous unique species of plants and animals.

"Biologically, the northeast has some of the greatest biodiversity in North America," Bultman said.

Wequiock Falls tumble over the Niagara escarpment along the Green Bay shoreline at Wequiock Falls County Park.

For instance, Bultman named the Pleistocene land snails, which are among several snail species along the Niagara Escarpment that would have gone extinct thousands of years ago if not for the microhabitats, according to the Geoscience Wisconsin study.

Unique salamander, frog, fern and orchid species also thrive in the escarpment corridor, according to Bultman, as well as the rare Dwarf Lake iris and Hines Emerald dragonfly.

Alvars  swaths of grass that grow on thin-soiled limestone  can adapt to extreme conditions, from freezing winters to flooded springs and drought-filled summers, and Wisconsin's prominent location is Red Banks in Brown County, according to Bultman.

The ridges of the Niagara Escarpment crop up near Oakfield. Many people in this area often call the escarpment "the Ledge."

A similarly-stalwart plant species is the white cedar tree, arborvitae, that can root in the bare rock of the cliffs or in swamplands. Bultman said some of the trees growing on the cliffs can be over a thousand years old.

The tree species is sometimes nicknamed the "tree of life," after reports that Native Americans once gave explorer Jacques Cartier and his men tea from the tree to cure them of an illness now known as scurvy.

Below the escarpment area's visible surface, the dolomite is "Swiss cheese," and opens into caves, Bultman said. Four of Wisconsin's eight bat species hibernate in these caves.

There are two areas where the caves are publicly accessible: Ledge View Nature Center in Calumet County and the Cherney-Maribel Caves County Park in Manitowoc County.

Conservation proves important to preserve Native American history and recreation opportunities

The escarpment area was first important for the Native American tribes along the corridor and revered as a sacred place, according to the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network.

Possibilities for its significance include use for settlement, a guide for traveling and an outlet for religious purposes.

Ancient petroglyphs, petroforms and prehistoric burial mounds are found along the escarpment corridor.

Sites of more recent historical importance include cemeteries, churches and lime kilns, which illustrates the escarpment's influence on Wisconsin's settlements and the economy of the resulting cities.

Now, the escarpment area is important to eastern Wisconsin's recreation, as well as scientific study.

It's a hotspot for geotourism, which focuses on appreciating and sustaining a natural area's environmental and cultural aspects.

One leg of geotourism, with a potential economic boost, lies among the wineries. The escarpment has been scientifically proven to help grapes grow, according to Fowle, who noted a wine trail spearheaded by the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network.

The Wisconsin Ledge American Viticultural Area gained federal designation in 2012 because of the land's unique quality influencing the growth of grapes, and as a result, northeastern Wisconsin has been a growing industry in wine-making.

Overall conservation is complicated because the escarpment doesn't just cross state lines, but national lines as well, and each area has different ideas of how it should be protected.

In Wisconsin specifically, awareness and advocacy is key, so people can understand how special the escarpment is, Bultman said.

Many people like to live on the cliffs for the view, especially in Door County overlooking the bay, but are changing the landscape as a result.

Some of the oldest, most gnarled-looking cedar trees are cut down for aesthetic purposes, and other trees get the same treatment for access to the view  which can expose some important habitats to the sun and dry them up, Bultman said.

"More pieces of (the escarpment) continue to go every day," Fowle added.

2010 was dubbed the "Year of the Escarpment," which sparked engagement opportunities throughout the year, according to Fowle.

The ridges of the Niagara Escarpment crop up near Oakfield. Many people in this area often call the escarpment "the Ledge."

One of these was a "Passport to the Ledge" program that encouraged people and children to visit at least five of the nine main parks along the escarpment between Dodge and Calumet Counties and earn a "Ledge Explorer" patch and certificate.

With more education and awareness on the escarpment area, its history and opportunities, Wisconsin and its residents can benefit from it for much longer, which is something Fowle has strived for and is happy to see come to fruition.

"It's nice to see people care a little more about what's an important global landmark," he said. "I have a feeling there's a lot of voices out there that haven't been heard."

For more information on the escarpment and upcoming tours and events, visit wiledge.org.

Contact Daphne Lemke at 920-907-7968 or dlemke@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke.

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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: The Niagara Escarpment defines eastern Wisconsin's recreation, history
Following a debate directly attacking Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton for plagiarizing sermons, Tennessee Southern Baptists passed a resolution Wednesday condemning plagiarism.

The Tennessee Baptist Convention, the state-level convention of Southern Baptists, held its annual meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Brentwood. The convention messengers  voting delegates from local churches  overwhelmingly voted for the plagiarism resolution. Resolutions act as collective statements of belief.

The plagiarism resolution was the first successful state-level effort of its kind, adding more fuel to a niche, yet heated political battle within the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

Pastor Ed Litton, of Saraland, Ala., answers questions after being elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Litton, a pastor from Alabama, is the top elected official of the national Southern Baptist Convention, a different entity than the Tennessee Baptist Convention, though churches usually belong to both.

Litton could not be immediately reached for comment.

Litton defeated Mike Stone in a runoff election at the SBC's annual meeting in June in Nashville. Within the Protestant denomination, Litton is conservative but considered less so than Stone, who had backing from a more conservative wing within the Nashville-based denomination. Stone is a leader of the Conservative Baptist Network, a activist group within the SBC.

Following the SBC annual meeting, Litton faced scrutiny for plagiarizing sermons after a video surfaced on YouTube comparing one of Litton's sermons to a sermon from J.D. Greear, a North Carolina pastor and Litton's predecessor as president of the SBC.

Religion News Service verified the authenticity of the videos comparing Litton and Greear's sermons. In a statement, Litton apologized for using material from Greear's sermon without credit.

But I am sorry for not mentioning J.D.s generosity and ownership of these points. I should have given him credit as I shared these insights, Litton told Religion News Service in a statement.

Story continues

The Conservative Baptist Network, still upset about Litton's election victory, turned the controversy into a rallying cry. "For the sake of the gospel, it is best for President Litton to step down from office and focus on his personal spiritual development with his local church," the group said in a news release. "The testimony of Southern Baptists and of the gospel is at stake."

Litton is not the only one in the SBC who has faced backlash after Stone's presidential defeat. In October, Stone sued Russell Moore, the former president the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, claiming Moore deliberately leaked letters before the SBC annual meeting disparaging Stone and hurting his chances in the election.

Stone sues Moore: Conservative Southern Baptist leader Mike Stone sues Russell Moore

The plagiarism resolution the Tennessee Baptist Convention messengers passed Wednesday was about Litton, though not by name. Shawn Allred, a pastor of First Baptist Church in Kenton, submitted the resolution.

Lane Self, the chair of the resolutions committee, told the messengers in Wednesday's session the resolution "is not in any way targeting any individual."

But Self said, the resolution arose from the controversy about Litton.

Allred said in a phone call Wednesday that he did not submit the resolution on behalf of the Conservative Baptist Network. Allred said he is not aware of any similar resolutions that other state-level conventions have passed.

Messengers at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board annual gathering vote for a plagiarism resolution on Wednesday.

Some supporters of the resolution refrained from directly mentioning Litton during debate. But Don Edwards, a messenger from Sunbright, took direct aim at the SBC president.

"One who is openly unrepentant of the sin of documented plagiarism serves as our national Southern Baptist convention president," Edwards said during Wednesday's session.

Officials presiding over the debate cut Edwards off, instructing him to refrain from personal attacks. But Edwards continued and called on Litton to "to repent and to resign his leadership position."

Not all messengers agreed. Sam Nichols, pastor of First Baptist Church in Collierville, commented on the politically sensational nature of the resolution. The intent of the resolution isn't inherently bad, but it's the context in which it exists, Nichols argued.

"Yes, we all condemn plagiarism, but do we have to be in the headlines to say it?" Nichols said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the distinction between the Tennessee Baptist Convention, which met in Brentwood this month, and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Baptists pass plagiarism resolution, debate SBC president
Aerial image taken of Tesla Fremont, California plant on May 12, 2020 (Getty Images)

Tesla is challenging a federal court verdict ordering it to pay about $137m (101.5m) to a Black former employee who says he was the subject of racist behaviour from bosses at the companys California factory.

The Elon Musk-founded company has claimed that the sum is staggering and called for a judge to step in and reconsider the decision. The company has said that the compensation should be reduced to $600,000 (around 445,000)  half for emotional distress damages and the rest in punitive damages.

The sum Tesla has offered to pay is a tiny fraction compared to the $130m in punitive damages that the jury decided on in a court case in October, Bloomberg reported.

Owen Diaz, who was a contracted elevator operator at the company, had said during the case hearing on 4 October that his former bosses at the California factory did not take action against his complaints of racism at the workplace.

[I] had supervisors telling me, N*****, hurry up and push the button, N*****, push these batteries out of the elevator. And they were also telling me, N*****s arent shit, Mr Diaz said in October.

His coworkers left racist caricatures around the workplace, scratched a racial slur in a bathroom stall, and told him to go back to Africa, he noted.

The San Francisco court had ruled that Tesla would have to pay $6.9m in compensatory damages and the remaining $130m as punitive damages.

This is believed to be one of the largest payouts ordered by a jury in US history for an individual plaintiff in a racial discrimination case.

Tesla said in a court filing that while the jury believed the company could and should have done more to root out alleged racism at the factory, the award simply cannot stand.

It is an award without precedent in US anti-discrimination law, the company said in a filing dated 16 November. It dwarfs awards in similar  and even in the most egregious  cases. And it bears no relationship to the actual evidence at trial.

Story continues

The $130m awarded in punitive damages was meant to nudge Tesla executives to take the most basic preventative measures and precautions they neglected to take as a large corporation to protect any employee within their factory, a juror in the case said.

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Dominic West as Prince Charles in the fifth series of The Crown. (Netflix)

The Crown has revealed its casting for Prince William is the real-life son of Dominic West  who will also play his screen dad, Prince Charles.

Netflix's hit royal drama series regularly recasts its main characters as the story moves through time and The Affair star West is due to take over the role of Charles from Josh O'Conner in series five.

Read more: The Crown series 5 - first look at Dominic West and Elizabeth Debicki as Charles and Diana

After a nationwide search for his son William, Variety has reported that bosses have settled on the perfect casting of Senan West, 13, a newcomer to acting and The Wire actor's real-life son.

Elizabeth Debicki takes over as Princess Diana. (Netflix)

His mother, Princess Diana, will be played by Tenet star Elizabeth Debicki, who takes over from Emma Corrin.

Senan isn't the first of West's children to appear alongside him on screen as his daughter Martha was also cast in his recent BBC series The Pursuit of Love.

The Crown's series five picks up the Royal Family's story in the 90s and is expected to introduce Senan as Prince William in the final few episodes, where he will depict an early teenage version of his character.

Imelda Staunton is the latest actor to take on the role of Queen Elizabeth II. (Netflix)

Prince William was 15 when his mother was killed in a Paris car crash and while it hasn't been confirmed whether the crash will be included as a scene in the series, it seems likely that the events leading up to and afterwards will.

The Kite Runner's Khalid Abdalla has also been cast as Dodi Al Fayed, who Princess Diana was in a relationship with and who also died in the 1997 crash.

Read more: Emma Corrin says The Crown casting was 'kind of like a marriage proposal'

Other cast changes for series five include Imelda Staunton taking over from Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as Charles father, the Duke of Edinburgh, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, and Jonny Lee Miller will join the series as prime minister John Major.

Claire Foy and Matt Smith originally starred as the Queen and Prince Philip in their younger days, while Margaret has previously been played by Vanessa Kirby and Helena Bonham Carter.

Story continues

The Crown series 4 is currently streaming on Netflix.

Watch: Crown producers wanted to film at Princess Diana's childhood home
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie managed to enrage former President Donald Trump during debate prep last year ahead of his matchups with President Joe Biden by asking about his eldest daughter, a new book claims.

In Betrayal, published this week, Jonathan Karl describes a scene that played out ahead of the late September debate between the two presidential candidates.

Karl reports that Mr Christie played Mr Biden in a mock debate with Mr Trump, during which he gave what the former governor thought would be Mr Bidens most likely response to criticism of Mr Bidens son Hunter and unproven allegations that then Democrat used his position in government to aid his sons career.

You have real nerve talking about relatives taking advantage of political power. Youve invited your daughter and son-in-law into the White House and they made $36 million last year while they were doing the peoples business, Mr Christie shot back at Mr Trump, still in character as Mr Biden.

He added: Your family traded the influence they have in the White House to make tens of millions of dollars.

The suggestion reportedly enraged Mr Trump, who responded: Thats absolutely untrue! Weve lost money here, according to Karl.

Weve lost money here. My children are losing money being here. Jared [Kushner] has sacrificed more than anyone being away from his business. He hasnt made any kind of money, he said.

The former president soon insisted that the mock debate shift topics, telling Mr Christie and others in the room: "I don't want to hear any more. I know what they're going to say. Enough. Let's move on."

Mr Christie defended his remarks to the former president, according to Karl, by explaining that it was his duty to accurately portray how personal the criticism of Mr Trumps management of the White House could get thanks to his decision to pull family members into the administration.

The presence of Mr Kushner and Ms Trump in the White House was long condemned by independent ethics experts, including Ms Trumps presence on Twitter as a surrogate for her fathers re-election bid while also serving as a White House official.

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Mr Trump frequently accused the media throughout 2020 of ignoring Hunter Bidens supposed various misdeeds (including his public struggle with drug addiction), despite no clear evidence ever being uncovered to prove that Mr Biden aided his sons career improperly in any way.

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As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us look forward to the singular experience of carving a turkey. Knowing some basic bird biology will enrich your experience.

Some folks would rather not eat birds. Good for them. And good for the environment. The rest of this column, however, is designed for those who can relate to my former roommate in grad school. When he learned his new roommate studied the biology of birds, he licked his lips and replied, I like birds, too  chicken, turkey, duck, pheasant, dove

Dave Gammon

So, if you plan to dissect a turkey this Thanksgiving, here is the biology that will help you understand your bird at a deeper level.

When you eat meat, you are eating the muscles of an animal. Dark and white meat represent two kinds of muscle. You will find dark meat muscle in turkey legs, where it gets used for sustained activity. White meat muscle is found in the turkey breast and wings, where it gets used for short bursts of activity.

To understand how this works at a deeper level, we need to know a little more about how cells convert food into energy. The first method, aerobic respiration, produces 18 times as much energy, but it requires oxygen and is comparatively slow. The second method, anaerobic respiration, produces much less energy, but it is lightning fast and requires no oxygen.

Lets pretend you are a turkey. You and your baby poults spend all day on your feet, walking around. To support all this walking, your legs are loaded with dark meat muscle. The reddish color of your leg meat results from a red-colored protein called myoglobin. This protein accumulates oxygen delivered to the muscle by extra blood vessels. The ongoing supply of oxygen means your leg muscles will churn through aerobic respiration all day long. Energy galore.

But wait! A terrifying, bright orange hunter appears from nowhere. There is no time to store up oxygen in your wing muscles. You immediately flush, flapping your wings like crazy using the instant energy provided by anaerobic respiration. Then you crash back into a bush, exhausted.

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Getting that fat turkey body of yours off the ground could not have happened without a few biological adaptations. The white meat muscle is just the beginning. You also needed some impressively large breast muscles to provide power.

Massive muscles need massive bones to serve as their anchors. If your turkey breastbone were flat like those funny human breastbones, then your large breast muscles would have only minimal space for anchoring. Thanksgiving chefs will notice after cutting through a lot of breast meat that turkey breastbones have a sail-like projection on top. This keeled breastbone provides the extra bone space needed for anchoring the enormous breast muscle.

Having extra power helps but getting something as heavy as a turkey into the air requires additional adaptations. While eating your turkey this Thanksgiving, break open a bone or two. You will discover the bones are hollow, which reduces bird weight significantly. Birds drop even more weight by eliminating bones normally found in similar-sized animals, such as tail bones and most finger bones.

Then there is the beloved wishbone. Humans might think wishbones are magical devices that bring luck, but turkeys know better. As a bird flaps its wings down, the wishbone pinches together to store up energy, which gets released during the upstroke. By so doing, wishbones save energy and help to move air through a birds respiratory system.

Clearly animal physiology is much more interesting than whether you or your brother get the lucky end of the wishbone. Another fun fact is that wishbones are shared by the two-legged dinosaur relatives of birds, such as Tyrannosaurus rex.

We have only scratched the biological surface of your upcoming turkey dinner. You can learn more on your own about how air sacs allow birds to maximize oxygen intake, and how birds keep a low center of gravity by re-positioning the flight muscles used during the upstroke.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from middle school band. Whenever we misbehaved, which was perhaps more than once, our band director, Mr. Furniss, would bellow out, Am I working with turkeys? This Thanksgiving I answer, Yes, Mr. Furniss, we are indeed working with turkeys. And the biology tastes so good.

Dave Gammon is a professor of biology at Elon University in Elon.

This article originally appeared on Times-News: Turkey biology: Know your bird at a deeper level this Thanksgiving
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WAYNE TWP.  The Ellwood-Wampum Rod & Gun Club had the following winners at their fall turkey shoot held on Tuesday: Don Rapo, Charlie Bingle, Bryan Lechner, Bill Boots, Aaron Kelly, Tony Murphy, David Custozzo, Jerry Sadler, Chuck Weir and Daren Weingartner.

The final turkey shoot of the season will be held on Tuesday, with sign-ups at 6 p.m. and competitive shooting beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Each shooter should bring their own ear protection. Youth may participate if they have a parent or legal guardian to supervise them. All shoots are open to the public.

This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Turkey shoot results for Nov. 16 released
This screen grab from a video posted to Twitter by the White House shows one of two turkeys from Jasper, Indiana that will be "pardoned" by President Biden on Friday.

Two Jasper, Indiana, turkeys  one named Peanut Butter, the other named Jelly  will be counting their lucky feathers Friday morning. The two birds were selected as National Thanksgiving Turkeys and will be pardoned by President Biden at an annual ceremony in the White House's Rose Garden.

Both turkeys hail from Dubois County's Farbest Farms and were raised by Andrea Welp, a Southern Indiana turkey producer, along with supervision from Phil Seger, the 2021 National Turkey Federation chairman.

More: These 21 Evansville-area restaurants will do the cooking for you on Thanksgiving

After the pardoning ceremony, Peanut Butter and Jelly will travel to Purdue University to live out the rest of their days in Purdue's Animal Science Research and Education Center, where they'll be given an enclosed, indoor space with access to a "shady, grassy area," according to a press release from the university.

Meet Peanut Butter and Jelly, the turkeys who will be pardoned by @POTUS tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/36XjavdIlm  The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 18, 2021

Once there, the turkeys will serve as an education tool for students. That's not a bad gig considering the likely fates of their fellow feathered brethren: death.

According to the National Turkey Federation, around 46 million turkeys are eaten every Thanksgiving. Peanut Butter and Jelly won't have to worry about that, thanks to a White House turkey-pardoning tradition that dates to 1989, when President H.W. Bush pardoned a grateful gobbler.

"But let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone's dinner table," Bush said, addressing nearby animal rights activists and the year's presidential turkey. "Not this guy  he's granted a presidential pardon as of right now.

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Last year, President Trump pardoned two Iowa turkeys, who went on to live comfortably at Iowa State University.

The White House's Twitter page posted a video of the two birds getting acclimated to their D.C. digs.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Thanksgiving 2021: Joe Biden to 'pardon' 2 turkeys from Jasper
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) -A U.S. special envoy met Ethiopia's deputy prime minister on Thursday in a bid to revive ceasefire talks, as the government gave permission for 369 aid trucks to enter famine-hit Tigray, where fighting began a year ago.

Jeffrey Feltman and Olusegun Obasanjo, the African Union's High Representative for the Horn of Africa, arrived in Ethiopia on Thursday.

The two envoys want the government and rebellious Tigrayan forces and their allies to declare an unconditional ceasefire and allow access for humanitarian aid to areas in northern Ethiopia affected by fighting.

Feltman later met deputy prime minister and foreign minister Demeke Mekonnen. "During their discussions, Demeke disclosed that humanitarian flights to Lalibela and Kombolcha are allowed and in addition 369 aid trucks are permitted to enter to Tigray," the government communications service tweeted.

Tigrayan forces say they control Lalibela and Kombolcha in Amhara, and have also moved into parts of the Afar region. Widespread hunger is reported in both.

Around 400,000 people are believed to be living in famine conditions in Tigray, where the U.N. said on Thursday it has been unable to deliver food for a month. Its report said most pregnant and nursing mothers there are acutely malnourished.

The government denies accusations by U.N. officials that it is operating a de facto blockade.

Leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) want Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to step down, and humanitarian aid to enter Tigray. The government wants Tigrayan forces to withdraw from territory they have captured in neighbouring regions.

Ethiopia on Nov. 2 declared a state of emergency as fighting spread further south towards the capital.

The TPLF have publicly speculated that Tigrayan forces might march on Addis Ababa, but more intense fighting has been reported in their push east to try to capture the route linking landlocked Ethiopia to the port of Djibouti.

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Government spokesperson Legesse Tulu and TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Talks in Kenya between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Uhuru Kenyatta, focused on "how we marry the different efforts" from the United States, the AU, and other mediators, a senior state department official told reporters.

Kenyatta, who was in Addis Ababa on Sunday, indicated that Abiy "is more willing than he has been in the past to take advantage of the diplomatic efforts," the official said.

On Wednesday, Ethiopia's state-appointed rights commission https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopia-rights-body-concerned-about-detentions-under-state-emergency-2021-11-17 said some human rights were not being upheld during the emergency and thousands of people had been detained.

An inquiry board of seven parliamentarians will visit detainees, investigate whether their detentions were ethnically driven and make recommendations, chair Lemme Tessema told reporters on Thursday.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said six U.N. staff arrested since the state of emergency was declared had been released, while five U.N. staff and one dependent remain in detention. He said the last of more than 70 truck drivers contracted by the United Nations and detained by authorities were also released this week.

(Reporting by Addis Ababa Newsroom; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Giles Elgood and Catherine Evans)
Uganda police shot dead five suspects and arrested 21 people Thursday, an official said, as part of an investigation into twin suicide bombings claimed by the Islamic State group that killed four people.

Tuesday's explosions were the latest in a string of attacks in the East African country, which has tightened security and mounted an investigation into the bombings, with President Yoweri Museveni vowing to defeat "the terrorists".

The attacks in the capital Kampala occurred within minutes of each other, with two suicide bombers on motorbikes disguised as "boda boda" motorcycle taxi drivers detonating a device near parliament, while a third attacker targeted a checkpoint near the central police station.

Ugandan police said the attacks were the work of "domestic terrorists" linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group active in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that the United States has linked to IS.

On Thursday, counter-terrorism officers in the west of the country killed "four suspected terrorists in Ntoroko who were crossing back to DRC", police spokesman Fred Enanga told a press conference.

A fifth man was killed near the capital as he tried to escape arrest, Enanga said, adding that Sheikh Abas Muhamed Kirevu was a local Islamic leader who was "responsible for re-awakening the terror cells in Kampala".

He said police had arrested 21 suspects as part of their crackdown on the ADF, which Kampala also blames for two attacks last month.

The suspects "were operatives, coordinators, financiers of terrorism activities," Enanga added.

Police last month arrested a number of alleged ADF operatives and warned that extremists were believed to be plotting a new attack on "major installations".

The arrests followed a bus explosion near Kampala that wounded many people and a bombing at a roadside eatery in the capital that killed one woman.

Washington in March linked the ADF to IS, which in 2019 began to claim some ADF attacks on social media, presenting the group as its regional branch -- the Islamic State Central Africa Province, or ISCAP.

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The ADF, historically a Ugandan rebel group, has been accused of killing thousands of civilians in eastern DRC.

Kristof Titeca, an academic and expert on the group, has said it is "increasingly clear that the ADF is refocusing its attention on Uganda".

He has said it could be related to "an increased influence of jihadist elements within the ADF in the last couple of years".

Experts consider the ADF to be the bloodiest of more than 120 armed groups that roam eastern DRC, many of them a legacy of two regional wars a quarter of a century ago.

str-amu/reb
By Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) - A subvariant of Delta that is growing in Britain is less likely to lead to symptomatic COVID-19 infection, a coronavirus prevalence survey found, adding that overall cases had dropped from a peak in October.

The Imperial College London REACT-1 study, released on Thursday, found that the subvariant, known as AY.4.2, had grown to be nearly 12% of samples sequenced, but only a third had "classic" COVID symptoms, compared with nearly a half of those with the currently dominant Delta lineage AY.4.

Two-thirds of people with AY.4.2 had "any" symptom, compared with more than three-quarters with AY.4.

AY.4.2 is thought to be slightly more transmissible, but it has not been shown to cause more severe disease or evade vaccines more easily than Delta.

The researchers said that asymptomatic people might self-isolate less, but also that people with fewer symptoms might spread it less easily through coughing and also may be unlikely to get severely ill.

"It is preferentially appearing to be more transmissible," Imperial epidemiologist Paul Elliott told reporters. "It does seem to be less symptomatic, which is a good thing."

Imperial had previously released interim results that showed COVID-19 prevalence was at its highest on record in October, with infections highest among children.

The full results of the latest round of the study, conducted between Oct. 19 and Nov. 5, confirmed what daily recorded cases and other prevalence surveys have shown - that infection levels dropped from that peak, corresponding with a half-term school holiday in late October.

Elliott said that there was uncertainty over whether that drop had continued, and the next few weeks would establish whether cases were rising again with the return of schools.

The REACT-1 study also found that booster doses reduced the risk of infection in adults by two-thirds compared with people who had two doses.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
The United Nations warned Thursday that a surge in container freight rates could mean higher prices for consumers next year unless pandemic-fuelled problems are untangled.

The UN's trade and development agency (UNCTAD) said global import price levels could increase by 11 percent and consumer price levels by 1.5 percent between now and 2023.

"Global consumer prices will rise significantly in the year ahead until shipping supply chain disruptions are unblocked and port constraints and terminal inefficiencies are tackled," UNCTAD said in its Review of Maritime Transport 2021 report.

Global supply chains faced unprecedented demand from the second half of 2020 onwards as consumers spent on goods rather than services during coronavirus lockdowns.

But the upswing in demand hit several practical constraints, including container ship carrying capacity, container shortages, labour shortages, congestion at ports and Covid-19 restrictions.

The mismatch led to record container freight rates "on practically all container trade routes", according to the report.

"The current surge in freight rates will have a profound impact on trade and undermine socioeconomic recovery, especially in developing countries, until maritime shipping operations return to normal," said Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD's secretary general.

"Returning to normal would entail investing in new solutions, including infrastructure, freight technology and digitalisation and trade facilitation measures," she said.

UNCTAD said the pandemic had magnified pre-existing industry challenges, particularly labour shortages and infrastructure gaps.

It also exposed vulnerabilities, such as when China's Yantian Port shut in May due to a coronavirus outbreak, causing significant delays, or when the giant container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal in March, snarling global trade.

- Maritime trade rebound -

Still, the pandemic's impact on maritime trade volumes last year was less severe than initially expected, UNCTAD said.

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Maritime trade contracted by 3.8 percent to 10.65 billion tons in 2020, and is projected to increase by 4.3 percent in 2021.

UNCTAD said the medium-term outlook remained positive but was subject to "mounting risks and uncertainties".

The agency predicted that annual growth will slow to 2.4 percent between 2022 and 2026, compared to 2.9 percent over the past two decades.

"A lasting recovery... largely hinges on being able to mitigate the headwinds and on a worldwide vaccine roll-out," said Grynspan.

"The impacts of the Covid-19 crisis will hit small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) the hardest."

The rise in consumer prices is expected to be 7.5 percent in SIDS and 2.2 percent in LDCs.

- Stranded seafarers -

Contending with lockdowns, border closures and a lack of international flights, hundreds of thousands of seafarers have been stranded at sea, unable to be repatriated or replaced, UNCTAD said.

The UN agency urged governments and industry to work together to end the crew change crisis in the sector, which employs more than 1.9 million people worldwide.

UNCTAD also said the vaccination rate of seafarers was around 41 percent and called for them to be jabbed as a priority.

"This is not acceptable if we want to see the supply chains moving again," said Shamika Sirimanne, UNCTAD's director of technology and logistics.

- Shape of the future -

While bottlenecks have hindered the economic recovery, the pandemic could trigger far-reaching transformations in maritime transport, UNCTAD predicted.

The crisis has activated digitalisation and automation, which should, in turn, deliver efficiency and cost savings.

Meanwhile, e-commerce -- accelerated by the pandemic -- has changed consumer shopping habits and spending patterns, according to the report.

"This could generate new business opportunities for shipping and ports," said UNCTAD.

rjm/lb
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The United States is warning pilots that planes operating at one of Africas busiest airports could be directly or indirectly exposed to ground weapons fire and/or surface-to-air fire as Ethiopias war nears the capital, Addis Ababa.

The Federal Aviation Administration advisory issued Wednesday cites the ongoing clashes between Ethiopian forces and fighters from the northern Tigray region, which have killed thousands of people in a year of war. The U.S. this week urged its citizens in Ethiopia to leave now, saying there should be no expectation of an Afghanistan-style evacuation.

Diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting have met resistance, but Kenya's president told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday that Ethiopia's prime minister in a meeting on Sunday gave the impression he was ready to consider several proposals to ease tensions and reduce violence, a senior State Department official said.

Those include opening humanitarian access to Tigray and restoring government services to the region. Such steps, combined with a ceasefire agreement, could set the stage for more comprehensive peace talks, the U.S. official said.

Diplomatic efforts by an African Union envoy, former Nigerian president Olesegun Obasanjo, and U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman continue. Ethiopias Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dina Mufti, told reporters that both are in Ethiopia but didnt give details.

The Addis Ababa international airport is the hub for the state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, a symbol of Ethiopia's former status as one of the world's most rapidly growing economies before the war. The airline in recent years became Africa's largest and best-managed carrier, turning Addis Ababa into the gateway to the continent. Addis Ababa is also the continent's diplomatic capital as home of the AU.

The FAA advisory notes no reports of disruptions at Bole International Airport and no indication of an intent to threaten civil aviation, but it says the risk to approaching and departing planes could increase if the Tigray fighters encircle the capital.

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The Tigray fighters likely possess a variety of anti-aircraft capable weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, low-caliber anti-aircraft artillery, and man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS, which could reach up to 25,000 feet above ground level, the FAA advisory says.

In an acknowledgment of Bole airport's importance for onward travel for the African continent and beyond, the U.K. Minister for Africa Vicky Ford last week told reporters that Britain now advises against all travel to Ethiopia apart from the airport for departures and transfers.

The Tigray forces who had long dominated the national government before current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 have approached Addis Ababa in recent weeks and joined up with another armed group, the Oromo Liberation Army, with the aim of pressing Abiy to step aside.

The Tigray forces also say they are pressuring Ethiopias government to lift a months-long blockade on the Tigray region, which includes an Ethiopian government restriction on flights over Tigray. No food, medicine or other humanitarian aid has entered Tigray, a region of some 6 million people, for more than a month since Ethiopia's military resumed airstrikes there for the first time since June.

Ethiopian Airlines seized the world's attention in 2019 when the crash of a Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa killed 157 people. That and the earlier crash of another brand-new 737 Max off the coast of Indonesia had far-reaching consequences for the aeronautics industry as it brought about the grounding of Boeing 737 Max jets until late last year.

___

Associated Press diplomatic writer Matt Lee contributed.
A vandal in Washington, D.C., who may have wanted to get back at a philandering partner spray-painted "Mike is a cheater" on his car.

Except it was the wrong car.

Nedra Brantley discovered the accusatory message Sunday on her Mitsubishi SUV parked in Northeast Washington.

I screamed. Im surprised nobody in the neighborhood heard me, because I screamed so, so loud, because I didnt expect this would happen, Brantley told NBC Washington.

The vandal didn't stop at defacing the hood and both sides of her car in black paint. The front and back windshields were smashed, and the license plates were blackened, according to NBC Washington.

Veteran Nedra Brantley said she discovered the damage to her red Mitsubishi Outlander Sport on Sunday morning. (NBC Washington)

Brantley said she has never dated someone named Mike. Not only that, she doesn't even know anyone named Mike.

She is working with her insurance company and police to get her car back to normal.

Washington police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

And the question remains: "Who's Mike?"
Josh Adams is back for Wales (PA Wire)

Wing Josh Adams and number eight Aaron Wainwright have recovered from injuries and will start Wales Autumn Nations Series finale against Australia on Saturday.

Adams was withdrawn just before kick-off when Wales faced Fiji last Sunday due to a calf muscle issue, while Wainwright missed that game because of a shoulder problem.

Elsewhere, prop Tomas Francis has successfully completed concussion return-to-play protocols and is recalled, and Seb Davies takes over from lock Will Rowlands, who suffered a head knock against Fiji.

Other starters include centre Uilisi Halaholo  his first of the autumn  with Halaholo, who tested positive for coronavirus last month and spent 10 days isolating, partnering Nick Tompkins in midfield.

Scarlets 93 times-capped centre Jonathan Davies does not feature, with flanker Ellis Jenkins continuing as captain at the Principality Stadium.

Jenkins is joined in the back-row by Wainwright and Taine Basham, and there is a recall for British and Irish Lions prop Wyn Jones, who packs down alongside Ryan Elias and Francis.

Elias, Basham and lock Adam Beard, meanwhile, are the only three players selected to start all of Wales autumn games against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia.

Wales are seeking a third successive victory over Australia, which includes a pool stage win at the 2019 World Cup, following a run of 13 defeats against the Wallabies.

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A woman was struck by a car Monday in front of Berkeley Glenn Elementary School in Waynesboro.

WAYNESBORO  A Waynesboro veterinarian struck by a car in front of an elementary school earlier this week is dead, according to a statement released by her employer, prompting an outpouring of online tributes.

On Monday shortly after 4:30 p.m., police said 51-year-old Dr. Valerie Weiss, of Waynesboro, was hit by a car in the 1000 block of Jefferson Avenue.

Weiss was airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, where she was initially listed in critical condition.

Police said a preliminary investigation revealed that Richard Lee Hale, 53, of Waynesboro, was driving south on Jefferson Avenue in a 2014 Ford car when he struck Weiss, who was walking northbound in the same block. Hales vehicle reportedly also hit a parked 2006 Honda Accord.

Police said Weiss was in the road when she was hit.

Hale is employed by Waynesboro Public Schools, and the incident took place in front of Berkeley Glenn Elementary School.

The Waynesboro Police Department said the crash remains under investigation. On Tuesday, police were seen taking measurements on Jefferson Avenue.

Weiss was a veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of Waynesboro. According to her profile on the company's website, she had been at the animal hospital since 2003. The profile said Weiss studied biology and also taught science before becoming a veterinarian.

While managing the health problems of her own animals, her interest in veterinary medicine grew and she eventually applied to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, where she graduated in 2003, the profile said.

"It is with a very heavy heart that we are letting you know of the loss of our beloved Dr. Valerie Weiss to a tragic accident," the animal hospital said Wednesday in a statement released on Facebook.

Following news of Weiss' death, a large number online tributes were posted, such as the Nature Camp in Vesuvius, where Weiss once worked as a counselor.

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Valerie was a gentle soul with an inquisitive mind, witty sense of (mostly G-rated) humor, humble disposition, and seemingly boundless capacity for kindness, and she radiated joy out onto the world," the agency said.

On Facebook, Jo Anne Howell Sitterson said Weiss was the gentlest, kindest person Ive ever known. She would sit on the floor with my dogs and cats to do their exam. It was a privilege to have known her. We are devastated.

Troy Southern, also on Facebook, said Weiss cared for his animals as if they were hers. She was so kind and caring, he said.

"Such a beautiful person, John McAdams said. A great loss to Waynesboro, Staunton, and Augusta County.

"It breaks my heart that Valerie will no longer be with us. She was a compassionate vet, a wonderful mother to her two boys, and a beautiful person, added Gerrie Kirby.

Valerie Weiss was an amazing individual," wrote Dr. Greg Lorenz of the Animal Hospital of Waynesboro. "She touched the lives of everyone with whom she came in contact. She was a gentle and compassionate person who truly cared for those around her, both human and animals. We were incredibly lucky to have worked with her and for having her here to help so many of you and your pets. She will be greatly missed."

The animal hospital is expected to release additional information concerning services, memorial plans and donation wishes, according to Lorenz.

More: School bus hit by train in Rockingham County

More: Stuarts Draft ready for Clarke County challenge as teams face off in Region 2B semifinals

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Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Veterinarian hit by car in Waynesboro remembered
An all-volunteer Westerville organization, whose motto is By Westerville people, for Westerville people, hopes to continue filling the holiday wishes of local families like Elsie Hunt's.

Hunt, a 13-year Westerville resident, said her son is having major back surgery so her family is turning to Westerville Caring & Sharing again for holiday help.

Westerville Caring & Sharing's annual Holiday Project assistance program is underway.

She said her family first received support from the 501(c)(3) charitable organization five years ago.

We have a little girl who has lots and lots of health issues, Hunt said. So when her health issues have been really bad, we cant work as much. When you have a kid in the hospital all the time, it cuts the time you can work. We have three other children at home.

She said she found out about the Westerville Caring & Sharing Holiday Project assistance program because she was helping with the organization's food drive.

The Holiday Project has two components: the Holiday Gift Sponsorship program and a food drive, according to the organizations website.

The Holiday Project helps supply Westerville City School District students and their families with items from their wish lists, food baskets, gift certificates and personal hygiene products.

It wasnt a hand out, but a hand up, Hunt said. It was very helpful for us. Its very stressful as a parent to think you cant provide for your kids at Christmastime.

Since that first time her family received assistance, Hunt said, she has helped the organization by volunteering and establishing many donation sites around Westerville.

Im not the only person who has done that, she said. Many people who have received help find ways to give back after they dont need the help any more. Thats why I love our community.

Caring & Sharing's history

Mary Pugh, who has been with the Westerville Caring & Sharing organization for 28 years and serves as vice president, said it all started in 1988.

It began with the cooperation of the (former child-care center operated by the YMCA at 120 N. Otterbein Ave.), the Westerville (Area) Chamber of Commerce and local volunteers, she said. It has grown every year since.

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In 2020, Pugh said, Caring & Sharing helped more than 600 children for the holidays and more than 200 during the Back-to-School Project that provides book bags, school supplies and new clothes.

She anticipates even more families will need assistance this year because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Due to the obvious effects of COVID on families, we are concerned that those who have always sponsored may not be able to this year, Pugh said.

John Oleyar, a member of the Rotary Club of Westerville, said the club is picking up the cost of Caring & Sharing's administrative expenses, so 100% of what is donated will go to children.

"In past years, many businesses have been significant sponsors for Caring & Sharing Christmas gifts," he said. "But due to COVID and the degree to which many employees now work from home, we expect that some will not be able to do as much as they have in the past.

"We hope that Rotary members, other local organizations and individual donors can help to make up for some of what is likely to be lost this year."

The deadline for donations to the holiday gift program is Dec. 11, Pugh said.

She said anyone wanting to help may sponsor or donate to families in need by leaving a voicemail at 614-470-4320 or sending an email to westervillecaringandsharing@gmail.com.

We are truly grateful for any donation, regardless of the amount, Pugh said.

She said donations of toys, teen gifts, gift cards, personal hygiene products or grocery store gift cards will be collected in the first-floor conference room at the Westerville Public Library, 126 S. State St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 and 10.

Donations also may be dropped off at the LifePoint Real Estate office, 168 S. State St.

Pugh said the library also is holding a mittens, scarf and hat drive through Dec. 10 in the youth-services center.

School connections

Westerville Superintendent John Kellogg said Westerville Caring & Sharing has been an invaluable partner with the district, particularly when it comes to providing back-to-school supplies and helping families during the holiday season.

Many of our schools hold fundraisers and food drives to support the organization, he said. Our high schools by far are the most engaged, oftentimes generating around $40,000 this time of year.

"There are numerous organizations within our district that support families and children in need. However, after more than 30 years of service, the success and longevity of Westerville Caring & Sharing has allowed the organization to earn a solid reputation in all that they do. We're pleased to support them and be a part of their ongoing efforts to meet the various needs of families in our community."

Greg Viebranz, executive director of communications and family engagement for the district, said Hanby and Whittier elementary schools launched drives for personal hygiene items the week of Nov. 15.

He said all three high school have plans, as well.

Westerville North High School usually sponsors children for Westerville Caring & Sharing's Holiday Project. Pictured are items collected in 2020.

Viebranz said Westerville North High School administrators asked each advisory group to sponsor at least one child, with the hope to help around 80 students this year.

He said Westerville South High School is collecting donations for its annual Caring & Sharing initiative starting Thanksgiving week. Each year, the school has a pep rally with music and a skit performed by teachers and written and directed by student council, Viebranz said.

Westerville Central High School will raise money during homeroom periods, with proceeds being used to shop for items on wish lists provided by Caring & Sharing. The school's goal is for each homeroom to raise enough money to purchase items for at least one wish list.

Jennifer Horn, Central's Key Club adviser, said fundraising was scheduled to begin Nov. 29, with Dec. 8 as the last day for donations.

mkuhlman@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekMarla

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Westerville Caring & Sharing offers 'a hand up' to local families with holiday help
What goes together better than peanut butter and jelly? Peanut butter, jelly and turkey, of course.

At least that's how the White House sees it. The names for the two turkeys who are eligible for the presidential pardon this year are Peanut Butter and Jelly. A video from the White Hous showed the two birds ruffling their feathers in a room at the Willard Hotel, preparing for their close-up. On Friday, President Joe Biden will pardon one of the two and dub the bird the official Thanksgiving turkey  although both birds will be spared from the Thanksgiving table.

The birds were raised in Jasper, Ind., by turkey grower Andrea Welp. Both turkeys are male and weigh about 40 pounds, National Turkey Federation Chair Phil Seger said at a Thursday press conference.

"Raising the presidential turkey flock has really been a lot of fun this year," Welp said. "As we all know with another year of uncertainties with a pandemic, this project has really been something to look forward to and a joy to be able to participate in."

Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) made an appearance at the turkey pardon press conference, calling Peanut Butter and Jelly "the two luckiest turkeys in the country, maybe." Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.), who represents the turkeys' home district, also spoke, welcoming Peanut Butter and Jelly to Washington.

"Some may say that I'm biased, but there's no doubt that Indiana's eighth district has the best turkeys in the country," Bucshon said.

The presidential turkey pardon has a storied history. The first president to be presented with a turkey was Harry Truman in 1947, though the official White House turkey pardoning was started by President George H.W. Bush in 1989. The turkeys are always named in pairs  including 2014's Mac and Cheese, 2016's Tater and Tot and 2017's Drumstick and Wishbone. In 2020, President Donald Trump pardoned turkey Corn over Cob.

Following Friday's ceremony, Peanut Butter and Jelly will return to their home state of Indiana to live out the rest of their days at Purdue University in West Lafayette.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misspelled Rep. Larry Bucshon's last name.
Beto ORourke, former Texas congressman, launches his bid to be the states next governor (Getty Images)

Former congressman Beto ORourke, who launched his bid to be the next governor of Texas this week, is already proving that his candidacy could be more of a challenge than a boon to national Democrats including President Joe Biden ahead of next years midterms.

The Texas Democrat found himself squarely in the progressive lane of the 2020 Democratic primary during his short-run bid for the White House last year, not as left-leaning as Senator Bernie Sanders but firmly more liberal than Mr Biden thanks to his call for a legalisation of marijuana at the federal level, opposition to the death penalty, support of a public option for healthcare, and famously tough stance on guns including support for a total ban on AR-15s.

Part of that leftward bent in the 2020 primary included a progressive immigration policy, which he unveiled in May of 2019, that called for increasing staff at ports of entry to reduce wait times, streamlining the asylum process, increasing visa caps, halting construction of former President Donald Trumps border wall, and more.

Now, however, he finds himself running for statewide office against Gov Greg Abbott in Texas, a long-running bastion of conservative power. The former congressman previously represented El Paso, a border city and county that votes reliably blue.

Perhaps because of that political reality, he found himself attacking Mr Biden from the right on the issue of border security this week during an interview with a local Texas CBS affiliate.

Its clear that President Biden could be doing a better job at the border. It is not enough of a priority for his administration, Mr ORourke said.

Making it clear from which angle he was criticising the president, Mr ORourke added that the administration needed to focus on bringing predictability, order and the rule of law back to the US-Mexico border region.

His comments come as the Biden administration has struggled with solutions for perennial surges of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, including a massive crowd of thousands of primarily Haitian migrants who arrived in Del Rio, Texas, earlier this year.

Story continues

The Independent reached out to Mr ORourkes campaign for comment in this article.

The White House has sought to address the root causes of migration across Central and South America, headed by Vice President Kamala Harris, but such work has had little immediate effect on the steady stream of migrants heading north. Republicans, meanwhile, blame the White House and Democrats for the surges due to their refusal to utilise the same widely-condemned immigration policies pursued by the Trump administration.

The comment by Mr ORourke could leave an opening for Republicans to claim that even Democrats are turning against the White House on the issue as the president and vice president face brutal poll numbers for their handling of the situation. The GOP has already signalled that it will be an issue on which their party focuses much of its attention during battles for House and Senate seats next year.

But immigration isnt the only issue on which Mr ORourke has broken from Mr Biden in the past year. The now-candidate appeared at a voting rights rally in July in which he endorsed an end to the Senates filibuster rule, a move that would reshape the institution by allowing most legislation to pass with a simple 51-vote majority. Mr Biden, a former senator, has taken the position of moderates such as Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin in opposition to that change. Hes far from the only Democrat to take that position, but a national focus by the media on his race could reignite those calls for reform of the Senate from House progressives.

Mr ORourkes bid for the governors mansion remains a steep uphill battle; it remains to be seen whether part of that climb will include a public alliance with the White House or a more maverick-style effort that ends up causing headaches for his partys leaders as they seek to retain control of both houses of Congress next year.

Read More

Julian Assange fiancee equally appalled by Biden and Trumps actions

US-China climate deal offers hope but will not fix poor relationship

How Democrats major social spending bill could transform disability care

Beto ORourke launches bid to be governor of Texas

Beto ORourke calls Texas a failed state as 23 left dead from winter storm
MARLBORO  A construction worker was killed Wednesday after falling through the roof at the site of an abandoned psychiatric hospital, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Alejandro Goez said.

The man was working on the roof of the former Marlboro State Hospital on Newman Springs Road, according to officials.

Responding state troopers located the body inside the building, authorities said.

The incident has been deemed accidental and non-suspicious, officials said.

The name of the victim has not yet been released.

The facility has been closed since 1998. State police did not say what type of work was being done on the building.

More: Long Beach Boulevard in Ship Bottom closed due to major traffic accident

Nicolas Fernandes is the early morning breaking news reporter. A lifelong New Jersey resident, he has previously worked as a features writer and sports reporter. Contact him at 732-540-4401 or nfernandes@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Worker dead after falling through Marlboro psychiatric hospital roof
In this article:

The Memphis rap community is mourning the death of one of their own.

Young Dolph, born Adolph Robert Thornton Jr., died Wednesday in a shooting inside Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies on Airways Boulevard. He was 36.

Over the past day, members of the Memphis rap community have expressed their grief and support for Dolph's family.

Key Glock, Dolph's cousin and Paper Route Empire signee, reportedly deleted all Instagram posts when the news broke.

"ion kno wat imma do without u dude," Paper Route Empire signee Kenny Muney wrote in his Instagram story.

As of Thursday, no statement has been made by Yo Gotti's Collective Music Group or its artists about Dolph's death.

YOUNG DOLPH KILLED IN MEMPHIS: Young Dolph dead at 36: Rapper's career was marked by chart successes and charity efforts

LOCAL REACTION: 'It's tough': Memphis Grizzlies react to rapper Young Dolph's death

Here is a look at some of the reactions from the Memphis rap community.

Been crying all day rest in paradise  we gone miss you mane pic.twitter.com/JFmmFWTo5V  juicy j (@therealjuicyj) November 18, 2021

Astrid Kayembe covers South Memphis, Whitehaven and Westwood. She can be reached at astrid.kayembe@commercialappeal.com, (901) 304-7929 or on Twitter @astridkayembe_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Young Dolph killed: Project Pat, Juicy J, other Memphis rappers react
The closing of construction financing was announced for a new 47-story mixed-use residential development at 550 Tenth Avenue in Hells Kitchen. The project is developed by Gotham Organization and Goldman Sachs Asset Management JV in a joint venture equity partnership, with Wells Fargo and US Bank providing a $212 million construction loan, and Lionheart Strategic Management providing $35 million in mezzanine financing.

Handel Architects is designing the 430,000-square-foot tower with 453 units, consisting 316 market rate residences and 137 moderate and middle-income homes. Additional components include 9,000 square feet of retail and 26,764 square feet of office space. Covenant House will use the the office space for administrative purposes for its new 80,000-square-foot international headquarters located nearby at 460 West 41st Street. Covenant Houses now vacant facility on Tenth Avenue was purchased by the Goldman Sachs Asset Management JV, making the 550 Tenth Avenue development possible as well.

Facilitating Covenant Houses move into its new home is an accomplishment we are incredibly proud of, said David Picket, president of Gotham Organization. Working hand-in-hand with such an important social services organization has been a very rewarding experience. This is yet another example of how public-private partnerships can have a real impact on the city and better the services available to our communitys most vulnerable residents.

Both market-rate and affordable housing residences will have access to a 10,700-square-foot amenity suite on the eighth floor of 550 Tenth Avenue, with two outdoor terraces. A fitness center will feature new cardio equipment, weightlifting areas, a yoga room, and stretching space. An interior lounge space will be designed to function as a coworking space during the day, with individual work stations and a conference room. There will also be a rooftop lounge and outdoor landscaped roof deck on the 45th floor, giving residents unobstructed southern views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey across the Hudson River.

We are thrilled to partner with Gotham on the next phase of this highly impactful project, which will provide Covenant House with state-of-the-art office space and amenities to advance their critical work of supporting vulnerable young adults across the city and around the world, said Michael Lohr, vice president in the Urban Investment Group within Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

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Dianne Feinstein is in line to become Senate president pro tempore if Democrats hang onto control of the chamber next year. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The news that Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont is retiring next year after a remarkable 48 years in the upper chamber means well soon be missing his gravel-voiced pearls of wisdom during major sessions of the Judiciary Committee. Given Vermonts current political complexion, it probably wont affect the partisan balance in the Senate (though its worth noting that when Leahy was first elected in 1974, he became the first Democratic senator from Vermont in its entire history  and technically still the only one given Bernie Sanderss independent affiliation).

It may, however, affect the presidential succession, since Leahy is president pro tempore of the Senate, third (after the veep and the House Speaker) in line for the presidency in case of a vacancy. Because its a position by tradition held by the most senior senator of the majority party, the pro tem gig will now go to Californias Dianne Feinstein if Democrats maintain control of the Senate next year.

Thats interesting because the pols currently in the first and second positions in the presidential line of succession are also Democratic women from California: Vice-President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I mean, what are the odds of that?

Now as it happens, the odds of Pelosi remaining Speaker in 2023 are very low, because (a) she has indicated she will step down as Speaker at the end of this term, and (b) even if she changed her mind, the odds of Democrats maintaining control of the House next year (given the very narrow margin of control they now have, along with the near-universal history of midterm House losses by a new presidents party, aggravated by very likely GOP gains from redistricting) are not great, to put it mildly. But heres how crafty California is: Should Republicans flip the House, the odds-on favorite to become Speaker is the Golden States own Kevin McCarthy. Hes not a Democratic woman, but he would maintain the California grip on the presidential succession assuming (and this remains the most likely outcome at this point) Democrats keep the Senate.

The only interloper in sight for the top three spots in the succession is the Iowan  and very un-Californian  Chuck Grassley, who would almost certainly become Senate president pro tem if Republicans flip the upper chamber. Hes already held the position for two years between Orrin Hatchs retirement in 2019 and the Democratic takeover of the Senate this year. It hardly seems fair he could occupy it again, but seniority is an unforgiving and arbitrary allocator of honorifics.
Kevin McCarthy with two former leadership colleagues (Eric Cantor, left, and John Boehner) who were taken down by the GOPs right-wing fringe. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

In every respect, the House GOP fight against the censure of Paul Gosar for posting a tweet with an anime video depicting him murdering Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was an embarrassing own goal. Republicans were defending a clearly dangerous and contemptible act while identifying themselves with a chronically dangerous and contemptible extremist politician. Beyond that, though, rallying around Gosar interrupted their efforts to make this weeks Beltway coverage revolve around the follies of the opposition Democrats. As Politico Playbook observed: This was supposed to be a Dems in Disarray week, but thanks to Rep. PAUL GOSAR (R-Ariz.), it turned into a McCarthy Defends  week.

So why didnt House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy toss Gosar onto the dustbin of political history where he belongs, or at least keep his troops from treating him like a martyr? I cant see into McCarthys mind or soul, of course, but its reasonably clear he has adopted a policy of pas dennemis a droit (no enemies to the right, an inversion of the old Popular Front slogan no enemies to the left, deployed to prevent criticism of communists). And he did so because he does not want to go the way of his distinguished former colleagues in the House Republican leadership, Eric Cantor and John Boehner.

Cantor, you may recall, was the brilliant young Virginia congressman who was in top leadership spots (first as House Minority Whip then as House Majority Leader) from 2009 until 2014. That last year, he came crashing to earth in a primary loss to an obscure economics professor named Dave Brat, who demonized Cantors friendly attitude toward a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. More generally, Cantor painted a big bulls-eye on his back by identifying himself with the famous Growth and Opportunity Project  better known as the 2012 GOP autopsy report  that argued the Republican Party was doomed if it did not expand its base by attracting minority voters, with comprehensive immigration reform being a sine qua non. Brats nativist-tinged campaign found its most avid cheerleader in Ann Coulter, and got an assist from a former Michele Bachmann staffer named Stephen Miller. It was, arguably, the first MAGA campaign ever. And it sent shock waves through Washington that have yet to subside completely.

Who succeeded Cantor as House Majority Leader? Kevin McCarthy, of course. You think he remembers Cantors demise pretty well? I do. But theres more.

Soon thereafter, the only House Republican who outranked the prelapsarian Cantor, Speaker John Boehner, crashed and burned as well, not in a primary, but by losing an internal party struggle with the House Freedom Caucus, which viewed the convivial wine-and-cigarettes Ohioan as insufficiently combative toward the hated Democrats and their especially hated president Barack Obama. When Kevin McCarthy sought to succeed Boehner, he was blocked by the HFC, which did not consider him ideologically reliable and preferred (and secured) Paul Ryan for the gig. In 2019, McCarthy finally did gain the top leadership spot and has been very solicitous toward the right wing of his conference ever since.

With the Speakers gavel in sight  he probably goes to sleep at night envisioning the moment he takes it away from his least-favorite colleague, fellow-Californian Nancy Pelosi  McCarthy isnt going to blow it now by upsetting Gosar and his Freedom Caucus friends Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Andrew Clyde, Matt Gaetz, Louie Gohmert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and  the list keeps growing. Periodic bad publicity about his tolerance of scary people saying and doing scary things is a small price to pay for ensuring there is no GOP leadership coup in 2023 if history repeats itself and the presidents party loses quite a few House seats. After all, if McCarthy isnt careful, he could be brushed aside by a fresh new face aspiring to the Speakership: Donald J. Trump.
Fake guns should always be provided and the fact that real ones are provided to people on sets makes my head spin. Human error is human error. If it happens once it should never happen again. I don't care if it was a 1 in a million chance, the fact it went through so many hands and people and it still made it to Brandon and killed him is enough to justify them no longer using real guns. So this should have never happened.



It should be fake guns with weight in the body to simulate the hold/feel of the gun. At the most, the gun should expel air if it's the type of gun that requires it or have it handled in post with CGI. And, people that play with guns and etc in plain sight of anybody shows they don't really care or think seriously of the situation.

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So this is the second lawsuit, huh? I wonder how many there will be at the end of the day.

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surprised her husband hasn't already

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Might be waiting for funeral costs and the like before coming up with a number.

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Apparently hes hired a lawyer that deals with these kind of cases but they havent filed anything yet. They may be waiting for all expenses like the person above said but they also may be waiting for the investigations to fully report findings

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Might be waiting for the investigation to get a bit further so it's clearer who needs to be sued.

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i definitely think producers should be held accountable but "intentional" seems idk....not quite right to me? The scene didn't call for it but is it intentional harm if he was told it wasn't loaded? wouldn't this be more like "reckless endangerment"?



Edited at 2021-11-17 11:35 pm (UTC)

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Yeah because "intentional" makes it sound like he did intend harm i.e. premeditated.



I agree with you on "reckless endangerment". He's more guilty of a series of errors and mismanagement if anything.



Edited at 2021-11-17 11:55 pm (UTC)

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He is a producer. The buck stops with him. There is intent for what he did if you pull back the through line. He is the one responsible for hiring a bunch of these people and they cut corners from day one, that was intentional, the firing of the gun was also intentional as in it didnt call for it, he chose to do so, but obviously his intention wasnt to shoot and kill a person, however with guns on set you are meant to ALWAYS act as if and he absolutely did not. Also its very damning that people had already walked off set due to lax gun safety and additionally someone emailed and said in writing they were leaving prior to the shooting because of safety issues. Its his production.



I remember a friend of mine was in a show as an extra and she and several of the extras had to point their guns at the star and the star made them check and recheck after every take and they all showed everyone everything every time, the actress was not fucking around at all. Alec Baldwin did not take it seriously from the jump, they didnt hire like they took it seriously, with how the set was run.



I genuinely think he saw the strike looming and they tried to cram a bunch of stuff in and it rushed them perhaps more than it would have, like maybe they wouldve gotten away with being so sloppy but the confluence of events was what it was



Edited at 2021-11-18 02:12 am (UTC)

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George Clooney's approach really is the best one, and more actors should follow it. Granted it's not the actor's job to guarantee the gun's properly ready but it's those little things that make a world of difference. I'll rather be the overly cautious person tbh bc if something awful happens I need to know I did everything I could to prevent it.

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Honestly it's what you're supposed to learn when dealing with gun safety. Whenever you are handed a firearm you should open it and check for ammo. Before and after that you should still always treat a gun like it's loaded.

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It is for real life gun safety but its not what actors are taught. Theres supposed to be a whole protocol for it before its ever handed to the actor to make sure its not loaded/safe. Good for George for taking it upon himself to do so but its not what actors are told to do.

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I heard that part of the protocol is that even the actor has to check the gun too. Like I think they get taught at least the basics about it.



Basically anyone who touches a gun has a responsibility to check if my understanding is right.



The guy who gave Alec the gun said it was "cold" and Alec just went off that.



Edited at 2021-11-17 11:44 pm (UTC)

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Same. I am an overly cautious person too. I have friends who have guns, but I don't even want to touch them because what do I need with one and I have no excuse. The farthest I've gone is lazer tag.



Most other 'weapons' you go through training, and or, they're not even the real deal. I think wips and bow and arrows may be the only weapons that are the real deal (someone correct me if wrong), but everything else is... fake or dulled.

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maybe it's my anxiety, but the idea of pointing a gun at someone / something without being 100% certain from verifying with my own eyeballs that it isn't loaded? insane.



also it's a basic gun safety rule to always treat the gun like it's loaded even after you've checked it.

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Clooney went more in depth about gun protocols and such in that interview and I was impressed with how frank he was about the whole situation being completely avoidable.



It's obvious the 'Rust' set was playing fast and loose with all sorts of things, including gun safety.

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yep, came in here to say the same thing



Edited at 2021-11-18 12:34 am (UTC)

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The whole interview with George was great, IMO

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the fact they were using real guns and skimped on safety protocols is mind boggling to me. and senselessly halyna lost her life in a completely avoidable accident :( i can't even imagine how her loved ones feel

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I still cant believe she was killed. Was there ever confirmation that they were blanks?

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I can't remember where I saw it but I saw a pic of ammo that was supposedly from the gun and there were blanks and a live round and one end of them was different. I think it was one of the articles where the armorer said she is being set up

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I feel naive, but I just can't imagine a scenario where live rounds would be anywhere on set?



I guess they sometimes use live rounds? idk. this is over my heab bc idg how it could happen.

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that armorer is full of shit. she's got a bad track record with lax gun safety.

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It was a live round

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i thought it was confirmed that it wasn't a blank

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One thing I've heard from gun owners is to never point a gun at someone or something you don't intend to shoot. For this reason alone I don't see how real guns on set are necessary.

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Can she really sue him? Isn't she more of a witness in case the victim's family wants to sue?

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It's America, land of the opportunist and lawsuits

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So how and why did he end up shooting the gun? I'm curious about this bc the original story was that it was a test shot or something.

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because they probably changed the script and changed the shot

it happens all the time...

the armorer screwed up...cut and dry

the women got the job because her father is well known in the industry and she came cheap



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I really don't get why productions feel the need to use real weapons for authenticity when most of the time they don't even care about realism enough to use some water so actors aren't obviously holding empty cups

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firstly, wtf is a REAL gun doing on a movie set where grown men and women PLAY PRETEND for hours on end a day



secondly, even if they wanted to 'make it as real as possible' or whatever the fuck these twats tell themselves and others to be taken seriously, what were REAL bullets doing there? that is just gross negligees

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Boggles my mind that what George Clooney does is not a standard practice. Regardless of how many hands the gun might pass isn't it better safe than sorry? Take extra 5 minutes to go over it again rather than fire and hurt or kill someone innocent.

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China is preparing to release crude oil from its strategic reserve, Reuters has reported, citing the country's National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

The news comes on the heels of reports that President Biden has asked China and other large consumers to do just that in an attempt to arrest the climb of oil prices.

However, Reuters notes that the Chinese National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration declined to comment on these reports, suggesting the move may have been planned before President Xi Jinping's virtual meeting with Joe Biden, which is when Biden first raised the issue.

"We are carrying out the work of releasing crude oil reserves. And for any details related to the releasing, we will put out a statement on our website," a spokeswoman for the NFSRA told Reuters.

"We will release more details on the volume of oil and date of its sale on our website in due time, just like we did in the first public auction," the spokeswoman told Bloomberg.

Earlier this week, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources, that besides China, the Biden administration had also approached Japan, India, and South Korea with the suggestion they release crude oil from their strategic reserves.

The oil auction announced by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration would be the second one: in September, the authorities auctioned 7.4 million barrels of crude for sale. The news did weigh on oil prices but only for a short while before prices rebounded again.

Then, earlier this month, Beijing also ordered the release of gasoline and diesel as the prices of fuels in some parts of China were rising too fast.

"China has its own plan for the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) releases. (We expect) the second release volume should be similar to the first one," SIA Energy analyst Sengyick Tee told Reuters.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Shale companies are making more profit than ever before and, while they are happy to help Biden bring the price of gasoline down, are eager to avoid another oil price crash

While some observers may see this as the shale patch being political, the reality is that shale drillers are actually reacting to both profit and fear

President Bidens calls on OPEC to increase production were received rather negatively by the U.S. shale patch which believes it can take care of the supply problem

When President Joe Biden first called on OPEC to increase production earlier this year, he drew an angry response from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who told Biden to "back off" and let American companies take care of the supply problem that was pushing fuel prices higher. The awkward relationship between the current administration in Washington and the oil industry, which tends to lean to the right politically, has been highlighted repeatedly in the media along with Biden's anti-oil moves such as the killing of the Keystone XL pipeline project and the temporary moratorium on oil and gas drilling on federal lands.

Yet political incompatibility alone cannot stand in the way of profiting from higher prices, so it is hardly the only - or even an important - reason for the U.S. oil industry's production restraint amid soaring prices for both crude and products. In fact, there are at least two more important reasons for this restraint.

The first is that especially shale drillers are raking in much fatter profits right now at current production levels. According to Deloitte calculations cited by Bloomberg's Kevin Crowley, U.S. shale operators are currently booking the biggest profits since the start of the shale revolution. And that's saying something. The reason the shale play development earned the name revolution was that it happened so quickly, and it happened so quickly because it was profitable, for a time.

By booking higher profits, shale drillers - at least the public ones among them - can keep their shareholders happier than they have been in years during the cash-burning phase of the shale revolution when everyone raced to boost output by the most, contributing to the two latest price crashes.

Related: IEA Hikes 2022 Brent Oil Price Outlook To $79

Speaking of crashes, the other reason shale drillers are practicing restraint is OPEC. The cartel has already demonstrated twice that it has the power to cause a collapse in prices that may its members but seems to hurt U.S. shale producers more. After several waves of bankruptcies, shale drillers appear to have decided on a different approach to production, betting on fatter profits instead of higher production.

Be that as it may, production in the U.S. shale patch is rising. Reuters reported earlier this week that production at the Permian was about to set a record, surpassing its pre-pandemic production levels next month. That's because the Permian has been the darling of the shale industry for years now, sporting some of the lowest production costs in some areas, drawing in more capital than other shale plays.

Overall production is also on the rise. According to the Energy Information Administration's latest weekly industry update, the U.S. was producing 11.5 million bpd of crude, which puts it in the first place globally and represents a 1-million-bpd increase on the year. It is lower than the record 13-million-bod production rate right before the pandemic struck, but it is no small potatoes by any means.

And, perhaps surprisingly to some, the industry is not averse to working with the federal administration to make gasoline more affordable. The messages coming from shale oil are not all in the same tone but they do tend to be encouraging.

Related: The Energy Crunch Is Adding Billions To Oil Tycoons Net Worth

The chief executive of Occidental Petroleum, for instance, was quite blunt in telling Biden to "back off" the U.S. oil industry rather than calling on OPEC to increase oil production so U.S. drivers can pay less at the pump. The president, Scott Sheffield, said earlier this month that Biden has "got to back off his rhetoric on federal leases going forward."

Occidental's Vicki Hollub was more delicate this week, when she said, in response to a question on whether Biden was wrong to call on OPEC to boost output, "if I were gonna make a call, it wouldn't be long-distance, it would be a local call."

"I think first you, you stay home, you ask your friends, and you ask your neighbors to do it. And then if we can't do it, you call some other countries," Hollub told CNBC.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
President Joe Biden has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the possibility of oil companies involvement in price trends in retail fuels, alleging illegal conduct on the part of the companies.

There is allegedly mounting evidence of anti-consumer behavior by oil-and-gas companies, according to a letter sent by the White House to FTC chairwoman Lina Khan, as cited by the Wall Street Journal.

Despite the fact that unblended gasoline prices were down by more than 5 percent over the last month, the letter said, finished gasoline prices were 3 percent higher over the period.

This unexplained large gap between the price of unfinished gasoline and the average price at the pump is well above the pre-pandemic average, the president wrote. Meanwhile, the largest oil-and-gas companies in America are generating significant profits off higher energy prices.

"The Federal Trade Commission has authority to consider whether illegal conduct is costing families at the pump. I believe you should do so immediately," Biden also wrote, as quoted by Reuters.

High prices at the pump have turned into a major headache for the Biden administration, prompting the president to repeatedly urge OPEC to boost production more substantially. The U.S. oil industry has suggested it could help with the supply of crude, with Occidental chief executive Vicki Hollub saying if I were gonna make a call [[regarding oil production], it wouldnt be long distance, it would be a local call.

I think first you, you stay home, you ask your friends, and you ask your neighbors to do it. And then if we cant do it, you call some other countries, Hollub also said earlier this week, as quoted by CNBC.

According to analysts interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, an FTC investigation into gasoline prices is unlikely to find sufficient evidence of illegal conduct on the part of oil companies.

Citing an not too uncommon divergence between unblended and finished gasoline prices over the past 10 years, research firm ClearView Energy Partners said This gives us some reason to suggest that todays FTC investigation might end up like past such efforts: with limited evidence to validate assertions of market manipulation and price gouging.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
China is not the only big oil consumer the United States has asked to release oil from its reserves in a bid to rein in prices, Reuters has reported, citing unnamed sources.

Earlier this week, the South China Morning Post reported that President Joe Biden had asked China's Xi Jinping to release oil from storage in a bid to put a lid on oil prices that have pushed U.S. retail fuel prices to levels that are worrying Washington.

According to the Reuters sources, Japan, South Korea, and India were also among the countries Washington approached with the suggestion to release oil from their reserves.

"We're talking about the symbolism of the largest consumers of the world sending a message to OPEC that 'you've got to change your behavior,'" one of the Reuters sources said.

The option of releasing crude from the state reserve has also been discussed in the U.S. itself, but some commentators with knowledge of how the energy industry works have expressed skepticism it would have the desired effect. One of the reasons given for this skepticism is that the president can only order the release of a limited amount of crude oil from the strategic petroleum reserve of the United States, and this amount will only have a temporary effect on prices.

"It seems the energy market is convinced that even if the U.S. resorts to tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the benefits would be minimal  to the U.S. consumer," Oanda analyst Edward Moya said in a recent note, as quoted by Reuters.

As for whether a concerted reserve-draw effort would have the effect of making OPEC start producing more, this, too, is questionable. OPEC and its OPEC+ partners have made it clear they would remain cautious about adding too much oil to global markets, and the one-off release of a few million barrels by each of the countries contacted by the Biden administration would hardly worry them.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta says the government as part of efforts to improve its revenue mobilization has introduced innovative measures to collect property taxes in the country.



Presenting the 2022 budget statement and economic policy on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the Minister said the government is looking to assist the Metropolitan Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MDAs) to implement a common platform for property rate administration to enable them effectively collect property rates in the country.



He said: Mr Speaker, property rates have the potential to increase revenue mobilization for MDAs and release resources for the provision of basic infrastructure as well as the needs of our localities. Property rate assessment and collection pose a challenge to most MMDAs and are fraught with inefficiencies.



Government, through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) will from January 2022, assist the MMDAs to implement a common platform for property rate administration to enhance property rate collections and its accountability. To ensure cost recovery by government in providing the infrastructure for the collection of the Rate, a sharing ratio will be agreed with the Assemblies, he added.



With dwindling revenue streams attributable to the slowdown in business activities occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic, Ghana is lagging behind most of its peers within the West African sub-region as far as the tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is concerned.



While Ghana is doing below 15 per cent, countries in the sub-region like Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria are hovering around an average of 18 per cent, prompting government to employ innovative ways of broadening its tax net.



This the Minister explained that while the hardship Ghanaians have been experiencing due to coronavirus pandemic is not lost on the government, it is also necessary that government improves its revenue mobilization in an economy put under extreme distress by the pandemic.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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RMG Ghana has donated items and cash worth GHc65,000 to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), towards this years 37th Farmers Day celebration dubbed Planting for Food and Jobs  Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana.



RMG Ghana is committed to the Agriculture industry and has supported the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in most of its project to ensure the sector succeeds. As part of our contribution to the upcoming 37th National Farmers Day, we donated Inputs, Crop Protection products, seeds, spraying machines to the tune of GHc50,000 and a cash donation of GHc15,000 to support the Ministry to appreciate and motivate the hardworking farmers.



The donation was done by a team lead by the Group CEO; Yvan Dorier. In presenting the cheque, the CEO mentioned that RMG Ghanas support is to contribute to making Ghana a food-sufficient nation.



He said, we believe the most appropriate way to ensure food security for a growing population like Ghana and to ensure wealth creation for farmers is to improve their productivity, through making available to them, the most advanced technology for irrigation, quality crop protection products, fertilizer and seeds for agriculture production.



The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture; Yaw Frimpong Addo who received the items and cheque expressed gratitude to the company for the unwavering support over the years in enhancing the agricultural sector.



RMG in Ghana currently works with about 15,000 Farmers across the country where they are provided with farm supplies and expertise training on farming.



RMG Ghana Ltd is one of the countrys leading agricultural companies in Ghana. Instituted in 2016 following the acquisition of Wienco Ghana Limited by RMG Concept Limited, RMG Ghana has grown to create a niche in the Ghanaian market through the provision of innovative timely solutions to Ghanas agricultural problems. Riding on the vast stature and experience of former Wienco Ghana for over 4 decades, with a wide range of products that cuts across the various agricultural requirements and well-trained staff, RMG seeks to explore other areas in Ghanas agriculture that provide better opportunities for more farmers to improve their productivity and income.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The United Nation's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported that Iran has boosted its stocks of enriched uranium, just days before scheduled talks in Vienna to restore Irans 2015 nuclear deal.



In a report cited by several media outlets on Wednesday, November 17, the IAEA gave updated estimates of Irans uranium stockpile.



The agency said it estimated Irans stockpile of highly enriched uranium at 2,489.7 kilogrammes (4,488.8 pounds)  several times more than the cap agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official title of the nuclear deal.



It said Irans total stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium stood at 113.8kg (251 pounds) earlier this month, up from 84.3kg (186 pounds) in September. It added that Iran also possessed 17.7kg (39 pounds) of 60 percent enriched uranium, up from the previous 10kg (22 pounds).



The report came as Irans representative office in Vienna said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi will visit Iran next week Monday and hold his first meeting with Irans new foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, a day later, the office said in a statement.



The director of the global nuclear watchdog had previously said he finds it astonishing that he has yet to meet and discuss several outstanding disputes with top Iranian officials, months after Raisis administration was formed.



The most immediate issue appeared to be activities at a centrifuge parts production site in Karaj, which has been unmonitored by the IAEA since June, when Iran said a sabotage attack by Israel considerably damaged the facility, including IAEA cameras.



However, the two sides (Iran and IAEA) were at odds later in September when Iran said its security forces were still investigating the Karaj site and no one could access it.



In a separate report on Wednesday, the IAEA said it categorically denied that its cameras were used to mount the attack on the Karaj site after Iran said it was investigating that possibility.



The talks are expected to be complicated as Raisis administration has said Iran wants all imposed US sanctions  including those with terrorism or human rights designations  lifted, and requires a guarantee that the US will not abandon the deal again in the future.



The US, meanwhile, has maintained that it is only willing to lift sanctions that are inconsistent with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the deal is formally known.









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Two of the three men convicted of 1965 killing civil rights leader Malcolm X will soon be exonerated, Manhattan's district attorney said in a statement.



After a 22-month investigation, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. found that authorities withheld evidence in the trial of Muhammad A. Aziz, 83, and the late Khalil Islam, who died in 2009, the New York Times reported. Both men spent over two decades in prison for a crime they vowed they did not commit.



New York County District Attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr. will hold a news conference Thursday to announce the investigation's findings.



Malcolm X was one of the civil rights eras most compelling and controversial figures. The influential Black leader was assassinated as he began a speech in the Audubon Ballroom on Feb. 21, 1965.



Muhammad Aziz, Khalil Islam, and a man later known as Thomas Hagan were convicted of murder the next year and sentenced to life in prison.



Hagan said he was one of three gunmen who shot Malcolm X, but testified that neither Aziz nor Islam were involved.



Hagan was paroled in 2010. Aziz was released in 1985 and is now 83 years old. Islam was released in 1987. He professed his innocence before he died in 2009.



Im a riotous innocent individual, a real human being, he said at the time.



The events that brought us to court today should never have occurred; those events were and are the result of a process that was corrupt to its core  one that is all too familiar  even in 2021. While I do not need this court, these prosecutors, or a piece of paper to tell me I am innocent, I am glad that my family, my friends, and the attorneys who have worked and supported me all these years are finally seeing the truth we have all known, officially recognized, Aziz said in a statement released through the Innocence Project. I am an 83-year-old man who was victimized by the criminal justice system, and I do not know how many more years I have to be creative. However, I hope the same system that was responsible for this travesty of justice also take responsibility for the immeasurable harm it caused me.



Now, the Manhattan DA says the two men, who always maintained their innocence, will be exonerated.



A two-year investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney came after a Netflix series called Who Killed Malcolm X helped lead to the exoneration of the two men.



Vance's investigation found that key physical evidence and documents were lost over the years, the murder weapons could no longer be tested, and many witnesses, investigators, and potential suspects have since died, the Times reported. FBI documents implicated other suspects and "pointed away" from Islam and Aziz, the report said.



"This points to the truth that law enforcement over history has often failed to live up to its responsibilities," Vance told the publication. "These men did not get the justice that they deserved."









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.

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After several weeks of back and forth between the General Legal Council, GLC, and the 499 students who were refused admission into the School of Law, a decision has finally been taken in favour of the latter.



The GLC has, after much pressure mounted on it, decided to admit the 499 students, their lawyer has said.



A citinewsroom.com report quoted lawyer for the students as saying the decision was reached after a crunch meeting between leaders of the aggrieved law students, the Attorney General, and representatives from the General Legal Council today, Wednesday, November 17, 2021.



After a competitive examination process, the 499 law students were refused entry into the School of Law, but they protested that there was a new quota system initiated by the General Legal Council that made it impossible for those students to be admitted.



This, however, was not taken lightly by the students, who embarked on a series of measures to push for admission, among others street protest, petitions to the Parliament and Presidency and going to court.



After the lawsuit and a resolution by Parliament, the Attorney General recommended that the GLC admits the students.



Subject to some modalities as to when these students will commence the course, the subcommittee of the GLC that we met this evening will go back and report on the contents of these deliberations we have had, Martin Kpebu, lawyer for the students, explained.



It must be stated however that before this meeting, the suit the students brought against the GLC and the Attorney General were withdrawn.

















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Expectant and nursing mothers are among candidates writing this years Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) across the country.

Eleven nursing mothers and 14 pregnant teenagers are among 2,058 candidates taking part in the BECE in the Wenchi municipality, while two nursing mothers and a pregnant girl are writing the examination in the Techiman South municipality, both in the Bono Region.



The ages of the candidates, as well as the names of the schools they attend, have not been disclosed.



The Wenchi Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Mary Nyarko Adutwum, told the Daily Graphic that the nursing mothers were being assisted by babysitters to take care of their babies while the mothers wrote their papers.



She called on people in communities where pregnant teenagers and nursing mothers were writing the BECE to show them love and encourage them to finish the examination.



In the Central Region, about 45 pregnant girls are among the candidates who are set to complete the BECE tomorrow.



In the Efutu municipality in the region, 20 pregnant girls are among 1,758 candidates writing the examination at centres A and B in Winneba, while 25 pregnant girls are among those taking the examination in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District  seven in Ajumako, four at Mando, eight at Bisease, three at Ocheso and three at Sonkwa



They are part of the 1,451 females out of the 2,783 candidates writing the BECE in the area.



Teenage pregnancies



Meanwhile, the Wenchi Municipal Director of Health, Mr Robert Kwaku Bio, has disclosed that 410 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the municipality between January and September this year, as against 615 recorded in the same period in 2020.



In 2019, some 584 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the same period, as against 580 between January and September 2018.



Mr Bio appealed to chiefs to come up with bye-laws to prevent teenagers from going out in the night, in addition to banning them from attending wakes and funerals.



The Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, Alhaji Seidu Haruna, commended the pregnant teenagers and the nursing mothers for their determination to be back in school, despite their situation, and wished all the candidates well.



He commended teachers and parents, as well as other stakeholders in the educational sector, for their contribution towards preparing the candidates for the examination.



Prison inmates



Meanwhile, 32 inmates of the Senior Correctional Centre and Nsawam Medium Security Prison are writing this years BECE.



Inmates of the Senior Correctional Centre have, since 2009, sat for the BECE and recorded 100 per cent pass each year.



The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mr Isaac Kofi Egyir, said he believed that the candidates had been adequately prepared, and that they would excel in the examination.



He advised the candidates to desist from acts that would amount to examination malpractice.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako is doubtful former First Lady Nana Komadu Agyemang Rawlings will return to the National Democratic Congress(NDC).



Speaking at the remembrance anniversary of her late father Jerry John Rawlings on Friday, November 12, 2021, Dr. Zenator Rawlings, the Member of Parliament for the Klottey Korle Constituency appealed to the elders of the NDC to smoke the peace pipe with her mother.



I would like to use the opportunity to ask that as we remember the old man, thinking that he will not pass what he did, let us recognize the fact that we dont know when our last day would be, lets make amends with those we have wronged. On this particular occasion, Id say the thing that nobody wants to say: Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is an integral part of this party. Let us do what we have to do to bring her back, Zenator Rawlings said.



The renowned Journalist who was contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', wondered if Dr. Zenator Rawlings sought her mother's opinion or permission before making such a statement.



" . . I really have my doubts. What's interesting is the statement is coming from her daughter, but then I wonder, did she consult her mother? These are very interesting times," he said.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Featured Video
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.
Rapa Nui, Kiribati, Edinburgh and Arnhem Land (clockwise from left) are all likely to be severely impacted by climate change. (Getty)

What do the world-famous Moai stone statues at Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and spectacular ancient sites in Edinburgh have in common?

Devastatingly, it's that they might soon both disappear from the face of the Earth, battered and bruised by extreme weather events induced by the climate crisis.

Hoping to slow their demise, a team of world experts met in South Australia on Tuesday to brainstorm how to save the world's history.

The Flinders University symposium evaluated where the world now stands after commitments made by world leaders at the COP26 talks in Glasgow.

Destruction of archeological sites is nothing new, UNESCO has listed 52 of them as as "in danger", but what's changing is climate change is now becoming a bigger threat than war or development.

The impact of rising sea levels was highlighted as a major concern by Flinders University archeologist Dr Ania Kotarba-Morley when she spoke at the conference.

"Forty percent of the worlds population live on the coast, and majority of heritage sites therefore are located on the coasts," she told Yahoo News.

"With sea level rises, as is projected in IPCC report, by 2050 they'll not be many left.

"Whole cities will go underwater. The future is bleak Im afraid."

Entire nations set to disappear amid climate crisis

While Western minds tend to favour the cultural significance of brick and mortar sites like churches and temples, Kotarba-Morley has found that many Micronesian nations revere landscapes instead.

With some islands set to disappear underwater by 2050, scientists are no longer looking at how to adapt to the worsening circumstances.

They are focusing on mitigating the loss of culture, as entire nations are reclaimed by the ocean.

Many heritage sites have been listed as in danger due to war and development, however climate change will likely impact many destinations in years to come. (UNESCO)

Nations will have to relocate but all of those sites, intangible, tangible, sacred sites, everything will have to be relocated," Kotarba-Morley said.

The attachment to landscape, the tombs of their ancestors, their sacred places, their temples, theyll be all gone.

Story continues

Once life on Kiribati becomes untenable, residents will be relocating to Fiji, a land at least two hours across the Pacific by plane.

The climate refugees will have to adapt to a foreign landscape, cultural setting and language group, then somehow find a way to maintain their ethnic identity.

Future is bleak

While the world's heritage loss received increased focus at COP26 climate talks, reaching net zero by 2050 will likely not be enough to save iconic sites.

Dr Kotarba-Morley remains "terribly depressed" as she lists places future generations will likely never see.

By 2050, if current heating rates continue, up to 80% of the Maldives could be lost.

4,000km away in Zanzibar, mediaeval stone towns will be reclaimed by the ocean in the next 80 years.

Sumatra's rainforests will be decimated by 2030 as global heating continues.

The Nan Madol ceremonial centre in eastern Micronesia could also be destroyed, despite the construction of mangroves and sea walls. The list goes on.

Up to 80% of the Maldives could be uninhabitable by 2050. (Getty)

The world her daughters, aged one and four, will inherit will be drastically different to her own carefree youth.

My little daughters, when theyre entering adulthood, will they actually be able to go travelling like myself? she said.

When I was a young adult, I was travelling around the world visiting all these amazing heritage sites, ecological sites, ancient sites, but by 2050 half of them could be gone."

Watch: Moby's advice for how to live during the climate crisis
Since the opening up of Thailand to international travelers from low-risk countries on November 1, our Thai and overseas friends have been wondering what entry requirements international arrivals in Phuket need to fulfill. Many are planning to holiday in the resort island of Phuket for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, whether it be an Andaman cruise, scuba diving in its azure waters, scrumptious fresh seafood, and a tour of its vibrant historic quarter. Others are hoping to explore cool destinations beyond Phuket.

Here is a quick update on the entry requirements for passengers arriving by air (domestic and international flights), sea and land. There are 6 steps for international arrivals:

Verifying THAILANDPASS travel documentation Going through immigration RT-PCR testing Those on a direct flight to Phuket

are subject to a pre-payment of Bt2,200 via

www.thailandpsas.com for RT-PCR testing on

arrival and antigen test kit (ATK). Standard SHA+ transfer to a pre-approved hotel Download Mor Chana app and submit test

results via the app and e-mail Verification by Mor Chana with QR Code in

green.

Since the reopening of Thailand on November 1, visiting Phuket has been a lot easier thanks to the Thailand Pass system. Prior to the reopening, Phuket had reopened to fully vaccinated travelers under the piloted Phuket Sandbox scheme with key facilities such as the Thailand Pass system in place to provide convenience.

Phuket is now open to three groups of visitors:

Test & Go is the first group of visitors from 63 low-risk countries not subject to quarantine as follows:

Europe: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The Americas: Canada, Chile, and the United States.

Asia and Oceania: Australia, Bahrain, Bhutan, China, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal New Zealand, Qatar, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, India, Oman, and Hong Kong.

Asean: Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Vietnam. After the required 6 steps, travelers can proceed to check into a pre-approved SHA+ hotel for one nights stay.

** 1 RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport.

The second group,  Living in the Blue Zone , includes visitors who are not from the 63 countries but who have received the required doses against Covid-19. After the required 6 steps, travelers are subject to 7-day quarantine at a SHA+ hotel. Self-testing with ATK is required on days 6 and 7. Then submit the test results via the Mor Chana app.

** RT-PCR testing at the airport and self-testing using ATK at the hotel.

, includes visitors who are not from the 63 countries but who have received the required doses against Covid-19. After the required 6 steps, travelers are subject to 7-day quarantine at a SHA+ hotel. Self-testing with ATK is required on days 6 and 7. Then submit the test results via the Mor Chana app. ** RT-PCR testing at the airport and self-testing using ATK at the hotel. The third group, Happy Quarantine, includes those outside of the 63 countries and arriving in Phuket by air or sea. Despite having not received the required doses, theyre allowed to visit Thailand under the following conditions. After the required 6 steps, newly arrived air passengers can check into AQ hotels for 10-day quarantine. Arrivals by other means of transport are subject to 14-day quarantine. They require the second and third RT-PCR tests.

** 3 RT-PCR tests (one at the airport, the rest at the hotel.)

To apply for THAILANDPASS, there are four easy steps:

Go to THAILANDPASS: http://tp.consular.go.th. Then, enter your country and passport number, upload your vaccine certificate, produce proof of medical insurance cover of US50,000+ and show your SHA+ hotel reservation. QR Code issued Submit RT-PCR test results 72 hours before departure Depart

Phuket is so easy to enter, well worth exploring and very safe to stay. No matter what country you come from, or which group of visitors you belong, its possible to roam freely in Phuket and Thailand. Spread the word.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba and Aarhus University obtain new structural insights into an important class of thermoelectric materials that until now has evaded detailed characterization. Credit: University of Tsukuba

Space probes, gas pipelines, and other applications require an ongoing source of thermoelectric power without direct human maintenance, but current technologies for the corresponding energy conversion are inefficient. Now, researchers from Japan and Denmark have provided a greater understanding of the basis of ultralow thermal conductivity in an especially intriguing class of simple crystals, which could advance the efficiency of thermoelectric power technologies.

In a study recently published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Tsukuba and Aarhus University have experimentally confirmed the chemical and physical basis of an important yet (until now) evasive phenomenon that is critical to optimizing thermoelectric energy conversion.

Thermoelectric technology can meet certain energy needs by converting heat into electricity. For maximum efficiency, such technologies must minimize thermal conduction. Structural disorder is a means of minimizing thermal conduction and is commonly observed in complex crystal structures. However, experimental difficulties hinder researchers' efforts toward probing structural disorder in simple inorganic crystalline solids such as thallium selenide-type crystals, limiting the development of this important class of thermoelectric materials. Overcoming this R&D challenge by combining experiments with theory is what the researchers at the University of Tsukuba and Aarhus University aimed to address.

"Researchers have long proposed one-dimensional structural disorder, without clear experimental evidence, as an explanation for the low thermal conduction in tellurium selenide-type materials," explains Professor Eiji Nishibori, University of Tsukuba. "Experimental confirmation has been eagerly anticipated for years."

Indium telluride is one such material that has a simple crystal structure and exhibits ultralow thermal conductivity. The researchers obtained the electron density distribution of single crystals of indium telluride, and probed the thermal conductivity along one axis of the crystal. By doing so, they observed disordered one-dimensional chains of indium ions. Energy calculations and atomic displacement measurements agree with these observations.

"Depending on the temperature, we observed a striking diffusion channel of indium ions along the crystal's c-axis," says Professor Bo B. Iversen, Aarhus University. "Our experiments confirm the long-held one-dimensional diffusion/hopping hypothesis, and our calculations indicate its applicability to many thallium selenide-type materials."

These results have important applications. Researchers are now certain of the atomic-level structural basis of the low thermal conduction in thallium selenide-type materials. Accordingly, they can now minimize the trial-and-error that's common in optimizing the efficiency of an important class of upcoming thermoelectric technologies. Such developments will facilitate many practical applications, such as radio communication from remote locations or obtaining electrical power from the seafloor.

More information: Jiawei Zhang et al, Direct observation of one-dimensional disordered diffusion channel in a chain-like thermoelectric with ultralow thermal conductivity, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Jiawei Zhang et al, Direct observation of one-dimensional disordered diffusion channel in a chain-like thermoelectric with ultralow thermal conductivity,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27007-y
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Two and a half years after signing a deal aimed at averting a damaging crisis along the Colorado River, water officials from California, Arizona and Nevada are discussing plans to take even less water from the shrinking river and leave it in Lake Mead in an effort to prevent the reservoir from falling to dangerously low levels.

Representatives of water agencies from the three states said they are firming up the details of a deal that would leave an additional 500,000 acre-feet of water in the reservoir next year, and the same amount again in 2023about double the quantity of water used annually by Las Vegas and the rest of southern Nevada.

For California, the deal would mean participating in water reductions prior to Lake Mead reaching levels that would otherwise trigger mandatory cuts.

The talks took on urgency this summer after federal projections showed growing risks of Lake Mead falling to critically low levels, despite plans for mandatory cutbacks throughout the Southwest that the states agreed to in 2019.

With the reservoir in a first-ever shortage and those cuts still insufficient, water management officials settled on a goal of together leaving half a million acre-feet of additional water in the reservoir instead of sending it flowing to farms, cities and tribal lands. The stored water would be roughly as much as 1.5 million average single-family households use in a year.

"We've got to stabilize the lake with this plan," said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources. He said representatives of California, Arizona and Nevada developed the framework of the deal within about two months after they saw projections showing growing risks of Lake Mead dropping to lows that would trigger much larger water reductions in all three states.

"I think coming together in that short a period of time is indicative of urgency we're feeling to do more," Buschatzke said. "If the lake keeps falling, cuts are going to be deeper and deeper and deeper. So I think it's indicative of the risks."

The deal would nearly double the reductions in planned water deliveries next year among the three states beyond those already planned under the 2019 agreement, called the Drought Contingency Plan. This new proposal, dubbed the 500+ Plan, would partially involve securing money to pay some water users to voluntarily relinquish water.

"We are estimating that we'll need $100 million for those two years from the three states," Buschatzke said. And while it's unclear how much may be available from the federal government, Buschatzke and others said they hope to see a similar amount contributed from Washington, with funds available through the newly signed infrastructure legislation.

The water would come from various sources, including farmers who would be paid for leaving portions of their land dry, tribes that would contribute water supplies, and water agencies that would leave some water in Lake Mead instead of taking it out as planned.

Negotiations on the details are continuing, and officials from California and Arizona said they hope to have the overarching agreement ready to be signed next month at a conference in Las Vegas.

Arizona has pledged $40 million toward the deal. Board members of the Southern Nevada Water Authority are scheduled to consider approving up to $20 million in contributions this week.

The board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is scheduled to consider the proposed agreement next month.

If the details of the proposal come together as planned, 500,000 acre-feet of water over two years would translate into water levels about 16 feet higher in Lake Mead.

The reservoir, the largest in the country, has declined to just 34% of its full capacity, the lowest point since it was filled in the 1930s with the construction of Hoover Dam.

For now, the talks have focused on lining up funds and water for two years. But Buschatzke said it's intended to be a five-year plan, lasting until the current agreement expires at the end of 2026, by which time the states will need to have negotiated new rules for dealing with shortages.

If the winter were to bring heavy snow to the Rocky Mountains, it could still help ease the shortages. But the region's water managers said they've decided to plan for more of the dismal runoff they've seen in the watershed during the past two years of extreme heat and parched conditions.

Bill Hasencamp, MWD's manager of Colorado River resources, said if such extreme dryness persists for another year or two, then Mead could end up at such low levels that cuts would become "unmanageable."

"By proactively taking the actions now, we can reduce the risk of hitting those levels and having to make these large, unpredictable cuts," Hasencamp said. "It's better to do it sooner than you need it, so you can have a little bit more control."

Without such a plan, if nothing were done and the reservoir continued to drop, he said, then the whole region could be forced to deal with much larger cuts.

"Then it's unmanageable. And it's lawsuit time and fighting," Hasencamp said. "So a much more collaborative approach has always been our preference. And we think now is the time to step up."

Word of the proposal came as California water officials announced that statewide conservation efforts were "backsliding." Although Gov. Gavin Newsom has urged state residents to voluntarily cut water use by 15%, urban areas statewide decreased water use just 3.9% in September compared to the same month a year ago. The reduction in water use was smaller than in August, when Californians used 5% less.

Buschatzke said officials from the three states have together identified 500,000 acre-feet of water that could be freed up in 2022 and 2023. He declined to give details, saying negotiations are continuing and those that contribute water could include farmers, tribes, cities and other entities.

"It's basically paying people not to use water they've historically used," he said, adding that participants would voluntarily and temporarily cede water in exchange for payments.

Such deals have been tried on a smaller scale in recent years. In California, MWD has recently scaled up a deal in which farmers in the Palo Verde Irrigation District are paid to leave a portion of their lands dry and fallow. In Arizona, the leaders of the Colorado River Indian Tribes have also been leaving some of their farmland dry in a similar deal.

"We're going to look at mixing and matching water and money to come up with the plan that works," Buschatzke said. "The key is getting the agreement down on paper in an enforceable way so that we know the conservation is going to occur in 2022."

The Colorado River has long been chronically overallocated, with so much water diverted to supply farms and cities that its once-vast delta in Mexico has been largely transformed into a stretch of desert, with only a smattering of wetlands remaining. Most of the water that's divertedapproximately 70%is used for agriculture.

While a large portion of the water is likely to be purchased through the fallowing of farmland, participants in the talks said some water will also come from other sources, including urban agencies leaving water in Lake Mead instead of sending it through their aqueducts.

For example, California's Imperial Irrigation District has been underusing its allotment in recent years. And that "underrun" of water then typically ends up going free-of-charge to MWD, which is the next entity in line in the priority system.

That unused water is projected to be about 95,000 acre-feet this year, and likely a similar amount next year, said J.B. Hamby, vice president of the IID board.

"All that water we don't use or over-conserve in a year, instead of that going to Metropolitan, Metropolitan has agreed not to consume it and to leave it in the river, which is a huge plus," Hamby said. "That's kind of a major shift."

Hamby said it's encouraging that the three states have come up with the plan in just a few months.

Others agreed that the quick negotiations bode well for more collaboration in dealing with worsening shortages. Kathryn Sorensen, director of research for Arizona State University's Kyl Center for Water Policy, said with Lake Mead at such low levels, the need for quick action is clear.

"If we get another bad year or two, you know, things look really dire. So I think the speed is commensurate with the nature and scale of the crisis," Sorenson said.

When Buschatzke testified in a congressional hearing on the Colorado River last month, he noted that snowpack in the Colorado River Basin peaked at 89% of average this year, but runoff in the watershed was only 33% of average.

"This phenomenon is likely the result of the hotter and drier conditions caused by climate change," Buschatzke said in his written testimony. "This trend is one that water managers must take into account as we plan for the future of the Colorado River."

The options for immediate measures, Buschatzke told senators, include additional mandatory water cuts or voluntary conservation of more water in Lake Mead, and the talks among the states were focused on the voluntary path.

Since 2000, the Colorado River has been ravaged by a series of mostly dry years, which have been compounded by the heating of the planet with the burning of fossil fuels. In that time, the flow of the Colorado River has declined nearly 20% below the 20th century average.

Scientists have estimated that about half the decrease in runoff in the watershed since 2000 has been caused by unprecedented warming. And this heat-driven aridification is projected to significantly worsen as temperatures continue to climb.

Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University, recently likened the planned water reductions under the existing deal to a parachuteone that is too small and being opened too close to the ground.

"This new plan gives us both a bigger parachute and we're going to deploy it sooner," Udall said. "So hopefully we can have a softer landing."

Given the alarming declines in the river's reservoirs, the flaw with the parachute analogy is that the end of the story would put the parachutist safely on the ground, Udall said.

"We're landing on the edge of a cliff, if you will. And there's still further to fall. We need another parachute here," Udall said.

Hopefully that next parachute will be ready well before 2027, he said, when the existing rules expire, and the Southwest needs to have long-term plans in place for adapting to a hotter, drier watershed and a river that yields less water.

Explore further US projections on drought-hit Colorado River grow more dire

2021 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers from Duke University and University of Wisconsinlwaukee published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that explores what happens when brands communicate positively toward their competitors.

The day Nintendo launched the Switch gaming system, both Xbox and PlayStation made a surprising move: They publicly congratulated Nintendo on Twitter. Brands typically avoid complimenting their competitors because they do not want to offer a rival brand free publicity. However, the response to this was positive. The posts generated a significant number of likes and retweets for Xbox and PlayStation. In fact, these compliments, on average, generated over ten times more likes and retweets for the brands than their usual content.

The research team ran nearly a dozen experiments that show that a brand that compliments a competitor ends up boosting its own reputation and sales. Initial experiments compared a brand complimenting a competitor, which is termed "brand-to-brand praise," to traditional brand communication, such as self-promotional messages or informative content. Results showed that brand-to-brand praise indeed boosts preferences for the praiser brand. In one particular experiment, half of the participants were shown a fictitious tweet in which Kit Kat complimented a top competitor, Twix ("@twix, Competitor or not, congrats on your 54 years in business! Even we can admitTwix are delicious"). The other half of participants saw a tweet in which Kit Kat mentioned its own products ("Start your day off with a tasty treat!"). After 11 days, participants reported any candy purchases since the time they completed the study. Zhou says that "Those who saw the tweet in which Kit Kat praised Twix purchased Kit Kat 34% more frequently compared to those who saw the tweet from Kit Kat about its own product. Importantly, we found that Twix sales didn't increase, even after Kit Kat called Twix delicious."

Next, the researchers sought to better understand why brand-to-brand praise led to more positive consequences for the praiser. As Du explains, "Through our subsequent studies, we found that the brand was viewed as 'warmer,' meaning it was perceived as more friendly and trustworthy, after complimenting a competitor. It is this warmth that drives the favorable outcomes for the praiseroutcomes that include greater brand engagement and higher sales."

The study also uncovered when brand-to-brand praise is most effective. There are certain types of consumers and certain types of brands that are most likely to benefit. With respect to consumers, skeptical consumers actually respond most positively to brand praise. When consumers read a tweet from Lyft that praised rival company Uber ("@Uber Congratulations on all your achievements this past year!"), skeptical consumers showed the greatest increase in attitudes toward the praiser, seemingly disarmed by the praise. With respect to brands, brand-to-brand praise has the largest effect for organizations that are not traditionally seen as warm or caring, such as for-profit brands.

Lastly, the study found that praising a competitor will only be effective when done in an authentic manner. "Praise that appears disingenuous or is not perceived as risky will not be accepted as a meaningful indicator of warmth. In one experiment, we demonstrated that when observing praise towards a non-competitor brand, in particular, an eyewear brand complimenting a hamburger brand which would not be viewed as a risky behavior, consumers did not form more positive evaluations of the eyewear brand," says Cutright.

While praising the competition seems to go against conventional wisdom, this research shows that it can result in many favorable outcomes for the praiser brand. Given the rise of social media in the digital age, brands can now easily communicate with each other and be observed by consumers. Managers may wish to capitalize on this opportunity by utilizing brand-to-brand praise as a way to foster a warmer brand image and produce more positive downstream consequences.

Explore further Brands can boost their own reputations and sales by praising rivals

More information: Lingrui Zhou et al, EXPRESS: Befriending the Enemy: The Effects of Observing Brand-to-Brand Praise on Consumer Evaluations and Choices, Journal of Marketing (2021). Journal information: Journal of Marketing Lingrui Zhou et al, EXPRESS: Befriending the Enemy: The Effects of Observing Brand-to-Brand Praise on Consumer Evaluations and Choices,(2021). DOI: 10.1177/00222429211053002
Rural Canada has and will continue to play an essential role in the social, economic and cultural fabric of this country. Credit: Brian Holdsworth/Unsplash

Rural Canada is vital to the socio-economic fabric of this country.

Rural communities are places of employment, food production, energy generation, resource extraction, environmental stewardship, cultural production and leisure. They are also home to millions of people. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has illuminated many new and existing inequities, which are shaping the realities of life in rural Canada.

In our work with the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, we co-edited the 2021 State of Rural Canada Report. The report provides a snapshot of key rural issues while also highlighting opportunities, recovery and resiliency in each province and territory.

Rural resilience in changing times

Rural communities across Canada are facing unprecedented changesfrom demographic shifts and economic restructuring to the impacts of climate change and weak rural development policies and programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated many changes impacting rural communities. For example, communities without reliable broadband could not easily shift to remote work and education.

However, the researchers who authored chapters in our report illustrate the many ways rural people and organizations have demonstrated resilience to challenges and change.

Introduction into the State of Rural Canada 2021 Report.

Understanding resilience, or the processes through which community members use existing assets and resources to manage change and build strong, inclusive and sustainable communities, is important for community well-being.

For example, in response to the pandemic, Farmer's Markets of Nova Scotia quickly coordinated a shift to online markets and pick-up hubs. In Labrador, the NunatuKavut Community Council implemented a number of programs including food and heat vouchers.

Other examples of resiliency include Coronach, Sask., which has embarked on a journey to discover a new identity to mitigate the anticipated closure of the coal industry. As part of this revisioning, Coronach created the South Saskatchewan Regional Economic Partnership. And Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation, in partnership with Yukon College, developed the Tr'ondek Hwech'in Teaching and Working Farm to address food security on their traditional territory.

These examples and others provided throughout the report, highlight the importance of collaboration, capacity and support for rural people and organizations. In fact, supporting rural resilience is key for rural people and organizations in continuing to shape their own stories of success.

Supporting rural resilience

Many communities did not have appropriate capacity and resourcessuch as staff or budgets for economic development to respond to changes related to the pandemic. These examples highlight the importance of strong policy frameworks in supporting rural communities.

Rural issues and examples of resilience in Ontario.

Here are five recommendations on how we can support rural resilience through policy and practice.

Invest in rural policy & development:Senior governments should invest in robust rural policy and development frameworks that recognize the diversity of rural communities. This should include applying a rural and northern lens when developing or adapting policies, programs, legislation or other government practices to ensure rural voices are engaged and heard. Federal and provincial governments should help fund, collect and analyze data on rural communities to ensure evidence-based policy development, program design and evaluation. Support rural capacity to plan for resilience:Governments should invest in rural capacity to plan for rural resilience. The ability of local governments and organizations to respond and facilitate processes of resiliency largely relies on the capacity they have to adapt to changes. This could include supporting staff and community development initiatives as well as creating alternative program delivery models and applications. Enhance regional collaboration: Rethinking how rural governments and organizations work together is an important strategy to address shortcomings in policy development and service provision. This requires support from senior governments and efforts by local governments and organizations. Regional approaches can be effective ways to understand the assets, resources and gaps that communitiesand regionscollectively possess. Take decisive action on truth & reconciliation:The resilience of rural places is largely intertwined with and dependent on relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Rural communities and policy-makers must engage in discussions of the history and ongoing impacts of colonization. Rural leaders at all levels of government should incorporate the Calls to Action and Calls for Justice into their policy and programming initiatives. Plan for sustainable rural futures:Rural communities, leaders and policy-makers need to leverage their intimate knowledge of rural places to actively plan for a range of changes and challenges. We need to consider possibilities that will be faced in the short and long-term future. Anticipating and planning for environmental, demographic, technological and socio-economic changes will be key factors in whether rural communities survive and thrive in increasingly uncertain times.

The pandemic helped highlight the issues faced by rural Canadians. Rural Canada has and will continue to play an essential role in the social, economic and cultural fabric of this country.

All Canadians must be invested in the sustainability and resilience of rural communities through critical reflection, political action and continued creativity in policy development.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Providing some basic standards of support will greatly increase diversity in fields of science and medicine, a group of hard of hearing and deaf scientists argue in a perspective published in the journal Frontiers in Education.

The perspective was co-authored by more than 40 deaf and hard of hearing engineers, scientists and clinicians from around the world, including four from Oregon Health & Science University.

The Oregon Hearing Research Center at OHSU includes nine faculty, staff and graduate students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Many co-authored a 2017 viewpoint published by the journal Science calling for a distributed network of peer mentors across academia for deaf and hard of hearing trainees, rather than a single specialized institution.

The new publication builds on the previous publication by laying out a series of concrete actions for professional societies.

"We strongly believe in paying it forward," said co-lead author Brad N. Buran, Ph.D., an OHSU research instructor in the hearing research center who is deaf. "As we become successful scientists, we have the expectations that we will support deaf and hard of hearing trainees who are working their way up the ladder."

The new publication lays out five pillars to support deaf and hard of hearing scientists for professional societies representing the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine:

Foster peer-mentor groups

Unlike traditional mentoring, the authors write that peer mentorship refers to formal or informal mentoring among people who share a common identity, including hearing loss. It can be especially valuable for underrepresented communities and people with disabilities.

Proactively provide equal access

Professional conferences should provide captioning without expecting attendees to request it.

Buran noted that captioning talks and symposia at conferences benefits plenty of people, including non-native English speakers, attendees seated farther from the stage, or older attendees experiencing mild forms of hearing loss. He added that this is just as important in the workplace, including lab meetings and seminars.

"Collaboration and communication are key elements of our discipline," Buran said. "Historically, great burden has been placed on us to ensure we have the accommodations we need for communicating with our colleagues."

Ease financial burdens

The authors cite the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, or ARO, as an example of a professional society that has provided financial support for deaf and hard of hearing trainees to receive financial support to attend conferences, furthering their scientific and professional growth, and promoting equity for trainees with disabilities.

Recruit for leadership positions

Diverse perspectives at the senior level of an organization helps to foster innovation. To that end, the authors call for scientific and professional organizations to provide opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing faculty and trainees to on take leadership roles. For example, John Brigande, Ph.D., associate professor of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine, is hard of hearing and serves on the leadership council of the ARO.

Establish a culture of inclusion and equity

The authors call for scientific and professional organizations to not only take steps to support their diverse members, but encourage all members of the organizations to reflect, grow and advocate for inclusion and equity in their professional and personal lives.

In addition to Buran, the other lead authors of the publication include Julia Jones Huyck, Ph.D., associate professor of speech pathology and audiology at Kent State University; and Kelsey L. Anbuhl, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Center of Neural Science at New York University.

The two senior authors are J. Tilak Ratnanather, D.Phil., associate research professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins University, and Peter S. Steyger, Ph.D., professor of medicine in the Creighton University School of Medicine. Steyger was previously a professor in the hearing research center at OHSU and now directs the Translational Hearing Center at Creighton.

More information: Julia Jones Huyck et al, Supporting Equity and Inclusion of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals in Professional Organizations, Frontiers in Education (2021). Julia Jones Huyck et al, Supporting Equity and Inclusion of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Individuals in Professional Organizations,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2021.755457 Henry J. Adler et al, Community network for deaf scientists, Science (2017). DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2330 Journal information: Science
Shot of live map of shipping traffic, with cargo vessels in green. Credit: MarineTraffic

Much of the world has been left disappointed by the Glasgow Climate Pact, the outcome of the COP26 climate conference. Scientists say it will not lead to the decarbonisation required to limit global warming to less than 2C in the coming years.

Yet there were steps forward, including the Clydebank Declaration for Green Shipping Corridors. This has seen 22 countries, including the US, UK, Japan and Germany, committing to establishing routes in which shipping is to be free of carbon emissions. There are to be six by the middle of the decade, and more by 2030.

This is good news, given that international freight transport contributes about 7% of total global carbon emissions, and maritime shipping alone around 2.5%. But there are limits to what this agreement can achieve, and numerous other important issues around shipping and global trade were overlooked by the conference. So what else should have been done?

What COP26 ignored

The problem with the agreement on green shipping corridors is that only about 200 out of over 50,000 ships globally active in trade will be green by 2030. This reflects the costs and complexity of decarbonising shipping. Maersk, which owns the worlds largest shipping fleet, will apparently only have eight ships ready to run on methanol by 2025.

The International Maritime Organization does have a target for cutting carbon intensity from ships by 40% by 2030, but COP26 was a missed opportunity to push the industry for more rigorous commitments, which were not included in the Paris agreement in the first place.

One other glaring omission from the conference was any legally binding obligations for countries to include explicit targets for the decarbonisation of shipping (or air freight) in their nationally determined contributions, which are individual national commitments for reducing emissions.

50,000 ships in motion

Two other very specific and related problems have also been neglected in relation to shipping and trade. The first is the so-called "Jevons paradox", and the second is the EU's proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).

The Jevons paradox in this context relates to the possibility that decarbonising the sector could lead to more innovations that drive down shipping costs. This could boost consumer demand for international goods, which would mean increased carbon emissions because of more manufacturing of goods. So, decarbonising shipping isn't enough. We need to rethink what and how much we trade as well, and this was not on the agenda at the conference.

Of course, international trade is not all bad for carbon emissions. It can be a way to spread environmentally friendly goods and technologies throughout the world. Indeed, the growth of the global trade in what the OECD defines as "environmental goods" is now outpacing trade in goods overall, driven by solar panels and other renewable-energy products.

Green dash = environmental goods; Black dash = other goods; Black line = total goods. [Source: Martin Cameron](https://www.green-cape.co.za/assets/The-European-Green-Deal-Context-challenges-and-opportunities-for-South-African-SMEs-operating-in-the-green-economy-October-2021.pdf), based on ITC Trade Map Data November 2021

Trade in environmental goods vs all goods (201420)

Yet countries could do more to encourage the trade in environmental goods to unlock the economies of scale required to make more products cheap enough for mass market. Too many countries levy import tariffs on them, so an obvious step would have been to agree tariff reductions.

It would also have been useful to carefully extend the list of environmental goods. For example should aluminum, used in solar panels, be defined as an environmental good?

Countries could do more to help local providers to find export markets. As I have explained elsewhere, there are some good ways of developing algorithms to take advantage of big data to help identify such opportunities.

Many countries' approaches to exports can also be traced back to hub-spoke relationships established during the colonial period, and in more recent times the emergence of China as an African trade partner. Most African nations, for example, have almost exclusively focused on mass production for faraway international markets rather than developing their domestic markets. The world needs to take steps to change this system, so that both environmental and non-environmental goods are more commonly produced closer to their consumers.

Carbon import taxes

Since July, the EU has been proposing a "carbon border adjustment mechanism" (CBAM) to essentially tax imports from non-EU countries with embedded carbon emissions (meaning all emissions generated in manufacturing the goods and the materials they're made with). The US is also considering such an initiative.

While these are well-meant initiatives aimed at penalizing firms who move production of carbon-emitting goods to countries with looser environmental regulations, they may have the unintended effect of reducing the trade in environmental goods. Again, there was no discussion of this in Glasgow.

Admittedly these effects will be limited to the goods covered under the mechanisms. For example, the proposed CBAM would only coverinitially3.2% of goods imported into the EU.

But the definitions that determine which goods are included could be expanded in future, posing more of a threat. For example, were aluminum products to be included, it could hit solar panels hard.

On top of this, there is the unintended consequence of punishing producers in developing countries for not meeting EU emissions standards. This is particularly unfortunate considering that rich countries have failed to meet their climate-finance commitments made in 2015 at COP21 in Paris.

As Frans Timmermans, the executive vice president of the European Commission, suggested at COP26, if other countries take adequate measures to decarbonise it would "make the introduction of CBAM not necessary." This mechanism needs to happen alongside the EU fulfilling its commitments towards climate finance to developing countries, particularly supporting green industrial policies, if Brussels is to avoid further accusations of "climate colonialism" in future.

Explore further To reach net zero we must decarbonise shipping, but two big problems are getting in the way

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The past few weeks have been hectic. Almost every week we had a party at home. Usually, Diwali celebrations continue for a month. Families invite other families for lavish meals, show off their beautiful saris, and kids go to sleep very lateI mean VERY late. Thanksgiving is around the corner, and then we have the December holidays with the New Year. Many more parties are in stock, with lots of rushed visits to Whole Foods.

Unfortunately, parties also invite full trash cans and lots of food waste. This includes plastic ware that is widely used. After all, Costco gives an excellent deal on cheap plasticware that almost looks like metal. The silver border on the plates adds a touch of elegance. Plastic wine glasses, plastic "shot" glasses, water in plastic cups, small water bottles  big trash bags conveniently carry all this garbage from our big houses to someplace we have never visited. There is no cap on the number of trash cans so that any household can have one, two, three, four, or even five. Millburn, where I live, is a very sought after town, and the prestige, good school district, and accessible community to NYC come with hefty taxes. Residents dutifully pay taxes that cover the garbage disposal service.

The convenience of disposing of all this garbage comes with a big environmental justice question mark. An eye-opener for me was the documentary "The Sacrifice Zone" from the Ironbound community in Newark. All these tons of garbage from my beautiful town next to the most pristine forest reserve go to Newark to get incinerated. There, residents have been fighting a long battle with incineration companies because of the increasing prevalence of cancerous pollutants in the air. Recently they held a protest to gather some momentum on the topic.

It is no coincidence that the garbage from a predominantly white (65%) community like Millburn is dumped in a low-income community predominantly populated by people of color. According to The New School's research, 80% of the incinerators in the U.S. are located in income communities and/or communities of color. The article quotes Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, saying, "New Jersey's facilities are in the Ironbound area of Newark, not in Short Hills, Union County's incinerator is in the only Black community of Rahway and South Jersey's facility is in Westville, not Haddonfield." There have also been increasing voices in Millburn's local media pointing out that Millburn's garbage is burned just 10 miles away from us, and thus we are not saved from the air pollution from the burning of the garbage.

The protests in the Ironbound community resonate with the grassroots protests that the U.S. has seen in the past. One of the first accounts of grassroots movement was the Black garbage workers in Memphis striking to demand equal pay and better work conditions in 1968. Another landmark event was in 1979 by African American homeowners in Houston who were fighting to keep a sanitary landfill out of their suburban middle-income neighborhood. The first large-scale environmental justice movement was in 1982 in Warren County, North Carolina, when 500 arrests were made on a PCB landfill issue. This was the first time "environmental racism" was coined. The protests also led the Commission for Racial Justice in 1987, which correlated waste facility sites and demographic characteristics. Race, more than any other factor, determined dumping grounds. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, many grassroots movements fought against corporate polluters and government inefficiencies. It looks like we haven't learned from these pasts events and instead continue to be perpetrators of injustices.

What are some steps that will help to deliver environmental justice? Here are a few ideas, some of which are already underway in Millburn.

Firstly, the town has started its own composting pilot where residents are asked to bring their organic waste to a township facility. Residents could benefit from this initiative and reduce their trash. More here.

Second, residents could do their own composting by getting a composter unit readily available in the market, or pay a company such as Java Compost to take it.

Third, schools need to start composting and separating food in the cafeteria. Education is key to learning about composting and its importance.

Fourth, schools should also teach about environmental justice relating to their neighborhoods. Simply composting without knowing the bigger picture is like putting a Band-Aid on a serious wound. Here is an example of a project led by NJ students regarding the impact of a school on the environment.

Fifth, a "pay as you throw" tax on additional bins will make residents think twice about throwing away more waste. It has been tried in other counties as well. Maybe Millburn could take the lead from them.

Remember that trash disposal is never free. The cost could be in terms of your health, or someone else's.

These steps may seem a small step in the right direction. But they are significant steps towards solving a bigger problem. Let us look at the bigger picture. Methane is a big problem. Methane comes from landfills, agriculture, and the energy industry, and it is the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide. According to this article, "cutting methane is the fastest, most effective way to slow down warming now." The article reports, "When methane goes directly into the atmosphere, instead of being burned, it is 80 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over the first 20 years. "

One of COP26's most promising steps has been 100 countries joining the U.S. and E.U.-led coalition to cut 30% of methane emissions by 2030 injected. We can also cut down on methane at the local level, while helping to create a more environmentally just society.

In order to build a socially and environmentally just society, we need to level and reduce our emissions across the board. It starts with each community becoming more responsible about the waste it generates.

Explore further High methane emissions found from composting digested food waste

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
Figure 1. Photographs of individuals that were assigned fly scores of 0 through 4, respectively. The yellow represents where a horn fly was counted. Images are labeled with fly score assigned in the top left corner and total fly count in the bottom left corner. Credit: DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20366

Some Holstein dairy cattle, particularly those with white coat coloration, naturally fend off the horn fly, a parasitic insect known to cause stress and disease in grazing cattle, according to new research conducted in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

The findings eventually could help organic producers whose livestock must be pasture-raised and must not be exposed to synthetic pesticides or given antibiotics, noted lead researcher Bailey Basiel, a graduate student in the Department of Animal Science.

"Horn fly infestation results in more than $700 million in lost profit in the United States annually, with another $60 million spent by producers on fly control," said Basiel, who conducted the investigation under the guidance of Chad Dechow, associate professor of dairy cattle genetics.

Aside from the economic impact, the more significant concern is the horn fly's impact on animal welfare, explained Basiel. "Horn fly bites are painful and irritating to cattle," she said. "Severe infestations can lead to bacterial infection, stress, decreased milk production, weight loss and poor health."

To address the problem, the researchers wanted to learn if resistance to horn flies is a heritable trait in Holstein cattle, and if so, what genes are responsible for making those cattle less attractive to the insect.

Working with 13 organic dairy producers across the country, Basiel and her team documented fly loads on more than 1,600 pastured Holstein between May and Septemberthe height of horn fly seasonfrom 2017 to 2019.

Trained scorers assessed fly load on a scale of zero to four, with zero indicating few to no flies and four indicating high infestation; the scoring system was validated by counting flies from digital images. They also documented cattle color composition, assigning percentage values of black and white, and considered factors such as stage of lactation, physical environment, health status and stayability, which is the likelihood of an animal staying within a herd for a set period.

The researchers also performed genetic testing on a random subset of the animals and submitted results to the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding. This nonprofit organization maintains a database of genetic evaluations and genomic predictions in herds worldwide.

After reviewing the photos and related fly counts, the researchers found that cattle with predominately white coats had lower fly loads than those that were predominately black.

When collated with information from the genetic findings, the scientists discovered that a region on chromosome 6 was associated with the most variation in horn fly load. The gene KIT, which is involved in coat pattern and coloration, is located within that region and likely is associated with variation in fly load, Basiel explained.

Another noteworthy discovery related to horn fly loads and milk yield. "We know that horn fly infestation negatively impacts milk and milk component yield, which we also observed in our study," she said. "Cows with higher fly scores had reduced milk production around the time of scoring."

However, milk and component production were genetically correlated with fly load, which means that cows that were genetically predisposed to making the most milk also were more susceptible to horn fly infestation.

Basiel and Dechow said their findings are preliminary and more research is needed to understand the potential advantagesand disadvantagesof breeding for horn fly resistance. For example, cattle with predominantly white markings are more susceptible to health problems such as sunburn and eye cancers.

"Until we determine if there are other genes or traits that influence fly load in cattle, I wouldn't recommend breeding for white cattle only," Basiel said. "Future studies will determine if genetic selection may be another tool to help. Until then, organic producers should continue to use good manure management, fly traps and natural repellants to protect their herds."

The study, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, is an outgrowth of a larger examination of organic dairy cattle health that Dechow is leading. He received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture Organic Research and Extension Initiative for the research.

"Organic products are more expensive, and it's because they are more expensive to produce," Dechow said. "If we can increase efficiency by even a small amount, then organic products, such as milk, can become more affordable. Making pasture-based dairy systems more economically competitive while improving animal health and welfare is a good thing for everyone."

Explore further Cattle scientists use AI to improve quality and quantity of meat, dairy

More information: B.L. Basiel et al, Genetic parameters and genomic regions associated with horn fly resistance in organic Holstein cattle, Journal of Dairy Science (2021). Journal information: Journal of Dairy Science B.L. Basiel et al, Genetic parameters and genomic regions associated with horn fly resistance in organic Holstein cattle,(2021). DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-20366
This transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image depicts a number of round, Dengue virus particles that were revealed in this tissue specimen. Credit: CDC/ Frederick Murphy

New research by a team of University of Florida investigators, and others, provides evidence that host immunity drives evolution of the dengue virus. The work, published today in Science, retrospectively analyzes two decades of dengue virus genetic variation from Thailand, alongside population-level measures of infection and immunity.

There are four types of dengue virus, and all four have co-circulated in Thailand since the early 1960s. This provides an opportunity to study how the viruses compete against each other for human hosts.

"We wanted to understand the ecology and evolution of dengue viruses circulating in one place over a long period of time," says the study's lead author, Leah Katzelnick, previously a post-doc in biology at the University of Florida and now Chief of Viral Epidemiology and Immunity Unit at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Dengue virus types are grouped according to how their surface proteins, or antigens, interact with infection-fighting antibodies in human blood. The four types, also called serotypes, are noted as DENV1 through DENV4. Although there is genetic variation between each dengue virus type, there is also variation within each dengue virus type.

"We want to understand if or how immunity is driving extinction or persistence of particular lineages of dengue virus circulating in this one place. To do that, we characterized the immune signature of dengue viruses isolated in Bangkok over a long period of time," says Derek Cummings, the study's senior author and a professor of biology at UF.

The new study used 1,944 archival blood samples from Bangkok. The samples were preserved from people known to be ill with dengue and they represent all four dengue virus strains from every year between 1994 and 2014. The team genetically sequenced more than 2,000 virus samples.

The researchers then performed tests on a smaller subset of samples that represented a time series of each strain. From this, they then characterized the antigenic relationship of the strains to each other through time. Antigenic relationships characterize how well an immune response to one virus protects against other viruses.

"We found that there is a pattern like influenza, where we get different viruses every year that are driven by natural selection for viruses that evade the human immune response to the population," says Cummings, who is also a faculty member of the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute. "We have shown that that this is also happening with dengue."

Mapping antigenic change

The team used a process called antigenic cartography which makes a map to visualize the relatedness of viruses.

"When two viruses are close on that map, then that means immune responses 'sees' the viruses as similar," Katzelnick says. "For example, if you are infected with one virus, then an immune response to that virus would protect you against another virus that is nearby on the map."

The team found an overall pattern of dengue virus strains evolving away from each other over the 20-year study timeframe. While the serotypes at times oscillated closer, in general they grew further apart.

But the results also show a clear inverse relationship between the level of antigenic diversity in a given year and epidemic levels. When Thailand experienced large epidemic outbreaks, antigenic diversity was low. But in years when epidemic levels were lower than average, the antigenic diversity was higher.

"In general, it's been thought that if you get infected with one serotype of DENV then you are immune to that serotype for the rest of your life," Cummings says. "But there have been observations where that seems to not be strictly true."

One explanation for re-infections is that dengue viruses may be subject to natural selective forces to evade the immune system of previously infected individuals. In essence, they must change just enough to avoid immune detection in a host where another serotype has already caused an infection.

"Our findings suggest that the dengue viruses are moving away from the viruses that generated immunity in the population in the past," says Henrik Salje, a co-author of the study and assistant professor at Cambridge University. "It's sort of like the flu story, dengue is evolving to escape the immunity that is in the population at any particular time. But it seems to be happening at a slower pace with dengue than influenza."

Implications

Researchers already knew that there is a complex interplay between immunity and the dengue virus. When someone is exposed to a serotype of this virus, they will typically experience a mild infection that results in partial infection. But when they are exposed again, the partial immunity can trigger an overreaction that can lead to serious outcomes. The dengue virus appears, in these cases, to not only evade the immune response, but use it to its advantage to potentially increase its rate of growth.

"Ninety to 95% of the people showing up at a hospital in Bangkok with dengue are having their second infection," Cummings says. "And most people who live their whole lives in Bangkok are getting infected multiple times."

This enhanced infection phenomenon may also contribute to the evolution of the pathogen, selecting for viruses that are similar enough to take advantage of the immune response.

"Overall, viruses were growing more different from each other over time, but we also observed that they grew closer together during some periods of time, particularly early in the time series. This indicates a tradeoff between evading immunity and taking advantage of partial immunity," Katzelnick says.

Cummings says the new work gives clues to the ecology of dengue and also is relevant to vaccine design and ongoing surveillance efforts.

"The implications are not unlike we are seeing in the COVID-19 epidemic, we need to update viral surveillance to understand a community's immunity and what is circulating," Cummings explains. "This paper is suggesting that the dengue viruses are changing and we need to update how we do surveillance to better understand immunity in populations and to ultimately reduce the number of people who get sick."

Explore further Global consortium rewrites the 'cartography' of dengue virus

More information: Leah Katzelnick et al, Antigenic evolution of dengue viruses over 20 years, Science (2021). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abk0058 Journal information: Science Leah Katzelnick et al, Antigenic evolution of dengue viruses over 20 years,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abk0058
To cool down gasses of atoms or molecules into the quantum regime, intricate setups of lasers are required. Credit: University of Amsterdam

What does it mean when we say that something is extremely cold? A physicist's answer would be: this means that atoms and molecules barely move. For several decades now, physicists have been developing techniques to create such ultracold states of matter, using lasers to bring gasses into the regime where quantum mechanics reigns. In a new 'Insight' issue of Nature Physics, UvA-physicists describe the developments in this nearly motionless yet very exciting world.

Slowing down an atom or a molecule so that it becomes part of an extremely cold substance is not straightforward. One cannot simply grab individual moving particles and force them to hold still. In the 1970s and 1980s, techniques were developed that do enable one to cool atoms in vacuum: using carefully tuned beams of laser light, the motion of particles can gradually be eliminated. Using this idea of laser cooling, one can slow down atoms and molecules to form gasses with temperatures close to the lowest possible one, about 273 degrees below zero on the Celsius scale.

Quantum gasses

When gasses get this cold, they become very 'clean', meaning that heat is only a very weak factor in the physical processes that go on. Instead, the laws of quantum mechanics dominate. In many gasses, the atoms collectively settle down to their lowest energy state, a process known as Bose-Einstein condensation. Only with the advent of laser cooling has it become possible to create and study matter in pure realizations of this very special quantum state, where all particles behave the same.

Over the years, the continued development of laser-cooling methods has allowed more elements to be brought into states of quantum degeneracy, with each additional atomic species offering its own experimental opportunities. For instance, nowadays ultracold atoms are used for the very best atomic clocks that can keep time to within a second over the lifetime of the universe. Bose-Einstein condensates act as sources of coherent atoms and are promising for extremely precise sensing through atom interferometry, similar to how laser interferometry revolutionized optical sensing.

Special issue

At the same time, many avenues for further research and development remain. Presently, to reach a state of Bose-Einstein condensation, several techniques are applied consecutively. Moreover, once such a quantum degenerate state is reached, the extreme circumstances usuallyquite literallyevaporate quickly, destroying the quantum gas. Improved methods make it possible to reach a Bose-Einstein condensate purely through laser cooling, while also making it possible to maintain this special state for as long as desired: continuous Bose-Einstein condensation.

With the topic of ultracold gasses being such a hot topic in modern-day quantum physics and technology, leading physics journal Nature Physics decided to dedicate a special 'Insight' issue to the subject, titled 'Ultracold quantum gas technologies'. UvA-physicists Florian Schreck and Klaasjan van Druten wrote a review article describing the current state of laser cooling for quantum gasses and the challenges for and expected progress in the future.

Explore further How quantum fields could be used to break low-temperature records

More information: Florian Schreck, Laser cooling for quantum gases, Nature Physics (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41567-021-01379-w Journal information: Nature Physics Florian Schreck, Laser cooling for quantum gases,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-021-01379-w
Alexia Delfino, associate professor at the Department of Economics. Credit: Bocconi University

Across OECD countries, historically female-dominated occupations in healthcare, education and social services have been growing and are expected to grow even more in the future. In the US, nurse practitioners, occupational therapy assistants and home health care aides are among the ten occupations with the highest expected percent change of employment between 2019 and 2029.

Yet, the share of men in these occupations has barely changed since 1970s, despite a decline in manufacturing's share of employment and of participation of men in the labor force. The share of employment in manufacturing in the US fell from 29.7 to 12.7 percent between 1968 and 2008, and the labor force participation of men declined from 80 percent to 70 percent over the same period.

Why don't men enter into female-dominated occupations? Understanding the barriers to men's entry in these fields is important to help workers in declining industries move towards new opportunities.

To answer this question, I designed and ran a large-scale field experiment to bring into a controlled-setting a real-world policy that aims at increasing gender diversity in female-dominated jobs. I embed the experiment within the UK-wide recruitment program for social workers, where I observe applications as well as hiring and on-the-job outcomes over two years for candidates of both genders. This allows me to say whetherand howbringing more men into female-dominated jobs is good for employers and whether this has spillovers on women's choices.

The design manipulates the content of recruitment messages to potential applicants for the job along two dimensions: perceived gender share and expected returns to ability. The former manipulation shows a photograph of a current worker, who could be (in a randomized way) a man or a woman. The latter discloses information of past performance among workers in the job.

I find that increasing expected returns to ability attracts 15 percent more applications by men. The incoming pool of applicants is better on observable characteristics and gets more job offers. When followed on the job for over two years, men attracted to apply by higher expected returns to ability consistently perform better and are not more likely to leave vis-a-vis men with lower expected returns to ability.

Increasing the perceived share of men in the job does not have an impact on men's applications, which is a surprising null result. Adverts portraying people of the same gender are a key ingredient of most policy proposals trying to attract men to teaching or nursing. For instance, in 2002 the Oregon Center for Nursing tried to appeal to young men by launching the notorious "Are you man enough to be a nurse?" recruitment campaign, which portray a line-up of masculine men engaged in a variety of extreme sports. A more realistic representation of male nurses is also one of the pillars of the biggest recruitment drive in the history of the UK National Health System. My results suggest that the gender composition of portrayed actors might not matter as much as was thought.

What about spillovers on women? I find that women are insensitive to information provision on average, but they are less likely to apply and are more likely to quit the job when they believe that there are more male social workers in the job (i.e. when they received a male photograph). However, the drop-out is concentrated among the least talented women, and thus it has a positive impact on the average quality of the pool of female workers.

Taken together, these findings suggest that breaking informational barriers to men's entry in female-dominated jobs might increase gender diversity and improve overall workforce quality in a gender-neutral way. This yields an optimistic message for policy. Both the stigma associated with working in a female occupation and men's perceptions of their returns to ability have been central in the debate around the conversion of unemployed men into service jobs. The two have different policy implications. The femaleness associated with some occupations may be difficult to modify and changes in gender composition take time. While people can be monetarily compensated or compositional changes can be accelerated through quotas, uncertain or incorrect expectations can be more cheaply tackled through information provision and incentives, for example through low-cost organizational practices that recognize good performance.

Explore further Young men are disadvantaged when applying to female dominated jobs

Provided by Bocconi University
Mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park in 2015.

Two new-born mountain gorillas have further boosted the endangered species' baby boom underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park, authorities have said.

Conservationists have long sought to protect the world heritage site's mountain gorilla population even as violence and instability plagued the DRC's eastern provinces over 25 years.

A male in the "Wilungula family" and a female from the "Humba family" were born on November 15, the park announced on Twitter Wednesday, bringing the number of gorilla births since January to 16.

The mountain gorilla population has increased fivefold in 40 years in the three countries where they livethe DRC, Uganda and Rwanda.

According to park records, their estimated population was only 58 in 1981, increasing to 131 in 2000, 201 in 2010 and 286 in 2016.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revised mountain gorillas' status from "critically endangered" to "endangered" in November 2018.

Park authorities say their conservation success resulted from their so-called "extreme conservation" policy, including "daily close tracking of individual (gorillas) by rangers, trackers and vets".

The nature reserve estimated its mountain gorilla population at 350 in mid-2021.

The conservation achievements come despite several armed groups operating in the area and targeting local populations.

The park said conservation efforts had "a significant financial cost" and the ecological challenges facing mountain gorillas "remain large" in an area with a high population density, poverty and chronic political instability.

The next comprehensive, cross-border mountain gorilla census is due in 2022.

Explore further New birth of a mountain gorilla in DR Congo's Virunga park

 2021 AFP
Illustration of NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration communicating over laser links. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) will use laser communications systems to transmit data from space to Earth. Below are six things you need to know about NASA's revolutionary LCRD mission.

1. Laser communications will transform how NASA gets info to and from space

Since the dawn of space exploration, NASA has used radio frequency systems to communicate with astronauts and spacecraft. However, as space missions generate and collect more data, the need for enhanced communications capabilities increases. LCRD leverages the power of laser communications, which uses infrared light rather than radio waves, to encode and transmit information to and from Earth.

Both radio waves and laser infrared light waves are forms of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths at different points on the spectrum. Missions encode their scientific data onto the electromagnetic signals to send back to Earth.

The infrared light used for laser communications differs from radio waves because it occurs at a much higher frequency, allowing engineers to pack more data into each transmission. More data yields more information and discoveries about space at once.

Using infrared lasers, LCRD will send data to Earth from geosynchronous orbit at 1.2 gigabits-per-second (Gbps). At this speed and distance, you could download a movie in under a minute.

LCRD will fly as a hosted payload aboard a Department of Defense spacecraft as part of the Space Test Program (STP-3) mission. LCRD will continue NASA's exploration of laser communications to support future missions to the Moon and beyond. Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

2. Laser communications will let spacecraft send home more data in a single downlink

If you were alive in the late '80s and early '90s, you'll remember the dial-up speeds of the terrestrial internetslow and painful. The addition of laser communications to spacecraft is similar to humanity's use of high-speed internet with technologies like fiber optic networking: revolutionary.

Our home internet connections these days allow high-definition videos, shows, and content to reach our screens almost instantaneously.This is, in part, due to the fiber optic connections sending laser light densely packed with data through plastic or glass cables, creating a faster user experience.

This same conceptminus the fiber cablesis applied to space-based laser communications, which allows spacecraft to send high-resolution images and videos over laser links.

With laser communications in place, spacecraft can send back more data at once in a single download. NASA and the aerospace industry are taking advantage of these new developments and creating more missions that use lasers to complement radio frequency satellites.

3. The payload has two optical modules, or telescopes, for receiving and transmitting laser signals

Radio waves versus optical waves Credit: NASA

LCRD is a relay satellite with many highly sensitive components that provide increased communications. As a relay, LCRD removes the need for user missions to have direct line-of-sight to antennas on Earth. LCRD has two optical terminalsone terminal receives data from a user spacecraft, while the other transmits data to ground stations on Earth.

LCRD's modems translate digital data into laser signals, which are then transmitted via encoded beams of light, invisible to the human eye, by the relay's optical modules. LCRD can both send and receive data, creating a continuous path for flowing mission data to-and-from space. Together, these capabilities make LCRD NASA's first two-way, end-to-end optical relay.

These are just some of the components that make up the LCRD payload, which all together is the size of a king mattress.

4. LCRD depends on two ground stations in California and Hawaii

Once LCRD receives information and encodes it, the payload sends the data to ground stations on Earth that are each equipped with telescopes to receive the light and modems to translate the encoded light back into digital data.

LCRD's ground stations are known as Optical Ground Stations (OGS) -1 and -2, and are located on Table Mountain in Southern California, and on Haleakala Volcano in Maui, Hawaii.

LCRD communicating data from the space station to Earth Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

While laser communications can provide increased data transfer rates, atmospheric disturbancessuch as clouds and turbulencecan interfere with laser signals as they travel through Earth's atmosphere.

The locations for OGS-1 and OSG-2 were chosen for their clear weather conditions and remote, high-altitude locations. Most of the weather occurring in those areas takes place below the summit of the mountains, leaving relatively clear skies perfect for laser communications.

5. LCRD allows government, academia, and commercial partners to test laser capabilities from geosynchronous orbit

LCRD will prove the viability of laser communications systems from geosynchronous orbitabout 22,000 miles above Earth's surface.

Prior to supporting other missions, LCRD will spend two years conducting tests and experiments. During this time, OGS-1 and OGS-2 will act as "missions," sending data from one station to LCRD then down to the other.

LCRD will test laser functionality with experiments from NASA, other government agencies, academia, and commercial companies. Some of these experiments include studying atmospheric disturbances on laser signals and demonstrating reliable relay service operations.

NASA's laser communication missions Credit: NASA/Dave Ryan

These tests will allow the aerospace community to learn from LCRD and further refine the technology for future implementation. NASA is providing these opportunities to grow the body of knowledge surrounding laser communications and promote its operational use.

After its experimental phase, LCRD will support in-space missions, including an optical terminal that will be installed on the International Space Station. This terminal will collect data from science experiments onboard and then transmit the information to LCRD to be relayed to Earth.

6. LCRD is one of many exciting and upcoming laser missions

LCRD is NASA's first-ever laser communications relay system. However, there are many missions in development that will demonstrate and test additional laser communications capabilities.

All of these missions will help the aerospace community standardize laser communications for implementation on future missions. With lasers lighting the way, NASA can glean more information from space than ever before.
The flight model of NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Video footage from NASA's Perseverance Mars rover of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter's 13th flight on Sept. 4 provides the most detailed look yet of the rotorcraft in action.

Ingenuity is currently prepping for its 16th flight, scheduled to take place no earlier than Saturday, Nov. 20, but the 160.5-second Flight 13 stands out as one of Ingenuity's most complicated. It involved flying into varied terrain within the "Seitah" geological feature and taking images of an outcrop from multiple angles for the rover team. Acquired from an altitude of 26 feet (8 meters), the images complement those collected during Flight 12, providing valuable insight for Perseverance scientists and rover drivers.

Captured by the rover's two-camera Mastcam-Z, one video clip of Flight 13 shows a majority of the 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) rotorcraft's flight profile. The other provides a closeup of takeoff and landing, which was acquired as part of a science observation intended to measure the dust plumes generated by the helicopter.

"The value of Mastcam-Z really shines through with these video clips," said Justin Maki, deputy principal investigator for the Mastcam-Z instrument at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "Even at 300 meters [328 yards] away, we get a magnificent closeup of takeoff and landing through Mastcam-Z's 'right eye." And while the helicopter is little more than a speck in the wide view taken through the 'left eye," it gives viewers a good feel for the size of the environment that Ingenuity is exploring."

Video footage from the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard NASAs Perseverance Mars rover provides a big-picture perspective of the 13th flight of the agencys Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, on Sept. 4, 2021. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

During takeoff, Ingenuity kicks up a small plume of dust that the right camera, or "eye," captures moving to the right of the helicopter during ascent. After its initial climb to planned maximum altitude of 26 feet (8 meters), the helicopter performs a small pirouette to line up its color camera for scouting. Then Ingenuity pitches over, allowing the rotors' thrust to begin moving it horizontally through the thin Martian air before moving offscreen. Later, the rotorcraft returns and lands in the vicinity of where it took off. The team targeted a different landing spotabout 39 feet (12 meters) from takeoffto avoid a ripple of sand it landed on at the completion of Flight 12.

Though the view from Mastcam-Z's left eye shows less of the helicopter and more of Mars than the right, the wide angle provides a glimpse of the unique way that the Ingenuity team programmed the flight to ensure success.

"We took off from the crater floor and flew over an elevated ridgeline before dipping into Seitah," said Ingenuity Chief Pilot Havard Grip of JPL. "Since the helicopter's navigation filter prefers flat terrain, we programmed in a waypoint near the ridgeline, where the helicopter slows down and hovers for a moment. Our flight simulations indicated that this little 'breather' would help the helicopter keep track of its heading in spite of the significant terrain variations. It does the same on the way back. It's awesome to actually get to see this occur, and it reinforces the accuracy of our modeling and our understanding of how to best operate Ingenuity."

Video from the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard NASAs Perseverance Mars rover captures a closeup view of the 13th flight of the agencys Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, on Sept. 4, 2021. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

The wide-angle view also shows how Ingenuity maintains altitude during the flight. After an initial ascent to 26 feet (8 meters) altitude, the helicopter's laser altimeter notes a change in elevation of the terrain below as it heads northeast toward the ridgeline. Ingenuity automatically adjusts, climbing slightly as it approaches the ridge and then descending to remain 26 feet (8 meters) above the undulating surface. Once it flies to the right, out of view, Ingenuity collects 10 images of the rocky outcrop with its color camera before heading back into frame and returning to land in the targeted location.

After Flight 13, Ingenuity went quiet in October, along with NASA's other Mars spacecraft during Mars solar conjunction, when the Red Planet and Earth are on opposite sides of the Sun, precluding most communications. Following conjunction, Ingenuity performed a short experimental flight test before undertaking Flight 15, which began the multi-flight journey back to the vicinity of "Wright Brothers Field," its starting point back in April.

Explore further NASA's Ingenuity helicopter captures a Mars rock feature in 3D
Photo: Blind estimation of room acoustic parameters (i.e., T60, EDT, C80, D50, TS) and speech transmission index (STI) in noisy and reverberant environments: a scenario for improving an emergency announcement. Credit: Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

In the future, smartphones, which almost everyone has, and smart speakers, 3.7 million installed in Japanese households, might save your life. Apart from daily-use features, these devices can read emergency messages aloud to inform us of the current situation of an earthquake and how to evacuate. However, we might lose such crucial information due to difficulty listening in some circumstances. The intelligibility of speech is dramatically degraded by noise such as conversations and vacuum cleaners and reverberation as in poor auditoriums or subways.

On the other hand, on a typical day, have you ever been curious about why you enjoy watching movies in theaters more than in your living room? A bigger screen and a better sound system? Yes, of course, but there is one more factor that is "the well-designed room acoustics."

In the field of architectural acoustics, the speech intelligibility and sound quality of a sound field can be described by measuring speech transmission index (STI) and room acoustic parameters, such as reverberation time (T60), early decay time (EDT), and clarity index (C80). It is also known that the measured acoustical parameters and STI vary from changes in environments such as the number of people, new furniture, or new decorations. Hence, some techniques for estimating these room-acoustic parameters from only a speech have been studied without special instruments and settings. However, assessing various parameters for different purposes of sound spaces in almost real-time remains to be uninvestigated.

In a new study published in Applied Acoustics, a team of scientists from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) has invented a blind estimating method of five-room acoustic parameters and STI simultaneously from a few seconds of speech. Professor Masashi Unoki, a team leader, outlines their approach, "We assumed a speech transmitted in an enclosure is distorted by reverberation and noise associated with the concept modulation transfer function or MTF. The MTF can explain the characteristics of a transmission channel or room acoustics from the modulation ratio between the input and output signal. Based on this assumption, we focused on extracting this relationship from only the output signal into the previously proposed room-impulse-response (RIR) model, namely, the extended RIR model."

In simulations, the observed signals were synthesized by the convolution of speech signal uttered by five males and five females and 43 realistic RIRs measured from different spaces and configurations. Then, the proposed method estimates room acoustic parameters, including T60, EDT, C80, D50, Ts, and STI, from a short period (five seconds) of these reverberant speech signals. The team found that: (1) the envelope of a reverberant speech signal provides underlying information of room-acoustic characteristics, (2) reverberation and noise affect speech signals in octave bands differently, and (3) a more reasonable stochastic RIR model can accurately approximate a realistic RIR. Therefore, applying the convolutional neural networks for mapping the envelopes extracted from an observed speech signal can approximate an unknown RIR. Then, this approach can estimate the STI and various room-acoustic parameters from the approximated RIR.

Based on this finding, architects and acousticians might be able to monitor and diagnose an auditorium during the live performance of concerts with attendees. In the future, our smartphones or smart speakers in a kitchen might save our life one dayour lives tend to be safer, easier, and happier from this technology.

Explore further Balancing speech intelligibility, face covering effectiveness in classrooms

More information: Suradej Duangpummet et al, Blind estimation of speech transmission index and room acoustic parameters based on the extended model of room impulse response, Applied Acoustics (2021). Suradej Duangpummet et al, Blind estimation of speech transmission index and room acoustic parameters based on the extended model of room impulse response,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.apacoust.2021.108372

Provided by Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID

Some ancestral rodents likely had repeated infections with SARS-like coronaviruses, leading them to acquire tolerance or resistance to the pathogens, according to new research publishing November 18th in PLOS Computational Biology by Sean King and Mona Singh of Princeton University, US. This raises the possibility that modern rodents may be reservoirs of SARS-like viruses, the researchers say.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 infection, is of zoonotic originit jumped from a non-human animal to humans. Previous research has shown that Chinese Horseshoe bats are a host of numerous SARS-like viruses and tolerate these viruses without extreme symptoms. Identifying other animals that have adapted tolerance mechanisms to coronaviruses is important for awareness of potential viral reservoirs that can spread new pathogens to humans.

In the new research, King and Singh performed an evolutionary analysis, across mammalian species, of the ACE2 receptors, used by SARS viruses to gain entry into mammalian cells. Primates had highly conserved sequences of amino acids in the sites of the ACE2 receptor known to bind SARS viruses. Rodents, however, had a greater diversityand an accelerated rate of evolutionin these spots. Overall, the results indicated that SARS-like infections have not been evolutionary drivers in primate history, but that some rodent species have likely been exposed to repeated SARS-like coronavirus infections for a considerable evolutionary period.

"Our study suggests that ancestral rodents may have had repeated infections with SARS-like coronaviruses and have acquired some form of tolerance or resistance to SARS-like coronaviruses as a result of these infections," the authors add. "This raises the tantalizing possibility that some modern rodent species may be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-like coronaviruses, including those that may not have been discovered yet."

Explore further Scientists identify new antibody for COVID-19 and variants

More information: King SB, Singh M (2021) Comparative genomic analysis reveals varying levels of mammalian adaptation to coronavirus infections. PLoS Comput Biol 17(11): e1009560. Journal information: PLoS Computational Biology King SB, Singh M (2021) Comparative genomic analysis reveals varying levels of mammalian adaptation to coronavirus infections.17(11): e1009560. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009560
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

European banks will soon be required to incorporate climate change risks into the stress testing of their equity. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now developed a new approach in cooperation with the Frankfurt Institute for Risk Management and Regulation (FIRM). In a case study they applied their stress testing method in several CO 2 pricing scenarios. Due to sharp rises in probabilities of credit default in several industries, the results show that the bank in question would face significant decreases in capital ratios. The model can help banks to prepare for future risks.

Climate change can cause substantial losses to companies, not only as a direct result of extreme weather events, but also through transitory risks, above all in the form of rising CO 2 prices and long-term decreases in economic value creation. This, in turn, means greater risks for banks if companies are unable to service loans. Consequently, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) have ordered financial institutions to incorporate climate risks into their risk management and stress testing processes, which serve primarily to evaluate their capital buffers. The new requirement will take effect in 2022.

It is still unclear, however, how this requirement can be implemented. Nor is it certain what dimensions the transitory climate risks might reach in stress tests. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have therefore worked with the Frankfurt Institute for Risk Management and Regulation (FIRM) to develop a method that can be adapted to a variety of stress tests and have applied it in two case studies involving a bank and two investment funds.

Case study with 400 Euro STOXX companies

The model is based on a definition of transitory climate risks derived from recognized forecasts such as the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP), the resulting macroeconomic analysis for states and industries, and companies' CO 2 footprints. On that basis, the research team investigated around 400 companies listed in the Euro STOXX 600 index. They looked at four scenarios distinguished by different CO 2 pricing levels (50 or 100 euros per ton), the potential of companies to reduce CO 2 emissions and the share of costs passed through to consumers. All of the scenarios assume an abrupt introduction of a CO 2 tax.

Sectors with probabilities of default of 534 percent

The analysis shows that in every scenario around 10 percent of the investigated companies would face asset devaluations of more than 15 percent. In the most adverse scenario, 6 percent of the companies would see their assets devalued by over 30 percent. On a industry-by-industry basis, the assets of the six hardest-hit sectors would devaluate by 1536 percent.

With these results, the researchers carried out a stress test on a major European bank. They began by calculating the rise in companies' probabilities of credit default caused by the loss in asset values. In the most adverse scenario, 16 percent of the companies would have a probability of default of over 3 percent, which is considered high risk. The six most adversely affected sectors would have probabilities of default ranging from about 5 percent to 34 percent. Based on the bank's so-called risk-weighted assets in relation to these corporate loans, the researchers calculated the effects on the bank's equity.

Total capital ratio reduced by up to 1.56 percentage points

The stress test shows that across all scenarios, the bank's common equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital would decrease by between 0.1 and 1.2 percentage points. The core capital ratio (Tier 1) would be down by 0.11.3 percentage points and the total capital ratio by 0.21.6 percentage points. By comparison: the average core capital ratio of European banks was 15 percent at the end of 2020, so that the scenarios analyzed by the researchers would mean decreases of between 1 percent and nearly 10 percent.

"The stress test underscores the fact that transitory climate risks could pose a major challenge to the stability of the financial sector if no measures are taken," says study author Gunther Friedl, professor of management accounting at TUM. "Our models and assumptions are undoubtedly quite strictbut that is the point of a stress test. Climate change may cause such severe asset losses and high-risk credit default probabilities for some industries that banks should be adjusting their risk management procedures today. If they do so, the decreases in capital ratios identified in our study will be avoided. Therefore, we have proposed an instrument for calculating risks in order to take appropriate action at an early stage."

Risks to funds differ

In a second stress test, the team assessed the effects of companies' asset devaluations on two funds: an equity fund consisting mainly of EuroSTOXX 600 stocks and a mixed fund. Depending on the scenario, the equity fund would face a devaluation of 2.39.1 percent and the mixed fund in the 1.23.5 percent range.

"Although the effects on the funds vary considerably, especially with the equity fund the stress test shows that asset managers will have to manage the inherent climate risks in their portfolios very carefully" says co-author Sebastian Muller, professor of finance at TUM.

Integrating climate risk into established risk categories

"With this study we want to take the lead and provide a useful stimulus for practitioners and researchers alike as they develop approaches for the management of climate risks," says Gerold Grasshoff, the CEO of FIRM.

Taking the study as a starting point, financial practitioners of FIRM worked with the researchers to prepare recommendations for climate risk management. They advise financial institutions to implement intensive monitoring of climate risks and their economic interdependencies. To do this, the banks will need significantly more data on their debtors, for example with regard to their emission reduction targets. Because climate change will impact the entire economy, the task of making such data available should not be left to the banks alone. Instead, global standards should be established for uniform reporting on climate-related company data.

The group also advocates the inclusion of transitory climate risks in the existing risk categories for credit risk management. Due to possible overlapping, the researchers do not support the idea of a dedicated risk management concept for climate risks, as is currently under discussion.

Explore further European regulator urges banks to evaluate climate risks

More information: Gunther Friedl, Sebastian Muller, Alexander Schult, Approaches to climate risk methodology as an example of ESG risk management in finance (2021). Gunther Friedl, Sebastian Muller, Alexander Schult, Approaches to climate risk methodology as an example of ESG risk management in finance (2021). go.tum.de/010988
Credit: Shutterstock/Anna Berdnik

In a recent 12-month period, police in England and Wales made just under 60,000 arrests of children. Of these cases, which involved crimes including theft and antisocial behavior, nearly 27,000 ended up in court.

Some of these defendants were just 10 years oldthe minimum age at which a child can be prosecuted and punished by law for an offense in these countries. In Ireland and Scotland it is 12, while in Sweden and Denmark it is 15.

The age age of criminal responsibility is hardly ever discussed by the mainstream media or politicians in the UK. When it is, the debate often goes hand in hand with reference to homicides by children. But the rarity of these shocking and sad events is seldom mentioned.

One such case, the killing by two 10-year-olds of the toddler James Bulger in 1993, is often cited by those in favor of a low age of criminal responsibility. The argument goes that if a child is old enough to act like an adult and commit a serious crime, then they are old enough to be treated like an adult and a criminal.

But this means society is willing to treat criminal children differently to other children. Whereas adults perceive childhood as a period of innocence, argues law professor Julia Fionda, as soon as individual children fail to live up to adult perceptions of what children should be like, they lose their "angelic" status and are seen instead as "devils."

The death of James Bulger also led to the abolition of something referred to in legal terms as "doli incapax" (incapable of evil). Doli incapax meant that children aged 10 to 14 were presumed to be incapable of crime unless the prosecution could prove (beyond reasonable doubt) that the child knew that what they were doing was seriously wrong, rather than naughty or mischievous.

In other words, it used to be assumed that children under 14 were not criminally responsible unless they understood the seriousness of their wrongdoing. Doli incapax protected some children involved in minor offending, where the difference between seriously wrong compared to naughty or mischievous may be less clear in some children's minds.

But that doctrine was abolished in England and Wales in 1998, leaving an age of criminal responsibility of ten, the lowest in Europe. This is too young.

To find out what others think, I recently launched an online survey of public opinion on the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales. So far, from more than 200 responses, a clear majority (88%) think the age limit should be raisedwith the most frequently cited age being 16. The reason given by participants is usually a belief that this is an age by which most children can distinguish right from wrong and have an understanding of the law.

The evidence

Another reason to raise the age of criminal responsibility is the rarity of the most serious crimes being committed by children. The evidence shows that in the year ending March 2020, three of the 187 people (1.6%) convicted of murder in England and Wales were under 16.

Of around 49,100 proven offenses committed by children in that year, the main offense type (31%) was violence against a person.

For legal purposes, the seriousness of a violent offense is measured on a scale ranging from one (least serious) up to eight (most serious). Overall, just under 140 proven offenses committed by children had the highest gravity score of eight, which accounts for only 0.3%.

Overall then, recorded serious violence by children is infrequent and the vast majority of offenses committed by children are considered to be less serious.

As I have argued elsewhere, there is also a lack of consistency across the broader criminal and civil law in England and Wales. The effective age of most civil responsibilities (playing the lottery, claiming benefits, voting, buying a pet, sitting on a jury) is 16 or above.

There is also neuroscientific research which shows that adolescents' brains predispose them to risk taking behavior and responding emotionally, without the same abilities as adults to control their impulses and consider the long-term implications.

This reflects what has been widely observedthat there is an increase in criminal behavior in children that peaks in late adolescence, which then declines throughout adult life, when, some argue, they "grow out" of crime. Meanwhile, research shows that contact with the criminal justice system can extend the criminal careers of children, rather than curtail them.

There is an acknowledgement of this in the "child first" approach to justice, which emphasizes diversion and minimum intervention, and has been adopted as a strategic priority for England and Wales.

There is also some will to at least look again at the age of criminal responsibility, with a UK government review into the subject recommended last year. In view of the evidence, and to embrace the idea of minimum intervention more fully, it is clear that the age should be raised.

Explore further Children likely to be pleading guilty when innocent, study argues

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
TOI 1338 b is a circumbinary planet orbiting its two stars. It was discovered by TESS. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center/Chris Smith

Our closest stellar neighbor is Proxima Centauri, an M-type (red dwarf) star located over 4.24 light-years away (part of the Alpha Centauri trinary system). In 2016, the astronomical community was astounded to learn that an Earth-like planet orbited within this star's circumsolar habitable zone (HZ). In addition to being the closest exoplanet to Earth, Proxima b was also considered the most promising place to look for extraterrestrial life for a time.

Unfortunately, the scientific community has been divided on whether or not life could even be possible on this planet. All of these studies indicate that this question cannot be answered until astronomers characterize Proxima b's atmosphere, ideally by observing it as it passes in front of (i.e., transits) its host star. But in a new NASA-supported study, a team led by astrophysicists at the University of Chicago determined that this is an unlikely possibility.

The study that describes their findings, which will appear soon in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, was led by Emily A. Gilbert, a Graduate Student with the University of Chicago's Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. She was joined by researchers from The Adler Planetarium, the Center for Space Science and Technology (University of Maryland), and the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

The people responsible for the discovery were Guillem Anglada-Escude and a team of astronomers from the Pale Red Dot campaign. Using the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) spectrograph on the ESO 3.6-meter telescope at the ESO's La Silla Observatory, the team confirmed the presence of Proxima b using a method known as Doppler spectroscopy (aka. the radial velocity method).

This method consists of observing the spectra of stars for signs of "wobble," where the star is moving closer and farther away from Earth. This is caused by the gravitational influence of planets that orbit the star, the extent of which is used to infer the mass of the planets. In the case of Proxima b, astronomers obtained a minimum mass estimate of 1.24 and a maximum estimate of 2.06 Earth masses.

An artists rendition of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center

Its presence was confirmed again in 2020 using the ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and its Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanet and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) instrumentthe successors to the HARPS spectrograph. While most exoplanets to date have been detected using the transit method (aka. transit photometry), this was deemed impractical for a star like Proxima Centauri, which is a low-mass and less bright M-type (red dwarf) star.

But as Gilbert and her colleagues indicate in their study, this has not prevented numerous astronomical research teams from trying to detect planets transiting Proxima Centauri. For example. Prof. Kipping and his colleagues from the Cool Worlds Laboratory at Columbia University observed Proxima Centauri for 43.5 days between 2014 and 2015 using the Canadian Space Agency's Microvariability and Oscillation of Stars (MOST) satellite.

In 2016, two research teams independently observed Proxima Centauri for signs of transits using the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile and the Bright Star Survey Telescope at the Zhongshan Station in Antarctica. Both surveys found evidence of possible transits but were unable to confirm them. In 201819, an international team released a two-part study regarding hundreds of observations made between 2006 and 2017 from observatories all across Earth. In both the original and the follow-up study, the authors indicated that no transits were observed.

For the sake of their study, Gilbert and her team relied on data collected by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the successor to the Kepler Space Telescope. Using a novel set of algorithms, the team examined two observation campaigns TESS made of Proxima Centaurifrom April 23 to June 18, 2019, and from April 29 to May 26, 2021for signs of Proxima b transiting.

They also included an algorithm that modeled Proxima Centauri's stellar activity. It emits white light flares two to three times a day or more (some of which are very powerful). In fact, in a 2016 study co-authored by David Kipping, it was suggested that flares might so dominate Proxima Centauri that time-series observations of its light curve could be primarily thought of as a superposition of many flares. As Gilbert and her colleagues indicate in their study, this has always made looking for signals of planetary transits very difficult with Proxima Centauri:

Stellar flares could threaten life on red dwarf planets. Credit: NASA/ESA/D. Player (STScI)

"This level of activity can complicate the search for transiting exoplanets because of the additional noise in the data. A typical method of dealing with large flares is to identify them and remove them either by using flare detection algorithms or simple sigma-clipping.

"Here, we take a different approach, we identify the flares using a custom algorithm, model the flares using a template, subtract these flares from the data, and then perform the transit search. We then inject transits into the light curve to test our sensitivity to transiting planets."

One might ask the question, why do astronomers persist in looking for transits? The answer is simple: If Proxima b were to transit in front of its sun, astronomers could obtain transmission spectroscopy from the light passing through its atmosphere. This would allow them to discern the presence of chemical signatures and constrain the planet's atmospheric composition, including potential biomarkers.

The team used two planet search algorithms to detect planetary transit signals in the TESS data as a next step. First, they used the Transit Least Squares (TLS) developed by Michael Hippke and Rene Heller (Sonneberg Observatory and Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, respectively). Second, they employed the Quasiperiodic Automated Transit Search (QATS) by Hubble Fellow Joshua A. Carter and Eric Agolof the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) and the University of Washington.

However, Gilbert and her team still found no evidence of transits in the data. To be sure, they injected synthetic transiting planet signals into the TESS data to determine what circumstances a transiting planet could be detected. From this, they determined that exoplanets orbiting with Proxima Centauri's HZ would have to measure less than 0.4 to 0.5 Earth radii (similar to Mars) to be detectable. This rules out Proxima b, which measures between 0.68 and 2.5 Earth radii.

Artists impression of a simultaneous transit of three planets in front of Kepler-11, as observed by NASAs Kepler spacecraft on Aug. 26th, 2010. Credit: NASA/Tim Pyle

This is disappointing news for exoplanet researchers, as it confirms that the only way we can characterize Proxima b is to send an actual mission there. In this respect, projects such as Breakthrough Starshot and other "light sail" concepts would need to happen before scientists could determine if our closest exoplanet neighbor is suitable for life. However, it may also be possible to directly image Proxima b in the near future using next-generation telescopes.

This includes the James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch on Dec. 18th, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will follow in 2027. Ground-based observatories like the ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) and the Carnegie Institute of Science's Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will also be able to conduct direct imaging studies using their large mirrors, spectrographs, coronographs, and adaptive optics.

These and other observatories will also benefit from next-generation machine learning techniques (like the one developed by Gilbert and her colleagues). Accounting for the level of stellar activity will allow astronomers to tease exoplanet signatures from all the background noise with greater precision. As they conclude in their study:

"With the ongoing TESS mission as well as planned missions like Plato providing long baseline, high-precision observations, this technique may be extremely valuable for detecting small planets orbiting active host stars. There are many low-mass active nearby stars, and the methods we have presented here are could significantly improve our sensitivity to small planets transiting these stars."

With these tools, instruments, and observatories at their disposal, astronomers expect to greatly expand the exoplanet catalog (4,569 confirmed and counting) in the coming years, as well as speed the transition to exoplanet characterization. At that point, some of the most pressing questions (such as, "are we alone in the universe?") will finally be answered.

Explore further An Earth-like stellar wind for Proxima Centauri c

More information: Emily A. Gilbert et al, No Transits of Proxima Centauri Planets in High-Cadence TESS Data. arXiv:2110.10702v2 [astro-ph.EP], Emily A. Gilbert et al, No Transits of Proxima Centauri Planets in High-Cadence TESS Data. arXiv:2110.10702v2 [astro-ph.EP], arxiv.org/abs/2110.10702
A ban on single-use plastic bags came into force in Kenya in 2017.

The United States on Thursday threw its support behind negotiations on a treaty to curb plastic pollution, ending a key holdup in international efforts to clean up the planet's oceans and save marine life.

On a visit to the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States would back talks in the Kenyan capital in February on a treaty to address plastic.

"Our goal is to create a tool that we can use to protect our oceans and all the life that they sustain from growing global harms of plastic pollution," Blinken said.

"As we know, our healthour survivalis bound up in the health of our oceans. We have to do more to protect them," he said.

About eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans each year, killing or injuring one million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals, according to UN figures.

Blinken's statement is the latest US effort to ramp up environmental protection under President Joe Biden, who has made the fight against climate change a key domestic priority.

Likely mindful of political realities in divided Washington, where treaties need ratification by the Senate, Blinken called for a plastic treaty in which countries would come up with their own plans of action.

Blinken is pictured with United Nations Environment Programme chief Inger Andersen during a trip to Nairobi.

The United States has seen bipartisan calls to clean up oceans with former president Donald Trump signing an act aimed at curbing plastic pollution in the oceans.

But environmentalists say that the previous administration stymied international efforts by opposing a treaty and blaming the problem squarely on Chinaa major source of plastic processing but of material often coming from the West.

An investigation last year by environmentalist campaigners Greenpeace said that industry groups were lobbying the Trump administration to press Kenya in trade negotiations to reverse its rules and take in plastic trash.

The idea appears dead, with the Biden administration not pursuing trade talks.

Blinken, who is promoting climate action on a three-nation trip to Africa, praised Kenya as an environmental leader including for its ban on single-use plastic bags.

The United States is one of the only nations not party to the Basel Convention, a UN treaty reached in 1989 that regulates the movement of hazardous waste.

Pieces of plastic found inside the stomach of a bird is displayed as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi.

Calls to improve coordination

Plastic pollution has soared over the past half century with the advent of cheap, single-use bags and other "disposable" plastic that can stay in the environment for thousands of years.

In the Pacific, an accumulation dubbed the Great Pacific Plastic Patch is around three times the size of France.

A growing number of nations have moved to curb plastic pollution but environmental experts say that a binding, international approach is vital to coordinating efforts.

A study last year backed by the Pew Charitable Trusts said that plastic pollution in the oceans can be decreased by 80 percent in 20 years using existing technologies if there is ambitious and concerted action.

Blinken's support for the plastic effort comes on the heels of the COP 26 summit in Glasgow where the United States and China said they would work together on climate, a rare example of cooperation amid tense relations between the world's two largest economic powers.

In Nairobi, Blinken pressed China to join another climate initiativean alliance led by the United States and the European Union to cut back on methane.

Methane, emitted by oil and gas production and agriculture, spends less time in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but is far more potent and is seen as a key area where the world can take action.

"If the world's major methane emitters join us, including China, that would be the equivalent of taking every ship out of the seas and every plane out of the skies in terms of emissions," Blinken said.

Explore further Nordic countries call for global treaty on ocean plastic pollution

 2021 AFP
Polaronic exciton dissociation equilibrium in 2D perovskites. Credit: Sun Qi, Zhao Chunyi and Tian Wenming

A research group led by Prof. Jin Shengye from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed an ultrafast and high-yield polaronic exciton dissociation mechanism in two-dimensional (2D) perovskites.

This study was published in Journal of the American Chemical Society on Nov. 3.

2D perovskites are a class of naturally formed quantum well (QW) materials. The exciton binding energy in 2D perovskite is much larger (up to hundreds of meV) than that in their 3D counterparts due to strong quantum and dielectric confinement.

Therefore, it is commonly believed that the photogenerated charge carriers in 2D perovskites are mainly exist in the form of excitons, which are difficult to dissociate into free carriers at room temperature.

In this study, by using femtosecond photoluminescence up-conversion and transient absorption spectroscopy, the researchers for the first time directly and dynamically observed the ultrafast and highly efficient exciton dissociation in 2D perovskites. This confirmed that free-carriers were the dominant carrier species in 2D perovskites under room temperature, which is conflict with the previous thought.

Moreover, they proposed a polaron-induced exciton dissociation mechanism, where the exciton-polarons were readily formed by strong exciton-phonon coupling as in 3D perovskites, and the polaronic screening effect led to a prominent reduction in binding energy for efficient exciton dissociation.

The researchers demonstrated that the exciton dissociation into free-carriers was a major factor limiting the photoluminescence quantum yield of 2D perovskites by introducing additional nonradiative carrier loss.

"This work reveals a common exciton dissociation property in this class of 2D materials and provides a guideline for the design and rational utilization of 2D perovskites in optical and optoelectronic applications," said Prof. Jin.

Explore further Study reveals auger-assisted electron transfer mechanism between adjacent quantum wells in 2D layered perovskites

More information: Qi Sun et al, Ultrafast and High-Yield Polaronic Exciton Dissociation in Two-Dimensional Perovskites, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2021). Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society Qi Sun et al, Ultrafast and High-Yield Polaronic Exciton Dissociation in Two-Dimensional Perovskites,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c08900
Engineers integrate separate parts of the SWOT satellite into one in a clean room facility in Cannes, France. Credit: Thales Alenia Space

An international team of engineers and technicians has finished assembling a next-generation satellite that will make the first global survey of Earth's surface water and study fine-scale ocean currents. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission is just a year out from launch, and the final set of tests on the spacecraft have started.

SWOT is a collaboration between NASA and the French space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the United Kingdom Space Agency (UK Space Agency). The SUV-size satellite will collect data on the height of Earth's salt- and fresh waterincluding oceans, lakes, and riversenabling researchers to track the volume and location of water around the world.

SWOT will help to measure the effects of climate change on the planet's water, such as the processes by which small, swirling ocean currents absorb excess heat, moisture, and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The mission's measurements will also aid in following how much water flows into and out of the planet's lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, as well as regional shifts in sea level.

"SWOT will be our first global snapshot of all surface water that we have now, how the water moves around the planet, and what happens to it in a new climate," said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, SWOT program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

A team at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California shipped the scientific heart of the satellite to Cannes, France, in June. Ever since, they've been working with colleagues from CNES and the French space agency's contractor, Thales Alenia Space, to connect the part of the spacecraft holding the science instruments to the rest of the satellite and ensure that the electrical connections function properly.

"The best part has been seeing two complex systems that were built across the world from each other by different teams come together and work," said JPL's Said Kaki, the deputy project manager for SWOT. Kaki, along with an initial team of about 25 people from JPL, followed the mission's science instruments to France in June. There are certain tests and procedures that the team needs to conduct in person, so they are living and working thousands of miles from home until the SWOT satellite is shipped to its launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Central California in September 2022.

"Being far away from home for so long is not always easy, but luckily, I'm surrounded by amazing coworkers," Nacer Chahat, the JPL payload system engineer for the mission, said from Cannes. He has been onsite overseeing the spacecraft testing and helping to troubleshoot any challenges that arise.

Testing phase

The next six months or so will involve three phases of testing to make sure the satellite will be able to survive the rigors of launch and the harsh environment of space. Engineers and technicians will attach the satellite to a device called a shake table, which simulates the intense vibrations and rattling of launch. Then the spacecraft will move into an acoustic chamber to bombard it with high-decibel sounds similar to those of blastoff. Next, they'll move SWOT into a chamber that mimics the temperature swings and vacuum of space. Last but not least, engineers will put the satellite through additional tests to make sure its systems can withstand any electromagnetic interference, including signals from various parts of the spacecraft and from other satellites.

"After that, we button up the spacecraft and ship it to the launch site," said Kaki. At Vandenberg, the team will put the finishing touches on the satellite to ready it for launch, which is scheduled for no earlier than November 2022.

The mission's science team is also in full swing, preparing for when the spacecraft is in orbit. Researchers are using simulated data to put their analytic tools through their paces, as well as prepping for the period right after launch called "calibration and validation." This is when researchers compare data from the satellite with measurements taken on the ground in order to ensure the science instruments are collecting data properly and measuring what they're supposed to be measuring.

The international nature of the mission means that like the engineering team, the science team spans continents. "The best part of my job as the mission's project scientist is being able to work with a large international research team with diverse interests and backgrounds in oceanography and hydrology," said Lee-Lueng Fu, the JPL project scientist for SWOT. "This experience has broadened the horizon of my scientific career even after 40 years of devotion to Earth research."

More about the mission

SWOT is being jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the CSA and the UK Space Agency. JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, leads the U.S. component of the project. For the flight system payload, NASA is providing the Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn) instrument, a GPS science receiver, a laser retroreflector, and a two-beam microwave radiometer. CNES is providing the Doppler Orbitography and Radioposition Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) system, nadir altimeter, the KaRIn RF subsystem (with support from the UK Space Agency), the platform, and ground control segment. CSA is providing the KaRIn high-power transmitter assembly. NASA is providing associated launch services.

More information: To learn more about the mission, visit: To learn more about the mission, visit: swot.jpl.nasa.gov/
" " Campbell Soup test kitchen manager Dorcas Reilly developed the recipe for the popular green bean casserole in 1955. Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, many Americans are beginning their great Google search for dishes and casseroles to adorn their holiday tables. Sure you'll have turkey and pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce.

And those sides! What Thanksgiving spread is complete without a myriad of piping hot side dishes on the table? And if there's one traditional dish that's managed to stand the test of time with its easy-to-follow instructions and delicious taste it's the green bean casserole. But who came up with this simple mix of green beans, condensed cream of mushroom soup and fried onions?

It was developed by the late Dorcas Reilly back in 1955 when she was a Campbell Soup Company test kitchen manager. Her green bean casserole has made a name for itself as a go-to Thanksgiving side for more than 60 years.

"Dorcas Reilly was a member of our home economics department at the time," says vice president of communications for Campbell Meals and Beverages division, Beth Jolly. "It wasn't necessarily designed to become a Thanksgiving staple, but she worked in the kitchen and was tasked to find an everyday side dish. The premise of the recipe development was that she needed to use ingredients that most Americans at the time would have."

Of course, in the '50s, most Americans actually had green beans in their freezers, and Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup had been around since 1934, though it was mostly used as a casserole filler. It was Reilly's idea to mix the soup and beans and top them with the fried onions for texture and color. Jolly says Reilly originally named the dish Green Bean Bake.

"There were no exotic ingredients, it wasn't hard to cook, and it was hard to make a mistake," Jolly adds. "People tried it and liked it, and it became a staple. [Dorcas] wasn't sure if it was going to take off. [She] developed hundreds of recipes, frankly; she was always amazed at how it became such a household favorite."

Campbell officially put the green bean casserole recipe on the Cream of Mushroom Soup label in 1955, giving way to a slow burn that would soon cement the dish as a Thanksgiving must-have. Jolly says the easy instructions and simple ingredients are the main reasons it's managed to stay so popular.

The dish itself is crazy easy to make, and includes just six ingredients. Here's Campbell's original recipe:

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Ingredients

1 can (10 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 dash black pepper

4 cups cooked cut green beans

1 1/3 cups French's French Fried Onions

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Preparation

Mix soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, beans and 2/3 cup of onions together in a 1-quart casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until the bean mixtures bubbles. Stir the bean mixture and sprinkle with the remaining onions. Bake for 5 more minutes or until the onions are golden brown. Serve immediately.

Naturally, the brand has a ton of different recipes that give people the chance to flex their cooking skills and utilize leftovers at the same time.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING The Campbell team estimates that about 20 million green bean casseroles are served at Thanksgiving dinners every year. People love it so much that 50 percent of the Cream of Mushroom soup sales occur between November and January.
" " People buy t'ej ahead of the Ethiopian New Year at a street market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. T'ej is made of three main ingredients: honey, water and a medicinal shrub called gesho. Minasse Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Alcoholic drinks have played a role in society since ancient times  some speculate they existed as far back as 100,000 years ago  and are typically made by fermenting locally available ingredients. In Ethiopia, the largest country in the Horn of Africa, that bountiful commodity is honey, and Ethiopians have a deep history of fermenting it with yeast, water and gesho (a small evergreen shrub) to create t'ej (pronounced tedj), a type of mead, or honey wine. Ethiopia produces 45,000 to 50,000 tons (41,000 to 45,000 metric tons) of honey per year, making it the largest honey producer in Africa, and they use a lot of it to produce their beloved national drink.

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The Rich History of T'ej

T'ej isn't just any historical drink: Some historians believe fermented honey wines to be the earliest alcoholic beverages known to man. Excavations from the Aksumite Empire, a civilization that reigned from approximately 100 to 940 B.C. E. in what is now northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, turned up accounts of its use in rituals. Numerous historians and scholars have uncovered texts that show the consumption of honey wine by Ethiopia's nobility and soldiers throughout the region's history. By the 20th century, t'ej was no longer just for high society or a drink enjoyed mostly during rituals and ceremonies, but had become a drink produced mainly in the home and consumed by most Ethiopians.

The Role of T'ej in Present-day Ethiopian Society

Today, Ethiopians have neighborhood spots dedicated solely to drinking t'ej, known as t'ej bets, or honey-wine houses, where locals can catch up on community happenings and imbibe with friends. But t'ej bets are heavily divided by gender lines; they're owned by women yet patronized by mostly men. In Ethiopia, culture dictates that women shouldn't go to bars and that men don't make t'ej.

" " T'ej is typically served in small flask-like beakers called bereles. Wikimedia Commons (CC0-BY-1.0)

How Is T'ej Made?

Making t'ej requires only four ingredients: honey, yeast, water and gesho. Gesho (Rhamnus prinoides), known as shiny-leaf buckthorn in English, is an African shrub that is used for various nutritional, medicinal and religious purposes. While not exactly in the same botanical family as hops, gesho serves the similar purpose of balancing sweetness by adding a bit of tartness or bitterness and aiding in the fermentation process. Making t'ej is a relatively simple process of combining the ingredients and leaving the mixture to ferment for three to four weeks (see this recipe for more info), but makers often improvise to create variations of flavor and intensity.

T'ej is traditionally served chilled and in a berele  a glass that resembles a beaker. The sweetness of the yellowish-orange elixir pairs especially well with spicy food, typical of Ethiopian cuisine. If you want to imbibe one of the world's oldest alcoholic beverages but can't make it to Ethiopia, try making t'ej at home or visiting an Ethiopian restaurant to get a boozy taste of Ethiopia's history and culture.

Now That's Interesting T'ej has even made an appearance in the American craft beer culture. Dogfish Head, a craft brewery in Delaware, combined T'ej with an imperial stout in 2010 to create a unique beer that celebrated the 40th anniversary of the release of "Bitches Brew," Miles Davis' landmark 1970 jazz-fusion album.
Buellton might soon have a university campus of its own should Santa Barbara real estate developer Ed St. George get the buy-in he needs from local residents and city officials to build a 55 micro-unit housing development that features an in-house research, development and entrepreneurship center on Industrial Way.
" " In the quaint town of Tonnerre in the northeast of France, is the deep, ancient wellspring known as Fosse Dionne. So far, nobody has been able to determine its source. Herve CHAMPOLLION/Getty Images

It's possible there's a giant, deadly serpent hanging out at the bottom of Fosse Dionne spring in the Burgundy region of France. It's also possible there's not a serpent  it's a legend concocted by ancient inhabitants of the village of Tonnerre where the spring is located  but nobody's ever been able to get to the bottom of it because nobody's ever been able to get to the bottom of it.

Fosse Dionne is a karst spring (a karst is an irregular limestone region with sinkholes, underground streams and caverns, according to Merriam-Webster) that spews an average of 82 gallons (311 liters) of water every second, which is an unusually high discharge rate for this type of spring, but the velocity with which it shoots out of the ground varies from season to season. What you would be able to see of the spring if you visited Fosse Dionne, which translates to "divine pit," is a circular stone pool built in the 18th century, filled with jewel toned water: turquoise, amber and cerulean, colored by the minerals in the limestone caves from which the waters emerge. The opening of one of these caves is visible from the edge of the basin.

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Because humans have been using Fosse Dionne since before anybody was keeping track  for drinking, washing, cooking and bathing  there are stories and legends about the spring, some we know and some we don't. In the Middle Ages, it was thought there was a serpent that cruised around deep in the heart of Fosse Dionne, and some even thought it was the portal to another world. The spring features prominently in accounts of the miracles performed by the 7th-century monk St. Jean de Reome, who arrived in the area in the year 645 C.E. to clean up the spring, which was at the time an unusable swamp. The monk reportedly dug a basilisk  half rooster and half lizard  out of the spring and killed it, allowing people to regain the use of Fosse Dionne for drinking, washing, etc.

These days Fosse Dionne looks very civilized from the outside, in its stone basin surrounded by a lavoir, a communal washing place, built in the 18th century to protect washerwomen from the elements as they did their laundry in the spring. But below the surface of the water, the spring is just as wild as when St. Jean de Reome arrived to tame it.

The great mystery of the Fosse Dionne spring is where its water actually comes from. There's certainly a lot of water coursing out of it, and like other karst springs, the water emerges from a network of subterranean limestone caves. However, no diver has ever been able to find its source, and many of those who have tried haven't come back alive.

Nobody even attempted to plumb the depths of Fosse Dionne until 1974, when two divers undertook navigating the maze of chambers and narrow tunnels of the spring. Neither of those divers came back to tell what they had seen. In 1996 another diver attempted it, but he lost his life to the Fosse Dionne as well. For many years after, divers were prohibited from diving into the spring until 2019, when diver Pierre-Eric Deseigne undertook exploring 1,214 feet (370 meters) of passageways. Luckily he returned alive but didn't find the source of the spring  nor did he find another dimension or a monstrous serpent.

There's still time.

Now That's Interesting It's thought the Fosse Dionne is fed by both rainwater from the hills around Tonnerre and at least one underground river.
 Oklahoma Gov commutes death sentence of Julius Jones, who claims innocence, to life without the possibility of parole | Main | "How families respond to the collateral consequences of incarceration and prisoner reentry" 

November 18, 2021

Interesting split Ohio Supreme Court ruling at the intersection of collateral consequences, gun rights and victims' rights

The Ohio Supreme Court today handed down an interesting decision today in State ex rel. Suwalksi v. Peeler, No. 2021-Ohio-4061. (Oh. Nov. 18, 2021) (available here), in a case concerning collateral consequences, gun rights and victims' rights. Chief Justice O'Connor authored the majority opinion in the case, which starts this way:

Appellant, Roy Ewing, was convicted in Warren County of misdemeanor domestic violence for assaulting his then-wife, appellee, Jamie Suwalski. As a result of that conviction, federal law prohibits Ewing from possessing a firearm, see 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9), unless, as relevant in this case, the domestic-violence offense is one for which Ewing has had [his] civil rights restored under Ohio law, 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(33)(B)(ii). Ewing filed in the Warren County Court of Common Pleas an application under R.C. 2923.14 for relief from his federal firearms disability, and Judge Robert W. Peeler, a judge of that court, granted Ewings application and issued an order restoring his firearms rights. Suwalski sought a writ of prohibition in the Twelfth District Court of Appeals, seeking to prevent Judge Peelers order from being effective and invoking Article I, Section 10a of the Ohio Constitution, also known as Marsys Law. The court of appeals permitted Ewing to intervene. The court of appeals granted the writ, holding that Judge Peeler lacked the judicial power to relieve Ewing of the federal firearms disability imposed by 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9). 2020-Ohio-3233, 155 N.E.3d 47,  24. We agree that a writ of prohibition is warranted, but our rationale for that conclusion differs from that of the court of appeals. Because Suwalski has established the elements necessary for a writ of prohibition, we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.

Justice Kennedy authored the dissent, which was joined by two other Justices and starts this way:

Article I, Section 10a of the Ohio Constitution, also known as Marsys Law, enumerates specific rights afforded to victims of crime, including the rights to be treated with fairness and respect for the victims safety, dignity and privacy and to reasonable protection from the accused or any person acting on behalf of the accused. Marsys Law permits a victim of a crime to petition the court of appeals for the applicable district to vindicate his or her enumerated rights. Article I, Section 10a(B), Ohio Constitution. Relying on Marsys Law, appellee, Jamie Suwalski, filed a complaint for a writ of prohibition in the Twelfth District Court of Appeals against Warren County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert W. Peeler, asserting that he violated her rights under Marsys Law when he purported to relieve her ex-husband, appellant, Roy Ewing, of a federal firearms disability. The court of appeals granted the writ. 2020-Ohio-3233, 155 N.E.3d 47,  24-25. However, based on the plain language of the enumerated rights established in Marsys Law, the rights that Suwalski has asserted are not implicated in the underlying relief-from-disability matter. Suwalski has not claimed to have been treated without fairness and respect for her safety in the matter, and Ewing is no longer an accused person. Because she asserts no other grounds establishing a right to the relief that she seeks in prohibition, I would reverse the judgment of the Twelfth District and dismiss the action. Because the majority does not, I dissent.

November 18, 2021 at 04:24 PM | Permalink

Comments

Im hardly qualified to opine on matters of OH law, butjust going by the excerptif the dissent really hangs its hat on the mere fact that accused is in past tense, that seems quite flimsy to me.

I mean, after conviction, its true a defendant is no longer accused. But the only difference is that s/he is then both accused and convicted. Its not like the former component magically disappears.

By the same token, the victim remains a victim after conviction. If anything, conviction means s/hes become a proven victim, instead of merely an alleged one.

Relatedly, itd be rather oddper the dissents logicfor a proven victim to have fewer rights than merely an alleged one.

Also, I dont get why the dissent is harping on the treated with fairness provision. Wouldnt the victims claim in this case fall more appropriately under the provision about reasonable protection from the abuser?

I assume Prof. B. took an exception from his usual policy of not covering state cases because this ones in his backyard. Maybe he can school me on the likely numerous places where Ive misunderstood OH law.

In any event, 4-3 decision split along partisan lines except for the CJ, so very close case here

Posted by: kotodama | Nov 19, 2021 12:40:48 AM

I am always eager to cover state law, kotodama, but it is hard to always know what laws and rulings in what states will be of broad interest (apart from capital issues which so often get SCOTUS and other national attention). Please feel free to flag for me any and all state sentencing developments that appear to you to be blogworthy.

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 19, 2021 8:52:36 AM

It wasn't a criticism, just an observation. Clearly I did enjoy this quick detour into a state SC ruling too. (Maybe that was already obvious, but on the interwebs, one can sometimes be unsure.)

No promises but I'll try to relay any noteworthy state happenings if I encounter them.

TGIF

Posted by: kotodama | Nov 19, 2021 7:52:23 PM

Post a comment
 Mississippi completes its first execution since 2012, the tenth in the US in 2021 | Main | "How to be a Better Plea Bargainer" 

November 18, 2021

Lamenting "Biden's do-nothing approach to clemency" as we approach holiday season

Rachel Barkow and Mark Osler have this new Hill commentary, headlined "Biden can't let Trump's DOJ legacy stifle reform," that focuses on Prez Biden's current disappointing clemency record. I recommend the full piece, and here is a snippet:

We are almost 10 months into his administration, and all signals point to Biden giving the department free rein to set criminal justice policies that should rest with him instead. It is no small wonder that this approach has so far resulted in the first increase in the federal prison population in years. The DOJ is poorly situated to take the lead on whether to support legislation to reform sentencing and federal charges because its prosecutors inevitably want laws that make their jobs easier  even when the public interest and Bidens commitment to reform criminal justice points in a different direction. Nothing Trump did challenges the urgent need to take DOJ out of its lead policymaking role on criminal law reform  in fact, criminal law reform in the form of the First Step Act was one of his very few bipartisan accomplishments and was accomplished without the imprimatur of the DOJ. And then there is Bidens do-nothing approach to clemency, which he seems to have delegated entirely to the DOJ. Biden inherited 14,000 pending clemency cases when he took office, and there was widespread agreement among those who studied the issue that the solution to the logjam requires moving clemency out of DOJ. Most of the Democratic candidates for president endorsed this change because the DOJ had proven itself incapable of handling clemency impartially and efficiently for decades. That backlog is now 17,844. So why doesnt Biden take clemency away from DOJ and create the kind of advisory commission that President Ford used to aid him in processing a similar backlog of petitions from people with convictions for draft evasion during the Vietnam War? The only apparent answer is that Biden does not want to look like he is interfering with DOJ. But clemency should never have been in DOJ in the first place. It is there by historical accident  no state gives clemency decision-making power to the same prosecutors who bring cases in the first place because of the obvious conflict of interest problem it poses.

Prior recent related post:

November 18, 2021 at 10:21 AM | Permalink

Comments

"We are almost 10 months into his administration, and all signals point to Biden giving the department free rein to set criminal justice policies that should rest with him instead."

The general principle of giving the Justice Department largely free rein (already I have seen reported some broad brush policy guidelines from above) is benign given the Trump Administration approach.

The specific concern that in this area there is a pro-prosecutor bias. That sounds valid though since there are left leaning members (particularly regarding voting rights and certain equality matters), I am somewhat curious how complete this is.

This portion also is phrased curiously:

But clemency should never have been in DOJ in the first place. It is there by historical accident  no state gives clemency decision-making power to the same prosecutors who bring cases in the first place because of the obvious conflict of interest problem it poses.

Is the problem that it is "in DOJ" (which is not really illogical given the subject matter though problematic in that an independent voice is helpful) or "the same prosecutors who bring cases"?

There aren't the same thing. The "DOJ" is a whole department.

Anyway, I have repeatedly noted I respect Rachel Barkow. Mark Osler also is someone I have read (I own his "Jesus on Death Row" book), so take their pressure to heart here.

OTOH, "ten months" on some level appears to be supposedly ten years given how long it is supposed to be. He has not "done nothing" though more pressure to act is appropriate.

Last year, millions of people took to the streets and it was not about the pandemic, or the environment, or taxes. It was about criminal justice

And, the Administration has done various things regarding "criminal justice." The protests were primarily about police shootings and injustices in court. So, efforts to investigate police departments, put criminal warriors on the bench and the like -- which is being done -- seems to be rather notable.

In a wider sense, yes, clemency is involved. Also, the "Biden should get involved bit" is a bit coy, since I'm pretty sure the authors (like DB) probably are suspicious about what he would do if he did.

Posted by: Joe | Nov 18, 2021 11:40:49 AM

Post a comment
 "How to be a Better Plea Bargainer" | Main | Interesting split Ohio Supreme Court ruling at the intersection of collateral consequences, gun rights and victims' rights 

November 18, 2021

Oklahoma Gov commutes death sentence of Julius Jones, who claims innocence, to life without the possibility of parole

A high-profile Oklahoma capital case involving claims of innocence took a notable turn just hours before a scheduled execution, as reported in this local press piece:

Julius Jones was scheduled to be executed at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, however, announced at noon Thursday he has commuted Jones' sentence to life without the possibility of parole. Jones, now 41, has been on death row for more than half of his life for the murder of Paul Howell. Jones has maintained his innocence, saying he was not responsible for the fatal shooting in Edmond in 1999. Jones' family insists he was at home. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 on Nov. 1 to recommend Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency to Jones and reduce his sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole.... Amanda Bass, the attorney for Julius Jones released the following statement after Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted Jones' sentence to life without the possibility of parole: "Governor Stitt took an important step today towards restoring public faith in the criminal justice system by ensuring that Oklahoma does not execute an innocent man. While we had hoped the Governor would adopt the Board's recommendation in full by commuting Julius's sentence to life with the possibility of parole in light of the overwhelming evidence of Julius's innocence, we are grateful that the Governor has prevented an irreparable mistake."... The governor just announced hes going to grant clemency, Tiffany Crutcher announced to the crowd outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. The crowd erupted in shouts of joy. Supporters broke into tears, including Paige Patton who began to praise, Thank you, Lord. The celebration lessened as Crutcher announced that the Governor's decision was to commute Jones' sentence to life without parole. The fight to prove Jones' innocence is not over, and his supporters will not stop, she said. Julius will get to see sunlight, Crutcher said. Julius will not be underground, he will get to hug his family.

A few prior related posts:

November 18, 2021 at 02:08 PM | Permalink

Comments

Good news and apparently a fairly rare event in Oklahoma.

The board suggested possibility of parole. It seems dubious to override that recommendation. I don't know how strong his innocence claims really are. But, the board is there for a reason, and not sure what the governor brought to override it.

Twenty years alone is pretty long to be in prison.

Just to toss it out there, checking at the Supreme Court site, his lawyers also argued the trial/sentencing was tainted by racism. For whatever reason, the matter pended at SCOTUS for over a year before being rejected.

The issue of Native Americans also raises racism concerns, and the Supreme Court is still examining questions with relevance in the capital system in Oklahoma in that context.

Posted by: Joe | Nov 18, 2021 2:29:34 PM

"Because you are innocent, we will spare your life and merely sentence you to die in prison"

Also, can the current OK gov. really bind all future OK Govs?

Posted by: John | Nov 19, 2021 12:11:15 AM

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 on Nov. 1 to recommend Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency to Jones and reduce his sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole....

is there a report explaining why they voted 3-1?

Posted by: Joe | Nov 19, 2021 1:05:58 PM

Post a comment
Growing numbers of Hong Kongs foreign domestic helpers are abusing a special arrangement that has allowed them to stay in the city for a month after their contracts have been terminated, officials have said, pointing to a major jump in the number of visas rejected over alleged job hopping.

The Immigration Department turned down 1,332 visa applications from domestic workers suspected of switching employers without a valid reason in the first nine months of 2021, up fourfold from all of last year, according to a Labour Department letter to employment agencies seen by the Post.

The letter warned that helpers were increasingly abusing the extended stay arrangement  introduced in the first months of the coronavirus pandemic  saying complaints about agencies inducing domestic workers to leave their employers had jumped to 120 in the first nine months of the year, from just 29 in the same period in 2020.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Domestic helpers who spoke to the Post said there were often very good reasons for switching employers. Photo: Felix Wong

But helpers who spoke to the Post said round-the-clock work hours, verbal attacks and lack of food were among the reasons they had left their employers in search of better ones.

The number of workers the government has accused of abusing the system accounts for 0.4 per cent of the domestic helper population in Hong Kong.

The relevant figures indicate the problem of job hopping of foreign domestic workers has become more serious, a government spokesman said in the letter dated November 12.

A department spokeswoman told the Post that job hopping referred to helpers allegedly changing employers by terminating a contract prematurely.

She said the authorities considered a number of factors in applications for work visas including the integrity of applicants, their previous employment record, the number of contracts terminated and the reasons for termination. Valid reasons included job relocation, the migration or demise of an employer, the employers financial inability to complete a contract or evidence of the helper being mistreated, she added.

Story continues

But Thomas Chan Tung-fung, chairman of the Hong Kong Union of Employment Agencies, said the government unfairly singled out helpers for seeking better working conditions, something that was common practice in other occupations.

Foreign domestic helpers are working at a job. In other jobs, you can leave your employer when youre unhappy with the company to pursue a better opportunity. Are domestic helpers not allowed to have that right? he asked.

Helpers employed for fewer than six months have typically been allowed to resign with one weeks notice. That notice period grows to a month if they have been on the job for more than half a year.

Historically, once a domestic workers contract is terminated, they have been allowed to stay in Hong Kong for just two weeks to find a new employer

But as international borders began closing after the coronavirus pandemic hit, making it difficult for helpers who typically hail from the Philippines and Indonesia to travel to their home countries, the Immigration Department began granting conditional extensions of up to a month for those seeking new employers.

Employer groups have previously accused domestic workers of job hopping without a valid reason or even deliberately getting themselves fired to collect severance payments.

Some have also argued that the pandemic and associated shortage of helpers has worsened the problem, with such workers lured away for higher wages.

I wanted to stay [with the employer], because I needed a job, but I couldnt  because my health was already affected

Evangeline, a domestic helper from the Philippines

Helpers, who asked to be identified by their first names as their visas and contracts were being processed, told the Post job changes were often made out of necessity.

Evangeline, a 41-year-old domestic worker from the Philippines Davao province, said she fainted and was admitted to hospital in August from sheer exhaustion and hunger.

After that first-time experience, she decided to leave her employer  a couple with two young children  only two months into her contract.

I wanted to stay [with the employer], because I needed a job, but I couldnt  because my health was already affected, she said, adding her employer did not normally provide her breakfast and only allowed her to eat when her chores were done at about 3pm.

Evangeline said her employer once banged on her door at 3am demanding she wash a disposable spoon.

She has since found a new employer  a couple with a 14-year-old son  and is expected to start the job in December. She will earn HK$4,800 (US$616), slightly higher than the citys HK$4,630 minimum wage for domestic workers.

I came to Hong Kong for work and I do my best. As much as possible, I hope to finish my contract with the employer instead of having to find a new one. It takes a long time to look for a job, and its a big adjustment. I need the stability to provide for my family back home, she said.

Evangeline said she had a good track record as a domestic helper, working eight years in the Middle East cleaning mansions before coming to Hong Kong in 2017 and staying with her first employer for more than four years.

Merlita, a 41-year-old Filipino, left her employer in September after four months of rising tensions.

Hired by the daughter of a 95-year-old woman, Merlita said she was told she should complete her household chores at night or in the early morning as they slept in the small Hong Kong flat.

But any noise, even opening a cupboard, seemed to anger her employer, who would call her stupid and not good enough, according to Merlita, who said it began to affect her mental health.

She said she would frequently eat nothing but instant noodles during the course of the day, claiming she was provided no meals or a food allowance to supplement her minimum wage earnings.

I can handle the lack of sleep, working 6am to midnight, thats part of the reality, but its the stress and constant arguing with the employer that I could not handle, Merlita said, tearing up.

I wouldnt have resigned if she had treated me well.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Hong Kong domestic workers abusing post-contract grace period, officials say, pointing to jump in work visa rejections first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here.

Dear Prudence,

My best friend of 14 years and I recently moved in together after the purchase of my new home. One of his three dogs is 16 years old and has troubles with incontinence, using the steps to get into/out of the yard, and movement in general. The incontinence is no issue, as my friend is very tidy and regularly cleans up; however, recently as the dog has gotten worse, he has taken to leaving her outside most of the day and night. This was a questionable approach in the summer but as winter nears and temps are getting below freezing, I have been uncomfortable with this set up. I brought this up to my friend, and he said I need to mind my own business when it comes to his dog. I dont want to lose a friendship over this, but I cant sleep knowing she is outside when its 30 degrees with no shelter. Is there something else I can say to him?

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 Dog Woes

Dear Dog Woes,

Youre right to be concerned. Everything Ive read suggests its a bad idea for most dogs to be kept outside when it gets below 45 degrees. Its unfair that youre in this situation, but I think the compassionate thing to do would be to let the dog inside yourself and take responsibility for cleaning up the resulting accidents. The inconvenience this causes for you will ultimately be less upsetting than lying in bed knowing an animal is freezing and suffering outside. Be honest with your friend about why youre doing it, and share some of the easily available information that confirms that this isnt really an issue about which reasonable people can disagree.

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If he pushes back, or taking this responsibility becomes unsustainable for you, you should reach out for help. Im going to recycle some of the advice I received in a Were Prudence column about a similar situation. This came from Monica Potts, the co-founder of an animal rescue in Arkansas:

I would say my first advice would be to seek out a local humane society, SPCA, or shelter, if there is one. There may not be! Lots of more rural areas dont have one. She should try to find time to sit down with the directors, someone on the board, etc., and ask for advice. If she can get that far, they can come up with a plan to approach the owners. She can find out why they have the dogs, whether they want them, whether they could use help with them, and how amenable they might be to working with a rescue for rehoming them. If theyre on board, its better for everyone. Its always a good idea not to be judgmental in these situations. People have a wide range of ideas on how to treat dogs  If there isnt a shelter or nonprofit, she should find whatever local group of people DO care about dogs there. Theres bound to be some, and theres probably a Facebook lost and found group. Theyll know the contours, and maybe how to help the family and the dogs.

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So basically, there are undoubtedly people around you who dedicate themselves to giving animals better lives, and have experience nudging owners toward better treatment, and you should lean on them for support.

Finally, I completely understand that you dont want to damage a friendship (and roommate situation) over this. But this isnt about your friend taking bad care of his pet by, say, doing a poor job training him or feeding him too many table scraps. Hes actually causing this animal to suffer, and I have a hard time believing his indifference to suffering doesnt show up in other ways. I cant say for sure, but I would think about taking a step back and looking at this persons behavior in other areas of life and asking yourself how much you really value the relationship.

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Dear Prudence,

Recently on social media, I got bombarded with accusations of being a childhood bully from a stranger. She accused me of destroying her mental health and even driving her to a suicide attempt as a teen. I was completely baffled and promptly blocked this person. I didnt remember anything like that, but there were enough details in the messages that added uplike the name of the middle school I went to.

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I ended up reaching out to my mother and sister. My mother recognized the last name as one of our old neighbors, and it flipped a mental switch for my sister. It had to be the weird kid that rode on the same bus as her until we moved her freshman year. I asked if she had done anything to this girl, and my sister told me no. Other than not wanting to sit next to her and listen to her weirdness. She pointed out that the woman got us mixed up. We are three years apart, but have similar coloring and sounding names (think Ally and Callie). My sister told me this woman was projecting and couldnt be bothered to get the right sister. She obviously had issues.

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Exactly what sane person hopes to get out of a confrontation like this on social media more than a decade later? The conversation ended with both my sister and mother telling me to just ignore it and go on with my life. It is still sticking to me though. My sister was pretty introverted as a teen, and while I cant imagine her as being deliberately cruel, she could seem to be pretty cold. I know she would get up and move without a word if I annoyed her enough as a kid.

 Mix Up

Dear Mix Up,

I think Im with your mother and sister here. Just ignore it. I dont think a person who is in a state of mind that would cause them to rant on social media about a childhood bully is a person who is going to apologize or issue a correction.

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Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) Join the live chat every Monday at noon (and submit your comments) here.

Dear Prudence,

I just moved cities and met this guy on Instagram who seemed nice. He goes to the same gym that I go to and started following me. Now, I dont know why, but I feel like I shouldnt really be texting him. There are no red flags, nothing is off, and all that I have is this gut feeling that I should probably stop replying.

We havent talked about anything really, only our workout routines, and he let go when I didnt give him my number. Like Ive said, I only just moved, and hes the first person I met. Plus, I do have some relationship issues and can be paranoid sometimes. Im afraid to keep this going, and Im also afraid to make things awkward. What should I do? Should I trust my gut or wait? If I do trust my gut, should I tell him or should I just ghost the guy?

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 Instagram Pen Pal

Dear Instagram Pen Pal,

Listen to your gut! I dont know of any great love stories that begin with my instincts told me to run, but I didnt. Even if your feeling is off, no huge loss. You just moved to a new city, and there are tons of other guys who you might meet and feel excited or joyful about. Imagine that! Plus, by deciding not to pursue this guy you wont be missing out on anything. Would you really enjoy dating someone while battling doubt about whether it was a good idea?

And it sounds like hes received the message that youre not interested, so you can move on without making an announcement.

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Dear Prudence,

Settle a spousal debate. We live in the same small town as my wifes sister (Mary), her husband (James), and their kids. Although we spend time with them at biweekly family functions where our kids play with theirs, the relationship ends there. Mary and James have dinner parties and dont invite us, they recently bought a boat and have yet to take us on it, and they once rented a lake house for a week and never invited us over. On occasion, we support them (checking on houses while were away, taking kids to practices or camps, etc.) and they do the same for us. My wife talks to Mary every day, but James and I dont have much in common, and I have never been out socially with him. My position is that were not actually friends with them, just family, but my wife disagrees. Whos right?

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 Family, Not Friends

Dear Family, Not Friends,

I would lean toward just family, but different people have different definitions of both worlds, so Im not sure why the distinction matters. It sounds like you want your wife to acknowledge that you dont click with James and that he hasnt been particularly warm to youmaybe because youd like credit for that not-that-fun time you put in with him and Mary, or maybe because youd like to find some couples who are actually friends with and both really enjoy. If so, tell her.

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Dear Prudence Uncensored

What do you win if someone else says your wife and her sister arent friends?

Jenee Desmond-Harris and friends discuss a letter in this weeks Dear Prudence Uncensoredonly for Slate Plus members.

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Dear Prudence,

What is the etiquette for excessive perfume in a restaurant? Last night my wife and I were dining outdoors, and a couple was seated about 7-to-8 feet away from us.

Even at that COVID-safe distance outdoors, the perfume was so extreme and excessive our eyes watered and we had difficulty tasting our food. It was like walking through the perfume counter at a department store and being assaulted by every salesperson spraying a sample in your face. My sinuses burned all night from it.

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Is the proper form here to just grin and bear it, or would it have been acceptable to ask for a different table. Or since there were no outdoor tables left, and we could only move indoors, would it have been within the bounds of decency to ask the chemical warriors to be moved?

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 Fragrance Stinks

Dear Fragrance Stinks,

Yes, you can ask to be moved to a new table. No, you absolutely cannot ask that the people wearing perfume be moved! Come on, you have to know that would be unreasonable. Part of deciding to eat in public is knowing that you might encounter others who are doing things that are unpleasant to you, but are totally within their rights. It sucks sometimes, but luckily we all have the option to enjoy our meals at home.

Give Prudie a Hand in Were Prudence

Sometimes even Prudence needs a little help. Every Thursday in this column, well post a question that has her stumped. This weeks tricky situation is below. Join the conversation about it on Twitter with Jenee @jdesmondharris on Thursday, and then look back for the final answer here on Friday.

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Dear Prudence, Im a woman in my 20s living with a roommate. Shes mostly a good roommate, but she doesnt have many friends, and seems to want me to fix that for her. Whenever I visit a friend or chat over Zoom, shell always hint that she wants to join. She also says I should invite her to more things so that she can meet people. Thing is, I do invite her to a few events each month, and we hang out in our apartment, but I cant get any space from her. She never leaves our apartment except for errands, and sits in our living room all day where she can monitor my comings and goings (and guilt me as Im walking out the door). Ive suggested joining local groups or meetups (individually or together), but she refuses. What should i do?  There Are Plenty of People to Meet in My City

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Dear Prudence,

A very dear childhood friend and I stayed close into our adult years, despite living across the country from one another. Growing up, she was always somewhat unpredictable and hard to depend onwe were kids/teens, so the stakes werent that highbut I noticed in the decade following college that she seemed to be gradually becoming more manic and unreliable. A few years ago, she stopped returning my text messages and calls. After several months of trying to get in touch, I came to terms with the fact that I must have done something to hurt her, and I sent her one last text telling her I would give her some space but would always be here. Ive spent the months since that text trying to think of what I could have done and how I might fix it. The abrupt end to our relationship hurt me more than I thought it wouldI lost a close friend of many years (albeit someone who hadnt been a great friend to me in some time), but I also couldnt get over the confusion of how it had happened.

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I have recently heard through a reliable source that this friend isnt doing well. I wasnt provided any details, but it sounds like Im not the only one who hasnt been able to reach her, including close family, and this behavior may be more indicative of a mental breakdown or diagnosis of some sort. While I couldnt help feeling somewhat relieved to know that I may not have done anything to hurt her, Im also kicking myself for giving up on her. Im so far away, and if she doesnt want my help or my support, I cant force it on her. But is there anything I should have done? Anything I should be doing now?

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 Helpless Friend

Dear Helpless Friend,

When it comes to offering her support, what would feel good to you? Talking on phone once a week? Once a month? Offering her a place to stay? Helping her to identify the right therapist? Kicking in some money to pay for it? What are the conditions under which you would be happy to extend yourself? Would she need to be a good friend in return, or would you be okay if she was still unreliable and didnt have much to offer you? I ask because I receive a lot of letters from people who feel completely overwhelmed and burdened by friends who are dealing with mental health issues, or feel resentful that they dont get anything back. And I dont want you to reach out and offer to help, only to discover that giving her the help she asks for is too much for you. So be clear in your own mind about what youre willing to do, and then go ahead and reach out again, tell her youre thinking about her, and see if she needs anythingbut only within the bounds of what you can truly give.

Classic Prudie

My adult niece and nephew took my teenage daughter out of state to get an abortion. They told me it was a vacation, so I allowed it, but I wouldnt have had I known its true purpose. My sister is pro-life, and might well disown her children if she knew about this. Telling her would be a good way to punish them, but I do love my daughter and dont want her to feel responsible for whatever happens. Should I tell my sister or not?
Nazi furries were up to no good in 2017. Thats when mainstream outlets like Rolling Stone reported on this very weird but nevertheless very real threat skulking within Trumps America. Furries have historically faced ridicule from those beyond the walls of the fandom: on television, as with the infamous-among-furries CSI episode Fur and Loathing; online, as with consistent barrages of hate comments on furries TikTok Lives; and in journalism. The Nazi twist, to this last group of outside observers, was irresistible. When this story unfolded in the community four years ago, headlines like Rolling Stones Does the Furry Community Have a Nazi Problem? and the New Statesmans The Furred Reich: The Truth About Nazi Furries and the Alt-Right felt like an inevitability.

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Reading those stories, which were about something serious, you still caught a whiff of disdain. Consider the common, overly reductive misconception espoused in that second piece: [F]urriespeople who dress up as animals, occasionally for sexual purposes. The topic is tantalizing: an outcast group of seeming fetishists, broiled in fascist ideology, served with a side of scandal. But Nazis are a problem for furries, as they are for many online groups, and though reporting on it has mostly stopped, efforts in the community to oust these groups is ongoing.

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Its been a few years since the big stuff around Nazi furries happened, and its with a heavy heart that I report the right-wing members of the fandom are still around. They are diffuse and varied in their ideologies, and they continue to recruit members to their ranks. Things have changed for many of these fascist furries, though, and a lot of work has gone into reforming these few who stuck their paws in a bit too deep. Anti-fascism courses through the veins of this fandom, and the success of furries in deradicalizing those in their community shows just how effective anti-fascist efforts in some fandoms and online communities can be.

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Deo, a furry committed to the project of anti-fascist labor in her own niche, plays a part in reforming some of these people, and agreed to speak with me about it. Deo became famous in the fandom back in 2017, as furries and the mainstream media pitted her in a battle against the face of Nazi furries, Foxler Nightfire. Foxler and his Furry Raiders parade around in large mascot costumes, or fursuits, accessorized with a paw-in-circle red armband, in the style of a Nazi officer. Its tough to see a picture of Foxler and not emit an awkward laugh at the ludicrousness of it. However, the threats of harm from him and his followers are hardly funny.

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So, how do these sorts of people come to be? As a furry and a furry researcher, I often find myself clearing up misconceptions about what we furries do and what were all about, which is crucial background for understanding how Nazi furries are, like, a thing. Furries are a fandom in the vein of sci-fi, comics, and video games fandoms. Think Star Treks Trekkies or the kind of people who play Dungeons and Dragons. However, instead of a particular piece of media taking center stage in the fandom, furries are interested in depictions of anthropomorphic animals across numerous corporate outlets. Relevant inspirations in media include Disneys Zootopia, the Warrior Cats series, and the anime Beastars, among others

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Furries mix and match these various anthro-animal styles into their own unique creations, most notably the fursona. The fursona is a furrys alter ego: a new name, face, and species furries know and are known by in furry spaces. Foxler is the fursona of a person named Lee Miller. Deo is a Tasmanian devil. Im a wolf named Charlie. Often, we wear fursuits modeled after our fursonas, to play out online fantasies in real life. Furries strange and intense fascination in cartoon animals leaves many feeling lonely. Furries are also overwhelmingly LGBTQ-identifying, so this dual outcast status of queer identity and nerdy fixation leads furries to form community with one another where we can express ourselves in unique, furry-specific ways.

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For Nazi furries, the outcast component is crucial. As Deo told me, a lot of furries find their way into these hate groups when theyre young and still figuring themselves out. Many are closeted and hold inward resentment to their queerness. Nazi furries use degeneracya word deployed in the Third Reich to describe a stain on society that needed to be purged to secure a white homelandto draw a dividing line between themselves and other furries. These young, could-be-Nazi furries see openly queer people who share their same weird interest in cartoon animals. Because they have not accepted their own identity and are psychologically pliable, older Nazi furries can steer their inward resentment outward. They can take a stance: Being furry is fine, sure, but we shouldnt be degenerates. The process that follows is a cultlike descent into brotherhood, blood and soil, and (whats most feared) possibly acts of violence.

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Being a Nazi furry is a lot to deal with: managing fascism, furry interests, and possibly a closeted queer identity, as well as getting wrapped up in all the drama. People who find their way in get committed, though, and stick with the program. Deo explained, When your life is this thing, this hate group, thats all you have. Nazi furries, she said, follow the same pattern of other hate groups. They prey on the insecure, and give them a community and a higher cause. She said, Theyre people without a lot of power in their own lives, so the fandom is a place where you can exert that power. Or at least, you can also find more friendships and connections with other people. Some Nazi furries, especially those in the higher ranks, really believe they are on a path to a white ethnostate. Others are merely grifting. But a lot of them find themselves trapped.

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In 2017, Deo found out how far some of these furries were willing to go. She made a joke on Twitter about punching Nazis, in reference to the now-legendary video of Richard Spencer getting assaulted midinterview. In a complicated series of eventsincluding threats to her life, a ban from a local furry convention, a doxxing of her address, and a subsequent home visit by an armed cadre of Nazi furriesDeo unjustly became a villain in this story, somehow bearing the burden of responsibility for getting Rocky Mountain Fur Con, a large convention in Colorado, shut down for good. But things swung the other way, quickly. The CEO of the con (as the fandom calls conventions) was revealed to be a convicted sex offender, with a history of inappropriate actions toward minors, and a friend of Foxler Nightfire, who, beyond Nazism, faces his own allegations of child abuse. (Alsoalways the biggest sin, in Americathe con didnt pay its taxes.)

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When Deo came on the scene in 2017, her anti-fascist work was a lot more limited, and it was obvious to the casual onlooker. In the fallout from the shutdown of Rocky Mountain Fur Con, people in the community have reached out to her for help, and much of the work she does now happens in quiet logistical ways, like sussing out suspicious characters at events and conventions. Anti-fascist work, she explained to me, is mostly monitoring, seeing where trouble can happen before it does.

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To do this with furries requires expert knowledge on the ins and outs of the fandom, on the identities of those there, and in the ways furries desire things and one another. Furries love anthropomorphic animals, sure, but the real commitment to the fandom comes from the camaraderie of sharing that interest, the friendships, and the romantic pairings that ensue from liking the same things. Furries have an intuition about these interests and are embedded in these relationships, and having that intuition serves furry anti-fascists well in their efforts to curb the appeal of Nazism in the fandom. Anything viciously illegal gets reported to the proper authorities, of course, but as Deo reminds me, being a Nazi furry is not illegalits just really bad.

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Former Nazi furries have reached out to Deo in the years since 2017. Some of them seek her out for forgiveness for being awful to her until they realized they were wrong. Some just want forgiveness, in a grand sense, for committing themselves to something so atrocious. Most feel some sort of shame or embarrassment about it, especially if theyve grown in age since their foray into fascism. I asked Deo how she feels about these interactions, and she says she is sympathetic toward them. She doesnt want punishment for these furries; rather, she is happy to see them endeavor to have a more wholesome engagement with the fandom.

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I joined a group chat of these formers and asked about their experiences getting in and out of these circles. One who climbed up the ranks, remarkably enough as an out-and-open trans woman, felt the process of gradual radicalization after finding sanctuary among the furry far right. She said, I started going along with the peoples ideas in those groups, I listened, and read what they had to say, and this is where my empathy ended up sabotaging me, because they hijacked that part of me and I ended up feeling sorry for the lot of them. They have essentially become my online family. Her trans identity proved a useful tool for them: They were using me and my identity as an example of the golden trans to weaponize against other trans folks they come across, and to triangulate them against me. Its a lot harder to fight back against an adversary, when your adversary bears the face of the oppressed. Her way out was tough and gradual, as she fought with the feelings of abandoning her newfound family, however problematic they were. She made a new home in the fandom, eventually, with a new, supportive group of friends.

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Another former Nazi furry in this group chat confirmed the internal strife of queer furries wanting to purge degeneracy from the fandom. She said, [There are] a lotta gay people who hate themselves for being gay there. Self-loathing compensated with self-aggrandizement is a really weird combo that seems to be very common along these lines. This former had been a casual, mostly online furry in the years up to 2017. Her first hook into these far-right groups was her descent into Gamergate communities online, and she eventually found her first intense engagement with the furry fandom through alt-right furry channels. She said, I guess what attracted me to the whole #altfurry thing at the time was the seemingly ridiculous notion of Nazi furries.  The unmoderated discussion in these groups, all conducted under a veil of irony, was appealing to her. As with many people in these groups, what seemed like a joke to her at first became very real and terrifying. She said, I stuck around these circles for a while, but I knew something was wrong deep inside. She stepped out and gradually found her way into leftist furry circles, including a Discord server with Deo.

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After the events that hit national news unfolded in 2017, Foxler Nightfire is still active in his local furry communitiesthough without as much fame, and with a lot more ridiculeand some furries still identify as Furry Raiders and/or with other similar groups with their own leaders (whom I avoid discussing here to prevent any new traffic to these actors content). Deo continues her work with anti-fascism in the furry fandom. Not all Nazi furries find their way out; anti-fascists are nevertheless keeping their numbers low and their activities under close watch, lest an act of stochastic terrorism shine the spotlight on this weird corner of the internet yet again. In the meantime, that threat is always present, staying out of the light of the public eye, trying not to be seen.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Our son is 5 and started kindergarten two months ago. Almost immediately he started to have problems with a boy Billy that he had played with a few times over the summer. It began with issues like Billy taking his hat repeatedly and throwing it on the ground. Then Billy began slapping him regularly and eventually punched him a few times. All of these things were unprovoked. Our kid is quite gentle and a bit naive, so at first we had trouble convincing him to avoid this boy. We have had several incidents of name calling and egging on other children to say they dont like our son.

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More recently the child has prevented our son from getting out of his seat on the bus or taken and thrown his possessions when he is leaving the bus. We have contacted the teacher several times about the boys behavior. Much of it is taking place outside the classroom, so she says there isnt much she can do. She also doesnt think his behavior is very serious. We have also heard stories from other parents about even more violent behavior to their children. It seems like this kid needs help with his behavior. We are doing all we can at home to encourage our son to stay away from the bully, ask for help from grownups, and generally encouraging him to stand up for himself appropriately. We have also contacted the boys parents (to no avail) and plan to try that one more time. But I think we need the school to be more active in dealing with the bullys behavior. What should we do?

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Being Bullied

Dear BB,

Principals do a lot of disciplinary work in elementary schools, especially in places where the teacher isnt there in person (buses, the playground, lunchtime), which seems to be the case here. The bus ride can be particularly challenging when it comes to behavior management because it is a little bit of a no-mans-land. Its doesnt happen on school property, so its not quite the purview of the principal, but its not during a time when kids are under the disciplinary eyes of their parents. The bus driver is in charge of the bus, but their primary job is driving safely, so closely monitoring the behavior of children is not a very safe choice. Not all school districts employ bus aides on every bus, so there isnt necessarily another adult on the bus to monitor behavior. While some schools employ student safety patrols (typically fifth or sixth graders), its not really feasible to expect these students to closely monitor or reprimand students.

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So who is in charge of the bus? At my school, if there is an issue on the bus, we typically manage up to the principal. And if its an issue consistently on a particular bus, she is the person who would be expected to talk to the transportation department or the bus driver to address student concerns.

Based on your situation, your principal is where Id go next, especially if there are multiple parents with the same concern. You can encourage all the parents to send the principal an email explaining that your child has had the following issues with Billy, and that youve tried the following solutions (including asking the teacher and asking Billys parents). Even just one email to the principal about repeated incidentsespecially unsafe incidentsshould trigger at least some sort of investigation into whats happening with this child. If multiple kids are having problems, and some of them are violent, that should create more urgency in the administration to address the issue.

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If the principal cannot help you, my next suggestion would be to go to the head of transportation, or the superintendents office, depending on the size of your district. Write either of them an email, again explaining the situation and what you have tried so far. Eventually you should be able to land on an adult who can help you work through how to keep your child safe. Good luck.

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Ms. Sarnell (early childhood special education teacher, New York)

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My son is in the seventh grade, and he has told me that some of his teachers have said comments to him along the lines of, Youre acting like a five-year-old. I dont deny that he was probably fooling around in class, but am I wrong in thinking that that is an inappropriate way to handle it?

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Not Five

Dear Not Five,

Its not great but Especially given that you said some of his teachers, i.e., more than one, what it probably means is that (a) hes exceptionally immature, (b) the teachers have tried the other tools in their toolbox, and theyre not working, or (c) both.

I would first speak to your son and ask exactly what he was doing when the teachers said it. And then take his response with a grain of salt. He may not remember; he may lie; he may truly not understand what he was doing.

After you get his story, contact his teachers and ask about his behavior. If they mention that hes immature, ask for specifics. What is he doing? When and/or in what settings does he cause a problem? Have they found any strategies that help him correct it? Tell them, if true, that he works best knowing exactly what behaviors are expected. For example, You regularly horse around in line for lunch. I expect you to face forward with your hands at your sides and be quiet until youre seated in the cafeteria. If you cant do that, well have to make a plan to help you. Or Ive noticed when you dont get your way, you tend to make a lot of noise and disrupt the class. Its OK to feel disappointed, but I expect you to handle your feelings in a mature way and not take away your classmates opportunity to learn. If you need help, we can set up an appointment with the guidance counselor because she knows a lot about that kind of thing.

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Assure them that you expect him to behave himself and youll relay to him what you heard. Ask them to get in contact if theres a problem in the future. Then, send an email periodically to check his progress. Hopefully, that will do the trick.

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Ms. Scott (high school teacher, North Carolina)

I have a 7-year-old autistic child who is non-verbal. He goes to school in a typical district school, and he attends class in a self-contained classroom with 3 other students, a teacher, and 3 paraprofessionals including a 1:1 aide for him. He is the only non-verbal child in the classroom and has been using Augmentative or Alternative Communication

(AAC) for 3 years, but he is far from being able to express his concerns or feelings (mainly, he can ask for toys and food).

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He has been physically aggressive in the classroom mainly to the adults (occasionally another child) and every day we get a report that says he had a bad day and was aggressive again. Every. Day. (As a parent, hearing this so frequently is starting to take a mental toll on me.) We had some aggression issues at home as well, but called in extra help from our therapy company and have eliminated them using visual reminders and consistent routines now that school is back in session. Private therapy is going great with maybe one hit a week. Home behavior is typical. Even getting to school in the morning has become a pleasant 5-minute stroll for all parties.

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We have reached out and tried to schedule a meeting with the staff, but they state they are still too busy with the start of the school year and collecting data on his behavior to meet with us. They have had a behavioral specialist in, and the teacher states the specialist thinks they are doing all they can to support him already, although I havent seen any official report.

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We have no idea what is causing this kind of aggression in the classroom, but I am not getting any answers from the school, despite my asking. The teacher seems to be looking outside of her classroom for answers. She asks questions like: Is the extra help we are getting with transitions causing the increase in behavior at school? Is he getting enough good sleep? She also managed to meet with our private therapy company but did not include us. (When I asked about it, she said, Sorry.) She also lets us know that his teeth seem to be bothering him and that may be what is causing the behaviors. (Hes 7. Hes losing teeth.)

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While she has never outright said so, her lack of interest in getting us involved in problem-solving makes my husband and me feel like she doesnt trust us. (She absolutely LOVES our child per her emails). Our IEP is coming up, so our questions are: Is it typical for schools to reach out to private therapy companies without including the parents (we signed a waiver, but assumed wed be included)? What are our next steps to get our kid to a place where he can have an ok day at school for once? And maybe most importantly: What is a nice way to tell the teacher that we do not believe outside factors (including our parenting) are influencing in-classroom behaviors?

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My Parenting is Not the Problem

Dear MPiNtP,

There definitely seems to be a breakdown in communication norms here. While it is common for schools to reach out directly to private therapy companies, it is not usually in lieu of communication with families. However, I dont get the feeling that his teacher is intentionally blocking communication with your family or doesnt trust you. I can speak from experience that the last couple of years have been incredibly challenging for teachers, but none more so than special education teachers. His teacher is likely exhausted, and its possible that reaching out directly to the private therapy company may have been to get support in the quickest way possible. You mentioned that its draining to hear negative reporting about your child; it is just as draining to give those reports. Im giving her the benefit of the doubt here, but her lack of communication beyond the daily reports she sends and the questions shes asking could stem from wanting to avoid burdening your family, as she seeks to try to best help your child?

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First, Id review the language in the waiver you signed. I havent heard of many families signing a waiver that would prevent or supersede contact with your family. Gaining clarity there could be helpful. Next, I would show up after school one day and ask to speak with the teacher if they arent available to make an appointment. During the meeting lay out how you are feeling and make it clear that you want to play a more active role in finding sustainable solutions for your son. Your teacher is right about the process of collecting data and calling in the behavioral specialistthey must collect consistent data for at least 6 weeks before they can recommend any additional supports. Considering its only November, its likely they are just wrapping up their data collection.

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I would also start to document attempts to communicate with the school and educator. It is important to give space and grace, but you also want to be prepared if you need to escalate the issue. Documenting everything will give you the materials and context needed in the event you need to advocate for your son to receive additional supports or services. At this moment, I would take a deep breath and take stock of the issue as it stands. It appears your son has made significant progress at home, that is something to be very proud of. It also means similar progress is possible at school.

Mr. Hersey (elementary school teacher, Washington)

More Advice From Slate

My daughter is a freshman in high school, and she recently got an assignment in life sciences that seems inappropriate. The assignment is for the kids to identify someone in their family who died of cancer, and then students are supposed to research that kind of cancer and create a poster presentation to display for the entire school. This seems like a terrible idea, and an invasion of privacy. Should I talk to the teacher?
One of the latest chapters in the Facebook Files shows that despite large investments and improving technology, Facebooks A.I. consistently fails to detect harmful content. Perhaps most strikingly, Facebook employees estimated that a whopping 99.4 percent of the content that violates the companys policies against violence and incitement remains on the platform. The reason is that there is far too much to monitor by hand, so A.I. detection is essentialeven though it struggles with this difficult task. In the words of a senior Facebook engineer: We do not and possibly never will have a model that captures even a majority of integrity harms.

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This content moderation problem is not unique to Facebook; it plagues all the large social media platforms. However, at least with misinformation, the recent focus on content moderation is distracting us from something important: In addition to detecting misinformation on social media, A.I. can be a tool for defunding misinformation so it doesnt spread on social media in the first place. But its not being used for this second purpose nearly as effectively as it could be.

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The reason that a lot of dangerous misinformation exists is that it is, unfortunately, quite lucrative: Fake news brings real clicks, and with that comes real dollars in the form of ad revenue. If this ad revenue dried up, so would a lot of misinformation. We need to make it harder for publishers of misinformation to host online ads.

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Google is the largest digital ad company in the world. Like Facebook and Twitter, Google displays ads on its own sitesbut Google also serves as an intermediary connecting advertisers with independent sites that want to host ads. To do this, Google runs online auctions to algorithmically distribute ads to over 2 million non-Google sites in what is known as the Google Display Network. These GDN sites receive payment from advertisers for hosting ads, based on the number of views the ads receive, and they share a percentage of this payment with Google.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan U.K. organization Global Disinformation Index estimated that in 2019, disinformation sites brought in nearly $250 million in ad revenue, of which Google was responsible for nearly 40 percent. A Google spokesperson responded to a related GDI report by saying it is fundamentally flawed in that it does not define what should be considered disinformation; this methodological criticism from Google did not dissuade the leaders of over a dozen of the top philanthropic organizations in the U.S. from sending Google CEO Sundar Pichai a letter raising concern over the issues brought to light in the GDI report. The annual ad revenue for misinformation (a larger category than disinformation) was recently estimated by NewsGuard Technologies, a tech company aimed at evaluating news sources, to be more than $2.5 billion.

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NewsGuard identified more than 150 sites that published falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election between Election Day and Inauguration Day. It found that 80 percent of these sites, including One America News Network and Gateway Pundit, received ad placements from Google. NewsGuard also uncovered several examples of well-respected medical organizations inadvertently placing ads on, and thereby providing funding to, sites that published harmful medical misinformation.

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Google has policies disallowing certain kinds of content in the GDN. This includes some categories of election and health misinformation, and on Nov. 8 it added climate change denial misinformation to the list. Google first strips away the ad hosting privilege of individual pages that violate its policies; it only resorts to sitewide demonetization in cases of persistent, egregious violation.

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The enormity of ad distribution necessitates a semi-automated approach to detecting policy violations, so A.I. is used to expedite and scale up the efforts of human moderators. In 2020, Google demonetized 1 billion pages for policy violations. This is an astronomical number, but, as noted above, one particular revelation from the Facebook Files is that as much bad stuff as A.I. is able to catch, there is always a ton more that it misses. For instance, Facebook estimates that it only takes down 3 to 5 percent of the prohibited hate speech on the platformbecause thats all the automated A.I. detection system is confident enough to remove without human verification.

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A.I. systems are incapable of determining whether a piece of content violates a policy. What happens is the A.I. estimates the probability of a policy violation, and if this score is above a certain threshold, then action is taken. To keep the number of false positives low, the threshold for action is usually set extremely high. This is why investigations such GDIs and NewsGuards find so much misinformation sailing through Googles detection system despite blatantly violating Googles ad host policies: If the threshold is set to, say, 90 percent, then content with a score of 89 percent is deemed safe.

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Theres a painfully obvious way to do much better: These scores should also be used as penalties in the algorithmic auctions Google runs in which sites in the GDN bid for ad placements.

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Even much-maligned Facebook knows that this is how A.I. should be used. Despite only removing 3 to 5 percent of hate speech, Facebook has significantly reduced the amount of hate speech users encounter (what Facebook calls the prevalence of hate speech). Thats because it uses policy violation probabilities as penalties in the news feed algorithmso that the more likely a post is to be hate speech, the less likely you are to see it, even if the A.I. isnt confident enough to remove the post entirely. Facebook still has a long way to go, but at least with this downranking approach Facebook is using its A.I. effectively to help users see less bad stuff on the platform.

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Googles task is much easier than Facebooks, because Facebook must evaluate each individual piece of content whereas Google can use a sites track record to help assign penalties. In fact, Google already does this: It frequently touts its efforts to elevate quality journalism in search rankings by demoting sites with a track record of publishing misinformation. This has been a successful endeavor to some extentwhich is, in part, why Facebook and Google were both in the public crosshairs back in 2016 for their role in propagating misinformation, yet today we mostly hear about Facebooks failures. For example, Google thankfully did not repeat in 2020 its embarrassing 2016 debacle of ranking a WordPress blog falsely claiming Trump won the popular vote as the top result for the search phrase final election results.

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There is no reason Google cannot apply the same kind of demotion in its ad auction/distribution algorithm that it already applies in its search ranking algorithm for sites that publish misinformation. Google relies on a porous all-or-nothing approach to detecting misinformation in the GDN while sitting idly on a proven method that could help enormously.

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This is the peak of hypocrisy: In the private shadows of ad distribution, Google knowingly funnels money to the very same misinformation sites that it proudly fights in its public-facing search system.

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When asked for comment, a Google spokesperson wrote: We have strict publisher policies that explicitly prohibit a wide range of unreliable claims and misinformation. When we find content that violates those policies we block or remove ads from serving. Our enforcement variesit can be specific to an individual page or extend to an entire site, depending on the nature and pervasiveness of the violations. These strict policies are hamstrung by Googles needlessly anemic all-or-nothing approach to enforcement.

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We should continue the push for Facebook to fix its engagement-driven algorithms that are damaging our democracy, as well as the calls for more transparency so we can better understand these algorithms and hold Facebook accountable for their harms. But dont let anti-Zuckerberg hysteria distract us from the role Google has quietly been playing in financially supporting so much of the harmful content that ends up on Facebook.

To give Google some credit, it did eventually discontinue an earlier option for sites in the GDN to remain anonymous to advertisers (a popular choice for misinformation sites). And it recently added an option for advertisers to import dynamically updated host site exclusion lists curated by third parties, which can help advertisers avoid misinformation sites if they actively endeavor to do so.

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While Google is the largest ad distributor and so bears much of the responsibility here, it is not the only ad distributor funding misinformation. We need Congress to regulate the dangerous and dysfunctional digital ad market: require all online ad distributors to reveal their efforts to prohibit and downrank misinformation sitesso that there is at least some public accountabilityand mandate measures to make it easier for advertisers to make healthier choices of where to place their ads, no matter which ad distributor they use.

Thanks to Frances Haugen and the whistleblowers who preceded her, we know how much harmful content is on Facebook and how little the company has done to stop it. What we havent focused enough on is who profits from producing this harmful content in the first place and how we can stop it before it spreads and becomes both a technological and a free speech nightmare.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
ARCHIVED - Winter flights to Spain almost at pre pandemic levels



The UK is back on top with 3.5 million Brits expected to travel to Spain this winter

With coronavirus restrictions lifted and life pretty much back to normal in most regions, Spain is once again topping the list of desirable places to travel to, and international tourism is experiencing an encouraging rebound. Recent data published by Turespana which is governed by the Ministry of Tourism predicts an even bigger boost over the winter period, with 19.1 million flights expected to arrive in Spanish airports between November 2021 and January next year. This is just 8.1% fewer international travellers than pre-pandemic 2019 and represents a staggering 374.2% increase on the same period last year.

Its not all good news as many of the main air carriers will reduce their flight paths over the winter to lower levels than in 2019 due mainly to a resurgence of Covid cases in countries such as Russia, the United States and China. However, flights to Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium are all expected to increase substantially.

While an increase in tourists arriving in Spain is most welcome news for the economy, it is certainly less positive for the environment, and with world leaders congratulating themselves on their dedication to climate change at the recent summit in Glasgow, more flights simply means more harmful emissions.

Experts around the globe have already proven that the aviation industry contributes an enormous amount of greenhouse gas to the environment, and the president of the government, Pedro Sanchez, himself came under fire this week for blatantly disregarding the climate crisis by using private aircraft for ridiculously short journeys.

With Covid cases once again surging throughout Europe, November flights are expected to drop by around 24% overall as the uncertainty continues. The picture is slightly better in December, with a predicted drop of just 3.6% of international passengers while things will start to pick up again in January with an increase of 3.9%.

By country, the United Kingdom will once again top the list with a total of 3.5 million passengers travelling to Spain throughout the winter, followed by Germany with 2.6 million and Italy with 1.9 million people.

Image: Archive
The country is headed into a humanitarian crisis, says an expert advising the government.

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The daily Covid caseload is reaching record highs in Slovakia in mid-November, as are the numbers of patients in need of hospital care.

As of November 16, hospitals were caring for 2,879 people with Covid. Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky said on Tuesday ahead of the cabinet meeting that the situation in hospitals is very serious and he issued an order for all hospitals to restrict planned surgeries.

One day before Slovakia's national holiday on November 17, only 20 lung ventilators were reported available in hospitals around Slovakia for new Covid patients. Hospitals were reported to have approximately 600 beds available for new patients who do not require oxygen therapy, according to the Health Ministry. Minister Lengvarsky has ordered hospitals in the most affected regions to increase the number of Covid beds beyond the maximum originally set for this phase.

On the evening of November 16, PM Eduard Heger made an appearance alongside Lengvarsky and the experts advising the government on the pandemic. Heger said that in the next three weeks, people in Slovakia need to adhere to stricter measures in order to stabilise the situation in hospitals. He presented measures that should help slow the spread of the infection.

We have to act very promptly, Heger noted.

The measures are, however, not in effect yet. The government is scheduled to meet after the national holiday, on Thursday, November 18, to discuss them.

Experts proposed tougher measures earlier to decelerate the spread of infection but in the end, the government agreed and the parliament passed much milder measures than what experts proposed.

While neighbouring Austria imposed a lockdown for the unvaccinated, observers say Slovakia's politicians are simply not brave enough to make tough decisions.

Humanitarian crisis mentioned
National drug authority head recognised for her ucompromising attitude during the approval process of Sputnik in Slovakia.

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A local councillor fighting to change a street bearing the name of the president of the wartime Nazi-allied Slovak state, a psychologist who integrates disadvantaged people into society, and the head of the national drug authority who insisted on proper approval process for the Sputnik V vaccine in Slovakia: these are the winners of this year's White Crow award.

Laureates of the 14th year of the White Crow award for civic courage, handed out every year on November 17 with the exception of last year due to the pandemic, comprise the councillor from the central-Slovak municipality of Varin, Lenka Tichakova; psychologist Sona Holubkova; and director of the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) Zuzana Batova.

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova was also present at the ceremony. White Crows impersonate values of humanity, courage and determination, all of which played a historic role and helped end more than four decades of the communist totalitarian regime, the president said in her speech, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

Struggle over a street name
The problem of missing bus connections persists.

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The new operator of suburban buses in Bratislava Region, the company Arriva, will provide a 4,000 sign-up bonus to everybody who attains a job as a bus driver in the region before November 26, 2021.

The sign-up bonus will also be provided to employees, including drivers, dispatchers, and mechanics who have been securing suburban bus transport since November 15, the company said, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

In addition, based on a decision made by the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, bus drivers in the region should see a 5-percent annual increase in their salary.

Change of carrier in Bratislava Region causing problems Read more

Apart from the sign-up bonus, the carrier promises suburban bus drivers a salary of 1,500 and a referral bonus of 600 for everybody who motivates others to get the job. Moreover, the overall hourly wage should amount to 7.37, and bus drivers should also receive surpluses for night, weekend and holiday shifts.

About 100 drivers missing

Currently, Arriva is lacking drivers for around 50 connections, particularly those travelling to destinations in the districts of Pezinok and Senec.

We are intensively working on getting drivers behind the wheels, said Laszlo Ivan, head of Arriva, as quoted by SITA. As soon as we have drivers for these lines, transport will return to normal.

The representatives of the self-governing region estimate that the carrier is currently lacking about 100 drivers. The carrier says that suburban transport in the region should be secured by some 400 people, mostly drivers.

According to its timetables, the carrier is supposed to operate over 60 lines of bus transport in Bratislava Region around Bratislava, Malacky, Pezinok, Senec and Samorin. The company has over 220 buses, of which 120 are brand new.

Juraj Droba, governor of Bratislava Region, said that about 70 people are currently interested in becoming bus drivers in Arriva, adding that this might significantly solve the current situation.

The carrier is subcontracting the private transporters as well, claiming that they dont have enough work because of the pandemic, he noted.
But some restrictions will apply to the vaccinated in the districts with the worst pandemic situation as well.

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With nearly 3,000 people in hospitals, 80 percent of whom are not vaccinated against Covid, the cabinet has approved stricter anti-pandemic measures that will come into force next Monday, November 22.

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.

The main objective is to stabilise the critical situation in hospitals. As PM Eduard Heger stressed, they followed the recommendations of the concilium of experts, an advisory body to the Health Ministry.

I fully support these recommendations; I dont want to make political decisions, Heger told the press.

The stricter measures, limiting both those vaccinated against Covid and those unvaccinated, will be in place for three weeks. If the situation improves, the cabinet is ready to discuss changes to the alert system, known as the Covid automat, which will give certain advantages for people who were inoculated and those who have recovered from the disease (but the recovery confirmation cannot be older than 180 days).

Can I go to the hairdresser or shopping if I'm not vaccinated? (Q&A about new rules) Read more

We have adopted a lockdown for the unvaccinated, Heger said.

He also called on people to get vaccinated, as it is the only and safest way to defeat Covid.

What changes in the Covid automat?

The cabinet is introducing a new OP regime, which includes:

fully vaccinated people (no longer than one year after getting the vaccine);

people who have recovered from the disease and have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine within 180 days since recovery (but no longer than one year after recovering from Covid);

people who have recovered from Covid within 180 days with confirmation of a negative PCR test result;

children younger than 12 2 years;

2 years; children aged two to 12 with a negative test result (PCR/LAMP: 72 hours, antigen: 48 hours).

More Covid restrictions proposed, affecting mostly the unvaccinated Read more

Under the OTP regime, people must have one of the following: confirmation of full vaccination; a confirmation of recovery from Covid (no older than 180 days); or a negative test result (PCR: 72 hours, antigen: 48 hours)

More details of some new restrictions are to be specified by the ordinances issued by the Public Health Authority (UVZ).

Red districts

Face coverings: mandatory FFP2/KN95 respirator inside and mask at mass events held outside (with exceptions) and within a 2m distance (if people are from different households)

Entry to the workplace: confirmation of full vaccination, recovery from Covid no older than 180 days, or a negative test result (PCR: 72 hours, antigen: 48 hours)

NOTE: Until the end of the month, the cabinet has promised to financially help employers with payments for Covid testing.

Shops and services:

OP: 1 person per 15 square metres

OTP: only essential shops: 1 person per 25 square metres

Opening hours of non-essential shops and service providers: no limitations

Shopping centres: OP regime only

Mass events:

OP: 200 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max.

Basic (i.e. for everybody, including those not vaccinated and not tested): forbidden

Wedding ceremonies, funerals, christening:

Fully vaccinated: 200 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max. (except for funerals)

Basic: six people max.

Weddings, parties, funeral feasts:

OP: 20 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: forbidden

Church services:

OP: 200 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max.

Basic: individual pastoral care

Restaurants:

OP: inside: four people or people from one household at one table, 2m distance between tables; outside: no limitations

OTP: window point of sale, delivery service

Basic: window point of sale, delivery service

Accommodation facilities:

OP: without limitations

OTP: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes, business trips or long-term accommodation

Basic: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes or long-term accommodation

Sports events (limitations for athletes)

OP: 200 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: professional leagues only

Basic: forbidden

Fitness centres:

OP: 50 people max. or one person per 15 square metres; list of participants mandatory

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Wellness, water parks:

OP: no limits for wellness if it is part of an accommodation facility; otherwise, 10 people max.

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Swimming pools:

OP: 50 percent of capacity

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Museums and galleries:

OP: no limitations

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Dark-red districts

Face coverings: mandatory FFP2/KN95 respirator inside and mask outside with exceptions and within a 2m distance (if people are from different households)

Entry to the workplace: confirmation of full vaccination, recovery from Covid no older than 180 days, or a negative test result (PCR: 72 hours, antigen: 48 hours)

NOTE: Until the end of the month, the cabinet has promised to financially help employers with payments for Covid testing.

Shops and services:

OP: 1 person per 15 square metres

OTP: only essential shops: 1 person per 25 square metres

Opening hours of non-essential shops and service providers: 5:00 to 22:00

Shopping centres: OP regime only

Mass events:

OP: 100 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max.

Basic (i.e. for everybody, including those not vaccinated and not tested): forbidden

Wedding ceremonies, funerals, christening:

Fully vaccinated: 100 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max. (except for funerals)

Basic: six people max.

Weddings, parties, funeral feasts:

OP: 20 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: forbidden

Church services:

OP: 100 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max.

Basic: individual pastoral care

Restaurants:

OP: inside: four people or people from one household at one table, 2m distance between tables; outside: no limitations

OTP: window point of sale, delivery service

Basic: window point of sale, delivery service

Accommodation facilities:

OP: without limitations

OTP: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes, business trips or long-term accommodation

Basic: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes or long-term accommodation

Sports events (limitations for athletes)

OP: 100 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: professional leagues only

Basic: forbidden

Fitness centres:

OP: 20 people max. or one person per 15 square metres; list of participants mandatory

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Wellness, water parks:

OP: 10 people max. if wellness is part of accommodation facility; otherwise forbidden

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Swimming pools:

OP: 25 percent of capacity

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Museums and galleries:

OP: no limitations

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Black-tier districts

Face coverings: mandatory FFP2/KN95 respirator inside and mask outside with exceptions and within a 2m distance (if people are from different households)

Entry to the workplace: confirmation of full vaccination, recovery from Covid no older than 180 days, or a negative test result (PCR: 72 hours, antigen: 48 hours)

NOTE: Until the end of the month, the cabinet has promised to financially help employers with payments for Covid testing.

Shops and services:

OP: 1 person per 15 square metres

OTP: only essential shops: 1 person per 25 square metres

Opening hours of non-essential shops and service providers: 5:00 to 22:00

Shopping centres: OP regime only

Mass events:

OP: 50 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max.

Basic (i.e. for everybody, including those not vaccinated and not tested): forbidden

Wedding ceremonies, funerals, christening:

Fully vaccinated: 50 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max. (except for funerals)

Basic: six people max.

Weddings, parties, funeral feasts:

OP: forbidden

OTP: forbidden

Church services:

OP: 50 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: six people max.

Basic: individual pastoral care

Restaurants:

OP: window point of sale, delivery service

OTP: window point of sale, delivery service

Basic: window point of sale, delivery service

Accommodation facilities:

OP: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes, business trips or long-term accommodation

OTP: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes, business trips or long-term accommodation

Basic: forbidden, except for quarantine purposes or long-term accommodation

Sports events (limitations for athletes)

OP: 50 people max., list of participants mandatory

OTP: professional leagues only

Basic: forbidden

Fitness centres:

OP: forbidden

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Wellness, water parks:

OP: forbidden

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Swimming pools:

OP: 10 people max.

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

Museums and galleries:

OP: individual visits or 1 person per 15 square metres

OTP: forbidden

Basic: forbidden

More about coronavirus development in Slovakia:
PM Heger discusses lockdown for the unvaccinated. Police launch prosecution linked to yesterday's protests. Foreigners' Police in Trnava to be closed.

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Good evening. Catch up on the main news of the day in less than five minutes with the Thursday, November 18, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia. We wish you a pleasant read.

Cabinet adopts lockdown for the unvaccinated

Restrictions will be toughened up. (Source: TASR)

The daily Covid caseload is reaching record highs in Slovakia in mid-November, as are the numbers of patients in need of hospital care.

Hospitals were caring for more than 2,900 people with Covid as of November 18. Moreover, one day before Slovakias national holiday on November 17, only 20 mechanical ventilators were reportedly available in hospitals around Slovakia for Covid patients.

Hospitals were reported to have approximately 600 beds available for new patients who do not require oxygen therapy, according to the Health Ministry. Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky (OLaNO nominee) has ordered hospitals in the most affected regions to increase the number of Covid beds beyond the maximum originally set for this phase.

Several cabinet members have called the situation critical, while one member of the group of experts advising the Health Ministry even said that the country is heading into a humanitarian crisis.

To stabilise the currently bad situation, the cabinet approved several restrictions, affecting unvaccinated people in particular. They will take effect on Monday, November 22.

We have adopted a lockdown for the unvaccinated, PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) told the press on November 18. He added that some restrictions will impact those vaccinated against Covid and those who have recovered from the disease as well.

The new rules state, for example, that to enter the workplace, employees in red, dark-red and black districts will be obliged to show their employers confirmation of vaccination, confirmation of recovery from Covid or a negative test result. The cabinet promised to help employers cover the costs of testing their staff.

At the same time, mass events will be relatively restricted for people not fully vaccinated against Covid or those who have recovered from the disease, while non-essential shops and shopping centres should be open only for those fully vaccinated or those who have recently recovered.

More details are expected to be specified in an ordinance issued by the Public Health Authority (UVZ).

Heger said that when adopting the new rules, they followed the recommendations of experts, claiming he does not want to make a political decision. He also called on people to get vaccinated against Covid, calling the vaccination the safest way to defeat Covid.

If the situation improves, the cabinet is ready to discuss other changes to the Covid automat in three weeks, bringing more benefits to the vaccinated and those who have recovered from the disease.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you.

Other coronavirus and vaccination developments

7,616 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 22,206 PCR tests performed on November 17. The number of people in hospitals has increased to 2,904 people . Thirty-eight more deaths were reported on Wednesday. The vaccination rate is at 46.49 percent; 2,556,886 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here.

were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 22,206 PCR tests performed on November 17. The number of people in hospitals . were reported on Wednesday. The vaccination rate is at 2,556,886 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. Coronavirus deaths in Europe rose 5 percent last week , making it the only area in the world where Covid deaths have increased, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Covid-related deaths jumped by 67 percent in Norway and by 38 percent in Slovakia . (AP)

, making it the only area in the world where Covid deaths have increased, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Covid-related deaths jumped by 67 percent in Norway and by . (AP) The average age of people with positive PCR tests is 40 years and a majority of those who have tested positive are women, according to the data of the National Health Information Centre (NCZI). The age groups of 35-44 years and 45-54 years have the highest rate of positive cases, while the smallest share of positive cases is in the age group of nine years and below.

and a majority of those who have tested positive are women, according to the data of the National Health Information Centre (NCZI). The age groups of have the highest rate of positive cases, while the smallest share of positive cases is in the age group of nine years and below. State assistance for tourism should be prolonged from early December. The Transport Ministry plans to make it possible for businesses active in the sector to ask for aid for the months of September, October and November, said Minister Andrej Dolezal (Sme Rodina).

from early December. The Transport Ministry plans to make it possible for businesses active in the sector to ask for aid for the months of September, October and November, said Minister Andrej Dolezal (Sme Rodina). The armed forces will deploy 400 soldiers to help fight the pandemic starting Thursday.

Travel info

Rules for entering Austria will be toughened up from Monday, November 22. The country will no longer accept negative antigen tests; the only exception will be given to cross-border commuters. Still, in this case, the antigen test should not be older than 24 hours. At the same time, Austria will limit the validity of the vaccination passes to 270 days from early December.

Picture of the day

A Christmas tree was erected in downtown Kosice on Thursday. The spruce is 18 metres high and comes from the Ruzin area.

Christmas tree on the Main Street in Kosice. (Source: TASR)

Feature story for today

The European Labour Authority (ELA) officially opened its premises in Bratislava on November 9. Representatives of various EU institutions who participated in the opening conference, held on the same day, mostly stressed the ELAs role as a labour market watchdog and an institution ensuring the collection of real-time data.

One of the youngest EU agency officially moves to Bratislava. Expectations are quite high Read more

In other news

Three women (a local councillor fighting to change a street bearing the name of the president of the wartime Nazi-allied Slovak state, a psychologist who integrates disadvantaged people into society, and the head of the national drug authority who insisted on a proper approval process for the Sputnik V vaccine in Slovakia) were awarded the White Crow award for civic courage on November 17.

(a local councillor fighting to change a street bearing the name of the president of the wartime Nazi-allied Slovak state, a psychologist who integrates disadvantaged people into society, and the head of the national drug authority who insisted on a proper approval process for the Sputnik V vaccine in Slovakia) were on November 17. Given the deteriorating pandemic situation, the Foreigners Police department in Trnava on Paulinska Street will be closed between November 19 and 26 . Those who booked a date for their visit need to reschedule it in the electronic ordering system for the next available date.

will be . Those who booked a date for their visit need to reschedule it in the electronic ordering system for the next available date. The police launched criminal prosecution against an individual who injured two police officers during the November 17 protests in Bratislava organised by opposition parties, far-right and anti-vax groups. The culprit faces three to eight years in prison for attacking a public official.

during the November 17 protests in Bratislava organised by opposition parties, far-right and anti-vax groups. The culprit faces three to eight years in prison for attacking a public official. The regional prosecutor in Nitra cancelled the criminal prosecution for poaching related to the leaked police recordings from a hunting cabin in Nitra Region, citing its unlawfulness.

related to the leaked police recordings from a hunting cabin in Nitra Region, citing its unlawfulness. The new operator of suburban bus transport in Bratislava Region, the company Arriva , is still struggling with the lack of drivers . It offers several bonuses, including a sign-up bonus of 4,000, to those who take up the job.

, is still struggling with the . It offers several bonuses, including a sign-up bonus of 4,000, to those who take up the job. The construction industry is expected to stagnate in 2021 , posting a slight increase of 0.1 percent. It should grow by 1 percent next year, according to the latest analysis of Slovakias construction sector by CEEC Research. Large construction companies expect the market to drop 0.5 percent this year and to grow 1 percent in 2022, and small construction companies expect an increase in the volume of construction work by 0.3 percent this year and 1.4 percent next year. (SITA)

, posting a slight increase of 0.1 percent. It should grow by 1 percent next year, according to the latest analysis of Slovakias construction sector by CEEC Research. Large construction companies expect the market to drop 0.5 percent this year and to grow 1 percent in 2022, and small construction companies expect an increase in the volume of construction work by 0.3 percent this year and 1.4 percent next year. (SITA) Michal Feckan from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava belongs to the top 1 percent of the most cited mathematicians in the world. He received the prestigious Highly Cited Researcher 2021 award in mathematics for being cited more than 3,300 times.

More on Spectator.sk:

The late Slovak artist could have been American had his parents not moved back to Kysuce Read more

Japan to recognise the deep-rooted enthusiasm of Slovaks for Japanese pop culture with an award Read more

Bratislava runners and hikers enjoy a new Forest Park trail Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/after-hindu-activists-stop-muslims-from-offering-prayers-in-public-many-come-forward-offering-space-1090819187.html

After Hindu Activists Stop Muslims From Offering Prayers in Public, Many Come Forward Offering Space

After Hindu Activists Stop Muslims From Offering Prayers in Public, Many Come Forward Offering Space

Since September, some Hindu groups in the Indian city of Gurugram, Haryana, have been objecting to and protesting against Muslims who offer Friday prayers at... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T09:57+0000

2021-11-18T09:57+0000

2021-11-18T09:57+0000

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muslim

india

the hindu

haryana

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Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, a handful of people in India's Gurugram have offered private spaces to Muslims to perform their Friday Namaz (the weekly Islamic prayer).Speaking to Sputnik, Sherdil Singh Sindhu, the president of the Sona Chowk Gurudwara, said he has offered the basement of the Sikh temple (Gurudwara) to his Muslim brothers so that they can offer their prayers. "A gurudwara is a religious place, people of any religion can come and offer their prayers. The doors of our gurudwara are open to everyone", Sindhu said, adding: "We need to end this hounding".Although the district administration has allowed Muslims to offer prayers at eight public spaces, Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti  an umbrella body of 22 Hindu organisations -- since September has held up protest banners and shouted down Muslims who gathered for prayers in the Sector 47 area of Gurugram. Over the next few weeks, this agitation spread to Sector 12 and other areas.In October, some Hindu activists also submitted a memorandum to the Gurugram deputy commissioner, demanding that the district administration stop Muslims from praying in public. But the demand was not accepted.Last Friday, on 12 November, a few Hindu activists also spread cow dung on the ground to stop Muslims from offering prayers.Following the 12 November incident, 40-year-old Hindu businessman Akshay Yadav offered his private property - his home and vacant shop to a small group of Muslims in his neighbourhood for their prayers, the Indian Express reported.

Cross Bane Why is it that only muselims want to disturb the peace of others? And then they call themselves 'religion of peace'? Is this their way of expressing peace? By disturbing the life and peace of others? Why are they so anti-social? 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/assange-suffering-in-shocking-prison-conditions-us-diplomats-boycott-chinas-olympics-1090815344.html

Assange Suffering in Shocking Prison Conditions; US Diplomats Boycott China's Olympics

Assange Suffering in Shocking Prison Conditions; US Diplomats Boycott China's Olympics

Two unannounced inspections at Belmarsh Prison in London revealed that the embattled publisher Julian Assange is living in unbearable conditions. 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

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kyle rittenhouse

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Assange Suffering in Shocking Prison Conditions; US Diplomats Boycott China's Olympics Two unannounced inspections at Belmarsh Prison in London revealed that the embattled publisher Julian Assange is living in unbearable conditions.

Shane Stranahan, co-host of Fault Lines, joins us to discuss US foreign policy. A recent study shows that the US and its allies are causing a worldwide decay of democracies through attacks on voting rights, judicial independence, and freedom of the press. According to the report, "36% of all democratic "backsliding" has happened in the U.S. and U.S.-aligned countries, including Turkey, Hungary, and Israel."Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Two unannounced inspections at Belmarsh Prison in London revealed that the embattled publisher is living in unbearable conditions. The inspections found that the deplorable conditions are not compatible with an inmate maintaining a reasonable state of mental health and that precautions to prevent self-harm are almost nonexistent.Nick Davies, peace activist and author of "Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion of Iraq," joins us to discuss the Pentagon budget. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has said that the US needs to get its priorities straight as he plans for a no vote on the latest military budget. Also, retired US Army Major Danny Sjursen argues that the US empire is pinching pennies for its citizens and opening the financial floodgates for the military-industrial complex.K.J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss China. President Xi Jinping has identified 3 basic principles and 4 priorities for the Asian world power. After he met with Biden, the Chinese leader made it clear that the US must turn his words of moderation into action.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss the likelihood of the US joining in a military engagement to support the Neo-Nazi government of Ukraine and/or the island of Taiwan. Patrick Lawrence argues that the people of the US would not be willing to accept the losses involved in such acts of folly and that the US government is well aware of that reality.John Burris, civil rights attorney, joins us to discuss two major US court cases. The jury continues to deliberate on the Kyle Rittenhouse case, and the European Union is calling on Oklahoma to commute the execution of Julius Jones. A petition for the commutation of Jones's execution has garnered over 6 million signatures.James Carey, editor/co-owner at Geopoliticsalert.com, joins us to discuss Israel. In a move that some observers view as propaganda, Israeli security personnel are drilling for a potential "dirty bomb" attack ostensibly by Hezbollah. Also, Defense Minister Benny Gantz continues to ramp up hawkish rhetoric against Iran as he claims that Israel is ready to go to war with the Islamic Republic.Ricardo Vaz, political analyst and editor at VenezuelAnalysis.com, joins us to discuss Venezuela. The US State Department is again condemning the Venezuelan elections before they occur. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro lambasted the regime change neocons, stating that It is shameful how the Department of State intends to interfere in the internal affairs of Venezuela.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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venezuela, julian assange, bernie sanders, ukraine, taiwan, the critical hour, kyle rittenhouse, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/biden-xi-temporarily-reduce-tensions-but-no-progress-on-taiwan-south-china-sea-analyst-says-1090814832.html

Biden, Xi Temporarily Reduce Tensions But No Progress on Taiwan, South China Sea, Analyst Says

Biden, Xi Temporarily Reduce Tensions But No Progress on Taiwan, South China Sea, Analyst Says

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Presidents Joe Biden of the United States and Xi Jinping of China reduced bilateral tensions in their virtual summit but made no... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T02:52+0000

2021-11-18T02:52+0000

2021-11-18T02:52+0000

joe biden

opinion

xi jinping

us

china

arms race

meeting

taiwan

hostility

aukus

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Biden and Xi held a 3.5-hour virtual summit on Monday night Washington time (on Tuesday in Beijing). During the meeting, the two discussed further development of US-China bilateral relations, their positions on the Taiwan issue and a "new Cold War" and also discussed Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and the COVID-19 pandemic.The parties agreed that the meeting was "candid, constructive, substantive and productive," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.Glass Half FullThe two leaders conversation generated both good news and bad news, Five College Peace and World Security Program Director Professor Michael Klare observed.However, the two presidents failed to agree on steps to resolve any of the most divisive issues in US-China relations, such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and human rights, Klare acknowledged."That's the half-empty part," he said.At its best, the Biden-Xi talks set the stage for more constructive dialogue on some issues, such as trade and climate change, where the interests of the two countries overlap, Klare advised.Nevertheless, the meeting established a new precedent with both sides showing their willingness to participate in constructive dialogues to prevent tensions between them escalating dangerously, Klare noted."I do think the dynamic has been changed, in the sense that both leaders implicitly acknowledged that without some degree of dialogue and compromise, relations between the United States and China could veer into conflict, as Biden put it, resulting in a major conflagration that neither seeks," he said.Short of DetenteHistorian and anti-nuclear campaigner Joseph Gerson agreed about the importance of creating a new dialogue track at the highest level between Washington and Beijing.Gerson pointed out that Xi also proposed talks and cooperation with the United States on economic, energy, military, educational, technological, cyber and environmental protection."Lets do what we can to bring this Chinese dream into reality, where it would contribute to strategic stability amidst what Biden euphemistically terms the great powers intense competition'," he said.Even so, the current confrontational alignments of the United States and its allies in the QUAD (US-India-Australia and Japan) and new AUKUS (Australia-United Kingdom-US) against China could still in the long run prove to be more dangerous than the Cold War, Gerson warned.Serious tensions were also being generated by what Gerson described as "the toxic Washington consensus" that China now posed an existential threat to the United States and that therefore the current US-led global system must be defended at all costs, the analyst said.Embedded HostilityThis growing embedded hostility toward China in Washington was also reflected in the failure to hold any major commemoration of the American pilots, known as the "Flying Tigers," who 80 years ago helped to defend China against Japanese invasion and occupation, political commentator Professor John Walsh said.Walsh also noted the contrast between Xis appeal to Bidens status as a friend and the chilly official response that the Chinese leader received from the White House.US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that the US and Chinese leaders had discussed the necessity for nuclear strategic stability and arms control talks.However, China has no comments on that subject, Beijing Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday.

https://sputniknews.com/20211117/calling-americas-bluff-xi-biden-talks-confirmed-true-extent-of-us-ambiguity-on-taiwan---analyst-1090809827.html

vot tak And there wont any progress because israeloamerica want to dominate China, like hitler wanted to dominate Russia and europe. The israeli biden colonials are following on likudite trump quisling geostrategy that was created by israel to counter the multipolar challenge to israeloamerican supremacy as far back as the 1990s, as a continuation of cold war geostrategy of world domination. 1

vot tak The real question here is how will israeloamerica be brought down to a civilized earth without the sods doing a masada when they realize their delusions wont prop up their delusional ambitions. 0

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joe biden, opinion, xi jinping, us, china, arms race, meeting, taiwan, hostility, aukus
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/boris-johnsons-sister-rachel-reveals-pm-knew-epsteins-pimp-ghislaine-maxwell-at-oxford-1090833856.html

Boris Johnsons Sister Rachel Reveals PM Knew Epsteins 'Pimp' Ghislaine Maxwell at Oxford

Boris Johnsons Sister Rachel Reveals PM Knew Epsteins 'Pimp' Ghislaine Maxwell at Oxford

The revelation is likely to pile pressure on the politician, who has recently come under intense criticism because of several scandals, which have been... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T16:49+0000

2021-11-18T16:49+0000

2021-11-18T16:49+0000

boris johnson

ghislaine maxwell

jeffrey epstein

uk

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Boris Johnsons sister Rachel has revealed that he knew Jeffrey Epsteins "pimp" Ghislaine Maxwell at university. In an article in The Spectator she painted a colourful picture of the two hanging out together in the junior common room of Balliol College, Oxford in the Eighties.The journalist didnt elaborate on how well Boris Johnson knew Miss Maxwell, who is facing eight charges, including sex-trafficking of minors and enticing minors as young as 14 to engage in illegal sex acts.Rachel Johnson wrote that it is "hard not to feel a batsqueak of pity" for Maxwell, who has spent more than a year in solitary confinement.Ghislaine Maxwell is the ninth and youngest child of publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, and was part of the highest social circles in Britain and the United States. In 2019, she was thrown under the media spotlight after her former boyfriend and life companion Jeffrey Epstein was accused by dozens of women of rape and sexual abuse. The individuals claimed that Maxwell lured them into the hands of Epstein, by promising well-paid jobs at the millionaire's house. Some of the women claimed that she not only groomed them, but also took part in the abuse. Epstein was charged with running a sex-trafficking network of minors, but he didnt live to see the trial. He hanged himself in prison a month after arrest. Thus, Maxwell is the only person who can shed light on his crimes. Her trial is scheduled for 29 November. She claims she is innocent and insists that the prosecution has made her a scapegoat for Epstein's crimes.

Dolce Vita This site should not print he hanged himself  but rather it was said he hanged himself, but much suspicion still exists of that official determination . 2

TruePatriot So? This was college days long before GM met Epstein. These were the kids of the elites and this is the way things were done and went down. It's rather irrelevant at this stage. 1

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/brahmin-association-in-indias-tamil-nadu-goes-on-bride-search-in-other-states-for-40000-bachelors-1090818786.html

Brahmin Association in India's Tamil Nadu Goes on Bride Search in Other States for 40,000 Bachelors

Brahmin Association in India's Tamil Nadu Goes on Bride Search in Other States for 40,000 Bachelors

In India, people generally prefer to marry others in their community, especially when it comes to upper castes like the Brahmins. Though the trend is slowly... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T09:21+0000

2021-11-18T09:21+0000

2021-11-18T09:21+0000

tamil nadu

religion

india

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religion

tamils

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A Brahmin community association in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has launched a special drive to look for brides. The step was necessitated as more than 40,000 bachelors from their community are finding it difficult to find suitable matrimonial matches within their state.The association is now looking for women from their community who may be living in other Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.In an open letter published in the November issue of the organisation's monthly Tamil language magazine, Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association (Thambraas) President N. Narayanan said: "We have launched a special movement on behalf of our Sangam (community)".Quoting rough estimates, he said more than 40,000 Tamil Brahmin men aged between 30 and 40, could not marry because they were unable to find brides within their state."If there are 10 Brahmin boys in the marriageable age group, only six girls are available from the community", he told the media, while citing the challenges. He added that a gap in stature as well as inter-caste marriages are behind the shortage of brides.Talking about the initiative, Narayanan said that coordinators would be appointed in Delhi, Lucknow, and Patna. "A person who can read, write, and speak in the Hindi language will be appointed at the association's headquarters in the state here to perform the coordination role", he added.While some Brahmin people welcomed the move, there were also other views from within the community.Education advocate, M. Parameswaran said: "Though not enough Tamil Brahmin girls are available in the marriageable age group, that is not the one and only reason for boys not being able to find brides".He also cited the heavy expenditures on marriages as another reason behind the shortage of brides.Questioning the "pomp and show" in weddings, he said: "Why do parents of boys want marriages to be held in swanky marriage halls? What stops them from conducting the marriage in a simple fashion? Why not in a temple or at home?"It is the woman's family that has to bear the entire cost of the wedding and it is the bane of the Tamil Brahmin community, he further added.

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tamil nadu, religion, india, religion, religion, tamils, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/germany-puts-a-pause-on-nord-stream-2-1090814167.html

Germany Puts a Pause on Nord Stream 2

Germany Puts a Pause on Nord Stream 2

On today's episode of "The Backstory", host Lee Stranahan and co-host John Kiriakou discussed current events, including the Kyle Rittenhouse judge calling the... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T08:26+0000

2021-11-18T08:26+0000

2021-11-18T11:13+0000

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Germany Puts a Pause on Nord Stream 2 On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan and co-host John Kiriakou discussed current events, including the Kyle Rittenhouse judge calling the media coverage of the trial freighting', and the U.S. House censuring Republican Congressman Gosar.

GUESTPeter Oliver - RT European Correspondent and Sputnik European Correspondent | Austrian Lockdowns for Unvaccinated, Germany Considering Lockdowns, and Angela Merkel Still Seated as ChancellorDaniel Lazare - Independent Journalist, Author, and Writer | Foreign Policy, Identity Politics, and Kamala HarrisIn the first hour, Lee and John spoke with Peter Oliver about the protests in Austria, Nord Stream 2 paused in Germany, and the Polish border. Peter discussed the refugees stuck outside the Polish borders and how the weather conditions have caused deaths among refugees. Peter spoke about Germany being the desired destination for refugees and the asylum application process.In the second hour, Lee and John spoke with Daniel Lazare about immigration, intersectionality, and President Biden destroying the Democratic Party. Daniel talked about how identity politics has destroyed the Democratic Party and how traditional socialism is against identity politics. Daniel spoke about being a proud American and how other countries view American tourists.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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olympic committee, wisconsin, us, poland, iraq, pot, italian, melting, the backstory, , radio
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/glaring-omission-pakistan-slams-us-for-not-branding-india-a-country-of-particular-concern-1090826542.html

'Glaring Omission': Pakistan Slams US for Not Branding India a 'Country of Particular Concern'

'Glaring Omission': Pakistan Slams US for Not Branding India a 'Country of Particular Concern'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has redesignated Pakistan as a country of particular concern (CPC) under its International Religious Freedom Act for... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T14:04+0000

2021-11-18T14:04+0000

2021-11-18T14:04+0000

pakistan

kashmir

imran khan

narendra modi

bharatiya janata party (bjp)

india

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Pakistan has slammed the US for "ignoring" India's alleged crimes against its Muslim population. The move comes a day after Islamabad was redesignated a "country of particular concern (CPC)" over purported violations of religious freedoms of its minority population by the Biden administration."State-complicity in organised violence against the Muslim minority in India is a matter of record. It is no secret that attacks by cow vigilantes and mob lynchings of Indian Muslims take place regularly and with complete impunity for the perpetrators", the Pakistani official also stated.RSS is the ideological parent of India's federally-governing BJP.Both the BJP and the RSS are often accused of promoting a "Hindu nationalist" political worldview, which critics and the opposition say excludes Muslim and other minority communities. Muslims constituted nearly 15 percent of India's population at the time of the last federal census in 2011.The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson additionally said that his government was "deeply concerned about the rising trend of violence against minorities, particularly Muslims, in India and the increasing constraints on religious freedoms".The Imran Khan government in Pakistan has put the blame squarely on the RSS and its Hindu nationalist ideology for several recent incidents involving the alleged persecution of Muslims in India. Last month, Islamabad described the alleged vandalisation of mosques by frenzied Hindu mobs in the state of Tripura as "rephrensible".The Indian police have rejected claims that any mosque was targeted during anti-Bangladesh protests by Hindu organisations in the state. Muslim-majority Bangladesh shares a border with Tripura.Incidents of Muslims beng killed by Hindu mobs have risen sharply since Prime Minister Modi came to power in 2014. Several Indian news websites, including The Quint, have reported that poor Muslims have been increasingly targeted by Hindu mobs, sometimes fatally, for the mere suspicion of carrying beef. Beef is forbidden in the Hindu religion, although there is no federal ban on its consumption as such.Besides this, Pakistan's PM has on several occasions accused the Modi government of altering the demography of the predominantly Muslim Jammu and Kashmir region.The state of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of its semi-autonomous status by the Modi government in 2019 and bifurcated into two federal territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Pakistan, which also administers part of Jammu and Kashmir, rejected New Delhi's move and downgraded diplomatic ties with India.

https://sputniknews.com/20211118/after-hindu-activists-stop-muslims-from-offering-prayers-in-public-many-come-forward-offering-space-1090819187.html

https://sputniknews.com/20200430/imran-khan-accuses-hindu-supremacist-modi-govt-of-changing-demography-by-genocide-in-kashmir-1079142151.html

Cjango Freedman There are so many brands you can use for India. Gang rape capital of the world, proxy terrorist, fake democracy, extreme prejudice, most polluted, most corrupted, most people with (fake) college degrees who are useless, the most exploited of the poor, 3rd world country, AND, the most delusional (of grandeur). 2

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/health-becoming-priority-in-india-as-a-policy-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-indian-public-health-expert-1090797547.html

Health Becoming Priority in India as a Policy Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: Indian Public Health Expert

Health Becoming Priority in India as a Policy Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: Indian Public Health Expert

Dr. Kumar, who continues to lead and implement several health projects with the Indian government on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Visceral Leishmaniasis, says that... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T04:00+0000

2021-11-18T04:00+0000

2021-11-18T04:00+0000

world health organization (who)

india

public health

healthcare

covid-19

interviews

india

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Although the number of COVID-19 cases is declining in India, there are several other public health issues that the country is facing right now. In Delhi, the dengue outbreak is worsening and the national capital has reported over 5,000 cases this year. Another Indian state, Punjab, is witnessing its worst dengue crisis with over 20,000 cases this year. A similar pattern of other vector-borne diseases is being seen across the country. In Delhi, as the pollution levels are rising, experts have warned that it might aggravate breathing issues as well as severe respiratory conditions. According to doctors, threats to people with existing respiratory ailments, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) cases, are on the rise. Earlier this year, the devastating second wave of coronavirus pandemic crippled the Indian health care system as people were struggling for basic medical resources. Sputnik reached out to Dr. Preeti Kumar, Vice President, Public Health System Support at the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), to discuss the current COVID-19 situation in the country, rising non-COVID ailments as well as the Indian healthcare sector's preparedness towards future health crises.Dr. Kumar has played a crucial role in the healthcare sector while working with the World Health Organization (WHO), India's Health Ministry, and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM). Sputnik: The COVID-19 cases are receding in India as well as in some of the worst affected states of the country. In view of this situation, do you think India is heading in the right direction? Since there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases in other parts of the world, how can this affect India? Dr. Preeti Kumar: As rightly pointed out, other than in Europe, the pandemic is receding in all other parts of the world. However, this broad global picture hides a considerable level of heterogeneity in the level of epidemics within regions and countries. For example, certain states in the US and also in India (northeast India) continue to have a higher number of cases than the global average. Currently, India seems to be moving in the right direction, provided we do not have a post-festival surge of cases. However, any steady movement in the positive direction will be based on a multi-pronged strategy of high vaccination coverage, masking, good ventilation and social distancing, and an alert surveillance system that does not slacken testing of suspected cases. Sputnik: We are at the end of the grand festival season in India and last year there was an exponential surge in cases after these festivals, especially in Delhi. Do you think a similar pattern could occur this year too? Dr. Preeti Kumar: It is impossible to predict. Only data can inform. So, if positivity rates stay low despite a good level of testing, we can be optimistic that we will be able to tide it over. Seroprevalence data seems to suggest a high level of seroconversion in certain populations, particularly urban areas. Sputnik: There have been suggestions of an impending third wave in India. What is your opinion about this third wave? Do you think it might not occur in India? Dr. Preeti Kumar: Any pandemic results at the intersection of a host, agent, and environmental factors. At this stage, the most critical factor will be whether the virus mutates further or not. Our vaccination progress and masking with social distancing should be able to take care of the other two factors, provided the vaccines stay effective, which is most likely. Experience from Europe suggests that vaccines are holding well and the epidemic is worse in countries with poor vaccination coverage. Sputnik: The whole world is in a raging battle against COVID-19 and the main goal presently seems to be its eradication. But in India there has been a surge in other public health issues and non-COVID ailments. What might be the reason? Do you think if we keep neglecting these issues, they might turn into something bigger? Dr. Preeti Kumar: There is no aim nor was there ever one to eradicate COVID-19. It is not possible. Our aim is to bring down the level of infection so low that transmission stops  either through vaccination or non-pharmaceutical means as done earlier through masking and social distancing and even lockdowns. Some form or the other of the virus will continue to be in circulation and we hope it becomes less pernicious and behaves like a common cold. One of the fallouts of COVID-19 has been the impact on accessibility and availability of diagnosis, care, and treatment of other illnesses and ailments through delays. We must note that a very large percentage of the population accesses healthcare through the private sector. Thus closure of private clinics and hospitals did impact access to chronic healthcare needs and, particularly, OPD services etc. In contrast, the public health system resources  human resources, diagnostic labs, medicines  were totally geared, rightfully, to addressing the pandemic. It was a competition for limited resources to address immediate priorities. However, a fall out of COVID-19 has been this enormous realisation that there is a critical need to invest in and strengthen our health system infrastructure, human resource capacities, surveillance systems. There is a more holistic investment in health  pharma sector, scale-up of diagnostic facilities in the public sector, PMJAY investments, digital health etc. Hopefully, this will enable us to be better prepared in the future. Sputnik: There has been an increase in vector-borne diseases like dengue in several parts of India, especially Delhi. Over 5,000 cases have been reported in Delhi this year. What might be the cause of this sudden surge? Do you think the pandemic has contributed in any way? Dr. Preeti Kumar: Not really. Most communicable disease outbreaks tend to be cyclical. Moreover, dengue has been growing globally, year on year. This allows even low-resourced health systems to be alert, take preventive action and prevent hospitals from being overloaded by the case numbers. Even the best systems buckle under a load of cases that they are not designed to handle. Sputnik: In recent months, many cases of "mysterious fever" were reported in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, especially among children. Some people viewed it as the beginning of a third wave. Later, as per the government, some cases were diagnosed as scrub typhus, dengue, etc. What is the reason behind people contracting these diseases? Has the pandemic influenced our immunity, making us susceptible to these conditions? Dr. Preeti Kumar: Scrub typhus, dengue  are endemic in parts of our country and small outbreaks occur in different states over the years. A good sign is that people are becoming more aware of these conditions, more are being reported. Sputnik: The pandemic has highlighted several loopholes as well as opportunities to improve in several areas of India's public health system and healthcare sector. How can we use these lessons to handle other diseases and public health issues? What is the biggest takeaway from this pandemic for the Indian healthcare sector? Dr. Preeti Kumar: As I mentioned earlier, a strengthened and effective public health surveillance system is critical to address outbreaks of new and relatively unknown diseases, but which have a huge public health impact. The second is a strong primary healthcare system that is closest to the community, [which] is absolutely essential. We are still more than 60 percent rural. We need a strong network of primary health care providers who know their community - for early detection, diagnosis and treatment as well as for effective prevention measures to be taken. Sputnik: India is pacing up in its vaccination programme and the numbers are rising every day. If we talk about achieving herd immunity, where does India stand? Dr. Preeti Kumar: Herd immunity is only through immunisation. You do not want an infection to go through a population to achieve seroconversion in the community. So, we need more than 80 percent of the population to be vaccinated before we can talk about herd immunity  but we are making good progress.

https://sputniknews.com/20211102/less-than-10500-covid-19-cases-detected-in-india-first-time-since-february-1090407838.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210811/more-mutations-of-covid-delta-variant-may-be-behind-surge-in-breakthrough-cases-in-india-reports-1083582210.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211114/ongoing-coronavirus-pandemic-has-worsened-existing-challenges-facing-indian-diabetics-1090718895.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211021/dengue-fever-engulfs-delhi-with-surge-in-cases-among-children-1090092732.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210915/mysterious-illness-engulfs-indias-haryana-state-as-it-claims-nine-childrens-lives-1089087916.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/huhtamaki-packaging-plant-adds-new-production-line-1090830157.html

Huhtamaki Packaging Plant Adds New Production Line

Huhtamaki Packaging Plant Adds New Production Line

A new production line worth $2.7 million was launched at the Huhtamaki packaging plant in Ivanteyevka (a town in Moscow Oblast), the Ministry of Investment... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T07:59+0000

2021-11-18T07:59+0000

2021-11-18T13:56+0000

russia

package

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The regional government provides assistance to the company in expanding production: in 2018 the company was granted a land lease without tenders, where production and storage buildings were constructed last year."Huhtamaki" is a leader in packaging production in Russia. The company supplies its products to domestic and foreign markets. The new line will also work for both domestic and external markets. About 30% of products are planned to be exported to Finland, Hungary, and Turkey.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/if-indian-govt-allows-crypto-trading-it-could-create-bull-run-within-country-experts-1090790254.html

If Indian Gov't Allows Crypto Trading, It Could Create Bull Run Within Country: Experts

If Indian Gov't Allows Crypto Trading, It Could Create Bull Run Within Country: Experts

India's feelings about cryptocurrencies have been blowing hot and cold over the past few years. The countrys central bank, RBI, announced in 2018 that the... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T04:17+0000

2021-11-18T04:17+0000

2021-11-18T04:17+0000

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An Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance recently held a meeting with industry associations and experts on cryptocurrencies, during which a consensus was reached that although the digital currency cannot be stopped, it must be regulated.Jayant Sinha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian and a former minister of state for finance, chaired the meeting. The meeting was held just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a high-level review of the future for cryptocurrency in India.This was the first meeting convened by the parliamentary panel on the subject, which has generated a lot of interest as well as concern in various quarters regarding investment potential and risks.Sputnik asked industry experts to examine how the decision to regulate cryptocurrency could benefit millions of investors.Is India Open for Cryptocurrency?Talking to Sputnik about opening India up to cryptocurrencies, Hanif Shaikh, founder and chief executive of UpSocial Network, a blockchain-backed decentralised social discussion forum, said: India was always open for cryptocurrencies but the only thing was that it is not legal tender."It wont be legal tender even if crypto trade is allowed. However, it can be categorised as a digital-class asset.Saying that the parliamentary panel's agreement to regulating the cryptocurrency is a welcome move, Shaikh added that this was bound to happen purely from the perspective of the amount of investment that has gone into it in India.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has continuously raised concerns about cryptocurrencies, arguing that the digital currency poses a serious threat to the country's macroeconomics and financial stability.A day after the parliamentary panel meeting, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das again voiced his concerns over cryptocurrencies saying that there are far deeper issues involved and intense discussion is needed.However, according to reports in the media, despite the central bank's repeated concerns, the federal government is likely to introduce a Bill on cryptocurrencies during the winter session of the parliament beginning on 29 November.Talking about the federal government's change in stance, Gautam Kathuria, a senior researcher at Delhi-based public policy think-tank, The Dialogue, told Sputnik that after initial reluctance, the government has moved towards an attitude of cautious optimism regarding regulation of this sector.While recognising potential issues such as consumer protection and price volatility, the general tone of the federal government has been fairly positive in recent times," he said. "This shift in attitude has been reflected in comments by federal finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, who acknowledged the huge potential of this sector, as well as the global developments that have boosted adoption of cryptocurrency.The guiding light has been the Supreme Court's verdict in the Internet and Mobile Association of India v the Reserve Bank of India case, which found an outright ban on cryptocurrencies to be unconstitutional, Kathuria said.Possible Ways to Regulate the Digital CurrencyWith lawmakers forming a consensus to regulate the digital currency, the industry experts also shared their insights on the possible regulatory mechanism."Along with this, I feel there will be heavy regulations on crypto exchanges: the government can insist on the policy of Know Your Customer (KYC) with respect to those who are engaged in cryptocurrency trading along with the volume of trade to counter money-laundering.Reiterating that KYC should be necessary, he said the government might require crypto exchanges to share KYC information so people can't evade tax.Sharing thoughts on possible ways to regulate cryptocurrencies, Bombay High Court advocate Satya Muley told Sputnik: There is dire need for KYC protocols.""Blockchain lacks common KYC identification which essentially means that people can open wallets without having to present valid identification. KYC protocols can prove an important provision to prevent frauds.In addition, cryptocurrency can only be regulated if we can formulate policies for registering crypto exchanges in India and the same should be done for foreign crypto exchanges, who are keen on setting up businesses in India, he added. Frauds Still a Serious ConcernA man named Srikrishna Ramesh was arrested by Bengaluru citys Central Crime Branch police in November 2020 for procuring drugs using bitcoin via the darknet and peddling it to his high-profile clients.Further investigations revealed that Srikrishna was also a hacker who indulged in cybercrime such as ransomware attacks, hacking into bitcoin exchanges, looting cryptocurrency, money-laundering and cyber frauds, which netted multi-million rupees.Apart from this, the recent Squid Game crypto scam, where investors lost millions of dollars, also raises serious concerns about regulation.He said that this has been done for quite a long time by the crypto community but if they get support from the government and the regulators then it can be done better."The only way I can think of now is by educating the retail investors, which the crypto community is already doing. But if they get support from the government and the regulators, the job will be done in a much better way," Shaikh added.Talking about effective ways to curb fraud, Muley said people must know that there is never any compulsion to pay in cryptocurrency as it is not entirely government regulated and is not yet widely accepted by businesses. So, if someone insists on a crypto-based payment, it is definitely a red flag, he said.He also cautioned people about refraining from making a digital copy of their personal crypto details either on laptop, mobile or on emails.Along with this, people should enable two-factor authentication wherever possible and use a different crypto password for every crypto platform, he added.Muley further said that in case someone falls prey to such scams it is also important to remember that although various aspects of cryptocurrency remain uncertain in India, certain existing laws such as the Indian Penal Code (IPC), IT Act and Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act are equipped to deal with scams related to cryptocurrency.However, the advocate said that with the probability of more regulations coming into the picture, investor protection will be increased.

Thomas Turk India recently banned big denomination bank notes, so I doubt they'll go for a digital dream, with no intrinsic value, especially as they treasure gold and silver.. India having bought more silver in October than all last year. 0

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narendra modi, reserve bank of india, the reserve bank of india, narendra modi, crypto currency, crypto currency, digital currency, reserve bank of india (rbi), crypto market, crypto-trading exchange, india, business, economy, economy, finance, finance, business, economy
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/israel-invests-little-in-its-advocacy-efforts-and-that-will-soon-backfire-ex-diplomat-warns-1090821046.html

Israel Invests Little in Its Advocacy Efforts and That Will Soon Backfire, Ex-Diplomat Warns

Israel Invests Little in Its Advocacy Efforts and That Will Soon Backfire, Ex-Diplomat Warns

Israel has only poured 0.38 percent of its national budget into matters concerning diplomacy and foreign affairs. This was not only lower than the sum invested... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T08:20+0000

2021-11-18T08:20+0000

2021-11-18T08:20+0000

israel

middle east

palestinians

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A week ago, Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely was rushed out of an event at the London School of Economics after mobs of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside of the building and chanted slogans against her and against the country she represents.For many Israelis, the incident has opened up the wounds of the past and reminded them of 1982, when a number of terrorists attempted to assassinate Israel's Ambassador to London Shlomo Argov, an event that triggered the first Lebanon War. It also reminded the Jewish state of the need to explain its stance to the world.A Lot of Talk, Zero ActionDanny Ayalon, a former Israeli diplomat, who served as a deputy foreign minister, says Israel has always understood the importance of hasbara, Hebrew for public diplomacy, explanation, and advocacy efforts.That policy remained intact until the early 2000s when officials in Jerusalem realised they had a problem. In September of that year, the country was rocked by the Second Intifada, a popular uprising by Palestinians. Israel responded with force to that perceived threat. It didn't care to explain the logic behind its actions, and the world's public opinion raged against Tel Aviv as a result.In the United States, anti-Israeli protests, which were rather uncommon during the 1990s, have since become a regular phenomenon. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement took off, with campus activities against the Jewish state having grown much stronger.Although some 60 percent of Americans have expressed their support for Israel, polls have also indicated a public warming towards the Palestinians. And Ayalon says this trend can be put down to a number of factors.Not a Top PriorityYet, the lack of a common message is far from being the only factor hampering Israel's advocacy efforts. Another major obstacle is that hasbara was not the Jewish state's top priority, and thus it didn't obtain the necessary funds.In 2014, after "Operation Protective Edge" in the Gaza Strip stirred major anti-Israeli sentiment, it was reported that the Jewish state had invested only 0.38 percent of the nation's budget in foreign affairs.That sum was not only much lower than the funds invested by a number of European states, but it was also significantly slimmer than Turkey, Iran, and even the Palestinians.At the time, it was estimated that the Palestinians invested some $64 million a year on public diplomacy efforts. Israel, on the other hand, poured in just half that amount.Not much has changed since then. In the past couple of years, Israel, which has experienced political instability and four election campaigns, didn't invest much in its hasbara efforts.A portion of the problem stemmed from Israel having always preferred to focus on combating terrorism and saving lives, rather than trying to explain its stance. Another factor is that it has always counted on its economic and technological strength and hoped that it would outweigh the holes in its diplomacy.Now, however, says the former diplomat, Israel will need to reap what it sowed.

vot tak Another blade hasbara article. Thumbs down, 5th column. 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/israeli-couple-arrested-for-suspected-espionage-over-photo-of-erdogans-palace--returns-home--1090823597.html

Israeli Couple Arrested for Suspected Espionage Over Photo of Erdogan's Palace Returns Home

Israeli Couple Arrested for Suspected Espionage Over Photo of Erdogan's Palace Returns Home

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "and his government for their cooperation" in the... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T10:03+0000

2021-11-18T10:03+0000

2021-11-18T10:03+0000

recep tayyip erdogan

yair lapid

naftali bennett

turkey

israel

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The Israeli couple, who was arrested for photographing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Istanbul palace last week, have returned to the Jewish state.This came after a statement by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid announced the couple's release, stating that "after joint efforts with Turkey", Mordy and Natali Oknin were freed and "are on their way home to Israel".Bennett and Lapid also thanked the couple's family "for their strength during this complicated time and for their cooperation with the [Israeli] Ministry of Foreign Affairs".Last week, the couple was detained in Istanbul after they photographed the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, parts of which are reportedly used as Erdogan's presidential residence. Media reports at the time also claimed that thousands of tourists, among them Israelis, regularly take photos of the palace.The Turkish side, however, said that Mordy and Natali Oknin had been held for an additional 20 days on suspicion of espionage, allegations that were refuted by Israel.While the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that a third country worked to press Turkish leaders to free the Oknins, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat told Radio 103FM that "no foreign countries were involved in this solution".

https://sputniknews.com/20201006/israeli-couple-fined-after-having-sex-near-beach-violating-covid-19-orders--1080688671.html

Tiger Some really good news. Good to see them back home in Israel. Well done both the Israeli and Turkish governments. 0

vot tak Biased article. Typical presentation of mainly the israeli side of this issue from this hasbarat. Note there is almost zero info in the article from the turk side. Thumbs down. 0

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German Interior Minister Denies Reports About Berlin's Readiness to Accept Refugees

German Interior MinisterHorst Seehofer denied reports alleging that Germany declared its readiness to accept part of the migrants from the Polish-Belarusian border.

"An example of such false information today was that the federal government was allegedly ready to accept a certain number of refugees. It was about 2,000. I immediately contacted the Federal Chancellor and received a clear answer that this was false information," Seehofer said after a meeting with a Polish counterpart in Warsaw.

Europe in the future "will have to deal more often with the fact that with the help of false reports, attempts are made to exert pressure," he said

"This message is false. Everything remains as discussed by the Chancellor and the Polish Prime Minister as well as by us: everything we do, we coordinate, we contact each other and do not play politics behind the backs of our partners," Seehofer added.

He stressed that Germany was ready to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants who have ended up in Belarus, but does not intend to accept them.

"These people are an instrument of a hybrid strategy. Therefore, it would be in our European values to take care of supplying [humanitarian aid] to these refugees. What we are not going to do is accept refugees, succumb to pressure and say that we accept refugees in European countries. Because this will mean that the calculation [of the organizers of the scheme for promoting migrants] has worked," he said.
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/msnbc-barred-from-rittenhouse-trial-after-producer-found-tailing-jurors-1090837115.html

MSNBC Barred From Rittenhouse Trial After Freelancer Caught Tailing Jurors

MSNBC Barred From Rittenhouse Trial After Freelancer Caught Tailing Jurors

The trial of teenager Kyle Rittenhouse for shooting three men  two fatally  in what he insists was self-defence has become the centre of a nationwide media... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T19:38+0000

2021-11-18T19:38+0000

2021-11-19T19:10+0000

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MSNBC has been sensationally barred from the Kenosha County courthouse where Kyle Rittenhouse is on trial after a TV producer was discovered following the jurors.Judge Bruce Schroeder banned the national TV news network from the building on Thursday morning for the remainder of the trial after receiving a report from local police.The judge said that on Wednesday evening officers stopped a man identifying himself as James J. Morrison after he ran a red light, while he was trying to follow the blacked-out bus carrying the jurors between from the courthouse to their accommodation, at a distance of about a block.The man said he had been asked to do so by NBC producer Irene Byon in New York. He was handed a traffic violation ticket.In a statement later, NBC News admitted its role in the incident, saying the driver stopped by police was a "freelancer" and not a salaried member of its staff.The identity of the 12 primary members of the jury and the six reserve jurors has been closely guarded during the highly-politicised and controversial trial.Earlier in the trial, a man was detained by police after he was seen filming the jurors on his mobile phone, but was released after he assured them he had deleted the files. Intimidating jurors or interfering with their work is a crime in the US.The jury has been locked in deliberation since Tuesday on whether Rittenhouse was justified in shooting three men who chased and attacked him at a riot in Kenosha last August, killing two and injuring the third.The youth was 17 years old at the time but had traveled to his father's hometown with a group of adults to defend local businesses from looters and arsonists.'Hocus Pocus Out-of-Focus'Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger's prosecution case has come to hinge on a single computer-enhanced still of an aerial drone video his team claimed was left on their doorstep by an unknown person after the trail had already begun.Binger claimed the blurred image shows the right-handed Rittenhouse raising his AR-15 rifle to his left shoulder, moments before rioter Joshua Ziminski fired a shot from his handgun and Joseph Rosenbaum, a convicted child molester, began chasing the teenager across a car dealership forecourt.Rittenhouse fatally shot Rosenbaum four times at close range in the space of three-quarters of a second, with one of those shots proving fatal. A forensic witness said powder burns on Rosenbaum's arm showed he had seized the barrel of the youth's rifle.The defence team has twice filed motions for a mistrial. The first was after Binger defied Schroeder's rulings and tried to introduce evidence ruled inadmissible while cross-examining Rittenhouse.The second occasion was on Wednesday when the jury asked to review the key video. The defence protested that Binger's assistant Jim Kraus had failed to disclose evidence as he had sent them a lower-resolution version of the video, which had a very different file name to the one presented in court.Kraus bizarrely claimed that it was because the defence attorneys were using Android phones and he had sent the file from his Apple iPhone. The defence countered that the file was sent via an email that was opened and downloaded on a laptop computer. Media CircusThe trial has received enormous media attention, with rival groups of protesters gathering daily outside the court building.Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has put 500 National Guard troops on standby against the possibility of fresh rioting if Rittenhouse is acquitted. Schroeder commented on Wednesday that he was under attack in the media  as numerous netizens have accused him of bias towards the defendant or even being a secret white supremacist.Even his choice of mobile phone ringtone  the song God Bless the U.S.A. by Country and Western artist Lee Greenwood  has excited comment.Sputnik reached out to MSNBC for a comment on the incident.

https://sputniknews.com/20211117/rittenhouse-prosecutors-case-reportedly-on-brink-of-collapse-after-they-withhold-key-evidence-1090808118.html

wisconsin

kenosha

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wisconsin, trial, blm, kenosha, msnbc, black lives matter, kyle rittenhouse, tony evers
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/oops-democratic-campaign-committee-ad-uses-russian-plane-when-touting-bidens-infrastructure-plan-1090836257.html

Oops! Democratic Campaign Committee Ad Uses Russian Plane When Touting Biden's Infrastructure Plan

Oops! Democratic Campaign Committee Ad Uses Russian Plane When Touting Biden's Infrastructure Plan

US President Joe Biden recently signed his massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill into law, expecting the same fate for his ambitious spending package... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T18:51+0000

2021-11-18T18:51+0000

2021-11-18T18:51+0000

aeroflot

democrats

dccc

plane

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Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has rolled out an ad promoting Joe Biden's plan for the United States' infrastructure, but a little something from Russia appeared to sneak into the video as well.When the DCCC policy director, Molly Carey, is heard describing the infrastructure plan, which would mean "less traffic on the way to work, safer and more reliable subway, bus, and train rides, better airport experiences", a Russian Aeroflot airplane is clearly seen in the video.This raised a number of eyebrows online, with Mike Berg, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, sarcastically noting that "Russia-gate truther Adam Schiff should investigate them for incompetence". He was not the only one, with other netizens joining in.Aeroflot is Russia's biggest airline, with its planes having a signature Russian tricolor flag on their empennage - something one could admire in the DCCC video.

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Daria Bedenko

Daria Bedenko

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Daria Bedenko

aeroflot, democrats, dccc, plane
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/putin-summit-with-biden-opened-up-opportunities-for-russia-us-dialogue-1090835955.html

Putin: Summit With Biden Opened Up Opportunities for Russia-US Dialogue

Putin: Summit With Biden Opened Up Opportunities for Russia-US Dialogue

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The summit with US President Joe Biden opened up opportunities for dialogue between Russia and the United States and straightening out... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T16:36+0000

2021-11-18T16:36+0000

2021-11-18T16:36+0000

joe biden

world

russia

us

vladimir putin

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"The summit with President Biden held in Geneva in June nevertheless opened up some opportunities for dialogue and gradual alignment, straightening of relations. And it is important that both sides consistently develop the agreements reached. Something is already being done, we have to admit it," Putin said at an expanded meeting of the Russian Foreign Ministry's board.Putin noted that joint work had already begun on the problems of strategic stability and cybersecurity.Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that there are no specific dates for communication between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, but contacts are possible before the new year via video link."There are no specific deadlines yet, you need to be patient. Tthere is still no clear understanding when there will be contacts. Are they possible before the new year? Yes, they are possible. But maybe later. It will depend on how the presidents' schedules converge and what format they will choose," Peskov said on the air of Channel One.

alvaro.marfan In order to curb the so-called 'inertial' Brazilian hyperinflation during the 90s, the government introduced a macroeconomic tripod, consisting of a fluctuating exchange rate and inflation and fiscal targeting. This policy continued in the 21st century. 0

koursk koursk fortunately, the security services of the russian and chinese states are following the embezzlement projects cojointed by the gang of billionaires and dictators of the nato zone and related *** for poutin and xi, discussing with the heads of districts biden, macron, johnson, merkel ..., it's operetta diplomacy *** it will be necessary for the Russian and Chinese states to ruin the billionaires to dismantle the Nato and Euro zones, and bring stability and general interest to the planet 0

2

russia

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joe biden, world, russia, us, vladimir putin
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/refugees-gather-at-logistics-centre-in-belarus-after-poland-disperses-crowd-trying-to-cross-border-1090819356.html

Refugees Gather at Logistics Centre in Belarus After Poland Disperses Crowd Trying to Cross Border

Refugees Gather at Logistics Centre in Belarus After Poland Disperses Crowd Trying to Cross Border

Poland has advanced its border guard and deployed additional military personnel in the area amid the migrant influx, as situation on the border remains tense. 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T07:16+0000

2021-11-18T07:16+0000

2021-11-18T11:48+0000

europe

poland

border

poland-belarus migrant crisis

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Sputnik is live from the Bruzgi logistics centre in Belarus, near the Polish border, where thousands of migrants are stranded, as they attempt to get into the European Union. A group of refugees that previously tried to cross the border was dispersed, and at least four individuals were hospitalised, according to the Belarusian Health Ministry.Since July, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland have reported an increase in the number of illegal migrants arriving from neighbouring Belarus. Warsaw accused Belarus of facilitating the movement of migrants to the EU, which Minsk denied, saying that the country has no resources to tackle the influx of migrants due to western sanctions.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More!

Hess The refugees are in Belarus largely as a result of criminal wars waged by the United States, Britain, Poland and other NATO members over the past two decades. Belarus never participated in these war crimes. 11

Tom One Poland and common sense 1: 0 EU whod have just opened the door. Maybe theyve actually learn from history and the farce Merkel made. 6

7

poland

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europe, poland, border
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/russia-to-launches-new-special-flights-to-deliver-aid-to-afghanistan-ambassador-says-1090821578.html

Russia Launches New Special Flights to Deliver Aid to Afghanistan, Ambassador Says

Russia Launches New Special Flights to Deliver Aid to Afghanistan, Ambassador Says

KABUL (Sputnik) - Russia is organising new special flights to deliver humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Russian Ambassador to Kabul Dmitry Zhirnov said on... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T07:47+0000

2021-11-18T07:47+0000

2021-11-18T08:40+0000

russia

afghanistan

humanitarian aid

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The ambassador mentioned that several hundred Russian citizens remain in Afghanistan, and those wishing to return to their homeland will be evacuated on Thursday via military transport aircraft. Nearly 900 Afghan citizens studying at Russian universities will be transported to Russia in the near future as well, Zhirnov said.Three Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft previously arrived in Afghanistan, with each of them carrying 36 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the Afghan population.

TruePatriot Bravo Mother Russia. Well done. 2

1

afghanistan

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russia, afghanistan, humanitarian aid
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/space-exploration-could-lead-to-invasion-of-earth-by-viruses--microorganisms-scientists-warn-1090814306.html

Space Exploration Could Lead to Invasion of Earth by Viruses & Microorganisms, Scientists Warn

Space Exploration Could Lead to Invasion of Earth by Viruses & Microorganisms, Scientists Warn

Threat of Viruses & Microorganisms From Space Should Be Considered Carefully, Study Says

2021-11-18T00:27+0000

2021-11-18T00:27+0000

2021-11-18T00:27+0000

tech

outer space

virus

astrobiology

microbes

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The relentless improvement of space exploration may pose a risk of invasion, not by aliens, but by mycobacteria and viruses from extraterrestrial areas, BioScience reported on Wednesday.The threat is not as distant as it may seem, as despite precautionary measures by space agencies, bacterial strains exhibiting extreme resistance to ionizing radiation, desiccation, and disinfectants have been isolated in NASA clean rooms used for spacecraft assembly.The international community should develop the field of invasion science, which examines such threats and assesses their consequences. Scientists have stressed that protocols for early detection, hazard assessment, rapid response, and containment procedures currently employed for invasive species on Earth could be adapted for dealing with potential extraterrestrial contaminants.Invasion science has already adopted a number of ideas that work on our planet. In particular, the fact that remote and isolated areas, such as islands and lakes, are more exposed to the threat of contamination.Apart from that, scientists outlined the difficulty of prognosis in this field and the critical importance of early detection in managing microbial threats. According to Ricciardi and his colleagues, portable real-time DNA sequencing technologies, coupled with databases of known organismal contaminants, could facilitate rapid responses.The biologists also noted that greater collaboration between invasion biologists and astrobiologists would enhance existing international protocols for planetary biosecurityboth for Earth and for extraterrestrial bodies that could contain life.Earlier, a study, published in the science journal Astrobiology suggested that viruses may exist on exoplanets as well as on other planets of our solar system. Astrobiologists from the US and Japan theorized that virions, viral particles consisting of nucleic acid and proteins, could easily be expelled from atmospheres and attach themselves to other cosmic bodies.It is highly likely that they were thrown into space due to the astronomical number of virions and their small size. Or, for example, they could have arrived on Earth with meteorites. It has been proved that bacteriophages can survive under vacuum and cosmic ionizing radiation. Similar processes are likely to occur on other habitable planets.Meanwhile, pathogens are the engines of evolution and the emergence of complex life forms would be impossible without them. Scientists believe that the appearance of viruses is inevitable on planets with biological organisms.So far, there are no scientific tools capable of detecting viruses on other space objects due to the lack of common biomarkers for them. Scientists have proposed using transmission electron microscopes (TEM) for this purpose, with which it is possible to determine the presence of virions and their unique morphological features. However, TEMs, due to their size and weight, are difficult to install on spacecraft.

https://sputniknews.com/20200223/ufo-hunter-spots-suspected-alien-craft-near-iss-mulls-coronavirus-threat-to-extraterrestrials-1078386697.html

vot tak The threats of disease should be a global unifying issue, yet the israeloamericans dishonestly psywar this to promote their own zionist/fascist delusions of totalitarian control. 0

Thomas Turk Pathetic attempt to switch blame. Most know that Dr. Francis Boyle, a US Lawyer who has drafted bio-warfare Regs. stated.. The scientific papers verified the Australian health board working with Wuhan, genetically engineered HIV into SARS, They took that back to the [Wuhan] BSL4 and applied nanotechnology to it. The size of the molecules indicates to me we are dealing with nanotechnology. Verified is also that one of the cooperating institutions [to Wuhan BSL4]was Harvard. The chairman of the Harvard chemistry department, Dr. Charles Lieber, a specialist in nanotechnology, set up an entire laboratory in Wuhan. He specialized in applying nanotechnology to chemistry and biology. They tried to weaponize all that together. And that is SARS-CoV-2, which is genetically engineered bio-warfare agent to begin with. Second, it has gain-of-function properties, which makes it more lethal, more infectious. It has HIV in there. That was confirmed by an Indian scientist 0

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Alexandra Kashirina

Alexandra Kashirina

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Alexandra Kashirina

tech, outer space, virus, astrobiology, microbes
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/taiwan-shows-off-its-upgraded-f-16-fighters-supplied-by-us-1090838272.html

Taiwan Shows Off Its Upgraded F-16 Fighters Supplied by US

Taiwan Shows Off Its Upgraded F-16 Fighters Supplied by US

China, which considers Taiwan as a breakaway province, has repeatedly condemned Washington's efforts to boost the military of the island by supplying... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T19:07+0000

2021-11-18T19:07+0000

2021-11-18T19:07+0000

us

asia & pacific

taiwan

f-16

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Taiwans head, Tsai Ing-wen, has demonstrated the air force's 64 newly upgraded F-16V fighters, which are currently stationed at the military base in Chiayi located in the west of the island.According to the AP's report, another 141 F-16 A/B jets that Taiwan still operates will also be retrofitted by the end of 2023.The upgraded F-16Vs still remain in the fourth-generation class of jets, as major global powers, including China and the US, slowly switch to stealthier fifth-generation fighters.The ageing fleet of fighters was upgraded as part of Taiwan-US military cooperation, which has been strongly criticised by China. The latter sees Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory, but does not currently control it. The Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, have repeatedly noted that they are still planning to unify the island with the rest of the country.Beijing has never indicated that reunification will be achieved via military means, but Taipei and Washington both fear it is possible. US President Joe Biden recently threw his weight behind the island, suggesting that American troops would defend it in case of Chinese aggression. At the same time, POTUS later clarified that the US was not changing its policy towards Taiwan and does not encourage its independence from China. Biden stressed that it is for the island's people to decide what their future will look like.

https://sputniknews.com/20211118/congressional-think-tank-urges-us-to-take-robust-actions-on-taiwan-amid-tensions-with-china-1090815160.html

Kiwi More $$$ to US, more high maintenance expensive military junk to Taiwan, suckers!!! 5

Crookim This planes won't be able to even take off in a war against China, resistance is futile Taipei! 5

7

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Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg

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us, asia & pacific, taiwan, f-16
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/two-men-convicted-of-killing-human-rights-activist-malcolm-x-to-be-exonerated--1090819893.html

Two Men Convicted of Killing Human Rights Activist Malcolm X to Be Exonerated

Two Men Convicted of Killing Human Rights Activist Malcolm X to Be Exonerated

In 1966, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam were sentenced to life in prison along with Thomas Hagan for murdering Malcolm X. Hagan, who actually shot Malcolm X... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T07:38+0000

2021-11-18T07:38+0000

2021-11-18T07:38+0000

discrimination

us

racism

malcolm x

nation of islam

police

fbi

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Two men convicted of killing African American human rights activist Malcolm X are to be exonerated after more than half a century. Prosecutor Cyrus R Vance Jr said the prosecutors that worked on the case in the 1960s as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and police withheld key evidence, which if it had been presented, would have led to both men's acquittal.Mr Vance made the decision after a nearly two-year review of the case conducted by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and lawyers for the accused men.Among the evidence withheld were testimonies by witnesses implicating other suspects and pointing away from Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam. Investigators also interviewed a living witness mentioned in court documents as JM, who backed the alibi of Mr Aziz, saying he was not present at the crime scene and was at home nursing his wounded legs.Malcolm X: Assassination and TrialBorn Malcolm Little, he was a prominent advocate of black empowerment. In the 1940s, he became a member of a religious and political organisation, the Nation of Islam (NOI), which advocated separatism for black Americans. Members of NOI were told to replace their last names with X, which the group said signified African Americans' identity as an ex-slave as well as a marker for their lost ancestral name.During his time at the Nation of Islam, he made several controversial statements that garnered the attention of the FBI, which put him under surveillance. In his speeches, Malcolm X promoted NOI's teachings, including beliefs that white men were "devils" and that black people were the original people of the world.In 1964, he left the organisation over disagreements with its then leader Elijah Muhammad and the groups teachings, which Malcolm X believed were rigid. After completing the Hajj to Mecca, Malcolm X wrote that he had changed his thinking about race after meeting white Muslims during the pilgrimage.Two days before his assassination he told photographer Gordon Parks:After leaving the Nation of Islam Malcolm X received death threats. His wife Betty Shabazz received a telephone call with a man telling her that Malcolm X was "as good as dead".On 21 February 1965, he was shot by three gunmen at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, where he was set to give a speech. One of the assailants Thomas Hagan, also known by his Islamic name Mujahid Abdul Halim, was detained at the scene. A subsequent investigation identified two other attackers - Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, back then members of NOI. Prosecutors found them guilty and sentenced the men to life in prison despite both individuals having alibis backed by their spouses, friends, and other people and no physical evidence tying them to the murder.Moreover, Thomas Hagan twice testified that the two men were innocent. He said other men were involved in the murder, but refused to identify the perpetrators.The two men spent a combined 42 years behind bars. Muhammad Aziz was paroled in 1985. Khalil Islam was paroled in 1987 and died in 2009 at the age of 74. The review of their case was launched following the release of a popular documentary, "Who Killed Malcolm X?", as well as the biography "The Dead Are Rising", which identified William Bradley, a member of the Nation of Islam, as one of the attackers.Malcolm X's daughters too called upon law enforcement to reopen the case, citing newly-emerged evidence - a deathbed letter of a man who worked as a policeman at the time of the assassination. He wrote that the FBI and the NYPD mishandled the murder.Prosecutor Cyrus R Vance Jr apologised to the families of both men on behalf of law enforcement, which he said had failed the wrongfully accused.David Shanies, a civil rights lawyer representing one of the men, said the convictions had a "horrific, torturous, and unconscionable" effect. Even after their release, Mr Aziz and Mr Islam were viewed as the killers of Malcolm X, which affected their position in society, the lawyer argued.Phil Bertelsen, a co-executive producer of "Who Killed Malcolm X", said he hoped the results of the investigation would prompt US lawmakers to reexamine the assassination of Malcolm X and look into the possible role of the government in the case.

Removil Mata WHAT ABOUT COMPENSATION? 3

vot tak "look into the possible role of the government in the case." ... Of that there is no doubt. 3

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Max Gorbachev

Max Gorbachev

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Max Gorbachev

discrimination, us, racism, malcolm x, nation of islam, police, fbi
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/uk-agrees-to-sell-ukraine-warships-missiles-amid-increasing-nato-militarys-black-sea-presence-1090836811.html

UK Agrees to Sell Ukraine Warships, Missiles Amid Increasing NATO Military's Black Sea Presence

UK Agrees to Sell Ukraine Warships, Missiles Amid Increasing NATO Military's Black Sea Presence

The alliance's strategic bombers and warships have been regular guests in the Black Sea since 2014, when relations started to deteriorate between the NATO... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T18:13+0000

2021-11-18T18:13+0000

2021-11-18T18:13+0000

black sea

ukraine

uk

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UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has given a green light to an arms deal with Ukraine for lethal weapons despite Western countries previously claiming they would not be selling such armaments to Kiev. The sale mostly focuses on boosting Ukraine's naval capabilities and will be paid via a loan that became available to Kiev after signing an exports treaty with London earlier in November.The arms deal includes the sale of two mine countermeasure ships and the joint production of eight missile warships, as well as a frigate. In addition to it, London would help Ukraine build naval infrastructure and would upgrade some of its existing vessels' weapon systems.The defence ministers of the two countries, Ben Wallace and Oleksii Reznikov, made no secret of the prime goal of the new arms deal and the fact that it was aimed against Russia.Kiev, London and other western countries repeatedly accused Russia of posing a threat to the security of Ukraine and other neighbouring countries. Moscow, however, repeatedly rejected allegations and insisted on being a peaceful nation. It further rebuked Western countries for routinely carrying out military flights and sending ships close to its borders. In his latest address, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that NATO's strategic bombers fly as close as 20 kilometres away from Russian borders.The Black Sea region around the Crimean Peninsula became one of the main sources of tensions on the matter due to Western countries not recognising the results of the 2014 referendum that led to the peninsula joining Russia following a coup in Ukraine. NATO and Kiev insist on calling Crimea an "occupied territory".NATO routinely sends its ships close to these waters that Moscow sees as part of its territory, while one British warship outright violated them in June 2021. Reports based on alleged Defence Ministry's documents suggested it was a deliberate action. The Kremlin condemned such actions and warned that they might one day lead to serious incidents.

https://sputniknews.com/20211113/russia-slams-us-and-natos-aggressive-military-activity-in-black-sea-as-threat-to-region-1090707600.html

niz More junk for Ukraine.. The British make terrible ships unreliable and underperforming. Combine that with the fact the ships will not last 5 minutes in a real war and we have another case of the treasury of Ukraine being looted. The comedian is being generous to the UK but stingy as scrooge to his own. 11

greg1242 Russia should adopt Israeli policy on sending weapons to adversaries. Just like ISISrahell targets any and all weapons shipments to Hezbollah, Russia should attack and sink those ships. 8

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/us-catholic-bishops-stop-short-of-denying-communion-to-joe-biden-and-politicians-who-back-abortion-1090823170.html

US Catholic Bishops Stop Short of Denying Communion to Joe Biden and Politicians Who Back Abortion

US Catholic Bishops Stop Short of Denying Communion to Joe Biden and Politicians Who Back Abortion

The Democrat's outspoken support for unrestricted abortion as well as gay marriage has long put him at odds with conservative priests and constituents. Joe... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T09:06+0000

2021-11-18T09:06+0000

2021-11-18T09:06+0000

joe biden

catholic church

us

communion

abortion

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The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a document that stopped short of denying ommunion to President Joe Biden and other politicians who back abortion. Back in June, it was reported that the paper may include admonition of Catholic officials who disobey the Vatican's teachings on core issues, in this case abortion. Some reports even suggested that POTUS may be restricted from the sacred rite.However, the bishops used general language in the document, which didnt make any direct references to termination of pregnancy or individuals who support it.According to local media, the paper was approved in a 222-8 vote with three clergymen abstaining. It will still need to be greenlighted by the Vatican and any punitive measures imposed on officials need to be first discussed with the Holy See.In 2019, Joe Biden, who is a life-long Catholic, was denied Communion in a church in South Carolina over his support for abortion rights. Recently, Joe Biden has drawn ire from conservative priests over his stance on a Texas law that banned abortions as early as six weeks. The Democrat called the legislation an "unprecedented assault" on women's rights and said it "blatantly violates" a woman's constitutional right to have an abortion.Although some bishops and priests have advocated for restrictions on politicians who support the termination of pregnancy, the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis has opposed the measure. Last month, the pontiff met with Joe Biden and the Democrat said that the head of the Holy See called him a "good Catholic" and told him that he should continue receiving Communion.

Gone What is it with churches and women? 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211118/us-court-assembles-to-deliver-verdict-in-kyle-rittenhouses-trial-1090835253.html

US Court Assembles to Deliver Verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse's Trial

US Court Assembles to Deliver Verdict in Kyle Rittenhouse's Trial

Earlier, the court dismissed charges of illegal gun possession against Kyle Rittenhouse, a then-17-year-old who shot several protesters during unrest in... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T17:24+0000

2021-11-18T17:24+0000

2021-11-18T17:24+0000

trial

us

kyle rittenhouse

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A US court has assembled once again and is expected to deliver a verdict in the murder trial of Antioch, Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot dead two white men and wounded another during August 2020 BLM protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The verdict will be coming after the jury resumes their deliberations following a second request for a mistrial, alleging that the case against the 18-year-old was politicised.Rittenhouse himself, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, insists that he acted in self-defence after being allegedly threatened by some of the protesters. A judge has already dismissed unlawful weapon possession charges against him, citing ambiguity of Wisconsin gun laws in that regard.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more.

yaridanjo Irene Min Joo Byon Is the real villain in this case. She tried to DOX the jurors! 0

Max75 I don't understand the wall to wall media coverage. This case is some misguided young boy wants to help people whose property is under attack. Ends up shooting a few and a media circus begins. Meanwhile as an example a couple of thugs can shoot a mother, father and children sitting in their car, and other than that report you hear nothing more. 0

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Live outside Kenosha County court as jury reaches a verdict in Rittenhouse trial Live outside Kenosha County court as jury reaches a verdict in Rittenhouse trial 2021-11-18T17:24+0000 true PT1S

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trial, us, kyle rittenhouse, 
https://sputniknews.com/20211118/vice-chair-of-us-based-center-where-gulen-lives-says-reports-of-clerics-death-fake-news-1090839427.html

Vice Chair of US-Based Center Where Gulen Lives Says Reports of Cleric's Death 'Fake News'

Vice Chair of US-Based Center Where Gulen Lives Says Reports of Cleric's Death 'Fake News'

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Vice Chairman of the US-based Golden Generation Worship Sezai Sablak told Sputnik on Thursday that recent reports of Turkish cleric... 18.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-18T20:34+0000

2021-11-18T20:34+0000

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"That's a kind of fake news," Sablak said.Sablak said he saw Gulen as recently as five days ago and would see him again tonight for a Thanksgiving gathering at the center, where Gulen has lived in exile since 1999.Police in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania told Sputnik they had no information or reports about the Turkish cleric's alleged death.Pennsylvania's State Police, when contacted by Sputnik, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Turkish media reported that Gulen had allegedly been poisoned on his estate in Pennsylvania. Gulen's fellowship denied this information and published a video of the preacher praying. However, Turkish journalists alleged it was a montage of previously released videos.The Turkish government defines the transnational Islamic movement of Fethullah Gulen as FETO, which is an acronym for Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization, and has accused the cleric and his movement of being the main instigator of the failed coup attempt of 2016. Gulen and members of his movement reject the allegations. They define themselves as the Hizmet (service) movement and oppose being defined as a terrorist organization. The US government refuses to extradite the activist to Turkey.

Dolce Vita He is not an activist but a political operator in hiding which is the best way to describe him. Let is not sanctify him unnecessarily . 0

Hess It is common for homosexual males to live past their 80s. He is not dead. He just like to bring more attention. 0

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pennsylvania, us, turkey, coup, police, reports, fethullah gulen, muslim cleric
State legislation introduced in New York threatens to cut approximately $230 million in annual revenue from slot machines that's currently paid to horse racing tracks and breeders.

According to an article in The Albany Times Union, the legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, D-Brooklyn, and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, would eliminate the payments from slot machine revenues to hosting or adjacent horse racing tracks in New York as well as breeders.

The funding would be redistributed to schools, human services and other public uses, with a portion going towards agricultural grants, funding for horse care and the adoption of horses, and supporting economic development in communities that host horse racing facilities.

NYRA will vigorously oppose this legislation in order to protect jobs for working families, preserve the horse racing economy and ensure the sports success now and in the future," said Patrick McKenna, a spokesman for the New York Racing Association, which operates Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Race Track and Belmont Park. "Racing support payments are not subsidies. The payments from [slot machine] revenues are made to the Thoroughbred industry in part because NYRA transferred land and other intellectual property to the state in 2008, and has acted as the steward of the properties in the years since."

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

(With files from Times Union)
Watch and Wager LLC is set to kick off its 10th year as operator of Cal Expo harness on Friday evening (Nov. 19) with track record holder Pridecrest heading the featured $6,500 Open Trot.

The feature will go as the fourth on a 12-race program and Pridecrest will leave from the assigned outside post in the field of six for trainer Kathie Plested and pilot Mooney Svendsen.

Pridecrest trotted the fastest mile in Cal Expo history back on November 3, 2017, touring the oval in 1:53.2 with Luke Plano at the controls. He also owns the track record at Running Aces, going a 1:53.4 mile in 2018 with Steve Wiseman in the sulky.

Fridays main event will see him squaring off against Hypocrisy with James Kennedy; Major Al Mar and Tony Succarotte; Hot Chapter with Luke Plano in the sulky; and Jesses Student, who leaves from the cozy rail slot.

The co-feature goes as the ninth on the card and finds Its Pointless looking to add another Cal Expo victory to his resume as he leaves from the No. 8 slot in the $5,500 Open III Pace.

Its Pointless, who hails from the Gordie Graham barn, tuned up for Fridays outing with a smart qualifier last week, prevailing by a head in that 1:55.3 tour that should prove an excellent tightener.

Fans will find the return of three bets with a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate and a revised Pick 6 when harness racing returns to Cal Expo on Friday night. The three wagers with the reduced takeout are the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4, with the latter featuring a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool.

While the last meets Pick 6 was a 10-cent unique jackpot wager, the Pick 6 is now a 20-cent bet while returning to the old school format with an 80/20 split in place.

Last meets leading driver Nick Roland is set to compete in 11 of the 12 races on Friday night, while the last meets leading trainers Rick Bertrand and Gordie Graham have performers set for action throughout the evening.

Following the lone night of racing this week, the 46-night session will be conducted on a Friday/Sunday schedule with first post at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and 4:50 p.m. on Sundays, with plenty of simulcast action from out of state to supplement the programs.

Fridays simulcast program will include both harness and Quarter Horse action from Meadowlands, Woodbine/Mohawk, Lone Star and Evangeline Downs.

Overnight purses have been raised to a nightly level of $54,000, a level not seen since 2007.

(With files from Cal Expo)
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

"Insert the missing word: I closed the door to my ____." It's an exercise that many remember from their school days. Whereas some societal groups might fill in the space with the word "holiday home", others may be more likely to insert "dorm room" or "garage". To a large extent, our word choice depends on our age, where we are from in a country and our social and cultural background.

However, the language models we put to use in our daily lives while using search engines, machine translation, engaging with chatbots and commanding Siri, speak the language of some groups better than others. This has been demonstrated by a study from the University of Copenhagen's Department of Computer Science, which has for the first time studied whether language models favor the linguistic preferences of some demographic groups over othersreferred to in the jargon as sociolectal biases. The answer? Yes.

"Across language models, we are able to observe systematic bias. Whereas white men under the age of 40 with shorter educations are the group that language models align best with, the worst alignment is with language used by young, non-white men," says Anders Sgaard, a professor at UCPH's Department of Computer Science and the lead author of the study.

What's the problem?

The analysis demonstrates that up to one in ten of the models' predictions are significantly worse for young, non-white men compared to young white men. For Sgaard, this is enough to pose a problem:

"Any difference is problematic because differences creep their way into a wide range of technologies. Language models are used for important purposes in our everyday livessuch as searching for information online. When the availability of information depends on how you formulate yourself and whether your language aligns with that for which models have been trained, it means that information available to others, may not be available to you."

Professor Sgaard adds that even a slight bias in the models can have more serious consequences in contexts where precision is key:

"It could be in the insurance sector, where language models are used to group cases and perform customer risk assessments. It could also be in legal contexts, such as in public casework, where models are sometimes used to find similar cases rather than precedent. Under such circumstances, a minor difference can prove decisive," he says.

Most data comes from social media

Language models are trained by feeding enormous amounts of text into them to teach models the probability of words occurring in specific contexts. Just as with the school exercise above, models must predict the missing words from a sequence. The texts come from what is available online, most of which have been downloaded from social media and Wikipedia.

"However, the data available on the web isn't necessarily representative of us as tech users. Wikipedia is a good example in that its content is primarily written by young white men. This matters with regards to the type of language that models learn," says Sgaard.

The researchers remain uncertain as to why precisely the sociolectal characteristics of young white men are represented best by the language models. But they do have a educated guess:

"It correlates with the fact that young white men are the group that has contributed most to the data that models are trained on. A preponderance of data originates from social media. And, we know from other studies that it is this demographic that contributes most in writing in these types of open, public fora," explains Anders Sgaard.

If we do nothing, the problem will grow

The problem appears to be growing alongside digital developments, explains Professor Sgaard:

"As computers become more efficient, with more data available, language models tend to grow and be trained on more and more data. For the most prevalent type of language used now, it seemswithout us knowing whythat the larger the models, the more biases they have. So, unless something is done, the gap between certain social groups will widen."

Fortunately, something can be done to correct for the problem:

"If we are to overcome the distortion, feeding machines with more data won't do. Instead, an obvious solution is to train the models better. This can be done by changing the algorithms so that instead of treating all data as equally important, they are particularly careful with data that emerges from a more balanced population average," concludes Anders Sgaard.

The research article "Sociolectal Analysis of Pretrained Language Models" is included at the Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing (EMNLP) 2021.

Explore further New AI brings the power of natural language processing to African languages
Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma broke down in tears as the national anthem was played during the opening ceremony at the Bombay Stock Exchange, where the firm tumbled on its debut.

Indian mobile payments giant Paytm lost more than a quarter of its value on its market debut Thursday after raising $2.5 billion in the country's biggest-ever IPO, as traders questioned whether the loss-making firm would ever turn a profit.

Asia's third-largest economy has been in the grip of an initial public offering frenzy, with start-ups attracting billions of dollars in investment in a bright spot in the Covid-battered economy.

But while Paytm has established a leading position in the fast-growing marketplace for mobile payments it has lost money in each of the past three years and its market debut showed the limits of investor appetite.

Founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, once named India's youngest billionaire, wiped tears from his eyes when the national anthem was played at an opening ceremony before trading began at the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Referring to the phrase in the anthem "Bharat bhagya vidhata""the one who will define the fortune of this country"he said Paytm has "actually done that".

But the company's shares dived at the open and finished at 1,650 rupees ($21), down more than 27 percent from their IPO price of 2,150 rupees.

"There is a lot of euphoria for the digital space and that seems to now be subsiding," said SMC Global Securities analyst Saurabh Jain.

"These companies are coming out with IPOs at scorching valuations and it's anybody's guess what valuations are correct," he told AFP.

"It is very difficult for a company like Paytm to turn profitable. They have the scalability but they are not able to make money through their business model."

Following the debut, Paytm's market capitalisation fell from an IPO valuation of $20 billion to about $13.6 billion at the close of trade.

Rakesh Mehta, a 49-year-old Kolkata-based rice exporter, said he had bought 12 shares worth 25,800 rupees in Paytm, encouraged by Sharma's bullishness about his firm.

Sharma (L)  a schoolteacher's son who says he learned English by listening to rock musicretains a 14 percent stake in the business.

"I was shocked to see the price when it opened. I didn't get much of a chance to sell," Mehta told AFP.

"I was planning to sell 50 percent for listing gains and hold the rest. Now I have no choice but to hold on. If it goes anywhere close to my purchase price, I will definitely sell. I wouldn't want to risk holding it further."

Rock music

Sharmaa schoolteacher's son who says he learned English by listening to rock musicretains a 14 percent stake in the business, worth $2.4 billion at the IPO price but approximately $540 million less by the close of trade.

Other shareholders include Chinese tycoon Jack Ma's Alibaba group and associate Ant Financial, along with Japan's SoftBank and Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

Ant Financial sold 3.5 percent of its 28 percent stake in the IPO to meet regulatory requirements that no shareholder should own more than 25 percent of a listed company. Alibaba continues to own another six percent.

Paytm's platform was launched in 2010 and quickly became synonymous with digital payments in a country traditionally dominated by cash transactions.

It has benefited from the government's efforts to curb the use of cashincluding the demonetisation of nearly all banknotes in circulation five years agoand most recently, from the pandemic.

Nearly 22 million Indian shop owners, taxi and rickshaw drivers and other vendors accept payments as low as 10 rupees ($0.13) using Paytm's ubiquitous blue-and-white QR code stickers.

The platform had 337 million customers at the end of June, according to the company's regulatory filing. In 2020-21 it handled transactions worth more than $54 billion.

Apart from Paytm, Indian companies have raised a record $10.5 billion through IPOs in 2021 so far, including beauty retailer Nykaa, which doubled on its debut last week.

Explore further Mobile payments firm Paytm kicks off India's biggest IPO

 2021 AFP
Credit: Map: The Conversation/CC-BY-ND, Source: FCC

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by President Joe Biden on Nov. 15, 2021, was hailed by the White House and advocates as a historic investment to improve internet access in America.

As a researcher who studies internet policy and digital inequality, I believe the infrastructure plan should be celebrated as a historic moment for broadband, but not so much because of the money it brings to the table. Rather, it is because of the way the law treats internet access in America.

In the law, Congress finally recognizes that "access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband is essential to full participation in modern life in the United States." In other words, broadband access is like access to running water or electricity. It is essential infrastructure, the lack of which is a barrier to economic competitiveness and the "equitable distribution of essential public services, including health care and education."

If decades of academic studies did not persuade Congress to enshrine this vision in law, the images of teachers in school parking lots and students outside fast-food restaurants connecting to remote classes during the COVID-19 pandemic probably did.

The law goes further by acknowledging that the "digital divide disproportionately affects communities of color, lower-income areas, and rural areas," and orders the Federal Communications Commission to take action against discrimination of access based on income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion or national origin. This is an important recognition of the role that broadband access plays in perpetuating cycles of poverty and community underdevelopment.

Many studies, including my own, have documented how investments in fiber-optic lines and related next-generation broadband infrastructure are going to more affluent communities, often bypassing low-income residents in highly urbanized areas such as Los Angeles and Detroit. The law not only empowers the FCC to monitor and correct such practices, but also helps align private investment incentives with public benefits by creating the Affordable Connectivity Fund, a permanent broadband subsidy for low-income households.

Broadband investment by the numbers

The act provides $65 billion in new funding for expanding broadband infrastructure and promoting adoption. The largest of the law's many components is the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, which goes to the states to administer as block grants to expand broadband networks. The second-largest piece is the $14.2 billion Affordable Connectivity Fund, which subsidizes eligible households with $30 per month for internet access.

Other components include the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, the $2 billion Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program and the $1 billion Middle Mile Grants program.

This is a lot of needed funding, but broadband has a high bar when it comes to historic investments. The FCC's E-rate program, created in 1996 to help connect schools and libraries, has an annual budget of $4.2 billion. The Connect America Fund, created in 2011 to subsidize the cost of broadband deployment in high-cost areas, has a budget of $5 billion. Lifeline, created in 1996 to help low-income consumers pay for phone and internet, has a budget of $2.5 billion. Add up these investments over the years, and a one-time $65 billion investment seems less historic than the headlines suggest.

Credit: Map: The Conversation U.S. CC-BY-ND, Source: BroadbandNow

Building state capacity

Getting people connected involves more than making broadband available and more affordable. It also involves digital literacy training and raising awareness about connectivity opportunities. In a recent study in California, my colleagues and I found that only 1 in 5 low-income residents were aware of the Emergency Broadband Benefit, a federal subsidy program launched in early 2021 to address pandemic-related disruptions to internet access.

The new law acknowledges this challenge and creates two programsthe State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Programthat seek to build state capacity and promote broadband adoption through local community organizations. This marks a significant departure from the "build it and they will come" approach that has guided federal broadband policymaking for decades.

The provision that prevents states from excluding cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, public utilities and local governments from obtaining broadband infrastructure funding is another important change from the policy status quo.

Earlier drafts of the bill containing language that prioritized these entities for grant allocation were fiercely opposed by industry, which aimed to blunt competition from nonprofits and the public sector. In the end, the compromise language allows states to fund public and nonprofit networks but does not preempt state laws that bar municipal governments from running ISPs of their own. Despite the toned-down support for public and nonprofit broadband, the law signals a shift in favor of alternative models of network deployment and broadband provision.

Making broadband affordable

Many of the law's key provisions are left to be implemented at the state level. This raises legitimate questions given that several states have a poor track record of prioritizing equity in the allocation of federal funds in related areas such as transportation.

An example is the law's mandate that recipients of network deployment grants must offer at least one low-cost service option for eligible subscribers. The law leaves the definition of low-cost and the eligibility guidelines up to states, though in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. If history provides any guidance, industry incumbents are well positioned to bend rules in their favor at the state level.

At the very least, I believe the FCC's current affordability benchmark of 2% of disposable household income going toward phone and internet services should serve as the starting point for these discussions. My colleagues and I showed that current expenditure on residential broadband alone for most low-income households far exceeds this benchmark.

Not surprisingly, as many as 1 in 4 low-income households in our survey reported having cut essential expenses such as health care, food or clothing to pay for broadband since the start of the pandemic. Lack of affordability disproportionately affects minority households, with Black residents, Native Americans and those who identify as Hispanic twice as likely to report having to cut essential expenses to pay for internet access.

A departure from business as usual

Congress has long recognized the value of public investments in transportation, electricity and other essential infrastructure systems. These systems provide benefits for individuals, for businesses and for communities that go well beyond their price tag. They are considered essential because they connect people to jobs, to health care and to educational opportunities.

For too long, broadband was largely left out of this select list. By correcting course, the new law is an important step toward affordable internet for all.

Explore further $1B in grants to go for broadband on tribal lands

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Vismar UK, Shutterstock

Dynamic cable testing conducted as part of the EU-funded MARINET2 project has yielded promising results for extending the fatigue life of cables used in future floating offshore wind applications. The tests showed that the addition of a device known as a bend stiffener helps power cables survive 3.7 times as many cycles and makes them 72.5 percent stiffer than the power cable alone.

Bend stiffeners are employed in fixed and floating offshore wind farms to protect flexible pipes and subsea cables from overbending. The elastomeric material from which they are manufactured makes them suited to the constant wave- and current-induced motion of dynamic installations. Thanks to their conical shape, bend stiffenersas their name suggestsgradually increase the overall stiffness of a pipe or cable, preventing overbending at the termination point.

The testing took place at MARINET2 project partner University of Exeter, United Kingdom. The dynamic cable used was designed and manufactured by Hellenic Cables and the bend stiffener by British company CRP Subsea Ltd. The power cable was tested with and without the bend stiffener to compare performance and fatigue.

The performance characterisation testing involved bending the cable to a 3.7 degree angle at the headstock while holding a constant force of 40, 60 and 80 kilonewtons (kN) at the tailstock over a 10-second cycle period. During the fatigue testing, the cable was bent to 4 while holding a constant force of 80 kN. The cycle period was steadily decreased from 10 seconds to 1 second to minimize the overall test duration. George Georgallis, head of Cable Engineering at Hellenic Cables, described the fatigue test results for the power cable coupled with the bend stiffener as "very encouraging" in a news item posted on the "Ocean News & Technology' website.

The benefits of the bend stiffener

"These results are encouraging but expected and explain why the use of a CRP Subsea Bend Stiffener in such a system is critical," observed Principal Design Engineer John Duggan of CRP Subsea. "The CRP Subsea Bend Stiffener material has undergone an extensive and rigorous material qualification. This along with the comprehensive design methodology, manufacturing, and quality systems have been fully reviewed and approved by Lloyds Register. Our Bend Stiffener is designed to maintain a cable or flexible pipe above a given minimum bend radius in a dynamic application. This, in turn, increases the life of the product by protecting it against damage and fatigue, which can result due to over bending."

Leading ocean energy and technology researcher Prof. Lars Johanning of the University of Exeter spoke about the project's contribution to environmental protection and the economy: "Floating offshore wind power will be a vital component in achieving global Net Zero targets. It will also have a profound effect on the economy in Europe and globally, creating new jobs in the supply chain and providing a key component for the post-pandemic green recovery. We are extremely excited working with innovative companies in the development of subsystems for the floating offshore industry." MARINET2 (Marine Renewable Infrastructure Network for Enhancing Technologies 2) ends in December 2021.

Explore further Offshore wind platform prototype gets thumbs up

More information: MARINET2 project website: MARINET2 project website: www.marinet2.eu/
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Welcome to life in Musklandia.

As Elon Musk's sphere of influence in Austin and across Texas seems to expand by the day, the eccentric Texas-based billionaire is taking the region and the state along on the wild and often weird roller-coaster ride that is his life.

It's been a little more than a month since Musk announced Oct. 7 that Tesla is moving its headquarters to Austin, but even before that, Musk was already spending an increasing amount of time in Austin. He has been moving more of his companies into the region since at least 2020, most notably with Tesla's $1.1 billion manufacturing facility currently being built in southeastern Travis County.

As Austin becomes ground zero for all things Musk, that leaves the rest of us figuring out how to navigate the new landscapegood, bad and odd.

"Musk is a modern-day Albert Einstein in the eyes of many, and the richest person in the world by a wide margin. He's going to bring a lot more limelight and focus on Austin," said Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities.

Musk and Austin are likely to become inextricably linked in the coming years, Ives said.

"When the average person in the world thinks Austin, Texas, they're not going to the music festival or Dell or for the great city it is. Tesla and Elon Musk are going to become synonymous with Austin," Ives said.

Roger Kay, an analyst with Endpoint Technologies, said Musk's status and personality are sure to have an impact on Central Texas.

"He's the richest guy in the world, which is interesting. So what he'll do immediately is upstage (Dell Technologies founder and CEO) Michael Dell, at least on that," Kay said. "Michael has been the kind of king of Austin, I would say, all up until this point."

Expanding presence

While the $1.1 billion Tesla manufacturing facility and Tesla's planned headquarters move to Austin have drawn the most attention, Musk's ventures have been quietly expanding in Central Texas for some time now. They include Musk's tunneling and infrastructure company, the Boring Co., which has facilities in Pflugerville and Bastrop; a potential SpaceX expansion somewhere in Austin; a potential Neuralink office; and the headquarters of his private foundation, the Musk Foundation.

Also, a Tesla subsidiary, Tesla Energy, was recently licensed to operate as an energy provider in Texas, according to documents filed with the Texas Public Utility Commission. The company is already building the first Tesla solar neighborhood in Austin, called SunHouse at Easton Park, with solar- and alternative-powered energy.

Meanwhile, SpaceXMusk's aerospace and rocket companyhas multiple facilities around Texas, including a launch site near Boca Chica in far South Texas.

What's not clear is whether Musk has a residence in Austin. Although various media outlets have listed Austin as his home, he has never publicly confirmed that. Musk announced last year that he had moved to Texas but said his main residence is a small home near Boca Chica on the SpaceX campus.

Whether Musk actually lives in Austin or not, his influence in and impact on Central Texas can't be denied.

Kay said the influx of Tesla and other Musk-related companies will lead to higher salaries in the local tech industry, as well as add to the region's already booming housing market and send real estate prices even higher.

"For some people there will be good opportunities. Other people," Kay said, "are going to be irritated."

'Most powerful voice in the world'

One of the places where Musk has drawn the most attentionand perhaps created the most irritation has been on social media. Musk is active on Twitter, where he has more than 63 million followers.

With his immense wealth and such a huge audience, the influence of what Musk posts on social media shouldn't be downplayed, Ives said.

"He is one of, if not the most powerful voice in the world in terms of social media and a following," Ives said. "If Musk talks, everyone's listening. When you're on the right side of that, it's great. When you're on the wrong side of that, it's a lot of downsides."

Few days go by without Musk making some sort of headline on social media, whether it be for company news, cryptic personal statements, political commentary or just posting a meme.

One example was early last week, as after polling his Twitter followers on whether he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock, Musk sold about 900,000 shares, netting over $1.1 billion. His trust also sold more than 3.5 million shares worth $3.88 billion. The stock options that were sold would expire next year and still leave Musk with about 170 million Tesla shares.

More sales later in the week, from both Musk and his trust, have brought the total stock sold to 6.4 million shares, worth a total of $6.9 billion. The sales so far amount to less than 4% of the shares he holds.

Ives said that while a sale of some stock has been expected to pay upcoming taxes, holding a Twitter poll to sell the stock is "another soap opera that can only happen to one company and one CEO in the world, Musk."

Here are a few more highlights and lowlights from Musk on social media in the past month:

Over the weekend, he clashed with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Twitter after the former presidential candidate from Vermont said the extremely wealthy should pay their fair share. Musk tweeted: "I keep forgetting that you're still alive," and later added, "Want me to sell more stock, Bernie? Just say the word "

He criticized Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard, with whom he has feuded for years, on Twitter. He claimed to "wish he never met" the co-founder, whom he considers the "worst person I've ever worked with in my entire career," and said that Eberhard "came damn close to killing Tesla."

He tweeted a crass comment at Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden after the politician tweeted in support of a billionaires income tax and said Musk paying taxes shouldn't be dependent on a Twitter poll.

He temporarily changed his Twitter name to Lord Edge, likely a reference to the phrase "edge lord."

He tweeted a joke that he was considering starting a new university in Texas, whose name could be used to form a rude acronym.

He acknowledged on Twitter that Tesla's self-driving was having software issues and announced that an update would be rolled back after Tesla owners reported cars behaving erratically.

He pushed back on President Joe Biden's proposed tax plan, dubbed the Billionaires Income Tax, which would add a tax on the assets, not income, of billionaires. "Eventually, they run out of other people's money, and then they come for you," Musk tweeted on the same day he gained $36 billion in personal wealth from the Tesla stock surge.

He called Biden a "puppet" for the United Auto Workers union and pushed back on his plan for electric-vehicle purchase tax credits proposed in the president's infrastructure bill. The plan would exclude nonunion automakers, such as Tesla.

He exchanged tweets with David Beasley, director of the U.N.'s World Food Program, who urged Musk to donate 2% of his estimated net worth, or about $6 billion, to help fight world hunger. Musk said if the program laid out a detailed plan for how exactly the $6 billion would be used and the donation went through open source accounting, he would donate. Beasley said that was possible, and he would meet him anywhere, "earth or space," to discuss further. No donation has been made.

While most of that social media activity hasn't focused directly on Austin or Texas, there are signs Musk is starting to take more of an interest in what's going on in the Lone Star State.

'Going to be some ruffled feathers'

When Musk announced he was moving Tesla's headquarters to Austin, he didn't mention previous clashes he'd had with California officials. However, industry analysts say that while Austin is more affordable than Silicon Valley and still has the tech and engineering talent Musk needs for his companies, it seems clear he decided he preferred Texas' more business-friendly environment over California's more regulation-heavy approach.

"I think Musk selected Texas in particular because of its kind of frontier style. He's always thought that California's heavy regulatory environment was not particularly conducive to his style," Kay said. "He's made it really clear that he doesn't think public authorities have any business telling him what to do."

All of which means officials in Texasand in Austincould eventually find themselves getting the same pushback California did from Musk if regulatory conditions rub him the wrong way.

Musk tends to do what he wants and is clever and aggressive in how he goes about disputes, Kay said. At the same time, he will bring a lot of jobs and tax revenue to the region, which gives him cards to play.

"He'll say, 'Well, listen, you want me to just pick up stakes and go to Mississippi?'" Kay said. "There's probably going to be some ruffled feathers there when he says, 'It's my way or the highway and now I own your highway, You can't say anything about it. You dowell, then I'll bring all my resources to bear upon you.'"

It remains to be seen how Musk might aim to influence state or local policymaking.

In September, Gov. Greg Abbott said that Musk supported Texas' social policies. In response, Musk tweeted: "In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics."

However, Musk has weighed in on some Austin political issues already.

"Austin should be its city, not a San Francisco copycat," Musk said in a Halloween tweet replying to a tweet about Proposition A, which didn't pass earlier this month. The proposition would have required the city of Austin to hire hundreds more police officers.

Whatever positions Musk takes, they are sure to have influence in Austin, across the state and globally, Ives saidin large part because of Musk's immense wealth and the power that affords him.

Musk recently became the first person in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index to have an estimated net worth of more than $300 billion, making him not only the wealthiest person in the country but also the richest person in history. Musk's current estimated net worth is somewhere between $280 billion and $300 billion.

Having Musk and Tesla here comes with "exponentially more positives than negatives for Austin," Ives said. "But Austin has to embrace Tesla and Elon, and not just treat him like any other business person. There are 300 billion reasons he's not."

2021 Gannett Co., Inc.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Eelumes and NTNUs snake robot is featured in the new disaster film "North Sea" (original title: "Nordsjen"). Credit: Eelume

When the Norwegian production company Fantefilm searched the internet to find the coolest underwater robot in the world, they discovered to their surprise that it was being manufactured in Norway. The robot has thus become the first to land a movie role in the film "North Sea," which is premiering now.

Kristin Ytterstad Pettersen, professor of engineering cybernetics and one of the key researchers at the Centre for Autonomous Marine Operations and Systems, AMOS, has been studying snake robotics for a number of years. Pal Liljeback took his doctorate in snake robotics with Pettersen as his supervisor. Based on their research, they started the company Eelume (pronounced 'ee-loom') in 2015 as a spin- off from NTNU.

No one could have imagined then that Eelume would land a heroic role in Norway's largest film production seven years later.

Derived from differential equations

The movie world isn't the only place where snake robots can be heroes. In the real world, snake robots also play a crucial role.

Underwater robots can help to explore the ocean, for example.

"Only five percent of the ocean has been mapped. A snake robot could help investigate large undiscovered areas, such as the sea under the Arctic and Antarctic," says Pettersen.

How does a creature like this come about?

The world's most advanced snake robot for use underwater was first developed through many long math problems that Pettersen and her research group wrote out by hand. When the professors at NTNU's Department of Engineering Cybernetics (ITK) set out to create something new, differential equations on paper were a key tool.

"Getting robots to move is super fascinating. We use mathematics as a way to decode the secrets of nature. Math is really a language for understanding and analyzing nature," says Pettersen.

She also said that the mathematical model for a robot actually fits on one A4 page.

Can perform various tasks at sea

Pettersen has headed the research that led to a world breakthrough in snake robotics, for which she has won numerous awards. Other groups, including Japan and the U.S., have focused mostly on mechatronicsthe actual construction of joints and materials. Pettersen and her team concentrated on the "brain," or the algorithms, for how a snake robot should move.

After completing his doctorate, Liljeback started as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Eelume, becoming responsible for technology development in the company. With the rest of the Eelume team, he has developed Eelume's snake-shaped underwater robot.

"After six years of enormous effort, Eelume is now getting ready to perform various tasks at sea. Today's robot is the third generation and in the next few months, it will carry out an autonomous inspection of pipelines," Liljeback says.

Autonomous means that the robot can perform tasks on its own, based on a plan without having a person controlling it remotely. Other robots, such as ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), are remotely controlled by a person from land or a boat via a cable. Eelume's robot operates wirelessly, without any wired connection.

An advanced underwater robot like this can help detect leaks and dangerous problems in underwater installations, warn of spills and pollution or other threats, and also do repairs and maintenance.

"We'll also join with Equinor to test the robot's ability to detect leaks, and to measure sound, salt content, temperature and oil in water," says Liljeback.

Wireless and AI

The team at Eelume is working hard to ensure that a snake robot like Eelume will not only consist of beautiful math equations conceived at the university, but will also benefit the world through practical uses.

"Pal has a firm grasp when it comes to mastering advanced mathematical theory and constructing the mechatronics themselves. He builds the snake robots so that they look like real creatures, such as giving them eyes that send information and that almost humanize them. They become personalities. The way he combines a mastery of the theoretical and at the same time has the desire to put it all into practice is truly unique," says Pettersen.

Since Eelume's robot operates wirelessly, it can move completely freely in the water. Work is now continuing to develop more and more autonomous operations for the snake robot to perform.

"All cybernetics is really about developing the computer's "brain" and includes an element of artificial intelligence," says Pettersen.

In 2016, Kongsberg Maritime and Equinor entered into partnership with Eelume as investor, technology partner and customer. Innovation Norway also contributed financial support through an innovation contract.

Explore further Swimming robots perform snake-like movements for subsea tasks
Berkeley Lab scientists Ravi Prasher (left) and Sumanjeet Kaur are leading an effort to develop thermal energy storage to decarbonize buildings. Credit: Thor Swift/Berkeley Lab

Could a tank of ice or hot water be a battery? Yes! If a battery is a device for storing energy, then storing hot or cold water to power a building's heating or air-conditioning system is a different type of energy storage. Known as thermal energy storage, the technology has been around for a long time but has often been overlooked. Now scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) are making a concerted push to take thermal energy storage to the next level.

To overcome some of the limitations of traditional water-based thermal energy storage, Berkeley Lab scientists are looking at developing next-generation materials and systems to be used as a heating or cooling medium. They are also creating a framework to analyze costs as well as a tool to compare cost savings. In a series of papers published this year, Berkeley Lab researchers have reported important advances in each of these areas.

"It is very challenging to decarbonize buildings, particularly for heating," said Ravi Prasher, Berkeley Lab's Associate Lab Director for Energy Technologies. "But if you store energy in the form of the end use, which is heat, rather than in the form of the energy supply, which is electricity, the cost savings could be very compelling. And now with the framework we've developed, we'll be able to weigh the costs of thermal energy storage versus electrical storage, such as with lithium batteries, which has been impossible until now."

In the United States, buildings account for 40% of total energy consumption. Of that, almost half goes toward thermal loads, which includes space heating and cooling as well as water heating and refrigeration. In other words, one-fifth of all energy produced goes towards thermal loads in buildings. And by 2050, the demand on the electricity grid from thermal loads is expected to increase dramatically as natural gas is phased out and heating is increasingly powered by electricity.

"If we use thermal energy storage, in which the raw materials are more abundant to meet the demand for thermal loads, this will relax some of the demand for electrochemical storage and free up batteries to be used where thermal energy storage cannot be used," said Sumanjeet Kaur, lead of Berkeley Lab's Thermal Energy Group.

Viable, cost-effective alternative to batteries

As our society continues to electrify, the need for batteries to store energy is projected to be huge, reaching to an estimated 2 to 10 terawatt-hours (TWh) of annual battery production by 2030 from less than 0.5 TWh today. With the lithium-ion battery as the dominant storage technology for the foreseeable future, a key constraint is the limited availability of raw materials, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, essential ingredients of today's lithium battery. Although Berkeley Lab is actively working to address this constraint, alternative forms of energy storage are also needed.

"Lithium batteries face tremendous pressure now in terms of raw material supply," Prasher said. "We believe thermal energy storage can be a viable, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to other forms of energy storage."

Thermal energy storage can be deployed at a range of scales, including in individual buildingssuch as in your home, office, or factoryor at the district or regional level. While the most common form of thermal energy uses large tanks of hot or cold water, there are other types of so-called sensible heat storage, such as using sand or rocks to store thermal energy. However, these approaches require large amounts of space, which limit their suitability for residences.

From liquid to solid and back again

To get around this constraint, scientists have developed high-tech materials to store thermal energy. For example, phase-change materials absorb and release energy when transitioning between phases, such as from liquid to solid and back.

Phase-change materials have a number of potential applications, including thermal management of batteries (to prevent them from getting too hot or too cold), advanced textiles (think of clothing that can automatically keep you warm or cool, thus achieving thermal comfort while reducing building energy consumption), and dry cooling of power plants (to conserve water). In buildings, phase-change materials could be added to walls, acting like a thermal battery for the building. When the ambient temperature rises above the material's melting point, the material changes phase and absorbs heat, thus cooling the building. Conversely, when the temperature drops below the melting point, the material changes phase and releases heat.

However, one problem with phase-change materials is that they typically work only in one temperature range. That means two different materials would be needed for summer and winter, which increases the cost. Berkeley Lab set out to overcome this problem and achieve what is called "dynamic tunability" of the transition temperature.

In a study recently published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the researchers are the first to achieve dynamic tunability in a phase-change material. Their breakthrough method uses ions and a unique phase-change material that combines thermal energy storage with electric energy storage, so it can store and supply both heat and electricity.

"This new technology is truly unique because it combines thermal and electric energy into one device," said Applied Energy Materials Group Leader Gao Liu, co-corresponding author of the study. "It functions like a thermal and electric battery. What's more, this capability increases the thermal storage potential because of the ability to tune the melting point of the material depending on different ambient temperatures. This will significantly increase the utilization of phase-change materials."

Kaur, also a co-author on the paper, added: "In the bigger picture, this helps brings down the cost of storage because now the same material can be utilized year round instead of just half the year."

In large-scale building construction, this combined thermal and electrical energy storage capability would allow the material to store excess electricity produced by on-site solar or wind operations, to meet both thermal (heating and cooling) and electrical needs.

Advancing the fundamental science of phase-change materials

Another Berkeley Lab study earlier this year addressed the problem of supercooling, which is super not cool in certain phase-change materials because it makes the material unpredictable, in that it may not change phase at the same temperature every time. Led by Berkeley Lab graduate student assistant and UC Berkeley Ph.D. student Drew Lilley, the study, published in the journal Applied Energy, was the first to demonstrate a methodology to quantitatively predict the supercooling performance of a material.

A third Berkeley Lab study, published in Applied Physics Letters this year, describes a way to develop atomic- and molecular-scale understanding of phase-change, which is critical for the design of new phase-change materials.

"Until now, most of the fundamental studies related to phase-change physics have been computational in nature, but we have developed a simple methodology to predict the energy density of phase-change materials," Prasher said. "These studies are important steps that pave the way for using phase-change materials more widely."

Apples to apples

A fourth study, just published in Energy & Environmental Science, develops a framework that will allow direct cost comparisons between batteries and thermal energy storage, which had not been possible until now.

"This is a really good framework for people to compareapples-to-applesbatteries versus thermal storage," Kaur said. "If someone came to me and asked, 'should I install a Powerwall (Tesla's lithium battery system to store solar energy) or thermal energy storage,' there was no way to compare them. This framework provides a way for people to understand the cost of storage over the years."

The framework, which was developed with researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, takes into account lifetime costs. For example, thermal systems have lower capital costs to install, and the lifetime of thermal systems is typically 15 to 20 years, whereas batteries typically have to be replaced after eight years.

Simulation tool for deploying thermal energy storage in building HVAC systems

Finally, a study with researchers from UC Davis and UC Berkeley published in Energies demonstrated the techno-economic feasibility of deploying HVAC systems with thermal energy storage based on phase-change materials. First the team developed simulation models and tools needed to assess the energy cost savings, peak load reduction, and cost of such a system. The tool, which will be available to the public, will allow researchers and builders to compare system economics of HVAC systems with thermal energy storage to all-electric HVAC systems with and without electrochemical storage.

"These tools offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the economics of real-world applications of thermal energy storage-integrated HVAC," said Berkeley Lab project lead Spencer Dutton. "Integrating thermal energy storage allows us to significantly reduce the capacity and hence cost of the heat pump, which is a significant factor in driving down lifecycle costs."

Next, the team went on to develop a "field-ready" prototype HVAC system for small commercial buildings that employed both cold and hot thermal batteries based on phase-change materials. Such a system shifts both cooling and heating loads off the electric grid. Finally, the team is deploying a residential-scale field demonstration, focusing on home electrification and shifting home heating and hot water loads.

"If you think about how energy is consumed around the world, people think it's consumed in the form of electricity, but in fact it's mostly consumed in the form of heat," said Noel Bakhtian, executive director of Berkeley Lab's Energy Storage Center. "If you want to decarbonize the world, you need to decarbonize buildings and industry. That means you need to decarbonize heat. Thermal energy storage can play a significant role there."

The research was supported by Buildings Technology Office of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Explore further NREL heats up thermal energy storage with new solution meant to ease grid stress, ultimately improving energy efficiency
Fully automated machines at the Jiangxi Green Energy Company produce photovoltaic panels for export to the European Union and the United States. Credit: Shutterstock

The Indo-Pacific region, which includes 24 nations and stretches from Australia to Japan and from India to the U.S. west coast, is home to both the largest concentration of humanity and the greatest source of global emissions. In 2020, the region produced 16.75 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the consumption of oil, gas and coalmore than all other regions worldwide combined.

Success in the global effort to keep global warming below 2 C and stop catastrophic climate change depends on the region to move away from coal and other fossil fuels. Yet at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, China and India proposed countries agree to "phase down" coal instead of "phase out."

Insufficient financing and the need to increase total energy availabilityespecially as more sectors become electrifiedremain among the structural challenges to energy transitions around the world. China, however, is currently in a better position than the West to assist the Indo-Pacific due to geography, trade dynamics and its own clean tech sector. This could reorient economic networks and shift the balance of power in the region.

As a researcher in the field of green-industrial strategy, I am worried that the democratic world is increasingly losing ground to China in this emerging geo-economic arena. Unless the West provides an alternate network to help the region meet its energy transition needs, it risks ceding the economic alignment of the Indo-Pacific region to China's government.

Decarbonization

A recent Bloomberg report demonstrated that many Indo-Pacific states can't meet their 2050 energy transition needs from domestic onshore solar and wind generation. Energy imports have long been a feature of regional politics, but the economics of the energy transition change existing dynamics, favoring fixed-grid integration over more flexible liquid energy imports.

It costs less, in many cases, to build large grids that deliver energy as electrons compared to the added costs of using an energy carrier like hydrogen, which might need to be imported, to meet clean energy needs. Already the Indo-Pacific is moving in the direction of being "wired up," as demonstrated by the proposed 3,800-kilometer-long "sun cable" to connect Australian solar resources with energy markets in Singapore.

The most efficient course of decarbonization for many East Asian states is to expand their grid connections to their neighbor's, but this is marred by geo-security risks. Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam, for example, might be less willing to stand up to Beijing if most of their electricity ran through China. And does Japan really want to meet its renewable energy needs by routing power through Russian grid connections?

In addition, much of the industrial capacity for key green technologies and resources required for Indo-Pacific countries to tap their own renewable resources is based in China. A whopping 70 percent of global lithium cell manufacturing capacity is found in China, and Chinese firms are responsible for the production of 71 percent of photovoltaic panels (through a supply chain riddled with the usage of Uyghur slave labor).

Meanwhile, a recent White House report put Chinese firm ownership of global cobalt and lithium processing infrastructure at 72 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

Export polluting industries

China's dominance in the production of clean energy technologies is also bolstered by the success of the nation's trade networks. China is already the largest source of trade for most countries in the region, and through its Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing is increasingly providing financing for regional infrastructure.

The nature of Chinese infrastructure investments through the initiative has, so far, been damaging to global efforts to combat climate change. China had been the largest financier globally of coal plants, following a development pattern established by wealthier countries (western and non-western), of exporting polluting industries to poorer nations.

However, President Xi Jinping, in keeping with his endorsed vision of ecological civilization, has made improving the sustainability of China's trade networks a priority. China's established trade networks within the region provide a foundation for an increasingly Sino-centric economic orbit, and will likely be flipped to distribute clean energy infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific.

Energy transitions

It's important the West develop its own green foreign investment strategy to provide Indo-Pacific states a choice of infrastructure as they transition their economies. Giving Indo-Pacific countries, especially energy-poor South and East Asian states, the option to purchase low-carbon technology and resources from a variety of sources will alleviate pressure to concede to Chinese foreign-policy.

Over the long term, the West must focus on developing supply chains in solar and and lithium-ion batteries to balance out Chinese capacity in these markets. However, there are a range of energy transition technologies that western states hold a competitive advantage in, and that could be the focus of a development strategy for the regionstarting right now. Investments should, for instance, immediately focus on lowering the costs of exporting green hydrogen by maritime routes.

Australia and Canada both have favorable renewable energy resources to produce green hydrogen, with Canada a leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cells.

Many Indo-Pacific countries have opportunities to generate power from sources beyond wind and solar, with Indonesia and the Philippines already market leaders for geothermal. When it comes to wind, U.S. and European wind turbine manufacturers share about 60 percent of the market.

In June, G7 leaders announced the Build Back Better World (B3W) partnership, which aims to use their financing potential to help low- and middle-income countries meet an estimated US$40 trillion in infrastructure needs.

It is too early to speculate on the success of the B3W, but its visible actions have been limited to scoping tours in Latin America and West Africa, with another planned for South East Asia.

However, the B3W could look to the recent financing deal between the U.S., Germany, France and the United Kingdom to aid South Africa's transition from coal power for inspiration. The first B3W funded projects are slated to be announced in early 2022.

Decision-makers in China know that in the short term they are uncertain to come out on top in a hard power competition with the U.S., and have identified economic dominance as another front of strategic competition. Subsequently, if the West doesn't want to further cede the economic orientation of the Indo-Pacific towards China, it must increase its efforts to provide the region's states with a strategic choice in how they meet their energy transition infrastructure needs.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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ITS another bleak Christmas for some store owners in Downtown Port of Spain.

This is the second year store owners are saying things are very slow, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Express visited Excellent City Centre at Frederick Street, Port of Spain, yesterday afternoon, and there was not much foot traffic, as has been in previous years, during the Christmas season.
CAL COLOURS: The image of a Boeing Max 8 aircraft, painted in the colours and with the logo of majority State-owned Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL),

that was circulating on social media earlier this month.
THERE was a year in the history of the British West Indies1943when every fourth person on 
It is your duty as Prime Minister and Minister of Health to provide whats best for your citizens. The jabs have been provided and are still available to all who want it. But what about those who do not want it?
The Ho Chi Minh City administration has ordered the closure of local bars, discos, spas, massage parlors, and karaoke shops, just less than two days after it allowed the services to resume operations.

In a fiat issued on Thursday afternoon, the municipal Peoples Committee stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is still very complicated and poses high risks.

At the request of the municipal Department of Health, the administration required all bars, discos, spas, massage parlors, and karaoke shops to shut down until further notice.

City authorities asked the health department to work with the municipal pandemic control steering committee to consider issuing a set of safety criteria for the operation of bars, spas, and massage parlors in the current context.

Officials in each district and Thu Duc City were tasked with making sure all residents and businesses comply with the new order as well as sternly penalizing violators.

On Tuesday evening, chairman of the municipal People's Committee Phan Van Mai signed a decision to reopen cinemas, karaoke parlors, bars and discos, spas, massage parlors, and bike-hailing service following an over-six-month ban due to COVID-19.

The reopening came with various conditions depending on the risk level of each ward and district.

Employees of a karaoke shop prepare for reopening in Ho Chi Minh City, November 17, 2021. Photo: Ngoc Hien / Tuoi Tre

According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, multiple spas and karaoke shops in the city had resumed operations on Wednesday.

Nguyen Thi Lua  owner of Lua Health Spa  said she was renewing many products for the reopening and planned to test her employees for COVID-19 once every three days.

Ho Chi Minh City has been the hardest-hit locality in Vietnam since the fourth virus wave began on April 27, with nearly 451,000 infections.

A total of 1,337 domestic transmissions were recorded in the metropolis on Wednesday, while 1,183 cases were logged on Tuesday.

The city has imposed various levels of social distancing since May 31 before loosening restrictions in October thanks to a high vaccination rate.

Authorities had previously closed bars, discos, and karaoke shops from April 30, and cinemas and massage parlors from May 3, while ride-hailing service was suspended from July 9.

As of Wednesday, health authorities had administered more than 13.8 million vaccine doses, with nearly six million out of nine million people in the city fully inoculated.

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For the last five years, a 600-hectare forest in central Vietnam has maintained its sustainability thanks to efforts from the local authorities and community.

Conservation has been balanced with production in the forest in Chenh Venh Commune, Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province, keeping both the woods and its dwellers alive.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)  a non-governmental organization based in Germany  has recently issued an FSC certificate to Chenh Venh Forest based on their detailed principles and standards with 200 criteria.

This forest is the first in Vietnam to have received this honorable title.

According to Nguyen Dinh Dai, head of the Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV), Vietnamese people have long thought of forests simply in terms of wood production.

However, forests also offer biodiversity considering precious herbs, water protection, and landscapes, Dai said.

Forests also reduce the volume of carbon emissions and produce timber products like bamboo.

The sustainability of the forest comes from a harmony between economic, environmental, and social gains.

Community efforts

Elderly people in Chenh Venh Commune said that the Chenh Venh Forest has existed at the foot of Mount Sa Mu for hundreds of years.

During wartime half a century ago, this was a forest untouched by humans.

Since the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority settled down by the Chenh Venh stream that flowed past this forest, the greenwood was given its current name.

The Van Kieu people survived in the forest with its rich food resources and were not threatened by outsiders.

However, life brought about unprecedented changes, especially at a time when the forest was not under the supervision of the Huong Hoa District authorities.

Patrol troops operate three to four times a month in Chenh Venh Forest in Chenh Venh Commune, Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre

The primary forest of Chenh Venh suffered from illegal logging.

The negative impacts neighboring communities exerted on biodiversity were also causing hardships for Chenh Venh.

In 2017, the Huong Hoa District authorities officially placed the forest under the protection of Chenh Venh Commune.

This marked the start of its resurrection.

Ho Van Chien, head of the Chenh Venh Commune Forest Protection Committee (FPC), noted that they formed a board of communal forest protection immediately after this decision.

One interesting fact was that almost all the families in the commune had a representative on this committee.

There were four administrative officers, three supervisors, and seven protective units with five members in each.

All of them were Van Kieu ethnic people.

The Chenh Venh FPC conducts three to four patrols every month with troops of five members.

Depending on the patrol site, they might be reinforced with extra members.

Patrol officers will contact the local authorities whenever there are signs of illegal logging.

The FPC has also issued guidelines on forest protection, which forbid the logging of softwood and hardwood trees.

However, the exploitation of bamboo and herbs is allowed.

The Van Kieu people have long relied on the forest, said Chien.

It is challenging to make these rules stick, but these people have been following them well for the last five years.

Chenh Venh Forest has become sustainable.

Value of sustainability

The Chenh Venh FPC has been operating for the last five years without sponsorship or funding. Its members are all volunteers.

The local community comes to terms with sustainable exploitation of the Chenh Venh Forest in Chenh Venh Commune, Huong Hoa District, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. Photo: Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre

The tough task in its mission to protect the greenwood is to balance between protection and production.

Once this can be achieved, sustainability will ensue, according to Phan Ngoc Long, chairman of the Peoples Committee in Huong Phung Commune.

He said that entrusting the Chenh Venh Commune with such a big task seemed like a dubious decision at first.

What the people have achieved, however, proved the effectiveness of their dedication and hard work.

The ethnic people have shifted their focus to businesses that place minute effects on the forest.

They have produced bamboo handicraft and herbal products instead of forestry.

The Chenh Venh Commune is currently no different from an eco-tourism village with numerous household producers of unique Van Kieu-style products, like bamboo drinking mugs and long pipes peculiar to their culture.

Their success has spread through the news and they have found support.

The European Union and the MCNV in Quang Tri have assisted the ethnic people here in their production.

Thanks to this, the Van Kieu peoples handicrafts have made their way to new markets.

The commune itself and the nearby Chenh Venh waterfall have been adapted into tourism sites.

According to Dai, head of the MCNV, the Chenh Venh Forest receives no financial support for protection because it is not located in the vicinity of an electricity dam.

This is the largest hurdle for the local people because they have to make a decent living while keeping the forest alive, he added.

But they have done it and won their FSC certificate.

FSC certificate: a passport for Chenh Venh products

The Chenh Venh Forest was visited by the GFA, an independent assessor, after the FSC had nominated it to receive their certificate.

Nguyen Van Bich, a GFA inspector, emphasized that the most important criterion of an FSC certificate is not the biodiversity of the forest, but the sustainable exploitation from its community.

In other words, the economic and social values are to be considered alongside the protection of the forest.

The Chenh Venh Forest passed the examination and has been awarded the certificate, as well as plans for production and sustainable exploitation from the FSC.

Before FSC, the local products were selling, but with this certificate, they could be more easily connected to large markets overseas like European countries.

This certificate is like a passport for products from Chenh Venh Commune, said Bich.

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More than half a million South Koreans sat for the annual national college entrance exams on Thursday, pandemic rules adding stress to the eight-hour event seen as life-defining in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

This year's test-takers didn't face the delays and uncertainties of the first pandemic-era exams last year, but COVID-19 measures have left their mark on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) widely considered as indispensable for landing one of a limited number of jobs in a competitive society.

"I couldn't go to private institutes, study rooms, nor school properly due to coronavirus," said 17-year-old Ahn Jeong-min. "Still, I'm vaccinated, and everyone will wear face masks and use partitions during the exam, so I think I can take the exam well, feeling comfortable rather than much concern."

Students wait to take the annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a nationwide university entrance exam, amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at a school in Seoul, South Korea November 18, 2021. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/Pool via Reuters

More than 509,000 high school seniors, graduates and others have signed up to take the single-day, five-session exam held at 1,251 test sites nationwide, according to the education ministry.

At least 173 people who tested positive for the coronavirus or otherwise required isolation will take the test at hospitals or separate exam centres, the ministry said.

Thursday morning saw traditional society-wide efforts to help the test-takers, with the country's financial markets opening an hour later than usual to ease traffic.

A family prays for her daughter's success in the annual college entrance examinations, in front of an exam hall in Seoul, South Korea, November 18, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Commercial air traffic was scheduled to be suspended during a key period in the afternoon, warplanes from the South Korean and U.S. militaries will be grounded, and live-fire exercises shut down throughout the day, officials said.

"We're doing our part to keep distractions down so you can keep your scores up!" tweeted U.S. Forces-Korea (USFK), which includes about 28,500 American troops stationed in South Korea.

Pandemic measures meant other, louder traditions to wish the test-takers well were missing.

Students wait to take the annual College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a nationwide university entrance exam, amid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at a school in Seoul, South Korea November 18, 2021. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/Pool via Reuters

Outside schools in Seoul, there was none of the customary cheering by high school juniors, praying parents, or schoolmates who typically beat drums and hand out sweets to participants.

Lee Eu-gene, a mother who said she had an older child take the test last year, said her son sitting for the exam this year seemed to be better off because schools had more in-person learning.

"He studied in this situation, so it's in the mother's heart that I hope he will get good results and happily expand his future," she said.
Vietnam has won a seat on the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the 2021-25 term, according to voting results unveiled at a session earlier this week.

With 163 votes, or 92 percent, out of the 178 members at the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference held on Wednesday in Paris, France, Vietnam was elected as a UNESCO Executive Board member, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Mai Phan Dung, secretary-general of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, as saying.

This is the fifth time Vietnam has been elected to the position, after its 1978-83, 2001-05, 2009-13 and 2015-19 terms.

The UNESCO Executive Board seat continues demonstrating the countrys rising global position and prestige as well as the international community's recognition for its contributions to UNESCO, said Dung, who is also head of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs under Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is the result of Vietnams policy of multilateralism, diversification, and comprehensive and extensive international integration, as well as the outcome of the election campaign deployed effectively over the past years, the official commented.

The UNESCO Executive Board membership gives the Southeast Asian country good opportunities to protect national interests and make the most of UNESCOs ideas and initiatives in serving national construction and development in a sustainable and comprehensive manner, Dung said.

Vietnam will also have the chance to have a say in international issues of UNESCOs concerns.

In the 2021-25 tenure, Vietnam will actively engage in UNESCOs major programs in education, culture, natural science, social science, and information and communications, thereby affirming its role and prestige in UNESCO in particular and the world in general, the official said.

The Executive Board, which consists of 58 member states each serving a four-year term of office, prepares the agenda of the General Conference and examines the program of work for UNESCO and corresponding budget estimates submitted to it by the director-general, according to the UNESCO website.

The board is responsible for the execution of the programs adopted by the General Conference and, in this connection, considers the reports on activities of the organization submitted by the director-general.

It also makes recommendations for admission of new states that are not members of the United Nations, and for appointment of the organizations director-general, among other duties.

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Check out the news you should not miss today:

Society

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has recently approved a plan in which dining services are allowed to open until 10:00 pm every day from now to November 30.

-- COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms in the southern province of Ba Ria  Vung Tau will be allowed to stay home for treatment from November 25 while the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu on Wednesday also permitted asymptomatic patients to stay home for quarantine and treatment.

-- According to Dr. Ho Viet Thang, head of the COVID-19 treatment center of Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, up to 90 percent of pregnant women hospitalized with severe symptoms had not been vaccinated against the respiratory disease.

Business

-- Industrial parks in the southern province of Dong Nai attracted 46 new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth US$358.85 million from the beginning of this year to November 11, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

-- Cotton Day Vietnam 2021, a forum on trends and solutions to help revive Vietnamese textile enterprises amid COVID-19, will be held online on December 1 by the Cotton Council International and the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Lifestyle

-- Thirty passengers including overseas Vietnamese and foreign tourists from Incheon, South Korea, on Wednesday arrived at Da Nang International Airport before heading for a resort in Quang Nam, marking the first tourist group to visit the central province after a two-year halt due to COVID-19.

-- International tourists wish to come to Da Nang must take organized tours as well as be fully vaccinated, have a negative real-time RT-PCR test within 72 hours before departure or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19, and have insurance that covers COVID-19 treatment with a minimum liability of US$50,000, according to a plan approved by local authorities on Wednesday.

World news

-- Germans and Austrians are rushing to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as infections soar across Europe and governments impose restrictions on the unvaccinated, figures showed on Wednesday.

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F&B establishments in Ho Chi Minh City are now allowed to offer site-down services until 10:00 pm, as well as selling beer and alcohol, on a trial basis.

The trial phase will last until the end of November, according to a document issued by the municipal Peoples Committee on Wednesday evening.

During this period, all eateries in the city must meet all of the safety criteria promulgated by the municipal steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.

They are allowed to offer dine-in services until 10:00 pm daily.

In areas at low and medium risk of infection, known officially as levels 1 and 2, F&B establishments are permitted to operate at 100 percent of capacity and serve alcoholic beverages.

In areas at high risk, or level 3, eateries must operate at only 50 percent of capacity and are not allowed to serve beer and alcohol.

Dine-in services are banned in areas at very high risk, or level 4.

As of Wednesday morning, only Can Gio District was classified as level 3, while the remaining districts and Thu Duc City were at levels 1 or 2.

Residents can check the corresponding risk level of each ward and district using the interactive map operated by the municipal Department of Information and Communications via https://bando.tphcm.gov.vn/ogis/thongke?Province=79.

Authorities in every district and Thu Duc City are tasked with assessing the result of the pilot phase before submitting further proposals to the municipal administration and the Department of Industry and Trade.

Ho Chi Minh City has been the hardest-hit locality in Vietnam since the fourth virus wave began on April 27, with more than 451,000 infections.

The city had imposed various levels of social distancing since May 31 before loosening restrictions in October when it announced that the overwhelming majority of its adult population had been vaccinated.

F&B establishments were permitted to offer sit-down services from October 28, but had to operate at only 50 percent of capacity and close before 9:00 pm.

Only eateries in Thu Duc City and District 7 were allowed to serve alcoholic beverages on a trial basis between October 28 and November 15.

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A karaoke shop in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam has been subject to an administrative fine for violations of the COVID-19 prevention and control regulations, resulting in a large number of people in direct contact with infected patients, the provincial People's Committee said on Tuesday.

Nguyen Van Toan, the owner of An Hong karaoke shop, was charged a total fine of VND29 million (US$1,270) following inspections conducted by local authorities earlier this month.

During the inspections, officials found the karaoke shop failing to comply with COVID-19 prevention and control protocols, including running service during the daily ban from 20:00 to 0:00 and allowing drug use at the venue.

The rapid COVID-19 testing a week later returned five positive samples from the karaoke shops waitresses, one of whom was later confirmed negative in a real-time RT-PCR test, according to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper sources.

The four cases were found having visited many local markets and restaurants after they resumed work at the karaoke shop in October and came in direct contact with hundreds of people.

Up to now, authorities have traced more than 650 direct contacts and recorded 14 more infections relating to the cluster at An Hong.

Ha Tinh Province has allowed karaoke shops back to service from October 20, requiring businesses to operate with a maximum capacity of 50 percent and banning gatherings of more than ten people at a time, according to the provincial People's Committee.

Vietnam has registered 1,050,185 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave flared up on April 27, with over 23,300 deaths confirmed since.

Ha Tinh has logged 741 patients in this outbreak, including 14 announced on Wednesday.

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The U.S. gave an additional one million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam on Wednesday, bringing the total number of shots donated to the Southeast Asian country by the U.S. to over 16 million jabs.

Another 1 million Moderna COVID-19 vaccines donated by the United States have just arrived in Hanoi! the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam announced on its verified Facebook page on Wednesday.

The embassy emphasized that the two countries will continue working as partners in combatting COVID-19 and building back better.

We have provided more than 16 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Vietnam, and as always, they come with no strings attached, the embassy said.

The U.S. has provided COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam on a continuous basis for the past several months, with the preceding donation of 350,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on November 8.

On November 6, 1.3 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine touched down in Hanoi, and one day later, another 1.2 million doses of the same vaccine reached Ho Chi Minh City.

The U.S. has committed $30.2 million to Vietnams efforts to cope with the health crisis since it began early last year, the embassy said.

On September 22, U.S. President Joe Biden 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 embassy said in a statement on October 25.

Washington had provided more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 100 countries around the world, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a press release last month.

Though the U.S. has been the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam, the Southeast Asian country has also received vaccine donations from Japan, Australia, the UK, France, Italy, Russia, the Czech Republic, China, and several other nations.

Vietnams Ministry of Health has so far approved nine vaccines for emergency use in the country, including the UKs AstraZeneca; Chinas Sinopharm; Russias Sputnik V; the UAEs Hayat-Vax; Cubas Abdala; Indias Covaxin; the U.S.s Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

The country, with a population of 98 million, has received more than 136 million COVID-19 vaccine shots of the 200 million jabs it had contracted, according to the health ministry.

By Wednesday, health workers had administered a total of 65.22 million first vaccine shots and 36.8 million second jabs since the country began its inoculation campaign in March, the ministry reported.

Since erupting in Vietnam in early last year, health officials have detected 1,055,246 positive cases, including 874,870 recoveries and 23,337 deaths.

Recently, daily infections in the nation began to gradually increase after a month of sharp decline, though mortalities have dropped significantly, to 67 on Wednesday from 212 two months earlier, according to the ministrys data.

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Vietnams Ministry of Health documented 10,223 new coronavirus patients throughout the country on Thursday, along with 6,723 recoveries and 139 deaths.

The latest infections, including 14 imported and 10,209 local cases, were recorded in 60 provinces and cities, the ministry said, clarifying that 5,454 patients caught the virus in the community.

Ho Chi Minh City logged 1,609 of the domestic transmissions, Binh Duong Province 686, Tay Ninh Province 632, Tien Giang Province 622, Dong Nai Province 563, Dong Thap Province 515, An Giang Province 510, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 423, Binh Thuan Province 333, Hanoi 202, Khanh Hoa Province 135, Can Tho City 130, Quang Nam Province 73, Da Nang City 26, and Hai Phong City five.

Vietnam had confirmed 9,839 locally-acquired infections on Wednesday.

The country has detected 1,060,394 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave flared up on April 27. A total of 878,776 of them have recovered from COVID-19.

Ho Chi Minh City has been most affected with 452,722 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 246,007, Dong Nai Province with 80,489, Long An Province with 36,934, Tien Giang Province with 23,099, An Giang Province with 19,637, Tay Ninh Province with 18,054, Kien Giang Province with 15,681, Dong Thap Province with 15,147, Khanh Hoa Province with 10,813, Can Tho City with 9,830, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 7,981, Hanoi with 7,049, and Da Nang with 5,328.

Vietnam recorded merely 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves.

The health ministry announced 6,723 recovered patients on Thursday, taking the total to 881,593.

The toll has increased to 23,476 fatalities after the ministry registered 139 deaths on the same day, including 42 in Ho Chi Minh City, 22 in An Giang Province, 16 in Kien Giang Province, 14 in Binh Duong Province, and the remainder in 14 other provinces and cities.

Vietnam has found 1,065,469 infections since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year.

Health workers have administered above 103.5 million vaccine doses, including 1,464,452 jabs on Wednesday, since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8.

More than 37.8 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Health authorities in the country of nearly 98 million people target to fully vaccinate 80 percent of the adults and 100 percent of those aged 12 to under 18 by the end of this year, according to a draft government plan for COVID-19 response in 2021-23.

From 2022 onward, 100 percent of people aged 12 and above will either be fully immunized against the coronavirus or even get booster shots.

Children from three to under 12 years old will be fully inoculated in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines.

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A Neighbours season finale will screen on 10 Peach on Thursday, December 9th.

Unlike 2018  2020 the show wont screen all year round, before resuming on Monday January 3rd in 2022.

This year 10 Peach pulled the series back to 4 nights a week, believed to be a move to allow the UK to catch up to Australia.

Meanwhile Home & Away has a finale next Thursday night, November 25.

Source: Digital Spy
University of Dayton English professor emeritus Herbert Martin talks about his life and his new poetry collection The Shape of Regret.

English professor emeritus Herbert Martin has good poems to sell. His latest collection, The Shape of Regret ($16.99, Wayne State University Press), includes this line spoken by the ghost of poet Edith Sitwell, perched on her pinnacle / far from hell. Maybe shes just Outside the Gate, the title of another Martin poem, where the speaker says, I no longer hope to get to heaven. / I want a chair placed outside the gate; / that will do. Thats a lot of eternity for a book Amazon tells me will take an hour-and-a-half to read, 18 cents per minute. And, though I did first read this delightfully varied collection of poems back-to-back, doing so is like drinking a row of shots, beginning with resonant nature imagery, then witticism, ode, spiritual, guffaw, 21-gun salute, kissing and compline. Martins poetry demands time in the reading, preferably slowly, aloud, as the sounds are strengthened rather than diffused in air. Poets, too, demand time in their developing, as both poem and poet aspire to timelessness. In February, Martin spoke in Dayton to my Sinclair College English class, his granddaughter Athena at his side. He Zoomed in from his home office wearing his signature Kente cloth scarf, a gift made by a former students grandmother. Born in Alabama in 1933, Martin is approaching his 10th decade, so hes a member of the silent generation, the one that in the civil rights movement was anything but.

Martin moved away from Birmingham at age 12: My dad got a letter from his sister saying, Come North. You can make $5 a day, instead of $5 a week, so he left and came to Ohio. My mother, a month later, followed him at Christmas time. By the new year Martin, too, got on the train: The Black conductors took care of especially kids who were traveling by themselves, and one came in and said, Weve just crossed the Mason Dixon line. I mumbled to myself, and thats that. I have never gone back to Birmingham, so make of that what you will. The North, however, required that he learn to negotiate more subtle racism. He had to read between the want-ad lines: No, that church did not want a Black choir director. (Martin is also an accomplished chorister and librettist.) But recently, all these years later, he awoke shocked that he had dreamt of Birminghams Bull Connor, the citys infamous commissioner of public safety, which inspired a new poem, The Fire Hoses, that Martin read to my class: The fire hoses were filled with cold water, and that those who survived such / incidents said that there was ice in that water because their bodies had been pummeled / And had bled or was sore in spots and had left them with anxious pain. / That same water could send you up against a wall or skirting or swimming down a street. He continued in the voice of Connor: Your blackness has been warned / No talking back, no praying, and certainly no singing. In his work, Martin talks, prays and sings a history, both personal and cultural, imbued with humor and regard for his fellow poets. Many poems in this collection are inspired by diverse artists: Lucille Clifton, Charles Ives, Hart Crane, Wallace Stevens, Wendell Berry and others. Martin masterfully roasts William Carlos Williams the way only a true friend from across the page could. References to Martins mother also echo in this collection as much as they did in his interview. In his work, Martin talks, prays and sings a history, both personal and cultural, imbued with humor and regard for his fellow poets. He described for students a moment of his mothers tough love: Once I was working at the post office in the wintertime, so that I could pay for the [tuition] that was coming up, and it was minus zero. So I got on the phone with my mother, and said, Its below zero. My toes and my hands will not move. I am freezing to death. She said, What do you want me to do about that? And she had a little sermon, she took a text, rain or shine, blah blah blah. I was so angry with her that by the time I hung up the phone [banging it] bang bang bang, the blood in my body began to move. He said he worked all that day and didnt feel any more pain. Years later, he thought, If my mother had said, Come home, my house is warm. You have a place in my house, he laughed, I would have stayed at my mothers house forever. Martin emphasized the importance of another piece of his mothers wisdom: She said, Make your friends early on in life when they dont have power, when they dont have riches, when they dont have money, and they will stay with you forever. I tried to follow that edict ... so along the way Ive had remarkable friends and remarkable teachers. Martin also put himself in the way of his prominent poetic contemporaries, however brief the overlap in time. He spoke of attending a reading of Langston Hughes set to jazz in college. He described how when hed visit a new town, hed learn where the poets lived, and show up at their doorsteps. He met W.H. Auden this way, padding around in his slippers, the same footwear his fellow poets said Auden wore to readings because of sore feet. He described how poet Allen Tate once attended one of Martins poetry readings and advised him afterward to get himself an old guy, which at the time confused him. But a few weeks later he saw poet and novelist Margaret Walker read Paul Laurence Dunbars poetry. (Mmhmm. Margaret Walker. Reading Dunbar. Martins wife, Sue, says his good fortune warrants him a lifetime of coffee without cream or sugar.) It was there he realized what Tate meant, so Martin chose Dunbar as the artist around whom to build his scholarship. Over his career, Martin studied, collected, edited and less impersonated than embodied Dunbar, parting his own hair, donning a smart suit and tie as Dunbar did. Martin has read Dunbars works for years longer than Dunbar, who died at the age of 33, got to live, much less write. Martin has read Dunbars works for years longer than Dunbar, who died at the age of 33, got to live, much less write.
People queue at a test centre in Berlin (AP)

Germany is in the grip of a dramatic Covid fourth wave, Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

It came as daily infections hit a new record of 52,826 on Wednesday as regional leaders prepared to meet to address the crisis.

Countries across Europe have seen a surge in cases in the past month, prompting many to tighten restrictions. Austria last week imposed a lockdown on unvaccinated people while the Netherlands introduced a 8pm curfew for all hospitality venues.

Meanwhile, Germanys booster vaccination rate has fallen sharply in recent weeks as the immunity from the initial programme begins to wane  leading to pressure on hospitals. Just 5 per cent of the country has had a booster shot and 68 per cent are fully jabbed.

It is not too late to opt for a first vaccine shot, Merkel told a congress of German city mayors on Wednesday. Everyone who gets vaccinated protects himself and others.

The state of Saxony, in which 85 per cent of ICU beds are occupied by Covid patients, became the latest region to introduce vaccine passports or a negative test as a condition of entry to bars, restaurants and shops. Other states are expected to follow suit in the coming fortnight.

The surge in infections comes at an awkward time for the German government as Merkel continues to act as a caretaker leader while three other parties negotiate to form a government after an inconclusive September election.

Ms Merkel appealed to vaccine-sceptics to change their minds and called for a speedier distribution of booster shots. If enough people get vaccinated that is the way out of the pandemic, she added.

The Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats, who aim to form the next government, will also propose measures to fight the pandemic in a draft law to go to parliament on Thursday.

A draft of a Covid policy paper set to be discussed by regional leaders, seen by Reuters, suggests national measures to deal with the crisis. Proposals include forcing people to show proof of vaccination or recovery or a negative Covid test on public transport and at work and imposing tighter restrictions for leisure activities.

Story continues

Read More

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(Bloomberg) --

Most Read from Bloomberg

Dubais commodities exchange rejected claims it doesnt do enough to regulate its gold business, while the United Arab Emirates government announced new guidelines for trading the metal.

I want to address the elephant in the room, namely the consistent and unsubstantiated attacks launched on Dubai by other trading centers and institutions, the chief executive officer of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Ahmed bin Sulayem, said Thursday at a conference in the emirate. They are lies.

Bin Sulayems comments come as concerns mount about Dubais role in the illicit gold business. Critics say regulatory loopholes allow bullion used for money laundering and smuggled out of war zones to be traded there.

Switzerland has told its gold refiners to do more to identify the origin of bullion arriving from the UAE. The London Bullion Market Association last year threatened to blacklist countries that didnt meet its standards, a move aimed at Dubai and the UAE, Bloomberg reported.

UAE officials say critics feel threatened by the countrys success in building a gold industry.

As a strategic location that connects producing countries with manufacturing centers with the largest consumers in the world, Dubai has a comparative advantage, bin Sulayem said.

New Standards

Shortly after he spoke, a UAE minister said Dubais gold-refining standards would be expanded across the country, albeit on a voluntary basis.

The UAE will begin to use a Good Delivery Standard for gold to bring its practices closer to those used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the minister of state for foreign trade, Thani Al Zeyoudi, said.

Story continues

The government will soon launch a publicly accessible system for monitoring imports and exports of gold, he added.

Dubai is the destination for 95% of gold originating from east and central Africa, according to data from the United Nations, which says the regions face a high-risk of smuggling.

(Updates with comments from exchange CEO. An earlier version corrected the spelling of his name in the second paragraph.)

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An F-35 takes off from HMS Queen Elizabeth, August 2021. British Royal Navy/POPhot Jay Allen

With HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the British navy once again has aircraft carriers.

They hit a milestone this year, conducting simultaneous exercises with fixed-wing jets for the first time.

Those drills were on opposite sides of the world, reflecting the global reach Britain is seeking.

In September, the Royal Navy announced that its two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers conducted simultaneous exercises with fixed-wing aircraft for the first time.

The drills involved launching and recovering F-35Bs, the short-takeoff and vertical-landing version of the stealth fighter, from HMS Prince of Wales in British waters and HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Pacific  7,000 miles apart.

It marked the start of a busy fall for Britain's two new carriers, which the Royal Navy calls "the nation's flagships."

Queen Elizabeth-class

HMS Queen Elizabeth conducts replenishment-at-sea with RFA Tidespring, August 2021. British Royal Navy/POPhot Jay Allen

The decommissioning of the last Invincible-class aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious, left the Royal Navy without any aircraft carriers for the first time in nearly a century. With the commissioning of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, the UK now has two fully operational and completely modern flattops.

At 65,000 tons and 920 feet long, the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers are nearly three times larger than the Invincible-class carriers they replace, and they have a number of improvements.

Though not nuclear-powered, they have an integrated electric propulsion system consisting of two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines and four Wartsila 38 Marine diesel engines. They each have a range of about 10,000 miles.

The most noticeable feature are the two islands, rather than one, on the carriers' decks. The forward island handles navigation, while the aft island handles flight control for the carrier's air wing.

The dual-island set up provides some unique benefits, allowing for greater visibility, increased survivability, a larger flight deck and more efficient use of space, and reduced air turbulence over the flight deck. It also integrates the two exhaust stacks each ship was required to have.

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The ideal air wing would include 36 F-35B fighters and at least four helicopters, likely a combination of Merlin Mk2 or Mk4s and Wildcat AH1s. The extra space, however, can accommodate larger air wings when necessary. The carriers can also carry Chinook helicopters and V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.

The carriers also have a modern suite of technology and equipment. The new weapons handling system, for instance, requires just 48 crew members to operate instead of the 160 needed previously.

HMS Queen Elizabeth

An F-35 takes off from HMS Queen Elizabeth during training with the South Korean navy, September 2021. British Royal Navy

HMS Queen Elizabeth was commissioned on December 7, 2017, and has racked up an impressive resume. After three years of trials and fitting out, it formed a strike group for the first time in October 2020.

Since May this year, it has been the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 21, a task force which includes the British nuclear-powered submarine HMS Artful, Dutch Navy frigate HNLMS Evertsen, and US Navy destroyer USS The Sullivans on a 28-week deployment to 40 countries in Europe, the Pacific, and the Middle East.

It deployed with the largest fifth-generation air wing ever embarked on any ship  10 F-35Bs from the US Marine Corps' Fighter Attack Squadron 211 and eight F-35Bs from the Royal Air Force's 617 Squadron.

The carrier also saw combat for the first time, conducting airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq a month into the deployment. Those strikes put the carrier and its jets in a "cat and mouse" game with Russian forces, which kept a close eye on them as they operated in the Eastern Mediterranean.

During the deployment, the carrier has trained with NATO forces in Europe, and exercised with the Singaporean, South Korean, New Zealand, Indian, Japanese, Australian, and US navies in Asia.

Most recently, Queen Elizabeth drilled with the navies of Oman and the United Arab Emirates and conducted "cross-deck" landing operations with the amphibious assault ship USS Essex in the Gulf of Oman.

The carrier is expected to return home in December and is now in the Mediterranean, where it had another, less welcome milestone: A British pilot had to bail out of an F-35B during flight operations, just the fifth F-35 to be lost to a crash.

HMS Prince of Wales

HMS Prince of Wales embarked with F-35s from 207 squadron, September 2021. British Royal Navy

HMS Prince of Wales was commissioned on December 10, 2019. Since then, the carrier and its crew have gone through nearly two years of intense training and fitting-out work.

It has been tested with manned and unmanned aircraft and participated in the naval element of Exercise Joint Warrior 212, which was one of Europe's largest military exercises.

More than 20 ships, dozens of aircraft, and over 3,000 personnel from a dozen countries took part in the exercise, which included airborne assaults, amphibious landings, and live-fire exercises.

After Joint Warrior, HMS Prince of Wales was declared fully operational. The carrier will become NATO's command ship in 2022, making it the flagship of the alliance.

A small air wing

An F-35 hovers over HMS Prince of Wales, September 2021. British Royal Navy

The two Queen Elizabeth-class carriers  there are no plans to build more  have been declared operational and have proved their worth in multiple exercises, but they still have issues with their air wings, specifically their small size.

With the retirement of the Harrier in 2010, the F-35B is the only fixed-wing aircraft that can operate on Britain's carriers. In 2015, the UK announced plans to acquire 138 F-35s. Only 48 have been ordered, and only 21 have been delivered  20 after the jet lost this month  with the rest in production.

The UK's active F-35Bs are in service with the Royal Air Force, including those aboard the carriers. While some RAF F-35Bs are flown by Royal Navy pilots, the Royal Navy isn't expected to have its own operational F-35B squadron until 2023.

The small number of available British F-35s is likely one reason US Marine Corps F-35Bs have deployed aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Officials have touted that cooperation, but it has prompted concern that the Royal Navy may have to rely on allies to fill its carriers' hangars.

Jeremy Quin, British minister for defense procurement, has said that the UK will order more F-35s "by 2025," but he hasn't given an exact number or confirmed that the UK still plans to acquire 138.

The British military has other aircraft programs underway. The Royal Navy is looking into carrier-launched versions of the wingman drones being developed by the Royal Air Force. The UK is also developing a sixth-generation stealth fighter, known as Tempest, meant to surpass current fifth-generation jets.

Despite concerns about the air wing, the number and variety of aircraft that the new British aircraft carriers can carry mean the Royal Navy will soon again boast one of the strongest carrier forces in the world.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Its nearly here: the annual shopping bonanza that is Black Friday beckons.

Kicking off from Nov 26 through to Cyber Monday on Nov 29 there will be discounts across the board on every conceivable thing, from mattresses to makeup, VR to vacuums.

As well as physical products, the mega sale now extends to a host of services and experiences.

While you can save on a new broadband package, or treat yourself to a luxury spa day for less, the deals that are really making us stop and stare are the travel ones.

Few would argue that weve had a rough couple of years, but with travel restrictions now falling away, the window of opportunity for a foreign jolly is open.

Just think; 2022 could be the year that you take that once-in-a-lifetime trip or spend time exploring the cities you usually spend your lunch hour Googling.

Whether youre aching to watch the sunrise in a new time zone or fancy checking out a personally uncharted corner of the UK, there are plenty of Black Friday travel offers that will have you reaching for your credit card.

Fasten your seats, and get ready to check in: these are the best Black Friday travel deals 2021 has to offer.

Best Black Friday flight deals

Virgin Atlantic

(Unsplash)

With the transatlantic route now open for commercial flights to and from the UK, the time is ripe to explore the US. Virgins deals could see you holidaying in Orlando from 399 return or tuning into an Empire State of Mind for just 359 return to NYC.

If youre hunting for a bit of winter sun, there are offers to the Caribbean and India too. Selected dates apply.

Book now

British Airways

(Unsplash)

Flight deals are on standby at BA until Cyber Week kicks off on Nov 23. That doesnt mean you cant browse the site for inspiration, though do so at your peril: with city breaks from 23 each way and a three-night holiday in NYC for just 480pp you may find yourself itching to buy before the main event kicks off.

Book now

Cathay Pacific

(Unsplash)

The Hong Kong-based carrier is offering a Two Together deal this Black Friday where if you buy two economy tickets, the second will be half price. There are also discounts on other routes: those booking for travel between April 20  October 31, 2022 could get return tickets to Hong Kong from 439 while round trips to Australia and New Zealand start from 619. The airline will also make carbon offsetting contributions for all flights purchased between now and Nov 29 at no extra cost to the customer.

Story continues

Book now

easyJet

(Unsplash)

Christmas in the Canaries? How about Valentines in Venice? Its all possible this winter thanks to easyJets Black Friday sale, which has 800,00 seats on offer from just 19.99. Theres also 200 off package holidays. Now, where did you put that sunscreen?

Book now

LastMinute.com

(Unsplash)

Theyre calling it Pink Friday over at lastminute.com in honour of the companys signature hue. Colours aside, travel deals will leave you firmly in the black thanks to their enticingly discounted prices. The sale, which includes offers from Air Canada, Royal Jordanian, Ethiad and Air Malta, in on until Nov 30, so plenty of time to get holiday requests approved and balls rolling.

Book now

Ryanair

The budget airline is offering BOGOF flights to a range of destinations this Black Friday.

Book now

Best Black Friday room and hotel deals

Booking.com

(Hotel Neuer, Berlin)

Travel is back, and theres no better time to grab a suite deal (sorry) than over Black Friday weekend. As one of the market leaders, Booking.com has thousands of hotel, hostels, B&Bs, homestays and options across the planet to choose from - and this Black Friday you can get them from 30 per cent off the usual price.

Whether you want to check out the best Christmas markets in Europe or youre hoping to spend the Easter half-term soaking up the sun, the best place to boost your vacation spending money is by catching these discount room deals while you can. This year, for the first time, Booking.com is also offering 20 per cent off on rental cars.

Book now

Hotels.com

(Unsplash)

On a mission to turn Black Friday into Break Friday, Hotels.com is knocking up to 70 per cent off the cost of some stays. There are domestic as well as foreign deals on rooms -as for destinations think New Orleans, Las Vegas, Bali and the Caribbean. That should blow off the winter blues.

Book now

Hilton hotels

(Hilton)

The world-renowned hotel group is offering an incredible deal across its 500 properties with rooms starting from just 52 a night. The Winter Sale offer is open to all right now. Setting up a Hilton Honors account is free, so if you're looking for an excuse to book a night somewhere lavish, this could be all the incentive you need.

Book now

Mr & Mrs Smith x Six Senses

(Six Senses)

Boutique travel club Mr & Mrs Smith has teamed up with Six Senses this Black Friday to offer an incredible deal exclusively to its members. From Nov 25 - 30, its taking up to 40 per cent off Six Senses hotel stays in locations from Brazil to Bhutan. Barring a few blackout dates, you can book your trip right up until the end of next year so that once-in-a-lifetime trip is finally within reach.

Book now

Coco Collection

(Coco Collection)

After more than a year of no travel, who wouldnt jump at the chance to get away? Now theres a chance to get away for less thanks to Coco Collection, a group of hotels set on picture-perfect islands in the Maldives, who is offering 60 per cent off stays from May until the end of July 2022. Use use the code: BLACKFRIDAY to get your discount.

Shop now

The QHotel Collection

(Unsplash)

With Black Friday offers across overnight stays as well as spa treatments and golf trips, there's never been more persuasion to book a minibreak with The QHotel Collection. Locations include Leeds, Northumberland, Warwick and Winchester. Get in early by signing up online.

Book now

YOTEL

(YOTEL)

With hotels across the world, YOTEL is a great place to stay for a city break. This Black Friday it is offering a 40 per cent discount on rooms, with rates from as little as 55pn.

Whether youre planning a UK staycation next year or have your sights set further afield (Miami, anyone), YOTEL allows you to make the most of your leisure time. Members benefit from extra perks, and can cancel up to 2pm on the arrival day if plans suddenly change.

Book now

easyHotel

The budget group is making a stay at one of its hotels even more appealing this Black Friday with 30 per cent off room rates.

Book now

Cairn Group

(Cairn Group)

The hotel chain - with 32 branches across the UK in destination like Edinburgh, Cardiff, Durham and Aberdeen, amongst others - is making a 2022 UK staycation even more appealing with 20 per cent off selected rooms.

Book now

Best Black Friday travel tours and experiences

Secret Escapes

(Secret Escapes)

From last-minute getaways, UK staycations, city and beach trips, and even package holidays, theres something to satisfy any kind of wanderlust at Secret Escapes. The companys bestsellers are on offer, as well as exclusive rates on swish London stays (including a luxury superyacht near Canary Wharf). If that doesnt catch your attention, perhaps the fact that there will be up to 70 per cent off will.

Book now

Virgin Experience Days

(The ArcelorMittal Orbit)

From dining out to adrenaline-pumping experiences, there's plenty of choice when it comes to UK-based thrills over at Virgin. Right now you can get a go on The Slide at The ArcelorMittal Orbit for two people with a bottle of prosecco for 43.73 (down from 62.50) and a spa day for two with a 55min treatment each - was: 178, now: 89.

Book now

TUI

(Unsplash)

The race is on to secure the best holiday for your money in 2022. Dont want until next year to find a great deal, not when there are so many around this Black Friday weekend. Tour operator Tui has launched its discounts for this years event across various TUI, First Choice, Marella Cruises and TUI River Cruise holidays.

Find savings galore on trips away from tempting last-minute trips departing in a few days to epic voyages until April 2023. Minimum spends apply.

Book now

Contiki

(Contiki)

Luxury travel group Contiki is keeping its Cyber Week offers under lock and key until Nov 22, but if youre itching to book your next big adventure, you can sign up to the Early Access Sale right now. Trips include itineraries to the Alps, Scandinavia, German Christmas markets and Egypt & The Nile, amongst others.

Book now

loveholidays

(loveholidays)

Its easy to treat yourself to a 2022 holiday when theres up to 40 per cent off at loveholidays. Whether youre planning a romantic trip away a deux or want to spoil the whole family by taking them somewhere warm and sunny, loveholidays has deals to suit. Deposits from only 29pp.

Book now

Insight Vacations

(Insight Vacations)

Scoop up to 20 per cent off luxury tours to the American Deep South, Grand Canyon or the majestic Scandinavian Fjords with Insight Vacations.

Book now

G Adventures

If youre planning to make next year the one for epic travel, youll love the sound of tour operator G Adventures Black Friday travel deal. Its offering up to 30 per cent off the cost of some of its most-booked small-group trips: think Borneo, Sri Lanka and Japan. The offerr runs until midnight on Dec 3, so dust down your passport and get ready to explore.

Book now

Srprs.me

(Unsplash)

One for the risk-takers, this company sees you heading to the airport, bags packed - but with no real idea of your destination. Srprs.me will send you baseline clues, such as a weather forecast and general region so you can pack adequately but other than that, its all up in the air. Youll only find out where youre going at Departures.

Their Black Friday offer sees 50 wiped off the cost of trips, with a minimum spend of 200. Available until Nov 30.

Book now

The Wedding Travel Company

(Unsplash)

Dreaming of a destination wedding? You're in luck. This Black Friday, The Wedding Travel Company is offering deals galore to see you say tie the knot abroad.

Some of the deals include getting hitched in Las Vegas for less than 100. Now there's a deal to say 'I do' to.

Book now

TRIPS by Culture Trip

(Unsplash)

Solo travel is all good and well but theres nothing like discovering a new place with your best mate. This Black Friday, Trips by Culture Trip has your BFF sorted - its incredible deal sees a friend coming along for free with every booking. Itineraries include a jungle safari in Costa Rica and 10 days exploring the beauty - and food! - of southern Italy. The only thing youll need to decide is who to take.

Book now

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Last week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali, Abdoulay Diop, visited Moscow and told Russian diplomats that the security situation in the country remains very tense: the terrorist activity directly threatens the country's sovereignty. Thus, the Malian transitional authorities took steps to achieve internal political unity and stability. Preparations are underway for a general democratic election.

At a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the head of the Malian Foreign Ministry spoke about the prospects for expanding business contacts, implementing joint projects in the development of mineral reserves, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. The next day, Lavrov went to Paris for a meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of the Russian Federation and France, where much attention was paid to the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region, including in the context of the redeployment of the French armed forces stationed there, including from Mali. According to Lavrov, the Malian leadership is concerned that the French want to leave the northern territories of the country where terrorist groups are very active.

At the meeting, the Russian diplomat explained to his French colleagues the situation with the regular accusations against Russia of encouraging certain contacts between the leadership of Mali and a Russian private military company. We have shown the groundlessness of such accusations; we emphasized that through interstate cooperation we are providing military-technical assistance to Mali and helping to organize the work of the security services and the Malian army. As for the private military companies, they are more usual for the West not for Russia. We have listed the functioning PMCs from the US, Great Britain, France. There are many of them. The scale of their presence is not comparable to that of our private military companies. We suggest joining our forces against terrorist groups in the Sahara-Sahel region. They have been very active there, since the West bombed Libya, thus depriving the country of its statehood. We are trying to reassemble it, "Lavrov said after the meeting.

In an interview, Grigory Lukyanov, a Senior Researcher at Russias Institute of Oriental Studies, explained that the current goal is to boost business ties, particularly in the field of resource extraction and security services, where Russia has competitive advantages, Eurasia Review writes. In the future, Mali is capable of becoming a transport hub for commodities coming from the west and south to Africas north and then to the European Union, so apart from France, China and the United States are also interested in it. Its vital for Paris to remain in its former colony and France is reluctant to let other players enter the country.

According to Lukyanov, France views the region as the former outskirts of its empire, while for Russia, Mali is a shady remote country and Moscow could trade activities there for a number of concessions related to other issues, crucial for its relations with France, the EU and the West in general. As far as Paris is concerned, it will most likely replace the current Malian government, which is sending pro-Russian signals, with another one that will better suit its goals.

As well-known facts, two military coups have taken place in Mali since August 2020. The first one, which occurred on August 18, 2020, ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Interim President Bah Ndaw was removed from power by the military on May 26, 2021, while Deputy President Assimi Goita became Malis Transition President based on the Constitutional Courts order.

There have been discussions at the United Nations Security Council, African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) about rivalry and competition for influence between France and Russia in Mali. The Economic Community of West African States reiterates the need to adhere to the transition timetable in respect of the elections scheduled for February 27, 2022 and calls on the transition authorities to act accordingly to ensure expeditious return to constitutional order. Accordingly, it calls on the international community to take the necessary measures to ensure that the transition authorities respect their commitment to an expeditious return to constitutional order.

The Republic of Mali, home to nearly 20 million people, is a landlocked country located on rivers Senegal and Niger in West Africa. As a former French colony, it persistently faces serious development challenges primarily due to its landlocked position and it is the eighth-largest country in Africa. Over the years, reform policies have had little impact on the living standards, majority highly impoverished in the country. As a developing country, it ranks at the bottom of the United Nations Development Index (2020 report).
Azerbaijan was elected the member of the UNESCO Executive Board, according to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The election of a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for 2021-2025 was held on November 17, 2021 within the ongoing 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference.

During the election, the candidacy of Azerbaijan was nominated for one of three vacancies allocated for the East European Group.

Azerbaijan gained 143 votes during the election held in conditions of intense competition.
A British F-35 fighter jet has crashed into the sea during a routine operation in the Mediterranean, the British Ministry of Defence has said.

The pilot ejected and has safely returned to the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and an investigation has begun, the MoD added.

The incident occurred at 10:00 GMT over international waters and no other aircraft were involved, BBC reported.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the jet came down soon after take off. He said: "We are pleased the pilot is safe and well and back on board." Wallace added that operational and training flights onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth are continuing despite the incident.

With the pilot having ejected and now back on board, efforts now will be to recover the jet, each of which costs around 100m.

This is the first time a UK F-35 has crashed, but there have been several involving U.S. jets.

An investigation is already under way into why the British jet came down. With no other aircraft involved or hostile actions that investigation is likely to focus on a technical failure or potential human error.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili said that the third president Mikheil Saakashvili is serving his term in a Georgian prison based on the rule of law.

However, she noted that the former president is not an ordinary prisoner and that his imprisonment and hunger strike is under close observation by the international community.

"Everyone is equal before the law, but while serving a sentence and while in prison, an ex-president is not and cannot be an ordinary prisoner. He is a special prisoner, because everyone - our society just like our international friends - observes his condition and demands the highest standards. The image of our country is reflected in how we treat him, and how his dignity, health and safety will be protected," Zurabishvili said.

She stated that Saakashvilis health must be under close supervision, despite the fact that "he himself has made the decision to go on a hunger strike and is trying to lead the process."

"Logically, the government should be most interested in maintaining the health of the former president, and I think it is," Zurabishvili said, noting that the public must be informed on each detail on Saakashvilis health.

She stated that as Saakashvili is not an ordinary prisoner, his transfer to a civil clinic is not as easy as this would be in terms of other inmates, Agenda.ge reported.
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will visit Iran next week, an Iranian official said , as Tehran and world powers prepare to resume talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal.

"Grossi will arrive in Tehran on Monday," Iranian state media quoted the spokesman of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Behrouz Kamalvandi, as saying.

Grossi's trip takes place just before next week's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation Board of Governors.

Western powers scrapped plans in September for a board resolution criticising Iran after Tehran agreed on Sept. 12 to prolong monitoring of some nuclear activities and invited Grossi to Tehran for talks on outstanding issues.

Kamalvandi said Grossi will meet Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Iran's nuclear chief during his visit, Reuters reported.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks on November 19 in Moscow with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, where he will discuss the organization's assistance in resolving the situation in Karabakh and Transnistria, the press service of the diplomatic department reported.

"It is supposed to discuss issues related to the assistance of the OSCE to the settlement of conflicts in Karabakh and Transnistria, as well as the organization's mediation in the Geneva discussions on security and stability in the South Caucasus. To consider its possible role in assisting the Central Asian states experiencing the consequences of the crisis in Afghanistan, which since 2003 has had the official status of the OSCE Asian Partner for Co-operation," the statement says.

In addition, the heads of ministries will discuss the current state of the European security and ways to "revive the conventional arms control regime in Europe."
Russia is going to deliver food, medicine and essential goods to Afghanistan in the near future, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vasily Nebenzya stated at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

The Russian envoy emphasized that the current primary task was to provide urgent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. "We welcome the rapid actions taken by the UN in this direction as well as the well-established interaction with the local authorities," Nebenzya noted.

"<> We are also ready to make our contribution to this common endeavor. In the near future, we will send food, medicines and essential goods to Afghanistan," the Russian diplomat said, expressing the hope the key funders would also demonstrate the generosity in such a critical situation.

Meanwhile, Nebenzya stated that despite the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) efforts and the increasing fund programs, the Afghan social and economic problems could not be solved without unfreezing its financial assets.

The Russian diplomat stressed that, as the UN representatives noted, the country was going to face the inevitable economic collapse.
Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has welcomed a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, mediated by Russia.

"[I] spoke to Armenian FM (Foreign Minister) Ararat Mirzoyan, welcome ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan after Russian mediation and called for de-escalation. Deep regret for loss of lives," Linde wrote on Twitter.

"Reiterated support for continued process through Minsk Group Co-Chairs and my Personal Representative," she added.
The proposals of the Russian Ministry of Defense on the beginning of the preparatory stage of demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border are acceptable to Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a government meeting.

"The Russian Ministry of Defense made proposals on the preparatory stage of demarcation and delimitation. I want to reaffirm that these proposals are acceptable to us," Pashinyan noted.

The PM instructed the head of the Armenian Defense Ministry Suren Papikyan to clarify the details with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Germany should stop the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Europe if it wants to work for peace, linking the project to his countrys handling of migrants on the Belarus border.

In an interview with Germanys top-selling Bild daily, Morawiecki said he feared an escalation of the situation at the EU-Belarus border, where several thousand migrants are stuck.

We are defending the EU border here in Poland! And speaking of the bigger picture, lets work together for peace and not give (Russian President) Vladimir Putin extra money through energy payments so he can continue to upgrade, Morawiecki told Bild.

This means the cessation of the new gas pipeline from Russia. Nord Stream 2 must be stopped, he said.

Morawiecki warned that Europe faced a new migrant crisis if it failed to solve this buildup of people and that the situation, while stable, was growing more threatening.
In Yerevan, during the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, brief talks were held between the Prime Ministers of Russia and Kazakhstan Mikhail Mishustin and Askar Mamin. This is stated in a message posted on the Telegram channel of the Russian government.

The details of the negotiations were not disclosed.

Let us remind you that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived on a two-day visit to the capital of Armenia to participate in a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The talks between Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan were constructive and were held in preparation for forthcoming contacts between the two countries at the highest level, the Russian Security Council said.

"During the conversation, Nikolai Patrushev and Jake Sullivan agreed to join efforts to improve the atmosphere of Russian-U.S. relations and increase trust between the two countries," says the statement issued after the telephone conversation.

It was reported that the talks were "held in a constructive manner, as part of preparations for forthcoming contacts at the highest level."

The secretary of the Russian Security Council maintains regular contact with the US national security adviser. They had held six telephone conversations and one face-to-face meeting earlier in the year.
Russia is ready to continue assisting Armenia and Azerbaijan in maintaining peace and stability in the region and calls on both sides to show restraint, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"It is clear from official statements by Baku and Yerevan that the sides have completely opposite assessments of the situation and are accusing each other for what happened [the shelling of military positions]. Russia is in contact with both Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve the situation peacefully," the Russian diplomat pointed out.

"Joint work continues to remove tension. We call on both sides to show restraint and prevent new incidents and resolve all disputes solely by political and diplomatic methods. We are ready to continue assisting the sides for the purpose of maintaining peace and stability in the region," the spokeswoman said.

"The latest events confirm the importance of launching the process of the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border as quickly as possible and also [the importance of] the beginning of the work by the relevant commission based on proposals earlier submitted by Russia," the Russian diplomat said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Thursday discussed bilateral ties and regional issues in a phone call.

Erdogan conveyed to his Israeli counterpart that relations between the two countries are important for the security and stability of the Middle East, and that differences of opinion can be minimized if there is mutual understanding on both bilateral and regional issues, according to a statement.

Emphasizing that it is essential to reestablish a culture of peace, tolerance and coexistence in the region, the Turkish leader said that in this respect, the development of Palestinian-Israeli relations and the resumption of the peace process are priorities.

He also noted that maintaining contact and dialogue between Turkey and Israel is in the common interest, Daily Sabah reported.

A statement by Israels prime minister and foreign minister earlier announced the release and also expressed gratitude to the president and government of Turkey.
Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator for the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Counterterrorism Chris Landberg said that Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism.

According to him, Iran, and its proxies  including terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen  continue to engage in dangerous and destabilizing activity in the Middle East and beyond.

"Iran has been funding and arming its proxies  including with sophisticated technology  and enabling attacks across the region," Landberg said.

The U.S. Department of State representative also noted that the terrorist group ISIS (banned in Russia) remains a threat to the United States, the global presence of which, in his opinion, continues to grow.

"Terrorist groups remain a persistent and pervasive threat to the United States, allies, and interests abroad. ISISs global presence continues to grow despite the complete liberation of territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria," Landberg added.
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, when answering inquiries before the National Assembly, said his ministry is promoting an overall strategy on digital transformation in the educational sector.

Son said education and training has been affected by Covid-19. Academic year plans have changed and education content and programs have been adjusted. Nearly 20 million students have been studying online.

Son said the challenges are unavoidable. As certain conditions are still poor, especially infrastructure, online teaching has caused some negative consequences.

Students feel stressed and tired, teachers feel pressure, parents complain and the whole society has concerns, Son said.

Thoroughly grasping the spirit of the saying stopping going to school, but not stopping learning, the educational sector has tried to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic by pursuing the goal of high education quality.

Over 1.8 million students have no device to study with and many of them have given up learning. Ministries of Education and Training (MOET), Information and Communications (MIC) and local authorities have called for support for the program Internet and computers for students initiated by the Prime Minister. Benefactors have committed to donate 140,000 devices, and 50,000 computers will be distributed in November.

MIC also instructed telecom carriers to urgently come up with technical solutions to optimize internet coverage. Just within two months, 283 out of 1,919 depressed areas were covered with broadband. Large telecom carriers have been required to participate in a program on national digital transformation, building a unified online teaching platform, large enough for national use.

Schools and teachers have been instructed not to organize exams or tests immediately when students go back to school. At first, they need to help students review and improve their knowledge after the online study period.

Meanwhile, MOET will conduct deeper studies and legalize documents that serve as temporary regulations or guidance. It will also organize a courseware store, which will be ready for use once the national platform is set up.

Son, while citing important tasks of the educational sector, put emphasis on the psychological support to students who have had to study online for a long time.

Schools and teachers have been instructed not to organize exams or tests immediately when students go back to school. At first, they need to help students review and improve their knowledge after the online study period.

Suggested solutions to teacher shortage

The teacher shortage is one of the issues put forward by Nguyen Van Hieu, who was then Deputy Director of HCM City Education and Training Department, at a working session of the National Assembly Delegation in July 2020.

District 11 needs to recruit 21 teachers of English, but there were no candidates. BinhTan district recruited one teacher, but the teacher later left, he said.

Thai Van Tai, Director of the Primary Education Department, said the number of teachers had increased by 6,000 as of the end of the first semester of the 2020-2021 academic year in comparison with the previous year. However, he stressed that its very difficult to recruit teachers of information technology (IT) and English in many localities.

Pham Thuy Chinh, a National Assembly Deputy, on November 11 asked Son to explain the lack of teachers of IT and English in mountainous areas. In reply, Son said teachers do not want to work in remote areas, despite preferential treatment.

To solve this problem, Son said MOET would increase the training quotas for regional universities and provide more human resources to mountainous provinces.

Son also mentioned another important solution  digital transformation. Its necessary to create e-lesson plans so that students in mountainous areas can learn with good students though the areas lack teachers.

Opportunities exist in risks

Schools in the country will reopen in the near future. However, online teaching will still exist thanks to its advantages. Online teaching allows learners to have more choices and is more fair in information access. They can attend lessons anywhere, provided they have devices and Internet access.

The development of online training has been done at different levels and scale. Virtual universities, training from a distance and online training are expected to be more common training models in the future.

These will be the works of the future. The work that needs to be done now is preparing the legal foundation, human resources and the sandbox mechanism, Son said.

Mentioning the big impact caused by Covid, Son said opportunities always exist in difficulties.

Phuong Chi

Ministry report: online teaching, learning is effective In a report answering National Assembly Deputies inquiries, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) affirmed the efficiency of online teaching and learning, and fairness in accessing learning conditions among regions.
Hanoi has changed its view about the treatment of positive Covid cases and the home quarantine of their close contacts.

Deputy Director of CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Hanoi Khong Minh Tuan said asymptomatic positive cases wont be hospitalized for concentrated treatment, and Hanoi will set up mobile clinics to treat mild cases.

The model of mobile clinics in Hanoi has differed from that in HCM City. In HCM City, positive cases stay at home and medical workers go to their homes to give examinations and provide drugs.

In Hanoi, mobile clinics have received patients and treated them at certain places (cultural houses or facilities). All districts, communes and wards arrange facilities for gathering and treating asymptomatic cases.

Hanoi plans to establish 508 mobile clinics, including 20 commune clinics located in industrial zones and export processing zones.

Truong Thuy Phong, Director of Ha Dong Medical Center, told VietNamNet that the center is checking possible locations.

The center on November 16 found two wards which have favorable conditions to serve as treatment facilities. Phu Luong 2 Preschool in Phu Luong Ward is one of the two facilities.

It is difficult to find suitable locations because a facility needs to be large enough for 150-200 patients and have toilets and shower, he said.

Previously, Ha Dong district had 17 clinics located at cultural houses which treat patients at home, a model like the one in HCM City. Medical staff visit patients houses to treat them.

However, Hanoi doesnt give treatment to patients at their homes, but sees patients at certain facilities under local management. They have to change locations, because the cultural houses are small and are located in residential quarters.

Phu Do Ward is now a hotbed with complicated developments. There are positive Covid cases with unclear sources of infection.

The locality has a small area and high population, where a village community culture exists. Locals have the habit of communicating and visiting each other every day, so it faces a high risk of rapid spread of the virus.

The municipal authorities said one mobile clinic should be set up in every ward and commune.

According to Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of Nam Tu Liem District Healthcare Sub-department, 10 clinics in 10 wards of the district have been set up and have enough workers.

The purpose of mobile clinics is treating patients at home, but Hanoi doesnt plan to treat them at home, Tuan said.

Theres a high number of cases in Phu Do Ward, so the district has activated the mobile clinic located at Phu Do Primary School, prepared six sickrooms and medical equipment. Once the city allows to treat them at home, the force will be able to work immediately, he explained.

Le Van Chu, Deputy Chair of Phu Do Ward, said the districts medical center on November 15 began building a mobile clinic which will be completed soon. The clinic will provide initial health examinations to people.

Home quarantine for close contacts?

While other cities and provinces have successfully applied the model of allowing close contacts of positive cases to have home quarantine, Hanoi has decided to allow home quarantine on a trial basis.

If satisfying the requirements set by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Hanoi should apply the home quarantine model immediately. There is no need to undergo implementation on trial or pilot basis, because the model has been applied in many other cities and provinces and has shown its advantages.

Meanwhile, experts have repeatedly urged Hanoi to follow the model immediately.

Tuan of CDC Hanoi said home quarantine for positive cases is not a new model as it has been applied in many other cities and provinces. But it has not been used in Hanoi so far, and Hanoi is just piloting the model.

Home quarantine for positive cases is just temporary, and if it is not okay, the pilot program will be stopped, Tuan said. Hanoi Peoples Committees Official Telegram No 23 also says the home quarantine will be implemented until there is new notice from the municipal authorities.

Tuan pointed out that the risk of the virus spread is very high in Hanoi, with its high population, so its necessary to consider the home quarantine model thoroughly.

Some areas in Hanoi are allowing patients close contacts, including old people, people with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women and children, to have home quarantine.

To be able to have home quarantine, they must have favorable conditions like private rooms and private toilets, have relatives to take care of them, and satisfy requirements on waste collection. They also must have periodic testing.

Tran Dac Phu, former Head of the Preventive Medicine Agency and Senior Expert of the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operation Centre , affirmed that if satisfying the requirements set by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Hanoi should apply the home quarantine model immediately. There is no need to undergo implementation on trial or pilot basis, because the model has been applied in many other cities and provinces and has shown its advantages.

Phu stressed that concentrated quarantine for all close contacts of positive Covid cases as currently applied is not necessary, because the vaccination rate in Hanoi is relatively high. Moreover, as people have to adapt to the pandemic, their awareness about applying anti-pandemic measures has been heightened.

Nguyen Huy Nga, an expert in preventive medicine, agrees with Phu.

My view is that Hanoi should abandon concentrated quarantine, he said.

An official in Cau Giay District said there are currently a high number of close contacts of Covid patients in the locality, and if they all were put under concentrated quarantine, this would put pressure on infrastructure.

Huong Quynh - N. Huyen

Hanoi to pilot home quarantine for F0 and F1 cases The capital is set to allow F0 and F1 cases to quarantine at home in an effort to ease pressure placed on concentrated isolation facilities and reduce the risk of cross-infection occurring at concentrated quarantine centres.
Nearly two months have passed since Ho Chi Minh City and 18 southern provinces have lifted lockdown measures and set up the "new normal", with the operations of people and enterprises gradually resuming.

The local media no longer reports about long lines of trucks stuck at the gate of Hai Phong port or the gateway into Can Tho City, or about truck drivers jostling for Covid-19 testing to get in and out provinces.

The growth indicators and industrial production of cities and provinces that are considered the countrys economic locomotives have begun to rise again.

According to a report from Prime Minister Pham My Chinh, also Head of the National Steering Committee on Epidemic Prevention and Control, given to the National Assembly last weekend, in October and the first days of November state agencies at all levels and local governments changed their thinking, methods and ways of organizing epidemic prevention and control in accordance with the motto of safe adaptation, flexibility, effective control of the Covid-19 epidemic, while removing difficulties for production and business, implementing a roadmap to gradually open the economy. As a result, the socio-economic situation in October turned positive compared to the previous month," he said.

That is a good sign for the new anti-epidemic strategy that the Prime Minister initiated after painful experiences from the outbreaks in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces.

Two locomotives of economy speed up

Economic expert and National Assembly deputy Tran Hoang Ngan said that after over a month of reopening, Ho Chi Minh City has made "very positive changes".

At its hi-tech park, 100% of enterprises have resumed operations with a total of 47,000 employees. In 17 industrial clusters, industrial parks, and export processing zones in the city, 1,355 enterprises have opened again, accounting for 96% of the total. The city's index of industrial production (IIPJ) in October increased by 23.6% compared to September.

Ngan said that HCM City will try to achieve budget revenue of 364,893 billion VND this year, of which 296,000 billion VND will be transferred to the state budget and the city will keep 69,000 billion VND. "The city will make maximum efforts to join the entire country to restore economic development," he said.

Th largest city of Vietnam implemented a lockdown for five months under Directives 15 and 16, so the goal will not be easy.

In the northern economic center, Hanoi also recorded significant changes after reopening, with the IPP up by 10.2% over the previous month and up by 5.6% compared to the same period last year.

Hanoi did not apply three-on-the-spot model in industrial zones, so its industrial production was not interrupted.

The capital citys budget revenue in January-October of 2021 reached 215 trillion VND, or 91.5% of the assigned plan and 85.7% of the city's estimate, up 7.6% year on year.

Hanoi has been trying its best, implementing measures to effectively control the epidemic as soon as possible; focusing on solving difficulties, supporting businesses to overcome challenges to maintain and restore production and business, and minimizing negative impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Hanoi Party Secretary Dinh Tien Dung told the business community in a recent dialogue.

The costs

However, it has been a hard road for the reopening since October 1.

To combat the epidemic, businesses in many provinces across the country had to implement the "three on the spot" and "one road - two destinations" models in early 2021. At first, this model seemed to work in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh, where the pandemic broke out in early 2021, but later, when these models were deployed on a large scale, they disrupted the supply chain and circulation of goods.

Dr. Pham Hong Chuong, Rector of the National Economics University, and scientists said that these models were applied rigidly and caused great difficulties for businesses both in terms of cost and risk in disease control, health and living space, because the physical conditions to meet the requirements of both working and living at the same site were not designed appropriately from the start.

Many highly qualified workers in big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Da Nang were unable to go to work, disrupting the labor source.

Traffic control measures and the concept of "essential goods" in localities differed, which hindered the transportation and circulation of goods. The supply chain of processed and manufactured goods such as electricity, electronics, machinery and equipment suffered a disruption in the supply of labor and raw materials. The supply chain of aquatic products and agricultural products was also disrupted in terms of labor, markets, transportation; and the supply chains of textiles and garments were broken due to the labor-related problems and the high cost of satisfying production conditions.

Lockdown measures under Directive 16 in 23 provinces brought about great consequences, causing the countrys Q3 growth rate to be its lowest in Vietnams statistical history.

That situation could not last any longer.

Turning point in thinking

August 29 was a special day in the fight against the epidemic in Vietnam. Presiding over the anti-epidemic meeting with leaders of 20 provinces, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: "We set the goal to contain and control the epidemic, but also determined that this war is still long, and we have to live with the epidemic for a long time, so we cannot completely control the pandemic, but have to adapt to it and have a suitable approach.

The message "live with the virus for the long run that was introduced by the Prime Minister at that meeting marked a turning point in the fight against the epidemic, which had been previously based on the Zero Covid philosophy since the beginning of 2020. Although it may have been true for the old virus strains, it caused great damage to livelihoods and production because for every case, a whole factory, market, village or district was put under lockdown.

However, because the message was strong, breaking the stronghold of Directives 15, 16, 19, it did not appear in the concluding document issued the next day.

But, in the end, the new anti-epidemic thinking prevailed and came to life. The economy reopened on October 1 after the trauma in HCM City and economic losses.

Initiating and pursuing the vaccine diplomacy strategy after falling short of the pace compared to many other countries in accessing vaccines in 2020, the Prime Minister and diplomats created a miracle when bringing vaccines home for the people.

Vaccinations have been implemented very quickly. Vietnam has risen to the top countries in vaccination rates in ASEAN. The Prime Ministers original epidemic prevention strategy  "5K + vaccine" has been extended to specific drugs + treatment measures + technology + raising people's awareness + other measures such as traditional medicine.

Those measures hope to contain the epidemic which is at risk of spreading in some provinces.

Answering questions raised by National Assembly deputies at the recent Q&A session, the Prime Minister said that after consulting the World Health Organization (WHO), Vietnam focused on a people-centered approach, with people as the center in epidemic prevention. "Since then, all policies have been geared towards the people, and vice versa, the people must also participate in epidemic prevention and control in a proactive manner."

Tu Giang

Unprecedented times call for new consensus to overcome challenges The current challenges require an unprecedented consensus to overcome it, said former Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management Nguyen Dinh Cung.
Vietnamese travelers are welcomed in many foreign markets but many dare not book outbound tours because they dont know when they can return to the country.

Thailand is receiving foreign travelers from 63 countries and territories, including Vietnam, with no quarantine required. Travelers just need to be fully vaccinated, and children need to have negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests to enter Thailand.

When arriving in the country, they will be tested once again and stay at hotels waiting for results for one day. If the test results are negative, they will be able to travel freely.

In Singapore, under bilateral agreements with countries, travelers to the island need to have at least one vaccination jab and negative PCR test results. If travelers are fully vaccinated, they can travel freely without testing.

Since November 15, Cambodia has removed the requirement on quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers. They can travel freely throughout the country.

Vietnamese can satisfy the requirements set by destination countries but cannot book trips because they dont know when they can return to Vietnam.

Vo Huy Cuong, Deputy Head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) at a recent webinar said Vietnamese can enter Thailand without having to have quarantine, but its unclear when they can return to Vietnam.

Itll be an arduous journey to return to Vietnam and people may have to wait for rescue flights, Cuong said, adding that returnees from abroad may have to have a 7-day or 14-day quarantine.

He said that Vietnam is running a pilot program on receiving foreign travelers, but forgets that there are always two ways of trade exchange: Vietnam wants to attract travelers from other markets and the other markets want to attract Vietnamese travelers.

Its necessary to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to travel abroad and return to Vietnam safely, he said.

Airlines, airports and land service companies are all looking forward to the reopening so that Vietnamese can travel abroad.

Travel firms are also eager for both inbound and outbound reopening. Fiditour CEO Tran The Dung said its necessary to develop two-way travel to make airfares more competitive.

A representative of Vietravel also proposed that agencies conduct bilateral negotiations so that Vietnamese can also travel abroad in traveler exchange programs. Vietnamese citizens should be allowed to go abroad under certain programs and return to Vietnam without having to quarantine.

In the immediate time, Vietnam should target destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. Organizing tours to the markets in a safe way is within the reach of travel firms.

Its necessary to develop both inbound and outbound tourism so as to have better airfares. If flying only one way, inbound tour fees will be high, the representative said.

Bui Doan Ne, Deputy Chair of the Vietnam Aviation Business Association (VABA), said Vietnamese want to go abroad either on business or on tours. They should be exempted from quarantine when returning to Vietnam if they have been fully vaccinated and have negative test results.

We need to be fair with other countries. We now allow foreign travelers to come to Vietnam and we also need to allow Vietnamese citizens to go abroad. And once they return, they need to be treated like Vietnamese citizens moving between provinces, Ne said.

General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Trung Khanh said the agency would seek permission from the Government to allow Vietnamese to travel abroad, stressing that the reopening must be implemented step by step.

In related news, the Ministry of Transport has proposed reopening international routine flights under a 3-phase program.

Phase 1, from Q1 2022, there would be 4 flights/week/way (about 12,000 passengers would enter Vietnam a week). Phase 2, from Q2 2022, the flight frequency is 7 flights/week/way for each airline. Phase 3, from Q3 2022, the flight frequencies will be determined by airlines.

Ngoc Ha

First foreign tourists return to Vietnam after two years Vietnam has welcomed hundreds of foreign tourists after two years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vietnam has become a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO for 2021-25, with 163 votes out of the 178 members.

The result of the election (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam has become a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for 2021-25, with 163 votes out of the 178 members, or 92 percent, during the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO held on November 17 in Paris, France.

This is the fifth time Vietnam has been elected to be a member of the UNESCO Executive Board.

Secretary-General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Mai Phan Dung, who led the Vietnamese delegation attending the 41st session, said Vietnam becoming a member of the Executive Board this time demonstrates the countrys rising position and prestige at the international arena and recognition of the international community for its contributions to the relations with UNESCO.

This is the result of Vietnams policy of multilateralism, diversification and comprehensive and extensive international integration, as well as the outcome of the concerted implementation of the election campaign in the past years, he continued.

Vietnams membership in the UNESCO Executive Board offers good opportunities for Vietnam to show dual responsibility in protecting national interests, capitalising on UNESCOs ideas and initiatives to serve the national construction and development in a sustainable, concerted and comprehensive manner.

At the same time, Vietnam will have chances to contribute to international issues that UNESCO is paying attention to.

Dung said that in this tenure, Vietnam will actively engage in major programmes and orientations of UNESCO across five expertise, together with affirming the role and prestige of Vietnam at UNESCO in particular and the international arena at large, thereby successfully realising the Resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, the Politburos Resolution No.22-NQ/TW on international integration and Directive No. 25-CT/TW on promoting and enhancing the role of multilateral diplomacy until 2030 issued by the Party Central Committees Secretariat.

Vietnam was a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 1978-83, 2001-05, 2009-13 and 2015-19 terms.

The Executive Board consists of 58 member states with a four-year term of office. It ensures the overall management of UNESCO and prepares the work of the General Conference and sees that its decisions are properly carried out./.

Source: VNA
Quang Binh Province's border guards bring children out of inundated areas during a flood in October 2020.  VNA/VNS Photo Vo Dung

HA NOI  The Embassy of Japan and UNICEF Viet Nam signed an exchange of notes on Wednesday for a project on 'enhancing resilience to disaster risks and climate change for children', which will run in Viet Nam until 2026.

The exchange of notes was signed by Japanese Ambassador Takio Yamada and UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam Rana Flowers, in the presence of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep.

The US$5.7 million project aims to build institutional capacity to support child-centred and climate-sensitive activities, through policy advocacy to support 27,000 children under 18 in central Viet Nam and the Mekong Delta, especially Soc Trang, Ca Mau, and Bac Lieu provinces.

It will also improve water and sanitation services and conduct screening for severe acute malnutrition.

Speaking at the event, Hiep thanked the Japanese Government and UNICEF for supporting risk reduction and other fields, including nutrition, healthcare, education and clean water supply, to help people in natural disaster-prone areas.

The signing of the document is an important milestone in the close partnership between the Governments of Viet Nam and Japan and UNICEF, he said.

Hiep further noted that his ministry hopes the Government of Japan and UNICEF will continue sharing experiences and promoting Public-Private Partnership (PPP), to enhance resilience to natural disasters and management systems.

He also expects Japan and UNICEF to put forward recommendations for Viet Nam, to carry out behaviour-change campaigns, and enhance awareness of people, leaders and managers in disaster risk reduction to build a disaster-resilient society.

Flowers said that the climate crisis is a crisis of childrens rights. Viet Nam is facing climate change-related disasters, like drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, as well as historic floods and landslides in central Vietnam last year, the UNICEF official said.

Many communities already hit by natural disasters are suffering adverse impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, she noted, adding that the project will address vulnerable issues in multiple areas, namely clean water, sanitation, nutrition, education and childrens protection.

Additionally, the project not only considers children as a vulnerable group, but also an agent of change for a green, clean and safe community.

According to the UNICEF Childrens Climate Risk Index 2021, Vietnamese children and adolescents are at the highest risk of being affected by climate change.  VNS
A former Israeli ambassador to the United States, Knesset member, and deputy minister in the Prime Ministers Office has warned that Iran, the worlds greatest state-sponsor of terror sworn to destroy Israel, is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons and that Israel would not allow it to happen. The financial markets response to a conflict between Iran and Israel could be terrifying.

The Times of Israel is a blog written by Michael Oren, the former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, a current member of the Knesset, and deputy minister of his countrys Prime Minister thats getting almost no coverage outside the United States. And, it should.

The implications of the kind of military strike needed to decimate Irans nuclear program, which is on the verge of break out - a term that refers to Iran having enough weapons-grade uranium to start building nuclear weapons is approaching. And that realization is frightening.

An attack on Iran would likely result in a war that could send thousands of sophisticated missiles from the theocracy down on Isreal. It could lead to the most deadly war in that regions history.

A war could even make Saudi Arabias and other Sunni oil fields and production facilities in the Middle-East targets. In that event, the oil price could soar to over $150 a barrel, send gold to over $3,000 an ounce and send the worlds economy and financial markets into a tailspin down.

We, therefore, believe every investor around the world should read Michael Orens blog, but especially by U.S. investors. This could result in a Black Swan event on Wall Street. So, we are posting it

Later this month, representatives of the world powers and Iran will meet in Vienna to discuss reviving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Cooperation  the Iran nuclear deal. In the runup to the talks, the United States and Israel have reiterated their determination to prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons. Both have stated their preference for a diplomatic means of achieving that goal. But there, the symmetry ends. While the United States can live with an Iran that has the ability to make a bomb but doesnt do so, Israel simply cannot.

The disparity was clear at a recent press conference with Secretary State Anthony Blinken and Israeli and Emirati counterparts. Blinken reiterated his administrations longstanding insistence that Iran cannot be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

By contrast, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid warned that Iran is becoming a nuclear threshold country and that Israelis have no intention of letting this happen.

What is the difference between an Iran that could quickly make a bomb and an Iran that already has one? Why would America implicitly accept a threshold-capable Iran while Israel regards it as a strategic  and potentially existential  threat?

Threshold describes a nuclear program that has all the components necessary for swiftly making a bomb. Enriching uranium to the 90% level necessary for weaponization takes as much as two years. But by enriching uranium to 60%, as it does now, Iran has completed the longest stretch of the process and is currently installing centrifuges capable of spinning four or even six times faster than the current rate. Once it decides to break out and create a nuclear arsenal, Iran can do so in a matter of weeks or even days  well before the international community could react.

And Iran will inevitably break out. Several countries have what is sometimes called Japan-like capabilities, a reference to Japans threshold nuclear program. But Japan is not Iran, a country ruled by the worlds largest state-sponsors of terror, which works to overthrow pro-Western governments and vows to wipe Israel off the map. Having the ability to make a bomb, no matter how quickly, will not suffice for Iranian rulers. They saw what happened to Saddam Hussein in Iraq and Libyas Muammar Qaddafi, both of whom forfeited their nuclear ambitions and died, and what didnt happen to Kim Jung-un, who kept his and become almost untouchable. Yet, beyond regime survival, the bomb is vital for Iranian prestige. A weapon possessed by Sunni Pakistan, Hindu India, and, presumably, by the Jewish State cannot be denied to the Shiite Islamic Republic.

Yet Iran does not have to possess the bomb to damage Israel irreparably. Threshold capacity provides Iranian-backed terrorists with a nuclear umbrella that can open and shield them from retaliation. Responding to rocket attacks from Hezbollah or Hamas, Israel will be hobbled by the fear of an Iranian breakout. Defending the country will be dangerously more difficult.

Such fears are much less pronounced in the United States, a country situated far from Iran and not threatened with national destruction  the United States which, moreover, has no desire to become embroiled in another overseas conflict. For that reason, the Biden Administration pledges to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons but not to prevent Iran from attaining the ability to make them. For that reason, President Biden vows to consider other options should Iran not return to the negotiating table but does not echo President Obamas warnings of all options are on the table, including a military strike.

Israelis view this policy with profound skepticism. A threshold Iran will drive other Middle Eastern states to attempt to achieve the same capability, creating a highly unstable region teetering on a nuclear threshold. Together with its continuing efforts to produce a deliverable warhead  amply documented by the nuclear archive Israels Mossad secreted out of Teheran  Iran has developed intercontinental ballistic missiles that can already hit central Europe and will eventually reach the North American coast. Global security will be undermined."

For Israel, though, the timetable for action is much shorter, and while our military capabilities cannot equal Americas, we do have the means to defend ourselves. And though Israel has no expectations of U.S. military intervention, we trust that the United States will provide us with the logistical, diplomatic, and legal assistance we need and stand by all its Middle Eastern allies. Doing so will not only deal a decisive blow to Irans nuclear ambitions but will also restore Americas regional prestige.

As the nuclear talks resume, Israel will be watching to see if Iran exploits them to camouflage its march toward threshold capability. If so, irrespective of the international backlash, Israel will be forced to act. Recalling that both he and the Secretary of State are the sons of Holocaust survivors, Lapid stressed the need for nations to protect themselves against evil, and especially against an Iran that swore to destroy the Jewish state. Israel reserves the right to act at any given moment, in any way, he said. America, and the world, should listen.

Report: Iran Could Have Nuclear Weapons in a Month
By James Church

On Tuesday, November 16th, Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Wr. Nr. 410077 passed a major milestone in its decade-long restoration at Michael Vadeboncoeurs Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd. in Danville, Illinois. The fighters newly-rebuilt Daimler Benz DB 605 roared into life for the first time since the aircrafts forced landing in 1944! With these engine tests now underway, the momentous occasion of the aircrafts first flight is sure to follow sometime soon. And when the 109 does fly, it will become arguably the most original and authentic airworthy example of its breed, such was the effort expanded.

Mike Nixons Vintage Aero Engines rebuilt the DB 605 at their facility in Tehachapi, California, and the legendary aero engine rebuilder was on hand to conduct the initial runs, two of which concluded successfully on that first day. They performed more runs on the following day; other than some minor adjustments, all went well. No expense or effort was spared in making this restoration as original and authentic as possible. Indeed, materials of the original German specifications were used throughout the restoration, including metal gage and rivets. All of the instrumentation is original, as are all other fittings and components. The restorers often had to conduct a worldwide search to locate serviceable, or re-buildable items for this purpose. The team also dedicated great effort towards determining which markings the aircraft would have worn at the time of its loss. For this purpose, Vadeboncoeur brought well-known historians Lynn Rittger and Floyd Werner into the fold for their opinions on how to proceed; the end result is stunning and a true testament to their diligence, not to mention the depth of their research.

Bf 109G-6 Wr. Nr. rolled off Messerschmitts Erla production line sometime during September 1943. The fighter initially bore the factory delivery code RK-LY, and was likely then delivered to JG54, the famous Grunherz (Green Hearts), on the Eastern Front. Markings still evident on the fuselage after its recovery showed that the 109 was the personal aircraft of the Gruppes (groups) technical officer of the Staff Flight; it also bore the yellow theater markings typical of the period.

As Luftwaffe loss records from the Eastern Front are as murky as the lake from which the 109 eventually re-emerged, the details of her demise are sketchy, at best. What is known, is that sometime in February of 1944, after receiving damage from either air-to-air or ground-to-air combat, or a combination of both, the fighter made a forced landing on the frozen surface of Lake Swiblo near the Estonia-Russia border. The fighter had taken hits to its wings, tail, and engine, resulting in significant damage. The pilot, presently anonymous, jettisoned his canopy before bellying in and, no doubt, made a rapid westward retreat across the frozen lake to the relative safety of the nearby woods and friendly forces (the crash site was behind enemy lines). Interestingly, the pilot did the find time to grab the aircrafts clock and gunsight before his mad dash to avoid capture.

To prevent the aircraft from falling into enemy hands relatively intact, the Germans soon riddled it with machine-gun fire and other munitions. The bedraggled Messerschmitt would remain where she lay atop the ice until the spring thaw saw her slip below the lake surface, presumably into oblivion. However, with the arrival of Glasnost, the warming of relations between East and West during the late 1980s, trade between the outside world and nations in what had been the Soviet Union began to blossom. Some soon discovered that there was huge a market in the west for Second World War artifacts, including aircraft in particular. Bf 109G-6 Wr. Nr. 410077 was one of the first combat aircraft recovered in this period. Retrotechnika, a small Moscow-based company, conducted the recovery in 1990. They disassembled the fighter and trucked it to Monino Airfield, near Moscow, where the plane sat awaiting a buyer. Here enters Ed Zalesky of Surrey in British Columbia, Canada. He had purchased several of the Russian wreck recoveries, including the Bf 109, and offered them for sale once they arrived in Canada. David Prewett, ironically of West Heidelberg, Australia bought the aircraft, and placed it on the Australian civil registry for a short time as VH-BFG. The hunt then begun to find the many missing parts required to rebuild it, along with a suitable engine, as the original was damaged beyond economic repair. While Prewett did acquire many items to support the fighters rebuild, little, if any actual restoration work took place during his ownership. By November 2005, now belonging to Axel Urban, the well-traveled Messerschmitt returned to her home country of Germany. The project then sat within two twenty-foot shipping in a Munich storage yard awaiting a decision regarding a suitable restoration venue  a decision which never came, so the project once again went back on the market.

A new horizon appeared in 2012 as, once again, the aircraft crossed an ocean, this time to the United States. Dr. Bruce Winter, an ex-U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet pilot and warbird became the aircrafts new owner. Dr. Winter also owns the immaculately restored P-51D Mustang known as Happy Jacks Go Buggy, which he flys often from his base in San Antonio, California. Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd. had completely restored this aircraft for him in the early 2000s  it won the coveted Grand Champion Warbird award at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in 2008. Indeed Midwest Aero Restorations are world-renowned for their remarkable abilities in creating top-notch, award-winning aircraft. Therefore there was little thought as to who would get the job to rebuild the Messerschmitt. Mike Vadeboncouer, David Young, and the rest of the crew at Midwest quickly dug into the project and took inventory of what they had to work with. It was soon clear that a lot of structural repairs were needed, and that they would also need to track down many more items before this aircraft could fly again. Even so, despite the fighter needing significant structural and skin replacement, there is still a large percentage of original material remaining in the resurrected airframe.

Everything in the aircraft is period-correct, including the fuel tank installation, oxygen bottles, gunsight, radios, and de-milled armament. As already mentioned, no expense was spared in this effort, nor was any area of the rebuild neglected. While ten years may seem a long time to restore an aircraft of this size, having followed and visited this project since its inception, I can tell you that every last detail of this aircraft is as perfect and correct as possible. This takes time to achieve, not to mention a great deal of effort researching these items in detail and consulting experts in various fields for input. While Midwest Aero is known for their Mustang restorations above all else  and rightly so  the Bf 109 is definitely a horse of a very different color, and involved a tremendous learning curve. While it is easy to say that an airplane is just an airplane, there are many quirks and idiosyncrasies to be learned when re-building a Messerschmitt! Midwest Aero overcame them all, and the end result is a true testament to their determination, and the owners, to see it through to completion. Warbird Digest will be featuring this aircraft once it takes flight, and you can be sure we will dive into the story in much greater detail at that time! For more information about Midwest Aero Restorations, visit www.midwestaero.com
MARKET OUTLOOK

Life under continuing resolutions might continue for years

PSC's Berteau sees lurking dangers but also opportunities

A pessimistic but increasingly realistic scenario is front-of-mind for the man in charge of the government services industrys main trade association:

I think we are definitely facing the possibility of continuing resolutions, dare I say this, as far as the eye can see. That sounds like bad news, but Im going to explore that a little bit more, said David Berteau, CEO of the Professional Services Council.

During an event Wednesday hosted by the investment bank Baird, Berteau gave government contracting executives wwhat he sees as a more optimistic outlook than the above quote would indicate.

That is part of how the former Defense Department official opened his presentation at the Baird Government & Defense Conference in Tysons, Virginia.

The prospect of never-ending stopgap spending bills to keep federal agencies open does not automatically translate to a bad business environment for contractors to operate in, Berteau said. He thinks the money will be there regarding contracts for this current government fiscal year, plus those of 2023 and 2024.

The likely scenario is no signed budgets and successive continuing resolutions, especially when considering the current political environment and the specter of midterm elections around this time next year.

Contract funding availability will be at an all-time high. Theres going to be plenty of money, Berteau said. The question is what are they going to spend it on?

An absence of defined budget priorities from the Biden administration, the recurring matter of the debt ceiling and Congress being endlessly deadlocked over appropriations add up to many unknowns.

The only real immediate knowns are that the current continuing resolution expires Dec. 3 and the U.S. debt ceiling will be hit in mid-December. Other than China, the debt limit being breached is the one thing Berteau said keeps me up at night.

This is the issue about which Im most worried, and frankly its probably the one about which PSC cannot do a whole lot, Berteau said.

Neither can industry do much about the budget gridlock or overall deadlock on everything in Congress. Throw in that the Biden administration focused on monetary increases in its fiscal year 2022 budget request versus significant policy shifts.

The fiscal 2023 budget plan due for release in February is where those priorities should be spelled out more. Who knows if there never is a true fiscal 2022 budget passed by Congress.

But in the absence of much legislation, the White House has already signed 67 executive orders since Biden was inaugurated into office on Jan. 20.

That raises the question of how the White Houses priorities flow down to the agencies, followed by how those agencies implement the priorities in a timely manner.

Coordination mechanisms between agencies are not visible, which leads Berteau to believe they either are so weak as to not be discernable or they dont exist."

So what does that mean? It actually means an opportunity to shape what customers will buy, because theyre going to be just as challenged to comply with a set of ambiguous priorities flowing down from those executive orders, and in some cases competing priorities, Berteau said.

Broad themes that have emerged from the White House are the series of proposed spending bills known as the Build Back Better plan focused on pandemic relief, economic relief, climate change and social justice.

Items one and two have seen trillions in spending over more than one bill, however Berteau sees numbers three and four as potentially finding their way into matters that contractors should pay attention to.

Berteau advised companies to watch for regulatory and compliance issues related to the vaccine mandate; diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; supply chain resiliency; potential climate change regulations; and the governments emphasis on cybersecurity.

As for how successive CRs affect contract spending, Berteau said Defense Department agencies will see more effects than their civilian counterparts that have spent far lower than what Congress obligated. That means civilian agencies present a target-rich environment as Berteau put it.

DOD also did not carry forward the Trump administrations practice of having a future years document to lay out its priorities over multiple fiscal years. So there again, apparently the fiscal 2023 budget is when more glimpses at those priorities will emerge.

One practice that the Biden administration will carry forward is the still to-be-released Presidents Management Agenda that instructs agencies on how they can more efficiently do their missions. The George W. Bush administration started the PMA in 2001.

A vision for the PMA was released by the White House on Wednesday with the full document being worked on.

Thats going to be the guidance to the agencies of what the administrations priorities are that will flow down to the contracts, Berteau said. It wont matter as much for DOD, but it will drive the civilian agencies.
PEOPLE

GovExec names editor-in-chief to coordinate editorial brands

As GovExec moves to integrate its various media acquisitions (including us), the company has named Heather Kuldell as editor-in-chief.

She takes on the position in the wake of GovExecs multiple acquisitions of several public sector publications including Washington Technology, FCW, GCN, and Defense Systems.

Kuldell was previously the managing editor of Nextgov, another GovExec publication.

In her new role, she will oversee journalistic efforts across a newly combined portfolio that includes Government Executive (serving high-ranking federal managers), Defense One (covering national security issues), Defense Systems (in-depth coverage of defense IT), FCW (covering the business of federal IT), GCN (IT solutions and strategies for state and local government), Nextgov (on technology and the future of government), Route Fifty (state and local government leadership, policy and ideas), and Washington Technology (the authoritative publication for government contractors).

WT, FCW, GCN and Defense Systems were formerly part of the 1105 Media Public Sector 360 group that was acquired in August by GovExec.

Kuldell knows these publications well as she worked 1105 Media for five years, working on various publications.

Its an honor to be the Editor-in-Chief of these tremendous GovExec brands and Im excited to work with these amazing journalists to take our public-sector coverage to the next level, Kuldell said.

Kuldell will report to Constance Sayers, president of GovExec.

"This is an exciting announcement for GovExec as we promote Heather to oversee the companys expanding portfolio of content brands, Sayers said. I know that shell bring her talent and expertise to the team of award-winning journalists who deliver the most up to date information on federal, state and local and defense news to our readers on a daily basis."

Long-time GovExec Editor-in-Chief Tom Shoop moved to the position of editor-at-large earlier this year.

"GovExec has far and away the strongest publications in our market," said Troy Schneider, GovExec's general manager for government technology brands. "But we can serve our audiences better by working together more closely, and Heather is the ideal leader to drive that effort."

Kuldell joined GovExec in July 2016 as Nextgovs news editor. Over the last five-plus years, Kuldell and Nextgov's executive editor Frank Konkel led the publication to increases of monthly traffic by 40 percent.

Under Kuldells tenure as managing editor, the site has also seen nine out of 10 months of its highest traffic since its launch in 2007. She took on the position of Nextgovs managing editor in 2017 and managed day-to-day operations of the newsroom.
Are better debriefings driving down protests?

Prevailing wisdom says every contract gets hit with a protest. That is often true for the headline grabbing multibillion-dollar vehicles.

But the truth is most contracts arent worth billions and most contracts dont get protested.

In fact, the government's 2021 fiscal year marked the fifth in a row that the number of protests filed with the Government Accountability Office fell, according to its annual bid protest report to Congress. The one caveat is fiscal 2018, when there was an increase of below 1 percent.

Fiscal 2021 saw 1,897 cases filed at GAO, down 12 percent compared to fiscal 2020 that saw 2,149 cases.

It is important to note how GAO counts cases. Each case does not represent an individual contract or task order award. A single contract can have multiple cases associated with it. For example, Company A files a protest and then makes supplemental filings. GAO counts each filing as a separate case, even though all the cases involve the same procurement.

The five-year decline (from 2017 to 2021) followed a rise in the number of cases from fiscal 2012 to 2016. That excludes fiscal 2013, which was down 2 percent from fiscal 2012.

GAO doesnt speculate on what's behind the decline. But it is worth noting that starting in 2018, the Defense Department started conducting what are called enhanced debriefings that allow for more dialogue with companies after theyve lost a contract. That means unsuccessful bidders get more information on where their bid fell short.

Our own research in 2018 concluded that many companies filed protests simply to learn why they lost.

The House Armed Services Committee's report on the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act also talks about the value of enhanced debriefings to reduce bid protests.

In order for the Department to gain the full benefit of enhanced debriefings, the committee emphasizes the demonstrated value of meaningful, in-person debriefings to avoid unnecessarily costly and time-consuming bid protests, that report states.

The committee wants the Defense Department to provide a briefing on efforts to implement enhanced debriefings by Dec. 30.

A second reason that might be driving down the number of protests is limits on GAOs jurisdiction over large, multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts.

Task orders under civilian IDIQS must be worth at least $10 million. For defense contracts, the task orders must be worth at least $25 million.

Anything under those thresholds, you cant file a protest at GAO.

As agencies increasingly use these vehicles, it is reasonable to expect fewer protests.

When you get past the annual number of cases, GAO other measures hold steady.

The rate of sustained protests -- cases where GAO decides in favor of the protester -- was at 15 percent for fiscal 2021. That is the same rate as in 2020 and 2018.

The rate was 13 percent in 2019 and 17 percent in 2017.

GAO also measures the effectiveness rate," which combines the sustained cases with the cases where the agency took some sort of corrective action to address issues raised in the protest.

The rate in fiscal 2021 was 48 percent, which also is in keeping with the numbers weve seen over the last five years -- 51 percent in 2020, 44 percent in 2019, 44 percent in 2018 and 47 percent in 2017.

Those high percentages explain one motivation for why companies protest -- they are seeking some action by the agency and they are getting it.

It is also worth noting that of the 2,017 cases filed in fiscal 2021, only 581 went to a full decision by GAO, or slightly more than one-fourth.

Of the 581 that went to a full decision, only 85 were sustained, or 14 percent.

GAO also reported that of its 2021 protest cases, 401 were protests involving challenges to task order awards. In 2020, GAO heard 417 task order protests, down from 373 in 2019, when there was a 35-day government shutdown.

GAO also notes the most common reasons it sustains protests -- unreasonable technical evaluation; flawed discussions; unreasonable cost or price evaluation; or unequal treatment. Or sometimes a combination of more than one.
Right now, the status of rural health is struggling, says Brad Gibbens, acting director and assistant professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicines Center for Rural Health. And COVID has exacerbated the situation, he adds, pointing to staffing shortages and high rates of disease.

Telehealth, however, can help mend some of the cracks in rural health care. Heres how:

1. It gives patients an easier way to access doctors and specialists

One of the most obvious ways telehealth can bridge the health care divide in rural America is by increasing patients access to providers. There are about 40 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents in rural communities, according to the National Rural Health Association. In urban areas, the ratio is 53.3 per 100,000 residents.

The disparity is even more pronounced when it comes to specialists. In rural areas there are about 30 specialists per 100,000 residents; in urban regions, that number jumps to 263 per 100,000 residents.

Its no surprise, then, that about one-fourth of rural adults have to travel more than 31 minutes to get to a doctors office for specialty care, according to AARPs report. Dialing up a doctor  even one who is hundreds of miles away  however, takes seconds.

Then theres the convenience factor of a virtual visit, especially for adults with mobility issues and for those who live in challenging climates. If you don't have to get in the car when it's 20 below zero to see a provider and walk on the ice, and you can have the exact same thing in your living room, people appreciate that, North Dakotas Gibbens says.

2. It can advance care of chronic diseases

Monitoring patients with chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, is another way telehealth can improve health care in rural areas, where rates of many illnesses tower over the national average, according to AARPs research.

Patients can take their blood pressure or blood sugar readings at home, for example, and send their numbers to a team of health care providers who can then adjust medications and other treatments based on the data trickling in, explains Saurabh Chandra, chief of the Center for Telehealth at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

This type of patient surveillance has resulted in reduced hospital readmissions and fewer emergency room visits. At the same time, remote monitoring educates patients and empowers them to know more about their disease state and take more control of their disease, which results in better outcomes for the patient, Chandra says.

When people think about telehealth, especially during the pandemic, they think about audio-video capabilities. And that's part of it, but there are other modalities, he adds.

3. It helps rural physicians provide top-notch care

Physicians in rural areas, many of whom are general practitioners, can also benefit from telehealth, points out Jan Probst, a professor and director emerita of the Rural and Minority Health Research Center at the University of South Carolinas Arnold School of Public Health. If they have a patient with a complex case, for example, they can work with a specialist at an urban medical center or academic research institute to determine the best treatment course.

This approach supports the rural practitioners ability to provide top-quality care for the patient, says Probst, pointing to the successful Project ECHO model. And its been shown to improve both patient outcomes and physician expertise.

Whats more, rural hospitals and clinics can use telehealth to connect with specialists to provide rapid care in situations when time is of the essence and transferring a patient isnt an option. For example, a team of neurologists can connect over video with emergency medicine doctors in a distant location to help quickly diagnose and treat a stroke, thereby reducing risk of widespread damage and long-term disability.

Telehealth isnt the only answer to rural health challenges

While telehealth can increase access to life-saving care  and make getting that care more convenient  it isnt a silver bullet for solving all of rural Americas issues, Gibbens says.

For starters, about one-fifth of rural adults dont have access to high-speed internet, AARPs report found, and rural adults age 70 or older with lower incomes and poorer health are least likely to have access to it.

Beyond that, not everybody even has access to a library that would have computers, says Teresa Keenan, director of health and health security research at AARP. If you don't have access to a computer at home and you don't have access to a computer in your community, telehealth isn't going to be the answer for you, she says.

Whats more, a significant share of AARPs survey respondents arent sure if their doctor offers telehealth or if their insurance covers it. While geographic restrictions and reimbursement requirements for telehealth have been relaxed during COVID, the question would be whether that continues if we ever get to the other side of the pandemic, Keenan says. Reverting to pre-pandemic regulations could make it more difficult for patients and providers in rural areas to connect with specialists in the first place.

Other barriers to telehealth include concern over confidentiality and medical errors, AARPs report found. Furthermore, a number of survey respondents (about 40 percent) expressed skepticism that their health issues can even be resolved virtually.

Its unlikely that telehealth will ever trump in-person care, Chandra says. Rather, he sees the use of phone, video and other technologies as a bridge to connect gaps in the system. I think they can both work together to bring the best outcome for the patient, he says.

Gibbens adds, I don't believe there's one single answer that solves everything, but I do really think telemedicine is a significant step and has a major impact on health and health access. 
Alamy Stock Photo

En espanol

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic  and because many Americans think retail workers should get Thanksgiving Day off  the tradition of heading off to the mall to shop for bargains after the big meal is fading away. Most major retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day. For those who just cant wait for pre-Black Friday shopping, retailers do keep their websites up and running 24/7.



Dont be surprised by the crowds on Black Friday, Nov. 26, the day when retailers traditionally make enough money to put them in the black for the year. I think that this year, consumers are going to be really interested in the stores for Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend, says Katherine Cullen, senior director of industry and consumer insights for the National Retail Federation (NRF). People felt they missed out last year. Theyre excited about seeing holiday decorations, heading out with family, keeping up some of those traditions.

If youre going to go out on Black Friday, it helps to go early, and retailers are glad to help by opening their doors early. And why not? The NRF forecasts that holiday sales during November and December will grow between 8.5 and 10.5 percent over 2020, to between $843.4 billion and $859 billion. Heres a rundown of how some of the 15 largest brick-and-mortar retailers  excluding grocery stores  will handle Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Regular business hours, usually 10:00 a.m.

Apples electronic wonderlands are generally packed even during non-holidays, but theyre closed on Thanksgiving. Expect big crowds on Black Friday.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 7:00 a.m.

BJs members can dash for deals during November on BJs.com and in-club, the company says. Early bird deals started Nov. 4 and will continue through Nov. 29.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 5:00 a.m., though that may be later at some stores because of mall hours and local regulations.

Best Buy employees will get to sleep in on Thanksgiving, but they will have to be up bright and early on Black Friday. The company says you can find all its best Black Friday deals online  even on Thanksgiving.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 9:00 a.m.

Costco, the members-only warehouse retailer, has already started its Black Friday sales. Most online purchases can be delivered.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Depends on mall hours

Gap employees can take a break on Thanksgiving, but doors will open early on Black Friday. Affiliated retailer Old Navy will welcome shoppers during normal hours on Friday.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 6:00 a.m.

If youre thinking of getting Dad a chain saw (or a grill) for Christmas, youre going to have to wait until Black Friday. But every day can be a Black Friday, since the chain has already started its Black Friday campaign online.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 5:00 a.m.

Kohls 1,100 stores will be shuttered on Turkey Day, but doors will open early on Black Friday. Like most other retailers, Kohls has started Black Friday early, both in stores and online.

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Regular business hours, usually 6:00 a.m.

Lowes has closed on Thanksgiving for many years, and this year will be no different. If you want to get an early start on Black Friday, the home improvement store has already started offering Black Friday deals.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico health officials are pointing to waning immunity from COVID-19 vaccines and unvaccinated individuals spreading the virus as reasons the state is grappling with unrelenting cases and hospitalizations.

The state reported 1,530 new virus cases Wednesday.

David Scrase, acting Health Department secretary, said Wednesday that 539 people were hospitalized with the virus.

Things are not going well in our hospitals, Scrase said during a virtual briefing, adding that getting vaccinated is the best way to alleviate stress on health care systems.  Someone having a heart attack right now may or may not have access to ICU care in New Mexico. And, frankly, as cases start rising again in other states, we may not find a bed there.

The state also announced an additional 12 virus deaths, pushing the death toll to 5,215.

State epidemiology reports show that unvaccinated people accounted for 91% of virus deaths, 79% of virus hospitalizations and 71% of new cases in the past month.

As more vaccinated people experience breakthrough infections, Scrase said, changing the definition of fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from two doses to three is under discussion.

I think, in another five months, well have a lot more information, he said.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has expanded booster shot eligibility to all adults.

Were erring on the side of caution by presumptively leaning in, by making sure that all of us who can be vaccinated with a booster should do so, Lujan Grisham said during the presentation.

About 292,000 residents over the age of 18 have received a booster dose, according to the NMDOH website.

Deputy Health Secretary Laura Parajon said the state is administering 65,000 vaccine doses per week, an exciting benchmark and the highest number since May.

Full vaccination is still New Mexicos first priority, Parajon said.

Statewide virus spread is absolutely going in the wrong direction, said state epidemiologist Christine Ross, especially for school-aged children.

Pediatric virus cases accounted for 25% of New Mexico cases in the past week.

We know that children are at low risk for serious outcomes, but they are not at zero risk, Ross said. These vaccines are safe and highly effective. This is the best tool to protect your kids, and to prevent onward transmission of the virus and to help us in the pandemic.

Scrase said a 60-year-old man in the state has died from taking ivermectin. The anti-parasitic drug is not proven to treat or protect against COVID-19.

The man who died took a 150 mg dose intended for horses, which led to liver and kidney failure.

If youve taken ivermectin, stop, and call the poison control center, Scrase said.

The health officials urged caution in planning for upcoming holiday gatherings.

Consider delaying any travel plans if youre not fully vaccinated, Ross said.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  A former Coconino County official who went on to oversee Navajo Countys health department was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in jail for misusing public money to cover more than $84,000 in personal expenses over a six-year span.

Jeffrey Preston Lee, 47, pleaded guilty last month to one felony count of theft and two felony counts of violating his duties as a custodian of public money.

His plea agreement called for probation on two of the three convictions and restitution payments of $82,500 to Coconino County and $1,700 to Navajo County.

Since Lee was sentenced to probation on the third conviction, prosecutors said he was required to serve at least nine months in jail.

The case was filed in Coconino County where Lee previously worked as an emergency preparedness manager from August 2012 until April 2017.

According to state auditors, Lee used Coconino Countys credit card to make 237 purchases on personal items like electronics, camping products, tools and weight loss supplements.

The audit showed about 40 of the purchases, including gift cards, were made on Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, weekends or when Lee was on vacation.

Lee falsified records to cover his tracks, according to prosecutors.

Auditors said the practice continued at Navajo County where Lee was accused of making 135 suspicious purchases at restaurants, gas stations and clothing stores before being fired from his job overseeing the health department.

I dont have any excuses for this, Lee told the court before beginning his sentence immediately in the Coconino County jail. Im sorry for each and every one of these actions.
Dianne Wiest is always up for a challenge when it comes to the projects that she picks.

Playing the role of Mariam McLusky in the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown definitely was an uphill battle for the Oscar winner.

Ive played so many mothers, and thats sort of been my lot, Wiest says. But Mariam is different, because I think she really doesnt want to have anything to do with family. If she could just be free of them and teach, shed be very happy. Its because all (her family) has done is brought her pain and death.

Mayor of Kingstown follows the McLusky family  power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry.

The series tackles themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality and provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.

The original drama is created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon.

The cast features Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Kyle Chandler, Dillon, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird and Tobi Bamtefa.

Mariam McLusky is mother to three sons  Mike, Mitch and Kyle  played by Renner, Chandler and Handley.

Mike and Mitch are running the town, which brings trouble for their mother.

Meanwhile, Kyle is on the police force, trying not to be part of the family business.

Wiest and Handley got to spent many scenes together, and throughout the series, the mother-son relationship grows.

Handley says that his first day on the set, he was nervous because he had a scene with Wiest.

Coming into my second scene, and now working with Dianne, it was like a breath of fresh air, Handley says. She is such an amazing, giving actor. I feel as if we just fell into the mother and son relationship very naturally. It was just so amazing to get to play in the sandbox with her. For me, it was incredible.

For Laird, being a part of the series as Emma was something she wanted.

I remember reading the first episode and reading it four times because there was so much going on, Laird says. Im familiar with Taylors (Sheridan) work. I really dropped three projects for this one. I had a Netflix film and two Amazon series that I was already offered. I read this script, and it changed everything. Once I got on the phone with Taylor, he told me the arc of my character, and it became this realization that none of the other roles that I was going to do, would allow me to express myself and showcase what I can do as an actor. This was right for me.

Mike McLusky has a heavy burden on his shoulders from the get-go.

Renner was up to the challenge, because the role was completely different from his role in his other series, Hawkeye.

He says the two productions were done back to back, and stepping into Mike McLuskys shoes was interesting, and he learned a lot about the character.

I think I like the complexity of Mike, he says. I like how hes a guy that you want in your corner. Hes, like, a friend that you kind of you want to have. I like that. He is so strong and believes in what he believes, even if its his own demise or gets in his own way. (Mike) is the most selfless character I think Ive ever played, and nothing he really does (is) for himself, which is kind of really interesting. (With that), it kind of leaves him lonely. But I like his selflessness. Its pretty admirable.

Now streaming

The series Mayor of Kingstown began streaming Nov. 14 on Paramount+. A new episode of the 10-episode series is released Sunday.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  In ordinance changes sponsored by outgoing Santa Fe City Councilor Roman Tiger Abeyta, the Santa Fe Planning Commission will consider Thursday night the creation of innovation districts that would allow buildings of up to 75 feet in height, or five stories, in certain areas.

Abeyta, who lost his reelection bid this month, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but, in a recent published opinion piece, he wrote, For those concerned about taller buildings throughout the city, you can rest assured this legislation doesnt allow that.

Still, encroachment is exactly what concerns such opponents as the members and board of the Old Santa Fe Association. That group has been adamant in opposition to past projects it says change the historic nature of the city.

This debate has gone on for decades in Santa Fe, said Barbara Harrelson, current member and former board member of the association. She said the historic districts, mostly downtown, also reach into residential neighborhoods outside the city center.

We also believe there will be encroachment if they change it for that part of town and, right now, its limited to commercial zones, but we believe it will be very easy for them to come back and say we need this for jobs, said Harrelson, in a phone interview Wednesday.

In an op-ed in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Abeyta countered that those who spread fear about taller buildings in town dont understand the legislation or dont want the city to grow on commercially zoned land.

This distracts us from whats important: jobs, housing and good land use, he wrote.

In response to questions from the Journal, city Land Use Department Planning Manager Noah Berke said in an email, This ordinance change would only apply to properties 50 acres or larger.

The Santa Fe Association is alleging insufficient public notice and wants the planning commission to either postpone or deny the proposed ordinance changes.

Text amendments to Chapter 14 (the ordinance) do not require Early Neighborhood Notification meetings, Berke counters. They only require hearings at the Planning Commission and the Governing Body. My understanding is that some meetings have taken place with the neighborhood associations in the area.

Harrelson believes taller building will block views of the landscape, but Abeyta notes in his opinion piece that a 75-foot building is just 4 feet higher than the existing Presbyterian Healthcare  Santa Fe Medical Center.

We dont want these elevator buildings is another way to describe it, said Harrelson. We feel we are heading in the direction of Phoenix, Austin  Albuquerque. These high-rise buildings, thats not Santa Fe. Thats not what we want for the future of Santa Fe, said Harrelson.

Abeyta also has an eye to the future, writing, We need to diversify our economy to create jobs and protect future generations.

Old Santa Fe Association board President Randall Bell and others are expected to address the commission.

Berke said he expects a recommendation from the commission, but the final decision will be made by the Santa Fe City Council.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Thirty years ago, farmers in dry eastern New Mexico were growing fields of winter wheat and cotton.

Over time, many have switched to sorghum, which uses less water.

But the Ogallala Aquifer is still on the decline. Megadrought and higher temperatures only add to water scarcity.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $750,000 to a research team at New Mexico Tech and New Mexico State University for a three-year project studying ways to address agricultural drought in the High Plains region of Quay, Curry, Roosevelt and De Baca counties.

Haoying Wang, the project director and an assistant professor in New Mexico Techs Business and Technology Management Department, said agricultural drought means the production system does not have a sustainable water supply.

Most of our agriculture is irrigated, so it means that plants or crops or trees can not get the minimum required water supplies, Wang said. That deficit of water supply, either through rainfall or through irrigation, is going to affect the crop yield. But if the production system is resilient to drought, then the yield can recover.

A research team of post-docs and university students will collect and analyze soil and water samples from the region.

The team will create models to explore how the entire agricultural production system adapts to shifting climate conditions.

They will also study how changes in water savings, irrigation techniques, aquifer pumping or crop strategies affect the system.

Scientists will work with local agricultural extension offices on yearly outreach events for farmers and land managers to learn about the research.

Wang, who farmed in China before pursuing a science education in the U.S., said the project has an economic focus of helping producers better manage soil as well as the groundwater to sustain their crop yields even during drought.

Research data will eventually be hosted on newmexicowaterdata.org, part of a statewide initiative to make water data more user-friendly.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
Now were talking turkey.

Nearly $6,000 and 181 actual turkeys were collected this week as part of a collaboration among Sandia National Laboratories, Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union, Roadrunner Food Bank and local churches and pantries, according to a news release.

It was all part of the Take a Frozen Turkey to Work Day on Tuesday to help New Mexicans needing assistance this holiday season.

Employees from Sandia Labs and the credit union, along with credit union members, made the donations, with the money delivered to Roadrunner Food Bank through its corporate donation website.

Roadrunner Food Bank, Calvary Chapel Rio Grande Valley, Bethel Storehouse, St. Felix Pantry and Rio Grande Food Project benefitted from the donations.
PHOENIX  Officials agreed Wednesday to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit over the January 2017 death of a Black man during an arrest attempt in which he cried out that he couldnt breathe as officers held him down.

The 7-2 vote by the City Council ends the lawsuit by the sister of Muhammad Abdul Muhaymin, who was homeless and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.

Although they (city officials) didnt acknowledge any specific kind of wrongdoing, the settlement makes a strong statement  and for that reason, I am happy we could move forward, said Muhaymins sister, Mussallina Muhaymin.

City spokesman Dan Wilson declined to comment on the settlement on behalf of the city and police department. Lawyers representing the city had previously denied the lawsuits allegations of excessive force and wrongful death.

The struggle leading up to the death outside a community center arose after a city employee tried to deny Muhaymin access to a bathroom there because he had a dog with him. Officers who were called to the scene then discovered Muhaymin had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a misdemeanor drug-paraphernalia possession charge.

Outside the community center, tensions rose as an officer told Muhaymin to put down his service dog because he was under arrest. An officer knocked the dog out of Muhaymins hands after he said he didnt have anyone to care for the animal, according to the lawsuit.

Muhaymin was forced to the ground after police asked him to cooperate, and he screamed in pain as officers handcuffed him. An officer made a profane, belittling comment to Muhaymin that he was now facing a felony.

After officers brought Muhaymin to a police SUV in the parking lot, officers again urged Muhaymin to stop moving. Still, the struggle continued, with officers again forcing him to the ground. I cant breathe, Muhaymin said. I cant breathe.

Minutes later, the 43-year-old went into cardiac arrest, began vomiting and died, the lawsuit said.

While the police body camera footage released by the Phoenix Police Department is often hard to follow, an officer can be seen in one clip pressing his knee into Muhaymins head.

A woman who witnessed the encounter in the parking lot testified in 2019 that officers dragged Muhaymin to the police SUV, slammed him against the vehicles hood and took him to the ground, according to court records. She testified she didnt see Muhaymin punch, shove or act aggressively toward the officers.

None of the officers were criminally charged or faced internal discipline for their actions.

An autopsy report lists several factors in Muhaymins cause of death: cardiac arrest in the setting of coronary artery disease, psychiatric disease, acute methamphetamine intoxication and physical exertion when being subdued by law enforcement.

The civil rights group Muslim Advocates had previously released a video clip of the struggle that it said shows police mocking the religion of Muhaymin, who was Muslim. In the clip, Muhaymin is heard crying out in pain and calling for Allah, the Arabic word for God.

Allah? Hes not going to help you right now, an officer is heard saying. Relax dude. Stop moving. Stop resisting. You understand?

Phoenix police disputed that interpretation, saying officers were trying was trying to diffuse the situation according to their training.

Earlier this month, a judge issued an order to make public key pleadings and rulings in the case after Muslim Advocates and the First Amendment Clinic at Arizona State Universitys law school had separately petitioned the court to unseal the records. The ASU clinic made its request on behalf of The Associated Press.

Though the records havent yet been made publicly available, the judge set a Dec. 1 deadline for Muhaymins sister and the city to offer final objections to releasing the records.

The U.S. Justice Department revealed this summer that it had launched a widespread civil rights investigation of the Phoenix Police Department.

The federal agency said it would would scrutinize whether officers have used excessive force, abused disabled people and those experiencing homelessness, engaged in discriminatory policing practices and retaliated against people for activities protected by the First Amendment.

City Council member Carlos Garcia, who voted to approve the payout approved Wednesday, said he hopes the money will prevent Muhaymins family from facing the sort of hardships he endured, but Miller doesnt necessarily believe the settlement represents justice.

Justice would have been for Muhammad to have housing and resources, Garcia said.
TIJUANA, Mexico  As darkness fell, about 250 police officers and city workers swept into a squalid camp for migrants hoping to apply for asylum in the United States. Migrants had to register for credentials or leave. Within hours, those who stayed were surrounded by enough chain-link fence to extend twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.

The Oct. 28 operation may have been the beginning of the end for a camp that once held about 2,000 people and blocks a major border crossing to the United States. There may be more camps to come.

First lady Jill Biden sharply criticized a similar camp in Matamoros, bordering Brownsville, Texas, on a 2019 visit, saying, Its not who we are as Americans. The Biden administration touted its work closing that camp in March, but others sprang up around the same time in nearby Reynosa and in Tijuana.

The camps, full of young children, are a product of policies that force migrants to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court or prohibit them from seeking asylum under pandemic-related public health powers. Uncertainty about U.S. asylum policies has also contributed to growing migrant populations in Mexican border cities, creating conditions for more camps.

Migrants are often out of public view in border cities, but the Tijuana camp is highly visible and disruptive. Tents covered with blue tarps and black plastic bags block entry to a border crossing where an average of about 12,000 people entered the U.S. daily before the pandemic. It is one of three pedestrian crossings to San Diego.

The U.S. fully reopened land borders with Mexico and Canada to vaccinated travelers Nov. 8.

Montserrat Caballero, Tijuanas first female mayor, said officials did almost nothing to control the camp before she took office Oct. 1. When she asked Mexicos state and federal governments to join her in erecting a fence and introducing a registry, they declined.

The authorities at every level were scared  scared of making a mistake, scared of doing something wrong and affecting their political careers, she said in an interview. No one wants to deal with these issues.

Caballero said she acted to protect migrants. She knows of no homicides or kidnappings at the camp, but The Associated Press found that assaults, drug use and threats have been common.

I could not close my eyes to the flashing red light I saw, she said. Closing your eyes only allows it grow.

The only entry-exit is guarded around the clock by Tijuana police. Migrants with credentials are free to come and go.

There is no asylum process (in the United States) until further notice, Enrique Lucero, the citys director of migrant services, told people who asked about U.S. policy on a morning walk-through last week.

Since March 2020, the U.S. has used Title 42, named for a public health law, to expel adults and families without an opportunity for asylum; unaccompanied children are exempt. But the Biden administration has exercised that authority on only about one of every four who come in families, largely due to resource constraints and Mexicos reluctance to take back Central American families.

Its unclear why the U.S. releases many families to seek asylum and returns others to Mexico, prompting those who are turned back to stick around until they succeed.

Mayra Funes, a 28-year-old Honduran, said she didnt get a chance to make her case to agents when she was expelled crossing the border illegally near McAllen, Texas, in March with her 7-year-old daughter. She doesnt know if she will try again after six months in the Tijuana camp.

There is no hope of knowing how they are going to open the process, she said.

Lucero, a soft-spoken graduate of George Washington University who worked at the Mexican consulate in Chicago, says his job is persuading migrants to move to a shelter, including large facilities recently opened by Mexicos federal and state governments. Many are turned off by curfews and other shelter rules and worry being farther from the border will cut them off from news on U.S. policy changes.

Natalina Nazario, 37, needed no convincing, stopping Lucero and jumping at the citys offer to pay bus fare to Acapulco, about 1,900 miles (3,040 kilometers) away, for her and her 17- and 11-year-old sons. She fears violence in the Mexican beach city but, after a month at the camp, doesnt want her children missing more school.

Few others noticed Luceros presence. Olga Galicia, a 23-year-old from Guatemala, sat on a curb scrubbing clothes in a plastic bin of soapy water. She had been at the camp about six months and said she will stay with her 3- and 1-year-old sons until she gets more information on how to seek asylum in the United States.

Tijuana wont forcibly remove any migrants, said Caballero, who expects holdouts to leave during seasonal rains. Thousands of migrants who came in a 2018 caravan were soaked sleeping outside in frigid November downpours.

The city estimates the camp held 1,700 people two weeks before the Oct. 28 operation, which Caballero publicly warned was coming but didnt say when.

The first count, on Oct. 29, showed 769 migrants, more than 40% children. Half were Mexican  many from strife-torn states of Guerrero and Michoacan  and one-third were Honduran, with El Salvadorans and Guatemalans accounting for nearly all the rest.

The steep decline just before registration likely reflects that many living there were Tijuanas homeless, not migrants, Caballero said.

The camp occupies a large, once-barren plaza. A warren of walkways includes rows that are wide enough in some parts for two people to stroll in opposite directions. People lounge inside tents or outside in folding chairs.

There are 12 portable bathrooms, 10 showers and a shared water tap for washing clothes. Charities donate food to migrants who prepare hot chocolate, fried eggs, hot dogs and spaghetti for everyone. The federal utility recently stopped the camp from stealing electricity, leaving it dark at night and forcing the makeshift kitchen to rely on canned food.

The future is less certain for a migrant camp in Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas. It has about 2,000 people in a plaza near the citys main border crossing, said Felicia Rangel-Samponaro, director of The Sidewalk School, which educates children there.

The Biden administration, under a court order, plans to soon reinstate a Trump-era policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in the U.S. It hinges on approval from Mexican officials, who have told U.S. authorities they need more shelter beds and worry about violence in the state of Tamaulipas, which includes Reynosa.

The Remain in Mexico policy is expected to resume in the coming weeks after U.S. and Mexican authorities resolve one set of outstanding issues, Blas Nunez-Nieto, acting assistant U.S. Homeland Security secretary for border and immigration policy, said in a court filing Monday. He did not elaborate.

Caballero said U.S. authorities havent pressured Mexico to reopen the busy pedestrian crossing between Tijuana and San Diego. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement it is working closely with Mexico to determine how to resume normal travel safely and sustainably.

The mayor plans to ask Mexicos National Guard to help prevent camps from popping up again in Tijuana.

The reality is that camps are going to be established if we are unprepared, she said.
NAIROBI, Kenya  The United States is warning pilots that planes operating at one of Africas busiest airports could be directly or indirectly exposed to ground weapons fire and/or surface-to-air fire as Ethiopias war nears the capital, Addis Ababa.

The Federal Aviation Administration advisory issued Wednesday cites the ongoing clashes between Ethiopian forces and fighters from the northern Tigray region, which have killed thousands of people in a year of war. The U.S. this week urged its citizens in Ethiopia to leave now, saying there should be no expectation of an Afghanistan-style evacuation.

Diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting have met resistance, but Kenyas president told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday that Ethiopias prime minister in a meeting on Sunday gave the impression he was ready to consider several proposals to ease tensions and reduce violence, a senior State Department official said.

Those include opening humanitarian access to Tigray and restoring government services to the region. Such steps, combined with a ceasefire agreement, could set the stage for more comprehensive peace talks, the U.S. official said.

Diplomatic efforts by an African Union envoy, former Nigerian president Olesegun Obasanjo, and U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman continue. Ethiopias Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dina Mufti, told reporters that both are in Ethiopia but didnt give details.

The Addis Ababa international airport is the hub for the state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, a symbol of Ethiopias former status as one of the worlds most rapidly growing economies before the war. The airline in recent years became Africas largest and best-managed carrier, turning Addis Ababa into the gateway to the continent. Addis Ababa is also the continents diplomatic capital as home of the AU.

The FAA advisory notes no reports of disruptions at Bole International Airport and no indication of an intent to threaten civil aviation, but it says the risk to approaching and departing planes could increase if the Tigray fighters encircle the capital.

The Tigray fighters likely possess a variety of anti-aircraft capable weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, low-caliber anti-aircraft artillery, and man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS, which could reach up to 25,000 feet above ground level, the FAA advisory says.

In an acknowledgment of Bole airports importance for onward travel for the African continent and beyond, the U.K. Minister for Africa Vicky Ford last week told reporters that Britain now advises against all travel to Ethiopia apart from the airport for departures and transfers.

The Tigray forces who had long dominated the national government before current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 have approached Addis Ababa in recent weeks and joined up with another armed group, the Oromo Liberation Army, with the aim of pressing Abiy to step aside.

The Tigray forces also say they are pressuring Ethiopias government to lift a months-long blockade on the Tigray region, which includes an Ethiopian government restriction on flights over Tigray. No food, medicine or other humanitarian aid has entered Tigray, a region of some 6 million people, for more than a month since Ethiopias military resumed airstrikes there for the first time since June.

Ethiopian Airlines seized the worlds attention in 2019 when the crash of a Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa killed 157 people. That and the earlier crash of another brand-new 737 Max off the coast of Indonesia had far-reaching consequences for the aeronautics industry as it brought about the grounding of Boeing 737 Max jets until late last year.

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Associated Press diplomatic writer Matt Lee contributed.
BAGHDAD  Hundreds of Iraqis returned home Thursday from Belarus after abandoning their hopes of reaching the European Union  a repatriation that came after tensions at Polands eastern border, where thousands of migrants became stuck in a cold and soggy forest.

Many others still in Belarus have moved into a heated warehouse not far from the border, emptying out a makeshift camp, Belarusian state-run media reported. But the Polish Defense Ministry posted video showing a few hundred people and their tents still near an official crossing point.

It was not clear if the two countries were talking about two different sites on their border, but it was typical of the dueling narratives that have marked the crisis, in which both Belarus and Poland have sought to portray themselves in a positive light while depicting the other as unfeeling and irresponsible toward the migrants.

We were hostages  victims stuck between Belarus and the European Union, said a young Iraqi returnee in a black hoodie after his flight arrived in Baghdad.

Belarus police are the same like Daesh, he said, referring to the brutal militants from the Islamic State group that rampaged through Iraq several years ago. He then walked away.

Ali Kadhim, who is returning to his home in Basra, said he wanted to go to Europe because in Iraq there are no jobs and the situation is very bad recently.

He said he had reached a deal with a smuggler to get him to the Belarus-Poland border zone, where a Belarusian border guard took his passport and cellphone and prevented him from leaving the forest. For three days, he had no food, water or internet service, he said.

I was living on what I found on ground. I mean I had to live on three dates in a whole day, Kadhim said.

Of the 430 people who flew from Minsk, 390 got off at Irbil International Airport in Iraqs northern Kurdistan region before the flight continued to Baghdad, said Jihad al-Diwan, head of media relations for Iraqs civil aviation authority. About 30 others who were registered for the flight had problems with their documents and did not board, according to Iraqi officials, who organized the return.

One woman arriving in Irbil carried a bassinet with a baby. Most still wore the heavy winter clothes from their time in Belarus despite the warm weather in Iraq. Another woman collapsed, apparently fainting.

Tensions had flared at the Poland-Belarus border in recent days, with about 2,000 people trapped between the forces from the two countries. On Tuesday, some of the migrants had thrown stones at the Polish troops, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

The U.N. refugee agency says about half the migrants at the border area were women and children.

At least 12 people have died in the area in recent weeks from the harsh conditions in the border zone, including a 1-year-old whose death was reported Thursday by a Polish humanitarian organization.

Muslims in Poland buried an unidentified migrant at a cemetery in Bohoniki, where a population of Tatars has lived for centuries. It was the second such funeral there for a migrant in a week.

Most of the migrants are fleeing conflict or hopelessness in the Middle East and aim to reach Germany or other western European countries. But Poland has taken a hard line about letting them n, and Belarus didnt want them returning to the capital of Minsk or otherwise settling in the country.

The West has accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns to destabilize the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Belarus denies engineering the crisis, which has seen migrants entering the country since summer and then trying to cross into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Perhaps as many as 7,000 migrants remain in Belarus, according to authorities there. Many have moved to the temporary shelter of the warehouse since Tuesday, where they were given mattresses, water, hot meals and medical assistance.

Iraqi Kurds said the warehouse had filled quickly, with not enough food or places to sleep. A video obtained by The Associated Press showed men, women and children in sleeping bags or on blankets on the floor.

At first, the situation was good, I mean on the first day. We were receiving three meals a day. But as more people came in from the forest, it has got more and more crowded. As a result, we got no dinner yesterday and no lunch today, one young Iraqi Kurdish man said.

As you can see, it is getting very crowded here, and it is not easy to find a place to sit or to sleep, he added, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals. But it is much better than staying in the forest.

Everyone in the warehouse has spent a lot of money to come here and they dont want to go back, he said.

Amid the border tensions, the war of words has drawn in the EU and Belarus ally Russia as well.

EU Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson accused Belarus of engaging in an act of state-sponsored migrant smuggling and said sanctions and stopping flights to Minsk carrying migrants were our most effective tools in this struggle.

Foreign ministers of the G-7 group of leading industrialized countries also condemned the Belarus regimes orchestration of irregular migration across its borders.

Natalya Eismont, a spokeswoman for Lukashenko, said the fact that hundreds left Belarus shows the government is keeping its part of the bargain. The rest are categorically refusing to fly, but we will work on it, she said.

Lukashenko had proposed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the EU could open a humanitarian corridor to allow 2,000 migrants to head to Germany, while Belarusian authorities try to get the other 5,000 to return home, Eismont said.

But German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in Warsaw that suggestions Germany would be ready to receive 2,000 migrants is false information.

Following a call Tuesday between Merkel and Lukashenko, her office stressed the need for humanitarian assistance and for the migrants safe return home.

Polands tough stand against their illegal entry included reinforcing the border with riot police and troops and plans to build a steel barrier. That approach has largely been met with approval from other EU nations, who want to stop a surge of migration.

But Poland also has been criticized by human rights groups and others for pushing migrants back into Belarus and not allowing them to apply for asylum.

Tuesdays border skirmishes injured 12 of the border forces. Warsaw accused Belarus of instigating the conflict, while the government in Minsk denounced Polands violent actions.

Lukashenko has rejected accusations of engineering the crisis and said his government has deported about 5,000 illegal migrants from Belarus this fall.

In May, however, he had railed against EU sanctions imposed for his harsh crackdown on internal dissent and said it would no longer stop migrants, telling the bloc: Now you will catch them and eat them yourself.

On Thursday, Lukashenkos ally Russian President Vladimir Putin also slammed the EU.

Western countries are using the migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border as a new reason for tension in the region that is close to us, for pressure on Minsk, and at the same time they forget their own obligations in the humanitarian sphere, he said.

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Litvinova reported from Moscow and Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Sabina Niksic in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, Rashid Yahya in Irbil, Iraq, and Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed.
NEW DELHI  Air pollution remained extremely high in the Indian capital on Thursday, a day after authorities closed schools indefinitely and shut some power stations to reduce smog that has blanketed the city for much of the month.

New Delhis air quality remained very poor, according to SAFAR, Indias main environmental monitoring agency. The concentration of tiny airborne particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter  known as PM 2.5  neared 300 micrograms per cubic meter in some parts of the city, it said.

The World Health Organization designates the maximum safe level as 25. The tiny particles can lodge in the lungs and other organs, causing long-term health damage.

New Delhi, a city of 20 million, is one of the worlds most polluted cities. Air quality often hits hazardous levels during the winter, when the burning of crop residue in neighboring states coincides with lower temperatures that trap smoke. The smoke travels to New Delhi, obscuring the sky.

Emergency measures went into effect on Wednesday in an attempt to stem the health crisis.

Schools were closed indefinitely and employees were asked to allow half of their staff to work from home for a week. Some coal-based power stations outside New Delhi were ordered to shut down and construction activities were halted.

The measures, however, are expected to have very little effect.

Meanwhile, the New Delhi state government is weighing whether to lock down the capital after Indias Supreme Court last week sought an imminent and emergency action plan to tackle the crisis.

The PM 2.5 concentration has soared to nearly 15 times above the WHOs safe level on many days in November and forecasters warn the pollution is likely to get worse in the coming days.

New Delhis pollution woes are due to various causes.

Auto emissions contribute nearly 25% of the citys pollution in the winter, according to the federal government. Other sources of air pollution include emissions from industries, smoke from firecrackers linked to festivals, construction dust and agricultural burning.

Several studies have estimated that more than a million Indians die each year from air pollution-related diseases.

In 2020, 13 of the worlds 15 cities with the most polluted air were in India, according to the Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir.
KENOSHA, Wis.  The jury at Kyle Rittenhouses murder trial deliberated for a third full day without reaching a verdict Thursday, while the judge banned MSNBC from the courthouse after a freelancer for the network was accused of following the jurors in their bus.

The jury members will return on Friday morning to resume their work. Unlike on previous days, they had no questions and no requests to review any evidence Thursday in the politically and racially fraught case.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for killing two men and wounding a third with a rifle during a turbulent night of protests that erupted in Kenosha in the summer of 2020 after a Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by a white police officer.

Even as the jury weighed the evidence, two mistrial requests from the defense hung over the case, with the potential to upend the verdict if the panel were to convict Rittenhouse. One of those requests asks the judge to go even further and bar prosecutors from retrying him.

Also Thursday, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder banned MSNBC after police said they briefly detained a man who had followed the jury bus and may have tried to photograph jurors.

NBC News said in a statement that the man was a freelancer who received a citation for a traffic violation that took place near the jury vehicle, and he never photographed or intended to photograph them.

Before the jurors retired around 4 p.m. at what the judge said was their own request, one of them asked if she could take the jury instructions home, and the judge said yes but told her she couldnt talk to anyone about them. Before deliberations, Schroeder read the jury some 36 pages of instructions on the charges and the laws of self-defense.

After the jury departed, Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards told the judge he feared that letting members take home instructions would lead to jurors looking things up in the dictionary or doing their own research.

Tom Grieve, a Milwaukee attorney and former prosecutor not involved in the case, called the move definitely unusual in my experience. The natural issue is that it will precipitate armchair research and table discussion, he said.

At the end of the day, jurors looked tired, but no more than they did at the end of their first day. No one seemed visibly upset. Two jurors spoke genially to each other as they walked out the door.

Rittenhouse was a 17-year-old former police youth cadet when he went to Kenosha in what he said was an effort to protect property after rioters set fires and ransacked businesses on previous nights.

He shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28. Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot.

Rittenhouse said he acted in self-defense after coming under attack, while prosecutors argued he instigated the bloodshed.

The case has exposed deep divides among Americans over guns, racial injustice, vigilantism and self-defense in the U.S.

To some civil rights activists, the shootings were an attack on the movement for racial justice, and some have complained of a racial double standard in the way Rittenhouse was treated by law enforcement that night.

The defense has twice asked the judge to declare a mistrial, alleging that they were given an inferior copy of a potentially crucial video and that the prosecution asked improper questions of Rittenhouse during cross-examination.

Schroeder has said the mistrial bid will have to be addressed if there is a guilty verdict. If Rittenhouse is acquitted, the dispute wont matter. But if he is convicted and the judge then declares a mistrial, that would void the verdict.

Rittenhouse could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

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Forliti reported from Minneapolis, Bauer from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Todd Richmond in Madison contributed to this story.

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Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
The first man Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was irrational and crazy, Rittenhouses attorney told jurors at his murder trial.

Joseph Rosenbaum had been on medication for bipolar disorder and depression, and he was trying to take Rittenhouses rifle, attorney Mark Richards said, suggesting there could have been more bloodshed if Rittenhouse hadnt acted.

Im glad he shot him because if Joseph Rosenbaum got that gun I dont for a minute believe he wouldnt have used it against somebody else, Richards said during closing arguments in the 18-year-old Illinois mans trial for killing Rosenbaum and another man and wounding a third during a chaotic night of protests in August 2020.

To some legal experts and other observers, Richards remarks were a smart courtroom strategy and an accurate depiction of the threat faced by Rittenhouse, who says he shot the men in self-defense. But mental health advocates heard something different: a dangerous assumption that people living with mental illness are homicidal and need to be killed, and terminology such as crazy that they say is pejorative and adds to the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Studies have shown that people with bipolar disorder and depression are more likely to hurt themselves than hurt others, said Sue Abderholden, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota. Thats why NAMIs work includes training police officers to use de-escalation strategies when dealing with people who have a mental illness.

You just dont have someone shot down, particularly someone who is unarmed, she said.

Jason Lackowski, a former Marine who said he went armed to the Kenosha protests to protect property, testified during the trial that Rosenbaum acted belligerently that night and seemed to want to entice someone to do something, but did not appear to pose a serious threat to anyone. Lackowski said he turned his back on Rosenbaum and ignored him.

Ryan Balch, a former Army infantryman who patrolled the streets with Rosenbaum, testified that Rosenbaum was hyperaggressive and acting out in a violent manner, including trying to set fires and throwing rocks. Balch said at one point, he got between Rosenbaum and another man while Rosenbaum was trying to start a fire and that Rosenbaum got angry, shouting, If I catch any of you guys alone tonight, Im going to f kill you! Balch said Rittenhouse was within earshot when the threat was made.

Rittenhouse didnt know Rosenbaum or his background when they crossed paths at the protest that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer. And the jury wasnt supposed to know much about him either.

During pretrial hearings, defense attorneys said they wanted to present evidence of Rosenbaums past, including an Arizona conviction for sexually abusing a minor in 2002. They planned to argue that Rosenbaum, 36, was trying to take the then-17-year-old Rittenhouses weapon during their encounter because Rosenbaum wasnt legally allowed to have a gun due to his criminal past. Prosecutors argued that the defense was trying to signal to the jury that Rosenbaum was a bad guy who deserved to die.

Judge Bruce Schroeder blocked defense lawyers from revealing the sex crime conviction at the trial. Jurors also were not supposed to hear about Rosenbaums mental health history, which Schroeder said wasnt relevant because Rittenhouse didnt know it when he shot him.

But the information came out in court after prosecutors asked Rosenbaums fiancee, Kariann Swart, whether Rosenbaum  whom she said had just been released from a hospital  had taken medication earlier on the day he was shot. Schroeder later ruled that by asking that question, prosecutors opened the door for the defense to ask Swart what the medication was for. Under cross-examination, she told jurors it was for bipolar disorder and depression.

Swart also testified that Rosenbaum had returned from a Milwaukee hospital on the day of the shooting. The jury did not hear that Rosenbaum had been in a mental health ward following a suicide attempt.

Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor who is now in private practice and who isnt involved in the Rittenhouse case, believes the testimony about Rosenbaums mental illness was very important to the self-defense argument and therefore fair game.

People, including the jury, might agree that mental illness on its own does not cause someone to be violent, Turner said. But that information along with Rosenbaums actions that night  from getting in the face of men armed with rifles to at one point chasing after Rittenhouse  likely was a nodding their head kind of moment for jurors.

It fortifies the defense argument that this is the truth, this is the reality, Turner said.

Kim Motley, an attorney representing Rosenbaums estate, said she understands Richards efforts to vigorously defend his client. But she called his comments about being glad Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum  among the final words jurors heard before they started deliberating Tuesday following a roughly two-week trial  disgusting and offensive to people who struggle with mental illness.

This trial isnt about the type of person Joseph Rosenbaum was, Motley said This trial is about his client, Kyle Rittenhouse.

___

Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
Police say a woman was found shot to death Thursday morning inside a vehicle in Northeast Albuquerque.

Officer Chase Jewell, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said a passerby located a female in a vehicle who appeared to have been shot.

Officers were dispatched to Copper Ridge Apartments at 557 Tramway NE at 6:40 a.m. When they got to the scene, they found that the woman had succumbed to her injuries and that she appeared to have been shot inside of the vehicle, Jewell said.

Detectives have been arriving on scene to conduct further investigation, he added. No other information was released.

This was the second homicide investigation launched by the Albuquerque Police Department in 10 hours.

At about 10 p.m. on Wednesday night Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies discovered a man stabbed to death outside the Dions near Central and Coors and called APD.

So far this year, there have been 105 suspected homicides in Albuquerque, although three of those are being investigated by New Mexico State Police.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Officials at local hospitals said Thursday they are well above capacity and expecting a greater influx of COVID-19 patients to flood their hospitals in the coming weeks.

The warning came the same day the state reported 1,790 new cases, 23 more deaths and 599 hospitalized COVID patients.

Dr. Jason Mitchell, the chief medical officer for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, said that modeling suggests cases will continue to rise and there will be about 700 people in New Mexico hospitalized with COVID-19 in two weeks. Some of those patients will be treated at University of New Mexico Hospital and Presbyterian Healthcare Services hospitals in the Albuquerque area, which have already declared that they are operating with crisis standards of care. The declaration gives the hospitals the ability to increase patient capacity, the flexibility to transfer patients in and out of the state and, ultimately if conditions continue to worsen, to ration care.

New Mexico hasnt had more than 700 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 since mid-January, according to Department of Health data. Youve got this car wreck or train wreck happening in slow motion, Mitchell said. And from a community standpoint, somethings going to have to change. And we need to start pulling those levers as a community pretty quickly.

Officials with Presbyterian and UNM hospitals gave the briefing on conditions inside their facilities, one week after they each activated their crisis standards at their hospitals in the Albuquerque metro area.

Dr. Rohini McKee, UNMHs chief quality and safety officer, said the patient load isnt letting up. UNMH was operating at about 140% of its normal operating capacity on Thursday. Both ICU and other types of beds were stretched beyond their normal limits. She said patients have been doubled up in ICU rooms, which is unusual, and other patients are being treated in areas not normally used for care.

She said the two major health systems are not currently having to ration care. But she said UNMH created what is called a triage board to help make such decisions should the need arise.

I dont know when its going to happen. But if something doesnt change, we run a high risk as a state of truly running out of resources, Mitchell said.

The physicians stressed that the best way to end the pandemic is for the state to increase its vaccination rate. They urged people who havent yet done so to talk to a health care professional about the vaccine.

Nearly 74% of New Mexicans 18 years and older have been fully vaccinated against the disease, according to the DOHs website. The vaccination rate for children age 12 to 17 is 55.2%, according to the website. Younger children only recently were approved to get the shots.

Its not just COVID-19 patients who are stressing the states health care system. Mitchell said 20% of Presbyterian patients are coronavirus patients, and about 87% of those patients are unvaccinated.

One of the reasons for the increase in patients is that some people put off care during the initial phase of the pandemic and they now have complications from untreated illnesses, McKee said.

If we had everybody in New Mexico get vaccinated, in six weeks, seven weeks, this would be over, Mitchell said.

Of the new virus cases reported Thursday, Bernalillo County had the most new cases with 469. Those who died ranged in age from an Otero County woman in her 20s to several adults in their 80s.

There have now been 5,238 New Mexicans whose deaths are related to COVID-19, according to the Health Department.

The seven-day test positivity rate in the state is at 12.3%.

Testing company Curative on Thursday announced that it was reopening a site at Balloon Fiesta Park. The company said in a news release that walk-up testing would be available as well as tests by appointment. There were slots available beginning Friday morning at 7 a.m. through 4 p.m., according to Curatives website.

Also on Thursday, two school districts announced that they were temporarily going back to remote learning.

Santa Fe Public Schools announced that it would be going back to remote learning until Nov. 29 to slow the spread of the disease. Los Lunas Schools also is going to remote learning next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

An Amber Alert was issued and later canceled on Thursday for a 10-year-old Albuquerque boy whose mother allegedly removed him from school and ignored court orders over a fear of school vaccine mandates.

New Mexico State Police said Nicolai Kuznetsov was found safe in Potter County in the Texas Panhandle some time before 6 p.m. and his mother, 31-year-old Jacqueline Haymon, is in the custody of the local sheriffs office.

At the time of the Amber Alert, Nicolai hadnt been seen since Nov. 5 and a bench warrant was issued for Haymon.

According to court records, on Nov. 8, Haymon texted the boys father about a possible vaccine requirement at the boys school.

This is something I dont want. So hes doing home schooling  Nikolai is going to stay with me for now, the text message read.

Court records show that, on Thursday, a state District Court judge issued an emergency order granting the father full custody after Haymon refused to return the boy to his father and disobeyed court orders.

Prior to the custody hearing, according to the motion, Haymon sent dozens of letters, which were essentially gibberish, to the court.

The court is gravely concerned about the mothers mental health and well-being, in addition to the safety of the minor child, the order states.
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - There was a big celebration at Butte College on Wednesday for its scenario village that includes buildings that will provide real-life scenario training for recruits.

The scenario village includes five modular buildings, a restroom building, and a shade structure that will provide things like force and de-escalating training.

The project is part of the Measure J bond which is a 20-year construction program.

Butte College got $1.9 million for the project

The director of the public safety, education, and training center said he is thankful to see this project come to life.

This is monumental and has been going on for more than a decade from when it was first envisioned to the point of how you see it today and the buildings are built with enough flexibility to provide a whole variety of different scenario types of training, Don Basley said.

The school finished the project under its budget and before its cutoff date but has to implement some final touches before it can start training.

The new training center is located on the main campus at butte college at 3536 Butte Campus Dr. in Oroville.
Alaya F has now been roped in as a brand ambassador for Nykaa Fashion and Bombay Shaving company women. The actress has become popular in the brand and magazine circuit and her star seems to be on the raise with two movies lined up for release. she had a busy year. The young actress has been shooting for multiple projects back to back. Earlier this year the actress was in Chandigarh for the shooting of her Ekta Kapoor film and post that she headed to Panchgani for the shoot of Freddy. Though the actress is busy with films that has not stopped her from becoming a brand favourite as the actress has been now roped in as an ambassador for two leading brands.

Alaya F has been on the rise ever since she won the Best Debutante award for her film Jawani Jaaneman.

A source close to Alaya shared, "The actress is being approached by quite a few brands. She is young and so the youth can relate to her and she enjoys a great following and so a lot of brands have been approaching her. We have also seen her in quiet a few commercials in the past months. Now she has been announced as a brand ambassador for Nykaa Fashion and Bombay Shaving company women."

Alaya who was last seen in Punit Malhotra's music video, 'Aaj Sajeya', will next be seen in Ekta Kapoor's remake of 'U-Turn' and in Freddy alongside Kartik Aaryan.
For Netflix, the US has been at the forefront of its hiring activity. Of late, the companys hiring in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region shows plans to scale growth, boost localization efforts, develop consumer product strategy, and create jobs. Besides countries such as Japan, Singapore, and India, Netflix seems to have renewed focus on South Korea, Thailand, and South East Asia (SEA) region, where listings saw an increase, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Netflix posted around 120 jobs in the APAC region between July-November 2021*, a 43% increase compared to H2 2020. The increase is characterized by listings in most APAC countries, including a spurt of 20 job adverts in South Korea during October 2021, the highest in over a year. In November 2021, there are 32 active jobs open for recruitment that doubled since September 2021. Additionally, Netflix resumed listing adverts in Thailand since June 2021.

Ajay Thalluri, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, says: The increased hiring in the region comes at a time when paid net membership additions in APAC are 2.2 million, the highest since Q2 2020, claims Netflix. The company is developing creative global localization strategies and building regional partnerships for APAC countries.

Director, Grow Creative  APAC role for Australia, Japan, Korea, and South East Asia will fill local talent gaps, upskill workforce, and increase inclusion and diversity. Additionally, Netflix listed recruiter roles in Japan, Singapore, South Korea that hint at its plans for more hires. A role for Talent Coordinator based out of Singapore refers to its regionally produced shows such as Squid Game, Bangkok Breaking and Alice in Brotherland.

Netflix is also hiring for its security and intelligence team to assess risks associated with evolving content acquisition strategy and ensure safety of its production and talent across APAC. Additionally, it is steering production and public policy related requirements in Laos, Cambodia, and Philippines.

Thalluri adds: It is also adapting experiences in different languages of APAC region, besides tracking Korean projects and international originals.

A South Korea-based listing for Localization Director  APAC points to Netflixs hiring plans in the country. It is also creating an APAC version of Grow Creative that was launched in the UK in September 2021. Netflix plans to train and develop talent for above and below-the-line jobs pipelines. Netflix is growing its consumer product team in South Korea by developing a cross-channel retail strategy that includes e-commerce. The company looks to create product license and retail strategy for Korea based on its original shows, Manager, Consumer Products  Korea shows.

Thalluri concludes: Coming off the recent release of much-acclaimed shows, Netflix is shaping strategies in the APAC region and more so in South Korea and other SEA countries. Hiring pattern reflects the companys focus on APAC region as competition for subscribers gathers momentum.
PepsiCo has announced two senior leadership appointments as the company continues its efforts to be even Faster, Stronger and Better. Jane Wakely will join the company as Executive Vice President, Chief Consumer and Marketing Officer and Chief Growth Officer, International Foods. The company also appointed Ram Krishnan, currently serving as Chief Commercial Officer, to the newly created role of CEO, International Beverages and Chief Commercial Officer. Both executives will report to PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta.

Wakely brings to the company an intense focus on consumers, insights and building best-in-class brand and category growth strategies. As Chief Consumer and Marketing Officer, she will focus on driving accelerated growth by elevating PepsiCo's consumer-centricity, innovation, brand and marketing capabilities. As Chief Growth Officer, International Foods, Wakely will be responsible for accelerating the Positive Choices pillar of pep+ (PepsiCo Positive), which includes evolving the company's portfolio into new spaces that are better for the planet and people by developing products with more diverse ingredients, such as plant-based proteins, nuts and seeds, and whole grains.

"Jane is a creative and commercially-oriented marketer who is passionate about purpose and innovation as critical growth levers," said PepsiCo Chairman and CEO, Ramon Laguarta. "She has a proven track record of success, and I am confident that with her leadership, we will take our consumer-centricity, innovation, brand and marketing strategies and capabilities, and International Foods growth to a new level."

Wakely joins PepsiCo with 28 years of marketing experience at Procter & Gamble and at Mars, where since 2019 she served as Lead CMO and CMO of Pet Nutrition, one of the largest divisions of Mars' $40 billion portfolio. She was previously Global CMO of their Chocolate Division. She has operated globally and in highly complex product categories, brands and businesses across a variety of growth, turnaround and transformation challenges.

"PepsiCo is a marketing powerhouse known for its commitment to innovation and world-class, consumer-focused brands," said Wakely. "I look forward to working with my future colleagues to delight consumers with new propositions and purpose-driven brands that bring pep+ to life."

Krishnan, a 15-year PepsiCo veteran, will focus on driving accelerated growth for the International Beverages business, including the company's international franchise bottlers, with an end-to-end focus on brand-building, innovation, supply chain, digitalization, talent and sustainability. Krishnan will also be charged with leading faster growth for the SodaStream and Beyond the Bottle businesses, as well as the Pepsi Lipton partnership, the company's joint venture with Unilever. This move, effective January 1, 2022, will bring PepsiCo's critical beverage expertise and commercial capabilities into one group, with an eye toward optimizing the end-to-end operating model, capital allocations and building new capabilities. Krishnan will continue to oversee the company's e-Commerce business and global commercial capabilities.

"Ram has been an incredibly effective leader for our commercial agenda," said Laguarta. "With this newly created role, he will bring focus and a proven formula for success to drive faster growth for our International Beverages business."
Grey Group has appointed Sarah Trombetta as Chief Client Officer for P&G, Asia, Middle East & Africa. Trombetta will be part of WPP/Grey's P&G Global Leadership Team, and will closely work with president international and global COO of Grey Group, Nirvik Singh and the president of Grey global clients and business leadership for P&G, WPP, Debby Reiner.

Trombetta will be taking over executive VP, P&G leader AMA at Grey Group, Yashaswini Samat, who will continue to support the business transition till the end of this year.

Trombetta has over 20 years of experience in advertising across several continents, including Asia Pacific, Europe and Australia.

Before joining Grey Group, she was associated with Red Havas as CEO, where she spent the previous two years in charge of the network's flagship Australian market.

Sarah Trombetta will begin her new role on 22nd November 2021.
SKORE, the innovative sexual pleasure & wellness brand from TTK Healthcare, has launched a bold new campaign to position itself as more than just a condoms brand, showcasing its widest range of pleasure product offerings.

The Get Naughtier campaign is conceptualized by Dentsu Isobar comprises of digital ad films as the primary medium of spreading the message and supported by digital activities, engagement building influencer activity, and branded content to drive the message over a period of 6 weeks.

The insight behind the campaign is based on sales data and social media chatter that shows couples were, more than ever before, willing to explore intimacy and try out new products. SKORE is the youngest and one of Indias largest condom brands and is the only Indian brand to have such a wide portfolio of diverse offerings. The brand recognized this as an opportunity to raise awareness about their extensive range of products through innovative and bold digital content.

Speaking about the campaign Vishal Vyas, Head of Marketing, TTK Healthcare Ltdsaid, We have consciously made an effort to create content that will resonate with young people. We wanted to communicate succinctly that we are more than a condom brand, offering interesting sexual wellness and pleasure products such as Vibrating rings, and Flavoured Lube variants, to Pheromone Activating Spray for men and Pleasure Gel for women. In a category thats hard to advertise, stereotyped with sleaze and one that invites moral trolling, consumers are barely aware of the diverse offerings in addition to the large range of diverse condoms we have. This campaign deals with these smartly and tries to normalize experimentation and extended playtime for couples sans judgement or guilt.

Aalap Desai, National Creative Director, isobar India says, The category, though creatively fertile, invariably invites a lot many restrictions and censor from mainline media. I am just thrilled that the client was willing to explore a digital only eco-space to market such never-before advertised products. Not only are the media touchpoints relevant to the consumers for whom the products are meant for, but also its one of those rare & truly integrated campaigns covering content, social media, performance, influencer marketing and OTT films via a singular narrative. In a way, the challenge thrown at us by the mainstream media only egged us to think naughtier!

The integrated digital campaign aims to generate buzz over multiple touch points cohesively for maximum impact. The social media content drives engagement through interactive content encouraging brand awareness among the target audiences through active participation. A large-scale sampling activity via social media contests and other activities are also undertaken to create familiarity with the product offerings.

Two digital films that support this campaign encourage audiences to explore their naughtier side for a happy well-rounded life. The films showcase the range of SKORE products and feature young couples ending up in humorous situations after using the products. These films use subtle humour and relatable cast to put across the brands proposition to Get Naughtier.

The campaign aims to drive up the conversational quotient further with branded content pieces in association with platforms like Alright and LBB. Through this kind of synergy in content pieces, the brand plans to seamlessly weave itself within the lives of young couples and make them realise what they can simply not afford to miss out in their bedrooms!

Campaign Credits:
Credit card challenger slice has unveiled its latest ad campaign in leading English Newspapers across the country. The ad takes on a creative lens to showcase how traditional credit cards have complex terms & conditions, unlike the slice super card.

Just like the brand, there is nothing traditional about the newspaper ad. The company has incorporated a fun & interactive digital activation by making readers use Google Lens to decipher the text written in Greek. Readers can view the ad on the front page of the newspapers in Hindustan Times, The Telegraph, The Hindu English, Deccan Herald, and Deccan Chronicle available in todays edition.

The ad evoked strong reactions on social media after its release, sparking conversations around it on LinkedIn & Twitter. Readers were delighted to see a print ad in this age of digital ad creation, which surely catches the readers attention. If you havent already tried translating the text, go on and give it a try through Google Lens.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 18.11.2021 - Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), made an official visit to Slovenia today. Slovenia currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. In Ljubljana, Mr Cassis met with his counterpart Anze Logar and paid a courtesy call to President Borut Pahor. The main items on the agenda were European policy, bilateral relations and Switzerland's commitment to the Western Balkans.

During his meeting with Foreign Minister Logar, Mr Cassis briefed him on Switzerland's European policy, underscoring the Federal Council's desire to engage in a structured political dialogue with the EU. "The Swiss Parliament recently approved the payment of Switzerland's second contribution aimed at reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU," he noted. Slovenia was already among the beneficiary states of the first Swiss contribution. Cooperation will also continue in the context of Switzerland's second contribution. Mr Cassis also explained that he now expected Switzerland to be reintegrated into the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes.

Slovenia's presidency of the Council of the European Union was also on the agenda. Foreign Minister Anze Logar provided an interim assessment of his country's presidency of the Council and underlined the importance of further developing the partnership with Switzerland. During its six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, Slovenia invited Switzerland to participate in a series of informal council meetings.

Continued investment in the Western Balkans

Mr Cassis also reiterated Switzerland's continued commitment to the Western Balkans. To promote stability, security and democracy in the region, Switzerland has invested about EUR 3 billion. Mr Cassis emphasised that strengthening the Western Balkan countries' European outlook is a key to ensuring the stability of the European continent. He also took the opportunity to invite Slovenia to participate in the Ukraine Reform Conference, which will take place on 4 and 5 July 2022 in Lugano.

Switzerland is Slovenia's second most important economic partner

Relations between Switzerland and Slovenia are close in a variety of areas. Trade between the two countries has increased significantly in recent years: Switzerland is Slovenia's second largest economic partner and the third largest foreign investor. The two countries also cooperate closely in multilateral organisations.

Mr Cassis is travelling on to Saudi Arabia from 19 to 20 November and then to Libya on 21 November for working visits. He will be accompanied by National Councillor Jacqueline de Quattro (PLR/VD) and State Councillor Marianne Maret (The Centre/VS).

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




If Lockdowns were an Olympic sport, Victoria, Australia would be hard to beat. Its been described as the most locked-down place in the world under COVID-19. Sadly, its also become the location where a once free society now targets civil liberties. A perfect example is Monica Smit, of Reignite Democracy Australia, who served 22 days in jail in solitary confinement after being charged with incitement. Her crime? Organizing a protest against lockdowns.

In the United States, our Constitution recognizes our inherent rights to free speech, a free press, and peaceable assembling to air grievances towards our government. So, it comes as a shock when a freedom-loving country like Australia starts arresting those who want to express their grievances about lockdowns through peaceable assembly.

You might be wondering when protesting within a free society become illegal. This is the part where it starts to sound like poorly written draconian fan fiction (which, sadly, its not).

First and foremost, nowhere in the Australian Constitution is any promise or guarantee made regarding freedom of speech or protected expressions. Apart from Australian High Court rulings which are somewhat supportive of freedoms, you must look at the state level for signs of individual rights.

The State of Victoria has Section 15 of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006, which provides individual freedoms that are similar to the First Amendment. However, it also has a clause to pause freedoms on Section 15(3):

Special duties and responsibilities are attached to the right of freedom of expression and the right may be subject to lawful restrictions reasonably necessary.

That leads to Section 198 of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (The Public Health Act). Under the Public Health Act, the Chief Health Officer (CHO) has emergency powers to implement directives addressing any significant health crisis.

As weve seen under COVID-19, rarely does a crisis go to waste, especially when the crisis gives the government carte blanche violate the Charter of Human Rights, etc., with impunity. Suddenly the government can quell divisions and identify everything as a punishable public nuisance.

The CHO then gets to implement certain directives, with the failure to adhere to those directives rising to the level of criminal disobedience. That category now covers being outside past curfew, not wearing a face mask, or having more than ten people in your house.

In Monica Smits case, the CHO logic that got her into strife goes something like this:

 Small Gatherings = Bad

 Public Gatherings = Worse

 Protests = The Prospect of Larger Public Gatherings

 Organizing a Protest & Encouraging Others to Attend = Incitement

In the lockdown era, Facebook live-streaming has become the quickest way to share and broadcast information to non-mainstream audiences. Facebook Live has thrived among those Victorians opposed to lockdown measures, including independent journalists and organizers. Among that number is Monica Smit and her organization, Reignite Democracy Australia. Facebook Live was how Monica was able to Live-Stream and share, in real-time her actual arrest for incitement.

Image: Monica Smits. YouTube screen grab. (The video shows police attacking Victoria citizens. YouTube made me sign in to view it because it may be inappropriate for some users.)

After being arrested, Smit was granted bail under the following excessive conditions that were designed to limit her personal freedoms even more than the general laws already did.

Reside at [a specified address].

Stay confined to the State of Victoria.

Stay confined to her residence between the hours of 7 pm and 6 am.

Present herself at the front door of her residence during curfew hours upon request of any member of Victoria Police.

Abide by any curfew imposed under the current state of emergency restrictions and present at the front door during those curfew hours as requested by police.

Abide by all Chief Health Officer directions.

If not wearing a mask due to medical reasons, to obtain and produce within 24 hours a medical certificate to police or health official.

Not to publish on any social media platform or any website or via any electronic communications service any material inciting any person to fail to comply with the Chief Health Officers directions or allow a medium under her control in full or part to do so.

Not to incite any person to refuse to comply with the Chief Health Officers directions.

To remove within 48 hours any materials on her business-related social media accounts and groups she controls in full or in part that incite opposition to the Chief Health Officers directions.

Not to share copy or distribute in any way any material that incites opposition to the Chief Health Officers directions either via online social media or by any other means including, but not limited to, letter drops or encouraging anyone else to do so.

Not to attend any protest in any capacity during the state of emergency related to COVID-19.

Not to disclose or cause to be disclosed to any person the name of the informant or any police officer involved in the investigation on any public forum including but not limited to Reignite Democracy Australia website.

Smit refused these bail conditions, which led to her serving 22 days in solitary confinement. She eventually appealed her case to the Melbourne Supreme Court. There, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth agreed, labelling some unnecessary, disproportionate and without utility.

If the attempt was designed to silence Smit and shut down Reignite Democracy Australia, it failed. The subsequent publicity fueled by the mainstream media (and their personal resentment towards Monica), helped Smit gain extensive public donations to her defense fund. That in turn, has helped RDAs financial coffers in fighting COVID-19 restrictions and in furthering its political efforts.

RDA recently announced a collaboration with Federal MP Craig Kelly of the United Australia Party (UAP). Kelly is one of the few federal politicians within Australia who has pushed back against excessive COVID regulations during Federal Parliamentary sessions. In taking this position, Kelly was also banned from Facebook under its rules regarding COVID misinformation. That too backfired, for it delivered an in-kind endorsement that attracted disenfranchised voters towards the UAP. Add the ready-made RDA chapter and you have a recipe for a significant change on the Australian political spectrum, not seen since B. A. Santamarias Democratic Labor Party (DLP).

An Australian federal election and a Victorian state election in 2022, could provide actual insights into Australian public opinion. Australians could finally learn how many of their countrymen are also concerned with the way politicians, using COVID as the excuse, destroyed their civil liberties. If insufficient numbers vote, Aussies may find that the face mask has become a permanent fixture of attire.

Author Craig Edwards (a pseudonym) is an Australian expatriate from Melbourne now living in Austin, Texas. This article was based on a Podcast interview completed with Monica Smit in Oct 2021.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Currently, there are concerns about power shortages in China, Europe, and the U.S. The Chinese economy is being held back by power shortages. People in the UK are worried about increased power bills and a possible food shortage this winter. In Germany, their power plants are short of natural gas and coal and they are hoping for a mild winter. All this reminds one of the various arguments in the U.S. about Russia trying to influence our elections. These concerns remind the U.S. that Russia benefits from power shortages and shortages of oil and natural gas.

Vladimir Putin is a smart man. Putin puts himself and Russia first and everything he does is to promote himself and Russia. Putin, as a former head of the KGB, is an expert at misinformation and manipulating public opinion, usually without leaving tracks.

The largest and most important sector of the Russian economy is the production and export of oil and natural gas. Putin is always looking for ways to improve Russias leverage in economics and geopolitics that comes from being one of the leading providers of fossil fuels. One of the biggest threats to his position was/is a growing, thriving U.S. fossil fuel industry. Whenever the U.S. moves from being a net importer of fossil fuels to being a net exporter of fossil fuels that is bad for the Russian economy. Putin knows this.

The U.S. has been a leading force in the application of new and innovative ways to extract oil and natural gas from the ground. Over the last couple of decades, the U.S. has increased its production of natural gas and oil significantly thanks to new technology. This new competition in the energy markets weakens Putins economic and geopolitical position. Putin knows this.

Given the above, it would make sense that Putin might be involved in spreading misinformation about the fossil fuel industry in the U.S. to handicap its growth. Putin might even support the anti-fracking and anti-pipeline campaigns in the U.S. since these would help Russia. Putin would favor the reduction of U.S. production of natural gas and oil to strengthen his position in the world energy markets.

Putin really has no choice, but to bet on his natural resources and the possible problems of implementing a shift away from fossil fuels in the West. He has no choice, but to hope that wind and solar will not be sufficient to keep the world economy growing in his lifetime.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, both Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton took clear positions with regard to the energy industry. Trump ran on a platform of working to achieve energy independence through increasing the output of all energy sectors, especially the oil and natural gas industries. He favored building the Keystone pipeline and leasing out federal lands to fracking and other extraction methods. Clinton was opposed to the building of the Keystone pipeline and to expanding the fossil fuel industry. Clinton favored reducing U.S. production of oil and natural gas.

Regardless of why the two candidates came to these positions, from Putins perspective, Trumps energy platform was anti-Russian and Clintons energy platform was pro-Russian. Putin knew this. From the Russian perspective, this was the most important and clear-cut issue in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election.

Based on the energy platforms, Putin favored Clinton over Trump in the election. During the campaign and afterward, the Russians provided the Clinton campaign with misinformation about Trump but did not provide Trump with misinformation about Clinton. This is consistent with the analysis of the energy platforms.

Once Trump was in office, he appointed Rick Perry of Texas as his Energy Secretary and gave him the mandate to achieve energy independence for the country. Trump and Perry approved the Keystone pipeline and worked to open up leases on federal land. The price of oil and natural gas declined. Of course, from the perspective of economics, this was a huge plus for the bottom half of wage earners as their dollars went further.

But the decline in the prices of oil and natural gas had a negative effect on Russia and Putin. By 2019, the U.S. was energy independent for the first time in decades. These events reduced the leverage that Putin had on the U.S. and Europe. Putins economic and geopolitical influence declined during Trumps Presidency.

The big increase in natural gas production in the U.S. gave Trump the opportunity to compete with Russia in providing natural gas to Germany. Trump approached Germany to sell them U.S. natural gas and worked to block the building of a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. He succeeded in preventing the building of the pipeline through the end of his Presidency. This was bad for Russia and good for the U.S. Putin knew this.

During the 2020 Presidential campaign, Trumps platform bragged about getting to energy independence, the approval of the Keystone pipeline, and the increase in production of fossil fuels. Like the Clinton campaign, the Biden campaign vowed to reverse the approval of the Keystone pipeline and to cease the leasing of federal lands for drilling. Putin knew this and, for this reason, would favor Biden over Trump.

Once Biden took office, he immediately canceled the Keystone pipeline. Subsequently, Biden has stopped the leasing of federal land for fossil fuel extraction. Biden also removed the Trump sanctions on building a natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The result of these and other actions is that the U.S. is no longer energy independent and Germany is more dependent on Russian natural gas than ever before.

The prices of oil, natural gas, and gasoline at the pump have all risen significantly since Biden has taken office. Many Democrats view this as a good thing but it has a significant negative effect on the pocketbooks of working people with low incomes. Now, there are power shortages in China, Europe, and the U.S. This increases the economic and geopolitical power of Putin.

Putin is smart enough to have figured out long ago that this would be a likely outcome of the election of Clinton and/or Biden. Putin must have been rooting for all of this to happen all along. To believe otherwise is to believe Russian misinformation.

Bidens actions on energy policy have contributed to the current situation in power production. Another important factor is the unreliability of wind and solar power. This lack of reliability has both short- and long-term effects. We have short-term power outages and long-term electricity grid unreliability. This is occurring in China, Europe, Australia, and California. Putins bets are paying off.

Image: Pixabay

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July 2021 was the tenth anniversary of my monthly series, "Muslim Persecution of Christians" (published by the Gatestone Institute). Back in July 2011, I began to collate and summarize the accounts of persecution that surfaced every month in one report  so there is a record, so that when the time comes, the usual excuse, "we never knew," won't stand.

Now that ten years of such reports have passed  for a total of 120 reports, each averaging about 3,5004,000 words (or nearly 500,000 words in total)  what has been learned? What trends have been demonstrated?

First, the phenomenon of Muslim persecution of Christians is real: it's unwavering, constant, and systemic, and it conforms to sharia-approved patterns  meaning its root source is Islam. (For doctrinal and historic proofs of this assertion, see this more elaborate and detailed article.)

One proof is simple enough: when, in July 2011, I first came up with the idea of a monthly report, I was concerned about the project's feasibility: what sort of "report" could be compiled if, say, only one or two instances  or even none  of persecution occurred in any given month? Sadly, but also rather tellingly, not only has this never once happened over the course of 120 months, but the individual instances of persecution have only grown, so that, in order to keep these reports manageable and under 4,000 words, every month, I leave lesser stories out.

A decade's worth of such reports also gives the lie to the widespread notion that the only or primary Muslim persecution of Christians that occurred within the last decade was at the hands of the Islamic State between 2014 and 2017. Now, it is true that what "ISIS" put Christians and other religious minorities through was horrific, but before and after ISIS, Christians experienced less "spectacular" forms of persecution at the hands of Muslims who are not "professional" terrorists, including Muslim individuals, mobs, clerics, and of course Muslim authorities at every level of state (police, local governors, judges, etc.).

As for some of the more specific trends to develop and sharpen over the last decade, first, what several international observers have characterized as a "pure genocide" is being waged against the Christians of Nigeria. Not a week seems to go by without "Allahu akbar"screaming Muslims slaughtering dozens of Christians and torching their villages and churches.

This jihadist animus is well entrenched in other African nations  for example, Somalia  and, left unchecked, is increasingly spilling into others, including Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, and many more. In Christian-majority Uganda, not a month seems to go by without a Muslim family attacking or killing a family member for converting to Christianity.

The persecution of  to say nothing of the blatant and systemic discrimination against  Christians in Pakistan is downright disgusting. Not a week seems to go by without a young, underage Christian girl being abducted, raped, and then forced to convert and marry her abductor  with the police and courts siding with the abductors and rapists. Similarly, any Muslim who wishes for whatever reason to terrorize any Christian increasingly accuses the latter of "blaspheming" against Muhammad, which in Pakistan is punishable by long prison sentences and even execution. Needless to say, irate and radical mobs often get the infidels before the police can arrest them  as they did when, in 2014, a Muslim mob of over a thousand people burned a young Christian couple alive on the false accusation that they had burned pages of the Koran.

Egypt, home to the largest, most indigenous Christian community of the Middle East, is little better. Both ISIS and any number of homegrown "radical Muslims" have bombed or burned numerous churches, killing many worshipers over the years, while authorities have simply banned churches, often in response to angry Muslim mobs. Moreover, "[i]n Egypt, kidnappings and forced marriages of Christian women and girls to their Muslim abductors ha[ve] reached record levels."

Otherwise, it has been more of the usual for Christians in general throughout the Islamic world. Every year between 2011 and 2021, Muslims claimed the lion's share  approximately 80%  of all the persecution Christians experience around the world.

The last decade has made another thing clear: the media either totally ignore or else obfuscate the reality of Muslim persecution of Christians. Whenever forced to report on, say, extra-sensationalist terror attacks that leave dozens of Christians dead, they predictably chalk up Muslim motives to "grievances," poverty, territorial disputes, or "radicalization"  the type that does not represent "true" Islam.

In other words, the media have done their best to present this phenomenon as an aberration, even though it is both systematic and systemic in the Muslim world. Meanwhile, one does not doubt that if the roles were reversed  if it was Christians who were banning or attacking mosques; attacking or imprisoning Muslims who "blaspheme" or Christians who apostatize to Islam; abducting, raping, and forcibly converting Muslims girls; and enforcing myriad forms of open discrimination against Muslims  these stories would be reported and highlighted by all the major networks.

Nor, one should add, do sensationalist atrocities receive much coverage. A video of ISIS carving off the heads of 21 Coptic Christians because they refused to recant their faith received six times less media coverage than the killing of a gorilla.

In short, the last decade has made clear that, well before the world became acquainted with the phenomenon of "fake news" and learned just how dishonest the media can be  that what they report and how they report it is based on what narrative they want to convey  the media were freely manipulating the persecution of Christians under Islam out of existence.

Similarly, many years before a good number of Americans learned that the so-called "left"  which presents itself as the party that cares about "social justice" and "human rights"  was a complete hypocrite and fraud, the left was suppressing and in some case offering false news concerning the Muslim persecution of Christians out of existence  as when the BBC said most the 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded for their faith were actually released.

If people now know that the left exists to undermine and subvert Judeo-Christian civilization, including by saying anything and lying through its powerful media arm, the left had long been doing this with regard to the Muslim persecution of Christians. After all, then and now, Muslims must always appear in the best possible light and Christians in the worst.

These are some of the lessons from the last ten years' worth of reporting on Muslim abuses against Christians. With the current state of the world  the persecution of Christians is growing all around the world and even spilling into the West  one expects that the next decade will be even worse.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image via Max Pixel.

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As we often say about Joe Biden, he knows how to pick 'em.

So now we have the revelation from the Washington Free Beacon that the Soviet-honored, Soviet-educated Saule Omarova, who wants to nationalize your bank account for the state, has a record as a petty thief.

Saule Omarova, whom Biden tapped to serve as Comptroller of the Currency, was arrested after she was caught stuffing $214 worth of clothes, shoes, cologne, and belts in her purse at a T.J. Maxx in Madison, Wis., in May 1995. Omarova was 28 years old at the time and studying for her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin. Omarova is slated to appear before the Senate Banking Committee for her confirmation hearing Thursday. If confirmed, Omarova will oversee regulation of the country's banking system. The police report, published by the American Accountability Foundation, could get her into further hot water with Senate Republicans who say she supports radical economic policies.

You can't make this stuff up.

It's been a while since we've heard of a presidential nominee with that kind of a police record, although of course, we have seen other kinds of "awful" from the Biden team of champions, such as that character now managing federal land who aided eco-terrorists.

Now we have a petty thief to regulate banks.

You have to wonder a lot of things about that, too.

She got caught stealing more than $200's worth of merchandise, and we know that most of the time, shoplifters don't get caught. How many other things did she shoplift from assorted retail stores? Will she answer that question at her confirmation hearings in Congress?

Meanwhile, where's her contrition for it? The Biden administration claims that it was all a "misunderstanding," which is weird stuff  did the young Soviet immigrant at the time think the goods were free for the taking in America? That's a little laughable, given that the Soviet immigrants we know, the ones who fled communism to get away from it, not to bring it to the states, would never dream of such a thing. But she was a little different from such immigrants.

Or was it a matter of her bringing in her Soviet values to the states, which seems distinctly likely? We know that rampant theft was common in the Soviet Union, given the corroding impact of communism on the human psyche and the incentives it presented, given that no one who was honest or industrious was ever rewarded. Only thieves gained in that system, so there were a lot of thieves. Factory workers would pilfer supplies, retail workers would hoard foodstuffs for their favorites, bureaucrats would demand a little baksheesh to cut through the Soviet cement wall of red tape, and theft and corruption were shot through the system, amounting to a way of life, according to Konstantin Simis (father of scholar Dmitri Simes), whose U.S.S.R.: Secrets of a Corrupt Society was one of the most revealing books I've ever read about how the Soviet Union worked. His last chapter, I recall, was called "The Corrupted People."

Sure, it's easy to dismiss that shoplifting incident in Wisconsin as a youthful indiscretion. The Bidenites are trying to do that and foist her into power over us as a bank regulator. After all, a bank regulator with a shoplifting record shouldn't alarm anyone, should it? There's a reason bankers have such strict ethical standards for hire in the private sector, but the Bidenites expect Congress to lower the bar and let her sail on through anyway, which actually tells us a lot about Joe and his standards.

Has she changed any? Could that be a mitigating factor? Probably not, given that she's advocating nationalizing banks on the Soviet model and was rewarded well by Soviet society for her Marxist college thesis, which won her a Lenin scholarship and oodles of honors in her home country. She also advocates bankrupting energy companies and a lot of other things that support communist values. She then comes to the States and starts stealing shoes? Either she hated the system in the states, hated the idea of paying for anything herself, brought in a mindset that stealing is how things get done, or something else in her ethical development got stunted. The age of 28 is far from the impulse age of a teenager.

It's kind of mind-boggling to think about a bank controller with this kind of record, which would likely disqualify her for a job at a corner bank.

Now the Bidenites are putting her up for the federal comptroller of the currency. Heaven help us if she gets in.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.

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We are often inclined to think the problems we face today are modern in origin. We believe that, within the last five to ten years, something drastic began to change. In many ways, that's indeed true, for it's evident that many aspects of American culture and traditional Western culture have begun to erode ever more rapidly in recent years. However, many of the social issues we are facing today have been rising incrementally for decades.

Over two decades ago, in February 1999, the then-president of the National Rifle Association, famed actor Charlton Heston, gave a speech at the Harvard Law School Forum. His speech focused on the culture war within America and the entirety of the Western world.

(As a personal side note, when Heston gave his speech, I was an 8th-grader at Southside Middle School in St. Pete, Florida. Two months later, two evil students engaged in the Columbine High School massacre. Since then, we seem to hear about senseless shootings occurring on a regular basis, with society becoming increasingly desensitized. Is this not a reflection of greater amoral degradation?)

What is most interesting is how accurate and, indeed, prophetic Heston was as he spoke of America's amoral slide. He addressed issues that still have currency: attacks on the traditional family, the promotion of homosexual rights, the birth of the transgender movement, the challenges to the Second Amendment, the war on the police, pop culture's degradation, and the political left's constant attack on the foundations of the American system of governance.

Heston noted that the continued transformation of America into a land with no moral foundations, unless reversed, would eventually lead to a complete loss of the individual freedom that has been a cornerstone of the American experiment for over two centuries.



Image: Charlton Heston at the 1963 Civil Rights march by Roland Scherman (cropped). Public domain.

As expected, the mainstream media in 1999 dismissed Heston's speech as the confused and delusional ramblings of an old man. In fact, at the time, Heston was two years younger than the current occupant of the Oval Office. Heston, however, was clearly mentally sound in thought and speech.

Today, in the 2020s, the American system of governance, which has always held the individual as sovereign, with rights derived from God Almighty, is being eroded into an authoritarian/totalitarian system in which ruling elites and technocrats control the masses and representative government is increasingly nonexistent.

This is happening now. Present day. Faster than ever.

Do not think for one second that the next party that controls the House of Politics, whether it's Republicans or someone else, will reverse this trend. The civilizational moral dilemmas we are facing are much, much deeper than the divide in the political aisles of every state Legislature and Washington, D.C.

The core of our cultural decline today is, in many ways, is an issue of every human heart, which must decide to return to and preserve the nuclear family structure that is the core of any prosperous and enlightened civilization, and to rid our land of oppressive and despotic governance at all levels of government. This can be accomplished only through massive peaceful dissent, beginning at the ballot box.

Do Americans have the will to recognize and stop these threats to their livelihoods and liberties? Or will the complacent, reservist, and apathetic mindsets that have led us to this current low point in the culture war since Charlton Heston's speech continue?

Assuredly, the will of the people will decide  for ourselves, our children, and future generations.

If you don't have time to watch, you can read Heston's speech here.

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As we asked following Virginia and New Jersey: Will any Democrat invite Mr. Obama to campaign for him anymore? The magic is gone, or something like that. They are not fainting anymore. Nobody is saying he walks on water.

Look at this report from South Carolina:

Endorsements from former President Obama and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn in reliably blue Columbia, South Carolina, were not enough to push the citys Democratic mayoral candidate over the finish line. Republican Daniel Rickenmann, a businessman and Columbia city council member, defeated Democrat Tameika Isaac Devine 52% to 48% on Tuesday night in Columbia, which sits in a county that President Biden carried by almost 40 points in 2020.



Image: Obama image by Steve Jurvetson. CC BY 2.0. Magician image from the public domain.

We remember that it was South Carolina that saved the Biden candidacy 18 months ago.

So what's going on?

Maybe the Democrats are not getting the "vote today" memo. Or maybe there is tremendous apathy in these blue districts.

I don't know South Carolina that well, but I see something similar to what just happened in San Antonio, Texas. Down here, GOP candidate John Lujan defeated Democrat candidate Frank Ramirez in a super-blue district.

Maybe it's a red wave, but I think it may be better than that. Victories in blue districts or cities mean that people are finally holding Democrats accountable.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).

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The past several years have seen me contemplating those children who came of age after Michael Brown's death in Ferguson, Missouri. They are now older teens and young adults who watched George Floyd's death and the January 6, 2021 protest in D.C., two events that undoubtedly confirmed their hatred for conservatives. These milestones created the type of hubris that led several individuals to presume they could beat an armed teen in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year with impunity. This was a classic, and tragic, political delusion.

Millennials live in an era in which their parents can't spank them, teachers are assaulted on live stream, police officers are humiliated, and self-defenders are demonized as vigilantes for prevailing in ideologically charged confrontations. I'm acutely concerned about a generation whose unrealistic sense of immunity from consequences sends them into life-threatening situations. Such delusion promises high-profile trials and highly destructive uprisings.

I fully support political development, not political delusion. More dead or wounded young people isn't my idea of "progress." My safety advocacy started during the institutional implosion Black America experienced during the crack cocaine era. Sudden gun battles and tales of woe at neighborhood association meetings became commonplace.

That tragic, sweeping loss of life, followed by the relative sense of safety Black communities carved out since then, doesn't make me cavalier about Millennials' lack of restraint. My generation lost victims who were caught off guard, as compared to today's youths, who are doing fatal versions of the Charge of the Light Brigade. This mindset isn't sustainable, no matter how much it's enabled by officeholders.



Image: Protesters block I-84 in Portland. YouTube screen grab.

We're witnessing an ideological war, where ideologues attack each other at public gatherings. For years, we've watched battles among Antifa cells, BLM, Proud Boys, and conservative militias. They plowed fertile ground culminating in the Kyle Rittenhouse case. We're undergoing a new normal that even the next new normal of pandemic lockdowns and crowd restrictions didn't stop, especially during the 2020 presidential election cycle. Americans who were banned from work and music venues nonetheless watched large marches, protests, and rioting happen, heedless of a pandemic. Obviously, two sets of rules were in operation.

Between Michael Brown's death in August 2014 and George Floyd's in May 2020, we witnessed aggressive law enforcement stand down while public aggression has boomed. This role reversal hasn't ushered in violent crime reduction or other promised results of more passive policing.

Leftist Millennials are accustomed to stopping traffic or destroying property with the blessing of progressive policymakers. They're also quite comfortable confronting and attacking anyone based on mere political disagreement. MAGA hatwearers routinely experienced taunting, hats snatched off their heads, and beatings for what was once considered free speech.

Today's leftist violence reminds me of anti-desegregation mobs descending upon Freedom Riders and ambushing activists trying to integrate public accommodations. They also share the same sense of brutal entitlement. Critics argue it's simply the same philosophy separated by different time periods.

As an advocate for community safety and control, this combative attitude destabilizes already fragile urban areas. Mass property damage and arson won't improve communities held hostage by daily violent crime and larceny. While I support assertive advocacy, it must be disciplined instead of destructive. The inner city already has enough conflict without outsiders escalating instability.

Partisanship is destabilizing society by using leftist Millennials as shock troops to beat civic institutions into submission. This manipulation makes them foolishly think they're untouchable. Such political delusion sends young people running toward avoidable danger.

Nadra Enzi AKA Cap Black. Writer/Commentator on Liberation and Liberty. #ActualSuperHeroForLiberty Advocate. #HaltHunger Organizer.

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After all the evidence was entered in the Kyle Rittenhouse case and all the law debated, it seemed clear, looking beyond the preconceived notions that the media had created, that Kyle ought never to have been charged and that he should now be acquitted. It should have taken the jurors around two hours to reach this verdict. As I write this, though, two days have passed, and there's still nothing. Judge Schroeder seems to understand what's holding the jury back, for he quoted Abraham Lincoln regarding the absolute necessity of standing up to the mob on matters of principle.

The mob has been gathering outside the courthouse, with people there who support Rittenhouse and those who want to see him in jail:

'NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!': Protests escalate outside Kenosha courthouse where Rittenhouse jury is deliberating pic.twitter.com/TeDdL3bKqM  Fox News (@FoxNews) November 16, 2021

There have been scuffles between the two groups:

MULTIPLE ARRESTS IN KENOSHA: BLM Protesters clashed with Pro-Rittenhouse protester on the steps, one journalist got punched and two blm protesters were arrested across the street. #HappeningNow #RittenhouseTrial #Rittenhouse pic.twitter.com/CWjTZvxN8z  Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) November 17, 2021

Everybody is reasonably certain how things will play out. If Rittenhouse is found guilty, the protesters will disperse. If he's acquitted, the BLM crowd will try to trash Kenosha (again), while other BLM and Antifa groups will go on a tear in other American cities. As a reminder, Kyle is White, as are (and were) the three men he shot. There is also no evidence that Kyle has a racist bone in his body.

Unlike last August, the Wisconsin governor called out the National Guard this time around, but the current tactic across America is to let the protesters beat up on law enforcement officials. As someone reminded me, this is a far cry from Mayor Richard J. Daley's approach in 1968, after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Then, Daley announced a "shoot to kill" order to quell urban protests, especially anyone engaging in arson:

Had these rules been in place in 2020, America would have ended the year with much less property damage and, probably, fewer dead people than the two dozen dead that BLM and Antifa left in their wake. It's not just America, of course. In Poland, as Muslim hordes encouraged by Belarus attacked the Polish border, the police didn't shoot the invaders. Instead, they confined themselves to tear gas and water cannons.

Given the violence already taking place and the threat of more violence to an already broken Kenosha, it's reasonable to believe that the jury is struggling between principle (acquit Kyle) and fear (find him guilty and let the appellate court figure it out). After all, we already have reason to believe that two of the jurors are worried about direct mob attacks against them.

That the jurors are afraid seems to have been borne out by Judge Schroeder's decision late Wednesday afternoon to read to them from Abraham Lincoln's 1836 Lyceum address. According to William Herndon, Lincoln's law partner at the time, Lincoln made this public statement after a St. Louis mob burned a Black man. This is the portion of the speech that Judge Schroeder quoted (italics in original, bolded emphasis mine):

I hope I am over wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, something of ill-omen, amongst us. I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades the country; the growing disposition to substitute the wild and furious passions, in lieu of the sober judgment of Courts; and the worse than savage mobs, for the executive ministers of justice. This disposition is awfully fearful in any community; and that it now exists in ours, though grating to our feelings to admit, it would be a violation of truth, and an insult to our intelligence, to deny. Accounts of outrages committed by mobs, form the every-day news of the times. [snip] While, on the other hand, good men, men who love tranquility, who desire to abide by the laws, and enjoy their benefits, who would gladly spill their blood in the defense of their country; seeing their property destroyed; their families insulted, and their lives endangered; their persons injured; and seeing nothing in prospect that forebodes a change for the better; become tired of, and disgusted with, a Government that offers them no protection; and are not much averse to a change in which they imagine they have nothing to lose. Thus, then, by the operation of this mobocractic spirit, which all must admit, is now abroad in the land, the strongest bulwark of any Government, and particularly of those constituted like ours, may effectually be broken down and destroyedI mean the attachment of the People. Whenever this effect shall be produced among us; whenever the vicious portion of population shall be permitted to gather in bands of hundreds and thousands, and burn churches, ravage and rob provision-stores, throw printing presses into rivers, shoot editors, and hang and burn obnoxious persons at pleasure, and with impunity; depend on it, this Government cannot last.

Let us hope Lincoln's words stiffened the jurors' spines. I must admit that I don't envy them their task, and I'd be lying if I stated that, were I in their shoes, I would naturally do the right thing. As I've mentioned, we do not live in a brave era, and the general passive spirit that characterizes Americans today is an incentive to the mob.

Image: Protesters at Kenosha courthouse. Twitter screen grab.

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If the term 4IR doesn't mean anything to you, it soon will. 4IR denotes The Fourth Industrial Revolution that is on our doorstep with the promise of significant technological advances and the potential for great civil unrest.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution advances elements of the first three industrial revolutions into the world of automation, machine learning, robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, IoT (Internet of Things), and self-driving cars. Opponents of 4IR contend that jobs will disappear, and new ones will be of greater complexity, which will raise the bar for entry into the workforce, resulting in unemployment and widening income disparities. Proponents of 4IR say that the emergence of these new technologies can create many new products, service segments, entrepreneurship, and entire industries that we can't possibly predict.

Ultimately, I believe that both will be proven correct. In the short term, 4IR will likely cause considerable disruption to existing industries and jobs, but ultimately, a new world will emerge from the chaos in the same way it always has in the face of unending technological advances.

Here's a glance at the first three Industrial Revolutions:

The First Industrial Revolution (1IR) occurred between roughly 1760 and 1840. It was a time that marked the transition from hand production methods to mechanized and chemical processes and the increased use of steam and water power. Steam engines powered factory machines and trains that led to increased production and faster delivery to markets.

The Second Industrial Revolution (2IR) unfolded between the early 1870s and 1915, highlighting the building of the enormous railroad and telegraph networks and telephones that allowed for greater mobility of people and the ability to communicate immediately over great distances. Economic growth and productivity exploded from greater connectivity and electrification of assembly lines and other manufacturing processes.

The Third Industrial Revolution (3IR) was born in the 1960s and marked the beginning of the information age. Most adults today grew up in the 3IR, also known as the "digital revolution." This period produced the supercomputer, the personal computer, and the internet on which you're reading this article presently. Also central to 3IR are other familiar items such as the microprocessor, integrated circuits, and mobile phones.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a term coined in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF). 4IR is characterized by the convergence and combining of emerging technologies, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, new materials, advanced digital production (ADP) technologies, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence. These technologies are already transforming the global industrial landscape. They have given rise to the concept called Industry 4.0, also known as the Smart Factory  one that utilizes artificial intelligence (A.I.) and machine learning (M.L.). Smart factories are self-monitoring and use sensors to detect failing parts in the system, so repairs can be made before components fail and disrupt production.

Data are constantly sent to the cloud to inform and automatically adjust distribution and supply chains. This automation results in substantial productivity gains and much lower labor costs.

The field of A.I. focuses on developing computer systems that attempt to mimic human intelligence and thought but at far faster speeds with a tremendous amount of processing power. Machine learning works by continuously adapting and optimizing its processes accordingly without the need for new lines of code. M.L. and Machine to Machine learning (M2M) automate many manual tasks while augmenting and surpassing the ability of humans to distill massive amounts of information and predict outcomes in nearly every field from finance to manufacturing. Machine learning is central to 4IR because it allows computers to do what comes naturally to humans and animals, which is learning from experience. This "learning" is accomplished by algorithms and other computational methods that "learn" information directly from data without predetermined models or equations.

3D printing is a significant component of the Smart Factory and 4IR in general. This technology is disrupting the economics of production. Assembly lines in factories are typically built to perform the same task over and over. Customizing or building a new product in the traditional assembly line requires intensive reconfiguring of equipment, expensive new hardware, and substantial human labor to install, operate, and maintain. 3D printing eliminates the need for massive alterations by allowing a company to manufacture a variety of products through a software program that sends a design to the printer. The flexibility and multitasking ability of the 3D printer shrinks the size of factories. 3D printing is in its infancy but is already being inserted into assembly lines and other aspects of the manufacturing process. Each new generation of these printers is showcasing incredible gains in capability.

Emerging technologies giving rise to the Fourth Industrial Revolution are blurring the line between the digital and physical world and permeating every industry. There are many implications of this burgeoning reality, both positive and negative. Opportunities abound for investors who recognize this technological revolution and position their portfolios accordingly. Advances in medicine, transportation, connectivity, and many other areas that touch our daily lives will be transformative. However, there will likely be political and social upheaval as many jobs are lost to automation, and the need for new and advanced skillsets accelerates. Similarly, the first three industrial revolutions displaced many workers, but the new technologies of those timeframes opened doors to new jobs and opportunities that ultimately increased employment and the standard of living.

Hopefully, the story of the Fourth Industrial Revolution will follow the same arc and deliver humanity to greater prosperity.

Graphic credit: Public Domain Pictures.

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Last year at this time, I noted that "we are living in a time of hoaxes, an era of deceit on an unprecedented scale." That assertion is, remarkably, even truer this year. Hence, I decided that a Second Annual Hoax of the Year Award was logical, even necessary.

Last year, I concluded: "The remarkably rapid pivot from the Russian Collusion Hoax to the Great Election Hoax of 2020 clearly constitutes the greatest back-to-back hoaxing in recorded history. Therefore, I award them a tie for 2020 Hoax of the Year." With that in mind, let's have a look at this year's hoaxes, shall we?

Incredibly, there was an even richer field of hoaxes to pick from in 2021, and it's possible I may regret the fact that I have once again decided to declare a winner so early. After all, in this climate, who knows what could happen in the next six weeks? That said, I am confident that no new hoax has time enough to supplant the ones currently considered.

First off, there is the continuing Climate Change Hoax, previously known as the Global Cooling Hoax and later the Global Warming Hoax. Unfortunately for those who are ultra-invested in promulgating the belief that man-caused warming will render the planet uninhabitable in the next decade or two, the Antarctic Ice Sheet grew at a record pace this past year. The climate has always been changing and always will change...with or without us. That is why we have terms like "climate" and "weather."

Next up is the Critical Race Theory Isn't Taught in Our Schools Hoax, a relatively recent one. CRT is prevalent in our schools, at various levels, and has also infected corporations and media outlets alike. Coca-Cola, for example, went to great trouble and expense to coax its non-colored employees into renouncing their whiteness. Then there is the Antifa Is Only an Idea Hoax. Tell that to all those who have had their businesses torched and looted. Tell that to Portland and Seattle. Antifa is very real  and steeped in violence and, ironically, Fascist tactics and thuggery.

The Ivermectin/Hydroxychloroquine Anything Else in the World Other Than the Blessed Vaccines Doesn't Work Against the Coronavirus Hoax has been a stunningly consistent one throughout the year, especially given that anecdotal evidence  and nearly every measure  illuminates the lie behind the hoax. Regardless of results abroad or here in this country, nauseatingly smug pundits repeat "expert" claims that such "horse paste" or "livestock de-wormers" don't work and/or are dangerous. (Given what is happening in the world today, one could more reasonably make that claim against the vaccines themselves.)

Another year-long theme-hoax "progressives" attempted to perpetrate on the American public was the All Black People Who Aren't Radical Leftists Are White Supremacists Hoax. So-called progressives delighted in preposterously denigrating Candace Owens, Larry Elder, Winsome Sears, and many others for daring to traffic in "white ideas."

This brings us to the epic Jan. 6 Was Worse Than 9/11, Pearl Harbor, and the Civil War Combined Hoax. This is a particularly pernicious prevarication, as anybody who lost loved ones on 9/11, at Pearl Harbor, or in the Civil War (more than 600,000 dead) would tell you. As would Ashli Babbitt's husband.

Yet another immaculate deception was the Joe Biden Is a Calm, Stable Moderate Who Will Unite the Country Hoax. Yes, and so is Kamala Harris. This one was initiated last year, in an attempt to get Biden elected. It was much ballyhooed after the New Year, as Biden prepared to  and did  take office. Against all odds, it still survives in some quarters today.

I'll stop here, though I'm virtually certain readers can add several more hoaxes to this list. (Perhaps some will do so on the American Thinker Forum at MeWe.)

Nearly everything that you see and hear today, whether in the mainstream media, in your schools, from the heads of Big Tech, your government leaders, or "experts" like Dr. Fauci is a hoax. In fact, I would be perpetrating a hoax myself if I told you it wasn't. Sad but true.

So which hoax to pick as the "Best of 2021," the "Second Annual Hoax of the Year"? The choice was extremely difficult once again. I didn't want to proclaim a tie again, as I did last year. No cop-out. (I hope that "cop" wasn't triggering upsetting to anyone.)

Much like last year, each and every one of these hoaxes has great merit and is truly preposterous in its own right. Once again, they are all related, virtual crimes perpetrated by progressives on the American people.

The winner? (Drum roll, please.)

The Biden Is a Calm, Stable Moderate Hoax, as all the others arguably are either a result of this one or have been aided and abetted by it.

Congratulations! Let's go Brandon!

Image: Ivan Radic via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Why hasn't prosecutor Thomas Binger been arrested yet?

According to the photos we've all seen, he pointed an AR-15 at members of the gallery in an active courtroom as part of his closing arguments, with his finger on the trigger. Bugs would say, "What a maroon! What an ignoranimus!"

I say, "Lock him up!"

In Wisconsin, it is illegal to point a gun at someone. Thus, Wis. Stat. 941.20(1)(c) makes it a Class A misdemeanor with a potential penalty of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine if someone "intentionally points a firearm at or toward another." Lawyers licensed to practice criminal law in the state would know that. Certainly, no prosecutor would be ignorant of this because it has enhancement potential for any gun-included crime. Any self-respecting bar association would bounce out an attorney who committed such an act.

It's a separate violation to point a gun at a law enforcement officer (Wis. Stat. 941.20 [1m][b]). Did Binger point that gun at the bailiff? Perhaps there is a blurry video somewhere we can parse to figure this out.

He also directed the gun toward the jury, according to press reports. Does anyone have the lead prosecuting attorney menacing the jury with a dangerous weapon on his Rittenhouse trial bingo card? Wisconsin law (Wis. Stats. 939.22[10]) includes in its definition of a dangerous weapon "any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded."

This legal travesty was a loser from the get-go. Binger and Kraus must have drawn the short straws to be stuck prosecuting such a political dog of a case. If they lose...well, they could say at least that they tried.



Image: Binger takes aim. YouTube screen grab.

By now, however, the district attorney must be thinking he drew the short straw having these guys on his team at all. Who could have imagined a prosecutor telegraphing a verdict to the jury as Kraus did when he put his head in his hands during Gaige Grosskeutz's testimony? Did anyone anticipate Binger asking so many questions that he did not know the answer to, especially when he questioned why Kyle Rittenhouse considered the town where his father lived to be his community?

Does Binger have any mitigating circumstances that allow for his unlawful act? There was a lot of talk on the part of the prosecution about provocation negating self-defense. That section of the law (Wis. Stats. 939.48) begins with just such a mitigation: "A person is privileged to threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with his or her person by such other person."

Nah, I don't think Binger could reasonably claim that the jury, or the gallery, or the bailiff was planning to unlawfully interfere with his person. What a petulant display of abject stupidity on his part! Nine months in the pokey might just cure it.

Anony Mee is a retired public servant.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Besides not giving any scientific evidence that coal and oil use control the climate and temperature, the presenters at the COP 26 climate change conference in Glasgow did not address the massive environmental and economic damage the goal of net zero would cause.

If we move completely away from oil and other fossil fuels, with the unrealistic goal to get rid of carbon, the amount of economic and environmental damage to the U.S. and the rest of the world will be massive.

The Biden administration and other Democrats, including most of the media, have the goal of bankrupting coal and oil companies. As they cripple those companies, raise prices, and decimate supplies, the cascading effect will be rapid.

Where will all the planes, trucks, cars, military equipment, ships, farm equipment, road equipment, fire engines be put once they are junk? How much land will that take? How much environmental damage will that cause?

Think of all the other entities that will go broke: Boeing, Lockheed, all the airlines, trucking companies, UPS, Federal Express, the travel and leisure companies, cruise companies, ship manufacturers, the space industry, tire manufacturers, truck stops, convenience stores, etc. The damage is unfathomable.

Are they sure all the abandoned underground storage tanks won't leak and cause severe environmental damage?

Think of all the banks that will go belly up because the collateral on loans is worthless.

Over 6,000 products are derived from oil, so how many of them will go belly up? What will we replace all those products with? How expensive will roads be if we no longer have asphalt? Maybe we will go back to dirt roads.

There will be few exports and imports without ships. Farmers will go belly up because of a lack of a market, and their machinery will be worthless.

How will the poor and middle class afford to replace their vehicles when their trade-ins are worthless, and the electric vehicles are so costly?

How much will homes and buildings cost to repair when their gas, fuel oil, and propane equipment are worthless? Won't the values go substantially down when they can't have heat or air conditioning until they are converted to wind and solar?

Why are we going to spend so much of the so-called infrastructure bill on ports and airports when we won't have many planes or ships?

Won't life be pristine in Hawaii, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico when they have few visitors? Australia won't have to worry so much about visitors spreading diseases.

It has been clear for a long time that Democrats have craved government power and making as many people dependent on the government as possible. Their destruction of reasonably priced energy and tens of millions of jobs related to oil will go a long way toward achieving that goal.

How much will Lithium batteries or other batteries cost when everyone must replace their worthless gas-powered vehicles and equipment? Does anyone believe we have that much lithium or manufacturing capabilities?

For over 100 years we were told, without scientific evidence, that we had to get alternative energy sources because we were running out of oil.

As more oil and natural gas were found, the talking points changed, without scientific evidence, that we had to stop using oil and coal because they were destroying the planet and causing an existential threat of climate change.

We've Been Incorrectly Predicting Peak Oil For Over a Century

Throughout the 20th century we became tremendously dependent on oil. At the risk of stating the obvious, the world would look completely different today without it. But time and again, very smart people have predicted that we'd eventually run out of oil. Time and again those predictions were proven incorrect. The idea of peak oil has popped up repeatedly throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. 1909: 25 or 30 years longer "Petroleum has been used for less than 50 years, and it is estimated that the supply will last about 25 or 30 years longer. If production is curtailed and waste stopped it may last till the end of the century. 1919: Two to five years until maximum production 1937: Gone in 15 years 1943: Peak oil has been reached 1945: Just thirteen years left 1956: Ten to fifteen years until peak oil 1966: Gone in ten years 1972: U.S. oil depleted in twenty years 1977: Oil will peak by the early 90s 1980: In the year 2000 1996: Peak oil likely by 2020 2002: Global peak by the year 2010 2007: Sometime between now and 2040

John Kerry said it is out of his purview to worry about China's mistreatment of people. It appears to me that most things are out of Kerry's lane, including providing scientific evidence to justify the destruction of the U.S economy.

A few degrees' temperature rise will cause much less harm than China and other tyrants.

So how much will the carbon footprint from his mansions, yacht, fleet of vehicles, and private jet go down if he purchases carbon credits?

The answer is zero. A carbon credit is essentially a fictional piece of paper so wealthy people and corporations can pretend they care. Carbon credits have made the richest man in the world very wealthy.

China, Russia, Iran, terrorists, and drug cartels are a much greater long-term and short-term existential threat to humanity than oil, coal, natural gas, CO2, and methane. The world leaders had better get their priorities straight before humanity is destroyed.

It would be nice if world leaders recognized how fossil fuels have greatly improved the quality and length of life in the last 150 years instead of blaming them for the Earth's ills.

It is amazing how little foresight or intelligence these supposedly intelligent people have as they indoctrinate us and destroy our way of life.

How many times will the U.N., Kerry, and others falsely yell "fire!"  that we have only a few years left to save the planet before journalists do research and analysis? Shouldn't journalists do their job instead of falsely yelling fire themselves?

Graphic credit: U.S. EPA.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 11 - A 50-year-old Italian aid worker and member of the Salesian order is among the many foreign nationals including mainly UN staffers arrested recently during Ethiopian government operations against Tigre rebels, well-informed sources told ANSA Thursday.

News of Alberto Livoni's arrest was reported by Rome daily La Repubblica, and the sources confirmed the report.

"The situation is delicate", they said, noting that while arrested people are normally released after 72 hours if no charge is pressed, the current state of emergency has suspended such provisions.

Sources added that the Italian embassy in Addis Ababa is closely following the case in tight liaison with the foreign ministry in Rome.

The embassy is providing all necessary assistance to the police commission in the Ethiopian capital where Livoni is being held, and is in contact with competent local authorities and the man's relatives. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 17 - Belarus is using migrants as part of its foreign policy, Premier Mario Draghi said after talks in Rome Wednesday with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama.

"The use of migrants has become a tool, to put it kindly, of foreign policy," he said.

Draghi said he had not heard of an EU summit on the issue, replying to a question. (ANSA).


MADRID - In 59 days, the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma in Spain's Canary Islands emitted into the atmosphere a quantity of sulphur dioxide (SO2) - a gas that is potentially harmful to human health - similar to that produced in 2019 by 28 EU member states.



The calculation was by the Vulcanology Institute of the Canary Islands and the University of Manchester.



The gas irritates eyes, mucous membranes, and skin but it is not common for it to reach sufficient concentration levels to be dangerous.



Local authorities constantly monitor the emission levels of this gas to assess possible problems for the population.



Meanwhile, the volcano continues to intermittently give signals concerning lava, ash, and associated seismic movements that may lead to complications for flights to and from La Palma on Thursday.



Almost two months after the eruption began on September 19, there is still no sign of when it will stop, the news agency EFE reported.


The Prince of Wales has held bilateral talks with Egypts president as his two-day tour of the Middle East country began.

Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived from Jordan and were whisked in a motorcade to the Al-Ittihadiya Palace  a former colonial luxury hotel  to meet the Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the First Lady Entissar Amer.

The president and his wife greeted their guests at the palaces entrance and the foursome posed for pictures before they split, with the two women heading to a room for talks, while the prince and his host held their meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, separately.

With Egypt due to take over the presidency of the next UN climate change conference  Cop27  it is likely environmental issues were part of the discussions.

The Egyptian leader is a retired field marshal who led the militarys overthrow of Egypts first democratically elected head of state, Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, in 2013, following mass protests against his rule.

The Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and First Lady Entissar Amer at the Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo (Peter Nicholls/PA)

In a televised announcement the president, then an army general, told the nation Mr Morsi had been removed from office and had failed to fulfil the hope for a national consensus.

The move was followed by a crackdown on those who opposed the ousting of Mr Morsi, which human rights organisations said resulted in the deaths of hundreds during one day of protests.

The Egyptian leader  who former US president Donald Trump once reportedly called my favourite dictator  has made maintaining stability and order in Egypt a priority.
The mother of a university worker stabbed to death on a night out in Birmingham believes mistakes were made by prisons and mental health services who had contact with the killer before he struck.

Joanne Billington, whose son Jacob was killed as knifeman Zephaniah McLeod went on a chilling rampage through the city last year, said: It doesnt feel like (mistakes were made)  I know mistakes were made.

Im hoping that we will get some genuine scrutiny of the agencies involved.

McLeod pleaded guilty to 23-year-old Sheffield Hallam University graduate Mr Billingtons manslaughter at a court hearing in September last year.

The 28-year-old also admitted four counts of attempted murder and three charges of wounding with intent, after carrying out a spate of stabbings in the early hours of September 6, 2020.

The court heard how McLeod had previous convictions for robbery, imitation firearm possession, assault and supplying drugs, and was known to the prison services.

He was also known to mental health services, had a history of hearing voices telling him to stab and kill, and had been suffering paranoid schizophrenia since 2012.

McLeod then missed a psychiatric assessment appointment just three days before he struck.

Mrs Billington, from Crosby, Merseyside, said an NHS-led serious case review is currently under way into various agencies contact with McLeod, but a final report is not expected to be published until early next year.

She said: Its not like things like this havent happened before in Birmingham, so were hoping that that will be taken into account.

The agencies who said they were going to make changes appear not to have made changes.

For me, going forward  McLeod, let the legal system deal with him.

But that other side is equally important to me.

She added the review process has made it hard to get answers to many outstanding questions she has about McLeod, adding: All they say is, its gone to the review, youll have to wait for the report.

Jacob Billington at his Sheffield Hallam University graduation, with sister Abbie (family handout/PA)

Because this individual was involved in so many different agencies, theres about six different people that are contributing.

He was in a lot of different prisons and all that sort of thing.

It goes back quite a long way.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, West Midlands Police was criticised for the speed of its response to the incident, but it later emerged McLeod had gone home part-way through his spree, before returning to continue.

Mr Billington was attacked after McLeod collected another knife from his home and got a taxi back to the city centre, having already slashed and stabbed three people earlier that night.

Mr Billington was a talented musician who played drums for The Vedetts and he had been on a night out with old friends, including band-mate Michael Callaghan, that night.

After celebrating one of their birthdays, the group was walking back to the nearby Ibis Hotel when McLeod struck, with Mr Billington stabbed in the neck and shoulder in Irving Street, Birmingham, at about 1.50am.

Mr Callaghan was gravely injured by a single stab wound to his neck but is continuing to make progress on what will be a long road to recovery.

Mrs Billington said she has no criticism of the police, saying the situation was confused and McLeods behaviour unusual.

Paying tribute to her son, Mrs Billington said: He was an absolutely fantastic young man.

He was fun, cheeky, full of life, full of happiness.

Things were going really well for Jacob at the time of his death.

He was working at the university where hed studied as a graduate intern.

He had a new girlfriend. He was just in a really good place.

He had an amazing set of friends who were really supportive and they were just enjoying their young lives. I couldnt have hoped for more with Jacob really.

Mr Billington loved music and could turn his hand to everything from a guitar, to the more exotic Peruvian percussion instrument, the cajon.

He was playing in a band with Michael and some other friends, said his mother.

Jacob Billington, left, and band-mates from The Vedetts, including Michael Callaghan, in green jacket, who was also injured that night (The Vedetts/PA)

Music was massive for Jacob. That was his big love.

If it wasnt playing in bands, it was going to see them, festivals, he lived for it really.

I think his dream was always to be a musician.

But he wanted to stay working for a university.

He was very interested in the widening participation agenda in universities, getting people who wouldnt traditionally go to apply for university.

He really loved the university life and working there was a bonus for him.

I think if he wasnt going to be a rock star, he probably would have stayed in the higher education sector in some way.

Mrs Billington described how an ordinary night out with friends became every parents nightmare, when she got a knock at the door from police in the early hours to tell her that her son was dead.

I can still see him leaving the house with the lads in the car outside beeping the horns getting him to hurry out, she said.

He skipped out and we just thought he was going for a lovely night out with his friends.

We just got a knock on the door  two police officers  its exactly how you think it is, weve got something to tell you. Can we come in?

Then it was Were sorry to tell you that theres been an incident in Birmingham and Jacobs passed away.

There was little information as what exactly had happened  McLeod was not caught until the following day  so the family had an hour where we knew he was dead, but nothing about the friends he had been with, or whether it was an accident.

She then had the awful task of waking Mr Billingtons younger sisters and telling them what had happened.

Jacob Billington was killed on a night out with friends (family handout/PA)

You feel like you had all the breath sucked out of you, is the best way I can describe it, she said.

As the day wore on, more information emerged and they discovered Mr Callaghan  with whom Mr Billington had been friends since primary school  had been gravely hurt.

If anyones got kids  its like your worst nightmare. And it is as bad as you think, added Mrs Billington.

But the family havent hidden away, and there are pictures of him everywhere.

The eldest of Mr Billingtons sisters, 22-year-old Abbie, also has photographs of her brother in her university student house, describing him as an amazing man.

We spent our lives together, but we got closer as we got older, she said.

She said there were just no words to describe her feelings when told her brother had died, adding: Sadness doesnt even do it justice.

This is someone who Ive shared my life with, and now I have to go forward in life without him.

Even over a year later, she said: I feel like hes away at university  it just feels like hes in Sheffield and I can just message him or I can give him a call and hell answer because it just doesnt feel right that hes not here.

Asked about her feelings towards seeing McLeod in court, Mrs Billington said: I feel Id love to ask him, why? Why did he pick Jacob?

Abbie said: Hes the one who took my brothers life, but I cant do anything about that.

I cant change the fact that hes done that, so why should I give him any of my energy, any of my emotions, my anger, my sadness, anything like that?

I just dont feel like he is worth that.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is taking legal action over a tweet posted that appeared to be mocking the Liverpool terrorist attack.

A doctored photo was posted on the account of Paul Nickerson, a Conservative councillor in East Riding in Yorkshire, which had superimposed Mr Corbyn carrying a Remembrance wreath to make it appear as if he was walking towards the burning taxi at the centre of the blast outside Liverpool Womens Hospital.

Mr Nickerson has been suspended by his councils Conservative group, and deleted the tweet and apologised.

But a spokesman for Mr Corbyn confirmed to the PA news agency that he had contacted his solicitor and was taking legal action over the post, which was captioned: Unsurprisingly.

Mr Nickerson is understood to have written to the Islington North MP to apologise for the tweet, which he claimed was sent after his account was compromised.

He also apologised on Twitter before his account was deleted but told the BBC his account had been compromised by friends playing a prank.

He told the BBC: As soon as I was able I deleted the comments.

Aerial view of police activity after an explosion at the Liverpool Womens Hospital (Peter Byrne/PA)

The original tweet is understood to be a reference to photographs of Mr Corbyn attending a wreath-laying ceremony at a Tunisian cemetery.

A row erupted in 2018 when the then-Labour leader said he was present when wreaths were laid at the Tunis site in 2014 to the victims of an attack in Paris in 1992 but did not think he was actually involved in it.

The leader of the Conservative group on East Riding Council, Jonathan Owen, said in a statement: Following an inappropriate and offensive message which appeared on Councillor Paul Nickersons Twitter feed, I have suspended him from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Conservative group with immediate effect and an investigation will now take place.

All people in public life, irrespective of politics, should be united in condemning the terrorist attack that took place outside the Liverpool Womens Hospital on Remembrance Sunday.

It is not the time for inappropriate remarks, however intended, and they will not be tolerated in this Conservative Group.

Residents should expect their elected representatives to act in an appropriate manner at all times.
A Conservative MP has backed reported plans to send illegal migrants to Albania if it meant they would not be arriving in his constituency instead.

The Times reported on Thursday that the UK Government hoped to strike a deal with Albania whereby migrants who arrived on Britains beaches would be taken to the country within a week to be processed.

The newspaper reported that the idea was that the prospect of a long wait in the Balkan state would act as a deterrent for those thinking about making the crossing.

Same old fake news this time in the front page of a respected paper as The Times!And btw I am not a "he" but a "she" who has always admired the quality of British media. Sad. pic.twitter.com/UVcaiGt3N3  Olta Xhacka (@xhacka_olta) November 18, 2021

The report said talks were under way but the countrys minister for Europe and foreign affairs, Olta Xhacka, said on Twitter it was fake news and added that the report had wrongly said she was a man.

Downing Street said it would not comment on talks with individual countries.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Ive always been clear that we want to keep all options on the table.

As illegal migration is an international issue, youd expect us to have discussions with both France and other international partners to help reduce illegal migration.

He added that the UK had been in talks with a number of countries, but added: Im simply saying Im not going to get into speculation about ongoing discussions with individually named countries.

As youd expect given the international elements of this, it is right the Government speaks to a number of countries about these global challenges.

He added: We think that all countries have a moral responsibility to tackle the issue of illegal migration and protect lives.

We expect our international partners to engage with us on this and build on the existing co-operation we have, and well continue to highlight the importance of having effective returns agreements to stop people making these crossings.

But in the Commons the Conservative MP Peter Bone (Wellingborough), said: Each week thousands of economic migrants come to this country illegally by crossing the Channel from France.

Now we know that migrants landing on the Kent coast will be taken to Wellingborough, put in a four-star hotel and given free board, free food and free medical care.

There might be many reasons why people want to flee France, but adding the pull factor of coming to Wellingborough  one of the finest and friendliest towns in the country  is absurd.

Will the Leader of the House arrange for a debate in Government time where the Government can lay out their position that in future economic migrants will be arriving not in the town of Wellingborough but in a town in Albania?

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg replied: I can give him some comfort because the Borders Bill is currently passing through Parliament.

Peter Bone (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

This will give us much greater power to ensure that illegal asylum claims are dealt with efficiently and effectively, but also that people who have valid asylum claims that they declare legally early on will be treated in the properly sympathetic way that this country has the proud record of doing.

More than 23,000 people have arrived in the UK this year after crossing the Channel in small boats. This is almost three times the total of around 8,500 in 2020.

Overall, there were 31,115 asylum claims made in the year ending in June, 4% fewer than the previous period, said Tom Pursglove, a minister for both the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, but he added that the trend is an increase since June.

Speaking to LBC radio on Thursday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab confirmed that the Government was looking at processing migrants who cross the Channel in small boats overseas.

He said: First of all, youre always better off dealing with the flow of migrants from a crisis or a conflict in the region itself, our overwhelming focus is on that. Its better for migrants, its better to be resettled and relocated nearer to your home.

But to the extent that we get this flow over to the UK, its important to reduce the pull factor, we will work with all our partners  and its not just one country, weve looked at the Australian experience, weve been talking with the Danes about this and we want to make sure the processing, if its possible  and that will depend on the goodwill and co-operation of partners  can be done elsewhere.

French police patrol the beaches in Wimereux, near Calais, as migrants continue to launch small boats along the coastline in an attempt to cross the Channel to the UK (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Asked if this will include Albania and Rwanda, he said: Let me avoid talking about individual countries, but just say with international partners this is something were probing because we want to test the idea, because we will do everything we can to resolve this problem.

Pressed if the plan would cost 100,000 per migrant, he said: I dont recognise that number. Until youve got a detailed agreement with a particular country, I dont think well be in a position to cost it.

It comes after it was revealed that just five migrants who crossed the Channel by boat to the UK had been returned to Europe so far this year.

Boris Johnson was faced with questions about the migrant crisis from backbench Tory MPs on the 1922 Committee on Wednesday evening.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann has been targeted in sinister graffiti.

His name was daubed on a wall in the Newell Road area of Dungannon along with a target mark.

It came just hours after the Stormont Executive agreed plans to roll out a mandatory vaccine passport.

It also appeared hours after a 44-year-old man was remanded in custody on charges which include making threats to kill Mr Swann as well as harassment and improper use of electronic communications.

Graffiti which has appeared in Dungannon (UUP/PA)

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed it received a report of criminal damage at the Corrainey Park area of Dungannon.

Superintendent Michael Simpson said: Sometime between 11pm on Wednesday November 17 and 7.30am on Thursday November 18, graffiti was painted on a wall of a property in the area.

Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 286 18/11/21.

Ulster Unionist MLA Rosemary Barton condemned the graffiti.

The vast majority of people in Northern Ireland recognise the sterling job that Robin Swann has done as Health Minister throughout the pandemic, she said.

Unfortunately, it appears that a few individuals are unable to see what the rest of society can.

Two days ago he had to make a complaint to the police about threats made against him and his family and today we have learned that someone has taken it upon themselves to spray a threat on a wall in the Newell Road area of Dungannon. I genuinely pity the type of mind that would do such a thing.

Rosemary Barton, Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh & South Tyrone, has condemned the latest threat made against UUP Health Minister @RobinSwannMoH which appeared overnight in Dungannon.#UlsterUnionist#UnionOfPeople https://t.co/qoodCDa4PH  Ulster Unionist (@uuponline) November 18, 2021

Mr Swann, as well as Northern Irelands Justice Minister Naomi Long, was also targeted with abuse on social media on Wednesday evening.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis was among political leaders who expressed solidarity with Ms Long.

The vile misogynistic abuse that has been directed towards her since yesterdays vote is disgusting and has no place in this echo chamber or outside of it, he tweeted.

Womens bodies are not Trip Advisor, you can keep your comments to yourself Solidarity with @naomi_long. The vile misogynistic abuse that has been directed towards her since yesterdays vote is disgusting and has no place in this echo chamber or outside of it.  Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) November 18, 2021

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said the abuse directed at Ms Long and Mr Swann was utterly disgraceful.

You can have a point of view, thats fair, but youve no right to abuse anyone on here or anywhere else. #StopTheAbuse, he tweeted.

Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard tweeted: You have to be a cowardly weasel to launch the type of attack on a female public representative that Naomi Long has suffered today on Twitter. Utterly pathetic Solidarity with @naomi_long.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged social media companies to stop allowing thugs to turn their platforms into cesspits.

Social media is a sewer and full of non-entities seeking attention. Thanks to many people who have expressed support from across the spectrum for Naomi tonight. #demandbetter  Michael Long (@CllrMichaelLong) November 17, 2021

Ms Longs husband, Michael, a councillor in Belfast, thanked all those who had expressed support.

Social media is a sewer and full of non-entities seeking attention. Thanks to many people who have expressed support from across the spectrum for Naomi tonight, he tweeted.

The Executive was divided over mandatory vaccine passports, with the DUP voting against them.

The other four Executive parties backed a proposal from Mr Swann that will see legal enforcement of Covid-19 certification entry requirements for nightclubs, bars, restaurants and a range of other settings from December 13.
The Biden administrations pick for a top bank regulator role faced fire on Capitol Hill on Thursday, spending a good chunk of her nomination clarifying her views to a slew of hostile GOP senators  and at least a pair of Democrats  which left her confirmation prospects unclear at best.

Saule Omarova, a law professor at Cornell Law School, testified to the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday for the head job at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The OCC, which regulates national banks and federal savings associations, also works alongside the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in policing the entire U.S. banking industry.

But Omarova, who worked as a special advisor in the Treasury Department during the George W. Bush administration, fielded a range of questions from mostly Republicans about writings they described as radical.

Omarova defended her comments to effectively end banking as we know it  part of an academic paper published last year hypothesizing a scenario where the Fed offers checking and savings accounts through its own digital dollar (something the OCC would not be able to do).

Omarova insisted she was not advocating for the policy, just suggesting a policy option.

When asked whether she wanted to follow through on crowding out private bank checking and savings accounts, Omarova replied, No I do not. I believe our banking system is the best in the world.

However, Republicans still voiced strong opposition to Omarova, saying outright that they planned to vote down her nomination.

Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) tore into Omarova, saying, I cannot think of a nominee more poorly suited based solely on the public statements and the weight of your writings. He called the paper in question disturbing.

Senators werent just testy with Omarova; they sparred with each other too. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) asked Omarova whether she used to be a member of a group called the young communists. I dont mean disrespect, but I dont know whether to call you professor or comrade, Kennedy said.

Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) exchanged barbs with Kennedy, characterizing the Louisiana senators remarks as character assassination. Scott, alongside other GOP members, largely skirted bringing up Omarovas background growing up in the Soviet Union.

'Character assassination'

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Dr. Saule Omarova listens during her nomination hearing to be the Comptroller of Currency with the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on November 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. Senators questioned Omarova about her views and past comments on bank oversight. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

She has also criticized the fossil fuel industry, once advocating for the bankruptcy of oil, coal and gas companies in order to address climate change. On Thursday, the law professor clarified she feels the oil and gas industries are an important part of the economy, adding that the OCC is not an agency with jurisdiction over direct climate policy.

I believe in private allocation of capital, Omarova said. And I believe in the fact that it should be banks making decisions to which companies to lend and on what conditions, subject to the regulatory and supervisory requirements, that they do it prudently.

However, even some Democrats even voiced concern about Omarovas views, particularly about her opposition to a 2018 bipartisan law that rolled back some of the Dodd-Frank bank regulations installed after the Great Financial Crisis.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mt.) said he had significant concerns and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said he was pretty disappointed in Omarovas view that the changes (which both Democrats co-wrote) risked inadvertently loosening rules on the big banks.

If both Democrats vote against her, that may tilt the balance against Omarova, given the narrow 50-50 split in the Senate between Democrats and Republicans (Vice President Kamala Harris would serve as the tiebreaker).

Omarova said Thursday that she supported the broad efforts in the legislative package that would alleviate regulatory requirements on smaller community banks.

If I am the Comptroller of the Currency, community banks will find no better or stronger ally than they would find in me, Omarova said.

Most Democrats rallied to her defense, with prominent Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren lashing out at the vicious smear campaign coordinated by Republicans who are doing the bidding of giant banks that want to keep gobbling up smaller competitors want to keep ripping off their customers and want to keep getting away w it.

Separately, Minnesota Senator Tina Smith told Yahoo Finance on Thursday that Republican attacks on Omarova were "nothing more than character assassination," and backed the nominee's commitment to community banks.

"I am persuaded by all of the conversations and everything that she said that she is going to be a strong defender of our banking system and she's going to make sure that this banking system is fair and that the big banks, who often in the past have not always been held accountable by the OCC comptroller will be held accountable," Smith said.

"That is the kind of comptroller of the currency that i want to see. And i am going to do everything i can to make sure that she is confirmed," she added.

Editor's note: Republican Tim Scott is the senator from South Carolina.

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FILE - In this April 25, 2021 file photograph, the blue oval logo of Ford Motor Company is shown in east Denver. Ford Motor Co. is in talks with a computer chip maker GlobalFoundaries Inc. to shore up its semiconductor supplies as it tries to avoid factory shutdowns in the future. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

DETROIT (AP)  Ford Motor Co. is in talks with a computer chip maker to shore up its semiconductor supplies and avoid a repeat of this year's auto factory shutdowns caused by semiconductor shortages.

Few details of the nonbinding agreement with GlobalFoundaries Inc. were released, but the deal aims to boost supplies with joint development of automotive-grade chips. And it could result in joint manufacturing to support the auto industry, the companies said Thursday in a prepared statement.

Ford has been hit particularly hard by a global chip shortage that has weighed on nearly every automaker. Like other companies, Ford at times has had to temporarily close auto plants and even build models without some computers, and installing them ater.

The company's U.S. sales fell 27% from July through September and it lost 2.4 percentage points of market share largely because it couldn't produce enough vehicles to meet consumer demand.

This agreement is just the beginning, and a key part of our plan to vertically integrate key technologies and capabilities," said CEO Jim Farley, who is pushing Ford to develop more of its supply chain to ensure the parts keep flowing.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Flake said the companies are at the memorandum of understanding phase of their relationship but want to work together to design chips and possibly leverage their manufacturing experience.

GlobalFoundaries, based about three hours north of New York City in the town of Malta, says on its website that it has chip factories in the U.S., Germany and Singapore, and is among the world's largest independent semiconductor makers with more than 15,000 employees.

Financial details of the agreement were not released, it does not involve cross-ownership between the companies, the statement said.

The chip shortage has roots to the spring of 2020 as global automakers were forced to shutter factories to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The factories came back online sooner than expected with safety precautions, but by then, many chip makers had shifted production to high-demand consumer electronics.

A fire at an automotive chip plant in Japan exacerbated the problem. Since most chips are made in Asia, the shortage highlighted a lack U.S. chip-making capacity that has drawn the attention of the Biden administration.

Industry executives and analysts predict that the shortage will last well into next year, and that automakers may not get back to normal production until 2023.
This undated photo provided by the Mississippi Department of Corrections shows David Neal Cox. The Mississippi Supreme Court has set a Nov. 17, 2021, execution date for Cox, who withdrew his appeals. He pleaded guilty in September 2012 to shooting his wife Kim in May 2010 in the town of Sherman, sexually assaulting her daughter in front of her, and watching Kim Cox die as police negotiators and relatives pleaded for her life. (Mississippi Department of Corrections via AP)

PARCHMAN, Miss. (AP)  A man who pleaded guilty to killing his estranged wife and sexually assaulting her young daughter as her mother lay dying was put to death Wednesday evening, becoming the first inmate executed in Mississippi in nine years.

David Neal Cox, 50, abandoned all appeals and filed court papers calling himself worthy of death before the state Supreme Court set his execution date. He appeared calm as he received a lethal injection. A coroner pronounced him dead at 6:12 p.m. CST at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.

Cox pleaded guilty in 2012 to capital murder for the May 2010 shooting death of his estranged wife, Kim Kirk Cox. He also pleaded guilty to multiple other charges, including sexual assault. A jury handed down the death sentence.

Cox wore a red prison jumpsuit and was covered by a white sheet during the execution. Wide leather straps held him down on a gurney.

I want my children to know that I love them very much and that I was a good man at one time, Cox said just before the injection started. Don't ever read anything but the King James Bible."

Cox thanked the state corrections commissioner, Burl Cain, for "being very kind to me. And that's all I got to say.

Cox appeared to take several deep breaths after the lethal chemicals started flowing through a clear plastic tube into his body, and his mouth moved some. He was pronounced dead within a few minutes.

Among those who witnessed the execution was Coxs now 23-year-old stepdaughter. She was 12 when he sexually assaulted her three times in front of her wounded mother as he held them and one of her younger brothers hostage on the night of May 14 and May 15, 2010, in the small town of Sherman.

Lindsey Kirk looks at childhood photographs of herself and her late mother Kim Kirk Cox, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in New Albany, Miss. She was 12 years old when her stepfather, David Neal Cox, terrorized her family, sexually assaulted her, and killed her mother, Kim Kirk Cox, in May 2010 at a home in Sherman, Miss. The Mississippi Supreme Court set an execution date of Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, for Cox after he said he wanted to surrender all appeals. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Mississippi carried out six executions in 2012. The state does not have any others scheduled among the more than 30 people currently on its death row.

States have had difficulty finding lethal injection drugs because pharmaceutical companies began blocking the use of their products to carry out death sentences.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections revealed in court papers earlier this year that it had acquired three drugs for the lethal injection protocol: midazolam, which is a sedative; vecuronium bromide, which paralyzes the muscles; and potassium chloride, which stops the heart.

Cain told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the drugs listed in the court records were the ones being used for the execution. He would not say where the department obtained them.

Cain, the onetime head of the Louisiana state penitentiary in Angola, witnessed several executions in that neighboring state before he took up his new role in Mississippi. He stood by Cox during the execution.

You couldnt make it more picture perfect than we had tonight," Cain told reporters afterward.

A group that opposes executions, Death Penalty Action, said earlier that killing an inmate who surrendered all appeals would amount to state-sponsored suicide. The group had petitioned Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to block the execution of Cox, but Reeves spokeswoman said the governor declined to intervene because Cox admitted to horrific crimes.

Attorneys from the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel represented Cox in recent years. After the state Supreme Court set his execution date, Cox sent a handwritten statement strongly objecting to their continued involvement. The office director, Krissy C. Nobile, said Tuesday that after considerable and difficult deliberation, and out of respect for David Coxs autonomy and stated desire, the office did not plan any more appeals for him.

Kim Coxs father, retired law enforcement officer Benny Kirk, said David Cox called during the night of the attack and said he had shot Kim. Benny Kirk spoke on the phone with his daughter and she told him: Daddy, Im dying.

Police surrounded the house and tried to get David Cox to release his wife and the two children. Kim Cox was dead by the time the ordeal ended after more than eight hours.

Sally Fran Ross, a retired United Methodist minister, left, holds a protest sign at the small prayer vigil at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Miss., prior to the scheduled execution of David Neal Cox, 50, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Cox, who killed his estranged wife and terrorized their family in 2010, was scheduled to receive a lethal injection Wednesday evening at the penitentiary. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

The Associated Press does not usually identify victims of sexual assault but Coxs stepdaughter, Lindsey Kirk, agreed to be interviewed and talk about what happened to her. She told The Associated Press last week that David Cox had sexually assaulted her for a few years when her mother was out of the house, and that he threatened to kill them if she told anyone.

While staying with her grandparents in the summer of 2009, Kirk texted her mother and told her of the assaults by her stepfather. Soon after that, David Cox was arrested and charged with statutory rape, sexual battery, child abuse and possession of methamphetamine. He was released in April 2010 without standing trial. Kim Cox obtained a restraining order against him, and she moved to her sisters home.

Kim Coxs family did not issue a statement after the execution.

Questions remained about whether David Cox was responsible for the 2007 disappearance of his brothers wife, Felicia Cox, who was last seen in a neighboring county. Her daughter, Amber Miskelly, recently told WTVA-TV that David Cox was the last person to see her mother alive. After the execution, Cain said David Cox had not spoken about his sister-in-laws disappearance.
A health worker shows a vial of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. (Reuters)

(Reuters) - AstraZeneca on Thursday cemented its lead in bringing a preventative COVID-19 shot for the non-infected to market for people who do not respond well to vaccines, saying its antibody drug cocktail offered 83% protection over six months.

The therapy, called AZD7442 or Evusheld, had previously been shown to confer 77% protection against symptomatic illness after three months, in an earlier readout of the late-stage PROVENT trial in August.

The Anglo-Swedish company also said a separate study in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 showed a higher dose of AZD7442 cut the risk of symptoms worsening by 88% when given within three days of first symptoms.

The treatment is given in one go, as two sequential shots in the arm.

The latest results from the longer-term follow-ups potentially position AstraZeneca, like rival Pfizer as a future supplier of both COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, with AstraZeneca having said the therapy's "real advantage" was as a preventative shot.

Pfizer has presented promising efficacy data on its oral COVID-19 treatment candidate, which can be more easily distributed than injections, and is also a leading vaccine supplier with partner BioNTech.

"These new data add to the growing body of evidence supporting AZD7442's potential ... We are progressing regulatory filings around the world and look forward to providing an important new option against SARS-CoV-2 as quickly as possible," AstraZeneca Executive Vice President Mene Pangalos said in a statement, referring to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

The group last month sought approval for the medicine from U.S. and European authorities. Monoclonal antibodies from Regeneron, Lilly and GSK-Vir have been approved by U.S. regulators for treating unhospitalised COVID-19 patients.

LONG-TERM

For AstraZeneca's PROVENT trial, close to 5,200 participants without an infection were randomly split into two groups, with one volunteer receiving an ineffective placebo without knowing for every two receiving Evusheld.

Participants were at risk of suffering severe COVID-19 if infected or were immunocompromised, meaning they were in cancer care, or receiving drugs due to an autoimmune disease or an organ transplant.

The trial volunteers were not vaccinated, even though high-risk groups have been prioritised in global vaccination campaigns. Anyone opting to get vaccinated during the trial was excluded from the analysis.

AstraZeneca has said the shot is primarily meant to help immunocompromised and at-risk individuals but at some point a wider group could benefit, such as military personnel on tours of duty or cruise ship passengers.

It added that about 2% of the global population was considered to inadequately respond to a COVID-19 vaccine.

Trial volunteers will be followed up for 15 months to provide evidence of longer-lasting protection.

Evusheld belongs to a drug category that is based on monoclonal antibodies which are lab-made proteins that mimic the body's natural defences. They are based on antibodies that the human body produces in response to infection or vaccination.
Ahmaud Arbery Georgia Trial Travis McMichael reacts to questions during his testimony in the trial of he and his father Greg McMichael and neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Brunswick, Ga. The three are charged with the February 2020 slaying of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton, Pool)

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  The man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery testified Wednesday that Arbery attacked him and grabbed his shotgun after he and his father pursued the 25-year-old Black man in their Georgia neighborhood.

Travis McMichael's testimony came as defense attorneys in the murder trial for the three white men accused of killing Arbery opened their case by building on arguments that their clients were lawfully trying to stop burglaries in their neighborhood.

Asked by his attorney why he shot Arbery, McMichael responded: He had my gun. He struck me. It was obvious that he was attacking me, that if he would have gotten the shotgun from me, then this was a life or death situation, and Im going to have to stop him from doing this so I shot.

McMichael said he followed Arbery on Feb. 23, 2020, after his father came into their home in almost a frantic state and told him to get your gun." He said he believed Arbery was the same man he'd seen creeping" outside a nearby unfinished house and that he might have broken in there.

He and his father, Greg McMichael, got into Travis McMichael's truck and tracked down Arbery, asking him to stop and saying the police were coming. A neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, also joined the pursuit.

Eventually, McMichael stopped his truck and got out. That was when he said Arbery came running toward him and grabbed his gun.

Defense attorney Jason Sheffield asked Travis what hes thinking at that moment.

I was thinking of my son," he said, choking up a bit. "It sounds weird, but thats the first thing that hit me.

What did you do? Sheffield asked.

I shot, McMichael said.

Bryan told police that he tried to run Arbery off the road and then recorded cellphone video as McMichael fired three shotgun blasts before Arbery fell facedown in the street.

Bryans attorney, Kevin Gough, argued Wednesday that Bryan never intended to harm Arbery and never tried to hide his involvement in the pursuit. He noted that Bryan openly shared his cellphone video  the key piece of evidence in the case  with police officers at the scene.

The McMichaels told police they suspected Arbery was a burglar because security cameras had recorded him several times in the unfinished house on their street.

The defense began its case after Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley denied a request from defense attorneys to ban prominent civil rights leaders and other high-profile visitors from the courtroom and require instead that they view the trial on a video screen in another room that has been set up for additional spectators as part of COVID-19 precautions.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson sat with Arbery's parents in the back row of the courtroom Wednesday for the second time this week. Attorneys for the defendants have said Jackson's presence and that of others who have spoken out in support of convictions in the case could unfairly influence the jury.

They represent part of a national conversation on racial injustice that has advocated for conviction of the defendants, said Jason Sheffield, an attorney McMichael. And for that reason I do not think they should be present in the courtroom.

In an interview outside the courthouse, Jackson said that by bringing up the issue of his attendance and that of other Black pastors who have supported the Arberys, the defense attorneys are looking for a diversion.

They don't want a trial, he said. They want a mistrial.

The trial is taking place before a disproportionately white jury at the Glynn County courthouse in the port city of Brunswick.

Arbery, 25, had enrolled at a technical college and was preparing to study to become an electrician like his uncles when he was killed.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said: Mr. Travis McMichael killed my son all on assumptions. He didnt know where Ahmaud was coming from or what Ahmaud had done. He just took actions into his own hands.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Thursday denounced a conservative group's offer to pay $500 to the first person who catches a public school teacher violating New Hampshire's new limits on the discussion of systemic racism and other topics.

Sununu had opposed an earlier version of the legislation that echoed a Trump administration order and sought to ban discussion of divisive concepts in schools. But he later backed language inserted into the state budget 'that would prohibit teaching children that they are inferior, racist, sexist or oppressive by virtue of their race, gender or other characteristics.

After the state Department of Education set up a website last week to collect complaints against teachers, The New Hampshire chapter of Moms for Liberty tweeted Weve got $500 for the person that first successfully catches a public school teacher breaking this law. In a follow up, the conservative parents' organization told supporters to designate online donations as CRT Bounty's, referring to critical race theory.

The Governor condemns the tweet referencing bounties and any sort of financial incentive is wholly inappropriate and has no place, Sununu's spokesperson, Ben Vihstadt, said in an email.

Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut offered mild criticism when asked this week about the tweets.

I would encourage people to be very careful on social media," he said in an interview. Theres a lot of rhetoric on social media that is not helpful or constructive.

Republicans cast the law as an effort to strengthen anti-discrimination laws and said it would allow the teaching of such concepts in a historical context. But Democrats argue it will prevent teaching about implicit bias and structural racism and sexism.

Though the Department of Education published the online reporting form, complaints will go directly to the state Commission on Human Rights, which can dismiss them or investigate further. Decisions against teachers could be used by the state Board of Education to discipline them, including revocation of licenses.

Deb Howes, president of the American Federation of Teachers New Hampshire, has accused Edelblut of launching a war on teachers. And the New Hampshire School Administrators Association is urging Sununu to work with educators and families to clarify what will be considered appropriate teaching on history and race relations. It had called on Sununu to denounce the bounty tweets on Wednesday.

Our state is at a turning point. Do we allow these attacks to continue to drive good, caring teachers and administrators away from our schools? Do we value our schools as the community assets they are, or are they merely the Commissioners political punching bags? the association said in a statement.

Edelblut countered that the new reporting process protects teachers because it sets up a neutral process for resolving complaints. He likened it to similar systems set up to handle complaints against other licensed professionals, from lawyers and doctors to cosmetologists.

The shock relative to the fact that this is a website that was provided seems inconsistent with whats happening in the rest of the professional world, he said. Cosmetology doesnt view this as an attack on cosmetology because someone lets someone file a complaint.

Critical race theory has become a rallying cry for some conservatives who take issue with how schools have addressed diversity and inclusion. The theory is a way of analyzing American history through the lens of racism but is not itself a fixture of K-12 instruction.
The House voted Wednesday to censure Rep. Paul Gosar after the Arizona Republican posted a violent cartoon video that depicted him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and attacking President Biden.

The resolution passed 223-207, with just two Republicans  Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois  joining all 221 Democrats voting in favor of Gosars censure. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, who sits on the House Ethics Committee, voted present. Three Republicans did not vote.

The measure stripped Gosar of his committee assignments, including a seat on the House Oversight Committee, a panel on which he had served alongside Ocasio-Cortez.

Last week the anime-style video that featured him slashing Ocasio-Cortez in the back of the neck and attacking the president was posted to Gosars social media accounts.

Reps. Paul Gosar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Bill Clark/Pool/Reuters, J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Any anime fans out there? Gosars Twitter account asked. The clip altered the opening credits of the Japanese animated series Attack on Titan and included clips of Border Patrol agents.

Twitter placed a public interest notice on the video for violating its policy of hateful conduct, while Instagram flagged it for potentially containing graphic or violent content.

Gosar was immediately condemned by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez, who called for his removal from Congress..

Threatening the life of a colleague is grounds for expulsion, she said earlier this week.

"For a member of Congress to post a manipulated video on his social media accounts depicting himself killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden is a clear cut case for censure," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who introduced the resolution.

After a call from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Gosar deleted the video and issued a statement saying he does not espouse violence or harm towards any member of Congress or Mr. Biden. He also insisted that the video was a symbolic portrayal of a fight over immigration policy and that the backlash to it was infantile. But he did not apologize.

It is a symbolic cartoon, Gosar said in his statement. It is not real life.

Speaking on the floor prior to the final vote, Pelosi called it a sad day for the House of Representatives, but a necessary day.

Pelosi drew a parallel to the deadly Capitol riot.

Words spoken by elected officials weigh a ton; people hear them very differently, the House speaker said. Depictions of violence can foment actual violence and jeopardize the safety of elected officials, as witnessed in this chamber on Jan. 6, 2021. It is inconceivable that a member of our community would wish to repeat the violence of that dark day.

McCarthy said Democrats were guilty of a double standard in censuring Gosar.

Its the old definition of abuse of power, he said. Thats exactly whats happening here today.

McCarthy cited numerous incendiary comments made by Democrats who were not censured.

In her own floor speech, Ocasio-Cortez pointed out that none of the examples mentioned by McCarthy included a member of Congress threatening the life of another.

WATCH: Complete remarks by @RepAOC@AOC during U.S. House Debate on Resolution to Censure Rep. Paul Gosar.



"What is so hard, what is so hard about saying that this is wrong? This is not about me. This is not about Rep. Gosar. But, this is about what we are willing to accept." pic.twitter.com/nqV8ElU3d3  CSPAN (@cspan) November 17, 2021

She also dismissed the idea that the video was just a joke.

This is not about me. This is not about Rep. Gosar. But this is about what we are willing to accept, Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that many members of the Republican Party have accepted the illusion that this was just a joke, that what we say and what we do does not matter so long as we claim a lack of meaning.

Would you allow depictions of violence against women, against colleagues? she continued. Would you allow that in your home? Do you think this should happen in a school board? In a city council? In a church? If its not acceptable there, why should it be acceptable here?

Speaking on the House floor after Ocasio-Cortez, Gosar did not apologize, again saying that the video depicted a policy battle over immigration, and that it was not my purpose to make anyone upset.

He then compared himself to Alexander Hamilton.

If I must join Alexander Hamilton  the first person attempted to be censored by this House  so be it, it is done, Gosar said.

First elected to Congress in 2010, Gosar has consistently downplayed the violence at the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, and there have been reports that he spoke with organizers of that days pro-Trump protests and offered them a blanket pardon. He also claimed that the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., was organized by an Obama sympathizer and appeared at an event in February where white supremacy was endorsed.

Gosar was the first member of Congress to be censured since 2010, when Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., was censured after being accused of nearly a dozen ethics violations.

In being stripped of his committee assignments, Gosar joined Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who was stripped of hers by the House in February after McCarthy declined to punish her embrace of bizarre conspiracy theories and endorsement of violence against Democrats, including AOC.

In social media posts she made prior to her election in 2020, Greene appeared to endorse the execution of Pelosi, promoted the idea that school shootings were false flag events and espoused both antisemitic and Islamophobic views.

In January 2019, Republican leadership stripped Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, of his assignments after he questioned why white supremacy was considered offensive. King subsequently lost the Republican primary for his seat the following year.
Belarus clears migrant camps at EU border, but crisis not yet over Migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border

By Kacper Pempel and Charlotte Bruneau

BRUZGI, Belarus (Reuters) -Belarus authorities cleared the main camps where migrants had huddled at the border with Poland on Thursday, in what appeared to be a major development in a crisis that has spiralled in recent weeks into an East-West confrontation.

Belarus state news agency Belta said the migrants sheltering in the forest had been brought to a warehouse in Belarus away from the frontier. A spokesperson for Polish border guards confirmed the camps had been cleared.

"These camps are now empty, the migrants have been taken most likely to the transport-logistics centre which is not far from the Bruzgi border crossing," the Polish spokesperson said.

"There were no other such camps ... but there were groups appearing in other places trying to cross the border. We'll see what happens in the next hours. ... There are still some people around, but it's clearly emptying out."

European countries accuse Belarus of having deliberately created the crisis by flying in migrants from the Middle East and pushing them to attempt to cross the borders illegally into Poland and Lithuania. Minsk denies deliberately fomenting it.

In recent weeks, hundreds of migrants per night have tried to cross the frontier and have clashed with Polish troops at the border. Around ten are believed to have died in the freezing woods.

The move to clear the camps comes during a week of intensified diplomacy. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by telephone twice in three days the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, normally shunned by European leaders.

Belarus said earlier on Thursday Lukashenko had proposed a plan to Merkel to resolve the crisis, under which the EU would take in 2,000 people while Minsk would send another 5,000 back home.

There was no immediate response from the EU to the announcement of that plan. However, shortly before it was announced, the European Commission said there could be no negotiation with Belarus over the plight of the migrants.

Earlier on Thursday, hundreds of Iraqis checked in at a Minsk airport for flight back to Iraq, the first repatriation flight of its kind since August.

(Reporting by Kacper Pempel in Belarus, Pawel Florkiewicz, Alan Charlish, Anna Koper, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk and Joanna Plucinska in Poland, Charlotte Bruneau in Iraq, Andrius Sytas in Lithuania, Matthias Williams in Ukraine, Vladimir Soldatkin and Tom Balmfort in Moscow; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Peter Graff)
FILE PHOTO: Rainstorms cause flooding and landslides in the western Canadian province of British Columbia

By Jess Winter

ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia (Reuters) - A flotilla of motorboats, canoes, dinghies and jet-skis helmed by farmers raced to move dozens of trapped cows from frigid waters as floods hit the Canadian province of British Columbia.

After a month's worth of rain in two days, the downpours triggered https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canada-province-mulls-state-emergency-after-floods-food-shortages-reported-2021-11-17 widespread flooding. Mudslides hit cities and towns across the province.

Among the worst-affected areas was Abbotsford, one of the largest cities in the province by land size, with approximately half of it farms.

Farmers and residents scrambled to save cattle as the water quickly rose above the animals' heads, even deploying a hovercraft. They risked their own lives to save the animals with the town under an evacuation order over fears that a water pumping station could fail and flood the area.

Dozens of people used halters and small motorboats to coax frightened cattle to swim to safety and then loaded them onto larger trailers.

"This is a disaster," said Abbotsfords Mayor Henry Braun, as he watched the desperate effort to save the cows.

"When I see calves that are underwater and they throw them in the boats to save them, on the one hand it breaks my heart," he said. "On the other hand, I'm just so impressed with our farming community coming together to help each other."

Many of the farms are in the low-lying Sumas Prairie, created by the draining of a lake nearly a century ago, and which was heavily flooded when the Sumas River breached its banks in the night.

The floods trapped hundreds of motorists and cut off access to Canada's biggest port and all of Metro Vancouvers highway links to the rest of the country.

(Reporting by Jess Winter; Writing by Denny Thomas; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
This article was produced in partnership with Spotlight PA, a collaborative newsroom that produces investigative journalism for Pennsylvania.

STROUDSBURG, Pa.  A Chinese American teenager who was fatally shot by Pennsylvania State Police last year had his hands in the air when troopers opened fire, new videos reveal, prompting calls for an independent investigation.

The videos, recorded by the State Police, show the final moments of Christian Halls life on the afternoon of Dec. 30, 2020.

Hall, 19, who had been diagnosed with depression, was standing on the ledge of a highway overpass near Stroudsburg, in northeastern Pennsylvania, when troopers arrived. They tried to persuade him to get down, but when they saw he had a gun  later determined to be a realistic pellet gun  they backed away.

Video previously released by the Monroe County district attorney shows Hall raising his hands in the air, with the gun in one hand, after a trooper fired bullets that struck the bridge.

But the final seconds before he was killed were blurred by authorities.

The full version of the videos  obtained by Spotlight PA and NBC News from Halls parents, whose lawyer received them through a subpoena  shows that Hall kept his hands above his head for 14 seconds in all. The videos show that Halls hands were still in the air, the gun in one hand, as two troopers fired another series of shots and he crumpled to the ground.

State Police troopers from outside the local barracks investigated the killing and turned the findings over to the Monroe County district attorney, who ruled it justified, saying the lives of the troopers on scene were in danger.

Michael Mancuso, an assistant district attorney, called Halls death a classic suicide by cop scenario at a news conference in March.

But the fatal shooting drew protests from activists who questioned why State Police had opened fire on a teenager who appeared to be suicidal and needed help. Protesters also raised concerns about whether Monroe County District Attorney E. David Christine Jr. could make an unbiased call given that his office regularly works with troopers to build cases.

Halls parents have begun the process of suing the two troopers who shot their son (the troopers names have not been released). They said they released the full videos because they believe Halls death merits more scrutiny, and they hope to spark fresh calls for an independent review.

I would like to see an unbiased investigation take place, said Gareth Hall, Christians father. I personally would like to see those police officers brought up on charges.

Ben Crump and Devon M. Jacob, the lawyers for George Floyds family, who are now representing Halls parents, said the troopers should not have shot Hall.

Everybody knows when you put your hands in the air thats the universal sign of surrender, Crump said. Why use the most excessive force?

Protesters hold the street for seven minutes in honor of Christian Hall (Cory Clark / NurPhoto via AP)

In October, Crump and Jacob sent letters to the U.S. Justice Department, FBI, and Pennsylvanias attorney general asking for a new investigation into Halls shooting and the response to it by the State Police and Christines office. The FBI and the Justice Department declined to comment. A spokesperson for the attorney generals office said it does not have jurisdiction because the local district attorney has not referred the case to it.

The letters accuse Christines office of falsely implying that Hall threatened troopers with the gun in the final moments before he was shot, while the full videos show that the gun remained above Halls head. The district attorneys narrative and the blurred video lead the viewer to believe that in the redacted portion of the video, Christian pointed the weapon at troopers and advanced on troopers; thereby justifying the use of deadly force, the letters state.

In response to questions and an interview request, Christines office released a statement saying it stood by its finding that the shooting was justified.

Col. Robert Evanchick, the State Police commissioner, declined a request to be interviewed. The department could not comment because of pending litigation, a spokesperson said.

Three use-of-force experts who reviewed the videos for Spotlight PA and NBC News were divided on whether the troopers were right to shoot, but all said independent reviews are superior because they increase public faith in the process.

Karlin Chan, a community activist who focuses on anti-Asian hate in New York City and helped organize a rally there two months after Halls death, believes the case deserves more attention.

Hes been in touch with Halls family and watched the district attorneys March news conference on Halls death. He believes Hall was inaccurately painted as a criminal not deserving of sympathy.

We cant let this go, he said. Were basically after accountability. Were after the truth.

Students gathered for youth victims by police brutality in NYC (Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Halls childhood

Gareth Hall, who is Black and Latino, and Fe Hall, who is Filipino, adopted Hall from China in 2002 when he was a baby. They moved from New York City to the Poconos hoping to give him an idyllic childhood in an environment they thought would be safer.

As a child, Hall was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder, a serious condition sometimes found in adopted children that makes it difficult for them to connect with their parents and interact with others. The disorder can be a result of not having basic needs met as early as infancy. Treatments include counseling for children and education for their parents, but experts say more research needs to be done.

Hall often ran away from home, though Gareth Hall said the family could always find him by the end of the day.

At age 10, his parents said, he accidentally started a fire while playing with matches, damaging an empty room in a nursing home. No one was injured, but he spent the next four years in juvenile detention.

Family photos of Christian Hall as a child. (Fred Adams for Spotlight PA and NBC News)

After he was released, at 14, he ran away, violating his probation. Hall was sent back to the states custody. His parents said he was never charged with another crime, but that he cycled in and out of juvenile incarceration after continually running away from home.

Hall was released from juvenile detention in 2020 and was living with his parents when he went with them on Dec. 29 to visit his aunt on her birthday. On the way home, Hall started talking about his former girlfriend, Gareth Hall said. Another man had apparently threatened to kill himself over her.

Halls father was immediately concerned.

Do I believe Christian was suicidal? No. But I believe he planned on putting on a good show, Gareth Hall said. He was going to show her that he was going to go beyond what that guy was going to do.

Gareth Hall (Fred Adams for Spotlight PA and NBC News)

What happened Dec. 30

Christian Hall was supposed to be working at a grocery store when he called 911 about a possible suicider at about 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30. Before that, he had posted on Snapchat a picture of the overpass with the text who would miss me, according to a report released by the DAs office.

When State Police troopers arrived, they found Hall on a concrete ledge looking down on Interstate 80, the wind whipping around him.

Troopers blocked off the overpass and asked Hall to talk to them.

One of the troopers on scene had been a crisis negotiator for 15 years; another had been a crisis intervention specialist and had a masters degree in counseling and clinical health psychology. The highest-ranking trooper was a corporal with more than 20 years of experience.

Video from the State Police shows the troopers trying to coax Hall from the ledge until they see he has a gun in his hand. The troopers backed away, but tried to persuade him to leave the gun on the bridge and walk to them.

Christian Hall stands on a ledge on a highway overpass on Dec. 30, 2020. (Pennsylvania State Police)

At one point, Hall put the gun down and smoked marijuana. The troopers talked to him for about 90 minutes.

Come on, man. I dont think you want to stand out here all night, right? a trooper said on the video. Put it down for me and walk up here. Thats all youve got to do.

In the final 22 seconds before Hall was shot, he shuffled toward the troopers with the pellet gun in one hand, arms at his sides. Huddled behind their vehicles about 70 feet away, troopers again told him to drop the gun.

The video shows Hall raising his hands after a corporal fired the initial shots, which missed him. Hall first raised his hands to his sides, then above his head, holding the gun in one hand, the video shows.

If he doesnt drop it just take him, a voice can be heard saying on the video.

Halls hands stayed above his head as the corporal and another trooper fired several more shots. Hall was struck, clutched his stomach, and fell to the ground.

While the video does not appear to show Hall pointing the gun directly at troopers before he was shot, the accounts by State Police and the DAs office are inconsistent on this point.

The State Polices initial press release and one of several accounts in the district attorneys written report state that Hall pointed the gun at troopers before shots were fired. A trooper said he watched Hall bless himself, point to his head and then pull the gun from his waistband and point it in the direction of the Troopers. The corporal then fired the first three shots, which appeared to miss Hall, according to that account.

Another section of the report and a video released by the DA examining the shooting make no mention of Hall pointing directly at troopers or raising the gun before the first shots were fired. After the initial shots, Hall raises the gun outward toward his side and then upwards by bending his elbow at a ninety degree angle, that section of the report states.

At the March news conference, Mancuso, the assistant district attorney, said Hall was an imminent threat from the moment he put his hand on the gun.

Frankly, its a testament to the troopers that they didnt shoot sooner, Mancuso said.

Later he mimicked Hall pulling the gun out of his waistband and raising it in the air, and said Hall played with it in this way and at some point kind of moved the muzzle over in the direction of the troopers then raised it upward.

Maria Haberfeld, who trains police as a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, viewed the unredacted video and believes Hall could have lowered his arm and fired quicker than the troopers reaction time.

The moment he is facing and approaching the police officers, moving towards the police officers with a gun in his hand, I dont see how its not a justified shooting, she said.

When someone is trying to get the police to kill them, they may be willing to hurt or kill to achieve their goal, she said.

David Rudovsky, a longtime use-of-force expert and senior fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, also watched the video but saw it differently.

I think theres some serious questions as to justification, Rudovsky said. He would have had a difficult time shooting at them from where he was.

Still, its unlikely a court would find the troopers violated state law, said David Harris, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a police accountability expert who reviewed the video.

The question is, what do you do as a state, as a society, when you have a shooting that may be lawful, but looks awful? he said.

Even though Hall was armed, he was not acting aggressively, pointing the weapon at troopers, or advancing in a way that indicates an attack, Harris said.

And theres more to what happened, Harris said, than whether police were legally justified in pulling the trigger. More than 1 in 5 people fatally shot by police in the U.S. have mental illnesses, according to a Washington Post database, which raises questions about whether officers could be better trained to handle these situations.

Is there anything else that could have been done to save this persons life? Harris asked. How can we handle problems like this so police arent put in this position and so people in mental health crises dont die?

A lack of trust

Halls parents learned that he had been shot and killed in the late afternoon of Dec. 30, when troopers called them down to the local barracks.

They were distraught  and soon they were facing a barrage of questions from the State Police and the coroners office about their sons final days. But they were in shock and couldnt talk yet, they said.

Fe Hall talks about her son, Christian. (Fred Adams for Spotlight PA and NBC News)

At one point a couple of days later, Halls parents said, they called the coroners office and were upset to learn that Halls body wouldnt be released to them yet, because of the ongoing investigation.

We have to think about two lives here, an official at the coroners office said, according to Fe and Gareth Hall. Christians and the officer who shot him.

A spokesperson for the coroners office declined to comment.

Halls parents last talked to the State Police on New Years Day, when Gareth Hall asked for his sons phone. A trooper told him the department had a right to keep it, he said.

Halls parents said theyve never received any of his belongings and havent heard from anyone with the State Police since.

A wooden birthday card Christian made for his mother decorates a table top in the Halls home. (Fred Adams for Spotlight PA and NBC News)

Gareth Hall said they would have cooperated with the investigation and answered questions after those overwhelming initial days.

I was waiting, Gareth Hall said. Not a call.

At the news conference in March, Mancuso, the assistant district attorney, blamed the lack of communication on Halls parents.

We had no request for information from them, Mancuso said. No direct request was made regarding the course of the investigation from them.

Mancuso briefly talked about Halls juvenile record, declining to get into specifics. He said that Hall had frequently carried the airsoft pellet gun, and that investigators were told he robbed people with it.

Jacob, one of the Hall family lawyers, saw the news conference as an attempt to prejudice anyone who might be scrutinizing the killing and denied that Hall had robbed anyone.

None of that was relevant at all, he said. None of that was ever investigated. And none of that was proven.

Fe Hall said she believes her sons race played into the troopers decision to shoot. She and her husband said the pain of losing their son has been compounded by their treatment by State Police and the district attorneys office.

I feel that Asians are generalized as the quiet ones, theyre not going to fight back, Fe Hall said. Is it possible that when they shot Christian they were looking at him as Chinese? He doesnt matter. His family is not going to say anything. This is just going to go away quietly.

Halls parents believe the district attorney wanted to protect the troopers involved. There was an incentive, they said, to paint their family as uncooperative and Hall as a criminal.

The DA doesnt have accountability to anybody, Fe Hall said.

Fe and Gareth Hall. (Fred Adams for Spotlight PA and NBC News)

The benefit of the doubt

In Pennsylvania, the state Attorney Generals Office cannot investigate a criminal case unless the local district attorney asks for help  which can occur when local prosecutors lack sufficient resources or there is an actual or apparent conflict of interest.

In this case, the Monroe County DA didnt think there was a conflict of interest. Mancuso said the offices resources were more than adequate and that the staff had more experience in such cases than Attorney General Josh Shapiros office.

Shapiros office said Mancusos statement was blatantly untrue and that it had investigated 10 other criminal cases referred by the Monroe County DA since 2017.

Theres an inherent conflict of interest when local prosecutors review the actions of local police, said Rudovsky, the University of Pennsylvania Law School senior fellow.

Everybody recognizes with local police and a local DA, they are working together every day, he said.

State Sen. Art Haywood, whose district includes part of Philadelphia, wants to change the law to require that an outside law enforcement agency investigate use-of-force cases in Pennsylvania, so families of victims and the public will have more faith in the findings.

His legislation would give the state Attorney Generals Office the power to review those investigations without a referral from the local district attorney if no charges are filed. Under the bill, the governor, key lawmakers and the attorney general would receive a detailed report about the investigation within seven days of a decision being made not to file charges.

Haywood said he started pushing for the changes after police killed Eric Garner in New York City and Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, and Antwon Rose II outside of Pittsburgh in 2018.

So far the legislation hasnt gotten much traction, but Haywood said hes optimistic it can get passed in the future.

Halls case, and other police shootings of people with mental illness in Pennsylvania, show why these investigations need to be independent, he said.

Halls parents support the change. Fe Hall said she believes her son was badly treated by the juvenile justice system, and she had hoped he would grow up and expose the abuses she believes he suffered.

She said she was uncomfortable with releasing the video of the shooting, but in doing so, she hopes Halls death can be the force for change that she wanted his life to be.

Hes just a memory now, she said. But I just want something good to come out of it.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Taco Bell (YUM) is serving up a Friendsgiving meal to its most loyal customers  for free  while supplies last.

On Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET, FIRE! Rewards members  customers who earn 2,000 points in a calendar year  will be emailed a link with instructions to order the Friendsgiving Pack, which will shipped to members' doorsteps on a first-come basis.

The meal features Cinnabon Delights Candied Yams, Rolls with a HOT! Sauce Packet Butter, Green Bean Casserole Supreme and Build-Your-Own Dessert Nachos (shortbread cookies with toppings on the side like chocolate and caramel sauce, and Mexican spices). Taco Bells Executive Chef Rene Pisciott created the twist on the traditional Taco Bell menu.

(Courtesy: Taco Bell)

The party-pack also comes with place cards describing each dish, a table runner, and decorations.

This is the ninth such celebration for the restaurant chain. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the company hosted a Friendsgiving dinner at its headquarters in California each year, inspiring this delivery offering.

For fans who don't get a chance to grab the pack, the company posted a recipe on its blog for how to make its Cinnabon Delights Candied Yams. In past years, Taco Bell has unveiled other Friendsgiving recipes, including Crunchy Taco Shepherd's Pie, Rolled Chicken Tacos Bisque, and Fire Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken.

And if the debut is anything like Reese's Thanksgiving Pie, FIRE! Rewards members will likely want to act fast.

(Courtesy: Taco Bell)

Brooke DiPalma is a producer and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com.

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Marysville, CA (95901)

Today

Some clouds. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable.
WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. United States Senator Bob Menendez, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has once again emphasized the need to cut U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan following the latest attacks on Armenia.

Reports of Armenian casualties and Armenian soldiers taken as political prisoners by Azerbaijan are deeply concerning, the Senator said in a statement released on social media. Defense aid to Azerbaijan helps enable these heinous acts against ethnic Armenians. It is time to pass my NDAA amendment cutting this aid.

On November 4, Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) announced two of the foreign policy amendments he is filing to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). As the primary vehicle for authorizing defense spending for Fiscal Year 2022, Chairman Menendezs proposed changes to the NDAA seek to significantly improve the U.S. governments ability to track and assess the national security implications of the proliferation of Turkeys unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program, as well as to prevent further exceptions to bypass a 1992 law banning U.S. military assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan.

Amendment Ending 907 Waiver: Prohibits the continued use of an exemption waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. Section 907, which has been law since 1992, bans most assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan until it takes demonstrable steps to cease all blockades and other offensive uses of force against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. The Government of Azerbaijan has clearly not taken these steps, yet assistance to that government has skyrocketed in recent years.

As the regime in Baku, with Turkey's support, continues choosing a path of violence instead of a peaceful, negotiated process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is long past time for this and all future administrations to halt this type of assistance and fully respect Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, said Menendez. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure this years NDAA continues to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests all while representing a prudent use of U.S. taxpayer dollars.

Amendment on Turkeys Drone Program: Mandates the State Department and Pentagon report on Turkish drone exports since 2018 and whether those drones contain parts or technology manufactured by U.S. firms. The amendment also requires State to determine whether Turkeys exports are a violation of the Arms Export Control Act or any other U.S. law or sanctions. Turkish drones played a decisive role in last years war between Armenian and Azerbaijan. Since then, Poland, Morocco, and Ukraine have purchased the Bayraktar TB2 and several other countries have expressed interest, including Angola, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

Turkeys drone sales are dangerous, destabilizing and a threat to peace and human rights, added Menendez. The U.S. should have no part of it, and this amendment is a recognition that we must prevent U.S. parts from being included in these Turkish weapons.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense released the identity of the soldier who was killed in action during the November 16 Azerbaijani attack on Armenia and whose body was transported from Baku to Yerevan by the Russian military.

The fallen soldier is identified as Senior Lieutenant Taron Sahakyan of the Armenian Armed Forces, born 1990. The transfer was mediated by Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, the Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.

The Armenian military said they continue working in direction of finding the missing troops and returning the captives.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. On November 17 the Ministry of Defense of Russia made proposals regarding a preparatory phase for delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during the Cabinet meeting.

During the questions and answers time in parliament yesterday, I said that since May thereve been three proposals from Russia on delimitation and demarcation of borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and all three were basically acceptable for us and continue being acceptable. After my statements yesterday, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation made proposals regarding a preparatory phase for delimitation and demarcation. And Id like to reiterate that these proposals are acceptable for us, Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister tasked Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to clarify details with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu to try and realize the proposals.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
According to information released by the Defense News website on November 16, 2021, Lockheed Martin plans to deliver the first THAAD air defense missile system to Saudi Arabia in 2023.

Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link



A U.S. Air Force Airmen offloads a THAAD system from a C-17 Globe Master III at Nevatim Air Base, Israel, Mar 1, 2019 . (Picture source U.S. DoD)

In October 2017, the U.S. State Department had made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Saudi Arabia for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and related support, equipment, and services for an estimated cost of $15 billion.

The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of forty-four (44) Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers, three hundred sixty (360) THAAD Interceptor Missiles, sixteen (16) THAAD Fire Control, and Communications Mobile Tactical Station Group, seven (7) AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars.

Citing Lockheed Martin website, In 2017, Saudi Arabia expressed its intent to procure more than US $28 billion in integrated air and missile defense, combat ships, tactical aircraft and rotary wing technologies and programs with Lockheed Martin. Today, Lockheed Martin Saudi Arabia is working to support these projects, ensuring they align with Vision 2030 and support the security of the Kingdom for decades to come.

In November 2018, CNBC has announced that Saudi Arabia has signed a letter of offer and acceptance with the United States for Lockheed Martins THAAD air defense missile system. In March 2020, Lockheed Martin Corp was awarded a $932 million Pentagon contract for THAAD interceptor missiles, some of which are slated to be delivered to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) THAAD is a highly mobile, rapidly deployable BMD system designed to shoot down attacking short- and medium-range missiles during their final or terminal phase of flight. The THAAD system is being designed, built, and integrated by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control acting as prime contractors. Key subcontractors include Raytheon, Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Honeywell, BAE Systems, Oshkosh Defense, and MiltonCAT.

On 28 May 2008, the U.S. Army activated Alpha Battery, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (A-4), 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas. Battery A-4 is part of the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command. At the time, the battery had 24 THAAD interceptors, three THAAD launchers based on the M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System, a THAAD Fire Control, and a THAAD radar. THAAD has been deployed in Guam, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Romania, and South Korea.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element provides the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) with a globally-transportable, rapidly-deployable capability to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final, or terminal, phase of flight. The THAAD is able to destroy aerial targets at ranges from 150 to 200 km.
The magisterial probe was ordered amidst protests by the family members of three of the four persons killed in the encounter on Monday

Leaders and workers of J&K People's Conference hold placards and shout slogans during a protest demanding a probe into the killings of civilians Altaf Ahmad Bhat & Mudasir Gul and the return of their bodies, in Srinagar, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. (PTI)

Srinagar: As the civilian killings in a reported armed encounter between separatist militants and security forces drew wide-spread public outrage, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the whole incident that took place in Srinagars Hyderpora area on Monday night.

The government will take suitable action as soon as the (inquiry) report is submitted in a time-bound manner. He also said that his administration wants to reiterate its commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians and that it will ensure there is no injustice, he said. The inquiry will be held by an officer of the additional district magistrate.

Amid mounting tensions, the policemen carrying sophisticated firearms and wearing bandannas to cover their faces late Wednesday night swooped in Srinagars media hub Mushtaq Press Enclave and forcibly evicted the family members of the slain civilians Muhammad Altaf Bhat and Dr, Mudassir Gul who were on a sit in to demand return of mortal remains of their kin for proper burial as per local Islamic tradition.

The authorities first snapped electricity to the area and then policemen arrived there and, before evicting the protesters, they put out the candles lit in the memory of the slain off, snatched the placards and then lifted them one after another to put them in police vans. Abdul Majeed, 62, elder brother of Bhat could be seen pulling a policeman's AK 47 rifle towards his chest and yelling You dahshat gard (terrorists) shoot me, shoot me too.

While being detained, the bereaved chanted "We want justiceit is we the family members who have the right on the bodies of our dead."

The police had said on Tuesday that since there were some fears of law-and-order problems, they decided not to hand over the bodies of the civilians to their families and instead took them to far off Handwara and buried them there. The Lieutenant Governor is silent on the families demand of returning the mortal remains of their kin even though various mainstream parties had solicited his intervention in the matter.

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, said that she wanted to visit the bereaved but the police has locked the gates to her Gupkar Road residence here and also placed a bunker vehicle' crisscrossing the main entrance. She tweeted, Again under house arrest & PDPs @SAAQQIIB & @Suhail_Bukhari too have been arrested. The pattern of using innocent civilians as human shields & then denying their families the right to a decent burial shows that GOI has plumbed new depths of inhumanity.

Earlier while reacting to the police action against the protesting families of the slain civilians, she had said, Instead of handing over mortal remains of the innocent civilians, police has arrested the family members for demanding the bodies of their loved ones. Unbelievably ruthless & insensitive. Least they can do is return the mortal remains immediately.

In another tweet, she said, Their narrative right from the start was based on lies to escape accountability. They don't want to be held accountable for their actions & thats why they are muzzling voices that speak up against such injustice & atrocities.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday afternoon sat on a protest sit-in along with his National Conference colleagues near his home in Srinagar's posh Sonawar area to demand the return of mortal remains to the families of the slain civilians. Meanwhile, the government sources said that the bodies are likely to be handed over to the families and that Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha is currently discussing the pros and cons of it with senior police and administration officials.

Abdullah earlier said, This is the naya Kashmir of 2021. This is how the J&K police fulfils @PMOIndia promise to remove dil ki doori & Dilli se doori. Its outrageous that the J&K administration did not allow the families to conduct a peaceful sit-in protest.

He also said, Ive rarely seen families who have been wronged conduct themselves with such dignity. They have been reasonable in their demands & dignified in their conduct. The result of this is visible for all to see as the police drags them away in the dead of night, he said, adding, LG @manojsinha_ should reach out to these families, hear them in person & then give them the bodies of their loved ones. Its the only right thing to do, its the only humane thing to do.

Former minister and chairman of JKPCC Sajad Gani Lone tweeted: What on earth Has happened to the administration. Why cant they present a human face. Why are they so intent on presenting a very inhuman and ugly face.

Kashmirs Inspector General of Police, Vijay Kumar, had on Tuesday expressed regret over the civilians killing but added that as per our source and digital evidence Gul was a top-ranking overground worker of the militants and Bhat was apparently harbouring them. He had said that two militants-one of them possibly a Pakistani national killed in the encounter were running a hi-tech hideout in a commercial building in Srinagars Hyderpora area owned by Bhat.

The families have strongly denied the charge and termed the IGPs claims as a bundle of lies to cover-up the cold-blooded murders of innocent civilians.

Abdul Latief Magray, who had shot into prominence after killing a militant with a stone in J&Ks Ramban district in 2005, too has questioned the polices claim that his son Aamir Ahmed was a hybrid militant killed with an alleged Pakistani national in Mondays gunfight. He claimed that his 24-year-old son was working as a labourer at a shop in Srinagar. Myself and my family have always stood by India. Is this (killing of his son) the reward that they have given to us for being patriotic Indians?, he asked.
CJI said that the bureaucratic approach is, 'We dont do anything, let court pass orders and we will put our signatures and forward them'

New Delhi: Once again expressing its disappointment with the outcome of the emergency meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and adjoining areas for failing to come up with concrete steps to deal with the worsening air pollution, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that bureaucracy has developed inertia and does want to take decisions, expecting courts to pass orders.

Taking a dim view of the long-term steps emerging from the earlier meeting that took place on Sunday (November 14), the court had ordered the convening of an emergency meeting on Tuesday to decide on the immediate steps to deal with the alarming pollution.

Observing that the Commission should have taken a call directing concrete measures including the shutdown of activates contributing to pollution and all this would have required a little time and not hours long meeting, Chief Justice N.V.Ramana heading a bench also comprising Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant said, What I am observing is, as a judge and before as an advocate general that bureaucracy has developed a sort of inertia. They dont want to make decisions, they only want how to stop a vehicle etc., everything we have to do.

Describing the attitude of the executive as unfortunate, CJI Ramana said that the bureaucratic approach is, We dont do anything, let court pass orders and we will put our signatures and forward them."

As solicitor general Tushar Mehta urged the court not to pass any further orders and let the decisions taken during Tuesday meeting have their play till November 21, Justice Surya Kant referring to a forecast of Meteorological Department said, By November 21, nature will come to your rescue as there will be an expected change in wind direction."

While not passing any order and posting the matter for hearing on November 23, the court said that Punjab, and Haryana will continue to pursue their farmers and persuade them to suspend stubble burning.

Continuing with the position that farm fires and stubble burning cant be targeted for aggravating pollution, Justice Surya Kant slammed those living in five star and seven stars comforts but indulging in farmer bashing without asking how a farmer with land holding of three to four acres can buy an expensive stubble-removing machine.

"People sitting in 5 stars in Delhi keep blaming farmers... After agrarian laws, what happened to their landholdings? With such small landholdings, can they afford these machines? If you actually have any scientific alternative, propose it to them, they'll adopt them," Justice Kant said.

The bench further observed that while it has been acknowledged by both the Centre and the Delhi government that sources like transportation is a major source of pollution, "gas guzzlers and hifi cars" are still plying on Delhi roads and nothing is being done.

For the purpose of sowing wheat, farmers have to remove stubble and have a narrow window of 15 to 20 days, Justice Surya Kant said, pointing to the time constraints that farmers were faced with.

Reacting to the Centres argument that the Kejriwal governments decision asking its staff to work from home would have a limited impact whereas curtailment of its staff would have an all India bearing, Justice Surya Kant said why cant there be special buses originating from government colonies, in which all the staff starting from group A officers to group D staff can commute in the morning and after office hours.

Appreciating some of the decisions taken by Delhi government including closing schools and asking its staff to work from home, the court was not impressed by its (Delhi government) position that on other issues like shutting down industry engaged in non-essential activities will not be effective, unless it was matched by similar steps by the states in the national capital region.

Delhi government also informed the court that it has sanctioned the funding of 15 road dust sweeping machines and 16 water sprinkler machines.

As senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Delhi government said that 90 per cent of what the Centre has said in its affidavit has already been done by Delhi government, the court asked if Delhi government was saying that nothing more was required to be done.

Justice Chanbdrachud asked Mr Singhvi, What steps you have taken, what steps you propose to take in the next few days to further deal with the problem of pollution."

Appearing for the petitioner Aditya Dubey and another student suffering from lung ailments, senior lawyers Vikas Singh said that nothing extra was required to be done except for enforcing the existing regulations. He told the court that with Euro VI emission norms in place there was no scope for vehicular pollution, similarly the thermal power plants have to adopt technologies to check emission of smoke and regulation on construction activities have to be enforced.
The enhanced jurisdiction under the criminal procedure code will help BSF to strengthen the hands of the police

Kolkata: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday made it clear that the extension of its jurisdictional authority by the Centre from 15 kms to 50 kms from the international boundary in West Bengal would not create any conflict with the state police.

The strong assertion came from BSF special director general (Eastern Command) Y B Khurania a day after the state assembly passed a resolution against the additional territorial powers to the BSF.

He said, "We are not an investigating agency. We have a very cordial working relationship with the state police. We interact from time to time and share intelligence with them. We also understand the complicacies of working in the hinterland. Our troops are also sensitised about it."

Mr Khurania elaborated, "There is an apprehension in wake of the notification that the BSF might interfere with the policing. I would like to clarify here that the BSF has the power to search, seizure and arrest but can not investigate. The enhanced jurisdiction under the criminal procedure code will help BSF to strengthen the hands of the police. BSF has no policing powers as it does not have powers to register an FIR or to carry out an investigation."

He also rebutted Dinhata Trinamul Congress MLA Udayan Guha's allegations against the male BSF troopers of touching the female villagers inappropriately in the name of frisking them at the border.

The BSF special DG pointed out, "We have a zero tolerance policy in such matters. These are taken very seriously and we are committed to it. We have around 4000 Mahila Seema Prahari deployed at different border entry gates in the EC. CCTVs have been installed at many places. We have plans to install them at all the gates. It is unfortunate that such allegations are made. There are also vested interests in making allegations against the security force to guard the trans-border crimes."
The death toll due to the viral disease has shot up to 4,64,623 with 470 more fatalities

The daily rise in the number of coronavirus cases has been below 20,000 for 41 straight days. (AFP file photo)

New Delhi: With 11,919 fresh cases, India's COVID-19 tally has climbed to 3,44,78,517, while the number of active cases has gone up to 1,28,762, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

The death toll due to the viral disease has shot up to 4,64,623 with 470 more fatalities, according to the ministry's data updated at 8 am.

The daily rise in the number of coronavirus cases has been below 20,000 for 41 straight days now and less than 50,000 fresh cases have been reported for 144 consecutive days.

The number of active cases of the infection has gone up to 1,28,762, accounting for 0.37 per cent of the total caseload, the lowest since March 2020, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.28 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said.

An increase of 207 cases in the active COVID-19 caseload was recorded in a span of 24 hours, it added.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.97 per cent. It has been less than two per cent for 45 consecutive days.

The weekly positivity rate was recorded at 0.94 per cent. It has been below two per cent for the last 55 days, according to the health ministry.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has climbed to 3,38,85,132, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.35 per cent.

The total number of vaccine doses administered in the country under the nationwide Covid inoculation drive has exceeded 114.46 crore.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and the one-crore mark on December 19 last year.

The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore Covid cases on May 4 this year and the three-crore mark on June 23.

The 470 fresh fatalities caused by Covid include 388 from Kerala and 32 from Maharashtra.

Of the 388 fatalities in Kerala, 61 were reported over the last few days and the remaining 327 were designated as COVID-19 deaths after receiving appeals based on the new guidelines of the Centre and Supreme Court directions, according to a release issued by the state government.

A total of 4,64,623 deaths due to the viral disease have so far been reported in the country, including 1,40,668 from Maharashtra, 38,161 from Karnataka, 36,475 from Kerala, 36,324 from Tamil Nadu, 25,095 from Delhi, 22,909 from Uttar Pradesh and 19,341 from West Bengal.

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities.

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that a state-wise distribution of the figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation.
The court ruled that the most important ingredient of constituting sexual assault under Section 7 of POCSO is sexual intent

A Bench of Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi set aside the controversial Bombay High Court judgment that held that groping a minor's breast without "skin to skin contact" cannot be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.(PTI)

New Delhi: In the landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the most important ingredient of constituting sexual assault under Section 7 of POCSO is sexual intent and not skin-to-skin contact with the victim.

A Bench of Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi set aside the controversial Bombay High Court judgment that held that groping a minor's breast without "skin to skin contact" cannot be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

In its judgement, the Bench said that skin-to-skin contact is not essential for POCSO offence as held by Bombay High Court.

It said that giving a narrow meaning of physical contact to confine it to skin-to-skin contact would defeat the purpose of the POCSO Act and it cannot be accepted.

The Court's order came on petitions filed by Attorney General KK Venugopal, State of Maharashtra and the National Commission for Women (NCW) against the January 19 judgment passed by the High Court, which held that pressing the breast of a 12-year-old child without removing her top will not fall within the definition of 'sexual assault'.

On January 27, the top court had stayed the operation of the January 19 verdict of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court after Attorney General had mentioned and said the order is "very disturbing" and will set a "dangerous precedent".

Attorney General, NCW, Maharashtra, Youth Bar Association of India while challenging the High Court order in the apex court stated that such observations would have a wide impact on the entire society and public at large.

Seeking to set aside the High Court order the appeals said that the observations made by the High Court were unwarranted and concerned the modesty of a girl child. One of the pleas pointed out that while passing the impugned judgment, the Single Judge recorded the name of the victim child. As per law, the names of victims of certain offences can not be published.

Attorney General of India KK Venugopal had argued that skin-to-skin contact is not expressed as an ingredient to constitute a crime of sexual assault under the POCSO Act.

The High Court judge lacked the sensitivity to appreciate that POCSO Act is meant to prevent sexual offences against children who are unable to defend themselves, AG had said.

Venugopal had earlier told the apex court that there were 43,000 offences registered under POCSO Act in the last one year and that it's an outrageous judgement so far as POCSO is concerned.

"The judge said skin to skin contact is required. This would mean someone can wear a surgical glove and exploit a child and get away scot-free. The accused tried to bring down the salwar and even then bail was granted. This would be a precedent on magistrates in Maharashtra. Better appreciation would be needed for the definition of sexual assault. There are 43,000 POCSO offences in the last one year," AG had said during the arguments.

Justice Pushpa Ganediwala of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, while passing judgement on January 19, had held that there must be "skin to skin contact with sexual intent" for an act to be considered sexual assault. Mere groping will not fall under the definition of sexual assault, the judge had said.

The judge had modified the order of a sessions court, which had held a 39-year-old man guilty of sexual sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment.

As per the prosecution and the minor victim's testimony in court, in December 2016, the accused had taken the girl to his house in Nagpur on the pretext of giving her something to eat and then gripped her breast and attempted to remove her clothes.

However, the High Court said since he groped her without removing her clothes, the offence cannot be termed as sexual assault and, instead, constitutes the offence of outraging a woman's modesty under IPC section 354.

The High Court acquitted him under the POCSO Act while upholding his conviction under IPC section 354. Section 354 entails a minimum sentence of imprisonment for one year, sexual assault under the POCSO Act entails minimum imprisonment of three years.
PM said the greatest product of tech today is data and that India has created a robust framework of data protection, privacy and security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the conference on Creating synergies for Seamless Credit Flow and Economic Growth, in New Delhi, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. (PIB/PTI Photo)

New Delhi: India is investing in developing indigenous capabilities in 5G and 6G telecom technologies besides focusing on manufacturing semi-conductors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

In a virtual address at the Sydney Dialogue, the prime minister said the "greatest product" of technology today is data and that India has created a robust framework of data protection, privacy and security.

"And, at the same time, we use data as a source of empowerment of people. India has unmatched experience in doing this in a democratic framework with strong guarantees of individual rights," he said.

Modi also highlighted India's achievement in the digital domain, its current priorities and mentioned the "global trust" that the country enjoys.

"We are investing in developing indigenous capabilities in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G," he said.

It is learnt that India has been in touch with a number of countries including Japan and Australia for the development of new-age telecom technologies.

"We are developing strong capabilities in cloud platforms and cloud computing. This is a key to resilience and digital sovereignty. We are building world-class capabilities in quantum computing," the prime minister said.

He said India's space programme is a vital part of its economy and security and that it is now open to innovation and investment from the private sector.

"India is already a major centre for providing cyber security solutions and services to corporates around the world. We have set up a task force with our industry to make India a global hub for cyber security," Modi said.

The Sydney Dialogue is a forum focused on emerging, critical and cyber technologies.

"And now, we are focusing on hardware. We are preparing a package of incentives to become a key manufacturer of semi-conductors," he said.

"Our production linked incentive schemes in electronics and telecom are already attracting local and global players to set up base in India," Modi added.

The prime minister also described India as one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence and machine learning, especially in the human-centred and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

He also referred to India's digital vaccination platform, CoWin, and said it has been offered free to the entire world and that it has been made an open-source software.

"India's extensive experience with use of technology and policy for public good, inclusive development and social empowerment can be of great help to the developing world," Modi said.
Before the summit, Mr Biden had said the US would defend Taiwan

On November 11, the sixth plenum of the Communist Party of China formally enthroned Xi Jinping as its new Great Helmsman, in the mould of Mao Zedong, giving Emperor Xi absolute dictatorial powers over his 1.5 billion subjects. The global media flashed videos of Mr Xi striding through Beijings massive Zhongnanhai hall to the robotic applause of thousands of identically attired CPC comrades. The CPCs propaganda machine had its script ready, and the American media too blandly recited that Mr Xi was elected to a third term, with a nod to China Daily -- on sale at every virtually American newsstand -- which proclaimed China is a full democracy. American TV anchors provided no analysis or context of Mr Xis election; after flashing images of his triumph, the networks pivoted back to nonstop coverage of the Alec Baldwin film set shooting incident.

Everyone in Asia knows this is a farce. In 2016 President Xi muscled his comrades into breaking the two-term leadership rule to consolidate power. He then made a sharp turn backwards to the cruel reign of Mao Zedong; building a personality cult to purge his rivals, crush dissent, faith, art, enslave millions in concentration camps, and project military force across Asia.

On November 17, Chinas overlord held a virtual summit with US President Joe Biden. The Wall Street Journal headline proclaimed: Xi-Biden cool down hostilities. CNN reported the meeting was positive. It was indeed, for the Chinese Communists. President Biden never once mentioned the Covid-19 pandemics Wuhan origins or the genocide of the Uyghur people. Before the summit, Mr Biden had said the US would defend Taiwan. But during the four-hour discussions, Mr Xi warned Mr Biden that aiding Taiwan was playing with fire. The US President then reaffirmed American support for the One China Policy, legitimising the CPCs pledge to seize democratic Taiwan by force. Moments after the summit ended, PLA bomber jets violated Taiwans airspace.

The US media never reports that in 2019 the CPC had walked away from a trade deal and declared a peoples war against the United States, deploying their doctrine of unrestricted warfare by inflicting biological, information and economic carnage. The Wuhan virus cost the US at least $55 billion in damages, but the CPC wields great power over the corporate elites who control the media narrative, so the CPC will not be held accountable for the pandemic, and the American people do not realise the Chinese Communists are waging war on their homeland. When, over two decades ago, then President Bill Clinton pushed China into the WTO in 2000, a PLA general wrote: Now we can destroy America from within. Twenty-one years later, the CCP is making good on this pledge.

The Biden team exploits Climate cooperation to justify its surrender to the CPC. This is also a farce: Mr Xi didnt bother to attend the Glasgow climate summit. When Mr Bidens climate czar John Kerry was asked about working with a government profiting from the Uyghur genocide, he replied, with a chuckle: Thats not my lane. Im the climate guy. Many Americans expressed shock at this blithe dismissal of the CPCs monstrous atrocities, but Mr Kerry, like his peers in the privileged circles of Americas politics and finance, has investments in CPC companies, and is actively lobbying against the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act, which passed the Senate in July but is now stalled in the House of Representatives.

The US Democrats have long demonstrated their fealty to Communist China. In 1994, Mr Clinton delinked trade and human rights with the CPC, offshoring US manufacturing to China, thereby decimating Americas industrial heartland. The Biden familys deep ties to the CPC are widely documented. This was on flagrant display in 2014, when Hunter Biden flew to Beijing with his father, then Barack Obamas vice-president, and returned with $1.5 billion from a CPC entity, for a fund Hunter created with then secretary of state John Kerrys stepson, Chris Heinz. Now the CPC is getting what they paid for: appeasement. Sam Faddis, a US intelligence analyst who once served in New Delhi, stated: The CPC is the greatest threat the US has ever faced. It is aggressively seeking world domination. And we have a government filled with people co-opted by the CPC.

The Indian media is by and large reporting the facts on the ground in Asia, showing satellite photos of multiple nuclear missile silos in Xinjiang and Tibet, PLA troops and missiles stationed along the India-Tibet border, Islamist militants, armed and emboldened after Mr Bidens retreat from Afghanistan, spilling blood across Pakistan and Kashmir, and PLA bomber jets provoking Taiwan. In Xinjiang PLA battalions were photographed practising drills on a model US warship, and a new Pentagon report revealed China is seeking to quadruple its nuclear warheads by 2030. One might think this would elicit interest from US news bureaus and officials, but when news of Chinas alarming military expansion was released, the Biden administration issued a tepid statement of concern while vigorously promoting World Pronoun Day.

Xi Jinping has achieved his Chinese Dream -- Dictator for Life -- but the Chinese economy is in peril. Floods have destroyed huge agricultural tracts, property giants are defaulting, cities are without electricity, and Mr Xi has ordered the Chinese populace to prepare for food storages. Is this a veiled warning of a land war with India and an amphibious strike on Taiwan? The Biden team says not to worry; theyve teamed up with the CPC to combat climate change.

In Chinese astrology, 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger. Get ready for battle.
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As such, Oldsmobiles 442 tried to keep up with the horsepower arms race by adopting the Olds 455ci V8 as the standard engine. More so, the rare W30 option got access to the 370-horsepower variant. And that was it. Then, starting with the next model year ratings dropped... and the classic muscle car era sadly entered into decline.But theres good news. A flawless 1970 Oldsmobile 442 sporting the 370-hp W30 option has come out to play from the inventory of Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Garage Kept Motors. And its an enthusiasts  Holy Grail . Sure, thats according to the dealers description, which should always be verified.Anyway, weve also been mesmerized by the pristine looks and the hard-to-believe details. Among the highlights, we can easily include the all-original ownership documentation (said to have been purchased back in 1969 in North Carolina), the rebuilt numbers-matching Olds 455 ci V8 engine , or the professional restoration to factory-original Twilight Blue (Code 28).According to the vendor, this is one of just 2,754 produced at GMs Lansing, Michigan assembly plant. And although it was meant to be driven hard, over the past half-century it has only accrued 35,358 miles (56,903 km) on the odometer, which is less than 700 miles (1,127 km) per year, on average. Which is a shame if you ask us.Hopefully, thats about to change. Although, judging by the incredible asking price, this 442 might suffer the collectors fate and get snatched only to be locked away in a climate-controlled garage until its time to change hands once again. Until then, its clearly priced to match the excellent condition and its credentials, sporting a quotation of no less than $139,900.
Following a cryptic teaser trailer released last month, SCS Software announced this week Montana, the next expansion for American Truck Simulator . Just to recap, this would be the second major expansion for American Truck Simulator thats been announced, but not yet released, after Texas.There are little to no details about what to expect from Montana, although SCS Software released more than a dozen screenshots showing some of the beautiful landscapes and new road networks that will arrive with the expansion.To quote SCS Software, players will be able to drive through rugged mountain roads, pass by crystal clear lakes, or spend your day exploring the historic town and cities. Montana is still in a very early development stage, so the expansion is likely to be released after Texas, the other American Truck Simulator DLC in the works at SCS Software.One thing can be said about Montana based on the screenshots released: this might be the prettiest DLC the folks at SCS Software have made to date. If you dont live in the Big Sky State or Treasure State, as many refer to Montana, then youll be happy to know that this is truly one of the most untamed and wild northern US states.Besides its unruly, yet gorgeous landscapes, Montana is known for Glacier and Yellowstone, two of the most attractive locations of the national park system. The state is also home to glacial lakes, Flathead Rivers and mysterious Missouri.Obviously, its too early to talk about a release date, but wed be surprised if the Montana expansion will arrive before Texas , which is in the works for a much longer time. Until we know more, fans of the truck sim can wishlist Montana via Steam
Last week while things were getting cooler in the USA, Audi was in the deserts of Morocco testing. They brought their all-electric RS Q e-tron and tortured it over the course of multiple days.Shockingly it sounds like this off-road monster is nearly ready for its date at Dakar. According to Audi, it was tested on dune mountains, dried-out river beds, gravel roads, and high-speed tracks. More importantly, it performed day after day just as it will need to in real competition.During testing in Morocco, the Audi team drove the car more than 1,500 miles (2,500km). Some of those miles even saw the car driven with its cooling air intakes deliberately taped off to simulate high temperatures. Of course, that distance is nowhere near the nearly 5,000 miles of the actual Dakar race coming up in just a few weeks.Still, the team is optimistic about the car and its chances. Head of Test Engineering, Arnau Niubo, was quoted as saying.The entire team is focusing its energy on continuing the development under the toughest conditions... It was impressive how important findings flowed back to Neuburg from Morocco at a daily pace.As a result, our three rally cars currently under construction for the Dakar Rally will have the latest technical status. At the same time, logistical preparations are in full swing, he continued.Those findings included some instances where the car was slowed or stopped altogether. Tire damage due to rocks caused multiple delays. A leaky driveshaft sleeve, a bent suspension wishbone, and other components all contributed to slowdowns as well.We anxiously await the finished race car and its intrepid journey beginning in December at the Dakar Rally. We'll have all the action covered here at the time.
Introduced by Bell and Boeing in 2007, after a couple of decades of testing, the Osprey can now be seen in the skies of the world in several variants, from the CV-22 deployed by the U.S. Air Force to the Marine Corps MV-22 and U.S. Navys CMV-22. Theyre all pretty much the same, of course, with adaptations to suit the needs of the various military branches.Generally speaking, the bird is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Liberty engines, that develop 6,200 shaft horsepower each. The combo allows the machine to reach a top speed of 322 mph (518 kph) and altitudes of up to 25,000 feet (7,620 meters).The Osprey has been designed to operate both as an airplane and a helicopter, meaning it can take off and land either horizontally (on short runways) or vertically. This greatly expands the aircrafts reach and makes it suitable for a larger range of missions.The one we have here is on a behold-and-be-amazed mission, if we can call it that. Deployed with the 58th Special Operations Wing, the helicopter was on a mission to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.There, the Osprey had to conduct what the Air Force calls a mountain landing, then provide the cadets there with familiarization opportunities and orientation flights in an effort to develop knowledge and passion for airpower within the cadet wing.Were pretty certain tons of civilians would love to take a ride in this thing as well but, as is, the Osprey is for now restricted to the military. That may change soon, as last year the Italians from Leonardo announced the AW609, a bird well talk about at length this coming weekend.
While flying cars are not a thing yet, eVTOLs seek to turn that vision into a reality. Theres still a long way to go until well see a fully developed infrastructure for air taxis, but some of the busiest cities around the world are already taking big steps to expand urban mobility and take it to the sky. Brazil, home of two large metropolises, is ready to revolutionize its transportation system. Major companies in the aviation field have set projects in motion meant to develop an infrastructure for eVTOLs.Eve revealed plans to start an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) simulation in Brazil after receiving multiple orders for flying taxis . The Embraer-owned company is collaborating with Helisul Aviation, one of Latin America's leading helicopter operators, to connect Barra da Tijuca to the Rio de Janeiro International Airport for proof of concept operations. The helicopter simulation, which is intended to last a month, already began on November 9th.Now, Eve joined forces with the Senna Brand, the Brazilian company created by three-time F1 world champion Ayrton Senna. The new Eve-Senna eVTOL was inspired by the brand's aim of pushing boundaries.The renderings show a racy design that gives the aircraft a futuristic look. Covered in McLarens iconic rocket red, the Eve-Senna promises to offer a unique experience for the passengers and the crew.Eve's eVTOL , which is scheduled to hit the market in 2026, will be all-electric. The company does not share much about its aircraft, but it says it will provide enjoyable rides with minimal noise levels. Eve's goal is to sustainably reinvent urban air mobility and make it accessible to everyone. The collaboration with Senna Brand comes to further strengthen this vision.
Unsurprisingly, Android Auto isnt necessarily feeling like home on Android 12 , with users already coming across the very first bugs after performing the update.Most recently, users reported (and Google acknowledged) a glitch breaking down notifications on Android Auto when the device powering the whole experience runs Android 12.In a post on the Android Auto community forums , Android 12 adopters explain that notifications for things like messages no longer show up on their head units when their mobile devices are plugged in. The new mobile operating system is believed to be the culprit, as everything was working just fine on Android 11.The good news is Google has already acknowledged the problem, with a community specialist whos been in touch with the Android Auto team revealing the glitch is already under investigation.Thanks for your feedback. We're already aware and investigating this issue. We'll reach out to you if we need more information, a recent post reads.Since this is a bug happening at the OS level, theres not much users can do to restore notifications on Android Auto in their cars. Unless theyre willing to downgrade back to Android 11, that is, though it goes without saying this is a painful workaround that not too many people are willing to turn to.Google hasnt provided an ETA as to when a potential fix could be released, and given the investigation is still in its early days, it could take a while until the error is resolved.In the meantime, given no new notifications show up on Android Auto, your only option is to check for messages on your mobile device. Of course, youre not supposed to do this while driving, but you can still use Google Assistant on your phone to read your messages.
The Chicano style, as some shops call it, is part of the latter category. Generally depicting low-riding two-wheelers (something most of us can live with), Chicano blends that with flamboyant body parts and in-your-face colors that are not that easy to digest.The term is also used to describe a chosen identity for Mexicans living in the United States, and this is why this type of bike is most often associated with them. So seeing one come out the doors of a garage located all the way over in Germany might come as a surprise.Well, not quite, given how weve seen Chicano builds made there before. A shop called Thunderbike is responsible for making them, and weve already talked in the past about custom rides like the El Divino El Dorado , or La Esmeralda Back in October 2021, Thunderbike came out with another such machine, the El Magico were here to talk about today. Initially a Softail Heritage, it got converted into a beautifully-styled beast on two wheels, wrapped in the large body parts with flowing lines, like were used to seeing on such machines.The converted Heritage rides on large, multi-spoke wheels (20 spokes, to be precise), sized 23 inches at the front and 21 at the rear. You dont see all of them, as their upper sides are almost completely covered in very large fenders, pieces that help the motorcycle present its distinctive look.Very long exhaust pipes (theres one on each side), that extend well beyond the tip of the rear fender and ends in a fish tail, further enhance the extreme styling of the ride, as does the color chosen for the body, a kind of copper-ish maroon that almost looks like wood, but was achieved by blending red, orange and even silver.The engine of the ride was not changed in any significant way, but other mechanical bits were. The Heritage now rides on an air ride suspension system, rocks a new swingarm and pulley, and an ignition coil relocation kit, among others.In all, Thunderbike slapped almost 40 bits of custom parts on this thing, and you know what that means: it doesnt come cheap.Not including the base motorcycle, the paint job, and the man hours spent modifying it, the list of extras (which can be studied in its full glory here ) comes in at close to 13,000 euros, which is close to $15,000 at todays exchange rates.
The other possible reason for the failure was the fact that, unlike with smaller items that seek funding for the first production series with such campaigns (think scooters, gadgets of all types, or even bigger stuff like e-bikes), no one would risk handing over large sums for a camper , no matter how revolutionizing it promises to be. Laczko could only offer thanks and t-shirts in exchange for pledges.But the original idea was brilliant. The camper was a tiny box, with a floor area of no more than 3 square meters (32 square feet) and which you could fit inside the back of your van, without further modifications on the van except for the four screws you used to fix the box with. This meant that you lost none of the functionality of the van and would get a camper that was easy to remove and use or store.At camp, the box would slide out of the van and then expand laterally and downwards, and floor space would quadruple to 12 square meters (129 square feet). The ioCamper offered three rooms and one common living area that also included the kitchen and a bathroom and sleeping for four people in full-size sleeping berths. The structure was made of heat-insulated sandwich panels and included fold-down furniture like beds and seating. You also got removable furniture that youd have to stow away separately during transport.The kitchen was not exactly fancy, but you got everything you needed for an extended weekend with the family, and that included throwing together a last-minute dinner request from your most fussy child. It had a dual-burner stove and a sink, and some cooking surface and, as long as you ignored the fact that it was located right next to the bathroom  and separated from it only by a privacy curtain  it would have had to do. On the bright side, the bathroom included a shower, as well as a sink and some storage.The master bedroom came with a wall-mounted TV. A secondary screen served as command center , allowing you to control most stuff inside, from the lights and the AC to the fridge, and monitor battery and water levels. Solar panels on the roof and a battery pack, USB charging ports in every room, and the possibility to use a dedicated app for monitoring promised the ioCamper would be ready for the digital nomad . A digital nomad who drove a Peugeot Boxer, a Fiat Ducato, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, or an Iveco Daily, and was itching to hit the road with the family.Pricing for the original model was never mentioned. A couple of local media outlets got the chance to see the prototype in action, reporting that it was well-crafted and sturdy, as well as easy to assemble (getting it from box to tiny house dimensions was a two-person job that took 10 to 30 minutes, tops) and comfortable. At camp, it was stable even on grass.Regardless of what went wrong with the launch of the original model, theres no sense in crying over spilled milk  or design ideas that never make it market . Laczko never gave up the idea and, earlier this year introduced the 2022 model of the ioCamper, which is a different yet considerably improved take on the original. Its still a box but, this time, it sits on a flat trailer; it still expands into a T-shaped tiny home, but the finishes and the layout are improved. For one, the bathroom is a proper bath now, with walls of plywood. Available floor space is also bigger, at 17 square meters (183 square feet), which means the camper can sleep as many as six people Perhaps most importantly, the 2022 model is closer to reality than its predecessor. The pre-order books are open, with a fixed price of 22,990 ($26,000 at the current exchange rate) for the base model for all five configurations, which, strangely enough, are not detailed. Options include AC, RV-style cassette toilet, or the flat trailer for transport. The biggest downside is that theres no mention of an estimated delivery date.
VTOL

HP

FusionFlight announced its first such flying device back in 2019 when it introduced the AB5 JetQuad. The company described it as the worlds smallest and most powerful jet-powereddrone. It packed four diesel-powered microturbine jet engines, producing 200(combined) at full throttle.Now FusionFlight is back with an upgraded version of the AB5, called the AB6 JetQuad. This one is touted as the unmanned, scaled-down version of the Harrier Jump Jet, a jet-powered attack aircraft developed in the 60s, and the first V/STOL (vertical and/or short take-off and landing) of that era.The AB6 JetQuad is as big as a suitcase, measuring approximately 47 x 35 in (120 x 90 cm), and has a combined output of 700N (newtons) from its four microturbine jet engines. It weighs 53 lb (24 kg) without the fuel and comes with a five-gallon fuel tank. FusionFlight says the microturbines run on a variety of heavy fuels such as diesel, kerosene, and Jet-A.With no rotating parts or external airfoils, the AB6 JetQuad can fly even in dense locations and can cope with rough weather. It can take off and land from/on nearly any type of terrain.FusionFlight says that its AB6 JetQuad combines the vertical lift of a helicopter with the high speed of a jet fighter. And speaking of speed, the aircraft can reach up to 250 mph (400 kph).Control-wise, the JetQuad comes with a hand-held ground station with a 30-mile (48 km) range.Alexander Taits, the founder of FusionFlight started the whole business because he is aware of the limitations that come with most VTOL drones. They all rely on propellers, which makes them take up a lot of space, unable to operate at high altitudes and in bad weather.The AB6 JetQuad can fly at altitudes of up to 6.8 miles (11 km) and can stay in the air for up to 25 minutes on one fill and for 15 minutes when flying at top speed, as reported by New Atlas . These figures apply when the JetQuad carries its maximum payload of 40 lb (18 kg). If the aircraft has a lighter load, the flight time increases.As for the uses of the AB6 JetQuad, the aircraft has a wide range of unmanned applications such as fast deliveries, delivering logistical support in areas that trucks and helicopters cant reach, it can be used for surveillance purposes, and more. The VTOL can even have manned applications and transport people, but that would require larger versions of the aircraft, powered by at least double the number of microturbine engines.FusionFlight says the price for the base version of the AB6 JetQuad is a whopping $100,000. Those who are interested are encouraged to contact the company for more details.
Its ambitious plans are supported by LAZ Parking, one of the largest parking companies in the United States, which has been operating in the area for a long time. The two partnered up to deploy vertiports throughout the city.These dedicated sites will enable air taxi passenger services that are not just CO2 emission-free but also quiet and efficient. They will thus provide both L.A. residents and visitors with a cleaner transportation alternative.LAZ will bring to the table its new technologies meant to transform conventional parking locations into multi-modal transportation hubs. On the other hand, Skyports promises to contribute with its expertise in designing the vertiports prioritizing safety, connectivity, and accessibility, and reflecting the needs of the communities it serves.Back in 2019, Skyports launched the first vertiport in the world, located in Marina Bay, Singapore. The first-full scale passenger air taxi vertiport prototype was developed in collaboration with German aircraft manufacturer Volocopter. The VoloPort was showcased for five days and was visited by over 8,000 people. Visitors had the chance to experience the innovative technologies the vertiport had to offer, such as the biometric check-in, battery swapping, and could even gaze at Volocopters 2X eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft.We have few details about the ambitious project of Skyports and LAZ Parking, as there were no dates or numbers mentioned so far. We do know though that Los Angeles is not going to be the only targeted city by the two. While it will be the first to deploy the vertiports, the rest of the country will follow, according to Addison Ferrell, Head of Americas for Skyports.
EV

The filing states that the punitive award simply cannot stand. Bloomberg Law reported that Tesla also said it would bear no relationship to the actual evidence at trial. On top of that, it would be way more severe than punitive damages awarded in much worse cases.According to the Arizona State University law professor Michael Selmi, it is not unlikely that the punitive damages are cut in half because they are disproportionately high relative to the emotional distress award the jury granted Diaz. That judgment is another thing Tesla is disputing: the company asked the court to order a new trial about the case.At this point, Tesla may succeed in saving a few million dollars by alleging that the $130 million in punitive damages are staggering. If Tesla reverts the decision, Elon Musk is sure to tweet about it and say that his faith in Justice has been restored or something similar. Despite all that, the reputation damage will demand a lot more to be overturned.Having a jury set punitive awards without precedent in U.S. anti-discrimination law  as Tesla lawyers have stated themselves  already shows that the company is doing very little to prevent racism in its Fremont factory. This is the second case in which themaker has been condemned for the same reasons.Tesla paid Melvin Berry $1 million in one of the rare arbitration cases it lost against former employees. It either wins them or tries to avoid knowing the decision, as it is doing in its case against Cristina Balan.Balan fought to bring her defamation case against the company to U.S. courts. Tesla won, but the decision no longer has to be kept among the involved people: it can go public, and the Romanian engineer will make sure that is the case.Apart from trying to dismiss the arbitration, Tesla also did not pay it, which prevented the decisions about the case from being disclosed. For a company that accused Balan of serious crimes, Tesla would be probably the most interested party in fighting until the end to prove the engineer has done everything it claims she did.
More specifically, the company looked at the monthly search data collected from Google between October 2020 and September 2021 in an attempt to determine just what brands customers are interested in.And Tesla is by far the most sought-after name across the world, as it tops the charts in no less than 22 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and a big part of Europe.When it comes to the United States, most Americans search for Jeep . At the same time, MINI continues to be the top search in the United Kingdom and, surprisingly, Ukraine. On the other hand, Kia tops the search charts in Slovakia.BMW is the brand most people in Egypt, Zambia, and Zimbabwe seem to be drooling after, while Ferrari has a very solid fanbase in Brazil, Mexico, and Nigeria.South America seems to have a strong desire for luxury models, as the most in-demand car brand in this region is the Prancing Horse.Interestingly, Brazil and Mexico are at the lower end of household expenditure in the world, meaning they don't spend as much on household goods, services, and products. Is this money instead being spent on exotic motors? Three of the four richest South American cities are in Brazil and Mexico, so Ferrari vehicles would fit in among the luxury hotels of Rio de Janeiro, the research reads.Europe seems to be particularly interested in electric cars, the analysis reveals, and this is one of the main reasons for Tesla dominating the charts in the first place. However, the research shows that not all countries on the Old Continent seem to have such a great desire to drive a Tesla, as those in Denmark and Norway would rather get a Bugatti.
Thanks in no small part to a design Soviet design team called Mikoyan-Gurevich, or "Mikoyan," or just "MiG," for short, and an especially charitable donation they received from the post-war British government, of all people.Like so many of the great allied aviation companies that dominated post-war airspace, Mikoyan-Gurevich honed their skills in aircraft construction over the ravaged skies of Europe during the Second World War. The war served as a proving ground for the fledgling design bureau, who'd only been formed a few months after the German invasion of Poland.Between the piston-engined MiG-1 and the upgraded MiG-3, over 3,500 models produced formed one of the many walls of defense the Soviet Union used against advancing Axis powers in battles like Stalingrad and Kursk, backing up great swarms of Soviet T-34 tanks that fought in the largest tank battle in history. At war's end, it was apparent that jet engine technology was the way forward for air superiority. It was a field the Russians were slow to adapt to initially until the Russians received an unexpected but no less welcome helping hand from the British.The Rolls Royce Nene turbojet was a technological marvel of its time. The type of kit that even the Americans were jealous of in its day, as they asked permission to copy the design for their Pratt & Whitney J48 engine. You'd assume that the government leaders who funded such a design would do anything they could to keep it classified. But then again, you haven't met The Right Honourable Clement Richard Attlee, Winston Churchill's replacement following Allied victory in Europe.In a "goodwill" gesture that made the U.S. military facepalm every fiber of its being, parliamentary leaders offered the fellow victorious Russians the blueprints for the Nene's design. Soon after, crates filled with jet engines arrived on Russian soil. In a move that surprised absolutely nobody in hindsight, the Soviets would go on to use the reverse-engineered engine to try and kill enemy British pilots only a few years later. Smooth move, right?The aircraft that would do the dirty deed is one nearly all military vehicle fans are intimately familiar with. The MiG-15, whose NATO callsign is so unfortunate from a modern perspective that we'll just let you google it, was poised and ready to fight by the time hostilities boiled over in the skies over the 28th parallel. Of course, before the swept-winged MiG-15 was the straight-winged MiG-9, but this pre-Korean War jet was not based on the Nene platform and was so slow and pig-like that Communist forces opted to leave it out of the Korean conflict.In the initial stages of the war, the skies above Korea were a slaughterhouse. Allied pilots in their Gloster Meteors, Lockheed Shooting Stars, and Republic Thunderjets did their best to fend off the menace that was the MiG-15. But these early jets were objectively out-classed in nearly every possible metric. The fear of losing air superiority mortified the American lead forces during the war. So much so that the prototype North American YP-86, soon to be renamed the F-86 Sabre, was fast-tracked into service before flight testing was finished.The MiG-15 and the F-86 would become one of the most iconic pairings of enemy fighters ever to see combat, on par with the Spitfire vs. the Messerschmitt 109, or the Grumman Hellcat vs. the Japanese Zero. An armistice would bring an end to this war, and from the design of the second generation of MiG-15 fighters, known by the "bis" designation, came the faster and more advanced MiG-17, Nato callsign Fresco.The MiG-17 was bigger, had longer and more aerodynamic wings, and was slightly wider than its predecessor. But still, the MiG-17 used an engine based on the same Rolls-Royce engine that powered the MiG-15. In the faster MiG-17, this engine could propel the aircraft to the ragged edge of the sound barrier or Mach one. Like its forbearer, the MiG-17 would go on to become a complete nightmare for American pilots over the skies of their next major war in Southeast Asia in their F-4 Phantom IIs, F-100 Super Sabers, and F-105 Thunderchiefs.In a move that surprised nobody, Britain would never again be this charitable to the Soviet military. The U.K would stand alongside the Americans as bitter enemies of Communism for the rest of the Cold War, their potential air dominance of early post-war battlefields totally up in smoke. If you ever wondered why the U.S. military was so hesitant to let any other nation touch the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter today, look no further than post-war British Parliament as a classic case in point, the plucky old fools.
SOHC

When you browse through Tamarit Motorcycles lengthy portfolio of custom masterpieces, youll find it hard to believe that theyve only been around for a few years. Since the companys foundation in 2015, the Elche-based Triumph specialists undertook as many as 92 full-blown bespoke projects, with each and every single one of them boasting a distinct personality of its own.Back in August, we introduced you folks to this workshops drool-worthy reinterpretation of a Bonneville Bobber, which goes by the name of  Valquiria . Given that its been a while since we last talked about Tamarits entrancing exploits, it's time to buckle up and pay them another visit. In the following paragraphs, well be admiring one of the numerous ventures revolving around the beastly Thruxton RS. Triumph s gnarly cafe racer is powered by a liquid-cooledparallel-twin gladiator, with four valves per cylinder and an astronomical displacement of 1,200cc. The fuel-injected powerplant is good for up to 103 ponies at 7,500 rpm and 83 pound-feet (112 Nm) of crushing twist at 4,250 revs, resulting in a top speed of 140 mph (225 kph). Sprinkle that with premium suspension goodies and Brembo brakes, add a dry weight of just 434 pounds (197 kg), and youve got yourself one hell of a machine!For this dazzling endeavor (dubbed Ikigai), the Spanish moto shamans aimed to give the Thruxton a sinister cosmetic overhaul infused with street tracker design elements while retaining its state-of-the-art chassis specifications. To achieve the desired aesthetic, Tamarit had the donors subframe modified in preparation for a new solo saddle lined with waterproof fabric, while the stock taillight has been replaced with a snazzy LED lighting strip.In the footwear department, you will find a pair of lightweight Kineo hoops sporting Heidenaus high-grade K73 rubber. Following the removal of the standard airbox, the craftsmen busied themselves with installing aftermarket intake hardware and state-of-the-art air filters. At the opposite end of the combustion cycle, Ikigai flaunts a powder-coated dual exhaust system from Zards inventory.Moving on to the cockpit, we spot a fresh handlebar replacing the original clip-ons, and its adorned with round Highsider mirrors and LED bar-end blinkers developed by Motogadget. The factory headlight module has been retained, but it got treated to a custom grill that keeps things looking seriously rugged. With these items in place, it was time to add the finishing touches.Thus, the Thruxton 1200 RS was fitted with a tidy license plate holder, unique fenders, and a myriad of bolt-on accessories from Tamarit's very own range, including a beefy sump guard and one handsome radiator cover. To top it all off, Ikigai received a mixture of gloss- and matte-black finishes, which are tastefully complemented by gold accents on the forks, fuel tank, and engine cases.
ADAS

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems

For a company yet to celebrate its fifth birthday, VinFast of Haiphong, Vietnam, is on as good a track as any brand in recent memory, apart from one other "upstart" that took for better or worse the world by storm. Like Tesla, VinFast understands that electric drive is the way forward for the industry. So, no half-measure, plug-in hybrids here. Just all-new, all-electric crossover SUVs Americans have been proven ready and willing to buy if given the right appeal.These SUVs, codenamed VF e35 and VF e36, look every bit like they were designed for North Americans. So you'd be forgiven for thinking their promotional material was inspired from a Chevrolet ad for the Traverse and Tahoe and skillfully photoshopped into some futuristic megalopolis. We assure you, though, they're real, and they'll be here for us all to see at this year's Los Angeles International Auto Show.VinFast worked together with the renowned Italian design studio Pininfarina for these two vehicles. You'd be surprised to know that the famous company that is responsible for the look of the most successful Ferraris belongs to the Indian group Mahindra&Mahindra, which also owns the Korean brand SsangYong. Thus, you might forgive that the VF e35 resembles the SsangYong Korando crossover.In terms of technology, though, both vehicles come with), featuring Lane Assist, Collision Warning, Driver Monitoring, Fully Automated Parking, Summon Vehicle, and more. In addition, their infotainment systems include Voice Assistant, Virtual Assistant, and other features that make the onboard life more pleasant.Naming their U.S. auto show debut exhibit "Future of Mobility" is a lofty claim. Still, if a corporate vision could paint on a canvas, it'd look pretty appealing. But, of course, assuming environmentally sustainable and reasonably good-looking transportation is totally your thing.You should expect more details to come like a bat out of hell soon, as the viewing public and media get in touch with the new brand. As for us, we see another name ready to compete with Tesla and the automotive establishment.
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Israel, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates are set to sign a deal on Monday, pushed along by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, to build a massive solar farm in the Jordanian desert, five Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: This is the biggest regional cooperation project ever undertaken between Israel and its neighbors. The plan calls for the UAE-funded solar farm to provide energy mainly to Israel, which will build a desalination plant on its Mediterranean coast to provide water to Jordan.

The deal was made possible by the Abraham Accords, and was helped across the finish line by several phone calls from Kerry to Jordan's King Abdullah II and Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

It is expected to be signed on Monday in Dubai by senior officials from Israel, Jordan and the UAE, with Kerry also expected to attend.

The deal will only increase the strategic importance of the relationship between Israel and Jordan, which has improved significantly since Naftali Bennett replaced Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel's prime minister. It should also ease Jordan's water crisis.

Behind the scenes: The agreement is a result of secret talks between the three governments, which grew increasingly serious in September and matured into a draft agreement at the end of October.

The deal was initially set to be signed two weeks ago during the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.

King Abdullah was prepared to move ahead, but Bennett asked to postpone the signing out of a concern that it would generate domestic political criticism days before a critical vote on Israel's budget, Israeli officials say.

The final details were hammered out on Tuesday, with Kerry playing a role in the talks. A spokesman for Kerry did not respond to a request for comment.

The backstory: The vision behind the project originally came from EcoPeace Middle East, a regional environmental NGO.

The logic was that Israel needs renewable energy but lacks the land for massive solar farms, which Jordan has.

Jordan, meanwhile, needs water but can only build desalination plants in the remote southern part of the country, while Israel's coastline is closer to Jordan's big population centers.

Details: The solar farm will be built by Masdar, a UAE government-owned alternative energy company.

The plans call for the solar farm to be operational by 2026 and produce 2% of Israel's energy by 2030, with Israel paying $180 million per year to be divided between the Jordanian government and the Emirati company.

The agreement links the electricity deal to further water purchases from Jordan. It states that Jordan plans to double the amount of water it purchases from Israel, either from a new desalination plant or existing facilities.

Whats next: The agreement is expected be signed in Dubai on Monday by the Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar, Jordanian Water Minister Raed Abu Al-Saud and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, with Kerry in attendance.
The OSCEs chairperson-in-office Ann Linde said on Twitter on November 17 that she had spoken to Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

I welcomed the ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan after Russian mediation and called for de-escalation, she said, expressing deep regret over the loss of life during the November 16 clashes along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The Swedish diplomat also said that she reiterated support for a continued process through the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and her personal representative.

In another Twitter post Linde said that she had a good conversation on November 18 with Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Jeyhun Bayramov on recent developments in the region.

[I] called for continued de-escalation. [I] reiterated support for [the] process through [the] Minsk Group Co-Chairs and my Personal Representative, she wrote.

Armenia and Azerbaijan announced a Moscow-mediated ceasefire late on Tuesday after nearly six hours of clashes between their armed forces along portions of the border between the two South Caucasus nations.

Yerevan confirmed yesterday that one Armenian soldier was killed in the clashes and 24 others went missing, while 13 servicemen were taken prisoner by Azerbaijan.

In a statement today Armenias Defense Ministry said that the body of another Armenian soldier who participated in the Tuesday clashes was transported from Baku to Yerevan yesterday.

Azerbaijan reported that seven of its soldiers were killed and 10 others were wounded in what was the worst fighting between Armenians and Azerbaijanis since last years 44-day war over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenias Defense Ministry today also accused Azerbaijani armed forces of opening sporadic fire in some directions along the northeastern part of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, saying that the enemy fire was suppressed by retaliatory actions.

Azerbaijan, for its part, accused Armenia of firing at its military positions in the Tovuz district late on Wednesday, Azerbaijani media wrote, citing the countrys Defense Ministry.
Artist Symposium

What: Exhibiting artists will discuss major themes explored in the current show, "On the Edge: Los Angeles Art, 1970s  1990s, From the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection"

When: Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, first panel Los Angeles 1970  1990: Exploring the Myth of California Through Materials and Subject at 6 p.m., followed by California Ethos: Conceptualism and Literalism" at 7 p.m.

Where: Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R St.

Admission: $40, $30 for museum members; purchase tickets at bmoa.org/quinn-symposium

Note: Masks will be required for all guests at this event
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter.
PORT ARTHUR  A duck hunt might not be the first place in Jefferson County that youd expect to see officials from the National Wildlife Federation. But Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said he likes to take any opportunity he can get to show visitors the coastal environment.

Representatives from Austin and New York City were in town to meet with local government, Texas Fish and Wildlife and Ducks Unlimited officials and other organizations to advocate for money from the Restore Council, which is looking to award $80 million to various ecological projects.

The money comes from administrative and civil penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon spill, and 80% of the funds are dedicated to restoring and protecting natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands and the economy of the Gulf Coast region. In Jefferson County, there is, according to Branick, an endless supply of projects that need attention.

NWFs director of the Texas Coast & Water Foundation Amanda Fuller and Steve Jordan, a freelance videographer contracted with NWF, were in town filming for a 3-minute film covering the federations conservation work in Texas, Louisiana and Florida to give a better look at what the organization is doing to make a difference in coastal communities and government policy. The duck hunt provides a vibrant visual of how their work protecting the marshland also protects a way of life.

At 4:15 a.m. Monday morning, the group piled into trucks, cars and SUVs and drove through the dark and fog across a bridge and over rugged roads to a house on marshland owned by some of the oldest families in the area.

This is Hebert-Broussard land. Its an old family that was here earlier, Branick said. A lot of this land down here was owned by the Heberts, the Broussards, the Dornboses and McFaddins, and I think maybe 30, 40 years ago, there were competing claims to different pieces of property.

David Carriere leases the land to facilitate duck hunting for interested parties  such as the one that visited him early Monday morning.

Everyone suited up and went out to the wooden boat house, which stood off to the side with a single porch light shining into the dark pre-dawn. Inside were two airboats. The group piled in with their rifles and boxes of ammunition before speeding off into the marsh.

I think it's really important to get your eyes on it and experience it  especially with people who this is part of their upbringing, their culture, Fuller said. This is the heritage that we want being passed down.

The ducks migrated into the area Friday. The temperature had only just gotten cold enough for them to make their stop in Jefferson County. The hunters themselves bundled up in goose down jackets, and the black Labrador Retriever, Chief, was all ready with his built-in double coat. They entered the habitat in forest greens, muddy browns and camouflage before taking up their posts in duck blinds that punctuated the water.

There was a lot of water  more than there should have been.

It has degraded significantly. I don't see them marsh like I used to, said Nederland police chief and hunt guide Paul Lemoine, who has been going on hunts since he was about 5 years old. You're getting water erosion, it's just constant water flow coming in, going out, coming in, going out. Water from the shipping traffic just eats away. I mean, it's kind of like you're spraying your water hose on some mud and it just kind of starts eating it away.

The marshland grasses stood in patchy clumps where erosion had worn away the soil that was once there.

White mist hovered over the grasses and the sun ascended slowly, suffusing the scene with a fuschia and tangerine glow. Lemoine threw out decoys and made bird calls as the ducks flew overhead  two lines converging in V formations. There were spoonbills, mottled ducks, pintails, gadwalls, greenwing teal and bluewing teal and wigeons. It was over in a matter of two shots  one to make them fall, and the other shot to end it. When the birds were brought back to land, they were skinned, cleaned and bagged by the guides.

Ducks Unlimited manger of conservation programs Dr. Todd Merendino said hunting is a culture that you grow into over time by going out into the blind with your father and uncles. You bond with your family and friends out there as you talk and wait for the right animal to come along. Its a pastime that you pass on to the next generation.

My sons 25, Merendino said. I always made him promise me that he would take his kids hunting. I said, Promise me that youll do that because I did that for you.

However, you can only pass the tradition along if there is adequate land and biodiversity for the activity. But its all too easy to make assumptions about what will be available to the next generation.

It's just human nature  we as humans want to believe that as things are now, they always shall be, Branick said. And the truth of the matter is because of the impact of Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike, that wasn't true, for the Chenier Plain. It was in real danger of being destroyed if steps weren't taken to protect it.

Films like the one Jordan is working on help to increase public engagement with NWF, which helps them to advocate for money from the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act. The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which allocates funds from the act, is determining where the $80 million in grants will go.

We're having conversations about additional funding for more projects, some of which may include the acquisition of properties for protection, beneficial use of dredge material, salt water inundation prevention, additional siphons to bring more fresh water from the northern marshes to the southern marshes under the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the western side of Jefferson County, Branick said. There's a plethora of projects that we'd like to have considered for additional funding and we're gonna continue to work in that direction.

Fuller believes Jefferson County is particularly deserving of funding because of the way Branick already has stewarded funds the county has received. In Mississippi, a baseball park was built. In Alabama, they built a convention center.

Jefferson County, I think, has held up that commitment the best, she said. Its really hard to fight off just being opportunistic. We saw counties passing the same resolution word for word like Jefferson County passed, and then they find an opportunity and they go do some other things like focus on parking lots, or just things that maybe would enhance access to nature, which is important, but they weren't really putting that money back into their natural assets.

Jefferson County recently was awarded $180 million for ecological projects. The local environment is in recovery, but there still is a long way to go. Only three of the 20 miles of damaged shoreline have been restored at McFaddin Beach, but according to the wildlife refuges manager, Tim Cooper, in the last few weeks, the notice to proceed with the project has been sent to the marine construction and dredging contractor who will be dredging sand from the Gulf of Mexico and piping it onto the shore.

In addition to helping beach animals reclaim their home, the restored beach goes a long way toward restoring the lost marshland as well. Sand and dunes protect the marshy freshwater and organisms that live in it from too much saltwater intrusion.

The already-completed 3 miles are a good barometer for what the rest of the project likely will do. Sanderlings zip across the restored shoreline, but just a little further down the beach, white ibis congregate on tarry, pockmarked silt. The birds dig holes in the sand, searching for crabs and other meals that simply are not there anymore. But reconstruction of their sandy habitat is slated to begin in January and expected to end November 2022.

Im actually pretty pleased with how it looks, said McFaddin National Preserve manager Tim Cooper, referring to the completed shoreline. We think the benefits of the project are going to exceed 25 years. We expect multiple decades of benefit.

The pelicans are watching. Old wooden pilings stand in the surf and the pelicans took up their posts on top  keeping sentry.

rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/ontheREKord
CAIRO (AP)  Britains Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, arrived in Cairo on Thursday for the first time in 15 years, hoping to promote tolerance and cement bilateral ties. The visit is part of the royal couples first tour since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is also their first visit to Egypt since the country was rocked by a popular uprising in 2011 that was followed by years of political turmoil.

After arrival in Cairo, the royal couple received a formal welcome by President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and his wife, Intissar el-Sissi, at the presidential palace, before meeting with top Muslim and Christian leaders. Under el-Sissi, a former general, Egypt has achieved a degree of stability but the government has also overseen the largest crackdown on political opposition in decades.

In their meeting, Charles and el-Sissi discussed efforts to counter terrorism and extremism as well as cooperation between the two countries in areas such as health and higher education, according to a statement issued by el-Sissi's office.

After a separate meeting with Camilla, Egypt's first lady wrote on her Facebook page that the two discussed the Egyptian government's efforts towards the empowerment of women.

The royal couple then met with the Sunni Muslim world's top religious authority, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Mosque Ahmed al-Tayeb, as well as with Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Alexandria Samy Fawzy.

After that, Charles headed to an interfaith reception at Al-Azhar Mosque, the oldest Sunni institution in the Muslim world. He was also to meet with students.

The Prince of Wales helped start a U.K. academic scholarship program which allows Al Azhar scholars to pursue degrees in Islamic studies at British universities before returning to Al-Azhar to work as faculty members. Launched in 2015, the program aims to promote mutual understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Last week, the British Ambassador Gareth Bayley wrote on Twitter that the their highnesses will be discussing U.K.-Egypt cooperation on climate change, religious tolerance and bilateral relations. Egypt has been selected to host the U.N. climate change conference COP27 next year.

While Charles was at the interfaith reception, Camilla visited a low-income settlement in Cairo, Ezbet Kheirallah, where the British Council has been carrying out social development programs since 2017.

The royals also visited some of Egypt's famous archaeological sites, including the Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx.

Earlier this week, Charles and Camilla concluded a three-day visit to Jordan, where they met with Jordans King Abdullah II and Queen Rania and visited a series of religious and historical sites.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  A firebrand state senator with a long history of clashing with fellow Republicans and others across the political spectrum has joined the crowded GOP field seeking to unseat Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia.

I will continue to be a strong voice for the people and will continue to push back against the far-lefts extreme agenda, Amanda Chase said in a news release Wednesday announcing her campaign.

An ardent supporter of gun rights who promotes herself as Trump in heels, Chase currently represents Virginia's 11th Senate district south of Richmond. She was first elected to the General Assembly in 2015 after she knocked off a longtime incumbent who had far outraised her in a Republican primary.

Chase, who campaigned for Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin after her own gubernatorial bid fell short this year, is a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trumps false claims of election fraud. She attended a Jan. 6 rally with Trump shortly before the attack on the Capitol, has called for an audit of the 2020 election in Virginia and in December said Trump should invoke martial law to seize voting machines.

Her senate colleagues voted on a bipartisan basis to censure her in January for what they called a pattern of unacceptable conduct. She said her comments that provoked the censure were protected by free speech and unsuccessfully sued to have the decision overturned.

Virginia Democrats criticized Chases entry into the 7th District race.

Every day, she finds a new way to prove that she is too extreme for Virginia, said Jayce Genco, communications director for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Spanberger, a moderate and a former CIA operations officer, defeated Rep. Dave Brat in 2018 to flip the seat blue, helping deliver party control of the House of Representatives.

The crowd of Republicans seeking to challenge her has been growing in recent months, while Democrats have become increasingly worried about their chances of maintaining control of Congress in the midterms following their poor showing in this month's elections in Virginia and elsewhere.

The GOP contenders who have either announced their intention to run or filed associated paperwork also includes: Tina Ramirez, a small-business owner who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination two years ago; veteran John Castorani, who previously ran for Congress in Alabama; Taylor Keeney, a former aide to Gov. Bob McDonnell; Gary Barve, who previously ran for local office in California; Derrick Anderson, also a veteran and an attorney; state Sen. Bryce Reeves; and state Del. John McGuire.

The crowded party contest is shaping up even though the boundaries of the competitive district remain unsettled, because the once-a-decade process of redrawing political maps is still underway.
A woman was sentenced to prison for smuggling a child via a Laredo international bridge claiming that she was her daughter, according to court documents.

Gisell Guerra, 19, had pleaded guilty on Sept. 9 to making a false or fictitious statement. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced Guerra to 142 days in prison followed by one year of supervised release.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  New Hampshire's judicial branch is conducting a review in the case of a woman who was shot, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, a month after a judge denied her request for a protective order, and is forming a task force to review domestic violence cases in the court system.

The woman was shot Monday in Salem, Massachusetts, and was in critical condition in a Boston hospital. The man, who had lived in New Hampshire, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
A man was arrested for punching his ex-girlfriend in the face, authorities said.

On Nov. 8, Erick Elias Caltontzin, 33, was served with an arrest warrant at the Laredo Police Department headquarters charging him with assault, family violence.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)  A Los Angeles visual arts space wants to display a South Carolina statue of former vice president and slavery advocate John C. Calhoun as part of an art exhibit, but members of a city panel have raised concerns about the political nature of such a display.

The Charleston Commission on History on Wednesday voted to delay making a recommendation on the proposal to Charlestons city council until more information could be provided, WCSC-TV reported.

The nonprofit LAXART wants to feature the Calhoun monument at a planned 2022 exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles. In addition to a focus on Confederate imagery, the exhibit would encompass the prospect of reparations, healing and a greater reckoning of Americas past, LAXART Director Hamza Walker wrote in a letter to Charlestons mayor.

But commission member David McCormack had qualms with the proposal, saying, It appears this exhibition will be a highly political, highly ideological event which is likely to continue to propagate an unnuanced view of John C. Calhoun."

We as a commission have a responsibility to both the City of Charleston and the State of South Carolina to not allow the Calhoun statue to become a pawn in the hands of individuals and organization about which we know little and over which we have no control, McCormack added.

The city has owned the Calhoun monument since 1885, when the Ladies Calhoun Memorial Association gave it the deed.

The statue was removed from Charleston's Marion Square in June 2020 after the community objected to what the monument stood for in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder. The removal occurred five years after the slaying of nine Black parishioners in a racist attack at a downtown Charleston church.

In his letter to city officials, Walker said the exhibit would feature a group of recently decommissioned Civil War monuments from throughout the United States and said such statues are physical manifestations of the Lost Cause belief.

Walker said that even though Calhoun died before the Civil War, the statue would be a valuable addition to the planned exhibition because Calhoun had a pivotal role in the expansion and protection of slavery in the United States and argued in favor of South Carolina seceding from the Union.

Calhoun was President James Monroe's secretary of war. He also served as vice president for John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

Calhouns support of slavery never wavered. He said in several speeches on the U.S. Senate floor in the 1830s that slaves in the South were better off than free Blacks in the North while calling slavery a positive good.
A woman dressed a boy as a girl to smuggle him through an international bridge using her daughters birth certificate, according to an arrest affidavit.

Susie Gonzalez, a 46-year-old U.S. citizen of San Antonio, was arrested on the charge of transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport the migrant child.

At about 3:52 p.m. Nov. 12, Gonzalez arrived at the Juarez-Lincoln International operating a vehicle along with an adult female and a minor. Gonzalez stated that the minor was her daughter and added they were traveling to San Antonio.

Gonzalez presented a Texas birth certificate on behalf of the child. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers referred the vehicle to the secondary area for further inspection and status check. A CBP officer asked Gonzalez about her relationship between herself and the child.

Gonzalez allegedly stated that the child was her daughter. But when CBP officers asked the child if Gonzalez was her mother, the child stated, No. Gonzalez then stated that she was not the mother of the child. CBP officers then detained Gonzalez. She then allegedly agreed to provide a post-arrest statement.

Under oath, defendant admitted she was attempting to smuggle in the male minor child as her daughter. Defendant stated she was contacted by her friend and asked to cross a child into the (United States), states the affidavit.

Gonzalez allegedly agreed to smuggle the child. She then used her daughters birth certificate to facilitate the childs entry into the country.

Defendant stated she dressed the boy to look like a girl by having him wear some of her daughters clothing and a pink headband with hair braids, states the affidavit.

Gonzalez stated she would be taking the child to her home in San Antonio and wait further instructions, according to court documents.
Federal agents detained more than 100 migrants in three separate human smuggling attempts, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

The first case occurred on Nov. 12, when a tractor-trailer approached the U.S. 83 checkpoint. Agents discovered people hiding inside the cargo area of the trailer. Agents removed close to 40 migrants that were from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
Nicholas Alan Cope/Getty Images

The Texas district where an administrator was caught on tape suggesting teachers offer books with "opposing views" on the Holocaust wants to now ban secret recordings. One board member also proposed applying the rule to students, according to NBC News.

NBC News reporter Mike Hixenbaugh tweeted about the new policy from Carroll Independent School District on Monday, November 15. He notes the update comes one month after NBC News broke the story about the secret audio, which the outlet obtained from a staff member. The district is in Southlake, near Dallas-Fort Worth.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party members and health workers help former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (in pink) into a car outside her home in Dhaka to travel to a hospital for treatment, Oct. 12, 2021.

Bangladeshs leading opposition party announced Thursday that it would stage a massive one-day hunger strike this weekend to demand the government allow ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who her supporters say is gravely ill, to travel abroad for advanced medical care.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders announced the planned action for Nov. 20 a day after Sheikh Hasina, the nations current prime minister and Zias bitter foe, said her government had done enough for the BNP chairwoman because Zia had been released from prison to allow for treatment at her home. Zia was convicted of embezzlement in 2018.

On Saturday, we, all the party leaders and activists, will stage a mass hunger strike at the party office in Dhaka. Similar programs will be observed across the country, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary-general, told BenarNews on Thursday. We will see the response and decide whether we will be extending the mass hunger strike.

BNP officials said this would be the first hunger strike in support of Zia seeking medical care outside of Bangladesh  a plea that Hasinas government has consistently rejected. Zia, 76, is the first woman to serve as PM in the South Asian nation, and held that office three times while Hasina has led the Bangladesh since 2009.

A three-time prime minister and country leader, Khaleda Zia, has been involved in a life-and-death struggle  she needs better treatment abroad, this is her right. We demand that the government immediately allow her to go abroad for treatment, Alamgir said.

G.M. Siraj, one of seven BNP members who serve in parliament, initiated an unscheduled discussion with other MPs about Zia.

I told MPs that our leader Khaleda Zias condition has been worsening. Her condition is not good, he told BenarNews. If anything, serious happens to her, the Awami League will be held responsible for it.

If the government does not allow her to go abroad, we may be forced to resign from parliament. Subjected to a party decision, I will be the first MP to step down in protest of the government attitude towards the ailing Khaleda Zia, he said.

Law Minister Anisul Huq, who responded to Sirajs speech during the parliament session, said the government would not allow Zia to leave the country.

This is not possible for the government to allow a convicted person to go abroad, it is against our laws. I have told it in parliament today, Huq told BenarNews.

He said the ruling Awami League government was sympathetic to Zia and had suspended her conviction so that she could be treated from her home instead of from prison.

We are least bothered by what the BNP leaders say about it, said Huq.

Hasinas government denies that Zia is under house arrest. In July, the foreign ministry summoned the British high commissioner to complain about a U.K. human rights report that described Zias status at home as a house arrest and convey the message that her status had been misinterpreted, according to a report in The Independent.

A housewife-turned politician and widow of President Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated in 1981, Zia became BNP leader in the mid-1980s and was first elected PM in 1991.

In 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) under a military-backed caretaker government filed the Zia Orphanage Trust Corruption case and the Zia Charitable Trust Corruption case against her and associates. The cases alleged that Zia as the head of the two trusts was responsible for embezzlement of funds coming from abroad.

On Feb. 8, 2018, a special court convicted Zia in the orphanage case and sentenced her to seven years effective immediately. The ACC appealed the verdict and the high court increased her sentence to 10 years. She was convicted in October of that year in the charitable case and sentenced to seven more years.

Zia faces additional charges of corruption, defamation and other criminal offenses, according to BNP members who said the charges were politically motivated and blamed Hasinas Awami League.

Health concerns

Zia carried out her sentence as the only inmate at the abandoned Old Dhaka Central Jail. As her medical condition worsened, family members asked Hasinas government for her release.

On March 25, 2020, the government suspended Zias sentence and released her for six months on the condition that she take treatment at a Bangladesh hospital and not be involved in politics.

Since then, the government has extended the suspension every six months  the most recent in September.

On April 17, Zia was admitted to Dhakas Evercare Hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and spent nearly two months undergoing treatment.

In mid-October, Zia was admitted to the hospital for health complications. She returned home on Nov. 7 and was readmitted on Nov. 13.

We are strictly told not to say anything about her health problems. This is her personal issue, Zias chief physician, Dr. Zahid Hossain, told BenarNews on Thursday night.

Md. Shamsul Alam, a professor at Jahangirnagar University whose area of expertise is the nations political parties, said the BNP weekend plan was necessary.

The government had established total control on politics. Given the situation, the BNP and allies cannot go for any big political action programs other than hunger strikes and protest rallies, he told BenarNews.

He also said there is a reason why Hasinas party wants Zia to stay in Bangladesh.

Actually, the ruling party fears that Khaleda Zia may herself could engage in political activities from abroad if they allow her out. They do not want to lose control over politics, he said. Still, the Awami League would make political gains if they allow Zia to go abroad as she has been seriously sick.
The BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded and rusting World War II-era ship that serves as an outpost for the Philippines, is seen from an aircraft flying above the South China Sea, March 29, 2014.

Updated at 1:53 p.m. ET on 2021-11-18

The Philippines issued a strongly worded protest Thursday over the Chinese coast guards reported firing of water cannons to block a Filipino resupply mission to a military outpost at a reef in the South China Sea, calling the action illegal.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he had filed a protest in response to an incident on Tuesday around the Second Thomas Shoal  or Ayungin Shoal as Manila calls it  which lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

I have conveyed in the strongest terms to His Excellency, Huang Xilian, Ambassador of China, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing our outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident, Locsin said in a statement.

The acts of the Chinese coast guard vessels are illegal. China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must heed and back off, Locsin said, adding that supply missions to Second Thomas Shoal would continue.

We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory, Locsin said.

China Coast Guard ships blocked and fired water cannons on two Philippine supply ships transporting food to military personnel stationed in Ayungin, Locsin said, citing military incident reports.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, the top Filipino diplomat said.

I reminded China that a public vessel is covered by the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty, Locsin added.

Under the 1951 treaty, U.S. troops would come to its allys aid in case of foreign aggression  including in the South China Sea, as top American defense officials affirmed recently.

The Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged atoll in the Spratlys Islands, is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Since 1999, the Philippines has maintained a Marine detachment there aboard a World War II-era warship, the BRP Sierra Madre (pictured), deliberately grounded on the reef to serve as an outpost.

Locsin reiterated that the shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island group, the portion of the Spratlys that Manila claims as part of its territory. The island group is an integral part of the Philippines, its EEZ and continental shelf.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, who heads a national task force for the West Philippine Sea, said that two Chinese coast guard vessels blocked the Filipino ships while a third fired water cannons for an hour. The West Philippine Sea is Manilas name for its territories in the South China Sea.

They maneuvered but had to abort their resupply mission, Esperon told reporters, referring to the Filipino ships.

He also noted an unusual movement of Chinese ships near the shoal during the past week as Philippine spotters monitored about 19 Chinese militia vessels in the area. Elsewhere, about 45 ships have been spotted near Pag-asa, an island also known as Thitu, in the past year.

So they are very aggressive. We are protesting that because thats part of our EEZ, and those are low-tide elevations. Nobody is supposed to be there. It is within our EEZ, he said.

Chinese ships have in the past attempted to block resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal by chasing and harassing Philippine boats. This weeks incident was the first time in years that Philippine authorities reported that Chinese vessels used water cannons against Filipino ships.

China used a similar tactic in a 2014 incident near Scarborough Shoal against Filipino fishermen, the military told foreign correspondents at the time.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to telephone calls seeking comment.

In Hanoi on Thursday, Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement responding to the news about the incident off the Second Thomas Shoal.

Vietnam urges all relevant sides to adhere to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) in all their activities in the South China Sea, avoid actions that could complicate the situation and strive to maintain peace, security, stability and maritime order in the region, said Le Thi Thu Hang, spokeswoman for the ministry.

Activists protest against Chinese ships in South China Sea waters claimed by the Philippines, during a demonstration outside the Chinese consulate in Manila, July 12, 2021. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews]

Recent encounters

In April, reports surfaced that Chinese navy warships had chased a civilian boat carrying a Philippine news crew near the shoal.

Chinas recently enacted Coast Guard Law authorizes the use of aggressive tactics on what it considers intruders in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims in nearly its entirety.

However, a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal invalidated the sweeping nine-dash line claim of Beijing and affirmed Manilas sovereign rights to a 200-nautical mile EEZ in the sea.

Earlier this year, Manila and Beijing became embroiled in a diplomatic spat after the Philippine military reported the presence of about 200 Chinese ships it believed to be maritime militias near Whitsun Reef, also within the Philippine EEZ.

The ships lingered in different parts of the EEZ for months, prompting Manila to deploy more military, coast guard and other government ships.

Despite these provocations from China, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has refrained from directly calling out or criticizing Beijing, which he considers a friend.

Under his administration, Manila has sought closer ties with Beijing and taken a softer tone when addressing the South China Sea dispute. He claims to have sealed an agreement with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on ships access to the Philippine EEZ.

While the effectiveness of the diplomatic notes is yet to be seen, they may indicate that Manila has become more open in their intention of how to deal with Beijing, according to Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the University of the Philippines.

The wind is changing in the Philippines approach, said Viet Hoang, a well-known Vietnamese South China Sea analyst.

Joint marine research

Meanwhile, Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to resume a joint marine scientific research expedition that had been halted since 2007, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced this week.

According to a statement from the department issued on Wednesday, the Philippines-Vietnam Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns met last week to discuss various initiatives for science-based cooperation and also maritime security cooperation.

The last such event took place in 2019.

The DFA said upholding the rule of the law in the South China Sea and the revival of the joint marine scientific research expedition were among the highlights of the group.

Joint maritime activities between Vietnam and the Philippines were suspended during President (Rodrigo) Dutertes term mainly because the President wanted to foster a strong relationship with China, Viet, the analyst, said.

But since Dutertes term is nearing its end, Philippines seeks to expand cooperation with other countries, especially the U.S., he said, adding that Vietnam should seize this opportunity to bring forward bilateral maritime projects with the Philippines.

Jojo Rinoza in Dagupan, Philippines, contributed to this report.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low near 30F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low near 30F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
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Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Investigations editor

Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989.
The exterior of the proposed new police station in Lanesborough. Townspeople on Tuesday called for a smaller, less-expensive version of the proposed $4.3 million facility.
Danny Jin, a Report for America corps member, is The Eagles Statehouse news reporter. He can be reached at djin@berkshireeagle.com, @djinreports on Twitter and 413-496-6221.
FLORIDA  If the auction deals struck Wednesday hold, the town of Florida is poised to recoup $294,050 from the sale of properties that, for years, only cost the community money.

Quote Its finally getting these back on the tax rolls, is all. Thats the big thing. Getting them back on the tax rolls. Select Board member Neil Oleson

After the dust settled, a standing-room-only crowd shuffled out of the Florida Senior Center and back into cars and pickups bearing license plates from all neighboring states. Inside, town officials were celebrating a successful sale of 12 properties taken over many years for nonpayment of taxes.

Its a happy day here, said Christine Dobbert, the town administrator.

Very pleased, Neil Oleson, of the Select Board, said in an interview. They went higher than we anticipated on several pieces.

And yet, Oleson and Dobbert said the victory is tempered by sympathy, in some cases, for former owners. Maybe not, Dobbert suggested, for the man who moved into a home in Florida 30 years ago and never once paid property taxes. That home sold Wednesday.

You feel bad about doing it to people, but enough is enough, she said.

Its finally getting these back on the tax rolls, is all, Oleson said. Thats the big thing. Getting them back on the tax rolls.

Before the first bids came, Tom Weitbrecht, of Strategic Auction Alliance, of Braintree, sped through a recitation of many rules and disclaimers, including that the town held the right to reject any high offers. Properties are as is, he said, with no guarantee whatsoever.

Bidding is just like on TV, he said, jokingly. Im going to ask for an enormous amount of money, he said, and youre going to raise your hands.

Rather than call out sold, Weitbrecht explained, he woud be declaring that a high bid had been posted, after which the people making those bids needed to come forward with the required earnest deposit and then close the sale with full payment within 30 days.

Three-peat bidder

The auctions biggest player was Wayne Gelinas, who sat near the center of the crowded room beside his wife, Lea King. The couple owns the Wigwam Western Summit a few miles west on Route 2 and has been expanding investments in Florida.

Gelinas, holding bid card 69, nodded almost imperceptibly to Weitbrecht on the way to offering high bids on three tracts of vacant land: 20 acres on Bliss Road, an additional 2.5 acres there and 2.8 acres on Tilda Hill Road.

Gelinas said later that he plans to pursue building projects. The 20-acre parcel on Bliss Road had been used during the installation of wind turbines, and once was considered for a solar project.

To secure the tract, Gelinas outlasted Hussain Hamdan, a persistent bidder who simply held his numbered card up as Weitbrecht, the auctioneer, scanned the crowd. Hamdan at one point jumped his offer up by $10,000.

Good, Weitbrecht said. I charge by the syllable.

Youre enjoying yourself, Gelinas told Weitbrecht.

Of course I am, the auctioneer shot back.

Weitbrecht hovered by Gelinas, seesawing between the two final bidders and declared, once the top bid was in hand: All right! A battle royale! The room broke into applause.

Were helping everyone in this town, Weitbrecht called out. The values are going up today.

Though outbid by Gelinas on the Bliss Road prize, Hamdan and some associates did come away with one property. "We're going to flip it," he said later.

Perhaps the most visible of the auction lots  the derelict Giovannis Motel and Ristorante  might become a self-storage facility. Hulks of the old motel and restaurant, which sit on 8.3 acres in the towns Drury section, sold for $20,000 to Elizabeth and Justin Henderson, of Stamford, Vt. Later, they described their plans to The Eagle in an interview on the property.

The Hendersons said they know Florida well and long had thought the property would suit the kind of business they own and run: Southview Storage in North Adams.

Things came around today, Justin Henderson said. The couple plans to seek a special permit to build a self-storage center. It will not be hotel. Instead, a hotel for stuff.

Henderson said he plans to take the old restaurant apart with heavy equipment he owns.

Im sure well use some of the concrete slab, he said.

Old cottage

Darin Lanes top bid of $10,000 was enough to make him the prospective owner of the 1-acre lot and cottage formerly owned by Anthony Huttle right across the Tilda Hill Road from Lanes home. He plans to take down the dilapidated building. The Eagle reported Wednesday on the travails of the propertys former owner.

This is the only time Ill ever do this, Lane said of his auction adventure, at which he crept above the amount he hoped to pay, $7,500.

Its just junk. Ill tear it down, Lane said of the former Huttle cottage. The family might keep horses there, or, he joked, create a softball field. He was wearing a black Northern Berkshire Girls Softball'' shirt.

In the past few days, Lane and others noticed more out-of-towners in Florida, some of whom might have been researching properties sold Wednesday. Its not a bad place, Lane said, if you can live through the winter.

Derek Rougeau, a builder and former teacher, paid $10,000 for a small lot. He plans to cut in a driveway and put it on the market. It looks like a site you can actually do something with, he said.

The days smallest winning bid came on a 0.34-acre lot on North County Road that sold for $700; a similarly sized lot on Stryker Road went for $1,100. More than 5 acres on Church Road fetched $17,500.

For $5,250, a man made the highest offer for a 0.42-acre lot on Oleson Road that once held a mobile home. He said he wanted to help a relative who lives nearby strengthen their boundary.

Weitbrecht, the auctioneer, joined bidders later in the town offices next door to complete paperwork. Like his clients, he felt the sale went well. The reason? The strong turnout  more than 80 people  and the natural rivalry that bidding fans.

They go in with their low number to try to steal it, he said of bidders. Then they get into the competition.
NORTH ADAMS  Two days after North Adams Mayor Tom Bernard called for an ethics review of state Rep. John Barrett III, the state House speaker has given no indication whether there will be any such action.

Bernard sought the review Monday, in light of a comment Barrett made that the mayor perceived as a threat.

When asked by The Eagle whether the House would oblige, the office of Speaker Ronald Mariano did not provide a direct answer, but seemed to suggest that an ethics review would not be appropriate in this situation.

The Speaker has no firsthand knowledge of this private conversation, a spokesperson said in an email Tuesday. Per House rules, the Ethics Committee is able to investigate complaints filed by a Member, officer or employee.

The spokesperson did not reply to multiple requests for clarification on the statement.

Rep. Thomas Walsh, chair of the House Committee on Ethics, did not respond to a request for comment.

In a Nov. 10 email, Bernard called on Mariano to start an ethics review into a comment Barrett made in a phone conversation about plans for the Mohawk Theater.

In our conversation you indicated that presenting this update and strategy to the Council and the community would be bad for my livelihood, professional standing, and family, which I reasonably infer and construe as a clear, if nonspecific, threat on your part toward me, Bernard wrote.

Barrett told The Eagle this week that he was trying to provide Bernard advice and Bernard interpreted it in a way he did not intend. It was not a heated discussion at all, he said.

In his complaint, Bernard also suggested that Barretts status as a trustee of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts be reviewed.

The Commissioner has spoken with the Chair to apprise him of the correspondence he received from Mayor Bernard, said Matt Noyes, director of trustee and government relations at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, in an email. Under statute (MGL Ch 15A Section 21), the DHE does not have authority over the appointment or removal of institutional trustees.

An MLCA spokesperson declined to comment.
This new solar facility in Farmington, Maine, is providing renewable energy to a partnership of five colleges in New England, including Williams College.
Penguin Random House headquarters in Manhattan. Penguin Random House said earlier this month that it planned to fight the Justice Departments challenge to its proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster.
Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chairman of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle.
I had planned to write this piece as an outraged citizen of Berkshire County, asking the powers that be, All right, already. How long before we get to use the Cottage and Division Street bridges in Great Barrington or any of the bridges that the state decides to close for repairs?

Great Barrington to get modular bridge to open Division Street GREAT BARRINGTON  By spring or summer of next year, the blockage in the Division Street artery from the until-now indefinite bridge shutdown 

However, having previously been caught behind the eight ball of my impulsive behavior, before I write might it not be a good idea to do a little research and check facts and figures? A rare occurrence, unfortunately, in todays political climate.

My first call was to District 1 of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in Lenox. They were very responsive. With that conversation, my outraged citizen status was reduced to concerned citizen.

However, it was state Rep. Smitty Pignatelli who brought me into the light. In a world where leaving your name and number for a call back belongs to an old and distant memory, Rep. Pignatelli returned my call so promptly I didnt believe it was him.

You want the facts, maam?

Yes, please.

Bridges arent sexy.

Thats interesting. It never occurred to me that bridges were gendered in any way. Apparently, taxing the citizenry for their upkeep is just not that exciting. Taxing for bridge maintenance cant hold a candle to schools, fire and police departments, marijuana stores, real estate  now those are sexy.

Until you cant cross the bridge, that is. Then bridges are not only sexy (move over Marilyn Monroe), but they are life-affirming.

Get the state on the line, now!

Hold it! I learned that along with quite a few others, the Cottage and Division Street bridges are town-owned not state-owned.

Town-owned!?

Get the town on the phone, now!

Over the years, bridge maintenance has been on town meeting agendas. It appears bridge repairs are not only not sexy, but there doesnt seem to be the necessary quorum at these meetings to authorize monies for repairs.

A perfect Catch 22!

We have citizens, and I am one of them, who do not go to town meetings to participate in what is left of our democracy by the people, of the people,and for the people. Now I have to put my money where my mouth is or shut it. This is an almost impossible request.

What it does signal for me is that, as a citizen, I have a responsibility. I cannot complain if I am part of the problem.

It is far too easy in this solo internet climate to forget our neighbors and to participate in the practice of living in a democracy. We really do function best as a community.

Now, I am not going to tell you how to live (even though I desperately want to). As for me, either I take the time to look into the agendas of the town meetings (they are published) to become more aware of issues that are important to me and my neighbors or I go back to that game of solitaire on my computer.

I am not wagging a finger, because this is about being human.

Repair bridges?

How about next year!

And then, as often happens, the next, and the next, and the next thing you know, the bridges close.

But in the meantime, five  count em, five  marijuana shops have opened in Great Barrington alone.

So what has that to do with repaired bridges and ultimately, Democracy?

Bridges arent sexy! Marijuana is sexy! Marijuana is money! Local and state tax money. So here is my suggestion to speed bridge repairs in the future: Open the Cottage and Division Street Bridges Happy Wellness Toll Booth and Apothecary.

And I want to never forget that participating in a democracy is not only my responsibility; it is a privilege that not everyone has. My mission, if I choose to accept it, is to keep that privilege alive and kicking. Want to join me?
Melissa ZanVettor, RN, explains how a patient might use the telemedicine room at the VA medical facility in the Conte Building on Center Street in Pittsfield.
It is good to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High! (Psalm 92:1).

Each year on the fourth Thursday of the month of November, we Americans participate in a national ritual of overeating called Thanksgiving. We cook for a week, eat dinner for hours, and have leftovers enough to pack up and send home with family and friends. It's a celebration of our harvest, a recognition of our blessings, and a demonstration of our love toward one another. While chronic overeating is a sin to be overcome, I believe our national recognition of God's goodness in our lives pleases Him  and this holiday is actually good for us!

Gratitude: Its Good for You

Several research initiatives have been conducted in the last few decades, including The Gratitude Project (University of California) and Project Gratitude (Baptist Health Foundation). In one such study, researchers divided individuals into three groups. One group of participants practiced daily gratitude exercises (listing things for which they were grateful). They reported higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, optimism, and energy, and less depression and stress than the control group reported. And also not surprising, they reported being much happier than the group directed to keep a daily journal of all the bad things that happened to them.

Researchers determined that the practice of gratitude benefits the general population (regardless of religious faith or lack thereof), and that anyone can increase their sense of well-being and create positive social effects just from counting their blessings.

So, truly...it is good to give thanks to the Lord!

It's the Key to Personal Happiness

We usually think happiness is contingent on our circumstances. Certainly, circumstances play a part, but I'd argue 90% of whether were contented people has to do with our attitude towards our circumstances, rather than our circumstances themselves.

In fact, imagine this scenario: if you had a Book of Job moment. Suddenly you were told that you'd lost all your wealth in a stock market crash, lost all your family in a traffic accident, and lost your job in a corporate takeover. Your doctor then called with a devastating health report, and your mother-in-law showed up at the door with her luggage (and with the news she just ran over your dog in the driveway). You then received a call from the elders at your church in crisis over the resignation of your pastor, who announced that the Bible is a sham and there is no life after death. I imagine you'd be quite unhappy.

If then everyone shouted, Gotcha! None of it is true! I believe you'd take a deep breath, be angry for a moment, and then become exuberantly happy. But the fact is, you'd be in the EXACT same circumstances that you were in before, only your attitude changed.

John Henry Jowett, 19th century British pastor and author once commented, Gratitude is a vaccine, an anti-toxin, and an antiseptic. What did he mean by that? Gratitude is like a vaccine, and can prevent the invasion of a disgruntled attitude into our spirits. And like an anti-toxin, gratitude can prevent damage from the poison of cynicism, criticism and complaining. Like an antiseptic, a heart filled with gratitude can help soothe and heal even the deepest wounds we receive in life.

Thats why it is good to give thanks unto the Lord.

It's the Doorway to Peace

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

Notice that between do not be anxious and receiving the peace of God, are prayers with thanksgiving. I believe it's sandwiched there for good reason  to show us that the way you move from the place of worry to the place of peace is through thanksgiving.

Its a Defense against Spiritual Decline

A.W. Tozer is quoted as saying, No man suddenly goes base. In other words, a person does not walk intimately with God one day and then suddenly fall into the depths of sin the next. There is always a gradual erosion of moral values and a slow, spiritual slippage that takes place, possibly imperceptible to others. How does that happen?

For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21).

That's how a spiritual decline usually begins  with ingratitude.





Photo credit: Unsplash/Olivia Snow

It Connects Us to Each Other and to Jesus

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! He looked at them and said, Go show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, Praise God! He fell to the ground at Jesus feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, Didnt I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner? And Jesus said to the man, Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you (Luke 17:11-19).

Its a short, but powerful story.

In Jesus day, leprosy and other skin diseases were cause for terrible fear and shame. Lepers were ostracized and could return to their community only if a priest examined them and declared them free of disease. Old Testament law held that an infected person must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, Unclean! Unclean! whenever other people were near.

As long as he had the infection, he remained unclean. He must live alone, outside the camp, away from his family and other people.

But one day when Jesus was on the border between Galilee and Samaria, instead of hearing the cry unclean, he heard another cry that went like this: Master, have pity on us!

Jesus heart was moved with compassion. In that cry, Jesus heard the pain in the hearts of these ten men stricken with leprosy. He heard not only their physical pain, but the emotional pain. He heard the pain of humiliation, loneliness and rejection. He heard and said, Go show yourself to the priests. So off they went in faith, faltering but hopeful.

And as they went along, the Scripture says they were cleansed of the infection of leprosy.

Can you see it? Ten men, outcasts shuffling along, moaning in pain from walking on damaged feet, people scattering before them, when one suddenly says, My hands... look at my hands!! And he sticks out a hand covered with pink, healthy skin. The next one says, Same here! And I don't hurt anymore! They all hug each other and fist bump, throw off the torn coats, unwrap the filthy bandages and sprint towards town, toward their waiting families and restored lives.

All but one.

All but the one who whirled around and ran in the other direction, back toward Jesus, falling at His feet, weeping with gratitude for his miracle.

Ten were rescued, cleansed, and given a brand-new beginning, yet only one ran toward his rescuer with a thankful heart. Only one connected with Christ, and his gratitude kept the bond strong.

Jesus said to the man, Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.

It does the same for us. When we say Thank You, we are really saying to Him, I realize that Im nothing without You, that all I have and all I hope to be comes from Your gracious hand. I recognize that You are my source of strength, my source of hope, my source of provision, my source of power, my source of joy, my source of peace, my source of life!

Thank you, Lord! The more you say it, the closer to God you feel.

Dont take my word for it, try it. Try it every day when you wake. Try it as you go through the course of the day. Make it a habit for just a couple of days see if you dont feel closer to God. It is good to give thanks unto the Lord.





Photo credit: Unsplash/Pro Church Media

Remembering What God Has Done

In the Old Testament times, the Israelites would remember what God had done for them by creating a visual rock memorial. Such a structure would remind them every time they saw it, and they would then tell their children about the deeds done by God on their behalf. The memorial would spur in them new gratitude for the blessings of God.

In the New Testament, one story in particular has always caught my interest. In Mark 2:1-12, Jesus heals the paralytic and instructs him to take up the mat he was laying on and go home. Why? Why keep such an object around, if not for a constant reminder of the mercy of God and miracle of healing he received?

Perhaps it's because we are chronically human, but we too need to be reminded to remain thankful for God's goodness in our lives. We become that one who comes to Jesus and remains connected to Him when we intentionally remember all He has done for us. Perhaps we should keep a few memorials, or mementos around as well.

When He heals your body, save the crutch, save the cast, save the wheelchair. When He heals your mind, save the bottle of pills. When He heals your marriage, save the broken plate. Or maybe its a journal, or a string around your finger. Whatever works for you, just be intentional about it and every now and again, go through your mementos and begin to thank God and sing praises!

Look for New Opportunities to Thank God

You can be thankful for almost anything. Trust me on this one, I speak from experience! Early on in my marriage I was struggling with the reality of a new baby on a part-time minister's salary. I was working a few additional odd jobs, but it still did not seem as if the ends would ever meet! One afternoon, I felt truly beaten down by it all and I cried out to God in my frustration. I'll never forget how He responded.

He instructed me to walk around our apartment and look closely at the things we had: the sofa, the spoons, the lamps, the pillows, the bedroom set. After each one, I felt Him say, Where did you get this? I had to respond, It was a gift. On and on, I went around the apartment, handling each item, feeling a surge of gratitude for the blessings of God, and the provision He had made for me and my family through the people He had placed around me. I experienced an attitude shift, and a recognition that God had my back. And even though my circumstances had not changed, gratitude moved me from feeling downcast to feeling blessed.

You too, can be thankful:

- If you own a Bible (1/3 of the world does not have access to the Word of God)

- If you can read your Bible (86% of the world's population is illiterate)

- If you have a roof over your head

- If you have $20 to your name

- If you ate today

... then you are blessed! Yes, you can be thankful for almost anything. Its just a matter of your perspective, intentional remembrance, and looking for new opportunities to be grateful.

Related articles

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How Does the Bible Encourage Us to Give Thanks, even in Hard Times?

6 Powerful Examples of Thanksgiving in the Bible



Photo credit: Getty Images/Prostock-Studio

Frank Santora is Lead Pastor of Faith Church, a multi-site church with locations in Connecticut and New York. Pastor Frank hosts a weekly television show, Destined to Win, which airs weekly on the Hillsong Channel and TBN. He has authored thirteen books, including the most recent, Modern Day Psalms and Good Good Father. To learn more about Pastor Frank and this ministry, please visit www.franksantora.cc. Photo by Michele Roman.
HARRISON, ID - At around 8:10 p.m. Wednesday, the Kootenai County 911 Center received a call from a homeowner in the Gotham Bay area reporting a possible burglary in progress at his residence.

The homeowner was able to see a suspect and vehicle on his security cameras. Several deputies responded to the area and one deputy located the vehicle on Gotham Bay Road heading towards Highway 97. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office says the suspect stopped in the roadway, and a deputy exited his vehicle and began giving commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle. At this time the suspect rammed the patrol vehicle, disabling it. The suspect then continued towards Highway 97.

As more deputies arrived in the area they located the suspect vehicle behind a locked gate to another property. Deputies were able to see the suspect still in the drivers seat. Commands were given, however the suspect refused to follow commands or exit the vehicle.

While deputies were trying to communicate with the suspect, it was learned a firearm was stolen from the residence. As a result of pursuit, the failure to follow commands and a firearm was stolen, the Joint Agency SWAT team was requested to the scene.

After an hour standoff, the suspect was taken into custody. During the arrest, the suspect sustained some minor injuries due to a K-9 bite. No deputies were injured in the incident.

The suspect was identified as 38-year-old Justin A. Klauba of Post Falls. Klauba was arrested and charged with felony malicious injury to property, felony burglary, felony eluding and resisting arrest. Klauba has no prior criminal history in Kootenai County.
NAMPA - On November 5th, 2021, the family of 22-year-old Luis Garcia, of Nampa, reported him as missing to the Nampa Police Department. Police entered Garcia as a missing person into the National Crime Information System, opened an investigation, and began to look for him.

On November 6th, 2021, the Caldwell Police Department discovered Garcia in a residential area near the roadway; he had sustained numerous injuries. Garcia was transported to a local hospital where he later died from what was determined as blunt force trauma.

On November 12th, 25-year-old Tomas Pina Sarmiento, of Nampa, was arrested by the Nampa Police Department and charged with the murdered of Garcia.
Michigan utilities are struggling to provide reliable energy to customers as storms become more frequent and severe.

This past summer, Consumers Energy officials said they saw their sixth-worst storm ever for the number of people losing power. The company replaced 1,600 utility poles in its aftermath, said Joshua Paciorek, the West Michigan media relations specialist for the company.

That same storm on Aug. 10 ranked second-worst in DTE Energy history, leaving 700,000 customers powerless.

These extreme weather patterns will persist as the climate continues to warm from greenhouse gases linked to fossil fuels, scientists say.

This has been on our radar for quite some time, said Public Service Commissioner Tremaine Phillips. We know that the impacts of climate change in terms of frequency and severity of weather events is only going to increase.

A worried Public Service Commission recently held a conference to investigate how best to prepare for and withstand such conditions.

The state ranks around the national average  1.3 interruptions per customer  in terms of outage frequencies, but ranks significantly worse for the time it takes utility companies to restore service once there is an outage.

Nationwide, the average minutes of outage per customer during bad weather is 194.5, said Douglas Jester, the managing partner at 5 Lakes Energy, a pro-clean energy consulting firm, and a speaker at the conference.

Michigans average is more than 350, he said.

DTE Energy recently announced a $7 billion investment, and Consumers Energy proposed a similar $5.4 billion package to improve power grid reliability and resiliency.

Their investments, made over five years, will ramp up tree trimming, replace aging poles with thicker ones and put sensors on them to efficiently pinpoint the precise location of an outage, Phillips said. The sensors will improve service restoration time.

The investment, which will come from consumer ratepayers, will hone the roadside distribution system, the greatest source of potential unreliability, Phillips said. Tree trimming is the best way to improve reliability in this area.

Officials are looking to expand funding support beyond consumers because more than just consumers benefit from reliable energy, Phillips said.

Ensuring the reliability and resilience of a hospital or of a grocery store does not just benefit rate payers in those communities  that benefits the community at large, he said.

Officials are looking to municipalities, the state and other sources for funding reliability efforts.

It cant just be ratepayers because the benefit is not borne just on ratepayers, Phillips said.

Its unclear how much the pending federal infrastructure bill will be put into distribution management efforts.

The challenge DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, the states largest utilities, faces stems from the vast area they serve.

A local, publicly owned utility can more quickly respond to outages, said Katie Abraham, the chief executive officer of the Michigan Municipal Electric Association, which represents 40 local public utilities.

When the power goes out or theres a storm in the area, our lineman and line crews live in the communities and know when it goes out, so theyre very quick to respond and restore it, Abraham said.

There are several communities interested in switching to this model, but theres usually an existing utility company that residents would have to buy out, making the transition costly, said Abraham.

Still, Ann Arbor is looking into the switch.

Both public and private utilities are evaluating the cost-effectiveness of moving lines underground. For densely populated communities frequently experiencing outages, this solution might be viable, Phillips said. But it doesnt make sense for every area.

There needs to be a middle ground between business as usual and undergrounding the entire system, he said.

Since 1974, Michigan has required underground lines for all new distribution developments, so it already exists, Jester said. Moving existing overhead lines in developed areas underground gets expensive as utilities dig into sidewalks and buildings.

Even so, DTE has a pilot program underway to gauge the success of putting existing overhead lines underground.

One spur to improving service might be expanding who qualifies for a refund when the power goes out. Right now, if someone loses power during a storm, it can take up to five days without power to qualify for a refund, Jester said.

We need to use the tools of economic regulation and provide economic incentives for more reliable distribution, he said.

With more threatening storms to come, utilities and regulators are searching for ways to combat the challenges they represent.

Climate change isnt something that is in our distant or even near future  its happening now, Phillips said. We have to make our systems more resilient and adapt them to the realities of a changing climate.
Sets stage for Indian Pharmaceutical Industry to be Global Leader with focus on Innovation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the  Global Innovation Summit-2021, organized by Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and its partners to bring together world leaders from across different stakeholder groups including government, industry, academia, investors, and researchers to discuss and strategize priorities to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem that will enable Indian pharmaceutical industry to further consolidate its position as a global leader and become an innovation hub for the world.

Modi said, I invite everyone to ideate in India, innovate in India and make in India and make for the world. Discover your true strength and serve the world. We have the talent, resources and the ecosystem required for innovation and enterprise. Our rapid strides, our speed of innovation and the scale of our achievements in the pharma sector have been noticed by the world. This is the best time to move forward and scale new heights.

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said, I am very confident that India will achieve a very ambitious target of $130 billion pharma industry by 2030.

The meet witnessed a robust discussion on the approach to innovation in the pharma industry and ways to create a positive impact on health and healthcare. The event covered discussions on creating an enabling regulatory landscape, funding support, linkages between academia and industry and high-quality infrastructure setup.

The Indian pharma industry aspires to grow to $120-130 billion from the current value of $44 billion over the next decade, increasing its contribution to GDP by 100 basis points. Keeping this in perspective, the event took stock of and discussed recommendations to improve the innovation landscape in India; sharing learnings and emerging trends in the global innovation landscape; providing a platform for innovation start-ups to showcase their ideas and achievements; and showcasing exciting local research to support Discover in India and enhance access.
Inaugurates Yoda Lifeline Diagnostics in Hyderabad

The Vice President (VP), M Venkaiah Naidu emphasised the need to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare for all and suggested the modern multi-speciality hospitals also start satellite centres in rural areas.

Inaugurating Yoda Life Line Diagnostics in Hyderabad, the VP praised the Central governments decision to set up at least one medical college in each district. In this regard, he further suggested the governments envision one medical college in each revenue sub-division. "This would not only address the shortage of trained manpower in the medical profession but also increase peoples access to quality healthcare," he said.

Expressing his happiness over the setting up of this state-of-the-art diagnostic centre in Hyderabad, Naidu called for leveraging advances in technology to also provide such facilities for the people in rural areas.

Appreciating the efforts of Sudhakar Kancharla in bringing a fully equipped state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory capable of in-depth disease characterisation, the VP lauded YODA for using the latest prediction technologies for the benefit of people.
Early detection and treatment of diabetes and hypertension through widespread screening is a potential strategy to reduce the substantial lifetime health and cost burdens associated with these illnesses in India

India faces a high burden of diabetes and hypertension. Currently, there is a dearth of economic evidence about screening programmes, affected age groups, and frequency of screening for these diseases in Indian settings.

A study, funded by Department of Health Research, Government of India, has assessed the cost effectiveness of population-based screening for diabetes and hypertension compared with current practice in India for different scenarios, according to type of screening test, population age group, and pattern of healthcare use.

A meta-analysis was done to assess the effectiveness of population-based screening. Primary data were collected from two Indian states (Haryana and Tamil Nadu) to assess the cost of screening.

The incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained across various strategies for population-based screening for diabetes and hypertension ranged from $002 million to $003 million. At the current pattern of health services use, none of the screening strategies of annual screening, screening every 3 years, and screening every 5 years was found to be cost-effective at a threshold of 1-time per capita gross domestic product in India.

"If the share of treatment for patients with newly diagnosed uncomplicated diabetes or hypertension at health and wellness centres increases to 70%, from the existing 4% at subcentres and primary health centres, annual population-based screening becomes a cost saving strategy", said Gunjeet Kaur, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

According to the researchers, population-based screening for diabetes and hypertension in India could potentially reduce time to diagnosis and treatment and be cost-effective if it is linked to comprehensive primary health care through health and wellness centres for provision of treatment to patients who screen positive.

Adding his perspective on the need for a national policy to address the growing burden of diabetes, Dr Parag Shah, Endocrinologist, Gujarat Endocrine Centre said, Unfortunately, out of the total number of diabetic populations 70% of cases occur in low- and middle- social income countries (LMIC) which results in consumption of high-calorie foods as well as decreasing physical activity. Keeping this global scenario in mind and particularly for India, it is very essential that we have a national policy such as public and healthcare provider education programs. There is an urgent need to translate the prevention initiatives into the policies to detect the individuals at risk and allow them access to the proper lifestyle either through counseling or through the structured lifestyle intervention programs. This is particularly essential because once individuals develop diabetes especially type 2 diabetes it is very difficult for a country like India to have the huge burden of diabetes which would take a huge tear on our health resources."

Dr Manbeena Chawla

(manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com)
As BP's Wild Bean Cafe marks its 20th anniversary this year, in the same breath, its Design-A-Cup competition provided young South Africans with a platform to express themselves by showcasing their wild, weird, and wonderful designs on the latest Wild Bean Cafe cup.

Winners of the Wild Bean Cafe Design-A-Cup

Under the African sun

Good vibes, good music

Its a celebration

This years theme, My Cup, My Expression was meant to be poetic and reflective of the yearning spirit of most creatives during this time. The theme was a dovetail from the 20-year anniversary celebrations and therefore centred around what celebration means to you and how you would translate that celebration in a cup.This years edition attracted over 300 registrations from designers across the country. The entrants didnt disappoint, taking creativity to the next level and displaying South Africas rich talent pool and diversity. There was great diversity in the excellent designs received.BP head of convenience, Belinda Petersen, said, We had a tough time shortlisting the top five winners from the dozens of inspiring designs. It was exciting to see the passion these young people have put into their work. This campaign has been running for three years and each year it just gets bigger, stronger and more enjoyable. This years competition also sees the first all-female top three finalists representing three cities.The winners were announced in person at a celebration held at BP Beyers Naude on 28 October 2021.In first place, winning the grand prize of R100,000 is Cape Town-born interior architecture design student Mika De Villiers. Having been encouraged by her father to enter the competition, 21-year-old Mika knew she had to put her best foot forward and give her competition the mother of all challenges. As a third-year student at Inscape Education Group in Cape Town, Mika says she plans to incorporate graphic design and more creativity into her work. Mika says her design was inspired by the African sun and Mzansis diversity.We have this beautiful rainbow nation and I wanted to capture that in a uniquely inclusive manner  showcasing all our cultures in a way that tells our story of diversity to the international community, she said.Mika will use her cash prize to study further next year - pursuing an honours degree in architecture design.I entered the competition fully prepared to win, I gave it my all and I am very happy that my hard work has paid off. My parents also get a breather from paying tuition fees. Im truly grateful to be able to take the pressure off my parents.In second place, 22- year-old Vega School graphic design student Kelly Nsendas passion for creativity started at the tender age of four. Hailing from Pretoria, Kellys design was inspired by the citys vibrant atmosphere, night life and music, which is beautifully reflected through the musical instruments and party scene on the cup. As runner-up, Kelly receives a MacBook Pro and a one-year Adobe Creative Cloud licence, which she will use to master her craft at Vega.In making my career choice, I realised that you dont always have to take the traditional, socially acceptable route. Take pride in what you do, thats all that matters really, she said.A detailed design of celebration inspired by the vuvuzela, 22-year-old Latisha Ramsamys creative representation of Mzansis culture saw her take the third spot. Latisha hails from the city of gold and is a third-year graphic design student at the University of Johannesburg.I am so grateful for the unwavering support from my mom, who despite being a single parent, did everything to ensure that I pursue my creative passion. Losing her job last year left us in dire straits and winning the MacBook Pro will help push my design career even further, she said.Petersen said the impact that the prizes have on the designers is a real win-win as they have poured their love and energy into the BP brand. It is probably one of the most emotional campaigns that we have. All I want to say to all three winners is congratulations and keep doing what you are doing. We are exceptionally proud, and we are happy to have you onboard, she said.
The winners have been revealed for the 2021 South African Loyalty Awards, an awards platform developed specifically to celebrate loyalty excellence and innovation in the country.

Source: Checkers

Headline awards winners

Additional awards

The South African Loyalty Awards, now in its third year, was initiated by Truth, a local loyalty and CRM consultancy based in Cape Town. Truth reported a growth in the number of entries into the South African Loyalty Awards, and also increased the number of awards categories to 12 this year."Our main purpose for launching the South African Loyalty Awards is to recognise loyalty excellence and showcase South Africas best programmes, loyalty innovations, data applications and loyalty/CRM campaigns," the company said.A robust judging process was administered, through 11 experienced loyalty and CRM professionals around the globe. Truth noted that each entry was assessed against stringent criteria, measuring how loyalty and CRM excellence can drive commercial results and greater customer experiences.This year's judging panel comprised: Nicholas Bednall, Ursula Kuni, Candice Goodman, Angelo Clayton, Wendy Knowler, Bronwen Rohland, Keith Lindsay, Matt Oldham, Andrew Hall, Zandile Manana and Thandi Jamba.The big headline awards 'Best Programme of the Year' are awarded to companies for running the best programme in their sector across six categories, resulting in outstanding performance results and overall customer loyalty experience.Headline awards were awarded to: Best Loyalty Programme: Retail  Checkers Xtra Savings Best Loyalty Programme: Financial Services  FNB eBucks Best Loyalty Programme: Restaurant/QSR  Kauai Best Loyalty Programme: B2B  Hollard Trucking Best Loyalty Programme: Newcomer  Shoprite Best Loyalty Programme: Open  MySchool My Village My PlanetTruth made special mention of eBucks, Kauai and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet for winning the best programme of the year, in their respective categories, for the third year running. Best Loyalty Agency (Marketing/Rewards) of the Year: Achievements Awards Group Best Loyalty Technology Vendor: V&S innovations Best Short-term Loyalty Marketing Campaign: TFGrewards Best Strategic Use of Data Analytics/CRM Applications: Checkers Xtra Savings (This marks two overall wins for the retailer this year) Most Innovative Use of Technology for Loyalty: eBucks (This marks two overall wins for the multichannel platform this year) Best Loyalty Community or Environmental Initiative/Campaign: MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Best Loyalty Team: MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet (This marks three wins for the fundraising programme this year)The 2022 South African Loyalty Awards will open for entries on 4 February 2022.
With twenty of South Africa's most loved retail brands and the choice to shop them online or in-store at any of the 3,000 outlets across the country, it's no secret that TFG is home to Africa's biggest choice of fashion and lifestyle options this Black Friday. Whether is it fashion or tech, sportswear, homeware, jewellery or value, there are more than 140 Black Friday deals across 50,000 products at TFG!

This year, we continue to adhere to Covid-19 regulations, however with Level-1 restrictions, we believe Black Friday will be a huge event, and we expect to get to levels of trade similar to 2019. We want to give our customers the very widest choice and flexibility during the Black Friday period and some of the offers will run from two weeks before 27 November and extend to Cyber Monday. Offers will vary from 3-for-2, percentage-off offers, Buy-1-and-Get-1-Free and Online Exclusive deals. said TFG CEO Anthony Thunstrom.TFG brands will ensure adherence to all lockdown regulations as stipulated by the South African government. Strict adherence to sanitisation, curfews and limited shoppers in stores throughout the Black Friday and Christmas trade will be adhered to.After another challenging year we have all had to endure, we have decided to make Black Friday shopping even more rewarding for our customers. Between 23 and 29 November, TFG Rewards customers will stand a chance walk away with a cool R1 million prize! Keep an eye out on all major media channels, in-store and online for more details, concluded Thunstrom.So this Black Friday the choice really is yours! Shop TFGs Black Friday however you wish  either in your favourite TFG store or safely online with various ways to pay including your TFG account. Enjoy free delivery on orders over R500 and free Click and Collect from over 900 stores countrywide.With 30 retail brands that trade in fashion, value, jewellery, accessories, sporting apparel, cellular, homeware and furniture, TFG is one of the leading retail groups in South Africa. Besides South Africa, TFG Africa also has a presence in Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini through various retail brands. TFG first entered the UK market through the acquisition of the premium womenswear brand Phase Eight in 2015, followed by the acquisition of Whistles in 2016 and Hobbs in 2017. TFGs presence in the Australian market was strengthened through its acquisition in July 2017 of Retail Apparel Group Pty Ltd (RAG), a leading Australian menswear apparel retailer. TFGs vision is To create the most remarkable omnichannel experiences for our customers. TFG has over 4,200 outlets in 25 countries and employs more than 34,800 people with over 26.4 million customers (RSA).Visit us at www.tfglimited.co.za or follow us on Facebook Twitter , and LinkedIn
South African sugar producer Tongaat Hulett said on Wednesday Mauritius-based investment firm Magister will underwrite half of its R4bn ($258m) rights issue, which could give the unlisted entity a majority stake.

Source: feelphotoz via Pixabay

Shares in the company, amongst the biggest sugar producers in South Africa, tumbled 28% after it announced the planned cash call designed to help it cut its debt.Half of the proposed rights issue, or R2bn, will be underwritten by Magister Investments, Tongaat said in a statement."We have agreed that they (Magister) get a board seat for every 20% of shares that they own, with a maximum cap of 60%," Gavin Hudson, CEO of Tongaat told Reuters."We assume that they would be a large shareholder by the end of the rights offer. But that will be determined in January or February next year."Chief Financial Officer Rob Aitken said if minority shareholders do not subscribe to the remaining rights issue, then Magister's stake could reach roughly 60%.If minorities subscribe, then Magister's holding will be somewhere in "mid-range," he said.The company's market value shrunk almost 90% in the last two years following its disclosure that it had overstated its revenue, profits and assets in previous years. It was forced to bring in new management who took measures to clean up its books and cut debt.While CEO Hudson said the rights offer, if successful, would bring its debt to a more "sustainable level", market participants sold the stock as they were expecting a rights offer of R2bn, analysts said.
develoPPP Ventures is calling the second cohort of young innovative companies, improving living conditions in a developing or emerging country and who are planning to scale up, to apply for a grant of up to 100,000.

The startup programme was launched earlier this year on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and is implemented by DEG  Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH. The programme aims to empower startups with entrepreneurial support and a grant of up to 100,000 for growth investments.The call is open to startups with innovative business models with a sustainable economic, ecological or social impact in a developing or emerging country. Since the grant is targeted towards growth investments, startups applying should have achieved a proof of concept and are ready to scale.develoPPP Ventures was initially launched in Kenya, which already has a lively startup scene, after which, the program will be gradually expanded to cover more countries. The roll-out in Kenya is supported by impact investment specialist Seedstars and business incubator NaiLab, who bring years of expertise in impact financing, access to a vibrant Kenyan ecosystem and expertise in helping young companies grow to the table.The program is open to startups with their head office or with a branch registered in Kenya. develoPPP Ventures supports the scaling of impact-driven business models with a grant of up to 100,000 for companies that manage to acquire matching funds from other sources of at least the same amount. In addition, startups receive tailored support from technical experts for their growth journey. The second call for proposals is now open until 31 December 2021.For more, go to www.develoPPP.de/ventures
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Whistleblowers in the United States military exposed a strike in Syria that resulted in the massacre of around 70 women and children, according to an investigation by the New York Times.



The command responsible for the strike conceded a war crime may have taken place, but a report by the Office of the Inspector General for the Defense Department removed this opinion.



Officials in the Pentagon impeded an investigation and ensured no one would ever be held accountable for the civilian deaths. They also turned on one of the whistleblowers, forcing them out of their position in the I.G.s office.



What happened proves once again that going through proper channels can be a fruitless and risky career-ending effort.



Lisa Ling, a former tech sergeant who worked on drone surveillance systems and is a known whistleblower, reacted, Again, the public is notified of a possible war crime by a brave whistleblower who was eventually forced out of their job.



This is a pattern that exemplifies the need for robust whistleblower protections especially for the intelligence community so often carved out of them. We need more light shined in these secret spaces so that this doesnt happen again, and again, and again, without the public knowing what is done in our name.



As the Times reported, on March 18, 2019, In the last days of the battle against the Islamic State in Syria, when members of the once-fierce caliphate were cornered in a dirt field next to a town called Baghuz, a U.S. military drone circled high overhead, hunting for military targets. But it saw only a large crowd of women and children huddled against a river bank.



U.S. military forces launched a double tap strike. An American F-15E attack jet dropped a 500-pound bomb. As survivors scrambled for cover, another jet dropped a 2,000-pound bomb that killed most of the survivors. A high-definition drone recorded the scene prior to the bombing. Two or three men were near a compound. Though they had rifles, neither engaged coalition forces. Women and children were observed in the area.



At nearly every step, the military made moves that concealed the catastrophic strike. The death toll was downplayed. Reports were delayed, sanitized, and classified, and the Times added, Coalition forces bulldozed the blast site.



The strike was the work of a classified U.S. special operations unit known as Task Force 9. They were responsible for the third-worst casualty event in Syria. According to the Times, an unnamed Air Force intelligence officer in the Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar contacted Lieutenant Colonel Dean Korsak, who was an Air Force lawyer. They were ordered to preserve video and other evidence from the F-15E squadron and drone crew.



Korsak concluded a possible war crime was committed that required an independent investigation. He noted that Task Force 9 was clearly seeking to cover up incidents like this strike by logging false entries after the factfor example, the man had a gun.



The Air Forces Office of Special Investigations was notified. However, as the Times recalled, a major refused to investigate because civilian casualties were only investigated if there was a potential for media attention, concern with outcry from local community/government, [and/or] concern sensitive images may get out.

In other words, if the Pentagon needed to get ahead of a potential scandal, they would investigate and craft a narrative that could tamp down outrage. But they did not believe the Baghuz strike would ever make headlines.



Korsak tried once more to convince his superiors to investigate in May 2019. They still refused. So Korsak filed a hotline complaint with the I.G.s office in August 2019.



Gene Tate, a former Navy officer who had worked for years as a civilian analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Counterterrorism Center before moving to the inspector generals office, told the Times, When [Korsak] came to us, he wanted to make it very clear he had tried everything else first. He felt the I.G. hotline was the only option remaining.



Roadblocks prevented Tate from having any success. He could not find the footage from the task force drone that called in the strike. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) removed the war crime finding from a report on the massacre.



In January 2020, according to the Times investigation, the deputy inspector general refused to sign off on a memo that would have alerted authorities to the war crime.



Tate did not hesitate to criticize leadership in the I.G.s office, and by October 2020, he was forced out of the office.



In May 2021, Tate contacted the Senate Armed Services Committee and sent a 10-page letter that detailed the Baghuz strike. However, as of November 13, he was still waiting for any member of the committee to call him back.



*



To further illustrate how stunning it is that senators on the committee ignored what Tate shared, CIA officers in Syria were so alarmed by the conduct of Task Force 9 that they complained to the I.G.s office for the Defense Department.



CIA officers alleged that in 10 incidents the secretive task force hit targets knowing civilians would be killed, according to one former task force officer quoted by the Times.



The New York Times shared their reporting with CENTCOM prior to publication and asked for official comment. CENTCOM acknowledged 80 people were killed but insisted the strike was justified.



The bombs killed 16 fighters and four civilians.As for the other 60 people killed, the statement said it was not clear that they were civilians, in part because women and children in the Islamic State sometimes took up arms, according to CENTCOM.

This is part of the legacy of President Barack Obamas administration. He developed a method of counting civilian casualties that would not box him in.



In 2012, the Times reported all military-age males in a strike zone found dead were presumed to be combatants unless there was explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent.



If commanding officers refuse to support an investigation into a massacre, then they never have to worry about an investigation moving deaths in the combatant column to the civilian column, which would make them look bad.



On November 3, the Air Force released the findings of the investigation into the U.S. drone strike in Kabul on August 29 that killed Zemerai Ahmadi, an aid worker and father, his three sons, two of his nephews, and three girls who were toddlers. They exonerated themselves.



The investigation found no violation of law including the law of war, Air Force Inspector General Sami Said declared. We did find execution errors. Combined with confirmation bias and communication breakdowns, that regrettably led to civilian casualties.



But Said is undoubtedly implicated in the coverup of countless war crimes committed by Task Force 9 and various other special operations units, which engage in similar bombing attacks.



Meanwhile, drone whistleblower Daniel Hale is in a communications management unit (CMU) at a medium-security federal prison in Marion, Illinois. He is closely monitored by the FBI and Bureau of Prisons officials so they can prevent him from further commenting on the bloodshed caused by U.S. drone strikes.



Reflecting on how the cycle of violence with militant groups continues, Ling stated, They dont hate our way of life. They rightfully hate our way of killing. Seventy innocent women and children were needlessly killed in Syria, 10 killed in Afghanistan, and plenty more we will never know about.



These are human beings, and we took their lives while using sanitized words with fancy legal footwork to get away with breaking international law. It is wrong. It is terror, and I believe Americans are complicit as long as we remain silent about what is being done in our name.



We cannot fight a war on terror with more terror, Ling concluded.

The post Pentagon And Its Overseers Suppressed Whistleblowers Who Challenged Massacre In Syria appeared first on Shadowproof.
Jacob Chansley, the "Q-Anon Shaman," was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Wednesday after being maliciously overcharged by the feds with "obstructing an official proceeding of Congress" and accepting a plea deal to avoid being locked up for potentially two decades.



From American Greatness, "Jacob Chansley, the 'QAnon Shaman,' Sentenced to 41 Months in Jail":

D.C. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth today sentenced Jacob Chansley, the so-called "QAnon shaman," to serve 41 months in prison for his role in the January 6 protest at the Capitol building.



Chansley, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, a felony applied to at least 220 Capitol protester cases. The post-Enron law was not intended to be used against political protesters; this is the first time the U.S. Department of Justice has charged political protesters with the felony count, which is publishable by up to 20 years in prison.



Chansley turned himself in to law enforcement on January 11; he since has spent 317 days in jail, nearly all in solitary confinement. Lamberth twice denied Chansley's release and again ordered him to remain incarcerated after his September plea agreement.



Joe Biden's Justice Department accused Chansleywho committed no violent act and has no criminal recordof being a domestic terrorist and recommended a harsh jail sentence to "deter" future domestic terrorists. "The need to deter others especially in cases of domestic terrorism, which the breach of the Capitol certainly was," assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall wrote in the government's sentencing memo. Biden's Justice Department set the sentencing range between 41 and 51 months and asked for the maximum prison time.



Paschall admitted in court that Chansely did not destroy any property or assault a police officer but claimed his conduct was "not peaceful." Contrary to allegations contained in the government's filings, Chansley walked through an open door on the east side of the building and spoke with Capitol police, who told Chansley and others that "we're not against . . . you need to show us . . . no attacking, no assault, remain calm."



Paschall called Chansley's "vitriolic messages" posted on social media before January 6 "a call to battle." Pashcall accused Chansley of leaving a "chilling" note to Vice President Mike Pence that warned "justice is coming." The peaceful transfer of power, Paschall told Lamberth, is "why our government is so strong and so special."



Chansley's lawyer, Albert Watkins, repeatedly praised the Justice Department for its handling of the January 6 investigation. Watkins told Lamberth that Chansley has been denied access to family members since January. A court-ordered psychological examination concluded Chansley, an Navy veteran, suffers from personality disorders.



In a heartfelt plea to Lamberth, Chansley asked for mercy, explaining the trauma he endured during 10 months in solitary confinement. He said he suffered from starvation, isolation, and depression that was exacerbated by the death of his grandfather while he was behind bars. "The fact I wasn't there eats me up every day," Chansley told Lamberth, a Reagan appointee. Chansley repeatedly admitted his guilt and expressed remorse for what he did. "I was in jail because I committed a crime."



Lamberth commended Chansley's remarks"the most remarkable I've ever heard"but nonetheless sentenced Chansley to 41 months in prison. "What you did was horrific," Lamberth lectured. Noting Chansley did not attack a police officer, Lamberth told Chansley he "made himself the epitome" of what happened on January 6 and lamented the "serious nature of the crime itself."



Chansley's 317 days in jail under pretrial detention orders will apply as time served.

Prosecutors wanted him to be jailed for 51 months in order to "send a message."





Prosecutors have called for 51 months in prison for Chansley, which Paschall said would send a message & deter events like those of Jan. 6 from occurring again.



"Dont think the justice system will sit idly by while you attempt to end the peaceful transition of power," she said.  julia reinstein  (@juliareinstein) November 17, 2021



"This has to be peaceful!" Chansley shouted at fellow protesters after walking into the Capitol through a wide open door. "We have the right to peacefully assemble!"



WATCH:









Just saw this @NewYorker video for the first time of the moment Q-Shaman temporarily ascended to the presidency of the Senate. pic.twitter.com/ka916CyWNt  Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 19, 2021

Newly released footage of the Capitol Insurrection shows Q Shaman Jacob Chansley leading a prayer that includes thanking God for sending the inspiration needed for these police officers to let us into the building. Hmm...



The New Yorker https://t.co/gotl6KDQp7 via @YouTube  Byron Campbell (@YearIsYesterday) January 18, 2021



The "epitome" of Jan 6 is a exuberant guy with mental issues who walked into the Capitol, encouraged everyone to be peaceful, said a prayer, wrote a note saying "justice is coming," then walked out without incident.



While antifa rioters were allowed to wreck havoc in DC during Trump's inauguration, assault Trump supporters and set fire to cars in the streets and ended up being rewarded for it with the city handing them a $1.6 million settlement, Jan 6 protesters have been locked in solitary confinement, subject to racial abuse and torture at the hands of racist black DC jail guards and prosecuted as domestic terrorists!











This two-tiered "justice" system is what makes "our" government "so special!"



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Previously we noted that despite tiny NATO-member Estonia not actually sharing a border with Belarus, its government ordered snap military drills and the erecting of additional barbed-wire along its border with Russia in a message of solidarity with Poland amid the migrant standoff.

Fresh EU sanctions on Minsk, coupled with persisting clashes at the Belarus-Poland border, mean that things could easily escalate to a military conflict between the two countries, and into a broader NATO-Russia-Belarus standoff, given Moscow is Lukashenko's closest ally. Alarmingly, on Thursday the Belarusian government cited a noticeable uptick in NATO aircraft activity "along the state border of Belarus".

Via CNN

The Belarusian Defense Ministry statement was translated by Russian media sources: "Our radio and radar reconnaissance means registered constant increase in the intensity of flights of reconnaissance and combat aviation of NATO member states along the state border of Belarus, including in the airspace of Ukraine," it said.

More broadly, the defense ministry connected the heightened activity to a threatening NATO build-up at its border - something which was persistently emphasized during last year's crackdown on anti-Lukashenko protests, for which Minsk was slapped with EU sanctions the first time around (with fresh EU sanctions being readied this week as Lukashenko stands accuses of orchestrating the migrant crisis).

According to further details of the allegation via TASS:

The total number of these flights had doubled recently, while flights by US aircraft increased by 50%, the ministry said. Unmanned surveillance aircraft continue to be used a lot, it said. The aircraft fly as close as 15-20 kilometers from the Belarusian border, according to the statement.

Belarus says the number of NATO flights has "almost doubled" in recent years. "These facts confirm the buildup of military activity near our borders and testify to the further escalation of the situation around Belarus," the defense ministry said.

Chaotic scenes continue to emerge at border camps made up of mostly Middle Eastern migrants seeking to make their way to Germany or other Western Europe countries:

#Belarus Another large group of migrants is leaving the border right now. Today, Iraq plans to evacuate Iraqi citizens from Belarus to Iraq pic.twitter.com/bJ7wHuwl4f  Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) November 18, 2021

Also on Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin turned Europe's accusations around, saying the migrant crisis is instead being used as a pretext to further pressure Belarus:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has alleged that western countries are using the ongoing immigration crisis at the Belarus-Poland border as a pretext for escalating tensions and exercising pressure against Belarus  Moscow's neighbor and ally.

Describing before a foreign ministry conference that the EU is "violating their own obligations in humanitarian sphere" due to harsh treatment of migrants at the Polish border, the Russian leader explained:

"I just feel sorry for the children. [Polish forces] pour water and tear gas there, throw grenades there. Helicopters fly along the border and [Polish side] turns the sirens on at nights."

Some of the chaotic nighttime scenes from the border days ago...

Nieopodal ok.100-os.grupa migrantow oczekiwaa na mozliwosc nielegalnego przekroczenia granicy. Biaorusini wyposazyli cudzoziemcow w gaz zawiacy, ktory zosta uzyty w kierunku polskich suzb. Tej oraz kolejnym probom nielegalnego przekroczenia gr. zapobieglismy pic.twitter.com/aUq2WLbv0T  Straz Graniczna (@Straz_Graniczna) November 13, 2021

For over the past year since Lukashenko's contested re-election to a sixth term, Western mainstream media has been intensely amplifying Belarusian opposition voices...

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana @Tsihanouskaya tells me migrants on the Belarus/Poland border are in the hands of a criminal who wants to take revenge on EU because they are standing with Belarusians  and stresses Lukashenko's regime does not represent Belarusians. pic.twitter.com/SAY7AdHYdF  Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) November 17, 2021

Some observers have said that Belarus is likely next on NATO's list of countries targeted for regime change, given strongman Lukashenko has been in power for approaching three decades, as makes up part of the so-called "union state".

* * *

And recall last week, when the crisis began grabbing international spotlight...
Documents provided exclusively to The Grayzone detail Canberras abandonment of Julian Assange, an Australian citizen, and provide shocking details of his prison suffering

Was the government of Australia aware of the US Central Intelligence Agency plot to assassinate Julian Assange, an Australian citizen and journalist arrested and now imprisoned under unrelentingly bleak, harsh conditions in the UK?

Why have the countrys elected leaders refused to publicly advocate for one of its citizens, who has been held on dubious charges and subjected to torture by a foreign power, according to UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer? What does Canberra know about Julians fate and when did it know it?

The Grayzone has obtained documents revealing that the Australian government has since day one been well-aware of Julians cruel treatment inside Londons maximum security Belmarsh Prison, and has done little to nothing about it. It has, in fact, turned a cold shoulder to the jailed journalist despite hearing his testimony of conditions so bad that his mind was shutting down.

Not only has Canberra failed to effectively challenge the US and UK governments overseeing Assanges imprisonment and prosecution; as these documents expose in stark detail, it appears to have colluded with them in the flagrant violation of an Australian citizens human rights, while doing its best to obscure the reality of his situation from the public.

On knowledge of CIA plot against Assange, Australias Department of Foreign Affairs issues snide non-denial denial

In the wake of Yahoo News startling September revelations of CIA plans to surveil, kidnap, and even kill WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, which confirmed and built upon a May 2020 expose by The Grayzones Max Blumenthal, officials in the NATO-oriented Five Eyes global spying network struggled to get their stories straight.

William Evanina, Washingtons top counterintelligence officer until his retirement in early 2021, told Yahoo the Five Eyes alliance was critical to Langleys dastardly plot, and we were very confident that Julians potential escape from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London could be prevented, by hook or by crook.

When asked whether the US had ever briefed or consulted the government of Julians native Australia on the operation, however, Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) dodged the question. For his part, Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister at the time of these deadly deliberations, claimed, the first I heard about this was in todays media.

It is certainly possible that elected officials in Canberra were kept in the dark about the CIAs proposals. Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was unaware of the very existence of Five Eyes until 1973, 17 years after his country became a signatory to the networks underpinning UKUSA agreement, following police raids on the offices of domestic spying agency the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, due to its withholding of information from the government.

Whether or not Turnbull was aware of the operation, DFATs response when a member of Julians family contacted the Department demanding Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne ask the Biden administration to drop the charges against him, and seeking comment on the Yahoo article, was disturbingly flippant.

Just because its written in a newspaper doesnt mean its truethe CIA has been accused of a lot of things, including faking the Moon landing, a DFAT official quipped in a classic non-denial denial.

These crude remarks were recorded in a letter sent to Payne by John Shipton, Julians father. The missive is just one of many documents provided exclusively to Grayzone by Kellie Tranter, Julians legal authority in Australia.

For years, Tranter has filed freedom of information requests with the Australian government in a campaign to uncover its true position on Julian, and to what extent its intimate alliance with Washington has limited its ability or willingness to push for his freedom.

The documents acquired by Tranter expose Canberra as anything but an advocate for Assange, the Australian citizen. Instead, throughout Julians time in the Ecuadorian Embassy, and imprisonment at Her Majestys Pleasure in Belmarsh high security prison  Britains Gitmo  the Australian government has been determinedly committed to seeing, hearing, and speaking no evil in his regard, despite possessing clear evidence of his dramatically waning physical and mental health, and the torturous conditions of his confinement.

Assange informs Canberra of US violations of his rights: This action was illegal

The records of a brief visit by Australian consulate officers to Belmarsh on May 17th 2019, one month after Assanges dramatic expulsion from the Embassy, are especially illustrative of Canberras attitude. Over the course of that meeting, Assange spoke in detail about prison conditions and his 23-hour-a-day solitary confinement.

He remains in his cell most of the day, with 40 minutes allocated each day for associations, the Australian consular officials noted. He is allowed outside for 30 minutes each day, although he said at times this does not happen, for reasons unstated. Unable to eat at all for a long period, he was now ingesting small amounts, collecting meals from the kitchen and returning to his cell.

Permitted just two personal visits each month, plus legal consultations, Assange mentioned his recent meeting with Nils Melzer and two medical experts specialized in examining potential victims of torture and other ill-treatment, and that he had so far been unable to speak to his family.

The WikiLeaks co-founder eschewed work programs which would afford him the opportunity to get out of his cell more often, according to the diplomats, on the grounds that he refused to engage in slave labour and needed time to prepare his legal case. Prisoners in British jails earn an average of $13 per week for hard, thankless toil on behalf of big business, which in turn profits immensely from their rank exploitation.

While mercifully prescribed antibiotics and codeine by prison doctors for an infected root canal, which can be life-threatening in the event the infection spreads, Assange was still waiting on reading glasses and had yet to see an optometrist. The jailed journalist went on to describe how one senior officer has it in for me, showing his visitors a charge sheet indicating that a search of his cell uncovered a razor blade, and hed failed to tidy it after an inspection.

A third infraction of any sort would result in exercise privileges being withdrawn, the document states. Possibly fearing reprisal, Assange asked that officials not raise these matters with prison authorities. Evidently, what might typically be considered an unambiguous indication of suicidal intentions was instead logged as a simple disciplinary matter.

Adding to his psychological toll, Assange reported that he had undergone blood tests, and been advised he was HIV-positive, a shocking diagnosis. However, subsequent examinations confirmed the test result to be a false positive, forcing Assange to wonder if the misdiagnosis was a mere error, or something else. It could well have been a grotesquely sick mind game, perhaps alluding to the bogus sexual assault allegations he had faced in Sweden, and intended to drive him toward madness.

Assange also presented the Australian consular officials with a recently-published UK Home Office deportation notice, informing him then-Secretary of State Sajid Javid had determined under the 1971 UK Immigration Act that his presence in the UK was not conducive to the public interest, and he would be removed from the UK without delay, with no chance of appealing the decision.

Mr. Assange expressed concern about surviving the current process and fears he would die if taken to the US. He claimed the US was going through his possessions that had remained at the Ecuadorian Embassy. He said that this action was illegal, the officers wrote. He stated that his possessions included two valuable artworks he planned to sell to raise funds for his legal defence, the manuscripts of two books, and legal papers. He expressed concern his legal material would be used against him by the US.

Assange was correct that sensitive documents were stolen by US authorities. Immediately following his arrest, his attorney Gareth Peirce contacted the Ecuadorian Embassy regarding this privileged material, demanding it be handed over as a matter of urgency. When at last his property was collected, all legal papers were missing save for two volumes of Supreme Court files and a number of pages of loose correspondence, making his extradition defense an even greater challenge than it already was.

Over the course of Julians initial extradition hearings in early 2020, assistant US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Gordon Kromberg implausibly pledged a taint team would excise material from these files so it would not be used in any resultant trial. Similarly feeble assurances of this ilk were offered during the recent appeal proceedings.

Conversely, there has so far been no unconvincing public guarantee against the abuse of any information illicitly obtained by UC Global, a CIA contractor, from its extensive surveillance of the Embassy. The Spanish private security firm went as far as bugging the buildings female bathroom, where the WikiLeaks founder conducted discussions with his lawyers, away from prying ears and eyes  or so he hoped.

Despite his situation, Julian somehow retained a vague shred of optimism about the future in discussions with consular officials, suggesting that the result of Australias federal election, which was held the very next day, may present a window for a new government to do something supportive for his case, asking that Marise Payne be briefed on developments.

As it was, Scott Morrisons Liberal National Coalition retained its grip on power  and no alarm was publicly raised about anything learned over the course of the consular visit. Indeed, remaining tight-lipped on Julians suffering, no matter how horrendous, was to be a matter of dedicated policy.

Australias DFAT denies any role in progressively severe abuse of Assange

On May 30th that year, WikiLeaks made the shock announcement that Julian had been moved to Belmarshs medical ward, expressing grave concerns about the state of his health. Almost immediately, DFATs Global Watch Office fired off an internal email drawing attention to the post.

The following day, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Nils Melzer proclaimed the collective persecution of Julian Assange must end here and now! The international legal veteran added that, in 20 years of work with victims of war, violence and political persecution, he had never seen a group of democratic states ganging up to deliberately isolate, demonize and abuse a single individual for such a long time and with so little regard for human dignity and the rule of law.

Next, Melzer fulminated against a relentless and unrestrained campaign of public mobbing, intimidation and defamation by the US, UK, Sweden and Ecuador, which had subjected him to persistent, progressively severe abuse ranging from systematic judicial persecution and arbitrary confinement in the Ecuadorian embassy, to his oppressive isolation, harassment and surveillance inside the embassy.

In response, Australias DFAT issued a statement rejecting any suggestion Canberra was complicit in psychological torture or has shown a lack of consular support in Assanges regard, claiming to be a staunch defender of human rights and strong advocate for humane treatment in the course of judicial processes, and expressing confidence that he was being treated appropriately.

Due to privacy considerations allegedly extended to all consular clients, the Department declined to divulge any further details related to his physical or mental state.

It added that the Australian High Commission in London previously raised any health concerns identified with Belmarsh prison authorities and these have been addressed, with further inquiries made following Julians move to the health ward.

The documents provided to The Grayzone indicate Canberra did indeed make repeated enquiries to Belmarsh by phone and mail in the wake of Wikileaks announcement, all of which went unanswered for six straight days. So why did Australias High Commissioner not intervene, and demand immediate clarity on an issue of literal life-and-death urgency?

Whatever the reason for the Australian governments foot-dragging, a consular file dated August 8th that year records how Shipton wrote to advise that Julian had been readmitted to Belmarshs sick bay, and a lawyer was drafting a letter to Marise Payne, requesting DFAT use its diplomatic sources to seek an independent medical assessment (ie outside the prison).

Then, 11 days later, Shipton mentioned that Julians brother, Gabriel, had recently visited the prison and was distressed by Assanges deteriorating condition, leading him to write letters to both Australian Governor General David Hurley and Morrison raising his fears.

On October 21st, Assange appeared in court for a pre-trial hearing in his extradition case. As was widely reported in the mainstream media, he appeared frail and discombobulated, struggling to recall his own name and date of birth when asked by the judge. When the presiding justice enquired whether he even knew what was happening, Assange responded, not exactly, indicating conditions in Belmarsh left him unable to think properly.

I dont understand how this is equitable, the imprisoned journalist stated. I cant research anything, I cant access any of my writing. Its very difficult where I am.

Assanges attorney, Mark Summers, argued that his initial extradition hearing, scheduled for February 2020, should be delayed by three months due to the complexity of the case  the evidencewould test the limits of most lawyers, he said, and discussed the immense difficulty of communicating with his client in the jail, given he lacked access to a computer.

The judge denied the request. As a result, Julian would be deprived of the most basic of access to the bare minimum needs for proper representation until just weeks prior to the hearing.

Assange attorney warns Australias DFAT of impending crisis

Three days later, Assange attorney Gareth Peirce wrote to the High Commission, asserting that if consular representatives had attended court, they will have undoubtedly noted what was clear for everyone present in court to observe  that his client was in shockingly poor conditionstruggling not only to cope but to articulate what he wishes to articulate.

Unbelievably, a DFAT report on the proceedings unearthed by Tranter made no mention whatsoever of Julians disheveled appearance, or his clearly frayed mental state.

Peirce went on to argue that under the circumstances, it was unsurprising Julian had not authorized prison officials to provide the Australian government with information regarding his medical treatment, which had been been grossly and unlawfully compromised over some time, including, disturbingly, even whilst he has been in Belmarsh prison, false information on at least one occasion having been provided to the press by very obviously internal sources.

We hope that what we are able to saywill be accepted by you as having been based on close observation, including by independent professional clinicians..Every professional warning provided to the prison, including by at least one independent doctor called in by Belmarsh, has been ignored, she wrote. We would be pleased to meet with you at any stage if by intervention in what is now an impending crisis [emphasis added], you can contribute to its amelioration and avoidance.

And so it was that consular officials visited Belmarsh November 1st. In their exchange, Assange criticized false statements made to the media by DFAT which suggested he had rejected offers of their support.

Next, he revealed that a prison doctor was concerned about his condition. In fact, Assange said his psychological state was so bad that his mind was shutting down, almost permanent isolation making it impossible for him to think or to prepare his defence.

He did not even have a pen with which to write, was unable to do any research, could not receive documents during legal visits, and all his mail was read by prison officials before it was given to him.

The next month, Professor Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at Kings College London, prepared a report on Julians psychiatric state based on meetings throughout his first six months in Belmarsh, conversations with his parents, friends, colleagues and Stella Morris, his partner and mother of his two children.

As was revealed in Judge Vanessa Baraitsers January ruling on the US extradition request, Kopelman diagnosed Julian with a severe recurrent depressive disorder, which was occasionally accompanied by psychotic features such as hallucinations, and frequent suicidal thoughts.

His symptoms furthermore included loss of sleep and weight, impaired concentration, a persistent feeling of being on the verge of tears, and state of acute agitation in which he paced his cell until exhausted, punching his head or banging it against the wall.

Assange commented to Kopelman that he believed his life was not worth living, he thought about suicide hundreds of times a day, and had a constant desire to self-harm or commit suicide, describing plans to kill himself that the professor considered highly plausible.

Calls to The Samaritans, a UK charity helpline providing emotional support to those in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide, were virtually a nightly occurrence, and on occasions when he had not been able to reach them, Assange had slashed his thigh and abdomen to distract from his sense of isolation.

Kopelman concluded that, if Assange was held in solitary confinement in the US for a prolonged period, his mental health would deteriorate substantially resulting in persistently severe clinical depression and the severe exacerbation of his anxiety disorder, PTSD and suicidal ideas, not least because various protective factors available to him in the UK would be absent Stateside.

For example, he speaks to his partner by telephone nearly every day and, before lockdown, was visited by her and his children, various friends, his father, and other relatives[Kopelman] considered there to be an abundance of known risk factors indicating a very high risk of suicide, Baraitser recorded. He stated, I am as confident as a psychiatrist ever can be that, if extradition to the US were to become imminent, Mr. Assange will find a way of suiciding.

The professors reports were fundamental to the extradition orders rejection  a surprising outcome, given Baraitser previously approved extradition in 96% of cases upon which she has ruled.

Nonetheless, she accepted every other argument and charge put forward by the Department of Justice, in effect criminalizing a great many entirely legitimate journalistic activities, and setting the chilling precedent that citizens of any country can be extradited to the US for alleged breaches of its national laws, therefore implying Washingtons legal jurisdiction is global in scale.

Files on Australias DFAT discussions with US Secretary of State redacted in full

In response to the ruling, Australias Shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus issued a forceful statement, declaring the opposition Labor party believed this has dragged on for long enough, particularly given Julians ill-health, and demanding the Morrison administration do what it can to draw a line under this matter and encourage the US government to bring this matter to a close.

Conversely, DFAT published a characteristically laconic, soulless note, stating merely that Australia was not a party to the case and will continue to respect the ongoing legal process, and rehashing previous false claims that Julian had rejected multiple offers of consular assistance.

Canberra was simply silent when in June, the Icelandic publication Stundin revealed in detail how a superseding indictment levelled against Assange in September 2020, which charged that he and others at WikiLeaks recruited and agreed with hackers to commit computer intrusions, was based largely on the admittedly false testimony of fraudster, diagnosed sociopath and convicted pedophile Siggi Thordarson, who had previously embezzled vast sums from WikiLeaks and been recruited by the FBI to undermine its founder from within.

There is good reason to believe the Australian government knew the indictment was coming. In July that year, Foreign Minister Payne met with CIA director Mike Pompeo at an AustraliaUS Ministerial Consultations convention, the principal forum for bilateral consultations between the country and the US.

Tranter submitted freedom of information requests for details of that rendezvous, but the documents she received in return were fully redacted. As were files released to her relating to the Foreign Ministers summit with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May 2021.

It was almost certain that Assange was a subject of these meetings. DFAT claims Payne raised the situation when she met Blinken again in September, and the minister herself alleges she specifically discussed Australias expectations regarding Assanges treatment with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab when he visited Canberra in February 2020. Tranter requested records related to this meeting too, but was told none existed.

Upon Julians arrest, Prime Minister Morrison alleged he would receive the same treatment that any other Australian would get.

When Australians travel overseas and then find themselves in difficulties with the law, they face the judicial systems of those countries, Morrison said. It doesnt matter what particular crime it is that theyre alleged to have committed, thats the way the system works.

However, an internal email dated April 5th 2019 secured by Tranter from the Australian Attorney Generals office was shot through with contempt for the Wikileaks co-founder. The note asserted, FYI  Assange might be evicted. Not sure if his lawyers will make any (not very convincing) [emphasis added] arguments about Australias responsibilities to him but thought it was worth flagging.

As usual, Australian officials said nothing in public about Assanges imminent abduction.

Assanges treatment, and the total lack of outrage over his incarceration, prison conditions, blatant procedural abuses engaged in by Washington in their relentless pursuit of him, and CIA plans to kidnap and/or murder the WikiLeaks founder, diverges starkly from Australias approach to Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an Australian-British academic jailed in Iran for 10 years on questionable charges of espionage in September 2018.

Behind the scenes, Australian diplomats struggled for almost two years to secure her release, eventually brokering a prisoner swap, under which she was traded for three Iranian inmates in Thailand  two of whom were convicted in connection with a 2012 bombing plot in Bangkok. In a statement, Foreign Minister Payne expressed relief that Moore-Gilbert was finally free as a result of professional and determined work, noting Canberra had consistently rejected the grounds on which she was detained.

Meanwhile, the Australian government has consistently reinforced Washingtons position on Assange. In fact, officials have on occasion gone even further than their US counterparts in publicly condemning him and his actions.

In December 2010, then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard declared WikiLeaks release of US diplomatic cables meant Assange was guilty of illegality, and that Federal Police were investigating, to offer advice about potential criminal conduct of the individual involved. To be fair to Canberra though, elected representatives there may effectively have no choice in the matter.

According to investigative journalist Duncan Campbell, each Five Eyes member theoretically has the right to veto a request for signals intelligence collected on an individual, group or organization collected by another. However, Campbells explained, when youre a junior ally like Australia or New Zealand, you never refuse, even in situations when there are concerns about what ostensible allies may do with that sensitive information.

The documents obtained by Tranter and provided to The Grayzone provide an unobstructed view of the Australian junior allys betrayal of one of its citizens to the imperial power that has hunted him for years. As Julian Assanges rights were violated at every turn, Canberra appears to have been complicit.
A judge has denied a mans application to have several firearms charges stayed against him due to unreasonable court delays.

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A judge has denied a mans application to have several firearms charges stayed against him due to unreasonable court delays.

After a November 2020 trial in the Brandon Court of Queens Bench, Brian Geer was convicted of six charges, including possessing a loaded prohibited firearm without a licence, two counts of improperly storing or transporting a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, resisting arrest and possessing a firearm without a licence.

The charges stemmed from an August 2018 incident in Killarney during which Geer was found by police with a loaded shortened shotgun in his truck, along with ammunition.

During the trial, Geer, who pleaded not guilty, told the court he believed there was a grand conspiracy against him, which stretched to the highest levels of the Canadian and American governments and the courts.

He cited examples of the alleged conspiracy during his testimony, including the RCMP refusing to investigate a dead dog he found in his garage, repetitive problems in his farming operation and damage to his vehicles after he brought them in for repair.

Earlier this year, Geer, who is representing himself, brought an application to have the charges stayed due to the delay between when he was charged and sentencing.

A 2016 Supreme Court of Canada decision  called the Jordan decision  set time limits on how long it can take for a criminal case to go to trial before it is deemed an unreasonable delay. The ruling says people charged with an offence have the right to have their cases heard within 30 months in superior courts, Justice Sandra Zinchuk said while reading her decision.

Geer argued the charges should be stayed because the time between when he was charged in August 2018 and the original sentencing date in June 2021 was 34 months  more than the Jordan decision allows for.

But Zinchuk said the time limit only applies to the time between when an accused is charged and the end of the trial, which in Geers case was approximately 27 months.

The delay between the conviction and sentencing was also not unreasonable, she said.

"Taking into account all of the foregoing, I find that the time from the conviction to the date of sentencing was not unreasonable. In conclusion, the motion for delay is therefore dismissed," Zinchuk said.

Geer also declined to have a presentence report prepared, saying it put him in an "impossible spot." A presentence report is written by a probation officer and includes background information on an accused before sentencing.

"Ask the conspirators what exactly they think of you  I dont want any part of your bullshit," he said in court.

"As a conspiracy goes and its one more part of it, why would I engage in something that is already rigged against me?"

Geer is expected to be sentenced for the charges in early 2022.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Manitoba pharmacists will now be able to vaccinate children aged five and older, the province announced Wednesday.

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Manitoba pharmacists will now be able to vaccinate children aged five and older, the province announced Wednesday.

On Nov. 5, Pharmacists Manitoba wrote to Health Minister Audrey Gordon requesting the provincial government adjust policy to allow pharmacists to vaccinate kids five and up  previously, the policy limited the age to seven and above.

The policy change will allow pharmacists to vaccinate for flu, and COVID-19  once such a vaccine is approved for five- to 11-year-olds by Health Canada.

"The request was in line with the imminent modifications we anticipate, which will allow for children ages five (5) and up to receive their COVID-19 vaccines," Pharmacists Manitoba president Ashley Hart stated in a press release yesterday.

"We believe that this policy change will help avoid the mass confusion and frustration which we had anticipated if there were an age discrepancy between the age of eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines, and the age which pharmacists are permitted to vaccinate."

One Brandon pharmacist, however, shared his concerns with the Sun following the announcement.

Vince Olsen, a Brandon Clinic Pharmasave pharmacist, said some pharmacies are not set up to cater to young children receiving a vaccine.

"No two pharmacy dispensaries are set up the same. And were not really equipped for screaming kids. We dont have big elaborate waiting rooms or anything like that," Olsen said Wednesday. "Weve received no special training to vaccinate youngsters.

"In a lot of cases, people that age who are getting vaccinated are not getting vaccinated because they want to be vaccinated. For the most part, its the parent dragging them."

Olsen suggested that schools provide a much better environment for children receiving a shot in the arm.

"The schools have a history of taking care of most vaccine campaigns, I think going all the way back to polio vaccines in the 50s.

"Theyve got the room, theyve got the time, theyve got the resources ... so it still seems like the most logical place."

Nonetheless, the pharmacist is pleased that Canadian children under the age of 12 may soon have the opportunity to get immunized against COVID-19, pending Health Canadas approval.

"The very good news is getting those vaccinations approved for kids. Because so many of the cases that are still rolling in are in that age group," Olsen said.

With files from Kyle Darbyson
The province is calling the anticipated approval of a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine a moment of celebration in the nearly two-year-long pandemic.

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MIKE DEAL/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Heather Stefanson (right) and Health and Seniors Care Minister Audrey Gordon on their way to a press conference at the Manitoba Legislative Building Wednesday afternoon.

The province is calling the anticipated approval of a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine a moment of celebration in the nearly two-year-long pandemic.

Pfizer vaccines calibrated for children between five and 11 years of age are in their final stages of approval for use in Canada and are expected to be approved for use sometime in December. With that news, the Manitoba government is rolling out its next vaccine campaign aimed directly at children, their families, schools and the health-care workers who will be administering the doses.

The vaccine was approved for use in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in late October.

Premier Heather Stefanson and Audrey Gordon, the minister of health and seniors care, announced the upcoming program, along with Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the provinces vaccine task force, at a news conference in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Dubbed #ProtectMB Kids, it is a comprehensive plan Stefanson said would be rolled out as soon as vaccines are approved.

This specific campaign will be directed at the estimated 125,000 children between five and 11.

This is pending Health Canadas approval and the National Advisory Committee on Immunizations anticipated recommendation.

Once the vaccine has been approved, Stefanson said they have been assured by the federal government the province will receive its first shipment within a week. The federal government also said the province would receive a large amount, so the vaccine can be administered without having to prioritize age groups.

Gordon said the vaccine campaign will be the most robust and comprehensive in the provinces history. For families and caregivers with young children, she recommended they start having conversations now about immunization.

The vaccine would be offered through provincial and regional vaccine clinics, physicians offices, pharmacies, urban Indigenous clinics and pop-up community clinics. Walk-ins will be an option at some locations, and in-school vaccinations will be offered both during and after school hours.

The province wants to meet parents where they are at to reduce barriers to the vaccine so access is simple and convenient.

"We have not forgotten about the kids, though, so we will make this as comfortable for them as possible," Gordon said.

For the families and parents, there will be pamphlets and information available online and in schools.

All those who will be administering the vaccine will receive specialized training and tips on how to approach and make children comfortable. To make it a little more fun, all children who get vaccinated will receive stickers showing they have received a dose.

The plan is to start vaccinations in schools just before the December holiday break, then resume when school starts again in the new year.

In the 2021-22 school year, there have been 13 reported school outbreaks in children in the five- to 11-year-old age range, resulting in some schools moving to remote learning. Throughout the pandemic, more than 6,000 children in this age range have also tested positive for COVID in the province  27 were hospitalized, seven were in the ICU and one died.

In the Brandon School Division, which stopped posting COVID notices on Oct. 20, at least 10 K-12 schools registered COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the fall semester.

When asked if any schools or districts would be prioritized for immunization, Reimer said the province is tasking the local regional health authorities with distributing the vaccine in their schools.

A spokesperson from Prairie Mountain Health said they so far have no concrete plans for vaccine clinics or distribution.

Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson said the biggest concern is working collaboratively with parents and public health, but they can play a role in facilitating communication with public health and parents. The information they provide may be around the in-school clinics, but it may also be around the other options available to parents as well.

He added the in-school clinics will occur with parental consent, but not necessarily with the parents or guardian present. Whereas the other options, parents can be present.

Currently, there are no plans to phase out mandates, such as masks and distancing. Gordon added that they are also not adding any more requirements, like proof of vaccine for children, for the time being, but reiterated every option available is on the table if the government feels they are warranted.

Also during the press conference, there were questions regarding the surgical backlog caused by the pandemic, which has seen thousands of surgeries and diagnostic procedures cancelled. Gordon explained they had been working ahead of naming a task force to make sure the money is there for the care Manitobans need.

A request for a supply arrangement that closed in late October was created. The province earmarked $50 million to clear the backlog, and for 2021-22 they have invested $13.7 million, with $8.1 million through the request for supply arrangement for surgery and diagnostics, which include echocardiography, cataracts, outpatient spine procedures, adult ear, nose and throat, general surgery and pediatric dental. A further $5.6 million in service delivery organization spending for additional hips, knees, cataracts and diagnostics.

 kmckinley@brandonsun.com
The corporate regulator has launched legal action against the formerly National Australia Bank-owned life insurance business MLC Life for allegedly charging more than a quarter of a million Australians insurance premiums without paying benefits.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commenced litigation against MLC Life this week, alleging poor systems and controls resulted in $17.5 million in losses across 260,000 customers, between 1999 and November 2020.

MLC Life has already remediated impacted customers but ASIC is using the courts to fine MLC Life in an effort to force the insurer to update systems and processes and to deter systemic non-compliance throughout the industry. Credit:Arsineh Houspian

The bulk of the unpaid claims relates to MLCs alleged failure to refund premiums to customers who had cancelled loan insurance or paid out loans and MLCs failure to notify 800 customers their premiums had increased or were overdue.

ASIC is also prosecuting MLCs alleged failure to appropriately compensate 297 customers undergoing rehabilitation following an insured injury or disability and a dozen who were denied payments because MLC had failed to update its definition of Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The ASX200 kept its nose in front on Friday but finished lower for the week with the market unable to counter the slump by the big banks and miners. This included Commbank slumping an eye-popping 9 per cent before staging a modest recovery on Friday.

Crown helped pull the market up from a negative start to the day when it recommenced trading just after 11am with the news that Blackstone had returned with a $12.50 a share offer. The stock closed more than 16 per cent higher at $11.54.

The ASX200 closed 0.2 per cent higher, up 12.5 points to 7391.7 with health, consumer staples and the energy sector leading the gains.

The ASX finished lower for the week. Credit:Louie Douvis

The Commonwealth Bank was the only big bank to finish higher on Friday, up 0.4 per cent, after a tough week as the market reacted strongly to CBAs shrinking profit margins. The sector declined 3.6 per cent for the week.

The last three sessions have really been marked by some pretty solid declines by the lenders, Commsec equities analyst Tom Piotrowski said.

Combined with the down week for miners, it made it impossible for the bourse to record any gains, according to Dale Gillham Chief Analyst at Wealth Within.

Both the financial and materials sector determine our markets direction and this week both have traded down, as has the energy sector.

Mr Gilham said he is no longer optimistic about the markets outlook for the rest of the year given the lacklustre trading pattern.

While I believed our market would rise until January or February, I am starting to think the opposite might occur, he said.

One thing I am sure of is that any move down will be good for the market, as it will set it up for a good year in 2022.

WiseTech confirmed guidance ahead of its AGM today but did not impress the market which sent its shares lower.

Altium on the other hand, soared to a record high of $43.69 as analysts upgraded the stock in the wake of its AGM guidance on Thursday.

Jefferies hiked its Altium price target to $48.83 from $29.43, and upgraded its rating to a Buy after the company flagged strong growth in FY22 revenue, underlying EBITDA margin, and annualised recurring revenue.

Treasury Wine also rose for a second day as the markets digested the benefits of its $430 million Napa Valley premium wine acquisition.

Nanosonics led the declines for the ASX200, closing 5 per cent lower at $5.80, after it told investors it anticipates a return to double digit revenue growth this year but warned that profit margins would decline.
Whatever Putins plans for Ukraine possibly seizure of the Donbass and the Black Sea coast as far as Odessa, a parallel showdown with Brussels over the Baltic Nord Stream 2 pipeline looks certain to escalate. German regulators have suspended the certification process because Gazprom was trying to get around EU monopoly laws. They had no choice: a stitch-up had become impossible. Poland would have issued an immediate injunction to stop it at the European Court, said Professor Riley. With winter fast approaching, Europe is facing an energy crisis. Credit:AP The Greens are about to enter the German government and they think Nord Stream is scandalous, Kremlin imperialism with no purpose other than diverting existing gas flows from the Ukraine pipeline and depriving Kiev of its means of economic self-defence. Putin will not back down lightly since Nord Stream 2 is central to his drive to alter the strategic balance of power in Europe, and overturn the post-Cold War settlement. The chances are that he will keep stoking the gas crisis until a frozen Europe begs for mercy, or tears itself apart. Thierry Bros, a former energy security planner for the French government, said Brussels has stumbled blindly into a Kremlin ambush. Putin set his master plan in motion last July and August. I didnt believe it at first but now there can be no doubt. He told us wed be getting more gas in October but it never came, and November has been worse, and now theres going to be nothing through Mallnow, he said.

Europe has failed to follow the Churchillian precept of security of supply and has got itself into an existential crisis of its own making out of sheer incompetence. This could cause a breakdown of the EUs integrated energy system and lead to the collapse of the whole bloc, he said. EU states resorted instantly to health nationalism at the onset of COVID-19. Germany blocked exports of PPE equipment without compunction, even within the single market and after the goods had been paid for. Mr Bros said the lip-service pieties of the EU energy market are likely to prove just as hollow if push comes to shove. Countries may invoke national security laws and hoard whatever energy they have rather than feeding it into the common pool. Were running into a presidential election in France. People will scream if our industries are being shut and were told we have to accept rationing in order to heat the Germans, he said.

For the British to rely on energy interconnectors from Europe in such circumstances shows touching faith in paper contracts. The UK imports little Russian gas but that is less reassuring than it sounds. It is part of Europes integrated nexus, and cross-Channel prices move in near lockstep. In one crucial respect the UK is in worse shape: it allowed the Rough storage site to close, to save pennies, and against vehement warnings, leaving this country nakedly exposed with just days of winter back-up. Loading The Government made a bet that the UK could always, and easily, obtain liquefied natural gas on the global market. But this country now finds itself in a bidding war for scarce LNG supplies with China, which is armed with $US3.2 trillion of foreign exchange reserves and has ordered officials to secure energy as a matter of regime survival. The Asia spot price has just hit the once unthinkable level of $US32 per MBBtu, if you can get it. A compressor station in Germany which accommodates gas flows from the Nord Stream 2 project. Credit:Bloomberg If the Government has not already created an energy war room with emergency powers, it should do so forthwith. My fear is that we will drift into something akin to the COVID debacle of February 2020, when officials professed cheery confidence in their contingency plans (for a flu pandemic), heroically ignoring what the virus was already doing in Italy.

Britain has advantages. Half its gas comes from internal supply on the Continental Shelf, unlike dependent Europe. Its service economy has a lower energy intensity ratio than Germany. It has useful friends. The Emir of Qatar has diverted LNG cargoes to the UK after a friendly chat with Boris Johnson, the fruit of tight defence, cultural, and royal ties. The Qataris turned down a similar request from Brussels because of an antitrust dispute over sales contracts. Might one discern a Brexit dividend in this? Loading Offshore wind is working as it should and has dented the exorbitant bill for imported gas. Renewables have made up 32 per cent of the UKs power over the last week. Be thankful for small mercies. Drax has 1.3 gigawatts of coal capacity in reserve that could be cranked up quickly. The UK could follow Japan and switch some gas plants to oil, currently trading at half the price of spot LNG ($US180 equivalent). It could in extremis book LNG cargoes and hold the tankers at anchor as emergency storage. The Government could extend the life of the Hunterston B nuclear plant for a few months until we got through the worst.
I love Sesame Street. I love how it meets kids at their level but doesnt condescend. I love that its so watchable even for adults, with comedy operating on multiple levels. And I love its miraculous aesthetic  so perfectly distilled in its iconic theme song  of being simultaneously child-like and cool. Perhaps the secret is that it is so clearly a creature of urban New York. It doesnt exist in an imaginary world of rainbows and meadows, or on rigidly constructed, cartoon-like sets. Its world is the street. Its characters run corner stores and live in trash cans. Some are sweet, others are grouches. Each is loveable in their own way. Its fun inflected with grit. Thats deliberate. From its very inception, it was aimed at poorer inner-city kids, largely black, in the hope that by the time they reached school, they might be on an equal educational footing with middle-class kids. And so it captured their world, including the fact that most human characters were from racial minorities. Sesame Street has always been a show with a mission, a sense of social vocation. It can only be fully understood by its context amid the Civil Rights movement. We were going to save the world and we were going to eradicate racism, recalled Sonia Manzano who played Maria for more than four decades and was one of the first Latinas on American television. Ji-Young (right), pictured with longtime Sesame Street character Ernie, is the first Asian-American Muppet on the long-running childrens program. Credit:AP So, it is entirely in-keeping with that mission that Sesame Street this week announced the arrival of Ji-Young, the shows first Asian-American Muppet. She follows last years introduction of a black Muppet named Tamir. Theyre part of the shows response to last years murder of George Floyd, and a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes. And so the introduction of these characters, designed specifically to talk to kids about racism, seems an obviously brilliant idea. And yet, something about it seems misconceived to me. Perhaps the most obvious concern is that it asks us to racialise Muppets. In all my years of watching and loving Sesame Streets Muppets, it had never occurred to me that they had a race  even as an adult. The Swedish Chef did, I suppose, but he wasnt a Muppet youd wear on your pyjamas. The ones that mattered seemed completely divorced from the concept. The best ones  Grover, Oscar, Elmo, Big Bird, Snuffy  werent even human. And the human ones could have been anything. What race is Ernie? I guess The Count would be Transylvanian, but hes also purple. I would have been at least a teenager before I could have placed him in eastern Europe, and even that was a purely intellectual exercise. I never felt any sense of cultural or racial distance from these characters.

I dont mean this in some I-dont-see-race kind of way. Im alive to the idea that white is very often the default, so that where race isnt explicit, whiteness is presumed. But it seems wholly unconvincing to apply that in this case. The human cast of the show is very racially diverse, and the Muppets are in such tight community with them, that it would be forced and artificial to insist that the Muppets must default to being white. Id be surprised to learn that children internalise them that way. But introduce a conspicuously black or Asian Muppet and you give room for default whiteness to emerge. All the other Muppets suddenly seem whiter to me now. Illustration: Andrew Dyson Credit: But suppose Im wrong. Suppose that Muppets have been racialised all along and that the normal cast has therefore been a crisis of representation for years. That only makes the introduction of minority-race Muppets an extremely fraught exercise. Sesame Street first tried in 1970 with a black Muppet named Roosevelt Franklin, and the result was hardly a triumph. Roosevelt released a soul-funk album, spoke positively about Africa, and spoke a version of black English. Then, black publications variously accused Roosevelt of offering a gross misrepresentation of black language and a chaos of darky accents and racist stereotypes. To transpose the dilemma onto Ji-Young, exactly how Asian do you make her? Do you design her with clear Asian facial features? At some undefinable point, that descends into caricature, and looks like a racist cartoon. Or do you blend away those features? Sesame Street seems to have opted for the latter. To my eye, Ji-Young looks like any other Muppet, only with a more natural skin tone. If youd shown me a picture of her without context, Id never have guessed she was meant to be Korean. All of which invites a criticism of its own. I can write the radical critique that will probably turn up on Twitter at some point, now: Wow. Thanks for whitewashing Ji-Youngs Asian-ness, Sesame Street. I suppose the only acceptable face for a Korean Muppet is indistinguishable from a white one. Hey, Im Ji-Young! I love Korean food but dont worry, I like doing the same stuff as everyone else and look reassuringly like you, so you dont need to be scared. This is colourism at best, and straight up racism at worst. And so on.
In the US these laws, rather than preventing fraud, have resulted in disparate treatment of black, brown, poor, and elderly people, and these laws are more likely to disrupt their right to vote. US studies found that voter ID laws are enforced in a discriminatory manner, and that minority voters are more frequently questioned about their identification than white voters.

According to the Brennan Centre for Justice, a US-based research organisation, voter fraud is very rare, voter impersonation is virtually non-existent, and many instances of alleged fraud, are in fact, mistakes by voters or administrators. Nonetheless, politicians continue to push for a solution to a problem that doesnt really exist.

The US experience has shown that a photo ID requirement will likely discourage many thousands from voting at the next federal election. Credit:Janie Barrett

The Coalition claims that these measures would prevent fraudulent activity by people voting multiple times or under false identities. However, all the evidence from the United States, where similar legislation has been in place in a number of states over the past decade, shows these measures disproportionately affect people of colour, students, older people, and people with disabilities.

Its hard not to be cynical about the motivation behind the Australian governments sudden introduction of new legislation requiring voters for the upcoming federal election to show identification before they cast their ballot.

The impact of these laws is real, and large numbers of voters are discouraged from participating in the political process when voter ID laws are imposed. A 2014 US government study found that new strict photo ID laws in the states of Kansas and Tennessee led to a reduced voting turnout of 2 to 3 percentage points. It means that 100,000 or more people who might have voted didnt.

Another study found that, between 2000 and 2014, there were only 31 credible allegations of voter impersonation during a period in which over 1 billion ballots were cast. The same study found that identified instances of fraud are almost always the product of an elections worker or a voter making an honest mistake, and that even these mistakes are extremely infrequent.

While the voting systems in the United States and Australia are different, Australia should not replicate these voting ID requirements. Particularly when, like the US, there is no evidence of a problem that needs urgent legislation to fix. The Australian Electoral Commissioner, Tom Rogers, told a Senate committee in March that his staff were satisfied with existing measures to prevent multiple voting, describing the problem as vanishingly small.

During the 2019 election, the rate of multiple voting was 0.03 percent, with the Australian Electoral Commission explaining that multiple voting is by and large a very small problem, and usually involves mental health issues rather than deliberate fraud. Australia also needs to address its long, shameful history of denying Indigenous Australians the right to vote, and there are real concerns that this legislation could affect First Nations people more than any other group.

According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples often do not possess a birth certificate and face difficulties obtaining subsequent formal identification. And while declaration votes provide an alternative for people with insufficient identification, many people wish to avoid this hassle, which experts say involves extra forms and delays.
Menzies heckled at Sydney meeting

Dozens of men jeered and heckled the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, at the Palace Theatre, Canterbury, last night. Mr. Menzies was opening his Federal election campaign in NSW. It was the noisiest meeting of his tour, but he revelled in the interjections, smiling continually. More than 1000 people filled all seats in the theatre and stood three deep at the back. Boos were drowned by applause when he rose to speak.

Professor urges committee on solar energy

Professor Willis, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the N.S.W. University of Technology, arrived at Kingsford-Smith Airport by Qantas after attending a world symposium on applied solar energy at Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. Solar energy is power generated from the suns rays. Professor Willis said a national solar energy panel would keep developments in other parts of the world under close review.

Young bowler steals honours

South Australian medium-paced bowler Don Gregg stole the honours and enjoyed a personal triumph in the Sheffield Shield match at the S.C.G. yesterday, wrote W. J. OReilly. His pace is no better than medium, and his ability to move the ball is of the same brand as that one usually associates with a bowler of his type. But he possesses the invaluable asset of being able to carry the fight right up to the batsmen.
A Cairns woman who allegedly lied to authorities in three jurisdictions about visiting COVID-ravaged Melbourne is the source of the first outbreak to reach a remote Northern Territory Aboriginal community.

Genomic sequencing delivered on Thursday afternoon confirmed authorities suspicions the 21-year-old border hopper, who was not Aboriginal, was responsible for the current emergency  an extension of the small outbreak she seeded in Katherine earlier this month.

A COVID-19 testing site at Katherine in the Northern Territory. Credit:Krystle Wright

This is a really important piece of the puzzle, Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said. We now know for a fact that COVID-19 was in the Katherine community between November 4 and November 13, and we will do all we can to find the missing link or links.

The fresh outbreak in Katherine and Robinson River remained at 19 after no new infections were reported on Thursday, offering hope that rapid testing and improving acceptance of vaccines within NT communities could prevent catastrophic spread through the overcrowded homes of the remote north.
A man has been charged with murder after his elderly father was found dead in Brisbane last week.

On November 12, a 75-year-old man, Palaniswamy Lakshmanan was found at an Alfred Street address in Fortitude Valley with fatal injuries.

Police investigated the suspicious death and established a crime scene at the address following the results of a post-mortem.

A crime scene was established on Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley, after 75-year-old Palaniswamy Lakshmanan was found dead.

On Thursday, detectives arrested and charged 28-year-old Sreeram Rajgokul Palaniswamy with murder.
From Sydney, the intensity of the ugly debate about the Victorian pandemic law is troubling. As an arrest was made, extreme elements  making unfounded claims about the rise of an autocratic state  continue to utter threats of violence against politicians.

A great irony is that the proposed laws would be a significant improvement on those in NSW, and a marked improvement on those currently operating in Victoria. Indeed, the debate in Victoria should represent a great opportunity to witness democracy in action. It was a chance to reconsider laws that had not been used on this scale until the COVID pandemic struck. And yet, facing defeat in the Parliament, the Labor government has postponed debate on a bill that would make the law better, not worse, and increase the accountability of ministers rather than deliver them absolute power.

Under siege over the proposed pandemic law, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at a press conference on Thursday to announce greater freedoms. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

On that point, as things stand in NSW, the state Health Minister has very broad powers. He can make public health orders, without declaring a state of emergency, if he believes on reasonable grounds that there is a risk, or likely risk to public health. As the law stands in Victoria, the Chief Health Office must declare a state of emergency before making any public health order.

Here is the critical improvement in the proposed new law in Victoria. Under the change, it would be up to the Premier to declare a state of emergency and the Health Minister to make public health orders. This would shift the decision-making from an unelected official to elected ministers who are accountable to Parliament and voters. The proposed law also requires the publication of advice underpinning public health orders which would allow greater scrutiny of reasons for individual measures and create an expert oversight committee to advise the minister and Premier when making decisions.
Two-thirds of Victorian pharmacies signed up to deliver COVID-19 vaccines are no longer ordering Pfizer booster jabs, raising fears the state could face a shortage of pharmacists prepared to administer booster shots.

Pharmacists who vaccinated Victorians throughout the pandemic say the federal funding that underpins the program is inadequate and they fear staff will burn out.

Darren Pountney is a pharmacist who isnt offering booster shots due to insufficient Commonwealth funding. Credit:Joe Armao

Victorias mass vaccination centres will soon be scaled back as the pandemic enters its next phase, putting pressure on overstretched pharmacies and GPs to deliver the booster vaccination program.

But with pharmacies turning away from the program, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has warned of a perfect storm in coming months as demand for booster and flu shots skyrocket.
It wont be COVID rules that determine how many people are at the pub. Itll be the liquor license; back to normal. So whether its 100,000 people at the MCG on Boxing Day, or a smaller group of people standing up at  the local pub having a beer, this is the COVID-normal that every Victorian has built. Health Minister Martin Foley said under the eased restrictions from 11.59pm, the vast majority of people who come into contact with a COVID-19 case in the community would not be required to quarantine. The announcement came as Victoria recorded 1007 new coronavirus cases and 12 deaths. We are one of the most vaccinated places in the world. - Premier Daniel Andrews

Mr Foley said the Health Department would continue to monitor emerging COVID-19 outbreaks, and authorities still expected some locations would have outbreaks disproportionate to others. Exposure sites will no longer be published on the state governments website. Instead, the department will use a new alert function in the Service Victoria app to notify patrons at higher-risk venues where positive cases have been detected  such as restaurants, nightclubs, and gyms  and advise them to get tested. Premier Daniel Andrews tweeted that it was time to hit the dancefloor. Credit:Chris Hopkins The remaining COVID-19 rules Loading

At the 90 per cent target, people who were not fully vaccinated will still be prevented from sitting down to eat in restaurants and cafes, and they will be locked out of non-essential retail. Quarantine COVID-19 rules will remain for the fully vaccinated, albeit with reduced periods of mandated isolation. People who test positive for coronavirus will be required to isolate for 10 days (the previous requirement was 14 days). People who live with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 will only need to quarantine for seven days if they are fully vaccinated and produce a negative test of their own on day zero. The 14-day quarantine rule will still apply in this case for people who are not fully vaccinated. Children under 12 who have a household contact test positive will be considered fully vaccinated if everyone else in their household is fully vaccinated.

Mr Andrews said masks would still be required in sensitive settings, such as hospitals and aged care. Contrary to a previous vaccination road map, however, they would still be required in retail settings for a few more weeks. Masks will also continue to be required in primary schools for staff and visitors, and for students in grades three to six. Serving staff at hospitality venues also still have to wear them, as will people in high-risk work settings, and anyone who travels in ride-share vehicle or taxi. Additionally, workers exposed to COVID-19 at work, and children who are exposed at school or early childhood centres, will need to show a negative PCR test to return to work or school, with rapid antigen testing recommended thereafter. The deep cleaning mandate is also being done away with for businesses.

Protesters continue to gather on State Parliament steps Protesters gather at on the steps of Parliament on Wednesday. Credit:Eddie Jim The COVID-19 rule changes also come as protesters spent a fourth night on the steps of Victorian Parliament with former Labor powerbroker Adem Somyurek threatening to derail the state governments controversial pandemic legislation. During the COVID-19 rule announcement on Thursday, Mr Andrews said he was confident of an outcome. We dont have a majority in the Legislative Council, he said. Im confident that we will get an outcome. The exact nature of that outcome; we have to wait and see.

Thats the nature of a very diverse chamber. The crowd on Spring Street was strong again on Wednesday night, with many demonstrators staying late. They sang, danced, held signs, and cheered as passing cars beeped their horns. A man shouted, kill the bill through a megaphone as protesters joined in the chant, and some in the crowd turned hostile at the sight of reporters. Many have vowed to keep demonstrating on the Parliament House steps until the state government dumps its proposed pandemic legislation, declaring amendments made to the bill late on Monday insufficient. Loading

The legislation is intended to replace the state of emergency legislation that gave the government power to enforce health orders. The emergency laws expire in December, and the new bill is meant to allow the government to keep enforcing policies, such as isolation requirements, while also being available for any future pandemic. Mr Somyurek belatedly proved his COVID-19 vaccination status on Wednesday, after earlier refusing to do so, paving the way for his return to vote in the upper house on Thursday against the legislation. In a piece published late on Wednesday for the Herald Sun, he vowed to block the reforms that he claimed rewarded autocratic leaders who have ruled by decree. Mr Somyurek argued the Andrews government did not have the numbers in the upper house to pass the bill in its own right, but only claimed those powers with Labor-leaning crossbenchers.

The three crossbenchers are likely to be consulted before caucus members and cabinet ministers. This leaves Andrews as the sole decision-maker, which is not acceptable in complex modern government. Reason Party leader Fiona Patten told Radio Nationals Fran Kelly on Thursday morning that if Mr Somyurek were to appear in parliament and vote against the bill, it would be defeated. The numbers arent there. The numbers are very close at the moment so if Mr Somyurek was to appear, the vote would be 19/19, so it would fail, she said. Ms Patten said that, as an alternative to the pandemic legislation, the government could take an extension of the state of emergency laws back to parliament  something the opposition indicated it would oppose. So Victoria could actually end up being the only state that has no regulations around its pandemic, she said. I understand people saying lets take time doing this, [but] we have been working on this legislation since March.

MP shocked by threats to politicians The Reason Party leader said she was absolutely shocked by the extremity of some sentiments on display at recent protests. Ive been having threats of snipers outside my office, she said. I was walking down the street the other day and someone had tagged a sign saying, hang [Daniel] Andrews, Ms Patten said. I dont remember a time in Australias history where weve talked about killing our political leaders. I dont remember a time in Australias history where weve talked about killing our political leaders. Fiona Patten

More than 13,800 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria The addition of 1007 new coronavirus cases on Thursday took Victorias total active cases to 13,814. There were 337 people in hospital with the virus, and 63 in intensive care. Sixty-five people in ICU were cleared of COVID-19. Another 6315 Victorians rolled up their sleeves to receive a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a state-run clinic on Wednesday. Of the states population over the age of 12, 88 per cent are now double-dosed.
The number of tickets I have refunded or rescheduled or transferred is in the thousands for sure, he said. The only thing thats been propping us up recently is funding really. As much as that was welcomed, nobody I know in this industry enjoys their business being funded by the government. Colour Club was previously restricted to 100 clients but now can increase its numbers to 290. Mr Alexander said that was the difference between just surviving and running a profitable business. Colour Club owner Liam Alexander and musician Luke Howard are ready for density requirements to lift for live music. Credit:Simon Schluter Theres just been a void in our lives in the past 20 months, he said. Itll give us a sense of purpose, that what we do matters again, when the dance floor is full. Composer and musician Luke Howard is preparing to return to the stage for his first gig back after seeing his industry gutted by the pandemic. His return will be a performance at the Recital Centre for Melbourne Music Week in December.

The emotion will probably come after the gig, once weve got through it, hopefully without any mistakes, he said. Alyce Merrilees plans to be on the OneSixOne dance floor as the clock strikes midnight. I cant wait another second, she said. The 35-year-old said she was ecstatic when she heard nightclubs would open on Thursday night. I was posting on my Instagram straight away lets dance, posting pictures of us dancing, she said. Its been a long time coming.

The Prahran nightclub is preparing to fill its famed 1970s style light-up dance floor for the first time since early 2020. Were over the moon. Its been a very dark 18 months, co-owner Hank Oudendyk said. Its like almost going back to normal. Others were excited about propping up a bar again. Willow Humphreys, co-owner of Spensleys restaurant and wine bar in Clifton Hill, said she was looking forward to locals being able to pop in for a drink.

Loading We opened in October 2019, and we never really had a chance to blossom to our full potential, she said. Now it feels like we can have a clear run. We have really missed the bar section and being able to have people stand there and have a quick beer or glass of wine. Offices around the central business district are expecting to see waves of workers return with the removal of the mask mandate. NAB has already seen attendance at its three major sites, 395 Bourke Street, 700 Bourke Street and Knox increase by 64 per cent compared with last week. Property Council of Australia Victorian executive director Danni Hunter said she expected a significant number of people to return to the office. Credit:Wayne Taylor

NAB group chief operating officer Les Matheson said the changes were fantastic news, and he expected the number of NAB employees returning to the office to continue to increase in the lead-up to Christmas. Once our offices re-open in the new year, following Christmas shutdown, the expectation is that our colleagues will be ready to go with hybrid practises of two to three days per week in the office, he said. The Property Council of Australia is expecting major city employees to follow NABs lead, tipping a significant number of workers will come back into the CBD after months of working from home. Victorian executive director Danni Hunter said the changes were incredibly exciting for Victoria, given how long it had taken to remove restrictions. Loading

I think there will be a lot of people breathing a sigh of maskless relief that we have made it to this point, she said. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the flow-on effect of office workers coming back would be significant. Youll start to see the CBD coming back because office workers will come back in, youll see venues really at full capacity, well see more and more people out. As venues are full that spills into retail, he said. Parents have expressed relief at the reduced quarantine requirements. Children under 12 who are household contacts will be treated the same as immunised adults if everyone else in their household is fully vaccinated. Mia Roth, 36, of Brighton East, has a toddler in childcare and a newborn baby at home. She said the changes would make a big difference.

I feel relieved, even though its not perfect, she said. Helping to make sure that your kids still get access to childcare and school then I think its really important that they dont just make them have to isolate and then also not have to shut down the school. One restriction the government has not yet eased is the requirement for masks in retail settings. It will remain until December 15. Non-essential retail settings will only be open to fully vaccinated customers, children aged under 12 years and two months, or those who have valid exemptions. Shoe retailer Bared Footwear, which has stores in the CBD and Armadale, took a hit during the pandemic despite a strong online presence. But owner Anna Baird said confidence was already up with queues out the door for the retailers annual sale on Thursday. Shoe retailer Anna Baird had queues out the door of her store on Thursday. Credit:Eamon Gallagher

People are definitely keen to get into bricks and mortar stores again, Ms Baird said. With restrictions set to lift at 11.59pm, university students and friends Alana Vanzo, 20, and Sam McMaster, 22, were preparing for a big night. Sam McMaster and Alana Vanzo get ready for a big night out when the pandemic-era capacity limits lift. Credit:Emily Dann Its been really tough getting through uni without being able to let our hair down at all, so itll be really great to go out and have some fun on the dance floor, Ms McMaster said. Loading
During years without rain, flying padre Reverend David Shrimpton visited families struggling to water their crops and feed their stock.

His mission during the pandemic has been to break the drought of human contact for isolated families in remote bush communities.

Wing and a prayer: David Shrimpton in his plane at Broken Hill Airport. Credit:Sammy Harris

Just 12 months after getting his pilots licence for personal enjoyment 20 years ago, the ordained minister was asked by the Salvation Army to provide pastoral care to people in the Northern Territory. He jumped at the chance to combine his passions for ministry and flying to visit families on cattle stations and remote communities.

Eight years ago, Shrimpton, 57, moved to Broken Hill with his wife of 28 years, Jennie, who teaches with the School of The Air. He works for the Uniting Church flying his small plane from Broken Hill to isolated communities across the far west of NSW. He has also visited regional Queensland and South Australia.
Victoria is opening up, with a wide range of freedoms returning from midnight on Thursday.

The announcement comes ahead of state of emergency laws, which governed everything from mask wearing to density caps in venues, expiring on December 15.

The governments plan to replace those laws with controversial new pandemic legislation was thrown into chaos after former minister Adem Somyurek announced hed vote against the bill.

Protesters have camped outside Victorias Parliament all week to demonstrate against the bill, and the political environment has been toxic.
The Reserve Bank has attempted to pour cold water on cryptocurrencies and promoters claims they are the future of finance, saying current speculative demand and their surge in value is likely to reverse.

In a speech to the Australian Corporate Treasury Association, the RBAs head of payments policy, Tony Richards, said households were likely to start heeding concerns from regulators about the fad that surrounds many cryptocurrencies.

The Reserve Bank has poured cold water on claims made about the rise of cryptocurrencies. Credit:iStock

He also took aim at surveys purporting to show high rates of ownership of crypto assets among Australians, labelling them implausible.

Money has flooded into a range of cryptocurrencies over recent years, aided by ultra-easy monetary policy that has made high-yielding investments very attractive. A single Bitcoin is today worth $US60,000, down from $US67,000 two months ago.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will attempt to strengthen his authority over the Victorian division of the Liberals by installing one of his closest advisers into the Coalitions parliamentary ranks in the vacancy left by former Senate president Scott Ryan.

More than 400 Liberal Party members will vote in person in Melbourne on Saturday to choose the new senator and elect the Coalition ticket for next years federal election in the biggest gathering of party faithful since the start of the pandemic.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (right) will attempt to install Simon Frost, one of his closest advisers, into the Coalitions senate ranks. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Chris Hopkins

Mr Frydenberg, considered most likely to succeed Scott Morrison as party leader, is pushing for long-time friend and political confidante Simon Frost to fill the vacancy left by Mr Ryan, who retired last month after almost 15 years in Parliament.

Incumbent senator Sarah Henderson, also a Frydenberg loyalist, will contest the number one spot on the ticket for the next election while Mr Frost is angling for the third spot. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie will be second on the Coalition ticket. The highest non-incumbent candidate elected will be awarded the casual vacancy.
There may not be much to talk about when some of Scott Morrisons loyal MPs gather on Monday for the usual meeting of the backbench legal affairs committee, the Coalition group that is meant to consider one of the most divisive issues in Parliament. If the Prime Minister gets his way, there will not be much discussion at all.

The meeting agenda, sent out to Liberals and Nationals in the past few days, does not mention the Religious Discrimination Bill, the draft law that has been years in the making, has split the backbench and is fundamental to Morrisons identity as leader.

The Prime Ministers religion bill faces a rough road.

The introduction of the bill is a significant moment. It will be portrayed in some quarters as a victory for Morrison in delivering on a pledge to stand up for religious freedom, something he spoke about within weeks of becoming Prime Minister. At the end of the day, if youre not free to believe in your own faith, well, youre not free, he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in September 2018.

He was right. Freedom for people of faith is an essential part of Australian life. The hard question is how to write this into law. That is why Morrison has taken years to deliver something he believes in with a passion. And there is still no confidence he will actually deliver anything because his new draft bill could easily end up in a dry gully in the Senate.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has distanced himself from Victorian Liberal MPs who joined demonstrators protesting the state governments pandemic bill, as the states Premier said he would not be intimidated by threats of violence.

Mr Morrison said there were many people feeling frustrated because of pandemic restrictions, but stressed there should be no tolerance for people advocating violence.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media at the Tooheys Brewery in western Sydney on Thursday. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Those threats and intimidation have no place in Australia. Were a civil, peaceful society, he told reporters in western Sydney on Thursday morning.

Some state Liberal Party MPs had attended rallies or voiced approval for protesters objecting to the governments attempt to legislate pandemic powers this week. Some of those protesters have directed violent language at government politicians, particularly Premier Daniel Andrews, and used props such as gallows.
Labor had been relying on the support of three friendly crossbench MPs to have its bill pass the upper house with a one-vote majority, but the re-emergence of Mr Somyurek put paid to those plans. When the bill is brought back to the upper house  with a possibility it could return as late as the next sitting week in a fortnight  it could include significant concessions. Mr Somyurek made no appearance in the upper house on Thursday, when the government successfully adjourned the debate in a vote 20-17. One senior Liberal source said he was not expected to show up until the final vote. On Thursday night, Mr Somyurek tweeted: There is no room for revenge in public life when dealing with important issues of life, death and freedom.

Loading He has not responded to calls or text messages from The Age. The government delayed the vote with the surprise support of independent Catherine Cumming  who hesitated before proving her vaccine status and recently joined protests on the steps of parliament. Dr Cumming later confirmed she had met with the government and requested they consult with all members of the upper house, and asked for concerns around oversight, detention, and powers of authorised officers be addressed. I want to assure you that the bill will not be debated this week to allow for changes to be made, she said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

Loading I also requested the government reconsider vaccine mandates. Until the next sitting week, we hope that changes may be made. During this time, I want everyone to continue to show love and compassion to each other. Dr Cumming said she had been forced to have 24/7 security to protect her family  this is not OK, and I ask for calm  amid an increasingly heated debate that saw full-sized wooden gallows at a daily protest this week and threats of violence. After four nights camped out on the Spring Street steps, a crowd of subdued protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations.

With the government approaching crossbench MPs following Mr Somyureks threat to doom the bill, Sustainable Australia MP Clifford Hayes said he was willing to negotiate with the government. He wanted greater parliamentary and independent oversight. We will talk to the government. But well make sure that anything they come up with, they want our support, it has to have proper checks and balances, he said. We are willing to talk to the government, theyre doing this belatedly theyve got to listen to us, listen to the people. But he said the drama of Thursday was a problem thats entirely of the governments own making after they cut the crossbench out from negotiations on this important bill.

Loading Rod Barton, of the Transport Matters Party, said he had not budged and the government needed to repair harm done with the crossbench and the public. How do I put this  youve made your bed, you can sleep in it, Mr Barton told The Age. They excluded us. We were totally irrelevant, and now its gone pear-shaped, they want us to come fix it. He said he had genuine concerns about the bill, and would like greater parliamentary oversight. Jeff Bourman, of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, said he had rejected requests for support and Liberal Democrat David Limbrick reaffirmed his view the bill should fail.

The Law Institute of Victoria urged all MPs to take the opportunity to get the bill right. President Tania Wolff said she wanted greater independent oversight, scrutiny of the powers, and an accessible means of reviewing detention orders. We encourage members of parliament to use this opportunity to make the bill fit for purpose, not just for now, but the future, for the benefit of all Victorians, Ms Wolff said on Thursday. Reason Party MP Fiona Patten is negotaiating with Daniel Andrews on permanent pandemic laws. Credit:Justin McManus The amendments announced earlier this week are a step in the right direction, but now we can take more time to ensure the bill that will be passed through Parliament meets the needs of the community. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy earlier offered to negotiate with the government on a reasonable solution but his upper house colleagues sought to defeat the bill.

Loading Again, I offer the Liberal and National Partys hand of co-operation to work with the government to get a sensible piece of legislation through the Parliament, he told journalists earlier in the day. But he said it was always going to end in tears for the government after failing to negotiate more broadly, a view that was shared by Ms Patten. She said the government should have had a backup plan, and consulted more of the 12-member crossbench rather than just herself, Greens leader Samantha Ratnam and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick. I would hope that we could get more crossbenchers to support [this] legislation. However, given the toxic and aggressive attacks on anyone who does, I can see why theyd want to keep their heads down. When Premier Daniel Andrews was asked in question time by Mr Guy whether the government would seek to negotiate more broadly on its bill, he said, well engage in good faith with anyone whos willing, with genuine intent to get an outcome to keep Victorians safe.
More than a million Perth residents could have seven-minute showers every year if Water Corporation saved the 30 billion litres of water lost through its metro network of pipes in 2020-21.

That was the analogy Auditor General Caroline Spencer used in her criticism of the states water utility for not meeting its unbilled or lost water targets.

Water Corp loses more than 36 billion litres of water every year. Credit:Brook Mitchell

Her audit of the management of water pipes found just under 52 billion litres of water was supplied to the WA network but not billed for. It was put down to a range of factors from firefighting, to theft, to inaccurate meters and pipe leaks and bursts.

Almost 30 per cent of unbilled water is made up of under-metering by inaccurate meters, theft, and authorised uses such as firefighting, while 70 per cent (36.7 billion litres) was lost from leaks and bursts.
Its 20 years since Apples iPod bridged the gap between computers and entertainment, bringing music into the internet age.

Apple didnt invent the portable digital music player but, as with many technologies since, it took an existing clunky idea and polished it for the masses. The slick iPod kicked off a digital revolution in 2001 with the slogan 1000 songs in your pocket, forever changing our relationship with music.

The original iPod was first sold in Australia in November 2001. Credit:AP

While it seems like an obvious smash hit now, at the time the iPod was an enormous gamble for a struggling computer maker which was trying to take on the consumer electronics giants.

There was one slight problem: Australian law was still stuck in the analogue age. There was no legal way for us to get music onto our iPods, as we couldnt buy music for the iPod online and we werent allowed to rip our CDs to our computers and copy across the songs.
But some of them also said the evidence was still insufficient to decisively settle the larger question of how the pandemic began. They suggested that the virus probably infected a patient zero sometime before the vendors case and then reached critical mass to spread widely at the market. Loading Studies of changes in the viruss genome  including one done by Worobey himself  have suggested that the first infection happened in roughly mid-November 2019, weeks before the vendor got sick. I dont disagree with the analysis, said Jesse Bloom, a virus expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre. But I dont agree that any of the data are strong enough or complete enough to say anything very confidently, other than that the Huanan Seafood Market was clearly a superspreading event. Bloom also noted that this was not the first time the WHO report, done in collaboration with Chinese researchers, was found to contain mistakes, including errors involving early patients potential links to the market.

Its just kind of mind-boggling that in all of these cases, there keep being inconsistencies about when this happened, he said. Mistake lies there Towards the end of December 2019, doctors at several Wuhan hospitals noticed mysterious cases of pneumonia arising in people who worked at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, a dank and poorly ventilated space where seafood, poultry, meat and wild animals were sold. On December 30, public health officials told hospitals to report any new cases linked to the market. Fearing a replay of severe acute respiratory syndrome, which emerged from Chinese animal markets in 2002, officials ordered the Huanan market closed, and Wuhan police officers shut it down on January 1, 2020.

Despite those measures, new cases multiplied through Wuhan. Wuhan authorities said on January 11, 2020, that cases had begun on December 8. In February, they identified the earliest patient as a Wuhan resident with the surname Chen, who fell sick on December 8 and had no link to the market. Loading Chinese officials and some outside experts suspected that the initially high percentage of cases linked to the market might have been a statistical fluke known as ascertainment bias. They reasoned that the December 30 call from officials to report market-linked illnesses may have led doctors to overlook other cases with no such ties. At the beginning, we presumed that the seafood market may have the novel coronavirus, Gao Fu, director of Chinas Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said in May 2020, according to China Global Television Network. But it now turns out that the market is one of the victims.

By the spring of 2020, senior members of the Trump administration were promoting another scenario for the origin of the pandemic: that the virus had escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has a campus roughly 13 km away from the Huanan market, across the Yangtze River. Loading In January of this year, researchers chosen by the WHO visited China and interviewed an accountant who had reportedly developed symptoms on December 8. Their influential March 2021 report described him as the first known case. But Peter Daszak, a disease ecologist at EcoHealth Alliance who was part of the WHO team, said that he was convinced by Worobeys analysis that they had been wrong. That December the 8th date was a mistake, Daszak said.

The WHO team never asked the accountant the date his symptoms began, he said. Instead, they were given the December 8 date by doctors from Hubei Xinhua Hospital, who handled other early cases but did not care for Chen. So the mistake lies there, Daszak said. For the WHO experts, Daszak said, the interview was a dead end: The accountant had no apparent links to an animal market, lab nor a mass gathering. He told them he liked spending time on the internet and jogging, and he did not travel much. He was as vanilla as you could get, Daszak said. Had the team identified the seafood vendor as the first known case, Daszak said, it would have more aggressively pursued questions like what stall she worked in and where her products came from. This year, Daszak has been one of the strongest critics of the lab-leak theory. He and his organisation, EcoHealth Alliance, have taken heat for research collaborations with the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Last month, the National Institutes of Health said EcoHealth was in breach of the terms and conditions of its grant for research on coronaviruses in bats. While the doctors at Hubei Xinhua Hospital said the onset of the accountants illness had been December 8, a senior doctor at Wuhan Central Hospital, where Chen was treated, had told a Chinese news outlet that he developed symptoms around December 16.

Asked about Chens case, Chinas National Health Commission said it stood by comments made by Liang Wannian, the leader of the Chinese side of the WHO-China investigation who led the interview with the Hubei Xinhua Hospital doctors. Liang told a news conference in February of this year that the earliest COVID case showed symptoms on December 8 and was not connected to the Huanan market. Errors and inconsistencies In their report, the WHO experts concluded that the virus most likely spread to people from an animal spillover, but they could not confirm that the Huanan market was the source. By contrast, they said that a lab leak was extremely unlikely. The report has come under fire for several errors and shortcomings. The Washington Post revealed in July that the report listed the wrong viral samples for several early patients  including the first official case  and mistakenly linked the first family cluster of cases to the Huanan market. The WHO promised to fix the errors, but they remain in the report on the organisations website. (The organisation said that it would ask the reports authors if and how they would correct the mistakes.)

In May, two months after the report by the WHO and China was published, 18 prominent scientists, including Worobey, responded with a letter in Science complaining that the WHO team had given the lab-leak theory short shrift. Far more research was required, they argued, to determine whether one explanation was more likely than the other. An expert on the origins of influenza and HIV, Worobey has tried to piece together the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reading a May 2020 study of early cases written by local doctors and health officials in Wuhan, he was puzzled to see a description that seemed like Chen: a 41-year-old man with no contact with the Huanan market. But the studys authors dated his symptoms to December 16, not December 8. Then Worobey found what appeared to be a second, independent source for the later date: Chen himself.

I got a fever on the 16th, during the day, a man identified as Chen said in a March 2020 video interview with The Paper, a publication based in Shanghai. The video indicates that Chen is a 41-year-old who worked in a companys finance office and never went to the Huanan market. Official reports said that he lived in the Wuchang district in Wuhan, miles from the market. The New York Times was not able to independently confirm the identity of the man in the video. Along with his fever on December 16, Chen said he felt a tightness in his chest and went to the hospital that day. Even without any strenuous exercise, with just a tiny bit of effort, like the way Im speaking with you now, Id feel short of breath, he said. Worobey said that the medical records shown in the video might hold clues to how the WHO-China report wound up with the wrong date.

One page described surgery Chen needed to have teeth removed. Another was a December 9 prescription for antibiotics referring to a fever from the day before  possibly the day of the dental surgery. On the video, Chen speculated that he might have gotten COVID when I went to the hospital  possibly a reference to his earlier dental surgery. Murky links In Worobeys revised chronology, the earliest case is not Chen but the seafood vendor, a woman named Wei Guixian, who developed symptoms around December 11. (Wei said in the same video published by The Paper that her serious symptoms began December 11, and she told The Wall Street Journal that she began feeling sick on December 10. The WHO-China report listed a December 11 case linked to the market.)

Worobey found that hospitals reported more than a dozen likely cases before December 30, the day Wuhan authorities alerted doctors to be on the lookout for ties to the market. He determined that Wuhan Central Hospital and Hubei Xinhua Hospital each recognised seven cases of unexplained pneumonia before December 30 that would be confirmed as COVID-19. At each hospital, four out of seven cases were linked to the market. By focusing on just these cases, Worobey argued, he could rule out the possibility that ascertainment bias skewed the results in favour of the market. Still, other scientists said its far from certain that the pandemic began at the market. He has done an excellent job of reconstructing what he can from the available data, and its as reasonable a hypothesis as any, said Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, a virus expert at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. But I dont think were ever going to know whats going on, because its two years ago and its still murky.
Singapore: Governments from some of the worlds biggest economies said on Thursday they were looking into releasing oil from their strategic reserves.

It follows a rare request from the United States for a coordinated move to cool global energy prices and ahead of a meeting of major oil producing countries.

US President Joe Biden and Chinas President Xi Jinping. Credit:AP

The Biden administration has asked big oil buyers such as India and Japan - as well as China for the first time - to consider releasing stocks of crude, several people familiar with the requests told Reuters on Wednesday. Oil prices fell on the news.

As the world economy rebounds from the pandemic, Washington is frustrated that producers in OPEC+, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, have rebuffed US requests to speed up oil supplies.
Washington: Members of the United States Senate are used to being lobbied by all types of people on all manner of issues. But receiving a phone call from a prominent member of the British royal family  albeit an estranged one  seeking to convince them to vote for a controversial piece of legislation was something new and even shocking.

The US is currently the only advanced economy in the world that does not provide paid parental leave for its citizens. Thats something Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and an American, is campaigning to change  including by cold-calling senators on their mobile phones.

Meghan, wife of Prince Harry, has raised eyebrows by using her royal title in her lobbying efforts  a break with the tradition that members of the royal family stay aloof from politics.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have shown an increased willingness to engage in contentious American political disputes. Credit:AP

Ramping up her public appearances, the duchess has paid an unannounced visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Show for an episode airing at 7am on Friday AEDT.
Daniela Venkova-Miteva has been the Director of the Legal Department at bTV Media Group since June 1, 2021, responsible for the compliance of the company's activities with the media legislation and the applicable regulations, the management of legal advice and services both internally and with clients and partners, and relations with regulatory and other competent authorities.

She joined the media team in September 2012 as a Senior Legal Adviser, working directly with all departments in the company over the years. She has over 15 years of practice and experience in the field of law, regulations and telecommunications.

She graduated in Law with a master's degree from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski and a course in American Business Law again at Alma Mater.
(Reuters) - Vehicles from Inc and electric sport utilities from rival brands are among the least reliable models sold in the United States, a reflection of the risks of new technology, Consumer Reports said on Thursday.

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization that evaluates products and services, said Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, ranked 27th out of 28 brands, just ahead of Ford Motor Co's Lincoln brand.

" as a vehicle category is the absolute bottom in terms of reliability," Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing Jake Fisher said Thursday during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association.

Among electric SUVs, Fisher said Ford Motor Co's Mustang Mach-E "is the only one with above-average reliability."

Consumer Reports recommends the Model 3 sedan and rates its reliability as "average." But Fisher said the rest of Tesla's vehicles are below average.

The popular Model Y SUV, Tesla's best-selling vehicle, has problems with poorly fitting body panels, leaks and issues with its climate control, Fisher said.

The larger Model X SUV "still has problems with the falcon wing doors," Fisher said.

(Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Nick Zieminski)

(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.)
Just three years after the crash of Lion Air Flight 610 shortly after takeoff from Jakarta precipitated a chain of events leading to the worldwide grounding of Boeings flagship 737 Max 8 plane, a strange thing is happening.

The single-aisle jet  whose crashes in Indonesia and, less than five months later, outside Ethiopias capital, Addis Ababa, exposed fraudulent and deceptive behavior and criminal misconduct by Boeing employees, in the words of the U.S. Department of Justice  is looking more and more like becoming a commercial success story.

Mumbai-based startup announced an order Tuesday for 72 of the jets at the Dubai Airshow, a deal worth $9 billion at list prices. Indian budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd. said Wednesday it had settled claims with Boeing and could resume taking deliveries from its 155-strong order. FlyDubai, at one point the Maxs biggest customer before canceling 65 in the wake of the crashes, is still considering the aircraft for future orders, Chief Executive Officer Ghaith Al-Ghaith said this week.

graph

Singapore Airlines Ltd. will soon start flying the Max to destinations including Indonesia. China, where about a third of the 370 completed planes are destined for delivery, may be preparing to clear it to fly again.

Boeings conduct through the development of the 737 Max was unconscionable, as Peter Robisons deep reporting in the current issue of Bloomberg Businessweek illustrates. The five months of stalling and obfuscation that followed the deaths of 189 passengers and crew in the Lion Air crash was still more shameful, endangering tens of thousands of people until the deaths of another 157 on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 finally forced a worldwide grounding of the model.

At the same time, investors are well-known for their brutal lack of sentiment. The only question they care about right now is: Will it make money?

On that front, the is oddly promising. Boeings year-to-date orders for single-aisle jets at the end of October were running at about double the level notched up by Airbus SE  an important consideration when profitability is all about efficiencies of scale. If that lead is maintained, it will be the first time since 2016 that the U.S. manufacturer has run ahead of its arch-rival in this most important segment of the market.

graph

With aviation returning to something like normal over the coming 12 months (especially on the domestic routes where smaller jets like the 737 dominate), the bigger risk to Boeing right now is not that they dont have customers for the Max, but that they wont be able to deliver them fast enough once the current inventory is dispatched.

The 737 program will shift from what used to be a demand problem to more of a supply problem in the course of the next calendar year, Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun told an investor call Oct. 27. All of the trends are in our favor on that front. New customers cant expect to see the sorts of discounts on sale prices that the airlines affected by the Maxs worldwide grounding have received, he added.

Compared to the 787 Dreamliner so beloved of air passengers and the hotly-anticipated 777X, the 737 is a bright spot for Boeing. Under the program accounting rules it uses to amortize multibillion-dollar development costs over the lifetime of an aircraft model, the 787 was $1.8 billion short of breaking even at the end of September. A $6.5 billion writedown of the 777X program after the Covid-19 pandemic and other problems delayed its delivery by three years means that twin-aisle jet will also struggle to get back into the black.

graph

The 737, however, is still forecast to stay just on the right side of profitability  and with thousands of deliveries to make up those costs compared to just hundreds for the bigger planes, theres ample opportunity to keep and exceed that promise.

The harsh truth of the aviation market is that carriers fear an Airbus untrammeled by commercial competition far more than they fear for the safety of the 737 Max  especially after its gone through years of checks under the eye of a newly-empowered regulator. Given the ongoing delays, certification and supply-chain problems faced by the only other serious competitor on the horizon, Commercial Aircraft Corp. of Chinas C919, the risks of Airbus dominance are greater still.

The cost-cutting considerations that contributed to the Maxs failures also loom large. The stereotype among pilots is that Airbus planes are largely automated to make life easy for less experienced aviators, while Boeing left the crew more in control until making a move toward the PlayStation ergonomics of Airbus with the 737 Max. If the model is indeed simpler to master even if, post-grounding, the training requirements are now more rigorous, thats an important consideration in an industry heading toward a projected shortage of about 34,000 pilots globally by 2025.

Travelers will no doubt swear that theyll never get on a 737 Max, given its appalling history. However, faced with a choice of flying or waiting for another slot at the departure gate, passengers who grumble yet still cram themselves into 28-inch seats will end up piling into whatever plane airlines choose to provide. Right now, they like the look of the Max. The rest of us best get used to it.
Inc forecast current-quarter revenue below expectations as supply chain shortages and delays drive up costs.

Shares of the network gear maker fell 6.3% in extended trading after it said it expects second-quarter revenue to grow 4.5% to 6.5% year-over-year, compared with Wall Street expectations of about 7.4%.

Businesses across the globe are facing an unprecedented semiconductor shortage that has pushed up expenses, hurting such as Cisco that use chips in their products.

Cisco Chief Financial Officer Scott Herren told Reuters the company also faces higher transport and logistics costs in its supply chain. Cisco is making progress on pinpointing and resolving component shortages but getting everything to the right place remains a challenge, he said.

"A lot more of the subcomponents are coming via air than would have come traditionally," Herren said. "The port snarls have hit us in a couple of places."

Cisco is working to derive more of its sales from software but still gets most of its revenue from hardware. It expects to see the benefit from hardware price increases that came into effect on Sept. 1 later into its fiscal year, because it is still working through hardware backlogs.

The company said orders grew by 33% in the first quarter ended Oct. 30, suggesting strong demand, but supply issues prevented this from translating into revenue right away.

However, the company stood by its fiscal 2022 overall growth target of between 5% and 7%, which was in line with analyst expectations of 6%, according to Refinitiv data. Herren said a $15.9 billion backlog of remaining contracts, 60% of which are for services and 40% of which are for software, provides some stability despite hardware supply chain issues.

"We know what that stream looks like through the end of the year," Herren said of the contracts.

The San Jose, California-based company said it expects second-quarter profit per share between 80 cents and 82 cents, with the midpoint narrowly missing Refinitiv IBES estimates of 82 cents.

Revenue for the quarter ended Oct. 30 was $12.90 billion.

Analysts on average had expected revenue of $12.98 billion, according to IBES data.

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta and Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi and Richard Pullin)
Online travel platform on Thursday announced the acquisition of hospitality management firm Spree Hospitality for an undisclosed amount.

aims to expand Spree to 200 properties in the next five years, a statement by the online travel platform stated.

This acquisition will help to add a new revenue vertical for the company and enable it to scale up its hotel and holiday portfolios. This would also enable the online travel platform to offer exclusive deals and offer on Spree Hospitality to its customers while doing bookings, EaseMyTrip added.

Speaking on the development EaseMyTrip Co-Founder Prashant Pitti said: "There is a synergy between EaseMyTrip and Spree Hospitality where we leverage the asset-light model to build a lean and efficient infrastructure. With this acquisition, we believe that EaseMyTrip is well-positioned to unlock the market potential of a recovering hospitality sector and quickly scale up the business to meet the evolving needs of the modern traveller.

Spree has carved a niche for itself in the hospitality sector and we are thrilled to have them as a partner to strengthen our portfolio in the hotel and holiday space.

"We will enable Spree to expand to 200 properties in the next 5 years becoming one of the biggest names in the Indian hospitality sector, he said.

Founded in 2011, Spree has 45 properties, 1200 keys including hotels, resorts, clubhouses, and guest houses across 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.)
skilling and education, along with enabling more language-based offerings and features dominated the seventh edition of Google's India-focused event " for India," held virtually for the second time on Thursday.

Google's India Country Head Sanjay Gupta said Indians are now spending 20 per cent more time on smartphones with 2.5 times more smartphone users in the last 12 months compared to the previous year.

"Across people, businesses, and institutions, the outbreak of COVID-19 has catapulted Indias adoption of to unprecedented levels. With the fundamental drivers of digitization now in place, and millions of new users coming online, Indias goal of becoming a truly economy is within sight. It is now imperative that we step up our efforts in building products that are even more inclusive of Indias diverse and unique needs. Last year, we launched the 10 billion dollar for India Digitization Fund. Todays announcements aim at bridging more gaps and further broadening the inclusive base of Indias digital economy so that the advantages of this crucial transformation are accessible to everyone," he said.

Skilling

A major announcement on Thursday was " Career Certificates for upskillers," which will offer 100,000 scholarships to underserved learners across the country for a free enrolment to a Google Career Certificate of their choice. The programme will be run in partnership with Nasscom Foundation, Tata STRIVE, and SafeEducate, who will identify these learners.

The certificate courses will be available on Coursera, priced between Rs 6,000-8,000, and include skills such as information technology automation, project management, data analytics, and user interface design. The programme aims to skill 1 million people in the next two years, Gupta said.

"The impact of digital literacy can be life changing. Digital skill not only improves employability, but also empowers people get self employment. We have heard wonderful stories emerging from small towns about enterprising individuals with varying degree of formal education, evolving their digital skills to set up online stores, create content or offer online services," said Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan at the event.

Through Google's partnership with the State government of Maharashtra and Delhi, and the Central Board of Secondary Education and FICCI Arise, 550,000 teachers have been trained in digital skills.

The tech giant is further supporting foundational literacy and numeracy programmes in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat through the "Read Along" app, its Android language-learning app for children. Google's blended learning platform for students and teachers, which enables easy file sharing and simplifying assignments and grading, will also be available offline. It will allow users to download study material whenever they have Internet access, and use it later.

As more and more educational institutions continue to impart online courses, Google has introduced a Practice Problem feature. Now when you run a Google search for any high school Maths, Physics, Chemistry topic, you will find free learning content from top education providers like Byju's, Vedantu, Toppr, Doubtnut, Career6360 and others.

Google Pay and merchants

Ambarish Kenghe, Vice President, Product Management, Google Pay, said, With over 10 million merchants now on Google Pay for Business, and many more joining the fold of digital payments every day, we are making it easy for merchants and micro-entrepreneurs to create an online presence directly from the Google Pay for business app. With the launch of MyShop - merchants will be able to effortlessly build a storefront where they will be able to add images, descriptions of their products, and prices in an easy and intuitive way, then share the link, through their Business Profile, across Google surfaces and beyond Google on social media. We hope this will further fuel the adoption of digital payments amongst new adopters, and help them create their online presence, and gain from the growing digital economy. The coming months will see MyShop and other features go live on Google Pay.

Users on Google Pay will also be able to use their voice while making direct transfers to bank accounts, and users will be able to use Hinglish on the app by early 2022.

Supporting small businesses

Google also announced a partnership with Small Industries Development Bank of India to support micro, small and medium enterprises especially enterprises run by women and those involved in production of health and safety materials.

Language enablement and user focus

Tackling the challenge of making high-quality information available to local language users, Pandu Nayak, Vice President, Search and Google Fellow, announced the launch of a new feature in Search that will give users an option to access web pages from other and view it in their preferred local language.

Now, when searching in a local language, if Google is not able to locate websites that have information in that language, it will find high-quality content on pages that may be in other and translate these into the language of the users query. When a user taps the translated title and snippet in search results, they can access the page with the content already translated into their language of choice, or view it in the original language. This feature aims at bridging the information gap that local language users often encounter when searching for information online.

Also launching in India  a global first  is a feature that will enable people to hear search results out loud, making it easier for users who prefer consuming information by listening. Aiming to expand voice driven experiences in local languages, this feature will be available in Hinglish and five Indian including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil, and will be extended to other Google Search experiences in the future.

The tech giant has also enabled Google Assistant for end-to-end vaccine booking flow. It will guide the process of booking a vaccination appointment on the COWIN website with voice guidance in English and eight Indian languages at each step. Google has worked closely with COWIN to enable this integration, where even a relatively new internet user will now be able to easily book a vaccine appointment. This feature will be available in Chrome on Android and will begin rolling out in early 2022.
Moving quickly towards ending a retrospective tax dispute with a firm that gave India its largest oilfield, the government has accepted PLC's undertakings which would allow for the refund of taxes, sources said.

Meeting the requirements of the new legislation that scraps levy of retrospective taxation, the company had earlier this month given required undertakings indemnifying the Indian government against future claims as well as agreeing to drop any legal proceedings anywhere in the world.

The government has now accepted this and issued Cairn a so-called Form-II, committing to refund the tax collected to enforce the retrospective tax demand, two sources with direct knowledge of the development said.

Following the issuance of Form-II, Cairn will now start withdrawing all cases in international courts.

Once this is complete, the company will be issued a Rs 7,900 crore refund, they said, adding the withdrawal of cases may take up to three-four weeks.

While a Cairn spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comments, a senior finance ministry official confirmed the government accepting the company's undertakings.

Seeking to repair India's damaged reputation as an investment destination, the government in August enacted new legislation to drop Rs 1.1 lakh crore in outstanding claims against multinationals such as telecom group Vodafone, pharmaceuticals company Sanofi and brewer SABMiller, now owned by AB InBev, and Cairn.

About Rs 8,100 crore collected from under the scrapped tax provision are to be refunded if the firms agreed to drop outstanding litigation, including claims for interest and penalties. Of this, Rs 7,900 crore is due only to Cairn.

Subsequent to this, the government last month notified rules that when adhered to will lead to the Centre withdrawing tax demands raised using the 2012 retrospective tax law and any tax collected in the enforcement of such demand being paid back.

For this, were required to indemnify the Indian government against future claims and withdraw any pending legal proceedings.

Cairn on November 3 had stated that it has "entered into undertakings with the Government of India in order to participate in the scheme introduced by recent Indian legislation, the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021, allowing the refund of taxes previously collected from Cairn in India."



Cairn's undertaking furnished in Form No.1 under the rule 11UE(1) of the amended law have been accepted by the Principal Commissioner for Income Tax, the sources said.

The August legislation cancelled a 2012 policy that gave the tax department power to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India.

The 2012 legislation was used to levy a cumulative of Rs 1.10 lakh crore of tax on 17 entities, including UK telecom giant Vodafone, but nearly 98 per cent of the Rs 8,100 crore recovered in enforcing such a demand was only from Cairn.

India issued Cairn with tax claims six years ago, and in December 2020 the company won an international arbitration against such demands.

The international arbitration tribunal in December overturned a levy of Rs 10,247 crore in taxes on a 2006 reorganisation of Cairn's India prior to its listing, and asked the Indian government to return the value of shares seized and sold, dividend confiscated and tax refund withheld. This totalled USD 1.2 billion, plus interest and penalty.

The government initially refused to honour the award, forcing Cairn to identify USD 70 billion of Indian assets from the US to Singapore to enforce the ruling, including taking flag carrier Air India Ltd to a US court in May. A French court in July paved the way for Cairn to seize real estate belonging to the Indian government in Paris.

All these litigations will now be dropped, sources 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.)
Grammarly, which makes artificially intelligent software that helps improve people's writing, has raised fresh capital at a valuation of $13 billion, underscoring sky-high demand for technology tools that provide writing assistance.

The surge in its valuation highlights Grammarly's stunning growth in recent years after it launched a freemium business model in 2015, helping it amass a loyal base of millions of daily users and other big-name enterprise customers including Zoom Video Communications Inc, Cisco Systems Inc , Dell Technologies Inc and Expedia Group Inc .

In its previous funding round in 2019, it was valued at more than $1 billion. Grammarly said its services are currently used by roughly 30 million people every day.

In the latest round, Grammarly raised over $200 million from investors led by Baillie Gifford and funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Inc.

The startup has no imminent plans to go public, Chief Executive Officer Brad Hoover told Reuters in an interview.

Founded in 2009 by Max Lytvyn, Alex Shevchenko and Dmytro Lider, Grammarly was initially focused on a subscription-based product to help students with their and spelling.

Grammarly uses machine learning to assist not only with basic writing, but also spell-check, grammar, tone of language and context.

Since it was launched, Grammarly has built numerous products, including Grammarly Business, which help large across different functions including sales and marketing. Some of its other services include a plagiarism detector.

The startup also recently struck a partnership with Samsung Electronics, and under the deal, Grammarly's writing suggestions will be integrated with the South Korean company's smartphone keyboard. That will enable Samsung customers to use Grammarly's tools, without having to install an app.

Grammarly also has a desktop application for Microsoft Corp's Windows and Apple Inc's Mac operating systems.

(Reporting by Sohini Podder in Bengaluru; Editing by Anirban Sen and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Digital skilling and education were the broad themes of the seventh edition of Google's India-focused event 'Google for India', held virtually for the second time on Thursday.

Setting the tone for a slew of announcements, Google's India Country Head Sanjay Gupta said Indians are now spending 20 per cent more time on with 2.5 times more smartphone users in the last 12 months compared to the previous year.

He also announced "Google Career Certificates for upskillers'. The programme is developed by Google, and courses will be available on learning platform Coursera.

Learners can pick up skills such as information technology automation, project management, data analytics, user interface design and others through the programme.

Designed for the Indian market, the courses will be priced between Rs 6,000-8,000, and will be supported by a consortium of employers, including the likes of Tech Mahindra and Accenture.

The programme aims to skill 1 million people in the next two years, Gupta said.

Industry partners for the programme include Nasscom Foundation, Safeducate and Tata Strive, who will provide a Rs 1 lakh scholarships for those in need.

"The impact of digital literacy can be life changing. Digital skill not only improves employability, but also empowers people get self employment. We have heard wonderful stories emerging from small towns about enterprising individuals with varying degree of formal education, evolving their digital skills to set up online stores, create content or offer online services," said Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan at the event.

Through Google's partnership with the government of Maharashtra and Delhi, and the Central Board of Secondary Education and FICCI Arise, 550,000 teachers have been trained in digital skills.

The tech giant is further supporting foundational literacy and numeracy programmes in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat through the "Read Along" app, its Android language-learning app for children.

Google's blended ;earning platform for students and teachers, which enables easy file sharing and simplifying assignments and grading, will also be available offline. It will allow users to download study material whenever they have Internet access, and use it later.

Multiple images can be selected and submitted as homework.

As more and more educational institutions continue to offer online courses, Google has introduced a Practice Problem feature.

Now when you run a Google search for any high school Maths, Physics, Chemistry topic, you will find free learning content from top education providers like Byju's, Vedantu, Toppr, Doubtnut, Career6360 and others.

Google also announced a partnership with Small Industries Development Bank of India to support micro, small and medium enterprises especially enterprises run by women and those involved in production of health and safety materials.

On the payments front, Google Pay today has over 10 million merchants present across the over 19,000 PIN codes in India.

It will soon launch a MyShop feature on Google Pay for Business, which will provide merchants a quick store builder tool.

Users on Google Pay will also be able to use their voice while making direct transfers to bank accounts, and users will be able to use Hinglish on the app by early 2022.
Realty firm has raised Rs 4,000 crore through sale of shares to institutional investors and will use this fund for business growth and reduction of debt, a top company official said on Thursday.

The Mumbai-based company, erstwhile Lodha Developers, is one of the leading real estate firms in the country and market its properties under 'Lodha' brand.

In an interview with PTI, Managing Director and CEO Abhishek Lodha said: "We have raised Rs 4,000 crore through QIP (qualified institutional placement) process. The demand was for more than Rs 12,000 crore worth shares from domestic and global investors."



The company has raised this amount in less than six months of its initial public offer (IPO) of Rs 2,500 crore, he said.

Through the QIP, the company issued and allotted around 3.4 crore shares at Rs 1,170 per share.

Lodha said many new foreign and domestic investors participated in the QIP including Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC and Oppenheimer.

Asked about use of QIP proceeds, he said: "Rs 3,000 crore will be utilised for growth of the business while the remaining Rs 1,000 crore will be used for debt reduction."



For growth, Lodha said the company would continue to focus on adding projects in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune, mainly through joint development agreements (JDAs) with landowners.

"We will continue with capital light strategy. We will not go for big land acquisition."



Lodha remained confident of achieving the targets of Rs 9,000 crore sales bookings during this fiscal on strong housing demand and also reduction of debt to below Rs 10,000 crore at the end of March 2022 from Rs 12,500 crore as on September 30, 2021.

On Monday, market sources had said that has raised Rs 4,000 crore through QIP. The issue opened on Monday and shares got subscribed same day itself.

After the QIP issues, the promoters shareholding will come down to 82.5 per cent. The company has two and half years more to meet the requirement of minimum 25 per cent public shareholding.

In April this year, Macrotech Developers got listed on the stock exchanges by raising Rs 2,500 through IPO.

Recently, Macrotech Developers reported its consolidated net profit at Rs 223.36 crore for the quarter ended September. It had posted a net loss of Rs 362.58 crore in the year-ago period.

Total income more than doubled to Rs 2,201.66 crore in the second quarter of this fiscal year from Rs 988.18 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

On the operational front, the company sold properties worth Rs 3,000 crore during April-September on better demand, and looks to double its sales bookings in the second half to reach the Rs 9,000 crore target this fiscal year.

Its sales bookings stood at Rs 5,970 crore during the last fiscal year.

Macrotech Developers focuses only on MMR and Pune markets.

The company is also developing two projects in London, where it made a foray in 2013.

Lodha said the company plans to sell its fully complete and rented office building of around 4 lakh square feet area in Mumbai.

The deal should be closed during this fiscal only, 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.)
He invested and worked with many other companies, he candidly admits, but nothing hit as big as his messaging platform Hotmail. He sold it to Microsoft in 1998 for a cool $400 million. But tech entrepreneur Sabeer Bhatia is back in business again.

Today, Bhatia launched ShowReel, a purpose-driven social video platform that will match job seekers with looking for talent. The platform, which is to be launched first in India and then in the US too, will enable job seekers to build their own professional video profile. And he is giving himself six months to scale up his business model.

But is he replicating another Or does he want to take them on? Bhatia explains how this platform is different. He admits that his initial attempt was not successful as it was based on the app asking potential job seekers text-based questions. But I have since modified the model and have hit upon a winning idea, says Bhatia. What he now does is interview them, as if he were conducting a Zoom interview with eight well-thought-out questions. These questions on the app provoke a response which is much more natural than throwing a series of text question to an individual and is 10 times richer than a profile, says Bhatia.

Bhatia points out that even has video, so that is not the uniqueness of his offering. He provides the example of TikToks amazing growth despite Facebook already having the feature of uploading videos. But had a unique meme capability to act out a song or make a funny video based on a pre-conceived idea. That made it popular, says Bhatia. So, he will be very happy if the videos on his platform are uploaded on LinkedIn too. We are not competing with them; we will co-exist. You dont beat someone; you just create a space for yourself, asserts Bhatia.

The idea to set up the platform was born out of solving a problem, which arose because of the pandemic when billions lost jobs. Bhatia hit upon the idea  he was also inspired by his daughter using video freely  of leveraging technology to help job hunters to build a more evolved professional video profile.

Bhatia, of course, says that he wants to use the platform which is in the beta stage to test out the economics: What is the acquisition cost of a potential customer and what does he get in return. For getting the matrix, I will require 20,000 to 30,000 customers and my guess is that the acquisition cost will be between $2 and $5, and the value the employee will get is over $200-300. Once the matrix is right, I will raise large amounts of capital and we can scale up to hundreds of millions of customers.



But, for now, Bhatia has just initiated talks with four global and Indian to come on board to hire from the platform, and the numbers will go up slowly. Of course, just like in LinkedIn, it will be the potential employers who will pay the bill for the platform to get them potential employees. He finds there is no reason why it should not take off  after all, it cuts down management time and cost in hiring, and job seekers get a better fit.

Bhatia is also looking at extending the platform just beyond matching jobs with employers. He is also looking at customers creating their video health profiles, using the same method and in other areas too.

Whats more, once the platform takes off, he will also customise the questions (at the moment they are generic) to meet the specific job requirements of

So, is Bhatia concentrating on this new venture or is he still a serial investor? Bhatia points out: I have limited my investing. I have realised investing is better done by professionals rather than doing it on your own directly.




: Industry honchos on Thursday said entrepreneurs and start-ups should be ready to ride a tiger and also be under the constant quarterly radar if they want to raise money from the capital market.

Participating in a session IPO opportunity and Challenges for Startups' at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021, Manish Agarwal, CEO, Nazara Technologies, said wanting to go public to raise money from the market should weigh the pros and cons before doing so.

He said should be willing to go under the scanner as is the norm of the market regulator to be upfront on all issues pertaining to the running of the company.

Agarwal said it is a myth that selling shares by promoters means unlocking shareholder value. He said such moves should be followed or preceded by proper signaling and a narrative that is conducive to investment.

Nipun Goel of India Infoline Finance Ltd said listing the company's shares provides financial flexibility to and is a tool to fund acquisitions to further growth.

He informed the gathering that the process of going public takes six to seven months for companies who want to take the Initial Public Offering (IPO) route.

Companies are also looking at higher valuations as they raise capital to fund their growth and business activities, he said.

Goel said loss-making companies are allowed to list on the markets and the regulators are constantly scrutinising the financials in the pre-IPO and post-IPO scenarios.

"The bigger the issue size better it is for the companies as they go about raising money via the capital market. Markets have become institution-driven and mutual funds have become big and so a small-sized IPO is challenging for the companies wanting to raise money," Goel said.

Salil Pitale of Axis Capital said for the small companies IPOs mean currency to achieve growth.

According to him, companies wish to take the IPO route as most of them are of the view that it is the path to profitability.

However, the constant scrutiny of the performance of the company post-IPO is something that the promoters should be willing to take questions from shareholders on the decisions impacting all of them, he said.

Pitale said it is necessary for promoters to communicate why they were offloading their stakes with justifiable reasons. However, worldwide it is seen that in tech companies stakes held at promoters may not be a large percentage to warrant any untoward reaction if they decide to sell a percentage of their holding.

(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 started work on merging low-fare airline India with Express, the budget carrier of state-owned that the conglomerate has bought from the government. The Tata group is looking to achieve synergies and cut operational costs, the Economic Times reported on Thursday citing unnamed sources.

Tata owns 84 per cent stake in India, allowing it to create a single airline entity quickly, the sources told the newspaper. Tata is yet to finish talks with Singapore Airlines (SIA) on integrating the schedules of Vistara and said. Tata owns 51 per cent of Vistara and SIA the rest.

"This is the most logical move at this stage and with Tata owning a majority in Air Asia, the integration is easier," said one source. "With many experts on deck, this integration will help the group swiftly set up the single airline structure it has been planning for a while."

resumed control of Air India after bidding $2.4 billion, including equity and debt, in October, marking the end of years of struggle to privatise the financially troubled airline.
on Thursday said India is among the first three countries where it is testing a new feature that will allow users to add music to their feed posts.

India is among the three countries where this will be tested first, the other two being and Turkey, according to a statement.

"Music plays an instrumental role in enabling people to share, connect and express themselves on With this test, hopes to give its community a way to add a soundtrack to their Feed photos, like they can with Reels and Stories already," it added.

If a user clicks on the song, they will be taken to an audio page that showcases all Feed posts that have used that song.

This feature is being tested with a small percentage of Instagram's global community and expanded based on the learning and feedback from the Instagram community, it said.

Instagram, which is part of Meta (formerly called Facebook), is increasingly launching many of its features in India first. Last year, it had launched its new format 'Reels' that allows users to create and share short videos and India was among the first countries where it was launched. The company went on to launching a separate tab for 'Reels' and India was the first country to get this feature.

India was also among the first two countries where Instagram launched Live Rooms the feature where four people can go Live together.

In July this year, Instagram said it is testing a new 'Collab' feature in India and the UK that will allow users to collaborate with others on Feed Posts and Reels.

(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 Thursday said it will allot Basel III compliant bonds next week on a private placement basis, for which it has accepted bids worth Rs 2,000 crore.

The bank has considered the issuance of Basel III compliant debt instruments in the nature of debentures of Rs 500 crore, with green shoe option up to Rs 1,500 crore (maximum Rs 2,000 crore) on private placement basis, the bank said in a regulatory filing.

The bonds are eligible for inclusion in additional tier I capital, it said.

The bonds, with face value of Rs 1 crore each, are perpetual in nature and bear coupon of 8.70 per cent per annum. Perpetual bonds carry no maturity date, so they may be treated as equity, not as debt.

The deemed date of allotment of bonds is November 22, 2021, the state-owned lender said. The bonds are rated 'AA'/stable by India Ratings & Research and Crisil.

(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 Thursday urged Union minister Bhupender Yadav to call a joint meeting and prepare an action plan to tackle in Delhi-NCR.

Rai also cited a study from Indian Institute of Tropical Management (IITM), a central government-run body, that 69 per cent share in Delhi's between October 24 and November 8 was of external sources.

He said that a similar study by TERI in 2016 had shown that 64 per cent pollution is due to external sources and 36 per cent pollution is due internal source of

"IITM is a central government institute, which has analysed per hour data of Safar to understand the source of pollution. IITM's data analysis from October 24 to November 8, shows that 69 per cent Delhi's pollution is due to external source and 31 per cent is due to Delhi's internal source," Rai said in a press conference.

He added that the government is taking a number of steps from anti-dust campaigns to "Red Light on, Gaadi Off" campaign to controlling the city's internal pollution.

But it requires a joint effort from all NCR states such as Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the minister said.

"People of Delhi can't reduce the 70 per cent of the external sources of pollution. That's why I am requesting again the Union to call a joint meeting of from NCR states and make a joint action plan. Responsibilities of each state should be fixed to implement that plan and reduce pollution," Rai said.

He also alleged that construction activities are going unabated in surrounding areas of Delhi, which is further worsening the air.

Rai said the Delhi government is providing 24-hour electricity supply due to which generator sets do not have to function here but it is not so in NCR cities.

The Delhi government on Wednesday banned entry of trucks, barring those carrying essential items, with immediate effect in the national capital till November 21 or any further orders, amid alarming levels of

The government has also shut schools, colleges and other educational institutions till further orders and extend the ban on construction and demolition activities till November 21.

Later in the day, the government issued a statement where it said that Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) analysed the data of IITM which revealed that the pollution generated inside Delhi has reduced in the last five years.

The CSE took the data from the Decision Support System (DSS) for 15 days per hour from October 24 to November 8 and analysed it to get the result that 69 per cent pollution in Delhi was because of external sources.

"The environment minister said that in the Supreme Court, the central government has accepted that the share of stubble burning in pollution has increased from 35 to 40 per cent, the effect of which is visible inside Delhi," the statement said.

Rai in the statement said that the government has converted around 1,500 industries to CNG-based, which had previously been running on pollutant fuel.

"According to the Commission for Air Quality Management, the same was to be done for the entirety of NCR, but it never happened. We had made this appeal in the previous Joint Meeting where the Union environment minister, the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab, the environment ministers of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh but to no avail,' Rai said in the statement.

He said that are no brick kilns within Delhi, but there are many right outside.

"All the pollution from these kilns is entering Delhi. Now, they are talking of an emergency shutdown of the thermal power plant. But, the suggestion to help it move on to advanced technology has been postponed every time, Rai said in the statement.

(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 and Congress slammed Delhi Chief Minister on Thursday over his six-point action plan to clean the Yamuna, saying the river was heavily polluted despite his repeated promises.

Delhi president Adesh Gupta said it was being promised since 2013 that the stretch of the Yamuna river in the capital would be made suitable for bathing and look like the Thames in London.

"Despite Kejriwal talking about this for years... the condition of the river has only worsened," he alleged.

Gupta claimed the Union government had given Rs 2,409 crore to the Kejriwal dispensation for cleaning the Yamuna, "but nobody knows where the money went".

"On other days Kejriwal simply don't remember about pollution and now he suddenly talks about cleaning the Yamuna," he said.

Kejriwal on Thursday said his government has prepared a six-point plan to clean the Yamuna river to bathing standards by February 2025. He said the government is constructing new sewage treatment plants (STPs) as well as increasing the capacity of the existing ones and upgrading those.

MP from northeast Delhi Manoj Tiwari demanded the AAP government brings out a 'white paper' on cleaning the Yamuna and others steps taken to address the problem of pollution in the city.

Delhi Congress president Anil Kunar said the Kejriwal government spent crores of rupees in the last seven years in the name of cleaning up the river, yet its water was more toxic than ever.

He accused Kejriwal of trying to divert the attention of Delhiites from the severe air pollution by announcing the Yamuna cleaning programme.

"Kejriwal has set 2025 as the deadline for cleaning up the Yamuna river. This makes it clear that the Yamuna will flow like a huge drain in the next three years and crores of rupees will go down the drain in corruption yet again," Kumar alleged.

"What was the Kejriwal government doing in the past seven years? Cleaning up the highly polluted Yamuna river was one of the main points of AAP's election manifesto and Kejriwal had promised in 2015 that he will clean up the Yamuna in four years, which he never fulfilled," he said.

Pictures and videos showing devotees offering prayers in the Yamuna on the occasion of Chhath Puja with foam floating on the surface of the river had triggered a political slugfest between the ruling AAP and the BJP in Delhi.

The 22-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad and Okhla, which is less than two per cent of the river's length of 1,370 kilometres from Yamunotri to Allahabad, accounts for around 80 per cent of the pollution load in it.

According to experts, the primary reason behind the formation of foam in the Yamuna is a high phosphate content in the detergents used in dyeing industries, dhobi ghats and households in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The poor quality of effluent discharged from common effluent treatment plants and STPs is another reason.

Wastewater from authorised colonies and settlements containing a high phosphate content reaches the river through untapped drains. When the water falls from a height at a barrage, the turbulence agitates the phosphoric compounds in the river, which leads to the formation of froth.

Frothing in certain stretches of the river, such as near ITO and the Okhla Barrage, has become an annual phenomenon now in winters when the temperatures are low and the flow in the river is 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.)
The Cabinet approval for provisioning of mobile connectivity in 7,287 uncovered villages across five states will help bridge the digital divide and provide stimulus to the rural economy, industry body COAI said on Thursday.

The move is in line with objectives of the Broadband Mission of achieving universal and equitable broadband services across the country, S P Kochhar, director general of the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), said.

"It will help bridge the digital divide and bring remote villages under the digital map of India by enhancing seamless coverage, thereby providing a stimulus to the rural economy," COAI said in a statement.

The Cabinet on Wednesday cleared utilisation of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) for provision of mobile connectivity in 7,287 uncovered villages across five states at an estimated cost of Rs 6,466 crore.

These uncovered villages of 44 aspirational districts across five states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha, will get 4G-based mobile services.

The project will be funded by the USOF, and will be completed within 18 months of signing of the agreement.

The work related to the provision of 4G mobile services in identified uncovered villages will be awarded through an open competitive bidding process as per USOF procedures.

The plan for telecom towers covers 1,218 villages (3 districts) in Andhra Pradesh; 699 villages (8 districts) in Chhattisgarh; 827 villages (19 districts) in Jharkhand; 610 villages (4 districts) in Maharashtra; and 3,933 villages (10 districts) of Odisha.

Mobile connectivity in these villages will facilitate learning, dissemination of information and knowledge, skill upgradation and development, disaster management, and e-Governance initiatives.

USOF is aimed at providing financial support for the provision of in commercially unviable rural and remote areas of the country. It is an attached office of the Department of Telecommunications and is headed by the administrator, USO Fund, appointed by the central government.

The resources for the implementation of USO are raised by way of universal service levy, which is a percentage of the revenue earned by the operators under various licence.

(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.)
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Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday accused the Opposition of failing to respond to the plight of farmers of the northern part of the state when it was in power.

Addressing the 'Jan Swaraj' Yatra organised by the BJP against the backdrop of the legislative council polls in Koppal, Bommai reminded the people of the Congress' "Padayatra (march)" towards Krishna with a promise of spending Rs 10,000 crore annually and Rs 50,000 crore during its five-year term to complete all the irrigation projects in the Krishna river basin.

"However, none of the works in the basin were taken up. betrayed the people of northern Karnataka," Bommai charged.

It is a matter of some consolation that the present BJP government provided Rs 2,100 crore for the modernisation of the Tungabhadra left bank canal, he said.

Referring to the construction of a balancing reservoir to the Tungabhadra dam as the capacity of the dam has been reduced due to accumulation of silt, the chief minister said a detailed project report (DPR) had been prepared for the project at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

All measures will be taken to fulfil this long-pending demand of farmers of the region, Bommai said.

The chief minister alleged that the did not take up irrigation projects for Koppal as none of its ministers bothered to care for the projects.

BJP's commitment for the development of north was further amplified by the decision of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa to rename the Hyderabad- region as Kalyana Karnataka.

"Our government has decided to provide Rs 3,000 crore for the development of the Kalyana Karnataka region. It is committed to build a secure and prosperous Karnataka," Bommai told the gathering.

Legislative council elections for 25 seats will take place on December 10.

(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.)
COVID-19 protocols such as handwashing, mask wearing, and physical distancing are associated with reductions in the incidence of the viral disease, and should be continued alongside vaccination, according to a review of the latest evidence published in The BMJ on Thursday.

The review indicated a statistically significant 53 per cent reduction in the incidence of COVID-19 with mask wearing and a 25 per cent reduction with physical distancing.

However, the experts said more stringent measures, such as lockdowns and closures of borders, schools, and workplaces need further assessment to weigh their potential negative effects on general populations.

The team, including researchers from Monash University in Australia, analysed databases for studies that assessed the effectiveness of public health measures in reducing the incidence of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and mortality.

As many as 72 studies met their inclusion criteria, of which 35 evaluated individual public health measures and 37 assessed multiple public health measures.

Of the 35 studies of individual measures, 34 were observational and one was a randomised controlled trial.

They were carried out in Asia (11), the US (9), Europe (7), the Middle East (3), Africa (3), South America (1), and Australia (1).

Results from 8 of these 35 studies were analysed in detail, which indicated a statistically significant 53 per cent reduction in the incidence of COVID-19 with mask wearing and a 25 per cent reduction with physical distancing, the researchers said.

Handwashing also indicated a substantial 53 per cent reduction in COVID-19 incidence, although this was not statistically significant after adjusting for the small number of studies included, they said.

Detailed analysis was not possible for other measures, including quarantine and isolation, universal lockdowns, and closures of borders, schools, and workplaces, due to differences in study design, outcome measures and quality.

The researchers conclude that personal and social measures, including handwashing, mask wearing, and physical distancing are effective at reducing the incidence of COVID-19.

They noted that more stringent measures, such as lockdowns and closures of borders, schools, and workplaces "need to be carefully assessed by weighing the potential negative effects of these measures on general populations."



Further research is also needed to assess the effectiveness of public health measures after adequate coverage, said study lead author Stella Talic from Monash University.

(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.)
must not fall into the "wrong hands and spoil our youth", Prime Minister Narendra Modi told an international conference on Thursday, reiterating his governments position earlier this week.

Modi was delivering the keynote address at The Sydney Dialogue, speaking about "India's technology evolution and revolution". The dialogue brings together political, business and government leaders to debate emerging technologies.

Take crypto-currency or bitcoin for example.

It is important that all democratic nations work together on this and ensure it does not end up in wrong hands, which can spoil our youth, said Modi in a virtual address.

Last week, an India parliamentary panel favoured regulation rather than imposing an outright ban on the digital assets.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of rising concerns in various quarters about crypto currencies and the possible risks emanating from trading in them, especially since there is a growing interest in such assets worldwide. Currently, there are neither specific regulations nor an outright ban on use of crypto currencies in the country.

In September, regulators in China banned all cryptocurrency transactions and mining of cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, is hovering around the $60,000-level, having more than doubled its value since the start of this year, Reuters reported. India's market was worth $6.6 billion in May 2021, compared with $923 million in April 2020, according to blockchain data platform Chainalysis.
India on Thursday reported a net reduction of 207 in active cases to take its count to 128,762. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 0.66 per cent (one in 152). The country is eighteenth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Thursday, it added 11,919 cases to take its total caseload to 34,466,598 from 34,478,517  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 470 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 464,623, or 1.35 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 7,344,739 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Wednesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 1,144,632,851. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 33,885,132 or 98.28 per cent of total caseload  with 11,242 new cured cases being reported on Thursday.

Now the eighteenth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases and recoveries, India has added 76,847 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 0.66% of all active cases globally (one in every 152 active cases), and 9.04% of all deaths (one in every 11 deaths).

India has so far administered 1,144,632,851 vaccine doses. That is 3319.84 per cent of its total caseload, and 81.85 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (148743874), Maharashtra (109463293), West Bengal (90066693), Madhya Pradesh (80656998), and Gujarat (79318776).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Gujarat (1241832), Kerala (1230988), Jammu and Kashmir (1225014), Delhi (1207128), and Uttarakhand (1117182).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 59 days.

The count of active cases across India on Thursday saw a net addition of 207, compared to net reduction of 2,238 on Wednesday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Mizoram (205), Assam (72), Jammu and Kashmir (27), Delhi (20), and Himachal Pradesh (19).

With 11,242 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 98.28%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.35%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.75%), Nagaland (2.17%), and Uttarakhand (2.15%). The rate in as many as 12 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 11,712 470 deaths and 11,242 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 4.01%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 2004.7 days, and for deaths at 684.9 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (5516), Maharashtra (886), West Bengal (819), Tamil Nadu (789), and Mizoram (459).

India on Wednesday conducted 1,232,505 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 628,248,841. The test positivity rate recorded was 1%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.75%), Kerala (13.04%), Sikkim (11.88%), Goa (11.79%), and Maharashtra (10.31%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are Mizoram (11.02%), Kerala (9.88%), Sikkim (2.52%), Manipur (2.52%), and West Bengal (1.97%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1615509), J&K (1244996), Kerala (1090550), Karnataka (774685), and Telangana (715335).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6626875), Kerala (5077984), Karnataka (2992584), Tamil Nadu (2717203), and Andhra Pradesh (2070516).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 1003 new cases to take its tally to 6626875.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 6849 cases to take its tally to 5077984.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 308 cases to take its tally to 2992584.

Tamil Nadu has added 782 cases to take its tally to 2717203.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 230 to 2070516.

Uttar Pradesh has added 6 cases to take its tally to 1710294.

Delhi has added 44 cases to take its tally to 1440528.
remained covered with toxic air for another day as the state government banned the entry of trucks, except those carrying essential items, into the national capital till November 21.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 362 --'very poor'-- at 8 am on Thursday, according to the state-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Readings below 50 are considered safe, while anything above 300 is considered hazardous or 'severe'.

After Diwali on November 4, Delhi's AQI levels became worse as people violated a ban on bursting firecrackers while the pollution compounded due to an increase in stubble burning by farmers in areas adjoining the national capital.

Meanwhile, to combat air pollution, Delhi's government banned construction activities till November 21 and ordered its employees to work from home till Sunday.

was the second most polluted city on the planet with an AQI of 326, said iQair, a website that tracks worldwide. Kolkata was the other Indian city on the websites list of 10.

costs Indian businesses $95 billion or roughly 3 per cent of its GDP every year, according to U.K.-based non-profit Clean Air Fund and the Confederation of Indian Industry, Bloomberg reported.
With reaching alarming levels in the city, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot on Thursday announced that electric light commercial vehicles will be allowed entry on about 250 roads during no-entry hours.

He also said that the transport department will empanel manufacturers of electric kits for retrofitting of conventional internal combustion engines to electric ones.

Gahlot said the Electric Vehicle (EV) policy of the Delhi government launched last year also provides non-financial incentives besides the subsidies.

He noted that when the EV policy was launched, there were just 46 light commercial vehicles (LCVs) which have now increased to 1,054.

Stating that the percentage of electric vehicles among total vehicle registration has now gone up to around 7 per cent, the minister hoped it will be further raised to 25 per cent by 2024 as targeted in the EV policy.

He said retrofitting of diesel vehicles will enable their use beyond the prescribed 10 years as electric vehicles.

"Delhi is now open to ICE to electric retrofitting! Vehicles if found fit can convert their diesel to electric engine, dept'll empanel manufacturers of pure electric kit by approved testing agencies. Once empanelled this'll enable vehicles to continue plying here beyond 10 yrs," Gahlot tweeted.

(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 Chief Minister on Thursday said his government is working on a war footing on a six-point action plan to clean the Yamuna by February 2025.

The chief minister said he will deliver on the promise he made before the 2019 Assembly polls to clean the Delhi stretch of the river.

"It took the Yamuna 70 years to become so polluted. The damage done in 70 years cannot be undone in just two days. I had made a promise that I will clean the Yamuna (in Delhi) by the next Assembly polls and will take a dip in it along with all of you," he said at a press conference.

"We are working on a war footing to clean the Yamuna. There are six specific action points to achieve this and I am personally monitoring the progress," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said.

He said the government is constructing new sewage treatment plants (STPs) as well as increasing the capacity of the existing ones and upgrading those.

"This will increase our sewage treatment capacity from around 600 million gallons of waste water a day to 750-800 MGD," Kejriwal said.

He said the waste water from four major drains falling in the Yamuna -- Najafgarh, Badshahpur, Supplementary and Ghazipur -- is being treated in situ.

The city government will shut down the industries discharging industrial waste into the Yamuna, the chief minister said.

The waste water in the "jhuggi jhopri" clusters flows through the storm water drains into the Yamuna. These clusters will be connected to the sewer network, Kejriwal said.

The AAP government will provide household connections in areas that have a sewer network. Earlier, the consumers had to get the connections themselves.

The city government has also started de-silting and rehabilitation of the sewer network.

"Our engineers and officers are hopeful that we will be able to clean the Yamuna by February 2025 with the implementation of the six-point action plan. Specific targets have been set for each action point and I will personally monitor the progress," Kejriwal said.

Delhi generates around 720 million gallons of waste water a day. The 35 STPs at 20 locations across the city can treat up to 597 MGD of sewage and have been utilising around 90 per cent of their capacity.

Pictures and videos showing devotees offering prayers in the Yamuna on the occasion of Chhath Puja with foam floating on the surface of the river had triggered a political slugfest between the ruling AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi.

The 22-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad and Okhla, which is less than two per cent of the river's length of 1,370 kilometres from Yamunotri to Allahabad, accounts for around 80 per cent of the pollution load in it.

According to experts, the primary reason behind the formation of foam in the Yamuna is a high phosphate content in the detergents used in dyeing industries, dhobi ghats and households in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

The poor quality of effluent discharged from common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and STPs is another reason.

Waste water from authorised colonies and settlements containing a high phosphate content reaches the river through untapped drains. When the water falls from a height at a barrage, the turbulence agitates the phosphoric compounds in the river, which leads to the formation of froth.

Frothing in certain stretches of the river, such as near ITO and the Okhla Barrage, has become an annual phenomenon now in winter, when the temperatures are low and the flow in the river is 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.)
Delhi recorded its air quality in the "very poor" category on Friday and strong surface winds are likely to bring some relief from high pollution levels Sunday onwards, authorities said.

The city recorded its 24-hour average at 347, down from at 375 on Wednesday.

Neighbouring Faridabad (349), Ghaziabad (360), Greater Noida (308), Gurugram (323) and Noida (336) also recorded their air quality in the 'very poor' category.

"The air quality is likely improve significantly from November 21 owing to relatively strong winds and reach poor category. PM2.5 to be the predominant pollutant," the central government's Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi said.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences air quality monitor SAFAR, 773 farm fires in neighbouring regions accounted for two per cent of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Thursday.

The stubble burning contribution is "negligible" because the transport-level winds are coming from the east direction preventing intrusion of pollutants.

Earlier in the day, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged his Union counterpart Bhupender Yadav to call a joint meeting and prepare an action plan to tackle in Delhi-NCR.

Rai also cited a study from Indian Institute of Tropical Management (IITM), a central government-run body, that external sources accounted for 69 per cent share in Delhi's between October 24 and November 8.

He said that a similar study by TERI in 2016 had shown that 64 per cent pollution is due to external sources and 36 per cent pollution is due internal source of Delhi.

To combat pollution, the Delhi government on Wednesday issued 10 directions, including a ban on the entry of trucks carrying non-essential items in the city and closure of schools and colleges till further orders.

The Delhi government has banned construction and demolition activities in the city till November 21. It has also ordered its employees to work from home till Sunday.

The city government had earlier announced the closure of all schools, colleges and educational institutions till Sunday and banned construction and demolition activities till November 17.

Rai said 1,000 private CNG buses will be hired to strengthen the public transport system.

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Former chief minister on Thursday demanded a judicial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter in which police claimed to have killed two terrorists and two terror associates.

The administration on Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the encounter amid protests by families of three of the four persons killed in the encounter claiming their relatives were innocent.

"I demand a judicial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter to find out how and why people were killed. It is a case of police and not of the Army. There should be an inquiry under a high court judge," Azad told reporters in Kathua on Thursday.

He asked how can a police team probe allegations against the police themselves.

Azad said that while he respects the police and has been a great admirer of the Army and security forces, there is need to ensure that such things do not happen, especially in Srinagar city.

"If such things take place in the capital then people will question what must be happening in the hinterland," he added.

The Congress leader referred to the probe in the Shopian encounter last year and said the Army delivered justice in the case.

He said that during his time as chief minister, justice was delivered to the families of three labourers killed in a fake encounter. The accused police officers were in jail for the last 13 years, Azad said.

It is time for police to provide justice, he said.

Azad also condemned the incidents of targeted killings that shook Kashmir last month.

"For 20 consecutive days, 6-8 targeted killings took place here. It's been 3 months and we do not know anything. There should be a probe into this as well. We should get into the details of who was behind this and arrest them," said.

The magisterial probe into the Hyderpora killings was ordered amid protests by the family members of Mohammad Altaf Bhat (the building owner), Mudasir Gul (a tenant) and Amir Magray (Gul's office boy). They have described the killings as cold-blooded murder.

They have demanded that the bodies of the deceased be handed over to them for the last rites.

All the four persons killed in the encounter were buried in the Handwara area of Kupwara district.

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The government has signed a contract for procurement of two simulators at a cost of Rs 357 crore for imparting training to pilots of Jaguar fighter jets, the defence ministry said on Thursday.

It said the simulators will help the Indian Air Force in enhancing the quality of its flying training to higher standards by exposing the pilots to various contingencies in the entire operating envelope.

"The government has signed a contract for procurement of two Fixed Base Full Mission Simulators (FBFMS) for Jaguar aircraft from HAL for IAF with five years comprehensive annual maintenance contract at a combined total cost of Rs 357 crore," the ministry said in a statement.

It said the simulators would be installed at Air Force stations in Jamnagar and Gorakhpur.

"Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, India is continuously growing in its power to indigenously design, develop and manufacture advanced cutting-edge technologies and systems in the defence sector," it said.

The ministry said the commissioning of the first FBFMS with associated equipment shall be completed within 27 months from the signing of the contract at Air Force station Jamnagar.

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Union Minister on Thursday cautioned cotton bale traders to refrain from manipulation of prices or resort to hoarding to make unfair profits.

Addressing textile industry players in a meeting, he also told them to "resolve cotton pricing issue in the spirit of collaboration rather than competition".

The Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution asked the textile industry leaders not to push the government to intervene.

"Goyal cautioned the cotton bale traders from manipulation of prices or do hoarding to make unfair profits," according to an official statement.

The minister further stated that manufacturing sectors should not depend on government support for growth.

"Too much dependence of state support is not healthy for the robust growth of the sector," the statement said.

The minister was intervening to resolve issues regarding cotton yarn prices between cotton yarn manufacturers and downstream textile industry.

He observed that farmers' interests are being taken care of for the first time as they are now getting better cotton prices supported by good base MSP.

Pricing issue of cotton bales and yarn for the industry should not be allowed in any way to impact the better prices that farmers are getting, he added.

India's cotton production is estimated at 362.18 lakh bales. The cotton season 2021-22 commenced from October with an estimated carryover stock of 73.20 lakh bales. Opening stock in the country is adequate to meet about two and a half month's mills consumption.

"Cotton prices are ruling above the MSP level by about 40 per cent i.e. Rs 8,500 per quintal as against a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,025 per quintal.

"Farmers are getting reasonably good prices for their produce which is in tandem with other agri-commodities as well," the statement said.

Goyal said the idea of short-term supernormal profits by a section of players in textile value chain is not sustainable.

"No one should force the government to intervene. Let free and fair market forces play out. Supernormal profits should not be booked for short-term goals," he said.

The minister asserted that the entire value chain gets adversely impacted even if one section gets weak.

He said cotton bale and yarn prices need to be such that all get benefitted.

Goyal emphasised that all stakeholders in textile value chain need to support each other for long-term sustainable growth.

The world cotton acreage is expected to increase 4 per cent to 33.27 million hectare as against 31.97 million hectare of last year. The production is projected to increase 6 per cent to 1,512 lakh bales (25.72 MMT) as against 1,426 lakh bales (24.26 MMT) of last year, and the consumption is expected to increase 2 per cent to 1,530 lakh bales (26.01 MMT) as against 1,505 lakh bales (25.60 MMT) of last year.

The Cotton Corporation of India is appointed as a central nodal agency under the Ministry of Textiles for undertaking MSP operations for cotton.

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The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Thursday said it has arrested one more accused in connection with the seizure of worth Rs 120 crore from Navadra village in the state's Devbhumi Dwarka district.

The ATS has arrested Anwar Patelia, a resident of Navadra, who had stored 24 kg of the contraband, which had allegedly originated from Pakistan, in his house, an official said.

Patelia is the seventh person to be arrested in the multi-crore drug bust case, he said.

The latest arrest has come days after 120 kg of worth Rs 600 crore was recovered from Morbi, which led to the arrest of Mukhtar Hussain Rao, Samsuddin Saiyad and Ghulam Hussain Bhagad, on November 14.

Based on Mukhtar's confession during his remand that he had hidden 24 kg of the contraband inside a house in Navadra, the ATS raided Patelia's house on Wednesday, the official said.

Two other accused - Iqbal Qadri and Arvind Yadav - were also nabbed by the ATS on Wednesday from Sirohi in Rajasthan, he said.

According to the ATS, Yadav was working for dreaded drug mafia Bhola Shooter aka Bharat Bhushan Sharma, who is currently lodged in Punjab jail and running the drug racket through his men.

"Qadri aka Iqbal Bhangaria had in the past delivered 12 kg of to Bhola's henchman Yadav and Ankit Jhakhar. He along with Yadav were nabbed when they met again to plan another deal on Bhola's behalf," Assistant Commissioner of Police, ATS, K K Patel said.

One Isa Rao, a relative of Mukhtar, is wanted in this case, he said.

The official further said that almost all the drugs that land in through sea-route, usually reach Punjab and Delhi through drug peddlers.

Mukhtar and others are seafarers, who had come in contact with Pakistani drug dealers, as they usually visit Gulf countries to deliver goods on their boats.

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India ranks second in the number of aged between 16 and 64 years and is among the nations with one of the lowest quit rates for smoking, according to a new report.

The report prepared by 'The International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking' using secondary data from sources like the World Bank, said that China and India are home to more than 500 million tobacco users between the ages 16 and 64 years.

"India ranks second with 250,002,133 between 16 and 64 years of age. Tobacco prevalence in India is three times higher among men than women. India also accounts for some of the highest rates of smokeless tobacco use and oral cancer in the world," it said.

According to the report, 37 per cent of Indian respondents showed a desire to change behaviour with a plan to quit However, India is among countries with the lowest quit rates for The quit rates for men are less than 20 per cent, it noted.

The report said an estimated 1.14 billion people worldwide still use tobacco, which kills nearly eight million people and eliminates nearly 200 million disability-adjusted life years annually.

"The cost to the world is nearly USD 2 trillion a year. The drastic socio-economic impact makes it urgent to reignite the fight against smoking," it said.

According to the report, nearly all countries ban the marketing and direct sales of tobacco products to children but in low-to-middle income countries, these prohibitions are not rigorously enforced.

The report cites data from Consumer Voice 2019, which states that despite prohibitions in India, a study of areas around 243 schools found nearby vendors displaying tobacco products in ways that are appealing to children and the youth.

"Around 91 per cent of displays were at 1 meter (at a child's eye level.) An estimated 54 per cent of the points of sale have no visible health warning; and 90 per cent of displays were beside candy, sweets and toys, items marketed to children," it said.

The report recommends adopting best practices to combat misinformation and build a healthier information environment to reduce harm from tobacco by leveraging multi-national, multi-disciplinary and participatory foresight studies.

It advocated risk-proportionate regulations as a means of making it easier for to quit while nudging expansion of access to tobacco-harm reduction products in low-to-middle-income countries.

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India is investing in developing indigenous capabilities in 5G and 6G telecom technologies besides focusing on manufacturing semi-conductors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

In a virtual address at the Sydney Dialogue, the prime minister said the "greatest product" of technology today is data and that India has created a robust framework of data protection, privacy and security.

"And, at the same time, we use data as a source of empowerment of people. India has unmatched experience in doing this in a democratic framework with strong guarantees of individual rights," he said.

Modi also highlighted India's achievement in the digital domain, its current priorities and mentioned the "global trust" that the country enjoys.

"We are investing in developing indigenous capabilities in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G," he said.

It is learnt that India has been in touch with a number of countries including Japan and Australia for the development of new-age telecom technologies.

"We are developing strong capabilities in cloud platforms and cloud computing. This is a key to resilience and digital sovereignty. We are building world-class capabilities in quantum computing," the prime minister said.

He said India's space programme is a vital part of its economy and security and that it is now open to innovation and investment from the private sector.

"India is already a major centre for providing cyber security solutions and services to corporates around the world. We have set up a task force with our industry to make India a global hub for cyber security," Modi said.

The Sydney Dialogue is a forum focused on emerging, critical and cyber technologies.

"And now, we are focusing on hardware. We are preparing a package of incentives to become a key manufacturer of semi-conductors," he said.

"Our production linked incentive schemes in electronics and telecom are already attracting local and global players to set up base in India," Modi added.

The prime minister also described India as one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence and machine learning, especially in the human-centred and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

He also referred to India's digital vaccination platform, CoWin, and said it has been offered free to the entire world and that it has been made an open-source software.

"India's extensive experience with use of technology and policy for public good, inclusive development and social empowerment can be of great help to the developing world," Modi said.

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Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, asserted on Wednesday that is on the right track as far as its transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green one is concerned.

Interacting with the media at Expo 2020 Dubai's Pavilion, the minister said: "What is happening (right now) in is truly remarkable. In the coming decades, the transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green economy will come from within the existing structure, and the oil companies will facilitate that."

This comes just days after the COP26 climate summit, where India pledged to cut emissions to net zero by 2070, reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030, and raise the share of renewables in the energy mix to 50 per cent, among others, before staging a last-minute climbdown opposing a commitment to "phase out" coal.

Yet the minister held that India is moving ahead with its plans on bio-fuel and green energy, stating that when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, "only 1 per cent or less of ethanol blending was taking place".

"Today, we are already at 8.5 per cent and I am sure that the 2030 target for 20 per cent ethanol blending, which we have now brought forward to 2025, would lead to 20 per cent blended fuel being available at the pumps, I think from January 2023," Puri said on the sidelines of inaugurating the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas section at the India Pavilion.

During his address, he also invited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and others to invest and participate in India's journey of transition to a green economy.

"If there is opportunity in the world, it is in India. We are extending an open invitation to everyone operating in the oil and gas sector to come to India. The transition from fossil-fuel to green energy has to be organised in a way that it is a win-win for all," the former Minister of State for Civil Aviation said while emphasising that India's strategic relationship with the UAE is very important.

"The real growth will now come from India," he said.

Puri also gave a thumbs to Expo 2020 Dubai, calling it a "huge opportunity" to strengthen India-UAE relationship.

"This Expo is taking place at a very interesting time, when India is celebrating 75 years as an Independent country. And very soon, the UAE, which is a close friend and a strategic partner, will also celebrate the 50th year of its foundation," said Puri, who earlier took time out of his schedule to visit the construction site of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, UAE's first traditional Hindu temple, where he also participated in a ceremony to lay a brick over the foundation.

Earlier on Tuesday, the minister had visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

--IANS

int/abhishek/arm

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The Indian economy is likely to grow by 7 - 7.5 per cent in the next fiscal year, the to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) said on Thursday, while observing that contact intensive sectors and construction should recover in 2022-23.

In a statement, the EAC-PM however added that this should not mean that the Union Budget for 2022-23 should project unrealistically high tax revenue or tax buoyancy numbers.

"Looking beyond the current year, 2021-22, EAC-PM members were optimistic about real and nominal growth prospects in 2022-23. Other than an element of the base effect, the contact intensive sectors and construction should recover in 2022-23," it said.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has lowered the growth projection for the current financial year to 9.5 per cent from 10.5 per cent estimated earlier, while the IMF has projected a growth of 9.5 per cent in 2021 and 8.5 per cent in the next year.

"Once capacity utilization improves, private investments should also recover. Therefore, Members felt a real rate of growth of 7 to 7.5% in 2022-23 was likely," the statement said.

It noted that the Union Budget for 2021-22 was applauded because of reform measures, as well as transparency and realism in the numbers.

"EAC-PM members were of the view that these dimensions should be carried forward into the 2022-23 Budget too, signalling use of the extra revenue in the form of capital expenditure and human capital expenditure, since Covid has led to a human capital deficit," it added.

According to the statement, there should also be a clear roadmap for privatisation and the growth orientation of last year's Budget should also be maintained.

A meeting of the EAC-PM was held in Delhi on Thursday.

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: The Vanniyar Sangam, up in arms against actor Suriya for the alleged controversial portrayal of the community in his latest film Jai Bhim, has approached the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the Tamil Nadu Information and Public Relations Department not to consider the movie for any appreciation, recognition or award.

The film, according to Pu Tha Arulmozhi, state president of Vanniyar Sangam, does not deserve any recognition or appreciation, despite the storyline based upon real life incident to exhibit the misery undergone by an underprivileged man and his wife, owing to the mischievous sequences deliberately inserted in the movie for the purpose of damnifying the particular community. In a representation to the governments, made through his advocate K Balu, Arulmozhi urged the authorities not to entertain Jai Bhim for any appreciation, recognition or award. My client states that the scenes in the movie amount to offend under sections 153, 153 A, 499, 503, 504, 505 IPC and his team continuously indulging in activities of degrading and defaming the most backward and downtrodden communities like Vanniyars and other communities. Hence, my client calls upon you not to consider the movie for giving any appreciation or recognition either by considering for award or any other award whatsoever, Balu said in the representation on Thursday. Certain scenes were deliberately included in Jai Bhim to create communal disharmony between the Vanniyar community and another community. This irresponsible depiction of Vanniyar community in poor light is deliberate and the producers and director cannot claim innocence.

Under the guise of freedom of expression, they cannot defame particular section in the society. A different and negative picture was painted in the movie contrary to the truth as seen in real life when the Vanniyar community people stood for the social justice. The true story has been deliberately twisted with a view to malign the image of Vanniyar community and lower their reputation in the eyes of the people of all other communities," he said. The film, released on OTT platform by Amazon, distorted truth and twisted facts and displayed a calendar with Agni Kundam - the symbol of Vanniyar Sangam, and named the sub inspector of police who tortured the victim in police custody, as Gurumurthy after a popular leader of the Vanniyar community. The depiction aimed at creating communal disharmony in the country. But the real name of the police official was Anthonysamy, he said and also claimed that the sub inspector who commits the grave crime does not belong to the Vanniyar community. Further, Arulmozhi who is contemplating filing civil and criminal case against the production team for deliberate mischief done by them, has already issued a legal notice on November 15 to the producer, director and Amazon.in asking them to remove the defamatory scenes and any references to the community and its symbol of Agni Kundam in Jai Bhim immediately. Also, he had demanded an unconditional apology for having produced and released the film on OTT platform for public viewing with the objectionable scenes. Apart from seeking them to "deist from screening the false, malicious and defamatory remarks" against the Vanniyar community, Arulmozhi demanded damages to the tune of Rs 5 crore within 7 days from the time of receipt of this notice.

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India and China on Thursday agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement in remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh.

At a virtual meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs, the two sides had "candid and in-depth" discussions on the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and reviewed the developments since the last military talks, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"It was agreed that both sides should hold the next (14th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols," the MEA said.

The eastern Ladakh is officially referred to as Western Sector.

In a statement, the MEA said it was agreed that both sides should in the interim also continue to ensure a stable ground situation and avoid any untoward incident.

"The two sides recalled the agreement between the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of China during their meeting in September in Dushanbe that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh," it said.

"Accordingly, the two sides had candid and in-depth discussions on the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China border areas and also reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the Senior Commanders of both sides which was held on October 10," it said.

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The on Thursday asked the counsel of former Commissioner Param Bir Singh, declared a proclaimed offender by a magistrate court in an extortion case, to disclose which part of the world or the country he is in, and without these details, the court would not entertain his plea seeking protection.

A bench headed by Justice S.K. Kaul told senior advocate Puneet Bali, representing Singh, "Where are you... within the country or outside. First, I want to know where are you."

Bali replied that his client's whereabouts would be known to the counsel-on-record.

Justice Kaul sought a response from the counsel-on record, who replied that he is not aware about Singh's current location.

Bali submitted, "If I am allowed to breathe. I may come out of the hole..."

Dissatisfied with the answer, the bench said such actions lead to lack of confidence in the system, "you have not joined the investigation, no one knows where are you".

The bench gave an example that if it were to assume that Singh is outside the country and waiting for a favourable court order as a condition to return.

Justice Kaul said: "Only court orders in your favour, you will come...no protection and no hearing. First, answer where he is. Which part of the world or country?"

The top court was hearing Singh's petition seeking protection orders in an alleged extortion case. The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on Monday and asked Singh's counsel to disclose his current location.

Earlier this week, a magistrate's court in Mumbai declared Singh a "proclaimed offender" in an extortion case registered against him and other police officers in the city.

The Crime Branch of had sought the proclamation, saying he could not be traced even after the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him.

In the previous matter, while hearing former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh plea against the CBI, Justice Kaul noted that Singh's absence is not a good situation and such things cause lack of faith in the judicial system.

The top court dismissed Deshmukh's plea seeking direction to the CBI to adduce the records of preliminary inquiry against him by the CBI, ED and for constitution of a SIT to probe alleged corruption and money laundering charges.

--IANS

ss/dpb

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India said on Wednesday it was being unfairly blamed for getting the words phase out coal changed to phase down in the final agreement of the UN COP26 climate conference last week, news organisations reported.

"Phase down" was not India's language and was introduced by the US and China, unnamed government sources told PTI. The words were already there in the text of the conference in Glasgow, the sources told the news agency.

The Glasgow Climate Pact states that the use of "unabated coal should be phased down", as should subsidies for fossil fuels. Several countries have charged India with making the wording weaker than the initial proposals.

PTI reports the sources said that some countries objected to the initial text of "phasing out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies" after which a consensus was reached among the parties and a new text was arrived at which contained the term "phase down" instead of "phase out".

"It was the Chair of the COP 26, Alok Sharma, who had asked India to introduce the new text on the floor," a government official told PTI, adding that it was "unfair" to blame India.

Separately, the Indian Express quoted a civil servant of the external affairs ministry as saying: It is not a term that India either proposed or tabled [for the first time]. It [term] was already there [in circulation], we simply accepted it.

The two-week conference in Scotland delivered a major win in resolving rules around carbon markets, but did little to assuage vulnerable countries concerns about long-promised climate financing from rich nations, said Reuters after the agreement was announced.
Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at The Sydney Dialogue today.

He will speak on the theme of India's technology evolution and revolution, with the address being preceded by introductory remarks by the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

The Sydney Dialogue is being held from November 17-19. It is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. It will bring together political, business and government leaders to debate, generate new ideas and work towards common understandings of the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging and critical technologies.

The event will also witness a keynote address by the Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.

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Punjab Chief Minister along with some of his Cabinet ministers on Thursday offered prayers at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan after travelling through the visa-free corridor that reopened for pilgrims after a gap of 20 months.

The over four-km long corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district. Pilgrimage to the gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.

Evacuee Trust Property Board spokesperson Amir Hashmi said in Lahore that besides the group led by Channi, a delegation of BJP leaders also visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

"Indian Punjab Chief Minister along with about 30 persons, including his Cabinet ministers, today visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, by using Corridor," Hashmi told PTI.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu was not part of the Channi-led 'jatha' (group) which went to pay obeisance at the gurdwara.

Sidhu's media advisor Surinder Dalla on Wednesday night had said that the Congress leader had been officially intimated that he could go on November 20 instead of November 18.

Project Management Unit Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muhammad Latif, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee office bearers and Commissioner Gujranwala greeted the Indian guests who arrived at the gurdwara.

The first batch of 28 Indian Sikhs, including women, visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan on Wednesday by using the corridor on the first day of its reopening.

Latif said that over 100 Indian pilgrims were expected to visit the historic gurdwara on Thursday.

Channi, who was accompanied by his family members, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla, MLAs Harpartap Singh Ajnala and Barindermeet Singh Pahra, had crossed over to Pakistan at around 1 pm, officials said in Dera Baba Nanak.

Describing reopening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor as a historic moment, Channi had said before crossing over that it is a joyous occasion as the corridor has facilitated numerous devotees to go to Kartarpur Sahib.

The long-pending 'ardaas' of Sikh Sangat has been fulfilled and now they can offer prayers at this holy shrine without any hindrance , said Channi.

Talking to reporters in Gurdaspur district before going to Kartarpur Sahib, Singla said he along with his family was going to offer prayers at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

He added that he was going to the Kartarpur Sahib for the second time.

To a query, Singla said the Centre has given permission for travelling to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to ministers and MLAs in a phased manner.

Earlier Thursday morning, a 21-member delegation of Punjab BJP leaders had reached the integrated check post at Dera Baba Nanak to cross over to Pakistan.

Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma told reporters that he was thankful to the prime minister and the home minister for reopening the to allow devotees to offer prayers ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Among those who were part of the BJP 'jatha' included Harjeet Singh Grewal, Jeevan Gupta, Tikshan Sud, Subhash Sharma and K D Bhandari.

The Centre had decided to reopen the from Wednesday. ahead of Gurpurab, which marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, on November 19.

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Chief Minister and some of his Cabinet ministers on Thursday offered prayers at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, travelling there through the visa-free that reopened after a gap of 20 months.

I am very happy to come here. I have received immense love from Punjabis, Pakistanis and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, and I am highly indebted for this, Channi said after reaching the shrine.

He told pilgrims there that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has shown a big heart, and built the "beautiful complex with love and dedication".

"We have received a lot of love and respect from here, the chief minister said, adding that Baba Guru Nanak belongs to all.

The over four-kilometre long links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district.

On his return, Channi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Imran Khan for reopening the The corridor had reopened on Wednesday after remaining closed due to COVID-19 outbreak.

He urged both the governments to simplify the procedure for obtaining permission to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

He also announced free bus service from across till Dera Baba Nanak for facilitating pilgrims having permission to visit Kartarpur Sahib.

The Punjab chief minister led a delegation of 17 members, including three ministers, MLAs and senior officials, to the shrine. In addition, family members of the chief minister accompanied him.

Evacuee Trust Property Board spokesperson Amir Hashmi said in Lahore that besides the group led by Channi, a 21-member delegation of BJP leaders also visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

Kartarpur Corridor Project Management Unit Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muhammad Latif, who received the Indian delegation at Kartarpur Sahib, said the Punjab chief minister was "very happy" to visit the shrine and said he would love to visit again.

The delegation was welcomed with drum beats and served lunch at the complex.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu was not part of the Channi-led 'jatha' (group). Sidhu's media advisor Surinder Dalla had on Wednesday said that the Congress leader was officially intimated that he could visit the shrine on November 20 instead of November 18.

Asked about this, Punjab minister Vijay Inder Singla on Thursday said the Centre had given permission to state cabinet ministers and MLAs to visit the shrine in a phased manner.

Some got permission for today, some for tomorrow and others for day after tomorrow, he said.

Addressing the media after returning from Kartarpur Sahib, Channi said it was a matter of great joy as the corridor reopened ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

He also urged the governments of both the countries to open cross border trade through Punjab borders.

The chief minister had earlier described reopening of the Kartarpur corridor as a "historic moment".

The long-pending 'ardaas' of Sikh Sangat has been fulfilled and now they can offer prayers at this holy shrine without any hindrance, he said.

Punjab BJP chief Ashwani Sharma told reporters that he was thankful to the Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for reopening the Kartarpur corridor.

Sharma, sporting a turban, said they prayed for peace, harmony and progress of the northern state.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday claimed that the Centre denied permission to a party delegation to visit Kartarpur Sahib, and dubbed it a "match-fixing between Modi and Channi.

The Centre had decided to reopen the Kartarpur corridor from Wednesday ahead of Gurpurab, which marks the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, on November 19.

The first batch of 28 Indian Sikhs, including women, had visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan on Wednesday by using the corridor on the first day of its reopening.

In November 2019, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor as part of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at a colourful ceremony, paving the way for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit one of their religion's holiest sites in Pakistan without needing a visa.

(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 basic tenet of defence by the infantry is to fight till the last man and the last round. This is easier said than done.

One such example of a last-ditch stand was the battle of Saragarhi in 1897, when 21 Sikh soldiers of the Indian Army fought till the bitter end against thousands of Pashtun tribesmen in the North West Frontier Province, now in Pakistan. These heroes were applauded in the British parliament and all 21 awarded the Indian Order of Merit, the highest gallantry award that an Indian soldier could then receive. Another Indian sub-unit, Charlie ...
Jhansi has been brought under a thick security blanket ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the historical city on Friday to participate in the ongoing 'Raksha Samarpan Parv'.

The Prime Minister will participate in the concluding event of the three-day 'Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv' inaugurated on Wednesday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Police forces of 14 districts in Uttar Pradesh that include approximately 8,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city to ensure foolproof security, a senior police officer told ANI requesting anonymity.

"These forces include over 2,000 women police personnel. Over 1,000 police personnel will be deployed in plain clothes. The additional Police forces have been deployed since November 15," said the officer.

Police have strengthened the security arrangements and will be diverting all heavy vehicles for about five hours on the arterial roads in the city on Friday, ahead of PM Modi's visit.

Police personnel will be deployed at a distance of every 50-metres on both sides of roads heading towards Jhansi Fort where the Prime Minister is scheduled to dedicate and launch several new initiatives of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the nation.

A grand ceremony is being organized in the precincts of Jhansi Fort on Friday (November 19), which is also the birthday of Rani Lakshmi Bai, the epitome of bravery and courage and a great icon of Rashtra Raksha and India's Independence struggle.

The three-day 'Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv' that began on Wednesday will culminate with the participation of Prime Minister on Friday.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to dedicate a number of schemes to the nation that include setting up of 100 new Sainik Schools, the launch of the NCC Border and Coastal Scheme, NCC Alumni Association and the programme of Simulation Training for Cadet Corps cadets.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of the Rs 400 crore project of Bharat Dynamics Ltd at the Jhansi node of Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor before addressing a gathering here in the city.

He will also hand over indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopter, drones and UAVs and Advanced EW suite for naval ships to the Armed Forces, in a boost to Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).

The Prime Minister will also launch a digital kiosk at National War Memorial to pay tribute to fallen heroes and National War Memorial (NWM) mobile app.

The 'Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv' is being organised along with the government of Uttar Pradesh. The programme on Friday will see the participation from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Ajay Bhatt, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) is formally dedicating a number of schemes to the nation in the celebration titled 'Rashtra Raksha Samparpan Parv'. These events are part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahaotsav' celebrations.

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Maharashtra opposition leader of the BJP on Thursday said president should have checked facts before criticising Prime Minister over a mega gathering of tribals organised in Bhopal earlier this week.

Citing certain comments made by Pawar, Fadnavis accused him of trying to divide tribals. Targeting the chief, the BJP leader said the veteran politician should be careful in sharing the stage at public events so as to avoid being seen with people having dubious background. Pawar, from his Twitter handle, took a dig at the Prime Minister, saying PM Modi was attending an Adivasi sammelan (tribal gathering) in Bhopal two days back where surprisingly the word Adivasi was not used anywhere. Instead, Vanvasi was used and this word is not acceptable to Adivasi community. The community has insisted on being described as Moolniwasi (indigenous people) and thus opposed to the word Vanvasi, Pawar said. Responding to it from the social media platform, Fadnavis shared a small clip of the speech delivered by Modi at the event, where the Prime Minister made a reference to the tribal community and used the word Adivasi. The event in Bhopal was organised on November 15 on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas (Tribal Pride Day). The former BJP chief minister, in his tweet, said, Sharad Pawarji, statements made by tall leaders like you should contain facts and exact information. PM Modi in his speech used the words Janjati and Adivasi, unlike what you are claiming. Fadnavis said the former Union minister should avoid making "divisive" comments. Such language and statements made by you is an attempt to divide tribal people, said the BJP leader. The Leader of Oppositoin in the assembly then added, "also, you should have done your background checks on people with whom you are sharing the stage, as to (know) what kind of criminal cases are registered against them. Fadnavis did not elaborate.

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While addressing bankers on Thursday, Prime Minister said it is time for to support wealth and job creators, and improve theirs, as well as the countrys balance sheet.

With a strong capital base and declining non-performing assets (NPAs), public sector have been strengthened to give the economy a push and play an important role in making India aatmanirbhar.

I am seeing this as a new starting point for It is time for you to support wealth creators and job creators. There is a need for banks to improve the countrys balance sheet, along with their own balance sheet, Modi said at a conference on Creating Synergies for Seamless Credit Flow and Economic Growth.

He exhorted banks to fund corporates and start-ups. He said the scale at which corporates and start-ups are coming forward today is unprecedented.

In such a situation, what can be a better time to strengthen, fund, and invest in Indias aspirations? he asked.

The banking sector will have to understand that this is the time to invest in ideas and support start-ups, he said.

Whether public or private banks, the amount they invest in citizens will help in creating jobs, he said.

He asked banks to get involved in the growth story proactively.

Under the production-linked scheme, manufacturers have been incentivised to increase their capacity manifold and transform themselves into global companies. Banks can play a big role in making projects viable through their support and expertise, he said.

Modi also said the government has addressed the issue of NPAs, recapitalised banks, and strengthened them.

We brought reforms like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, reformed many laws, and empowered the debt recovery tribunal, he said.

Resolution and recovery are taking place, and banks have managed to recover more than Rs 5 trillion from defaulters.

The new Asset Reconstruction Company will also help banks in resolving bad loans of Rs 2 trillion, he added.

He nudged bankers to come up with customised products by analysing the needs of customers. Banks need to adopt partnership models, set targets at the branch level, and customise solutions for customers, companies, and micro, small and medium enterprises.

Banks have to do away with the feeling they are the approver and the customer an applicant, they are the giver and client receiver, he said, addressing bankers.

Modi also said by August 15, 2022, all bank branches should target to have at least 100 top clients who undertake all their transactions digitally.

At the two-day dialogue between government ministries, industry, and bankers, it has been decided to create a web-based project funding tracker, he said. He added his suggestion was to integrate this with the Gati Shakti portal.

Providing comfort to bankers, Modi said he would stand beside them if honest decisions taken with true intentions go wrong.
A two-and-half-year-old boy died of COVID-19 in and 18 new cases of the disease were reported across the state on Thursday, officials said.

The child's was the lone death recorded in Jaipur. He was referred to the capital from Chomu town where 12 positive cases have surfaced. Four cases were logged in Ajmer along with one each in Baran and Pali.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called for a meeting on Friday morning to review COVID-19 and the dengue situation in the state.

Chief Medical and Health Officer Narottam Sharma said a team will be sent to Chomu for sampling of those who came in contact of the boy and his family.

A total of 9,54,568 positive cases have been reported in the state since the outbreak of the pandemic last year and 8,955 deaths have occurred. Presently, there are 95 active cases undergoing treatment in the state, including 61 in Jaipur.

To ensure that cases do not rise, the Medical and Health Department has directed officials to keep a special vigilance and strictly follow COVID-19 guidelines.

Medical Department Secretary Vaibhav Galaria said that guidelines are being largely ignored during the festival season and the ongoing marriage season.

The number of infections have gone up as a result, he said, adding that instructions have been given to officials to ensure the five-fold strategy of test, track, treat, vaccinate and behaviour gets implemented.

The secretary said officials have been asked to increase the number of COVID tests in districts and immediately test the people who came in contact with patients so that the spread of the disease can be stopped immediately.

He said officials have been instructed to undertake intensive active and passive surveillance action in the area of the infected patient, and he advised people to take both doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

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Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, on Thursday said a slew of Production Linked Incentives (PLI) schemes announced by the Government in various sectors have induced post-Covid industrial and economic recovery.

Chairing a review meeting of the Steering Committee on Advancing Local value-add & Exports (SCALE), Goyal said there has been a very positive industry feedback about the various PLIs announced by the Centre. It may be noted that some of these PLIs in textile, automotive and white goods Sector are already beginning to encourage more growth, said Goyal.

Out of the global auto component trade of $1.3 trillion, Indias share is $15 billion. The government aims to double its exports of auto components to $30 billion by 2026, added Goyal.

Deliberating on ways to enhance competitiveness and leverage the untapped potential of Indian industries to fulfill the Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Goyal asked all stakeholders to have best quality products and world class labs for testing as India embarks on an unprecedented global trade engagement.

Underlining the need to reduce logistics costs to make our factory products competitive in global markets, he asked the states to reduce state specific disabilities. The Commerce Minister also urged the states to undertake suitable amendments in labour laws to take advantage of PLIs induced manufacturing growth. Cost of doing business needs to be assessed state-wise, he remarked.

Goyal asked industry captains to take advantage of low labour costs and reap benefits of Indias huge scale and demographic dividend. Pointing out that every country cannot be good in all sectors, Goyal said India has to choose niche and specific areas and excel in it. Take comparative cost advantage in key areas, he said.

Goyal identified key focus areas for improvement to achieve robust growth of manufacturing sector. These areas include land, skill development, government and industry partnership and compliance of Model Labour Law.

Encouraging the industry to go for technology transfer and indigenisation of chip manufacturing, Goyal said there are great possibilities emerging in new sectors. Huge opportunities exist in drones sector, he said, while stressing on proper regulations to be worked out by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the growth of this niche sector. Calling upon the electronics industry to aim for local value addition in TV manufacturing from the current 28% to 43.7%, Goyal said the Set Top Box (STB), CCTV, mobile handsets and television manufacturers should come out with plans on how localization can be achieved.

Goyal lauded the air conditioner manufacturers for achieving a great degree of localisation and also switching over to CFL-free cooling technology. On the switchover to clean energy in automobiles sector, the Minister stressed on ramping up indigenous production of magnets and electric motors.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry on Thursday said there has been very positive feedback from the industry on the recently announced production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes by the Central government.

Goyal said this during a review meeting of the 'Steering Committee on Advancing Local value-addition and Exports'.

Notably, PLIs in the textile, automotive and white goods' sector are already beginning to encourage growth, a Ministry of Commerce and Industry statement said.

The Centre aims to double its auto component exports to $30 billion by 2026, the statement added.

Currently, India's auto component trade share is $15 billion, as compared to global $1.3 trillion.

In addition, the minister asked industry participants to take advantage of low labour costs and reap benefits of India's scale and demographic dividend.

On automobile sector, he stressed upon ramping up of indigenous production of magnets and electric motors.

--IANS

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(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.)
Domestic volume spiked 70.46 per cent in October to 89.85 lakh over the same month of 2020, DGCA data showed on Thursday.

The Indian carriers had flown 52.71 lakh passengers in October last year.

It may be recalled that domestic traffic along with international flight services remains shut for two months till May 25, when scheduled air services were resumed in a graded manner. Scheduled international flight operations to and from India remain suspended as of now.

IndiGo in October 2021 flew 48.07 lakh passengers, accounting for 53.5 per cent of the total domestic traffic. Whereas, Air India, which is now set to go to its new owner Tata Group, transported 10.61 lakh passengers with an 11.8 per cent market share, according to data.

Full-service carrier Vistara, which is the Tata-SIA joint venture airline, flew 6.96 lakh passengers during October, cornering 7.8 per cent of the total pie. Budget carrier AirAsia India carried 5.72 lakh passengers in the previous month and had a market share of 6.4 per cent, according to DGCA data.

The two other carriers Go First (erstwhile GoAir) and SpiceJet transported 8.84 lakh and 8.10 lakh passengers, respectively, in October 2021, weaning away 9.8 per cent and 9 per cent share of the total domestic passenger traffic.

In terms of average on-time performance or time punctuality in operations from the four key airports Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, market leader IndiGo delivered the highest OTP at 88.8 per cent flowed by Vistara with 88.1 per cent and AirAsia India 86. 9 per cent, as per data.

(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 has been holding consultations with the industry for a to strengthen the overall ecosystem of the sector, Union Minister Som Parkash said on Thursday.

The minister of state for commerce and industry said to create balanced growth in the ecosystem, it is imperative to focus on creating an overarching retail policy for the country.

"Although a few states have created their own retail policies, it is important to have an overarching policy at the central level. has been in close consultation with the industry and have been working on a draft to strengthen the overall ecosystem," he said at a CII webinar.

He said as retail encompasses a variety of formats across various categories, the creation of a policy that addresses all these segments is a complex exercise.

However, he said, the government is striving to release a policy in the near future and there are three areas that need to be focused on while formulating that.

It should be a cohesive policy that addresses issues of licensing, approvals, labelling and safety, and it should also focus on modernisation and adoption of technology, the minister said.

"We need to focus on helping traditional retail to modernise through the development of back-end infrastructure, payment mechanisms and in-store operations. From the government side, we would like to facilitate the above three areas and help retailers modernise," Parkash said.

The minister also informed that the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is working towards creating a regulatory compliance portal that will act as a bridge for industries and government to minimise burdensome compliances.

"The objective of the portal is to reduce the compliance burden that currently exists and further simplify government interface, while seeking to boost manufacturing, making Indian industry competitive in various areas such as textile and apparels," he added.

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A meeting of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) was held in Delhi on Thursday. "All the members unanimously agreed on the Budget of 2021-22 that it was well taken in all the spheres due to the transparency, realism, reformist and clear growth-oriented Budget," EAC-PM said in a statement. Looking beyond the current year, 2021-22, members were optimistic about real and nominal growth prospects in 2022-23. Other than an element of the base effect, the contact intensive sectors and construction should recover in 2022-23. Once capacity utilisation improves, private investments should also recover.

Therefore, members felt a real rate of growth of 7 to 7.5% in 2022-23 was likely.

"However, this should not mean that the Union Budget for 2022-23 should project unrealistically high tax revenue or tax buoyancy numbers. The Union Budget for 2021-22 was applauded because of reform measures, as well as transparency and realism in the numbers," said EAC-PM.

EAC-PM Members were of the view that these dimensions should be carried forward into the 2022-23 Budget too, signalling use of the extra revenue in the form of capital expenditure and human capital expenditure, since Covid has led to a human capital deficit. There should also be a clear road-map for privatisation and the growth orientation of last years Budget should also be maintained.

The Prime Minister had re-constituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) with Dr

Bibek Debroy as its Chairman and Rakesh Mohan, Sajjid Chinoy, Neelkanth Mishra, Nilesh Shah, T T Ram Mohan and Poonam Gupta as its part-time members.
Encouraged by good prices, farmers have planted in over 30 per cent more area till November 11 this year as compared to the year-ago period.

Traders said with prices ruling well above the minimum support price of (MSP) of Rs 4,650 per quintal last year at Rs 7,000 per quintal, more farmers are shifting towards the crop this season.





Overall, rabi crops have been sown in around 26.06 million hectares till November 11, which is 21.43 per cent more than the area covered during the same period last year.
Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Krishnamurthy Subramanian and Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister member (part-time) Rakesh Mohan on Thursday were at variance on the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

Mohan partly blamed the misguided exchange rate policy for the stagnation in merchandise exports for the past decade, necessitating a

We have lost out on trade. We have had trade stagnation in the past decade. Some of this is related to an increase in protectionism, the other to a somewhat misguided exchange rate policy, which is heavily overvalued, said the former Reserve Bank of India deputy governor at a Global Economic Policy Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

He said this is illustrated by the compelling need to have a

You can do a quick calculation. What will be the exchange rate equivalent to an increase in subsidy given through PLI? You will get to know how appreciated our exchange rate is.

ALSO READ: RBI working group warns on digital lending by big tech players

In response, the CEA said there is an important distinction between the exchange rate policy and raising production via PLI.

Emphasising the important aspect of the is that it incentivises growth, Subramanian said while in 1991 the product markets were opened, not enough attention was paid to the factor markets.

He clarified that he is not only including labour and capital in the factor markets, but also the nature of production or the scale of production itself.

The CEA said PLI is more than democratised subsidies.

It is directed towards growth, providing firms incentives to be closer to optimal scale, reap economies of scale, and reduce their average cost, he said.

He cited the Economic Survey of 2018-19, penned by him, to emphasise that the government policy in the last seven decades has provided perverse incentives to firms.

The government has already announced the PLI scheme for 13 sectors, including electronics, medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs, telecommunication and networking products, food products, air conditioners, light-emitting diodes, automobiles and automotive components, textile products, and specialty steel.

Subramanian also did not agree with Mohans view that 1991 witnessed a second generation of economic reforms.

Mohan said the first generation (first-gen) of economic reforms were initiated soon after Independence, when a comprehensive approach to growth and development was made through planning and import substitution.

Subramanian refused to call the Nehurvian-era policies first-gen reforms. The first-gen reforms were initiated in 1991, he said.

Mohan emphasised on the need for third-generation reforms, which would underscore public delivery of goods and services, particularly related to long-neglected health, education, water, and sanitation.

Kelkars prescription

The 13th Finance Commission Chairman Vijay Kelkar suggested reforming the goods and services tax (GST) by going for a single rate of 12 per cent.

We have a bizarre system of four to five rates. No wonder we have so much litigation. I would recommend the government announce a single rate of 12 per cent, including 6 per cent central GST and 6 per cent state GST, he said.

He also batted for expanding its coverage by including petroleum, real estate, and land in it. He also called for sharing GST revenues with local bodies to deliver public services and goods.

Ashok Gulati, Infosys Chair professor for agriculture at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, called for completely overhauling agriculture by not only concentrating on land productivity, but also on total factor productivity.
A slew of plane orders at this week's Dubai Airshow has added weight to Airbus' hopes of raising output, but the jetmaker is not yet ready to pull the trigger, its top executive said.

SE bagged 265 firm orders at the Middle East event, closing a gap with which had been leading this year as sales of its 737 MAX rebound from a safety crisis.

A further 139 provisional orders lifted Airbus' Dubai tally above 400 jets, while won a firm order for a comparitively less 72 MAX.

CEO Guillaume Faury said had definitively agreed to increase production to 65 single-aisle jets a month by summer 2023, from a planned average of 45 this quarter.





Beyond that, has asked suppliers to explore rates of 70 in early 2024 and 75 by 2025, but has not made a decision. Some suppliers have criticised the plans, worried the pandemic recovery will remain patchy.

"We are in the phase of assessing demand," Faury told Reuters in an interview this week.

"What happened (in Dubai) is important, because together with other prospects or deals to come, it gives substance and ... evidence that the demand we see for rate 70, 75 will be sustained for many years."

That "inside-out" view of demand - based on orders Airbus is receiving and its own assumptions based on talks with airlines - matches the "outside-in" or top-down picture provided by new Airbus market forecasts published at the show, he said.

Not there yet

The forecasts cover 20 years and straddle categories, so cannot easily be used to gauge near-term output of a specific model. But Faury said the latest report was consistent with demand for "maybe 70, 75" A320-family jets a month this decade. "So if those simulation tools and those sensors continue to be as robust as they have demonstrated in the past, we think 70, 75 is reasonable, but we're not yet there," Faury said.

Industry sources say Airbus intends to take a decision by the middle of next year to leave time for suppliers to react. Faury said he had received encouraging signals during recent talks with French and German supplier groups.

Privately, some suppliers are less optimistic. "I think most still believe it will be bumpy," a senior industry source said. Airbus deliveries have flattened in the past three months, in part due to snags in the supply chain.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The government of Canada's British Columbia declared a state of emergency in the Pacific province due to floods and mudslides caused by rainstorms in the last few days.

British Columbia Premier, John Horgan made the declaration at a news conference on Wednesday.

"Heavy rains, strong winds, flooding have devastated entire communities of our province."

The declaration gives the province various powers from stopping hoarding to restricting travel in and out of flood zones, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The order will preserve basic access to services and supplies for communities across the province," Horgan said.

Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and one woman was confirmed dead in southern British Columbia.

"Sadly, we expect to confirm more fatalities in the coming days," he added.

The Premier said he has spoken to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, adding that his government has now formally requested the assistance of the Canadian Armed forces.

He said the Trudeau government and provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have offered support to his province.

--IANS

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China on Thursday slammed the US for designating it along with Pakistan and as 'countries of particular concern' for the violation of and accused Washington of frequently using religious issues to interfere in the internal affairs of other nations.

The US on Wednesday designated several nations, including China, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea and Myanmar, as countries of particular concern for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of "



China firmly opposes groundless accusations as it smears the country's religious freedom, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the media here.

When asked about the US charge, Zhao said, Chinese government protects citizens' in accordance with the law.

He said China has nearly 200 million religious believers, over 3.80 lakh clerical personnel, 5500 religious groups and 1.40 lakh places of worship for religious activities.

"People in China enjoy full freedom of religious belief. Facts speak louder than words and a lie repeated a thousand times is still a lie, he said.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken asserted that the United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country and said the challenges to religious freedom in the world today are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched.

"They exist in every country. They demand sustained global commitment from all who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo. They require the community's urgent attention, he said.

Refuting Blinken's comments, Zhao said the US should do soul searching and stop using religious issues to interfere in other countries.

"The spread of Islamophobia and other extremist ideologies in the US has caused a great deal of tragedy. Instead of doing some soul searching, the US frequently used religious issues to interfere in other countries internal affairs, he said.

"We urge the US to face up to its own problems, manage its own affairs well, respect facts, abandon prejudice and stop using religious issues to interfere in other countries, he said.

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President Xi Jinping's book on governance, highlighting his doctrine of 'Socialism with Chinese Characteristics' for modern and philosophy of addressing its pressing issues, has been published in Hindi and several other languages of the Central Asian countries.

The first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China' was released in Hindi, Pashto, Dari, Sinhalese and Uzbek languages at a function at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Wednesday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It has already been published in English and several languages, besides in Mandarin in the last few years.

Since he came to power in 2012, Xi, 68, has emerged as the core leader of the ruling Communist Party of (CPC) on the lines of party founder Mao Zedong. He espoused a new ideological line called Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era.

It was broadly seen updating the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics' (SCC) line first proposed by party leader Deng Xiaoping who steered the party after Mao's death, diluting the hardline Marxism in the CPC's governance ideology.

SCC, which permitted market reforms and opened the economy in a big way, was largely attributed to the rapid economic development of China, helping it to become the second-largest economy after the US.

Xi, who tightened his grip on power during last week's Plenum of the CPC, is widely expected to begin an unprecedented third five-year term next year with lifelong tenure in power like Mao.

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Cuba's top diplomat said Wednesday that the fizzled attempt by young activists to encourage anti-government protests this week was a failure in political communication by the organisers, who he again accused of being supported by US interests.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodrguez spoke two days after no Cubans turned out for demonstrations and a few hours after it was revealed that one of the main organizers, playwright Yunior Garca, had gone to Spain.

It is clear that what I called a failed operation a political communication operation organized and financed by the United States government with millionaire funds and the use of internal agents was an absolute failure, Rodrguez said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Organizers on Monday complained that they had been kept from leaving their homes by supporters of Cuba's Communist government or by threats from police to be arrested if they took to the streets.

The foreign minister argued that the activists aren't representative of most Cubans and called on the U.S. government to loosen restrictions on visiting the island.

"I wish they would allow Americans their freedom to travel and that they could come to Cuba and see the reality first hand and discover the deception to which they are frequently subjected, with the aim of sustaining an obsolete, genocidal policy that violates human rights and law and causes suffering among the Cuban people, he said.

Rodrguez also questioned the attention given to the call for protests, saying it seems "that Cuba is the only country in the world in which a that did not happen becomes news.

The organizers had been hoping to repeat the outpouring of anti-government sentiment in mid-July, when thousands took to the streets in cities across the island to shortages of goods and power blackouts. Some even called for a change in government.

Garca and the Archipelago group, which is an online platform of young activists, sought to hold demonstrations to demand the release of prisoners, especially those arrested during the July unrest, human rights and a national dialogue.

Rodriguez repeated the Cuban government's contention that United States was the real force behind the effort. He said that of the thousands of Twitter participants and users involved in promoting the protests, less than 2% were actually in Cuba.

In a statement Tuesday, Archipelago blamed the failure of the protests on government coercion. It said there were more than 100 activists under sit-down, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, acts of repudiation, violence, threats, coercion and hate speech.

After the group reported it had been unable to contact Garca, the playwright on Wednesday reported on his Facebook account that he had left Cuba and was in Spain with his wife, Dayana Prieto.

Garca called the trip an odyssey and said the couple were in good health and with intact ideas.

The foreign minister said Cuba's government had no involvement in Garca's departure.

"I guess he is exercising the right that any Cuban has to travel and move freely. There is no martyr capacity in those who organize this kind of farce and failed operations under instructions and funding from the U.S. government, Rodrguez said.

He also complained about U.S. economic sanctions and said U.S. President Joe Biden hasn't done anything to reverse the tough policies that were taken by President Donald Trump against Cuba.

The daily reality of the Cubans, of every Cuban family, continues to be difficult, living under the burden of the blockade measures, in particular the measures of President Trump during the pandemic," Rodrguez said.

He said Biden is pursuing with equal rigor the same policies, and he said the damage in Cuba from U.S. economic strictures have been intensified by coronavirus pandemic.

The Biden administration has spoken repeatedly in support of the Cuban activists and praised the anti-government protests. In July, the U.S. announced new sanctions on Cuba's national revolutionary police and its top two officials while seeking to ramp up pressure on the island's government.

(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.)
Releasing oil could allow the Biden administration to fendoff criticism ahead of the 2022 midterm elections that it hasdone little to counter rising prices

The Biden administration is considering tapping the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to cool oil prices in conjunction with other big consumers like China and Japan.

Such a move may not have a long-term impact on dampening U.S. oil prices that hit a seven-year high above $85 a barrel in late October, analysts say.

Releasing oil could allow the Biden administration to fendoff criticism ahead of the 2022 midterm elections that it hasdone little to counter rising prices. By moving in tandem withother big consumers like China and Japan, it could also allow Biden to say he took action after Saudi Arabia and Russia, members of the OPEC+ production group, resisted U.S. calls topump more oil into

Here are the issues surrounding using the SPR.

WHY WAS THE SPR CREATED?

The United States created the SPR in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo spiked gasoline prices and damaged the U.S. Presidents have tapped the stockpile to calm oil markets duringwar or when hurricanes hit oil infrastructure along the U.S.Gulf of Mexico.

HOW MUCH OIL DOES THE SPR HOLD?

The reserve currently holds about 606 million barrels indozens of caverns in four heavily guarded locations on the Louisiana and Texas coasts. That's enough oil to meet U.S.demand for more than a month.

The country also maintains small heating oil and gasolinereserves in the U.S. Northeast.

WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE STRATEGIC RESERVES?

Besides the United States, the other 29 member countries in the Energy Agency (IEA), including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Australia, are required to hold oil in emergency reserves equivalent to 90 days of net oil imports. Japan has one of the largest reserves after China and the United States.

China, an associate member of the and the world's second-leading oil consumer, created its SPR 15 years ago and held its first oil reserve auction in September. Another associate member, India, the third-biggest oil importer and consumer, also maintains a reserve.

Overall, governments held more than 1.5 billion barrels of crude as of September, according to the That is about 15 days of global demand prior to the pandemic.

CAN THOSE COUNTRIES RELEASE OIL ALL AT ONCE?

U.S. presidents can coordinate a SPR release with drawdowns in reserves by other IEA members at the same time. A potential release involving China and India would be the first instance in which the U.S. coordinated a release that included those two nations.

HOW DOES THE SPR GET OIL TO MARKET?

Because of its location near big U.S. refining orpetrochemical centers, the SPR can ship as much as 4.4 million barrels per day. It can take only 13 days from a presidential decision for the first oil to enter the U.S. market, accordingto the Energy Department.

Under a sale, the Energy Department usually holds an online auction in which energy companies bid on the oil. Under a swap, oil companies take crude but are required to return it, plusinterest.

U.S. presidents have authorized emergency sales from the SPR three times, most recently in 2011 during a war in memberLibya. Sales also took place during the Gulf War in 1991 andafter Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Oil swaps have taken place more frequently, with the last exchange held in September after Hurricane Ida.

WHAT IS THE IEA'S ROLE IN NATIONAL SPRs?

The IEA helps coordinate member releases, provides data on levels and plays other roles.

There are typically three ways to maintain SPR levels to meet the 90-day requirement, according to the IEA website: commercial stocks held by refiners, those held by the government and agency stocks, with countries choosing which balance to maintain. The stockholding structure is peer-reviewed every five years among members.

Measures to restrain demand or otherwise help supply can also be taken, the IEA says. These may include calls for voluntary fuel savings, fuel-switching such as oil to gas for power generation or "surge production" to quickly tap underground reserves.

Relaxing environmental standards can also help make supplies more flexible, the IEA says.

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In a major shift for a country long closed to immigrants, is looking to allow foreigners in certain blue-collar jobs to stay indefinitely starting as early as the 2022 fiscal year, a justice ministry official said on Thursday.

Under a law that took effect in 2019, a category of "specified skilled workers" in 14 sectors such as farming, construction and sanitation have been allowed to stay for up to five years, but without their family members.

The government had been looking to ease those restrictions, which had been cited by companies as among reasons that they were hesitant to hire such help.

If the revision takes effect, such workers - many from Vietnam and China - would be allowed to renew their visas indefinitely and bring their families with them, as the other category of more skilled foreigners are allowed to do now.

Immigration has long been taboo in as many prize ethnic homogeneity, but pressure has mounted to open up its borders due to an acute labour shortage given its dwindling and ageing population.

"As the shrinking population becomes a more serious problem and if wants to be seen as a good option for overseas workers, it needs to communicate that it has the proper structure in place to welcome them," Toshihiro Menju, managing director of think tank Japan Center for Exchange, told Reuters.

The 2019 law was meant to attract some 345,000 "specified skilled workers" over five years, but the intake has hovered at around 3,000 per month before the COVID-19 pandemic sealed the borders, according to government data.

As of late 2020, Japan housed 1.72 million foreign workers, out of a total population of 125.8 million and just 2.5% of its working population.

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The group plans to share its manifesto with other expert groups, national committees, and with endorsed projects and programmes of the UN Ocean Decade

Reducing marine debris by 50-90 per cent and a globe circling, high-tech system of monitors are two essential aims among several championed by nine distinguished international experts appointed to help the reach the goal of a clean ocean by 2030.

The Clean Ocean International Expert Group of the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development will formally present its short list of activities and goals, and a strategy to reach them in a "manifesto" at the outset of a three-day online conference on achieving a clean ocean that will conclude on November 19.

Co-chaired by Angelika Brandt of Germany, a southern ocean and Antarctica biodiversity expert, and Elva Escobar Briones of Mexico, a deep sea biodiversity expert, the group concisely outlines "the challenges and some of the opportunities that the Ocean Decade can provide for a clean ocean."

The statement charts the most direct route to a clean ocean citing these objectives for 2030: Enlarge understanding of pathways for spread and fate of pollutants, reduce and remove top-priority forms of (e.g. marine debris) by large amounts, as much as 50 to 90 per cent and to prevent recurrence, reduce sources or emission of pollutants (e.g. anthropogenic noise, discarded plastic and harmful chemicals, farming practices adding harmful sediment outflow).

With such a framework agreed and in place, specific objectives can be identified and efforts activated, with targets and timetables similar in scope and character to next spring's anticipated world agreement to protect 30 per cent of the marine environment by 2030, and the completion of high-resolution mapping of the seabed also by 2030.

The expert group underlined that, "This process should aim to define and attract financial and other support to meet an initial set of goals for 2025, followed by goals for the end of the Ocean Decade in 2030."

And they set out examples of nearer term objectives for 2025. These include quantify the global harm of marine from all major sources on ecosystems and organisms and on human health; assessment methods need to take into account multiple stressors; and survey the totality of anthropogenic chemicals flowing into the oceans.

"By 2030 we want to achieve measurable improvement in monitoring and clear reduction of emissions and harm through a spectrum of technical and behavioral strategies," the group says.

The three-day online conference will highlight more than 30 activities in place or in development around the world that can make important contributions by 2030 to a clean ocean.

These include initiatives to: Successfully and consistently monitor marine debris from space as part of an Integrated Global Marine Debris Observing System; operate deep sea observatories in the Atlantic that document and publicize multiple stressors; and observe the vast southern ocean to give early warnings of possible hot spots in this relatively pristine ocean.

The manifesto, which presents the signatories' views and not official positions of their respective institutions, is also directed at other groups such as the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the Economist magazine World Ocean Initiative, and the World Ocean Council.

The group plans to share its manifesto with other expert groups, national committees, and with endorsed projects and programmes of the UN Ocean Decade to speed up development of a strong set of Clean Ocean activities.

Lead author Jesse Ausubel, Director of the Program for the Human Environment at The Rockefeller University, New York City, says: "We want this decade to transition from increasing to decreasing the environmental problems of the oceans."

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more states in the US have started offering booster doses, according to reports

Amid fear of a (Covid-19) resurgence in the upcoming winter season, more states in the US have started offering booster doses, according to reports.

California made the first move to expand access when public health officials quietly sent a letter to local health jurisdictions and vaccine providers on November 9 instructing them to trust patients to decide whether a booster is appropriate, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

Within days, officials in Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia and New York City endorsed boosters for all adults.

"More states and jurisdictions are expected to follow," The Washington Post said in a report on Tuesday.

"If you're in doubt and you meet the waiting period, just get a booster. Choose the side of greater protection," Democratic New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was quoted as saying on Monday.

"With the holidays coming up, we need as many people boosted as possible. It's that simple."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is aiming to authorise booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine for all adults as early as Thursday.

A report in The New York Times said that the "move that would expand the number of Americans eligible for additional shots by tens of millions".

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) independent committee of vaccine experts has scheduled a meeting for Friday to discuss data on the booster dose's efficacy and safety.

If both the and the CDC sign off this week, they will have acted strikingly quickly, a little more than a week after Pfizer asked for authorization of boosters for everyone 18 and older.

Under that scenario, any adult who received a second dose of the vaccine at least six months earlier would be officially eligible to get a booster as soon as this weekend.

The is reportedly expected to rule without consulting its own expert panel, which has met frequently during the pandemic to review vaccine data and make a recommendation ahead of a regulatory decision.

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The Innovation Action 2021-24 prepared under India's leadership has been agreed by all countries concerned as a key deliverable of the Science & Technology Ministerial at the 13th S&T Committee Meeting.

The (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries' scientific ministries met on Tuesday for the BRICS S&T Ministerial to be held on November 26, a release from the Science & Technology Ministry said on Wednesday.

India presented the draft declaration of the ministerial meeting, highlighting various scientific achievements, including thematic meetings and events organised under India's chairship. The meeting was hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India.

The Indian delegation was led by Advisor and Head ( Cooperation) of DST, Sanjeev Kumar Varshney.

The BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting (comprising ministers responsible for science, technology and innovation in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) provides an overarching vision and advice on institutional and financial frameworks for major BRICS programmes and initiatives in these sectors.

This year's ministerial meeting is being hosted by India.

About 20 scientific meetings were organised in 2021 with some of the key events hosted by India, including BRICS Young Scientist Conclave 2021, BRICS Working Group Meeting on Science, Technology, Innovation Entrepreneurship Partnership, and BRICS Working Group Meeting on Astronomy, the release added.

--IANS

niv/arm

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renewed his attacks on and during News Corps annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, accusing the tech giants of trying to silence conservative voices and calling for "significant reform."

The Silicon Valley are favourite targets for Murdoch, 90, who for years has criticised for taking the publisher's news articles without compensation and with failing to adequately reward publishers. The public flogging continued, despite News Corp winning concessions from both companies, which earlier this year agreed to pay for the publisher content in Australia.

"For many years our company has been leading the global debate about Big Digital," said Murdoch. "What we have seen in the past few weeks about the practices at and surely reinforces the need for significant reform." Murdoch accused Facebook employees of trying to silence conservative voices, and noted "a similar pattern of selectivity" in Google search results.

Google to pay AFP for content sharing

Google has agreed to pay news wire Agence France-Presse for the use of its content, its first deal following a fine from the French regulator over its approach to negotiating compensation for news organisations, the said in a statement Wednesday. The amount wasnt disclosed. The news agency reported that the deal would cover content in all European Union countries for five years. Google and a group of French press titles excluding AFP struck an initial agreement in January. However, the French competition authority fined Google $593 mn in July for having failed to negotiate in good faith with news outlets. Google appealed the fine.
By Nupur Anand and Aftab Ahmed

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India plans to tighten regulation of cryptocurrencies to deter investors from holding them though the government is unlikely to follow through with an earlier plan to ban private digital coins, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Instead, it could allow only those that have been pre-approved by the government to be listed and traded on exchanges -- an intentionally cumbersome process, said the sources, who asked not to be named as the discussions are private.

"Only when a coin has been approved by the government can it be traded, else holding or trading it in may attract a penalty," said the first source.

The government aims to introduce and pass a law in the parliamentary session that begins this month.

Such a pre-verification approach would create obstacles for thousands of peer-to-peer currencies that thrive on being outside the ambit of regulatory scrutiny.

On Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said all democratic nations must work together to ensure "does not end up in wrong hands, which can spoil our youth" -- his first public comments on the subject.

Earlier this year, the government considered criminalising the possession, issuance, mining, trading and transference of crypto-assets.

Its stance has changed since then -- but only slightly, according to the two sources, who said hefty capital gains and other taxes may be levied to discourage trading.

A senior government source said investors "will have to pay over 40% on any crypto gains so far", adding that additional goods and services sales taxes, and securities transaction taxes, could be levied on top of any capital gains taxes.

The finance ministry did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Last week, Modi chaired a meeting to discuss the future of cryptocurrencies, amid concerns that unregulated crypto markets could become avenues for money laundering and terror financing, sources separately said on Saturday.

The new rules are also likely to discourage marketing and advertising of cryptocurrencies, to dull their allure for retail investors, said an industry source who was part of a separate parliamentary panel discussion held on Monday.

The government is looking to classify crypto as an asset class, as demanded by the crypto exchanges, rather than as a currency, two sources said.

But the senior government official told Reuters that the plan is to ban private crypto-assets ultimately while paving the way for a new Central Bank (CBDC).

The Reserve Bank of India, which has voiced "serious concerns" about private crypto is set to launch its CBDC by December.

Bitcoin, the world's biggest cryptocurrency, is hovering around $60,000 and has more than doubled since the start of this year, attracting hordes of local investors.

No official data is available but industry estimates suggest there are 15-20 million crypto investors in India, with total crypto holdings of around 400 billion rupees ($5.39 billion).

China's state planner and foreign exchange regulator, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), this week said it will continue to clean up the virtual currency mining in the country, which hit crypto currency prices.

(Reporting by Nupur Anand and Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Catherine Evans)

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Sapphire Foods, quick service restaurant (QSR) company, made a healthy stock market debut on the bourses on Thursday. The shares of the company that owns and operates Pizza Hut and KFC chain of stores listed at Rs 1,350, a 14 per cent premium against issue price of Rs 1,180 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). On the BSE, the stock opened at Rs 1,311, an 11 per cent premium over its issue price.

Post listing, shares of moved higher to Rs 1,383.60 on the BSE and Rs 1,380 on the NSE. At 10:09 am, it was trading 14 per cent higher at Rs 1,346 on both the exchanges. A combined 3 million equity shares had changed hands on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report.

The Rs 2,073-crore initial public offering (IPO) of India had received good response from investors with the issue getting nearly 7 times more demand than the shares on offer. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) portion garnered 7.5 times subscription, the high networth individual (HNI) portion was subscribed 3.5 times and the retail quota garnered nearly 8.7 times subscription.

is one of the Yum brand's restaurant operators in the Indian subcontinent. It is also Sri Lankas largest QSR chain as per FY21 revenues. The company operates 482 stores with 219 KFC & 188 Pizza Hut stores in India. It has another 73 stores in Sri Lanka and two in Maldives. The company operates KFC & Pizza Hut brands in India, Sri Lanka & Maldives and Taco Bell operations in Sri Lanka. It operates under a three-way franchisee arrangement for Yum in India



"The company enjoys a strong relationship with Yum Brands of US, which enables it to use Yums system, system property and expertise in building and establishing brands and operating large-scale restaurants chains. The company is optimising its restaurant size to reduce the costs in form of operations costs as well as the capex incurred. This would improve the profitability & reduce the payback period of outlet as well," ICICI Securities had said in an IPO note.
Govt accepts Cairn's offer on retro tax; company to withdraw cases: Report

Moving quickly towards ending a retrospective tax dispute with a firm that gave India its largest oilfield, the government has accepted Energy PLC's undertakings which would allow for the refund of taxes, sources said.

Meeting the requirements of the new legislation that scraps levy of retrospective taxation, the company had earlier this month given required undertakings indemnifying the Indian government against future claims as well as agreeing to drop any legal proceedings anywhere in the world. Read more

wipes out Rs 38,000 crore in investor wealth on market debut

One 97 communications, the parent company of digital payments major Paytm, made a dismal debut on the bourses, listing at a 9 per cent discount to the issue price of Rs 2,150, as concerns over lofty valuations and scepticism over the company's business model weighed on the stock.

The stock plummeted as the day progressed, hitting a 20 per cent lower circuit, causing a halt in trading. The shares fell further after trading resumed to end the day at Rs 1,564, down 27 per cent, on the BSE. At the closing price, was valued at Rs 1.01 trillionnearly Rs 38,000 crore below the Rs 1.39 trillion value assigned in the Rs 18,300-crore IPO. Read more

stock zooms 8% as Japan's Kubota to raise stake, make open offer

was trading at a fresh all-time high on Thursday after Japan-based Kubota Corporation acquired stake in the company.

According to a release issued by to the BSE, the company has raised Rs 1,872.74 crore by way of preferential issue of 96.64 lakh equity shares to Kubota at Rs 2,000 per share. "Kubota will also make an open offer to the public shareholders of Escorts to acquire up to 26 per cent of the share capital in accordance with SEBI Regulations," Escorts said. Read more

investing significantly in India, supports around 1 mn jobs: Official

is investing significantly in India to expand its presence in the country, and supports around one million jobs in the country across its workforce, apps and supplier partners, the company's Vice-President (Product Operations) Priya Balasubramaniam said on Thursday.

Speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021, Balasubramaniam said has been operating in India for over two decades, and in 2017, it began manufacturing iPhones at a facility in Bengaluru. Read more
Morrison said that both countries are making great progress in many areas including space, science, digital technology. | Photo: Wikipedia

Asserting that and India share a deep friendship, Prime Minister on Thursday said that both countries are making great progress in many areas including space, science, digital technology.

"Australia-India shares deep friendship and our relations will grow even more with time. We are making great progress in so many areas including space, science, digital technology. It's an honour for that PM Modi is addressing Sydney dialogue," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address was preceded by introductory remarks by the Australian Prime Minister

"It is a great honour for the people of India that you have invited me to deliver the keynote at the inaugural Sydney Dialogue. I see this as a recognition of India's central role in the Indo Pacific region and in the emerging digital world," PM Modi said.

Underlining the impact of the Digital Age, PM said "we are in a time of change" that happens once in an era, where technology and data are becoming new weapons.

He said the Digital Age is changing everything around us. "It has redefined politics, economy and society," he added.

"It is raising new questions on sovereignty, governance, ethics, law, rights and security. It is reshaping international competition, power and leadership," the Prime Minister said while speaking on the theme of "India's Technology: Evolution and Revolution".

"As a democracy and digital leader, India is ready to work with partners for our shared prosperity and security. India's digital revolution is rooted in our democracy, our demography and the scale of our economy. It's powered by enterprise and innovation of our youth," said PM Modi during his keynote address.

Noting that India's digital revolution is rooted in its democracy, Prime Minister listed out "Digital transitions shaping" the country, at the inaugural edition of The Sydney Dialogue.

Prime Minister said that India is "turning the challenges of the past into an opportunity to take a leap into the future. While speaking on the theme of "India's technology evolution and revolution", PM Modi noted that there are five important transitions taking place in India.

"One, we are building the world's most extensive public information infrastructure. Over 1.3 billion Indians have a unique digital identity. We are on our way to connecting 600,0000 villages with broadband. We have built the world's most efficient payment infrastructure, the UPI. Over 800 million use the internet, 750 million are on smartphones."

The Sydney Dialogue is being held from November 17-19. It is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. The event will also witness a keynote address by the Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe.

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today announced that it has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 600 MW ISTS connected with (SECI), under its 4 GW manufacturing linked projects, which will supply power for 25 years at a fixed tariff of INR 2.54 (~US 3.4 cents) per kWh.

The projects will be constructed in Rajasthan, the highest solar insolation state in India, for which connectivity approval is in place and land is fully identified and is under acquisition. The commissioning timeline for the projects as per the agreement is Q3 FY 2024.

Speaking on this occasion, Ranjit Gupta, MD and CEO, said, "Continuing on our communication regarding our progress with SECI on the 4 GW manufacturing linked projects, we are happy to announce the signing of our first PPAs for 600 MW capacity. This is a significant milestone, given the long wait. With things now falling into place, we are on our way to see our 4 GW pipeline turn into contracted capacity and help us realise significant value accretion for our stakeholders. We understand SECI is progressing to tie up Power Sale Agreements for further capacity in the tender and we expect to sign PPAs when the corresponding PSAs are in place. We remain committed to our policy to only take on contracts that create shareholder value and earn returns above our cost of capital"

This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

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Singapore has announced that from November 29 it will open up its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) for India

It is learnt that is in talks with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of External Affairs to restart scheduled commercial services with two daily flights each from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.

As of now, only repatriation is taking place through Air India, under the Vande Bharat mission. has announced that from November 29 it will open up its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) for India and once the programme is in place there will be no need for quarantine for vaccinated passengers.

There is huge pent up demand for travellers from both sides. Technically, repatriation flights cannot be included under Singapore's VTL arrangement and only scheduled commercial flights are included in this programme.

It is learnt is keen that Singapore airlines should restart partial operations to India.Sources say that talks for resumption of commercial flights between Singapore and India are moving in the right direction and there can be a decision soon.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is currently in Singapore and holding talks with top leadership, resumption of connectivity also came up during his talks.

Yesterday, Jaishankar met the Singapore transport minister and discussed enhancing travel arrangements between the two countries.

"Began my Singapore visit by meeting S. Iswaran, Minister of Transport. Discussed enhancing travel arrangements between the two countries," Jaishankar tweeted.

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Defence Minister today will inaugurate a newly-revamped war memorial in Ladakh's Rezang La, which was built to honour the 13 Kumaon regiment that defeated the Chinese Army during the

The war memorial will be inaugurated on the 59th anniversary of the Rezang La battle.

"The Rezang La war memorial in Eastern sector was a small one and it has now been expanded. It will now be much bigger than before and will be pasted on the tourist map of the union territory," said the Indian Army officials.

Now the general public, including the tourists, will be allowed to go to the memorial and border areas which will further popularise the legendary battle.

During the three-day event starting from November 17, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat will also be present, officials said. The defence minister will also be visiting Leh on November 18, and from there, he may visit Jhansi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be taking part in the closing ceremony of the Rashtriya Raksha Samarpan Parva on the 193rd birth anniversary of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi.

The move to inaugurate the revamped war memorial in Rezang La is seen as India's show of strength in the area which is very close to the Chinese territory and is visible from the other side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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The key equity indices extended losses and hit fresh intraday low in morning trade. The Nifty was trading below the 17,750 mark. IT shares corrected after rising in the past four sessions.

At 10:26 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 414.33 points or 0.69% to 59,594. The Nifty 50 index lost 156.80 points or 0.88% to 17,741.85.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index shed 1.45% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index declined 1.50%.

The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 927 shares rose and 2053 shares fell. A total of 147 shares were unchanged.

New Listing:

Shares of Sapphire Foods India were currently trading at Rs 1,290.90 at 10:16 IST on the BSE, a premium of 9.4% as compared to the issue price of Rs 1180.

The scrip was listed at Rs 1311, a premium of 11.1% to the issue price. So far, the scrip has hit a high of 1,383.60 and a low of 1,282.85 in the trading session. Over 2.31 lakh shares of the company changed hands in the counter on the BSE.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sapphire Foods India received bids for 6,39,45,000 shares as against 96,63,468 shares on offer. The issue was subscribed 6.62 times.

Shares of One 97 Communications (Paytm) were currently trading at Rs 1702.15 at 10:16 IST on the BSE, a discount of 20.83% compared with the IPO price of Rs 2150.

The scrip was listed at Rs 1955, a discount of 9.07% to the issue price. So far, the scrip has hit a high of 1961.05 and a low of 1681 in the trading session. Over 4.01 lakh shares of the company changed hands in the counter on the BSE.

The IPO of Paytm was subscribed 1.89 times. The issue opened for bidding on 8 November and it closed on 10 November. The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 2080 to Rs 2150 per share.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index fell 1.77% to 36,012.75, amid some bit of profit booking. The index had advanced 3.03% in the past four sessions.

Larsen & Toubro Infotech (down 3.54%), HCL Tech (down 3.21%), Coforge (down 3.08%), MindTree (down 2.39%), L&T Technology Services (down 2.38%), Tech Mahindra (down 2.10%), TCS (down 1.93%), Mphasis (down 1.48%), Wipro (down 1.47%) and Infosys (down 1%) declined.

Stocks in Spotlight:

GMR Infrastructure shed 0.38% to Rs 39.60. The company's subsidiary, GMR Airports (GAL) was declared as the winning bidder for the development and operation of Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia (Medan Airport).

Artson Engineering was locked in an upper circuit of 5% at Rs 81.25. The company informed that it has bagged a Rs 8.6 crore order from Tata Projects for construction of Tanks at their ONGC Kakinada site.

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The Mainland China share market finished session lower on Thursday, 18 November 2021, on concerns about weaker earnings amid a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy and as quarterly results from Baidu and Bilibili rekindled concerns about the impact of harsh regulations by government officials over the past year.

At close of trade, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.47%, or 16.65 points, to 3,520.71. The Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, fell 0.65%, or 16.15 points, to 2,460.86.

The blue-chip CSI300 index was down 1%, or 48.13 points, to 4,837.62.

China stocks have been under heavy pressure, due to an ongoing government crackdown focused on antitrust issues and other forms of unfair competition. Many China stocks have seen their valuations cut in half since the crackdown began.

Baidu reported quarterly results Wednesday. Baidu warned that China's regulatory crackdown and the pandemic would weigh on advertising sales in the coming quarters.

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Shares of Sapphire Foods India were currently trading at Rs 1,290.90 at 10:16 IST on the BSE, a premium of 9.4% as compared to the issue price of Rs 1180.

The scrip was listed at Rs 1311, a premium of 11.1% to the issue price. So far, the scrip has hit a high of 1,383.60 and a low of 1,282.85 in the trading session. Over 2.31 lakh shares of the company changed hands in the counter on the BSE.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sapphire Foods India received bids for 6,39,45,000 shares as against 96,63,468 shares on offer. The issue was subscribed 6.62 times.

The retail individual investors category was subscribed 8.70 times. The qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) category was subscribed 7.50 times and non-institutional investors category was subscribed 3.46 times.

The IPO opened for bidding on 9 November and it closed on 11 November. The price band was set at Rs 1120 to Rs 1180.

Ahead of the IPO, Sapphire Foods finalized allocation of 79,06,473 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 1,180 per equity share, aggregating to Rs 932.96 crore.

The IPO was a complete offer for sale of shares worth Rs 2,073.25 crore by existing shareholders - Sapphire Foods Mauritius, QSR Management Trust, WWD Ruby, Amethyst, AAJV Investment Trust, Edelweiss Crossover Opportunities Fund and Edelweiss Crossover Opportunities Fund- Series II.

The company will not directly receive any proceeds from the offer, and all the offer proceeds will be received by the selling shareholders, in proportion to the offered shares sold by them. The promoters of the company are Ravi Sapphire Foods Mauritius and QSR Management Trust.

The promoters and promoter group held an aggregate of 38,173,680 equity shares, aggregating to 60.08% of the pre-offer issued and paid-up equity share capital. The post IPO shareholding for the same is expected to be around 49.97%.

Sapphire Foods is one of YUM's franchisee operators in the Indian subcontinent. The company is also Sri Lanka's largest international QSR chain in terms of revenue for the financial year 2021 as also number of restaurants operated as of 31 March 2021. As of 30 June 2021, company owned and operated 209 KFC restaurants in India and the Maldives, 239 Pizza Hut restaurants in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, and 2 Taco Bell restaurants in Sri Lanka.

The company reported a net loss of Rs 26.09 crore and sales of Rs 303.05 crore in the three months ended on 30 June 2021.

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Tata Steel Ltd is quoting at Rs 1194.2, down 2.12% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 128.07% in last one year as compared to a 39.18% rally in NIFTY and a 98.17% spurt in the Nifty Metal index.

Tata Steel Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1194.2, down 2.12% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.69% on the day, quoting at 17775.85. The Sensex is at 59658.19, down 0.58%.Tata Steel Ltd has eased around 12.63% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 10.57% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5568.1, down 2.03% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 69.6 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 88.72 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark November futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1198.2, down 1.9% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd jumped 128.07% in last one year as compared to a 39.18% rally in NIFTY and a 98.17% spurt in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 5.42 based on TTM earnings ending September 21.

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Zomato on Wednesday announced that it has dissolved its UK based step-down subsidiary.

In an exchange filing on Wednesday, Zomato informed that Zomato UK, a step-down subsidiary of the company has been dissolved effective from 16 November 2021.

Zomato has seem to pull the plug on almost all its international businesses, including the United States, United Kingdom (UK), Singapore and Lebanon.

Earlier last week, Zomato announced that it is shutting down its operations in Lebanon, which is the only international business Zomato was left with (other than dining-out business in UAE) after shutting down the rest of its international operations last year.

Zomato was one of the leading Food Services technology platforms in India in terms of value of food sold, as of 31 March 2021. The food delivery company reported a net loss of Rs 434.90 crore in Q2 September 2021 as compared to a net loss of Rs 229.80 crore in Q2 September 2020. Consolidated net sales surged 140.40% to Rs 1,024.20 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21. Adjusted revenue in Q2 FY22 stood at Rs 1,420 crore ($189 million), recording a 22.6% growth quarter-over-quarter (Q-o-Q) and 144.9% growth year-over-year (Y-o-Y).

Shares of Zomato were trading 0.54% lower at Rs 155.80 on BSE.

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Air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) has gone from bad to worse. All schools and colleges have been shut, some government workers have been moved to working from home, and only five of the 11 coal-fired thermal power plants close to the city are still operating.

Construction has also been shut down for the week. As usual, various authorities responsible for the NCR and neighbouring areas are blaming each other  to the extent that the Supreme Court has complained about bureaucratic inertia. The problems that lead to Delhi having the worst air quality ...
(AIMIM) president on Thursday said his party will stage agitations across Maharashtra to demand reservations for Muslims in the state.

Owaisi spoke to reporters after attending a conference on the present condition of Muslims in Maharashtra organised by Dua Foundation and the Centre for Development Policy and Practice in Aurangabad.

"The court has admitted that 50 castes in the Muslim community should be granted reservation. However, while all political parties are supporting the Maratha community, no one is speaking about reservation for Muslims," the AIMIM leader claimed.

"We will hold agitations in Maharashtra to press for our demand for reservations for Muslims. We want the state government to bring an ordinance in the Nagpur Assembly session for reservations," he said.

The Maratha community should hold protests for reservation and the AIMIM will join them, he said.

The Maratha community in the state has been silent for many days. They should agitate and we will also join them, Owaisi said.

The AIMIM leader further condemned the violence that took place at Maharashtra's Amravati and said an inquiry should be conducted into the incident.

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Former Goa Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress vice president Luizinho Faleiro on Thursday rebutted Congress's allegations that he joined the West Bengal-based political outfit in September for "retirement benefits".

Faleiro, who addressed a press conference in Panaji after filing his nomination for a Rajya Sabha seat from West Bengal, claimed that instead of retirement, joining the Trinamool made him feel like he was "born again".

"Luizinho Faleiro has not come for a retirement package, Luizinho Faleiro is born again," he told reporters, when asked about a charge levelled by All India Congress Committee Goa in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao, that he quit the Congress in September this year for retirement benefits. "I have taken a new rebirth to fight the vultures circling in the skies of Goa," he also said.

Faleiro also said that the Congress in Goa had no right to accuse the Trinamool Congress of trying to divide the "secular vote".

"What division are you talking about, you are in the wholesale business of not only selling votes but selling MLAs. What right do you have to tell the people 'give us votes'? These people (Congress) are not the custodian of secular votes," Faleiro said.

"Trinamool has not come here to divide votes. Trinamool has come to Goa to ensure that Goans get a good voice in Parliament and a good governance, which they richly deserve," he added.

Faleiro also said that for the upcoming Assembly polls, the Trinamool would focus on the Goa model and not import a model, either from Delhi or Gujarat or West Bengal.

--IANS

maya/shb/

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president on Thursday claimed she was put under house arrest, while two of her party colleagues were arrested by the police.

The former Jammu and chief minister said her party chief spokesperson Suhail Bukhari and spokesperson Najmu Saqib were arrested.

Again under house arrest & PDPs @SAAQQIIB & @Suhail_Bukhari too have been arrested, she wrote on Twitter and posted pictures of the locked gate of her residence.

Referring to the Hyderpora encounter, the chief charged that the pattern of using innocent civilians as human shields and then denying their families the right to a decent burial shows that the Centre has plumbed new depths of inhumanity.

Their narrative right from the start was based on lies to escape accountability. They dont want to be held accountable for their actions & that's why they are muzzling voices that speak up against such injustice & atrocities, she alleged.

A controversy has erupted over Monday's encounter in Hyderpora following conflicting claims about the two deceased as their family members contested the police's charge that they were "terror associates.

The Jammu and administration on Thursday ordered a magisterial probe into the Hyderpora encounter here.

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Bengal Chief Minister said on Thursday that her government is expecting Rs 10,480 crore investment in the district over the next two years, which will lead to the creation of job opportunities for more than 1 lakh people.

Addressing a review meeting in the district, Banerjee said 882 new projects would come up in in the next two years.

"In the next two years, investments to the tune of Rs 10,480 crores will come in district. Around 882 new projects and industrial parks would come up in the district, generating more than 1,16,000 jobs," she said.

Banerjee urged industrialists to recruit locals rather than bringing in workers from other states.

"We are aware that people from other states come here in search of jobs. We live in peace and harmony. But I would request all of you (industrialists) to recruit locals for the upcoming projects," she said.

Banerjee also asked the district authority and the Land Department to settle the land-related issues at the earliest.

"There has been a lack of coordination. I would request the district and the Land Department officials to look into the problems and resolve them at the earliest. On December 14, a synergy programme will be organised to look into the problems," she said.

The chief minister's announcement of the investments in Howrah is part of the state government's renewed efforts to bring in big-ticket investments.

Banerjee also announced that the state government is planning to develop a new dairy firm -- 'Bangla Dairy' -- under the state Animal Husbandry Department.

"It will sell various kinds of dairy products. Around 512 outlets would set up to sell those products," she said.

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Bharti added that the era of the SP, BSP and the Congress has already ended

Former MP Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharati has said that "UP chief minister Yogi is a better and refined version of herself".

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Prayagraj on Wednesday, Bharti said, "Yogi had shown keen interest and dedication towards the overall development of the state and left his rivals far behind. He has not only proved himself, but also served the people of the state tirelessly. There is no doubt that he is my better and refined version."

She further claimed that the would "script success stories in the 2022 state Assembly polls".

"People are fed up with 'parivarvad' (nepotism) and leaders who get active only ahead of polls would not get anything. There is a stampede-like situation in the Mulayam Singh Yadav's family, while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is still in isolation," she said.

She added that the era of the SP, BSP and the Congress has already ended.

"It does not help when you get active during polls. You have to work hard five to seven years for the masses to get your work noticed," she said.

predicted, "The opposition parties would not even touch double digit seat figures as the people of the state have already made up their mind to support the BJP, which would register an impressive triumph in the assembly polls."

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The red flag legislation allows police or the courts to seize guns from people who show signs that they might be violent. Photo: Reuters

Three members of the Sikh community affected by a mass shooting at an Indianapolis facility in April are seeking compensation from the city over claims that local officials failed to pursue a court hearing that could have prevented the shooter from accessing guns used in the attack.

An October 12 letter obtained by The Indianapolis Star indicates that Harpreet Singh, Lakhwinder Kaur and Gurinder Bains, who were injured or lost family members in the April 15 attack, are each requesting $700,000 in damages from the city.

Lawyers for the victims said the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Marion County Prosecutor's Office failed to follow Indiana's red flag law when they decided not to file a case with the courts to suspend the shooter's gun rights in March of 2020.

The red flag legislation, which became law in Indiana in 2005, allows police or the courts to seize guns from people who show signs that they might be violent.

The lawyers say the law doesn't give the authorities discretion and that they must file such cases with the courts. Had such a case been filed, the mass shooting could have been prevented, according to the letter that serves as a tort claim notice, which precedes a formal lawsuit.

Police said Brandon Scott Hole, 19, used the attack as an act of suicidal murder. Eight employees, including four members of the city's Sikh community, were killed and five others were injured.

Hole, a former employee, was able to legally purchase the two rifles used in the shooting, even after his mother called police in March of 2020 to say her son might attempt suicide by cop. Police seized a pump-action shotgun from Hole, then 18, when responding to his mother's call.

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears has since faced sharp criticism for choosing not to pursue the red flag court hearing that could have prevented Hole from accessing the guns used in the April attack. Mears said shortly after the attack that prosecutors didn't pursue such a hearing because they didn't have enough time under the law to definitively demonstrate his propensity for suicidal thoughts.

Mears, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, and Indianapolis police Chief Randal Taylor have not commented on the tort claim, according to The Star.

Singh, who was shot in the head during the attack, still has a bullet lodged in the left side of his head between his ear and eye. His injuries resulted in hospitalisation, multiple surgical procedures, extensive rehabilitation, inability to work at full capacity, and continued physical and psychological injuries, according to the letter.

Kaur was grazed by a bullet on her left underarm. She was standing behind Jaswinder Singh Bains' father when he was fatally shot, and now suffers from psychological distress, the letter says. Bains is requesting compensation on behalf of his father's estate.

The victims are being represented by Amandeep S. Sidhu of the Washington, D.C., law firm Winston & Strawn LLP. The Sikh Coalition is acting as co-counsel.

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Foodlink, a luxury catering company, on Thursday said it has raised $8 million (Rs 59.34 crore) in led by Plutus Wealth Management.

The Series-B round also witnessed the participation of Arpit Khandelwal, Managing Partner, Plutus Wealth Management LLP, Foodlink said in a statement.

The Mumbai-based company will use these funds to expand its flagship business of luxury catering across newer geographies in India and overseas to take its luxury banquet brand called JADE Luxury Banquets to more cities.

The will be used to scale their casual dining restaurant business through its brands, India Bistro, China Bistro & Art of Dum.

The company has so far raised $23 million, including the current round. It received $15 million as part of its Series-A round from OAKS Asset Management in 2017.

"We are delighted to have Plutus on board and backing us for this next exciting phase of the Foodlink journey along with OAKS Asset Management, who has been a valuable partner over the last few years," Sanjay Vazirani, founder of Foodlink said.

"Weddings in India are a recession-proof business, and the increased focus on high quality, hygienic food and formally organised vendors will strengthen Foodlink immensely," said Arpit Khandelwal, Managing Partner at Plutus Wealth Management.

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: Limited (GAL), a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure Limited, on Thursday said it won a bid for the development and operation of Kualanamu International Airport in Medan,

Angkasa Pura 2 (AP2), the state-owned enterprise and the bidding authority for the Medan Airport has informed that they have completed the best and final evaluation process for selection of strategic



partnership for the aerodrome and have announced as the Winning Bidder, a press release from GMR said.

Medan is the fourth largest urban area in the country and is capital of North Sumatra province. GMR will enter into 49:51 partnership with AP2 for this project. The consortium will transform Kualanamu



International Airport into Western International hub of Indonesia, it said.

The airport handled more than 10 million passengers in 2018. The project scope includes operation, development and expansion of the airport over a period of 25 years. Kualanamu International Airport is an operating Airport with healthy cash flows.

won the bid for this high growth potential brownfield airport, through a closely contested international competitive bid process and will partner with Angkasa Pura 2 (AP2). The letter of award is expected to be issued in next few days, post bid formalities, while signing of project agreements before end of the year.

Commenting on the development, Srinivas Bommidala, Chairman Energy & International Airports, GMR Group, said, "GMR Airports Limited is delighted to have been announced the winning bidder for the development and operation of Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, "



The project marks the entry of GMR Airports in fast growing Indonesian Aviation sector the largest in ASEAN and a high potential market and the group would like to take the opportunity to reiterate its



commitment to transform Medan Airport into a Western International hub of and contribute to overall infrastructure development of the country, he further said.

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On November 6, Musk asked his 60 million Twitter followers if he should sell some of his Tesla stock

is selling more Tesla shares than he needs to pay current tax obligations, and experts say he's either converting part of his fortune from stock to cash, or he's saving for bigger tax bills that will come due next year.

As of early Wednesday, Musk had sold roughly 8.2 million shares in the electric car and solar panel maker in the past nine days, worth a total of just over $8.8 billion.

Of those, Musk sold 2.8 million shares worth about $3 billion specifically to pay taxes on three tranches of stock options that he exercised this week, according to filings with the U.S. That means he has sold roughly $5 billion more in shares than he needs at present.

Under a compensation plan from 2012, Musk has options to buy 26.4 million shares. The options expire next year, and the tax bill will come due. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives estimates the bill to be $10 billion to $15 billion, depending on the stock price. Musk's options so far allowed him to buy shares at $6.24 each, and the stock is selling for around $1,080.

Erik Gordon, a University of Michigan business and law professor, questioned why Musk would sell that many shares now to pay obligations that come due next year. He said accruing for future tax liabilities makes sense only if Musk expects the stock price to drop.

If you think the stock is going to go up, or if you think the stock is going to stay the same, you wouldn't be selling extra shares, he said.

On November 6, Musk asked his 60 million followers if he should sell some of his Tesla stock. Much is made lately of unrealised gains being a means of tax avoidance, so I propose selling 10% of my stock, he wrote. According to Musk, 58% of those who responded said yes.

Musk also conceded his wealth is tied up in stock, tweeting that he doesn't get a cash salary or bonus from anywhere. I have only stock, thus the only way for me to pay taxes personally is to sell stock, he wrote.

Musk started selling on Monday, and as of Wednesday, he had liquidated about 5% of his holdings. His federal tax obligations could be as high as 40% on proceeds from some of the sales, said Brad Badertscher, an accounting professor at the University of Notre Dame.

Musk could have cut his tax bill on the options in half if he had exercised the options and waited a year to sell the shares, Badertscher said. That's because with an immediate sale, the gain is taxed as ordinary income. In a year, Musk would pay the much lower capital gains rate, he said.

Wedbush's Ives said that while the poll is unorthodox, it telegraphed the sale to investors, preventing a huge selloff in Tesla stock. If he didn't do the poll and just started selling stock, the stock is probably 15% lower than it is today, Ives said.

As of Tuesday, Tesla's stock had fallen nearly 14% since Musk agreed to abide by the poll. On Wednesday, the stock rose more than 3%. Ives is confident that investors will see the stock's value as the sales start to wane.

Musk historically has been adept at moving the price of Tesla stock through tweets, said Michigan's Gordon. He's shown himself to be a master of influencing the price of Tesla stock," Gordon said. "That's the story over and over again.

Messages were left seeking comment from Musk and Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.

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"Remember Pakistan is not only a headache for India. It's a headache for the entire world," Madhav said. | Photo: ANI Twitter handle

Pakistan, which is a safe haven for terrorists, is a "headache" for the entire world as all major terror attacks across the globe have their footprints in that country, senior leader has said.

Madhav, in his keynote address at an event by Indian-Americans to observe Global Anti-Terror Day here, said that the world community needs to tackle the hub of global terror.

"Remember is not only a headache for India. It's a headache for the entire world. You cannot be treating (Pakistan) with kid gloves," he told a gathering of Indian-Americans.

All major terrorist incidents of the world have their footprints in Pakistan, Madhav, also a member of the national executive, said.

"Look at the footprints. You will find them in A country that sponsors, promotes, funds, protects terrorists, is a safer haven for terrorists; we need to tackle that country," Madhav said.

He claimed that a group of intellectuals in Washington DC are busy defending and its spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

They (ISI) are the terror. But they have successfully convinced some intellectuals in America that they are trying very hard, but these terrorist groups are not coming under their control, he said.

In a lighter vein, Madhav told the Indian-Americans amidst laughter and applause that they should send some of these terrorists to India, which will bring them under control.

Allow us to come there, we will weed them out, Madhav said as he told the audience that India has successfully defeated terrorist groups, including in Kashmir.

Perpetrators of terrorists and its support groups have to pay a heavy price for such activities, he said.

Madhav alleged that some think tanks and some media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post have sympathisers of terror.

They demand human rights for terrorists, he said.

In his remarks, Madhav said that the fight against terrorism in the world would not be successful unless the last terrorist is not eliminated.

Friends, terrorism can be defeated only when the last terrorist is defeated. Like the virus, as long as there is one terrorist alive in one corner of the world, humanity remains in danger. What is required first of all, is a united resolve to defeat and remove this scourge of mankind from the face of the Earth, he said.

India, which has been a victim of terror for the last several decades, has defeated terrorism, he said.

You have defeated terror in India. You may say there are terrorists here and there in Kashmir, but today in India, terrorism has become very costly for the perpetrators. What remains are some remnants, but they will also end very soon in India, Madhav added.

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The Press Council of India (PCI) on Wednesday took cognizance of the arrest of two women journalists by the Police and called for the state government's comments on the matter.

Chairman of the council Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has viewed it with grave concern, the PCI said in a statement.

Journalists Samriddhi Sakunia and Swarna Jha from the HW News Network, who came to to write on the recent communal incidents, were detained by the Assam Police at Karimganj's Neelam Bazar, close to the Assam- border, on Sunday.

Later, they were brought to Tripura and formally arrested on Monday morning on charges of posting inflammatory and fake news on social media.

The two were, however, released on bail later on Monday.

"It has come to the notice of the Press Council of India that Swarna Jha and Samridhi Sakunia, journalists, were arrested by Tripura Police over their reporting on the communal clashes in Tripura, the PCI said in a statement.

PCI chairman Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has viewed it with grave concern and has taken suo-motu cognizance in the matter, the council added.

"Comments from the government of Tripura have been called through the chief secretary and the director general of police," it said.

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has deployed the most advanced version of the F-16 fighter jet in its air force, as the self-ruled island steps up its defence capabilities in the face of continuing threats from China, which claims it as part of its territory.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen commissioned into service 64 upgraded F-16V fighter jets at an air force base in Chiayi on Thursday. The aircraft represents part of Taiwan's total 141 F-16 A/B jets, an older model from the 1990s that will be completely retrofitted by the end of 2023.

Tsai said the upgrade project showed the strength of Taiwan's cooperation with the U.S. defence industry. It comes at a time the island's status has become a major point of tension in the U.S.- relationship.

Beijing has been stepping up its threat by sending fighter jets in combat formations into Taiwan's buffer zone southwest of the island on a regular basis, along with longer-range missions into the Western Pacific.

has increased its rhetoric as well, with President Xi Jinping telling President Joe Biden during a virtual summit this week that challenges to China's claim over the island amounted to playing with fire.

and split during a civil war in 1949, and Beijing has not ruled out force to reunify with the island.

The United States' One China policy recognises Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei.

This represents the steadfast promise of the Taiwan-U.S. partnership, Tsai said. I trust that in holding fast to democratic values, there will definitely be more countries with similar values who will stand with us on this front.

The F-16V is the most technologically advanced version of the storied multi-role fighter jet, equipped with highly capable radar, allowing it to track more than 20 targets at a time. It also features cutting-edge electronic warfare systems, along with advanced weapons, precision GPS navigation and a system to automatically avoid collisions with the ground.

The planes represent the most advanced of the fourth generation of fighter aircraft, but still below the latest fifth-generation such as the U.S. F-22 and F-35, and Russia's Su-57 and China's J-20. has mooted the idea of purchasing fifth-generation aircraft from the U.S. but the F-16 upgrade was decided as the most effective measure under present circumstances.

Taiwan's air force also operates French Dassault Mirage 2000 and domestically designed and manufactured AIDC F-CK Chingkuo fighters for a total fleet of around 400.

China, by contrast, operates around 1,600 fighters, around half of them based in the eastern and southern theatres abutting Taiwan, along with around 450 bombers. China's superiority in both quality and quantity of fighter aircraft is seen as turning the military balance in the Taiwan Strait to its advantage, independent of involvement by U.S. forces.

With the upgrades and the planned delivery of 66 new F-16Vs in 2023, Taiwan will be the largest operator of F-16s in Asia, said Kitsch Liao, a military and cyber affairs consultant for DoubleThink Lab, an organisation targeting disinformation. This means the island should invest in repair centres for the jets to improve readiness, Liao said. Previously, Taiwan had to send the jets to other countries for repair.

In Chiayi, pilots in F-16s showed off complex manoeuvres on Thursday, flying low across the skies.

Sandra Oudkirk, the director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the U.S. de facto embassy in Taiwan, was in attendance as well.

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Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd

HTMT Global Solutions Ltd is one of the largest transnational business conglomerates in the world. The company provides information technology enabled services in India and internationally. They offer professional IT staffing claims processing call center software development and consulting services. They also provide customer relationship management programs integrating inbound contact centre Int...> More
New Delhi [India], November 18 (ANI/PRNewswire): Outlast: How ESG Can Benefit Your Business is a masterful overview of the Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) landscape and the issues that businesses face.

The first Indian-authored book on how ESG can help businesses build resilience and outlast their competition is slated to release on 7 December 2021. Outlast is a panoramic sweep of the ESG domain, rich with case studies, as the authors draw upon their considerable experience of working for some of India's largest organizations.

It includes case studies drawn from the Tata Group, as well as examples from other businesses like Marico, The Gap, Unilever, Olam, Foxconn, Page Industries, Apollo Tyres, Nike, Ranbaxy, Enron, Arthur Andersen, Volkswagen, Coal India, Cognizant, and many more. Dr Mukund Rajan and Col. Rajeev Kumar's new book has received dazzling praise and endorsements from corporate leaders, policymakers, practitioners and thought leaders.

The book can be pre-ordered on Amazon here: (bit.ly/ESGbook)

A SNEAK PEEK INTO THE BOOK

Author Dr Mukund Rajan says, "The 1991 liberalization reforms rang the death knell for many Indian firms that used to be market leaders. Many of India's leading enterprises today could meet the same fate if they do not face up to the new ESG challenges the market presents. The Age of Responsibility is well upon us, and the companies that will outlast their competition are the ones that will build resilience and prepare their businesses for long-term success through a holistic adoption of the mantra of ESG."

Author Dr (Col.) Rajeev Kumar says, "Companies and investment vehicles are under unprecedented pressure from their stakeholders to demonstrate their commitment to mainstreaming ESG considerations into their strategic decision-making processes and using their platforms to advance ESG principles that support long-term, sustainable growth strategies. Outlast highlights the impact of this new focus on ESG on businesses, and underlines how capital will increasingly be allocated in the future towards well-governed companies that contribute to the goals of a more sustainable economy and society."

Amrita Mukerji, Managing Editor, HarperCollins India, says, "ESG issues are becoming more relevant by the day, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic, and the adoption of ESG principles will soon be a must for the corporate sector. Outlast explains ESG and its benefits in an accessible, easy-to-understand format, using case studies of well-known organizations. These are principles that will help companies build resilience and outlast their competition, and the authors draw upon their years of experience in the corporate sector to explain exactly how."

ABOUT THE BOOK

Black-swan events, global warming, COVID-19 and a host of other natural and man-made disasters have tested the resilience of businesses across the world. Usually, blame for business failures is apportioned to external factors such as adverse business cycles, badly framed government regulations and lack of infrastructure. However, the causes often lie within--short-term thinking, destruction of natural resources, exploitation of labour and poor management, to name a few.

To outlast their competition, build resilience, gain competitive advantage and achieve greater returns in the long run, businesses must improve their performance on material ESG metrics: Environmental impacts such as their consumption of natural resources, waste discharge and carbon emissions; Social factors such as ties with local communities, diversity and inclusion, and building a good reputation with stakeholders; and Governance, including board effectiveness protocols, approach to senior executive compensation and appropriate reliance on independent directors. The benefits that ensue include more efficient use of resources, lower cost of operations, reduced risk, higher employee productivity and increased investor interest.

Outlast: How ESG Can Benefit Your Business is a clarion call to corporate leaders to follow the pathway of ESG. The authors, Mukund Rajan and Col. Rajeev Kumar, draw upon their considerable experience of working for some of India's largest organizations to present evidence and case studies that show that ESG is the mantra of the future. This is a timely read for all those who belong to, or aspire to be part of, the corporate world.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

DR MUKUND RAJAN is the Chairman of ECube Investment Advisors, a pioneering platform to catalyse Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) improvements. Previously, in a twenty-three-year career with the Tata Group, India's largest corporate house, he served as Brand Custodian, Chief Ethics Officer and Chairman of the Tata Global Sustainability Council.

DR (COL.) RAJEEV KUMAR is a strategic communications consultant and a Fellow of the International Association of Business Communicators. He has a PhD in Organizational Communication and was a Fulbright Doctoral Fellow at Texas A & M University. He was the Head of Learning and Development at Tata Group Corporate Communication.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

'This book is a welcome addition to the Indian business environment, drawing from years of experience with practical suggestions on how to build a more successful, multi-stakeholder, long-term business with purpose at its core. Any business that leverages the life wisdoms of the authors will increase its chances of success. After all, business cannot succeed in failing societies, nor can it be a bystander in a system that gives it life in the first place.' --Paul Polman, Co-founder and Chair, IMAGINE; former CEO, Unilever

'Creating prosperity requires business leaders to build trust in their organizations. Outlast provides valuable insights on how to do so in a context where environmental, social and governance issues are becoming increasingly important.' --George Serafeim, Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

'High-performing companies are committing to conform to international ESG norms, moving beyond optics as they embrace the value of ESG in attracting investors and employees to their business. The authors have drawn on their years of experience and brilliantly set out the ESG landscape, peppered with examples, in a useful guide for all practitioners.' --Naina Lal Kidwai, Chair, India Sanitation Coalition, and former President, FICCI

'In extraordinary COVID-19 times, this is a book that makes you press the pause button and think. How should corporate India, in particular, align itself to a "new" world where good governance needs a more holistic approach that goes well beyond profits? This is, as the authors rightly suggest, the age of ethical social responsibility, one that will hopefully help shape a better post-pandemic world.' --Rajdeep Sardesai, news anchor, journalist and author

'This book will be an eye-opener for businesses that are yet to fully comprehend the power of the ESG mantra to ensure business survival and growth. My own experience at Marico reinforces the authors' argument that ESG must be at the heart of every business strategy if long-term success is sought.' --Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico

'The global economy has shifted its focus to creating a future marked by sustainability and responsibility. ESG efforts are not only influencing investor decisions but are now considered a sound indicator of reliable future performance. A crucial topic, covered in depth by experienced authors who offer a valuable perspective on the subject. An important read for companies and investors today.' --Zia Mody, Founder and Managing Partner, AZB & Partners

'Mukund Rajan and Rajeev Kumar need to be congratulated for their analytical attempt to focus on our long-term problems, which impact the world as a whole, not just local communities. Such discourses are the need of the hour to save the human race from hurtling to its doom by ignoring the obvious and glaring issues of ESG.' --J.J. Irani, former Director, Tata Sons

'The Age of Responsibility is upon us; and this book shows Indian businesses why and how they need to respond to the converging imperatives of the climate action and social justice in the world after COVID-19. This agenda goes far beyond CSR and speaks to the very purpose of the modern Indian corporation.' --Nick Robins, Professor in Practice--Sustainable Finance, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

'The impact of COVID-19 has signalled not only a health crisis of severe proportions, but also a reflection on the broader trend of more planetary crises to emerge. This is a wake-up call for an imminent restructuring of the global economic order. It is time to incorporate the risks and threats of not only pandemics, but also climate change, waste management and biodiversity loss, and shift towards a green and circular economy. We must all adapt our value creation plans in the new business landscape and optimize performance against current and future key ESG issues to safeguard business operations and ensure long-term success.' --Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, and former President, FICCI

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Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 18 (ANI/NewsVoir): The education industry in the last couple of years has witnessed a revolutionary transformation due to the pandemic.

In order to ensure that learning continues uninterrupted, teaching pedagogies have been adapted to suit the online learning world.

Amidst all these unprecedented changes, a new entrant in this industry, Prometheus School in Delhi NCR, has been busy establishing itself as an IB continuum school. The school had received its PYP and DP authorizations earlier this year, and has recently received its MYP authorization making it a full-fledged IB continuum school. Only 43 schools in India are IB continuum school; Prometheus has proudly entered this club. It is noteworthy that this accomplishment was achieved in a short span of two years since the establishment of the school in 2019.

Mukesh Sharma, the School's Founding Chairman & Director, stated, "Prometheus was created as a school to provide affordable IB education in the Delhi NCR region. A small set of parents, students and staff trusted the founding team's mission to re-imagine learning. Today, just within two years of our inception we are extremely elated to be recognized as an IB MYP certified school which completes our IB certification process. Having achieved this status in a short span of time especially amidst the pandemic is a testimony for the team's capabilities. I am very excited about the possibilities which lie ahead."

Despite being a young school, Prometheus is the only school in India to be an IB continuum school which also offers Cambridge IGCSE and A levels programme. Prometheus thus is unique in offering its students the choice to select an international curriculum that suits their aptitude and career path.

Rashima Vaid Varma, the School's Secondary Principal expressed, "The school's MYP authorization comes in at an important juncture when physical classes have commenced. This gives the entire team the reassurance and a new source of energy for what we can build together, as a solid foundation for international education in the country, focusing on both academics and co-curricular activities. These together will empower the holistic development of our students to become responsible global citizens."

Mahesh Balakrishnan, Recognition Manager- Asia Pacific stated, "Delighted that The Prometheus School, Noida has become an IB continuum school with its IB MYP authorisation."

Prometheus School has remained true to its motto, 'Learning Re-imagined'. Be it nurturing sporting talent, embracing digital transformation or fostering humanitarian values, Prometheus is heading towards shaping children to be global citizens of tomorrow.

Prometheus School is an IB authorized school that started operations in the academic year 2019-20 in the NCR area. Currently enrolled with over 300+ students, the school is on a mission to reimagine learning, bringing in IB education to the masses, at affordable prices.

The school, under the leadership of Mukesh Sharma, a serial entrepreneur and technologist, is enabled with the right combination of technology-powered state of art learning solutions and a sprawling campus that well serves the needs of curious learners and passionate teachers.

For more information, please visit the school's website at prometheusschool.com.

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New Delhi [India], November 18 (ANI/SRV): Sjain Ventures began its journey with the simple idea of improving customer experience and making it better. It's a technology-based startup that connects the core parts of an e-commerce experience to help clients engage, inspire and convert consumers.

When the company was founded in 2009, neither social media networks nor the eCommerce industry was as sophisticated as they are now.

The internet, on the other hand, was fast evolving. For founders Shreyansh Jain and Divya Jain, who were witnessing the rise of Saas, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) & Blockchain, this period opened an opportunity to grow in the then-developing commerce cloud space.

Both the directors planned to bring emerging technologies to the field of advertising to drive sales for customers. This idea led to the launch of Sjain Ventures, years before the internet penetrated every aspect of daily life.

Sjain Ventures offers a Cloud-based system that can be accessed from anywhere and from any device. We connect the dots between the core parts of the commerce experience to drive sales. Within the cloud, we provide different high technology products.

"At the time, my view was that no one wanted to go online because they wanted to watch commercials. They went online because they wanted great experiences. So what if we could harness that class of technology and make every digital experience absolutely amazing, and also make it on-point with what people were seeking," says Shreyansh Jain.

Sjain Ventures offers a Cloud-based system that can be accessed from anywhere and from any device. We connect the dots between the core parts of the commerce experience to drive sales. Within the cloud, we provide different high technology products.

Aggregator System

Sjain is building aggregator platforms for businesses where they give clients a white-label solution to help them manage their services/products and drive sales. The offering will be technology-based on Saas. Bringing the businesses together is a simple task with eCommerce aggregators. Aggregators provide an easy way to browse different products from sellers or service providers all over the country on one website.

This platform also connects different service providers with their customers but under one brand. In this model, service providers are not employees of the business and they have full freedom to reject or accept the order for service.

Since the aggregator platform organizes the related unorganized services in one commonplace, it makes money by attracting more clients to utilise their platform to access those services. Some of the aggregator products are Food delivery, Classified, E-Commerce, Car Services and Rental Services, Wallet, Job Portal, Wedding Portal, Property Portal, and News Portal.

Game scoring recognition

The sensor data during physical activities may be remotely recorded, with the hep of video, radar, or other wireless methods. Alternately, data may be recorded directly on the subject such as by carrying custom hardware or smartphones that have accelerometers and gyroscopes. Game scoring (HAR) is one such project based on Deep Learning.

Human activity recognition (HAR) is a vast topic of study that focuses on identifying a person's individual movement or action based on sensor data. It is a process of identifying, analyzing and interpreting which kind of actions a person is taking. Depending on the systems, 20 joints are usually considered to define the human body.

Vehicle Inspection system

Artificial Intelligence is proving to be a game-changer, with a plethora of applications in practically every field.It is now making its way into the area of inspection and checks, allowing it to harness the power of deep learning and in doing so, providing automation that is faster, cheaper and more superior.

The vehicle inspection system is an automated system for vehicles, powered by artificialintelligenceand proprietary hardware.As the vehicle moves from point to point along the Automotive Lifecycle, Sjain Ventures' deep learning AI platform analyses high-quality, multi-angle images to identify any issues and create objective documentation of the vehicle. The service comprises In-line inspection, assembly line final inspection, pre-delivery inspection, tyre inspection, and automatic inspection throughout the life cycle of the vehicle.

Digital Wallet and Exchange

India is now seeing an upward push in investors' and consumers' beliefs in crypto. In fact, in August it is revealed that India ranks second when it comes to global crypto adoption in 2021, second to only Vietnam. The price of crypto varied slightly across exchanges, based on supply and demand. If customers desired to get higher returns from the market, in particular at scale, selecting the proper exchange performed a crucial role. Sjain set to construct an aggregator of crypto exchanges, one that produced real-time data on the best prices and exchanges for a certain cryptocurrency to be traded.

Most crypto exchanges charge a transaction fee, but Sjain's product will be more of an aggregator. It will not charge users directly, Instead, it will act as a maker (making buy/sell orders for users and so creating liquidity) and negotiate transaction costs with crypto exchanges. The users will be given a fixed price, and the backend will aggregate supply. The income will come from our execution engine. However, as new inventions and regulations become available, revenue models may change.

Shreyansh further adds, "Simple and intuitive nature of the product will work since users needed simplicity in the crypto world and our goal is to make crypto easy to understand and accessible for the Indian masses."

Funding and future

By tracking the company's valuation: 18million dollars (135 crore rupees), the company received a tranche of investment as a neighbourhood of pre-series-A funding from investors: The Mumbai - Dubai based investor has made an investment of $500,000.

To know more, visit -(https://sjain.io)

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 18 (ANI/PRNewswire): (https://www.xoriant.com) Xoriant, a global product engineering, software development and technology services company headquartered in Silicon Valley, is featured for the fifth time in India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM by Great Place to Work Institute.

Xoriant leadership credits its employees and their commitment in fostering camaraderie, a collaborative culture, and excellence in delivery for its status as one of India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM listed by the Great Place to Work Institute.

The Institute is the 'Global Authority' for creating, sustaining, and identifying High-Trust, High-Performance Culture. Considered the gold standard in workplace culture assessment, Great Place to Work conducts a rigorous, independent assessment to identify Best Workplaces based solely on employee feedback and the quality of an organization's people practices.

"Being recognized as one of India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM five times is momentous! The dedication, professionalism, and support of our employees and their families was instrumental in achieving this recognition and for that, we are grateful. As we continue to expand across geographies and create opportunities for talented new hires, this recognition stands as a testament to who we are as a global company - an Employer of Choice and a Preferred Technology Partner for our customers," said (https://www.xoriant.com/about/team#girish) Girish Gaitonde, Founder and CEO, Xoriant.

In the last three quarters, Xoriant expanded operations in India, Mexico, and Dublin, setting up state-of-the-art infrastructures to bring modern digital workspaces and satellite offices closer to employees to better support global clients and customers.

Fueled by strong economic growth, Xoriant aims to expand its footprint in the major Indian cities, ramping up talent acquisition across high-demand technology skillsets and engineering roles, while delivering maximum value to customers.

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Greenhouse, the hiring software company, today announced the creation of 100 new jobs in Ireland to further boost its expansion across Europe and meet the growing demand for modern hiring and onboarding technology. The new positions will bring the companys total headcount in Ireland to 160 over the next two years.

Greenhouse Software helps more than 5,500 businesses globally bring data, structure and fairness to their hiring process and empowers companies to find, attract and retain top talent. The company opened its EMEA headquarters in Dublin in January 2020 and has since tripled its workforce. The company serves over 700 customers across the EMEA region. Customers include companies such as HubSpot, Intercom, LearnUpon, Poppulo, Webdoctor and Booking.com.

Since opening its EMEA HQ in Ireland, Greenhouse has accelerated its growth. Building on a major investment from TPG and The Rise Fund in January 2021, Greenhouse has sustained more than 50% growth in sales revenue year to date, and recently surpassed $110M in annual recurring revenue (ARR). This momentum extends to EMEA, where the Dublin-HQ team is also on pace to record similar growth in revenue.

Greenhouse also announced that it will operate a hybrid workforce model going forward, meaning that the company supports and encourages employees' decision to work from their home location. The jobs announced today include a mixture of hybrid and remote roles based in Ireland that will span across Sales, Marketing, Customer Success and Support, Professional Services and Talent Acquisition. Greenhouse already employs several people outside of the Dublin region with team members based in Cork, Limerick, Wexford and Galway.

Welcoming the news today, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said, "Remote and hybrid working offers great potential to businesses, their employees, and communities across Ireland and we want to see it become a permanent part of life after Covid. Its fantastic to see Greenhouse Software embrace the opportunity hybrid work can provide. The 100 new jobs being announced today are a real boost and are a testament to the skills and talent to be found within Irelands tech ecosystem."

CEO and Co-founder of Greenhouse, Daniel Chait added, "As companies look to increase their commitment to diversity and fairness, we are seeing huge demand across Europe. Our Irish team has helped hundreds of European companies turn their hiring strategy into a competitive advantage through technology. We are excited to add these 100 new jobs to the team over the next two years, as we continue to expand our operations across EMEA."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Tegus yesterday announced the establishment of its EMEA headquarters in Waterford City and the creation of up to 100 jobs over the next two years.



Co-Founded in San Francisco by twin brothers Michael and Thomas Elnick, Tegus conducts and collects research and data to produce the largest and most comprehensive primary information platform enabling clients to discover answers to the most challenging questions they face today, faster and more efficiently than anywhere else. Headquartered in Chicago since 2018, Tegus now serves more than 1,000 customers worldwide, including investment firms, corporations, and consultancies.



Tegus say the EMEA team will enable Tegus to further build-out its global content and data sets by supporting more local customers and covering a growing number of international companies on its platform. The new premises will be located in state-of-the-art office space in Boxworks while it identifies a permanent office space in Waterford City, attracting talent from the city, county and the wider region of the South East. Tegus has begun hiring for roles across the areas of Business Development, Customer Success, Operations, Sales, and People Management.



Speaking yesterday, Founder and Co-CEO of Tegus, Thomas Elnick said, "We are seeing more and more institutional investors and corporations incorporating qualitative and primary research into their processes to make better and faster decisions. As we expand internationally, we are relentlessly focused on delivering an incredible user experience and product for our customers. Ireland provides us with the perfect entry point to EMEA to support our growing global customer base and align our team with our customers' success."

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar added, "Im really happy Tegus has chosen Waterford for its new EMEA HQ. This will result in the creation of up to 100 new jobs in the city. This is great news for the South-East and a real boost for Waterford City and once again demonstrates we have the skills and talent available in all parts of the country to attract foreign direct investment."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
In another step toward the Boeing 737 Maxs return to Chinas skies, the aviation regulator has expressed satisfaction with the companys proposed design changes for the model, which was grounded after two fatal crashes occurred within a few months.

The corrective measures to the aircrafts flight control system software and display system will be able to resolve the safety issues that led to the crashes, according to a notice (link in Chinese) published by the airworthiness certification department of the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA).

The regulator is requesting comments from airlines on the modifications until Nov. 26. Industry consensus is that the process of China recertifying the 737 Max is at its final stages.

According to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun on an earnings call on Oct. 27, the plane completed a flight test in China in the third quarter. We continue to work toward approval by the end of the year, with a resumption of deliveries to follow in the first quarter of next year, he said.

Read more

Boeing Expects 737 Max to Return to China in Early 2022

The fatal crashes in Indonesia in October 2018 and Ethiopia in March 2019 killed a total of 346 people and led to a halt in the operation of the 737 Max in China, the first country to issue the grounding.

U.S. congressional investigators concluded in September last year that failures by Boeing engineers, deception by the company and significant errors in government oversight led to the crashes.

Two months later, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration gave approval for the plane to resume passenger services following an extensive package of fixes. More than 175 countries have so far lifted their grounding orders, according to Calhoun.

The CAA, however, has maintained a cautious approach. In order to resume operations, Boeing had to meet three main criteria: Changes in design aimed at fixing the planes problems need to be approved by China; pilots need to be retrained to fly the jetliners following those changes; and the conclusions of the Ethiopian and Indonesian crash reports need to be clear.

China has the largest 737 Max fleet after the U.S., with 97 of the planes in operation before the suspension.

Han Wei contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Kelsey Cheng (kelseycheng@caixin.com) and editor Joshua Dummer (joshuadummer@caixin.com)

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Bobby Kotick (pictured top), the embattled CEO of Activision Blizzard, apologized last month over the gaming giants handling of claims of sexual harassment and discrimination.

But a newly-published investigation in The Wall Street Journal reveals Koticks spotty history of handling of these matters and questions his leadership skills.

Here are a few of the new revelations:
Photo: Contributed Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas

There is a saying in social mediaI cant un-see thatoften associated with online posts the depict some sort of rarely seen, almost impossible to comprehend act or event conveniently captured in a manner that generates likes by viewers.

Sadly, here in Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, Fraser Valley and in parts of Vancouver Island this past week, we cannot, and will not, ever un-see the devastation and destruction caused by record levels of rainfall and resulting flooding.

Merritt, a community over 7,000 people strong, is currently evacuated. Motorists are still stranded in various places throughout the central and southern regions of B.C. Many grocery stores are running low on some basic groceries. Supply chains, for the moment, are stressed.

For the people in Merritt and Princeton, they are experiencing devastation on a level never before encountered. Both these communities have suffered break downs in local infrastructure, with basic community services such as water and sewer being threatened.

As an added challenge, in Princeton a natural gas line has been compromised and many residents are without heat with a predicted low temperature forecast of -8 C at night.

At the time of writing this report this week from Ottawa, I have just concluded a meeting with our federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair and a number of my colleagues who represent ridings in the Fraser Valley that are also threatened with flooding and evacuation orders.

I would like to publicly thank the minister, who has consistently reached out and made himself available through this ongoing disaster. We have had assurances, both from minister Blair and the prime minister, that the federal government will stand by to assist regions of British Columbia severely impacted by these floods and related mud slides.

To the good people of Merritt and Princeton, as well as the surrounding areas, please know that federally we will do everything possible to assist in the days, weeks and months ahead. My phone is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every effort will be made to ensure you are called back as promptly as possible.

There is no question our region has experienced a challenging six months, between wildfire threats and now serious flooding and mudslides. The resulting damage has yet to be assessed but it will likely be on a massive scale. Aside from damage to homes, properties, community, and provincial infrastructure, there is also the serious toll on the people who call these areas home and who are the most impacted.

The reality is as our climate increasingly changes, we are not as prepared as we need to be for these resulting disasters.

My question this week:

What solutions do you believe would most enhance our emergency preparedness?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call free 1-800-665-8711.
Photo: The Canadian Press Natalie Wisco, an attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse, looks through a laptop that may be used for the jury to view evidence videos while they deliberate in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Kyle Rittenhouse's attorneys asked the judge to declare a mistrial even as the jury in the murder case was deliberating Wednesday, saying the defense received an inferior copy of a potentially crucial video from prosecutors.

Judge Bruce Schroeder did not immediately rule on the request, the second mistrial motion from the defense in a week. The jury deliberated a second full day without reaching a verdict and will return in the morning.

At issue was a piece of drone video that prosecutors showed to the jury in closing arguments in a bid to undermine Rittenhouse's self-defense claim and portray him as the instigator of the bloodshed in Kenosha in the summer of 2020. Prosecutors said the footage showed him pointing his rifle at protesters before the shooting erupted.

Rittenhouse attorney Corey Chirafisi said the defense initially received a compressed version of the video and didn't get the higher-quality one used by the prosecution until the evidence portion of the case was over.

He said that the defense would have approached things differently if it had received the better footage earlier and that it is now asking for a level, fair playing field.

He said the mistrial request would be made without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could still retry Rittenhouse.

Last week, the defense asked for a mistrial with prejudice, meaning Rittenhouse could not be put on trial again. That request was prompted by what the defense said were improper questions asked by prosecutor Thomas Binger during his cross-examination of Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial on homicide and attempted homicide charges for killing two men and wounding a third with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle during a tumultuous night of protests over the police shooting of a Black man. Rittenhouse, a then-17-year-old former police youth cadet, said he went to Kenosha to protect property from rioters.

He shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28. Rittenhouse is white, as were those shot. The case has become a flashpoint in the debate over guns, racial injustice, vigilantism and self-defense in the U.S.

He could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

The dispute over the video erupted after the jurors asked to rewatch footage on Day 2 of their deliberations.

Defense attorneys said they would object to the jury viewing the drone video. The same footage prompted heated dispute earlier in the trial over technical questions of whether a still image taken from the video was distorted when it was enlarged.

The prosecution contends the video proves Rittenhouse lied on the stand when he said he didnt point his rifle at protesters. But the key moment in the video is hard to decipher because of how far away the drone was and how small a figure Rittenhouse is in the frame.

A compressed or lower-resolution video file is fuzzier and grainier, particularly if played on a larger screen, said Dennis Keeling, adjunct professor in the cinema and television arts department at Columbia College Chicago. Thats why people working with video footage are careful to check file size, length and other details after making a copy to ensure the new version is what they wanted, he added.

Prosecutors told the judge Wednesday that the jury saw the highest-quality version during the trial and that it was not the state's fault that the file got compressed when received by the defense.

Were focusing too heavily on a technological glitch," prosecutor James Kraus said.

The judge said he had qualms about admitting the video during the trial, but because it had already been shown in court, he would allow the jury to rewatch it during deliberations.

But if it turns out the video should not have been admitted into evidence, its going to be ugly, Schroeder warned.

He said the mistrial request will have to be addressed if there is a guilty verdict.

If Rittenhouse is acquitted, the issue will be moot. But if he is found guilty, a mistrial ruling would essentially void the verdict.

Julius Kim, a Milwaukee-based defense attorney who has been watching the case, said a mistrial could be declared even if the judge finds it was an honest mistake or a technical problem.

But to win a mistrial, the defense will have to meet a high bar and explain to the judge why what happened actually hurt Rittenhouse, said Ion Meyn, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

You cant just say, The state gave me a lower-quality video and therefore I get a mistrial," Meyn said. Thats a losing argument for sure.

Earlier in the day, the judge criticized news coverage of the case and second-guessing from legal experts in the media, saying he would think long and hard about allowing televised trials in the future.

He took exception to news stories about his decisions not to allow the men Rittenhouse shot to be called victims and to let Rittenhouse draw the lots that determined which jurors were alternates. The judge also complained about criticism that he had yet to rule on the earlier mistrial request.

Schroeder said he hadn't had a chance to read the motion because he had just received it and wanted to give the state a chance to weigh in.

Its just a shame that irresponsible statements are being made, the judge said of comments in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story from law school professors.
Photo: RCAF An Air Force helicopter helping with rescues on Highway 7 this week.

The federal governments Incident Response Group (IRG) has been convened in response to the BC floods.

The group was also activated earlier this year, during the BC wildfires.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Bill Blair, about the extreme weather conditions in this province and the urgent request for assistance from the Government of Canada.

The federal government will assist with cleanup and rebuilding "after the impacts of these extreme weather events," Trudeau said from Washington, where he was to attend a meeting Thursday with the presidents of the United States and Mexico.

Blair convened the IRC, which includes the ministers of National Defence, Public Safety, Transport, Agriculture and Agri-Foods, Indigenous Services, Health and Fisheries, Oceans and The Canadian Coast Guard.

National Defence Minister Anita Anand indicated military assistance includes air support to evacuate people affected by the floods and to reach important supply routes disrupted by the floods. The Canadian Armed Forces will also offer help to vulnerable, stranded, or in-distress people; and personnel to mitigate the effects of the floods, which includes the protection of critical infrastructure, access roads, and properties.

Members of the military are already on their way to British Columbia, to conduct reconnaissance and coordination efforts, and more will be deployed in the coming days, based on the provinces needs.

The Royal Canadian Air Force posted a video of a CC130J aircraft leaving CFB Trenton. It will stage out of Edmonton before troops are deployed to BC.

More @CanadianForces are on the way to help those in BC affected by #flooding. An @RCAF_ARC CC130J has left Trenton and will be staging out of #Edmonton today to deploy reconnaissance and coordination elements to BC soon @CFOperations @MARPAC_FMARP @BCGovNews @CAFinUS pic.twitter.com/T2aCTvXz55  RCAF Operations (@RCAFOperations) November 17, 2021

One of the big concerns now is the movement of goods to the southern Interior.

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra gave his colleagues an overview of the work being done with the province to help the port, terminal, railway, and trucking sectors address the impacts of the floods.

He noted that significant efforts are underway to ensure the movement of essential goods, including food and other critical supplies.

Prime Minister Trudeau spoke with Premier John Horgan Tuesday, the day before the premier declared a state of emergency.
Photo: IHIT Manzo sushi restaurant was behind police tape Sept. 18, 2020. Police now allege Richard Charles Reed shot alleged professional money launderer Jian Jun Zhu that night.

Richard Charles Reed has been charged with the first-degree murder of alleged professional money launderer Jian Jun Zhu following a shooting inside a Richmond restaurant on Sept.18, 2020.

Zhu was shot to death in Manzo restaurant while dining with alleged money launderer Paul King Jin, who was injured by a bullet from the alleged attack.

The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved the following charges against Reed:

first-degree murder

aggravated assault

discharging a restricted or prohibited firearm with intent

reckless discharge of a prohibited or restricted firearm

possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with readily accessible ammunition

possessing a firearm with an altered, defaced or removed serial number

The charges come after a 14-month investigation by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) with the help of Richmond RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Section, and various specialized units at E Division.

Although charges were laid, this investigation continues, says Sgt. David Lee of IHIT. There are additional persons involved in this brazen shooting. Homicide investigators are still investigating and will seek out and arrest all those who are responsible.

According to court filings, 23-year-old Reed, who also goes by Ricky, has prior criminal convictions ranging from 2017 to 2020, including robbery, breach of a release order and breach of probation after being charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

As for the victim, Mr. Zhu was known to police but is not connected to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict, according to IHIT.

Zhu was previously investigated through a high-profile "E-Pirate" probe into alleged money laundering through his money service business Silver International. The business allegedly catered to local, Mexican and Chinese organized crime rings. The investigation was turfed by Crown prosecutors for undisclosed reasons in November 2018.

Drug-laced cash was routinely emptied from suitcases onto the floors of Silver Internationals Richmond office, to be counted by Zhu and his spouse Caixuan Qin, for the purposes of money laundering, according to allegations documented in court by B.C.s director of civil forfeiture.

According to the director, E-Pirate coincided with a Vancouver Police Department investigation dubbed Project Trunkline, whose targets  with links to Mexican drug cartels and Chinese Triads  were also using Silver International.

The government launched the forfeiture claim immediately after the criminal money-laundering charges were stayed against Qin and Zhu.

Zhu is said to be the operating mind of the alleged scheme, which was estimated by the director to be a $220-million-per-year operation.

Several of Qins assets are still tied up by authorities, including a $2.3-million Vancouver home; about $2.1 million in cash; $17,800 in playing chips from the River Rock casino; jewelry; and about $10,000 in gift cards.

Jin is an alleged customer of Silver International and also faces several civil forfeiture claims. He has a previous criminal record with convictions for aggravated assault, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, stated one of the directors claims.

Jin was granted standing at the Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in B.C. to defend allegations against him. Testimony and intelligence from casino investigators pointed to Jin being an alleged source of cash for Chinese gamblers. He is involved in numerous civil claims against gamblers who did not pay him back.
Photo: The Canadian Press Gemma Hickey, poses for a photograph in Toronto on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. When they were a teenager, they underwent conversion therapy, which drove them to attempt suicide. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

The Liberal government is set to introduce a tougher version of its earlier bill to ban conversion therapy, which failed to pass before Parliament was dissolved for the election.

Nicholas Schiavo of the advocacy group No Conversion Canada says he has been told by government representatives that the new bill will "leave less room for loopholes."

The coming proposed legislation would make it illegal to try to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity through a discredited practice known as conversion therapy.

A previous bill, known as C-6, would have made it a criminal offence to force adults to undergo conversion therapy without their "consent." But it outlawed conversion therapy for children outright.

The House of Commons passed the bill but it didn't make it through the Senate before the upper chamber rose for the summer, and it ultimately died when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the election in August.

The Liberals promised to reintroduce a version of the bill within the first 100 days of a new mandate, which began when cabinet ministers were sworn in last month.

Chantalle Aubertin, a spokeswoman for Justice Minister David Lametti, said the government is committed to a "complete ban" on conversion therapy.

Schiavo said his organization expects the new version of the bill to be stronger than the last and introduced within weeks of the new Parliament starting.

Our expectation  what we have heard  is that upcoming legislation will introduce a complete ban on conversion practices without any loopholes for age, gender identity or faith," he said.

Bill C-6 was heavily amended and opposed by more than half the Conservative caucus the last time around. It was strongly supported by other parties.

Critics said it was flawed because consent to conversion therapy is invalid, on the grounds that the practice does harm and is discredited.

Many young people who have consented to the practice do not understand what they are getting into, or do so under duress from family or faith leaders, said No Conversion Canada.

The new bill is expected to have a broader scope, making using coercion or persuasive techniques to change a persons sexual orientation or gender identity illegal throughout Canada.

Conversion therapy has included electric-shock therapy and intensive sessions to repress non-heterosexual sexual attraction.

"Last time around, C-6 was a good start but one of the biggest problems was they created these big loopholes for adults: adults could consent to it. Our rebuttal was that you cant consent to fraud," said Schiavo.

"We are very optimistic to see a stronger bill than last time and a stronger bill would completely and totally outlaw these practices that cause harm. We have spoken with several legal experts who say a ban would withstand any charter challenge."

The Liberals have been consulting other parties to try to garner political support before the bill is introduced. The Bloc Quebecois, the NDP and the Conservative leadership is expected to back the bill.

Erin O'Toole has said he supports and end to conversion therapy, as do many of his MPs. But others voted against earlier attempts to stop the practice, saying Bill C-6 risked criminalizing conversations with faith leaders and therapists.

Conversion therapy is banned in many countries around the world, including Malta and Germany. New Zealand is in the process of finalizing a ban.

The bill is expected to include provisions to ensure that freedom of speech, including private discussions and sermons in religious settings are not outlawed as a side-effect, as well as discussions about gender identity.

NDP MP Randall Garrison, critic for LGBTQ rights, said he will be looking closely to see if there are any loopholes in the fine print of the bill that would allow conversion therapy to continue.

Garrison said it is beyond time to ban the extremely harmful practice of conversion therapy that has hurt thousands of Canadians.

"Justin Trudeau and the Liberals promised to ban this practice but called a selfish election instead, killing the bill and leaving more Canadians at risk. From day one, Justin Trudeau had a clear and willing partner to expedite this legislation to ban this barbaric conversion 'therapy' and bring justice and peace to those suffering," he said in a statement.

Schiavo said he hoped the Tory leader ensures that all his MPs vote for the new bill. "I do not believe there should be votes of conscience on issues that are unconscionable," he said.

One survivor of conversion therapy said the experience drove them to attempt suicide.

Gemma Hickey, who is nonbinary, was subjected to "faith-based" conversion therapy as a teenager in St. John's. They came from a staunchly Catholic family and were assigned the female gender at birth. When they became attracted to a girl in high school, they went to a family doctor for advice.

The doctor referred Hickey to a therapist who convinced the teen they were attracted to girls because they wanted to be like them, and that homosexuality was not natural and "against God." The trauma from the experience drove Hickey to intentionally overdose on pills and alcohol.

The first people I told (about my sexuality) were medical professionals and they sent me on a path that led me to try to kill myself. I was 17 years old, Hickey said.

The therapist was not advertising as a "conversion therapist," Hickey said, but she was "very Catholic" and her therapy was largely faith-based.

"It was most to do with prayer and reading a lot of literature that supported her analysis of me. She told me it wasn't natural."

After the overdose, and a hospital stay, a psychiatrist reassured Hickey that there was nothing wrong with them and the "therapy" they had received had been mistaken. Today, Hickey is a prominent LGBTQ rights activist.

Another survivor recalled that he was 19 when, with the encouragement of his family, he became involved in an evangelical church in Kingston, Ont.

Ben Rodgers, now an HIV activist, said he underwent rituals which involved starving for days before church members laid hands on him and spoke in tongues to drive out the demons.

As an active member of the church, he was told he would not be able to attend Bible school or go on a mission if he continued to be gay. He was told that stopping his gay life could "get my mom to love me again."

They fed on insecurities. I had to cut everything from my old gay life," he recalled. "They did prayers over me and I remember hands on my shoulders and yelling at me in these tongues and casting out demons. I had couples from this church telling me 'this is a proper relationship, read over this and find what love really is.' I had to lead a non-gay life for a little over a year and a half."

"One of biggest things I hated about it," Rodgers added, "is that religion and faith was supposed to a place of comfort and peace, and instead it became a place of fear and loathing and hatred."
Photo: The Canadian Press In this Feb. 21, 1965 file photo, Human rights activist Malcolm X is tended to as he lies mortally wounded on the stage of the Audubon ballroom in the Harlem section of New York after being shot multiple times.

More than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated Thursday after decades of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icons death.

Manhattan judge Ellen Biben dismissed the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and the late Khalil Islam, after prosecutors and the mens lawyers said a renewed investigation found new evidence that the men were not involved with the killing and determined that authorities withheld some of what they knew.

The event that has brought us to court today should never have occurred, Aziz, 83, told the court.

He and Islam, who maintained their innocence from the start in the 1965 killing at Harlems Audubon Ballroom, were paroled in the 1980s. Islam died in 2009.

Malcolm X gained national prominence as the voice of the Nation of Islam, exhorting Black people to claim their civil rights by any means necessary. His autobiography, written with Alex Haley, remains a classic work of modern American literature.

Near the end of Malcolm Xs life, he split with the Black Muslim organization and, after a trip to Mecca, started speaking about the potential for racial unity. It earned him the ire of some in the Nation of Islam, who saw him as a traitor.

He was shot to death while beginning a speech on Feb. 21, 1965. He was 39.

Aziz and Islam, then known as Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson, and a third man were convicted of murder in March 1966. They were sentenced to life in prison.

The third man, Mujahid Abdul Halim  also known as Talmadge Hayer and Thomas Hagan  admitted to shooting Malcolm X but said neither Aziz nor Islam was involved. The two offered alibis, and no physical evidence linked them to the crime.

Halim was paroled in 2010. Through a relative, he declined to comment Thursday. He identified some other men as accomplices, but no one else has ever been held accountable for the crime.

The recent investigation found information in FBI files about witnesses who couldn't identify Islam and implicated other suspects, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. told the court. The files showed that the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered agents to tell witnesses not to reveal that they were informants when talking with police and prosecutors, Vance said.

I apologize for what were serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust, he said. There is one ultimate conclusion: Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were wrongfully convicted of this crime.

Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck, one of the lawyers for Aziz and for Islams family, said the review also found the FBI and police hid evidence from prosecutors, as what he called part of a plot to disrupt the Black civil rights movement.

The FBI and New York Police Department had evidence of Aziz's and Islam's death within hours but ignored and suppressed it, said another of their attorneys, Deborah Francois, who works with civil rights attorney David Shanies.

Biben said the case cries out for fundamental justice.

The NYPD and the FBI said Wednesday that they had cooperated fully with the re-investigation. They declined to comment further.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said Thursday she felt for Malcolm Xs family and for Aziz and Islam if we are responsible for withholding information.

I hope that we never revisit a scenario like this again, she added.

Attorneys, scholars and others have long raised questions about the convictions, and alternate theories and accusations have swirled around the case. After Netflix aired the documentary series Who Killed Malcom X? early last year, Vances office said it was taking a fresh look at the case.

As news of the exonerations reverberated, even New York Citys mayor said the public deserved more answers.

I hope this doesnt end the discussion, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. For millions and millions of Americans, we still need to know who killed Malcolm X and who ordered it.
About 120 Canadian Armed Forces personnel will be deployed in Abbotsford by the end of Thursday to help with flood response, and another 240 will arrive in B.C. in the coming days.

During a federal press conference Thursday afternoon, Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair said the federal government approved B.C.'s request for assistance Wednesday, and that assistance will include further air support for evacuations and to help maintain supply routes, while bringing in more personnel to help mitigate the effects of the floods around infrastructure and roads.

Defence Minister Anita Anand said military personnel rescued more than 300 stranded motorists from Highway 7 west of Hope earlier this week, using three Cormorant helicopters which were stationed in Comox.

Anand said a reconnaissance team was deployed Wednesday to determine where the need for support was greatest, while 120 soldiers will be on the ground in Abbotsford Thursday night to help the hardest hit areas.

While damage is widespread across B.C., she noted the situation in Abbotsford is the locale for attention.

We are determining the tasks, locations and capabilities necessary to support local and provincial authorities, so that will determine where we're going to be deployed, said General Wayne D. Eyre, the acting chief of the defence staff.

We've also got a convoy that is assembled in Edmonton of approximately 240 personnel  the remainder of the immediate response unit  and once we determine which road option is the best to move into British Columbia, that convoy will move forward as well.

There are currently two military helicopters in the province conducting damage assessment, and Anand said two larger Chinook helicopters will head to B.C. from Ontario when conditions permit.

She added that the 360 troops will be helping with B.C.'s recovery for at least the next 30 days, and thousands more soldiers are available if needed.

We are looking at what possible types of engineering expertise would be required  whether it's heavy equipment, whether it's bridging, whether it's water purification, General Eyre said.

So those types of capabilities are being assembled in Edmonton and across the country if needed, and based on the results of the reconnaissance and the demand, those will be pulled forward.

This is the 12th request for assistance provinces have made to the Armed Forces due to natural disasters since the beginning of the pandemic, in addition to 71 COVID-related requests for assistance.

The pandemic has been tough on the Canadian Armed Forces, the number of times we've been called out, General Eyre said. We are understrength and our recruiting and training system has suffered accordingly.

Nothing is more important for the Canadian Armed Forces than protecting Canadians here at home, and I made it clear that with everything else going on in the world, this is our top operational priority.

General Eyre noted that with the changing climate, they are responding to more frequent and more intense domestic emergencies.
Text Request, a Chattanooga-based software company, has been honored again for rapid revenue growth, this time with their inclusion in the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a list published Wednesday. Debuting at #108, Text Request joins a distinguished roster of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies across all of North America from 2017 to 2020. Text Request  the third highest ranking Tennessee business on the list, and highest from Chattanooga  grew 1,355 percent during this period.

We are incredibly proud that our growth placed us so highly among such an impressive collection of successful North American businesses, said Text Request CEO Brian Elrod. Earlier this year, we were recognized for a sizable uptick in annual growth, but this distinction draws the lens out, taking into account how much our revenue numbers have swelled over a longer period of time. While were always happy to celebrate business wins, being on the Fast 500 is especially exciting since it showcases our results over a prolonged time frame.

Overall, 2021 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 212 percent to 87,037 percent from 2017 to 2020, with median growth of 521 percent. This is Text Requests first time on the Deloitte list, and it comes on the heels of a high-ranking appearance on the 2021 Inc. 5000 list, back-to-back appearances on the local Best Places to Work list, and the global SaaS Awards finalists roster, among others.

To view the full Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list, click here.




Local boys' charter school Chattanooga Prep has been named as one of three state finalists for Tennessee Charter School of the Year for its innovative approach to education. Each year the Tennessee Charter School Center recognizes the outstanding efforts and achievements of charter leaders, innovators and advocates that have made strides in elevating public education standards.

Brad Scott, CEO of Chattanooga Prep, contributes the nomination to the hard work and dedication of the staff, students and parents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our Chattanooga Prep community has never lost sight of our most important goal, which is to ensure all children thrive in our school both academically and socially. At Chattanooga Prep, we focus on the whole child and ensure all of our students are prepared to excel to and through college."
Georgia Northwestern Technical College, along with the Technical College System of Georgia, celebrates this years National Apprenticeship Week (Nov. 15-19) by highlighting the importance of Registered Apprenticeship Programs to growing Northwest Georgias skilled workforce.GNTC is among Georgias 22 technical colleges, including the system office, to serve as registered apprenticeship sponsors, making it a part of the largest registered apprenticeship network throughout the state.Over academic years 2020 and 2021, GNTC has offered five Registered Apprenticeship Programs, serving 50 apprentices and four employers.Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia businesses and industries are continuing to innovate and expand, which makes job training for high-demand occupations more important than ever," said Karen Kirchler, deputy commissioner, Office of Workforce Development at TCSG. "Registered apprenticeships are excellent opportunities for our workforce, particularly those with barriers, to enter high-earning careers with upward mobility.Currently, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than 9,000 active apprentices throughout the state of Georgia, which continues Georgias rise in apprenticeship activity. Officials said this figure is expected to grow with the additional apprenticeship funding available to Georgia employers and apprentices, such as the Apprenticeship State Expansion (ASE) Grant and Georgias HOPE Career Grant.To get involved or learn more about TCSGs Registered Apprenticeship Programs, contact the Office of Workforce Development (apprenticeship@tcsg.edu).
CHI Memorial has taken the next step toward making its new hospital in North Georgia a reality.

Hospital leaders gave notice to the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) on Wednesday, that they will file their Certificate of Need (CON) in December to build a replacement hospital in Ringgold. The current facility, located at 100 Gross Crescent Circle in Fort Oglethorpe, is approaching 70 years old, with some portions of the hospital dating back to 1904.

CHI Memorials formal Letter of Intent (LOI) outlined details of the project, including a projected total investment of more than $130 million to better serve its healthcare ministry in North Georgia. The CON process is a requirement to secure the appropriate state regulatory approvals to advance the project and begin construction.

Since the announcement in late June, CHI Memorial has been working with hospital leaders, architects, and local leaders from across the North Georgia community to finalize the plans for the new CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia. The new hospital will feature state-of-the-art inpatient beds including an intensive care unit (ICU), a full service emergency department, and operating rooms and procedural suites. It will connect to the current CHI Memorial Rees Skillern Cancer Center and CHI Memorial Parkway medical office building creating a single campus and establishing a central location for inpatient and outpatient services.

A bond issue from Catoosa County will support the funding for the new hospital. Groundbreaking for the new CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia is scheduled to take place early summer of 2022, with a targeted completion date of mid-2024.
A customer was hurt when a truck crashed into the MAPCO on Gadd Road on Wednesday morning.

The customer was rushed to the hospital and had minor injuries.

The 9 a.m. incident left the store strewn with glass, debris and merchandise.

The store was boarded up and the power was cut off.

City engineers said the store was mostly intact and not in danger of collapse.

It was closed until further notice.
Unless you happened to read the two-column obituary in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on the date of Ray Evans death on June 17, 2016 or visited the third floor of The Public Library you may have missed the existence of a unique historical figure in Hamilton County.

To say that he was a complex Tennessean and American would be a large understatement.

He believed in preserving history, not erasing it to oblivion.

Although described as being strongly supportive of the American political left his involvement in numerous groups as a participant and author reached the ultimate levels of both the progressive left and also the ultimate conservative right.

Born in Grandview, Tennessee in 1939 he went to school in Spring City, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957, and served at DaNang Airbase in Vietnam.

Like many veterans in the conflict his experiences were influential in forming his later viewpoints on racial equality and economic and social justice.

After his Vietnam service he settled in California in the 1960s and was politically affected by the three murders of John F. and Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.

During his life he traveled extensively in Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Central America where he developed an appreciation for various perspectives on cultural diversity, politics, and Americas role in the world.

When he arrived in Chattanooga around 1970, he entered the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) where he developed a lifetime passion and expertise in the field of anthropology.

He expressed in writing his concerns over the destruction of what he termed irreplaceable archaeological resources in Chattanooga due to vandalism and insensitive development. He accurately predicted problems with the citys outdated sewer system that exerts itself with every heavy rain by its overwhelming odor.

In 1999 Ray wrote extensively about the good and bad history of the Civil War rather than ignore it as current politicians may choose to do.

It is alleged that he wrote over 100 books about the various Civil War battles primarily involving the campaigns around Atlanta and Chickamauga. The language on approximately 70 historical commemorative markers in North Georgia and Chattanooga containing the interpretative text was prepared by Ray Evans.

Any effort to label him as a Southern sympathizer because of some of his associations rather than just as a historian would be misplaced.

He was active in writing for the local chapters of the Sons of Union Veterans, Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy.

He also was knowledgeable and wrote on the Underground Railroad that aided freed or runaway slaves to escape to the North as well as the role of the 42nd and 44th U.S. Colored Troops in their war and post war service in Chattanooga.

Ray was a consultant with the Chattanooga African American Museum (now Bessie Smith Cultural Center) and wrote many publications on the subject of African American history, often in a partnership with the late director of the Museum, Vilma Fields. He supported liberal African American Groups such as Concerned Citizens of Chattanooga and Chattanoogans Organized for Action. He also supported Native Americans and was a researcher on both the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) tribes.

His work history included being a labor union organizer in the coal mines of Kentucky in addition to being a prolific writer and historian.

In 2014 the Tennessee Historical Commission recognized Rays book, Paths to Valor, as the Book of the Year. It was written to support the local Medal of Honor Museum of Military History. Its contents were about the Civil War recipients of the nation's highest military honor in the area.

If you didnt know Ray Evans and you met him while he was quietly researching some subject at The Public Library, you would not readily become aware of his encyclopedic knowledge.

Those who had the opportunity to engage him in lengthy conversation on any subject would quickly recognize his expertise that made him a tireless advocate for poor people, victims of political oppressionand opponent of predatory capitalism everywhere.

The fact that you might not agree with Rays position on some issues would not have a dulling effect on the conversation.

I alone with many others, missed many opportunities to discuss, debate, and probably argue with Ray under the protection of the freedom of speech provision of the First Amendment.

I wish I had.

* * *

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 Chattanooga Mocs fought off a late game rally by Tennessee State to take home a 63-57 win over the Tigers Wednesday night at the Gentry Center.Im super proud of our girls, head coach Katie Burrows said on the radio following the game. I am really proud of our fight. We finished strong when we needed to. We got big boards when we needed to. We shot almost 80 percent from the free throw line and made eight threes.Chattanooga was 18-of-47 from the field but shot 50 percent in the second quarter to take the lead and 60 percent in the fourth to hold on to it. It was free throws in the fourth that was the difference. UTC was 13-of-14 from the line with Dena Jarrells making all six of her attempts.Four Mocs scored in double figures led by Jarrells 14 points and Abbey Cornelius first double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.Destiny McClendon added 12 points and Addie Grace Porter chipped in 10. Karsen Murphy added eight points and a career-best 10 rebounds.Porter led the Mocs on a second-quarter 11-0 run with eight of her points. Cornelius gave the Mocs their first lead on a pair of free throws with 4:55 remaining in the half. TSUs Saniah Parker regained the lead for her team but Porter let loose her first 3-point attempt of the game, sparking the run and the Mocs never relinquished the lead.Tennessee State committed a turnover putting the ball back in the Cornelius hands and she stretched the lead to 26-22 at the 3:19 mark. A pair of turnovers that included a steal by the Jarrells led to Porters second 3-pointer and a seven-point lead, 29-22, with 2:56 on the clock.Cornelius blocked the Tigers next attempt and grabbed the rebound. On the other end, Karsen Murphy drained a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Mocs up 32-22 for its largest lead of the game at that point. Chattanooga led 34-24 at the break.In the third quarter with 4:47 to go in the frame, Murphy hit a layup to give Chattanooga a 44-30 lead, its largest of the game. That, however, would be the last points UTC would score until the McClendons drive in the paint, snapped a 14-0 run by TSU at the 7:53 mark of the fourth quarter.The Tigers forced 10 turnovers in the run that lasted 6:54 with six steals and saw scoring from six different players.Tennessee State is going to run and catch up to you when they are on defense, Burrows said.Chattanooga scored the next six points and held off the Tigers who got to within one point with 52 seconds to play. UTC connected on seven free throws after that to hold on for the win.Jarrells, Porter and McClendon each had a pair of 3-pointers and the Mocs were 8-of-23 from the arc. From the free throw line, UTC shot 79.2 percent (19-of-24) and edged the Tigers 40-39 on the boards.Tennessee States Tatyana Davis led all scorers with 20 points and Parker was the only other Tiger in double digits with 11 points. Dominique Claytor grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with seven points and seven steals.Chattanooga returns to the McKenzie Arena for a Friday night matchup against Murray State. The game is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. The game will be aired live on WFLI 97.7 FM or 1050 AM with live stats on GoMocs.com.Tickets are on sale at the McKenzie Arena box office or online at GoMocs.com.
Greg Callaham Graphic Design has received national recognition for creative excellence in advertising design. Mr. Callaham earned six American Graphic Design Awards from Graphic Design USA, a nationwide trade publication, for his work on behalf of Audi Chattanooga, Fluhman Outdoor Media, Hollywog, Micro Outdoor, Sisson Outdoor Advertising, and Visual Outdoor Advertising. This marks the 12th consecutive year Mr. Callaham has captured the prestigious awards.

I really appreciate the opportunity the AGDA offers to shine a national spotlight on clients such as these who see the value in well-crafted advertising messages, said Mr. Callaham. I am very honored to receive these awards. Its humbling and encouraging to know the quality of my work is recognized at the national level."

The Audi Chattanooga billboard campaign appeared on a digital billboard in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and promoted a summer lease program for the Audi A5 and Q5. The ads feature dramatic images of the vehicles positioned against a billowing red cloth.

A single outdoor ad for a dentist in Lamesa, TX, features a painter spraying a whiter smile onto a large photo of teeth on a Fluhman Outdoor Media structure. The playful nature of the ad made it stand out to the target market.

A series of infographics for Hollywog list the features and benefits of their WiTouch Pro back pain relief device. Hollywog is a Chattanooga-based, medical device manufacturer with a strong presence in the marketplace.

The billboard campaign displayed on Micro Outdoor ad space uses eye-catching graphics of a model with back pain against a soothing blue-green background. The West Virginia advertiser is extremely pleased with the results.

The Sisson Outdoor billboard depicts a bright red dumpster against a red background with a large logo for the advertiser. The sheer redness of the ad made it something the target audience could not miss.

A billboard campaign for Visual Outdoor was the company owners Christmas message to the citizens of north Georgia. He gave Callaham free reign to create something memorable.

For 58 years the American Graphic Design Awards, through the editors of Graphic Design USA, has honored the outstanding work of creative professionals in the graphic arts community. To win an American Graphic Design Award means the entry is recognized as some of the best and brightest among thousands of entries from graphic design firms, advertising agencies, in-house corporate and institutional designers, publishers and other media across the United States, in over 20 categories from print and packaging to internet and interactive design. Of approximately 10,000 entries, only a highly selective 10% receive recognition for creative excellence.
McCallie middle and high school students donated turkeys and traditional Thanksgiving foods to The Salvation Armys Chattanooga Area Command on Thursday.

The items will be boxed and distributed to 75 families and individuals in the area.

"The Salvation Army appreciates McCallie students and their families, faculty and staff for their dedication to serving our neighbors in need," officials said.
School Boards face many challenges. Most school board members are men and women of high character, unappreciated for undertaking a difficult, but essential duty. Being a school board member is frequently made harder by a few school board members in the state, and actions taken in other states and nationally.

In September, the National School Boards Association sent an ill-advised letter to President Joe Biden portraying parents as domestic terrorists. It is like a business complaining about its customers. This has created a very strong response and backlash from parents across the nation.

In Tennessee, the Tennessee School Board Association had wisely departed their national organization months earlier. Like national teacher unions, the policies of national groups no longer reflect the priorities of those in our state.

The letter to President Biden was sent without TSBA knowledge, input, or approval. They were quick to distance themselves from it, saying: NSBAs advocacy efforts are focused more on contentious issues that divide their membership instead of educational issues that should further the mission of their members. We strongly agree with that position.

The school board is the communitys watchdog on public education, thus ensuring that taxpayers get the most for their tax dollars. Taxpayers must hold school board members accountable for spending and results. School boards represent the publics voice in public education. A school board must embody the communitys beliefs and values. In Tennessee, we have recognized that school board members should be as diverse as the citizens they serve.

As a non-partisan organization, we have always supported non-partisan school board races, as being what was best for our communities. However, we have always understood that many school board members are partisan. It was not very difficult to identify a persons political affiliation. We fear that independent voices may be frozen out of the process, but we also understand we live in a very political time. So, when the general assembly made it permissible to have partisan races, we understood that in effect it didnt change much. Still, we must all work together to educate children.

Public education is a federal concern, a state responsibility, and a local operation. Most Tennesseans strongly support local control of public education by the district board of education. This includes the autonomy of the local school district to adopt curriculum, assessments, and programs to meet recognized educational goals and objectives. The most important role of a board of education is to hire its superintendent.

School boards are subject to the requirements of existing law and are the governing and policymaking bodies for schools in their district. They should refrain from agreements that compromise their responsibility for representing the general public interest in education. Local boards should know the unique and varied needs of their communities. They must also work with local government to further the goals of the school district.

We thank the men and women who are serving our communities as school board members. They are too often unappreciated, and it is often a thankless but important job. However, some school board members do not fully understand or appreciate their unique role, and we should look at increased training to assist them in increasing their knowledge.

The Tennessee School Board Association can play a significant function in that effort. Professional Educators of Tennessee are also glad to assist school board members when they reach out for assistance, especially in regards to the interests and concerns of educators. We provide advocacy, legal, professional learning, and benefits to educators across Tennessee.

We want to thank you for volunteering your time to make informed decisions about the difficult issues facing public schools. Also, we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of our collective interests and making very difficult decisions. We have the utmost respect for Dr. Tammy Grissom, Ben Torres and the TSBA Staff in Nashville. We appreciate this critical partnership and look forward to working to address the needs of almost 1,000,000 students here in Tennessee, especially now during challenging times.

JC Bowman, Executive Director of Professional Educators of Tennessee

Kaylee Joslyn, Member Engagement Coordinator of Professional Educators of Tennessee
Georgia state health officials reported on Thursday there have been 42 additional deaths due to the coronavirus. The current total is 25,511.

There are 911 new cases on Thursday, as that total reaches 1,276,919 confirmed cases of coronavirus.



Hospitalizations are at 88,475, which is an increase of 124 since Wednesday.



Here are the numbers by county:



Catoosa County: 8,528 cases, up 7; 94 deaths; 303 hospitalizations



Chattooga County: 3,710 cases; 90 deaths; 256 hospitalizations



Dade County: 1,837 cases, up 1; 17 deaths; 68 hospitalizations



Walker County: 9,722 cases, up 10; 120 deaths; 366 hospitalizations, down 1



Whitfield County: 19,395 cases, up 8; 319 deaths; 947 hospitalizations, up 2
A teen who dropped his cellphone at a murder scene has now been charged with criminal homicide.

Kenneth Zy Shaun Moore, 19, of 7474 Austin Dr., is also charged with especially aggravated robbery.

Police said the cellphone was taken to the TBI lab where a forensic download was completed. It was found that Facebook user "PeeKay" was using the phone just before the murder. Police said "PeeKay" was determined to be Kenneth Moore.

Moore said the phone found by police was his.





He said he was one of those who returned to search for the phone after he noticed it was missing.

Marvin Menifee Jr. was charged earlier in the Oct. 24 murder of Alfred Pitmon Sr. on 7th Avenue. Menifee told police he returned to the scene to look for the lost cellphone and said he found the victim dead. Menifee Jr., who is also 19, denied he was the person who shot the victim.

Police answered a shooting call and found the deceased victim at the residence. Police said witnesses saw Menifee at the back of the residence with five other males in dark clothing.

Police said they recovered the missing cellphone in the back yard, along with video footage of Menifee and four other males walking toward the residence prior to Mr. Pitmon being killed.

Police said Menifee told them he was at the residence with four other males and wished to get marijuana. He told police Pitmon gave him the marijuana.

He said he knew the other persons were planning on robbing the victim, and that he heard four gunshots and knew the victim had been shot.

He said he fled the residence with the other four males and that they met back up in the East Lake Courts. He said he returned to the residence with two of the other males to retrieve a phone one of them had dropped.

He told police he did not find the dropped phone, but did see the deceased victim. Menifee was arrested and booked shortly after the interview took place.

Menifee is also charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated robbery.
Lee University and the Bank of Cleveland will present the annual tradition of A Classic Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. in the Conn Center.

Lees School of Music is thrilled to offer Classic Christmas to our community once again, said Dr. Cameron Weatherford, assistant professor of choral music. What a joy for our faculty and students to have the opportunity to make holiday music for the community and campus families.

A Classic Christmas has been a Lee University tradition for over 30 years. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to go virtual last year, but now Lee and the School of Music can present the concert in its full splendor this December.

The university is dedicating the 2021 concert to the memory of Sharon Taylor. Lee Chancellor Dr. Paul Conn announced: "Sharon was so greatly loved in this community, and such a friend of Lee. She enjoyed this Christmas concert personally in earlier years, and we are honored to present it in a quiet but heartfelt tribute to her this year."

This years concert will feature appearances by the Lee Orchestra, Lee Handbell Choir, Chorale, Choral Union, Ladies of Lee, and Lee voice professors Drs. Ron and Chery Brendel.

This event is one of the most popular musical presentations here at Lee, and we are excited to share it in person this year, said Dr. Weatherford. We expect a full house to hear our instrumentalists, choral ensembles, and soloists as we kick off the Christmas season.

Performances will include a variety of holiday favorites such as Gloria, I Saw Three Ships, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Sleigh Ride, Feliz Navidad, and Silent Night.

Jazz Combo will perform prior to the event as guests arrive.

A Classic Christmas is free and open to the public, and for the first time, non-ticketed. Seats will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 1:45 p.m. Overflow seating will be available in the Dixon Center with big-screen video streaming. For special circumstances such as handicap and group seating, please call 614-8343 or email dixonboxoffice@leeuniversity.edu.

Bank of Cleveland, the only locally owned and operated bank in Cleveland/Bradley County, joins Lee in sponsoring this years Classic Christmas for the third year.

For more information about the event, please call 614-8240 or email musicinfo@leeuniversity.edu.
The Power of the Dog actor Kirsten Dunst, now 39 and a mother of two, has made a solid place for herself in Hollywood. And sometimes that has meant telling directors and producers no when theyve asked her to do things she doesnt want to do  like change something about the way she looks.

Dunst revealed shes received requests to lose weight and fix her teeth from filmmakers, and she credits one famous director and friend with giving her the confidence to love the way she looks.

Kirsten Dunst | Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Kirsten Dunst refused to lose weight

As reported by Variety in 2017, while directing The Beguiled, Sofia Coppola suggested Dunst lose weight for her role in the Civil War film. But Dunst refused to do it, and with a plethora of good reasons.

Its so much harder when youre 35 and hate working out, she noted. She also pointed out the films location in Louisiana made it even more difficult for her to take off any pounds. That wasnt just because of the climate, but also partially because of what was on the menu.

Im eating fried chicken and McDonalds before work. So, Im like, We have no options! Im sorry I cant lose weight for this role, Dunst said she told Coppola. Apparently, the director respected her decision.

But it wasnt the first time Dunst had been asked to change her appearance for Hollywood. And as it would turn out, Coppola was the one whod given her the confidence to say no.

Kirsten Dunst refused to change her teeth

Sofia Coppola made Kirsten Dunst feel so beautiful on "Virgin Suicides" that Dunst refused to straighten her teeth for SPIDER-MAN: That the coolest girl liked how I looked, thats what preserved me."



The #SpiderMan2 poster straightened her teeth anyway: https://t.co/0pwnh7n3On pic.twitter.com/MpUb28DM34  Zack Sharf (@ZSharf) November 16, 2021

Dunst revealed to Independent that when she was 19, a Spider-Man producer took her to get her teeth fixed. She wouldnt get out of the car when she was surprised with a trip to the dentist.

I was like, Mmmmm, no, I like my teeth, she said. Also, Sofia loved my teeth. She was referring to Coppola, who cast a teenage Dunst in The Virgin Suicides. The fact that the coolest girl liked how I looked, thats what preserved me.

She made me feel pretty. As a 16-year-old girl, you feel like crap about yourself, right? So, to have my first experience of a more sexy role be through her eyes gave me a confidence that helped me deal with a lot of other things, Dunst explained.

Sofia Coppola was a good influence

To commemorate the films 15th anniversary, Vogue spoke to Sofia Coppola, Kirsten Dunst, and more about the making of the era-defining period drama. https://t.co/Wyu2s463h2  British Vogue (@BritishVogue) November 13, 2021

In her interview with Variety, Dunst dished more on her long-standing friendship with her Marie Antoinette director, Coppola. She said her friend  who is also Nicholas Cages first cousin  has been a positive inspiration and a source of confidence for her in a world where self-love is not always easy to achieve.

She was always a good influence on me as a young woman, Dunst said. And she didnt want to change herself, in part because of Coppolas effect. Sofia is the chicest, coolest girl, and she thinks my teeth are great, she said.

The two are longtime friends. So, while Coppola asked Dunst to lose weight for a role, she also instilled in her the confidence to refuse.

RELATED: Kirsten Dunsts Net Worth, Who Shes Married to, And How Many Kids She Has
The November Korean drama Hellbound will become the next big hit for Netflix. What brings Hellbound to life is its main characters ranging from a cult leader, lawyer, and producer trying to protect his family. Its storyline is dark, complex, and dreadful as it reinvents what it means to be a sinner in a new world order. The K-dramas main characters try to understand their new celestial reality.

Main character Jin Kyung-hoon for Hellbound | via Netflix

Detective Jin Kyung-hoon investigates the new phenomenon in Hellbound

South Korean actor Yang Ik-joon is part of Hellbounds main cast as a detective. In the K-drama trailer, Kyung-hoon is in charge of investigating the tragic deaths of the people condemned. But the detective has his own darkness to bear after his wifes death.

According to Soompi, Yangs role will portray his paternal love as he sets out to protect his daughter, as well as his beliefs as a police officer. Kyung-hoon must uphold the law, but it might prove problematic when those responsible are celestial beings.

Main character Song So-hyun must protect her child in Hellbound

Main character Song So-hyun from Hellbound | via Netflix

RELATED: Hellbound: Netflix Horror K-Drama Release Date, Plot, and Everything We Know

Character Song So-hyun, played by actor Won Ji-ah, is a new mother but finds herself fighting to save her child. Hellbounds still images show So-hyun in a hospital bed. In the storyline, she just gave birth to her newborn son.

But, she is visited by an angel and given a prophecy. But the prophecy is not for So-hyun but for her son. Already aware of what is to come, she and her husband look for answers on saving their family.

Production director Bae Young-ae looks for answers in Hellbound

Main character Bae Young-ae from Hellbound | via Netflix

RELATED: Tudum: Korea Spotlight: Netflix Reveals Hellbound, New World and so Much More to Look Forward To

Part of the main group of characters is Bae Young-ae, played by actor Park Jung-min. Young-ae is So-hyuns husband and producer at a local broadcast station. When he learns his family is in danger and condemned to die, he uses his resources to find answers about the new religion.

In Hellbounds storyline, fans will have to see how the character hopes to use his information to save his wife and son. Young-ae and So-hyuns prophecy begs the question of what sin they committed.

Character Min Hye-jin is determined to bring an end to the cult

Main character Min Hye-jin from Hellbound | via Netflix

RELATED: Hellbound: Netflix Releases First Official Posters of the Horror K-Drama

Much like the other main characters of Hellbound, lawyer Min Hye-jin, played by actor Kim Hyun-joo, wants answers to what is happening to the world. Hye-jin is unconvinced by the New Truth religion, its leader, and the emerging pseudo-religion called Arrowhead.

According to Soompi, Kim explained, Shes a lawyer who blocks instigations from groups like New Truth Society and Arrowhead and helps people whove been condemned. In the teaser, Jung Jin-soo asks, Is the man-made system of law just? Shes a character who stands on the antipode of that.

Audiences can look foward to a strong yet realistic character. Kim explains Hye-jin may sway at times but always manages to get back up. She poses the primitive question regarding life and death to herself, said Soompi.

Jung Jin-soo is a cult leader looking for proof of the divine in Hellbound

Character Jung Jin-soo from Hellbound | via Netflix

RELATED: Happiness: K-drama Combines Blood Thirsty Monsters With Coronavirus Pandemic

Award-winning South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in plays the main character role as Jung Jin-soo. Hellbounds storyline revolves around Jin-soo leading a new cult religion called New Truth Society. He informs the public of the new phenomenon and prophecies.

In the K-drama trailer, he elaborates that humanitys sins have forced God to take action. Yoo explains, Jung Jin-soo is someone who gives meaning to this and recommends living righteously. Typically, this work is done by religious cult leaders, but Jung Jin-soo does not call himself a cult leader. He describes himself as someone who personally researches supernatural phenomenons.

Hellbound will premiere on Netflix on Nov.19.
Von Dutch probably brings many people back to the early 2000s, when you couldnt turn the television on without seeing a celebrity in a branded trucker hat. What most people dont know is the true story  or what some call the curse  behind the Von Dutch brand.

Hulu presents The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For, a three-part docuseries exploring the brand and lives of the men who claim they created it. Meet Mike Cassel, Robert Bobby Vaughn, Ed Boswell, and Tonny Srensen.

Ed Boswell, Robert Cassel, Robert Bobby Vaughn, and Tonny Srensen | Hulu

Von Dutch was a pinstriper named Kenneth Robert Howard

Kenneth Robert Howard, better known by his artist moniker Von Dutch, was a motorcycle enthusiast, artist, pinstriper, and metal fabricator. Howard is credited with creating modern pinstriping in the 1950s, known for his spider-webbed designs, the flying eyeball logo, and the custom Kenford truck.

Howard died in September 1992 from alcohol-related complications. After his death, his two daughters, Lisa and Lorna, survived him and started the Von Dutch clothing company. Later, they sold the clothing rights to Cassel and Vaughn, two major subjects of the Hulu docuseries The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For.

Who founded Von Dutch clothing: Mike Cassel, Bobby Vaughn, Ed Boswell, or Tonny Srensen?

Thanks to Howards daughters, Cassel and Vaughn started using Von Dutch art to create a clothing brand. By the early 2000s, almost every celebrity was wearing Von Dutch. Vaughn and Cassel take credit for building the brand into what it became, with Cassel running the business and marketing while Vaughn cultivated relationships with celebrity brand ambassadors.

But if you ask Los Angeles art dealer Boswell, hes responsible for creating the legendary Von Dutch brand. Dont tell people that you created the Von Dutch clothing line, he says in the Curse of Von Dutch trailer. Tell them what really happened. At one point, Boswell was working with Cassel and Vaughn, who he claims conned him out of the brand.

Then theres Srensen, another party claiming responsibility for the success of Von Dutch. The Taekwondo champion and Danish entrepreneur got involved with California car culture in the 1990s. When he discovered Howards work, he wanted to make a movie about his life. Thats when he crossed paths with Cassel.

Later, Srensen became an investor in the Von Dutch brand and eventually CEO. Srensen allegedly expanded Von Dutchs offerings to include jeans, accessories, and more.

Most of the brands looks come from designer Christian Audigier

While Cassel, Vaughn, Boswell, and Srensen take credit for the trajectory of the Von Dutch brand, one man is responsible for designing many of the iconic Von Dutch looks. Christian Audigier was a French fashion designer who helped attract the attention of the biggest celebrities at the time until his exit from the company in 2004.

Von Dutch Trucker Hat | Hulu

RELATED: Stevie Nicks Revealed the Reason She Wears Her 6-Inch Platform Boots: Theyre a Weapon

Later, Audigier started the Ed Hardy fashion brand, inspired by tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy. Audigier died in July 2015 after being diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood cancer.

Stream The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For on Hulu

If you can believe it, theres even more to learn about Von Dutch, including the legal battles, court settlements, ties to Nazi Germany, and murder charges put against one of the men from the brand. After a decade of backstabbing and bloodshed, Cassel, Vaugn, Boswell, and Srensens lives will never been the same.

Learn more about Von Dutch in The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For. All three episodes are available on Hulu now.
How far with Catherine go to get what she wants? Season 1 of Hulus irreverent, ahistorical dramedy The Great ended with Elle Fannings character finally staging the coup against her husband shed spent almost all season planning. But her attempt to topple Emperor Peter (Nicholas Hoult) and take his throne didnt go exactly as she planned. Becoming the leader of all of Russia would involve some hard personal sacrifice, she learned in the finale.

Teasers for The Great Season 2 (which drops Nov. 19) reveal that the German-born princess is now Catherine the Great. However, Peter isnt willing to give up power without a fight, setting up an epic (and likely hilarious) conflict between the two. But before you dive into the new episodes, it might be helpful to remember exactly where we left Catherine, Peter, and the rest of the Russian court at the end of season 1.

The Great Season 1 ended with Catherines coup

In The Greats Season 1 finale Catherine put her carefully laid plans to overthrow Peter into action. But despite all her preparation, things went awry from the start.

Catherine planned to celebrate her birthday by killing her husband. But Peter  jealous of her feelings for Leo (Sebastian Denis de Souza)  decided to wow his wife by getting her a one-of-kind present: the great philosopher Voltaire, delivered straight from France. Just as Catherine was softening a bit toward her husband, he tried to convince her that Leo had fled the country, leading her to suspect her husband had her lover killed. She flew into a rage and tried to stab Peter, but he easily disarmed her. She ended up locked in her room while her allies continued to play out their roles in the coup.

While Catherine was busy not killing Peter, Orlo (Sacha Dhawan) was also failing in his attempt to kill Archie (Adam Godley). The Patriarch got the upper hand against Catherines advisor, beating him with Bible for good measure. Meanwhile, Velementov (Douglas Hodge) moved forward with the palace attack.

Peter learned that Catherine is pregnant

Elle Fanning in The Great Season 1 | Ollie Upton/Hulu

Initially, Peter thought his firecracker of his wife attacked him because she was upset about Leo, not because she was deliberately trying to murder him and steal his throne. But then noblewoman-turned-servant Marial (Phoebe Fox)  convinced the revolution had failed and under pressure from her cousin Archie  spilled the beans, both about the coup and the fact that Catherine was expecting a baby.

Peter was heartbroken by his wifes betrayal. At first, he intended to kill her. She tried to use her pregnancy to her advantage, playing on her husbands desire to have a son and carry on his familys bloodline. And she made a case for why he should abdicate, arguing that it would be for the good of the country, and thus what his late father Peter the Great  whom Peter has always struggled to live up to  would have wanted.

Peter had a different suggestion. He had Leo prisoner, and told her that unless she called off her coup, hed kill him. Catherine folded, having been outplayed by her bumbling but occasionally astute husband.

Is Leo really dead? Will Peter survive The Great Season 2?

Nicholas Hoult in The Great Season 2 | Gareth Gatrell/Hulu

Catherine agreed to give up her dream of ruling Russia to save Leo. But a conversation with Voltaire made her realize her true love was the country, not the man. All along, shed been telling her allies theyd have to make sacrifices for their plan to work. Still, she wasnt quite prepared when the time came for her to make a sacrifice of her own.

Catherine tearfully said goodbye to Leo in the woods. He knew what was coming and appeared resigned to his fate. While we didnt see his death onscreen, it seems unlikely hell be back for season 2. After leaving Leo to face his death, Catherine returned to the palace, where she gave Velementov a signal to continue fighting.

Although Leos fate was all but assured at the end of The Great Season 1, Peters was less clear. We do know hes definitely around for season 2. But how long can he survive with Catherine on the throne? The real Peter died under mysterious circumstances shortly after Catherines coup, possibly killed on the orders of his wife. But The Great has already wildly deviated from actual historical events, so its hard to say exactly what the show will do with his character. But we can expect that the question of what happens to Peter  and how Catherine will adjust to life as both the Empress of Russia and a new mother  will loom large in season 2.

The Great Season 2 is streaming on Nov. 19 on Hulu.

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Article Highlights:

Rapper Young Dolph was shot and killed inside of Makedas Butter Cookies in Memphis, Tennessee.

Young Dolphs net worth was around $3 million when he died.

Rapper Juice WRLD was related to Young Dolph. Juice WRLD died in 2019 from an overdose.

Young Dolph | Prince Williams/Wireimage

Rapper Young Dolph reportedly died on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. It seems the police are currently investigating the incident that took place in Memphis, Tennessee. In the meantime, heres everything to know about the rapper, plus Young Dolphs net worth at the time of his death.

How did Young Dolph die? The rapper was killed in Memphis, Tennessee

According to Fox13, Young Dolph, whose name is Adolph Thornton, Jr., died inside of Makedas Butter Cookies, a cookie shop in Memphis Tennessee. The incident took place on Nov. 17. Young Dolph reportedly walked into the shop to purchase cookies when someone drove up to the store and shot him.

The Memphis police are currently looking into the matter, which they called a senseless tragedy. Our hearts go out to the Thornton family and all who were affected by this horrific act of violence, they said in a statement.

The incident caused chaos to break out in the Memphis area, as fans and residents mourned the death of the rap artist who adored the bakery. Airways Boulevard, a busy street in the city, was even shut down to further investigate the crime.

After the shooting, Makedas Cookies released a statement, WREG Memphis reports. Because of this senseless tragedy, Makedas Cookies has decided to close today, the company posted to social media. We are heartbroken and saddened by the passing of Young Dolph. He was a regular customer and loved Makedas Cookies. Our hearts and condolences go out to his family.

What was Young Dolphs net worth at the time of his death?

Young Dolphs memorial | Justin Ford/Getty Images

Young Dolphs age was 36 years old when he died, and he still had an exciting career ahead of him. So, what was Young Dolphs net worth at the time of his death? According to Celebrity Net Worth, the music artist was worth $3 million.

As for how Young Dolph attained his wealth, his career began back in 2009 when he released his mixtape Paper Route Campaign. He later founded the record label Paper Route Empire and was known for working with Gucci Mane, another hit rapper in the industry.

King of Memphis was Young Dolphs debut album he released in 2016, and it reached No. 5 on the U.S. rap chart at the time. It also made it all the way to No. 49 on the Billboard 200 chart  a phenomenal feat. His creativity and artistry will surely be missed by others in the industry.

Young Dolph was Juice WRLDs cousin  another rapper who died in recent years

Juice WRLD | David Wolff  Patrick/Redferns

Those who know of Young Dolphs death may also be reminded of his cousin, Juice WRLD. Juice WRLD, whose real name was Jarad Anthony Higgins, was another notable rapper who died days after his 21st birthday in 2019. According to Vulture, he had an unknown medical emergency when he arrived at Chicagos Midway International Airport and later died at the hospital.

A month after Juice WRLD died, the Cook County Medical Examiners Office determined he died of an accidental overdose from oxycodone and codeine. The medical emergency he appeared to experience at first was reportedly a seizure and heart attack. Prior to his death, he was open about his drug addiction with his fans, and he even posted about it to Twitter. After his death, his family announced they would honor him by sharing music he hadnt yet released.

While Young Dolphs net worth is certainly impressive, Juice WRLD also died with a high net worth. Juice WLRDs net worth was $4 million at the time of his death, Celebrity Net Worth reports.

How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

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RELATED: Rappers Who Died in 2021
The CN received a Harvard 2021 Honoring Nations Award for its ONE FIRE Victim Services office that helps support and protect victims of domestic violence.
This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here.

Apparently, comedian Dave Chappelle isnt welcome at his own high school. According to news reports, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts delayed a ceremony to celebrate the renaming of its theater after the famous alum because students threatened to walk out.

Netflix fielded similar threats from its employees after Chappelles controversial standup comedy special aired on the streaming service. Many felt it was insulting toward transgender people and others. Chappelles special has since prompted a thousand debates about political correctness, cancel culture, and the nature of respect and civility in the public square.

While those debates are important, lets set them aside for a moment and reflect instead on the question of who was laughingand why.

As the Chappelle controversy has unfolded, I have found myself in conversations with two specific people on opposite sides of the love him or hate him spectrum. Both of these individuals were surprised by their mixed feelingsnot about the social commentary or the rhetoric of the comedian but by their own reactions and responses.

One of them is a staunch conservative whos been concerned about our country entering a What are your pronouns? era. He agreed with Chappelles arguments on that point but said he never laughed at them. In fact, he cringed several times at the crude language in the routine. I was with him on the issue, he said. It just wasnt my kind of humor.

The other person is a committed progressive outraged by what he sees as Chappelle taking cheap shots at a vulnerable populationand yet he had the reverse response. I hated what he was saying, at least at those parts, he said, before looking down and wincing. But I have to admit, he was funny.

So while the conservative felt obligated to laugh, he felt left out because he didnt. And although the progressive despised what was said, he felt guilty because he did laugh.

In September, David Sims of The Atlantic profiled another controversial and politically charged comedian, Norm Macdonald, after Macdonalds death from cancer. As with Chappelle, part of Macdonalds legacy was that he could prompt people to laugh and gasp in shock in equal measure. The key to all of this, Sims argued, was not Macdonalds place on the political spectrum, which was to the right of most of his cohort. It wasnt even his comedic material itself, which was often rather coarse. Instead, it was Macdonalds view of what comedy is meant to door, more specifically, of how laughter works.

According to Sims, Macdonald argued that standups should hunt for laughter, not applause. The comedian went on to explain, Theres a difference between a clap and a laugh. A laugh is involuntary, but the crowd is in complete control when theyre clapping. Theyre saying, We agree with what youre saying; proceed!  But when theyre laughing, theyre genuinely surprised. And when theyre not laughing, theyre really surprised. And sometimes I think, in my little head, that thats the best comedy of all.

This seems to have little to do with the witness of the church. After all, were not trying to make people laugh. But that element of surprisean involuntary reaction that goes beyond our sets of ideologies and expectationsis actually a key part of what we are called to do, and the lack of it partially explains why we so often fail.

In the mid-20th century, theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote an essay on the relationship between humor and faith that was utterly humorless but nonetheless insightful. In it, Niebuhr argued that at the core of human existence is a paradox. We see ourselves as insignificant in the broad sweep of space and time, per Psalm 8: What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (v. 4). But our very ability to ponder that insignificance seems to place us at the center of the universe: You have made them a little lower than the angels (v. 5).

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A persons melancholy over the prospect of death, Niebuhr wrote, is proof of his partial transcendence over the natural process which ends in death. Our inner and outer worlds often fail to alignand humor and faith are two different human responses to this tension.

Laughter is our reaction to immediate incongruities and those which do not affect us essentially, Niebuhr wrote. Faith is the only possible response to the ultimate incongruities of existence which threaten the very meaning of our life.

Humor, in Niebuhrs view, is a kind of no-mans land between cynicism and contrition. When laughter is taken to its extreme, it becomes a kind of bitterness. Think about the people you know who are hilariously fun to be around but who became that way in order to create a kind of defense mechanismeither to distract themselves from sadness or to protect themselves from potential ridicule. This is not the worst way to survive, unless one adopts the kind of sarcasm and nihilism that laughs at everything and cries at nothing.

Successful comedianswhether the skilled millionaire professionals airing on Netflix or the kids whispering jokes in the church balconyknow how to point out the incongruities of life. They recognize, as Norm Macdonald said, that laughter works best when it is least expected, when it can surprise and even startle us. Good jokes that bring genuine laughter often relate and connect to the human experience in an unpredictable way, whether it produces a reaction of Ha! I see what you did there! or I cant believe she just said that!

Most of us have experienced times when we laughed unexpectedlysometimes at inappropriate moments or in inappropriate contexts.

Years ago, at a funeral in Louisville, I sat next to an elderly man who was a former faculty member at the seminary where I served at the time. One of his equally elderly colleagues, whom Ill call Harold, began walking to the front of the chapel to give a eulogy. At that very moment, my seatmate (whose hearing was basically gone) said to me in a whisper loud enough that everyone could hear, Look at how bad Harold looks! Man, he has aged! Mark my wordshis funerals next!

All of us watched in horror as Harold turned around mid-aisle to glare in my seatmates direction. Then a small smile crept to the corners of Harolds mouth as he turned back to walk to the pulpit. The more I tried to stifle my laughterthe more I said to myself, You cant laugh! This is a funeral!the harder it was for me to keep my composure.

The Christian gospel itself is not humorous. Indeed, it deals with the most serious of matters. Its ultimate aim is not laughter, but nor is it applause. The power of the gospel took the first-century Roman Empire by stormnot because it met the expectations of Romes cultures and subcultures but because it was perceived as thoroughly strange.

A crucified Messiah. The resurrection of the body. A church of both Jew and Gentile, slave and free. None of these fit the existing expectations and formed opinions of almost anybody in that day and age. And thats precisely why it stood out as so different.

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When it comes to Dave Chappelle, there is plenty to debate aboutfor instance, whether he or any other comedian is punching down or whether that type of comedy becomes ridicule. How far is too far before comedy ends up trespassing the bounds of civil discourse? These are important conversations. However, its still worth observing the way standup comedians can make the familiar surprising and the strange relatable.

Comedy can involve social commentary or political advocacy but only in a very specific way. To make us truly laugh, not just applaud, it must strike us at a surprising placeone thats much deeper than our surface-level opinions and stances.

Laughter does not always signify joyjust as melancholy does not always equal contrition. But sometimes its a start.

Russell Moore leads the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today.
As someone who studies religion and politics, I often find myself in fun conversations at the Thanksgiving table. As the turkeys carved, the stuffing passed, and the pies put out to cool, my aunts or cousins or their plus ones will ask me to agree that America is in decline. It used to be, they will say, that this was a Christian nation, but now the government isnt doing what it needs to do to defend our values.

As they nostalgically recall a golden age when America was a Christian nation, I am reminded of an eccentric Baptist minister with a 1,200-pound wheel of cheese who offered an alternative vision of confident religious conviction in the public squareconfident enough that it didnt need government support.

Maybe its not fair to call John Leland, a Revolutionary-era Baptist minister, eccentric. But he did once give President Thomas Jefferson a four-foot, four-and-a-half-inch wheel of cheese made from the milk of 900 cows. The author of the Declaration of Independence called it an ebullition of the passion of republicanism.

So, he was at least a little eccentric.

More important to me is that Leland spent his life articulating a vision of Christian confidence. He was a passionate advocate for religious freedom, arguing the truth needs no support from the government and doesnt depend on social privilege.

Congregationalists and Anglicans at the time appealed to the states authority to uphold religious doctrine. They believed that an ordered society could not stand the jostle of diverse religious beliefs and that the truth needed protection from the government. Leland, along with other Baptists and evangelicals at the time, rejected this. He said only error needed support; the truth could flourish without the assistance of laws and law enforcement.

His argument for religious liberty is a model for Christians engaging culture because it recognizes both the inviolability of conscience and the inability of falsehood to stand in the face of truth. He shows us how to hold to the truth of the gospel with confidence, in a spirit that opposes fearmongering over a declining Christian culture.

At the core of Lelands approach to religious liberty is a bedrock assumption that the conscience is inviolable. Leland is not alone in this sentiment among historic Baptists. In 1612, Thomas Helwys, an early English Baptist, argued for religious liberty for heretics, Turks, Jews, or whatsoever. In 1644, Roger Williams equated the violation of conscience by the Parliament of England with the violation of the body. But it is clearest in the words of John Leland who plainly stated, in his aptly named 1791 sermon The Rights of Conscience Inalienable, that the government has no right to interfere with the religious beliefs of its citizens.

If government can answer for individuals at the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters, he wrote. Otherwise, let men be free.

This is not to say that the conscience is perfect. Leland, as a believer in the sinfulness of humanity, believed that the internal compass could err. But if it was to err, it should be because the individual freely chose it, not because of an outside compulsion such as the threat of punishment or the enticement of honors.

So strongly did he believe in this maxim of the relationship between the government and religion that he was willing to scuttle the United States Constitution when it was sent to Virginia for ratification. He and other members of the Baptist General Committee considered voting it down unless there was a guarantee of an amendment to secure religious liberty. This was noticed by James Madison, who was warned in several letters that the Baptists were against the proposal, especially John Leland, the leader of the Virginia Baptists. Only after Leland secured promises from Madison (in a meeting that has assumed legendary status) that an amendment to the Constitution securing the rights of conscience would be proposed did Baptists mobilize in support of the Constitution.

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In his defense of conscience, Leland understood what should be increasingly clear to modern Christians: The privileges of the state do not lead to true converts. Rather, privileges encourage Christians to be nominalmore concerned with cultural favor than faithfulness.

This is becoming increasingly clear in contemporary America as those privileges are taken away, a point my family members rightly recognize in their holiday questions. Church membership has dropped below 50 percent for the first time since Gallup started asking the question. The religiously unaffiliatedoften referred to as nonesare one of the fastest-growing and largest groups in America. Granted, there are many reasons for this, not the least of which is a devaluing of institutions in all areas of American life and rejection of the abuses and harms that have been revealed inside and perpetrated by the church. But where previous generations were more likely to at least identify as Christian to benefit from the social advantages of association with a church, that is changing.

But the changing landscape reveals the joy of Lelands method for engagement. The truth does not need the protection of the government; it needs only a vocal and committed proponent. In this moment of history, each person must live convinced of his or her own position, and we are required only to hold it with humility. There must be a freedom to disagree, even vigorously. But at the end of the day, our minds should always be open to conviction, and each of us should be convinced of what we believe because we believe it to be true.

Christians used to be able to rely on governmental or even just cultural support for their positions. Now, with a crumbling Bible Belt and secularizing public square, that is no longer the case. But it is error, and error alone, that needs human support, according to Leland. Those who need the support of the government for their position reveal their underlying belief that something in their position cannot stand up to the light of scrutiny.

It is not because the truth is weak that Christians turn to cultural support. It is because Christians are unconvinced of their own positions. Leland calls for us not to protect the truth but to actually believe it and to confidently assert it in the public square, just as he did regularly in Virginia and New England.

And though Leland was a strict separationist (he even argued against Sabbath laws), he did not want the public square to be naked of religious claims, which, as public theologian Richard John Neuhaus has argued, is impossible. Leland just wanted neutrality. The same man who argued against state sponsorship of religion also preached to Congress in 1801. This requires a confidence on the part of Christians who do not bemoan declining acceptance of their beliefs but who boldly and prophetically declare to the world the truths of the kingdom of God and the rule of Christ over all areas of lifepolitical, spiritual, sexual, economic, racial, and personal.

It also requires humility from Christians because we recognize that todays atheist may be our future brother or sister. Christianity is not transmitted genetically but rather through the renewing of hearts and minds (Rom. 12:12). As CTs public theologian Russell Moore has written, the next Billy Graham is likely not currently a believer. So, we do not enter the public square seeking to protect ourselves or to overthrow our enemies. Rather, like Leland, we seek the freedom to proclaim the truth and allow it to work in the minds and spirits of those who are listening. And Lelands context for convictional engagement, the Second Great Awakening, should offer hope and optimism to those who worry about the state of religion in America.

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Lelands optimism about the power of reason and truth appears naive in our age of outrage, sound bites, and fake news echo chambers. However, for the Christian, his method is incredibly useful. It recognizes that our interlocutors are not enemies even if they are ideological opponents. They are, at worst, deluded by a lie and thus need to be confronted with the truth with confidence and humility.

The tension between those two is one that we could all recover in an age of hot takes and attempts to score points for our tribes. It will take a confidence in the power of our arguments rather than the number in our voting bloc. It will take a humility able to admit error or be proven wrong rather than a bombastic spirit seeking to score points in the latest Twitter sparring match.

The same day Leland delivered that wheel of cheese to Jefferson, Jefferson wrote his famed letter to the Danbury Baptists declaring a wall of separation between government and religion. Leland supported this separation, even if he disagreed with Jefferson about what that looked like practically. Leland saw in America neither an embattled Zion nor a Babylonian exile but rather an Athenian hill asking for debate (Acts 17:1634).

So, when were eating some pumpkin pie and listening to a cousins husband talk about the outrage du jour, maybe we can be more like Leland. Instead of wringing our hands about the threats of the future and bemoaning our inability to live in the past, we can follow the example of that eccentric Baptist and go about the work of proclaiming the truth and defending each individuals right to live in accordance with the convictions of his or her conscience.

Alex Ward serves as the lead researcher for the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
The US State Department has added Russia to its list of nations it considers among the worlds most egregious violators of religious freedom.

Russia joins Myanmar (referred to as Burma on the list), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on the 2021 list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC).

The most controversial change: Nigeria, which was finally added to the top-tier CPC list last year, is no longer included.

Nor is the troubled West African nation listed on the second-tier Special Watch List (SWL), where Russia had been listed in the 2020 designations. Meanwhile, Algeria was added to the watchlist, joining Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua, which were also listed in 2020.

In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said Wednesday in an announcement. This Administration is committed to supporting every individuals right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right.

The challenges to religious freedom in the world today are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched. They exist in every country, stated Blinken. They demand sustained global commitment from all who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo.  We will continue to press all governments to remedy shortcomings in their laws and practices, and to promote accountability for those responsible for abuses.

Blinken also redesignated nine militant groups as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC): al-Shabab; Boko Haram; Hayat Tahrir al-Sham; the Houthis; the Islamic State group, or ISIS; ISIS-Greater Sahara; ISIS-West Africa (ISWAP); Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin; and the Taliban.

Reactions to Nigeria leaving the list

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said it was appalled at Nigerias unexplainable removal.

While the State Department took steps forward on some designations, USCIRF is especially displeased with the removal of Nigeria from its CPC designation, where it was rightfully placed last year, as well as the omission of India, Syria, and Vietnam, stated chair Nadine Maenza. We urge the State Department to reconsider its designations based on facts presented in its own reporting.

Sam Brownback, the State Departments religous freedom ambassador when the 2020 designations were made, stated Nigerias sudden removal is a serious blow to religious freedom in the region.

Just when we should be doing everything possible to stop the relentless violence thats targeting Christians and others, we do the opposite, stated Brownback, now a senior fellow at Open Doors USA, which ranks Nigeria ninth among the worlds top 50 persecutors. This rewards the Nigerian government for tolerating severe religious freedom violations and sends a message to extremists that their actions will continue to go unpunished. People of faith in Nigeria will bear the fallout of this decision, and thats unacceptable.

Open Doors has documented thousands of targeted killings of Nigerian Christians every year for more than a decade, said CEO David Curry.

In no other country on earth do we see such a sustained level of outright violence directed towards a Christian community, and the situation has only deteriorated over the past 12 months, he stated. The Nigerian government has stubbornly refused to address this violence. The removal of Nigeria from this list will embolden bad actors and strongly deter efforts to bring peace to the region.

Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), told CT that CAN was not consulted on last years designation or on this years removal. He said the Nigerian government needs to prove that there is real religious freedom amid unprecedented insecurity.

It would be the joy of Christians in Nigeria if lip service was not paid to religious freedom, the Baptist pastor said, but that it was actually so.

Ayokunle noted the two EPCs present in Nigeria, Boko Haram and ISWAP, are hell-bent on wiping away Christians and Christianity from Nigeria, especially in the northeast, and urged the government to work harder to ensure the militants are subdued or totally eliminated.

This clearly shows the State Department recognizes the significant challenge of religious freedom in Nigeria, said Gideon Para-Mallam, president of the Jos-based Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, of the EPC designations.

It goes without saying that religious persecution in Nigeria today is structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched, he said, purposefully echoing Blinkens words, and, in addition, involves very deadly physical attacks on Christians. The culture of denialism when it comes to religious persecution by this present government in Nigeria has blindfolded the US government.

It is better listing Boko Haram and ISWAP on the EPC list than nothing at all, but this is insufficient, Para-Mallam told CT. First, the Fulani herdsmen killers and bandits will continue with their killing spree, as the Nigerian government has woefully failed to stop them. Second, the denialism narratives being churned out by this government and its apologists will continue. Third, people will lose faith in finding justice and will be tempted to resort to self defense.

Ayokunle also urges the Nigerian government to demonstrate more clearly that its policies dont favor Islam or Christianity, which he said number about 100 million adherents each. For example, the Ministry of Education supports a national board for Arabic and Islamic studies but not a parallel one for Christian education and biblical languages.

We love our Muslim counterparts and we are constantly holding meetings with them towards peace-building in the country, said Ayokunle, cochairman of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council. Yet he cited the recent kidnappings of scores of Christians in the northern state of Kaduna.

If the persecution the church is experiencing in Nigeria is not religious persecution, how do we then classify itespecially when the people responsible for these acts are Muslims? he told CT. While I do not support religious or ethnic profiling, we cannot at the same time say that we do not know those attacking us.

Though today Muslims are equally being attacked, because kidnapping has become a lucrative business and the madness of criminality has grown, the fact that these criminal acts began with some Islamic groups declaring war on Christians and Christianity makes what is happening in Nigeria to be regarded as religious persecution, he said. It is not the Christians that are killing Christians.

Reactions to Russia joining the list

USCIRF welcomed Russias addition to the CPC list, having recommended such a designation since 2017.

For years, USCIRF has raised the alarm regarding the Russian governments purge of non-traditional religions and religious freedom repression, stated vice chair Nury Turkel. USCIRF also applauds the inclusion of Algeria in the State Departments SWL designations this year, which USCIRF has recommended since 2020 due to continued enforcement of blasphemy laws and restrictions on houses of worship for minority religious communities.

Earlier in November, USCIRF had reiterated its recommendations for the State Departments 2021 designations, advocating that four nations be added to the CPC list (India, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam) and that 10 nations be added to the watchlist (Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan).

For years, the Russian government has conducted a purge of non-traditional religions, frequently labeling as extremists and imprisoning peaceful Jehovahs Witnesses, and readers of the moderate Islamic theologian Said Nursi, USCIRF stated in a November fact sheet. Russian courts continue to deliver harsher and more numerous prison sentences for Jehovahs Witnesses seeking to practice their faith.

In addition, Russia has exported its repressive religious regime to the neighboring country of Ukraine, stated USCIRF. Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea and the Russian-backed Donbas commit widespread religious freedom abuses, including false charges of Islamist terrorism to imprison Crimean Tatars.

CT has reported how Russias efforts to prevent terrorism have restricted the religious freedom of non-Orthodox faiths, especially Jehovahs Witnesses and evangelical Christians, including most recently seminary shutdowns. Germany has offered asylum to Baptists fleeing fines for evangelism, while Russian evangelicals have wrestled with whether to defend Jehovahs Witnesses after the pacifist faith was banned as extremist.

Reporting by Adelle M. Banks for RNS. Additional reporting by Jeremy Weber for CT.

CT offers a report in Russian of the worlds 50 worst persecutors of Christians (according to Open Doors), alongside 11 other translations.
Biden HHS to revoke Trump-era religious freedom policy: 'Detriment to civil rights'

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A leaked document reveals that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans on reversing a Trump administration delegation that allows the Office of Civil Rights to investigate religious freedom complaints. One Biden administration official believes the Trump-era policy acts as a sword to impose religious beliefs on others.

The document, obtained by Fox News, is a memorandum from the director of HHSs Office of Civil Rights to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

In the memo, OCR Director Lisa Pino expresses support for reversing a practice implemented in late 2017 by the Trump administration that delegated to OCR broad authority to enforce violations of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Prior to the delegation in 2017, no division was singularly responsible for the Departments compliance with RFRA or the First Amendment, she wrote in the memo, which is scheduled to be released later this week. That model recognized that all components of HHS had a responsibility for compliance and that OGC [Office of General Counsel] was a central partner in providing key legal advice on RFRA and defending the Department when RFRA claims were raised.

Specifically, the delegation gave the OCR director the authority to accept and investigate complaints filed by individuals or entities alleging a failure by any departmental component to comply with RFRA, conduct RFRA compliance reviews of departmental programs or activities, provide technical assistance to departmental components regarding RFRA compliance, evaluate the effectiveness of RFRA complaint processing by RFRA and provide reports to appropriate oversight organizations.

Additionally, the OCR director could initiate such other actions as may be necessary to facilitate and ensure compliance with RFRA.

The Trump administrations delegation followed a May 4, 2017, executive order directing the U.S. attorney general to issue guidance to federal agencies interpreting religious liberty protections in Federal law. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued the guidance on Oct. 6, 2017.

Sessions asserted that RFRA broadly [defines] the exercise of religion to encompass all aspects of observance and practice, whether or not central to, or required by a particular religious faith. Pino maintained that Rescinding the delegation to OCR does not lessen the commitment of the Department to compliance, but ensures that it is not used by any one agency to enact a broad, proactive agenda.

While nothing in RFRA legally restricts an agency to work proactively to address a complainants (or would be complainants) religious needs or rights, there is a serious concern that such an approach broadens the effect of RFRA in a way that may not be legally required and while causing significant detriment to civil rights and public health protections, Pinos draft memo reportedly states.

The prior Administration took an expansive view of the use of RFRA that resulted in negative impacts for underserved communities, Pino added. She expressed particular concern about broad-based exemptions from nondiscrimination requirements to child welfare agencies, which she characterized as hampering the ability of children and youth to obtain safe and loving foster and adoptive homes.

Pino accused the Trump administrations interpretations of RFRA of sending a signal to LGBTQ+ communities that the Department did not recognize their civil rights, including the right to marry.

While the Department will need to continue to comply with RFRA, removing this delegation demonstrates our belief that RFRA is meant to be a shield to protect the freedom of religion, not a sword to impose religious beliefs on others without regard for third party harms, including civil rights, she wrote.

While Pino signaled opposition to a legal interpretation that would allow faith-based foster agencies to uphold policies preventing the placement of foster children with same-sex couples, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in July against the city of Philadelphia after it excluded a Catholic foster care agency over its policies preventing children from being placed with same-sex couples.

Roger Severino, who headed the HHS civil rights office during the Trump administration, argued in a tweet that the leaked memo proves that HHS plans to effectively end religious freedom enforcement at HHS.

The Biden Admin declared open season on people of faith some time ago, this would make it official, he declared.

Leaked docs show how @SecBecerra plans to effectively end religious freedom enforcement at HHS. The Biden Admin declared open season on people of faith some time ago, this would make it official. https://t.co/JeNboTJcrk#FoxNews  Roger Severino (@RogerSeverino_) November 17, 2021

The forthcoming memo is not the first time the Biden administration has taken action deemed hostile to religious liberty by critics.

In August, the Department of Justice dropped a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against a Vermont hospital that coerced a pro-life nurse to assist in an abortion, a practice that violated her conscience. When a federal judge struck down a mandate requiring doctors and hospitals to perform gender transition surgeries even if doing so violated their religious beliefs, the Biden administration appealed the ruling.
Christian Florist agrees to pay $5K to end lawsuit over refusal to serve gay wedding Barronelle Stutzman of Arlene's Flowers announces retirement

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A Christian florist has agreed to pay $5,000 to end a yearslong legal battle centered on her refusal to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding ceremony. She has also announced that she will retire so that her flower shop can be run by her employees.

Barronelle Stutzman of Arlenes Flowers in Richland, Washington, was sued by Rob Ingersoll, a man she had done business with in the past, because she refused to provide a floral arrangement for his same-sex wedding in 2013.

Stutzman was represented by the conservative legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom, while Ingersoll was represented by the progressive group the American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU argued that Stutzmans refusal was a violation of state discrimination law. The florist suffered legal defeats in lower courts before her appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected earlier this year.

A settlement has been reached in the legal case that allows Stutzman to avoid having to pay crippling fines and legal fees.

As part of the agreement, Stutzman will pay the same-sex couple $5,000 while the ADF will, in return, withdraw a petition to the Supreme Court for reconsideration.

During a Zoom call organized by ADF Thursday afternoon, the 77-year-old great grandmother announced retirement and plans to sell Arlenes Flowers to her employees. She also intends to support others dealing with religious liberty legal battles.

Ive never had to compromise my conscience or go against my faith. Ive met so many, many kind and wonderful people, whove generously offered me their prayers and encouragement and support, she stated in a statement posted online after the Zoom call.

There is a great deal of division at work in our country today, but God has shown me again and again that His love is stronger than the anger and the pain so many are feeling. And Hes given me countless opportunities to share His love with others along the way.

In 2013, Stutzman refused to make flowers for the wedding of Ingersoll and Curt Freed because of her belief that the Bible describes marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.

In response, Stutzman was sued by the same-sex couple, with a county court issuing a fine of $1,000 and deeming her liable for thousands of dollars in legal fees.

Stutzman appealed the ruling, and the Washington Supreme Court ruled in February 2017 that she violated state antidiscrimination law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation when she refused to make the floral arrangement.

In June 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the ruling against Stutzman and sent the case back to the state supreme court for further consideration.

The Supreme Court cited its 7-2 ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The justices ruled that baker Jack Phillips was mistreated by the Colorado commission when he was punished for refusing to design a cake for a same-sex wedding in 2012. Same-sex marriage was not legal in Colorado at that time.

However, Washingtons high court reaffirmed its earlier ruling against Stutzman in June 2019, stating that her conduct constitutes sexual orientation discrimination.

In July, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch believing the nations high court should have accepted the appeal.

After Curt and I were turned away from our local flower shop, we cancelled the plans for our dream wedding because we were afraid it would happen again, said Ingersoll in a July statement.

We had a small ceremony at home instead. We hope this decision sends a message to other LGBTQ people that no one should have to experience the hurt that we did.

ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner said that the settlement should not be seen as a surrender of Barronelles beliefs.

Over the last eight years, Barronelle stood for the First Amendment freedoms of all Americans, even those who disagree with her about a deeply personal and important issue like marriage, Waggoner said. And in so doing, shes inspired millions of others in their own public and personal battles to live their faith without government interference.

Waggoner further stated that Stutzman laid the groundwork for the Supreme Court to take on similar religious freedom cases.

Stutzman specifically mentioned her support for Christian web designer Lorie Smith and her company, 303 Creative. Smith pushed back on a Colorado law that she felt would require her to make services available to gay couples seeking help in creating wedding websites although same-sex weddings contradict the teachings of her faith.

This summer, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled against Smith. Smith has appealed her case to the Supreme Court for consideration.

The Supreme Court needs to affirm the right of all Americans to speak and live consistent with their conscience, Waggoner argued.
New York drops lawsuit against church members who protested outside abortion clinic

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New York Attorney General Letitia James has dropped a lawsuit against a group of pro-life sidewalk counselors, including 10 church members, accused of harassing people at an abortion clinic.

In a dismissal agreement released Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the state agreed to dismiss its complaints against around a dozen sidewalk counselors in return for no counterclaims being filed. The state will have to pay the litigation costs of the lawsuit.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver, whose organization helped represent one of the sidewalk counselors, considered the dismissal a great victory.

The New York attorney generals lawsuit was politically motivated and patently frivolous. Our client, Scott Fitchett, did nothing wrong by exercising his First Amendment right to preach the gospel on a public sidewalk, Staver said in a statement.

Fitchett is a pre-K teacher who spends his Saturdays sharing the Gospel throughout New York City, including outside Choices Womens Medical Center of Jamaica, New York.

In 2017, then-New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a complaint against the sidewalk counselors, alleging that they were engaging in unlawful harassment of people at the Choices Womens Medical Center of Jamaica, New York. In addition to Fitchett, Rev. Kenneth Griepp and 10 members of Church@The Rock in Brooklyn were among the defendants. They were represented by the Thomas More Society.

The lawsuit claimed that since 2012, protesters have subjected incoming patients to a barrage of unwanted physical contact, as well as verbal abuse, threats of harm, and lies about the clinics hours and its services." The lawsuit further accused the defendants of approaching patients to harangue them, sometimes pinning them against the clinics exterior wall or parking meters, and even forcing them into the street and oncoming traffic as they try to escape the protesters.

Some protesters go so far as to touch or grab at patients to get their attention and force printed anti-choice materials on them, the lawsuit added.

Thomas More Society Senior Counsel Martin Cannon said in a statement that his clients are peaceful, law-abiding Christians who care deeply for the innocent children in the womb being ruthlessly slaughtered in this huge abortion clinic. His colleague, Thomas More Senior Counsel Stephen Crampton, called the charges in the lawsuit baseless. The legal nonprofit maintains that the state's allegations of threats and violence are false.

We are pleased to see the state of New York has finally come to its senses and dismissed these baseless charges, Crampton said. Justice has finally prevailed.

In July 2018, U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon, a George H.W. Bush appointee, rejected an injunction request by the attorney generals office, arguing that the claims of alleged threats and harassment by the sidewalk counselors lacked evidence.

The interactions on the sidewalk outside Choices were generally quite short, and there is no credible evidence that any protestor disregarded repeated requests to be left alone over an extended period or changed his or her tone or message in response to requests to be left alone in a way that suggested an intent to harass, annoy, or alarm, concluded Amon.

In August, a unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld the rejection of the injunction, with Circuit Judge Guido Calabresi, a Clinton appointee, authoring the opinion.

Crucially, however, at this stage and as to the violations it did find, the district court concluded that the Attorney General had not demonstrated irreparable harm, Calabresi wrote.

Some members of this Court might have reached different conclusions, both as to the existence of violations and as to the appropriateness of a preliminary injunction. But many of the issues are close ones, and we cannot say that the district court abused its considerable discretion in denying a preliminary injunction.
'I made a deal with God': Nigerian Christian girl details harrowing escape from Boko Haram

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WASHINGTON  A Nigerian Christian who survived a kidnapping orchestrated by the terrorist group Boko Haram has credited her escape to a deal she made with God.

Joy Bishara, one of the 276 Nigerian girls who was kidnapped from their school in Chibok on April 14, 2014, spoke at International Christian Concerns press conference announcing the 2021 Persecutor of the Year Awards Tuesday. She shared the story of her kidnapping and escape with the group of religious freedom advocates gathered at a Capitol Hill hotel where the top three persecutors of 2021 were named and included the country of Nigeria.

We were all sleeping and my friend woke me up, she recalled. I looked at her and I went back to sleep. But she touched me and woke me up a second time so I listened and the ground was shaking and I can hear gunshots outside of the gate. Mind you, you have to walk about six minutes to get to our dormitory where we are sleeping from the campus area and thats where the gate was.

As the floor was just shaking and everywhere was just scary, Bishara asked her friend what was going on. Bisharas friend informed her that the Boko Haram terrorist people are here.

The first thing I thought of is how my brothers and my mom will get to safety, she said. Usually, whenever Boko Haram people are attacking a village, people just leave their homes and go to spend the night in the bushes until morning when they can clearly see everything, then they come back to their houses.

Bishara said that as she and her friend were praying for Gods protection on our family, one man came in dressed in a soldier uniform. While she didn't realize it at first, Bishara eventually discovered that Boko Haram terrorists usually take the forms of soldiers because soldiers are known to protect people and thats how they deceive us to stay in one place.

The man dressed as a soldier instructed Bishara and the other girls to wake up the girls who were still sleeping. When all of the girls were gathered in one place, the group of Boko Haram terrorists started barging in, some of them climbing the walls, some of them ... pushing through the gate and they came in and that was when we realized they were not the soldiers ... like they claimed because, at that time, some of them were not dressed as soldiers and soldiers usually all look the same.

They started shooting on top of us and scaring us and saying they would kill us and nobody would do anything about it, she added. Bishara lamented that sadly, that is true because nobody ever does anything about it.

After the terrorists ransacked the girls food supply, They set fire to every building, every empty class, everywhere is on fire and they asked us to come out of our dormitory and while we were walking, the fires and flames were just everywhere.

The terrorists asked girls to sit under a tree and one of them told them they should all kneel down and say our last prayers. While Bishara thought they were going to kill us for real, the terrorists ultimately did not kill the girls at that moment.

Instead, they brought three different trucks and told the girls Whoever wants to live should get into the truck. Deciding she wanted to live, Bishara jumped into one of the trucks. As the trucks started speeding farther away, Bishara made a deal with God.

She asked God to please allow me to see my family once more and I promise to follow you for the rest of my life. According to Bishara, He came through five minutes later because one of their cars was not moving so they decided to go fix it because we were [too] far from town for them to go back and steal another car.

The car malfunction kept the terrorists occupied, thereby giving Bishara an opportunity to escape that did not come without risks: While I was in the truck, I heard a voice say jump and then I looked down and it was scary of course.

So it was just all scary and I was deciding should I jump, should I not and a voice in my head is battling with another voice saying, If you jump, youre going to die. And the other one is saying, Jump, so I had to decide should I jump or should I not? I ended up coming to a conclusion that even if I jump and then I get injured or die, at least my parents will find me here or my corpse and bury me knowing I am dead, rather than to go with these people and never be seen ever again.

Bishara believed that her mom would not be OK knowing  thinking about me, if I am OK every single day, that would be a torture for her, so I decided to jump and die. And so she jumped from the truck.

So when I jumped out and I fell on my belly, realizing I was still breathing, I got up and started sprinting  and I ran for the rest of the night, she said. Upon arriving in a village, Bishara ran into two other girls from the school she attended in Chibok who had also jumped out of the truck. They all asked for assistance from a farmer, who took them back to Chibok.

Bisharas speech followed ICCs designation of Nigeria as one of three Persecutors of the Year. The religious freedom advocacy group cited Nigerias lack of action to address the deaths of tens of thousands of Christians, the displacement of millions of additional Christians and the governments failure to persecute the perpetrators of attacks against Christians as the justification for labeling Nigeria a Persecutor of the Year.

Bishara arrived in the United States shortly after escaping from Boko Haram. As noted by Newsweek, Bishara graduated from Canyonville Christian Academy in Oregon and went on to attend Southeastern University in Florida. Additionally, she met with then-President Donald Trump at the White House in 2017, around the same time the State Department released its annual report documenting human trafficking worldwide.
Biden State Dept. criticized for removing Nigeria from top religious freedom violators list

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Religious freedom advocacy groups and the top federal religious freedom advisory panel are criticizing the Biden administration for removing Nigeria from the U.S. State Departments list of countries of particular concern amid concerns that predominantly Christian farming communities continue to face increasing violence.

The State Department released an updated list of countries of particular concern Wednesday, a designation reserved for the countries considered to be the worlds worst religious freedom violators. The list includes state actors that have engaged in or tolerated systemic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. The designation carries the possibility of sanctions or other consequential actions.

Although Nigeria was added to the CPC list last December during the final months of the Trump administration, this years CPC list did not include Nigeria even though the religious freedom advocacy group International Christian Concern identified the African country as one of its 2021 Persecutors of the Year in a report published earlier this week.

We are troubled by Nigerias omission as a CPC, said ICC President Jeff King in a statement. The Nigerian government has done almost nothing to stop the violence against Nigerian Christians, leading to continued violent persecution. In some instances, as with Kadunas Governor El-Rufai, the Nigerian government has even furthered the violence.

Nigeria is one of the deadliest places on Earth for Christians, as 50,000 to 70,000 have been killed since 2000, the ICC Persecutor of the Year report states.

Northeast Nigeria is home to some of the worlds deadliest Islamic terror groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province. Over the last several years, millions have been displaced from the region, and tens of thousands have been killed due to increasing extremist violence.

In Nigerias Middle Belt states, predominantly Christian farming communities face danger from radicalized militant members of the nomadic Fulani ethnic group. According to ICC, Fulani radicals have killed more Christians in the past several years than Boko Haram and have displaced Christian farmers.

Nigerias removal from the CPC list drew the ire of the bipartisan congressionally mandated U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a federal entity established to advise Congress and federal agencies on global religious freedom matters.

USCIRF is disappointed that the State Department did not adopt our recommendations in designating the countries that are the worst violators of religious freedom, USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza said in a statement.

While the State Department took steps on some designations, USCIRF is especially displeased with the removal of Nigeria from its CPC designation, where it was rightfully placed last year, as well as the omission of India, Syria, and Vietnam. We urge the State Department to reconsider its designations based on facts presented in its own reporting.

David Curry, the CEO of Open Doors USA, a watchdog ministry that monitors persecution in over 60 countries, expressed concern. He suggested that the exclusion of Nigeria from the list of CPCs was not only a baffling error but likely in direct violation of the International Religious Freedom Act, the law that requires these designations to be made in the first place.

Open Doors USA has documented thousands of targeted killings of Nigerian Christians every year for more than a decade, Curry said.

In no other country on earth do we see such a sustained level of outright violence directed towards a Christian community, and the situation has only deteriorated over the past 12 months, Curry stated. The Nigerian government has stubbornly refused to address this violence. The removal of Nigeria from this list will embolden bad actors and strongly deter efforts to bring peace to the region.

Sam Brownback, the former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom who now works as a senior fellow at Open Doors USA, shared Currys concerns.

The sudden removal of Nigeria from the CPC list is a serious blow to religious freedom in both Nigeria and across the region, the former Kansas governor and U.S. senator stressed. Just when we should be doing everything possible to stop the relentless violence thats targeting Christians and others, we do the opposite.

This rewards the Nigerian government for tolerating severe religious freedom violations and sends a message to extremists that their actions will continue to go unpunished, Brownback added. People of faith in Nigeria will bear the fallout of this decision, and thats unacceptable.

For the most part, the State Departments 2021 list of CPCs closely mirrors the one released last year by the Trump administration with Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan designated CPCs for the second year in a row.

USCIRF recommended the aforementioned countries and India, Nigeria, Syria and Vietnam for placement on the CPC list.

In a statement praising the Trump administrations designation of Nigeria as a CPC, then-USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin, the wife of Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin, noted that USCIRF had been recommending Nigerias inclusion on the list of CPCs since 2009.

As was the case in 2020, the State Department placed Comoros, Cuba and Nicaragua on a special watch list for governments that have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.

USCIRF also recommended that the State Department include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey and Uzbekistan on the special watch list. In 2021, Russia was elevated to the list of CPCs, while Algeria secured a spot on the special watch list.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to continue to press all governments to remedy shortcomings in their laws and practices, and to promote accountability for those responsible for abuses.

Blinken indicated that the U.S. would work with governments, civil society organizations, and members of religious communities to advance religious freedom around the world and address the plight of individuals and communities facing abuse, harrassment, and discrimination on account of what they believe, or what they do not believe.
Woman, 69, found murdered inside church where family worshiped for 4 generations

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Evelyn Player, a 69-year-old retiree, was found stabbed to death Tuesday morning inside the Southern Baptist Church in East Baltimore, Maryland, where she volunteered and her family worshiped for four generations.

At a press conference Tuesday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called Players death inside the independent multi-campus church an unspeakable, cowardly murder. He described her as a dedicated member and staff member of Southern Baptist Church and her killer as cowardice scum.

This is not OK. None of us should be OK. Her family is four generations strong at Southern. ... Solving this unfathomable, unthinkable cowardly act is now priority No. 1 for the Baltimore Police Department, said Scott.

The visibly upset mayor said that while he is confident the police will absolutely close this case, members of the Baltimore community should be doing what they can to bring Players killer to justice.

I dont care if this person is your son, your husband, your boyfriend, your daughter, your uncle, your aunt. You should turn this person in because if were OK with someone this cowardly murdering someone that could be your grandmother, that could be someone elses grandmother, then what are we willing to stand up for? Scott asked.

We cannot continue to allow folks to do that in a church  not outside the church, not walking down the street, in a church. Think about how brazen it is. Think about the lack of care in life that someone has to do [that to a] a senior in a church. Thats what we all should be thinking about today.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison said Player entered the church at around 6 a.m. Tuesday and unlocked the doors, as usual, to allow contractors renovating the church to enter.

Somewhere around 6:50, we know she was found inside of the bathroom there in her work area dead, where she had been attacked, Harrison said.

I am with the mayor. If somebody saw something, heard something or knows something, please call us right away.

Church administrator Diane Lashley told The Baltimore Sun that another church employee found Players body and called police around 7:20 a.m. When contacted by The Christian Post on Wednesday, Lashley said she could not immediately speak about the situation.

Players daughter, Alethea Finch, told the publication her mother was a devoted member of Southern Baptist Church and a retired office worker at the medical publishing company Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Who would want to hurt my mother? Finch asked through tears. How could someone hurt someone in such a sacred place?  My hearts broken into a million pieces. I dont understand why this happened.

Friends and neighbors described Player as a beautiful person, according to CBS Baltimore, and also expressed shock that she was killed inside the church.

A murder in a church? Why? That is supposed to be a safe space. Why? said neighbor Delise Lynch.

She was a beautiful person, one friend, who asked to remain anonymous, said. This is devastating to know something like this could happen to just a lovely person. Its just devastating.
'Bachelor' Ben Higgins gets married to Jessica Clarke, shares Scripture at ceremony

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Ben Higgins, an outspoken Christian and one of the most popular bachelors in the ABC franchise's history, is now a married man  and he celebrated his big day by sharing Scripture.

The former star of "The Bachelor" married his bride, Jessica Clarke, on Saturday in a romantic ceremony held at The Estate in Cherokee Dock near Nashville, Tennessee, People magazine reports.

In an Instagram post shared just days before the wedding, Higgins said that marrying Clarke was something he dreamed of and his family has prayed for."

The event was described as "simple and beautiful," with Clarke and Higgins exchanging personalized vows written to each other. Along with quotes from Winnie-the-Pooh, the ceremony also featured Scripture reading.

Some of Higgins' fellow "Bachelor" alums attended the wedding, including Wells Adams  who was one of the groomsmen  Nick Viall, Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs, Jared Haibon and Ashley Iaconnetti.

"I am so excited," the 32-year-old shared with People about his wedding day. "We have so much to look forward to. And I know we will have a beautiful marriage."

Higgins found love again following his high-profile breakup with Lauren Bushnell. He met Clarke on social media in 2018, and the happy couple got engaged in March 2020.

"Ben doesn't just make me want to be a better person, but he actually makes me a better person," Clarke told People. "He assures me in all of my dreams and all of my goals. I never thought I'd have a partner that accepted every part of me."

Higgins declared that he was thankful that I found her.

"Jessica is so incredibly empathetic and caring. She encourages me and she supports me and I know she cares about who I am and where I'm going. I'm so excited that I get to love her  and be loved by her  every single day, he added.

While a guest on Vialls podcast The Viall Files in 2020, Higgins revealed that he and Clarke were quarantining together with her family in Tennessee but were sleeping in different bedrooms. He revealed the duo vowed to refrain from having sex until after marriage.

In a previous interview with The Christian Post, interview with The Christian Post, Higgins opened up about how his Christian faith informs his life and decisions. The reality star named his pastor and Christian authors Bob Goff and Annie F. Downs as some of his greatest inspirations.

His recent book, Alone in Plain Sight: Searching for Connection When You're Seen but Not Known, includes Scripture and aspects of his faith journey. He said his time on "The Bachelor" was Gods way of humbling me, a lot.

It's funny that 'The Bachelor' took that, but ... you live in this temporary fame for a bit, and you realize that fame isn't fulfilling, it's fleeting, and relevancy is an ambition not worth pursuing because it's exhausting. Theres never a point in time where you feel like you're relevant enough, Higgins told CP.

Higgins said on social media that he would share further details of his big day when he and Clarke return from their honeymoon.
Christian social media influencer gives away her belongings after hearing command from God

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On the eve of her Nov. 3 birthday, outspoken Christian social media influencer Khafi Ekpata of London was in the middle of taking a shower and thinking of ways to celebrate her special day when she believes she heard the voice of God tell her: Just give everything away.

That same day, on Nov. 2, the now 32-year-old host of Premier Gospels Naked Love Podcast posted a video on Instagram announcing her decision to celebrate her birthday in obedience to Gods instruction by offering to give away all of her belongings except for her baby boy.

And she decided to keep only essential items needed to survive.

In the video, Ekpata told her 1.4 million followers to send her a direct message on Instagram if they live in London and are interested in receiving a time and location to receive her items for free.

She said she received close to 200 messages from people interested in receiving some of her belongings.

She told The Christian Post that she gave away electronics, including multiple cameras and tripods. She also gave away makeup, furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies, toaster, microwave and various books.

Over the weekend, she planned to continue her generosity by donating bathroom and cosmetic items, a sofa and more. She kept her bed, oven and washing machine as essentials.

I just felt such peace in my spirit while I was giving things away and I have no plans to replace anything immediately because I want to see how long I can go without non-essentials, Ekpata told CP in an interview.

There were some things that I had to take a deep breath and say nope, give it away because I felt a bit panicked at first about how I can do this. But it felt incredibly liberating and freeing, and I just did it. I kept things I absolutely needed and I gave away non-essentials. God can replace anything. Just give.

Ekpata said she finds that people tend to avoid donating their belongings by making excuses about why they shouldnt  which is something that she had to work through in her own mind.

I think sometimes people dont give away their things because a lot of the times people think they dont have enough or what they have isnt great enough, she said.

Jesus was able to multiply fish and bread. And at first, I was wondering if people would find my stuff useful. And I was very surprised that so many people found my things helpful. God will multiply and magnify what we give. And this is not just tangible items, but Im also referring to sharing physical gifts and talents to glorify God, etc.

When Ekpata first decided she would give away her things, she called her church asking for help to distribute the items. She said that she was told by the church not to give away all your items.

I wanted to be obedient. But oftentimes, our thoughts and the thoughts of others can hinder our obedience to Christ because we often shy away out of fear of what could happen if we take a leap of faith, Ekpata stated, noting that many of the clothing items that she gave away still had tags on them because they were never used.

Ekpata said one factor that encouraged her generosity was watching a sermon by Pastor Michael Todd of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which she said was about sowing seeds in all areas of life.

Michael Todd said to bless people with things, and his sermon opened my spirit more to giving to others despite me wrestling with the question: Did God really tell me to give away everything or am I just crazy? she recalled.

Giving to others to fulfill a duty to God was not always Ekpatas priority.

She did not surrender her life fully to Christ until her late teens. She was raised by a Muslim father and a Christian mother.

As a teenager, she did not find herself connected to any religious practice, despite attending many functions either in a church or mosque. But at 17 years old, an encounter with Christ led her to become a Christian.

I was at a function with a group of people, when out of nowhere, I felt a wave of intense loneliness wash over me. And I wondered, how can I be so alone when I am with so many people, Ekpata recounted.

And then I felt the voice of God say: Its Me that youre missing. And I knew it was the God of the Bible talking to me. I responded to God by saying, If thats the case, then I want to know You. And the next day, I went to buy a Bible from a bookshop. And later, I found a church and got planted. And just like that, my faith started up, she continued.

In addition to God and Todds sermon, Ekpata said her baby son also inspired her to do the giveaway.

Its interesting when you have a child because I realized my child is a gift from God, and that brings me to the Bible verse: Freely you have received, freely you should give, Ekpata said. My son makes me want to give away more to others. Obviously, I would never want to give my son away, but he inspires me to give back to others. And I feel like now that I have given so much away, God is now making way for the new to come into my life.

She assured, however, that she does not give for the blessings but to help others and bring God glory.

Ekpata also took to social media on her birthday to share her view on the importance of gratitude in life.

On her Instagram page, she shared a picture of a letter she once wrote at age 13 titled: How I see myself in ten years time. The letter was about what she hoped she would see happen in her life within the decade.

In the letter, the 13-year-old Ekpata viewed herself as stingy and hoped that shed become a more generous person over time.

She also wished that in 10 years, she would be able to say to people that she is helpful, loving and very nice.

Sometimes you need to look back and realize that you prayed for the things you have now, Ekpata wrote on Instagram.

I wrote this when I was 13-years-old. And everything has come true, and more.  Another ten years on and the terrain is bigger and wider and God still isnt through with me yet. Can you imagine?

In the post, Ekpata further detailed how she used to mope around on her birthdays because it reminded her of what she hadnt yet achieved or done. But over time, she said she has learned how to have more gratitude.

[T]his is the first birthday in a while that I am soooo HAPPY, she wrote. Im not looking at what I dont have, but what I do and I give thanks today on my birthday and I will forever more.
Christian florist who refused to work gay wedding loses again in Washington court ADF says court 'narrowly' interpreted 2018 Supreme Court decision

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The Washington Supreme Court has again ruled against Christian grandma florist Barronelle Stutzman who faces the risk of crippling fines for refusing to create floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding.

The states highest court unanimously upheld its 2017 decision, leaving Stutzman on the hook to pay thousands in legal fees for violating the states non-discrimination law that protects on the basis of sexual orientation.

The U.S. Supreme Court vacated the Washington courts 2017 decision last June and sent the case back to the court for further consideration in light of the courts 7-2 ruling in favor of Colorado Christian baker Jack Phillips. Phillips was accused of violating Colorados discrimination law for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding.

The Supreme Court asked the Washington high court to consider whether or not there was any animus against the florists religious beliefs when the lower courts ruled against Stutzman previously.

The court found in Phillips case that the Colorado government did display religious hostility to the bakers Christians beliefs on marriage and sexuality.

The Washington Supreme Court stated in its opinion Thursday that neither the state supreme court or the lower state court in Benton County acted with religious animus.

The court again asserted that Stutzmans refusal in 2013 to provide flower arrangements for the wedding of Rob Ingersoll and Curt Freed to be a violation of state law.

They did not act with religious animus when they ruled that such discrimination is not privileged or excused by the United States Constitution or the Washington Constitution, the ruling reads.

In its conclusion, the court stressed that [d]iscrimination based on same-sex marriage constitutes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

We therefore hold that the conduct for which Stutzman was cited and fined in this case  refusing her commercially marketed wedding floral services to Ingersoll and Freed because theirs would be a same-sex wedding  constitutes sexual orientation discrimination under the [Washington Law Against Discrimination], the ruling reads.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that represents the florist, responded to the ruling by assuring that the case will again be appealed to the nations highest court.

The religious freedom nonprofit argues that the Washington Supreme Court read the Supreme Courts decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop as narrowly as possible by suggesting that the U.S. Supreme Courts condemnation of government hostility toward religion applies only to adjudicatory bodies and not the executive branch of the government.

ADF argues that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Masterpiece says the exact opposite.

Stutzman has argued that state Attorney General Bob Ferguson showed hostility toward her religious beliefs. ADF argues that Fergusons hostility is what caused the U.S. Supreme Court to send the case back in the first place.

Barronelle serves all customers; she simply declines to celebrate or participate in sacred events that violate her deeply held beliefs, ADF Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch said in a statement. Despite that, the state of Washington has been openly hostile toward Barronelles religious beliefs about marriage, and now the Washington Supreme Court has given the state a pass. We look forward to taking Barronelles case back to the U.S. Supreme Court.

ADF contends that the Washington Supreme Court ignored the precedent set by the Supreme court in the case of National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra, which held that the state of California violated the First Amendment by requiring pro-life pregnancy centers to inform pregnant mothers about state-assisted abortions.

ADF also cites Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, a 2018 Supreme Court ruling stating that it is unconstitutional for public employees who are not union members to be forced to pay union dues.

Stutzman is the owner of Arlene's Flowers in Richland. After refusing to provide the floral arrangements for Ingersol and Freeds wedding, she was sued by the couple, who were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.

In 2015, the Benton County Superior Court fined the florist $1,001 and held her liable to pay thousands of dollars in legal fees that will be incurred by the couple.

We are pleased that the Washington State Supreme Court recognized that the Masterpiece decision does not give people a license to use religion to discriminate, Michele Storms, executive director of the ACLU of Washington, said in a statement. Religion is a fundamental right, but businesses open to the public must be open to all.

Stutzman has maintained that she sold flowers to Ingersoll for almost a decade before she was asked to provide the flowers for his wedding.

The state not only went after Barronelles business but also sued her in her personal capacity  putting all her personal assets, including her life savings, at risk, ADF Senior Vice President of U.S. Legal Division Kristen Waggoner, who has argued on Stutzman's behalf, said in a statement.

Waggoner is also the lawyer who represented Phillips before the Supreme Court last year.

Rather than respecting her right to peacefully live out her faith, the government targeted her because of her beliefs, Waggoner said. Meanwhile, the state has applied its laws unevenly, choosing not to sue a coffeehouse owner who profanely berated and expelled Christian customers, openly mocking their faith in the process. In Masterpiece, the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that even a hint of hostility toward people of faith has no place in our society.
Christian Pro-Lifers Sued by New York Atty. Gen. for 'Harassment' Outside Abortion Clinic

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New York Attorney Gen. Eric Schneiderman has filed a federal lawsuit against a coalition of Christian pro-life protesters who've been accused of threatening patients, staff and family members outside of an abortion clinic in New York City for years.

The attorney general's office announced on Wednesday that it filed a federal harassment lawsuit against 14 pro-life activists who it claims repeatedly "harassed, threatened, and menaced patients, families, escorts, and clinic staff" at the Choices Women's Medical Center in Jamaica Queens "every Saturday morning for at least five years."

The lawsuit states that the defendants are a "loose alliance of individuals" associated with the Church at the Rock in Brooklyn, Grace Baptist Church in Woodhaven, Bright Dawn Ministries in Brooklyn, and a group called Helpers of God's Precious Infants. Other protesters with no church or organizational affiliation are also listed in the lawsuit.

"Since 2012, protesters have subjected incoming patients to a barrage of unwanted physical contact, as well as verbal abuse, threats of harm, and lies about the clinic's hours and its services," the lawsuit alleges. "Protesters descend on approaching patients to harangue them, sometimes pinning them against the clinic's exterior wall or parking meters, and even forcing them into the street and oncoming traffic as they try to escape the protesters. Some protesters go so far as to touch or grab at patients to get their attention and force printed anti-choice materials on them."

The lawsuit further claims that pro-life protesters have crowded patients arriving by car and have used "their bodies to block the passenger-side doors and thrusting their heads and hands through open windows in an effort to force their literature inside."

"Protesters deliberately collide into volunteer escorts who attempt to shield patients from unwanted physical contact and vitriol, pushing and shoving patients in the process," the lawsuit adds.

The Thomas More Society, a law firm known for defending pro-life activists and groups, says it will represent the defendants associated with the Church at the Rock.

Andrew Bath, general counsel for the Thomas More Society, said in a statement that the members of the church "peacefully" counsel women who are thinking of going through with an abortion.

"They conduct themselves reasonably and compassionately and offer information about abortion alternatives to those willing to listen," Bath said. "This is the exercise of their core First Amendment rights and is an activity that takes place on the public sidewalk, the traditional venue for expression concerning important ideas and societal issues."

Bath argues that the lawsuit "seeks to deny our clients their fundamental First Amendment rights and is without factual or legal basis."

"We will vigorously defend our clients' right to continue to peacefully deliver a pro-life message to abortion-minded women on the public sidewalk, and will seek dismissal of the state of New York's meritless attempt to deny our clients the rights guaranteed them by our Constitution," Bath said.

The attorney general's office also published a surveillance video from last October that purports to show the pro-life protesters crowding a woman and child as they entered the facility.

The lawsuit also claims that the defendants violated the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, New York State Clinic Access Act and the New York City Access to Reproductive Health Care Facilities Act. Additionally, it asks the court to force the defendants to pay damages and civil penalties.

"The tactics used to harass and menace Choices' patients, families, volunteers, and staff are not only horrifying  they're illegal," Schneiderman said in a statement. "The law guarantees women the right to control their own bodies and access the reproductive health care they need, without obstruction."
German pastor fined for sheltering Iranian refugee in church: 'That is my faith'

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A United Methodist Church pastor in Germany has been sentenced for housing an Iranian refugee in one of the churches he oversees, having been found guilty of aiding and abetting unauthorized residence.

The Rev. Stefan Schork, who oversees churches in the German state of Bavaria, was sentenced to two years probation and fined 1,500 euros (or approximately $1,700 U.S.), which was upheld on Nov. 8 by the Bayreuth District Court. The pastor plans to appeal the verdict.

Schork defended his actions, arguing in a January television interview that the young Iranian man urgently needed asylum due to an official failure, UM News reported on Tuesday.

In January, Schork gave the Iranian refugee asylum at a church he oversaw in Pegnitz, approximately 35 miles northeast of Nuremberg.

At issue was that the Iranian immigrant would be deported to Greece, where he had first claimed asylum. The deportation would have separated him from family members already living in Germany.

Schork was accused of unlawfully granting asylum to the Iranian refugee. According to the courts, only the state can grant asylum status in Germany.

When I look someone in the eye who tells me about their suffering, then I have to act, said Schork, as reported by BR24.

That is my faith that I try to live. I preach about love for my enemies and my neighbour every Sunday. So my words must also be in show my deeds.

There have been multiple legal cases in Germany related to church officials who have attempted to shelter refugees at their churches.

Juliana Seelmann, a nun from the Oberzell monastery in southern Germany, was fined several hundred euros earlier this year for granting unauthorized residence to two Nigerian women attempting to escape forced prostitution in Italy.

According to the German state-owned news outlet Deutsche Welle, churches prevented nearly 500 deportations in the first quarter of 2018. But in 2019, authorities rejected almost all church-based asylum cases.

German authorities have argued that churches should not have a special status or legal exemption to asylum laws or interfere with processing deportation orders.
What Jack Phillips would say differently to gay couple he refused to make wedding cake (interview)

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In July 2012, when the federal government and most states in the United States did not legally recognize gay marriages, a Colorado baker found himself the subject of an anti-discrimination case for refusing to make a same-sex wedding cake on religious grounds.

Years later, Jack Phillips found himself before the highest court in the land, where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.

Phillips details experiences with the litigation, his upbringing and faith background in the book The Cost of My Faith: How a Decision in My Cake Shop Took Me to the Supreme Court, scheduled for release through Salem Books on May 18.

In the book, Phillips documents his multiple legal battles over his decisions not to make a cake celebrating a same-sex wedding or a cake celebrating a gender transition.

Even though Phillips eventually won his legal battle against the same-sex couple with a 2018 Supreme Court victory, he is still dealing with litigation surrounding his refusal to make a cake celebrating a gender transition for transgender attorney Autumn Scardina.

In March, Denver District Court Judge A. Bruce Jones dropped one of the two charges leveled against Phillips, with the other being argued in trial court later that month; a decision is pending.

The Christian Post recently spoke with Phillips, covering topics such as why he wrote his book, the struggle to convey his beliefs to those who disagree with him and how he felt about one conservative activists efforts to sue bakeries that refused to make a cake with an anti-gay message. Below are excerpts from that interview.

CP: What led you to write this book?

Phillips: The first thing that came to my mind about writing this book was that I want my kids and my grandkids to know the true story of what happened back there in July 2012 and what's happened since, as its difficult to find all of those kind of facts on the internet, or at least factual facts.

CP: You mentioned in the book about wanting to go back to July 2012 to explain more to the same-sex couple about why you refused to make the gay wedding cake. What would have you said if you could have done it again?

Phillips: The same thing I've been saying to hundreds of people ever since  that I serve everybody who comes in my shop, but there are certain cakes that I can't create because of an inherent message or written message that the cake would contain and that I can't convey.

In their case, it was a cake that had a different view of marriage. I believe the biblical view of marriage. Its between a man and a woman. I would gladly serve these people, these two men, any other cake, other custom works or sell them anything out of my showcase. [I would tell them] that it was not them that I was not serving. I was just declining to create a cake that went against my core beliefs. But they were welcome in my shop.

That's what I would try and explain to them.

I tried to explain it to this attorney, Scardina, that is suing me this go-around. We had a face-to-face meeting, Scardina and myself, this attorney. And in that meeting, I tried to explain that there are just certain cakes that I couldn't create and that I would gladly create other custom work for this attorney. It was just the particular cake, in this case celebrating a gender transition, that I couldn't create.

CP: It seems like, again and again, many people are failing to see the nuances of your stance. You willingly serve same-sex couples, but you will not perform services that convey certain messages. You do not hate the members of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, but you do oppose their actions against you. Why do you think it is so hard for many people to see these points, even though you have explained them over and over again?

Phillips: A lot of that, I believe, comes from the media's portrayal of me, and that's one of the reasons that I wanted to write the book. They portray me as somebody who's intolerant and somebody who won't serve different groups of society.

But, again, its just cakes. I also don't create cakes that celebrate Halloween or cakes with alcohol in them or cakes that denigrate other people, including the people who identify as LGBT.

CP: In the book, you described the experience of watching the oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in person. You talked about it being a very different environment. What would you say were the most surprising experiences of the arguments in person?

Phillips: Its just not traffic court. This is the United States Supreme Court. And just watching the nine justices file in, the reverence that everybody had, there are federal marshals making sure that there's no noise, that its a very solemn and sobering experience. It was really something that everybody should be able to watch.

To be able to observe and see how our Constitution is supposed to be played out in that regard.

CP: While you did not mention him by name in the book, I noticed that you talked about the actions of Bill Jack, a conservative Christian activist who sued multiple bakeries in Colorado that refused to make an anti-gay cake. What is your opinion of his complaint?

Phillips: With those three bakers, I would agree with their stance that they declined to create cakes that went against their messages because all Americans should be able to live and work freely according to their consciences, without fear of punishment from the government. And so, I agree that they should be able to say, that's a message I can't create, and I am not going to create it. And I would agree with them.

CP: Bill Jack told The Christian Post in an interview in 2018 that he agreed with the bakeries he filed complaints against. As he put it, "I believe those bakeries have every right to deny me service for whatever reason they wish. But if they're going to apply the law equitably, they should have applied it against everyone."

Do you believe that certain strategies like those of Bill Jack aimed at proving a point are necessary to help individuals like yourself since it did influence the Supreme Court's opinion?

Phillips: That's not necessarily a tactic that I would take. I just want to run a cake shop and create cakes for my customers, and get to know my customers, and have them come back again and again, and become friends and like family.

CP: What do you hope people take away from your book, especially readers who might disagree with your stance?

Phillips: I admit that there are still always going to be people who will not agree with my stance, and I just want the chance to explain what that stance is.

Its difficult for someone like me to put it in print, and we've done the best that we could. But like every interview that I have done, all of it has been an occasion to try and explain that I serve everybody, that I can't create every cake and that our Constitution protects that right.

Every American should be able to make those decisions and be able to create or not create things according to their conscience without fear of punishment from the government.
Anna Duggar gives birth to 7th child as husband, Josh, expected in court for child porn charges

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Anna Duggar, the wife of ex-reality star Josh Duggar, recently announced on social media that she gave birth to their seventh child three weeks ago in late October as her husband is due in court later this month as he faces child pornography charges.

In an Instagram post this week, Anna Duggar released a picture of the infant with a caption that reads: Meet little Madyson Lily Duggar. She was born on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 2:39 a.m.

The newborn weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 20 inches long, according to her Instagram Story. Madyson Duggar joins siblings Mackynzie, 12; Michael, 10; Marcus, 8; Meredith, 6; Mason, 4; and Maryella, 1.

In two weeks, the 33-year-old father and husband, Josh Duggar, will go on trial on Nov. 30. He faces two counts related to the receipt and possession of child pornography, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines.

Josh Duggar is the eldest born child into a family of over 19 children from his ultra-conservative Baptist Christian parents: Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. The Duggars all starred in the now-canceled reality television show 19 Kids and Counting.

The familys reality show was removed from TLC network in 2015 after it was revealed that Josh Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter. His parents later confirmed that he had admitted to fondling and apologized. The show had 10 consecutive seasons since 2008 until its cancellation in May of 2015.

Although his sisters never pressed charges, he is now potentially facing decades in prison for allegedly having over 200 images of child porn on his technological devices.

It's been alleged that the children in the images range from the age of 18 months to 12 years old.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorneys Office stated.

Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood [arrange] federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims, the U.S. Attorneys Office concluded.

The evidence against Duggar involves two separate computers, one of which contained child pornography and another with collaborative evidence, Fox News reports, citing a government response to a motion over the summer to postpone the trial.

On April 29, Duggar was arrested by federal agents in Arkansas. A day after the arrest, he was indicted on federal child porn charges. A virtual Zoom hearing was held in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas.

Duggar pleaded not guilty. He is being represented by attorney Travis W. Story.

Duggar will attend a Nov. 18 pre-trial conference while he awaits his Nov. 30 court date, Fox News reports.

We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious, wrote Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar in a statement released in April.

It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner. We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.

In May 2015, Josh Duggar resigned from his lobbyist role at the socially conservative organization Family Research Council following the revelation that he sexually molested his sisters when he was younger.

In August 2015, Josh Duggar confessed that he had cheated on his wife and is battling pornography addiction. At the time, he willingly entered a long-term rehabilitation facility for what he deemed a porn addiction, his parents confirmed.

The week before, the then-27-year-old Josh Duggar issued an online apology in which he stated that he was the biggest hypocrite ever. His apology came after it was revealed that he had subscribed to extramarital affair website AshleyMadison.com after millions of customer records were hacked and publicized.

Despite not specifying the rehabilitation center their son had checked into or how long he would be receiving help in 2015, the Duggar parents shared at the time they believed their son would have a long journey toward wholeness and recovery.

We pray that in this he comes to complete repentance and sincere change, the Baptist couple said at the time. We are deeply grieved by his actions, which have brought great insult to the values and faith we hold dear.
Nearly 300 abducted Nigerian schoolgirls released, reunited with families: 'We thank God'

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Nearly 300 abducted Nigerian schoolgirls were safely returned Tuesday after they were kidnapped Friday morning by armed militants.

State authorities said 279 girls were released, which is different from the original reports claiming 317 girls were kidnapped.

After 1 a.m. on Friday, gunmen kidnapped nearly 300 girls from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria following a wave of mass abductions. The kidnapped girls from Government Girls Science School in Jangebe are between 11 and 17 years old.

This abduction is the third mass kidnapping experienced in recent months in northwest Nigeria, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Associated Press and Reuters released a video that showed the hundreds of the freed and barefoot schoolgirls in light blue hijabs waiting at a Zamfara state government building to be released.

After health examinations, the girls were reunited with their families.

I am elated. We thank God. We thank God, Habib Abdullahi, whose three daughters were kidnapped, was quoted as saying.

In the video, a reporter asked Yakubu Sani, the father of a released girl, how he felt. The smiling father said, Like just I was born just now, I feel very fine.

Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari joined in celebrating the girls release.

I join the affected families and the people of Zamfara State in welcoming and celebrating the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe, he tweeted. This news [brings] overwhelming joy. I am pleased that their ordeal has come to a happy end without any incident.

Buhari also the government is working to bring an end to these grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping. The president stated that the military and police would continue to go after kidnappers and will need the help of communities for intelligence to quell criminal plans.

Zamfara Gov. Bello Matawalle also tweeted upon the girls return. He posted photos of the girls returning in vans.

Alhamdulillah! [God be praised!], he shared. It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe from captivity. This follows the scaling of several hurdles laid against our efforts. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to rejoice with us as our daughters are now safe.

Activists worldwide have called on the Nigerian government to intervene to end the fatal trend of abductions and terror activity.

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, which is the countrys largest-ever kidnapping of schoolgirls, according to the AP/Reuters video.

The kidnapping is under investigation. Though kidnapping for ransom has become a profitable industry for terrorist groups in Nigeria, authorities claim ransom was not paid for the girls release.

However, The Wall Street Journal notes that one of the girls reported that a ransom had been paid, and the kidnappers even fired shots in the middle of the night to celebrate the payments arrival.

Umma Abubakar, another one of the kidnapped girls, shared with reporters details of the abduction, according to CNN.

"Most of us got injured on our feet and we could not continue trekking, so they [the captors] said they will shoot anybody who did not continue to walk," Abubakar recalled. "We walked across a river and they hid us and let us sleep under shrubs in a forest."

Yusuf Idris, a spokesman Gov. Matawalle, shared with CNN that the girls said the kidnappers treated them fairly and gave them food. But they said it was the worst experience in their life.

[The girls] spent four days in captivity with a bandit group walking through the Rugu Forest in a choreography that now, unfortunately, has become all too familiar in northern Nigeria, Wall Street Journal Africa Bureau Chief Joe Parkinson said.

The Rugu Forest has become known as a hideout for Bandits that have terrorized northwest Nigeria.

Boko Haram, one of the deadliest terror groups in the world, kidnapped as many as 500 schoolboys in an attack on Kankara Government Science Secondary School in Katsina state on Dec. 11.

The terror group eventually freed 344 boys after security forces negotiated their release. Many of the boys, however, remain missing.

The recent wave of school kidnappings follows the abduction of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls from a school in Chibok in 2014, which gained international attention with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Over 112 of the Chibok schoolgirls remain missing.

The Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the country third most affected by terrorism globally, behind Iraq and Afghanistan. The index reports that from 2001 to 2019, there were over 22,000 killed by acts of terror. Nigeria also leads the world in the number of Christians killed, according to Open Doors USA.
New York drops lawsuit against Christian activist for protesting outside abortion clinic

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A lawsuit New York state brought against a Christian pro-life activist who was accused of threatening patients and staff outside an abortion clinic in New York City was dropped earlier this week.

New York Attorney General Letitia James ended a lawsuit leveled in 2017 against Scott Fitchett Jr., one of about a dozen activists from local churches and the community who regularly protest outside the Choices Women's Medical Center in Queens.

The Liberty Counsel, which represented Fitchett, released a statement Monday explaining that while the attorney general has continued an appeal against the group of activists, she informed the appellate court that the appeal is abandoned as to Fitchett.

Roger Gannam, Liberty Counsels assistant vice president of Legal Affairs, explained that it was clear the Attorney General could prove no wrongdoing against Scott Fitchett, and never should have filed a lawsuit against him.

Perhaps the new attorney general has realized that Scott Fitchett not only has a constitutional right to speak on New Yorks public sidewalks, but will not bow down to the states pro-abortion bullying and intimidation, said Gannam in a statement.

In June 2017, then state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a complaint against Fitchett and other pro-life demonstrators in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Schneidermans lawsuit accused the pro-life protesters of engaging in a weekly pattern of threatening, obstructive, and violent activity at the Womens Medical Center.

Since 2012, protesters have subjected incoming patients to a barrage of unwanted physical contact, as well as verbal abuse, threats of harm, and lies about the clinics hours and its services, read the complaint.

Protesters descend on approaching patients to harangue them, sometimes pinning them against the clinics exterior wall or parking meters, and even forcing them into the street and oncoming traffic as they try to escape the protesters. Some protesters go so far as to touch or grab at patients to get their attention and force printed anti-choice materials on them.

In July 2018, District Court Judge Carol Bagley Amon denied the state a preliminary injunction against the pro-life activists, with New York appealing the denial to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Ironically, Schneiderman, who accused the protesters of unwanted physical contact, later resigned in 2018 following revelations that he engaged in sexually violent behavior, specifically choking, against four women.

In addition to the Liberty Counsel representing Fitchett, the Thomas More Society stepped in to represent the defendants who belonged to the Brooklyn-based Church at the Rock.

Andrew Bath of the Thomas More Society said in a statement in 2017 that the lawsuit was unfounded, as the activists "peacefully" counsel women considering an abortion.

"They conduct themselves reasonably and compassionately and offer information about abortion alternatives to those willing to listen," said Bath at the time.

"This is the exercise of their core First Amendment rights and is an activity that takes place on the public sidewalk, the traditional venue for expression concerning important ideas and societal issues.
317 girls kidnapped from boarding school in Nigeria; parents praying for 'divine intervention'

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Armed militants kidnapped 317 girls from a boarding school early Friday morning in northwest Nigeria following a wave of mass abductions in Africas most populous nation.

Nasiru Abdullahi told The Associated Press his daughters, ages 10 and 13, are among the 300 girls abducted from the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe.

It is disappointing that even though the military have a strong presence near the school they were unable to protect the girls, Abdullahi told the AP. At this stage, we are only hoping on divine intervention.

The AP reports that Musa Mustapha, a local resident, said gunmen attacked a nearby military camp and checkpoint to prevent soldiers from defending the school during the hourslong raid.

The attack began after 1 a.m. as the militants forced some girls into vehicles while others led by foot into the Rugu forest, which spans hundreds of miles across three states, The Wall Street Journal reported.

An unnamed source told CNN that a police officer was killed in the attack.

UNICEF's Nigeria representative, Peter Hawkins, called on the Nigerian government to make schools safe, expressing anger and sadness at yet another brutal attack.

This is a gross violation of childrens rights and a horrific experience for children to go through  one which could have long-lasting effects on their mental health and well-being, Hawkins said in a statement. We utterly condemn the attack and call on those responsible to release the girls immediately and for the government to take steps to ensure their safe release and the safety of all other schoolchildren in Nigeria.

Human Rights Watch, an organization that exposes human rights abuses worldwide, tweeted HRW Nigeria researcher Anietie Ewang's comment about the attack: The repeated school abductions in Nigerias northwest are a worrying sign that children have become prime targets for criminal gangs seeking recognition of financial gain.

Strong action is required from the authorities to turn the tide & keep schools safe, Ewang added on a post on Twitter.

This school attack happened less than two weeks after a similar attack in northwest Nigeria where gunmen abducted 42 individuals, including 27 schoolboys, from the Government Science College in Kagara on Feb. 17. The 42 kidnapped students, parents and teachers are still being held captive, according to CBN.

Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative industry for terrorist groups in Nigeria, according to The Journal.

Many children in Nigeria fear going to school due to the terrorist threat at education centers.

On Dec. 11, Boko Haram, one of the worlds deadliest terrorist groups, kidnapped as many as 500 schoolboys in an attack on a boarding school. The terrorist group later freed 344 boys after security forces negotiated their release, but many of the boys remain missing.

Dede Laugesen, executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians, told The Christian Post in an interview at the time that Boko Haram is known for grooming the young boys they capture to become terrorists. The terrorist groups opposition to education leads to a vicious cycle that breeds more terrorism.

Laugesen also accused the Nigerian government of allowing militant groups to continue to terrorize its citizens because the country receives a lot of international aid to fight terrorism.

The recent attacks on schools follow the kidnapping of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014, which gained international attention with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Over 112 of the Chibok schoolgirls remain missing.

The Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the third country most affected by terrorism in the world. It reports that from 2001 to 2019, there were over 22,000 killed by acts of terror. Nigeria also leads the world in the number of Christians killed.

In December, Nigeria became the first democratic nation to be added to the U.S. State Department's list of "countries of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act.

Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the update to the annual list of state actors that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.
Sea of preachers gather at courthouse in Ahmaud Arbery trial after attorney slams black pastors

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A sea of preachers gathered Thursday at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia, where three white men are on trial for the murder of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery.

The gathering comes a week after defense attorney Kevin Gough asked a judge to limit the number of black pastors who can support Arberys family inside the courtroom.

Quine Cousins, the lead pastor at Lighthouse Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Ellenwood, Georgia, recorded a video Thursday morning showing scores of clergy and supporters gathered at the courthouse. He described the scene as a picnic.

This is a picnic right here, he said before making it clear that it was Goughs comments about black pastors that sparked the gathering.

As I was watching the proceeding inside the courtroom this morning, attorney Kevin Gough, he called out Louis Farrakhan. This guy just be calling out preachers, and because he called out preachers the other day, [hes the reason why were here]. And so, if youre on the way, show up. ... I wish you were here to see the sea of preachers, he said.

More than 100 black clergy and activists including, Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., are expected to gather at the courthouse to create a human prayer wall for justice.

African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Reginald Jackson and the Rev. Jamal Bryant of Atlanta's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church are also among the high-profile clergy expected to join civil rights leader Al Sharpton at the event.

Arbery was fatally shot while jogging in Glynn County on Feb. 23, 2020. Three white men  Goughs client, William Roddie Bryan Jr., 65-year-old Gregory McMichael and his son 35-year-old Travis McMichael  are standing trial at the courthouse for Arberys death.

Gough argued in court last Thursday that Sharptons presence and the presence of other high-profile black ministers in the courtroom could consciously or unconsciously  pressure or influence the jury against his client.

If were going to start a precedent that started yesterday, were going to bring high profile members of the African American community in the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury. I believe thats intimidating, and its an attempt to pressure  could be consciously or unconsciously  an attempt to pressure or influence the jury, Gough argued.

To my knowledge, Rev. Sharpton has no church in Glynn County. He never has.  We dont want any more black pastors coming in here or other  Jesse Jackson, whoever was in here earlier this week  sitting with the victims family trying to influence a jury in this case, he said.

Many leading black preachers took offense to the comments, including General Missionary Baptist Convention President Anthony Corbett.

I felt very insulted. I felt belittled as pastor. I felt belittled as a man and just as a human being, Corbett told WJBF. I think its really vital that the church speak up and the pastors speak up. Theres so much injustice that we dont even know about going on in our world. I think the church as a whole should take a stand against these injustices.

John Perry, the immediate past president of Brunswicks chapter of the NAACP and senior pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Brunswick, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that hundreds of pastors were expected to show up at the courthouse on Thursday.

There are hundreds of pastors that are supposed to come from all over the country, and were excited about their presence, he said. As a community, we believe in faith and we believe in the role of faith in justice.
Pro-Life Christians Defeat Charges in NY Abortion Clinic 'Harassment' Lawsuit

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A federal judge in New York has struck down a lawsuit against a coalition of Christian pro-life protesters who had been accused of threatening patients, staff and family members outside of an abortion clinic in New York City last year.

U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon on Friday denied a request for an injunction in a federal lawsuit filed last June by Eric Schneiderman, then the New York Attorney General, saying there was lack of evidence of any of the purported threats, harassment, or groping that the prosecution had claimed occurred outside of the Choices Medical Clinic abortion facility in Jamaica, Queens.

The lawsuit by Schneiderman, a Democrat, claimed the pro-life counsellors repeatedly "harassed, threatened, and menaced patients, families, escorts, and clinic staff  every Saturday morning for at least five years."

Martin Cannon, Thomas More Society Special Counsel who represented the counsellors from Church@TheRock in Brooklyn, New York, who were among the defendants, said in a statement that the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, "specifically exempts constitutionally protected advocacy from its prohibitions."

The other defendants were from Grace Baptist Church in Woodhaven, Bright Dawn Ministries in Brooklyn, and a group called Helpers of God's Precious Infants.

"After a three-week trial on the preliminary injunction, she (Judge Bagley Amon) issued a 103-page opinion, systematically rejecting the credibility of the state's witnesses, the merits of the state's arguments, and the request for the injunction itself," Cannon added.

The judge wrote, "The interactions on the sidewalk outside Choices were generally quite short, and there is no credible evidence that any protester disregarded repeated requests to be left alone over an extended period or changed his or her tone or message in response to requests to be left alone in a way that suggested an intent to harass, annoy, or alarm."

She added, "The OAG [Office of the Attorney General] has failed to show that any defendant had the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm a patient, companion, or escort; thus, it has failed to show that any defendant has violated NYCCAA [the New York City Clinic Access Act], as interpreted by the OAG."

The lawsuit alleged: "Since 2012, protesters have subjected incoming patients to a barrage of unwanted physical contact, as well as verbal abuse, threats of harm, and lies about the clinic's hours and its services  Protesters descend on approaching patients to harangue them, sometimes pinning them against the clinic's exterior wall or parking meters, and even forcing them into the street and oncoming traffic as they try to escape the protesters. Some protesters go so far as to touch or grab at patients to get their attention and force printed anti-choice materials on them."

Schneiderman issued a statement at the time, alleging, "The tactics used to harass and menace Choices' patients, families, volunteers, and staff are not only horrifying  they're illegal  The law guarantees women the right to control their own bodies and access the reproductive health care they need, without obstruction."

Schneiderman, who portrayed himself as a champion of women's rights and publicly backed the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, resigned in May after four women "with whom he has had romantic relationships or encounters" wrote in The New Yorker accusing him of physical assault.
Solomon on how to deal with oppressive elites

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The Bible has several stories about ending evil, oppressive regimes. Pharaoh in the Exodus is the most well-known tale of God liberating slaves and judging a tyrant. But it is not the only one. After Solomon became unfaithful to the Lord, God allowed a tax revolt to remove most of Israel from the authority of Solomons heir, Rehoboam. Judges is all about God raising up leaders from the Israelite population to overthrow foreign rulers. Saul was chosen to be king because the people wanted a leader to fight against foreign powers ruling over the country.

But there was virtually always a reckoning after these revolutions. The liberated Hebrew slaves were constantly complaining against Moses (keep in mind that complaining sometimes got to the point of threatening his life). Rehoboam, the popularly chosen king who led the majority of Israel to be independent of Solomons dynasty, was not a faithful king. And subsequent rulers of Israel were much worse. After the judges delivered them, the people returned to the behavior that led them to be conquered in the first place. Sometimes, the judges themselves were the source of the trouble (Gideon was a champion for the Israelites but he had a son who ended up causing mayhem; see Judges 8:22-9:57).

While oppressive rulers are bad, overthrowing them doesnt always lead anywhere good. David, though anointed by God to replace Saul as king, refused to kill him or even try to overthrow him by force. He realized that ruling by regicide would set a precedent that would not be forgotten and would not bode well for a stable regime.

Perhaps reflecting on Davids life, Proverbs 24:21 states, My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise (ESV). There are some translation debates about the latter part of the verse. The NASB says, Do not associate with those who are given to change and the NIV reads, and do not join with rebellious officials. Whatever the exact nuance of the second part of the proverb, the basic message is clear. It is even closely paraphrased by the Apostle Peter in his first letter: Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (2:17).

So if God does sometime approve of overturning those in power, yet it so often ends badly, what should we do?

As a matter of historical record, the Apostles and other evangelists founded churches that functioned as a new culture. And as that culture matured and spread, the entire political and social situation in the Mediterranean world was transformed. New people provided new leadership by replacing, converting, or otherwise influencing rulers.

Which is what you would expect a religion to do that regards Proverbs as part of divine revelation.

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers (Proverbs 17:2 ESV).

Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart (Proverbs 11:29 ESV).

A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out (Proverbs 28:11 ESV)

Christians ended up inheriting Western civilization by learning and living (however imperfectly) Gods wisdom. Within three centuries they ended up in charge.

So when dealing with oppressive elites, it might be better to think of God as searching for reliable replacements, rather than merely wanting to end the evil regime. If God is thinking long term, He is not going to overthrow a government just to see it replaced with a worse one. He wants a better government to take the place of the one he wants to overthrow.

What that means is that God is going to look for an available group of people who can reliably govern.

What kind of people will God look for?

Will he choose people who think that the world needs them to be in control because they alone are right?

Will he choose people who cant tolerate opposition?

Will he choose people who respond to adversaries by lashing out?

Will he choose people who long to destroy all their enemies?

Look at it this way: Either the world is changed by God in his providence or he has left us alone to save ourselves. If the latter is true, then the qualities of a good ruler will be whatever are best suited to take power by any means necessary. Otherwise, he cannot ever gain power. But thats not the Christian view.

If God gives authority to those he wants to have it, then other considerations should be important. If one wants to be put in power by God, one must develop the will and skill to use power in a way that God commends.

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. Matthew 25:23

In that case, gaining more power is not your primary responsibility. Overthrowing oppressive rulers is not your responsibility. Your responsibility is learning to do well with what little power you already have.

Most people, when they have little power or wealth of responsibility of significance, tell themselves that their habits and speech dont matter that much. But the Bible says differently.

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10

Wont God prefer people who are cheerful in adversity, humble about themselves, with a zeal for justice and an ability to extend mercy, be tolerant, and show prudence?

Be the government you want to see in the world, by how you govern yourself and your own affairs.
ND bans critical race theory from public schools, requires curriculum be 'factual, objective'

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North Dakota has banned the teaching of critical race theory in public schools, becoming the latest state to try to keep the controversial framework from entering the public school curriculum.

Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, signed House Bill 1508 last Friday. The legislation passed the Republican-controlled legislature overwhelmingly: 38-9 in the Senate and 76-16 in the House of Representatives.

This bill addresses the concerns of parents while preserving the decision-making authority of local school boards to approve curriculum that is factual, objective and aligned with state content standards, said Burgum in a statement to Fox News.

HB 1508 creates a new section to chapter 15.1-21 of the North Dakota Century Code, stating that school districts may not include instruction relating to critical race theory in any portion of the districts required curriculum.

The new law defines CRT as the theory that racism is not merely the product of learned individual bias or prejudice, but that racism is systemically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality.

Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, a teachers union, denounced efforts to ban CRT from classrooms. Archuleta noted that that the theoretical framework was not part of the state's public school curriculum. Even if CRT is part of the curriculum, Archuleta believes it should be debated rather than censored.

To be clear, critical race theory is not being taught in North Dakota schools, and public schools are not indoctrinating our children to hate America, wrote Archuleta in July.

North Dakotas outstanding professional educators teach to standards designed by North Dakota teachers for North Dakota students and are overseen by locally elected school boards. Those out-of-state pundits and political provocateurs with no regard for public education in North Dakota do us all a disservice.

Archuleta contends that, like most Americans, he is a believer in American exceptionalism, explaining that the United States has much to be proud of as a world leader.

And I also believe that part of what makes this nation exceptional is our ability to not shy away from our past, he added.

We have not been perfect, but we have a history of examining our past, learning from our past, and taking seriously our ongoing desire to form a more perfect union. That is not CRT; that is education.

Republican State Sen. Donald Schaible, a supporter of the legislation, told InForum that the bill is more preemptive to try to make sure that it doesnt come to our schools.

CRT traces its origins back to the 1970s when academics, especially those in law schools, and others sought to explain the apparent loss of traction of the 1960s civil rights movement.

Most CRT proponents came to believe that the fundamental institutions of the U.S. were inherently and systemically racist, being geared toward defending white elites.

Notable figures of the movement include Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Richard Delgado, Charles Lawrence III and Mari Matsuda, who in 1993 co-wrote a book titled Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech, And The First Amendment.

The CRT proponents contend in the book that their views were [b]orrowing from and critiquing other intellectual traditions, including Marxism, feminism, postmodernism and liberalism.

Our work presented racism not as isolated instances of conscious bigoted decision making or prejudiced practice, but as larger, systemic, structural, and cultural, as deeply psychologically and socially ingrained, they explained.

Critics, especially conservative activists and intellectuals, have argued that CRT is more racially divisive than informative and mistakenly portrays the U.S. negatively.

Across the country, there have been fierce debates among school boards and parents regarding the inclusion of CRT. Concerned parents have often accused officials of inserting CRT into curricula.

Nicole Neily, the founder of Parents Defending Education, which often challenges the presence of radical leftwing ideas in public schools, told The Christian Post in an earlier interview that she does not believe CRT should be banned. But she nevertheless takes issue with it being taught to students as though it were the only way.
26 state school board associations distance themselves from national group calling parents terrorists

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At least 26 state school board associations have distanced themselves from the National School Board Association after it urged the Biden administration to use federal law enforcement agencies against parents who oppose the teaching of controversial curriculum in public schools by labeling them as potential domestic terrorists.

The national grassroots organization Parents Defending Education says the states that have distanced themselves from the NSBAs letter include: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Out of these, 12 states  Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin  have taken further action to withdraw membership, participation or dues from the NSBA.

PDE wrote to NSBA member states for their comment on the Sept. 29 letter sent to them by NSBA Interim Executive Director Chip Slaven, which critics believe likened activism of concerned parents to domestic terrorism.

The letter said the NSBA had asked the U.S. Department of Justice to mobilize law enforcement agencies to respond to threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren, public school board members, and other public school district officials and educators as actions of domestic terrorism.

While some school board members across the nation have publicly shared incidents of threats they've purportedly received from angry residents, critics believe the request to get federal law enforcement involved is unwarranted and an attempt to silence parents.

Specific examples of concerning actions included the disruption of school board meetings because of local directives for mask coverings to protect students and educators from COVID-19, the incitement of chaos at school board meetings by anti-mask proponents, and the confrontation of school boards by angry mobs that have led boards to end meetings abruptly.

John Halkias, the director of the NSBAs Central Region, wrote to Slaven the same day, on Sept. 29, sharing his belief that the Board of Directors should have been consulted before a letter like this was sent out publicly, and no less to the President of the United States and the National Press.

I also agree that the letter took a stance that went beyond what many of us would consider to be reasonable and used terms that were extreme, and asked for action by the Federal Government that many of us would not request, he added. In fact in a recent press conference, the White House Press Secretary stated that when these incidents occur, it is a matter for local law enforcement and local authorities, and NOT the federal government.

In an Oct. 2 email, NSBA President Viola Garcia told the organizations board of directors that NSBA has been engaged with the White House and the Department of Education on these and other issues related to the pandemic for several weeks now.

Five days later, the Department of Justice published a memorandum directing the Federal Bureau of Investigations, working with each United States Attorney, to convene meetings with federal, state, local, Tribal, and territorial leaders within 30 days to facilitate the discussion of strategies for addressing threats against school administrators, board members, teachers and staff.

Republican members of Congress also criticized the memo.

As someone who was born in the Soviet Union, I am  disturbed, very disturbed, by the use of the Department of Justice as a political tool, and its power as the police state to suppress lawful public discourse, Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., said in a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing. The FBI is starting to resemble old KGB with secret warrantless  surveillance, wiretapping and intimidation of citizens.
Pastor Jamal Bryant calls pastors to form prayer wall against racism amid Ahmaud Arbery trial

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Jamal Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, called on pastors from around the country to join him Thursday in forming a human prayer wall against racism and injustice at the Glynn County Courthouse, where three white men are standing trial for the 2020 killing of 25-year-old unarmed black man Ahmaud Arbery.

Bryant made the call during a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday in the wake of an attorney for one of the accused saying in court last week that we dont want any more black pastors coming in here.

This coming Thursday, at 11 oclock were going to form a human prayer wall around that court building for justice to prevail, for racism not to be able to reign victorious, Bryant said. To let that family know that they will not be living in fear, to let that community know that if God be for you, who can be against you.

While noting he had no problems with civil rights leaders like The Rev. Al Sharpton, defense attorney Kevin Gough argued in court last Thursday that Sharptons presence or the presence of other high-profile black ministers in the courtroom could consciously or unconsciously  pressure or influence the jury against his client.

His client, William Roddie Bryan Jr., is being tried for Arberys murder, along with 65-year-old Gregory McMichael and 35-year-old Travis McMichael. Arbery was fatally shot while jogging in Glynn County on Feb. 23, 2020.

If were going to start a precedent that started yesterday, were going to bring high profile members of the African American community in the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury. I believe thats intimidating, and its an attempt to pressure  could be consciously or unconsciously  an attempt to pressure or influence the jury, Gough argued.

To my knowledge, Rev. Sharpton has no church in Glynn County. He never has.  We dont want any more black pastors coming in here or other  Jesse Jackson, whoever was in here earlier this week  sitting with the victims family trying to influence a jury in this case, he said.

Bryant, a civil rights leader, said he was incensed when he heard the comments.

The whole thing has been snowballing to show us that we are not in a post-racial society, but that this is still a part of the interwoven fabric of white supremacy that has not reared its head in shame but has heightened it in pride, Bryant argued.

Kevin Gough, last week, shook the conscientious community to its core when he said its alright for the family to have a pastor, but something is wrong if we have all of these pastors coming in.  I saw it and I couldnt believe it. Im stunned. Im shocked. Im dizzied, Bryant continued. I am amazed, dumbfounded that he said it in an open courtroom, not in a locker room  [that] no black pastor should be in here  which speaks to the value of the voice of the black church.

The megachurch pastor contends that while there are many forces still working to silence the voice of the black church, seeing just how the mere presence of preachers in a courtroom can be seen as intimidating is a testament to their power.

Bryant said he would be joined by Sharpton, Arberys family attorney Lee Merritt and attorney Benjamin Crump.

Tempers flared inside the Glynn County Courthouse on Friday when Jackson, who was recently hospitalized, showed up in court to support Arberys family, according to the Associated Press.

There is no reason for these prominent icons in the civil rights movement to be here, Gough complained, asking Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley to have him removed. With all due respect, I would suggest, whether intended or not, that inevitably a juror is going to be influenced by their presence in the courtroom.

Goughs request was denied since courts are generally open to the public.

The court is not going to single out any particular individual or group of individuals as not being allowed into his courtroom as a member of the public, Walmsley said. If there is a disruption, youre welcome to call that to my attention.

Arberys killing sparked national outrage last year after video of his murder was released and led to the arrest of retired police detective Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis, on charges of murder and aggravated assault.

The elder McMichael told investigators he thought Arbery, who family said was out jogging, had been involved in burglaries in the Satilla Shores neighborhood where he was killed. Police records show that there was one report of automobile theft in that neighborhood between the start of 2020 and the day Arbery was killed.

Surveillance video shows a man who appears to be Arbery walking down Satilla Drive and into the garage of a house under construction. The man then walks around the back of the house but does not appear to take anything from that house.

Bryant said on Saturday that Arbery was gunned down akin to a stray dog in the street even though he was just getting inspiration for the kind of home he wanted to build for himself and his family.

Ahmaud Arbery, what the news is not telling you, took those mornings to jog and to dream. Because he believed in his own mind that one day, he would be able to build one of these houses that were much like the houses being erected in their community, he said. What they are not telling you on the news is that Ahmaud Arbery, after jogging, would go back home and sketch out the houses because he had a picture in his mind of what he wanted to look like and what he wanted his life to look like.
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There is a Grand Canyon-sized generation gap in America today. Nowhere is it more evident than at a family gathering. If youre an evangelical parent or grandparent, chances are you have loved ones who dont share your Christian beliefs  especially if theyre millennials or Gen Zers.

How do you respond to those who find fault with evangelical, conservative views? Here are some ideas on how to navigate those difficult conversations this holiday season, without alienating your loved ones.

Begin with self-reflection

Before we can give an answer for the hope that lies within us, we have to ask whether we are clinging to a biblical hope or a false political doctrine. Are we first of all Americans, or Heavens citizens? Do we spend as much energy and time in knowing and serving Jesus as we do in getting caught up in the political news?

In short, do we have a true biblical hope or a political hope? Unless its the former, we arent going to have good answers.

Admit the truth

If youve been guilty of conflating your politics and your faith, confess it. If family members express hurt and disillusionment from political encounters theyve had with nasty Christians, express sorrow for what theyve encountered and agree with them that it wasnt right.

Put the other person on the same page with Jesus

Let them know that they are standing with Jesus when it comes to religion and politics. Jesus was constantly being pushed to set up a political kingdom by His disciples. The crowds wanted him to overthrow the Romans and establish a Jewish Messianic kingdom on this Earth. But Jesus would have none of it.

Jesus said, Render unto Caesar what is his, and unto God what is his [Matthew 22:15-22]. He kept religion and state as separate spheres. He was a Jew, but not a Zionist. He wasnt as concerned about nation building as he was about the whole world. In that sense, he was a globalist  but only in so far as he was about the business of getting people to Heaven.

So yes, your family member is right to fault Christians and churches when they put politics ahead of the Gospel of Jesus. By putting your loved one on the same page with Jesus, you have already brought them a step closer to our Lord. And thats the point: not to win the argument, but to win them to Christ.

Distinguish nominal evangelicals from true evangelical Christians



The Far Right uses an acronym to make fun of moderate or liberal Republicans: RINO  Republican in Name Only. We might add another acronym: CHINO  Christian in Name Only.

A recent Pew Research study shows that a high percentage of people who self-identified as evangelicals have seldom or never attended church, and most are functionally illiterate about biblical facts and values. Therefore, not everyone who self-identifies as Christian, and acts unseemly or un-Christian in public forums, is a true Christian.

We have to separate organized religion from true Christianity, which is based on a vibrant personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Emphasize that policies and character matter



Many young people cannot figure out why their Christian parents or grandparents can vote for ethically-challenged politicians who carry personal baggage. We need to point out biblical facts in our rebuttal: we are living in Babylon, and are not called to build a Christian nation. We should vote for the Babylonian that we feel will help bring about prosperity for our family and the peace that allows us to share the Gospel.

We also agree that we should not remain silent about any actions by our national leaders that are immoral, corrupting to our national ethos, or harmful to our future. We have a prophetic role as the Church and it is a dereliction of duty for Christian leaders to remain silent in the face of wrongs, whether they are committed by Republicans or Democrats. Certainly, we must never fawn over these leaders or become their mouthpieces.

Remember that many great Christians are not focused on the political gospel



We can acknowledge the good things churches are doing without completely excusing the mistakes they make. Point out great Christians who are making a difference in the world through their good deeds.

Take your loved one to Matthew 25 where Jesus lays out the description of pure and unselfish faith: I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was in prison and you came to see me.

Show how so many more Christians are doing those things than the few crazies that get the press coverage.

Its all in the delivery



Remember, St. Peter said that we should give our answers with respect and gentleness. Dialogue is always better than a didactic, one-way conversation. We should listen more than we talk. Particularly, we should listen with our eyes in order to hear their hearts. Also, listen to their opinions. You might actually learn something.

We should always come from a place of weakness. Self-deprecation always beats coming on bombastically, as if you have all the answers. Humility will get you further than arrogance. We are not called to defend the gospel as much as to share it. The end of every conversation we have with another person is to somehow move them a little closer to Jesus.

Finally, let me repeat something we often say at Legacy imperative: What should it profit you if your family members become flag-waving, patriotic, pro-life, heterosexual, capitalist, conservatives and lose their souls?
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I grew up in an uncool church. The sermons were not slick. The music was not modern. And the churchs position on societal issues certainly was not politically correct. But back then, churches like this were totally OK.

The church I grew up in was not ashamed of being counter-cultural. In fact, they celebrated their moral distinctions in contrast to the worlds ideas week in and week out.

By and large, the aim of the church I grew up in was not to please pop culture; but the aim was to please God. Did my childhood church have issues? Absolutely! But conforming for the sake of cool was not one of them.

In recent years many cool Christians have publicly fallen. Sadly, these evangelical influencers disappeared from the world of Christian celebrity for any number of scandalous reasons. Some publicly deconstructed their Christian faith on social media and ultimately renounced their faith altogether, while others tragically left their spouses and families via extramarital relations.

Some were fired for prolonged verbal abuse and lying, while others were heartbreakingly discovered to have maintained a double life marked by criminal sexual deviance. Whatever the reason for their departure from the limelight of the evangelical stage, these former Christian celebrities all had one thing in common  they were once very popular.

Some were New York Times bestselling authors. Some filled arenas with their popular Christian music. Some were pastors whose sermons were broadcast across the globe. Some even served in Christian higher education! Today, their names are no longer mentioned among Christians except when expressed as a historical cautionary tale.

I receive no pleasure in recounting some of the ways prominent Christian leaders have fallen in recent years. Researching this topic has been gut-wrenching. Nevertheless, I was pleased to discover that Christ Himself speaks directly to the issue of pop Christianity in Luke 6:26. Jesus said, What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised false prophets. Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian church, specifically warns his followers about being praised by the crowds. Let that sink in.

In a world where some Christian organizational heads utilize crowdsourcing platforms and crowd management systems, Jesus warned his followers of what sorrow awaits those who are praised by the crowds. Maybe, in view of Christs teaching, the crowds arent to be sourced or managed. Maybe they are to be cautioned.

In my mind, I can hear the critic saying, who does this writer think he is? Is he not trying to build a following, an audience, a crowd, in the publishing of this article? How dare he broad-brush Jesus teaching on popularity in this way. I fully realize that the critics of this article might be right. I may be overstating my case.

However, I believe that todays pop Christianity, with some of its trendy teachings and worldly practices, ought to be further examined in view of Jesus life and teaching as these famous Christians ministerial contributions might be more in line with the false prophets of old, just as Jesus warned.

The fact of the matter is, the American church is changing. While at a conference just a few days ago, I watched a speaker look squarely at a group of young music ministers and say, the most dangerous aspect of being a worship leader in todays day and age is that so many Christians think its cool. A humbled group of church planters on a podcast I listened to recently candidly admitted to falling prey to the Christian hipster hype of the early 2000s.

A Christian Camp director I spoke to last month privately told me that they were now less impressed by the big and flashy conference speakers these days and that they were now less likely to bring them in than they once were pre-pandemic. These are just three examples of how the evangelical world is shifting.

So what if pop Christianity is on life support? What if trendy theology was no longer trending? What if uncool Christianity became cool again? I guess we will find out. And Im somewhat excited by the prospect.
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Cornerstone Church in San Antonio is being roundly denounced on social media because it hosted an event this week in which the sanctuary crowd chanted Lets Go Brandon!, a euphemism for fk [Joe Biden]. Retired General Michael Flynn also declared at the event that America should have one religion under God and we should have one church under God.

These events occurred not during worship at Cornerstone Church but during a Thursday-Friday conference there for the Reawaken America Tour, which specializes in conspiracy and grievance advocacy.

Flynn seems to be the organizing name behind the event. Its unclear whether Cornerstone officially hosted the conference or only rented space. The church is unlikely to have provided space to an event of which it disapproved. But the church apparently has not yet offered any public explanation. Cornerstones longtime senior pastor is prominent Christian Zionist Jack Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel.

Denunciations of the video clips have deplored the Christian Nationalism of the conference and its host church. Perhaps a better term for it is populist nativist folk religion. Several clergies are involved with the Reawaken America Tour, but the tour does not seem to claim to be Christian, per se.

Critics have focused on Flynns one religion as backing for a state church or overturning religious freedom in America. Flynns relatively brief remarks are rather rambling and almost incoherent. Its doubtful he had any clear theological and political message other than a very esoteric view of God and country. To ascribe his comments to civil religion, which is a venerated tradition, or describe them as Christian Nationalism is to credit more content and purpose than likely deserved.

As to the Lets Go Brandon chant, it syncs with the rally tours chief theme of resentment and rage. Obviously chanting an obscene epithet is inappropriate in a church, and should be inappropriate for Christians or decent people anywhere. A sanctuary should be a place for prayerful intercession, not curses.

Critics have denounced the rally at Cornerstone Church as uniquely idolatrous and horrific. Many if not most comments have assumed or implied the rally was a church gathering. Some even assumed Pastor John Hagee was leading the vulgar chant. Actually, it seems to be tour organizer Clay Clark, a self-identified entrepreneur podcaster. It remains to be seen to what extent the church is responsible.

Did the church merely rent its space to the rally as to any other group? Given the politics and history of Cornerstone, presumably, it has some connection to the Reawaken America Tour or at least was picked because it was deemed supportive. The upcoming Dallas and Phoenix rallies also are meeting in churches. An Oregon rally will be at a civic center.

Cornerstone and its Pastor John Hagee will need to disassociate themselves from The Reawaken America Tour and its vulgarity in their sanctuary. Meanwhile, some online critics are demanding the churchs tax-exempt status be removed, as though this event were uniquely deplorable.

Across 30 years Ive personally attended many extremist left-wing political events directly hosted by churches and denominations. Theres nothing exceptional about unwise and intemperate religious-sponsored political conferences and rallies. The Reawaken America Tour seems to have filled the sanctuary with many hundreds and perhaps several thousand people, so it attracted more than any of the leftist church events Ive ever attended. The rightist folk religion to which this rally appealed has a wider popular appeal and more significant political implications than its leftist equivalent, so it gets much more attention.

The Christian Nationalism ascribed to it is widely attributed to American Evangelicalism. Flynn comes from a Roman Catholic background. The churches hosting this tour, and the clergy speaking at it, are nondenominational. Arguably they are disconnected from historic Protestant teachings about political theology.

Politically-themed rallies in or hosted by churches, even if temperate, are generally a bad idea and confuse perceptions about the churchs chief mission, which is Gospel proclamation. Clergy themselves should be reluctant in any venue to attach themselves to overtly political causes. Temporal politics is chiefly the vocation of laypeople.

But the clergy and the institutional church do have important roles in fostering temperance, wisdom, moderation, prudence, and civility in Christian political witness. All Christians who speak and act politically do so as mere mortals with sinful self-serving impulses and finite wisdom and knowledge. Christians should be slow to ascribe evil intent to opponents and quick to reflect on their own motivations.

Whatever its association with the Reawaken America Tour, hopefully, Cornerstone Church will focus on truly reawakening America through Gospel proclamation and not through echoing or hosting vulgar political bromides.

Originally published at Juicy Ecumenism.
Growth stocks are attractive to many investors, as above-average financial growth helps these stocks easily grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.

That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.

However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks.

Heritage-Crystal Clean (HCCI) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy).

Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this cleaning and waste-management company a great growth pick right now.

Earnings Growth

Arguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Heritage-Crystal Clean is 10.9%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 553.5% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 13.5%.

Impressive Asset Utilization Ratio

Growth investors often overlook asset utilization ratio, also known as sales-to-total-assets (S/TA) ratio, but it is an important feature of a real growth stock. This metric shows how efficiently a firm is utilizing its assets to generate sales.

Right now, Heritage-Crystal Clean has an S/TA ratio of 1.02, which means that the company gets $1.02 in sales for each dollar in assets. Comparing this to the industry average of 0.98, it can be said that the company is more efficient.

While the level of efficiency in generating sales matters a lot, so does the sales growth of a company. And Heritage-Crystal Clean is well positioned from a sales growth perspective too. The company's sales are expected to grow 25.3% this year versus the industry average of 0%.

Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions

Beyond the metrics outlined above, investors should consider the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is a plus here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Heritage-Crystal Clean. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 9.9% over the past month.

Bottom Line

Heritage-Crystal Clean has not only earned a Growth Score of B based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #1 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination positions Heritage-Crystal Clean well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Members of the Biden administration on Wednesday launched a series of events aimed at exploring the Arctic's potential to act as a living laboratory of clean energy innovation.

Officials participating in the online event, billed as ArcticX, spoke of the challenges faced by remote communities in Alaskas Arctic region, such as high energy costs and impacts from climate change. During the event's broad discussions, they said they see opportunities for sustainable or renewable energy systems.

Wednesday's meeting was the first of four planned online events, with an in-person gathering set for May in Alaska. Among the speakers was U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Offices that fall under the department co-hosted the event.

We hope to combine the world-class expertise of our national labs, of our 17 national labs, with the know-how that Arctic communities have developed over centuries of innovation in the far north so together we can get new technologies out of the lab and into the field and onto the market and support communities in taking control of their own clean energy future, Granholm said.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable sources accounted for about 30% of Alaska's electricity generation in 2019. Many rural communities rely largely on diesel electric generators for power, the agency said.

David Turk, deputy secretary of the Energy Department, said there are unique challenges to commercializing technologies in the Arctic. He noted seasonal variability for certain clean energy resources, such as low-light in the winter, variable wind conditions and hydro sources freezing in the winter. He also cited changing conditions, such as thawing permafrost, and the potential for supply chain disruptions.

But he said there are opportunities for localized solutions. He said communities have different needs and many aren't connected to centralized infrastructure. New technologies will have to be adapted to climate change, he said.

Separately, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced the Department of Defense had selected Anchorage as the location for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.

The center, named for the late longtime Alaska senator, will be one of six regional centers for security studies under the department and the only one specifically focused on the Arctic, according to Murkowski's office.
DETROIT (AP)  President Joe Biden punched the accelerator on a battery-powered Hummer on Wednesday, causing the wheels to squeal and the truck to jet forward as he tried in his own way to drive the country toward an electric vehicle future.

The engine was quiet as the president pulled up to a waiting delegation of reporters and officials.

Anyone wanna jump in the back? Biden asked.

The president had just toured a General Motors plant in Detroit to showcase how his newly signed $1 trillion infrastructure law could transform the auto industry.

He is highlighting billions of dollars in his giant bipartisan infrastructure deal to pay for the installation of electric vehicle chargers across the country, an investment he says will go a long way to curbing planet-warming carbon emissions while creating good-paying jobs. It's also an attempt to leapfrog China in the plug-in EV market. Currently, the U.S. market share of plug-in electric vehicle sales is one-third the size of the Chinese EV market.

The president noted that the U.S. was not yet leading with electric vehicles, something he believes his infrastructure package can change with plans to build 500,000 charging stations. The Hummer he drove has a starting price of $108,700, as the electric market seems designed so far to serve luxury buyers instead of a mass audience.

Up until now, China has been leading in this race  thats about to change, he said. Were going to make sure that the jobs of the future end up here in Michigan, not halfway around the world."

Two top White House advisers, writing in the Detroit Free Press, said the legislation will help America regain its global competitiveness, which has waned, they contend, after decades of delay and decay.

"Nobody knows this better than Detroit, which has been at the heart of American industrial strategy in the past and now can again, which is why President Biden is coming today, wrote Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan in an opinion column published Wednesday.

Republicans, even some of those who voted in favor of the infrastructure package, are criticizing Biden for being preoccupied with electric vehicle technology at a time when Americans are contending with a spike in gasoline and natural gas prices.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell took the Senate floor Tuesday to make the case that the Biden administration doesnt have any strategic plan to snap its fingers and turn our massive country into some green utopia overnight."

They just want to throw boatloads of government money at things like solar panels and electric vehicles and hope it all works out," said McConnell, one of 19 GOP senators who voted in favor of the infrastructure bill. He added, American families are staring down the barrel of skyrocketing heating bills, and the Democrats response is to go to war against affordable American energy.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki has stressed that the administration is looking at every tool in our arsenal to combat high gasoline prices, saying that Biden and his economic team are quite focused on the issue.

Biden has asked the Federal Trade Commission to monitor gasoline prices and address any illegal conduct being observed and is engaging with countries and entities abroad like OPEC on increasing supply.

Biden went a step further Wednesday, sending a letter asking the FTC chair to consider investigating whether illegal conduct is costing families at the pump. The letter noted an unexplained gap in the price of unfinished gasoline and prices for consumers at the pump.

The GM plant Biden visited was slated to be closed in 2018 as the automaker tried to shed excess factory capacity to build sedans as buyers shifted toward SUVs and trucks. But the plant, which built cars with internal combustion engines since it opened in 1985, was rescued a year later and designated Factory Zero to build zero-emissions electric vehicles.

Currently, the 4.1 million-square-foot plant, which straddles the border between Detroit and the enclave of Hamtramck, is making pre-production versions of the electric GMC Hummer pickup truck.

Next year it will start making a Hummer electric SUV. The plant will start cranking out the Origin, an electric vehicle for GMs Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary, in 2023, and an electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup at an unspecified date.

The plant wont see much direct impact from the infrastructure spending, but it will benefit from $7.5 billion designated to help build an electric vehicle charging network.

Biden wanted $15 billion to build 500,000 chargers and hasnt given a number for how many could be constructed for half that amount.

Its likely $7.5 billion wont be enough. The International Council on Clean Transportation says the U.S. will need 2.4 million charging stations by 2030 if 36% of new vehicle sales are electric. Currently there are about 45,500 charging stations nationwide with about 112,000 plugs.

Biden is hoping to do even more to promote electric vehicles, including a provision for a $7,500 tax credit for consumers who buy electric vehicles through 2026 that's been floated as part of his proposed $1.85 trillion social services and climate bill.

The following year, only purchases of electric vehicles made in the U.S. would qualify for the credit. The base credit would go up by $4,500 if the vehicle is made at a U.S. plant that operates under a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement. Only auto plants owned by GM, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis NV qualify.



AP writer Alexandra Jaffe contributed reporting.
The Ensign Group, Inc. ENSG recently purchased the real estate properties of five skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. The transactions related to the acquisition of these facilities, located either across Arizona, California or Kansas, have been effective since Nov 15, 2021.

The five health hubs named Horizon Post-Acute and Rehabilitation Center, Mission Care Center, California Mission Inn, The Healthcare Resort of Leawood and The Healthcare Resort of Topeka house 179, 58, 144, 94 and 105 beds, respectively. Each of these facilities is operated by an independent operating subsidiary of Ensign Group.

Holding strong organic growth potential, the newly acquired facilities have already substantiated credibility across their respective areas of operations. Following the recent move, these facilities are expected to provide a boost to the real estate portfolio of Ensign Group over the long term.

The real estate portfolio contains properties owned by ENSG, which is subsequently leased to skilled nursing and assisted living operations for delivering improved healthcare services throughout the United States. The latest addition brings the total count of Ensign Groups owned real estate properties to 100.

Moves similar to the latest one strengthen Ensign Groups objective of bolstering its real estate investment strategy. It seems to be a time opportune move as well, considering the fact that this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) healthcare provider sanctioned the establishment of a captive REIT in October 2021. The captive REIT structure tends to offer additional acquisition opportunities and enhanced access of capital to ENSG. Hence, Ensign Group remains keen on entering new deals for purchasing assets, the operations of which are entrusted with either an Ensign Group affiliate or any third party.

Apart from leasing out properties, Ensign Group boasts of a strong healthcare portfolio through which it offers skilled nursing and senior living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, other rehabilitative and healthcare services. The portfolio of ENSG currently includes 245 healthcare operations spanning across 13 U.S. States. Senior living operations totaling 22 are also part of its total healthcare operations suite.

Ensign Group has a decade-long history of successful acquisitions. Each buyout underscores ENSGs proven expertise in acquiring real estate or leasing out strongly performing as well as struggling post-acute care operations and subsequently evolving them into market leaders. The buyout strategy of Ensign Group is focused on detecting opportunistic and strategic buyouts that lie within specific markets and deliver robust returns.

Over the period starting from Jan 1, 2010 until Dec 31, 2020, ENSG acquired 205 facilities. This year was no exception to the sustained trend as Ensign Groups buyout spree continued. These initiatives have aided the healthcare provider to bolster its healthcare portfolio and reach out to several U.S. states, thereby boosting nationwide presence.

With the latest move, ENSG intends to strengthen its footprint in the three U.S. states of California, Arizona and Kansas. Prior to the latest one, Ensign Group acquired the operations of three skilled nursing facilities in Texas and Idaho.

Similar to Ensign Group, other medical stocks such as Encompass Health Corporation EHC, HCA Healthcare, Inc. HCA and Tenet Healthcare Corporation THC have resorted to a merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy for bolstering healthcare portfolios.

Encompass Health focuses on expansion plans to add inpatient rehabilitation hospitals to its existing network, the most recent one being in South Carolina (November 2021). The healthcare provider sincerely pursues a M&A strategy for catering to the growing demand for facility-based and home-based post-acute care services. EHCs healthcare portfolio has been continually growing, with 145 hospitals, 249 home-health hubs and 95 hospice centers across 42 states and Puerto Rico.

HCA Healthcare is committed to undertaking acquisitions, which have led to addition and expansion of facilities across several markets and increase in patient volumes. HCA spends a substantial amount on acquiring hospitals and health care entities, which resulted in expenses of $488 million in the first nine months of 2021. HCA Healthcare currently operates 183 hospitals and roughly 2,000 ambulatory sites of care, across 20 states and the U.K.

Tenet Healthcare pursued numerous acquisitions, partnerships and strategic alliances with an aim to expand scale of business, operating capacity and geographical presence. THC operates an expansive care network of 60 hospitals and other healthcare facilities totaling around 460.

Shares of Ensign Group have gained 18.4% in a year compared with the industrys rally of 25.2%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

While shares of HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare have jumped 61.7% and 147.5%, respectively, in a year, Encompass Health's stock has lost 19.3% in the same time frame.

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Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC): Free Stock Analysis Report



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The Astroworld Festival lawsuits keep coming, and they continue to get bigger and bigger. San Antonio-based attorney Thomas J. Henry Thursday filed a massive $2 billion lawsuit on behalf of 282 victims of the concert tragedy that left 10 people dead and hundreds injured. The lawsuit names headliner Travis Scott, performer Drake, Apple Music, Live Nation and Houston's NRG Stadium.

"The defendants stood to make an exorbitant amount of money off this event, and they still chose to cut corners, cut costs, and put attendees at risk," said Henry in a Thursday news release. "My clients want to ensure the defendants are held responsible for their actions, and they want to send the message to all performers, event organizers, and promoters that what happened at Astroworld cannot happen again."
Comedian Daniel Sloss hasnt reached the level of celebrity at which hes recognized on the streets of Houston  yet. But whether or not Texans can identify the 31-year-old Scotsman from his critically acclaimed standup specials X, Dark and Jigsaw, his double-digit appearances on Conan OBriens talk show or his hundreds of performances around the U.S. and worldwide, they tend to be delighted to meet Sloss, anyway. Mostly because of his accent.

Especially in Texas, people are fascinated by me. We just get the friendliest, most amused Texans, he says, before offering his best country drawl: Howdy, where yall from? Scotland!?

Sloss is quick to point out that while people are growing more familiar with him  maybe through this article specifically?  hes been inundated with American culture his whole life. The rest of the world, when we grow up, youre on the news all the time and in all our comic books and TV series and media, he explains. We know so much about you! And then we come here and youre more than we ever imagined. Every single f--king stereotype you told us was true.

Meanwhile in Sloss home country, you're not going to find a man in a kilt with bagpipes drinking whiskey, taking heroin and punching his wife, he jokes, because that is a stereotype. But in Texas, cowboys literally exist.

Courtesy of HBO

The friendliness of Texans is a major reason Sloss says he was eager to embark on the southern leg of his Hubris tour, which includes stops at the Aztec Theatre in San Antonio, Paramount Theatre in Austin and Majestic Theatre in Dallas before he drives to Houston Nov. 20 for a night at Bayou Music Center. Sloss says he invited his fiance for this stretch because he was desperate for her to see Texas, which he became enchanted with while recording his yet-to-be-released special, Daniel Sloss: Now, in Austin back in 2019.

Even if he isnt yet a household name in the U.S., Sloss is an internationally acclaimed comic who began performing standup at age 17. He started work on Hubris in January and February of 2020 and toured it briefly in LA and New York, before the pandemic forced all live comedy to grind to a halt.

Id just come off the back of an 18-month worldwide tour, and my ego was pretty f--king big, Sloss says. And then a pandemic hit and like the rest of the world I was very thoroughly humbled. He didnt waste the days baking bread, however, and instead spent lockdown fine-tuning his set, writing a book playfully tackling dysfunctional relationships during quarantine titled Everyone You Hate Is Going To Die, and getting engaged despite claims that his Netflix special Jigsaw led to more than 120,000 breakups and 300 divorces.

Courtesy of Daniel Sloss

Now, returning to the stage in the aftermath of the lockdown, Sloss says he did have to revise some instantly dated material: Post-pandemic, some jokes just dont work anymore because our attitudes have changed, travel has changed, work has changed, he says. Any jokes about airports and offices are just not working anymore. Watercooler shit? Thats over.

Sloss says his material isnt the only thing thats changed in the aftermath of lockdown. His audiences have changed, too, at least temporarily. Were at a very, very golden bit of comedy, he says, while noting that he steers clear of pandemic jokes. Regardless of what your opinion on COVID is, everyone in the world agrees that if it were up to us, wed never hear about it again. Can we just talk about anything else? Can we laugh at anything else?

Instead, Sloss explains that with Hubris, he wanted to do a show that was just f--king standup  especially after 18 months touring his last show, Daniel Sloss: X, a 90-minute performance that dealt with dark themes of sexual assault and rape.

I always use the analogy: If you find a safe way through a minefield, youre not going to start taking detours once you know the safe route ... it stopped feeling creative, he says. With this show, because I didnt want to feel tied into anything, I just wrote jokes. Its just dark silliness.

While Sloss doesnt dive deep into dark, subversive themes, "Hubris" also isnt his version of playing it safe. Im going to make you laugh at something you disagree with  that to me is when standup is at its best, he says. I want to push boundaries. I dont do it to piss audiences off. I do it to make them uncomfortable and to make sure the laugh isnt coming from easy places. Its very easy to go on and say a bunch of stuff you know your audience is going to agree with. You can get a f--king round of applause for that.

With his new set, Sloss wants to take audiences somewhere they dont trust me to take them, he says. I want to take them to a place where theyre like, No, there cant be anything funny at the end of this street, and youre like, No no no, well find it together, come on!

You can watch Slosss specials X on HBO and his specials Dark and Jigsaw on Netflix. Tickets for Daniel Sloss: Hubris with Special Guest Kai Humphries on Nov. 20 at the Bayou Music Center can be purchased online.
NEW YORK (AP)  In Mike Mills Cmon Cmon, Joaquin Phoenix plays a New York-based radio journalist who, throughout the movie, records interviews with real kids about their lives, asking them questions like, What scares you?" and "What makes you happy?

During the films making, Mills would schedule the interviews sporadically, often at the end of a day of shooting.

It was a constant reminder of what being genuine was in front of the camera, to really be authentic, Phoenix says. They just were.

It kind of changed the chemistry all the way through, says Mills. All films should have to do that.

Moments of documentary make cameos in Cmon Cmon, but the entire film pulses with something tenderly close to real life. The performances are loose and often improvised. The story, of an uncle (Phoenix) thrust into parenting his sisters 9-year-old son (Woody Norman), was inspired by Mills relationship with his own child, Hopper.

I always tell Hopper that a human being is huge, says Mills, whos married to the filmmaker Miranda July. All the possibilities and contradictions are enormous. A film about human beings, if youre lucky, youre going to get, like, a sliver.

The black-and-white Cmon Cmon, which a24 opens in theaters Friday, may be the rare film to do a touch better than that. Since its launch earlier this fall at the Telluride and New York Film festivals, Cmon Cmon has been received as an uncommonly sweet, open-hearted and genuine film, a shaggy portrait of profound adult-child connection.

In October, Phoenix and Mills gathered on a midtown balcony to discuss the film, shot in January 2020 just before the pandemic began and edited throughout it. In the interim, Phoenix became a father. Last year, he and Rooney Mara had a boy, River, named after Phoenixs late brother.

It was like every phase of life was compounded into a few short months, says Phoenix, smiling. Life and death. Welcome to the experience!

Asked if Phoenix began Cmon Cmon knowing that fatherhood was coming, he replies, I dont know. Do the math, man  before relenting that he did know. But Phoenix, who has always been disinclined to draw straight lines between art and life, cautions it was only an entry point.

When I think about it in relationship to my kid and my experience, I go Ugh. This is so its own thing. I dont want to get into that game of thinking about my life. Was I? Im sure subconsciously, Phoenix says. I think its beautiful when you are inspired by things in your life, but its also somewhat disgusting at times.

For Mills, the writer-director of Beginners and 20th Century Woman, family has been a regular reservoir. Beginners, with Christopher Plummer, was based on his father, and Annette Benings matriarch in 20th Century Woman was inspired by his mother. But hes also hesitant to be too straightforward about it. Family sounds too normative to him. He thinks of his subject as primary relationships.

I do feel like the people that show up in your life in a really big way are your cosmos, says Mills. Everythings there. Its Game of Thrones and Spider-Man' and the comedy all thrown together.

Cmon Cmon may be built on autobiography but Mills collaborative process turned it into something else, into its own thing. For Norman, 12, the freedom of Mills filmmaking was new and transformative.

Ive worked on films that have been very much, It has to be in the script and you cant change anything, says Norman, speaking by Zoom from his home in London. It being loose, I thought, let my creativity flow. To me, the film is very charming in that way because you can tell that everything is real.

In the film, Norman's character, Jesse, is full of curiosities and eccentricates that go beyond the usual views of childhood in film. Like Jesse, Norman wants to be taken seriously for all he's capable of.

I dont want to be seen as a child actor," Norman says. I want to be seen as an actor who is a child.

Phoenix also began as a child actor, an experience he thinks back fondly on. He believes he was then a fully instinctual actor, a mindset he tries to recapture. For Phoenix, it was moving watching Norman go through something similar in the borderless creative space of C'mon C'mon.

Somewhere near the end, he said with no irony, Ive been carrying you this whole picture. And I think we all agreed with that, says Phoenix.

Cmon Cmon follows a diametrically opposite film for Phoenix in 2019's Joker. Mills' film wasn't an antidote to anything, Phoenix says, but he did slide into a different dynamic acting opposite Norman.

Oftentimes if youre a protagonist in a film, at least with the kind of actor I am, I feel this need to drive things, to drive the scene, says Phoenix. It was very interesting to not be driving the scene and to be listening and reacting to what someone else was doing.

That was also true of the interviews in the film. They took place around the country  New York, New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles  and with a wide spectrum of kids. The movie is dedicated to one, Devante Bryant, a New Orleans 9-year-old who was later killed in a shooting.

Phoenix, who has sometimes had a more tortured relationship to interviews, started by recording one with his own nephew. He went in concerned that it would feel intrusive or uncomfortable. But when he asked his nephew afterward how it felt, he replied, That was amazing. You asked me things that you've never asked me before."

Ive always had this strange somewhat adversarial relationship with the idea of an interview and being asked questions that are going to be recorded, just because of the nature of this thing, says Phoenix. We come to this watering hole but we have different lives away from it. I really have this appreciation for what you do and how difficult it can be and how powerful it can be, and the beauty of being able to spark a conversation between people. At its best, its that.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
The Mule Barn Cantina is poised to bring back a popular concert venue and bar, but this time with Moscow mules and tacos as the specialty instead of barbecue.

The previous Hog Pit is being renovated to be The Mule Barn Cantina at 7400 W. County Road 116. The new bar, restaurant and concert venue is projected to open Nov. 29.

Managing partner Braxton Dunaway said the bar will have mule flights with different types of mules, including Moscow and Mexican mules. The venue will also be doing mimosa flights. (A flight is an order of samplings or tastings of selected beverages.)

The name was mostly random, he said. Then, I started thinking that we could do Moscow mules and so it all really came together.

The tentative menu will feature burgers and street tacos. Other standout food options include quail poppers, bacon jalapeno cheese fritters, brisket loaded fries, an upside-down bucket nachos that feeds three people, green chile mac and cheese, West Texas philly, and a Mexican bowl. The kitchen will also make its own Mule Barn sauce. Dunaway said they had thought about doing barbecue like The Hog Pit but decided against it due to the price of meat and how labor intensive it is.

Throughout the week we plan on having specials during lunchtime at least three times a week, he said.

He added that the venue will be family-friendly. The kids' menu features nachos, quesadilla, burger with fries and chicken tenders. Plus the menu has a fun crossword and coloring options.

We have done a lot of work on the patio, he said. We will put a playscape in the back where it's fenced in. If people want to bring their kids out during the day on Saturday to run around they can, but at night it will be more of a bar atmosphere.

He added that it is a really exciting time to be opening a business in Midland, especially with the addition of The Tailgate and Fair to Midland. Dunaway said the venue wants to focus on promoting local. That includes highlighting local alcohol companies as well as local bands.

The patio area will have two sets of cornhole, a beer pong table and firepits during the winter.

The venue is looking to have a grand opening party on New Years Eve with a couple of local bands. The Mule Barn Cantina can comfortably seat 250 people, and 800 people could attend a concert there. To keep up to date about concerts visit https://www.facebook.com/themulebarncantina.

Projected hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday except for concert nights and the venue will be closed on Sundays.

The Bites

--Eccentric Brewing Co. will have a Christmas Beer Release with a three-course meal catered by Chef Michael Olivas and the long-awaited release of 2021 Olde SugarPlum Christmas stock ale. The 2020 Olde Christmas SugarPlum is also available for purchase. Check it out at 6 p.m. Thursday. Twenty-five seats are available, and tickets are $125 each. Visit https://eccentricbrewery.com/?fbclid=IwAR2eSVBtoqVnhfwjqgv9xiof6jGKTc8NpE0Bh8HVIzBR4E4gAwYaiaHKBN8 for more information.

--The Midland Farmers Market will be having a Shop Small Saturday event from 9 a.m. to noon on the lawn at the Museum of the Southwest.

--Beer Bubbly and Bingo takes place from 6-9 p.m. Friday at Roosters Diner. Enjoy a night of bingo, prizes, eating and shopping before the holidays.

--Barrel and Derrick will have a Thanksgiving Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged. For more information visit https://www.barrelandderrick.com/?fbclid=IwAR3gRGkUdl581cLlI7neG1dCA_1TpnvIFF6dKeZem064naufUo5I52vtasU.

--Creamlab N7 announced that it will open a location in Odessa. The ice cream shop will be having its grand opening this Saturday inside Music City Mall next to Verizon. The shop will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a BOGO (buy one get one) half-priced ice cream. The soft opening will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday.

--Blue Moose Coffee Creations has announced new hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and closed Sundays. The coffee shop is located at 3303 W. Illinois Ave.
PARIS (AP)  Its a neutral pronoun thats proving anything but: A nonbinary pronoun added to an esteemed French dictionary has ignited a fierce linguistic squabble in the country.

Le Petit Robert introduced the word iel  an amalgamation of il (he) and elle (she)  to its online edition last month. While the term is gaining currency among young people, it is still far from being widely used, or even understood, by many French speakers.

Though at first the change went mostly unnoticed, boisterous debate broke out this week in a nation that prides itself on its human rights tradition but that also fiercely protects its cultural heritage from foreign meddling. In one camp are the traditionalists, including some political leaders, who criticize the move as a sign that France is lurching toward an American-style woke ideology. In the other is a new generation of citizens who embrace nonbinary as the norm.

It is very important that dictionaries include the iel pronoun in their referencing as it reflects how the use of the term is now well accepted, said Dorah Simon Claude, a 32-year-old doctoral student who identifies as iel.

It is, they added, also a way of confronting the Academie Francaise that stays in its conservative corner and continues to ignore and scorn users of the French language.

Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer is not in the same camp. He went to Twitter on Wednesday to say that inclusive writing is not the future of the French language. The 56-year-old former law professor warned that schoolchildren should not use iel as a valid term despite its inclusion in Le Robert, seen as a linguistic authority on French since 1967.

Francois Jolivet, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macrons centrist party, also made his distaste plain. Nonbinary pronouns are, he suggested, a worrying sign that France is embracing a woke ideology.

Jolivet wrote a letter to the bastion of French language, the 400-year-old Academie Francaise, claiming that Le Roberts solitary campaign is an obvious ideological intrusion that undermines our common language and its influence.

The general director of Le Robert editions, Charles Bimbenet, jumped to the dictionarys defense Wednesday in a statement. Far from dictating which terms should be used, he said, Le Petit Robert was elucidating the words meaning, now it is growing in currency nationwide.

Since the meaning of the word iel cannot be understood by reading it alone, Bimbenet said, it seemed useful to us to specify its meaning for those who encounter it, whether they wish to use it or  reject it.

Roberts mission is to observe and report on the evolution of a changing and diverse French language, he said.

In 2017, the Academie Francaise warned that moves to make French more gender neutral would create a disunited language, with disparate expression, that can create confusion verging on illegibility.

Gendered languages like French are seen as a particular hurdle for advocates of nonbinary terms as all nouns are categorized as either masculine or feminine, unlike in English.

Not all European countries are moving at the same speed as France. In Greece, where all nouns have not two, but three possible genders, there is no official nonbinary pronoun, but groups who support them suggest using it.

In Spain, after former deputy prime minister and affirmed feminist Carmen Calvo asked the Royal Spanish Academy to advise on the use of inclusive language in the Constitution, its reply the next year was crystal clear: Inclusive language means the use of the masculine to refer to men and women."

___ Associated Press writers Arno Pedram in Paris, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece and Alberto Arce in Valbuena, Spain contributed
After several years of work and some controversy, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley found validation in his efforts to construct the Texas 249 toll road through a portion of Montgomery County after the effort was named project of the year by the American Public Works Association in October.

The 3.6-mile, $76 million project will compete on the national level with the APWA in 2022.

Marcel Khouw, president of the American Public Works Association Southeast Branch, presented the award for the groups largest category for projects over $75 million to Riley during the commissioners court meeting Tuesday.

The APWA is a nonprofit, international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works goods and services. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, according to the groups website.

On yourcouriernews.com: Montgomery County OKs change to commissioner precincts

During his presentation, Khouw outlined the criteria used to select the project, which opened in early 2020, including safety performance, good construction practices, benefit to the public and importance to the community.

The 249 tollway project excelled in all these areas, Khouw said. We want to thank Commissioner Riley for delivering a quality project to the public. In addition, we would like to thank the staff of Precinct 2 and the Montgomery County Toll Road Authority for their efforts in continued work and maintaining and operating the 249 tollway.

The toll road, Khouw added, will continue to benefit the public into the future.

In just the short time the tollway has been open, it has spurred new development, provided traffic congestion relieve and increased connectivity to central Texas.

There is no way in the world we did this alone, Riley said. When this thing started years ago we had help from folks down in Harris County, chambers of commerce from all over the state of Texas, we had help from other engineering firms, there was people from all over helping us put this project together.

Riley called the toll road a hard project to put together but worth it.

To see what this road has done in just over a year and a half is just amazing, Riley said. Its going to continue to do amazing things for not just Precinct 2 but for the whole county.

In June 2018, the county sold $87.7 million in revenue bonds used to fund the project and repay Montgomery County the $15 million it loaned MCTRA to jump start the construction of the road.

During that meeting, MCTRA financial adviser Terrell Palmer, said no county tax dollars have been used or pledged for the payment of the revenue bonds. Revenue bonds, unlike general obligation bonds, are repaid from the toll revenues raised by a project.

The four-lane stretch of the Texas 249 toll road extends from the Spring Creek Bridge to Pinehurst. Dubbed the Aggie Expressway the complete Texas 249 toll roads connect Houston to College Station.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP)  Two men face charges in connection with what police describe as a road rage incident which led to a three-car crash that killed a man, police said.

Wilmington police said in a news release that officers arrested Thomas James Blyth, 25, and William Riley Gates, 43, and charged them both with involuntary manslaughter, reckless operation, and exceeding the posted speed.
NEWBURGH, N.Y. (AP)  Four teenagers were shot and wounded in an upstate New York town, prompting the closure of a local high school Thursday out of an abundance of caution, school officials said.

Newburgh Police said three teens were shot in the legs and a fourth in the stomach on Wednesday afternoon, all between the ages of 16 to 18 and residents of Newburgh, The Times Herald-Record reported.
VERNON  After the recent unexpected death of one of the police departments four-legged officers last month, a group of residents and business owners are helping the agency raise funds to afford a new specially bred dog.

Police said after Thors death in late October, a group of residents  Lisa Moody, Tim Poloski, Polly Schaefer, Julie Clay, Laura Bush, Patt Noblet, Kathy Stavens, Martha Cain and Russell DeBella  stepped up to offer to raise money to purchase and train a new police dog. They are hoping to raise the necessary funds by the end of the year.

The goal, police said, is to raise $30,000 to afford a specially bred dog, purchase any needed equipment for the dog and pay for the weeks-long training for the dog and its handler. The new dog will join the forces remaining police dog, Tengo, who is 5 years old.

Vernon residents are consistently generous and always supportive of our police department, Moody said in a statement. I am confident our friends and neighbors will help us exceed our goal.

Many individuals and business leaders offered contributions to the police department following the news of Thors death. Police said a $15,000 challenge grant was established by these early donors  meaning they will donate a combined $15,000 if the community contributes $15,000. The donors include Alan Friedman of Superior Energy, Jerry Bundy, Tom Scranton of Scranton Motors, Richard Clay of Clay Furniture Industries, Cliff Chapman of the Mansions at Hockanum Crossing, Kevin Santini of Santini Villa Apartments and Mike Baum of Farm Car Care.

Their civic spirit is inspiring, Moody said.

More than a dozen donation canisters have been put in local restaurants and other establishments around town.

Police said the funds will be held in an existing Town Council-approved account, dedicated to the acquisition of a new police canine, equipment and training. Once the funds are raised, the Town Council will consider a resolution to accept the donations.

Thor, a Belgian Malinois/German Shepherd mix, died at the age of 8 on Oct. 16. He was assigned with Officer Bryan Sembersky for seven years. He was at Thors side when he died last month after a long battle with an autoimmune disorder and pneumonia, police said.

Thor was born in Slovakia and brought to the United States to train as a patrol and drug detection dog with Sembersky. To be a patrol dog, police said, Thor had to complete training in tracking, building searches, area searches, finding articles and evidences, apprehending individuals and handler protection. Police said for the drug detection aspect, Thor had to consistently and accurately found marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

Together, Sembersky and Thor were nationally certified, police said.

After Thors death, Police Chief John Kelley called him a valuable member of the department, with multiple success stories in tracking alleged suspects and finding drugs. He cited a February 2016 case where Thor found 1,400 bags of heroin in a car during a routine motor vehicle stop. Two people were arrested and one of them ended up behind bars for three years, police said.

Most recently, Kelley recalled, Thor was instrumental in finding a gun that authorities said was used in a homicide. Kelley said the gun was thrown in the Hockanum River. He said Thor searched the area and alerted police to a spot near the river.

Vernon police held a private ceremony to honor Thor.

To contribute, Moody said individuals can write a check payable to the town of Vernon with police dog on the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Town of Vernon, Finance Department, 2nd Floor, 14 Park Place, Vernon, Conn., 06066.
AURORA, Colo. (AP)  The Aurora public school district has agreed to settlements totaling $5.5 million for two former Rangeview High School students who were sexually assaulted by an employee, according to documents obtained by Sentinel Colorado.

Aurora Public Schools does not admit guilt in the Aug. 19 settlements except for the conduct of James Dolmas."
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday that his administration is moving forward with a merger of Kentucky's education and labor cabinets.

The Democratic governor said the current arrangement makes it difficult to remain competitive for some federal grants and also creates challenges with meeting certain federal standards.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  The area deforested in Brazil's Amazon reached a 15-year high after a 22% jump from the prior year, according to official data published Thursday.

The National Institute for Space Researchs Prodes monitoring system showed the Brazilian Amazon lost 13,235 square kilometers of rainforest in the 12-month reference period from Aug. 2020 to July 2021. That's the most since 2006.

The 15-year high flies in the face of Bolsonaro governments recent attempts to shore up its environmental credibility, having made overtures to the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden and moved forward its commitment to end illegal deforestation at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow this month. The space agency's report, released Thursday, is dated Oct. 27  before talks in Glasgow began.

The Brazilian Amazon hadnt recorded a single year with more than 10,000 square kilometers of deforestation in over a decade before Jair Bolsonaros term started. in Jan. 2019. Between 2009 and 2018, the average was 6,500 square kilometers. Since then, the annual average leapt to 11,405 square kilometers, and the three-year total is an area bigger than the state of Maryland.

It is a shame. It is a crime, Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the Climate Observatory, a network of environmental nonprofit groups, told The Associated Press. "We are seeing the Amazon rainforest being destroyed by a government which made environmental destruction its public policy."

Bolsonaro took office with promises to develop the Amazon, and dismissing global outcry about its destruction. His administration has defanged environmental authorities and backed legislative measures to loosen land protections, emboldening land grabbers. This week at a conference in the United Arab Emirates to attract investment, he told the crowd that attacks on Brazil for deforestation are unfair and that most of the Amazon remains pristine.

Brazil's environment ministry didn't immediately respond to an AP email requesting comment on the Prodes data showing higher deforestation.

The state of Para accounted for 40% of deforestation from Aug. 2020 to July 2021, according to the data, the most of any of nine states in the Amazon region. But its year-on-year increase was slight compared to Mato Grosso and Amazonas states, which together accounted for 34% of the the region's destruction. The two states suffered 27% and 55% more deforestation, respectively.

And early data for the 2021-2022 reference period signals further deterioration. The space agencys monthly monitoring system, Deter, detected higher deforestation year-on-year during both September and October. Deter is less reliable than Prodes, but widely seen as a leading indicator.

This is the real Brazil that the Bolsonaro government tries to hide with fantastical speeches and actions of greenwashing abroad, Mauricio Voivodic, international environmental group WWF's executive director for Brazil, said in a statement after release of the Prodes data. The reality shows that the Bolsonaro government accelerated the path of Amazon destruction.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  An advance team of Canadian soldiers went to work Thursday and more were due as some major highways reopened to limited traffic in British Columbia, but officials said the situation remained critical after floods and mudslides that forced evacuations, blocked transportation routes, caused the death of at least one person and killed thousands of farm animals.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the good news is that the significant rainfall has ended and no further major precipitation is expected for the rest of the week.

The situation remains critical, but there is an improvement, he said in Ottawa.

British Columbia's premier, John Horgan, has declared a state of emergency after record rainfall drenched much of the provinces south for more than 48 hours. One person is confirmed dead in a landslide that swept vehicles off a road near Pemberton, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the number of people believed to be missing at the site had been raised to four.

The province's public safety minister, Mike Farnworth, said at an afternoon news conference that the cost of repairing damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure is going to be substantial.

It is far too early at this point to understand what the total damage is going to be, he said. The province has the fiscal capacity to be able to rebuild.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Highway 7, which connects Vancouver to the interior of the province, was reopened to alternating, single-lane traffic. Another major route is expected to be opened by the weekend.

Other highways could take months to repair, Fleming said.

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said talks were underway with Canadian and U.S. border officials to reach an interim agreement to allow cargo trucks to detour through border crossings to reach their destinations.

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said 120 soldiers would arrive in British Columbia late Thursday to join a nine-member team from the Edmonton-based 3 Canadian Division Immediate Response Unit that arrived a day earlier to assess the situation for planning and coordinating relief efforts.

An additional 160 military personnel were preparing to leave Edmonton with a convoy of military vehicles and equipment, she said.

Farnworth said the soldiers will assist with evacuation efforts, help with logistics and operate equipment.

About 17,000 people remain out of their homes, with 6,900 properties under evacuation order, he said. An additional 2,700 properties are on alert for possible evacuation.

The weekend storm left all major routes between the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, where Canadas third largest city of Vancouver is, and the interior of the province cut by washouts, flooding or landslides.

With dairy farms underwater around the city of Abbotsford and transportation routes closed, the province could face a shortage of milk products.

There will be a short-term interruption, but everybody thats involved in the industry is trying to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible to get this whole supply chain thing back to some semblance of normality, Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the British Colombia Dairy Association.

On his farm near Agassiz, Schwichtenberg is tending to 50 head of cattle brought from flooded areas around Abbotsford.

Schwichtenberg said 59 dairy farms scrambled to save their cows. Some were able to load their animals on trucks. A YouTube video shows one person on a jet ski leading a cow through water up to the animals back.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said he had heard that about 2,000 cows had died in the flooded area.

Schwichtenberg said closed roads are preventing trucks from collecting milk from farms.

If youre milking but the tracks cant get to your farm, then you have to dispose of the milk because its a perishable product, he said.

Lana Popham, the provinces agriculture minister, said residents shouldnt worry about food shortages.

Our food is secure. Were just re-gigging routes to get it to folks, she said. Were definitely not going to run out of food.

Flooding is also delaying deliveries of Pfizer Canada products, including the companys coronavirus vaccine.

Weather conditions have resulted in an unfortunate delivery delay of our medicines to BC, Pfizer said on Twitter. We are working to ensure the supply chain has sufficient inventory of critical products for patients.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP)  A girl who was the subject of a California Amber Alert after reportedly being abducted was found safe, police said Thursday.

Missing juvenile located and is safe at home, the Santa Rosa Police Department tweeted at late morning, adding that more information would be forthcoming.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it is extending through May a timeline to decide how or whether to proceed with proposed restrictions on mining in Alaska's Bristol Bay region, which is known for its salmon runs.

Acting Regional Administrator Michelle L. Pirzadeh, in a written notice, said an extension through May would allow time to consider available information in order to determine appropriate next steps, which may include revising restrictions that were proposed but never finalized under the Obama administration.

The EPA, as part of a 2017 settlement with the developer of the proposed Pebble Mine, agreed to initiate a process to suggest withdrawing the proposed restrictions. The developer, the Pebble Limited Partnership, cast the proposed restrictions as an attempt to preemptively veto the copper and gold mine and said it wanted the project vetted through the permitting process.

The company subsequently filed a permit application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In 2019, during the Trump administration, the EPA withdrew the proposed restrictions, removing what it called an outdated, preemptive proposed veto of the Pebble Mine.

That action was challenged in court, and the EPA earlier this year asked a judge to vacate the withdrawal decision and send the matter back to the agency for further consideration. The request was granted.

The EPA said the ruling reinstated restrictions proposed in 2014 and triggered regulatory deadlines to either withdraw the proposed restrictions or prepare a so-called recommended determination that would seek to prohibit or restrict activities in an area. The EPA said it can extend the deadline through a notice in the Federal Register and has chosen to do so. The new deadline is May 31.

The corps last year rejected a key permit for the project following an environmental review from the corps months earlier that the Pebble partnership had viewed as a favorable to the project. The Pebble partnership is appealing the rejection.

The Pebble partnership on Wednesday cited the corps' environmental review and said the EPA did not have this significant volume of detailed technical information" when it took action previously. The company also said the nation will need minerals the Pebble project could provide.

Nelli Williams, Alaska director of Trout Unlimited, said the timeline laid out Wednesday shows a strong commitment by the EPA to follow through and finish the work started in 2014 to provide protections for the Bristol Bay region.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Gloria Emeagwali, Central Connecticut State University

(THE CONVERSATION) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning that the worsening situation in Ethiopia puts at risk the peace and stability of the Horn of Africa.

The comments were made on Nov. 17, 2021, as Blinken began a five-day trip to Africa during which he will speak with regional leaders about concerns of an all-out civil war in the continents second most populous nation. The diplomatic mission follows criticism of the U.S. and the international community over its reaction to a conflict that has seen numerous accusations of war crimes.

The Conversation asked Gloria Emeagwali, professor of African history at Central Connecticut State University, to explain how the crisis in Ethiopia developed, and what hope there is for a path away from catastrophe.

What is the current situation in Ethiopia?

The conflict in the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia has now been going on for more than a year. While major fighting has been between the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front and Ethiopian government forces, armed groups from neighboring Eritrea have also been involved.

The fighting has been particularly intense. Both the TPLF and federal government forces have been accused by the United Nations of human rights violations, including systematic ethnically based rape and massacres. Concern has recently turned to the risk of starvation for hundreds of thousands of people cut off from supplies.

And things could get worse. There is a risk of an all-out civil war engulfing Ethiopias population of 110 million.

Fighting has spread from the Tigray region, which was the focus of the early part of the conflict. The TPLF and its allies continue to move south from their base in Mekelle in the north, and have seized strategically important towns such as Lalibela and Dessie. The Ethiopian government has expressed fears that the fighting may soon engulf the capital Addis Ababa.

What is the immediate cause of the conflict in Ethiopia?

There is a long history to the fighting, but the spark to the current phase was an attack on federal troops based in Mekelle, by the TPLF, on Nov. 4, 2020. At least 1,000 troops were kidnapped and an undefined number were killed by TPLF insurgents. This sparked a retaliatory strike by government forces and a declaration of a state of emergency by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

What is the broader context of the crisis?

For almost three decades, the TPLF controlled the government and military. During this period it gained enormous control over the countrys economy and land as well as over billions of dollars in aid received each year. The TPLF ruled in such a way that it redefined Ethiopia largely by ethnicity, with Tigrayans reaping most of the power.

Opposition to the TPLF-dominated government contributed in April 2018 to Abiy Ahmeds election. As prime minister, Abiy began limiting the economic dominance of the TPLF and instituting more centralized federal policies.

The Abiy administration promised a new level of transparency, freed thousands of prisoners and brokered peace with neighboring Eritrea  leading to his winning the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

But even before then, political resentment was brewing. An assassination attempt on Abiy in June 2018 was followed by a deepening power struggle between the TPLF and the new administration.

How could all-out civil war affect the region?

A lengthy and bloody conflagration in Ethiopia would likely have ripple effects in neighboring Eritrea, Sudan and Kenya, with a steady flow of refugees, weapons and displaced population groups.

Any further instability is likely to embolden terrorist organizations such as Al-Shabab, which could spread westward into Ethiopia and even Sudan from its base in Somalia. This would shatter the effective containment model put in place by the previous and current Ethiopian governments.

More peaceful regions of the Horn  such as Djibouti and Somaliland  could attract terrorists seeking prisoners of war or forced recruits. A civil war could also worsen instability in Sudan, which itself is currently embroiled in a standoff between pro-democracy activists and the military.

As for Ethiopia itself, all-out civil war could be catastrophic, igniting tensions in a country that consists of more than 80 ethnic groups, and potentially leading to the breakup of the country into unviable political entities and enclaves.

Why has there been criticism of the US response?

While the Biden administration has called for all belligerents in the Tigray region to agree to a cease-fire, Ethiopiaand Eritrea have accused the U.S. of supporting the insurgents.

In a letter to the United Nations, Eritrean foreign minister Osman Saleh blamed the Biden administration for stoking further conflict and destabilization in Tigray in a bid to resuscitate the remnants of the TPLF regime.

The Ethiopian government similarly accused the U.S. of meddling in the region and of treating on equal footing the democratically elected government and the TPLF  which the Ethiopian government declared a terrorist group in May 2021.

After Washington announced sanctions against all sides in the conflict in September, Abiy responded with an online letter to Biden accusing the U.S. administration of failing to openly and sternly reprimand the terrorist group in the same manner it has been chastising my Government.

A decision in early November to remove Ethiopia from a U.S. trade program over what Biden described as gross violations has only worsened relations with Abiys government.

Ethiopians suspect that U.S. foreign policy is being influenced in part by Washingtons support for Egyptian president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in a dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, an enormous hydroelectric power project on the Blue Nile that Ethiopia says it needs for a reliable electrical grid and economic development.

Ethiopia began filling the dam reservoir, which will take about five years, in July 2020. Yet Egypt, which sees the dam as a threat to its freshwater supplies, has said the dam reservoir should not be filled without a legal agreement about allocation of the Blue Niles water. Former U.S. President Donald Trump cut aid to Ethiopia in September 2020, with officials in his administration saying the country had not abided by its promise to resolve the dispute. It is important to note that the dam was pioneered by the TPLF-led government under Meles Zenawi. Critics argue that any disintegration of Ethiopia would strengthen Egypts position in negotiations over the dam.

What can be done to avoid an all-out civil war?

It may be almost too late to avert an all-out civil war in Ethiopia. But pressure from the African Union and member states that border Ethiopia, along with engagement with civil organizations within the country, may push the warring parties toward peace talks.

[More than 140,000 readers get one of The Conversations informative newsletters. Join the list today.]

Meanwhile, there are some actions that the main protagonists can take to bring down tensions. Declaring the TPLF a terrorist organization was likely a misguided policy by Abiy, and this could be rescinded as a gesture of goodwill. In return, the TPLF should recognize Abiy Ahmed as the democratically elected prime minister of Ethiopia  something it has refused to do so far.

As for the role of the U.S., the visit to the region by Secretary of State Blinken is long overdue. Rising anti-Americanism in Ethiopia resulting from the Biden administrations stance on the Tigray conflict has helped push Ethiopia toward closer military and trade ties with Russiaand Turkey.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/ethiopia-on-the-brink-as-crisis-threatens-peace-and-stability-of-region-but-what-has-fueled-the-conflict-and-criticism-of-bidens-response-171785.
NEW YORK (AP)  More than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated Thursday after decades of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icons death.

Manhattan judge Ellen Biben dismissed the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and the late Khalil Islam, after prosecutors and the mens lawyers said a renewed investigation found new evidence that undermined the case against the men and determined that authorities withheld some of what they knew.

The event that has brought us to court today should never have occurred, Aziz told the court. I am an 83-year-old man who was victimized by the criminal justice system."

It pained Islam's sons, Ameen Johnson and Shahid Johnson, that their parents died before seeing the conviction reversed. Still, Ameen Johnson said his father would have been ecstatic to clear his name.

His reputation meant a lot to him," the son said, and now we dont have to watch over our backs, worrying about any repercussions from anybody who thought that he might have been the one that killed Malcolm X.

Aziz and Islam, who maintained their innocence from the start in the 1965 killing at Upper Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom, were paroled in the 1980s. Islam died in 2009.

There can be no question that this is a case that cries out for fundamental justice, Biben said.

Malcolm X gained national prominence as the voice of the Nation of Islam, exhorting Black people to claim their civil rights by any means necessary. His autobiography, written with Alex Haley, remains a classic work of modern American literature.

Near the end of Malcolm Xs life, he split with the Black Muslim organization and, after a trip to Mecca, started speaking about the potential for racial unity. It earned him the ire of some in the Nation of Islam, who saw him as a traitor.

He was shot to death while beginning a speech Feb. 21, 1965. He was 39.

Aziz and Islam, then known as Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson, and a third man were convicted of murder in March 1966. They were sentenced to life in prison.

The third man, Mujahid Abdul Halim  also known as Talmadge Hayer and Thomas Hagan  admitted to shooting Malcolm X but said neither Aziz nor Islam was involved. The two offered alibis, and no physical evidence linked them to the crime. The case hinged on eyewitnesses, although there were inconsistencies in their testimony.

Halim was paroled in 2010. Through a relative, he declined to comment Thursday. He identified some other men as accomplices, but no one else has ever been held accountable for the crime.

The re-investigation found that the FBI and police failed to turn over evidence that cast significant doubt on Islam and Aziz as suspects, according to a court filing.

The evidence included witnesses who couldn't identify Islam, implicated other suspects and groups, and described a shotgun-wielding assassin who didn't match Islam, the man prosecutors said bore that weapon. Investigators also found an FBI file on a man Halim identified after the trial as one of his accomplices and who fit some other leads.

And the records showed that the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered agents to tell witnesses not to reveal that they were informants when talking with police and prosecutors, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said Thursday.

New York Police Department records showed there were undercover officers in the ballroom at the time of the killing, a fact prosecutors apparently knew before trial but don't appear to have told defense lawyers, the court filing said. One undercover officer later testified at an unrelated trial that he'd been acting as part of Malcolm X's security team and had walloped Halim with a chair  a blow that didn't jibe with testimony from other witnesses at the alleged assassins' trial.

Meanwhile, a witness who came forward in recent years told investigators that he had spoken with Aziz shortly after the killing on Aziz's home phone. Aziz has said from the start that he was home that day with a leg injury.

There is one ultimate conclusion: Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were wrongfully convicted of this crime, and there is no prospect of retrying a 56-year-old case in which every eyewitness who testified has died and the physical evidence is gone, Vance said. He apologized for law enforcement's serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust."

The FBI and NYPD had evidence of Aziz's and Islam's innocence within hours but ignored and suppressed it, said one of their attorneys, Deborah Francois, who worked on the case with civil rights lawyer David Shanies and the Innocence Project.

The bigger questions of how or why this happened still remain unanswered, Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck said.

The court filing recounts numerous tips and leads but doesn't draw any conclusions about who might have been involved, besides Halim.

The NYPD and the FBI said Wednesday that they had cooperated fully with the re-investigation. They declined to comment further.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said Thursday she felt for Malcolm Xs family and for Aziz and Islam if we are responsible for withholding information.

Attorneys, scholars, journalists and others have long raised questions about the convictions, and alternate theories and accusations have swirled around the case. After Netflix aired the documentary series Who Killed Malcom X? early last year, Vances office said it was taking a fresh look.

It would be great if this murder was solved, but its not solved," said Tamara Payne, who co-authored the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Dead are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X with her late father, Les Payne.

"The damage is done, but my hope ... is that we learn from this, Payne said.

___

Associated Press writers Ted Shaffrey, Bobby Caina Calvan, Deepti Hajela and Karen Matthews contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  A former London and Miami art dealer pleaded guilty Thursday to defrauding art buyers of over $86 million.

Inigo Philbrick, 34, a U.S. citizen who has also lived in London, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court.

He pleaded guilty to a single count of wire fraud after prosecutors said he conducted a scheme from 2016 through 2019 to defraud individuals and entities to finance his art business.

Inigo Philbrick was a serial swindler who took advantage of the lack of transparency in the art market to defraud art collectors, investors, and lenders of more than $86 million to finance his art business and his lifestyle," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a release.

Prosecutors said he carried out the scheme by misrepresenting the ownership of certain artworks and by sometimes selling more than 100% ownership to multiple individuals and entities without their knowledge.

Artworks used in the scheme included, among others, a 1982 painting by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat titled Humidity, a 2010 untitled painting by the artist Christopher Wool, and an untitled 2012 painting by the artist Rudolf Stingel depicting the artist Pablo Picasso, authorities said.

The scheme unraveled as jilted art buyers filed civil lawsuits, a lender notified him that he was in default of a $14 million loan and he stopped responding to legal process, prosecutors said.

In 2019, his art galleries in Miami and London closed and Philbrick fled the U.S. before being arrested in June 2020 in Vanuatu, where he'd been living since October 2019, prosecutors said.

Sentencing was set for March 18.
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP)  A jail guard was shot and killed at a Pennsylvania courthouse by what appears to be friendly fire during a struggle with an inmate who had grabbed her weapon, and authorities said Thursday they were investigating how it happened.

The inmate had been taken from the Blair County jail to Central Court in Altoona for a hearing Wednesday when he disarmed corrections officer Rhonda Jean Russell, state police said.
ATLANTA (AP)  A proposal likely to make Georgia's congressional map more Republican has advanced toward a vote in the state's General Assembly.

A state Senate committee voted 9-5 along party lines Thursday in favor of Senate Bill 2EX, which is likely to shift Georgia's 6th Congressional District from Democratic to Republican control. That would bump the overall balance of Georgia's 14 congressional districts from the current 8-6 Republican margin to a 9-5 GOP edge, despite the fact that statewide the parties are narrowly divided, with Georgia Democrats having been victorious in both the 2020 presidential race and January's two U.S. Senate runoffs.

The full state Senate is likely to debate the map Friday. It would then have to pass the House and be approved by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. Both chambers have already given final approval to redistricting plans that are likely to preserve Republican majorities in the 180-member state House and 56-member state Senate.

Democratic U.S. Rep Lucy McBath currently holds a 6th District seat that includes Atlanta suburbs in Cobb, Fulton and DeKalb counties. The new proposal draws out strongly Democratic DeKalb areas and replaces them with Republican areas in Cherokee, Dawson and Forsyth counties, further north of Atlanta.

Republicans on the Senate committee on Thursday voted down a Democratic plan that could have resulted in a 7-7 split.

Fair Districts Georgia, a nonpartisan group, has argued that an 8-6 split would most fairly represent Georgia's current political landscape, where many Democrats are tightly clustered in urban areas. That group and some others are also critical of the Republican map because none of its proposed districts are likely to be competitive among the two major parties.

Democrats and Republicans in legislatures nationwide have been using the redistricting process to try to increase their partys edge in the narrowly divided Congress. Republicans control more of the 50 statehouses, and hope to leverage this advantage to flip the U.S. House to a GOP majority next year.

Georgias population rose nearly 10% to 10.7 million people over the last decade, but Census results showed the growth has been uneven, with most new residents concentrated in the Atlanta area and around Savannah. Most rural areas lost population. The congressional map needed to be adjusted so that each of the 14 districts would have roughly equal populations of about 765,000.

The GOP map also shifts the 7th District in Atlantas suburbs, now held by Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux, toward Democrats.

Republicans 8-6 majority on Georgias current congressional map is down from 10-4 a decade ago after McBath and Bourdeaux won.

___

Follow Jeff Amy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jeffamy.
MOSCOW (AP)  Georgia's imprisoned former president, Mikheil Saakashvili, who has been on a hunger strike for seven weeks, fell and lost consciousness Thursday, his lawyer said.

Lawyer Beka Basilaia said he had been visiting Saakashvili in prison when he collapsed. Basilaia said he was taken from the visiting room on a stretcher and that his condition is stable.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Ohios new map of congressional districts cleared the state Legislature along party lines Thursday, after a breakneck sprint through both chambers that was defended by majority Republicans and decried by Democrats and voting-rights advocates.

Opponents immediately stepped up pressure on Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to veto the plan, which Republicans defend as more competitive than any other map considered.

The plan creates at most three safe Democratic districts out of 15 new U.S. House seats in a state where voters are split roughly 54% Republican, 46% Democratic. The nonpartisan Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave the map an F grade.

The map divides populous Cuyahoga and Hamilton counties  the respective homes to Cleveland and Cincinnati and their concentrations of Democratic voters  three ways each. Franklin County, home to Columbus, is divided two ways. It also draws the western Cleveland suburbs in Lorain County into a district that stretches to the Indiana border, a nearly 3-hour drive.

State Rep. D.J. Swearingen, a Republican, defended the map as fair, constitutional and not unduly favoring either political party or its incumbents.

Swearingen reiterated the position of sponsoring Sen. Rob McColley, a Republican whos been arguing in hearings since the maps latest iteration was released late Monday that the final plan is superior in competitiveness and captures the spirit of what voters asked for in a 2018 constitutional amendment.

If you have the right candidate on the right issues, you can win a competitive district, he said. Whereas, the Democratic map that was offered in the House offered a determined outcome.

Swearingen criticized national groups, including the National Democratic Redistricting Committee backed by former Attorney General Eric Holder, for interjecting themselves into Ohios process.

Democrats, meanwhile, blasted the Republican-led map-drawing process as unfair, partisan and cloaked in secrecy.

The legislators and the redistricting commission have failed the people miserably and should be ashamed of themselves, said Democratic state Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson, the former mayor of Toledo, ahead of the Houses 55-36 vote. You did not deserve our votes, and you do not deserve our respect.

The Senate approved the bill Tuesday, about 16 hours after the new map was released.

Under a new process established under a popular 2018 constitutional amendment, creating a 10-year map  the ideal  would have required robust Democratic support. Without it, the plan will last only four years.

That is, if DeWine signs it and it withstands an almost certain court challenge. Fair Districts Ohio, a coalition of voting-rights groups and labor organizations, called on him to strike down the bill.

The Buckeye State was supposed to be the poster child of bipartisan, transparent redistricting, said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, a member organization. Instead, Ohio leaders have disrespected voters, trampled the Ohio Constitution and rigged the congressional map to serve partisan, political operatives rather than fairly represent Ohioans.

A spokesman for DeWine said that he had been briefed on the redistricting process but would likely not comment until a vote was taken and he had physically received the bill.

States must redraw their congressional districts every 10 years to reflect new population numbers. Under this years U.S. Census results, delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ohio lost one seat in Congress starting next year  taking it from 16 to 15.

State Rep. Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, pointedly took on Democrats during Thursdays floor debate, suggesting perhaps its their party leadership and not the map thats holding their candidates back. He questioned their cries of unfairness as disingenuous.

Theres been enough hypocrisy around this issue to fill a Texas-sized outhouse, he said.
BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP)  The new Interstate 74 bridge at Bettendorf is set to open next month, a year late and nearly $75 million over the original bid.

A public ceremony is set for Dec. 1 to give residents walk-on access to the new bridge that spans the Mississippi River, connecting Iowa to Moline, Illinois, the Quad-City Times reported. The bridge will open to traffic in the days after the ceremony, officials said.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Only one company responded to a call by Idaho lawmakers seeking a third-party to appraise federal land in real-time to find out how much money the state would get paid in property taxes if the land were privately held.

Idaho is roughly 63% federal public land, but that land isnt taxable by local governments. The Legislature earlier this year tasked the Committee on Federalism with finding out how much revenue that land would bring in if it were.

Lawmakers on the committee on Thursday expressed concern at the low number of responses to their plan, but took the next step to authorize a request for proposals that could lead to hiring a technology company for the work.

This seems to be very specialized, said Republican Rep. Judy Boyle. Did we advertise it enough? Or are there just not that many companies out there that do this?

Julie Weaver, who works in the Idaho attorney generals office in a section involving contracts, told lawmakers that was unclear. The state initially put out what's called a request for information, or RFI, and is now putting out a request for proposals, or RFP.

Some companies choose not to respond to RFIs, said Weaver. That doesnt mean they wont respond to an RFP, but I dont know if there is another vendor out there.

The committee, which deals with state sovereignty issues, authorized the state to receive requests for proposals for the next eight weeks, a time period that could entice more companies.

I would like to get as much competition as possible, and to make sure there are others looking at this, not just one, said Republican Rep. Sage Dixon, the committee's co-chairman.

Weaver said the request for proposals allows vendors to propose a pilot project as the funding is limited. The eight-week deadline will occur after the 2022 legislative session begins in January, and lawmakers could increase how much money is available.

The current budget for the project is $250,000.

That's probably still up in the air whether we would request additional funding or try to move forward with some other legislation, said Republican Sen. Steve Vick, the committee's other co-chairman.

I'm sure with enough money involved there will be others coming to the table, said Republican Sen. Carl Crabtree.

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in June announced that a federal program called PILT, or payment in lieu of taxes, would send $530 million this year to help counties pay for maintaining community services. Idaho received $34.5 million, but some state lawmakers say Idaho should get more.

The Legislature in April approved a concurrent resolution tasking the committee to find out how much money the federal public land would generate in property taxes if privately owned.

The resolution doesnt say what the committee should do with that information once its obtained.

The action by Idaho lawmakers is matched by legislation introduced in a U.S. Senate committee in March by the states two Republican senators. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo put forward legislation intended to determine annually the value of land covered by the PILT program, how much tax revenue the land would generate if privately owned and how payments to states could more accurately reflect that tax revenue.

That legislation hasnt advanced out of the committee.

U.S. lawmakers in both parties have at times taken issue with the PILT program and its payments, particularly Western states such as Idaho containing significant federal lands.

The payments are made annually by the Interior Department and its agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management. The payments also cover federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies.

The payments are calculated based on the number of acres of federal land within each county or jurisdiction, and the population of that county or jurisdiction.
FREMONT, Neb. (AP)  An Iowa man was killed in a crash north of Fremont, the Nebraska State Patrol reported.

The crash happened around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 77 when a van rear-ended a semitrailer near the intersection of the highway and a county road, according to the patrol.

Investigators said the driver of the van, Anthony Branam, 32, of Villisca, Iowa, died at the scene of the crash, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

The driver of the semi was not injured. The crash closed a stretch of the highway for about three hours.
WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (AP)  A judge has dismissed a charge of improperly disposing of a body that was filed against the owner of a crematory in southeastern Michigan.

State prosecutors didnt have the evidence to support the charge against ONeil Swanson, Washtenaw County District Judge J. Cedric Simpson ruled Monday. Swanson faced up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine if he was convicted of the felony.

The body was dropped off in March 2019 at Tri-County Cremation Services in Ypsilanti Township  more than a year before the limited liability corporation Swanson was a part of bought the facility, Swanson said Thursday.

Swanson, who pleaded no contest to two felonies in 2019 in connection to a funeral home he operated in the Flint area, said he has been targeted by Michigans Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and that the agency had been made aware of how long the body had been at the crematory.

The state cannot allow conditions to exist for the creation of a crime, Simpson said. LARA let this linger on and on and on until ... all of a sudden there was somebody who was in front of them who they may not like.

The Associated Press left messages Thursday seeking comment from the state licensing agency. The Michigans attorney generals office said in an email that it was reviewing its options.

A cease-and-desist order was issued in June for the crematory, which is still closed. Authorities had said they began investigating the company after the state received an anonymous complaint of heavy smoke issuing from the chimney, bodies stored improperly while awaiting cremation, and bodily fluids leaking onto the facilitys floor.

The body belonged to a woman who died in 2018. The crematory's then-general manager notified LARA that the body had been dropped off in March 2019 by a funeral home that didnt include the proper paperwork allowing the facility to dispose of it, Swanson said Thursday.

Swanson said the previous owner couldnt do anything with the body. The state had an opportunity to do something about this before I was involved," he said. I was wrongfully accused. The facts never would have supported a conviction. This was an extremely embarrassing moment for me and my entire family.

Swansons Swanson Funeral Home in Flint was closed in 2017 after maggots were found in a garage where unrefrigerated bodies were being stored. Officials later determined prepaid funeral contracts were sold without a proper license. His mortuary science and mortuary science establishment licenses were revoked.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Justice Department said on Thursday it's giving $139 million to police departments across the U.S. as part of a grant program that would bring on more than 1,000 new officers.

The grant funding comes through the Justice Departments Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and will be awarded to 183 law enforcement agencies across the country and in U.S. territories. The funding is meant to help police departments reduce crime and to encourage community policing.

We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

The grant awards come as police departments across the U.S. have been facing budget reductions, with cities struggling with ballooning costs from the coronavirus pandemic and national calls to reduce police funding in favor of spending more money on social services. Several police agencies have also delayed or canceled police academy classes, which is likely to leave a number of jobs unfilled as other officers retire.

Law enforcement agencies across the country experienced a wave of retirements and departures and are struggling to recruit the next generation of police officers since George Floyd was killed at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis in May 2020, sparking massive protests about policing and inequity across the country. And amid the national reckoning on policing, communities have been questioning who should become a police officer today.

The Justice Department said it received nearly 600 applications from police departments in nearly every state and U.S. territory. The grant requires that the money be used to hire additional officers, other than those who would normally be hired using a police departments operating budget.

The money is given directly to police and sheriffs departments to hire the new law enforcement officers. The Justice Department says half of the agencies plan to use the money to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities, while others will use it to build mental health programs or focus on violent crime  a Justice Department priority.

The money is being provided to police departments both large and small. For example, the grant provides funds for an additional 50 officers in San Francisco, Chicago, Cincinnati and Houston. New Orleans, Cleveland and St. Paul, Minnesota, would receive 30 new officers, and other smaller forces receive a few new officers.

In total, the funding allots 1,066 new officers for a total cost of $139,232,523, the Justice Department said.

Besides funds for hiring, Justice Department policing grants also provide funding for local, state and tribal law enforcement agencies to enhance community policing, in which agencies use relationships with community leaders to establish dialogues about needs and identify residents concerns.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Mayor Eric Garcetti, who just returned from quarantine overseas after developing COVID-19 in Scotland, warned Wednesday that a coronavirus surge was likely during the upcoming holiday season and urged residents to get vaccinated to keep case numbers and hospitalizations down.

The answer to who should get the vaccine is simple: everyone, Garcetti said. If you have family members who are coming for Thanksgiving or Christmas or the holidays, get them vaccinated.

Garcetti noted that vaccination protection diminishes over time and used himself as an example of a breakthrough infection. The mayor said he had put off getting a booster shot and came down with COVID-19 while attending a United Nations climate conference in the United Kingdom.

He had a mild fever for a day, flu-like symptoms and lost his taste and smell for a few days but then was fully recovered, probably thanks to the vaccine that I got earlier this year, Garcetti said.

The United Kingdom is experiencing a surge. Theyve often been ahead of our surges, and we can expect this to hit us here in the coming weeks and months, he said during an evening briefing.

Los Angeles County case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths are much better than during a surge in July, the last time Garcetti gave a COVID-19 briefing. But he warned that colder temperatures and more time spent indoors raises the risk of spreading the infection.

The city has ample vaccine supplies for residents and for visitors, he said.

Garcetti reported a high rate of compliance by customers required under new rules to show proof of vaccination at a wide variety of businesses in the city. The SafePass LA mandate to guard against renewed virus spread went into effect last week for restaurants, theaters, gyms and salons.

It was about this time of year in 2020 when the worst spike of the pandemic was just beginning in California. By January, the state averaged 500 deaths per day. Los Angeles County became the states epicenter, with overloaded hospitals and more than 300 daily deaths.

Among LA countys roughly 10 million people, 81% of eligible residents now have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, health officials said this week.

Garcetti said a vaccine mandate for city employees was working, with workers overwhelmingly getting their shots. He said there are 77 city employees on unpaid leave under the mandate, and that number could hit around 700 over the next couple of weeks. The city will begin testing its employees starting Friday and plans are in place to cover shifts for police and firefighters who miss work.

At 98 cases per 100,000 residents, the county is on the verge of being downgraded out of the federal Center for Disease Control's substantial transmission category to widespread."

Getting vaccinated, getting boosters, and masking up indoors and in crowded outdoor spaces remains critical as we confront the real possibility of a winter surge, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement Monday.

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Associated Press writer Robert Jablon contributed to this report.
LANSING, Kan. (AP)  A 32-year-old man who escaped the Lansing Correctional Facility for about nine hours has been sentenced to nearly 11 more years in prison.

Dustin Frank Robinson escaped from the prison in 2019 by climbing over a 20-foot fence that had two sections of barbed wire, Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in a news release Wednesday.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  A 20-year-old Nevada man who fled to Mexico before he was arrested and convicted of first-degree murder in a 2019 fatal shooting at a Sparks regional park has been sentenced to life in prison.

Giovani Gonzales-Mariscal of Sun Valley also was sentenced to an additional eight to 20 years for use of a deadly weapon in the December 2019 death of 20-year-old Robert DeCoite of Sparks. He will have to serve a minimum of 28 years in prison before hell be eligible for parole.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain came under fire Thursday from state lawmakers who complained his regulatory agency was moving too slowly in expanding the medical marijuana products available to patients.

The News-Star reports that Strain, a Republican, told a special legislative commission looking at the state's medicinal pot program that he wont compromise public safety to fast-track new products.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and the majority-GOP Legislature have approved new laws expanding the medical marijuana products available and the ability for doctors to recommend the drug for any illness. But Strain's agency controls the pace of that rollout with product testing and regulations.

When I look at the back and forth, it looks like micromanagement, Republican Rep. Debbie Villio of Kenner told Strain. She added: I see it as a back and forth that drastically delays getting a product from grower to pharmacy to patient.

GOP Rep. Thomas Pressly of Shreveport echoed similar worries: My concern is that were going to slow this down even further."

Strain said he is focused on health and safety as his department works through the process of enacting the regulations for new laws and approving products such as edible gummies.

Everything we do is to protect the public, Strain said. We have to get it right.

Tabitha Irvin, director of the agriculture department's medical marijuana program, disputed that the department is dragging its feet.

Were not holding up any products for them to sell, she said.

But the newspaper reports that lawmakers suggested Strain was overregulating the medical marijuana market.

Were going to get to the bottom of this, said Republican Rep. Scott McKnight of Baton Rouge. No one is looking at Louisiana as best practices.

Louisiana State University and Southern University and their private growing partners are the only entities that can legally cultivate and process marijuana and provide it to the states nine licensed therapeutic cannabis pharmacies.

The latest expansion by the Legislature and governor will allow medical marijuana to be sold in its raw, smokable form beginning in January.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  A naked man was taken into custody after throwing rocks at a U.S. Border Patrol agent in the remote Otay Mountain area of San Diego County, authorities said.

The agent was struck multiple times, including in the head, during the 7 a.m. Wednesday incident, a Sheriffs Department statement said.
MALDEN, Mass. (AP)  Advocacy groups in Massachusetts are condemning Malden City Councilor Jadeane Sica for a photo of her posted online two years ago where she dressed up as an employee of Orchids of Asia, the Florida spa at the center of a high-profile prostitution case that implicated Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Groups in the area including the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition released a statement Tuesday demanding that Sica apologize for the photo and calling her out for her use of what they called yellowface, which has historically led to the dehumanization of Asian people," The Boston Globe reported.
DANA POINT, Calif. (AP)  A missing 3-year-old boy from Tennessee and a 16-year-old girl from Kentucky were found safe in Southern California and the younger childs father was arrested, authorities said.

Deputies found Noah Clare and his cousin, Amber Clare, Thursday morning in Dana Point, south of Los Angeles, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said on Twitter.

Late Wednesday the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released surveillance camera images from nearby San Clemente, California, showing what appeared to be Noah and Amber along with 35-year-old Jacob Clare.

At 8:50 a.m. a concerned resident called to report a young boy matching the description of Noah Clare. OC Sheriff responded and took Jacob Clare into custody, the sheriff's department tweeted Thursday.

No charges were immediately announced and it wasn't known if Jacob Clare has an attorney. He's being held in California pending extradition to Tennessee, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.

Authorities previously said that Jacob Clare was wanted for aggravated kidnapping and custodial interference and could be armed. No weapon was immediately found but detectives were still going through his possessions, Barnes said.

Noah was reported missing by his mother on Nov. 7 after Jacob Clare, her ex-boyfriend and the boys father, didnt return the child to her home in Gallatin, Tennessee, at the end of a scheduled visitation, the Nashville Tennessean reported.

Amber Clare was reported missing by the Beaver Dam Police Department in Ohio County, Kentucky, according to the Tennessean.

The parents of Amber and Noah were traveling to Southern California and would be reunited with their children Thursday evening, Barnes said.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported Jacob Clare was driving a silver Subaru Outback, which authorities believe he purchased a week before Noah was reported missing. The Subaru, loaded with clothing and camping gear, was located by license plate readers in Arizona earlier this week.

The car was found abandoned in San Clemente last Saturday.
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP)  The Navajo Nation on Wednesday reported 96 more confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one coronavirus-related death.

The latest numbers pushed the tribes total to 38,490 cases since the pandemic started and 1,515 known deaths.
TAPACHULA, Mexico (AP)  As Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador opened talks on immigration and other issues with his North American counterparts in Washington, a new migrant caravan walked out of the southern Mexican city of Tapachula on Thursday.

The new group heading north served as a fresh reminder of the urgent need to address the regions migration, which Lopez Obrador hoped to convey in his meeting with President Joe Biden.

About 2,000 mostly Central American and Haitian migrants made up the latest attempted caravan. They walked out of Tapachula in a boisterous show carrying their belonging in small knapsacks or in bundles atop their heads. Small children rode on parents' shoulders or in rattling strollers.

Alex Leyva of Honduras said he was attempting to travel north in a caravan for the second time. The first time he left with another group Oct. 23, but he got sick and had to drop out. Mexican immigration agents sent him back to Tapachula where he had already started the process of requesting asylum in Mexico.

My country is in the worst economic, crime, hunger situation, Leyva said. There are no studies, no education for the kids. Thats why my wife and I decided to try to achieve our objective of getting a better life.

Local police controlled traffic as the migrants walked toward the city's outskirts, but authorities did not attempt to stop them.

The earlier caravan that Leyva first travelled with is now in southern Veracruz state, but it has dwindled to several hundreds migrants, down from a high point of some 4,000.

Luis Garcia Villagran, of the Center for Human Dignity, said the migrants are demanding documents that allow them to be in all of Mexico. The Mexican government had relied on a strategy of containing migrants in the southernmost part of the country to alleviate pressure at the U.S. border.

But those states are the poorest and there is far more opportunity to find work in Mexico's northern states.

Garcia Villagran said that even migrants who have received humanitarian visas that are supposed to allow them to travel in Mexico have been detained by immigration agents and sent back to Tapachula.

Migrants confined to Tapachula near the Guatemala border have grown increasingly frustrated with the slow processing of their asylum cases. They complain that they are unable to find work that would allow them to support their families.

The caravans began several years ago as a way for migrants who did not have the money to pay smugglers to take advantage of safety in numbers as they moved toward the U.S. border. However, more recently Guatemala and Mexico have become more aggressive in quickly breaking up the caravans with security forces.

The dwindling caravan in Veracruz was the first to advance so far into Mexico in the past two years, but the grueling conditions of the trek and the governments offers to regularize migrants status has led the majority to drop out.

Lopez Obrador named addressing migration in the region as one of his priorities for Thursdays North America Leaders Summit. He has pressed the Biden administration to invest in expanding a tree planting program that pays farmers to plant certain kinds of trees on their land. The money allows the rural poor to stay on their land rather than feel economic pressure to migrate, he says.

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Clemente reported from Mexico City.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  The North Carolina General Assembly gave its final approval to a two-year state budget on Thursday and sent it to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who quickly signed it into law.

Cooper acted almost immediately after the Republican-controlled legislature sent the bill to his desk. The House voted 101-10 earlier in the day in favor of the measure, the day after the Senate gave the chambers final OK to the bill by a vote of 41-7. Each chamber also held similar, preliminary votes backing the plan earlier in the week.

This budget moves North Carolina forward in important ways, Cooper said in a news release. I will continue to fight for progress where this budget falls short but believe that, on balance, it is an important step in the right direction.

The series of bipartisan votes for the plan that won wide favor came after Cooper announced on Tuesday hed sign the measure into law, essentially releasing legislative Democrats loyal to him.

While some Democrats still voted no, budget support by a solid majority of the party's members combined with all Republicans present represented a significant achievement. Two years ago, a comprehensive spending plan never got enacted due to Cooper's veto and a negotiating impasse with the GOP legislative majorities.

North Carolina had been the last state in the country without an enacted budget in place for this year.

This will be a huge day for all of North Carolina, House Speaker Tim Moore, a Cleveland County Republican, said while holding the over 600-page ratified bill just before it was sent to Cooper.

The measure, which spends $25.9 billion this year, $27 billion next year and several billion dollars more in federal COVID-19 relief aid, was the result of several weeks of negotiations between Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger and Cooper.

It wasn't a consensus result, but the plan does reflect a lot of Cooper's input. Cooper announced Tuesday that while he opposed many items in the final bill, including the elimination of the corporate income tax by the end of the decade and the absence of Medicaid expansion, the good in the bill outweighed the bad.

The budget, which was supposed to be in place by July 1, contains nearly $6 billion for state agency and higher education construction projects, as well as $1 billion in federal funds for expanding broadband and $1.7 billion for water and sewer projects.

Teachers will receive average 5% raises over two years and bonuses of up to $2,800. Other teachers will receive much higher salary increased through a special supplement that emphasizes retaining instructors in rural counties. Custodians and other non-instructional staff at schools also will be paid at least $15 an hour starting next year. Most state employees also get 5% raises and bonuses.

Cooper on Thursday highlighted many of these provisions as critical for our state to emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever.

Legislators now plan to return to Raleigh on Nov. 29, with a goal of wrapping up most of this year's business that week, which could include addressing Cooper's vetoes on other legislation. The General Assembly convened the session in January.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Members of the New York Assembly's Judiciary Committee began reading copies of a report on Thursday that delves into allegations against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The report is expected to lay out the committees findings into allegations the Democrat sexually harassed aides, understated the toll of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, unethically used state resources for a book deal and prioritized virus testing for members of his inner circle.

Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine said members will be reviewing the report Thursday and Friday.

Lavine again promised that the report would be released soon," although it's unclear when, or whether the Judiciary Committee will hold a meeting first.

Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin argued the committee shouldnt release its findings before sharing all the underlying evidence with Cuomo.

But Lavine told reporters Thursday the ex-governor's team isn't entitled to see what's in the report first, WNYT-TV reported.

In March, the New York Assembly hired the law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP to lead its wide-ranging impeachment investigation of the former governor. State contract records show Davis Polk & Wardwell received a $5.1 million contract to lead the committees investigation.

Cuomo resigned in August and avoided a likely impeachment trial amid findings that he sexually harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo has said he never intended to touch anyone inappropriately or make inappropriate remarks.

Assemblymember Mike Montesano, a Republican, said the report finds Cuomo created a hostile work environment, and substantiated allegations made by a female state trooper as well as a former Cuomo executive assistant Brittany Commisso.

The trooper called Cuomos behavior creepy and said he subjected her to sexually suggestive remarks, an unwanted kiss and unwanted touching on her stomach and back. Commisso said Cuomo groped her breasts and made unwanted sexual remarks to her.

Sexual harassment was part of the everyday workplace in the executive chamber, Montesano said.

Pushing back against allegations he misused state resources, Cuomo has said staff volunteered their time on his book, similar to how legislative employees may help at a campaign event at night.

But Montesano said the report found Cuomo used state resources and employees to produce his book in violation of the states public officers law.

Montesano said investigators looked at timesheets and testimony from Cuomo aides. He said the report is based on 600,000 pages of documentary evidence and the law firms own interviews with 165 people, and is about 45 pages long.

When he says its political, its all fact-based, Montesano said. Cuomo has said the investigation was politically motivated.

Regarding the investigation into deaths in New Yorks nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo says his administration for months excluded certain deaths from the state's toll of nursing home residents who died of the virus because it needed time to verify that data.

He's also said his administration provided priority testing to anyone who came in contact with Cuomo, not just his inner circle.

Assemblymember Tom Abinanti, a Democrat, reviewed the report Thursday but said he couldn't discuss any details.

Theres nothing in here that people will be surprised at," Abinanti said. He called it "succinct," readable and free of legalese.

He expects Lavine, the judiciary committee chair, to announce next steps for the committee sometime Friday, after all members have reviewed the report.

Lavine told reporters Thursday that Cuomo didnt sit down with investigators to provide testimony for the investigation, and Glavin said the governor provided a written response.

Some lawmakers on the Assembly Judiciary Committee said Thursday they wouldnt comment until the report is public.

Lavine has previously said Davis Polk lawyers spoke with attorneys representing about 75 people and entities for the investigation, and reviewed tens of thousands of pages of documents ranging from emails and texts to photographs, personnel records, training materials and policies.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Private companies and public entities would be banned from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter a facility or conduct business, under anti-vaccine legislation passed by House Republicans on Thursday that would cover everything from privately run theaters to publicly-owned sports arenas.

In addition, schools could not prevent students from participating in activities based on their COVID-19 vaccination status, according to the legislation approved by the GOP-controlled House on Thursday after the Commerce and Labor Committee voted in favor of it hours earlier.

It goes next to the Senate where the Republican president has expressed skepticism about bills interfering with business decisions.

The bill also exempts employees from workplace vaccine mandates if they show proof of COVID-19 antibodies, provide evidence that they run the risk of a negative medical reaction, or decline the vaccine for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions. Employees or students who claim such exemptions couldn't be fired or expelled.

The bill doesn't extend the exemptions to people who work in children's hospitals or on intensive care units, but requires those entities to make a good faith effort to provide an alternative placement for unvaccinated workers.

Individuals must have the opportunity to have that autonomy for themselves," said Rep. Al Cutrona, a suburban Youngstown Republican who helped shepherd the bill through committee. "More importantly, we want to ensure that people are not losing their jobs or their form of employment.

Earlier this year, Montana banned vaccine requirements for employees. There is also a high stakes legal fight nationally involving more than two dozen Republican-led states, including Ohio, which have filed lawsuits challenging President Joe Bidens vaccine requirement for private companies.

Thursday's vote was the third time House Republicans pushed the bill's provisions in recent weeks, with House Speaker Bob Cupp previously stopping the legislation, saying there wasn't enough agreement.

But before it passed Thursday, Commerce and Labor Chairman Dick Stein said he expected the full House to approve the bill. The Republican from Norwalk in northern Ohio said the legislation was about personal choice and individual freedom.

Mandating through any source, whether its federal or state, will never create compliance, said Stein, who said he's fully vaccinated. "We need to do this through education and free will and personal choice between physicians and their families and the communities they live in."

Workplace vaccine mandates have become more common recently, with hospitals, state and local governments and some major corporations requiring COVID-19 shots for employees. The mandates have led to overwhelming compliance  in some cases 99% of workers  although a small but vocal number have faced dismissal, filed lawsuits or sought exemptions.

Democrats called the bill an anti-business bill that endangered worker safety.

The legislation is bad public policy that undermines public health, trust in science and the vaccine, and puts the lives of Ohioans at risk, all for the sake of a vocal minority who represents a very extreme view on this COVID-19 virus, said Rep. Allison Russo, a suburban Columbus Democrat and a health care policy consultant.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Ohio has risen over the past two weeks from about 3,484 new cases per day on Nov. 2 to about 4,948 new cases per day on Nov. 16, according to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

Whether the bill will become law remains uncertain. All major business and health groups previously opposed the legislation, and on Thursday, the Ohio Manufacturers' Association called the new bill an unnecessary invasion of employer rights.

Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, has also signaled his disapproval of any bill regulating how private businesses can run their companies. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has said he opposes both government vaccine mandates and government anti-vaccine mandates.

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Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  An Ohio woman has successfully challenged her abusive ex-husband's right to possess a gun, under a crime victims rights law amended into the state Constitution in 2017.

The state Supreme Court ruling on Thursday agreed with a lower court's decision against a judge's order that had granted the ex-husband relief from a federal gun restriction under an Ohio law that allows for lifting gun limits if someones conviction is fully discharged, and other conditions.

In the 4-3 decision, the court said Jamie Suwalski could invoke what's known as Marsys Law to register a protest against the order involving her former spouse, Roy Ewing, after he was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence against her.

The law is named for Marsalee Marsy Nicholas, a California woman killed in 1983 by her ex-boyfriend. He was released from jail without notification to Nicholas.

The law requires police to notify victims or their families when an offender is released from jail or escapes, and guarantees a victim's right to be treated with respect, fairness and dignity throughout the criminal justice process." Versions of Marsys Law are in place in about 10 states.

Justices found that Warren County Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Peeler was not authorized under state law to grant Ewings request to have a federal firearms restriction lifted. The restriction was triggered by Ewing's 2017 conviction.

The court backed Suwalski's right to seek a writ of prohibition from the Twelfth District Court of Appeals, where she argued Peeler lacked jurisdiction to lift Ewing's gun restriction and contended that her right to safety and protection as a crime victim under Marsy's Law had been violated. The court found in Suwalski's favor and Ewing appealed.

In Thursday's decision, the Supreme Court's majority said the writ of prohibition was the right mechanism for Suwalski to use. The majority also rejected Ewing's argument that intervening in a gun proceeding isn't among the rights secured by Marsy's Law.

Marsy's Law for Ohio, the group that championed the constitutional amendment, said its provisions assure victims equal rights under the law, nothing more, nothing less.

Nothing in Marsys Law affects the constitutional right of the accused and convicted in Ohio or any other state, including a persons rights to possess firearms, the group said in a statement.

The group added, This case is not about gun rights, its simply about upholding the right of a victim to petition the courts and to be heard.

Dissenting justices said Marsys Law did not provide Suwalski the right to challenge Peelers orders. They said she did not specifically claim to have been treated without fairness and respect for her safety, and that Ewing is no longer an accused person.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP)  The state Supreme Court late Thursday ordered the chair of Washington's Redistricting Commission to detail what actions the panel took earlier this week when it missed a deadline to approve new political maps.

Because the commission failed to meet its deadline of 11:59 p.m. Monday, the high court justices will now take over the complex job of creating 10 U.S. House districts and 49 state legislative districts, with a new deadline of April 30.

Earlier Thursday, members of the redistricting commission acknowledged their work was chaotic but urged the Supreme Court to accept their final product even though it was produced after the legal time limit.

In its order, the court told the chair of the panel to file a sworn declaration by noon Monday that details the events of of Nov. 15-16 because it was unclear what exactly the commission members did  and when.

This should include the timing of any votes taken by the commission, exactly what each vote was regarding, and any other actions taken by the commission relevant to their constitutional and statutory obligations, the order signed by Chief Justice Steven C. Gonzalez said.

This is the first time the panel has failed to finish its work on time since the state adopted a constitutional amendment giving redistricting authority to a bipartisan commission after the 1990 census.

Commissioners defended their work at a news conference, saying it was hampered by a late 2020 Census, limitations caused by the coronavirus pandemic and technological issues such as crashing computers.

It was chaotic, Republican commissioner Paul Graves said of the Monday night rush to try and meet the deadline.

But all four commissioners agreed the tardy maps that were ultimately produced on Tuesday had their full support and should be considered by the Supreme Court justices.

The commissioners also admitted their work on the final night lacked the required transparency.

I believe in open government and the chaos of that night fell short of that, Graves said.

The commissioners were able to resolve one of their thorniest issues, which was creating a majority-Latino state legislative district in the agricultural Yakima Valley, which was required under the provisions of the federal Voting Rights Act.

I very much think it complies with the VRA, Republican commissioner Joe Fain said of the newly-drawn 15th Legislative District.

But others disputed Fain's conclusion.

I do have a significant concern that the Yakima Valley district may not be compliant with the federal Voting Rights Act, State Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, the Senate majority leader, said in a staement. I hope the Supreme Court will closely examine this section of the map and use its authority to create a map that ensures Latino voters in the Yakima Valley can elect the candidate of their choice.

The UCLA Voting Rights Project said its analysis showed that the commission failed to create a majority-Latino citizen voting-age population district.

The growth of the Latino population has been especially large in the Yakima Valley and Tri-Cities region, the group said.

Meanwhile, the Washington State Republican Party was upset the Supreme Court justices will now draw the political maps.

I am afraid that the liberal justices on the State Supreme Court will seek to impose their extreme agenda on the people of Washington State by drawing maps that illegally favor Democrats, said Caleb Heimlich, head of the state GOP.

Washington's Supreme Court justices are elected, but he positions are non-partisan.

Redistricting commissioner April Sims, a Democrat, said the court should adopt the commission's tardy maps.

These maps are legitimate, she said.

The court's April 30 deadline would give candidates and incumbents less than three weeks to know the boundaries of their U.S. House and legislative districts before the May 20, 2022, deadline to file for office.

Currently, Washington has seven Democratic U.S. House members and three Republicans. The state Legislature is controlled by Democrats.

The Redistricting Commission consisted of four voting members  two Democrats and two Republicans  appointed by legislative caucus leaders. The Democratic appointees were former legislator Brady Pinero Walkinshaw and state labor-council leader Sims; Republican commissioners were former state legislators Joe Fain and Graves.

By law, at least three of the four had to agree on new political maps by Nov. 15.

Commissioners said Thursday they were very close to reaching agreement as the deadline loomed, and that the late maps reflected that agreement.

We did all vote for the agreement, Walkinshaw said.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  An effort to recall a state Republican legislator cant occur now that a new redistricting map has been approved, North Dakotas top election official announced Thursday.

Secretary of State Al Jaeger said he rescinded the petition to recall GOP Rep. Dwight Kiefert because an election will be held in his district in less than a year.

Kiefert, a farmer who has represented a district in southeastern North Dakota for the past decade, won reelection last year. But he must run again next year to keep his seat because the redrawn legislative map adds a third incumbent to the new district. The election would have Kiefert running against GOP Reps. Cole Christensen and Seabasitan Ertfelt.

Kiefert told The Associated Press on Thursday he will run for the seat. Ertfelt and Christensen said they were undecided.

The effort to recall Kiefert was largely over his vote to expel fellow GOP Rep. Luke Simons, who was accused of sexually harassing women at the state Capitol. The now-obsolete recall petition accused Kiefert of failing to meet the standards of a Republican representing the district.

North Dakota Republicans wield supermajority control in the Legislature and hold every statewide office. The party, however, began splintering in the past decade with the emergence of the loosely organized Bastiat Caucus, fervent supporters of limited government and spending as well as backers of privacy and gun rights. Simons, who was expelled by the House in March, was one of them.

The recall had been viewed as a litmus test for party loyalty, state GOP Chairman Perrie Schafer has said. The intraparty fight has the far-right faction increasingly seeking to control the party and replace Republicans they see as too moderate. Ertfelt and Christensen have ties to the far-right caucus.

Simons denied wrongdoing and complained that he wasnt getting due process and was targeted for his political ideology.

Of 80 House Republicans, 55 voted to expel Simons. A few GOP lawmakers were formally condemned at the district level for backing the expulsion, but Kiefert was the only one to face recall. Kiefert said he voted to remove Simons because of his alleged inappropriate behavior toward women.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  South Dakota investigators probed an email account belonging to billionaire banker-turned philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, as well as his cellular and internet service providers, for possible possession of child pornography, according to search warrants unsealed Wednesday.

The investigation into Sanford was reported last year by ProPublica and the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Both news outlets went to court for access to the search warrants. The state Supreme Court ruled last month, in a case that only publicly named an implicated individual, to unseal the warrants and the corresponding lists of what investigators found.

The unsealing of the legal documents Wednesday was the first time investigative documents have been released that name Sanford. However, the affidavits from an agent with South Dakota's Division of Criminal Investigation agent will remain sealed until the investigation is concluded or criminal charges are filed, as allowed under state law. The affidavits, which are sworn statements from law enforcement officers, could detail what investigators found and why the billionaire was under investigation.

Sanford came to the attention of investigators in late 2019, according to the search warrants. A Division of Criminal Investigation agent requested a search warrant seeking information relating to an email account associated with him that December. The agent followed up with a request for four more search warrants on his cellular and internet service providers in March 2020.

Sanford has not been charged with a crime and it remains unclear if he will face any charges.

The ultimate fact remains that the investigating authorities have not found information to support criminal charges, said Sanfords attorney Marty Jackley.

The legal form that lists what investigators turned up in their search warrants  known as a verified inventory  did not detail what investigators found, but indicated that reports and documents from Sanfords cellular and internet providers had been attached to an investigative report.

Jackley also pointed out that Attorney General Jason Ravnsborgs office called statements on the investigation from anonymous sources inaccurate.

Ravnsborg had determined there was sufficient evidence to move toward prosecuting Sanford last year, two people briefed on the matter by law enforcement previously told the Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.

However, the attorney general passed the case to the U.S. Department of Justice because it spanned to Arizona, California and Nebraska, according to both people. Federal prosecutors have given no indication that they are bringing charges against Sanford.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an email from Ravnsborg released Wednesday, the attorney general told a South Dakota judge last year that multiple states and jurisdictions were involved and that he would need to consult with the DOJ about the request to access the search warrants.

The 85-year-old is the states richest man, worth an estimated $3.4 billion. He made a fortune as the founder of First Premier Bank in South Dakota, which is known for issuing high-interest credit cards to those with poor credit.

In recent years, he has focused on philanthropy as part of a mission to die broke. His name adorns dozens of buildings and institutions in South Dakota and beyond.

Sanfords philanthropic largesse has increased in recent months. This year alone, he has announced donations of $650 million to Sanford Health, which changed its name in 2007 to reflect its largest benefactor. He also gave $100 million to South Dakota's government for a college scholarship endowment.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Louisianas Supreme Court will hear arguments next month on whether the states largest health care provider can require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Cases involving Ochsner Health employees in the Shreveport and Lafayette areas have been consolidated by the states highest court. A hearing is set for Dec. 7.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  A student fatally stabbed outside a Springfield high school during an altercation involving three students was identified Thursday by the local coroner as police continue investigating the stabbing.

Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said Pierre V. Scott Jr., 18, of Springfield was pronounced dead at a hospital Wednesday after he was stabbed in the chest outside Lanphier High School.

Police said Wednesday afternoons incident involved three students, including a 16-year-old boy who was also stabbed and was being treated at a hospital for a non-life-threatening injury.

It was unclear whether anyone had been arrested or charged in the incident, The State Journal-Register reported.

Springfield police said in a news release that the agency was investigating the stabbing and additional details will be released as they become available.

District 186 spokeswomen Bree Hankins said in a statement that the stabbing occurred Wednesday shortly after classes were dismissed for the day.

At dismissal today, there was an altercation outside of Lanphier High School involving three students, two of which sustained injuries as a result of being assaulted with a knife. At this time we are saddened to share that one of these students has succumbed to their injuries," she said.

Out of respect for loved ones, we are not sharing additional details at this time, she added.

Hankins said school social workers and psychologists would be at the high school Thursday to provide support for students and staff. She said the school would also have heightened security measures for the remainder of the week."
MEHLVILLE, Mo. (AP)  Two state Department of Transportation workers were killed and another was seriously injured Thursday after they were hit by a car on an interstate ramp in eastern Missouri, authorities said.

The collision occurred as the workers were repainting stripes on a ramp onto Interstate 255 in Mehlville, said Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AP)  A missile defense system the U.S. Army purchased from Israel is on a two-month deployment to Guam.

Army officials said Wednesday they expect to obtain data that will help it understand how effectively the Iron Dome Missile Defense System can be used in the U.S. territory and how well the system integrates with missile defense technology it already uses, the Pacific Daily News reported.
BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP)  With floodwaters receding in parts of Washington state  even as it rained again Thursday  damage assessments are beginning and Gov. Jay Inslee is promising hell aggressively seek federal money.

In a visit to Whatcom County on Wednesday, Inslee said about 500 homes had damage from the storms. He spoke with the mayors of Everson and Sumas and was astonished at the devastation he saw, The Bellingham Herald reported.

Im told they did top all-time flood levels in some places, he said.

He said damage figures will be compiled in a bid for federal assistance.

Sumas city officials said Thursday that volunteers had begun going door-to door to determine which homes were damaged.

At a Thursday news conference, Inslee reiterated the importance of keeping records of costs related to damages.

You cannot be assured of this (aid) in part because the federal rules are very amorphous, he said. But were going to do our level best to assemble all of the damage so that we can make the strongest possible case to the federal government.

Laura Anker, Cherry Street Market store manager in Sumas, said Thursday that they were in full clean-up mode.

It's not great, but we're hanging in there, she said.

The Red Cross said Thursday it is operating three shelters north of Seattle to support residents displaced by flooding. Inslee said short-term shelter and housing options are being investigated for people in Whatcom County as well as cash assistance.

In British Columbia, Canada, the federal government was sending in the military to help with floods and mudslides that destroyed parts of several major highways. Vancouver, B.C., was cut off by road from the interior of the province.

The mayor of Abbotsford, B.C., said he would speak with Inslee to discuss severe flooding on the Canadian side of the border at least partially caused by swollen rivers in the United States.

Transportation officials on Washingtons Olympic Peninsula were also assessing conditions and clearing debris from roads as state agencies, including the military, worked to bring fuel to the Makah Tribe, which was cut off by damaged roads, and drinking water to residents in the Clallam Bay and Sekiu areas.

A landslide several days ago caused a water main to break, and the Clallam Bay water reserve was nearly depleted by Wednesday night, officials said.

The Pacific Northwest was hit with days of continuous rain and wind that eased on Tuesday.

More rain fell in Bellingham from Saturday through Monday  about 5.57 inches (14.14 centimeters)  than normally falls there during all of November, according to National Weather Service data. The normal monthly rain total is 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) for November, the agency said.

After a year of deadly heat, drought, forest fires and smoke and floods, not only does the state need to make roads, utilities, sewer and water systems more resilient against climate change, additional steps will be needed to reduce the carbon pollution that is causing climate change, Inslee said.

"All these natural disasters spell one thing and that is the footprint of climate change that is attacking our state," he said.

Inslee said the state is not meeting its goals for carbon reduction and that he will ask the Legislature in the next session to take further steps to that end.

We've had some success in Washington state but we need to have more," he said.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Kristine Nolin, University of Richmond

(THE CONVERSATION) Deep-frying a turkey is a great way to get a delicious, moist meal for Thanksgiving. But this method of cooking can be a very dangerous undertaking.

Every fall, millions of dollars of damage, trips to the ER and even deaths result from attempts to deep-fry turkeys. The vast majority of these accidents happen because people put frozen turkeys into boiling oil. If you are considering deep-frying this year, do not forget to thaw and dry your turkey before placing it in the pot. Failure to do so may lead to an explosive disaster.

What is so dangerous about putting even a partially frozen turkey in a deep-fryer?

I am a chemist who studies plant, fungal and animal compounds and have a love of food chemistry. The reason frozen turkeys explode, at its core, has to do with differences in density. There is a difference in density between oil and water and differences in the density of water between its solid, liquid and gas states. When these density differences interact in just the right way, you get an explosion.

Understanding density

Density is how much an object weighs given a specific volume. For example, imagine you held an ice cube in one hand and a marshmallow in the other. While they are roughly the same size, the ice cube is heavier: It is more dense.

The first important density difference when it comes to frying is that water is more dense than oil. This has to do with how tightly the molecules of each substance pack together and how heavy the atoms are that make up each liquid.

Water molecules are small and pack tightly together. Oil molecules are much larger and dont pack together as well by comparison. Additionally, water is composed of oxygen and hydrogen atoms, while oils are predominantly carbon and hydrogen. Oxygen is heavier than carbon. This means that, for example, one cup of water has more atoms than one cup of oil, and those individuals atoms are heavier. This is why oil floats on top of water. It is less dense.

While different materials have different densities, liquids, solids and gases of a single material can have different densities as well. You observe this every time you place an ice cube in a glass of water: The ice floats to the top because it is less dense than water.

When water absorbs heat, it changes to its gas phase, steam. Steam occupies 1,700 times the volume as the same number of liquid water molecules. You observe this effect when you boil water in a tea kettle. The force of expanding gas pushes steam out of the kettle through the whistle, causing the squealing noise.

Frozen turkeys are filled with water

Frozen turkeys  or any kind of frozen meats, for that matter  contain a lot of ice. Raw meat can be anywhere from 56% to 73% water. If you have ever thawed a frozen piece of meat, you have probably seen all the liquid that comes out.

For deep-frying, cooking oil is heated to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 C). This is much hotter than the boiling point of water, which is 212 F (100 C). So when the ice in a frozen turkey comes in contact with the hot oil, the surface ice quickly turns to steam.

This quick transition is not a problem when it happens at the very surface of the oil. The steam escapes harmlessly into the air.

However, when you submerge a turkey into the oil, the ice inside the turkey absorbs the heat and melts, forming liquid water. Here is where the density comes into play.

This liquid water is more dense than the oil, so it falls the bottom of the pot. The water molecules continue to absorb heat and energy and eventually they change phases and become steam. The water molecules then rapidly spread far apart from one another and the volume expands by 1,700 times. This expansion causes the density of the water to drop to a fraction of a percent of the density of the oil, so the gas wants to quickly rise to the surface.

[More than 140,000 readers get one of The Conversations informative newsletters. Join the list today.]

Combine the fast change in density together with the expansion of volume and you get an explosion. The steam expands and rises, blowing the boiling oil out the pot. If that werent dangerous enough, as the displaced oil comes into contact with a burner or flame, it can catch fire. Once some droplets of oil catch on fire, the flames will quickly ignite nearby oil molecules, resulting in a fast-moving and often catastrophic fire.

Every year, thousands of accidents like this happen. So, should you decide to deep-fry a turkey for this years Thanksgiving, be sure to thoroughly thaw it and pat it dry. And next time you add a bit of liquid to an oil-filled pan and end up with oil all over the stove, youll know the science of why.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/why-do-frozen-turkeys-explode-when-deep-fried-168933.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)  A woman who prompted a nationwide manhunt after escaping custody with her husband in 2019 has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a Tucson murder case.

Prosecutors said 61-year-old Susan Barksdale entered into a plea agreement Wednesday. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10.

Her 58-year-old husband, Blane Barksdale, still is facing a first-degree murder charge and has a scheduled plea hearing Friday in Pima County Superior Court.

The couple was charged in connection with the disappearance of 72-year-old Frank Bligh, whose Tucson home burned down in an April 2019 explosion and fire.

Brent Mallard, the Barksdales nephew, already has pleaded guilty to arson in the case and has a Dec. 10 sentencing hearing.

Blighs body has never been found, but Tucson police classified it as a homicide case.

Authorities obtained arrest warrants after discovering the Barksdales allegedly pawned guns that belonged to Bligh before they fled Arizona.

The couple was arrested in New York by U.S. Marshals in May 2019, but escaped from a transport van during extradition to Tucson three months later.

After avoiding capture for 16 days, the Barksdales were located in northern Arizona and taken back into custody.
Online car buying has seen a dramatic increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But sister station WGAL found a Pennsylvania woman  and thousands of other consumers  are telling a cautionary tale of car buying online.

For Sandy Harriott, of Liverpool, Pennsylvania, it was all about convenience.

"Well, you see all the advertisements. Easy, can return it in seven days," she said.

Harriott was attracted to the online car retailer Carvana because she doesn't like going into dealerships.

"You get online. You look through a bunch of cars. You can look through pictures. They show you the interior, the exteriors," she said.

After picking out a vehicle in April, it was delivered in about a week.

"First time I drove it, I went from here to Harrisburg, so 30 miles. The check engine light comes on, and it wouldn't go over 40 miles an hour," Harriott said.

She said she battled with Carvana for six months over mechanical and registration issues, returning two vehicles before receiving the vehicle she has now.

"I am happy with this car, but this has been since April to get this done," she said.

Carvana's big selling point is that it helps consumers get around everything they hate about buying used cars. On the other hand, it seems the company is introducing consumers to other problems, which have resulted in multiple consumer complaints and legal actions in several states.

In August, Carvana was suspended for six months from selling cars at its Raleigh, North Carolina, dealership because it broke licensing laws.

Carvana paid out $850,000 to four counties in California in a civil lawsuit for dealing cars without proper licensing.

The company was fined $10,000 in Texas and is on probation in Michigan for issues related to titles and registration.

On the Better Business Bureau website, customers give the company two out of five stars. But the bureau gives the company a rating of A- minus based on how it interacts with customers.

More than 2,500 complaints are listed on the site. More than 60% of those complaints have been closed.

Carvana's revenue was up nearly 200% in the second quarter of this year, compared to a year ago, as the company delivered more than 100,000 vehicles for the first time.

WGAL reached out to Carvana for comment. At this point, the company has not responded.
Misinformation and concerning comments on social media forced a Texas library to cancel its rainbow story time program.

The Denton Public Library says canceled its November 20 story time because of safety concerns for library patrons after "disrespectful and hostile complaints" were made online, according to statement posted online.

The statement says misinformation was being spread on social media that the program would "indoctrinate" children about gender identity or anything relating to sex or sexual orientation

The cancellation comes as a wave of conservative efforts from Texas officials to investigate and remove books in libraries that are "overtly sexual."

The three books being read were Red: A Crayons Story by Michael Hall, Im a Girl by Yasmeen Ismail and What Riley Wore by Elana K. Arnoldmake. They make no mention of either of these topics, the statement says.

Some printed materials promoting event contained the word "transgender" because the event is held three times a year and coincide with days focused on different or marginalized groups, such as Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20. The statement says "transgender" was mistakenly used in the printed material.

Jennifer Bekker, the director of libraries, told the Denton-Record Chronicle that the library started receiving calls on November 9, some of which were from non-Denton residents.

"We did see on some public social media posts some things that made us concerned for public safety. And it made us concerned about the safety of the staff," Bekker tells the Denton-Record.

Bekker says the books instead help adults and children discuss differences, acceptance and self-expression.

"It is certainly not, as some have claimed, 'indoctrinating' children into a transgender way of life," Bekker says.
Danny Zaragoza /Laredo Morning Times

A proposed chain-link fence by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was unanimously denied by City of Laredo councilmembers Monday, as local officials thanked the law enforcement community but said the council stands against border walls.

The fence is part of a previous council presentation by the Department of Public Safety, in which the city could have opted in for a border fence on city property as well as private lands with landowner permission.
Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Jan. 6 rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison.

Chansley, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, was among the first rioters to enter the building. He has acknowledged using a bullhorn to rile up the mob, offering thanks in a prayer while in the Senate for having the chance to get rid of traitors and scratching out a threatening note to Vice President Mike Pence saying, Its Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!"

Though he isnt accused of violence, prosecutors say Chansley, of Arizona, was the public face of the Capitol riot who went into the attack with a weapon, ignored repeated police orders to leave the building and gloated about his actions in the days immediately after the attack.

Before he was sentenced, Chansley told U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth it was wrong for him to enter the Capitol and that he accepts responsibility for his actions. He emphasized he wasnt an insurrectionist and is troubled with the way he was portrayed in news stories in the aftermath of the riot.

I have no excuse, Chansley said. No excuses whatsoever. My behavior is indefensible.

The judge said Chansleys remorse appeared to be genuine but noted the seriousness of his actions in the Capitol. What you did was terrible, Lamberth said. You made yourself the center of the riot."

The image of Chansley holding a flagpole topped with a spear tip and looking as if he were howling was one of the most striking to emerge from the riot. He previously called himself the QAnon Shaman but has since repudiated the QAnon movement, which is centered on the baseless belief that former President Donald Trump was fighting a cabal of Satan-worshipping, child sex trafficking cannibals.

He is among 650 people charged in the riot that forced lawmakers into hiding as they were meeting to certify President Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. More than 120 defendants have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanor charges of demonstrating in the Capitol that carry a maximum of six months in prison.

Chansley and Scott Fairlamb, a New Jersey gym owner sentenced last week for punching a police officer during the attack, have received the longest prison sentences out of the 38 Capitol riot defendants who been punished so far.

Chansley, who has been in jail for 10 months, sought to be sentenced to time served. His lawyer, Albert Watkins, said his client has suffered longstanding mental health problems that were worsened by being jailed in solitary confinement due to COVID-19 protocols and is in dire need of mental health treatment.

In the year before the Capitol riot, Chansley appeared in costume at pro-Trump events, protests over face mask requirements and at a gathering of Trump supporters in November 2020 outside an election office in downtown Phoenix where votes from the presidential race were being counted.

His attorney has said Chansley was horrendously smitten by Trump and believed like other rioters that Trump had called him to the Capitol, but later felt betrayed after Trump refused to grant him and others who participated in the insurrection a pardon.

Watkins has said Chansley had been under pressure from family members not to plead guilty because they believed Trump would be reinstated as president and pardon him.

After spending his first month in jail, Chansley said he re-evaluated his life, felt regret for having stormed the building and apologized for causing fear in others.

He twice quit eating while in jail and lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) until he was given organic food.

The judge had previously rejected Chansleys claims that the six-foot flagpole he carried during he riot wasnt a weapon and that the metal spear tip was an ornament, saying the sharpened six-inch point could have been used to stab people from a distance. _____

Billeaud reported from Phoenix.
For decades, Texas Democrats have banked on the growth of voters of color, particularly Black and Latino voters, as the key to their eventual success in a state long dominated by Republicans.

But with less than a month left for candidates to file for statewide office in the 2022 elections, some in the party worry Democrats could see their appeal with those constituencies threatened by a Republican Party that is rapidly diversifying its own candidate pool.

The GOP slate for statewide office includes two high-profile Latinos: Land Commissioner George P. Bush and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman, who are both running for attorney general. It also includes two Black candidates who have previously held state or federal office: former Florida congressman Allen West and state Rep. James White, who are running for governor and agriculture commissioner, respectively.

By contrast, the Democrats most formidable candidates are white  Beto ORourke, who is running for governor, and Mike Collier, Matthew Dowd and Michelle Beckley, who are running for lieutenant governor.

Lee Merritt, a Black civil rights attorney from McKinney, and Rochelle Garza, a Latina former ACLU attorney from Brownsville, have jumped into the Democratic primary for attorney general; and Jinny Suh, an Asian American Austin lawyer, is running for land commissioner. But none of those Democrats have the political experience or fundraising prowess of their Republican counterparts.

The issue has caused consternation among some Democrats, particularly as they see South Texas and border communities, with large majorities of Latino voters, become a battleground for Republicans. Democrats lost a special election in San Antonio to Republican John Lujan earlier this month. Two weeks later, Rio Grande City Rep. Ryan Guillen, whod served in the Texas House as a Democrat since 2003, switched his party affiliation to Republican. Both Lujan and Guillen are Latino.

We need to look at that and need to do an introspection as to why theres a lack of diversity at the top of the ticket, said Odus Evbagharu, chair of the Harris County Democratic Party. We need to do better. Weve gotta cultivate our bench.

Jamarr Brown, co-executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, downplayed the concerns, saying his party will have a competitive slate of candidates when the filing period closes in December. He pointed to Annise Parker, the openly gay former mayor of Houston, who is reportedly considering a run for land commissioner, as a candidate who can bring a different viewpoint to the race. Parker is also white.

Im not concerned as it relates to us having real diversity and us having candidates, he said. We will have diversity in gender, race and ethnicity. We will have diversity in industry and in experience.

Republicans compete for voters of color

Jeronimo Cortina, a political scientist at the University of Houston, said Republicans are making a play to be more competitive with voters of color as the states electorate grows more diverse. He pointed to Republicans opening up offices in heavily Latino areas like San Antonio.

The Republican Party in Texas sees the writing on the wall and that is that demographic change is here, he said. Latinos are going to be the biggest chunk of the electorate in the next couple of decades, so either [Republicans] get on board or theyre going to lose them.

A majority of the states top elected officials, who are all Republican, are white. But for years, statewide leaders like Gov. Greg Abbott and Bush have focused on expanding the Republican share of the Latino vote.

Latinos make up 39% of the states population, only slightly behind white Texans, who make up 40%, according to the U.S. Census. But while Latinos make up a majority of Democrats in the statehouse, a training ground for higher office, there are no major Latino candidates on the partys statewide slate. Garza has never been on a Texas ballot. Her only experience raising money as a candidate was collecting $200,000 for a congressional race she suspended.

Part of the challenge, Brown said, is that it is difficult to recruit candidates of color to run for office when they are more likely to face economic challenges than white candidates. ORourke, the best performing Democrat in Texas in years, comes from a prominent political family in El Paso, and his father-in-law is a real estate investor worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

People of color and women are working-class people in this state, Brown said. Asking people to take time away from their jobs and businesses and families and to campaign in a large state with 254 counties and having the resources to cover that ground is challenging.

Potential statewide candidates who are currently in office are unlikely to risk their hard-fought seats to launch an uphill battle for state office, particularly when Republican incumbents hold advantages of multiple millions of dollars from the start, Brown said. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Latina, is seen as a rising star in the party but has resisted a statewide run. And San Antonios Julian and Joaquin Castro are perennially named among potential candidates but have also turned down opportunities.

The fundraising challenges are present for candidates of color on the Republican side, too.

Its supposed to be tough, said White, a Black Republican running for agriculture commissioner against the GOP incumbent Sid Miller. You can talk about how tough it is but at some point you just gotta get after it.

Some on the Republican side, however, have found success tapping into the partys network of donors. Bush, who comes from a storied political family, has raised multiple millions, and Guzman raised $1 million in the first 10 days of her campaign.

You find a roadblock in front of me and Im going to overcome it, she said.

Democrat fundraising disparities



Evbagharu said candidates of color on the Democratic side rarely get the kind of backing from their party that white candidates do.

ORourke, he noted, has lost a statewide and national race, yet will lead the top of the ticket next year. ORourke raised about $80 million in 2018 in his race against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, however, he largely accomplished that with his own celebrity, and those funds did not flow to the rest of the Democratic slate.

That same year, the Democrat running for governor, Lupe Valdez, a Latina and former Dallas County sheriff, raised $1.9 million in a bid to defeat Abbott in 2018 where she lost by 13 percentage points. Valdez, like ORourke, was a first-time statewide candidate, but at one point in the campaign she trailed Abbott by 100-to-1 in the fundraising race. ORourke had run multiple congressional races and barnstormed all 254 of Texas counties for the Senate race.

This week, ORourke announced he had raised $2 million in the first 24 hours since launching his gubernatorial campaign, eclipsing Valdezs total funds for her gubernatorial run.

[The party] promised Lupe Valdez funding and she never got it, said Sharon Navarro, a political scientist at the University of Texas at San Antonio. If youre a minority and youre a Democrat, the stereotype is that youre branded a loser, whereas the Republicans will regroup and find the way to victory.

Valdez did not return a request for comment.

In 2014, Wendy Davis, who had gained national prominence for her filibuster of an abortion bill in the state Senate, lost the governors race to Abbott by 20 percentage points despite raising almost $40 million. She has since run again for congress and lost. Davis is white.

But the Democratic Partys biggest flop was not for lack of money. In 2002, Democrats ran their so-called Dream Team, which included Tony Sanchez, a wealthy Latino oilman and banker who self-funded his campaign, and Ron Kirk, a Black former mayor of Dallas and Texas secretary of state.

Sanchez lost to then-Gov. Rick Perry by 18 percentage points, and Kirk lost to John Cornyn in the U.S. Senate race by 12. The best performing member of the Dream Team was John Sharp, a white conservative Democrat, who lost the lieutenant governor race to David Dewhurst by 6 percentage points.

That tickets catastrophic failure may have turned off donors from funding candidates of color for statewide office. But Navarro said the problem runs deeper than that: The states Democratic Party lacks structure and a message.

There is no real long-term investment in cultivating generations of voters because it takes time and money, Navarro said. It isnt enough to just simply register voters and expect them to vote Democrat. It isnt enough to run a person of color without party structure or message.

A shake-up



Its not just fundraising, critics say, its a lack of recruitment. Democrats, who are quick to campaign on issues of diversity, inclusion and equity, could be doing more to open doors for candidates of color.

Merritt, the attorney general candidate, said he was not recruited to run. An attorney for the family of George Floyd, Merritt decided to run after advising Democratic politicians, including President Joe Biden, on criminal justice and police accountability issues.

Its a shortcoming of the Democratic Party, he said. It never crossed their mind that someone like me should be running for office.

The partys own analysis of the 2020 elections found shortcomings in its Black voter turnout. While Black turnout overperformed expectations and overwhelmingly supported Democrats, Republicans were more successful at growing Black voter turnout than Democrats, raising concerns.

If we want to win [statewide], weve got to shake some stuff up, Evbagharu said.

Part of that shake-up would include recruiting and training more candidates of color and providing them the funding to run successful campaigns, he said.

But Brown pushed back, saying the party actively recruits candidates and puts on training for potential candidates, as well as connecting campaigns with experienced political staff. Theyve also focused on registering more Democratic voters.

Evbagharu also said Democrats may need to take a page from Republicans, who often invest in candidates in close races for multiple cycles before claiming victory. For example, Monica De La Cruz, a Republican running for Congress in the Rio Grande Valley, lost her race against Democratic incumbent Vicente Gonzalez in 2020 by 3 percentage points.

Republicans framed that loss as a victory for the GOP because of the huge gains they saw, and they are continuing to fight for the district as part of their overall strategy to win elections in South Texas next year. As of September, she had raised nearly $1 million, on par with Gonzalez, and she was named to the National Republican Congressional Committees Young Guns program for candidates to watch.

Policy over personality



But challenges remain for candidates of color, regardless of party.

Running for office isnt easy, said Garza, the Democratic attorney general candidate. You need to have the grit and determination and belief in yourself to do it and then have the ability to get people on your side.

She said she isnt concerned about the Black and Latino candidates on the GOP ticket because their policies do not help voters in those communities.

Its not enough that folks on the Republican ticket are people of color. You need to show your work, she said. What do you stand for? And who do you stand for? What were seeing on the right is folks that stand for corporations and big interests and dont stand up for the little guy, for everyday Texans.

Navarro said Democrats will have to perfect their messaging on this point to be successful, not simply rely on voters of color to side with them. Earlier this month, Republicans in Virginia flipped the major statewide offices by making the election about wedge issues like so-called critical race theory and forcing Democrats on the defensive. Texas Republicans could do the same on issues like border and election security.

Republicans have a better understanding of how to create the message and how to flip it for the audience, Navarro said.

Jean Card, a Republican political analyst, said that strategy paid off in Virginia, where the GOP elected Winsome Sears, a Jamaican-born Black woman, as lieutenant governor and Jason Miyares, the son of a Cuban immigrant, as the states first Latino attorney general.

What we saw here was policy over personality, Card said. Thats why they were so effective as candidates.

White said he focuses his campaign talking points on his decade of experience at the statehouse, where he pushed for rural interests, and his knowledge of agriculture, which is relevant to the position hes seeking.

When youre actually doing diversity  that means youre talking to everybody, listening to everybody, being respectful of everyones point of view, White said, you dont have to talk about it.

Disclosure: Texas Secretary of State, University of Texas at San Antonio 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.

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Even before Donald Trump lost the presidential election in 2020, books about him and his administrationcovering the chaos and turmoil at the White House, Trumps impeachment trial, his tangled relationship with questionable characters like Steve Bannon, and morehad already become a cottage industry. (Bob Woodward, the legendary reporter for the Washington Post, is responsible for three of them, one with Post colleague Robert Costa.) In one of the latest in this genre, entitled Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, Jonathan Karlthe Washington correspondent for ABC Newschronicles the post-election intrigue inside the White House. Karls book, released on Tuesday, details a New Years Eve memo written by Jenna Ellis, a legal advisor to the Trump campaign, about how Trump might be able to reject the results of the election and have Mike Pence declare him the winnera new Trump revelation that has since driven a short, memo-focused news cycle.

It says a lot about the Trump administration that this wasnt the only such memo that circulated at the White House. In Peril, released in September, Woodward and Costa reported that John Eastman, a senior fellow at the Claremont Institute, wrote a similar memo outlining how Pence could simply disregard the electoral votes from states that Trump didnt win and then use the Republican majority in Congress to ratify his victory. For some critics, these two memos also had something else in common: they represented potentially critical information about the health of American democracy that should have been reported when it happened, rather than saved for the publication of a book.

Steve Inskeep, an NPR host who recently interviewed Karl about his book, responded on Twitter to some of these arguments by saying that, as a society, our most pressing need is for context, careful reporting, understanding. Its not to file stories instantly on every incremental tidbit. Reporters like Karl and Woodward, he suggested, need time to put things into context, especially the chaos of the Trump White house. When journalists report the very latest bit, that may serve the audience well, or may not, Inskeep added. Our demand for instant answers is not often consistent with wisdom. Erik Wemple, the media critic for the Washington Post, defended Woodward along similar lines when he was criticized for withholding informationspecifically, a sustained Trump lie about the severity of COVID-19for Rage, his second book on the Trump presidency.

The implication in both defenses is that its better to wait for some pieces of information than to know them immediately. This may often be true, but is it always? Some argue that it wouldnt have changed anything to know some of the details in either book. Writing last year about Woodwards Rage and Trumps COVID deceptions, my CJR colleague Jon Allsop said that some of the anger at Woodward was clearly misplaced. The idea that Woodward could have saved lives by going public sooner is highly hypothetical, he wrote. And his revelation doesnt fundamentally change a fact that weve always knownthat whatever Trump said in private, he did nothing to stop the coronavirus.

Not everyone buys these justifications, however. The idea that we had to wait for the Trump books to get the full context, and the holy-crap tidbits they contain, is pernicious, Dan Gillmor, a journalism professor at Arizona State University, replied to Inskeeps post. Journalism could readily provide context as the story develops. It chooses not to. Allison Hantschel, a journalist and author, wrote earlier this year about Trump-book disclosures and argued that, at a time when trust in journalism is falling, it absolutely defies explanation why reporters would proudly present major revelations as blockbuster book excerpts instead of breaking the news in real time. None of the arguments defending this approach, she said, have anything to do with readers, the public interest, or the purpose of keeping democracy from dying in darkness that we hear so much about.

Margaret Sullivan, media columnist for the Washington Post and a former public editor for the New York Times, interviewed Woodward about his decision not to report Trumps comments on COVID-19 when they were madewell before a lot was known publicly about the coronavirus and its health risks. Woodward, defending his decision, told Sullivan that he didnt know whether what Trump was saying was true or not, and needed to continue reporting out the book. But Sullivan came to a different conclusion from her colleague Wemple. I dont know if putting the books newsiest revelations out there in something closer to real time would have made a difference. They might very well have been denied and soon forgotten, she wrote. Still, the chanceeven if its a slim chancethat those revelations could have saved lives is a powerful argument.

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Heres more on Trump and journalism:

Conscience : Charles Pierce of Esquire was not a fan of Woodwards choice to keep his Trump details to himself for his book . The president knew and lied because he wanted to get re-elected. Woodward knew and kept it to himself because he had a book to sell. Whos worse? Pierce wrote. As someone who in his own small way practices the same craft as Bob Woodward, I have to wonder how Woodward watched the president lie for six months as the body count ratcheted skyward without his conscience tearing out his heart. I have to wonder if, in some small way, journalism as public service died as collateral damage.

Book fails : In the aftermath of the Woodwards Rage , Constance Grady wrote for Vox about the deluge of ethically-questionable books by former White House insiders and Trump confidants. In theory, book-length reporting is supposed to function as the home of the very best of journalism: not as the home for breaking news where time is of the essence, but for the most thoughtful, most rigorous, most carefully sourced reporting in the industry, Grady wrote. But in practice, book-length journalism often fails to perform that duty, perhaps because book publishers generally dont consider the ethics of journalism to fall within their purview.

Milley time : In Peril , Woodward and his co-author reported for the first time that General Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, took the unusual step of reaching out to his counterpart in China directly, in case Trump decided to do something rash. If these accounts concerning Gen. Milley are true, a good argument can be made that they should have been reported in the pages of the Post in October or January or as soon as the information was known and verified, Joe Concha wrote in an op-ed for The Hill . If Milley was acting inappropriately lawmakers and the public had the right to know.

Other notable stories:

Danny Fenster, an American journalist who was freed earlier this week after nearly six months in jail in Myanmar, arrived in the US on Tuesday and had an emotional reunion with his family, the Associated Press reported . Fenster, who had been sentenced to 11 years of hard labor by the military government in Myanmar, was handed over Monday to former US diplomat Bill Richardson, who helped negotiate the release. Fenster is one of more than 100 journalists and publishers who have been detained since the military took over Myanmar in February, according to the AP. Fenster said his release was a moment I had been imagining so intensely for so long, and surpasses everything I had imagined.

ProPublica said it is now free to report on search warrants and other documents related to a child pornography investigation against Denny Sanford, South Dakotas richest person, after the states Supreme Court ruled in ProPublicas that such documents should be available to the public. The nonprofit newsroom said that the records, which were kept under seal for more than a year, confirm its reporting from last year about Sanford. This is an extraordinary victory for press freedom and the publics right to know how the government investigates societys most powerful, ProPublicas general counsel said.

The Marshall Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit newsroom, says it is launching a news operation in Cleveland in 2022 with the support of the George Gund Foundation, which announced a significant grant for the project this week. The Cleveland news team will report on and expose abuses in Cuyahoga Countys criminal justice system, producing investigative, data and engagement journalism with the support of The Marshall Projects national newsroom, the nonprofit said. The new operation will serve local audiences, including those directly affected by the criminal justice system, who are often neglected or mischaracterized in media coverage.

Kyle Pope, CJRs publisher and editor-in-chief, writes about recent revelations that the so-called Trump dossier was likely fabricated . To me, the dossier is a useful stand-in for the medias coverage of Trump in general, he writes. While there was an enormous amount of impressive investigative work around Trump and his many misdeeds, there was also, especially on cable news, a lot of nonsense and misdirection. Like Trump himself, we tacked to the extremes. When the right place to be, as always, is in the messy space in between. 

Googles third North America Innovation Challenge part of the Google News Initiativehas just ended, with 25 projects chosen out of a total of 190 from Canada and the US. The winners will get a share of more than $3 million from the search company. According to Google, the selection process involves a rigorous review, a round of interviews and a final jury selection effort. The successful applicants include Documented , a nonprofit newsroom from the Brooklyn Community Foundation, and Minnesota-based news startup Sahan Journal , which is collaborating with three community media outlets on a project to check in with the communities they collectively serve.

Substack, the subscription-newsletter publishing platform, has expanded its health insurance program to all writers who make at least $5,000 a year through its service, The Wrap reports . The health insurance program is being offered as a partnership with insurance marketplace Health Sherpa, and eligible writers can apply annually for a $500 stipend. The health program is a part of several offerings Substack has been providing to select independent writers, with other pilot programs including training workshops and legal support, The Wrap writes. Substack recently announced that it has one million subscribers signed up to receive newsletters published on its platform.

Rupert Murdoch renewed his pattern of attacks on Google and Facebook during News Corps annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, Reuters reported, accusing the tech giants of trying to silence conservative voices and calling for significant reform. Murdoch cited a lawsuit filed last year by 10 state attorneys general, accusing Google of monopolizing the digital ad market and allegedly conspiring with Facebook to manipulate online auctions. Let us be very clear about the consequences of that digital ad market manipulation, said Murdoch. Obviously, publishers have been materially damaged, but companies have also been overcharged for their advertising.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17)  Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced he has once again tested positive for COVID-19.

Lorenzana told CNN Philippines he took the swab test on Tuesday after physically attending a Senate budget hearing.

"Yes, confirmed, I am positive. I had my test yesterday afternoon. The result came out this morning," he wrote in a text message on Wednesday.

Lorenzana, who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, said he has no symptoms. He added that he will undergo another swab test after observing his condition in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Senate budget debates will be suspended until Monday as a precautionary measure, according to Senate President Tito Sotto.

"To play safe, we will suspend budget deliberations until all those who were exposed to him yesterday will have an RT-PCR test by Saturday or Sunday," he said, adding disinfection will also be done in the meantime.

Because of this, the entire 2022 budget will be delayed, he noted.

Sotto also announced tighter protocols for those visiting the Senate. Visitors should present results of their RT-PCR or anti-gen tests taken within 24 hours to be granted entry.

A photo posted on the Senate's Facebook page showed Hungarian delegates were present during Tuesday's session, as the upper chamber presented a resolution commending the National Assembly of Hungary for strengthening its inter-parliamentary ties with the Philippines.

Several lawmakers were photographed without face masks, although Lorenzana was not present in the picture.

The 73-year-old Defense chief returned last Sunday from an official trip to Europe, where he met with his counterparts in Spain and Poland, Department of National Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.

He also tested positive for COVID-19 last April.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  China accused two Philippine supply boats of trespassing into its waters without its consent in response to the Ayungin Shoal incident.

"On the evening of November 16, two Philippine supply boats trespassed into waters near Ren'ai Jiao of China's Nansha Qundao without China's consent. Chinese coast guard vessels performed official duties in accordance with law and upheld China's territorial sovereignty and maritime order," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a briefing on Thursday.

Zhao also said both sides are already "in communication on this."

Philippine officials earlier said three Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and fired water cannon on two Philippine boats transporting supplies to military personnel in Ayungin Shoal.

READ: Chinese vessels blocked, fired water cannon on PH boats in Ayungin Shoal

No one was hurt in the incident, which the Philippines condemned and protested. Manila stressed Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which it considers part of Palawan province.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Known for his "Change is coming" campaign slogan in 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte said among the reasons he is seeking a Senate seat next year is to change how lawmakers conduct probes.

Duterte has repeatedly called out senators for their supposed ill treatment of Cabinet officials during hearings on the government's pandemic response purchases. On Thursday, he raised this matter again during an event in Oriental Mindoro.

The President reiterated that summoning executive officials, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque and Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, to hours-long hearings robs them of their time to attend to other duties to combat the health crisis.

"'Yung iba, paupuin mo nang ilang araw, tapos walang nangyari. Binabastos mo 'yung tao eh [Some of them are invited to attend hearings for days, and then nothing happens. You're disrespecting the person]," Duterte said.

He also accused senators  particularly Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon  of cutting off mid-sentence the resource persons who try to answer questions.

"Kaya ako tatakbo [That's why I'll run]," Duterte said.

"Kaya ako pag mag ano, sabihin ko sila na, you know, there are rules in Congress, but there are fundamental laws. Gaya ng taga gobyerno, hindi nila pasagutin, then at the end 'yung theory nila, 'yun ang masunod," he continued.

[Translation: I'll tell them, you know, there are rules in Congress, but there are fundamental laws. They don't allow government officials to answer, then in the end, they push through with their theory.]

On Monday, Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy for senator under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, an allied party of the PDP-Laban faction where he is chairman.

The President also again denied protecting Pharmally  the government's top medical supplier  which is among those being investigated by Congress.

He told lawmakers they can do whatever they want to do with the firm.

But he added: "You might want to separate the other issues about non-payment of taxes. That is not part of the inquiry dito sa [regarding] corruption, na wala naman [which doesn't exist in the first place]."

In an earlier address, Duterte told senators they can imprison  or even kill  Pharmally executives for allegedly not paying taxes last year.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday filing diplomatic protests over the continued interference of the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea is not enough to resolve the problem.

Following the Chinese Coast Guard's firing of water cannon on Tuesday to drive away local ships resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Lacson said the country must forge alliance with countries with strong military capacities.

"We are not satisfied. Ang aming polisiya dito, makikipag-alliance tayo sa malalakas na bansa, yung militarily strong countries. Meron naman tayong existing bilateral agreements with them. Hindi natin kakayanin ang Tsina considering ang ating military capability ay napakalayo," Lacson said in a virtual briefing.

[Translation: We are not satisfied. Our policy is we will have alliance with militarily strong countries. We have existing bilateral agreements with them. We cannot take on China considering our military capability is not equal.]

He added he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, are counting on a "balance of power" among countries. He said the Philippines should not be a pushover in its own territories.

Meanwhile, Sotto said the recent incident is an ominous sign.

In this kind of situation, the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States must be invoked, he added

"Itinataboy, may nasaktan o wala, baka panahon na talaga na medyo Hindi naman parang veiled threat, ano. Pero dapat siguro i-highlight natin muli 'yung mga provisions ng Mutual Defense Treaty sapagkat 'yun ang panlaban diyan e," he said.

[Translation: Being driven away, even if no one gets hurt, maybe it's time to... Not make a veiled threat. But maybe it's time to highlight the provisions of the Mutual Defense Treaty because it's our shield against that]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18)  An independent group monitoring the COVID-19 situation is in favor of the proposal to limit the entry of minors in malls for their safety.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier made the proposal to local governments after a two-year-old boy reportedly tested positive in a COVID-19 antigen test after a mall visit.

"Ang non-essential travel ng mga bata sana ma-limit... Bagama't kailangan po lumabas ng mga kabataan, lalo na iyong hindi bakunado, sana i-limit ang pagpunta sa mga enclosed areas gaya ng malls," OCTA Research fellow Ranjit Rye said in a Laging Handa briefing.

[Translation: We hope the non-essential travel of kids will be limited. While the children need to go out, we hope that they will limit the entry of kids in enclosed areas like malls.]

Rye said the public cannot be complacent despite the decreasing number of cases as the pandemic has not ended yet.

In the same briefing, OCTA Research fellow Guido David noted the country is logging 1,600 cases daily in the past seven days, down by 27% compared to the week prior.

He reiterated the daily average may drop to below 1,000 by the end of this month.

Rye also said they see a "positive outlook for...the whole country in the next month or so, assuming that the trend holds."

He did not rule out another spike in cases due to eased restrictions. But in Metro Manila, "we won't see the surges that saw over the last few months" due to the high vaccination rate, Rye added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 19)  Several poll aspirants and government officials on Thursday slammed the recent attacks of Chinese forces on Philippine boats near Ayungin Shoal, saying the incident highlights the need for the country to have a stronger stance on territorial rights.

Hindi pwedeng maliitin ang mga Pilipino nang ganito. Ang panalo natin sa arbitral ruling ang sandalan natin para tuloy-tuloy natin ma-protektahan kung ano ang atin, presidential hopeful Vice President Leni Robredo said in a statement.

[Translation: The Filipinos cannot be treated like this. Our arbitral victory should be the support for us to continue protecting what is ours.]

Robredo added she recently met with military officials to discuss national security issues as well as other topics like climate change, COVID-19 pandemic, cybersecurity, and disinformation.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Senator Manny Pacquiao both vowed they will be firm in defending the countrys waters.

We will be fearless in fighting for what is ours. We will insist on the Hague Ruling, Moreno said. But at the same time as being fearless, we are going to be fair with our discussion and management of the situation on both sides.

We should be firm to defend our territorial rights. Wag naman tayong magpapa-bully (lets now allow ourselves to be bullied, Pacquiao stressed.

For Senator Ping Lacson, the filing of diplomatic protests amid Chinas continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea is not enough.

We are not satisfied. Ang aming polisiya dito, makikipag-alliance tayo sa malalakas na bansa, yung militarily strong countries. Meron naman tayong existing bilateral agreements with them, he said.

[Translation: We are not satisfied. Our policy here is, lets create an alliance with the powerhouse countries, the militarily strong countries. We have existing bilateral agreements with them.]

Other senators, including Tito Sotto, Kiko Pangilinan, Richard Gordon, Francis Tolentino, and Koko Pimentel, also joined in protesting the incident.

Authorities earlier reported that three Chinese Coast Guard vessels blocked and fired water cannon on two Philippine boats transporting supplies to military personnel in Ayungin Shoal.

The Chinese government refuted this, claiming the Philippine boats trespassed into its waters without consent.
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11/18/2021

Photo (c) Morsa Images - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 47,423,960 (47,331,191)

Total U.S. deaths: 767,450 (766,232)

Total global cases: 255,235,906 ( 254,723,729)

Total global deaths: 5,128,223 (5,120,194)

One-third of U.S. health care workers not vaccinated

American health care professionals are among the biggest holdouts against the COVID-19 vaccines. Research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that nearly one-third of hospital workers, who face a vaccination mandate, have refused to be inoculated.

The study, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, shows that as of September 15, 70% of health care workers were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The highest percentage of vaccinated medical professionals work at childrens hospitals.

The lowest percentage of vaccinated workers was found at critical access hospitals and medical facilities in rural areas of the U.S.

OSHA suspends enforcement of vaccine mandate

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has suspended enforcement of the Biden administrations vaccine mandate in light of adverse court rulings. A federal appeals court recently blocked rules forcing companies with 100 or more employees to require COVID-19 vaccinations or regular testing for a coronavirus infection.

OSHA, which is the federal agency that regulates workplaces, said it is only suspending its activities. It says it expects to ultimately enforce the White House mandate.

While OSHA remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS pending future developments in the litigation, the agency said in a statement.

Study backs the effectiveness of masks

Of all the virus mitigation measures, wearing face coverings has met the most resistance in some quarters, with a handful of states passing measures blocking their required use. But another study has confirmed their effectiveness at reducing transmission of COVID-19.

Researchers in Australia carried out a meta-analysis of 72 previous studies to assess the effectiveness of prevention measures that dont involve drugs. They concluded that wearing masks in public, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently reduced transmission rates by 53%.

It is likely that further control of the covid-19 pandemic depends not only on high vaccination coverage and its effectiveness but also on ongoing adherence to effective and sustainable public health measures, the researchers wrote in the British Medical Journal.

Around the nation

Michigan: State health officials are voicing concerns about the rising number of children who have been hospitalized due to the coronavirus. The number of cases requiring hospital treatment are up 54% since Nov. 3.

Maryland: State officials are investigating how 98 children received the wrong COVID-19 vaccine. The students at South Lake Elementary School, in Montgomery County, were apparently given doses of the Pfizer vaccine that were not as strong as they were supposed to be.

Texas: Dr. Mary Bowden, a physician practicing at Methodist Hospital Houston, has resigned. She was previously suspended by the hospital for allegedly spreading dangerous misinformation. Bowden is an advocate of using ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19.

Iowa: A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows that 52% of state residents support a newly enacted law that requires employers who require COVID-19 vaccinations to allow exemptions for workers who cite religious or medical reasons.
Text:

Govt of India sidestepped discussion in Parliament on Democracy Index on the grounds that the issue was trivial and too sensitive

In an unflattering grouping of India with Hungary, Poland and Brazil, the report argues that the first steps of autocratisation involve eliminating media freedom and curtailing civil society. The report could not have been more explicit when it says: the dive in press freedom along with increasing repression of civil society in India (is) associated with the current Hindu- nationalist regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Dem Institute is not alone in its assessment. The Democracy Index of the Economist Intelligence Unit noted a precipitous decline in Indias position, which fell by 26 places from rank 27 out of 167 countries in 2014 to rank 53 in 2020. The United States Commission for International Religious Freedom flagged India as one of 15 countries of particular concern for the treatment of its minorities and has continued that label for this year as well.

Finally, in the judgement of Freedom House, an NGO based in the US, India was described as partly free, downgraded from an earlier characterization as free and more specifically, Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded from being partly free to not free.

The GoI sidestepped a discussion in Parliament on the Democracy Indexs findings on the grounds that the issue was both trivial and also too sensitive. It dismissed the allegations of the US Commission for International Religious Freedom as biased and untrue, and brushed aside Freedom Houses political judgements as inaccurate and distorted.

India has become known internationally for criminalizing dissent and using laws relating to sedition and terrorism against those activists, media persons and opposition politicians who stand up against the ruling dispensation. Human rights violations continue apace and constitutional institutions like the Election Commission and the judiciary are undermined and eviscerated by all manner of means including the lure of post-retirement sinecures, intimidation and threats.

India has not done well with respect to levels of education, life expectancy, the status of girls/women and per capita income. Hunger and malnutrition stalk the land. Moreover, democracy, freedom of speech, the right to protest and secularism, all basic features of the Indian Constitution, are in grave danger. There has to be a vigorous push back.

These challenges have to be met head on by a vigilant civil society, the media, political opposition, peoples movements and revitalized Constitutional institutions like the Election Commission and the judiciary. What is at stake is no less than the life and liberty of the poor and the disadvantaged and the hard won rights of the people of India under the Constitution.

The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCD), representing "concerned" former civil servants of the All India and Central services, has alleged that Indias plummetting rank in key global indices "amounts to violation of Constitutional provisions", regretting, Government of India, instead of expressing concern at the decline and attempting to stop the deterioration, "has been more concerned with attacking the reports and surveys and stating that they are wrong or deliberately misleading." by about 90 ex-officials, and claiming that it is not affiliated with any political party "but believe in impartiality, neutrality and commitment to the Constitution of India", the CCD's open statement said, "Hunger and malnutrition stalk the land. Moreover, democracy, freedom of speech, the right to protest and secularism, all basic features of the Indian Constitution, are in grave danger. There has to be a vigorous push back."Indias rank in the list of countries in the world across different indices has been slipping and that is a matter of enormous concern. Not only because the rankings, when taken cumulatively, show that the socio-economic situation in India has been steadily deteriorating, but also because the very things that make India an important democracy are slowly getting extinguished.Sadly, the Government of India (GoI), instead of expressing concern at such a decline and attempting to stop the deterioration, has been more concerned with attacking the reports and surveys and stating that they are wrong or deliberately misleading.The latest such report showing a fall in Indias ranking among countries is the Global Hunger Index, 2021. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is prepared by European NGOs of Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe and measures and compares hunger in different countries of the world.According to earlier reports of the GHI, India had ranked 55 in 2015, but slipped to 94 in 2020 with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, all doing better than us. Even worse is the fact that, in 2021, in the course of a year, we have gone from rank 94 to rank 101, with only 15 countries ranking lower.The GHI measures hunger through four indicators, viz. undernourishment (i.e. the share of population whose caloric intake is insufficient), the percentage of wasting of children under 5 (i.e. children who have low weight for their height), the percentage of stunting for children (i.e. those children whose height is low for their age) as also the mortality rate for children under 5 years of age.While the index may have some limitations, the argument by the GoI that it is devoid of ground reality and is based on unscientific methodology is misplaced. Governments own data from the National Family Health Survey, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy and from academic studies broadly confirm the statistics which are contested by the GoI.Several other reports which rank the different countries of the world also do not show India in a very happy light. The Human Development Report of the UNDP measures three basic scales of human development: education, life expectancy and per capita income and ranks countries on that basis.The Human Development Index of 2020 shows India at rank 131 out of 189 countries, having slipped two spots from 2018. In fact, there has been practically no improvement since 2014, when, too, India ranked at 131.As regards the status of women, the 2021 Global Gender Gap Report placed India at the dismal rank of 140, a drop of 28 spots, much below the 65th rank that Bangladesh is at.Moreover, the child sex ratio has fallen from 983 girls per 1000 boys in 1951 to 899 per 1000 in 2018, underlining the strong and pervasive male child preference in Indian society.The World Happiness Report which is brought out by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network measures subjective wellbeing by relying on life evaluations, positive emotions and negative emotions. The World Happines Report of 2020 also places India very low.It ranks India at 139 out of 149 countries. As per this report Pakistan is a happier country than India standing at rank 105. The ten countries behind India in 2020 are Burundi, Yemen, Tanzania, Haiti, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.The March 2020, Democracy Report of the widely respected V-Dem Institute in Sweden noted the increasing challenges for the media, civil society and the opposition to function freely under the current regime and observed that India has continued on a path of steep decline, to the extent it has almost lost its status as a democracy.
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But its worth noting that Canadas biggest export of the era, Schitts Creek, was spearheaded by a septuagenarian who struck it big in America, and he and his son had the luxury to say no to the American networks they initially pitched after they worried the show would be tinkered with.

Dan Levy used the success of Schitts to land a big Netflix deal, which is great for him but not exactly a patriotic victory so much as a reminder that being the scion of a Hollywood star is still a solid career path.

Gage Skidmore One that was walked by famous Canadian comedian Kiefer Sutherland.

Its also worth noting what Canadian shows dont make it to America, or get dumped on whatever the hell Ovation is. Americans dont watch our political satire, because why would they? Americans dont watch our terrible sketch shows, because they already have SNL. Literally no one is watching Nirvanna the Band the Show because viewers are cowards who hate the weird. Americans rarely watch our non-comedies because, with all due respect to any Murdoch Mysteries superfans reading this, American television is already awash in dramas that benefit from larger budgets.

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Strip all of those away and you have, well, Kims Convenience and Letterkenny, which were praised for being lighthearted and gentle at a time when most American comedies either force quirkiness or double as harrowing existential dramas about depressed alcoholics. Kims and Letterkenny work because theyre about mundane people having amusingly mundane adventures, which is sometimes all you want when you sit down after a long day.

Make It Different, Just Not Too Different

I think thats been true of Canadian exports for a while; SCTV and Kids in the Hall were goofier alternatives to the American political satire they competed with. While Not Necessarily the News was sounding off on President Reagan, Mark McKinney was doing the Im crushing your head bit. The latter tends to have a longer shelf life, because its hard to get 21-year-olds to appreciate the legacy of Iran-Contra zingers. (We keep trying, nonetheless. -Ed)

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To give you an example of how selective America can be when it comes to importing Canadian comedy, Little Mosque on the Prairie made international headlines 15 years ago for its premise of Hey, look, Muslims are actually people, but the hokey and inoffensive sitcom only made it to America after its six seasons ended. And on a network that bombed harder than Quibi, apparently because it was considered too contentious for patriotic viewers. Its planned American reboot vanished into the ether for the same reason.

So Canadian comics feel economic pressure to go make it in America, while America only imports Canadian content thats funny but not trying to tackle contemporary politics or cultural issues. As a result, Canadas had a reputation as a font of polite, funny people since Wayne and Shuster were doing the Ed Sullivan Show in the 50s.

And while thats fine, it does mean that audiences miss out on the weirder stuff we sometimes make up here. Maybe some Americans, were thinking somewhere in the probably-similar-numbers-corresponding-to-political-affiliation range, can sit down and branch out a bit once the weather gets really cold.

Mark is on Twitter and wrote a book.
Over the past year, a string of high-profile cyberattacks coming from Russia and China has galvanized the United States and its western allies into taking swift action to counter the escalating incidents. Consequently, the SolarWinds spyware infiltration, the Microsoft Exchange hack, and ransomware attacks launched by criminal gangs harbored by the Kremlin dominate headlines and drive nation-state cybersecurity responses.

However, its not always Russia or China who are dangerous adversaries in the digital realm. Smaller threat groups from India, Iran, Belarus, Latin America, and Israel can hold their own when it comes to disruptive hacking or espionage operations. In addition, alleged hacktivist groups and threat actors of indeterminate origin engage in malign activities for often mysterious purposes.

Indian hackers pose as legitimate firms

Reuters journalists Chris Bing and Raphael Satter recapped at the recent Cyberwarcon event their ongoing investigation of a loose collective of Indian hackers that blur the lines between reputation management firms and outright hacking-for-hire services. Working for outfits such as Appin Security Labs and BellTrox, these hackers target lawyers, activists, executives, investors, pharmaceutical companies, energy firms, asset management companies, offshore banking entities, and high net worth individuals.

One target of Delhi-based BellTrox was Iranian-American aviation tycoon Farhad Azima, whose emails were stolen by the company and used against him during litigation. When you guys discover a hack and leak operation down the line, I dont just want you to think its Russia or its North Korea or even India, Bing said. We want you to think maybe its that billionaire whos been in the news, maybe its that K Street lobbying firm, maybe its even that disgruntled former spouse.

Belarus and not Russia is behind the Ghostwriter campaign

The biggest news to come out of Cyberwarcon was the revelation that Mandiants Threat Intelligence Group linked state-sponsored espionage group UNC1151, previously tied by researchers to Russia, to the Belarusian government. Mandiant also concluded that UNC1151 provides technical support to an information operations campaign known as Ghostwriter, which has fostered narratives consistent with Belarusian government interests, including anti-NATO messaging.

Mandiants Ben Read, senior manager for cyber espionage analysis, and Gabby Roncone, technical threat intelligence analyst, said they couldnt rule out Russias involvement entirely. Ghostwriter is tied to Belarus with moderate confidence, Read said. Ive seen the ties to 1151. The technical support that youre getting from this group we have tied with high confidence.

We dont see any overlaps between UNC1151 or the Ghostwriter activity and other cyberespionage information operations that have been publicly attributed to Russia. It is its own thing, and we think it should be evaluated as such. There are a number of good reasons to suspect Russian involvement. We just dont have the hard evidence.

Israeli firm Candiru linked to watering hole attacks

Another big revelation coming out of Cyberwarcon is that watering hole attacks on high-profile websites in the Middle East have been linked by researchers at ESET to Israeli spyware firm Candiru. Among the sites targeted in the attacks are the websites of the Iranian embassy in Abu Dhabi and Middle East Eye, a London-based digital news site, and other sites critical of Saudi Arabia. The US Department of Commerce recently sanctioned Candiru by placing it on the entities list that prevents US organizations from doing business with the firm without a license.

Matthieu Faou, malware researcher at ESET, said during his Cyberwarcon talk that Mandiant stopped seeing activity from this operation at the end of July 2021, just a few weeks after the release of blogposts by the Citizen Lab, Google and Microsoft detailing the activities of Candiru.

Facebook disrupted hacking groups in Pakistan and Syria

David Agranovich, Facebooks director for global threat disruption, and Mike Dvilyanski, who leads Facebooks cyberespionage teams, shared details on actions the company took against four distinct groups of hackers in Pakistan and Syria over the past several months. Facebook disabled the groups accounts, blocked their domains from being posted on its platform, shared information with industry peers, security researchers, and law enforcement, and alerted the people it believed the hackers targeted.

The group from Pakistan is known as SideCopy, which has been targeting former members of the Afghan government and others based in Afghanistan following the collapse of the government. In Syria, Facebook removed three groups with links to the Syrian government: The Syrian Electronic Army, APT-C-37, and an organization that targeted minority groups, activists, opposition, Kurdish journalists, activists, members of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), and Syria Civil Defense or White Helmets, a volunteer-based humanitarian organization.

Threat group Machete focuses on Latin America

Blake Djavaherian, an intelligence analyst for CrowdStrikes Global Threat Analysis Cell (GTAC), detailed his firms investigation into Machete, a Latin American-focused threat actor that has been active since at least 2010. Machete operates in a highly targeted fashion, focusing nearly always on Latin American issues or organizations.

The group delivers malware through very good spoofs of government correspondence. Machete has a particular emphasis on Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and some groups internal to Colombia. Although CrowdStrike hasnt attributed the threat actor to a particular country, the target scope is very pertinent to the likely intelligence collection priorities of the Colombian government, including contractors and subcontractors that might work for the Colombian government doing this sort of activity, Djavaherian said.

Four Iranian groups are moving to crime personas

Alex Orleans, who manages the targeted intrusion mission for CrowdStrike Intelligences GTAC, and Katie Blankenship, GTAC director, revealed at the conference details of four Iranian groups theyve investigated: Tarnished Gauntlet, Pioneer Kitten, Spectral Kitten, and Nemesis Kitten.

The groups are moving from hacktivist personas to crime personas, so they can organically capitalize on ransomwares disruptive capabilities while also allowing actors to blend in with a large volume of new crime activity, Blankenship said.

Microsoft has observed six Iranian threat groups deploying ransomware

James Elliott, Simeon Kakpovi, and Ned Moran of Microsofts Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) presented their analyses of a gradual evolution of the tools, techniques, and procedures employed by malicious network operators based in Iran. Since September 2020, MSTIC has observed six Iranian threat groups deploying ransomware to achieve their strategic objectives in waves every six to eight weeks on average. One group, in particular, PHOSPHORUS, targeted the Fortinet FortiOS SSL VPN and unpatched on-premises Exchange Servers globally with the intent of deploying ransomware on vulnerable networks.

Signaling may be the goal of hacktivists

Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a principal threat researcher at SentinelOne, recapped a series of cybersecurity incidents involving so-called hacktivist groups or actors. Examples include Phineas Fisher, who claimed to have hacked offensive intrusion and surveillance company Hacking Team in 2015, and Indra, which claimed responsibility for attacks in Iran, including a hack of the countrys railway station. Indra is also behind a recent attack on Iranian gas stations.

Guerrero-Saade said that in most of these cases, the hacks werent necessarily the goal. Instead, the hackers were engaging in a form of signaling to send a message. Its one thing to upset folks because they cant get gas. Its different from saying, well, to what end do we want these people to be upset?
The state Medical Examining Board has agreed to suspend the license of a physician who is accused of repeatedly failing to comply with the terms of his prior discipline for abusing alcohol.

The board this week also disciplined a neurologist for his prescribing habits and supported a plan to reinstate the medical license of a former Madison physician who was convicted of criminal drug charges.

In 2012, the board revoked the medical license of John D. Lynch, II, a former emergency department physician with Hartford Healthcare, after he was fired for coming to work smelling of alcohol, state Department of Public Health documents said.

The board reinstated Lynchs license in January 2020 and in February 2021 Lynch could have resumed practicing medicine in Connecticut under a three-year probation with certain conditions including that he continues to seek alcohol abuse treatment, submit to random urine screens and attend private and group treatment.

In June, a private therapist issued a report to the agency indicating that Lynch was not able to practice medicine with reasonable skill or safety.

DPH documents also said that since February when the probationary period began, Lynch has not attended individual or support group treatment meetings, failed to submit random urine screens and failed to participate in a required clinical skills evaluation.

Lynchs license is now under temporary suspension until a hearing takes place on Dec. 1. DPH said Lynch has been living in Virginia and not practicing in Connecticut.

In other action, the board supported DPHs plan to reinstate the medical license of Scott Houghton of Madison, who was convicted in 2013 of four drug charges including two counts of sale of a narcotic or hallucinogenic.

In taking the action, the board could only support or oppose DPHs plan but could not be the authority that determines whether or not his medical license is reinstated since he currently does not hold a license and he was never formally disciplined, agency officials said.

Houghton pleaded guilty to the criminal charges under the Alford Doctrine. Under the plea, defendants do not admit guilt but concede that the state has enough evidence to gain a conviction.

Houghton did not renew his medical license in 2011 as the criminal case was pending. In a proposed order for his reinstatement, DPH presented numerous allegations against Houghton, including that he failed to monitor several patients for whom he had prescribed opiates and in one case accepted free meals and lodging at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos from a patient.

DPH investigators found that Houghton continued to write prescriptions after his controlled substance registration was suspended and found he failed to adequately examine elderly patients who he had prescribed opiates, documents said. Houghton also illegally gave patients prescriptions for methadone to treat addiction, investigators said.

Houghton denies all of the allegations listed by DPH investigators but he admitted that he was convicted of four drug offenses in 2013, documents said. He was sentenced to a five-year probation in the criminal cases.

Houghton successfully completed the five-year criminal probation and has agreed to practice under several restrictions including that he is prohibited from writing prescriptions for controlled substances and he must practice in a setting with at least one other licensed physician, documents said.

He also must attend coursework on ethics and boundaries with patients, according to the order. His license will be reprimanded as part of the order, documents said. He is also required to pass a skills evaluation and an exam before the DPH will reinstate his license, officials said.

The board also reprimanded the license of Dr. Arjuna Mannam, who practices neurology for Trinity Health of New England and had prescribed a toxic amount of Dilantin to a patient who was being treated for a painful facial nerve condition, documents said.

The patient complained to DPH about the treatment, which took place in September 2019, the documents said. Mannams license is on probation for six months during which he is required to take coursework in prescribing practices.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield announced Thursday that he will not seek reelection, another blow to Democrats seeking to retain a House majority next year and win what is expected to be North Carolina's closest congressional race.

Butterfield, 74, a former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, has represented several rural counties in northeastern North Carolina since 2004, often winning by comfortable margins. But redistricting by state Republicans places him in a toss-up district with a smaller share of Black voters who were likelier to gravitate to his campaign.

The congressional boundaries could still get struck down in court as Democrats and voting rights groups argue that Republicans created racial gerrymanders and drew lines for pure partisan gain. Butterfield told The Associated Press this month that he would run under a fair map."

While I am hopeful that the courts will ultimately overturn this partisan map and see that a fair map is enacted, I have made the difficult decision that I will not seek reelection to the United State House of Representatives, Butterfield said in a video. It is time for me to retire and allow the torch to be passed to someone who shares the values of the district and can continue the work I have labored so hard for the past 18 years.

Butterfield becomes the second North Carolina Democrat not to seek reelection to the U.S. House. Rep. David Price, who represents many Triangle-area communities, announced last month that he would not seek reelection, weeks before the map Republicans drew kept him in one of the states safest Democratic districts. In a statement Thursday, Price called Butterfield "a visionary leader, a master of the art of politics, and a valued friend.

Butterfield is the 15th House Democrat to indicate that they will not seek reelection in 2022. The pileup of retirements is a foreboding sign for Democrats, underscoring the reality that the party that wins the White House typically loses congressional seats in the following midterm elections. More members are expected to depart as they contend with the reality that they could find themselves in the minority.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Butterfield an esteemed and effective leader and "a lifelong advocate for civil rights...spearheading initiatives to create jobs and fight poverty in Black communities and driving progress within our own institution, including legislation to remove statues of those who fought in the Confederacy from the halls of the U.S. Capitol.

Alex Nolley, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said Butterfield's decision further proves that the red wave is coming to North Carolina next year.

Possible candidates to replace Butterfield include U.S. Senate candidate Erica Smith, a Democrat and former state senator who previously represented several counties in Butterfield's district. Smith made an unsuccessful 2020 bid for U.S. Senate. She is again pursuing the position, but has struggled to gain momentum. Smith said Butterfield leaves Democrats with big shoes to fill in Congress.

Morris Katz, Smiths campaign manager, noted Smith is seriously considering a run for Butterfield's seat. Candidate filing for the March 8 primary begins in less than three weeks.

State Sen. Don Davis, a Democrat who represents Pitt and Greene counties, has also signaled his interest in a run, noting in a news release shortly after Butterfield's retirement that he will share more about his future plans "in due time.

Republican Sandy Smith of Pitt County, who has received support from allies of former President Donald Trump, including attorney Jenna Ellis and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, is seeking the GOP nomination. She lost to Butterfield in the 2020 general election by 8 percentage points, or about 29,000 votes. But while those district boundaries slightly favored Democrats last year, the new lines make the seat highly competitive, according to analyses by outside groups.

Butterfield was raised in Wilson, the eastern North Carolina town that once was site of one of the worlds busiest tobacco auction markets. In 1988, he was elected as a trial judge. Then-Gov. Mike Easley appointed Butterfield to a seat on the state Supreme Court in 2001, but he later lost his bid for a full eight-year term.

He joined the U.S. House in July 2004 after winning a special election. As a freshman lawmaker from a state with one of the countrys heaviest military presences, he joined the House Armed Services Committee. In that role, he toured the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base prison in Cuba and said he believed many of the accusations of abuse of suspected terrorists were false.

In Congress, Butterfield has pushed for affordable health care, support for rural communities and stronger environmental protections.

I am proud of my work in Congress on behalf of my constituents and I know that my life's work of fighting for greater fairness and equity will not cease, even after the close of the 117th Congress," Butterfield said.

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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

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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.
MANKATO, Minnesota (AP)  Charlie Kirk stood 80 miles from where George Floyd was murdered, faced an overwhelmingly white audience, and declared he was going to say things no one dares say out loud.

What followed was an avalanche of aspersions and debunked claims about Floyd, the Black man whose death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer set off a global reckoning over racial injustice and broad calls for change. But the white conservative agitator had a counter view: Floyd was a scumbag, he said, unworthy of the attention.

The insult lodged at Floyd, a 46-year-old father suspected of passing off a counterfeit $20 bill, was intended to be shocking. But anyone familiar with Kirk shouldnt be surprised. For years, the conservative provocateur and his group, Turning Point USA, have built a following inflaming racial divides and stoking outrage. Kirk thrived during President Donald Trumps tenure. He landed speaking spots at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and 2020 and occasionally counseled Trump on campaign messaging and tactics.

Now the 28-year-old is expanding his reach, trying to rally a next generation of aggrieved white conservatives. On a tour of college towns, he blasts schools and local governments for teaching about racism, with a confrontational style some call dangerous. Yet Kirk is drawing large crowds of millennials and Gen Zers, millions of online followers and donor cash, often with little media attention.

Kirk is stoking fear among a group that is coming of age in a time of social restlessness, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights lawyer and activist.

Hes taking the discontent that some people may be experiencing and combining it with racial animus, which is a dangerous recipe in a country that is still in the midst of racial turmoil, she said.

Like many leading Republicans, including Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin and Trump, Kirk seizes on opposition to critical race theory. The once obscure academic framework has been transformed by conservatives into a catchall term for education about inclusion, diversity and systemic racism in the U.S.

Kirk's answer is a free K-12 alternative curriculum described as the key to a reliable, honest and quality America-first education, and is aimed primarily at homeschooling parents.

It's just one offering in Kirk's buzzing conservative content portal designed to meet young people where they live online. There's also an array of podcasts hosted by Kirk and other conservative figures, and a Professor Watchlist to label instructors "who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda.

Turning Point Live is a three-hour streaming talk show aimed at Gen Z and featuring 20-something host John Root. Recent guests include Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, both Republicans.

And theres plenty of swag: Buy merch. Save America, the site suggests.

Turning Point USA's online audience is large and growing. It averaged 83,000 monthly unique visitors over the past three years, but it grew to a monthly average of 111,000 in the past year, according to the digital intelligence firm Similarweb. That's more than three times the traffic for conservative radio host Laura Ingraham's website over the past year.

That traffic is driven in part by at least a dozen social media accounts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that, combined, have more than 10 million followers online.

Money into Kirks nonprofit network has followed the traffic.

Turning Point USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, meaning contributions are tax-deductible and its donors are not disclosed. But in 2019, the most recent year for which tax records are public, Turning Point USA raised more than $28 million, according to Internal Revenue Service filings. Thats almost twice what it raised in 2014, its first-year as a tax-exempt charity.

Though Turning Point USA doesnt have to disclose its donors, some are foundations established by wealthy conservatives, which report their donations to the IRS in annual tax filings. A partial list reads like a roster of conservative megadonors, including foundations affiliated with the late megadonor Foster Friess and the Uihlein and Bradley families, who also help finance leading conservative policy groups such as American Legislative Exchange Council, the Cato Institute and the Federalist Society.

Kirk also leads a fundraising group aimed specifically at political advocacy. That group, Turning Point Action, has endorsed several congressional candidates for 2022. The list includes Washington's Joe Kent, Illinois' Catalina Lauf, Florida's Anna Paulina Luna and Ohio's Max Miller, all candidates who ran to oppose GOP House members who voted for Trump's second impeachment.

Kirk has shown a knack for anticipating the outrage of the moment.

He was quick to assail shutdown orders at the dawn of the pandemic, and then claimed falsely that Trump won the 2020 election. He has attacked Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, blamed spiking violent crime on efforts to defund police departments and months before Youngkin was seizing on parental outrage in Virginia, Kirk had turned to critical race theory.

He works within the framework of the Trump movement. He is a good barometer of what the Republican right wing feels it can get away with, said Michael Hayden, a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit group that tracks far right figures and organizations.

Turning Point USA was listed among the 11 groups involved in the March to Save America rally that preceded the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Days before the rally, Kirk boasted on Twitter about sending buses full of patriots to DC to fight for this president. He later deleted the tweet.

Online contributions to Turning Points website spiked immediately after the riot, according to Similarweb, which can track frequency of online payments but not amounts.

Kirk is not among the more than a dozen rally organizers subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the Capitol siege. A committee spokesperson would not comment on whether Kirk has been interviewed or approached by the committee.

Lately Kirk, who did not respond to interview requests, has stayed out of the headlines. However, an event in Idaho drew attention last month when a man shouted from a crowd: How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?

Kirk answered by denouncing the comment, but blamed the left: They are trying to make you do something that will be violent, that will justify a takeover of your freedoms and liberties."

Raised in the upper-income Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Kirk became politically involved young, volunteering in middle school and high school on political campaigns. His quick rise began shortly after high school when he quit attending Harper College, a Chicago-area community college, to pursue political activism and co-founded Turning Point USA with Chicago-area tea party activist and mentor Bill Montgomery.

Kirks Exposing Critical Racism Theory tour has promoted recent stops in Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont. Last month, he packed a convention center ballroom in Mankato, Minnesota, with roughly 600 people  mostly teenagers and college students  on a Tuesday evening.

Once a prairie farming hub south of Minneapolis, Mankato has swelled into a diversifying mini-metro. Minnesota State University, food production plants and the Mayo Clinics satellite campus all have drawn African and Latin American immigrants, while the Black population has grown steadily.

For 90 minutes, Kirk spoke directly to the virtually all-white crowd and told them radical leftists want them to feel ashamed.

Just because youre a white person does not mean you have to begin apologizing simply for how God made you, he said.

He repeated widely debunked claims about Floyd's criminal record and suggested that the cause of Floyd's death was a drug overdose, rather than homicide, as the medical examiner found.

Rep. Jim Hagedorn, the local Republican congressman, was in the audience and later said in a Facebook post that he enjoyed attending and hearing Kirk "discuss the need to stand up and defend America and our founding principles.

Riley Carlson, the campus coordinator for Turning Point USA at Minnesota State, said she didn't know much about critical race theory before the event.

Were just excited Charlie is here to explain it," said the senior from St. Michael, a Minneapolis suburb. Theres so many different ways you can look at it. And Im looking for where I stand on it.

Kirk's message is a hard sell to most young people. Roughly 60% of voters younger than 30 said they think racism is a very serious problem in the United States, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 110,000 voters in the 2020 election. Its the largest percentage of any age group surveyed.

Meanwhile, Trump lost younger voters by 30 percentage points last year, VoteCast shows.

Its a wedge issue to fire up a shrinking base," said John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics and an expert in young voters.

But it demonstrates Kirk's finger is on the pulse of conservative anger, said Peter Montgomery, a senior fellow with the liberal People for the American Way.

Fearmongering about critical race theory has really seemed to rise to the top of the messaging of the groups I watch, he said. There's been a pivot toward that and Kirk has been wise to the fundraising power it promises.

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Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut, Mary Clare Jalonick and Amanda Seitz in Washington and Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.

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This story has been corrected to remove a reference in the 16th paragraph to foundations affiliated with the Charles and David Koch network. Turning Point USA does not receive funding from them.
HARTFORD  Attorneys for a shuttered Norwalk restaurant argued before the Connecticut Supreme Court on Tuesday that Gov. Ned Lamont's early pandemic restrictions on indoor dining made it impossible for the owners to fulfill the obligations of their lease, freeing them from having to pay back rent.

The case is the latest asking the high court to weigh in on Lamonts numerous executive orders related to the pandemic. Last December, the court upheld the validity of the governors orders related to bars and restaurants.

Lamonts administration was not a party to the lawsuit before the justices on Tuesday, however, the case was essentially a contract dispute between the restaurants owners and their former South Norwalk landlord.

The restaurant, which went by the name Blackstones Bistro and The Village, faced struggles prior to the start of the pandemic in March 2020, and the owners were late paying the rent during the first two months of the year, according to court records. Days before Lamont ordered a halt to indoor dining on March 16, 2020, Blackstones closed due to a pair of employees testing positive for the virus, and remained completely closed for the next two months.

Even then, the restaurant was not earning enough money on takeout and limited-capacity dining for the owners to make their monthly $13,777 rent payments, according to court records and their attorney, Philip Russell.

They failed to negotiate deferred or reduced rental payments, and the restaurant closed for good in September 2020. The landlord, AGW SoNo Partners, then sued for back rent and was awarded $200,308 at trial earlier this year.

During oral arguments over the appeal of that decision Tuesday, the justices questioned both sides about the restaurants lease, its business model and how both came to be affected by the pandemic.

The problem with unanticipated things is that they are unanticipated, and we have laws that we try to fit into that, Justice Gregory DAuria said.

At one point, several of the justices appeared focused on wording in the lease requiring the operation of a first class, restaurant and bar, an expensive standard that Russell said became nearly impossible to sustain through takeout service. Other times, several justices pressed the attorneys to define the point at which public health orders become so onerous that it is impossible to do business.

Where is the line? Because there was some profitability, it just wasnt as much as you wanted, Justice Raheem Mullins asked Russell.

Because of the high-end nature of the restaurant  where a typical check exceeded $100  Russell argued that the governors original lockdown order rendered its business model impossible, and should have voided the lease. The fact that they tried to do takeout is interesting  but not totally relevant, he said.

Andrew Nevas, the attorney for the landlord, said the buildings owners were still required to make their regular mortgage and tax payments during the pandemic, adding that the governors orders did not free the restaurants owners from their obligations under the lease.

There was no impediment to actual performance here, Nevas said. They were open for six months without paying rent.

The justices also questioned that argument and raised the possibility that both parties were due some relief as a result of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown orders.

The result youre asking us to reach is that only one side suffers, Justice Steven Ecker said.

The case raised several questions over the ability of unanticipated events to impact contracts, which courts around the country are grappling with as new lawsuits arise out of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his arguments, Nevas said a decision to essentially void the restaurants lease due to Lamonts orders would have sweeping implications across the industry in Connecticut.

A judge in Massachusetts in February excused the owners of a Boston coffee shop from having to pay several months of back rent due to public health orders that severely curtailed their ability to do business.

After Blackstones Bistro closed last September, the buildings owners subsequently leased the space to Sono Boil, a crab and seafood restaurant. In court filings, Russell alleged that the new restaurant was offered reduced rent and other concessions at the time it signed its lease.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (AP) _ Victoria's Secret & Co. (VSCO) on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $75.2 million.

On a per-share basis, the Reynoldsburg, Ohio-based company said it had profit of 81 cents.

The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 71 cents per share.

The company posted revenue of $1.44 billion in the period, which missed Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.46 billion.

For the current quarter ending in January, Victoria's Secret said it expects revenue in the range of $2.1 billion.

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This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on VSCO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/VSCO
Tracking shots of a solitary figure striding across a Western plain, seen from within the darkened interiors of a home, bookend Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog." As the man walks, with wrinkled foothills behind him, the camera glides through the house. He goes into and out of view with each window.

The man is Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch), a rough-hewn Montana rancher with a menacing arrogance and a cocky, upright posture. The first time we see him this way, through the windows, it's an early signal that The Power of the Dog will pulsate with friction between within and without, that its masterful vision of the West will play out in a juxtaposition of rugged exteriors and murkier, more mysterious interiors.

The Power of the Dog" is Campion's first film since her luminous 2009 John Keats drama Bright Star"; in the interim she made the series Top of the Lake," the vivid New Zealand mystery. Even without stepping on a film set in 12 years, though, appreciation for Campion has grown. Her films, including her 1993 masterwork The Piano," have only gained admirers for the way they capture assertive inner lives piercing social structures and male hegemony. In Campion's formally composed films, lyricism claws its way through.

Adapted by Campion from Thomas Savages 1967 novel, The Power of the Dog is less a return to form for Campion than a big-screen reminder of her virtuosity. The film, which Netflix opened in theaters Wednesday, isn't the Western you might think it is  though it does reside on the frontier. (Campion shot New Zealand for 1920s Montana, and its foreign, craggy mountain contours only enhance the feeling that this is not your traditional Old West.) There is Jonny Greenwood's disquieting score, for starters. And the foreboding, oversized ranch house, a hulking wooden pile on dry grasslands, is also a hint that something more gothic is at play here.

There lives Phil and brother George (Jesse Plemons), a study in opposites. George is finely dressed, humble and decorous; Phil, while a studied intellect, seems to never take off his chaps. He revels in the outdoor life of the range. I stink, and I like it, he says. Phil is confident he holds a greater understanding of farm life, masculinity and something more existential. He sees something in the folds of the looming mountain range that his men struggle to identify. One asks if there's something there. Not if you can't see it, there ain't," Phil replies.

But just what Phil can and can't see is at the heart of The Power of the Dog, a film that, like the novel, takes its name from a Psalm. The full line goes: Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog. Dogs, seen in Biblical times as unclean scavengers, were a kind of stand-in for the devil. But whose soul is in jeopardy in The Power of the Dog?

It would seem very much that Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst, brilliant) is the one in the crosshairs. She's a widow running a boarding house whom George falls for and quickly marries. (Their romance, which Campion allows one sweeping shot of as they embrace with a cathedral of mountain peaks all around, has a special sweetness in that it's a real-life one, too.) When George brings her home, Phil isn't shy about his unhappiness in the intrusion of a woman into his manly realm. Though his brother has long ago learned to avoid or ignore Phil's fearsome glare, Rose begins to wilt under the pressure and starts drinking heavily. A psychodrama sets in, only where the movie goes from here isn't as obvious as you might think.

The three's-a-crowd tension doesn't subside, but Campion's film steadily gravitates to a fourth character: Rose's teenage son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee). He comes to the ranch only in the movie's second act, introducing an entirely different, maybe modern presence to the drama. Peter is a slender beanpole who dresses in black and white and  gasp  sneakers, and crafts fragile flowers out of paper. Phil, who conceals his homosexuality, takes Peter under his wing, an almost unfathomable development poised somewhere between horror (that Phil's hard lessons will only set up the seemingly delicate Peter for slaughter) and tenderness. Cumberbatch, so alive to his character's contradictions, and Smit-McPhee, with a bracingly singular demeanor and a sly strength, artfully play both possibilities.

Against a grand backdrop, The Power of the Dog fluctuates with evolving power dynamics that seem to almost seize the movie, itself. Campion's film can feel unbalanced, with its primary characters often paired or isolated but seldom all together despite the chamber piece set-up. (George especially fades from view.) And as richly drawn as the movie is, the ending comes almost too quick. The Power of the Dog may in the end be more a twisty psychological thriller than a transcendent frontier epic. But the film's shape-shifting transformation is also part of its ruthless finesse.

"The Power of the Dog, a Netflix release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for brief sexual content/full nudity. Running time: 126 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
REDDING  Two weeks after a contractor accidentally poured 20 gallons of fuel oil down a water fill tank at Joel Barlow High School, administrators say that one of the schools three water wells was not working.

The two issues are unrelated, according to Superintendent Jason McKinnon, who stepped into his new role at the Easton-Redding-Region 9 school districts in September.

We learned this evening that one of our wells was not running, McKinnon told the Region 9 school board at Tuesday nights meeting.

During a scheduled weekly visit, it was discovered that some fuses in the control panel for the well had blown.

Lightning from a storm last weekend is the suspected culprit.

Board member Mike DAgostino said the issue seemed to be electrical, rather than mechanical, which would mean repairs would be fairly routine.

McKinnon said the school can run okay on two wells, and students would have adequate water. Repairs would likely be scheduled for the end of the month, with cost determined by whether the water pump needs to be replaced and the well depth.

No further updates were provided Wednesday.

At the same meeting, McKinnon had a PowerPoint presentation to update board and community members on the water fill tank accident, which involved fuel oil contamination of the schools 20,000 gallon water-storage tank. The fuel oil passed from that storage tank into other piping and valves, and into a nearby pressure tank.

The issue was caught on the morning of Nov. 3 by kitchen staff, who smelled a strange odor. The school dismissed students around lunchtime and did not return until the following Monday.

Im personally perplexed as to how a contractor can confuse the difference between a water fill tube and an oil fill site, McKinnon said. This was a very strange accident. In fact, when we worked with the state Department of Health, they had never heard of an accident occurring like this in Connecticut.

The contractor has since taken responsibility for the accident. The school and contractors legal teams and insurance companies will sort out payment details. McKinnon compared these negotiations to the kind that usually follow a car accident.

Water woes

McKinnons 16-slide presentation included further description of the incident, community feedback, invoices, cost estimates, and plans for moving forward.

The superintendent said that the water has been cleared for use and the school has subsequently locked the water fill tank caps. A fence will likely go up around the water tank area by the loading dock.

The school has received a $29,100 decontamination invoice, and may get another invoice from the environmental clean-up crew that was called in. So far, no payments have been made.

Additionally, the facilities and fields subcommittee will be reviewing three options for water equipment repairs.

Options range from $7,500 to $15,000, and include keeping and flushing the existing equipment, replacing old piping and valves but using the existing system, or upgrading the water system by replacing old piping, valves, pumps, and tanks.

I think the takeaway message here is that we could use this disaster to upgrade our water facilities with some new technology, and it may be that insurance pays for part of it already, said McKinnon.

During the presentation, the superintendent also clarified an earlier question from a parent concerned about price gouging in the cafeteria and said that this was incorrect information.

There was no price gouging of water of any kind, in fact the water was free, he said.

As the board wrapped up its water tank discussion, member Karen OBrien thanked McKinnon for his leadership during the crisis. In a follow-up communication survey, more than 80 percent of the 355 parents who responded said they strongly agreed that the school had provided good communication in a timely manner.

I'm sure he has learned more about water tanks and piping than he ever, ever planned to in his entire life, OBrien said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)  A federal jury has cleared four former coal company officials who were accused of skirting dust rules in two underground Kentucky mines.

The jury in U.S. District Court in Louisville deliberated Wednesday for about two hours before returning not guilty verdicts. The trial was a rare attempt to prosecute coal company officials on criminal charges.

Federal prosecutors had alleged that the men ordered subordinates to tamper with dust collection equipment at two Armstrong Coal mines in order to stay in compliance with federal regulations.

But defense attorneys said prosecutors lacked evidence that the men had taken part in a conspiracy to cheat the rules.

Kent Wicker, a Louisville attorney, said there was never a scrap of evidence that his client, Glendal Buddy Hardison, was guilty.

We were gratified the jury understood, Wicker said.

Hardison, the highest ranking company official of the four, was in charge of all of Armstrong's western Kentucky mines. The coal company went bankrupt in 2017.

Jason Grover, a trial litigator with the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration, declined to comment after the verdict Wednesday afternoon.

Eight people were originally charged in the case in 2018 and Hardison was added to the case in 2019. Five reached plea agreements with prosecutors to avoid felony charges.

Attorneys for the four men argued throughout the trial that the men took no part in rigging dust pumps and didn't explicitly order anyone to break the rules.

In this case I knew my client was not guilty, said Marc S. Murphy, an attorney for Charley Barber, a former superintendent at one of the Armstrong mines. This case shouldnt have been prosecuted.

The federal dust rules exist to protect mine workers from inhaling too much dusty air, which can contribute to an incurable and fatal disease called pneumoconiosis, or black lung. That disease has killed tens of thousands of coal miners.

The nations former mine safety chief, Dave Zatezalo, said in a statement about the Armstrong Coal indictments in 2018 that compliance with dust safety rules is crucial to protecting miners against respiratory illness.

But a judge's order in 2019 barred prosecutors from discussing the connection between coal dust in mines and black lung disease at the trial. U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley ruled that language specifically mentioning black lung and the disease process is not relevant and serves no purpose other than to inflame the jury. McKinley had said evidence of black lung risks could be brought up at sentencing if the men were convicted.

The alleged incidents occurred at Armstrong's Kronos and Parkway mines between 2013 and 2015, prosecutors said. A group of mine workers had complained about dusty conditions at the mines and met with a lawyer, which set the case in motion. At least two of the former workers have been diagnosed with black lung disease.

The trial was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic and later moved from Owensboro to Louisville A new judge also was assigned, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton, a Paducah native.

Along with Hardison and Barber, former safety director Brian Keith Casebier and Dwight Fulkerson, a former section foreman, were also acquitted of the conspiracy charges Wednesday.

The prosecution of the ex-Armstrong Coal officials was similar to a case brought against former West Virginia coal executive Don Blankenship in the wake of a 2010 coal mine explosion that killed 29 miners. Blankenship was convicted of a misdemeanor in 2015 and sentenced to a year in prison. He was not accused of direct responsibility for the deadly blast at Upper Big Branch mine, but prosecutors were able to prove that he had conspired to skirt mine safety rules.
BRIDGEPORT  Former city police chief Armando Perez can no longer be a police officer in Connecticut.

On Thursday morning the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, or POST, revoked Perezs certification to be a police officer.

Perez, 65, is currently serving a prison term in the Gilmer Federal Correctional Institution in Glenville, W.Va. He is scheduled for release on March 30.

Last April Perez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari Dooley to a year and a day in prison after he and the citys former personnel director, David Dunn, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making a false statement to the FBI.

Frederick Paoletti, who represented Perez in the federal case, declined comment.

Perez and Dunn were accused of participating in a 9-month conspiracy to deceive the city by secretly rigging the purportedly open and competitive selection process for a permanent Bridgeport police chief.

Prosecutors stated that Perez enlisted two officers under his command, who are only designated in the memorandum as Officer 1 and Officer 2, to prepare his resume and cover letter for the search process and later to complete his written examination and to get the oral exam test questions in advance.

Dunn was recently released after serving four months in prison.

Karen Boisvert, police academy administrator for POST, said without a POST certification Perez cannot serve as a police officer in Connecticut. She said he can reapply for certification in the future but it is not likely he will be granted it as a result of his federal conviction.

The councils decision comes several months after the citys former assistant police chief, James Nardozzi, asked state officials to strip Perez of his right to be a municipal law enforcement officer.

Nardozzi worked in Bridgeport from 2013 to 2016 under then-Chief Joseph Gaudett and competed in 2018s national search for a candidate to lead the police department that concluded with Perezs promotion to that role by Mayor Joe Ganim.

In his June letter to state POST Chairman Keith Mello, Nardozzi wrote that decertifying Perezs policing license is important in light of the national climate of demands for police transparency and following public safety reforms Connecticut lawmakers enacted last year.

This action will not only send a message to Perez that he will not be able to regain employment in the field, but send a stronger message to the public that the council takes its responsibilities seriously in upholding the publics faith in Connecticuts law enforcement institutions, Nardozzi told Mello.

Includes prior reporting by staff writer Brian Lockhart.
BAGHDAD (AP)  Hundreds of Iraqis returned home Thursday from Belarus after abandoning their hopes of reaching the European Union  a repatriation that came after tensions at Polands eastern border, where thousands of migrants became stuck in a cold and soggy forest.

Many others still in Belarus have moved into a heated warehouse not far from the border, emptying out a makeshift camp, Belarusian state-run media reported. But the Polish Defense Ministry posted video showing a few hundred people and their tents still near an official crossing point.

It was not clear if the two countries were talking about two different sites on their border, but it was typical of the dueling narratives that have marked the crisis, in which both Belarus and Poland have sought to portray themselves in a positive light while depicting the other as unfeeling and irresponsible toward the migrants.

We were hostages  victims stuck between Belarus and the European Union, said a young Iraqi returnee in a black hoodie after his flight arrived in Baghdad.

Belarus police are the same like Daesh, he said, referring to the brutal militants from the Islamic State group that rampaged through Iraq several years ago. He then walked away.

Ali Kadhim, who is returning to his home in Basra, said he wanted to go to Europe because in Iraq there are no jobs and the situation is very bad recently.

He said he had reached a deal with a smuggler to get him to the Belarus-Poland border zone, where a Belarusian border guard took his passport and cellphone and prevented him from leaving the forest. For three days, he had no food, water or internet service, he said.

I was living on what I found on ground. I mean I had to live on three dates in a whole day, Kadhim said.

Of the 430 people who flew from Minsk, 390 got off at Irbil International Airport in Iraq's northern Kurdistan region before the flight continued to Baghdad, said Jihad al-Diwan, head of media relations for Iraq's civil aviation authority. About 30 others who were registered for the flight had problems with their documents and did not board, according to Iraqi officials, who organized the return.

One woman arriving in Irbil carried a bassinet with a baby. Most still wore the heavy winter clothes from their time in Belarus despite the warm weather in Iraq. Another woman collapsed, apparently fainting.

Tensions had flared at the Poland-Belarus border in recent days, with about 2,000 people trapped between the forces from the two countries. On Tuesday, some of the migrants had thrown stones at the Polish troops, who responded with tear gas and water cannons.

The U.N. refugee agency says about half the migrants at the border area were women and children.

At least 12 people have died in the area in recent weeks from the harsh conditions in the border zone, including a 1-year-old whose death was reported Thursday by a Polish humanitarian organization.

Muslims in Poland buried an unidentified migrant at a cemetery in Bohoniki, where a population of Tatars has lived for centuries. It was the second such funeral there for a migrant in a week.

Most of the migrants are fleeing conflict or hopelessness in the Middle East and aim to reach Germany or other western European countries. But Poland has taken a hard line about letting them n, and Belarus didnt want them returning to the capital of Minsk or otherwise settling in the country.

The West has accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns to destabilize the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Belarus denies engineering the crisis, which has seen migrants entering the country since summer and then trying to cross into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Perhaps as many as 7,000 migrants remain in Belarus, according to authorities there. Many have moved to the temporary shelter of the warehouse since Tuesday, where they were given mattresses, water, hot meals and medical assistance.

Iraqi Kurds said the warehouse had filled quickly, with not enough food or places to sleep. A video obtained by The Associated Press showed men, women and children in sleeping bags or on blankets on the floor.

At first, the situation was good, I mean on the first day. We were receiving three meals a day. But as more people came in from the forest, it has got more and more crowded. As a result, we got no dinner yesterday and no lunch today, one young Iraqi Kurdish man said.

As you can see, it is getting very crowded here, and it is not easy to find a place to sit or to sleep, he added, speaking on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals. But it is much better than staying in the forest.

Everyone in the warehouse has spent a lot of money to come here and they dont want to go back," he said.

Amid the border tensions, the war of words has drawn in the EU and Belarus ally Russia as well.

EU Union Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson accused Belarus of engaging in an act of state-sponsored migrant smuggling and said sanctions and stopping flights to Minsk carrying migrants were our most effective tools in this struggle.

Foreign ministers of the G-7 group of leading industrialized countries also condemned the Belarus regimes orchestration of irregular migration across its borders."

Natalya Eismont, a spokeswoman for Lukashenko, said the fact that hundreds left Belarus shows the government is keeping its part of the bargain. The rest are categorically refusing to fly, but we will work on it, she said.

Lukashenko had proposed to German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the EU could open a humanitarian corridor to allow 2,000 migrants to head to Germany, while Belarusian authorities try to get the other 5,000 to return home, Eismont said.

But German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in Warsaw that suggestions Germany would be ready to receive 2,000 migrants is false information.

Following a call Tuesday between Merkel and Lukashenko, her office stressed the need for humanitarian assistance and for the migrants safe return home.

Poland's tough stand against their illegal entry included reinforcing the border with riot police and troops and plans to build a steel barrier. That approach has largely been met with approval from other EU nations, who want to stop a surge of migration.

But Poland also has been criticized by human rights groups and others for pushing migrants back into Belarus and not allowing them to apply for asylum.

Tuesday's border skirmishes injured 12 of the border forces. Warsaw accused Belarus of instigating the conflict, while the government in Minsk denounced Polands violent actions.

Lukashenko has rejected accusations of engineering the crisis and said his government has deported about 5,000 illegal migrants from Belarus this fall.

In May, however, he had railed against EU sanctions imposed for his harsh crackdown on internal dissent and said it would no longer stop migrants, telling the bloc: Now you will catch them and eat them yourself.

On Thursday, Lukashenko's ally Russian President Vladimir Putin also slammed the EU.

Western countries are using the migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border as a new reason for tension in the region that is close to us, for pressure on Minsk, and at the same time they forget their own obligations in the humanitarian sphere, he said.

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Litvinova reported from Moscow and Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Vanessa Gera in Warsaw, Sabina Niksic in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, Rashid Yahya in Irbil, Iraq, and Jim Heintz in Moscow contributed.
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP)  Libyas influential speaker of parliament announced late Wednesday that he will be running for president, making him the latest candidate to join the race for the countrys highest office after years of civil war.

Aguila Saleh, 77, who has led the countrys House of Representatives since 2014, announced his candidacy in a video statement. The elections are supposed to be held Dec. 24, but face growing uncertainty after two controversial candidates declared they are running. In the past week, a son of the countrys late dictator Moammar Gadhafi and powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter have submitted their bids to run.

Saleh has been a fixture on Libyas political scene in recent years. The body he heads came to power through elections in 2014 that ended up being contested. In the aftermath, the country split further into territories with rival authorities, and the lawmaking body fled from the capital of Tripoli to the eastern city of Tobruk after a court ruled it was no longer legitimate.

We are working to overcome the past, and close the chapter of conflict, and to embark on the future, Saleh, a former judge, said in Wednesday's video statement.

Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Gadhafi in 2011, who was later killed.

The oil-rich nation has for years been split between a government in the east, backed by military commander Khalifa Hifter, and a U.N.-supported administration in Tripoli, aided by Western-based Libyan militias. Each side has also had the support of mercenaries and foreign forces from Turkey, Russia and Syria and different regional powers.

Since February, a unity government that was appointed by U.N.-led talks has been meant to lead the country to the December elections. In recent days, two high profile but controversial candidates have come forward.

Hifter announced his candidacy Tuesday, while Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and one-time heir apparent of the late dictator, filed his official candidacy papers Sunday in the southern town of Sabha. Seif al-Islam, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, spent recent years in hiding after he was released from a militia-run prison in the town of Zintan in June 2017.

Hifter, meanwhile, led forces that previously besieged Tripoli in a year-long campaign to try to capture the capital, and he is a defendant in at least three separate federal lawsuits filed in a U.S. court where plaintiffs allege their loved ones were killed or tortured by his forces.

Other obstacles to the vote include occasional infighting among armed groups, the deep rift that remains between Libyas east and west and the presence of thousands of foreign fighters and troops.

Hifter commands the self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces but delegated his military duties in September to meet candidacy terms under current laws.

Saleh also handed over his duties three months before election day to become eligible to run. Hifter and Saleh have often acted as allies in past years. The lawmaker appointed Hifter as supreme commander of the forces he leads in 2015.
BRIDGEPORT  Recipients of portions of $18 million in federal aid have plans to support youth who missed key social and classroom time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An event on Wednesday morning  the second in a series of ceremonies Bridgeport has planned to announce awardees of American Rescue Plan funds  brought together city and district officials, and community groups focused on children and education emerging from the pandemic.

One of the hardest hit groups were our youth, mayoral aide Tom Gaudett said, citing a public input survey and council public hearing. It was clear, overwhelmingly, above all the other priorities, youth was the major priority.

Bridgeport issued a request for proposals in August, and worked out a deal with the schools to contribute $2 million from the district and $4 million from the city annually over the next few years. The recipients who will share that sum celebrated the announcement this week.

These partnerships are more critical than ever as we emerge from the pandemic, said schools superintendent Michael Testani. We cannot simply turn the clock back as we operated prior to March 12, 2020, when we closed our public schools, and expect to engage our kids. It will simply not work. It is now time to create programs that engage students in ways we could never have imagined and only talked about.

The city has been making plans to pool city and school district American Rescue Plan dollars to support youth and education since September.

Over the last several weeks, representatives from both sides  district staff, school board members, city officials and community representatives  evaluated roughly 50 relevant proposals for the federal aid.

Teresa Wilson spoke from the Village Initiative Project, one of the recipients and an education and college and career program, that has worked to address their social, emotional and physical needs after the COVID lock-down for a year and a half.

I cant tell you what this means, how much we appreciate this award, she said.

John Torres, the executive director of Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders, said the funding allocated toward his sports, education and civics organization would allow for new enrichment programs and activities, and greater capacity to serve more children and teens.

Some of them have experienced or are experiencing depression, seclusion, lack of energy or enthusiasm, Torres said. As youth providers, we are committed more than ever to creating a safe environment and providing the resources and hope to Bridgeport youth that will offer much-needed physical, mental and social support, so they can be the best versions of themselves.

Gaudett said many of the program and organizations feature familiar faces in the community.

But weve also through this money tried to do some new and innovative things in the city of Bridgeport, he said.

One of those innovative organizations is the Triangle Community Center, which provides case management, mental health services, social groups for peer support and training to better support the LGBTQ+ community.

With this grant, were going to be able to provide those educational resources to the high schools, said Edson Rivas, the executive director. Not just faculty, not just teachers, but also parents and students.

Other recipients included the Cardinal Shehan Center and McGivney Community Center, whose youth services programs include summer camps and year-round education and career preparation programs.

Another awardee, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, will receive a portion of $550,000 allocated to visual and performing arts to support music in local high schools, including to expose students to professional musicians and give them the opportunity to perform on their stage.

I know constantly we hear there are not enough youth programs in the City of Bridgeport, said City Council President Aidee Nieves. Now, we have funded different programs, unique programs, like the Triangle Program, also cultural programs that we dont traditionally fund. So that means theres a place for everyone in this city. No child should be left without an organization or entity to be a part of.

Mayor Joe Ganim closed the celebration with a nod to the uniqueness of this moment.

The only time you get this many good, well-intended, committed individuals and organizations in a room is when funding was being cut, eliminated or you couldnt get it, he said. You wanted to make your case, you wanted to plead  maybe to the city council or some other caring organization  to just hold on.

He said the organizations represented Wednesday had been doing great work with little in the way of resources.

We know now that with some increased funding, youre going to do an even better job and youre going to impact even more young people, he said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  With the legislative year nearing an end, North Carolina Republicans on Wednesday advanced a string of measures that voting rights groups fear would prevent lawfully cast ballots from being counted and discourage participation in the 2022 election.

The bills the GOP moved through the House rules committee are unlikely to become law, as they would almost assuredly lack the support of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and enough Democratic state lawmakers to override a possible veto.

Among the measures Republicans are pursuing is a plan to prevent the counting of absentee ballots that arrive at county elections offices after polls close on Election Day.

Sen. Warren Daniel, a Burke County Republican and bill sponsor, said the extra time the state offered for ballot collecting in 2020 as part of its effort to make mail-in voting more accessible during the pandemic unnecessarily lengthened the vote counting process and undermined voters' confidence in the results because it took several days after the election for then-President Donald Trump to be declared North Carolina's winner but the overall national loser to Democrat Joe Biden.

Everybody knows when Election Day is. Its when the votes are all in, and vote counting begins," said state Daniel said. "Every day that passes after that creates the possibility of distrust in the process. Ideally, wed like to have a winner on Election Night.

In 2020, the state extended the grace period for mail-in ballots to nine days due to the pandemic and U.S. Postal Service delays. Existing state law allows for ballot envelopes postmarked by Election Day to count if received within three days of the election. More than 11,600 ballots were received during the first three days after the 2020  a number Republicans expect to drop in a midterm election year. Daniel said he believes his bill would not determine election results.

Caroline Fry, interim advocacy director of Democracy NC, a prominent voting rights group, told lawmakers she feels the bill comes as the latest effort in a "national strategy to silence voters, particularly Black voters.

Democrats dislike the plan, as well as proposals the committee approved to have state elections officials collect citizenship data through the court systems jury selection process and ban private money from being used to support election operations.

We have got to come together, and this is not the way to do it," said Democratic Rep. Billy Richardson of Cumberland County. "I hope we dont pass this, and I hope we dont pass the rest of these bills. Id just wish wed come together, and this is not helping.

Republicans are again seeking to require courts to share citizenship data with state elections officials if a potential juror says they are unable to participate because they are not U.S. residents. The move renews an effort that failed in 2019 when Cooper vetoed the plan. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina believes the measure poses privacy concerns and could embolden anti-immigrant vigilantes.

Additionally, legislators are looking to pass a bill that would prevent private money from flowing to state and county elections boards. A $400 million donation from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, allowed county elections offices across the country to hire more poll workers, buy equipment to process mail-in ballot and purchase personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

But the grants drew the ire of conservative lawmakers across the United States who questioned the motives of wealthy, liberal-leaning individuals, prompting several GOP-controlled states to enact bans on such contributions.

When partisan groups are sending private dollars to counties that otherwise exclusively run elections, it erodes the confidence in the outcome," said Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus.

Senate Republicans voted in June along party lines to approve the measures limiting mail-in ballot counting and banning private money to fund election operations. The proposals now head to the House floor, as does the House bill requiring courts share citizenship information to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

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Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.

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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.
Bridgeport Police / Contributed

BRIDGEPORT  A man with a history of robbery arrests in the area dating back more than a decade was taken into custody in Stratford Wednesday afternoon following an afternoon bank robbery, according to police.

Detective Jeffrey A. Holtz, of the Robbery/Burglary Unit, said officers responded to a panic alarm at the TD Bank branch at 4865 Main St. at the intersection with Old Town Road around 2:30 p.m.
Connecticuts public schools should provide every student with an excellent education. But in practice, opportunities afforded to the states public school students vary significantly. Bridgeport public schools have fewer educational resources than peers in more affluent communities like Darien, where public school students education rivals that of elite private schools like Choate Rosemary Hall. The source of these inequities? A combination of school finance policy, housing affordability and gerrymandered district lines that divide access within Connecticuts public school system.

A new study from Bellwether Education Partners finds that Connecticut is home to 35 barrier borders, or school district boundaries that block low-income families from attending public school systems. These barriers often align with town boundaries, creating a patchwork of small school districts where enrolling a child is largely dependent on a familys ability to afford housing within those borders.

Across the nations 200 largest metropolitan areas, there are nearly 500 barrier borders from communities with high concentrations of affordable rental housing. Connecticut isnt alone in having exclusionary practices, but is a glaring example.

Besides segregating people by income, there are real educational implications: School districts with high concentrations of affordable rental housing generated $6,355 per-pupil less than districts with little-to-no affordable rental housing. Districts with less funding offer less programming, such as fewer advanced courses or fewer resources to support students learning and development.

Barrier borders have existed for decades, but they arent inevitable or arbitrary. Theyre intentional policy decisions that divide communities and are designed to leave low-income families with less. With political will, they can be changed.

Consider Bridgeport and Fairfield. Bridgeport has a relatively high concentration of affordable rental housing units, while Fairfield has very few. As a result, the poverty rate in Bridgeport is more than six times greater than Fairfields poverty rate. The difference in median household income between these communities is more than $90,000. And while Bridgeport schools serve a student population with greater educational needs, they generate $5,184 per-pupil less than Fairfield public schools.

Some policymakers in Connecticut are working to address the funding inequities that constrain opportunities for the states lower-income students. Yet even after recent equity-focused investments in public schools, there is still much more work to be done to create a truly equitable system of schools in Connecticut.

A proposed development including 36 additional units of affordable rental housing in Fairfield generated fierce opposition for its impact on highway views among drivers. Recent legislative efforts to reform zoning statewide were watered down to the point where Connecticuts House Majority Leader Jason Rojas described the final bill as painfully incremental.

State and local leaders have the policy tools to make meaningful changes to the status quo of inaccessible rental housing and balkanized district borders. On the housing front, policymakers can further overhaul zoning regulations and support the development of more affordable housing in more communities across the state, putting the needs of housing for low-income families above scenic views.

Leaders also can improve equity and access in education through school finance reform (including uncoupling the real estate market from public school funding), redrawing and combining school districts, and expanding programs that allow students to enroll in schools beyond the borders of their zoned school district.

But if Connecticut policymakers dont act, many low-income families will continue to be priced out of public schools that are close in proximity to their front doors, but worlds apart.

Alex Spurrier is an associate partner at Bellwether Education Partners and co-author of Priced Out of Public Schools: District Lines, Housing Access, and Inequitable Educational Options .
GUILFORD  A pony became gravely ill after it was given a carrot the animal couldnt chew and digest properly, according to its owner, Martha Russo.

Someone inadvertently fed the 33-year-old pony, Trinket, a carrot and that resulted in choke, a condition when something gets lodged in a horses esophagus. At first treated locally, the pony is now under the care of a veterinary practice in New York state.

The carrot created the problem because the elderly animal has no molars and could not chew it, according to Russo.

Trinket was treated for two days by Erin Trawick-Smith of Millington Equine in East Haddam.

Trawick-Smith said that Trinket had multiple chunks of carrot lodged in his esophagus and it was impossible to dislodge them, despite numerous attempts.

You cant be forceful, she said. The esophagus is fairly easily injured, particularly easily injured in a horse.

So late Tuesday afternoon, Trinket was transported from his home at Medad Stone Tavern in Guilford to New England Equine Practice in Patterson, N.Y. for further treatment.

On Wednesday morning, Russo said Trinkets condition was improving but guarded.

Tinket has pneumonia in both lungs, mildly dehydrated, slight temp and still unable to swallow without coming out nose. Russo said in a text.

He is improving and perky this a.m. but not out of the woods but now with a chance to recover, the text message said. We hope he will be able to (be) swallowing food normally again due to his battered esophagus.

Trinket has been on a rocky road the past few days. Early Tuesday evening, New England Equine Practice reported that Trinket was no longer choked and was receiving supportive care. Trawick-Smith described the ponys complications.

Trinket is quite old, so the tissues dont stretch as well, they dont heal as well, she said. Then if you have carrots sitting in there it can cause actual pressure damage to the tissues of the esophagus.

She noted there are other issues.

Horses cant vomit, so it tends to just stay there, she said. Usually, our goal is to try and take it out with a tube or possibly encourage it to go down lower and go into the stomach.

Trinket was rescued about a year ago through Mary Santagatas organization, All The Kings Horses Equine Rescue in Northford and currently lives at Medad Stone Tavern, along with Frosty, a 30-year-old equine. Russo has been keeping horses at the tavern for some 26 years.

Shes given him extraordinary quality of life, said Robert Hartmann, president of the Guilford Keeping Society, which owns Medad Tavern.

Theyve got two fields, theyre great companions, he said. Frosty dotes on him and is upset that this horse is obviously under the weather and misses not being in the same space with him.

Santagata took Trinket to New York.

They started working on him ASAP, Santagata wrote in a text Tuesday after arriving at New England Equine Practice.

He traveled like a champ, she said. I cant believe how stoic he is.

Hartmann spoke on behalf of Russo Tuesday. Shes just too upset to really talk about it, he said.

Hartmann stressed that Medad Tavern is private property and there are signs clearly posted that say do not feed the horses.

People mean well, I dont think this is malicious, he said. But this is the second time this year this has happened to Trinket.

We do have signs up, he added. Its private property.

Trawick-Smith said that carrots and apples can be problematic for horses.

Once theyre in there you cant break them up, she said. I can throw water at a carrot, but the carrots not going to dissolve in the water.

Kristin Song, who started SongStrong Sanctuary in Guilford, also cares for rescued animals.

We take in the animals that nobody wants and a lot of them have health issues, she said.

SongStrong, just like Medad Tavern, is private property but people just wander in to visit the animals, she said.

When we opened up the sanctuary our farm manager would show up and there would be people in the pasture playing (with) the horses, petting them or feeding them carrots or apples, she said.

She warned people of the dangers of feeding animals with which they are not familiar .

You dont know someone elses animal, she said. You have no idea whats going on with these horses and ponies and we have goats, too. You just cant do that.

Ashley Griffin of Guilford created a GoFundMe page to help with mounting medical expenses for Trinket. Within two hours of starting the page, almost $3,000 had been collected towards the $18,000 goal.

In addition, donations can be sent directly to Trinkets veterinarian, Erin Trawick-Smith, Millington Equine, P.O. Box 461, East Haddam, 06243. Any donations received, above and beyond what is needed for the ponys care, will be donated to SongStrong Sanctuary in Guilford.

Contact Sarah Page Kyrcz at suzipage1@aol.com
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New Zealand Dollar Outlook:

Rates markets are pricing in an extremely aggressive RBNZ hiking cycle  so much so that it may be detrimental to the Kiwi

Technical indicators are pointing lower for both NZD/JPY and NZD USD rates, which have recently touched fresh monthly lows.

According to the IG Client Sentiment Index , the New Zealand Dollar has a bearish bias in the near-term.

Far Too Aggressive

The New Zealand Dollar may have experienced too much of a good thing. Whereas rising rate hike odds for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand were, at one point, a tailwind for the New Zealand Dollar, they may now have become a burden. Rates markets pricing in a 25-bps rate hike at every single RBNZ meeting through the end of 2022, in what would be the most aggressive rate hike cycle by a major central bank in the post-Global Financial Crisis era.

Over the coming months, the RBNZ is almost certain to disappoint market expectations as theyve recently evolved. This, in turn, sets up a scenario where the New Zealand Dollar has been deprived of any further rate hike speculation that could fuel rallies, an asymmetric scenario that gives ample room for more downside in NZD-crosses moving forward.

NZD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (November 2020 to November 2021) (CHART 1)

NZD/JPY rates ultimately fulfilled their bullish potential that we had anticipated when we last reviewed the pair in September. But rate hike expectations have proven too firm, leading to the scenario that NZD/JPY rates, as a risk proxy, are particularly exposed to any downside price action in commodities or equity markets.

With todays bearish piercing candle on the daily timeframe, NZD/JPY rates are seeing bearish momentum deepen. The pair is fully below its daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA envelope, which is now fully in bearish sequential order. Daily MACDs descent continues, nearing a cross below its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are holding in oversold territory. Now that NZD/JPY rates are below the May high at 80.18, the next leg lower towards the July and September swing highs near 78.77 may have just begun.

NZD/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (November 2020 to November 2021) (CHART 2)

NZD/USD rates are exhibiting concerning price action that suggests a deeper pullback is underway. While the pair remains in a rising channel over the past five months, NZD/USD rates recently fell back below the descending trendline from the February, May, and September swing highs  a warning that the bullish breakout from October has now failed.

Bearish momentum is accelerating. NZD/USD rates are below their daily EMA envelope, which is fully in bearish sequential order. Daily MACD is starting to drop through its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are still holding in oversold territory. A move below the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the 2020 low/2021 high range at 0.6993 would foreshadow a pullback towards channel support at 0.6930 in the near-term, and if that is lost, then further losses towards the September swing low at 0.6860 should be anticipated soon after.

IG Client Sentiment Index: NZD/USD RATE Forecast (November 17, 2021) (Chart 3)

NZD/USD: Retail trader data shows 50.30% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.01 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 13.75% higher than yesterday and 45.81% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 4.39% lower than yesterday and 5.22% lower from last week.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests NZD/USD prices may continue to fall.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger NZD/USD-bearish contrarian trading bias.

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Strategist
Does Boris Johnson care about the increasing numbers of migrants who are risking their lives by crossing the English Channel  and putting enormous pressure on our hard-pressed social services if they succeed?

Almost six times as many migrants made the crossing last month as in October 2020.

A total of 2,669 migrants completed the journey in small boats despite the poor weather. Some 1,185 accomplished it on a single day a week ago, and more than 1,000 on Tuesday.

Three migrants have perished this month attempting to cross the Channel.

Come to that, an estimated 300 people have died doing so over the past two decades, most of whom had put themselves in the hands of unscrupulous 'people smugglers'.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson pictured leaving Downing Street on Wednesday amid increasing numbers of migrants arriving to the UK via the English Channel

Home Secretary Priti Patel described the asylum system as 'dysfunctional' on Tuesday following the Liverpool hospital terror attack

Meanwhile, the case of Emad Al Swealmeen, who died when his bomb detonated outside a Liverpool hospital on Sunday, highlights the problem of failed asylum seekers who may pose a threat to the public.

He had lost his application to stay in Britain but was somehow still here.

Priti Patel, who has been Home Secretary for two years and four months, described the asylum system as 'dysfunctional' on Tuesday, as though it was nothing to do with her.

She blames 'a whole professional legal services industry' for what she describes as 'a complete merry-go-round'.

She might also have mentioned the Church of England, which has apparently converted hundreds of Muslim asylum seekers to Christianity.

It appears that embracing Christianity significantly increases the chances of a migrant being given asylum  and decreases the likelihood of being sent back to an Islamic country.

Rejection

Not that the chances of that happening are very great. In 2012, 12,552 failed asylum seekers were returned to their home countries.

By last year, the number had dwindled to just 1,484.

If you make it across the Channel, you'll probably be able to stay, even if you are supposed to go.

Can anyone doubt that this is a serious crisis, which is almost bound to get worse as ever-greater numbers of people make their way across the 21-odd miles that separate Britain from France?

Of course, one could take the view that anyone who wants to come to this country under the guise of being a refugee should be welcomed with open arms.

Emad Al-Swealmeen, 32, has been identified as the man responsible for a terror attack outside the front entrance of a hospital in Liverpool just before 11am on Sunday

That is the standpoint of the Refugee Council, which seeks to work on behalf of refugees.

Yesterday morning, the BBC baldly reported that the Refugee Council disputed Priti Patel's recent claim that 70 per cent of arrivals are 'economic migrants'.

This rejection was quoted as though it were Holy Writ. The Refugee Council was obviously right, and Ms Patel and the Home Office were obviously wrong.

But the Refugee Council's 'research' was little more than an assertion.

Enver Solomon, its chief executive, avers: 'The reality is that people who come to the UK by taking terrifying journeys in small boats across the Channel do so because they are desperately seeking safety having fled persecution, terror and oppression'.

He's only partly right. In any case, these people shouldn't be trying to force their way into the UK.

By the way, the last time I looked, France  where such people are entitled to stay  was not a centre for persecution, terror and oppression.

We can't pin that particular charge on President Emmanuel Macron.

No, I believe most British people, while properly sympathetic to true refugees and aware of our human obligations towards them, don't take the view of the Refugee Council (and apparently the BBC) that virtually anyone who turns up on the English coast should have an automatic right of residence.

I also suggest that there are many like me who are baffled by the Government's unwillingness or failure to establish control of our borders, which in my naivety I had thought was one of the main purposes of Brexit.

Baffled

Indeed, according to a substantial poll of 12,369 voters on June 23, 2016 (the day of the Referendum) one third ranked regaining 'control over immigration and [the UK's] borders' as the main reason for voting to leave the EU.

Even some Remainers were in favour of controlling immigration.

As recently as 2019, a comprehensive survey found that 39 per cent of the population thought the level of immigration about right, while 44 per cent wanted it to be further reduced.

Another poll in the same year  when numbers crossing the Channel were much smaller than they are now, and the crisis was less acute  revealed that nearly half of respondents had little or no sympathy for asylum seekers entering the UK by that route, with only 19 per cent having 'a great deal of sympathy'.

Migrants arriving in Kent earlier this week via a boat across the English Channel

If Boris Johnson and Priti Patel decided to fulfil their sacred Brexit pledge of controlling our borders, and strove to stem the tide of asylum seekers, they would almost certainly enjoy overwhelming popular support.

The BBC, which largely ignores the influx, or sides with the Refugee Council, isn't reflecting public opinion.

Why doesn't the Government get a grip? No one should question Priti Patel's desire to act. The trouble is that while talking tough, she flits from one robust, even hard-line, policy to another without ever achieving much.

In January 2020, she threatened to send anyone smuggled in by gangs straight back to where they came from.

So far no migrants have been returned to France. Of the 23,000-plus migrants who have arrived here by boat this year, only five have been returned to Europe.

In May 2020, the fire-breathing Home Secretary vowed to turn back migrant boats to France even if they were in British waters.

No agreement has been reached with Paris. Last June, UK Border Force vessels obliged by entering French waters to help bring a migrant boat to Dover.

French President Emmanuel Macron. No agreement has been reached with Paris regarding the return of migrants

It's true that the Nationality and Borders Bill is wending its way through Parliament.

It contains some sensible measures, such as harsher penalties for people smugglers, but few think that it will change very much.

Conspicuously missing in the Bill is any provision to create an offshore immigration processing centre for asylum seekers.

Last July, the Home Office floated the idea of setting up such a system, possibly in conjunction with Denmark in a country such as Rwanda, but the practical and legal objections are judged to be almost insuperable.

Anxieties

What is surely clear is that relying on France to restrict numbers is a fruitless exercise. Despite being handed tens of millions of pounds by the Government, the French authorities either can't make much difference, or won't.

The UK Government indisputably faces a formidable challenge. I'm not at all sure whether, with her penchant for threats she doesn't carry out, Priti Patel is the best minister to be in charge. Even if she is, she needs more support from the Prime Minister.

Which brings me back to my question: Does Boris really care?

Four days after the EU Referendum, he wrote a column in the Daily Telegraph in which he doubted whether 'those who voted Leave were mainly driven by anxieties about immigration'.

But lots of people do care  most especially Brexit supporters and Tory voters, not least those in the 'Red Wall'.

Boris Johnson would be wise to take much more seriously a crisis that could turn into a catastrophe.
Would you buy a used car from this man? The answer, when the man in question is a politician, is usually a resounding No.

Ah, but what if it were Transport Secretary Grant Shapps? Surely thats a whole different matter?

Mr Shapps currently stands head and shoulders above other ministers with his Commons performances. He is fluent, sharp and far more assured than any of his Cabinet colleagues.

Each time he strides to the despatch box, that Colgate grin dazzling under the fluorescent lights, he radiates sunshine and confidence.

This man could indeed flog a clapped-out Cortina.

Here we are, Squire. Nice little run-around, only 200,000 on the clock, a little rusty around the wheel arches and the gearbox is knackered but otherwise handles like Maradona.

I, for one, would probably be biting his hand off. Yesterday, he came to inform the House he was axing the eastern leg of HS2 and downgrading plans for rail in the North.

Mr Shapps currently stands head and shoulders above other ministers with his Commons performances. He is fluent, sharp and far more assured than any of his Cabinet colleagues

In other words, performing yet another Government U-turn and, according to some, thrusting a well-placed dagger in the ribs to its so-called levelling-up plans.

Not that youd have known that the way Shapps was selling it. Heck no!

He was proud to be unveiling an ambitious and unparalleled programme that would overhaul inner-city links.

It would fire up economies rebalance our economic geography and spread opportunity. Inspiring stuff!

He would be restoring long-abandoned rail lines, just like the 14-mile Dartmoor line, connecting Exeter and Okehampton which reopened this week after almost 50 years.

On Wednesday Shapps had hopped aboard the first train, waving a flag and whistle. Not sure Boris would have been too happy with that. Daft stunts are usually his thing.

Apparently, the levelling up of rail services would be great news for small towns. For example, Kettering! Shapps yelled. Market Harborough! Grantham! And Stalybridge!

By God, hes going to put those places on the map. Next to him sat junior minister Andrew Stephenson, nodding along approvingly like a magicians popsy.

The problem for Von Schnapps was that no one else was buying his spiel. MPs listened attentively, then kicked the tyres and checked under the bonnet and basically told him where to go.

Yesterday, he came to inform the House he was axing the eastern leg of HS2 and downgrading plans for rail in the North

Shadow transport minister Jim McMahon stepped up to the crease.

Hes completely sold us out! he bellowed. McMahon is usually such a polite boy.

There is something rather cheery about his stuttery manner and tightly mown beard of which he seems so proud. But yesterday he worked himself into a furious lather.

He decried the Governments announcement as a Great Train Robbery. Groans. This was supposed to be his killer arrow, but sadly it flew well wide of the bullseye.

Nor were Mr McMahons colleagues falling for the Shapps sales patter. Catherine McKinnell (Lab, Newcastle-upon-Tyne) denounced his upbeat statement as being out of touch with reality.

That wise old Tawny owl Graham Stringer (Lab, Blackley) congratulated Shapps on doing an extraordinarily good job of putting gloss on what was essentially an 18billion reduction in investment.

Salesman Shapps frowned and gave a little au contraire wave of the hand. Judging from his insouciant manner, he must be just about the only person on the planet who could set up a stall selling bags of sand in the Sahara and still keep an entirely straight face

Over on the Conservative benches, they rolled their eyes and scratched their tummies, wondering how they were going to explain it all to their constituents.

Transport committee chairman Huw Merriman (Con, Bexhill and Battle) was most unimpressed.

This is the danger of selling perpetual sunlight and leaving it to others to deliver moonlight, he drawled, a reference to the Prime Ministers habit of over-promising and under-delivering.

Mr Merriman was in a glum mood. By the looks of him, youd have thought the sky was going to cave in at any minute.

But he did spend several years working as parliamentary private secretary to Philip Hammond, so perhaps he deserves some leeway.

Up on t Red Wall they were fuming. Robbie Moore (Con, Keighley), part of the 2019 intake, was deeply disappointed by the announcement.

Shapps suggested Moore didnt fully understand the proposals he was laying out.

From the Labour benches there came a long cry of Ooooooh! Careful, Shappsy.

The Owen Paterson farrago has made mutineers out of these newbies. My advice would be not to poke them any further.

Not that the old duffers werent similarly minded. Sir Edward Leigh (Con, Gainsborough) had regarded HS2 as a white elephant. Now it was a white elephant missing a leg, he said. Loud laughter.

Salesman Shapps frowned and gave a little au contraire wave of the hand. Judging from his insouciant manner, he must be just about the only person on the planet who could set up a stall selling bags of sand in the Sahara and still keep an entirely straight face.
True to form Labour has responded to the dropping of the eastern leg of HS2 from the West Midlands to Leeds by accusing ministers of abandoning the Red Wall seats that helped deliver the 2019 Tories landslide election victory.

And the Opposition is not alone. Last night many Tory MPs and local leaders turned on the Prime Minister, accusing him of a great betrayal of the North.

Admittedly, the optics dont look good for Boris Johnson, but the truth is that HS2 never was designed to help the former industrial heartlands of the Midlands and North. It was conceived to boost regional city centres rather than the poorer hinterlands such as Barnsley, Workington and Hartlepool.

Last night many Tory MPs and local leaders turned on Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured answering questions regarding HS2 in West Yorkshire on Thursday), accusing him of a great betrayal of the North after dropping of the eastern leg of HS2 from the West Midlands to Leeds

The Integrated Rail Plan announced yesterday attempts to put that right.

It is that rare beast: a slogan that looks like actually doing what it says. It will integrate new lines into the existing rail system, offering better services to towns and cities missing from the original HS2 blueprint.

On the plus side, the new plan will eliminate the biggest absurdity of HS2: the planned station between Derby and Nottingham which would have left passengers having to take a tram to either city.

HS2 trains will now serve Derby and Nottingham directly. That will mean longer journey times from London to Leeds, but in return HS2 trains will be accessible for far more people.

As for abandoning plans for a 125mph Transpennine line from Manchester to Leeds, the fact that those two cities are only 35 miles apart meant that the need for such a fast line always was spurious.

The more modest improvements proposed will still reduce journey times from 55 minutes to 33 minutes  the 125mph line would have shaved only a further four minutes off the journey.

Moreover, a new tram system for Leeds should help more travellers link up with trains. There is no point in speeding from Manchester to Leeds in a few minutes if the onward journey to the Leeds suburbs takes 45 minutes on a bus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson onboard a train from Wolverhampton to Coventry rail station, as the government announces a new Integrated Rail Plan on November 18

Critics have claimed that upgrading existing lines will do nothing to increase capacity, but theyre wrong.

The plans include laying extra tracks alongside existing lines, while new signalling will also help to make fuller use of existing tracks. The number of Transpennine services are expected to increase by a fifth.

Thats not to say there arent problems. The revised plans wont pacify those who see HS2 as an extravagance from the start. Most of HS2  the London to Birmingham and Birmingham to Manchester sections  are going ahead as planned.

The price tag for the Integrated Rail Plan is put at 96billion which, on top of the 8.3billion already spent on HS2, works out at 104.3billion.

Thats not far short of the 107.92billion price tag put on HS2 by Lord Berkeleys report last year.

However, this figure also includes the cost of the Transpennine update, including stretches of new line between Manchester and Huddersfield, full electrification of the East Midlands main line, improvements to the East Coast mainline and a new tram system for Leeds.

According to the Department for Transport, the full HS2 scheme plus a high-speed Manchester to Leeds line and other electrification projects would have cost a staggering 185billion.

The more modest investment announced yesterday will raise objections from those who view building any new railways in Britain as too expensive at a time when the government is running a deficit of 234billion, and the move towards working from home has reduced demand for rail travel.

And while the revised plans ought to help Nottingham and Derby, Bradford will miss out on the new Transpennine line. Nor are there details of a proposed Leeds tram system (to which West Yorkshire taxpayers will have to chip in), so it is hard to say what difference it will make to that citys transport.

As to whether HS2 trains will ever reach Leeds  the jury is still out. They could, in theory, either continue up existing lines north of Sheffield, or they could travel via Manchester  another option considered before the eastern leg of HS2 was chosen.

The maps in the Integrated Rail Plan, however, show Leeds being served by speeded-up trains on the existing East Coast line. It would take 113 minutes to travel from London to Leeds  20 minutes quicker than now but far slower than the 81 minutes promised via the eastern leg of HS2.

The new plan proposes another study to explore the Leeds options further  but that is depressing in itself.

While other countries plan infrastructure schemes and then build them, in Britain we spend years producing plans, studies and revised plans, holding inquiries and setting up commissions  all before a single spade is put into the ground.

The Integrated Rail Plan is closer to what ministers should have come up with in the beginning, but it is unlikely to be the last word on the matter. Watch this space for yet more improvements and rethinks before the first HS2 train takes to the rails.
The twisted fall of billion dollar fashion brand Von Dutch has been exposed in a brand new docuseries that details fist fights between its creators and the dark decline of founder Bobby Vaughn, who was charged with first-degree murder in 2005.

Von Dutch first launched to fashion fame in the early 2000s, when dozens of stars started sporting its designs - namely, its infamous trucker hats - and quickly catapulted it to one of the most well-known brand names in the industry.

The very public support of some of the era's most popular celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Hilary Duff, Gwen Stefani, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and Halle Berry, helped Von Dutch to earn fast financial success, with reports at the time suggesting that it was worth 'north of a billion dollars' at the height of its fame.

However, a new Hulu docuseries is now lifting the lid on the scandalous reality behind the scenes of the popular fashion brand, detailing bitter rivalries, backstabbing, and violent feuds between executives - one of whom was ultimately charged with murder in 2005, effectively sealing the fate of the once-beloved brand.

The twisted fall of billion dollar fashion brand Von Dutch has been exposed in a brand new Hulu docuseries that aired on November 18

#TheCurseofVonDutch: A Brand to Die For detailed the dark decline of the company founder Bobby Vaughn (pictured), who was charged with first-degree murder in 2005

Dozens of celebrities, including Britney Spears (left), Justin Timberlake (center), and Nicole Richie (right) were all spotted wearing the brand in the early 2000s

Looking back! The company's trucker hats, jeans and jackets were branded the 'celebrity uniform' of the time period by Paris Hilton (pictured)

But despite being one of the biggest brands in the world - behind the scenes, there were fist fights between the founders, backstabbing, greed, and even death. Gwen Stefani is pictured wearing the brand

Back in the 1950s, Kenny Howard (who was also known as Von Dutch) was a car detailer and a mechanic. He was known for tricking out cars with things like flames, pinstripes, and eyeballs, and at the time, he became pretty well known for his work.

He passed away in 1992, and when his daughters sold the rights to his name to a man named Michael Cassel, the Von Dutch clothing brand was born.

Prior to starting the company, Michael didn't have the best past. It turns out, he was actually an incarcerated drug dealer.

Due to his previous troubles with the law, Michael was struggling to get the company on its feet, so he brought in Bobby.

However, right away, things weren't always as they seemed for the brand. For example, one of them admitted in the docuseries that at first, Von Dutch jeans were really just Dickies with the Von Dutch label sewn on top.

But despite their rocky start, the brand quickly took off. In the the three-part show - which is called #TheCurseofVonDutch: A Brand to Die For and was directed by Andrew Renzi - Paris described the company's 'trucker hats, jeans and jackets' as the 'celebrity uniform' of the early 2000s.

'Celebrities were the X factor for them,' Andrew told New York Post. 'They were getting influencers before that was a thing.

'The difference then is that magazines would come out once a week or once a month, and so it really did create a craziness around this brand, because every month, Us Weekly or whatever would come out and everyone would be in a Von Dutch hat in the magazine.'

When late artist Kenny Howard's (also known as Von Dutch) daughters sold the rights to his name to a man named Michael Cassel (pictured), the clothing brand was born

However, prior to starting the company, Michael didn't have the best past. It turns out, he was actually an incarcerated drug dealer

Due to his previous troubles with the law, Michael was struggling to get the company on its feet, so he brought in Bobby Vaughn (pictured)

Sneaky: The creators revealed that things weren't always as they seemed. For example, they admitted that their jeans were really just Dickies with the Von Dutch label sewn on top at first

Tonny Sorensen (pictured) became CEO of the company in 2000, and he began to 'butt heads' with the creators - eventually forcing them out of the brand one by one

As the money rolled in, Bobby and Michael remembered 'tons of girls, block parties, champagne, private jets, cars, homes, and more.'

But unfortunately, the fun didn't last long. Over time, the three creators explained that they started to 'butt heads,' with physical fights breaking out between them.

To make matters worse, Bobby was arrested for murder during the height of Von Dutch's popularity.

According to The New York Times, back in 2005, he was hanging out with a friend, who had just been released from prison.

Bobby told them during a 2009 interview that the friend attacked him with a broken bottle. He fatally shot him and claimed self-defense. He was found not guilty of first-degree murder.

After that, he headed from California to New York City to try to start a new life. But when he was arrested and charged with carrying an unregistered handgun, things got worse for him.

He pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge and was sentenced to five years probation.

Things went especially south for the company after Michael brought an investor named Tonny Sorensen into the picture.

He became CEO of the company in 2000, but when he started to change almost everything about the brand, Bobby felt like he was stealing the company from them.

Many disagreements broke out between Tonny and Bobby, and eventually, Tonny went behind his back and bought out Bobby's stake in the company - ultimately firing him

Tonny brought in designer Christian Audigier, who had a different vision for Von Dutch. This caused more feuding between him and the founders. Anna Nicole Smith is pictured wearing the brand

On the outside, the billion dollar brand seemed liked they had everything. But in reality, one of the creator's said it felt like 'snakes consuming each other.' Halle Berry is pictured wearing the brand

He then brought in a French designer named Christian Audigier, who had an entirely different vision for Von Dutch.

'It was so much more flamboyant,' Andrew explained. 'It was louder, because Christians idea of America was Michael Jackson. Christian was obsessed with Michael Jackson, obsessed with the really loud flair of America.'

On the outside, the billion dollar brand seemed liked they had everything. But in reality, one of the creator's said it felt like 'snakes consuming each other.'

Many disagreements broke out between Tonny and Bobby, and eventually, things got so bad between them that Tonny went behind his back and bought out Bobby's stake in the company - ultimately firing him.

Michael and Tonny eventually started to feud too, and Michael was also forced to part ways with the brand after Tonny told him he'd have to pay $2 million if he wanted to stay.

'They took this thing that I created, my baby, and they prostituted it,' Michael said in the series.

In the years that followed, Christian and Tonny kept releasing as many products as possible, including kids' clothes and even pet accessories. But this ended up backfiring on them.

'When you see dogs wearing Von Dutch, its just not cool anymore,' Andrew said.

Tonny eventually sold his stake in the company and Christian cut ties with the brand in 2007.

Andrew added, 'They kind of exhausted themselves. They made a bunch of money and it was a successful company, but it was at the expense of longevity.'
A Tesla driver has shared terrifying dashcam footage of a man approaching his car while holding a knife - just moments before he was going to leave the vehicle.

In the clip, a man is seen approaching the car from the front, before moving around to the left side of the vehicle, near the driver's side window, all while holding a knife down by his side, seemingly trying to keep it concealed from the driver's view.

The unnamed man - who is dressed in all-black sweatpants, jacket, beanie, and gloves - then appears to talk to the passengers through the window for a few moments before walking away.

The driver, who goes by @jigglywonton1 online, posted the video to TikTok on November 16, and it quickly went viral, gaining more than two million views and 179,000 likes.

A Tesla driver has shared terrifying dashcam footage of a man approaching his car while holding a knife - just moments before he was going to leave the vehicle

In the video, you could see the man walk up to his car. At first, he came to the front but then moved to left side of the vehicle. The whole time, he was visibly holding a knife

He appeared to talk to the passengers for a few moments before walking away. He dressed in all black - wearing sweatpants, a jacket, a beanie, and gloves

'Right before we were about to get out,' he wrote on the video.

He captioned it: 'Got shook for a while. Called the police after this.'

He said the incident took place on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. In the comment section, the driver explained that the guy came up to the car to ask about its make and model.

He said that as soon as he noticed the knife, he put his car in reverse so he could get away quickly if needed. After the man left, he called the police.

'The guy came up and asked me if my car was a Maserati, and I couldn't understand what he said after that,' he wrote. 'I noticed the knife and put the car in reverse in case he was going to do anything.

The driver, who goes by @ jigglywonton1 online, posted the video to TikTok, and it quickly went viral. The incident took place on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond

He explained that the guy came up to the car to ask about its make and model. He said the incident took place on campus at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia

As soon as he noticed the knife, he said he put his car in reverse so that he could get away quickly if needed

After the man left, the driver said he called campus police and saw officers patrolling the area

'But he just walked away. I made sure he was clear then walked inside and called campus police. After the call, I went back to the car to save the footage and noticed officers patrolling the area.'

Many people flooded the comment section with their reactions to the shocking footage, with some people praising the driver for how he handled the sticky situation.

'You are very smart to keep calm and think clearly to save yourself from harm,' one person wrote.

Another person suggested, 'He may have it for his own protection. If he is homeless or mentally challenged he may sometimes be harassed. Never know what people are going through.'

Many people flooded the comment section with their reactions to the shocking footage, with some people praising the driver for how he handled the sticky situation

One person suggested, 'He may have it for his own protection. If he is homeless or mentally challenged he may sometimes be harassed. Never know what people are going through.'

'Honestly, thank God you have cameras like that on the car because this is too crazy,' another comment read. 'People need help'

One final viewer added, 'Bro in broad daylight?! People are getting bold'

'Honestly, thank God you have cameras like that on the car because this is too crazy,' a third comment read. 'People need help!'

One final viewer added, 'Bro in broad daylight?! People are getting bold.'

Back in 2019, Virginia Commonwealth University had 844 incidents reported. Of those, 69 per cent were arrests for possession, 17 per cent were disciplinary actions, 8 per cent were arrests for major crimes, and 6 per cent were arrests for violence against women.

According to Richmond.com, numbers dropped in 2020, but that may be because the campus was closed part of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Television presenter Melanie Sykes this week revealed the life-changing, or rather life-affirming news that shed been diagnosed with autism at the age of 51.

Her diagnosis came as a huge relief. She said: I now have a deeper understanding of myself, my life and the things Ive endured.

Yet 51 is clearly very late in life to be diagnosed with such a significant condition. Indeed, Melanies case is almost certainly an indication of something researchers have long suspected  women and girls arent diagnosed as often or early as men and boys because their autism symptoms are different, under-researched and easier to ignore.

At the age of 38, mental health nurse Victoria Sweetmore was given the same startling news. Doctors told her that, for almost all her life, she too had been living with autism. After more than ten years working in mental health, Victoria had spent lots of time with youngsters with autism  yet it never dawned on her that it might be the cause of her own emotional problems.

Experts now believe thousands of women are battling through life with undiagnosed autism. Pictured: TV presenter Melanie Sykes who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 51

Since childhood I always knew there was something different about me, says Victoria, now 39, who lives in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, with husband Matthew, 35, and their three children.

I often felt that whatever others had which allowed them to live and function normally, have friendships and enjoy social occasions such as parties, I didnt. But it never occurred to me that I might be autistic.

At the age of 16, she was prescribed antidepressants by her GP, but there then followed years of drinking and self-harm as she battled with feeling as though she didnt fit in. She would struggle with anxiety and depression for more than 20 years before the cause of her problems was revealed  autism.

The tragedy of Victorias case, and the extraordinary delay in Melanies diagnosis, may well be replicated across the UK.

Some experts now believe that thousands of women, many middle-aged or older, are battling through life with undiagnosed autism. Their mental health problems have wrongly been blamed on other things.

Im not the slightest bit surprised at Victorias story  in fact, its a very familiar tale, says Will Mandy, a professor of neurodevelopmental conditions at University College London, who studies hidden autism in females.

Theres a long history of under-diagnosis of autism in girls and women who then go on to develop secondary mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and personality disorders.

At present, the overwhelming majority of cases of autism are detected in infancy and in boys by a ratio of five to one.

Will Mandy, a professor of neurodevelopmental conditions at UCL, said girls with autism are more likely to be anxious than have behavioural problems. Pictured: Melanie Sykes

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects around 700,000 children and adults in the UK, according to the National Autistic Society.

It can manifest itself in a variety of ways including difficulties in interpreting gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice.

Some sufferers are unable to speak at all, while others have excellent language skills but may fail to grasp sarcasm, and take everything said literally. An inability to tune into others emotions can make autistic people appear insensitive and much happier in their own company than in that of others.

While autism is more likely to manifest in boys as a behavioural problem, and sometimes in meltdowns characterised by screaming and shouting, in girls it can show up in much quieter ways, and often as anxiety, instead.

Girls with autism are more likely to be anxious than have behavioural problems, says Professor Mandy.

The sad fact is, since this doesnt cause problems to others, and diagnosis relies on someone raising concerns about a youngsters behaviour, theyre more likely to be ignored.

Jolanta Lacosta, of the charity Ambitious About Autism, adds: Autism in females is not well understood, and is often either misdiagnosed or just not diagnosed at all. If a girl is withdrawn due to undiagnosed autism, theres an automatic assumption that she must be depressed or anxious rather than have autism.

A 2020 study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found autistic girls are better at disguising their problems (file image)

Young women often tell us they reach a crisis point. They grow up feeling different, not fitting in and not knowing why. And that leads to mental health problems. Autism is still thought of as a male condition and we need to tackle this outdated stereotype.

A 2020 study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found autistic girls are better at disguising their problems  which experts call camouflaging.

The study looked at how autistic boys and girls interact with non-autistic peers, and the results revealed that while autistic boys scored poorly in terms of taking turns, sharing tasks and reciprocal behaviour, in girls there was hardly any difference.

Its yet another reason for much more time and research to be devoted to the sometimes subtler symptoms of autism in girls.

There seem to be a lot of autistic females flying under the radar, said researcher Dr Henry Wood-Downie, of Southampton University, who carried out the study. We need to raise awareness of camouflaging among school staff and GPs as early intervention is key in promoting positive outcomes.

Experts believe it is possible to intervene early to help these girls and save them from a lifetime of battling a condition they dont know they have.

Professor Mandys research suggests 20 per cent of women attending UK clinics for severe eating disorders have undiagnosed autism (file image)

While there is no drug to treat autism, children can benefit enormously from therapy to control behaviour and improve speech and language skills.

A missed diagnosis simply fails them. Indeed, without prompt intervention, the consequences for some girls and women can be catastrophic, say experts. Professor Mandys research suggests 20 per cent of women attending UK clinics for severe eating disorders have undiagnosed autism.

For Victoria  and Melanie  the diagnosis has come much later than it should have. The years in which Victoria raised a family while holding down a busy job in the NHS were plagued by bouts of depression and anxiety.

In the end, it was her own research that helped her most. Looking online for explanations, she noticed the overlap of her symptoms with those seen in autism and, after several assessments with her GP, a psychologist and an autism assessor, the experts concluded there was no doubt she was autistic.

It was like receiving a not guilty verdict  for the first time it felt like none of it was my fault, she says. Best of all, it gave me permission to stop trying to change myself. Now I feel much more in control and Im not afraid to admit there are things such as socialising that I find difficult because of autism.

Like Melanie, she felt only relief. But what a scandal that it had taken years of angst to get there.
Growing up in Blackpool in the 1980s, you could practically hear the arguments going on down our street.

They started around 7pm every Friday night as young women appeared in the kitchen in skirts that looked like belts and tops that barely concealed their modesty.

Youre not going out looking like that, screeched their mums. Youll freeze to death. Put a coat on!

Blackpool might be fun in summer, but the winters can be bitterly cold as the wind and rain whip in off the Irish Sea.

Our mums wouldnt budge, so wed put on a coat, scowling  only to hide it in a neighbours hedge and collect it after a taxi had dropped us off at 2.30am.

Rachel Rounds (pictured) reflected on her nights out in Blackpool throughout the 1980s, following research on why scantily clad revellers dont feel chilly

It was no different for Scousers or Geordie girls, who are still renowned for never wearing coats or tights even in the middle of December.

Putting a coat on would have ruined all those hours wed spent in the bathroom with the gloopy fake tan. Plus no one could see our rah-rah skirts under a Parka.

In any case, what our mums failed to understand, no matter how much we argued, was that we Northern girls just never felt the cold.

Now science has proved it. A study in the British Journal of Social Psychology  titled When Looking Hot Means Not Feeling Cold: Evidence That Self-objectification Inhibits Feelings Of Being Cold  claims to have worked out why scantily clad revellers dont feel chilly.

Roxanne Felig, one of the reports co-authors, explained that the team of researchers wanted to test the lyrics of American rapper Cardi B, who wrote in reference to attractive, promiscuous women: Its cold outside, but Im still looking like a thotty because a hoe never gets cold.

According to Roxanne: It seemed like what Cardi B was saying was that she was too focused on how she looked and what she was wearing to feel cold. We wanted to test that scientifically and so we did. And its true.

The team used objectification theory, the idea that when a person is highly focused on how they appear externally, internal issues such as hunger and cold get ignored. If we are mostly concentrating on how hot we look, we have fewer cognitive resources to devote to how we feel.

A team of researchers in Florida concluded that 'there was no relationship between the amount of skin exposure a participant had and the amount of cold they felt' (file image)

The team talked to women in Florida, over five nights, who were standing outside nightclubs in temperatures ranging from 4c to 10c. They asked the women how cold they felt, how much theyd had to drink, and more detailed questions that measured the extent to which a woman thinks about how her body looks rather than how it feels. After crunching the numbers, the study concluded: There was no relationship between the amount of skin exposure a participant had and the amount of cold they felt.

So, victory! A coat wouldnt have made any difference to them anyway.

Take that, Northern mums. Now in those same kitchens, young women can shove the study under their parents noses  though Roxanne admits she might have got different results somewhere significantly colder than Florida.

Forget that caveat, however, for I can categorically tell her, from experience, she would find the same thing in Blackpool or Newcastle in the middle of winter.

In my day, it was not just because we knew we were looking hot  if you can call bouffant hair and blue mascara sexy  that we failed to shiver as the thermometer fell. There were more practical reasons too.

Rachel (pictured) said in the 1980s, nobody ever wore tights on a night out  except to go somewhere posh that involved food and sitting down

After the obligatory slow dance, I once got asked by a bloke if I fancied going for a kebab. This was Northern- speak for fancy a snog?.

I agreed but it happened to be a rare occasion when I had my coat with me (Mum had checked), which meant joining the agonisingly slow-moving cloakroom queue to collect it.

By the time I retrieved my coat, the bloke had clearly got fed up with waiting and left  presumably to go for a kebab with some other girl.

When it came to tights, there were strict rules. Nobody ever wore them on a night out  except to go somewhere posh that involved food and sitting down, and even then they werent for warmth but a pair of sheer black 10 denier.

Only Princess Diana wore flesh-coloured tights. For some reason, the gusset always ended up around your thighs and although ladders werent as obvious, they just screamed loser. I still cant bring myself to wear them today.

Roxannes study also argues: From corsets to shapewear, from foot-binding to stilettos, standards for womens appearance have prioritised beauty over comfort. Far from protesting these painful fashion trends, women themselves are often their most vehement supporters.

Rachel (pictured), who is now 50, said she still salutes every young woman tottering along on sky-high heels without tights or a coat

Again, any self-respecting young woman from Barnsley or Blackpool could have told her that. We loved our stilettos (I still do). And remember body-shaper garments, sold as the answer to womens problems with unsightly bulges?

They pulled in your stomach and squashed into the tops of your thighs and sometimes the ever-tightening pain around your waist made it difficult to breathe, but who cared when we all looked so, well, shapely?

At the age of 50, my Friday nights are now spent in my pyjamas, binge-watching Netflix, rather than clubbing. But I still salute every young woman tottering along on sky-high heels without tights or a coat. It is a rite of passage, and some of my fondest memories involve those nights.

Theres an old sexist chat-up line: Get your coat on, love, youve pulled. Now young women have the scientific evidence to respond that, no actually, they cant put their coat on because they dont feel the need. And besides, with a chat-up line like that, hes the one heading straight to the deep freeze.
Amanda Knox has opened up about her fears over telling her newborn daughter about her 'unfair' murder conviction in Italy, while admitting that she didn't want to pass her surname down to her child because she worried it would forever link her to the scandal surrounding the death of her former roommate Meredith Kercher.

The 34-year-old, who is from Seattle, Washington, and her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were both convicted of killing Kercher, who was murdered in 2007. They were jailed, but eventually released in 2011 and Amanda was acquitted of the crime by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015.

A local man, Rudy Guede, was convicted in a separate trial after his DNA was found on Kercher's body and in the room where she died.

However, while Amanda has since returned home to the US, got married, and welcomed a child, she says that her infamous murder conviction - and the public speculation she faced throughout her trials - continue to have a grave impact on every aspect of her life, particularly her role as a new mother.

In a new interview on podcast Call Her Daddy, the mom-of-one, who gave birth to her first child with husband Chris Robinson - daughter Eureka Muse Knox Robinson - several months ago, said she is dreading the moment her little girl asks questions about the case.

'I have thought about [the moment I have to tell my daughter] a lot,' she told host Alex Cooper. 'The moment I'm not looking forward to the most is the moment when she first says, "That's not fair."'

Amanda Knox says she is not looking forward to telling her daughter about the 'unfair' murder charges that were brought against her back in 2009

The 34-year-old, who is from Seattle, Washington, went to study abroad in Perugia, Italy, when she was 20 years old

When her roommate Meredith Kercher was killed in 2007, she, along with her boyfriend at the time, Raffaele Sollecito, were wrongfully convicted for the murder

She was sentenced to 26 years imprisonment and spent four years in an Italian prison before she was acquitted by the Italian Supreme Court in 2015

Amanda believes that telling her daughter about the case will spark a 'deep' understanding about 'human suffering' and quickly make her realize that 'life really isn't fair' - a view that she is afraid of trying to explain to Eureka.

'Because, like, when you reach the point of understanding whether or not something is fair or not, youve reached a level of sophistication to understand a level of human suffering, and that can be deep,' she continued.

'Life really isn't fair. Bad things happen to good people for no reason. That existential crisis that life isn't fair is real and it's one of the deeper problems that we have as human beings and as a society because we don't have great answers for that.

'Im going to let her guide her own understanding of my case. Shell ask questions, shell want to know.

'Shes going to know from being around me that theres something about this justice system that is a little questionable, and when shes ready, shell ask me. And Im going to be totally honest.'

Over the years, Amanda has continued to maintain her innocence - a sentiment that she echoed during the interview, during which she clearly stated: 'I didn't f***ing do it.'

Still, Amanda admitted that she considered not passing on her now-infamous surname to her daughter out of fear that it would forever tie her child to her case and the scandal that surrounded it, particularly when it comes to the public speculation about her sex life and her past romantic partners.

'I did [consider leaving my last name out of Eureka's name]. It's the whole question of like - do I embrace my identity or do I not embrace my identity?' she said.

'But here's nothing wrong me. The world has always acted like there's something wrong with me and something wrong with my sexuality and that is not my problem.

Amanda recently welcomed a baby girl, named Eureka Muse Knox Robinson, with her husband Chris Robinson (pictured), who she married in 2018

She said during an appearance on Alex Cooper's Call Me Daddy podcast that she is not looking forward to her daughter finding out what she went through

She said: 'Im going to let her guide her own understanding of my case. Shell ask questions, shell want to know. And Im going to be totally honest'

'I'm pushing back and trying to say, no it's not my fault. There's nothing wrong with me and therefore, my daughter can embrace the fact that I'm her mom, even while I'm trying to protect her from all these forces that are ultimately beyond my control.'

Amanda claimed that the reason many people still think she had something to do with the murder was because of her initial reaction to what happened, which was captured by paparazzi.

A now-famous video showed the young woman and her boyfriend standing outside of the house where Meredith had been killed, just moments after police had found her body.

'There was a three-second clip that has been shown over and over again. A three-second clip of Raffaele looking at me, giving me a kiss and hugging me. This clip was depicted as, "Look at these two psychopaths who can't even keep their hands off of each other outside of a murder scene,"' she explained.

'What was in fact happening was, I was scared and Raffaele was like, "It's okay, I got you."'

Amanda claimed that the police instantly decided she had murdered Meredith based on her reaction too.

She explained that her other roommate, Filomena, was present when the detectives discovered Meredith's body, while Amanda waited in another room. And when Filomena started to cry and Amanda didn't, she said it unfairly depicted her in a bad light.

She said the reason she didn't have a severe reaction to the news that her friend was dead was because she didn't understand what was going on at first, due to the language barrier.

Despite being acquitted and someone else being charged for the crime, there is still much debate about whether or not Amanda committed the murder

Amanda said: 'They focused on my behavior right after discovering the crime scene. And the difference between me and Filomena, is that Filomena saw into Meredith's room, she saw Meredith's body with her own eyes and I did not.

'Filomena starts screaming her head off and crying and everyone starts screaming in rapid Italian and I'm like, "What the f**k is going on?" We're all ushered out of the house and I'm left shell-shocked going, "What's going on?" and hearing little scraps of everything, while Filomena is crying hysterically.

'Immediately, the cops are looking at the two roommates - one is crying and one is not. That is maybe the moment things started to go very, very wrong. They're looking at two women and one is clearly distraught and one is clearly confused. Very different reactions.

'Filomena's reaction was the expected one and mine was not. I don't think they realized that I didn't understand what was going on.'

Amanda admitted that she's still 'so angry' about what happened, but that her feelings toward Meredith's killer, Rudy, are 'complicated.'

'I have really complicated feelings about her killer, Rudy Guede, because I've spent time in prison now too,' she explained.

'I know he was a really young man when he made this colossal, horrible, decision to rape and murder Meredith. I don't know how he feels about that today, I would hope that he regrets that.

'His name is not the one that's affiliated with this horrible crime, mine is. I wish I had a better word but If I'm going to be totally honest, I'm angry. I'm still angry. That doesn't mean I can't have compassion to him.

'But I am angry. I don't think my name should have ever been associated with his actions. And the fact no one seems to care about him, given that they were his actions, really bugs me out.'
Fitness influencer Sarah Stevenson, who goes by Sarah's Day online, has shared her five-ingredient smoothie recipe.

The Australian wellness vlogger said the green smoothie bowl recipe helps support the immune system, digestion, increase phytonutrient intake and consume high quality chlorophyll.

She simply blends together one cup of frozen mango, half a cup of frozen avocado and coconut milk with a tablespoon each of Tropeaka's cookie dough protein and superfood greens + D powders.

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Fitness influencer, Sarah Stevenson, shared her five-ingredient healthy smoothie bowl (pictured) in a video posted to Instagram

Sarah transferred the mixture to a bowl and topped with crushed cashews, coconut flakes and dried berries.

The 28-year-old mum of two said the smoothie bowl is perfect for those who struggle to get their daily intake of vegetables and greens throughout the day.

The video has been viewed more than 278,000 times since it was posted to Instagram earlier this month and many fans said they were keen to give the healthy smoothie a try.

Sarah blends together frozen mango, frozen avocado, coconut milk and two Tropeaka protein powders to make the smoothie said improves digestion, boosts immunity and is a great to get your daily intake for greens and vegetables

Sarah's green smoothie recipe Ingredients 1 cup frozen mango 1/2 cup of frozen avocado Coconut milk 1 tbs of Tropeaka cookie dough fit protein 1 tbs of Tropeaka superfood greens + D Cashew nuts Coconut flakes Dried berries Method Add the mango, avocado, Tropeka powders and a glass of coconut milk to a blender and blitz until smooth Crush a small handful of cashews in a mortar and pestle Transfer the smoothie blend to a bowl and top with crushed cashews, a pinch of coconut flakes and dried berries Advertisement

'Love it, absolutely glowing,' one woman said.

'Sounds interesting and delicious in a weird and wonderful kinda way,' another person commented.

Sarah has gained a loyal following of more than 1.2million users on Instagram for her wellness, lifestyle and fitness tips and tricks.
An Australian 'queen of hacks' has invented a simple and cost effective way of hiding your 'ugly' WiFi modem on a desk using just one product from IKEA.

Mum-of-two Carolina McCauley took to TikTok on Tuesday to show her 1.5 million followers how easy it is to keep your office area clear and avoid displaying cables with the $20 SMARRA box.

The blogger from Perth, Western Australia, starts by cutting a small hole in the corner of the rattan-inspired box before setting it down on her matching timber desk.

Mum-of-two Carolina McCauley took to TikTok on Tuesday to show her 1.5 million followers how easy it is to keep your office area clear and avoid displaying cables with the $20 SMARRA box

She places her Optus modem inside the box, places the lid on top and feeds the cables out the back of the storage container.

If the SMARRA is placed at the back of the desk the cords can be funneled behind the box and completely out of view, making for a Zen - and clutter free - space.

'Such a great idea! Does it affect the signal in any way? I assume it ventilates the same,' one TikTok comment read.

Others were concerned that the modem instructions specifically tell customers not to 'block' it in any way, but Ms McCauley's chosen box allows for air flow.

Crafty mother! 'Such a great idea! Does it affect the signal in any way? I assume it ventilates the same,' one TikTok comment read

In a previous 'hack' Ms McCauley created a DIY festive scent that 'smells like Christmas' by filling a pot with water and adding cranberries, cinnamon sticks, sliced orange and a few sprigs of rosemary.

She leaves the mixture to simmer on the stove over a low heat, sending a burst of fragrance wafting through the kitchen.

Her simple recipe sparked a wave of excitement among Christmas enthusiasts.

'How sweet is this!' one woman wrote, while a second added: 'Beautiful. Definitely trying this.'

A third said she swaps rosemary for cloves because they smell 'divine'.

Earlier this year, her simple guide to doing laundry went viral after she shared a video showing fans how she adds essential oil to wool dryer balls to leave clothes fresher for longer.

The Perth blogger brings festive cheer into her home by filling a pot with water and adding cranberries, cinnamon sticks, sliced orange and a few sprigs of rosemary

After each cycle, Carolina leaves the washing machine door and detergent tray open to allow moisture to escape, which prevents a build-up of grime and mould.

To remove tough stains, Carolina said you need to 'catch them as quick as possible' by soaking the marks in stain remover and a paper towel before throwing the garment in the wash.

Instead of leaving clean laundry lying around in a basket, she folds clothes 'right away to prevent wrinkling'.

A mum-of-two has offered her simple guide for getting the perfect laundry - including the products she uses to leave clothes smelling beautifully fresh

Carolina's method has been viewed more than 20,000 times, with many saying they are excited to try her tips.

'Oh this looks so good I'll have to try,' one wrote, while another added: 'Essential oils is such a good idea.'

However, some warned that essential oil can seep into clothing and cause stains.

'Important let the essential oil seep into the wool before throwing it in. Ideally a couple hours or you will stain all those clothes. Not good,' one person wrote.
Party loving Australians are heading straight down the rabbit hole to soak up the magic of a real-life mad hatter's tea party at an incredible Wonderland themed bar.

The Wonderland Bar, which is in the heart of Sydney's Kings Cross, is an 'immersive, magical' venue that has become very popular since NSW began to open up again.

And a sneak peek inside reveals exactly why people are heading there in droves.

Party loving Australians are heading straight down the rabbit hole to soak up the magic of a real-life mad hatter's tea party at an incredible Wonderland themed bar

The Wonderland Bar , which is in the heart of Sydney's Kings Cross, is an 'immersive, magical' venue that has become very popular since NSW began to open up again

There is also a topsy-turvy Christmas room featuring an upside down Christmas tree

The decor has been carefully selected to replicate life in Wonderland, with upside down trees, floral walls and a very creepy Cheshire cat light installation.

The Mad Hatter's tea party has been transformed into a cocktail-making experience, complete with a choice of oddly matched teacups to drink from.

There is also a topsy-turvy Christmas room featuring a doll's house for guests to 'get stuck in' after trying Wonderland's infamous 'Eat Me' cake.

There is also a doll's house for guests to 'get stuck in' after trying Wonderland's infamous 'Eat Me' cake

The experience-heavy bar has become very popular since the end of Sydney's lockdown

It's hard to know where to look in the heavily decorated 'completely mad' bar

The experiences have to be pre-booked however the main bar caters for walk-ins and has a very impressive looking cocktail selection

From the dizzying carpet to the heavily embroidered couches and striped wall paper it is almost impossible to know where to look in Wonderland.

Guests can make a reservation for the experience or head to the main bar for an impressive range of brightly coloured, sparkling and smoking cocktails.

The actor-led tea parties have been described as 'completely mad yet utterly delightful,' by customers brave enough to head down the rabbit hole.
An outraged woman is warning others to be aware of their surroundings after she discovered a ceiling camera pointed at her private dressing room while she was trying on clothes.

Nallely Valencia, 27, shared a TikTok video of what appeared to be a security camera reflected in the mirror in her fitting room at the Windsor store in Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto, California.

'I know Im not trippen & this is absolutely not allowed [sic],' she captioned the clip, which has been viewed more than 642,000 times.

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Going viral: Nallely Valencia, 27, shared a TikTok video of the security camera she discovered while trying on clothes at the Windsor store in Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto, California

Outraged: Valencia circled the camera, which was reflected in the mirror in her dressing room

She circled the camera in red and zoomed in on it, writing: 'Wow I'm so mad. I literally noticed when I was putting my clothes back on.'

'You mean to tell me they watched me get naked,' she added in the text overlay.

Windsor replied to Valencia's video in the comments, insisting that the camera was not filming her while she was trying on clothes.

'We want to reassure you that this camera is from the previous brand and is not active,' the brand wrote. 'We're also having it removed permanently.'

A number of people were alarmed by Valencia's video, especially those who had recently tried on clothes at that Windsor location.

Response: Windsor told DailyMail.com in a statement that 'the camera in question was installed by a previous store tenant and was not active in any way'

Assurance: The brand also responded to Valencia in the comments of her video, saying the camera was inactive and being removed

'That is so scary and who knows how many people changed and it went unnoticed,' one person wrote, while another added: 'I noticed that in another store. That's why I don't try on clothes anymore.

'Oh hell nah,' someone else commented. 'Def not gunna try clothes on anymore at the mall.'

Others pointed out that Valencia didn't know if the camera was on or where it was directed, claiming she was making a big deal out of nothing.

'Bruh you legit don't even know what way it's pointing,' one TikToker wrote.

'It's very likely that that camera isn't actually facing the changing room,' someone else noted.

California is one of the 13 states that prohibit dressing room surveillance, according to the legal website Dopplr.

Say what? A number of people were alarmed by the footage, especially those who had recently tried on clothes at that Windsor location

In the states that do allow surveillance cameras, the 'monitoring must be done as loss prevention only,' the site explained. 'Any motive other than this is illegal and would cause the store to be fined heavily.'

In a statement shared with DailyMail.com, Windsor stated that the camera was not active and has since been removed.

'The privacy and safety of our customers is of the utmost importance to Windsor Fashions and we are committed to making our stores feel safe,' the brand said. 'The camera in question was installed by a previous store tenant and was not active in any way since Windsors opening.

'We permanently removed the non-operational camera in question once it was brought to our attention and sincerely apologize for any concern this may have caused.'

In a follow-up clip, Valencia explained why she felt compelled to share the video.

Candid: Valencia explained why she shared the video in a follow-up, saying: 'I felt like my privacy was violated, and I just don't want anybody else to feel like that'

Story: Valencia also claimed that the brand 'humiliated' her by sending her a 30 percent off voucher in the wake of her complaint

'I wanted to prevent it from happening to other people,' she said. 'I felt like my privacy was violated, and I just don't want anybody else to feel like that. As a woman, nobody wants to get their privacy violated.'

She noted that Winsor's claim that the camera was not active did little to reassure her that her privacy was protected.

'Whether they're working or not, that is not acceptable. What guarantees me that they don't have the recording of me?' she asked. 'I am just letting you guys from one woman to another woman, be careful.'

Valencia shared in a third video that someone from Windsor's corporate office had reached out to her to 'assure' her that the camera wasn't working.

'I mean, obviously, they are going to say that,' she said. 'I don't have the guarantee that they really weren't working.'

She added that the brand 'humiliated' her by sending her a 30 percent off voucher in the wake of her complaint.

'I've been reaching out to lawyers,' she claimed, promising to share future updates.
Drinking a cup of tea or coffee in the morning could dramatically reduce your risk of stroke and dementia, new research has revealed.

A study of more than 360,000 participants over a period of 10 to 14 years found those who drank two to three cups of coffee, three to five cups of tea, or a combination of four to six cups of either a day had the lowest risk of both conditions.

Researchers from Tianjin Medical University in Tianjin, China, said the findings suggest moderate consumption of the drinks together or separately could be the key to maintaining a health brain as you grow older.

Roughly 5.3 per cent of deaths in Australia are caused by stroke, according to the Department of Health, while an estimated 400,000 to 459,000 Australians are currently suffering from dementia.

Drinking a cup of tea or coffee in the morning could reduce your risk of stroke and dementia, new research has revealed (stock image)

Dementia refers to a general decline in brain function, but it can be triggered by a stroke.

Of those surveyed, participants who drank two to three cups of coffee or tea daily - between four and six cups in total - fared the best, with a 28 per cent lower risk of dementia and a 32 per cent lower risk of stroke than those who drank neither.

Participants' information came from UK Biobank, an anonymous database of health data from half a million volunteers across the UK gathered between 2006 and 2020.

The Tianjin study analysed men and women aged 50 to 74 who self-reported their consumption of coffee and tea.

Over the course of the study period, 5,079 participants developed dementia and 10,053 experienced at least one stroke, according to the study, which was published in the PLOS Medicine journal.

A wealth of research now links coffee to better brain health.

But studies from doctors, dentists and nutritionists reveal quitting caffeine will leave teeth your whiter and reduce blood pressure, a positive effect for your overall health.

Studies published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found drinking coffee even six hours before bed can significantly disrupt the sleep cycle that night.

A nutritionist's tips for drinking coffee healthily * Start your day with warm lemon water before you have any coffee. * Drink your coffee before noon on a full stomach. She tries to drink hers around 9am. Nutritionist Jessica Sepel (pictured) shared her tips on drinking coffee healthily, including having just one per day * Skip the afternoon coffee because caffeine can stay in your system for hours and make it difficult to fall asleep. * When the craving for your second or third cup comes, opt for a chai tea with almond milk and ground cinnamon, a dandy coffee, green juice or homemade healthy chai latte. * If you're craving the pick-me-up you get from coffee, try to eat something nutritious instead. * Ensure you're eating enough protein and good fats at each meal to keep your blood sugar balanced. When you don't eat these macronutrients, you'll crave pick-me-ups, like caffeine. * Make sleep a priority. For most people, that means a solid eight hours each night. When you're well rested, Jessica said you won't even miss those extra afternoon coffees. Source: Jessica Sepel Advertisement

Experts say quitting coffee or limiting your intake past 10am or 11am can improve sleep quality because it gives the body time to return to its natural resting state, allowing sleep hormones such as melatonin to work as they should.

Coffee is highly acidic, which means it erodes tooth enamel and stains teeth with every sip.

By cutting it out, dentists say you can protect your teeth from further erosion leading to a brighter, whiter smile.

Caffeine also dries out your mouth which reduces the presence of saliva, a key defence against the growth of bacteria that causes tooth decay.

Reducing your intake will therefore make your mouth a healthier place.
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The eco-friendly bathroom has a hot-water shower, sink and a waterless compost toilet.

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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall became the royals in the ruins, as they were shown around the Great Pyramids of Giza today during the first day of their visit to Egypt.

Charles, 73, and Camilla, 74, walked arm in arm as they were given a personal tour around one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as the sun slowly set behind them over the desert. Following this, they then proceeded to tour the Sphinx.

The royal couple arrived in Egypt today for the next leg of their four-day tour of the Middle East after departing from Jordan earlier this morning, where they had spent the last two days.

They started their day by meeting the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo.

Looking elegant in a cool Anna Valentine tunic, trousers and flowing white headscarf, Camilla, 74, who went barefoot, then arrived at Al Azhar Mosque with her equally sophisticated husband, Charles, 73.

A royal wonder of the world! Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured) were all smiles as they arrived at the Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo on the first day of their Egypt tour

Seeing the sights! The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

In the evening, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a reception at 9 Pyramid Lounge. Pictured: Charles with Dr Khaled Al Anani, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, right

Charles has visited the Cairo tourist destination before privately, but Camilla has never been to the site before - with both the royals appearing awe-struck as their guide talked them through 4,500 years of history.

They walked carefully up several steps up the side of the 454ft (138.5m) high pyramid called Khufu - or Pyramid of Cheops - and briefly stepped into the tunnel entrance out of view.

Ashraf Mohi, director of the Pyramid Complex, walked the couple around the three pyramids and to the Great Sphinx. He told them: You are stepping on rocks that go back centuries and centuries. This is an adventure.

He pointed at the pyramid explaining it was once covered in flat limestone. He said: If you imagine in another time, it looked so shiny.

They also stood in front of the impassive Great Sphinx for a spectacular photo call. The prince had been very keen to show his wife around the site while on their four-day tour to the Middle East.

It was the first time Prince Charles has been in Cairo for 15 years. Princess Diana posed for photos at the site in 1992.

Prince Charles wore a blue pin-striped suit with a white shirt for the reception this evening, while Camilla opted for a flowy blue ensemble

The Duchess of Cornwall looked stylish in a frilly blouse in blue as she chatted with retired surgeon Magdi Yacoub at tonight's event

Prince Charles in conversation with The Egyptian Environment Minister Dr Yasmine Fouad (centre) and another guest at tonight's reception

The heir-to-the-throne looked relaxed this evening in Cairo after a day busy with engagement around the city which culminated with the reception in Giza

Prince Charles looked in great spirits tonight as he admired the Pyramids with Dr Khaled Al Anan, right, after a day busy with engagements

At the reception tonight, the heir-to-the-throne will give a speech in front of the assembled guest after his first day in Egypt during his tour of the Middle-East

Effortless style: Dressed in a flowing white headscarf, the Duchess of Cornwall went barefoot as she joined the Prince of Wales (pictured together, left) on a visit to Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

Strike a pose! The Prince of Wales and the beaming Duchess of Cornwall posed together during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza (pictured)

The royal couple (pictured) met with Dr. Khaled el Anani, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and Dr. Zahi Hawass, Archaeologist, Egyptologist and former Minister for Antiquities, at the base of the Great Pyramid (Khufu)

Looking elegant in a cool tunic and trousers, Camilla removed the flowing white headscarf that she had worn earlier that day. Pictured, with Prince Charles visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza

Prince Charles put on a stylish display in a grey suit while Camilla (pictured together) opted for a loosing fitting ensemble, removing her headscarf which she'd worn earlier in the day

The royal couple walk next to Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anany near the Pyramids of Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo

The royal couple looked in high spirits as they arrived at the Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo on the first day of their Egypt tour, before posing in front of the Sphinx (pictured)

The Prince of Wales and Camilla were seen walking alongside Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anany in front of the Sphinx

The Prince of Wales and the beaming Duchess of Cornwall pose in front of the Sphinx on the outskirts of Cairo

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

The Great Pyramids of Giza were built 4,500 years ago and are among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The towering 146 metre (481ft) high Great Pyramid of Giza, also called Khufu, remained the tallest building in the world for 4,000 years. It is made of two million bricks each weighing 50 tonnes.

The 73 metre long Sphinx inspires millions of tourists every year. In pre-Covid times around 4,000 British tourists visited Egypts tourist destinations weekly.

The couples visit to Egypt, which will continue tomorrow, will highlight close links with the UK and comes just weeks after the future King's appearance at COP26 in Glasgow.

A source close to Charles said: The Prince is convinced that human ingenuity can help stop climate change because when you look at the pyramids you realise just what people can do.

As they stepped off their official government plane in the capital earlier today, the Prince and the Duchess were greeted by Gareth Bayley OBE, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Egypt, and his wife, Sara Fawcett.

Then the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, greeted their royal guests at the palace's entrance and the foursome posed for pictures before they split, with the two women heading to a room for talks, while the prince and his host held their meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, separately.

With Egypt due to take over the presidency of the next UN climate change conference - Cop27 - it is likely environmental issues were part of the discussions.

The Egyptian leader is a retired field marshal who led the military's overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected head of state, Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, in 2013, following mass protests against his rule.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall walk across the courtyard of the Al Azhar Mosque, pictured left. Camilla donned a white headscarf during the visit, pictured right

The royal couple toured the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo alongside the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb (left)

Egyptian Islamic scholar and the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb (left), receives Prince Charles (right) and Camilla (centre) upon their arrival at the mosque in Cairo

The Duchess of Cornwall (pictured left, and right with Prince Charles) went barefoot today as she and the Prince of Wales visited the Al Alzar mosque in Cairo

Egyptian Islamic scholar and the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb welcomed Prince Charles and Camilla upon their arrival at the mosque

In a televised announcement the president, then an army general, told the nation Mr Morsi had been removed from office and had failed to fulfil 'the hope for a national consensus'.

The move was followed by a crackdown on those who opposed the ousting of Mr Morsi, which human rights organisations said resulted in the deaths of hundreds during one day of protests.

The Egyptian leader - who former US president Donald Trump once reportedly called 'my favourite dictator' - has made maintaining stability and order in Egypt a priority.

Later, the Duchess of Cornwall went barefoot as she and the Prince of Wales visited the Al Alzar mosque in Cairo.

Prince Charles also urged young people studying in an Egyptian mosque to remember 'all we have in common, not what divides us'. The Prince, visiting the Al Alzar mosque in Cairo, told students the 'most important thing' is to focus on the shared beliefs across faiths. 'We share so much,' he said.

The Prince and Duchess of Cornwall visited the Al Azhar Mosque shortly after landing in Cairo this morning, viewing the spectacular architecture and posing for a photograph in the central courtyard.

They met the Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, accompanied by the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Alexandria, Dr Samy Fawzy.

After the Duchess departed to begin her own programme in Cairo, the Prince attended an interfaith reception in closed Abassa room of the mosque. There, he was said to be in 'deep conversation' with the Grand Imam, surrounded by their entourages.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall pose for photographs as they visit the courtyard of the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo

Prince Charles could be seen removing his sunglasses as he and wife Camilla were received by Egyptian Islamic scholar and the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb (left)

Camilla put on a stylish display in an Anna Valentine ensemble as she posed alongside Charles and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb for photographs

The Prince of Wales put on a very animated display as he arrived alongside Camilla at the mosque in Cairo (pictured)

The royal couple will spend the next day and a half in the capital, with the highlight of their visit a trip to see the pyramids, naturally. Pictured, at the mosque with Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb

Prince Charles completed his ensemble with a matching pocket square and patterned tie. Pictured, with Camilla and The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb

The Prince of Wales cut a cool figure in a pair of rectangular sunglasses, smart grey suit and crisp white shirt. Pictured, with the Duchess of Cornwall and Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb

Egyptian Islamic scholar and the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb was seen standing next to Camilla and Prince Charles

The Prince of Wales (second right) and The Duchess of Cornwall with Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb

After the Duchess (left, with Prince Charles) departed to begin her own programme in Cairo, the Prince (right) attended an interfaith reception in closed Abassa room of the mosque

The Prince of Wales (centre) visits Beit al-Razzaz, a traditional crafts workshop in Cairo, Egypt, on the third day of his tour of the Middle East with the Duchess of Cornwall

The leaders were later joined by six Al-Azhar scholars, who told the Prince about their studies in English, religion and climate change. The British Council has been running an Al-Azhar UK Academic Scholarship scheme since 2015.

It aims to promote mutual understanding among a new generation of Muslim and non-Muslim scholars, and allows students to study for degrees in Islamic studies at British universities before returning to Al-Azhar University to work as faculty members.

As patron of the scheme, the Prince hosted six students from the programme at Clarence House in March 2018, with two of them - Mariam Shehata and Muhammed Al-Marakby - joining him again today.

He asked them about their studies, and whether they had noticed a 'growing awareness' from people about the importance of talking about climate change.

The Prince went on to meet groups of students learning English at the mosque, with young men and women arranged in small groups to speak to him.

'The most important thing is to emphasise what we have in common not what divides us,' the Prince told one group of women. 'Do remember that. We share so much.'

He asked them of their studies: 'Have you managed through the worst of the pandemic? Did you do it all online?'

Stopping to talk to a second group, he wondered: 'Are you actually able to sit down with representatives from other faiths for conversation? Learning a bit from each other?

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall meet the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Cairo Airport in Egypt from Jordan, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are all smiles as they meet the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo

Walking the red carpet! Charles appeared dapper in a light suit teamed with a blue tie when arriving to meet the President of Egypt, alongside an equally cool Camilla

The Prince of Wales was said to be in 'deep conversation' with the Grand Imam, surrounded by their entourages. Pictured, during an interfaith reception

The Prince of Wales (pictured) attends an interfaith reception at Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo

The Prince of Wales (centre) went on to meet with students during an interfaith reception at Al Azhar Mosque

The leaders were later joined by six Al-Azhar scholars, who told the Prince about their studies in English, religion and climate change

As patron of the scheme, the Prince hosted six students from the programme at Clarence House in March 2018, with two of them - Mariam Shehata and Muhammed Al-Marakby - joining him again today

'There must be a lot of people your age who want to do this sort of course with the British Council.'

Of learning languages, he added: 'It's practising isn't it? That's what's so difficult. My Arabic needs practice.'

Founded in AD 970, the mosque is one of Cairo's earliest and considered an architectural wonder.

Its university is the second-oldest educational institution in the world, and is a centre of Islamic learning.

The royal couple last visited Al-Azhar in 2006, when the Prince of Wales received an honorary doctorate from Al-Azhar University, which is considered the foremost Islamic institution in the Sunni Muslim world.

Elsewhere, one day she will sit on a throne - but today the Duchess of Cornwall was delighted to sit on an eye-catching chair made from old painted tyres.

It was made by women living in the challenged Ezbet Khairallah area of Cairo which Camilla visited shortly after touching down in Egypt.

Ezbet Kheirallah is a low-income settlement established in the mid-1970s when immigrants from Upper Egypt and Delta cities came to Cairo looking for work.

Greetings from Cairo! Prince Charles receives a formal welcome at the Al-Ittihadiyah Palace from Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi

The Prince of Wales (centre left) during a meeting with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (centre right), at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo, during the third day of his tour of the Middle East

All in the details: Looking typically stylish, the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured left, with Prince Charles) teamed her elegant pink tunic and trousers with a fashionable handbag

The British Council started work with the Ezbet Kheirallah community in 2017, helping young people and, particularly, women and girls.

Met by Ruth Cocks, Deputy Director of the British Council in Egypt, and Abdelfattah Nada, Project Lead and Volunteer, the duchess joined a rooftop gathering and met a group of women from Button Up, a social enterprise working with women and children.

Button Up's work focuses on women's economic empowerment, parenting and physiological awareness as well as literacy, reducing school drop-out rates and citizenship.

She was shown a variety of eco-friendly items the women make, including bags. 'Are you able to sell them?' asked Camilla. 'They really are excellent, it's a very clever idea. When you start doing things for yourself you don't know where it will take you.'

The women seemed genuinely touched at her interest as they told her their stories. 'It's such an excellent project, very well done. It's such a pleasure to meet you,' she added.

The royal visitor was also shown another project, planting tomato plants to grow fruit and sell. 'I see you want people to have more economic power by selling the crops,' she sad. She told the women: 'It is so very important to have girls on board with these initiatives. '

The 74-year-old duchess also had the chance to plant her own addition to their garden, asking for water and bending down without ceremony to make sure it was well-soaked. 'I hope I haven't killed it,' she joked.

It was then time to take her seat on her chair, which was made out of tyres and had a cushion placed on it for her. 'What a clever idea. How long does it take you to make one? An hour? You can make lots!' It really is so ingenious. It's an excellent idea,' she said.

Looking elegant in a cool tunic and trousers, Camilla (pictured arriving with her husband), 74, swapped her earlier blue and white dress for the Anna Valentine ensemble as she arrived in Cairo with her equally sophisticated husband, Prince Charles, 73

The royal couple (pictured left) will spend the next day and a half in the capital, with the highlight of their visit a trip to see the pyramids, naturally

As they stepped off their official government plane, the Prince and the Duchess were greeted by Gareth Bayley OBE, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Egypt, and his wife, Sara Fawcett (pictured)

The duchess watched a short performance by a group of women storytellers about the challenges they have faced and how they have overcome them, clapping them enthusiastically at the end.

There were tales of forced married, domestic violence and coercive control, all issues the duchess has campaigned on both in the UK and around the world.

'It is so important for all of you to tell your stories and encourage others to do the same,' she said, before posing for a group photograph. One of the women was impassioned as she told her: 'I am now an entrepreneur. I am powerful. I am proud of myself.'

Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla spent the past two days touring Jordan and the prince ended their time in the country by praising UK-Jordan relations in a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the nation.

The prince said Britain's former protectorate was a voice of 'moderation, understanding and tolerance' in the region under the leadership of King Abdullah II.

Last night Charles and Camilla enjoyed their final public engagement in Jordan, where they spent the first two days of their trip.

The Prince evoked the spirit of Lawrence of Arabia in an address celebrating Jordan's centenary at the Jordan Museum in Amman.

He described how 'British soldiers fighting side by side with their Arab partners, laid the foundation for the eventual establishment of the Jordanian state.'

The Prince of Wales and President Sisi will take part in a private bilateral meeting. Pictured, the Prince of Wales and Camilla as they arrive

The couple (pictured) spent the past two days touring Jordan and the prince ended their time in the country by praising UK-Jordan relations in a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the nation

The prince (pictured with Camilla) said Britain's former protectorate was a voice of 'moderation, understanding and tolerance' in the region under the leadership of King Abdullah II

He hailed Jordan's 'unflinching and generous hospitality' saying 'it offers not just safe haven for refugees but - through education - hope and opportunity for the future'.

Charles and Camilla, wearing an elegant white tunic and trousers by Anna Valentine, were greeted at the Jordan Museum by the Hejaz railway carriage which was targeted by Lawrence when he led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire.

They were treated to a short musical performance from the Mahali Musical Production and viewed the Rejuvenation and Modernisation of Extinct Arts and Crafts (RMEAC) pop-up art exhibition. The couple also viewed The Dead Sea scrolls which are on display at the museum.

In his keynote speech, Charles said: 'Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen  I did just want to begin by thanking you most warmly for having invited my wife and myself to join you for this very special celebration.

'I first visited this most friendly and special of countries some thirty-six years ago and have been drawn back time and time again by the remarkable generosity, hospitality and courteousness for which Jordan is rightly famed. As the Jordanian poet Haidar Mahmoud has written.'

The Prince then spoke in Arabic saying: 'It suffices my country that it was founded on the basis of love.'

He received a generous round of applause for his efforts from the more than 50 guests including embassy staff and Jordanian royal family.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at Queen Alia International Airport before departing Jordan to fly to Egypt, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

Prince Charles, 73, and Camilla, 74, (pictured departing Jordan) have spent the past two days touring Jordan and the prince ended their time in the country by praising UK-Jordan relations in a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the nation

The prince (pictured at Queen Alia International Airport) said Britain's former protectorate was a voice of 'moderation, understanding and tolerance' in the region under the leadership of King Abdullah II

In Egypt, highlights of the two-day visit include a UK-Egypt reception overlooking the pyramids at the Giza Plateau to celebrate the bond between the two countries, and a tour of the ancient city of Alexandria. Pictured, Prince Charles (left) and Camilla (seen together, right) leaving Jordan

Charles and Camilla (pictured arriving at the airport) will also visit Cairo's Grand Imam of al-Azhar to discuss with the religious leader and a group of young scholars religious tolerance and the role of faith in stewarding the environment

Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince (pictured arriving at the airport with Camilla), said when the tour was first announced 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

The honour guard wait the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Queen Alia International Airport before their departure of Jordan to fly to Egypt

Yesterday, Prince Charles reassured the public over the Queen's health during his visit to Jordan, saying: 'She's all right, thank you very much,' after he was asked about his mother. Pictured, the honour guard wait the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Queen Alia International Airport

The prince joked: 'Having massacred wonders of Arabic language.. To be here with you this year is especially significant.

'After the sorrow, separation, and grief, which Covid 19 as brought us all, it is with that special joy of being once again among friends that we have begun our first overseas tour in nearly two years. That we should do so here in Jordan, to join you in celebrating the centenary year of Jordan's founding, means more to us than I can possibly say.'

The Prince and Duchess have been sent to the region by the UK government to strengthen bi-lateral relations and highlight issues around climate change and political, cultural economic links.

In Egypt, highlights of the two-day visit include a UK-Egypt reception overlooking the pyramids at the Giza Plateau to celebrate the bond between the two countries, and a tour of the ancient city of Alexandria.

Charles and Camilla will also visit Cairo's Grand Imam of al-Azhar to discuss with the religious leader and a group of young scholars religious tolerance and the role of faith in stewarding the environment.

Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince, said when the tour was first announced 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: '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.'
Sarah Ferguson was every inch the dedicated mother as she stepped out wearing a diamond bracelet embellished with her daughters' names on it last night.

Prince Andrew's ex-wife, 62, who is commonly referred to as Fergie, put on a stylish display in a black poloneck dress, a leather jacket and low court shoes as she attended a book launch at private members club Annabels in Mayfair.

And she was in good company, with Samantha Cameron, Rebekah Brooks and multi-millionaire Richard Caring all seen leaving the glamorous bash.

Meanwhile, across town daughter Princess Eugenie, 31, joined Princess Beatrice, 33, at an exclusive dinner hosted by James Blunt's wife as she enjoyed a rare child-free night out with her sister.

Sarah Ferguson was every inch the dedicated mother as she stepped out wearing a bracelet with her youngest daughter's name on it last night

Princess Beatrice, 33, and Princess Eugenie, 31, enjoyed a night off from parenting duties as they attended an intimate dinner hosted by Sofia Blunt to launch the Loci vegan sneakers in aid of the Blue Marine Foundation in London

Fergie wore her hair in a sleek blow-dry and injected a touch of glamour with drop pearl earrings and a diamond encrusted bracelet emblazoned with Eugenie.

Fergie is mother to Beatrice, 33, and Eugenie, 31, both of whom have welcomed children in the last year.

And yesterday evening Eugenie joined sister Beatrice for a well-deserved night off from parenting duties as they attended an intimate dinner hosted by James Blunt's wife Sofia Blunt to launch Loci vegan sneakers in aid of the Blue Marine Foundation.

Beatrice, who gave birth to her daughter Sienna in late September, was accompanied by her Italian husband, Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 38, as they attended the event at Blunts exclusiveThe Fox and Pheasant pub in Chelsea.

Eugenie, whose son August was born in February, put on a stylish display in a black dress, before wrapping up in a green tartan coat at the end of the night after moving onto glamorous members club Maison Estelle.

Edo Mapelli Mozzi, right, Beatrice's husband, joined her as she spent the evening with James, 47, and Sofia Blunt, 38, left

A spot of Christmas shopping? Fergie's car looked full to the brim with ribbons and shopping

Earlier in the day Fergie was all smiles as she left Europe 1 radio studios in France.

She could be seen clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers and waving to well-wishers as she exited the building.

The mother-of-two was giving an interview to Radio France's Historiquement Votrre programme about her book Her Heart for a Compass, which is now available in a French version.

The Duchess of York, who wore her fiery red locks loose, put on a stylish display in a houndstooth coat, which she paired with a plain black dress.

Sarah Ferguson was all smiles as she left Europe 1 radio studios in France earlier on Tuesday (pictured)

Prince Andrew 's ex-wife could be seen clutching a beautiful bouquet of flowers and waving to well-wishers as she exited the building (pictured)

She completed her ensemble with flat, patent shoes and a bangle on her wrist, and added a pair of tights for warmth.

Sarah opted for a smokey eye and touch of blusher for the occasion, and added a nude-coloured lip.

Historiquement Votre is a programme where journalists, author, royal experts and historians discuss historical anecdotes and the lives of well-known personalities.

It is hosted by French royal expert Stephane Bern.

The Duchess of York put on a stylish display in a black and white cape-style coat, which she paired with a plain black dress and black tights

The Duchess of York, who wore her fiery red locks loose, opted for a dark smokey eye and touch of blusher for the occasion

The Duchess of York (pictured) was discussing her debut novel which was co-written with Marguerite Kaye

The Duchess of York's Her Heart For A Compass, which draws on Sarah's own life journey and incorporates research into her ancestry, is a fictional account of the life of the duchess's great-great-aunt Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas-Scott.

It was co-written with Marguerite Kaye, who has written more than 50 historical romances set in a variety of eras.

However, it received mostly negative reviews in the press after hitting the shelves in August.

Critics branded the book 'boring' and a 'slog' with an 'insipid' main character and a tone that jumps between 'archaic and contemporary'. Almost all commented on the lack of sex and said it was at the 'PG end' of Mills & Boon.

But at the time, Sarah said she and co-author Margarete Kaye, who has written more than 60 books, remained 'unified' behind the work.

She is due to publish her second historical romance novel, which will again be co-written with Kaye, in 2022.
Jess Phillips has revealed police visit her home weekly to take statements about the horrific online death threats she receives on a regular basis.

The Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding opened up about the 'nasty and graphic' abuse she receives, often from violent parents who 'blame' her for having their children removed from their care.

Trolls taunt the mother-of-two by saying they want her to feel 'the pain of having a child removed' and the Labour MP says she is often 'triggered' by the abuse and is 'taken back' to the murder of Jo Cox.

However Jess, 40, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, doesn't believe in a police presence at surgeries in the wake of Sir David Amess' murder last month, insisting that constituents are often 'vulnerable and need privacy'.

Labour MP Jess Phillips, pictured in 2019, says police visit her home weekly to take statements about the horrific online death threats she receives on a regular basis

Appearing on ITV's Lorraine today, she said: 'A lot of the threats I get, and some of the people who have been criminalised for attacking me and my family, are men who perceive that because I stand up for women and girls that somehow I am a threat to them.

'I get threats from people who perceive that I have had their children removed from them because they were violent towards their partners, the idea I hate men is used in some of the aggressive and violent threats I get.

'People talking about very nasty and graphic abuse they would perpetuate against me: people hoping I have my children removed from me, that I understand the pain of being without my children, simply because I speak up for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.'

However, the MP for Birmingham Yardley doesn't believe she or other MPs should have constant police protection, although more does need to be done to ensure they can do their job safely.

Appearing on ITV's Lorraine today, opened up about the 'nasty and graphic' abuse she receives, often from violent parents who 'blame' her for having their children removed from their care

'It is complicated and I don't think we have the answer yet I'm afraid', she said. 'I don't want to do my job if it means not being with the public.

'Today I will spend my time with my constituents and I can't be followed around by a police presence everywhere, there's not enough police for that for a start, but I don't want too.

'I want people to come up to me and feel like they can trust me. MPs deal with a huge amount of vulnerable people who need privacy, so there's got to be a balancing act because I can't do my job unless I feel safe as well.'

She says that coping with the abuse can often be difficult, and that she can be 'triggered' by the trolling and re-visit the traumatic memory of Jo Cox's murder in 2016.

Jess, 40, doesn't believe in a police presence for Members of Parliament in the wake of Tory MP David Amesses murder last month. She is pictured on the Andrew Marr show in March

'I deal with it differently,' she said. 'It depends if i'm having a bad day. I can't cope with it sometimes and I'm frightened, I have events where I get triggered, I'll be taken back to that moment. The killing of Jo Cox I get literally triggered where I go back to that moment.'

However she says that after writing about her feelings publically Parliament has contacted her offering support, adding that while she's 'hard as nails' it helps having someone to talk to.

Jess says as her two children have got older she's had to 'prepare them' for the online abuse their mother receives.

'I did try to keep it from them when they were smaller, but when the police are coming round weekly to take statements the children start to notice these things', she said.

But Jess said she won't give up politics yet, because she is 'more afraid of living in a world where people are too frightened to step into public life'.
Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of Princess Charlene after her husband revealed she's left Monaco, despite only just returning from a 10-month absence, and hinted that she's struggling with her mental health.

Speaking to Monaco-Matin yesterday, Prince Albert, 63, confirmed his wife, 43, who has appeared increasingly frail, has left the principality and is staying at a secret location while she 'recovers from tiredness', away from him and their six-year-old twins.

'She is better but she still needs rest and peace,' he said in an article translated from French. 'She is not in the Principality but we will be able to visit her very soon.

'I cannot tell you more out of discretion. There is tiredness, not just physical, which can only be treated with a period of rest and monitoring.'

He added their children, Jacques and Gabriella, had 'suffered from the absence of their mother' but that he had compensated by stepping up to take a more active role in their lives.

'For me, it's pretty simple  my priority is my family,' the prince said, when asked about juggling the role of being a head of state and a father.

He continued: 'This is an extremely important time in [the children's] life  the way they grow up helps them see the world.

'And if one of the parents is away for medical reasons, the other parent has to be there. I have heard too many friends and acquaintances telling me that they wish they had been there for their children, at a certain age, taken up by their work or their professional life. I don't want to have these regrets.'

Princess Charlene is no longer in Monaco and is 'recovering from fatigue that is not just physical', her husband Prince Albert has revealed in a new interview with Monaco-Matin

Speaking to Monaco-Matin yesterday, Prince Albert, 63, confirmed his wife, 43, who has appeared increasingly frail, has left the principality and is staying at a secret location while she 'recovers from tiredness', away from him and their six-year-old twins. Pictured, Charlene at a Monaco gala in September 2020 (left) and looking frail in South Africa in October (right)

Charlene has appeared more frail in recent months, prompting concerns from royal followers. Pictured, the princess in a post shared from South Africa in October, before her return

This photo shared by Charlene from South Africa in July prompted well-wishes from concerned fans. The princess is now receiving treatment for 'tiredness'

Asked if the children had been 'more protected' during their mother's absence, Albert added: 'They should be protected in general, but of course they suffered from the absence of their mother. But they had enough distractions and a family circle that made sure they were not lacking in affection.'

The prince also said rumours around the state of his marriage 'don't bother him too much'.

It comes after the House of Grimaldi confirmed Charlene will not attend Monaco's National Day celebrations - one of the biggest events in the royal calendar - on Friday.

Charlene, 43, returned to her husband and twins Jacques and Gabriella in Monaco last Monday following a 10-month absence while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip to her native South Africa earlier this year.

In the days after her arrival, Charlene's sister-in-law Chantell Wittstock, told MailOnline the princess may not be returning to the palace and did not plan to immediately return to public engagements, although she later retracted the remark.

Before she left in January, Charlene had raised eyebrows in Monaco by living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the 12th Century Palace itself. It is thought she could return to living at the property.

Asked whether the Princess would now return to the arm's-length arrangement the couple had before her departure, Ms Wittstock, married to Charlene's brother Sean, who is on the board of her charitable foundation, said: 'Oh, we don't know yet. She'll probably be commuting between the two, wherever she's comfortable.

'And none of that is clear yet where she'll be settling or anything like that. I mean, she only just arrived back, so it's everybody finding their feet. The Princess is very excited to see her kids and they're very excited to see their mom again.

'So we'll see where she'll be settling. But it will be with her husband and her children.

Ms Wittstock, asked about media stories focusing on the state of her sister-in-law's marriage to Prince Albert, added: 'It is absolutely not something I can comment on. But what I can say is the princess is back in Monaco with her husband and children that should say it all.'

Charlene with her son Jacques, six, on her return to Monaco last Monday. Since her return from South Africa, there has been speculation as to when the princess will resume her duties

In the days after her arrival, Charlene's sister-in-law Chantell Wittstock, told MailOnline the princess would not be returning to the palace and did not plan to immediately return to public engagements. Prince Albert has continued to carry out royal duties on his own (pictured)

Prince Albert added their children, Jacques and Gabriella, had 'suffered from the absence of their mother' but that he had compensated by stepping up to take a more active role in their lives. Picture, Albert and Charlene embracing during Albert's visit to South Africa in August

She later retracted her statement, claiming that Charlene would be staying with her husband and children, but the latest comments from Prince Albert prove otherwise.

Meanwhile, Prince Albert has continued to carry out royal duties on his own.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the couple said: 'The Princess is currently convalescing and will continue to do so for the coming weeks, allowing Her time to recover from a state of profound general fatigue.'

The statement said the couple have 'both decided that a period of calm and rest is necessary to ensure the very best recovery for Princess Charlene's health.'

It continued: 'In order to protect the comfort and privacy essential to Her recovery, the Princess' location will remain strictly confidential.

'As soon as her health permits, the Princess looks forward to once again carrying out her Princely duties and spending time with the Monegasques.'

The claims will inevitably cast a shadow of doubt over the staged photocall last week when Charlene was reunited with Albert, 63, and their children after a 10-month absence from Monaco.

Charlene spent months without her family in her native South Africa while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip earlier this year.

Separate lives? Before she left in January, Charlene had raised eyebrows by living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the Palace itself, as illustrated. There is debate over whether she might return to the property

Low-key: Instead of enjoying palatial rooms overlooking the Mediterranean, and a domestic staff including butlers and cooks, the apartment, pictured, is a pared back apartment

The reunion, shared on Instagram, was eyed with scepticism by French commentators amid feverish speculation about the state of the Grimaldis' marriage.

Charlene's time away followed fresh allegations last December that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, were already in a relationship.

On the question of Charlene's return to public engagements, she sounded equally equivocal, saying: 'She absolutely will - if everything goes well, if she is definitely still healing and recovering.

'That doesn't just happen overnight. She's definitely going to be taking it easy. And yeah, her main focus right now will be spending time with her children and her family.

Charlene, who wed Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2011, has been living in her home country of South Africa for much of this year, and the extended stay has stoked speculation that the royal couple may be headed for divorce. Albert took their children to visit in August

How Charlene and Albert made solo outings in South Africa and Monaco during nine months apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa August 31 - Speculation mounts in the media about couple's relationship

September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco November 13 - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 - Prince Albert attends a Monaco Red Cross event without Princess Charlene November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location Advertisement

'All we can say right now is all of her procedures in South Africa were a success. So medically the doctors have cleared her to fly back. And that's why she's obviously back in Monaco with her kids.'

She said the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which promotes water safety and wildlife conservation in Africa, would soon expand to cover the whole continent.

'The main reason for coming to Africa in the first place was to launch more Foundation projects, which is when she fell ill and the Foundation team in South Africa absolutely carried on with all of those, making sure that everything happened exactly the way she wanted it.

'Even during recovery, in between procedures, the princess still tried to be completely hands-on and on the ground and work with us.

The foundation will also be expanding into the whole of Africa as of next year.

'As far as Charlene goes. The outlook is is positive and you know she's going to get back to full strength and be full steam ahead. It's not going to happen overnight.'

The new development will certainly add fuel to the intense speculation over the future of the marriage of Charlene and Albert.

Monday's photos were greeted with a hefty dose of scepticism by the French media.

Albert was waiting for her at the Monte Carlo helipad, along with their six-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. The family were joined by a hand-picked photographer inside the Palace walls for the 'reunion' photos.

But there was already doubt cast over the couple's living arrangements.

'Reunion of Albert and Charlene of Monaco: but where exactly do they sleep?' was the headline question in the respected French celebrity outlet Gala on Tuesday.

And Voici  another popular magazine read widely across Monaco and France  ran with: 'Charlene of Monaco back: the Princess breaks the silence and forgets to mention her husband'.

This was a reference to Charlene using a social media video to thank everybody who had helped her through months of ill-health, without name-checking Albert at all.

In the streets in the shadow of the 12th century Prince's Palace, people could not conceal their concern for Charlene this week, having seen the photos of her looking so obviously frail.

'We are glad to have her back, but she doesn't look well and it feels we don't yet have the full picture,' said one cafe owner on the Rock, in his 50s, who asked not to be named.

He admitted that in years past, he like many Monegasques, had expressed frustration at the way Charlene has been less visible than other royals.

'There was a while when there was a sense that she was a reluctant princess,' he said, 'but this is different - there's obviously something not quite right either with her or the marriage and for whatever reason we're not being told what.'

There certainly appears to be a wall of silence around Charlene, especially since she retreated behind the ramparts of the Palace, at least for the time being.

Her Palace press officer said she could not return calls from MailOnline and did not reply to a list of questions we sent her.

Doubts about the central relationship of Monaco's royal family are not new of course.

Several residents living in the narrow medieval alleys of Monaco Ville confirmed to MailOnline that before she left for South Africa Charlene was spending most of her time outside the Palace at the Chocolate factory apartment.

'We often saw her outside the Palace and she would usually be alone or with a bodyguard,' said one source, 'but she was never with Albert - it was obvious she chose to spend most of her time in the apartment rather than the palace.'

Another Monte Carlo source who knows the couple well told MailOnline: 'The way to stop all the friction and put an end to the speculation about their marriage is for Charlene to proudly move back into the Palace and start living like a proper Princess.

'That's what the people of Monaco want, because they love their Royals, and don't want them living separate lives.'

Charlene came in for criticism before she travelled to South Africa for dividing her time between several properties outside the Palais, the official residence of the Sovereign, Albert II.

Instead of enjoying palatial rooms overlooking the Mediterranean, and a domestic staff including butlers and cooks, Charlene chose the Chocolate Factory.

It only had two bedrooms, and had been used in the past by Albert's sister, Princess Stephanie.

Stephanie, 56, led an extremely turbulent personal life herself that included two divorces and high-profile affairs with security guards and an elephant trainer.

Charlene spent months without her family in her native South Africa while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip earlier this year. Pictured, Albert with Charlene on a visit to see his wife in South Africa in August

Princess Charlene's trials and tribulations in the Monaco royal family 1987 - Bea Fiedler, a German topless model, claims her son Daniel was the prince's son. 1992 - An American national files a paternity lawsuit against the Prince, claiming that he was the father of her daughter, Jazmin Grace. 2000 - Princess Charlene meets Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo 2005 - In May, a former flight attendant claims that her youngest son, whom she named Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, was Prince Albert's child. She states that his parentage had been proven by DNA tests requested by the Monegasque government. On 6 July, a few days before he was enthroned on 12 July, the Prince officially confirms via his lawyer Lacoste that Alexandre was his biological son. 2006 - After a DNA test confirmed the child's parentage, Albert admitted, via statement from his lawyer, that he is Jazmin Grace's father. 2010 - Princess Charlene and Prince Albert announce their engagement 2011 - Princess Charlene was said to have bolted two days before the royal wedding after hearing Prince Albert had a third love child during their relationship. It was alleged that Charlene tried to flee home to South Africa three times before her 'arranged marriage', at one point taking refuge inside her country's embassy in Paris. Monaco officials were said to have coaxed her back by brokering a deal between the Prince and his reluctant bride that she provide him with a legitimate heir. After that she would be free to leave of her own free will. During the wedding, Charlene was in floods of tears, while her husband looked on impassively. Later in the year, Princess Charlene confessed she felt 'very lonely' in Monaco 2012 - Princess Charlene was reported to be 'depressed' at her failure to provide her husband with a legitimate heir. 2014 - Pregnancy was announced in May. In December Charlene gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and heir to the throne Prince Jacques. 2017 - Princess Charlene visits Africa, tells media: 'I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It's in my heart and in my veins.' 2019 - In a rare interview, Princess Charlene confessed it is 'sometimes hard to smile' and said the year had been 'very painful'In another interview, she said she found motherhood 'exhausting' 2020 - Charlene debuts a shocking half-shaved hairstyle. It is announced Prince Albert of Monaco will appear in court in the new year to fight explosive claims he fathered a third love child with a secret girlfriend before marrying his now wife Princess Charlene. 2021 - January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. It is the last time she has been seen in Monaco this year. Advertisement

Charlene also escaped Royal protocol by staying at Roc Agel, a mountain retreat on the outskirts of Monaco originally restored for Albert's late mother, the Hollywood star Grace Kelly who became Princess Grace before her tragic death in a car crash on the treacherously steep road approaching Roc Agel.

Charlene was also a frequent visitor to a holiday home owned by friends on the Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Paris Match, the celeb bible, has always had particularly close ties with the Grimaldis  the ancient dynasty now headed by Albert and Charlene.

'Charlene and Albert on the Verge of Breaking Up?' was the lead headline in an edition of Match in August.

'There will be no photo for their 10th anniversary wedding anniversary,' it noted.

All the high-end French publications  the kind that Albert and Charlene would normally grant fawning interviews to  concurred.

The upmarket and very conservative Madame Figaro ran with the stark headline: 'Are Charlene and Albert II of Monaco on the verge of divorce?'

Historian and author Philippe Delorme told the magazine: 'Lots of people got the impression it was an arranged marriage, it's true.

'Albert chose a wife who resembled his mother and Charlene clearly felt very ill at ease in this Grace Kelly role they wanted her to play.

'As Karl Marx put it: History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.'

The 2011 wedding itself was an ostentatious three-day event featuring a concert by the Eagles. But onlookers were concerned by photos of the bride in tears with her husband appearing distant, but Charlene insisted later she was just emotional.

Charlene has been notable by her absence from every single flagship event in the tax haven principality this year.

They have included the Monaco Grand Prix on May 23, and the Fashion Awards hosted by the Princess's own charitable foundation on May 18.

Charlene infamously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker last December.

This was seen as the first public sign of a worsening crisis that could end in a multi-million pound divorce.

Charlene's exile in South Africa began a month after it emerged last December that Albert was facing yet another paternity suit.

A Brazilian woman who cannot be named for legal reasons said her 15-year-old daughter was the result of an affair with Albert in 2004.

Albert and Charlene were not yet engaged at this time, but they had known each over for four years after meeting at a swimming gala in Monaco in 2000.

Lawyers for the claimant were scheduled to demand a DNA test from Albert at a court in Milan earlier this year, while his own counsel branded the action 'a hoax'.

Neither party is now commenting, suggesting some kind of generous settlement may have been reached, as happened with Albert's earlier love children.

They are Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 17, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess.

Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements.
A woman who was proud of a 'super-cute' heart-shaped freckle on her face was horrified to discover it was skin cancer - and is now urging people to wear sunscreen.

KayIa Mailer, a stage manager and secretary from Portland, Oregon, had a tiny freckle on her left cheek from the age of 12. Over the course of 15 years it transformed into a perfect heart shape.

But the unique beauty mark, which people regularly complimented and thought was a tattoo, turned a darker color and lost its distinctive shape when she turned 27.

Kayla went to her doctor and was referred to a dermatologist who whipped off the freckle for a biopsy.

Just three days later, Kayla, now 32, was given the devastating news that it was a 'highly aggressive' form of melanoma.

KayIa Mailer, now 32, was proud of her 'super-cute' heart-shaped freckle - pictured here before surgery. She noticed it changing color and shape when she was 27, and visited her doctor

When the stage manager and secretary had the mark biopsied, she was told it was an aggressive form of cancer - and had it removed surgically

Kayla, pictured after surgery, said her skin was 'filleted off' layer-by-layer during the surgical procedure

She underwent surgery where they 'filleted' off her skin layer by layer, leaving her with a pepperoni-sized hole in her face.

After tests revealed there was no more cancer present, Kayla underwent plastic surgery on her face to close the gaping wound.

Now cancer-free, Kayla is sharing her ordeal to urge people to always wear sunscreen.

Kayla said: 'If I hadn't removed it, I would have died when I was 28-years-old.

'I didn't tan a lot before the diagnosis, but when I was a kid I was running around Alabama, usually with no sunscreen, or at least not reapplied every two hours.

Kayla says there was a pepperoni-sized hole on her cheek after surgery to treat her skin cancer

Pictured here after surgery, Kayla says she would have died aged 28, after discovering the cancer at 27, if she hadn't undergone the operation

After doctors confirmed the cancer was gone, Kayla had plastic surgery to close the gaping wound in her face, turning the circular hole into a straight line

'When I got the call from the dermatologist saying I had a highly aggressive form of melanoma I was getting ready to go to work a 12-hour night shift at the jail.

'I sobbed in my bathroom and [from then on] had constant anxiety about dying.'

Kayla had had the freckle since the age of 12 and over the years it formed a perfect heart-shape that people complimented her on.

But when she noticed changes to its shape and color she made an appointment with a dermatologist on November 13, 2017 to get it checked out.

Kayla said: 'From at least sixth grade I had a mole on my cheek and right below it was a flat freckle.

'Over time that flat freckle became more and more prominent and by the time I was 26 it had formed into a heart shape and was super cute.

Kayla had surgery on December 4, 2017, to remove the cancer. Two days later (pictured) she headed into surgery again - this time to have a cosmetic op to close the wound

Pictured here after the plastic surgery procedure, Kayla says she had a 'railroad of stitches in [her] face'

The cancer survivor says her mother Millie Mailer (pictured here, as the pair travel to a hospital appointment) never left her side throughout the treatment

'The change into a heart was slow, about 15 years of small changes, to become this unique marking.

'However, when I was 27 it had started to rapidly change and was no longer the perfect heart shape.

'It went from being a medium-dark chocolate brown to brown-black and the heart had lost some of its shape.

'I went to my doctor concerned and he sent me a referral to a dermatologist in Yakima [Washington].

'The doctor checked it out and said it 'definitely looked suspicious'.

'He said he would do a scrape test if I wanted but warned that it would remove the entire mark.

'I remember thinking that my heart-shaped freckle was really cute - I got a lot of compliments on it and even people asking me if it was a tattoo.

'I agreed to the scrape in case it turned out to be something more sinister, it changed quickly enough at the end to make me worried.

While she didn't regularly suntan, Kayla (pictured pre-surgery), who grew up in Alabama, says she didn't apply sunscreen enough as a child

The 32-year-old, shown here aged 27, as her freckle started to change shape and color, advises people to get any 'suspicious' health issues checked by a professional

Kayla, pictured here in April 2021, is urging people to always wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours

Now, several years after her 2017 surgeries to remove the cancer and close the wound, Kayla's scar has faded

'He numbed my face and then used a small razor to scrape off the color, which he then sent to the lab.'

WHAT IS MELANOMA? Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs in the body. The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole. This can happen anywhere on the body, but the most commonly affected areas are the back in men and the legs in women. In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than 1 color. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed. Look out for a mole that gradually changes shape, size or color. In most cases, once the melanoma has been removed there's little possibility of it returning and no further treatment should be needed. Most people (80 to 90%) are monitored for 1 to 5 years and are then discharged with no further problems. Source: NHS Advertisement

Just three days later, on November 16, Kayla received the devastating news that the freckle was cancerous.

Kayla said: 'I was getting ready to go to work the night shift at 5.10pm when the dermatologist rang.

'He told me that he usually wanted to schedule an appointment to go over results but that it couldn't wait.

'He told me I had a 'highly aggressive' form of melanoma, that he'd scheduled me for the first available appointment at the surgery center in Seattle and that I'd need plastic surgery too.

'I sobbed when he told me.'

Later that month Kayla and her mother Millie Mailer went to the dermatologist and was told she'd undergo a Mohs procedure - a precise surgical technique used to treat skin cancer.

On December 4th Kayla had the op where the specialist delicately sliced off each layer of cancerous tissue and sent it off for testing.

Kayla said: 'At the appointment they put me on a chair, much like a dentist chair, and reclined me back.

'They cleaned the area and began injecting my cheek with stuff to make it numb then they started to cut a circle on my cheek around the cancer.

'As they did it I could feel the cuts near my nose, then they peeled it [the tissue] off my face.

'There's nothing quite like watching your skin be filleted off.

'I could see the yellow layer of fat that went with it, leaving a gaping, bleeding hole in my face that was the size of, and looked like, a pepperoni.

Pictured here aged 16-years-old, not long after the freckle first appeared on her cheek. It transformed into a perfect heart shape over the next 15 years

Kayla aged 17 - the freckle was still a small, circular shape, very different to the larger, heart-shaped mark that would develop

Shown after having the freckle removed, and surviving cancer, Kayla wants people to 'live a life you love, and love the life you live'

'They then proceeded to cauterize the hole and give me a giant bandage while I waited for the results to come back.'

The following day [December 5] Kayla was told that all the melanoma had been successfully removed and she was booked in to have plastic surgery to close the wound on December 6.

Kayla said: 'I was prepped for surgery and the next thing I knew I woke up with a railroad of stitches in my face.

'Mom was napping on the side of the bed, a true angel, she never left my side even though she was exhausted.'

Kayla said that three years on she has skin checks every six months and has subsequently had freckles removed from her back, neck, right arm and two on her face as a precaution.

Now, she is urging people to always wear sunscreen and reapply every two hours.

Kayla said: 'I would advise people to wear sunscreen - reapply every two hours - and/or wear protective clothing.

'Get suspicious things checked by a professional. Live a life you love, and love the life you live.'
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A photo of a golden sink monkey getting into a spot of bother after sitting on the supporting wires of a bridge that runs over the Xun river in Yunnan, southwestern China, has won the Overall Winner prize of the 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.

Amateur UK photographer Ken Jensen beat 7,000 entries to scoop the prestigious award with the hilarious image of the open-mouthed monkey, shot in 2016.

The annual photography competition is free to enter and is in its seventh year, receiving thousands of entries from around the world.

Categories include: Land, Air, Juniors (for those aged 16 and under), Portfolio (a selection of four images), Underwater and Video Clips.

Amateur UK photographer Ken Jensen beat 7,000 entries to scoop the Overall Winner prize of the 2021 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards with a photo of a golden sink monkey getting into a spot of bother after sitting on the supporting wires of a bridge that runs over the Xun river in Yunnan, southwestern China

Another competition winner shows a peeved pigeon looking less than dignified after getting a leaf in its face won the Affinity Photo People's Choice Award, shot by John Speirs

Vicki Jauron's series of photos which show a young elephant playing around in the mud before face-planting the ground won the Amazing Internet Portfolio Award, taking on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe

Meanwhile Roland Kranitz's shot of a squirrel appearing to throw his pal up in the air entitled 'I got you', won Highly Commended Winner

Speaking a bout his win, Jensen said: 'I was absolutely overwhelmed to learn that my entry had won, especially when there were quite a number of wonderful photos entered.

'The publicity that my image has received over the last few months has been incredible, it is such a great feeling to know that one's image is making people smile globally as well as helping to support some fantastically worthwhile conservation causes.'

Elsewhere a peeved pigeon looking less than dignified after getting a leaf in its face won the Affinity Photo People's Choice Award, shot by John Speirs.

And Vicki Jauron's series of photos which show a young elephant playing around in the mud before face-planting the ground won the Amazing Internet Portfolio Award, taking on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile Roland Kranitz's shot of a squirrel appearing to throw his pal up in the air entitled 'I got you', won Highly Commended Winner.

Also in the category was Gurumoorthy K with their picture The Green Stylist, showing a majestic Indian chameleon posing in Western Ghats

Continuing the comedy was Chu han lin with their picture 'See who jumps high' taken in Mudskipper, Taiwan

Lea Scaddan took this picture entitled 'Missed' of a kangaroo missing its target as they engaged in a noble match of fisticuffs

Also in the category was Gurumoorthy K with their picture The Green Stylist, showing a majestic Indian chameleon posing in Western Ghats.

Continuing the comedy was Chu han lin with their picture 'See who jumps high' taken in Mudskipper, Taiwan, while Lea Scaddan took this picture entitled 'Missed' of a kangaroo missing its target as they engaged in a noble match of fisticuffs.

Speaking about the finalists, the website states: 'We are delighted to reveal that the OVERALL WINNER of the Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 2021 is Ken Jensen with Ouch! A brilliantly timed photo of a Golden Silk Monkey in China, getting himself into a bit of trouble on a wire (easily done.) A thoroughly deserving winner, Ken's shot was up against some pretty awesome Finalists.

'Massive CONGRATULATIONS to Ken Jensen - who will be heading out on safari soon courtesy of Alex Walker's Serian and to all our Wonderful Winners, Fabulous Finalists and Excellent Entrants of 2021! Thanks so much for being part of the Awards - you absolutely smashed it!'

Creatures of the Land Award: Arthur Trevino with their picture Ninja Prairie Dog! When this Bald Eagle missed on its attempt to grab this prairie dog, the prairie dog jumped towards the eagle and startled it long enough to escape to a nearby burrow. A real David vs Goliath story!

Creatures Under the Sea Award Chee Kee Teo with their picture Time for school A smooth-coated otter "bit" its baby otter to bring it back to and fro for swimming lesson.

Jakub Hodan with their picture Treehugger This Proboscis monkey could be just scratching its nose on the rough bark, or it could be kissing it. Trees play a big role in the lives of monkeys. Who are we to judge...

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards describes itself as born from a passion for wildlife and decades of experience living and working in East Africa, beginning in 2015 as a photographic competition.

Since then, steered by its founders, Paul Joynson-Hicks MBE and Tom Sullam, it has grown into a globally renowned competition seen by millions of people every year, and always with wildlife conservation at its heart.

The free competition, open to wildlife photography experts and novices, celebrates the hilarity of our natural world and highlights what we need to do to protect it. From a surprised otter to a swearing turtle, Comedy Wildlife's photographs transcend cultures and ages to bring a smile to everyone's face.

This year's competition will donate 10% of its total net revenue to Save Wild Orangutans, which works to safeguard wild orangutans in Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo.

Pal Marchhart with their picture Peekaboo  A young bear descending from a tree looks like he/she is playing hide and seek.

Jan Piecha with their picture Chinese whispers The little raccoon cups are telling secrets to each other
The parents of 10 children who all started college before the age of 13 insist their precocious sons and daughters are 'not geniuses' - instead crediting their 'efficient' homeschooling regimen for their family's academic success.

Monalisa Harding, 53, and her husband Kip, 53, who are high school sweethearts from San Jose, California, homeschooled all their children from the same syllabus instead of sending the kids to traditional schools.

They knew they were on the right track after getting each of their first three children through high school by the time they all turned 11, and their younger kids went on to achieve similar success.

Their oldest child, Hannah, went on to earn a bachelors degree in mathematics at the age of 17 from Auburn University, Montgomery in 2004 - making her the first child prodigy.

Last year, their youngest child Thunder, 11, passed his entrance exams to college, joining Lorennah, 13, who is already in her second year.

Those of the Harding siblings who have already graduated from college have gone on to become doctors, architects, spacecraft designers and lawyers.

Monalisa Harding and her husband Kip, both 53, homeschooled all 10 of their children using the same methods and techniques

The sixth Harding child - Seth (pictured with sister with Serennah) became Alabama's youngest lawyer at 19, after passing his degree and professional exams during the pandemic

Monalisa says her children 'aren't geniuses'. She says that the efficient nature of homeschooling (and her children's hard work) guaranteed their academic success

Eight of the brothers and sisters have already graduated by either 15 or 16 - and all went to university before they were 13.

The most recent family graduate Mariannah, 16, is now applying to do her masters in horticulture in January.

Seth Harding, 20, child six of 10, became Alabama's youngest lawyer at the age of 19 after getting his law degree and passing his professional exams during the pandemic.

But humble Monalisa insists her kids 'aren't geniuses' - and said their success is down to homeschooling which is more 'efficient' than going to school.

Lorennah (left), 13, is a sophomore at Bellevue University. Katrinnah (right), 18, earned a BA in political science from Huntington college at age 15 and is now in law school

Lorennah and Katrinnah are seen posing with sister Mariannah, 16, who earned a BA in health science from Bellevue University in Nebraska at the age of 16 and is planning to study further

Lorennah is the ninth of the Harding family's 10 children - all of whom started university by the age of 13

Monalisa, said: 'The nature of homeschooling is so efficient - anyone can do it.

'It's just about parents dedicating the time to get it done and prioritizing their children's education above all else.

'We're not a wealthy family. We had to make sacrifices so that I had the time to teach each of them individually.

'When you raise kids in an environment where homeschooling and hard work is the norm, then, as they grow, they'll naturally adapt to it and take it in their stride.

'They all worked and continue to work extremely hard, which is why they're breaking new ground every day - I couldn't be more proud of them.'

In 2014, the couple released their own book titled 'The Brainy Bunch', detailing their methods and techniques which has brought their children so much success.

The book goes into detail about the intricacy of homeschool study and offers advice and support for parents wishing to do the same.

Monalisa and husband Kip, who used to be in the military before working in government, also offer private consultations for families about home schooling.

Mariannah, who received her BA in Health Science from Bellevue University at the age of 16, is currently waiting for a response to an application from Auburn University for further studies

Son Heath (left), now 26, earned his BA in English, aged 15, and a master's degree in computer science at the age of 17

Thunder James, the youngest of the brood aged just 11, is currently a freshman at Bellevue University

Mother Monalisa with her lawyer son Seth. She described homeschooling her children as 'a hell of a journey', but said they 'wouldn't change it for the world'

They've spoken at conferences across the U.S., and have even travelled to Japan to share their experiences.

'We've had the best time travelling around and helping other families who want to homeschool their kids,' Monalisa added.

'It's really fulfilling because we put our hearts and souls into our children, and knowing people admire that and want to do the same is a really great feeling.

'It's important to find that balance between not putting too much pressure on your kids and making sure they're reaching their full potential.

'We just have Thunder and Lorennah to get through college now, and then we can finally think about making some time for ourselves.

'It's been a hell of a journey but we wouldn't change it for the world!'
The critically derided Princess Diana: The Musical has finally had its Broadway premiere, almost two years after it was originally scheduled to open.

Actress Jeanna de Waal, who plays Princess Diana, led the cast as they took to the stage at New York's Longacre Theatre last night.

The production has faced fresh criticism today, with the New York Times saying it 'exploits the People's Princess'.

It comes after a filmed version of the stage show was lambasted by viewers and critics following its premiere on Netflix last month.

Diana takes her bow! Jeanna de Waal curtsies after the opening night of Diana: The Musical on Broadway. The show returned following a hiatus due to Covid and was met with mixed reviews

Royally thrilled! Erin Davie, David Bryan, Roe Hartrampf and Jeanna de Waal along with the rest of the cast of Diana: The Musical, following last night's premiere

'The Queen and Camilla': The show, created by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (Bon Jovis keyboardist), stars Judy Kaye as the Queen (left), and Erin Davie as Camilla (right)

Curtain call: Clutching a bouquet of flowers, Jeanna de Waal (Princess Diana) takes a bow

The new musical was roundly slammed over its 'hysterically awful' lyrics and 'absurdly over the top' production.

The Evening Standard, The Times and the Chicago Tribune gave Diana: The Musical damning one-star reviews, while viewers on social media mocked the ridiculous songs - including a number where paparazzi sing 'better than a Guinness, better than a w**k/snap a few pics, its money in the bank'.

Commentators previously called on Prince Harry, who has an estimated $100million deal with Netflix, to cut ties with the streaming giant over the 'degrading' and 'exploitative' depiction of his mother and the royal family.

MailOnline's Dan Wooton wrote: 'If he fails to speak out against such a horrendous depiction of his mother, then he is tacitly endorsing it.'

Saving grace: A number of reviews said Judy Kaye as the Queen (pictured) stood out

Beaming: Lead actress Jeanna de Waal is radiant as she celebrates a successful opening night

Regal: Actress Jeanna de Waal curtsied (left) before being presented with flowers on stage

Celebration! The show was met with applause - but has faced harsh criticism from critics

The show, created by Joe DiPietro and David Bryan (Bon Jovis keyboardist), stars Jeanna de Waal, as Princess Diana, Roe Hartrampf as Prince Charles, Judy Kaye as the Queen, and Erin Davie who 'turns Camilla Parker Bowles into the Wicked Witch of the West'.

At one point Diana sings how she 'wishes Charles was Elton John' before adding: 'Alright, I'm no intellect/but maybe there's a discotheque/where the prince could hear Prince and we'd all get Funkadellic'.

Later, she sings to her infant son: 'Harry my ginger-haired son / Youll always be second to none.'

One of the most heavily quoted lyrics comes from a scene in which Diana crashes one of Camilla's parties and scandalised guests sing about a 'Thrilla in Manilla with Diana and Camilla'.

Revealed: The 'embarrassing' lyrics that left reviewers cringing Charles, cradling newborn: 'Darling, Im holding our son / So let me say, jolly well done.' Chorus of onlookers at a party thrown by Camilla (Erin Davie), crashed by her romantic rival: 'Its the Thrilla in Manilla / But with Diana and Camilla!' Diana being chased by paparazzi who chant: 'Better than a Guinness, better than a w**k / Snap a few pics, its money in the bank' Diana, cradling Harry: 'Harry, my ginger-haired son / Youll always be second to none.' A man dying of AIDS sings to Diana: 'I may be unwell, but Im handsome as hell.' Diana lamenting: 'Serves me right for marrying a Scorpio.' A miserable Diana singing: 'I could use a prince to save me from my prince.' At a concert with Prince Charles, Diana warbles: 'Alright, I'm no intellect/but maybe there's a discotheque/where the prince could hear Prince and we'd all get Funkadellic'. Shocking: A screenshot reveals one of the crass lines from Diana: The Musical Advertisement

As Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson notes, the lyrics are not 'meant to be silly and campy', despite how they might read on paper. 'They are just the stilted, embarrassingly serious ramblings of a show that has no interest in real humanity.'

de Waal, who has said it is a 'huge privilege' to play the princess, was criticised for the 'lack of nuance' within her performance, with several comparing it to Kristen Stewart's powerhouse take on the princess in upcoming film, Spencer.

Others have questioned the accuracy and tone of the musical, with Wootton writing: 'Diana: The Musical is the most offensive and degrading portrayal of the late Princess of Wales in fiction since her death in 1997  and in terms of accuracy it makes that other historically-derided Netflix series The Crown look like a royal encyclopaedia of truth.

'The lies about Di's life are egregious  from suggesting she used HIV patients for publicity to attacking Margaret Thatcher for her politics.'

Viewers have taken to Twitter to mock and criticise the musical, with several blasting the lyrics

The criticism has been echoed by viewers, who took to Twitter to mock the production.

One tweeted: 'I just watched the first 20 minutes of Diana the musical to wind down after preview 2 and I am so tired I think I am hallucinating. Can people please confirm this is actually a thing because it is like a fever dream.'

Another posted: 'All you need to know about the Diana musical on Netflix is that it has a song that contains the lyrics its a thrilla in Manila with Diana and Camilla.'

A third added simply: 'Whoever decided to create Diana the Musical on Netflix made a HORRIBLE mistake #DianaTheMusical.'

The musical, directed by Tony award-winner Christopher Ashley, also features characters including royal butler Paul Burrell and biographer Andrew Morton, while James Hewitt is depicted as a 'bare-chested sex god'.

Here, a snapshot of what the critics had to say...

THE EVENING STANDARD

Rating:

Jessie Thompson writes: 'The whole thing feels like the result of someone who read Tina Browns The Diana Chronicles on a sunlounger, semi-p****d on margaritas while listening to Aerosmith. Actually, no, that makes it sound quite good...

'Camilla (Erin Davie) hangs around every scene like a ghost at the feast; the shows attitude to her and Charles is summed up in one hysterically unsubtle lyric - "hes a third rate Henry VIII and shes Godzilla".

'Worse still are the shlocky lyrics, which made me feel like I was being bludgeoned over the head by a commemorative crockery set.

'They go from the lamentable - "Feel the groove, even royals need to move" - to the nonsensical - "Hearts bend, break, burst and sever"... do they? Hearing the words "Jaaames Hewitttt" sung in the manner of Meatloaf made me honestly wonder if I was on acid.'

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Rating:

Michael Phillips writes: 'Diana: The Musical is a hunk of Wensleydale cheese now streaming on Netflix, and in this case the r in streaming is optional...

'Already "Diana: The Musical" has drawn slack-jawed quality comparisons to the film version of "Cats." But "Cats" was different  dubious material handled badly, a compilation of misjudgments and digital fur. This ones a matter of shoddy material staged efficiently and fluidly by director Christopher Ashley, aided by a solid cast of pros swimming upstream, trying hard not to mentally rewrite librettist and lyricist Joe DiPietros words with every stroke...

'Its tolerable, I suppose, if you dont have to listen to it. Unfortunately its a musical so you have to listen to it.'

THE TIMES

Rating:

Clive Davis writes: '[It] really does plumb new depths. DiPietro  whose new show, What's New Pussycat, opens at Birmingham Rep this month  has said he did not aim to be campy. Yet what else can you make of a venture that goes so absurdly over the top?

'Jeanna De Waal captures Dianas shy glance, but theres not much else she can do with a cardboard cut-out, while Judy Kayes portrayal of the Queen seems to be channelling Hyacinth Bucket. Roe Hartrampf makes a simpering Charles; Erin Davie turns Camilla Parker Bowles into the Wicked Witch of the West.

'When she and a vengeful Diana come face to face at a fancy dinner, you wouldnt be at all surprised if DiPietro and Bryan staged a bout of mud-wrestling. That said, they do give us James Hewitt as a bare-chested, jodphur-wearing sex god.'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Rating:

Marianka Swain writes: '"A fairy tale born in Hell." Thats the nuanced take on Princess Dianas marriage in this redundant soap opera-meets-rock opera, which would be in bad taste were it not so dull. It seems a bizarre choice for Netflix, which is premiering a filmed version of this new musical ahead of its Broadway opening in November  unless the intent is to make The Crown look even better by comparison.

'Unlike that garlanded drama, Diana: The Musical sprints from courtship to her death in under two hours, like a hyperactive Wikipedia page.

'Theres no time for thoughtful characterisation or dialogue; instead, everyone helpfully blurts out their current emotional state. Its the mood ring school of writing.'

THE GUARDIAN

Rating:

Stuart Heritage writes: 'What a genuinely bizarre work of art this is... You could stick a pin in almost every song and pull out a line that makes the whole endeavour feel like it was specifically created as a berserk prank against the world.

'My particular favourite is the moment when Diana looks into a crib and tenderly sings: "Harry, my ginger-haired son / Youll always be second to none."

'But others might prefer the part when the Queen belts out a song about Prince Charless inability to keep it in his pants, or the song that appears to be called A Thriller in Manilla with Camilla.'

THE i

Rating:

Andrzej Lukowski writes: 'Really, its not bad at all. Ultimately the only thing I was left slightly struggling with was the exact point: DiPietros central thesis is to portray Diana in a positive, uplifting light as a woman who overcame adversity to find and better herself: "I choose happiness, I choose a fresh new start" she sighs, radiantly, near the end.

'But if youre somebody who struggles to find the British monarchy especially interesting, theres maybe a sense of consequentiality missing here.

'Conversely, if you think her too-short life was a bitter tragedy, you may be taken aback by the largely upbeat mood. Still, its good-natured fun with a big heart, probably best enjoyed after a couple of white wine spritzers.'

VANITY FAIR

Richard Lawson writes: 'Diana is a shellacked lump of product born solely of cold, money-minded cynicism.

'The show, from writer Joe DiPietro and musician David Bryan (of Bon Jovi fame), positions itself as something revelatory, and is advertised as a peek behind the curtain to see what really happened when young Diana Spencer married Prince Charles. It does nothing of the sort. Anyone who has watched Netflixs The Crown or, I dont know, briefly skimmed a Wikipedia article will already know pretty much everything thats clumsily explicated in the musical...

'The musical claims to be telling this story so that we may better understand Diana, to see her as a person, not just an icon. But the production exists entirely to exploit her legacy, to crassly run us through a recitation of known events (and fashion moments) in order to extract more money out of the whole sorry circus.'

VARIETY

Peter Debruge writes: 'The one-dimensionality of this portrayal reveals how little we truly understood about the womans inner world. Gaps left by tabloids were filled in part by Andrew Mortons controversial biography, based largely on input from Diana herself  a process depicted here in the shows catchiest song, "The Words Came Pouring Out."

'But so many secrets remain unrevealed, and the rest relies heavily on speculation. Dianas divorce was considerably more complicated than Bryan and DiPietro make it out to be, and she dies abruptly one song later  not "Candle in the Wind," alas.

'Experiencing the musical on screen makes "Diana" feel all the more inadequate, since closeups call for a more nuanced performance than de Waal is prepared to give.'
Prince William appeared in good spirits as he visited the Microsoft UK headquarters in Reading earlier today.

The Duke of Cambridge, 39, cut a dapper figure in a navy jacket and baby blue shirt as he arrived at the software company this morning.

During the visit, he is set to learn how new AI scanning technology can increase detection of illegal wildlife products being trafficked through international airports.

William's visit comes hours before his sister-in-law Meghan Markle's surprise appearance on the Ellen show is to be broadcast, amid fears she may be about to drop more bombshells about the Royal Family.

Prince William, 39, appeared in good spirits as he visited the Microsoft headquarters in Reading earlier today

The Duke cut a dapper figure in a navy jacket and baby blue shirt as he arrived at the software company this morning

During the visit in Reading this morning, the Duke could be seen studying an elephant tusk while chatting with members of staff.

His visit followed a recent trial at London Heathrow, where Microsofts AI research project, SEEKER, proved its ability to detect illegal wildlife items concealed in baggage and cargo.

The Duke heard about the potential of this technology as part of his work with The Royal Foundations United for Wildlife, whose partners helped the project in development.

The illegal wildlife trade is among the five most lucrative global crimes and is often run by highly organised criminal networks.

During the visit, The Duke also followed poaching cases from end to end to show how United for Wildlife partners are helping to disrupt this criminal network at each stage.

Getting hands on! The father-of-three touched a screen during a visit to the Microsoft headquarters (pictured)

William's visit comes hours before his sister-in-law Meghan Markle 's surprise appearance on the Ellen show is to be broadcast, amid fears she may be about to drop more bombshells about the Royal Family

He then heard from Rangers at the Southern Africa Wildlife College about the latest situation on the ground there, where nearly 400 rhinos are poached each year.

He also spoke with UK Border Force officials about how criminals aim to exploit the transport network to move their product around the globe and also the detection and data collection challenges facing enforcement teams and how SEEKER can help to solve some of these.

SEEKER has a proven successful detection rate of over 70 per cent on ivory products, but importantly it can be trained on any species and integrated into current airport screening and scanning infrastructure.

It can build intelligence for global enforcement teams to better see what is being trafficked, where it has come from and where it is going.

The Duke was shown a video of a wildlife ranger during his visit to the software company's UK headquarters earlier today

The Duke could be seen studying the scanning technology which can detect illegal wildlife products being trafficked through airports

The Duke also heard from United for Wildlife Financial Taskforce partners and the South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force how seizures at airports are just the start of a complex financial investigation.

United for Wildlife was founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in 2014 with the aim to leave our planet in a stronger position for the next generation by protecting endangered species and their habitats from the Illegal Wildlife Trade.

His appearance comes hours before an interview set with the Duchess of Sussex on Ellen is to be broadcast in the US.

Her new TV appearance came as a shock yesterday. It was long rumoured that the Duchess would give her first interview to Ellen after she and Harry emigrated in January 2020. But in the end the Sussexes chose their neighbour in Montecito, Oprah Winfrey.

The clip will raise fears in Buckingham Palace that she may be about launch a fresh attack on the royals, who the Sussexes have previously accused of racism towards Archie and allegations they ignored Meghan when she claimed to be suicidal while pregnant and living in London.

It remains a busy period for the father-of-three, who has been among the senior royals who have been continuing with royal duty in the absence of the Queen in recent days.

The Duke has quietly continued with his royal duty, last night cutting a dapper figure as he arrived at a reception of the Joint Ministerial Council at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

The Duke of who opted for a smart black suit, crisp white shirt and polka dot tie, was accompanied by Chairperson of the Conservative Party Amanda Milling for the occasion.

The Joint Ministerial Council is an annual meeting between UK Ministers and the leaders of the UK's Overseas Territories that enables cooperation on a wide range of issues.

Prince William was shown various pieces while at the Microsoft UK headquarters in Reading this morning

During the visit, the Duke is set to learn how new AI scanning technology can increase detection of illegal wildlife products being trafficked through international airports

The royal could be seen studying an elephant tusk during the visit to the business in Reading earlier today

And days ago, he was among the senior royals who took part in the Remembrance Sunday service moments after the Queen pulled out of attending.

As the clock struck 11am, Boris Johnson, Prince Charles, Prince William and other members of Britain's elite marked the two-minute silence.

Buckingham Palace said the 95-year-old monarch made the decision on Sunday morning 'with great regret' and is 'disappointed' to miss the event - the first time she has not been in attendance in 22 years.

The Queen is said to be deeply disappointed to miss the service - which she regards as one of the most significant engagements of the year - and she hopes to continue as planned with her schedule of light official duties next week.

The monarch, who served in World War II as a army driver and mechanic, was due to watch the service at the war memorial in central London from the balcony of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.

Her attendance at the service was confirmed by the palace on Thursday after she was ordered to rest by royal doctors just over three weeks ago and spent a night in hospital on October 20 undergoing preliminary tests.

William's visit comes hours before his sister-in-law Meghan Markle's surprise appearance on the Ellen show is to be broadcast, amid fears she may be about to drop more bombshells about the Royal Family

The monarch had stated that it was her 'firm intention' to be at the Cenotaph for the traditional Remembrance Sunday event, one of the most 'sacred' events in her annual calendar.

Meanwhile the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall led the diminished family group at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London last night but the Queen was not in attendance.

They were joined by Prince William, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.

And earlier this month, Prince William urged world leaders to 'think differently' and make the 'impossible, possible' in an impassioned speech at the COP26 summit.

The Duke who cut a stylish figure in a smart black suit adorned with a poppy, noted the urgency for people to 'think differently' if the battle against global warming is to be on its way to success within a decade.

The royal's speech took place during the World Leaders' Summit 'Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment' session of the summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

Taking to the stage, Prince William challenged world leaders to push even harder in a bid to stop devastating floods, fires and heatwaves and said: 'If we are to achieve our goal to repair our planet in what is now less than a decade, it is our shared responsibility to continue thinking differently, acting boldly, and making the impossible, possible.'
Sarah Ferguson has said the Queen is 'doing well' as she described her mother-in-law as 'an icon' saying she has to 'pinch herself' to remind herself how lucky she is.

Speaking to French magazine Paris Match, the Duchess of York, 62, described Her Majesty as 'an extraordinary woman' and said that her divorce from Prince Andrew, 61, was the 'hardest thing she's ever done' but insisted the former couple are 'still close like glue'.

The mother of Princess Eugenie, 31 and Princess Beatrice, 33, was giving an interview about her book Her Heart for a Compass, which is now available in a French.

Sarah Ferguson has said the Queen is 'doing well' as she described her mother-in-law as 'an icon' saying she has to 'pinch herself' to remind herself how lucky she is

The news about the Queen's health comes as she was seen this week conducting her first in-person engagement for month following her recent health issues.

Her Majesty earlier warned that 'none of us can slow the passage of time' via a speech delivered by the Earl of Wessex after the monarch failed to address the Church of England's national assembly for the first time in her 69-year reign.

Speaking today, The Duchess of York, who is known as 'Fergie' said: 'She is doing well. She is my icon. When I see her, I pinch myself to remind myself how lucky I am. She is an extraordinary woman'.

The royal, who still lives at the Royal Lodge in Windsor with Prince Andrew, added her divorce was 'the hardest thing she's ever been through' because 'she's not the type to give up'.

The royal, who still lives at the Royal Lodge in Windsor with Prince Andrew, added her divorce was 'the hardest thing she's ever been through' because 'she's not the type to give up'. The Queen and the Duke and Duchess of York are pictured in 1987 at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

'Andrew and I have managed to preserve our friendship and the duty that was ours. As I often say, we prioritise the three Cs: communication, compromise and compassion.'

It comes as she spoke to French radio show C a vous on France 5, where she told presenters she was 'close like glue' to Andrew, while she also described her daughters as 'coolest' saying they are a 'tripod'.

'I'm delighted to have married the best man on 23 July 1986, so I support him and I support everything that is right,' she added.

She also spoke of her sons-in-law, saying Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is 'very handsome'.

On Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank she added: 'He sells Tequila so the mother-in-law is happy'

The Duchess of York pictured with her daughters Princess Beatrice, 32, and Princess Eugenie, 31, and her ex-husband Prince Andrew

The Duchess of York's Her Heart For A Compass, which draws on Sarah's own life journey and incorporates research into her ancestry, is a fictional account of the life of the duchess's great-great-aunt Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas-Scott.

It was co-written with Marguerite Kaye, who has written more than 50 historical romances set in a variety of eras.

However, it received mostly negative reviews in the press after hitting the shelves in August.

Critics branded the book 'boring' and a 'slog' with an 'insipid' main character and a tone that jumps between 'archaic and contemporary'. Almost all commented on the lack of sex and said it was at the 'PG end' of Mills & Boon.

But at the time, Sarah said she and co-author Margarete Kaye, who has written more than 60 books, remained 'unified' behind the work.

She is due to publish her second historical romance novel, which will again be co-written with Kaye, in 2022.
Meghan Markle has revealed how her son Archie wore a dinosaur costume for Halloween this year - while six-month-old Lilibet was dressed as a skunk from Disney film Bambi.

The Duchess of Sussex, 40, who is currently living in her $14 million mansion in California, is making a surprise talk show appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show set to air in the US today.

Mother-of-two Meghan also revealed that this year the family were 'at home' for Halloween - but also saw Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi, who live near Harry and Meghan's 11million mansion in Montecito, California.

She added: 'We wanted to do something fun for the kids, and then the kids were just not into it at all. Archie was a dinosaur for maybe five minutes, not even five minutes.'

Meghan Markle has revealed how her son Archie wore a dinosaur costume for Halloween this year - while six-month-old Lilibet was dressed as a skunk from Disney film Bambi

Ellen added: 'Finally Harry talked him into putting the head on. But Lili was a skunk. It was so cute.'

And Meghan said, addressing the audience: 'Like Flower from Bambi.'

Meghan has previously spoken about how her mother Doria's childhood nickname for her was 'Flower.'

In a blog post on her now-defunct lifestyle site, The Tig, Meghan shared her nicknames, writing: Meg, MM, M&M, and Flower (which my mom has called me since I was little),' reported People.

The Duchess said 'Archie was a dinosaur for maybe five minutes' but that her children were 'not into' Halloween (pictured with Meghan)

In another clip, Meghan said she and Harry were 'happy' in California as she spoke about daughter Lilibet's teething troubles.

Ellen, a friend of the couple who lives near them in the celebrity enclave of Montecito, asked what Harry loves about California. The duchess replied: 'We're just happy.'

Ellen said of the Sussexes' five-month-old daughter: 'Lili's now teething.'

Meghan put her hands to her mouth, saying 'Anything to relieve that.'

Meanwhile Meghan also revealed her six-month-old daughter Lili was dressed as Flower, the skunk from the film Bambi, during the interview (pictured)

The talk show host quipped 'Tequila, anything',.

Meghan replied: 'That's Auntie Ellen for you,' with DeGeneres saying 'That's why I don't have kids.'

Ellen first met Meghan by chance at an animal shelter some years ago and encouraged her to adopt her first dog, Bogart.

She has previously described the Sussexes as 'the cutest couple, so down to earth' and defended them when they faced criticism after taking a series of flights on private jet.

Ellen, a friend of the couple who lives near them in the celebrity enclave of Montecito, spent Halloween with the Sussexes at their home

Ellen first met Meghan by chance at an animal shelter some years ago and encouraged her to adopt her first dog, Bogart (Ellen with her wife Portia)

After meeting the Sussexes' son in 2019, Ellen said: 'I mean I can't tell you how sweet they are. But the most important thing is I got to hold Archie. I fed Archie. I held Archie.'

Meghan and Harry have until now remained incredibly private about Lili, who was born in June, and was named Lilibet after the royal familys nickname for the Queen.

The Sussexes have not yet released any photographs of Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor who is eighth in line to the throne.

Meghan is thought to have revealed a grainy first photograph of her second child Lilibet after a framed picture of Prince Harry kissing a newborn baby took pride of place on her desk in a video released for her 40th birthday.

Meghan is thought to have revealed a grainy first photograph of her second child Lilibet after a framed picture of Prince Harry kissing a newborn baby took pride of place on her desk in a video released for her 40th birthday

Archie has also rarely been seen since the couple stepped back as senior royals in March last year, with the most recent picture of him released to mark his second birthday this May showing him with his back to the camera.

The interview will raise fears in Buckingham Palace that she may be about launch a fresh attack on the royals, who the Sussexes have previously accused of racism towards Archie and allegations they ignored Meghan when she claimed to be suicidal while pregnant and living in London.

Teasing the full interview, Ellen tweeted the clip and said: A lot has changed since the last time Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, was on the Warner Brothers lot. Dont miss the rest of our interview tomorrow.
Huma Abedin has revealed that Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was the first person to suggest she write a book  and also the 'very first' person to read it because Abedin wrote most of the book at her house.

Abedin, 45, recently published her memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds, which includes details about her marriage to former Congressman Anthony Weiner and her time working for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

But while it was published by Simon & Schuster, Abedin told WWD at her book's launch party this week that Wintour, 72, was an unofficial editor of sorts, reading the pages before anyone else and providing 'very clear, concise feedback.'

Unofficial editor: Huma Abedin has revealed that Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was the first person to suggest she write a book - and also the 'very first' person to read it

Life story: Abedin's memoir includes details about her marriage to former Congressman Anthony Weiner and her time working for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

'She was the very, very first person to see the pages because I wrote most of the book at her house [in Mastic, Long Island],' Abedin said.

'I would literally print the pages and she saw them in very, very raw form,' she went on.

Not holding back: Abedin's highly anticipated memoir Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds was released on November 2

'She gave me the big picture, but very clear, concise feedback. I thought it actually helped with the quality of the book  suggestions on what was missing, how to end it.'

Wintour and Abedin are longtime friends through Clinton, and Wintour even hosted a book release party for Abedin at her New York City townhouse.

'While I did push her just a little to write this book, I can take no credit at all for the care and sensitivity shes shown in doing it,' Wintour said at the event.

In 2007, Abedin was profiled in a Vogue story titled 'Hillarys Secret Weapon.'

And it was Wintour who first gave her the idea to write the memoir at all, weeks after Clinton lost the 2016 election.

Though Clinton supported the idea from the beginning, Abedin didn't begin actually working on it until 2018  and she forged on even after one unnamed man told her not to.

'About a year later I went to lunch with a male businessman who was giving me advice and I said "Listen, a few people have suggested I write my book,"' she recalled.

'And he said, "Why would you do that?" I said, "You know its a pretty extraordinary story  25 years of public service, served in the Clinton administration, in the Obama administration,"' she continued.

Buds: Wintour and Abedin are longtime friends through Clinton, and Wintour even hosted a book release party for Abedin at her New York City townhouse

'She gave me the big picture, but very clear, concise feedback. I thought it actually helped with the quality of the book - suggestions on what was missing, how to end it,' Abedin (far right) said of Wintour

'While I did push her just a little to write this book, I can take no credit at all for the care and sensitivity shes shown in doing it,' Wintour said

'He said "You will never be able to satisfactorily answer all the questions about Anthony and Hillary in this book, and by the way nobody wants to read anymore about that scandal." I walked out of that lunch at The Lambs Club in 2018 and said Im writing this book.'

In addition to covering her marriage and her career working for Clinton, the book also shares details of her childhood in both the US and Saudi Arabia, as well as being a mother.

It also includes a prologue inspired by the former Secretary of State.

'Hillary actually inspired my prologue. She said you shouldnt go into this process being defensive. Just write why youre telling your story,' Abedin said.

When asked, the political staffer also said that she doesn't see herself running for office.

'Ive been on the sidelines. Ive done it at the highest levels. Ive worked for two incredible administrations. I feel like Ive finally got a balance in life,' she said.

United front: Weiner was running for New York City mayor when Abedin told reporters she forgave him for sending explicit photos and messages to another woman

Abedin has given several interviews to promote the book. Earlier this month, she appeared on the Tamron Hall Show and said that she doesn't regret standing by Weiner's side in a press conference following his 2013 sexting scandal, adding that she felt like she 'owed it' to him because she had 'encouraged him to run for office' again.

'I just want to put a little bit in context because I think a lot of people look at my relationship with Anthony from a 2021 perspective,' Abedin said, noting they were just a year into their marriage when Weiner's first sexting scandal broke in 2011.

The New York congressman was forced to resign in disgrace after a photo of him in his boxer briefs was posted on his personal Twitter account.

Weiner accidentally shared the photograph on his feed instead of sending it as a direct message to a woman he'd been flirting with on the platform.

He initially claimed it was the work of a hacker, but he later held a press conference confessing that he had sent sexual photos and messages to women online over the course of a few years.

'We were newlyweds. I had just discovered I was pregnant. I was carrying his child. I wasn't even 12 weeks pregnant,' Abedin recalled. 'I mean, we were living this sort of amazing life. He was my first love. He was the first man I had ever been with.

Happier times: Weiner had been a congressman from New York when he and Abedin first met in 2007. They wed in an elaborate ceremony in 2010

'And the shock when the first scandal broke was such that I did not understand what was going on. I did not understand what he was struggling with. Now, sure, all these years later it's a different story.'

Two years later, Weiner unsuccessfully ran for New York City mayor. He was leading in the polls when a young woman from Indiana named Sydney Leathers shared explicit photos and messages he sent her using the alias 'Carlos Danger.'

Still, his wife stood by his side, making a public appearance in a rare press conference on July 23, 2013, telling reporters: 'I have forgiven him, I believe in him...I made that decision. That was a decision I made for me, for our son, and for my family.'

Abedin, who shares a nine-year-old son, Jordan, with Weiner, told Hall that she was the one who had urged him to put himself in the public spotlight again.

'The reason I stood with him at that press conference, and it's a decision even today I can't say I regret  because I not only encouraged him to run for office, we had a conversation about it and I felt like I owed it...it was my responsibility, that I encouraged him to run,' she said.

First scandal: In 2011, Weiner accidentally tweeted a crotch-shot of himself in his underwear to the public on his official page

Disgraced: Shortly after the Twitter photo scandal, Weiner announced that he was resigning from Congress

'I dont believe he would have run for mayor in 2013, but we had done the work,' she added. 'We've been surprised by all the conversations we've had from people who thought, you know, he was doing well, and, you know, I didn't think it precluded him from having a life where he could be back in public service.'

In August 2016, Abedin was working as Clinton's top aide in her presidential campaign against Trump when the New York Post released a disturbing photo that Weiner had sent to another woman while he was in bed with his son.

The selfie showed Weiner's erection clearly outlined through his white underwear as he laid in bed with Jordan, who was four at the time.

Not only did that mark the end of the couple's marriage, according to Abedin, but she also had to persuade New York state's Administration for Childrens Services (ACS) to let her keep her son after the photo sparked an investigation.

In September 2016, a month after the scandalous selfie was published, DailyMail.com revealed that Weiner had been sending lewd text messages to a 15-year-old girl that included more explicit photographs.

Several months later Weiner became involved in another scandal, this time involving emails found on his laptop that led to FBI director Jim Comey reopening the investigation into Clinton just days before the 2016 presidential election.

More scandals: In August 2016, it was reported that Weiner sexted a photo of his erection that he took while his then four-year-old son, Jordan, was sleeping next him

Caught: DailyMail.com later revealed that the disgraced congressman had an online sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl for months and sent her lewd messages and pictures

Breaking the law: In 2017, Weiner was sentenced to 21 months in prison for sending obscene material to a minor. He served 15 months in federal prison and three more in a halfway house

Abedin admitted to Hall that she feels partially responsible for Clinton losing to Trump, saying: 'I mean as it relates to the 2016 campaign, I'm going to carry that to my grave.'

She wrote about her fear that her husband's scandals would ruin Clinton's run for president in her memoir.

'Thats how I felt in that moment when the investigation was reopened 10 days before, the shocking reopening of the investigation  and I felt at the time that even feeling anything was selfish,' she said of that scene in her book.

'I just shut myself down and guarded myself, and the goal was to get Hillary Clinton elected. We had to make it through the 10 days. Now we know that there were many factors, obviously, that cost her the election. But there was no doubt that it was a factor,' she added.

'There is plenty of evidence that it was a factor and that was very, very hard for me to have to deal with and live with and Ill tell you why: Because every day I wake up and see something that is bad for this country or that wouldnt have happened if she was president, I think of that a lot.'

Hard to handle: Abedin insisted that her estranged husband was 'disciplined' in every aspect of his life, including their marriage, which made his scandals so shocking

Parallels: Abedin's boss Hillary Clinton also weathered a public sex scandal after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had an affair with 22-year-old intern Monica Lewinsky

Private: However, when asked during her interview if Hillary had ever talked about the analogies in their personal stories, Abedin replied: 'Zero'

Abedin's long-time boss also weathered a sex scandal in the public eye after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, had an affair with a 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

He denied having intercourse with Lewinsky, saying in a televised speech in January 1998 that he 'did not have sexual relations with that woman.'

But further investigation led to charges of perjury against him, and in 1998 he was impeached by the House of Representatives. He was subsequently acquitted on all impeachment charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in a 21-day trial.

Throughout that time, Clinton stood by his side.

She revealed in a documentary last year: 'I defended and stood by him because I thought the impeachment process was wrong, but that wasn't the necessary answer to what I would do with my marriage.

'It was not  to me  the same. I still had to decide whether I wanted to stay in the marriage, whether I thought it was worth saving.'

Despite Weiner's many scandals and extramarital affairs, Abedin still remembers why she fell in love with him.

Dedicated: Abedin has served as a top aide for Hillary Clinton for 25 years

'When I met him, he was this dynamic, brilliant, smart, public servant, and I did find him captivating, as I detail in the book,' she told Hall. 'We sort of accidentally fell in love. He was my best friend, and that's why I write the lines in the book: "When I was with him, I thought nothing bad could happen to me."

'He really was a protector, a provider. He was deeply loyal to people and causes he cared about, and that's what I fell in love with.'

When asked about Weiner's 'lack of discipline' in their marriage, Abedin pushed back and argued that he is an incredibly regimented person.

'It was actually the opposite, I would counter, and that's why I write the reason it was such a hard thing to process is he was disciplined about everything, including in our marriage,' she said.

'I mean, he was the one who took care of our household. I would often have conversations with girlfriends who were in marriages or in relationships, you know, complaining about their partner leaving their laundry on the floor or coming home after a long trip and the fridge was empty,' she continued. 'That's not the experience [I had].

'Anthony was disciplined about everything in our lives. He was disciplined, as I write, reading the New York Times cover to cover every day, going to the gym.'

Abedin seemed to imply that Weiner's downfall was the result of him being able to connect with strangers on social media, which was fairly new at the time.

'At the time these social media portals were these new things introduced to the world. It gave him access to a much broader array of communications,' she explained, recalling how she went 'paint shopping' through his emails.

'He was getting all of these adoring messages, all these people were able to reach him, strangers,' she continued, noting her husband was incredibly popular in New York at the time.

'I mean there's no reason you would remember this or even know this, but in 2010, when I was first married to Anthony Weiner, I could not walk down the street in New York City without somebody stopping him on every block, saying, "Thank you for what you're doing and thank you for fighting for us." There was a very active healthcare debate going on at the time.'

Abedin said other women have talked to her about what it is like to have partners who lead double lives.

'I really think with him, you know, he would say, "It's like I would go on to the computer, and I'd play a game and then I'd come back to reality,"' she said. 'The Anthony I knew in the world we inhabited, he was disciplined about everything.'
Twitter users are mocking the New York Times for sharing a recipe for 'Two-Ingredient Mashed Potatoes'  which, they point out, actually require four ingredients.

The recipe, which was first shared by the Times two years ago, calls for two pounds of russet potatoes, a quarter cup of sour cream, salt, and pepper  though by the Times' calculations, salt and pepper don't seem to count as ingredients.

The publication shared a graphic depicting the recipe on Twitter on Wednesday, and has since been flooded with hundreds of comments from critics ridiculing both the 'two-ingredient' name and the fact that the recipe uses no butter.

Tater time: The New York Times tweeted a two-year-old recipe for 'Two-Ingredient Mashed Potatoes' on Wednesday (stock photo)

How to: They included an illustration that shows it uses four ingredients: potatoes, sour cream, salt, and pepper

'These mashed potatoes may be the simplest Thanksgiving side there is,' the Times tweeted.

They included a handy graphic with an illustation and a list of the ingredients and directions.

Though the times shared similar tweets yesterday for other Thanksgiving recipes like Make-Ahead Gravy and Easy Brussels Sprouts, the mashed potatoes stole all the attention.

'This is four ingredients. And also an abomination,' wrote one commenter.

'Literally four ingredients,' wrote antother.

'That looks to be about 4 ingredients,' said a third, while a fourth wrote: 'Good grief there are four ingredients pictured.'

One, two, three, four (and five?)! Twitter users have called out the Times for its failure to count accurately

'Y'all saying there are 4 ingredients aren't giving respect to the 5th: water,' argued another.

One more called it the 'most creative interpretation of two.'

Some were less upset about the odd definition of the word 'two' and more outraged that anyone would make mashed potatoes without butter.

'This is SWILL. No butter? Nonsense,' wrote one, while another chimed in:'No butter you heathens???'

'If theres no butter no way,' someone else snapped.

'Missing the most important ingredient: loads of butter,' said one more.

Divisive: Others have called the recipe 'an abomination' due to its lack of butter, though reviewers on the site say they're 'delicious'

Others were unhappy about the whole thing.

'As someone who loves to cook... and eat... this FIVE ingredient recipe is an abomination and disrespectful to foodies everywhere @nytimes you are uninvited from my Thanksgiving,' tweeted WPDE ABC15's Sydney Madison

'If this recipe is for you, youre never invited to my house,' echoed Ian David Monroe.

Comments from those who have tried the recipe are mostly postitive, though, with one gushing: 'These are the best mashed potatoes I've ever cooked or eaten!'

'I loved these. Mashed potato perfection! Easy and delicious,' said another reviewer.
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The Duchess of Cornwall cut a chic figure in an elegant frilly suit as she attended a reception overlooking the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo on Thursday evening.

Camilla, 74, changed into the Anna Valentine ensemble for a reception at the 9 Pyramid Lounge after a busy day of engagements in Cairo following her and Prince Charles' arrival in Egypt this morning.

The royal couple walked arm in arm as they were given a personal tour around one of the seven wonders of the ancient world while the sun slowly set behind them over the desert.

The royal couple arrived in Egypt today for the next leg of their four-day tour of the Middle East after departing from Jordan earlier this morning, where they had spent the last two days.

They started their day by meeting the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo.

The Prince of Wales, 73 and the Duchess of Cornwall, 74, attended a reception at 9 Pyramid Lounge in Cairo after arriving in Egypt from Jordan this morning. Prince Charles wore a blue pin-striped suit with a white shirt for the reception, while Camilla opted for a flowy blue ensemble

The Duchess of Cornwall looked stylish in a frilly navy blouse as she chatted with retired surgeon Magdi Yacoub at tonight's event

Looking elegant in a cool Anna Valentine tunic, trousers and flowing white headscarf, Camilla who went barefoot, then arrived at Al Azhar Mosque with her equally sophisticated husband, Charles, 73.

Tonight the Duchess of Cornwall, who wore her white-blonde hair perfectly coiffured, looked a vision in blue in the flowy blouse which featured frilly sleeve detail.

She accessorised with a metallic golden clutch bag and matching heels and sported just a few delicate pieces of jewellery - including a beautiful pair of diamond earrings and two gold pendant necklaces.

Camilla kept her makeup natural, opting for a thin layering of foundation to complete her health glow, a dash of mascara and a tasteful pink lipstick.

In the evening, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a reception at 9 Pyramid Lounge. Pictured: Charles with Dr Khaled Al Anani, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, right

Seeing the sights! The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

The Prince of Wales looked dashing in a pin-striped blue suit, which he paired with a smart white shirt, light blue tie and matching pocket square.

Charles has visited the Cairo tourist destination before privately, but Camilla has never been to the site before - with both the royals appearing awe-struck as their guide talked them through 4,500 years of history.

They walked carefully up several steps up the side of the 454ft (138.5m) high pyramid called Khufu - or Pyramid of Cheops - and briefly stepped into the tunnel entrance out of view.

Ashraf Mohi, director of the Pyramid Complex, walked the couple around the three pyramids and to the Great Sphinx. He told them: You are stepping on rocks that go back centuries and centuries. This is an adventure.

At the reception tonight, the heir-to-the-throne will give a speech in front of the assembled guest after his first day in Egypt during his tour of the Middle-East

Prince Charles looked in great spirits tonight as he admired the Pyramids with Dr Khaled Al Anan, right, after a day busy with engagements

A royal wonder of the world! Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured) were all smiles as they arrived at the Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo on the first day of their Egypt tour

He pointed at the pyramid explaining it was once covered in flat limestone. He said: If you imagine in another time, it looked so shiny.

They also stood in front of the impassive Great Sphinx for a spectacular photo call. The prince had been very keen to show his wife around the site while on their four-day tour to the Middle East.

It was the first time Prince Charles has been in Cairo for 15 years. Princess Diana posed for photos at the site in 1992.

The Great Pyramids of Giza were built 4,500 years ago and are among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The towering 146 metre (481ft) high Great Pyramid of Giza, also called Khufu, remained the tallest building in the world for 4,000 years. It is made of two million bricks each weighing 50 tonnes.

The 73 metre long Sphinx inspires millions of tourists every year. In pre-Covid times around 4,000 British tourists visited Egypts tourist destinations weekly.

Strike a pose! The Prince of Wales and the beaming Duchess of Cornwall posed together during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza (pictured)

Looking elegant in a cool tunic and trousers, Camilla removed the flowing white headscarf that she had worn earlier that day. Pictured, with Prince Charles visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza

Prince Charles put on a stylish display in a grey suit while Camilla (pictured together) opted for a loosing fitting ensemble, removing her headscarf which she'd worn earlier in the day

The royal couple walk next to Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anany near the Pyramids of Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo

The couples visit to Egypt, which will continue tomorrow, will highlight close links with the UK and comes just weeks after the future King's appearance at COP26 in Glasgow.

A source close to Charles said: The Prince is convinced that human ingenuity can help stop climate change because when you look at the pyramids you realise just what people can do.

As they stepped off their official government plane in the capital earlier today, the Prince and the Duchess were greeted by Gareth Bayley OBE, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Egypt, and his wife, Sara Fawcett.

Then the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, greeted their royal guests at the palace's entrance and the foursome posed for pictures before they split, with the two women heading to a room for talks, while the prince and his host held their meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, separately.

The royal couple looked in high spirits as they arrived at the Great Pyramid of Giza in Cairo on the first day of their Egypt tour, before posing in front of the Sphinx (pictured)

The Prince of Wales and the beaming Duchess of Cornwall pose in front of the Sphinx on the outskirts of Cairo

The Prince of Wales and Camilla were seen walking alongside Egypt's Antiquities and Tourism Minister Khaled al-Anany in front of the Sphinx

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza on the third day of their tour of the Middle East

With Egypt due to take over the presidency of the next UN climate change conference - Cop27 - it is likely environmental issues were part of the discussions.

The Egyptian leader is a retired field marshal who led the military's overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected head of state, Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, in 2013, following mass protests against his rule.

In a televised announcement the president, then an army general, told the nation Mr Morsi had been removed from office and had failed to fulfil 'the hope for a national consensus'.

The move was followed by a crackdown on those who opposed the ousting of Mr Morsi, which human rights organisations said resulted in the deaths of hundreds during one day of protests.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall walk across the courtyard of the Al Azhar Mosque, pictured left. Camilla donned a white headscarf during the visit, pictured right

The royal couple toured the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo alongside the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb (left)

Egyptian Islamic scholar and the current Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb (left), receives Prince Charles (right) and Camilla (centre) upon their arrival at the mosque in Cairo

The Egyptian leader - who former US president Donald Trump once reportedly called 'my favourite dictator' - has made maintaining stability and order in Egypt a priority.

Later, the Duchess of Cornwall went barefoot as she and the Prince of Wales visited the Al Alzar mosque in Cairo.

Prince Charles also urged young people studying in an Egyptian mosque to remember 'all we have in common, not what divides us'. The Prince, visiting the Al Alzar mosque in Cairo, told students the 'most important thing' is to focus on the shared beliefs across faiths. 'We share so much,' he said.

The Prince and Duchess of Cornwall visited the Al Azhar Mosque shortly after landing in Cairo this morning, viewing the spectacular architecture and posing for a photograph in the central courtyard.

They met the Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, accompanied by the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Alexandria, Dr Samy Fawzy.

After the Duchess departed to begin her own programme in Cairo, the Prince attended an interfaith reception in closed Abassa room of the mosque. There, he was said to be in 'deep conversation' with the Grand Imam, surrounded by their entourages.

The royal couple will spend the next day and a half in the capital, with the highlight of their visit a trip to see the pyramids, naturally. Pictured, at the mosque with Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall pose for photographs as they visit the courtyard of the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo

The Duchess of Cornwall (pictured left, and right with Prince Charles) went barefoot today as she and the Prince of Wales visited the Al Alzar mosque in Cairo
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Meghan Markle left a group of Los Angeles street vendors open-mouthed in shock by dancing and singing in front of them while referring to herself as 'mommy' as part of a cringe-worthy on-the-street prank with her close friend and TV host Ellen DeGeneres - having also used her appearance on the show to renew her calls for mandatory paid leave for families in the US.

Having shared several insights into her 'happy' family life in California with Prince Harry and their two children, five-month-old Lilibet and two-year-old Archie - who was seen in a new picture shared by the Duchess during the show - Meghan, 40, made a clear attempt to distance herself from the royal family's reserved image with the toe-curling bit.

During her surprise appearance on the final season of Ellen's talk show, the Duchess stepped outside of the studio to pull a prank on a trio of vendors, which saw her forced to do and say whatever the talk show host told her to via a hidden ear piece.

To kick off the bit, a gleeful Ellen, 63, asked Meghan to touch her elbow and nose, and then do a squat to confirm that she could hear all of the talk show host's instructions, while one of the series' producers approached the vendors to inform them that the Duchess of Sussex wished to browse their stalls.

'I am executive assistant to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and she's here today and would love to just shop normally,' the producer - using the fictional name Pwamma - told them. 'She just wants to be treated normally. Don't try to act any other way, just totally normal. Is that cool?'

Meghan then approached the first vendor and began inspecting the crystals on their stall, before Ellen instructed her to hold one to her head and begin groaning and moaning.

'I'm going to hold this against my head,' the mother-of-two told the perplexed salesperson, before closing her eyes and mumbling, adding: 'That is wonderful.'

Prankster: Meghan Markle swigged milk from a baby bottle, sang a kitten song, and danced to 'hot, hot, hot' while taking part in a toe-curling on-the-street prank with Ellen DeGeneres on Thursday

'Let mommy have a taste': The 40-year-old made a clear attempt to distance herself from the royal family's reserved image by pranking a trio of street vendors while her close friend Ellen, 63, told her what to do and say

The prank began with Meghan doing a squat in the street to confirm to her close friend Ellen that she could hear her instructions via the ear piece

Moving on to the next vendor, who was showcasing different varieties of hot sauce, Meghan began 'bouncing up and down' in excitement at Ellen's request, while asking the man: 'What do we have here? What have you got, what have you got, what have you got?'

Inspecting the bottles of hot sauce lined up on the table, Meghan then told the baffled vendor: 'Let mommy have a taste,' before telling him, 'My boo loves hot sauce.'

After being presented with a hot sauce covered chip, the Duchess proceeded to chomp down on it 'like a chipmunk' and Ellen's behest, nibbling on the snack while holding it to her mouth with both hands, before telling the salesman: 'That's not spicy! Let me try something real hot, mommy wants some heat.

'Let's get the spiciest, let's get the hottest.'

Seizing another chip from the man, Meghan was instructed to 'shove the whole thing in her mouth' - and then begin furiously fanning at her face while saying: 'Oh lordy, lordy, lordy.

'I'm feeling hot, hot, hot,' she then sang to the tune of the hit song by The Merrymen, while doing a brief dance to the tune.

She then exclaimed: 'Mommy needs some milk,' and pulled out a baby bottle from her purse, before vigorously swigging milk from it, all while the vendor looked on open-mouthed, unable to hide his bewilderment over her behavior.

Meghan's bag of surprise tricks was also put to use at the third and final stall, where the Duchess was presented with a range of cookies by a young salesperson called Yasmin.

'Can mommy have a sample of this?' the Duchess asked, before once again nibbling on the food like a chipmunk.

She went on to ask Yasmin if she would 'like to hear a joke', saying to her: 'Why did the elephant put his trunk in the cookie jar?'

While the vendor awaited the punchline, Meghan stood in completely silence, before bursting into laughter and yelling: 'It's funny isn't it? It's a funny one,' while Yasmin stared at her in confusion.

'Yasmin you know what? You know what I do for my kids to entertain them?' the mother-of-two went on to the stunned seller, while pulling out two pairs of kitten ears from her handbag and handing one to 'Pwamma'.

'Pwamma and I are going to show you what mommy does,' she said. 'Pwamma you put one on and I'll put one on. This is what I do for my kids to cheer them up.'

Meghan then burst into song, dancing around with the ears on her head while holding her hands up like kitten paws and singing: 'I'm a kitten mew mew mew. You're a kitten mew mew mew. Mew mew mew, mew mew mew.'

Ohm: Meghan approached three stalls and browsed the wares of each one - including a range of holistic items on the first, where she put a crystal up to her head and began groaning

The Duchess also began eating chips 'like a chipmunk' while trying a variety of hot sauces at another stall, where she referred to herself as 'mommy' and told the vendor that 'her boo likes loves hot sauce

After shoving a chip covered in 'the spiciest' hot sauce into her mouth, Meghan exclaimed that 'mommy needs some milk', before pulling a baby bottle out of her purse and swigging from it

At one point, Meghan also pulled two pairs of cat ears out of her purse, telling a third vendor that she wanted to show her 'what she does for her kids to entertain them'

The Duchess put the ears on herself and one of Ellen's producers - who was masquerading as Meghan's 'executive assistant' - and began to sing to the vendor: 'I'm a kitten, mew mew mew. You're a kitten, mew mew mew,' all while Ellen watched on

'Pwamma and I are going to show you what mommy does. Pwamma you put one on and I'll put one on. This is what I do for my kids to cheer them up,' Meghan told the vendor

However, while Meghan took the chance to try and put forward a more light-hearted, goofy image - a far cry from the very reserved reputation of the Monarchy, she also seized her on-air opportunity to renew her calls for compulsory paid family leave, telling Ellen that she would do 'everything that I can' to make paid family leave law for all Americans.

Meghan Markle reveals new photograph of two-year-old son Archie feeding their chickens at $14m California mansion in Ellen interview Meghan Markle has revealed a new image of her and her husband Prince Harry 's two-year-old son Archie. In the image, the little boy is seen feeding chickens in the garden of his parents' $19million home in Montecito, California, whilst wearing jeans, a grey t-shirt and yellow wellies. The photo was shown to viewers on the Ellen Show on Thursday. Meghan told DeGeneres that Archie 'loves being a big brother' to her daughter Lili, who was born in June. The Duchess said: 'Someone told H (Harry) and I that when you have one kid it's a hobby, and two children is parenting. 'Suddenly we realized, "oh right", everyone talks about what it's like for the second child but no-one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along. 'I think they have that moment of, 'oh, this is fun, oh, this is how it is now'.' Advertisement

The Duchess recently caused controversy by cold-calling senators on their private phones and using her royal title to urge them to vote in favor of paid leave. Previously she wrote a letter to Congress asking them to consider making paid leave law.

Republican Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, who has previously condemned Meghan for interference in US politics, even suggesting she should be stripped of her title to stop her using it to gain political leverage.

Meghan told The Ellen Show: 'I think that people truly forget, or don't even know that in this country, it's one of the only six countries in the entire world and the only wealthy nation in the entire world that does not mandate and have a federal paid leave program.

'Everybody knows, especially if you have had a child and even if you haven't, you know how hard it is and how critical it is in those first few weeks if not months to be together as a family.

'And the fact that we don't offer that here is something that now as a mom of two, I will do everything that I can to make sure that we can implement that for people.'

Her statements came amid reports that Democratic Senator Kristen Gillibrand is facing 'furious' backlash from her colleagues for giving Meghan their private cell phone numbers so she could lobby them on paid family leave.

Gillibrand is trying to get a private deal on paid family leave after moderate Democratic senator Joe Manchin spiked plans to include it in President Joe Biden's $1.75 trillion budget package of social safety net programs.

But those talks hit a 'speed bump,' Axios reported on Thursday, after the Democratic senator form New York passed along her colleague's private, unlisted mobile numbers to Meghan - as originally reported by Politico - in the hopes the Duchess could pressure them to support the plan.

While lobbying for unpaid leave, Meghan called Republican Senators Susan Collins and Shelley Moore Capito, both of whom expressed surprise to hear from the Duchess.

It's unclear how many numbers Gillibrand passed along and if Meghan has reached out to any other lawmakers.

But some lawmakers told Axios that they considered Gillibrand's move a breach of protocol, leaving them skeptical about future negotiations on paid family leave, two of the aides familiar with the matter told the news outlet.

It was first reported last week that Meghan had called the two Republican senators and used her royal title to urge them to vote in favor of paid parental leave - shocking the politicians with her latest foray into political activism.

The move was just the beginning for the Los Angeles-born mother of two, as she is now hoping to be part of 'a working group to work on paid leave long term,' according to Gillibrand.

The vendors were unable to hide their bewilderment over Meghan's bizarre behavior

Ellen eventually ended the pre-recorded prank by walking out onto the street to greet Meghan, before escorting her back into the studio where they continued their interview

Before sharing footage of her prank, Meghan also used her appearance on the show to renew her calls for mandatory paid leave for parents in the US, amid continued controversy over her decision to weigh in on US politics

The Duchess shared several insights into her 'happy' family life in California, where she lives in a $14 million mansion with Prince Harry and their two children, Lilibet and Archie, and she also revealed a new image of their two-year-old son (pictured)

Meghan previously insisted she is not playing politics by calling for paid family leave for all, which she says is a 'humanitarian issue', during an appearance at the New York Times DealBook summit.

Speaking to Andrew Sorkin, who edits DealBook, the Times' financial newsletter, and appeared alongside Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based investment firm, she said: 'I don't see this as a political issue frankly. There is a precedent among my husband's family, the royal family, of not having any involvement in politics. From my standpoint, this is a humanitarian issue.'

The Duchess's latest intervention heightens speculation that she sees herself in a political position in the future, like her heroines Angelina Jolie and Amal Clooney.

In a October 20 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leadere Chuck Schumer, Meghan wrote: 'I'm not an elected official, and I'm not a politician. I'm writing to you at this deeply important time - as a mom - to advocate for paid leave.'

The extraordinary 1,030-word letter asked the two Democratic leaders to consider her plea 'on behalf of my family, Archie and Lili and Harry'.

The Duchess depicted humble beginnings, saying that her family struggled when she was young - despite her well-documented middle class upbringing in which she attended private primary and secondary schools on her Emmy award-winning lighting director father's $200,000-a-year salary.

During the soft-soap interview, Meghan also promoted her children's book The Bench, which she said she wrote as a poem for Harry on Father's Day.

The Duchess revealed how son Archie dressed as a dinosaur for Halloween, while her five-month daughter Lili was a 'little skunk like Flower from Bambi'.

Meghan spoke of how she spent the celebration with chat show host DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi - her neighbors in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California.

Ellen, who met Meghan close to a decade ago at a dog shelter in Los Angeles, cackled as the Duchess performed the bizarre tasks that she had set for her

The Duchess was accompanied by a man who appeared to be a security guard as she stepped out onto the lot and proceeded to touch her nose and her elbow to confirm that she could hear what Ellen was saying

The prank was met with an overly positive response on social media, where several users praised Meghan's ability to squat in heels, while complimenting her acting skills

But Meghan said two year-old Archie and his baby sister were 'not into' Halloween at all, with Archie only staying in his costume for less than five minutes.

The former actress' high profile appearance comes eight months after the Sussexes' controversial sit-down with Oprah Winfrey which left the royal family in crisis.

Meghan Markle's appearance on The Ellen Show: The highlights PAID FAMILY LEAVE I think that people truly forget, or don't even know that in this country, it's one of the only six countries in the entire world and the only wealthy nation in the entire world that does not mandate and have a federal paid leave program. Everybody knows, especially if you have had a child and even if you haven't, you know how hard it is and how critical it is in those first few weeks if not months to be together as a family. And the fact that we don't offer that here is something that now as a mom of two, I will do everything that I can to make sure that we can implement that for people. HALLOWEEN We wanted to do something fun for the kids and then the kids were not into it at all. Archie was a dinosaur for maybe five minutes. Still not even five minutes, Harry talked him into putting the head on. But Lilibet was a skunk and it was so cute. She was the flower from Bambi. HARRY IN CALIFORNIA He loves it (living in California). We moved here during lockdown so everything was shut down, so we have been able to spend a lot of time at home and creating our home, but it's a lifestyle and the weather is pretty great. We're just happy. ON LILIBET TEETHING She is a good sleeper, but the teeth are coming in, so any mom will understand where you go they may be the best in the world, but the moment that is happening you have so much sympathy, so yes, I am up most of the night. ON HER BOOK 'THE BENCH' It was about my observation of him (Harry) and him being a dad, which was the most beautiful thing to watch. Once it was shared with a couple of friends and people that we were close with, they said, 'No this resonates for me too because it feels really inclusive and there's representation and it's just like a sweet love story between a family', and so I said, 'OK let's turn it into a children's book'. ON HER NIGHT OUT WITH PRINCESS EUGENIE He (Harry) came to see me in Toronto and our friends and his cousin Eugenie and now her husband Jack, they came as well, and the four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple. It was a post-apocalypse theme, so we had all this very bizarre costuming on, and we were able to just have one fun final night out. ON AUDITIONING AT WARNER BROS LOT So I had this very old Ford Explore Sport and at a certain point the key stopped working on the driver's side, so you couldn't get yourself in through the door so after auditions I would park at the back of the parking lot and I would open the trunk and climb in, pull the door shut behind me and crawl all over my seats to get out. That's how I would come to and fro. I would park on gate three and I would scoot on over and the security guards here would always say 'break a leg, I hope you get it'. So driving today was very different. ON SELLING SCRUNCHIES AT SCHOOL My mom would take me down to downtown LA where all the fabrics are, you can buy them really affordably and I would get some of the remnants and I would buy the elastic and tied the knot and I had a sewing machine, and I made scrunchies and sold them at school, this is when I was at elementary school. It was a thing at the time and I guess they are back now, people are wearing scrunchies again. Advertisement

Meghan and Harry have until now remained incredibly private about Lili, who was born in June and was named Lilibet after the royal family's nickname for the Queen.

They are yet to share a photo publicly of their daughter.

During the interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Meghan also talked about how Lili was teething, saying 'Anything to relieve that', before DeGeneres jokingly suggested tequila.

Meghan replied: 'That's Auntie Ellen for you.'

The close friendship between the Duchess and the talk show host - who met around a decade ago at a dog shelter - was made crystal clear during their sit-down, with Meghan recalling how she celebrated Halloween with Ellen and her wife, Portia de Rossi, her neighbors in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California. But Meghan said two year-old Archie and his baby sister were 'not into' Halloween at all, with Archie only staying in his costume for less than five minutes.

Meghan said: 'We were home and we saw you guys, which was great.

'But no, we wanted to do something fun for the kids and then the kids were just not into it at all.

'Archie was a dinosaur for maybe five minutes. Not even five minutes.'

DeGeneres told how Harry persuaded Archie to put his dinosaur costume on, saying: 'Finally Harry talked him into putting the head on. But Lili was a skunk... it was so cute.'

Meghan replied: 'She was a little skunk. Like Flower from Bambi.'

The Duchess also revealed how she and Harry once went to a post-apocalypse themed Halloween party disguised in costumes when they were dating to have 'one final night on the town' before it was revealed they were a couple.

They were joined by Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie and her now husband Jack Brooksbank who were visiting them in Toronto, Canada.

'The four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple,' Meghan said.

She added: 'It was a post-apocalypse theme. So we had all this very bizarre costuming on and we were able to just sort of have one final fun night out.'

The news broke that they were a couple at the end of October in 2016.

The Duchess also promoted her children's book The Bench, which she said she wrote as a poem for Harry on Father's Day.

'It was about my observation of him and him being a dad, which was the most beautiful thing to watch,' she said.

DeGeneres asked: 'Does Archie know he's in here? Does he know that's him and what does he think of the book?'

Meghan replied: 'He does. On that first page that you open and you see our dogs, he goes, 'That's Pula. That's Guy'.'

The Sussexes have a black Labrador named Pula and a beagle called Guy.

Meghan also spoke of her and Harry's happy new life in California, although she confessed that becoming parents to two children has not been without its struggles.

She told Ellen that Archie 'loves being a big brother' to her daughter Lili,' but added that: 'Someone told H (Harry) and I that when you have one kid it's a hobby, and two children is parenting. Suddenly we realized, "Oh right..." Everyone talks about what it's like for the second child but no-one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along.

'I think they have that moment of, "Oh, this is fun, oh, this is how it is now."'

She also said that Harry 'loves' the weather and lifestyle in California.

The former actress' high profile appearance comes eight months after the Sussexes' controversial sit-down with Oprah Winfrey which left the royal family in crisis.

Meghan and Harry have until now remained incredibly private about Lili, who was born in June and was named Lilibet after the royal family's nickname for the Queen. They are yet to share a photo publicly of their daughter.

The pair quit as senior working royals in 2020 in a bid for personal and financial freedom, and have since signed multi-million pound deals with Netflix and Spotify.

When DeGeneres asked what Harry loves about California, the Duchess replied: 'We're just happy.'

DeGeneres first met Meghan by chance at an animal shelter some years ago and encouraged her to adopt her first dog, Bogart.

She has previously described the Sussexes as 'the cutest couple, so down to earth' and defended them when they faced criticism after taking a run of flights on private jets.
Happy Beaujolais Nouveau day! Its today, the third Thursday in November, that the French release new bottles of the popular vintage, just weeks after harvesting, with much fanfare and partying.

But now comes an altogether paler  and much more surprising  winter drink that, for those in the know, is giving big seasonal reds a serious run for their money.

Happy New Rose Day, anyone?

Not long ago, the drinking of rose at any other time than summer was considered irredeemably naff. Provencal pinks were the stuff of sunny holiday memories, not dark evenings in Blighty.

Yet youre bound to have noticed supermarket shelves are as full of the pink stuff as ever. Indeed, Sainsburys recently reported sales of rose rising faster than those of red or white. Lidl isnt just keeping its stock topped up, its releasing new roses  in mid-November.

UK-based drinks expert Helen McGinn picks out a selection of the best roses to pair with a variety of dishes (file image)

Easy to drink yet increasingly sophisticated, rose has reinvented itself almost completely. As styles of wine go, its absolutely made for the cooler months.

The reason? Its incredibly food-friendly, combining the freshness of white wine with some grip, thanks to the presence of tannins. To get technical for a moment, tannin is one of the ingredients  a polyphenolic compound, to give it its proper definition  that makes up a grape. Its found on the skins, stalks and seeds.

When making red wine, the skins of the grapes are left in contact with the juice so that colour and tannins can be extracted. Think of a stewed cup of tea, specifically the furry feeling left on the tongue when the teabag has been left in the mug for too long. Thats what tannin feels like.

Most rose is made by leaving the juice in contact with the skins of red grapes for a short amount of time to give it colour and to take on some tannin, too. Not as much as red wine, obviously, but often enough to give the resulting wine a little more flavour and grip.

Its this combination of freshness and texture that makes rose work so well with so many different dishes. Anything with a bit of spice in the dish? Rose is so often the answer. Tomato-based recipes also match well, as does turkey.

So, which pink wines are worth adding to your basket right now?

Here is a selection of roses guaranteed to bloom, despite the drop in temperature outside 

FRUITY WARMER

Specially Selected Alsace Pinot Gris Blush 2020, 9.99, aldi.co.uk

Helen said Specially Selected Alsace Pinot Gris Blush 2020 (pictured) is great for spicy dishes

WHAT IS IT? One of a number of new rose wines hitting Aldis shelves this autumn (gone are the days when new ones appeared only in summer). This bottle is made from one of the Alsace regions star grapes. And, instead of separating the skin and the juice after crushing the grapes, theyve been left together just long enough for the naturally pinkish-grey skin to add colour to the resulting wine.

Fresh and crisp with plump red fruit flavours.

BEST WITH: Its great for spicy dishes. Try with katsu curry. 7/10

CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Studio By Miraval 2020 150cl, 25.99, ocado.com

Helen said Studio By Miraval 2020 150cl (pictured) is full of bright red berry fruits, best paired with roast duck

WHAT IS IT? With Christmas coming up, now is the time to supersize your rose.

This stylish magnum from the producers behind Brad Pitts (and formerly Angelina Jolies) part-owned Chateau Miraval hits the shelves this month, and its made from a blend of classic Provence grapes including Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren.

Part of the blend is made in tulip-shaped concrete vats. The oval shape allows the wine to move around, with the suspended lees (the name for yeasts after fermentation) adding fantastic structure, texture and flavour to the wine.

BEST WITH: This one is full of bright red berry fruits. Try with roast duck. 10/10

CORAL SPRITZ

Found Vinho Verde Rose, 7, marksandspencer.com

Helen said Found Vinho Verde Rose (pictured) is best with salty snacks or chilli-flecked halloumi cheese

WHAT IS IT? A wine that usually comes in white, but this northern Portuguese gem has been given a bright pink twist by family winery Quinta das Arcas. Made from two local grape varieties, Espadeiro and Touriga Nacional, this is a truly beyond-the-pale rose with buckets of redcurrant fruits and a twist of fresh lemon on the palate.

Theres a light spritz to it, too, making it the perfect aperitif.

BEST WITH: Salty snacks or chilli-flecked halloumi cheese. 8/10

BERRY BLEND

Leftfield Rose 2020, 10.99, waitrose.com

Helen said Leftfield Rose 2020 (pictured) is refreshingly different and should be paired with pork chops or a burger

WHAT IS IT? Leftfield is the perfect name for this out-of-the-ordinary blend from New Zealands Hawkes Bay region. Made from a slightly bonkers mix of the white grape Arneis (originally from the Piedmont region in northern Italy) along with red grapes Pinotage and Merlot, this really isnt your average pink wine. Its stuffed with crunchy cranberry and stone fruit flavours.

BEST WITH: It has enough weight to cope with pork chops and will even take a burger in its stride. Refreshingly different. 9/10

ROSY RIOJA

Lopez de Haro Rosado 2020, 10.99, majestic.co.uk

Helen said Lopez de Haro Rosado 2020 (pictured) is fresh, fruity and firm, best paired with lamb

WHAT IS IT? Spain produces some of the worlds best  and most easily drinkable  rose (or rosado as theyre known here) wines.

The Rioja region has always been most famous for its reds, specifically its oak-aged ones with their seductive black fruit, spice and leather characters. However, in recent years its the rose wines from Rioja that have been turning heads and converting palates all over the place.

This one, made from a blend of old-vine red Garnacha grapes with the crisp white Viura variety, is simply fabulous.

BEST WITH: Fresh, fruity and firm, try with lamb, served pink.8/10

BOLD FLAVOUR HIT

Bird in Hand Rose 2020, 13.99, waitrose.com

Helen suggests serving Bird in Hand Rose 2020 (pictured) with a chicken and chorizo stew

WHAT IS IT? Created by a top family-owned producer in South Australias Adelaide Hills region, this is a bold rose made (mostly) from the Pinot Noir grape.

A relatively cooler spot, this suits the grape perfectly, making sure it retains its naturally bright raspberry and cherry fruit flavours. Aromatic on the nose, then take a sip and wham! The juicy berry flavours hit the palate along with a twist of citrus, keeping everything suitably fresh.

BEST WITH: Serve chilled with a chicken and chorizo stew. 8/10

BLUSH BARGAIN

Chateau Barthes Bandol Rose 2020, 13, coop.co.uk

Helen recommends trying Chateau Barthes Bandol Rose 2020 (pictured) with a plate piled high with charcuterie

WHAT IS IT? Bandol is a small sub-region in Provence famous for its big spicy red wines made from the Mourvedre grape.

But now its the regions fairly in-your-face roses like this one that are winning a cult following among in-the-know wine lovers. Most command much higher prices than this bargain from the Co-op, made from a blend of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Grenache grapes.

BEST WITH: Beautifully made with lots of ripe red fruit flavours on the palate and plenty of freshness too. Try it with a plate piled high with charcuterie. 9/10

JOYFULLY JUICY

Trivento Malbec Rose Wine, 8, Tesco

Helen said Trivento Malbec Rose Wine (pictured) is best paired with roast salmon fillets or a spicy bowl of pasta

WHAT IS IT? Argentinas star performer is the Malbec grape, but were more used to seeing it as a red wine rather than in pink.

Here, though, the skins and juice are left together just long enough to give the wine its colour, along with a generous dollop of redcurrant and grapefruit flavours.

Grown in vineyards that lie in the eastern foothills of the Andes, in the shadow of Mount Aconcagua, this is one fabulously juicy rose which can take on quite weighty flavours, food-wise.

BEST WITH: Roasted salmon fillets or a spicy, tomato sauce-drenched bowl of pasta.7/10
Screening the DNA of healthy babies could lead to the data being misused and sold to private firms in the future, an expert warned today.

More than 200,000 British newborns are to have their genome sequenced as part of a Government trial announced earlier this year.

The process involves storing a person's entire genetic code on a database to look for signs of rare genetic diseases, with the hope of improving the health of future generations.

Some scientists say it could provide advance warning of people's genetic risk of health conditions such as cancer and heart disease years before they strike, enabling doctors to prescribe treatments as early as possible.

But Professor David Curtis, an expert in genetics from the University College London, has warned projects to collect genetic data from newborns are unethical as the data could be used in unforeseen ways in the future.

One of these could see people with genetic disorders discriminated against by employers or health insurance companies, he said.

An expert warns plans to harvest genetic data from 200,000 British babies raise several ethical problems, from abuse of the data by future Governments to issue of consent. Other experts however argue that only by sequencing the genomes of all newborns will the full potential of the technology to improve health be realised

He referenced plans by the UK Government owned company Genomics England which announced in September it would proceed with a project to screen 200,000 British babies for genetic diseases.

Genomics England's Newborn Genomes Programme aims to explore the potential use of whole genome sequencing to screen for a variety of childhood-onset rare genetic conditions and how caring for them could affect the NHS.

WHAT IS WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING? Whole genome sequencing allows researchers to read all the little bits of code that make us who we are. The human genome is composed of more than three billion pairs of building-block molecules and grouped into some 25,000 genes. It contains the codes and instructions that tell the body how to grow and develop, but flaws in the instructions can lead to disease. Many argue giving patients the blood tests will allow doctors to spot rare diseases caused by genetic mutations. Former Prime Minister David Cameron set-up a project to sequence 100,000 genomes for NHS patients with a known rare disease or cancer. The first decoding of a human genome - completed in 2003 as part of the Human Genome Project - took 15 years and cost 2.15 billion ($3bn). Advertisement

Other aims of the project include understanding how genomic health data could be used to for research to develop new treatments and exploring the risks and benefits of storing an individuals genome over their lifetime.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, Professor Curtis warns that once genome data exists it could be used for a variety of unethical purposes in the future we cannot predict.

One of these is to discriminate people with health conditions from health insurance, something that already happens in the US.

Other concerns regard the potential use of the data by law enforcement who could use a genetic database to track down suspects using the DNA of their relatives, he claims.

It has previously been likened to Minority Report, a 2002 film starring Tom Cruise, which saw police use technology to catch criminals before they commit crimes.

Professor Curtis also said it was unethical to take the genetic data from children too young to consent.

'A persons genome is a vast quantity of personal data, and no grounds justify routinely acquiring this from all citizens before they are old enough to have the capacity to provide informed consent,' he writes.

'Do we trust that the governments we will have in 20 years time will keep the data secure and refuse to allow uses that we would currently regard as unethical?'.

Writing in the same piece in support of genome screening babies, Dr Leslie Biesecker from of the US National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) argued that it will help save lives.

But rather than newborns' genomes being sequenced for all diseases from birth, he argues for a 'phased' approach.

This would see a baby's genome sequenced at birth for health conditions that need immediate treatment, and then sequenced again in their teenage years for disease that appear at this age, and so on into adulthood.

What is the Newborn Genomes Programme? The Newborn Genomes Programme is a soon to be launched project by the UK Government owned company Genomics England. The project will collect 200,000 genomes from babies in the UK and analyse them for a set genetic conditions which may affect their early life. This, the company says, will enable them to access treatment pathways at the earliest opportunity giving them and their families better health outcomes and quality of life. With parental consent the babies' 'de-identified' genomes will also be added to the National Genomic Research Library which will enable both academic and commercial researchers to use them to develop new treatments. The project will also explore the ethical and practical implications of storing an individual's genetic information over their lifetime. Genomics England have insisted the data will be kept securely and only be accessible to vetted researchers. Advertisement

Any such rollout of genomic data collection would need both appropriate safeguards and and opt-outs, Dr Biesecker said.

If these were in place then the full potential of genetic diagnostics to help people from the day they born could be realised, he argued.

'By embracing a health ecosystem that offers universally available routine newborn genomic screening, we can maximise learning to ensure that the benefits of genomics reach the broadest range of people, minimising disparities and bringing greater health to all,' he said.

A Genomics England spokesperson said they wanted to examine if whole genome sequencing can be sued to help the estimated 40,000 babies born in the UK with rare diseases each year.

'Early genetic diagnosis before symptoms appear for many of these rare diseases can provide a "window of opportunity" for treatments and other interventions to improve the quality of life for babies and their families,' they said.

'So often, by the time symptoms appear it is too late to do anything as the damage has already been done.'

The spokesperson also said the company its takes the storage and access to genomic data seriously and will 'never' sell participants data and they were committed to communicating their plans to the public.

'Genomics England has never, and will never, sell participants genomes or their medical data. Insurance companies and banks will not get access to any data,' they said.

Whole genome sequencing allows researchers to read all the little bits of genetic code that makes someone who they are.

The human genome is composed of more than three billion pairs of building-block molecules and grouped into some 25,000 genes.

It contains the codes and instructions that tell the body how to grow and develop, but flaws in these instructions can lead to disease or increase the risk o developing health conditions.

This is not the first time that the merits and perils of governments collecting genetic data have been debated.

Civil liberty watchdogs raised the alarm in 2018 over United Arab Emirate plans to genetically test every individual living in the city of Dubai, including British expats.

The idea was to help identify genetic diseases, or risk of diseases before they happen enabling the earliest possible treatment.

However, privacy campaigners argued such data could be misused and would be at potential risk from hackers.

There have also been concerning reports from countries like China of genome data on citizens being collected on a mass scale.
Dr Anthony Fauci says that fully vaccinated Americans should be comfortable gathering for the holidays this year.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes it is safe for people to meet with family and friends this holiday season if they have completed their vaccination series.

Last year, many Americans skipped out on traveling to see family for Thanksgiving and Christmas but, with safe and effective Covid vaccines now available, gatherings with loved ones are set to return.

In 2020, the holiday season was followed by a massive Covid surge - the largest to date - and, with the weather getting colder, Fauci said he fears there could be an upcoming virus surge.

Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured) said during a talk with the Bipartisan Policy Committee that it is safe for family and friends to gather for the holidays this year as long as everyone is fully vaccinated

'If you get vaccinated and your family's vaccinated, you can feel good about enjoying a typical Thanksgiving [and] Christmas with your family and close friends,' Fauci said while speaking at the Bipartisan Policy Center on Monday.

'When you're with your family at home, goodness, enjoy it with your parents, your children, your grandparents, there's no reason not to do that.'

Fauci thinks that the current pandemic situation in the U.S. is a favorable one, though things are not perfect.

'In general were doing well, but its a little bit of a mixed bag,' Fauci said.

He said that he is concerned about the potential for cases to start rising again in the near future, though.

Cases have sharply fallen nationwide in recent months as the Delta variant-fueled Covid surge came to an end.

The falling has seemed to stabilize, though, and in some regions of the country - mainly in the northeast and northwest U.S., cases are even starting to rise.

Fauci is pushing for the remaining unvaccinated, but eligible, Americans to get the jab to protect themselves and control the spread of the virus.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just under 80 percent of Americans aged 12 or older have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Nearly 69 percent are fully vaccinated.

Fauci told the Washington D.C.-based think tank that these figures mean around 60 million eligible people are still unvaccinated - not including the recently eligible five-to-11 age group.

He also encourages eligible Americans to get their COVID-19 booster shots when they can.

Boosters have recently been made available for all Americans over the age of 65, with severe comorbidities or with a job that puts them at risk of exposure.

Eligible Americans are to get their booster shot six months after their second if they were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, and two months after they received the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

It is also likely that Pfizer will gain authorization for its booster for all American adults in the near future.

Some local governments have decided not to wait for federal regulators, either, with California, Colorado, New Mexico and New York City all taking action to make all adults eligible for booster shots over the past week.

According to CDC data, more than 31 million Americans have received a COVID-19 booster shot as of Wednesday afternoon.

Last year, the holiday season quickly turned sour, with an upward trend of cases accelerating in late-November, and eventually reaching record highs in early January.

At the peak, the nation was averaging more than 250,000 new cases per day.

That was before the COVID-19 vaccines were widely available, though, making it unlikely the U.S. will reach those heights again.
The Biden administration is set to pay Pfizer Inc $5.29 billion for ten million courses of its COVID-19 pill.

This deal is the U.S.'s largest purchase agreement for a Covid therapy so far - about twice the size of the government's contract with Merck for its Covid drug, which is currently under review at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In clinical trial data released earlier this month, Pfizer said its pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by 89 percent among high-risk adults who had early-stage Covid symptoms.

If Pfizer's drug is authorized by the FDA, it could play a large role in reducing Covid's severity as the virus continues to spread across America and around the world this winter.

On Thursday, the U.S. government announced that it has agreed to purchase 10 million courses of Pfizer's Covid drug. Pictured: Pfizer's pills, in an image provided by Pfizer

The FDA is currently considering emergency use authorization for Pfizer's drug and a similar pill made by Merck as Covid cases and hospitalizations begin to rise again in the U.S. About 40,000 people are hospitalized with Covid as of November 15

On Tuesday, Pfizer asked the FDA to authorize emergency use of its antiviral Covid pill.

The drug works by blocking a key piece of the coronavirus' structure, preventing the virus from multiplying in the body.

Patients take it in a five-day regimen, including three pills in the morning and three pills at night, in combination with a second antiviral pill that boosts the Pfizer drug's impact.

In Pfizer's clinical trial of the drug, this pill decreased patients' risk of Covid hospitalization or death by 89 percent when they started the drug regimen within three days of their symptoms beginning.

For patients who started the drug regimen within five days, the drug reduced chances of hospitalization or death by 85 percent.

The clinical trial included patients who were unvaccinated and faced the worst risks from the coronavirus due to age or health problems, such as obesity.

Notably, Pfizer has yet to release its clinical trial results in a scientific paper, preventing other scientists from analyzing the results.

Pfizer's pill will be evaluated by FDA regulators through the emergency use authorization process in the coming weeks.

If it is approved, Americans will be able to take advantage of the treatment quickly - as the U.S. has purchased ten million courses of the drug, in a deal announced Thursday.

The U.S. has agreed to pay $5.29 billion for the pills, at about $529 per course.

Pfizer said on Thursday the price being paid by the U.S. government reflects the high number of treatment courses purchased through 2022.

The company expects to manufacture 180,000 treatment courses by the end of December, and at least 50 million courses by the end of 2022, according to Reuters.

Pfizer expects to manufacture 180,000 courses of its Covid pill by the end of December. Pictured: People walk by the Pfizer headquarters in New York, November 2020

President Joe Biden said in a statement that his administration is taking steps to ensure that the treatments 'will be easily accessible and free.'

'This treatment could prove to be another critical tool in our arsenal that will accelerate our path out of the pandemic,' Biden said.

'But vaccines remain our strongest tool,' he said. 'With the authorization of vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years old, 95 percent of Americans are now eligible to be vaccinated.'

In addition to its agreement with the U.S., Pfizer has applied for its antiviral pill's approval and signed deals with other countries.

And on Tuesday, Pfizer signed a deal with the Medicines Patent Pool, a public health organization backed by the UN that works to increase access to medicines in low- and middle-income countries.

The deal allows other manufacturers to make copies of Pfizer's pill, increasing the drug's supply around the world.

Merck has a similar deal for its own antiviral pill, which was authorized in the U.K. earlier this month.

The FDA is also reviewing Merck's pill, and is set to discuss its potential authorization in the U.S. later in November.

Unlike current Covid treatments, both Pfizer and Merck's pills are easy for patients to administer themselves - they don't require an IV or injection from a health professional.

The drugs could play large roles in reducing Covid's severity for high-risk adults as the virus continues to spread in the U.S. this winter.

Cases are currently increasing in the country once again, as are hospitalizations.

About 40,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. as of November 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Moderna Inc has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for authorization of its Covid booster shot for all adults.

Currently, the booster is approved for people aged 65 and older and those at high risk due to underlying conditions or their jobs.

The Johnson & Johnson booster is currently authorized for all adults and the FDA is expected to approve the Pfizer booster this week.

If Moderna receives authorization, it means all Americans aged 18 and older will be eligible for an extra dose.

Moderna submitted its application to the FDA for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine booster. Pictured: A Walmart pharmacist holds a vial of the Moderna vaccine, February 2021

Currently, the booster is only approved for those aged 65 and older and for people at high risk due to underlying conditions or their jobs. Pictured: Diana Serlo, a retired registered nurse , administers a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot at Excela Norwin Square in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, September 2021

In August, boosters were approved for immunocompromised Americans who had received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine after data showed they were less likely to develop high antibody levels after two doses.

Shortly after, the White House announced booster shots would become available for all Americans starting on September 20 due to data suggesting waning efficacy of the initial shots.

At the time, Moderna said the data support the use of boosters for people aged 18 and older six months after receiving the second shot, citing the waning effectiveness of the shots at preventing infection, and the increased antibody levels provided by third shots.

But many scientists, including senior officials at the FDA, disagreed and argued that the vaccines are still highly effective at preventing severe illness and death.

Unlike Pfizer's booster, which is merely a third dose of its vaccine, Moderna's booster is a 50 microgram (g) dose - half the dose of its original vaccine.

Previous data has shown the booster increased levels of neutralizing antibodies, including against the original virus and variants, including the Beta and Gamma variants.

The Moderna vaccine has been shown to be safe but is linked to an increased risk of rare heart inflammation, or myocarditis, mostly among young men.

During a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) advisory committee to discuss approval of booster doses for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shot last month, young men who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were found to be at higher risk of developing a rare case of heart inflammation than those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine,

A CDC official presented data that showed young men under the age of 30 who receive the Moderna vaccine have experienced a slight uptick in myocarditis and pericarditis cases.

The CDC found that 36.8 out of every one million men aged 18 to 24 who received the Pfizer vaccine, and 10.8 of every one million aged 25 to 29, developed myocarditis.

Moderna recipients had higher rates of the condition, with 38.5 out of every one million males aged 18 to 24, and 17.2 of every million aged 25 to 29, developing the condition.

After age 29, the rate of heart inflammation as a vaccine side-effect significantly falls off.

American health officials have long recognized the risk of heart inflammation as a potential side-effect of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine in young me - with the CDC issuing a warning in June.

The Moderna vaccine is still considered safe and effective despite these data, with less than 0.01 percent of people who get the shot developing myocarditis.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Yet another study has been added to the growing mountain of evidence that unvaccinated Americans suffer a greater risk of complications from COVID-19 than those who've had their shots.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that unvaccinated Americans are twice as likely to require hospitalization from Covid, and seven times as likely to die than vaccinated people.

The study shows the vast disparity in health outcomes between those who are and are not vaccinated after they contract the virus.

Researchers also say that this strengthens the case for why all Americans should get the shots as soon as they can.

A CDC report finds that unvaccinated people are four times as likely to be infected by Covid than vaccinated people. Among those who do get infected, the unvaccinated are twice as likely to require hospitalization and seven times as likely to die because of the virus. Pictured: A man in Brussels, Belgium, receives hospital treatment for COVID-19 on April 28, 2021

The report, published by the agency on Thursday, gathered data from Kaiser Permanente Northwest health care system from July to September 2021.

In total, there were 137,000 unvaccinated people and 344,00 vaccinated members in the study.

Of the vaccinated group, 3,009 were infected with Covid during the study period, or 8.7 out of every 1,000 people.

Unvaccinated people were nearly four times as likely to be infected, with 4,146 - or 30.1 out of every 1,000 people - testing positive for the virus during the study period.

The research team found that vaccinated people who did end up getting infected were generally better off as well.

More than 18 percent of unvaccinated members of the study group who contracted Covid required hospitalization for their treatment.

Less than half of that total, nine percent, of vaccinated people who were infected required that level of treatment.

Even when vaccinated people were hospitalized, they still often fare better than their unvaccinated peers.

The researchers found that 0.43 out of every 1,000 unvaccinated patients who contracted the virus died from it, compared to only 0.06 out of every 1,000 vaccinated patients - a seven fold difference.

Researchers say that their findings support the need for widespread vaccination in the U.S., and show that the jab is effective against the Delta variant.

'During this period of widespread Delta variant circulation (JulySeptember, 2021), incidence of [Covd] infections was lower in fully vaccinated persons and was less likely to result in an [emergency room] visit, hospitalization, or death compared with cases in unvaccinated persons,' they wrote.

'These data support CDC recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination, including additional and booster doses, for the public to protect itself against severe COVID-19, including illness and hospitalization caused by the Delta variant.'

While a majority of American are fully vaccinated against Covid, there is still a remaining unvaccinated population taking on risk of severe complications from the virus.

According to official CDC data, 69 percent of Americans aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated, and nearly 80 percent are at least partially immunized.

The jabs are currently available to all Americans five and older, though the five to 11 age group was not made eligible until the first week of November.

Since the pandemic began, more than 767,000 Americans have died from Covid complications, with around 1,000 people dying every day.
FASHION

FABRIC: THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF THE MATERIAL WORLD by Victoria Finlay (Profile 25, 528pp)

Since Adam and Eve grabbed fig leaves to clothe themselves, we have relied on the natural world to provide us with food, shelter and clothing and the damage to that world, and to people, is still being done.

Look around your room  at cotton curtains, silk and velvet cushions, woollen rugs  and ask yourself if you know where in the material world it all comes from.

As for clothes swathed in a pashmina shawl as I write this, I realise I have never considered its exact origin or journey.

Now Victoria Finlay provides a closely woven warp and weft of answers to questions we never thought to ask, and the pictures in her intricate tapestry are dazzling. An intrepid traveller whose best-selling books already explored the magical worlds of colour and of jewels, she now turns her infinitely curious mind to fabric.

Her globetrotting quest (and were given five useful maps) for those stories requires delving into history, geography, geo-politics, mechanics, chemistry, trade, religion, magic, anthropology, mythology, fairytale and also all-round human ingenuity  especially when there is money to be made.

Victoria Finlay provides a closely woven warp and weft of answers to questions we never thought to ask, and the pictures in her intricate tapestry are dazzling. An intrepid traveller whose best-selling books already explored the magical worlds of colour and of jewels, she now turns her infinitely curious mind to fabric (stock image)

As part of her hands-on research, Finlay has a go at the art of bashing bark to make cloth in Papua New Guinea, spinning in Guatemala (rather a fail there) and piecing together patchwork in Alabama. Theres something in this wonderfully packed haberdashers shop for every reader.

But theres a personal story, too, all the more touching for being restrained. The initial idea for this book met with the approval of Finlays healthy, vibrant mother, who died unexpectedly just months later, to be followed soon afterwards by her father.

All plans had to be put on hold as the grieving daughter felt lost and fractured into small pieces. Those pieces eventually became the elements of the patchwork she and her mother had promised themselves they would one day create together  and combine to turn the beautifully written narrative of this book into a larger patchwork of healing.

Her journey begins with her quest to travel to where barkcloth is made. But theres a huge snag: access. Bizarrely, the remote Omie tribe in Papua New Guinea had a website and email address, an art administrator and a history of overseas exhibitions  but they dont reply to letters, emails or phone calls.

Then Finlay is warned that someone who travels there regularly takes 15 bodyguards. Then it seems impossible to get there by air. Then its cyclone season. So she researches the Congo, but tribal fighting had escalated there, so that wouldnt work.

By now (just 32 pages in) this unadventurous reader was wishing the intrepid author would put her woolly slippers on and give up.

But finally the elders from another tribe in Papua New Guinea, the Maisin, say yes, so off she goes, minus 15 bodyguards but with one woman friend, a photographer. Scary? No, the Maisin are lovely and their painted barkcloth beautiful.

Finlays adventures, vividly recounted, make enthralling reading  but with a sobering subtext tolling out the ongoing logging damage to the mighty forests. From barkcloth we travel on through the equally fascinating stories of cotton, wool, tweed, pashmina, sackcloth, linen, silk and (finally) man-made fabrics, such as nylon, that were the accidental or deliberate discoveries of scientists and changed our lives.

We follow trade routes, feel anguish at the unimaginable hardships of history, meet some of the extraordinary personalities who developed production methods as well as the ordinary men and women who are makers.

And always we are coolly invited by Finlay (with a parallel career working for an environmental charity) to reflect on the damage to the natural world that often accompanies the craving for cloth. One notorious example is the ruthless exploitation of farmers by the mighty U.S. chemical firm Monsanto.

Finlay points out that the wool industry (especially merino wool) is often cruel  with live sheep transported around the world often in appalling conditions and unwanted lambs slaughtered and thrown overboard. Fertilisers and pesticides used to produce cotton in India can cause cancer in the workers.

Her journey begins with her quest to travel to where barkcloth is made. But theres a huge snag: access. Bizarrely, the remote Omie tribe in Papua New Guinea had a website and email address, an art administrator and a history of overseas exhibitions  but they dont reply to letters, emails or phone calls.

Buddhist ceremonial scarves, like so many of our own cheaper garments, pollute land and sea because the silk they used to be made from rotted naturally, whereas the nylon or polyester of today lasts  and lasts. It can also endanger wildlife. Man-made fabrics are useful, of course, but Finlay warns, making and disposing of them is hurting the earth.

My own wardrobe contains blouses and dresses made from pure silk. But I have never paused to feel grateful to little creatures whose life of laborious munching ended up on my back.

With her customary mix of intelligence and emotional insight, Finlay comments: [The silkworm] begins to weave its future with small, deliberate actions that, deep inside, it has always known how to make.

And then, after days of darkness and stillness and turning in on itself, it is ready to be reborn as a different kind of being altogether. Other natural fabrics  come from a crop, a growth event, a haircut. But silk? Silk is a miracle.

Finlays ultimate message is that just as with food, in the ideal world we will know where our fabrics and clothes came from, who made them and where.

This book is equally an inspiration and an education.
THE LOST by Simon Beckett (Trapeze 14.99, 368 pp)

THE LOST

by Simon Beckett

(Trapeze 14.99, 368 pp)

Author of the bestselling series about forensic anthropologist David Hunter, the talented Beckett brings us a new character: Metropolitan Police firearms officer Jonah Colley, whose life was all but destroyed when his young son disappeared.

Now, ten years later, a request from an old friend leads him to Slaughterhouse Quay, a disused warehouse on the Thames, where he finds four bodies. Then he is attacked and left for dead, only to survive and become a murder suspect himself.

This is a long way from the cerebral Hunter, but none the worse for that, for Beckett endows his new protagonist with a tortured soul and a conscience.

There are echoes of Rebus in Colley, but he is rather more poignant. This is not a police procedural, however; Beckett has created a roaring, full-throated thriller.

THE INHERITANCE by Gabriel Bergmoser (Faber 8.99, 288 pp)

THE INHERITANCE

by Gabriel Bergmoser

(Faber 8.99, 288 pp)

THIS second appearance of formidable Maggie, part co-heroine of Bergmosers debut The Hunted, is an example of Australian outback noir at its finest. She knows no restraint, for Maggie is desperate to survive and will go to any lengths to do so, including resorting to violence on an industrial scale.

We first encounter her hiding out in a sleepy town in North Queensland when, inevitably, she finds herself plunged into chaos in the midst of a drug cartel protected by a ruthless band of bikers.

Maggie flees to Melbourne in the company of a dubious cop from the past, in the hope that she might also find out about her abusive policeman father, who was discredited, and her mother, who disappeared from her life without warning. Not for the faint-hearted, this is stirring story-telling, featuring a heroine who lingers long in the memory.

NEVER

by Ken Follett

(Macmillan 20, 832 pp)

NO ONE can deny that Follett is a magnificent storyteller. His first thriller, Eye Of The Needle, set during World War II, sold more than ten million copies and was made into an unforgettable film.

Now he has entered a more contemporary world  imagining the possibility of an imminent threat of World War III  featuring a female American President, a string of radical jihadists, and a Chinese regime that is impossible to predict.

Folletts premise is that war can begin with a single false step, and that it is not always easy to see when that false step is taken  because a global crisis can spring up at any moment.

The trouble is that this is an intensely crowded field, inhabited by  among others  former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary.

In spite of his talent, Follett lacks their unique insight, which makes his 832-page doorstep of a book feel a little artificial.
I'm a British veterinary surgeon living in Antigua. In July, I took advantage of our then green status to visit the UK.

My daughter is in vet school in Canada and, needing to make some extra cash for her tuition fees, I did a locum in the Isle of Lewis, Scotland.

All locums now have to be paid through umbrella companies so I contacted one and monies were paid into my HSBC account.

An overseas HSBC customer transferred 7,000 to her daughter in Canada but it never arrived

Being a long term resident in Antigua I had not used my HSBC account for many years, but on entering the UK I went to an HSBC near Gatwick, who identified me from my passport.

However, after I sent 7,000 to my daughter from Scotland in September she didn't receive it. What has happened? F.F., via email

Grace Gausden, consumer expert at This is Money, replies: Initially, when you came to Scotland to work, you were told by HSBC - after it identified you from your passport - you were fine to use your account.

It added it would send a bank card to your father, who lived locally, however, it did not.

While in the remote Isle of Lewis you also tried to set up internet banking and a security code was sent to your father. You were told to call HSBC when it arrived.

When you phoned, the customer service agent said she could not identify you and locked access to your account, telling you to go to your nearest HSBC to verify yourself.

GRACE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Grace Gausden tackles reader problems and shines the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: grace.gausden@thisismoney.co.uk

You explained you were on the Isle of Lewis, there was no HSBC branch close by but she said she could not help any further.

On your return to Antigua from Glasgow via Gatwick, you went to HSBC in Glasgow and were told everything was fine with your online access as it had verified who you were.

Needing to send the money to your daughter for her vet school bills, a wire transfer was set up.

Using your HSBC account, you sent 7,000 to your daughter last month - but the funds had not been received.

The bank has set a trace up after numerous calls. It said it has sent a message to your daughter's Canadian bank, but adds that it has not received a reply.

You have tried to complain to HSBC but claim all you get in response to your emails are an automated reply directing you to a phone number where you are left on hold to.

This is a large amount of money that had gone 'missing' and you are becoming increasingly frustrated.

HSBC apologised for the difficult the customer had and said it will be returning the money

I contacted the bank to find out exactly where the funds were and when your daughter could expect to receive them.

A HSBC UK spokesperson said: 'We are sorry that Ms F is having difficulty sending money to her daughter. We received the request to process her payment on 20 September 2021 and it was sent the same day, using the details provided.

'Unfortunately, on 27 October, 37 days later, the Royal Bank of Canada notified us they had rejected the payment due to the account name and number not matching.

'When those funds are received back from RBOC they will go straight into Ms F's account.'

It added that as a precaution against fraud, access to an account is restricted if it is not used after a certain amount of time, after providing notice to customers of its intent and providing them time to act on the notice.

As you had not used your account in two years, you had to go through a process to regain access.

Fortunately, you have now received the money back into your account and another 350 in compensation.

However, due to the funds not reaching your daughter, she was charged interest on her late payment for school fees and you also have a huge overseas phone bill to pay.

You also still do not have internet banking available with HSBC and must now find a safe way to send the money to her.

At least now you are aware of the challenges you face with overseas banking when visiting the UK and can hopefully find a way to send payment safely in future without it driving you barking mad.

A British Gas customer was charged hundreds after it got her address wrong by accident

Hit and miss: This week's naughty and nice list

Each week, I look at some of the companies that have fallen short of expected standards as well as those that have gone that extra mile for customers.

Miss: Reader, Verity, was frustrated with energy supplier, British Gas, this week.

She said: 'Last year I bought a house and moved in on 1 September. It took me a short while to get all the bills set up as I was going through extensive treatment for breast cancer.

'It was around the end of October when I realised I hadn't had a gas or electric bill. I looked through the previous owners notes and could see the house had been supplied by Robin Hood energy.

'I tried contacting them twice to no avail. A Google search then showed they were being purchased by British Gas who I contacted on three occasions. Once I was told there was no supply to the house. The second time I was cut off.

'The third time I was transferred to a team to set up a new supply. I then tried twice more to contact them at one point waiting to speak to someone for over an hour.

'Fast forward to this year. It was around March when I had a rather ominous letter from a debt collection firm telling me I had an outstanding bill of 470.83 and that British Gas has sent me the bill and payment reminders on several occasions.

'This was news to me. I phoned the debt collection company and was told I could pay off the bill in small monthly instalments. I asked for proof of the contact from British Gas as I had received nothing despite my repeated attempts to contact them.

'Months later, I got a letter from the debt firm attaching proof of British Gas invoice. It said the supply is for my address but has the postal address for a house down the road. Now British Gas is demanding payment in full.'

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis and know the ongoing saga with British Gas has been adding significant stress to you.

It seemed unfair the energy company was demanding the money in full despite its mistakes so I contacted British Gas which confirmed it had the wrong address for you.

A British Gas spokesperson said: 'We're sorry that Ms C's bill was sent to the wrong address.

'We've been in touch to ensure she has it now and we've agreed a plan to spread out her payments, making them more manageable. We're pleased she is happy with this outcome.'

It added it provided you a good will gesture of 70 and set up a payment plan for the remaining balance of 400.

It has also referred you to the British Gas Energy Trust which is an independent charitable trust that can provide support in the form of grants to those who are struggling with their energy bills.

A Glasses Direct customer praised the firms customer service after it replaced items for free

Hit: In better news, this week, reader Neil, praised his experience with company, Glasses Direct.

He said: 'I ordered two pairs of reading glasses from Glasses Direct. When they arrived, via Royal Mail, the parcel was open and only one pair was in the package.

'I challenged the postman and he blamed it on the sorting office and told me to make a complaint and claim.

'That proved somewhat difficult since I couldn't get anyone from Royal Mail to answer the phone and the contact details on their website didn't include any better contact details.

'As a last resort I contacted Glasses Direct and pointed out the problem. Without any quibble, they ordered me a replacement pair at their own cost.

'When these arrived, they had used the wrong prescription but, again, when I contacted them, they responded immediately to let me know that another replacement pair had been ordered  again at their own expense.

'The glasses weren't expensive so these issues meant they made a clear loss on the transaction and, yes, they made an error with the first replacement, but the point is, everyone makes mistakes  it is how these are rectified which differentiates the good customer service businesses from the bad ones.'

This experience has allowed you to clearly see which firms offer the best customer service.
Sporting neon hair and flawless skin, Bangkok Naughty Boo is one of a new generation of influencers in Asia promising to stay forever young, on-trend, and scandal-free - because they are computer generated.

Blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, these stars are hugely popular with teenagers in the region and will yield increasing power as interest grows in the 'metaverse', industry experts say.

'I'm 17 forever, non-binary, with a dream of becoming a pop star,' Bangkok Naughty Boo - who uses they/them pronouns - said in an introductory video sent to AFP.

Created by fashion designer Adisak Jirasakkasem and his friends, who envisioned a gender-fluid persona to hang the ideals of the artist community, the character is one of a tribe of 'Made in Thailand' virtual influencers borne from Covid-19 pressures.

Sporting black hair and flawless skin, Ali Ailynn is one of a new generation of influencers in Asia promising to stay forever young, on-trend, and scandal-free - because they are computer generated

Fashion designer Adisak Jirasakkasem and his friends (not pictured) created a tribe of 'Made in Thailand' virtual influencers during successive Covid-19 lockdowns

In September, Ai-Ailynn made her debut - she was created after her agency became frustrated by the 'limitations on human influencers' during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Virtual influencers 'are suitable for the new normal,' SIA Bangkok told AFP.

Artificial intelligence creations are establishing a foothold worldwide in the lucrative influencer market, which is expected to be worth $13.8 billion in 2021, according to data giant Statista.

But industry analysts say Asia is where the industry will really boom in the coming decade.

'We think Asia will be an area of rapid growth in the sector of virtual influencers. Generation Z is the largest group of internet users in Asia, and it is a digitally adept generation that is highly familiar with social media and all things virtual,' explained Nick Baklanov, a marketing specialist with Hype Auditor.

The number of virtual influencers has more than tripled to 130 in two years, according to Baklanov, who predicted Facebook's investment in the metaverse - dubbed a VR version of the internet - will mean an industry boom.

'Virtual influencers are better suited to the role of the first inhabitants of the metaverse than anyone else,' he added.

Digital character Ai-Ailynn is one of a tribe of 'Made in Thailand' virtual influencers borne from COVID-19 pressures

Artificial intelligence creations are establishing a foothold worldwide in the lucrative influencer market, which is expected to be worth $13.8 billion in 2021, according to data giant Statista

The biggest virtual earner is believed to be Lil Miquela, the LA-based 'robot It-Girl' who has worked with Prada and Calvin Klein, and makes an estimated $7,000 per post.

The World Health Organization recruited Knox Frost, a 21-year-old AI 'universal adapter' from Atlanta, to spread coronavirus safety messages to his 700,000 followers.

In Asia, computer-generated pop stars including Japan's Hatsune Miku and Luo Tianyi from China, as well as virtual K-Pop groups Eternity and K/DA, have paved the way for newer 'stars' as technology improves.

To create Bangkok Naughty Boo, Adisak photographed a model in different locations across the Thai capital before creating the character's face online.

He merged the computer-generated face and the real life model's body to make his virtual idol.

Bangkok Naughty Boo has already been signed to a leading Thai modelling agency, while Ai-Ailynn has already secured a deal to be the face of a major mobile operator.

'Influencers yield more power in the East and provide more lucrative brand and engagement opportunities, as the idol and fandom concepts are more rooted in culture,' Saisangeeth Daswani, a fashion and beauty industry analyst at market intelligence company Stylus, explained.

With trouble-free pasts, a round-the-clock work ethic, and easily controlled public personas, the fictional avatars are also respite for companies weary of reputational damage.

'Some brands enjoy the safety of associating with (virtual) influencers who have a pre-defined backstory and future,' commented Christopher Travers, the founder of Virtual Humans, a website tracking the industry.

Fashion designer Adisak Jirasakkasem makes a mood board for his newly launched virtual influencer Bangkok Naughty Boo at a design studio in Thailand

The number of virtual influencers has more than tripled to 130 in two years, according to Baklanov (pictured, designer Adisak Jirasakkasem discussing campaign ideas with a modelling agency employee)

And with authorities in some Asian nations policing freedom of expression, businesses may prefer the ability to control everything.

'The Chinese government's recent crackdown on exorbitantly paid, 'vulgar' and 'immoral' influencers is likely to further boost the appeal of virtual influencers,' explained Chen May Yee, APAC director for Wunderman Thompson Intelligence.

'They wont make impolitic comments or be embroiled in sex scandals.'

SIA Bangkok say there has been huge interest in Ai-Ailynn with businesses in pandemic-ravaged Asia looking to 'innovation and a new world order'.

A shake-up of the status quo may have some flesh-and-blood content creators worried, but human influencer Mutchima Wachirakomain welcomes the newcomers.

'They are freaking cool,' exclaimed the 25-year-old, who shares glamour shots alongside 'no filter' makeup-free looks to her 21,100 followers on Instagram.

'People still yearn for authenticity, the realness of a real-life influencer,' she said as she prepped for a shoot at an avocado-themed cafe. The characters can't replace the intimate connections humans have with each other.'

But Bangkok Naughty Boo is prepared to try.

Their Instagram is a mix of cheeky ensembles shot against the backdrop of Thailand's concrete jungle capital as well as daily life snippets like getting a first vaccine shot and spilling bubble milk tea.

'I hope I can meet you all in person one day. Love you!' they told AFP, signing off with a kiss.
A woman who mysteriously vanished three weeks ago made a booking at a backpacker hostel the morning she disappeared - but never returned to stay the night.

Kathleen Riethmuller was last seen on security camera footage visiting shops in Sydney's north on October 28.

Hours later, the 28-year-old's belongings including her ID, phone and bank cards were found abandoned in a backpack in a suburban street at Lane Cove.

Her family hasn't heard from her since and police have launched a nationwide hunt.

A family friend, who wished to remain anonymous, has revealed new details about her last known movements - as her family plead for anyone with information to come forward.

Kathleen Riethmuller, 28, (pictured) has been missing for three weeks since she mysteriously vanished from Sydney's northern suburbs

The friend said police have determined she checked into Elephant Backpackers, in Woolloomooloo, on the morning of October 28 - just hours before her last sighting.

Staff reported that Ms Riethmuller seemed 'jittery' and abruptly left after signing in.

'She went into the backpackers and made booking for that night but didn't stay,' the friend, who speaks on behalf of Ms Riethmuller's father, told Daily Mail Australia.

'She didnt go into the room - just made the booking and left.'

The friend said Ms Riethmuller's Brisbane-based family, who can't travel to Sydney due to Queensland's Covid restrictions, are distraught by the business graduate's unusual disappearance.

Although dropping out of contact is out of character for Ms Riethmuller, her family were at first hopeful she had chosen to retreat - but their concerns continue to grow with each passing day she is not seen.

'Her family are very devastated and a bit at ends because there are not any leads to go off at the moment,' the friend said.

'A lot of information has come through to police but there have been no verified sightings of Kathleen since the day she went missing.

Police inquiries revealed Kathleen attended a retail store on Reserve Road, Artarmon, about 11.40am on Thursday 28 October (pictured, left), before she was spotted again at 2.30pm the same day in North Sydney, wearing a long sleeve denim dress and black flat shoes (right)

A family friend has told Daily Mail Australia a 'jittery' Ms Riethmuller checked into Elephant Backpacker (pictured) in, Woolloomooloo, the morning she disappeared

A member of the public later found her belongings, including her ID and bank cards, in a backpack on Centennial Avenue (pictured) at Lane Cove

'The situation is bewildering. Her family is very confused and really just want to get her back.'

While she was in regular contact with her family, Ms Riethmuller was very private - offering them very few details about her friendship circles or life in Sydney since she moved to the city around five years ago.

Her loved ones believe she may have been in between houses at the time of her disappearance and it remains unclear whether or not she was working.

Adding to the mystery, Ms Riethmuller tried to sell a list of possessions on Gumtree in the days before she vanished, with police exploring the possibility she travelled to Melbourne for work opportunities.

However, vital documents needed to start over in a new city - like her ID- are sitting unclaimed in a Sydney police station.

One friend has told family Ms Riethmuller said she was considering travelling back to Brisbane, but other than that acquaintance, no one has been able to paint a picture of the ex-private school student's life.

'There are no close friends who have been able to give us information about the last couple of weeks leading up to her disappearance,' the friend said.

Kathleen Riethmuller, 28, (pictured) has been missing for almost three weeks after mysteriously vanishing from Sydney's north

The friend said little is known about Ms Riethmuller's 'reclusive' life in Sydney over the past few years. She is pictured in a Facebook post from May

'There are so many gaps. Did she have a partner? Why was she moving out? They are all questions no one knows.'

The family are pleading for anyone who has information about Ms Riethmuller to come forward to help piece together where she might be.

If Ms Riethmuller is somewhere safe and well, her father asks: 'Please come home safely or to get into contact. Just let someone know youre ok.'

After checking into the backpacker hostel, Ms Riethmuller attended a Bunnings store on Reserve Road, Artarmon, about 11.40am on Thursday 28 October.

She was spotted again at 2.30pm the same day in North Sydney, wearing a long sleeve denim dress and black flat shoes.

Her backpack was found by a member of the public later that afternoon on Centennial Avenue, Lane Cove, sparking the investigation into her whereabouts.

NSW Police first issued a public appeal for help finding Ms Riethmuller on October 31, which was renewed two weeks later as leads ran cold.

Detectives have now extended the search into Victoria as they explore the suggestion Ms Riethmuller may have travelled to Melbourne.

Family are pleading for Ms Riethmuller to come home or let someone know she is safe

A map posted in a Facebook page dedicated to finding Ms Riethmuller shows her known movements around Sydney around the time she disappeared

It is understood police remain open-minded to all possible causes of Ms Riethmuller's disappearance and are following all lines of inquiry.

Aside from the hostel, she was also known to have frequented a unit on King Street in the weeks leading up to her disappearance.

Ms Riethmuller graduated from Brisbane Girls Grammar - which costs about $26,555-a-year - in 2010 before studying a Bachelor of Business Management/ Science at The University of Queensland, according to her social media profiles.

In one of her Instagram accounts, Ms Riethmuller said she worked in 'data science, innovation and market developments' with 'experience in consulting, finance and start-ups'.

She frequently posted on photos of work conferences and new technology projects she was apart of on the professional social media profile between 2017 to 2019, when the account appears to have become inactive.

The new details about her disappearance come after Daily Mail Australia revealed Ms Riethmuller had posted 11 items for sale on Gumtree between October 16 and 22, with a collective value of $1,260.

The goods include a $350 hand mirror, $200 pull up/tricep dip frame, $150 wall tapestry, and a $100 vintage 70s style room divider.

Ms Riethmuller's (pictured) phone, ID, bank cards, and other belongings were found abandoned in a suburban street on the day she was last seen

In the week leading up to her disappearance, the 28-year-old listed several items for sale on Gumtree (pictured, left and right)

None of the items have been marked as sold and there has been no activity on the Gumtree account since she vanished.

A Facebook page dedicated to finding Ms Riethmuller has now been launched to help in the hunt.

Family fear she may need medical assistance, and have shared a map of her last known locations, urging anyone with information to come forward.

'We ask that those with dash cameras who were in the vicinity of any of the below areas during or around the hours of 11am - nightfall have a look to see if they can spot Kathleen or anything else that could help locate her,' begs the page.

'We are hopeful that reaching out as far and wide as possible can assist in getting her home safely.'

Ms Riethmuller is described as Caucasian, about 165cm  175cm tall, with a thin build and long dark hair.

Anyone who may have information about her whereabouts or has seen her is urged to contact Chatswood Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A husband who shot his estranged wife before sexually assaulting her 12-year-old daughter in front of her as she lay bleeding to death has been executed.

Lindsey Kirk, now 23, watched his execution by lethal injection, eleven years after he had killed her mom Kim and dragged her into the room to be sexually assaulted.

David Neal Cox, 50, abandoned all appeals and called himself 'worthy of death' before he was covered in a white sheet and strapped down on a gurney in Mississippi State Penitentiary on Wednesday evening.

He pleaded guilty in 2012 after shooting dead his wife Kim Kirk Cox in May 2010. Cox had turned up to Kim's sister's house in the small town of Sherman where she was staying with her three children after getting a restraining order against him.

He shot Kim in the stomach and then forced her daughter Lindsey into the room where he sexually assaulted the child three times as her mother lay dying - even as police surrounded the home and begged for Cox not to harm the children.

Cox's execution is the first in Mississippi for nine years as it is increasingly difficult for states to obtain the lethal drugs from pharmaceutical companies who object to their sale on ethical grounds.

Just before the injection started, Cox called out: 'I want my children to know that I love them very much and that I was a good man at one time ... Don't ever read anything but the King James Bible.'

Cox thanked the state corrections commissioner, Burl Cain, for 'being very kind to me. And that's all I got to say.'

He took several deep breaths after the lethal chemicals started flowing through a clear plastic tube into his body, and his mouth moved some. He was pronounced dead within a few minutes.

Lindsey Kirk, 23, pictured above days before the exeuction looking at pictures of herself with her late mom. She was 12 years old when her stepfather, David Neal Cox, terrorized her family, sexually assaulted her, and killed her mother, Kim Kirk Cox, in May 2010 at a home in Sherman, Mississippi.

David Neal Cox, 50, abandoned all appeals and filed court papers calling himself 'worthy of death' before the state Supreme Court set his execution date. A coroner pronounced him dead at 6:12 p.m. CST at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman

Kim Kirk Cox in an undated picture provided by daughter Lindsey Kirk. Kim was short in the arm and in the abdomen in 2010 by Cox, days after bumping into him at an intersection

Emotional Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield says he hopes 'God can intervene' to save death-row inmate Julius Jones who is scheduled to be executed TODAY despite celebrity clemency appeals Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield became the latest celebrity to weigh in on the fate of Oklahoma death-row inmate Julius Jones as police set up barriers around the governor's mansion ahead of today's execution. Jones, 41, is set to be put to death by lethal injection at 4pm Thursday for a 1999 murder he says he did not commit, unless Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, makes an 11th-hour decision to spare his life. Mayfield, a Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Oklahoma, joined Jones's family and urged Stitt to commute the man's sentence and spare his life. 'We are 24 hours away. So, it's tough,' Mayfield said as he whipped away tears from his eyes. 'You know, hopefully, God can intervene, and handle it correctly and do the things he needs to do.' Last season, Mayfield had displayed Jones's name on the back of his helmet in solidarity for the inmate. Jones was convicted in 2002 of the 1999 murder of businessman Paul Howell, 45, in a carjacking. He has consistently said he is innocent and was framed. His case became a cause celebre after it was profiled in a documentary by actress Viola Davis in 2008 and he has since garnered the support of numerous celebrities and sports stars. Governor Stitt has refused to meet with Jones' mother and sister in recent days, and has given no indication of how or when he will decide on the clemency request. He has, however, met with Jones's attorneys and Howell's family. The state's Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 on November 1 to recommend Stitt grant clemency to Jones and commute his sentence to life in prison, but so far the governor has not been swayed. Advertisement

Cain was described as 'upbeat' on Wednesday afternoon in his final hours.

For his last meal, he requested fried catfish, coleslaw, hush puppies, French fries and banana pudding.

'We met with him for about 45 minutes to talk about what would happen, the process we would follow and what he wanted for his last meal,' Cain said. 'He was upbeat.'

The commissioner said Cox expressed 'a little bit' of remorse to his victims but Cain refused to elaborate when pressed by reporters.

Lindsey Kirk was 12 on May 14, 2010, at her aunt's house, where she was staying along with her two brothers and mother.

They had been granted a restraining order against Cox. Her mother was in the back of the house filling the bathtub for her little brother.

'A gunshot came through the screen door, and he ran in and told me not to move,' Kirk said of her stepfather, who chased her aunt, Kristie Salmon, out of the house.

Kirk was not in the room when her stepfather shot her mother in the arm and abdomen, but he soon took her back there.

'Mama was laying on the floor. She was bleeding,' Kirk said. Kirk's brother 'was balled up in a closet.'

Her stepfather then sexually assaulted her three times in front of her dying mother - even as police surrounded the home and tried to get Cox to release Kirk, along with her two brothers.

On the same day, Cox's father, Benny, and stepmother, Melody Kirk, were three hours from home at a track meet with one of their children. Salmon called and told them Cox had shown up at her house and started shooting.

The Kirks immediately started driving back, and Cox called while they were on the way. Kirk said he talked to his daughter, Kim, who already had been shot.

'I told her we was coming just as quick as we could get there,' Benny Kirk said. 'And she said, 'Daddy, I'm dying.'''

Kirk said Cox blamed him, his wife and Lindsey Kirk: 'He told me over the phone that he meant to kill all of us.'

Melody Kirk said Cox was refusing to talk to officers by the time they had arrived at Salmon's house, so she took the role of negotiator, trying to persuade him to let the family go.

The ordeal lasted more than eight hours before officers got the three children out, recovered Kim's body and arrested Cox. Authorities said their last confirmation of Kim Cox being alive was after midnight May 15.

Lindsey Kirk told the Associated Press she misses her mother every day. To remember her, she has two tattoos: her mom's birthdate in Roman numerals and a dolphin, her mother's favorite animal.

Lindsey Kirk shows a tattoo commemorating her late mother's birthday of Jan. 12, 1970

Lindsey Kirk shows a tattoo on her neck that commemorates her late mother's favorite animal, a dolphin

Lindsey Kirk shows childhood photographs of herself and her late mother Kim Kirk Cox

Lindsey Kirk also said that prior to the murder, Cox was collecting disability checks after injuring his back when he was working as a commercial truck driver.

Back then, he used methamphetamine in front of Kirk, who said that her stepfather sexually assaulted her 'for a few years' when the family was still living under the same roof when her mother would leave.

She said she was afraid to tell anyone because 'he always told me that he'd kill us' if she told on him.

However, while staying with her grandparents in the summer of 2009, Lindsey texted her mother and told her of the assaults.

Soon after that, Cox was arrested and charged with statutory rape, sexual battery, child abuse and possession of methamphetamine.

He was released in April 2010, but then-wife Kim Cox already had a restraining order against him and had moved to her sister's home with her children.

Kim Cox (left) poses with her father Benny Kirk (right) in an undated picture

But, one day, Kim Cox saw him at an intersection from afar. She told relatives that he held his hand up like a gun and pointed it at her three times. Within a couple of days, he had killed her.

Kim Cox's father and stepmother describe her as a caring mother who was generous toward others. They said they didn't know David had been abusive or her children until Lindsey spoke up.

Adding on to that, Benny Kirk said simply: 'He's evil.'

Questions also remain about whether Cox was involved in the disappearance of his brother's wife, Felicia Cox, who was last seen in a neighboring county in 2007.

Her daughter, Amber Miskelly, recently told WTVA-TV that David Cox was the last person to see her mother alive. Lindsey Kirk said her mother and Felicia Cox were close friends. Benny and Melody Kirk said they wonder if Cox will confess to his sister-in-law's death before he is executed.

The Kirks raised Lindsey and her two younger brothers. Lindsey calls them Mamaw and Papaw, and they said she's their angel.

The boys are now 18 and 19 years old. The couple said the younger son does not like to talk about his mother's death or his father's impending execution, and the older son is still fearful his father might come back and hurt him.

'I've told him,' Melody Kirk said, 'a dead person can't hurt anybody.'

Mississippi carried out six executions in 2012. The state does not have any others scheduled among the more than 30 people currently on its death row.

States have had difficulty finding lethal injection drugs because pharmaceutical companies began blocking the use of their products to carry out death sentences.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections revealed in court papers earlier this year that it had acquired three drugs for the lethal injection protocol: midazolam, which is a sedative; vecuronium bromide, which paralyzes the muscles; and potassium chloride, which stops the heart.

Cain told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the drugs listed in the court records were the ones being used for the execution.

He would not say where the department obtained them.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves said earlier he wouldn't be granting Cox last-minute clemency or a delay of execution

The lethal injection room at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi

Cain, the onetime head of the Louisiana state penitentiary in Angola, witnessed several executions in that neighboring state before he took up his new role in Mississippi. He stood by Cox during the execution.

'You couldnt make it more picture perfect than we had tonight,' Cain told reporters afterward.

A group that opposes executions, Death Penalty Action, said earlier that killing an inmate who surrendered all appeals would amount to 'state-sponsored suicide.'

The group had petitioned Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to block the execution of Cox, but Reeves spokeswoman said the governor declined to intervene because Cox admitted to 'horrific crimes.'

The entrance of the Mississippi State Penitentiary, where Cox has been jailed for the past 11 years

Attorneys from the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel represented Cox in recent years.

After the state Supreme Court set his execution date, Cox sent a handwritten statement strongly objecting to their continued involvement.

The office director, Krissy C. Nobile, said Tuesday that after 'considerable and difficult deliberation, and out of respect for David Cox's autonomy and stated desire,' the office did not plan any more appeals for him.
This is the bizarre moment the mastermind behind a people smuggling operation was arrested in his pants at home in London.

Arturas Jusas, 35, opened the door to National Crime Agency officers during the raid in Lambeth, in the south of the capital.

The Lithuanian gangster stood wearing a pair of boxers and what appeared to be an ankle tag while rubbing his eyes clear of sleep.

A clip of his arrested emerged after four others were found guilty of conspiring to smuggle 69 Albanian migrants into the UK on a converted fishing boat.

The 30m trawler, called the Svanic, was intercepted by Border Force in the North Sea late on November 17 last year and was escorted into Harwich in Essex.

The boat, built almost 60 years ago, had been heading towards Great Yarmouth in Norfolk after it set sail from the Ostend area of Belgium.

Arturas Jusas, 35, opened the door to National Crime Agency officers during the raid in Lambeth, in the south of the capital

A clip of his arrested emerged after four others were found guilty of conspiring to smuggle 69 Albanian migrants into the UK on a converted fishing boat

The near 30m-long trawler (pictured), called the Svanic, was intercepted by UK Border Force vessels in the North Sea late on November 17 last year and was escorted into Harwich in Essex

Home Office legal blunder allows five migrants to become criminals in the UK A HOME Office legal blunder allowed five migrants to become criminals in the UK even though they were arrested while trying to sneak in. The migrants were among a group of 69 Albanians who were found hiding inside a converted fishing vessel that was intercepted off the coast of East Anglia last year. But plans to prosecute them for illegal entry to the UK had to be abandoned because they had not yet set foot on British soil when arrested - a key criteria under the law. After being released in Britain, five of the group were eventually re-arrested for alleged criminality, including working in a cannabis factory and low-level drug dealing. It can now be revealed that the criminals who organised the illegal journey are part of a 'prolific' ring behind numerous people smuggling operations into the UK. Advertisement

Footage showed NCA agents surprising Jusas at his home in London after he was contacting the four others involved.

A female officer yells 'police can you open the door' as she raps on the entrance to his flat.

The bleary-eyed criminal emerges with his stomach out and only covered by a pair of black pants during the raid.

A later clip showed him getting dressed as officers arrested him for 'conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK'.

The video comes after fellow people smugglers Aleksandrs Gulpe, 44, Igor Kosyi, 56, Kfir Ivgi, 39, and Sergejs Kuliss, 32, were convicted.

Latvian national Gulpe and Ukrainian national Kosyi were both found guilty of conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.

Both men were described by prosecutors as crew members, who were arrested when the boat reached land in the early hours of November 18, 2020.

Ivgi and Kuliss were both found guilty by unanimous verdicts, a court official said. Prosecutors described them as 'UK-based organisers'.

Jusas, also described as a 'UK-based organiser', admitted at an earlier hearing to conspiring to assist unlawful immigration.

A sixth man, Ukrainian national Volodymyr Mykhailov, 49, who the court heard was arrested when the boat reached land, was cleared.

All six defendants had been charged with conspiring to assist unlawful immigration between September 1 2020 and November 30 2020.

Footage showed NCA agents surprising Jusas at his home in London after he was contacting the four others involved

The video comes after fellow people smugglers Aleksandrs Gulpe (left), 44, Igor Kosyi, 56, Kfir Ivgi (right), 39, and Sergejs Kuliss, 32, were convicted

Tony Badenoch QC, prosecuting, told a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court that after it was seized the Svanic was inspected and it 'displayed a multitude of faults'.

'As an example, it only had a maximum lifesaving capacity of 20 persons,' he said, saying there were 20 lifejackets for 72 people on board.

Earlier in the trial, jurors were played an audio file from a mobile phone from September 3, 2020.

In it, Jusas said: 'We're going to bring every week 50 people, yes, we need to invest now 40,000, if you want, 20 you, 20 me. From first trip we're going to get the money back.'

The boat, built almost 60 years ago, had been heading towards Great Yarmouth in Norfolk after it set sail from the Ostend area of Belgium

There was only one lifeboat despite there being dozens of people on board, the National Crime Agency found

Mr Badenoch said: 'A single trip was therefore capable of returning 40,000 at the very least on the interpretation of that message.'

The National Crime Agency's director of investigations, Nikki Holland said: 'There is no stronger example of how organised criminals are prepared to risk the lives of the people they smuggle for profit.

'The Svanic was in an appalling condition, and in no fit state to make the perilous journey from Belgium to the UK.

'Had it got into trouble, the consequences could have been fatal as there was only one lifeboat and 20 lifejackets.

'The dangers wouldn't have crossed the minds of these men, whose sole motive was to line their pockets. They were planning to use this death trap over and over again.'

David Fairclough, Deputy Director, Immigration Enforcement Criminal Investigation, said: 'These callous criminals had big plans to orchestrate a lucrative criminal operation at the expense of people's safety using an unseaworthy vessel with only 20 lifejackets onboard.

'It is sickening that criminal gangs like this have no regard for the value of human life only seeing them as a way to make money.

'As recent tragic events show these journeys are unnecessary, perilous, and sadly sometimes fatal.

'Thanks to the culmination of efforts across the Home Office and NCA, we've slammed the breaks on this ruthless crime gang, and they will now receive the justice they deserve.'

The five men who were convicted of the charge are to be sentenced on a date to be fixed.
More than 4,500 patients have died because of overcrowding and 12-hour waits in A&E in the past year, a damning report revealed last night.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine report highlights the deadly crisis facing NHS A&Es as the health service recovers from the pandemic.

It found that one in 67 patients in England faced 'excess harm' because of crowding and handover delays in emergency departments between 2020 and 2021.

In total, the RCEM estimated that 4,519 patients lost their lives in England but admits it could be an 'underestimate'.

Dr Adrian Boyle, vice president of the college, said: 'To say this figure is shocking is an understatement. Quite simply, crowding kills.'

Elsewhere in the UK, the number of people killed because of A&E delays was estimated to be around 700 in Wales, 300 in Scotland and 556 in Northern Ireland.

NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard has warned the situation will only get worse this winter, with the emergency care system facing 'the worst crisis ever'.

A combination of crippling staffing shortages, unprecedented demand and patients coming back to the NHS more sick after the pandemic is behind the crisis.

The number of A&E patients seen beyond the NHS' four-hour target time has been slowly rising in the past decade but has risen sharply as the country recovers from Covid. There was a massive dip in attendances during the first lockdown last spring

A record number of 999 calls were made in England in October, with 1,012,143 urgent calls for medical help made. But the time it took answer these calls also increased to a record 56 seconds

The NHS has long struggled to meet its recommended ambulance response times for Category 2 incidents which include medical emergencies such as strokes and severe burns but the last few months months have seen unprecedented rise with patients waiting nearly an hour on average for an ambulance after calling 999

There have been growing reports of patients dying in the back of ambulances in hospital car parks and in NHS corridors because of handover delays.

Latest figures show more than 1.3million emergency calls were made in England in October  up 273,025 on the same period last year.

At the same time, 999 response times are at their highest level ever, with heart attack and stroke patients forced to wait nearly an hour for an ambulance on average now.

Dr Boyle said: 'The situation is unacceptable, unsustainable and unsafe for patients and staff.

Nearly 10,000 more people have died than usual since July from NON-Covid illnesses Almost 10,000 extra people have died from non-Covid illnesses in England and Wales than would be expected since summer, according to official figures. Experts have demanded an urgent investigation into whether the deaths were avoidable and if the current NHS crisis and emergency care delays are to blame. There have been around 21,000 more deaths from all causes than average since July, according to Office for National Statistics data up to November 5. But about 11,500 of these involved Covid, leaving a little more than 9,000 due to other causes such as dementia, heart and lung disease and cancer. Oxford University's Professor Carl Heneghan, an eminent expert in evidence-based medicine, said he suspected many of the excess deaths were 'potentially reversible'. He told The Telegraph: 'This goes beyond just looking at the raw numbers and death certificates. We need to go back and find if these deaths have any preventable causes. This could be the fallout from the lack of preventable care during the pandemic.' Since January, there have been 46,000 more deaths than the five-year average, but nearly 77,000 were Covid-related. Advertisement

'Political and health leaders must realise that if performance continues to fall this winter more and more patients will come to avoidable harm in the Emergency Department.

'Staff will face moral injury and the urgent and emergency care system will be deep into the worst crisis it has faced.'

He called on the Government to increase bed capacity to pre-pandemic levels with more 7,100 more beds needed to reduce wait times.

Dr Boyle warned that the report comes at the 'beginning of a long winter and an extremely challenging time for the current workforce'.

'These pressures may currently be facing urgent and emergency care and the ambulance services, but the solutions and actions must be system-wide and joined-up.

'It is up to the government, NHS leaders, and all of us to work together to put a stop to dangerous crowding, avoidable harm, preventable deaths. ambulance handover harm and to ensure that we keep patients safe and deliver effective urgent and emergency care.'

It comes after a trainee paramedic has revealed how she treated just one patient during a 14-and-a-half hour shift, in an example that lays bare the scale of the crisis.

Faye Shepherd said she spent the entire shift on Monday caring for the patient in the back of an ambulance while waiting for a bed to free up in A&E.

The student, on placement at South Western Ambulance Service, warned that the handover delays are leaving 'people dying waiting for ambulances'.

She also described how her ambulance was 23rd in a queue of 25 vehicles stuck outside waiting to offload patients at an emergency department in a separate incident last month.

Paramedic bosses have said crews are currently seeing two to three patients in a shift, whereas normally they would get to up to eight.

Ms Shepherd wrote on Twitter: 'During last night's 14.5 hour shift, we saw one patient.

'That's not because there's no demand, but because we were stuck at hospital for the entire duration, waiting for bed space.

'Meanwhile, people are dying waiting for ambulances. What part of this is sustainable [Health Secretary] Sajid Javid?'

She added: 'We were not able to hand over our patient to the hospital before the end of our shift, so a day crew drove to the hospital and took our patient on, which released us to go home.'

Meanwhile, NHS official have admitted hundreds of thousands of 999 calls every month are from desperate people asking where their ambulance is.

Three quarters of monthly calls  almost 205,000  are people repeatedly pleading for an update on the arrival of an ambulance crew, according to NHS Providers.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday that President Joe Biden's lack of official press conferences is more of a media problem than an issue for the American people.

'I think that's more of an issue related to the White House press corps ... and D.C. press, than it is of concern to the American public,' Psaki said in an interview that was part of a Politico Women Rule livestream event.

Psaki answered a definitive 'yes' when asked if Vice President Kamala Harris was receiving more criticism because of her status as a woman of color, and also admitted that one of her toughest lessons in the job came after she mocked Space Force.

Press secretary Jen Psaki (right) answered questions from Politico's Anita Kumar during a Women Rule livestreamed event Wednesday. She said it was more of a media problem than an issue for the American public that President Joe Biden has held so few press conferences

Psaki pointed to Biden's habit of doing more casual Q&As with White House reporters, when he travels or at events, arguing he probably answers more questions that way than by holding formal press conferences

Psaki, being interviewed by Politico's Anita Kumar, pushed back on the idea that Biden was in any way press shy.

Biden has eschewed formal press conferences for more casual Q&A with reporters when he travels or during events.

When he does hold a press conference, he's made it standard practice to call on a pre-set list of reporters.

'I would say that it's the job of every journalist to push for more access. That's their job. And if we granted access every time a journalist asked for an interview or access we probably wouldnt necessarily be doing our jobs,' Psaki said.

She argued that the debate over press conferences is 'misunderstood' because 'it's really about how any president uses their time or how they engage with the media.'

'But it's just not accurate to suggest that he isn't accessible or doesn't answer questions,' she added.

She argued that Biden, at a standard press conference, might only answer 10 to 15 questions, while he answers '20, 30 questions a week,' in the more casual encounters.

'President Biden has answered questions twice as many times at these events than President Trump did at this point at time,' Psaki also argued.

Kumar asked Psaki about her own job performance, wondering what she considered her biggest mistake.

She said she regretted mocking Space Force weeks into the administration.

'I regret being flippant in that moment and I don't think there's a lot of space and room for flippancy in that room because the issues we're talking about are so important,' she noted.

Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove had asked if the president planned to keep Space Force, the military's sixth branch, which was championed by Trump, but supported by lawmakers in both political parties.

'Wow, Space Force. It's the plane of today,' she replied - referring to being asked if Biden planned to keep the color scheme Trump wanted for the redesigned Air Force One.

Psaki said she regretted mocking the Space Force during the opening weeks of the administration. 'It kind of has a funny name, even though their work is very important,' she said Wednesday

Psaki said she wasn't sure if it was her 'biggest mistake.'

'But it's one that stuck with me because I think it had an important lesson. And I hadn't spent a lot of time thinking about Space Force, clearly at the time, it kind of has a funny name, even though their work is very important,' she explained.

'And I kind of gave a funny, flippant answer. And the lesson I took from that is - and I knew this - there's a huge responsibility in speaking on behalf of the government,' she continued. 'But even in moments where you want to be be - you might make a joke like you're at dinner - you're not. You're speaking on behalf of the U.S. government.'

She said that while she knew she didn't need to be serious at every moment, 'you need to take every question seriously.'

Psaki also admitted over the course of the interview that she sometimes has trouble controlling her temper in the briefing room.

'I'm an Irish person,' she said, and 'get a little hot.'

Psaki also said that she wasn't sure when her end date at the administration would be yet.

She originally signed on to stay through the first year.

Psaki came to the defense of Vice President Kamala Harris over the weekend and gave a succinct answer when Kumar asked her if Harris was receiving more criticism because she's the first woman and the first woman of color to serve as vice president.

'Yes,' Psaki answered.

'Criticism from the outside. Absolutely,' she stated after a pause.

'I do think it's been easier and harsher from some on the right-wing who have gone after her because she is the first woman, the first woman of color,' the press secretary added.

Psaki answered a definitive 'yes' when asked if Vice President Kamala Harris (pictured) was receiving more criticism because of her status as a woman of color

Psaki said that while it may never be acknowledged publicly there is 'no question' that the attacks on Harris are in part because she's a first 'many times over.'

'It's a lot to have on your shoulders,' Psaki said, adding that while Harris wants to be seen as the 'talented, experienced expert, substantive policy person, partner to the president' that she is, instead some of the attacks are 'beyond' - and they're because of her identity.

Kumar wanted to know if those attacks were seeping in and impacting Harris' approval ratings, which are a historic low for vice presidents.

'I think we've seen, it's not a secret Anita, some drop in approval ratings across the board,' Psaki answered. 'We are very sober about that fact that there are some challenges, real challenges people are going through in this country. We're working to try to fix them.'

'All of them go back to COVID,' she said after listing a number of challenges.

She argued that the president and vice president would be the first to say the 'buck stops here.'

And the White House was trying to get work done and not worry about the numbers too much.

'Hopefully the polls will follow,' Psaki said.
Anti-vaxxers are harassing children with 'appalling' abuse as they wait in line to get their coronavirus vaccinations.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan denounced the intimidation and bullying by anti-vaccine protesters trying to scare schoolkids out of getting the jab.

'There have been recent reports of adults turning up at clinics to harass young students waiting to be vaccinated - screaming disproven nonsense to try to intimidate them,' he said.

'There have been countless incidents like these right across the country. It's just not acceptable behavior.'

Anti-vaxxers have started attacking children waiting in line to get their coronavirus vaccinations by hurling 'appalling' abuse at kids queuing outside clinics

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said his staff have been threatened with rape and death over the state's mandatory vaccination policy

Anti-vaxxers are ramping up their harassment campaign in WA, even making death and rape threats levelled at Mr McGowan and his staff, forcing him to close his electorate office.

A man was even allegedly planning on dumping a tank outside the building, with four officers needed to restrain him outside his Camden Way home.

'My local office in Rockingham has been forced to close indefinitely, due to serious and ongoing threats towards my staff there,' the premier said.

'People in all workplaces have a right to go to work safely - there is no justification for making personal threats of violence against people who are just doing their jobs or accessing health services or just going about their business.'

He also revealed a journalist at the West Australian received abuse from anti-vaxxers after speaking with a doctor to 'dispute an unproven claim' made by the extremists.

'The science is clear. The facts are clear. The vaccines are safe and they are effective at reducing the spread and impact of Covid-19. They will save thousands of West Aussies' lives in the coming years,' he posted to Facebook.

'It's just heartening to know that the vast, vast majority of people are doing the right thing to protect themselves, their families, and our community.'

Pictured: A tank which a man allegedly attempted to have dumped at WA Premier Mark McGowan's office in Perth

'There have been recent reports of adults turning up at clinics to harass students waiting to be vaccinated - screaming disproven nonsense to try to intimidate them,' Mr McGowan said

Mr McGowan also referenced the anti-vaccine rallies in Melbourne, particularly those aimed at Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, after a gallows was rolled outside Parliament House in Melbourne and an effigy of the Labor leader hanged.

'The behavior there of some conspiracy theorists, extremists and neo-Nazis - going so far as to display nooses and gallows and chant death threats - was simply vile,' he said.

'Unfortunately, it is just the tip of the iceberg of what has been happening around the country, and here in WA, in the last few months.

'There is no problem with peaceful protests - they are an important part of our democracy. But personal threats of harm, violence, or death have no place in our society.

'To see such a small proportion of the population embark on such a serious campaign of harassment and intimidation is appalling.

'It has to stop.'
A woman who allegedly escaped hotel quarantine by slipping past security and down a fire escape has been caught after four days on the run.

Samantha Sullivan, 35, was arrested by police in Mile End in Adelaide's inner west about 9pm on Wednesday after she allegedly absconded from the Pullman Hotel at Hindmarsh Square in the the city's CBD.

SA Police have charged the woman with breaching the Emergency Management Act and also alleged she arrived in Adelaide from Darwin using a stolen driver's licence.

Samantha Sullivan (pictured) was arrested on Wednesday after she allegedly absconded from hotel quarantine because she 'doesn't want to get vaccinated'

Ms Sullivan flew into South Australia about 2.45pm on Saturday and was required to remain in hotel quarantine for 14 days.

Assistant Commissioner Craig Patterson said shortly after arriving at 7.45pm, she made a run for it - becoming the third person to allegedly breach South Australia's Covid quarantine system since August.

The alleged escape was captured on CCTV and witnessed by a member of security on the ground floor at the exit, but the guard was unable to stop her, police say.

CCTV footage shows a dark-haired woman was wearing a tan-coloured dress with thongs and a black handbag leaving the Pullman.

Footage later also allegedly captured Ms Sullivan, who tested negative for coronavirus, getting into a taxi at the nearby intersection of Pulteney Street and Rundle Mall.

The driver dropped his passenger to a block of flats in Keswick in the southwest of the city.

Ms Sullivan (pictured) spent four days on the run after allegedly breaching public health orders by absconding from hotel quarantine

Assistant Commissioner Patterson explained that security guards 'don't actually have any authority to go hands-on and stop the person' as the medi-hotels are 'not a prison'.

Samantha Sullivan (pictured) allegedly escaped hotel quarantine via a fire escape

Ms Sullivan spoke 7News while still on the run saying she was 'overwhelmed' after being placed in hotel quarantine.

'I don't want to put people in danger. I don't want to be seen as a threat to the community. I just don't want to be vaccinated,' Ms Sullivan said.

Police said they were conducting an 'operational review' into the alleged escape from hotel quarantine.

The incident comes after two highly-publicised breaches of the public health orders in the state.

One month earlier a woman, 18, and a man, 22, were arrested after they were allegedly caught in the same room of a medi-hotel in Adelaide.

In August, a New South Wales man was sentenced to 14 days in prison for skipping out on hotel quarantine to go out for a beer at a nearby pub.

Ms Sullivan is set to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A vile paedophile says he should receive a lenient sentence because he caught Covid behind bars and was bashed by another inmate.

Bret Anthony Chesworth, 55, was arrested at his home on the outskirts of Newcastle, two hours north of Sydney, in November 2020 after a police probe into a global online network of child sex offenders.

In June, he pleaded guilty to charges relating to the possession of child abuse material and using a carriage service to transmit and access child abuse material.

Bret Anthony Chesworth, 55, (pictured) was arrested November 2020 as the fifteenth person in a global network of child abusers

Chesworth also pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to prepare or plan to procure a person under 16 to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutors told Newcastle District Court Chesworth's crimes were 'particularly depraved, particularly abhorrent'.

'We are dealing with very young children who are seriously distressed,' prosecutor Sarah Short told the court.

Bret Anthony Chesworth was the fifteenth person arrested in an Australian Federal Police investigation (pictured) into a global online network of child sex abusers

Two charges against Chesworth were dropped, one relating to bestiality against his dog between December 2019 and November 2020.

Chesworth is set to face sentencing at Newcastle District Court on December 10.

Defence barrister David Murray said Covid lockdowns, his contraction of the virus, and a recent assault against his client should be considered during sentencing.

Mr Murray believes the bleak conditions at Parklea Prison during Covid lockdowns give Chesworth grounds for a reduced sentence.

Bret Anthony Chesworth will face sentencing for seven charges relating to child abuse at Newcastle District Court (pictured) December 10

He describes the prison as filthy with standard cleaning products unavailable to prisoners.

'There are no clean clothes, no washing is done, to clean dishes in the sink of the cell they have to use hand products, there is no disinfectant and no toilet cleaning products,' he told the court.

Mr Murray said Chesworth a 'victim of assault' and claims his client is still in a moon boot as a result of the attack and lack of medical treatment available.
Australians are reluctant to accept or apply for jobs because they are worried about catching Covid as more people dine out and go shopping again.

The number of job ads on Seek for hospitality and tourism positions doubled in a month in one state, following the end of lockdowns.

Nationally, the number of advertised jobs surged by 10.2 per cent in October, taking the tally of new monthly positions to a record high.

During the past year, the number of advertised positions soared by 63.2 per cent but last month, the number of people applying for every ad declined by 5.4 per cent.

Australians are reluctant to accept jobs they have applied for because they are worried about catching Covid as more people dine out and go shopping again. Nationally, the number of advertised jobs surged by 10.2 per cent in October, taking the tally of new monthly positions to a record high (pictured is a room service attendant at the Crown casino in Sydney)

Seek's managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Kendra Banks, said recruiters were finding it 'challenging' competing with each other to hire staff with so many positions available.

Retail and hospitality businesses in particular were struggling to find applicants since the end of Covid lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne.

Seek's managing director for Australia and New Zealand Kendra Banks said recruiters were finding it 'challenging' competing with each other to hire staff with so many positions available

In NSW, the number of advertised hospitality and tourism jobs last month surged by 46.2 per cent while Victoria saw a 123.8 per cent increase - an effective doubling of available positions.

'Despite site visits remaining high, there is still a hesitancy, particularly with customer-facing roles, with people not wanting to move jobs just yet,' Ms Banks said.

Her observation contradicts Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe's assertion this week that unlike the US, Australian workers were more likely to accept customer-facing jobs.

'In the US, the high incidence of Covid-19 infections resulted in a significant reduction in labour supply as people prioritised looking after their own health and that of their families,' he told an Australian Business Economists luncheon.

'The result has been a significant shock to labour supply in the US. This has not been the case in Australia.

'These developments are relevant because strong growth in the demand for services will require a sharp increase in hours worked.'

Westpac credit and debit card data for the first week of November showed a strong rebound in spending for hospitality, accommodation, travel and recreation. But retail is doing even better, with a surge in demand for electrical appliances, home furnishings and car accessories (pictured is Melbourne's Bourke Street mall)

Her observation contradicts Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe's assertion this week that unlike the US, Australian workers were more likely to accept customer-facing jobs

Across the labour market, internet job ads were at a 13-year high in October with data from the federal government's National Skills Commission showing 250,882 positions were available.

NSW accounted for 87,187 of those vacancies while Victoria had 67,828 available positions.

With Seek data showing 28 per cent of Australians planning to change jobs within the next six months, Ms Banks said more movement was likely early next year.

'Traditionally the lead up to the end of the year is not a time to switch jobs,' she said.

'Therefore, we expect more movement early in 2022.'

Pay levels in the accommodation and food services area rose by 2.5 per cent in the year to September, which was better than the labour market average of 2.2 per cent, Australian Bureau of Statistics wage price index data released on Wednesday showed.

Westpac credit and debit card data for the first week of November showed a strong rebound in spending for hospitality, accommodation, travel and recreation.

Westpac credit and debit card data for the first week of November showed a strong rebound in spending for hospitality, accommodation, travel and recreation. But retail is doing even better, with a surge in demand for electrical appliances, home furnishings and car accessories (pictured is a shopper at Sydney's Pitt Street Mall)

But retail is doing even better, with a surge in demand for electrical appliances, home furnishings and car accessories.

Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said spending on major household items had surpassed the pre-Covid levels of early 2020.

'More surprisingly, "big ticket" categories  electrical appliances, furnishings and vehicle-related  are also seeing strong gains,' he said.

'Indeed, whereas services still has some way to go before returning to pre-lockdown levels, "big ticket" spending is already well above.'
This is the moment Florida wildlife conservationists freed a female bear from a plastic container stuck which had been stuck on its head for 28 days.

The 250-pounds bear was spotted by residents of Golden Gate Estates, Naples, who contacted the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

After two sightings, bear biologists, law enforcement, and Florida FWC tracked the bear, but it wasn't until three weeks later that it was seen again on a resident's security camera.

Fortunately, the resilient bear was able to eat and drink through the hole of what seems to be an automatic pet feeder.

Florida wildlife conservationists freed a female bear from a plastic container stuck on its head for 28 days

The bear was spotted just before midnight on November 14, and rescuers promptly darted the animal and freed it from the agonizing situation

Eventually, the bear was spotted on a security camera, still wearing the container on its head and rescuers rushed to set new traps and started night patrols of the neighborhood to find the bear

The bear was spotted just before midnight on November 14, and rescuers promptly darted the animal and freed it from the agonizing situation. It was then given antibiotics to treat the sores around its neck caused by the plastic container and released to a secure area a day and a half later.

The Florida FWC posted the video on Facebook, with relieved residents thanking the organization for saving the bear from a slow and painful death.

When reports came of the bear wandering with a plastic container stuck on its head, the Florida FWC set traps and monitored the area in an effort to remove the container.

Despite the ordeal, the bear was still in great physical shape, The Florida FWC said.

After a day and a half of monitoring to ensure it was healthy and able to eat and drink, the bear was released in a secure area of Picayune Strand State Forest

The bear had a wound around its neck and face where the container was stuck, but rescuers cleaned the injury and gave her antibiotics. It was monitored for a day and a half to ensure it was healthy and able to eat and drink normally, and it was then released in a secure area of Picayune Strand State Forest

Social media users reacted with joy to the news of the female bear being rescued.

Israel Elledias wrote: 'As much as I despise them in my garbage once a week!! I love these bears and I am very happy it was saved'

It was monitored for a day and a half to ensure it was healthy and able to eat and drink normally, and it was then released in a secure area of Picayune Strand State Forest.

'A big thanks to our bear biologists, law enforcement, bear contractors, and the Collier County Sheriff's Office for making this a success. A great deal of gratitude goes out to the residents of Golden Gate Estates for working together to rescue this bear!' the Florida FWC wrote on the Facebook post sharing the good news.

Social media users reacted with joy to the news of the female bear being rescued.

Israel Elledias wrote: 'As much as I despise them in my garbage once a week!! I love these bears and I am very happy it was saved.'

'OH THANK GOD, I drove around myself for 3 hours trying to find her.....THANK YOU FWC & everyone involved,' said Debra Wagss.

The Florida FWC reminded residents of the area to be 'BearWise' and secure any attractants to avoid dangerous situations for bears.
Google has announced a deal with Paris-based news agency Agence France-Presse which will see the Silicon Valley firm pay an undisclosed sum for content in Europe.

The five-year agreement is the result of 18 months of negotiations, and comes as Google is under increasing pressure to pay content providers for material distributed on their platform.

The agreement was described as 'pioneering' by AFP's CEO, Fabrice Fries, who said it will help support AFP's news-gathering and reporting operations across the continent.

It is the first agreement by a news agency under the 2019 European directive on so-called 'neighboring rights' - essentially a form of copyright, created for three categories of people who are not technically authors: performing artists, producers of phonogrammes (symbols used to represent sounds), and those involved in radio and television broadcasting.

Neighboring rights are at the heart of multiple disputes between web giants and the media over payment for use of online news and other content.

Fabrice Fries (right), the CEO of AFP, is seen at AFP's headquarters in Paris with Sebastien Missoffe, the managing director of Google in France

'This is an agreement that covers the whole of the EU, in all of AFP's languages, including in countries that have not enacted the directive,' said Fries.

He said the deal was 'pioneering' and the 'culmination of a long struggle'.

AFP produces and distributes multimedia content to its clients in six languages around the world.

After initially being reluctant to pay French newspapers for the use of their content, Google finally signed a three-year framework agreement with some of the nation's press in early 2021, but was fined $566 million in mid July by the French competition authority for having failed to negotiate 'in good faith'.

Google had initially balked at paying for news, saying news companies benefited from the millions of readers it sends to their websites.

News companies, meanwhile, have been demanding for years that digital giants pay for news content they siphon from commercial media while taking the lion's share of ad revenue.

Google has appealed the July fine, and is continuing talks to reach a new agreement.

AFP has fought for news agencies to be fully eligible to benefit from neighboring rights agreements, Fries said.

Wednesday's deal 'will contribute to the production of quality information and the development of innovation within the agency', he added.

The tech giant Google - the world's biggest internet provider - said the agreement showed Google's willingness to work with European regulators

Sebastien Missoffe, Google's general manager in France, said that the deal was a sign of Google's openness to work with national regulators, and find a mutually-acceptable deal.

'This agreement with Agence France-Presse demonstrates our willingness to find common ground with publishers and press agencies in France on the topic of neighbouring rights,' he said.

The pact 'paves the way for even closer collaboration', he added.

Under the agreement AFP will also offer fact-checking training on several continents, details of which will be announced soon, the companies said in a statement.

Global tech giants - mostly American - have run into a wide range of disputes with Brussels and EU member states over taxation, abuse of their dominant market power, privacy issues and of making money from journalistic content without sharing the revenue.

To tackle this the EU directive created the form of copyright called neighboring rights that would allow outlets to demand compensation for use of their content.

Facebook announced several agreements in October, including one that provides for two years' remuneration to French news media for the use of their content, as well as for their participation in Facebook News, which Facebook will deploy in France in January 2022.

In France and Denmark, media groups joined forces to negotiate with tech giants, while in Spain, Google announced on November 3 that it would reopen its Google News service in early 2022.

In Australia, a law has been passed to oblige tech giants to pay the media for using their content.

Google announced in October 2020 that it would launch Google News Showcase, and pay publishers more than $1 billion over the next three years through a new program for licensing news.

In February, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp announced a three-year deal in which Google will pay the company for content.

The company's brands in the U.S., U.K. and Australia - including The Wall Street Journal and New York Post - will be featured in the Google News Showcase.

The companies will enter into an ad revenue-sharing agreement, develop a subscription platform and YouTube will invest in video journalism as part of the deal, according to a press release.

Don Harrison, president of global partnerships at Google, said at the time: 'News Showcase now has partnerships with over 500 publications around the world, demonstrating the value this product can bring to our news partners and readers everywhere. We hope to announce even more partnerships soon.'

News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson praised Google in a statement for a 'thoughtful commitment to journalism,' and said he is 'gratified that the terms of trade are changing, not just for News Corp, but for every publisher.'
Australia risks being hit with the 'double whammy' next winter of an explosion in Covid cases and a crippling flu season, a health expert has warned.

World Health Organisation advisor Professor Dale Fisher said transmission levels would likely stay low over the summer as vaccinated locals enjoy their newfound protection against the virus.

But he warned though the combined effect of Australians staying indoors over winter and waning immunity levels could lead to a surge in Covid cases in mid-2022.

A healthcare worker takes a swab at a drive-through testing station in Perth. A top health expert has warned Australia risks being hit with the 'double whammy' next winter of an explosion in Covid cases and a crippling flu season

World Health Organisation advisor Professor Dale Fisher said Covid transmission may surge in the colder months as immunity rates wane in Australia and people stay indoors

'In all likelihood Australia will experience a honeymoon through the summer period,' he told the Today show.

A predicted surge in cases has failed to occur in NSW and Victoria since lockdowns lifted in October.

'Coming out of the warmer months though is going to be the danger period,' Professor Fisher said.

'There's a few reasons for that. One is there will be some waning of immunity... and obviously as you go into winter you close the doors and windows so there's higher transmission.'

He said the beginning of a new flu season next winter could make the problem worse.

'There hasn't been a lot of flu around so there could be a double whammy as Covid re-emerges at the same time as a fresh flu season,' he said.

Professor Fisher said by the middle of 2022, nearly all of Australia's travel and social distancing restrictions will likely have been removed, and that there would be 'great reluctance to reintroduce them' if there was a spike in cases.

He said it was vital Australians went out in force to get their booster shots when they arrive next year to continue suppressing the spread of the virus.

Professor Fisher said Singapore was a prime example of how Australia may struggle to avoid a new wave once the weather cools down in March.

The recent surge in Singapore has been attributed to the waning efficacy of Covid vaccines in the Asian country, where jabs were rolled out earlier than Australia.

Professor Fisher warned Singapore was a prime example of how Australia may struggle to avoid an inevitable new wave once the weather cools down in March. Pictured are pedestrians in Singapore earlier this month

Professor Fisher said Australia could follow suit following a recent surge of cases in Singapore. Pictured are travellers at Melbourne Airport

Singapore recorded 3,099 cases last Friday as the recent surge continues following the country's decision in August to ease restrictions and learn to 'live with Covid'.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday it was time for 'Australians to take their lives back' after almost two years of crippling Covid restrictions.

'It's time for governments to step back and for Australians to take their lives back and for Australians to be able to move forward with the freedoms that should be theirs,' he said.

'That's what we're doing as the government and where we see it going.'
A cafe has been slammed as sexist for displaying a sign reading 'cute waitress on duty' at the front of its business.

Black Pearl Cafe in Palmerston North, New Zealand, faced backlash on social media this week after it was accused of promoting sexist culture within the hospitality industry.

Raise The Bar Hospitality Union founder Chloe King uploaded an image of the sign to Twitter on Sunday calling on locals to boycott the cafe.

Black Pearl Cafe in Palmerston North, New Zealand, has come under fire for its sexist sign reading: Cute waitress on duty

'Sexism is alive and well in the NZ hospo industry. Feel free to boycott Black Pearl in Palmerston North,' Ms King wrote.

But the cafe hit back on its Facebook page on Wednesday claiming it was a joke and that the 'cute waitress' was actually a male who is 'not even cute'.

'The sign idea is from our team written by a female. Our cute waitress is a male who is not even cute,' the cafe wrote.

'All staff approved this and no one feels uncomfortable about it. It is something called a 'joke'. The sign has been out for two years and we have never had an issue.

Female staff at Black Pearl defended the sign and owner Paul Leang (pictured) claiming they worked in a safe and inclusive workplace

'We have had so much laughs through out the year. So many people just came in and asked where the cute waitress is. Then, our non-cute male waitress will say 'YES it's me'.'

The post then went on to claim the cafe were more guilty of 'false advertising' rather than sexism and that the owner treats his equally staff regardless of gender, adding: 'So I ask you 'is it you or us who is actually sexist?''

Female staff workers also defended the sign and argued the joke was taken out of context.

'The attitude they see [in the sign], it's not reflective of our work environment here,' Black Pearl manager Cheyenne Sills told Stuff.

She said the cafe was a safe and inclusive workplace and that she was upset Black Pearl owner Paul Leang was portrayed as sexist over the sign.

'I can count on one hand the number of times someone has actually complained about it,' she said.

Founder of Raise The Bar Hospitality Union Chloe King uploaded a photo of the display calling on locals to boycott the business on Sunday

The sign has since been removed from the front of the business with Mr Leang saying he wouldnt have had it up in the first place if he thought it was offensive.

Raise The Bar said on Thursday that it would continue to speak out against sexism in the hospitality industry.

Commitee member Anna Krykunivsky said concerns about sexist workplace culture were often dismissed with 'its just a joke'.

'But it was never just a joke, words helped set the tone and define what behaviour was tolerated,' she said.

The union said it had workers within the hospitality industry contact them almost every day for help dealing with sexism and sexual harassment.

Ms Krykunivsky said the union wasnt just 'wagging a finger at Black Pearl', and that it had used the sign to start the conversation on how the industry could better.

'That sign is saying, "come in and objectify our staff. We dont need to worry about if they have brains, were just going to judge them by how they look".'
Scott Morrison has said vaccine mandates to enter pubs and cafes should not be in place after states reach the 80 per cent vaccination threshold.

While NSW will drop vaccine passports on December 15, Queensland will introduce them to enter hospitality venues on December 17 and Victoria has vowed to keep jab requirements in place well into next year.

Mr Morrison, who is under pressure from pro-choice politicians in his party, on Thursday said the only mandates he supports are for health workers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Reid MP Fiona Martin visit the Tooheys brewery in Sydney on Thursday

In a dig at Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, he said unvaccinated people 'should be able to go to a get a cup of coffee in Brisbane'.

'Now it's time for governments to step back and for Australians to take their life back,' he said during a visit to the Tooheys brewery in Sydney on Thursday.

'We aren't in favour of mandatory vaccines imposed by the Government. Businesses can make their own choices on the law but we aren't about telling them or Australians what to do.

'Vaccines are only mandatory in cases where you have health workers working with vulnerable people.

'That's what our medical advice has always been and, as we get above 80 per cent in particular... they should be able to go to a get a cup of coffee in Brisbane regardless of whether you've had a vaccine or not.'

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles hit back at at the prime minister, accusing him of backing 'dangerous fringe elements' such as the anti-government protesters in Melbourne.

Mr Miles said Mr Morrison was undermining the state's pandemic response for his own 'cynical political interests'.

'He is so desperate to claw together a coalition of anti-vaxxers for his own political benefit that he is undermining confidence in our vaccine,' the deputy premier told parliament.

The planned venue mandate has boosted vaccine uptake, Mr Miles said, and was a deserved reward for those who had done the right thing and got the jab.

'They do not deserve to be undermined by a prime minister more interested in currying favour with coffee baron donors and lunatic backbenchers than the health and the jobs of Queenslanders,' Mr Miles said.

It comes after two Liberal senators and Pauline Hanson's One Nation vowed to withhold support from the Government unless Mr Morrison takes action to stop vaccine mandates.

While NSW will drop vaccine passports on December 15, Queensland will introduce them to enter hospitality venues on December 17

If Queenslander Gerard Rennick, South Australian Alex Antic and One Nation stick to their guns then Mr Morrison will be unable to pass any contested laws next week.

Senator Hanson, who is unvaccinated, has introduced a bill to over-ride the states and ban vaccine mandates.

In NSW 91.4 per cent of over 16s are fully jabbed, in Victoria 88.2 per cent and in Queensland 71.6 per cent.

Last week Mr Morrison railed against Covid vaccine mandates, saying anti-vaxxers should not be demonised for 'making their own choices'.

The Prime Minister made the comments in a TV interview after former NSW premier Bob Carr called for anti-vaxxers to be stripped of their Medicare reimbursements if they need Covid treatment.

'We don't have a mandatory vaccine policy as a Federal Government. It's not something we've done, we respect people's choices,' Mr Morrison told Seven's Sunrise.

Unvaccinated people are roughly 20 times more likely to spread Covid than vaccinated people, according to University of Melbourne professors Christopher Baker and Andrew Robinson.

'We live in a country where we are not going to go around demonising those who want to make their own choices. It think that's very important. That's not how my Government sees it,' Mr Morrison said last week.

'Of course we want people to get vaccinated but we are not going to take that heavy-handed approach which the Labor party always seems to like doing, whether it's Bob Carr or many of the others who have come down with those types of views.

'It's not our approach'.

The comments contrast with Mr Morrison's rhetoric last year when he said in a 3AW interview in August 2020: 'I would expect it [the Covid jab] to be as mandatory as you can possibly make it.

'There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds but that should be the only basis,' he said.

Protesters participate in a 'Reclaim The Line' rally against vaccination mandates along the Parramatta River in Sydney on Sunday

The next day the Prime Minister rolled back, telling 2GB: 'Can I be really clear to everyone? It's not going to be compulsory to have the vaccine, OK?'

'We can't hold someone down and make them take it.'

In a 3AW interview last month Mr Morrison said businesses can chose to ban anti-vaxxers.

'Businesses have that right to say who can come into their premises. That's what the law says. And that doesn't fall foul of discrimination laws,' he said.

Mr Morrison has implemented polices to encourage vaccination throughout his career.

In 2016 as social services minister he masterminded the 'no jab no play' policy which stopped anti-vaxxers accessing taxpayer funded Child Care Benefits, the Child Care Rebate and the Family Tax Benefit.

Mr Carr, a former Labor foreign minister under Julia Gillard and NSW premier from 1995 to 2005, said Australia should follow Singapore which announced it will stop paying coronavirus medical bills of those who are unvaccinated by choice from next month.
The man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in a federal minister's office is set to stand trial from June.

A tentative trial date was on Thursday set for Bruce Lehrmann, charged with sexual intercourse without consent at Parliament House in March 2019.

The 26-year-old's lawyer and prosecutors agreed in the ACT Supreme Court to a tentative start date of June 6.

The man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins (pictured) in a federal minister's office at Parliament House in March 2019 is set to stand trial from June

The trial is expected to run for three or four weeks and the prosecution case for about two weeks.

Lehrmann did not show his face or speak in court.

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured), charged with sexual intercourse without consent, had his tentative trial date set on Thursday with a scheduled start date for June 6, 2022

Instead, his lawyer Warwick Korn said Lehrmann was available via phone link.

The ACT Magistrates Court was in September told Lehrmann was in Queensland.

The case is due to return to court on December 16 and then February 28 for procedural hearings.

A criminal case conference has been set down for February 7.
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Channel migrants who reach Britain could be fast-tracked to an off-shore processing centre in Albania, it was reported last night.

Ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in the eastern European country, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France.

Anyone seeking asylum in Britain after arriving by illegal routes, such as in dinghies and small boats, would be flown out to the new centre within seven days, the Times said.

However, the project would cost the British taxpayer 100,000 per migrant for flights and accommodation.

'Off shore processing is our best hope now, as nothing else is working,' an unnamed minister told the newspaper.

Earlier reports of plans for offshore processing centres including using disused oil rigs in the North Sea - which were mooted last year - ultimately proved fruitless.

But the likelihood of sealing a deal with Tirana were now 'looking good', a UK government source said, despite Albanian foreign minister Olta Xhacka rubbishing the idea just last month.

The latest development in the migrant crisis comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed earlier this week to stop '100 per cent' of Channel crossings from France.

But her claim that she had agreed the plan with French counterpart Gerald Darmanin was then contradicted by Paris yesterday.

On Tuesday, around 80 migrants were pictured climbing into inflatable dinghies in northern France before they were pushed into the sea and began their journey to Britain.

A total of 1,185 people crossed the channel last Thursday, eclipsing the previous daily high of 853. Overall this year, there have been more than 20,000 crossings.

Channel migrants who reach Britain could be fast-tracked to an off-shore processing centre in Albania, it was reported last night. Above: Migrants arriving in Kent earlier this week

Ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in the eastern European country, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France

In response to news about the plan to open an asylum centre in Albania, a Home Office spokesman said: 'Migrants making these dangerous crossings are putting their lives at risk and it is vital we do everything we can to prevent them and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people.

What happens to migrants after they have arrived in the UK? Migrants who have been picked up after landing or intercepted at sea are taken to a Border Force processing centre, such as Tug Haven near Dover. Here arrivals are triaged to identify any medical needs or vulnerabilities, fed and checked to see if they have a criminal record. Adults have an initial interview before being sent to accommodation centres across Britain, paid for by UK taxpayers and provided by private contractors. The migrants are given 37.75 per week for essentials like food, clothes and toiletries while they wait for a decision on their asylum application. If the claim is rejected they face deportation back to their home country. Kent County Council normally takes unaccompanied children into its care, although other local authorities are also involved in this programme. Advertisement

'People should claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in, and as part of our response it is important we have a maritime deterrent in the channel and work with international partners to put an end to these dangerous journeys.'

When the plans were first reported by The Sun last month, the Albanian prime minister's official spokesman branded the reports as 'absolutely untrue'.

The news comes after it was suggested in March that asylum seekers who cross the Channel illegally to reach Britain could be sent to a third country such as Turkey.

Other options on the table were islands off the coast of Scotland, the Isle of Man, or Gibraltar.

At the time, charities branded the proposals 'inhumane', while an immigration expert said that whilst there was no law prohibiting such a move, there was 'bound to be a court case about it'.

On Wednesday, new research from the British Refugee Council revealed that nearly two thirds of migrants who cross the Channel to reach the UK are originally from the Middle East.

More than 61 per cent of those who make the dangerous journey across the 21 mile straight Calais to Dover are nationals from countries such as Iran and Iraq.

The highest number of migrants arriving in small boats are from Iran, with 3,187 Iranian nationals reaching UK shores from January last year to May this year.

This accounts for 26 per cent of all arrivals in small boats over this period.

Figures also show 2,185 people from Iraq crossed the Channel over the same period.

The figure makes up around 17 per cent of the 12,195 migrants who arrived in the UK in small boats in 2020 and at the start of this year.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard the Dungeness Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel

Other Middle Eastern nationalities in the top 10 countries of people who arrived in small boats include war-torn nations such as Syria and Yemen, along with oil rich Kuwait.

From non-Middle Eastern countries, the largest number of arrivals came from Sudan, in north-east Africa. Around eight per cent of small boat arrivals were from Vietnam, while around six per cent of people arrived from Eritrea and one per cent from Ethiopia.

All of the nations in the top 10, which make up 91 per cent of arrivals on UK shores, are countries were human rights abuses and persecution are common, according to the British Refugee Council.

The top ten nationalities of migrants arriving on small boats to the UK According to figures obtained by the British Refugee council, migrants arriving in the UK in small boats between January 2020 and May 2021 were from: Iran: 26 per cent Iraq 17 per cent Sudan 11 per cent Syria: 10 per cent Vietnam 8 per cent Eritrea: 6 per cent Afghanistan 5 per cent Kuwait 5 per cent Yemen 2 per cent Ethiopia 1 per cent Other: 9 per cent Advertisement

The research came after MailOnline journalists witnessed the moment that two 50ft long inflatable dinghies loaded with up to 40 migrants each leave northern France on Tuesday morning.

At dawn. dog walkers and a jogger watched in amazement as the two separate groups, who had been hiding overnight in the sand dunes, ran to the water's edge with their giant boats.

Smuggler minders waded in to the sea as the migrants climbed aboard for the dangerous trip to Britain but they did not make the journey with them.

Despite the ongoing crossings and the lack of progress in stopping them, Ms Patel had claimed she had agreed with French interior minister Gerald Darmanin agreed to work to prevent '100 per cent of crossings' of the Channel.

The Home Office issued a joint statement from the pair which said they had agreed measures to 'stop the dangerous crossings' of the 'deadly route'.

But the French embassy in London said the 100% figure 'should not be presented as an agreed figure'.

Ms Patel and Mr Darmanin held talks on Monday night with the UK and France involved in a long-running row over how to address the problem of migrants seeking to cross the Channel.

The 'joint statement' issued afterwards said: 'Both the Home Secretary and interior minister agreed to strengthen operational cooperation further.

'More must be done to stop the dangerous crossings.

'They agreed to accelerate the delivery of the commitments made in the joint agreement of July 2021 to deliver on their joint determination to prevent 100% of crossings and make this deadly route unviable.'

But the French embassy said on Twitter: 'For the record, the 100% figure was not agreed between the Home Secretary and French interior minister @GDarmanin and should not be presented as an agreed commitment: it is not.

'And it is not part of the joint statement.'

However, in a press conference on October 9, Mr Darmanin said that with the correct resources and the support of the British authorities, 100 per cent should be able to be reached.
Victoria will finally lift its brutal Covid-19 restrictions from midnight on Thursday with dancefloors back on, house parties allowed and no caps on pubgoers.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the changes would align with the state reaching 90 per cent double vaccination coverage, which is expected to be hit over the weekend.

There will no longer be limits on visitors at homes or on customers in hospitality venues.

Mask rules have been lifted in some settings but will still be mandatory at health services, aged care, retail, on public transport and for primary school staff, visitors and students in years three to six.

Masks are set to be scrapped in retail settings on December 15.

Victoria will finally lift its brutal Covid-19 restrictions from midnight on Thursday with dancefloors back on, house parties allowed and no caps on pubgoers, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced

CHANGES IN VICTORIA FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT No density limits in hospitality venues No limits on visitors at a home Weddings and funerals can go ahead without patron limits as long as guests are vaccinated Dancefloors will be allowed Masks will still be mandatory for primary school staff and visitors and for students in Years 3 to 6, for workers at hospitality venues, for workers and customers at indoor retail, for visitors and select workers in hospitals or care facilities, and for people using public transport Covid-positive Victorians will only have to isolate for ten days instead of 14 Household contacts can isolate for seven days if vaccinated Close contacts of a case required to receive a test and only isolate until negative Advertisement

But the new freedoms only apply to the double jabbed, with the unvaccinated banned from most venues including non-essential shopping, pubs and restaurants, beauty services and sport and recreation facilities.

'If you're fully vaccinated, your life will return back to normal,' Mr Andrews said at a press conference on Thursday.

'This is the Covid-normal that every Victorian has built.'

Weddings and funerals can go ahead with no capacity limits as long as everyone is double jabbed.

These events will be restricted to 50 guests if patrons are not vaccinated.

Nightclubs will also welcome back revellers to the dancefloor while the Boxing Day Test match and the Australian Open are set to go ahead with full capacity.

'Whether it is 100,000 people at the MCG on Boxing Day, or a smaller group of people standing up at the local pub having a beer - this is a COVID normal that every Victorian has wanted,' Mr Andrews said.

'You will have the normalcy you have missed.

'This is a safe delivery of the national plan, I am not only proud of Victorians but also deeply grateful.'

Events of up to 30,000 people both indoors and outdoors won't need special approval and outdoor gatherings of more than 30,000 will need to show a Covidsafe plan.

Major changes have also been made to isolation rules for positive cases.

Those infected with Covid-19 will only need to isolate for 10 days instead of 14.

Household contacts will only have to isolate for seven days if they're vaccinated and two weeks if unvaccinated.

Dancefloors will be back open at nightclubs for the unvaccinated only

Masks will still be mandatory in some retail setting for the next few weeks

Close contacts will also no longer have to self-quarantine.

Instead they will be required to get a PCR test and isolate until a negative result.

It comes after the state recorded 1,007 new Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths.

The health department confirmed on Thursday the state is now managing 13,814 active coronavirus infections.

It brings an end to Victoria's four day streak of cases under 1,000, after the state recorded 996 infections on Wednesday.

Victorians can have an unlimited number of guests over to their house and return to the dancefloor from midnight on Thursday
A concrete slab laid in the garage of William Tyrrell's foster grandmother's house was scanned by police as they continued the search for the missing boy's remains.

On Thursday specialists from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) brought in a ground penetrating scanner (GPR) to examine the underside of the slab.

The AFP's Forensic Imagery & Geometrics team looked for any abnormalities under the slab which bounce an image off the machine's radar.

It's understood the slab was laid in the house in Kendall, on the NSW mid north coast, several years after William's disappearance in 2014.

On Thursday afternoon police said scanning of the slab yielded no traces of the missing toddler.

Ground penetrating radar scans of the slab's surface in the garage revealed only 'clean data'.

'That means there were no abnormalities or anomalies benetah the surface,' a NSW Police spokesman said.

Police are using a ground penetrating scanner to examine a concrete slab laid in William Tyrrell's foster grandmother's home in Kendall, NSW, after the boy disappeared

The AFP's Forensic Imagery & Geometrics team is looking for any abnormalities under the slab which bounce an image off the machine's radar

It's understood the slab was laid in the house in Kendall, on the NSW mid north coast, several years after William's disappearance in 2014

William was last seen on the balcony of the foster grandmother's home in September 2014, with police investigating the theory he may have fallen to his death.

The garage is directly below the 5m verandah from which William possibly fell.

William's foster grandmother passed away earlier this year aged 88.

The search for the remains of missing three-year-old William Tyrrell is entering its fourth day, with NSW Police promising to 'leave no stone unturned'.

NSW Police revealed on Wednesday they'd seized a car that belonged to the foster grandmother, who has since died.

The grey Mazda was taken from a home in Gymea in Sydney's south under a coronial order last week and is undergoing extensive forensic examination.

Also on Wednesday, William's foster parents were charged with the unrelated assault of a different child and will face Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday.

A mechanical digger was used to remove the topsoil, and officers were using ground-penetrating radar and 3D cameras to analyse the ground in bushland near to the former Kendall house of William Tyrrell's foster grandmother

A policeman conducts a cadaver dog through bushland near the property in Kendall where William Tyrrell went missing

Some 30 to 40 people are involved in the ongoing search, including officers from NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police, as well as Rural Fire Service volunteers

Meanwhile, the former homicide detective who was initially in charge of the case on Thursday defended his handling of the investigation.

Retired homicide detective Gary Jubelin was removed from the case after four years.

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller this week said the new investigation team had "inherited what was a bit of a mess".

Mr Jubelin took issue with this, saying he provided monthly progress reports to his superior officers detailing everything - 'what suspects I was targeting, what the future directions were'.

Retired homicide detective Gary Jubelin on Thursday defended his handling of the investigation

Mr Jubelin admitted he had formed a friendship with William's foster parents and believed the foster mother to be 'a very decent human being'.

He said he went hard when investigating the couple.

'I basically ambushed the (foster) parents and then I interrogated the (foster) parents,' he told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.

Mr Jubelin eliminated them as suspects after a covert operation that included placing a listening device in their car.

'At the time I was taken off the investigation ... I was certainly of the belief that they were not involved,' he said.

He investigated all theories, including that William had died in an accident, but he said any theory had to be backed up with facts.

The current investigation is considering whether William might have died after falling from the balcony of the foster grandmother's house.

Mr Jubelin said the timing of the release of the information about the foster parents during a high-profile search of the Kendall home was "a big coincidence".

'We've all got to be a little bit careful,' he said.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon has vowed to "leave no stone unturned" and praised the 'dogged determination' of investigators as they continue the search of the Kendall property, which could take weeks.

Some 30 to 40 people are helping with the search, including officers from NSW Police and the Australian Federal Police, as well as Rural Fire Service volunteers.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon praised the 'dogged determination' of investigators as they continue the search of the Kendall property, which could take weeks

Police on Wednesday turned their attention to an area of bushland about a kilometre from the house where William was last seen.

A mechanical digger was used to remove the topsoil, and officers were using ground-penetrating radar and 3D cameras to analyse the ground.

Expert hydrologist Jon Olley and archaeologist Tony Lowe are also on site.

The garden bed of the home underneath the balcony and a nearby section of bushland were dug up and cut back as police search for any evidence of the child or the clothes he was wearing on the day he went missing in September 2014.

On Wednesday police discovered two pieces of degraded material at a dig site near Batar Creek Road about 700m from the foster grandmother's home, with officers comparing them to a red-and-blue Spider-Man suit.

Just after 2pm on Wednesday uniformed officers and forensic experts gathered excitedly around a spot in the cleared earth at the site.

NSW Police Detective Mark Duke pulled a sample of Spider-Man suit cloth from his pocket along with images of the missing three-year-old in the suit he was last seen in.

Mr Duke then compared with it with an object unearthed from the ground. The item caused police to don gloves, place the item in an evidence bag and take it to a parked forensic van.

However after some initial excitement, a police spokeswoman swiftly intervened to rule the item was unrelated and not of relevance to the case.

About 3.15pm, police made a second possible find which Det. Duke compared with a Spider-Man suit image on his phone.

Police on Wednesday turned their attention to an area of bushland about a kilometre from the house where William was last seen

Police place rolls of black plastic over a patch of cleared bushland close to the property the subject of this week's high intensity search

He took photos on his phone of the item, which was also possibly fabric and placed an evidence marker beside it.

Uniformed police appeared to pour a liquid over the item before placing it in a brown paper bag.

That area and the location of the first find of a degraded piece of patterned fabric has now been pegged with blue plastic flag markers.

A cadaver dog was taken over the area and the whole scene covered with large rolls of black plastic.

Earlier on Wednesday, Daily Mail Australia revealed the search at Batar Creek Road has been linked to the recent seizure of William's foster grandmother's car

Earlier on Wednesday, Daily Mail Australia revealed the search at Batar Creek Road has been linked to the recent seizure of William's foster grandmother's car.

It is understood the car travelled near the site on the day of William's disappearance with police investigating if an object was thrown out the window.

Daily Mail Australia understands police believe William's foster mother drove the vehicle the morning William disappeared.

William's foster mother has become a person of interest in the case. However, the case has had hundreds of persons of interest.

Being a person of interest does not necessarily suggest William's mother is a suspect and she has vehemently denied any involvement in his disappearance.

Separate to the current investigation, police yesterday charged a 56-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man with common assault.

The pair are understood to be William Tyrrell's foster parents.

NSW Police allege they assaulted a different child at a home on Sydney's upper north shore.

Homicide squad detectives received information about the alleged, unrelated assault as part of the task force's ongoing investigations.

The pair are due to face Hornsby Local Court on Tuesday.
Criminals who steal a dog could be jailed for five years under plans to make it a specific offence.

Ministers are planning to add dognapping to the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, which had its second reading in Parliament last month, following a recommendation from the pet theft task force.

The group was set up in May after more than 2,000 thefts were reported to the police last year.

Dognappers and other pet thieves could be jailed for up to five years under plans to create a new criminal offence (stock image)

Paula Boyden, of the charity Dogs Trust, said: Having your beloved pet stolen is an extremely stressful, often heart-breaking experience.

For years, Dogs Trust has called for harsher penalties to deter those who profit from this despicable crime. We very much hope that the increased sentencing will make pet thieves think twice.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said dog thefts made up seven out of ten crimes involving animals.

The new offence would take into account the emotional distress caused to the owner and the dog.

There will also be a provision in the Bill to include other pets in future if evidence supports that.

The UKs Chief Vet, Dr Christine Middlemiss, said it was an important step with dogs being treated as sentient beings rather than merely property.

'It would also reassure pet owners that these crimes are being taken seriously.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: The loss of a much-loved pet causes unique distress. I am pleased that we are legislating to recognise this specific crime.

The new dog abduction offence will reflect the impact on animals in penalties for criminals, and deliver justice for victims.

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said pet theft is devastating for owners, adding that he hopes the offence will act as a real deterrent to those who carry out this crime.

He added: While the current proposed law applies to dogs, we are really pleased to see the Government has also recognised how much other animals mean to people as well, and put in provision to extend it to other pets.

We hope this new law, which will see sentences up to five years, will help crack down on the heart-breaking issue of pet theft.
Two Aboriginal teenagers who drowned trying to swim across a river while fleeing cops died from their own poor choices, a coroner has ruled.

Jack Simpson, 17, and Chris Drage, 16, 'made the dangerous decision to swim across the Swan River' in Perth on September 10, 2018, the inquest found.

The inquest, which sought to determine whether the actions of Western Australian Police caused or contributed to their deaths, began in March.

The boys were among a group pursued by two police officers over suspected burglaries.

One of the officers was just 19 and on probation after she graduated as a cadet the same year.

The coroner has found police were not at fault over the tragic drownings of two Aboriginal teens who died as they tried to The Swan River while fleeing cops. Family and friends are pictured gathered by the river during a tribute to the two boys

Jack Simpson (left) drowned in the Western Australian river after jumping in the water to allegedly avoid police

In the final report, WA coroner Philip Urquhart made 'no criticism' of the officers, though he did make three recommendations including police cultural awareness training.

'I make no criticism of their actions from when they commenced the foot pursuit through to their actions at the riverbank. Their actions were appropriate at all times,' he said.

'Regrettably, the [boys'] initial decision was then implemented with a catastrophic outcome.'

The river conditions the day the teens fled into the water were rough and the temperature a cold 11C.

The officers were responding to reports of a group of youths jumping fences in local backyards.

Both boys drowned in the Swan River in Western Australia and died in 11C water, with police unable to rescue them in time

The drowning deaths of Jack Simpson, 17, and Chris Drage, 16, in 2018 created a huge communal outpouring of grief but also raised questions about the behaviour of officers who pursued them

They saw the group running across Clarkson Road towards the Maylands Bowling Club, adjacent to the Swan River.

One boy made it across the river and another turned back to shore but the other two, referred to as Master Drage and Master Simpson at the request of their families, struggled in the difficult conditions.

Police managed to pull the others from the water, but Jack and Chris were too far from the river bank and never resurfaced.

A WA police boat is seen on the Swan River in September 2018 during the search for the boys' bodies

'I want to extend my condolences, and the condolences of all police, to the families of the two deceased boys and their friends and this very trying time,' Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson (pictured)

The recommendations included that WA police undergo 'immersive face-to-face cultural awareness training' to improve their relationship with indigenous people.

The coroner also suggested WA police introduce a policy to partner probationary officers with more experienced ones.

The other recommendation was that any officer newly posted to the area receive training so they could identify significant physical, demographic, cultural, and socioeconomic local features.

'I want to extend my condolences, and the condolences of all police, to the families of the two deceased boys and their friends and this very trying time,' Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said at the time.

'This is nothing short of a tragedy that has taken these young boys lives.'

Chris's father, Christopher Drage and his stepmother on Wednesday wrapped an Aboriginal flag around a tree near the river bank in memorial.

'He was a good boy, just made a fatal decision to jump in the river to get away from the police,' Mr Drage said, as he confessed to feeling 'numb'.

'Obviously they were scared, they were only young boys.'

Indigenous people gathered next to the Swan River to farewell the two teens who drowned there in 2018

Christopher Drage (left) said his son made a 'silly mistake' that cost him his life

Mr Drage hit out at hundreds of social media trolls who said the boys deserved their fate as they fled police after jumping fences and running through backyards earlier.

'I ask people not to be judgemental. I think we all made silly mistakes as kids and it's just tragic that they lost their lives,' he said.

'A lot of people want to blame other people or whatever, upbringing or the police.

'But I suppose these young boys, that's their way of having fun and unfortunately it costed them their lives.'

Chris' mother, Winnie Hayward, spoke at length about her son's struggles with bullying, marijuana use, and the impact of having no father figure in his life.

She said his father was in prison even when she brought Chris home for the first time as a newborn.

Many indigenous people from around the state wept and commemorated the two boys, including the Yamatji people from the Mid West region, where most of Jack's family lives.
Jacinda Ardern has given a very fitting response to a comedian's X-rated question about New Zealand's Covid rules.

Comedian Chris Parker fired up his Instagram this week to demand the country's leaders notify Kiwis about when they can resume having casual sex.

While a vaccine ad airing across the nation has suggested 'two shots' of Pfizer are needed 'to do the deed', politicians are yet to address the matter directly.

With Kiwis confused over intimacy guidelines, Parker shared a satirical video calling on journalists to ask Ms Ardern and Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield when people can 'go out and f*** a stranger'.

'I just have one question prime minister,' he says in the clip, as he pretends to be a reporter at a press conference.

Comedian Chris Parker (pictured) received a response from New Zealand Prime Minister after sharing a hilarious video asking about the country's Covid policy on casual sex

'I feel like there was just one question that was not addressed at all - and is kind of the big elephant in the room.

'When are we able to go out and have sex with strangers? Because I feel like that is something we all want to know: "When can we all go out and just f*** someone we don't know?"

The viral clip gained the attention of thousands of social media users - including the prime minister herself.

In response to Parker's barrage of queries - which also included clarity on the government's policy on 'orgies'- the nation's leader appropriately commented by posting a shocked face emoji.

The prime minister's weigh in left thousands bemused, with her response alone racking up 2687 likes.

'Best PM ever,' one person declared.

'Oh this is gold!' another added.

Parker asked the nation's leader to clarify on what Covid measures need to be in place before Kiwis can resume having one night stands

The prime minister responded by posting a shocked blushed-face emoji on Parker's post

However, some were still left scratching their heads over the country's stance on one night stands, with Ardern failing to provide clarity about Parker's questions.

'Ok but what are the rules?' someone else wrote, tagging Ms Ardern.

'Is it a 'as long as your Bluetooth is on you're good' kind of scenario?' another wrote.

'Come on.tell us!' a third said.

It is not the first time Ms Ardern has been quizzed on racy subjects.

In September, the prime minister was asked about a brazen sexual escapade in an Auckland hospital, where a patient allegedly had sex with a visitor.

The journalist asked whether the rendezvous was considered a 'high-risk activity, in the current climate', prompting Ms Ardern's facial expressions to flash from disturbed, to intrigued, to amused.

'I would say, generally, regardless of the Covid status, that kind of thing shouldnt generally be part of visiting hours, I would have thought,' she quipped.
Former President Trump backed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's idea of melting down voting machines from last year's election to make bars for prison windows during a Tuesday night interview.

Lindell has been one of the most vocal proponents of conspiracy theories around Trump's 2020 defeat.

And the pair spent 35 minutes discussing the election in an interview posted to Lindell's media channel.

Lindell said to Trump, who was dressed in a tuxedo as if on his way to dinner at Mar-a-Lago where the interview was conducted, that anyone who had moved on from the 2020 election was 'saying that youre OK' with the results.

'I have said were going to melt down machines and use them into prison bars,' said Lindell.

Trump replied: 'That's very interesting. That's a very good idea.'

'I have said were going to melt down machines and use them into prison bars,' said Mike Lindell to former President Trump's approval during a 35-minute interview at Mar-a-Lago

Lindell has emerged as one of Trump's most loyal public advocates

Lindell is being sued for $1.3 billion by Dominion Voting Systems over his repeated claims that its voting machines were somehow to blame for election fraud

Lindell has previously suggested the machines be used to make bars or prison trays.

He is being sued for $1.3 billion by Dominion Voting Systems over his repeated claims that its voting machines were somehow to blame for election fraud.

The 60-year-old businessman is one of several Trump allies being sued, including Rudy Giuliani.

Lindell has pushed other theories, including that the result would be overturned and the former president would be reinstated in August.

Both men have so far failed to accept that Joe Biden and the Democrats won last years vote fairly.

'I want to say, back to the election in 2020, I want to thank you, and everyone does, for standing firm on that,' said Lindell.

'You've given strength to millions of people.'

He said he was planning a 96-hour livestream over Thanksgiving to help 'save our country.'

The video features a promo code for viewers to save up to 66 percent on MyPillow products.

Trump used the occasion to revisit his familiar complaints.

'Well, all you have to do is take a look at some of the reports that have come out since all of that,' he said. 'These elections were incredibly dishonest.'

His words will resonate with a big chunk of Republican voters.

Almost one in three still believe that former President Donald Trump will be reinstated before the end of the year, according to a poll published this week.

An Economist/YouGov poll found almost a third of Republicans believe Donald Trump will be reinstated as president before the year is out. That is an increase on the 22 percent last month

The Economist/YouGov poll was conducted between November 6 and 9 and surveyed 1,500 Americans and found that 28 percent of respondents thought it likely or very likely that Trump would return to power before the year was out.

That is an increase from 22 percent the month before.

It suggests that far from fizzling out, the 'big lie' that Trump was unfairly robbed of election victory and will be returned to the White House is gaining strength.

Some 13 percent of Republican respondents said it was 'very like' Trump will be reinstated with 15 percent saying it was 'somewhat likely.'

Overall, just 16 percent of respondents said they thought he would return by the end of 2021.

Trump himself reportedly told close allies during the summer that he would be restored to power this year as he fought a string of ill-fated legal battles to overturn the result.
Princess Beatrice is facing calls to quit a scandal-hit tech firm after its multi-millionaire founder was sensationally accused of sexual harassment and assault during a US congressional hearing.

The royal is employed in New York as vice-president of strategy and partnerships at Afiniti, which is fighting that allegations that Zia Chishti harassed, threatened and sexually assaulted a female staff member.

Beatrice represented the company at the meeting of world leaders at Davos in 2019. She is not currently working at the firm while on maternity leave, and joined in early 2017 before some of the alleged assaults.

Harriet Wistrich, the founder of the centre for Women's Justice, said Mr Chishti 'should consider his position' and that other executives such as Beatrice should do the same following the allegations.

It comes as former prime minister David Cameron resigned as chairman of the advisory board to the company.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron said he had 'absolutely no knowledge' of the claims until the public testimony and stressed they allegedly took place before he began chairing the board in 2019.

Ex-employee Tatiana Spottiswoode, 28, has alleged that Mr Chishti, 50, groomed her when she was 21 and then assaulted her after she was hired in 2016.

He then allegedly told her that 'he should have had sex with me when I was thirteen years old', according to testimony she gave to a US Congressional committee.

Princess Beatrice is facing calls to quit scandal-hit Afiniti software company after its multi-millionaire founder and chief executive was sensationally accused of sexual harassment and assault

Former employee Tatiana Spottiswoode, pictured, has alleged that Zia Chishti, 50, groomed her when she was 21 and then assaulted her after she was hired in 2016

Mr Chishti allegedly harassed, threatened and sexually assaulted a female staff member

Ms Spottiswoode provided photos showing bruises Mr Chishti had left on her neck

Ms Spottiswoode said she met Mr Chishti - who was listed among the top 50 bachelors in America by People Magazine in 2001 - when she was 12 or 13, and met him again when she was a student at Columbia Law School.

She told the committee: 'When I was in my senior year of college, in December 2014, Chishti, who was 43 at the time, invited me on a ski trip. I was 21.

'I initially declined, but he insisted he wanted me to meet his nephew, who also studied philosophy. So I agreed. I later learned that the nephew, who never showed up, didn't exist.'

'The trip was designed to groom me. Chishti told me he had feelings and showed me an extravagant lifestyle.'

Ms Spottiswoode said she rejected him, but eventually dated him about five times over ten weeks before eventually breaking off the relationship.

Mr Cameron, 55, joined Afiniti as the chairman of its advisory board in 2019, two years after the incident is alleged to have taken place

She continued: 'Months later, Chishti encouraged me to join his company. He presented a rosy picture of a great career opportunity. I believed him. Chishti told me he did not expect a sexual relationship.'

When Ms Spottiswoode joined his company in 2016, she said she signed a contract that included an arbitration agreement with a 'strong confidentiality clause'.

She went on to describe a toxic work environment, saying he 'ocellated between pressurising me for sex and punishing me'.

'During a work meeting in Dubai, he put his hands under my pants and grabbed my but in front of co-workers,' she said.

Ms Spottiswoode went on to describe another work trip to Brazil.

'I avoided him as much as I could, but was under increasing pressure from him. I began to worry that, in addition to wanting sex, Chishti wanted to hurt me and punish me for rejecting him,' she said.

'I felt completely trapped and hopeless. I was 23 and very far from home.

'I didn't want to lose my job, I didn't want him to get any angrier, I did not feel that anyone would protect me and I was too tired to argue with him anymore. I went to his room where he beat me while having sex with me.

'I told him he was hurting me, he said, ''Good''. He told me he should've had sex with me when we first met, when I was 13-years-old.

'I hid in my hotel room until my flight the next day. My body was covered with scratches, cuts, and contusions.

'I had bruises around my neck that looked like I had been strangled, a large bump on my head, and a black eye. A nurse at the hospital said I had the symptoms of a concussion.'

In a statement, Mr Cameron's spokesman said: 'Mr Cameron understands that the allegations are disputed, but disagrees with the approach being taken by the company in responding to the matter.

'He made this view clear to Mr Chishti yesterday.

'Mr Cameron has therefore resigned as chairman of the company's advisory board with immediate effect.

'He does so with regret, given the success and promise of this exciting company, and the commitment, dedication and loyalty of the many hard-working employees with whom he has enjoyed working.'

Mr Cameron's post-political career after leaving Downing Street in 2016 has been tarnished by the Greensill affair.

Multiple inquiries were launched after he was widely criticised for privately lobbying ministers in an attempt to secure access to an emergency coronavirus loan scheme for the firm, which collapsed in March.

Afiniti provides artificial intelligence software for managing call centres.

Mr Chishti also developed Invisalign, a brand of orthodontic braces. Earlier this year Mr Cameron escaped punishment despite privately lobbying ministers in efforts to secure access to an emergency coronavirus loan scheme for Greensill Capital before its collapse.

Afiniti said: 'We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

'Afiniti has investigated Ms Spottiswoode's claims with independent counsel and concluded that the arbitral decision she references was erroneous.

'Afiniti's CEO and chair Zia Chishti strongly disputes all accusations against him.'
Thousands of Year 12 students have been given the green light to let their hair down and party to celebrate the end of their school years.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed the state's popular Schoolies celebrations can go ahead in the coming days.

There were fears the official celebrations on the Gold Coast wouldn't go ahead for a second consecutive year after the region recorded two mystery Covid-19 cases last week.

Ms Palaszczuk confirmed the festivities will go ahead as planned after Queensland recorded no new cases in the last 24 hours.

Official Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast will go ahead for the first time since 2019 (pictured, revellers at the last end of school celebrations)

'Schoolies is good to go!' the Premier told parliament on Thursday.

'The chief health officer has advised he is confident that the two cases on the Gold Coast have been contained and there has been no further community spread.

'I want to thank the Gold Coast community for coming out and getting tested.'

Ms Palaszczuk also paid tribute to the state's 53,000 school leavers.

'I want to pay tribute to these inspirational young Queenslanders who have completed their final two years of schooling under the shadow of Covid,' she said.

'They have had many events cancelled, and have had to learn to adapt and simply get on with it. You don't get nearly enough credit, so I'm saying it now - congratulations you made it.'

The Queensland Premier confirmed the state's Schoolies celebrations can go ahead

Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast were cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic

A fully vaccinated Uber driver tested positive last week after being infectious in the Gold Coast community for three days as the region recorded an unlinked second case, a man, 32.

'At this stage we're not doing anything more in regards to restrictions on the Gold Coast. But we are worried because Schoolies is coming up,' acting chief health officer Dr Peter Aitken said at the time.

'If we can get through the next week, I'm quite confident Schoolies would be just fine.'

Ms Palaszczuk added: 'We don't want to cancel Schoolies... But it's going to depend on what happens over the next seven days.'

Queensland currently has 11 active cases across the state as the Sunshine state prepares to reopen its borders to NSW and Victoria next month.

More than 83.21 per cent of Queenslanders aged over-16 have rolled up their sleeves for at least one jab while 71.60 per cent are now fully vaccinated.

The first week of Schoolies on the Gold Coast begins on Saturday.

Schoolies festivities in Western Australia also get underway next week, where revellers are banned from taking bags to events.

The ban was introduced by Leavers WA, a joint venture between the state government and police to minimise harm to participants.
The UK has signed a deal to supply warships and missiles to Ukraine as 90,000 Russian troops mass on the country's border amid rising tensions in the region.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace signed a treaty with Ukraine last week, under which the country's government can access financing for contracts with UK suppliers to help beef up its naval capabilities.

It is expected to help deliver two mine counter-measures vessels (MCMV), the joint production of eight missile ships, the delivery of and retrofit of weapons systems to existing vessels, and the joint production of a frigate and consultancy and technical support for the building of naval infrastructure including the delivery of equipment.

In response, Moscow complained that the deal would boost Ukraine's navy, which it said showed British military activities were expanding near its borders.

Pictured: HMS Brocklesby arrives in Portsmouth on October 8, 2021. The UK has signed a deal to supply anti-mine warships (similar to the HMS Brocklesby) and missiles to Ukraine as Russian troops mass on the country's border and amid rising tensions with the Kremlin

It comes after Boris Johnson warned Vladimir Putin against making a 'tragic mistake' as tensions rise on the border between Russia and Ukraine.

The Prime Minister, appearing at the Commons Liaison Committee, was asked about the problems between Belarus and Poland and the situation in Ukraine.

Thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, have been amassing at the Belarus border with Poland for months.

Brussels has accused Belarus's authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, of deliberately encouraging the migrants to breach its borders in retaliation for sanctions the EU has imposed in response to his repressive rule.

But reports on Wednesday suggested that hundreds had been moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory.

Downing Street has also voiced concern about the build-up of Russian forces on Russia's border with Ukraine.

Pictured: A Russian soldier trains in a tank in woods, November 11, amid rising tensions between Russia and the West over its build-up of troops on its border with Ukraine

The Kremlin has dismissed claims that it is preparing to invade, after the Ukrainian defence ministry reported that around 90,000 Russian troops were in the area.

Mr Johnson said the two cases are 'very different' because Poland has a Nato security guarantee, meaning that any action against it could trigger a response from the entire alliance.

Ukraine does not have the same guarantee from Nato, 'so what we have got to do is make sure that everybody understands the cost of a miscalculation on the borders of both Ukraine and Poland would be enormous'.

'I think it would be a tragic, tragic mistake for the Kremlin to think there was anything to be gained,' Mr Johnson said.

A joint statement from Mr Wallace and Ukraine Defence Minister Oleksii Yuriyovych Reznikov said: 'Ukraine and the United Kingdom are strategic partners in security and defence.

'Last week, an Intergovernmental Framework Agreement was signed in London.

'This document continues progress on joint projects to develop the capabilities of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as agreed in June when the UK, Ukraine and industry signed a Memorandum of Implementation to collaborate to boost Ukraine's naval capabilities.'

Pictured: A tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires during military drills at a training ground near the border with Russian-annexed Crimea in Kherson region, Ukraine, November 17, 2021

It said: 'Our governments have no desire to be adversarial, or seek in any way to strategically encircle or undermine the Russian Federation. We are concerned by Russia's military build-up and activity around the borders of Ukraine.

'Ukraine's national sovereignty and territorial integrity is indisputable.

'The United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine and will continue its long-standing determination to support them.

'We are unwavering in that support and together we remain vigilant and united in the defence of our common values and freedoms.'

Russia has responded to such concerns by denying that it is threatening anyone, criticising 'alarmist' news reports and affirming its right to deploy its troops as it likes on its own territory.

On Wednesday, Russia complained about the deal that would boost Ukraine's navy, which it said showed British military activities were expanding near its borders.

Moscow voiced its objections to a framework agreement under which Ukraine will use British financing to enhance its naval capabilities, allowing it to buy missiles and build missile ships and a navy base on the Sea of Azov.

Russia complained about the deal that would boost Ukraine's navy, which it said showed British military activities were expanding near its borders. Pictured: Tanks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces drive during military drills at a training ground near the border with Russian-annexed Crimea in Kherson region, Ukraine on Wednesday

'We see this fact as the latest practical evidence of increasing British military activity in the states bordering Russia, in particular Ukraine,' Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a weekly briefing.

Her comments added to a pattern of statements in recent weeks in which Russia has voiced increasingly vehement opposition to Western military support of any kind for Ukraine, let alone the possibility of it joining NATO.

Ukraine and Russia have been foes since 2014, when Moscow seized Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and backed a rebellion in the east.

Major combat ended with a ceasefire agreed in the Belarus capital Minsk in 2015, but sporadic clashes still regularly kill civilians, Ukrainian soldiers and separatists.

Tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine grew worse recently amid reports of Russia's military build-up near the Ukrainian border.

Russia dismissed such allegations, saying it poses no threat and can move its troops over its territory as it deems necessary.

Despite it's denial, Russia also said on Wednesday it would deploy a new paratroop regiment on annexed Crimea by the beginning of December.

Russia's military said it would establish the new regiment on the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, completing a reshuffle of forces touted by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in March, the Interfax news agency reported.

Ukraine and NATO countries have expressed concern about Russian troop movements near Ukraine's borders, while Moscow in turn has accused Ukraine, the United States and their allies of destabilising behaviour, including in the Black Sea.

Ukraine's defence ministry said on Wednesday its armed forces had conducted drills near the borders of Crimea.
Like most library books, it was supposed to be returned after 14 days.

Instead, it stayed with its borrowers family for 73 years, racking up almost 3,000 in fines.

Now after an amnesty on late return fees, what is believed to be Britains most overdue book has finally been sent back.

The American adventure novel Stately Timber by Rupert Hughes was due to be returned to the Central Library in Dunfermline, Fife, on November 6, 1948.

American adventure novel Stately Timber (pictured) by Rupert Hughes is returned to library after 73 years

Librarians were astonished when, more than seven decades later, it was sent by post from Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands by the original borrowers daughter.

She explained in a letter that her late father had lived in Thornton, Fife, in 1948 and had borrowed the book when he was 20 years old.

She said she did not know whether he had simply forgotten to return it or chose to keep it, adding: I find it fascinating to see the dates of when this book was taken out, during the latter years of World War Two, and that the war ended between stamps marked by librarians.

Life goes on around momentous historical events. Donna Dewar, of what is now Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries, said: I burst out laughing when I opened the parcel  I couldnt believe it.

We had a book returned to our Rosyth branch after 14 years recently, which we thought was amazing enough, but this was way beyond anything weve heard of.

For a bit of fun we worked out how much could have been due in fees and it comes to a whopping 2,847.

Librarians were astonished when, more than seven decades later, it was sent by post from Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands by the original borrowers daughter

A note on the inside cover of the novel says: This book may be retained for 14 days. The librarian is authorised to levy fines on readers who lose or damage books, or keep them beyond the time allowed.

Christine McLean, cultural heritage chief in Fife, said: Were thrilled to have received it... and we look forward to finding a special place to display the book  and the story of its journey  in our local studies section.

The Guinness world record for the most overdue library book is held by one that was returned to Sidney Sussex College at the University of Cambridge after being borrowed in 1668 and given back 288 years later.
Lauren Boebert branded Ilhan Omar the 'Jihad Squad member' and screamed that Eric Swalwell was 'sleeping with the enemy' on Wednesday as she took to the House floor to rail against Democrats for censoring Republican Rep Paul Gosar.

Omar has since hit back at Boebert who she claims 'defecates (and) defiles the House of Representatives' and accused her husband of being 'a pervert' in a tweet on Monday night.

The remark towards Boebert's husband Jayson seemingly refers to a January 2004 incident when 24-year-old Jayson Boebert exposed himself to two young women at a Colorado bowling alley.

Lauren Boebert, then 17, was there at the time and reportedly is no longer welcome at that bowling alley along with her future husband, who pleaded guilty to 'public indecency and lewd exposure' and was sentenced to four days in jail followed by two years on probation.

Boebert, the Republican Colorado representative, spoke as the House deliberated over a censure vote on Gosar, who posted a video with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (AOC) face edited onto an amine clip, which showed her getting killed.

'This is a dumb waste of the Houses time but since the Speaker has designated the floor to discuss members inappropriate actions, shall we?' she said as the House deliberated over a censure vote.

Republican Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert (pictured) railed against Democratic Congress members while taking the floor in front of the House of Representatives as they deliberated over a censure vote following Republican Rep Paul Gosar's controversial tweet

Boebert then referred to Minnesota Rep Ilhan Omar (pictured) as a 'Jihad Squad member (who) has paid her husband - and not her brother-husband - the other one, over a million dollars in campaign funds,' which points to a report from the 2019-2020 election cycle that showed Omar paid her husband's political consultancy firm more than $2.8million

In response to Boebert's jabs, Omar said that the Republican Rep 'defecates (and) defiles the House of Representatives' and accused her husband of being 'a pervert' in a tweet on Monday night

The remark Omar made towards Boebert's husband Jayson (pictured with Boebert) seemingly refers to a January 2004 incident when 24-year-old Jayson Boebert exposed himself to two young women at a Colorado bowling alley

Boebert claimed that Swalwell was 'sleeping with the enemy' after it was revealed he had an intimate relationship with Fang Fang, who has been accused of being a Chinese spy, while she laid into Omar who she claimed gave campaign funds to her husband.

'The Jihad Squad member from Minnesota has paid her husband - and not her brother-husband - the other one, over a million dollars in campaign funds,' she said.

'This member is allowed on the Foreign Affairs Committee while praising terrorists.'

While she didn't name the actual member, it was clear she was referencing Omar, one of the first two Muslim women in Congress, and a report from the 2019-2020 election cycle that showed Omar paid her husband's political consultancy firm more than $2.8million.

The report showed that most of the money went towards digital advertising services provided by her husband Tim Mynett's company E Street Group and cost between $50,000 and $400,000.

The Minnesota Rep also reportedly paid $12,000 to E Street Group every other month and sent two hefty checks - for $38,000 and $44,000 - for mail advertising and production, according to the Washington Examiner.

The rest of the so-called 'Squad,' which is made up of a group of House Democrats, includes AOC, Massachusetts' Ayanna Pressley, Michigan's Rashida Tlaib, New York's Jamaal Bowman and Missouri's Cori Bush, as reported by Yahoo! News.

'A Democrat chairwoman incited further violence in the streets outside of a courthouse,' Boebert continued, addressing California's Maxine Waters, who notoriously told protestors at former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin's trial to 'get more confrontational' if the jury didn't find him guilty of murdering George Floyd.

Liberal California Rep Eric Swalwell (left) was also slammed for his short stint running for the presidential nomination in 2020 and having an intimate relationship with Fang Fang (right), a woman accused of being a Chinese spy. Swalwell's position on the Intelligence Committee means he has access to classified information and has never commented on whether rumors of the relationship were true

There was a subsequent effort to censure Waters but it failed in the House.

She also called out liberal California Rep Swalwell for his short stint running for the presidential nomination in 2020 and having an intimate relationship with a woman accused of being a Chinese spy.

'And then the cherry on top - my colleague and three-month presidential candidate from California who is on the Intelligence Committee slept with Fang Fang, a Chinese spy.'

Swalwell's position on the Intelligence Committee means he has access to classified information and has never commented on whether rumors of the relationship were true.

'Let me say that again, a member of Congress who received classified briefings was sleeping with the enemy! This is unacceptable!' Boebert barked.

In the explicit video Gosar tweeted, which was edited as a spin on the popular Japanese anime show Attack On Titan, Boebert herself was seen battling a naked 'Titan.'

The original tweet has since been taken down but Boebert used her minute to speak during deliberations to support Gosar while slamming Omar and the Democratic policies, which she said are 'so pathetic and have done so poorly'.

Gosar's tweet from last Sunday (pictured) featured a 92-second video with liberal US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (AOC) face edited onto an amine clip and getting killed. It has since been taken down

Boebert defended Gosar (pictured) and said that 'the left has nothing else to do but troll the internet looking for ways to get offended and then try to target members and strip them of their committees'

'A Democrat chairwoman incited further violence in the streets outside of a courthouse,' Boebert continued, addressing California's Maxine Waters (pictured), who notoriously told protestors at former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin's trial to 'get more confrontational' if the jury didn't find him guilty of murdering George Floyd

'The left has nothing else to do but troll the internet looking for ways to get offended and then try to target members and strip them of their committees.

Attack On Titan follows a small post-apocalyptic society living in a closed-off city trying to keep giants - referred to as Titans - away. In Gosar's homemade version the Titans were left-winged lawmakers being killed by right-winged lawmakers.

Gosar's character executed AOC and later battled a character with President Joe Biden's face on it.

Although Boebert supported Gosar in front of the House, other politicians on social media weren't happy with the video, which Gosar tweeted from his personal and professional accounts captioned: 'The creativity of my team is off the hook.'

Congressman Ted Lieu called the tweet 'sick behavior'.

'In any workplace in America, if a coworker made an anime video killing another coworker, that person would be fired,' he added.

Meanwhile, AOC said she 'was en route to Glasgow (when) a creepy member I work with who fundraises for Neo-Nazi group shared a fantasy video of him killing me'.

But she claimed he'll 'face no consequences' cited GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, adding McCarthy will 'cheer him on with excuses' and won't 'protect woc (women of color)'.
Security services are monitoring online purchases to try to catch bomb-makers, it emerged last night.

Purchases of large quantities of suspicious materials will trigger an alert, a senior security source said. High street shops are also being monitored.

It was unclear last night how the Liverpool bomber evaded the measures because he is believed to have made chemical purchases both online and on the high street for seven months.

As Home Secretary Priti Patel visited Washington DC, a US government source said their counter-terror agencies were closely studying the hospital bombing.

It was unclear last night how the Liverpool bomber Emad Al-Swealmeen (above) evaded the measures because he is believed to have made chemical purchases both online and on the high street for seven months

As Home Secretary Priti Patel visited Washington DC, a US government source said their counter-terror agencies were closely studying the hospital bombing

We are most concerned about the motivation and the person being prompted into action, said the insider.

The investigation will determine the means and methods but I think the motivation and what prompted the attack are more important.

US officials are also examining Miss Patels Nationality and Borders Bill, which is supposed to streamline the UK asylum process.

Yesterday the head of counter-terrorism policing issued a warning over the Liverpool bombing and the murder of MP Sir David Amess.

Met assistant commissioner Matt Jukes told the public to be vigilant in the run-up to Christmas, adding: We have now seen two terror incidents take place on our streets in the last four weeks, and recent experience tells us that this can embolden other extremists.

'The terror threat level has been raised to severe, meaning an attack is highly likely.
Scott Morrison has sparked controversy after making a joke about an Irish girl working in a brewery.

The Prime Minister visited Tooheys brewery in Sydney on Thursday where he met several workers and took selfies with them.

He later addressed reporters and mentioned some of the workers, including technician Claire Hallissey from Ireland.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison poses for a selfie with brewery technician Claire Hallissey (pictured) during a visit to the Tooheys Brewery in Sydney

The stereotype that Irish people drink lots can be traced back decades. Pictured: Revellers celebrate St Patrick's Day in Sydney in March

'Of course there's going to be an Irish girl here in a brewery,' he joked, referencing the stereotype that Irish people are big drinkers.

'It's great to see female apprentices, female engineers here, part of the biggest brewery operation here in New South Wales and the second biggest in the country,' he added.

Poll Was Scott Morrison's joke offensive? Yes - not all Irish are alcoholics No - it was just a bit of fun Was Scott Morrison's joke offensive? Yes - not all Irish are alcoholics 91 votes

No - it was just a bit of fun 157 votes Now share your opinion





'And it's great to see young women taking on those roles coming out of university, training other women coming up through plants just like this.'

The comments sparked a backlash on Twitter where some users described the jibe as 'good old racism' and 'Irish stereotyping'.

'Patronising, patriarchal, racist, national-stereotyping, out-of-date, out-of-touch, racist (or at least offensive) and feeble attempt at humour at the expense of the Irish,' wrote one.

The stereotype that Irish people drink lots can be traced back decades. It spread around the world as Irish pubs popped up in far-flung locations including the foothills of Mount Everest.

Ireland has one of the highest drinking rates across the globe, behind only a handful of eastern European nations which top the charts.

In 2019 Irish people consumed the equivalent of 10.91 litres of pure alcohol per person, compared with 9.5 in Australia and 9.8 in the UK.

An Irish Times article in 1981 summed up the relationship between Ireland and alcohol, writing: 'In the eyes of many foreigners and quite a few natives too, drink and the Irish go together like gin and tonic.

'There is really no doubt that as a nation, we do have a reputation abroad for being accomplished swillers of beer, and sinkers of spirits.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted the PM's office.
A pair of cufflinks owned by James Bond author Ian Fleming which feature a spy-like secret code have sold at auction for more than 4,000.

The 007 creator wore the cultured pearl set to the Dr No post-film screening party in 1962.

The backs of the cufflinks are inscribed with the letters WUS, SIL, UDH and NUF  believed to represent a so-far unsolved secret message.

They were set to fetch 800 at auction but sold for 4,400 to an unknown bidder at Mallams auctioneers in Oxford.

The backs of the cufflinks are inscribed with the letters WUS, SIL, UDH and NUF  believed to represent a so-far unsolved secret message

Ian Fleming (pictured) wore the cultured pearl set to the Dr No post-film screening party in 1962

They were set to fetch 800 at auction but sold for 4,400 to an unknown bidder at Mallams auctioneers in Oxford

Its listing read: Surely a perfect code-breaking mission for any aspiring spies out there.'

Bond was introduced in the 1952 novel Casino Royale and so captured the publics imagination.

These circular cufflinks, which come to Mallams by family descent, are sure to prove popular with James Bond enthusiasts and carry an estimate of 800-1,200.

During his service in the Naval Intelligence Division, Fleming drew up a plan to capture a German Enigma codebook by hijacking a Nazi rescue boat, according to an article published in the Literary James Bond Magazine.

The plan - which he laid out in a memo to the Director of Naval Intelligence on September 12 1940 - involved crashing a captured German plane into the Channel, thereby attracting a Nazi recue boat to the scene, which Fleming hoped would have a book onboard with the key to cracking the Enigma code.

Fleming's code-cracking plan, named 'Operation Ruthless', was ultimately never carried out due to logistical issues with it - for example, the 'fake' German bomber Fleming wanted to crash into the Channel would have floated, putting the disguised crew inside the Trojan horse at high risk of being detected before they could hijack the German rescue boat that was scrambled to save them.

In total, Fleming wrote 14 Bond books which have sold over 100million copies worldwide. He died in 1964.
Parking firm fat cats have argued fines should be increased  with brazen claims it will protect the NHS and help reduce CO2 emissions.

As ministers consider new rules for parking charges, some of Britains largest car parks have advised the Government to increase penalty charges to the 120 option being looked at in Scotland.

They have fought against proposals to cut notices to 50 with a 50 per cent reduction if paid early in some areas  instead asking the current 100 cap be boosted.

The boss of one of the UKs biggest hospital parking firms, which has been criticised for its immoral charges, astonishingly suggested this would protect the NHS.

A stock picture of a penalty charge notice on the windscreen of a car. Parking firms have argued fines should be increased amid brazen claims it will protect the NHS and help reduce CO2 emissions

Philip Boynes, chief of Parkingeye, told the Commons housing, communities and local government committee the deterrent of a hefty penalty ensures motorists dont overstay and block spaces for potential patients in town centres.

He said reduced fines would see breaches doubling and cause bigger traffic jams as people struggle to park and raise CO2 levels.

He added: In effect we would probably see something in the region of 100million in lost revenue to businesses, we would see circa 80 million lost footfall to the NHS, to retail, to the high street.

Jack Cousens, of the AA, said he was sceptical higher fines would be a deterrent.

He said: Thats not how drivers think.

'Drivers simply just want to park, pay the rate and get on with their day.
Ofcom has warned that web giants conduct could pose a threat to the future of journalism.

The media regulator said online platforms were not sufficiently transparent about their algorithms, which control the prominence given to news sources and stories.

Ofcom said it is now looking at whether media plurality in the UK remains fit for the modern news landscape, with social networks and search engines increasingly acting as intermediaries between news publishers and the public.

Responding to Ofcoms consultation on the matter, DMG Media  the publisher of the Daily Mail  said: Our view, based on our experience as a news publisher, is that the market dominance and global reach of... two companies [Google and Facebook] means they are now the most significant threat to media plurality in the UK.

Ofcom has warned that web giants conduct could pose a threat to the future of journalism. [File image]

Ofcom said in its report yesterday: The ways in which consumers and citizens interact with news media have changed dramatically in recent years.

'New technology has enabled people to engage with news in previously unforeseeable ways and has challenged the business models of traditional news media organisations.

The influence of online news sources has grown substantially, and social media, search engines and news aggregators are increasingly acting as intermediaries between news content and the public.

DMG Media  the publisher of the Daily Mail  said: Our view, based on our experience as a news publisher, is that the market dominance and global reach of... two companies [Google and Facebook] means they are now the most significant threat to media plurality in the UK.

The watchdog pinpointed three features of the media landscape which are not covered by regulation but may present a risk to media plurality.

These were the ways in which online intermediaries and their algorithms control the prominence given to sources and stories; the lack of transparency about these algorithms; and concerns over readers who do not always critically engage with the accuracy and partiality of online news.
Australian workers are missing out on decent pay increases because their employers have to pay more superannuation, an economist says.

Wage levels across all industries rose by 2.2 per cent In the year to September, an improvement on the 1.7 per cent growth in the year to June.

This was the fastest pay increase pace since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, but pay levels are still growing well below the long-term average of three per cent, continuing a persistent trend that began in mid-2013.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expecting wages to grow by 2.5 per cent in 2022 and not return to the 3 per cent level until 2023.

Australian workers are missing out on decent pay increases because their employers have to pay more superannuation, an economist says. In the year to September, wage levels across all industries rose by 2.2 per cent (pictured is Prime Minister Scott Morrison meeting with Tooheys Brewery workers)

Such a gloomy outlook was despite its forecast of unemployment falling to 4 per cent for only the second time since 1974.

CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said Australian workers would be enjoying better pay increases if compulsory employer superannuation contributions had not increased on July 1.

'The result could have even been stronger,' he said.

Mr Felsman said the increase in compulsory super from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent meant the overall wage price index, as calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, was weaker than it could have been.

'The increase in the compulsory superannuation guarantee from July 1 was not captured, with some employers likely to net this increase off against base pay, dampening the overall result,' he said.

Minimum wage workers received a 2.5 per cent pay rise on July 1 but tourism and hospitality workers the Fair Work Commission granted tourism and hospitality employers a pay rise exemption until November 1, because of lockdowns.

Despite that delay, food and accommodation sector workers still saw a 2.5 per cent pay increase, putting it above the 2.2 per cent average, as restaurants, pubs, and cafes struggle to find staff.

CommSec senior economist Ryan Felsman said Australian workers would be enjoying better pay increases if compulsory employer superannuation contributions had not increased on July 1 (pictured is a waitress serving customers at Mosman on Sydney's Lower North Shore)

Compulsory superannuation contributions are increasing in 0.5 percentage point increments on July 1 every year until they hit 12 per cent by July 2025.

But Superannuation Minister Jane Hume is unenthusiastic about legislated super increases, and in March told the ABC it would compromise wages.

'We shouldn't fool ourselves. A rise in the super guarantee will come at a trade-off, it will come as a trade-off to wages and particularly to wage growth,' she said.

Superannuation Minister Jane Hume is unenthusiastic about legislated super increases, in March telling the ABC it would compromise pay levels

The Grattan Institute think tank also warned a super increase would hamper wages.

Economist Brendan Coates said Australians on median incomes of $60,000 only needed $150,000 for retirement, provided they had already paid off their home by retirement.

This is well below the $535,000 the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia recommended for a comfortable retirement, with the pension age rising to 67 from 2023.

Former Labor prime minister Paul Keating, the architect of the compulsory super scheme that debuted in 1992, wants 15 per cent superannuation and that is still the Labor Party's position.

Julia Gillard's Labor government legislated to have super increase to 10 per cent on July 1, 2015 with the goal of reaching 12 per cent by July 2019.

But Tony Abbott's Coalition government in 2014 delayed to July 1, 2021 the super increase to 10 per cent.
Australia's east coast is bracing for huge storms over the weekend as a fierce weather system sweeps across the country and dumps rain in already swollen rivers.

The low pressure system is forecast to cross into South Australia on Saturday before intensifying over NSW on Sunday - bringing with it the risk of flash flooding and heavy rainfall.

Merimbula on the NSW far south coast could cop as much as 100mm of rain on Sunday as the warm weather gives way to heavy downpours.

Sydney will bask in sunny 28C weather on Friday before being drenched by as much as 35mm of rain on Sunday.

Already swollen rivers in NSW are set to cop even more heavy rainfall over the weekend. Pictured is the Wyangala Dam on Monday as it spills after reaching 104 per cent capacity

The low pressure system is forecast to cross into South Australia on Saturday before intensifying over NSW on Sunday

The state's central west has spent much of this week on edge, with the small town of Forbes on alert for major flooding as the Lachlan River reached 10m on Wednesday.

Melbourne will likely avoid the worst of the rainfall - receiving less than 20mm on Sunday - with the bulk of the low pressure system forecast to cross into NSW north of Victoria.

Eastern parts of the southern state though could see more rainfall, with Bairnsdale in the east Gippsland forecast to receive up to 35mm of rain

'Widespread showers and storms today and tomorrow across WA and that will feed into a rain band through South Australia during Saturday,' Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne said.

'A deepening low pressure system will spiral through NSW generating heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding on Sunday.

'The heaviest rain will be highly dependent on the position and movement of that low but there is the risk of further flooding as we head into next week.'

Homes and properties at risk of flooding are seen next to the swollen Lachlan River on November 16. The state's central west has spent much of this week on edge, with the small town of Forbes on alert for major flooding

The storm system comes as an Antarctic blast sweeps across Australia just two weeks before summer.

Melburnians endured their coldest four-day stretch in 167 years with temperatures stubbornly remaining below 15.5C from Friday to Monday.

Tasmanians similarly shivered through their coldest November morning in 68 years on Monday as temperatures dropped to just 2.9C

Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard said it had 'certainly been quite a cold one'.

Victoria's coldest four-day stretch in 167 years Friday: 14C Saturday: 14.6C Sunday: 15.3C Monday: 13.5C Source: Weatherzone Advertisement

The weatherman said it was uncommon to see a cold front with this kind of strength in late spring and compared the temperatures to those usually seen in winter.

'This has been brought on by a substantial cold front that met up with low pressure troughs and systems that were over Central Australia at the time,' he explained.

The meteorologist said cold air pushed from Antarctica to the southeast of Australia could be blamed for the unusually icy temperatures.

In Tasmania, bewildered residents rushed to capture the flurries of snow seen falling across Hobart, Mount Wellington, and Cygnet.

One local uploaded footage from his balcony of snow covering southern Tasmania with the caption: 'Snowing in Cygnet. Far out.'

Mr Pippard said snow had been recorded down to elevations of 350m with anything above that receiving hail or showers.

He said Mount Wellington had its coldest November morning in 58 years on Monday, as the Antarctic blast saw temperatures fall to -5.8C.

One video of the snow captured an adorable wombat plowing through the late spring snow on a roadside in Hobart.

On top of the record-breaking string of frosty days in Victoria, the cold snap also saw snow fall across Mount Hotham.

On top of the record-breaking string of frosty days in Victoria, the cold snap also saw snow fall across Mount Hotham (pictured, snow at the Hotham Alpine Resort)

The Hotham Alpine Resort, nestled in the Victorian Alps, uploaded extraordinary footage of the thick snow blanketing the mountains.

'10cm and counting! Is it mid-November or mid-winter? Its set to keep snowing all night!,' the resort captioned a Facebook post on Sunday.

A layer of 20cm of snow covered the ski village during the storm leaving long icicles hanging off the rafters of buildings.

Similar scenes were seen at the Thredbo Ski Resort in the NSW Snowy Mountains, with locals reporting 20cm of snow up high and 10cm in lower elevations.

On Monday morning, the Thredbo top station recorded temperatures of -4.3C with gusts of wind approaching 100km/h.

The apparent temperature - what it feels to be outside while factoring in wind speed, humidity and air temperature - was recorded at -20.1C.

Weatherzone reported a mass of cold air has been driven over Australias southeast over the last few days by a strong low pressure system (pictured)

In Perisher, near the NSW town of Jindabyne in the state's southwest, 30cm of fresh snow was reported during a storm on Monday (pictured, Perisher Ski Resort covered in snow)
A Covid-19 conspiracy theorist has avoided a conviction for failing to hand over her driver's licence or state her name and address to police during Victoria's lockdown.

Police smashed Eugenia Limberiou's car window and dragged her out of the vehicle in a dramatic arrest at Carlton's Rathdowne Street in July last year.

The 29-year-old, also known as Eve Black, was fined $1652 for breaching the COVID-19 public health orders in place at the time.

Limberiou, who was once a stripper, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, where she was fined $200 but avoided a conviction after pleading guilty to failing to produce her driver's licence or state her name and address.

Eugenia Limberiou, also known as Eve Black, has been fined $200 but escaped conviction

She pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of providing a false name and address to police.

'I did not give false information, I simply did not give any information until after I was arrested,' Limberiou said.

This charge was dropped after the court was told that the original police statement said she refused to answer questions but did not mention providing a false name or address.

In court documents police said Sergeant Matthew Davey made repeated requests for Black to give her name and address and hand over a driver's licence.

The Covid-19 conspiracy theorist (pictured) pleaded guilty to failing to produce her driver's licence or state her name and address in a Melbourne court on Thursday

'She was argumentative and uncooperative, and wound up the window and locked the door, refusing to acknowledge or respond to police requests,' police said.

The sergeant said he told Black if she refused to comply with the request they would forcibly enter her vehicle and that he shattered her driver's side window after she refused.

'The accused (was) then removed from the vehicle, handcuffed and arrested,' police said.

'After a short time the accused provided her name and provided an address.'

Limberiou had earlier come to Victoria Police attention days earlier after filming herself driving through a police roadblock.

She infamously gloated in a Facebook video about making it through the roadblock without telling officers where she was going.

She tried the same trick again in the inner-city suburb of Carlton a week later but was far less successful.
A woman has died after she was allegedly set on fire by her brother, who has been charged with murder.

The 42-year-old woman sustained significant head injuries before she was allegedly set alight in the front yard of a home on Dick Street, Deniliquin, near the NSW/Victoria border.

Emergency services were called to the property just before 2pm on Wednesday and a policeman suffered burns to his hand as he desperately tried to help the woman and extinguish the blaze.

Despite the efforts of emergency workers, the woman was unable to be saved.

Jason Patterson, 31, who police allege is related to the woman has been arrested and charged with murder.

The 42-year-old woman sustained significant head injuries before she was allegedly set alight in the front yard of a home on Dick Street, Deniliquin, near the NSW/Victoria border (pictured is Dick Street)

He appeared in court on Thursday via video link and was refused bail to appear again on February 8.

Superintendent Paul Smith, the commander at the Murray River Police District, said they received multiple triple zero calls from shocked witnesses.

'A number of local people are awfully distressed in witnessing this incident,' he told reporters on Thursday.

Superintendent Smith confirmed police were not looking at anyone else as part of the investigation.

The Edward River Council Mayor Norm Brennan said the woman's death had left the small community reeling.

'A lot of people are shocked at what happened. Deniliquin itself has about 7,500 people and it's a very close-knit tight community,' he told the ABC.

'For an event like what happened, a lot of people were extremely surprised.'
A frantic search is underway for a 13-year-old girl who hasn't been seen for two days.

Chloe, 13, was last seen in Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, about 9pm on Tuesday, November 16.

Chloe is described as roughly 160cm tall, Caucasian, with brown hair, and of a solid build.

Chloe, 13, (pictured) was last seen November 16 in Norlane, Victoria

She was wearing a black hoodie, grey tracksuit pants and black shoes when she was last seen two days ago.

Chloe is known to visit the Norlane, Maidstone, Geelong and Noble Park areas.

Police and family have expressed concern over Chloe's disappearance and have called it out of character for the young teen.

Police have urged anyone with information on Chloe's whereabouts to contact Corio Police Station on 5273 9555.
Multiple federal agencies are looking into 15 vials - including five alarmingly labeled as 'smallpox' - that were discovered at a pharmaceutical lab outside of Philadelphia Tuesday night.

The vials, 10 of which were labeled 'vaccinia' after the virus used to make smallpox vaccines, were discovered by a lab worker who was cleaning out a freezer, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Smallpox was eradicated in 1980 with a successful mass vaccination campaign after it killed an estimated 300 million people in the 20th century alone.

Samples of the deadly virus are only supposed to be kept in two labs: the CDC headquarters in Atlanta and the Vector Institute in Koltsovo, Russia.

The FBI and CDC are now investigating Tuesday's discovery.

Fifteen vials, five labeled 'smallpox,' were discovered at a Pennsylvania lab Tuesday night. Above, a bottle of the smallpox vaccine in 2003

The discovery was reportedly made at Merck's Upper Gwenydd facility outside Philadelphia

The FBI and the CDC are investigating Tuesday's findings. Smallpox is only supposed to be stockpiled in two labs in the world: the CDC in Atlanta and a state-owned lab in Russia

The two agencies did not immediately respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com.

The finding was first reported by Yahoo News, which obtained a copy of an alert sent to the Department of Homeland Security labeled 'For Official Use Only.'

It is not known how the vials ended up at the Merck facility in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania or if they really do contain the virus.

What is smallpox and how does it spread? Smallpox is a serious, life-threatening illness causes by variola virus. A person may not look or feel sick for 7 to 14 days after exposure, but initial symptoms include high fever, headaches, backaches, and vomiting. Around a third of people who contract the disease, die. After the initial symptoms, a body-wide rash appears. The person is most contagious during this stage. Rashes develop in the tongue, mouth and throat. They then spread to the face and arms, torso and legs. Pus-filled bumps, also called pustules, form and begin to scab over and fall off over a period of about 10 days. It was mostly spread by prolonged face-to-face due to respiratory particles. The virus was also spread by sharing sheets, towels and clothing. Source: Cleveland Clinic Advertisement

After they were discovered, the vials were secured immediately and the facility was put on a lockdown that was lifted by Wednesday night.

'Merck is in the process of figuring out why it was there,' the source told NBC10 on Wednesday

Merck did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

'There is no indication that anyone has been exposed to the small number of frozen vials,' a CDC spokesperson told Yahoo.

'The frozen vials labeled 'Smallpox' were incidentally discovered by a laboratory worker while cleaning out a freezer in a facility that conducts vaccine research in Pennsylvania.'

The discovery took place at the Merck Upper Gwynedd facility in North Wales, about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia, according to WCAU.

'CDC, its Administration partners, and law enforcement are investigating the matter, and the vials' contents appear intact. The laboratory worker who discovered the vials was wearing gloves and a face mask. We will provide further details as they are available,' the spokesperson said.

The incident is likely to renew questions about what should be done with the world's Smallpox samples, which are kept in only two labs in the world.

Smallpox is an infection caused by the variola virus. Patients develop a fever and a distinctive, progressive skin rash, according to the CDC.

Most Americans are not vaccinated against the disease and those who are probably have waning immunity, meaning an outbreak could have devastating consequences.

The vaccine leaves a dime-sized lesion that gradually forms a scab and leaves a scar, the CDC says. The lesion is contagious before the scab forms, and those who receive it have to protect the vaccination site from other parts of their body and other people.

In 2014, a government scientist cleaning out an old storage room at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland - just outside of Washington, DC - found six decades-old glass vials containing freeze-dried smallpox, according to the Washington Post.

The samples were packed away and forgotten in a cardboard box. At the time, it was the first such discovery in the country.

In 2019, an explosion at the state-owned Russian lab holding some of the samples sent one worker to the hospital, though the World Health Organization said the blast didn't occur near the stockpiles, according to NPR.

Earlier this month, Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates said the US and UK should invest 'tens of billions' in virus research, including how to possibly prevent smallpox attacks from being unleashed in places like airports, according to Yahoo News.

'So along with the climate message and the ongoing fight against diseases of the poor, pandemic preparedness is something I'll be talking about a lot,' he said in an interview with British health policy official Jeremy Hunt.
She said she is the 'happiest I've ever been' in her new relationship

Sainsbury is waiting on a judge's decision to be able to return home to Oz

The pair plan to marry early next year and live between Colombia and Australia

'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury has showed off her glitzy engagement ring as she opens up about her female lover Tatiana and prepares to return to Australia after four long years locked up in a Colombian prison.

Sainsbury shared the news of her engagement to her 15,000 Instagram followers, posting a photo proudly posing with her new ring on Thursday.

'So hard to choose a wedding dress,' she wrote. 'Yes people I'm engaged.'

Sainsbury spent three years in Bogota's El Buen Pastor prison after she was convicted for smuggling 5.8kg of cocaine into the country in April 2017.

Sainsbury shared the news of her engagement to her 15,000 Instagram followers, posting a photo proudly posing with her new ring on Thursday (pictured)

In celebration of her upcoming nuptials she posted a series of photos with her new love, a 33-year-old computer technician from Bogota who she met through mutual friends on May 26 this year.

The pair have plans to marry in Colombia in March next year and live between there and Australia once Sainsbury is able to return to her home country.

She is unable to return home as she completes the remainder of her sentence on parole while living in an apartment in Chapinero, a suburb of the Colombian capital.

'It was a really unexpected relationship,' Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia from Bogota.

'We had shared a group of friends and one night we went out for a birthday and we literally hit it off.'

'It was a really unexpected relationship,' Cassie Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia of her engagement to Tatiana (left), a 33-year-old computer technician

Sainsbury (pictured) spent three years in Bogota's El Buen Pastor prison after she was convicted for smuggling 5.8kg of cocaine into the country in April 2017

After a short romance, Sainsbury said Tatiana further surprised her by proposing to her during a getaway to Cartagena on the Colombian coast this month.

'She put a ring on it!' Sainsbury said of the engagement. 'She'd been planning for a while trying to find a ring that she thought was perfect for me and in the end she found it.

'She took me to Cartagena and organised a small, romantic dinner at a cosy little restaurant on the beachfront. She asked me to marry her there.'

In July this year Sainsbury told Daily Mail Australia her new lover was unaware of her past and why she had been headline news in Australia, but that has now changed.

'I shared everything with her about everything,' she revealed.

'Basically [Tatiana] said she wasn't going to judge me on my past, she was really mature about the whole situation.

'I feel like I'm the happiest I've ever been. It's nice to feel like I can be myself with no judgement from someone who is always there for me.'

After a short romance, Sainsbury (pictured) said Tatiana further surprised her by proposing to her during a getaway to Cartagena on the Colombian coast this month

Sainsbury (pictured being escorted to a court hearing in Bogota in 2017) became engaged to a fellow female inmate, Joli Pico, while in prison, before her current relationship

'Tatiana said she wasn't going to judge me on my past, she was really mature about the whole situation' Sainsbury said of her new love

Sainsbury said she wants to return to her hometown of Adelaide as soon as possible but delays in the Colombian legal system caused by the incursion of Covid-19 into the country mean she is still waiting on the decision of a judge before she is allowed to return home.

'We'll get married and then the plan is to go back home for a while, sort things out there, see my family and then make a decision about what the big plan will be.

'She's never been to Australia.

'We'll probably end up between Australia and Colombia because obviously her family is here so it will be like, some time here, some time there type of thing.'

Sainsbury, whose Australian accent has been transformed by a Latin lilt after her four-and-a-half years in Colombia, has undergone many changes since her arrest in April 2017 when cocaine packaged inside 18 headphone boxes was found in her suitcase.

Her preference for serious relationships with women, rather than men, is one such change.

Sainsbury became engaged to a fellow female inmate, Joli Pico, while in prison, before her current relationship with Tatiana once she'd been released.

'It has always been something there,' she said of her attraction to women. 'I had relationships like that [in Australia]... but not as serious.'

Sainsbury was just 22-years-old when she was arrested with 5.8 kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage at Bogota airport (pictured, arriving for a court hearing in Bogota in 2017)

'I want to move forward but trust me there are still days where I ask myself, 'why me?''

Sainsbury said the lowest point of her whole ordeal since she was first arrested was when she became seriously ill with bacteria in her stomach while inside El Buen Pastor prison.

'When I became sick I was taken out of prison into hospital and that is what saved me.'

While in prison she was locked in a two-metre by two-metre cell with up to five other inmates and says she still has nightmares about it.

Sainsbury said she is focused on putting her past behind her rather than trying to prove the claims she made in a 60 Minutes program in April 2020 that pressure from a Brazilian drug lord had caused her to undertake the cocaine smuggling mission.

She claimed back then that a mysterious man named 'Angelo Sanchez' allegedly threatened to kill her mother and then-boyfriend, Scott Broadbridge, unless she committed the crime.

'I want to move forward but trust me there are still days where I ask myself, 'why me?''

Sainsbury said the perception of her by Australians does affect her. 'I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest,' she said of returning to her home country

'I feel like if I keep trying to bring up the past, I'm never going to be able to move forward. I just want to be able to put all this behind me and live a normal life, Sainsbury said, pictured above at the time of her arrest in Colombia in April 2017

'I feel like if I keep trying to bring up the past, I'm never going to be able to move forward. I just want to be able to put all this behind me and live a normal life.'

But Sainsbury said she does take note of the perceptions Australians have about her.

'I still care. Believe it or not, the comments people make obviously affect me,' she confessed.

'I try not to let it affect me too much, I know there are a lot of mixed opinions about me. I can't tell someone not to have their own opinion.'

She said she is concerned about whether she will be able to readjust to life in Australia, where she has said she wishes to establish a personal training business and is open to reality television offers.

'I'm not sure what to expect, to be honest.'

A love of Colombian culture and people was one of the positive things to come from her experience since she'd been out of prison, Sainsbury said.

'Through everything I went through, I learnt to take the best out of the experience I could... meeting new people, maturing, learning more about myself.

'To make it feel like it was not a complete loss of time, using what I learnt from the experience to become the person I've become.'
Real Time host Bill Maher laid into Critical Race Theory in American schools and cancel culture in a freewheeling interview with CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday.

Maher, who describes himself as an 'old-school liberal', slammed the far left and progressive side of the Democrats which he called the 'party of no common sense'.

He added that he supported teaching the history of racism in America, but 'that's different than teaching children that racism is the essence of America.'

'That's what people get upset about, or involving children who are not old enough or sophisticated enough to understand this very complicated history.'

Maher also told Cuomo that he supports Dave Chappelle, who received backlash after making derogatory comments about trans people, and said he himself has received calls to be cancelled from conservatives and liberals alike.

The late night host warned that Donald Trump would run for re-election in 2022 and further a 'slow-moving coup' take over the GOP with his supporters.

In a wide-ranging interview, Maher told Cuomo:

There is an 'honest history of racism' and that was 'different than teaching that racism is the essence of America,' which is what he says CRT tells children;

NBC star said that transgender/transsexuality was not 'settled science' and people were not bigots if they questioned whether it should be taught to kids;

Maher said people from both the right and the left had tried to 'cancel' him;

He tipped Trump for the White House, saying: 'Trust me he is going to run ... He is going to get the nomination, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he won.'

Bill Maher spoke with CNN's Chris Cuomo on Wednesday night to discuss his views on CRT, cancel culture and the popularity of former President Donald Trump

Bill Maher says both sides are trying to cancel him now and it's new.



My politics have not changed. I am an old school liberal... they changed, not me, he says on the issue of race. pic.twitter.com/QZ9rTSqVGq  Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) November 18, 2021

The history of racism in America is NOT the same as teaching that 'racism is the essence of America': Maher slams CRT

Maher has often been vocal against Critical Race Theory and supporting parents across the nation who reject the controversial teaching method.

Defenders of current progressive school policies argue that CRT is a college-level academic theory that isn't taught in schools, and that it's being used as a catch-all term to scare parents.

But those opposed say many lessons and school policies - most under the umbrella of 'diversity, equity and inclusion,' are created by adults influenced by CRT.

Maher told Cuomo that through CRT-influenced classes, 'kids are taught and sometimes separated into groups, oppressor and oppressed.'

'Does a kid even know what those words mean?'

When Cuomo brought up the argument that avoiding the realities of racism in America is akin to 'hiding from the truth,' Maher dismissed the idea.

'That's nuts. That's just silly. It's just virtue signaling,' he said.

Maher added that CRT has become very polarizing in the US and influenced Democrat's loss in the Virginia gubernatorial race when Republican Candidate Glenn Youngkin made education and anti-CRT policies his main platform.

'There's something going on in the schools that never went on before,' Maher told Cuomo. 'Now I'm not in schools, I have no interaction with children whatsoever, but I do understand this issue because I read accounts from parents, from educators.'

Bill Maher criticized the idea of teaching Critical Race Theory in schools and backed parents who opposed the controversial teaching method

Parents at the Loudoun County Schools have led the nation in protests against CRT

School district board meeting have erupted with calls to end CRT since the summer of 2021

He said that previous generations had been taught about slavery and racism but that did not meant to learn it 'viscerally', saying that an 'honest history of racism' was 'different than teaching that racism is the essence of America.'

Maher added that is what parents objected to, 'or involving children who are probably not old enough or sophisticated enough to understand this very complicated issue with a very complicated history.'

He described himself as an 'old-school liberal' and that it was 'wokeism' to see race everywhere.

Maher defends Dave Chappelle

Maher and Cuomo went on to discuss cancel culture and the controversy surrounding comedian Dave Chappelle, whose The Closer Netflix special has been heavily criticized for jokes against the trans community.

In the stand-up special, Chappelle mocked the idea that gender could be fluid and defended Harry Potter author JK Rowling for her statements that transgender women were not actually women and were a threat to her identity.

Like Chappelle saying he was on team Rowling, Maher said, 'I'm team Dave and free speech.'

Maher said that Chappelle's stand up was opening up dialogue about the trans community and doubted that Chappelle was a transphobe, as many critics have said.

Maher told Cuomo that what it means to be trans is still new and should not be used as a weapon against those who are asking questions.

'So don't put it into this category of "This is settled science." Anything that deviates from the one true opinion on this means you're some horrible bigot or transphobic.' That's not what's going on here,' Maher said.

He continued: 'And I don't think Dave Chappelle is transphobic It's like- can we take a breath? Maybe we are going too far with the children part of this. You know, kids should not be really making decisions about their gender.

'I mean, Mario Lopez was almost canceled for suggesting that maybe three-year-olds shouldn't decide their gender. This is not crazy stuff that makes you a bigot.'

Dave Chappelle received major backlash for his jokes aimed at the trans community on his latest Netflix special, The Closer

Maher defended Chappelle and criticized those who were quick to cancel the comedian

Chappelle, pictured on November 6, had been labeled 'cancel' despite The Closer's success

Bill Maher defends comedian Dave Chappelle over the Netflix controversy.



Im team Dave and free speech, he tells @chriscuomo. pic.twitter.com/Swdk67h6qh  Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) November 18, 2021

The HBO host shared his own story about a female friend who said she was a 'tomboy' as a child and that she's convinced that if she were growing up today, 'they would've made me into a boy here in California.'

When Cuomo asked him why he thought Chappelle would go after a minority community, Maher remarked that Chappelle could be feeling a sense of jealousy over the speed of which the trans community is receiving rights and recognition as opposed to that of black Americans.

Cuomo said: 'His choice to make jokes about them- Now, this is the argument that I don't think he handled well, I will say that - you're punching down at this group. This is a discreet minority.

'They've got a lot of problems of being targeted and hurt. You are a powerful voice. And you making fun of them empowers the people who want to hurt them whether you know that or not.

'Now that we've told you that, stop doing it. Is that a bad suggestion?'

Maher admitted that Chapelle might be 'a little obsessed with this one issue', added: 'I think as a black man in America, he's sees nobody in America, except for the Indians, have had it anywhere near like the black folks have had it in America. So I can see why that would get under the skin.'

'Both sides are trying to cancel me'

As they discussed cancel culture and Maher's apparent diversion from liberals, Cuomo asked The Real Time talk show host if he was worried about getting cancelled.

Maher shrugged the question off because he said 'both sides' have tried cancelling him.

'My politics have not changed. I'm an old-school liberal. We were talking about the race issue. They changed, not me,' Maher said.

'I was the old  we should be moving toward a color-blind society where we don't see race. That's the old way to look at it, I think that's still the good way to look at it.'

Along with decades of criticism from conservatives, Maher has recently received backlash from fellow liberals over his opinions on topics like CRT and cancel culture.

Maher defended his views and said he was an 'old liberal' who has stuck to his values

Maher has recently received backlash from fellow liberals over his views on CRT

Even his interview with Cuomo received criticism, with one Cuomo fan tweeting, 'Love you Chris, but Bill has lost his way and is unwatchable in any capacity.

Another Twitter user with the handle @eradecic wrote, 'Meh. Racism thinly-veiled as 'truth' or 'edginess' and mean anti-religion rants is no reason to turn in. I outgrew that dude, or he's recessed. Regardless, meh guest.'

'Trust me he is going to run, absolutely': Maher believes Trump will run

Near the end of the show, Maher discussed his fear of what he called a 'slow-moving coup' in American politics.

Maher criticized former President Donald Trump and his continued attempts to discredit the 2020 presidential elections and warned that Trump would be next Republican presidential candidate.

'Trust me he is going to run, absolutely. He is going to get the nomination, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he just won the election,' Maher said.

Maher warned that Donald Trump would run again in 2024 and radicalize the GOP

"Trust me he is going to run, absolutely. He is going to get the nomination, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised if you just won the election," says Bill Maher.



"Even if he doesn't win the election, he will say he won the election. There is no doubt that he will say he won." pic.twitter.com/mi1bUuNci4  Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) November 18, 2021

'Even if he doesn't win the election, he will say he won the election. There is no doubt that he will say he won.

'It doesn't matter what the number is, they're just going to say it was rigged. The think the last one is rigged,' Maher said.

He also warned that Trump could engage in some kind of election fraud in 2024 to secure his victory, and accused Trump of 'purging' Republicans who would stand up to him.
Former Labor minister Adem Somyurek has blasted Daniel Andrews after vowing to block his new law to manage pandemics.

Mr Somyurek said the premier has over-reached in his bid for sweeping powers that would allow him to declare a pandemic for an unlimited time even if there are no cases of a virus.

The independent MP, who quit Labor after being caught branch-stacking last year, said Victorians have been left 'victims of the state' during Covid-19.

Former Labor minister Adem Somyurek (pictured) has blasted Daniel Andrews after vowing to block his new law to manage pandemics

Melbourne endured the most days in lockdown of any city in the world and some of the most brutal restrictions including movement limits and a night-time curfew.

'I know many Victorians have felt powerless victims of the state these last two years,' Mr Somyurek told The Australian as he slammed Mr Andrews' proposed laws.

'The good intentions of keeping Victorians safe sadly paved the way to over-reach, one-man tut-tutting government by decree and ill-considered plans to make it all permanent, without safeguards.'

Daniel Andrews enters Parliament on Thursday

Mr Somyurek, who was a minister under Mr Andrews from 2014 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2020, also accused the premier of not respecting his own team.

'A Premier that doesn't listen to or much respect his own Cabinet, that doesn't heed warnings from his Caucus, that treats the Parliament as an inconvenient nuisance is not really envisaged in the design of our system,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Andrews' office for comment.

The premier's new laws were set to pass until Mr Somyurek - who has not been in Parliament since December 2020 - returned at the 11th hour to thwart his old factional rival.

On Thursday morning the Government voted to delay the bill to avoid it being defeated.

Premier Andrews said: 'We don't have the numbers in the upper house, we'll just do our normal thing which is to work with everybody and try and get an outcome that keeps us safe,' he told reporters.

'I don't know whether this matter will get resolved today, tonight or tomorrow - we'll have to wait and see.'

Writing in the Herald Sun, Mr Somyurek said Victoria's parliamentary system is 'essentially an elective dictatorship' because Labor dominates the lower house and said the pandemic has shown that state governments have 'coercive powers'.

He accused Labor MPs of being 'docile' and unwilling to challenge Premier Andrews, meaning 'it is difficult to protect the population from the tyranny of rule by decree'.

Mr Somyurek also said the laws may mean Victoria could be 'unjustly governed by a Coalition despot in the future'.

What happens to the bill now? A no vote by Mr Somyurek would result in a tie, meaning the bill would have to be reintroduced in parliament's lower house. Alternatively, the Government could delay the vote until the first week of December and change the bill to win over another crossbencher. If the bill does not pass by December 15, when the current state of emergency powers expire, the Government will not be able to enforce pandemic orders such as lockdowns and mask-wearing. Advertisement

The laws, which have passed Victoria's lower house and are being debated in the upper house this week, would let the health minister make 'any order' he deems reasonably necessary' which could include lockdowns, vaccine mandates, enforced mask-wearing and much more, with fines of up to $454,350 for rule-breakers.

The Victorian government had been confident the bill would pass after delivering amendments to secure the support of left-wing upper house crossbenchers - the Greens' Samantha Ratnam, Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick.

But the return of Mr Somyurek - who quit the party before he was expelled for leading a widespread branch-stacking operation - opens the door for him to cast the deciding vote.

Mr Somyurek has not been at parliament for almost a year and was suspended last month after he failed to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination.

But the clerk of the Legislative Council on Wednesday advised upper house MPs Mr Somyurek now 'complies with the order and is no longer suspended'.

A no vote by Mr Somyurek would result in a tie, meaning the bill would have to be reintroduced in parliament's lower house.

Alternatively, the Government could delay the vote until the first week of December and change the bill to win over another crossbencher.

If the bill does not pass by December 15, when the current state of emergency powers expire, the Government will not be able to enforce pandemic orders such as lockdowns and mask-wearing.

Mr Somyurek left Labor after he was caught recruiting party members to influence internal elections, a practice known as branch-stacking which is not illegal but against party rules.

The bill has become a lightning rod for anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination groups, who have occupied the steps of state parliament this week.

On Monday, they gathered around a wooden gallows on 'freedom', 'traitor', 'kill Dan Andrews' and 'hang Dan Andrews', as an inflatable doll depicting the premier was thrown onto the structure.

On Wednesday night, Victoria Police confirmed the driver of the black Toyota Landcruiser which had been towing the gallows had been spoken to by officers.

The man, a 48-year-old from Badger Creek, was issued a warning for traffic offences.

Some protesters held three nooses, in possible reference to the three crossbench MPs who decide whether the bill passes

Premier Dan Andrews was depicted as a rat in another placard held by protesters

What are the main concerns with the Bill? No definition of a pandemic Broad powers to the Health Minister to make 'any order' Reasons for detaining someone not defined 'Breathtakingly broad' powers to public officials to enforce laws Allows orders such as lockdowns to apply to people based on political views or association Health advice does not have to be published until 14 days after decision Rules that breach human rights laws may not be invalidated and overturned Source: Victorian Bar Advertisement

Last week Victoria's top barristers called for Mr Andrews to delay and wind back the proposed laws.

Victorian Bar president Christopher Blanden QC previously called the proposed laws 'extreme' and said the Stasi, the secret police in communist East Germany from 1950 to 1990, would be happy with the powers.

On Wednesday the Bar - made up of hundreds of top barristers - published a submission to the Department of Health which listed several problems with the laws and demanded changes.

In its submission, the Bar said it wants a definition of a 'pandemic disease' to be spelled out and the health minister's power to be limited to specific actions.

The lawyers want the minister to have to consider the 'harm and inconvenience' his orders may cause before he makes them.

The Bar said the law gives 'breathtakingly broad' powers to public officials who would be able to 'take any action or give any direction' - except detain someone - to enforce pandemic orders and wants these powers to have a time limit.

The laws would also allow the health minister to order someone be detained. The lawyers want the reasons for possible detention spelled out and an independent review process to oversee this.

The Bar has also raised concerns the laws allow orders such as lockdowns to be applied to people based on attributes protected by the Equal Opportunity Act such as race, gender and political association.

'The Victorian Bar is particularly concerned about the inclusion of an express power to make pandemic orders that apply to a person by reference to their political belief, industrial activity or personal association with others,' the submissions said.

'The Victorian Bar recommends that the Bill be amended to exclude differentiation based on attributes that are of no obvious relevance to a person's health risk profile.'

The lawyers said 'serious concerns' had been raised and want the Bill to be delayed.

The new law will allow the health minister to make 'any order' he deems 'reasonably necessary' including lockdowns, vaccine mandates and enforced mask-wearing. Pictured: Melbourne in lockdown in October

Huge fines and jail

The new laws state a person can be fined up to $21,909 for breaching a pandemic order.

This could include not wearing a mask, breaking a movement limit, attending an illegal protest or a gathering, refusing to get tested or failing to show ID.

Businesses can be fined up to $109,044 for breaking rules which may include failing to make sure customers check-in or show proof of vaccine status.

In addition, there is a new aggravated offence for breaches that 'cause a serious risk to the health of another individual'.

These can be punished with a $90,870 fine and two years in jail. An example given in the bill is someone going to work when they are infectious and should be isolating.

Businesses can also be guilty of an aggravated offence, with a maximum fine of $454,350 if, for example, they refuse to obey a lockdown and encourage customers to also flout the rules.

What are the fines in Daniel Andrews' new law? $21,909: This fine is for breaching a pandemic order such as not wearing a mask, breaking a movement limit, attending an illegal protest or a gathering, refusing to get tested or failing to show ID. $90,870: This fine is for an aggravated offence for breaches that 'cause a serious risk to the health of another individual' such as going to work when infectious. $109,044: This fine is for businesses breaking rules which may include failing to make sure customers check-in or show proof of vaccine status. $454,350: This fine is for an 'aggravated' offence by a business such as encouraging customers to flout lockdown rules . Advertisement

Power to the premier

Under the new laws the premier would be able to declare a pandemic for three months an unlimited number of times.

The current state of emergency laws require a parliamentary vote to extend them every 12 months - but the new laws have no time limit.

The health minister will be able to sign off on public health orders instead of the Chief Health Officer, a role currently held by Brett Sutton.

This gives the health minister the power to enforce lockdowns, shut down businesses, restrict movement, require masks, ban public gatherings, and enforce quarantine and isolation - powers currently held by the unelected CHO.

These powers can be implemented regardless of the number of disease cases or severity.

The bill will also extend the mandatory payment for hotel quarantine beyond 31 December.

Vaccine mandates and lockdowns for anti-vaxxers

The bill states that a pandemic order such as a lockdown or a vaccine mandate 'may apply to, differentiate between or vary in its application to persons or classes of person'.

This allows the Government to select who it wants to apply the order to, including people who have been at a certain event, who live in a certain area or who have a certain type of job.

The Government can discriminate based on 'presence in a pandemic management area; participation at an event; an activity they have undertaken; their characteristics, attributes or circumstances,' the bill says.

It also allows the Government to lockdown unvaccinated people only.

Under the new laws the premier would be able to shut down businesses, restrict movement and ban public gatherings even if there were no disease cases in Victoria. Pictured: A protester is arrested by police at a protest in St Kilda in October

The bill says the Government can discriminate based on attributes defined in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 which include race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status and political views.

The group of lawyers against the bill warned a future health minister could target people based on their 'political beliefs or activities that involve questioning or opposing the government public health measures.'

But Health Minister Martin Foley said those factors would not be taken into account.

'Any suggestion that those other considerations of the public health processes, that is just really mischief making. These are recommendations that come forward on clinical and epidemiological grounds. Not those kinds of characteristics,' he said.

Professor Brett Sutton said attributes and characteristics could refer to 'intimate partners having the opportunity to see other individuals... people normally resident in regional Victoria... children under 16 years of age because they haven't had a vaccination opportunity... vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals in a vaccinated economy.

'You need the agility to spread to those characteristics and attributes that might exclude someone from a public health order and that might be directed at someone,' he said.

Tiered fines system

In a small win for disadvantaged people, the bill will allow disadvantaged people to apply for a 'concessional' fine.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam negotiated this in discussions with the Government.

She said: 'I'm pleased that the Greens have been able to make sure these new laws have more transparency and are fairer for all Victorians, especially those facing disadvantage.'

Barista Maelys is seen at work at Cafe Chez Mademoiselle in Prahran, Melbourne, in October

Make health advice public

The Victorian Government has faced constant criticism for not releasing the health advice that its lockdown decisions are based on.

The bill will require the publication of the reasons for the Chief Health Officer recommending a pandemic order.

It will also establish an Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee to scrutinise Government decisions and health advice.

QR safeguards

The new laws will ensure stronger safeguards to stop unlawful access to QR code check-in or contact tracing data, with a new offence in place.

It means police can only get hold of the data if there is an 'imminent threat' to someone's life.

Officers must acquire a Supreme Court order to access the data.

This comes after it was revealed in June that police failed three times to get access to QR code data.
A real estate agent harassed and stalked her ex-boyfriend for months before she kneed him in the groin during an ugly confrontation at a popular nightspot, a court has heard.

Ainslee Cardillo, 20, from Sydney's Sutherland Shire, launched a relentless harassment campaign against her ex after the pair's 18 month relationship ended on bad terms in June 2020.

A court has heard how the former Danebank Anglican School for Girls student tried to contact him through Instagram, bombarded him with abusive texts and yelled at him from outside his home and threw things at the front door, the St George Standard reported.

Ainslee Cardillo (pictured) pleaded guilty to one count of stalking and intimidation and one count of common assault against her former boyfriend

'Some of the texts included 'if I find out you touched a girl I'll f****** ruin everything', and 'I warned you I did way worse than message, you will f***** see',' police facts tendered to Sutherland Local Court state.

Cardillo's ex made numerous attempts to end the online harassment by blocking Instagram accounts she had set up to contact, the court heard.

She then tried to communicate by transferring him money with notes such as 'I need you, I love you, talk to me please', the publication reported.

Tensions hit boiling point when the pair came face to face at popular Cronulla nightspot Northies.

The real estate agent and former private girl student from Sydney's Sutherland Shire harassed her former boyfriend for seven months following their bitter break-up in June 2020

Police facts tendered to the court claim Cardillo poured a drink over her ex's back and head and went to grab another beverage to throw at him when another patron intervened and stopped her.

The victim tried to distance himself from the incident before he was kneed in the testicles by Cardillo, which caused great pain and discomfort, the court heard.

Cardillo pleaded guilty to one count of stalking and intimidation and one count of common assault.

Magistrate Philip Stewart sentenced Cardillo to nine-month conditional release order with no conviction recorded.

The former Danebank Anglican School for Girls student also bombarded her ex with abusive texts and yelled at him from outside his home as she threw things at the front door, a court heard

A court heard Ainslee Cardillo kneed her ex in the groin at popular Cronulla nightspot Northies

A two-year apprehended violence order was also issued, banning Cardillo from contacting, stalking, assaulting, intimidate, threaten or harass her ex.

The magistrate had some words of wisdom for the young woman.

'You're a young woman, you're 20 years old,' Mr Stewart told her.

'You've got plenty of good life ahead of you but not every relationship works out well.'
A NSW disability support carer who had sex with a vulnerable client has been jailed for at least three years and six months.

Adam Ledgerwood's testimony that he hadn't known his actions were criminal or immoral was rejected by Judge Justin Smith on Thursday.

The District Court judge jailed him for six years with a non-parole period of three years and six months.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of a carer having sexual intercourse with a client, who has a cognitive impairment, in 2019 on the NSW Central Coast.

He also asked the judge to take into account a fourth count.

Adam Ledgerwood, 43, a NSW disability support carer, pleaded guilty to three counts of a carer having sexual intercourse with a client, who has a cognitive impairment, in 2019 (stock image)

Ledgerwood originally helped her once a week, but this increased to three days a week for four-hour shifts after her condition deteriorated.

The woman, aged in her 30s, had been hospitalised after seizures, becoming extremely vague and suffering memory loss, and needing help with day-to-day activities.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Ledgerwood and the client had a friendly relationship and used to joke around.

But he instigated a sexual relationship after touching her intimately shortly after giving her a massage.

She later responded by saying 'what are you doing, it is going to ruin everything' noting he was married with a family.

He then said it was OK 'so long as we keep it between us' and later said she could carry on being friends or be a 'f*** buddy.

The offending occurred in her home with the last act causing her to bleed due to his penis ring.

She texted him about her pain saying 'your piercing butchered me'.

He replied asking if she had a hot water bottle, saying 'I am not going to touch you again (like that)' and 'no more hanky panky'.

The prosecutor disputed his evidence that he meant no more sex, suggesting he was saying no more hanky panky involving injury to her.

'You intended to maintain a 'f*** buddy' relationship with her that did not involve injuring her by accident?' she suggested.

'No,' he replied.

After she told him she was returning to her mother's home and didn't need his help any more, he sent her apologies and said he hoped the situation would not be 'leaked to the wrong people' and he would be 'totally destroyed'.

The carer's testimony that he hadn't known his actions were criminal was rejected by the judge at Sydney's Downing Centre and he has been jailed for at least three years and six months (stock image of Sydney Downing Centre)

When arrested, he denied having a sexual relationship with the client but said 'it has come close though, we were close friends'.

In his evidence, Ledgerwood said he was highly remorseful and can't apologise enough to the woman and her friends for what he had done.

In rejecting his claims about not realising having sex with his client was criminally or morally wrong, Judge Smith noted he shifted his position to say he had been 'vaguely' aware he had crossed boundaries.

While he had some reservations about the genuineness of Ledgerwood's remorse, the judge noted his early guilty pleas and found he had reasonable prospects of rehabilitation.

'Here there was a close relationship that developed over time,' the judge said.

Ledgerwood used the emotional connection to lead to a physical one which continued to sexual intercourse even when the victim showed considerable hesitation, he said

General deterrence was important in such cases to protect a vulnerable group of people in society from offences which were difficult to detect.
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Shocking photos show hordes of Central American migrants riding a tractor trailer to the US as Mexican police continue to clear migrant camps that have sprung up on the southern border as a result of the US' 'Remain in Mexico' policy.

Women climbed large tires and some young men carried no more than a backpack as part of a caravan that found momentary respite in a passing truck while walking through the state of Veracruz in southern Mexico on Wednesday.

President Joe Biden has faced questions about his border policies, and whether he should go down to see its effects for himself, as data shows that the US is continuing to detain a record number of migrants along the southern border.

Meanwhile, Biden's approval rating remains at a low 43 percent and only 40 percent of voters believe the 78-year-old president is in good health, according to a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll.

Migrants were seen crowding atop a tractor trailer headed north on Wednesday in Mexico

The Central American travelers carrying nothing more than a bag in some instances

They were photographed in the Mexican state of Veracruz, which is strongly guarded

The migrants above walked in Donaji in Oaxaca state, bordering Veracruz, on Tuesday

The photos were taken as the US continues to detain a record number of people at the border

In other photos, migrants are seen waking in Oaxaca state, neighboring Veracruz, a day before on Tuesday.

Recent data obtained by the Washington Post shows that the US detained more than 1.7 million migrants along the US-Mexico border between October 2020 and September 2021 - the highest number since 1986.

Speaking at a press conference touting the passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, Biden furiously defended payments to families separated at the border under Trump's 'Zero Tolerance' policy.

Earlier this month, Fox News' David Spunt asked: 'You said last week, that this report about migrant families at the border getting payments was garbage.'

Biden interrupted: 'No I didn't say that, let's get it straight, you said everybody coming across the border gets $450,000.'

Biden then was forceful in saying he would try to get payments to those families, criticizing former President Donald Trump's border policy.

'If in fact, because of the outrageous behavior of the last administration, you coming across the border - whether it was legal or illegal.'

Raising his voice into a yell, the president continued: 'And you lost your child, you lost your child, it's gone, you deserve some kind of compensation, no matter what the circumstance,' he said. 'What that will be, I have no idea.'

As darkness fell in Tijuana on October 28, about 250 police officers and city workers swept into a squalid camp for migrants hoping to apply for asylum in the United States.

Migrants had to register for credentials or leave. Within hours, those who stayed were surrounded by enough chain-link fence to extend twice the height of the Statue of Liberty.

The operation may have been the beginning of the end for a camp that once held about 2,000 people and blocks a major border crossing to the United States. There may be more camps to come.

First lady Jill Biden sharply criticized a similar camp in Matamoros, bordering Brownsville, Texas, on a 2019 visit, saying, 'It's not who we are as Americans.'

The US detained more than 1.7 million migrants along the US-Mexico border between October 2020 and September 2021 - the highest number since 1986

The Biden administration touted its work closing that camp in March, but others sprang up around the same time in nearby Reynosa and in Tijuana.

The camps, full of young children, are a product of policies that force migrants to wait in Mexico for hearings in US immigration court or prohibit them from seeking asylum under pandemic-related public health powers.

Uncertainty about US asylum policies has also contributed to growing migrant populations in Mexican border cities, creating conditions for more camps.

During a televised town hall last month, Biden argued that he had to keep Donald Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' policy because 'the court said I had to maintain it.'

Trump created the Migrant Protection Protocols, or 'Remain in Mexico,' policy in 2019. It forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for US court hearings on asylum cases.

Trump argued that many asylum claims were fraudulent, and that applicants allowed into the United States might end up staying illegally if they skipped court hearings, according to Reuters.

Migrants are often out of public view in border cities, but the Tijuana camp is highly visible and disruptive.

Central American migrants stop to rest in Mexico after many days and miles of walking

The migrants enter Veracruz state in southern Mexico on Tuesday

A man pushes a young girl in a bicycle next to a migrant caravan that hopped on a truck

Many of them will have to wait in Mexico while their asylum claims are processed due to the US's 'Remain in Mexico' policy, implemented by President Trump

Tents covered with blue tarps and black plastic bags block entry to a border crossing where an average of about 12,000 people entered the US. daily before the pandemic. It is one of three pedestrian crossings to San Diego.

The US fully reopened land borders with Mexico and Canada to vaccinated travelers Nov. 8.

Montserrat Caballero, Tijuana's first female mayor, said officials did 'almost nothing' to control the camp before she took office Oct. 1. When she asked Mexico's state and federal governments to join her in erecting a fence and introducing a registry, they declined.

'The authorities at every level were scared - scared of making a mistake, scared of doing something wrong and affecting their political careers,' she said in an interview. 'No one wants to deal with these issues.'

Caballero said she acted to protect migrants. She knows of no homicides or kidnappings at the camp, but The Associated Press found that assaults, drug use and threats have been common.

Asked by town hall moderator Anderson Cooper if he should go down to the border last month, Biden said: 'I've been there before ... I know it well ... I guess I should go down.'

Migrants walk outside a Tijuana border camp that blocks the entrance to a pedestrian crossing into the United States on November 8

The encampment is now encircled in chain link fencing after an October 28 operation by local police, who asked people to register for credentials or leave

Children line up for food donated from a church at a migrant camp in Reynosa, Mexico in May

'I could not close my eyes to the flashing red light I saw,' she said. 'Closing your eyes only allows it grow.'

The only entry-exit is guarded around the clock by Tijuana police. Migrants with credentials are free to come and go.

'There is no asylum process (in the United States) until further notice,' Enrique Lucero, the city's director of migrant services, told people who asked about American policy on a morning walk-through last week.

Since March 2020, the US has used Title 42, named for a public health law, to expel adults and families without an opportunity for asylum; unaccompanied children are exempt. But the Biden administration has exercised that authority on only about one of every four who come in families, largely due to resource constraints and Mexico's reluctance to take back Central American families.

It's unclear why the US releases many families to seek asylum and returns others to Mexico, prompting those who are turned back to stick around until they succeed.

Mayra Funes, a 28-year-old Honduran, said she didn't get a chance to make her case to agents when she was expelled crossing the border illegally near McAllen, Texas, in March with her 7-year-old daughter. She doesn't know if she will try again after six months in the Tijuana camp.

A child waves at a camera as he's carried on the shoulders of an adult male as part of a migrant caravan heading north on Tueday

National Migration Institute officials try to persuade a migrant to end his journey and go through official channels

'There is no hope of knowing how they are going to open the process,' she said.

Lucero, a soft-spoken graduate of George Washington University who worked at the Mexican consulate in Chicago, says his job is persuading migrants to move to a shelter, including large facilities recently opened by Mexico's federal and state governments.

Many are turned off by curfews and other shelter rules and worry being farther from the border will cut them off from news on US policy changes.

Natalina Nazario, 37, needed no convincing, stopping Lucero and jumping at the city's offer to pay bus fare to Acapulco, about 1,900 miles (3,040 kilometers) away, for her and her 17- and 11-year-old sons. She fears violence in the Mexican beach city but, after a month at the camp, doesn't want her children missing more school.

Few others noticed Lucero's presence. Olga Galicia, a 23-year-old from Guatemala, sat on a curb scrubbing clothes in a plastic bin of soapy water. She had been at the camp about six months and said she will stay with her 3- and 1-year-old sons until she gets more information on how to seek asylum in the United States.

Tijuana won't forcibly remove any migrants, said Caballero, who expects holdouts to leave during seasonal rains. Thousands of migrants who came in a 2018 caravan were soaked sleeping outside in frigid November downpours.

The city estimates the camp held 1,700 people two weeks before the Oct. 28 operation, which Caballero publicly warned was coming but didn't say when.

The first count, on Oct. 29, showed 769 migrants, more than 40% children. Half were Mexican - many from strife-torn states of Guerrero and Michoacan - and one-third were Honduran, with El Salvadorans and Guatemalans accounting for nearly all the rest.

Migrants talk in front of portable toilets in a camp that blocks the entrance to a pedestrian crossing into the United States on November 8 in Tijuana, Mexico

A woman stands in front of clothes folded over a chain link fence put there by authorities on October 28, when the Tijuana camp was raided by police

Migrants walk along the Tijuana camp, which held 1,700 people before the operation

Migrants sleep under a gazebo at an encampment near a park in Reynosa, Mexico in March. The camp holds about 2,000 people

The steep decline just before registration likely reflects that many living there were Tijuana's homeless, not migrants, Caballero said.

The camp occupies a large, once-barren plaza. A warren of walkways includes rows that are wide enough in some parts for two people to stroll in opposite directions. People lounge inside tents or outside in folding chairs.

There are 12 portable bathrooms, 10 showers and a shared water tap for washing clothes.

Charities donate food to migrants who prepare hot chocolate, fried eggs, hot dogs and spaghetti for everyone. The federal utility recently stopped the camp from stealing electricity, leaving it dark at night and forcing the makeshift kitchen to rely on canned food.

The future is less certain for a migrant camp in Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas. It has about 2,000 people in a plaza near the city's main border crossing, said Felicia Rangel-Samponaro, director of The Sidewalk School, which educates children there.

The Biden administration, under a court order, plans to soon reinstate a Trump-era policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in the US.

It hinges on approval from Mexican officials, who have told US authorities they need more shelter beds and worry about violence in the state of Tamaulipas, which includes Reynosa.

The 'Remain in Mexico' policy is expected to resume in 'the coming weeks' after US and Mexican authorities resolve 'one set of outstanding issues,' Blas Nunez-Nieto, acting assistant US Homeland Security secretary for border and immigration policy, said in a court filing Monday. He did not elaborate.

Caballero said US authorities haven't pressured Mexico to reopen the busy pedestrian crossing between Tijuana and San Diego. US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement it is working closely with Mexico 'to determine how to resume normal travel safely and sustainably.'

The mayor plans to ask Mexico's National Guard to help prevent camps from popping up again in Tijuana.

'The reality is that camps are going to be established if we are unprepared,' she said.
An angry, middle-aged man who stabbed a neighbour over the theft of a laptop and then told 'outright lies' at trial has been jailed.

Richard Archer, 49, who was earlier found guilty of murder, was sentenced on Thursday to 19-and-a-half years' jail with a non-parole period of 13-and-a-half years.

David Bradshaw, 54, was stabbed during a scuffle in the early hours of February 16, 2020 at a mutual friend's unit at Kendall Towers in Redfern in inner city Sydney.

Richard Archer was found guilty of murdering David Bradshaw at Kendall Towers in Redfern, Sydney (pictured)

Significantly, Justice Peter Hamill didn't find Archer was motivated to kill, citing substantial doubt based on Mr Bradshaw having only one stab wound and Archer telling his victim words to the effect of 'do you want another?'

That comment didn't suggest Archer thought the wounding was fatal and, had he intended to kill, he ideally would have kept going.

Nor did the Supreme Court judge find Archer armed himself with a plan to stab Mr Bradshaw, saying the evidence suggested a chance meeting in the tower block.

'It is of course, extraordinary that any man's death should result from the theft of some personal property,' Justice Hamill said.

Archer expressed regret for the killing but maintained it was accidental and in self-defence.

Nothing suggested he accepts responsibility or has remorse, the judge said.

While Archer had spoken of early childhood trauma and displacement, Justice Hamill wasn't satisfied it was truth having heard the offender's testimony at trial that was littered with 'inconsistency, self-serving statements and, in some instances, outright lies'.

The fight began over the theft of a laptop and led to a man being stabbed to death in February 2020

'For example, he initially told police, falsely, that it was Mr Bradshaw who produced a knife and that it was left at the scene. That was a patent fabrication,' Justice Hamill said.

His last serious offence also involved stabbing somebody with intent and then telling lies about it.

Justice Hamill reiterated what he told Mr Bradshaw's family earlier, that nothing he did in sentencing Mr Archer could do anything to relieve them of the trauma and pain they have experienced and will continue to suffer.

'I hope that their suffering will ease over time, but I do not know that it will,' he said.

'That is because Mr Bradshaw was such an important person in their lives.'
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Malcolm X speaks to reporters in Washington, D.C., on May 16, 1963. He was gunned down aged 39 on February 21, 1965 inside Harlem's Audubon Ballroom during a rally

More than a half century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were formally exonerated on Thursday after years of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icon's death.

Manhattan judge Ellen Biben dismissed the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and the late Khalil Islam, after prosecutors and the men's lawyers said a renewed investigation found new evidence that they were not involved with the killing and determined that authorities withheld some of what they knew.

The investigation was launched by Cy Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, following the broadcast of a six-part Netflix documentary last year which sparked renewed focus on the case.

Vance's conclusion that the conviction should be quashed is likely to be one of the most high-profile final acts for him as DA: he announced in March that he would retire at the end of this year, and not seek re-election after 12 years in office.

Vance, 66, apologized to Aziz in court on Thursday, and shook his hand.

FBI files showed that the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered agents to tell witnesses not to reveal that they were informants when talking with police and prosecutors.

'Many of those documents were exculpatory. None of them were disclosed to the defense,' Vance told the court on Thursday.

'Without these files, it is clear these men did not receive a fair trial, and their convictions must be vacated.

'Moreover, under the unique circumstances presented by a 55-year-old case, there can be no retrial on any of the charges contained in the indictment. Therefore, the People believe the indictment against Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam should be dismissed.'

Aziz told the court: 'The events that led to my exoneration should never have occurred.

'I am an 83-year-old man who was victimized by the criminal justice system.'

He and Islam, who maintained their innocence from the start in the 1965 killing at Harlem's Audubon Ballroom, were paroled in the 1980s.

Islam died in 2009, aged 74.

'While I do not need a court, prosecutors, or a piece of paper to tell me I am innocent, I am glad that my family, my friends, and the attorneys who have worked and supported me all these years are finally seeing the truth we have all known, officially recognized,' Aziz said in a statement released by his attorney.

Muhammad Aziz stands outside the courthouse after his conviction and that of the late Khalil Islam in the killing of Malcolm X was vacated on Thursday

Aziz, pictured at left being escorted by detectives after his arrest in New York in 1965, and alleged accomplice Islam, who died in 2009, were exonerated after prosecutors and defense lawyers said they were not involved in the assassination

Aziz, second from left, shakes hands with attorney Barry Scheck, right, after a judge tossed his conviction

Malcolm X gained national prominence as the voice of the Nation of Islam, exhorting black people to claim their civil rights 'by any means necessary.'

His autobiography, written with Alex Haley, remains a classic work of modern American literature and his life was turned into a 1992 Spike Lee film, starring Denzel Washington. Washington was nominated for an Oscar for the role of Malcolm X.

Near the end of Malcolm X's life, he split with the Nation of Islam and, after a trip to Mecca, started speaking about the potential for racial unity.

It earned him the ire of some in the Nation of Islam, including the leader, Elijah Muhammad, who saw him as a traitor.

Malcolm was shot and killed while beginning a speech on February 21, 1965. He was 39.

Aziz and Islam, then known as Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson, and a third man were convicted of murder in March 1966. They were sentenced to life in prison.

The third man, Mujahid Abdul Halim - also known as Talmadge Hayer and Thomas Hagan - admitted to shooting Malcolm X but said neither Aziz nor Islam was involved.

The two offered alibis, and no physical evidence linked them to the crime.

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance (right) told the court on Thursday that a recent investigation found information in FBI files about witnesses who couldn't identify Islam and implicated other suspects

Muhammad Aziz's Full Statement to Court: 'The events that led to my exoneration should never have occurred. 'Those events were and are the result of a process that was corrupt to its core - one that is all too familiar - even in 2021. 'While I do not need a court, prosecutors, or a piece of paper to tell me I am innocent, I am glad that my family, my friends, and the attorneys who have worked and supported me all these years are finally seeing the truth we have all known, officially recognized. 'I am an 83-year-old man who was victimized by the criminal justice system, and I do not know how many more years I have to be creative. 'However, I hope the same system that was responsible for this travesty of justice also take responsibility for the immeasurable harm it caused me.' Advertisement

Halim was paroled in 2010. Through a relative, he declined to comment on Thursday.

He identified some other men as accomplices, but no one else has ever been held accountable for the crime.

The recent investigation found information in FBI files about witnesses who couldn't identify Islam and implicated other suspects, Vance told the court.

'We are moving today to vacate the convictions and dismiss the indictments,' Vance said.

'I apologize for what were serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust.'

The files showed that Hoover ordered agents to tell witnesses not to reveal that they were informants when talking with police and prosecutors, Vance said.

'There is one ultimate conclusion: Mr Aziz and Mr Islam were wrongfully convicted of this crime,' Vance said - adding that there is no prospect of retrying the 56-year-old case.

He apologized for law enforcement's 'serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust'.

Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck, one of the lawyers for Aziz and for Islam's family, said the review also found the FBI and police hid evidence from prosecutors, as what he called part of a plot to disrupt the black civil rights movement.

The FBI and New York Police Department had evidence of Aziz's and Islam's innocence within hours but ignored and suppressed it, said another of their attorneys, Deborah Francois, who works with civil rights attorney David Shanies.

Biben said the case 'cries out for fundamental justice.'

'There can be no question that this is a case that cries out for fundamental justice,' she said, as she granted a 43-page joint motion to vacate the men's convictions and dismiss their indictment.

'To Mr Aziz and your family and to the family of Mr Islam, I regret that this court cannot fully undue the serious miscarriages of justice and give you back the years that were lost.'

Applause broke out in court when she approved Vance's request to quash the conviction.

Two of Islam's sons who were also present in court, Ameen and Shahid Johnson, told reporters outside the courthouse that they felt 'bittersweet' about the exoneration because it could not replace everything their family had lost.

Ameen was one-and-a-half years old and their mother was pregnant with Shahid when Islam, who was formerly known as Thomas Johnson, was arrested.

The exoneration was a 'very, very long time coming,' Ameen Johnson told Reuters earlier while waiting to enter the courtroom.

'I honestly didn't think I'd live to see the day.'

Historian Abdur-Rahman Muhammad, whose efforts to discover who really killed Malcolm X formed the basis of the Netflix series, said on Thursday that Aziz and Islam lived out their lives after prison with the 'stigma' and 'burden' of being known as two of the killers of the famed civil rights leader.

Near the end of his life, Islam was still fighting to have his name cleared, the scholar said, adding: 'I didn't have the heart to tell him that I didn't think he was going to have the time.'

Aziz, meanwhile, was 'cautious' ahead of the hearing, 'because he lost faith in the system decades ago,' Muhammad said.

'He wasn't waiting around for an exoneration because he had learned to live his life under that cloud and under that shadow for five decades,' Muhammad said.

'So it's a great victory. I'm so happy for him.

'I want him to enjoy his life, and the world now knows that he is innocent of the murder of Malcolm X  but again, we've always known that.'

The NYPD and the FBI said Wednesday that they had cooperated fully with the re-investigation. They declined to comment further.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said Thursday she felt for Malcolm X's family and for Aziz and Islam 'if we are responsible for withholding information.'

'I hope that we never revisit a scenario like this again,' she added.

Attorneys, scholars and others have long raised questions about the convictions, and alternate theories and accusations have swirled around the case.

After Netflix aired the documentary series 'Who Killed Malcom X?' early last year, Vance's office said it was taking a fresh look at the case.

As news of the exonerations reverberated, New York City's mayor said the public deserved more answers.

'I hope this doesn't end the discussion,' Mayor Bill de Blasio said. 'For millions and millions of Americans, we still need to know who killed Malcolm X and who ordered it.'

But the prospect is clouded by the passage of time.

Every eyewitness who testified at the trial has died, and all the physical evidence - including a shotgun used in the killing - is gone, as are any phone records that might have existed, Vance said.

Aziz said while he does 'not need a court or a piece of paper' to tell him he is innocent, he is glad his family and supporters 'are finally seeing the truth...officially recognized'

Ameen Johnson, left, and Shahid Johnson, sons of Khalil Islam, speak during a press conference outside Manhattan court Thursday. Their father died more without ever seeing his name cleared

Islam's family and Aziz could each reasonably seek $1 million in restitution for each year they spent in prison, according to New York-based civil rights lawyer Richard Emery, who has represented wrongfully convicted people.

Emery said there were two ways to seek restitution: suing the state for unjust conviction, and filing a federal civil rights case against the law enforcement agencies involved.

One of Malcolm X's daughters, Ilyasah Shabazz, said in a statement on Thursday that she hoped the 'long overdue' exonerations would bring some peace to Aziz, his family and Islam's family.

But Shabazz said her family still wants to know the full truth behind her father's murder.

'Full justice will not be served until all parties involved in the orchestrated killing of our father are identified and brought to justice,' she said.

One FBI report from September 28, 1965 - which was kept secret - contained a description of the man whom some experts on the assassination have concluded was probably the killer who wielded a shotgun  William Bradley.

The Netflix series told the story of the hunt for Malcolm X's true killer, and researched Bradley's story.

Bradley's role in the killing was an open secret in Newark, New Jersey, where he lived, according to the documentary.

Bradley, a member of the Newark mosque who once served time in prison on charges that included threatening to kill three people, died in 2018 aged 79.

Halim - who admitted to being involved in the assassination plot, and was jailed for the crime - identified the man with the shotgun as Bradley, and insisted Aziz and Islam had not been involved.

Bradley also denied any involvement.

The historian Manning Marable, who wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Malcolm X in 2011, suspected that Bradley was probably pulled into the assassination plot.

But questions remain as to who ultimately ordered Malcolm's murder.

'The question is not simply the other four men who did kill Malcolm,' David Garrow, a Pulitzer Prize-winning civil rights historian, says in the second part of the Netflix series.

'The more historically crucial questions are who else in Newark, in New York and most essentially, in Chicago, were active participants in arranging Malcolm's murder.'
Visa's share price has plummeted after Amazon said it will stop accepting the firm's credit cards issued in the UK.

The US financial services corporation watched in horror as shares in New York slumped 5.2 per cent to $203.96 yesterday morning.

Experts warned the move was the 'opening gambit' in a battle to drive down huge fees on purchases customers and retailers are charged.

They said Amazon was shadowing a tactic used by Walmart five years ago which saw them strike a better deal with Visa.

It comes as the e-commerce giant last night revealed it was considering dropping the firm as partner on its US co-branded credit card.

This was just hours after confirming it would stop accepting Visa credit cards in the UK as the dispute over payments intensified.

The US financial services corporation watched in horror as shares in New York slumped 5.2 per cent to $203.96 yesterday morning

How are payment fees arranged in Britain? A retailer accepting card payments works with a financial institution known in the industry as an 'acquirer' such as a bank or company like Worldpay offering payment services. These companies charge a fee to their merchants based on three factors. The first is a fee to provide terminals in store and online services. The second is an 'interchange' which is a fixed rate going from the retailer's bank to the cardholder's bank. This is a regulated figure of 0.3 per cent for credit cards and 0.2 per cent for debit cards. The third element is a fee that goes to the card provider for managing the transaction. For Visa, typically on average across all UK transactions this is less than 0.1 per cent. The total percentage is normally a confidential figure that will vary between companies for the same type of card. Advertisement

Visa's shares fell 5.2 per cent to just $203.96 on the New York Stock Exchange at 9.36am yesterday.

It dropped a further 4.3 per cent to $199.66 at 2.30pm before steadily recovering to $205.16 as of 3.30pm.

It means the share price has slumped 6.6 per cent this year compared to a 29 per cent rise for the S&P 500 Information Technology Index.

Shanti Kelemen from M&G Wealth told Today: 'I think this is the opening gambit in a negotiation that's probably been going on for some time.

'Walmart did a similar thing in 2016 and they never went through with it, they ended up reaching an agreement with Visa.

'The UK is pretty small compared to Visa's global payment footprint, but the real danger for Visa is if this would spread globally it could have a significant impact on their revenue.'

Walmart's fallout with Visa started in 2014 when it sued the card firm for more than $5 billion for charging shoppers 'unreasonably high' fees.

The row escalated in June 2016 as the company's 370 Canada stores banned Visa cards over 'unacceptably high' fees for six months.

Chris Hemsley from the Payment Systems Regulator said: 'One of the things we've recently published this month is our definitive analysis.

'It showed some of these scheme fees have increased quite significantly. They've doubled within a four-year period from 2014.

'So what we've done on the back of that is we think there are questions on whether this market if working sufficiently well for retailers and consumers.

'So we've announced further work to really investigate that properly so we can think about what action we need to take if and when we find significant problems.'

Some customers received a notification from Amazon this week about the payment changes

Amazon's email to UK customers in full We're writing to notify you of an upcoming change to Amazon.co.uk. Starting 19 January, 2022, we will unfortunately no longer accept Visa credit cards issued in the UK, due to the high fees Visa charges for processing credit card transactions. You can still use debit cards (including Visa debit cards) and non-Visa credit cards like Mastercard, Amex, and Eurocard to make purchases. Please update your default payment method now, or add one of these new, eligible payment methods if you do not have one. You can update your Prime membership here, and if you have any subscriptions on Amazon.co.uk, you can update them on the ''manage your subscription'' page here. We know this may be inconvenient, and we're here to help you through this transition so you can continue enjoying Amazon's low prices and wide selection. Please visit this help page for more information on payment methods, or go directly to your account. Advertisement

Amazon last night revealed it was considering dropping the firm as partner on its US co-branded credit card.

The e-commerce giant is in talks with Mastercard Inc, American Express Co and Visa as part of what it called its standard process for reviewing its co-branded credit card.

Visa declined to comment on the co-branded card. Mastercard and American Express did not respond to requests for comment.

In recent months, Amazon has introduced surcharges on customers using Visa cards in Singapore and Australia, citing high fees, as the row between the firms continues.

Since Britain's exit from the EU, an EU-enforced cap on fees charged by card issuers is no longer in place in the UK, meaning providers are free to hike charges.

Visa last month began charging 1.5 per cent of the transaction value for credit card payments made online or over the phone between the UK and EU, and 1.15 per cent for debit card transactions, up from 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively.

The average credit card processing fees across the industry range between 1.5 per cent and 3.5 per cent of each transaction, according to analysts.

Historically, retailers had accepted processing charges by major credit card firms as the cost of access to their huge network of card users, analysts said, but that could be changing.

The move marks an 'important turning point in the payments industry,' said Laura Hoy, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, adding Amazon may hope to drive more customers to its own payments system.

'Ultimately, we think Amazon has the edge in this game of chicken - whether customers adopt its own payment system or Visa gives in and lowers its fees, either is a win for the retail giant,' Hoy said.

In the past, other big retailers have settled fee disputes with Visa after announcing they were going to quit taking Visa credit cards in narrow segments of their businesses.

Walmart Inc's unit in Canada, for example, said in 2016 it would stop accepting Visa credit cards after being unable to reach an agreement on fees. Seven months later the companies said they had settled the matter after about 20 stores stopped taking Visa cards.

Amazon customers can still use Visa debit cards, Mastercard and Amex credit cards, and Eurocard, in the UK, Amazon said in a note to customers.

Visa said in a statement it was 'disappointed that Amazon is threatening to restrict consumer choice.'

'We continue to work toward a resolution, so our cardholders can use their preferred Visa credit cards at Amazon UK without Amazon-imposed restrictions come January 2022,' Visa added.

Shares of rival Mastercard dropped 2.8 per cent on Wednesday. Amazon shares rose 0.2 per cent. American Express shares closed 0.7 per cent lower.

The British Retail Consortium said other retailers in the UK faced higher charges for cross-border payments, following Britain's departure from the European Union.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has had to flee anti-vax protestors who swarmed around him just a day after his staff received rape threats.

After he made it to his car, protestors started banging on the windows and one of them shouted that Mr McGowan was a 'f***ing coward'.

As the Premier made his way to the car, he was confronted by an agitated and loud group of anti-vaxxers determined to have their say.

Mr McGowan - who was last week at the centre of an alleged plot to dump a tank outside his office - had earlier accused Scott Morrison of using 'weasel words' and pandering to anti-vaxxers.

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) and his staff have been subjected to a series of threats from anti-vaxxers over the past two weeks

'Aren't you down here to convince us?' one woman asked as she jumped in front of Mr McGowan, trying to block his path.

'Tell us why we should have it,' she said, referring to the Covid-19 vaccination.

Though WA has avoided the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, it lags behind other states in vaccination numbers.

Just 70.8 per cent of West Australians aged 12 and above fully vaccinated.

The state government will name a date to open up to the rest of the country when WA reaches 80 per cent double-dose coverage, which is expected in mid-December.

One of Wednesday's protestors roared out 'You f***ing coward' at Mr McGowan as he made his way around them and got into his car.

Two women then started banging on his window and other protestors continued to call him a 'coward'.

As his car pulled away a woman shouts out 'We will rise up', a phrase often used by far right and anti-vaccination protestors.

WA Premiers Mark McGowan was cornered by anti-vaccination protestors on Thursday

The latest attack on Mr McGowan comes a day after his electorate office had to be closed due to security risks, with staff subjected to rape threats from anti-vaxxers.

The Premier said his Rockingham office had been the target of death and bomb threats since the state government announced mandatory vaccination for much of its workforce.

Last week a man was prevented from allegedly planning to dump a tank at his office.

It took four officers to restrain James Tioro after an incident outside his Camden Way home and take him into custody.

WA lags behind other states in vaccination numbers, with just 70.8 per cent of West Australians aged 12 and above fully vaccinated (pictured, a stock image of a Pfizer jab being prepared)

This followed reports of him standing on top of a former British Army tank known as a Ferret Scout Car, allegedly swinging a pickaxe and shouting threats, some of which were directed at the Premier.

Mr Tioro was reportedly angry at Mr McGowan over WA's mandatory vaccination policies.

Around five hours before his arrest, Mr Tioro allegedly organised for a tow truck to take the tank to the Premier's office.

Channel 7 Perth reported that when Mr McGowan's staff refused to allow the tank to be dropped off outside the office, they were abused.

It also reported that material allegedly threatening the Premier had been found inside Mr Tioro's house.

The tank was then taken back to Mr Tioro's home and several police cars later responded to a disturbance there.

A man was prevented from allegedly planning to dump a tank (pictured) at WA Premier Mark McGowan's electorate office

Mr McGowan also on Thursday accused Scott Morrison of using 'weasel words' after the Prime Minister said people were frustrated with governments telling them what to do.

Mr Morrison said 'Australians have done an amazing job when it comes to leading us through this pandemic, but now it's time for governments to step back and for Australians to take their lives back, and for Australians to be able to move forward with the freedoms that should be theirs.'

Mr McGowan hit back, saying 'There just should not be any weasel words.

'There should be no walking on both sides of the fence, you condemn it and you support each of us that is trying to get people vaccinated across Australia.

'We can't have anyone trying to score points with the anti-vaxxers or dog-whistling to them.

'We just need to all be on the same page that we get everyone vaccinated, we come out of this as unscathed as possible, and we avoid the mass deaths that have occurred in other countries.'
An antibody drug developed by AstraZeneca cuts the risk of falling ill with Covid by more than 80 per cent, according to trial data which suggests it could offer longer-lasting immunity than the drug giant's jab.

The cocktail, which is equally effective when given as a preventative or a treatment, offers hope to elderly and vulnerable people who respond less well to vaccines.

AstraZeneca today published results from a six-month study of its Evusheld therapy, delivered as two injections at the same time.

A single course offered 83 per cent protection against symptomatic Covid after six months in unvaccinated vulnerable people.

This is much higher than current vaccines, which are given as two doses and wane significantly within months.

AstraZeneca's own jab falls to just 40 per cent protection against symptoms at six months, and Pfizer and Moderna's drop to around 60 per cent.

The phase III study of Evusheld tested the cocktail on people with medical problems or conditions which put them at risk of not responding to vaccines.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy, which reduces the effectiveness of the body's immune system, or taking immunosuppressive drugs following an organ transplant are among those who don't always get the full protection from jabs.

In a separate study, which gave the cocktail to people after they caught Covid, it was shown to reduce the risk of severe illness by 88 per cent. Experts hope it will protect against hospitalisations and deaths for up to 18 months.

Britain is believed to have a million doses of Evusheld on order. But it is unclear how much the therapy will cost.

The US has invested 350million in supporting the research and manufacturing of the drug and has secured 100,000 doses, with the option to purchase up to 1m.

New trial data from AstraZeneca Covid antibody therapy AZD7442 could allow people who can't be protected by vaccines a chance to return to normal life experts say

Former health secretary Matt Hancock was involved in a trial to treat Covid patients using antibodies collected from those previously infected with the virus in April 2020

Results from the latest trial, which involved 5,200 participants, showed those who received the antibody were 83 per cent less likely to develop Covid symptoms than people who got a placebo.

Three quarters of the trial participants had a health condition which put them at high risk for severe a Covid infection if they were to become infected.

There were no deaths or severe cases of the virus in the cohort which got Evusheld, compared to two deaths and five severe Covid cases in the placebo group.

All participants were unvaccinated. They will be followed for 15 months to explore how long protection might last.

How does the Evusheld treatment work? AZD7442 is made from two long acting antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab. These antibodies have been developed from B-cells donated by patients who recovered from a Covid infection. B-cells are a type of white blood cell forming part of the body's immune system and generate antibodies. Antibodies are a type of protein found in blood which binds to and neutralises foreign substances like bacteria and viruses preventing them from harming healthy cells. However, after an infection has passed, the level of antibodies in the body eventually decreases. So in AZD7442, scientists modified the two antibodies to last longer than conventional ones. This is what gives the treatment the long-lasting protection of up to 12 months according to Astrazeneca. Advertisement

Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody therapy also called AZD7442, contains two types of lab-made antibodies, and is given to patients via an injection into the arm, similar to some vaccines.

It is made by extracting the proteins from patients who have recovered from the virus, and then manipulating them in a lab to make them last longer than natural antibodies.

They bind to the virus' spike protein  which it uses to invade cells  to stop an infection, or to prevent the virus from multiplying when it does infect.

Antibodies are created by the immune system in response to the virus, either through vaccination or natural infection, in order to help the body fight if off in the future.

The current vaccines train a person's body to recognise Covid, but the immune system still needs to produce its own antibodies. The latest therapy skips that process, making the antibodies readily available.

In some immunosupressed people, their immune systems are so weak that even after vaccination, their body struggles to mount a response.

AstraZeneca said the drug is primarily meant to help these patients and other at-risk individuals.

But at some point a wider group could benefit, it said, such as military personnel on tours of duty or cruise ship passengers.

The company also released an analysis of a separate trial of Evusheld, showing the antibody treatment led to better outcomes for people who caught the virus.

A trial of 903 people, 90 per cent of which were classified as being at high risk due to them having underlying conditions, who caught Covid showed those who were given Evusheld three days after symptoms started had a 88 per cent reduced chance of developing severe Covid or dying from the virus compared to people who got a placebo.

Professor Hugh Montgomery, an intensive care specialist based at University College London and lead researcher on the trial, said: 'These compelling results give me confidence that this long-acting antibody combination can provide my vulnerable patients with the long-lasting protection they urgently need to finally return to their everyday lives.

'Importantly, six months of protection was maintained despite the surge of the Delta variant among these high-risk participants who may not respond adequately to vaccination.'

AstraZeneca estimates 2 per cent of the global population has a condition meaning they are at risk of not being fully protected by a Covid vaccine.

The company's executive vice president Mene Pangalos said: 'These new data add to the growing body of evidence supporting AZD7442s potential to make a significant difference in the prevention and treatment of Covid.

'We are progressing regulatory filings around the world and look forward to providing an important new option against SARS-CoV-2 as quickly as possible.'

Professor Penny Ward, an expert in pharmaceutical medicine at Kings College London, welcomed the results of both trials but added they needed to stand up to independent analysis.

'Regrettably neither study has been published in full and thus our ability to assess these data is limited,' she said.

'AZD are encouraged to publish the complete trial data and detailed results as rapidly as possible to enable prescribers to understand how best to use the product in practice.'

Professor Ward said, if the results are confirmed, AZD7442 could potentially become a key part of protecting immunocompromised Britons from Covid.

'This antibody cocktail is, uniquely, capable of offering long lasting protection from COVID to patients that are immunosuppressed and may not have responded effectively to vaccination,' she said.

'If may yet come to be considered an important adjunctive treatment for cancer patients and others needing immune-suppressing therapy for other diseases.'

'Let us hope a good supply of this product has been secured for use in the UK.'

AstraZeneca has already asked the US for emergency use authorisation for AZD7442 as preventative treatment for Covid.

While the company has not confirmed if it was seeking similar approval to use it in the UK it has stated it is 'discussing' trial data with health authorities.

It is unknown how much a dose of AZD7442 will cost if the drug is approved for use, but AstraZeneca famously sacrificed billions in profits by only selling its Covid vaccine at-cost.

That decision was hailed by the World Health Organization which called the affordable jab a 'vaccine for the world'.

AstraZeneca became a household name in 2020 due to its work with Oxford University in developing one of the the four Covid vaccines currently approved for use in the UK.

By the end of September there have been about 50million Oxford/AstraZeneca jabs administered in the UK, comprising of both first and second doses of the vaccine.

A number of drugs aimed at helping people infected with Covid recover have been found to help patients since pandemic ripped across the world in 2020.

One of these is dexamethasone, a steroid, found to cut the risk of death in severely infected Covid patients by 35 per cent, a made by UK scientists.

Another is Ronapreve, which like AZD7442 has been developed from the antibodies of recovered Covid patients.

The drug, made by Regeneron, was found to slash the risk of death or hospitalisation in people with severe health conditions by 70 per cent.

Ronapreve was approved for use in the UK on August 20 but NHS medics have struggled to get supplies of the drug for their patients despite it being available in the US since November.
A jailed bank fraudster who's incriminated her former boyfriend is a 'wretched, evil little vixen' whose 'tongue dripped with lies', a jury has been told.

'In the honesty stakes, she has got nothing going for her,' Winston Terracini SC said in his closing address in the NSW District Court on Thursday.

His client Junchi Ma has pleaded not guilty to a string of proceeds-of-crime charges.

They are related to his alleged involvement in his then-partner's misappropriation of $2.4 million from a Commonwealth Bank customer's account in 2015.

'He might be a dupe or a fool but as he said, 'I'm not a crook',' Mr Terracini said.

The now 31-year-old was in a relationship with bank teller Hsin-Yu 'Angie' Tsai, who has given evidence for the Crown.

A jury was told former Commonwealth Bank worker Hsin-Yu Tsaid was a 'wretched, evil little vixen' whose 'tongue dripped with lies'

She's behind bars after pleading guilty to the fraud, carried out when Ma was completing a masters of applied finance at Macquarie University.

Before closing addresses began on Thursday, Judge Craig Smith directed the jury to acquit Ma of three of the 18 charges he faced as the evidence couldn't establish an essential ingredient of those counts.

The Crown alleges Ma's desire to buy a $650,000 Ferrari fuelled his emotional and financial pressuring of his girlfriend to swindle the funds.

Tsai's evidence included telling the jury Ma was the one who raised the possibility of accessing the victim's millions

She testified to depositing the stolen funds into an account held by his friend, at the suggestion of her boyfriend, who had the login details.

'If she is capable of deceiving and tricking people in authority in the bank, she is quite capable of deceiving this young man and it is put that she did,' the lawyer for Mr Ma (pictured) told the court

But Mr Terracini attacked the credibility of 'the Crown's star witness' saying she had covered her tracks for years and even the bank experts did not know how she got away with her offending.

'If she told you it was raining you would go outside and check,' he said.

'She is a low, contemptible, deceitful, dishonest woman who plainly was riddled with avarice, the love of money and was prepared to do anything.'

Ma testified he had believed the money had come from her parents, which Mr Terracini said was what this 'wretched, evil little vixen' also told a colleague.

'If she is capable of deceiving and tricking people in authority in the bank, she is quite capable of deceiving this young man and it is put that she did,' he said.

The Crown alleges Ma's desire to buy a $650,000 Ferrari fuelled his emotional and financial pressuring of his girlfriend (pictured) to swindle the funds

Tsai was also 'capable of spinning a yarn', and had 'lied and lied and lied' and 'used her charm' during intercepted telephone calls played to the jury.

Prosecutor Michael Smith agreed Tsai had told lies in the phone recording and that 'she was good at it'.

But he urged the jury to also look at 'technical-type evidence' such as documents, which did not lie.

Tsai no doubt exploited her knowledge of the bank systems, but that didn't preclude Ma's involvement in the offending which the Crown alleged included carrying out online transactions.

Mr Terracini said documents did not prove that Ma had 'knowledge', that he knew the monies were stolen or tainted.

Ma had explained he thought the funds were from Tsai's parents.

'If you can't prove knowledge, it's over red-rover.'

The trial continues.
This is the chilling moment a paranoid schizophrenic stalked his victims during a 90-minute stabbing spree which killed a 23-year-old man and left seven other people injured.

Zephaniah McLeod, 28, was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years to initially be served at a high-security hospital.

He had been released from prison months before he launched the deadly attack across Birmingham on September 6 last year.

He killed Jacob Billington, 23, a university worker, of Crosby, Merseyside, when he plunged a blade into his neck as he walked back to his hotel with friends following a night out.

Today, Mr Billington's mother Jo Billington said there are still many 'unanswered questions' about various state agencies prior treatment and monitoring of McLeod, and believes 'mistakes were made', before the attacks.

Michael Callaghan, 23, who was with Mr Billington, was also seriously injured, as were six other revellers during the string of violent random stabbings.

The six other people McLeod stabbed were Dimitar Bachvarov, Migle Dolobauskaite, Thomas Glassey, Shane Rowley, Rhys Cummings and Ryan Bowers.

McLeod previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, four counts of attempted murder and three charges of wounding.

Zephaniah McLeod had already pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jacob Billington on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but later admitted four charges of attempted murder and three of wounding with intent in a series of knifings on September 6 last year. Left, handout photo. Right, court artist sketch

University worker Mr Billington, from Crosby, Merseyside, died from a wound to the neck on his way back to a hotel after enjoying a night out while visiting a friend who was studying in the city

McLeod carried out the apparently random and motiveless attacks in the space of 90 minutes.

After McLeod was jailed, police released harrowing CCTV footage of each attack showing him attacking strangers as he stalked the city looking for victims.

He can be seen in shocking video viciously lunging at Migle Dolobauskaite with the blade while she was sat looking at her phone near Snow Hill station.

McLeod then dumped the knife down a drain before getting a taxi back to his home in Selly Oak and rearming himself with another knife to continue his spree.

He then encountered Mr Billington and Michael on Irving Street and approached them asking for a lighter before savagely stabbing them both.

The footage shows the group of pals running for their lives after McLeod stabbed both men in the neck.

McLeod can be seen in shocking video viciously lunging at Migle Dolobauskaite with the blade while she was sat looking at her phone near Snow Hill station

Mr Billington was pronounced dead despite the efforts of paramedics having been stabbed in the chest and neck, with the knife entering the back and exiting through the upper chest.

Further CCTV shows McLeod attacking another victim Ryan Bowers on Hurst Street in the city's Gay Quarter swiping out with the blade in a swinging motion.

The final two attacks were also captured on camera and show Ryan Bowers being stabbed in the jaw and Shane Rowley being knifed six times in the stomach before McLeod walked away smirking.

Jordan Davis, a witness to the attack, said in a statement: 'He walked towards me and did not look right.

'There was no emotion. He was smirking. He made us feel on edge, he then said "watch this" and he was smirking to himself.'

Following the string of stabbings, police launched a manhunt and tracked McLeod to his home address at 4am the following day.

Body-cam footage captured firearms officers detaining him at gunpoint after smashing down his front door.

With red dots trained on his chest, officers scream: 'Come down to us Zephaniah, keep your hands where we can see them. Stand still, turn around.'

Following the string of stabbings, police launched a manhunt and tracked McLeod to his home address at 4am the following day. Body-cam footage captured firearms officers detaining him at gunpoint after smashing down his front door. With red dots trained on his chest, officers scream: 'Come down to us Zephaniah, keep your hands where we can see them. Stand still, turn around'

Mr Billington with his younger sister Abbie on his graduation from Sheffield Hallam University where he was working as a graduate intern

Jacob Billington's mother Joanne Billington speaking outside Birmingham Crown Court after the sentencing of Zephaniah McLeod

West Midlands Police also released distressing 999 calls made my members of the public who witnessed the horror unfold.

One door supervisor says: 'A young lady has been stabbed. She's on the floor. He's ran off, is she alright? Is she still breathing?

'I've just found out someone else has been stabbed now. He has been stabbed in the neck.'

Stab victim's mother believes 'mistakes were made' before killer struck The mother of a university worker stabbed to death on a night out in Birmingham believes 'mistakes were made' by prisons and mental health services who had contact with the killer before he struck. Joanne Billington, whose son Jacob was killed as knifeman Zephaniah McLeod went on a chilling rampage through the city last year, said: 'It doesn't feel like (mistakes were made) - I know mistakes were made. 'I'm hoping that we will get some genuine scrutiny of the agencies involved.' The court heard McLeod had previous convictions for robbery, imitation firearm possession, assault and supplying drugs and was known to the prison and probation services. He was also known to mental health services, had a history of hearing voices telling him to 'stab' and 'kill', and had been suffering paranoid schizophrenia since 2012. McLeod then missed a psychiatric assessment appointment just three days before he struck. Mrs Billington, from Crosby, Merseyside, said an NHS-led serious case review is currently under way into various agencies' contact with McLeod, but a final report is not expected to be published until early next year. She said: 'It's not like things like this haven't happened before in Birmingham, so we're hoping that that will be taken into account. 'The agencies who said they were going to make changes appear not to have made changes. 'For me, going forward - McLeod, let the legal system deal with him. 'But that other side is equally important to me.' She added the review process has made it hard to get answers to many outstanding questions she has about McLeod, adding: 'All they say is, "it's gone to the review, you'll have to wait for the report". 'Because this individual was involved in so many different agencies, there's about six different people that are contributing. 'He was in a lot of different prisons and all that sort of thing. 'It goes back quite a long way.' In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, West Midlands Police was criticised for the speed of its response to the incident, but it later emerged McLeod had gone home part-way through his spree, before returning to continue. Mr Billington was attacked after McLeod collected another knife from his home and got a taxi back to the city centre, having already slashed and stabbed three people earlier that night. Mr Billington was a talented musician who played drums for The Vedetts and he had been on a night out with old friends, including band-mate Michael Callaghan, that night. After celebrating one of their birthdays, the group was walking back to the nearby Ibis Hotel when McLeod struck, with Mr Billington stabbed in the neck and shoulder in Irving Street, Birmingham, at about 1.50am. Mr Callaghan was gravely injured by a single stab wound to his neck but is continuing to make progress on what will be a long road to recovery. Mrs Billington said she has 'no criticism of the police', saying the situation was 'confused' and McLeod's behaviour 'unusual'. Following Mr Billington's death, his family 'haven't hidden away', and there are 'pictures of him everywhere'. The eldest of Mr Billington's sisters, 22-year-old Abbie, also has photographs of her brother in her university student house, describing him as an 'amazing' man. 'We spent our lives together, but we got closer as we got older,' she said. She said 'there were just no words' to describe her feelings when told her brother had died, adding: 'Sadness doesn't even do it justice. 'This is someone who I've shared my life with, and now I have to go forward in life without him.' Even over a year later, she said: 'I feel like he's away at university - it just feels like he's in Sheffield and I can just message him or I can give him a call and he'll answer because it just doesn't feel right that he's not here.' Asked about her feelings towards seeing McLeod in court, Mrs Billington said: 'I feel I'd love to ask him, why? Why did he pick Jacob?' Abbie said: 'He's the one who took my brother's life, but I can't do anything about that. 'I can't change the fact that he's done that, so why should I give him any of my energy, any of my emotions, my anger, my sadness, anything like that? 'I just don't feel like he is worth that.' Advertisement

The first victim of the rampage was Dimitar Bachvarov, who called 999 to say: 'One guy has tried to stab me in the street and he has stabbed me in the neck.

'Yes I'm bleeding a little but, just because I moved in the last moment. He tried to stab me with a big knife in the neck.'

McLeod had asked Mr Bachvarov for a cigarette before the stabbing and told him 'you're going to have a wound now' before 'calmly' walking away.

Another frantic witness called for an ambulance shouting: 'Someone has been stabbed.

'He is breathing now but we're pressing on the wound. He's losing a lot of blood from the neck.'

When asked what happened, the witness says: 'One minute he was walking and then there was blood everywhere.'

Another caller tells operators: 'They just stabbed him in the neck in town, on Hurst Street. Out of nothing, he just stabbed them up.'

The final caller repeatedly says 'send an ambulance, send an ambulance, send an ambulance' as a woman can be heard screaming in the background.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Billington died as a result of a neck wound.

McLeod had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack and was 'well-known' to mental health services.

The court heard he was released from prison unsupervised in April 2020, was only seen face-to-face by a mental health team on September 3, then 'refused' to attend a psychiatric assessment - just three days before the attacks.

Mr Billington's mother Joanna Billington described her son as 'an absolutely fantastic young man' who was 'fun, cheeky, full of life, full of happiness'.

She said she believes 'mistakes were made' by prisons and mental health services who had contact with the killer before he struck.

She said: 'It doesn't feel like (mistakes were made) - I know mistakes were made.

'I'm hoping that we will get some genuine scrutiny of the agencies involved.'

The court heard McLeod had previous convictions for robbery, imitation firearm possession, assault and supplying drugs and was known to the prison and probation services.

He was also known to mental health services, had a history of hearing voices telling him to 'stab' and 'kill', and had been suffering paranoid schizophrenia since 2012.

McLeod then missed a psychiatric assessment appointment just three days before he struck.

Mrs Billington, from Crosby, Merseyside, said an NHS-led serious case review is currently under way into various agencies' contact with McLeod, but a final report is not expected to be published until early next year.

Speaking of her son, she added: 'He was an absolutely fantastic young man, he was fun, cheeky, full of life, full of happiness.

'Things were going really well for Jacob at the time of his death. He was working at the university where hed studied, as a graduate intern.

'He had a new girlfriend who he was really keen on, he was just in a really good place.

'He had an amazing set of friends who were really supportive and they were just enjoying their young lives. I couldnt have hoped for more.'

Mr Billington 'loved' music and could turn his hand to everything from a guitar, to the more exotic Peruvian percussion instrument, the cajon.

'He was playing in a band with Michael and some other friends,' said his mother.

'Music was massive for Jacob. That was his big love.

'If it wasn't playing in bands, it was going to see them, festivals, he lived for it really.

'I think his dream was always to be a musician.

'But he wanted to stay working for a university.

'He was very interested in the widening participation agenda in universities, getting people who wouldn't traditionally go to apply for university.

'He really loved the university life and working there was a bonus for him.

'I think if he wasn't going to be a rock star, he probably would have stayed in the higher education sector in some way.'

Mrs Billington described how an ordinary night out with friends became every parent's 'nightmare', when she got a knock at the door from police in the early hours to tell her that her son was dead.

'I can still see him leaving the house with the lads in the car outside beeping the horns getting him to hurry out,' she said.

'He skipped out and we just thought he was going for a lovely night out with his friends.

'We just got a knock on the door - two police officers - it's exactly how you think it is, "we've got something to tell you. Can we come in?"

'Then it was "We're sorry to tell you that there's been an incident in Birmingham and Jacob's passed away".'

There was little information as to what exactly had happened - McLeod was not caught until the following day - so the family 'had an hour where we knew he was dead', but nothing about the friends he had been with, or whether it was an accident.

She then had the 'awful' task of waking Mr Billington's younger sisters and telling them what had happened.

'You feel like you had all the breath sucked out of you, is the best way I can describe it,' she said.

As the day wore on, more information emerged and they discovered Mr Callaghan - with whom Mr Billington had been friends since primary school - had been gravely hurt.

'If anyone's got kids - it's like your worst nightmare. And it is as bad as you think,' added Mrs Billington.

But the family 'haven't hidden away', and there are 'pictures of him everywhere'.

Mr Billington with his younger sister Abbie. Today, his mother described him as 'an absolutely fantastic young man' who was 'fun, cheeky, full of life, full of happiness'

Michael Callaghan, who was left gravely injured after being stabbed in the neck by Zephaniah McLeod speaking outside Birmingham Crown Court after his sentencing

Michael Callaghan only just survived the knife attack carried out by McLeod after suffering a single stab wound to his neck which left paralysed down his left side

The eldest of Mr Billington's sisters, 22-year-old Abbie, also has photographs of her brother in her university student house, describing him as an 'amazing' man.

'We spent our lives together, but we got closer as we got older,' she said.

She said 'there were just no words' to describe her feelings when told her brother had died, adding: 'Sadness doesn't even do it justice.

Stab victim still facing long road to recovery An engineering graduate who suffered a 'catastrophic' stab wound in the Birmingham knife attacks is facing a long road to recovery, his mother has said. Michael Callaghan's injuries were so serious his family 'don't really understand how he even survived'. His mother Anne Callaghan said: 'He is on this very long journey at the moment', and remains 'devastated' at the death of his close friend Jacob Billington, who was killed in the attacks. Mr Callaghan was one of eight people knifed and slashed in a string of apparently motiveless and otherwise unconnected assaults carried out by Zephaniah McLeod in Birmingham city centre in the early hours of September 6, last year. The attacks claimed the life of Mr Billington - Mr Callaghan's friend since school and a fellow member of their band The Vedetts. Mrs Callaghan has spoken of how her son is 'resilient', and is determined to regain his independence while still 'deeply mourning' the loss of his close friend. She first discovered her son had been attacked when a nurse at a Birmingham hospital rang at 5.30am to say he was 'in theatre and he was stable', she said. 'We didn't know what she was talking about," said Mrs Callaghan. 'I said: "What's happened?" and she said: "He's been stabbed", and I just couldn't grasp it at all.' Once at hospital in Birmingham, the gravity of her son's injuries became clear. 'The knife completely severed his jugular vein and carotid artery, and also something called the (left) vagus nerve,' she said. 'They had to open him up (his neck) because they couldn't find the ends of the artery and the vein to be able to pull them together. "He lost a huge amount of blood and we don't really understand how he even survived, because people don't survive those injuries. Obviously, it's wonderful.' Advertisement

'This is someone who I've shared my life with, and now I have to go forward in life without him.'

A year on, she said: 'I feel like he's away at university - it just feels like he's in Sheffield and I can just message him or I can give him a call and he'll answer because it just doesn't feel right that he's not here.'

Asked about her feelings towards seeing McLeod in court, Mrs Billington said: 'I feel I'd love to ask him, why? Why did he pick Jacob?'

Abbie said: 'He's the one who took my brother's life, but I can't do anything about that.

'I can't change the fact that he's done that, so why should I give him any of my energy, any of my emotions, my anger, my sadness, anything like that?

'I just don't feel like he is worth that.'

Medical engineer and close friend of Mr Billington, Michael was left in a coma and almost died as a result of a stab wound on the right side of neck and spent six months in hospital.

In a devastating victim impact statement he said: 'Sometimes I wished he'd killed me.'

Since the attacks, Mrs Billington has formed a deep friendship with Anne Callaghan, Michael's mother.

Before the events in Birmingham, Mrs Callaghan said she could not have designed him any better.

Michael is still continuing his rehabilitation, having recently undergone surgery to patch a hole in his skull, and undergoing intensive physiotherapy which has enabled him to walk again.

Mrs Callaghan commended his absolute determination and said: 'We dont really understand how he survived because people just dont survive those injuries.

'Weve had real milestones, him being able to sit up, being able to sit in an ordinary wheelchair, getting up on his feet, using the stairs.

'Weve had just some fantastic milestones and Im sure theres more to come. Hes so determined.

'He speaks of his loss and his grief (for Jacob) and has said he would swap places if he could.'

Mrs Callaghan said she first discovered her son had been attacked when a nurse at a Birmingham hospital rang at 5.30am to say he was 'in theatre and he was stable', she said.

'We didnt know what she was talking about,' said Mrs Callaghan.

'I said: "Whats happened?" and she said: "Hes been stabbed", and I just couldnt grasp it at all.'

The knife severed Michael's jugular vein and carotid artery, causing him to lose a huge amount of blood.

Within 24 hours of being stabbed, Michael then had a 'catastrophic' stroke caused by the blood loss from his injury.

His family were warned that if he survived, he would 'have terrible life-changing injuries', with his mother recalling 'the word "vegetable" was used'.

The otherwise fit and healthy 24-year-old, needed 'last resort' craniectomy surgery to remove pressure on his brain, caused by the stroke.

The operation worked, but in a fresh blow, he then developed pneumonia from being on a ventilator.

His blood pressure again went up, with doctors having to medically paralyse him and treat him with a cocktail of drugs to fight off the infection.

Footage shows Zephaniah McLeod walking along Barwick Street towards Edmund Street having just attacked the third victim in Barwick Street. He enters Edmund Street and dumps the knife used to attack the first victims down a drain

Michael Callaghan in hospital after surviving the attack on September 6 last year. More than a year later, he is still recovering from his injuries

Michael Callaghan (left), who survived a knife attack by Zephaniah McLeod, playing with Vedetts Band

CCTV 'vital' in hunt to find killer who brought horror to the streets of Birmingham Varying descriptions of Zephaniah McLeod given by witnesses and the random nature of his stabbings made it difficult for detectives to make early links between the horrific attacks he brought to the streets of Birmingham. Although inquiries including stops-and-searches were carried out after the first incidents in the Constitution Hill and Barwick Street areas - near Snow Hill railway station - McLeod had returned to his home in Selly Oak in a taxi to re-arm himself. The first wave of attacks finished at around 12.45am, while the fatal stabbing of Jacob Billington in Irving Street and subsequent attacks in Hurst Street happened between 1.49am and 2.08am. Commenting on the efforts made to trace McLeod, Superintendent Jim Munro, of West Midlands Police, said: 'McLeod started offending in the north side of the city centre, in Constitution Hill. 'He slowly moved into the area of Barwick Street, where prior to that he injured two more victims. 'He then dumped a knife that we subsequently found down a drain in Barwick Street before moving, walking across to the south side (of the city centre) and going into a pizza shop in Bristol Street, where he asked the staff there for a knife. 'They refused and called him a taxi. He went back to the Selly Oak area of the town, where he then armed himself again with a knife, returned back to the city centre, now on the south side, near to the Ibis Hotel, where he tragically injured another man and Jacob Billington, who tragically lost his life.' McLeod, 28, then moved to the Hurst Street and Sherlock Street area, where he stabbed the final three of his eight victims before again heading home in a taxi. Mr Munro said: 'A police investigation then followed which painstakingly viewed many, many hours of CCTV, and working with some of the information from witnesses and people that came forward, we were able to identify McLeod as being the person responsible. 'Internally within West Midlands Police the response and the investigation has been reviewed. 'The upshot of some of the information that has come from those processes is that ultimately there are evenings in Birmingham where stabbings are reported to the police - it's not uncommon. 'What was identified during the early reports was that there were varying descriptions of the person who was responsible. 'And at that time, it wasn't clear whether the first set of incidents which took place around Constitution Hill moving towards Barwick Street were actually connected due to the information that had been provided. 'Officers were immediately deployed to the area. People were spoken to, indeed some people were stopped and actually searched as part of that process in order to identify who was responsible. 'But of course at this time, McLeod had actually returned back home to arm himself again and returned back to another part of the city centre, where he continued his offending. 'Post-investigation it was easy to identify those links, but at that time of course, in the heat of the information that was being provided, those offences weren't put together, pieced together at that particular time, and the pattern of offending wasn't obvious.' Early analysis of key CCTV cameras and information provided by a witness from the pizza shop where McLeod had called a cab allowed officers to establish that the person behind the first bout of incidents had travelled to Selly Oak. Officers then identified and arrested McLeod in an armed operation in the early hours of the following day. Due to his psychiatric problems, officers were unable to interview McLeod about the motivation for the attacks. Mr Munro said: 'Due to some of the mental health issues around McLeod and some of the psychiatric assessments that took place whilst he was in police custody, we were actually unable to interview him and put to him some of the evidence that had been put together by officers during that initial phase of the investigation. 'So we've never been able to directly speak with McCleod and obtain an account around what took place that night.' McCleod was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court to life with a minimum term of 21 years, to initially be served at a high-security hospital, for the attacks in the early hours of September 6, 2020. Advertisement

The Callaghans stayed in Birmingham - though they were prevented from staying by their sons bedside because of the strict Covid measures in force.

It meant they missed Mr Billingtons funeral, but were able to watch over video-link.

A side-effect of the stroke means his left-hand vocal cord is weak, so he is continuing speech therapy to build strength.

The attack has also reduced his left-field of vision, so he can no longer drive.

However, Mrs Callaghan said: 'I couldnt have designed him better.

'He was in a very good place before it happened.

'He was kind, compassionate, empathetic, all that kind of thing - but strong and robust.

'All those qualities have helped him and hes just so determined.

'He wants to be as independent as possible.'

Paying tribute to Mr Billington, Mrs Callaghan said: 'He was a real joker.

'He was the kind of person that hed enter a room and the atmosphere would be lifted.

'He walked with a bounce, you saw him around... and he had something about him that youd recognise him straight away.'

Mrs Callaghan also praised the 'utterly amazing' friends who were with her son and Mr Billington on the night.

She said: 'Theyre absolutely heroes.'

Mrs Callaghan said of McLeod: 'All I want is for him to be off the streets, because I dont think he can be ever trusted.

'My fear is that somebody will say, in the future that "hes well now".

'Hes not answered any questions.

'We dont know anything about why he did what he did.

'How can anybody say hes safe again?'

Asked about her hopes for her sons future, she said: 'If he could play the guitar again, that would just be absolutely wonderful for him.'

Ordering McLeods detention, initially at Ashworth Hospital, Mr Justice Pepperall said: 'Just after midnight on September 6, 2020 you were wandering the streets of Birmingham intent on killing one or more persons.

'Over the course of the next 20 minutes you stabbed your first three victims.

'After disposing of your knife, you soon decided to obtain another one, you asked a restaurant to lend you a knife on the pretence that you needed to cut something and when staff refused, you took a taxi home.

'You went straight back into Birmingham city centre with the sole purpose of obtaining a second knife.

'Having rearmed yourself you stabbed another five victims over the course of ten minutes.

'Your victims were variously enjoying nights out or returning from work, they gave you no offence, and they were chosen at random.

'On a number of occasions, you asked for a cigarette or light in an apparent pretence to get close to a potential victim before striking.

'You used significant force as you stabbed your victims. Wherever possible you aimed your knives at victim necks.

'Over the course of your murderous rampage you killed one man, left another woman fighting for their lives and wounded five others.

'They they were your direct victims but your actions had a profound effect on dozens of lives.'

The sentence imposed means McLeod would move to a prison to serve the remainder of his term, if his mental health improved sufficiently - but could be returned to a secure hospital if it worsened again.

The judge said: 'Such a sentence ensures you first obtain treatment but means should you ever be assessed as fit to leave hospital you will be transferred to a prison and not simply released.'

West Midlands Police said CCTV showed that after leaving Barwick Street McLeod had dumped his knife in a drain.

He tried to obtain another knife from a pizza takeaway, but when they refused him, he caught a taxi to his home address and re-armed himself, before heading into the city centre again to continue his assault an hour later.

As late as September 3, three days before the attacks in Birmingham, McLeod was seen by a mental health nurse, and said he had heard 'distressing' voices in his head.

A few years earlier he spoke of having 'dark and sinister thoughts about killing' and heard voices in his head saying: 'Kill 'em, stab 'em'.

On Wednesday, the second day of his sentencing hearing, a psychiatrist said McLeod will require lifelong treatment and would be a danger to others if he was sent back to jail.

Dr Jeremy Kenney-Herbert described the defendant as a 'very dangerous man' who could pose a further threat to staff and other inmates in prison.

He said McLeod claimed to have no recollection of any events from July to September last year and recommended detention under the Mental Heath Act.

Defence barrister Michael Burrows QC, asked why McLeod was released from prison in the middle of the pandemic in April 2020, with no supervision or support.

Police had issued CCTV images of a man wanted in connection with a series of stabbings

Forensic officers cross a cordon on Hurst Walk near the Arcadia Centre, where part of the attack took place

Dr Kenney-Herbert replied: 'In April 2020, in an ideal world someone like this would be close to their home so that they were close to mental health services.

'Basically, housing and supervision. Without that support is it likely he would become mentally ill.

'He had little medication, little money, very little other support or supervision

'I understand that he had gone to the very end of his sentence and no conditions were placed on his discharge.

'Without that support, and not registering with a GP, it is likely to lead to a relapse of his mental illness.

'Clearly at some point he realised he needed help and registered with a surgery. A GP referred him to local mental health service.

'He was quite concerned about his mental state. It was too late - he didn't know what to do to comply or engage, that is my hypothesis.

'He was suffering from a severe mental illness.

'It's my opinion that his horrific behaviour and the offences that have been committed is highly attributable to his mental illness.'

After today's sentencing, superintendent Jim Munro, who was the senior investigating officer for the case, said: 'Its not unusual for us to receive several reports of assaults, some involving weapons, on a busy weekend evening, so the incidents were not linked at first.

'Our CCTV operators immediately began exploring footage around the scenes that had been reported to us and later that day we identified a potential suspect linked to each attack, so we began tracking his movements.

'The number of CCTV cameras across the city is significant and took an immense amount of co-ordination, however not all of the incidents were covered by cameras.

'We were able to match the clothing McLeod wore to witness and victim descriptions, to identify him and he was arrested from his home address just over 24 hours later.

'McLeod has never given an explanation for his actions that night which leaves no closure for his victims or their families and friends, although I am pleased that the admission of his crimes has spared those involved the ordeal of a trial.'
A Victorian man who followed, raped and punched a drunk British woman in the eye while she was trying to find her way home after a night out has been jailed.

Yarrun Morgan on Thursday faced the Victorian County Court, where he was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to rape and recklessly causing serious injury at Mildura in June 2019.

The 23-year-old woman, who cannot be named, had been drinking with friends at a pub before she got tired and started to head home.

She got lost and turned around to find 24-year-old Yarrun Morgan standing about two feet away.

The young and vulnerable woman got lost and turned around to find 24-year-old Yarrun Morgan (pictured) standing about two feet away

Morgan grabbed the woman in a bear hug and lifted her off the ground before raping her.

He then punched her in the eye, causing her to fall backwards over a guard rail and tumble down a river bank into bushes.

The woman, in her early 20s, was taken to hospital and required a bone graft from her hip to repair a fractured eye socket.

She continues to suffer from nerve damage and vision problems, the court was told, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and social isolation.

CCTV footage showed Morgan following the British woman for about two hours before attacking her near the river.

Judge Michael Bourke described the rape as a 'brutal and damaging' assault.

Yarrun Morgan on Thursday faced the Victorian County Court (pictured), where he was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to rape

'That you were a stranger in the dead of the night would have added greatly to her fear and humiliation,' Judge Bourke told Morgan.

He also said the 24-year-old had experienced a troubled upbringing, having been exposed to drugs, violence, abandonment and 'extreme, debilitating poverty' at a young age.

Morgan must serve at least five years behind bars before being eligible for parole.
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Boris Johnson is struggling to contain an all-out Tory mutiny tonight with fury that he has 'betrayed' the North by axing flagship plans to 'Level Up' rail.

Conservatives MPs and local leaders joined a brutal backlash as the PM tried to defend his 'ambitious and unparalleled' overhaul of inter-city links.

The premier was accused of giving his crucial Red Wall voters 'scraps off the table' after the HS2 route to Leeds was ditched in favour of a Birmingham to East Midlands Parkway line. The HS3 line linking Manchester and Leeds - known as Northern Powerhouse Rail - is also being shelved.

On a visit to a Network Rail hub in Yorkshire, the PM rejected as 'rubbish' claims that the changes break the 'Levelling Up' pledges in Tories' 2019 manifesto.

He argued that high speed rail was 'grindingly slow to build' and most of the benefits could be achieved more quickly.

However, Transport Select Committee chair Huw Merriman said: 'The PM promised that HS2 and Northern powerhouse Rail was not an ''either or'' option. Those in Leeds and Bradford will be forgiven for viewing it today as neither.'

The Conservative MP swiped: 'This is the danger in selling perpetual sunlight and then leaving it to others to explain the arrival of moonlight.'

Northern mayors and the Tory leader of Bolton Council Martyn Cox have written to Mr Johnson slating him for ignoring experts, and demanding the plans are put to a free vote in the Commons. In a joint letter, they said the policy is 'critical to the future of the North for the next 100 years and more'.

Downing Street will be worried about the fallout compounding huge unhappiness within Tory ranks over the handling of the Owen Paterson lobbying case and ensuing sleaze chaos.

Mr Johnson was forced into a humiliating mea culpa to his backbenchers at a 1922 committee meeting last night, admitting he had 'crashed the car' - although he again stopped short of apologising.

A Survation poll is among the latest to show damage to the Conservatives from the row, with a previous four point lead over Labour wiped out. Many Tories MPs are also livid at a 'knee jerk' push to curb outside earnings in the wake of the sleaze row, which is widely regarded as impossible to enforce.

Asked in Selby whether he had broken promises and thought people in the North were 'stupid', Mr Johnson retorted: 'You are talking total rubbish, because we are doubling capacity between Manchester and Leeds. We're trebling capacity between Liverpool and Manchester.

'And, of course, there are going to be people who, you know, always want everything at once. And there are lots of people who'll say, 'look, what we should do is carve huge new railways through virgin territory, smashing through unspoilt countryside and villages, and do it all at once'.

'The problem with that is those extra high-speed lines take decades and they don't deliver the commuter benefits that I'm talking about.

'We will eventually do them.'

Boris Johnson (pictured on a visit to a Network Rail hub near Selby today) flatly denied that he had broken promises by not going ahead with the lines connecting Leeds

Keir Starmer (left) and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves (centre) at Leeds station today after a trip to Bradford to capitalise on the government's woes

A Survation poll carried out between November 11 and 15 found a four-point lead for the Tories had been wiped out over the past month

Research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for MailOnline found 63 per cent of the public think Boris Johnson should have said sorry - something he has pointedly refused to do

Mr Johnson's wife Carrie and son Wilf were also seen outside Downing Street as the PM departed this morning

Poll finds public want Boris to apologise for sleaze debacle as he faces Tory unrest over 'unforced errors' Boris Johnson is facing mounting Tory unrest over 'unforced errors' today as a poll found nearly two-thirds of the public believe he should apologise for the Owen Paterson shambles. The PM delivered a mea culpa to his own MPs last night admitting he 'crashed the car' with the extraordinary bid to save the ex-minister by pausing the Commons standards regime. But research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for MailOnline found that 63 per cent of the public think he should have said sorry - something he has pointedly refused to do. Despite the government's 80-strong majority, there are growing signs of discontent on the Conservative benches at the premier's record of blunders and U-turns - which seems to be starting to hit support among voters. There appeared to be a thin Tory attendance at the weekly PMQs session yesterday, which is usually an opportunity for raucous shows of support. And not all MPs turned up last night for votes on triggering a process of reform for rules on conduct and second jobs, which many politicians regard as 'knee-jerk' and impossible to implement. Advertisement

The key points of the Integrated Rail Plan are:

The extension of HS2 from the East Midlands to Leeds has been scrapped. HS2 trains will instead run on existing lines.

Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester will be a combination of new track and enhancements to existing infrastructure.

Plans to fully electrify the Midland Main Line and the Transpennine route, and upgrade the East Coast Main Line.

The decision to cut back HS2 will make journeys between Leeds and London 32 minutes longer than previously planned.

In the Commons, Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said the Government had 'betrayed' the North and committed a 'great train robbery'.

But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'This new blueprint delivers three high-speed lines. First, that's Crewe to Manchester.

'Second, Birmingham to the East Midlands with HS2 trains continuing to central Nottingham and central Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield on an upgraded mainline. And third, a brand new high-speed line from Warrington to Manchester and to the western border of Yorkshire  slashing journey times across the north.'

Mr Shapps said: 'Our plans go above and beyond the initial ambitions of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail by delivering benefits for communities no matter their size, right across the North and Midlands, up to 10 to 15 years earlier.'

Robbie Moore, the Tory MP for Keighley, said he was 'deeply disappointed' by the plan which had 'completely short-changed' his constituents.

'We are one of the most socially deprived parts of the UK and we must get better transport connectivity,' he said.

'I still want to see Northern Powerhouse Rail delivered with a main stop in Bradford, so that we can unlock our economic opportunities.'

Fellow Conservative Kevin Hollinrake said the impact of the decisions would be felt for 'generations'.

'The new station in Bradford, which would have given a King's Cross-style regeneration opportunity for Bradford, which is really very severely in need of it, will now be missed.

'And would he confirm that this really is an economic price that will be paid for generations for not doing that?'

Mr Shapps replied: 'No, with the greatest respect I don't accept that narrative.'

Local leaders including Labour's West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and the Bolton Council chief Mr Cox also waded in.

'We are concerned that by omitting both the eastern leg of HS2 and the new Leeds to Liverpool route of Northern Powerhouse Rail  with stops in central Bradford, Manchester and Warrington  you have failed to fully consider the advice of independent rail reviews, the ambitions of northern leaders, and the appeals of our businesses,' they said.

Sadiq Khan threatens to slash London buses by a FIFTH and Tube services by 10% if Government refuses more funding London's bus and tube services could be severely disrupted without urgent Government investment because of a 1.9 billion funding gap, the Mayor of London has warned. Sadiq Khan says bus services could be reduced by a fifth and tube services by almost 10 per cent unless the Government steps in with an injection of funds. It comes after a report to City Hall's finance committee detailed worse-than-expected impacts on the transport network from the Covid-19 pandemic, and with Transport for London's (TfL) emergency funding deal coming to a close next month. 'Transport for London is dealing with an unprecedented financial crisis caused by the pandemic,' Mr Khan said in a statement. 'We are now less than a month away from TfL's emergency funding deal expiring on 11 December. 'Unless the Government provides the long-term funding needed to maintain our public transport network, there will be no choice but to make significant cuts to services just as demand is growing again. 'This would mean fewer, less frequent and more run-down bus and tube services for Londoners, making it more difficult to travel around the city.' Advertisement

'These decisions go beyond party politics and indeed our generation. They are critical to the future of the North for the next 100 years and more.'

Liverpool City Region's mayor Steve Rotheram said the North was having to settle for 'scraps off the table'.

The Labour mayor told a press conference: 'What message does it send to the millions across the Red Wall who lent the Prime Minister their votes in 2019? Perhaps we'll find out soon.'

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham added: 'It is a second-class option, a Championship option when we needed a Premier League option, because you cannot level up the North of England on second best and I'm afraid this is distinctly second best.'

The 2019 Tory manifesto said: 'We will build Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester.'

In his foreword to the Integrated Rail plan today, Mr Johnson stressed that many Red Wall constituencies would not have benefited from the HS2 extension because they would not have stopped.

'In my discussions on HS2 last year, I was struck by what one of my parliamentary colleagues, Lee Anderson MP, told me: that his constituents in Ashfield would have to watch the high speed trains go through at 200mph without stopping when what they really wanted was a decent bus service to the next town,' Mr Johnson wrote.

He also admitted that 'Covid-19 has altered some of the assumptions on which these schemes were designed'.

'Some have demanded that we rigidly stick to the old plans, however long they take, however much they cost and whoever they leave behind,' the premier said.

'Some have pre-emptively denounced any departure from those plans as a betrayal of levelling-up.

'But those who say these things are, in effect, condemning the North and the East Midlands to get nothing for ten years or more. Levelling up cannot wait that long.'

The package will see high-speed trains travel on slower track to Sheffield, meaning HS2 trains would reach Yorkshire but the high-speed line itself would not.

Less than half of the total cost declared today - 40billion - will be new funding because the package includes most of the cost of HS2 from London to Crewe  money already announced.

That is much less than would have been spent had the Government gone ahead with its original plans.

Keir Starmer said the scrapping of part of the HS2 extension shows that 'levelling up' is 'just a slogan'.

During a visit to a station in Bradford, the Labour leader said: 'You don't have to drill down very long into that 96 billion sum to realise a good deal of that is money already spent on the bit of the line that comes up to the Midlands, so that argument doesn't hold water.

PM's social care cap 'won't help 40% and northerners will lose out' Boris Johnson's decision to water down his new cap on social care costs has been slammed by the original architect of a proposed major overhaul of the care sector. The Government yesterday slipped out small-print relating to its social care reforms which means that means-tested support from local authorities for the less well-off will no longer count towards the 86,000 cap. That means they will have to spend more of their own money on care before they reach the lifetime limit. Andrew Dilnot, who conducted a major review a decade ago on how to improve the care sector, had rejected such an approach as unfair and today he said he was 'very disappointed'. Mr Dilnot said the change means the 'less well-off will not gain any benefit from the cap', claiming the shift 'finds savings exclusively from the less well-off group'. He estimated that 40 per cent of the elderly who have care needs will now get no benefit from the cap. He also warned pensioners in the north of England will be hardest hit because of lower house prices in the region. Mr Johnson rejected Mr Dilnot's criticism and said the new social care system will deliver a 'massive improvement for everybody in the whole country'. Advertisement

'As for the improved speed of times, of course that's a good thing, but if you don't have a new line you don't sort out capacity and that's the biggest problem we've got across the North.

'So that is, I'm afraid, just the tactics of trying to ensure that focus isn't on what's really happened here, which is the breaking of two very, very important pledges.

'If you can't level up in Bradford then the whole levelling-up agenda is seen for what it really is, and that is just a slogan.'

Louise Gittins, interim chair of Transport for the North, which advises the Government on the region's transport needs, said the plan was 'woefully inadequate'.

She said: 'Leaders from across the North and from across the party political divide came together to ask for a network that would upgrade the North for this century and in line with the rest of the country.

'Our statutory advice asked for an over 40 billion network, but the Government has decided to provide even less than half of that.'

Henri Murison of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: 'We won't be hoodwinked into believing we're getting 96billion for a transport revolution in the North.

'Phase 1 of HS2 accounts for half of that and only goes as far as Birmingham. In addition, half the HS2 budget on the eastern leg has disappeared altogether.'

During a round of interviews this morning, Deputy PM Dominic Raab insisted the Government's rail plans were 'win-win' and any changes would help deliver more value for money.

He declined to confirm the specifics but told BBC Breakfast: 'The detail will be set out today but I think this is win-win.

'It's never been done before, 96 billion, there's never been an infrastructure project or series of projects on this scale.

'We're delivering action to go with the words and the aspirations around us.'

The revised plans will focus on upgrading existing lines to cut journey times in the North and Midlands, with some new track laid.

The National Infrastructure Commission last year proposed scaling back HS2's eastern leg in favour of improving east-west links.

A second report  the Oakervee Review also raised questions about the best way to deliver improved rail connectivity.

The Government last night insisted journey times would be 'the same, similar to or faster' than the original HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail plans.

Integrated Rail plan documents show that some areas will benefit hugely from the changes - but others will not be doing as well as they had hoped

Conservative MPs including Huw Merriman (left) joined a backlash in the Commons as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (right) hailed the 'ambitious and unparalleled programme' to overhaul inter-city links

Deputy PM Dominic Raab insisted in a round of interviews this morning that the government needed to get 'bang for its buck'

One of the two tunnelling machines at the south portal HS2 align compound, in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The Government has said journey times would be 'the same, similar to or faster' than the original HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail plans

Boris Johnson (pictured leaving Downing Street today) has hailed the 96billion package as the biggest transport investment programme in a century

It said better east-west connections between major cities in the North and Midlands would also be achieved up to ten years sooner.

Mr Johnson said: 'If we are to see levelling up in action now, we must rapidly transform the services that matter to people most.

'That's why the integrated rail plan will be the biggest transport investment programme in a century, delivering meaningful transport connections for more passengers across the country, more quickly  with both high-speed journeys and better local services, it will ensure no town or city is left behind.'

Journey times between Manchester and Leeds could still be cut to about half an hour from 50 minutes.

The original plans would have cut them to about 25 minutes. Ministers also say travel times from Birmingham to Nottingham will be cut from 72 minutes to 27, and Birmingham to Manchester from 90 to 40 minutes.

But figures drawn up by the National Infrastructure Commission suggest much less capacity will be created.

Space for up to around 21,000 extra commuters into Leeds will be created under the plans, compared with up to 42,000 originally. Bradford will see a similar drop in capacity.

Lord O'Neill, former Conservative minister and vice chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, told Times Radio that 'Bradford is being excluded' after it was revealed it was expected the HS2 extension plans to Yorkshire would be scaled back.

It is expected the HS2 extension will not serve Leeds and Sheffield.

Lord O'Neill said: 'It seems like a strange political and economic risk-reward calculation here because from what the team at the Powerhouse Partnership have figured out, all of this on that part of it would only save less than 4billion out of what was previously 39billion.

'So, 10 per cent saving to disappoint millions of people around the north and, crucially, people in redwall seats and their MPs.'

Labour's transport spokesman Jim McMahon said: 'It's laughable that the Government expects people in the North to be grateful for some half-baked and repackaged plans, as they attempt to quietly back out of promises made on the vital major infrastructure projects those communities need so badly.

'Failure to deliver on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail  schemes ministers have committed to dozens of times  is not only insulting, it is actively holding back investment and opportunity that could benefit millions.'
Boris Johnson's planned anti-sleaze clampdown on second jobs for MPs could affect fewer than 10 who have paid roles outside the Commons, it was revealed today.

Mr Johnson saw off a Labour attempt to limit politicians to a tiny number of permissible outside jobs last night after Tory MPs used their huge majority to vote down the idea.

But a new analysis of Mr Johnson's proposals by the Guardian suggests that the number of MPs with consultancy jobs on the side who might be caught out by the new 'watered down' plans, could be counted on two hands.

Of 48 MPs with consultancy jobs, 46 are Tories. Of them, between two and five could be deemed 'parliamentary advisers or political consultants', roles that could be banned.

Just one MP, the high-ranking barrister and former attorney general Geoffrey Cox would fall foul of limits on hours worked if they were set at 20 hours per week.

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan yesterday suggested that 10-20 hours a week would be 'fine', though around three to six MPs could be affected if the rules were tighter.

Even Owen Paterson, the former MP who quit Parliament after being censured for lobbying for a firm paying him a sig-figure salary, may not have been affected, the analysis suggests.

He he spent less than five hours a week working for Randox and Lynn's Country Foods for a combined 112,000 annual income on top of his 82,000 MP's salary.

Mr Johnson saw off a Labour attempt to limit politicians to a tiny number of permissible outside jobs last night after Tory MPs used their huge majority to vote down the idea.

Just one MP, the high-ranking barrister and former attorney general Geoffrey Cox would fall foul of limits on hours worked if they were set at 20 hours per week.

Even Owen Paterson, the former MP who quit Parliament after being censured for lobbying for a firm paying him a sig-figure salary, may not have been affected, the analysis suggests.

Labour's proposals called for a ban on 'any paid work to provide services as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant'.

Crucially, it also included provisions requiring the Commons Standards Committee to come forward with proposals to implement the ban and guaranteeing time on the floor of the House for MPs to debate and vote on them.

In contrast, the more vaguely worded Government amendment simply described the consultancy ban as 'the basis of a viable approach' and supports the work of the Standards Committee to update the MPs' code of conduct.

Labour's motion was rejected by 282 votes to 231, majority 51. The Government's amendment on standards was approved by 297 votes to zero, majority 297.

The division list showed four Conservative MPs rebelled to support Labour's motion - Peter Bone (Wellingborough), Philip Hollobone (Kettering), Nigel Mills (Amber Valley), and Dan Poulter (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich).

Speaking after the vote, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters: 'We put forward a plan of action to clean up politics and strengthen standards in politics.

'And if you can believe it, after two weeks of Tory sleaze and corruption, the Prime Minister whipped his MPs against that plan of action, and, frankly, he just doesn't get it.'

A Government spokeswoman said the vote means 'that MPs will be banned from acting as paid political consultants or lobbyists and that MPs are always prioritising their constituents'.

However, Chris Bryant, the Labour chairman of the Committee on Standards, replied on Twitter saying: 'Except it doesn't mean that. We haven't changed anything yet.'

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said today that the number of hours and amount earned could factor into new limits on MPs' work outside Parliament.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'You could do it in one of two ways, you could do it by the amount earned, you could do it by the number of hours. We've asked the Committee on Standards to work up the detail by January.'

He blamed dozens of Conservative MPs not voting for Boris Johnson's standards reforms on the fact that it took place 'late-ish'. The first vote on the Labour motion took place at 6.50pm, and was followed around 20 minutes later by the vote on the PM's amendment. Some 59 Tory MPs abstained.

He told Sky News: 'It was a late-ish vote, I think around seven o'clock, a bit later than that. But I can't account for every member of Parliament on either side.'

Asked if he accepts unrest among Tory backbenchers, Mr Raab said: 'You'll always hear one or other disgruntled individual anonymously in the media on whichever side of the debate, my sense is overwhelmingly MPs want us to fix the problem.'

Asked then if there is no unrest, he responded: 'Not sure I'd put it in that idyllic way, there's always debate amongst MPs, but the most important thing is we're fixing the problem.'

Mr Johnson admitted last night that he made a colossal mistake trying to defend lobbying sleaze shame MP Owen Paterson last night as he faced furious Tory MPs at the end of a bruising day for the Prime Minister.

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said today that the number of hours and amount earned could factor into new limits on MPs' work outside Parliament

Mr Johnson met mutinous backbenchers yesterday after a torrid few weeks for his party over his attempt to rewrite parliament's anti-corruption rules.

In a showdown in Westminster he told the 1922 Committee of backbenchers: 'On a clear road I crashed the car into a ditch.'

But MPs present said the mood was sour, with one saying the PM had 'looked weak and sounded weak'.

It came at the end of another brutal day trying to douse the burning fires of the sleaze crisis, with Conservatives furious about his 'back of a fag packet' crackdown on their outside earnings.

The PM has desperately tried to draw a line under the chaos by pledging to ban politicians from working as consultants on the side after Mr Paterson broke standards rules to act as an advocate for a firm paying him a six-figure salary.

In a major shift, Mr Johnson also suggested MPs should have limits placed on the time they spend on second jobs - with both changes possibly costing dozens of his own backbenchers significant sums.

He later saw off a Labour motion calling for a ban on 'any paid work to provide services as a parliamentary strategist, adviser or consultant'. The change was rejected by 282 votes to 231, a majority of 51.

But MPs backed his plans for a change to the rules on parliamentary jobs after the opposition parties abstained from the vote amid claims he was 'watering down' attempts to clean up the Commons.

However a Government spokeswoman said the vote 'means that MPs will be banned from acting as paid political consultants or lobbyists and that MPs are always prioritising their constituents'.

The dramatic intervention was intended to outflank Labour amid growing alarm that its attacks on the government over sleaze were hitting home.
A witness has revealed how he tried to rescue the Poppy Day bomber seconds after his device detonated before later learning he was a terrorist.

Liam Spencer told how he tried to 'grab' attacker Emad Al Swealmeen from the taxi moments after it exploded outside Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday.

Mr Spencer's partner Stephanie Stitt, 20, was parked in a car just metres from the taxi when the bomb, which police believe to have been built by Al Swealmeen, was set off.

He had started a job as a delivery driver a few weeks before but previously worked at the hospital and stopped off to say hello to old colleagues.

Delivery driver Liam Spencer told how he tried to 'grab' terrorist Emad Al Swealmeen from a car moments after his device went off. Mr Spencer is circled. At the time he did not realise he was a suicide bomber

The terrorist's homemade bomb later set the car on fire. Experts have suggested it failed to properly detonate

Mr Spencer's partner Stephanie Stitt, 20, (who he is pictured with) was parked in a car just metres from the taxi when the bomb, which police believe to have been built by Al Swealmeen, was set off

Mr Spencer, 21, told the BBC: 'Explosions just went off and it shook the hospital building.

'Then I got closer to the car, I could smell the smoke and I could see the man in the back.

'I went to grab him but he engulfed in flames very quickly. I couldn't reach a hold of him without setting myself on fire.'

Ms Stitt, a student mental health nurse, added: 'I was like, 'Is there a baby in the back?' And we found out there was a passenger, so everyone was screaming '999!'

'It's scary to just think about how things could have been different to be honest. You do struggle with [thinking] 'Is that ever going to happen again?

'Am I going to get over this?' I've said to myself and my family I'm not going to let it affect me.

'It's not gonna have a hold on me at all...I do feel very lucky to be alive.'

Security guard Darren Knowles meanwhile rushed to the aid of taxi driver David Perry after he fled the vehicle, and said Mr Perry was screaming: 'Someone has blown me up. I want my wife.'

Security guard Darren Knowles (right) was on duty at the maternity hospital when the bomber struck. Pictured left is taxi driver David Perry

Aerial view of the aftermath of the explosion at the Liverpool Women's Hospital and the burnt out taxi

Mr Knowles described hearing a 'loud bang' at the time of the explosion, and said he believed it was a mechanical failure before seeing Mr Perry rush from the taxi.

He told the Daily Mirror: 'He was panicking and screaming, 'Someone has blown me up. I want my wife'.

'He was trying to tell us, 'There is a passenger, there is a passenger'.

'I was trying to say to him, 'Is he still in there', and he was saying, 'He has tried to blow me up'.'

Mr Knowles added: 'Everyone is calling me a hero but I was just doing my job.

'My hands were shaking when I realised how close I was to being blown up. But you don't think, you just do.'

Iraq-born Al Swealmeen, 32, who was a Christian convert, died in the explosion while Mr Perry escaped with injuries.

Officers have described how Al Swealmeen had rented a property in Liverpool seven months ago and had started making 'relevant purchases' for his homemade bomb 'at least' since that time.

Swealmeen, 32. It is not known if he conspired with or was inspired by a terror group, suggesting he was a 'lone wolf' who became radicalised online during lockdown

The Royal Logistic Corps, Bomb Disposal team arriving at Sutcliffe Street in the Kensington area of Liverpool yesterday after suspicious items were found in his former asylum hostel

A Royal Logistics Corp bomb disposal vehicle arrived at Boaler Street on Wednesday along with a fire engine after a police cordon in nearby Sutcliffe Street, where officers believe Al Swealmeen previously lived, was extended.

Several suspicious packages were found, and were examined by explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) officers before being recovered by forensic teams, Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson said.

The cordon was later removed from Boaler Street but Mr Jackson said the public may still see EOD officers in the area on Thursday.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy told the Liverpool Echo that high-visibility policing will continue around the city in the run up to Christmas as a way to reassure residents and visitors.

Searches have also been carried out at a property in Rutland Avenue.

Mr Jackson confirmed reports that the asylum seeker had suffered periods of mental illness and this is being explored as part of the investigation.

Al Swealmeen, who had an asylum application rejected in 2014 after arriving in the UK, had a fresh appeal on his asylum application at the time of his death.
Europe is facing a second consecutive Christmas under lockdown with record-breaking coronavirus cases in nations across the continent sparking 'red alert' warnings.

The WHO said today Europe was the only region in the world where deaths had increased - with fatalities spiking by five percent this week.

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said 'the alarm signals are all red' as he imposed tough restrictions, ordering people to work at home for at least four days a week.

In Austria, Covid cases have continued rising after two million unvaccinated people were ordered to stay in their homes on Monday.

Germany has seen a record-breaking number of cases, with 68,366 new infections on Thursday - a colossal 40 percent rise on the same day last week.

'We are currently heading toward a serious emergency,' the director of Berlin's Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, said. 'We are going to have a really terrible Christmas if we don't take countermeasures now.'

Now the country is considering following Vienna by imposing a 'lockdown for the unvaccinated', with Italy and Greece also considering a similar health apartheid.

The Czech Republic has already followed Austria's lead by announcing a lockdown of its 4.25 million citizens who have refused the jab.

As Europe braced for Christmas under lockdown:

Germany's hospitals are buckling under the strain, with patients transferred to Italy because the wards are full;

Russian Covid cases hit record highs for the second-day running amid poor vaccine uptake with just 43 percent of the population double-jabbed;

Ireland has ordered a midnight curfew for all nightclubs and pubs;

Germany's disease control agency warned of a 'really terrible Christmas';

Virologists in the Netherlands proposed extending Christmas holidays to slow surging cases among children amid the highest cases on record today;

Spain's Benidorm beach resort, popular with British partygoers, has opened a Covid vaccine centre to counter surging cases.

GERMANY: Medical personnel works at the intensive care unit with Covid-19 patients in a hospital in Freising near Munich. Germany has seen a record-breaking number of cases, with 68,366 new infections on Thursday - a colossal 40 percent rise on the same day last week.

AUSTRIA: People wearing face mask to protect against the coronavirus as they visits a Christmas market in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday. Covid cases have continued rising after two million unvaccinated people were ordered to stay in their homes on Monday.

ITALY: The colosseum in Rome is busy with foreign tourists on Thursday. Italy reported a rise in Covid infections on Wednesday and breached the 10,000 threshold for the first time since May 8 with 10,172 cases recorded. Like many European countries, Italy requires people to show their so-called Green Pass to dine indoors, visit museums and cinemas and for long-distance public transport. The pass shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or having been cured of COVID-19.

European nation's scrambling to impose lockdown rules as Christmas looms AUSTRIA Austria reported 15,145 cases on Thursday, a new one-day record for the pandemic and well above the previous record of 9,586 that was logged a year ago. It became the first country in Europe to impose a lockdown of the unvaccinated on Monday. Two million people in the country who have opted not to have a Covid jab have been ordered to stay at home with threats of 1,237 fines. GERMANY Germany has seen a record-breaking number of cases, with 68,366 new infections on Thursday - a colossal 40 percent rise on the same day last week. National and regional leaders meeting on Thursday set a hospitalization threshold for triggering Covid lockdowns of the unvaccinated amid soaring cases. The incoming government will also tighten measures, including forcing people to show proof of vaccination on public transport and at work. CZECH REPUBLIC The Czech Republic, a country of 10.7 million, reported a record 22,511 cases for one day on Tuesday and hospitals have been filling up although the number of patients - at about 4,500 - is about half the peak seen in March. The Czech government approved plans to allow only those who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months to enter restaurants, attend certain events and use various other services from Monday. It will also require testing for COVID-19 at workplaces. ITALY Italy reported a rise in Covid infections on Wednesday and breached the 10,000 threshold for the first time since May 8 with 10,172 cases recorded. Like many European countries, Italy requires people to show their so-called Green Pass to dine indoors, visit museums and cinemas and for long-distance public transport. The pass shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or having been cured of COVID-19. Protests have grown more acute after Italy last month became the first Western country to also require the pass to access workplaces. SPAIN Worried by a rise in COVID-19 infections, some of Spain's regional governments are asking courts to authorize the introduction of virus passports that can help control the pandemic's spread. The governments of the Basque Country, Valencia, Navarra and Catalonia say they are ready to be the first autonomous regions of Spain to introduce COVID-19 passports for people to enter nightclubs, bars, restaurants and some public events. But first they need court permission. If approved, the measure will apply to people 12 and over who want to enter nightlife establishments featuring music or dancing or restaurants with more than 50 diners. Spain officially reported 82 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on Monday. IRELAND Ireland has seen coronavirus cases soar in recent days and as a result has reimposed Covid restrictions. From today, businesses including nightclubs and pubs are being forced to close at midnight, the use of Covid passports is expanding, and people will be advised to work from home where possible. The country is also expanding its booster vaccination drive as Covid infections and hospitalisations rise. Advertisement

Austria reported 15,145 cases on Thursday, a new one-day record for the pandemic and well above the previous record of 9,586 that was logged a year ago.

The hardest-hit region has been Upper Austria, where the governor today called for restrictions on the un-jabbed to be scrapped - but only so that a full nationwide lockdown can be imposed instead.

Thomas Stelzer, speaking ahead of a government summit on Covid measures tomorrow, said that if no nationwide lockdown is ordered then he will lock down his province independently.

Mr Stelzer said the lockdown would last 'several weeks' and would be coordinated with neighbouring Salzburg province, whose governor also confirmed a lockdown is being prepared.

'This absolutely necessary measure... will hopefully help to significantly bring down the daily growth figures. This was not the case with the previous measures,' he told local newspaper Kurier.

'The measures from next week will certainly be very drastic. But we need them so that we can save our health and soon find a free life again.'

The Austrian government has drawn heavy criticism for its decision earlier this week to lock down just the two million people in the country who have opted not to have a Covid jab, confining them to their homes except for essential business.

It was quickly dubbed a 'health apartheid' by critics, who said it is 'unenforceable', disproportionate, and amounts to forcing people to undergo a medical procedure.

But it did appear to produce results, with hundreds of thousands of queuing up to get vaccines this week - with the highest number of jabs issued since the summer.

Austria's booming infections comes amid a new wave of Covid across Europe that has seen infection rise sharply across the continent as government scramble to find the best way to respond.

Countries with low vaccination rates have been the hardest-hit, with Latvia - on 55 per cent of people fully jabbed - going into full lockdown last month.

The Czech Republic - 58 per cent fully vaccinated - followed Austria's lead this week by announcing a lockdown on just those who had refused the jab.

Italy and Greece are considering similar measures, while France has pointed out that unvaccinated people are driving the new wave without saying what it will do.

Germany has also begun restricting life for unvaccinated people by expanding its use of Covid passports to almost all businesses and public spaces while tightening the evidence required to get a pass.

Previously, people could provide either evidence of vaccination, evidence of an infection, or a negative test to get a pass.

But under new rules being imposed in many states, only evidence of vaccination or a previous infection is being accepted.

On Thursday, German lawmakers approved new measures which would require employees to prove they are vaccinated, recently recovered from COVID-19 or have tested negative for the virus in order to access communal workplaces; a similar rule will apply to public transport.

The measures passed in the Bundestag with votes from the center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. The three parties are currently negotiating to form a new government.

The measures need to be approved by Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, which could happen Friday.

It comes as Lothar Wieler, director of German disease control agency the Robert Koch Institute, warned the country faces a 'really terrible Christmas' unless tough new rules are brought in now.

'We are currently heading toward a serious emergency,' he said. 'We are going to have a really terrible Christmas if we don't take countermeasures now.'

In Belgium, all people in indoor venues such as cafes and restaurants will need to wear a mask unless seated and the rule will apply to those aged 10 or older. The previous age threshold was 12.

Nightclubs may have to test their guests if they want to let them dance mask-free. People wanting to eat in a restaurant or go to the theatre already must present a COVID pass, showing vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery.

Austria's Covid cases have continued to soar even after lockdown was imposed on 2million unvaccinated people earlier this week

Deaths from Covid are not year at the levels they reached during the second wave, but are rising rapidly and driving fears over the winter wave

Thomas Stelzer, governor of Upper Austria province, has called for the un-jabbed lockdown to end - but only so a nationwide lockdown can replace it

Most Belgians will also have to work from home four days a week until mid-December, and for three days after that.

Belgium has one of the highest cases per capita rates in the European Union, behind only the Baltic and former Yugoslav nations and Austria, at around one per hundred people over the past 14 days, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

'The alarm signals are all red,' prime minister Alexander De Croo told a news conference. 'We had all hoped to have a winter without coronavirus, but Belgium is not an island.'

The new restrictions are still milder than the lockdown imposed on the unvaccinated in Austria and the shortening of bar and restaurant opening hours in the Netherlands.

De Croo said Belgium planned to give booster jabs, currently limited mostly to the elderly, to the wider population.

Belgium's infections spike has been sharpest in the northern region Flanders, where vaccination rates are higher, prompting eased restrictions in October.

The warning comes as a hospital in Bavaria's Freising last week made the unprecedented decision to transfer a Covid-19 patient to northern Italy because it 'had no more capacity to receive them, and the surrounding hospitals were also full.'

A fourth ferocious wave has sent infections to record highs in Europe's biggest economy, putting hospitals also hit by the double whammy of a shortfall of personnel under immense strain.

German authorities have blamed the latest surge in infections on the unvaccinated, more than 30 per cent of the population, and pleaded with people to get the jab.

It comes as Austria this week confined some 2million unvaccinated people to their homes amid soaring cases, a move the Czech Republic will introduce from Monday and both Italy and Germany have said they are considering.

A ferocious fourth wave has sent infections to record highs in Germany, putting hospitals in parts of the country under immense strain and a 'normal' Christmas at risk (pictured, a Christmas market in Bonn, Germany on November 17)

Cases are rapidly rising across the country and have hit record levels in recent weeks as a relatively low jab rate and slow booster drive combined to speed up infections

Deaths are nowhere near the levels seen during the first and second wave of Covid, but have started to climb rapidly amid fears they could soon top the previous peaks

German lawmakers are debating measures Thursday that would replace the nationwide epidemic rules, which will expire at the end of the month.

The Robert Koch Institute today said 65,371 newly confirmed cases were reported in a single day, continuing the upward trend that experts have been warning about for weeks.

Wieler warned that hospitals across Germany are struggling to find beds for Covid-19 patients and those with other illnesses.

He also called for the closure of clubs and bars, an end to large-scale events and access to many parts of public life to be limited to those with vaccine or recovery certificates.

Germany's vaccination rate stands at 67.7 per cent but some regions have jab take-up as low as 57.6 per cent. Wieler said the country needs to increase its vaccination rates to significantly above 75 per cent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel made a new plea on Wednesday for the unvaccinated to get jabbed, saying 'when enough people are vaccinated, that is the way out of the pandemic'.

In a bid to get more to take the jab, Germany's parliament is poised to vote through new regulations for more curbs on the unvaccinated.

Under proposals drafted by the three parties in talks to form Germany's new government, unvaccinated people will soon have to produce a negative test to use public transport or go to the office.

Through the highs and lows spanning 18 months of the pandemic, Germany had on many occasions taken in patients from neighbouring countries as hospitals elsewhere ran out of space.

While the absolute number of patients in intensive care still lies below the peak a year ago, this time around, hospitals are also ailing from the double whammy of a shortfall in personnel that has seriously hampered their ability to cope.

The medical director at the hospital in Freising, Thomas Marx, 43, said: 'Last week, on Wednesday or Thursday, we had to transfer a patient by helicopter to Merano.

'We had no more capacity to receive them, and the surrounding Bavarian hospitals were also full,' he said.

The hospital also had to send another patient to another Bavarian town Regensburg over the weekend.

'We are at the limits of our capacity, which is why we have to resort to these means,' he said.

Marx's service is handling 13 intensive care cases at the moment, three more than it has capacity for. Five of them are coronavirus patients, all of whom are unvaccinated.

At the intensive care unit of Munich Clinic Schwabing, senior doctor Niklas Schneider voiced frustration over vaccine resistance in some quarters.

'I find it really astonishing that vaccination is not accepted by the masses even though we have the possibility to get it. It is not completely understandable to me that so many people are allowing themselves to be misled by some horror stories about vaccines,' he said.

2: A nurse assists a Covid-19 patient, in the new ward to deal with the Covid-19 emergency set up in the Fiera del Levante, on November 12, in Bari, Italy

There were 7,815 new Covid-19 cases in Italy on Tuesday, an increase of 28 per cent on the same day last week

There were 74 new deaths in Italy on Tuesday, a rise of 9 per cent on the same day last week

Like the hospital in Freising, the Munich clinic is at full capacity.

'The team is holding on, but we are incredibly frustrated... because at the end of the day we are the last resort for everything that is wrong with society as a whole,' said Schneider.

'The sick people who come to us, who are in mortal danger, we have to treat them, they need help. It doesn't matter if they were previously anti-Corona, anti-vaccine or double-vaccinated, although we don't have any of the latter in the ward.'

Besides the relatively low vaccine take-up compared to other parts of western Europe, health staff also complain that more should also have been done to bolster their capacity.

Only one in four German hospitals are able to maintain a regular intensive care service at the moment, said Spiegel magazine. Many others say that beyond demand, a major problem is an acute shortage of trained personnel.

Already a chronic problem before the pandemic, long hours, low pay and stress during the coronavirus crisis have only served to put even more people off a job in the healthcare sector.

Schneider noted that there are now far fewer health workers than in the first wave. Likewise, his colleague in Freising voiced 'incomprehension' over the latest crisis.

'I admire the calmness with which the staff operate, with which we face this new challenge with such professionalism,' Marx said. 'But I also know that some people, inside, are boiling, even if they don't let it spill out.'
An 'unwanted' son who claims he was cut out of his father's 2.4million will because his parents resented him for being born could end up homeless unless he is handed his share of the cash, a court heard.

Colin Johnston, 80, sued his niece, Lady Natalie Wackett, 41, after his father, Lord Sidney Johnston, left her his entire fortune when he died at the age of 95 in March 2017.

He won the case two years after claiming the estate failed to make 'reasonable provision' for him.

He was awarded a 175,000 payout, but has still not received a penny and faces being made homeless as a result, his lawyers told the High Court this week.

Lady Natalie claims her grandfather's estate should only pay Mr Johnston 60,000 because of a previous dispute between her uncle and grandfather.

Mr Johnston told London's High Court he was an 'unwanted war baby' - born during the second World War while his father was serving in the RAF - and that his mother, Lady Elsie Johnston, resented him for getting in the way of her bid for Hollywood stardom.

He said his father had favoured other family members above him and bought manorial titles for Elsie, his other son Gary, his granddaughter Natalie and himself - making them all lords and ladies - while Mr Johnston was left out.

Lord Sidney carved out his fortune through running a car and property business in north London called Johnston and Sons, and left everything to his 'adored' granddaughter, the daughter of Gary.

Mr Johnston's mother Lady Elsie died in 2013 and his brother Lord Gary passed away in 2016 - both before Lord Sidney.

In court, Mr Johnston claimed his mother Elsie always dreamt of being on stage or screen and told him as a child: 'I would have been a Hollywood film star if it wasn't for you.'

Colin Johnston, 80, claims he was cut out of his father's 2.4million will because his parents resented him for being born. He said he could end up homeless unless he is handed his fair share of the cash. Pictured in 2019

Mr Johnston's barrister David Giles told the court the cash-strapped pensioner needs financial assistance to help him meet everyday living expenses and risks being kicked out of his rented home in Barnet without a bail-out.

In 2019, Judge Edwin Johnson QC ordered Lady Natalie to hand over 175,000 - including legal fees - from her grandfather's estate to her uncle, saying: 'In my judgment, Sidney behaved unreasonably in making and maintaining his decision that Colin should inherit nothing.'

The court was told that as far back as the mid-1970s, Lord Sidney had decided to cut Mr Johnston out of his will - despite the fact that his oldest son had been working alongside him for around 20 years by that point.

Lord Sidney left a gross fortune of around 2.4million, the court previously heard, with a net value after expenses of around 1.4million.

Mr Giles had told the judge that Mr Johnston's parents' attitude towards him in childhood coloured everything that followed, 'feeding a determination that Colin would not inherit, and favouritism expressed towards Gary, and later his daughter Natalie'.

Lord Sidney left everything to his granddaughter Lady Natalie Wackett (pictured), 41, the daughter of his other son Gary, when he died, aged 95, in March 2017

But two years later, Lady Natalie is now arguing at the High Court that the estate should only pay her uncle 60,000.

Her QC, Romie Tager, argued that Mr Johnston owes his father's estate slightly more than 115,000, dating back to a previous legal dispute between father and son from 20 years ago.

And as the executor of her grandfather's estate, Lady Natalie has the legal right to pursue her uncle over the debt, claimed her barrister.

Lady Natalie claims her grandfather's estate should only pay Mr Johnston 60,000 because of a previous dispute between her uncle and grandfather

But Mr Giles disputed that his client ever owed his father 115,000, and said Sidney's estate was morally bound to pay out the 175,000 ordered by the judge.

'In order to make reasonable financial provision for Colin, the award of the lump sum was intended to satisfy or at least ameliorate Sidney's unfulfilled moral obligation to Colin,' he said.

Mr Johnston's finances could unravel to the point where he and his wife can no longer make ends meet, said Mr Giles, adding that if ultimately forced to leave their current house 'they are substantially at risk of ending up homeless'.

After a day-long hearing, Judge James Brightwell said he would give his ruling at a later date.

Mr Johnston told the court during the original case that his parents had always been hard on him and blatantly favoured his brother.

He said he had played a part in helping his father with the family business, but had been estranged from him since a bad falling out in the 1990s.

Awarding him the payout, Judge Johnson previously said: 'It seems to me to have been symptomatic of a relationship between Colin and his parents, for which Colin was not ultimately responsible, which was always going to cause family strife, did cause family strife, and has now left Colin in the straitened financial circumstances which I have described.'

Although the estate he left was substantial, his will failed to provide for his struggling son, despite Sidney having a 'moral obligation' to do so, the judge found.
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A lifeboat was scrambled to rescue 23 people from a boat in the Channel today, as it was revealed that around 1,000 more migrants were detained on Tuesday.

Official figures are yet to be released but it is feared that Tuesday's total could rival the 1,185 record reached last Thursday as the migrant crisis reaches breaking point. The figures have taken some two days to calculate due to the sheer number of arrivals.

The previous daily high was 853 and, overall this year, there have been more than 20,000 crossings.

This morning, an RNLI Dover lifeboat was launched just after 5.30am at the request of the UK Coastguard following reports of a grey dinghy in distress.

A number of 999 calls were made to the rescue centre requesting assistance with reports that a man onboard required medical attention.

Lifeboat crew reported there were 23 other people on the 6-foot grey rib that was caught out in rough seas. A rescue and recovery operation was launched with a helicopter seen airlifting a person to hospital.

A spokesman for the Coastgaurd confirmed: 'HM Coastguard has been coordinating a search and rescue response to an incident off Kent, working with Border Force and other partners. We sent the coastguard helicopter from Lydd and Dover RNLI lifeboat.'

Meanwhile, the Home Office also confirmed that 66 migrants made the perilous Channel crossing in three boats on Wednesday. French authorities stopped a further 43 in three small boats.

It comes after it was reported that Channel migrants who reach Britain could be fast-tracked to an off-shore processing centre in Albania.

Ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in the eastern European country, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France.

A RNLI Dover lifeboat was launched just after 5.30am on Thursday morning at the request of the UK Coastguard in Dover to rescue a boat in distress

Lifeboat crew reported there were 23 other people on the 6-foot grey rib that was caught out in rough seas. A rescue and recovery operation was launched with a helicopter seen airlifting a person to hospital

Migrants are escorted by Border Force staff into Dover harbour after crossing the Channel this morning, with the crisis continuing

The number of migrants who made the crossing today is unclear, though it comes after Tuesday saw nearly 1,000 detained

A newly arrived migrant is seen on board a bus in Dover harbour after crossing the channel this morning and being detained by the Border Force

Today's arrivals come as ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in Albania, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France

Anyone seeking asylum in Britain after arriving by illegal routes, such as in dinghies and small boats, would be flown out to the new centre within seven days, the Times said.

However, the project could cost the British taxpayer 100,000 per migrant for flights and accommodation.

'Off shore processing is our best hope now, as nothing else is working,' an unnamed minister told the newspaper.

Earlier reports of plans for offshore processing centres including using disused oil rigs in the North Sea - which were mooted last year - ultimately proved fruitless.

But the likelihood of sealing a deal with Tirana were now 'looking good', a UK government source said, despite Albanian foreign minister Olta Xhacka rubbishing the idea just last month.

The latest development in the migrant crisis comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed earlier this week to stop '100 per cent' of Channel crossings from France.

Ten migrants are found dead after suffocating in packed wooden boat carrying 100 across the Mediterranean Ten migrants have been found dead in an overcrowded wooden boat trying to cross the Mediterranean. The ramshackle boat, which was packed with around 100 refugees, was found by the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) team, drifting 30 nautical miles away from the coast of Libya, where it departed. Dozens of survivors were rescued by the MSF team, and are now on the Geo Barents rescue vessel. Those on board revealed there was a powerful smell of fuel in the boat and victims had spent more than 13 hours crammed in the lower deck. So far this year, around 1,225 migrants have died or gone missing while trying to make the perilous crossing to Europe via the Mediterranean. Caroline Willemen, project coordinator on the Geo Barents, described the Mediterranean as the 'deadliest migration route'. 'We are once more witnessing Europe's unwillingness to provide the much needed dedicated and proactive search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean' she added. Advertisement

But her claim that she had agreed the plan with French counterpart Gerald Darmanin was then contradicted by Paris yesterday.

Dan O'Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: 'We are facing a global migration crisis and the number of people arriving on UK shores is unacceptable.

'We must work closely with our European and international partners to target the ruthless organised criminal gangs behind these deadly crossing and welcome the French Government's commitment to step up action to prevent crossings, including increased surveillance, greater intelligence sharing and deployment of frontline operations

'The New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system, break the deadly business model of the people smugglers and prevent further loss of life.'

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has confirmed that the Government is looking at processing migrants who cross the Channel in small boats overseas.

He told LBC Radio: 'First of all, you're always better off dealing with the flow of migrants from a crisis or a conflict in the region itself, our overwhelming focus is on that. It's better for migrants, it's better to be resettled and relocated nearer to your home.

'But to the extent that we get this flow over to the UK, it's important to reduce the pull factor, we will work with all our partners - and it's not just one country, we've looked at the Australian experience, we've been talking with the Danes about this and we want to make sure the processing, if it's possible - and that will depend on the good will and co-operation of partners - can be done elsewhere.'

Asked if this will include Albania and Rwanda, he said: 'Let me avoid talking about individual countries but just say with international partners this is something we're probing because we want to test the idea because we will do everything we can to resolve this problem.'

Pressed if the plan will cost 100,000 per migrant, he said: 'I don't recognise that number. Until you've got a detailed agreement with a particular country, I don't think we'll be in a position to cost it.'

Meanwhile, MailOnline can reveal that migrants evicted from their squalid Dunkirk camp by French police have set up a new encampment in a field next door.

Others have erected their tents in woods less than half a mile away from their demolished camp to keep alive their dream of finding a place on a boat to the UK.

The crowded camp on an area of abandoned industrial land and was home to 1,500 migrants until it was closed down by police at Grand-Synthe near Dunkirk.

Small boat debris on the beach in Wimereux near Calais as migrants continue to launch small boats along the coastline in a bid to cross the Channel towards the UK

On Tuesday, MailOnline witnessed at least boats full of migrants slipping away from two remote and near deserted beaches south of Calais

Around 40 migrants were brought ashore at Dungeness on Tuesday by an RNLI lifeboat. They included two exhausted women who had to be carried ashore. This was not believed to be the same group pictured leaving France

Residents of the camp were given the option of being taken by coach to shelters across France in return for going through the French process for asylum seekers.

But most of them chose to continue living rough and refused to accept the offer out of fears that it would hinder their long term aim to reach the UK.

Small groups of migrants today returned to their old camp and broke through the fences erected by police in a half-hearted bid to seal off the entrance.

MailOnline today witnessed pitiful scenes as former camp residents rummaged through stinking piles or rubbish left behind after the mass eviction.

Migrants piled up old clothing, bedding, tents and pots and pans into supermarket trolleys which they wheeled away to their new camps.

Others chopped up pallets and other construction material from flattened makeshift shelters to get fuel for their camp fires.

Many of the migrants including families with children had only a short distance to travel to their new home in the field next door to their old camp.

They included Iraqi Kurdish mother Kazhal Rzgar, 46, and her two daughters Hadya, 22, and Hasta, seven, and her and her two sons who put up their old tent in a corner of the field.

The family have been surviving largely on food hand outs from charities since they arrived 16 days ago at the Grand-Synthe camp after landing in Italy on a migrant boat.

Channel migrants are set to be flown to ALBANIA to a new asylum centre at cost of 100,000-a-head a year as French deny agreeing to stop all crossings

Channel migrants who reach Britain could be fast-tracked to an off-shore processing centre in Albania, it was reported last night.

Ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in the eastern European country, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France.

Anyone seeking asylum in Britain after arriving by illegal routes, such as in dinghies and small boats, would be flown out to the new centre within seven days, the Times said.

However, the project would cost the British taxpayer 100,000 per migrant for flights and accommodation.

'Off shore processing is our best hope now, as nothing else is working,' an unnamed minister told the newspaper.

Earlier reports of plans for offshore processing centres including using disused oil rigs in the North Sea - which were mooted last year - ultimately proved fruitless.

But the likelihood of sealing a deal with Tirana were now 'looking good', a UK government source said, despite Albanian foreign minister Olta Xhacka rubbishing the idea just last month.

The latest development in the migrant crisis comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed earlier this week to stop '100 per cent' of Channel crossings from France.

But her claim that she had agreed the plan with French counterpart Gerald Darmanin was then contradicted by Paris yesterday.

On Tuesday, around 80 migrants were pictured climbing into inflatable dinghies in northern France before they were pushed into the sea and began their journey to Britain.

A total of 1,185 people crossed the channel last Thursday, eclipsing the previous daily high of 853. Overall this year, there have been more than 20,000 crossings.

Channel migrants who reach Britain could be fast-tracked to an off-shore processing centre in Albania, it was reported last night. Above: Migrants arriving in Kent earlier this week

Ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in the eastern European country, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France

In response to news about the plan to open an asylum centre in Albania, a Home Office spokesman said: 'Migrants making these dangerous crossings are putting their lives at risk and it is vital we do everything we can to prevent them and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people.

What happens to migrants after they have arrived in the UK? Migrants who have been picked up after landing or intercepted at sea are taken to a Border Force processing centre, such as Tug Haven near Dover. Here arrivals are triaged to identify any medical needs or vulnerabilities, fed and checked to see if they have a criminal record. Adults have an initial interview before being sent to accommodation centres across Britain, paid for by UK taxpayers and provided by private contractors. The migrants are given 37.75 per week for essentials like food, clothes and toiletries while they wait for a decision on their asylum application. If the claim is rejected they face deportation back to their home country. Kent County Council normally takes unaccompanied children into its care, although other local authorities are also involved in this programme. Advertisement

'People should claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in, and as part of our response it is important we have a maritime deterrent in the channel and work with international partners to put an end to these dangerous journeys.'

When the plans were first reported by The Sun last month, the Albanian prime minister's official spokesman branded the reports as 'absolutely untrue'.

The news comes after it was suggested in March that asylum seekers who cross the Channel illegally to reach Britain could be sent to a third country such as Turkey.

Other options on the table were islands off the coast of Scotland, the Isle of Man, or Gibraltar.

At the time, charities branded the proposals 'inhumane', while an immigration expert said that whilst there was no law prohibiting such a move, there was 'bound to be a court case about it'.

On Wednesday, new research from the British Refugee Council revealed that nearly two thirds of migrants who cross the Channel to reach the UK are originally from the Middle East.

More than 61 per cent of those who make the dangerous journey across the 21 mile straight Calais to Dover are nationals from countries such as Iran and Iraq.

The highest number of migrants arriving in small boats are from Iran, with 3,187 Iranian nationals reaching UK shores from January last year to May this year.

This accounts for 26 per cent of all arrivals in small boats over this period.

Figures also show 2,185 people from Iraq crossed the Channel over the same period.

The figure makes up around 17 per cent of the 12,195 migrants who arrived in the UK in small boats in 2020 and at the start of this year.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard the Dungeness Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel

Other Middle Eastern nationalities in the top 10 countries of people who arrived in small boats include war-torn nations such as Syria and Yemen, along with oil rich Kuwait.

From non-Middle Eastern countries, the largest number of arrivals came from Sudan, in north-east Africa. Around eight per cent of small boat arrivals were from Vietnam, while around six per cent of people arrived from Eritrea and one per cent from Ethiopia.

All of the nations in the top 10, which make up 91 per cent of arrivals on UK shores, are countries were human rights abuses and persecution are common, according to the British Refugee Council.

The top ten nationalities of migrants arriving on small boats to the UK According to figures obtained by the British Refugee council, migrants arriving in the UK in small boats between January 2020 and May 2021 were from: Iran: 26 per cent Iraq 17 per cent Sudan 11 per cent Syria: 10 per cent Vietnam 8 per cent Eritrea: 6 per cent Afghanistan 5 per cent Kuwait 5 per cent Yemen 2 per cent Ethiopia 1 per cent Other: 9 per cent Advertisement

The research came after MailOnline journalists witnessed the moment that two 50ft long inflatable dinghies loaded with up to 40 migrants each leave northern France on Tuesday morning.

At dawn. dog walkers and a jogger watched in amazement as the two separate groups, who had been hiding overnight in the sand dunes, ran to the water's edge with their giant boats.

Smuggler minders waded in to the sea as the migrants climbed aboard for the dangerous trip to Britain but they did not make the journey with them.

Despite the ongoing crossings and the lack of progress in stopping them, Ms Patel had claimed she had agreed with French interior minister Gerald Darmanin agreed to work to prevent '100 per cent of crossings' of the Channel.

The Home Office issued a joint statement from the pair which said they had agreed measures to 'stop the dangerous crossings' of the 'deadly route'.

But the French embassy in London said the 100% figure 'should not be presented as an agreed figure'.

Ms Patel and Mr Darmanin held talks on Monday night with the UK and France involved in a long-running row over how to address the problem of migrants seeking to cross the Channel.

The 'joint statement' issued afterwards said: 'Both the Home Secretary and interior minister agreed to strengthen operational cooperation further.

'More must be done to stop the dangerous crossings.

'They agreed to accelerate the delivery of the commitments made in the joint agreement of July 2021 to deliver on their joint determination to prevent 100% of crossings and make this deadly route unviable.'

But the French embassy said on Twitter: 'For the record, the 100% figure was not agreed between the Home Secretary and French interior minister @GDarmanin and should not be presented as an agreed commitment: it is not.

'And it is not part of the joint statement.'

However, in a press conference on October 9, Mr Darmanin said that with the correct resources and the support of the British authorities, 100 per cent should be able to be reached.
When there isn't flash flooding, severe thunderstorms or gale force winds, going past Sherrard Falls on the NSW mid-north coast is a lovely drive.

But shocking new footage has revealed that when the weather turns very bad, the Falls become a raging torrent of brown water that only the brave or foolhardy drive through.

Among those brave enough to cross the path of the gushing waterfall on Thursday was the one car that filmed this spectacular sight.

Sherrard Falls on the mid-north coast of New South Wales (pictured) posed a severe danger to passing cars on Thursday

Sherrard Falls, which is a cascade waterfall - meaning the water descends a series of rock steps - is located between the town of Dorrigo and and the locality of Thora in the Dorrigo National Park.

The bridge across Sherrard Falls is just one lane and is subject to closure in times of high rain, due to flooding over the road.

But the drivers in this video got through before the road was closed.

Australia's east coast is bracing for a very wet weekend as a fierce weather system sweeps across the country and dumps rain in already swollen rivers.

The low pressure system is forecast to cross into South Australia on Saturday before intensifying over NSW on Sunday - bringing with it the risk of flash flooding and heavy rainfall.

Merimbula on the NSW far south coast could get as much as 100mm of rain on Sunday as the warm weather gives way to heavy downpours.

Sydneysiders can expect a drenching of as much as 35mm of rain on Sunday.

Sherrard Falls (pictured) is a very pleasant drive and beauty spot when there isn't flash flooding, severe thunderstorms or gale force winds

However, the Bureau of Meteorology has downgraded an earlier forecast of severe in NSW and the ACT.

'The immediate threat of severe thunderstorms has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary,' it said.

'In the Lower Western and western parts of the Riverina there is still potential for gusty showers/thunderstorms happening during the evening.'

Mount Hotham in Victoria (pictured) is a ski resort, but it rarely gets snow two weeks out from summer

In Victoria, Melburnians endured their coldest four-day stretch in 167 years with temperatures stubbornly remaining below 15.5C from Friday to Monday.

On top of the record-breaking string of frosty days in Victoria, the cold snap also saw snow fall across Mount Hotham.

The NSW State Emergency Service advises that people should keep clear of fallen power lines, creeks and storm drains.

It also said not to walk, ride a bike or drive through flood water.
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Britain's Covid cases fell by a tenth last week, according to the country's largest symptom-tracking study which has sparked fresh hopes restrictions will not be needed before Christmas.

King's College London scientists estimated 65,059 people were falling ill with the virus on any day in the week to November 13, down from 72,546 previously.

It marked the third consecutive week that cases have trended down, and the lowest number of weekly infections since late September, before the back-to-school wave had truly kicked in.

Cases dipped among over-75s and levelled off for over-18s, the app suggested. But in children infections began to rise again after they returned to school following the half-term break.

Professor Tim Spector, the eminent scientist who leads the study, said he was 'cautiously optimistic' Christmas will be business as usual this year.

This was a softening in his tone from last month when he joined a chorus of experts calling on ministers to switch to Plan B  bringing back hated face masks, social distancing and work from home guidance.

Fears of another Christmas lockdown were sparked this week when Boris Johnson admitted that the drastic action was not completely off the cards at a Downing Street press conference. But the Prime Minister also said there was still nothing to suggest England needed to ramp up its Covid restrictions.

Britain's daily Covid infections dropped yesterday week-on-week for the first time in seven days, and deaths and hospitalisations from the virus also fell.

King's College London scientists estimated 65,059 people were falling ill with the virus on any given day in the week to November 13, down from 72,546 previously. This was a dip of 10% and down for the third week in a row

The symptom-study  also run by health data science company ZOE  relies on daily reports from more than 750,000 Britons on whether they are feeling unwell and if they test positive for Covid.

It is based on self-reporting and dose not ask participants to give evidence of their symptoms. The latest estimates used 40,000 tests for the virus over the fortnight to November 13.

Professor Spector sounded an optimistic note today, saying he felt Christmas would go ahead without any further restrictions being imposed.

Britain's Covid cases FALL for first time in a week Britain's Covid crisis fell on all fronts yesterday, official statistics showed with cases dropping for the first time in a week. Department of Health bosses posted 38,263 new infections over the last 24 hours, down 2.7 per cent on the 39,329 recorded last Wednesday. It was the first time Britain's cases fell week-on-week in the last seven days, after English children returned to schools at the start of the month. Data also revealed 201 people died with the virus, down 6.1 per cent on the 214 recorded last week. It was the third day in a row the number of fatalities has fallen. And the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid fell 6.7 per cent to 778 last Friday, the latest date national data is available for. The positive picture comes as Ireland's chief medical officer yesterday claimed cancelling Christmas plans in the country is a 'responsible decision'. Ireland has become the latest European country to reintroduce Covid curbs, forcing all hospitality businesses including nightclubs and pubs to close at midnight tomorrow. Meanwhile, an Israeli study today revealed Covid immunity wanes within six months of Pfizer's second vaccine no matter how old you are. NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard yesterday said the health service is already putting plans in place to deliver a yearly Covid booster vaccine campaign in Britain. Advertisement

He said: 'In terms of what it means for Christmas, Im cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year.

'Its becoming clear that children and the school holidays play a key role in the waves of infection.

'I think its safe to say that we can expect to see another rise in the new year after the holidays.'

But he still called on all Britons to get fully vaccinated against the virus, as well as ensuring they have their booster doses.

And he urged everyone to start using face masks in crowded spaces such as public transport.

This was a softening of his tone from barely three weeks ago when he warned ministers should consider Plan B.

He said at the time: 'The ZOE data shows the UK could hit 100,000 new cases sooner than expected and with no sign of a Plan B or Plan C.

'With the UK government delaying any decision while hospitals fill up, it's time to take matters into our own hands to address the worsening situation. Public action has worked in previous waves to reduce rates before lockdowns.'

Mr Johnson said earlier this week that it still was not possible to rule out some Covid restrictions being reimposed.

He told a Downing Street press conference: 'Clearly we cannot rule anything out and the most important thing people can do to prevent further NPIs from being taken is to  non-pharmaceutical interventions that is, further restrictions  get the boosters.'

But he added there was still nothing in the data to suggest further restrictions were needed.

Scientists fear further Covid measures may be needed if a new variant emerges that is more transmissible and better able to dodge vaccine-triggered immunity.

Last winter the Kent 'Alpha' variant triggered a spike in Covid cases, leading to Christmas day plans being shelved and another lockdown.

But this was before the vast majority of the country had been vaccinated against the disease.

Ministers have rolled out booster shots to the over-50s to top up their immunity against the virus, after data showed that it wanes six months after the second dose.

This week the drive was also expanded to over-40s, who will now be able to get a third shot from six months after their second dose.

Official data shows more than half of over-50s have already got their top up jabs, while among the over-80s this rises to 77 per cent.

Professor Spector also warned officials would need to keep an eye on the virus for another five years, raising the possibility of more restrictions possibly being introduced for years to come.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)  which took over from the now defunct Public Health England  will publish its Covid surveillance report later today.

And tomorrow the Office for National Statistics will also publish its surveillance report, which is watched closely by ministers and seen as the gold standard for tracking the pandemic.

Graph shows: The proportion of people who were infected with Covid between October 19 and November 5 (orange bar) compared to between September 9 and 27 (grey bar) in different age groups

Graph shows: The proportion of people who were infected with Covid between October 19 and November 5 (orange bar) compared to between September 9 and 27 (grey bar) in different regions in England

Covid vaccine booster doses reduce the risk of infection by two thirds compared to two jabs, a mass surveillance claimed today. Graph shows: The proportion of people who are unvaccinated (lightest blue), have had one dose (second lightest blue), had two doses (second darkest blue) and had their booster dose (darkest blue) in different age groups in England

It comes after a mass surveillance study claimed yesterday that Covid booster jabs reduce the risk of infection by two thirds compared to those who are double-jabbed.

Data from the REACT study  which randomly tested more than 100,000 people up between October 19 and November 5  found the third doses triggered a significant boost to immunity.

Of the more than 8,300 people studied who had been given a booster, just 30 (0.36 per cent) became infected after immunity kicked in at two weeks.

This compared to nearly 700 of the 68,000 (1.03 per cent) who had had two doses getting infected in the period.

After adjusting for age and other factors, the Imperial College London researchers said this meant the odds of breakthrough infection was cut by two-thirds.

Professor Paul Elliot, an epidemiologist who led the study, said the findings were significant because they showed boosters are 'highly effective'.

ONS data today suggested people with a Covid booster only have a one in five chance of catching Covid compared to the unvaccinated.
Police have arrested two people for attempted murder after a stabbing in an accommodation block at Warwick University following a suspected 'love triangle' dispute.

Armed officers rushed into a flat in the Sherbourne residential building on the university's campus on late Wednesday afternoon and evacuated students living nearby as ambulance crews dealt with the injured man.

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline that the stabbing is believed to have taken place in the flat of a female student, who had started a new relationship with another student, which angered an ex-boyfriend.

He is not believed to be a student at the university.

Armed police (pictured), paramedics and an air ambulance descended on the Sherbourne block at the Russel Group university following the attack at around 4.30pm on Wednesday

One student who lives in Sherbourne block said: 'She had broken up with her ex and was interested in somebody new. We don't know the exact details

'We heard a lot of screaming and there was blood everywhere. There are a lot of rumours flying around the campus about what this was all about, but the police ended up taking away.

Another student said: 'Apparently the girl's ex-boyfriend found out about her new relationship and wasn't happy about it.

Warwickshire police said in a statement: 'A man was taken to hospital after a stabbing in Coventry.

'Police were called at 4.32pm yesterday (Wednesday 17 November) to reports that a man had been stabbed at a property in Scarman Road.

'Officers attended and found a 19-year-old man with stab wounds. He was taken to hospital where his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

'An 18-year-old man from Kings Langley, Hertfordshire and an 18-year-old woman from London have both been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

An 18-year-old man and a woman, 18, were detained on suspicion of attempted murder after the knifing at a halls of residence

Detective Inspector Cawail Wong from Warwickshire Police CID said: 'This was a serious incident in which a young man has suffered stab wounds. I would appeal to anyone with information about it to contact police.'

Anyone with information in the incident is asked to contact Warwickshire Police on 101 quoting incident 276 of 17 November 2021.

Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Warwick University posted on its Facebook page: 'We're aware of an incident at Sherbourne accommodation block.

'Our community safety team is on hand & working with the emergency services. Alternative accommodation & food is being provided to students in the area.'
Poland arrested 100 migrants overnight after another 'mass' attempt to cross the border during which guards were pelted with rocks.

Warsaw said Belarusian spetsnaz led an operation involving 500 migrants, instructing one group to throw rocks as a distraction before pushing another through a hole they had cut in the wire near the town of Dubicze Cerkiewne.

The Ministry of Defence even published a photo of balaclava-wearing troops on the Belarusian side of the border, claiming to have captured the special forces in action.

It is just the latest flashpoint in what have become day-and-night raids by migrants attempting to get into the EU, and comes as British engineers are deployed to help reinforce the border defences.

European ministers accuse dictator Alexander Lukashenko of manufacturing the crisis in an attempt to fracture the alliance, as revenge for sanctions on his regime.

Poland said a mass attempt to cross the border by 500 migrants last night was led by Belarusian spetsnaz soldiers (pictured above)

Border guards said the sptsnaz troops damaged the border fence, had one group of migrants throw rocks as a distraction, then tried to push another group through the wire (pictured)

The mass crossing ended with the arrest of 100 migrants, with Poland adding a total of 501 attempts were made to cross the frontier last night

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak thanked the UK for its support today, following a meeting with Defence Secretary Ben Wallace at the Bemowa Piskie NATO base in northern Poland.

Mr Blaszczak said: The Polish border is sealed and it will be sealed. Despite hybrid attacks, we will keep Poland safe.

I would like to thank the British for their commitment, especially in the face of situation on the Polish Belarus border.

Polish serve side by side with British soldiers. I hope the British engineering military company will begin its border service later this month.'

Video captured by Polish border guards showed a large group of migrants sat on the ground overnight after being arrested.

A spokeswoman for the Polish Border Guards told MailOnline: There were 501 attempts to cross the border yesterday.

There were several attempts to cross the border by force by large groups of foreigners  one of them numbered about 500 people.

The Border Guard carried out 31 expulsions orders to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland.

Writing on Twitter, the Polish Ministry of Defence added: 'Tonight, an attempt was made by Belarusians to illegally cross the border in Dubicze Cerkiewne.

'A group of about 100 migrants was detained by the Polish services.

'The Belarusian services first made a reconnaissance. Most likely they damaged the fence,' it added. 'Then the Belarusians forced the migrants to throw stones at Polish soldiers to distract them.

'An attempt to cross the border took place several hundred meters away.'

A separate post said: 'The soldiers of the Belarusian Spetsnaz led yesterday's attack.'

The mass crossing was just one of 501 separate attempts to cross into Poland from Belarus last night, the Border Guard added.

Thousands of migrants are camped out along the Belarusian border in freezing conditions in a crisis the EU says was manufactured by dictator Alexander Lukashenko

The EU has pledged hundreds of thousands of euros in aid for the migrants but has refused to admit them, likening the situation to 'blackmail'

At least 11 people are thought to have frozen to death along the frontier since the crisis began in spring - with attempts to cross ratcheting up in recent weeks

Thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, are camped out or staying close to the Poland-Belarus border in dire conditions aiming to cross into the European Union, in a crisis that began over the summer.

The EU says Belarus engineered the crisis in retaliation for sanctions on the ex-Soviet country. Minsk and its main ally Russia have rejected the charges and have criticised the EU for not taking in the migrants seeking to cross over.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled with an iron fist for nearly three decades, has spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the crisis twice in recent days.

Lukashenko's press service on Wednesday said the Belarus leader and Merkel 'agreed that the problem as a whole will be brought up to the level of Belarus and the EU.

'Relevant officials, to be determined from both sides, will immediately start negotiations to resolve the existing problems,' it said.

Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said the German leader had 'underlined the need to provide humanitarian care and return options for the affected people'.

An EU spokesman said there were 'technical talks' and urged Minsk to grant humanitarian access to the border area.

Aid groups say at least 11 migrants have died since the crisis began in the summer.

They have called for a de-escalation and a humanitarian response to the problem.

Poland estimates there are between 3,000 and 4,000 migrants along the entire border, with the largest group staying close to the shut down Bruzgi-Kuznica border crossing.

Belarus has begun providing shelter and aid to some of the migrants (pictured in a warehouse close to the border) but is accused of intentionally inflicting misery on thousands of others

A man and his children are pictured sheltering in a warehouse on the Belarusian side of the border overnight Wednesday

Belarus claims the migrants are legitimate asylum seekers who it has tried to send home, but says they have refused to leave (pictured, a man in a temporary shelter in Belarus)

The Belarusian Red Cross says around 1,000 migrants are staying in a warehouse near that crossing and 800 more are camped nearby.

Belarus said it was preparing a voluntary repatriation flight that is planned to take off from Minsk at around 1045 GMT on Thursday and will fly first to Erbil and then to Baghdad.

Several airlines have also said they are trying to stop would-be migrants from travelling to Belarus in the first place.

But officials have warned that the crisis may take time to defuse.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Wednesday: 'We have to prepare for the fact that the situation on the Polish-Belarusian border will not be resolved quickly.

'We have to prepare for months or even years,' he told Poland's Radio Jedynka.

In an interview with AFP, Fabrice Leggeri, the head of the EU border agency Frontex, also said that the EU should prepare for more 'hybrid' migrant crises engineered for political ends.

'We have to prepare ourselves for situations like this which can arise quite quickly,' he said, comparing the current standoff to one on the Greece-Turkey border last year.
Boris Johnson's sister Rachel today revealed the Prime Minister flirted with Ghislaine Maxwell who placed her 'high-heeled boot' on his thigh and fixed her 'naughty eyes' on him while she was holding court at Oxford University.

The daughter of the late Robert Maxwell, who is currently in a New York jail, studied at Balliol College at the same time as Boris and Ms Johnson were also students there in the 1980s.

Ms Johnson, 56, revealed the link between her older brother, 57, and Ms Maxwell in a piece where she claimed it was 'hard not to pity' the alleged sex trafficker incarcerated in New York after being accused of helping Jeffrey Epstein procure young girls to abuse.

Describing a scene in the college's junior common room (JCR), Ms Johnson said: 'As a fresher, I wandered into Balliol JCR one day in search of its subsidised breakfast granola-and-Nescafe offering and found a shiny glamazon with naughty eyes holding court astride a table, a high-heeled boot resting on my brother Boris's thigh.'

The Prime Minister, 57, was a year below Miss Maxwell, 59, who is currently in detention in New York awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

His journalist sister, writing in The Spectator magazine, said: 'It's hard not to feel a batsqueak of pity for Ghislaine Maxwell - 500 days and counting in solitary confinement. I intersected briefly with her at Oxford.'

She said the socialite 'gave me a pitying glance but I did manage to snag an invite to her party' held at Robert Maxwell's mansion in Oxford, Headington Hill Hall.

She added: 'I have a memory of her father, Bob, coming out in a towelling robe and telling us all to go home. I'm sure fairweather friends would not reveal they went to a Ghislaine Maxwell party: as Barbara Amiel's brilliant memoir Friends and Enemies proves, you only know who your real chums are when you're in the gutter.'

It came as Maxwell edged closer to trial in the United States and spoke to The Mail on Sunday for the first time about her 'living hell' behind bars  claiming that she has been assaulted and abused by prison guards, purposely deprived of sleep and given rotting food to eat.

Ghislaine Maxwell once placed her 'high-heeled boot' on Boris Johnson's thigh while holding court at Oxford University (both pictured in the city in the 1980s), his sister recounted yesterday

Maxwell is about to go on trial in the US where she denies eight counts that could see her jailed for 80 years if she is found guilty.

Writing in The Spectator magazine, Rachel Johnson said: 'It's hard not to feel a batsqueak of pity for Ghislaine Maxwell - 500 days and counting in solitary confinement. I intersected briefly with her at Oxford.' Maxwell's legal team has repeatedly made claims about her alleged mistreatment behind bars. She is shown in prison earlier this year with 'a black eye'

Maxwell, who had her $28million (21M) bail application denied for the fourth time last week, also claimed negative media coverage while she has been in custody and the deliberate withholding of evidence have made it 'impossible' for her to receive a fair trial.

Speaking from her 10ft by 12ft prison cell inside New York's notorious Metropolitan Detention Center, where she has spent the past 16 months in solitary confinement, Maxwell said: 'I have been assaulted and abused for almost a year and a half.

'I have not had a nutritious meal in all that time. I haven't slept without lights on  fluorescent lights that have damaged my eyes  or been allowed to sleep without constant interruptions.

'I am weak, I am frail. I have no stamina. I am tired. I don't even have shoes which fit properly. They feed me rotten food. One apple had maggots in it. I have not been allowed to exercise.'

This week prospective jurors were quizzed about their knowledge of the British socialite, billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and even Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago during jury selection for her upcoming sex trafficking trial.

Maxwell, 59, appeared in federal court in New York as Judge Alison Nathan questioned dozens of potential members of the jury who will decide her fate later this month.

Jurors got their first glimpse of Maxwell, the British socialite charged with helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse girls and women, on Tuesday.

A pool of 231 began three days of questioning by a New York judge that will see them eventually whittled down to the dozen who will try the sex trafficking case, plus six alternates.

Wearing a black suit, Maxwell hugged her lawyers when she entered the courtroom and briefly sketched a courtroom artist who was drawing her.

Judge Alison J. Nathan's questions in Manhattan federal court were aimed at seeing if potential jurors can stay impartial in the case.

Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges she groomed underage victims to have forced sex with Epstein.

Ghislaine Maxwell embraces her lawyer Bobbi Sternheim during jury selection on Tuesday

Maxwell, 59, who is accused of procuring underage girls for pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, is set to stand trial on sex trafficking charges on November 29. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges

Jeffrey Epstein and former President Trump had known each other for years until they reportedly fell out over a property dispute

Each prospective juror sat alone in a jury box for 10 to 15 minutes while Judge Nathan put questions to them.

Maxwell's hair, which had grown out from her signature pixie cut, looked recently washed and noticeably more lustrous than her last appearance last week. She is pictured in 2013

They were given a list of witnesses, companies and locations to be mentioned in the case and asked if they had 'specific familiarity' with any.

They were also asked if they had any biases against law enforcement, the criminal justice system and, in a question insisted upon by the defence, whether they had prejudice against people who lived 'luxurious lifestyles'.

Hundreds had already been dismissed after filling out a written questionnaire.

At one point they were asked if they had a 'specific familiarity' with Donald Trump's Palm Beach property, Mar-a-Lago, which was known as the 'Winter White House' when he was president.

The inclusion of the question suggests that prosecutors plan to mention it during Maxwell's trial as a venue for allegedly recruiting and trafficking underage girls for Epstein.

Epstein and former President Trump had known each other for years until they reportedly fell out over a property dispute.

The two could also be seen in a 1992 video shot at Mar-a-Lago while a group of cheerleaders dance in front of them as Epstein doubles over in laughter.

At one point in the video Maxwell can be seen walking in the background.

Wearing a black mask that matched her robe, Judge Nathan reminded prospective jurors that Maxwell must be considered innocent until a verdict at her trial, which will open properly at the end of the month.

Once that is completed, the prosecution and defense will be able to strike 10 jurors, to narrow down the 12 jurors as well as six alternates that will hear the case.

The selection process won't be finalised until November 29, when opening statements will begin. The trial is expected to stretch to mid-January.

On Monday Maxwell appeared to have had a jailhouse makeover ahead of her sex trafficking trial later this month.

The British socialite appeared much more glamorous in court on Monday, having styled her straggly hair into a shoulder-length bob with her graying roots touched up and dyed black.

Maxwell's hair, which had grown out from her signature pixie cut, looked recently washed and noticeably more lustrous than her last appearance last week.

She also ditched her prison issued blue top and pants for street clothes - a black turtleneck and gray slacks.

She appeared healthier and more relaxed than she had in months as she attended a pretrial hearing in which the judge spoke about how she will proceed with jury selection tomorrow, at federal court in New York.

The British socialite has appeared noticeably haggard at her court appearances since she was jailed last summer. She is pictured left in July 2020 and right last week

Ghislaine Maxwell was sporting a much more glamorous look at a pre-trial hearing in New York on Monday, ditching her prison jumpsuit for a black turtleneck and gray pants

Maxwell's newfound confidence was apparent at the end of the hour-long hearing when she stood face to face with her lawyer Jeff Pagliuca.

In a world exclusive published in The Mail on Sunday, Ghislaine Maxwell has spoken of the hell of her life in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, saying that conditions are so bad a rat would sit beside an open sewer in her cell as she went to the toilet (Pictured: Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein at an event in New York in 1995)

Pagliuca smoothed a few loose strands of Maxwell's hair from her face in an affectionate moment between the two.

Given that Maxwell is incarcerated in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, her makeover was likely done by herself.

The Bureau of Prisons sells hair dye in the commissary to inmates for $9.50 and comes in a range of colors, including black.

Maxwell talked about cutting her own hair in prison in her first-ever jailhouse interview over the weekend.

She said her guards were 'impressed when I cut my hair with nail clippers and it was somewhat straight'.

She said: 'I only had a 3in by 5in mirror. They rewarded me with paper scissors and suggested I might want to open a salon'.

Maxwell, 59, denies eight counts that could see her jailed for 80 years if she is found guilty.

The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn where Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged accomplice of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, is awaiting trial

Maxwell faces the rest of her life behind bars if convicted of abusing and procuring young girls for billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein  charges that she vehemently denies.

Her lawyers are expected to argue she is being punished by proxy for Epstein's heinous crimes because, as one source close to the case maintains, 'someone has to pay for what he did'.

Maxwell has told friends: 'I fear it will be impossible to get a fair trial. I have tremendous fear that overwhelmingly negative media stories will poison my jury pool and affect the outcome of my trial despite the evidence that will demonstrate everything the jurors thought they knew isn't true.

'I look forward to finally having my day in court to prove I played no part in Epstein's crimes.'
He conned her into giving him her personal details and internet banking details

Fraudsters are posing as sugar daddies to dupe young people out of money

Have you been duped by a fake sugar daddy? Contact kate.dennett@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

Fake sugar daddies are reportedly conning students out of thousands of pounds by posing as wealthy older men on internet dating websites.

Fraudsters have been posing as 'sugar daddies' online, striking up a relationship with their victim before tricking them into handing over their personal information, 'so they can send them a gift or set up a credit card for them.'

But the conmen instead use the details to access the victim's banks and spend their money, or even to set up accounts in their name, saddling them with thousands of pounds of debt, The Times reported.

NatWest has reportedly recorded 40 cases of such cases of fraud since August, but suggested that the real figure could be much higher as people are embarrassed to come forward.

A university student, known by the pseudonym Mary, told the publication that she met a fraudster called 'Duncan' on the matchmaking website Seeking Arrangement, now known as Seeking.

The 'sugar baby' said she became physically ill after being conned into handing over her personal details, internet banking information and more than 2,000 to the fake 'sugar daddy'.

Seeking provides a matchmaking service for people looking for a wealthy 'sugar daddy' or 'sugar momma' to lavish them in gifts or give them an allowance in return for dates.

A 'sugar daddy' is a wealthy older man who gives gifts or money on, generally, a young woman in exchange for their company on dates, with many apps and websites set up to matchmake such relationships.

Seeking, which has more than 20million active members, claims to have signed up more than 500,000 British university students since American businessman Brandon Wade set up the website in 2006.

Speaking about her alleged ordeal, Mary said she was looking for a relationship to ease university costs, saying Duncan offered her a 2,000 monthly allowance, shopping trips and unlimited access to his bank card in exchange for three or four dates a month.

The university student said they exchanged pictures after she confirmed her age and location, and she reverse-searched his image online to see if it appeared on any other sites, but thought he was 'genuine'.

Just more than a week later, Duncan persuaded Mary to send him her personal details under the guise of setting up a card on his American Express account for her, while he also conned her into telling him her NatWest customer ID, claiming it was so he could 'create a linked account' to her existing student account.

But instead, the fraudster spent 2,000 on an Amex card he had set up in her name while she also used his bank card, believing he would pay off the debt.

Mary said she became ill after being conned into handing over her personal details, internet banking information and more than 2,000 to the fake 'sugar daddy', who she met on Seeking

Duncan also tricked Mary into transferring him 2,000 of her own money by creating a second NatWest bank account with an overdraft in her name.

Seeking claims to have signed up more than 500,000 UK university students since American businessman Brandon Wade (pictured with third wife Tanya) set up the website in 2006

By accessing her online banking, Duncan moved the overdraft from the new account into her student account to make it appear that he had paid her the money, before asking for the same cash to be transferred into a 'cash ISA' he had set up for her.

Mary said she was convinced that he was 'rich' and would not take her money, telling The Times: 'He made it so complicated and then made me feel stupid when I didn't understand it.'

Amex closed the account without asking for the debt to be repaid after she told the credit card company what had happened, as the account was opened fraudulently.

NatWest was initially unable to refund Mary because she gave Duncan access to her account and willingly transferred the money.

But as more victims came forward, the bank investigated and ruled that it was a highly sophisticated scam, refunding Mary the 2,000 she had lost.

Jason Costain, NatWest Head of Fraud Prevention said: 'It is incredibly brave of 'Mary' to come forward and tell her story to help others. Fraud has reached out of control levels in the UK market and is having a devastating impact on people.

'By talking about it more, we are helping to remove any stigma associated with these types of scams and helping to catch the perpetrators of these horrific crimes.

'The bank is investing heavily in customer education to raise awareness of the dangers of becoming a money mule and we would encourage anyone who is offered money for the use of their account to report it immediately to the police.'

A spokesman for Seeking said the site continues to introduce safety features, including monitoring user reports to identify repeated scammers, to keep its members safe. The site has rules stating people cannot use the site to pay for sex.

A Seeking spokesperson added: 'We strongly feel it is our social responsibility to be the leaders in safety and security.

'Our support team continuously educates our Seeking community on safety measures when communicating online. We have several notices throughout the platform warning members to never give bank information or other financial information.

'If fraudulent behavior occurs, we work to support victims to recover assets when possible. We encourage our users to report any suspicion of bad behavior so we can investigate immediately.

'In addition, our product team has spent countless hours working hard to build and improve systems to balance quality, user privacy and ethical behavior.

'To touch on just a few of the steps we take; 1). We utilize user reports, meaning once a user is reported we can tie systems together to identify potential repeat scammers to keep them off our site.

A student, known by the pseudonym Mary, met a fraudster called Duncan on legitimate matchmaking website Seeking Arrangement, which was founded by Brandon Wade (pictured)

'2). We leverage Ai at multiple touch points during our members journey to minimize the risk of scam behavior.

'3). We work with multiple 3rd parties to specifically identify, target and block returning scam accounts.

'4). Seeking.com now utilizes a humans-in-the-loop (HITL) system, which includes both human review and AI, for keyword detection to eliminate potential fraudulent behaviors such as nudity, violence, and scam behavior.

'Our commitment to keep our members safe will never be compromised. We will continue to roll our new and enhanced safety features.'

A Financial Ombudsman Service spokesperson said: 'It's vital that people take extra care with their finances as unfortunately fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated. If people feel they have not been treated fairly by their banks, the Financial Ombudsman is here to help.'

MailOnline has contacted Seeking, American Express, the Metropolitan Police and Action Fraud for comment.

Many students use 'sugar' daddy relationships to help them with university costs, as more than 1,000 students at Cambridge University alone were 'sugar babies' in 2019, according to Seeking.

Examples of sugar dating apps include My Sugar Daddy, Spoil, SDM, Elite Millionaire Singles and Seeking.

A biography on Seeking's website says it began as a website where 'sugar daddies and mommas' could meet 'sugar babies', but has tried to 'evolve' as the world of dating has. The site now promotes itself said as a place where you can 'just date up'.

It reads: 'Seeking began as Seeking Arrangement, where 'sugar daddies' and 'sugar mommas' could meet 'sugar babies' by honestly sharing expectations for a relationship upfront. Countless harmonious relationships have been made since the website was created in 2006.

'As the world and the concept of dating continue to evolve, so does Seeking. We are still committed to helping singles find honest relationships based on open communication, but we are much more than that.

'Seeking is about identifying what drives us and how we can live our best lives with someone by our side.'

Have you been duped by a fake sugar daddy? Contact kate.dennett@mailonline.co.uk
Priti Patel agreed new security measures with the United States last night in a bid to step up the fight against terror.

The Home Secretary announced closer co-operation with America following a high-level meeting with U.S. Secretary of State for Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

It will include a deal to embed more British spies in U.S. agencies, and vice versa, the Mail understands.

Priti Patel agreed new security measures with the United States last night in a bid to step up the fight against terror

Officials said the new agreement would help the UK and U.S deliver maximum impact in the global fight against terror.

Miss Patel said in Washington last night: For decades the UK and US have been the pillars of strength in the fight against global terrorism.

Time and time again that co-operation has kept our citizens safe and protected the freedoms we hold dear.

That partnership is more important today than it has ever been as the threats we face both at home and from abroad become more complex and rapidly evolve.

I will always do everything in my power to keep our citizens safe, and through deepening our co-operation with the US, the streets of Britain will be more secure.

There will be further joint work on tackling threats online, including terrorism and child sexual abuse.

Miss Patel and Mr Mayorkas also discussed the dangers posed by social media giants plans for end to end encryption.

British intelligence agencies have previously said the proposals will make it harder for them to gather information on extremists and serious criminals who use social media platforms to plan atrocities and other crimes, including sex abuse.
Ten migrants have been found dead in an overcrowded wooden boat trying to cross the Mediterranean.

The ramshackle boat, which was packed with around 100 refugees, was found by the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) team, drifting 30 nautical miles away from the coast of Libya, where it departed.

Dozens of survivors were rescued by the MSF team, and are now on the Geo Barents rescue vessel.

Those on board revealed there was a powerful smell of fuel in the boat and victims had spent more than 13 hours crammed in the lower deck.

So far this year, around 1,225 migrants have died or gone missing while trying to make the perilous crossing to Europe via the Mediterranean.

Ten migrants were found dead inside the lower deck of an overcrowded wooden boat trying to reach Europe from Libya

The victims of the tragedy that took place on Tuesday, had been crammed inside the lower deck of the wooden boat filled with highly intoxicating fuel smells

Caroline Willemen, project coordinator on the Geo Barents, described the Mediterranean as the 'deadliest migration route'.

'We are once more witnessing Europe's unwillingness to provide the much needed dedicated and proactive search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean' she added.

According to MSF, Geo Barents was alerted of a boat in distress that was taking on water, but couldn't arrive on time to avoid the tragedy.

Referring to the victims Fulvia Conte, MSF deputy said: 'It took us almost two hours to retrieve them and to bring them on board, so they can have a dignified burial once arrived onshore.'

Abdoulaye, who was one of the last survivors to leave the boat told the rescuers he barely had time to understand what had just happened.

'Let me see their bodies. These are my brothers, we come from the same place, we went through Libya together,' Abdoulaye asked the volunteers, 'I need to tell their families they are dead. Please let me see them.'

MSF rescued 99 people from the boat, who are now on board of the Geo Barents boat waiting for a place to safely disembark

The survivors are showing signs of acute stress and trauma after the tragedy, some of them had to identify the bodies of family members and friends

In less than 24 hours the Geo Barnet made three rescue operations in international waters near Malta and Libya, rescuing a total of 186 people

In less than 24 hours the MSF team rescued three different boats in international water near Malta and Libya, bringing a total of 186 people safely on board of the Geo Barents.

Willemen has warned: 'With 186 survivors on board, including relatives of some of the deceased people, and people who travelled for hours on the lower deck of the boat amongst dead bodies, the Geo Barents will urgently be looking for a Place of Safety to disembark this group of extremely stressed and likely traumatised people.'

According to the Guardian, the rescue hotline Alarm Phone accused European authorities of ignoring the distress call: 'We had raised the alarm, several hours before, but no one answered. We are fed up with the announcements of these deaths that could be avoided'

Among the survivors there are 152 men, 34 women and 61 minors, including a 10-month-old child, coming from a range of countries including Guinea, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Somalia and Syria.

The survivors, who are showing signs of acute stress and trauma after the tragedy, are now on the rescue boat waiting to find a place to safely disembark.

Some of them had to identify the bodies of family members and friends.
Almost one in five Brits are not planning normal Christmas and New Year's celebrations amid lingering fears over the coronavirus crisis, according to a new poll.

An exclusive survey conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for MailOnline found the majority of people - 81 per cent - do intend to go ahead with normal celebrations but 19 per cent said they do not.

Meanwhile, the nation is split on whether the Government could impose new coronavirus rules which would disrupt festive gatherings.

Some 48 per cent of people expect there will not be any coronavirus restrictions preventing normal Christmas gatherings this year.

But almost a third - 31 per cent - expect that there will be such restrictions put in place while 20 per cent said they did not know.

Almost one in five Brits are not planning normal Christmas and New Year's celebrations amid lingering fears over the coronavirus crisis, according to a new poll

The poll findings come after Boris Johnson said earlier this week that he could not rule out a lockdown over the Christmas period.

The Prime Minister said that while the data did not show, at the moment, that any additional measures were needed, he could not give a guarantee for the coming weeks and months.

Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference: 'Clearly we cannot rule anything out and the most important thing people can do to prevent further NPIs from being taken is to  non-pharmaceutical interventions that is, further restrictions  get the boosters.'

The PM warned there were 'storm clouds' gathering over parts of Europe with a 'new wave' of the virus sweeping across the continent.

'We don't yet know the extent to which this new wave will sweep up on our shores but history shows that we cannot afford to be complacent,' he said.

'Those countries with lower vaccination rates have tended to see bigger surges in infection and in turn been forced to respond with harsher measures while those countries with higher vaccination rates have so far fared better.

Meanwhile, the nation is split on whether the Government could impose new coronavirus rules which would disrupt festive gatherings

'It shows us that if we want to control the epidemic here in the UK and if we want to avoid restrictions on our daily lives we must all get vaccinated as soon as we are eligible.'

The Government announced on Monday that adults aged over 40 will be invited to receive booster jabs in the coming weeks.

Mr Johnson added: 'It would be an utter tragedy if, after everything we have been through, people who had done the right thing by getting double vaccinated ended up becoming seriously ill or even losing their lives because they allowed their immunity to wane.'
The 'pathetic' lies of a 'cowardly' killer moments after he choked and bludgeoned his estranged wife to death with a hammer were revealed in chilling detail as he was sentenced to life in jail.

Andrew John Cobby, 59, brutally murdered Gaylene 'Kym' Cobby on the driveway of her Gold Coast hinterland home in November 2017, inflicting such severe injuries the 51-year-old was unrecognisable.

The mother-of-three was taking out rubbish when she was set upon by Cobby who struck her with a hammer, dragged her by the hair and then fatally strangled her when she tried to escape.

Cobby fled the grisly, blood-soaked scene, before being found wearing a forensic suit in nearby bushes by police.

The court heard he was forced to abandon his borrowed getaway car at the crime scene and ran into the bush after the killing was interrupted by her screams alerting neighbours.

Andrew John Cobby, 59, brutally murdered Gaylene 'Kym' Cobby (pictured) on the driveway of her Gold Coast hinterland home in November 2017, inflicting injuries so severe the 51-year-old's face was unrecognisable in the wake of the attack

He then called Triple-0 and spun an outlandish story that he and Kym were attacked by a stranger, forcing him to flee into the bush before getting lost.

'I'm sorryI should've tried to protect her more, but I panicked after we were attacked,' he told the officer while feigning emotion.

'I should have stayed but I ran How's Kym? Please tell me.'

When police eventually located him lying in the bush, he was slapped in handcuffs and taken to hospital in an ambulance under guard.

Cobby told detectives more lies while he was receiving medical treatment.

'We've been receiving threats. Someone is trying to extort millions of dollars out of us,' he claimed in the ambulance.

Cobby fled the grisly, blood-soaked scene, before being found in nearby bushes by police wearing a forensic suit (pictured)

'The guy came at us and he just laid into us. He got Kym and I turned around and I tried to protect her.

'He hit, oh he hit us, he, Kym took the brunt of it. I tried to stop him but I didn't have the strength.'

But police weren't taken in by the elaborate fiction.

Detectives charged the wife killer shortly after he arrived at hospital and on Monday he was found guilty of the murder after a four-week trial at Brisbane Supreme Court.

In their victim's impact statement, her family described his lies as 'pathetic,' with their children begging to know why he killed their mother.

Detectives wasted no time, charging the wife killer (pictured) shortly after he arrived at hospital

Investigators found the murder weapon (pictured) close to the Gold Coast home

Justice Peter Callaghan also called on Cobby to reveal the motive of his horrific crime and lashed the cold-blooded killer for his attempts to deflect blame, the Courier Mail reported.

'Your capacity for deception was something which we saw on show both I think when you were speaking to police and staged that remarkable performance, but also here in court when you were shedding tears which I infer were for yourself and not for her,' the judge said.

'I'm not sure there was much else in your life for which you will actually want to be remembered, but it is still possible that you could do one remarkable thing in your life.

'It would be truly remarkable if even now at this point you found it within yourself to simply tell the truth, you can still do that and you will have time to think about whether you will.

'In the meantime you are convicted of the offence of murder, you are sentenced to life imprisonment.'
A dementia patient's last words to his family before his death were 'visitors' after almost two years of 'begging' for them to be allowed inside his care home, his grief-stricken daughter has claimed.

Gillian Latham said her 84-year-old father Michael Benyo could not understand why his daughters were classed as 'visitors', limiting them to only seeing him through the window at Saxondale EMI Nursing Home, in Barnsley, because of Covid regulations.

Ms Latham said her father uttered the word 'visitors' with 'dismay in his voice' when the 56-year-old and her sister, Jaqueline Benyo, 50, were able to see him inside the home again, alongside his wife, Dorothy, 80, for the final three months of his life after they were given 'essential caregiver' status.

She said Michael hated thinking of his daughters as 'visitors' and that he had been 'begging' for them to be allowed inside while the home was locked down between February 2020 and June 2021.

Bondcare, who run Saxondale EMI Nursing Home, said they followed the government guidance issued regarding visiting but acknowledged the difficult times care home residents and their families endured.

Michael kisses his daughter through the window at his care home while they were banned from going inside to see him, due to the rules surrounding Covid at the time

Ms Latham shared images showing the confusion on the her fathers face as he taps on the pane of glass

The Government was criticised for its completely unacceptable blanket bans on care home visits during the pandemic.

More than a quarter of a million people signed a petition urging Boris Johnson to stop care homes imprisoning our parents before it was delivered to Downing Street in May.

A report by the joint-party human rights committee found that between May 26 and June 20 last year, 97 per cent of care homes were closed to all visitors.

This continued for months afterwards for many people in Tier Three and Tier Four areas  even though visits were still allowed.

Ms Latham, who works as a nurse, has revealed the familys pain at watching her ailing father from behind a window - sharing images showing the confusion on the retired miners face as he taps on the pane of glass.

A dementia patient's last words to his family before his death were 'visitors' after almost two years of 'begging' for them to be allowed inside his care home. Pictured: Michael Benyo, 84, with his daughter Gillian Latham (back right), wife Dorothy Benyo (back left) and other daughter Jaqueline Benyo (bottom left)

Michael pictured with his daughters: Gillian (left) and Jaqueline (right). They were unable to go inside his care home between February 2020 and June this year

Ms Latham, also from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said: 'The last word dad said was "visitors".

'When dad was leaving the nursing home in a wheelchair [on the way to hospital], the visitor sign is on the wall near the care home doors.

'Thats the last word he said - with dismay in his voice and sadness in his face.

'He detested the word. He always said "theyre not visitors, theyre my daughters - my family". He hated thinking of us as visitors.

'In many photos, the anguish in my dads face was shocking. It was terrible. Dad didnt understand why we couldnt come in.

'Im glad hes out of this and isnt threatened with not being able to see his daughters or his wife.

'I wouldnt have been able to cope now if I hadnt seen my dad before he died.'

Michael with his wife Dorothy Benyo. He died in October, three months after his daughters were finally allowed back into his care home

Ms Latham said she was given essential caregiver status on June 24, before her sister got hers in July, allowing them both into their father's room for the first time since February 2020.

Every time they went into the home they had to take lateral flow tests and also had to have a PCR test each week.

Michael, who first came to the UK as a Hungarian refugee in 1957, spent the last three and a half years in residential care, moving into a nursing home in May 2019 after a long period in hospital.

Less than a year later, the home went into lockdown as Covid cases began to rise, leaving Ms Latham fighting to see him in person.

Ms Latham said: 'Its shocking what people are going through.

'Three weeks before lockdown in February 2020, the manager shut down. We agreed with that.

'But when everyone was coming out of lockdown and they could see their families, we still couldnt see my dad [indoors]. It was behind glass.

'He was banging on the windows all the time - begging staff to let us in.

'The deputy manager said they werent having visitors and my dad shouted "theyre not visitors - theyre my daughters. Let them in".'

The visiting sign Michael saw while he was being wheeled out of the care home to hospital. Ms Latham said: 'He detested the word [visitors]. He always said "theyre not visitors, theyre my daughters - my family". He hated thinking of us as visitors'

She said her father's dementia progressed while they were locked out because 'the conversation wasn't very good at all'.

Praising her father's care as 'excellent', Ms Latham said her only complaint was about the access to her father.

She added: 'My dad loved us to go and see him.

'He was happy in the care home. He went viral in a video in 2019 singing around a Christmas tree with the staff.

'He loved people. He wanted everybody to be together as family.

'He cared for people, even residents. Hed always ask if they were okay.'

In September this year, Michaels care home had a Covid outbreak and Ms Latham said she and her sister were told visitation was banned.

But when they refused to stay away, they were let back in, unaware that less than a month later their father would pass away.

The home messaged Ms Latham on September 27 to inform her about the outbreak. She said she did not phone back, choosing instead to visit the home and told them she would 'rather die than watch my dad bang on the windows again'.

'I was crying inconsolably', she added.

'We grieved all along when dad was behind glass. It was like someone had died.

'I got to spend some time with dad before he passed away. I got a phone call from the care home and they said my dad had aspirated again.

'When I got up there, they were changing him. Someone went in and I saw he was stood up.

'I thought he was going to be okay but when I went in the room, he was grey and his oxygen levels were low.

'We had a really good conversation with him. Whether some people would have understood half of what he was saying, I dont know.

'I said Id see him on the Friday and he said "I wont be here - Im going home".

'On the night he died, I could see when I got into the care home that he wasnt going to make it. He was grey and had an abnormal heart rhythm.

'As soon as he got into hospital, he was on 15 litres of oxygen and struggling to breathe.

'I got the call at nearly 5pm and he died at just after midnight. My mum saw him for an hour.'

Now three weeks on, Ms Latham is telling her fathers story in the hope others will not have to continue battling to see their loved ones in care homes.

She said: 'Dad was so hard-working, an amazing man. He touched many peoples hearts.

'He said "everybody should be together, love each other, wife, family, friends, be together, get better". I think he understood a bit about Covid because he did watch TV and the news.

'Its hard to fully say what he was processing.

'Now, in the current climate, with talk about further lockdowns and if people dont get boosters, it makes you feel concerned that families will be parted again from loved ones.

'Were praying that others dont carry on suffering the daily grief for someone who is still alive, as we felt prior to getting in to see dad.'

Bondcare, who run Saxondale EMI Nursing Home, said: 'Staff and management at Saxondale Nursing Home have worked extremely hard during the pandemic to ensure the safety of residents, and followed the government guidance issued, regarding visiting.

'We fully acknowledge the difficult times care home residents, families and staff have had to endure during the time Saxondale has had Covid outbreaks and we will continue to do our utmost to ensure our residents safety and wellbeing.

'Lastly, we look forward to the day we can fully open up with no restrictions and are extremely excited to welcome old and new faces, we have truly missed you all.'
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Western Europe is no longer the continent's capital for excess deaths, official data shows with Eastern European countries now taking up that mantle.

While countries like the UK, Spain, Italy and Belgium bore the brunt of fatalities early in the pandemic, the crisis has slowly shifted East, to nations like Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

A major analysis by the Office for National Statistics looked at excess deaths  the number of fatalities from all causes above the five-year average  on the continent from the start of Covid to mid-2021.

It found that nearly every corner of Europe has suffered well above average excess deaths at some point, either due to coronavirus itself or the knock-on effects of lockdowns.

There are a few exceptions, namely the Scandinavian nations which have kept case rates and excess deaths low, excluding anti-lockdown Sweden.

In the UK, 120,000 more people have died than usual so far during the pandemic with a significant spike in non-Covid deaths in people's homes. It has been referred to by experts as a 'silent crisis'.

The ONS' interactive map shows trends in excess deaths have followed the trajectory of Covid waves. Western countries were hit hardest early in the pandemic because of their close proximity to Italy, the continent's original epicentre. Most of these were Covid, even if a lack of testing in the early days did not pick up on all of them.

But there has been a shift in the first half of 2021 after wealthy EU members stocked up on vaccine supplies and squashed Covid death rates.

It is no coincidence that Eastern European nations  where uptake of the jabs remain low  made up seven of the 10 countries with the highest excess death rates by June this year.

By the week ending June 18, Poland had the highest rates of excess deaths with 23 per cent more than the five-year average, followed by Bulgaria (21 per cent) and the Czech Republic (20 per cent). Rounding out the worst five are Slovakia (17 per cent) and Romania (14 per cent), followed by Slovenia and Hungary (both 10 per cent)

By contrast, the highest in Western Europe was England (7 per cent), Spain (6.5 per cent), Scotland (5 per cent), and Wales (4 per cent). The UK's rate as a whole was 6.7 per cent above average in June

By the middle of the summer, eight countries in Europe has below average excess mortality  Denmark, Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Luxembourg, and Sweden. Norway had the lowest at -12 per cent

Eastern European countries lag behind the West when it comes to vaccinations, which is contributing to Covid deaths and therefore excess mortality. Just 25 per cent of Bulgarians have been fully vaccinated against Covid, figures show, compared to around 65 per cent in the UK, France and Germany. Romania is doing slightly better with just over 35 per cent of the population jabbed, while Slovakia has jabbed more than 40 per cent. Uptake is above 50 per cent in Poland and the Czech Republic

By the week ending June 18, Poland had the highest rates of excess deaths with 23 per cent more than the five-year average, followed by Bulgaria (21 per cent) and the Czech Republic (20 per cent).

Rounding out the worst five are Slovakia (17 per cent) and Romania (14 per cent), followed by Slovenia and Hungary (both 10 per cent).

By contrast, the highest in Western Europe was England (7 per cent), Spain (6.5 per cent), Scotland (5 per cent), and Wales (4 per cent). The UK's rate as a whole was 6.7 per cent above average in June.

By the middle of summer 2021, eight countries in Europe had below average excess mortality  Denmark, Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Luxembourg, and Sweden. Norway had the lowest at minus 12 per cent.

Eastern European countries lag behind many in the West when it comes to vaccinations, which is contributing to Covid deaths and therefore excess mortality.

Just 25 per cent of Bulgarians have been fully vaccinated against Covid, figures show, compared to around 65 per cent in the UK, France and Germany.

Romania is doing slightly better with just over 35 per cent of the population jabbed, while Slovakia has jabbed more than 40 per cent. Uptake is above 50 per cent in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The ONS found that, in the UK, some local authorities had up to triple the number of deaths from all causes compared to average on some weeks.

Enfield and Tower Hamlets, both boroughs in London, suffered 226 per cent and 214 per cent more deaths than usual in weeks in January, at the peak of the second Covid wave.

Meanwhile, the ONS found that almost all countries had higher excess mortality in 2020 than in 2021, except for Portugal, Estonia and Hungary.

This is because less people are dying from Covid on the continent now that there are high levels of immunity thanks to vaccines and natural protection from previous waves.

However, in recent weeks there has been a fresh wave of Covid infections on the continent that has sent nations back into draconian restrictions and could see excess deaths start to rise again.

Italy is considering a lockdown of the unvaccinated, it emerged yesterday, which would make it the second country to impose the controversial intervention after Austria.

And Germany's incoming government has said that it wants unvaccinated people to be barred from going to work and travelling on public transport amid what Angela Merkel calls 'dramatic' infection levels. The Netherlands has also introduced a 7pm curfew for pubs and restaurants amid rising cases there.

Starting tomorrow in Ireland, all hospitality businesses including nightclubs and pubs will be forced to close at midnight, the use of Covid passports will be expanded, and people will be advised to work from home where possible.

The British Government has repeatedly rejected pleas to implement its Plan B, which would see similar measures to what are being levied on Ireland. But Boris Johnson has admitted a full-blown lockdown could still be on the cards if cases spike.

The UK is in a slightly different position from many of its European neighbours in that it was the first country on the continent to come out of lockdown and drop all restrictions over summer. The move is believed to have frontloaded cases in the autumn, which scientists believe should avert a major peak in winter.
Boris Johnson is facing mounting Tory unrest over 'unforced errors' today as a poll found nearly two-thirds of the public believe he should apologise for the Owen Paterson shambles.

The PM delivered a mea culpa to his own MPs last night admitting he 'crashed the car' with the extraordinary bid to save the ex-minister by pausing the Commons standards regime.

But research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for MailOnline found that 63 per cent of the public think he should have said sorry - something he has pointedly refused to do.

Despite the government's 80-strong majority, there are growing signs of discontent on the Conservative benches at the premier's record of blunders and U-turns - which seems to be starting to hit support among voters.

There appeared to be a thin Tory attendance at the weekly PMQs session yesterday, which is usually an opportunity for raucous shows of support.

And not all MPs turned up last night for votes on triggering a process of reform for rules on conduct and second jobs, which many politicians regard as 'knee-jerk' and impossible to implement.

The government is fending off more Red Wall anger today as HS2 and Northern Powerhouse links to Leeds have been dropped from a huge package of 'Levelling Up' rail improvements.

Research by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for MailOnline found 63 per cent of the public think Boris Johnson should have said sorry - something he has pointedly refused to do

There appeared to be a thin Tory attendance at the weekly PMQs session yesterday, which is usually an opportunity for raucous shows of support

One senior Conservative told MailOnline that Mr Johnson needs to mount a charm offensive on the 2019 intake, with fears they have not been integrated into the party due to the pandemic. He has already hosted a drinks reception at No10 in a bid to 'reach out' which is said to have 'gone well'.

'Colleagues are being dragooned into voting in particular ways without consideration of the damage that can be done... There is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with where we are.

'He has burned through political capital and it is unnecessary. When you have to do things that are difficult that is fine.

'But if you fail to spot things that is a problem. They hadn't spotted it and then they panicked.'

The MP said Mr Johnson had made the 'right call' by coming to speak to the Tory backbench 1922 committee last night - but pointed out that only around 150 politicians were there, out of around 365.

'The PM has seen a large number of colleagues but by no means the full parliamentary party,' they said.

'We have got to bring people back together. The PM has already started reaching out, he had the 2019 intake for drinks the other night. He is doing that for all sections of the party basically.

'We haven't been able to go to No10 since the general election really he wasn't able to do what he would normally do, which is have receptions for colleagues.'

Redfield & Wilton surveyed 1,500 people online yesterday, with the results weighted to represent the wider population.

A third 'strongly' agreed with the statement that Mr Johnson should have apologised for attempting to change the standards system in response to the Paterson case.

Another 30 per cent agreed - and only 6 per cent disagreed.

At a private meeting of the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee last night, Mr Johnson took responsibility for the Government's botched attempt to get Owen Paterson off the hook after he was found to have broken the rules on paid lobbying.

'On a clear day I crashed the car into a ditch. I will get the car out of the ditch,' he reportedly told the gathering.

In a round of interviews this morning, Deputy PM Dominic Raab conceded that Tories were 'disgrunted' but insisted ministers are committed to 'fixing the problem'.

Asked on Sky News about discontent within the party, he said there is always 'one or other disgruntled individual' who is prepared to complain anonymously in the media.

Pressed on whether that means there is no general unrest, Mr Raab added: 'Not sure I'd put it in that idyllic way. There's always debate amongst MPs, but the most important thing is we're fixing the problem.'

On Wednesday, the Commons backed Mr Johnson's proposals to ban MPs from taking paid political consultancies and to limit the time they can spend doing second jobs.

However just 297 MPs  fewer than half the total  voted for the motion, with opposition parties abstaining.

Boris Johnson (right leaving Downing Street today) has admitted he made a 'total mistake' over the Owen Paterson (left) case

Mr Johnson's wife Carrie and son Wilf were also seen outside Downing Street as the PM departed this morning

Four Tory MPs even voted for a rival Labour motion which would have imposed a clear parliamentary timetable for implementing reform.

Former Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said the PM had been poorly advised when it came to reforming the standards system.

He told ITV's Peston: 'It has been a very difficult two weeks and almost everyone involved would agree that it's been handled poorly by the Government and it's damaged the Government to an extent, and it's damaged Parliament as well.

'We need to take action now to restore a degree of public trust in the standards in public life, and what you would expect from a Member of Parliament.'

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said there is a lack of urgency from the Government when it comes to dealing with the issue.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday morning: 'The problem with the amendment from the Government which was passed yesterday is that there is no timetable.

'It wasn't a binding vote and, as a result, I just fear it is going to be kicked further into the long grass rather than the fundamental reform that people want and need to see now to restore confidence in our parliamentary democracy.

'I think that public service and being an MP is something that I am proud of and I think most MPs are, but at the moment you don't feel that proud. People look at MPs and just think it is just mired in sleaze.

'I think we need to sort this out quickly to restore the reputation of Parliament.

'It seems that Government just don't have that sense of urgency about restoring people's faith and trust in our parliamentary democracy.'

In a round of interviews this morning, Deputy PM Dominic Raab conceded that Tories were 'disgrunted' but insisted ministers are committed to 'fixing the problem'

Mr Johnson's appearance before the 1922 Committee was the culmination of weeks of pressure following the fiasco over the attempt to save Mr Paterson from suspension.

The former Cabinet minister had been found to have breached lobbying rules by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards but a Government-backed amendment attempted to save him from suspension and overhaul the whole standards process.

The Government U-turned on the idea after a backlash and Mr Paterson resigned as an MP, but the saga kicked off a deep dive into standards in public life, with a focus on second jobs.

Appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee on Wednesday, Mr Johnson admitted the initial effort to shield Mr Paterson had been an error.

'The intention genuinely was not to exonerate anybody, the intention was to see whether there was some way in which, on a cross-party basis, we could improve the system,' he said.

'In retrospect it was obviously, obviously mistaken to think we could conflate the two things and do I regret that decision? Yes I certainly do.'
A mother-of-two was shot and killed in front of her child in South Carolina as her boyfriend of only a few weeks has been arrested and charged with murder in a case shrouded in mystery.

Patricia Grooms, 32, who regularly shared family videos on TikTok, was allegedly shot multiple times by Billy Mclean Head III, 38, and her body was found inside a truck on November 12.

He is being held in Colleton County Detention Center and has been denied bail.

Patricia Grooms, pictured in one of her TikTok videos with her son and alleged killer Billy Mclean Head III standing in the background, was shot dead in South Carolina

Grooms, 32, was allegedly shot multiple times by her boyfriend, 38, and her body was found inside a truck on November 12

The suspect has been charged with murder and is being held in Colleton County Detention Center and has been denied bail

Colleton County Sheriff's Office are yet to provide details on the case while the investigation remains active, prompting the family to demand answers.

Friends and relatives have since launched a Facebook group and are promoting social media hashtags calling for #JusticeforTrish over their late friend who regularly posted heartwarming videos about her life and relationships on her TikTok account where she had amassed nearly 4,000 followers.

Police only confirmed her and the suspect's names, a confirmation of arrest and a vague incident report.

The sheriff's office said they received a call from a woman who said she was out with a man and a young girl.

The male had told the woman that he had been attacked with someone by a knife.

But when the sheriffs arrived they found a woman unconscious with gunshot wounds.

Friends and relatives have since launched a Facebook group and are promoting social media hashtags calling for #JusticeforTrish

Police have only confirmed her and the suspect's names, a confirmation of arrest and a vague incident report

The report does not identify the female caller, who she was with or who was being initially attacked.

But the woman found unconscious in the 2017 Toyota Tacoma truck was Grooms.

Adding to the mystery, Patricia shared a number of cryptic messages in the days leading up to her death.

In her final Facebook post, shared hours before her alleged killing, she posted about mental health issues.

She shared a post which read: 'S/o (shout out) to suicidal people who stay alive strictly for the sake of others.

'I see you. You are important. You are loved. Thank you for being here despite your own feelings,' the post continues on to say.

'I hope one day you want to be here just as much as everyone else wants you to.'

She also uploaded a TikTok video addressed to 'all the people who don't like me'.

Patricia had been turning her life around and was happier and healthier after going sober and leaving previous abusive relationships, a friend said

Her family is now pushing for the sheriff's office to release more information and have asked the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for help.

At this point, the SLED say they are not involved in the case.

But the family said they do not trust the sheriff's office to get justice.

Family friend Megan Campodonico said she has been in touch with Patricia's husband, who she had separated from.

She said the couple were beginning to patch things up before Head III 'came out of nowhere'.

Campodonico added that Patricia had been turning her life around and was happier and healthier after going sober and leaving previous abusive relationships.

She added: 'She impacted every life she touched.'

One coworker and friend said Patricia and the suspect had only been dating for three weeks and does not know how they met.

Grieving friends have posted touching tributes online about the 'hilarious' Patricia.
A grandmother has been slapped with a restraining order to protect a retired racehorse after she refused to stop feeding him carrots.

Margaret Porter, 67, thought Nelson the chestnut gelding, which lives in the village of Scruton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, was 'sad looking' and decided he was under-fed.

She then began giving him carrots despite being explicitly asked not to by his owner Suzanne Cooke, 50.

The horse's owner warned the grandmother she risked poisoning the horse or giving it colic.

But Mrs Porter ignored her request, and repeatedly called the police and RSPCA - prompting owner Mrs Cooke to accuse her of a campaign of harassment.

The dispute over Nelson's carrots became the talk of the village with the parish council asked to intervene in the increasingly bitter feud, York magistrates heard.

After hearing both sides of the argument on Thursday, magistrates found Mrs Porter guilty of harassment and slapped her with a restraining order which bans her from the horse and Mrs Cooke's home.

She was also fined 180, with court costs of 310 and a 34 court surcharge. Mrs Porter, who doesnt work, will pay it at 10 a month from her state pension.

Margaret Porter (left) appearing at York Magistrates Court after feeding carrots to Suzanne Cooke's horse (right)

Nelson the horse owned by Suzanne Cooke and who was fed carrots by Margaret Porter

Mrs Porter told the court how she first became involved after passing Nelson's paddock on the edge of the village.

She said: 'I saw him standing outside his stables and I thought he looked quite sad.

'I didn't examine the horse but I noticed him. The fields were frozen at the time and there was snow on the ground. I passed six or seven times a day and didn't see his owner with him once.

'He looked thin and I began speaking to people about my concerns in the hope someone would take it on board and try and get her to look after the horse properly. I was getting quite distressed about the situation.

'I decided to give him a few carrots at the fence, it never occurred to me that anyone else would be bothered about that, I just didn't want him starving to death.'

Mrs Porter continued feeding Nelson, which came to Mrs Cooke's notice when she realised there were dozens of carrot tops lying in his field.

She picked them up in a bucket and confronted Mrs Porter, pointing out that there was a sign on the fence asking people not to feed him.

However, Mrs Porter took no notice and continued to sneak carrots to Nelson, who willingly trotted over to the fence to receive them.

Mrs Cooke told the court: 'On February 13th this year I was going to my horse when I saw Mrs Porter's car parked up. She was throwing food into the field and the horse came over.

'I opened the car window and said 'why are you feeding my horse? Do you realise what you are doing? You could poison my horse or give it colic and make it ill.

'She replied: 'you can ring the police, I'm not bothered.'

'I am tired of this happening and worried that she may make my horse ill, I don't know what she is giving it.'

To her horror, an RSPCA inspector then called at her house to tell her he was carrying out a welfare check on Nelson.

The inspector quickly realised that not only was he being well looked after, he was in peak condition having competed three times in professional horse races.

Mrs Cooke says Mrs Porter continued gossiping to villagers, despite the RSPCA giving the horse clean bill of health.

Trevor Howe, a parish council stalwart of 40 years, gave evidence to say Mrs Porter began called him around 10 times insisting the horse wasn't well.

The carrots fed to Nelson the horse which were later picked up by his furious owner Mrs Cooke

Mrs Porter told the court how she first became involved after passing Nelson's paddock on the edge of the village. She said: 'I saw him standing outside his stables and I thought he looked quite sad'

Mrs Porter took no notice of Mrs Cooke's anger and continued to sneak carrots to Nelson, who willingly trotted over to the fence to receive them

The dispute over Nelson's carrots became the talk of Scruton village with the parish council asked to intervene in the increasingly bitter feud, York magistrates heard

He said: 'I did not have any concerns about the horse but she must have rang at least 10 times about its welfare, repeating it was under-fed.'

Mrs Cooke said felt she had no option but to call the police and Mrs Porter was eventually arrested, first appearing in court in April when she denied a charge of harassment.

After hearing both sides of the argument on Thursday magistrates found her guilty.

Presiding magistrate Hilary Fairwood said: 'In the first instance her conduct could be considered laudable in that she truly believed she was trying to prevent the neglect of the horse.

'However after the RSPCA visit and police intervention she continued despite being explicitly told the RSPCA had no concerns whatsoever. Her conduct was not reasonable and we find her guilty of the charge.'

Mrs Fairwood said it was necessary to impose a restraining order for the protection of Nelson.

Addressed to the defendant, it reads: 'You must not put food in the field for the horse and must not interfere with the horse in any way.'

Further to that she must not approach Mrs Cooke or attend her home, which is directly across the road from hers.

After the hearing Mrs Porter said: 'It all seems to ridiculous to be taken to court for giving a horse a few carrots but at least I got to have my say and they didn't send me to jail.'

Mrs Cooke said: 'I'm very glad the court passed the order to keep her away from Nelson for his sake.

'He's a thoroughbred horse and he's very well looked after, exercised and fed, he's a wonderful horse and very much loved by me and my son.

In his racing days Nelson was based at Middlesham, one of the homes of British horseracing

'This has gone on for a year now and it has caused so much stress and upset for me, it has had the whole village, where I've lived very happily for eight years, talking about me.

'She went out to cause as much difficulty as possible for no good reason. It was horrifying to have the RSPCA called out to do a welfare inspection on Nelson, it made me feel terrible.'

In his racing days Nelson was based at Middlesham, one of the homes of British horseracing.

His racing name was You'redoingwell, however after three winless races he was put out to pasture, before being snapped up three years ago by Mrs Cooke.

In March 2005 Northallerton magistrates heard Mrs Porter lost her temper after her estranged brother, William, laughed at her while driving past in his Land Rover.

She flung three sticks of rhubarb from her cottage window, catching him in the right eye with one of them.

The court ordered Porter to do 40 hours' community service and barred her from entering property belonging to her son, with whom she has also fallen out.
Representative G. K. Butterfield is today set to become the latest Democrat to quit the House two weeks after a new congressional map was carved up in a boost to the GOP.

He becomes the seventh House Democrat from a battleground district to announce he won't be running for re-election next year, along with nine other Democrats in safer seats.

Jackie Speier, who represents a blue stronghold in California, announced on Tuesday that she won't be running again, saying it's 'time for me to be more than a weekend wife.'

Republicans are smelling blood over the early string of exits - often the sign of a gathering political storm - as they hope to wipe out the Democrats' narrow six-seat majority.

It ratchets up the pressure on the Biden administration after a general election that saw the Democrats barely managing to oust Donald Trump while suffering a bruising number of losses in districts they expected to clinch.

Representative G. K. Butterfield is today expected to announce his resignation. Butterfield, 74, a longtime leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, was first elected to an Eastern North Carolina congressional seat in 2004. Biden won by around 9 points there last year, with Butterfield re-elected by a similar margin. But under new battle lines drawn up by the Republicans, Biden would have won by just 3 points and Butterfield's seat has been marked up as a top target for the GOP.

In Florida, Rep. Charlie Crist (left) announced a run for Governor in October, opening up an incredibly vulnerable seat to the Republicans. Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois (right), a Nancy Pelosi ally who led the Democrats' lackluster campaign last year, is also stepping down, vacating a seat which hemorrhaged 10 percentage points in a hard-fought race.

In Arizona's 2nd congressional district, Ann Kirkpatrick has announced she won't run again after entering alcohol rehab last year following a fall on the Washington Metro. She won 55 percent of the vote share in 2020, but the GOP will believe they can flip the seat. Other pickup opportunities include in western Pennsylvania, where Rep. Conor Lamb (right), a former Marine, is now gunning for the Senate. He won his seat by a slender two points over Republican Sean Parnell.

Veteran Rep. Ron Kind (left), of Wisconsin, announced he was stepping down in August in another big blow to the Democrats. His seat was a top target for the GOP in 2022 and will be even tougher to hang onto now after Kind admitted he had 'run out of gas.' In Ohio, a state which has shifted to the Republicans in recent cycles, Tim Ryan (right) is seeking a seat in the Senate.

Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday night after arriving on Marine One, in Washington, DC, following his visit to the General Motors Co. Detroit plant

The 16 Democrat Representatives retiring or looking for another job: RETIRING FROM PUBLIC OFFICE: G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina - after change to the map. Jackie Speier of California - who said 'it's time for me to be more than a weekend wife, mother and friend.' Michael Doyle of Pennsylvania - after a quarter century in office he said it's time 'to pass the torch to the next generation.' David Price of North Carolina - after 18 consecutive campaigns and at the age of 81. John Yarmuth of Kentucky - a senior Democrat and Biden ally, the 75-year-old said he was leaving because of a 'a desire to have more control of my time in the years I have left.' Ron Kind of Wisconsin - a blow to Biden, his seat has long been a target of the GOP. He lamented growing partisanship in politics, saying he was part of 'a dying breed' after serving his district since 1997. Cheri Bustos of Illinois - House Democrats' former campaign chief and Nancy Pelosi ally, her district covering a swath of Central and Northwest Illinois swung to Donald Trump. Filemon Vela of Texas - Vela won his seat with 55 percent of the vote in 2020 and is leaving the House ahead of redistricting next year which is expected to help Republicans. Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona - who last year entered an alcohol rehab program after falling on the Washington Metro. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas - is retiring after serving in the House since 1993. SEEKING OTHER OFFICES: Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania - seeking a seat in the Senate. Val Demings of Florida - seeking a seat in the Senate. Tim Ryan of Ohio - seeking a seat in the Senate. Charlie Crist of Florida - who is running for Governor. Anthony G. Brown - running for another office. Karen Bass - running for another office. Advertisement

Joe Biden's approval rating sank to a new low of 41 percent last week and earlier this month the Democrats were rocked by Glenn Youngkin's stunning victory in Virginia - the first red Governor elected there since 2009.

Butterfield, 74, a longtime leader of the Congressional Black Caucus, was first elected to an Eastern North Carolina congressional seat in 2004.

Biden won by around 9 points there last year, with Butterfield re-elected by a similar margin.

But under new battle lines drawn up by the Republicans, Biden would have won by just 3 points and Butterfield's seat has been marked up as a top target for the GOP.

Democrats are suing over the congressional map, claiming it waters down the influence of black voters in the district, where they currently make up roughly half the electorate.

But irrespective of that legal action, the region is yet another where they will be forced to go toe-to-toe with Republicans to maintain control in D.C.

Other pickup opportunities include in western Pennsylvania, where Rep. Conor Lamb, a former Marine, is now gunning for the Senate.

He won his seat by a slender two points over Republican Sean Parnell.

In Arizona's 2nd congressional district, Ann Kirkpatrick has announced she won't run again after entering alcohol rehab last year following a fall on the Washington Metro.

She won 55 percent of the vote share in 2020, but the GOP believe they can flip the seat.

Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, a Nancy Pelosi ally who led the Democrats' lackluster campaign last year, is also stepping down, vacating a seat which hemorrhaged 10 percentage points in a hard-fought race.

In Ohio, a state which has shifted to the Republicans in recent presidential cycles, Tim Ryan is seeking a seat in the Senate.

Veteran Rep. Ron Kind, of Wisconsin, announced he was stepping down in August in another big blow to the Democrats.

His seat was a top target for the GOP in 2022 and will be even tougher to hang onto now after Kind admitted he had 'run out of gas.'

And in Florida, Rep. Charlie Crist announced a run for Governor in October, opening up an incredibly vulnerable seat to the Republicans.

Crist was victorious in Florida's 13th congressional district, which includes St Petersburg, with just 53 percent of the vote in 2020 - sliding by four points on the election four years prior.

His seat is even more precariously hanging in the balance as Republicans are expected to draw themselves more favorable congressional maps in Florida, as well as in Georgia, Texas and Ohio.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives as National Archives Foundation honors Jon Meacham at The National Archives on November 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. The string of exits heap pressure on her campaign staff

'You have to assume that because Republicans get to control reapportionment, that it's not going to get any easier,' Adam Goodman, a Florida-based Republican media strategist, told The New York Times.

'The Crist seat - it took a Charlie Crist type of person to hold that seat in '20. The Democrats won't have that person this time.'

The GOP will be pressing home a map-drawing advantage because they hold more majorities in state legislatures, while the Democrats in many key states such as California and Virginia, have relinquished control of mapmaking to nonpartisan commissions.

The redistricting process alone could secure up to six seats for the Republicans, wresting control of the House without needing to flip seats elsewhere.
Dominic Raab today refused to deny ministers want to strike a deal with Albania to send Channel migrants to a new asylum centre there - but the country immediately dismissed the proposal as campaigners warned it could actually increase crossings.

The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed the government is looking at the idea of an overseas processing centre for migrants who travel to Britain illegally, but declined to comment on specific locations after Albania was named as the likely host.

Olta Xhacka, the eastern European nation's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, insisted the idea was a non-starter and described it as 'fake news'.

The British government is under huge pressure to stem the flow of illegal crossings, which have now exceeded 20,000 this year.

Under a scheme that first emerged today, anyone seeking asylum in Britain after arriving by illegal routes, such as in dinghies and small boats, would be flown out to the new centre within seven days.

The Deputy Prime Minister today confirmed the government is looking at the idea of an overseas processing centre for migrants who travel to Britain illegally

A RNLI Dover lifeboat was launched just after 5.30am this morning at the request of the UK Coastguard in Dover to rescue a boat in distress

It comes after it was reported that Channel migrants who reach Britain could be fast-tracked to an off-shore processing centre in Albania

Quizzed about the offshore detention proposal this morning, Mr Raab suggested it could help reduce Britain's 'pull factor'.

What happens to migrants after they have arrived in the UK? Migrants who have been picked up after landing or intercepted at sea are taken to a Border Force processing centre, such as Tug Haven near Dover. Here arrivals are triaged to identify any medical needs or vulnerabilities, fed and checked to see if they have a criminal record. Adults have an initial interview before being sent to accommodation centres across Britain, paid for by UK taxpayers and provided by private contractors. The migrants are given 37.75 per week for essentials like food, clothes and toiletries while they wait for a decision on their asylum application. If the claim is rejected they face deportation back to their home country. Kent County Council normally takes unaccompanied children into its care, although other local authorities are also involved in this programme. Advertisement

He told LBC Radio: 'First of all, you're always better off dealing with the flow of migrants from a crisis or a conflict in the region itself, our overwhelming focus is on that. It's better for migrants, it's better to be resettled and relocated nearer to your home.

'But to the extent that we get this flow over to the UK, it's important to reduce the pull factor, we will work with all our partners - and it's not just one country, we've looked at the Australian experience, we've been talking with the Danes about this and we want to make sure the processing, if it's possible - and that will depend on the good will and co-operation of partners - can be done elsewhere.'

Asked if this will include Albania and Rwanda, which have both been named in press reports, the Deputy Prime Minister said: 'Let me avoid talking about individual countries but just say with international partners this is something we're probing because we want to test the idea because we will do everything we can to resolve this problem.'

And pressed if the plan will cost 100,000 per migrant, he said: 'I don't recognise that number. Until you've got a detailed agreement with a particular country, I don't think we'll be in a position to cost it.'

Meanwhile, immigration campaigners have claimed offshore detention is both cruel and ineffective.

Bella Sankey, director of Detention Action, said: 'In Australia, offshore detention was a $15.8 billion disaster that actually encouraged traffickers to overwhelm the system with more boat arrivals.

'The only outcome of the policy was the harm done to the refugees locked away in slum-like camps, where a lack of monitoring led to hundreds of cases of child abuse and sexual assault.'

Lifeboat crew reported there were 23 other people on the 6-foot grey rib that was caught out in rough seas. A rescue and recovery operation was launched with a helicopter seen airlifting a person to hospital

Ministers are discussing opening an asylum centre in the eastern European country, which they believe would act as a deterrent for migrants crossing from northern France

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: 'We know from the Australian model that offshore detention leads to appalling outcomes including high levels of self-harm and mental illness.

'It comes at huge cost to the tax payer and is likely to be wholly ineffective in deterring people from crossing the Channel.

The top ten nationalities of migrants arriving on small boats to the UK According to figures obtained by the British Refugee council, migrants arriving in the UK in small boats between January 2020 and May 2021 were from: Iran: 26 per cent Iraq 17 per cent Sudan 11 per cent Syria: 10 per cent Vietnam 8 per cent Eritrea: 6 per cent Afghanistan 5 per cent Kuwait 5 per cent Yemen 2 per cent Ethiopia 1 per cent Other: 9 per cent Advertisement

'The Government need to urgently change their approach, and focus on developing more safe routes for people to travel to the UK to claim asylum such as a Humanitarian Visa system'

Today Home Office officials confirmed that 'around 1,000' more migrants were detained by Border Force on Tuesday as the migrant crisis in the Channel continued, sparking concerns of another record breaking day.

A lifeboat was scrambled to rescue 23 people from a boat in the Channel today, as it was revealed that around 1,000 more migrants were detained on Tuesday.

Official figures are yet to be released but it is feared that Tuesday's total could rival the 1,185 record reached last Thursday as the migrant crisis reaches breaking point. The figures have taken some two days to calculate due to the sheer number of arrivals.

The previous daily high was 853 and, overall this year, there have been more than 20,000 crossings.

This morning, an RNLI Dover lifeboat was launched just after 5.30am at the request of the UK Coastguard following reports of a grey dinghy in distress.

A number of 999 calls were made to the rescue centre requesting assistance with reports that a man onboard required medical attention.

Lifeboat crew reported there were 23 other people on the 6-foot grey rib that was caught out in rough seas. A rescue and recovery operation was launched with a helicopter seen airlifting a person to hospital.

A spokesman for the Coastgaurd confirmed: 'HM Coastguard has been coordinating a search and rescue response to an incident off Kent, working with Border Force and other partners. We sent the coastguard helicopter from Lydd and Dover RNLI lifeboat.'

Meanwhile, the Home Office also confirmed that 66 migrants made the perilous Channel crossing in three boats on Wednesday. French authorities stopped a further 43 in three small boats.
A public inquiry will be held into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was unwittingly poisoned by Novichok brought to the UK by Russian agents sent to murder Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

The 44-year-old died three years ago after spraying the nerve agent on her skin from a discarded bottle in Wiltshire in the belief that it was perfume. Her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill but survived.

Moscow's intended target was Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer who became a double agent for Britain, and his daughter Yulia, who were both poisoned but survived, and are now believed to be hiding in the United States.

Two suspects in the case were identified by police in 2018 - Alexander Mishkin, who used the name Alexander Petrov while in the UK, and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the alias Ruslan Boshirov. And in September the Met said Sergey Fedotov, real name Denis Sergeev, was the mystery 'third man' in the plot.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has now granted permission for 44-year-old Ms Sturgess's inquest to be converted into a public inquiry to better examine any possible Russian involvement, amid allegations she died as an indirect result of Kremlin-sponsored poisoning.

In her letter to the coroner Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Patel said: 'I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (Ms Sturgess's family and others affected) through a greater understanding of the circumstances of Ms Sturgess' death and recognise the bravery and resilience of those who responded.'

The inquiry would be likely to be held in both Salisbury Guildhall and at venues in London, and be established 'as soon as is reasonably possible in 2022', Ms Patel said.

Ms Sturgess' father, Stan Sturgess, said he was pleased at the development.

He said: 'We welcome the decision. Our legal team has worked tirelessly on our behalf and hopefully in the near future we will finally have closure'.

A public inquiry will be held following the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was unwittingly poisoned by Novichok brought to the UK by Russian agents sent to murder Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, Priti Patel has said

The counterfeit perfume box found by Mr Rowley in June 2018. Ms Sturgess died after being exposed to the nerve agent that had been discarded in a perfume bottle following the attack

Russian agents spied on Sergei and Yulia Skripal (pictured) five years before the Salisbury novichok poisoning - they survived but tragically Dawn Sturgess died

Timeline of Salisbury horror that shocked the world and the hunt for Putin's Novochok agents Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia and police officer Nick Bailey were poisoned with Novichok in Salisbury in March 2018. Here is a timeline of how events unfolded: - March 4 2018: Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, are found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury, Wiltshire. - March 7: Police say a nerve agent was used to poison the pair and the case is being treated as attempted murder. - March 12: Then-prime minister Theresa May tells the House of Commons the nerve agent Novichok is of Russian origin and the Government has concluded it is 'highly likely' Russia is responsible for the poisoning. - March 22: DS Bailey is discharged from hospital but says life will 'probably never be the same'. - March 26: Britain's allies announce more than 100 Russian agents are being sent home from 22 countries, in what Mrs May calls the 'largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history'. - April 10: Ms Skripal is discharged from hospital, followed by her father just over a month later. - June 30: Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley fall ill at a flat in Muggleton Road in Amesbury, eight miles from Salisbury, and are taken to hospital. - July 4: Police declare a 'major incident' after revealing Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley have been exposed to an 'unknown substance', later confirmed to be Novichok. - July 8: Ms Sturgess dies in hospital after exposure to the nerve agent and a murder investigation is launched. - July 10: Mr Rowley regains consciousness and is discharged from hospital later that month. - September 12: Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is 'nothing criminal' about Petrov and Boshirov. Downing Street insists they are GRU officers 'who used a devastatingly toxic illegal chemical weapon on the streets of our country'. - September 13: Petrov and Boshirov are interviewed by Russian state-funded news channel RT in which they claim they were tourists visiting Salisbury. - March 2021: Three years on from the attack, UK counter-terrorism police say they 'remain as determined and committed as ever' to bring those responsible to justice. - September 2021: Investigators say they have sufficient evidence to charge a third man over the poisonings - Russian spy Denis Sergeev, also known as Sergey Fedotov. - November 2021: A public inquiry will be held following the death of 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess, who was poisoned by Novichok in Amesbury, Wiltshire, in 2018, Home Secretary, Priti Patel has confirms Advertisement

Ms Sturgess died in hospital on July 8after she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill in Amesbury, Wiltshire, when they came into contact with Novichok on a discarded perfume bottle.

It followed the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and ex-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in nearby Salisbury in March that year when members of a Russian military intelligence squad are believed to have smeared the deadly nerve agent on Mr Skripal's door handle in Salisbury.

All three survived, as did Mr Rowley.

The Metropolitan Police have identified three suspects wanted in connection with the poisonings: Denis Sergeev, Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the aliases Sergey Fedotov, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov respectively while in the UK.

Police have appealed to the public for any information about how the bottle came to be found eight miles from Salisbury, and where it was stored between the departure of the would-be assassins from the UK in March and its discovery three months later.

They believe that the three suspects identified so far are in Russia, and with no extradition treaty with the country there is little chance of them being brought to the UK.

Ms Patel previously condemned the 'appalling' attack, and told the House of Commons that the UK would 'take every possible step to detain and extradite them to face justice' should the suspects ever leave Russia.

A further pre-inquest review is planned for next month.

The coroner previously wrote to Ms Patel, pressing her case for a public inquiry on the basis that an inquest - which is limited in scope - 'cannot make any finding of civil or criminal liability against a named person, and it cannot attribute blame or impose any sanction or punishment'.

Speaking at the last hearing in September at the Royal Courts of Justice, Baroness Hallett said: 'I have firmly concluded that I cannot conduct a full, fair and effective inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess if these proceedings continue as an inquest.'

Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement, with President Vladimir Putin claiming the suspects were civilians, and Petrov and Boshirov stating in an interview that they were tourists visiting Salisbury Cathedral.

The movements of two intelligence officers - who used the aliases Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov - will be investigated during the probe into the death of Dawn Sturgess, Coroner Baroness Hallett said in March.

Her death followed the attempted poisoning of former Russian double agent Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, who were found unconscious on a park bench in Salisbury four months earlier.

They were both discharged from hospital before Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley fell ill.

Baroness Hallett said the inquest into Ms Sturgess's death will examine whether the Kremlin was responsible for the chemical attack and where the substance used to poison her came from.

She told the pre-inquest review looking at Ms Sturgess's death in isolation could result in an 'incomplete and potentially misleading investigation'.

She also vowed to pursue a 'fair, fearless and thorough' investigation into the 44-year-old's death.

Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess (left) and her partner Charlie Rowley (right) fell ill at the flat after she handled a perfume bottle containing the poison. She died in hospital in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on July 8 that year. Mr Rowley was left seriously ill but recovered

Demolition work on the former flat of Charlie Rowley and a neighbouring flat after they became contaminated (pictured last year)

Former Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey (pictured with wife Sarah) was also taken seriously ill but went on to recover

The 2013 movements of two intelligence officers - who used the aliases Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov (right) - will be investigated during the probe into the death of Dawn Sturgess, Coroner Baroness Hallett said

Both of the suspects are spotted at Salisbury train station, where authorities believe they are carrying out reconnaissance mission. Russia claims they were just tourists visiting the famous cathedral's tall spire

Outlining the provisional scope of the inquest, Baroness Hallett said: 'To my mind, there is very considerable force in submissions made by Mr O'Connor (Andrew O'Connor QC, counsel to the inquest) that to conduct an investigation into the death of Dawn Sturgess without investigating how Novichok got to be in Salisbury, and then in Amesbury, how or why it was brought to this country, who brought it and who directed them - this would be an incomplete and potentially misleading investigation.'

Officers identified the third Salisbury poisoning suspect as Sergey Fedotov (real name Denis Sergeev) and said he was a Russian national, aged about 50. This image is taken from his travel documents

Police previously said there was enough evidence to charge two Russians, known as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, with offences including conspiracy to murder, over the attack on the Skripals.

But the men denied any involvement and gave a much-derided interview to state television in which they said they were only in Salisbury for a sightseeing tour of the cathedral.

Russia repeatedly denied any involvement, with President Vladimir Putin claiming the two suspects were merely civilians, not military officers.

Mr O'Connor said the suspects had failed to engage with the inquest process so far, and asked for the investigation to examine wider issues about Russian state involvement.

He said: 'Our submission is that the investigation ... should encompass not only the conduct of Mr Petrov and Mr Boshirov, but also the source of the Novichok and wider Russian state responsibility.

'Where did the Novichok come from? Who sent those two men to Salisbury and with what instructions? And at what level was that decision approved?'

He said there was 'very significant public interest in exposing the full facts of these matters', adding: 'This is likely to be the only opportunity to do so, forensically, in a legal forum.'

The coroner said a decision on whether or not to convert the inquest into a public inquiry would be made at a later date.

The hearing was adjourned until another pre-inquest review in June or July. The coroner also said the inquest may yet be held in Wiltshire.

She said: 'It would be very important to reassure the citizens of Wiltshire and the family we are doing all we can to investigate this matter.'
Six former Post Office workers wrongly convicted of stealing from their employer because of a flaw in the computing system have finally had their names cleared following a years-long legal battle.

The ex-postmasters had all noticed cash shortfalls in the Fujitsu-developed Horizon computer system - in use between 1999 and 2015 - but had no idea where the missing money had gone.

The Post Office had known about the issues in the accounting software at the time but failed to inform the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about them, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Scores of employees were then accused of stealing from their own tills and pressured into pleading guilty to crimes they never committed.

The scandal has been described as one of Britain's biggest miscarriages of justice.

But after years of legal battles, Norman Barber, 62, and wife Amanda Barber, 51, of Warrington, Cheshire, along with Mohamed Aslam, 60, Anthony John Gant, 51, of Shrewsbury, Balbir Grewal, 66, of Luton, and David Hughes, 35, also of Warrington, were all cleared on Thursday.

Judge Deborah Taylor told the six: 'It may have taken some time but each of these defendants walk away from the court with no stain on their character.'

Six former postmasters had their convictions relating to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal quashed on Thursday (Pictured right to left: Norman Barker, Amanda Barker, Balbir Grewal, Kirsty Gant, Anthony Gant and his stepdaughter Megan)

Mr Gant had pleaded guilty to false accounting at Shrewsbury and North Shropshire Magistrates' Court on October 29 2007 and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work - he has now had his name cleared

Mr Gant was all smiles with his wife and step-daughter outside court on Thursday after having his conviction quashed

The group's convictions were quashed after a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in January 2001. This takes the total number of Post Office referrals made by the CCRC to 57

They had attended court alongside supporters to finally see their convictions overturned.

Their convictions were quashed after a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in January 2001.

This takes the total number of Post Office referrals made by the CCRC to 57.

But hundreds more convicted postmasters are expected to have their names cleared as their cases make their way through the courts.

Simon Baker, QC, for the Post Office, told the court there are 'clear and cogent reasons' to quash the convictions for each of the appellants.

Had the CPS been aware that the Horizon system was showing shortfalls where none existed, none of the postmasters would have been prosecuted at the time, the court heard.

Six postmasters cleared after being pressured into admitting crimes they never committed The six postmasters cleared today are among hundreds who are believed to have admitted crimes they did not commit in the Post Office Horizon scandal. The six had admitted to the following: Mr Aslam pleaded guilty to false accounting at Newport Magistrates' Court on January 23 2007 and was sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid work and a 300 fine. Mrs Barber pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Warrington Magistrates' Court on June 6 2012 and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work. Mr Barber also pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Warrington Magistrates' Court on June 6 2012 and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work. Mr Gant pleaded guilty to false accounting at Shrewsbury and North Shropshire Magistrates' Court on October 29 2007 and was sentenced to 6 months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work. Mr Grewal pleaded guilty to false accounting at Luton Magistrates' Court on August 13 2001 and was sentenced to a suspended sentence and a community order. Mr Hughes pleaded guilty to making a false instrument at Workington Magistrates' Court and was sentence to a community order of 12 months and 100 hours of unpaid work. Advertisement

'In all of these cases, the Post Office cases that were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service, verdicts of not guilty will be entered against all of the appellant for the reasons set out by the Court of Appeal in the case of Hamilton and others,' said Judge Taylor.

It comes after the Post Office agreed this week to hand over secret emails from its lawyers which could explain why hundreds of its subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for fraud, theft and false accounting.

Insiders estimate that the ongoing inquiry will be given tens of millions of documents, spanning over 20 years of e-mails and letters between Post Office staff and internal legal advisers, barristers and solicitors' firms.

The documents will allow the inquiry to test claims made by the Post Office's former chief executive, Paula Vennells, a part-time priest, that she was led astray by her legal advisers.

The Post Office does not legally have to hand over the papers but volunteered them at the request of the inquiry's chairman, Sir Wyn Williams.

Postmasters had argued that it would be impossible to uncover how thousands of them were targeted without considering the advice given to senior managers by their lawyers.

The inquiry would have had no legal power to order the Post Office to hand over the documents if it had not voluntarily given it up, legal sources said.

Sir Wyn said: 'There is now a great deal of work to be done in organising and obtaining disclosure of relevant documents statement here.'

A Post Office spokeswoman said: 'Following the request by the inquiry chairman, the Post Office has agreed to waive relevant legal privilege for the purpose of the Inquiry to over 20 years of documentation, reflecting our desire to assist the Inquiry in obtaining the information necessary to complete their investigations.

'While the Inquiries Act does not compel this step, and legal privilege is an important feature of our justice system, this is the right thing to do for all those affected by the Horizon IT scandal.'

It has declined to waive privilege in respect of the postmasters' compensation scheme, the Historical Shortfall Scheme.

The scandal is expected to cost the taxpayer in excess of 250 million in legal fees and compensation.

It comes after it was revealed that the boss at the heart of the scandal made a 'palpably false' statement when she told a minister there was nothing to suggest there had been miscarriages of justice.

Earlier this month, a law professor told the first open hearing of a public inquiry into the scandal of fresh evidence suggesting Paula Vennells, who was chief executive between 2012 and 2019, made false statements to MPs and a minister after evidence of miscarriages of justice came to light.

The 62-year-old mother-of-two, who is also an ordained priest, has been accused of covering up the scandal and spending more than 30 million of taxpayers' money fighting her former staff in court to conceal the truth.

The inquiry was told that she wrote to a government minister in June 2015 to say that 'we have found nothing to suggest that, in criminal cases, any conviction is unsafe'.

Richard Moorhead, a professor of law and professional ethics at the University of Exeter, told the inquiry: 'That statement was palpably false, whether Mrs Vennells knew it or not.'

The letter to Tory MP George Freeman, then a parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, was sent two years after the Post Office was handed a report revealing one of its IT experts may have misled 'many' criminal trials by failing to tell them about computer bugs.

Earlier this month, law professor told the first open hearing of a public inquiry into the scandal of fresh evidence suggesting Paula Vennells, (pictured) who was chief executive between 2012 and 2019, made false statements to MPs and a minister after evidence of miscarriages of justice came to light

The inquiry was told that she wrote to MP George Freeman (pictured) in June 2015 to say that 'we have found nothing to suggest that, in criminal cases, any conviction is unsafe'

Mrs Vennells made similar comments to a select committee in February 2015, telling them there was 'no evidence' that any postmaster had suffered a miscarriage of justice.

Her involvement in the scandal has sparked calls for her to be stripped of her CBE, which was awarded for services to charity and the Post Office.

Mrs Vennells walked away in 2019 with 4.9 million in pay and bonuses, and into jobs in the NHS and the Cabinet Office, from which she has now resigned.

The Daily Mail has led the way in exposing the scandal as part of the Save Our Post Offices campaign.

The hearing in London has heard how postmasters suffered 'enormous psychological toll' and the 'shame and humiliation of arrest and prosecution'.

The Post Office said it had 'implemented fundamental reforms to ensure that such events of the past could never happen again' and was 'participating fully in the inquiry'.

Mrs Vennells declined to comment when contacted by the newspaper.
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More people are being referred to Prevent for far-right views than Islamist ones for the first time, new figures showed today.

Out of 4,915 cases flagged to the government's flagship anti-terror programme in the year ending March, 25% related to suspected extreme right-wing beliefs and 22% to Islamist ones. The majority - 51% - were for individuals with a 'mixed, unstable or unclear ideology'.

Among the 688 cases deemed the most serious and passed onto Channel - which mentors individuals to turn them away from terrorist causes  46% concerned right-wing terror and 22% Islamism. A further 30% fell into the mixed or unknown category. This is the third consecutive year the far-right have made up the majority of Channel cases.

Prevent came under fresh scrutiny after Tory MP David Amess was murdered in an Islamist attack. Critics have repeatedly accused 'politically correct' Prevent officials of diverting too many resources towards suspected far-right extremists despite Islamist radicals posing a 'far greater threat'.

The majority of people killed in terror attacks in the UK since 2016 have been victims of Islamist terror. Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by right-wing extremist Thomas Mair in 2016, while in 2017, right-wing terrorist Darren Osborne drove a van into Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, killing one person. By comparison, 36 people have been killed by Islamist terrorists in the past five years.

Under the Prevent programme, local authority staff and other professionals such as doctors, teachers and social workers have a duty to flag concerns about an individual being radicalised or drawn into a terrorism.

Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and senior adviser at the Counter Extremism Project, today suggested research was needed about what was driving referrals and why they were 'out of kilter'.

He told MailOnline: 'Nobody can dispute these statistics as a matter of fact. Nor is it sensible to ignore extreme right wing ideology as a driver of violent extremism.

'But we should also be asking about what is driving these referrals and why they are so out of kilter with the clear and present danger of Islamist extremism which in terms of lethality and potential dwarfs extreme right wing ones.'

Out of 4,915 cases flagged to the government's flagship anti-terror programme in the year ending March, 25% related to suspected extreme right-wing beliefs and 22% to Islamist ones. Since 2015/16, there has been a dramatic drop in the number of initial referrals over concerns of Islamic radicalisation and a steady increase in those concerning far-right beliefs

Home Office figures previously published in March this year showed there were 157 individuals in prison classed as 'Islamist extremist' compared to a 44 categorised as 'extreme right-wing'

Among the 688 cases deemed the most serious and passed onto Channel - which mentors individuals to turn them away from terrorist causes  46% concerned right-wing terror and 22% Islamism

These pie charts show percentage splits for different ideologies over each part of the process for the year ending March 2021

How does Prevent work? Under the Prevent programme, local authority staff and other professionals such as doctors, teachers and social workers have a duty to flag concerns about an individual being radicalised or drawn into a terrorism. This report is then be passed to a local official charged with deciding whether the tip-off merits a formal referral. Prevent referrals are handled by expert officers in the local police force. A flow diagram showing how the Prevent process works Cases are then categorised depending on the nature of the individual's alleged beliefs - based on evidence ranging from comments they have been overheard saying to their social media history. People who are not viewed as either far-right or Islamist are categorised as having a 'mixed, unstable or unclear' ideology. Less serious reports may be sent to council services, which could include parenting support for families whose children have been watching inappropriate videos online. This graph shows the types of professionals who make the initial referrals Serious reports are forwarded on to Prevent's Channel stage, at which a panel of local police, healthcare specialists and social workers meeting monthly will consider the case. At this stage, counter-terror police will be involved and will receive information from counsellors, social workers or theological mentors working with the individual concerned. Advertisement

He added: 'There is probably a lot of concern hiding within the dominant group of mixed, unstable or unclear ideology. Is this group getting the same attention as the others?

'I'm not at all clear that for example alienated young people attracted to the Incel sub-culture equate in any meaningful way to religiously inspired extremism that is so inimical to society in terms of threat.'

Mr Acheson urged the Shawcross Review of Prevent - which is set to be published in the coming months - to look at the issue of how different beliefs were categorised and ensure there was a 'relentless focus on real harms'.

Dr Rakib Ehsan, research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said: 'The recent figures show that there is a continued mismatch between the ideological breakdown of cases referred to Prevent and taken up by Channel panels and the stone-cold reality that Islamist extremism is the prevailing terror threat in the UK.

The possibility that biases are undermining our counter-terrorism activities, must be taken seriously by the government. There is no room for political correctness when it comes to British public safety.'

People aged 15 and 20 accounted for the largest proportion of those referred for all types of radicalisation in the year ending March 2021.

However, compared to other ideologies, the age of those referred for Islamic extremism (1,064) was more equally split between the age groups of 15 to 20 (286; 27%) and 21 to 30 (272; 26%).

At the Channel stage, 64% of suspected Islamists were between 15 and 30. For those accused of supporting far-right terrorism, 63% were 20 and under.

At the time of the killing of Tory MP David Amess, the Henry Jackson Society argued that counter-extremism professionals had 'lost sight of their duty to prevent terrorism'.

'There has been an under-referral of Islamist cases and an over-referral of extreme Right-wing cases and we are now seeing the deadly consequences,' the think tank said.

'The Prevent review has been derailed by Left-wing groups trying to litigate every aspect of its work and yet a cold hard look at the number of cases in which Prevent has fallen short shows this is only the latest in a long line.'

Prevent places a duty on local public servants including teachers, doctors and social workers to flag concerns about an individual being radicalised or drawn into terrorism.

Since 2015/16, there has been a dramatic drop in the number of initial referrals over concerns of Islamic radicalisation and a steady increase in those concerning far-right beliefs.

It coincides with an increasing focus on far-right extremism following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a white supremacist in 2016.

Last year the Met's anti-terror chief Neil Basu warned the far right is Britain's fastest growing terror threat.

After the initial referral to Prevent, cases are categorised depending on the nature of the individual's alleged beliefs - based on evidence ranging from comments they have been overheard making in public to their social media history.

People who are not viewed as either far-right or Islamist are categorised as having a 'mixed, unstable or unclear' ideology.

Reports judged to be serious are then referred onto the Channel process - which often involves mentoring to reduce the risk of them carrying out a terrorist act. However, taking part is still voluntary even at this stage.

Liverpool suicide bomber Emad Al Swealmeen is not believed to have been involved with Prevent.

Channel cases for right-wing radicalisation broken down by region: There has been a steady increase in the emphasis on the threat posed by far-right terrorism since the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a white supremacist in 2016

This graph breaks down initial Prevent referrals by age group, as well as those considered for referral to the more serious Channel phase, and those actually passed on to it (year ending March 2021)

Unsurprisingly, men make up the vast majority of cases dealt with by the Prevent process across all its various stages (year ending March 2021)

Prevent came under fresh scrutiny after Tory MP David Amess was murdered in an Islamist attack. Pictured right: Ali Harbi Ali, who has been charged with murder and preparing an act of terrorism

Is Prevent working? Attacks by Islamist terrorists who had been referred to the scheme READING - June 20, 2020: Khairi Saadallah, 27, fatally stabbed friends James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, in a knife attack at a town centre park. He later admitted the murders and was sentenced to a whole life order in prison. The Reading Refugee Support Group warned Prevent officials he could carry out a 'London Bridge-style attack'. However, he was found to not have a 'fixed ideology, the Independent reported. Reading attacker Khairi Saadallah, 27, (left) was assessed by Prevent officials but found to have 'no fixed ideology', according to reports. Sudesh Amman, who stabbed two people in Streatham, south London, last February. However, a panel decided his case did not require intervention STREATHAM - February 2, 2020: Sudesh Amman was shot dead by police after stabbing two people on a busy street in the south London area of Streatham while wearing a fake suicide vest. He was referred to Prevent but the panel decided his case did not require intervention. LONDON BRIDGE - November 29, 2019: Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were stabbed to death by Usman Khan, 28, at a prisoner rehabilitation event. A man and two women were also injured before Khan, who was released from prison on licence in December 2018, was shot dead by armed officers on the bridge. An inquest heard his Prevent officers had 'no specific training' in handling terrorists. PARSONS GREEN - September 15, 2017: Ahmed Hassan's homemade bomb partially exploded on a London Underground rush hour train, injuring more than 50 people. He was sentenced to life with a minimum jail term of 34 years. He was referred to Prevent 20 months before he planted the bomb. Usman Khan, 28, (left) who stabbed two young graduates to death after a prisoner rehabilitation event on London Bridge, had come into contact with Prevent officers who had 'no specific training' in handling terrorists, an inquest heard. Parsons Green bomber Ahmed Hassan was also referred to the anti-terror scheme 20 months before he planted a device on the Tube that injured 50 people during rush hour in 2017 Advertisement
Prince Charless charity was plunged into fresh crisis yesterday by a watchdog investigation.

Charity Commission chiefs are launching a statutory inquiry  their most serious level of probe  into its dealings with the Mahfouz Foundation.

They want to know whether the foundation received donations meant for the princes charity, with some cash then moved elsewhere.

The foundation is run by Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, a Saudi billionaire granted an honorary CBE by the prince in 2016.

Charless charity is already being probed by Scottish regulators over claims it accepted a 500,000 gift from a Russian donor that was later rejected by an ethics committee.

The latest development comes after the princes right-hand man quit over cash for honours allegations. Michael Fawcett resigned as chief executive of the Princes Foundation following reports that he promised to secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Mr Mahfouz in exchange for major donations.

Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz is pictured meeting Prince Charles

Michael Fawcett (right), one of Prince Charles's closest confidantes, resigned after claims he allegedly promised to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for Dr Bin Mahfouz

Michael Wynne Parker pictured at the Castle of Mey Trust Patrons Party held at the Goring Hotel in London in 2018

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall during a visit to the Great Sphinx of Giza, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East on Thursday

In 2017, Mr Fawcett wrote to an aide of Mr Mahfouz, who had donated 1.5million to help renovate two of the princes Scottish properties, saying that in light of his ongoing and most recent generosity... we are willing and happy to support and contribute to the application for citizenship.

On headed notepaper in his then-role as chief executive of the Dumfries House Trust, he added that the charity would also apply to raise his honorary CBE to a knighthood.

The letter may form a part of initial police inquiries, it has emerged.

Sources said Charles was not aware of any link between donations to the foundation and honours.

Announcing its inquiry yesterday, the Charity Commission said of the Mahfouz Foundation: The commission has been engaging with its trustees since September after media reports alleged that donations, intended for the Princes Foundation, went instead to the Mahfouz Foundation.

Michael Fawcett, 59, is pictured outside his home in South West London earlier this month

The regulator has also identified concerns around the trustees governance and financial control of the charity.

Emily Anne Cherrington, 38, is now the acting chief executive of the Prince's Foundation

The inquiry will examine whether donations received by the Mahfouz Foundation were intended for the charity, whether they were used in accordance with donors intentions and whether they should be returned to donors.

It will also look at whether trustees have carried out legal duties.

The commission added that the scope of the inquiry could be extended if additional issues emerge.

It is believed the investigation will examine the whereabouts of 500,000 donated to the Princes Foundation by Dmitry Leus, a former Russian banker.

Footman to top man: The rise and fall of Prince Charles' aide Michael Fawcett 1981: As a teenager, Michael Fawcett lands a job as junior footman to the Queen at Buckingham Palace. He later moves to Kensington Palace as assistant valet to Prince Charles, who is setting up home with Diana. 1990: He is reportedly trusted to squeeze toothpaste on to Charles's brush when the prince broke an arm playing polo. 1992: When the royal couple separate, Diana has the locks of the marital apartment changed to keep out Fawcett, who pinned his loyalties to Charles. 1998: Three members of palace staff go to the prince to complain about Fawcett's allegedly overbearing and bullying manner, and he quits. But his resignation leaves Charles in tears and he is reinstated and promoted within a week. 2000: Fawcett is appointed a Member of the Victorian Order by the Prince in the New Year's Honours  an honour normally reserved for Royal Household members. 2003: He is again forced out for supposedly selling on behalf of Charles gifts the prince did not want. An internal inquiry clears him of any financial misconduct. He resigns but the prince rewards him with a 500,000 severance packet. Fawcett sets up a private events company, Premier Mode. 2005: Premier Mode organises Charles and Camilla's wedding party. 2017: Fawcett joins the board of A G Carrick, a company Charles set up to sell mementoes at his Highgrove shop. Fawcett also runs the trust set up to run Prince Charles's pet project, Dumfries House. 2018: Fawcett is appointed to a 95,000-a-year role as chief executive of Charles's charity, The Prince's Foundation. 2021: It is alleged that Fawcett fixed a CBE for a Saudi billionaire who had donated more than 1.5 million to royal charities. Fawcett resigns for the third time. Advertisement

Following the donation, Prince Charles told Mr Leus he was incredibly grateful and proposed the pair meet after the coronavirus pandemic.

But the foundations ethics committee rejected the money over concerns about a previous money-laundering conviction, which was later overturned.

Mr Leus insisted the money was not returned to him. In September, the Mail on Sunday reported that the Mahfouz Foundation had admitted holding 300,000 of the cash, with Michael Wynne-Parker, a society fixer, allegedly holding the remaining 200,000.

In a statement to the newspaper, Mr Leus said he had never heard of the Mahfouz Foundation and was deeply shocked at what appears to have happened to a charitable donation given in good faith.

The Mahfouz Foundation appears to have been set up in 2012 to promote the history and culture of the Middle East to the UK.

However there is little information on its website other than a black-and-white photograph of Mr Mahfouz alongside his title, including his honorary CBE.

Mr Mahfouz has been accused of paying fixers with links to the prince tens of thousands of pounds in the hope of securing an honour.

He allegedly believed a title would help him secure British citizenship. He denies any wrongdoing.

For the financial year to the end of April, the Mahfouz Foundation had a total income of just 10,000, records show.

It has two trustees, although Mr Mahfouz is not among them. Over the weekend, the Sunday Times reported that Mr Fawcett had agreed to help Mr Mahfouz secure a knighthood if he could back three possibilities for donations to Dumfries House, Charless 18th century mansion.

One option was 10million to design and build houses in the area. The Princes Foundation was unable to comment because of the ongoing investigation but sources said it would be happy to offer its cooperation on the matter.

A spokesman for Clarence House declined to comment.

n The High Courts decision to ban media organisations from a secret hearing about Prince Philips will has prompted legal action.

Lawyers are seeking permission to argue that a judge did not properly consider the need for open justice. The Duke of Edinburghs will is to be kept from public view for 90 years after a September ruling by Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division of the High Court.

The legal challenge, brought by The Guardian, will draw attention to a century-long tradition that sees senior judges lock away wills belonging to royals.

British laws hold that all wills should be open to the public to ensure the wishes of the deceased are carried out and to alert creditors. Since the early 19th century the monarch has been exempt.
Sajid Javid has delayed plans for GPs to declare if they earn more than 150,000 a year, it emerged today.

The Health Secretary agreed to postpone the proposals, which left doctors furious because they felt 'singled out'.

The BMA welcomed the move saying GPs were too busy facing 'some of the most intense pressures many have ever experienced'.

Officials wanted to ensure GP pay transparency was 'in line' with other civil servants, including senior NHS managers.

The Government's delay was revealed by Dr Richard Vautrey, the outgoing chair of the British Medical Association's GP Committee.

He led the union's rebellion against No10's orders to force GPs to see more patients in person, following a huge row over a lack of face-to-face appointments.

The panel has already balloted its members on whether they want to take industrial action over the proposals, which would have seen the worst-performing practices 'named and shamed'.

As well as refusing to sign off Covid vaccine exemptions, the action could also see doctors refuse their contractual requirement to declare the highest earners which technically came into force this week.

It was also revealed today that Dr Vautrey's replacement will be a doctor who wants surgeries to stop offering patients 'vital' services.

Dr Farah Jameel, a GP in Camden, north London, was confirmed as the next chair of the committee following a vote. She beat rival candidate Dr Chandra Kanneganti, a Tory councillor and mayor for Stoke-on-Trent.

One doctor said anyone 'daft enough to vote for a Conservative party member (after what they have done to us) to lead their union needs to resign'.

The BMA slammed the Government's proposals to get more face-to-face GP appointments last month. The graph above shows the proportion of GP appointments that were face to face since September 2019, before the pandemic began

Health Secretary Sajid Javid (left, pictured getting his booster dose) has agreed to postpone the proposals. Officials wanted to ensure GP pay transparency was 'in line' with other civil servants, including senior NHS managers. Dr Richard Vautrey, the current chair of the BMA, (left) is stepping down from his position

The average annual income for a GP in Britain is 100,000.

Data showed family doctors worked 6.6 sessions a week before Covid, the equivalent of just over three days. Those days often consist of 12-plus hour shifts.

Highly-paid doctors were due to have their name and salary band revealed under the new five-year GP contract.

WHO IS THE NEW HEAD OF THE BMA GP COMMITTEE? Dr Farah Jameel, a GP in Camden, London, has been appointed as the new chair of the BMA's committee. She had complained about GPs having to provide extra services before she took the role. In an article in GPOnline in 2018 she claimed further services were 'another example of GPs' goodwill being exploited and taken advantage of'. The article was attached with a strap that read: 'You wouldn't expect a builder to do a job on the side for free, or ask a lawyer to do some extra work without being paid for it. 'So why should it be any different for GPs?' Non-core services include inserting pessaries, phlebotomies and spirometries. The NHS doesn't pay for these, meaning doctors don't have to offer them. But critics say doctors should offer the services regardless and today condemned Dr Jameel's 'lax attitude'. Advertisement

Department of Health bosses said it was to 'bring general practice in line with other public servants, including senior NHS managers'.

Welcoming the delay today, the BMA said it would give GPs 'breathing room' during a busy period.

'Crucially, these changes could have caused disruption over the winter period  distracting from the immediate priorities facing practices and their patients,' a spokesperson told Pulse Magazine.

'We are glad that the secretary of state is delaying these plans, providing some breathing space for hard-working GPs.

Dr Vautrey also said it was 'good to see Sajid Javid has agreed to delay plans for GP earning declaration arrangements' in a tweet last night.

He warned that GPs were facing 'the most intense workload pressures' and added that the move would have been a 'distraction'.

It comes after Dr Vautrey announced he would step down from his role this month in a shock resignation.

Rumours soon began to circulate that he actually decided to jump ship after finding himself at odds with more militant members of his committee.

The BMA has already asked its 160,000 members whether they want to take industrial action but is yet to announce the result.

It was furious over Mr Javid's 250million package for GPs to get patients more face-to-face appointments.

No10 will still go ahead with plans to publish regular data on face-to-face attendances by NHS trusts, which will effectively create a league table.

But the BMA has described the proposals as 'unfair, demoralising and indefensible', saying they would trigger a wave of resignations and retirements and 'sink the ship altogether'.

Concerns have been raised that too few appointments are taking place face-to-face.

Dr Farah Jameel, a GP in Camden, north London, was confirmed as the next chair of the committee following a vote today (left). She beat rival candidate Dr Chandra Kanneganti (right), a Tory councillor and mayor for Stoke-on-Trent.

Official figures from last month showed four in ten appointments were still not in person, with most done over the phone or online.

But at the same time two years ago  before the pandemic  figures showed nine in ten appointments were done in person.

The Health Secretary has blamed problems accessing GPs for escalating pressures in hospitals.

Mr Javid told the Commons' Health and Social Care Committee this month: '[A] significant portion of people are turning up for emergency care when they could have actually gone to their GP.

'That is not the fault of those people at all. They have stayed away from the NHS when they were asked to, they now want to be seen and that is right.

'But part of the reason I think people are turning up in A&E perhaps when they don't need it is because they're not able to get through to their primary care services in the usual way.'
Kamala Harris hit back at claims she is being misused as vice president, saying she doesn't feel like she's being under utilized by President Joe Biden and his team.

'No. I don't,' she told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in an interview that aired on Good Morning America Thursday morning. 'I am very, very excited about the work that we have accomplished but I am also absolutely, absolutely clear-eyed that there is a lot more to do and we're going to get it done.'

She rattled off a list of her accomplishments, including the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, her recent trip to France, her work with members of Congress and her presiding over the Senate as she defended her job as vice president.

Harris' interview came amid reports of chaos in the vice president's office and frustration among West Wing staff with her and her team, which the White House has vigorously pushed back on, denying Harris is being sidelined as her poll numbers sink. '

She also stressed her strong relationship with Biden and dismissed her low approval ratings which plummeted to 28% in a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll of registered voters earlier this month.

'Polls, they go up, they go down,' Harris said. 'But I think what is most important is that we remain consistent with what we need to do to deal with the issues that we're presented with at this moment.'

She also said she and Biden have not spoken about the 2024 presidential race.

'Absolutely not,' she said when Stephanopoulos asked if Biden told her he would seek a second term.

Kamala Harris hit back at claims she is being under used as vice president in an interview with ABC News

In the interview with ABC News, Vice President Harris stressed her strong relationship with President Joe Biden - the two are seen above Monday at the signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill

.@VP Kamala Harris pushes back on reports she has not been effective in her role, telling @GStephanopoulos: We're getting things done, and we're doing it together." https://t.co/Nh3u02dpDL pic.twitter.com/YvRENaTr18  Good Morning America (@GMA) November 18, 2021

The White House has gone full throat with their defense of her after a CNN report claimed Biden was distancing himself from Harris because of her sliding poll numbers while the vice president felt isolated and frustrated with being given some of the most difficult issues for the administration in her portfolio.

And, in a troubling sign for Democrats, Biden's approval rating dropped to 36 per cent in a new poll out Thursday and most voters said they want to see Republicans take control of Congress.

The new numbers - from a Quinnipiac University Poll - indicate a level of frustration among voters with the party in power as the country prepares for next year's midterm election.

Harris and Biden put on a show of force at Monday's signing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The two walked out onto the South Lawn together and exchanged hugs.

Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain tweeted Harris is an 'incredible leader' and White House press secretary Jen Psaki argued Harris receives more criticism because of her status as a woman of color. Harris is the country's first female and first black vice president.

The president has publicly said he intends to run again. And there has been anonymous chatter among Democrats that, if he does, he should consider replacing Harris. There's additional speculation that if he doesn't run again, Harris would not be the strongest contender to replace him. Some have suggested Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg would be a better candidate for the nomination.

Biden, however, did not name either Harris or Buttigieg as the person in charge of implementing his infrastructure plan and watching where the dollars go - a role he noted he played for Barack Obama in 2009 for stimulus money distribution. He named former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Harris did not answer about the president's 2024 plans the first time Stephanopoulos asked her, however. He had to press her a second time on the issue.

Harris began her response by listing off what she had done Wednesday - the day the interview was taped - including beginning the day with Biden at the presidential daily briefing and attending meetings.

When Stephanopoulos asked her again, she said definitively it had not been discussed.

Harris also defended her work on the root causes of migration. Republicans have pounded Harris and the administration over the numbers of migrants crossing the Southern border.

'It won't be overnight. We can't just flip a switch and make it better,' she said.

Senior Biden aides having been trying to pour cold water on the CNN article published Sunday night with background from nearly three dozen sources suggesting that Biden had 'given up' on Harris after a poll showed her approval at 28 percent.

Privately, Harris aides complain that she has been set up to fail, and handed a portfolio that is not commensurate with her historic status as the first woman, and first woman of color, to hold the vice president's office.

'They're consistently sending her out there on losing issues in the wrong situations for her skill set,' said a former high-level Harris aide.

Her aides also complain that on the issues that she has been given control over - such as the border crisis and voting rights - she doesn't have White House backing to follow through.

In contrast, they say the president has been more vigorous in defending Buttigieg.

At the same time, Biden's staff are privately disappointed with Harris over self-inflicted controversies, like her 'awkward' laughter when asked about visiting the border by NBC's Lester Holt.

President Biden and Vice President Harris hugged it out at Monday's infrastructure bill signing

Psaki said on Wednesday evening that Harris is judged with a higher bar being a woman and a woman of color. She slammed the vice president's Republican critics.

'I do think it's been easier and harsher from some on the right-wing who have gone after her because she is the first woman, the first woman of color,' Psaki told Politico in an interview.

Psaki said that while it may never be acknowledged publicly there is 'no question' that the attacks on Harris are in part because she's a first 'many times over.'

'It's a lot to have on your shoulders,' Psaki said, adding that while Harris wants to be seen as the 'talented, experienced expert, substantive policy person, partner to the president' that she is, instead some of the attacks are 'beyond' - and they're because of her identity.
The trial of 24 aid workers, including the sister of a Syrian Olympic swimmer, who helped migrants reach Greece between 2016 and 2018 has been adjourned shortly after opening.

They defendants are facing a slew of charges, including espionage, forgery and the unlawful use of radio frequencies. They face eight year sentences.

Several also remain under investigation for a number of other felonies, including human smuggling, and if convicted could face further sentences of up to 25-years.

Human rights groups have condemned the trial as "farcical" and politically motivated.

The case was suspended after the judge ruled that the court was not competent to hear the case.

It will now be heard by an appeals court, because one of the defendants is a lawyer and the local court on the island of Lesbos doesn't have the jurisdiction to try lawyers.

Among the 24 defendants, 17 of whom are foreign nationals, is the Syrian-born competitive swimmer Sarah Mardini, whose sister Yusra Mardini, was part of the refugee swimming team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo earlier this year.

The siblings shot to fame in 2015 after the Syrian refugees took an overcrowded dinghy to Greece and saved the other 19 passengers by pulling their sinking boat to shore for four hours when the engine failed.

A group of 24 aid workers, including the sister of a Syrian Olympic swimmer, are facing a migrant smuggling trial in Greece after taking part in migrant rescue operations. Pictured: The aid workers who stand trial with their lawyers, family and supporters outside the court on the Greek island of Lesbos today

Among the 24 defendants, 17 of whom are foreign nationals, is the Syrian-born competitive swimmer Sarah Mardini (right), whose sister Yusra Mardini, (left) was part of the refugee swimming team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo earlier this year

Migrants arrive at the village of Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos in 2020

Prosecutors allege that the aid workers monitored the Greek Coast Guard's radio channels and used a vehicle with a fake military licence plate to enter restricted areas in Lesbos before rescuing migrants.

The 24 defendants deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that they simply wanted to help save lives when the island of Lesbos was overwhelmed by refugee and migrant arrivals from nearby Turkey.

But in a case which has been decried as 'farcical' and 'politically motivated', the court today ruled that it was not competent to judge the case and adjourned the trial, defence lawyer Haris Petsikos said.

The case was moved to an appeals court as a lawyer is among those accused, Petsikos added.

No date was given for the new trial.

Irish-born Sean Binder, who is now a German citizen, and Mardini have previously spent more than three months in police custody and face five-year jail terms if convicted.

Speaking about the adjournment of the trial, rescue diver Binder, 27, told reporters: 'I feel very angry because we have to wait years more.'

'There's no semblance of a fair trial,' he added, charging that the legal limbo was blocking independent rescue efforts and costing lives at sea.

Irish-born Sean Binder (pictured outside court today), who is now a German citizen, and Mardini have previously spent more than three months in police custody and face five-year jail terms if convicted

Supporters of activists gather outside a court before their trial in Lesbos on Thursday

Mardini and Binder - who were conditionally released in December 2018 and immediately left Greece - are also in line for a related felony investigation which will be tried separately and which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Binder has returned to Greece for the trial despite his misgivings about the trial.

'I never for a moment thought that trying to help somebody out at sea would land you in prison,' Binder told Reuters in Athens. 'I'm terrified of going back to prison.'

He said he had been handcuffed in prison to a man who had committed double homicide by burning someone alive.

'It is frightening to be going there again and I'm not confident that, just because there is absolutely no evidence of any wrongdoing... I'm still not confident that we will not be found guilty,' he said.

Mardini, who now lives in Berlin, is barred from entering the country as a third country national and will be represented by a lawyer.

'It's mind boggling why someone cannot attend their own trial,' said Giorgos Kosmopoulos, a senior campaigner for Amnesty, calling on authorities to drop the charges during a solidarity protest outside Greek parliament.

Binder, a rescue diver, said he had only intended to volunteer for a while.

'It wasn't my plan to spend the rest of my life doing this, to be some kind of champion,' he said.

'If you saw someone drowning you would do the same as me, you would reach out a hand, pull them out, and that's the exact same crime that I'm accused of doing.'

Aid workers Sean Binder, Leoni Ioannidou and Nassos Karakitsos, who face trial over refugee rescues, lawyer Haris Petsikos and Binder's mother Fanny, talk outside a courthouse

Rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say the trial is intended to intimidate other aid workers from carrying out their work and have called the charges 'farcical' and 'politically motivated.'

Amnesty International's European director Nils Muiznieks said in a statement before the trial: 'This emblematic case demonstrates how far the Greek authorities will go to deter people from helping refugees and migrants.

'The charges perversely misrepresent the group's search-and-rescue operations as a smuggling crime ring,' Human Rights Watch said in a statement ahead of the trial.

Greek prosecutors liken ERCI search-and-rescue operations to a smuggling crime ring and are investigating its fundraising for potential money laundering.

ERCI was registered as a non-governmental organisation and regularly cooperated with Greek authorities on rescue missions.

The arrests forced the group to cease operations, which included providing medical care and informal education to migrants and asylum seekers.

The European Parliament called it 'the largest case of criminalization of solidarity in Europe' in a report in June.

More than a million migrants and refugees, many escaping war in Iraq and Syria, traveled to Lesbos and other Greek islands from Turkey in 2015-16, with most moving on to Germany and other European Union countries.

The Greek government has taken a tougher line with illegal and irregular migration in recent years, intercepting boats at sea and extending a steel wall along its land border with Turkey. It denies frequent allegations by migrant advocacy groups that it carries out summary deportations, also known as pushbacks.

Twenty-four people have drowned so far in 2021 in the eastern Mediterranean trying to enter Europe, including four children and a woman, HRW said.
This is the unusual moment three venomous king cobras tangled themselves around a tree after being released into the wild in India.

Guide Nilesh Wankhede, 32, captured the footage as the snakes climbed a tree in Melghat Tiger Reserve in western Maharashtra state.

Nilesh had rescued the snakes from three different places in Harisal village adjoining the reserve on Wednesday.

He said: 'I have rescued hundreds of snakes in the last 20 years but never seen such a sight...it was astonishing to see the three together.'

This is the moment three venomous king cobras tangle themselves around a tree after being released into the wild in India

Nilesh Wankhede, 32, captured the sighting as the snakes climbed a tree in Melghat Tiger Reserve in western Maharashtra state

The video shows the three king cobras hissing and flaring out their iconic hoods, as they wrap themselves around a tree trunk as three men watch on.

Nilesh says the snakes climbed the tree after they were released into the jungle.

'It was a fascinating sight as they did not run to the grass or burrows.

'They were hanging on the tree for good 15 minutes.'

He explained: 'I had rescued them from the village after they were spotted in a range of places, one was captured from the range office.

'The other was at a cow shed and the third one was hiding in a hut.

'After rescuing them, along with a friend I took them to the jungle to release them in the wild.

'The moment I released them from the bag, the three quickly moved and climbed a tree.'

Nilesh Wankhede (pictured), who works as a guide at the reserve, had rescued the snakes from three different places in Harisal village adjoining the reserve on Wednesday

Photos of the snakes were posted on a Facebook group named Indian Wildlife yesterday.

The post was captioned 'Magical Melghat, spotted 3 cobras in Harisal forest!' and has been liked more than 5,600 times.

King cobras can reach 18 feet, making them the longest of all venomous snakes.

Their poison is not the most potent among venomous snakes. However, the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single biteup to two-tenths of a fluid ounceis enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant.

Nilesh said: 'I feel fortunate to have seen this unique moment. The snakes are highly venomous and there could have been an accident but they did not attack us.'
Kurt David, 31 (pictured in 2013), is being sued for alleged damages to a Tribeca apartment where he threw Covid parties

The owners of a luxury $16,000-a-month Manhattan apartment are suing a former tenant and his mother for hundreds of thousands of dollars for the massive destruction they say he caused by turning it into an illegal nightclub during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the suit, Kurt David, 31, hosted raucous parties on a 'weekly' basis over the course of a year, since the start of the outbreak in March 2020, even promoting them on Instagram.

David, whose parties would regularly draw hundreds of guests, the suit alleges, would charge attendees $100 a person for entry, illegally sold alcohol, and even hired bouncers to patrol the outside of the building to deal with slews of people that would line up outside awaiting entry.

Court papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday revealed that Eisdorfer 60 LLC, owner of the swanky Tribeca property, is seeking $282,670 in damages from David and his mother, Jean Elbaum-David, 61, a Long Island psychologist, both of whom were listed on the lease.

The suit says that the mother-son pair are responsible for months of unpaid rent upward of $50,000; late fees, violations charges from the Department of Buildings and Sanitation, legal fees and the cost to completely overhaul the savaged property.

The group claims the destruction forced them to replace broken appliances, window shades, balcony and roof pavers, faucets, the sound system, the security and camera system, the intercom, window panes, drywall, hardwood floors and a bathroom vanity.

The company had to pay $149,559 to restore the apartment - which sold for nearly $6 million in 2013 - after it sustained extensive damage while David lived there for a year and a half, according to the lawsuit.

'After months of abusing their rights and breaching the lease, these tenants left the apartment completely uninhabitable and in utter disarray,' Eisdorfer lawyer Melissa Levin, from the firm Horing Welikson Rosen & Digrugilliers, P.C., told DailyMail.com Thursday morning.

According to the suit, David threw a slew of parties at the residence (pictured), hosting hundreds of guests who often were not wearing masks

The suit claims the company had to pay $149,559 to restore the apartment after it sustained extensive damage as a result of the rowdy get-togethers during the peak of the pandemic

The apartment, which is valued at around $6 million, is situated in Lower Manhattan on 81 Hudson Street in Tribeca

The property was turned into a nightclub by David Kurt during pandemic, the lawsuit alleges

The apartment boasts two floors and a private rooftop - all of which would be packed to the brim during David's parties, lawsuit claims

David, pictured on the apartment's roof, would commonly chronicle the raucous get-togethers on social media for all to see, according to the suit. His Instagram is now set to private

'The Landlord hopes the the court will not allow the tenants to get away with such destructive behavior and make the Landlord financially whole again.'

Levin also told the Post: 'They just eviscerated that apartment with absolutely no regard for anyones well being including their own.'

The filing further charges they had to repaint the entire property, restore the damaged electrical system and utilize heavy-duty cleaners to restore the property to its former state.

The document also says that David owes three months of back rent, which comes out to $48,000.

The rest of the $282,670, which amounts to more than $85,000, is based on legal fees already incurred, legal fees anticipated in this case, and reimbursement of violation fees from the NYC Department of Sanitation, the filing further states.

'My client hopes that they are able to be reimbursed and made whole by the courts,' Levin said.

David moved out of the two-floor Tribeca apartment in June, the suit reveals, after the owners of the palatial property filed a separate suit in March, seeking just $10,000 in damages - days after cops broke up a party that saw 123 people not wearing face masks, where a 17-year-old took a drunken spill down the stairs.

David's Instagram, where he would advertise his parties and flaunt his affluent lifestyle. His account has since been made private.

The property, a two-story apartment situated in Tribeca, costs $16,000 a month to rent

David egged on cops on social media after raids on his parties earlier in the year

David's Instagram, where he would advertise his parties and flaunt his affluent lifestyle, has since been made private

David would regularly flaunt cash and liquor on Instagram, and used the social media platform to egg on cops that raided several of his parties earlier in the year

The filing further charges the owners had to repaint the entire property, restore the damaged electrical system and utilize heavy-duty cleaners to restore the property to its former state

During one party, two guests were seen 'punching each other in the face while carrying knives,' according to an email from a neighbor to the building owner. Other guests allegedly threw firecrackers off the terrace of the apartment into the street.

David and Elbaum-David signed a lease in January 2020 and the manager of Puffy's Tavern, a bar on the building's ground level, told the New York Post that the parties with long lines began in the summer.

Another employee said cases of alcohol were delivered to the apartment on weekdays, according to the outlet.

In the lawsuit, the building owner called the parties 'definitely potential COVID-19 super-spreaders.'

'[The] continued behavior during the Pandemic is hazardous disruptive illegal and poses a great threat not only to other tenants, but also to the entire community.'
Seven years after a mother's suspicious death from a heroin overdose, a Michigan jury has convicted her husband of murdering her by slipping a lethal dose of the drug into her breakfast cereal.

Jason Thomas Harris, 47, was found guilty on Wednesday of first-degree murder, solicitation of murder and delivery of a controlled substance causing death.

The medical examiner had classified Christina Thompson-Harriss death in September 2014 as an accidental overdose. But investigators subsequently alleged that it was a murder scheme hatched by the husband at their Davison home in Genesee County.

Family members insisted that the 36-year-old mother-of-two didnt use drugs. She had given birth four months before the murder and a sample of her frozen breast milk showed no evidence of any controlled substances.

Michigan man Jason Thomas Harris, 47, has been convicted of first-degree murder, solicitation of murder and delivery of a controlled substance causing death for poisoning his wife with heroin in 2014

Prosecutors said Harris (left) killed wife Christina Thompson-Harris, 36 (right), by spiking her breakfast cereal with heroin

It was later revealed that Jason had made a failed attempt to hire a hitman to kill Christina and asked a co-worker for drugs so his wife 'would go to sleep and quit nagging.'

Jason received $120,000 worth of life insurance benefits for his wife's death, and just two weeks later had another woman move into their home.

Harris faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on December 10, reported Mlive.com.

'This was a very tragic case and my heart goes out to the family and friends of Christina Harris for their terrible loss,' Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said in a statement after the verdict.

'The circumstances of this case make for a unique story and garner headlines in the media, but at the core of it, a family is mourning the loss of their loved one and I only hope that today's verdict will help them with closure as they continue to grieve.'

A medical examiner initially classified Christina's death as accidental overdose, but samples of her frozen breast milk showed no traces of drugs

On September 29, 2014, a neighbor discovered Thompson-Harris dead inside the family's home after getting a call from Jason asking to check on her because she was not answering his calls and texts.

A medical examiner initially ruled that the woman died of an accidental heroin overdose, but those who knew her were adamant that Christina had no history of drug addiction, especially because she was still breast-feeding the couple's four-month old daughter when she died.

Tests performed on Christina's frozen breast milk detected no controlled substance, making it even more unlikely that she had overdosed on heroin.

In the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered nearly 5,900 text messages to a woman from Providence, Rhode Island, on Jason's phone, as well as emails and photos sent to multiple other women

Just nine days after Christina died, he bought a plane ticket to go visit the woman in Providence.

Harris' co-workers at a plastics factory testified in court in 2019 that he had been looking for a hitman to have his wife killed. He was quoted as asking a colleague for drugs so his wife 'would go to sleep and quit nagging'

Neighbors told police that shortly after his trip to Rhode Island, a woman and her daughter moved into the Davison home - about 60 miles north of Detroit - where his wife had died.

The medical examiner changed Christina's cause of death from accidental drug overdose to homicide in August 2019, leading to her husband's arrest.

Police said Harris's version of events concerning the circumstances of his wife's death did not add up.

He told at least three co-workers and a neighbor that Christina was feeling sick, weak and hungry so he poured her a bowl of cereal and milk.

Harris said that she tried to eat it but dropped the bowl to the floor, fell out of her chair and passed out.

When one co-worker asked Jason why he didnt call an ambulance, he refused to respond.

Another co-worker told investigators that Jason had asked for Xanax pills, got five of them and told his colleague that he put them in Christina's water.

After Christina's death, Harris collected $120,000 in life insurance payments and brought another woman to live with him. He was arrested for murder in 2019

But when she refused to drink it because it tasted off, Jason went to another colleague to ask for pills that are odorless and tasteless.

After that, Jason allegedly asked co-worker Zacariah Shustock if he could hire him to kill Christina for $10,000, saying his other hit man had been arrested before carrying out the murder plot.

Shustock said during a preliminary hearing in 2019 that he refused but never reported his conversation with Harris to the authorities.

Jason's brother, Jeffrey Harris, said in court he knew the dad-of-two had been cheating on Christina, and after her death he went to the police accusing his own brother of murdering her, because he said 'it was the right thing to do.'

One colleague at the plastics factory where Jason worked until he was fired for drug use previously told investigators that she asked him why not divorce his wife if he wanted her gone as badly as he claimed.

Harris told her he 'just needed to get rid of Christina,' but he didn't want to lose his kids or deal with child support or alimony, Leyton said.
Matt Gaetz says that Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse deserves a not guilty verdict in his murder trial and that the accused vigilante would probably make a pretty good congressional intern.

We may reach out to him and see if hed be interested in helping the country in additional ways, the Republican congressman who represents Floridas western Panhandle told Newsmax on Wednesday.

Jury deliberations in the Rittenhouse trial entered their third day on Thursday.

Rittenhouse is the 18-year-old Illinois man who traveled to Kenosha just two days after the police shooting of a black man, 30-year-old Jacob Blake, in August of last year. At the time of the shooting, Rittenhouse was 17 years old.

Matt Gaetz wants to hire Kyle Rittenhouse as a congressional intern. pic.twitter.com/LvmXFFgt5v  PatriotTakes  (@patriottakes) November 18, 2021 Twitter Privacy Policy

Matt Gaetz (left) says that Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse (right) deserves a not guilty verdict in his murder trial and that the accused vigilante would probably make a pretty good congressional intern

Kyle Rittenhouse is seen with his AR-15 patrolling the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin on the night he killed two men and injured a third in August 2020

Rittenhouse faces life in prison if convicted on the most serious charge for using an AR-style semi-automatic rifle to kill Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wound a third - Gaige Grosskreutz.

As the city was torn apart by rioting, looting, and arson, Rittenhouse fatally shot two men and wounded a third.

The former police youth cadet is white, as were those he shot. Rittenhouse testified he acted in self-defense, while prosecutors argued he provoked the violence.

The case has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate over guns, racial-justice protests, vigilantism and law and order.

Gaetz appeared on host Grant Stinchfields prime time news program on Wednesday evening.

Gaetz, a close ally of Trump, is himself the subject of an investigation into alleged child sex trafficking. The Justice Department has waged a months-long probe into whether the Florida lawmaker violated federal law by providing goods or payments to a 17-year-old girl in exchange for sex

Last month, a federal judge in Florida agreed to delay sentencing for Gaetzs alleged wingman - Joel Greenberg. Greenberg, the former tax collector for Seminole County, faces up to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty last May to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a child, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official. Greenberg is pictured in September 2019

Stinchfield at one point noted that he, too, would like to hire Rittenhouse as an intern for his show.

He half-jokingly told the congressman: So maybe well have to fight for him. I want him here at Newsmax. Maybe he can be a Stinchfield intern, too.

Gaetz responded: You guys pay way better at Newsmax. But theres nothing like the Hill.

Newsmax is a 24-hour cable news channel that is popular with supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Gaetz, a close ally of Trump, is himself the subject of an investigation into alleged child sex trafficking.

The Justice Department has waged a months-long probe into whether the Florida lawmaker violated federal law by providing goods or payments to a 17-year-old girl in exchange for sex.

Investigators have also been looking at whether Gaetz and his associates tried to secure government jobs for some of the women, the people said.

They are also scrutinizing Gaetz's connections to the medical marijuana sector, including whether his associates sought to influence legislation he sponsored.

Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. He hasn't been formally charged with any crime. Gaetz has also resisted calls for him to resign from Congress.

In March, the congressman claimed that he was the victim of a $25 million extortion plot.

Gaetz accused David McGee, a former federal prosecutor, of trying to extort millions of dollars out of him and his family in exchange for 'making horrible sex trafficking allegations against me go away.'

Matt Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, seen above with Roger Stone (left) and Gaetz (center), pleaded guilty in May to multiple charges and is cooperating with prosecutors

If Gaetz is charged with sex trafficking a minor, he would face a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years.

Last month, a federal judge in Florida agreed to delay sentencing for Gaetzs alleged wingman - Joel Greenberg.

Greenberg, the former tax collector for Seminole County, faces up to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty last May to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a child, identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official.

His cooperation in helping to investigate sex trafficking crimes is said to play a possible role in looking into allegations against his friend, Gaetz.

The same alleged 17-year-old girl involved in the scandal had previously agreed to have sex with Greenberg and others as he admitted to recruiting women from a sugar daddy website and paying them more than $70,000 from 2016 to 2018.

The age of consent in Florida is 18.

'Joel Greenberg has pleaded guilty to lying about another man having sex with minors, a spokesman for the congressman told WESH.

'That person was innocent and so is Representative Gaetz. No one has sought to question Representative Gaetz.'

Despite Gaetz's denial, Greenberg has continued to agree in aiding with sex trafficking investigations.

'Mr. Greenberg was a prolific criminal. (But) he was not alone,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg told WESH.

'This is an unusual case in the number of investigations that we have been pursuing.

'We need more time before sentencing, so that we can follow up on these other leads, and so we can give this court as much information as we can.'

Greenberg, who agreed to pay $656,000 restitution, is also said to be on a path to redemption for his misdeeds.

'Mr. Greenberg is wholly committed to living up to the responsibilities, the awesome responsibilities under his plea agreement,' attorney Fritz Scheller said.

The WESH network also reported that Greenberg's wife Abby had divorced him three days before the trial.
One of Australia's greatest mysteries has finally been solved thanks to advances in DNA technology, with the 'Unknown Sailor' finally identified exactly 80 years after he died.

Thomas Welsby Clark was just 21 years old and an able seaman on HMAS Sydney when it was sunk on November 19, 1941, about 200km off Western Australia.

He had trained as an accountant in Brisbane, then served in the army before finding a berth on HMAS Sydney.

It was Australia's worst maritime disaster, with all 645 people aboard dying in the attack by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran.

Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark (pictured) has been identified as the Unknown Sailor exactly 80 years after he died onboard the HMAS Sydney

His remains washed up on Christmas Island, 2,600km north-west of Perth, 11 weeks after the HMAS Sydney was lost, and it was all that was ever found of the crew.

But who he was would remain a mystery for another 80 years.

His name would probably still be unknown were it not for the tenacity of a woman determined to find out who he was.

Glenys MacDonald has spent more than 20 years trying to give the Unknown Sailor the dignity of having a name.

That she finally succeeded is down to her hard work, Chief of Navy Michael Noonan and advances in DNA technology.

Mr Clark's unidentified body was buried on Christmas Island before the Australian outpost was evacuated and the Japanese took it over.

They destroyed the local record records and the gravesite was lost.

But decades later, a former Christmas Island local named Brian O'Shannassy handed Ms MacDonald a photo of the Unknown Sailor's resting place he had taken in the 1950s.

She convinced the navy to search for the grave, and Vice Admiral Noonan took a personal interest.

'I thought we owed that to all those men who died on the Sydney,' Ms MacDonald, 73, told The Australian.

The Navy's Sea Power Centre for research and the Australian Federal Police's forensics teams painstakingly whittled down possible matches.

The HMAS Sydney II (pictured in Sydney Harbour) was sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran on November 19, 1941

The fact that Mr Clark was tall for the time at 180cm and had a mouthful of gold fillings helped.

The breakthrough came when specialists managed to extract mitochondrial DNA from his teeth.

Two of his direct living relatives were identified, allowing Admiral Noonan to break the news to the family last week that he was the Unknown Sailor.

On Friday in Geraldton, Western Australia, a plaque will be unveiled etched with Mr Clark's name.

'It's such a very tragic story of service and fortitude in the face of adversity,' Vice Admiral Noonan said.

'Certainly as far as the navy is concerned, we are just so pleased to be able to identify this sailor and give him back to his family.'
Shocking video captured the moment a group of black teenage girls brutally threw punches and screamed profanities at a group of Asian students on the Philadelphia SEPTA train as fellow passengers minded their own business.

It is unclear what sparked the feud, but video footage shows a girl in an all-pink outfit and a black ski mask screaming profanities at five Asian students, four boys and one girl.

The attack happened near the Erie Station around 3.30pm on Wednesday on the Broad Street Line and has led one city official to call for more cops to patrol the trains - where a woman was raped last month as other passengers sat idly by.

In the recent attack, the video opens with the girl in pink screaming at a group of Asian boys while another in a black quarter-zip jacket punches one who is wearing a red jacket.

The girl in pink appears to say, 'You want to doubt my people,' before firing off a string of profanities.

'You want to come on, b***ch? You want to try me, b***ch, f**king try me, I'll f**king beat ya,' she continued screaming as she stood over the the group of sitting boys.

A group of black students attacked a group of Asian students on a Philadelphia SEPTA train on Wednesday

A girl in a different black jacket screamed at the group too, yelling: 'Don't try that s**t again'

A group of three girls stomped on an Asian girl after the girl wearing pink backed her against the train doors and she fell to the ground

The Asian girl (in yellow) screamed as the group of girls stomped on her

She also yelled at a female Asian student standing near the boys.

Another girl, dressed in a black sweater that reads 'confidence collection thurl' across the chest, pointed her finger and screamed at the boys: 'Don't try that s**t again. Don't try that s**t again.'

It is unclear what the other students did to anger the girls.

An older girl, dressed in black with a black bandana over her hair, stepped in and pointed at the boy sitting close to the window next to the one in red and said: 'It was really him, it was really him.'

The group of Asian boys sat by the window as the black girls screamed at them

The Asian girl, who did not speak during the attack, got slapped in the face and had her mask ripped off by one of the other girls

The girl in all pink led the attack and at one point had taken off her shoe to beat the Asian girl in the head with it

Police say they have identified the girls involved in the attack on a group of Asian students

She then proceeded to turn around and slap the mask off the Asian girl, screaming at her: 'Get the f**k out of here, And bitch, stop f**king [indiscernible].'

The Asian girl appears to be upset, but doesn't say anything as she adjusts her mask back over her nose.

The girl in pink then corners her, backing her up until her back's against the door, yelling: 'What? What? What?' as she pushes the Asian girl.

She appears to slam the heel of her hand into the girl's head several times before the girl falls to the ground.

She bends down and continues to hit her before more girls come over and they begin to stomp on her back as she screams.

The girl in pink takes off one of her slipper-like shoes and slams it into the girl's head while calling her a b***ch.

Someone in the background can be heard screaming 'yo, yo, yo.'

The video ends as the girl in pink straightens up to look at the male yelling at them to stop.

A SEPTA spokesperson called the incident 'violent and disturbing,' but reported no major injuries.

The SEPTA and Philadelphia Police, as well as the Philadelphia School Administration, School District Police, and the Philadelphia Human Relations Commissions are investigating.

The Philadelphia School Administration said they 'did have additional Student Support staff on hand at Central High School to support any students who be experiencing anxiety over what happened yesterday.'

SEPTA confirmed to NBC Philadelphia that the suspects have been identified.

A Philadelphia City Councilman David Oh is calling on SEPTA and the Philadelphia School District to increase safety measures.

'There has to be a response by the police, by SEPTA school safety officers, formerly known as school police, and by SEPTA itself. It has a police force and we need to see them,' he said.

DailyMail.com contacted the SEPTA police and the Philadelphia School Administration for a comment.

Last month, a woman was attacked by an illegal immigrant and raped on a SEPTA train, while other passengers didn't intervene.

Fiston Ngoy, a 35-year-old from the Congo who has been living illegally in the U.S. since 2015, was arrested and charged in the rape.

He was seen on surveillance camera footage onboard a SEPTA train near the suburb of Upper Darby.

Police say that as many as 10 bystanders were on the train did nothing but did not help as Ngoy sexually assaulted the stranger shortly after 9.15pm.

The attack continued until 9.52pm, when an off-duty transit worker eventually called 911.

Hate crimes continue to rise around the nation, with an over 300 per cent increase across the US, the New York Daily News reported.

New York City has seen a 96 per cent in hate crimes across the city, with almost three times as many hate crimes against Asians documented compared to the same time as last year.

The unidentified 30-year-old man reported to police that his attackers - three men and two women - asked him: 'What are you doing here, Asian?' before unleashing their fury as hate crimes in New York and around the country spiral out of control.

The attack on Fifth Avenue near 31st Street in the city's Koreatown neighborhood occurred at around 10.30pm on Oct. 23, police said.

He was beaten with wooden sticks and their fists and left him with a head injury.

Three of the five allegedly said anti-Asian remarks to him and are being sought by the NYPD.

The man was repeatedly punched and bashed with sticks by the five attackers, suffering a head injury.

The Big Apple has reported 474 hate crimes as of November 7 - a 96 percent increase from last year during the same time frame when there were 242 such attacks.

Out of the 474 hate crimes this year, 127 attacks were against Asians - a nearly five-fold increase from the 28 attacks against Asians in 2020.
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Vice President Kamala Harris blamed the Trump administration for the 'broken' immigration system that saw a record 128 percent rise in migrant crossings in October compared to the same time last year.

Citing the recorder number of unlawful border crossers, ABC's George Stephanapoulos asked Harris, the president's point person on root causes of immigration: 'What are you doing to turn that around? How long will it take?'

'It's not going to be over night,' the vice president conceded. 'We can't just flip a switch and make it better.'

'We inherited an immigration system that is deeply broken,' she added.

Meanwhile, Republicans have blamed the Biden administration for ending Trump-era border policies, including 'Remain in Mexico,' the public charge rule and and loosening of ICE enforcement.

The Supreme Court reinstated the 'Remain in Mexico' policy in August, and the Biden administration made another attempt to end the rule that requires migrants to await trial in Mexico.

Harris added that migrants do not 'want' to leave their home country, but do so out of desperation due to dire conditions in Central and South America.

The vice president also hit back at claims she is being misused as vice president, saying she doesn't feel like she's being under utilized by President Joe Biden and his team.

'No. I don't,' she told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in an interview that aired on Good Morning America Thursday morning. 'I am very, very excited about the work that we have accomplished but I am also absolutely, absolutely clear-eyed that there is a lot more to do and we're going to get it done.'

She rattled off a list of her accomplishments, including the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, her recent trip to France, her work with members of Congress and her presiding over the Senate as she defended her job as vice president.

Her interview came amid reports of chaos in the vice president's office and frustration among West Wing staff with her and her team, which the White House has vigorously pushed back on, denying Harris is being sidelined

Recent data obtained by the Washington Post shows that the US apprehended more than 1.7 million migrants along the US-Mexico border in the 2021 fiscal year that ended in September, the highest number ever recorded.

Vice President Kamala Harris blamed the Trump administration leaving a 'broken' immigration system

Migrants sit together while waiting to board a border patrol bus after crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. on Wednesday

A border patrol officer begins processing a family after they crossed the Rio Grande into the U.S. on Wednesday in La Joya, Texas

CBP encounters with illegal crossers jumped by 128% in October from the same time last year

But in October, there were 164,303 interdictions a 14 percent decrease compared to September. Border Patrol registered 192,001 encounters in September and 209,840 in August after a record-high 213,593 interdictions were reported in July, the peak of the southern border crisis facing the Biden administration.

CBP data showed southern border interdictions increased in each of former President Donald Trump's last eight full months in office, and the crisis has unraveled in President Joe Biden's first six full months at the White House.

Despite warnings from the Biden administration warning migrants not to come to the border, thousands have made the journey believing the current administration would treat them more kindly than the last.

Another caravan of migrants is headed toward the southern border.

Shocking photos show hordes of Central American migrants riding a tractor trailer to the US as Mexican police continue to clear migrant camps that have sprung up on the southern border.

Women climbed large tires and some young men carried no more than a backpack as part of a caravan that found momentary respite in a passing truck while walking through the state of Veracruz in southern Mexico on Wednesday.

President Joe Biden has faced questions about his border policies, and whether he should go down to see its effects for himself, as data shows that the US is continuing to detain a record number of migrants along the southern border.

Meanwhile, Biden's approval rating remains at a low 43 percent and only 40 percent of voters believe the 78-year-old president is in good health, according to a recent Politico/Morning Consult poll.

Addressing historic levels of illegal border crossings, VP Harris tells @GStephanopoulos it isnt going to be a quick fix, that immigration system was deeply broken and administration is trying to create a fair process that is effective and efficient. https://t.co/38sK1CWxSX pic.twitter.com/9M9BevF11Z  ABC News (@ABC) November 18, 2021 Twitter Privacy Policy

Migrants were seen crowding atop a tractor trailer headed north on Wednesday in Mexico

The Central American travelers carrying nothing more than a bag in some instances

They were photographed in the Mexican state of Veracruz, which is strongly guarded

The migrants above walked in Donaji in Oaxaca state, bordering Veracruz, on Tuesday

The photos were taken as the US continues to detain a record number of people at the border

In other photos, migrants are seen waking in Oaxaca state, neighboring Veracruz, a day before on Tuesday.

Recent data obtained by the Washington Post shows that the US detained more than 1.7 million migrants along the US-Mexico border between October 2020 and September 2021 - the highest number since 1986.

Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas was questioned on Harris' role in immigration.

'So what is she doing, exactly?' the Missourian asked. 'You said she's not the borders czar. That's not her role. We're wrong about that. She's not doing anything like that. She's doing something very different, is what your testimony is, but you're not actually consulting with her on any policy. So what is it that she's doing, exactly?'

'Senator, as I have repeatedly testified, she is focused on addressing the root causes of irregular migration in the context of the migration channels,' Mayorkas responded.

'How's that been going?' Hawley retorted.

'That is a  We are advancing considerably, and in fact, I am contributing to that effort,' said Mayorkas, who cited trips he had made to meet with officials in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and other countries.

'And those efforts are working? That's been successful?' Hawley asked. 

'This is a process that takes time and delivers an enduring solution,' Mayorkas insisted.

Speaking at a press conference touting the passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, Biden furiously defended payments to families separated at the border under Trump's 'Zero Tolerance' policy.

Earlier this month, Fox News' David Spunt asked: 'You said last week, that this report about migrant families at the border getting payments was garbage.'

Biden interrupted: 'No I didn't say that, let's get it straight, you said everybody coming across the border gets $450,000.'

Biden then was forceful in saying he would try to get payments to those families, criticizing former President Donald Trump's border policy.

'If in fact, because of the outrageous behavior of the last administration, you coming across the border - whether it was legal or illegal.'

Raising his voice into a yell, the president continued: 'And you lost your child, you lost your child, it's gone, you deserve some kind of compensation, no matter what the circumstance,' he said. 'What that will be, I have no idea.'
San Franciscos woke District Attorney Chesa Boudin has finally charged a prolific female shoplifter, 41, who stole $40,000 in merchandise from the same Target in 120 incidents over a one-year period.

Aziza Graves was arrested Tuesday for her alleged shoplifting spree about two weeks after voters forced Boudin into a recall election, with a petition yielding 83,000 signatures - far above the 51,000 required by the city.

The push to hold Graves responsible only came after Target demanded that Boudin launch an investigation, which revealed that the store, at the Stonestown Galleria shopping mall, was hit by the same person more than 100 times between October 2020 and November 2021.

It is unclear how much Graves stole in each incident, though she is only being charged with a felony in eight cases, along with 120 misdemeanor counts of petty theft. This is because, in San Francisco, charges of property theft less than $950 in value was downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor in 2014.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin finally charged a shoplifter after she stole $40,000 in merchandise from the same Target in 120 incidents over a one-year period. Meanwhile, critics have successfully secured a recall election for June 7 to oust the 'woke' official

The push to arrest Aziza Graves, the 'prolific' shoplifter, only came after a request to the district attorney's office by the Target being looted, at the Stonestown Galleria shopping mall

Store staff and security do not pursue or stop thieves who have taken anything worth less than $1,000, though Gravess charges show that she looted more than $1,000 in merchandise on eight occasions and still slipped away until her arrest.

Graves carried out her scheme by using self-checkout kiosks to appear as though she were paying for her merchandise. She would scam the machine by scanning the items, but only submitting cash payments of $1, or sometimes even one cent.

She would then waltz out of the store without completing the rest of her transactions, officials said. Boudin said that Graves stole home goods like laundry detergent that are frequently stolen and resold for profit just a short walk from the looted store.

I am proud of our offices leadership, meticulous investigation, and cross-agency coordination with the San Francisco Police Department, Boudin said in a statement sent to the Daily Mail. We are committed to stopping those who participate in organized retail theft, including by dismantling the fencing networks that make this type of crime profitable.

Graves carried out her scheme by using self-checkout kiosks to appear as though she were paying for her merchandise. She would scam the machine by scanning the items, but only submitting cash payments of $1, or sometimes even one cent

Graves is being held in jail, without bail set in her case, and her next court appearance is Thursday, according to court records.

The suspect in this case has been a particularly brazen and prolific retail theft offender, said Police Chief Bill Scott in a statement to the Daily Mail. We hope this case  like many others on which we partner with our local prosecutors  sends a strong message to would-be shoplifters that their lawless conduct wont be tolerated in San Francisco.

Boudin told The San Francisco Chronicle that Gravess arrest is the first of what will be a whole series of arrests related to the citys ongoing retail theft operations, noting that there are more than a dozen investigations currently underway.

The office of the district attorneys twitter page tweeted news about the arrest today, writing, Our office is committed to stopping organized retail theft--including by dismantling fencing networks.

Fencing refers to stealing merchandise and selling it on the street to people who most likely dont know the items are stolen.

On Boudins own page, he tweeted, Breaking news: @SFDAOffice operation results in arrest of prolific retail thief. Our office will be charging her with more than 100 separate thefts from Target. Thank you to SFPD for assisting with the arrest. More information coming soon.

Boudin told The San Francisco Chronicle that Gravess arrest is the first of what will be a whole series of arrests related to the citys ongoing retail theft operations

San Francisco residents may soon say goodbye to their woke district attorney, however, as the department of elections certified the petition for his recall on November 4

His tweet drew a number of comments from critics asking why it took over 100 thefts for his office to arrest Graves, with one user, named RE Development Guy, replying, How does one get away with 99 thefts before being arrested for the 100th incident. This is a complete failure.

Another user, named Au Contraire, tweeted mockingly, Soooo shell be let out the back door shortly after her arrest and another user, named Aditya Bavnani, wrote, Thinking charging someone AFTER 100 thefts is a sign of progress, with an emoji of a face palm.

San Francisco residents may soon say goodbye to their woke district attorney, however, as the department of elections certified the petition for his recall on November 4 and the election is set for June 7.

The effort has been led by members of Boudin's own Democrat party, who say that they've been appalled by the decline in quality of life in the wealthy city caused by soaring crime.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed hasn't commented on the recall, and will choose Boudin's successor should he be ousted next year. Financial disclosures obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this month show that the campaign to unseat Boudin has attracted $1.6m - far in excess of the $650,000 raised by the embattled DA's supporters.

Boudin has been charging people for theft in less than 50% of all cases throughout his tenure, new data reveals

He has also convicted far less people of both crimes than Gascon, only convicting thieves in 79% of thefts and 62% of petty thefts

Boudin was sworn into office on January 8, 2020 after running on the promise to take a new approach to crime by not prosecuting lower-level offenses.

Data shows Boudin has kept his promise. But many locals of the famously liberal City by the Bay have now turned on him, as outrage over spiraling crime statistics and shocking anecdotal evidence of serious and often avoidable crime committed on his watch.

The DA has been charging people with theft in less than 50% of all cases throughout his tenure, new data reveals, leading to claims he'd effectively legalized theft.

Crime in San Francisco has been climbing steadily, with larceny theft outweighing any other infraction. There was a 13.4% spike in larceny from the start of the year through November 14, as compared to the same time last year, according to the city police department's most recent data.

Homicide is also on the rise, by 9.3%, human trafficking has gone up by 27.3%, assault has spiked by 8.7%, and arson has risen by 7.8%. Overall crime has spiked by 7.5%.

Crime in San Francisco has been climbing steadily, with larceny theft outweighing any other infraction

Businesses throughout the city have reduced their hours or closed entirely because of the uptick in property theft, and Boudin has been lambasted by local critics for 'destroying the fabric of our city.'

A Safeway grocery store became one of the most recent business to suffer from the rampant shoplifting, citing it as the reason for scaling back its round-the-clock service to just 6am to 9pm in an announcement made last week.

Walgreens has already closed 17 of its 70 San Francisco stores and announced last month that it was closing another five because of constant shoplifting by thieves who waltz past security guards and sell the items outside the drugstore chain's doors.

Shocking videos shared on social media have shown thieves ransacking shelves of expensive cosmetics, while security guards stand nearby, powerless to intervene.

Boudin's office has only been charging people of theft in 46% of all cases since taking office.

A 24-hour Safeway store in the Castro area of San Francisco (pictured) has cut it's hours now open from 6am to 9pm after it was targeted by 'off the charts' shoplifting

In comparison, his predecessor George Gascon made such charges in 62% of all cases in 2018 and 2019, according to city data analyzed by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Some who have joined the recall even came from Boudin's own administration as 50 lawyers from his office quit or were fired since he took the reins in January 2020, representing roughly one-third of the department's prosecutors.

'He has vowed from the beginning to not prosecute quality of life crimes. Quality of life is ... the basis of a society, of our city. If you're not going to hold people responsible for that you're basically destroying the fabric of our city,' Richie Greenberg, a former Republican mayoral candidate and spokesperson for the Committee Supporting the Recall of DA Chesa Boudin, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Who is San Franciscos woke DA Chesa Boudin? During Chesa Boudins campaign, when he entered the district attorney's race as an underdog and won by fewer than 3,000 votes, voters were taken by his life story which lends insight into his view on the criminal justice and prison system. 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. Boudin 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 was sworn into office on January 8, 2020 after running on the promise to take a new approach to crime by not prosecuting lower-level offenses. Though he has been lambasted for this approach as dozens of stores have closed their doors because of the burden of shoplifting on their business. Advertisement

Boudin has an even lower rate in petty crime and has only made charges in 35% of all cases, compared to Gascon's 58%.

Boudin has also convicted far less people of both crimes than Gascon, only convicting thieves in 79% of thefts and 62% of petty thefts. Gascon has an 82% conviction rate for theft and a 77% conviction rate for petty theft.

Overall, Boudin has charged people with crimes in 48% of all reported cases, while Gascon has a charging rate of 54%.

'Chesa Boudin is protecting criminals and suspects over crime victims,' Tony Montoya said in a statement to the Chronicle.

Montoya leads San Francisco Police Officers' Association, which has said that Boudin refuses to charge cases even with sufficient evidence and pointed to an example in which he initially dropped charges against a man who allegedly attempted to assault police officers with a glass bottle before he was shot by police.

'He refuses to adequately prosecute criminals and fails to take drug dealing on our neighborhood streets seriously. He doesn't hold serial offenders accountable and has released them from custody without consequences,' writes the San Franciscans for Public Safety Supporting the Recall of Chesa Boudin, one of the largest groups supporting the recall, on its website.

The impact of Boudin's alleged relaxed approach to prosecuting has spelled trouble for businesses through the city.

When Safeway announced its reduced hours, its San Fransisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman told CBS SF that 'a lot of retailers [have] been experiencing increasing property crime and theft from their stores. I think the last six months from what they say has been off the charts in terms of how bad it's been. It's sad, upsetting and frustrating.'

Local Walgreens have also been shuttered as thefts in the chain's 53 remaining stores are five times the average for their stores elsewhere in the country, according to company officials.

A Walgreens official revealed in May that the pharmacy store spends 46 times as much on security at stores in the city than elsewhere in the country.

Viral videos taken throughout the summer have shown shoplifters brazenly sauntering out of stores with armfuls of stolen goods as witnesses watch in shock.

One video that received over six million views was filmed in June at a Walgreens on 300 Gough Street, which is now closed, that showed a thief heaping armfuls of Walgreens products into a trash bag.

He then rode his bike through the store with the stolen goods while the security guard and bystanders looked on.

Walgreens is shuttering five of its stores in San Francisco because of financial losses due to constant shoplifting. One of the stores, pictured above, was subject of a viral video showing a man filling a garbage bag full of goods as security guards watched and let him go

He then rode his bike through the store with the stolen goods while the security guard and bystanders looked on

The suspect, Jean Lugo-Romero, 40, was arrested shortly after and remains in jail. He had previously robbed the same store on May 29, 30, 31 and June 1  in addition to CVS stores throughout the city  but the chains declined to prosecute.

In July, Boudin defended the shoplifter and said, 'When I watch that video, I think about five questions that people are not asking that I think they should. Is he drug addicted, mentally ill, desperate? Is he part of a major retail fencing operation? What's driving this behavior and is it in any way representative, because it was presented as something symptomatic?'

Boudin was slammed by an Instagram user who posted another viral video of an incident in July when at least ten people stole armfuls of designer goods from luxury department store Neiman Marcus before fleeing without anyone trying to stop them.

'Everyone in the city is tired of this so please sign the recall petition to oust Chesa Boudin now! Crime is legal basically and allowed and tolerated due to policies put in place and supported by all our supervisors and mayor and DA,' Instagram user sfstreets415, whose bio reads, 'Asian photographer and crime reporter,' wrote.

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.

A video posted to Instagram in July captures the moment at least 10 people stole loads of designer bags from Neiman Marcus in San Francisco and fled undeterred

Witnesses told KTVU that the store was about to close when the suspects came in and smashed display cases before nabbing the goods and leaving

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.'

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.

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 Chronicle.

Boudin's recall isn't just supported by business owners, police, and worried citizens, its also been backed by former employees and friends.

About two weeks ago, a pair of prosecutors quit their jobs in the San Francisco District Attorney's office and touted their support for the effort to recall him.

Brooke Jenkins and Dan DuBain told KNTV 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.

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

'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.'

Several high-profile cases of repeat offenders being freed by Boudin's office to go on a kill drew a lot of condemnation and helped in pushing some of his staff out.

The DA has reportedly dismissed the cases against 113 out of 131 people busted for felony domestic violence in the last three months of 2020, according to the Chronicle.

Domestic violence suspect Joseph Williams was released twice before he allegedly murdered seven-month-old Synciere Williams in April.

The 26-year-old was charged over the death of Synciere Williams after the infant arrived at at California Pacific Medical Center showing signs of severe trauma last week.

Police admitted Williams, said to have been caring for the baby at the time of the murder, had been arrested twice in separate domestic violence incidents in January and March of this year, but he did not face charges from either incident.

Boudin claimed they had been unable to book Williams for the assaults because the alleged victim who he was in a relationship with had not wanted to file charges.

But California State law considers domestic violence a crime against the state, with campaigners saying it was Boudin's duty to find a way to make a case stick.

Boudin's comment angered domestic violence advocates in San Francisco who say the District Attorney fundamentally misunderstood the nature of family violence cases.
Environmental campaigner George Monbiot burst into tears live on air today while talking about his climate change after nine Insulate Britain activists were jailed.

The 58-year-old Guardian columnist told ITV's Good Morning Britain that he understood the 'law-breaking' actions of the protest group, but said they are 'desperately' trying to warn people that the 'click is ticking'.

An emotional Mr Monbiot said: 'Time is running out on the greatest crisis that we've ever faced.

'It's almost unimaginable what we're facing now, and it's very hard to talk about it without crying because it's the end of everything, the end of our hopes, our dreams, our ambitions, our loves, our hates, everything we've dreamt of for our children, the good world we want for them, that could go.

'If global systems reach a tipping point the planet will flip from a habitable state to an uninhabitable state.'

He went on to defend the Insulate Britain protesters and their actions for 'frantically' trying to get the message to 'sink in'.

He said: 'I have two children and every day, I think "Did I do the right thing?"' - before starting to cry.

Environmental campaigner George Monbiot bursts into tears on Good Morning Britain today

The 58-year-old writer said: 'I have two children and every day, I think 'Did I do the right thing?'

Six of the nine Insulate Britain activists at the High Court in London for sentencing yesterday

The show's presenter Ben Shephard said the subject was 'clearly very emotional for George and he's thinking about his family' as the camera cut away from Mr Monbiot.

He was speaking about climate change one day after the Insulate Britain protesters were sent to jail for breaching injunctions designed to prevent disruptive blockades.

Husband of Insulate Britain hunger striker 'terrified' but supports her decision The husband of an Insulate Britain protester who has gone on hunger strike in prison says he is 'terrified' for her but supports her choice. Andy Smith, 45, said he and his wife Emma Smart, a scientist, discussed her stopping eating if she was jailed by the High Court for breaching an injunction. Smart, 44, was handed a four-month prison sentence yesterday. Emma Smart and her husband Andy Smith Mr Smith, who volunteers as a climate activist full time but has not taken part in any protests with Insulate Britain, said: 'She is incredibly resolute in her actions. I stand by her in all the decisions she makes. Morally they are in the right in this instance and she really stands by her convictions. 'She's an incredibly passionate person who has spent her whole entire adult life trying to save wildlife and protect the environment. That's deeply ingrained in who she is. 'That freedom to go out on to the street and protest has been taken away from her, so her going on a hunger strike in prison is another way to continue that process. All nine of them in court today were pretty resolute that you can sentence them, but this isn't going to resolve the problem and people will still continue to protest. 'Obviously I'm terrified. It's a horrible thing for her to go through but I stand by her decision to do that.' Mr Smith said he was aware that Smart would be going on a hunger strike if she was put behind bars. 'It's something we discuss quite frequently, the different ways we can make sacrifices to highlight injustices,' he said. Advertisement

Mr Monbiot had been asked by host Susanna Reid: 'What needs to change to make everybody else feel what you're feeling, and not think isn't that an overreaction?'

He replied: 'I have two children and every day, I think "Did I do the right thing?'"'. Mr Monbiot, speaking from his Oxford home, then burst into tears and wiped his face.

Mr Shephard stepped in to say: 'Dawn, clearly very emotional for George and he's thinking about his family.' The camera then cut to contributor Dawn Neesom.

Former Daily Star editor Ms Neesom said: 'I'm as green as you can get, I've got bikes in the background here and I don't even own a car.

'However [Insulate Britain] doesn't seem to be helping the cause. And, to be a true martyr, which is what they are saying they are, surely you have to be promoting your cause.'

Insulate Britain began a wave of protests in September and has blocked the M25, other roads in London including around Parliament, roads in Birmingham and Manchester, and around the Port of Dover in Kent.

Yesterday, nine supporters of the group were jailed at the High Court in London after they admitted breaching the injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 on October 8.

Ana Heyatawin, 58, and Louis McKechnie, 20, were jailed for three months, while Ben Buse, 36, Roman Paluch-Machnik, 28, Oliver Rock, 41, Emma Smart, 44, Tim Speers, 36, and James Thomas, 47, all received four-month sentences.

The submissions made by Ben Taylor, 37, to the court on Tuesday were described by Dame Victoria Sharp as 'inflammatory' and a 'call to arms', and he was therefore given a longer sentence of six months 'to deter (him) from committing further breaches'.

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Chamberlain, said there was no alternative to custodial sentences given that the group's actions were so serious and they had made it clear they intended to further flout court orders.

She said: 'The defendants, or some of them, seem to want to be martyrs for their cause, and the media campaign surrounding this hearing appears designed to suggest this. We, however, have to act dispassionately and proportionately.'

The group and their supporters chanted 'We are unstoppable, another world is possible', as they were led to the cells through the dock by security officers.

Raj Chada, a solicitor at Hodge Jones and Allen law firm who supported the protesters, said: 'With these prison terms, the long and honourable tradition of civil disobedience is under attack again.

Insulate Britain activist Ben Taylor (left, at the High Court yesterday), 27, was jailed for six months after boasting he would immediately block the roads again if not imprisoned. Roman Paluch-Machnik (right, yesterday), 28, was among six of the activists jailed for four months

Activists Emma Smart (left) and Oliver Rock (right) receive hugs outside the court yesterday

Nine Insulate Britain eco zealots were jailed yesterday after admitting breaching an injunction

'Rather than leaving courts to imprison those that raise the alarm, it should be the Government that acts to protect us against the climate crisis.'

Insulate Britain says it intends to continue with the protests, which have sparked anger among motorists until the Government agrees to insulate homes. The High Court has so far issued five injunctions to prevent protesters from blocking roads.

They include four injunctions granted to National Highways, banning demonstrations on the M25, around the Port of Dover and on major roads around London, and one to Transport for London (TfL). TfL was granted a civil banning order aimed at preventing protesters from obstructing traffic on some of the capital's busiest roads.

Those who breach the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Further committal proceedings are expected to be issued against other Insulate Britain protesters by the end of the week, relating to protests on October 27. There could also be proceedings in relation to protests on October 29 and November 2.
A perfect storm is brewing for the busiest travel week of the year, with severe weather forecasts, post-pandemic record levels of travelers, and President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate deadline for federal workers all converging to cause potential chaos.

The Transportation Security Administration said Wednesday it expects to screen about 20 million air passengers during the busy Thanksgiving travel period, shattering post-pandemic records.

But TSA screeners, like all federal employees, face a Monday deadline to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19, and last month the agency revealed only 60 percent of its workers have been vaccinated so far.

The TSA insists that the deadline will not result in any shortage of airport screeners, but the union that represents TSA workers has already publicly pleaded with the Biden administration to delay the mandate until after the holiday season.

TSA screeners, like all federal employees, face a Monday deadline to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19, raising the potential for widespread sickouts and suspensions

TSA said it expects to screen about 20 million air passengers during the busy Thanksgiving travel period, shattering post-pandemic records

Meanwhile two severe weather systems threaten to disrupt Thanksgiving travel

In a letter to the White House this month, the president of the TSA's union, the American Federation of Government Employees, pointed out that the vaccine deadline for federal employees had already been pushed back to January 4.

'This double standard has caused confusion and distress among federal employees due to disparate treatment and incongruent deadlines for people who perform the government's work in the same settings,' wrote AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

The latest public information about vaccination rates among TSA workers is now more than a month old, so it remains unclear how widespread sickouts and suspensions might be if the mandate is strictly enforced.

On Wednesday, TSA Administrator David Pekoske insisted that he expects agency staffing to be sufficient for what's traditionally the busiest travel period of the year.

'We are prepared,' Pekoske told ABC's Good Morning America.

He said travelers should expect long lines at airports and plan to spend a little more time getting through security.

Pekoske said he didn't think a vaccine mandate going into effect for TSA agents Monday would have any effect on staffing for Thanksgiving next week.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske insisted that he expects agency staffing to be sufficient for what's traditionally the busiest travel period of the year

Travel experts are advising air travelers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled flight, in order to allow for potential delays

'In fact, implementation of the mandate will make travel safer and healthier for everyone,' he said. 'So, we see quite a significant increase in the number of our officers that are vaccinated, and I'm very confident that there will be no impact for Thanksgiving.'

Travel experts are advising air travelers to arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled flight, in order to allow for potential delays in the screening process.

Meanwhile, severe weather could also throw a major wrench in the travel plans of many Americans.

Forecasters with AccuWeather predict that snows may blanket the Great Lakes on Sunday, and a possible bomb cyclone will threaten the Atlantic Coast a day or two later.

'We could be looking at a huge mess and a real wrench in holiday travel,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said.

Two separate systems are forecast next week: A wintry storm that will develop over the Great Lakes on Sunday, and a separate storm will develop off the Atlantic Coast a day or two later

The coastal storm could hook in to New England, developing into a bomb cyclone

It could also hug the coast and move north, mostly impacting coastal cities

The second storm could hit the densely populated Northeast on the day before Thanksgiving, which is traditionally the busiest single day of travel all year.

That storm has the potential to develop into a bomb cyclone, a severe weather event that would massively disrupt air travel.

High winds, rain and snow all have the potential to further disrupt airline operations that have recently struggled due to staffing shortages.

'A major storm may significantly compound airport and airline operational challenges that have plagued the air travel industry of late,' Porter said.

Travel group AAA forecasts 53.4 million people will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13 percent from 2020, with most travelers going by car.

Air travel is set to explode from last year's levels, with 20 million projected to fly, compared to just 10 million last year.

It would still be slightly under the all-time air travel record of 26 million set in 2019.

Air travel is set to explode from last year's levels, with 20 million projected to fly, compared to just 10 million last year

Delta Air Lines said it expects to fly up to 5.6 million passengers from Friday through November 30, nearly 300 percent over 2020's 2.2 million Delta passengers for the period but still below the 6.3 million passengers during the same period in 2019.

United Airlines said it anticipates more than 4.5 million passengers during the Thanksgiving travel period - about 88 percent of 2019 volume.

United said it was adding about 700 domestic flights for Thanksgiving week, and would fly 87 percent of its 2019 domestic schedule in November.

Last week, the Biden administration lifted travel restrictions for fully vaccinated air travelers from 33 countries, including China, South Africa, Brazil and much of Europe.

The United States also last week lifted restrictions on fully vaccinated tourists traveling across land borders from Mexico and Canada.

The United States also last week lifted restrictions on fully vaccinated tourists traveling across land borders from Mexico and Canada.
Boris Johnson has refused to say whether his father Stanley will be probed by the Tories after two women made claims of inappropriate touching.

The PM said it was 'absolutely right' women feel they can make complaints with confidence.

It comes after it emerged Stanley could be fired from a prestigious role as an environmental ambassador over the sexual assault allegations.

The powerful Conservative Environment Network, of which he is international ambassador, said: 'The alleged behaviour is not acceptable.'

The 81-year-old allegedly assaulted Conservative MP Caroline Nokes who said he had smacked her 'on the backside about as hard as he could' in 2003.

Her revelation earlier this week promoted political journalist Ailbhe Rea to come out and say he 'groped me'.

But as calls grew for a probe, a supporter of the 'charming' former MEP vowed it should not be a police matter if he was 'a little over-friendly, indeed handsy'.

The PM (pictured in Selby, North Yorkshire today) said it was 'absolutely right' women feel they can make complaints with confidence

It comes after it emerged Stanley (pictured in London yesterday) could be fired from a prestigious role as an environmental ambassador over the sexual assault allegations

Asked about the claims against his father, Mr Johnson said today: 'First of all, it's absolutely right that everybody, women in particular, should be able, have the confidence, to come forward and make complaints.'

The Prime Minister added: 'I'm obviously not going to comment on individual cases.'

He also declined during a visit to a Network Rail logistics hub near Selby, North Yorkshire, to say whether he has spoken to his father about the allegations.

Last night it emerged Stanley could lose his role as international ambassador of the Conservative Environment Network.

Yesterday in an excruciating exchange in the Commons, the PM found himself being grilled by MP Miss Nokes about government policy on sexual harassment.

She did not mention her own claims against his father, but asked Mr Johnson if women would have more confidence 'if public sexual harassment was a specific crime', and if early intervention might stop 'those harassing women becoming sex offenders?'

The 81-year-old allegedly assaulted Conservative MP Caroline Nokes (left) who said he had smacked her 'on the backside about as hard as he could'. Her revelation earlier this week promoted political journalist Ailbhe Rea (right) to come out and say he 'groped me'

Stanley ignored questions on the matter as he left his house in north west London yesterday.

He had previously told Sky News: 'I have no recollection of Caroline Nokes at all  but there you go.'

Labour has called for 'criminal authorities' to investigate the claims, which emerged on Monday when Miss Nokes named Stanley during a panel discussion on Sky News.

She said during the Tory Party conference in 2003, when she had been the Tories' candidate for Romsey, Stanley slapped her bottom and said: 'Oh, Romsey, you've got a lovely seat.'

After the allegation was broadcast, political journalist Miss Rea, who writes for the New Statesman, tweeted: 'Stanley Johnson also groped me at a party at Conservative conference in 2019.'

Yesterday another political journalist, Isabel Oakeshott, tweeted a photo of herself with the PM's father.

But she wrote: 'The charming Stanley Johnson can be a little over-friendly  indeed handsy  but I don't believe this is one for the police.

'Officers should focus their limited resources on investigating real crimes.'

She was deluged with replies from Twitter users accusing her of 'excusing' sexual assault. One said: 'I don't think 'Handsy Stanley' is the defence you think it is.'

Stanley Johnson (left) with political journalist, Isabel Oakeshott (right) who tweeted: 'The charming Stanley Johnson can be a little over-friendly  indeed handsy  but I don't believe this is one for the police'

Sky News political correspondent Kate McCann tweeted: 'You might be OK with someone being handsy but other women would find that uncomfortable...

'Your tweet suggests it's their problem if they're offended, not his for being 'over-friendly'.'

Lifelong conservationist Stanley was made international ambassador at the think-tank the Conservative Environment Network in February.

But the organisation has now distanced itself from him, saying: 'We take all allegations of inappropriate behaviour very seriously.

Britain's Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes (pictured) claimed Mr Johnson had smacked her 'on the backside about as hard as he could'

'We have clear internal processes for managing allegations of this nature. The alleged behaviour is not acceptable to CEN.'

The chairman of CEN is Ben Goldsmith, a family friend of the Prime Minister's wife Carrie.

Yesterday the PM was grilled about sexual harassment when he appeared before Parliament's liaison committee of senior MPs.

They included Miss Nokes in her capacity as chairman of the women and equalities committee.

Miss Nokes  two days after accusing his father of smacking her bottom  put it to the Prime Minister.

She said: 'Isn't it fair to say that if public sexual harassment was a specific crime, you might see women with more confidence to come forward?'

Mr Johnson replied: 'All women should have confidence to come forward and there are proper procedures for those claims and complaints to be investigated.'

The MP asked: 'Should we not intervene earlier, before those harassing women become sex offenders?'

The PM said: 'We need to prosecute people more effectively for things that are already criminal.'

Earlier Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the International Trade Secretary, said if Mr Johnson Snr had touched her inappropriately, 'I'd have probably slapped him'.

She told Sky News: 'This is something women have, for far too long, had to tolerate  the casual sexism, the wandering hand.'
A Met police officer who was filmed apparently punching a black schoolboy in the face will not face gross misconduct proceedings after an investigation by the police watchdog.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched a six-month probe after the incident in Tottenham in December last year.

Six police officers were on foot patrol on December 8 and, due to reports of knife-point robberies in the area, they approached a group of Black teenage boys standing near to the gates of Park View School in West Green Road.

The 16-year-old boy was selected for a stop and search by the police officers and the incident escalated when one officer attempted to handcuff a boy. He will now face a misconduct hearing.

A 20-second video clip - which was widely-shared online - shows another officer swinging his arm towards a boy after which they both end up on the floor.

During the video, onlookers can be heard screaming 'please' and 'record this' as the scuffle ensued.

The footage sparked a Black Lives Matter protest which saw protestors march to the local police station chanting 'Black Lives Matter' and 'F*** the police'.

The officer was filmed appearing to punch a black school boy during a stop and search in Tottenham, north London. But he will not face any misconduct charges with the Met Police

At the time, the Met Police said three officers suffered injuries during the stop-and-search and four 16-year-old boys were arrested. They also referred themselves to the IOPC.

The force said two of its officers had been hospitalised after the incident and that the boy suffered 'facial injuries'.

The footage prompted a Black Lives Matter protest on Tottenham High Road the day after the event, where about 100 protestors marched into the local police station chanting and holding placards.

The IOPC said a second officer who was involved in a stop and search incident earlier on in the incident which happened directly outside a school will have a case to answer for gross misconduct for breaching the standards of professional behaviour for use of force and duties and responsibilities.

In his case, a spokesman added: 'It is alleged that the use of force was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate in the circumstances and that there were not reasonable grounds for searching the boy. It will be for the force to organise a hearing in due course.

'It was also our opinion that the officer's attitude towards the boy could have been considered disrespectful.

At one point during the 20-second clip (pictured), which was widely shared on social media, the officer can be seen swinging his arm towards the boy and they both end up on the floor

'We considered whether race and age bias was a factor in the officer's decision making and could not rule this out although there was no evidence of overt racism.'

In the second officer's case, the watchdog's investigators said that he did not attempt to de-escalate the situation and responded to taunts from the teenagers with unprofessional language that could be considered inflammatory.

They recommended that his actions required improvement and should be addressed through 'reflective practice'.

IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem said: 'Police use of force is an area of serious concern for our communities and we recognise the potential for incidents like this to damage public confidence in the police.

'It will now be a matter for the police disciplinary panel, to determine whether the allegations are proven.'

Superintendent Simon Crick, in charge of policing in Haringey, said: 'Video footage of part of this incident was widely shared on social media at the time and I know the significant level of concern this incident caused within the local community.

Three officers were injured during the incident (pictured) and four teens were arrested

'We have fully co-operated with the IOPC investigation from the outset after referring two public complaints and two conduct matters shortly after it happened.

'We note the IOPC have directed that the a gross misconduct hearing should be held and this will be chaired by an independent and legally qualified chair.

'Whilst it is clear that one of the officers involved in this case has questions to answer about his conduct, it should not be forgotten that three officers were also injured, including two that required hospital treatment.

'I ask my officers to do a very difficult job in often very challenging circumstances, and they must at all times act with professionalism, dignity and respect if they are to maintain the confidence of the communities they serve.

'Community confidence in the use of stop and search powers can only be sustained if we apply them in a fair, effective and professional manner.

'All frontline officers are equipped with body worn cameras so there is a clear and impartial record of our interactions with the public including stop and searches.

'We continue to work closely with our communities to address local concerns around the use of stop and search.'
A group of four New York teens are being hunted for shooting two people in the face with pellets from a BB gun in two separate incidents in the Bronx.

Police released a video of one of the attacks by the teen suspects where they were seen shooting and injuring a 73-year-old male worker at a fruit stand earlier this month.

Another reported incident only a few days later involved a 37-year-old male conductor who was shot in a subway station.

'Its like a Knockout Game, but with a BB gun,' a police source told the New York Daily News. The 'Knockout Game' term refers to a 2013 trend where attackers were knocking strangers out by punching them in the face.

Scroll down for video

A group of four teens were captured loitering on the sidewalk on November 3 on White Plains Road at E. 219th St. in Olinville, Bronx

One of the teen suspects was seen shooting an elderly 73-year-old male fruit-stand worker while another recorded the incident on their cell phone

The four suspects shortly fled the scene after as the elderly worker sustained a cut to the face

Subway worker Trevor Thomas, 37, was also shot and cut in the face after the teen suspects shot him at the E. 219th St. station just days later

In the NYPD video released Wednesday, the footage captured the moment the four teens shot the elderly fruit-stand worker on the night of November 3 on White Plains Road at E. 219th St. in Olinville.

The young suspects were seen loitering on the sidewalk near the fruit stand at around 10:50 p.m.

Shortly after, the one of the teens in a dark hoodie is seen pointing a BB gun at the worker while another suspect in a gray hoodie records it on his cellphone.

The two teens and their fellow accomplices are then seen running off the sidewalk and down the street.

The worker sustained a cut to the face and was taken to Jacobi Hospital, where he was found in stable condition.

The Bronx shootings were reported on White Plains Road at 10:50pm on November 3 and at the E. 219th St. subway station at around 9pm on November 8

The string of shooting incidents was compared to the 2013 'Knockout Game' trend where attackers would randomly punch victims in the face

The second attack occurred at around 9 p.m. on November 8 at the southbound No. 2 platform at the E. 219th St. subway station.

One of the suspects wearing dark clothing opened fire on conductor Trevor Thomas, according to TWU Local 100.

Thomas reported that he had heard a pop and then felt a stinging sensation in his nose after the shot had cut him in the face.

He was taken to St Barnabas Hospital where he was found to be in stable condition.

'It could have been worse,' Thomas told PIX11. 'I was just scared and traumatized I wouldnt be here to tell the story today.'

The BB gun pellet had remained in his nose until it could be removed by a specialist, according to the union.

Timeline of Bronx BB gun attacks NOVEMBER 3: Four teen suspects shoot an elderly male fruit stand worker, 73, in the face at 10:50pm on White Plains Road at E. 219th St. in Olinville. The victim was taken to Jacobi Hospital where he was found in stable condition NOVEMBER 8: The suspects shoot subway conductor Trevor Thomas, 37, in the face at around 9pm at the southbound No. 2 platform at the E. 219th St. subway station. He was taken to St Barnabas Hospital and was found to be in stable condition Advertisement

'This is a heinous attack on a transit worker which underscores the need for greater protections and stronger laws to keep our members safe,' RTO Vice President Eric Loegel told Fox News.

'Were all very lucky this conductor is doing OK, but it easily could have been worse.

'The union demands the assailant be brought to justice.'

The NYPD are still investigating the string of incidents and are requesting anyone with more information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

DailyMail.com reached out to the NYPD for comment.

Gun violence in the Bronx borough has significantly increased, with 28 percent more shootings reported this year as compared to last, according to police data.

The acts of violence have been linked to teens living in the area, which has prompted Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark to request they be charged with gun violence in criminal court.

Any person under the age of 18 who is caught with a gun has been required to report to family court, according to New York State law, which Clark is trying to change.

'We're working day and night to put evidence together to build a case against somebody, but we build the case it goes to Family Court and they're not held accountable,' Clark told ABC.

'We're working day and night to put evidence together to build a case against somebody, but we build the case it goes to family court and they're not held accountable. Then what are we doing? It's like we're not doing our job.'

Three muggers were captured shooting and killing Jonathan Pena, 32, and injuring his 46-year-old friend in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx late Saturday afternoon

In 2019, the State Legislature had raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18.

Clark believes this has allowed young teens more freedom to tout weapons without a fear of being prosecuted.

'When prevention doesn't work, prosecution has to happen,' she said.

'And people need to know that if you make that decision to pick up a gun and just carry it around or shoot somebody or kill somebody. There are consequences.'

According to recent New York crime statistics, there has been a rise in crimes linked to felony assaults, rape and robbery.

With the rise of overall crime up to 1.9 percent, an 8.4 percent increase was recorded for felony assaults, 1.9 percent for rape and 2.9 for robbery.

And this is not the first series of violent incidents reported in New York City this month.

A group of three muggers had shot and killed 32-year-old Jonathan Pena as well as injured his 46-year-old friend in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx late Saturday afternoon.

Two of the muggers pointed pistols at the victim, one augmented with a green laser sight and another with what appears to be a high-capacity drum magazine, surveillance video shows.

The third stickup man then rushed over to the victims, who raised their hands in the air, and ripped a gold chain away from Pena. As the robbers were distracted with the chain, the other victim tried to flee inside a nearby restaurant.

The muggers then opened fire with both guns, shooting wildly on the 1400 block of Macombs Road and hitting both victims. The trio of crooks was last seen fleeing northbound on Macombs Road in a black Mercedes-Benz sedan.

Pena was transported by private means to Bronx Lebanon Hospital where he was pronounced dead police said. Paramedics transported the 46-year-old male victim to Lincoln Hospital in stable condition.

With the rise of overall crime up to 1.9 percent, an 8.4 percent increase was recorded for felony assaults, 1.9 percent for rape and 2.9 for robbery, according to police data

In 2019, the State Legislature had raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, pictured, is requesting teen criminals face a real court after the rise of violent crime in the borough

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea says bail reform is to blame for the Big Apples unrelenting crime wave. He is pictured at a memorial ceremony at One Police Plaza on November 15

Shea noted that fewer criminals are being held at Rikers Island, pictured

Another incident involved a man bursting into a kosher bagel store in Queens and demanding that it take down its Israeli flags and close, or hed burn the building down.'

The suspect faces aggravated harassment charges and police are offering a $3,500 reward to anyone with more information.

The rise in general NYC crime has been attributed to the steep decline in the population at jail complex Rikers Island.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea slammed the population drop as well as bail reform for letting suspects roam the streets after being released.

He noted that the number of suspects being released is evident in the decline in inmates at Rikers Island as there are about 5,400 inmates currently, while there were almost 6,100 a month ago, according to the New York Post.
A retired military veteran with an apparent vendetta against federal authorities was arrested after walking into FBI headquarters in New York City and claiming he had a bomb planted in a parked van nearby.

Gerardo Checo Nunez, 33, entered the Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building at 26 Federal Plaza, which houses FBI offices and the offices for Homeland Security, Wednesday night and told officials that he had an improvised explosive device, otherwise known as an IED, inside a white van parked outside of a Starbucks on Worth Street, the NYPD told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

Cops blocked off a swath of Lower Manhattan before the NYPD's Bomb Squad rushed to the scene to find the white van but no explosive device. Instead, there was only a dog locked in the vehicle.

He allegedly targeted the federal building because he was upset by the FBIs response after he reported that he had lost money in an extortion scam, NBC New York reported.

Checo Nunez will now face charges of making a false terrorist threat.

Pictured: Gerardo Checo Nunez, is a military veteran who was arrested on Wednesday after claiming he had a bomb in a van parked nearby the NYC FBI headquarters

Pictured: White van that retired Army Sergeant Gerardo Checo Nunez, 33, said contained an IED was parked in front of a Starbucks near FBI headquarters in Lower Manhattan

FBI officials cordon off street near the Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building, which houses FBI offices and offices for Homeland Security

The FBI did not further elaborate on the extortion scam Checo Nunez allegedly reported to the agency prior to Wednesday's bomb scare incident.

The suspect was described by media reports as a retired US Army sergeant but Facebook and LinkedIn accounts matching his name and age list the Queens resident as a former Marine.

According to the Linkedin profile, Checo Nunez served from 2006 to 2013 in the Marines, where he was a heavy equipment operator.

His Linkedin profile shows a Navy/Marine Corps achievement medal he received in January of 2008.

A background report on his criminal history shows three previous arrests for unspecified crimes and infractions in North Carolina, two in 2011 and one last year, according to state court reports.

Checo Nunez, pictured, reportedly had a gripe with the FBI after reporting he had lost money in an extortion scam recently

Pictured: an overhead view of the white van Checo Nunez said a bomb had been planted inside
Two American tourists have been fined 670 ($905) in Rome for illegally breaking into the Colosseum after closing hours.

The pair, who have not been named, had climbed up to the second ring of the arena to enjoy a beer with a view during the early hours of Monday.

The two were spotted at around 5.30am local time (4.30am GMT) by a passerby, who immediately alerted the Italian authorities.

Cops then found the two Americans on a main road, making their way back to the city centre.

Two American tourists were fined $905 each for illegally breaking into Colosseum at night to drink beers with a view

A spokesperson for Rome's carabinieri told CNN: 'During the early hours of Monday morning some people noticed two young men drinking beer in the Colosseum, facing outwards on the second level.

'They alerted a police car nearby, which then stopped the two young men on Via dei Fori Imperiali.'

It remains unclear how the pair managed to break into the historic landmark, which before the pandemic was visited by around 25,000 people a day.

This is not the first time that tourists have been punished for misbehaving in Rome.

In 2014 a Russian tourist was fined $22,600 for carving the letter K into the Colosseum walls, which is a crime according to Italian law

In September last year a 32-year-old Irish man was arrested by the carabinieri for carving his initials on the walls of the landmark.

The unnamed man carved two initials on a pillar inside the monument, using a metal point.

In 2014, a Russian tourist was fined 16,827 ($22,600) for carving the letter 'K' into the Colosseum walls.

The Roman amphitheater was built under the Flavian emperors, and its construction began sometime between 70 and 72 CE.

It was renowned for hosting fights between gladiators and wild animals, among other public spectacles, and seated crowds of around 50,000 people.
The lucky woman who escaped nearly unscathed after her car was crushed by a truck on a bridge in Washington State is a mother-of-one working at a regional seafood wholesaler.

Dailymail.com can confirm that 46-year-old Jill Bradford, of Sedro-Woolley, was the driver who miraculously survived with only minor injuries after a semi truck nearly flattened her red Nissan Altima sedan on Tuesday morning shortly before 11a.m.

Bradford, currently an employee of Pacific Seafood, a regional wholesaler based in Clackamas, Oregon, was driving on Interstate 5 on the Skagit River Bridge when the crash occurred.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Rocky Oliphant said Bradford was inside her Nissan Altima at the time when a truck behind her failed to stop as vehicles were slowing down on the bridge.

The truck collided with the Nissan, pushing it forward into another truck, before causing the car to fold under the wheels of the semi truck.

A miracle! That's what Washington state troopers say happened at the scene of a crash after seeing Jill Bedford, 46, come out of her Nissan Altima, crushed by a commercial semi truck

A truck crushed a Nissan Altima while Bradford was still inside on Tuesday morning on Skagit River Bridge, in Mount Vernon. She escaped from being crushed after finding a small gap to exit her vehicle

Police said once the truck was lifted, Bradford emerged from her red Nissan with only minor injuries to her rib and head

Troopers proceeded to shut down both directions of Interstate 5 and called in a tow truck to remove the truck from the car. When a trooper approached the car, he said he couldn't believe what he heard.

'He walked up and he was walking around the car. And he heard help, help. And he was like oh my goodness,' Oliphant said. 'That person was able to get out of the car and walk out themselves.'

After the tow truck lifted the front end of the semi truck off Bradford's car, Troopers said they witnessed the woman amazingly crawling out of a small opening, where the passenger window was.

'She was able to pull herself out with her own power which is incredible,' Oliphant said.

After getting out her vehicle, Bradford only reported feeling minor rib and head pain, police said. She was taken to a nearby hospital for examination.

Dailymail.com has contacted Bradford for comment.

The back end of the car folded on top of itself after the semi-truck ran over it without stopping

In a tweet regarding the incident, Oliphant ultimately described her survival as 'miraculous,' and that he had never seen anything like it in his 14 years of service.

'There's really not a word to describe this collision,' Bradford posted. 'Miraculously believed to be minor injuries. The car was struck from behind, folded the car in half, and semi came to rest on top of the car.'

'In my 14 year career, I have never seen anything like it.'

Officials worked quickly as movement on the bridge was causing the semi truck to shake while on top of the car.

Two other cars were also involved in the crash, according to Washington State Patrol's memo on the accident.

The driver of the semi truck was cited for following too close.
A legal challenge has been lodged against the High Court's decision to ban the media from a hearing about Prince Philip's will.

The Guardian newspaper has launched legal action against the attorney general and the Queens private lawyers, arguing the High Court should have properly considered whether the press should be allowed to attend the hearing and present their arguments.

Lawyers for the outlet say that the failure to do this was such a severe contradiction to the principle of open justice that the case should be reheard.

Open Justice is a principle central to the British justice system that means proceedings ought to be open to the public, including the contents of court files and public viewing of trials.

The decision was made at a secret hearing in July which the media were not told about and were barred from attending, according to the Guardian.

The Duke of Edinburgh  the nation's longest-serving consort  died aged 99 on April 9, just two months before he would have turned 100.

After the death of a senior member of the royal family, it has been convention for over a century that an application to seal their will is made to the President of the Family Division of the High Court.

At a hearing earlier this year, it was decided Prince Philip's will should remain secret for 90 years to protect the 'dignity' of the Queen (pictured with Prince Philip at Royal Ascot in 2017)

This means the wills of senior members of the royal family are not open to public inspection in the way a will would ordinarily be.

The current president, Sir Andrew McFarlane, heard legal argument from lawyers representing Philip's estate and the Attorney General  who represents the public interest in such matters  at the private hearing in July.

In a ruling published in September, Sir Andrew ordered that Philip's will is to remain sealed for 90 years from the grant of probate  the formal process which confirms the authority of an executor to administer a deceased person's estate  and may only be opened in private even after that date.

The judge said: 'I have held that, because of the constitutional position of the Sovereign, it is appropriate to have a special practice in relation to royal wills.

'There is a need to enhance the protection afforded to truly private aspects of the lives of this limited group of individuals in order to maintain the dignity of the Sovereign and close members of her family.'

He said the ruling was to make as much detail as possible public without 'compromising the conventional privacy afforded to communications from the Sovereign'.

The Royal Family including Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Prince Edward and Princess Anne (left to right) are seen following Philip's coffin in April this year

Sir Andrew McFarlane (left), heard legal argument from lawyers representing the estate of Philip (right) and the Attorney General  who represents the public interest in such matters  at a private hearing in July and both parties persuaded him that the media should be excluded

Sir Andrew said he had decided to hold the earlier hearing in private because a series of announcements, hearings and then a judgment would have been likely to 'generate very significant publicity and conjecture'.

He concluded this would be 'entirely contrary to the need to preserve the dignity of the Sovereign and protect the privacy surrounding genuinely private matters'.

He added: 'The publicity would, therefore, in part, defeat the core purpose of the application.'

The judge said: 'I accepted the submission that, whilst there may be public curiosity as to the private arrangements that a member of the royal family may choose to make in their will, there is no true public interest in the public knowing this wholly private information.

'The media interest in this respect is commercial. The degree of publicity that publication would be likely to attract would be very extensive and wholly contrary to the aim of maintaining the dignity of the Sovereign.'

Sir Andrew said that, as the Attorney General was there to represent the public interest at the hearing, there was no legal reason for any further representations by media organisations.

Sir Andrew said any media interest would be 'commercial' and that there is no 'true public interest' in the publication of Prince Philip's will. Pictured: the high court in London (file photo)

Lawyers representing Philip's estate had argued at the private hearing that news of that hearing and the application 'might generate wholly unfounded conjecture' which would be 'deeply intrusive' to the Queen and royal family.

Sir Andrew said that, as President of the Family Division of the High Court, he is custodian of a safe which holds 30 envelopes  each containing the sealed will of a deceased member of the royal family.

He said the earliest envelope is labelled as containing the will of Prince Francis of Teck, and the most recent additions are the wills of the late Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, the Queen's sister.

In 2007, Sir Mark Potter, then president of the family division, dismissed an application by Robert Andrew Brown for the unsealing of the wills of the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

Mr Brown claimed to be the illegitimate child of Princess Margaret and asserted that he had an interest in unsealing and inspecting the wills in order to establish that claim.

However, his claim was not accepted by the court and was struck out as 'vexatious and an abuse of process'  a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal.
'Sexist' police are putting 'male brotherhood' above the protection of women and girls from sexual and physical violence, the Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales declared today, as she confronted officers at their annual conference.

Dame Vera Baird QC's fiery speech cited Britain's most hated policeman Wayne Couzens, who used his position to abduct, rape and kill Sarah Everard in a case that sparked protests on the streets and shattered trust in the Met.

Calling out the colleagues who may have been aware he had exposed himself and knew he liked violent porn before the murder, Dame Vera said Couzens was 'flashing a few weeks before, known affectionately as rapist to his pals, but nobody did much about it'.

The Victims' Commissioner also claimed police forces are 'overwhelmingly male' and that the public won't have any faith in them until they root out criminals in their own ranks, citing a new survey showing just one in three women still trust the police after Couzens' appalling crimes.

In an impassioned plea to the London audience, which included seniors officers from across the UK and the Tory Policing Minister, she asked: 'Are we living in a civilised and well policed country? Why are you still not policing violence against women and girls properly?.

'May it be because you're blaming the victims of it for crimes committed against them through some undertone of sexism either born or encouraged by the essentially male brotherhood culture in policing? Does being a police officer make you a worse sexist than the ordinary man in the street?

'You can change the culture', she told delegates, adding: 'I hope to see police as modern men proudly leading the fight against sexist culture, speaking out like the bystander project volunteers.'

Dame Vera Baird QC confronted police at their annual conference today and the public had lost confidence in their ability to protect women after the murder of Sarah Everard, blaming a sexist culture and 'male brotherhood' in forces

The Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales said that until police rooted out their own criminals, such as beast Couzens, the public will not trust them

Metropolitan Police officers will 'ask themselves' 44 questions when restraining suspects, only handcuff 'when justified' and ask if the cuffs are 'comfortable' A new Met Police policy on handcuffing sparked by complaints black communities were being targeted excessively expects officers to ask themselves 44 questions. The mammoth decision process is laid out in full in the new 25-page document published by Scotland Yard. It puts into official policy nearly 50 questions officers should consider when they are using the police-issue restraints. They include 'Consider the ethics, any research evidence, What is happening?' as well as 'What do I not know?'. There is also advice to mull over 'Could I explain my action or decision in public?' and 'What would the victim or community affected expect of me in this situation?' Most are from the College of Policing's National Decision Model but are now enshrined in the official equipment policy. Also featured is an alphabet themed guide to handcuffing that warns to 'Always ask the suspect if the cuffs are too tight'. It includes the advice to 'always double-lock the handcuffs'. Advertisement

Posing questions to the audience to ask themselves, she said: 'After 30 reports and 30 years of women's voices roused against violence against women and girls, why are you still not policing it properly?

'And if so, don't you owe it to the public to see that and to change culture around by 180 degrees and start to lead us out of this epidemic of violence against women and girls?'

When later asked if he would agree with the description of a male brotherhood culture in policing, National Police Chiefs' Council chairman Martin Hewitt told reporters: 'No, I wouldn't agree with that terminology', later adding: 'I wouldn't accept that definition.'

He said: 'I can understand why that line gets used when you look at the organisation, but I don't accept it as a characterisation.'

To 'subscribe one culture' to all forces across the country 'I think is not really very sensible', he said, adding: 'So, the key for me is we must be challenging any culture that is not inclusive in any part of policing, and calling that out, and then, as leaders in policing, dealing with those issues appropriately...'

But he had previously told delegates: 'We must be honest with ourselves that misogynistic attitudes and behaviours that exist in society exist in policing too.

'And it matters more in policing because of the powers that we hold and because our legitimacy is built on trust and confidence.

'We need to promote, protect and nurture the right culture in policing. All of us need to reflect on how we as individuals demand and support a culture that is inclusive for both our own staff, but also for the people we serve. And we must be more open, more alert to, and more challenging of, behaviour or actions that undermine that culture.'

Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, who were stabbed to death in Wembley last year. Officers guarding the crime scene were caught taking selfies with their bodies

In March this year, the Met was criticised over its 'heavy-handed' policing of a vigil for murdered Sarah Everard at Clapham Common. But its tactics were later cleared by a watchdog. Pictured, campaigner Patsy Stevenson being arrested at the event.

Met Police chief Dame Cressida Dick's dossier of shame: From force believing a sex abuse fantasist to officers sharing dead bodies pictures In July 2005, Dame Cressida Dick was in charge of the operation which saw innocent electrician Jean Charles de Menezes shot dead on a Tube train after he was mistaken for a terrorist who was under surveillance. Pictured, a memorial to mark ten years since Mr de Menezes' death. In 2014, she sanctioned the creation of Operation Midland, the disastrous investigation into spurious VIP child sex abuse allegations that saw innocent men pursued by the force. Pictured, fantasist Carl Beech, whose false sex abuse claims were believed by police. In 2019, Dame Cressida's force was widely criticised for its 'light-touch' policing of Extinction Rebellion protests, which blocked several key areas of London. Picture, Oxford Street in April 2019 as the campaigners paralysed the capital. In June, she was accused of 'obfuscation' for thwarting the Daniel Morgan inquiry team's attempts to access sensitive documents, leading to delays that cost the taxpayer millions. The report found that her force was 'institutionally corrupt'. Pictured, Mr Morgan. Dame Cressida also faced criticism over July's security shambles which saw ticketless fans storm Wembley Stadium before the England-Italy Euros final. Pictured, fans outside the venue. Last month she apologised after a report by the IOPC found the level of services provided over the weekend when Bibaa Henry, 46, and Nicole Smallman, 27, went missing fell below standards. It was their family and friends who found their bodies before police, who bungled the search handover. Pictured, the two sisters. Advertisement

Mr Hewitt earlier said the relationship forces have with the public is 'under strain', adding it was 'most acutely under strain in our relationship with black people and women'.

He told a crime summit in Westminster it is a 'defining moment for policing, people will look back at how we responded, but, more importantly, people are looking at us right now'.

His comments came as a survey suggested fewer women trust the police since off-duty Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens murdered Sarah Everard.

Although confidence in policing remained 'largely steady' during the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Hewitt told delegates: 'I think we would all agree that we're now operating against the backdrop of an altogether different public mood.

'The legitimacy and effectiveness of UK policing is built on our relationship with the public. It's the most important relationship we have and it is under strain, and it's most acutely under strain in our relationship with black people and women.'

Describing the 'long-standing and well-documented challenges' in the relationship between police and black people as remaining 'deeply concerning', he said there was also a 'deeply felt and long-standing concern with women, that the criminal justice system does not protect them, or bring them justice when they experience violent and sexual crimes that have a devastating impact on their lives'.

Explaining how the killings of Ms Everard, sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, and Sabina Nessa brought concern and desire for change 'into sharp focus', he added: 'Far too many women are asking themselves if the police are on their side in tackling violence against them. And if they can trust us to help them.'

Couzens will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he abducted, raped and murdered 33-year-old Ms Everard near Clapham Common in south London in March.

The atrocity triggered a widespread public outcry, prompted a Government crackdown on sexual harassment as part of its strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and saw Home Secretary Priti Patel promise a 'thorough review' of police vetting.

Mr Hewitt said: 'The weekend following the sentencing of Sarah Everard's murderer - as I took in what that meant for policing - from a personal point was one of the lowest points in all the years of my service.'

He added that the service 'can't claim to police by consent if any community or any section of society doesn't trust us and doesn't believe in what we're doing.

'So, I believe that this is a defining moment for policing, people will look back at how we responded, but, more importantly, people are looking at us right now.'

Almost half of women trust the police less since off-duty officer Wayne Couzens murdered Sarah Everard, a survey has suggested.

A poll of 1,699 adults by YouGov, on behalf of the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition, found 47% of women and 40% of men polled said trust in the police has decreased since the details of Couzens' crimes were made public in court.

Nearly one in three women (29%) said they continue to trust the police despite Couzens' actions.

Couzens will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he abducted, raped and murdered 33-year-old Ms Everard near Clapham Common in south London in March while serving as an officer in the Metropolitan Police.

The atrocity triggered a widespread public outcry, prompted a Government crackdown on sexual harassment as part of its strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, and caused Home Secretary Priti Patel to promise a 'thorough review' of police vetting.

The poll also suggested three quarters of women (76%) said they felt the culture of policing has to change in order to better respond to violence against women and girls.

Andrea Simon, EVAW director, said: 'The police and Government response to legitimate public outpourings of anger and distress about police failings have fundamentally missed the mark.

'We are yet to see any commitment and accountability for the meaningful internal work needed to shift the institutional cultures and practices that excuse and enable this harmful behaviour - instead we have seen superficial and unevidenced measures announced that feel like a PR exercise.'
Joseph Rosenbaum was the first person Rittenhouse shot on the night of August 25, 2020. The 36-year-old had been released from a mental health facility earlier that day and was still carrying the plastic bag of possessions with which hed been discharged.

Diagnosed with a variety of mental health issues including bi-polar disorder he had been admitted for attempting suicide and was not permitted to stay with his fiance as she had a restraining order against him.

Joseph Rosenbaum

A convicted felon whose criminal history includes pedophilia the court heard that Rosenbaum was aggressive and out for trouble that night.

He got in peoples facesyelling and screaming, shouted Shoot me N****, repeatedly and appeared triggered by people who put out a flaming dumpster that he was attempting to push onto the street.

At one point in the night, he armed himself with a chain taken from a flat-bed trailer that had also been set on fire. At another he took the T-shirt he was wearing and wrapped it around his face.

Self-professed boogaloo-boi Ryan Balch, who was there that night, testified that Rosenbaum had threatened to kill one of you mother-f*****s if I get you alone, within earshot of Rittenhouse.

Video footage appeared to show what witness testimony stated which was that Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse down and ambushed him. He threw his plastic bag at the teen, cornering him between parked cars before the teen turned and shot as lunged for the muzzle of his gun.

Rosenbaum was shot four times  one in the pelvis, once in the hand, once to the head in a grazing shot and once in the back as he fell - the so-called kill shot.

Anthony Huber, 26, was the only man of the four who claimed to be a personal friend of Jacob Blake, the black man whose police shooting sparked the BLM protests and nights of riots.

In court the prosecution attempted to paint him the kind of person who would rush into danger to protect others. But their efforts were quickly shut down by the defense threat to expose his violent criminal history should they do so.

Anthony Huber

Hubers criminal history included arming himself with a butchers knife and threatening to gut him like a pig, before burning down his family home, with all you f****** in it.

The jury was not present to hear the alarming details of Hubers violent outburst that saw him grab his brother by the neck and put a knife to his stomach and ear. On another occasion he kicked his sister in her right hip, causing her pain and to fall.

Instead, they heard brief testimony from his great-aunt Sarah Hughes who spoke only of him in glowing terms and recalled how he carried his skateboard everywhere.

On the night of August 25, 2020, he used that skateboard as a deadly weapon, swinging at Rittenhouses head with it twice before grabbing for his gun and being shot in the chest at close range.

Gaige Grosskreutz, 28, sole survivor and the states star witness, was portrayed as a selfless paramedic there that night to provide non-partisan medical aid.

In truth he is a convicted felon and career criminal whose most recent charge  a second time DUI  was dismissed just six days before he took the stand.

Grosskreutz has a laundry list of prior offences, many of them violent. On one occasion he slapped his own grandmother, damaging the drywall in her home by flinging a lamp at it. Among his many offenses he has been convicted of felony burglary, prowling and destruction of property.

Gaige Grosskreutz

He smashed an ex-girlfriends window in at 4am having harassed her earlier that evening by phone and threatened, Im about to come back and its not going to be pretty so youd better answer.

He has twice been charged with weapon violations including possessing a firearm while intoxicated and possessing one when, as a felon, he was prohibited.

He has a history of lying to and failing to co-operate with law enforcement and when he was arrested for prowling just months before the Kenosha riots it was noted in the police report that he made his anti-law-enforcement views clear.

Grosskreutz admitted on the stand that he had lied in his original police report in which he had failed to mention that he was armed with his Glock 27 when he was shot, or that he was pointing it at Rittenhouse at he advanced.

He has also omitted this information from the civil suit he has filed against Kenosha City  claiming $10million  and from a suit he has brought in Federal court.

Reminding the jurors of this in his closing statements attorney Mark Richards said, he has 10million reasons to lie.

Maurice Freeland, 39, the man now named as the unidentified criminal complainant in one of the two counts of First-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety faced by Rittenhouse and so-called jump-kick man is also a career criminal and convicted felon.

On the night of August 25, 2020, Freeland took a flying kick at Rittenhouses head when the teen stumbled and fell as he fled. He narrowly avoided being shot when the teen fired twice at close range.

Maurice Freeland

Freeland has an open case of domestic violence for an attack in which he tussled with his partner in a drunken rage, ultimately throwing her to the ground and kicking her in her ribcage before she managed to flee.

It is just one of several battery charges that feature in his record that stretches back more than 20 years and features 25 incidents in Kenosha County alone.

They include violent offenses, destruction of property, disorderly conduct, DUIs, possession of controlled substances, traffic violations, escaping from custody and parole violations.

He has confirmed his identity as jump-kick man but was not called to testify as he refused to do so unless Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger grant him immunity, which he declined to do.

Freeland was in Kenosha County Jail on multiple charges as recently as October when he was bailed out on a bond of $1500.
President Joe Biden welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the White House Thursday afternoon in advance of the North American Leaders' Summit they'll have with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

'This is one of the easiest relationships that we have,' Biden said seated next to Trudeau.

The president acknowledged during the meeting that a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing is 'something we are considering.'

During Biden's virtual meeting with China's Xi Jinping Monday night, White House officials said the Olympics didn't come up - however The Washington Post reported Tuesday that a boycott was on the table.

In the Oval, Biden brushed off another question about tax breaks for electric cars made solely in the U.S., which is a part of the current Build Back Better package, and something the Canadians have a problem with.

'We're going to talk about that,' he told reporters in the room. Trudeau didn't even acknowledge the reporters' questions.

During Lopez Obrador's time in the Oval, Biden ignored shouted questions.

The Mexican president spoke for nine-minutes in Spanish, not taking breaks for his translator to keep up, prompting a chuckle from the American president who knew she faced a challenge. 'Let's see if you can do it,' Biden said.

President Joe Biden (right) welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) to the White House Thursday for their bilateral meeting head of the North American Leaders' Summit, scheduled for later in the afternoon

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on during a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon

President Joe Biden said during a short Q&A at the top of his meeting with Canada's Justin Trudeau that instituting a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics is 'something we are considering'

President Joe Biden (right) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) listen to reporters' questions at the top of their meeting Thursday in the Oval Office

After meeting with Trudeau, President Joe Biden (right) hosted Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado (left) in the Oval Office

The Mexican president spoke at length in the Oval Office in Spanish

Biden assured Lopez Obrador that the United States does not see Mexico as the 'U.S. backyard' and instead as equals.

Thursday's meetings mark the first North American summit since 2016, as former President Donald Trump didn't keep up the Bush 43-era tradition.

But the 'three amigos' as they are known, will not hold a joint press conference.

In all eight summits held since the meeting's inception in 2005, there has been a trilateral press conference.

During Thursday's press briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki said the lack of press conference wasn't 'as scandalous as that in terms of the backstory.'

She said there was a 'change of schedule,' as Biden signed three first responder-related bills Thursday morning, which prevented a tri-lateral press conference from being booked after the scheduled 4:45 p.m. meeting with both Lopez Obrador and Trudeau.

White House deputy press secretary Chris Meagher said Wednesday there would be 'pool sprays' - which is when reporters yell questions at the leaders.

The leaders do not have to answer them, as Trudeau displayed.

However, he did crack a joke about how the Canadian journalists 'definitely have health coverage' as the U.S. and Canadian press pools filed into the Oval.

The White House has pointed out there will be separate opportunities for the leaders to be questioned - at the top of each bilateral meeting Biden is hosting, first with Trudeau and then with Lopez Obrador.

But former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush held full press conferences with their counterparts at their respective summits, which led to some questions the leaders struggled to answer, including the future of relations between the three countries following the election of Donald Trump.

'I'll be happy to answer questions after I meet with all the leaders,' Biden said Thursday morning, in advance of the meetings, at a bill signing event.

During an interview with Politico Wednesday, Psaki said Biden's lack of official press conferences is more of a media problem than an issue for the American people.

'I think that's more of an issue related to the White House press corps ... and D.C. press, than it is of concern to the American public,' Psaki said in an interview that was part of a Politico Women Rule livestream event.

In Thursday's briefing, she was told by White House Correspondents' Association President Steven Portnoy, 'we would like a press conference,' after she responded, 'You can you can ask questions in any format, right? I don't think you need a formal embroidered chair for it.'



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) shakes hands with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) during a meeting in Washington before the leaders headed to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden

Vice President Kamala Harris (right) and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (left) wave from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) speaks before a meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) in her office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Afterward, Vice President Kamala Harris (left) hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) wave at reporters from the balcony of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Thursday afternoon

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) that the U.S.-Canada relationship is significant 'to me in particular' because she lived in Canada as a child

Trudeau arrived in Washington Wednesday with concerns about buy-American provisions in the president's proposed $1.85 trillion Build Back Better reconciliation bill.

Mexico's priorities heading into the summit were to obtain concrete advances on immigration and more equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

While Biden was meeting with Trudeau, Vice President Kamala Harris was hosting Lopez Obrador at her office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Harris later hosted Trudeau for a similar meeting.

Upon meeting the Canadian PM, Harris said the relationship is significant 'to me in particular' because she lived in Canada as a child.

There are growing concerns in Canada about a provision in the spending plan that would offer U.S. consumers a $7,500 tax credit if they buy electric vehicles through 2026.

The following year, only purchases of electric vehicles made in the U.S. would qualify for the credit. The base credit would go up by $4,500 if the vehicle was made at a U.S. plant that operates under a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland called the incentive a clear violation of an updated trade agreement among the three countries that aimed to protect U.S. jobs and products made in North America.

Trudeau, Freeland and other Canadian ministers met with U.S. officials on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

And Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said she raised concerns about the electric vehicle provision with Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week.

Freeland said that for Canada, 'Job one here in the U.S. this week is to really make our American counterparts aware of the extent to which their current approach to this issue is a problem for Canada and to really explain to them that the way they have formulated this incentive really, really has the potential to become the dominant issue in our bilateral relationship.'

Meagher said the electric vehicle tax incentives are an essential part of Biden's push to link efforts to curb climate emissions with job creation in the U.S.

The U.S. and Canada, meanwhile, have expressed frustration that Lopez Obrador has failed to get on board with global efforts to curb climate emissions. The Mexican president skipped this month's U.N. climate summit in Glasgow.

Lopez Obradors government, for its part, wants promised U.S. development funds for the Northern Triangle countries of Central America to be firmed up. The Mexican leader continues to press the U.S. to fund an expansion of his tree planting program to Central America.

Mexico has worked with the United States - under both Trump and Biden - to control migrant flows and assist in returning migrants to Central America.

The two countries are still negotiating the court-ordered re-implementation of a Trump-era policy known as Remain in Mexico, which forced asylum seekers to wait out their U.S. asylum process in Mexico.

Lopez Obrador has also mentioned on multiple occasions his interest in the U.S. government expanding its temporary work visa program so more Mexicans and Central Americans can fill the demand for labor in the U.S.

The temporary workers in turn could have access to the higher pay they seek in the U.S. without becoming part of the illegal immigration flow.

Arriving in Washington on Wednesday, Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said his government would focus on three issues: the pandemic, economic integration and immigration.

On immigration, Ebrard said Mexico would try to rally support for two of Lopez Obradors signature social programs - tree planting and youth job opportunities - to reduce the push factors of migration.

Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, recently expressed 'serious concerns' about the Mexican governments attempts to limit competition in the electrical power sector.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) Wednesday ahead of his Thursday meetings at the White House

Trudeau and Biden are also expected to discuss the future of an oil pipeline that crosses part of the Great Lakes and is the subject of rising tension over whether it should be shut down.

Biden is caught in a battle over Enbridge's Line 5, a key segment of a pipeline network that carries Canadian oil across the U.S. Midwest.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat and Biden ally, has demanded closure of the 68-year-old line because of the potential for a catastrophic rupture along a 4-mile section in the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

The Biden administration has not taken a position but is under increasing pressure to do so.

Canada last month invoked a 1977 treaty that guarantees the unimpeded transit of oil between the two nations.
Vladimir Putin has accused the West of 'escalating' tensions around Ukraine by building up forces on his border, even as thousands of Russian troops, tanks and artillery pieces sit close by.

The Russian president said Europe and the US had carried out ship drills in the Black Sea and flown bombers close to the frontier - crossing 'red lines' and showing that Russia is not being taken seriously.

As he spoke, the Russian military test-fired an 'unstoppable' hypersonic Zircon missile at a target in the White Sea - saying it scored a direct hit.

It comes after Washington accused Putin of preparing for an invasion of eastern Ukraine in order to annex territory as he did with Crimea in 2014.

Vladimir Putin warned that military drills close to Russia's border, including American naval drills in the Black Sea (pictured) are responsible for tensions in the region

Putin accused the West of failing to take his 'red lines' seriously, even as thousands of Russian troops and tanks sit close to the border

UK defence minister Ben Wallace travelled to a NATO base in Poland to speak with the country's defence minister Mariusz Blaszcza. Mr Wallace is pictured third from left with soldiers after exercises in the Polish village of Bemowo Piskie, around 65 miles from the Belaris border, today

'Western partners are escalating the situation by supplying Kiev with lethal modern weapons,' Putin said, even as Ukraine's defence minister revealed he has asked Brussels and Washington for more military tech.

He said Moscow has been 'constantly raising concerns about this' but 'all our warnings and talk about red lines are treated superficially'.

Putin has been voicing concern about US naval exercises in the Black Sea for days, telling his French counterpart this week that they were 'provocative' and leading to 'increasing tensions' between Moscow and NATO.

He has also slammed Ukraine for using a Turkish-made drone against pro-Moscow rebels.

It came as Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, said he is in the process of agreeing a 'Russian containment package' with allies in Washington and Brussels including 'increased sanctions' as well as 'supplies of additional weapons'.

Speaking today, Mr Kuleba said: 'Russia's aggressiveness, both diplomatic and military, increased considerably in recent weeks.

'Ukraine is already actively consolidating partners in countering hybrid threats.

The minister said that after his visits to Washington and Brussels in recent days, 'work is underway to develop a comprehensive package of containment of Russia'.

Ukraine has been fighting a years-long proxy-war against Russia, which supports separatist rebels in the country's eastern regions.

It stems from the 2014 rebellion which ousted pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych and led to Russian annexing Crimea in the aftermath.

The conflict has so-far claimed some 13,000 lives.

Crimea juts into the Black Sea and contains an important Russian naval port with easy access to the Mediterranean.

Ukraine has called for western nations to supply more weapons as it faces the prospect of a years-long conflict with Russian separatists boiling over (file image, Ukrainian tanks)

Washington has warned that Russia is building up forces close to the border in preparation for a possible invasion (file image, Ukrainian troops in the region)

Renewed Western speculation about Russia's plans in eastern Ukraine have come amid a clash over an unexpected migrant crisis on the border with Kremlin-aligned Belarus and EU member Poland.

The EU has accused the Kremlin-backed regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus of purposefully luring thousands of migrants - mostly from the Middle-East - to its doorstep as revenge for sanctions.

Ukraine accuses Putin of masterminding the scheme directly, as part of a wider strategy to 'shatter Europe'.

NATO, the EU and US have thrown their weight behind Poland against Belarus, and on Thursday UK defence minister Ben Wallace travelled to a NATO base in Poland to speak with the country's defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

Mr Blaszczak subsequently announced that British engineers are being deployed to the border to help reinforce the defences.

'The Polish border is sealed and it will be sealed. Despite hybrid attacks, we will keep Poland safe,' he said.

'I would like to thank the British for their commitment, especially in the face of situation on the Polish Belarus border.

'Polish serve side by side with British soldiers.'

Putin used a speech to Russia's foreign ministry to call for a de-escalation of military tensions, appealing directly to the EU.

'Brussels needs to understand that decreasing military-political tensions is not only in Russian interests, but in those of the whole of Europe, even the world,' he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Kremlin said Europe should not blame Russia for 'all problems'.

Tensions are also building on the Polish border with Belarus as the EU accuses dictator Lukashenko - a close ally of Russia - of orchestrating a migrant crisis there

Ukraine believes that Putin has masterminded the crisis as part of efforts to 'shatter' Europe

'Russia has an interest in everybody in Europe finally coming to their senses and stopping considering Russia the culprit of all problems,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He added that Europe should instead 'address the primary sources of the problems that are currently suffocating Europe'.

Peskov's remarks come after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday warned Russia against any 'military adventurism' on the borders of Ukraine and EU member Poland.

'Recently there have been a lot of hysterical publications in Britain,' Peskov said.

'Russia is not waging any hybrid wars,' he added.

- Ukraine seeks more Western arms -

Russia had carried out large-scale drills near the Ukraine border and in annexed Crimea in the spring, sparking concerns of a possible invasion.

Kiev, which in recent weeks downplayed the scale of Russia's presence at its borders, on Thursday said it was seeking more military aid from the West.

Videos circulated recently on social media have shown Russia moving troops, tanks and missiles towards the Ukrainian border.

'Russia's aggressiveness, both diplomatic and military, has increased considerably in recent weeks,' Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told a press briefing.

The minister said that after his visits to Washington and Brussels 'work is under way to develop a comprehensive package for the containment of Russia'.

He added that Kiev is in negotiations with the West for 'the supply of additional defence weapons for our army'.

Moscow, in turn, has accused Kiev and the West of warmongering.

This week, France's Macron told Putin that Paris was ready to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity, according to the Elysee.
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Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team has made a second request for a mistrial based on the controversial drone footage they described as a 'linchpin' of the state's case against him.

Corey Chirafsi first demanded a mistrial with prejudice Monday, meaning that prosecutors could not try the case again, after claiming his team were not shared the non-compressed footage until after evidence had closed on November 13.

He has now filed another request for a mistrial, this time without prejudice, acknowledging that the state could  and will  retry the case.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger played the enhanced drone footage to the jury during his closing statements on Monday and claimed that it showed Rittenhouse 'pointing his gun' at people, which would bolster the claim he provoked the violence of the night of August 25, 2020.

But the defense say they were initially sent a 3.6 megabyte file with a lower quality image, while the prosecution used an 11.2 megabyte copy.

Addressing the court yesterday, defense attorney Corey Chirafisi said: 'We're talking about a potential life sentence here and it has to be addressed.'

The jury has now asked to review the controversial footage, as well as the best views of all of the shootings, from six video clips, that they will be able to watch and re-watch as many times as they like.

It comes as jury deliberations enter their third day on the politically and racially fraught case case which has gripped the country and stirred up divisions between BLM protesters and Rittenhouse supporters, with the national guard on standby for potential violence after the verdict.

Kyle Rittenhouse's defense lawyer Corey Chirafisi (pictured together yesterday) has made a new request for a mistrial based on the controversial drone footage that they described as a 'linchpin' of the state's case against him

Judge Schroeder (pictured yesterday) decided to allow the jurors to view the footage but told the prosecution he had 'qualm's about admitting it

Outside the court, protests erupted with clashes between police and demonstrators as jury deliberations enter a second day

Lawyers for Rittenhouse filed their motion for mistrial with prejudice based on this and several other grounds. According to a motion filed yesterday by the defense, 'The problem is the prosecution gave the defense a compressed version of the video'

Speaking to the point that had dominated yesterday's proceedings even before their request to re-watch the footage, Chirafisi said that it needed to be addressed and that they would have tried the case differently had they possessed evidence of the same quality as the state.

According to Chirafisi there is no getting around the fact that the defense has been hamstrung because they did not have the highest quality version of one of the most significant videos played to the jury, while the state did.

'We would have done this case in a little bit different manner [had we had it].'

He continued: 'We didn't have the quality of evidence that the state had until the case had been closed, the parties had rested, and we were going to closings.

'We've talked to Mr Rittenhouse and I'm going to be asking the court for a mistrial based upon if we're really trying to get to the heart of this, I've watched the video and I can tell you what I think, but it doesn't matter what I think because we can't put it to the jury anymore.'

Standing to defend the state's position Assistant District Attorney James Kraus said that he thought they were 'putting too much emphasis on a technical glitch.'

But he admitted, for the first time, that the video that had been sent to the defense was compressed.

In a brief break it appeared that the state had realized that the video file had been compressed when Detective Martin Howard emailed it to Kraus - who then forwarded it to defense attorney, Natalie Wisco.

Chirafisi said: 'If you're a prosecutor, your job is fairness and being a truth seeker.

'It's not debatable that it's not fair what happened.

'We can sit here all day and say it's been played, we didn't know there's another version. How is that reasonable?'

James Armstrong, a photographic expert in the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, testified about drone video during the trial last week

Prosecutors in the Kenosha shooter trial withheld evidence from the defense that was 'at the center of their case,' only sharing the high-definition drone video footage (pictured) on which they have hung their prosecution after the trial had concluded

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger played the enhanced drone footage to the jury during his closing statements and claimed that it showed Rittenhouse 'pointing his gun' at people  an assertion that opened the door to the state claiming Rittenhouse provoked the violence of the night of August 25, 2020

Judge Schroeder decided to allow the jurors to view the footage but told the prosecution: 'I've persistently warned the state that there's a day of reckoning with respect to these things. I had my qualms.

'I forewarned you and you pressed with this I let it in. My view on it now is we might as well follow through with it and if they've got everything correct and it's reliable we're okay.

'But if it isn't it's going to be ugly.'

The defense stated it has found evidence that the program used to enhance the footage is not for use in law enforcement, nor regarded as forensically reliable.

Shortly after 3pm all parties returned to the court as they had come to an agreement over how the drone footage should be viewed  over defense objections to it being viewed at all.

The judge cleared the courtroom as jurors viewed it on the large monitors there rather than on a laptop in the jury room. A bailiff was positioned at the door.

As he told everyone to get out, Judge Schroeder warned: 'If you leave anything electronic in here be sure to say goodbye because you will never see it again.'

Earlier on Wednesday the jury asked to see three separate videos, all of which relate to Rittenhouse's shooting of Gaige Grosskreutz.

They asked for footage from Grosskreutz's own livestream that night as well as two other videos that capture his shooting.

Justin Blake, uncle of Jacob Blake, marches with supporters, following the second day of jury deliberations in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial on Wednesday

They have asked to view one  presented by the defense's expert witness Dr. James Black - in both regular and slow motion and up until 10 seconds after Grosskreutz was shot.

Grosskreutz admitted on the stand that he had been pointing his gun at Rittenhouse when the teen pulled the trigger on him  a crucial point for the defense's claim of self-defense.

Judge Bruce Schroeder felt compelled to again warn the state that their dependence on the controversial drone footage that the defense has accused them of withholding, is a 'high risk strategy' that could see their case collapse.

He said the state's case could 'fall like a house of cards' if the footage proves to be forensically unsound.

Schroeder had earlier admitted that he had not even had a chance to read the motion for a mistrial filed by the defense, which argued in part that the state failed to provide high-definition drone footage central to their case in a timely fashion.

He returned to the court having done so.

Turning to address the matter he asked Assistant District Attorney James Kraus to explain the state's position.

As revealed by DailyMail.com, the defense stated in their motion that the prosecution provided them with a file that was 4MB in size while they possessed a file that was 11MB  and provided that one to the state's crime lab for enhancement.

Kraus insisted that he had emailed the same file and said that it must have been compressed by the Android phone to which it was sent or by the defense's email.

It was a version that the defense robustly rejected.

Defense attorney Natalie Wisco addressed the court for the first time in proceedings.

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum (left), 36, with an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle after Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse across a parking lot and threw a plastic bag at him shortly before midnight on August 25, 2020. Moments later, as Rittenhouse was running down a street, he shot and killed Anthony Huber (right), 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin

What charges does Kyle Rittenhouse face? Kyle Rittenhouse shot three men, killing two of them and wounding the third, during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year. Rittenhouse has argued that he fired in self-defense after the men attacked him. Here's a look at the charges that prosecutors carried into court, as well as lesser charges that the judge could put before the jury in final instructions: COUNT 1: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESS HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON This felony charge is connected to the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man Rittenhouse shot. Bystander video shows Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse through a parking lot and throwing a plastic bag at him. Rittenhouse flees behind a car and Rosenbaum follows. Video introduced at trial showed Rittenhouse wheeling around and firing as Rosenbaum chased him. Richie McGinniss, a reporter who was trailing Rittenhouse, testified that Rosenbaum lunged for Rittenhouse's gun. Reckless homicide differs from intentional homicide in that prosecutors aren't alleging Rittenhouse intended to murder Rosenbaum. Instead, they're alleging Rittenhouse caused Rosenbaum's death in circumstances showing an utter disregard for human life. Former Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher said prosecutors' decision to charge reckless instead of intentional homicide shows they don't know what happened between Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum and what might have been going through Rittenhouse's mind when he pulled the trigger. The charge is punishable by up to 60 years in prison. The dangerous weapon modifier carries an additional five years. Prosecutors asked Judge Bruce Schroeder to let the jury also consider a lesser charge, second-degree reckless homicide, that does not require a finding that Rittenhouse acted with utter disregard for human life. It's punishable by up to 25 years in prison. But after Rittenhouse's attorneys objected, Schroeder said he did not plan to give that instruction. He said he expected that a guilty verdict on that count would be overturned because the defense objected to adding it. COUNT 2: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON This felony charge is connected to the Rosenbaum shooting. McGinniss told investigators he was in the line of fire when Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum. The charge is punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison. The weapons modifier carries an additional five years. Prosecutors asked Schroeder to let the jury consider a second-degree version of this charge. The difference is that the second-degree version doesn't require a finding that Rittenhouse acted with utter disregard for human life. Schroeder said he was inclined to allow that instruction, though he didn't make a final ruling. The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. COUNT 3: FIRST-DEGREE RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING SAFETY, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON Video shows an unknown man leaping at Rittenhouse and trying to kick him seconds before Anthony Huber moves his skateboard toward him. Rittenhouse appears to fire two rounds at the man but apparently misses as the man runs away. This charge is a felony punishable by 12 1/2 years in prison. The weapons modifier again would add up to five more years. Schroeder said he would decline prosecutors' request that jurors be allowed to consider this charge in the second degree. COUNT 4: FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON This charge is connected to Huber's death. Video shows Rittenhouse running down the street after shooting Rosenbaum when he falls to the street. Huber leaps at him and swings a skateboard at his head and neck and tries to grab Rittenhouse's gun before Rittenhouse fires. The criminal complaint alleges Rittenhouse aimed the weapon at Huber. Intentional homicide means just that - a person killed someone and meant to do it. Bucher said that if Rittenhouse pointed the gun at Huber and pulled the trigger that would amount to intentional homicide. However, self-defense would trump the charge. 'Why I intended to kill this individual makes the difference,' Bucher said. The count carries a mandatory life sentence. The weapons modifier would add up to five years. Prosecutors asked Schroeder to give the jury the option of second-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and second-degree reckless homicide in Huber's death. The defense objected only to the second-degree reckless homicide charge, and Schroeder said he 'embraced' that argument. Second-degree intentional homicide is a fallback charge when a defendant believed he was in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that it was necessary to use force - but either belief was unreasonable. It's punishable by up to 60 years in prison. The first-degree reckless homicide charge sought in Huber's death matches an original charge in Rosenbaum's death - it would require jurors to decide that Rittenhouse caused Huber's death with an utter disregard for human life - and is punishable by up to 60 years in prison. COUNT 5: ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE, USE OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON This is the charge for Rittenhouse shooting Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm seconds after he shot Huber, and as Grosskreutz came toward him holding a pistol. Grosskreutz survived. Video shows Rittenhouse pointing his gun at Grosskreutz and firing a single round. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 60 years. The weapons modifier would add up to five more years. Prosecutors asked that the jury be allowed to consider lesser counts in the Grosskreutz shooting: second-degree attempted intentional homicide, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree reckless endangerment. Defense attorneys didn't oppose the first, but did oppose adding the reckless endangerment counts. Schroeder didn't rule but said he was inclined to side with prosecutors. The possible punishment for attempted second-degree intentional homicide is 30 years. DISMISSED - COUNT 6: POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON BY A PERSON UNDER 18 Rittenhouse was armed with an AR-style semi-automatic rifle. He was 17 years old on the night of the shootings. Wisconsin law prohibits minors from possessing firearms except for hunting. It was not clear on Friday what Schroeder intends to tell jurors about that charge. The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to nine months behind bars. Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissed count 6 from Rittenhouse's rap sheet Monday morning. COUNT 7: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN EMERGENCY ORDER FROM STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT Rittenhouse was charged with being out on the streets after an 8 p.m. curfew imposed by the city, a minor offense that carries a fine of up to $200. Judge Bruce Schroeder dismissed the charge during the second week of trial after the defense argued that prosecutors hadn't offered enough evidence to prove it Advertisement

She explained that she had never viewed the footage on her phone and that the file name and creation time of the footage supplied by the state on November 5 was different to that of the high-definition footage of which they only learned later.

The difference was only exposed in court Friday, she explained, when the state did not have an exhibit ready for the judge to view and so she played the defense's version - which was markedly different in quality.

'This is your best picture?' asked the judge of the blurry image  a request that prompted Kraus's admission that they had better.

On Wednesday Wisco was blunt.

'There is no way that what ADA Kraus is saying is true because the file name [we received] should have been exactly the same as the one provided to the state crime lab,' she said.

Kraus hit back, saying that 'as an officer of the court' he was 'insulted' at the allegation that he would lie.

But in a startling move Judge Schroeder silenced him, saying: 'We are going to have to take testimony under oath.

'This is going to require expert testimony under oath as to what the facts are.

'I re-iterate my [earlier] comment that given the cloudy picture about this particular exhibit this is a high-risk strategy or the state.

'I was queasy about this from the beginning and I'm only queasier about it now.'

Kraus suggested that the relevant exhibits could be downloaded onto a thumb drive and the courtroom turned into the jury room so that jurors could watch it under the supervision of court officers.

He said that the court would have to be cleared and searched for any devices that might record deliberations.

Defense attorney Mark Richards said on Wednesday: 'I don't know what exhibits the jurors wish to see.

'We have a real problem with them seeing the drone footage.

'We have a motion pending based upon disclosure. If they want to see that, that's just tainting the jury further.'

As revealed by DailyMail.com the state only provided a full-size file of the footage in question on Saturday November 13, two days ahead of closing.

Richards' objection sparked the judge to respond to comments that he claimed he had seen in the media from experts expressing surprise that he had not ruled on the defense's motion for a mistrial.

He said: 'I haven't even had a chance to read the motion to dismiss. I just got it yesterday and I really think that before reading I should let the state respond.'

He said that motions should be 'taken under advisement' unless they were 'crystal clear.'

Warming to his theme Judge Schroeder continued, 'It's a shame that irresponsible statements are being made. As long as I'm talking about it [let's talk about] the business of people not being identified as 'victims.'

Judge Schroeder's ruling that the men shot by Rittenhouse could not be described as 'victims' caused a great deal of backlash for the judge.

DailyMail.com revealed that there was a huge swell in the hate mail he has received as a result.

On Wednesday he said: 'How would you like to be put on trial for a crime and the judge introduced the case to the jury by introducing you as the defendant and the person who's accusing you as the victim?

'Is it so difficult to use the term 'complaining witness'?'

The judge also addressed the criticism he had received over the unusual method with which the alternate jurors had been selecting  Rittenhouse drew their numbers from a tumbler in court.

Schroeder said he had come up with that method two decades ago when trying a murder case in Racine.

'There was a black defendant and 13 jurors - one of whom was black,' he said.

'The clerk drew the name out of the tumbler, and it was the only black [juror].

'It was okay, but it was a bad optic I thought. I think people feel better when they have control.'

Before returning to the matter in hand the judge went onto defend all five attorneys trying this case as 'very reputable and competent' and though he did not go into specifics he said it thought it 'shameful some of the things that are being done to these people.'

He described some coverage as 'grossly irresponsible' and said: 'I'm going to think long and hard about live television of a trial again.

'When I see what's being done it's really quite frightening: frightening. That's the word for it.'

Turning his focus back on the jurors' question, the judge ruled with the attorneys' agreement that they should return to the courtroom to watch any exhibits.

As to how many times they are allowed to watch that video there was some discussion.

Judge Schroeder felt that limiting the number of times the jurors can re-watch any footage or look at any still images was an 'insult' to their intelligence.

Richards disagreed saying that watching or re-watching 'three or four times' was okay but that watching without limit could lead to an undue emphasis being placed on one piece of evidence.

The judge allowed the jury to watch on Wednesday afternoon, but will make a final decision on how frequently they can re-watch it once the defense has had an opportunity to research legal precedents.

Meanwhile two people were arrested on Wednesday evening as violent scuffles broke out outside the courtroom in Kenosha.

Tensions rose when a 20-year-old man wearing a 'F**k Kyle' T-shirt, Bart Simpson backpack, and Chicago Bulls beanie was arrested after scuffling with prominent Rittenhouse supporter Emily Cahill.

The two traded insults before the man threw a protest sign at Cahill.

He and fellow anti-Rittenhouse protestors tried to wrestle the sign back and as he was being pulled off Cahill he sucker-punched one reporter in the jaw.

Other protestors tried unsuccessfully to lead the man away and calm him down, but he then went on to strike several other people  including a DailyMail.com photographer  before being pinned to the ground and hauled away in a paddy wagon.

He was heard calling for his mother as the vehicle pulled away.

Police arrested the man who hit the cameraman, as well as another woman. Both of them were taken to a nearby police van.

The man, a 20-year-old, was arrested for battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department.

The 34-year-old woman was arrested for disorderly conduct.

'Yes I got a little hurt so I had to leave,' Cahill told Fox News.

'I'm going to try and be back tomorrow.'
Republicans attacked President Biden's controversial pick for banks regulator Saule Omarova at her nomination hearing on Thursday, accusing her of planning to nationalize the U.S. banking system with her 'socialist manifesto.'

The Cornell University law professor, who grew up as a Young Communist and wrote a thesis on Karl Marx at Moscow State University, denied being a communist and walked back her claims she wants to bankrupt oil and gas companies to help climate change.

'I've never seen a more radical nominee to be a federal regulator,' said Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Pat Toomey during his opening statement

Omarova, who was born in the Soviet Union and moved to the United States when she was a student, has proved to be one of Biden's most contentious picks and on Wednesday it was revealed that she shoplifted $214 worth of socks, belts and cologne from a TJ Maxx in 1995.

Progressive Democrats see a regulator who would bring a tough approach to policing banks after years of soft-touch supervision.

But her Republican critics, such as Toomey view her as a 'radical' who wants to nationalize banking.

They have focused on her early life in Kazakhstan, when it was part of the Soviet Union, before she immigrated to the U.S. in 1991.

They have demanded to see her college thesis on Marx and suggest she has not 'repudiated her Soviet-era views,' as the Wall Street Journal's editorial board put it.

It led to a moment when Republican Sen. John Kennedy demanded to know whether Omarova had ever resigned from the Young Communist she was forced to join as a young girl.

'I don't mean this with any disrespect, but I don't know whether to call you professor or comrade,' he told a bemused nominee.

'I'm not a communist,' she responded. 'I do not subscribe to that ideology. I could not choose where I was born. I did not, I do not remember joining any Facebook group that subscribes to that ideology.

'I came to this country. I'm proud to be an American,' she said.

Saule Omarova defended herself during her confirmation hearing to become Comptroller of the Currency on Thursday morning, saying her early life in the Soviet Union

Republicans, led by Ranking Member Sen. Pat Toomey, immediately attacked Omarova for what they said were her radical views while Sen. Sherrod Brown, chair of the Senate Banking Committee, defended her against attacks based on her early life in the Soviet Union

An exclusive new photograph shows Omarova as a proud 'Young Pioneer' - the Communist youth mass movement - at her Soviet school number 21 in Uralsk, now Oral, in Kazakhstan. She is wearing the red scarf of the movement in a picture dating from 1979-80

'I would never knowingly join any such group. There is no record of me ever actually participating in any Marxist or communist discussions of any kind.'

Omarova then said she does not want to bankrupt oil and gas companies following comments she made at a virtual event earlier this year.

'I do not intend to advocate that kind of position,' Omarova said when asked by Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana.

'That particular statement about oil and gas companies going bankrupt, as I said, that was taken out of context and I actually misspoke, it was not well framed,' she added. 'My intention was actually to say, exactly the opposite, that we need to help those companies to get restructured.'

The questioning reflected the tone of an at-times bad-tempered hearing, as Democrats accused Republicans of McCarthy-style smears, while Republicans raked over her past.

Omarova was arrested in 1995 for stealing four pairs of shoes, two bottles of cologne and socks worth $214 from T.J. Maxx Omarova was arrested for stealing four pairs of shoes, two bottles of cologne, two belts and socks worth $214 from TJ Maxx in 1995, it was revealed on Wednesday. Since the White House announced it was tapping Cornell University professor Saule Omarova, 55, to lead the agency overseeing the country's largest banks, revelations about the Soviet-born academic's radical views have surfaced. Omarova reportedly placed the hodgepodge of stolen items, including four pairs of shoes, two bottles of cologne and socks worth $214, into a large purse and hid them by covering the bag with other clothing items. A security agent from TJ Maxx who was on-duty and saw Omarova steal told Fox News that she also paid for multiple items at the jewelry counter but 'made no attempt to pay for the items concealed in her purse'. The incident occurred on June 2, 1995, a Wisconsin Department of Justice criminal background check obtained by Fox shows. She had a 'deferred prosecution' for the charge early the following year, according to the report, which also states that the charge was dropped under Wisconsin's first offender program. When asked about the newly-surfaced charge on Wednesday, the White House defended Omarova as an 'eminently qualified' candidate and described the case as a 'misunderstanding and confusing situation.' Advertisement

Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democratic chair of the committee, said it was not necessary to see a university thesis written decades earlier by any nominee.

But Toomey said it remained relevant.

'Reason it is relevant is because it was advertised on her resume up through 2017,' he said.

'It would be completely relevant to this discussion.

'What apparently some of my Democratic colleagues want to really avoid is a full discussion of her policy views but that's what we're gonna have this morning.'

He went on to summarize what he believed her views to be.

'Taken in their totality, her ideas do amount to a socialist manifesto for American financial services,' he said.

'She wants to nationalise the banking system and put in place price controls create a command and control economy where the government allocates resources explicitly.'

Omarova is in line head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates the assets held by more than 1,000 banks.

It is an important but often obscure position. This time around, however, the background of the nominee and her public positions has triggered heated exchanges.

She has advocated for moving Americans' financial accounts from private banks to the Federal Reserve and for forcing banks to lose leverage on federal subsidies by becoming 'non-depository lenders.'

It would diminish the stature of the institutions she's supposed to regulate.

'By separating their lending function from their monetary function, the proposed reform will effectively 'end banking,' as we know it,' Omarova wrote in a paper updated in February of this year titled 'The People's Ledger.'

She summed it up more concisely in a 2019 documentary film titled 'A**holes: A Theory.' Omarova called Wall Street's hedge fund-dominated culture a 'quintessential a**hole industry.'

And video emerged recently of her saying she wanted oil and gas companies to go 'bankrupt.'

'We want them to go bankrupt if we want to tackle climate change, right?' the Soviet-born Omarova said in a clip that was shared online by the conservative-leaning American Accountability Foundation.

Saule Omarova (circled) is photographed during her studies at Moscow State University, in Russia in 1988 when Mikhail Gorbachev was president of the Soviet Union. Republicans have used her early life as fodder for attacks on her nomination

A case report released by the nonprofit organization American Accountability Foundation on Twitter Wednesday revealed that Omarova stole four pairs of shoes, two bottles of cologne, two belts and socks worth $214 from TJ Maxx in 1995

Toomey said she had made clear she was intent on replacing the free market in setting prices.

'I'm sure Americans can't wait until the Fed starts directly controlling prices for eggs and milk and rent,' he said.

'And this isn't the only time that Professor Omarova has expressed support for government control on wages, as she tweeted in 2019 ... her words, and I quote: 'Say what you will about the old USSR, there was no gender pay gap. The market doesn't always know best.''

But Brown defended her as a well-qualified candidate who was being smeared.

'They have a formula: Start with a passing inaccurate reference to your academic work, distort the substance beyond recognition, mix in words - Marx, Lenin, communism - with insinuations about Professor Omarova's loyalties to her chosen country,' he said.

'That's how Republicans turn a qualified woman into a Marxist bogeyman.'

For her part, Omarova defended her positions and shrugged off the idea that she remained loyal to communism.

'I've lived through that regime. I've lived through that system,' she said. 'I have absolutely no affection or affiliation for any of those ideas.'

As a Kazakh, she also said her family had been murdered by the Soviet regime.

The backyard of karaoke bar at the address where Saule Omarova lived as a child, 190 Prospekt Lenina, Uralsk (now Oral), Kazakhstan, in the former USSR

A copy of the register from Omarova's school says she was a member of the Komsomol, or 'Young Communists' in the USSR

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth said the 'vicious smear campaign' was designed to prevent the confirmation of someone who would take on big banks.

'It is disgusting,' she said. 'And anyone who participates in this malicious character assassination should be ashamed of themselves.'

In a quickfire round of questions she gave Omarova a chance to deny the charges against her.

'Now one claim is that you intend to nationalise the banking system,' said Warren. 'So let's just get this nonsense out of the way. Does the OCC have the power to end private banking and remove all consumer deposits to a public ledger?'

Omarova answered: 'Absolutely not.'

Warren continued: 'If the OCC did have that power, is that something you would support?'

'Absolutely not.'

If approved by Congress, the tango-dancing professor will be, at Biden's behest, the first woman and non-white to head the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which is within the Treasury Department

'And are you a capitalist who believes in free markets?

'Yes I am,' said Omarova.

During her opening statement, she also set out how growing up in the Soviet Union before moving to the U.S. made her uniquely qualified.

'These issues are deeply personal to me,' she said.

'Having grown up in an oppressive state-run system, with no free enterprise and no economic opportunity for people like me, I have a unique appreciation for our dynamic and diverse markets.

'It is what made my life and success possible, and for that I am forever grateful. Every American family should have the same opportunities that my family has had.'

But she set out how she believed the U.S. financial system was flawed and vulnerable to crises.

'These experiences taught me invaluable lessons about how financial 'sausage' is made and how that can lead to devastating financial crises. That is why my academic work has been focused on safeguarding the stability and resilience of our financial system,' she said.

'In the 2008 crisis, I saw what happens when powerful market players generate excessive risk and leverage outside of regulators' view  and leave the American taxpayer to foot the bill when the speculative boom turns bust.

'We cannot afford a repetition of this destructive scenario, especially now, in the aftermath of the global pandemic.'

The White House has defended Omarova throughout the bruising process.

'Saule Omarova is eminently qualified and was nominated for this role given her strong track record on regulation and strong academic credentials. The White House strongly supports this historic nomination,' said an official.
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How mini underwater vehicles could be used to find F-35 before inflatable bags lift it to the surface The US are understood to be helping with efforts to recover the plane. Whilst the UK has its own team capable of carrying out the operation, an American team and their machinery is currently nearer to where the accident occurred. Inflatable lift bags are manufactured by US firm Subsalve According to navy sources mentioned in The Times, the operation is expected to involve deep water remote-controlled vehicles which will be used to find the F-35 and then attach huge inflatable bags to it so that it rises to the surface on its own. However, it will have a long way to travel because it is believed to be more than a mile beneath the surface of the Mediterranean. US-based firm Subsalve produces what it describes as 'underwater lift bags'. The firm, which has made bags for the US Navy, lists models on its website which can lift items weighing up to 48tonnes. The F-35 weighs up to 30tonnes when carrying weapons and its pilot Whilst the aircraft has not yet been found, the US Navy is using device called a TPL-25 towed pinger locator system to find the F-35's emergency relocation pinger. The TPL-25 system consists of a device which is towed behind a search vessel. It can detect a pinger at depths of up to 20,000feet (3.8miles). A Royal Navy source added to The Times that whilst the recovery is 'not rocket science', the problem is 'finding and getting' to the aircraft. The US Navy is also able to make use of winch system called a Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS). A page on the navy's website says the device provides 'reliable deep ocean lifting capacity of up to 60,000 pounds for the recovery of large, bulky, and heavy sunken objects such as aircraft or small vessels.' In March, the US Navy used the device to lift a Canadian helicopter from the sea. Advertisement

Britain has called on the US to help find and salvage a fighter jet that crashed into the Mediterranean after its pilot ejected.

Royal Navy servicemen are working with the Americans to recover the F-35B Lightning II from more than a mile below the surface.

The UK is believed to have the equipment and manpower to rescue the destroyed 120million aircraft but their Nato allies were reportedly closer.

The Royal Navy were racing towards the crash site amid fears Russia will try to grab the jet which is packed with top secret technology.

The operation, shrouded in secrecy, is understood to involve divers, miniature submarines and inflatable bags which may be used to lift the plane to the surface of the Mediterranean.

The US is anxious that the jet's top secret technology is not salvaged by Russia or any of its allies as they would want to study the stealth technology closely to find a way of defeating the jet.

Former President Donald Trump blocked the transfer of four F-35A jets to Turkey after Ankara said it was going to by a Russian missile defence system.

The Pentagon did not want Russian technicians from studying the attack jet's radar profile or looking at its technology.

An RAF pilot was forced to eject from his jet as it plunged into the sea soon after taking off on 'routine exercise' from the Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, yesterday.

After he ejected, the pilot was reportedly left dangling from the edge of the HMS Queen Elizabeth because the lines of his parachute became caught on the edge of the flight deck.

By plunging into international waters, the crash triggered a scramble to find the next-generation plane before it could be reached by foreign powers. It s thought to be the first time an F35-B has crashed in such an area.

The technology aboard the US-designed aircraft, including top secret radar and sensors, is hugely sensitive as it allows the F-35 to fly 'unseen' in hostile territory at supersonic speeds.

This week's crash raises fresh questions about the F-35B, of which Britain currently has 24.

The UK is set to buy 138 of the fighter jets from US aviation giant Lockheed Martin for 9.1billion in the coming years.

In June 2014 a USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida. Two years later a USMC F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay.

In 2018, a US F-35B pilot was forced to eject mid-air after the fighter jet crashed in South Carolina during a training exercise.

And last year, an F-35B aircraft crashed near Naval Air Facility El Centro in California after crashing into a KC-130J, US officials told USNI News.

An RAF pilot was forced to eject over the Mediterranean yesterday, sending his 100million stealth jet crashing into the sea

The US Navy is able to make use of winch system called a Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS), which is pictured above

Whilst the aircraft has not yet been found, the US Navy is using device called a TPL-25 towed pinger locator (pictured system to find the F-35's emergency relocation pinger

A U.S. Navy-owned research vessel, deploys the cable-controlled Undersea Recovery Vehicle (CURV-21) off the coast of Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. The CURV is designed to meet the U.S. Navy's deep ocean recovery requirements down to a maximum depth of 20,000 feet

Soon after taking off on 'routine exercise' from the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the F-35B Lightning (file image) ditched into the sea and a rescue team was sent out to recover the pilot

The US are understood to be helping with efforts to recover the plane.

RAF F-35 Med crash was SEVENTH time 100m jets have malfunctioned in seven years June 23, 2014: A USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida. October 27, 2016: A US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay before the pilot landed safely in Beaufort, South Carolina. September 28, 2018: All operational F-35s were grounded while a probe was launched into why a fuel tube failed in flight after a horror crash at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. April 9, 2019: Parts of the tail of a Japanese F-35 were found in the sea around 85 miles east of Misawa during a training mission. May 19. 2020: This F-35 crash on landing was caused by a tired, distracted pilot and unresponsive tail glitch. September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California Advertisement

Whilst the UK has its own team capable of carrying out the operation, an American team and their machinery is currently nearer to where the accident occurred.

According to navy sources mentioned in The Times, the operation is expected to involve deep water remote-controlled vehicles which will be used to find the F-35 and then attach huge inflatable bags to it so that it rises to the surface on its own.

However, it will have a long way to travel because it is believed to be more than a mile beneath the surface of the Mediterranean.

US-based firm Subsalve produces what it describes as 'underwater lift bags'.

The firm, which has made bags for the US Navy, lists models on its website which can lift items weighing up to 48tonnes. The F-35 weighs up to 30tonnes when carrying weapons and its pilot.

Whilst the aircraft has not yet been found, the US Navy is using device called a TPL-25 towed pinger locator system to find the F-35's emergency relocation pinger.

The TPL-25 system consists of a device which is towed behind a search vessel. It can detect a pinger at depths of up to 20,000feet (3.8miles).

The US Navy is also able to make use of winch system called a Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS).

A page on the navy's website says the device provides 'reliable deep ocean lifting capacity of up to 60,000 pounds for the recovery of large, bulky, and heavy sunken objects such as aircraft or small vessels.'

In March, the US Navy used the device to lift a Canadian helicopter from the sea.

A Royal Navy source told the Times: 'A number of nations have the capability to recover an aircraft from that depth. We've asked the Americans for help and they have offered.'

They added that the military were yet to pinpoint where the aircraft had gone down and were still gathering the machines needed to recover it.

Meanwhile Britain are circling the suspected area to ensure the secretive jet does not fall into enemy hands, such as those of Russia, which could salvage it but is not thought to have the equipment nearby.

The source said bringing the plane back to the surface was 'not rocket science' but 'the problem is finding and getting to it  you need a machine that can get to that depth'.

There are also fears the aircraft may have drifted under the sea to a different area than where they suspect it went down. They added: 'We know the vicinity but we need to find it and attach floating devices to it.'

After he ejected, rockets in his plane's seat blasted him more than 100feet upwards before his parachute opened.

F-35 pilot 'was left dangling from flight deck after ejecting' The unnamed pilot who ejected from the stricken F-35 jet was then left dangling left from the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier which he had taken off from. Rockets in his plane's seat blasted him more than 100feet upwards before his parachute opened. But a source told The Sun that when the pilot floated back down towards the warship, he 'came within inches' of hitting the flight deck. Instead, a cross-wind is said to have blown him sideways, where his parachute lines then became snagged on the edge of the 900feet long runway. The quick-thinking pilot was then left dangling from the edge of the warship, around 60feet above the water. He pulled an escape pin which released him from his harness and he then plunged into the water. 'He made the right decision,' a source said. 'We train for landing in water. The last thing you want is to get tangled in your parachute lines getting dragged along the edge of a 65,000 tonne warship.' A search and rescue helicopter was then used to pluck him out of the water. Advertisement

But a source told The Sun that when the pilot floated back down towards the warship, he 'came within inches' of hitting the flight deck.

Instead, a cross-wind is said to have blown him sideways, where his parachute lines then became snagged on the edge of the 900foot long runway.

The quick-thinking pilot was then left dangling from the edge of the warship, around 60feet above the water.

He pulled an escape pin which released him from his harness and he then plunged into the water.

'He made the right decision,' a source said.

'We train for landing in water. The last thing you want is to get tangled in your parachute lines getting dragged along the edge of a 65,000 tonne warship.'

As the UK's most advanced and expensive jet, the single-seater can land vertically and only needs a short runway to take off.

It is the first one Britain has lost and the incident is the first mishap for the RAF's F-35B fleet and for the 3billion aircraft carrier which left the UK seven months ago.

Howard Dyer, a regulatory consultant in aviation, told MailOnline today: 'Military planes do not have to be designed to the same standard as civilian ones because they are not party to international rules.

'Everyone in civilian aviation, apart from a few exceptions, has to follow the same rules. Military plans are made by governments with government people on board so do not have the same restrictions on them.

'If there are any rubbish planes in the sky, they will be military ones. Civilian planes fly over other countries which is why they are held to a higher standard.

'But military ones only usually can with permission or if they are invading, so usually stay over their own country or sea.'

Retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry said last night: 'Although an inquiry will establish the precise cause of the crash, it appears likely that the accident occurred because of engine malfunction.

'Despite the F-35B's good safety record, it was inevitable that some of these high-performance aircraft, which operate in the distinctly demanding maritime environment, would have been lost at some stage.'

This map shows the approximate location of where the F-35B stealth jet crashed in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday

By plunging into international waters, the crash triggered a scramble to recover the next-generation jet from the sea bed before it could be reached by foreign powers, particularly Russia. Above: File image of HMS Queen Elizabeth

History revisited: The 1966 Palomares B-52 bomber crash In 1966, a USAF B-52G bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashed into a KC-135 tanker during mid-air over the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain. Upon impact, the KC-135 was destroyed and all four crew members aboard were killed. The B-52G broke apart, and three of the seven crew died. Meanwhile, the four nuclear bombs fell 31,000 feet to the surface - three of which were found on land near the small fishing village of Palomares in Almeria. The non-nuclear explosives in two of the weapons blew up upon impact, resulting in the contamination of a 0.77-sq m area with radioactive plutonium. The fourth, which fell into the Mediterranean, was recovered intact after a two-month search. Advertisement

The Ministry of Defence insisted last night 'no hostile action' was involved in the crash. Last night, the investigation was focusing on technical or human error.

The pilot, who suffered minor injuries, is understood to have been rescued by helicopter. The pilot's family was informed of the crash before military chiefs released a statement yesterday afternoon about the incident.

Having sailed to the Far East and attracted the attention of both Russia and China, the 3billion Queen Elizabeth was last known to have been in the eastern Mediterranean, after leaving Oman.

The Prince of Wales is due to visit the carrier tomorrow as part of a royal tour to Egypt.

The Lightning is described by the RAF as a fifth generation combat aircraft capable of conducting air-to-surface strikes and electronic warfare.

The aircraft uses an array of sensors to operate undetected in enemy airspace. There were understood to be not only eight British F-35s aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth but also ten US aircraft.

They have conducted some 2,000 take-offs and landings without incident. When not deployed on the carrier, the UK's F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk as part of 617 Squadron (the 'Dambusters'). In 2020, US military tests found 276 different faults in the jet's combat system.

Last night the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'The F-35 ditched soon after take off. We are pleased the pilot is safe and back on board. Our operational and training flights continue.'

The F35s can hover as the come into land meaning the need a smaller flight deck. Pictured, an F-35B fighter jet prepares to land on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Arabian Sea, off Mumbai's coast on October 21

The Ministry of Defence said: 'A British F-35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning.

'The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. No other vessels or aircraft were involved.'

A comprehensive military air investigation has been launched by the RAF and US experts.

America enticed its Nato and other allies into sharing the cost of the aircraft by offering input into manufacture and 15 per cent of each one is comprised of parts from British companies while some of the jets will be made in Italy.

But the planes have been plagued by a catalogue of problems which have sent costs soaring.

There are fears about shortcomings in the technical systems underpinning the new generation of war planes will leave them unable to function properly.

The true cost of the British planes delivered this year is estimated to be over 150million each to cover 'extras' such as software upgrades and spare parts. There are also concerns plane's software system is vulnerable to cyber-attack and cannot be tested independently by the UK.

The weak broadband on the Royal Navy's principal aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is also hampering the jet's abilities.

Though the cost of the F-35 has been the focus of attention, there have also been embarrassing reports of operational shortcomings emerging from the United States.

In a mock air battle in 2015, the cutting edge plane was defeated by an older generation F-16, a plane designed in the 1970s.

In 2020 Pentagon tests found 276 different faults in jet's combat system. They included the 25mm cannon vibrating excessively and problems with the he aircraft's 'virtual reality' helmet. Overheating, premature wear of components in the vertical tails and vulnerability to fire were also found to be issues.

The US Air Force temporarily grounded dozens its F-35 stealth fighters while it investigated an oxygen supply issue.

The Marine Corps, who also operate the same F-35B model the UK has purchased, was forced to ground its planes after flaws were found in the computer system.
A fraudster who conned a millionairess into handing him almost 150,000 after meeting her on Tinder asked his girlfriend to hide computer memory sticks containing faked documents, a court has heard.

Richard Dexter, 37, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, posed as a 'successful businessman' to convince victim Amrita Sebastian to hand over 141,000 which he said would be invested in medical technology that would lead to multi-million pound deals.

He told her he was on the verge of a 'big windfall' and 'significant sums' after acquiring the patents to valuable biopharmaceutical technology.

Dexter said major multi-nationals - including US medical firm 3M - were interested in signing a multi-million pound deal with him.

But he never paid her back and the Middle East-based executive reported him to the police.

When officers raided Dexter's home in April 2018 they found a document in his bedside cabinet which claimed he had more than 4 million invested with the financial services company Hargreaves Lansdown.

The jury was told it was 'partly falsified' and the actual account belonged to a friend of his and only had 37p in it before it was closed.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard the raid spooked Dexter and he asked his then-girlfriend, Maisie Evans, to hide USB memory sticks containing falsified 'licensing agreements' purporting to relate to a patent in case the police knocked on their door again.

Dexter (pictured outside court) said major multi-nationals - including US medical firm 3M - were interested in signing a multi-million pound deal with him

Miss Evans said: 'He told me he was worried that the police would raid our property again and that they would be seized.

'We thought about where we could hide them and I suggested that we hid them in a craft box because I thought if someone were looking for something important, they would assume that there was nothing important in there.'

Miss Evans told a jury that she left Dexter along with her daughter for Bristol when he was arrested in December 2018.

She continued: 'I fled the relationship with my daughter and as many of my possessions as possible while Dexter was in custody.

Dexter pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud

'I took the craft box and was then contacted about the memory sticks by Dexter's friend and business partner, Hugh Affleck Graves.'

But instead of giving them to him, Miss Evans handed them into Hampshire Constabulary, the court heard.

Dexter now is accused of forging patent documents to try to 'wheedle out' of his alleged fraud, prosecutors said.

'Why doctor an investment report belonging to another to show you have 4 million?' Robert Bryan asked the jury. 'His fraud pleas may well inform you.

'Mr Dexter does not have, nor has he had an account with Hargreaves Lansdown let alone one containing over 4 million.'

The court heard the UK's Intellectual Property Office could not find anything to suggest the patent referred to in the agreement was 'genuine'.

And the court heard they appeared to have been created after he had been first arrested by police.

Dexter now claims Miss Evans created the documents to 'frame' him.

Dexter has admitted conning Miss Sebastian and pleaded guilty to seven counts of fraud.

But he denies one count of possessing an article used in fraud and to one count of perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.
President Joe Biden argued that police need 'more resources not fewer resources,' as he signed three bills at the White House Thursday that would expand benefits to first responders.

Biden signed the 'COPS Counseling Act,' the 'Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021,' and the 'Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act,' surrounded by a number of his former Senate colleagues.

As he signed the COPS Counseling Act, the president handed the pen over to seven-year-old Jake Bomba, whose father, Montgomery County Police Officer Thomas Bomba, committed suicide after surviving flesh-eating bacteria he was exposed to while at a work training.

President Joe Biden (right) hands a pen to 7-year-old Jake Bomba (left), whose father, Montgomery County Police Officer Thomas Bomba, committed suicide after surviving flesh-eating bacteria he was exposed to while at a work training

Montgomery County Police Officer Thomas Bomba was in a decade-long dispute with his Maryland county over benefits after being exposed to flesh-eating bacteria at work. He's seen with his son Jake (left) who attended the White House ceremony Thursday

Thomas Bomba's widow Angela (second from left) and son Tommy Bomba (left) also attending the White House signing

He battled the Maryland County for benefits for 10 years before taking his life.

Before signing the legislation, Biden previewed a new Department of Justice initiative to give $139 million to police departments in order to bring in more than 1,000 new officers.

'Before I turn to the specific of the bills, I want to say that when you look at what our communities need, what our law enforcement is being asked to do, it's going to require more resources not fewer resources,' Biden said.

'That's why my administration is investing in the community policing we know works,' he added.

'Today's investment and the bills I'm about to sign share a goal of helping law enforcement officers and first responders be the protectors and the partners our communities need,' the president said.

President Joe Biden (right) spoke alongside Vice President Kamala Harris (left) at the signing ceremony in the State Dining Room Thursday

Biden has pushed back against calls in his own party to 'defund the police,' a left-wing rallying cry after the May 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The president then went through some of the benefits each of the new bills would provide.

The 'COPS Counseling Act' would expand counseling programs that police departments would have to provide officers.

The bill was co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, as the law is modeled after a successful law in Nevada.

'When you think about it, law enforcement, as well as the military, all taught to be, "stand on your own, don't ask for anything, you can do it, just take care of yourself," and it's an enormous burden we put on people. And it's really difficult,' Biden said.

'I want you to know that a wound that is imposed on your mind is no different than if you broke your arm or got shot in the leg. It's the same thing. It's the same thing. It deserves to be treated. And it deserves the respect that goes along with that,' the president added.

Biden said that the late Thomas Bomba's 'painful experience helped inspire this bill.'

In addition to Jake Bomba, Thomas Bomba's widow Angela and their other son Tommy Bomba were also at the signing.

'My hope is by giving more officers access to confidentiality and high quality mental health resources we're going to reduce the stigma around seeking help and lead [to] better policing and prevent suicides,' Biden said.

Biden also signed the 'Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021,' which would expand death and disability benefits to first responders.

The law provides benefits to children born after a parent is deceased, speeds up processing of payments, ensures public safety officers are included and more broadly defines what it means to be permanently disabled.

The final bill, the 'Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act,' expands the Department of Justice's ability to prosecute people accused of killing law enforcement officers abroad.

Zapata was killed and Avila wounded in a scuffle with drug cartel members, with an appeals court tossing out part of Zapata's murderers' conviction arguing that a U.S. law doesn't cover crimes that happened abroad.

'This bill is going to protect agents serving abroad and send a message to drug cartels, terrorists and criminals wherever they operate that if you attack our agents you will not escape our justice,' Biden said.

Before concluding the program, the president asked lawmakers to, 'come together as you've done before, to finally pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.'
A mother from New Hampshire allegedly labelled her son 'the next Ted Bundy' just months before she was charged with his disappearance.

Danielle Dauphinais, 35, a mother of six, allegedly complained about her fourth child Elijah Lewis to a childhood friend, back in June, over Snapchat.

The Boston Globe reports that in the messages she told her friend she had been keeping her five-year-old son in his room because she couldn't 'trust him anymore' as a result of him urinating over his bedding and clothes and playing with his own feces.

She allegedly wrote to her friend Erika Wolfe: 'I call him the next Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer,' and also described his behavior as getting 'worse and worse'.

There have not been any charges filed relating to Elijah's death, with officials waiting on the results from the boy's autopsy report.

Danielle Dauphinais, 35, (pictured) allegedly labelled her son 'the next Ted Bundy' just months before police discovered his body in a wooded area in Massachusetts and she was charged with his disappearance

Danielle also allegedly wrote to her friend: 'I want him gone. I cant handle it anymore.'

Police in Massachusetts discovered the body of Elijah last month in a wooded area near the town of Abington following a 10-day search across five states.

An investigation into Elijah's disappearance was launched on October 14 after authorities were made aware that the boy was missing - though it is not known when he disappeared or how the police came to be aware he was gone.

But it was only after Danielle's friend Erika saw news reports that police were on the hunt for the missing boy that she remembered a conversation they had had.

During her messages to her friend Erika Wolfe, Danielle said her five-year-old son Elijah (pictured) had urinated over his bedding and had been playing with his own feces - leading her to 'want him gone'

Erika told the Globe that she had not spoken to Danielle in years, before the 35-year-old got in contact over Snapchat by responding to one of her posts on her story.

During their exchange Wolfe mentioned her own challenges in dealing with her son's behavior, before Danielle mentioned that the New Hampshire child welfare agency were involved with her own situation.

As of October 15, Erika said she had not been contacted by law enforcement officers.

Elijah had only recently started living with Danielle - who has six children - having been sent by his father to his mother in May 2020.

Police in Massachusetts discovered the body of Elijah last month in a wooded area (pictured) near the town of Abington following a 10-day search across five states

It is not currently known why Elijah was sent to his mother from his father, who lives in Arizona.

On October 18, following the discovery of Elijah's body, Danielle and her boyfriend Joseph Stapf, 30, - whom she had two of her six children with - were arrested by police for witness tampering and child endangerment and are currently in jail in New Hampshire.

Both Danielle and Joseph have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It is claimed by the authorities that the couple asked people they knew to lie about where Elijah had been living, knowing that authorities were on the hunt for the missing boy.
A mugger posing as deliver worker had his plan to rob a woman's purse foiled when he was knocked out by a Good Samaritan in Brazil, surveillance video footage shows.

The 27-year-old victim was walking alone down a street in in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday morning when the 44-year-old suspect stopped his motorcycle and reached for her handbag.

The man snatched her purse as the frightened woman ran away from him.

A 44-year-old mugger posing as a delivery worker approaches a woman in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to rob her purse moments before Good Samaritans came to the 27-year-old victims defense and beat the suspect and held him for the police to arrive and arrest him Wednesday morning

Surveillance cameras captured the moment Good Samaritans raced out of a property and stopped a mugger from fleeing with a woman's purse in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday morning. One of the men knocked him to the ground with a single punch while his brother kicked him repeatedly and later stopped him from running away

He subsequently picked up his motorcycle from the sidewalk while clutching to the purse before a bystander ran out of a property and delivered a right-handed punch that sent him tumbling to the street.

Video shows two other men approaching the mugger, punching and kicking him repeatedly.

One of the pedestrians appeared to inspect the biker's delivery back in search of any possible weapons.

The 27-year-old woman (right) was walking down a street in the Sao Paulo municipality of Bras when she was mugged Wednesday morning. Good Samaritans prevented the 44-year-old suspect (left) from escaping

A Good Samaritan pummels the mugger moments after he ripped a purse from a woman's hand in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday

Bystanders prevent the suspect from escaping moments after he mugged a woman in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Wednesday. The mugger was posing as a delivery worker and stopped the victim on a sidewalk, where he snatched her purse and then tried to speed off before he was attacked by the bystanders, who held him until the police arrived

The suspect tried to run away, but was quickly restrained by the men, who held him until the police in the municipality of Bras showed up.

'Military police were called to respond to an incident of theft and found the suspect detained by the people,' a police report obtained by Brazilian news outlet G1 indicated.

'A witness said he saw when the man on a motorcycle stopped the victim, a 27-year-old woman, and took her purse. Given the situation, the witness and his brother manages to detain him.'

Authorities have to formally charge the suspect for the robbery.
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is facing a backlash from colleagues for giving Meghan Markle their private cell phone numbers so she could lobby them on paid family leave, according to a new report Thursday.

Gillibrand is trying to get a private deal on paid family leave after moderate Democratic senator Joe Manchin spiked plans to include it in President Joe Biden's $1.75 trillion budget package of social safety net programs.

But those talks hit a 'speed bump,' Axios reported, after the Democratic senator form New York passed along her colleague's private, unlisted mobile numbers to Meghan - as originally reported by Politico - in the hopes the duchess could pressure them to support the plan.

Markle called Republican Senators Susan Collins and Shelley Moore Capito, both of whom expressed surprise to hear from the Duchess.

It's unclear how many numbers Gillibrand passed along and if Markle has reached out to any other lawmakers.

But some lawmakers told Axios, they considered Gillibrand's move a breach of protocol, leaving them skeptical about future negotiations on paid family leave, two of the aides familiar with the matter told the news outlet.

Some senators are angry that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand gave Meghan Markle their private cell phone numbers, according to a new report

The Duchess of Sussex is seen above with her husband Prince Harry at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for the Salute to Freedom Gala

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York is trying to get a private deal with Republicans on paid family leave

Markle called the two Republican senators and used her royal title to urge them to vote in favor of paid parental leave, it was reported last week - shocking the politicians with her latest foray into political activism.

The move was just the beginning for the Los Angeles-born mother of two, as she is now hoping to be part of 'a working group to work on paid leave long term,' according to Gillibrand.

Gillibrand also told The 19th she plans to invite Meghan to a bipartisan dinner she is hosting in the coming month with all the women senators to give her a platform to discuss paid leave.

But Markle's move have met with some criticism. Republican Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, who has previously condemned the Duchess for interference in American politics, said Meghan should be stripped of her title to stop her using it to gain political leverage.

'Ms. Markle's latest interference in U.S. politics reignites the question in my mind as to why the Royal Family does not simply strip her and Harry officially of their titles, particularly since she insists on sending this under the pretense of being the Duchess of Sussex,' he told DailyMail.com.

In the United Kingdom, the British Royal family traditionally stays out of politics.

Armed with the numbers from Gillibrand, however, the Duchess called Republican Senators Susan Collins from Maine and Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia, both of whom said they were shocked that Markle called out of the blue and noted that she even used her royal title to lobby for the cause.

Collins said: 'I was happy to talk with her, but I'm more interested in what people from Maine are telling me about paid leave.'

The Duchess of Sussex called Republican Senators Susan Collins from Maine (left) and Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia right), both of whom said they were surprised to hear from her

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex seen in New York with her husband Prince Harry, has also lobbied Democratic congressional issues on the matter of paid family leave

It wasn't Markle's first involvement with the issue.

On October 20th, she wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating for paid family leave - a letter that was handed out to several media outlets.

Capito said she expected the call to be Manchin, her colleague from West Virginia.

She told Politico: 'I'm in my car. I'm driving. It says caller ID blocked. Honestly, I thought it was Senator Manchin, his calls come in blocked.

'And she goes "Sen. Capito?" I said, "Yes." She said, "This is Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex."'

Moore Capito added: 'I couldn't figure out how she got my number.'

Collins said she too was called by the 40-year-old.

She expressed amusement that the Los Angeles-born Markle was using her British title to lobby U.S. senators, after having quit the royal family in 2020.

'Much to my surprise, she called me on my private line and introduced herself as the Duchess of Sussex, which is kind of ironic' said Collins.

The senator from Maine told The New York Times: 'She just weighed in that she thought paid leave was really important, and I told her there were a lot of different approaches, and people were working on it.'

Biden had initially hoped to push through plans for a 12-week paid family and medical leave program, costing $500 billion over 10 years.

The benefit declined from 12 to four weeks and then disappeared all together to win agreement from Manchin and fellow moderate Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.

Pelosi inserted it back into the version the House will vote on this week but that is expected to be heavily amended when the Senate debates the bill. Paid family leave is not expected to survive the amendment process.

Gillibrand said she gave senators' numbers to Markle and noted it was just the start.

'I talked to each of the women senators and let them know that she's going to reach out, because she only completed two of the calls,' Gillibrand said.

'She's going to call some others, so I let them know in advance.'

Gillibrand added: 'She wants to be part of a working group to work on paid leave long term and she's going to be.

'Whether this comes to fruition now or later, she'll be part of a group of women that hopefully will work on paid leave together.'

Markle's latest intervention heightens speculation that she sees herself in a political position in the future, like her heroines Angelina Jolie and Amal Clooney.

Some have even speculated that she could be considering a run for political office - even the presidency, according to wild online hype.

In her October 20 letter to Pelosi and Schumer, Markle wrote: 'I'm not an elected official, and I'm not a politician.

'I'm writing to you at this deeply important time - as a mom - to advocate for paid leave.'

The extraordinary 1,030-word letter asked the two Democratic leaders to consider her plea 'on behalf of my family, Archie and Lili and Harry'.

Markle, pictured above with Prince Harry and her first born Archie, made a rare political statement on paid family leave

The duchess depicted humble beginnings, saying that her family struggled when she was young - despite her well-documented middle class upbringing in which she attended private primary and secondary schools on her Emmy award-winning lighting director father's $200,000-a-year salary.

And she now lives in a $14million sprawling mansion in Montecito, California, complete with designer touches. She has also signed a series of lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix thought to be worth well over $150million.

'I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzler,' Markle wrote.

'I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky. I started working (at the local frozen yogurt shop) at the age of 13.

'I waited tables, babysat, and piecemealed jobs together to cover odds and ends,' Markle said.

However, she failed to mention the $750,000 California state lottery win her father scooped in 1990, which funded her secondary education at $9,412-a-semester Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.

Meghan also studied a private primary school - Hollywood's Little Red Schoolhouse nursery, which she attended from the age of two.

The primary school now costs between $20,000 and $28,300-a-year, and was paid for by her father Thomas and her airline steward mother Doria's salaries.

She went on to study at Northwestern, a college in Illinois, that would have cost $24,000-$28,000-a-year for tuition when Meghan studied there from 1999-2003.

But the duchess described working from the age of 13 doing several jobs 'to cover odds and ends' and said saving money was a 'luxury' in her family in her letter.

'I worked all my life and saved when and where I could - but even that was a luxury - because usually it was about making ends meet and having enough to pay my rent and put gas in my car.

'I expect many of your constituents have their own version of that story,' she continued.
Two men were charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday after human remains found inside a freezer at a Missouri home were positively identified through DNA testing as Cassidy Rainwater, who was photographed half-naked inside a cage after she went missing before suffering a grisly death.

News of the positive identification was accompanied by the release of sickening new details concerning the kidnapping victim's death, including how the 33-year-old woman was strangled to death, strapped to a crane, eviscerated and cut into pieces, according to authorities.

No motive has been revealed in connection with Rainwater's brutal killing.

James Phelps, 58, and Timothy Norton, 56, were hit with the murder counts as well as being charged with abandonment of a corpse. They had previously been charged with kidnapping.

Norton's lawyer, Brenden Twibell, told the Springfield News-Leader the new charges were expected and Norton will plead not guilty.

DNA testing has positively identified human remains that were found in a freezer at a Missouri home as missing woman Cassidy Rainwater (pictured)

James Phelps, 58 (left), and Timothy Norton, 56 (right), have been charged with first-degree murder, abandonment of a corpse and kidnapping

Norton is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday.

Phelps will appear in court Friday. His attorneys said they will ask a judge to set a bond.

Phelps and Norton have been jailed on a kidnapping charge since mid-September, when photos of Rainwater partially nude and confined to a cage were found on Phelps' phone, authorities said.

Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice said Wednesday in a Facebook post that the seven photos also showed Rainwater's body on a gantry crane, which is commonly used for deer processing, where she was disemboweled and dismembered before her body was placed in a bathtub.

Some of the woman's body parts were later found in a freezer, he said.

On October 4, a fire that has been ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home near Lebanon, Missouri

Prior to the fire, investigators searched this rural residence and discovered human remains belonging to Rainwater, along with a gantry crane to which she had been tied so that she could be eviscerated and dismembered, according to the sheriff's office

Rice said Norton told investigators Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater on July 24 while she was staying at Phelps' home. The woman was described as sleeping when the attack took place.

Norton said he held Rainwater down while Phelps put a plastic bag over her head and strangled her, according to Rice.

Sheriff's deputies were contacted in late August by a woman who said Rainwater hadn't been seen for a month and Phelps was the last person she was seen with.

In September, Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left about a month ago and that she was going to Colorado, Rice said.

On September 16, the FBI provided the photos of Rainwater to Dallas County detectives, who arrested Phelps. Norton was arrested on September 20 after speaking to authorities.

Phelps claimed in September that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left a month prior

Norton allegedly confessed to helping Phelps kill and dismember Rainwater

Investigators searched Phelps' home near Lebanon, Missouri, for seven days and found the gantry crane, cage and items in the freezer that appeared to be 'human flesh,' Rice said. Those items were dated July 24.

Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said.

Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said.

On October 4, a fire that investigators have ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home. Officials investigating the fire found two explosive devices made with mortar tubes and balloon covers, with tripwires attached, near the home.
Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel described former President Donald Trump as crucial to the future success of the party she leads  and dodged questions about whether Trump threatened to bolt it on his last day in office.

President Trump clearly has not left the party, McDaniel said at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast with reporters Thursday, when asked about the reported threat to leave.

And I never shared my conversations with the president. But I will say one thing that is a very true statement which is: If he left the party wed lose. If he left the party Republicans would lose, she said.

She was responding to a question about Jonathan Karls new book, which reports that Trump told McDaniel Im done with the GOP in a phone call from Air Force One as he left DC on his last day in office.

'If he left the party wed lose,' Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel told reporters at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast Thurdsay

She declined to elaborate on a prior statement that the report was false. I've already said what I was going to say, which is that the President stayed in the party. This is a non-issue.

McDaniel stated repeatedly that Trump was critical to the fortunes of the GOP, and credited him with helping Glenn Youngkin in Virginia, who did not campaign in person from Trump but who enjoyed a surge in voter turnout.

I mean, if you look at the issues, it's the Republican Party, he's a big factor in that, she said.

Asked about reporting about Trumps private and public push for former Vice President Mike Pence not to certify votes certified by states, McDaniel downplayed the potential for a contentious primary between the two.

I don't think 2024 is even on the radar yet. Until we get to 2022. Democrats have tried to federalize the elections four times this past year, she told DailyMail.com.

I don't think any Republican can be looking at 2024 is even an option if we don't want to 2022 so that will play itself out. I want everybody to be focused on 2022 in our party  And they can work up those disagreements at a later time.

As to the substance of Trumps claims about Pences authority, she said: I think that was lot of issues that happened in the election and we can talk about that. But that that will be for constitutionalists.

It is in the RNC's bylaws that it stay out of primary elections. She fielded a question about the Wyoming state GOP's decision to oust Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who voted to impeach Trump, serves on the Jan. 6th committee, and backed a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

'Obviously shes still a Republican. Shes a Republican in the [GOP] Conference,' said McDaniel.

'But I get from the state party standpoint when you have a congressperson or senator  not talking about electing Republicans up and down the ballot,' she continued. Then she backed up state parties by saying: 'The state partys the most grassroots body that a state has.'

McDaniels called Trump a 'big factor' in the GOP

She dodged questions about a new book by Jonathan Karl that Trump told her he was 'done' with the GOP in a phone call from Air Force One Jan. 20, when Trump did not attend Joe Biden's inauguration

She called for focusing on 2022 and not trying to focus on a feud between Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence over whether Pence could refuse to accept votes from states during the electoral count Jan. 6th, and didn't weigh in on whether Pence had the authority. 'That that will be for constitutionalists, she said

McDaniel spoke at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast a day after the House voted to censure GOP Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and the Wyoming state GOP ousted Rep. Liz Cheney

She called for rolling back changes to election laws, which included expansions of mail-in voting and more time for votes to be counted. 'We need to restore our elections back to pre pandemic protections,' she said.

She was also asked if Joe Biden won the election  amid Trump's constant claims of fraud.

'I think there were a lot of problems in the election,' she said.

'He's the president. It's very painful to watch,' she said. 'I just told you he's the president and it's very painful,' she said.

She chastised reporters for their repeated inquiries about Trump and what he meant to the prospects of the GOP.

'This is so D.C. You guys are obsessed with him. I dont get, everythings about Trump,' said the Michigan native, who's grandfather Gov. George Romney addressed a similar breakfast decades ago.

'Right now, it whatever it takes to get us to win back majorities,' said McDaniel.

Minutes before her event ended, Trump blasted out a statement congratulating a Wisconsin state lawmaker for 'putting forward a powerful and very popular, because its true, resolution to decertify the 2020 Presidential Election in Wisconsin based on the recently found absolute proof of large scale voter fraud that took place.'
A Massachusetts politician has been accused of 'racial violence' after a two-year-old Halloween photo surfaced of her dressed as an Asian spa worker in an attempt to poke fun at Patriots owner Robert Kraft - who had been entangled in a sex-trafficking sting at a massage parlor in 2019.

Malden City Councilor Jadeane Sica was pictured wearing a bamboo hat and an 'Orchids of Asia' T-shirt - the spa where Kraft was alleged to have attempted to solicit sex - next to her husband, John, who was in a Patriots sweatshirt in a Facebook photo captioned, 'Happy Halloween with a Happy Ending!'

Kraft was cleared of any wrongdoing last year but the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition on Wednesday called out the politician for her 'harmful, racist and ignorant' photo.

'Our culture, our people, and our pain are not a costume,' the statement read. 'Our youth, especially our young women, should not see themselves represented and mocked in this way by an elected official of our town. This is racial violence: the appropriation of Asian identity for someones amusement.'

Jadeane Sica sparked fury over Halloween photo of her, with her husband John, resurfaced Wednesday

Malden, a suburb north of Boston, has a population of 61,000 - with about 22.5 percent of those being Asian, according to the Boston Globe.

Sica quickly apologized after the outcry by local groups.

'Two years ago, John and I attended a Halloween Party with costumes that made light of what was at the time a current news event, specifically, the well known case of Patriots owner Robert Kraft having been involved in engaging illegally with sex workers at a Florida massage parlor,' she wrote in a statement.

'Since that time, many, myself included, have become much more aware of the fact that the women involved in cases like these are all too often vulnerable members of the Asian community who are victims of exploitation,' she continued.

Sica was mocking Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was embroiled in a sex-trafficking probe before all charges were dropped

Here's Malden councilor Jadeane Sica's costume. The man next to her has been IDed as her husband, and is apparently dressed as Patriots owner Robert Kraft who was caught in a prostitution sting at the Orchids of Asia spa in January 2019: pic.twitter.com/sXs8IBROsU  Deanna  Pan (@DDpan) November 17, 2021 Twitter Privacy Policy

The councilwoman also said she had 'love in my heart for the people from all backgrounds, races, and religions' and that 'bad intent' wasn't always a 'necessary ingredient' to be 'hurtful to others.'

She promised to 'do better,' and said she was 'enlightened' about her costume choice.

She issued a statement on her Facebook page saying she 'can and will do better' and that she has 'love in my heart for people from all backgrounds, races, and religions'

'Looking back at the choice of costume through a more enlightened lens allows me to see now what I didn't see then, which is that costumes that in any way portray another culture can be hurtful and in my case, send a message inconsistent with how I've lived my public and private life.

'I can and will do better,' she wrote.

The group is now calling on Sica to 'throw her support behind policies and plans that support her immigrant, People of Color constituents,' the joint statement said.

Many of the politician's colleagues also deplored her choice in costume, but with one suggesting she issue an apology.

Councilor Debbie DeMaria said she finds the most 'profound interactions humans have, is the power of our words. While our actions do speak louder than our words; a verbal apology recognizes our personal failures, humbles and centers us; and certainly can restore broken relationships.'

State Senator Jason Lewis and state Representatives Paul Donato, Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Steven Ultrino thanked the group for 'courageously' speaking out.

'All people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and we strongly condemn any actions that harm or disrespect any racial, religious, or ethnic minority group,' they said.

'We also pledge to continue our efforts to support and pass legislation in Massachusetts that advances racial justice and equity in our schools, institutions, and communities...It is important that we all strive to be upstanders and not passive bystanders in order to dismantle systemic racism in Malden and elsewhere.'

Robert Kraft (pictured)

Councilor Stephen Winslow condemned Sica and called for an apology.

'I hope that Councillor Sica who has worked to eliminate sex trade activities in her own neighborhood will apologize for her choice and work with [Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition] to confront such depictions as well as with groups that help protect victims of sex exploitation,' he said.

Sica has come under fire before for hosting an outdoor party in May 2020 in a parking lot that dozens of people attended and reportedly broke social distancing rules, the Boston Globe reported.

A petition was launched calling for her resignation. She later apologized for the party.

Orchids of Asia in Jupiter, Florida, was one of several massage parlors that were raided by federal officials under the suspicion of sex trafficking.

Investigators said the women in the parlor came from China to the US on temporary work visas and believed they'd receive permanent jobs after arriving, but were instead put to work at the parlor that doubled as a prostitution site.

Kraft had been accused of soliciting sex and video showed him at the spa.

However, his attorney argued that police misled the judge who issued the search warrant to place cameras in the parlor and asked the judge to throw out the video of him at the parlor from the evidence.

Assistant State Attorney Greg Kridos disputed the claim, arguing that the spa had 'all the appearances' of sex trafficking, but also acknowledged there wasn't enough evidence to support sex-trafficking claims.
Lord Frost today warned the EU that a threat to unilaterally tear up post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland is still 'very much on the table'.

Britain and Brussels remain locked in talks as they try to agree ways to fix the Northern Ireland Protocol.

But little progress appears to be being made and Lord Frost repeated at lunchtime that the UK is willing to act on its own and suspend customs checks if the bloc fails to give ground.

The Brexit minister also insisted the UK has not watered down its negotiating demands.

He told the EU not to mistake his 'reasonable tone' during talks for 'any softening in the substantive position'.

Boris Johnson said earlier this week that it would be 'perfectly legitimate' for the UK to tear up post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland if improvements cannot be agreed with the EU.

But Brussels has warned such a move would have 'serious consequences' for the region and the bloc's relationship with the UK.

Lord Frost today warned the EU that a threat to unilaterally tear up post-Brexit border rules in Northern Ireland is still 'very much on the table'

The Northern Ireland Protocol, agreed as part of the original Brexit deal, requires checks on goods to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic.

But it has caused disruption to trade and angered unionists who have demanded the rules be scrapped, arguing they create a barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The UK and the EU have been holding talks for months on how to improve the operation of the protocol but a breakthrough remains elusive.

The Government has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16 of the protocol to unilaterally suspend the border arrangements if the EU refuses to budge.

Such a move would almost certainly trigger a legal challenge from Brussels and could spark a potential trade war.

Asked if the UK is softening its stance during the talks, Lord Frost told peers: 'The answer is no. We are trying to reach an agreement - that has always been our position. It has been our position in July, it is our position now.

'I would suggest that our friends in the EU don't interpret the reasonable tone that I usually use in my discussions with them as implying any softening in the substantive position.'

The minister told the House of Lords that the threat to trigger Article 16 is still 'very much on the table'.

'Whatever messages to the contrary the EU think they have heard or read, our position has not changed... we would prefer to reach a negotiated agreement if we can,' he said.

'That is the best way forward for the stability and the prosperity of Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Protocol, agreed as part of the original Brexit deal, requires checks on goods to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic

'But I want to be clear, I would not recommend any outcome from the negotiations that I did not believe safeguarded political, economic or social stability in Northern Ireland.

'In such circumstances, we would obviously need to provide the necessary safeguards using Article 16 and those safeguards remain very much on the table and they are a legitimate provision in the protocol.'

Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington asked Lord Frost to give his 'percentage assessment' of the talks succeeding by Christmas but he refused to be drawn.

He said: 'I think it's somewhere between zero and a hundred to be honest. I don't think it helps to put specific numbers on these sort of things.'
Britons travelling to China have been told by the UK Government to avoid wet markets  because of a rise in bird flu.

In fresh advice issued today, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned the notorious markets were a 'source of infection'.

Wet markets became the centre of international criticism last year after being touted as the epicentre of the Covid pandemic.

It is common for dozens of animals, dead and alive, to be kept dangerously close to one another in cramped cages at the markets.

The UKHSA said travellers to China and other Asian countries should also avoid live bird animal markets and poultry farms.

Returning Britons should alert their GP if they experience flu-like symptoms within 10 days of coming home.

China is recording record numbers of the H5N6 subtype of avian influenza this year, with 22 confirmed so far - compared to just five last year.

Dr Gavin Dabrera, an infectious diseases expert at UKHSA said: 'Anyone visiting China should avoid exposure to birds or live birds in wet markets as a precaution.'

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province, has been touted as the source of Covid

Skinned chicks at the market, where live animals were kept in cramped caged and could be slaughtered on order

A list of prices for one of the businesses operating at the market showed 'live tree bears' which is the Chinese for 'koala' (circled above)

The cases of H5N6 in China this year have resulted in at least six deaths and left many of the remaining patients critically ill.

Scientists estimate the substrain - which first emerged in the East Asian state Laos in 2013 - has a kill rate of 67 per cent.

The UKHSA said China claimed it had not recorded any cases of human-to-human transmission, and that the risk to the UK was 'very low'.

Britons travelling to the area are also being advised not to handle undercooked or raw poultry, egg or duck dishes.

Dr Dabrera added: 'We continue to encourage people to avoid touching dead or dying birds and maintain good hand hygiene while travelling.

'It definitely looks like influenza is back': Expert warns By Luke Andrews, Health Reporter Flu will make a comeback this winter after a year of Covid restrictions, a respiratory diseases scientist warned today. Dr Beverly Taylor, who monitors emerging strains around the globe for the World Health Organization, said that cases have been rising globally and the UK can expect a bad bout this year. She told a press conference: 'It definitely looks like influenza is on its way back. 'The World Health Organization sends out a report every two weeks, and it shows a very slow but very steady increase in the number of samples positive for influenza.' Measures imposed to keep Covid at bay  including work from home and face masks  also helped to limit the spread of other respiratory diseases. UK Health Security Agency surveillance shows flu cases are now rising slowly in Britain but remain below pre-pandemic levels. Some 0.8 per cent of samples tested picked up flu last week (36 cases). This was up from 0.4 per cent in the previous week (18 cases). For comparison, in the same week in the year before the pandemic 3.4 per cent of samples tested positive for flu. Dr Taylor is head of influenza scientific affairs at Britain's major manufacturer for seasonal flu jabs Seqirus. Advertisement

'Avian influenza remains a risk in China and if travellers experience any flu like symptoms within 10 days of returning from China, they should call their GP or NHS 111 and report their recent travel.

'UKHSA has arrangements in place to deal with emerging diseases. This includes the detection and investigation of suspected cases, and the management of confirmed cases and their contacts.'

A World Health Organization (WHO) expert said there was nothing to worry about yet because there is no sign the strain can spread between people.

But Dr Beverly Taylor, an influenza and vaccine expert, warned: 'We can't rule it out'.

She told MailOnline: ' I think the key thing is we are not seeing human to human transmission.

'Right now the risk is expected to be low but we cant rule it out.'

She suggested wet markets and other agricultural practices in China made it more prone than other countries to outbreaks.

She said: 'China does have  it always has  a higher number of cases than we see in other countries and part of that is the way we see people live there.

'There are live bird markets which we have seen the Chinese Government try to get control over and people living very closely with their domestic birds.'

The Huanan Seafood Wholesale in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province, has been touted as the source of Covid.

A majority of the early cases were reported among people who had been shopping or working there.

Yet, despite testing markets, farms and no fewer than 80,000 animal samples spanning dozens of species across China, no evidence has emerged for a similar chain of early 'zoonotic' infections  transmitted from animals to humans  in SARS-CoV-2.

Hundreds of samples taken from animal carcasses at the market have all tested negative for any trace of the virus.

And while the Chinese authorities have not revealed the professions of those who were earliest infected, we know that several of them, including the first known cases, had no exposure to the market whatsoever.

More recently, attentions have turned to a high-security biomedical lab in Wuhan, where it is feared the virus may have accidentally leaked from.
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Daily Covid cases in the UK rose again today after a small blip yesterday but hospital admissions have fallen and deaths remain flat, as the epidemic becomes increasingly unpredictable.

There were 46,807 positive tests in the last 24 hours, according to the Department of Health, which is the highest number since October 22 and a 10 per cent increase on last Thursday.

Infections have increased week-on-week on seven of the previous eight days, following the return of schools from half-term at the start of the month.

There were also 199 coronavirus deaths registered today, marking a 2 per cent increase on last week's toll. Latest hospital data shows there were 799 admissions on November 14, down 9 per cent in a week.

The Government has not put a threshold on the number of daily hospital admissions it is willing to tolerate before rolling back restrictions. But one of its top scientific advisers, 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson suggested last month that figure could be 1,200.

It comes after Britain's largest symptom-tracking study found the number of people falling ill with the virus every week fell by a tenth last week.

Professor Tim Spector, the eminent King's College London scientist who runs the study, said he was 'cautiously optimistic' restrictions will not be needed at Christmas.

Fears of Christmas curbs were raised this week when Boris Johnson admitted the draconian action was not off the cards.

The Prime Minister pointed to spiralling waves of infection across Europe, which have sent nations scuttling back into lockdowns, as a sign of what could happen here and urged people to get their booster vaccines.

Belgium's Prime Minister today said Europe was on 'red alert' as he imposed tough restrictions, ordering people to work at home for at least four days a week. In Austria, all unvaccinated people were ordered to stay in their homes and both Germany and Italy are considering similar health apartheids.

Professor Spector said: 'In terms of what it means for Christmas, Im cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year. Its becoming clear that children and the school holidays play a key role in the waves of infection.

'I think its safe to say that we can expect to see another rise in the new year after the holidays.' But he still called on all Britons to get fully vaccinated against the virus, as well as ensuring they have their booster doses.

And he urged everyone to start using face masks in crowded spaces such as public transport. This was a softening of his tone from barely three weeks ago when he warned ministers should consider Plan B.

Better than a vaccine? AstraZeneca's antibody drug slashes risk of Covid by 83% for over 6 months An antibody drug developed by AstraZeneca cuts the risk of falling ill with Covid by more than 80 per cent, according to trial data which suggests it could offer longer-lasting immunity than the drug giant's jab. The cocktail, which is equally effective when given as a preventative or a treatment, offers hope to elderly and vulnerable people who respond less well to vaccines. AstraZeneca today published results from a six-month study of its Evusheld therapy, delivered as two injections at the same time. A single course offered 83 per cent protection against symptomatic Covid after six months in unvaccinated vulnerable people. This is much higher than current vaccines, which are given as two doses and wane significantly within months. AstraZeneca's own jab falls to just 40 per cent protection against symptoms at six months, and Pfizer and Moderna's drop to around 60 per cent. The phase III study of Evusheld tested the cocktail on people with medical problems or conditions which put them at risk of not responding to vaccines. Advertisement

Professor Spector's symptom study relies on daily reports from more than 750,000 Britons on whether they are feeling unwell and if they test positive for Covid.

It is based on self-reporting and dose not ask participants to give evidence of their symptoms. The latest estimates used 40,000 tests for the virus over the fortnight to November 13.

Mr Johnson said earlier this week that it still was not possible to rule out some Covid restrictions being reimposed.

He told a Downing Street press conference: 'Clearly we cannot rule anything out and the most important thing people can do to prevent further NPIs from being taken is to  non-pharmaceutical interventions that is, further restrictions  get the boosters.'

But he added there was still nothing in the data to suggest further restrictions were needed. Scientists fear further Covid measures may be needed if a new variant emerges that is more transmissible and better able to dodge vaccine-triggered immunity.

Last winter the Kent 'Alpha' variant triggered a spike in Covid cases, leading to Christmas day plans being thrust into chaos at the last minute.

Professor Spector also warned officials would need to keep an eye on the virus for another five years, raising the possibility of more restrictions possibly being introduced for years to come.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)  which took over from the now defunct Public Health England  will publish its Covid surveillance report later today.

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca announced its new antibody drug cuts the risk of falling ill with Covid by more than 80 per cent, which suggests it could offer longer-lasting immunity than the drug giant's jab.

The cocktail, which is equally effective when given as a preventative or a treatment, offers hope to elderly and vulnerable people who respond less well to vaccines.

AstraZeneca today published results from a six-month study of its Evusheld therapy, delivered as two injections at the same time.

A single course offered 83 per cent protection against symptomatic Covid after six months in unvaccinated vulnerable people.

King's College London scientists estimated 65,059 people were falling ill with the virus on any given day in the week to November 13, down from 72,546 previously. This was a dip of 10% and down for the third week in a row

This is much higher than current vaccines, which are given as two doses and wane significantly within months.

AstraZeneca's own jab falls to just 40 per cent protection against symptoms at six months, and Pfizer and Moderna's drop to around 60 per cent.

The phase III study of Evusheld tested the cocktail on people with medical problems or conditions which put them at risk of not responding to vaccines.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy, which reduces the effectiveness of the body's immune system, or taking immunosuppressive drugs following an organ transplant are among those who don't always get the full protection from jabs.

In a separate study, which gave the cocktail to people after they caught Covid, it was shown to reduce the risk of severe illness by 88 per cent. Experts hope it will protect against hospitalisations and deaths for up to 18 months.

Britain is believed to have a million doses of Evusheld on order. But it is unclear how much the therapy will cost.

The US has invested 350million in supporting the research and manufacturing of the drug and has secured 100,000 doses, with the option to purchase up to 1m.

Europe on 'red alert' for Christmas lockdown: Austria sees record cases despite Covid apartheid, Germany braces for a 'really terrible' winter and Belgium enforces work from home as infections explode across continent

Europe is facing another Christmas under lockdown with cases soaring across the region amid warnings 'all alarm signals are red' across the continent.

The WHO warned Europe was the only region in the world where deaths had increased - with fatalities spiking by five percent on the Continent this week.

Belgium's Prime Minister today said Europe was on 'red alert' as he imposed tough restrictions, ordering people to work at home for at least four days a week.

In Austria, Covid cases have continued rising after two million unvaccinated people were ordered to stay in their homes on Monday - with other European countries including Germany and Italy considering similar health apartheids.

Germany has seen a record-breaking number of cases, with 68,366 new infections on Thursday - a colossal 40 percent rise on the same day last week.

Now the country is considering following Vienna by imposing a 'lockdown for the unvaccinated', with Italy and Greece also considering a similar health apartheid.

The Czech Republic has already followed Austria's lead by announcing a lockdown of its 4.25 million citizens who have refused the jab.

As Europe braced for Christmas under lockdown:

Germany's hospitals are buckling under the strain, with patients transferred to Italy because the wards are full;

Russian Covid cases hit record highs for the second-day running amid poor vaccine uptake with just 43 percent of the population double-jabbed;

Ireland has ordered a midnight curfew for all nightclubs and pubs;

Germany's disease control agency warned of a 'really terrible Christmas';

Virologists in the Netherlands proposed extending Christmas holidays to slow surging cases among children amid the highest cases on record today;

Spain's Benidorm beach resort, popular with British partygoers, has opened a Covid vaccine centre to counter surging cases.

Austria's Covid cases have continued to soar even after lockdown was imposed on 2million unvaccinated people earlier this week

Eastern Europe is continent's excess deaths capital because of lagging Covid vaccine rollouts Western Europe is no longer the continent's capital for excess deaths, official data shows with Eastern European countries now taking up that mantle. While countries like the UK, Spain, Italy and Belgium bore the brunt of fatalities early in the pandemic, the crisis has slowly shifted East, to nations like Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. A major analysis by the Office for National Statistics looked at excess deaths  the number of fatalities from all causes above the five-year average  on the continent from the start of Covid to mid-2021. It found that nearly every corner of Europe has suffered well above average excess deaths at some point, either due to coronavirus itself or the knock-on effects of lockdowns. There are a few exceptions, namely the Scandinavian nations which have kept case rates and excess deaths low, excluding anti-lockdown Sweden. In the UK, 120,000 more people have died than usual so far during the pandemic with a significant spike in non-Covid deaths in people's homes. It has been referred to by experts as a 'silent crisis'. The ONS' interactive map shows trends in excess deaths have followed the trajectory of Covid waves. Western countries were hit hardest early in the pandemic because of their close proximity to Italy, the continent's original epicentre. Most of these were Covid, even if a lack of testing in the early days did not pick up on all of them. But there has been a shift in the first half of 2021 after wealthy EU members stocked up on vaccine supplies and squashed Covid death rates. It is no coincidence that Eastern European nations  where uptake of the jabs remain low  made up seven of the 10 countries with the highest excess death rates by June this year. Advertisement

Austria reported 15,145 cases on Thursday, a new one-day record for the pandemic and well above the previous record of 9,586 that was logged a year ago.

The hardest-hit region has been Upper Austria, where the governor today called for restrictions on the un-jabbed to be scrapped - but only so that a full nationwide lockdown can be imposed instead.

Thomas Stelzer, speaking ahead of a government summit on Covid measures tomorrow, said that if no nationwide lockdown is ordered then he will lock down his province independently.

Mr Stelzer said the lockdown would last 'several weeks' and would be coordinated with neighbouring Salzburg province, whose governor also confirmed a lockdown is being prepared.

'This absolutely necessary measure... will hopefully help to significantly bring down the daily growth figures. This was not the case with the previous measures,' he told local newspaper Kurier.

'The measures from next week will certainly be very drastic. But we need them so that we can save our health and soon find a free life again.'

The Austrian government has drawn heavy criticism for its decision earlier this week to lock down just the two million people in the country who have opted not to have a Covid jab, confining them to their homes except for essential business.

It was quickly dubbed a 'health apartheid' by critics, who said it is 'unenforceable', disproportionate, and amounts to forcing people to undergo a medical procedure.

But it did appear to produce results, with hundreds of thousands of queuing up to get vaccines this week - with the highest number of jabs issued since the summer.

Austria's booming infections comes amid a new wave of Covid across Europe that has seen infection rise sharply across the continent as government scramble to find the best way to respond.

Countries with low vaccination rates have been the hardest-hit, with Latvia - on 55 per cent of people fully jabbed - going into full lockdown last month.

The Czech Republic - 58 per cent fully vaccinated - followed Austria's lead this week by announcing a lockdown on just those who had refused the jab.

Italy and Greece are considering similar measures, while France has pointed out that unvaccinated people are driving the new wave without saying what it will do.

Germany has also begun restricting life for unvaccinated people by expanding its use of Covid passports to almost all businesses and public spaces while tightening the evidence required to get a pass.

Previously, people could provide either evidence of vaccination, evidence of an infection, or a negative test to get a pass.

Deaths from Covid are not year at the levels they reached during the second wave, but are rising rapidly and driving fears over the winter wave

But under new rules being imposed in many states, only evidence of vaccination or a previous infection is being accepted.

On Thursday, German lawmakers approved new measures which would require employees to prove they are vaccinated, recently recovered from COVID-19 or have tested negative for the virus in order to access communal workplaces; a similar rule will apply to public transport.

The measures passed in the Bundestag with votes from the center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. The three parties are currently negotiating to form a new government.

The measures need to be approved by Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, which could happen Friday.

It comes as Lothar Wieler, director of German disease control agency the Robert Koch Institute, warned the country faces a 'really terrible Christmas' unless tough new rules are brought in now.

'We are currently heading toward a serious emergency,' he said. 'We are going to have a really terrible Christmas if we don't take countermeasures now.'

In Belgium, all people in indoor venues such as cafes and restaurants will need to wear a mask unless seated and the rule will apply to those aged 10 or older. The previous age threshold was 12.

Nightclubs may have to test their guests if they want to let them dance mask-free. People wanting to eat in a restaurant or go to the theatre already must present a COVID pass, showing vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery.

Most Belgians will also have to work from home four days a week until mid-December, and for three days after that.

Belgium has one of the highest cases per capita rates in the European Union, behind only the Baltic and former Yugoslav nations and Austria, at around one per hundred people over the past 14 days, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

'The alarm signals are all red,' prime minister Alexander De Croo told a news conference. 'We had all hoped to have a winter without coronavirus, but Belgium is not an island.'

The new restrictions are still milder than the lockdown imposed on the unvaccinated in Austria and the shortening of bar and restaurant opening hours in the Netherlands.

De Croo said Belgium planned to give booster jabs, currently limited mostly to the elderly, to the wider population.

Belgium's infections spike has been sharpest in the northern region Flanders, where vaccination rates are higher, prompting eased restrictions in October.

The warning comes as a hospital in Bavaria's Freising last week made the unprecedented decision to transfer a Covid-19 patient to northern Italy because it 'had no more capacity to receive them, and the surrounding hospitals were also full.'

A fourth ferocious wave has sent infections to record highs in Europe's biggest economy, putting hospitals also hit by the double whammy of a shortfall of personnel under immense strain.

German authorities have blamed the latest surge in infections on the unvaccinated, more than 30 per cent of the population, and pleaded with people to get the jab.

It comes as Austria this week confined some 2million unvaccinated people to their homes amid soaring cases, a move the Czech Republic will introduce from Monday and both Italy and Germany have said they are considering.

Cases are rapidly rising across the country and have hit record levels in recent weeks as a relatively low jab rate and slow booster drive combined to speed up infections

Deaths are nowhere near the levels seen during the first and second wave of Covid, but have started to climb rapidly amid fears they could soon top the previous peaks

German lawmakers are debating measures Thursday that would replace the nationwide epidemic rules, which will expire at the end of the month.

The Robert Koch Institute today said 65,371 newly confirmed cases were reported in a single day, continuing the upward trend that experts have been warning about for weeks.

Wieler warned that hospitals across Germany are struggling to find beds for Covid-19 patients and those with other illnesses.

He also called for the closure of clubs and bars, an end to large-scale events and access to many parts of public life to be limited to those with vaccine or recovery certificates.

Germany's vaccination rate stands at 67.7 per cent but some regions have jab take-up as low as 57.6 per cent. Wieler said the country needs to increase its vaccination rates to significantly above 75 per cent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel made a new plea on Wednesday for the unvaccinated to get jabbed, saying 'when enough people are vaccinated, that is the way out of the pandemic'.

In a bid to get more to take the jab, Germany's parliament is poised to vote through new regulations for more curbs on the unvaccinated.

Under proposals drafted by the three parties in talks to form Germany's new government, unvaccinated people will soon have to produce a negative test to use public transport or go to the office.

Through the highs and lows spanning 18 months of the pandemic, Germany had on many occasions taken in patients from neighbouring countries as hospitals elsewhere ran out of space.

While the absolute number of patients in intensive care still lies below the peak a year ago, this time around, hospitals are also ailing from the double whammy of a shortfall in personnel that has seriously hampered their ability to cope.

The medical director at the hospital in Freising, Thomas Marx, 43, said: 'Last week, on Wednesday or Thursday, we had to transfer a patient by helicopter to Merano.

'We had no more capacity to receive them, and the surrounding Bavarian hospitals were also full,' he said.

The hospital also had to send another patient to another Bavarian town Regensburg over the weekend.

'We are at the limits of our capacity, which is why we have to resort to these means,' he said.

Marx's service is handling 13 intensive care cases at the moment, three more than it has capacity for. Five of them are coronavirus patients, all of whom are unvaccinated.

At the intensive care unit of Munich Clinic Schwabing, senior doctor Niklas Schneider voiced frustration over vaccine resistance in some quarters.

'I find it really astonishing that vaccination is not accepted by the masses even though we have the possibility to get it. It is not completely understandable to me that so many people are allowing themselves to be misled by some horror stories about vaccines,' he said.

There were 7,815 new Covid-19 cases in Italy on Tuesday, an increase of 28 per cent on the same day last week

There were 74 new deaths in Italy on Tuesday, a rise of 9 per cent on the same day last week

Like the hospital in Freising, the Munich clinic is at full capacity.

'The team is holding on, but we are incredibly frustrated... because at the end of the day we are the last resort for everything that is wrong with society as a whole,' said Schneider.

'The sick people who come to us, who are in mortal danger, we have to treat them, they need help. It doesn't matter if they were previously anti-Corona, anti-vaccine or double-vaccinated, although we don't have any of the latter in the ward.'

Besides the relatively low vaccine take-up compared to other parts of western Europe, health staff also complain that more should also have been done to bolster their capacity.

Only one in four German hospitals are able to maintain a regular intensive care service at the moment, said Spiegel magazine. Many others say that beyond demand, a major problem is an acute shortage of trained personnel.

Already a chronic problem before the pandemic, long hours, low pay and stress during the coronavirus crisis have only served to put even more people off a job in the healthcare sector.

Schneider noted that there are now far fewer health workers than in the first wave. Likewise, his colleague in Freising voiced 'incomprehension' over the latest crisis.

'I admire the calmness with which the staff operate, with which we face this new challenge with such professionalism,' Marx said. 'But I also know that some people, inside, are boiling, even if they don't let it spill out.'
The UK's biggest banks could soon be forced to reimburse hundreds of thousands of blameless victims who are falling victim to fraud each year.

New government proposals, backed by a consultation led by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), would mean victims of sophisticated bank transfer scams would see their losses refunded.

It comes as the watchdog warned there are currently too many barriers in place preventing victims from getting their money back in cases of push payment cons - whereby victims are tricked into sending money to fraudsters.

Under the new plans, the likes of HSBC, Barclays and the AIB group could also be required to publish how often they pay back money to clients who have fallen prey to 'authorised push payment' (APP) scams.

An APP scam is when someone willingly transfers money from their own banking account to a scammer's.

Hundreds of millions of pounds are still being lost to tricksters every year as they continue to come up with sophisticated schemes.

More than 500million was lost to scammers across the entirely of 2020.

Under the new plans, the likes of HSBC, Barclays and the AIB group could also be required to publish how often they pay back money to clients who have fallen prey to 'authorised push payment' (APP) scams

Many banks have already signed up to a voluntary reimbursement code, which enables people to get their money back in situations where neither they, nor their bank, is to blame - but campaigners say the code does not go far enough (Pictured: Co-op Bank and Lloyds Bank)

Hundreds of millions of pounds are still being lost to tricksters every year as they continue to come up with sophisticated schemes (file photo)

Anabel Hoult, chief executive, of Which?, which previously made a super complaint on bank transfer scams, described the proposal as 'a huge win for consumers'.

She said: 'People are still losing life-changing sums of money every day, so the Treasury must move swiftly towards introducing the necessary legislation.

'Which? has been calling for banks to come clean on how they treat fraud victims, so it's positive that the PSR is planning to direct firms to publish data that shows fraud case numbers and how often they reimburse customers.

'The banks must cooperate fully with putting in place these long-overdue requirements.'

In the first half of 2021, 355 million was lost to APP scams, overtaking card fraud losses.

A consultation by the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) suggested there are currently too many barriers in place preventing fraud victims from getting their money back (file photo)

Warning over fraudsters using well-known lottery draws to steal money Fraudsters are taking advantage of well-known lottery draws to trick people into handing over money and personal information, police have warned. Victims have handed over almost 1 million to lottery fraudsters during the past seven months, reporting centre Action Fraud and City of London Police said. Criminals have been contacting victims informing them they have won a lottery or prize draw but must pay an 'advance fee' to receive their winnings. The winnings are non-existent and criminals are attempting to steal the victim's money or personal and financial information. Temporary detective chief inspector Craig Mullish, from the City of London Police, said: 'Criminals are experts at impersonating organisations and will mimic a number of well-known prize draws to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. 'Remember, you can't win a draw that you haven't entered so if you're contacted out of the blue claiming you've won a prize draw but can only access these winnings by paying an advance fee: stop and think as it's likely to be a scam. 'This could protect you and your money.' Action Fraud said it received 629 reports of lottery fraud between April and October 2021, with 89 per cent of cases mentioning well-known prize draws. Impersonation of People's Postcode Lottery accounted for 49% of all reports. Some 70 per cent of victims were aged over 50, with those aged over 65 making up 40 per cent of reports. More than half of victims (59 per cent) were contacted by telephone, 21 per cent received an email and 10 per cent received their fraud attempt through the post. Almost half of victims (41 per cent) said they were asked to pay the advance fee to release the alleged winnings by purchasing gift cards and relaying codes to the fraudster. Fraudsters use gift cards as a form of payment as they can be easily redeemed and sold on. Criminals do not need the physical card to redeem the value and instead ask victims to share the serial code on the back of the card with them. Other victims provided their bank details after being told they would receive a small payment to verify their account, but criminals used these details to steal money. People's Postcode Lottery managing director Clara Govier said: 'Please remember, People's Postcode Lottery will never ask for any kind of payment to claim a prize, you can't win if you don't play, and we don't offer discount cards. 'We know scammers often use social media. Our official social media accounts are verified so there'll always be a blue tick beside our name. If there isn't, the message isn't from us. 'Finally, we encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of fraudsters to contact our colleagues at Action Fraud or the police.' Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. Advertisement

'Scams can be highly sophisticated, with criminals posing as legitimate organisations such as banks, government bodies or the police.

Many banks have already signed up to a voluntary reimbursement code, which enables people to get their money back in situations where neither they, nor their bank, is to blame.

Before the voluntary code was introduced, victims could not claim refunds as they had authorised the transaction.

But consumer campaigners have said scam victims often face a lottery as to whether they will get their money back under the code, with banks interpreting it in different ways.

They have also highlighted a lack of transparency concerning banks' reimbursement rates.

The PSR is consulting on proposals that would mean directing large banks and building societies to publish data on their performance in relation to APP scams, including reimbursement levels for victims.

This group would include AIB Group (UK), Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Clydesdale Bank, the Co-operative Bank, HSBC, Lloyds, Metro Bank, Monzo, NatWest/RBS, Nationwide Building Society, Northern Bank, Santander, Starling Bank, TSB, Ulster Bank and Virgin Money.

TSB already has its own fraud refund guarantee and publishes its reimbursement rate under the guarantee.

John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said of the Government's plans: 'Push payment fraud is posing an escalating risk to UK customers, with increasingly sophisticated scams that can be detrimental to people's lives.

'The Government's position is that liability and reimbursement requirements on firms need to be clear so that customers are suitably protected.

'It is welcome that the Payment Systems Regulator is consulting on measures to that end, and to help prevent these scams from happening in the first place.

'The Government will also legislate to address any barriers to regulatory action at the earliest opportunity.'

Chris Hemsley, managing director of the PSR, said: 'The growing problem of APP scams has seen people lose devastating amounts of money.

'More needs to be done and, while voluntary industry measures have helped some victims, there are many institutions which have yet to step up to the mark and protect people properly - including social media firms.

'The range of steps we plan to take will show people which banks and building societies are likely to respond to frauds in the right way and will put the onus on financial institutions to get better at detecting and preventing scams.

'We are also setting out the way to make reimbursement mandatory for those blameless victims so that, when the law is changed, we are ready to act as quickly as possible to get protections to the people who need them.'

Katy Worobec, managing director of economic crime at UK Finance, said the banking industry's primary focus is always on stopping scams happening in the first place.

She said: 'Over 300 million has been reimbursed to thousands of customers since the APP voluntary code was introduced in 2019.

'We agree that more needs to be done and have long called for a regulated code, backed by legislation, to ensure consumer protections apply consistently.'

She added: 'As the PSR recognises, other industries have a key role to play in tackling fraud, which is why it's so important that there is coordinated action from Government and other sectors to tackle what is now a national security threat.

'It's also why we believe any fraud data should highlight the external drivers of fraud, such as data breaches, social media and other online platforms.'

The PSR's consultation is open until January 14 2022.

What is 'authorised push payment' fraud and do banks have to reimburse victims under current rules? With both the complexity and number of scams continuing to rise, many people might be wondering what their rights are if they mistakenly send money to a fraudster. When you willingly transfer money from your own banking account to a scammer's, this is known as 'authorised push payment' fraud (APP). Eight UK banking groups have so far signed up to a 2019 voluntary code that protects consumers from APP. These are: Barclays, HSBC, Santander, Co-op, Lloyds, Metro, Starling and National Westminster Bank PLC. Often banks will say the customer did not take enough care or carry out sufficient checks before making a payment. But the voluntary code states only that customers need to have a 'reasonable basis' for believing the payee is whom they expect. Customers must therefore explain why they believed the person they were paying was legitimate. The code also states that banks must provide customers with 'effective warnings' when they are making an unusual payment - such as when you're paying someone new. If your bank failed to do this, make sure you include this information within your complaint. Consumers should also tell their bank if they are vulnerable, because they are obliged to take extra measures to ensure you are protected. While the code was a step in a right direction consumer campaigners have said scam victims often face a lottery as to whether they will get their money back, with banks interpreting it in different ways. They have also highlighted a lack of transparency concerning banks' reimbursement rates. Under the proposals announced this week, banks would not be able to avoid reimbursing scam victims - while their performance on doing so would be made public. Advertisement

Woman, 50, who lost her 113,000 life savings when she was conned by dating site fraudster into paying a 'ransom' to his 'kidnappers' claims she is facing bankruptcy because her banks won't reimburse the stolen money

By Jacob Thorburn for MailOnline

A woman who was conned out of 113,000 by a Facebook fraudster says she's facing bankruptcy after claiming her banks would not reimburse her lost money.

Rachel Elwell, 50, from Brownhills, West Midlands, was the victim of an elaborate romance scam after being contacted by an 'attractive' and 'intelligent' man on Facebook at the start of 2021.

After speaking for months and convincing her that he was being held captive in Eastern Europe and in desperate need of money, Ms Elwell sent the scammer tens thousands of pounds.

By April 1, 2021, Ms Elwell realised the magnitude of her problem after giving the fraudster nearly 113,000 and her world 'came crashing down' around her.

Her case has been the subject of a three-month investigation from Santander and HSBC, and she hoped she would be covered by a code of conduct that supports fraud victims.

However, Rachel says she has been left in 'a devastating situation' after claiming the bank concluded she would not be eligible for reimbursement of the money lost.

Rachel Elwell, 50, from Brownhills, West Midlands, lost 113,000 and is facing bankruptcy after an elaborate four month scam

Pictured is the 'scammer', whose face has been blurred for legal reasons, allegedly being held captive in a cellar by loan sharks in Ukraine

Rachel said: 'I am in a devastating situation. The banks have found me liable and I am left with suicidal thoughts.

'I don't believe I had a fair investigation and I feel as though I have been robbed twice. The way I have been treated is shocking.'

Rachel borrowed tens of thousands of pounds on credit cards and loans and sent it to the fraudster through her banks.

Rachel says she sent 36,425 through Santander between January 22 and February 19. She says she also transferred 62,350 through HSBC, totalling 98,775.

Her total losses add up to 112,575 - as well as claiming her sister also sent 13,800 from a different bank - which is still under investigation.

But both banks have dismissed her case.

The conman (above) initially requested small sums of money, but managed to eventually convince Ms Elwell to transfer him tens of thousands of pounds at a time

The fraudster sent Ms Elwell pictures of everything from him boarding flights (above) to smiley snaps of him and his supposed daughter

Rachel accepts she was fooled and has stressed she does not expect special treatment.

She said: 'I have never disputed that I authorised the payments.

'I know this is my mistake, but under their code I am eligible for help and I just want to be treated fairly which is why I am taking this further.'

Rachel claims she is now being chased by credit cards and loans and added: 'I am fighting for my life now, I stand to lose everything I have ever worked for.

'I am suicidal and a review could take up to four months but I now have very demanding creditors on my back. I am begging them for some breathing space.

'I am going to fight this, I am a victim of crime and I am prepared to take the banking industry on because they are ignoring their own code of conduct.'

Rachel is now hoping that an impartial review by the Financial Ombudsman and Financial Conduct Authority will help her case but she is running out of time.

She said: 'The police have said I am a victim of crime but the banks are refusing to treat me like one.

'The code these banks have created and signed up to says they should support victims of crime, but where is the support? I am going to be left bankrupt and I am being chased every day for money I don't have.

The alleged Ukranian building site that the conman said he was working from. He promised to repay all the money Ms Elwell had sent him once he returned to the UK

'I have reported the banks for financial misconduct for their failings towards victims of crime.'

Ms Elwell first started speaking to the man, who said they lived in nearby Coventry, on January 1, after he contacting her on Facebook's dating app.

The pair planned to meet up after the Covid-19 lockdown period, but the crook was whisked away to Ukraine to complete an engineering contract they had secured with the UK government.

By Tuesday January 19, the conman told Ms Elwell the engineering contract had been forcibly stopped and his equipment seized.

The fraudster said they would cover the costs of covering this unforeseen circumstance, but asked Ms Elwell to send 250 to pay for food and taxis.

After pondering the request for two days, she eventually gave in and transferred the money, explaining it seemed 'such a small amount of money at the time'.

But the fraudster didn't stop there, and doubled down on the story, claiming they were held captive in a Ukrainian cellar by loan sharks.

The scammer called Ms Elwell, crying down the phone and begging for her help.

Ms Elwell was forwarded documents allegedly from the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, explaining her love interest owed 102,940.

Feeling like the only person who could save him, she said the pressure she was under at the time 'felt as if I had a gun to my head'.

After speaking with her family, she then sent the con artist 7,500 from her own savings and secured a bank loan, transferring him 22,940 on February, 4.

She secured a further 12,000 loan and forwarded it the following day.

After sending a further 45,000 from a third loan and her second credit card on March 5, it appeared the man had been saved and would be flying home.

He was due to fly back on March 16, but a supposed email from Heathrow Airport officials said he had been arrested.

Ms Elwell described the pictures her scammer sent as showing an 'attractive' and 'intelligent' man, after the pair struck up an immediate connection on Facebook's dating app

The export manager was sent 'official' documents and told that her love interest owed tens of thousands of pounds after being held captive by loan sharks in Ukraine

While waiting four hours at the airport, Border Force pulled Ms Elwell aside and explained it was probably all a scam.

She even went to his supposed address in Coventry, but soon discovered no-one by that name lived there.

A spokesperson for Santander said: 'We have the utmost sympathy for Ms Elwell and all those who fall victim to the criminals who carry out these scams.

'Unfortunately, despite repeatedly warning her of the dangers of transferring money to someone she hadn't met and directly raising our concerns that this was a scam with Ms Elwell and the police, she confirmed she wanted to proceed with the payments.'

A spokeswoman for HSBC said: 'Protecting customers from fraud is an absolute priority for us and we are sorry to hear that Ms Elwell has been the victim of an authorised push payment scam.

'We work hard to deliver on our commitments under the CRM Code, helping protect as well as support customers should they fall victim to scammers. We act with empathy and understanding when investigating a case and we work hard to ensure fair and reasonable outcomes for our customers.

'Whilst we have an experienced team looking for signs of fraud, customers can also help themselves by taking note of fraud warnings when making payments and following the advice given.

'Romance scams are one of the most common types of fraud. Criminals exploit the emotions of their victims to build up a relationship, often via social media or dating sites, and then request money.'
Alec Baldwin appeared downcast as he was photographed climbing into the passenger seat of a large black SUV outside his Manhattan apartment building on Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchell tearfully announced that she was suing the actor.

Baldwin, 63, was named as one of nearly two dozen defendants in the complaint stemming from the shooting death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

During an emotionally charged press conference on Tuesday, Mitchell's high-powered attorney Gloria Allred accused Baldwin of playing 'Russian Roulette' when he fired a gun without checking it first to make sure it was not loaded, and further claimed that the scene being filmed did not call for the firing of the gun.

Photos taken outside the building in Greenwich Village where Baldwin lives with wife Hilaria and their large brood showed the embattled actor looking somber.

Dressed in a casual dark-colored T-shirt despite the chilly November weather, and with his silver hair carefully coifed, Baldwin climbed into a black Cadillac to drop some of his children off at their school in Brooklyn.

Amid mounting legal trouble, Baldwin's face appeared care-worn and haggard. As he settled into the front passenger seat, he donned a dark-blue cloth face mask.

Down in the dumps: A somber-looking Alec Baldwin is pictured climbing into an SUV outside his family's Manhattan apartment building on Thursday morning

Man in black: Baldwin, 63, donned an all-black ensemble, which did not include a jacket, despite the chilly November weather

Daddy duty: Less than 24 hours after learning he was being sued by a Rust crew member, Baldwin emerged to accompany his children to their school in Brooklyn

Glum chum: Baldwin appeared care-worn, although his trademark salt-and-pepper hair had been carefully coifed

The 63-year-old actor is seen sitting in the passenger seat of a Cadillac Escalade en route to drop his children off at school on Thursday

Amid mounting legal woes, Baldwin cut a doleful figure as he sat stone-faced in the SUV

Baldwin completed his look with a thick cloth face mask, which he donned inside the vehicle

After dropping the big kids off in school, Baldwin returned home to take the baby for a stroll around Washington Square Park

Baldwin stops to talk on the phone as he pushes stroller near Washington Square Park

With baby all bundled up, Baldwin continues his walk around the NYU campus

The night before - just hours after Mitchell's lawsuit was made public - Baldwin and Hilaria were photographed returning home from an outing with friends, according to the New York Post.

The 30 Rock alum opted for a formal-attire ensemble for the occasion, complete with a dark suit and tie.

Mitchell, the first person to call 911 after Hutchins was accidentally shot by Baldwin on the film's set last month, broke down in tears on Tuesday as she announced the filing of her lawsuit against Baldwin and other producers of the low-budget Western movie.

The suit names 22 defendants associated with the film, including Baldwin, Rust producers, six production companies - El Dorado Pictures, Thomasville Pictures, Short Porch Pictures, Brittany House Pictures, 3rd Shift Media and Streamline Global - armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, First Assistant Director David Halls and others.

Mitchell, a 40-year industry veteran, was standing close to Hutchins when the bullet fired from Baldwin's gun killed her and then injured director Joel Souza.

Hilaria Baldwin is pictured leaving her Manhattan apartment on Thursday in this trendy fall ensemble, including some quirky footwear

The suit claims assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and deliberate infliction of harm. It also states that the scene being shot did not require a gun to be fired.

'I ran out and called 911 and said, "Bring everybody, send everybody,''' Mitchell said during a press conference. 'This woman is gone at the beginning of her career. She was an extraordinary, rare, very rare woman.'

Mitchell said she was standing less than four feet away from Hutchins when she was shot and was hit by residue from that bullet.

'I will never forget what happened on the set of Rust that day,' she said. 'I relive the shooting and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over again.'

Mitchell said she was left depressed and 'frightened of the future'.

'This violent tragedy has taken away the joy in my life,' she added.

She said she wants to prevent what happened on the set from happening to anyone else.

Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, the first person to call 911 after Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin on the film's set last month, broke down in tears today as she announced she is filing a lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and other producers of the low-budget Western movie

Mitchell and attorney Gloria Allred laid out their lawsuit - which alleges assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and deliberate infliction of harm

Mitchell was standing close to the Director of Photography, Halyna Hutchins, when the bullet fired from Baldwin's gun killed her and then injured the director Joel Souza

Gloria Allred (L) puts an arm around Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchell as they walk from a press conference after filing the lawsuit

Mitchell's high-powered attorney, Gloria Allred, alleged that live ammunition was brought to the set, that the assistant director improperly handed Baldwin the gun; Baldwin knew that the gun should've never been given to him and that he could not rely on any statement by the assistant director about whether or not the gun was safe to use.

'Alec Baldwin intentionally, without just cause or excuse, cocked and fired the loaded gun even though the upcoming scene to be filmed did not call for the cocking and firing of the firearm,' Allred said. 'Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian Roulette with a loaded gun without checking it and without having the armorer do so.'

'Mr. Baldwin cannot hide behind the Assistant Director to attempt to excuse the fact that he did not check the gun himself,' continues the complaint from Mitchell, who was in the church location on the Bonanza Creek Ranch when Baldwin's 'quick draw' rehearsal turned tragic.

The attorney added that Baldwin should have assumed the gun was loaded until it was checked that it was not loaded.

Allred said last month that her client has evidence which will be 'helpful in this investigation' and has been interviewed by law enforcement and that even if the assistant director told him the gun was fine, he should not have used it based on that advice.

'I will never forget what happened on the set of Rust that day,' Mitchell said. 'I relive the shooting and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over again.'

Svetnoy shared the final photo of Halyna Hutchins (pictured holding the camera) on set in the church just moments before she was shot dead

Director Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust

Actor Alec Baldwin is one of several producers named in the lawsuit and specifically called out by Allred

'We are conducting our own investigation of what happened because there are many unanswered questions,' Allred said at the time. 'Mamie has been interviewed by the Sheriff's Department. She has information and evidence which she believes will be helpful in this investigation.

The lawsuit claimed that the actions that led to the shooting 'do not constitute simple negligence' by the producers and Baldwin.

She also accuses Baldwin of being careless and ignoring industry norms by not checking the gun; and that Baldwin ignored safety protocols.

All guns and ammunition are supposed to be secured throughout the production and the armorer is supposed to stay around all guns; instead, Allred said, ammunition and guns were left unattended by the armorer.

In a statement, Allred said Mitchell was standing near Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza when they were shot and immediately ran out of the church.

'Halyna was a friend and close colleague of Mamie,' Allred said in a statement late last month. 'She is devastated by the loss of her friend who was an extraordinary woman. Mamie recently attended the vigil for Halyna and her heart goes out to Halyna's husband and son to whom she has spoken.'

Allred said her client as 'traumatized' and said they are conducting their own investigation into what happened.

The experienced crew member also sued 24-year-old armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (left) and the movie's assistant director David Hall (right), who told Baldwin that the gun was cold

Hutchins' October 19, 2021 Instagram post showed cast members and staffers, including Baldwin alongside Hutchins herself and armorer Gutierrez-Reed (circled left to right) on the set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Baldwin, near his Vermont property on November 1 (left), and on the Rust set before the shooting (right)

The head of lighting on the film filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, alleging negligence that caused him 'severe emotional distress' that will haunt him forever.

Serge Svetnoy said in the suit that the bullet that killed his close friend Hutchins, narrowly missed him, and he held her head as she died.

'They should never, ever, have had live rounds on this set,' Svetnoy's attorney Gary A. Dordick said at a news conference Wednesday.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court names nearly two dozen defendants associated with the film including Baldwin, who was both star and a producer; David Halls, the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun; and Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was in charge of weapons on the set.

It is the first known lawsuit of what could be many stemming from the October 21 shooting.

It was the ninth film that Svetnoy and Hutchins had worked on together, and he had taken the job at low pay because she asked him to.

'She was my friend,' Svetnoy said at the news conference.

He said he had seen guns sitting unattended in the dirt a few days earlier in the shoot, and had warned the people responsible about them.

On the day of the shooting, he was setting up lighting within 6 or 7 feet of Baldwin, the suit says.

'What happened next will haunt Plaintiff forever,' the suit says.

'He felt a strange and terrifying whoosh of what felt like pressurized air from his right. He felt what he believed was gunpowder and other residual materials directly strike the right side of his face.'

Then, with his glasses scratched and his hearing muffled, he knelt to help Hutchins, the suit said.

The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages to be determined later. It was filed in Los Angeles County because the plaintiff and most of the defendants are based there.

Svetnoy (left), held dying Halyna Hutchins (right) in his arms after she was shot

Attorneys and representatives for the defendants did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment on the suit.

Gutierrez Reed's lawyer Jason Bowles said in a statement Wednesday that 'we are convinced this was sabotage and Hannah is being framed. We believe that the scene was tampered with as well before the police arrived.'

Bowles said his client has provided authorities with a full interview and continues to assist them. The statement did not address the lawsuit.

'We are asking for a full and complete investigation of all of the facts, including the live rounds themselves, how they ended up in the "dummies" box, and who put them in there,' the statement said.

Gutierrez Reed said last week that she had inspected the gun Baldwin shot but doesn't know how a live bullet ended up inside.

Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said investigators have encountered no proof of sabotage.

Her comments, first made on Good Morning America, were confirmed Wednesday by agency spokeswoman Sascha Guinn Anderson.

Carmack-Altwies says that investigators know who loaded the gun, though it remains unclear how the deadly round of ammunition got on the movie set. The district attorney said she is concerned that there were so many levels of safety failures.

Dordick said at the news conference that it was 'far-fetched' to suggest there was sabotage, but that Gutierrez Reed still had the same responsibility to know what was in the gun and who had handled it.

Authorities have said that Halls, the assistant director, handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced 'cold gun,' indicating that the weapon was safe to use.

Halls said last week that he hoped the tragedy prompted the film industry to 'reevaluate its values and practices' to ensure no one is harmed again, but did not provide details.

Baldwin said on video on October 30 that the shooting was a 'one-in-a-trillion event' saying, 'We were a very, very well-oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened.'

The director Souza told detectives that Baldwin was rehearsing a scene in which he drew a revolver from his holster and pointed it toward the camera, which Hutchins and Souza were behind, according to court records in New Mexico.

Souza said the scene did not call for the use of live rounds, and Gutierrez Reed said real ammo should never have been present, according to the court records.

The Los Angeles lawsuit alleges that the scene did not call for Baldwin to fire the gun at all, only to point it.

Hollywood professionals have been baffled by the circumstances of the movie-set shooting. It already has led to other production crews stepping up safety measures.

The front page of the lawsuit filed on Mamie Mitchell's behalf by attorney Gloria Allred
A terminated Maryland cop, his suspended police accomplice and his two daughters who he kidnapped, were all found dead inside a crashed vehicle in an apparent murder-suicide after a five-day manhunt on Thursday, police said.

Robert Vicosa, 42, had taken his daughters Aminah, 6, and Giana, 7, from their Windsor, Pennsylvania home on Sunday. He was accompanied by Sgt. Tina Bynum, 36, a recently suspended member of the Baltimore County Police Department.

Smithburg Police had been in pursuit of Vicosa and Bynum inside a stolen vehicle when it crashed in Maryland.

Maryland State Police spokeswoman Elena Russo said a crisis negotiation team tried to approach the car, but smoke from the car made it difficult to see inside.

Vicosa had reportedly been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and Baltimore Police confirmed that the three others were found with gunshot wounds.

One of the girls had been transported to a nearby hospital in Hagerstown, where she was later pronounced dead.

A heavy police presence has been reported with helicopters and trucks surrounding the area. The deaths were first reported by 11 News I-Team.

Police are advising people to stay away from the Midvale Road and Ringgold Pikle area in Waynesboro due to the incident. The investigation is currently on-going.

Robert Vicosa, 42, (left) had allegedly carried out a second kidnapping and held the victim at gunpoint on Wednesday morning in Cockeysville, Maryland with former colleague and accomplice Tia Bynum, 36, (right)

Vicosa had kidnapped his daughters Aaminah, six, and Giana Vicosa, seven, from their Windsor, Pennsylvania home on Sunday. They were reportedly last seen on Tuesday at 11.49am

Robert Vicosa, Tina Bynum, Aminah Viscosa and Giana Viscosa were all found dead inside a crashed car on Thursday afternoon after Robert sparked a five-day manhunt after kidnapping his two young daughters, aged six and seven

A heavy police presence has been reported with helicopters and trucks surrounding the area

The crash happened outside local Bonnie Zeigler's door, who told CBS that the entire neighborhood was shaken up by the event.

'I just could not believe that they're all gone, that those dear little girls are all gone,' said Zeigler.

The five-day manhunt began after Vicosa held their mother captive at gunpoint at the home on Friday as she was tied up by her wrists and ankles.

Sgt. Tina Bynum, 36, who has now been suspended, was said to be with Vicosa after they were seen on Wednesday afternoon in Cockeysville, Maryland.

The pair Sgt. Tina Bynum allegedly kidnapped a male victim at gunpoint and demanded he drive them to various areas in Baltimore County. The male victim was later found to be unharmed.

Robert Vicosa's troubled police history August 2007: Vicosa failed to appear in court and accepted a written reprimand from the Baltimore County Police Department May 2008: He then again failed to appear in court and accepted a one-day loss of leave June 2019: A trial board made up of members of the police department found him guilty of allegations related to improper conduct with female subordinates. The police department demoted him by two ranks March 2021: An internal investigation found he was sleeping on the job and refusing to perform his duties August 2021: His employment with the police department was terminated Source: Baltimore County Police Department Advertisement

The victim had told CBS that he was 'worried about the little girls' in the car and felt exhausted after the ordeal was over.

Vicosa was charged with kidnapping, assault and robbery with Bynum was also charged for false imprisonment.

Vicosa and Bynum had previously worked together at the Baltimore County Police Department before he was terminated in August for sleeping on the job and insubordination.

Bynum, who worked for the department for 14 years, was suspended from her position on Tuesday as she also reportedly had a record of disciplinary problems.

Police believe that Bynum had allegedly helped Vicosa keep his estranged wife captive at the Windsor home the weekend before the girls were kidnapped, according to York Daily Record.

His wife had been invited to the home for her birthday celebration with her two daughters on Friday night.

After the girls went to bed, Vicosa enticed his wife with a present which he claimed to be a 'bracelet.'

She was then grabbed by the arms by both Vicosa and Bynum and had a gun placed to her head by her husband, an affidavit said.

The pair tied her up by the wrists and ankles after leading her into the basement.

According to police, the restraints were untied at some point.

The wife had begged her husband to go back to her home on Sunday morning to get her clothes and computer after convincing him she wanted to stay.

She then went home to tell her mother about the assault before going to a Target in Springettsbury Township to seek help, the York Daily Record reported.

The wife reported the weekend assault on Sunday to local police where she claimed she had been forced to take drugs, touch firearms and even was sexually assaulted by Vicosa.

Sources now say Robert Vicosa, Tia Bynum and Vicosa's 2 children are all dead. Search for the former Baltimore County officer ended in Washington Co this afternoon after car he was using was found along the road pic.twitter.com/aRfRaZerfy  Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) November 18, 2021

The girls have been featured on a missing and endangered list with their kidnapping date reported as Sunday

Vicosa is believed to be driving Bynum's 2013 Black Lexus G50 with Pennsylvania license plate number KPK2076

Bynum had allegedly held items for Vicosa while his wife was being held captive. The wife also told the department that she believed Vicosa had tracking devices on her phone and vehicle.

The victim's mother had also told police that she received texts from her daughter over the weekend with pictures of her granddaughters at the home on Friday night as well being told that they were staying at the home overnight.

She thought it was strange as she claimed her daughter was scared of Vicosa and also said that the texts did not match up to way her daughter talked.

The mother had been originally told by her daughter that she was going out to buy ingredients to make fudge on Friday.

The ingredients were still on the counter on Saturday morning and discovered that Vicosa had driven her daughter to his home after checking security footage.

The victim's brother also said he received a text from his sister on Saturday claiming that she was okay after he found at she was at Vicosa's home.

According to the affidavit, Vicosa had threatened to kill his wife, his two young daughters, and himself over the weekend.

Police obtained a warrant to search Vicosa's but discovered that he and both his daughters were gone.

The children were been taken by Vicosa in a black Acura that belonged to a relative of Bynum.

Police tracked Vicosa's location to Bynum's home on Monday and were denied the opportunity to search her residence.

Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt begged Bynum to return the girls to safety at a press conference on Thursday

York Area Regional Police Lt. Ken Schollenberger had previously pleaded Vicosa to bring the girls home at a conference on Wednesday morning

Vicosa then allegedly stole another vehicle on Tuesday after he crashed the Acura into a canal. He and the two children then spent a night in a vacant camper.

The female owner of the camper had come to the property the next day where she was held at gunpoint by Vicosa.

He took the keys to her silver Volkswagen Jetta as well as her cellphone before heading off with the girls.

Police later tracked the location of the vehicle only to discover it was empty. The woman had both her vehicle and cellphone returned to her after it was found.

Cops then tracked Vicosa to Bynum's home, and after obtaining a search warrant they entered the home only to find it empty. Bynum and her vehicle were both missing.

Police say they believe the vehicle to be a black 2013 Lexus G350 with Pennsylvania state license plate number KPK2076.

The two young girls Aaminah and Giana were last seen on Tuesday at 11.49am in Windsor.

Both Vicosa and Bynum are being begged to return the two young girls to safety.

'Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of (Vicosa's daughters) Giana and Aaminah. Please get these two innocent and precious children to a safe location,' Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said at a press conference.

'We want to work with you on a safe and peaceful resolution.'

The girls' mother had also previously written a statement of her own which was read at a conference on Wednesday.

'I am anxiously awaiting their return,' the letter had read. 'I miss them and love them and need them home.'

An Amber Alert has not yet been issued for the girls because officers need to have a clear idea of what car Vicosa is driving.

'We were seconds away from issuing an Amber Alert,' Schollenberger said. 'Unfortunately, we found the car that he was in, and he was not located in it.

'At this point, the Amber Alert typically attaches to a vehicle or registration plate. We don't have a vehicle or registration plate now because the last one that he was in, he abandoned.'

The girls have been featured on a missing and endangered persons alert by state police with the kidnapping date listed as Sunday.

Aaminah has been described as being three feet and eight inches, 50 pounds, with green eyes and brown hair.

Giana is four feet and three inches, 60 pounds, with both brown eyes and hair.

'We're going to use anything to our availability regardless of what his job is to bring this to a safe resolution,' York Area Regional Police Lt. Ken Schollenberger told CBS 21.

'Of course, if he does have some specialized training we're looking to make sure we can counter that by any means necessary.'
Nazir Ahmed, who was formerly Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, went on trial at Sheffield Crown Court on Thursday accused of sexual offences against a boy and a girl dating back more than 40 years

A woman says a former peer tried to rape her when she was a young girl and he was a teenager in the 1970s, a jury heard today.

Nazir Ahmed, who was formerly Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, went on trial at Sheffield Crown Court accused of sexual offences against a boy and a girl dating back more than 40 years.

A jury was told how the woman alleges that Ahmed attempted to rape her in the early 1970s, when the defendant was about 16 or 17-years-old but she was much younger.

The former politician, now 64, is also accused of a serious sexual assault against a boy under 11, also in the early 1970s, plus the indecent assault of the same youngster.

The jury was played a recording of a telephone call between the two complainants, made by the woman after she went to the police in 2016.

Tom Little QC, prosecuting, told the jury that the call was prompted by the man contacting the woman by email saying 'I have evidence against that paedophile'.

Mr Little said Ahmed claims the allegations are a 'malicious fiction' but this recording shows they were not 'made-up or concocted'.

In the recording, the woman says to the man: 'What they did to you was utterly wrong and it's time now to seek justice for the little boy who could not protect himself.'

She says: 'I'm not waiting any more. This is not just for me. It's for you and for all the children Nazir Ahmed has abused and his brothers now.

'The police will look after you. They will believe you. They will take your allegations seriously. They are on your side. You are a victim.'

Sounding very upset, the man tells the woman: 'I don't want the bastard to get away with it.'

He says: 'I thought I was the only one.'

Mr Little said: 'The surprise you can hear from (the man) is palpable.'

The barrister said Ahmed will not be claiming there is an innocent explanation for the allegations.

Mr Little said: '(Ahmed's) case is that they did not occur and this is all a malicious fiction.'

A jury was told how the woman alleges that Ahmed attempted to rape her in the early 1970s, when the defendant was about 16 or 17-years-old but she was much younger

Ahmed was charged along with his two older brothers - Mohammed Farouq, 71, and Mohammed Tariq, 65 - but both these men have been deemed unfit to stand trial.

Farouq and Tariq face charges of indecent assault in relation to the same boy that Ahmed is alleged to have abused.

But the jury has not been asked to determine whether they are guilty of these offences, just whether they did the acts alleged.

Opening the prosecution case, Mr Little told the court: 'This is about repeated sexual abuse that took place in Rotherham over a number of years.'

He said: 'Those involved kept it buried away for many years. It is no longer buried away and no longer kept quiet as they have complained.'

Mr Little said: 'This was not a single incident. It was not isolated and it was not innocent sexual experimentation by children.

'It was abuse, repeated abuse, plain and simple.'

Mr Little said the male complainant told the police the abuse by the brothers began when he was at infants school.

The prosecutor told the jury: 'Nasir Ahmed at the time (of the complaint) was a member of the House of Lords. He is no longer a member of the House of Lords.'

He said the woman complainant 'had the courage to go to the police to make a complaint against a standing member of the House of Lords'.

Mr Little said Ahmed told police it seemed there was 'an agenda behind the complaints' and he was concerned that if he responded to the allegations this would be 'manipulated'.

Ahmed, from Rotherham, sat in the dock with a security guard wearing a dark suit, a purple shirt and a predominantly red tie.

He denies buggery of a boy under 11, two counts of attempted rape of a girl under 16 and the indecent assault of a boy under 11.

The trial continues.
A DoorDash delivery driver in Connecticut was arrested after allegedly breaking into the off-campus home of a college student he had delivered food to earlier that day and hovering over the sleeping woman as she slept in bed.

Adiel Viana-Ribeiro, 24, preyed on at least one other female student at Quinnipiac College in Hamden after making his deliveries before his arrest, police said

The Bridgeport man was nabbed shortly after breaking into a home on West Woods Road near the bucolic New England campus. A student at the university who lived at the residence woke up to find him standing at the foot of her bed after gaining access through an unlocked back door while she was asleep, officials said.

Viana-Ribeiro fled the home after she woke up and began to yell, according to authorities.

A Quinnipiac University student saw Adiel Viana-Ribeiro, of Bridgeport, pictured,standing at the foot of her bed after gaining access through an unlocked back door while she was asleep

Viana-Ribeiro was reportedly a DoorDash delivery driver who targeted women he had delivered to in the Quinnipiac University area

Earlier that evening, Hamden Police responded to a call for a an attempted burglary at a residence on Kimberly Road near the university's main campus.

In that case, Viana-Ribeiro allegedly tried to break in through another female student's window, but fled after she shined a flashlight in the window's direction.

Viana-Ribeiro was charged with burglary, criminal attempt to commit burglary, criminal mischief, larceny, engaging police in pursuit, and reckless driving.

Neither women was injured during the incidents. Authorities believe the victims were targeted after he'd brought them food during his DoorDash delivery route.

Police eventually found his vehicle nearby and attempted to stop it, but he fled, leading police on a car pursuit.

Officers caught the suspect on I-84 near Exit 16 in the town of Southbury, with evidence found in Viana-Ribeiro's car linking him to both crimes, police said.

Pictured: Quinnipiac University, where two female students were targeted by Viana-Ribeiro

'These horrifying reports are deeply disturbing, and we immediately removed the Dasher from our platform,' Eli Scheinholtz, a DoorDash spokesperson, told WTNH News 8, referring to Viana-Ribeiro.

'The safety of our community is paramount, and we have reached out to law enforcement to support their investigation in any way we can.'

Meanwhile, university officials told students to remain vigilant about their safety, whether inside or outside of their homes.

'Quinnipiac Public Safety officers perform regular checks of all university-owned properties to maintain the safety of our student community,' the university said in a statement Wednesday night.

'We appreciate the quick actions of our students who immediately called Public Safety when they heard a noise outside their home; our officers responded immediately and coordinated with Hamden police and Connecticut State Police, who led an investigation and shortly after apprehended the suspect.'

'We have also reminded everyone in our university community to practice good safety habits by always securing their residence, regardless of whether they are home or away, including locking windows and doors and keeping dark areas around their home well-lit during the evening.'

Viana-Ribeiro was held on a $50,000 bond and will appear in court on December 29.
A man has been banned from an all-you-can-eat restaurant in central China after being accused by the owner of eating too much.

The food live-streamer, only known as Mr Kang, was banned from Handadi Seafood BBQ Buffet, in Changsha city, after a few binge eating visits.

He ate an entire tray - 3lbs 5oz - of pork trotters during his first visit to the restaurant and around 8lbs of prawns on another visit, believing he was allowed to. In another visit he downed 30 bottles of soy milk.

The food live-streamer ate a tray of pork trotters on his first visit and a tray of prawns on another occasion

A man has been banned from an all-you-can-eat restaurant in central China after being accused by the owner of eating too much (file picture)

Kang told Hunan TV that restaurant was 'discriminatory' against people who can eat a lot, adding: 'I can eat a lot - is that a fault?'

The restaurant owner told the same TV channel that Kang caused him major financial losses with each visit.

'Every time he comes here, I lose a few hundred yuan' he said, adding that during his visit Kang can drink between 20 and 30 bottles of soy milk, eating entire trays of food.

The story has gone viral on Chinese social media, with over 250 million views on Weibo, and viewers have expressed a range of different opinions.

While some side up with the restaurant owner, others believe that the restaurant should not be an all-you-can-eat restaurant if they can't afford it.

The news comes after the Chinese government urged citizens to stockpile food and essentials.

The news announced at the beginning of November by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce sparked panic buying among the public.

According to CNN business, the announcement orders local authorities to ensure that citizens have an 'adequate supply' of essentials for the winter, and urges them to keep food costs stable.
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The Queen has carried out her second engagement in as many days, this time in a virtual Zoom appearance with diplomats from Windsor Castle, as she continues her return to official duties.

The monarch, 95, who has strained her back and also been resting for nearly a month after preliminary tests in hospital, welcomed the Vietnamese ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long via video link.

Seated in her Oak Room sitting room at Windsor, the 95-year-old head of state could be seen on the computer screen on Thursday wearing a turquoise dress, with black collar detail, her pearl necklace and a brooch.

The ambassador, who was at Buckingham Palace with his wife Vu Huong Giang, presented his credentials, and the letters of recall of his predecessor.

On Wednesday, the monarch was seen for the first time since she cancelled her Remembrance Sunday appearance, when she held a face to face audience with the outgoing head of the armed forces General Sir Nick Carter.

The Queen has carried out her second official audience in as many days, this time in a virtual Zoom appearance with diplomats from Windsor Castle.

The 95-year-old head of state could be seen on the computer screen on Thursday wearing a turquoise dress, with black collar detail, her pearl necklace and a brooch

The nation's longest reigning monarch told the military chief it was 'easier to continue' once you get into the top military job.

The Prince of Wales, who is on a tour of Jordan, has said the Queen is 'alright' but 'once you get to 95 it's not quite as easy as it used to be'.

She also held a virtual audience on Wednesday with commanding officers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

It comes as the monarch was seen standing unaided as she held a face to face audience at Windsor Castle, in her first official engagement since missing Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph after spraining her back.

Her Majesty - dressed in a green, orange and white floral dress and wearing a string of pearls - was pictured sharing a brief conversation with General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the Defence Staff.

Prince Charles was asked about the Queen today on his trip to Jordan. He said: Shes alright, thank you very much. Once you get to 95, its not quite as easy as it used to be. Its bad enough at 73! The last comment was a reference to his own birthday on Sunday.

The military audience in Windsor's Oak Room - a sitting room that doubles as a private office - was Her Majesty's first in-person audience since she hosted a global investor summit at Windsor on October 19.

The monarch 95 - dressed in a green, orange and white floral dress and wearing a string of pearls - was pictured standing as she greeted to Gen Sir Nick in Windsor's Oak Room

Wednesday's meeting was the first in-person audience the monarch has held since an investor summit at Windsor on October 19

Sir Nick walked through the door to be greeted by one of the Queen's dorgis, before approaching the monarch for a chat.

Her Majesty described his upcoming retirement as 'rather sad', to which he replied, 'eight years, it's a long time', before mentioning that his only predecessor to have served long was Lord Mountbatten, the Queen's cousin.

The general added that he thought 'the time had come to move on and do other things.'

Reacting to the scenes, royal expert Dickie Arbiter tweeted that it was 'good to see The Queen at work.'

Her Majesty was also left unable to attend the Church of England's national assembly yesterday, for the first time in her 69-year reign.

Prince Edward, her youngest son, read out a speech on his mother's behalf at the Church of England synod yesterday.

LAST SEEN -- The Queen is photographed leaving Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk on Tuesday last week

(From left) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Kate, Duchess of Cambridge; and Sophie, Countess of Wessex stand on the balcony of the Foreign Office in Westminster during the Remembrance Sunday service where the Queen would have been present

The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge stand on the balcony at the Remembrance Sunday service

Her statement read: 'It is hard to believe that it is over 50 years since Prince Philip and I attended the very first meeting of the General Synod.

'None of us can slow the passage of time; and while we often focus on all that has changed in the intervening years, much remains unchanged, including the Gospel of Christ and his teachings.'

Her Majesty also spoke remotely to delegates at COP26 in Glasgow, urging world leaders to reach decisive climate change deals as she warned 'none of us will live forever'.

Prince Charles and Camilla are currently on a tour of Jordan, and were pictured yesterday joining Queen Rania for a private dinner at the Al Husseiniya Palace.

Earlier in the day they dipped their fingers in water from the holy River Jordan, which is used to baptise royal babies.

Meanwhile, the palace is facing fresh turmoil over Prince Andrew, this time over his finances.

Yesterday, it emerged he had a loan from a major Tory donor's private bank extended to 1.5million to cover his 'living expenses' just days before the tycoon transferred a similar amount of money into his account.

Businessman David Rowland, 76, wired the money to a London bank account held by the Duke of York - a long-term friend of his - in December 2017, it was claimed.

The prince's account was with Banque Havilland SA - a Luxembourg based private bank owned by Mr Rowland and his family.

The transfer to Prince Andrew's account was earmarked for a repayment of a 1.5million loan from Banque Havilland, according to documents reportedly seen by Bloomberg News.

The unsecured loan had, according to reports, been increased 11 days earlier by 250,000 to cover the Prince's 'working capital and living expenses' - despite concern that it was 'not in line with the bank's risk appetite'.

But, according to Bloomberg, bank staff approved the extension, having noted that the loan opened up 'further business potential with the Royal Family'.

Representatives for Prince Andrew described any transfer of funds between the pair as a 'private', while Havilland Bank denied any wrongdoing.
In a troubling sign for Democrats, President Joe Biden's approval rating dropped to 36 per cent in a new poll out Thursday and most voters said they want to see Republicans take control of Congress.

The new numbers - from a Quinnipiac University Poll - indicate a level of frustration among voters with the party in power as the country prepares for next year's midterm election.

Only 36 per cent in the poll approved of the job President Biden is doing while 53 per cent disapproved. It's the lowest job approval rating he's received in a Quinnipiac University poll.

Biden's approval rating has been on a downward slide in the month of November, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. A CNN poll at the start of the month had his approval rating at 45 per cent.

In a troubling sign for Democrats, President Joe Biden's approval rating dropped to 36 per cent in a new Quinnipiac University poll

In the Quinnipiac poll, 46 per cent said they want to see Republicans win control of the House - compared to 38 per cent who want Democrats -- and 46 per cent want the GOP in the charge of the Senate, compared to 40 per cent who favor Democrats.

Independent voters, who typically decide matters in elections, also want to see Republicans in charge of Congress: 41 per cent to 31 per cent for the House and 44 per cent to 34 per cent for the Senate.

Additionally, a slight majority of Americans - 52 per cent - said the Democratic Party has moved to the left.

Historically, the president's party tends to do badly in the first midterms after they take office. Both Barack Obama and Donald Trump saw their respective parties lose control of the House of Representatives in their first midterms - 2010 and 2018.

Republicans only need to win four House seats to take control of the lower chamber of Congress.

And 15 House Democrats have already announced their retirement or a run for another office this cycle. The House is also undergoing the redistricting process, which is expected to favor Republicans.

The Senate is an even 50-50 split but most of the competitive races are in states Biden carried in the 2020 election, which is keeping Democratic hopes up.

But their loss in Virginia's gubenatorial campaign this month - where Democrat Terry McAuliffe fell to Republican Glenn Youngkin - has Republican hopes rising they can take control of Congress next year.

Biden won Virginia with 10 points in 2020.

Republicans hadn't won statewide in Virginia since 2009. That year Bob McDonnell was able to capitalize on a backlash against Barack Obama's presidential win to take the state. His victory preceded a GOP wave that gave Republicans control of the House in the 2010 midterms.

Youngkin won with a surge of support from white women and, more critically, the suburban areas that tend to decide elections. Youngkin carried the suburbs 53% to McAuliffe's 47%. In 2020, Biden carried those same suburbs 53% to Donald Trump's 45%.
Anthony Chacon, 20, was arrested Wednesday outside the Kenosha Courthouse and now facing charges of battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest

The young man arrested after scuffling with a Kyle Rittenhouse supporter outside the court where the accused murderer is being tried was once charged with making terrorist threats against his former high school.

Anthony Chacon, 20, is now facing charges of battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest following his latest run-in with the law.

But the day before school re-opened in September 2019 he posted a picture of himself pointing a gun on Snapshot, along with a message threatening Westosha Central High School in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin.

He used the N-word in his threat, according to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com.

'Young n***a gon hop ina gym shoot everything but the rim,' Chacon  who is white according to his police booking details  allegedly wrote. The words come from Till The End, a rap song by YNW Melly.

The case was eventually dismissed and Chacon pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

Chacon is seen wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and holding up a sign outside the courthouse, demanding Rittenhouse be convicted

DailyMail.com can reveal that Chacon was once charged with making terrorist threats against his former high school

Chacon is seen scuffling with pro-Rittenhouse demonstrator Emily Cahill on Wednesday

Chacon is pictured on Wednesday being arrested by Kenosha police following the scuffle

Chacon, who now lives in Kenosha, was one of two people arrested Wednesday as tempers frayed outside the city's courthouse. The second, Shaquita Cornelious, 34, whose Facebook page describes her as the co-chairman of Black Lives Matter of Lake County, Illinois, was charged with disorderly conduct.

Shaquita Cornelious, 34, whose Facebook page describes her as the co-chairman of Black Lives Matter of Lake County, Illinois, was charged with disorderly conduct

Video taken by DailyMail.com showed Chacon, wearing a F**k Kyle T-shirt, Simpsons backpack, and Chicago Bulls beanie, clashing with prominent Rittenhouse supporter Emily Cahill on the courthouse steps.

The two traded X-rated insults before Chacon threw a sign at Cahill. He and fellow anti-Rittenhouse protestors tried to wrestle the sign back and as he was being pulled off Cahill, he sucker-punched a reporter in the jaw.

Other protestors tried unsuccessfully to lead Chacon away and calm him down, but he then went on to strike several other people  including a DailyMail.com photographer  before being pinned to the ground and hauled away in a paddywagon.

He was heard calling for his mom as the vehicle pulled away.

The flurry of violence came after supporters of both sides had been sharing pizza as they awaited the verdict for the second day.

Chacon is no stranger to the courts. He has a record of being charged with minor offences. In September last year, he and his girlfriend Rachael Randle got in a fight at their Kenosha apartment that spilled out into the street.

A woman flagged down two cops to tell them that Chacon and Randle were 'holding knives and attempting to stab one another.

The witness said Randle ran up the staircase but Chacon caught her and threw her down the stairs. Randle told police the fight started after she tried to evict Chacon from her apartment.

'Ms. Randle stated that (Chacon) yelled at her with his fists clenched in an aggressive manner,' the police report said. The only visible injury that Randle received was 'a small cut on her forehead along the hairline.'

That case has not yet been resolved.

In another case also still to be resolved, he was charged with battery in December last year after allegedly getting involved in a fight between two cousins over a woman.

Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team made a new request for a mistrial Wednesday

Kenosha Police are seen detaining Cornelious outside of the courtroom Thursday

Chacon, 20-year-old man with the Bart Simpson backpack, is seen outside the Kenosha courthouse on Wednesday

The flurry of violence on Wednesday came after a calm day, which saw supporters of both sides sharing pizza as they awaited the verdict for the second day.

Inside court, however, Wednesday saw high drama as Rittenhouse's defense team made a new request for a mistrial based on the controversial drone footage that they described as a 'linchpin' of the state's case against him.

Addressing the court, defense attorney Corey Chirafisi said: 'We're talking about a potential life sentence here and it has to be addressed.'

Chirafisi made his request for a mistrial without prejudice this time acknowledging that the state could  and will  retry the case.

The jury has asked to review the controversial footage, as well as the best views of all of the shootings, from six video clips, that they will be able to watch and re-watch as many times as they like.

Officers from Kenosha police form a barricade as the 20-year-old is handcuffed

A Kenosha officer tries to calm down an agitated woman outside the courthouse

Speaking to the point that had dominated yesterday's proceedings even before their request to re-watch the footage, Chirafisi said that it needed to be addressed and that they would have tried the case differently had they possessed evidence of the same quality as the state.

According to Chirafisi there is no getting around the fact that the defense has been hamstrung because they did not have the highest quality version of one of the most significant videos played to the jury, while the state did.

'We would have done this case in a little bit different manner [had we had it].'

He continued, 'We didn't have the quality of evidence that the state had until the case had been closed, the parties had rested, and we were going to closings.

'We've talked to Mr. Rittenhouse and I'm going to be asking the court for a mistrial based upon if we're really trying to get to the heart of this, I've watched the video and I can tell you what I think, but it doesn't matter what I think because we can't put it to the jury anymore.'

Standing to defend the state's position Assistant District Attorney James Kraus said that he thought they were 'putting too much emphasis on a technical glitch.'

But he admitted, for the first time, that the video that had been sent to the defense was compressed.
MSNBC News has been banned from the Kenosha Courthouse for the remainder of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial after a man claiming to be a producer for the network was caught following the jury bus Wednesday evening.

Addressing the court Thursday morning, Judge Bruce Schroeder said, 'This is a very serious matter, and I don't know what the truth of it is, but it would go without very much thinking that someone who is following the jury bus is an extremely serious matter.'

Kenosha Police Department tweeted an announcement regarding the incident earlier Thursday morning as the jury entered their third day of deliberations amid heightening tensions in the small Wisconsin town.

Violent clashes on the courthouse steps saw two arrested Wednesday and as the clock ticks down on deliberations there is growing unease that fears of civil unrest may be hampering the jurors' ability to reach a unanimous verdict.

The identities of the 18 remaining jurors  12 deliberating and six alternates - has been closely guarded amid fear of intimidation and reprisal.

MSNBC news has been banned from Kenosha Courthouse for the remainder of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial. Addressing the court Thursday morning Judge Bruce Schroeder said, 'This is a very serious matter, and I don't know what the truth of it is'

Kenosha Police Department announced Thursday that a person claiming to be a producer for MSNBC attempted to photograph members of the jury

NBC News said in a statement: 'Last night, a freelancer received a traffic citation. While the traffic violation took place near the jury van, the freelancer never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations, and never photographed or intended to photograph them.'

Cameras for Court TV which is broadcasting the trial in its entirety are carefully angled to avoid catching a glimpse of any jurors as they enter or exit the court and pool photographers permitted to photograph proceedings must train their cameras away from the jurors' box.

Earlier this week one of the pool photographers was removed from the courtroom having accidentally taken pictures in which jurors were clearly visible. The images were not published.

Today Judge Schroeder revealed that the jurors are being driven to the court from a different location each day and that the windows are covered to prevent them from being exposed to any banners or disruption from either supporters of Rittenhouse or those who condemn him.

He said, 'I'm going to call it a sealed box and that's being done every day that they're brought to the building.'

According to the judge, 'Yesterday evening an individual identifying himself as James G Morrison who claimed he was a producer with NBC News, MSNBC and under the supervision of a person he identified as Irene Bayonne in New York.

'The police stopped him because he was following at a distance of about a block and went through a red light

'He gave them the information that he was instructed by Ms Bayonne in New York to follow the bus.'

This is the second time that a person has been suspected of trying to obtain images of the jurors

Violent clashes on the courthouse steps saw two arrested Wednesday and as the clock ticks down on deliberations there is growing unease that fears of civil unrest may be hampering the jurors' ability to reach a unanimous verdict

In a brief tweet posted just after 11am Kenosha Police Department stated, 'Last night a person who is alleging to be affiliated with a national media outlet was briefly taken into custody and issued several traffic related citations. Police suspect this person was trying to photograph jurors. This incident is being investigated much further.'

In a short follow up tweet, the police department added, 'There was no breach of security regarding the jury, nor were there any photographs obtained. This investigation remains active and open, no further information.'

Judge Schroeder called all parties into the courtroom shortly after 11am to make his statement on the matter which he said would be 'referred to the appropriate authorities.'

This is the second time that a person has been suspected of trying to obtain images of the jurors.

Last week a sheriff's deputy alerted the judge to the fact that a person had been trying to take pictures of jurors at the bus pick-up outside the courthouse. No pictures were obtained on that occasion.
'Squad' member Rep. Rashida Tlaib had to book her own travel to her hometown of Detroit after President Joe Biden left her off the manifest for Air Force One after her refusal to vote for his $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Tlaib was among a group of House progressives, including 'squad' members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) who wouldn't budget  even as a pair of Michigan Republicans helped provide votes to Biden's top legislative achievement so far over the top.

She earned a mention from Biden in his remarks at a General Motors factory that makes electric cars  but didn't score a ride on the presidential aircraft.

A White House official confirmed to DailyMail.com the invite was extended to area members of Congress who voted for the infrastructure bill  although Tlaib was at the event.

U.S. President Joe Biden is greeted by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit, Michigan,U.S., May 18, 2021. Biden publicly thanked Tlaib for hosting him in her district  but didn't give her a ride on Air Force One

Biden did mention her name in his remarks  and he still needs her vote for the $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Package, which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to bring up as soon as possible this week.

'As well as I want to thank Representative  where's Representative Tlaib? I want to thank her for the passport into the city  into your district. Thank you. I appreciate it very much,' Biden said.

The invite went 'only' to lawmakers who voted for the bill, ABC News first reported, citing an anonymous administration official.

She actually got her shout-out before other Michigan Democrats  who Biden thanked individually, dolloping praise for each one.

He said Sen. Debbie Stabenow 'delivered for Michigan autoworkers.' Sen. Gary Peters 'was instrumental in securing $65 billion for high-speed internet,' he said.

Biden heaped praise on Michigan Democrats who voted for his infrastructure bill

An official let it be known that the Air Force One invite only went to members who backed the bill

Tlaib (third from left) and fellow 'squad' members held back their votes, saying the first wanted to see passage of Biden's Build Back Better plan, which is stocked with social spending. She tweeted from the Detroit factory: 'Let's close the deal and get BBB done'

But, let me tell you: The infrastructure law I signed on Monday would not be possible without the Michigan congressional delegation. That's not hyperbole.

He said Rep. Elissa Slotkin 'knows that the competitive edge around the world depends on the strength of our industrial base here at home,' said Rep. Dan Kildee 'continues to be the leading voice for investing in infrastructure in small towns and communities, and said Rep. Haley Stevens 'ran for office to fix Michigan's roads and bridges. Well, you're delivering, kid. You are delivering.'

He said Rep. Andy Levin 'fought like hell to make sure that this law allowed us to start replacing lead pipes in Michigan and all across America,' Brenda Lawrence was a 'key fighter' for clean water, and called Debbie Dingell a 'great friend' who he calls for advice when he's in trouble.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib voted against the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which Biden touted Wednesday

'Folks, it's not hyperbole to say that this delegation is laser-focused on your needs  the needs of the people of Michigan and the American people  and your concerns,' said Biden.

The snub comes amid increasing concerns by some Democratic strategists that the party risks losing elections next year if it is seen as catering to the 'woke' left, after Republican Glenn Youngkin's victory in the Virginia governor's race touting education issues and going after Critical Race Theory.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Without votes from a bloc of progressives, Democratic leaders had to scrounge for Republican votes to get the bill through.

Two Michigan Republicans voted for the bill, including Rep. Fred Upton, who got death threats as a result. He released a voicemail he says he got after the vote saying: 'I hope you die. I hope everybody in your f------ family dies' and calling him a 'traitor.'
This is the stunning girl two teenagers are believed to have fought over, resulting in one stabbing the other, MailOnline can reveal.

Anam Ausaf found herself at the centre of a suspected love triangle dispute which resulted in a vicious altercation in a Sherbourne residential building on the Warwick University campus.

The first-year student, who is from North London, only started at the university seven weeks ago but was left in tears following the fight between the two men, aged 18 and 19.

Anam Ausaf (pictured) found herself at the centre of a suspected love triangle dispute which resulted in a vicious altercation in a Sherbourne residential building on the Warwick University campus

The first-year student (pictured), who is from North London, only started at the university seven weeks ago but was left in tears following the fight between the two men, aged 18 and 19

Armed officers rushed to the scene on Wednesday afternoon and evacuated students living nearby as ambulance crews dealt with the injured man.

Naz Ausaf, a female relative of Anams told MailOnline: We are all completely shocked. She's got nothing to do with any of this, it was the boys.

'There is a lot of nonsense going around on social media which is being put out there by other students. They are all talking rubbish. A fight took place between two boys. Its very distressing for us, this is not a joke.

Eyewitnesses told MailOnline that the fight broke out between two boys vying for her attention.

One student who lives in Sherbourne block said: 'We don't know the exact details.

'We heard a lot of screaming and there was blood everywhere. There are a lot of rumours flying around the campus about what this was all about.

Warwickshire police said in a statement: 'A man was taken to hospital after a stabbing in Coventry.

'Police were called at 4.32pm yesterday (Wednesday 17 November) to reports that a man had been stabbed at a property in Scarman Road.

A man and a woman were detained on suspicion of attempted murder after the knifing at a halls of residence

'Officers attended and found a 19-year-old man with stab wounds. He was taken to hospital where his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

They said a man from Kings Langley, Hertfordshire and a woman have both been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Detective Inspector Cawail Wong from Warwickshire Police CID said: 'This was a serious incident in which a young man has suffered stab wounds. I would appeal to anyone with information about it to contact police.'

Anyone with information in the incident is asked to contact Warwickshire Police on 101 quoting incident 276 of 17 November 2021.

Information can also be given anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Warwick University posted on its Facebook page: 'We're aware of an incident at Sherbourne accommodation block.

'Our community safety team is on hand & working with the emergency services. Alternative accommodation & food is being provided to students in the area.'
Regulators have launched a huge investigation into 2,000 sewage works across the UK as part of a major crackdown on foul water being illegally pumped into rivers and the sea.

Water companies are facing the major probe after checks revealed some firms may be releasing unpermitted sewage into watercourses.

The investigation, led by the Environment Agency (EA) and water regulator Ofwat, began after the two bodies said several water companies admitted that many of their sewage treatment works may not be compliant.

However, the names and specific number of companies alleged to have fallen foul have not yet been revealed.

The probe will involve more than 2,000 sewage treatment works, with any company found to be breaching its permits facing possible fines or prosecution.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary George Eustice (above) pledged an amendment to enshrine in law a new duty to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows

This map from The Rivers Trust shows where sewage enters local rivers. The trust advises people to avoid entering the water immediately downstream of these discharges and avoid the overflows (brown circles), especially after it has been raining

Issues arose last month as Britains sewers struggle to cope in heavy rain, leaving sewage works overwhelmed.

Sewage can be pumped out of the sewerage system and into rivers through combined sewer overflows - otherwise known as a storm overflow or release valve.

The overflows are designed to release excess water following heavy rain or a storm to stop sewage backing up into homes.

To stop this happening, water companies are allowed to release the rainwater and a smaller amount of untreated sewage, into the country's waterways.

Footage shot in October showed untreated sewage being released from the Budds Farm treatment plant, run by Southern Water, from a 7ft-wide outfall into a conservation area in Hampshire.

Untreated sewage has been pumped into coastal waters and rivers in England more than 400,000 times in the last year, according to the EA.

The body, along with Ofwat, has been encouraging companies to improve their day-to-say performance and meet progressively higher standards to protect the environment.

As part of this, the EA has been checking that water companies comply with requirements and has asked them to fit new monitors at sewage treatment works.

This is to make sure the right levels of wastewater are being treated before overflows are allowed to enter the environment.

The EA and Ofwat are now analysing all water and sewerage companies to assess the scale of the problem.

It follows water companies being forced to slash the amount of sewage pumped into rivers and seas following a U-turn by ministers last month.

HAMPSHIRE: Gushing grot: A pipe, pictured running through the water left, pumps out waste at Langstone Harbour

Peers had proposed an amendment to the Environment Bill in an attempt to cut pollution.

A subsequent Commons vote, though, saw Tory MPs vote down the new law, sparking a backlash from eco-campaigners.

Facing defeat in Parliament, Environment Secretary George Eustice pledged an amendment to enshrine in law a new duty to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows.

Peers backed by 213 votes to 60, majority 153, a move to place a new legal duty on water companies to 'take all reasonable steps' to prevent sewage discharges.

Mr Eustice signalled that the water sector would have five years to show progress on the matter, but that bills would have to increase to fund infrastructure improvements.

The Rivers Trust analysed Environment Agency figures and discovered that 86 per cent of England's rivers are in 'failing health', and the charity said that in more than half of these cases this was due to water companies - partly because they were pumping raw or partially-treated sewage into rivers.

CORNWALL: Mucky and murky: The Red River is turned a disgusting brown colour thanks to sewage

Untreated waste poured into Langstone Harbour in Hampshire for 49 hours from an outfall pipe at Budds Farm, Southern Water's largest treatment plant

BOGNOR: Surface scum: Floating sewage off the coast of the West Sussex seaside town

Calls have also been made for companies that dump sewage into Britain's rivers to be hit with a tax on their profits to pay for the clean-up.

The proposals could help pay to stop water companies allowing sewage to overflow into rivers on days of heavy rain and provide a 340million fund each year for improvements.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey made the call earlier this month.

He said: Pumping raw sewage into our treasured rivers and lakes leaves a bad taste in the mouth, particularly when these companies are raking in millions of pounds in profits. The whole thing stinks.

Water companies need to clean up after their mess. Why should taxpayers be left to foot the bill for water companies who have shown utter disregard for our local environments?
Britain will send 100 troops to help Poland build a 'Trump-style' wall at the country's border with Belarus.

The Royal Engineers are being deployed amid a crisis at the border to stop migrants from Iraq and Syria entering Europe.

Last night Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Belarus had been using migrants as 'political pawns' by attempting to assist their passage into Poland in a bid to destabilise the country.

The Polish parliament signed off controversial plans in October to build an 18ft border wall which will cost 297million.

It will be equipped with motion sensors, a monitoring system and cover a roughly 125-mile stretch between the countries.

Mr Wallace also vowed the UK will 'stand shoulder to shoulder' with Poland and Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia and Belarus.

Mr Wallace accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and his close ally, Belarus's authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko, of a 'deliberate and concerted attempt to destabilise' Europe.

He made the comments during a visit to a military base in northeast Poland that hosts a NATO battlegroup as he met with Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak.

Thousands of migrants, mainly from the Middle East, have been amassing at the Belarus border with Poland for months.

The EU has accused Mr Lukashenko of deliberately encouraging the migrants to breach its borders in retaliation for sanctions the bloc has imposed in response to his repressive rule.

Meanwhile, Downing Street has voiced concern about the build-up of Russian forces on Russia's border with Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today vowed the UK will 'stand shoulder to shoulder' with Poland and Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia and Belarus

Speaking during the visit, Mr Wallace said: 'Make no mistake, what is happening on the Belarus border is a deliberate and concerted attempt to destabilise not only Poland but some of the other neighbouring countries like Latvia etc to make sure that Europe is weaker in order to further other people's agendas.

'The best response to that is that we stand shoulder to shoulder not only as NATO countries but also old friends and partners to send a strong message that we won't allow this to happen.'

Boris Johnson this week warned Mr Putin against making a 'tragic mistake' as tensions grow on the border between Russia and Ukraine.

The Prime Minister, appearing at the Commons Liaison Committee on Wednesday, was asked about the problems between Belarus and Poland and the situation in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has dismissed claims that it is preparing to invade, after the Ukrainian defence ministry reported that around 90,000 Russian troops were massing in the area.

Mr Johnson said the situations in Poland and Ukraine are 'very different' because Poland has a NATO security guarantee, meaning that any action against it could trigger a response from the entire alliance. Ukraine does not have the same guarantee.

Mr Wallace accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and his close ally, Belarus's authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, of a 'deliberate and concerted attempt to destabilise' Europe

He made the comments during a visit to a military base in northeast Poland that hosts a NATO battlegroup as he met with Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak

The Kremlin has dismissed claims that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine, after the Ukrainian defence ministry reported that around 90,000 Russian troops were massing near the border

Mr Johnson said there is a need to 'make sure that everybody understands the cost of a miscalculation on the borders of both Ukraine and Poland would be enormous'.

'I think it would be a tragic, tragic mistake for the Kremlin to think there was anything to be gained,' Mr Johnson said.

The UK and Ukraine recently struck a deal which will see warships and missiles sold to the country.

The deal will allow the country's government to access financing for contracts with UK suppliers to help beef up its naval capabilities.
A Labour MP refused to withdraw the word 'dodgy' three times in the Commons today, as she claimed she did not think 'another word suffices the level of corruption and what we have seen from the Government'.

During business questions in the Commons, the MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana, accused Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg of being 'dodgy'.

Ms Sultana said: 'It has been reported that the Transport Secretary used public money to create a departmental team that lobbied against plans to build on airfield sites, including a giga-factory at Coventry Airport.

During business questions in the Commons, the MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana (pictured , accused Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg of being 'dodgy'

'Disgracefully, that would mean he used public funds to lobby against green investment and jobs coming to Coventry.

'And why? We know he is an aviation enthusiast. From a dodgy Transport Secretary to a dodgy Leader of the House who last week tried to rewrite the rules to let his mate off the hook.

'This Conservative Government is rotten to the core. Is the Leader of the House proud of this shameful record?'

Interjecting, Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing told her to think of a different form of words, as she did not like the word 'dodgy'.

She said: 'She can make clear she disagrees with what has happened. Perhaps she could put it in different words.'

Confusing Madam Deputy Speaker for Madam Deputy Secretary, Ms Sultana replied: 'Thank you, Madam Deputy Secretary.

'I don't think another word suffices the level of corruption and what we have seen from this Government, so I think that term suffices.'

Dame Eleanor insisted that while 'it is absolutely in order to have disagreement here', we must 'moderate our language and be careful of the adjectives that are used about a member by another'.

Ms Sultana (pictured with former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in September) refused to withdraw her use of the word 'dodgy', saying 'another word suffices the level of corruption and what we have seen from the Government'

The MP for Coventry South claimed once again to be 'confused' as she could not think of a different word.

Dame Eleanor said it would suffice to withdraw the word 'dodgy' to ask her question, but this went ignored, and then the Deputy Commons Speaker seemed to lose her patience.

Raising her voice, she said: 'Order! Order! She misunderstands me, I am asking her to withdraw the word 'dodgy'. I have given her the opportunity to put her question in other words. If she doesn't want to take that opportunity, she doesn't have to.

'I am not stopping her from making the point she wants to make or asking the Leader of the House the question she wants to ask and indeed drawing to general attention the points that she wishes to draw general attention.

'I am asking her to moderate language in doing so. Would she like to put her question in moderate language?'

Ms Sultana finally withdrew her remarks, but decided not to re-ask her question to the Commons Leader with 'moderate language'.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps was accused on Sunday of fighting plans by his own Government to build homes on little-used airfields.

Mr Shapps, a keen pilot said to own his own 100,000 aircraft, is said to have used a lobbying body to protect airfields from development.

He disputes claims made in the Sunday Times that he 'set-up and diverted public money' to a new team within the Civil Aviation Authority designed to lobby against planning developments that infringe on airstrips.

The Sunday Times reported that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps 'set-up and diverted public money' to a new team within the Civil Aviation Authority which is designed to lobby against planning developments that infringe on airstrips

The newspaper said objections by the Airfield Advisory Team had helped to frustrate Homes England's plans for 3,000 homes at Chalgrove, an airfield in south Oxfordshire, while also opposing ambitions to build a battery gigafactory on Coventry airport.

But Department for Transport (DfT) officials said the team was not a lobbying body and instead provided 'support to general aviation on a range of matters affecting their operations'.

A Government source said: 'This body is not a lobbying body, it is an advisory body to help general aviation with problems they may have, which may be planning or anything else.

'It is not essentially anti-housing - indeed, housing can sometimes be a solution for financing an airfield.

'As Secretary of State for Transport, it is his function to protect general aviation and we've seen a decline in the number of airfields across the country.'

A DfT spokeswoman said: 'It is right that the Transport Secretary works to promote all aspects of the department's brief including the general aviation sector, which contributes 4 billion to the economy and supports 40,000 jobs, especially as we focus on our recovery from the pandemic and on building a diverse workforce that's fit for the future.'

The Sunday Times article also suggested Mr Shapps' flying hobby had 'undermined' Government efforts to repatriate Britons after the collapse of travel agent Thomas Cook in 2019, and had taken up 'valuable time' while the DfT dealt with post-Brexit and coronavirus travel disruption.

But a source said claims were 'utterly bogus and demonstrably false'.

He is reported to own a 100,000 Piper Saratoga aircraft similar to the one above

Mr Shapps is believed to have held a pilot's licence since 1995, before he entered Parliament.

In 2017, while out of Government, he was elected chairman of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Aviation. On taking on the role he said: 'Grant Shapps said: The All-Party Parliamentary Group on General Aviation seeks to be the strong voice in Parliament that general aviation needs to help promote jobs and growth in this country.

'We will seek to do this by inspiring young and old to look to the skies to help develop the kind of high-tech jobs and skills we all want to see. I am delighted to have been elected chair and look forward to championing such an important part of our economy.'

He resigned the role on becoming Secretary of State for Transport in place of Chris Grayling in 2019.
Activists searching for their missing loved ones revealed that 65 bodies and at least 5,000 human bone fragments were recovered from a clandestine grave in Mexico.

The group, Solecito Collective, made the announcement Wednesday as authorities in the Gulf state of Veracruz continue the search for additional corpses and body parts, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

The secret burial spot was discovered near a lagoon in the Veracruz fishing port town of Alvarado back in March 2017.

The search for the burial site located in an area known as El Arbolillo was ordered under the watch of then Veracruz State Attorney General, Jorge Winckler Ortiz.

Solecito Collective, a group dedicated to the search of people reported missing in Mexico, announced Wednesday that 65 bodies and at least 5,000 human bone fragments were recovered from a clandestine grave in the state of Veracruz since 2020. Pictured above i a member of the Veracruz State Attorney General's Office securing the burial site in the town of El Arbolillo that was initially discovered in March 2017

Members of Veracruz state police (pictured on September 7, 2018) work at the site of a mass grave in the town of Alvarado set up a perimeter where an exhumation took place

A human vertebra inside a latex glove is pictured at the site where a clandestine grave was found in Colinas de Santa Fe, Veracruz, in 2016. The burial site is said to be the biggest discovered in Latin America

State and federal authorities spearheaded the search along with the assistance of members of Solecito Colectivo before the operation was abruptly halted only two months after it had been initiated in 2018.

Solecito Colectivo founder Angeles Diaz Gaona told EFE that the operation was limited to barely five weeks in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in February without skipping a beat after the group pressured Governor Cuitlahuac Garcia and State Attorney General Veronica Hernandez.

It's believed that the victims were casualties of a long-running war between cartel and the government, and were murdered between 2011 and 2012.

A hat belonging to a missing person reportedly buried at a mass grave that was discovered in 2017 in Alvarado, a town in the Mexican Gulf state of Veracruz. Search for bodies started in 2018 but was stopped two months into the operation under orders of then State Attorney General Jorge Winckler Ortiz. Searches began exhumations on the site in 2020 and paused due to the pandemic before resuming in February. Since then 65 bodies and a nearly 5,000 human remains have been found

Veracruz municipal employees search the site of a clandestine grave where 166 bodies were located in 2018

Relatives of missing people arrive on September 17, 2018 at the site where a mass grave was found in El Arbolillo, a community in the city of Alvarado that is located in the Mexican Gulf state of Veracruz

Police officers stand guard near the site of a mass grave in Alvarado, Mexico, on September 7, 2018

Diaz Gaona estimates that mass grave in El Arbolillo could be much bigger than the one that was discovered in 2016 in the Veracruz town of Colinas de Santa Fe - considered to be the largest to date in Latin America - where 300 bodies and more than 22,000 human remains were removed.

'If we continue (searching) it is possible that it could be,' she said.

Government data shows that 90,148 people have been reported missing in Mexico.

At least 479 clandestine burial sites were located between September 2020 and July 2021. During that period authorities recovered 1,048 bodies, but only identified 239. A total of 96 bodies were returned to families for proper burial.
Two people were killed and and four others had to be rescued after they became trapped on the top floor of an empty house they used for a drug-fuelled sex party, a court has heard.

Jurors were told that a 24-year-old man and a 31-year-old mother-of-three died from smoke inhalation and a second woman had to be treated in intensive care after two mattresses and a chair were set on fire 'deliberately' at a house in Huddersfield in March.

Craig Collier, 35, is charged with the murder of Samantha Mills and Reece Schofield who both died days after the terrifying fire, Leeds Crown Court heard.

He is also charged with four counts of attempted murder, one count of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of perverting the course of justice. Mr Collier denies all eight charges.

The court heard the property in Clare Hill was unoccupied at the time but had previously been used by the homeless as a venue for 'drug taking and drinking'.

Reece Schofield, 24, and Samantha Mills, 31, (right) died from smoke inhalation after two mattresses and a chair were set on fire 'deliberately' at a house in Huddersfield, West Yorks., in March

Prosecutor Peter Moulson QC opened the case and told jurors that six people visited the house on March 23 and engaged in 'drug taking and consensual intimate activity' when they became trapped on the top floor.

Three of those partygoers managed to escape through the skylight of the property, but three others, including Ms Mills and Mr Schofield, were unable to do so.

Another woman was rescued by firefighters and taken to intensive care where she later recovered.

Mr Moulson said: 'All of the matters arise as a result of what the crown contends was the deliberate setting on fire of a house in Clare Hill, in Huddersfield, we submit by this defendant on March 23, 2021.'

He went on to say the property at 17 Clare Hill was 'generally occupied' but regularly used by the homeless and others 'apparently involved in drinking and taking drugs'.

Mr Moulson added that the nearby Cambridge Hotel, opposite the house in question, is used by those in need of accommodation and it was at this hotel that Mr Collier lived.

At around 5.30am on March 23, six people were on the upper floor of the house engaged in 'drug taking and consensual intimate activity'.

Mr Moulson said: 'It is the prosecution's case that three separate fires were deliberately set inside that building by a seventh and only person in the building at that time, namely this defendant Craig Collier.'

He added that Mr Collier was not engaged in either the drug taking or sex activity and returned to his room at the Cambridge Hotel after the setting of the fire.

Mr Moulson said: 'A mattress we say was set on fire by the defendant.

'We contend he then moved to the floor below that floor on the ground floor where he set fire to a further mattress in a room on that floor.

'Then while on that same floor he moved a chair to behind the front door and set fire to that before leaving through that door and going to his room at the Cambridge Hotel.'

He added: 'As a result of those three fires in the positions below where those other six were, they had no option other than to attempt to escape through a skylight or attic window.'

Two people died and another four were left injured after a 'deliberate' house fire ripped through a property in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on March 23, 2021

Craig Collier denies two counts of murder, four charges of attempted murder, one count of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of perverting the course of justice

Fire crews attended and three of those people, including Ms Mills, Mr Schofield and another woman, did not make it to the temporary safety of the roof.

Mr Moulson told jurors: 'All of them were rescued at the time alive from within that attic bedroom as a result of the bravery of the attending fire crews.

'Samantha Mills and Reece Schofield, despite the best efforts of those concerned with their rescue and subsequent medical treatment, ultimately died respectively on the 26 and 29 March.

'The cause of death in each of them was inhalation of the products of combustion.

'The third person rescued was admitted to intensive care and ultimately recovered from the effects of the fire upon her.'

Mr Moulson added that three others escaped 'relatively uninjured'.

Mr Collier denies two counts of murder, four charges of attempted murder, one count of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.
The Justice Department on Thursday unsealed indictments against two Iranian nationals accused of posing as 'Proud Boys' and sending threatening emails to Democratic voters as part of a 'campaign to intimidate and influence American voters.'

The alleged computer hackers sent threatening messages and are accused of spreading disinformation, and 'obtained confidential U.S. voter information from at least one state election website,' according to DOJ.

The threats went out to thousands of voters, in what targeted, in what Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen called a 'coordinated campaign to erode confidence in the integrity of the U.S. electoral system and to sow discord among Americans.'

The effort attracted publicity in the run-up to the November 2020 election, when law enforcement and intelligence officials held an unusual evening news conference to accuse Iran of orchestrating an email campaign aimed at intimidating Democratic voters in battleground states so they would vote for then-President Donald Trump.

A newly unsealed indictment charges two Iranian nationals accused of posing as 'Proud Boys' and sending threatening emails to Democratic voters

That included a message that purported to be from a far-right group, the Proud Boys, that threatened Democratic voters with physical harm if they didn't change their party affiliation and vote for Trump.

That press conference came at a time of lingering concern about potential Russian election interference  after U.S. intelligence concluded Russia authorized a hacking operation of Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee back in 2016.

U.S. officials say the goal of the far-reaching influence operation was not to change the results of the election but to sow confusion and discord and create the perception that the results could not be trusted.

The indictment, filed in the federal court in Manhattan and unsealed on Thursday, accuses Iranian nationals named Seyyed Mohammad Hosein Musa Kazemi and Sajjad Kashian of helping orchestrate the scheme. The Treasury Department is also announcing sanctions against the men, their colleagues and the company they worked for.

The defendants are not in custody and are believed still to be in Iran

The defendants are not in custody and are believed still to be in Iran, but officials hope the indictment and accompanying sanctions will restrict their ability to travel.

'Working with others, Kazemi and Kashian accessed voter information from at least one state's voter database, threatened U.S. voters via email, and even disseminated a fictitious video that purported to depict actors fabricating overseas ballots,' said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York in a statement released by the government.

'The United States will never tolerate any foreign actors' attempts to undermine our free and democratic elections. As a result of the charges unsealed today, and the concurrent efforts of our U.S. government partners, Kazemi and Kashian will forever look over their shoulders as we strive to bring them to justice,' said Williams.

As part of the cyber campaign, officials say, the hackers attempted to compromise voter websites in 11 states and successfully downloaded voter information of more than 100,000 people in one state. They also sent what officials described as carefully curated messages to Americans of both major political parties.

The alleged hacking took place in the fall of 2020

The Trump administration held a press conference about threats of foreign interference during the campaign

Officials unsealed the indictment on Thursday

To Republican officials and people associated with the Trump campaign, the indictment says, the hackers crafted Facebook messages that falsely claimed that Democrats were planning to commit voter fraud. A manufactured video spread through social media platforms purported to show an individual hacking into state voting websites and registering fraudulent absentee ballots. In the case of Democrats, officials say, the hackers sent emails that threated to 'come after' voters who didn't support Trump.

'This indictment details how two Iran-based actors waged a targeted, coordinated campaign to erode confidence in the integrity of the U.S. electoral system and to sow discord among Americans,' Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the head of the Justice Department's national security division, said in a statement. 'The allegations illustrate how foreign disinformation campaigns operate and seek to influence the American public.'

According to the indictment, on Nov. 4, 2020  the day after the election  'the conspirators sought to leverage earlier September and October 2020 intrusions into an American media companys computer networks.'

'Specifically, on that day, the conspirators attempted to use stolen credentials to again access Media Company-1s network, which would have provided them another vehicle for further disseminating false claims concerning the election through conspirator-modified or created content. However, because of an earlier FBI victim notification, Media Company-1 had by that time mitigated the conspirators unauthorized access and these log-in attempts failed. '

While posing as Proud Boys, the group also sent 'false election messages' via Facebook to 'Republican Senators, Republican members of Congress, individuals associated with the presidential campaign of Donald J. Trump, White House advisors, and members of the media,' according to the indictment. They claimed Democrats were planning to exploit 'serious security vulnerabilities in state voter registration websites in order to 'edit mail-in ballots or even register non-existent voters.'
A wedding planner who fleeced 24 couples, an ex-husband and her own boyfriend out of more than 60,000 now has only 600 to her name.

Dana Twidale, 44, has to repay one victim just 1.74 after scamming brides and bridegrooms across Yorkshire out of their wedding savings between August 2017 and July 2019.

She fled to Benidorm when she was finally exposed and was pictured sunning herself while victims tried desperately to rescue their wedding ceremonies.

Twidale, from east Hull, admitted 26 offences of fraud and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment at Hull Crown Court in July.

The case resurfaced at a Proceeds of Crime hearing on Wednesday, though, where she appeared before court via video link from New Hall Prison, near Wakefield.

Dana Twidale, who wrecked the weddings of 24 couples, has been ordered to repay a pittance after blowing all the money from her scams

Twidale conned multiple brides and grooms out of money before their big days before fleeing the country

Dale Brook, prosecuting, told the court that Twidale had pocketed 60,263 from her scams.

However, he added that assets available to her had been valued at a 'derisory' 600 - money frozen in a bank account.

The court heard she also has 'no home, no address, no car'.

It was a statement to which Judge Mark Bury quipped: "No Lottery wins?'

He added that, if provisional compensation estimates were correct, he would 'quite like to see the face' of one woman who might get just '1.74 in the post' as her compensation.

The 600 figure was already in the possession of police because it is a 'restrained' bank account.

Mr Brook asked that the money be used as compensation for the victims.

It is hoped that if Twidale 'at any future point acquires any wealth', it may be used to pay further compensation.

The money would be paid not to the court but to the financial investigation team or similar people for it to be apportioned out to victims.

The judge told Twidale that the crime benefit figure was 60,263, but added: 'You don't have anywhere near that in assets.

Twidale was pictured sunning herself in Benidorm, Spain, while duped couples tried to recover the money they lost through her scams

'The only assets the police have been able to identify is 600 in a Nationwide bank account and that money is restrained already and it will be used to satisfy this sum and it will be defrayed as compensation to the victims of your crime.

'The money is already in the hands of those who need it.'

Twidale will have 28 days to pay the 600 or face seven days in prison in default.

The original court hearing in July heard that victims, including Twidale's ex-husband, eventually saw her back in Hull after her money dried up.

She was said to have been spotted working in a number of takeaways last year before she was arrested.

Twidale told police she had got into debt with her business and turned to gambling and was 'chasing her losses'.

The court heard 24 couples paid thousands of pounds of savings to the crooked wedding planner.

When the wedding approached, though, they were horrified to discover empty marquees, and cakes, as well as photographers not having been booked and decorations missing.

The couples who were conned have since spoken of the heartbreak and financial losses they were caused.

Nicky and Jason Asquith said the 2,247 mentioned in court as the amount they had lost was far less than they had ended up paying.

Jason and Nicky Asquith were one of the couples scammed by Twidale. She seemed 'approachable' and 'professional', according to the couple, but she then vanished, leaving the them with two days to hastily rearrange plans for their wedding

The couple were taken in after spotting online adverts for the company and meeting its boss.

Nicky, 33, an NHS pharmacist, said: 'I felt like I had known her forever. She was so friendly and lovely - and so helpful.

'It just shows how deceitful she was. All we wanted was a simple marquee and summer party. We had invited 104 guests. It was going to be really nice.'

The couple, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, had no idea anything was wrong until the eve of the service - when their wedding planner failed to appear at the rehearsal.

Another couple, who paid 550 to Twidale for wedding decorations, also only became aware of the fraud the night before their wedding day.

They were contacted by a photographer who alerted them to the complaints on social media and that Twidale had seemingly fled the area.

The couple described how they were devastated and relied on borrowing money from family members to pay for the services for their wedding.
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The Chinese military is now at or near the capability to invade Taiwan, according to a congressional report.

'The PLA [People's Liberation Army] has already achieved the capabilities needed to conduct an air and naval blockade, cyberattacks, and missile strikes against Taiwan,' according to a report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a congressionally-appointed agency designated to provide national security and economic advice to Congress and the president.

'PLA leaders now likely assess they have, or will soon have, the initial capability needed to conduct a high-risk invasion of Taiwan if ordered to do so by CCP leaders. They will continue enhancing this capability in the coming years.'

The report found that the PLA's current sea and air lift capacity could launch an initial landing force in Taiwan of at least 25,000 troops.

'Given these developments, it has become less certain that U.S. conventional military forces alone will continue to deter China's leaders from initiating an attack on Taiwan,' the report found.

Biden met virtually with Chinese President Xi this week, where he said the two world leaders made little progress on Taiwan

The commission argued that China is most likely to invade Taiwan if it believes the US 'is not militarily capable of or politically willing to intervene, or if they interpret ambiguities in U.S. policy to mean that opportunistic Chinese aggression against Taiwan will not provoke a decisive U.S. response.'

The report found that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a high tolerance for risk and a desire to establish a lasting legacy, which could outweigh his concern for US warnings against attacking Taiwan.

It found that China's nuclear buildup puts it on a trajectory to become the 'nuclear peer' of the US in quality, and a peer in quantity of land-based strategic missiles by 2030.

The report warns that China could switch from a policy of nuclear deterrence to one of 'limited' nuclear first use.

The US and its NATO allies formulate their nuclear policy on deterrence, meaning they build up weapons capabilities only to deter other nations from launching an attack, and only use their nuclear weapons if attacked first. First use would mean that China launches a nuclear weapon unprovoked to achieve a policy goal.

'Such a strategy would enable Chinese leaders to leverage their nuclear forces to accomplish Chinese political objectives beyond survival, such as coercing another state or deterring U.S. intervention in a war over Taiwan,' the report found.

The report found that improved nuclear capabilities could encourage Chinese leaders to start a traditional war against US partners in the region, if they believe the US will stay away due to their nuclear capability.

The report documents Chinese military training with barges, ferries and other civilian vessels to transport troops across the Taiwan Straits or elsewhere  in addition to conventional military transports.

China considers Taiwan to be nothing more than an unruly extension of mainland territory. The US recognized the island democracy's autonomy until 1979, but the two nation's still enjoy a 'robust unofficial relationship.'

In June, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress that he did not believe China had the capability to invade Taiwan.

'I think China has a ways to go to develop the actual, no-kidding capability to conduct military operations to seize through military means the entire island of Taiwan if they wanted to do that,' he said.

The White House has sent out confusing messages on its policy toward Taiwan, with President Biden first saying the US 'absolutely' had a duty to defend the island if it were attacked. Hours later, the president's press shop put out a statement saying there was no policy change, the US was still following the Taiwan Relations Act's policy of strategic ambiguity.

Biden on Tuesday told a crowd he had made little progress to stop China's encroachment on Taiwan, but ruffled feathers in Beijing when he used the word 'independence.'

'We made very clear we support the Taiwan Act, and that's it,' the president said. 'Its independence,' he added. 'It makes its own decisions.'

Russian and Chinese warships patrolled in the Pacific Ocean in October

Photo illustrates drill in the Suao navy harbour in Yilan

Nearly 150 Chinese warplanes breached Taiwanese airspace over the weekend of October 1, including 52 aircraft that flew in a single sortie on Monday (pictured) in Beijing's largest show-of-force yet

The US does not officially support Taiwan's independence.

That evening while touting the bipartisan infrastructure bill in New Hampshire, Biden said the US was not encouraging independence.

'I said that they have to decide -- Taiwan, not us. We are not encouraging independence,' he said.

'We're encouraging that they do exactly what the Taiwan Act requires,' he said, referring to the 1979 act governing Washington's relations with Taipei. 'That's what we're doing. Let them make up their mind. Period.'

US officials tread lightly with a policy of strategic ambiguity, meaning they support Taiwan's ability to defend itself without explicitly promising to come to its aid in the event of Chinese attack.

But, Taiwan's president recently confirmed for the first time that American troops are on the island of Taiwan training the Taiwanese military, and have been there for about a year.

Chinese military forces held exercises last week near Taiwan in response to a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to the island.

The state-run Xinhua news agency said Xi blamed recent tensions on attempts by Taiwan authorities to seek 'US. support for their independence agenda as well as the intention of some Americans to use Taiwan to contain China.'

'Such moves are extremely dangerous, just like playing with fire. Whoever plays with fire will get burnt,' Xi said.

A US-made fighter jet releases flames during a drill in Taiwan

Soldiers carrying machine guns and grenades take part in a military exercise simulating an invasion from China

White House readouts of the summit said Biden had affirmed the administration's 'one China' policy but warned against any change to the island's current status.

Meanwhile, a crackdown in Hong Kong, 'genocide' of the Uyghur minority and China's territorial ambitions in the Pacific Ocean, and its growing arsenal have cast the country as a growing challenge to Washington.

But, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this week that Beijing is ready to sit down for arms control talks with the US, a position they've rejected previously.

Due to the the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) encroachment on the private sector, the report suggested that Congress take up legislation to deter US investors from pouring money into Chinese equity.

It also called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to require publicly traded companies to offer reporting on goods and services in their supply chain that could be linked to forced labor of the Uighur people in the Xinjiang province, and Customs and Border Patrol to place a hold on items originating in Xinjiang.

It suggested Congress 'strengthen the credibility of US military deterrence' against an attack on Taiwan by building up military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
A Chinese professor at a top European university has been revealed to have studied monkey brains to help Beijing's military fight wars at high altitude, without telling his bosses on campus.

Guojie Zhang studied at Denmark's University of Copenhagen, the university told Reuters, in the latest example of how China's pursuit of military-civilian technology is tapping into Western academia in the strategically sensitive area of biotechnology.

The professor is also employed by Shenzhen-based genomics giant BGI Group, which funds dozens of researchers at the university and has its European headquarters on the university's campus.

Zhang and a student he was supervising worked with a People's Liberation Army (PLA) laboratory on research exposing monkeys to extreme altitude to study their brains and develop new drugs to prevent brain damage, a priority the PLA has identified for Chinese troops operating on high plateau borders.

Zhang co-published that paper with a PLA major general in January 2020.

Professor Guojie Zhang (pictured) studied monkey brains at the University of Copenhagen to help Beijing's military fight wars at high altitude, without telling his bosses on campus

At the time the study was published, the Danish university was 'not familiar with the fact that the paper also included authors from Chinese military research institutions,' Niels Kroer, head of its biology department, told Reuters in an email.

Zhang confirmed that he did not inform the university of the link because the university didn't require researchers to report co-authors on scientific papers to it, which the university confirmed.

BGI said the study with the PLA lab 'was not carried out for military purposes' and brain research is a critical area for understanding human diseases.

China's government science academy said the study had national defence and civilian benefits on the Tibetan plateau.

Concerns about China's fusion of military and civilian technology, and about universities transferring sensitive technology to China that could help its military, have grown in the United States in recent years.

Washington agreed last month to work with the European Union on the issue under a new joint technology and trade council.

A U.S. Department of Defense report on China's military power this month flagged concern over Beijing using biotechnology to enhance its soldiers' performance.

The Danish incident, reported by Reuters news agency for the first time, shows how China's pursuit of biotechnology with a military use has also become an issue for universities in Europe.

Copenhagen university (pictured, file photo) and two large Danish foundations who funded some of Zhang's work said they discovered China's military was involved only after one of the foundations saw it had been credited, incorrectly, with financing the monkey study

The European Commission says it is developing guidelines on 'tackling foreign interference' at higher education institutions; a 2020 report from the Leiden Asia Centre, an independent group affiliated with Leiden University in the Netherlands, found at least five countries in Europe had concerns about the risks of research collaboration with China.

Some universities, including Copenhagen, have long had close science ties to China.

Copenhagen university and two large Danish foundations who funded some of Zhang's work said they discovered China's military was involved only after one of the foundations saw it had been credited, incorrectly, with financing the monkey study.

The work was funded by the Chinese government and military, the paper said.

The discovery came as Denmark's intelligence agency, PET, warned Danish universities in May of the national security risks of being unwittingly involved in foreign military research.

The PET cited 'a number of espionage activities and other foreign interference,' and a student who co-authored research into 5G technology with an engineer from a Chinese military university. It declined to comment on specific cases.

The Chinese Academy of Science, where Zhang also has a genetics lab, said of the study at the time that brain damage and death caused by high altitude on the Tibetan plateau had severely hindered 'national defence construction.'

Denmark's Ministry of Higher Education and Science declined to comment on the altitude study, but said export control rules apply to some technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The Danish Business Authority said most types of gene technology are not on its export control list.

The ministry said it had launched a broad review of the risks of international research cooperation, led by top university heads, to conclude at the start of next year.

The University of Copenhagen expects the review of 'ethical and security policy limits' for collaboration will result in new rules for universities - and greater focus on the risks, its deputy director for research and innovation Kim Brinckmann told Reuters in an email.

Zhang and a student he was supervising worked with a People's Liberation Army (PLA) laboratory on research exposing monkeys to extreme altitude to study their brains and develop new drugs to prevent brain damage, a priority the PLA has identified for Chinese troops operating on high plateau borders. Pictured: A monkey used for research (file photo)

'We are very proud to have Prof. Zhang ... as one of our very highly performing researchers,' he said. The university did not respond to a question about how much funding BGI provides it.

China's foreign ministry said it urged Danish institutions to 'abandon ideological prejudice and end groundless accusations and smears,' and treat their research cooperation rationally 'to accrue positive energy in the development of bilateral relations and practical cooperation.'

Zhang and the head of the PLA laboratory for high-altitude research, Major General Yuqi Gao, designed the study, which also lists BGI founders Wang Jian and Yang Huanming as co-authors.

BGI's other joint research with Gao has involved soldiers in Tibet and Xinjiang, Reuters reported in January.

That report was cited by two U.S. senators who called in September for BGI to be sanctioned by the United States as a military-linked company.

Gao's research has directly improved the ability of China's rapid-advance plateau troops to carry out training and combat missions, according to the Chinese military's official news service.

China's military has recently increased live fire drills in Tibet after border clashes with India. Pictured: An Indian army convoy carries reinforcements and supplies e towards Leh, on a highway bordering China, on September 2, 2020 in Gagangir amid border tensions last year

China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences launched a four-year plan in 2012 for troops to acclimatise and adapt to the low-oxygen Tibetan plateau.

That plan said BGI was working with Gao's lab to test soldiers arriving in Tibet and identify genes linked to altitude sickness, which does not affect Tibetans.

It said preventing altitude sickness helped to 'manage border areas where ethnic minorities gather,' and had far-reaching economic and political significance.

BGI told Reuters the research with the military university aimed to understand the health risk for all people travelling to and working at high altitude.

'The project using BGI's technology studied the changes of the pathophysiology and genomics of the human body at very high altitudes,' a BGI spokesman said. 'In China, many military institutions ... carry out both civilian and military research,' he added.

Gao wrote in 2018 that high altitude disease 'is the main reason for reduced combat effectiveness and health damage of soldiers at high altitudes and influences the results of war on the highland plateau,' and noted that drugs could be used in an emergency for the rapid deployment of soldiers.

China's military has recently increased live fire drills in Tibet after border clashes with India.

China's government science academy said the study had national defence and civilian benefits on the Tibetan plateau. Pictured: The Himalayas mountain range in South and East Asia separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau

The University of Copenhagen has one of Europe's oldest genetics institutes, and it is BGI's biggest international research partner by count of science papers.

The ties run deep. Two former BGI chief executives, BGI's chairman, and the founder of its animal cloning programme previously studied or worked at Copenhagen.

The university hosts more than two dozen BGI-funded researchers undertaking science and health doctorates.

Biology head Kroer told Reuters the university had been unaware of 'claims that BGI has connections with the PLA.'

The university said that other than Zhang's salary as a professor, no Danish money was spent on the study, which animal rights activists have argued subjected the animals to suffering and distress.

The student Zhang worked with was in China and employed by BGI, the university said. Zhang's research team was not involved in the animal experiments performed in China, but did analyse the genomic data generated from the experiments, it added.

The Lundbeck Foundation, which primarily funds brain research and was incorrectly listed as a funder of the monkey brain study, 'has not supported this area of his research, nor do we have any knowledge about it,' a spokesman said of the monkey brain project.

Lundbeck said Zhang had told them he was studying ants and genetics and how this could explain brain processes in humans.

The foundation said it asked Zhang this year to remove its name from the study. The Carlsberg Foundation, which controls the world's third-largest brewer and said it gave Zhang a DKK 4 million ($623,000) fellowship in 2016, also told Reuters it had been incorrectly listed as funding the project.

The paper was published in a Chinese journal, Zoological Research, which declined to comment.

Zhang is on the journal's editorial board. He told Reuters the two Danish foundations were mentioned in the paper by mistake.

'We did not spend any funding from the grants I received from these two foundations on this project,' he added in an email. The journal published a correction removing the foundations' names in March 2021.

Lundbeck declined to comment on what impact the discovery might have; Carlsberg has said animal experiments conducted overseas must comply with Danish regulations, but did not comment on the military involvement.

The Chinese Academy of Science (pictured, file photo), where Zhang also has a genetics lab, said of the study at the time that brain damage and death caused by high altitude on the Tibetan plateau had severely hindered 'national defence construction'

In June 2020, the University of Copenhagen decided to close a think tank it had run with Shanghai's Fudan University since 2013, saying it had adjusted its overall cooperation strategy.

The decision prompted a debate about China inside the university, documents obtained by Reuters under freedom of information rules show.

The university held a meeting in August 2020 to discuss the closure of Fudan and review its collaboration with China.

'China has engaged in a strategic civil-military fusion of research that often blurs the lines to the outsider,' China Studies professor Jorgen Delman said in a note to the university's head afterwards, recommending better screening of Chinese researchers and consultations with Danish military intelligence to advise on 'risks and no-go areas.' He declined to comment further.

Genetic cloning technology was transferred to BGI after a researcher, Yutao Du, received her doctorate in 2007 with a team from Danish universities that created the world's first pigs using a technique called handmade cloning.

She was praised by the Chinese government for bringing the technology to China, which went on to clone genetically modified pigs for the study of human neurological illnesses.

China's national science programme said cloned pigs were a stepping stone to chimeras, a controversial area where China wanted to lead the world. Chimeras are organisms composed of cells from two or more species that may be capable of growing organs for human transplantation.

Du is now vice president at BGI Genomics Ltd, and won promotion within the Chinese Communist Party, becoming a delegate to its national congress in 2017. She did not respond to a request for comment.
The father of Disney star Peyton Clark and influencer Acacia Kersey has been accused of pressuring teen girls as young as 14 into taking nude photos, then selling the shots without their permission on suggestive Instagram accounts.

Rich Clark, a 52-year-old photographer who runs a childrens modeling business, allegedly manipulated a number of his underage clients to take provocative photos and sometimes sold them online for $2.58, some of the former clients alleged on social media and shared with The Daily Beast.

The father-of-four still runs his business in Los Angeles, touting 27 years of experience, and has an online portfolio consisting of numerous pictures of girls and young women, multiple in suggestive poses.

One of the first to go public with her accusations was Brittni Kristine, a cosmetician who is now 26 but dated Clarks son Payton when she was a teenager in 2013. She shared a number of her text exchanges with Clark from that year in a TikTok video.

In one exchange, he says, I love 14-year-olds as you know, to which she replied, Youre not supposed to admit that. Clark texted back, No, Im not supposed to act on it. I can think it and want it all I want.

Rich Clark (right), father of Disney star Peyton Clark (left) and influencer Acacia Kersey, has been accused of pressuring teen girls into taking nude photos

Former clients have spoken up about how he allegedly texted them explicit messages and, in some cases, sold their photos online without their consent. Above is a text exchange shared online by Brittni Kristine, one of the first to go public with her accusations

Kristine dated Clarks son Payton when she was a teenager in 2013 and said he constantly sent her messages like the one above

Above, he talked to Kristine about a teenaged girl he was working with

After Kristines TikTok, Irene Kaia, now 23, shared a video on YouTube sharing her alleged experience with Clark when she was 15 and 16. She described how she moved to Los Angeles after her father died and, as an aspiring actress, hired Clark to take her photos.

She grew close with him and eventually told him about her father, which, she said, he ultimately used against her.

He told me that hed be my surrogate father and watch over me and just treat me like I was his daughter, she said. So at the time I was 16, grieving over my dad, that meant a lot to me. So, therefore, I put my trust in him and everything he told me to do.

She continued, The more we shot, the more he would ask for unprofessional poses and sexual poses  and every time I would question him, he would manipulate me, but I didnt realize that at the time. He would say to trust him, to trust your surrogate father, in that he would never put me in harms way. So I did, so I trusted him.

Clarks son Peyton, 27, starred on the Disney Channel series I Didnt Do It in 2014 and his daughter Acacia Kersey, 24, amassed millions of followers on social media, starting on Tumblr before moving to YouTube, Instagram and now the artist-centric app Patreon.

Kristine's account inspired Irene Kaia to go public with her story about how she was allegedly 'manipulated' by Clark

He acted like a father figure and allegedly pressured her into taking nude and provocative photos that he sold on a mature Instagram account

In addition to Kaia and Kristine, several other models who worked with Clark spoke with The Daily Beast, on the condition of anonymity, and shared that working with him appealed to his clients because of the success of his children.

But all have shared similar experiences of Clark telling them that sex sells, pushing them to take nude photos and texting them explicit messages.

Clark declined numerous email requests for comment from The Daily Beast, which noted that his Facebook page and website were deactivated hours after they reached out.

Clarks ex-wife Melissa also declined to comment by phone when reached by The Daily Beast and Peyton Clark and Acacia Kersey did not return repeated requests for comment from the news outlet.

For Kristine, Clarks alleged abuse began when she was dating Peyton around 18 and immediately became part of his family, she said. She described a road trip the three took in the infancy of their relationship, during which Clark offered to shoot some photos of her and Peyton.

We had kind of like some couple shots, she told the Daily Beast. [Clark] did kind of encourage more like romantic shotsI think mine and Peytons first kiss was on cameraIm pretty sure it was directed, which was a little bit strange, but we all kind of bonded over the trip.

That same trip, Clark asked Kristine if she would be comfortable posing nude for him. She said she shied away from the idea and told him she used to self-harm and didnt want to show her scars. Kristine said that Clark made her feel comfortable by saying he wouldnt judge her, before claiming that he was asexual and she didnt need to worry about stripping in front of him.

Above is a text exchange Kristine and Clark had after she told Meslissa what had happened. Kristine said that Melissa was justifiably horrified by Clark's actions and kicked Clark out of the house. The two divorced later that year

The father-of-four still runs his business in Los Angeles, touting 27 years of experience, and has an online portfolio consisting of numerous pictures of girls and young women, multiple in suggestive poses

Obviously, now that Im older and wiser, its a massive red flag. It shouldnt have even been mentioned at all if he was professional. But at the time, it [made] me feel more comfortable in his presence, she told the Daily Beast.

As she and Peyton continued dating, Kristine says she was constantly at the Clarks family home in Los Angeles and welcomed by their family.

She told the news outlet, Its kind of like the whole family was love-bombing me, she says. Acacia was my best friend; she felt like a sister to me. Peyton and I were sharing a room. Acacia and I would get into Melissas bed in the morning and just all chat together. We were very much like family. They were my only friends and my only family.

But Clark continued encroaching on her, she said, having her pose nude for photos and sending her a number of explicit texts. It was interesting, the dynamic between me and him, because it was like I was his assistant, I was his love interest, and I was his daughter, she added.

The Daily Beast noted that they confirmed the phone number Kristine texted belongs to a number associated with Clark.

In another TikTok video, Kristine shows text exchanges she and Clark allegedly shared, including one in which he sends her a number of her photos and calls her hot, which Kristine said was common.

In another exchange, Kristine says that shes stressed out and Rich says that she needs is endless sex with an older man. And in another, he fawned over pictures of another girl he was working with, who was around 15 or 16, and texted to Kristine, She kept coming up to look at pics and pushing her boobs against me. Ughhh.

Kristine added that she told the young girls parents about it, but did not elaborate on how or if the issue was resolved.

Clarks son Peyton, 27, starred on the Disney Channel series I Didnt Do It in 2014

At the end of the video, Kristine says, I cant actually show a lot of the actually explicit photos that he took, but there are gross photos of me and his actual son. So dudes a creep and Im glad that chapters closed.

Eventually, Clark asked Kristine to be his mistress, despite still being in a relationship with his son. I told Peyton, I was like, I dont want to make a big deal out of this because it would make my life very uncomfortable, considering I live with you, but like do you want to handle it somehow, do you want to go talk to your dad, Kristine recalled to The Daily Beast.

Kristine claimed that Peyton said that this wasnt the first time a situation like that had happened. The two broke up in 2014 and Kristine told the rest of Clarks family about the messages.

Kristine said that Melissa was justifiably horrified and kicked Clark out of the house. The two divorced later that year.

After Kristine told Clarks wife, he texted her Nice work. Watch your back, to which she replied, Threats Rich? Police will love this and he replied back, No problem.

Records from Los Angeles Superior Court obtained by The Daily Beast show Melissa Dawson-Clark filed for divorce in May 2014, citing irreconcilable differences that no amount of counseling could fix. The divorce was finalized that December.

The family was supportive of Krsitine months after she exposed Clark to them, but eventually kicked her out and distanced themselves when she began talking to other families and girls who worked with Clark.

She said it was obvious that they didnt want the familys reputation damaged, adding, their reputation really doesnt hold a candle to these girls safety.

As this was happening, Kaia said in her YouTube video, she was going through her own battle to escape Clarks grasp. She and Kristine both learned that the suggestive photos Clark took wound up on mature Instagram accounts and Kaia said she has documentation that her explicit photos were being sold online for as little as $2.58 for a 4x6 print.

Clark's daughter Acacia Kersey, 24, amassed millions of followers on social media, starting on Tumblr before moving to YouTube, Instagram and now the artist-centric app Patreon.

Kaia, now 23, described joining Clarks modeling club after she moved with her mother to the Los Angeles area from South Carolina following her fathers death. But by her second photoshoot, he began pushing her to take more suggestive photos and telling her she needed to show up without her mother.

She said, He would start off with little things, and then gradually move toward more provocative images. He wouldnt just be like, Oh, do a pose, he would be like, Lower your shirt a little, just above the nipple. Take your bra off. I can help you take your bra off. He would be very specific and detailed about what he wanted.

She added, He was very forward and pushy and creepy. Hes very odd There was a time when we were doing a shoot and I was changing in the back of my car and I looked over and he jokingly stopped and took a picture of me while I was changing.

I dont know why he feels the need to photograph 16-year-olds in lingerie, Kaia continued. If you didnt have a strong backbone, he would definitely try and pressure you into doing things that you probably werent comfortable with.

An anonymous former client told the Daily Beast that Clark would text her periodically, once saying she had a porn star body and had mentioned she would be even hotter if she lost five pounds. She says she never worked with Clark again because she was so creeped out by his comments.

Kaia said her relationship with Clark ended after she found her photos online for sale and confronted Clark about it. I came to Rich hysterically begging him to take them down, she said, recalling how her high school classmates found the pictures online and bullied her over it.

Kaia alleged that Clark lashed out at her and told her to never contact him again. However, another one of Clarks clients shared what he was doing in an Instagram post.

Kaia said that Clark thought it was her doing and texted her out of the blue to call her a traitorous little cunt.

At this point, Kaia went to the police with all of Clarks photos of her stored on a hard drive. She said that she sought to press charges against Clark and they launched an investigation.

Police allegedly went to Clarks house to ask if he knew her and he denied that they were ever in touch, Kaia said.

She said, I went back to the police station and I cried my eyes out. I didnt understand why they wouldnt help me. The evidence was right there. It was not only me, other girls came forward too. We had an army of girls with evidence.

Kaia added, And if that wasnt bad enough, they told me that my photos of me, as a 16-year-old nude in sexual positions, was not child pornography because I was not using a vibrator.

The Daily Beast confirmed that the Simi Valley Police Department opened an investigation into Kaias claims in 2017, but could not release details of the case because it involves a juvenile.

After seeing Kristines TikTok video, Kaia said that she has hope that more girls and young women will come forward about Clark that she doesnt alone in this.

She said, I think its time that I speak up about this. Hes still in the industry. Hes still working with children. I feel like he needs to be stopped. He shouldnt be allowed around children.
Sean Penn has been pictured donning combat gear and a helmet as he arrived in Ukraine to film a documentary about Russian aggression in the region.

The Hollywood actor and producer, 61, met with Ukrainian military service personnel as he visited positions near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk area.

Ukraine has been fighting a years-long proxy-war against Russia, which supports separatist rebels in the country's eastern regions.

It is understood Penn is shoot a documentary about how the Donbas region has been impacted by battles with pro-Moscow rebels.

He was followed by a camera crew and surrounded by military protection as he made the visit on Thursday.

Actor and director Sean Penn visits positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk region

The Hollywood actor and director donned a helmet and combat gear as he spoke with militaru personnel in the region

Penn was flanked by security and military service personnel as he walked along a settlement close to the frontline

The actor spoke to servicemen and servicewomen during his visit on Thursday

The proxy-war stems from the 2014 rebellion which ousted pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych and led to Russian annexing Crimea in the aftermath.

The conflict has so-far claimed some 13,000 lives.

Crimea juts into the Black Sea and contains an important Russian naval port with easy access to the Mediterranean.

A post on the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters Facebook page on Thursday said Penn was visiting 'to see with his own eyes the consequences of Russian aggression'.

The post added that the idea of the documentary was to 'tell the general public about the events that are currently happening in our country'.

The actor made the visit to the settlement of Priazov, which has been at the forefront of the ongoing conflict.

Penn rose to fame as a leading actor with the drama Dead Man Walking in 1995, before winning two Academy Awards for his roles in Mystic River in 2003, followed by Milk in 2008.

His arrival in the region came as Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of 'escalating' tensions around Ukraine by building up forces on his border, even as thousands of Russian troops, tanks and artillery pieces sit close by.

Penn is understood to be filming a documentary about how the Donbas region has been impacted by battles with pro-Moscow rebels

He was followed by cameras and microphones as he walked around the area on Thursday

The Russian president said Europe and the US had carried out ship drills in the Black Sea and flown bombers close to the frontier - crossing 'red lines' and showing that Russia is not being taken seriously.

As he spoke, the Russian military test-fired an 'unstoppable' hypersonic Zircon missile at a target in the White Sea - saying it scored a direct hit.

He said: 'Western partners are escalating the situation by supplying Kiev with lethal modern weapons.'

The comments were made after Ukraine's defence minister revealed he has asked Brussels and Washington for more military tech.

Putin said Moscow has been 'constantly raising concerns about this' but 'all our warnings and talk about red lines are treated superficially'.

Putin has been voicing concern about US naval exercises in the Black Sea for days, telling his French counterpart this week that they were 'provocative' and leading to 'increasing tensions' between Moscow and NATO.

He has also slammed Ukraine for using a Turkish-made drone against pro-Moscow rebels.

Meanwhile, Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, said he is in the process of agreeing a 'Russian containment package' with allies in Washington and Brussels including 'increased sanctions' as well as 'supplies of additional weapons'.
The NYPD is hunting for three men who made anti-Asian comments before their group of five punched an Asian man and hit him with sticks in what police are investigating as a hate crime.

The unidentified 30-year-old man reported to police that his attackers - three men and two women - asked him: 'What are you doing here, Asian?' before unleashing their fury as hate crimes in New York and around the country spiral out of control.

The attack on Fifth Avenue near 31st Street in the city's Koreatown neighborhood occurred at around 10.30pm on Oct. 23, police said.

The man was repeatedly punched and bashed with sticks by the five attackers, suffering a head injury. He was treated at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

New York police are looking for a group of individuals that attacked a 30-year-old man. The NYPD is looking for three men after they attacked a 30-year-old Asian on Fifth Avenue near 31st Street in Manhattan's Midtown South

The three men and two women attacked the man after allegedly asking him: 'What are you doing here, Asian?' They proceeded to punch him and hit him with wooden sticks

The group of five attacked the man on October 23 at 10.30pm and left him with a head injury

The NYPD's Hate Crime Taskforce is investigating the incident.

The city created an Asian Hate Crime Taskforce in October 2020, the first to dedicate itself to a single race. The task force is comprised of 25 detectives, all of Asian descent who can speak a total of nine Asian languages, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Big Apple has reported 474 hate crimes as of November 7 - a 96 percent increase from last year during the same time frame when there were 242 such attacks.

Out of the 474 hate crimes this year, 127 attacks were against Asians - a nearly five-fold increase from the 28 attacks against Asians in 2020.

Hate crimes against Asians in New York City have risen 96 per cent since 2020 as of November 7. More than 400 hate crimes have been document in the city this year, with 127 of those being directed at Asians. Last year only 28 out of the 242 hate crimes were directed at Asians

The nation has seen a 343 percent increase in hate crimes against Asians this year, the New York Daily News reported.

Almost 62 percent of all hate crimes are race-based, according to the FBI, with sexual orientation and gender identity being the next highest group to be targeted, at 20 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively.

On Wednesday, a group of Asian students were attacked on a Philadelphia SEPTA train.

It is unclear what sparked the feud, but video footage shows a group of black teenagers screaming profanities at five Asian students, four boys and one girl.

The attack happened near the Erie Station around 3.30pm on Wednesday on the Broad Street Line and has led one city official to call for more cops to patrol the trains - where a woman was raped last month as other passengers sat idly by.

The Asian girl was cornered by one of the other teenagers and back into the train door, where she was hit in the face several times until she fell to the ground. Two other girls joined the first one in kicking the female student and stomping on her back, while the first one took of her shoe and hit the girl repeatedly.
Ron DeSantis trolled President Joe Biden by signing a bill banning his vaccine mandate from going into effect at an event in the city of Brandon, Florida on Thursday.

The Republican Florida governor visited the Brandon Honda dealership about 12 miles east of Tampa  the town name is a reference to the chant 'Let's go Brandon', which has become synonymous in pro-Trump crowds with 'F**k Joe Biden.'

'There's times you need to stand up and make your voices heard,' DeSantis said at the event where he said the Florida legislature worked 'quickly' to ban the president's new rule.

Biden's executive order, which was made a rule by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, requires companies with 100 or more employees to obtain proof of vaccination from their workers or subject them to weekly testing and masking.

'Nobody in Florida should be losing their job over these jabs,' the governor lamented to a few scattered cheers. 'We want people to be able to work, we want people to be able to provide for their families, we want people to be able to have livelihoods.'

Also at the press conference on Thursday, attendees participated in 'Let's go Brandon' chants.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill Thursday banning Joe Biden's private company vaccine mandate from going into effect in Florida

The signing event was at a Honda in Brandon, Florida  a troll of the chant 'Let's go Brandon,' which has become synonymous with 'F**k Joe Biden'

'It's obvious to a lot of the people in the crowd that you chose Brandon because of the thing that goes around on certain websites, is that why you came to Brandon  because of the trolling of the Biden administration?'

'I think Brandon, Florida is a great American city, I think the people here are fantastic,' DeSantis, leading to another chant and viscous cheers.

He added: 'We're proud to be able to make a stand for freedom in Brandon, Florida.'

With DeSantis for the signing on Thursday was Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson.

'Florida is protecting the rights of employees and families,' DeSantis tweeted of the new law. 'The free state of Florida will stand in the way of bureaucrats who want to take away our jobs and freedom through heavy-handed mandates.'

Republicans in several states have launched legal challenges against Biden's new mandate.

In the days after OSHA released details of the rule the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals immediately moved to halt implementation of the new vaccine requirements.

Republicans also lament that Biden is using an 'emergency' workaround to get the rule through quickly, without allowing the full process for public comments to be heard. They claim this is disingenuous considering the rule won't go into effect until after the holidays  a move claimed to be a political move for the president in the midst of a supply chain crisis and worker shortage.

By January 4, 2022 all employees at companies need to be vaccinated against coronavirus, according to the OSHA rule, or else provided weekly proof of a negative COVID test and wear a mask at the work site.

If companies or businesses are found to be noncompliant, they could face a fine of nearly 14,000 per unvaccinated employee.

The administration, however, will likely have to rely on whistleblowers within companies to tell on their bosses for not upholding the new rule considering OSHA does not have the manpower needed to inspect workplaces for compliance.
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The Kenosha County Sheriff resorted to dishing out 'cookies for peace' and cups of coffee at the courthouse on Thursday in a desperate effort to keep the crowds calm as the nervous wait for a verdict in the Rittenhouse trial rumbled on.

Sheriff David Beth - who failed to contain the riots last year after his 116 deputies were overrun by more than 1,000 protesters - was at the courthouse on Thursday as the jury deliberated the teenager's fate for a third day.

He was pictured approaching BLM protesters and Rittenhouse supporters, offering them cookies and a warm drink, in an effort to keep the peace.

'The Sheriff wanted to extend a goodwill gesture to the community in hopes that it would reduce tensions among the folks outside the courthouse and bring people together.

'It seemed to work from what we were seeing,' a spokesman for the force told DailyMail.com on Thursday.

His efforts weren't entirely successful. One man was arrested after showing up with a gun, a felony because it is within 1,000ft of a school. Yesterday, a man and a woman were arrested at the court and charged with disorderly conduct.

There is yet to be any violence beyond that, but tensions are high and rising.

Five elementary schools announced on Wednesday night that they are going remote for the rest of the week to keep kids off the streets in case of any unrest.

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth serves coffee and cookies outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, during the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S., November 18, 2021

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth passes out 'Cookies for Peace' to demonstrators at the Kenosha County Courthouse on the third day of jury deliberations in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S., November 18, 2021

A spokesman for the sheriff's department told DailyMail.com the coffee and cookies were a 'goodwill gesture in the hopes of reducing tensions'. 'It seemed to work,' they said

An armed man dressed in all black and wearing a mask being arrested for having a firearm by the Kenosha County Police in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse. He has not been identified

The man is the only person who was arrested on Thursday. Two protesters were arrested on Wednesday for disorderly conduct

Kyle Rittenhouse, center, pulls out his chair for a meeting Judge Bruce Schroeder called during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on November 18, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Frank Elementary School, one of them, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday: 'We will switch to virtual tomorrow and Friday as a precaution.

Our attendance area includes the homes surrounding the Kenosha Courthouse. Students log on at 8:15am with their teachers and crews.'

There are 500 National Guard troops now on standby 60 miles away from Kenosha in case any tensions arise.

Last August, Sheriff Beth found his force under siege when hundreds of protesters rushed to their small town after the Jacob Blake shooting. Kenosha Police Department, which had fewer than 200 officers at the time, was equally under outnumbered and the town begged for help from the Governor, but got only a few hundred National Guard troops at first.

Among those at the courthouse on Thursday was Daunte Wright's brother Damik Wright who told DailyMail.com: 'Everybody is boots on the ground regardless of whether its Mexico or Canada we are coming. Its not just with one family.

'Wherever there is police brutality we are coming and will stand in solidarity with them,' he said.

Maserati Mike, a Rittenhouse supporter who showed up yesterday carrying a gun and was asked to leave, returned on Thursday carrying a sex toy which he waved in the air. He told reporters his name was Jesse Kline.

A protester who previously called himself Maserati Mike, but has now identified himself as Jesse Kline, carries a Colt rifle bag as he walks with a dog outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, during the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S., November 18, 2021

Bishop Tavis Grant (left), Jacob Blake's uncle Justin Blake (right) and Daunte Wright's brother Damik Wright (center). Damik told DailyMail.com: 'Wherever there is police brutality we are coming and will stand in solidarity with them'

A protester speaking on a microphone outside the courthouse on Thursday. There has so far been an even split of BLM protesters and Rittenhouse supporters

BLM protesters outside the court on Thursday as the jury deliberated for a third day. Some said he was 'guilty as hell' and called the trial a 'farce'

Seth Warichak, left, stands outside the Kenosha County Courthouse during the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 in Kenosha, Wis. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year

A protester stands outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, during the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S., November 18, 2021

Tom Heineman age 60 from Racine, WI, protesting on the steps of the Kenosha County Courthouse

A man holds a placard outside the Kenosha County courthouse as the jury deliberates for a third day in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA, 18 November 2021. Rittenhouse is being tried for the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz on 25 August 2020 during civil unrest in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake

Inside the courtroom, Rittenhouse was waiting for a third day to find out if he will end up in prison for the rest of his life.

Judge Bruce Schroeder alerts the attorneys that a man claiming to be with a major news network was arrested the previous night during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on November 18, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin

The jury is deliberating five charges; two of homicide, one of attempted homicide and two of recklessly endangering public safety.

He has pleaded not guilty across the board and insists he was in Kenosha on August 25, 2020, to give first aid and help protect local businesses from damage.

There had already been two nights of riots by the time Rittenhouse took to the streets.

On Monday, his legal team asked for a mistrial because the prosecution did not supply them with a high definition version of drone footage early enough in the trial for them to be able to prepare a defense for it.

The jury now has that footage and can watch it as much as jurors' like to form a verdict.

In other chaos surrounding the trial, MSNBC has been banned from the courtroom after a journalist was caught near the jury bus carrying the jurors out of court.

Police say the journalist was suspected of following them and was trying to take photographs. In a statement on Thursday, they said: 'Last night a person who is alleging to be affiliated with a national media outlet was briefly taken into custody and issued several traffic related citations. Police suspect this person was trying to photograph jurors.

'This incident is being investigated much further.'

MSNBC insisted that it was a misunderstanding and that the journalist was pulled over for a traffic violation.

'While the traffic violation took place near the jury van, the freelancer never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations, and never photographed or intended to photograph them.

'We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with the authorities on any investigation,' an NBC spokesman said.

Judge Bruce Schroeder was furious with the possibility that the journalist might have tried to get to the jury or photograph them.

'I have instructed that no one from MSNBC news will be permitted in this building for the duration of this trial.

'This is a very serious matter and I dont know what the ultimate truth of it is, but absolutely it would go without much thinking that someone who is following the jury bus, that is an extremely serious matter and will be referred to the proper authorities for further action,' he said.
Lindsay Boylan, 36

Former aide Lindsay Boylan, 36, was the first woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment in a Medium post on February 24. She claimed that the governor asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017.

Lindsay Boylan, 36

Charlotte Bennett, 25

Charlotte Bennett, 25, came forward a few days after Boylan and claimed that Cuomo sexually harassed her last June while she was working as a health policy adviser in his administration at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

Bennett accused Cuomo of 'grooming' her and asking inappropriate questions about her sex life.

She also claimed that he told her he was open to dating women in their 20s.

BENNETT said the governor asked her about her love life - including whether she ever had sex with older men - and talked about his own, saying that age differences didn't matter in relationships and he was open to dating women over 22.

During a meeting alone in his office, the governor said he was lonely and talked about wanting to hug someone, Bennett said.

She said she swiftly complained to Cuomo's chief of staff and was transferred to another job.

She said she spoke to a lawyer for the governor, but didnt insist on further action because she liked her new post and wanted to move on.

Charlotte Bennett, 25

Anna Ruch, 33

Anna Ruch was the third woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment and the only one thus far who did not work with him in a professional capacity. She claimed that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her just moments after they met at a September 2019 wedding in Manhattan.

Anna Ruch, 33

Ana Liss, 35

Ana Liss, 35, a former aide, said Cuomo asked her whether she had a boyfriend, once kissed her hand at her desk and called her by patronizing names, including 'blondie,' 'sweetheart' and 'honey.'

At a reception, the governor hugged her then put his arm around her lower back and waist as they posed for photo, Liss said.

She said she eventually asked for a job transfer. In an interview, Liss said she was 'not claiming sexual harassment per se,' but felt the administration 'wasn't a safe space for young women to work.'

Liss, who previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015, told the Wall Street Journal that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances, including touching her lower back, kissing her hand and quizzing her about her love life.

Ana Liss, 35

Karen Hinton, 62

The oldest allegations against Cuomo came from Karen Hinton, who served as a press aide for him when he led the US Department of Housing and Urban Development two decades ago and she was a consultant for the agency. Hinton told the Washington Post about a 2000 incident when she said Cuomo summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event. She said she tried to pull away from Cuomo when he pulled her back and held her before she managed to escape the room.

Karen Hinton, 62

Unnamed sixth accuser

The most damning allegations leveled against Cuomo to date came from a sixth accuser, whose name has not been released.

The accuser, who is a member of Cuomo's staff, alleged that he closed a door, reached under her blouse and fondled her after summoning her to the governor's mansion in Albany for help with his cellphone, according to the Times Union of Albany.

It first reported on her accusation last month; she then gave more detail in her first interview on the matter, published Wednesday.

The woman spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy, although her identity is known within the governors circle, the Times Union reported.

The woman, an executive assistant, told the Times Union the governor gave her kisses on the cheek and inappropriately tight hugs for years and made remarks including, 'If you were single, the things that I would do to you' and 'I'm single and ready to mingle.'

Then, one day in November, she was summoned to his Executive Mansion office to help him with a cellphone problem, she said.

He got up from his desk, started groping her and told her 'I don't care' after she tried to deflect him by saying he was going to get them into trouble, and then he slammed the door, she said.

Then he reached under her blouse and clutched one of her breasts over her bra, she told the newspaper.

The woman told a colleague this winter about the alleged encounter, and the co-worker told a supervisor in early March, according to the newspaper.

Cuomo called the report 'gut-wrenching' in a March statement and said: 'I have never done anything like this.'

Another female aide, who has remained anonymous, claimed he called her to his Executive Mansion last year, reached under her blouse and fondled her

Jessica Bakeman

Jessica Bakeman claimed in a first-person article for New York Magazine that she was sexually harassed by Cuomo on several occasions since the start of her journalism career in 2012.

Bakeman added her voice as the seventh accuser as she detailed inappropriate touching by the governor as he continued to deny all of the claims.

'He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go,' Bakeman wrote of an interaction with Cuomo as she said goodnight at a holiday party in 2014 when she was only 25 years old.

'He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place while indicating to a photographer he wanted us to pose for a picture.'

At the time Bakeman had been working for what is now Politico New York and claimed that red flags went up as her 'job was to analyze and scrutinize him'.

'I didn't want a photo of him with his hands on my body and a smile on my face,' she wrote.

Jessica Bakeman, a reporter who once covered the Cuomo administration, was the seventh woman to come forward with claims of harassment

'But I made the reflexive assessment that most women and marginalized people know instinctively, the calculation about risk and power and self-preservation. I knew it would be far easier to smile for the brief moment it takes to snap a picture than to challenge one of the most powerful men in the country.'

In an earlier 2012 incident while she was working for USA Today, Bakeman also claims that Cuomo kept her pinned to his side as he told a story to her male colleagues.

'He left it there, and kept me pinned next to him, for several minutes as he finished telling his story,' she said. 'I stood there, my cheeks hot, giggling nervously as my male colleagues did the same. We all knew it was wrong, but we did nothing.'

The reporter, who now works in Florida, claimed that Cuomo 'never let me forget I was a woman' as she also alleged that he made frequent attempts to humiliate her, including calling out her purple phone instead of answering her question during a press gaggle.

Alyssa McGrath, 33

McGrath, a current administrative assistant in Cuomo's office, told The New York Times that he looked down her shirt, quizzed her about her marital status, and told her she was beautiful, using an Italian phrase she had to ask her parents to interpret.

McGrath didn't say the governor made sexual contact with her but thought his behavior was sexual harassment.

She recalled Cuomo kissing her on the forehead and gripping her firmly around the sides while posing for a photo at a 2019 office Christmas party.

Alyssa McGrath (pictured) is one of two aides who have come forward to accuse the governor of harassment

Sherry Vill, 55

Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct during a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on Monday.

She alleges Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her 'aggressively and in a sexual manner' on both cheeks in May 2017 while he was touring her home in Greece, near Rochester, as he inspected local flood damage.

Vill, who said she felt uncomfortable at the time, shared an image her daughter took on the day that showed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek and her attorney held up multiple photos showing the Governor inside her home.

The same photos appear on Cuomo's Flickr account, as well as multiple others that show him kissing and greeting residents as he toured the town.

None of the women in the other photos have accused the governor of inappropriate behavior or wrongdoing.
The U.S. government announced this week a dark and tragic milestone. Between the months of April 2020 and April 2021 more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, the highest annual total ever.

The vast majority of these deaths were from opioids and the synthetic opioid fentanyl. There is a lot of data that has been released that gives insight into who and where this is happening in our country. Although this is a tragedy that afflicts every area, middle-aged people and Appalachia have been hit even harder.

This is an American tragedy, an American crisis that has now reached such levels that we should be treating it with the same level of intensity and focus that we have the Covid crisis.

President Biden and his administration should be out on national television every day addressing this milestone and coming up with an aggressive cross-party coalition on how we resolve or at the very least, slow down this public health crisis as politicians did during Covid.

So why isn't President Biden addressing this with the same intensity and fervor?

President Biden and his administration should be out on national television every day addressing this milestone and coming up with an aggressive cross-party coalition on how we resolve or at the very least, slow down this public health crisis as politicians did during Covid.

(Right) Christine Gagnon of Southington, Conn., protests with other family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses at Purdue Pharma LLP headquarters in 2018 (Left) Protesters set up cardboard gravestones with the names of victims of opioid abuse outside the courthouse where the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy was taking place in White Plains, N.Y., in 2021.

Why is it more important for his administration to be discussing why highways are racist than why thousands of Americans are killing themselves with drugs?

It's not as if the addiction crisis in America is a new issue even if it now seems to be spiraling ever faster into abject chaos.

The author and Senate candidate J.D. Vance launched his career with the book 'Hillbilly Elegy', a memoir about his life growing up in Appalachian Kentucky poverty with a mother who is a lifelong struggling addict.

And right now on Hulu the show 'Dopesick' is playing, starring Michael Keaton, based on the book of the same name that depicts the origins and lies of the opioid crisis in America that was sparked by addiction to oxycontin

It concentrates specifically on the role of the Purdue pharma company's (and the owning-family's) role in the reassuring lies that were spread about this deadly addictive opioid.

It's easy to find illumination into why this crisis came upon our culture with such rage and fervor in the 90's and why the social, economic and political ramifications can be seen filtering into all of American life today.

It is the crisis of my generation. It is the quiet crisis that many seem to want to ignore. It is a crisis of extreme poverty - both financial and spiritual.

Sadly, I come from a family of addicts. Specifically prescription pill addicts and alcoholics. There are some in my family, like my mother, who have been public and open about their addiction and path out of darkness.

There are others in my family who have been more private but who have struggled just as deeply and have had to seek treatment in rehab, sometimes multiple times.

We are not from Appalachia, we are not poor. Yet I know the impact it has had on me personally watching those whom I love struggle with addiction and seeing first hand how it has ravaged their lives.

But at least we have every resource at our disposal to seek healing and sobriety. The vast, vast majority of the American population does not have this luxury.

I also, like so many others, have friends who have struggled with addiction to prescription medication. During the first year-and-a-half of Covid my husband Ben and I had to help two of our friends on two separate occasions enter rehab.

I thank God, my inner constitution, my blessings and my privilege that I have never struggled nor faced any issues of any kind with addiction myself. I am one of the lucky ones.

Both of our friends' addictions spiraled out of control during the Covid lockdowns - along with many friends and family members, who subsequently suffered from depression, loneliness, a wide array of mental health issues, and an overall pessimism about the world we live in and the future that was being presented to our children.

There are some in my family, like my mother, who have been public and open about their addiction and path out of darkness. (Above: Cindy McCain)

I remember saying publicly during our lockdowns that there are a lot of ways people are going to die of Covid that just simply aren't the virus itself. The pandemic left many people lonely, without support or resources for treatment or support. What we are seeing with these opioid overdose numbers is an example of that.

Why are so many people in America self medicating and spiraling into the grip of addiction and tragically death?

The leaders in charge of our country on a national level and many on a local level collectively decided that by far the most deadly threat to America was Covid, and extended lockdowns and draconian laws over and over again without what seemed to be much regard for the larger holistic crisis that was savaging our country. The long-term ramifications of this will be felt for generations.

I do not know the answer on how we can halt this crisis but what I do know is that every politician in America, on both sides on Capitol Hill should be focusing on coming up with a strategy and plan on how to help.

Opioids now kill more Americans than car crashes, flu and guns.

This is a national emergency and everyone who isn't treating it as such should be voted out of office.
The family of a Colorado man who died after police and paramedics injected him with ketamine during a wrongful arrest has agreed to a $15 million settlement - one of the largest payouts by any city in the nation.

Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old black man, went into cardiac arrest following his run-in with police in Aurora on August 24, 2019, and died in a hospital six days later.

Sheneen McClain, who filed the lawsuit in August 2020, claimed that the city, three police officers, two paramedics and the medical director of the Aurora Fire Rescue violated her son's civil rights by using 'brutal force' and then sedating him with ketamine.

A court hearing is scheduled for tomorrow on how the settlement will be split between his mother and father, Lawayne Mosley.

The McClain family's $15 million settlement against a city or police department is now among the largest ever of its kind in the country, surpassing a $12 million wrongful death payout to the family of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by police in Kentucky during a botched drug raid.

The family of George Floyd received a $27 million settlement from the City of Minneapolis after Floyd was killed by now-convicted cop Derek Chauvin.

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For 2010 to 2019, the city of Aurora had settled for a total of $7.4 million, making the family's settlement for death of Elijah McClain, pictured, double that of the last nine years combined

The McClain's $15 million settlement against a city surpasses that of a $12 million wrongful death lawsuit for Breonna Taylor, right, who was killed by police during a botched drug raid

Pictured: settlement paperwork the McClain family filed in August of last year against the city of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department

Pictured: part of the settlement the McClain family filed against the city of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department

The exact settlement amount was confirmed to CBS Denver by three sources familiar with the tentative agreement.

If accurate, the $15 million payout will double the total amount the city has paid in wrongful death lawsuits from 2010 to 2019, when it shelled out $7.4 million.

Ryan Luby, deputy director of communications for the City of Aurora, had confirmed the city and family reached an agreement in the lawsuit on October 18, but had declined to reveal the terms of the settlement.

'The City of Aurora and the family of Elijah McClain reached a settlement agreement in principle over the summer to resolve the lawsuit filed after his tragic death in August 2019,' Luby said in a statement to 9News last month.

'City leaders are prepared to sign the agreement as soon as the family members complete a separate but related allocation process to which the city is not a party,' he continued. 'Until those issues are resolved and the agreement is in its final form, the parties cannot disclose the settlement terms.

Qusair Mohamedbhai, an attorney for Shaneen McClain, had also confirmed that a settlement has been reached 'resolving all claims raised in her federal civil rights lawsuit.'

He said the court will determine how much of the $15 million settlement will be distributed to Shaneen and Mosley, McClain's father.

Elijah McClain left, and right in hospital after he was fatally-injured while being arrested in Aurora, Colorado, in August 2019. He died six days later of his injuries

One year after his death, his mother, Shaneen McClain, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of Aurora. A settlement has now been reached in that suit

Elijah was walking home from a corner store with an iced tea in his hand on August 24, 2019, when he was stopped by police officers responding to a 911 call about a man in a ski mask who was waving his arms in the air.

McClain's family said he wore the ski mask because anemia made him unusually susceptible to the cold, and McClain was apparently listening to music on headphones and dancing as he walked - also the reason, he explained to cops, that he did not initially comply with their verbal commands.

When the paramedics arrived, they reportedly injected McClain with ketamine, a hallucinogenic anesthetic, and seven minutes later he went into cardiac arrest.

He died at the hospital six days later.

A subsequent internal investigation by Aurora Police found that the cops had no reasonable grounds to stop him, and last month, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges against Police Officers Nathan Woodyard, Randy Roedema and former cop Jason Rosenblatt.

Weiser filed the same charges against paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Lt. Peter Cichuniec in a 32-count indictment.

The officers who stopped McClain on the street and put him in a chokehold are (left to right) Jason Rosenblatt, Nathan Woodyard and Randy Roedema. They have now been charged

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser talks about a grand jury investigation into the death of Elijah McClain during a news conference last month

The indictment was unsealed almost two years after the August 2019 death. Weiser was appointed a special prosecutor by Colorado Governor Jared Polis after immense public pressure, and convened a grand jury in January.

McClain's death gained widespread attention during last years protests against racial injustice and police brutality following the killing of Floyd in Minneapolis.

McClain's pleading words that were captured on police body camera video - 'I'm just different' - have been posted on signs at protests and spoken by celebrities who have joined those calling for the prosecution of the officers who confronted McClain as he walked down the street in the city of Aurora after a 911 caller reported he looked suspicious.

Stories about McClain, a massage therapist family and friends described as a gentle and kind introvert, filled social media, including how he volunteered to play his violin to comfort cats at an animal shelter.

Facing pressure during nationwide protests last year, Polis ordered Weiser to open a new criminal investigation. A district attorney had said in 2019 that he could not charge the officers because an autopsy could not determine how McClain died.

In January, Weiser announced that he had opened a grand jury investigation, noting that grand juries have the power to compel testimony and documents that would otherwise be unavailable.

It was one of several investigations prompted at least in part by McClain's death, including separate reviews of McClain's arrest commissioned by the city of Aurora and a comprehensive review of the Police Department. The attorney general's office also is conducting a civil rights investigation into the agency, the first under a new police accountability law in Colorado.

McClain's death gained widespread attention during last years protests against racial injustice and police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis

McClain, 23, was described as a gentle and kind introvert who volunteered to play his violin to comfort cats at an animal shelter

KEY FINDINGS FROM THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO ELIJAH MCCLAIN'S DEATH 'Neither the caller nor any of the officers involved identified a crime that [McClain] was suspected of committing'

'Based on the record available to the panel, we were not able to identify sufficient evidence that Mr. McClain was armed and dangerous in order to justify a pat-down search'

The report states that officers used force on McClain 'within seconds of exiting their cars'

'Aurora Fire appears to have accepted the officers' impression that Mr. McClain had excited delirium without corroborating that impression through meaningful observations or diagnostic examination of Mr. McClain'

'In addition, EMS administered a ketamine dosage based on a grossly inaccurate and inflated estimate of Mr. McClain's size. Higher doses can carry a higher risk of sedation complications, for which this team was clearly not prepared'

'Body worn camera audio, limited video and...interviews with the officers tell two contrasting stories'

The post-event investigation was 'flawed'

'The Aurora Police Department's Major Crime/Homicide Unit investigation of the death of Mr. McClain raised serious concerns for the Panel and revealed significant weaknesses in the Department's accountability systems' Advertisement

Aurora's highly critical review did not find any evidence to justify officers stopping McClain.

The report notes 'neither the caller nor any of the officers involved identified a crime that [McClain] was suspected of committing at the time that he first came to the officers' attention'.

It adds: 'The speed at which these officers acted to take Mr. McClain into custody, their apparent failure to assess whether there was reasonable suspicion that a crime had been committed, and the unity with which the three officers acted suggest several potential training or supervision weaknesses.'

'The body worn camera audio, limited video, and Major Crime's interviews with the officers tell two contrasting stories.

'The officers' statements on the scene and in subsequent recorded interviews suggest a violent and relentless struggle.

'The limited video, and the audio from the body worn cameras, reveal Mr. McClain surrounded by officers, all larger than he, crying out in pain, apologizing, explaining himself, and pleading with the officers.

The police body camera video shows an officer getting out of his car, approaching McClain on the sidewalk and saying, 'Stop right there. Stop. Stop ... I have a right to stop you because you're being suspicious.'

In the video, the officer puts his hand on McClain's shoulder and turns him around and repeats, 'Stop tensing up.' As McClain verbally protests, the officer says, 'Relax, or Im going to have to change this situation.' As the other officers join in to restrain McClain, he asks them to let go and says, 'You guys started to arrest me, and I was stopping my music to listen.'

What happened next isn't clear because all of the officers' body cameras come off as they move McClain to the grass, but the officers and McClain can still be heard.

An officer says McClain grabbed one of their guns. McClain can be heard trying to explain himself and sometimes crying out or sobbing. He says he can't breathe and was just on his way home.

A pathologist who conducted an autopsy said a combination of a narrowed coronary artery and physical exertion contributed to McClain's death.

Dr. Stephen Cina found no evidence of a ketamine overdose and said several other possibilities could not be ruled out, including an unexpected reaction to ketamine or the chokehold causing an irregular heartbeat.

The carotid hold that was used on McClain involves applying pressure to the sides of the neck, stopping the flow of blood to the brain to render someone unconscious. It has been banned by police departments and some states, including Colorado, following Floyds killing.

McClain was walking home from a convenience store with a bottle of iced tea when he was stopped by police officers responding to a call about a suspicious male wearing a mask

They put him in a chokehold, and later sedated him with ketamine

The attorney general's announcement comes after three Aurora officers, including one involved in the encounter with McClain, were fired and one resigned last year over photos mimicking the chokehold used on the 23-year-old.

The department's new chief, who fired those officers as its interim leader, has vowed to work to rebuild public trust since McClains death and other police encounters with people of color.

However, Vanessa Wilson spent her first days as chief last year apologizing after Aurora officers put four black girls on the ground and handcuffed two of them next to a car that police suspected was stolen but turned out not to be.

A prosecutor later decided there was no evidence the officers committed a crime but urged the Police Department to review its policies to ensure that something similar does not happen again.
Peter Dutton insists barring unvaccinated Australians from pubs and cafes 'segregates' communities and should be abandoned.

The defence minister rubbished plans by state premiers to only allow vaccinated residents into hospitality and retail even after 80 per cent are immunised.

Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia have no plans to reopen to much of their economies to the unvaccinated and likely won't until well into next year.

NSW is the only state that plans to give the same freedom to the unvaccinated when it ditches the vaccine passport system by December 15.

Mr Dutton argued applying different rules to them would demonise a small portion of the community and ultimately lead to 'segregation'.

'You cannot segregate even a small part of Australian society and we want people to get vaccinated,' he told the Today show on Friday.

Queensland will enforce vaccine passports at hospitality venues from December 17, while Victoria has vowed to keep unvaccinated residents out until next year.

'For the premiers to say there's a small portion, even though we don't agree with their decision not to be vaccinated, a small proportion of society will never be able to go to a coffee shop or restaurant again,' Mr Dutton said.

'I just think you cannot segregate a part of the community, even if you disagree with the decision they've made and we are moving into a phase now where we have to live with this virus.'

Mr Dutton defended Prime Minister Scott Morrison after he came under fire for urging premiers to reopen to everyone regardless of vaccination status.

Mr Morrison argued the mandate should only be applied in situations where health workers deal with vulnerable people.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her deputy Steven Miles on Thursday accused the prime minister of 'undermining our vaccine' and attempting to claw together a 'coalition of anti-vaxxers'.

Today host Karl Stefanovic asked Mr Dutton whether the federal government's stance would hurt Queensland's vaccination rollout, which is the slowest in Australia.

Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia have taken the strong stance against the unvaccinated and have yet to indicate when they will fully reopen to all residents

'The reason we are behind most other states in the country is because the premier went out and bagged AstraZeneca at a time when other premiers including Labor premiers weren't,' Mr Dutton shot back.

'That's what undermined us from the start and we've been well behind the pack for many months. Nothing to do with the comments of the prime minister over the past 24 hours.'

Opposition leader Richard Marles appeared on the Today show alongside Mr Dutton and claimed Mr Morrison was deliberately targeting Labor premiers.

'It's all about the politics when it comes to the Prime Minister and he is always trying to pick a fight, particularly with Labor Premiers,' he said.

'This undermines the vaccine rollout that is going on in WA and Queensland and it's a different message from what we've heard recently.'

The debate on the talk show took a bizarre turn when host Karl Stefanovic pointed out Mr Dutton celebrated his 51st birthday the day before.

Mr Dutton defended prime minister Scott Morrison after he came under fire for urging premiers to reopen to everyone regardless of vaccination status

Stefanovic took it as an opportunity to sing a belated happy birthday, urging Mr Marles to take the lead.

A blushing Mr Dutton smiled as Stefanovic and Mr Marles sang out-of-sync before the pair burst into laughter.

Mr Dutton continued his attack against Ms Palaszczuk while appearing on radio station 4BC.

'At the time of the agreement the premiers entered into they decided they weren't going to mandate vaccinations,' he said.

'The agreement that Premier Palaszczuk signed up to was at 80 per cent we would have to enter a new phase to live with.

'And by definition, if you go for a voluntary program you are going to have a small number of people who are unvaccinated.'

Host Neil Breen argued the freedoms given to the vaccinated should serve as motivation for the unvaccinated to get the jab.

'Why should others be able to freeload on those who've done the heavy lifting and gone and got vaccinated and been proactive?' he said.
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The Duchess of Sussex has renewed calls for compulsory paid family leave in the US, in her first major TV appearance since her notorious tell-all with Oprah Winfrey.

In a soft-soap interview with chat show host Ellen DeGeneres on Thursday, Meghan Markle told her close friend she would do 'everything' in her power to change US policy for millions of Americans.

The duchess recently caused controversy by cold-calling US senators on their private phones and using her royal title to urge them to vote in favour of paid leave. Previously she wrote a letter to the US Congress asking them to considering making paid leave law.

Republican Representative Jason Smith of Missouri condemned Meghan for interfering in American politics, and even suggested she should be stripped of her title to stop her using it to gain political leverage.

Meghan told The Ellen Show: 'I think that people truly forget, or don't even know that in this country, it's one of the only six countries in the entire world and the only wealthy nation in the entire world that does not mandate and have a federal paid leave programme.

'Everybody knows, especially if you have had a child and even if you haven't, you know how hard it is and how critical it is in those first few weeks if not months to be together as a family.

'And the fact that we don't offer that here is something that now as a mom of two, I will do everything that I can to make sure that we can implement that for people.'

Meghan, a former Suits actress who is living in a $14million mansion in California with husband Prince Harry and their children Archie and Lilibet, also promoted her children's book The Bench, which she said she wrote as a poem for Harry on Father's Day.

In her appearance on The Ellen Show:

Meghan revealed how Archie 'loves being a big brother' to her daughter Lili and calls her husband 'H';

Prince Harry loves living in California because of the weather, the duchess told DeGeneres;

Archie dressed as a dinosaur for Halloween, while Lili was a 'little skunk like Flower from Bambi';

Meghan vowed to do 'everything' in her power to make paid family leave compulsory for all Americans;

The duchess also described going out in Toronto with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank;

Ex-Suits actress Meghan then took part in an Ellen prank - and even ate a taco like a chipmunk in public.

The Duchess of Sussex during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show at the Warner Bros lot in Burbank

Ellen DeGeneres (right) and Meghan Markle during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show at the Warner Bros lot in Burbank

Meghan and DeGeneres looking at the audience during a taping at the Warner Bros lot in Burbank, California

DeGeneres (right) and Meghan during a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show at the Warner Bros lot in California

Meghan Markle walking on stage as she made her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Thursday

Meghan and close friend DeGeneres on the Warner Bros lot, with a photo behind them showing Meghan and Prince Harry as the royal couple announced their engagement to the world

Meghan Markle's appearance on The Ellen Show: The highlights PAID FAMILY LEAVE I think that people truly forget, or don't even know that in this country, it's one of the only six countries in the entire world and the only wealthy nation in the entire world that does not mandate and have a federal paid leave programme. Everybody knows, especially if you have had a child and even if you haven't, you know how hard it is and how critical it is in those first few weeks if not months to be together as a family. And the fact that we don't offer that here is something that now as a mom of two, I will do everything that I can to make sure that we can implement that for people. HALLOWEEN We wanted to do something fun for the kids and then the kids were not into it at all. Archie was a dinosaur for maybe five minutes. Still not even five minutes, Harry talked him into putting the head on. But Lilibet was a skunk and it was so cute. She was the flower from Bambi. HARRY IN CALIFORNIA He loves it (living in California). We moved here during lockdown so everything was shut down, so we have been able to spend a lot of time at home and creating our home, but it's a lifestyle and the weather is pretty great. We're just happy. ON LILIBET TEETHING She is a good sleeper, but the teeth are coming in, so any mom will understand where you go they may be the best in the world, but the moment that is happening you have so much sympathy, so yes, I am up most of the night. ON HER BOOK 'THE BENCH' It was about my observation of him (Harry) and him being a dad, which was the most beautiful thing to watch. Once it was shared with a couple of friends and people that we were close with, they said, 'No this resonates for me too because it feels really inclusive and there's representation and it's just like a sweet love story between a family', and so I said, 'OK let's turn it into a children's book'. ON HER NIGHT OUT WITH PRINCESS EUGENIE He (Harry) came to see me in Toronto and our friends and his cousin Eugenie and now her husband Jack, they came as well, and the four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple. It was a post-apocalypse theme, so we had all this very bizarre costuming on, and we were able to just have one fun final night out. ON AUDITIONING AT WARNER BROS LOT So I had this very old Ford Explore Sport and at a certain point the key stopped working on the driver's side, so you couldn't get yourself in through the door so after auditions I would park at the back of the parking lot and I would open the trunk and climb in, pull the door shut behind me and crawl all over my seats to get out. That's how I would come to and fro. I would park on gate three and I would scoot on over and the security guards here would always say 'break a leg, I hope you get it'. So driving today was very different. ON SELLING SCRUNCHIES AT SCHOOL My mom would take me down to downtown LA where all the fabrics are, you can buy them really affordably and I would get some of the remnants and I would buy the elastic and tied the knot and I had a sewing machine, and I made scrunchies and sold them at school, this is when I was at elementary school. It was a thing at the time and I guess they are back now, people are wearing scrunchies again. Advertisement

Meghan previously insisted she is not playing politics by calling for paid family leave for all, which she says is a 'humanitarian issue', during an appearance at the New York Times DealBook summit.

Speaking to Andrew Sorkin, who edits DealBook, the Times' financial newsletter, and appeared alongside Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based investment firm, she said: 'I don't see this as a political issue frankly. There is a precedent among my husband's family, the royal family, of not having any involvement in politics. From my standpoint, this is a humanitarian issue.'

The duchess's latest intervention heightens speculation that she sees herself in a political position in the future, like her heroines Angelina Jolie and Amal Clooney.

In a October 20 letter to US congressmen Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, Meghan wrote: 'I'm not an elected official, and I'm not a politician. I'm writing to you at this deeply important time - as a mom - to advocate for paid leave.'

The extraordinary 1,030-word letter asked the two Democratic leaders to consider her plea 'on behalf of my family, Archie and Lili and Harry'.

The duchess depicted humble beginnings, saying that her family struggled when she was young - despite her well-documented middle class upbringing in which she attended private primary and secondary schools on her Emmy award-winning lighting director father's $200,000-a-year salary.

And she now lives in a $14million sprawling mansion in Montecito, California, complete with designer touches. She has also signed a series of lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix thought to be worth well over $150million.

'I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzler,' Markle wrote.

'I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky. I started working (at the local frozen yogurt shop) at the age of 13.

'I waited tables, babysat, and piecemealed jobs together to cover odds and ends,' Markle said.

However, she failed to mention the $750,000 California state lottery win her father scooped in 1990, which funded her secondary education at $9,412-a-semester Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles.

Meghan also studied a private primary school - Hollywood's Little Red Schoolhouse nursery, which she attended from the age of two.

The primary school now costs between $20,000 and $28,300-a-year, and was paid for by her father Thomas and her airline steward mother Doria's salaries.

She went on to study at Northwestern, a college in Illinois, that would have cost $24,000-$28,000-a-year for tuition when Meghan studied there from 1999-2003.

But the duchess described working from the age of 13 doing several jobs 'to cover odds and ends' and said saving money was a 'luxury' in her family in her letter.

'I worked all my life and saved when and where I could - but even that was a luxury - because usually it was about making ends meet and having enough to pay my rent and put gas in my car.

'I expect many of your constituents have their own version of that story,' she continued.

In her appearance on The Ellen Show, Meghan left a group of Los Angeles street vendors open-mouthed in shock by dancing and singing in front of them while referring to herself as 'mommy' as part of a cringe-worthy on-the-street prank with DeGeneres.

The 40-year-old made a clear attempt to distance herself from the royal family's reserved image during her surprise appearance, when she stepped outside of the studio to pull a prank on a trio of vendors, which saw her forced to do and say whatever the talk show host told her to via a hidden ear piece.

To kick off the prank, DeGeneres asked Meghan to touch her elbow and nose, and then do a squat to confirm that she could hear all of the talk show host's instructions, while one of the series' producers approached the vendors to inform them that the duchess wished to browse their stalls.

'I am executive assistant to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and she's here today and would love to just shop normally,' the producer - using the name Pwamma - told them. 'She just wants to be treated normally. Don't try to act any other way, just totally normal. Is that cool?'

Meghan then approached the first vendor and began inspecting the crystals on their stall, before DeGeneres instructed her to hold one to her head and begin groaning and moaning.

'I'm going to hold this against my head,' the mother-of-two told the perplexed salesperson, before closing her eyes and mumbling, adding: 'That is wonderful.'

Moving on to the next vendor, who was showcasing different varieties of hot sauce, Meghan began 'bouncing up and down' in excitement at DeGeneres's request, asking the man: 'What do we have here? What have you got, what have you got, what have you got?'

Inspecting the bottles of hot sauce lined up on the table, Meghan then told the baffled vendor: 'Let mommy have a taste,' before telling him, 'My boo loves hot sauce.'

After being presented with a hot sauce covered chip, the duchess proceeded to chomp down on it 'like a chipmunk' and DeGeneres's behest, nibbling on the snack while holding it to her mouth with both hands, before telling the salesman: 'That's not spicy! Let me try something real hot, mommy wants some heat.

'Let's get the spiciest, let's get the hottest.'

Seizing another chip from the man, Meghan was then instructed to 'shove the whole thing in her mouth' - and then begin furiously fanning at her face while saying: 'Oh lordy, lordy, lordy.

'I'm feeling hot, hot, hot,' she then sang to the tune of the hit song by The Merrymen. 'Mommy needs some milk.'

The duchess went on to pull out a baby bottle from her purse and vigorously swig milk from it, all while the vendor looked on open-mouthed, unable to hide his bewilderment over her behavior.

However, while Meghan took the chance to try and put forward a more light-hearted, goofy image - a far cry from the very reserved reputation of the Monarchy, she also seized her on-air opportunity to renew her calls for compulsory paid family leave, telling DeGeneres that she would do 'everything that I can' to make paid family leave law for all Americans.

Speaking to The Ellen Show, the duchess revealed how son Archie dressed as a dinosaur for Halloween, while her five-month daughter Lili was a 'little skunk like Flower from Bambi'.

Meghan spoke of how she celebrated the American holiday with DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi - her neighbours in the celebrity enclave of Montecito in California. But Meghan said two year-old Archie and his baby sister were 'not into' Halloween at all, with Archie only staying in his costume for less than five minutes.

Meghan took part in a prank skit - where she wore an earpiece and did and said anything DeGeneres told her to do

Meghan told one member of the public 'can you feel my powers' and a food vendor 'mommy wants some heat'

Meghan approached a food vendor as part of the prank. She ate a nacho like a chipmunk and then asked for something even hotter. She then tried the hottest and sings 'feeling hot hot hot'

Meghan Markle reveals new photograph of two-year-old son Archie feeding their chickens at $19m California mansion in Ellen interview Meghan Markle has revealed a new image of her and her husband Prince Harry's two-year-old son Archie Meghan Markle has revealed a new image of her and her husband Prince Harry 's two-year-old son Archie. In the image, the little boy is seen feeding chickens in the garden of his parents' $19million home in Montecito, California, whilst wearing jeans, a grey t-shirt and yellow wellies. The photo was shown to viewers on the Ellen Degeneres chat show on Thursday, Meghan told DeGeneres that Archie 'loves being a big brother' to her daughter Lili, who was born in June. The duchess said: 'Someone told H (Harry) and I that when you have one kid it's a hobby, and two children is parenting. 'Suddenly we realised, 'oh right', everyone talks about what it's like for the second child but no-one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along. 'I think they have that moment of, 'oh, this is fun, oh, this is how it is now'.' Advertisement

Meghan has spoken of the difficulty of having two children compared with just one. She told DeGeneres that Archie 'loves being a big brother' to her daughter Lili.

The duchess said: 'Someone told H (Harry) and I that when you have one kid it's a hobby, and two children is parenting. Suddenly we realised, 'oh right', everyone talks about what it's like for the second child but no-one talks about the adjustment for the first child when the second one comes along.

'I think they have that moment of, 'oh, this is fun, oh, this is how it is now'.'

She also said that Harry 'loves' the weather and lifestyle in California.

The former actress' high profile appearance comes eight months after the Sussexes' controversial sit-down with Oprah Winfrey which left the royal family in crisis.

Meghan and Harry have until now remained incredibly private about Lili, who was born in June and was named Lilibet after the royal family's nickname for the Queen. They are yet to share a photo publicly of their daughter.

During the interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Meghan also talked about how Lili was teething, saying 'Anything to relieve that', before DeGeneres jokingly suggested tequila.

Meghan replied: 'That's Auntie Ellen for you.'

Clips released ahead of the interview on Thursday showed the duchess in a lighthearted mood as she opened up about her children.

Meghan said: 'We were home and we saw you guys, which was great. But no, we wanted to do something fun for the kids and then the kids were just not into it at all. Archie was a dinosaur for maybe five minutes. Not even five minutes.'

DeGeneres told how Harry persuaded Archie to put his dinosaur costume on, saying: 'Finally Harry talked him into putting the head on. But Lili was a skunk... it was so cute.'

Meghan replied: 'She was a little skunk. Like Flower from Bambi.'

The duchess also revealed how she and Harry once went to a post-apocalypse themed Halloween party disguised in costumes when they were dating to have 'one final night on the town' before it was revealed they were a couple.

They were joined by Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie and her now husband Jack Brooksbank who were visiting them in Toronto, Canada.

'The four of us snuck out in Halloween costumes to just have one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple,' Meghan said.

She added: 'It was a post-apocalypse theme. So we had all this very bizarre costuming on and we were able to just sort of have one final fun night out.'

The news broke that they were a couple at the end of October in 2016.

The duchess also promoted her children's book The Bench, which she said she wrote as a poem for Harry on Father's Day.

'It was about my observation of him and him being a dad, which was the most beautiful thing to watch,' she said.

DeGeneres asked: 'Does Archie know he's in here? Does he know that's him and what does he think of the book?'

Meghan replied: 'He does. On that first page that you open and you see our dogs, he goes, 'That's Pula. That's Guy'.' The Sussexes have a black Labrador named Pula and a beagle called Guy.

Meghan is also said to have spoken of her and Harry's happy new life in the US. The pair quit as senior working royals in 2020 in a bid for personal and financial freedom, and have since signed multi-million pound deals with Netflix and Spotify.

When DeGeneres asked what Harry loves about California, the duchess replied: 'We're just happy.'

DeGeneres first met Meghan by chance at an animal shelter some years ago and encouraged her to adopt her first dog, Bogart.

She has previously described the Sussexes as 'the cutest couple, so down to earth' and defended them when they faced criticism after taking a run of flights on private jets.
Daniel Andrews has accused Scott Morrison of 'double-speaking to extremists' and sending mixed messages on Covid vaccines as he unleashed on the prime minister in a fiery interview.

Mr Morrison on Thursday said it was time for state governments to 'step back' and give Australians their lives back as the country emerges from the Covid pandemic.

The Victorian premier though claimed the comments were a form of thinly-veiled support for the 'rabid' far-right protesters who have rallied against his controversial new pandemic laws this week.

'I don't want anyone, whether it's people who are weak leaders or extremists to take away from what Victorians have built and sacrificed,' he told the Today show.

Daniel Andrews has called Scott Morrison a 'weak leader' and accused him of 'double-speaking to extremists' in a fiery on-air interview

He said his relationship with Mr Morrison would be better if the Australian leader stopped fuelling protesters who have threatened him and his family in recent days.

'How is your relationship with the prime minister at the moment?' host Karl Stefanovic asked the state leader.

'It will be a lot better when he stops double speaking to extremists,' Mr Andrews replied.

Demonstrators on Monday gathered around a wooden gallows with an inflatable doll depicting the premier, while chanting 'Kill Dan Andrews, 'Hang Dan Andrews' and 'freedom'.

'This is not about chasing through double speak the votes of extremists,' Mr Andrews said. 'If others choose to do that, that is on them.'

The premier said Mr Morrison's call for state governments 'to take a step back' sent mixed messages to Victorians who should be celebrating nearing the 90 per cent Covid vaccination double-dose mark.

'It's taken too long for [political leaders] just to be straight and sometimes they haven't done that yet,' he said.

'They're sending mixed messages and that is dangerous. What do we want to see, somebody getting hurt? That's not leadership, it's very different to leadership.

'I am offended on behalf of every single Victorian who has done the right thing and should be the focus today.'

The Victorian leader also took a dig at Mr Morrison's abandoned $66billion submarine deal with France, which led to the country's president Emmanuel Macron accusing the prime minister of lying to him.

The Victorian premier claimed the prime minister's comments were a form of thinly-veiled support for far-right protesters who have rallied against his controversial new pandemic laws this week. A demonstrator is pictured with an anti-Daniel Andrews poster last Saturday

'I'm here to be as frank and as clear as I possibly can, be as I hope you'd credit me every time I come on your show, Karl,' Mr Andrews said.

'I am not here to treat you like you're French, mate. I am here to say it like I know it to be.'

Mr Andrews also praised Victoria's vaccination efforts after more freedoms were returned overnight.

The Victorian leader also took a dig at Mr Morrison's abandoned $66billion submarine deal with France

Almost all Victoria's remaining coronavirus restrictions lifted just before midnight on Friday, as the state inches closer to 90 per cent full vaccination in those aged over 12.

The changes mean double-dosed Victorians are now able to dance in clubs, and home visitor limits as well as cafe, bar and restaurant density caps have been dumped.

'This is a fantastic day, Victorians have achieved something that is so special and I am very proud of them,' Mr Andrews said.

The state government meanwhile is still battling to get its pandemic legislation through the upper house after days of protests on parliament's front steps.

Mr Morrison said on Thursday while he had no tolerance for violent protesters, it was time for state governments to step back and for 'Australians to take their lives back'

Mr Morrison said on Thursday that while he had no tolerance for violent protesters, it was time for state governments to step back and for 'Australians to take their lives back'.

He then attacked state-imposed vaccine mandates, drawing criticism from leaders in Queensland and Western Australia.

Non-essential retail has joined the state's vaccinated economy, banning unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people from visiting those shops, unless they are aged under 12 years and two months or have a valid exemption.

Some protesters held three nooses as they rallied against the proposed bill in possible reference to the three crossbench MPs who decide whether the bill passes

The Australian Retailers Association said retailers had been caught on the hop in the lead-up to a busy sales period and called for leniency in enforcing vaccine checks for customers.

'Retailers are having to scramble today to ensure they're ready to comply with the new restrictions for tomorrow's trade - well ahead of the original November 24 deadline,' chief executive Paul Zahra said.

While masks will no longer be required for customers visiting hospitality venues, workers must continue wearing them.

What are the main concerns with the Bill? No definition of a pandemic Broad powers to the Health Minister to make 'any order' Reasons for detaining someone not defined 'Breathtakingly broad' powers to public officials to enforce laws Allows orders such as lockdowns to apply to people based on political views or association Health advice does not have to be published until 14 days after decision Rules that breach human rights laws may not be invalidated and overturned Source: Victorian Bar

Victorian Legislation Privacy Policy Advertisement

They must also be worn on public transport and in ride-shares or taxis, and will remain for a few more weeks in retail.

Indoor events will be allowed to host up to 30,000 punters, but one-off approval is needed to exceed that capacity.

There are also major changes to isolation rules, including reducing the number of days positive cases must quarantine from 14 to 10.
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The US has been asked to help locate and salvage a crashed British fighter jet, in order to prevent the top-secret American technology from falling into Russian hands.

The Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II, one of 24 such aircraft that America has delivered to the UK, crashed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday after the RAF pilot safely ejected.

The top-secret technology on board the stealth jet is now believed to be more than a mile below the surface, and the British military has requested assistance from US teams in the area, according to The Times of London.

The Pentagon referred a DailyMail.com inquiry about salvage efforts to the UK Ministry of Defence, which could not be immediately reached after UK business hours on Thursday.

The $130 million F-35B short-take-off, vertical-landing jet was one of eight British aircraft deployed on the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, where 10 US Marine F-35B jets are also deployed.

The race is now on to locate and recover the wreckage of the advanced stealth fighter before it can be located by Russia, which maintains a Mediterranean naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus.

The Russian Navy's 5th Operational Squadron which operates from the base is believed to include both nuclear and diesel-powered submarines.

An RAF F-35B Lightning is seen during a training run above the HMS Queen Elizabeth. The US has been asked to help locate and salvage a one of the American-made British fighter jets after it crashed

By plunging into international waters, the crash triggered a scramble to recover the next-generation jet from the sea bed before it could be reached by foreign powers, particularly Russia. Above: File image of HMS Queen Elizabeth

The British have so far ordered 48 F-35B jets and have pledged to buy 138 from America, though that number is likely to be cut.

The UK MoD said the crash occurred at 10.00am GMT when an RAF pilot was forced to eject during a routine operation from the carrier. No other aircraft were involved.

The incident came on the maiden operational voyage of the Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy's new Fleet Flagship.

After plunging into international waters, the jet triggered a scramble to find the next-generation plane before it could be reached by foreign powers. It's thought to be the first time an F35-B has crashed in such an area.

The technology aboard the US-designed aircraft, including top-secret radar and sensors, is hugely sensitive as it allows the F-35 to fly 'unseen' in hostile territory at supersonic speeds.

The joint search for the F-35B Lightning II will reportedly see deep water remote-controlled vehicles use large inflatable sacks to hoist the machine from the seabed.

A Royal Navy source told the Times: 'A number of nations have the capability to recover an aircraft from that depth. We've asked the Americans for help and they have offered.'

They added that the military were yet to pinpoint where the aircraft had gone down and were still gathering the machines needed to recover it.

The British have so far ordered 48 F-35B jets and have pledged to buy 138 from America, though that number is likely to be cut. Above an RAF F-35B makes a vertical landing

The F35s can hover as the come into land meaning the need a smaller flight deck. Pictured, an F-35B fighter jet prepares to land on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Arabian Sea, off Mumbai's coast on October 21

The Americans were said to be closer to the crash site and left a port in Spain to join the search and rescue operation using a 30kg TPL-25 towed pinger locator system.

Meanwhile Britain are circling the suspected area to ensure the secretive jet does not fall into enemy hands such as Russia, which could salvage it but is not thought to have the equipment nearby.

RAF F-35 crash was SEVENTH time jets have malfunctioned in 7 years June 23, 2014: A USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida. October 27, 2016: A US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay before the pilot landed safely in Beaufort, South Carolina. September 28, 2018: All operational F-35s were grounded while a probe was launched into why a fuel tube failed in flight after a horror crash at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. April 9, 2019: Parts of the tail of a Japanese F-35 were found in the sea around 85 miles east of Misawa during a training mission. May 19. 2020: This F-35 crash on landing was caused by a tired, distracted pilot and unresponsive tail glitch. September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California Advertisement

The source said bringing the plane back to the surface was 'not rocket science' but 'the problem is finding and getting to it  you need a machine that can get to that depth'.

There are also fears the aircraft may have drifted under the sea to a different area than where they suspect it went down. They added: 'We know the vicinity but we need to find it and attach floating devices to it.'

As the UK's most advanced and expensive jet, the single-seater can land vertically and only needs a short runway to take off.

It is the first one Britain has lost and the incident is the first mishap for the RAF's F-35B fleet and for the 3billion aircraft carrier which left the UK seven months ago.

This week's crash raises fresh questions about the F-35B, of which Britain currently has 24. The UK is set to buy 138 of the fighter jets from US aviation giant Lockheed Martin for 9.1billion in the coming years.

In June 2014 a USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida. Two years later a USMC F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay.

In 2018, a US F-35B pilot was forced to eject midair after the fighter jet crashed in South Carolina during a training exercise.

And last year, an F-35B aircraft crashed near Naval Air Facility El Centro in California after crashing into a KC-130J, US officials told USNI News.

Howard Dyer, a regulatory consultant in aviation, told MailOnline today: 'Military planes do not have to be designed to the same standard as civilian ones because they are not party to international rules.

'Everyone in civilian aviation, apart from a few exceptions, has to follow the same rules. Military plans are made by governments with government people on board so do not have the same restrictions on them.

'If there are any rubbish planes in the sky, they will be military ones. Civilian planes fly over other countries which is why they are held to a higher standard.

'But military ones only usually can with permission or if they are invading, so usually stay over their own country or sea.'

Retired Rear Admiral Chris Parry said last night: 'Although an inquiry will establish the precise cause of the crash, it appears likely that the accident occurred because of engine malfunction.

'Despite the F-35B's good safety record, it was inevitable that some of these high-performance aircraft, which operate in the distinctly demanding maritime environment, would have been lost at some stage.'

The Ministry of Defence insisted last night 'no hostile action' was involved in the crash. Last night, the investigation was focusing on technical or human error.

The pilot, who suffered minor injuries, is understood to have been rescued by helicopter. The pilot's family was informed of the crash before military chiefs released a statement yesterday afternoon about the incident.

Having sailed to the Far East and attracted the attention of both Russia and China, the 3billion Queen Elizabeth was last known to have been in the eastern Mediterranean, after leaving Oman.

The Prince of Wales is due to visit the carrier tomorrow as part of a royal tour to Egypt.

Soon after taking off on 'routine exercise' from the Royal Navy's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the F-35B Lightning (file image) ditched into the sea and a rescue team was sent out to recover the pilot

The Lightning is described by the RAF as a fifth generation combat aircraft capable of conducting air-to-surface strikes and electronic warfare.

The aircraft uses an array of sensors to operate undetected in enemy airspace. There were understood to be not only eight British F-35s aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth but also ten US aircraft.

They have conducted some 2,000 take-offs and landings without incident. When not deployed on the carrier, the UK's F-35Bs are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk as part of 617 Squadron (the 'Dambusters'). In 2020, US military tests found 276 different faults in the jet's combat system.

Last night the Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: 'The F-35 ditched soon after take off. We are pleased the pilot is safe and back on board. Our operational and training flights continue.'

The Ministry of Defence said: 'A British F-35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning.

'The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. No other vessels or aircraft were involved.'

A comprehensive military air investigation has been launched by the RAF and US experts.

America enticed its Nato and other allies into sharing the cost of the aircraft by offering input into manufacture and 15 per cent of each one is comprised of parts from British companies while some of the jets will be made in Italy.

But the planes have been plagued by a catalogue of problems which have sent costs soaring.

There are fears about shortcomings in the technical systems underpinning the new generation of war planes will leave them unable to function properly.

The true cost of the British planes delivered this year is estimated to be over 150million each to cover 'extras' such as software upgrades and spare parts.

There are also concerns plane's software system is vulnerable to cyber-attack and cannot be tested independently by the UK.
The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill posthumously awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 US service members killed in Kabul as they tried to help Americans and allies escape.

The House unanimously approved a companion bill earlier this month, and it now heads to President Biden's desk, amid tensions with parents of the deceased troops who say he has their childrens' blood on his hands.

A suicide bombing outside the gates of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in August killed more than 170, including 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one from the Navy.

The attack came amid the US' frenzied withdrawal from Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized control of Kabul, and ISIS-K claimed responsibility.

They were mostly just beginning their careers in the service, ranging in age from 20-33- Staff Sgt. Darin Hoover, 31; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22; Cpl. Daegan Page, 23; Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22; Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20; Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20; Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20; Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20; Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20; Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23; Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25; Navy Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, 22; and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23.

The legislation says: 'The American servicemembers 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.'

There were a total of 2,352 US soldiers killed in the two-decade Afghanistan War, known as Operation Enduring Freedom, less than the 66,000-69,999 Afghan soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

A suicide bombing outside the gates of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in August killed more than 170, including 11 Marines, one Army soldier and one from the Navy

Biden attended a dignified transfer of the fallen troops at Dover Air Force base, and later met with some of the families of the fallen.

The president appeared to check his watch multiple times throughout the ceremony.

He stood in silence, his right hand to his chest, as a succession of flags draped transfer coffins were carried past him from a C-17 Globemaster plane.

But during the ceremony, Biden appears to jerk his left arm up and look down at his watch.

One Afghan pours water into the mouth of another who was injured in the suicide attack

Hundreds were severely injured in the attack

The 13 US soldiers who were killed had been helping Americans and allies escape as the Taliban took control

Some of the grieving parents were not happy to see him.

Kathy McCollum, the mother of a Marine killed in the attack, had particularly harsh words for the president, calling him a 'dementia-ridden piece of crap.'

'My son was one of the Marines that died yesterday,' Kathy McCollum said in a radio interview on Friday of her 20-year-old late son Rylee.

'[He was] getting ready to come home from freaking Jordan to be with his wife to watch the birth of his son,' McCollum said. 'And that feckless, dementia ridden piece of crap just sent my son to die.'
Priti Patel unleashed an excoriating attack on the EUs open borders last night, pointing the finger at Brussels for the Channel crisis.

The Home Secretary railed against Europes lack of border checks  the so-called Schengen zone  which has allowed thousands of migrants to sweep across the Continent to northern France.

She also announced that she had secured agreement with Emmanuel Macrons government  once legal changes have been approved  to use drones and tracking technology against people smugglers.

Priti Patel (pictured on October 28 in Reading) unleashed an attack on the EUs open borders last night, pointing the finger at Brussels for the Channel crisis

Miss Patel said offshore processing centres remained on the table but refused to discuss specific negotiations. There have been suggestions that migrants could be sent and held abroad while their cases are looked at.

We keep everything on the table and this is why the new Nationality and Borders Bill is just so important, Miss Patel told reporters during a three-day official visit to Washington.

Im the only Home Secretary over a 20-year period that has taken on the challenge of reforming what is fundamentally a broken system of asylum and illegal migration. She admitted for the first time that Britain was facing a mass migration crisis.

In a marked a change of tone after months of friction with the French government, she said the flow of small boats must be treated as a Europe-wide problem. She said France was overwhelmed by asylum seekers heading for the UK.

And she blamed Brussels  which governs EU border policy  for failing to act. Lets not forget the real problem on illegal migration flows is [that] the EU has no border protections whatsoever, she said.

On stopping crossings, France cant do it on their own. Other countries have to do much more in terms of border protection.

Seven out of ten migrants who attempt to cross the Channel have entered France through Belgium according to French officials, Miss Patel said.

Video footage taken this Tuesday - the same day that a staggering 1,000 migrants made it to the UK - showed groups of migrants, including young children, clapped in celebration as they managed to restart their boat's engine on a Calais beach

French police officers pass a deflated dinghy on the beach in Wimereux near Calais as migrants continue to launch small boats along the coastline in a bid to cross the Channel towards the UK. Picture date: Thursday November 18, 2021

She added: The EUs Schengen zone is free movement and open borders. They do not have border controls and border checks. There is no united position across EU member states in terms of how to tackle this issue. Its an EU competency issue.

Deploying highly-charged language, the Home Secretary went on: There is a mass migration crisis. Ive said this from day one  from the minute I walked into the Home Office. For everyone who complains about this  and no-one is more angry and frustrated about this than myself, alongside the British taxpayers  there isnt a silver bullet.

Theres no point saying, Well, you could just push boats back. It will not stop it. There are all sorts of issues with criminal gangs, smugglers, etc. Miss Patel said of the French: I think its fair to say they are overwhelmed. That is a fact.

We are constantly pressing France on this and were asking them to be honest with us about where the gaps are because they cant be everywhere. We have a very, very professional working relationship, but no one country can fix this on their own.

Migrants are escorted by Border Force staff into Dover harbour after crossing the Channel this morning, with the crisis continuing

She said the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and actually most countries in the EU had to work together on solving the migration crisis.

Miss Patel held out hope that legal changes in France will allow her counterpart, interior minister Gerald Darmanin, to deploy more technology against people smugglers.

Amendments to French privacy laws will mean drones, aerial surveillance planes and automatic number plate recognition cameras can be used to track smugglers  and head them off at the beaches. For the first time on Monday night when I spoke to the interior minister, he agreed to do more work with us on sensors, ANPR and drones, said Miss Patel.

They are changing their laws in their own parliament right now.

She said France, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Greece are all closely following her game-changing new laws which will introduce a twin-track asylum system, granting fewer rights to those who arrive by illegal routes.

Asked when she could deliver on an aim  announced with France  to stop 100 per cent of Channel boats, Miss Patel said: Its not me delivering on this, lets be very clear about this. This is a whole of Europe problem.
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Germany is following Austria's example in locking-down unvaccinated people in regions where hospitals are becoming 'dangerously full' of Covid patients.

Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday announced that the move is 'necessary' to tackle a 'very worrying' fourth wave of the pandemic that is overwhelming hospitals, and blamed the unvaccinated for driving the surge.

Europe has become the epicentre of the pandemic once again, with the World Health Organisation warning that the Continent was the only region in the world where deaths had increased as Covid-related fatalities spiked by five per cent just this week.

Vienna imposed a lockdown on unvaccinated people. However, pressure on the Austrian government to impose a full lockdown grew as its worst-hit provinces said they would adopt the measure for themselves amid rising cases and reports of people dying in hospital corridors.

In places in Germany where hospitalisation rates exceed a certain threshold, access to public, cultural and sports events and to restaurants will be restricted to those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered. The Chancellor added the federal government would also consider a request by regional governments for legislation allowing them to require that care and hospital workers be vaccinated.

Saxony, the region hardest hit by the wave, is considering shutting theatres, concert halls and soccer games, Bild newspaper reported. The eastern state has Germany's lowest vaccination rate. New daily cases have risen 14-fold in the past month in Saxony, a stronghold of the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which harbours many vaccine sceptics and anti-lockdown protesters.

In a show of unity, finance minister and chancellor-in-waiting Olaf Scholz said: 'To get through the winter, we will see drastic measures that have not been taken before.'

Across the border, hundreds of French protesters demonstrated outside the Austrian Embassy in Paris against Vienna's Covid apartheid amid fears that France might be next to reimpose curbs.

The Czech Republic has already followed Austria's lead by banning unjabbed people from access to public events, bars and restaurants from next week.

And Slovakia is also considering imposing a similar measure which would see unvaccinated people banned from non-essential stores, shopping malls, gyms, pools, hotels and mass public gatherings for at least three weeks after recording 8,342 daily cases.

Earlier this week, Belgium made facemasks compulsory and introduced working from home instructions.

As Europe braced for Christmas under lockdown:

Germany's hospitals are buckling under the strain, with patients transferred to Italy because wards are full;

Russian Covid cases hit record highs for the second-day running amid poor vaccine uptake with just 43 percent of the population double-jabbed;

The Republic of Ireland dramatically ordered a midnight curfew for all nightclubs and pubs;

Germany's disease control agency warned of a 'really terrible Christmas';

Virologists in the Netherlands proposed extending Christmas holidays to slow surging cases among children amid the highest cases on record today;

Spain's Benidorm beach resort, popular with British partygoers, has opened a Covid vaccine centre to counter surging cases.

Hundreds of French protesters gathered outside the Austrian Embassy in Paris on Thursday evening

Large crowds gathered outside the Austrian Embassy to protest Vienna's lockdown for the unvaccinated

A demonstrator dressed as a Statue of Liberty poses in front of the Austrian Embassy in Paris

Leader of French nationalist party The Patriots, Florian Philippot, and his supporters

Hundreds of French protesters gathered outside the Austrian Embassy in Paris on Thursday evening

Large crowds gathered outside the Austrian Embassy to protest Vienna's lockdown for the unvaccinated

Europe has become the epicentre of the pandemic once again, with the World Health Organisation warning that the Continent was the only region in the world where deaths had increased - with Covid-related fatalities spiking by five per cent just this week

European nation's scrambling to impose lockdown rules as Christmas looms AUSTRIA Austria reported 15,145 cases on Thursday, a new one-day record for the pandemic and well above the previous record of 9,586 that was logged a year ago. It became the first country in Europe to impose a lockdown of the unvaccinated on Monday. Two million people in the country who have opted not to have a Covid jab have been ordered to stay at home with threats of 1,237 fines. GERMANY Germany has seen a record-breaking number of cases, with 68,366 new infections on Thursday - a colossal 40 percent rise on the same day last week. National and regional leaders meeting on Thursday set a hospitalization threshold for triggering Covid lockdowns of the unvaccinated amid soaring cases. The incoming government will also tighten measures, including forcing people to show proof of vaccination on public transport and at work. CZECH REPUBLIC The Czech Republic, a country of 10.7 million, reported a record 22,511 cases for one day on Tuesday and hospitals have been filling up although the number of patients - at about 4,500 - is about half the peak seen in March. The Czech government approved plans to allow only those who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past six months to enter restaurants, attend certain events and use various other services from Monday. It will also require testing for COVID-19 at workplaces. ITALY Italy reported a rise in Covid infections on Wednesday and breached the 10,000 threshold for the first time since May 8 with 10,172 cases recorded. Like many European countries, Italy requires people to show their so-called Green Pass to dine indoors, visit museums and cinemas and for long-distance public transport. The pass shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or having been cured of COVID-19. Protests have grown more acute after Italy last month became the first Western country to also require the pass to access workplaces. SPAIN Worried by a rise in COVID-19 infections, some of Spain's regional governments are asking courts to authorize the introduction of virus passports that can help control the pandemic's spread. The governments of the Basque Country, Valencia, Navarra and Catalonia say they are ready to be the first autonomous regions of Spain to introduce COVID-19 passports for people to enter nightclubs, bars, restaurants and some public events. But first they need court permission. If approved, the measure will apply to people 12 and over who want to enter nightlife establishments featuring music or dancing or restaurants with more than 50 diners. Spain officially reported 82 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on Monday. IRELAND Ireland has seen coronavirus cases soar in recent days and as a result has reimposed Covid restrictions. From today, businesses including nightclubs and pubs are being forced to close at midnight, the use of Covid passports is expanding, and people will be advised to work from home where possible. The country is also expanding its booster vaccination drive as Covid infections and hospitalisations rise. Advertisement

Austria reported 15,145 cases on Thursday, a new one-day record for the pandemic and well above the previous record of 9,586 that was logged a year ago.

The hardest-hit region has been Upper Austria, where the governor today called for restrictions on the un-jabbed to be scrapped - but only so that a full nationwide lockdown can be imposed instead.

Thomas Stelzer, speaking ahead of a government summit on Covid measures tomorrow, said that if no nationwide lockdown is ordered then he will lock down his province independently.

Mr Stelzer said the lockdown would last 'several weeks' and would be coordinated with neighbouring Salzburg province, whose governor also confirmed a lockdown is being prepared.

'This absolutely necessary measure... will hopefully help to significantly bring down the daily growth figures. This was not the case with the previous measures,' he told local newspaper Kurier.

'The measures from next week will certainly be very drastic. But we need them so that we can save our health and soon find a free life again.'

The Austrian government has drawn heavy criticism for its decision earlier this week to lock down just the two million people in the country who have opted not to have a Covid jab, confining them to their homes except for essential business.

It was quickly dubbed a 'health apartheid' by critics, who said it is 'unenforceable', disproportionate, and amounts to forcing people to undergo a medical procedure.

But it did appear to produce results, with hundreds of thousands of queuing up to get vaccines this week - with the highest number of jabs issued since the summer.

Austria's booming infections comes amid a new wave of Covid across Europe that has seen infection rise sharply across the continent as government scramble to find the best way to respond.

Countries with low vaccination rates have been the hardest-hit, with Latvia - on 55 per cent of people fully jabbed - going into full lockdown last month.

The Czech Republic - 58 per cent fully vaccinated - followed Austria's lead this week by announcing a lockdown on just those who had refused the jab.

Italy and Greece are considering similar measures, while France has pointed out that unvaccinated people are driving the new wave without saying what it will do.

Germany has also begun restricting life for unvaccinated people by expanding its use of Covid passports to almost all businesses and public spaces while tightening the evidence required to get a pass.

Previously, people could provide either evidence of vaccination, evidence of an infection, or a negative test to get a pass.

But under new rules being imposed in many states, only evidence of vaccination or a previous infection is being accepted.

On Thursday, German lawmakers approved new measures which would require employees to prove they are vaccinated, recently recovered from COVID-19 or have tested negative for the virus in order to access communal workplaces; a similar rule will apply to public transport.

The measures passed in the Bundestag with votes from the center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. The three parties are currently negotiating to form a new government.

The measures need to be approved by Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, which could happen Friday.

It comes as Lothar Wieler, director of German disease control agency the Robert Koch Institute, warned the country faces a 'really terrible Christmas' unless tough new rules are brought in now.

'We are currently heading toward a serious emergency,' he said. 'We are going to have a really terrible Christmas if we don't take countermeasures now.'

In Belgium, all people in indoor venues such as cafes and restaurants will need to wear a mask unless seated and the rule will apply to those aged 10 or older. The previous age threshold was 12.

Nightclubs may have to test their guests if they want to let them dance mask-free. People wanting to eat in a restaurant or go to the theatre already must present a COVID pass, showing vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery.

GERMANY: Medical personnel works at the intensive care unit with Covid-19 patients in a hospital in Freising near Munich. Germany has seen a record-breaking number of cases, with 68,366 new infections on Thursday - a colossal 40 percent rise on the same day last week.

AUSTRIA: People wearing face mask to protect against the coronavirus as they visits a Christmas market in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday. Covid cases have continued rising after two million unvaccinated people were ordered to stay in their homes on Monday.

ITALY: The colosseum in Rome is busy with foreign tourists on Thursday. Italy reported a rise in Covid infections on Wednesday and breached the 10,000 threshold for the first time since May 8 with 10,172 cases recorded. Like many European countries, Italy requires people to show their so-called Green Pass to dine indoors, visit museums and cinemas and for long-distance public transport. The pass shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or having been cured of COVID-19.

Austria's Covid cases have continued to soar even after lockdown was imposed on 2million unvaccinated people earlier this week

Deaths from Covid are not year at the levels they reached during the second wave, but are rising rapidly and driving fears over the winter wave

Thousands protest in Czech Republic against new Covid lockdown for the unvaccinated banning them from public events, bars and restaurants Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Prague on Wednesday against a new Covid lockdown for the unvaccinated banning them from public places. Demonstrators in the Czech capital flouted social distancing and facemasks as they rallied against the incoming curbs on the anniversary of the 1989 anti-Communist Velvet Revolution. The Czech government is introducing restrictions on the unjabbed, banning them from public events, bars and restaurants, from Monday in a bid to drive up vaccination rates. The European country hit a new virus case record of 22,479 on Wednesday. Last week the Czech Republic recorded nearly 8,000 cases, and in January hit more than 5,000 daily cases. Announcing the measures, Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech warned: 'We find ourselves in a very serious situation. There's a real risk that our hospitals will be overwhelmed.' The Slovakian government is also considering imposing a similar measure which would see unvaccinated people banned from non-essential stores, shopping malls, gyms, pools, hotels and mass public gatherings for at least three weeks after recording 8,342 daily cases. Similar restrictions are in place in the German state of Bavaria, with the incoming government in Berlin threatening to bar unvaccinated people from going to work and travelling on public transport nationally amid what Chancellor Angela Merkel calls 'dramatic' case levels. Advertisement

Most Belgians will also have to work from home four days a week until mid-December, and for three days after that.

Belgium has one of the highest cases per capita rates in the European Union, behind only the Baltic and former Yugoslav nations and Austria, at around one per hundred people over the past 14 days, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

'The alarm signals are all red,' prime minister Alexander De Croo told a news conference. 'We had all hoped to have a winter without coronavirus, but Belgium is not an island.'

The new restrictions are still milder than the lockdown imposed on the unvaccinated in Austria and the shortening of bar and restaurant opening hours in the Netherlands.

De Croo said Belgium planned to give booster jabs, currently limited mostly to the elderly, to the wider population.

Belgium's infections spike has been sharpest in the northern region Flanders, where vaccination rates are higher, prompting eased restrictions in October.

The warning comes as a hospital in Bavaria's Freising last week made the unprecedented decision to transfer a Covid-19 patient to northern Italy because it 'had no more capacity to receive them, and the surrounding hospitals were also full.'

A fourth ferocious wave has sent infections to record highs in Europe's biggest economy, putting hospitals also hit by the double whammy of a shortfall of personnel under immense strain.

German authorities have blamed the latest surge in infections on the unvaccinated, more than 30 per cent of the population, and pleaded with people to get the jab.

It comes as Austria this week confined some 2million unvaccinated people to their homes amid soaring cases, a move the Czech Republic will introduce from Monday and both Italy and Germany have said they are considering.

German lawmakers are debating measures Thursday that would replace the nationwide epidemic rules, which will expire at the end of the month.

The Robert Koch Institute today said 65,371 newly confirmed cases were reported in a single day, continuing the upward trend that experts have been warning about for weeks.

Wieler warned that hospitals across Germany are struggling to find beds for Covid-19 patients and those with other illnesses.

He also called for the closure of clubs and bars, an end to large-scale events and access to many parts of public life to be limited to those with vaccine or recovery certificates.

Germany's vaccination rate stands at 67.7 per cent but some regions have jab take-up as low as 57.6 per cent. Wieler said the country needs to increase its vaccination rates to significantly above 75 per cent.

Chancellor Angela Merkel made a new plea on Wednesday for the unvaccinated to get jabbed, saying 'when enough people are vaccinated, that is the way out of the pandemic'.

In a bid to get more to take the jab, Germany's parliament is poised to vote through new regulations for more curbs on the unvaccinated.

A ferocious fourth wave has sent infections to record highs in Germany, putting hospitals in parts of the country under immense strain and a 'normal' Christmas at risk (pictured, a Christmas market in Bonn, Germany on November 17)

Cases are rapidly rising across the country and have hit record levels in recent weeks as a relatively low jab rate and slow booster drive combined to speed up infections

Deaths are nowhere near the levels seen during the first and second wave of Covid, but have started to climb rapidly amid fears they could soon top the previous peaks

Coronaphobia lingers: Poll finds a fifth of Britons are NOT planning a normal Christmas and a third are expecting a new lockdown to be in place Almost one in five Brits are not planning normal Christmas and New Year's celebrations amid lingering fears over the coronavirus crisis, according to a new poll. An exclusive survey conducted by Redfield & Wilton Strategies for MailOnline found the majority of people - 81 per cent - do intend to go ahead with normal celebrations but 19 per cent said they do not. Meanwhile, the nation is split on whether the Government could impose new coronavirus rules which would disrupt festive gatherings. Some 48 per cent of people expect there will not be any coronavirus restrictions preventing normal Christmas gatherings this year. But almost a third - 31 per cent - expect that there will be such restrictions put in place while 20 per cent said they did not know. Advertisement

Under proposals drafted by the three parties in talks to form Germany's new government, unvaccinated people will soon have to produce a negative test to use public transport or go to the office.

Through the highs and lows spanning 18 months of the pandemic, Germany had on many occasions taken in patients from neighbouring countries as hospitals elsewhere ran out of space.

While the absolute number of patients in intensive care still lies below the peak a year ago, this time around, hospitals are also ailing from the double whammy of a shortfall in personnel that has seriously hampered their ability to cope.

The medical director at the hospital in Freising, Thomas Marx, 43, said: 'Last week, on Wednesday or Thursday, we had to transfer a patient by helicopter to Merano.

'We had no more capacity to receive them, and the surrounding Bavarian hospitals were also full,' he said.

The hospital also had to send another patient to another Bavarian town Regensburg over the weekend.

'We are at the limits of our capacity, which is why we have to resort to these means,' he said.

Marx's service is handling 13 intensive care cases at the moment, three more than it has capacity for. Five of them are coronavirus patients, all of whom are unvaccinated.

At the intensive care unit of Munich Clinic Schwabing, senior doctor Niklas Schneider voiced frustration over vaccine resistance in some quarters.

'I find it really astonishing that vaccination is not accepted by the masses even though we have the possibility to get it. It is not completely understandable to me that so many people are allowing themselves to be misled by some horror stories about vaccines,' he said.

Like the hospital in Freising, the Munich clinic is at full capacity.

'The team is holding on, but we are incredibly frustrated... because at the end of the day we are the last resort for everything that is wrong with society as a whole,' said Schneider.

2: A nurse assists a Covid-19 patient, in the new ward to deal with the Covid-19 emergency set up in the Fiera del Levante, on November 12, in Bari, Italy

There were 7,815 new Covid-19 cases in Italy on Tuesday, an increase of 28 per cent on the same day last week

There were 74 new deaths in Italy on Tuesday, a rise of 9 per cent on the same day last week

'The sick people who come to us, who are in mortal danger, we have to treat them, they need help. It doesn't matter if they were previously anti-Corona, anti-vaccine or double-vaccinated, although we don't have any of the latter in the ward.'

Besides the relatively low vaccine take-up compared to other parts of western Europe, health staff also complain that more should also have been done to bolster their capacity.

Only one in four German hospitals are able to maintain a regular intensive care service at the moment, said Spiegel magazine. Many others say that beyond demand, a major problem is an acute shortage of trained personnel.

Already a chronic problem before the pandemic, long hours, low pay and stress during the coronavirus crisis have only served to put even more people off a job in the healthcare sector.

Schneider noted that there are now far fewer health workers than in the first wave. Likewise, his colleague in Freising voiced 'incomprehension' over the latest crisis.

'I admire the calmness with which the staff operate, with which we face this new challenge with such professionalism,' Marx said. 'But I also know that some people, inside, are boiling, even if they don't let it spill out.'
Police at the William Tyrrell dig site have drained the creek after installing a pump to reduce the water level and expose areas to fossick through for evidence of the missing toddler.

Hydrologist Professor Jon Olley, who found murdered Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe's remains in 2011, is supervising the search of a muddy creek bed which had been drained overnight by a pump.

Shortly after 11am on Friday, police seized a piece of cloth on the bank of a stagnant pool of water near Area 1 of the William Tyrrell dig site that was taken off for analysis.

The find created immediate interest, with a police officer taking a camera, evidence bag and gloves to meet forensic specialist Professor Olley at the pool's edge.

A find two hours earlier of a fabric sample by the same pool had been immediately discounted by the professor. But on the second occasion, he spent up to 10 minutes with the officer as she photographed it in situ, donned gloves, poured a liquid on the item and bagged it in a a brown paper evidence pack.

It was taken to the Forensic Services van onsite.

Police have marked with a string line an area of scraped earth above the creek bed.

Professor Jon Olley examines material at the edge of a pool of stagnant water which runs through a culvert underneath Batar Creek Road in Kendall, near the property where William Tyrrell vanished from in September 2014

An electrical pump emptied the waterway from a creek near the Kendall property where William Tyrrell went missing overnight on Thursday and the area is now clear for expert work to begin

Hydrologist Professor Jon Olley (centre), who found murdered Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe's remains in 2011, spent most of Thursday working around the now-cleared creek area

A policeman dons gum boots to walk into the muddy bottom of a cleared creek near the Kendall property where William Tyrrell went missing

Professor Olley and police are working swiftly ahead of predicted heavy rain this weekend which could refill the drained creek.

Up to 20mmm of rain on Saturday and twice that on Sunday is forecast for Kendall, and with the site scoured of ground vegetation, the rainwater would flow more rapidly down the banks.

Police said work would continue unless the site became 'a quagmire'.

An electrical pump emptied the waterway from the creek overnight on Thursday and the area is now clear for Professor Olley to commence work.

It is one of three areas in Kendall, including the house from which William disappeared in 2014, being searched by Strike Force Rosann.

Rural Fire Service officers yesterday finished removing tonnes of undergrowth and thinned trees around the creek bed edges ahead of 'doing the creek bed' today.

Just before operations began today, a team of 50 police, RFS and ambulance officers, as well as civilian personnel and scientists posed for a group photo on the site and cheered.

They then donned gum boots to walk into the muddy creek bottom.

The dig site through which the now-drained creek runs is about the size of two city terrace house blocks and is joined by fire trails with the backs of the houses along the street where William vanished.

A few minutes before 9am, Professor Olley was called over to the edge of a pool of stagnant water which runs through a culvert underneath Batar Creek Road and feeds into the newly-drained creek.

RFS officers notified police they had found an item - which looks like a piece of cloth or dark plastic - which had washed up onto the side of the stagnant pool.

Professor Olley then inspected the piece, with police media telling Daily Mail Australia a few minutes later: 'They found something but it's nothing'.

The search for the remains of missing three-year-old William Tyrrell is entering its fifth day on the NSW mid north coast. Professor Olley told Daily Mail Australia that the Tyrrell search site was 'more complex' partly because it was over a larger area. He said that items of interest may have been washed up on neighbouring properties to the site

Fire officers are now working with chainsaws clearing a patch 100m up the road from where the creek search is taking place.

In 2011, Professor Olley spent two months at a site near the Glasshouse Mountains recovering three bones and two shoes belonging to Daniel Morcombe, who had been murdered in 2003.

At that site, which had been subjected to two major floods since the schoolboy's remains had been discarded there, 500 cubic metres of sand was removed.

After the area was reduced by a metre to the same level, Professor Olley found 'undulations' in a surface under which he made the discovery of the boy's remains.

Professor Olley told Daily Mail Australia that the Tyrrell search site was 'more complex' partly because it was over a larger area. He said that items of interest may have been washed up on neighbouring properties to the site.

The search for the remains of missing three-year-old William Tyrrell is entering its fifth day on the NSW mid north coast.

Police examine a patch of bushland near to the house where William Tyrrell went missing in 2014 assisted by forensic graves expert Dr Tony Lowe (centre)

The carefully preserved scene at a patch of bushland near to William Tyrrell's foster grandmother's house in Kendall, where the three-year-old was last seen

Australian Federal Police officers brought in ground penetrating radar to scan a concrete slab at the Kendall property on Thursday but no abnormalities were discovered under the surface

On Thursday, Australian Federal Police officers brought in ground penetrating radar to scan a concrete slab at the Kendall property that belonged to the boy's foster grandmother.

William disappeared from the property seven years ago, but the slab was laid after that. Nothing, however, was detected under the slab.

It comes after police investigated theories he may have fallen from a balcony at the property.

Earlier this week police also seized a Mazda that previously belonged to the foster grandmother, who has since died.

Cadaver dogs have also been on the scene.

One of the last known pictures taken of William Tyrrell on the day he disappeared from his foster grandmother's house at Kendall on the mid north coast of NSW

William Tyrrell's foster mother leaves her north shore home in Sydney on Thursday. She and her husband were charged over an unrelated alleged assault on a different child on Wednesday

An ongoing search in an area of bush near the Kendall home is continuing, having sparked excitement on Wednesday afternoon as police examined an item that turned out to be unrelated.

That same day police also charged the boy's former foster parents over an unrelated alleged assault on a different child.

The pair are due to face court at Hornsby on Tuesday

Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised investigating police officers on Thursday, saying they have made 'huge inroads' and would 'never stop' looking into the mysterious disappearance.

The continuing search comes as William's biological grandmother opened up about the 'shambolic' police investigation into the little boy's disappearance.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told A Current Affair on Thursday night that she was kept in the dark by detectives in the initial stages of the investigation.

'The foster care people, they knew everything and we knew nothing,' she said.

William's biological grandmother opened up about the 'shambolic' police investigation into the little boy's disappearance on A Current Affair on Thursday evening

The woman, whose son is William's biological father, recounted supervised visits her son and his partner would have with William before the nightmare ordeal began.

'So, we were just having a little picnic - out jumps the foster care mother and starts giving the kids lollipops and Kinder Surprises,' she said.

'So she was just like watching what's going on. My son used to always say he was too scared to love his kids he was too scared to love them for an hour of supervised visits.'

She said she has no idea what happened to William but painfully revealed: 'He's not alive. I knew he wasn't alive for the last seven years. So, I'm just scared.'
A Sydney grandfather who fatally stabbed his wife in a frenzied and sudden attack after suffering months of insomnia has been jailed for at least two years and six months.

Mu Rong Hong, 64, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife of 30 years, Mu Xia Hong, 57, at a relative's house at Berala on November 11, 2019.

He was originally charged with murder, but his plea was accepted on the basis of substantial impairment due to mental illness.

In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, Justice Peter Hamill jailed him for six years with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

Mu Rong Hong (pictured during his 2019 arrest) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife of 30 years, Mu Xia Hong, 57, at a relative's house at Berala on November 11, 2019

'It is self-evident that this is a tragic case,' he said.

The Hongs, who had two adult children, were said to have had a happy and normal marriage with no reports of any violence between them.

For 15 years, Hong ran a small convenience store in Westmead which he closed in April 2019 and stopped working.

He reported difficulty sleeping, was anxious and 'appeared to descend into a severe melancholic depression'.

His family assisted him in obtaining psychiatric help and he was assessed, diagnosed and treated at the Cumberland Hospital on November 4.

A week later he stabbed his wife more than 40 times with a kitchen knife.

He told police he killed her due to his 'chaotic mind' and inability to sleep.

He 'heard voices in his head' and 'felt like he lost control of his body'.

He said he had no disagreements with his wife and that they had lived together for a few decades, but he was 'mentally nervous, I did something wrong, I regret'.

'The offence was objectively very serious,' the judge said.

'It involved the offender forming an intention to kill, and the infliction of more than 40 wounds to an innocent victim who was caring for him.

'The offence involved the use of a weapon and was committed in the proximity of young children.

'The injuries bespeak a savage and ferocious assault.'

His moral culpability was diminished by his severe mental illness, although this was the reason his charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter.

Hong, who came to Australia from China in 1988, had no criminal history.

'I am satisfied that if he is treated properly for his psychiatric illness, and complies with his doctors' advice, his prospects of rehabilitation are good and that he is unlikely to offend again,' Justice Hamill said.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki snapped at a reporter at Thursday's briefing after being asked if the press should expect a press conference following President Joe Biden's 'three amigos' summit.

'You can ask questions in any format, right? I don't think you need a formal embroidered chair for it,' Psaki told CBS News Radio correspondent Steven Portnoy, who serves as the president of the White House Correspodents' Association, the group that pushes for White House access for journalists.

Portnoy had pointed out that Biden had told reporters at a bill signing Thursday morning, 'I'll be happy to answer questions after I meet with all the leaders.'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki snapped at a reporter at Thursday's briefing after being asked if the press should expect a press conference following President Joe Biden's 'three amigos' summit

However, the White House bucked tradition and didn't schedule a tri-lateral press conference with Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador following their late afternoon meeting.

Both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama held press conferences when they got together with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts.

CBS News Radio correspondent Steven Portnoy asked Psaki about a press conference at the Thursday briefing. He serves as White House Correspondents' Association president

Instead, reporters could yell questions during what are called 'pool sprays,' when a smaller group of journalists comes in for a portion of a meeting.

Leaders can choose to ignore the press or engage.

Earlier in the briefing, Psaki told reporters that the lack of press conference wasn't 'as scandalous as that in terms of backstory.'

She said there was a 'change of schedule,' as Biden signed three first responder-related bills Thursday morning, which prevented a tri-lateral press conference from being booked after the scheduled 4:45 p.m. meeting with both Lopez Obrador and Trudeau.

Biden also has a tendency to run late, so that meeting hadn't started as 5 p.m. approached.

In his capacity as WHCA president, Portnoy told Psaki: 'We would like a press conference,' in response to her 'embroidered chair' comment.

Psaki was interviewed Wednesday for a Politico Women Rule event where she said that Biden's lack of press conferences was more of a problem for the media than the American people.

'I think that's more of an issue related to the White House press corps ... and D.C. press, than it is of concern to the American public,' she said.

Psaki pushed back on the idea that Biden was in any way press shy.

Biden has eschewed formal press conferences for more casual Q&A with reporters when he travels or during events.

President Joe Biden (right) meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (left) in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon

President Joe Biden (right) and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) of Canada during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office

When he does hold a press conference, he's made it standard practice to call on a pre-set list of reporters.

'I would say that it's the job of every journalist to push for more access. That's their job. And if we granted access every time a journalist asked for an interview or access we probably wouldn't necessarily be doing our jobs,' Psaki said.

She argued that the debate over press conferences is 'misunderstood' because 'it's really about how any president uses their time or how they engage with the media.'

'But it's just not accurate to suggest that he isn't accessible or doesn't answer questions,' she added.

She argued that Biden, at a standard press conference, might only answer 10 to 15 questions, while he answers '20, 30 questions a week,' in the more casual encounters.

'President Biden has answered questions twice as many times at these events than President Trump did at this point at time,' Psaki also argued.
From the moment it was first exhibited in 1882 at the Salon de Paris - once the greatest art event in the world - Edouard Manets last major work, A Bar At The Folies-Bergere, has caused a stir.

Not just because of the size of the landscape - at just over 3ft high and more than 4ft wide, it was larger than was fashionable at the time - but also because of all the many questions it raises.

Why does the immaculately-dressed barmaid look so cripplingly bored? Who is that shadowy man in the mirror?

How on earth did such a great artist get the perspective so wrong? And why has a French Impressionist included two bottles of British pale ale on this Parisian bar top?

Books and books have been written about this painting and what Manet was trying to communicate, says Ernst Vegelin, director of the Courtauld Gallery in London, where the masterpiece is a prize exhibit.

Edouard Manet's A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, first exhibited in 1882, is the star attraction at the redeveloped Courtauld Gallery in London

Dr Ernst Vegelin van Claerbergen (left) and Maerit Rausing Director of the Courtauld Gallery, Professor Deborah Swallow (right) pose in front of artist Edouard Manet's last major painting

It never ceases to enthral and weave its spell.

Or attract thousands of visitors from around the world to gaze at it and ponder its mysteries, as no doubt will happen once again as the gallery finally reopens today after a three-year, 50 million top-to-bottom redevelopment, including a lead donation from the Blavatnik family.

Thanks to the pandemic and the very inconvenient discovery of a medieval cesspit in the basement, the work took longer than planned.

But initial reviews suggest it was clearly worth the wait: the Courtauld has been transformed by the award-winning firm of architects, Witherford Watson Mann, from a poky, oft-forgotten gallery into one of the capitals most spectacular artistic havens.

Alongside the Cezannes, Van Goghs, Gauguins, Renoirs and Monets, there are dazzling new commissions and donations  including a new collection of Kandinskys drawings.

But Manets work, completed even as he was dying from syphilis, is still the main attraction in the gallerys dramatic Great Room.

The Courtauld Gallery in London is re-opening to the public on Friday following a modernisation project

A gallery employee poses alongside the artwork A Bar at the Folies-Bergere

It is the great icon amongst the many icons of the collection, says Vegelin.

We wanted to preserve the moment of surprise, so its not the first thing that you see, but it emerges on the left in a moment of, I hope, astonishment and delight.

It will no doubt spark afresh all the questions surrounding the paintings rich complexity. Here, we attempt to decode some of its secrets...

The folies was a risque business

Built as an opera house in the newly-modernised 9th Arrondissement of Paris and opened in 1869, the Folies-Bergere signified everything modern and risque about Parisian society in the late 19th century.

A venue for anything and everything  from operettas, gymnastics, trapeze acts and naked revues  and enjoyed by the great and good, and everyone in between.

Manet adored it and spent many happy, drunken hours there with fellow artists, musicians, and writers.

Aware that he was dying, the painting was his final farewell, not just to the Folies, but to a decadent world he loved.

Why does she look so bored?

Suzon - the model who posed for Manet - was a real barmaid whom he doubtless met while propped at this very same bar.

But the tired-looking woman he actually painted, with that blank and unknowable expression who stares back at us with more than a hint of confrontation - was more a figment of his imagination than reality.

Is she bored of her job, of the long hours, of the noise and bustle of rich Parisian cabaret-goers who probably pay little heed to her?

As well as Manet's last major work, artworks on show at the gallery include pieces by Van Gogh and Renoir

Or perhaps she was simply exhausted at the end of another long night of serving customers, one after another?

Some art critics interpret her demeanour differently: this is a woman who is emotionally detached, numbed even  thanks to some of her more demanding patrons to whom she might be required to offer more than just liquid refreshment.

Clues the barmaid was a prostitute

It would have been highly unusual to make a barmaid, let alone a prostitute, the central focus of such an important painting in the late 19th century.

But art scholar and author, Kelly Grovier, points to myriad clues that Manet did just that.

One is the crystal bowl of sweet mandarins. Sex workers often signalled themselves by working as orange sellers at theatres in Elizabethan England.

Her position at the bar, in between the bottles of Champagne and peppermint liqueur, and even that red triangle corsage at her breast that so neatly complements the logo of the Bass pale ale (more of which in a moment), suggest to some that the barmaid, too, is commodified and for sale.

The first use of product placement

Ah, yes, those Bass pale ale bottles  their logos on display  may represent one of the earliest examples of product placement, long before James Bonds Aston Martins and Land Rovers, and the endless shots of Carrie Bradshaws Apple laptop in Sex And The City.

Did Manet include this particular brand  brewed in Burton upon Trent and Britains first ever trademarked product  to show just how international and modern his favourite bar was? (He also included two orbs of light reflected in the mirror to indicate early examples of electric lighting.)

Crucially, the beers were British not German, because the French were still feeling rather too tender a decade after the Franco-Prussian war to be embracing German beer with similar gusto.

The Courtauld Bag, from Mosul, Iraq, approximately 1300, on display at the Courtauld Gallery

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear by Vincent Van Gogh. The Courtauld Gallery is reopening following a three-year renovation project

Why are there so many triangles?

While most of us wouldnt even notice, much has been made of the plethora of triangles in the painting.

And when you get your eye in, they are everywhere.

Not just those beer logos and the barmaids corsage, but in the hem of her coat, the shape carved out by her hands on the marble bar, in the vase of flowers, the upturned triangles of the chandeliers reflected in the mirror, the triangular belly of the green bottle of absinthe in front of her  and even the space created by a lady in yellow gloves who is reflected in the mirror.

All, some experts insist, deliberate and linking back to the Bass logo  all about commodification and modernity.

Whats with the wonky viewpoint?

On first look, too much seems wrong. In fact, the closer you peer, the more spatial dislocations appear, as the Courtauld director Ernst Vegelin explains.

The tired-looking barmaid  leaning on the marble counter and isolated in the dead centre  is too big and dominant.

Her reflection in the giant gold-edged mirror behind, chatting to an allusive top-hatted gentleman (which may be Manets self-portrait) is not angled correctly.

The Courtauld Collection, which is known for its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces with over 600 paintings, is home to over 34,000 works from the Medieval period through to the 20th Century

The Trinity with Saints Mary Magdalen and John the Baptist, an alterpiece by Sandro Botticelli believed to have been painted around 1492

And some of the bottles to her left appear in the wrong place in their reflection.

But this was no mistake by Manet. He knew exactly what he was doing, as evidenced by X-rays, which reveal the painting went through substantial alterations, during which he unfolded his barmaids arms, moved her more centrally and deliberately skewed the perspective.

So the question remains why? Quite possibly to represent the chaotic modern world of the late 19th century, where everything could not always be reconciled, or make sense.

The artists brush with sex disease

In 1882, Manet was barely 50 but suffering from partial paralysis of the legs caused by complications of syphilis and he tired easily.

While initial sketches were done at the Folies, he later built a replica of the bar in his studio and it was there that barmaid Suzon posed for him and he painted her - very slowly. Which of course might also be another explanation for her rather bored expression.

The Trinity with Saints Mary Magdalen and John the Baptist. The Courtauld has been transformed by the award-winning firm of architects, Witherford Watson Mann, from a poky, oft-forgotten gallery into one of the capitals most spectacular artistic havens

How much money for this manet?

For years, the painting hung above the piano of composer Emmanuel Chabrier, a close friend of Manets who collected 14 of his artworks and, in return, dedicated a sonata to Manets wife, Suzanne.

After changing hands several times, Samuel Courtauld, the English industrialist, art collector and founder of the Courtauld Institute, bought it in 1926 for 22,600 (equivalent to more than 1.4million today), the most he ever paid for a painting.

So what is it worth today?

You cant [value it]!, Vegelin tells me. It is absolutely priceless. Pictures like this just arent available.

Not to buy, no. But of course, from today, anyone can again go and see Manets masterpiece  and decide for themselves what secret messages it holds.
Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III told Christopher Belter, 20, (pictured) - who previously pleaded guilty to felony charges of rape and of sexual abuse in 2019 - on Tuesday that prison time would be 'inappropriate'

Stunned victims and onlookers broke down in tears, with some even vomiting, when a 20-year-old New York State man who pleaded guilty to raping four teenage girls in his parents' home was sentenced to just eight years probation by an elderly judge set to retire next month, for his heinous crimes.

The case is even more shocking because convicted Christopher Belter's parents are facing charges they groomed their son's victims by plying them with alcohol and marijuana.

'If Chris Belter was not a white defendant from a rich and influential family, it is my belief he would surely have been sentenced to prison,' prosecuting attorney Steven Cohen, representing one of the victims, told DailyMail.com of the decision.

Niagara County Court Judge Matthew J. Murphy III, 69, told Belter on Tuesday that prison time would be 'inappropriate' and instead ordered him to register as a sex offender.

Belter had pleaded guilty to felony charges including third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse, and two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse.

But the Niagara County judge decided against a prison sentence. Belter could have been facing up to eight years in prison for his crimes. Prosecutors do not have the ability to appeal Murphy's decision.

Belter assaulted his four victims between February 2017 and August 2018, with three aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the assaults at his family's 'party house' in a wealthy Lewiston neighborhood, just a few miles from Niagara Falls.

State police claim that Belter's mother and real estate lawyer Tricia Vacanti, 50; his stepfather Gary Sullo, 56, and a family friend Jessica M. Long, 42, allegedly groomed the four victims by supplying alcohol and marijuana.

One of Belter's victims was heard crying as the judge read out his verdict Tuesday, while Cohen, representing one of the victims, told DailyMail.com that his client threw up after the decision.

Scroll down for video

Prosecuting attorney Steven Cohen, who represented one of the victims, slammed the judge's decision in a statement to DailyMail.com Thursday. 'If Chris Belter was not a white defendant from a rich and influential family he would surely have been sentenced to prison,' he sniped

Christopher Belter (center in black face mask) had pleaded guilty to felony charges including third-degree rape and attempted first-degree sexual abuse, and two misdemeanor charges of second-degree sexual abuse

Belter's mother Tricia Vacanti, 50, stepfather Gary Sullo, 56, face 30 criminal counts in connection to the alcohol and drug-fueled parties at their home

Belter is seen being led into the court room ahead of his sentencing. One of Belter's victims was heard crying as the judge read out his verdict, while Steven Cohen, representing another of the victims, reportedly said his client threw up after the decision

Belter assaulted his four victims between February 2017 and August 2018, with three aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the assaults at his family's 'party house' in a wealthy Lewiston neighborhood, just a few miles from Niagara Falls

Judge Murphy told Belter that his eight-year probation would 'be like a sword hanging over your head for the next eight years.'

'I agonized  I'm not ashamed to say that I actually prayed over what is the appropriate sentence in this case, because there was great pain. There was great harm. There were multiple crimes committed in the case,' Murphy told the shocked court room.

'It seems to me that a sentence that involves incarceration or partial incarceration isn't appropriate, so I am going to sentence you to probation.'

The judge - who will retire next month - did not offer any further explanation for his decision not impose jail time on Belter.

Only overseeing criminal cases in Niagara County since 2016, Murphy has not ruled on cases of this magnitude in the past. He currently works as a judge for the County and Surrogates courts in Niagara County, New York, having been elected to the role in 2007. In addition, Murphy serves as a part-time State Supreme Court justice, handling part of the county's civil litigation calendar.

He also handles cases involving wills and estates, as well as Niagara county's pistol permit hearings. He was later re-elected in 2017 as a judge for the Niagara County Court system after running for the position unopposed.

Due to his age, Murphy will only be able to serve a few more weeks as an elected judge before he reaches New York State's mandatory judicial retirement age of 70 next month in December.

When giving his verdict on Tuesday, Judge Murphy (pictured) said he 'agonized' over the case before deciding to hand Belter eight years of probation

Before receiving his sentence, Belter (pictured in court) said that he felt 'deep shame and regret' for his actions

Belter told the court: 'I hope each of you could close that wound I gashed. I know, though, that a scar will remain that will serve as a reminder of the evil of that night'

Cohen, litigation chair at Amherst-based legal firm Hogan Willig, PLLC, revealed to DailyMail.com Thursday that his client threw up after the contentious decision.

Family friend Jessica M. Long, 42, has pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child

'The greater harm, however,' the attorney then added, 'is that the sentencing in this matter would seem to perpetuate the insane belief that rape is not a serious crime and that its occurrence results in little consequence to the perpetrator.

'Our society needs to do much better.'

Belter's mother, stepfather and a family friend have all pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child. The three adults are still due to go on trial.

Vacanti, his mother, allegedly smoked marijuana with the teenage victims and supplied them with Jello shots.

She, along with Sullo, face 30 criminal counts in connection to the alcohol and drug-fueled parties at their home. Long faces single counts on her charges.

Belter's mother Tricia Vacanti, 50, stepfather Gary Sullo, 56, face 30 criminal counts in connection to the alcohol and drug-fueled parties at their home. They also face 22 counts of child endangerment and unlawfully dealing with a child. Both have pleaded not guilty

Belter assaulted his four victims between February 2017 and August 2018, with three aged 16 and one aged 15 at the time of the assaults, at his family's 'party house' (pictured) in a wealthy Lewiston neighborhood

At the time of his plea, Belter was placed on two years' interim probation by Judge Sarah Sheldon - who has since retired - which allowed him the opportunity to apply for youth offender status.

This would have lessened any potential prison sentence he could have received and prevented him from having to register on the sex offender's list.

However, Belter revealed in court last month that he broke the terms of this interim probation by installing software on his computer to watch pornography.

Per the Buffalo News, Belter then told his probation officer that he had been watching pornography since he was seven years old.

During the case, the fourth victim gave a statement describing the assault on her, commenting on which Judge Murphy said: 'He told her to stop being such a baby... The Defendant told her that, if she stopped resisting, it wouldn't hurt as much.'

Prior to sentencing, WKBW reports that Belter addressed the courtroom to reveal his 'deep shame and regret' for his actions.

He said: 'I hope each of you could close that wound I gashed. I know, though, that a scar will remain that will serve as a reminder of the evil of that night.'

Belter will appear in court again on December 3 so that a ruling can be made on what level of sex offender he will be classified as.

Vacanti, a lawyer, allegedly smoked marijuana with the teenage victims and supplied them with jello shots. She, along with Sullo face 30 criminal counts in connection to the alcohol and drug-fueld parties at their home. Long faces single counts on her charges
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called on President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to leave any 'myths and prejudices aside' and to open borders further to satisfy workforce shortages.

'We should no longer reject immigrants because in order to grow you need workforce - the workforce that you do not necessarily have in the U.S. nor in Canada,' Lopez Obrador said via a translator at the top of Thursday night's 'Three Amigos' summit.

While Biden and Trudeau kept their remarks in front of the press brief, Lopez Obrador spoke at-length about North American competition with China before telling Biden he should let the 11 million people living illegally in the U.S. to stay.

'President Biden, no president in the history of the United States has expressed as you have such a clear and certain commitment to improve the situation of the migrants and thus I wish to express my acknowledgement,' Lopez Obrador said.

'And I particularly refer to your proposal to regulate the migratory status of the 11 million people who live and work honestly in this great nation,' he continued. 'I hope you have the support of Congress and the members of both the Democrat and Republican Party.'

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (left) called on President Joe Biden (center) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) to leave any 'myths and prejudices aside' and to open borders further to satisfy workforce shortages

While President Joe Biden (left) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (center) kept their comments brief, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke at length about the threat China poses and gave Biden and Trudeau advice on immigration policy

President Joe Biden smiles as he listens during Thursday's 'three amigos' summit held in the White House's East Room

Biden does not have the support of members of the Republican Party, which currently reflects the hardline positions on immigration held by former President Donald Trump.

Lopez Obrador had a solution for the migrant crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border - put them to work.

'Why not study the workforce demand, the labor demand and open the migratory flow?' he suggested to the two leaders.

The migrant crisis has been a thorn in Biden's side, as a record number of border-crossers have flooded into the U.S. this year, but there's been very little politicali will to reward this behavior.

Lopez Obrador set the conversation up by remarking on the strength of China.

'We must not forget that whlie Canada, UnitedStates and Mexico account for 13 per cent of the world market, China remains 14.4 per cent,' he said. 'And this imbalance started out only 30 years ago in 1990 China's share was 1.7 per cent and North America's was 16 per cent.'

He also pushed the greater flow of immigration as the creative solution.

'President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau, I'm sure we can agree on the fact that we are living in, let's say, interesting times of adversity and challenges. But that's the way it is and that's how creativity and passion can emerge in order to transform and make history,' Lopez Obrador added.

Lopez Obrador comments came during the leaders' main meeting of the day after Biden greeted both Trudea and Lopez Obrador separately in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) looks through a briefing binder in the White House's East Room Thursday during the 'three amigos' summit

President Joe Biden (left) and and Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) attend the North American Leaders' Summit

Trudeau came to the West Wing first, with Biden telling the Canadian leader, 'This is one of the easiest relationships that we have.'

The president acknowledged during the meeting that a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing is 'something we are considering.'

During Biden's virtual meeting with China's Xi Jinping Monday night, White House officials said the Olympics didn't come up - however The Washington Post reported Tuesday that a boycott was on the table.

In the Oval, Biden brushed off another question about tax breaks for electric cars made solely in the U.S., which is a part of the current Build Back Better package, and something the Canadians have a problem with.

'We're going to talk about that,' he told reporters in the room. Trudeau didn't even acknowledge the reporters' questions.

During Lopez Obrador's time in the Oval, Biden ignored shouted questions.

The Mexican president spoke for nine-minutes in Spanish, not taking breaks for his translator to keep up, prompting a chuckle from the American president who knew she faced a challenge. 'Let's see if you can do it,' Biden said.

President Joe Biden (right) welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) to the White House Thursday for their bilateral meeting head of the North American Leaders' Summit, scheduled for later in the afternoon

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on during a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon

President Joe Biden said during a short Q&A at the top of his meeting with Canada's Justin Trudeau that instituting a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics is 'something we are considering'

President Joe Biden (right) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) listen to reporters' questions at the top of their meeting Thursday in the Oval Office

After meeting with Trudeau, President Joe Biden (right) hosted Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado (left) in the Oval Office

The Mexican president spoke at length in the Oval Office in Spanish

Biden assured Lopez Obrador that the United States does not see Mexico as the 'U.S. backyard' and instead as equals.

Thursday's meetings mark the first North American summit since 2016, as former President Donald Trump didn't keep up the Bush 43-era tradition.

But the 'three amigos' as they are known, will not hold a joint press conference.

In all eight summits held since the meeting's inception in 2005, there has been a trilateral press conference.

During Thursday's press briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki said the lack of press conference wasn't 'as scandalous as that in terms of the backstory.'

She said there was a 'change of schedule,' as Biden signed three first responder-related bills Thursday morning, which prevented a tri-lateral press conference from being booked after the scheduled 4:45 p.m. meeting with both Lopez Obrador and Trudeau.

White House deputy press secretary Chris Meagher said Wednesday there would be 'pool sprays' - which is when reporters yell questions at the leaders.

The leaders do not have to answer them, as Trudeau displayed.

However, he did crack a joke about how the Canadian journalists 'definitely have health coverage' as the U.S. and Canadian press pools filed into the Oval.

The White House has pointed out there will be separate opportunities for the leaders to be questioned - at the top of each bilateral meeting Biden is hosting, first with Trudeau and then with Lopez Obrador.

But former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush held full press conferences with their counterparts at their respective summits, which led to some questions the leaders struggled to answer, including the future of relations between the three countries following the election of Donald Trump.

'I'll be happy to answer questions after I meet with all the leaders,' Biden said Thursday morning, in advance of the meetings, at a bill signing event.

During an interview with Politico Wednesday, Psaki said Biden's lack of official press conferences is more of a media problem than an issue for the American people.

'I think that's more of an issue related to the White House press corps ... and D.C. press, than it is of concern to the American public,' Psaki said in an interview that was part of a Politico Women Rule livestream event.

In Thursday's briefing, she was told by White House Correspondents' Association President Steven Portnoy, 'we would like a press conference,' after she responded, 'You can you can ask questions in any format, right? I don't think you need a formal embroidered chair for it.'



Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) shakes hands with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) during a meeting in Washington before the leaders headed to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden

Vice President Kamala Harris (right) and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (left) wave from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) speaks before a meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (right) in her office at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Afterward, Vice President Kamala Harris (left) hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) wave at reporters from the balcony of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Thursday afternoon

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) that the U.S.-Canada relationship is significant 'to me in particular' because she lived in Canada as a child

Trudeau arrived in Washington Wednesday with concerns about buy-American provisions in the president's proposed $1.85 trillion Build Back Better reconciliation bill.

Mexico's priorities heading into the summit were to obtain concrete advances on immigration and more equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

While Biden was meeting with Trudeau, Vice President Kamala Harris was hosting Lopez Obrador at her office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

Harris later hosted Trudeau for a similar meeting.

Upon meeting the Canadian PM, Harris said the relationship is significant 'to me in particular' because she lived in Canada as a child.

There are growing concerns in Canada about a provision in the spending plan that would offer U.S. consumers a $7,500 tax credit if they buy electric vehicles through 2026.

The following year, only purchases of electric vehicles made in the U.S. would qualify for the credit. The base credit would go up by $4,500 if the vehicle was made at a U.S. plant that operates under a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland called the incentive a clear violation of an updated trade agreement among the three countries that aimed to protect U.S. jobs and products made in North America.

Trudeau, Freeland and other Canadian ministers met with U.S. officials on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

And Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said she raised concerns about the electric vehicle provision with Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week.

Freeland said that for Canada, 'Job one here in the U.S. this week is to really make our American counterparts aware of the extent to which their current approach to this issue is a problem for Canada and to really explain to them that the way they have formulated this incentive really, really has the potential to become the dominant issue in our bilateral relationship.'

Meagher said the electric vehicle tax incentives are an essential part of Biden's push to link efforts to curb climate emissions with job creation in the U.S.

The U.S. and Canada, meanwhile, have expressed frustration that Lopez Obrador has failed to get on board with global efforts to curb climate emissions. The Mexican president skipped this month's U.N. climate summit in Glasgow.

Lopez Obradors government, for its part, wants promised U.S. development funds for the Northern Triangle countries of Central America to be firmed up. The Mexican leader continues to press the U.S. to fund an expansion of his tree planting program to Central America.

Mexico has worked with the United States - under both Trump and Biden - to control migrant flows and assist in returning migrants to Central America.

The two countries are still negotiating the court-ordered re-implementation of a Trump-era policy known as Remain in Mexico, which forced asylum seekers to wait out their U.S. asylum process in Mexico.

Lopez Obrador has also mentioned on multiple occasions his interest in the U.S. government expanding its temporary work visa program so more Mexicans and Central Americans can fill the demand for labor in the U.S.

The temporary workers in turn could have access to the higher pay they seek in the U.S. without becoming part of the illegal immigration flow.

Arriving in Washington on Wednesday, Mexico Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said his government would focus on three issues: the pandemic, economic integration and immigration.

On immigration, Ebrard said Mexico would try to rally support for two of Lopez Obradors signature social programs - tree planting and youth job opportunities - to reduce the push factors of migration.

Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, recently expressed 'serious concerns' about the Mexican governments attempts to limit competition in the electrical power sector.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) Wednesday ahead of his Thursday meetings at the White House

Trudeau and Biden are also expected to discuss the future of an oil pipeline that crosses part of the Great Lakes and is the subject of rising tension over whether it should be shut down.

Biden is caught in a battle over Enbridge's Line 5, a key segment of a pipeline network that carries Canadian oil across the U.S. Midwest.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat and Biden ally, has demanded closure of the 68-year-old line because of the potential for a catastrophic rupture along a 4-mile section in the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

The Biden administration has not taken a position but is under increasing pressure to do so.

Canada last month invoked a 1977 treaty that guarantees the unimpeded transit of oil between the two nations.
Big banks who fail to tackle fraud will be named and shamed under plans to ensure more victims get their money back.

In a victory for the Daily Mail, regulators will be able to force the largest firms to stick to strict refund rules.

Banks and building societies will also have to publish data on fraud prevention and reimbursement rates  and could be fined if they do not treat victims fairly.

Bank customers faced a lottery when it came to refunds, as different companies interpreted the rules in different ways  allowing them to reject payouts (file photo)

Eight-month wait for cash Linda and Ralph Brodie were scammed out of 21,000  but HSBC offered to refund only half of it. The bank said Mr Brodie, 74, did not make enough checks to ensure he knew who he was paying after a phone fraudster posed as an HSBC employee. The couple, from Cambridgeshire, complained to the Financial Ombudsman but faced an eight-month wait for the verdict. Mrs Brodie, 71, said: We knew the code was voluntary and interpretations are inconsistent. We spent months worrying and were astonished when the ombudsman ruled in our favour. HSBC finally refunded the couple in full. Linda and Ralph Brodie (pictured) were scammed out of 21,000  but HSBC offered to refund only half of it. Advertisement

Fraud has soared since the Covid crisis began, with criminals stealing the equivalent of 4million every day in the first half of this year.

So-called authorised push payment (APP) fraud  when victims are tricked into transferring money to a fraudster  increased 71 per cent year-on-year as losses hit 355million.

A voluntary code of conduct was launched in 2019 to refund blameless targets of scams  but just nine banks signed up. Less than half of fraud victims got their money back under the scheme.

Bank customers faced a lottery when it came to refunds, as different companies interpreted the rules in different ways  allowing them to reject payouts.

One three-month period last year saw an unnamed bank issue refunds in just 1 per cent of cases.

The Financial Ombudsman, which settles disputes between banks and their customers, has ruled in favour of three-quarters of scam victims refused refunds.

Now, under new proposals from the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR), the system will go from a voluntary code to a mandatory one, underpinned by law.

In addition, data will be published regularly to reveal which banks are used by fraudsters to move stolen money. It is hoped the move will force banks to improve security to protect their reputations  and bottom lines.

Chris Hemsley of the PSR said the plans will put the onus on financial institutions to get better at detecting and preventing scams. The plan represents a victory for the Mails Stop the Bank Scammers campaign, which has long called for action to tackle the fraud epidemic.

Banks said other organisations  such as social media giants  should be forced to do their part, too.

...But others get it right David Bale was scammed out of 6,000 by fraudsters pretending to be from his bank. Thankfully, he was swiftly reimbursed by TSB  which pledged two years ago to refund all customers in full. The 77-year-old from Peterborough said it was a shame other banks had to be forced into action. They should be doing everything to protect their clients, he added. Advertisement

Katy Worobec of industry group UK Finance said: We agree that more needs to be done and have long called for a regulated code, backed by legislation, to ensure consumer protections apply consistently. As the PSR recognises, other industries have a key role to play in tackling fraud, which is why its so important that there is co-ordinated action from government and other sectors to tackle what is now a national security threat.

Treasury minister John Glen said the Government will legislate to address any barriers to regulatory action at the earliest opportunity. A consultation on the proposals will run until January. Rules on fraud data will apply to Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Metro Bank, Monzo, NatWest, Nationwide, Santander, Starling Bank, the Co-Op, TSB and Virgin, as well as AIB and Northern Bank in Northern Ireland.

Richard Emery, from fraud consultancy 4Keys International, said: Publishing scam data is crucial... [but] we need more firms to be transparent.

He added: My worry with mandatory refunds is that banks will find another way to wriggle out of paying.
The Remembrance Sunday bomb was packed with shrapnel and could have caused many casualties had it exploded properly, sources said yesterday.

Emad Al Swealmeen loaded the homemade device with nails and bolts  but it failed to fully detonate when it went off in a taxi outside Liverpool Womens Hospital just before 11am on Sunday.

Experts believe if it had functioned as intended, metal fragments would have been flung in all directions, shredding the car and cutting down passers-by.

Emad Al-Swealmeen, 32, pictured, loaded a homemade explosive device with nails and bolts but it failed to fully detonate when it went off in a taxi outside Liverpool Womens Hospital just before 11am on Sunday

Forensic tests are expected to reveal why it failed.

The taxis driver David Perry is thought to have escaped serious injury because the blast was largely confined to the back seat before the vehicle erupted in flames.

Yesterday it emerged that Al Swealmeen, 32, had spent months trawling the internet to buy chemicals and metal components in small quantities to avoid detection.

The failed asylum seeker, who arrived in Britain from Iraq, is said to have had online shopping packages constantly arriving at his rented flat in Liverpool.

Officers have recovered traces of chemicals from the bomb factory indicating that he experimented with various explosives.

One of the recipes he is understood to have followed was for hexamethylene triperoxide diamine  the same material used by the July 7 2005 London bombers.

Misfire: The taxi burns after the bomb goes off

In previous terror attacks such as the Manchester Arena bombing and the Parsons Green tube explosion, key ingredients were bought on Amazon.

Yesterday, the company said it was checking to see if Al Swealmeen had bought chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide.

An Amazon spokesman said: We only sell products that comply with UK laws. In addition, we also continue to work closely with police and law enforcement agencies.

The motive for the attack remains unclear because officers have yet to access the bombers computers.

Al Swealmeen had converted to Christianity in Liverpool Cathedral and attended services in the suburb of Fazakerley until 2019. But he later dropped out of sight, according to the leaders of his local church.

Yesterday there were reports suggesting that he had regularly attended a local mosque.

Far-Right extremism has for the first time overtaken Islamism as the main reason for referrals to the Governments anti-radicalisation programme Prevent, say official figures.

Aerial view of damaged car being removed by forensic officer after the explosion at the Liverpool Women's Hospital on Remembrance Sunday

It was behind 1,229 referrals, about a quarter of the 4,915 made from April 2020 to March this year.

There were 1,064 about Islamism  22 per cent. Most of the rest were for individuals with mixed, unstable or unclear ideologies.

The impact of coronavirus curbs led to a 22 per cent drop in referrals to Prevent, the first since records began in 2016. Under-20s account for 48 per cent of cases  and men for 88 per cent.
A calendar featuring nothing but photographs of Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton has gone on sale for the New Year.

It is the second time Professor Sutton's mug has adorned a calendar, with this year's edition selling out at $32 a pop.

The 52-year old features in the Climate Change Calendar 2022, which features a forward by Professor Peter Doherty - the Nobel Prize-winning doctor Melburnians can thank for their world record breaking lockdown.

The Climate Change Calendar 2022 features Professor Brett Sutton

Professor Brett Sutton has a legion of followers despite being involved in numerous scandals

Ambulance service workers push a stretcher into St Basil's Homes for the Aged facility in Fawkner on July 27 last year. 50 people died there amid allegations Professor Sutton condemned them to die

This year's calendar, which features 15 photographs of Professor Sutton, will cost $3 more than last year, with all funds going to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and refugee advocates Foundation House.

A preview of the calendar shows the chief health officer in a series of sultry poses, including him seated in a stairwell and gazing at the lens.

Other shots show him chuckling and smiling at Melbourne press conferences, which for near-on two years featured running tallies of those that had died of Covid-19 under his watch.

Poll WOULD YOU BUY A CALENDAR FEATURING PROFESSOR BRETT SUTTON? YES NO WOULD YOU BUY A CALENDAR FEATURING PROFESSOR BRETT SUTTON? YES 26 votes

NO 224 votes Now share your opinion





Victoria's Covid-19 death toll stood at 1248 on Thursday with 1007 new cases recorded and 12 deaths.

Victorians smitten with Professor Sutton have swooned over the chief medical officer's good looks since he became a regular at press conferences.

Several social media sites have been dedicated to the professor, with one amassing thousands of followers.

His fans have dubbed themselves the 'Suttonettes' and praised the public servant for his good looks and 'calm, respectful manner'.

Fans have also given Professor Sutton affectionate nicknames including Dr Brett McHunk, Scruff McHunk and Chief Swoon Officer.

Some fans were so besotted with the medical officer they designed a line of homewares including kitchenware, linen and t-shirts with his face on them

People have put Professor Brett Sutton's head on a mug

Dozens of memes have been inspired by the clinician since his raise to fame during the COVID-19 crisis

Not everyone is a fan of Professor Sutton, with one man suggesting his calendar has more than one use

Last year's calendar, which saw proceeds donated to The Smith Family and Medecins Sans Frontieres, appeared to feature shots of Professor Sutton in times of anguish during painful press conferences.

More than 2,000 of the calendars were sold, raising just under $17,500 for the charities.

A tweet spruiking the new calendar by gender equality advocate Leanne Tonkes received a mixed response, with many expressing dismay that Professor Sutton would feature on a calendar.

'He was genuinely surprised when I asked. But also very good humoured and generous about raising funds and awareness for two great causes,' she tweeted.

'Really? Im all for it for a good cause but are you messing with us?' Dr Shane Huntington asked, before describing the calendar as 'fantastic'.

'If this is real then it is very weird. Not sure how featuring in a calendar fits in the public servant code of conduct,' epidemiology professor Bob Cumming responded.

Other's got straight to the point: 'This is just...almost sleezy...i am sure CHO is aware of other modes of health promotion than that of his picture appearing every month...with a message of course....eww...weird,' one person wrote.

'He cant even manage a pandemic how would he manage climate change if it were real,' another stated.

If last year's calendar sales are any indication, bad press is unlikely to hamper this year's efforts.

The 2021 calendar featuring Professor Sutton sold out

Some like to swoon over Professor Brett Sutton, who has become a reality star all over again during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne

Another photo of Professor Brett Sutton in 2005 wearing an earring

Brett Sutton has a lot of fans, but is earning more enemies by the day

While his good looks are the driving force behind his cult status, his calm demeanour and handling of the crisis early on did not go unnoticed

More than 800 elderly Victorians died last year when Covid-19 seeped out of the state's bungled hotel quarantine program.

Professor Sutton told an inquiry into the fiasco last year he did not know private security guards were involved in the botched quarantine program until the Covid-19 outbreak at the Rydges hotel in May, which ultimately led to most of the 20,000 cases that caused havoc across the state.

Since then he has become embroiled in numerous scandals, including a parliamentary inquiry into the forced closure of I Cook Foods - also known as 'Slug Gate'.

Next week, Professor Sutton is expected to appear before a coronial inquest into the deaths of 50 residents at St Basil's Homes for the Aged at Fawkner last year after the quarantine debacle.

The inquest has heard Professor Sutton made the call to stand down all St Basils workers, deemed Covid-19 close contacts, and replace them with agency staff.

It was that decision which led to the severe malnutrition of residents  50 of whom died during the outbreak, the inquest heard.

'Guess we could always use it for toilet paper, if there's another shortage in the future,' another Melburnian said of the calendar.
Meta (formerly Facebook) has unveiled a haptic glove prototype that lets users feel objects in virtual reality (VR).

The glove, unveiled by Meta Reality Labs, is lined with a series of small air pockets called actuators along the palms and fingers that inflate to create a sense of touch.

Commercialising a haptic glove is part of Meta's ambition to transform into a 'metaverse'  a collective virtual shared space featuring avatars of real people.

Development work on the glove is still ongoing, but once fine-tuned and released to the market, it would allow consumers to tell the difference between holding different materials in the metaverse, such as a plastic pen or a rubber ball.

A Meta spokesperson told MailOnline that the glove is just a research prototype for now and doesn't have a release date.

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The glove, unveiled by Meta Reality Labs, is lined with a series of small air pockets called actuators along the palms and fingers that inflate to create a sense of touch

What is the metaverse? The 'metaverse' is a set of virtual spaces where you can game, work and communicate with other people who aren't in the same physical space as you. Facebook explained: 'You'll be able to hang out with friends, work, play, learn, shop, create and more. 'It's not necessarily about spending more time online  it's about making the time you do spend online more meaningful.' While Facebook is leading the charge with the metaverse, it explained that it isn't a single product one company can build alone. 'Just like the internet, the metaverse exists whether Facebook is there or not,' it added. 'And it won't be built overnight. Many of these products will only be fully realized in the next 10-15 years.' Advertisement

Facebook (the company, not the product) rebranded itself Meta in October as part of its new obsession with the metaverse.

In the future, the metaverse will be accessible with virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets and smart glasses, and could be used for work, education, gaming and even music events.

The glove will likely be one of several physical products that Facebook sells years down the line to allow consumers to enter the metaverse.

Outlining the glove in a blog post, Meta Reality Labs said it create the illusion of being able to feel the wood of a jigsaw puzzle piece, or the plastic of a computer keyboard as you type.

'You can feel the click of each keystroke, as well as the edges of the virtual keys on your fingertips, making it as easy as typing on a perfectly-sized physical keyboard,' Meta Reality Labs says.

The glove is fitted with haptic technology, meaning it can create an experience of touch by applying forces, vibrations, or motions.

But vibrations alone are not enough to distinguish between a huge variety of objects that a consumer might come into contact with in the metaverse.

'To deliver a realistic sense of touch, a haptic glove needs hundreds of actuators (tiny motors) all over the hand, moving in concert in a way that makes the wearer feel like they're touching a virtual object,' Meta says.

Consumers would be wearing the glove in the real world but thanks to a virtual reality headset be seeing the objects in the virtual world

Soft, pliable actuators could change shape in response to the wearer's movements. The final version would be wireless and may be sold to perfectly fit the hand of each individual buyer

To control the actuators, Reality Labs is building a 'high-speed microfluidic processor'  a tiny microfluidic chip on the glove that controls the air flow going into and out of the actuators.

To know when and where to deliver the right sensations, the glove is also equipped with markers that let cameras track how the fingers moving through space.

Meta is still working on the glove and wants to use pressure from the actuators against the skin to reproduce a range of 'complex and nuanced' sensations for the wearer, such as pressure, texture and vibration.

This lets wearers tell the difference between what material different virtual objects are made of, such as wood, rubber and gelatin.

Forrest Smith and Justin Clark are software engineers at Meta Reality Labs building haptic rendering tools at Reality Labs Research for next generation AR/VR interfaces

Currently, the prototype still relies more on the suggestive power of audio and images than the final product will, according to Reality Labs engineer Katherine Healy.

'You could pet a dog, but you wouldn't feel the texture,' Healy told the Verge. 'You need high-density actuation to be able to really get that sensation, and this glove does not do that.'

The finished product will need to be wireless  currently it's tethered with a series of wires  and slimmed down so it's not too heavy on the hand.

It would also need to be available in multiple different sizes to fit the hands of each buyer and even be able to go through the wash.

Pictured is Meta Reality Labs research director Sean Keller wearing the current glove prototype

Facebook rebranded itself Meta in October as part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's (pictured) new obsession with the metaverse

'With garments in general, we expect them to be washable,' said Healy. 'We would love to be able to create a glove that could be washed. How? We don't know yet. But that's part of our vision.'

Meta has been working on the glove nearly since it acquired the Oculus VR startup in 2014 and developed its first prototype  one finger with a single actuator  in 2015.

The company is also working on 'more lightweight' products that are built on electromyography (EMG)  which uses nerve signals on your arm.

For example, it recently unveiled a wearable wrist sensor linked to augmented reality (AR) glasses that would allow you to type on any surface.
A rock loaded with the mineral olivine has been collected by NASA's Perseverance rover, with the team tweeting: 'Another little piece of Mars to carry with me'.

This is the third in a series of samples the SUV-sized rover will collect during its time operating on the Red Planet, leaving them for a future mission to return to Earth.

The NASA Perseverance rover landed on the Red Planet in February and is slowly trundling its way across the floor of the 28-mile-wide Jezero Crater.

The US space agency tweeted: 'My latest sample is from a rock loaded with the greenish mineral olivine, and there are several ideas among my science team about how it got there. Hypotheses are flying! Science rules.'

There are no details on what these hypotheses might be, but olivine is a magnesium iron silicate and makes up most of the Earth's upper mantle.

A rock loaded with the mineral olivine has been collected by the NASA Perseverance rover, with the team tweeting: 'Another little piece of Mars to carry with me'

This is the third in a series of samples the SUV-sized rover will collect during its time operating on the Red Planet, leaving them for a future mission to return to Earth

ROVER'S FIRST ATTEMPT FAILED DUE TO POWDERY ROCK NASA's Perseverance rover failed during its first attempt to collect a core of Martian rock, the agency revealed on August 6. The percussive drill, coring bit and sample tube processing all worked as intended, but data showed the sample tube was empty following extraction. Jennifer Trosper, project manager for Perseverance at JPL, said in a statement: The initial thinking is that the empty tube is more likely a result of the rock target not reacting the way we expected during coring, and less likely a hardware issue with the Sampling and Caching System.' Days later, NASA revealed the rock at this particular location was unusually soft and powdery, which was why the operation was not a success. Advertisement

The rover carries 43 titanium tubes, and as it finds a piece of rock of interest, it loads the sample into one of these tubes for later collection.

Billions of years ago, back to the earliest days of the solar system, the Jezero crater harboured a lake and river delta, making it a good place to search for signs of 'life'.

The primary mission of Perseverance is to see if it can find remnants, or chemical fossils, that point to this long-gone microbial life.

As part of this process, it is firing its laser at rocks, disturbing samples of soil, and placing the best of what it can find into the titanium tubes.

It collected its first two samples early in September from a rock called 'Rochette' by the Perseverance team at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The success came after a failure to make the rock stick inside the sample tube, which NASA blamed on the rock being 'surprisingly crumbly.'

The latest sample comes from a rugged dune patch called 'Seitah,' the Navajo word meaning 'amongst the sand'.

The region includes a range of many-layered rocks, which the JPL team believe might be a sign of once flowing water.

'Layered rocks like this often form in water, and can hold clues about what their environment used to be like,' the space agency wrote on Twitter.

According to Perseverance student collaborator Erin Gibbons, from McGill University in Canada, each layer reveals details of the environmental conditions when that rock formed, with layer thickness and texture changes indicating environment changes.

'Further, by studying the directions that the layers tilted, we determined that the rocks of Seitah are likely the most ancient rocks exposed in all of Jezero Crater,' Gibbons wrote in a blog post.

'Seitah therefore represents the beginning of the accessible geologic record and offers a once-in-a-mission opportunity to explore the full breadth of landscape evolution.'

There are no details on what the olivine discovery means, but it is a magnesium iron silicate and it makes up most of the Earth's upper mantle

The US space agency tweeted on November 16: 'My latest sample is from a rock loaded with the greenish mineral olivine, and there are several ideas among my science team about how it got there. Hypotheses are flying! Science rules'

NASA plans a mission to bring around 30 samples back to Earth in the 2030s, where scientists will be able to conduct more detailed analysis that might confirm there was microbial life.

However, Perseverance itself is not bringing the samples back to Earth  when the rover reaches a suitable location, the tubes will dropped on the surface of Mars to be collected by a future retrieval mission, which is currently being developed.

Once Perseverance collects samples from Mars, it will drop them at a suitable location on the surface of Mars to be collected by a future retrieval mission, currently being developed.

Currently, NASA and ESA plan to launch two more spacecraft that would leave Earth in 2026 and reach Mars in 2028.

The first will deploy a small rover, which will make its way to Perseverance, pick up the filled sampling tubes and transfer them to a 'Mars ascent vehicle'  a small rocket.

The NASA Perseverance rover landed on the Red Planet in February and is slowly trundling its way across the floor of the 28-mile-wide Jezero Crater

The primary mission of Perseverance is to see if it can find remnants, or chemical fossils, that point to this long-gone microbial life

The rover carries 43 titanium tubes, and as it finds a piece of rock mission command wants to study, it loads the rock into one of these tubes for later collection

This rocket will blast off  in the process becoming the first object launched from the surface of Mars  and place the container into Martian orbit, meaning it will essentially be floating in space

At this point, the third and final spacecraft involved in the tricky operation will manoeuvre itself next to the sample container, pick it up and fly it back to Earth.

Providing its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere is successful, it will plummet to the ground at a military training ground in Utah in 2031, meaning the Martian samples won't be studied for another 10 years.

Perseverance also made the journey to Mars equipped with a detachable 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) robotic helicopter called Ingenuity.

The copter has been performing a series of flights of increasing complexity on the Red Planet, starting with its maiden flight on April 19.
In what is surely the most adorable story of the day, relationship experts have found that older couples subconsciously sync up heart rates when close together.

Researchers from the University of Illinois measured the pulses and proximity of ten long-term married senior couples using electronic monitoring devices.

The team found that, when in close proximity, one member of each couple would influence the other's heart rate, and vice versa, in a complicated dance.

However, the findings were unable to reveal any clear patterns underlying the shifts.

In what is surely the most adorable story of the day, relationship experts have found that older couples subconsciously synchronise their heart rates when close together (stock image)

'Our first step was to see if heart rate and proximity are correlated over time, explained Professor Ogolsky. Pictured: fitted time series plots of one couple's distance apart (purple), the wife's heart rate (green) and the husband's heart rate (red). Note that the superficial lack of synchronisation is a product of the changes in distance and the lag time between the pair

GETTING IN SYNC It's not just long-term couples who unknowingly synchronise their heart rates  people listening to the same stories end up in sync as well. This is the conclusion of a study from the Paris Brain Institute that was published back in September. The finding builds on previous studies that found that people often sync up bodily functions like heartbeats or breathing when undergoing a shared experience. The finding could help to develop a new and easy-to-administer hospital test to determine the level of a given patient's consciousness. Advertisement

'Relationship researchers typically ask people how they're doing and assume they can recall properly and give meaningful answers,' said paper author and romantic relationship researcher Brian Ogolsky of the University of Illinois.

'But as couples age and have been together for a long time, they laugh when we ask them how satisfied or how committed they are.

'When they have been married for 30 or 40 years, they feel that indicates commitment in itself.

'We were looking for more objective ways to measure relationship dynamics, and we know that being around other people has psychological benefits. So, physical proximity seemed liked a strong candidate.'

Of course, being physically close to someone isn't always a good thing, with the context  for example of a loving interaction vs a conflict  being important. Similarly, changes in heart rate can also be positive of negative.

'Were not focusing on cause and effect, but on co-regulation, which happens when heart rates move in a synchronous pattern,' explained Professor Ogolsky.

'That is, when the partners are close, their heart rate patterns indicate an interaction that is collectively meaningful in some way.'

In their study, Professor Ogolsky and colleagues recruited 10 heterosexual, married couples  each of whom had been in their relationship for 1465 years and were aged between 6488  and monitored them for two whole weeks.

Each participant wore a Fitbit throughout the day to measure their heart rate in real-time, while a second device measured their proximity to their partner in tandem with fixed sensors placed around each couple's home.

The team telephoned each couple every morning to remind them to put on the Fitbit and the second tracking device, while an evening call allowed them to survey the pairs about their health, well-being and relationship dynamics throughout the day.

'Our first step was to see if heart rate and proximity are correlated over time. We looked at the husband's heart rate with proximity, the wife's heart rate with proximity, and the two heart rates with each other,' explained Professor Ogolsky.

'We also wanted to know if all three time-series worked together to give us unique information. Can we use any of them to predict the others? And the answer is yes.

'All three need to be included for us to be able to predict any one of them well.'

The team found that the couples heart rates synchronised with a so-called lead-lag relationship, in which changes in each pair's pulses would be led by one partner, with the other following. Sometimes, the husband would lead, other times the wife

The team found that the couples heart rates synchronised with a so-called lead-lag relationship, in which changes in each pair's pulses would be led by one partner, with the other following. Sometimes, the husband would lead, other times the wife.

'This suggests a delicate balance,' said Professor Ogolsky.

'When one partner triggers the other partner, they start a unique couple-level dance that affects their physiology and their patterns throughout the day.'

Within each couple, however, no clear patterns emerged behind the shifts  and the small study size, the team noted, prohibited meaningful comparisons between pairs.

'We found each day is a unique context that changes depending on circumstances,' the romantic relationship expert added.

'Couple interactions, their attitudes, behaviours  whether they're close to each other or far away  change all the time.

'Even across 14 days, couples are not consistent enough in these kinds of objective patterns to allow us to make any couple-level conclusions.

'We can make only make day-level predictions.'

According to the team, their findings are important for relationship research  a field which usually relies on drawing conclusions across couples  going forward.

'If we really want to understand the unique patterns of interaction that happen within couples, we need to start focusing our attention on micro processes  the small interaction patterns that accumulate over a day,' Professor Ogolsky said.

Those, he concluded, 'tell us about the nature of how couples interactions play out from moment to moment.'

The full findings of the study were published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.
SpaceX is planning to send its Starship rocket into orbit in January next year from its Boca Chica, Texas site, according to the firm's billionaire boss Elon Musk.

Musk, speaking during an online meeting on Wednesday held by the US government's National Academies, revealed he's 'comfortable' with the ambitious timeframe, but he's not betting on success for that first test flight.

SpaceX's futuristic, bullet-shaped stainless steel Starship has been selected by NASA for the recently-delayed Artemis missions to the Moon later this decade.

SpaceX is planning to carry humans using a two-stage spacecraft composed of Starship (the passenger-carrying section) and the Super Heavy rocket booster.

The firm still has work to do on construction of the $216 million Starship, previously known as 'BFR', although it has been testing out launching Starship prototypes into the air and landing them  most recently SN15 in May.

SpaceX has been launching several prototypes of its Starship rocket into the air, but the January launch would put it into orbit. Pictured are Starship prototypes SN15 and SN16 (right) near the build site on in Boca Chica, Texas, in October 2021. On May 5, 2021, SpaceX successfully launched and landed SN15; SN16 is yet to launch

UPCOMING STARSHIP MILESTONES - First orbital launch: January 'or perhaps February' 2021 - First successful orbital launch: 2022 - Launch of valuable satellites and other payloads on Starships: 2023 Advertisement

Musk had already said earlier this week that Starship's first flight into orbit would come in the first three months of 2022, but on Wednesday's talk he narrowed this down to January.

Musk made his appearance towards the end of the online session, in the talk titled 'SpaceX Starship Discussion'.

He said the first orbital launch of Starship  which he called a 'very profound vehicle' that's making 'very rapid' progress  would 'hopefully' happen in January 'or perhaps February' 2022 and could be followed by 12 or more launches throughout the rest of next year.

'Were close to our initial orbital launch,' he said. 'The first orbital flight we're hoping to do in January.

'There's a lot of risk associated with this first launch,' Musk said. 'So I would not say that it is likely to be successful, but I think we will make a lot of progress.'

Even if a January launch into orbit is not successful, Musk is confident Starship will successfully reach orbit sometime in 2022.

'I dont know if well get there on the first attempt but Im comfortable we'll get there next year,' he said.

Elon Musk (pictured) was speaking during an online meeting held by the US government's National Academies

FAA REVIEW SHOULD BE FNISHED BY END OF YEAR The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducing a review of SpaceX's impact on the environment. But according to the FAA, it will conclude the review no later than December 31, 2021. This would mean the firm could send its first Starship rocket into orbit as early as January. The FAA released a 151-page draft environmental review in September. Advertisement

After a dozen or so orbital test flights next year, SpaceX then would start launching valuable satellites and other payloads to orbit on Starships in 2023, he said.

One potential stumbling block comes in the form of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is conducing a review of the company's impact on the environment.

But the FAA will be done by the end of the year with its review, leading to a launch in January or February at the latest, Musk noted.

Musk also said his firm has built a 'factory for making a lot of these vehicles'.

'This is not a case of just one or two, we're aiming to make a great many [Starships],' he told National Academies' members. 'Ultimately, in order for life to become multiplanetary, we'll need maybe a thousand ships.'

Musk thinks a natural or manmade disaster will eventually bring about the end of civilization, necessitating the relocation to another planet  Mars 'being the only realistic option', he said.

This could be a pandemic worse than Covid-19, continually decreasing birth rates, nuclear Armageddon or perhaps a direct hit by a killer comet 'that takes out a continent'.

An illustration of the SpaceX Starship human lander design that will carry the first NASA astronauts to the surface of the Moon under the Artemis program in 2024

SPACEX SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES SN15 On May 5, SpaceX successfully launched and landed its Starship Serial Number 15 rocket. It became the only one of its prototypes to survive a high altitude flight test. The prototype climbed through the sky until it reached six miles, hovered for a moment and then performed the infamous sideways flip, dubbed a 'belly flop' maneuver by Musk. 'Starship landing nominal,' Musk tweeted moments after his pride and joy made a safe and successful landing on the pad. SN16 is yet to launch. Advertisement

Moving people to Mars and elsewhere as quickly as possible, he noted, is essential 'for preserving the light of consciousness'.

'The overarching goal of SpaceX has been to advance space technology such that humanity can become a multi-planet species and ultimately, a spacefaring civilization, and to make true the things that we read about in science fiction, and have them not always be fiction,' he said.

'I think this is very important for the long-term preservation of the light of consciousness.'

NASA contracted with SpaceX to use Starship for delivering astronauts to the lunar surface as early as 2025  to the chagrin of space rival Jeff Bezos, owner of rival firm Blue Origin, who is bringing forward legal action against NASA.

The Artemis missions aim to return humans to the moon 'no earlier than 2025', although this timeframe is a year later than NASA originally planned.

One of the reasons for the delay  as announced by NASA earlier in November  is due to Bezos' litigation.

Liftoff thrust will be more than double that of NASA's Saturn V rockets that carried astronauts to the moon a half-century ago, Musk also said on Wednesday.

Musk plans to use the reusable ships to eventually land people on Mars.

Musk also believes the Starship rocket, once built, could be used for travel on Earth  saying that passengers would be able to get anywhere in under an hour.

His research paper  entitled 'Making Humans a Multi-Planetary Species' and published in New Space in 2017  outlines his company's vision.

'Eventually, history suggests, there will be some doomsday event [on Earth],' Musk says in the paper.

'The alternative is to become a space-bearing civilization and a multi-planetary species, which I hope you would agree is the right way to go.'
Being able to detect when someone is lying has been a goal for decades, and now, thanks to artificial intelligence, scientists believe they may be getting close.

In a very early stage trial, a team from Tel Aviv University placed sensors on volunteers' faces, and watched for subtle facial movement changes as they told lies or truths.

The system was able to tell if somebody was lying with 73 per cent accuracy - slightly lower than a polygraph test, which is accurate 80 per cent of the time.

However, the team say this is a very early stage in its development, and that it will improve in the future.

They predict that in the future AI-equipped cameras could be used at the airport, in an online job interview or in a police suspect interview to see if someone is fibbing.

Being able to detect when someone is lying has been a goal for decades, and now, thanks to artificial intelligence, a team from Israel believe they may be getting close

How does it work? Researchers attached stickers with their special electrodes to two groups of facial muscles: the cheek muscles close to the lips

the muscles over the eyebrows Participants were asked to sit in pairs facing one another, with one wearing headphones through which the words 'line' or 'tree' were transmitted. When the wearer heard 'line' but said 'tree' or vice versa he was obviously lying, and his partner's task was to try and detect the lie. Then the two subjects switched roles. As expected, participants were unable to detect their partners' lies with any statistical significance. However, the electrical signals delivered by the electrodes attached to their face identified the lies at an unprecedented success rate of 73%. Advertisement

Previous research has found that humans can spot a lie from the truth about 55 per cent of the time, and a polygraph machine is accurate up to 80 per cent of the time.

This isn't enough for the results of a polygraph test to be admitted as evidence in a court of law, so researchers worldwide are working on new solutions.

The Tel Aviv project worked by using machine learning and artificial intelligence to quickly analyse very small changes in muscle movements during lie-telling.

This included small movements of the cheek muscles and of the eyebrows.

Facial movements were measured using stickers printed on soft surfaces that contain electrodes capable of monitoring and measuring nerves and muscles.

Professor Levy said: 'Many studies have shown that it's almost impossible for us to tell when someone is lying to us. Even experts, such as police interrogators, do only a little better than the rest of us.

'Existing lie detectors are so unreliable that their results are not admissible as evidence in courts of law  because just about anyone can learn how to control their pulse and deceive the machine.

'Consequently, there is a great need for a more accurate deception-identifying technology.

'Our study is based on the assumption that facial muscles contort when we lie, and that so far no electrodes have been sensitive enough to measure these contortions.'

In the study, the researchers attached the stickers to the cheek muscles close to the lips, and to the muscles over the eyebrows.

They then had volunteers sit in pairs facing each other, before the words 'line' or 'tree' were spoken into their ears through headphones.

Volunteers were instructed to lie or tell the truth to their partner about which word they had heard.

Researchers attached stickers with special electrodes to two groups of facial muscles, above the lip and above the eyebrow. Volunteers then said a lie or a truth

WE SPEAK SLOWER WHEN WE'RE LYING, STUDY FINDS Liars are more likely to speak slowly and put less emphasis in the middle of words, according to a 2021 study. According to researchers in Paris, the brain can automatically detect a signature in the voice of a liar - slower speech and less emphasis on the middle of a word. This process happens even when we're not actively trying to determine if someone is being honest or not. It is hoped the discovery could be used in the future to develop 'light tools' that the police could use to determine whether a criminal is lying. Read more: Liars speak slowly and put less emphasis on the middle of words Advertisement

When the wearer heard 'line' but said 'tree' or vice versa he was obviously lying, and his partner's task was to try and detect the lie.

Results showed that the participants were unable to detect their partners' lies with any statistical significance.

However, the electrical signals picked up by the stickers on the face could detect a lie 73 per cent of the time.

'Since this was an initial study, the lie itself was very simple. Usually when we lie in real life, we tell a longer tale which includes both deceptive and truthful components,' said Professor Levy.

'In our study we had the advantage of knowing what the participants heard through the headsets, and therefore also knowing when they were lying.

'Thus, using advanced machine learning techniques, we trained our program to identify lies based on EMG (electromyography) signals coming from the electrodes.

'Applying this method, we achieved an accuracy of 73% - not perfect, but much better than any existing technology.

'Another interesting discovery was that people lie through different facial muscles: some lie with their cheek muscles and others with their eyebrows.'

The researchers believe their AI will have 'dramatic implications in many spheres of our lives.'

They predict that in the future AI-equipped cameras could be used at the airport, in an online job interview or in a police suspect interview to see if someone is fibbing

Professor Levy says the electrodes may be redundant in the future, with video software capable of identifying lies by watching facial muscle movements.

'In the bank, in police interrogations, at the airport, or in online job interviews, high-resolution cameras trained to identify movements of facial muscles will be able to tell truthful statements from lies,' he said.

'Right now, our team's task is to complete the experimental stage, train our algorithms and do away with the electrodes. Once the technology has been perfected, we expect it to have numerous, highly diverse applications.'

The paper was published in the leading Journal Brain and Behaviour.

The idea of using artificial intelligence to detect liars has been criticised in the past.

For example, in 2018, researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University suggested that AI could be used to detect if people were lying at border security by analysing their microgestures.

However, speaking to The Intercept, Ray Bull, professor of criminal investigation at the University of Derby, said the project was 'not credible' because there is no evidence that monitoring microgestures on people's faces is an accurate way to measure lying.

'They are deceiving themselves into thinking it will ever be substantially effective and they are wasting a lot of money,' he said.

'The technology is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what humans do when being truthful and deceptive.'
Instagram has copied its social media rival Snapchat with the launch of a new feature called 'Rage Shake'.

Users just need to shake their phone with the Instagram app open and a little pop-up appears that lets them report an annoying technical issue.

It's very similar to Snapchat's 'Shake to Report', which already lets users shake their smartphone to report a bug.

Instagram's owner Meta (formerly known as Facebook) has been scrambling to emulate the success of Snapchat for years, with a number of distinctly similar features, including Stories and Screenshots.

Rage Shake is available for iOS and Android, but only for US users 'for now'.

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Does Instagram freezing suddenly really hack you off? Now you can just shake your phone to not only release pent-up frustration but also bring up a pop-up window to report the issue (stock image)

RAGE SHAKE - If the Instagram app freezes, glitches or has any kind of problem, shake your phone. - A pop-up appears saying: 'Did something go wrong? Your feedback helps us improve Instagram.' - Below this is option to tap 'Report a Problem'. - Tap this to rant about your issue with the app, which will be read by a human staff member. Advertisement

MailOnline has contacted Meta for more information about a UK release of Rage Shake.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri outlined Rage Shake, as well as another new feature that lets users delete one photo from a carousel of photos.

'Have you ever used Instagram and it just wasn't working like it was supposed to?' Mosseri says in the clip.

'Maybe Stories didn't load, maybe the audio wasn't working, maybe you just couldn't upload a photo and it was just really getting you?

'Well now you can literally shake the phone and a little option will come up that allows you to report a problem.'

When users shake their phone with Instagram open, the pop-up reads: 'Did something go wrong? Your feedback helps us improve Instagram.'

Below this is option to tap 'Report a Problem'. Users can then type what the issue is 'with all the emotions and feels that you've got going on', Mosseri says.

A human staff member will read the message from the frustrated user, which will help with Instagram's efforts to fix bugs and other problems.

The second new feature, Carousel Deletion, is just for iOS users, but it's also coming to Android 'soon'. With it, users can tap the rubbish bin icon to delete a photo from a carousel

CAROUSEL DELETION - Tap the three-dot menu for any carousel and select 'Edit'. - Swipe to the photo or video you'd like to delete. - Tap the rubbish bin icon in the upper left corner to delete the item. - Deleting an item will pop up a confirmation dialogue, after which your item will be queued for deletion. - Tap 'Done' and all items marked for deletion will be removed. Advertisement

'We appreciate the feedback, as colourful as it might be,' Mosseri adds.

The second new feature, Carousel Deletion, is just for iOS users, but it's also coming to Android 'soon'.

On Instagram, a carousel is a series of multiple photos or video clips that have been uploaded together, which other users can view by swiping sideways.

Previously, if users wanted to delete one photo in the carousel they had to delete the whole carousel.

Now, users can go to carousel post, click the three-dots symbol in the top-right corner of the post, tap 'edit', swipe to the photo they want to delete and then tap the delete icon that's appeared in the top left corner.

Mosseri said Instagram users have been asking for Carousel Deletion for a while, but it's finally available globally.

Last week, Mosseri appeared in a similar video to announce the availability of another feature currently in testing, called Take a Break.

Take a Break lets Instagram users opt-in to receive prompts to stop using the photo-sharing app  every 10, 20 or 30 minutes.

Instagram is owned by social media giant Meta, which was known as Facebook until October 28, 2021

It's rolling out as part of a test for a small sample of Instagram users, but all accounts could get it 'in a month or two'.

Unlike Take a Break, which is just a test feature, Rage Shake and Carousel Deletion have been rolled out permanently.

If it does get a full rollout following user feedback, Take a Break could help cut 'Instagram addiction', which has been linked to harmful effects on mental health.
Tesla may be the world's most valuable automaker, but a new ranking from Consumer Reports finds the Elon Musk-founded firm is also one of the most unreliable brands.

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization that evaluates products and services, said Tesla ranked 27th out of 28 in reliability.

Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing, said Thursday during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association that the Tesla Model Y SUV, the company's best-selling vehicle, has problems with poorly fitting body panels, leaks and issues with its climate control.

Topping the chart is Lexus with the GX SUV, but Ford's Lincoln luxury brand finished last of the 28 brands ranked by Consumer reports.

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Tesla may be the world's most valuable automaker, but a new ranking from Consumer Reports finds the Elon Musk-founded firm is also one of the most unreliable brands. Pictured is a Model Y

Fisher notes that all electric SUVs are somewhat unreliable, as they are packed with the latest technology that are prone to glitches.

'The electric SUVs often are equipped with electric door handles, electric-activated climate control vents and other features,' Fisher explained.

'By having all of these new technologies saddled into these early adopter-mobiles, there are more problems associated with them.'

However, as companies work to rid EV features of bugs, the electric vehicles will likely surpass gas-powered models in reliability.

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization that evaluates products and services, said Tesla ranked 27th out of 28 in reliability. Only the Model 3 (pictured) was rated with an 'average' reliability score

Consumer Reports looked 11 fully electric models from eight different brands for its 2021 Automotive Reliability Survey.

'The whole market is going towards a full EV fleet. We're very interested to see what this means in terms of reliability,' Fisher told CNBC.

The annual ranking uses data from more than 300,000 vehicles to provide reliability scores for major brands and individual vehicles.

If a vehicle is redesigned during that three-year period, data from the last generation is used instead.

Although Ford sits in last place, it is Tesla's ranking, with its $1 trillion valuation, that garners significant attention.

'People who buy Teslas are very satisfied with them, but they do have their fair share of problems,' Fisher said.

The company's Model X SUV has the title of least reliable, earning just five out of 100 possible points.

Only the Model 3 was rated with an 'average' reliability score.

The larger Model X SUV 'still has problems with the falcon wing doors,' Fisher said.

Others have called attention to problems with the Tesla Model Y, as customers commonly report faulty sensors and issues with air conditioning, the vehicle's exterior and heat pumps.

Fisher said reliability is more important than ever now due to parts supply shortages to fix problems.

'Buying a reliable vehicle can help ensure that you'll be able to hit the road when you need to, and not worry about getting stuck waiting on parts for repairs,' he said.

Consumer Reports has been critical of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self Driving automated driving systems.

In 2016, the nonprofit called on to change the name of its Autopilot semi-autonomous driving system and to disconnect the automatic steering feature after a fatal crash in Florida.

Navy Seal Joshua Brown, 40, of Canton, Ohio, died in a May 2016 crash in Florida with the Autopilot on.

The system didn't detect a tractor-trailer that had turned in front of Brown in bright sunshine, and Brown didn't react.

Consumer reports said in a statement that calling the system Autopilot promotes a dangerous assumption that Teslas can drive themselves.

It also says the automatic steering should be disconnected until it's updated to make sure a driver's hands stay on the steering wheel at all times.

Fisher said Consumer Reports still has concerns that drivers will rely too much on technology that cannot safely take over driving, but that did not factor into the reliability scores.

'Full Self Driving is not full self-driving at all,' Fisher said. 'It's a convenience feature.'
Rodents may be asymptomatic carries of SARS-like viruses, a study has warned  meaning the the 'next COVID-19' may well come from rats.

Researchers from Princeton University performed a genomic analysis of various mammal species, looking specifically at the receptors that SARS viruses bind to.

They found evidence that some rodent species in the past were repeatedly exposed to SARS-like coronaviruses, leading them to likely evolve a certain level of resistance.

SARS-CoV-2  the virus that causes COVID-19 infection  is 'zoonotic', meaning that it jumped from a non-human animal into humans.

And previous research has shown that Chinese horseshoe bats can play host to numerous SARS-like without themselves showing extreme symptoms.

Identifying animals that may have similar protections against such infections  and could thus serve as viral reservoirs  is vital for preventing future pandemics.

Rodents may be asymptomatic carries of SARS-like viruses, a study has warned  meaning the the 'next COVID-19' may well come from rats, like the one pictured (stock image)

The study was conducted by molecular biologist Sean King and computer scientist Mona Singh of New Jersey's Princeton University.

'Our study suggests that ancestral rodents may have had repeated infections with SARS-like coronaviruses,' the duo wrote in their paper.

This, they added, likely have allowed them to acquire 'some form of tolerance or resistance to SARS-like coronaviruses as a result of these infections.

'This raises the tantalizing possibility that some modern rodent species may be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-like coronaviruses  including those that may not have been discovered yet.'

In their investigation, Dr King and Professor Singh studied the so-called ACE2 receptors that SARS viruses use to gain entry into mammalian cells  characterising the evolution of the receptors across different mammal species.

The team found that primates and other mammals not already known to be SARS hosts tended to have little evidence of past adaptation in the ACE2 receptors, which is what today leaves us vulnerable to symptomatic cases of the disease.

Among rodents, however, the duo's genomic analysis exposed a pattern of rapid evolution in the ACE2 binding interface  evidence by a greater diversity in the amino acid sequences that code for the receptor.

This suggests that some rodent species were likely exposed to SARS-like coronaviruses repeatedly over the course their evolution and, as a consequence, that they may have acquired a form of tolerance to these types of infections.

In their investigation, Dr King and Professor Singh studied the so-called ACE2 receptors that SARS viruses uses to gain entry into mammalian cells  characterising the evolution of the receptors across different mammal species. Pictured: a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (red) latched on to an ACE2 receptor (blue), letting it penetrate the cell (as seen in the background)

'Continuing to explore adaptations in coronavirus animal hosts will be important [] for understanding which animals have possibly adapted tolerance mechanisms through ancient exposures and may be carriers of SARS-like viruses,' the duo began.

Such studies, they continued, will also aid us in 'finding those that are vulnerable symptomatic hosts, as humans have unfortunately proven to be.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.
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The charred remains of a 2,100-year-old Greek fortress have been unearthed in Israel and experts say the scene provides 'tangible evidence of the Hanukkah story.'

Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish celebration, honors the rededication during the second century BC of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt  and this stronghold was destroyed by Jewish rebels during the uprising.

The fortress, measuring 50 feet by 50 feet, was constructed of stone walls nine feet thick before it was burned to the ground during the Hasmoneans and Seleucids battle.

Hasmonean was a dynasty of Jewish Kings who fought to liberate Judea from Seleucid rule, which was a Greek dynasty reigning over a large portion of the Middle East.

The ancient battle began when the Hasmoneans spotted Seleucid soldiers stationed in the fortress that sat on a hill overlooking a hill overlooking the Hellenistic city of Maresha.

No fighting was done inside the structure, but the Jewish rebels knock down the roof that led to the walls collapsing  and then they set their enemy fortress ablaze.

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The fortress, measuring 50 feet by 50 feet, was constructed of stone walls nine feet thick before it was burned to the ground during the Hasmoneans and Seleucids battle

According to Saar Ganor, Vladik Lifshits, and Ahinoam Montagu, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, 'It appears that we have discovered a fortress, part of a fortified line erected by the Hellenistic army commanders, built to protect the large Hellenistic city of Maresha from Hasmonean offensive.

'Our theory is that the Seleucids blocked the entrance of the fortress and fled to the city as their enemies approached.'

Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean, or Hasmonean, victories over the forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes who reigned from 175 to 164 BC and rededication of the Temple.

The revolt was led by Mattathias Maccabues and his son Judas, who were the first Jews who fought to defend their religious beliefs rather than their lives.

The charred remains (pictured) of a 2,100-year-old fortress have been unearthed in Israel, and experts say the scene provides 'tangible evidence of the Hanukkah story'

The ancient battle began when the Hasmoneans spotted Seleucid soldiers stationed in the fortress that sat on a hill overlooking a hill overlooking the Hellenistic city of Maresha. No fighting was done inside the structure, but the Jewish rebels knock down the roof that led to the walls collapsing  and then they set their enemy fortress ablaze

The Maccabean revolt led to the capture of Jerusalem, the reestablishment of Jewish worship in the Temple, and the Hasmonean dynasty that ruled Judea until about 67 BC.

The fortress was divided into seven rooms and the walls still stand an impressive six feet even after crumbling thousands of years ago.

In addition, the excavation uncovered a stairwell leading to a second floor, which was not preserved.

While moving mounds of dirt away from the ruins, archaeologists uncovered thousands of collapsed stones that revealed a massive one-foot-thick destruction layer that held hundreds of artifacts dating to the late second century BC.

The team pulled troves of pottery, slingshots, iron weapons, burnt wooden beams and dozens of coins from the site.

While moving mounds of dirt away from the ruins, archaeologists uncovered thousands of collapsed stones that revealed a massive one-foot-thick destruction layer that held hundreds of artifacts dating to the late second century BC

The team pulled troves of pottery, slingshots, iron weapons, burnt wooden beams, and dozens of coins from the site

Hanukkah, an eight-day Jewish celebration, honors the rededication during the second century BC of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where Jews rose up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt  and this stronghold was destroyed by Jewish rebels

'Based on the finds and coins, the building's destruction can be attributed to the Idumea led by the Hasmonean leader John Hyrcanus around 112 BCE,' the archaeologists said in a statement.

Hyrcanus, a high priest and ruler of the Jewish nation, was a son of Simon Maccabeus who was the youngest son of Mattathias Maccabeus.

IAA general director, Eli Eskozido said in a statement: 'The stories of the Maccabees are coming to life before our eyes, and this is the most fascinating part of the Israel Antiquities Authority's work, when dedicated, hardworking archaeologists breathe life into the historical annals of the people who passed through this land.

'In a few days, we will be celebrating Hanukkah, whose central theme is the Hasmoneans' defeat of the Hellenists, leading to the establishment of the first independent sovereign Jewish entity.

'The Hasmoneans could have had no idea that 2,000 years later, students living in the State of Israel would be following in their footsteps. It is extremely exciting.'
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American photographer Steve McCurry has produced a legendary body of work over the past five decades that includes truly mesmerising photographs of children.

And some of these striking pictures have been bound together in a new book  Stories and Dreams (Laurence King Publishing).

The publisher says: Throughout his long career, McCurry has taken incredible photographs of children, each one managing to hint at an epic story.

In Stories and Dreams, he brings a unique selection of images of children from 46 countries, from Jaipur to Rome. The new contemplative and sensitive title features some previously unpublished images which span the length of McCurrys storied career.

In the introduction to the book, Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Malala, explains why he thinks McCurrys photos are so special. He writes: Steve McCurrys unforgettable images brilliantly capture [the] hearts, souls, and the humanity of children that extend to the far corners of our planet. His art becomes a sort of meditation which is profound and unforgettable.

Scroll down to see ten of the arresting pictures featured in the new tome.

A boy rests against a cow in Kathmandu, Nepal, in an image taken in 2013. Cows have been designated the national animal in Nepal. They roam freely, and are considered sacred by the 80 per cent of Nepalis who are Hindu

A family rides a donkey in Maimana, Afghanistan, in a picture taken in 2003. McCurry explains that here the father is taking his children home from a trip to the market

Children play on an abandoned anti-aircraft gun in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1982 - with shells at their feet. McCurry says: 'These tools of war became an improvised playground demonstrating the resilience of children. No matter how dire the situation, how dangerous the environment, children need to play. Whether it is splashing in puddles or climbing on abandoned tanks, their world of make-believe is almost as important as food and shelter'

Boys play on the Belo sur Mer beach in Morondava, Madagascar, in an image taken in 2019

LEFT: A little girl laughing at St. Paul's Basilica in Rome in 1990. RIGHT: McCurry explains: 'I photographed this boy flexing his muscles in the marble carving district of Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), where he lived. Tens of thousands of statues are carved there every year.' The image was taken in 2017

This image was taken in Germany, in 1990. McCurry reveals: 'I spent three weeks with the Rabe family in Flechtingen, which was then East Germany. They gave me complete access to their lives. It was a great experience to get to know them'

This 2011 photo shows three young girls in Enna, Sicily, taking part in a Holy Week celebration

This image shows a father and daughter on Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, in 1996. They're on their way to a floating vegetable market. McCurry explains that thousands of people there use these canoe-like boats to go to and from their homes

Children cross a bridge in Mizoram, India, in a picture that McCurry took in 2006
Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd underwent a $48,000 teeth transformation back in May after years of feeling insecure about her smile.

And now, the mother-of-three's boyfriend Joe Donaghy has got matching porcelain veneers.

Uploading a loved-up selfie of the pair's matching gleaming white teeth to her Instagram, Jo gushed: 'I first cut your hair almost two years ago, (and we've) been together officially for a year.'

Hollywood smile: Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd's boyfriend Joe has had a smile makeover just months after his partner as they celebrate their one year anniversary

A smitten Jo went on to say that she couldn't believe how 'amazing' Joe looked with his new makeover.

'Dr Dee has done it once again! You look bloody gorgeous babe.'

Jo stood by as dentist to the stars, Dr Deepan Duraisamy, a.k.a. Dr. Dee, did his porcelain veneers.

Previously speaking about her own smile transformation, Jo told Daily Mail Australia that she was the most confident she has ever been.

Company: Jo stood by as dentist to the stars, Dr Deepan Duraisamy, a.k.a. Dr. Dee , did his porcelain veneers

Happy in love: Jo met her boyfriend Joe at a hair salon while cutting his hair over two years ago. The pair reconnected last year and have been inseparable ever since

'I am the happiest. I actually feel different,' she said of her new smile. 'This is incredible. I am so grateful. I just love them.'

The celebrity dental specialist said it's 'always a privilege' to help patients at his Vogue Dental Studios practice in Melbourne.

Jessika Power, Nick Furphy, Timm Hanly and Carlin Sterritt are just a few of the reality stars who have also undergone transformations with Dr. Duraisamy.

Hollywood smile: Back in May, the mother-of-two underwent a $48,000 teeth transformation. The reality star is pictured before (L) and after (R) the procedure

Joanne's boost of confidence after her split from James aired on the eight season of Married At First Sight, which just played out in the UK.

While sitting on the experts' couch alongside his 'wife', businessman James claimed he went all out to make their relationship work.

But Joanne said he was 'full of s**t', adding: 'Please stop your s**t!'

'You are talking rubbish. You are making yourself look so much better than what you are. You didn't try. You weren't trying. You blatantly lied to my life,' she snapped.

It's over! Joanne's confidence after her split from James aired on the eight season of Married At First Sight, which just played out in the UK
Her designer wardrobe is worth more than what many people earn in a lifetime.

So fans were understandably surprised when Phoebe Burgess insisted she 'isn't rich' during her tell-all interview with Mia Freedman's No Filter podcast on Thursday.

While discussing her high-profile divorce from retired NRL star Sam Burgess, Freedman boldly asked the former WAG: 'Have you got lots of money, Phoebs?'

Money matters: Sam Burgess' ex-wife Phoebe denied being rich and insisted she has 'always worked' in an interview with Mia Freedman's No Filter podcast on Thursday

Rather than answering the question, however, the 32-year-old carefully replied: 'Well... I've never stopped working.'

Phoebe, who is said to have walked away with 70 per cent of the marital wealth following her divorce from Sam, jokingly added: 'I'm just waiting for the helicopter to come pick me up after this chat! Can I actually bum a few dollars for a ride home?'

'We threw in a free coffee!' Freedman laughed, to which Phoebe replied: 'I'm kidding. Look, I've always worked and I always will work.'

So humble: Phoebe, who is said to have walked away with 70 per cent of the marital wealth following her divorce from Sam, joked: 'I'm just waiting for the helicopter to come pick me up after this chat! Can I actually bum a few dollars for a ride home?'

'I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents. I'm divorced, I've got two kids': Phoebe said her lifestyle is anything but glamorous, despite how idyllic it may seem on Instagram. Pictured with daughter Poppy, four, and son Billy, two

Phoebe, a former magazine journalist, is now a social media influencer and spends her days modelling expensive designer clothing on Instagram.

She often uses her parents' elegant home as a backdrop for her photo shoots.

But despite appearing to live a life of carefree luxury, she maintained: I have a mortgage. I was able to buy [my children and I] a home, which I am renting out at the moment as an investment property, which I was really proud of.'

Expensive taste: Phoebe, a former magazine journalist, is now a social media influencer and spends her days modelling expensive designer clothing on Instagram. Pictured in a $16,000 outfit at her parents farm in Bowral in October

The investment property to which Phoebe was referring is a Mediterranean-style home in Bowral she purchased for $1.7million in April.

It has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, plus a separate 'powder room' where the budding beauty mogul can get spruced up.

Elsewhere in the interview, Phoebe revealed her lifestyle is anything but glamorous, despite how idyllic it may seem on Instagram.

Cha-ching! Phoebe wore a Chanel handbag worth $4,500, a $650 Camilla and Marc blazer, designer shades, as well as thousands of dollars' worth of jewels in this selfie from September

Another day, another photo shoot! Phoebe posed in an outfit worth $13,200 in October, including a $495 Bassike skirt and a striped Blanca shirt, which retails for $209

'I've got a s**t tonne of baggage. I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents. I'm divorced, I've got two kids,' she said.

Phoebe and her children, son Billy, two, and daughter Poppy, four, live at her parents' sprawling farm in Bowral, NSW.

She is said to have pocketed a sizeable sum in her divorce settlement with Sam.

Lion's share: The Daily Telegraph reported that Phoebe walked away with 70 per cent of the marital wealth, as well as a white SDVA Range Rover valued at $100,000

New home: Phoebe recently purchased a Mediterranean-style property for $1,725,000 in Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands. Pictured at the property

Hot wheels: More recently, Phoebe spent $77,575 on a Toyota Kluger. Pictured here in August

The Daily Telegraph reported last year that Phoebe walked away with 70 per cent of the marital wealth, as well as a white SDVA Range Rover valued at $100,000.

She also reportedly walked away with Sam's F45 gym in Bowral.

More recently, Phoebe spent $77,575 on a Toyota Kluger.

The Burgesses married in 2015, before splitting for good in October 2019. They share custody of their children Billy and Poppy.
Hilary Duff joined some of her co-stars in finally announcing the release date for their upcoming How I Met Your Mother spin-off.

The 34-year-old Lizzie McGuire star and her colleagues filmed selfie videos for a Hulu short in which they built up the big reveal.

At the end of the video text on the screen revealed that their program, entitled How I Met Your Father, will premiere on Hulu on January 18.

Glowing: Hilary Duff joined some of her co-stars in finally announcing the release date for their upcoming How I Met Your Mother spin-off

Hilary will be starring in the show alongside Suraj Sharma, Francia Raisa, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran and Chris Lowell.

All of them will be starring as a group of friends living in New York - signified by the first-look picture which shows the cast on a set of Brooklyn Bridge.

The spin-off will have the same framing device as the original series - children being told about the way their parents got together.

Within that framing device the bulk of the show will be told through flashbacks where the leading lady will be played by Hilary.

Setup: The 34-year-old Lizzie McGuire star and her colleagues filmed selfie videos for a Hulu short in which they built up the big reveal

All together now: One of her co-stars on the show and in the video is Francia Raisa, who is friends with Selena Gomez and was famously her kidney donor

While the flashbacks will be set this year, the framing device will feature an older version of Hilary's character played by Kim Cattrall, Deadline recently revealed.

Kim, 65, has famously declined to be a part of the upcoming spin-off of the show that made her a global star, Sex And The City.

Her decision not to join the Sex And The City reboot came after years of reports alleging she had a strained relationship with her co-stars.

Over the years Kim herself has taken multiple public jabs at Sarah Jessica Parker who fronted the series as sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw.

Incoming: Tien Tran will be part of the main ensemble for How I Met Your Father which will follow a group of friends living in New York City

The gents: The principal cast of How I Met Your Father will include The Royals heartthrob Tom Ainsley (left) and Veronica Mars actor Chris Lowell

What a lineup: Another member of the core cast is Suraj Sharma, who hails from New Delhi and has featured on Homeland as well as in the film Life Of Pi

How I Met Your Mother was a smash hit network sitcom that ran for nine seasons on CBS before airing its finale in 2014.

On that show Bob Saget played the older version of the leading man Ted Mosby, whose younger version was portrayed by Josh Radnor.

Other members of the main cast included Cobie Smulders, Jason Segel, Neil Patrick Harris, Cristin Milioti and Alyson Hannigan.

Hilary at one point was going to star in a revival of her own Disney Channel sitcom Lizzie McGuire, the show that shot her to fame.

All together: Hilary Duff featured in a first-look How I Met Your Father picture recently with co-stars Chris, Francia, Tom, Tien and Suraj

Original: Jason Segel, Alyson Hannigan, Josh Radnor, Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris are lal pictured together on the original series How I Met Your Mother

Shooting had even begun on the reboot before the coronavirus lockdowns swept the country but that project has now died on the vine.

Showrunner Terri Minsky was fired last January and then in December Hilary announced that the show had been canceled entirely.

The month after Terri was fired Hilary hinted at some of the creative issues behind the scenes by writing on Instagram: 'I'd be doing a disservice to everyone by limiting the realities of a 30 year old's journey to live under the ceiling of a PG rating.'

Selective: Kim Cattrall, who became a star on Sex And The City (pictured), has declined to be in its reboot but will play an older version of Hilary on How I Met Your Father
Ellie Brown and Olivia Attwood both looked phenomenal as they attended a LookFantastic event in Manchester on Wednesday evening.

Former Love Island star Ellie sent pulses racing in an all leather look, teaming black leather trousers with a coordinating plunging corset top that showed off her ample assets.

The reality starlet, 23, wore neon pink and blue shoes to add a pop of colour to her monotone outfit and carried a blue bag.

Trendy: Ellie Brown looked phenomenal as she attended a LookFantastic event in Manchester on Wednesday evening clad in a leather bustier

Her golden locks were tied up in a full ponytail, and she added a swipe of gloss and a pair of big hoop earrings to complete her ensemble.

Looking equally as stylish was Olivia, 30, who nailed preppy chic in a glittery green and cream knitted cardigan which she teamed with matching shorts that showed off her famously long pins.

Underneath she wore a smart white shirt with diamond detailing on the collar for an added touch of sparkle.

Leggy lady! Looking equally as stylish was Olivia, 30, who nailed preppy chic in a glittery green and cream knitted cardigan which she teamed with matching shorts

The reality star accessorised with a pair of knee high cream boots and toted a cream bag to match.

She wore her hair pulled back in an elegant updo, with strands framing her face and opted for dramatic false eyelashes to finish her look.

They were joined at the event by fellow former Islanders Molly Smith and Mary Bedford.

Abs: Molly Smith looked stunning in an all black ensemble, teaming a black sparkly crop top with a figure-hugging black skirt, to show off her toned midriff

Molly looked stunning in an all black ensemble, teaming a black sparkly crop top with a figure-hugging black skirt, to show off her toned midriff.

Elevating her height with a pair of black strappy heels, she also added a black jacket to keep warm and style her locks in neat waves.

Mary stepped out in a sensational nude PVC dress with matching heels, that hugged her curves in all the right places.

Stunning: Mary Bedford stepped out in a sensational nude PVC dress with matching heels, that hugged her curves in all the right places

She added a slick of nude lipstick and toted a tiny white bag as she beamed at the cameras.

Joining them was Wes Nelson who looked handsome in a green bomber jacket which he wore over a black jumper and jogging bottoms.

He added a of black and white trainers, a Prada beanie and a chain necklace to complete his ensemble.

Smart: Joining them was Wes Nelson who looked handsome in a green bomber jacket which he wore over a black jumper and jogging bottoms

Pals: Georgia Steel arrived alongside Cally Jane Beech, wearing a classic little black dress with knee high boots, while Cally wore a denim button down dress with hot pink heels

Georgia Steel arrived alongside Cally Jane Beech, wearing a classic little black dress with knee high boots, while Cally wore a denim button down dress with hot pink heels.

Also in attendance was Ex On The Beach star ZaraLena Jackson and Too Hot To Handle's Emily Miller.

Emily wowed in a plunging white zip up dress that showed off her svelte waist and matched her knee high boots expertly.

While ZaraLena wore a plaid blazer dress with her blonde tresses in a long ponytail, which she teamed with trendy brown lace up boots.

Colour coordinating: Emily Miller wowed in a plunging white zip up dress that showed off her svelte waist and matched her knee high boots expertly

Edgy: Ellie was showing off her unique sense of style

Wow: While ZaraLena Jackson wore a plaid blazer dress with her blonde tresses in a long ponytail, which she teamed with trendy brown lace up boots

Tanned: Molly showed off a bronzed glow

Gorrgeous: Georgia and Cally both showed some leg
Lady Gaga says her method acting approach on House Of Gucci made her 'throw up' from 'anxiety' and even sent her to the hospital once.

The Oscar-winner, 35, talked about the stress she took on for the role of murderess Patrizia Reggiani with The Hollywood Reporter.

Remembering the 'anxiety, fatigue, trauma, exhaustion, commitment and love' that overwhelmed her during the shoot, she explained: 'When I say that I didn't break character, some of it was not by choice.'

Overwhelmed: Lady Gaga says her method acting approach on House Of Gucci made her 'throw up' from 'anxiety' and even sent her to the hospital once

In the upcoming Ridley Scott directed film, Gaga portrays high-fashion socialite Reggiani who famously plotted the death of her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci (played Adam Driver) after leaving her for a younger woman.

To get in touch with the role, she used a 'sense memory technique' which channeled her own past trauma.

Remembering one particular intense shoot, she said: 'It's a scene where I knock a lit candle across the room, and I remember I gave Salma [Hayek] a heart attack that day.'

'I was falling apart as [Patrizia] fell apart. When I say that I didn't break character, some of it was not by choice.'

Major transformation: The Oscar-winner, 35, talked about the stress she took on for the role of murderess Patrizia Reggiani with The Hollywood Reporter, remembering the 'anxiety, fatigue, trauma, exhaustion, commitment and love' that overwhelmed her during the shoot

Jilted: In the upcoming Ridley Scott directed film, Gaga portrays high-fashion socialite Reggiani who famously plotted the death of her ex-husband Maurizio Gucci (played Adam Driver) after leaving her for a younger woman

Gaga said that while director Ridley Scott tried to intervene, she was determined to use her own past pain to play Patrizia.

'Ridley said, "I don't want you traumatizing yourself," she recalled.

'And I said, "I already have. I've already been through this anyway. I might as well give it to you." And he said, "Well, leave it here and don't do this to yourself anymore."

Turning into Patrizia was a daily task, waking Gaga up around 3am to begin her transformation.

'You wake up, you throw up, you go to set, throw up again,' she said of the anxiety the role spurred on.

Routine: Turning into Patrizia (above in 1998) was a daily task, waking Gaga up around 3am to begin her transformation

Cycle: 'You wake up, you throw up, you go to set, throw up again,' she said of the anxiety the role spurred on. She's seen November 2021 above

Still, she told THR: 'I feel so insecure talking about this. I get nervous that people will assume that Im sensationalizing a certain type of acting.'

To get into character Gaga - who has been open about having PTSD after being raped by a music producer 20 years her senior - used her real life trauma to driver her performance in front of the camera.

She said: 'I took the pain I feel from being attacked when I was a young girl, from feeling left behind by people that I love, from feeling trapped that I cant go out into a world that I love. I took that pain and I gave it to her.'

House Of Gucci - which also stars Salma Hayek, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, and Jeremy Irons - is set for release in the US on Wednesday, November 24 with a UK release following two days later on November 26.
Kylie Jenner's clothing line with her sister Kendall is forging on with promotion despite the star's social media blackout following the deadly Astroworld Festival earlier this month.

The official Instagram for KENDALL + KYLIE shared an old promo video of the duo on Wednesday to announce that the brand is 'now available to shop in the United Arab Emirates.'

Kylie has not made a post on her personal or business Instagram accounts since November 5, which happens to be the day of the Travis Scott hosted event that injured hundreds of attendees and claimed the lives of 10.

The 24-year-old mogul did, however, publish a statement to her Instagram Story on November 7 expressing grief over the tragedy, as well as to stress that her and Travis 'weren't aware of any fatalities until the news came out.'

Promo mode: Kylie Jenner's clothing line with her sister Kendall is forging on with promotion despite the star's social media blackout following the Astroworld Festival tragedy earlier this month

KENDALL + KYLIE, which originally launched in 2012 in collaboration with the retailer PacSun, is a 'lifestyle brand' created by the sisters and is currently sold at over a dozen retailers across the globe.

Similar to the accounts for Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Skin, and Kylie Baby, the KENDALL + KYLIE Instagram has not posted since November 4.

It is unlikely that Kylie or Kendall were directly behind Wednesday's promotional post.

Though Kylie and her three-year-old daughter Stormi - who she shares with Travis - are back in Los Angeles, the mother-daughter duo were present at the deadly concert that took place in Houston, Texas on Friday, November 5.

Kendall, 26, was also in attendance.

10 young people, aged from 9 to 27, were crushed to death as a sizable group of the 50,000 in attendance pushed toward the stage at NRG Park during Travis' performance spot.

Silence: The 24-year-old mogul has not posted on her personal or business Instagram accounts since November 5, which happens to be the day of the Travis Scott hosted concert event that injured hundreds of attendees and claimed the lives of 10

Empire: KENDALL + KYLIE, which originally launched in 2012 in collaboration with the retailer PacSun, is a 'lifestyle brand' created by the sisters and is currently sold at over a dozen retailers across the globe

Despite the cries for help and desperate pleas to 'stop the show,' the concert reportedly carried on for another 40 minutes before it was shutdown. During that time span, Drake was welcomed to the stage which was said to have amped up the chaos.

In footage captured by Kylie and shared to her Instagram Story, an ambulance could be seen struggling to make its way through the jam-packed crowd as the 30-year-old rapper's concert raged on.

Kylie, who is currently pregnant with her and Travis' second child, and her daughter Stormi made it out of the festival 'unscathed,' as well as her sister Kendall.

After learning of the events that unfolded at her baby daddy's sold-out show, Kylie published a statement to Instagram expressing her grief over the lives lost, as well as to make it 'clear' that her and Travis were unaware of the severity of the situation.

Back home: Though Kylie and her three-year-old daughter Stormi, who she shares with Travis, are back in Los Angeles, the mother-daughter duo were present at the deadly concert in Houston, Texas on Friday, November 5; seen in 2019

Tragic: 10 young people, aged from 9 to 27, were crushed to death as a sizable group of the 50,000 in attendance pushed toward the stage at NRG Park during Travis' performance spot; Scott seen during the November 5 show

'Travis and I are broken and devastated. My thoughts and prayers are with all who lost their lives, were injured or affected in anyway by yesterday's events,' she wrote.

'I want to make it clear we weren't aware of any fatalities until the news came out after the show and in no world would have continued filming or performing.

'I am sending my deepest condolences to all the families during this difficult time and will be praying for the healing of everyone who has been impacted.'

Shortly after, the family of three hunkered down at their $14million Houston mansion, where Travis was said to have met with his top-notch legal team led by high-powered attorney Neal Manne.

City officials are still investigating what caused the pandemonium at the sold-out event, with Houston's police chief pushing the blame on Scott last week for pulling the plug after new footage emerged showing cops casually filming the concert.

Performance: Despite the cries for help and desperate pleas to 'stop the show,' the concert reportedly carried on for another 40-45 minutes before it was shutdown. During that time span, Drake was welcomed to the stage which was said to have amped up the chaos; Scott seen during the November 5 concert

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner refused to provide a timeline for the police response after a sizable group pushed toward the stage.

As of November 16, more than 125 fans are suing Scott for $750million over the deadly incident.

The lawsuit, filed by Houston Attorney Tony Buzbee - who had previously been representing at least 35 victims from the concert - accuses Scott and festival organizers of 'gross negligence' for the chaos at Astroworld.

The suit also names Live Nation, Epic Records Drake and Apple as defendants for their involvement in organizing the festival, and Buzbee plans to file another lawsuit with 100 more plaintiffs in the coming days.

Statement: After learning of the events that unfolded at her baby daddy's sold-out show, Kylie published a statement to Instagram expressing her grief over the lives lost, as well as to make it 'clear' that her and Travis were unaware of the severity of the situation

Heartbroken: 'Travis and I are broken and devastated. My thoughts and prayers are with all who lost their lives, were injured or affected in anyway by yesterday's events,' she wrote; vigil in Houston captured on November 9

Prior to the lawsuit going public, it was reported that W Magazine is scrambling to pull their next issue featuring Kylie and Travis on the cover 'before it hits shelves,' as per Page Six.

'W editors have cleared any planned coverage of Travis and Kylie from their website, but the magazine was already printed, and now they are trying to stop the delivery trucks,' an insider told the outlet.

Additionally, they explained: 'In the light of what happened at Astroworld, the interview and cover lines seem inappropriate, to say the least.'

DailyMail.com has yet to hear back from W Magazine for a request for comment.

On Monday, Nike announced they would postpone their sneaker release with Scott after a nine-year-old boy became the latest fatality in a deadly crowd surge during his performance in Houston.
The Byrde family revisits past trauma in the new time-reversing teaser, which dropped Wednesday, for the fourth and final season of Netflix's Ozark.

Season four will be divided into two parts with the first seven episodes streaming January 21, and the final seven episodes do not yet have an air date.

The 45-second spot shows the money-laundering married couple Marty and Wendy Byrde (Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) being spared as drug kingpin Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) murdered their cartel contact Helen (Janet McTeer) at the end of season three.

Excited? The Byrde family revisits past trauma in the new time-reversing teaser, which dropped Wednesday, for the fourth and final season of Netflix's Ozark

Backwards car crash: Season four will be divided into two parts with the first seven episodes streaming January 21, and the final seven episodes do not yet have an air date

'Human beings make decisions. They commit acts that makes things happen,' Marty said in the voiceover.

'Creates a snowball effect. Causes other people to make decisions. Cycle continues. Snowball keeps rolling. And sometimes people make decisions. You've got to act accordingly or you could fall in a hole to die.'

The preview for Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams' critically-acclaimed crime drama ended with the phrase: 'No ending is reached by accident.'

Netflix also released several stills from the final season including one of Marty and Wendy enjoying a Chinese meal with their son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) and daughter Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz).

Blood spattered: The 45-second spot shows the money-laundering married couple Marty and Wendy Byrde (Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) being spared as drug kingpin Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) murdered their cartel contact Helen (Janet McTeer) at the end of season three

Marty said in the voiceover: 'Human beings make decisions. They commit acts that makes things happen. Creates a snowball effect. Causes other people to make decisions. Cycle continues. Snowball keeps rolling. And sometimes people make decisions. You've got to act accordingly or you could fall in a hole to die'

The preview for Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams' critically-acclaimed crime drama ended with the phrase: 'No ending is reached by accident'

Wholesome family meal: Netflix also released several stills from the final season including one of Marty and Wendy enjoying a Chinese meal with their son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) and daughter Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz)

The press release stated: 'They find another opportunity to get out of the Ozarks but some past sins won't stay buried and the most dangerous threats come from blood'

'They find another opportunity to get out of the Ozarks but some past sins won't stay buried and the most dangerous threats come from blood,' the press release stated.

There's an ominous shot of Julia Garner back in her two-time Emmy-winning role as Ruth Langmore wielding a rifle in front of Wendy.

The young woman, who is part of a local criminal family, quit working for Marty following the death of Wendy's bipolar brother Ben Davis' (Tom Pelphrey) last season.

Locked and loaded: There's an ominous shot of Julia Garner back in her two-time Emmy-winning role as Ruth Langmore wielding a rifle in front of Wendy

New direction: The young woman, who is part of a local criminal family, quit working for Marty following the death of Wendy's bipolar brother Ben Davis' (Tom Pelphrey) last season

HBIC: Laura Linney (R) pulls double duty on Ozark as she also serves as executive producer

At the helm! Jason Bateman is not only executive producer, he won an Emmy Award for directing an episode of Ozark in 2018

New blood: Season four will feature newcomers Alfonso Herrera (L), Adam Rothenberg, Ali Stroker, Bruce Davison, Bruno Bichir, CC Castillo, Damian Young, Felix Solis, Katrina Lenk, and Veronica Falcon

Laura Linney pulls double duty on Ozark as she also serves as executive producer.

And Jason Bateman is not only executive producer, he won an Emmy Award for directing an episode of Ozark in 2018.

Season four will feature newcomers Alfonso Herrera, Adam Rothenberg, Ali Stroker, Bruce Davison, Bruno Bichir, CC Castillo, Damian Young, Felix Solis, Katrina Lenk, and Veronica Falcon.
An Australian reporter dubbed the 'world's hottest news anchor' while covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has made her debut on America's Newsmax.

Sarah Williamson recently left Israeli news channel i24 News and relocated to New York City to begin working for the conservative news network.

The 31-year-old posted a screenshot to Instagram on Wednesday of her first live cross as a Newsmax correspondent.

Career: Australian reporter Sarah Williamson, who was dubbed 'the world's hottest news anchor' while covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, made her debut on Newsmax this week

The blonde announced her big career move in September, telling her thousands of followers she was leaving Tel Aviv for NYC.

'In three weeks' time this incredible, life-changing chapter comes to a close and oh my, is it bittersweet,' she wrote.

'Im not quite ready to pay homage to this city and the beautiful people that I have met along the way, but that will come in a later post.'

Conservative star: The 31-year-old posted a screenshot to Instagram on Wednesday of her first live cross as a Newsmax correspondent

Sarah reiterated she wasn't returning home to Australia, and was instead taking up a new role as a news anchor and reporter for Newsmax in the States.

'And just to be clear, I am really f**king excited! Like really!' she wrote. 'I honestly can't wait for this new chapter.'

Newsmax is known for its right-wing perspective and has gained popularity in recent years due to its unwavering support of former president Donald Trump.

'I can't wait for this new chapter': The blonde announced her new job in September, telling her thousands of followers she was leaving Tel Aviv for New York City

It comes after Sarah slammed Australia's lockdowns earlier this year.

The reporter shared a post to Instagram saying 'brainwashed' Aussies were 'living in a totalitarian society'.

'I never thought I would say this... I'm not proud to be Australian at the moment, considering the mindset of the government and the majority of the people living inside the country. I'm sorry,' she wrote.

Stunning: When she's not reporting on geopolitical conflicts, Sarah works as a model

'I'm well aware I'm about to receive a barrage of abuse by brainwashed Aussies. I'm sorry you feel this way,' she continued. I'm sorry you live in a totalitarian society.'

When she's not reporting on geopolitical conflicts, Sarah works as a model.

She has even appeared in a major campaign for an Israeli footwear brand.
She rose to fame looking for love on The Bachelorette back in 2016.

And on Thursday, Georgia Love, 33, was shocked when she was mistaken for another famous face - Kate Middleton - by some royal fans on social media.

Georgia shared a screenshot of a royal fan page that used a picture of her and claimed that it was the Duchess of Cambridge, 39.

Fancy that! On Thursday, Bachelorette star Georgia Love was mistaken for Kate Middleton by royal fans on social media

'I'll take that!' Georgia hilariously quipped.

She added: 'Clarifying that yes, this is me, but no, I am sadly not the Duchess of Cambridge.'

In the image, Georgia is seen with her long dark locks out and over her shoulders and wearing a black floppy hat, sunglasses, pearl earrings and a leather jacket.

Mistaken identity: Kate is pictured at Wimbledon in London in July

'Clarifying that yes, this is me, but no, I am sadly not the Duchess of Cambridge,' Georgia wrote

The image of Georgia was shared on a fan page called 'Kate Middleton Queen'.

Georgia rose to fame on The Bachelorette Australia, where she found love with now-husband, plumber Lee Elliott, 40.

On Monday, the pair put on a loved-up display as they attended Melbourne Fashion Week together.

Claim to fame: Georgia rose to fame on The Bachelorette Australia, where she found love with now-husband, plumber Lee Elliott, 40

After arriving to the star-studded event, the couple gazed adoringly at one another as they posed on the red carpet.

Georgia made a style statement in a white dress which featured a long back and short front.

It's been a big year for the couple who got married in March and bought a house in Melbourne last month.

The pair tied the knot at the picturesque Frogmore Creek Winery in Tasmania in an outdoor wedding and reception.
Veteran radio presenter Dean Banks has died following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Banks had a stellar career on the airwaves and is best known as the former breakfast host of Melbourne radio station 3AW, reports Radio Today.

Nine's managing director of radio, Tom Malone, paid tribute to Banks in a statement.

Rest in peace: Veteran radio presenter Dean Banks has died after a lengthy battle with cancer

'Dean was the ultimate gentleman and true professional, always helping those around him to do their best and not to dwell on mistakes which can happen making live radio,' Malone said.

Malone recalled one of Banks' favourite sayings: 'Don't worry, it's flying past Mars now'.

He inferred this as meaning, 'Dont worry about the past, just make the next thing better' - a valuable lesson for people working in radio.

'Dean taught many people the craft of radio and how to make it sound effortless,' Malone continued.

'We all owe a lot to Dean and he will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his wife Diana and extended family.'

Banks co-hosted the 3AW breakfast show with fellow radio veteran Ross Stevenson from 1990 to 2000.

The program was originally called Lawyers, Guns and Money before its name was changed.

Banks had had a long career as a presenter at radio stations across Australia and New Zealand before he joined 3AW.

Stevenson spoke of his former co-anchor's death on 3AW on Thursday morning.
Three-time Grammy nominee French Montana has removed a song with four-time Grammy winner Drake off his new album in wake of the Astroworld tragedy on November 5.

The Moroccan-born 37-year-old and the Canadian 35-year-old's duet - titled Splash Brothers - has been replaced on all streaming platforms with a new solo track called Fraud.

'Drake asked for the song to come down before release because he's still reeling from what happened at Astroworld,' a source told TMZ on Wednesday.

'Drake asked for the song to come down': Three-time Grammy nominee French Montana (L, pictured April 8) has removed a song with four-time Grammy winner Drake (R) off his new album in wake of the Astroworld tragedy on November 5

'He didn't think it was appropriate to put out new music right now. French had no problem with the song being taken off the album - Drake's his brother, and he totally understood his reasoning.'

French's fourth studio album They Got Amnesia drops this Friday, but insiders say Splash Brothers should appear on a deluxe version of the record in the future.

Drake notoriously joined eight-time Grammy nominee Travis Scott onstage Houston's NRG Park at around 9:48pm - 10 minutes after police declared the music festival a 'mass casualty' event.

The 30-year-old rapper (born Jacques Webster) claimed he was not aware of the severity of the crowd crush that left 10 dead, 25 hospitalized, and over 300 injured.

Tracklist dated November 8: The Moroccan-born 37-year-old and the Canadian 35-year-old's duet - titled Splash Brothers - has been replaced on all streaming platforms with a new solo track called Fraud

A source told TMZ on Wednesday: 'He's still reeling from what happened at Astroworld. He didn't think it was appropriate to put out new music right now. French had no problem with the song being taken off the album - Drake's his brother, and he totally understood his reasoning' (pictured September 26)

It will be released: French's fourth studio album They Got Amnesia drops this Friday, but insiders say Splash Brothers should appear on a deluxe version of the record in the future

The causes of death for Jacob Jurinek, John Hilgert, Brianna Rodriguez, Rudy Pena, Franco Patino, Danish Baig, Madison Dubiski, Axel Acosta, Bharti Shahani, and Ezra Blount are under criminal investigation.

'I've spent the past few days trying to wrap my mind around this devastating tragedy,' the biracial R&B belter - who boasts 217M social media followers - wrote on November 8.

'I hate resorting to this platform to express an emotion as delicate as grief but this is where I find myself. My heart is broke n for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and for anyone who is suffering. I will continue to pray for all of them, and will be of service in any way I can. May God by with you all.'

Drake (born Aubrey Graham) and Travis have since been named in several lawsuits, including one from attorney Tony Buzbee representing 125 concertgoers seeking $750M in damages.

Doomed: Drake notoriously joined eight-time Grammy nominee Travis Scott onstage Houston's NRG Park at around 9:48pm - 10 minutes after police declared the music festival a 'mass casualty' event

Horrifying: The 30-year-old rapper (born Jacques Webster) claimed he was not aware of the severity of the crowd crush that left 10 dead, 25 hospitalized, and over 300 injured

Memorial pictured on November 9: The causes of death for Jacob Jurinek, John Hilgert, Brianna Rodriguez, Rudy Pena, Franco Patino, Danish Baig, Madison Dubiski, Axel Acosta, Bharti Shahani, and Ezra Blount are under criminal investigation

The biracial R&B belter wrote on November 8: 'My heart is broke n for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and for anyone who is suffering. I will continue to pray for all of them, and will be of service in any way I can. May God by with you all'
Tiger King

Rating:

Grand Designs: House Of The Year 2021

Rating:

Hey, you cool cats and kittens. Grab a gun and strip down to your star-spangled G-strings  the Tiger King carnival of trash is back.

Joe Exotic, the drug-addled gay cowboy, failed politician and former police chief, is still in prison. His plea for a presidential pardon fell on the deaf ears of Donald Trump  perhaps the only man in the U.S. with a bigger ego than Joe.

But his nemesis, the ultimate Mad Cat Lady of the internet, is still at large. Carole Baskin  'That B!!tch Carole @&%ing Baskin.' as she is known to Joe and his supporters  has been widely accused of killing her first husband and feeding him to her tigers, at her big cat sanctuary in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Baskin, naturally, denies this  and as Tiger King (Netflix) returns for a second season, new evidence emerges to vindicate her.

Tiger King, featuring Joe Exotic, returns for a second season on Netflix

What we also see are strippers gyrating around poles at a club called Sausage Castle, campaigners festooning a private jet in tiger stripes, lawyers with triple beer guts, wild animals on obscene display in a cage shaped into a giant 'TK' and men blowing pumpkins apart with shotguns to show us what they'd like to do to Carole Baskin's head.

Joe is serving a 22-year jail sentence at the Federal Medical Center prison in Fort Worth, Texas, for animal abuse and hiring a hitman to kill Baskin.

He is consumed by bitterness. The Tiger King believes everyone else is getting rich on the publicity from his show, and he wants to see them jailed, too.

We discover more about his past, including his youthful marriage.

At 19, when he was still Joseph Schreibvogel, he was the youngest police chief in Texas  keeping law and order among the 700 citizens of Eastvale, near Dallas.

Ancient tech of the night: In a lock-up on a remote island in Shetland (BBC1), Detective Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) found a clue on the cassette of an answering machine. Those gadgets seemed so modern . . . yet now they look as antiquated as penny farthings. Advertisement

He drove a Pontiac Trans Am with customised flashing lights. 'He looked like a Christmas tree coming down the road,' remembers his former sergeant.

At the same time, Joe was working as a male stripper. He started dating the fire chief's daughter, Kimberley, though he didn't tell her he was gay. She thought the reason they didn't have sex was that he respected her too much and wanted to wait until they were married. 'I was naive,' she shrugs.

Though they lack the shocks and twists of the first series, these five new episodes do delve into the mysterious disappearance of Don Lewis, Baskin's first husband.

We meet Lewis's associates in Costa Rica, where he had a second home. One neighbour in San Jose says he was nicknamed 'El Gringo' and ran a brothel known as the Cursed House.

No one comes out of this series looking good. But the real victims are the animals  such as the clouded leopard Lewis left in a box without ventilation and forgot, or the chimpanzee whose corpse the Tiger King serenaded in a music video.

Maybe Joe was right. The whole lot of them deserve locking away.

There's no trailer trash on show in Grand Designs: House Of The Year 2021 (C4), though some of the nominated properties reveal equally bizarre lifestyles.

Strangest of the collection was a converted water tower in Norfolk, rebuilt to resemble a rocket launcher from Thunderbirds. Others included a house constructed around a smaller, 1950s building, and another with no right angles.

The tours were hurried, and we had no idea how much the conversions had cost.

Kevin McCloud, shaven-headed with a Tintin tuft, devised odd little introductions for each  making himself a peanut-butter-and-jam sandwich, or digging for spare change down the back of a sofa. It all felt very disjointed.
Rose Byrne is currently starring in Apple TV+ hit series Physical.

And on Monday, the Australian actress was spotted filming scenes for the show's upcoming second season in Los Angeles.

The 42-year-old was in full hair and wardrobe, sporting curly brown locks, white hotpants and a turquoise leotard.

On set: Rose Byrne is currently starring in Apple TV's hit series Physical. The 42-year-old Aussie actress was spotted filming scenes for the show's second season in LA on Monday

She accessorised with neon tube socks and white sneakers, and carried a few pages of her script in one hand.

Rose plays tortured housewife-turned-aerobics guru Sheila in the series.

Physical also stars Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel, Della Saba, Lou Taylor Pucci, Paul Sparks and Ashley Liao.

Rose recently showered praise on the female-led stories coming out of the industry while speaking to Marie Claire magazine.

The Bridesmaids star said that many films and TV series focused on women probably would not have been made five years ago.

Retro: Rose was in full hair and wardrobe, sporting curly brown locks, white hotpants and a turquoise leotard

'Shows like Physical or Mrs America probably wouldn't have been made five years ago,' Byrne said, adding the script for Physical was written eight years ago.

'Stories about women are finally ready to be told and seen through a real female lens, literally  Physical's cinematographer is a woman.'

The Sydney-born star went on to praise how confident millennials in the business were, which is something she admires.

Prepared: She accessorised with neon tube socks and white sneakers, and carried a few pages of her script in one hand

'I look at social media and the savviness, sophistication and confidence of the young actors I now work with and I think, "Wow, I never had that, ever,"' she said.

Outside of Physical, the busy actress has also been cast as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the upcoming film They Are Us.

Fans will see a different side to Rose when she plays the political leader in the wake of the tragic 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.

At the time, Ms Ardern was commended for her response to the two consecutive mass shootings.

The terrorist attack was carried out by gunman Brenton Tarrant who killed 51 people.
Sydney PR guru Roxy Jacenko has finally ended her years-long feud with gossip columnist Andrew Hornery.

The pair, who famously clashed in 2018 after Hornery mocked Jacenko's outfit at a fundraiser, buried the hatchet last month after meeting for lunch at a trendy restaurant in Paddington.

Hornery noted in his Sydney Morning Herald column on Thursday that both he and Jacenko had become 'mutually beneficial adversaries' over the years.

Friends again! PR guru Roxy Jacenko (left) has buried the hatchet with her media nemesis Andrew Hornery (right), three years after she branded the gossip columnist 'a bitter old man' for mocking the designer dress she wore to a fundraiser

'Just as Jacenko has been a rich seam of stories to me, those stories kept her in the news cycle that underpinned her career,' he wrote.

Hornery explained he apologised to Jacenko for the mean-spirited stories he'd written about her personal life in the past.

'Admittedly, I have described her as a "publicity-seeking missile" on more than one occasion,' he said, adding that Jacenko had once responded to his jibes by calling him a 'bitter and twisted old man'.

Burying the hatchet: Hornery noted in his Sydney Morning Herald column on Thursday that both he and Jacenko had become 'mutually beneficial adversaries' over the years. He also said he apologised to Jacenko for the mean-spirited stories he'd written about her in the past

He also apologised for the way he reported on her breast cancer diagnosis in 2016.

At the time, Hornery had accused the PR mogul of using her health battle to drum up publicity, especially after she had a tumour removed on 60 Minutes.

'It is topic which I admit I owe her a long overdue apology after cynically reporting on the media attention before 60 Minutes filmed her surgery,' he wrote.

Critic: In May 2018, Hornery raised eyebrows when he mocked Jacenko for wearing a powder blue 'mullet' dress (pictured) designed by Velani to the Gold Dinner fundraiser in Sydney

The pair's decision to make peace comes three years after Hornery and Jacenko clashed in a highly publicised media slanging match.

In May 2018, the writer mocked the publicist for wearing a powder blue 'mullet' dress designed by Velani to the Gold Dinner fundraiser in Sydney.

Hornery remarked upon Jacenko's ensemble after she returned it to its Five Dock shop shortly after wearing it on the red carpet.

Snarky: Under the headline, 'Mullet Dress Swims Upstream', Hornery wrote: 'Barely 48 hours after it had hung from the fake-tanned frame of one Roxy Jacenko, the over-the-top Italian tulle "mullet" dress was back in the window of Five Dock "couturier" Velani'

Under the headline, 'Mullet Dress Swims Upstream', Hornery wrote: 'Barely 48 hours after it had hung from the fake-tanned frame of one Roxy Jacenko, the over-the-top Italian tulle "mullet" dress was back in the window of Five Dock "couturier" Velani.'

The mother of two swiftly hit back, telling Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'Heavens, he really is a bitter old man.'

Days later, Hornery returned fire by sharing a photo to Instagram of a western Sydney fashion boutique alongside the caption: 'Fairfield "couturier" Rose's - sadly no sign of any mullets.'

Not going down without a fight: The mother of two swiftly hit back, telling Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'Heavens, he really is a bitter old man'

Ouch! Days later, Hornery returned fire by sharing a photo to Instagram of a western Sydney fashion store alongside the caption: 'Fairfield "couturier" Rose's - sadly no sign of any mullets'

Hornery went on to criticise Jacenko for claiming her 'mullet' dress was a 'one off' design, insisting the frock was in fact very similar to one recently worn by Italian designer and model Chiara Ferragni.

Jacenko responded to this by posting a picture of yet another 'mullet-style' dress, sarcastically writing in the caption: 'How on earth did you miss this one?'

She added: 'Oh wow, I'll be damned - another mullet frock - maybe we can go week four from four with the stories in your column, Andrew?'
She returned to Australia earlier this year after living in Los Angeles with her husband Sean McEwen, and their daughters, Phoenix, seven, and Lennon, two, for years.

And now it appears former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok is planning to stay put with her clan.

During an appearance on Today Extra, the 37-year-old actress said: 'My husband and I kept saying we're coming back to Australia to split our time in both two places.'

She's back! Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok hinted she is staying in Australia permanently with her family after living in Los Angeles for 15 years during an interview on Today Extra on Thursday

'And because of work we were in LA, but I feel like I put it in out into the universe and I'm a big manifester and I feel like this happened to us because we're meant to be here,' she continued.

'I came here [Queensland] for a film, but then the borders closed and it's been amazing.

'We've been in Queensland almost six months, but I love it so much. The kids are in school and I don't think I've ever spent do much time here.'

And the star, who found international fame after landing a role on Pretty Little Liars, appears to be regaining her Aussie accent after being Down Under for months.

Making Australia home: Tammin returned to Australia earlier this year with her husband Sean McEwen, and their daughters, Phoenix, seven, and Lennon, two

In August, Tammin announced her role in a new Australian drama, The Good Hustle, based on real-life female publicists she has encountered in her life.

At the time, Tammin, said her role is inspired by 'cutthroat' women she met during her time in Hollywood.

'It can be very cutthroat,' the actress told Confidential.

Accent: The star, who found international fame after landing a role on Pretty Little Liars, appears to be regaining her Aussie accent after being Down Under for months

'It is based off that high profile businesswoman who is also trying to have a family at the same time and try to manage their personal life and also try to be successful in their own business and company.

'It is hard, especially for women, to do it all. And rising up the ladder as a female isn't easy; I feel you have to work harder.'

Tammin is a highly motivated mother and career woman who works hard to balance both.

She and her producer husband, Sean McEwen, are celebrating ten years of marriage.

Family: Tammin and her producer husband, Sean McEwen, are celebrating ten years of marriage. They share two children, Phoenix, seven, and Lennon, two. All pictured

'10 years married this month. 15 years together. The secret? Say yes to your wife's adventures,' Tammin wrote alongside an image of the couple on a beach, which she shared to Instagram recently.

Tammin arrived in Australia in June and underwent 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney.
She's known as Sydney's fashion 'it girl'.

And Nadia Fairfax certainly lived up to her reputation on Wednesday as she hosted fashion house Carolina Herrera's 40th anniversary event in Sydney's Potts Point.

The 32-year-old blogger, who recently made headlines amid her rumoured feud with eyebrow queen Kristen Fisher, turned heads in a black-and-white polkadot frock with dramatic frill detailing.

Licence to frill! Nadia Fairfax, 32, (pictured) turned heads in a black-and-white polkadot frock at Carolina Herrera's 40th anniversary event in Sydney on Wednesday

She completed her playful ensemble with a pair of black stockings, strappy pointed-toe heels and a pair of gold hoop earrings.

Allowing her outfit to do the talking, Nadia kept her makeup minimal and swept up her blonde locks into a no-fuss up-do.

Also attending the penthouse soiree was Instagram influencer Jade Tuncdoruk, who stunned in a white singlet top and Barbie pink maxi skirt.

Bold look: She completed her playful ensemble with a pair of black stockings, strappy pointed-toe heels and a pair of gold hoop earrings

Careful! At one stage, Nadia was seen posing on a golden ladder next to a pyramid of cocktail glasses

Chic: he completed her playful ensemble with a pair of black stockings, strappy pointed-toe heels and a pair of gold hoop earrings

Jade's fiance, Instagram star Lachie Brycki, was also spotted at the event.

The loved-up couple packed on the PDA, enjoying a smooch for the cameras.

Elsewhere, glamorous E! Australia host Francesca Hung posed up a tiered, black-and-white gown covered in bold polkadots.

Think pink! Also attending the penthouse soiree was Instagram influencer Jade Tuncdoruk (pictured), who stunned in a white singlet top and Barbie pink maxi skirt

Romantic moment: Jade's fiance, Instagram star Lachie Brycki, (left) was also spotted at the event

Going dotty! Elsewhere, glamorous E! Australia host Francesca Hung (pictured) posed up a tiered, black-and-white gown covered in bold polkadots

Playful look: Model Jordan Simek (pictured) also dressed to impress, sporting a frilly pink crop top and maroon trousers

The former beauty queen wore her dark hair down and completed her look with smokey eye shadow and a slick of brown lipstick.

Model Jordan Simek also dressed to impress, sporting a frilly pink crop top and maroon trousers.

Nadia's appearance at the glitzy event comes two months after Daily Mail Australia lifted the lid on her rumoured falling out with her best friend, Double Bay eyebrow artist Kristin Fisher.

Socialites at war: Nadia's (right) appearance at the glitzy event comes two months after Daily Mail Australia lifted the lid on her rumoured falling out with her best friend, Double Bay eyebrow artist Kristin Fisher (left)

Fisher and Fairfax were once joined at the hip, but the pair seem to have cut ties in the wake of Fisher's recent cocaine scandal.

Fisher was allegedly caught buying cocaine on July 17, after her drug dealer was pulled over by police for driving erratically in Bondi.

The cocaine drama went unnoticed by the media for months, before suddenly making headlines in September.

Scandal: Fisher (left, with Fairfax) was allegedly caught buying cocaine on July 17, after her drug dealer was pulled over by police for driving erratically in Bondi

Fisher, 36, and Fairfax unfollowed each other on Instagram at about this time, but it's unclear why.

When Daily Mail Australia contacted the women for comment in September, they quietly refollowed each other on the social media app.

However, Fisher still wasn't following Fairfax's private account 'partywithnardy' which she reserves for her closest friends.

At the time, Fairfax also insisted she hadn't fallen out with Fisher - despite rumours of their rift being the talk of the eastern suburbs.

Controversial: The cocaine drama went unnoticed by the media for months, before suddenly making headlines last week. Fisher is pictured in a recent Instagram photo

'What you're speculating is factually incorrect,' she said.

'Kristin and I have had a wonderful friendship over the years and I continue to wish her well throughout her current situation, and no doubt you'll hear the same from Kristin.

'I had no prior knowledge of the [cocaine] incident, and found out just like everyone else through the media.'

What happened? Fisher and Fairfax unfollowed each other on Instagram at about this time, but it's unclear why. Pictured: screenshots demonstrating the women don't follow each other

Delisted: When Daily Mail Australia contacted the women for comment on Tuesday, they quietly refollowed each other on the social media app. However, Fisher is still not following Fairfax's private account 'partywithnardy' which she reserves for her closest friends (pictured)

In March, months before the cocaine scandal broke, Fisher had served as a bridesmaid at Fairfax's multimillion-dollar wedding to financier Michael Wayne.

Fisher's daughter, Lila, was a flower girl at the ritzy nuptials, which were held at a heritage-listed mansion in Sydney's Darling Point.

Documenting the occasion at the time, Fisher uploaded images of herself celebrating with Fairfax, adding the caption: 'Our best friends' wedding.'

By her side: In March, months before the cocaine scandal broke, Fisher (left) had served as a bridesmaid at Fairfax's (right) multimillion-dollar wedding to financier Michael Wayne

But in the weeks since the cocaine saga, Fairfax and Fisher have been untagged in each other's Instagram photos from the wedding.

On the evening of July 17, Fisher was allegedly caught buying cocaine after her drug dealer was pulled over by police for driving erratically.

Police found her in the backseat of the dealer's Kia Rio in Bondi.

Pals: Fisher is seen in the middle row, second from right, sipping champagne. Fairfax is in the middle lying on the couch. This photo was taken as the bridal party prepared for the wedding

Exclusive: Fairfax's wedding to Michael Wayne was one of the society events of the year. The warring socialites are pictured in the centre of this photo, with Fisher in the lilac dress

The car was initially pulled over for allegedly illegally overtaking another vehicle, but police say Fisher's suspicious behaviour prompted them to investigate further.

Officers allegedly found two bags of cocaine at the mother of two's feet, claiming she was 'frantic' and tried to leave the car through the opposite side door.

Court documents claim she attempted 'to leave the vehicle and evade police interaction'.

They go way back: Social media photos reveal Fisher (second from left) and Fairfax (right) had been friends for many years before their recent rift

Police: On the evening of July 17, Fisher was allegedly caught buying cocaine after her drug dealer was pulled over by police for driving her Kia Rio erratically in Bondi

When police asked the driver how she knew Fisher, they allege the dealer was unable to give any details or even tell officers her name.

The beautician allegedly told officers she'd been picked up from her Double Bay home to purchase the drugs but claimed she hadn't handed over any cash.

Fisher was convicted and fined $550 after she failed to appear in Waverley Court last Tuesday charged with possessing a prohibited drug and failing to comply with public health orders.

Charged: Fisher was convicted and fined $550 after she failed to appear in court last Tuesday charged with possessing a prohibited drug and failing to comply with public health orders

However, Fisher has since started proceedings to have her conviction overturned.

Her solicitor, Michael Bowe, hopes to have her conviction annulled when the matter returns to Waverley Court on October 6.

Fisher insisted she wasn't aware of the September 21 court date and would have been present if she had known, Mr Bowe said.
Her sister Madeleine is dating one of the most successful men in Sydney - billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes.

And Simone Holtznagel enjoyed one of the perks of having a famous in-law on Thursday.

The stunning model and reality star dined at Hemmes' popular CBD Japanese eatery, sushi e, with her little sister.

Family in high places! Model Simone Holtznagel showed off her cleavage in a very low-cut dress as she dined at her sister's boyfriend Justin Hemmes' restaurant on Thursday

The blonde bombshell posted pictures of herself sitting down at a table enjoying a glass of white wine.

She looked typically stunning for the occasion, wearing a low-cut olive green halterneck dress that showed off her cleavage.

Simone flaunted her flawless visage in minimal makeup and wore her flaxen locks back in a casual up do.

Long lunch: The blonde bombshell posted a picture of herself sitting down enjoying a glass of white wine

Madeline also shared some gorgeous pictures of her older sibling during the lunch, but none of herself.

Simone is often spotted out and about with her sister and her older boyfriend.

Most recently, when Madeline celebrated turning 26.

Hemmes, 49, treated Madeline, Simone and friends to a luxurious meal of oysters, caviar shots and birthday cake at the Merivale boss' Newport restaurant Bert's Bar and Brasserie.

Bombshell: She looked typically stunning for the occasion, wearing a low-cut olive green halterneck dress that showed off her cleavage

He then charted his seaplane to his $60million Vaucluse mansion for an epic pool party.

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.

Sister in arms: Simone is often spotted out and about with her sister and her older boyfriend

Birthday fun: Most recently, when Madeline, pictured right, celebrated turning 26. Hemmes, 49, treated Madeline, Simone and friends to a luxurious meal of oysters, caviar shots and birthday cake at the Merivale boss' Newport restaurant Bert's Bar and Brasserie

Madeline and Justin 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.

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.
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The film set for Julia Roberts and George Clooney's romantic comedy, Ticket to Paradise, is starting to come to life in The Whitsundays in Queensland.

The film's crew transformed Palm Bay Resort on Long Island into Bali on Wednesday, erecting beachside houses and huts.

The upcoming movie is set in Bali, with George, 60, and Julia, 54, playing a divorced couple who fly to the holiday island for their daughter's wedding.

Coming together: The film set for Julia Roberts and George Clooney's romantic comedy, Ticket to Paradise, is starting to come to life in The Whitsundays in Queensland

New images from the set show a series of Bali-style beach houses and huts being constructed by builders.

Other dwellings have already been set up to resemble the tropical homes found in Bali ahead of filming on the island.

Several crew members were seen working on the sets, with builders on the roof of one dwelling as they completed construction.

Reuniting: The upcoming movie is set in Bali, with George Clooney and Julia Roberts playing a divorced couple who fly to the holiday island for their daughter's wedding. Pictured together at the Cannes Film Festival in France in May 2016

A boat was also spotted ferrying people away from the set at Palm Beach Resort, but it's likely those onboard were tourists.

Ticket to Paradise began filming earlier this month on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, and will move to The Whitsundays shortly afterwards.

It was revealed back in March that George and Julia were heading to Australia to film the hotly anticipated project.

Movie magic: The film's crew transformed Palm Bay Resort on Long Island into Bali on Wednesday, erecting beachside houses and huts

The film received a $6.4million grant from the federal government's Location Incentive Program.

George and Julia will play a divorced couple who travel to Bali in a desperate bid to stop their daughter, played by Kaitlyn Dever, from getting married.

The movie also stars Billie Lourd as Dever's best friend, who travels with her to Bali, where she decides to marry a local.

Taking to the sea: A boat was also spotted ferrying people away from the set at Palm Beach Resort, but it's likely those onboard were tourists

The two-month project will be filmed entirely in Queensland, with the picturesque Whitsundays doubling for Bali.

The production is expected to generate $47million for the Australian economy and create more than 270 jobs.

Ticket to Paradise is written and directed by Ol Parker, who helmed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.

Not their first film: Longtime friends George and Julia have starred in three films together - Oceans Eleven (2001), Oceans Twelve (2004) and Money Monster (2016). Pictured as Tess Ocean and Danny Ocean in Oceans Eleven

Next instalment: Julia plays Danny's wife Tess Ocean in both Oceans Eleven and Oceans Twelve. She files for divorce from Danny during his four years in prison. Tess eventually returns to Danny after a brief romance with Terry Benedict. Pictured together in Oceans Twelve

2016 film: In Money Monster, George plays flamboyant financial expert Lee Gates on TV show Money Monster, with Julia playing the show's longtime director Patty Fenn (both pictured)

Longtime friends George and Julia have starred in three films together - Oceans Eleven (2001), Oceans Twelve (2004) and Money Monster (2016).

In Oceans Eleven, George plays Danny Ocean, the charismatic thief that's planning his next mission, despite having only left a New Jersey penitentiary in under 24 hours.

Julia plays Danny's wife Tess Ocean in both Oceans Eleven and Oceans Twelve. She files for divorce from Danny during his four years in prison. Tess eventually returns to Danny after a brief romance with Terry Benedict.

In Money Monster, George plays flamboyant financial expert Lee Gates on TV show Money Monster, with Julia playing the show's longtime director Patty Fenn.

Island life: Ticket to Paradise began filming earlier this month on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, and will move to The Whitsundays shortly afterwards

George relocated to Australia last month with his human rights lawyer wife Amal and the couple's five-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella.

Despite spending their mandatory 14-day quarantine period at a sprawling NSW Southern Highlands estate rather than the usual hotel, George still complained about the conditions.

'You have to stay in one place for 14 days until you're finally allowed to go out and breathe,' he told WTF podcast host Marc Maron on Monday.

Down Under: It was revealed back in March that George and Julia were heading to Australia to film the hotly anticipated project. Pictured together at the Cannes Film Festival in France in May 2016

Meanwhile, Julia also jetted into Australia last month, spending her quarantine period at a $56.9million mansion in Sydney's Vaucluse.

The property was the former rental home of Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch, the son and daughter-in-law of Australian-born media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

The home was patrolled by around-the-clock armed guards, while multiple chefs, waiters and housekeepers stayed with Julia as part of her travel bubble.
Home and Away star Sam Frost has shared behind-the-scenes footage of herself on the show, following her recent Covid-19 vaccine drama.

Posting to Instagram on Thursday, the former Bachelorette star uploaded a series of happy snaps during filming.

In one image, the starlet showed herself lying on the ground beside one of the trailers at Sydney's Palm Beach.

Home and Away star Sam Frost, 32, (pictured) shared behind-the-scenes footage from the show via Instagram on Thursday - after confirming she will be temporary written out after vaccine dramas

Sam covered up in a black puffer jacket, denim jeans and a pair of Converse shoes.

She then showed herself receiving a take-away coffee from her co-star Nicholas Cartwright in-between filming scenes.

It comes after Sam backflipped on her previous anti-vax stance, revealing she will get vaccinated against Covid-19 but not until after Channel Seven's 'no jab, no job' deadline.

Action! Sam showed a bit of camera work on the set, along with an image of co-star Nicholas Cartwright bringing her a coffee during filming

The actress said she will be fully vaccinated by late February - about seven weeks after the network's vaccine mandate for all presenters, cast and crew comes into effect on January 10.

Because Sam won't be allowed on the Palm Beach set until she's double vaxxed, her character Jasmine Delaney will be 'written out temporarily'.

The former Bachelorette explained she wasn't able to get the jab sooner because of an unspecified 'medical procedure booked in for January'.

Tricks of the trade: Sam's posts also showed cameras poking through a car door during filming

She also insisted she wasn't leaving the soap permanently and that she had the full support of Seven executives.

When she does get the jab in February, Sam may well receive the Novavax vaccine, which was recently submitted to the TGA for provisional approval.

If successful, it will be the fourth approved coronavirus vaccine in Australia, after AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna.

Change of heart: Sam backflipped on her previous anti-vax stance, revealing she will get vaccinated against Covid-19 but not until after Channel Seven's 'no jab, no job' deadline

Many vaccine-hesitant Australians who are suspicious of mRNA and vector technology are holding out for the protein-based Novavax because it relies on older 'tried and true' immunisation methods.

It's unclear if Sam falls into this category; however, she previously said she didn't want the vaccine for unspecified medical reasons.

It comes after the Director of Production at Seven West Media, Andrew Backwell, sent an email to staff informing them the network 'will only engage fully vaccinated presenters, cast and crew'.

Temporary exit: The actress said her character Jasmine Delaney was being 'written out temporarily' because she won't be fully vaccinated until late February. Pictured on Home and Away with co-star Jake Ryan, who plays Robbo

Staff at Seven Productions, which includes Home and Away, will need to be double vaccinated from January 10 to continue work.

A Seven spokesperson said: 'To provide the safest possible work environment for cast, crew and presenters, Seven Productions have made the decision to only engage those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, taking effect in January next year.

'Seven strongly encourages vaccination to protect our people, their colleagues and their families.'

Statement: 'I'm not leaving Home and Away. I have a medical procedure booked in for January, so I won't be fully-vaxxed until mid to late February,' she wrote on Instagram. 'I will be written out temporarily. Jazzy is going on an off-screen adventure for a few weeks, but I'll be back'

The actress, who has played nurse Jasmine on Home and Away since 2017, called for less judgement towards unvaccinated Australians.

'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation,' she said in the video.

'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason.

'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.'

Sam then said she hadn't been vaccinated, but claimed she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as a psychologist about her decision; however, it's understood she does not have a valid medical exemption.

She added tearfully: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you.
Nicole Kidman is already getting rave reviews for her portrayal of the late Lucille Ball in the new film, Being the Ricardos.

And on Wednesday, the American-born Australian actress was spotted stepping out in New York as she attended a Q&A screening for her new movie.

The 54-year-old Hollywood star cut a casual yet stylish figure as she made her way into the venue, wearing a tailored jacket and high-waisted jeans.

Stepping out: On Wednesday, Nicole Kidman cut a stylish figure in a blazer and jeans as she attended a Q&A screening in New York for her new film Being the Ricardos

Nicole showed off her slender figure in her light blue denim, which she teamed with a beige blouse and a brown tweed blazer.

She completed her look with a pair of brown leather loafers, and wore her long red hair out and over her shoulders, neatly straightened.

Nicole wore natural-looking dewy makeup, complete with a bright red lip for a pop of colour.

Turning heads: Nicole wore natural-looking dewy makeup, complete with a bright red lip for a pop of colour

Safety first: During the outing, she kept covid-safe with a black material face mask

During the outing, she kept Covid-safe with a black material face mask.

Being The Ricardos received rave reviews after its first screening for critics in the US on the weekend.

Nicole was in attendance for the screening and panel discussion on Sunday night along with the film's writer and director Aaron Sorkin and her co-star Javier Bardem.

At the screening, the Oscar-winning actress revealed she had 'massive trepidation' about playing the comedy legend.

Rave reviews: Being The Ricardos has received rave reviews after its first screening for critics in the US on the weekend

Candid: Nicole recently revealed she had 'massive trepidation' about playing Lucille Ball in the film

However, critics who viewed the movie appeared to be extremely impressed with Nicole's performance, which is already generating Oscar buzz.

New York Times reporter Kyle Buchanan tweeted, 'Lucy, you've got some campaigning to do: BEING THE RICARDOS played well in its first screening, suggesting a solid awards contender.

'I bought Nicole more as offscreen, dramatic Lucy than as a sitcom dynamo, but the audience still ate her and Javier Bardem up.'

At the screening, Nicole confessed that she was extremely nervous about playing the I Love Lucy star in the new biopic and credited the support of Sorkin for helping her take on the part.

Nicole recalled: 'I had massive trepidation about a month prior, and Aaron had to get on the phone and send me emails saying, ''You've got this''.

'It was frightening but incredibly exciting.'
Sarah Murdoch stepped out to grab some supplies at a Chemist Warehouse in Sydney on Tuesday.

The former Australia's Next Top Model host kept things casual in a pair of blue jeans and a simple black top.

The 49-year-old went for a low-key look by leaving most of her jewellery at home, including her wedding ring.

Out and about: Sarah Murdoch stepped out to grab some supplies at a Chemist Warehouse in Sydney on Tuesday

She kept a low profile behind a pair of dark sunglasses and accessorised her look with a black Bottega Veneta cassette bag worth $2800.

Looking like your average shopper, Sarah carried two plastic bags full of items from the budget store.

Sarah and her Fox CEO husband Lachlan Murdoch relocated their family from Los Angeles to Sydney in March.

And it seems the couple, along with their three children - sons Kalan Alexander, 16, Aidan Patrick, 14, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 10 - are here to stay.

Casual: The former Australia's Next Top Model host kept things incredibly casual in a pair of blue jeans and a simple black top

Ring didn't mean a thing! The 49-year-old went for a low-key look by leaving most of her jewellery at home, including her wedding ring

In April, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Murdochs will be in Australia 'for years, not months, as initially believed.'

The family, who are based in their Bellevue Hill compound, Le Manoir, have settled into life in Sydney after Sarah was seen at the Royal Easter Show in Olympic Park with her children.

The publication also confirmed that the Murdoch kids are enrolled in Sydney schools.

While no reason was given for the family's return to Australia, a report claimed that it was the political climate in the US that helped make the decision for the family to leave LA in favour of their Sydney home.

In April, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the family 'felt the cold winds of political change' when Joe Biden assumed power over Donald Trump, after the family-owned Fox News appeared to favour the Republican Party throughout the election campaign.

The publication also claimed things 'got pretty rough' for their children at school.

Average: Looking like your average shopper, Sarah carried two plastic bags full of items from the budget store

Let's go: Sarah hopped into her car and left after shopping up a storm

A source said: 'The school communities here are very close knit, and it extends into the wider families and the circles and parties they all go to. That Hollywood set is very pro-Democratic.

'They are mostly big fundraisers for Biden, so you can imagine how well it went down when one of their classmates' dads is at the helm of the biggest anti-Biden machine in the country.'

Despite having their life based in Los Angeles for years, where Lachlan is Executive Chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation, the couple has always maintained their Bellevue Hill abode.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Fox News corporation for comment.
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Lily James and Sebastian Stan finally showed off their impressive portrayals of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in the first teaser trailer for Pam & Tommy on Wednesday.

The Mamma Mia! actress, 32, and the Avengers star, 39, play the celebrity couple at the height of their fame shortly after their 1995 wedding with their transformation being widely-discussed prior to the release - mainly due to their incredible and totally unrecognisable new looks.

The eagerly-anticipated teaser primarily focuses on Seth Rogen's supporting turn as the disgruntled electrician who stole their sex tape and distributed the raunchy movie online - leading to one of the celebrity world's first ever 'sex tape scandals', making way for similar situations for Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian.

Pamela appears bereft as she sees the footage emerge online - being sold for $59.99 and under the tagline 'Pamela's Hardcore Sex Video' - with fans treated to glimpses of her hot and heavy action, included a romp in the bath with her husband and scenes of the duo on a boat.

Risque: Lily James and Sebastian Stan finally showed off their impressive portrayals of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in the first teaser trailer for Pam & Tommy on Wednesday, which included glimpses of their sex tape

The teaser opens as Seth and Parks And Recreation star Nick Offerman go through the items stolen from Pam and Tommy's home including the mysterious contents of a safe they had swiped.

The safe includes a mysterious video tape which they pop in, expecting to see personal footage of the couple.

They fast forward through footage of Sebastian as Tommy Lee strutting around his home and then driving a muscle car, which isn't part of the actual sex tape.

'That's Tommy Lee. He's the drummer for Motley Crue,' Seth explains before the excited duo spy Pamela while fastforwarding before getting to the steamy scenes which would go on to become iconic.

Beach beauty: While Lily's busty transformation into the iconic star has been teased, this is fans first glimpse of the stars in action after their transformed looks

Ahem! In the days before the Internet was widespread, the couple are left astounded as they see the 'Hardcore Sex Video' being flogged online for $59.99

Changes: Both Lily and Sebastian's transformations were flawless as they rocked all the hallmarks of the celebrity couple

The big reveal: The scenes played out in front of the robbers - who seemed delighted to be cashing in

What a difference! Lily James, 32, is unrecognizable with fake breasts and bleached blond hair as she transforms into a busty Pamela Anderson in the first teaser trailer for Hulu's Pam & Tommy, which was released Wednesday

But as he drives away, Seth's character is seen hiding in a blue van to case out the house and to plot his robbery.

'Where'd you get this?' Nick asks in voiceover, though the famous stoner just urges him to keep fast-forwarding.

He's then seen in lightning-quick sped-up footage as he sneaks into the home in the dead of night, before emerging with a massive black safe on wheels.

'S***!' he shouts as the flood lights outside the mansion go on, forcing him to start running out the open gate.

Perfect match: She stars with Sebastian, 39, who plays her rocker husband Tommy Lee in the series, which details the theft and distribution of their 1995 sex tape

Seeing the goods: The teasers opens as Seth Rogen and Parks And Recreation star Nick Offerman go through items Rogen's character stole from Pam and Tommy's home

Intimate: The safe includes a mysterious video tape which they pop in, expecting to see personal footage of the couple

First look: They fast forward through footage of Sebastian as Tommy Lee strutting around his home and then driving a muscle car, which isn't part of the actual sex tape. 'That's Tommy Lee. He's the drummer for Motley Crue,' Seth explains

Scheming: But as he drives away, Seth's character is seen hiding in a blue van to case out the house and to plot his robbery

Never mind: 'Where'd you get this?' Nick asks in voiceover, though the famous stoner just urges him to keep fast-forwarding

Then we see Lily as Pamela in her iconic red one-piece bathing suit while she's made up on a beach to film a scene for her series Baywatch.

'Holy s***, that's Pamela Anderson!' Offerman's character interjects as Lily does one of Pam's iconic slow-motion runs toward the water.

She's then seen in more fast-forwarded footage as she makes out with Tommy in a nightclub. They also passionately kiss at home in a prelude to their raunchy sex tape.

On a mission: He's then seen in lightning-quick sped-up footage as he sneaks into the home in the dead of night, before emerging with a massive black safe on wheels

Iconic look: 'Holy s***, that's Pamela Anderson!' Offerman's character interjects as Lily does one of Pam's iconic slow-motion runs toward the water

Hot and heavy: She's then seen in more fast-forwarded footage as she makes out with Tommy in a nightclub

Loved-up: The couple were seen in a slew of steamy clinches

Seeing double: Lily James' transformation into Pamela Anderson took three to five hours every day during filming Pam & Tommy, it has been revealed (left is Lily in costume and right Pamela in 1995)

Rogen and Offerman stare in wide-eyed wonder as they realized what they've stumbled on to.

'Goddamn... That's so... private,' Offerman adds over footage of Pam and Tommy caressing each other's faces while nude together in a bath tub.

'It's like we're seeing something we're not supposed to be seeing,' he says perceptively as he and Rogen stroll into a building with the tape in hopes of selling it.

Although the vast majority of the teaser is focused on Rogen's character stealing the tape, Lily is seen more prominently as Pam in the back half of the trailer as her character learns of the theft.

They've struck gold: Rogen and Offerman stare in wide-eyed wonder as they realized what they've stumbled on to

Making bank: 'It's like we're seeing something we're not supposed to be seeing,' he says perceptively as he and Rogen stroll into a building with the tape in hopes of selling it

She first stumbles on a copy of the tape when crew members watch it on the set of Baywatch.

'Well every second that passes this tape could be spreading,' she tells Tommy as they try to stop the distribution.

'Babe, we will get it back,' he replies unconvincingly.

'It's not a big deal to me? I'm on that tape the same as you!' the drummer says after she confronts him about not doing enough to get ahold of the video.

'No, not like me you're not,' she says while looking shockingly like the real Pamela Anderson.

Coming into focus: Although the vast majority of the teaser is focused on Rogen's character stealing the tape, Lily is seen more prominently as Pam in the back half of the trailer as her character learns of the theft

She and Tommy realize they've been unsuccessful when they find the sex tape being sold online, where it will be nearly impossible to keep it from spreading.

A shocked Pam pulls down her sunglasses as she stares at the screen while Tommy looks at it quizzically.

'What the hell is this?' she whimpers in the teaser's final seconds.

For her role in Pam & Tommy, Lily had to be fitted with extensive prosthetics to achieve Pamela's iconic figure.

Workplace harassment: She first stumbles on a copy of the tape when crew members watch it on the set of Baywatch

Clock's ticking: 'Well every second that passes this tape could be spreading,' she tells Tommy as they try to stop the distribution

Most obvious was a fake bust she wore to achieve the look of Anderson's implants, which is clearly visible in the scenes set during the filming of Baywatch.

In addition to the fake 34DD breasts, Lily also got false tattoos painted on to match Pamela's ink, including her barbed wire arm tattoo.

The Mama Mia 2 actress wore a bleached blond wig to match Pam's voluminous locks, and she even had her eyebrows styled in the pencil-thin style adopted by the Home Improvement actress.

Lily previously showed off her picture-perfect look down to her French tip nails in a first-look publicity photo of herself in a bust black leather vest.

Doppelganger: 'It's not a big deal to me? I'm on that tape the same as you!' the drummer says after she confronts him about not doing enough to get ahold of the video. 'No, not like me you're not,' she says while looking shockingly like the real Pamela Anderson

It's too late: She and Tommy realize they've been unsuccessful when they find the sex tape being sold online, where it will be nearly impossible to keep it from spreading

Sebastian also nailed Tommy's recognizable look with his heavily tattooed arms and chest.

He wore his hair short and dyed black, with a soul patch to match the hair metal rocker's.

The Captain America: The Winter Soldier actor previously posed with Lily for a raunchy black-and-white photo in which she tugged on one of his nipple rings with her teeth while she gazed seductively at the camera.

Seth Rogen even got in on the action and shared a photo of his less-glamorous costume while the series was still filming.

The comic actor developed and is producing the series with his longtime creative partner Evan Goldberg.

Quite the transformation! For her role in Pam & Tommy, Lily had to be fitted with extensive prosthetics to achieve Pamela's iconic figure. Most obvious was a 34DD fake bust she wore to achieve the look of Anderson's implants, which is clearly visible in the scenes set during the filming of Baywatch

Details: Lily also got false tattoos painted on to match Pamela's ink, including her barbed wire arm tattoo

Filming on the eight-episode series began in May.

Pamela, 54, and Tommy, 59, tied the knot on a beach in Mexico in 1995 after dating for just four days. At the time, Pamela's mother hadn't even met Tommy.

The pair would go on to welcome sons Brandon, 24, and Dylan, 22, but they divorced in 1998.

In 2015, Pam told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live that she never profited from the sex tape, nor even watched it. She said: 'I've never seen it. I made not one dollar. It was stolen property...

'We made a deal to stop all the shenanigans. I was seven months pregnant with Dylan and thinking it was affecting the pregnancy with the stress and said, "I'm not going to court anymore. I'm not being deposed anymore by these horny, weird lawyer men. I don't want to talk about my vagina anymore or my public sex  anything."'

The whole picture: Lily previously showed off her picture-perfect look down to her French tip nails in a first-look publicity photo of herself in a bust black leather vest

Rock on: Sebastian also nailed Tommy's recognizable look with his heavily tattooed arms and chest. He wore his hair short and dyed black, with a soul patch to match the hair metal rocker's

The sex tape was stolen by Rogen's character Rand Gauthier after Tommy refused to pair for work that he had performed on their house.

When Gauthier confronted the musician about not being paid the $20,000 he was owed, Tommy pulled out a gun to scare him away.

Gauthier took his revenge by stealing the giant safe that had been kept in the couple's garage, which mainly housed the drummer's guns and Pamela's jewelry, in addition to the sex tape.

Ouch! The Captain America: The Winter Soldier actor previously posed with Lily for a raunchy black-and-white photo in which she tugged on one of his nipple rings with her teeth while she gazed seductively at the camera

Earlier this year, Pam claimed that the video wasn't actually a sex tape, but was merely a compilation of footage of them naked on vacation, which just happened to include sex acts.

In May, insiders claimed to The Sun that the Pam has thinks Pam & Tommy is 'a joke and cheap knock-off.'

She reportedly called the show 'God awful,' though the series had just begun filming, and she apparently claimed she had never heard of Lily or Sebastian.

The source said Pamela had 'no intention of watching this God awful show, absolutely not. Never.'
High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens stepped out of the Ritz Carlton in Manhattan's Midtown neighborhood on Wednesday night while rocking a classic LBD.

The half-Filipina 32-year-old wore a rhinestone chain-strapped plunging black mini-dress and matching spike-heeled pumps selected by stylist Jason Bolden.

Vanessa accessorized her all-black attire with a golden broach, Matrix-style coat, and black pantyhose.

Hitting the town! High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens stepped out of the Ritz Carlton in Manhattan's Midtown neighborhood on Wednesday night while rocking a classic LBD

Hairstylist Danielle Priano pulled Hudgens' raven bob back into a tidy top-bun accented with a nineties scrunchie.

Make-up artist Allan Avendano brought out the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 catwalker's brown eyes and bushy brows and applied her glossy coral pout for the evening.

Vanessa still had a golden glow fresh off her lavish vacation to the French Riviera resort town, Antibes.

Hudgens has been hard at work promoting two very different Netflix films in the Big Apple this week.

Leggy: The half-Filipina 32-year-old wore a rhinestone chain-strapped plunging black mini-dress and matching spike-heeled pumps selected by stylist Jason Bolden

Baring one shoulder: Vanessa accessorized her all-black attire with a golden broach, Matrix-style coat, and black pantyhose

Updo: Hairstylist Danielle Priano pulled Hudgens' raven bob back into a tidy top-bun accented with a nineties scrunchie

Ready for her close-up! Make-up artist Allan Avendano brought out the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 catwalker's brown eyes and applied her glossy coral pout for the evening

Sun-kissed: Vanessa still had a golden glow fresh off her lavish vacation to the French Riviera resort town, Antibes

Streaming giant: Hudgens has been hard at work promoting two very different Netflix films in the Big Apple this week

Missing from the SoCal native's side was her boyfriend of a year, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Cole Tucker.

'It is literally the ultimate, modern-day love story,' Vanessa gushed on Wednesday's episode of The View.

'We met over a Zoom meditation group.'

The gif-exchanging group was assembled by none other than two-time Grammy-nominated boybander Joe Jonas and Hudgens noted: '[Cole] did slide into my DMs first.'

Leading man: Missing from the SoCal native's side was her boyfriend of a year, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop/outfielder Cole Tucker (L, pictured Monday)

Vanessa gushed on Wednesday's episode of The View: 'It is literally the ultimate, modern-day love story. We met over a Zoom meditation group'

The gif-exchanging group was assembled by none other than two-time Grammy-nominated boybander Joe Jonas and Hudgens noted: '[Cole] did slide into my DMs first'

The homeschooled millennial is seven years older than the MLB star, who's her first boyfriend since ending her eight-year romance with Elvis star Austin Butler shortly after Halloween 2019.

Vanessa portrays actress Karessa Johnson in Lin-Manuel Miranda's critically-acclaimed feature directorial debut, tick, tick... BOOM! which starts streaming this Friday on Netflix.

Tick, tick... BOOM! is based on Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning, 1990 semi-autobiographical off-off-Broadway musical drama.

Premieres this Friday on Netflix! The homeschooled millennial portrays actress Karessa Johnson in Lin-Manuel Miranda's critically-acclaimed directorial debut, tick, tick... BOOM!

Andrew Garfield, Judith Light, Robin de Jesus, Mj Rodriguez, and Bradley Whitford also star in the film about an aspiring theatre composer's quarter-life crisis.

Hudgens will also resume her roles as Stacy, Margaret, and Fiona in Mike Rohl's three-quel The Princess Switch 3, which premieres this Thursday on Netflix.

Also emerging from the Ritz Carlton on Wednesday night was the My Little Pony actress' castmate Alexandra Shipp.

Premieres this Thursday on Netflix! Vanessa will also resume her roles as Stacy, Margaret, and Fiona in Mike Rohl's three-quel The Princess Switch 3

The 30-year-old Silk Road star - who publicly came out on June 1 - wore an eighties floral trumpet dress beneath a white tuxedo blazer and black booties selected by stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn.

Hairstylist Hos coiffed Alexandra's curly pixie cut and make-up artist Tobi Henney gave her Egyptian-inspired eye liner.

Shipp plays struggling playwright Jonathan Larson's (Andrew Garfield) dancer-turned-teacher girlfriend Susan in Tick, tick... BOOM!

Waving hello! Also emerging from the Ritz Carlton on Wednesday night was the My Little Pony actress' castmate Alexandra Shipp

Layers: The 30-year-old Silk Road star - who publicly came out on June 1 - wore an eighties floral trumpet dress beneath a white tuxedo blazer and black booties selected by stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn

Another day, another event! Hairstylist Hos coiffed Alexandra's curly pixie cut and make-up artist Tobi Henney gave her Egyptian-inspired eye liner
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Hailee Steinfeld had all eyes on her as she attended the premiere of Marvel's Hawkeye in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

The 24-year-old actress flashed her toned midriff in a black denim tube top and a matching floor-length skirt while posing for snaps on the red carpet.

Steinfeld stars alongside Jeremy Renner and Vera Farmiga in the six-episode Disney+ series, which hits the streaming platform on November 24.

Total star: Hailee Steinfeld had all eyes on her as she attended the premiere of Marvel's Hawkeye in Los Angeles on Wednesday night

Double denim: The 24-year-old actress flashed her toned midriff in a black denim tube top and a matching floor-length skirt while posing for snaps on the red carpet

Adding some sportiness to her ensemble, Hailee's skirt featured a cargo-style pocket on her right side.

It also had a modest train that flowed behind her as she posed for shutterbugs in front of the official Hawkeye backdrop.

The True Grit star had her lengthy brunette hair styled into a futuristic ponytail fastened in place with three silver cuffs.

As for accessories, Hailee donned an array of chunky, silver statement rings.

Just in case! Adding some convenience to her ensemble, Hailee's skirt featured a cargo-style pocket on her right side

Sultry: She gave herself a sultrier gaze with a smokey eyeshadow look, while muting her pout with a matte, nude lipstick

Accessorize: As for accessories, Hailee donned an array of chunky, silver statement rings

She gave herself a sultrier gaze with a smokey eyeshadow look, while muting her pout with a matte, nude lipstick.

Before heading inside the theater, Hailee eagerly greeted and waved to the hoards of Marvel fans waiting in the wings hoping to catch a glimpse of the all-star cast.

Renner and Farmiga also made their mark on the red carpet, which was held at the famous El Capitan Theatre

Renner looked spiffy in a trendy black velvet suit and a pair of black patent leather dress shoes.

Futuristic: The True Grit star had her lengthy brunette hair styled into a futuristic ponytail fastened in place with three silver cuffs

Following tow: The dress proved to have a modest train as she posed for shutterbugs in front of the official Hawkeye backdrop

Fan service: Before heading inside the theater, Hailee eagerly greeted and waved to the hoards of Marvel fans waiting in the wings hoping to catch a glimpse of the all-star cast

The 50-year-old actor, who plays Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye in the upcoming Marvel series, kept it classic by styling his jacket with a white dress shirt and tie.

Renner looked beyond proud of the project as he beamed in the direction of fans and photographers.

Farmiga mastered modern glam by hitting the red carpet in an impeccably tailored power suit consisting of a black fitted jacket and a pair of flared trousers.

Spiffy: Jeremy Renner looked spiffy in a trendy black velvet suit and a pair of black patent leather dress shoes

Classic: The 50-year-old actor, who plays Clint Barton a.k.a. Hawkeye in the upcoming Marvel series, kept it classic by styling his jacket with a white dress shirt and tie

Proud: Renner looked beyond proud of the project as he beamed in the direction of fans and photographers

The 48-year-old actress had strings of pearls layered around her neck and toted her belongings in a velvet clutch.

She was joined by her musician husband Renn Hawkey, who looked handsome in a pinstripe suit.

Aleks Paunovic and actress Caroline Rhea took on the event's step-and-repeat photo op together.

Stunner: Vera Farmiga mastered modern glam by hitting the red carpet in an impeccably tailored power suit consisting of a black fitted jacket and a pair of flared trousers

Glamorous touch: The 48-year-old actress had strings of pearls layered around her neck and toted her belongings in a velvet clutch

Plus one: She was joined by her musician husband Renn Hawkey, who looked handsome in a pinstripe suit

Paunovic oozed confidence in a plum velvet suit, while Rhea showed off her impressive figure in a stylish suit of her own.

Bri Hall stunned in a vibrant orange gown with a plunging neckline and semi-sheer skirt.

Alaqua Cox, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Lia McHugh, Pressley Hosbach, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige were also in attendance at Wednesday's big premiere.

The Hawkeye series is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, which finds Hawkeye in New York City, trying to get back to his family before the holidays.

Vibrant: Bri Hall stunned in a vibrant orange gown with a plunging neckline and semi-sheer skirt

Beaming: Bri beamed for shutterbugs

It takes two: Aleks Paunovic and actress Caroline Rhea took on the event's step-and-repeat photo op together

With the trends: Paunovic oozed confidence in a plum velvet suit, while Rhea showed off her impressive figure in a stylish suit of her own

The show introduces Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, who, in the Marvel Comics, took over the Hawkeye mantle from Barton.

Linda Cardellini returns as Clint's wife Laura Barton, with Vera Farmiga making her MCU debut as Laura Bishop, Kate's mother.

The show will also bring back Florence Pugh, reprising her Black Widow role as Yelena Belova

The man in charge: Alaqua Cox, Mychal-Bella Bowman, Lia McHugh, Pressley Hosbach, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige (pictured) were also in attendance at Wednesday's big premiere

Effortless: Mychal-Bella Bowman and Alaqua Cox looked effortlessly stylish as they hit the carpet

Black Widow was set between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame, with the post-credit scene featuring Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) telling Yelena that Clint was responsible for Black Widow's (Scarlett Johansson) death.

Renner made his debut as Hawkeye with a cameo in the 2011 MCU adventure Thor, before his first full-fledged appearance in the 2012 blockbuster The Avengers.

He returned in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2016's Captain America: Civil War, 2018's Avengers: Infinity War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame.

Premise: The Hawkeye series is set after the events of Avengers: Endgame, which finds Hawkeye in New York City, trying to get back to his family before the holidays; Clayton English pictured at Wednesday's premiere

New characters: The show introduces Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, who, in the Marvel Comics, took over the Hawkeye mantle from Barton; Pressley Hosbach and Lia McHugh pictured

Wave: Hailee Steinfeld waves to fans at the Hawkeye premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles

Cast shot: The cast of Marvel's Hawkeye poses for a group shot at the world premiere in Hollywood

All smiles: The cast all assembled for another group shot along with Marvel President Kevin Feige (middle left)
Patrick Schwarzenegger took to Instagram Wednesday with a good natured remark at his mother Maria Shriver, as he and brother Chris enjoyed a trip with her to New York City.

In the shot, Shriver, 66, posed between sons Chris, 24, and the Midnight Sun actor, 28, in front of a large holiday wreath.

She wrote, 'And then there were two sons in the Big Apple! My two sons, @c1lotsoffun and @patrickschwarzenegger, how lucky am I to be in the city with them?

The latest: Patrick Schwarzenegger, 28, took to Instagram Wednesday with a good natured remark at his mother Maria Shriver, 66, as he and brother Chris, 24, enjoyed a trip with her to New York City

'I feel so blessed to be having the week that Im having, seeing my family at every turn, feeling alive, feeling awake in my life! Its what I wish for each of you - to feel alive, to feel awake, to feel blessed!'

In response, the second-generation actor wrote, 'Out of all the photos we took this was the one?!?' to which Shriver said, 'yes i cant see is it bad.'

In the family shot, Patrick wore a white hat with a graphic on the front, while Chris, 24, wore a black sweatshirt with a black Michigan Wolverines cap, sporting a beard.

Shriver beamed as she posed in between her sons, donning a white scarf over a pink jacket with dangling earrings.

The sons posed with their mother in a shot earlier this year

The famed family was seen gathering for Patrick's birthday this past September

Shriver got together on Tuesday with her cousins, Sydney McKelvy and Caroline Kennedy

Shriver, who is also mother to daughters Katherine, 31, and Christina, 30, has been enjoying her autumn trip to the East Coast, as she got together on Tuesday with her cousins, Caroline Kennedy and Sydney McKelvy.

'I never had a sister, but these two have made up for that,' she said of her cousins. 'These two! They are everything to me!'

The reunion marked the first meeting between the relatives since the coronavirus shutdown in March of 2020, according to Shriver.

'Ive known them my entire life,' she said. 'I hadnt seen them since before covid - our longest stretch not seeing one another.'

She added, 'How glorious to be reunited! To not skip a beat. I left feeling full, feeling blessed, and hopeful that we will gather again soon.

'I hope you have people in your life where you can pick up right where you left up, who make you feel seen and safe, who love you no matter what you order or what you eat, who just love the heck out of you! Nothing else on life comes close!'
Sofia Richie put on a leggy display Wednesday night when she attended an event for the iconic perfume and cosmetics house Guerlain in Los Angeles.

The 23-year-old model put the emphasis on her knockout gams with a piercing white blazer dress.

She was spotted arriving at the event with a friend while towering in a pair of open-toe white platform heels that accentuated her 5ft6in height.

Woman in white: Sofia Richie, 23, put on a leggy display in a white blazer dress while attending a Guerlain event in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Sofia's intriguing outfit reached up to her neck and featured a row of white buttons running down her front.

The dress featured a thick belt around her midriff to emphasize her hourglass figure, and it had two thick pockets over her hips.

The daughter of Lionel Richie kept her accessories minimal with a small black handbag.

Sofia was joined by Tess Kemper, one of her best friends, who contrasted her color-free ensemble with a sparkling royal blue top and a furry teal skirt.

Standing tall: The dress buttoned up the front and reached up to her neck. She belted it around her waist and towered in white open-toe platform heels

The sister of Nicole Richie completed her look with a splash of crimson across her lips, and she parted her hair down the middle and pulled it back in a ponytail.

Late on Wednesday night, Sofia shared photos of her striking look to Instagram.

She appeared to be at home as she posed by an angular staircase, both by herself and with Tess.

Simple: The sister of Nicole Richie completed her look with a splash of crimson across her lips, and she parted her hair down the middle and pulled it back in a ponytail

Late on Wednesday night, Sofia shared photos of her striking look to Instagram with her friend Tess Kemper, who accompanied her

Rather than rocking her more identifiable blond locks, she was back to being a brunette.

Late last month, Sofia posted a selfie to Instagram highlighting her newly darkened lustrous hair.

'Back to my roots,' she captioned the snap.

'Back to my roots': Late last month, Sofia showed off her new brunette locks on Instagram as she approximated her natural color after going dirty blond

Sofia was seemingly at the Guerlain event without her boyfriend Elliot Grainge.

The model went public with her romance with the music executive  who is the son of Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge  in April this year, and sources told E! News earlier this month that their relationship is going so well theyre thinking about taking things a step further.

'They have talked about getting engaged and it's something that Sofia wants and is looking forward to,' a source told the publication. 'They are a great match and it's going really well. Sofia and Elliot currently live together, and the adjustment has been so easy and seamless.'

The couple reportedly bonded over their shared passions for food and traveling, and the source said Sofia 'loves to cook for Elliot and plan fun things for them to do.'

'They have truly formed a solid bond recently and Sofia loves that they don't have any drama,' they added. 'She loves how chill and calm Elliot is and they have a lot of fun together, even when they're just being low-key at home.'

Getting serious: Earlier in November, a source told E! News that Sofia and boyfriend Elliot Grainge 'have talked about getting engaged' after dating since April

The model and the 27-year-old hunk were first linked earlier this year when they were spotted on a date at the swanky Japanese restaurant Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills.

The pair went public with their romance in April by posting a series of PDA-packed photos to Sofias Instagram, including a shot of herself kissing her new man.

Shortly after their relationship was made public, it was also reported that Sofias dad Lionel Richie approved of his daughters beau.

A source said at the time: 'Sofia and Elliot have known each other for years but just recently became romantic. They weren't close growing up but Lionel has been friends with Elliot's father and has worked with him for years.

'Lionel completely adores [Elliot]. He thinks they are a perfect match and it was very natural progression for Sofia and Elliot to get together,' the insider continued. 'They are all family friends and Sofia and Elliot [started] hanging out more recently this year. She thinks he's hilarious and loves that he is a chill guy.'

So in love: The couple, who have known each other for years before dating, have formed a 'solid bond' since moving in together

Prior to finding love with Elliot, Sofia was in a three-year relationship with Keeping Up With The Kardashians fixture Scott Disick.

She and Kourtney Kardashian's ex first struck up their relationship in May of 2017 and confirmed the relationship later in the year.

The onoff couple ended things for good in August 2020.

During their relationship, their 15-year age gap was criticized by fans, but Scott has continued his trend of dating significantly younger women since then.
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Maya Hawke was the spitting image of her Hollywood star mother Uma Thurman as she attended the 2021 Guggenheim International Gala held at the famed museum in New York City on Wednesday.

The Stranger Things star, 23, emulated her 51-year-old mother's beauty as she wowed in a billowing black tulle gown with blush toned, floral lining for the annual event.

Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill star Uma shares Maya with actor ex Ethan Hawke, 51. The former couple, who split in 2003, also share son Levon Thurman Hawke, 19.

Lookalikes: Maya Hawke was the spitting image of her Hollywood star mother Uma Thurman as she attended the 2021 Guggenheim International Gala held at the famed museum in New York City on Wednesday

Maya's floor-length gown also featured a black velvet bodice and a cut-out across the midsection that was mostly obscured by gathered tulle.

She accessorized with a pair of gold, rhinestone drop earrings and an array of statement rings.

The beauty styled her jaw-length brunette hair in soft waves with her fringe left straight.

Lovely: The Stranger Things star, 23, emulated her 51-year-old mother's beauty as she wowed in a billowing black tulle gown with blush toned, floral lining for the annual event

That's my girl: Hollywood icon Uma passed on her incredible fashion sense to Maya, as well as her striking good looks (pictured together in 2019)

The way they were: Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill star Uma shares Maya with actor ex Ethan Hawke, 51. The former couple, who split in 2003, also share son Levon Thurman Hawke, 19 (Ethan and Uma pictured together in 2001)

Giving her glam ensemble a bit of edge, Maya rocked a hot pink eyeshadow look paired with clear lip gloss.

Wanting shutterbugs on the gala's step-and-repeat to capture the full effect of her gorgeous gown, Hawke twirled the skirt with her hands.

She appeared to be enjoying herself, often giggling or flashing a smile as she posed.

Lorde turned heads in an orange, strapless gown with a belted waist and accordion skirt.

The 25-year-old musician had her brunette hair parted down the middle and wrapped around her neck like a scarf.

Arrival: Maya oozed elegance as she posed up a storm in her billowing gown at the gala

Elegance: The flashed a dazzling smile as she graced the blue carpet for the annual event

Full effect: Wanting shutterbugs on the gala's step-and-repeat to capture the full effect of her dress, Hawke twirled the skirt with her hands

Endless elements: The floor-length number also featured a black velvet bodice and a cut-out across the midsection that was mostly obscured by gathered tulle

Golden girl: She accessorized with a pair of gold, rhinestone drop earrings and an array of statement rings

Added edge: Giving her glam ensemble a bit of edge, Maya rocked hot pink eyeshadow look and clear lip gloss

A pair of jeweled dangly earrings hung from her ears and she donned three dainty gold bands on her fingers.

Tying her dress into her makeup, the Green Light hitmaker sported a shimmery orange eyeshadow look.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell left little to the imagination in a mesh sleeveless gown with prominent black lines throughout.

Radiant: Lorde turned heads in an orange, strapless gown with a belted waist and accordion skirt

Eccentric touch: The 25-year-old musician had her brunette hair parted down the middle and wrapped around her neck like a scarf

Minimal: A pair of jeweled dangly earrings hung from her ears and she donned three dainty gold bands

Cohesive: Tying her dress into her makeup, the Green Light hitmaker sported a shimmery orange eyeshadow look

The actress protected her modesty with a nude bandeau top and a matching skirt.

Jurnee's raven tresses were slicked back to expose her silver hoop earrings.

Kat Graham also incorporated mesh into her gala look by pairing her dazzling sequin skirt with a white semi-sheer blouse.

Daring: Jurnee Smollett-Bell left little to the imagination in a mesh sleeveless gown with prominent black lines throughout

Concealed: The actress protected her modesty with a nude bandeau top and a matching skirt

Sleek: Jurnee's raven tresses were slicked back to expose her silver hoop earrings

The 32-year-old Vampire Diaries star's chic blouse featured a dramatic collar with a limp, black bow pinned to the front of it.

Her skirt flowed down to the floor and had stars, suns, and moons etched out of the silver sequins.

Sai De Silva and Karen Wazen Bakhazi each took the plunge in rivaling black floor-length gowns.

Vashtie Kola - similar to Maya Hawke - attended the star-studded gala in a black polkadot tulle dress layered beneath a black blazer.

Perfect pairing: Kat Graham also incorporated mesh into her gala look by pairing her dazzling sequin skirt with a white semi-sheer blouse

Dramatic: The 32-year-old Vampire Diaries star's chic blouse featured a dramatic collar with a limp, black bow pinned to the front of it

Dazzling: Kat's statement making skirt flowed down to the floor and had stars, suns, and moon etched out of the silver sequins

Gigi Paris and Camila Coelho both modeled stunning chiffon accordion gowns, but Paris opted for a strapless variation while Coelho chose a feminine cowl neck.

The annual Guggenheim International Gala is aimed at raising 'essential' funds for the historic Guggenheim Museum, as well as to celebrate its yearly accomplishments.

The funds go towards the curation of the museum's 'internationally acclaimed exhibitions, educational programs, and forward-thinking initiatives.'

Taking the plunge: Sai De Silva and Karen Wazen Bakhazi each took the plunge in rivaling black floor-length gowns

Layered look: Vashtie Kola - similar to Maya Hawke - attended the star-studded gala in a black polkadot tulle dress layered beneath a black blazer

Ethereal: Gigi Paris and Camila Coelho both modeled stunning chiffon accordion gowns, but Paris opted for a strapless variation while Coelho chose a feminine cowl neck

The gala also serves to recognize 'individuals who are committed to creativity, inspire our past, and invigorate our future.'

This year's event, sponsored by Dior, honored contemporary artists Etel Adnan, Jennie C. Jones, Cecilia Vicuna, and Gillian Wearing. Their works will be displayed in solo exhibits at the museum in 2021 and 2022..

'We will also honor Phyllis and Bill Mack, generous philanthropists and invaluable leaders of the Guggenheim Foundation for over 18 years,' the museum's itinerary reads.

Fundraising: The annual Guggenheim International Gala is aimed at raising 'essential' funds for the historic Guggenheim Museum , as well as to celebrate its yearly accomplishments; ) Gigi Paris, Jurnee Smollett and Glen Powell pictured

Honorees: This year's event, sponsored by Dior, honored contemporary artists Etel Adnan, Jennie C. Jones, Cecilia Vicuna, and Gillian Wearing. Their works will be displayed in solo exhibits at the museum in 2021 and 2022; Jurnee Smollett seen arriving to the gala
Rachel Griffiths has been fortunate enough to continue working during the pandemic.

And she is hoping one of her projects, the ABC series Aftertaste, will get the green light for a second season.

The actress, 52, told TV Tonight: 'I'm hoping to do another series of Aftertaste, albeit in the small role I'm in.

Fun times: Rachel Griffiths hopes her comedy series Aftertaste will get the green light for a second season. Pictured is Rachel with co-star Natalie Abbott

'That was a lot of fun at the end of that first lockdown, to just be silly in a gorgeous family comedy,' she said.

The Golden Globe winner stars alongside Packed To The Rafters Erik Thomson and Natalie Abbott.

Erik plays internationally renowned chef Easton West who falls from grace and is forced to return to his hometown of Adelaide Hills.

Co-stars: The Golden Globe winner stars alongside Packed To The Rafters Erik Thomson and Natalie Abbott

Strong character: Rachel plays Margot, a local vineyard owner who is not afraid to call out Easton on his antics

Rachel plays Margot, a local vineyard owner who is not afraid to call out Easton on his antics.

She also said she hopes her other ABC series Total Control, with co-star Deborah Mailman, will also get another season with the second season currently airing.

Elsewhere, the Muriel's Wedding star said she was grateful to be working during the pandemic.

Drama role: She also said she hopes her other ABC series Total Control, with co-star Deborah Mailman (left), will also get another season

'There was camera crew employed, makeup artists being paid - everybody was so happy to be working,' she added of her colleagues.

In addition to her acting roles, Rachel is also developing an art series called Finding the Archibald.

The program, which is in the works, will see her travel around the country and explore Australian landscapes.
Alice Evans launched another scathing attack on her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd on Thursday, claiming he branded her an 'alcoholic, completely unhinged and a terrible mother'.

The actress, 53, shared a bizarre picture of Ioan's new girlfriend Bianca Wallace in the latest post, criticising how they got together and slamming them both.

Ioan recently went public with his new girlfriend Bianca, after Alice claimed the pair had been embroiled in a three-year affair - which has been denied by a friend of the couple.

Fury: Alice Evans launched another scathing attack on her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd on Thursday, claiming he branded her an 'alcoholic, completely unhinged and a terrible mother' (pictured together in 2016)

She wrote on Thursday: 'This is my husbands new girlfriend.

'Look, I wouldn't have minded if he'd come to me and said 'listen, I think I've fallen in love with somebody else'.

'But he didn't. For 2 years he told people on the set of the show he was doing that I was an alcoholic, completely unhinged and a terrible mother. This is so incorrect and so unkind.

Strange: The actress, 53, shared a bizarre picture of Ioan's new girlfriend Bianca Wallace in the latest post, criticising how they got together and slamming them both

'Please / I know I am driving you nuts with these constant updates but I am being made out to be the very thing I am not. I am the best mother and that is all I care about.'

Representatives for Alice and Ioan have been contacted by MailOnline for a comment.

It comes just a day after Alice claimed that Bianca 'ruined her life' in another post.

Hitting back at trolls claiming they're defending the actress, the star took to Instagram to share a playful snap, along with a caption claiming Bianca was 'a b***h who manifested Ioan away from their daughters.'

Family: The former couple share two daughters - Ella, 12 and Elsie, eight

New love: Ioan recently went public with his new girlfriend Bianca, after Alice claimed the pair had been embroiled in a three-year affair - which has been denied by a friend of the couple

Scathing: She wrote on Thursday: 'This is my husbands new girlfriend. Look, I wouldn't have minded if he'd come to me and said 'listen, I think I've fallen in love with somebody else''

Posting a selfie of her filtered complexion, Alice furiously branded Bianca the 'stealer of her husband,' before claiming she 'made her child cry.'

The actress furiously hit back at trolls who attempted to defend Bianca's behaviour, claiming she 'manifested' Ioan against their two daughters.

Her caption read: 'Hey Bianca Mae Wallace, stealer of my husband, ruined of the life I'd worked so hard to achieve and also person who makes my kid cry -aperson I will never forget ever.

Raging: It comes just a day after Alice claimed that Bianca 'ruined her life' in another post

'Anyway somebody alerted me tonight that whenever I posted a relatively cute pic of myself on ivstagram, within about 19 minutes emergered a sock account pretending to be on ''Bianca's side.''

'Although how one could be on the side side if a total b***h who manifested a father away from two lyrics girls who ducking ADORED him then I do not know, except to say that this person is completely devoid of human empathy.

'Good luck, Ioan. And oh, let's see what this pic brings out. I was tempted to out a picture of Bianca next to one of mine ( after all the 'youre 50! Give up! You're so fat!).

Furious: Hitting back at trolls claiming they're defending the actress, the star claimed Bianca was 'a b***h manifested Ioan away from their daughters

'But I didn't. Because that's not my way. How do you like THIS one, BB?'

Earlier that evening, Alice had taken to social media to thank her followers for their support, writing: 'Night folks. Another tough day. But slowly getting there.

'You are my Angels. Thank you for giving me the strength to do what I am doing.. which gets me through! Love you all.'

Since publicly sharing that she and Ioan had split in January, Alice has shared many blistering tweets taking aim at his new girlfriend Bianca.

Fury: Earlier this month Alice branded estranged husband Ioan's new girlfriend Bianca a 'creepy mistress' in a blistering series of tweets

Sharing a snap of Bianca posted on September 12, Alice wrote: 'How to be a good Mistress, Part One: 1) Don't send out silly face-tuned Instagrams like this when you're semi-naked and horse-teethed telling people 'I'm just going to miss the dog' BULL. S**T. You're going to sleep with my husband.

Another fan highlighted Ioan and Bianca's relationship confirmation on Instagram, writing: 'All they had to do was not post a photo bragging about it. So simple. Common effing sense.'

Alice responded: 'It's the fatal flaw. It shows that she just couldn't wait. (patience is the only real virtue my husband had and he has it in spades) But By God she must be good. To convince him to post a life-wrecking simple post like that. Just for her.'

Alice also reposted a now-deleted tweet which showed Bianca had liked a family photo of Ioan and Alice with their children back in 2019.

New romance: Evans, 53, confirmed her separation from the Welsh star, 48, in a series of furious tweets posted on Twitter in January, and last month Ioan confirmed his new romance with Bianca, 29 (pictured)

She wrote: 'Creepy. Bianca Wallace spent many months liking pics of our little family before stepping in and seducing the father.'

On Monday, Alice spoke of her heartbreak at the end of her 20 year relationship with Ioan, writing: 'The only question remaining in my mind is 'why?' Why spend 2, maybe 3 years pretending?

'Was there not a moment where you felt it was on you to take a stance and stick to it? Were you together when we went to Moscow? (PLEASE SAY NO

'What about our trip to France? (oh god).'

'The trouble is; if you trust somebody THAT much (When everyone else has passed or lives far away) If that person convinces you, by their every day behavior, by the ticket, the notes of his love, the grandiose exclamations of love that you WILL be together for eternity - If that

Post: Sharing a snap of Bianca posted on September 12, Alice wrote: 'How to be a good Mistress, Part One'

Oh no: Alice also reposted a now-deleted tweet which showed Bianca had liked a family photo of Ioan and Alice with their children back in 2019

'Can't sleep. I used to think I would die for him. What was wrong with me? I just had total confidence that in this world, He was the one person I could absolutely count on My rock. My honey. My best friend.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ioan Gruffudd and Bianca Wallace for comment.

This comes after Alice said she considered harming herself after husband Ioan abruptly ended their 14-year marriage, and admits she has a 'very long and messy divorce' ahead of her.

The actress is now adjusting to life without Gruffudd after he publicly confirmed a new relationship with co-star Bianca Wallace on Instagram, a move she described as 'every woman's nightmare.'

On her side: One fan commented on Ioan's decision to publicly announce his new romance

Heartbreak: Alice called Ioan her 'rock, honey and best friend' in a tweet onMonday

Questions: Alice has claimed that Ioan and Alice had a three year affair

Thinly veiled dig: Alice changed her Twitter bio in the wake of her latest string of tweets

Appearing remotely on Thursday's edition of Lorraine, Evans admitted she feared the worst when he returned to the family home in Los Angeles after filming his new show Harrow in Australia.

She said: 'He came back, hugged the kids, he very dryly gave me a kiss on the cheek and that was when I knew something was wrong.

'We'd been together 20 years. I was one of those very complacent - what's the Bridget Jones phrase? Smug married. And I think these are things like, just with other things, one can go through like loss of a parent or infertility, you don't know what it's like until it happens to you.

'I thought it was never going to happen to me. He told me within the first few days - I just don't love you anymore.

'And look, I'm not questioning his right to feel that - I'm not bashing him - but it was so out of the blue and then for about four months we just continued here and he just kept saying, 'I'm sorry, I don't feel the same way for you anymore. I might leave, I might not leave.'

Devastated: This comes after Alice said she considered harming herself after husband Ioan abruptly ended their 14-year marriage, and admits she has a 'very long and messy divorce' ahead of her

She added: 'And I eventually got to the point where I'd been on my own for the whole pandemic with my two kids. I've looked after them for ten years when he's mostly filmed for those ten years, outside of Los Angeles. So I was here and he was here but he wouldn't talk to me, wouldn't look at me, and went to sleep in the spare room.

'Eventually, I thought I might do myself harm.

'I spoke to my friends and they kept saying, 'This is not like him, this just doesn't sound right'. I think I bored [them] and my friends just didn't know what to say to me, and at one point I just thought, 'I am going to lose my mind'.

'And I just tweeted, 'He's leaving us' And then all hell broke loose'

Emotional: Evans broke down as she shared her mental anguish during a remote appearance on Thursday's edition of Lorraine

Evans has divided followers since going public with the split, but she insists she has no regrets in her willingness to share personal details regarding the nature of her relationship with Gruffudd, including their sex life, as she comes to terms with the collapse of their marriage.

She said: 'His reaction wasn't good. Initially, I think no one had ever really done this before and I would say the reaction was about 50:50.

'You know, there were a lot of people who were angry with me and almost didn't believe me, which is kind of weird when you think about it because it's a pretty strange thing to make up if I'm suddenly going to be 20 years with someone and then make up some idea that he's left me, he's leaving us, when he hadn't.

'A lot of people were shocked and there was so much talk of a dignified silence. And I'm going to do this [makes quotation marks with her fingers], because I don't know how you can describe a dignified silence when I'm talking about my entire life falling to pieces around me.'

She added: 'I think people use that phrase a lot but as time went on, because I did stop tweeting - because I was told legally not to - and then I went back to it.

'It's sort of, kind of a messy story, but I think as people understood what had happened, I would say support is now about 80 or 90 [per cent] in favour of me. Not in favour of me against him, but in favour of me speaking out and understanding why I'm doing it.'

Happier times: Evans and Gruffudd embrace on their wedding day in Mexico on September 14 2007

Opening up: Evans admitted she feared the worst when he returned to the family home in Los Angeles after filming his new show Harrow in Australia

Gruffudd announced his new relationship with Wallace in October, and Evans says she has had no contact from her estranged husband since then.

She said: 'He'll only talk to me through lawyers. If he's talking to the children on face time, he'll move away and call the lawyers. I don't know why.'

She is also adamant that her husband's relationship with Wallace, his Harrow co-star, began long before the very public collapse of their marriage.

Moving on: Gruffudd announced his new relationship with Bianca in October, and Evans says she has had no contact from her estranged husband since then

New romance: Wallace, pictured here in an undated Instagram post, worked with Gruffudd on location in Australia

Starring role: Gruffudd in a still from Harrow. Evans claims it was during a break from the show that he ended their marriage

'It's very bizarre because as a lot of people know, he insisted, I think I'm OK to say this, he insisted until two weeks ago that there was nobody else,' she added.

'My phone pinged and said he has unblocked you on Instagram. I thought maybe he wants to talk. It was announced by him and his mistress that they were a couple on Instagram two weeks ago. I looked at the picture and it said something like finally someone who can make me happy.

'People from his set in Australia were saying so glad you guys are finally out and you're happy. I was slayed. This is my husband.

'I think I was owed more than an Instagram after 20 years of marriage and two children. I feel like a bit of an idiot as well. I'm pretty sure this has been going on for quite a while. It's not somebody he's just met now.'

Horrified: 'People from his set in Australia were saying so glad you guys are finally out and you're happy. I was slayed. This is my husband,' said Evans

Speaking out: Alice has been vocal about the divorce on social media and hit back at those criticising her for speaking out so publicly about the split

Evans currently remains at the family home in Los Angeles with their two daughters, Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, but admits she might be forced to move as a consequence of her ongoing divorce from their father.

She said: 'I don't know because we have a very messy and long divorce ahead of us. Divorce lawyers in America are terrifying people.

'I don't know if I'm going to be able to stay here in the house. Initially o teas going to be an amicable divorce but it's gotten quite nasty now and I don't know why.'

Thanking Lorraine for allowing her the opportunity to talk about the split, she said: '[It's been] very tough, but I just wanted to say thank you for having me on and letting me speak a little bit about what's being going on which is pretty much every woman's nightmare.'

Proud mother: Evans currently remains at the family home in Los Angeles with their two daughters, Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, but admits she might be forced to move as a consequence of her ongoing divorce

Evans previously claimed she was was 'heartbroken' and felt 'dead' after Ioan went Instagram official with Bianca, prompting her to accuse him of having a three-year romance.

Last month a friend and co-worker of Ioan denied his estranged wife's claims that he had a three-year affair with his now-girlfriend Bianca.

In a series of tweets, wardrobe assistant Amy Douglas, who worked with Ioan and Bianca on the Australian series Harrow, accused Alice, 50, herself of being 'abusive,' and insisted they didn't begin speaking until filming for series three began in 2020.

Amy, who said Ioan and Bianca gave her permission to speak out, defended her pals after Alice accused her estranged husband of cheating on her for three years with the Australian actress, who is 21 years her junior, telling fans she was 'lost, sad and confused.'

In her first tweet, Amy responded to a fans' claim that Ioan and Bianca's romance began while they were filming Harrow, clarifying that the actress was simply an extra and the pair didn't begin speaking until season three, which was recorded in 2020.

She wrote: '[Bianca was] an extra and didn't have contact with him in season two, I know because I was there as crew. Season three yes, but they only started talking towards the end.'

She added: 'I am also her friend and I KNOW they didn't, as I said they didn't even speak to each other until the end of season three. Don't buy into the lies you are being fed.'

All over: Gruffudd filed for divorce in March, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split

Amy continued: 'Being her friend I KNOW it didn't happen. I know her as a person and her principals. You do not. So don't believe everything you're fed by manipulating people who try to make themselves the victim and ruin other people's reputations.'

The fashion designer then claimed that Alice threatened to divorce Ioan during the final week of filming for Harrow in 2020, and said she was aware how 'upset' he became.

Responding to another user she said: 'Your point? I saw what Alice was doing to Ioan in the last week of filming, threatening a divorce if he didn't go home. I saw how upset he was on set. And Bianca was barely even on set for season three. I know, you do not.

'She is not a home-wrecker! Who do you actually personally know here in this situation. Obviously no one. And I'm very perceptive, it didn't show on set, he is a very professional person. I saw how upset he was on the phone being abused by her.'

Bombshell: Bianca grew up in Queensland before moving to Brisbane to pursue an acting career

Amy added that both Ioan and Bianca had given their permission for her to speak out, and clarified that their early relationship on the Harrow set was strictly professional.

Gruffudd filed for divorce in March, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their split.

The document, which was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 1, revealed the former couple separated on New Year's Day - a month before they went public with their relationship status.

At the time, they had shared a joint statement that read: 'As you can imagine, this is an incredibly difficult time for our family and we remain committed to our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy.'

It was also reported the divorce papers state the exes are in a 'collaborative process and intend to resolve all issues including spousal support by written agreement'.

Family: The family are pictured in happier times

Evans, meanwhile, had addressed the pair's split in a shock statement shared to Twitter in January in which she claimed Gruffudd had 'mentally tortured' her.

The mother-of-two also accused her estranged husband of 'winding the s**t up me' as she posted a vitriolic video about their 'collaborative divorce' talks.

Evans and Gruffudd met on the set of 102 Dalmatians in 2000, when Alice was in a relationship with Pablo Picasso's grandson Olivier.

The former couple became engaged six years later after she gave him an ultimatum about their relationship, and they tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Mexico in September 2007.

Gruffudd hasn't publicly addressed the couple's divorce.
Sting is reportedly in advanced talks to sell his extensive song catalogue for a hefty sum of 210million ($250million).

According to Variety, the deal is said to have been 'dragging on for several months', with Universal Music Publishing currently in the lead.

The publication states that though Universal is leading the charge, Sting's back catalogue may well remain at Sony Music Publishing, where it currently is.

Selling up? Sting is reportedly in advanced talks to sell his extensive song catalogue for a hefty sum of 210million ($250million) (pictured in 2019)

While a source is said to have told Variety that 'a portion of the recorded-music rights to Stings solo material is included in the deal', though they were unable to clarify at the time.

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Sting, Universal Music Publishing and Sony Music for comment.

The musician, 70 - real name Gordon Sumner - has had an illustrious career spanning 50 years and boasts an impressive catalogue with hits including Roxanne, Every Breath You Take and Shape Of My Heart.

Sting is one of the most successful artists in the world, with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, while he's bagged 17 Grammy Awards as well as an Ivor Novello award.

In the pipeline: According to Variety , the deal is said to have been 'dragging on for several months', with Universal Music Publishing currently in the lead (Sting pictured in October)

In 2003, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while he's released five studio albums with the Police and his 14th solo studio album, The Bridge, is set to come out on Friday.

The alleged deal with Sting comes seven months after Paul Simon sold his entire music collection in a deal with Sony Music Publishing.

The 80-year-old rocker's deal covers over six decades worth of music from Simon & Garfunkel hits such as Bridge Over Troubled Water to solo tracks such as 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover.

The value of the deal is undisclosed, by Simon has said that he was 'pleased' to have Sony as 'custodian of my songs for the coming decades'.

He added: 'I began my career at Columbia/Sony Records and it feels like a natural extension to be working with the Publishing side as well.'

The star's back catalogue includes a plethora of solo hits and songs from his partnership with Art Garfunkel including The Sound Of Silence, The Boxer, Mrs Robinson, You Can Call Me Al and Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard.

Paul joined a long list of music artists who've handed over their publishing rights to record companies.

Neil Young sold 50% of his catalogue Hipgnosis Songs Fund for approximately $150m (109m) in January this year.

While Bob Dylan earned almost $400m (290m) after selling his songs to Universal Music.

In demand: The publication states that though Universal is leading the charge, Sting's back catalogue may well remain at Sony Music Publishing, where it currently is

Meanwhile Stevie Nicks, Debbie Harry and Shakira are among other big names to trade their future royalties for huge sums of money.

Elsewhere, Sting recently paid tribute to a former pupil he used to teach passed away.

Sting who used to be a teacher before he found fame with the pop group The Police told of his sadness of the death of Kevin Anderson.

The rocker taught him when he was a teacher in Cramlington Northumberland and earlier this year took to social media to talk of his sadness of his passing.

He said of his death: 'He was a lovely lad, full of joy and hope and not a bit of mischief. I loved all of those kids, but Kevin particularly had a heart of solid gold and a special place in mine.'

Sting finished his tribute saying: 'I'm completely gutted, I still think of Kev as a cheeky wee bairn, I can't believe he's gone. God bless ye son, may ye rest in peace. 'Mr Sumner.'
Jade Shelford proved geography isn't her strong suit on Thursday's episode of Love Island Australia.

The 21-year-old was talking with fellow islander Hugh Yates when she revealed her dream to 'live in every city in Australia'.

But she seemed to have some difficulty placing where each city was, getting especially confused about Hobart, Darwin and Perth.

Getting lost: Jade Shelford (pictured) proved geography isn't her strong suit on Thursday's episode of Love Island Australia

'Are you in Sydney? I love Sydney. That's so lucky,' the Sunshine Coast-based pharmacy assistant told Hugh, 24.

She continued: 'I want to live in every city in Australia for, like, a little while.'

But when Hugh asked her if she would ever move to Hobart, Jade seemed stumped, before laughing awkwardly.

Dream on: The 21-year-old was talking with fellow islander Hugh Yates (right) when she revealed her dream to 'live in every city in Australia'

'Where's that? Tasmania?' she asked.

'Are you not too good at your geography?' asked a bemused Hugh before clarifying it was indeed in Tasmania.

After admitting that she's terrible with geography, Hugh continued to probe her, asking Jade if she'd move to Darwin.

'Where's Northern Territory again? Apparently Perth's really nice as well. I think there's crocodiles,' she said

'Is that WA?' she asked, prompting a disbelieving Hugh to tell her it's actually in the Northern Territory.

'Where's Northern Territory again? Apparently Perth's really nice as well. I think there's crocodiles,' she continued.

Later reflecting on their conversation, Hugh said: 'Can't win them all. She didn't win that battle. But, uh, yeah. Obviously geography's not her forte.'

Love Island Australia continues Monday at 9.30pm on Channel Nine
She is no stranger to posing up a storm.

And Heidi Klum showcased why she is a hit in the world of modelling on Thursday, wowing her 8.8 million Instagram followers with two sultry snaps where she wore nothing but high-waist bottoms that cupped her derriere.

The German model-come-presenter, 48, struck a candid pose from the back, whilst tilting her head slightly to pout at the camera.

Peachy: Heidi Klum left little to the imagination as she posed for topless snaps on her Greek getaway on Thursday - with husband Tom Kaulitz behind the camera

In a second photo, the mother-of-four clung onto a curtain as she continued to work her best angles, the luxe Greek scenery slightly on view.

Heidi captioned the post: 'Kalimera  [camera emoji] @tomkaulitz'.

Her husband of two years Tom Kaulitz was the designated photographer and Heidi showed her utmost appreciation for him via her Instagram story.

Pose: In a second photo, the mother-of-four clung onto a curtain as she continued to work her best angles, the luxe Greek scenery slightly on view

She took a short video of him sat in their hotel room, accompanied by a heart sticker.

The couple were first romantically linked in the early months of 2018.

They would eventually go on to tie-the-knot in a private ceremony in February 2019.

Love: Her husband of two years Tom Kaulitz was the designated photographer and Heidi showed her utmost appreciation for him via her Instagram story.

Heidi has been heating things up while on break from shooting Germany's Next Top Model in Greece.

And in another recent Instagram post, the longtime supermodel stripped down and went topless for a photo with Mother Nature's gorgeous sunrise used as the backdrop.

Proving how much she was lapping up the gorgeous getaway, Heidi wrote: 'Sunrise Mykonos its soooo pretty '.
Lauren Phillips is juggling demanding jobs on radio with KIIS FM and on TV with Weekend Today.

She took a moment out of her busy work schedule to attend an appointment in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Weekend Today weather presenter, 34, dressed in a green cable knit jumper and jeans.

Busy day: Lauren Phillips beamed while out and about in Melbourne on Tuesday, following reports she will 'exit breakfast TV this year' to concentrate on her KIIS FM radio job

She also teamed her looks with $660 Golden Goose sneakers, and carried with her a laptop, her phone and a face mask.

This follows a report that Lauren would be stepping away from her television commitments to focus on her radio career.

The Weekend today weather presenter 'is strongly tipped to exit breakfast TV' by the end of the year, the Herald Sun reported on Monday.

She has been juggling her Weekend Today commitments with her KIIS 101.1 breakfast radio job since August.

Casual: The Weekend Today weather presenter, 34, dressed in a green cable knit jumper and jeans

Trendy: She teamed her look with $660 Golden Goose sneakers, and carried with her a laptop, her phone and a face mask

Earlier this month Phillips was forced to apologise on air to the mother of a murdered child.

Aspiring dancer Rachel Barber was just 15 when Caroline Reed Robertson strangled her to death with a telephone cord in a plot to steal her identity in 1999.

Phillips disgusted the family and friends of the murdered dancer when she laughed on KIIS 101.1 while listening to a podcast describing her brutal murder.

She told listeners earlier this month she had been unaware the audio producers played during her conversation had been taken from the the very real life CASEFILE series of true crime podcasts.

Getting her weekends back: This follows a report that Lauren would be stepping away from her television commitments to focus on her radio career. Pictured here on Weekend Today with Chris Hemsworth in 2020 Pictured here on Weekend Today with Chris Hemsworth in 2020

Stepping away: She has been juggling her Weekend Today commitments with her KIIS 101.1 breakfast radio job since August

The chat saw Phillips describe how she had used the podcast discussing Rachel's tragic murder to cheer herself up.

'Am I a psychopath?' Phillips asked during the conversation with co-host Jason 'Jase' Hawkins, outraging Elizabeth Barber, her friends and family.

Choking back tears, Phillips said she had never intended to use audio of a real life crime to go with her on-air chat.

'All of us here on the show were devastated when we realised what we had done. The show takes full responsibility and our background checks on the source of audio should have been more thorough,' Phillips said.

Controversy: The move comes after Phillips (pictured in 2020) upset the friends and family of murder victim Rachel Barber with an insensitive segment on Melbourne radio. She described how she had used a podcast discussing Rachel's tragic murder to cheer herself up

Murder: Rachel Barber, a 15-year-old dance student, was murdered by strangulation in Melbourne in 1999 (pictured)

Hawkins too apologised for his limited role in the conversation and thanked Rachel's mother for taking their calls to apologise in person.

'She didn't have to do that and we both had chats with her and yeah we appreciate her taking the call,' he said.

Phillips added that the incident had impacted deeply on the entire production crew.

'We really, from the bottom of our hearts, are very sorry that that audio was used, but we are deeply sorry and we will do everything in our power to ensure nothing like that ever happens again on our show,' she said.
She has decades-worth of glamorous appearances under her belt.

And style icon Angelina Jolie added to this ever-expanding list on Wednesday evening as she attended a Guerlain event at Vespertine Restaurant, Los Angeles.

The Academy Award winning actress, 46, exuded sophistication in head-to-toe black, layering up with an elegant coat that left room to show a glimpse of her lace dress.

Spectacular: Angelina Jolie exuded sophistication in head-to-toe black as she attended a Guerlain event at Vespertine Restaurant, Los Angeles on Wednesday night

The mother-of-six ensured that her fashion credentials were complimented by classy accessories.

She emphasised her frame in towering heels while toting a black clutch to align with her outfit.

Angelina's makeup was effortlessly applied and she finalised her look with a dainty silver necklace.

Glowing: The Academy Award winning actress, 46, layered up with an elegant coat that left room to show a glimpse of her lace dress

This week, the ex-wife of Brad Pitt took to her Instagram account to educate her over 11million followers on how the crumbling environment is making it harder for people to live.

Angelina has been involved in helping refugees for decades as she works as a Special Envoy for the United Nations.

The Eternals actress is shedding a light on environmental issues as she says fires, floods and lack of water impact those who have been displaced.

On Wednesday, she touched on deforestation as she shared several images of trees burned down.

Informing: This week the ex-wife of Brad Pitt took to her Instagram account to educate her over 11million followers on how the crumbling environment is making it harder for people to live

'We've launched a biodiversity survey with Flora & Fauna International to map the plants and animals still in the forest of Cambodias Samlout district,' said the Hollywood icon.

The Oscar-winning actress also said it is 'a baseline for their protection and conservation in the future, since we do not yet know how much endangered wildlife remains.'

Angelina added: 'It's just one example of the devastating impact of deforestation globally - and why world leaders must be held to their promises.'

She also said in one of her images that she has been protecting trees in Cambodia for almost 20 years.

Cambodia is close to her heart because it is where she adopted her eldest son Maddox.
She's been spending time in Italy while working on her latest project.

And Dakota Fanning soaked up the European culture on Thursday as she enjoyed an alfresco lunch in the cosy Trastevere neighbourhood in Rome.

The actress, 27, cut an elegant figure in an olive green shirt as she enjoyed her solo meal with her headphones in.

Yum: Dakota Fanning soaked up the European culture on Thursday as she enjoyed an alfresco lunch in the cosy Trastevere neighbourhood in Rome

Dakota looked effortlessly chic as she styled her green blouse with a pair of black flared trousers and some comfy white trainers.

She swept her blonde tresses up into a slicked back low bun and showcased her natural beauty as she kept makeup minimum for the outing.

The actress accessorised with a stylish chocolate brown handbag and put covid safety first in a protective face mask.

Dakota has been spotted in various Italian locations, including along the Amalfi Coast, this year as she films Showtime's Ripley.

Sight-seeing: Dakota lookeed effortlessly chic as she styled her green blouse with a pair of black flared trousers and some comfy white trainers

The drama series based on Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley novels.

Set in the 60s, Ripley will follow young grifter Tom Ripley played by Andrew Scott who is hired by a wealthy businessman to bring his gallivanting son home from Europe.

Toms acceptance of the job marks his descent into a whirlwind life of deceit, lies and eventually violence.

Oscar winner Steven Zaillian not only serves as writer on the production, but will also direct the entire first season in addition to serving as an executive producer.

The series which started filming in September 2020 has yet to announce a UK release date.

Amy Israel, executive vice president of scripted programming at Showtime told Variety earlier this year: 'Dakota Fanning is the perfect choice to play the deliciously complicated Marge opposite Andrew.'

Film incarnation: Matt Damon played Tom Ripley on the big screen in a 1999 movie directed by the late Anthony Minghella

'She's an actor that brings smarts and vulnerability to every part, with so much bubbling beneath the surface. We can't wait to see her sink her teeth into this role in Steve Zallian's Ripley.

Fleabag star Andrew will star as Ripley, while Fanning, will play Marge Sherwood, an American living in Italy who starts to suspect Ripley's motives when he shows up looking for her boyfriend Dickie Greenleaf, played by Johnny Flynn.

In the 1999 movie The Talented Mr. Ripley, directed by the late Anthony Minghella, starred Matt Damon as Tom Ripley with Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge and Jude Law as Dickie.
Victoria Ekanoye appeared on Thursday's Loose Women to discuss her decision to have a double mastectomy after a devastating breast cancer diagnosis.

The Coronation Street star, 39, shared with fans the heartbreaking diagnosis news last week, as she revealed she discovered a lump in her breast while feeding son Theo, 11 months.

The actress, who played Jude's wife Angie Appleton on the cobbles from 2017 until 2019, is now preparing for the operation to tackle the DCIS, (Ductal carcinoma in situ) - just months after welcoming her first child.

Tough: Victoria Ekanoye appeared on Thursday's Loose Women as she discussed her decision to have a double mastectomy after a devastating breast cancer diagnosis

Victoria also said she had to visit three separate doctors in order to achieve a diagnosis after having a 'gut feeling' that something wasn't right.

On her decision to have a double mastectomy she told the panelists: 'I'm having a double mastectomy. I just don't want to look over the shoulder for the rest of my life.

'I've got a baby boy and family and friends so if I can eliminate as much risk as possible then I will. It has a longer recovery time but will take the risk away so it's peace of mind for my mental health.'

Difficult: The Coronation Street star, 39, shared with fans the heartbreaking news last week, as she revealed she discovered a lump in her breast while feeding son Theo, 11 months (pictured during her pregnancy)

Brave: The actress, who played Jude's wife Angie Appleton on the cobbles from 2017 until 2019, is now preparing for the operation to tackle the DCIS (Ductal carcinoma in situ)

Victoria has also been diagnosed with sickle cell disease, which can cause complications when going under anesthetic.

She explained: 'With me having sickle cell, it's dangerous to go under the anesthetic anyway, so they don't want to have to do that twice, which is why the reconstruction will happen at the same time.'

Instead, she will have both her breasts removed at the same time and the reconstruction carried out there and then.

Speaking about the day of her diagnosis she explained: 'I'll be honest I cried a lot that day. I hadn't told anyone.

Mum: Victoria also said she had to visit three separate doctors in order to achieve a diagnosis after having a 'gut feeling' that something wasn't right (pictured with Theo on Loose Women)

'This lump would protrude, you could see it really clearly. It was just another mountain to climb, to face it head on and get it checked by professionals.

'I had to see three professionals to get a diagnosis I was satisfied with. I had a physical assessment and mammogram, it was overwhelming. Four and a half hours I was there.

'I got really upset during the biopsies. I knew I would have to tell people I love and care about because I hate worrying people.

'My mum and auntie had breast cancer but not the gene. I'm the 5th person in my family to develop it without the gene present. This is about taking ownership of your own body and in your gut, going for a second third opinion because you're an expert on your own body.'

Scary: Last week the star revealed the sad health news and spoke to OK! Magazine about discovering a lump in her breast while feeding Theo who she shares with husband Jonny Lomas, before doctors investigated

Speaking about the charity work she is involved in she added: 'Prevent Breast Cancer is a charity that I'm a patron of, I just want do what I can and a big part of this is me acting sooner rather than later.

'I want do what I can now and if people are talking about it then maybe it will make a difference even if just one person plus were raising funds so it feels like why not. I've been blessed with a platform to talk about it.'

Last week the star revealed the sad health news and spoke to OK! Magazine about discovering a lump in her breast while feeding Theo who she shares with husband Jonny Lomas, before doctors investigated.

She said: 'I was diagnosed on October 13 with DCIS, which is Ductal carcinoma in situ. It basically means that cells have turned cancerous within the milk ducts.'

Earlier this year she revealed she feared her 'miracle' baby boy would die during her traumatic three-day labour due to complications involving her sickle cell anaemia.

Victoria told the publication: 'Back in July I was feeding Theo and I noticed there was a small lump protruding at the top of my left breast.

'My mum had breast cancer at 41, and her sister at 39 - so many people in my family, in fact. So I don't really leave any time before I check these things...

'I was diagnosed on the thirteenth of October with DCIS, which is Ductal carcinoma in situ. It basically means that cells have turned cancerous within the milk ducts...

Soap star: Victoria is pictured as Angie Appleton in Coronation Street in 2018

'We're being really optimistic, and positive, and really lucky that we've caught it as early as we have. I don't know if lucky is the right word, but that's how I feel.'

Breastcancer.org defines DCIS as: 'Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is non-invasive breast cancer. Ductal means that the cancer starts inside the milk ducts, carcinoma refers to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues (including breast tissue) that cover or line the internal organs, and in situ means 'in its original place.'

'DCIS is called 'non-invasive' because it hasn't spread beyond the milk duct into any normal surrounding breast tissue. DCIS isn't life-threatening, but having DCIS can increase the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer later on.'

In March, Victoria revealed she feared her 'miracle' baby boy would die during her traumatic three-day labour.

The actress gave birth to her first child, a boy named Theodore Christopher on January 16, with complications due to her sickle cell anaemia.

Victoria told how she and Jonny worried that their baby 'wouldn't make it', adding how the thought of losing her son willed her to push through the painful labour which left her struggling to walk or speak.

Victoria was induced on January 13th at 39 weeks, however, it wasn't until three days later that she gave birth.

She then told how due to her sickle cell anaemia, she was advised to have pain relief during the labour, however, she suffered a severe reaction to the drugs, resulting in her throwing up and struggling to function.

She explained: 'With sickle cell it's not advised to have a birth without painkillers as it can trigger a sickle cell crisis [episodes of pain], so I was induced and put on pain medication. But I had a really bad reaction.
Blanca Blanco, Brad Goreski and Sierra Plowden were seen mingling on Wednesday evening.

The stars were at the exclusive San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles for the DSW party that highlighted styles from various brands and designers, including Jessica Simpson, Marc Fisher, Mix No.6 and Steve Madden.

Brad told DailyMail.com exclusively that he was 'thrilled' to work with DSW because they offer so much variety. 'You can find all price ranges and styles there, it's so big and full of great styles,' he shared.

Looking good: Actress Blanca Blanco was at the San Vicente Bungalows in Los Angeles for the DSW party that highlighted styles from various brands and designers, including Jessica Simpson, Marc Fisher, Mix No.6 and Steve Madden

A nice accessory: The Tale Of Tails star held up a fuzzy black purse that was the gift bag

The Fashion Police vet also said he admires the shoes Jennifer Lopez has designed for DSW.

'She has done a really nice job with her shoes, they are great,' he shared. 'I have always admired her style, she nails it every time. She has a wonderful team working with her and they really know what they are doing.

'Whether Jennifer is casual or dressed up, she always looks great, I really look forward to seeing what she has on.'

Haute stuff: Blanca looked stunning in a low-cut floral print dress with white and yellow daisies

Bling it on Blanca: The siren had on a gold necklace that matched her hoop earrings as she held a bright pink clutch purse

As far as naming his favorite celebrity client - he works with Kaley Cuoco, Demi Moore and Sarah Hyland - Brad says he loves them all.

The book will be out in early 2022

'They're all incredible, I am so lucky,' he shared.

When pushed about Demi, he shared they have a close bond and really have fun working together.

'She is such an icon and so beautiful, I am honored to dress her,' said Brad. 'Demi looks great in anything.'

Blanca looked stunning in a low-cut floral print dress with white and yellow daisies.

She added neon yellow shoes as she wore her hair back. The siren had on a gold necklace that matched her hoop earrings as she held a bright pink clutch purse

The actress is getting ready to release her memoir.

Blanco seems to lead a charmed life that includes starring in movies and hitting red carpet events with her dapper boyfriend John Savage.

But the beauty's early years were a 180 where she had to suffer physical abuse from her father and also live a life of poverty in Washington state that saw her reside in a garage for years.

Now the star has written a memoir, titled Breaking the Mold, DailyMail.com has learned exclusively. It is about her dark past and how she overcame the pain to flourish in Hollywood. The book will be out in 2022.

Stylish: Brad told DailyMail.com exclusively that he was 'thrilled' to work with DSW because they offer so much variety. 'You can find all price ranges and styles there, it's so big and full of great styles,' he shared

A JLO fan: The Fashion Police vet also said he admires the shoes Jennifer Lopez has designed for DSW. 'She has done a really nice job with her shoes, they are great,' he shared. 'I have always admired her style, she nails it every time'

Jenny From The Block has his seal of approval: 'She has a wonderful team working with her and they really know what they are doing. Whether Jennifer is casual or dressed up, she always looks great, I really look forward to seeing what she has on,' he added

The star in her shoes: Here is a look at JLo's campaign for her DSW collection

'I wrote 'BREAKING THE MOLD' during the COVID lockdown, as I felt my story could help others because poverty and abuse has been increasing. I will take you on my journey from poverty to success and how I made it happen,' the Mission: Possible actress told DailyMail.com.

'I share and provide tools and techniques that worked for me,' she said about her book which is coming out from Briton Publishing.

The Cannes Film Festival favorite added, 'My book is an autobiography and I share about childhood poverty, abuse, and how I overcame it. I feel it will motivate readers if they are caught in a bad situation.'

Props to her: Model Sierra looked lovely in a pink dress as she added large gold hoop earrings

Nice kicks: And she wore white Gucci sandals with an ankle strap that looked perfect for the night; the star also had on a gold necklace and bracelet

A friend: Plowden (R) and guest pose by the garlands and silver Christmas bulbs

'He used to beat us and used a Chicote a type of switch or whip used to control horses to beat us with,' she shared.

'He even held his gun to our mothers head and threatened to shoot her right in front of us. We were all scared of him, especially our mother. We were all crying and trying to protect our mother who he had pushed into the bed and we were surrounding her and begging him not to shoot.

'His rage and uncontrolled anger was all because she was asking him to give her money to buy us food when he suddenly snapped.

Fashionable ladies: (L-R) Allysa Breanne and London Ellis are seen side by side

'This continued even when we were older. He went to attack me when our mother was dying but that time I squared up to him and dared him to touch me. Now I was older and not afraid of him any more. He backed down, shocked that I challenged him!'

Blanco was born in Watsonville, California. At three-years old, her family moved to Southwest Mexico.

Model Sierra looked lovely in a pink dress as she added large gold hoop earrings. And she wore white Gucci sandals with an ankle strap that looked perfect for the night; the star also had on a gold necklace and bracelet. '
Tiger King 2 explores the debated fate of Big Cat Rescue owner Carole Baskin's ex-husband Don Lewis, who mysteriously vanished in 1997 and was declared dead in 2002 - with claims arising he could still be alive in Costa Rica.

Appearing on Thursday's This Morning show in the UK via video link from Florida, Carole, 60, addressed the speculation, saying she didn't think he would be 'capable of supporting himself'.

Elsewhere in the interview, the animal rights activist slammed the producers of Tiger King for making the 2020 Netflix smash all about a 'made up feud' with Joe Exotic.

'I'm glad to hear it': Tiger King's Carole Baskin (pictured via video link on Thursday's This Morning) responded to claims her missing ex-husband Don Lewis is living in Costa Rica

In Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, Carole was blamed for husband Don's disappearance and accused of 'feeding him to the tigers' by her rival Joe - claims she has fiercely denied.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Carole said that while it seems impossible Don could still be alive, she's 'glad to hear it'.

'I didn't think that he was capable of supporting himself. He took about $1 million down to Costa Rica and I had agreed to let him do that so that he could prove to himself that he couldn't make a living,' she said.

'And when we recovered what we could out of that years later, it was only about $80,000 because the investments he had made were so bad.

Without a trace: The Tiger King 2 series explores the much-debated fate of Big Cat Rescue owner Carole's previous husband Don Lewis (pictured), who mysteriously vanished without a trace in 1997 and was declared dead in 2002

'So I don't know how it is that Homeland Security says he's alive and well in Costa Rica, but I'm glad to hear it.'

In Tiger King 2, Don's attorney Joseph Fritz reveals a detective called into confirm Don was living in Costa Rica.

He said: 'When we were talking about Don, the detective got mad at me and slipped up and told me there were federal reports of him alive and well in Costa Rica that he had to overcome.

Opinion: Carole said that while it seems impossible Don could still be alive, she's 'glad to hear it'. Carole said she 'didn't think that he was capable of supporting himself' after he took $1 million down to Costa Rica and only got back $80,000 as the 'investments were so bad'

Rey Rodriguez, Don's associate added: 'He talked about moving to Costa Rica and starting over afresh. Don told me he was there to get away from Carole and so he put investments into my name.'

Further claims include that Don would often be seen in Costa Rica with young women, with Rey saying: 'Don's favourite woman was Corina. I believe she was about 15. I told Don, "be careful what you're doing. These little girls have family, people will find out."'

Don was also said to be linked with a gang who could forge passports, with fresh allegations that he changed his identity in the wake of his disappearance.

Swirling rumours: In Tiger King 2, Don's attorney Joseph Fritz reveals a detective called into confirm Don was living in Costa Rica (Don and Carole pictured)

There are also claims that Don was close with a gang who forged passports, with some believing that he has changed his identity.

In 2019, Joe, 58, was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill nemesis and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole - and sentenced to 22 years in prison.

The explosive five-part second season, Tiger King 2, sees the former G.W. Zoo owner fighting for release via a presidential pardon and would-be hitman Allen Glover claiming that his target was not in-fact Carole, but Joe himself.

Return: Tiger King 2 debuted on Netflix on Wednesday - with the hotly anticipated sequel chronicling Joe Exotic's fight for freedom after being convicted in the murder-for-hire plot of rival Carole Baskin (Joe is pictured)

Carole slammed the producers of Tiger King for creating a series 'based on lies' by focusing on a 'made up feud' with Joe, rather than focusing on animal abusers.

'We had worked with those producers for over five years on a programme that they said would be like Blackfish and so we had worked with them to say, "Here's all of the abuse, here are the abusers'" and they did,' she told This Morning.

'But then instead of making it about the animals, they made it about a made up feud. I've never even spoken with Joe Exotic.

Arch nemesis: In 2019, Joe, 58, was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill nemesis and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole - and sentenced to 22 years in prison

'My husband is the person who handled the lawsuit when he tried to use our name in order to ruin our reputation. And so it's all based on lies. I have been in the same room as him [Joe Exotic] in court, but I've never spoken to him,' she continued.

Jeff took over the park after Joe was sent to prison, but it closed permanently to the public last August after its federal animal exhibition license was suspended.

Carole then won control of the zoo in 2020 when a judge ruled she would be allowed to take over the property. This summer she sold it.

Netflix hit: 2020 Netflix smash hit Tiger King: Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, told the story of zoo owner Joe as he spiralled out of control amid a cast of eccentric character

The first series was immensely popular. It aired in March 2020 just as coronavirus pandemic restrictions forced people to stay home.

It drew some 64million household viewers in its first month and was nominated for six prime-time Emmy awards, according to the company.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV and ITV Hub. Tiger King 2 is available to stream on Netflix now.
It is not often one is frustrated by an 'incredible' night of sex.

But Lily Collins' character managed the feat in the latest clip released from her Netflix show.

The 32-year-old actress found herself in not one, but two bizarre love triangles in the latest trailer for season 2 of Emily In Paris released on Thursday morning.

Very interesting: Lily Collins' character Emily Cooper found herself in a bizarre love triangle in the latest trailer for season 2 of Emily In Paris released on Thursday morning

On the show, Lily portrays Emily Cooper, an American 20-something from Chicago who lands a job for a French marketing company to help boost its social media strategy.

In the first season, Emily hooks up with her French chef neighbor Gabriel (played by Lucas Bravo), who is still possibly dating Emily's friend Camille (Camille Razat).

And now she seems to be dealing with the fallout as Gabriel was set to move back to Normandy where the show had left off and things got even more complicated when she went to say au revoir.

Emily confided in her friend Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) who asked if she was okay to which she replied: 'When I went to go say goodbye to Gabriel, it turned into the most incredible night of sex that I have ever had in my entire life!'

Heating up: In the first season, Emily hooks up with her French chef neighbor Gabriel (played by Lucas Bravo), who is still possibly dating Emily's friend Camille

Gabriel was set to move back to Normandy where the show had left off and things got even more complicated when she went to say au revoir: 'When I went to go say goodbye to Gabriel, it turned into the most incredible night of sex that I have ever had in my entire life!'

Her friend Mindy Chen (Ashley Park) was ecstatic for her as she stood up to give a high five while exclaiming: 'Get it, girl!'

Obviously not receiving the reaction that she wanted, Emily shrieked in annoyance: 'No! No!'

Mindy was ecstatic for her as she stood up to give a high five while exclaiming: 'Get it, girl!'

Obviously not receiving the reaction that she wanted, Emily shrieked in annoyance: 'No! No!'

Things get even more dramatic as she is out to lunch with friends including Camille who reveals: 'Gabriel has decided to stay in Paris, but there's something else behind this. I just don't know yet what it is yet.'

Things get even more dramatic as she is out to lunch with friends including Gabriel's girlfriend Camille (Camille Razat) who reveals: 'Gabriel has decided to stay in Paris, but there's something else behind this. I just don't know yet what it is yet.'

Mixed up: Emily looks bothered by the revelation before saying that she needs to explain herself and needs to talk to Camille but that obviously doesn't happen at least for a while as she is shown spending time with Gabriel

She goes on to confide in a rather surprising person in her boss Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) who hilariously tells her: 'Emily, you're getting more French by the day'

Emily looks bothered by the revelation before saying that she needs to explain herself and needs to talk to Camille.

However, that obviously doesn't happen at least for a while as she is shown spending time with Gabriel.

She goes on to confide in a rather surprising person in her boss Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu) who hilariously tells her: 'Emily, you're getting more French by the day.'

Boo'd up: The dramatics do not end there as she becomes romantically entangled with a very handsome and dashing fellow expat in her French class named Alfie (Lucien Laviscount)

The dramatics do not end there as she becomes romantically entangled with a very handsome and dashing fellow expat in her French class named Alfie (Lucien Laviscount).

The show has previously received criticism from many French viewers who were offended by the show's various comic stereotypes about them, arguing that Parisians were painted as having a low work ethic and being habitually unfaithful to their spouses.

Some viewers compared this to Sex and the City's Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) hooking up with the married Mr. Big, particularly since both shows were created by Darren Star.

Good times: At one point Emily and Mindy are shown in a completely trashed hotel room

The synopsis of the second season reads: 'Now more entrenched in her life in Paris, Emilys getting better at navigating the city but still struggling with the idiosyncrasies of French life.

'After stumbling into a love triangle with her neighbor and her first real French friend, Emily is determined to focus on her work  which is getting more complicated by the day. In French class, she meets a fellow expat who both.'

Emily In Paris season 2 begins streaming on Netflix on Wednesday, December 22.
Sam Faiers grew emotional as she met with orphans during a charity visit to Maldova with Luisa Zissman this week.

The TOWIE star, 30, shared a number of clips and videos showing her meeting with the children as she continued her work with Outreach Moldova orphanage, where the duo have worked extensively in the past.

Upon their return, Sam revealed they had raised 100k for the facility shortly after sharing a slew of incredible videos, including one in which she was seen breaking down and saying: 'I get so emotional with babies, they're so innocent.'

Overcome: Sam Faiers grew emotional as she met with orphans during a charity visit to Maldova with Luisa Zissman this week

Sam, who shares son Paul, five, and Rosie, four, with partner Paul Knightley, could not contain her emotions in one of the videos, as she met with children from the orphanage and kissed and cuddled the tots.

Luisa and Sam both jetted to Moldova to visit the orphanage for disabled babies, children and teens to encourage her fans to raise money.

On their return, Sam shared an image of the duo hugging in the airport and added a caption reading: 'OMGGGGG OMGGGGG We have raised over 100,000 in 72 hours. Were hysterical. This is more than we could ever imagine ever...

'Over the past 3 days we have been sharing our journey with you to raise as much as we can to keep these children alive and safe...

Heartache: The TOWIE star, 30, shared a number of clips and videos showing her meeting with the children as she continued her work with Outreach Moldova orphanage, where the duo have worked extensively in the past

Raising: On their return, Sam shared an image of the duo hugging in the airport and added a caption reading: 'OMGGGGG OMGGGGG We have raised over 100,000 in 72 hours. Were hysterical. This is more than we could ever imagine ever'

'The money weve raised will keep the orphanage operating at a basic level for nearly a year. We would love to keep going & keep pushing to secure the best care with physios, dentists, more nurses, more carers & nannies...

'I cant wait to update you all in a few weeks with what the money you have raised is doing for these children. My heart is full of gratitude and love. Words cant even explain this feeling I have...

'@luisazissman and her husband have supported this charity for years now and have spent millions keeping these children alive, Im so proud to be a part of this orphanage family over the past couple of years...

'Ill always do what I can to help these incredible children. They deserve everything... Recurring Donations  Outreach Moldova. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts'.

Sweet: Sam doted on the orphans during the trip

Her love: She was beaming with emotion during the trip

Back in 2019, Sam donated a percentage of all her earnings to children's charity Outreach Moldova after being moved by a 'life-changing' trip she took to the Eastern European country in November that year.

Sam and Luisa were motivated to set up a JustGiving page after carrying out their philanthropic work in Moldova and seeing firsthand the children Outreach Moldova vows to support.

Recalling the emotional visit, Sam said: 'The trip to Outreach Moldova was life-changing and really brought home for me how fortunate we are.

Sam then promised to personally donate a percentage of all her earnings to the charity, which Luisa has been working with for the last five years, and vowed to continue her fundraising efforts next year.

Snap happy: She shared selfies while cosying up to babies at the facility
Kyle Richards worries her Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills castmate Dorit Kemsley is suffering from PTSD after her life was threatened during a burglary at her Encino, California home last month.

The reality star, 52, called her friend 'unbelievably strong' but expressed concern about her long-term mental health during an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday.

'I don't know if you ever get over something like that,' Kyle told Cohen.

Aftershock: Kyle Richards thinks Dorit Kemsley is suffering from PTSD after her life was threatened during a burglary at her Encino, California home last month.

#RHOBH star @KyleRichards shares an update on how Dorit Kemsley is doing after her recent home invasion. #WWHL pic.twitter.com/WpBCA0bSql  WWHL (@BravoWWHL) November 17, 2021

'When it first happened, [Dorit] was unbelievably strong, and I was so impressed by how she handled the situation when it actually happened,' Richards said.

'And then the days after, I think the shock wore off and it hit her, and I think it's going to take her a long time to get over that,' she continued.

'I don't know if you ever get over something like that, you know,' she went on.

'Having two men in your bedroom in the middle of the night and one man downstairs, and just to be home alone with just your kids is just absolutely terrifying. PTSD, for sure.'

Trauma: 'I don't know if you ever get over something like that,' Kyle told Cohen during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live! on Wednesday. Dorit is seen November 10th above, after the incident

Strong: 'When it first happened, [Dorit] was unbelievably strong, and I was so impressed by how she handled the situation when it actually happened,' Richards said

PTSD: 'Having two men in your bedroom in the middle of the night and one man downstairs, and just to be home alone with just your kids is just absolutely terrifying. PTSD, for sure,' Kyle remarked

Last week Dorit, 45, offered details about her ordeal, telling former costar Teddi Mellencamp that she is 'trying to put one foot in front of the other' since.

She also admitted that in the wake of the robbery she had been struggling with panic attacks even as she returned to filming RHOBH.

The star gave more details about how physical the intruders got with her after she awoke to them standing at the head of her bed.

'First of all, I was completely taken off guard,' she explained. 'They were surprised to see me at home When they did, they pushed me to the ground.'

More to say: Dorit shared more horrifying details of the home invasion she suffered last month in an interview with Teddi Mellencamp for Extra last week

Suspect: Police have released a sketch of one of the robbers. Since the break in, Dorit speculated that she might have been targeted because of her lavish social media posts. The star gave more details about how physical the intruders got with her after she awoke to them standing at the head of her bed. 'First of all, I was completely taken off guard,' she explained

The men then asked her who else was with her in the house as her son Jagger, seven, and daughter Phoenix, five, slept on, totally unaware of what was going on.

According to Dorit, one of the men suggested just killing her to tie up loose ends.

'There was someone else who said, "Just kill her, just kill her already, just kill her," and all I could think of, "I have to save those babies." I begged them, I begged for my life, and begged for their life,' she said.

She urged the men holding her at gunpoint to take whatever they wanted in exchange for leaving her family unharmed.

'I said, "I dont care about any of it, take it all. You can have it all. Please, Im a mother of babies. Please, they need me. Please dont hurt me,"' she recounted.

Horrifying: The Los Angeles Police Department has released surveillance footage capturing robbers breaking and entering into Dorit's home on October 27 before holding her at gunpoint as her children slept

Disturbing: The men are seen here looking into the home before entering

Breaking and entering: The intruder is seen smashing the glass on the door, before both men peer in and step inside

Dorit added that she tried to keep her cool to prevent the robbers from losing theirs.

'I stayed very calm because I knew they were very panicked and if I didnt, the situation could have gone a lot worse.'

She added: 'I fought for mine and my kids lives, and I got lucky My kids didnt wake up and they dont know anything about it.'

Although Dorit and her young children escaped the worst possible outcome, she said she's still dealing with the psychological scars of the home invasion.

'The panic attacks are coming' she said as she wondered how she could move on from her trauma.

Fear: 'There was someone else who said, "Just kill her, just kill her already, just kill her," and all I could think of, "I have to save those babies,"' Dorit recounted

Desperation: 'I begged them, I begged for my life, and begged for their life,' she said

Making a getaway: The robbers carried the valuables out wrapped in bedding and met with a third man before driving away in a black four-door pickup truck

'And feeling safe? How am I ever going to feel safe again? How do I protect my children? Im going through all of that,' she explained.

Last Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Department released security footage taken from Dorit's home showing robbers breaking a glass door to enter her home just before 11pm on October 27.

The men were seen again leaving the home after about 20 minutes, while carrying their loot wrapped in bedding.

Dorit had only just returned home from her nephew's wedding in London, and she was alone with the two children while her husband, PK Kemsley, was still traveling abroad.

Only two men were seen on camera breaking into her home, but they met up with a third man after leaving and drove away in a black four-door pickup truck.

During the ordeal, the robbers reportedly didn't enter the children's bedrooms.

Since the break in, Dorit has speculated that she might have been targeted because of her social media posts, which regularly highlight her lavish lifestyle.
Scott Disick is reportedly 'dating around.'

The 38-year-old TV star split from Amelia Hamlin earlier this year, but he has now returned to the dating scene and is said to be interested in several women.

'Scott is dating around and getting back out there,' a source told E! News on Wednesday about the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star.

Looking around: Scott Disick is reportedly 'dating around.' The 38-year-old TV star split from Amelia Hamlin earlier this year, but he has now returned to the dating scene and is said to be interested in several women

'He connected with his ex Christine Burke through mutual friends, and they have been texting and hanging out,' a source told the site.

'Now that Scott is single, he's been connecting with a lot of people from his past and is trying to go out more.'

Earlier this month Scott was photographed leaving Nobu Malibu with Hana Cross, Brooklyn Beckham's ex girlfriend.

Kourtney Kardashian - Scott's ex and the mother of his three children - recently announced her engagement to Travis Barker.

The ex: 'He connected with his ex Christine Burke through mutual friends, and they have been texting and hanging out,' a source told the site

Latest romance? Scott was recently pictured out with Brooklyn Beckham's ex girlfriend, Hana Cross. Seen on Instagram

And Scott - who has Mason, 11, Penelope, nine, and Reign, six, with the brunette beauty - is keen to keep his mind occupied for the time being.

The insider explained to E! News: 'He's trying to keep his mind off Kourtney and his recent split with Amelia.

'He is just trying to keep busy,' add the friend.

Scott split up from Amelia after 11 months together, and a week after Younes Bendjima revealed that Scott had sent him a DM trash talking his ex Kourtney Kardashian.

Scott took issue with steamy pictures of Kourtney and Travis on their vacation, writing, 'Yo is this chick ok!????? Brooo like what is this. In the middle of Italy.'

Over: After splitting with Amelia Hamlin earlier this year, Scott has returned to the dating scene and is reportedly interested in several women

Meanwhile, in October, Scott was said to have been feeling 'really sad' about Kourtney's engagement.

The TV star knew that Kourtney and Travis were likely to get engaged at some point - but he still felt 'low' after they announced the news via social media.

A source said: 'He will always care for Kourtney. She is the mother of his children and no one else will compare to that.'

Back in the day: Pictured with Kourtney Kardashian in 2015 at his birthday celebration at 1 OAK Nightclub at The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

New man: Kourtney recently announced her engagement to drummer Travis Barker

Kourtney got engaged to the music star at the Rosewood Miramar in Montecito, California, and she subsequently posted the news online.

At the time, Scott started avoiding the newly-engaged couple as he came to terms with the situation.

Another insider said: 'He will always be a part of the Kardashian family but it is hard for him to be around Kourtney and Travis.'
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Sky has released the first images from its upcoming hotly anticipated period drama The Gilded Age.

The HBO series, written by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, is set to arrive on Sky Atlantic in January.

An all star cast - including Cynthia Nixon, 55, Carrie Coon, 40, Taissa Farmiga, 27, and Christine Baranski, 69 and Meryl Streep's daughter Louisa Jacobson, 30,- will feature in the series set in 1882 during the American Gilded Age, a period of huge economic change.

First look: Sky has released the first images from its upcoming hotly anticipated period drama The Gilded Age starring Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski (pictured)

The series tells the story of aspiring writer Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) who moves from Pennsylvania to New York to live with her wealthy aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon).

Peggy Scott (Denee Benton) and Marian become embroiled in a social war involving one of her aunts and her railroad tycoon neighbour George (Morgan Spector) and his wife Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon).

Sky bosses tease: 'Exposed to a world on the brink of the modern age, will Marian follow the established rules of society, or forge her own path?'

Lovely ladies: Meryl Streep's daughter Louisa Jacobson (left) was transformed into a Victorian beauty as she joined Denee Benton (right) while filming back in June

The stars of the show were spotted on set for the first time in New York in May this year.

Julian Fellowes' latest endeavour is years in the making after he began working on a Downton Abbey spin-off in September 2012.

The writer told RadioTimes.com in January 2016 the he was 'hopefully shooting at the end of the year' despite not having written the script just yet.

Blast from the past: Taissa Farmiga plays Gladys Russell and Morgan Spector appears as George Russell in the period drama

When asked about the status of the show in June 2016, Fellowes admitted he was 'up to my neck in research' creating the character.

'These people were extraordinary. You can see why they frightened the old guard, because they saw no boundaries,' he told The Los Angeles Times. 'They wanted to build a palace, they built a palace. They wanted to buy a yacht, they bought a yacht. And the old guard in New York werent like that at all, and suddenly this whirlwind of couture descended on their heads.

'They redesigned being rich. They created a rich culture that we still havepeople who are rich are rich in a way that was established in America in the 1880s, 90s, 1900s. It was different from Europe.'

Hard at work: Julian Fellowes latest endeavor is years in the making after he began working on a Downton Abbey spin-off in September 2012; seen in February 2020

Fellowes noted that The Gilded Age was 'the fulfilment of a personal dream' after final confirmation the show would be on NBC in January 2018.

HBO acquired the series more than one year later and ordered a straight to series with production announced in September 2019.

The pandemic set back filming by a year, with cameras finally rolling in February 2021.
Nadiya Hussain has shared insight into her family's experiences of Islamophobia, after she and her daughter were called 'terrorists'.

Speaking on Times Radio, the TV chef, 36, explained that in the wake of recent terror attacks in the UK, such abuse has become 'normal' for her family, and has made them more inclined to 'stay at home'.

She said: 'Not long ago, I was out with my daughter and it was post a terror attack and I had somebody called myself and my daughter terrorists.

Candid: Nadiya Hussain has shared insight into her family's experiences of Islamophobia, after she and her daughter were called 'terrorists'

'And that's something that's, I suppose, I shouldn't have to say this, but it has become normal.

'So when things like that happen, we kind of tend to stay at home a little bit more because we know that the kids might experience something like it.

Nadiya, who is the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, went on to describe the difficulty in explaining the racism to her children.

Family: Nadiya, who is the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, went on to describe the difficulty in explaining the racism to her children

She explained: 'My children have experienced it and it's a really difficult one to explain to kids.

'It's really tough to explain to children, but unfortunately, that's something that they're going to experience in their own lives.

'All we can do is create a safe and happy environment for them at home because I can't control what happens outside.'

Awful: The TV chef, 36, explained that the incident had become 'normal' and caused her and her family to 'stay at home'

It comes after Nadiya recently revealed how winning The Great British Bake Off gave her confidence to grow in her own skin and realise that 'brown is beautiful'.

Speaking to woman&home, she said: 'Since winning the show, the biggest personal change has been a growth in confidence.

'The confidence to exist in my skin, to know that brown is beautiful, and to believe that I'm good at my job and not to constantly be in a state of gratitude.

'I am grateful for every opportunity, but I'm also very good at my job. It's taken a long time for me to say that.'
The first full trailer for Guillermo del Toro's upcoming Nightmare Alley has been released.

While the noir thriller movie looks set to be packed with chills and scares, it's also brimming with a very star-studded cast.

Lead star Bradley Cooper plays Stanton 'Stan' Carlisle, a medium with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words.

Starry: Bradley Cooper stars in chilling trailer for Guillermo del Toro's star-studded noir thriller Nightmare Alley with Cate Blanchett and Toni Colette

However, he meets his match when he crosses paths with a female psychiatrist (played by Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett) who is even more dangerous than he is.

The trailer focuses on Cooper and Blanchett's characters as they go toe-to-toe in her office.

'You don't fool people, people fool themselves,' Blanchett's Dr. Lilith Ritter tells Cooper's Stan, as she appears to be gaining the upper hand on him.

Steamy: At one point in the trailer it looks as though Bradley Cooper shares a kiss with co-star Toni Collette (who plays Zeena Krumbein)

Mysterious: Toni Colette as tarot reader Zeena Krumbein

Spooky: Lead star Bradley Cooper plays Stanton 'Stan' Carlisle, a medium with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words

Femme fatale: Cate Blanchett as Dr. Lilith Ritter

At one point, we see a very brief glimpse of what appears to be Bradley Cooper and Toni Collette sharing a steamy, passionate kiss.

Collette plays tarot reader Zeena Krumbein, who in the original story, becomes romantically involved with Stan.

The film - based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham - features performances from Toni Collette, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Perlman, and David Strathairn.

It certainly promises to be an entertaining narrative judging by the original source material.

Star-studded: Rooney Mara as Molly Cahill

Fortuitous casting: Bradley Cooper stepped into the lead role after Leonardo DiCaprio dropped out

Neo noir: The film takes cues from the noir film genre including the femme fatale character (Blanchett) and use of lighting through venetian blinds

Tale as old as time: The film is based on the 1946 novel of the same name by William Lindsay Gresham

A synopsis of the book describes the story as being a 'study of the lowest depths of showbiz and its sleazy inhabitants - the dark, shadowy world of a second rate carnival filled with hustlers, scheming grifters, and Machiavellian femmes fatales.'

The lead male star was originally meant to be Leonardo DiCaprio, but Cooper replaced him in June 2019.

Nightmare Alley will have its world premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles next month, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 17.

Hands up: The thriller comes from Oscar-winning filmmake Guillermo del Toro

Laid bare: Bradley Cooper's character gets a lie detector test
She's been in celebration mode since her fiance dropped down to one and proposed in October.

And Kourtney Kardashian had to turn on the defense after a fan criticized her for not showing more of her children on social media.

The 42-year-old reality star was quick to comment when a follower wrote a condescending response to a carousel of pictures with two of her three kids on the beach riding horses for Travis Barker's birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Mom mode: Kourtney Kardashian had to turn on the defense after a fan criticized her for not showing more of her children on social media

Not so fast: The 42-year-old reality star was quick to comment when a follower wrote a condescending response to a carousel of pictures with two of her three kids on the beach riding horses for Travis Barker's birthday in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

'Oh wow you're with your kids finally????' the troll wrote among a host of complimentary notes.

The Poosh blogger was not having any negative talk on her grid and fired back quickly with a response.

'I'm with my kids every day thank God, social media isn't always real life,' she wrote, with nearly 800 likes to follow and even more comments taking her side.

'Don't waste your time or energy. We all know you're a good mom and you're with your kids,' @lovealwaysasia wrote.

'I'm with my kids every day thank God, social media isn't always real life,' she wrote, with nearly 800 likes to follow and even more comments taking her side

Family forever: Kourtney shares co-parenting responsibilities of her three children  Mason, Penelope and Reign  with her ex, Scott Disick

'Weird how some ppl think a woman can't be with her kids & her fiance,' another follower wrote.

Another fan wrote: 'Super weird that someone would try to guilt u for having some healthy adult time.. and even weirder for someone to think your life is just what's in TV and/or SM.'

Kourtney shares co-parenting responsibilities of her three children  Mason, Penelope and Reign  with her ex, Scott Disick.

Retreat: Kourtney whisked away their blended families to Mexico for a trip to celebrate the Blink 182 drummer's 46th birthday

Vacation: The group had a blast riding horses on the beach at sunset in the trendy coastal town on the Baja peninsula

She recently became engaged when Travis proposed at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort near Santa Barbara after the pair dated for nearly a year.

He shares Landon, 18, and Alabama, 15, with his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler, in addition to her daughter, Atiana, from her previous relationship with Oscar de la Hoya.

Kourtney whisked away their blended families to Mexico for a trip to celebrate the Blink 182 drummer's 46th birthday.

'The kids got along well,' an eyewitness told E! News. 'Alabama was playing with Reign and really sweet with him. They left Kourtney and Travis alone for some one-on-one time and Alabama took Reign and Penelope to the pool.'

The source added: 'They all seemed very friendly and like they were having fun together. The younger kids looked up to the older kids and they looked like one big happy family.'
Anne Hathaway was a ray of sunshine when she was spotted out and about in New York City this week.

The 39-year-old Oscar winner warded off the November cold with a long canary yellow coat for her latest outing.

She accessorized with a peppy hoodie that had a large yellow smiley face patch on it - not to be confused with the logo for Justin Bieber's brand Drew House.

Legging it: Anne Hathaway was a ray of sunshine when she was spotted out and about in New York City this week

Anne's sprightly coat and hat formed an elegant contrast against the pale pink set of sweats she was wearing that day.

Just last week she announced on her Instagram page that she had completed filming on her upcoming movie Armageddon Time.

'Thats a wrap on #ArmageddonTime! What a gem of an experience; feeling very grateful to everyone involved,' she gushed in her caption.

City girl: The 39-year-old Oscar winner warded off the November cold with a long canary yellow coat for her latest outing

'Just in time, too,' she added, hinting at the fact that she was celebrating her 39th birthday the day she posted that update.

Armageddon Time is written and directed by James Grey whose previous films include Little Odessa, The Immigrant and Ad Astra.

Inspired by the filmmaker's own childhood in Flushing, Queens, the movie also features Anthony Hopkins and Succession star Jeremy Strong.

Details: She accessorized with a peppy hoodie that had a large yellow smiley face patch on it - not to be confused with the logo for Justin Bieber's brand Drew House

Robert De Niro, Cate Blanchett, Oscar Isaac and Donald Sutherland were all at one point attached to the project but all eventually parted ways with it.

Her other forthcoming film releases include a Sesame Street movie and a picture called Bum's Rush where Bill Murray will play a dog.

She is also starring alongside Jared Leto on an upcoming miniseries based on the podcast WeCrashed: The Rise And Fall Of WeWork.


Kimora Lee Simmons showed her knack for giving back as she hosted a special Thanksgiving dinner at a women's shelter in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

The 46-year-old mother brought her young sons with her to the annual 'give back' meal at Good Shepherd Center.

Kenzo Lee Hounsou, 12, Gary Lee Leissner, 11, and Wolfe Lee Leissner, six, all offered a helping hand to their business mogul mom for the successful event.

Generous: Kimora Lee Simmons showed her knack for giving back as she hosted a special Thanksgiving dinner at a women's shelter in Los Angeles on Wednesday night; seen with sons Kenzo, Gary, and Wolfe

Kimora - who attended Paris Hilton's wedding last weekend as Kim Kardashian's date - didn't put fashion on the back burner for the occasion. The 6ft stunner looked sleek in an all black ensemble.

Understated elegance was the former runway star's vibe as she sported a black double-breasted blazer with gold buttons.

The structured jacket was layered over a form-fitting black crewneck top, and the statuesque beauty added a pair of black denim pants.

The outfit was finished with a pair of baby blue and white Jordan sneakers.

The St. Louis-born superstar wore her long, raven locks blown out into a straight style with a center part.

And she stayed safe with a black face mask that had her Baby Phat emblem embroidered in gold.

Teaching them early on: The 46-year-old mother brought her young sons with her to the annual 'give back' meal at Good Shepherd Center

Kimora lives by a 'live large, give large' philosophy, which she wrote about in her book Fabulosity: What It Is & How to Get It.

Proving that she walks it like she talks it, the entrepreneur annually provides Thanksgiving meals to those in need.

Last year's dinner was hosted at Star Apartments as part of the Skid Row Housing Project.

While at the event the mom-of-five read a book to the families, passed out games, and helped dish plates to women and children.

Mom's helpers: Kenzo Hounsou, 12, Gary Lee, 11, and Wolfe Leissner, six, all lended a helping hand to their business mogul mom for the successful event

Life values: Kimora lives by a 'live large, give large' philosophy, which she wrote about in her book Fabulosity: What It Is & How to Get It

On Thursday morning the media personality took to Instagram to reflect on the night of giving.

'Such a special night spending time at @gsc4womenchildren with all the wonderful women and children there,' she wrote under a photo slide.

'The boys and I passed out many toys, blankets and books from @sackclothxashes and we all enjoyed Friendsgiving dinner and sweet treats courtesy of @beignetbox!' she said to 2.1 million followers.

Hands-on: While at the event the mom-of-five read a book to the families, passed out games, and helped dish plates to women and children

Consistent: Proving to walk it like she talks it, the entrepreneur annually provides Thanksgiving meals to those in need

The philanthropist added: 'With the holiday season upon us, it's so important to make time for the people and things that matter! Thank you to everyone that came out, all of the families we met, and everyone that contributed and donated.'

Incorporating a disclaimer, she noted, 'Note: all these kids and families agreed and WANT to be posted! The little girls told me everyone gets a shot!! I said, hells yea! Bring it!'

Simmons happily posed with kids as her sons helped hold up a Good Shepherd Center banner.

Absent from the event were Kimora's two daughters Ming and Aoki who are both away at colleges on the east coast.

New location: Last year's dinner was hosted at Star Apartments as part of the Skid Row Housing Project

Kimora Lee Simmons was married to Russell Simmons for over ten years, and subsequently kept his name.

The relationship produced Ming Simmons, 21, and Aoki Simmons, 19.

While dating actor and model Djimon Hounsou, Simmons gave birth to their son Kenzo in 2009.

Tim Leissner is the fashion designer's current husband, and the two share Wolfe.

Gary was adopted by the Baby Phat CEO in 2020.
Jesse Eisenberg will take a starring role in the upcoming Hulu limited series Fleishman Is in Trouble, Deadline reported.

Fleishman Is in Trouble will center around Eisenberg's titular character as he reenters the dating pool while in his 40s.

Everything comes to a screeching halt, however, when his ex-wife disappears.

Taking on a big role: Jesse Eisenberg, 38, will take a starring role in the upcoming Hulu limited series Fleishman Is in Trouble, Deadline reported (pictured 2019)

The series draws its name and inspiration from the book of the same name written by New York Times staff writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner.

Eisenberg will reunite with his Now You See Me 2 co-star Lizzy Caplan for the series. She will play Libby, the show's narrator and a friend of Fleishman.

Hopefully for Caplan the show will see some success because she's turning down a role in the Party Down revival to do it.

A story of moving on: Fleishman Is in Trouble will center around Eisenberg's titular character as he reenters the dating pool while in his 40s before his ex-wife goes missing

Co-star reunion: Eisenberg will reunite with his Now You See Me 2 co-star Lizzy Caplan, pictured 2019, for the series. She will play Libby, the show's narrator and a friend of Fleishman

Party Down originally ran for two seasons on Starz. The show followed workers at a catering company as they all worked to support their dreams of stardom in Los Angeles.

Caplan played a major role in the original cast alongside notable actors like Adam Scott, Jane Lynch and Megan Mullally, all of whom will return for the recently announced revival.

While she won't return to Party Down, the Inside Job actress has a number of projects on the horizon.

She will take Glenn Close's role of Alex in an upcoming miniseries based on the 1987 film Fatal Attraction, and she will star in the upcoming horror film Cobweb.

Turning down a reprisal: Hopefully for Caplan the show will see some success because she's turning down a role in the Party Down revival to do it (pictured on the show)

Another iconic role: She will take Glenn Close's role of Alex in an upcoming miniseries based on the 1987 film Fatal Attraction(pictured 2019)

As for her co-star Eisenberg, the Zombieland actor also has a number of projects coming out soon.

He will first star in The Medusa, a biopic about the life of French painter Theodore Gericault who created The Raft of the Medusa.

Eisenberg is also trying out his talents behind the camera. His movie, When You Finish Saving the World, is currently in post-production. He both wrote and directed the film, the plot details of which are currently under wraps.

Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard and Academy Award-winner Julianne Moore will star in his feature-film directorial debut.
He recently signed a new contract with Channel Nine for a rumoured $1.8 million.

And on Tuesday, Today show host Karl Stefanovic was seen test driving a vintage Land Rovers in Sydney, which can cost anywhere up to $300,000.

Karl, 47, couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he drove around in the whips and even threw up the shaka sign as he got behind the wheel.

New whip for Karlos? Today show host Karl Stefanovic couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he test drove some vintage Land Rovers in Sydney on Tuesday

Loving it! Karl, 47, even threw up the shaka sign as he got behind the wheel of one car

Karl visited Team Perentie on Sydney's Northern Beaches, a Land Rover restoration and accessories company.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Friday that Karl was indeed car shopping and is working with the team on a Land Rover restoration project.

Karl looked young and youthful in a casual outfit, wearing a black cap backwards with a black T-shirt and jeans.

He teamed the sporty look with a pair of red sneakers.

Karl, who drives a Toyota Landcruiser, appeared to be in his element on the day, laughing with staff and smiling as they spoke about the cars.

Like a big kid! Karl looked young and youthful in a casual outfit, wearing a black cap backwards with a black T-shirt and jeans

Small change for Karl: The vintage cars can cost up to $300,000 depending on the model and condition

Behind the wheel: Karl, who drives a Toyota Landcruiser, appeared to be in his element on the day, laughing with staff and smiling as they spoke about the cars

Too cool for school: Karl test drove two cars, a black Land Rover and a beige one, riding around with the top down

Karl test drove two cars, a black Land Rover and a beige one, riding around with the top down.

At one point he had a look underneath the bonnet of the black Land Rover.

It's previously been reported that Karl earns $2million and $3million annually on Today, depending on the show's performance.

However, it was reported last month that after Today beat rival Sunrise in the ratings, Nine executives gave Karl and co-host Ally Langdon contract extensions worth $1.8million each.

It comes after Karl's highly publicised pay dispute with former co-host Lisa Wilkinson, who was sacked from the show - and Channel Nine - in 2017.

Checking it out: At one point he had a look underneath the bonnet of the black Land Rover

New project: Karl visited Team Perentie on Sydney's Northern Beaches, a Land Rover restoration and accessories company. A spokesperson for the company confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Friday that Karl was indeed car shopping and is working with the team on a Land Rover restoration project

After test driving the cars, he shared a photo of himself behind the wheel on Instagram and captioned it: 'A little crush'

The 61-year-old veteran TV host left the network after trying and failing to achieve pay parity with Stefanovic.

She has revisited the saga in her new autobiography, It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This, in which she alleges Stefanovic convinced her to approach the network for more money, explaining that if they weren't given pay parity, they'd both quit.

She later discovered Stefanovic had signed a $2million deal with Nine amid rumours he was planning to move across to Channel Seven.

After test driving the cars, he shared a photo of himself behind the wheel on Instagram and captioned it: 'A little crush'.

His shoe designer wife Jasmine Yarbrough cheekily replied, writing underneath: 'In your happy place' and adding a crying with laughter emoji.
Maria Shriver, 66, has been busy with work in New York City, but has made sure to make time for loved ones.

The NBC special anchor linked arms with her son Christopher Schwarzenegger, 24, on Wednesday night as they walked through the Big Apple.

The mom-of-four sported a long, plush, pink coat as she held onto her son on the autumn night.

Proud mom: Maria Shriver linked arms with her son Christopher Schwarzenegger, 24, on Wednesday night as they walked through the Big Apple

The Sunday Paper writer tucked a white scarf into her outwear and sported black leggings and knee-high black boots.

She held her phone in a black leather case with a strap and clutched a bottle of water.

The media mogul's thick, blonde tresses were clipped back in the front, with the rest falling freely down her back and over her shoulders.

Drop earrings decorated her ears and she wore two rings between two hands.

Balance: The journalist has been busy with work in New York City, but has made sure to make time for loved ones

Christopher joined his mom in white sneakers, grey trousers, and a layered combination of a dark button up shirt and a dark zip-up hoodie.

He looked handsome with a full beard that connected to his dark, shiny locks.

Schwarzenegger revealed a newly slimmed down figure earlier this year.

Incorporating better eating habits and multiple fitness classes, the University of Michigan graduate shed the extra pounds at a slow and steady, healthy pace.

Fashion statement: The mom-of-four sported a long, plush, pink coat as she held onto her son on the autumn night

Shriver has actively documented her east coast trip on Instagram, regularly sharing with her 907,000 followers on the app.

On Wednesday she shared a post with Chris and her older son Patrick Schwarzenegger and marveled, 'How lucky am I to be in the city with them?'

She said to fans, 'I feel so blessed to be having the week that I'm having, seeing my family at every turn, feeling alive, feeling awake in my life! Its what I wish for each of you  to feel alive, to feel awake, to feel blessed!'

Social media: Shriver has actively documented her east coast trip on Instagram, regularly sharing with her 907,000 followers on the app

On Thursday the Kennedy family member posted a photo on set with her 3rd Hour of TODAY co-hosts.

The TV personality looked beautiful in a long, golden dress with a floral pattern as she held a mug and posed with her co-workers.

She's spent the week co-anchoring the show with Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones, and Craig Melvin.

Expressing gratitude she typed in her caption: 'Tomorrow is my last day. They are all so wonderful, inviting, fun, smart, gracious, generous! And their show is the same! I feel blessed to be invited. To be included. They make me laugh, they make me think, and they have created such a great hour of television worth watching.'
They're not exactly the biggest fans of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

And Today hosts Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic reacted as you'd expect to the Duchess of Sussex's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday.

Stefanovic, 47, threw viewers a curveball at first by saying he'd 'come full circle' after seeing a 'new side' to Meghan in her latest TV interview - only for Langdon, 42, to say he was talking 'bollocks'.

Not fans: Today hosts Allison Langdon and Karl Stefanovic reacted as you'd expect to the Duchess of Sussex's (pictured) appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday

The segment began with Nine's U.S. correspondent Alison Piotrowski recapping Meghan's chat with Ellen, in which she discussed her early acting career, family life and friendship with Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Stefanovic, who has sided with the Firm throughout the Megxit saga, said afterwards with mock sincerity: 'Oh, I look forward to seeing what else happens in that interview with Ellen coming up in the next hour.

'I've come full circle. I think this side of her is a very different side, it's a really great side. She's showing a bit more of herself and showing us a bit more of the relationship with Harry, and I think it's wonderful.

'I've come full, full circle on Meghan Markle.'

She's not buying it! Stefanovic, 47, threw viewers a curveball at first by saying he'd 'come full circle' after seeing a 'new side' to Meghan Markle in her latest TV interview - only for Langdon, 42, to say he was talking 'bollocks'

A confused Langdon replied: 'That is proper bollocks! That is a big fat lie what you just said!'

Stefanovic didn't even attempt to keep up the charade, replying dryly: 'Yeah.'

The Duchess of Sussex told Ellen she and Harry were 'happy' in California as she spoke about her daughter Lilibet's teething troubles during her TV interview.

She appeared on The Ellen Show on Thursday, eight months after the former Suits star's controversial sit-down with Oprah Winfrey which left the Royal Family in crisis.

DeGeneres, a friend of the couple who lives near them in the celebrity enclave of Montecito, asked what Harry loves about California.

Megan replied: 'We're just happy.'

DeGeneres said of the Sussexes' five-month-old daughter: 'Lili's now teething.'

Meghan put her hands to her mouth and said, 'Anything to relieve that,' to which the talk show host quipped: 'Tequila, anything.'

Sit-down: Meghan appeared on The Ellen Show on Thursday, eight months after the former Suits star's controversial sit-down with Oprah Winfrey which left the Royal Family in crisis

Meghan replied: 'That's Auntie Ellen for you.'

Elsewhere, she discussed going incognito with Harry on Halloween for a night out in Toronto with Eugenie and Jack, just before news of their relationship broke.

She also promoted her children's book The Bench.
She's been trying to move past the tragedy that happened at the Astroworld festival earlier this month.

And Kendall Jenner appeared focused on business as she stopped by a Beverly Hills office building on Thursday.

Though casual, the model, 26, still radiated star-power as she sauntered in donning a suede coat and plaid scarf in a matching mustard hue.

Stylish: Kendall Jenner looked chic white stopping by a Beverly Hills office building on Thursday

Keeping classic, she added straight-legged blue jeans, a white tee shirt and shiny black loafers

Kendall tied the ensemble together with a little designer purse and chic sunglasses.



The star has been keeping a relatively low-profile since the deadly concert that took place in Houston, Texas on Friday, November 5.

Also in attendance was sister Kylie, 24, with her three-year-old daughter Stormi.

Chic: The model, 26, still radiated star-power as she sauntered in donning a suede coat and plaid scarf in a matching mustard hue

Kendall's statement: Jenner's been keeping a relatively low-profile since the deadly Astroworld incident which killed 10 people earlier this month. She offered a statement in support of victims last week, above

10 young people, aged from 9 to 27, were crushed to death as a sizable group of the 50,000 in attendance pushed toward the stage at NRG Park during Travis Scott's performance spot.

Afterwards, Kendall posted a statement on social media which said: 'I'm still at a loss for words over the news from Astroworld. I'm truly broken for the families that have lost loved ones and my prayers go out to everyone involved.

'Sending everyone who has been affected all of my love and wishing them strength during this incredibly devastating and sensitive time.'

City officials are still investigating what caused the pandemonium at the sold-out event, with Houston's police chief pushing the blame on Scott last week for pulling the plug after new footage emerged showing cops casually filming the concert.

Tragedy: 10 young people, aged from 9 to 27, were crushed to death as a sizable group of the 50,000 in attendance pushed toward the stage at NRG Park during Travis Scott's performance spot

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner refused to provide a timeline for the police response after a sizable group pushed toward the stage.

As of November 16, more than 125 fans are suing Scott for $750million over the deadly incident.

The lawsuit, filed by Houston Attorney Tony Buzbee - who had previously been representing at least 35 victims from the concert - accuses Scott and festival organizers of 'gross negligence' for the chaos at Astroworld.

The suit also names Live Nation, Epic Records Drake and Apple as defendants for their involvement in organizing the festival, and Buzbee plans to file another lawsuit with 100 more plaintiffs in the coming days.

Litigation: As of November 16, m ore than 125 fans are suing Scott for $750million over the deadly incident. vigil in Houston captured on November 9

Prior to the lawsuit going public, it was reported that W Magazine is scrambling to pull their next issue featuring Kylie and Travis on the cover 'before it hits shelves,' as per Page Six.

'W editors have cleared any planned coverage of Travis and Kylie from their website, but the magazine was already printed, and now they are trying to stop the delivery trucks,' an insider told the outlet.

Additionally, they explained: 'In the light of what happened at Astroworld, the interview and cover lines seem inappropriate, to say the least.'

DailyMail.com has yet to hear back from W Magazine for a request for comment.

On Monday, Nike announced they would postpone their sneaker release with Scott after a nine-year-old boy became the latest fatality in a deadly crowd surge during his performance in Houston.
Lala Kent is continuing to erase her ex-fiance Randall Emmett from her life.

The Vanderpump Rules star, 31, changed her 'Rand' tattoo, the ink she received in honor of her then-fiance last year, to 'bRand new.'

Without making a big show of it, she subtly unveiled the altered ink in a post promoting her new eyewear collaboration on Thursday.

Altered ink: Lala Kent revealed she had changed her 'Rand' tattoo to 'bRand new' after splitting from Randall Emmett amid cheating allegations

The photos showed Lala modeling a large pair of tortoise hued shades while wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt that showed off her updated arm tattoo.

'I hope you guys are as into my eyewear collab with Dime, as I am. I wanted to create something that was chic and affordable. These are my OCEAN frames in tortoise- I cant get enough of them! Click the link in my bio to shop,' Lala gushed in the caption.

Although she did not reference the tattoo in her caption, multiple fans noticed it and raved about the change-up in the comments section.

'That tattoo update,' @_cdesimone posted along with two applauding emojis.

Influencer life: The photos showed Lala modeling a large pair of tortoise hued shades while wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt that showed off her updated arm tattoo

Fresh start: Lala originally got the ink back in 2020 as a sign of affection for her then-beau

'Brand new (heart emojis),' commented @mrsmadelinesheppard.

'LOVE THE TATTOO!! (praise emojis),' gushed @welcometowaschington.

Lala ended her relationship with Randall, her fiance of three years, after he was reportedly caught cheating on her with other women during a recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee.

The reality star addressed their break-up on a recent episode of her podcast Give Them Lala... with Randall.

'LOVE THE TATTOO!!' Although she did not reference the tattoo in her caption, multiple fans noticed it and raved about the change-up in the comments section

While Lala was not ready to get into much detail about the matter, she did reveal Alcoholics Anonymous had been serving her at this time.

She also said her eight-month-old daughter Ocean, whom she shares with Randall, was her top priority.

'I want to acknowledge that I'm sure everyone knows what is going on between Randall and myself and just in my personal life,' Lala said. 'There will be a time where I feel comfortable enough to open up and share. Today is definitely not that day. It's been a lot, I'm going through a lot.

'I just at this point in time want to protect my child, she's my number one priority, and I know what I signed up for. I'm on a reality television show, but in this moment, it's not about me, it is about my kid and privacy is the only thing that I'm looking for for her sake.

Splitsville: Lala ended her relationship with Randall, her fiance of three years, after he was reportedly caught cheating on her with other women during a recent trip to Nashville, Tennessee; pictured 2021

'I'm going through a lot': Kent addressed their break-up on a recent episode of her podcast Give Them Lala... with Randall

'And with that being said, I'm kind of putting my steps into play that you know we work on in AA, which is one day at a time  sometimes it's one minute at a time  and that doesn't just apply to me with drinking, which, surprisingly, even with everything that's going on, I've never felt stronger in my sobriety.'

Last month Page Six alleged Randall had cheated on his partner - who temporarily moved into the Beverly Hills Hotel - while on a work trip in Nashville, Tennessee.

'Randall always lives a double life,' a source claimed to the outlet. 'He lives the life of a husband or boyfriend, and then he lives the life of a serial partier and then goes on a bender.'

Amid the claims, Kent purged her social media pages of her husband-to-be. And she liked a post that accused him of cheating on her following video posted to social media of him partying in Nashville.

She even took to Instagram to share a video of herself moving into the BHH while Beyonces Sorry played.
The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor between Pakistan and India reopened for "Holy Darshan" on November 17, after 20 months of closure. India and Pakistan have agreed that devotees with fully vaccinated certificates will be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage. This means that devotees will have to carry a negative RT-PCR report and Covid-19 vaccination certificates.

The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor links Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, which is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. This announcment comes at an important time for Sikhs as it is Guru Nanak Dev's birthday anniversary on November 19.

The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. Photo: Parmeder Singh/India Today

Here is why the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is significant in Sikhism:

1. The Corridor is known as Kartarpur Sahib since Kartarpur, a town in Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan (originally known as the village Pakhoke) is located on the west (left) bank of the river Ravi, where Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life.

2. Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, also known as Sri Kartarpur Sahib, is an especially important location as Kartarpur is where Guru Nanak Dev first practised the three pillars of Sikhism - 'Kirat Karo (working hard at whatever task one undertakes and an honest living), Vand Chhako (share wealth, possessions and talents with others) and Naam Japo (meditation through reciting, chanting and singing)' as the path to liberation.

Gurudwara Darabar Sahib in Kartarpur. Photo: India Today

3. Dera Baba Nanak is a town that is situated on the east (right) bank of the river Ravi. After Pakhoke was renamed as Kartarpur, the Bedis, who are descendants of Guru Nanak Dev, built a new town and named it Dera Baba Nanak after their great ancestor. The town has two famous Gurudwaras, Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Chola Sahib.

4. The Corridor allows devotess in India to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib without a visa. The gurudwara is 4.7 kilometres from the IndiaPakistan border, on the Pakistani side.

Gurudwara Darabar Sahib in Kartarpur. Photo: Getty Images

5. It is widely believed that it is Kartarpur where Guru Nanak Dev composed many hymns of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, including the japuji sahib. The community meal, known as guru ka langar, also began in Kartarpur and ultimately became an important aspect of Sikh tradition.

6. Legend says that there is a reason why two different shrines were built by Hindus and Muslims for Guru Nanak Dev. It is said that when Guru Nanak Dev passed away in Kartarpur, his devotees placed a cloth over his body and later, when they returned, found that Guru Nanak Dev's body had disappeared and the cloth was all that was left. It was then that a conflict broke out over Guru Nanak Dev's cremation, and it was decided that the cloth would be cut into two pieces.

The Muslim devotees buried their half of the cloth and built a shrine, and the Hindu devotees burned their half of the cloth and built another shrine. These shrines were later washed away in floods and were rebuilt.

Gurudwara Darabar Sahib in Kartarpur. Photo: Getty Images

7. The foundation stone of the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib was laid by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1572 and he covered its dome with gold. The most recent reconstruction of the Gurudwara took place in the 1920s during the reign of the then Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh, at a cost of Rs 1.35 lakh.

8. The creation of the Corridor was first proposed by ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in February 1999, when he was on a bus ride to Lahore during a peace initiative with Pakistan. It was intended to connect two important places of worship in Sikhism that had been seperated by the Radcliffe Line during Partition.
Since its inception, Dancehall music has held a very strict and consistent disdain for the gay community. A disdain so unyielding, that prominent artists of the genre have dedicated more than enough songs, wholeheartedly condemning the group in no uncertain terms.

Twenty-nine years ago one of Dancehalls biggest names, Shabba Ranks, told British talk show The Word that gay men should be crucified. Back then, the platform that could have propelled Shabbas career further, stunted his growth, and stained Dancehall as a plague on the global stage.

As far as many die-hard Dancehall devotees are concerned, one should never dare mix the two representations in any conversation, let alone entertain discussions for gay acceptance in Dancehalls domain.

Some researchers have made mention that this deep level of contempt dates back to the years of slavery after being colonized, and the need to exude ultra-masculinity.

Occurrences over some time, however, have indicated that this notion is archaic, monolithic behavior. Lets now examine the facts.

In 2013, Ian McQuaid for the Guardian reported that a fresh generation of gay DJs and clubbers have started looking beyond the outdated narrative that dancehall = homophobic. Kartel Brown, who is an influential DJ in the London circuit said, A lot of Jamaicans came to London fleeing Jamaicas anti-gay laws. They were a bit underwhelmed with what the citys gay scene had to offer, so they started creating these little private bashment parties in south London. They made the whole culture popular: you had people who were born here talking patois, eating the food, wearing the clothes, boys brucking out like they were dancehall queens.

Again in 2013, and once more in 2020, Billboard reported as part of its Pride Issue, on a PR professional named Shuzzr. The publicist, who has worked with household names, (Tifa, RDX, Vershon, Dovey Magnum, Chozenn, Blak Ryno, Lisa Hyper, Erup, Alkaline and Versatile), mentioned getting death threats and losing clients during a two year period after coming out.

I made the decision to write an article on my website, and it made the front page of Jamaicas No. 1 tabloid, The Jamaica Star. I got a lot of support, but for two years after that, I had no clients. Nobody wanted to work with me, nobody wanted to touch me. There were death threats, online harassment, bullying  you name it, I got it. People still refer back to that article and say, Id love to work with you, but the fans I have wont tolerate me bringing you onto the team. As reported, this back-lash didnt deter the professional from finding creative ways to succeed in his business as the go-to person for getting artists and their brands off the ground.

In January 2019, Tom Faber for Financial Times covered Jamaicas fourth Pride Week held in July, 2018. DAngel, one of the first female dancehall performers to publicly support the community, gave a memorable stage presentation to the delight of its gay attendees, and left a good impression on the London reporter, on behalf of dancehall. He reports, Despite dancehalls popularity on the island, DAngels performance at Pride was still a surprise for many: this is a genre that has long been notorious for the brutal homophobia in its lyrics. He further reports that homophobic lyrics have almost disappeared from dancehall.

These references indicate a fresh outlook on what was once considered taboo. An evolution of the hyper-masculine culture acquired by some Jamaicans, and the shift to further propel dancehall on the international scene.

What is also clearly evident in this moving forward from homophobic lyrics in dancehall, is the support of the females who are practitioners of the craft. The women are notably the ones ushering in this modern mindset. Which here, sets the divide between LGBTQ and dancehall music, which has long been a consistently male-dominated field.

Dancehall artist Tifa has always been outspoken and supportive of her friend and stylist, the late Dexter Pottinger who was publicly gay. Tifa defended Dexter until the very end against bashers of his sexuality.

Yanique Barrett, also known as Curvy Diva is one such supporter, as she too performed at a Pride event held on the island in 2019, which also caused tongues to wag, particularly that of her male fans who were against homosexuality.

These facts bring us now to the present day. Just recently, Dancehall star Jada Kingdom and reggae artist Lila Ike, both publicly declared their admiration for women; to mixed comments from fans and colleagues. These public statements signal a brave and unbothered step by the females to further break the stigma that has long polarized Dancehall music.

Are the females in dancehall music levelling up the brand? This question might be met with critical reviews, however, if we are to look at the current situation where Spice is proudly headlining the 2022 Pride Toronto LGBTQ festival, one can hardly beg to differ.

Most male practitioners of the genre have yet to move beyond the stereotyped scorn of homosexuality, or publicly support dancehall insiders who work behind the scenes. The induced signing of the Reggae Compassionate Act in 2007, by Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Sizzla, and Capleton might have initiated an improvement.

Buju Banton gave a public statement and apologized to the LGBTQ community, then further vowed to never make hate music again. This apology came after several of his international bookings got canceled as a result of the Stop Murder Music campaign that started in 1992.

Another major change in the cultures direction has also seeped into politics; Prime Minister Andrew Holness in 2018 stated. Firstly, its not my business, neither is it my interest. Whatever is in my discretion to distribute politically, a persons sexuality or sexual orientation is not a criteria for the use of my discretion. This statement came ten years after former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, told BBC that homosexuals will find no solace in any cabinet formed by me.

This now begs the other question-will prominent male figures in dancehall step to the plate by publicly supporting the LQBTQ, or is it enough that most have muted their hate and/or discouraged violent attacks on those of homosexual persuasion? The change is to be noted, however, if Reggae star Sizzla or dancehall producer Foota Hype had their way, this progress would be of no existence.
Hyderabad: The Siddipet district revenue authorities are allegedly misleading the Telangana high court in a high-profile case of encroachment of assignment land as also government land in Sy No 356 of Pregnapur village in Gajwel mandal by a family of rich local landlords.

Recently, hearing a case filed against these landlords, the HC directed the collectors of all the districts in Telangana to survey and geotag all the government lands to prevent encroachments and submit compliance reports to the court.

The case took an interesting turn with the petitioners again approaching the court with a complaint against the revenue authorities, stating that they have never taken possession of the land as claimed in their affidavit.

Backed with evidence, the petitioners informed the court that even today the surplus land had been under the physical possession of the encroachers and the revenue department was not taking steps to resume the land and restore its ownership to the landless poor.

Inquiries revealed that Chittapuram Raju, a resident of Pregnapur, filed a PIL in the HC complaining against local landlord Vijay Kumar and his daughter, who he said were in possession of 37 acres of land in Sy no 356, which was declared surplus land under the Agriculture Ceiling Act and later distributed this to the landless poor.

The original landlords who declared surplus land retained their ownership and possession over the same land till date. Though the government allotted this land to the landless poor, the revenue records like pahani still showed the names of the original declarants, said the petitioner.

The tahasildar, in a report submitted to the then Medak collector, a copy of which is available with this newspaper, also categorically stated that Ac 37.09 was declared as ceiling surplus by M Laxmi Kantha Rao, M Vijay Kumar, M Veda Kumar and M Bhoopati Rao, and the same was assigned to 43 landless poor.

The report listed various sale transactions carried out by the original landowners even after the land was assigned to the landless poor. It also recommended to the collector to allow rectification of the records and protection of the government land.

We are also urging the court to issue necessary directions to evict the encroacher and hand over the possession to landless poor, the petitioner said.
Hyderabad: The Cyberabad Police arrested the MD of Sandhya Conventions, Saranala Sreedhar Rao, from his hideout in Bangalore on Wednesday night and lodged him at the Cherlapally Central Jail under a 14-day remand.

Police said the arrest of Rao, 45, followed a complaint on November 12 from Chaitanya Krishna Murthy Gogineni, the designated partner of Rowa & Company Associates LLP. It stated that the RCA firm purchased two office units on the ninth floor with super built up area including the 40 per cent common areas along with two lots in Sandhya Techno-I situated at Raidurgam Panmaktha Village in Serilingampally.

As per the FIR, a copy of which is in the possession of Deccan Chronicle, the complainant(s) also purchased the proportionate undivided share of land equivalent to 17 square yards and the said office units were registered in the name of M/s Rowa & Company Associates LLP by the developers on January 7, 2021.

However, when they visited the place the next day after giving prior intimation to the office unit developers to take physical possession of the property/office units for undertaking necessary internal works, they noticed that the construction work was incomplete and the space was not fit for occupancy. They informed the same to Saranala Sreedhar and Srujan Sen, but they ignored this.

In April-2021, they were invited to the office of Sandhya Elite, situated at Outer Ring Road, Gachibowli to discuss on the delay of the construction work. Saranala Sreedhar threatened them with dire consequence vis-a-vis release of their office to his company at the same cost when they brought it for him but they (refused to do so) and left from there.

On September 15, 2021, they visited Sandhya Techo-1 to check the construction work status and found some workers of Incredible India Projects Pvt Ltd, buyer/owner of other office units in the ninth floor, were demolishing the constructed area which pertained to their office units, and they also came to know that the Sandhya Constructions and Estates Pvt Ltd and Incredible India Projects Pvt Ltd were encroaching of their property by criminally trespassing, demolishing the common walls, pulling down the common facilities on ninth-floor representatives of the buyer of the said office units and cheated them with criminal conspiracy, said the FIR.

Accordingly, cases were booked under section 406, 420, 427, 448, 506 read with 34 of the IPC. Following an investigation, he was arrested from his place in Bangalore, police said.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct Food Corporation of India (FCI) to confirm the target of procurement of rice from Telangana during ensuing rabi season and to enhance the target beyond 40 lakh metric tonnes during the ongoing kharif to 90 per cent of production as was being done in Punjab.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Chandrashekar Rao requested him to complete the procurement of balance 5 lakh metric tonnes rice produced in rabi 2020-21.

"The FCI, which has the mandate of ensuring food security for the people by maintaining the buffer stocks and supplying rice and wheat through the public distribution system is following certain policies which are creating confusion in the minds of farmers and as well as

the state governments. These policies are that the target of procurement is not fixed for the entire year in one go. Even though the production is increasing year after year, the procurement is not keeping pace," Rao noted.

The Chief Minister brought to the notice of the Prime Minister that due to these policies of the FCI, it was becoming difficult for states to plan an appropriate cropping pattern and explain the same to the farmers.

"For instance, even though the production of rice in Telangana during kharif 2021 was 55.87 lakh metric tonnes, the procurement was only 32.66 lakh MTs, which is 59 per cent of the production. This was less than the 78 per cent procured in kharif 2019-20. Such wide variations in procurement levels do not allow the state government to implement a rational cropping pattern," Rao said.

Explaining the efforts made by him to clear these confusions by meeting union minister for food and public distribution Piyush Goyal twice in Delhi recently on September 25 and 26, Rao, in his letter to the Prime Minister, said, "I requested union minister Piyush Goyal that the annual target for procurement be fixed immediately. It has been 50 days since I have met him but no policy decision has been taken and communicated to us."

Chandrashekar Rao also informed Modi about how Telangana emerged as one of the top rice producing states in the country after its formation in 2014. "Before the formation of the state, there was drought and hunger prevalent everywhere. Today, due to the enormous increase in irrigation facilities, Telangana is not only able to meet its food grains requirement but has become a huge grain surplus state. The farmers of Telangana are now able to produce for the rest of the country," he added.

Stating that Telangana had achieved tremendous progress in the agriculture sector since 2014 due to a series of policies and measures taken by the state government, Rao said, "The farmers were given encouragement in terms of investment support of Rs 10,000 per acre per year and free 24x7 quality power. The hardworking farmers of Telangana have increased the yields in a significant way, thereby contributing to the progress of the country."
Chennai: The opposition AIADMK on Thursday urged the Tamil Nadu government to continue the Pongal cash gift of Rs 2,500, implemented by the party when it was in power, in the interest and well-being of the ration card holders in the State.

The DMK government's Wednesday announcement on Pongal gift hampers for the family ration card holders, scrapping the cash gift has disappointed the poor, during this pandemic times, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam claimed. "People, particularly the poor, expect the State government to provide them the much needed relief this Pongal (harvest festival in mid-January)," he said. They want the government to continue the scheme as a panacea since the lockdown enforced to contain the spread of the Coronavirus caused loss of livelihood to many, the AIADMK leader contended.

"They want the government to provide the sum along with the gift hamper as life is returning to normalcy following the relaxation of restrictions," the former Chief Minister said in a statement here.

He said the AIADMK had enhanced the cash bonanza to Rs 2,500 this year from Rs 1,000 in the previous year for the benefit of the rice card holders in the State. Accordingly, a government order was passed allocating Rs 5,604 crore. "But the present announcement has reduced the scheme to a mere Rs 1,088 crore initiative to dole out only the hampers while dispensing with the cash gift implemented by the then AIADMK government," Panneerselvam said.

Apart from cash, the Pongal gift bag distributed during the AIADMK regime contained one kg rice, one kg sugar, 20 grams of cashew and raisins each, five grams of cardamom and a sugarcane.

On Wednesday, the State government announced the Pongal gift hampers for 2.15 crore ration rice card holders at an outlay of Rs 1,088 crore. It comprises 20 items including raw rice, jaggery, cashew, raisins, cardamom, moong dal and ghee for preparing the sweet pongal. Besides, it contains turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, mustard, jeera, pepper, tamarind, Bengal gram, urad dal, rava, wheat flour, salt and a cloth bag.

"I urge Chief Minister M K Stalin to immediately intervene and take appropriate steps to provide the Pongal cash of Rs 2,500 along with the gift hampers for the sake of the poor," Panneerselvam said.
In the context of residents with Kannada as mother tongue expressing strong opposition to this move, Karnataka Border Area Development Authority has taken up the cause. (Photo: File | PTI)

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Border Area Development Authority has strongly objected to Kerala governments decision to print ration cards only in English and Malayalam languages in the Kasargod district.

Kasargod shares border with Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district and also has residents with Kannada as their mother tongue. But the new ration cards, issued under Akshaya Yojana', will only have text in Malayalam and English as opposed to the earlier practice of printing both in Kannada and Malayalam. In the context of residents with Kannada as mother tongue expressing strong opposition to this move, Karnataka Border Area Development Authority has taken up the cause.

In Kasargod district, over 95 percent of people speak Kannada as mother tongue. There are people who can't read or speak Malayalam in Kasargod, an official release by the Authority issued by secretary Prakash Mattihalli stated.

The Authority noted that the Union Minority Affairs Ministry on September 9 this year had directed the Maharashtra Government to give preference to Kannada in areas of Sangli district where people who speak Kannada in large numbers. The Ministry had asked the Maharashtra government to print all government orders, circulars, and ID cards in Kannada. Despite such clear instructions, the Kerala government has not printed the ration cards in Kannada, the statement added.

"Manjeshwar has been spelled as Manjeshwaram, in the card. The Karnataka Border Area Development Authority strongly condemns this move of the Kerala government. This has to be corrected immediately, the Authority futher demanded.

Authority Chairman Dr C Somashekar has written to the Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister and Kasargod District Collector regarding this. He has also asked the Karnataka Chief Minister and Chief Secretary to bring this issue to the notice of their counterparts in Kerala.
New Delhi: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at 14 locations in connection with a Left Wing Extremism (LWE) case in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had last Friday filed chargesheet against seven members of Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana. The case was filed against seven members of the banned CPI (Maoist) including the most wanted fugitive Madvi Hidma for hatched a criminal conspiracy, along with overground workers (OGWs) to wage war against the democratically elected government by carrying out an attack on security personnel.
HYDERABAD: Although traffic police have provided single-line parking on Abid Road, the area is so busy with shoppers that the parking space is insufficient and most of them are forced to use a second line.

Shop owners are happy that the government has made parking arrangements free of cost. In contrast, further up at Hanuman Tekdi, congestion and traffic chaos are an everyday feature. The area has a number of educational institutions, food outlets and commercial establishments.

Meanwhile, the entire RP Road stretch in Secunderabad, which is a commercial hub for industrial equipment, hardware and electrical appliances, boasts of a single-line parking. Vehicles are parked so haphazardly by customers that it obstructs a smooth flow of traffic. Most buildings across the city were granted permission for construction even when they did not earmark parking spaces. In the absence of appropriate planning, it is the locals who are bearing the brunt.

Mohammed Mukrum of FD Khan, a premier clothes store at Abids, said after the government provided single-lane parking for free, the parking mafia has vanished.

Srinivas, a tailor at Abids, said from Lazeez cafe, the lane leading to Rosary Convent is used for parking even though it is a narrow lane. There are no parking facilities at commercial buildings.

Uday Shah, a businessman from RP Road, said this is the hub for commercial trade. The one lane parking that has been provided is not sufficient. Adding to the discomfort is that work on the bridge opposite the hugely-patronised dargah has been halted. It is time the government comes up with new multi-storied parking lots in the area and bring all-round respite.
Based on CT findings and previous history of comorbidities, Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has been diagnosed with moderate Covid disease. (DC Image)

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has tested positive for Covid-19. He has since been admitted in AIG Hospitals in Hyderabad for medical treatment.

The Governor had taken ill after his return from New Delhi. As he complained of cold, cough and conditions similar to Covid-19, he was subject to an RT PCR test.

Thereafter, Harichandan was shifted to Hyderabad by a special flight from Vijayawada and admitted into AIG.

A medical bulletin released by AIG Hospitals said the Governor had tested Covid-19 positive on November 15. He has been evaluated by a multidisciplinary team and his condition is stable with normal oxygen saturation at room air.

Based on CT findings and previous history of comorbidities, he has been diagnosed with moderate Covid disease. A team of experts is closely monitoring his health condition, the bulletin added.
Rao and his wife filed separate quash petitions before the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR registered against them. (PTI)

Hyderabad: Managing Director of Sandhya Convention, S Sreedhar Rao, and his wife S. Sandhya, received a major relief from the High Court here on Wednesday. Justice Gandikota Sri Devi issued interim orders directing Telangana police against taking coercive steps against the two till further orders.

However, these interim directions will be applicable in the FIR registered against Sreedhar Rao in Narsingi police station, which had registered a FIR (No. 1352/ November 10) on a complaint by one Azam Shareef.

Rao and his wife filed separate quash petitions before the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR registered against them.

Senior counsel Dammalapati Srinivas, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the cases were filed based on false charges and the police were trying to arrest his clients. Mentioning about another FIR in a separate police station, he apprehended that this could lead to PT warrants, the counsel sought relief for his clients.

Assistant public prosecutor Vizarat said that they would interact with police before going into the merits of the case. Agreeing to his contentions, the judge adjourned the case to next week.
The BJP president said the Central government allocated Rs 120 crore for soil testing in Telangana state and based on the report, farmers could sow crops as per their wish. (DC Image)

Hyderabad: BJP state president and MP Bandi Sanjay said the people of Telangana were upset with the attitude of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and they wanted him to be ousted from the post. The sacrifices of 1,400 people brought Telangana state, but unfortunately corrupt Chandrashekar Rao who became the Chief Minister degraded the decorum of the post, he criticised.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Sanjay Kumar said Chandrashekar Rao had a habit of diverting attention of the people, when his administrative failures came to the fore. Earlier, the Chief Minister declared the Dalit Bandhu scheme, and now blaming the Central government on paddy procurement to divert the attention, he said.

It is the victory of people as Chandrashekar Rao came out of his farmhouse to Pragathi Bhavan and now at Dharna Chowk. We will bring him to the people soon, he said.

The BJP president asked the Chief Minister to disclose what difficulty he was facing in procurement of paddy. For the last one month, farmers had been eagerly waiting to sell their produce, but no agency purchased it, he said. After the BJP began to stir, the officials started paddy operations in purchasing centers, he said.

Sanjay said that TRS activists pelted stones and eggs on paddy farmers, when the BJP team interacted with them. Around 75 activists were injured in TRS attacks including media personnel, he said, adding that the police turned mute spectators, favouring ruling TRS party leaders, he alleged. DGP M. Mahender Reddy was not responding to the calls of BJP leaders, he added.

The BJP president said the Central government allocated Rs 120 crore for soil testing in Telangana state and based on the report, farmers could sow crops as per their wish. Central government was always ready to encourage paddy and alternative crops as and when farmers sow, he said.

Reacting on Siddipet collector P. Venkatarami Reddy joining the TRS Sanjay said bowing to elders was tradition in India, but why the collector touched the feet of the Chief Minister was known after he was made an MLC. The Chief Minister sent strong signals to the bureaucrats that if they had bowed to him, they would be made MLCs, MLAs and MPs, he said. BJP MLA Raja Singh, former minister Vijayarama Rao and others were present.
CM KCR participating in a three-hour maha dharna at dharna chowk along with all top TRS leaders here on Thursday. (Photo: Twitter)

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has vowed to take the agitation against the anti-farmer policies of the Centre to the national level by involving farmers from across the nation.

Participating in a three-hour maha dharna at dharna chowk along with all top TRS leaders here on Thursday, he demanded the Union government to spell out its stand on procurement of paddy from Telangana. He said he will wait for two days for a response from the Centre before deciding on the next course of action.

Meanwhile, he expressed solidarity with farmers from north India, who have been on protest for over a year now demanding the Centre to withdraw the new farm laws.

"This is just the beginning. We will take the agitation to any extent to protect the interests of farmers and those of Telangana state," Rao warned and made it clear that the movement would continue till the Centre relents and starts procuring rice from Telangana on par with Punjab.

Touching other topics, Rao came down heavily against the Centre for sitting on Telangana government's demands for increasing quota for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes, categorisation of Scheduled Castes and conducting caste-wise census of BCs.

Dismissing BJPs criticism for staging protests despite being in power, Rao recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat on a 51-hour dharna when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2006. He said that it was the responsibility of Modi to avoid a situation where the Chief Minister has to sit on dharna.

"I have been exhorting the Centre in the last 50 days to clarify whether it would procure paddy from Telangana or not in rabi season. Even meeting Union food minister Piyush Goyal has had no effect," Rao stated.

He accused the BJP of whipping up communal sentiments during elections.

"The BJP leaders are threatening to send me to jail. Do they really think that KCR will be scared?" he fumed.

Later, a TRS delegation, minus Rao, met Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan in Raj Bhavan and submitted a representation on paddy procurement from Telangana.
There has been extensive discussion in India about how best to address the likely impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on childrens enrolment and learning due to the 18 months of school closures. But any large scale,

representative data measuring such impact has been scarce. Data from the recently released ASER 2021 report suggests that we have an uphill battle ahead.

On the positive side, ASER 2021 shows that families have not lost their faith in education. Despite Covid-19, enrolments have not suffered much although the enrolment patterns have shifted.

Even today, only 4.6 per cent of children in the 6-14 age group are not currently enrolled. And almost 92 per cent of enrolled children have textbooks for their current grade. This was always a noteworthy accomplishment in a country the size of ours; but for this to be achieved after a year and a half of enormous disruptions is even more remarkable.

However, other trends suggested by the ASER 2021 data are more worrisome. In 2020, when the schools were closed, ASER found that barely one-third of enrolled children were receiving learning materials and activities from their schools (35.6%). A year later, among children whose schools had yet to reopen, this number had barely changed (39.8%). It seems that the education system has still not been able to put effective mechanisms into place for reaching out to children when the schools are closed.

Among children whose schools had reopened, a higher proportion had received materials and/or activities to do at home. This difference is primarily because students who are back in school were often given homework by their teachers -- a mechanism that does not rely on a technology interface and therefore removes a major barrier for the many students without any access to smartphones.

As schools reopen, the situation with the youngest learners in the early primary classes requires urgent thought and attention. Even without a measurement of learning outcomes, their situation should set off loud alarm bells.

First, the relatively high proportion of children currently not in school is driven mainly by this age group, as was the case in 2020. Among 5-8-year-olds, the proportion of children not currently enrolled is 7.2 per cent, which is much higher than the corresponding proportion among older children. As in 2020, the proportion of children not currently enrolled is highest among five-year-olds, at over 14 per cent. These data point to a critical task ahead -- of ensuring that young children enrol in pre-school and school. They have already missed many months of engagement in this critical period of rapid brain development. Once this period is over, the opportunity to help them build firm foundations early on will be lost.

What about the young children currently enrolled in school? ASER 2021 data shows that among the five- and six-year-olds, there is an increase of about 12 percentage points over 2018 levels in the proportion enrolled in government schools. In 2018, 22.4 per cent of five-year-olds were enrolled in government schools; that proportion is 34.2 per cent today. Among six-year-olds, 47.7 per cent were enrolled in government schools in 2018, versus 59.6 per cent today. These data suggest a major expansion in government school enrolments in the early grades.

At the same time, about one in every three children in Classes 1 and 2 has never attended in-person school before. Entry to the world of formal education can be a difficult adjustment at the best of times, but the challenges these young children face as learners are likely to be far more complex than in pre-pandemic times.

The ASER 2021 data suggests schools must pay close attention to these issues.

While smartphone ownership has risen dramatically over the last few years, childrens access is often quite limited, especially among the youngest learners who have the least access to technology. Almost a third of all children in Classes 1 and 2 did not have a smartphone available at home. Not surprisingly, therefore, among children in these classes whose schools had yet to reopen, just a third of surveyed households reported receiving materials and activities from school. Even fewer had had some form of contact with teachers to discuss childrens learning (28.5%), mostly comprising better-off families, as proxied by parental education levels.

The consequences of not designing mechanisms to address the situation of the youngest learners will be extremely grave, not only for individual children but for school systems as a whole. ASER has been reporting inadequate foundational skills among school-going children for over 15 years now. Although ASER 2021 was unable to do a learning assessment of sampled children, a state-wide assessment was conducted earlier this year in Karnataka -- the only state where it has been possible to conduct a field-based ASER, including a learning assessment, since the pandemic began. The fieldwork was done in March 2021, just ahead of the second wave of Covid-related shutdowns. The data on childrens foundational reading and arithmetic abilities was alarming even then, and it would be another six months before the schools finally began to reopen across the country.

Covering almost 20,000 children aged 5-16 across 24 of Karnatakas 30 districts, the learning data shows steep drops in childrens foundational skills, particularly in lower primary classes when these foundations are often shaky. In reading, for example, the proportion of children in Class 2 in government schools who were as yet unable to read even letters (beginner level) increased by 13 percentage points over 2018 levels. The proportion of children in Class 3 who could read at least Class 1 level text had fallen sharply, from 41.8 per cent to 24.2 per cent over the same period. Similar drops are visible in arithmetic.

There are ways in which schools can act to ensure that going forward, these dreadful outcomes are mitigated for children across the country. The first is to speed up mechanisms for finding and enrolling children who are not enrolled, so that young children can avail of critical inputs during this vital phase in their development. The second is to leverage the substantial learning support provided by families. ASER 2020 had reported enormous engagement from families in trying to ensure that children continued to learn. Although overall this proportion has dropped, it is worth noting that even in 2021, almost three quarters of children in Classes 1 and 2 continue to receive learning support from family members. Failing immediate measures to address the needs of our youngest learners, the ASER data on learning outcomes may be even worse in future years than it has been over the last decade and a half.
Re-entering India's sky after a gap of nearly 10 years, the Texas-based American Airlines is looking to connect more destinations, especially Mumbai to the US, via non-stop services.

Besides, the airline sees the sector gaining more capacity as competition heats-up, notably from the Tata Group-backed Air India.

This week, American Airlines launched a new non-stop flight between New York to New Delhi on a Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

In a conversation with IANS, Tom Lattig, Managing Director, EMEA, Sales at American Airlines said the airline has seen healthy demand from 'visiting friends and relatives' (VFR) in this sector.

Besides, the airline expects to cater to more of student traffic from the new academic session.

"We know there are a lot of Indian students in North America, who will travel back and forth. There is also a huge Indian population in the United States. So that is the biggest segment right now.

"We are also seeing quite a bit of North America point of sale, leisure business. So we do see some leisure customers, and then the corporate business is still a bit slow to materialise, but we do expect corporate recovery will happen," Lattig told IANS.

After Delhi, the airline plans to start a Bengaluru-Seattle service from March 2022.

"We are going to work really closely with IndiGo to make sure that we have good connecting times and services for both Chennai and Hyderabad for our Bengaluru service, and as the markets develop, we will evaluate, whether or not it makes sense to add more nonstop flights," Lattig added.

At present, the airline it has a codeshare agreemnet with IndiGo.

In aviation parlance, a codeshare agreement allows airlines to sell seats on each others' flights in order to provide passengers with a wider choice of destinations.

On other new destinations, he cited the airline's interest in launching a new non-stop flight to Mumbai. "Certainly, I think Mumbai is one we would look at."

Additionally, Lattig acknowledged the foreseeable competition in the sector.

"We certainly expect Air India and other airlines to be competitors for non-stop flying between India and North America. We are going to reach a lot more of the Indian market through our partnership with IndiGo, as long as, we have a fair level playing field to compete.

"I am sure there will be more capacity that gets added to the India-US market and we will add more capacity when we think it makes sense but good luck to Air India.

"I think they have got new backing and support from the Tatas, which should be good for them. We look forward to compete against them," he added.

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Moving quickly towards ending a retrospective tax dispute with a firm that gave India its largest oilfield, the government has accepted Cairn Energy PLC's undertakings offer which would allow for the refund of taxes, sources said.

Meeting the requirements of the new legislation that scraps levy of retrospective taxation, the company had earlier this month given required undertakings indemnifying the Indian government against future claims as well as agreeing to drop any legal proceedings anywhere in the world.

The government has now accepted this and issued Cairn a so-called Form-II, committing to refund the tax collected to enforce the retrospective tax demand, two sources with direct knowledge of the development said.

Also Read | Cairn withdraws cases against India, to get Rs 7,900 crore tax refund

Following the issuance of Form-II, Cairn will now start withdrawing all cases in international courts.

Once this is complete, the company will be issued a Rs 7,900 crore refund, they said, adding the withdrawal of cases may take up to three-four weeks.

While a Cairn spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comments, a senior finance ministry official confirmed the government accepted the company's undertakings.

Seeking to repair India's damaged reputation as an investment destination, the government in August enacted new legislation to drop Rs 1.1 lakh crore in outstanding claims against multinationals such as telecom group Vodafone, a pharmaceuticals company Sanofi and brewer SABMiller, now owned by AB InBev, and Cairn.

About Rs 8,100 crore collected from companies under the scrapped tax provision are to be refunded if the firms agreed to drop outstanding litigation, including claims for interest and penalties. Of this, Rs 7,900 crore is due only to Cairn.

Also Read | Retrospective tax settlement: Companies must indemnify government; wait five months to get refund

Subsequent to this, the government last month notified rules that when adhered to will lead to the Centre withdrawing tax demands raised using the 2012 retrospective tax law and any tax collected in the enforcement of such demand being paid back.

For this, companies were required to indemnify the Indian government against future claims and withdraw any pending legal proceedings.

Cairn on November 3 had stated that it has "entered into undertakings with the Government of India in order to participate in the scheme introduced by recent Indian legislation, the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021, allowing the refund of taxes previously collected from Cairn in India."

Cairn's undertaking furnished in Form No.1 under the rule 11UE(1) of the amended law has been accepted by the Principal Commissioner for Income Tax, the sources said.

The August legislation cancelled a 2012 policy that gave the tax department power to go back 50 years and slap capital gains levies wherever ownership had changed hands overseas but business assets were in India.

The 2012 legislation was used to levy a cumulative of Rs 1.10 lakh crore of tax on 17 entities, including UK telecom giant Vodafone, but nearly 98 per cent of the Rs 8,100 crore recovered in enforcing such a demand was only from Cairn.

India issued Cairn with tax claims six years ago, and in December 2020 the company won an international arbitration against such demands.

The international arbitration tribunal in December overturned a levy of Rs 10,247 crore in taxes on a 2006 reorganisation of Cairn's India prior to its listing, and asked the Indian government to return the value of shares seized and sold, dividend confiscated and tax refund withheld. This totalled USD 1.2 billion, plus interest and penalty.

The government initially refused to honour the award, forcing Cairn to identify USD 70 billion of Indian assets from the US to Singapore to enforce the ruling, including taking flag carrier Air India Ltd to a US court in May. A French court in July paved the way for Cairn to seize real estate belonging to the Indian government in Paris.

All these litigations will now be dropped, sources added.

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Shares of One97 Communications Ltd, Paytm's parent company, on Thursday made a tepid market debut, listing with a discount of over 9 per cent from the issue price of Rs 2,150.

The stock was listed at Rs 1,955, slipping 9 per cent from the issue price on the BSE. It then tumbled 20.67 per cent to Rs 1,705.55.

At the NSE, it debuted at Rs 1,950, registering a decline of 9.30 per cent against the issue price.

"Paytm, the biggest IPO in India so far debuted the secondary market on a weaker note as compared to our expectations of a flat listing," Santosh Meena, Head of Research, Swastika Investmart Ltd, said.

The company commanded a market valuation of Rs 1,26,737.50 crore in early trade on the BSE.

Ant Group-backed Paytm's Rs 18,300 crore IPO was oversubscribed 1.89 times on the last day of India's biggest share sale last week. This was greater than miner Coal India's Rs 15,000 crore offer a decade back.

The initial public offering of Paytm's parent company One97 Communications Ltd received bids for 9.14 crore equity shares against the offer size of 4.83 crore shares, according to information available with stock exchanges on November 10.

Paytm had fixed its IPO in a price band of Rs 2,080-2,150 per share.

Incorporated in 2000, One97 Communications is India's leading digital ecosystem for consumers and merchants.

It offers a range of services, including payment services and financial services.

Launched by a son of a school teacher from a small town Aligarh nearly a decade ago as a platform for cellular recharging, Paytm grew rapidly after ride-hailing agency Uber listed it as a fast cost possibility.

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Apples partnership with India is expanding in almost every way, said Priya Balasubramaniam, vice president of product operations at Apple, while speaking at the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2021 on Thursday.

Priya, a native of Bengaluru began her speech with Kannada congratulating the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai and team for hosting the world-class conclave-like BTS.

"It is a special privilege to represent Apple at a gathering in Bengaluru. Although Im speaking to you from Apple Park in California, I feel as if I am returning home. I see the Bengaluru Tech Summit as an incredible milestonenot only for me personally but for Apples growing presence in India," Priya said.

Apple has been in India for two decades and it first began assembling iPhones in Bengaluru in 2017. Apple's supply partners- Wistron Corp, Foxconn, and others-- now have expanded operations to produce multiple iPhone models for both domestic market and for exports.

It should be noted Apple's seven suppliers gained Platinum Zero Waste certification in just six months.

"Manufacturing is being transformed by new technology: Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, advanced robotics, 3-D printing and so much more. What they add up to is a new form of manufacturing. Some call it Industry 4.0, the fourth Industrial Revolution. We call it smart manufacturing. It is more resource-efficient and more sustainable. It also helps us reduce our environmental impact," Priya noted.



Priya Balasubramaniam, Vice President of Product Operations, Apple



Apple now supports more than one million jobs directly and indirectly through app development support, supplier chains, and allied retail business in India.

Besides the corporate offices in major cities, Apple has set up a Maps development center in Hyderabad and also App Accelerator in Bengaluru. The latter is helping thousands of budding app developers with new tools and technology to refine their products and improve the user experience.

Some of the iOS apps created by Indian developers such as Numerics ( to monitor key metrics like sales numbers or page views across their products), NaadSadhana (Music learning app) have gained global recognition.

Also, Maruti service stations across India allow their customers to use the Scan & Assure app to verify the authenticity of the parts used in car repairs.

Besides selling consumer electronics goods and giving a helping hand to app developers, Apple is also working with local companies such as Hero Cycles with dedicated apps to help manage inventory, sales, and interface with their customers.

Along with the supply chain, Apple is said to be investing significantly in India to develop its operations, expand its reach, and engage with more local suppliers.

"The higher education system in India is one of the best in the world and Im very proud to say that from my own experience. And here in Karnataka, the governments policies have already gone a long way toward encouraging business investment and strengthening our workforce. These state-level policies and the government of Indias policies to promote manufacturing, coupled with efforts to support the ecosystem of startups, like NASCOMMs 10,000 startups initiative, are already advancing us along the path to more opportunities, and more investment, " Priya said.

"We see an exciting opportunity for India to go further and train its emerging workforce in the foundations of smart manufacturing: intelligent design; connected and optimized systems that are agile, proactive, and sustainable," noted Priya.

Last year, Apple opened the official online store, and sells several products such as iPhones, iPads, Macs, Watches, AirTag, and others accessories directly to consumers. Now, that the company is complying with 30 per cent local sourcing of materials for assembling of devices, is slated to open standalone physical Apple Stores in India in the second half of 2021.

Priya's Bengaluru connection

Priya Balasubramaniam, as said before, is a native of Bengaluru, delved on her roots during the speech.

Priya studied Mechanical Engineering at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE). She was also pursuing a computer programming course at the same time period.

During her studies at UVCE, Priya was assigned to do research work on major technology companies. While most of her peers picked Microsoft, Intel and others, she picked Apple, which back then, had no presence in India.

Her lecturer was a bit confused by Priya's pick and asked her if she was sure about the choice, as it will be difficult to write a paper on a company, which sold no products at that time.

But, Priya, who takes inspiration from Steve Jobs, insisted to work on Apple.

A few years later, Priya got her hands on Apple's colourful Macs for the first time, while pursuing the MBA degree at Michigan State University.

By a happy coincidence, Priya soon landed a dream job at Apple. After two decades, she is now vice president of product operations at Apple.

"Let me tell you as a former engineering student from Bengaluru who discovered her passion for operations: today, there could be millions of students across Karnataka, throughout India, and around the world, staying after class to ask questions about Machine Learning and AI examining iPhones and MacBooks and wondering how theyre engineered and these sparks of curiosity could ignite the next generation of manufacturing. These smart young people are the future of smart manufacturing. As a proud member of the Apple team and as a proud daughter of KarnatakaI am privileged and excited to help play a part in developing that future and I want to thank everyone involved, including the government of India, " Priya concluded.

Priya Balasubramaniam speech at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021:

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
Three firemen of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) sustained burn injuries in the wee hours of Thursday after a parked car suddenly burst into flames at a house in Manjunatha Nagar of Ittamadu in Southern Bengaluru.

According to sources in the Fire Services Department, the incident happened at around 2:30 am.

The injured firemen have been identified as Harish, Rajashekar and Muthappa.

#JustIn: A parked car in Manjunatha Nagar, Ittamadu burst into flames post midnight & gutted the ground floor of the house completely.3 firemen sustained burn injuries when a cylinder exploded. #Fire #Karnataka @DeccanHerald #Bengaluru @KarFireDept pic.twitter.com/LAKLOzLyAO  Niranjan Kaggere (@nkaggere) November 18, 2021

Officials revealed to DH that the fire may have started from the UPS unit that was kept outside in the parking area. "The spark out of the UPS has burnt the box around it and subsequently engulfed the entire ground floor of the building leaving a sedan and two bikes completely gutted. When our personnel tried to extinguish the fire, the car suddenly burst into flames injuring three firemen. They sustained burn injuries on the face, hands and legs. All of them are stable and being treated at a hospital," explained an official.

Even though the sudden fire burnt the entire ground floor of the building, luckily there were no casualties as all of them were evacuated safely. "There were three people at the house. As the flames engulfed the house from all the sides, they ran up to the terrace and jumped over to the neighbouring building and escaped by breaking and opening the terrace gate. The fire personnel arrived in less than a few minutes since our call. As they were trying to douse the fire, the car suddenly exploded leaving them injured," explained a local resident.

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The Hollywood studio Miramax filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing director Quentin Tarantino of copyright infringement for his plans to sell nonfungible tokens based on the screenplay for his 1994 movie Pulp Fiction.

The lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Central District of California, also accused Tarantino of breach of contract, trademark infringement and unfair competition, according to court documents.

A representative for Tarantino did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The director announced the sale of the NFTs  blockchain-based collectibles whose popularity is currently booming  at an annual crypto-art event in New York this month.

Im excited to be presenting these exclusive scenes from Pulp Fiction to fans, Tarantino said in a news release, adding that the goal was to auction a collection of seven uncut Pulp Fiction scenes as secret NFTs, meaning their content would be hidden except to the owner.

The content includes the first handwritten scripts of Pulp Fiction and commentary from Tarantino revealing secrets about the film and its creator, according to the release.

But in its suit, Miramax contended that Tarantino did not consult the production company and said that it had certain broad rights to Pulp Fiction because the director had granted and assigned nearly all of his rights to Miramax in 1993.

On Nov. 4, lawyers for Miramax sent a cease and desist letter to stop the planned December sale of the NFTs, according to court documents.

The director remains undeterred and has refused to comply with Miramaxs demands to cancel the sale of Pulp Fiction NFTs, the suit said.

The studio also said in its suit that consumers could be confused into believing that Miramax was associated with Tarantinos sale of the NFTs, which could interfere with the companys own plans to sell NFTs from its library.

Miramax will defend all of its rights in regard to its library, including rights relating to NFTs, and will not allow Quentins representatives to deceive others into believing they have the authority to make similar deals in violation of the rights agreements they signed, said Bart H. Williams, a lawyer representing Miramax in the suit.

The company is seeking a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages.

Pulp Fiction, perhaps more than any other Tarantino film, has developed a cult following among fans, who have created memes, videos and costumes based on scenes and characters. Directed and written by Tarantino, the movie, which starred John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman, followed two mob hit-men, a boxer, a gangster and his wife as their lives intersected.

Tarantino won an Academy Award for screenplay writing for the film, and it received several other Oscar nominations, including for best picture, best director and for acting by Travolta, Jackson and Thurman. The movie grossed more than $213 million worldwide, according to the studio.

Tarantinos foray into the wealthy and sometimes eccentric world of NFTs comes as a variety of celebrities and athletes have embraced the tokens. The market for them has exploded this year, and owners of popular videos and memes have been cashing in, selling their rights to digital art, ephemera and media.

In February, Nyan Cat, an animated flying cat with a Pop-Tart torso that leaves a rainbow trail, sold for about $580,000. In April, Disaster Girl, a meme from a photo of a child smirking at the camera as a house burns in her neighborhood, sold in an NFT auction for $500,000. And in May, the original 2007 video Charlie Bit My Finger, in which an infant bites the finger of his older brother, sold as an NFT for $760,999. The family who created it said it would remove the original from YouTube.

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Two weeks of UN climate talks at Glasgow, UK, ended last week with a semantic dispute in the agreement's final text. Much of the developed world was disappointed by a last-minute change proposed by India and supported by China and other developing nations. India and China, the two largest producers and consumers of coal, succeeded in replacing the word "phase-out" with "phase-down" in the context of unabated coal power. This seemingly innocuous semantic change has now become the talking point around the world. Let's understand why it's such a big deal:

What does the climate pact say about coal power?

Under the Glasgow Climate Pact, 197 countries have agreed "to keep 1.5C alive" and "urgently accelerate climate action". In order to achieve this, the initial draft of the agreement had called for accelerating efforts towards the "phase-out" of unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and moving to cleaner energy options.

In the final text, the wording was changed to "phase-down", at the insistence of India, China and other developing nations.

Also read: Ultimate guide to why COP26 summit ended in failure despite a few bright spots

Why did India change the wording?

We all know that greenhouse gas emissions are the single biggest source of pollution in the world. And fossil fuels  coal, crude oil and natural gas  are the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. It is therefore essential that the world stops or minimises the use of fossil fuels. This would ensure that global warming remains under 1.5C degrees Celsius above what it was before the industrial age, which had set off climate change in the first place.

India objected to phasing out unabated coal power for obvious reasons. Coal-based thermal power plants meet more than half of India's electricity demand. And phasing out (gradually discontinuing) coal power will badly hit India and other developing nations. India instead suggested phasing it down (gradually reducing its size or amount).

India argued, quite forcefully and effectively, that developing nations should not be asked to stop using coal power when they still have to improve their economies and lift their citizens out of poverty. For the past two centuries, developed countries had used coal power to generate electricity and industrialise their economies. They have found coal power polluting only now and want poor countries to stop using it in the name of climate action. India further argued that it would be difficult for poor countries to stop using coal power because they do not yet have equitable access to clean energy options such as wind, solar or nuclear power. Unless poor countries are able to switch to clean energy options, they should have the option of using coal power but minimise it gradually.

Will the phase-down of unabated coal power affect climate action?

Despite all the brouhaha about coal power, phasing it out is not the be-all and end-all of climate action. The world needs to do much more to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Discontinuing other fossil fuels such as crude oil and natural gas is equally important.

Last but not the least, developing countries should be given the funds and the technology to transition to clean energy options. The cat will have to be belled by rich nations.

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Moderna has asked federal regulators to authorize booster shots of its coronavirus vaccine for all adults, a request that the Food and Drug Administration could grant as early as this week along with a similar request from Pfizer, according to people familiar with the planning.

If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also signs off, every adult who was fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna shot at least six months ago would not only be eligible for a booster but could choose which vaccine. The agencys committee of independent experts is set to meet Friday to discuss booster shots.

It would also allow President Joe Biden to fulfill his August pledge to offer booster shots to every adult  nearly two months later than the administration originally planned, though, and amid an ongoing debate among experts over whether extra shots are necessary for younger, healthy adults.

As it now stands, only people 65 or older or considered at special risk because of their medical conditions, jobs or living environments are eligible for boosters of the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Anyone who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot can already get a booster of any of the three vaccines, at least two months after their first injection.

Also read: Vaccine hesitancy big threat for India, says Serum Institute's Adar Poonawalla

By some estimates, the existing eligibility categories, which are broad but complicated, cover up to 70% of adults. More than 30 million Americans, or about 16% of those fully vaccinated, have already gotten additional shots. But under the federal rules, tens of millions more are still ineligible.

Even if federal regulators do not act on Modernas request this week, the FDA and the CDC are expected to allow all fully vaccinated adults access to Pfizers booster.

Modernas vaccine is considered more protective than Pfizer-BioNTechs; its dose for the initial two shots is 100 micrograms, while Pfizers is 30. Regulators authorized a half-dose of Moderna as a booster for older people and other vulnerable groups, in part to mitigate concerns about side effects; Moderna is seeking the same half-dose booster for the broader adult population.

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The American rapper Young Dolph was shot and killed Wednesday while he was in a cookie shop in Memphis, Tennessee, police said.

The Chicago-born artist, whose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton, was 36.

He was known for hit songs such as "Major," and his 2020 album "Rich Slave" shot to the top of the Billboard 200 list.

Thornton was reportedly shopping at Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies in Memphis when someone drove up and shot him, local press reports said.

Police said they have yet to identify a suspect.

The Memphis Police Department released a statement reporting the shooting and said "preliminary information" indicates the victim was Thornton.

Thornton was almost killed in a shooting in Los Angeles in 20017. He sustained three gunshot wounds, news reports said.

Earlier that year his car was sprayed with bullets in Charlotte, North Carolina.

After his death tributes from fellow rappers poured in, with Gucci Mane saying "RIP to my Dolph this broke my heart."

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Pakistan and Afghanistan have signed an agreement to increase the frequency of flights between the two countries and also to provide professional training to Afghanistans aviation staff in areas of security, traffic controlling, firefighting, air forecast, and airport management, according to a media report on Wednesday.

The bilateral agreement was signed during Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqis recent visit to Pakistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul in mid-August.

Kabul and Islamabad also agreed to be conducting ten flights every week between both capitals. Among them, two would be carried out by large planes and the rest by small ones, Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported.

The number of seats will be increased from 1,000 to 1,500 and planes will be able to fly from any airport of Pakistan to Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kandahar, said the report, citing a statement issued by the Afghan embassy in Pakistan on Tuesday.

In the meantime, Afghanistans planes will also be allowed to fly to the airports of Islamabad, Quetta, and Peshawar, the report said.

After the Taliban seized power in Kabul in mid-August, international flights to Afghanistan were halted.

Muttaqis three-day visit to Pakistan was not only aimed at attending the Troika Plus meeting but also to discuss bilateral issues including trade, transit, and the difficulties at crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan, it said.

The meeting attended by representatives from China, Russia and the US, coincided with the visit of Muttaqi, who arrived in Islamabad as part of efforts by the two sides to reset their ties in the wake of the Talibans takeover of Kabul in mid-August.

Muttaqi led a 20-member high-level delegation comprising Minister for Finance Hidayatullah Badri, Minister for Industries and Trade Nooruddin Aziz and senior officials from the aviation ministry.

The meeting was held after a break of three months and was expected to evolve consensus on how to engage with the Taliban government.

Pakistan has been trying to convince the world to diplomatically engage with the Taliban after they seized control of Kabul on August 15. However, the international community is still sceptical about the hardline Islamists, especially on issues like terrorism emanating from the war-torn country and their promises to respect human rights.

Afghanistan has been under the Taliban rule since August 15 when the Afghan hardline militant group ousted the elected government of President Ashraf Ghani and forced him to flee the country and take refuge in the UAE.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said that the West is "escalating" the Ukraine conflict by holding drills in the Black Sea and flying bombers near its borders.

His comments come as the US accuses Moscow of a troop build-up near Ukraine.

Western countries have for days raised alarm over Russian military activity near Ukraine, with Washington warning Moscow against making another "serious mistake" in the ex-Soviet country.

"(Our) Western partners are escalating the situation by supplying Kiev with lethal modern weapons and conducting provocative manoeuvres in the Black Sea," Putin said in a speech to the foreign ministry.

He claimed that Western bombers are flying "20 km from our border."

The longtime Russian leader said that Moscow has been "constantly raising concerns about this" but "all our warnings and talk about red lines are treated superficially".

Putin has been voicing concern about US naval exercises in the Black Sea for days, telling his French counterpart this week that they were "provocative" and leading to "increasing tensions" between Moscow and NATO.

He has also slammed Ukraine for using a Turkish-made drone against pro-Moscow rebels.

The Black Sea is a sensitive region for Russia, which controls the Crimea peninsula after annexing it from Ukraine in 2014.

Since then, Kiev has fought a conflict with pro-Russia rebels in the east of the country which has claimed more than 13,000 lives.

Renewed Western speculation about Russia's plans in eastern Ukraine has come amid a clash over an unexpected migrant crisis on the border with Kremlin-aligned Belarus and EU member Poland.

The EU has accused the Kremlin-backed regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus of purposefully luring thousands of migrants -- mostly from the Middle East -- to its doorstep as revenge for sanctions.

Some in the EU, including Poland, have said that Moscow is also behind the crisis.

"Brussels needs to understand that the decreasing of military-political tensions is not only in Russian interests, but in those of the whole of Europe, and even the world," Putin said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Kremlin said Europe should not blame Russia for "all problems".

"Russia has an interest in everybody in Europe finally coming to their senses and stopping considering Russia the culprit of all problems," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He added that Europe should instead "address the primary sources of the problems that are currently suffocating Europe".

Peskov's remarks come after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday warned Russia against any "military adventurism" on the borders of Ukraine and EU member Poland.

"Recently there have been a lot of hysterical publications in Britain," Peskov said.

"Russia is not waging any hybrid wars," he added.

Russia had carried out large-scale drills near the Ukraine border and in annexed Crimea in the spring, sparking concerns of a possible invasion.

Kiev, which in recent weeks downplayed the scale of Russia's presence at its borders, on Thursday said it was seeking more military aid from the West.

Videos circulated recently on social media have shown Russia moving troops, tanks and missiles towards the Ukrainian border.

"Russia's aggressiveness, both diplomatic and military, has increased considerably in recent weeks," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told a press briefing.

The minister said that after his visits to Washington and Brussels "work is under way to develop a comprehensive package for the containment of Russia".

He added that Kiev is in negotiations with the West for "the supply of additional defence weapons for our army".

Moscow, in turn, has accused Kiev and the West of warmongering.

This week, France's Macron told Putin that Paris was ready to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity, according to the Elysee.
The United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (Ulfa-I), the banned militant group on Thursday stated that the outfit would never compromise its "core demand" for sovereignty of Assam, for which it has been fighting for the past 42-years.

"Historically Assam was never part of India. Assam was a nation beaming with pride and sovereignty, which was later colonised by foreign invaders. This is legitimate and a historically correct fact, which needs to be brought into limelight. The 42-years old struggle for Independence is still continuing to restore Asom to its former glory. In addition, the sovereignty of Asom will never be compromised in the year to come," Ulfa-I Chief, Paresh Baruah said in a statement on Thursday evening.

The statement came a day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the dialogue process with Ulfa-I must be taken forward by striking a balance between the outfit's "core demand" for sovereignty and the ambit of the Constitution.

Sarma was reacting to Ulfa-I's extension of ceasefire for the third time, which many considered as a step forward to initiate dialogue with the outfit for permanent peace in Assam.

Formed in 1979, Ulfa has been carrying out violent movement with a demand for "sovereign Assam." Several efforts to initiate dialogue with the outfit since then did not fructify mainly due to the outfit's constant insistance on its "core demand."

Another group led by former Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa is in talks with the government since their release from jail on bail in 2011 but Baruah group is still continuing the armed fight.

Hundreds have died in the violence carried out by Ulfa and in counter-insurgency operations carried out by security forces.

Soon after becoming Chief Minister in May this year, Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed Baruah to come forward for talks. Weeks later, the outfit declared a unilateral ceasefire for three months citing Covid-19, which was further extended later twice. But Ulfa-I's insistence on its "core demand" again on Thursday made those observing militancy in the Northeast sceptical about possibility of early talks between the outfit and the government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 56th Conference of Director Generals of Police (DGP) and Inspector Generals of Police (IGP) at Police Headquarters in Lucknow over the coming weekend.

The two-day conference, beginning November 20, will be held in a hybrid format with DGPs of States/UTs and Heads of Central Armed Police Forces and Central Police Organizations attending the Conference at the venue in Lucknow, while other invitees joining through video conference facilities from 37 different locations at IB/SIB Headquarters.

The conference will discuss a wide range of issues including Cyber Crime, Data Governance, Counter Terrorism challenges, Left Wing Extremism, Emerging Trends in Narcotics trafficking, Prison Reforms among others.

Since 2014, Modi has taken a keen interest in the DGP's conference, making it a point to attend all sessions and encouraging free and informal discussions that provide an opportunity to top police officials to directly brief him on key policing and internal security issues affecting the country.

Since 2014, the annual conferences, which used to be organised in Delhi, have been held in different cities with an exception of the year 2020 when it was held virtually.

In 2014, the conference was organised at Guwahati, followed by Dhordo, Rann of Kutch in 2015; National Police Academy, Hyderabad in 2016; BSF Academy, Tekanpur in 2017; Kevadiya in 2018; and IISER, Pune in 2019.
A barefoot Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra undertook a five-kilometre 'maun parikrama' (going around silently) of the famous Kamadgiri Temple in the border town of Chitrakoot, and party leaders accompanied her chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. Had it not been for the Congress flags, a casual onlooker could very well have taken it to be a BJP event.

The decision to undertake 'parikrama' of the Kamadgiri Temple appeared to be a well-planned strategy as the Temple was revered as the holy embodiment of Lord Rama, who, according to the Hindu mythology, had spent more than 11 years of his 14-year banishment with Sita and brother Laxman at Chitrakoot.

Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi distances herself from 'Hindutva' debate

In fact, Lord Rama was also known as Kamtanath, which literally meant someone, who fulfilled the wishes of the people.

Priyanka visited Chitrakoot on Wednesday and addressed a meeting of women there.

Earlier also, while being on a visit during the 'Navratri' (nine-day long festival during which Goddess Durga is worshipped) to Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency of prime minister Narendra Modi, Priyanka had addressed a public meeting sporting 'tripundra' (Saivite tilaka on the forehead) and told the crowd that she was on 'fast'. ''Aaj Navratra ka chautha din hai aur mera vrat hai,'' (today is the fourth day of Navratri and I am fasting), she had said.

Also Read: 'Will fight UP polls alone': Priyanka Gandhi says no to alliance

The Congress leader had also begun her speech with two 'slokas' (couplets of Sanskrit verses) which were chanted especially during the 'Navratri' festival to please goddess Durga and made the people chant 'Jai Mata Di'.

During her visit to Varanasi Priyanka had also visited the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple and paid obeisance there besides offering worship at the 'Kushmanda Temple'.

Political analysts say that Priyanka appears to have decided to intensify her temple runs to counter the BJP in the forthcoming UP assembly polls.

Also Read: UP polls: Priyanka Gandhi likens BJP to 'kauravas', asks women to recognise their might

''She has signalled that she is not averse to the chanting of Jai Shriram by party workers.....she has made it a point to visit important Hindu religious places to launch her party's election campaign.....whether it helps the Congress in the assembly poll remains to be seen but it will certainly blunt BJP's attack on the grand old party,'' said a Lucknow based political analyst.

The Congress leader's aggressive 'Hindutva' appears to have rattled the BJP, which has, of late, indicated that it will prefer to target the Samajwadi Party (SP) rather than Congress in its election rallies.

While the saffron party leaders here sought to make light of Priyanka's turn to 'Hindutva', the state Congress leaders welcomed the change of strategy saying that it would help the party get rid of the 'pro-Muslim' tag. ''Now BJP as well as the saffron outfits will find it hard to attack Priyanka,'' said a senior UP Congress leader here.

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A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of having a separate time in legislatures for quality debates, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday took a dig at him, saying the question is will the prime minister ever participate in a debate in Parliament.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 82nd All India Presiding Officers' Conference virtually, Modi asked lawmakers and legislatures to follow Indian values and send a message to citizens through their conduct about giving primacy to one's duties.

He also mooted the idea of having a separate time in legislatures for quality and healthy debates that should be serious, dignified and devoid of political potshots at others.

Taking a dig at Modi, Chidambaram tweeted, "Interesting to read that PM stressed the need for 'quality debates' in Parliament. He also suggested setting a separate time for quality debates. The question is 'Will PM ever participate in a debate in Parliament?"

The Congress has been saying that the government is running away from debates on key issues in Parliament, a charge denied by the government which has stated that the Opposition has been disrupting the Houses and stalling legislative work.

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Comedian Vir Das is the new target of Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra for his controversial remarks - 'I come from two Indias'.

Mishra said on Thursday that Vir Das needs to tender an apology, otherwise, he will not be allowed to perform in Madhya Pradesh. "We won't allow such jester to perform, until he apologizes for his remarks," Mishra added.

Das, who is in the US right now, had on Monday uploaded a video on YouTube titled - 'I come from two Indias', which was a part of his recent performance in Washington DC.

Earlier, Mishra had directed to put a ban on sale of Congress leader Salman Khushid's book, 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times', which is based on judgement on Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Mosque dispute.

However, it is not the first time when Mishra has asked for a ban on artists to perform in Madhya Pradesh. Recently, he threatened Bollywood director Prakash Jha to change the title of his Bobby Deol starrer 'Asharam' of which, third part is being shot in Bhopal and surrounding areas.

He then proposed to bring some changes in policy to allow film shootings in the state, wherein directors have to submit a copy of the script to the government during accessing permission for it.

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Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has distanced herself from the 'Hinduism vs Hindutva' debate, and said that former External Affairs Minister Salman Khrshid's view on the whole issue was personal.

Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, she has tried to distance herself from the sensitive debate.

Also Read: 'Will fight UP polls alone': Priyanka Gandhi says no to alliance

Speaking in Chitrakoot after performing Parikrama of Kamtanath temple and offering prayers, she said, "Nobody can define it for me, this is my faith, it is his personal opinion."

The Congress is facing a stiff resistance within the party on the issue of the Hindutva debate. On Wednesday Manish Tewari had said that the Congress should not enter into such debates.

Tewari said, "Congress philosophically should not indulge in this debate which is miles away from its core ideology."

Tewari emphasised that the party should stick to its core ideology and should not deviate from it as the party leaders in the past tried to toe a 'soft-Hindutva' line to counter the BJP.

He said, "Those people who believe in 'Liberalism and Secularism' should be in the party, otherwise if you want religion to be part of politics then you should be in the right wing parties not Congress, which believes in secularism."

Priyanka tried to control the damage ahead of the state polls and distanced herself from the controversy as she herself is spearheading the campaign in Uttar Pradesh. She has visited all the important temples in the state so far. On Wednesday, she visited Kamtanath in Chitrakoot and the women dialogue was also conducted at the Ram Chat.

Salman Khurshid in his new book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times', in a passage 'The Saffron Sky' reads: "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years."

Also Read: UP polls: Priyanka Gandhi likens BJP to 'kauravas', asks women to recognise their might

Rahul Gandhi while speaking at a party function last week said, "What is the difference between Hinduism, as we know it, and Hindutva? Are they the same thing? If they are the same thing, why don't they have the same description? Why do they have different names? Why do you use the word Hinduism, why not just use Hindutva, if they are the same thing? They are obviously different things."

The Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad disagreed with Salman Khrushid and tried to control the damage. Azad said in a statement, "We do not agree with Hindutva as political ideology distinct from composite culture of Hinduism, but comparing Hindutva with ISIS and Jehadi Islamist is factually wrong and an exaggeration."

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For over 40 years, Inder Pal Singh has been ferrying passengers around Delhi's old city by cycle rickshaw in searing summer heat, and increasingly, choking winter smog. He says he has no choice but to carry on despite government advice to stay inside.

The city of 20 million was the world's most polluted capital for the third straight year in 2020, and air quality has hit hazardous levels there and in other parts of northern India for much of this month.

Delhi's provincial government has tried various measures to contain pollution, urging people to stay at home, closing schools and deploying anti-smog cannons which blast out water vapour to try to capture dust and other pollutants.

Also Read | Air pollution: Schools, colleges in NCR to remain closed, offices asked to allow 50% staff to work from home

But many of the thousands of rickshaw pullers in the city say they have to work.

"I have been driving a cycle rickshaw since I was 12 years old," said Singh, who does not know his age but says he is around 55 to 60.

"If I do not work, then what will I eat? Will (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi feed me?"

On a good day, Singh makes around Rs 500 ($6.73), sending most back to his family in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state.

The strenuous, antiquated job comes at a cost: a continuous itching and burning sensation in the eyes, he said.

Also Read | Big cars, bureaucratic inertia, blaming farmers: SC seeks clear steps to curb air pollution in Delhi

Mohammed Islam, a second rickshaw puller, said many were suffering from health ailments brought on by the pollution.

"We find difficulty in breathing and our eyes itch while riding rickshaws the government says to stay at home; if we sit at home, what will we eat?"

"The government does not make any arrangements for us, how will we survive by sitting at our homes? We have to feed our children."

The federal government led by Modi has shut down five coal-fired power plants around New Delhi, banned trucks carrying non-essential goods and stopped construction in the capital and its satellite cities.

But on Thursday, pollution levels were still rated as hazardous in many parts on the city.

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In perhaps his first public comment on digital currencies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday cautioned democracies of the world on the use of crypto-currency and urged them to work together to ensure it did not spoil the youth.

Take crypto currency or Bitcoin for example. It is important that all democratic nations work together on this and ensure it does not end up in wrong hands, which can spoil our youth, Modi said in his keynote address at the inaugural Sydney Dialogue via video conferencing at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021.

Modi was speaking on the theme of Indias technology evolution and revolution.

While there were benefits of the digital age, the world also faced new risks and new forms of conflicts across diverse threats from sea-bed to cyber to space.

The biggest strength of democracy is openness. At the same time, we should not allow a few vested interests to misuse this openness, Modi said.

Modi had last week chaired a meeting a crucial meeting on the way forward for crypto currency and warned that those cannot be let to become avenues for money laundering and terror financing.

Prior to that Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das had voiced his concern over Cryptocurrencies and their impact on macro economy and financial stability of a country.

Modi said there were five important transitions taking place in India.

One, the world's most extensive public information infrastructure being built in India. Over 1.3 billion Indians have a unique digital identity, six hundred thousand villages will soon be connected with broadband and the world's most efficient payment infrastructure, the UPI.

Two, use of digital technology for governance, inclusion, empowerment, connectivity, delivery of benefits and welfare.

Three, India has the world's third largest and fastest growing Startup Eco-system.

Four, India's industry and services sectors, even agriculture, are undergoing massive digital transformation.

Five, there is a large effort to prepare India for the future.

We are investing in developing indigenous capabilities in telecom technology such as 5G and 6G. India is one of the leading nations in artificial intelligence and machine learning, especially in human-centred and ethical use of artificial intelligence. We are developing strong capabilities in Cloud platforms and cloud computing, he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison too have virtually participated in the conference.

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Heavy rains on Thursday put brakes on 'Mahapadyatra' of Amaravati farmers in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district.

The organisers of 'Mahapadyatra', held to demand that Amaravati be retained as the only state capital of Andhra Pradesh, announced that the participants will stay in Gudluru. The walkathon will resume from the same village on Friday.

For last couple of days, the farmers, including women, were continuing the foot march despite intermittent rains. In view of the forecast of heavy rains, the organisers decided to halt it for a day.

Titled 'court to temple', the walkathon from Amaravati to Tirupati began on November 1.

Raising slogans of 'Jai Amaravati', the protesters are covering 10-15 km every day.

After passing through various parts of Guntur district, the foot march entered Prakasam district last week. Villagers along the route are joining the farmers to show their solidarity.

Leaders of the Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi and Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC) claim that they are receiving huge support from farmers, women and other sections of society.

They demanded that the State government drop its plans for trifurcation of the state capital and retain Amaravati as the only capital.

The mega walkathon, which began from Thulluru, is scheduled to conclude at Tirupati on December 17.

The walkathon will continue for the next one month to reach Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, passing through 70 major villages in Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, and Chittoor districts.

Barring the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), all political parties are extending support to the 'Mahapadyatra'. The YSRCP has, however, described the foot march as a ploy by TDP president and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu.

Amaravati farmers had been protesting for 700 days against the state government's plans for trifurcation of the State capital. With aMahapadyatra' their protest entered a new phase.

After coming to power in 2019, the YSR Congress Party government led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to shift the administrative capital to Visakhapatnam and the judicial capital to Kurnool while retaining Amaravati as only the legislative capital.

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This metropolis and northern districts in Tamil Nadu are bracing for extremely heavy rains on Thursday under the influence of a low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, just under a week after the city was battered by heavy rains inundating several localities.

MeT department and independent weather bloggers said Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore districts in the state and neighbouring Puducherry will be pounded by rains that are likely to begin Wednesday midnight. Most of the party received light rains on Wednesday but the weather bloggers said the intensity will increase gradually.

As MeT forecast heavy rains, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said it was prepared to face the rains. Sources said over 600 motor pumps are kept ready to drain the rain water from localities and subways immediately. The GCC has also kept relief centres and community kitchens ready to cater to the affected.

The city received over 40 cm of rainfall in just a week due to heavy rains last week. Three reservoirs  Red Hills, Sholavaram, and Chembarambakkam  that supply drinking water to the city are getting ready to release surplus water.

In its update, the MeT said the low pressure area over Southeast Bay of Bengal now lies over Southeast & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal with the associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level.

Pradeep John, a weather blogger, said the November 18 event for Chennai is a possibility with the low pressure area located perfectly such that the entire northern convergence falls over the Chennai belt.

We can see how the massive convergence is happening tomorrow morning over the Chennai belt and has now shifted a little south too. Right from Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ranipet and parts of Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Pondy will see rains as the massive convergence zone is seen even 100-200 kms of the coast too, he said.

Another weather blogger, K Srikanth, said North coastal Tamil Nadu between Cuddalore and Chennai may come under some heavy spell of rains on Wednesday as Bay LPA is all set to recycle rain bands. Increasing intensity rains will peak from Thursday morning. Cuddalore to Nellore remain vulnerable, he said.

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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Thursday alleged "terror link" in the recent killing of its worker in Kerala and demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into it.

RSS Sah Sarkaryawah (Joint General Secretary) Dr Manmohan Vaidya said this after meeting family members of A Sanjith, who was hacked to death in Palakkad district on November 15.

"We demand that the Central government intervene in the matter if justice is not delivered under (Kerala's) CPI(M) government. We also demand a detailed NIA probe into the murder of Sanjith as the perpetrators have terrorist links," he said in a statement read out to media.

Read more: RSS worker hacked to death in front of wife in Kerala

He termed the "targeted killing" of the RSS worker as "very unfortunate and highly deplorable."

Condemning the 'act of terror', Vaidya said, " We firmly stand by the family of the deceased. It's very pathetic that the democratically elected state government of Kerala has failed to prevent such targeted killings."

The RSS leader alleged that there was "a clandestine understanding between the ruling CPI (M) and Islamist forces in the targeted killing of Swayamsevaks" and demanded a "fair investigation".

The RSS also urged both the state and central government to further probe "the terrorist connections and anti national activities" of Popular Front of India (PFI).

Alleging that the PFI works with the "sole aim to destroy the communal harmony and peace" in society, the RSS also urged the government to ban its activities in the country.

The BJP and Sangh Parivar organisations have alleged that the activists of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political offshoot of PFI, was behind the broad daylight murder of Sanjith.

Twenty seven-year old Sanjith was hacked to death in front of his wife when he was taking her to her place of work in Mambaram in Palakkad on Monday morning, police said.

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Seven years after the formation of the Telangana state, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has donned the agitator role again now demanding the Narendra Modi government to procure paddy from Telangana.

On Thursday, chief minister Rao sat in protest at a dharna organised by his party at the Indira Park in Hyderabad.

We have only one question. Is the centre going to buy our paddy or not? Rao asked while addressing the gathering at the venue.

Also Read | Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao launches Dalit Bandhu in Huzurabad

The Rao government accused that the NDA government was not buying rice from Telangana and that lakhs of farmers in the state were suffering because of the centre's unjust policies.

Farmers are troubled not just in Telangana but all over the country. An agitation is on for over a year in the north against the farm legislation. Our country has 40 crore acres of cropland, hard-working farmers and brilliant scientists to support them. But the government neglect has resulted in India raking worse than countries like Pakistan in the global hunger index, Rao said.

This is the second agitation by the TRS over the issue in less than a week. Last Friday, the party had organized rallies across the state.

After the Huzurabad bypoll, the TRS and BJP are warring over paddy procurement. T-BJP is countering the TRS claims stating that Rao is blaming the centre while delaying the procurement process.

Also Read | Punish district collectors for touching KCR's feet: Congress leader

A tour taken up by state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay visiting farmers and yards in the Nalgonda region turned violent earlier this week as the TRS men allegedly attacked the BJP activists and damaged their vehicles.

On Wednesday, Rao wrote to Prime Minister Modi, appealing for completion of the procurement immediately and for the setting of the annual targets.

Rao stated that the Food Corporation of India policies is creating confusion in the minds of the farmers and the state government.

Target procurement is not fixed for the entire year in one go and even though the production is increasing every year, the procurement is not keeping pace. Due to this, it is becoming difficult for the states to plan an appropriate cropping pattern and explain the same to the farmers, Rao said in the letter.

The CM complained that when the Kharif 2021 rice output from Telangana was 55.75 LMT, the procurement was only 32.66 Lakh Metric Tonnes i.e., 59 per cent. This was less than the 78 per cent procurement in Kharif 2019-20. Such wide variations do not allow the state to implement a rational cropping pattern.

Pointing to the situation, Rao had earlier advised farmers against sowing paddy in Rabi.

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Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Wednesday arrested three more suspects in 120 kg heroin haul worth Rs 600 crore, taking the total number of arrested persons to six, and seized 24 kg more narcotics worth Rs100 crore. The investigation has revealed the drug trafficking racket has links to smugglers operating from neighbouring Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Punjab. The ATS probe has also taken the cops to men associated with Punjab-based gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's racket.

ATS officials arrested Arvind Chunilal Yadav alias Bindu, a resident of Munniwali, Sadulshahar taluka, Ganganagar district in Rajasthan, Iqbal Dado Bhangariyo, resident of Bandar Road, Jam Salaya in Jamnagar and Husain Rao, a resident of Jodiya village in Jamnagar district. Husain is son of Isa Rav who is wanted accused in this case.

According to police, Iqbal had delivered 12 kg of heroin, part of the 120 kg consignment originating from Pakistan, to Rajasthan's notorious drug mafia Bhola Shooter's men-Ankit and Arvind Yadav. Another consignment was also planned to be delivered to the same duo. Based on this information, ATS officials arrested Yadav and Iqbal from Sirohi in Rajasthan.

"It was revealed that since Bhola Shooter is in jail, Ankit, Yadav and other men were running the drug smuggling racket on Bhola's behalf," ATS stated in a press note. It said that Bhola Shooter, whose real name is Bharat Bhushan Sharma, is facing numerous criminal cases ranging from loot, murder, extortion, among others. ATS officials claimed that Bhola and his men are part of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's gang and Bhola is considered quite close to Bishnoi.

Meanwhile, a team of ATS officials raided house of Anwar Pateliya in Jamkalyanpur in Devbhumi Dwarka district and seized 24 kg heroin based on information provided by one of the accused Mukhtar Husain Jabbar. On Monday, ATS had seized 120 kg heroin and arrested Jabbar, Ghulam Umar Bhagad, a resident of Salaya in Devbhumi Dwarka and Shamsuddin Hussain Saiyed, a resident of Zinzuda village in Morbi district.

It was alleged that the trio had allegedly "diverted and appropriated" the heroin consignment from their Pakistan-based handlers. The consignment was supposed to be shipped to Africa after reaching Indian waters. "The accused wanted to get a commission of Rs 10 lakh to 15 lakh per kg by selling them to Indian smugglers," said a police official who is part of the probe.

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A cat-and-mouse game is common in Assam's frequent eviction drives against those illegally occupying government land, forests and water bodies. Many of those evicted are often seen re-occupying the land till they are evicted again. However, the eviction drives carried out since 2016, when the BJP formed its first government in the state and more so when Himanta Biswa Sarma became the Chief Minister in May this year, has become different.

Sarma's frequent claim that many of those illegally occupying the government land did not have names in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has added a new twist to the process of their rehabilitation. Even an affidavit submitted in the Gauhati High Court by a revenue officer in Darrang district said rehabilitation of those evicted from government land in the district in September would depend on several conditions, including their citizenship status.

"The questions over their citizenship have definitely confused the victims and the general people. The motive of such statements is definitely to garner political mileage. But the reality is that most of those who have been evicted from Dholpur (in Darrang) are Indian citizens and has their names in the NRC. And those whose names did not figure in the updated NRC cannot be termed foreigners till they are declared so by a court. So they have the right to claim land and other basic amenities from the government as guaranteed by the Constitution," adviser of All Assam Minorities Students' Union (AAMSU), Ainuddin Ahmed told DH.

Over 7,200 Muslims were evicted from 7,000 bighas of land at the Gorukhuti area in Dholpur in Darrang district in September. The drive, however, took an ugly turn on September 23 when two persons including a 12-year-old boy died in police firing and 10 others were injured. Darrang district administration said police had to open fire as they had attacked the police and government officials.

Also read: Assam government launches eviction drive in Lumding reserve forest, 1,500 people evicted

Chief Minister Sarma said the drive was part of the promise of his government and the party (BJP) to clear government land and forests from "encroachers." The Opposition Congress, on the other hand, alleged that the same was directed towards the Bengali-speaking Muslims only, whom BJP projects as foreigners and a threat to the identity and culture of the "indigenous" communities, before elections. Another drive was carried out in Lumding reserve forest in Hojai district between November 8 and 10, evicting the "encroachers." The drive in Lumding was, by and large peaceful, with many saying that the victims did not protest much fearing Dholpur-like police firing.

Over 19 lakh people were left out of the NRC, which was updated and published in August 2019 in order to segregate foreigners and solve the states long-standing problem of illegal migration from neighbouring Bangladesh. The citizenship of these people, most of whom are Bengali-speaking Muslims, continues to hang in balance as the process to allow them to move foreigners' tribunals and courts to clear their names has remained in limbo.

As Sarma and his government vowed to carry on with similar eviction drive in other districts, AAMSU took their fight to New Delhi by staging a protest at Jantar Mantar alleging that only Muslims are being targeted. "the Government of Assam, without verifying the historical reality and on some vested political agenda has engaged in an arbitrary, selective and illegal eviction spree by evicting genuine Indian citizens from their homestead without rehabilitating them and thereby forcing these people to live in a beastly nomadic life," AAMSU said in a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8.

Flood and erosion victims: A PIL filed by the leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader, Debabrat Saikia in Gauhati High court claimed that most of those evicted from Dholpur had lost their land due to flood and erosion that wreak havoc across Assam almost every year. Kamaljeet Sarma, the revenue circle officer in Darrang district, in an affidavit submitted in the high court, however, rejected the claim saying that such people did not have documents to prove that they were victims of erosion. "Whenever a family becomes a victim of erosion and becomes landless, they are to register that with a revenue office. But these people did not produce any such certificate," he said.

He claimed that these people migrated from other parts of Assam and occupied the fertile government land. "In the garb of being landless, some have become land grabbers," he said. Chief Minister Sarma also alleged a bigger conspiracy saying that intelligence agencies found that Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) had instigated the eviction victims in Dholpur leading to the clash with police on September 23. The eviction in Lumding was peaceful as it blocked the entry of the PFI workers, Sarma told a television channel in New Delhi recently.

Rights over land: The BJP leaders and those in the government have often projected the eviction drives as a fight to protect the land rights of the indigenous people against the threat from "illegal migrants" from Bangladesh. The government land at Gorukhuti was cleared for taking up a multi-crore agriculture farm to provide employment to people belonging to "indigenous" communities. The work is underway for the agriculture farm. "We want Assamese youths to get engaged in farming, fishery, piggery, dairy and other income-generating activities. Now all such jobs are in the hands of Bengali-speaking Muslims, who are growing crops in government land, forests and selling them to us. Our indigenous people must take control of such works," a BJP leader said.

Interestingly, Assam has not yet finalised the definition of who is an indigenous people.

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Despite a Supreme Court ruling forbidding further extensions in service to the Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Narendra Modi government has gone ahead and given a second one-year extension to Sanjay Mishra. An ordinance was promulgated a bare four days before Mishra was to demit office and two weeks before Parliament's Winter Session began.

The extension of the service tenures of the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Director of Intelligence Bureau have also been accomplished by ordinances. While the service of the directors of ED and CBI can now be extended up to five years, that of the others can be stretched to four years  one year at a time after they complete their mandatory tenure of two years.

Prime Minister Modi has been widely quoted saying, "We cannot march through the 21st century with the administrative systems of the 19th century." Yet under him, crucial bureaucratic appointments increasingly resemble the nomination of civil servants by the directors of the East India Company. Is the so-called "steel frame" of bureaucracy fast becoming a malleable fan club of loyalist bureaucrats?

Read: Sanjay Mishra becomes beneficiary of ordinance, to be ED chief for one more year

The government's actions favouring pliant officers by extending their tenure beyond superannuation show a complete disregard for the Supreme Court and a disdain for Parliament. As an ordinance is a legal route, the Supreme Court, contrary to the opinion of some legal experts, may not hold the government in contempt for bypassing its order. Nevertheless, it is a signal to the apex court that it cannot be a hurdle in the way of the executive.

Condescension for Parliament is evident because if there was a general need to extend the service of key officers beyond the mandated two-year period, this could have been brought before Parliament. Now it must rubber-stamp the whims of the current regime. The Modi government's haughtiness towards Parliament is rooted in its overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha and confidence that its clever machinations will get ordinances ratified in the Rajya Sabha.

Though spurred by the impending retirement of a particular bureaucrat, the present ordinances have transmogrified into something of larger significance. When the Supreme Court ordered that the tenure of the Directors of ED and CBI must be for two years, in 1997, in the Vineet Narain vs Union of India case, it was to maintain and strengthen their independence in the face of political pressure by the government. The Modi government has turned the intention of that order on its head. The possibility of a series of one-year extensions up to four and five years (in the case of ED and CBI) could potentially incentivise the politicisation of these departments and investigative agencies. Beholden to the government for extensions, those heading these institutions are likely to be guided by loyalty to the regime.

Indeed, there is enough evidence to suggest that the ED and CBI have been used punitively against Opposition politicians and other critics of the regime. The ED, for example, is investigating politicians such as Congress party's P Chidambaram and DK Shivakumar, Kamal Nath's nephew Ratul Puri, Uttar Pradesh leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, as well as the West Bengal illegal coal mining scandal involving people close to the Trinamool Congress, the Kerala gold smuggling case which helps the government target the Communist government there, a case against Robert Vadra and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal. The intelligence agencies are as much part of the mess in Jammu and Kashmir as the Home and Defence Ministries. They are the blunt instruments that the Modi government uses to underpin its ideological pursuits and majoritarian agenda.

It might be recalled that Prime Minister Modi began his tenure with an ordinance in order to override the legal bar to appoint retired IAS officer Nripendra Misra as his principal secretary. As a former member of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Misra was forbidden from taking any government employment after retirement. An enabling ordinance (The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Ordinance of May 28, 2014 ) provided the legal backing for Misra to take up his assignment just two days after the prime minister assumed office.

The omission of the post of foreign secretary from the ambit of these ordinances is telling and has been a matter of some public speculation. It reaffirms the argument that extensions will incentivise only those who broadly represent the "strong arm of the state"  the police, the paramilitary, intelligence gathering, financial and criminal investigations and prosecution.

From the case of Ashok Lavasa, a former IAS officer appointed to a tenured position of Election Commissioner, the government seems to have learnt that a one-time post-retirement tenure is not as effective in winning loyalty as a series of one-year extensions. Once appointed, Lavasa was perceived to have turned on his benefactors. He and his family faced the brunt of the ED and Income Tax Department till, it appears, that he agreed to exit peaceably by accepting the government's nomination as vice-president of the Asian Development Bank in Manila.

The links of the executive and the bureaucracy increasingly appear to be only notionally determined by the law under the Modi regime. They are strongly influenced by loyalty to the leader, servicing his ideological and political needs and his level of personal comfort with a bureaucrat. The current extensions suggest that the Modi government can only work with a coterie of tried and tested bureaucrats and police officers.

However, the All India Services pool is large enough to fish for talent. So is the government betraying nervousness at the end of its second tenure by its seeming reluctance to take a risk with those who rise the bureaucratic hierarchy based on fair promotions and merit? There is no a priori reason to doubt their ability or loyalty. Are the government's actions than an admission of its shrinking influence and legitimacy in the broader ranks of the bureaucracy itself?

(The writer is a journalist based in Delhi)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.

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The State Education Department, citing heavy and incessant rains across Karnataka, on Thursday directed the District administrations to decide on declaring holiday to schools and colleges.

Under pressure from the parents and student bodies, the state department of pre-university education on Thursday revised the dates of mid-term examinations for II PUC students.

As per the fresh circular released by the department, the exams will be conducted between 9 December and 23 December. Also, the examination for both I PUC and II PUC will be conducted together, according to the department. After stiff opposition from the parent and student bodies, the department has issued revised dates.

Also Read | Bengaluru schools to remain shut on Friday due to heavy rains

Meanwhile, the department has dropped the idea of conducting randomised evaluations at the district level. The circular issued on Thursday revealed that the evaluation will be conducted at the college level and the marks scored by the students should be uploaded on the SATS platform.

However, the question paper will be sent by the department for II PUC courses. Faculties at the college level have been directed to prepare question papers for the I PUC courses.

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In a major development, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Karnataka has transferred the case against bribe-givers to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), sources in the ACB said on Thursday.

Complaints were lodged with the ACB in against retired judge of Karnataka High Court BS Indrakala and Enith Kumar MC, a private individual.

The complaints were registered by office bearers of Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath. Co-Presidents Adarsh R. Iyer, Prakash Babu BK and Executive Member Vishwanath V.B. are the complainants.

It was alleged that retired judge Indrakala had given Rs 8.27 crore of bribe to one Yuvaraj a.k.a. Swamy to obtain a top post in the union government. Another accused, Enith Kumar MC had allegedly given Rs 30 lakh bribe to secure the post of President of Central Silk Board in Karnataka.

"The High Court of Karnataka earlier while referring to retired judge Indrakala's case observed that, "it is also most unfortunate that a former judge of the High Court has paid bribe to petitioner (Yuvaraj a.k.a Swamy) for securing the post of Governor which has not only lowered the dignity of a judge but has also affected the image of the Governor's post," complainant Adarsh Iyer explained.

The ACB has transferred these cases to the CBI citing the reason of lack of jurisdiction to probe the matter.

Earlier, ACB had lodged FIRs against three private individuals for giving bribes to obtain prestigious top government posts based on complaints by Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath.

The accused persons who had lost huge money given as bribe to Swamy had lodged police complaints asking the police to initiate action against the accused and recover their money.

Based on these complaints filed with the police, Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath had lodged complaints with the ACB against them for indulging in corruption, seeking legal remedy for the money they lost which is given as a bribe.

Further investigation is on.
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A 58-year-old woman who a judge said showed 'no regard' for road traffic laws has been hit with community service and disqualified from driving again.

Lorna Johnston, of Riverside South, Castledawson, appeared for sentencing via video link at Magherafelt Magistrates Court on charges of driving while disqualified, having no insurance and withholding information to obtain insurance.

Judge Mullan began by telling the court the defendant's pre-sentence report had made for 'unbelievable reading', and that she had no regard for road traffic laws.

She said Johnston had already received suspended sentences, probation and disqualification, but that she continued to get into a car in the knowledge that she could well go to prison.

Addressing the defendant, the judge asked why this was the case.

A lot of it has to do with my head, but I've been working with the mental health team to get it in order, she replied.

Judge Mullan told the defendant the court had been 'patient' with her, and noted she had even gone out, bought a vehicle while disqualified and then subsequently drove the vehicle.

Defence for Johnston said she had engaged with probation and that they hoped she had begun a process of rehabilitation as a result.

The court was told the defendant now understood she could not just get in a car and drive anymore.

Judge Mullan ordered Johnston to complete 200 hours of community service, fined her 150 and disqualified her from driving for a further period of 18 months.

A 15 offender's levy was also imposed, and the defendant was advised by the judge not to buy any more vehicles while disqualified from driving.
Karan Tacker has been a very popular face on TV. He was loved by one and all. He was recently seen in a special appearance in Special Ops 1.5, and had been an important part of Special Ops, and would have a major part to play in Special Ops 2. Now, in a recent interview, he opened up about the discrimination that actors from TV are still subjected to.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Tacker (@karantacker)

Talking to HT, he said, People say it is a great time for everybody and we are breaking through, but it is still very challenging for an actor from TV. I am talking about myself. What happens is it is not that one project that is making a difference anymore now for an actor from TV. They expect project after project, and until you are not giving back-to-back hits, people do not want to take that risk in making something with you because you are from television. He added, I know how hard it is for my peers from TV to get work that you really want to do. Bada tough hai, aaj bhi. Even for me who has done Special OPS, I am being very picky in my next projects. It has taken me literally nothing less than four-five years to make a mark for myself and for people to forget that I did TV, and I may be more than just a pretty looking face.

He also said that makers of web shows too sometimes do not look at TV actors, or they aren't given well-mounted projects. He said, Think about it, how many actors from TV are working on the web successfully? Bollywood actors are coming to the web as well. Thats the catch. People keep saying doors have opened and content has become so on and so forth, which is true. But I dont see any actors from TV doing well-mounted projects. So yes, they (makers) just refuse to look at actors from TV even for web projects, 100 percent.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Tacker (@karantacker)

Many TV stars had opened up about the discrimination that they face because they had been a part of the industry. However, several TV stars still went ahead and followed their dream, but only a few had been sucessful.
Bollywood star Preity Zinta on Thursday announced that she and her husband, financial analyst Gene Goodenough have become parents to twins- a son and a daughter- through surrogacy. Zinta, who has been away from the big screen, said they have named their newborn babies Jai and Gia.

"Gene & I are overjoyed & our hearts are filled with so much gratitude & with so much love as we welcome our twins Jai Zinta Goodenough & Gia Zinta Goodenough into our family," she wrote on Twitter. The actor also thanked the medical staff and their surrogate "for being part of this incredible journey". "Loads of love and light," Zinta, 46, added. See the post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Preity G Zinta (@realpz)

Several stars and her friends from the industry congratulated the actress and her husband. Right from Nargis Fakri to Iulia Vantur and Aastha Sharma, everyone was overjoyed.

Preity Zinta, who made her acting debut in 1998 with Mani Ratnam's Dil Se, tied the knot with her American boyfriend Gene Goodenough in a private ceremony in Los Angeles in 2016. Her film credits include titles like Soldier, Kya Kehna, Dil Chahta Hai, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Koi Mil Gaya, Veer-Zaara among others. Zinta was last seen in 2018 action-comedy Bhaiaji Superhit, which marked her return to the screen after a seven-year hiatus.
Minister Byrne to attend Ulster Tower Centenary Event

Press release

Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., will travel tomorrow to France to represent the Government at an event commemorating the centenary of the construction of the Ulster Memorial Tower. The Tower, which is located at Thiepval in northern France, commemorates those Irishmen, from the province of Ulster, who lost their lives in the First World War. It was first official memorial to be erected on the Western Front and was dedicated on the 19th November 1921.

Speaking ahead of the event Minister Byrne said:

I feel privileged to represent the Government of Ireland at this event. Just as when we stood together here in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, this event is about a shared commemoration of all those from the island of Ireland who lost their lives in the First World War. It is about remembering the enormous and destructive impact of the war on that generation, and how it has shaped our history.

We have come a long way indeed in ensuring that this chapter of our history is fully recognised and better understood as part of our shared heritage.

At the ceremony, Minister Byrne, will lay a wreath to remember those from Ireland who lost their lives during the First World War. He will be joined by other political representatives from Ireland and Britain. Members of the Defence Forces Band of the 2 Brigade will also perform at the ceremony. Following the event, Minister Byrne will travel to the nearby town of Guillemont where he will lay a wreath at the Celtic Cross First World War monument. The Celtic Cross stands in remembrance of the 16th Irish Division, which entered the Battle of the Somme in September 1916.

ENDS

Press Office

18 November 2021

Notes for Editors The Ulster Memorial Tower stands on what was the German front line during the Battle of the Somme, July to November 1916. It was erected on the site of the Schwaben Redoubt, a strongly fortified position, which the Ulster Division eventually captured. It is opposite Thiepval Wood from where the 36th (Ulster) Division made charged at the German frontline on first day of the Battle of the Somme.

The 36 th Ulster Division was made up of volunteers drawn from across all nine counties of Ulster.

Ulster Division was made up of volunteers drawn from across all nine counties of Ulster. The 36 th Ulster Division was joined on the Western Front in September 2016 by the 16 th Irish Division, which was formed by men from across the island of Ireland. The two divisions fought side by side at the Battle of Messines in 1917.

Ulster Division was joined on the Western Front in September 2016 by the 16 Irish Division, which was formed by men from across the island of Ireland. The two divisions fought side by side at the Battle of Messines in 1917. The event has been organised by the Somme Association, who manage the Ulster Memorial Tower site in Thiepval.

As part of the Governments participation in events in 2016 to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, Minister Heather Humphreys represented the Government at the ceremony at the Ulster Tower on 1st July marking the role played by the 36th Ulster Division and again participated in the ceremony in September in Guillemont remembering the contribution of the 16th Irish Division.

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The seventh edition of Google for India 2021 just concluded with Google announcing many new India-centric features for its apps like Google Pay and Assistant

The seventh edition of Google for India 2021 just concluded with Google announcing many new India-centric features for its apps like Google Pay and Assistant. It also announced some initiatives like the Google Career Certificate scholarships in partnership with leading companies and has reiterated its support for SMBs and micro-enterprises.

In 2020, Google announced the Google for India Digitization Fund and collaborated with Reliance Jio for its JioPhone Next smartphone that aimed to allow 2G users to migrate to 4G LTE. The JioPhone Next is powered by a Qualcomm chipset and runs on Pragati OS for which both Google and Jio joined hands.

In a roundtable discussion with Google for its Android growth strategy in India, it was hinted that the company may partner with more telecom operators in the future. It is likely that Google may partner with other telcos for a smartphone along the lines of JioPhone Next or may help them develop a custom OS based on Android.

Book COVID vaccinations via Google Assistant

Google has announced a pilot program in partnership with COWIN for Google Assistant-enabled vaccination booking on the COWIN website. In it, Google has integrated its Assistant in the booking flow which means people will be able to book their vaccine slots with much more ease bringing down the barrier for people who find it a hassle to fill forms, use a smartphone and more.

The feature currently supports nine languages including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu. It will be available for everyone in early 2022.

Expanding local language ecosystem in Search results

There are times when people are looking for a piece of particular information on Google in their local language but they are served with Search results in English. Now, Google is expanding its machine learning and translation techniques to offer search results in local languages, even if the source web page is in English.

The feature can be accessed through any mobile browser that supports Google Search and is available in five languages for now including Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

Furthermore, Google is also expanding its voice translation service to enable users to hear the search results out loud. It is available in Hinglish, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, and Tamil.

Google Pay new features: Hinglish, Bill Split and MyShop

Google Pay is getting some new features such as the ability to use the app in the Hinglish language option with just a tap of a button. Users of Google Pay will now be able to use voice commands to pay to another user or business.

Another really handy feature is Bill Split which can be used to split expenses between friends and settle shared expenses very easily.

Google has also announced the launch of MyShop on Google Pay where micro-businesses and merchants can establish their online presence and build a store quickly by adding a few images and prices of the items they are selling online. All these new Google Pay features will go live in the coming months.

Climate and weather alerts on Google Search

Google is expanding its climate-related efforts for India with some new features on Search which will offer air quality information, weather alerts and flood forecasting updates in the search results.

For air quality updates, Google has partnered with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and is offering information for people who search for queries like Air quality near me.

It has also partnered with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) for weather alerts in extreme climatic conditions. In the case of any severe weather alerts, the At a Glance section and Google Search will both show weather updates and alerts issued by the government.

Google Flood Forecasting Initiative has been working with the government to predict when and where flooding could happen. Their new models have doubled the lead time and Google has already issued over 110 million notifications to at least 20 million affected people.

100,000 scholarships for Google Career Certificate Program

Google has also announced 100,000 scholarships for its Career Certificate program which enables users to develop their skill-set and become job-ready in IT, Data Analytics, UX design and more. Google is collaborating with NASSCOM Foundation, Tata Strive and Safeducate for distributing the scholarships to learners across India.

Google along with major companies like Tech Mahindra and Wipro has established a consortium for job seekers and those enrolled in the Career Certificate program.

Google has also collaborated with SIDBI for 110 crore financial assistance to micro-entrepreneurs.
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By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS

Associated Press

SPOKANE  The head of Washington state's bipartisan redistricting commission that failed to meet its deadline for redrawing political maps urged state Supreme Court justices to still consider their work now that the high court will have to complete the process.

The panel had a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Monday to approve new boundaries for congressional and legislative districts following the 2020 census but acknowledged Tuesday it had not been able to complete its task on time.





. . .
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Photo by Security Properties [enlarge] Panoramas large garage is topped with a pool and many outdoor amenities.





The Panorama apartments, at 1100 University St., have sold for almost $119.9 million, according to King County records. The seller was Panorama House Venture LLC, associated with Security Properties, which acquired the property in 2014 for nearly $74 million.





. . .
The domes, part of a luxurious tourist complex, the Kachi Lodge Hotel, were under the ownership of a bolivian and swiss group of enterpreneurs, the Amazing Escapes Bolivia SRL, a company that has operated in the tourism sector for over 30 years both in Bolivia and abroad. The tourism company stated that, despite its numerous requests of protection by law enforcement, the authorities did not show up.

In a press conference, the governor of Oruro, Johnny Vedia, told that he reported the perpetrators to the Public Ministry for crimes of conspiracy and destruction of private property.
Udaras na Gaeltachta has welcomed the announcement by OCO Global, the international trade and investment consulting firm, that they are to establish a strategic base in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair to faciltate their continued expansion into the Irish market.

Headquartered in Belfast, OCO Global, works with governments around the world to promote trade and investment, and advises private sector clients on international expansion.

Gaoth Dobhair will join other OCO Global office locations such as Belfast, Dublin, London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, Shanghai, and Tokyo where the company employs 150 staff worldwide.

With a growing base of clients in regional enterprise and economic development the new office in Gaoth Dobhair will complement OCOs current Irish offering working with overseas Government clients to support them in developing trade corridors across Ireland and relationships with leading Irish businesses. To that end the company are already seeking to recruit trade and investment analysts for a number of vacancies to be based in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair.

Mark OConnell, CEO of OCO Global commented:

We are delighted to expand our international network to Donegal. My team has recently completed a number of economic development projects for Donegal County Council so we understand the potential of the region and the depth of skills available. OCO offers the opportunity to work internationally, from a local base and were confident that we can build an excellent team here to support our continued expansion in the Irish market. The pandemic has opened our eyes and our clients to the potential for regional economic development, precipitated by a re-engagement with place and liveability, remote and home working, domestic tourism, and the rebalancing of city centric FDI with regional enterprise and more sustainable investment.

Anna Ni Ghallachair, Chairperson of the Board of Udaras na Gaeltachta stated on behalf of the Board:

It is very encouraging for the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta to see innovative global companies looking to establish a base in Irelands Gaeltacht areas where a skilled workforce will provide companies with the growth and expansion opportunities that they require. The unique language communities that define the Gaeltacht provide a culture of innovation and creativity in which businesses can prosper and grow with the support of Udaras na Gaeltachta. The growing gteic network of digital hubs offer fantastic business and work life balance opportunities for OCO Global which will resonate with their overseas clients as the embodiment of Irelands value proposition and our agile and adaptable business environment.

Making the announcement Micheal O hEanaigh, Chief Executive Officer, Udaras na Gaeltachta said:

Udaras na Gaeltachta is delighted to welcome global trade and investment consulting experts OCO Global to the Donegal Gaeltacht. We look forward to working in partnership with the company to grow and prosper from their new strategic base in gteic@Gaoth Dobhair but also in promoting regional enterprise and economic development in Irelands Gaeltacht Areas. Our gteic network of digital and innovation hubs have forged links worldwide through the fantastic companies that have set up and relocated there and Udaras na Gaeltachta will continue to support and develop this burgeoning digital ecosystem.
A Donegal woman has spoken out about the health challenges she has endured as a result of what she described as the broken health service.

In 2015, Natasha Crumlish from Moville in Inishowen, noticed a lump under her tongue. She immediately contacted her dentist and GP and was referred to the Oral Maxillo clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH).

Oral Maxillo is the diagnosis and surgical care of the mouth, jaws, skull, face head and neck.

Ms Crumlish told her, at times distressing, story in the same week the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) revealed there were currently 7,000 people across the North West on the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) waiting list.

Speaking in a special video released by IHCA, Ms Mary Bresnihan, a Consultant ENT Surgeon in Sligo and Letterkenny said ENT procedures were often subject to delays and have some of the longest waiting lists as a result, which leads to the risk of cancers not being detected.

Ms Bresnihan added some patients may wait five years to be seen.

Natasha said the lump under her tongue grew silently.

She said: Every now and again it would swell up and go down and swell up again. I would take a bad chest infection, so I was taking antibiotic, after steroid, after antibiotic. The antibiotics made the lump under my tongue worse. I also had slight, accompanying pain in what felt like my my ear. This continued until 2019.

The mum of two boys said she then checked to see where she was on the LUH Oral Maxillo waiting list.

She said: In 2015 the lump underneath my tongue was noted to Oral Maxillo and by 2019, I had still not received an appointment.

Prior to this, I had received a letter to go to an 'overflow appointment' to a private clinic in Belfast. The doctor there looked at the lump and told me it would surgery. I was referred back to LUH.

When I rang LUH, because the ball underneath my tongue was getting much bigger and I was starting to get flu-like symptoms, I was told I had been taken off the waiting list.

By this stage, I was weak. I was maybe having five good days and three bad. I just knew there was something wrong with my body. My GP subsequently referred me to a hospital in Dublin.

An at times emotional, Natasha said Covid-19 was very much present in the two years she was seeking treatment for the lump underneath her tongue.

She said: On top of dealing with the lump under my tongue, you can imagine how hard it was to get into a hospital that was not even in my own jurisdiction.

I was coming from Donegal. I was travelling. Dublin took me on as a brand new patient, notwithstanding the fact the lump had been developing since 2015.

My blood pressure was grand. My bloods were grand. I was so grateful. They saw me for six months. I was up and down. Sometimes appointments were cancelled. Finally they agreed to take me in for surgery in August past. They took me in for three days and on the Friday morning they were going to biopsy the lump underneath my tongue.

I was prepared for surgery. They told me it was going to be extremely sore because of the location. The lump was right underneath my tongue, running parallel with it, which meant it was running with tendons and nerves. It wasn't just a lump sticking out, it was like a growth.

Just before the surgery was due to take place, the Consultant told Natasha Crumlish they were not going to operate. She was recommended to seek private treatment, with a Plastic Surgeon in attendance, as it was an intricate procedure.



She was also told the lump was not a cyst. Devastated, Ms Crumlish returned home.

The surgery would have required removing the lump by going in through her neck, under her jaw, which would have required the cutting of nerves and tendons.

By this stage, the lump was the size of a Brazil nut, said Natasha Crumlish. It was putting a lot of pressure on my neck and my jaw and my ear but consultants were telling me there was nothing wrong. My MRIs were clear.

In January 2021, I turned 40. I was extremely sick. I had no energy, no love for life. I didn't want to talk to anybody. My body was drained. I was in so much pain.

In March I fell sick. I ended up packing my bags and going down to University Hospital Galway (UHG) because I felt I had no other choice. I begged to be seen in the hospital.

They saw me in the Emergency Department. I was really ill. I had an infection somewhere. At 7.30pm they said I could go home. They handed me a prescription and told me to get it filled in the morning. Then they asked me to leave, because of Covid-19 regulations.

This was one of my lowest points. I got a taxi to the bus depot but the last bus to Donegal had gone. The depot shutting up. Everywhere was shut. I was a mess and was resigned to curling up into a ball and sleeping in the street when a fella in the bus depot rang the Harbour Inn Hotel who took me in. I owe him and the hotel a massive thanks. They saved my life.

Natasha said her family were devastated.

Finally, on May 24, 2021, Natasha had her Sublingual glands removed with a lymph node that was in a cushion of tissue, in an operation at the North West Independent Clinic in Ballykelly, Co. Derry.

After the operation, I thought, 'That's it. It's all over.' said Natasha, but I still had the accompanying ear pain and neck pain, symptoms we are told to worry about if they persist for more than three weeks.

But I was ready to live my life that I have not been able to live for the previous five years, during which my boys had grown up. I got a new job. I loved it. Inside, however, I did not feel great. I powered on through but six week's later the flu-like symptoms came on me again. They come in waves.

My body gave up. I was baffled because this time it was really, really bad. 12 weeks later, I had life-changing fatigue. I still had ear pain but every time my ear was examined, nothing was seen. Ballykelly then advised me to seek a referral to ENT.

I am taking antibiotics, steroids, anti-inflammatories. I have also had nine Covid-19 tests, which have all been negative. I should have been hospitalised the past 115 days. I am constantly in tears. A month ago, I said to my loved ones, I am living my last days. This is how sick I am. The pain in my ear, throat and neck was unbearable. It is modern day cruelty.

Following a trip to Knock, Natasha Crumlish was referred to Sligo University Hospital (SUH), where, five weeks ago, the consultant noticed a bruise inside her ear.

Ms Crumlish said: I felt I was not being listened to. Not being heard. Not being taken seriously. When the consultant saw the bruise, I thought, 'I am not going crazy'.

It felt to me that my left tonsil was trying to grow back. I had them removed when I was six. There was pressure in the cavity of the wall between my ear and throat. The consultant told me it needed to be dealt with urgently and to go home and 'get things in order'. I underwent and emergency CT scan at LUH and prepared for a cancer diagnosis.

I was so angry. I am on prescription medication for the pain, which is unbearable.

However, the scan was clear and the consultant in SUH said they would add me to the ENT list and re-evaluate my case further down the line.

So, I sought a consultation at the North West Independent Clinic. The consultant there listened to me. I left feeling heard. They looked in my mouth and said I needed a biopsy immediately.

I have endured suffering. I have spent 18 months running the country and now I may have cancer. My left tonsil root has to be removed and biopsied. In the meantime, I have received an 'emergency' appointment for LUH for February.

The Moville woman, who is currently isolating before going for surgery to Ballykelly said her experience showed the Health Service was broken.

She added: The Health Service is broken. There is no shame in recognising we have a problem. The shame lies in no-one taking responsibility for fixing it. Why is no-one speaking up? Why is nothing being done?

My house has mica but I can't even start to worry about that. I am facing demolition, yet, I have had to lie on the couch for 115 days watching the outside world.

I wanted to tell my story to illustrate the breakdown of the system. The pain in my ear is unbearable, yet I am being treated like I am a bother. I think I would be better off going to a vet.
There have been calls for Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to implement the safety recommendations from the final Rescue 116 report as soon as possible.

It comes after a sombre debate took place in the Dail last night about the final report, issued by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) on the crash, which killed four, including local man Captain Mark Duffy.

The report itself was published earlier this month, with it concluding that the accident was an organisational accident, with poor weather and a lack of information on flight databases also being highlighted.

The four crew on board the Rescue 116, Captain Mark Duffy, Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, winchman Ciaran Smith and winch operator Paul Ormsby lost their lives after the helicopter crashed on March 14th 2017.

The aircraft crashed into Blackrock Island, which is just off the coast of Mayo.

Minister Eamon Ryan lead the tributes to the four crew killed, saying that the accident was an appalling tragedy.

The R116 accident on 14 March 2017 was an appalling tragedy. It claimed the lives of four people who, with consummate professionalism and total dedication, gave themselves to the task of saving others, said Minister Ryan.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend again my heartfelt sympathy to the families and loved ones of pilot Ms Dara Fitzpatrick, co-pilot Mr. Mark Duffy, Mr. Ciaran Smith and Mr. Paul Ormsby.

The Minister said that he accepted all of the 42 safety recommendations addressed to him within the report, but that due to the size and complexity of the report, the Department of Transport needed time to examine it in detail.

Sinn Feins Transport Spokesperson, Darren ORourke said that while he welcomed the Minister accepting the recommendations within the report, he sought a timeline for when they would be implemented.

Accepting these recommendations is not enough and I would like the Minister to outline a timeline for when each of the 42 safety recommendations will be fully addressed and implemented, said Deputy ORourke.

It is essential that each of the recommendations is acted on with haste to ensure everything is done to try to prevent another such tragedy.

Co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine Murphy, said that the Rescue 116 accident was a preventable tragedy, highlighting the fact that the lack of mapping of Black Rock island was notified as a hazard to CHC Ireland, who ran the search and rescue mission.

The accident involving helicopter R116 was, for many reasons, an entirely preventable tragedy. In 2013, the mapping of the terrain of Black Rock Island was notified as an omitted hazard on the EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) in 2013 by a pilot, said Deputy Murphy.

The information was circulated to the manufacturer of the system and to CHC Ireland, but no action arose from the communication.

This is a tragedy that has been lodged not only in the minds of the families who have been so directly impacted by it, but also in the minds of the public. The loss of lives that occurred in this way resonated deeply with people on that day and still does today.
There could be a temporary return to peat harvesting due to recommendations proposed by the Governments Working Group on Horticulture Peat.

It is understood that the groups final report includes a recommendation for the resumption of peat harvesting from next year up to 2030, or 2035, until a suitable alternative product is found.

It is believed that a single-licensing system is also recommended for the sector.

It remains to be seen, however, what volumes of peat will be allowed to be harvested.

It is understood the report finds that the continued importation of horticultural peat is unacceptable, both environmentally and economically.

While it is accepted that the industry needs to move away from peat use to alternatives by 2030-35, there are no viable alternatives currently available.

However, Biomass sources may be an alternative option in future.

There was anger earlier this year when it emerged that peat was imported from Latvia. On one occasion, 3,600 tonnes of peat from Latvia was imported in one weekend.

Its an unbelievable scenario given that horticultural peat is readily available and can be harvested in a sustainable, environmentally friendly manner in this country, IFA President Tim Cullinane said at the time.
Before it began, Greta Thunberg called it blah, blah, blah. While it was going on, the foreign minister of the low-lying Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe, wearing a suit and tie, at a lectern - but with the sea lapping round his knees - told the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow by video link: We are sinking, but so is everyone else. Afterwards, Britains COP26 President Alok Sharma called the conference a fragile win. For observers right across the spectrum of opinion, COP26 has shown the worlds progress towards a low-carbon future in a sobering light.

The upside: after two weeks of nail-biting negotiating, the more than 190 nations represented managed to cut a deal on climate change.

The Glasgow Climate Pact reaffirmed the commitment in the Paris Agreement of 2015 to hold the temperature rise caused by human activity to well below 2oC and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5oC. It referred to scientists reports on climate change, showing the big difference in real-world outcomes between 2oC and 1.5oC.

The downside: to get to 1.5oC, the Pact also said, we need to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. But that is not happening. The current round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs are the cuts each country pledges to make, growing more ambitious over time, which added together should keep the temperature from rising to catastrophic levels) actually add up to a nearly 14 increase in emissions by 2030 from 2010 levels. This implies a temperature rise of well above 2oC.

A positive way of looking at it is to say that, when the Paris Agreement was struck in 2015, the commitments made then added up to 3oC of warming; now we are closing in on 2oC, said Harry Boyd-Carpenter, the EBRDs Managing Director, Green Economy and Climate Action. But there is a long way to go to 1.5oC, and there is still a very big discrepancy between the stated goal and the aggregate individual commitments to meet that goal.

To address the shortfall, the Glasgow Pact has changed the timetable set by the Paris Agreement six years ago, which had asked countries to update their national pledges every five years, raising their ambition every time as they took advantage of developing technologies and funding. The Glasgow Pact speeds up this process of ambition-raising. Instead of waiting five years, it now wants countries that have not submitted new or updated NDCs to do so within a year - before COP27, which will be held in Egypt in November 2022. It also requests all signatories to revisit their 2030 targets by the end of 2022 and institutes an annual process to review progress towards the 2030 targets in this critical decade.

There were other plusses and minuses.

For the first time, a COP conclusion mentioned fossil fuels explicitly, committing to a phasedown of unabated coal power and a phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

Turning to climate finance, the Pact noted with deep regret the failure of the developed countries to meet their 2009 target of mobilising US$ 100 billion of climate finance a year for developing countries from 2020 (the shortfall is US$ 20 billion, with a delivery plan to reach the target by 2023 and exceed it thereafter).

The Pact addressed the need for adapting to climate change where it is already reality, and providing finance for adaptation, including an ambition to double the developed countries provision of adaptation finance from 2019 levels of US$20 billion by 2025.

Finally, Glasgow reached agreement on mechanisms setting out how the Paris Agreement would work in detail, known as the Paris Rulebook and Article 6. The former are the rules for measuring NDC commitments and for counting emissions. This will help provide the clarity on regulations sought by private sector investors who are widely seen as the worlds best hope for providing the trillions of dollars worth of investment needed for the green transition. The Article 6 agreement is an important step towards a global carbon market by allowing countries to finance emission reduction project in other countries, where the costs might be much lower, thus accelerating emission reductions and promoting the flow of climate finance.

The two-week conference also saw many agreements struck on the sidelines by varying groups of stakeholders, including pledges to cut methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and to phase out combustion engines by 2040. Both will be important in driving investment, sending powerful signals to investors as to where best to invest. With the need to bring in private sector money to fund green investment a major theme at Glasgow, GFANZ, an alliance of private-sector financial players with assets totalling US$ 130 trillion  40 per cent of the worlds assets, and enough to finance the transition  signed a pledge committing banks and investors to decarbonise their portfolios by 2050, another mark of hope.

Having already pledged in the past year to align all its operations with the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2023 and make at least half of its investments green by 2025, the EBRD is well placed to further raise its game in response to the Glasgow Pact.

As the only multilateral development bank with an explicit mandate to foster the private sector, the EBRD is already aligned to the Glasgow call to mobilise more private finance. In the first week of the conference, it launched its Action Plan on Mobilising Private Capital for Climate Finance, setting out its own ambition to double its mobilisation of climate finance by 2025.

Glasgows new timetable to speed up the making of country climate plans comes as the EBRD scales up its policy advice on climate to the 38 economies across three continents where it works. We will step up our support for countries of operation in designing their low-carbon strategies and NDCs, said Boyd-Carpenter. We will redouble our focus on adaptation. And we will build on our private sector focus to help business not just adjust to this low-carbon transition but actually be at the forefront of it.

The secret to gaining the momentum needed for the green transition, he believes, lies with the business community, which is pushing governments to create an enabling environment for more green investment. Quoting a BBC summary of the conference - the politics (and policies) are changing; but the climate is changing faster - Boyd-Carpenter added: but it is positive that business and finance are changing faster than politics.

One fantastic example, he said, was an EBRD loan of 150 million, signed last week with Turkish white goods manufacturer Arcelik. The investment will help the company, already a leader on sustainability, transform its processes and plants to become still more environmentally friendly as part of the company's net zero commitment. Arcelik executives were among the many business visitors to COP26, sharing events with ministers and discussing how Turkey might best implement its recent decision to go net-zero by 2053.

Business is very proactively driving the low-carbon agenda in many of our countries of operation, and we really welcome that, said Boyd-Carpenter. We believe in the power of the private sector and markets to drive change, and we expect to see more of this as we step up our efforts.
POLITICAL representatives in Cork have condemned ongoing incidents of criminal damage on the northside of the city.

Gardai confirmed to The Echo that they are currently investigating two incidents of criminal damage, one incident which occurred at a property in Thorndale Estate at approximately 5.20pm on Tuesday evening and another incident which occurred at a property in Upper Fair Hill before 12.15pm on Tuesday afternoon.

Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central Padraig OSullivan said that he strongly condemns the antisocial and criminal behaviour that has occurred in the area.

I strongly condemn this disgraceful and deeply upsetting outburst of antisocial and criminal behaviour in the Dublin Hill area of the city.

Two houses in Thorndale Estate were destroyed as a local feud spilled over onto the streets. There is no place for this in any modern society and violent actions such as these put innocent people, going about their daily lives, in danger, he said.

Deputy OSullivan said he has engaged with gardai on the issue and will work closely with them to push for as much support and assistance to clamp down on such outbursts of antisocial behaviour in the future.

Local Labour councillor John Maher, said: It is very concerning that our community is being held to ransom by a small minority. This is where we live and we need the gardai to ensure more patrols in the area and that the people that are doing this are held accountable and if tenants of Cork City Council then we must ensure that these issues are tackled.

Anti-social behaviour has no place in society regardless of who is carrying out these acts. The community of Dublin Hill and Ballyvolane is a great place to live and the majority in our community need to be protected and allowed go about living their lives.

Independent councillor Ken OFlynn said he is deeply concerned for those living in the area.

He said that one local was imprisoned in his car for 15 minutes because of mistaken identity, while others told him they are afraid to return to their houses and let their children play on the green.

All stakeholders have to step up. Anti-social behaviour must not be tolerated...what we need to do is make sure our communities are kept safe and end this feud immediately by having a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour, he said.

No arrests have been made in connection to the incidents and investigations are ongoing.
A four-day-old baby boy sustained an irreversible brain injury after his mother had an epileptic seizure collapsing out of her bed and pinning the child underneath her, an inquest in Cork has heard.

Marie and Darragh Downey of Knockanevin, near Kildorrery, Co Cork passed away within 33 hours of each other after tragedy unfolded in March, 2019 at Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).

Marie, who had an uncomplicated pregnancy, suffered from epilepsy and had a seizure possibly whilst breastfeeding her infant in her hospital bed in her private room. The 36-year-old was found dead on the floor of her hospital room shortly after 8am on March 25th, 2019.

Dr Keelin ODonoghue, Consultant Obstetrician/Gynaecologist at CUMH, treated Mrs Downey for all three of her pregnancies. During Maries first pregnancy she suffered a seizure at 30 weeks and decided to go back on medication for her epilepsy prescribed for her by her neurologist Dr Peter Kinirons. Marie had gone off her medication for a period as she was concerned about taking it during pregnancy.

Dr ODonoghue said they had discussed the risks of her not being on anti convulsant medication. They were both happy with her returning to her medication and she was diligent about taking her tablets. Marie took the medication through her subsequent two pregnancies.

APPOINTMENT

Dr ODonoghue said she had experience in dealing with women who suffer from epilepsy and their care during pregnancy. She stated that during Maries third pregnancy in 2018 she told her at her 12-week appointment that she had an appointment with Dr Kinirons in January of 2019. Tragically, Marie did not make the appointment arising out of important family events.

Dr ODonoghue said that she regretted not asking Marie if she had attended the appointment and conceded that it was an oversight for her not to have written to the neurologist about the care of her patient. She said that she made the assumption that Marie had attended the appointment. She and was shocked when it subsequently emerged that the neurologist had not even been aware of the third pregnancy.

Dr ODonoghue said that she was conscious that fatigue and stress were precipitators for seizures in Mrs Downey and that breastfeeding could also have been stressful for her.

She described what occurred to mother and baby as shocking and unexpected and again extended her condolences to Kieran Downey the widower of Mrs Downey.

She told the Coroners Court that prior to the tragedy unfolding Ms Downey was breastfeeding, doing well and keen to get back home. Ms ODonoghue recalled starting her rounds on the morning of March 25th, 2019. When she went in to Mrs Downeys room shortly after 8am she was shocked to find that she was half out of the bed.

Her legs remained on the bed, with her upper body on the floor. She was in an unnatural position, with her neck twisted up and to the left, facing the door, up against the corner of the bathroom door and wall.

I quickly moved over to Ms Downey and felt her neck for a pulse. I immediately rang the emergency bell in the room and called out into the corridor. Both an SHO and midwife attended very quickly.

The SHO rechecked for a pulse, touched Ms Downey, and confirmed there was no pulse. Others attended, including the CNM2 ward manager and a staff midwife. As we started to move Ms Downey, the ward manager noted that baby Darragh was lying underneath Ms Downey, on her right side and thus concealed initially from our view. The midwife brought him to the nursery and the neonatal emergency team was called.

I was not involved in the treatment of Baby Darragh. I asked the midwifery duty manager for the day to contact Mr Downey and tell him that Ms Downey was suddenly very unwell and to come in without delay.

I telephoned the Coroner and spoke to him.

I informed him of the situation and that a post-mortem-was indicated. He confirmed he would make the arrangements and I gave him the necessary details.

The ward manager stayed with Ms Downey until her family arrived.

At 9:40am Mr Downey and his father arrived. I met them on the ward. I explained what had happened and brought them to room 17. Dr Brian Walsh, Neonatology, then attended and spoke to Mr Downey.

I brought the Downey family to the NNU (with Dr Walsh) at approximately 10.30am. We made arrangements to clear the ward and closed it off to provide the family with privacy.

We provided them with a designated room and made arrangements for Ms Downeys parents to get to the hospital.

'THERE WAS NO SUFFERING'

Meanwhile, Dr Brendan Murphy, a Consultant Neonatalogist at CUMH, said that baby Darragh suffered a hypoxic ischamemic encephalopathy after his mother collapsed on top of him. He told the inquest that when baby Darragh was found under his mother by paediatric staff every effort was made to resuscitate him. He received comprehensive medical intervention including intubation, received adrenaline and fluid and chest compressions. When his oxygen saturation improved he was transferred to the neo natal intensive care.

Doctors determined that Darragh was clinically comatose having sustained an irreversible brain injury.

Dr Murphy offered his condolences to Kieran Downey, the father of baby Darragh emphasising that the infant was comatose from the moment he was found.

He (Darragh) never regained consciousness. He was unaware of (medical intervention). There was no suffering.

Dr Murphy added that Darragh was a perfectly healthy baby at birth who tragically sustained irreversible brain injury when his mother collapsed from her bed with the four day old going underneath her body.

Darragh suffered a lack of blood supply and oxygen to the brain and was unable to breathe on his own. Intensive care support was withdrawn following consultation with the family and Darragh passed away at 5pm on the 26th of March, 2019. Kieran Downey and his two young sons were given the opportunity to spend time with Darragh in a family room prior to his death.

Dr Murphy said that he knew from the outset that Darraghs prognosis was bleak but that they gave him every opportunity for signs of recovery. He lived for 33 hours after his mother was found dead. He knew that the prospects for Darragh was hopeless.

I was under no doubt, from his admission to the unit that his prognosis was bleak and that he was unlikely to survive, but I wanted to satisfy myself and the family that we had given him every chance of recovery.

Dr John O Mahony, Senior Counsel for the Downey family, said that they were aware that every effort was made by doctors to assist the baby.

A statement from Dr Hannah Glynn, a junior obstetrics registrar was also read into evidence. She said that at 8.03am on the 25th of March 2019 a midwife ran to the nurses station and said that a mother had collapsed in room 17. She went to the room and met two midwives who were running as fast as they could. Dr Glynn said that she overheard one midwife say that I think the baby is gone and the mother could be too.

When Dr Glynn entered the room she noted the presence of Dr Keelin ODonoghue and Dr Sam Hunter with the latter kneeling on the floor.

She said that Mrs Downey was on the floor with her head at an unusual angle. She states that it was her thought that Mrs Downey may have been breastfeeding prior to the tragedy given that her right breast was exposed. She felt that Mrs Downey had suffered a possible seizure and a possible neck trauma. Dr Glynn added that CPR was not administered as tragically Mrs Downey was already dead.

The inquests continues tomorrow.
TWO CORK men are set to tell their personal experiences with mental health - one on RTE and one on TG4.

Eoin Kernan, who lived in Cork until he was three years old but who now lives in Dublin, will tell his story of living with an eating disorder on a documentary called Unspoken, which will air at 10.15pm tonight on RTE.

Eoin Kernan, who features on Unspoken on RTE 1 on Thursday night

He said: This is not a vanity project for any of us. This is a story we want to tell on behalf of others.

The aim of the documentary is to highlight that men develop eating disorders. The documentary follows the three men on their journey in recovery.

According to Bodywhys, the eating disorder association, men affected by eating disorders have been under-diagnosed, under-recognised and under-treated.

The organisation says: A belief that eating disorders are a female problem/illness is part of the stigma faced by men. It may take some men months or years to acknowledge their experiences as being that of an eating disorder. This can delay help-seeking and lead to the illness becoming more entrenched.

TG4 show to discuss mental health

Meanwhile, the new TG4 online series, Istigh Liom Fein discusses mens mental health in an open and honest way.

In the first episode which airs today, 23-year-old Colm O Dubhghaill from Glanmire shares his story on TG4's platform BLOC.

Mental health is something Colm has become very aware of and has had a lot of experience with in recent years. Colms mother died by suicide in December of 2019.

In 2018 both Colm and his friend Sean took part in the Cycle Against Suicide and raised money for Pieta House and the Cycle against Suicide charity.

They took on the challenge again in 2020 raising money for both charities. Colm was also previously a member of Nightline in UCC - a student-run mental health service which provides support for all UCC students on an anonymous basis.

Support and helplines:
CORK-based charity, The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, has said it is operating in crisis mode and has appealed for public support this winter to help tackle a deepening, national donkey welfare crisis.

The organisation, which is one of the countrys largest animal welfare charities, has said across Ireland the number of donkeys requiring rescue, rehoming, and sanctuary care has reached unsustainable and unmanageable levels.

This is driven by what the charity has described as a perfect storm of chronic, long-term irresponsible breeding, a lack of education and awareness, and human hardships triggered by Covid-19.

Between 2018 and 2020, reports of poor donkey welfare to The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland by members of the public rose 44% from 373 per year to 536 per year, and telephone advice calls rose 150% from 641 to 1,601.

The charity has more than 1,800 donkeys in its care and, though its sanctuary facilities have been full for many years, teams work in communities all over Ireland to find new homes for donkeys and provide transport, veterinary, and welfare services.

The factors driving Irelands donkey welfare problems are numerous and difficult to resolve, The Donkey Sanctuary Irelands country manager, Laura Foster, said.

The Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Of course, we will continue to care for thousands of donkeys every year, but working in crisis mode is unacceptable and unsustainable. Put simply, we need to tackle this problem in the long-term through better owner education, a national clamp-down on breeding, and more enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in cases of abuse and neglect.

Ms Foster said welfare teams are bracing themselves for an extremely challenging winter and appealed to the public to donate if possible.

Cases of poor donkey welfare are also overwhelming other charities in Ireland including, Hungry Horse Outside, Sathya Sai Sanctuary, and My Lovely Horse Rescue. We rescue many donkeys and mules, and we try to keep emergency spaces, but now these are filled on a daily basis, Martina Kenny of My Lovely Horse Rescue said.

She echoed calls for the need for stronger enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act.
By Dominic McGrath, PA

Politicians have said that recommendations from the investigation into the Irish Coast Guard helicopter R116 crash must be implemented in full.

In a sombre debate on Wednesday evening, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that he accepted the recommendations from the report.

Rescue 116 crashed off Co Mayo at 12.46am on March 14th, 2017, with four crew on board after it struck Blackrock Island, 19km off the coast.

An investigation into the Coast Guard helicopter R116 crash that claimed four lives, published earlier this month, identified systemic safety issues.

Mr Ryan said that his Department is currently considering the recommendations from the investigation.

He said: I fully accept the recommendations addressed to me contained within the report.

Mr Ryan also set out a range of improvements that had been made to governance and oversight since the crash.

Given the size and complexity of the course my department will require some time to examine them in detail and consider its findings and recommendations.

The Department did not wait for the publication of the final report in order to implement on changes on foot of the lessons learned following the accident, Mr Ryan told TDs.

(from the top left, clockwise) Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy, winchman Ciaran Smith and winchman Paul Orsmby, the four crew of an Coast Guard helicopter, who died after it struck Blackrock Island, Co Mayo. Photo: Irish Coast Guard/PA

He said that there has been a review of all training for members of the Coast Guard.

Mr Ryan also said that legislation will soon formalise the role of the Irish Aviation Authority in the oversight of search-and-rescue activities.

Multiple TDs on Wednesday night urged Mr Ryan to ensure that all 42 safety recommendation are implemented in full.

The investigation found that the aircraft was manoeuvring at 200ft and nine nautical miles from the intended landing point, at night and in poor weather conditions, unaware that a 282ft obstacle was on the flight path.

There were serious and important weaknesses with the operators safety management systems (SMS) in relation to navigation and the reporting of safety issues, such that certain risks that could have been mitigated were not, its report said.

Accepting these recommendations is not enough, Sinn Feins transport spokesperson Darren ORourke said.

He called on the minister to set out a timeline for when the recommendations will be implemented.

Mr ORourke also asked how the Government planned to ensure various agencies and bodies follow the recommendations in full.

It is essential each of the recommendations are acted upon in with haste to ensure everything is done to try to prevent another tragedy, he said.

He also suggested that Mr Ryan should appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport to provide updates at a future date.

Mayo TD and Sinn Fein representative Rose Conway-Walsh said that the tragedy had a special place in the hearts of her community.

We must have accountability in the system. It is vital that lessons are learnt, she told Mr Ryan.

We need a timeline and we need continuous reviews and updates. We so much owe it so those who have lost their lives.

This must never happen again. And we will always ask why.

Accountability

Various TDs called for proper accountability, while welcoming the answers provided in the report.

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy warned the minister: Without accountability, you dont change behaviour. There has to be accountability.

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, the commander of the flight, was pulled from the sea in the hours after the crash and never regained consciousness, while the body of Captain Mark Duffy, the co-pilot, was taken from the cockpit 12 days later by Navy divers.

The bodies of winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith were never recovered despite weeks of intensive seabed, surface and shore searches.

Tributes were paid throughout the evening to the crew and TDs stood briefly in a moment of silence to commemorate the victims at the invitation of the Ceann Comhairle.

The investigation report found that concerns had been raised over the navigation system, the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), four years before the crash.

Safety recommmendations

The report called on CHC Ireland, the company which provided the helicopters to the Irish Coast Guard, to review its guidance, operating and training procedures in respect of its EGPWS navigating system, and to ensure crews are aware of the limitations.

CHC Ireland has said it is committed to implementing the appropriate safety recommendations in the report.

There was also criticism and questioning of why Ireland has contracted out search and rescue services.

Fianna Fails Dara Calleary, a Mayo TD, said: I wonder why, as an island nation, we are contracting out our search-and-rescue, service?

Minister we cannot allow our search and rescue to become an issue of profit.

People Before Profit TD Brid Smith also told the Minister that the next contract should not be awarded to CHC Ireland.
Michigan state senator and former state representative Tom Barrett has declared his candidacy to run against Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin in 2022. Hes a natural choice for the Republicans because hes a member of the Army and Slotkins military bona fides are virtually unassailable.

Actually, I should say Barrett WAS a member of the Army because he has resigned over the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine mandate for members of the military. In an op-ed for The Detroit News, he says President Joe Biden thinks Im no longer good enough for the Army, for refusing the vaccination.

Barrett has been against pretty much every protective measure put in place to stop this terrible virus at both the state and federal levels. He was against mask mandates for school kids. He was was for the so-called Unlock Michigan initiative which resulted in stripping away Governor Gretchen Whitmers emergency powers during a pandemic. Even after he got COVID-19 himself, he continued to push back against virtually any effort to stop the pandemic.

The question for me is whether or not Tom Barrett is a hypocrite or a liar. I say this because Barrett was required to receive no fewer than NINE vaccinations just to be a member of the military and, because he was deployed to the Korean DMZ, the cell blocks of Guantanamo Bay, [and] the desert sands of Iraq according to his op-ed, he would have needed another EIGHT vaccinations for that.

17 vaccinations already but Tom Barrett refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccination. He could even get a waiver for any or all of them but he refuses to do that, as well, calling it a career-ender. Instead, he decided to end his own career and blame it on Joe Biden.

Barrett is either lying about why hes quitting the military or hes being hypocritical since hes already received 17 vaccinations as a requirement for being in the military in the first place. I tend to lean toward liar. I think hes using the COVID-19 vaccination mandate as a cover for quitting the military to pursue his political aspirations. Since his campaign is almost single-mindedly based on his military experience (his logo has the obligatory helicopter in it, for example), hes got to blame someone else for it and Joe Biden is the best target he could find.

I feel pretty certain the Elissa Slotkin will beat Barrett handily. She doesnt have to lie or be hypocritical about her background, career goals, or issues. She can just be her badass self, getting things done for her constituents and not playing political games.

Her authenticity is a great combination for a winning campaign.

Theres also the fact that shes already raised nearly a million dollars this year and has $3.76 million in cash on hand.

You can support Elissa Slotkins reelection campaign HERE.

[Hat tip to @AyeVeeGee on Twitter who first pointed out Barretts duplicity on vaccines for members of the military HERE.]
Politicamente indeseable, el libro de la exportavoz del PP en el Congreso Cayetana Alvarez de Toledo retrata al lider del PP, Pablo Casado, como un "bienqueda" que tiene "miedo" y elogia a la presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, por lo contrario: no tener miedo y enarbolar un liberalismo "intuitivo y aguerrido".

Con esta publicacion, que sale este jueves a la venta, Alvarez de Toledo (Madrid, 1974) ha enturbiado todavia mas las aguas en el PP, revueltas ya por la pugna entre la direccion nacional y Diaz Ayuso por el control del partido en Madrid.

La magnitud de sus criticas, que se ceban sobre todo con el secretario general del PP, Teodoro Garcia Egea, le hace terminar el volumen, de mas de 500 paginas, con un anuncio: no dejara el escano en el Congreso.

Seria, dice, "la opcion mas facil y vulgar", pero tambien la constatacion de que su concepcion de la politica es imposible y por eso seguira "como Cyrano de Bergerac, con la nariz bien alta y hasta el final".

Alvarez de Toledo denuncia su "cancelacion a camara lenta" y escribe desde la "inutil arrogancia de la ultratumba" porque dice que, pese a ser una "perdedora" sin "instinto de poder", ha ganado, como el Cid, batallas despues de muerta, como que el Consejo General del Poder Judicial no se renueve como un intercambio de cromos.

CASADO, UN CAMALEON ACOSTUMBRADO AL EXITO

Critica a Casado por "bienqueda", "veleta" y "camaleon emocional". "Son tales sus ganas de caer bien que acaba adaptando su posicion a la de cada uno de sus interlocutores, aunque estas sean incompatibles entre si". Un problema porque "en cada viraje te dejas jirones de credibilidad".

Define al lider de su partido como un "wishful thinker", un voluntarista al que su primera derrota electoral, en abril de 2019, dejo "heridas psicologicas profundas", que le llevaron a un giro al centro y al perfil bajo.

"Tiene miedo". A la derecha, a la izquierda, a los medios, al que diran. "Por agradar, muere", senala. Y le acusa de haber permitido que hicieran de ella una caricatura, con un "punto Calimero victimista" que le exasperaba.

EGEA, POLITICA DE "PELOTAS Y PELOTEO"

"Empeno obsesivo por un dominio despotico". Ejercer el poder de manera "despotica, teocratica, 'teodocratica'". "La coba al jefe". Sonrisa Profident "y punal". Bullying. Celos y recelos. Ambicion "infantil y desatada". Exigencia de "adhesiones perrunas". "Valido con aspiraciones" o culpable de una subcultura de "peloteo" y "falsa lealtad basada en el terror". Necesidad de conservar la nomina.

Todas esas acusaciones y criticas hace Alvarez de Toledo contra Teodoro Garcia Egea, con un apunte: "Al final un numero dos es lo que decide un numero uno".

La exportavoz parlamentaria culpa a Garcia Egea de su destitucion y de la campana de "acoso y derribo" en su contra. Con filtraciones a los medios e incluso su particular "espia de la Stasi", la diputada Isabel Borrego.

LINCHAMIENTO PARA TENER UNA PORTAVOZ FLORERO

"El acoso interno me amargo", relata Alvarez de Toledo sobre lo que considera un "linchamiento" para apartarla de la portavocia. "Matonismo". Y "empujones" de Garcia Egea y "suaves empujoncitos" de Casado, como el que la dejo fuera de la Comision de Reconstruccion, el momento en el que supo que "estaba siendo destituida".

Dice que podria haber seguido de haber estado dispuesta a ejercer de "simpatico y servil florero" y que esperaban de ella que dimitiera, que pareciera un "suicidio". Se nego y en agosto de 2020 fue destituida.

AYUSO, SIN MIEDO

Las criticas se vuelven elogios en el caso de la presidenta madrilena y su "liberalismo intuitivo y aguerrido". "La luz de la alternativa" estaba en Madrid. "No tenia miedo", dice sobre su papel de "lider nacional" en la pandemia.

Y se identifica con ella por su falta de complejos y las suspicacias levantadas en Genova. Tambien a Ayuso le acusan, relata, de ir por libre y ser desleal. Cree que tras su salida la presidenta fue el "blanco unico del fuego amigo" y que van en su contra por "celos, miedo y afan de control", aunque sea "suicida".

BARONES BLANDOS Y DIPUTADOS PALMEROS

Alvarez de Toledo tambien tiene criticas para quienes denomina como barones blandos: los presidentes de Galicia, Andalucia y Castilla y Leon, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, Juanma Moreno y Alfonso Fernandez Manueco. Dice que mediaron para que no fuese portavoz, como un pulso a un Casado al que "veian tierno, dubitativo y debil y con razon".

Es critica tambien con el trato dado por la direccion del partido a los diputados: "representantes de la soberania nacional reducidos a palmeros, y en el chat de diputados, a emoticonos de palmas".

BATALLA CULTURAL

Politicamente indeseable es tambien una defensa de la batalla cultural frente a la izquierda, que Alvarez de Toledo hace calificando de "franquista" la Ley de Memoria Democratica o cuando defiende haber llamado en el Congreso "hijo de terrorista" a Pablo Iglesias.

Del exlider de Podemos dice: Es "el unico machista con el que me he cruzado en politica".

Ademas, critica el identitarismo de Vox, pero ve "pertinente y valiente" la critica a la ideologia de genero y considera una "incongruencia moral y un disparate estrategico demonizar" a quien te permite gobernar.

En el libro tambien hay criticas al exministro Jorge Fernandez Diaz, cuyas "oscuras maniobras" le horrorizaban, o contra el lider de la patronal, Antonio Garamendi, y el empresariado espanol por "frivolidad, egoismo y negligencia" ante el proces. Revela ademas que en 2014 rechazo una oferta de Albert Rivera para ser la candidata de Ciudadanos a la Comunidad de Madrid.
Flybe to make IOM returrn?

The collapsed airline Flybe has announced it will return to the skies early next year.

It's planning to serve regions across the UK and European Union - but hasn't confirmed specific routes.

Flybe operated most routes between the Isle of Man and UK before going into administration at the start of the pandemic, causing 2400 job losses.

Flybe CEO Dave Pflieger said: "We plan to provide more information in the coming weeks and months about ticket prices, new routes and destinations, and other important news that will help customers visit loved ones, get away for a weekend, and get out on business trips. This is an incredibly exciting time for us, and we look forward to sharing more updates in the future.

Its headquarters will now be based in Birmingham.
Police in Canada say they recently arrested a teen who allegedly stole $46 million CAD (approximately $36.5 million) worth of cryptocurrency from a single individual in the US. According to authorities in Hamilton, Ontario, a city about one hour west of Toronto, the incident is the largest-ever cryptocurrency theft involving one person.

The owner of the currency was the victim of a SIM swap attack. Their cellphone number was hijacked and used to intercept two-factor authentication requests, thereby allowing access to their protected accounts. Some of the stolen money was used to purchase a rare online gaming username, which eventually allowed the Hamilton Police Service, as well as FBI and US Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force, to identify the account holder. Police seized approximately $7 million CAD ($5.5 million) in stolen cryptocurrency when they arrested the teen.
Meta's efforts to encourage healthy teen usage habits aren't enough for some state officials. The New York Times reports a coalition of state attorneys general has launched an investigation into Instagram's effects on teens. California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Vermont are concerned Meta might be offering and promoting Instagram to the younger crowd while knowing the potentials for mental and physical harm. If so, the social media giant might violate states' consumer protection laws.

The investigators are most worried about Meta's techniques to boost the "frequency and duration" of interactions at the expense of teens. Leaked internal research showed that Instagram hurt a significant percentage of teens, particularly girls, resulting in issues ranging from depression to self-harm.

A Meta spokesperson told Engadget the accusations were "false" and showed a "deep misunderstanding" of the situation. You can read the full statement below. It previously shared research data and claimed the leak misrepresented its work,providing "context" suggesting that certain information couldn't be used to reach conclusions about average behavior or links to mental and physical harm.

Meta has taken some steps to address worries, including encouragements to take breaks and "pausing" work on Instagram Kids. There's also no certainty the probe will lead to more substantive action. Nonetheless, the company is under much more pressure to safeguard teens  it could face legal repercussions if the states don't feel it has done enough.
Youll soon be able to repair parts of your iPhone yourself, without going to an approved service center. In a major shift in policy for Apple, the company is launching a Self Service Repair program that will let you repair products yourself using official Apple parts and tools.

Itll launch in the US in early 2022 (rolling out later that year for other countries) and will initially give the resources to fix an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13. Apple says M1 Macs will follow after that.

So why the change? It could well be all this government pressure. The White House, the Federal Trade Commission and multiple states have backed right-to-repair measures that could have forced Apples hand. There was even a shareholder resolution deadline coincidentally timed for the same day.

Once this program launches, any skilled person will be able to replace parts like the screen, camera and battery on the latest iPhone models. There will reportedly be 200 parts and tools available at the start. Best take another look at those iFixit guides.

-Mat Smith

Surprise update!

Engadget

Google has released a surprise mid-month update for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones that's specifically designed to improve the performance of the fingerprint scanner. Google changed the location of that sensor on the new model, and it's been a sore point for owners because its noticeably slower than other phones. Google initially defended the problem at the time by saying the reduced performance was due to "enhanced security algorithms" that took longer to verify identities.

Dont expect huge improvements, though. According to users whove already updated their devices, it's still slower than some models with similar under-screen fingerprint sensors like the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Continue reading.

International fans will have to wait for Paramount+ to be available in their countries next year.

Days before its premiere, the fourth season of Star Trek: Discovery is no longer headed to Netflix, its streaming home outside of the US and Canada. Those fans may have to wait months to be able to see the new episodes  legally, that is  if they ever get the chance at all. According to Deadline, ViacomCBS has ended its deal with Netflix that had been in place since the series launched in 2017. All episodes of the Star Trek series have been pulled.

Apparently, it plans to make the series available again to international fans in 2022 when Paramount+ goes global. The UK, Germany, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland will be among the first regions to get access to the streaming service next year.

Oh cool, another service to pay for.

Continue reading.

Its also adding HiFi audio to its $10 plan.

Tidal is adding a free, ad-supported tier as it seeks to expand its user base. The option, which is only available in the US for now, includes access to Tidal's entire library of 80 million songs as well as playlists. The service noted on Twitter that it's introducing the free tier to "remain competitive" with its rivals. There are some trade-offs beyond occasional ads, naturally. Audio quality will top out at 160 kbps, there's no offline listening option and it doesn't appear that you'll have unlimited skips, either.

Continue reading.

It has a premium build and double the exposure resolution of past models.

Fujifilm

Fujifilms new $200 flagship instant film camera has a higher resolution than previous models and improved smartphone integration. As with other Instax cameras, you can take photos and instantly develop them to Fujifilm's credit card-sized Instax Mini film, but you can also review photos on the LCD monitor and choose the ones you want to print. Theres also a print lever and lens/film filter dials. That lets you take a picture then choose among 100 combinations of effects (including "Soft Focus," "Light Leak," "Monochrome" and "Retro") and print the image afterward by pulling the print lever.

Continue reading.

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On Wednesday, Will Smith appeared on "The One Show" via video connection to promote his new film, King Richard, and his clean and clear complexion was the subject of much discussion.

It didn't take long for Twitter users to wonder, "What has he done to his face?" after seeing his "unrecognizable" look and smooth features.

The 53-year-old, who rose to fame on TV series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" back in 1990, worn three-piece suit, a purple shirt and patterned tie for this interview but the outfit failed to elicit as much attention has his face.

"Why is Will Smith's face so strange?," some viewers inquired, while another wrote, "Will Smith doesn't look like Will Smith."

One said he looked just as he did on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, while another called him "robotic."

In an interview with the BBC, Will talked about his new film, King Richard, which is based on the biography of Richard Williams, who helped his daughters Serena and Venus through their early careers as professional athletes.

Will confessed to presenters Zoe Ball and Jermaine Jenas that Serena and Venus initially did not approve of the video.

"Venus and Serena when the idea came up they were a little hesitant, and they said they would executive produce the film but would wait until they saw the movie until they decided to put their names on it," he said.

"But they were so honoured, they agreed to put their names on the film. And when you make a movie like this there really is only one audience, and it's the people you are depicting," he further explained.

ALSO READ: Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes Split: Cause of Breakup Heartbreaking After All the Feels

"And when they walked out of that theatre and agreed to put their names on this movie, it was one of the highest points in my career," he concluded.

In another news, Will Smith said he was interested in dating his "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" costar Karyn Parsons, but he got rejected.

In his self-titled memoir released on November 9, Smith spoke candidly about his experience on the hit '90s sitcom that was certainly the start of his colorful career journey.

While living with his Uncle Phil (James Avery), Aunt Viv (Janet Hubert), and three distant cousins, Hilary Banks (Parsons), Carlton Banks (Alfonso Ribeiro), and Ashley Banks (Tatyana Ali) at their affluent Bel-Air house, Smith's character, played by Will Smith, had a fish-out-of-water experience.

Parsons was "the least experienced next to me" and "fought out a series of Hollywood big guns" to land the job, according to Smith. Both actors agreed it was in everyone's best interest to keep things professional.

"Was smart enough to tell me 'hell no' when I tried to explain that we were not really cousins so it would be fine if we dated. ('I swear it won't mess up our working relationship.' She knew better than that - good call KP)," Smith said.

READ ALSO: Princess Diana Shock: Paparazzi Took Advantage of Princess of Wales' Images By Doing This
18 November 2021

Dr Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), and EPO President Antonio Campinos met on 18 November 2021 to sign a Reinforced Partnership (RP) agreement. This is the tenth RP the EPO has signed with an IP office in a non-member state, following previous agreements with Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa, and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).

"The agreement is a long-term strategic partnership, based on a shared vision: the further development of the patent system as a catalyst for innovation, technology transfer and economic growth," said EPO President Antonio Campinos.

Dr Abdulaziz Al-Swailem, Chief Executive Officer of SAIP, said: "Patents play a major role as the importance of a knowledge-based economy develops in Saudi Arabia, and co-operation with the EPO will strengthen SAIP activities as a fully integrated IP authority and regional IP hub."

Under its long-term Vision 2030 strategy, Saudi Arabia has undertaken an ambitious transformation plan to diversify the country's economy and the way it develops. SAIP play a crucial part in this transformation and will rely on the RP to reduce and keep their backlog under control, improve the quality of their products and services, and cooperate on outreach and awareness initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region.

In addition to cooperation on the patent granting process, the agreement will support SAIP through EPO training initiatives and best practice sharing. The RP could play a significant role, boosting IP development and fostering ties with businesses seeking patent protection locally.

Commitment to cooperation

Through its Strategic Plan (SP2023), the EPO aims to enhance its co-operation with patent offices around the world in order to make global patent system more efficient and better suited to user needs. Activities are aimed at ensuring high patent quality and legal certainty as well as the effectiveness and accessibility of patent systems for both local and foreign applicants. Our international co-operation policy comprises three main pillars: Validation Agreements, Reinforced Partnerships (RP) and technical co-operation.

The EPO's Reinforced Partnership programme seeks to further integrate and strengthen the global patent system by providing our partner offices with direct access to the work products issued by our 4 300 highly qualified and specialised patent examiners. This in turn will improve conditions for applicants filing patents internationally and foster innovation by supporting the partner offices in providing improved services to local applicants.

In total, some 105 000 work products have already been issued by partner offices within the framework of the RP where corresponding EPO search and examination results have been at least partially re-used. Some 40 specialised expert exchanges and training events involving experts from the EPO and the RP offices have been organised (virtually) since the launch of the SP2023.

Further information:
The CAPTIS is a next-generation, full-body embolic protection device to reduce the risk of stroke and other complications during left-heart procedures. - FILTERLEX MEDICAL/PR NEWSWIRE

CAESAREA, Israel, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Filterlex Medical, a cardiovascular medical device startup, announced today that it has recently completed a US $6 Million series A1 investment round from leading private healthcare investors. The financing will accelerate implementation of the company's CAPTIS clinical program. The CAPTIS is a next-generation, full-body embolic protection device to reduce the risk of stroke and other complications during left-heart procedures.

During catheter-based procedures, such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), embolic particles are often released into the blood flow and may cause neurological deficiencies, from cognitive impairment to debilitating stroke. As demonstrated in our first-in-human study, the CAPTIS device is easily and intuitively deployed and retrieved. It is securely positioned in the aorta, protecting its surface, while facilitating a seamless TAVR procedure. The CAPTIS uniquely requires no additional arterial access and does not interfere with the procedure workflow.

The financing will accelerate implementation of the Company's clinical program. The CAPTIS first-in-human study is successfully ongoing and actively enrolling patients in two leading centers in Israel, Wolfson Medical Center and Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Hospital). Prof. Haim Danenberg, the study principal investigator and Head of Interventional Cardiology at the Wolfson Medical Center, said "We are thrilled with the opportunity to use the CAPTIS device to protect our TAVR patients' brain and kidneys." Prof. Ran Kornowski, Director of the Cardiology Center at Rabin Medical Center, added, "Our initial experience with the CAPTIS is very positive. The system is safe, intuitive, and easy to use."

Sigal Eli, Founder and CEO, commented: "We are excited by the rapid closing of the new round of funding. With the excellent progress in our clinical program and the recent move to our larger facility in Caesarea, we are well positioned to deliver our vision of making the CAPTIS a best-in-class device."

About Filterlex

Filterlex Medical Ltd. is a cardiovascular medical device startup developing the CAPTIS, a full-body embolic protection device. In 2016, Filterlex joined Alon MedTech Ventures incubator, owned by Dr. Shimon Eckhouse, a leading entrepreneur and investor in the field of medical devices. The company's founders have vast clinical knowledge and extensive experience in medical device development, commercialization, and marketing. For more information, please visit www.filterlex.com.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 881076

Press ContactSigal EliCEOFilterlex Medical Ltd.sigal@filterlex.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1691494/Filterlex_Medical.jpg
'QAnon Shaman' sentenced to over three years in prison

A federal judge sentenced the U.S. Capitol rioter known as the QAnon Shaman to 41 months in prison for his role in the deadly January 6 attack by followers of then-President Donald Trump.
One year into the launch of Google News Showcase, over 1 million News Showcase panels have been created so far by news partners, Brad Bender, VP Product Management, News, Google, said in a blog post.

Since News Showcase launched in October 2020, Google has signed deals with more than 1,000 news publications around the world and has launched in more than a dozen countries: India, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Austria, the U.K., Australia, Czechia, Italy, Colombia, Argentina, Canada, and Ireland.



"More than 90% of the publications that are part of News Showcase represent local or community news. Local news is an essential way for readers to connect to their communities and ensure they get the news that impacts their day-to-day lives," Bender said.



With News Showcase, readers see what stories key publications think are worth highlighting and get more insight directly from those publishers through curated panels. "We give publishers a variety of News Showcase panel templates to use, so they can give additional context to stories, add related articles, timelines and more. The panels give news publishers more direct control of their presentation and branding, helping them be more visible to their dedicated readers and to those who are just discovering them," he elaborated.



News Showcase panels can appear across Google, currently on News and Discover, and direct readers to the full articles on publishers websites, helping them deepen their relationships with readers. In addition to the revenue that comes directly from these more-engaged readers, participating publishers will receive monthly licensing payments from Google.



"One year in, were seeing robust numbers from News Showcase that indicate both publishers and readers are getting value from the quality curated content found in the product. To start, participating publishers have created over one million News Showcase panels to date. And readers clearly like what they see," he said.



"People have tapped the Follow button on News Showcase panels over 1.5 million times, showing theyre looking for more content from their favourite publishers or ones they have just discovered. By following a news organization on News Showcase, readers are ensuring that they get to see regular updates from these publishers every time they open Google News."



To further strengthen these relationships, Google News Showcase provides readers the ability to read expanded access to select content from publishers. This feature means readers will have the opportunity to read more of a publishers articles, encouraging them to learn more about the publication  and potentially subscribe. Combined, these features and numbers show that the product is supporting news organizations mission of reaching readers and helping to bring a deeper engagement.



"Were continuing to work with news organizations to learn more about how people engage with News Showcase to ensure were delivering on our long-term goal of strengthening the relationship between readers and publishers," Bender said.



He noted that News Showcase is just one of Google's investments in its ongoing commitment to support journalism around the world. "Through both our services and direct funding of news organizations, Google is one of the worlds biggest financial supporters of news."



Through Google News Initiative, the tech giant offers training in digital skills and capabilities. Likewise, programs like GNI Startups Lab and the GNI Digital Growth Program help accelerate small and mid-sized news organizations business growth. Further, products like News Consumer Insights and Subscribe with Google help publishers to understand their audiences and grow reader revenue.



"Since we launched the GNI in 2018, weve worked with more than 7,000 news partners in over 120 countries and territories and trained more than 450,000 journalists in 70 countries. More details on our GNI work over the past three years is available in our impact report. Alongside governments, other companies and civic society, were dedicated to continuing to find ways to engage readers with journalism that matters to them and supporting the sustainability of the news industry around the world," Bender averred.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
A couple who contracted to have a home built in North Central San Antonio scored a court victory Wednesday when a judge blocked the home builder from selling the property to another buyer.

Visiting state District Judge Larry Noll granted Robert and Karen Rickman an application for a temporary injunction that prevents the house at 24442 Canyon Row from being sold by contractor Haitham Taleb or his companies.

You cant foreclose and you cant sell this property, Noll said. Theres an owner of the property thats sitting here and hes hearing me, so if he does it, I would consider him to be in contempt of court.

Taleb wanted to sell the home to another buyer for about $525,000 on Wednesday even though the Rickmans had entered into a contract in April 2018 to have one of Talebs companies build the home for $439,000.

The Rickmans are relieved that Taleb and his companies are prevented from selling the couples dream retirement home, Matthew Swantner, their lawyer, said after the hearing.

To this day, the Rickmans do not understand why Mr. Taleb thinks he is entitled to take nearly $450,000 from them, use the money to build their home, and then try to sell the home to someone else, Swantner said.

William Sommers, an attorney for Taleb, alleged the Rickmans had told his client over the summer they no longer wanted the house. So Taleb sought to sell the house to another party to mitigate damages that resulted from construction delays caused by the Rickmans, the lawyer said. They have blamed the delays on the builder.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio couples plans for home they envisioned retiring in go awry in fight with builder

The Rickmans, both 67, sued Taleb and three of his companies last month for breach of contract and violations of the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The injunction remains in effect until the end of the case.

To ensure the house isnt sold, the judge declined the defendants request to expunge a Notice of Lis Pendens the Rickmans recorded with the Bexar County Clerks office. Lis pendens is Latin for suit pending, and such a notice can affect title to a property.

If they sell it, then that person (the buyer) becomes a party to this lawsuit, Noll said. Who wants to buy a pig in a poke? Nobody wants to do that. So you need to honor that lis pendens as it exists right now.

Noll also ruled the Rickmans will have to arbitrate their dispute with Talebs Land Star Builder. The construction contract spells out that any disputes must be arbitrated rather than litigated.

On Nov. 2, Judge Tina Torres issued a temporary restraining order blocking the propertys sale and ordered the Rickmans to post a $500 bond.

Noll upped the bond to $7,500, though Sommers had asked that it be set at $104,000. The lawyer described that amount as what the new buyer agreed to pay over and above the Rickmans purchase price.

What remains uncertain is how a Miami lender that loaned $230,000 to Taleb and one of his companies may act in response to Wednesdays ruling blocking the sale. The loan, made by Amadco Inc. in August 2020, is secured by the property.

The delays caused by the Rickmans led Taleb to borrow money to complete the home, Sommers said.

Amadco was supposed to have been paid out of proceeds from the sale that was slated to occur with the other buyer Wednesday.

We dont control the lender, Sommers told the judge. If he believes that it (the loan) is in default, theres no way we can stop him from starting foreclosure proceedings.

Taleb has not received notice from Amadco that it was accelerating the note, Sommers said. If that occurs, the judge advised Sommers to alert the Rickmans lawyers.

pdanner@express-news.net
Everything is set for Lucy Coopers Ice House, a popular San Antonio 21-and-over bar and restaurant, to open in New Braunfels inside the former Hoffbrau restaurant and bar. Owners Braunda and Jesse Smith are just waiting to hire enough employees to open the doors.

If I can get enough staff, Ill train them, and we could be open as soon as a week from now, said Braunda Smith, who is still looking to bring on an additional 20 employees. This new Lucy Coopers is beautiful, polished up and ready to go.
Last week, I talked about how to raise a puppy that doesnt bite by training for bite inhibition. In part two, I want to share with you several other ways you can reduce the chances of your dog ever biting someone.

The second step involves socializing your puppy. Poorly socialized puppies often grow into scared and fearful dogs. So, training a puppy to be comfortable around people is important.

Service dogs must undergo 12 to 18 months of socialization before they can even enter a service dog training program. Thats because these service dogs will need to accompany their human companions to public places and be comfortable in all sorts of circumstances. It helps if your dog receives the same sort of training.

While you dont have the freedom that service dog trainers do to take your puppy everywhere, you can take your puppy into pet stores where they can meet other people and dogs. You also can visit friends, take your puppy on a hike or walk around the block or spend time at the dog park. When a dog gets comfortable around people, other animals, and their surroundings, their confidence grows, which reduces the potential for biting because they are no longer afraid.

While these suggestions are a must for puppies, please know you also can train your adult dog to be more social as well. It will just take a little longer, especially if your dog already has some behavioral issues that make it difficult to take it places. If this is the case, you may have to start by sitting in a parking lot with your dog on a leash far away from cars or people and work your way closer to the pet store over days or weeks, never pushing your dog beyond its comfort zone.

The third thing is to never tie your dog outside and leave it. Dogs act differently when they are tied up in the yard and can become extremely aggressive and territorial. This tied-up dog could easily become a threat to someone, even someone they know well (like a child), when that person approaches. Pulling against the tether tends to trigger a more aggressive response.

Finally, make sure your puppy (and dog) gets spayed/neutered. While this applies to both female and male dogs, when it comes to dog bites, its especially important to get male dogs fixed. An unfixed, tied-up male dog is three times more likely to bite.

Some people wont fix their male dogs because they worry the dog will no longer protect the home. A dog that is fixed will still protect your family and property  especially since they wont be detecting any female dogs in heat and wanting to leave your yard to find them.

Send your pet questions, tips, and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read the Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal.
The Texas State Board of Education has signaled that it wont endorse middle school health textbooks unless changes are made in how they address such topics as masturbation, abortion, gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Republican-led boards debate over sex education comes as state GOP leaders put increasing pressure on public schools over books and images in libraries and classrooms that they deem inappropriate or pornographic.

If I were to support, I wouldnt get seated at a restaurant or get my cleaning picked up, said Jay Johnson, a Republican from rural Gray County in the Texas Panhandle, as he voted against the textbooks. I think in my constituency, I will be a no for this.

The board will cast its final votes on the new health textbooks on Friday, after the publishers have had a chance to revise them.

The culture war centered on gender issues and how sexuality is taught in schools has been fought each time the Board of Education sets new requirements for health studies, or reviews new textbooks.

LAST WEEK: Gov. Abbott calls for standards to rid school libraries of pornographic books, images

But this time it comes as national conservative groups pledge to fight what they consider leftist indoctrination on campus. This year, parents have led grassroots campaigns to remove certain books from at least a half-dozen Texas school districts.

A Fort Worth lawmaker took it a step further by sending letters to nearly two dozen school districts with a list of 800 books, asking if they had any of them on their library shelves. Most of state Rep. Matt Krauses list was made up of books written to teach children and teens about sexuality and LGBTQ issues.

Gov. Greg Abbott weighed in on Nov. 8, saying school boards are to blame for inappropriate books and directing Texas education agencies to develop statewide standards for selecting them.

Those on the left call it a cynical effort to censor discussion of issues relating to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Well over 100 members of the public spoke for or against the health textbooks on Tuesday.

IN-DEPTH: Trump-era rancor spills into Texas school board politics

Several middle school health textbooks were presented to the board for approval based on standards it set last year. They include requirements for students to learn about contraceptive methods, rather than just abstinence. The board did not include requirements for students to be taught about sexual orientation or gender identity.

But textbooks can go beyond the minimum standards, and the health books included information about human sexuality and reproduction.

When you read the media reports, it kept on saying that we were adopting standards on sex education. And we were doing no such thing, said Tom Maynard, a Republican, saying instead that the board adopted health standards and sex education is left up to local school districts. What were getting in a lot of comments is the fact that theres a lot of content in some of these texts ... that goes beyond what we adopted ... That we intentionally left off because its intended to be handled separately from health education.

Generally, the dozens who spoke against the textbooks were frustrated that the textbooks for middle school students included information about consent, gender identity and sexual orientation, among other topics. Many in the public felt misled, noting that the board had made a concession in 2020 to move away from abstinence only sex education, but now the textbooks were going even further by presenting issues of sexuality frankly to middle schoolers.

Those who supported the textbooks pointed out that the boards decision to endorse the books does not require any schools to buy them. It is meant instead as a resource for schools that align with the curriculum standards, and because nonpartisan staff found the proposed books covered all or almost all of the TEKS, voting them down would be fruitless.

This is an educational Dumpster fire, said Val Benavidez, president of the Texas Freedom Network, a watchdog group that monitors the education board. Too many board members simply surrendered to extremists who see nothing but a conspiracy to sexualize students in a state where many of those students say theyre already having sex. Our youth, including those who identify as LGBTQ, need a truth-and science-based education that helps them make healthy life decisions.

There was concern among many on the board that failing to endorse any of the health textbooks would be confusing for educators around the state, leaving them unsure of what books are best.

It feels like were about to leave a lot of districts in the dark with this, because I know a lot of them cant afford to just go out and find their own material, said Aicha Davis, a Democrat from Dallas.

edward.mckinley@chron.com
Cornerstone Church this week said it was not associated with the organizers and does not endorse the views expressed during a far-right conference held there last weekend that made headlines after video of the crowd yelling a veiled insult toward President Joe Biden was posted on Twitter.

In another video, however, one of the church's evangelists, Matt Hagee, is introduced on stage as the "host" of the event, which ran from Nov. 11-13 at the megachurch on San Antonio's North Side.

The ReAwaken America conference featured several controversial QAnon-linked speakers, including former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Conservative figures at the event also pushed COVID-19 vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

On ExpressNews.com: Endless construction, rooftops, new arrivals: The far West Side is booming

Hagee, who leads the church with his father John Hagee, took the microphone and thanked attendees for showing up.

And by being here, you have made the conscious decision to live in your faith rather than die in your fear, Hagee said to a roar of applause. And I want to tell you how proud I am of that decision. So, God bless you. Have a wonderful day. Welcome to Cornerstone Church.

The event also featured allies of former President Donald Trump, including Roger Stone, who was convicted of lying to FBI agents and obstructing their investigation for his part in the FBIs probe into Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election. Trump commuted Stones 40-month prison sentence days before he was to begin serving it.

Stone has previously supported QAnon conspiracy theories and said he had hoped that the fringe group's anonymous leader would help Trump win the 2020 election.

A video posted Saturday on Twitter showed a crowd chanting Lets go Brandon  a popular stand-in for F Joe Biden used by conservatives. Other videos from the event show the crowd was led in the chant by those on the stage.

On ExpressNews.com: 'Is Black Rifle coffee actually good?': 7 things to know about the company with ties to San Antonio

Its unclear when the crowd began chanting or when Hagee made a brief appearance on stage. Cornerstone Church did not make Hagee available for an interview. In an emailed statement, Hagee again said that "the church is not associated with this organization and does not endorse their views."

"I was invited to welcome the crowd where I thanked veterans for their service and thanked the crowd for their commitment to their faith," Hagee said in the statement. "I deeply regret, and ask forgiveness, for what took place in the Cornerstone sanctuary as a result of my oversight. In the future, Cornerstone Church will ensure that organizations using our facility are an appropriate reflection of our mission and vision.

The church is known to draw conservative leaders. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have visited Cornerstone Church last month. Matt and John Hagee also have preached about far-right politics at the church in the past.

Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net
On Sunday afternoon, former Mayor Phil Hardberger was having lunch at the Pearl when a woman in her 50s whom he didnt know stopped him and leaned in to shake his hand and say something very private.

Ive had a very tough time in my life, the woman told Hardberger, referring to the pandemic, and your park and that land bridge made the difference. It gave me something to hope for. It saved me.

Like a new Broadway play or restaurant, the opening of the $23 million Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge at Phil Hardberger Park in December was methodically planned and carefully executed, but whether the public would emotionally connect with the unique park feature was anyones guess.

I had all those worries at 3 a.m., Hardberger said. Ive thrown a party. Now will anyone show up?

They have, in numbers that have surprised even the bridges biggest boosters and in ways that suggest the bridge is pleasing not just to environmental engineers and wildlife biologists.

One man, caught on camera recently, dropped to one knee and proposed to a woman on the bridges Skywalk. Another couple have planned a marriage in September, with Hardberger, a former judge, presiding. Three major parking lots are now routinely crowded with San Antonians and visitors from towns up and down Interstate 35.

Ronald Cortes / Contributor

The bridge connects the two sides of Hardberger Park, which is divided by Wurzbach Parkway. The high-tech metal structure supports tons of soil, native trees, plants and a footpath. It was meant to help animals safely cross the highway and to expand their natural habitat.

Ronald Cortes/Contributor

Now its attracting thousands of people every month: lovers on dates, flocks of families, dismounted cyclists, scout troops, naturalists, runners.

I had always hoped the land bridge would draw people from every part of the city, Hardberger said, and now, every time I walk it, I see that it has. That certainly makes me feel good.

Sunday morning, the horizon was thick and dark with distant rain and the 330-acre park was sticky-humid as Elizabeth Tavera and husband Diego unpacked their 6-week-old daughter from a stroller.

We just moved here from Austin, and we love to tell all our friends there about the land bridge, Elizabeth said.

Nearby, Tootsie, a lively fox terrier, and Teagan, a border collie and smile magnet, dragged Marty Schuh down a trail as she listened on earbuds to reruns of the beloved National Public Radio series Car Talk.

This is their favorite place by far, said Schuh, a retired CPA, armed with poop bags and a water bottle. We come four or five times a week. I have very little control in where we go.

Schuh did agree with other visitors that the excursion from parking lot to land bridge could benefit from improved signage. Its just not intuitive when you get here, she said,in a non-curmudgeonly way.

Ronald Cortes/Contributor

I totally agree, said Denise Gross, executive director of the Hardberger Park Conservancy. Im told by the city parks department that permanent signage has been ordered. There has to be a whole new way-finding package.

The park website has a downloadable map showing the way to the bridge, but some first-timers are bewildered.

The bridge itself, not unlike the Alamo, sort of sneaks up on you. The wide, easy trails to the bridge cut through dense thickets of cedar, oak and prickly pear cactus, so you dont see anything resembling a bridge until you start feeling the ground rise in a gentle arc and you hear the roar of six-lane Wurzbach beneath you.

Even so, Gross says park staff members are always telling visitors who ask Wheres the bridge? that theyre standing on it. Giant rust-colored barriers obscure the view of vehicles.

A favorite feature of the land bridge is the 1,000-foot-long Skywalk, 18 feet above the ground, that affords visitors a largely shaded, squirrels-eye view of the tree canopy. Its 6 feet wide and ADA-accessible.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and all its features, including two dog parks, are free.

Steve, Mike and Florence, part of what they called a Freemason-like, philosophical, religious group that meets once a month, said they appreciated the land bridges purpose and remarked that similar bridges in Canada had dramatically reduced deaths of animals on roads.

I think its outstanding that other cities will be studying our land bridge and seeing if it could work for them, Florence said.

Ronald Cortes/Contributor

Resting for a moment with her daughter on a block of limestone halfway over the bridge, painter Brigitte (Bibi) Saidi, a native of Germany, said she had worried that the bridges new plants and trees would be devastated by Februarys 107 continuous hours of subfreezing cold.

But the mountain laurels look healthy and even stronger, said Saidi, a former corporate accountant who has lived in San Antonio since the 1970s. We were praying for the cactus because they were so gray and shriveled, but now were seeing the little green shoots of hope.

While commenting on the durability of the plant life, Saidi paused to yell, Thank you for dismounting your bike on the bridge, please! at an oblivious violator.

As for the animals, game cameras have spotted deer, one coyote, rabbits and opossums sneaking over the bridge at night, as hoped. But the parks naturalists say the wildlife are no doubt waiting for 100 new trees on the bridge to grow out a bit more, to give them better protection from us.

bselcraig@express-news.net
A woman in Fair Oaks Ranch is disputing her recent monthly water bill for nearly $1,000.

We were completely shocked when I opened the envelope and saw that number, Alexandra Reemts, who moved with her husband and their three young children into a new home in late August.

On ExpressNews.com: 1,000 SAWS customers have had water disconnected so far

The bill said Reemts had to pay $982.91 by Nov. 24 or face a $49.14 late fee  a total of $1,032.05.

And then when I saw 65,000 gallons of water in one month, we knew something was wrong because we would never use that amount of water, said Reemts, 25.

The family lives in the Front Gate subdivision in the northern Bexar County community, which is mostly served with Trinity Aquifer water by the suburbs own utility system. San Antonio Water System provides water in the neighborhood on the towns southwest fringes.

After having a plumber and their homebuilder inspect the property and a SAWS employee check their meter, the couple has ruled out a leak. Reemts said they didnt run their sprinkler system during the billing period from Oct. 7 to Nov. 4. SAWS confirmed there was no active flow on the meter when it was checked this week, and that usage has dropped significantly.

Their previous months bill for about $130 was based on use of 12,718 gallons at their one-story, 2,900-square-foot house on a standard lot. Reemts said they ran their sprinklers in September to help establish their new yard, but not in October.

It was astounding, Reemts said, to see over five times that amount on the most recent bill  the equivalent to taking 100 baths a day for a month. She asked SAWS if there could have been an error in billing in the new subdivision. But the utility said no, and none of her neighbors has reported billing issues.

On ExpressNews.com: Boil water notice lifted for two North Side neighborhoods

Our initial thought was, of course, Oh we have a leak somewhere. But theres nothing, Reemts said. Were just dumbfounded by the entire situation.

SAWS said it scheduled a conservation consultation with Reemts on Friday. Ratepayers should call customer service at 210-704-7297 to dispute a bill. SAWS will send a technician to confirm the meter reading and possibly test the meter.

If we find an error in the billing or the read, SAWS will make the appropriate adjustments. However, if no errors are found, we will support the customer to the fullest extent possible in trying to find what is causing high consumption, SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said. When a leak is found, repaired, and reported to SAWS, we only adjust a percentage of the consumption that is attributed to the leak.

A link on the utilitys website provides video instructions on turning off a propertys water supply at the meter and looking for leaks from toilets or water softeners, or mysterious, hard-to-trace cracks in underground pipes. Other causes of surprisingly high bills include water theft and sprinkler systems that are improperly set.

shuddleston@express-news.net
City Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda is strongly considering leaving the council to run for a seat in the Texas House.

Havrda, 47, is taking a close look at House District 124, a seat that will be open in 2022 because its current occupant, Ina Minjarez, has decided to run for Bexar County judge.

On ExpressNews.com: Rep. Ina Minjarez running for Bexar County judge in 2022

The county judges slot is up for grabs next year because 20-year incumbent Nelson Wolff decided not to run for re-election.

On ExpressNews.com: Garcia: The house that Wolff built

House District 124, like Havrdas Council District 6, is rooted in the far West Side of San Antonio. Its solidly Democratic territory, and Havrda said that if she runs, she will enter the Democratic primary.

I contacted Havrda on Wednesday afternoon, based on a tip I had received about her possible interest in the Texas House race.

I am absolutely interested in it, Havrda said. Its a very tough decision.

Havrda was born and raised in San Antonio. She received her law degree from St. Marys University and an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.

She joined the council in 2019 with an uncommonly impressive resume.

As a lawyer, she specialized in federal disability cases. She had served as a special assistant to then-Mayor Ed Garza and project coordinator for the San Antonio Parks Foundation. In addition, she had been a board member for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Magik Theatre.

On ExpressNews.com: Havrda makes first run for elective office

In 2017, she lost a heartbreaking council runoff to Greg Brockhouse, falling 435 votes short out of nearly 9,000 cast.

Two years later, with Brockhouse vacating the seat to make a bid for mayor, Havrda came back and won the seat in a runoff over accountant Andy Greene.

Havrda has often talked about how she was motivated to run for council by an experience she had as a little girl. She was walking with her grandfather near his home in the Culebra Park area.

She asked her grandfather why there were no sidewalks in the neighborhood, and he answered, in Spanish, They dont care about us.

When Havrda talks about her current decision-making process and the constituents she represents, she starts to choke up.

I asked myself, Where do I best serve my city, my community? I love this city. This city has my heart. I grew up in District 6. I get a little bit emotional. I love it.

Havrda faces a hard deadline of Dec. 13. Thats the final day for candidates to file for the 2022 primary elections.

If Havrda runs, she will follow a path forged by six current San Antonio-based state lawmakers  Jose Menendez, Diego Bernal, Philip Cortez, Ray Lopez, Roland Gutierrez and Lyle Larson  who served on City Council before making the leap to the Texas House.

Two decades ago, Menendez went directly from Council District 6 to Texas House District 124, just as Havrda is currently contemplating.

I hope that my community knows that I fight for them every day, Havrda said. I do enjoy that, and I love seeing the immediate results of my work.

But the flip side of that is the good work that I can do for, generally, the same people on a much higher policy level. Maybe not so immediate, but taking that fight to a place that it could potentially really make differences in peoples lives. Especially where my heart is, with what I call the innocents of our community: the vulnerable population, the disabled, older people, young people.

In particular, Havrda has taken an interest in the challenges faced by foster children who are aging out of the system.

Think of how much more work I could do at the state, she said.

Havrda would have to step down from the council to run for the Texas House. The council would appoint a temporary replacement to fill her District 6 seat and would schedule a 2022 special election; the winner would serve the balance of her term.

Havrda said she has been meticulously mapping out the pros and cons of a possible run for state representative and has asked many of her constituents what they think. She said they generally have encouraged her to do what she thinks is best for herself.

I know Im going to land where its right for me to land, Havrda said. Its very exciting, and Im very humbled that I even have this opportunity.

Wolffs decision to step down as county judge set off a domino effect whose full implications are still emerging. His announcement led to the open seat in Minjarezs Texas House district, which could lead to open seats in Havrdas council district and on the SAISD board of trustees (given that one of its trustees, Ed Garza, also is mulling a campaign for county judge).

Its reminiscent of the impact of Julian Castros 2014 decision to leave the mayors office to serve as U.S. secretary of housing and urban development. Castros resignation prompted two prominent Democrats, Leticia Van de Putte and Mike Villarreal, to leave the Legislature to run for mayor. That set off a rush for those two vacant legislative seats.

Keep an eye out for more falling dominoes.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
As a Mexican American, I marvel at the brazenness of white men who unflinchingly discuss topics they know nothing about.

That includes critical race theory. Many of those who despise CRT dont have the foggiest idea what it is.

Lets start with what it is not. It is not a way for people of color to settle the score by portraying white people as racist villains who are privileged, entitled and fragile.

If only the opponents of CRT didnt sound so privileged, entitled and fragile.

Thats the profile of Christopher Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. During a recent appearance on the podcast The Interview with Hugh Hewitt, Rufo simplistically defined CRT as an ideology that maintains that the United States is fundamentally racist and that the world can be divided into oppressor and oppressed based on skin color.

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Hewitt  who described himself as being from World War I of race theory, which is back in the day of affirmative action (and) counting by race  insisted that every race issue could be tied to CRT.

If they define the term that broadly, white males are going to need a bigger glass of whine.

Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas  a likely contender for the 2024 Republican nomination for president  has emerged as a leading opponent of CRT, despite the fact that he doesnt seem to understand the first thing about it.

Cotton admitted as much during an appearance on Hewitts radio show. When asked if he took CRT while attending Harvard Law School, the senator said: No, of course I did not take phony baloney courses like critical race theory.

On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Race still the real bogeyman

Naturally, the fact that Cotton avoided CRT courses makes him the perfect person to lecture the rest of us on the evils of this thing he knows nothing about.

Hungry for a more informed perspective, I sought out two law professors  one African American, one Latina.

My first call was to Randall Kennedy, a Harvard Law School professor and one of the nations leading African American legal scholars. In 1988, Kennedy taught me about Race, Racism and American Law in a course by that name.

You have some people  the people on the right  who are basically trying to make CRT a good election gimmick, he said. They have created something that they call CRT. And its a good boogeyman. But the image that theyve created of CRT  really doesnt have any more substance than that.

Kennedy was on a roll.

Now if we go back to when you were in my class, there was something called CRT then, and the critical race theorists had two central ideas that were perfectly plausible and sensible. One idea was simply that race and racism have been central in American life. Well, frankly, who can dispute that? And the second idea was that the reform of the Second Reconstructions anti-discrimination laws was, in and of itself, insufficient to create a truly just America. Again, thats true.

On ExpressNews.com: Clack: Attacks on critical race theory reflect willful ignorance

My next call was to Laura Gomez, a former college classmate. One of the few Mexican American law professors in the country, she teaches at UCLA School of Law, where she co-founded the Critical Race Studies Program.

I asked my old friend to break down CRT.

Instead of seeing an act of racism or an act of discrimination as a one-off committed by a single bad or ignorant person against a single victim, critical race theory views racism as baked into American history and society, she said.

Next, I asked Gomez why she thought the GOP had targeted the concept.

I will give you three answers, she said. One is related to George Floyd. One is related to K-12 educators. And one is related to the right-wing sound basin.

Floyds murder by police in May 2020 forced Americans to really begin thinking about systemic racism, Gomez explained. Meanwhile, she said, teachers and administrators were trained at schools of education imbued by critical race studies. And finally, she noted, the issue is amplified by right-wing foundations and the counter-media establishment who are keeping the controversy alive and making it part of the culture war.

The war over CRT began in the 1970s. Thats when the late Harvard Law School Professor Derrick Bell and other legal scholars concluded that the way to fix America was not to be colorblind but color conscious. Only then, can we have an honest conversation about race.

What a simple idea. And what a shame that, after all these years, some people still find it so frightening.
The same week our country honored our nations veterans, the Supreme Court was hearing oral arguments regarding a case to determine whether residents of Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories have equal rights to receive federal Supplemental Security Benefits, or SSI. It is sad there are American veterans from Puerto Rico who are living as second-class citizens and the Supreme Court may decide to perpetuate this injustice.

The case is United States v. Vaello-Madero. Jose Luis Vaello-Madero was a disabled man who received SSI benefits while living in New York before moving to Puerto Rico in 2013. When the Social Security Administration discovered he had moved to the island, it sought repayment of the benefits Vaello-Madero received since 2013, suing him for $28,081.

Residents of Puerto Rico cannot receive SSI. Vaello-Maderos argues that the exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from SSI violates the Constitutions equal-protection guarantee.

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That inequity in benefits is not the only way Puerto Ricans are disenfranchised. They only have one, nonvoting member in the U.S. House of Representatives and no Senate representation.

What is especially unjust to me as a U.S Army veteran is that American veterans from Puerto Rico cant vote for their commander in chief, the president.

Sadly, the Supreme Court appears likely to not challenge Congress current denial of benefits for residents of Puerto Rico, further perpetuating their status as second-class American citizens.

But Congress can act to right this wrong.

Congress must take action to right this injustice by solving Puerto Ricos status issue. They must listen to the people on the island who have consistently voted in favor of statehood. Most recently, in 2020, Puerto Rican voters were asked: Should Puerto Rico be immediately admitted into the Union as a state? The majority voted yes.

On ExpressNews.com: Puerto Rico - Island of Enchantment - beckons San Antonio lawyers Mikal Watts, Thomas J. Henry

A year has passed since that historic vote, and Puerto Ricans are still waiting for their voices to be heard. Thankfully, there is still time. Earlier this year, HR 1522, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act, was introduced in Congress with bipartisan support.

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, the committee with jurisdiction for Puerto Ricos status, has indicated there will be a hearing or vote on this bill soon.

Hopefully, Democrats and Republicans on the committee, as well as my representatives, Congressman Vincente Gonzalez and Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, will support the statehood bill.

Statehood will give the 3.2 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico greater influence on federal policy, resulting in an improvement in benefits, especially for veterans who have already sacrificed so much. That is the least we can do for those men and women who have put their lives on the line to keep us safe.

Jacqueline Baez-Lugo is a veteran of the U.S. Army who served from 1992-1999. She lives in McAllen.
Churches are sanctuaries, places where we contemplate the world and our place in it. They provide wisdom, solace and communion, usually through words that elevate both our minds and spirits.

But when words denigrate instead of elevate, the result is what we recently saw at Cornerstone Church, where a video posted on Twitter showed a crowd chanting, Lets go Brandon.

That phrase may seem benign, even nonsensical, but it has become a euphemism for (Expletive) Joe Biden among Republicans; it originated when a reporter interviewing NASCAR driver Brandon Brown mistook the vulgar phrase for Lets go Brandon, according to the Associated Press.

On ExpressNews.com: Viral video shows crowd at Cornerstone Church chanting 'Let's go Brandon' during an event

The Cornerstone Church video, viewed more than 2 million times, was recorded during the Reawaken America conference Nov. 11-13 at the church, the San Antonio Express-News reported. With the nation plunging into a cauldron of hate and bitterness, the mindless chanting dramatized an ugly truth: Places of worship are no longer the sanctuaries we thought they were.

The Q-Anon crowd is at televangelist John Hagees Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. They are chanting, Lets Go Brandon from the church pews, tweeted PatriotTakes, an organization that exposes far-fight disinformation and shared the video on Twitter.

This is not a church service, its a political rally, U.S. Rep, Joaquin Castro tweeted. Its also a prime example of why more people are turned off by and leaving organized religion.

On ExpressNews.com: Lingle: Expand on 'Let's go Brandon'

Over the years, moral concerns and political issues often have blended in places of worship. Consider the role that Southern Black churches played in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Some were bombed for their convictions, victims of the hate they condemned.

When passion and ideals morph into hate, however, the emotion is antithetical to everything places of worship stand for. A pew is not a trench, but the Lets go Brandon chanters, safe and secure in their sanctuary, turned the church into a battleground. Is this what their religion teaches them?

In a statement to MySA, Cornerstone Church said an outside organization used its facilities, adding that the church does not endorse its views. That may be true, but the church is tainted just the same. Cornerstone leadership should have seen the potential for such vile displays of polarization.

The first clue was one of the speakers, Michael Flynn. You may recall Flynn, who should have been shamed into irrelevance long ago. He is the former national security adviser to former President Donald Trump, forced to resign less than a month into the administration after lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.

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Flynn called for a national religion at the rally. If we are one nation under God, he said, then we must have one religion. The logic is bizarre. We all know he was not referring to Judaism or Islam as the one religion. Do we abandon centuries of worship and devotion because this man thinks spiritualism can be contained in a tidy box he calls America?

Is Flynn arguing that the United States of America should become the Christian States of America? He does not realize that God is beyond us, whereas religion is a construct to help us understand what is beyond us. If Flynn had his way, what would we do with all the mosques, temples and synagogues? Turn them into churches or bingo parlors? He should be reminded that freedom of religion is enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution.

This transcends religion. It is not the kind of behavior we want to see in our churches, but we should not want to see it in our country, period.
Meredith Chacon, a local defense lawyer and former prosecutor, filed campaign paperwork Tuesday to challenge Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales in the 2022 county elections.

If elected, Chacon said she would be tough and smart on crime. She said she would build a relationship with law enforcement  rather than treating them as the enemy. She vowed to enforce criminal trespassing laws in an effort to address homelessness, rather than picking and choosing which laws to enforce.

Violent crime has skyrocketed and conviction rates have plummeted under the current district attorney, Chacon said in a statement. As someone who spent nearly two decades as a prosecutor putting criminals behind bars, I cant stand by and watch the office continue to fail the people of Bexar County.

Chacon, who filed as Republican, said another big focus of her campaign is child abuse and family violence. She pointed to a San Antonio Express-News investigation that found Bexar County had the highest dismissal rate and lowest conviction rate among the states five largest urban areas in cases of misdemeanor and felony family violence assault.

That data was collected over a 10-year period that spanned all or part of the terms of three Bexar County district attorneys: Susan Reed, Nico LaHood and Gonzales, the incumbent.

Chacon said she would address the high rate of dismissals by focusing on evidence-based prosecutions, improving communication with victims and lowering heavy caseloads.

On ExpressNews.com: I begged him to stop: How the system fails victims of family violence

Gonzales, meanwhile, has said that the high rate of dismissals is due to a historical lack of resources for family violence cases. When he took office in January 2019, he inherited a backlog of 3,300 felony domestic violence cases. Some were nearly 20 years old.

Gonzales said he has worked through that backlog, reducing it to roughly 25 felony cases. Now, he is attempting to address the heavy caseload on the misdemeanor side by hiring additional prosecutors and victims advocates.

Chacon, 47, worked in the Bexar County District Attorneys Office from 1999 through 2018, serving as a victims advocate and later  after attending law school  as a prosecutor who oversaw criminal and civil child abuse, human trafficking and domestic violence cases.

During her time in the District Attorneys Office, she tried several high-profile cases, including that of Mark Benavides, a former lawyer who was convicted in 2018 for coercing clients to have sex with him in exchange for legal services. A jury sentenced him to 80 years in prison.

After leaving the office in 2018, shortly after LaHood lost in the Democratic primary, Chacon worked at ChildSafe, an advocacy center for children, where she worked with local partners to improve child abuse prosecutions.

In January 2020, she opened Chacon, Campbell & Alexander PLLC with two other former prosecutors. As a private lawyer, she is often appointed to represent children and parents in cases involving Child Protective Services.

eeaton@express-news.net
A $2.5 billion master plan for San Antonio International Airport that calls for a new terminal, more gates, nicer amenities and more international flights won unanimous approval Thursday from the City Council.

The 20-year, multiphase makeover promises to be one of the citys biggest, costliest capital projects ever. Its intended to address what business and political leaders long have identified as a drag on the regions economic growth and reputation: an airport widely seen as too small, too stodgy and with too few direct flights.

Were moving forward to build the airport we deserve for the future, said Jesus Saenz Jr., the citys aviation director.

The blueprint now goes to the Federal Aviation Administration for review, though federal officials have endorsed the plan, Saenz said.

Under the plan, the number of gates at San Antonio International will grow from the existing 24 to as many as 37.

On ExpressNews.com: $2B makeover at San Antonio Intl Airport hits fast track

Councilman Clayton Perry  who represents District 10 on the Northeast Side, which includes part of the airport  was the only council member to express major reservations about the plan.

I want to support it, but I also want to see how were going to pay for this, Perry said.

Airport revenue bonds would pay for most of the work, with passenger fees, concessions, airline rents and a handful of other income streams paying off the debt. Federal funding also is expected to play an important role.

Perry said he wanted greater detail as to how each part of the plan will be funded.

On ExpressNews.com: New vision for San Antonio Intl Airport likely to move ahead

The master plan now is just a vision, City Manager Erik Walsh responded. He said a precise funding plan for each component doesnt exist yet.

Thats the next step, he said. We certainly will make sure this is in front of the council as we take those next steps.

Perry ultimately voted to approve the master plan.

The document outlines a sweeping vision for a bigger, better-equipped and more convenient San Antonio International.

It calls for construction of a new passenger terminal, Terminal C, at a cost of $790 million to $840 million. The facility would have 17 gates and could open within this decade.

In addition, Terminal A would be demolished and a new terminal built in its place.

The existing Terminal B would be turned into a one-stop check-in and security checkpoint.

At present, each of the two terminals has its own security checkpoint, and once passengers have cleared security, they have to stay within the same terminal. Under the new arrangement, passengers could roam between terminals.

Terminal A was built in 1984 and long has been a focus of complaints that it is crowded and dreary and has inadequate amenities.

At its narrowest point, travelers are packed within a span of 70 feet. A 2018 consultants report said Terminal A was plagued by many functional deficiencies, including too few toilet fixtures for women.

International flights

Airport officials want to be ready when airlines see more demand for flights to Europe or Central and South America.

The airport currently doesnt have international flights outside Mexico. Saenz said market demand would determine when airlines will be willing to add international departures. He declined to say when that might happen.

To bolster the infrastructure for trans-Atlantic flights, the master plan calls for extending one of the airports runways from 8,500 to 10,000 feet to accommodate bigger passenger and cargo aircraft.

The airport makeover wont require tax dollars from the citys general fund, Saenz said. Some of it would be paid for with aid from the FAA. The city also will try to tap federal funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden just signed into law.

But the bulk of the money will come from bonds, which will be repaid with revenue generated by the airport  the standard financing template for airports nationwide.

The people who use the airport are the people who pay for it, Saenz said.

Timeline

The first phase of the plans runs from 2022 to 2026. During that period, the airport could see three new gates, baggage system upgrades, new terminal concessions and more.

During the second phase, from 2027 to 2030, Terminal C would be constructed and, possibly, a new international arrivals hall.

A new parking facility also would be completed during that phase.

The third phase, from 2031 to 2035, is when travelers could see a remodeled Terminal A, a parking garage expansion, airfield safety improvements and the central passenger checkpoint.

Subsequent improvements include a new airport entrance from Loop 410.

As the citys population has grown over the last two decades, so has a sense among political and business leaders that the airport is holding San Antonio back.

That opinion was cemented in 2008, when AT&T moved its headquarters from San Antonio to Dallas. The telecommunications giants then-CEO, Randall Stephenson, explained the move by saying Dallas had more convenient, time-efficient and cost-effective airports.

In 2018, Mayor Ron Nirenberg appointed a 21-member Airport System Development Commission to explore ways to improve airline service here. The same year, former Mayor Henry Cisneros wrote in a San Antonio Express-News op-ed that the city should build an entirely new airport. The commission rejected that idea, instead recommending the 20-year blueprint approved Thursday by the council.

The airport historically has not been something I could say I was very proud of, said aviation executive Mark Fessler, chair of the citys separate Airport Advisory Commission. We have the possibility now to have something we can all be extremely proud of.

megan.stringer@express-news.net
Beto ORourke was barely into the second day of his campaign for governor when he headed for Laredo and the Texas border.

It is no accident that not even 48 hours after we announced this campaign we are right here in your community, the El Paso Democrat told a packed crowd at Jett Bowl in Laredo on Tuesday night.

While he followed that by talking about the regions general importance and his connection with the area, an unspoken truth hung over the event. ORourke struggled in Webb County and in the Rio Grande Valley during his breakout 2018 U.S. Senate campaign and Republicans made major inroads in the region in 2020 during Donald Trumps re-election campaign.

ORourke won the five counties between Laredo and Brownsville that have long been Democratic strongholds. But the turnout in 2018 was just 39 percent along that stretch compared to the statewide average of 53 percent. ORourke may have done better in Texas statewide than Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden did in 2016 and 2020, but he did worse than both of them in those border counties. Its a weakness he knows he must address to have any shot of upsetting Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022.

To that end, ORourke on Tuesday vowed his campaign will not take Laredo for granted. He told supporters hell be back often and will focus resources on getting out the vote and reaching out to more people than Democrats have in the past.

Beto ORourke In Houston As part of his weeklong campaign kickoff, O'Rourke is planning a rally in Houston. TIME: 6 p.m. Friday. PLACE: Discovery Green Park TO ATTEND: Free. Visit mobilize.us/betofortexas to sign up See More Collapse

If the great sin committed by Republicans in the past was trying to disenfranchise voters based on the color of their skin, then the great sin committed by Democrats has been to take those same voters for granted, he said.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

On Wednesday ORourke pushed further south into Hidalgo County. Thursday he is headed for Cameron County. That is three straight days on the border before setting foot in other Democratic strongholds like Houston or Austin that generally get the most attention from statewide Democratic candidates.

Still, ORourke has yet to catch up to Abbott, who in October was holding events with Republicans in Cameron County and just a week ago was in Corpus Christi talking to Republican groups that included many from the Rio Grande Valley.

In Corpus Christi, Abbott said hes convinced that the GOP will make big gains in South Texas and with Hispanic voters in 2022. Last year, Trump nearly doubled his vote total in the five border counties compared to his 2016 election results.

We are going to ensure that South Texas is going to be completely red after this next election, Abbott said.

IN-DEPTH: Gov. Greg Abbott lurched into full campaign mode as Beto ORourke mulled his future

For both Abbott and ORourke, outreach to border communities starts with immigration policy  but from very different perspectives.

Communities of immigrants

In Corpus Christi, Abbott outlined a get-tough message against illegal immigration, using razor wire and blockades to push back caravans of migrants who want to cross.

And yes, Texas is building our own border wall, he said, referring to his effort to shore up the wall with state funds and private donations.

In an interview, Abbott said Democrats have misjudged what people along the border want.

Hispanic voters do care about true border security and they disagree with open border policies, said Abbott who is seeking his third four-year term as governor.

In Laredo, ORourke talked up the nature of immigrant communities and lauded Democrats there for stopping the construction of border walls along their riverfront. In July, the Biden administration canceled 31 miles of border wall projects planned for Laredo by Trumps administration, prompting celebration among activists who opposed it.

We live, breathe and exist in communities of immigrants, ORourke said, comparing Laredo to El Paso. Were proud of the fact that we are communities of immigrants.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, about 738 miles of barriers were planned by the Trump administration  that includes refurbishing or rebuilding existing walls and fences along the length of the 2,000-mile border. Of those, about 453 miles were completed with 373 of those miles replacing existing fences and walls as of the start of the year. Only about 17 miles were constructed in Texas by the Trump administration, all within the Rio Grande Valley sector.

ORourke has already been critical of the Biden administrations handling of a record surge of attempted border crossings. In 2021, the federal government said nearly 2 million people were apprehended or expelled along the U.S. southern border with Mexico  more than double the almost 647,000 the year before.

It is not enough of a priority for his administration, ORourke told a CBS affiliate in Dallas-Fort Worth, on Monday, without explaining what he thinks Biden should do differently.

ORourke said there needs to be predictability, order, and the rule of law and that means honoring our asylum laws when someone has a credible asylum claim. That also means, and this is not popular amongst all Democrats, but it means that when someone comes here and doesnt have a credible asylum claim and has entered in between ports of entry, they should be deported back to the country from which they came.

Those comments signaled a shift in tone from ORourkes campaigns for U.S. Senate and president, when he focused on calling for an end to Trump immigration policies, including separating migrant children from parents at the border.

During his unsuccessful bid for president in 2019, ORourke released a broad immigration plan that called for scrapping the Trump policy that requires asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases were adjudicated. Biden ended the policy, but the U.S. Supreme Court ordered him to reinstate it.

ORourkes plan also calls for citizenship for both Dreamers and their parents, as well as for millions more who now live in the U.S. without authorization.

During his speech in Laredo, ORourke said his campaign is also about improving public schools, creating jobs, and getting better roads and bridges in communities along the border.

Similarly, Abbott led his pitch in Corpus Christi with vows to protect high-paying energy sector jobs and provide more oversight of how public schools teach lessons on racism and slavery.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
San Marcos City Council members voted down an anti-hate statement, some saying it was performative and empty in light of recent antisemitic events.

The vote at Tuesdays council meeting was to reaffirm a statement the city embraced in 2017 saying that San Marcos is a welcoming City that respects the innate dignity of all people and will not tolerate hate, extremism and bigotry.

Mayor Jane Hughson said she presented the statement for the council to re-approve on the occasion of recent hate-related events. Among those were the discovery of antisemitic flyers in San Marcos and the arrest of a Texas State University student on arson charges after an Austin synagogue was set ablaze.

Council members voted 5-1 not to approve the statement as written, opting to postpone its approval for a later date with possible updates to its language.

Councilwoman Alyssa Garza introduced the motion not to approve.

I think we should capitalize on the community conversations (about hate) to make sure that what we are affirming, that what we are doing, is actually meaningful to the community, she said.

Antisemitic incidents

Over Halloween weekend, homeowners in the Willow Creek area reported to San Marcos police that flyers appearing to be antisemitic in nature were located on their property. One of the flyers was headlined Every Single Aspect of the COVID Agenda is Jewish. It listed names of top government healthcare officials who the flyer claimed are Jewish. The flyers featured the Star of David, a pentagram, and the name of a website that proudly features antisemitic videos and Nazi-themed propaganda.

The Police Department said it is investigating the incident along with the Hays County District Attorneys office. As of Wednesday, no suspect had been named and no update on the case had been made public.

Also during Halloween, authorities say 18-year-old Texas State student Franklin Barrett Sechriest set fire to a synagogue in Austin. Federal investigators said they found several racist and antisemitic notes Sechriest wrote in his journals, and they found physical evidence connecting him to the crime. He was arrested Nov. 11 on state and federal arson charges and remains in federal custody.

Sechriest majors in criminal justice at the San Marcos college and was a member of the Texas State Guard 6th Brigade at the time of the incident.

The San Marcos Police Department declined to say whether they are investigating possible links between the two incidents.

In an emailed statement, Texas State said it would continue to assist the FBI and the Austin Fire Department with the investigation.

Our university decries this hateful act of bigotry and violence and all the anti-Semitic events perpetrated recently in Austin, San Antonio, and San Marcos, the statement reads. The Texas State University community stands in solidarity with our Jewish students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who have been impacted.

Local police

In outlining his opposition to the council statement, Councilman Maxfield Baker noted Sechriests arrest, as well as the lawsuit brought against the city by passengers of a Joe Biden campaign bus that San Marcos police failed to protect from pro-Trump motorists last November.

The lawsuit alleges the city and Police Department violated the Ku Klux Klan Act, which requires all Americans to protect innocent people from threats, intimidation or harm based on their support for federal candidates. Biden campaign staffers and volunteers, including Texas Democrat Wendy Davis, are seeking monetary damages after they say they nearly were run off Interstate 35. They were headed to a campaign event at Texas State. Police did not offer assistance despite 911 calls and pleas for help from inside the bus.

Text messages included in the complaint show a police officer asking, did Kamala show?  a reference to Bidens running mate, Kamala Harris. City Public Safety Director Chase Stapp answered, no, just a couple other yards. Plaintiffs lawyers claim that was a misspelling of his intended word, tards.

Baker, the city councilman, said the arrest of the Texas State student and the Biden bus incident were both cause for concern about potential extremism entering or already existing within the citys law enforcement.

The person who has been identified as the lead suspect for the arson case, he was a criminal justice student at Texas State, Baker said. Those are people we know the FBI is concerned about  these extremists entering our police force.

Given the Biden bus incident, Baker said, we know there are potentially extremists in our own police force that would support and say things like lib-tards or (the pro-Trump motorists) were patriots and things like that.

The city released a statement Nov. 2 denying allegations in the suit. But it acknowledged insensitive comments made between employees and said the police chief is addressing those comments according to normal disciplinary procedures.

Baker supported a motion by Garza to not adopt the anti-hate statement until after the Biden bus lawsuit is settled.

Why would we pass something that is seemingly just face value, he said, if were not actually going to do anything about our neighbors that are being targeted by this extremism and bigotry?

Garza called the statement performative and said that it wouldnt do much to quell concerns of hatred or extremism in the San Marcos community.

She said the bus incident has sparked critical conversations in the community, and once the lawsuit resolves, council members can more openly discuss it. Those conversations might produce a more meaningful resolution, she said.

I think we have been gradually seeing this across the nation and, in part, our local sociopolitical climate, that has increased distrust in the government and it is intersecting with  bigotry, hate, extremism, Garza said.

Councilman Shane Scott and Hughson both said they didnt understand the opposition to the written statement, but voted to postpone it anyways. New Councilman Mark Gleason was the lone no vote to postpone.

Annie Blanks writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. annie.blanks@express-news.net.
Saint Pauls Episcipal Church in Fairfield will recognize advent with a service of music and scripture readings at 5 p.m. on Nov. 28.

The service, Lessons and Carols for Advent Sunday will be sung by the churchs 24-voice choir.

The public is welcome. There is no admission charge. Parking will be available on the surrounding streets of the church, and in the adjacent town hall parking lot.

The format of the service originated in the cathedrals and collegiate chapels of England.

Attendees are requested to wear a mask while in the church amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Saint Pauls Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible.

The choir has performed in Carnegie Hall in New York City three times, as well as sung services in major Episcopal churches in New York City and Massachusetts.

Saint Pauls Episcopal Church is located at 661 Old Post Road in Fairfield.

Santa Claus returning to town

Santa Claus is returning to Fairfield from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Artists Sunday on Nov. 28, after two years of not doing so because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He will arrive by fire engine down Reef Road and then sit in the gazebo on the Sherman Green, located at the corner of Reef Road and the Post Road.

Santa will listen to the holiday wishes of all of the children, who visit with him during the event. Santas elves will also give each child a small, plush holiday toy in a giveaway sponsored by the Choice Pet supply store.

The event is free and is in its 19th year.

The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event rain, or shine. The event will be canceled though in the case of very heavy snow, or rain, which would create a safety issues for attendees.

The usual horse and wagon rides will also return for $1 and run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of the event.

DJ Scott Nickel will play holiday music.

Fairfield Chamber of Commerce member, the Fairfield Theater Company, will show Home Alone in their warehouse, located at 70 Sanford St. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the movie begins at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per ticket while they last.

Holiday face painting will also be offered by the local Girl Scouts troop.

The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce will give out I Love Fairfield, button pins to support the theme of, shop local, the day as part of Small Business Saturday, the day before the event.

The chamber will also share information about the Fairfield Community eGift Card program.

Check fairfieldctchamber.com, or call 203-255-1011 for more information.

Earth Animal co-founder selected to Power 50 list

Earth Animal pet supply store co-founder Dr. Bob Goldstein, has been selected to Pet Age magazines, Pet Industrys 2021 Power 50 list.

Goldstein founded Earth Animal with his wife, and partner, Susan Goldstein, with a holistic mission of caring for dogs and cats.

The Pet Industry 2021 Power 50 list recognizes people who are important to the pet care industry through their contributions to the community, care for the wellbeing of companion animals, and their leadership to pursue uncharted territory in the industry.

Earth Animals corporate offices are in Southport and its flagship store is in Westport. It develops, and manufactures premium, and natural organic herbal remedies, ingredients, food, and treats formulated by Goldstein.

Virtual forum focuses on substance use

A Fairfield CARES Community Coalition virtual forum will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 10.

The event, The Power of Media: Changing the Narrative on Substance Use, will be designed to help attendees better understand how to write about substance use and recovery in a non-stigmatizing way.

Perspectives from professionals at the NBC Connecticut television station, the Yale University School of Medicine, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Addiction Services will be shared. Individuals who are in recovery and their family members will also share their perspectives, along with tips, strategies and resources to reduce stigma from the topics.

Register at https://bit.ly/3HjFzbi.

A meeting link will be sent only to people, who register for the virtual forum.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany approved new measures Thursday to rein in record coronavirus infections as Chancellor Angela Merkel called the pandemic situation in the country very serious and said it was high time to contain the spread of the virus.

The situation is highly dramatic and it will be very important now that action is taken quickly, that action is taken consistently, that better control is taken, Merkel told reporters Thursday night in Berlin. She had earlier held a videoconference with Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germanys 16 state governors to coordinate the countrys response to a surge in coronavirus cases.

Merkel said participants in the meeting had agreed that tightening of measures against the virus would in the future be linked to the number of hospital admissions of COVID-19 patients per 100,000 people over a seven-day period. The states are also considering mandatory vaccinations for some professional groups such as medical staff and nursing home employees.

Earlier on Thursday, lawmakers in the Bundestag passed legislation to rein in the virus with votes from the center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats. The three parties are currently negotiating to form a new government.

The new measures include requirements for employees to prove they are vaccinated, recently recovered from COVID-19 or have tested negative for the virus in order to access communal workplaces; a similar rule will apply to public transport. The measures need to be approved by Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, which could happen Friday.

Outgoing Chancellor Merkels center-right Christian Democrats had wanted to extend existing rules that expire this month and which have served as the basis for numerous national and state-wide restrictions since March 2020. In the future, Germany's 16 states will only be able to impose restrictions on cultural and sports events if their regional assemblies approve the measure.

Merkel's party criticized the new rules, saying they would weaken the instruments at authorities' disposal at a time when infections are soaring again.

Germany's disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, reported 65,371 new daily infections, shattering the previous 24-hour record and continuing an upward trend that experts have warned about for weeks. Total deaths are nearing 100,000, with 264 reported on Wednesday alone.

We are currently heading toward a serious emergency, institute director Lothar Wieler said during an online debate late Wednesday. We are going to have a really terrible Christmas if we don't take countermeasures now.

Wieler said Germany needs to increase its COVID-19 vaccination rate, which now stands at 67.7%, to significantly above 75%.

The eastern state of Saxony, which at 57.6% has the country's lowest immunization rate, is poised to impose a limited lockdown in response to soaring infection numbers.

Governor Michael Kretschmer said the state government would decide on a hard and clear wave breaker Friday lasting two to three weeks.

Official figures show Saxony had more than 761 newly confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the past week, the highest rate in Germany.

Germanys independent vaccine advisory panel said Thursday that it recommends booster shots for all people over 18. Merkel said everything would be done to make available booster shots against the virus as quickly as possible. She said that about 27 million people needed to get a booster shot soon.

Wieler, the head of the disease control agency, warned that hospitals across Germany are struggling to find beds for COVID-19 patients and those with other illnesses.

Hospitals in the southeastern district of Rottal-Inn appealed this week for nurses and doctors to get in touch, saying it could use the help of every hand (to) cope with this difficult situation.

Neighboring Austria recorded 15,145 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, authorities said Thursday.

The country imposed a lockdown on unvaccinated people this week. But two states  Salzburg and Upper Austria  are poised to extend the measure to vaccinated people as well

In the capital Vienna, officials sent unsolicited vaccination appointments to some 340,000 residents who haven't yet received a shot.

___

Kirsten Grieshaber contributed reporting.

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Follow AP's pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Though federal regulators have not yet expanded eligibility for COVID boosters, Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday everyone should get one.

With cases rising across Connecticut and the region ahead of the busy holiday season, Lamont and other officials stressed the importance of boosters.

If youre over 18, go get yourself a booster shot right now if you havent had one already, Lamont said after an unrelated event in Windsor.

Here is what you need to know about COVID-19 vaccine boosters in Connecticut:

What boosters are available?

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have approved boosters for all three vaccines, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Doses of all three of these shots are available across Connecticut.

Federal regulators have also given their approval to a mix-and-match approach, where someone can get a booster dose different from the vaccine company they received during the initial rollout.

What is the eligibility for boosters?

Under the emergency use authorization for the vaccines, eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people who have been fully vaccinated for six months if they are age 65 and older, or anyone age 18 and older who has certain medical conditions or lives or works in high-risk settings.

State officials said the high-risk settings requirement is what gives people the greatest latitude for eligibility for a booster, given that infections are going up and COVID-19 is spreading more readily in recent weeks.

However, on Wednesday, Lamont said regardless the eligiblity criteria, everyone who has been fully vaccinated should get a booster.

Eligiblity for Johnson & Johnson is considerably broader. Federal regulators said anyone can get a booster two months after they received the first dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Will the federal approvals change soon?

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported the Food and Drug Administration is planning to authorize booster shots of Pfizers vaccine as early as Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the agencys plan. The Center for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine advisory committee is scheduled to meet Friday.

The CDCs confusing guidance is going to be made clear within 24 hours that says go get yourself a booster shot if youre over 18 and its been at least six months since your last vaccination, Lamont said Wednesday.

It is not immediately clear if this anticipated shift in approvals extends beyond Pfizer to the Moderna vaccine.

How can someone schedule a booster shot?

All major provides are offering booster shots, including Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare.

State officials said there are also more than 800 federally qualified pharmacies providing booster shots.

Individuals can make appointments through individual providers websites or they can look for clinics on the federal website, vaccine.org.

Residents can also call 800-232-0233 for assistant booking a booster appointment.

How many people have already received the booster?

As of Thursday, Connecticut had administered about 454,100 additional COVID-19 doses, according to CDC data.

According to the CDC, about 19 percent of eligible residents over the age of 18 have received a booster, and nearly 46 percent of eligible individuals age 65 and older have received the additional dose.

What is prompting the push for boosters?

State officials have been urging people to get the booster shot amid a rise COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

While not as dramatic as last fall, the positivity rate of new COVID-19 tests has been increasing in recent weeks and hospitalizations have increased slightly as well.

As of Wednesday, the state reported a positvity rate of 3.38 percent, which brings the seven-day average to 2.9 percent, up from 2.4 percent one week ago.

The state reported four additional hospitalizations Wednesday a total of 247 COVID-19 patients, up from fewer than 200 two weeks ago.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisianas governor said Wednesday that he will definitely sign a posthumous pardon for Homer Plessy, whose 1892 arrest for refusing to leave a whites only railroad car wound up making separate but equal U.S. law for a half-century.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said he wants relatives of people on both sides of Plessy v. Ferguson, which allowed Jim Crow laws discriminating against Blacks, to be with him when he signs the pardon.
HARTFORD  A statue of a 17th century Connecticut war leader was the target of opposition and support on Thursday, when a little-known state commission held a forum on whether the 3,000-pound marble likeness remains in place overlooking the state Capitols north entrance.

State Historian Walter Woodward, associate professor of history at the University of Connecticut, recommended that the statue of Maj. John Mason remain in place. Woodward recommended enhanced educational programming, including him involved in group tours to discuss the 1637 battle in which Mason ordered the burning of a Pequot tribal village in Mystic that killed an estimated 400 indigenous people, including women and children.

Instead of removing the 3,000-pound statue from the Gothic niche three stories above the north entrance to the Capitol, Woodward suggested adding more tribal representation to the nearly two dozen historic state leaders, all white men except for the statue of Gov. Ella T. Grasso that was created after her death in 1981.

As state historian, I believe history and the future are both best served by embracing the complex realities of Connecticuts past rather than by simplifying or erasing them, he said. That past is filled with injustice, pain, inequity and violence. Our present moment has become a time of reckoning with these painful realities. The real story of this violent assault on indigenous culture involves much more than Mason alone.

Representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation were joined by speakers from the Mohegan Tribe and the Eastern Pequot Tribe in supporting the removal or Masons statue, possibly for public display elsewhere. The native American groups had also submitted written and video testimony in advance.

Statues do not preserve history, said Mainisha Sinha, another UConn historian who favors removing the Mason sculpture. Statues commemorate certain aspects, certain people in our history. Taking down statues do not erase history. That is one of the common misconceptions in this debate.

Sinha recommended removing Masons life-size marble sculpture from the facade of the Capitol, which was built in 1878 as a memorial to the Civil War and the founders of the state. I would really ask you to be very mindful of the viewpoints of all of your citizens and even those who may not have been citizens but are indeed the original possessors of the land on which we live, she said. I think its high time that you think of removing John Masons statue.

In our experience, the Pequot War is still being fought in some communities, said Kevin McBride, a UConn anthropologist who noted that every dawn on May 26, Pequots commemorate the 1637 massacre with ceremonies including drumming, singing and smoke baths called smudging.

They dont serve to teach and educate, they serve to remind, said Ron Wolf Jackson, of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, noting that the sculpture was made in 1903, during a period of continued discrimination against the indigenous tribes, to celebrate an event from more than 250 years earlier.

Marcus Mason Maronn, who said he is a descendant of the controversial soldier, called the taking down of the sculpture an unreasonable demand, pointing to a similar controversy in Windsor, where there is a Mason statue honoring him as a founder of that town.

The sensitivities of a small minority of unhappy people in no way, shape or form, warrants the removal of either of the Mason statues, Maronn said. Besides, the Pequots can present whatever version of history they choose in their own museum, regardless of accuracy or objections.

The Capitol Preservation & Restoration Commission, an appointed advisory panel that meets quarterly and oversees various projects in and around the Capitol building, will likely vote next month on whether to recommend the statues removal, which was a goal of Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chairwoman of the legislative Appropriations Committee.

In recent weeks, Osten became a member of the preservation commission and on Thursday she led the questioning of invited speakers.

After the two-and-a-half-hour forum, Osten told reporters that she had originally estimated the removal of the statue to be about $15,000 that would come out of a miscellaneous account on the state Office of Legislative Management. That office operates the 14-acre Capitol complex, including the adjacent Legislative Office Building, where Thursdays meeting was held with several remote participants.

But during the July meeting of the commission, Eric Connery, facilities administrator, told the panel that professional proposals for the removal exceeded $50,000. Legislative rules indicate that for an amount that high to be approved, there needs to be bipartisan agreement among the top leaders of the General Assembly.

Rather than spending money to tear down, why not spend that money to add to our visual record? said Ann Burton, who represented the National Society of Colonial Dames in Connecticut and noted that there are empty niches on the Capitol facade. We enrich our understanding of history not by removing or trying in 2021 to defeat John Mason, but by adding others who have made contributions to our state.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
The state Department of Public Health is warning of a rash of overdoses involving fentanyl-laced marijuana after tracking at least 39 overdose cases  and one death  in Connecticut since July.

In early October, there were several reports in which people from Plymouth were revived with the opioid-reversing drug naloxone, but they told authorities they had only smoked marijuana, according to an advisory Thursday from DPH.

Officials said Plymouth police had the marijuana tested by the state lab, which confirmed the presence of fentanyl  a powerful synthetic opioid that is roughly 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

This is the first lab-confirmed case of marijuana with fentanyl in Connecticut and possibly the first confirmed case in the United States, DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani said in a written statement Thursday.

Of the 39 reported overdoses, 11 occurred in July, nine in both August and September, and 10 occurred between Oct. 1 and Oct. 26, according to officials.

This seems to be a new emerging use and I dont think itll go away, Susan Logan, a supervising epidemiologist with DPH, said in an interview Thursday night.

Officials are seeing more types of substances adulterated with fentanyl, Logan said, including illicit drugs such as cocaine and marijuana. Given the continued volatility of the illicit drug market, officials are expecting continued increases of both fatal and non-fatal overdoses, according to the DPH.

Connecticut has seen a steady uptick in overdose deaths with many of the incidents related to fentanyl-laced street drugs, Hearst CTInsider reported Wednesday. Through the first nine months of 2021, the state saw 1,138 overdose deaths, up 9.5 percent from the same period in 2020  and a jump of more than 25 percent from 2019, before the pandemic.

Watertown police on Wednesday warned residents there of several incidents in the area involving marijuana purchased illegally that was laced with fentanyl.

While police stressed that marijuana is legal for recreational use, authorities urged residents to ensure they purchase marijuana from a legal business.

The illegal purchase of legal drugs is not only illegal, it poses inherent risks, Watertown police said, adding that there has been one fatal overdose from fentanyl-laced marijuana in the area. Police did not indicate where the overdose occurred.

Authorities encouraged any residents who experience adverse side effects from illegally purchased marijuana to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Ana Santos Rutschman, Saint Louis University

(THE CONVERSATION) A quiet monthslong legal fight between the U.S. National Institutes of Health and drugmaker Moderna over COVID-19 vaccine patents recently burst into public view. The outcome of the battle has important implications, not only for efforts to contain the pandemic but more broadly for drugs and vaccines that could be critical for future public health crises.

I teach drug regulation and patent law at Saint Louis Universitys Center for Health Law Studies.

Moderna recently offered to share ownership of its main patent with the government to resolve the dispute. Whether or not this is enough to satisfy the governments claims, I believe the dispute points to serious problems in the ways U.S. companies bring drugs and vaccines to market.

US was a major funder of the Moderna vaccine

Vaccines have played a crucial role in the response to the pandemic.

In December 2020, Moderna became the second pharmaceutical company after Pfizer to obtain authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to market a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. People have since grown so used to talking about the Moderna vaccine that a crucial element in the history of how it was developed risks being overshadowed: Moderna was not the sole developer of the vaccine.

Unlike many of the other pharmaceutical companies involved in the COVID-19 vaccine race, Moderna is a newcomer to drug and vaccine commercialization. Founded in Massachusetts in 2010, the company had never brought a product to market until the FDA authorized its COVID-19 vaccine last year.

Throughout the 2010s, Moderna focused on the development of mRNA technology, attracting over US$2 billion in funding from pharmaceutical companies and other investors. It went public in 2018.

Even before the pandemic, research on both coronaviruses and vaccine candidates against emerging pathogens was a priority for agencies operating in the public health space. In 2015, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an institute within the NIH, signed a cooperative R&D agreement with Moderna on basic research, including the development of new vaccines. The agreement resulted in an undisclosed amount of funding and assistance with research.

In addition, after the COVID-19 outbreak began Moderna also received almost $1 billion in funding from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which operates within the Department of Health and Human Services. This funding was specifically targeted to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Researchers have calculated that, collectively, the U.S. government has provided $2.5 billion toward the development and commercialization of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine.

US, Moderna scientists working side by side

In addition to providing financial support, the federal government was instrumental in the development of Modernas vaccine for other reasons. Namely, federal scientists worked alongside Moderna scientists on different components of the vaccine.

These contributions included working on dosing mechanisms, and the NIH said federal scientists created the stabilized spike proteins that are a key component of the vaccine made by Moderna.

The importance of the role played by federal scientists in their work with Moderna would soon become apparent. A 2019 agreement with a third party explicitly acknowledged this, alluding to mRNA vaccine candidates developed and jointly owned by NIAID and Moderna. And by late 2020, the U.S. government was calling it the NIH-Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

While the U.S. government has spent money on COVID-19 vaccinesmade by other companies, its close involvement in the R&D stages of Modernas sets it apart.

How it became a patent dispute

As development of the vaccine progressed, Moderna applied for several patents, each one covering different components of the vaccine. U.S. law allows inventors to apply for patents on products or methods that are new, not obvious and useful. While some early modern vaccines  like the polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salks team  were not covered by patents, from the late 20th century onward it became very common for one or multiple patents to cover a newly developed vaccine.

In applying for some patents related to its vaccine, Moderna named National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases scientists as co-inventors alongside Moderna scientists. This was the case, for example, in a patent application dated May 2020 for a relatively minor component of the vaccine.

However, in July 2021, Moderna made it clear that it would not name government scientists as co-inventors in a patent application covering a much more significant component of the vaccine: the mRNA sequence used to produce the vaccine, known as mRNA-1273.

Modernas position was that Moderna scientists alone had selected the sequence. The company informed the Patent and Trademark Office of its position in a 2020 statement.

In November 2021, government officials publicly challenged the companys decision after months of failed negotiations with the company. Moderna then took to social media to defend its position, tweeting:

Just because someone is an inventor on one patent application relating to our COVID-19 vaccine does not mean they are an inventor on every patent application relating to the vaccine.

By contrast, the National Institutes of Health argued that three NIAID scientists  Kizzmekia Corbett, Barney Graham and John Mascola  had meaningfully contributed to the invention, though theyve declined to publicly specify how. If true, patent law says they should be named co-inventors.

But this dispute is not merely about scientific principles or technical aspects of the law. While patents are also regarded as proxies for measuring scientific reputation, their most immediate and powerful effect is to give patent holders a significant amount of control over the covered technology  in this case, the main component of the vaccine made by Moderna.

From a practical perspective, excluding federal scientists from the application means that Moderna alone gets to decide how to use the vaccine, whether to license it and to whom. If, by contrast, the government co-owns the vaccine, federal patent law allows each of the joint owners to engage in a variety of actions  from making and selling the vaccine to licensing it  without the consent of the other owners.

This is especially relevant in cases of product scarcity or potential pricing issues in connection with the commercialization of the vaccine. For instance, the U.S. would have the ability to allow more manufacturers to produce vaccines using the mRNA-1273 technology. In addition, it could direct vaccine doses wherever it likes, including to lower-income countries that have received few vaccines so far.

Broader implications

The ongoing battle between the government and an emerging star in the pharmaceutical industry is yet another episode in a complicated relationship between actors with complementary yet distinct roles in the production of drugs and vaccines.

On the one hand, the federal government has long played a critical role in both performing and funding basic research. On the other, it does not have the resources and capacity to bring most types of new drugs and vaccines to market on its own.

The pharmaceutical industry thus plays an important and necessary role in drug innovation, which I believe should be rewarded  although not boundlessly.

If the NIH is correct about co-ownership of the vaccine, then Moderna is unduly using a legal tool to achieve a position of market control  a reward it does not deserve. This position of sole control becomes even more problematic in light of the significant amounts of public money that funded the development of this vaccine. This offset some of Modernas financial risk, even as the company projects to make $15 billion to $18 billion in revenue from vaccine sales in 2021 alone, with much more expected in 2022.

[More than 140,000 readers get one of The Conversations informative newsletters. Join the lists today.]

However, even if the NIH prevails in the patent dispute, it is important to understand the limitations of such a win. The U.S. would be in a position to license the vaccine, for example, and could do so by requiring that licensees agree to equitable distribution of vaccine doses.

But co-ownership would not enable the government to fix any of the other problems that currently affect the manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, such as scaling up production or building infrastructure to deliver vaccine doses.

In my view, the dispute is a reminder of the manyproblems embedded in how vaccines are made and delivered in the U.S. And it shows that when taxpayers fund basic research of a drug, they deserve more of the control  and rewards  when that drug succeeds.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/why-moderna-wont-share-rights-to-the-covid-19-vaccine-with-the-government-that-paid-for-its-development-172008.
Destinations around Connecticut will soon become a little more magical as they usher in the holiday season with visits from Santa Claus. While 2020 largely featured glass-mediated visits with Santa due to COVID-19, this year, most locations are offering both socially-distanced and non-socially-distanced options for photos with Santa. For example, Stew Leonards locations in Danbury and Norwalk will have a vaccinated Santa who will be stationed outdoors for photos. While Santa will be unmasked, Director of Public Relations Meghan Bell told Hearst Connecticut that they can put masks on for photos depending on parents or guardians comfort level.

Malls in Connecticut have varying guidelines for visits with Santa. At the Connecticut Post Mall, Santa will be the only one sans mask, while the photography staff and any assistants will be required to wear face coverings, according to marketing director Kelly Hapken. Deeper into Fairfield County, the Danbury Mall is requiring all photography staff and Santa himself to be vaccinated, save for religious exemptions (testing will be required for vaccine-exempt employees).

From traditional visits with Santa at shopping malls to photo ops with the North Pole native at holiday festivals, heres when and where you can see Santa in Connecticut this year.

Journal Register Co.

Santa on the Essex Steam Train

When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 19-28, Wednesdays through Sundays Dec. 1-19, Wednesday and Thursday Dec. 22-23

Where: 1 Railroad Avenue, Essex

Guests can ride the Connecticut version of the North Pole Express in a 90-minute musical performance of The Night Before Christmas featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus.

North Pole Express

Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media

Greenwich Reindeer Festival

When: Nov. 26 through Dec. 24

Where: Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouse, 437 North Street, Greenwich

Guests can take photos with Santa, meet his reindeer and spend some time in Santas workshop.

Reindeer Festival

Contributed photo / David Sizemore

Westbrook Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting

When: Dec. 5

Where: 21 Essex Road, Westbrook

Guests can enjoy ice carving, horse-drawn carriage and smores at a bonfire as they await Santas arrival in Westbrook for the towns annual tree lighting.

Westbrook Holiday Parade

Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media

New Canaan Holiday Stroll

When: Dec. 4

Where: 161 Elm Street, New Canaan

The 17th annual holiday stroll will have Santa perched in front of the Houlihan Lawrence office on Elm Street for guests to take pictures.

New Canaan Holiday Stroll

Clayton Dodwell

Norwalk Christmas Tree Lighting and Vendor Fair

When: Nov. 28

Where: American Legion Post 12, 60 County Street, Norwalk

The annual tree lighting kicks off at 5 p.m. outside the American Legion and Santa will be stop by for a visit to help usher in the holiday season.

Tree Lighting and Vendor Fair

Meg Barone / Hearst Connecticut Media

Bethel Winter Fest

When: Nov. 26

Where: P.T. Barnum Square, Bethel

Starting at 1 p.m., downtown Bethel will come alive with the spirit of the holiday season. There will be horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, hot cocoa, food and of course, a visit from Santa.

Bethel Winter Fest

Meg Barone / Hearst Connecticut Media

Santas Arrival in Fairfield

When: Nov. 28

Where: Sherman Green, Fairfield

Santa will make a stop in Fairfield from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children (and kids at heart) can visit with Santa and take home a small gift.

Santa Comes to Fairfield

Grace Duffield / Hearst Connecticut Media

Pet Photos with Santa in Litchfield

When: Dec. 4

Where: Agriventures Agway, 7 Iffland Pond Road, Litchfield

Even pets have a chance to have their photo taken and tell Santa their holiday wishes. The first 100 visitors can also receive a free holiday goody bag.

Agriventures Pet Photos with Santa

Contributed photo / Downtown Special Services District

Stamford Heights & Lights: Rappelling Santa and Tree Lighting

When: Dec. 5

Where: Landmark Square and Latham Park, Stamford

Watch Santa and New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman rappel from 22 stories above the city. Once they land on solid ground, Santa will make his way up Bedford Street to Latham Park for the citys tree lighting.

Stamford Heights and Lights

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

Santa Express in Thomaston

When: Nov. 26 through Dec. 23

Where: Historic Thomaston Railroad Station, 242 East Main Street, Thomaston

All season long, guests can enjoy a visit with Santa and his elves on a train ride. Each child will also receive a small toy from Santa.

Santa Express

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Meet Santa at Stew Leonards in Norwalk, Danbury and Newington

When: Nov. 26 through Dec. 21

Where: Locations in Norwalk, Danbury and Newington

From Nov. 26 through Dec. 21, customers can take a free photo with Santa in the Connecticut Stew Leonards locations .

Santa at Stew Leonard's

Carol Kaliff/Hearst Connecticut Media

Westfield Trumbull Mall

When: December

Where: 5065 Main Street, Trumbull

The Westfield Trumbull mall is hosting three different meet-and-greet opportunities with Santa this season: a sensory visit with Santa for children with autism and other special needs from Dec. 5-12, pet photos with Santa from Dec. 6-20 and a traditional photo op with Santa from Dec. 2-24.

Santa at Westfield Trumbull

Robert F. BukatyThe Associated Press

Danbury Fair Mall

When: Through Dec. 24

Where: 7 Backus Avenue, Danbury

Shoppers can take photos with Santa at the Danbury Fair Mall through Dec. 24.

Santa at Danbury Fair Mall

Kenneth Kast

Stamford Town Center

When: Dec. 5

Where: 100 Greyrock Place, Stamford

Dogs and cats will have a chance to take a photo with Santa on Dec. 5 and get some treats from dog daycare and grooming company Dogtopia.

Santa at Stamford Town Center

Jamie Judd

The SoNo Collection in Norwalk

When: Nov. 26 through Dec. 20

Where: 100 North Water Street, Norwalk

Looking for a new Instagram post? Take a selfie with Santa at the SoNo Collection from Nov. 26 through Dec. 20.

Santa at the SoNo Collection

Courtesy of Hollandia

Westfarms Mall in West Hartford

When: Dec. 6

Where: 1500 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford

The entire family including pets can take a holiday photo with Santa on Dec. 6.

Santa at the Westfarms Mall
The chairman of a parliamentary committee has accused the government of doing 'too little, too late' on labour shortages in the food and farming sector.

Neil Parish, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA), gave evidence this week as part of its inquiry into workforce shortages.

The MP for Tiverton and Honiton called for more action and warned that if the problem was not sorted, the UK would 'export its food industry'.

The industry blames the shortage of workers on farms and abattoirs on factors including the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.

For pig producers, a sector which has experienced the worst of the shortages, a lack of labour in processing plants has led to a huge backlog of pigs on farms.

The National Pig Association (NPA) warned last week that the backlog showed no signs of easing, with many farmers 'desperately short of space having exhausted contingency plans'.

At the inquiry, Mr Parish said the food and farming sector had been telling government since early this year about labour shortages which had caused supply difficulties.

"Government has done too little, too late on almost every front," he said, adding that it must 'face up to its responsibilities'.

"It must create a strategy to give farmers and food producers confidence so they can continue to deliver good British food to our plates.

"If this is not sorted, well end up exporting our food industry and importing our food, he said.

During the session, Defra Secretary George Eustice suggested a lack of labour of labour was a 'commercial risk' for food businesses, along the lines of arable farmers having a crop impacted by aphids.

At which point, Mr Parish suggested the latter would be considered an 'act of God or an act of nature', which he suggested was not the case for 'not having having enough processor workers and not being able to slaughter your pigs'.

He said labour shortages were out of farmers' control and insisted there was 'no expectation farmers would have to cover that as a commercial loss'.

During the session, Mr Parish and members of the committee grew impatient at the lack of clear answers as to how the government intended to address the situation.

How much more of Rome needs to burn before you put some kind of plan together? Mr Parish asked the Defra Secretary.
The British public could be buying imported meat, dairy and eggs produced with irresponsible antibiotic use, a new report has found.

Such produce could still be making its way on to UK supermarket shelves, the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics said in its report released on Thursday (18 November).

Despite some improvements in supermarket antibiotic policies, it found that most imports and branded products are not covered by the retailer's own rules for responsible antibiotic use.

This means that there is no reliable way for shoppers to avoid buying food produced with irresponsible antibiotic use, the campaign group explained.

This is a particular concern because the government is in trade talks with countries such as the US and Australia, that use antibiotics for growth promotion, a practice banned in the UK.

The ban on growth promoters does not apply to imported food, a loophole which the alliance says neither the government nor most of the supermarkets are addressing.

The group assessed the publicly available antibiotic policies of the UKs ten leading supermarkets and found they all now have a policy aimed at ending routine preventative antibiotic use in their supply chains.

Two years ago, only six supermarkets had such a rule. However, most supermarkets only apply their antibiotic policies to some or all of their own-brand products.

Some policies only cover own-brand fresh meat, dairy and eggs of UK origin, leaving frozen produce, ready meals, ingredients and branded produce with no restrictions on antibiotic use, other than minimum legal standards.

Suzi Shingler, of the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotic, said supermarkets had a responsibility to ensure that all meat, dairy and eggs were produced without misusing antibiotics.

"The current mishmash of rules means that consumers cannot tell whether this is the case or not," she added.

"Some imported food may even be produced by using antibiotics to make animals grow faster, a practice which has been banned in the UK for 15 years.

" As the UK is seeking to reach new trade deals with non-EU countries, it is more important than ever to have the same standards for imported and British produce.

"Thats why, today, the Alliance has launched a petition urging supermarkets to apply their rules for responsible antibiotic use to all animal products sold in their stores.

The petition is being supported by TVs Dr Chris Van Tulleken, an infectious diseases doctor and MRC Clinical Research Fellow at University College London Hospital.

We need to get antibiotic misuse out of the food chain as it is contributing to the global crisis of antibiotic resistance," Dr Van Tulleken said.

"If we no longer have reliable, effective antibiotics, we will see a lot more deaths due to infection. This will even affect young people, including children.

Resistance to antibiotics caused by the overuse of these medicines in livestock and humans is increasing, and threatens to undermine medical procedures such as hip replacements and cancer chemotherapy.

Scientists predict that if the world doesnt radically change how antibiotics are used, by 2050 antimicrobial resistance will kill more people than cancer does today.
The popular BBC Two series This Farming Life is back for a fifth series, with the first episode set to be aired on screens next week.

The hit documentary series follows six farming families in some of Scotlands most stunning and remote locations.

Filmed across a year, the series begins in early spring as the farmers gear up for lambing, their busiest weeks of the year.

It stars a young Orcadian farmer keen to run his own farm, as well as familiar faces Emma and Ewan as they embark on the first year at their brand new farm on the isle of Bute.

Each episode follows the highs and lows of the families as they strive to diversify their businesses, raise strong stock and safeguard their farms post-Brexit and the pandemic.

In episode one, Northumberland farmers Emma and Ewan are rounding up their cattle and sheep as they prepare to move from Emmas home for the last ten years to a farm seven times the size, on the Isle of Bute just off Scotlands west coast.

The move means taking on huge financial risk, and when they finally arrive on Bute, the scale of the challenge that lies ahead begins to sink in.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Stranraer, dairy farmer Andy Love is preparing to hand over the reins of his business to his daughter, Kayleigh.

With Andys blessing, she plans to maximise the dairys earning potential by bringing a large part of the business in house  pasteurising and bottling their own milk.

Its a risky new venture, at a time when shes also facing huge challenges at home. Husband Rab is undergoing chemo for bowel cancer, and the couple also run an Italian restaurant which has been hit hard by Covid restrictions.

In Loch Ness, cousins Donald Fraser and David Girvan are preparing for the busy spring season ahead. Donalds partner Joanna is new to farming.

This year shes keen to get as hands on as possible and push on with ambitious plans to set up a farm shop.

The first episode of the fifth series of This Farming Life is set to be aired on Tuesday 23 November at 8pm.
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning --

4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS.

We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover.

We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Fully vaccinated international visitors are now welcome in Cambodia, and we just cant wait to visit

The sovereign state of Cambodia has announced that fully vaccinated visitors from across the world are welcome without quarantine. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Hun Sen, and stated that the whole Cambodia was now open to tourists and business visitors, as opposed to a previous plan of reopening only beach spot Sihanoukville, Koh Rong island and Dara Sakor, a resort zone developed by the Chinese.

The prime minister added that travellers need to show receipt of two doses of vaccine and two negative COVID tests  one taken no less than 72 hours before travel and one on arrival. A negative result in the rapid test on arrival gives you the opportunity to travel freely across Cambodia. He added that unvaccinated travellers would have to quarantine for 14 days. FYI  88 per cent of the population in Cambodia is fully vaccinated.



Why This Makes Us Happy  And Should Make You Happy Too

Cambodia offers visitors a fascinating mix of history, temples, beaches and art. It still shows traces of the mighty Khmer empire  which ruled present-day Laos, Thailand and Vietnam  and one of the greatest of these is the magnificent Angkor Wat.







Phnom Penh, the eclectic capital, is fascinating. Immerse yourself in local culture with a visit to Psar Themi (or Central Market). Find a seemingly endless number of stalls selling knick-knacks as well as fresh food and a food court within a giant dome that keeps out the rain and the sun, but allows for cross ventilation. The National Museum of Cambodia (above) is known for its stunning terracotta exterior and its massive collection of Khmer sculptures. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum chronicles the dark crimes of the Khmer Rouge, a regime under Marxist dicatator Pot Pol, which led to the death of over two million people.



Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor Wat, but, even beyond the deservedly-famed temple, you will find other must-visits. Artisans Angkor  Les Chantiers Ecoles is an arts centre dedicated to keeping artisanal and cultural practices alive; you can also purchase handicrafts here. More culture is on offer at the Cambodian Cultural Village, where you will find mini replicas of landmarks and a wax museum. Admittedly, it is touristy but great if youre travelling with kids.

Theres more, of course. The emerald province of Mondulkiri is home to the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wat Phnom Doh Kromom and waterfalls such as the Dak Dam, Bou Sraa and Romanear. You could also plan a trip to Kampot, and explore the Bokor National Park and the Kep National Park.







Cambodia is also known for good food. Hearty meals come accompanied by a portion of rice, but snacking is also a legit pastime. Malis in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is known for its interesting menu; book ahead. And, in Phnom Penh seek out Nesat Seafood House in the Russian Market for fresh, budget-friendly seafood, and end the night at local fave Sovanna II known for its barbeque, huge menu and cheap beer.

Images: Shutterstock

Also see: Sheep are the new firefighters in California
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DGAP-Ad-hoc: European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. completes EUR 200 million private placement



17-Nov-2021 / 20:30 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



AD-HOC RELEASE Public disclosure of inside information according to Article 17 para. 1 of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on market abuse (Market Abuse Regulation)



European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. completes EUR 200 million private placement



NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THE RELEASE.



European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. (the "Company"), a Dutch operators-led special purpose acquisition company aiming to acquire one or more companies in the European healthcare sector, completed its private placement of 20 million units (the "Units"), each consisting of one share (a "Public Share") and one-third of a warrant (a "Public Warrant"), at a placement price of EUR 10 per unit for an aggregate of EUR 200 million. The Units were offered to institutional investors and other investors. No Units were allocated to Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG in connection with their backstop commitment. The Company has applied for admission of the Public Shares (ISIN NL0015000K10, Amsterdam Stock Exchange: EHCS) and the Public Warrants (ISIN NL0015000K28, Amsterdam Stock Exchange: EHCW) to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Amsterdam. Trading is expected to commence on November 18, 2021. Closing with the private placement investors through delivery of the shares and warrants is scheduled for November 22, 2021.



Contact

Peer Schatz

European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V.

c/o ALR Treuhand GmbH

Theresienhohe 28

80339 Munich

Germany

info@ehc-company.com



Disclaimer



These materials may not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. These materials do not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities (the " Securities ") of European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. (the " Company ") in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or any other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Securities of the Company 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 " Securities Act "). There will be no public offering of the securities in the United States. The Securities of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act. The securities referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada or Japan subject to certain exceptions. This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities. The listing of the securities will be made solely by the means of, and on the basis of, a securities prospectus which is yet to be published. An investment decision regarding any securities of European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. should only be made on the basis of the securities prospectus. The securities prospectus will be published promptly upon approval by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (Stichting Autoriteit Financiele Markten) (AFM) and will be available free of charge on the European Healthcare Acquisition & Growth Company B.V. website. In member states of the European Economic Area the placement of securities described in this announcement is directed exclusively at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (Prospectus Regulation).

The Public Units 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 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments, as amended (" MiFID II "); (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 January 2016 on insurance distribution, as amended, 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 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on key information documents for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (the " PRIIPs Regulation ") for offering or selling the Public Units or otherwise making them available to Retail Investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Public Units or otherwise making them available to any Retail Investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. Solely for the purposes of the manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Public Shares and Public Warrants has led to the conclusion that (i) the Public Shares are (a) compatible with an end target market of Retail Investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II, and (b) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels permitted by MiFID II and (ii) the Public Warrants are (a) compatible with an end target market of investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II, and (b) eligible for distribution to professional clients and eligible counterparties through all distribution channels permitted by MiFID II. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Public Shares and Public Warrants (a " distributor ") should take into consideration the manufacturer's target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Public Shares and Public Warrants (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer's target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. This publication may in the United Kingdom only be distributed to, and is only directed at, persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and who are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the " Order "), (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.), or (iii) persons to whom it may it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as " Relevant Persons "). This publication 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 in Public Units of the Company is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. The Public Units 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 United Kingdom (" UK "). For these purposes the expression "Retail Investor" means a person who is one (or more) of the following: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of 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 domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (" UK MiFIR "). Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the " UK PRIIPs Regulation ") for offering or selling the Public Units or otherwise making them available to Retail Investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Public Units or otherwise making them available to any Retail Investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. Solely for the purposes of the manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Public Shares and Public Warrants has led to the conclusion that (i) the Public Shares are (a) compatible with an end target market of Retail Investors and eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook (" COBS ") and professional clients, as defined in UK MiFIR, and (b) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels and (ii) the Public Warrants are (a) compatible with an end target market of eligible counterparties, as defined in COBS, and professional clients, as defined in UK MiFIR; and (b) all channels for distribution of the Public Warrants to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Public Shares and Public Warrants (a " distributor ") should take into consideration the target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to COBS is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Public Shares and Public Warrants (by either adopting or refining the target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. No action has been taken that would permit an offering or an acquisition of the securities or a distribution of this announcement in any jurisdiction where such action would be unlawful. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the placement. Investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the placement for the person concerned. This release may contain forward looking statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of the Company (" forward-looking statements "). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions of the management of the Company and involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements included herein only speak as at the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation, and does not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any of the information, forward-looking statements or the conclusions contained herein or to reflect new events or circumstances or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent subsequent to the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company accepts no liability whatsoever in respect of the achievement of such forward-looking statements and assumptions. 17-Nov-2021 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 17, 2021 / Surge Battery Metals Inc. (the "Company" or "Surge") (TSXV:NILI, OTCQB:NILIF) announces that further to its news releases dated July 8, 2021, July 13, 2021 and October 20, 2021, and the TSX Venture Exchange's conditional acceptance letter dated July 16, 2021, the Company has now closed the Fundamental and "related-party" transaction subject to final Exchange Acceptance.

The Company entered into an option agreement with Nickel Rock Resources Inc. ("Nickel Rock") dated July 7, 2021 (the "Agreement"), to earn an undivided 80% interest in the HN4 and N100 Claims, located in Northern British Columbia (the "Transaction").

Terms of the Transaction:

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company issued 5,000,000 common shares to Nickel Rock upon closing. In addition, Surge shall incur an aggregate of $200,000 in Exploration Expenditures on the Property on or before two years from the date of the Agreement.

Upon the Company having exercised the Option, Surge will have earned an undivided 80% interest in the Property, and the parties will enter into a Commercially Reasonable and Definitive Joint Venture Agreement.

All securities issued in connection with the Transaction will be subject to a four-month and a day hold period expiring on March 18, 2022, in accordance with applicable Canadian Securities Laws.

Pursuant to TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (" MI 61-101 "), the Option Agreement constitutes a "related party transaction" due to the fact that CFO and Corporate Secretary are also the CFO and Corporate Secretary of Nickel Rock. The Company relied on Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation requirement and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101 as the fair market value of the transaction did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

43-101 Technical Report - HN4 and N100 Nickel Claims

In connection with the Transaction, Surge has filed a technical report entitled " Technical Report for the HN4 & N100 Claim Groups, Omineca Mining Division, Takla Lake Area, British Columbia ", dated October 27, 2021, prepared by Jacques Houle, P. Eng. and James Hutter, P.Geo (the "Report"). The Report has been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

The Report can also be obtained on the Company's website at www.surgebatterymetals.com/project-nickel.

About the British Columbia Nickel Project

The Surge BC Nickel Exploration Project consists of two non-contiguous mineral claims groups consisting of 6 mineral claims in the Mount Sidney Williams area (HN4) covering 1863 hectares immediately south of and adjacent to the Decar Project and the Mitchell Range area (N100) covering 8659 hectares, located in Northern British Columbia. Three of the claims are subject to 2% NSR, including the (HN4 claim and the two southernmost claims of the N100 claims). The acquisition is subject to final Exchange approval.

The exploration stage project is in the Trembleur Lake area of central British Columbia, partially adjacent to FPX Nickel Corp.'s Decar Nickel Project, which is an advanced project targeting awaruite, a nickel-iron alloy mineral, hosted by serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rocks of the Trembleur Ultramafic Unit.

The subject claims are partially underlain by rocks like those hosting the Decar project of FPX Nickel where mineralization includes nickel, cobalt, and chromium. Previous exploration suggests that at least some of the nickel mineralization occurs as awaruite which is a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy important in the manufacture of environmentally efficient batteries for the electric vehicle markets globally. The mineral awaruite is both highly magnetic and very dense and is therefore amenable to concentration by mechanical processes including magnetic and gravity separation. This style of deposit is unique and presents considerable metallurgical and processing cost saving advantages.

Qualified Person

Jacques Houle, P.Eng., a qualified person as defined by NI 43 - 101, is responsible for the technical information contained in this release. Readers are cautioned that the information in this press release regarding the property of FPX Nickel Corp is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the property of interest.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc. surgebatterymetals.com

The Company is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company active in the exploration for nickel-iron alloy and Copper in British Columbia and lithium in Nevada whose primary listing is on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's maintains a focus on exploration for high value battery metals required for the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Nevada Lithium Claims

The Company owns a 100% interest in 95 mineral claims located in Elko County, Nevada. The Northern Nevada Lithium Project is located in the Granite Range about 34 line- km southeast of Jackpot, Nevada, about 73 line-km north-northeast of Wells, Nevada. The target is a Thacker Pass or Clayton Valley type lithium clay deposit in volcanic tuff and tuffaceous sediments of the Jarbidge Rhyolite package. The project area was first identified in public domain stream sediment geochemical data with follow up sediment sampling and geologic reconnaissance.

As announced on Sept 30, 2021, the Company is also in the process of earning an undivided 80% interest in the San Emidio Desert Lithium Project, located 60 miles Northeast of Reno, Nevada from Lithium Corporation (LTUM). The San Emidio Desert Lithium Project consists of 60 mineral claims comprising a total of 4,800 acres and is located in the San Emidio Desert.

Caledonia Project, Vancouver Island, BC

The Company has entered into a Property Option Agreement to acquire a 100% interest in 7 mineral claims including the Caledonia, Cascade and Bluebell claims, subject to a NSR between 1-2%. Located in the Nanaimo Mining Division on northern Vancouver Island. The claims are 7 km north-west of BHP's past producing Island Copper mine. During its prime operating period the Island Copper mine was Canada's third-largest copper producer. The Caledonia Project claims area lies within a 50-kilometer-long copper belt northwest of the Island Copper mine.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Greg Reimer"

Greg Reimer, President & CEO

778-945-2656

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 may contain forward-looking statements which include, but are not limited to, comments that involve future events and conditions, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Except for statements of historical facts, comments that address resource potential, upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt and security of mineral property titles, availability of funds, and others are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guaranteeing future performance and actual results may vary materially from those statements. General business conditions are factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Surge Battery Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673512/Surge-Closes-Acquisition-of-Nickel-Claims-with-Nickel-Rock-Resources
Almonty Industries Inc. ("Almonty" or the "Company") (TSX: AII ASX: AII OTCQX: ALMTF Frankfurt: 1MR) today announced the filing of its unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and management's discussion analysis ("MD&A") for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Unless otherwise indicated, all currency amounts contained in this news release are expressed in Canadian dollars.

The following financial information is for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020:

Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended 30-Sep-21 30-Sep-20 30-Sep-21 30-Sep-20 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 Gross Revenue 5,333 5,128 14,794 18,510 Mine production costs 5,093 5,171 13,780 15,798 Care and maintenance 163 114 651 827 Depreciation and amortization 409 229 1,357 1,357 Loss from mining operations (332 (386 (994 528 General and administrative costs 1,405 1,378 4,480 5,068 Non-cash compensation costs 1,021 1,543 207 Loss before the under noted items (2,758 (1,764 (7,017 (4,747 Interest expense 815 830 2,483 2,247 (Gain) Loss on debt settlement (158 (1,777 Gain on valuation of embedded derivative liabilities (230 (79 Foreign exchange (gain) loss 1,716 (352 1,377 674 Tax provision 3 7 9 7 Net loss for the period (5,062 (2,091 (10,807 (5,898 Income (loss) per share basic (0.02 (0.01 (0.06 (0.03 Income (loss) per share diluted (0.02 (0.01 (0.06 (0.03 Dividends Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities (1,920 (1,769 (7,511 (4,437 Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities (2,239 (2,861 (5,878 (4,784 Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities 5,497 3,951 12,905 9,042

The following financial information is as at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

30-Sep-21 31-Dec-20 $'000 $'000 Cash 1,834 2,372 Total assets 161,218 151,063 Long-term debt 64,487 61,524 Shareholders' equity 35,442 29,169 Other Outstanding shares ('000) 207,705 183,464 Weighted average outstanding shares ('000) Basic 194,978 181,493 Fully diluted 194,978 181,493 Closing share price $0.93 $0.65

Lewis Black, Chief Executive Officer of Almonty commented: "Our Tungsten knowledge base at Panasquiera continues to support itself whilst the team manages the project build and later operations at Sangdong. The Road and River diversion is now entirely complete. Site levelling preparation is under way for the grinding and flotation areas. Over $18m has already now been deployed toward project costs. The crusher and mills are on schedule for delivery to site within 3 months. The draw down for the US$75,100,000 loan from KFW is expected to commence imminently. Most importantly is that the profile of the mine and its development is now increasing on a national level given the South Korean Government's push for supply diversity in response to the UREA crisis gripping the country. According to the Korea International Trade Association, 94.7% of all Tungsten imported into South Korea for semiconductor and battery manufacturing is from China and the focus in the media has been the reactivation of the Sangdong mine which will account when open for 30% of worldwide non-Chinese supply. Sangdong was previously called the "largest Tungsten producer in the free world" prior to its closure in 1992 and the media reporting in South Korea is once again quoting this title and its significance for domestic Korean semiconductor and battery manufacturers such as LG, Samsung and SK."

About Almonty

The principal business of Toronto, Canada-based Almonty Industries Inc. is the mining, processing and shipping of tungsten concentrate from its Los Santos Mine in western Spain and its Panasqueira mine in Portugal as well as the development of its Sangdong tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea and the development of the Valtreixal tin/tungsten project in north western Spain. The Los Santos Mine was acquired by Almonty in September 2011 and is located approximately 50 kilometres from Salamanca in western Spain and produces tungsten concentrate. The Panasqueira mine, which has been in production since 1896, is located approximately 260 kilometres northeast of Lisbon, Portugal, was acquired in January 2016 and produces tungsten concentrate. The Sangdong mine, which was historically one of the largest tungsten mines in the world and one of the few long-life, high-grade tungsten deposits outside of China, was acquired in September 2015 through the acquisition of a 100% interest in Woulfe Mining Corp. Almonty owns 100% of the Valtreixal tin-tungsten project in north-western Spain. Further information about Almonty's activities may be found at www.almonty.com and under Almonty's profile at www.sedar.com.

Legal Notice

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. These statements and information are based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and reflect Almonty's current expectations.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Almonty to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: any specific risks relating to fluctuations in the price of ammonium para tungstate ("APT") from which the sale price of Almonty's tungsten concentrate is derived, actual results of mining and exploration activities, environmental, economic and political risks of the jurisdictions in which Almonty's operations are located and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, forecasts and assessments relating to Almonty's business, credit and liquidity risks, hedging risk, competition in the mining industry, risks related to the market price of Almonty's shares, the ability of Almonty to retain key management employees or procure the services of skilled and experienced personnel, risks related to claims and legal proceedings against Almonty and any of its operating mines, risks relating to unknown defects and impairments, risks related to the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, risks related to governmental regulations, including environmental regulations, risks related to international operations of Almonty, risks relating to exploration, development and operations at Almonty's tungsten mines, the ability of Almonty to obtain and maintain necessary permits, the ability of Almonty to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable infrastructure and employees to support Almonty's mining operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserves and mineral resources estimates, production estimates from Almonty's mining operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, uncertainties related to title and indigenous rights with respect to mineral properties owned directly or indirectly by Almonty, the ability of Almonty to obtain adequate financing, the ability of Almonty to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, challenges related to global financial conditions, risks related to future sales or issuance of equity securities, differences in the interpretation or application of tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules and acceptance of the TSX of the listing of Almonty shares on the TSX.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to, no material adverse change in the market price of ammonium para tungstate (APT), the continuing ability to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters, no negative change to applicable laws, the ability to secure local contractors, employees and assistance as and when required and on reasonable terms, and such other assumptions and factors as are set out herein. Although Almonty has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Almonty. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary.

Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Almonty cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Almonty's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

Almonty has also assumed that material factors will not cause any forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ALMONTY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ALMONTY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006403/en/

Contacts:

Lewis Black

Chairman, President and CEO

Telephone: +1 647 438-9766

Email: info@almonty.com
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Goodman Group (GMG.AX), an Australian integrated commercial and industrial property group that owns, develops and manages real estate, said it expects higher levels of profitability across its business. It forecasts operating earnings per security growth for fiscal year 2022 in excess of 15% on fiscal year 2021. At the Annual General Meeting, the company's Chairman Stephen Johns said that the support for the Remuneration Report will fall short of the 75% threshold required to avoid a first strike. This is mainly due to differing approaches in the method of valuing the proposed grants to executive directors under the new 10-year plan. The Chairman stated that the company's board will review the company's remuneration strategy in the new year so that the company can continue to incentivise people to deliver on strategy while also meeting the expectations of securityholders. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Burning Rock Biotech Limited (BNR) said that it has partnered with Merck KGaA, in companion diagnostics or CDx development for the MET inhibitor tepotinib in the mainland China market. The CDx test is based on Burning Rock's self-developed next generation sequencing (NGS)-based liquid biopsy solution, OncoCompass Target panel. Tepotinib is an oral MET inhibitor that inhibits the oncogenic MET receptor signaling caused by MET (gene) alterations. Discovered and developed in-house at Merck KGaA, tepotinib has a highly selective mechanism of action, with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific alterations. Tepotinib was the first oral MET inhibitor to receive a regulatory approval anywhere in the world for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET gene alterations, with its approval in Japan in March 2020 under the brand name TEPMETKO. 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.
TOKYO, Nov 18, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu and RIKEN today announced that the supercomputer Fugaku took the first place for the CosmoFlow training application benchmark (1), one of the key MLPerf HPC benchmarks for large-scale machine learning processing tasks requiring capabilities of a supercomputer. Fujitsu and RIKEN leveraged approximately half of Fugaku's resources (2) to achieve this result, demonstrating the world's fastest performance in this key benchmark.MLPerf HPC measures how many deep learning models can be trained per time unit (throughput performance, 3). Software technology that further refines Fugaku's parallel processing performance has achieved a processing speed approximately 1.77 times faster than that of other systems, demonstrating the world's highest level of performance in the field of large-scale scientific and technological calculations using machine learning.These results were announced as MLPerf HPC version 1.0 on November 17th (November 18th Japan time) at the SC21 High-Performance Computing Conference, which is currently being held as a hybrid event.Fugaku Claims World's Highest Level of Performance in the Field of Large-scale Scientific and Technological Calculations Using Machine LearningMLPerf HPC is a performance competition composed of three separate benchmark programs: CosmoFlow, which predicts cosmological parameters, one of the indicators used in the study of the evolution and structure of the universe, DeepCAM (4), which identifies abnormal weather phenomena, and Open Catalyst (5), which estimates how molecules react on the catalyst surface.For CosmoFlow, Fujitsu and RIKEN used approximately half of the Fugaku system's entire computing resources to train multiple deep learning models to a certain degree of prediction accuracy and measured from the start time of the model that started the training to the end time of the model that completed the training last to evaluate throughput performance. To further enhance the parallel processing performance of Fugaku, Fujitsu and RIKEN applied technology to programs used on the system that reduce the mutual interference of communication between CPUs, which occurs when multiple learning models are processed in parallel, and also optimize the amount of data communication between CPU and storage. As a result, the system trained 637 deep learning models in 8 hours and 16 minutes, a rate of about 1.29 deep learning models per minute.The measured value of Fugaku claimed first place amongst all the systems for the CosmoFlow training application benchmark category, demonstrating performance at rates approximately 1.77 times faster than other systems. This result revealed that Fugaku has the world's highest level of performance in the field of large-scale scientific and technological calculations using machine learning.Going forward, Fujitsu and RIKEN will make software stacks such as libraries and AI frameworks available to the public that accelerate large-scale machine learning processing developed for this measurement. Widely sharing the knowledge of large-scale machine learning processing using supercomputers gained through this exercise will allow users to leverage world-leading systems for the analysis of simulation results, leading to potential new discoveries in astrophysics and other scientific and technological fields. These resources will also be applied to other large-scale machine learning calculations, such as natural language processing models used in machine translation services, to accelerate technological innovation and contribute to solving societal and scientific problems.About MLPerf HPCMLPerf HPC is a machine learning benchmark created in 2020 by MLCommons, a community that conducts machine learning benchmarks, to evaluate the system performance of a supercomputer for large-scale machine learning calculations, which take an enormous amount of time, to create a performance list of systems that execute machine learning applications. It is used for supercomputers around the world and is anticipated to become a new industry standard.MLPerf HPC was designed to assess the performance of large-scale machine learning models requiring the use of supercomputers. Performance evaluation was carried out for 3 applications: CosmoFlow, DeepCAM, and Open Catalyst. In addition, a benchmark that measures the number of deep learning models trained per time unit has also been newly established.All measurement data are available on the following website:Related links: https://mlcommons.org/(1) CosmoFLow:A deep learning model for predicting cosmological parameters from three-dimensional simulation results of dark matter distributed in outer space.(2) Approximately half of the whole Fugaku system:Since this measurement was conducted during the operation of Fugaku, the measurement scale was halved in consideration of the impact on other researches using Fugaku.(3) Measure how many deep learning models can be learned per unit time (throughput performance):A new measurement method for MLPerf. By learning multiple models simultaneously, the total performance of a supercomputer can be extracted, and by measuring the number of models that can be learned per unit time, it is possible to compare the performance of the entire system of a supercomputer.(4) DeepCAM:A Deep Learning Model for Identifying Abnormal Meteorological Phenomena from Global Climate Prediction Simulation Data.(5) Open Catalyst:A deep learning model that estimates the relaxation energy of molecules on the catalyst surface from simulation data of atomic and intermolecular reactions.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About RIKEN Center for Computational ScienceRIKEN is Japan's largest comprehensive research institution renowned for high-quality research in a diverse range of scientific disciplines. Founded in 1917 as a private research foundation in Tokyo, RIKEN has grown rapidly in size and scope, today encompassing a network of world-class research centers and institutes across Japan including the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), the home of the supercomputer Fugaku. As the leadership center of high-performance computing, the R-CCS explores the "Science of computing, by computing, and for computing." The outcomes of the exploration - the technologies such as open source software - are its core competence. The R-CCS strives to enhance the core competence and to promote the technologies throughout the world.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 17, 2021) - Level 14 Ventures Ltd. (CSE: LVL) ("Level 14" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (the "Agreement"), dated November 17, 2021, with each of the shareholders (collectively, the "Vendors") of Bridle Capital Ltd. ("Bridle") to acquire all of the outstanding share capital of Bridle. Bridle is a privately held company that holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Colpayoc gold prospect ("Colpayoc") in northern Peru. Colpayoc is comprised of 3 concessions totaling approximately 1,580 hectares (the "Property"). As consideration for all of the outstanding share capital of Bridle, Level 14 will: (i) issue 36 million common shares of the Company to the Vendors; (ii) reimburse expenses in the amount of US$625,000; and (iii) grant a one percent (1%) net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Property (collectively, the "Transaction").

Colpayoc Property, Peru

Colpayoc is located approximately 10 kilometers west of the town of Cajamarca, the capital of the Department of Cajamarca, and approximately 18 kilometers southwest of the Yanacocha gold mine. Colpayoc is within the Yanacocho gold district, which is the largest gold district in South America and contains mainly volcanic-hosted epithermal and porphyry-hosted gold mineralization. The main target at Colpayoc is porphyry-hosted gold mineralization.

Highlights of the Transaction

Upon closing of the Transaction, Level 14 will acquire all of the outstanding share capital of Bridle and will assume Bridle's right, through Bridle's wholly owned Peruvian subsidiary, to earn up to a 100% interest in the Property, which right is exercisable by completing the following:

Two Jose Concessions

US$500,000 in cash payments (paid) upon signing and registering the earn-in agreements

US$150,000 cash payment upon receiving approvals to undertake exploration commitments

75% Option - US$1,500,000 cash payment & US$3,000,000 exploration expenditures within 2 years of approvals

25% Option - US$1,500,000 cash payment & US$2,000,000 exploration expenditures within 4 years of approvals

2% NSR royalty (subject to a Company buyback right) granted to the owners upon acquisition of 100% interest

El Ferrol Concession

US$50,000 cash payment upon signing the earn-in agreement (paid)

US$50,000 cash payment 1 year from signing the earn-in agreement

US$75,000 cash payment 2 years from signing the earn-in agreement

US$75,000 cash payment 3 years from signing the earn-in agreement

2% NSR royalty (subject to a Company buyback right) granted to the owner upon acquisition of 100% interest

Technical Report

The Company has engaged a Qualified Person to prepare a technical report in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") with respect to the Property. This report will include a proposed work program and budget for the exploration and development of the Property.

The Concurrent Financing

In connection with the proposed Transaction, Level 14 expects to complete a non-brokered private placement of shares for aggregate gross proceeds of C$3,000,000 (the "Concurrent Financing"). The Concurrent Financing is expected to be comprised of 15,000,000 shares of Level 14 at C$0.20 per share. Net proceeds of the Concurrent Financing are intended to fund the Company's properties as well as to cover general working capital purposes. Finder's fees or commissions may be paid in connection with the Concurrent Financing in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange").

Other Considerations

The proposed transaction will be a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). As a result, a material change report and an information circular in respect of the proposed Transaction will be prepared and filed on SEDAR in accordance with MI 61-101.

The proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, the following: approval of the Exchange; receipt of a technical report with respect to the Property completed in accordance with NI 43-101; due diligence; and receipt of the approval of the shareholders of Level 14.

The Company will issue a further new release upon finalizing and filing of the aforementioned NI 43-101 compliant technical report and information circular.

CFO Appointment

Christian Uria has been appointed CFO of the Company to replace Victoria McMillan who has resigned due to other commitments. The Company thanks Ms. McMillan for her time as CFO of the Company.

About Level 14 Ventures Ltd.

Level 14 is an exploration-stage mining company with a focus on precious metals. The Company owns the Green Mountain Property through its wholly owned subsidiary. The Green Mountain Property, located in British Columbia, Canada, consists of 3 contiguous digitally registered mineral tenures totaling approximately 5,593.5 hectares. The Company intends to grow through the acquisition of other mineral properties and continues to evaluate other opportunities on an ongoing basis.

For further information or should you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@level14ventures.com.

Marcel de Groot, Director

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the proposed Transaction, the Concurrent Financing, the anticipated business plan of the Company subsequent to completion of the proposed Transaction, and growth through the acquisition of other mineral properties. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the market for precious metals or other minerals that may be produced generally, the Company's ability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies and other risks associated with the exploration and development of mineral properties. The reader is referred to the Company's public filings for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects which may be accessed through the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104126
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Rio Tinto (RTPPF.PK, RIO.L, RIO, RTNTF.PK) said that it will invest US$87 million to increase its low-carbon aluminium production in Canada with 16 new smelting cells at its AP60 smelter, in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec. The company noted that the investment will increase production at the smelter by around 45 percent, or 26,500 metric tonnes of primary aluminium per year, to a capacity of 86,500 metric tonnes and provide a secure future for about 100 employees who work at the facility. The new pots will be built in the existing building of the Complexe Jonquiere's AP60 technology centre, which currently has 38 pots. Work will begin in the spring of 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. At the same time, Rio Tinto will study the potential to add more AP60 cells at the site. 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.


HKTDC Director of Research Nicholas Kwan said the RCEP provisions are set to further the advancement and integration of regional supply chains, as well as encouraging specialisation of production in Asia.



Head of ACCA Hong Kong Jane Cheng said when raising funds for investment in RCEP countries, mainland enterprises can use Hong Kong's professional project evaluation and sustainability assessment services.



Hong Kong is the ideal platform for mainland Chinese businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area using the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to go global, according to a report jointly released by HKTDC and ACCA.

HONG KONG, Nov 18, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Hong Kong is the ideal platform for mainland Chinese businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) using the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) to go global, according to a joint report released by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) today.HKTDC Director of Research Nicholas Kwan said RCEP provisions, which are expected to take effect as early as next year, are set to further develop and integrate regional supply chains, as well as encouraging production specialisation in Asia. "This will provide a fresh impetus not only to trade between the signatory countries, but also to the global economy which has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic," he added.The report covers a survey^ which found that Hong Kong is the first port of call for mainland GBA companies seeking assistance as they "go out" (meaning "expand internationally"). The most attractive overseas destinations were Southeast Asian countries, including RCEP members.Almost all mainland GBA companies that were interested in "going out" needed professional services, the survey found, including product development and design (31%), banking, financing and project valuation (30%), brand design and marketing strategies (30%) and related legal and accounting services (30%). Half of these respondents preferred Hong Kong as professional services source outside the mainland, followed by the United States (23%), Singapore (21%) and Japan (14%).Preferred services hubThe mainland became the world's largest foreign direct investment (FDI) source for the first time in 2020 as outbound FDI rose 12.3% to US$153.7 billion, of which 58% was channelled through Hong Kong, according to the Ministry of Commerce. "Most mainland investments were made through the Hong Kong business platform, which served as a springboard to the rest of Asia and other regions," Mr Kwan said.Hong Kong had yet to become a RCEP member but the city can play a key role in the latest round of mainland outbound investment into other RCEP markets, Mr Kwan said. "Given the city's strengths in financial, legal, accounting, and other professional services, Hong Kong can help mainland companies in the GBA minimise risks during overseas expansion."Enterprises considering relocating production or sales networks to the RCEP region needed a thorough understanding of the local political environment, culture, legal and regulatory regimes, he added. Otherwise, he said, they may find it difficult to assess the situation, such as whether they are able to benefit from RCEP tariff concessions as implementation schedules vary between member countries. "Therefore, companies need professional advice and due diligence to be able to fully capitalise on RCEP opportunities," he advised.Strengthening intra-regional tradeMr Kwan also called on Hong Kong companies to leverage RCEP opportunities, stressing that intra-regional supply chain ties will strengthen as most raw materials and intermediate products can be traded freely within the bloc."The division of labour between different industries will be more precise and clear-cut, while exchanges between upstream and downstream enterprises in different production bases are expected to become more frequent. As such, Hong Kong can expect to play a larger role in trade between RCEP members, especially in electronic products and other industrial items." Mr Kwan added.World-class professional services"When raising funds for investment in RCEP countries, mainland enterprises can use Hong Kong's professional project evaluation and sustainability assessment services. They can also set up regional offices in the city to enhance overall operational efficiency. In addition, Hong Kong also offers matching services to help mainland companies identify and screen potential business partners in the RCEP region." said Head of ACCA Hong Kong, Jane Cheng said."Having a thriving global community of accounting professionals, ACCA has long been committed to connecting the world and promoting international and intra-regional trade growth. We hope the report will give local industries a better understanding of RCEP opportunities and support them in achieving sustainable recovery and development both during and after the pandemic," she added.Fresh RCEP opportunitiesRCEP, signed in November 2020, is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, the mainland, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.The world's largest free-trade bloc, making up almost a third of the global economy, has measures to facilitate trade, eliminate tariffs, minimise non-tariff barriers, promote e-commerce and increase market access which are expected to enhance members' economic integration.Noting there had already been close intraregional cooperation along supply chains in the past two decades, Ms Cheng said enterprises in the Asia Pacific could now benefit from RCEP, where most import tariffs between member countries will be abolished, customs clearance will be simplified, the principle of accumulation will apply to product-origin rules, and declaration regulations for indirect materials and origins will be relaxed.On services trade and investment, 65% of the bloc's services sectors are set to open to overseas investors. "In general, RCEP countries use the 'negative list' and 'national treatment' models, greatly reducing the risk for overseas investors while allowing them greater access to promising markets such as financial and professional services sectors," Ms Cheng added.^The survey was conducted by the HKTDC in cooperation with the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province in the second half of 2019, interviewing 277 GBA companies mainly in the manufacturing, import/export trade, financial/legal/accounting services, as well as logistics, information technology and technology R&D, wholesale/retail trade sectors.References- HKTDC Research website: http://research.hktdc.com/- The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants: https://www.accaglobal.com/hk/en.html- Tapping the RCEP Opportunities: Hong Kong to Maximise GBA's Unique Edge as a Business Platform: https://bit.ly/3CajZlM- Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3HtcnPaMedia enquiries:HKTDCBeatrice LamTel: +852 2584 4049Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.orgACCAJacqueline LamTel: +852 2973 1106Email: jacqueline.lam@accaglobal.comAbout the HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInAbout ACCAACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global professional body for professional accountants. It is a thriving global community of 233,000 members and 536,000 future members based in 178 countries and regions, who work across a wide range of sectors and industries. The association upholds the highest professional and ethical values. ACCA now has 28,000 members and 167,000 future members in China, with 11 offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shenyang, Qingdao, Wuhan, Changsha, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macao SAR. ACCA offers everyone everywhere the opportunity to experience a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. Through its cutting-edge research, ACCA leads the profession by answering today's questions and preparing for the future. Find out more at accaglobal.com/hk or follow ACCA Hong Kong on social media: www.facebook.com/ACCA.HongKong | www.instagram.com/acca_hk | www.linkedin.com/showcase/acca-hong-kong | | WeChat ID: ACCA_HKSource: HKTDCACCACopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. / Schlagwort(e): Firmenubernahme

COSMO PHARMACEUTICALS UND CASSIOPEA VEROFFENTLICHEN ENDGULTIGE ZWISCHENERGEBNISSE DES UMTAUSCHANGEBOTS FUR ALLE SICH IM PUBLIKUM BEFINDENDEN AKTIEN VON CASSIOPEA UND ERKLAREN ANGEBOT FUR ERFOLGREICH



18.11.2021 / 06:00 GMT/BST

Veroffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR Dublin, Irland und Lainate, Italien - 18. November 2021 - Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (SIX: COPN) ("Cosmo") und Cassiopea S.p.A. (SIX: SKIN) ("Cassiopea") gaben heute die folgenden Ergebnisse im Zusammenhang mit dem offentlichen Umtauschangebot von Cosmo in der Schweiz fur alle im Publikum befindlichen Cassiopea-Aktien (siehe unten) ("Angebot") bekannt, fur das die Angebotsfrist am 15. November 2021 endete: Endgultige Zwischenergebnisse Aktien Prozentsatz Insgesamt ausgegebene Cassiopea-Aktien (ab 1. Oktober 2021) 10'750'000 - Weniger: Von Cosmo gehaltene Cassiopea-Aktien (Stand: 1. Oktober 2021) 5'005'066 - Anzahl der Cassiopea-Aktien, auf die sich das Angebot bezieht ("Cassiopea-Aktien") 5'744'934 100% Wahrend der Angebotsfrist angediente Cassiopea-Aktien 4'394'985 76.5% Insgesamt / Erfolgsquote 4'394'985 76.5% Stimmrechts- und Kapitalkontrolle Wahrend der Angebotsfrist angediente Cassiopea-Aktien 4'394'985 - Plus: Von Cosmo gehaltene Cassiopea-Aktien (Stand: 1. Oktober 2021) 5'005'066 - Insgesamt 9'400'051 87.44% Anzahl der noch nicht angedienten Cassiopea-Aktien 1'349'949 12.56% Insgesamt ausgegebene Cassiopea-Aktien (ab 1. Oktober 2021) 10'750'000 100% Auf der Grundlage der Erfullung der Bedingungen, denen das Angebot unterliegt, wie in Abschnitt B.8. des Angebotsprospekts vom 4. Oktober 2021 ("Angebotsprospekt") dargelegt, wozu auch die Genehmigung des Erwerbs der Cassiopea-Aktien als Ergebnis des Angebots durch die ausserordentliche Generalversammlung von Cosmo vom 16. November 2021 gehort, erklart Cosmo das Angebot fur erfolgreich. Das Angebot unterliegt den Angebotsbeschrankungen gemass dem Angebotsprospekt. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter https://www.cosmopharma.com/news-and-media/news-releases/2021/18112021 und unter https://www.cassiopea.com/web-filter/. About Cosmo Pharmaceuticals Cosmo is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercialising products to treat selected gastrointestinal disorders and improve endoscopy quality measures through aiding the detection of colonic lesions. Cosmo has also developed medical devices for endoscopy and has a partnership with Medtronic for the global distribution of GI Genius its artificial intelligence device that uses artificial intelligence to help detect potential signs of colon cancer. Cosmo has licensed Aemcolo(R) to Red Hill Biopharma Ltd. for the US and has licensed Relafalk(R) to Dr. Falk Gmbh for the EU and other countries. For additional information on Cosmo and its products please visit the Company's website: www.cosmopharma.com About Cassiopea Cassiopea is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing and preparing to commercialize prescription drugs with novel mechanisms of action (MOA) to address long-standing and essential dermatological conditions, particularly acne, androgenetic alopecia (or AGA) and genital warts. Cassiopea is investing in innovation that is driving scientific advancement in areas that have been largely ignored for decades. The portfolio comprises four unencumbered clinical candidates, for which Cassiopea owns the worldwide rights. The Company's strategy is to leverage this expertise to optimize the commercial potential for its products directly or with partners. For further information on Cassiopea, please visit www.cassiopea.com. Contact Niall Donnelly, CFO & Head of Investor Relations Diana Harbort, CEO & Head of Investor Relations Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. Cassiopea S.p.A. Tel: +353 1 817 03 70 Tel: +39 02 868 911 24, ndonnelly@cosmopharma.com dharbort@cassiopea.com Disclaimer



This communication (the "Communication") has been prepared by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. ('Cosmo" and together with its subsidiaries, "we", "us" or the "Group") solely for informational purposes and has not been independently verified and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of any of the Group. Cosmo reserves the right to amend or replace the Communication at any time, and undertakes no obligation to provide the recipients with access to any additional information. Cosmo shall not be obligated to update or correct the information set forth in the Communication or to provide any additional information. Nothing in this Presentation is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the future.



Certain statements in this Communication are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial consequences of the plans and events described herein. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors (including, but not limited to, future global economic conditions, changed market conditions, intense competition in the markets in which the Group operates, costs of compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards, diverse political, legal, economic and other conditions affecting the Group's markets, and other factors beyond the control of the Group). Neither Cosmo nor any of its respective directors, officers, employees, advisors, or any other person is under any 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 Communication. Statements contained in this Communication regarding past trends or events should not be taken as a representation that such trends or events will continue in the future.



This Communication does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer or invitation or inducement to subscribe for, underwrite or otherwise acquire, any securities of Cosmo, nor should it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Group, nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever. This Communication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities of Cosmo and it does not constitute a prospectus or similar notice within the meaning of articles 35 et seqq. or 69 of the Swiss Financial Services Act or a prospectus pursuant to the laws of any other jurisdiction. This Communication may be considered to be marketing material. The offer [and listing] will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a prospectus which is to be published. An investment decision regarding the publicly offered securities of Cosmo should only be made on the basis of the prospectus. The prospectus is expected to be published on or around 4 October 2021 and will be available free of charge at https://www.cosmopharma.com/investors.



United States of America



The securities described in this Communication have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or under any law of any state of the United States of America, and may not be offered, sold, resold, or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the U.S., except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Neither this document nor the exchange offer described herein constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the U.S. or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. will not register or make a public offer of its securities, or otherwise conduct any public tender offer, in the U.S. In the U.S., this document is being provided to "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) only on a confidential basis. Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission in the United States has approved or disapproved the Offering of the shares or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT SELLERS OF COSMO SHARES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE US SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A.



By tendering securities of Cassiopea S.p.A. into this offer, you will be deemed to represent that you (x) (a) are not a U.S. person, (b) are not acting for the account or benefit of any U.S. person, and (c) are not in or delivering the acceptance from, the United States or (y) you are a "qualified institutional buyer" as that term is used in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act.



United Kingdom



This Communication is directed only at persons in the U.K. 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 (the Order), (ii) are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as Relevant Persons). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.



Australia, Canada, Japan



This Communication is not addressed to shareholders of Cassiopea S.p.A. whose place of residence, seat or habitual abode is in Australia, Canada or Japan, and such shareholders may not accept the offer.



European Economic Area



The offer set out in this Communication (the Offer) is only being made within the European Economic Area (EEA) pursuant to an exemption under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended and together with any applicable adopting or amending measures in any relevant member state (as defined below), the Prospectus Regulation), as implemented in each member state of the EEA (each a relevant member state), from the requirement to publish a prospectus that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state and published in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation as implemented in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation. Accordingly, in the EEA, the Offer and documents or other materials in relation to the Offer and the shares in Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (the Offeror Shares) are only addressed to, and are only directed at, (i) qualified investors (qualified investors) in the relevant member state within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Regulation, as adopted in the relevant member state, and (ii) persons who hold, and will tender, the equivalent of at least EUR 100,000 worth of shares in Cassiopea S.p.A. (the Target Shares) in exchange for the receipt of Offeror Shares (collectively, permitted participants). This offer prospectus and the documents and other materials in relation to the Offer may not be acted or relied upon by persons in the EEA who are not permitted participants, and each Target shareholder seeking to participate in the Offer that is resident in the EEA will be deemed to have represented and agreed that it is a qualified investor or that it is tendering the equivalent of EUR 100,000 worth of Target Shares in exchange of Offeror Shares.



Italy



The offer set out in this Communication (the Offer) does not constitute a public offer nor a tender or exchange offer nor an advertisement of securities to the public in the Republic of Italy. Neither the Offer nor the COPN Shares have been registered with or cleared by the Commissione Nazionale per la Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") (the Italian securities exchange commission), pursuant to Italian securities legislation. Neither the CONSOB nor any other Italian public authority has examined, approved, cleared or registered this Prospectus or will examine, approve, clear or register this Offer. Accordingly, Italian residents cannot participate in the Offer nor may copies of this Communication or of any other document relating to the Offer be distributed or published in the Republic of Italy, either on primary and on secondary market. This Communication has not been prepared in accordance with the prospectus requirements nor the tender offer requirements provided for, or otherwise applicable in, Italy. Cosmo Pharmaceutical N.V. will not accept, directly or indirectly, any order relating to the Offer made in, or coming from, the Republic of Italy; any such order will be deemed null and void.



General



Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V.'s public tender and exchange offer for all publicly held shares of Cassiopea S.p.A. (the Offer) is not being made, directly or indirectly, in any country or jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful or otherwise violate any applicable law or regulation or which would require Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. to make any amendment to the terms or conditions of the Offer, to make any additional application to, or to take any additional action with respect to, any governmental, regulatory or legal authority. It is not intended to extend the Offer to any such country or jurisdiction. Documents relating to the Offer may not be distributed in, or sent to, any such country or jurisdiction. Such documents may not be used for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Cassiopea S.p.A. securities by any person or entity resident or incorporated in such country or jurisdiction.



This Communication is not for distribution in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or Italy. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction in which is unlawful to do so.

Ende der Ad-hoc-Mitteilung
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Cassiopea S.p.A. / Schlagwort(e): Firmenubernahme

COSMO PHARMACEUTICALS UND CASSIOPEA VEROFFENTLICHEN ENDGULTIGE ZWISCHENERGEBNISSE DES UMTAUSCHANGEBOTS FUR ALLE SICH IM PUBLIKUM BEFINDENDEN AKTIEN VON CASSIOPEA UND ERKLAREN ANGEBOT FUR ERFOLGREICH



18.11.2021 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Veroffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.



Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR Dublin, Irland und Lainate, Italien - 18. November 2021 - Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (SIX: COPN) ("Cosmo") und Cassiopea S.p.A. (SIX: SKIN) ("Cassiopea") gaben heute die folgenden Ergebnisse im Zusammenhang mit dem offentlichen Umtauschangebot von Cosmo in der Schweiz fur alle im Publikum befindlichen Cassiopea-Aktien (siehe unten) ("Angebot") bekannt, fur das die Angebotsfrist am 15. November 2021 endete: Endgultige Zwischenergebnisse Aktien Prozentsatz Insgesamt ausgegebene Cassiopea-Aktien (ab 1. Oktober 2021) 10'750'000 - Weniger: Von Cosmo gehaltene Cassiopea-Aktien (Stand: 1. Oktober 2021) 5'005'066 - Anzahl der Cassiopea-Aktien, auf die sich das Angebot bezieht ("Cassiopea-Aktien") 5'744'934 100% Wahrend der Angebotsfrist angediente Cassiopea-Aktien 4'394'985 76.5% Insgesamt / Erfolgsquote 4'394'985 76.5% Stimmrechts- und Kapitalkontrolle Wahrend der Angebotsfrist angediente Cassiopea-Aktien 4'394'985 - Plus: Von Cosmo gehaltene Cassiopea-Aktien (Stand: 1. Oktober 2021) 5'005'066 - Insgesamt 9'400'051 87.44% Anzahl der noch nicht angedienten Cassiopea-Aktien 1'349'949 12.56% Insgesamt ausgegebene Cassiopea-Aktien (ab 1. Oktober 2021) 10'750'000 100% Auf der Grundlage der Erfullung der Bedingungen, denen das Angebot unterliegt, wie in Abschnitt B.8. des Angebotsprospekts vom 4. Oktober 2021 ("Angebotsprospekt") dargelegt, wozu auch die Genehmigung des Erwerbs der Cassiopea-Aktien als Ergebnis des Angebots durch die ausserordentliche Generalversammlung von Cosmo vom 16. November 2021 gehort, erklart Cosmo das Angebot fur erfolgreich. Das Angebot unterliegt den Angebotsbeschrankungen gemass dem Angebotsprospekt. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter https://www.cosmopharma.com/news-and-media/news-releases/2021/18112021 und unter https://www.cassiopea.com/web-filter/. Disclaimer This communication (the "Communication") has been prepared by Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. ('Cosmo" and together with its subsidiaries, "we", "us" or the "Group") solely for informational purposes and has not been independently verified and no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of any of the Group. Cosmo reserves the right to amend or replace the Communication at any time, and undertakes no obligation to provide the recipients with access to any additional information. Cosmo shall not be obligated to update or correct the information set forth in the Communication or to provide any additional information. Nothing in this Presentation is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation as to the future.



Certain statements in this Communication are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial consequences of the plans and events described herein. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward looking statements as a result of various factors (including, but not limited to, future global economic conditions, changed market conditions, intense competition in the markets in which the Group operates, costs of compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards, diverse political, legal, economic and other conditions affecting the Group's markets, and other factors beyond the control of the Group). Neither Cosmo nor any of its respective directors, officers, employees, advisors, or any other person is under any 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 Communication. Statements contained in this Communication regarding past trends or events should not be taken as a representation that such trends or events will continue in the future.



This Communication does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer or invitation or inducement to subscribe for, underwrite or otherwise acquire, any securities of Cosmo, nor should it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Group, nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract or commitment whatsoever. This Communication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities of Cosmo and it does not constitute a prospectus or similar notice within the meaning of articles 35 et seqq. or 69 of the Swiss Financial Services Act or a prospectus pursuant to the laws of any other jurisdiction. This Communication may be considered to be marketing material. The offer [and listing] will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a prospectus which is to be published. An investment decision regarding the publicly offered securities of Cosmo should only be made on the basis of the prospectus. The prospectus is expected to be published on or around 4 October 2021 and will be available free of charge at https://www.cosmopharma.com/investors.



United States of America



The securities described in this Communication have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or under any law of any state of the United States of America, and may not be offered, sold, resold, or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the U.S., except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Neither this document nor the exchange offer described herein constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the U.S. or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. will not register or make a public offer of its securities, or otherwise conduct any public tender offer, in the U.S. In the U.S., this document is being provided to "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) only on a confidential basis. Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission in the United States has approved or disapproved the Offering of the shares or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT SELLERS OF COSMO SHARES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE US SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A.



By tendering securities of Cassiopea S.p.A. into this offer, you will be deemed to represent that you (x) (a) are not a U.S. person, (b) are not acting for the account or benefit of any U.S. person, and (c) are not in or delivering the acceptance from, the United States or (y) you are a "qualified institutional buyer" as that term is used in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act.



United Kingdom



This Communication is directed only at persons in the U.K. 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 (the Order), (ii) are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as Relevant Persons). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.



Australia, Canada, Japan



This Communication is not addressed to shareholders of Cassiopea S.p.A. whose place of residence, seat or habitual abode is in Australia, Canada or Japan, and such shareholders may not accept the offer.



European Economic Area



The offer set out in this Communication (the Offer) is only being made within the European Economic Area (EEA) pursuant to an exemption under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended and together with any applicable adopting or amending measures in any relevant member state (as defined below), the Prospectus Regulation), as implemented in each member state of the EEA (each a relevant member state), from the requirement to publish a prospectus that has been approved by the competent authority in that relevant member state and published in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation as implemented in that relevant member state or, where appropriate, approved in another relevant member state and notified to the competent authority in that relevant member state, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation. Accordingly, in the EEA, the Offer and documents or other materials in relation to the Offer and the shares in Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. (the Offeror Shares) are only addressed to, and are only directed at, (i) qualified investors (qualified investors) in the relevant member state within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Regulation, as adopted in the relevant member state, and (ii) persons who hold, and will tender, the equivalent of at least EUR 100,000 worth of shares in Cassiopea S.p.A. (the Target Shares) in exchange for the receipt of Offeror Shares (collectively, permitted participants). This offer prospectus and the documents and other materials in relation to the Offer may not be acted or relied upon by persons in the EEA who are not permitted participants, and each Target shareholder seeking to participate in the Offer that is resident in the EEA will be deemed to have represented and agreed that it is a qualified investor or that it is tendering the equivalent of EUR 100,000 worth of Target Shares in exchange of Offeror Shares.



Italy



The offer set out in this Communication (the Offer) does not constitute a public offer nor a tender or exchange offer nor an advertisement of securities to the public in the Republic of Italy. Neither the Offer nor the COPN Shares have been registered with or cleared by the Commissione Nazionale per la Societa e la Borsa ("CONSOB") (the Italian securities exchange commission), pursuant to Italian securities legislation. Neither the CONSOB nor any other Italian public authority has examined, approved, cleared or registered this Prospectus or will examine, approve, clear or register this Offer. Accordingly, Italian residents cannot participate in the Offer nor may copies of this Communication or of any other document relating to the Offer be distributed or published in the Republic of Italy, either on primary and on secondary market. This Communication has not been prepared in accordance with the prospectus requirements nor the tender offer requirements provided for, or otherwise applicable in, Italy. Cosmo Pharmaceutical N.V. will not accept, directly or indirectly, any order relating to the Offer made in, or coming from, the Republic of Italy; any such order will be deemed null and void.

General



Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V.'s public tender and exchange offer for all publicly held shares of Cassiopea S.p.A. (the Offer) is not being made, directly or indirectly, in any country or jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful or otherwise violate any applicable law or regulation or which would require Cosmo Pharmaceuticals N.V. to make any amendment to the terms or conditions of the Offer, to make any additional application to, or to take any additional action with respect to, any governmental, regulatory or legal authority. It is not intended to extend the Offer to any such country or jurisdiction. Documents relating to the Offer may not be distributed in, or sent to, any such country or jurisdiction. Such documents may not be used for the purpose of soliciting purchases of Cassiopea S.p.A. securities by any person or entity resident or incorporated in such country or jurisdiction.



This Communication is not for distribution in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or Italy. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction in which is unlawful to do so.



Ende der Ad-hoc-Mitteilung
FIBR opts for Abacus360 Banking as Managed Service to automate the regulatory reporting process

Regnology, an international provider of innovative regulatory, risk, and supervisory technology solutions (RegTech, RiskTech, and SupTech), expands its customer base in the Netherlands. As part of the ongoing digital transformation, FIBR (a trade name of Amsterdam Trade Bank N.V.) has selected Regnology's flagship product Abacus360 Banking as Managed Service to automate its regulatory reporting processes.

FIBR is focused on providing essential funding to support SME businesses throughout Europe and has combined the stability of a bank with the agility and technology of a fintech. Fueled by retail savers, FIBR allows communities to support the growth of SMEs domestically and across Europe. FIBR partners with FIBR Tech Ltd., which is focused on building financing solutions for small and medium businesses across the UK, including business loans, revolving credit facilities and property lending.

Jaap Boersma, CTO at FIBR, commented: "The complexity of regulatory reporting continues to increase. To fully concentrate on our core business, we have decided to embark on an extensive digitalization journey to streamline processes wherever possible. We are convinced that Abacus360 Banking as Managed Service will significantly facilitate regulatory reporting for us by automating the process. Together with Regnology, we strive to create a more future-proof banking environment."

Alexander Turlot, Country Lead The Netherlands at Regnology, added: "I am pleased that with FIBR we once again convinced a well-known financial institution of the added value of our innovative software solutions. We look forward to working together on the digitalization journey and supporting FIBR to meet regulatory requirements more easily and efficiently in the future."

Abacus360 Banking is a standard software for national and international prudential reporting, statistical reporting as well as granular reporting and ad-hoc reporting. Renowned financial institutions representing more than 1,000 reporting entities use Regnology's reporting solutions, among them a major part of the most important European banks under direct SSM supervision, insurers, and financial service providers.

About FIBR

FIBR is the connected digital bank powering SME lending across Europe, both directly and indirectly through local lenders such as Creditshelf. FIBR is the new trade name of Amsterdam Trade Bank N.V. under which the new SME strategy will be rolled out. It is the only European bank solely focused on supporting SMEs, blending the stability of a bank with the agility and technology of a fintech. Its highly automated technology platform enables its lenders to finance SMEs quickly and efficiently whilst providing business owners access to a range of working capital and secured lending products at fair rates.

FIBR's Leadership Team has deep entrepreneurial, technology and lending experience at companies like Pave, New10, Revolut, and Goldman Sachs. Headquartered in the Netherlands and with a partner business in the UK, FIBR employs over 130 people.

About Regnology

Regnology is a leading international provider of innovative regulatory, risk, and supervisory technology solutions (RegTech, RiskTech, and SupTech), of AEOI and tax reporting products, as well as of services along the Regulatory Value Chain for financial services. Regnology has been a partner for banks and regulators for 25 years. Until the end of 2020, the company was part of BearingPoint group and operated under the name BearingPoint RegTech. Since the sale of the RegTech business to private equity firm Nordic Capital, the company has been independent. In June 2021, the company joined forces with Vizor Software and recently changed its name to Regnology. In total, Regnology serves more than 7,000 financial services firms with reporting solutions. At the same time, the company enables more than 50 regulators and tax authorities on five continents to collect data from 34,000 firms in 60 countries. Regnology has a total workforce of over 770 employees at 17 office locations in 12 countries.

For more information visit:

www.regnology.net

www.vizorsoftware.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006154/en/

Contacts:

Press contact Regnology

Sandra Hering

Head of RegTech Marketing Communications

Phone: +49 69 13022 3666
BERLIN and VIENNA, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading payment orchestration platform, IXOPAY, partners with AI fraud prevention specialist, Fraugster to give online merchants easy access to a range of fraud prevention, compliance and revenue uplift solutions via a single API. The rapid growth in e-commerce means merchants demand more flexibility from their payment and fraud prevention partners, with the ability to access new solutions as their businesses expand into new regions and payment methods.

This partnership will enhance the solutions available to a range of merchants and payment companies. BNPL providers addressing complex fraud use cases, like Synthetic Identity Fraud, will have access to device intelligence and linking analysis to mitigate this risk. Similarly, online Marketplaces and iGaming companies will be able to go-live faster without historical data and benefit from full chargeback protection via a no-code integration.

IXOPAY CEO Nathalie Siegl says: "Payments are a mission critical part of any business. Our goal is to give clients a streamlined experience and access to the best options available, from the best payments processing options per country to industry leading risk management. Partnering with Fraugster is an organic step; their advanced AI technology provides unparalleled fraud protection without adding complexity or sacrificing user experience."

Fraugster Co-CEO, Christian Mangold says: "We are delighted to be partnering with IXOPAY who share our belief that the industry needs to unite against fraud, and provide more flexible and scalable solutions to customers. Too many merchants I speak with tell me that they have multiple integrations with different vendors to cover risk, fraud and compliance topics. This creates complexity and drives up costs. It should not be that way. Our customers will be able to simplify things by picking and choosing from multiple solutions, including full chargeback protection, via one integration."

About Fraugster

Fraugster is a Berlin based payment intelligence company. Fraugster enables the world's leading merchants, global payment companies like Worldline and Ratepay to intelligently manage the impact of fraud to minimise the costs of fraud, maximise revenue and improve customer experience. Fraugster has developed one of the most accurate AI fraud prevention solutions in the market and is backed by leading deeptech investors Earlybird, Speedinvest, CommerzVentures and Munich Re Ventures. Further information can be found at https://www.fraugster.com/

About IXOPAY

IXOPAY is a payments orchestration platform enabling independent, flexible and global payment processing. As a highly scalable and PCI-DSS certified "fintech enabler", IXOPAY fulfils the needs of large merchants as well as those of "white label" clients: payment service providers (PSPs), acquirers and independent sales organizations (ISOs). The modern, easily extendable architecture offers smart transaction routing & cascading, state-of-the-art risk & fraud management, fully automated reconciliation and settlements processing, comprehensive reporting as well as plugin-based integration of acquirers, payment service providers and alternative payment methods (APMs). IXOPAY is part of the IXOLIT Group, founded in Vienna, Austria in 2001. With local entities in Austria and the USA, IXOLIT supports national and international customers across various industry verticals. https://www.ixopay.com/

Contact: Christian Mangold, +49(0)30 555794810

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1691142/Fraugster_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1691143/IXOPAY_Logo.jpg
ABN AMRO intends to appoint AnnerieVreugdenhil as CCO Personal & Business Banking and member of the Executive Board



ABN AMRO intends to appoint Annerie Vreugdenhil (1963) as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Personal & Business Banking and as a member of the Executive Board from 1 March 2022 for a period of four years. Personal & Business Banking develops and manages all digital client services within ABN AMRO, serving mass consumer, affluent and business clients. The appointment is subject to regulatory approval. Annerie Vreugdenhil will be introduced at the Extraordinary General Meeting, which will be scheduled at a later date.

Annerie Vreugdenhil brings over 30 years of broad and extensive banking experience. She joins ABN AMRO from ING where she has worked in various leadership positions in a wide range of client-facing roles across various segments. She is currently Head of ING Neo and Chief Innovation Officer.

ABN AMRO CEO Robert Swaak: "I am delighted that Annerie will be joining our team. Throughout her career she has demonstrated a strong focus on clients and their needs, often challenging the status quo as a leader. As a personal bank in the digital age, ABN AMRO aims to bring convenience into the daily lives of our clients and expertise when it matters. With her broad banking and innovation experience, Annerie is ideally suited to head our Personal & Business Banking client unit as we are building a future-proof bank."

With the appointment of Annerie Vreugdenhil, ABN AMRO's Executive Board (ExBo) will be complete. From 1 March 2022 the composition of the ABN AMRO ExBo will be as follows:

Robert Swaak - Chief Executive Officer

Annerie Vreugdenhil - Chief Commercial Officer Personal & Business Banking

Choy van der Hooft-Cheong - Chief Commercial Officer Wealth Management

Dan Dorner - Chief Commercial Officer Corporate Banking

Lars Kramer - Chief Financial Officer

Tanja Cuppen - Chief Risk Officer

Christian Bornfeld - Chief Innovation & Technology Officer

Gerard Penning - Chief Human Resources Officer









ABN AMRO Press Office

Jarco de Swart

pressrelations@nl.abnamro.com (mailto:pressrelations@nl.abnamro.com)

+31 20 6288900







ABN AMRO Investor Relations

Ferdinand Vaandrager

investorrelations@nl.abnamro.com (mailto:investorrelations@nl.abnamro.com)

+31 20 6282282

This press release is published by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and contains inside information within the meaning of article 7 (1) to (4) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation)





Attachments
EASTLEIGH, UK / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / i3 Energy plc (AIM:I3E)(TSX:ITE), an independent oil and gas company with assets and operations in the UK and Canada, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited as a joint corporate broker alongside Tennyson Securities and WH Ireland Limited, who is also the Company's Nominated Adviser.

The Company also announces the appointment of the Carlingford division of GFI Securities Limited as its mandated transaction arranger to assist i3 in issuing a new debt facility by which it expects to expand its business through asset development and/or potential acquisitions.

Graham Heath, CFO of i3 Energy plc, commented:

"We are very pleased to appoint Stifel, one of our sector's most active brokers, to raise our profile amongst current and potential equity investors. Additionally, and as previously stated, we expect to introduce a measured amount of leverage onto our balance sheet through which we would expand and accelerate the development of our Canadian assets and bolster the Company's ability to capture material inorganic opportunities as they arise. Carlingford, who i3 has very successfully relied upon previously, is best placed to assist us with this near-term undertaking."

END

Enquiries:

i3 Energy plc Majid Shafiq (CEO) / Graham Heath (CFO) c/o Camarco Tel: +44 (0) 203 781 8331 WH Ireland Limited (Nomad and Joint Broker) James Joyce, Darshan Patel Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 1666 Tennyson Securities (Joint Broker) Peter Krens Tel: +44 (0) 207 186 9030 Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Broker) Ashton Clanfield, Callum Stewart Tel: +44 (0) 20 7710 7600 Camarco Owen Roberts, James Crothers, Violet Wilson Tel: +44 (0) 203 781 8331

Notes to Editors:

i3 Energy is an oil and gas Company with a low cost, diversified, growing production base in Canada's most prolific hydrocarbon region, the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and appraisal assets in the North Sea with significant upside.

The Company is well positioned to deliver future growth through the optimisation of its existing 100% owned asset base and the acquisition of long life, low decline conventional production assets.

i3 is dedicated to responsible corporate practices and the environment, and places high value on adhering to strong Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") practices. i3 is proud of its performance to date as a responsible steward of the environment, people, and capital management. The Company is committed to maintaining an ESG strategy, which has broader implications to long-term value creation, as these benefits extend beyond regulatory requirements.

i3 Energy is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol I3E and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ITE. For further information on i3 Energy please visit https://i3.energy/ .

This announcement does not contain inside information.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: i3 Energy PLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673524/i3-Energy-PLC-Announces-Appointment-of-Brokers
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / IronRidge Resources Limited (AIM:IRR, "IronRidge" or the "Company") confirms that all resolutions put to shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting, held earlier today in Sydney, Australia were passed by a show of hands.

A further update will be made by the Company in respect of the timing of the change of name from IronRidge Resources Limited and to Atlantic Lithium Limited and change of TIDM from "IRR" to "ALL" once approval has been received from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission which is expected in the coming days.

A breakdown of proxy votes tendered for the meeting is set out below:

Votes for (1) % (2) Votes against % (2) Abstain (3) Ordinary Business 1. Reduction of Capital and In-specie Distribution 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000 2. Election of Christelle van der Merwe as a Director 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000 3. Re-election of Neil Herbert as a Director 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000 4. Re-election of Geoffrey Stuart Crow as a Director 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000 5. Authority to issue shares for Cash 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000 6. Authority to Issue Shares for Non-Cash Consideration Purposes 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000 Special Business 7. Change of Name to Atlantic Lithium Limited 283,601,724 98.98% 50,352 0.02% 6,000

Notes:

(1) Any proxy appointments which gave discretion to the Chairman have been included in the "for" total.

(2) As a percentage of the aggregate of votes "for" plus votes "against".

(3) An abstention is not counted towards the votes cast "for" or "against" a resolution.

By order of the Board

Amanda Harsas

Company Secretary

Commenting, Vincent Mascolo, Chief Executive Officer of IronRidge, said:

"I am delighted to report the strong support from our shareholders for the resolutions put forward at the AGM held earlier today. The Company's name change to Atlantic Lithium, which will take effect in the coming days, is a reflection of our new strategy on lithium, with the development of our Ewoyaa Project in Ghana our key focus. This coincides with the demerger of our gold assets into a new entity, Ricca Resources, to fully realise the value of our Cape Coast Lithium Portfolio within the Atlantic structure.

"Additionally, shareholders will benefit from the approved demerger of our highly prospective gold projects throughout Cote d'Ivoire and Chad into the separate entity called Ricca Resources. Shareholders and investors are reminded, if you wish to partake in the Ricca Resources gold demerger, to avoid disappointment ensure you are on the IronRidge register on Friday 19 November 2021.

"I would like to thank our loyal shareholders for their continued support, and I look forward to giving further updates on Atlantic Lithium in due course."

For any further information, please contact:

IronRidge Resources Limited Vincent Mascolo (Chief Executive Officer) Amanda Harsas (Company Secretary) www.ironridgeresources.com.au Tel: +61 2 8072 0640 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Nominated Adviser Jeff Keating Charlie Bouverat Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Canaccord Genuity Limited Joint Company Broker Raj Khatri James Asensio Harry Rees Tel: +44 (0) 20 7523 4500 Liberum Capital Limited Joint Company Broker Scott Matheson Edward Thomas Kane Collings Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000 SI Capital Limited Joint Company Broker Nick Emerson Jon Levinson Tel: +44 (0) 1483 413 500 Tel: +44 (0) 207 871 4038 Yellow Jersey PR Limited Henry Wilkinson Dominic Barretto Matthew McHale Tel: +44 (0)20 3004 9512

Notes to Editors:

About IronRidge

www.ironridgeresources.com.au

IronRidge Resources is an AIM-listed, Africa focused minerals exploration company with a significant lithium pegmatite discovery in Ghana, extensive gold portfolios in Cote d'Ivoire and a potential new gold province discovery in Chad. As announced on 1 June 2021, IronRidge intends to demerge its suite of gold assets into a separate listed entity. As announced on 31 August 2021, Piedmont Lithium to fully fund the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana.

Ghana

The Cape Coast Lithium portfolio covers some 684km2 and includes the newly discovered Ewoyaa Lithium Project with a maiden Mineral Resource estimate of 14.5Mt at 1.31% Li2O in the inferred and indicated category including 4.5Mt at 1.39% Li2O in the indicated category (reported in accordance with the JORC Code). The Company entered into earn-in arrangements with Obotan Minerals Limited, Merlink Resources Limited, Barari Developments Limited and Joy Transporters Limited of Ghana, West Africa, securing the first access rights to acquire the historical Egyasimanku Hill spodumene rich lithium deposit, estimated to be in the order of 1.48Mt at 1.67% Li2O and surrounding tenements. The tenure package is also prospective for tin, tantalum, niobium, caesium and gold, which occur as accessory minerals within the pegmatites and host formations.

Cote d'Ivoire

The Company entered into conditional earn-in arrangements in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa; securing access rights to highly prospective gold mineralised structures and pegmatite occurrences covering a combined 3,982km2 and 774km2 area respectively. The projects are well located within access of an extensive bitumen road network and along strike from multi-million-ounce gold projects and mines. The Company's most advanced project is the Zaranou gold project which includes high-grade gold drilling intersections along 8km strike including 6m at 6.44g/t gold from 132m, 6m at 15.11g/t gold from 26m, 4m at 5.16g/t gold from 110m and 22m at 3.39g/t gold from 8m within a broader 47km long gold anomalous structure.

Chad

The Company's Tekton Minerals Pte Ltd of Singapore holds an extensive portfolio covering 746km2 of highly prospective gold and other mineral projects in Chad, Central Africa. IronRidge acquired 100% of Tekton including its projects and team to advance the Dorothe, Echbara, Am Ouchar, Nabagay and Kalaka licenses, which host multiple, large scale gold projects. Trenching results at Dorothe, including 84m at 1.66g/t Au (including 6m at 5.49g/t & 8m at 6.23g/t), 4m at 18.77g/t Au (including 2m at 36.2g/t), 32m at 2.02g/t Au (including 18m at 3.22g/t), 24m at 2.53g/t Au (including 6m at 4.1g/t (including 2m at 6.2g/t) and 2m at 6.14g/t), 14.12g/t Au over 4m, 34.1g/t over 2m and 63.2g/t over 1m, have defined significant gold mineralised quartz veining zones over a 3km by 1km area including the steep dipping 'Main Vein' and shallow dipping 'Sheeted Vein' zones.

Corporate

IronRidge made its AIM debut in February 2015, successfully securing strategic alliances with three international companies; Assore Limited of South Africa, Sumitomo Corporation of Japan and DGR Global Limited of Australia. Assore is a high-grade iron, chrome and manganese mining specialist. Sumitomo Corporation is a global resources, mining marketing and trading conglomerate. DGR Global is a project generation and exploration specialist.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: IronRidge Resources Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673560/IronRidge-Resources-Limited-Announces-Results-of-Annual-General-Meeting
Gojek

Gojek and TBS Energi Utama form a joint venture to accelerate the development of Indonesia's two-wheel electric vehicle ecosystem



18-Nov-2021 / 08:35 CET/CEST



Press Release For Immediate Release Gojek and TBS Energi Utama form a joint venture to accelerate the development of Indonesia's two-wheel electric vehicle ecosystem The joint venture is aimed at developing the infrastructure for EVs in Indonesia, in line with Gojek and TBS' commitments to achieve Zero Emissions by 2030 JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Media OutReach - 18 November 2021 - Gojek, Southeast Asia's leading mobile on-demand services platform, and PT TBS Energi Utama Tbk (TBS), a leading integrated energy company in Indonesia, today announced the formation of a joint venture to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Indonesia. The joint venture, known as Electrum, will act as a platform through which both companies will develop infrastructure for two-wheel EVs throughout the country. Leveraging Gojek's deep presence in Indonesia and TBS' capabilities in the energy sector, the two companies will work together to build a comprehensive and scalable EV ecosystem, including two-wheel EV manufacturing, battery packaging, battery swap infrastructure and financing for EV ownership. This joint venture is part of Gojek and TBS' commitments to achieve Zero Emissions by 2030, which will see Gojek transition its fleet to 100% EVs and TBS invest in clean and renewable energy during the same time period. The collaboration is also in line with the Indonesian Government's plans to make the development of the EV industry a national priority. Gojek CEO and Co-founder, Kevin Aluwi, said, "We have always recognized that strong industry collaboration will be crucial to help solve the most pressing environmental challenges that society faces today. Gojek's aim is to work together with partners to achieve our sustainability goals, including fully electrifying our transport fleet by 2030. By bringing together the best of Gojek and TBS' strengths, we will be able to support Indonesia's transition to building a cleaner, more accessible and sustainable mobility system - ultimately making EVs the norm in our country, contributing to the country's emissions reduction targets and improving air quality in our cities." Pandu Sjahrir, Vice President Director of TBS, said, "TBS is fully committed to sustainability and our target of achieving net zero emissions by 2030. This collaboration with Gojek is part of our commitment to reinvest our current earnings in clean and renewable energy, in line with our business transformation goals and aim to become a greener business." Pandu Sjahrir added, "To enable large-scale adoption of EVs in Indonesia, it is crucial to develop a strong and comprehensive EV ecosystem. Our vast experience and deep understanding of the energy sector, combined with the large scale of the Gojek network, will be a catalyst for the development of the EV industry in Indonesia. As EVs become more widely available, we hope that this will inspire greater confidence in EVs from members of the public and encourage them to give it a try, so that they can also enjoy the many benefits of EVs." Gojek recently announced an EV and battery swapping pilot scheme in Jakarta in collaboration with Gogoro, Gesit and Pertamina. This will initially comprise 500 EVs, with plans to scale to 5,000 EVs travelling a total of one million kilometers in the future. With this pilot, Gojek customers will be able to select EVs when using the GoRide service in South Jakarta. Driver partners using EVs can also go about their daily routines more efficiently, serving customers across Gojek services such as GoRide, GoFood, GoSend Instant, GoShop and GoMart. The data from this pilot will also be used to further develop the technology and infrastructure for EVs, in order to meet the needs of Gojek's driver partners, customers and the wider Indonesian market. About Gojek Gojek is Southeast Asia's leading on-demand platform and a pioneer of the multi-service ecosystem model, providing access to a wide range of services including transportation, food delivery, logistics and more. Gojek is founded on the principle of leveraging technology to remove life's daily frictions by connecting consumers to the best providers of goods and services in the market. The company was first established in 2010 focusing on courier and motorcycle ride-hailing services, before launching the app in January 2015 in Indonesia. Since then, Gojek has grown to become the leading on-demand platform in Southeast Asia, providing access to a wide range of services from transportation, to food delivery, logistics and many others. As of March 2021, Gojek's application has been downloaded more than 190 million times by users across Southeast Asia. Gojek is dedicated to solving the daily challenges faced by consumers, while improving the quality of life for millions of people across Southeast Asia, especially those in the informal sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The Gojek application is available for download via iOS and Android. About TBS TBS is an integrated energy company which currently conducts business in power, mining and plantation sector through subsidiaries. In recent business development, TBS is committed to reduce carbon footprint and help contribute to the betterment of the environment and future generation, by setting a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. In the electricity sector, TBS has subsidiaries that developed the PLTU Sulut-3 2x50 MW project in North Sulawesi and the PLTU Sulbagut-1 2x50MW project in Gorontalo, as well as 1 subsidiary which developed a mini hydro power plant project of 2x3 MW in Lampung. In the mining sector, TBS has three subsidiaries that have Mining Business Permits in East Kalimantan, which are located close to each other with a total land area of 7,087 hectares. As part of its sustainability commitments, TBS committed to use its earnings into green investment opportunities while gradually reducing exposure to fossil fuel related business. Detailed information about TBS can be seen on the TBS website: www.tbsenergi.com Gojek Media Contact: Sharmaine Tan, Gojek sharmaine.tan@gojek.com Alvin Sunanda Director corsec@tbsenergi.com Iwan Sanyoto Head of Investor Relation iwan@tbsenergi.com Pingkan Ratna Melati Head of Legal & Corporate Secretary pingkan@tbsenergi.com

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.




OSLO, Norway, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Horizons ASA's wholly owned subsidiary Aker Horizons Holding AS ("Aker Horizons") has today entered into an agreement with South Korea's Hanwha Solutions Corporation ("Hanwha Solutions"), one of the leading solar PV manufacturers in the US, and with REC Silicon ASA ("REC Silicon").

Hanwha Solutions will acquire 21,891,275 shares in REC Silicon from Aker Horizons and will subscribe for 48,213,001 new shares in REC Silicon through a private placement in REC Silicon. Both transactions are conditional upon each other and will be completed simultaneously, and are done at the same share price of NOK 20 per share.

The private placement will provide approximately NOK 964 million in proceeds to REC Silicon, and will be implemented based on the existing authorization granted to the board of REC Silicon. The share sale will provide proceeds to Aker Horizons Holding AS of approximately NOK 438 million. Following the transaction, Aker Horizons and Hanwha Solutions will each own approximately 16.67 percent of the shares in REC Silicon.

"Aker Horizons develops industrial scale solutions to contribute towards meeting Net Zero by 2050 or sooner," said Kristian Rkke, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Horizons. "REC Silicon is the lowest CO2 footprint producer of polysilicon globally, and we see further potential for positive impact through the development of a US solar value chain. We welcome Hanwha Solutions as a shareholder and partner in the development of REC Silicon with their extensive capabilities and ambitions."

The transaction brings together two of the leading producers in different parts of the solar PV value chain. Hanwha Solutions is one of the world's largest solar PV manufacturers with a total cell manufacturing capacity of 10GW globally. The company provides high-quality solar PV panels to the residential market through their wholly owned brand Q CELLS, which holds a 25 percent market share in the US1. The company operates one of the largest solar module factories in the US with an annual production capacity of 1.7GW, corresponding to 12,000 PV modules per day.

REC Silicon is a leading producer of advanced silicon materials, delivering high-purity polysilicon and silicon gas to the solar and electronics industries worldwide. Operating two polysilicon manufacturing facilities in the US, the company has an annual production capacity of 20,000 MT. REC Silicon's highly advanced and efficient FBR production process at Moses Lake uses significantly less energy compared to the traditional process. Using hydropower-based clean energy, REC Silicon can produce low-cost polysilicon with a low carbon footprint.

The transactions are expected to strengthen REC Silicon's financial position and ensure that REC Silicon has the necessary resources to reopen its FBR facility in Moses Lake, Washington, and enable valuable investment opportunities in Butte, Montana. Hanwha Solutions' investment represents a step towards establishing a highly efficient, low carbon solar value chain in the US and to ensure that REC Silicon plays an integral role in these efforts.

The Solar Energy Manufacturing for America (SEMA) Act currently being considered in the US Congress is aimed specifically at encouraging strategic investments in US manufacturing capabilities. This transaction clearly demonstrates the potential to build solar manufacturing capabilities in the US quickly and efficiently - which is the primary objective of the proposed SEMA Act. The eventual passage of the legislation will support the parties' ambitions to establish a comprehensive US solar value chain, from production of polysilicon to fully assembled solar modules.

Completion of the transactions is expected to occur early in the first quarter 2022, subject to customary anti-trust filing in the US.

Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Ivar Simensen, Communications, Aker Horizons

Tel: +47 46402317

Email: ivar.simensen@akerhorizons.com

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STOCKHOLM, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ChargeNode, a green tech company that eliminates the need for traditional EV chargers, has raised 115 MSEK from Formica Capital to accelerate Swedish and international expansion. ChargeNode fits very well into Formica's focus on fast-growing companies with climate-effective solutions for properties, being Formica's fifth investment in this segment.

ChargeNode's patent-pending technology for EV charging consists of a central charging unit that enables charging of more than 50 electric vehicles. Its innovative charging technology reduces power requirement and operational cost while also removing the need for a traditional charger at each parking bay.

Many of today's properties have an old electrical infrastructure that limits the possible number of installed EV chargers. Compared to other solutions, ChargeNode's unique charging technology enables a more scalable and cost-effective EV charging for property owners and reduces the need for investments in the electrical grid. Hence, ChargeNode can play an important role in accelerating the transition to a sustainable society and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix.

ChargeNode's team consists of experienced entrepreneurs with a track record of building successful businesses. In less than 18 months, the company has sold over 4 000 charging points to property owners, housing cooperatives, hotels, and travel destinations across Sweden.

Joining Formica's investments in Rototec, Ecokraft, Nock, and Orbital Systems, ChargeNode becomes the fifth investment in climate efficient solutions for properties."We need to speed up the transition to fossil-free vehicles, and our technology plays an important role in creating more charge points, both in Sweden and across the world," says Kristian Sandahl, CEO of ChargeNode. "Formica's vision to address global challenges with sustainable solutions matches our ambition. They are a dream partner for us and with our shared values and our mutually strong drive, we will make a difference together".

"The combination of an innovative and revolutionary solution, an impressive team, and a fast-growing market which contributes to the transition, makes ChargeNode a company of great potential to create both impact and value. I am very much looking forward to this journey!" says Teresa Enander, COO Formica Capital. "Now we have five investments in climate-effective solutions for properties, a segment we will continue to focus on as we see further attractive investments opportunities ahead.

For additional information, please contact:

Kristian Sandahl, CEO ChargeNode

Phone: +46 709 11 52 66

kristian.sandahl@chargenode.eu

Teresa Enander

COO Formica Capital

Phone: +46 739 17 86 91

teresa.enander@formicacapital.se

Formica Capital is a Sweden-based investment company with a long-term ownership strategy. It is owned by the Olsson Eriksson family. Formica Capital creates value by being an active owner in profitable and long-term sustainable companies that positively impact society. www.formicacapital.se

ChargeNode was formed in 2018 to solve the need for new innovative resource-efficient solutions for today's challenges of large-scale electrification. The company offers scalable EV charging systems based on patent-pending charging technology. Customers are large property owners, housing cooperatives, hotels, and travel destinations. www.chargenode.eu

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Significantly improved operating revenues of USD 118.5 million and EBITDA of USD 73.6 million , up by 72% and 131%, respectively, compared to Q2 2021.

and EBITDA of , up by 72% and 131%, respectively, compared to Q2 2021. Continued chartering activity combined with strategic vessel sales in Q3 2021 bring the EBITDA backlog to more than USD 840 million.

The FY 2021 EBITDA guidance increased to USD 305 -315 million.

OSLO, Norway, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Q3 and nine-month 2021 results:

MPC Container Ships ASA ("MPCC" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries the "Group") today published its unaudited financial report for the nine-month period ended 30 September 2021.

Total revenues of USD 118.5 million in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: USD 68.8 million ).

in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: ). EBITDA of USD 73.6 million in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: USD 31.9 million ).

in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: ). Net profit of USD 46.5 million in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: USD 12.0 million ).

in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: ). Earnings per share of USD 0.11 in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: USD 0.03 ).

in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: ). Utilization of 97.7% in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: 96.9%).

Average time charter equivalent ("TCE") of USD 19,656 per day in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: USD 13,437 per day).

per day in Q3 2021 (Q2 2021: per day). Cash and cash equivalents of USD 76.5 million as at 30 September 2021.

as at 30 September 2021. Equity ratio of 58.4% and leverage ratio of 34.8%.

As at 30 September 2021, the Group owns and operates 75 container vessels, whereof 67 are fully owned and 8 are operated in a joint venture.

The Company revises its guidance for FY 2021, with expected revenues in the range of USD 360-365 million and expected EBITDA in the range of USD 305-315 million. The guidance is subject to certain assumptions, including an estimated gain of USD 99 million related to nine vessel sales this year of which six vessel handovers still have to be finalized and executed in Q4 2021.

CEO Constantin Baack comments in relation to the announcement: "We continue to witness historically strong container markets with significant demand growth and high freight and charter rates. This is further amplified by global supply chain disruptions, a situation that we believe is unlikely to ease anytime soon. In this unique market environment charterers continue to compete for tonnage whilst only limited newbuilds are anticipated to be delivered during the next two to three years. We expect the favourable conditions for a tight containership market to continue going forward."

In these market conditions, the Company has already executed 53 multi-year charter fixtures YTD and has executed on a number of portfolio measures, leading to a significant increase in charter revenues and a current EBITDA backlog of more than USD 840 million, thus improving the earnings visibility and cash generation going forward.

"We have further been able to arbitrage the disparity between asset and charter values, by adding 12 vessels to the fleet during the first nine months of 2021, which were subsequently fixed at attractive charters or partly sold at a substantial premium. This follows our strategy of focusing on transactions that are accretive on a per share basis.

Simultaneously, we have executed a comprehensive refinancing and balance sheet optimization measures, as part of which the Company since July has also taken the opportunity to divest nine vessels at attractive prices. Once we have completed the balance optimization measures, which are expected finalized during Q4 2021, the Company will have reduced its cost of debt, deleveraged significantly and, most importantly, will enjoy a high degree of flexibility by having more than 50% of the fleet unencumbered. This also paves the way for substantial return of capital to investors in the quarters and years ahead.

Strategy and capital allocation going forward

In shipping, which is primarily a capital allocation business, we firmly believe that discipline and rational decisions are essential. MPCC will have a de-risked balance sheet and ample liquidity. Going forward the Company will be prioritizing returning capital to investors by paying out 75% of adjusted net profit as recurring distributions from operations. Additionally, event-driven distributions may be expected from proceeds such as vessel sales in form of extraordinary dividends and/or share buybacks. We will continue to adhere to the principles of transparent, active and rational capital allocation, as demonstrated since the inception of the Company.

We look forward to returning substantial parts of our earnings to investors and we expect to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting for early 2022 to propose a significant distribution in Q1 2022, and we expect to propose to pay dividends on a quarterly basis going forward", CEO Constantin Baack added.

The above information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Q3 and nine-month 2021 earnings call and webcast:

The Company will host a webcast for the presentation of the Q3 2021 results commencing on Thursday 18 November 2021 at 15:00 hours CET / 09:00 hours EDT. The presentation will be made available on the Company's webpage (https://www.mpc-container.com/en/financial-reports/) prior to the earnings call. There will be a Q&A session after the presentation.

The event is being streamed. It is recommended that you listen via your computer speakers. Please note that for optimal viewing, it is recommended not to use VPN, but instead to connect directly to the internet. Please disable pop-up blockers in order to view the content in its entirety.

The live webcast can be accessed through the following link:

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/d7gi5x7g

Alternatively, participants may dial in to the earnings call using the below dial-in information:

Norwegian LocalCall Dial-In (Oslo): +47 23 96 02 64

US LocalCall Dial-In (New York): +1 (631) 510-7495

International/Toll Attendee Dial-In: +44 (0) 2071 928000

Conference ID: 3596379

Following the earnings call, a post-call recording of the webcast will be made available on the Company's webpage (https://www.mpc-container.com/en/financial-reports/).

Further information and contact:

For further information, please contact ir@mpc-container.com.

About MPC Container Ships ASA:

MPC Container Ships ASA (ticker code "MPCC") is a leading container tonnage provider with a focus on the feeder segment below 5,000 TEU. Its main activity is to own and operate a portfolio of container ships serving intra-regional trade lanes on fixed-rate charters. The Company is registered and has its business office in Oslo, Norway. For more information, please see our website: www.mpc-container.com.

Forward-looking statements:

This announcement includes forward-looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Royal Mail plc (RMG.L), on Thursday, announced that it has entered into a non-discretionary agreement with Merrill Lynch International or MLI in relation to the purchase by MLI, acting as riskless principal, of Royal Mail's ordinary shares of one penny each for an aggregate purchase price of up to 200 million. The company noted that the ordinary shares acquired by MLI under this non-discretionary agreement would be simultaneously on-sold by MLI to Royal Mail. The agreement would commence on 18 November 2021 and end no later than 19 July 2022. The purpose of the Programme is to reduce the share capital of Royal Mail, the company said. 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.
News summary:

Municipality committed to delivering high-speed broadband to homes and businesses in underserved areas

ADVA FSP 3000 open optical transport technology enables reliable and affordable internet services throughout rural communities

Multi-degree ROADMs support automatic traffic rerouting for enhanced availability

ADVA (FSE: ADV) today announced that the Municipality of the County of Kings has deployed its FSP 3000 open optical transport technology, expanding Canada's rural connectivity. The solution enables the municipality to provide reliable, high-speed broadband services to homes and businesses in currently underserved areas. It offers a major boost to the federal, provincial and municipal governments' mission to bridge the digital divide across Nova Scotia. Featuring open terminals, including ADVA's OpenFabric and QuadFlex line cards, as well as colorless, directionless and flexgrid multi-degree ROADMs, the new network offers flexibility to reroute traffic for enhanced reliability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005070/en/

ADVA is helping the County of Kings to close the digital divide in rural communities. (Photo: Business Wire)

"With support from the federal and provincial governments, we're determined to ensure that every household and enterprise across our municipality is able to receive reliable, high-speed broadband connectivity. By leveraging ADVA's FSP 3000 technology, we can meet the needs of even our most remote rural communities and make sure no one gets left behind," said Mayor Peter Muttart, Municipality of the County of Kings. "The small footprint and low power consumption of ADVA's solution were key factors for us when selecting our new infrastructure. The technology has enabled us to grow our network sustainably and efficiently, and the scalability of the FSP 3000 platform means we're ready to expand further in years to come."

Built on ADVA FSP 3000 open optical transport technology, the County of King's new infrastructure transmits services at speeds up to 100Gbit/s. The flexible and fully redundant ROADM network delivers the highest levels of availability by automatically rerouting traffic in the case of fiber breaks. The ADVA FSP 3000 platform simplifies operations and helps to reduce both capex and opex. The network includes ADVA's 400Gbit/s QuadFlex and OpenFabric line cards, as well as lower-rate service multiplexing and an open, reconfigurable line system. With an agile modular design, this truly open solution gives the Municipality of the County of Kings total freedom to evolve and optimize each network layer separately in the future.

"This deployment shows that the County of Kings shares our drive to create a more connected world. High-speed broadband has the power to improve lives and transform businesses. Being able to access digital information to learn, shop and socialize online brings enormous advantages to local communities and economies. With our technology and support, the County of Kings is delivering those benefits to all of its residents," commented John Scherzinger, SVP, sales, North America, ADVA. "For too long, rural areas have had to struggle without the essential utility of broadband. Now, we're helping customers like the County of Kings to end that disparity."

About ADVA

ADVA is a company founded on innovation and focused on helping our customers succeed. Our technology forms the building blocks of a shared digital future and empowers networks across the globe. We're continually developing breakthrough hardware and software that leads the networking industry and creates new business opportunities. It's these open connectivity solutions that enable our customers to deliver the cloud and mobile services that are vital to today's society and for imagining new tomorrows. Together, we're building a truly connected and sustainable future. For more information on how we can help you, please visit us at www.adva.com.

Published by:

ADVA Optical Networking SE, Munich, Germany

www.adva.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005070/en/

Contacts:

For press:

Gareth Spence

t +44 1904 699 358

public-relations@adva.com



For investors:

Stephan Rettenberger

t +49 89 890 665 854

investor-relations@adva.com
Ranks #211 on Graph 500 BFS Benchmark

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021Corporation, provider of a next generation computing architecture based on Intel technology for high performance, massively scalable processing of graph analytics, today announced that Lucata Pathfinder ranked #46 on the Green Graph500, which ranks graph analytics processing performance per energy consumed, which measures raw graph analytics processing performance, delivering nearly 1 GTEP) ran the benchmark testing using four Lucata Pathfinder chassis.



The Graph 500 BFS benchmarks test the performance of graph analytics processing systems on synthetic Breadth-First Search (BFS) datasets, enabling comparisons of a broad range of optimized hardware/software solutions for graph analytics processing. The benchmarks help in the design and procurement of hardware architectures and software systems for data-intensive graph analytics processing on large, sparse matrix datasets. With energy consumption rapidly becoming a limiting factor in the future of big data computing, an energy-aware benchmark has also become a necessity.

The Green Graph500 provides performance-per-watt metrics for the Graph 500 participants. It acts as a forum for vendors and data center operators to compare the energy consumption of data-intensive graph analytics computing workloads on various architectures. Energy consumption is a crucial metric that drives operating costs for large scale, graph processing systems.

"Next generation computing solutions like Lucata Pathfinder can demonstrate a quantum leap in performance by submitting benchmark results to the vendor-agnostic Graph 500. The benchmarks allow vendors such as Lucata to improve our products while enabling buyers to make fair comparisons between graph analytics processing solutions," said Lucata COO and Chief Technologist Marty Deneroff. "These new Graph 500 results demonstrate the massive performance improvements the Pathfinder is able to deliver. Pathfinder requires 1/8th the rack space and consumes 1/10th the power of conventional computing approaches. We are especially proud of the Green Graph500 results, which demonstrate the enormous energy consumption benefits of the Lucata architecture."

Pathfinderenables organizations to leverage massive pools of physical memory to accelerate and scale graph analytics and AI and ML model training by orders of magnitude beyond the capabilities of conventional computing approaches. The solution enables high-performance exascale graph analytics, including exhaustive breadth-first search (BFS), on unpruned, unsharded massive graph databases. Lucata can be used with open source or commercial graph software or with custom-written graph solutions that leverage LAGraph, GraphBLAS, or the Lucata library of search algorithms, enabling organizations to use their existing software to uncover much deeper connections within much larger graphs than possible today. These unique capabilities allow organizations to reimagine the potential of graph analytics, AI and ML and address intractable challenges in fraud detection, cybersecurity, blockchain, risk assessment, healthcare and many other fields. Ultimately, the Pathfinder hardware architecture will be migrated to an ASIC design, which will deliver a 10x increase in processing performance, enabling extreme high performance for a broad range of common Big Data computing use cases which cannot be cost-effectively addressed with conventional computer architectures.

Learn More

More information about the next generation Lucata architecture is available on the Lucatawebsite including:

Lucata Pathfinder (https://lucata.com/solutions/pathfinder/) description

Lucata Pathfinder datasheet (https://lucata.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Lucata-Pathfinder-S-Datasheet-070921.pdf)

Lucata Tech Brief (https://lucata.com/resources/tech-briefs/) on next generation computing

Lucata performance benchmarks (https://lucata.com/resources/benchmarks/)

Lucata use cases (https://lucata.com/use-cases/)



About Lucata

The Lucata next generation computing architecture leverages Intel technology to enable organizations to accelerate and scale graph analytics orders of magnitude beyond the capabilities of conventional computing approaches. Lucata leverages patented Migrating Thread technology to massively scale unified memory and conduct high-performance graph analytics, including exhaustive breadth-first search.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

CONTACTS:

Terry Erisman

Chief Marketing Officer, Lucata

terisman@lucata.com

(408) 438-0051




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - BMEX Gold Inc. (TSXV: BMEX) (FSE: 8M0) ("BMEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a 3,000-metre Phase 2 drill program on the King Tut project. BMEX conducted a drone magnetic survey on the property as a follow up to the inaugural 4,500-metre drill program which returned anomalous gold values in nearly every hole related to quartz-carbonates veining, indicating that a hydrothermal gold-bearing system is hosted on the property. Highlight hole TUT-21-018 assayed 81.89 g/t Au over 0.45 metres and targeted the western edge of the known gold-bearing structure at King Tut leaving nearly 2 km of strike length between Tut and Audet Quest to the west to drill test an identified shear zone in the Phase 2 program. The drill targets (see Figure 1) were identified from integrating data collected from the magnetic survey, geological data from the previous drill program, and geological modelling. BMEX will be using two rigs to evaluate this trend in order to reduce costs and expedite results. Drilling is anticipated to be completed by Dec 15, 2021.





Figure 1: 2021 Drilling Campaign on King Tut Property



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Robert Pryde, President, commented, "Armed with additional information following several months of data compilation and analysis, we have a better understanding of the gold system at King Tut and are in a stronger position to move forward with our Phase 2 drill program. The team is very excited to initiate the Phase 2 drilling and we are working closely with our geoscience consulting team at Laurentia Exploration to target the gold structure identified in previous exploration on King Tut."

The King Tut project is located 65 km east of Amex Exploration's Perron Property (see Figure 2).

Figure 2: Location Map of King Tut property.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5785/103990_11c7136b94e39879_003full.jpg

About BMEX Gold Inc.

BMEX Gold Inc. is a junior Canadian mining exploration company with the primary objective to acquire, explore, and develop viable gold and base metal projects in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada. BMEX is currently fully focused on earning 100% interest in its two projects, both located in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt:

King Tut Project consists of 120 contiguous claims on 5,206 hectares.

consists of 120 contiguous claims on 5,206 hectares. Dunlop Bay Project consists of 76 mineral claims that cover 4,226 hectares.

BMEX common shares trade under the symbol "BMEX" on the TSX-V and under the symbol 8M0 on the Frankfurt Exchange.

For further information please contact:

BMEX Gold Inc.

Dylan Sidoo, Business Development

Tel: 1 (604) 423 4499

Email: info@bmexgold.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions, and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the plans for future exploration and development of the King Tut and Dunlop Bay properties and the acquisition of additional exploration projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" , "anticipates" "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. 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 expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the King Tut and Dunlop Bay projects; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in resource estimates, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in areas in which the Company operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/103990
AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - The Dutch jobless rate declined in October, data from the Central Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday. The ILO jobless rate for the 15-75 year old age group fell a seasonally adjusted 2.9 percent in October from 3.1 percent in September. The number of unemployed persons fell to 277,000 in October from 292,000 in the preceding month, the agency said. The unemployment rate among youth aged between 15 and 24 years, decreased to 6.9 percent in October from 7.4 percent in the previous month. 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.
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A joint-venture led by Catella Hospitality Europe (CHE), Extendam and Cedre has acquired the Hotel La Perouse, a legendary boutique-hotel in Nice overlooking the famous "Baie des Anges". This new acquisition is motivated by the unique features of the hotel as well as the demonstrated dynamism of Nice to be further consolidated with its recent UNESCO heritage site award.

Nestled on the "Colline du Chateau", at immediate vicinity from the old town of Nice, the Hotel La Perouse offers a high-end experience to guests thanks to its exclusive environment and tailored services. Located on the famous "Promenade des Anglais", the hotel features 56 rooms and suites, most of which with private terraces or balconies offering bird's-eye views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Nice - "the winter resort town of the French Riviera" - constantly ranks among the most visited cities in France and earned in May 2021 the UNESCO world heritage status which will further boost visitation in the coming years. Tourism is deeply rooted in the city's DNA, which offers landmarks such as the Promenade des Anglais, Matisse and Chagall Museums, the Castle of Nice, the flower market, etc. A highly leisure-driven hotel market, Nice is poised for quick recovery post-pandemic. The summer period this year already marked a real boost in terms of hotel demand, with the overall Cote-d'Azur hotel market achieving a performance above that of 2019.

Catella Hospitality Europe, Extendam and Cedre intend to reposition the Hotel La Perouse as Nice's best luxury boutique hotel. In partnership with an internationally-renown designer, the new owners will fully renovate the property and enhance all common areas, to fully capitalize on the asset's unique specificities and authenticity. A key element of the renovation program will be to create new attractive food and beverage outlets, appealing to the local community and visitors alike.

Buy-side counsels working on the transaction were Arago, Chevreux (notary), Hoche Avocats, NS Associes, Capstan, and Delpha Conseil.

The managing partners, at CATELLA HOSPITALITY EUROPE, said:

"We are highly delighted to invest once more in Nice, and to take-over such high-potential property which sits in a unique location. The team aims at fully renovating this "sleeping beauty" - further contributing to the upscaling of Nice's hotel market".

Jean-Marc Palhon, Chairman of EXTENDAM, said:

"Nice is an attractive city we know well for having acquired several establishments there. La Perouse hotel performed well in 2019, before the health crisis. The work we are undertaking to upgrade the hotel will place it as the only boutique-hotel of such standing in Nice and will give it every chance of even better results. We also have complete confidence in the teams of Catella Hospitality Europe to design a bright future for this new asset. This off-market operation is fully in line with EXTENDAM's value-add investment strategy".

About EXTENDAM

EXTENDAM is a French independent asset management company dedicated to private and institutional investors, regulated by the AMF (the French financial markets authority). Since inception, our funds have invested in more than 250 hotels across EMEA, representing a combined asset value in excess of 2.4 billion. We partner with global operators and franchisors, white label management companies as well as local hoteliers in order to create value for our investors through active asset management. For more information: www.extendam.com. Follow us on LinkedIn an Twitter: EXTENDAM et @EXTEND_AM

About CEDRE

Cedre is a family-owned investment holding company, targeting French companies with strong growth potential. For more than 20 years, Cedre has supported the development of meaningful projects by investing in promising companies. Cedre invests tickets from 2 million to 15 million, either alone or in co-investment, without time constraints. Cedre owns several hotels in Paris and on the Mediterranean coast. For more information: www.cedre-pe.com

About CATELLA HOSPITALITY EUROPE

Catella Hospitality Europe (CHE) invests and assists investors from the sourcing, structuring, and managing of tailored hotel investment opportunities, assessing, and executing each opportunity in order to create the optimum Risk/Reward. Based in Paris, the team has structured deals and managed properties in France and across other main European countries (the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Poland etc.). CHE was launched in June 2019.

For more information: www.catella.com

For further information, please contact:

CATELLA HOSPITALITY EUROPE

Pierre-Louis BELLANGER

pilou@che-im.com

Maxime DES MONSTIERS

maxime@che-im.com

Rodolphe FREGE

rodolphe@che-im.com

Press Contacts:

CATELLA FRANCE

Oceane VINSON

Head of Marketing & Communication

+33 1 56 79 79 78

Oceane.Vinson@catella.fr

EXTENDAM

Annabelle LEDOUX

+33 6 10 79 07 65

aled@lesgrandesidees.fr

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/catella---property-investment-management/r/extendam--cedre-and-catella-hospitality-europe-acquire-the-iconic-hotel-la-perouse-in-nice,c3455597
SINGAPORE, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Investment Research - AIR - is a new, unique data source for tracking Asian investment intelligence.

Tracking where the money is heading is an excellent way to find new investment trends and where the best and fastest returns are likely to be found. In this brand-new report, Asia Investment Research looks at where capital is flowing from the United States, EU, and UK into China and Asia - the volumes, companies, and the projects involved.

This is essential reading for Asia Financial Analysts, Government Trade Officials, International Banking, Financial, Private Equity, Pension and Venture Capital Analysts, Corporate Lawyers as well as Executives looking to Asia for the latest opportunities.

Jointly produced by China Investment Research and Dezan Shira & Associates, AIR provides unique, primary source reconciled data regarding Asian inbound investments.

In this brand-new, complimentary first issue we cover:

Q3 2021 Asia Inbound Report

US and European outbound investments into Asia and China - including volumes, companies, and projects;

and - including volumes, companies, and projects; Chinese outbound investment into ASEAN;

Regulatory market updates for China and ASEAN with analysis of new market openings;

and ASEAN with analysis of new market openings; Overview of the most recent Free Trade negotiations impacting Asia - including RCEP, CPTPP and many other bilateral discussions affecting Global-Asian trade

Download Your Complimentary Issue Now

https://www.asiainvestmentresearch.org/issue/air-2021-q3-asia-inbound-report-nov-2021?utm_campaign=AIR-PUB21-PRN3

Visit Our Website Here

https://www.asiainvestmentresearch.org/?utm_campaign=AIR-NOV21-PRN3

What People Say About This Report:

"Absolutely fascinating" - Nirj Deva, ex British and European Parliamentarian, Chair of Commonwealth Union, London

"Supports investment decisions with original analysis of crucial trends in Asian investment flows. AIR is frequently ahead of the curve and adds real value to investment data in a concise, readable format" - Julia Charlton, Charltons Law Firm, Hong Kong "

Media Enquiries: info@asiainvestmentresearch.org

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EDB to Host Free Virtual Event for PostgreSQL Users in Europe

EDB, a leading contributor to PostgreSQL, today released the full speaker lineup for Postgres Build 2021, a two-day annual event taking place virtually on November 30th and December 1st. This year's conference will bring together the world's leading PostgreSQL experts, enterprise users, community members, and thought leaders to explore all things PostgreSQL. All conference sessions will happen between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm GMT. Registration for Postgres Build is free.

"Postgres Build 2021 remains the leading enterprise-focused event for Postgres users in Europe," said Simon Riggs, Postgres Fellow with EDB. "From replication consistency and high availability to migrating legacy databases to Postgres, Postgres Build 2021 will inform and educate users on the most pressing issues in the Postgres ecosystem to help decision makers successfully drive database modernization in the enterprise."

Tracks and agenda

Postgres Build 2021 will feature three tracks covering the use of PostgreSQL in the enterprise, PostgreSQL tools and features, and PostgreSQL use cases. Speakers represent leading organizations, such as the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing in India, and the National Open and Distance University (UNAD).

Session highlights include:

Bruce Momjian, vice president, Postgres evangelist, EDB, will begin the two-day event with a talk about the PostgreSQL open source project, the challenges it faces, and how the community can plan ahead to avoid them.

Marc Linster, CTO, EDB, will kick off the second day with a talk on the challenges around moving databases to the cloud. Linster will discuss options for Postgres in the cloud with a focus on Kubernetes and DBaaS and juxtapose EDB Cloud Native Postgres with BigAnimal, EDB's fully managed database service.

Dr. Michael Stonebraker, Postgres pioneer, Turing Award winner, and MIT professor, will deliver the closing talk on day two, focusing on the importance and implications of cloud, SaaS, and DBaaS deployment considerations for future PostgreSQL database management.

A customer panel will feature executives Rick Mallon of Ericsson Canada and Martin Schmitter of RWE Germany.

View the full agenda for Postgres Build 2021.

Registration

Registration for Postgres Build is free and available here.

EnterpriseDB, EDB and Postgres Enterprise Manager are registered trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation. EDB Postgres and BigAnimal are trademarks of EnterpriseDB Corporation.

Postgres, PostgreSQL, and the Slonik Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of the PostgreSQL Community Association of Canada, and used with their permission.

About EDB

PostgreSQL is increasingly the database of choice for organizations looking to boost innovation and accelerate business. EDB's enterprise-class software extends PostgreSQL, helping our customers get the most out of it both on premises and in the cloud. And our 24x7 global support, professional services, and training help our customers control risk, manage costs, and scale efficiently. With 16 offices worldwide, EDB serves over 5,000 customers, including leading financial services, government, media and communications, and information technology organizations. To learn about PostgreSQL for people, teams, and enterprises.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005556/en/

Contacts:

Laura West-Wilson

PAN Communications

+44 (0) 7557 968890

enterprisedb@pancomm.com
COLOGNE, Germany, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The SDoT Security Gateway received an ISO/IEC 15408 Common Criteria (CC) certification evaluation assurance level (EAL) 4+ from the German Federal Office of Information Security (BSI). INFODAS and its product met one of the most demanding evaluation in the global Cybersecurity industry. Once again SDoT cross domain solutions and their development excel in quality, reliability, integrity and security. The bi-directional High Assurance Guard allows to filter structured and unstructured data and already holds general German, NATO and EU SECRET approvals.

In the past, sensitive systems and data in the military, government agencies or critical infrastructure were isolated. Even today many classified information protection regulations do not reflect the technological advances in cross domain solutions. These practices and regulations prevent end-to-end digitization of mission critical IT environments, dealing with the IT expert shortage and requirements for rapid decision making among government agencies, military units or multi-national partners. Today, only trusted solutions with an CC EAL4+ certification or national security agency approvals can change this reality. They combine a protocol break with in-depth inspection, transformation and monitoring of data transfers, ensuring only correct and authorized information crosses systems at different security levels.

The German BSI ISO/IEC 15408 common criteria standard schema is the global benchmark in Cybersecurity. A growing number of domestic and international end-users expect IT vendors to produce trusted and reliable evidence for the Cybersecurity capabilities of their products. The CC evaluation process applies objective and verifiable criteria on specified evidence. The depth of evaluation is marked by the evaluation assurance level (EAL) from 1-7. Contrary to the popular collaborative protection profiles (cPPs) which are mostly based on CC EAL 1/2, the SDoT Security Gateway had to meet CC EAL4+. This included extensive penetration tests, vulnerability analysis and source code analysis by independent CC auditors.

The certification process started in 2019 and was conducted by atsec information security GmbH, a German based BSI certified CC auditor, under supervision of the BSI. Beyond the product, INFODAS GmbH had to provide evidence about its research & development practices, product documentation, product support or relevant company processes. The audit benefited from activities related to the German, NATO and EU SECRET approvals. Unlike a common criteria certification that can be initiated by any IT vendor, national security authority approvals require a public sector sponsor.

"The SDoT Security Gateway's CC EAL4+ certification meets customer demands in various sectors and underlines our leading position in the global cross domain solution market. This shows the strength of our team and that true "zero trust security" products can come from Germany", said Dr. Alexander Konen, Director Solutions. According to Hanns Benigno Groeschke, INFODAS' CC expert: "BSI accredited CC auditors are highly regarded around the world: They independently, diligently, relentlessly and systematically apply CC standards. In parallel, the Federal Office of Information Security continuously reviews audit results to ensure the highest quality of their CC certifications".

All elements of the Secure Domain Transition (SDoT) Product Family meet the highest requirements for hardware and software security at the SECRET and below interoperability level (SABI). They are developed and manufactured in Germany with full supply chain transparency. They are available as 19", 1U appliances or smaller deployable sizes for vehicles. Other products include the SDoT Security Gateway Express optimized for near real-time, low latency filtering of structured data such as XML or JSON. Just like the SDoT Diode for unidirectional data transfer up to 9.1 Gbit/s, both products hold a general NATO, EU and German SECRET approvals. They are complemented by the SDoT Labelling Service for NATO STANAG 4774/8 compliant data classification with XML security labels that are cryptographically bound to any data object such as MS Office documents.

About INFODAS - connect more.be secure

INFODAS is an independent, family owned business founded in 1974 in Germany. The company develops innovative cross domain solutions based on security-by-design principles and provides Cybersecurity, IT and AI consulting to government, defense and commercial clients. INFODAS SDoT product family cross domain solutions (SDoT Security Gateway, SDoT Diode, SDoT Labelling Service, PATCH.works) are approved up to German, EU, NATO SECRET and are listed in the NATO information assurance catalogue. Combined with OPSWAT Metadefender, Kiosk and Vault, SDoT products protect ensure malware free data entry, storage and retrieval. For the past 15 years SDoT products have been used in the toughest and mission critical environments around the world. They are designed and manufactured in Germany following the security-by-design principle and supply chain transparency.

Website

LinkedIn

Twitter

Contact

Dr. Alexander Schellong

VP Global Business

Tel. +49 (0)221 70912234

marketing@infodas.de

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The best of Fazi's games suite now playable on NetBet Italy

ROME, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NetBet Italy, one of the most popular online gaming brands in the country, has formed a new partnership with game developer Fazi, bringing some of the brand's best games to its platform.



NetBet Italy are dedicated to bringing their customers a dynamic and streamlined online casino experience, which includes offering a diverse selection of games from the best names in the industry. With the addition of Fazi Interactive to their ever-growing list of providers, NetBet Italy's suite of games continues to expand and reach a wider audience of players.

Fazi Interactive have a distinct brand of casino and slot games that are easily recognisable for their engaging themes and bold colours. Standout titles include Fruits and Stars, Burning Ice Deluxe and Book of Spells, all three of which are now available to play on NetBet Italy.

This partnership with Fazi illustrates NetBet Italy's ongoing dedication to its customers, part of which means always looking to expand their games library to offer the latest and greatest titles from top providers.

NetBet Italy's PR manager, Claudia Georgevici, said: "Fazi are a well-loved brand in the online casino world, and we're delighted that NetBet Italy players will now get to enjoy the best of their portfolio. Along with our other providers, Fazi will help us to continue delivering a quality user experience to all our customers."

For more information contact pr@netbet.it


The 13th Entrepreneur Day and the fifth SmartBiz Expo will be held concurrently from 1 to 3 December. The theme of the two major events is "New Normal. New Future".



Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government, HKTDC and Hong Kong Design Centre, the 11th BIP Asia Forum will be held online from 2 to 3 December.



DesignInspire has scaled up to a year-round promotion event this year and will showcase innovative design solutions and pioneering ideas through various online and offline channels.

HONG KONG, Nov 18, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is organising four exhibitions and forums online in early December, namely HKTDC Entrepreneur Day, the HKTDC SmartBiz Expo, Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum) and DesignInspire. The events will feature industry experts and renowned speakers to share their business know-how and offer innovative responses to market changes for the benefit of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups.HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said: "The HKTDC is organising several industry-leading events in December, covering areas such as intellectual property, creative design and digital transformation. These events aim to enhance the competitiveness and agility of SMEs and start-ups in capturing business opportunities by offering market insights and industry knowledge. The Entrepreneur Day and SmartBiz Expo will feature an international lineup of star speakers who will share inspirational and practical advice to help promote business growth. These two events will also offer business matching and networking opportunities to boost collaboration."At the BIP Asia Forum, we will address the latest intellectual property issues and engage in discussions about how corporates can leverage patents to protect their inventions, promote innovation and unleash their sustainability potential. DesignInspire, meanwhile, has been scaled up to become a year-round promotional event that showcases a series of creative portfolios through both online and offline platforms. There will be roadshows in Hong Kong and Guangzhou in November and December to introduce local creative talents to the public."Exploring the new normal at Entrepreneur Day and SmartBiz ExpoThe 13th edition of Entrepreneur Day and the fifth SmartBiz Expo will be held concurrently from 1 to 3 December. Under the theme "New Normal. New Future", the two major events offer a fruitful agenda of online seminars, where industry leaders from home and abroad will address trends in innovative technology, entrepreneurship, market analysis of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, support services for SMEs and more. Those joining the events can gain inspiration and insight to boost their business plans, while start-ups and SMEs can explore the latest technologies and business solutions that can help to increase their productivity and market penetration.One of the highlights of Entrepreneur Day will be a seminar jointly organised by the HKTDC and Hang Seng Bank at which the co-organisers will bring together representatives from SMEs and start-ups to share views on the outlook for local science and technology development. The seminar also covers innovative technologies and banking services that can help traditional SMEs and start-ups overcome operational obstacles and expand their business in both Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.Technology has been advancing at a faster rate than ever before, even extending to the realm of fine arts and making breakthroughs in the traditional arts scene. In a seminar titled "Disrupting the Art and Creative Industry - Art Tech", artist and co-founder of Naffiti Hanjin Tan, co-founder and fair director of Digital Art Fair Gillian Howard, and a representative from Asian non-fungible token (NFT) trade platform Paititi will examine how NFTs and technology are opening up new horizons for the arts and creative industries.Many business owners want to grow their business into a "unicorn", which refers to tech start-ups with an estimated market value of over US$1 billion but which are not listed. In "Unicorn Fireside Chat - the Blooming Delivery Economy", representatives from the first Thai unicorn Flash Express will share their post-pandemic business tactics and review the significance of their success for the benefit of the Southeast Asian start-up scene.With people becoming increasingly health and environmentally conscious, food technology is an area that has been gaining more attention and has catalysed the development of alternative foods in the market. In the "Food Tech - the Alternative Food Trend" seminar, Katharina Unger, founder and CEO of LIVIN Farms, Carrie Chan, CEO of Avant Meats, and Anushka Purohit, CEO and co-founder of Breer, will guide participants through the latest developments in the industry and introduce some of the latest alternative foods, including edible insects, cultivated fish and beer brewed from recycled bread.The pandemic has undoubtedly speeded up the move towards the home office and the hybrid workplace, with companies needing to reexamine ways to enhance the productivity of their employees and maintain engagement with them. This transformation in traditional business models led to the birth of culture-as-a-service (CaaS), an online solution designed to productise and facilitate the growth and development of a company's culture. In the session titled "Culture-as-a-Service: The New Segment Ushered in by Home Office Work", Jessica Baird Walsh, co-founder and CEO of Remote Social, and Yeung Shing, co-founder of Quokka HR, will share their views on how CaaS promotes business growth and development.Entrepreneurial spirit is a crucial asset for someone launching a successful new enterprise, and it is a quality also often found in athletes and artists. In the discussion panel "Road to Success - Celebreneurship", Bernice Liu, actress and founder of Wine Maven, will share her business journey as an entrepreneur.The highlight event on the first day of the SmartBiz Expo will be the World SME Summit, an annual extravaganza for SMEs co-organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business. The summit serves as a communication platform for SMEs worldwide to build connections, which is particularly important at a time when the world economy is going through a drastic transition in the wake of the pandemic. This year's summit will focus on a range of issues including how local SMEs can grasp business opportunities offered by China's 14th Five-Year Plan.Robotic process automation (RPA) is software technology that works to emulate humans' actions and can be used to help companies improve their efficiency. In the session titled "Is Robot your Friend or Enemy? RPA in a Nutshell", Tommy Fung, Regional Channel Director of UiPath, will examine the application of RPA in various businesses and assess the benefits it can bring to companies.With its large population and high consumption power, it looks certain that the Greater Bay Area will become the next key destination for the business expansion of Hong Kong brands. While many large corporations having already made their move into the Greater Bay Area, it's important for SMEs that they are not left behind. In the branding dialogue session "Developing Hong Kong Brands in the Greater Bay Area", William Shum, founder and CEO of Memorigin Watch Company Limited, will join other industry experts to discuss their experience entering the Greater Bay Area market and share tips that can help SMEs transform their business.Industry 4.0 has become a key focus in the digital transformation journey for many enterprises, including SMEs. In "Roadmap for SMEs into the Era of Industry 4.0", Samson Suen, General Manager of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Calvin Wu, CEO of Shing Hing Plastic Manufacturing Limited, will share their vision for achieving digital transformation in accordance with companies' own business strategies and market trends while keeping it within a manageable budget.Capturing market trends through BIP Asia ForumJointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong Design Centre, the 11th BIP Asia Forum will be held online from 2 to 3 December. With the theme "Unleashing Innovation for Sustainability and Growth", this year's forum brings together intellectual property (IP) professionals and business leaders from around the world to discuss the latest developments in the IP world. The Keynote Session will feature Gautier Engisch, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Legal, Innovation, EMEA, and Global Fabric Care at Procter & Gamble, sharing his company's experience in promoting partner engagement and sustaining growth in value through an open and innovative collaboration platform. Meanwhile, the Plenary Session will focus on the topic "Powering New Paradigms for Sustainability and Growth". Participants will gain fruitful insights from Guo Zengpeng, Chief IP Counsel of Midea; Hisashi Ishijima, Corporate Associate Vice President and Deputy General Manager of IP Division of Ricoh; Ingrid Viitanen, Vice President, IP Legal, General Counsel, Nokia Technologies; and Winnie Yeung, Chief Legal Counsel, Greater China Region at Microsoft.On the second day of the forum, the Global Tech Summit will explore all types of disruptive technologies. The speaker line-up includes Osman Yilmaz, Senior Project Manager and 6G Program Coordinator of Nokia Bell Labs; Siu Yat, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands; and Alec Lee, Co-Founder and CEO of Endless West. Local startup pioneers will include Alvin Cheung, Co-Founder and CEO of Zunosaki HK; Calvin Ma, Co-COO of Pickupp; and Justin Chan, Co-Founder and CEO of Gense Technologies. The two-day forum will present numerous breakout sessions, including "Greater Bay Area: Latest Opportunities under China's 14th Five-Year Plan" and "Cross-border IP Commercialisation in the Greater Bay Area: Opportunities and Challenges". Satellite conferences will be set up in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing, operating simultaneously with the main forum.The forum will also feature a series of breakout sessions. The IP Financing breakout discussion, co-organised with Aon, will examine the latest IP valuation solutions that can help enterprises with IP ownership improve their IP financing capabilities. In addition, the IP Training Programme, co-organised with the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR, will offer lectures on the fundamentals of various types of IP. By building a basic understanding of the rights of IP owners and users, this programme aims to strengthen participants' ability to protect and manage IP within their organisations. On 1 December, InspoTalk, which will be conducted physically at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, will welcome industry experts to share their experiences relating to various IP issues such as IP financing, the intersection of IP and ESG, technology transfer, opportunities in NFT and many more. The hosts will engage in in-depth discussions and real-time interactions with participants.This year, the IPHatch Hong Kong open innovation competition stages a comeback with details of the fourth edition being announced during the BIP Asia Forum. The latest contest focuses on sustainable innovation, with representatives from renowned venture capital funds being invited to provide insights into the impact of sustainability on investment trends. The session will also feature past start-up winners sharing their inspirational entrepreneurship journey and offer winning tips for the challenge. Speakers will include Jason Loh, Founder and CEO of Piece Future; Andrew Young, Associate Director (Innovation) of Sino Group; Jenni Risku, Impact Partner of Click Venture; Alexander Ying, Founder of DRESIO Limited; Steven Dominique, Founder of Dragonfly; and Simon Rhodes, Founder and CEO of 1bar.net.DesignInspire promotes creative industries year-roundThis year, DesignInspire has scaled up to become a year-round promotional event. Through various online and offline channels, DesignInspire will showcase innovative design solutions and pioneering ideas from global creative elites, fashion brands and design institutions, in the realms of digital, experiential, graphics, industrial, interior, urban and cultural design, offering a fresh creative experience to the general public. The expo will also showcase a series of creative portfolios, with the DesignInspire website displaying works from design studios worldwide along with creative stories from designers, digital interactive experiences and various STEAM workshops. In addition, DesignInspire will stage crossover mini exhibitions in Hong Kong and Guangzhou to promote young local creative talents to the general public. The two showcases are the "Streets & Stories" exhibition in Hong Kong (19 November to 5 December, Urban Sky, 9/F, Hysan Place) and the "Happy Home" exhibition in Guangzhou (3 to 12 December, Parc Central).Websites- HKTDC Entrepreneur Day: https://portal.hktdc.com/eday/en- HKTDC SmartBiz Expo: https://portal.hktdc.com/smartbizexpo/en/- Business of IP Asia Forum: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/en/- DesignInspire: https://www.designinspire.com.hk/main/en/- Photo download: https://bit.ly/2YVwX9uAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInMedia enquiries:HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs DepartmentClayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.orgAngel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.orgChristine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.orgSource: HKTDCCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global ultraviolet disinfection equipment market size is expected to reach USD 8.39 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 12.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The rising prevalence of coronavirus coupled with the increasing R&D spending is expected to boost the product demand over the forecast period.

Key Insights & Findings:

Mercury-based UV lamps are anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 13.2% from 2020 to 2028 on account of their increasing adoption in water & wastewater treatment plants

The equipment demand in the healthcare facilities for air treatment accounted for 39.2% of the overall revenue owing to the high focus to provide innovative medical-grade air purifiers, such as UV systems

The residential end-use segment is estimated to grow at the second-fastest CAGR over the forecast period on account of the increasing consumer awareness regarding air pollution coupled with the rising prevalence of airborne diseases

Germany accounted for the largest revenue share of 20.4% of the Europe market in 2020 due to the increasing demand for technologically advanced and sustainable air purification technology along with the rising prevalence of COVID-19 in the country

Key players in the market are focusing on various strategies, including acquisitions, regional expansions, and product innovations, to achieve competitive advantage and, thereby, develop a strong foothold in the industry

Read 167 page research report, "Ultraviolet Disinfection Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By End-use (Municipal, Residential), By Application (Water & Wastewater, Air Treatment), By Component Type, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2028", by Grand View Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the pressure on the healthcare systems of numerous countries. Growth in the COVID-19 cases has resulted in a wide range of hospitals incorporating ultraviolet (UV) systems to disinfect the high-risk indoor setting, which, in turn, is expected to increase the product demand over the coming years.

UV has been a choice of disinfectant to ensure bacteria-free water in industries, such as food & beverage and pharmaceutical. However, the rising demand for disinfection technologies owing to the increasing industrial liquid waste is expected to create opportunities for UV disinfection systems in the wastewater treatment industry over the forecast period.

Rising awareness about the product's ability to provide protection against cryptosporidium outbreaks is anticipated to support market growth. Furthermore, these systems have a low environmental footprint and consume less energy, which will drive UV disinfection equipment market growth.

Grand View Research has segmented the global ultraviolet disinfection equipment market on the basis of component type, application, end-use, and region:

UV Disinfection Equipment Component Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

UV Lamps



Mercury





Low-pressure







Medium-pressure







Amalgam





Xenon/LED



Ballasts/Controller Units



Quartz Sleeves



Reactor Chambers



Others

UV Disinfection Equipment Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Water & Wastewater Treatment



Air Treatment



Residential





Healthcare Facilities





Retail Shops





Offices





Hospitality





Schools & Educational Institutions





Industrial





Others



Others

UV Disinfection Equipment End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Municipal



Residential



Commercial



Industrial

UV Disinfection Equipment Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





U.K.





France





Italy



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan





Australia



Central & South America



Brazil





Argentina



Middle East & Africa

&

South Africa





UAE

List of Key Players of Ultraviolet Disinfection Equipment Market

Xylem

Trojan Technologies

Halma PLC

Calgon Carbon Corp.

Atlantic Ultraviolet Corp.

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC

Advanced UV, Inc.

American Ultraviolet

Atlantium Technologies LTD.

Dr. Honle AG

Lumalier Corp.

Xenex

ENAQUA

S.I.T.A. Srl

Hitech Ultraviolet Pvt. Ltd.

Find more research reports on Advanced Interior Materials Industry, by Grand View Research:

High Level Disinfection Services Market - The global high level disinfection services market size was valued at USD 22.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2021 to 2028.

The global high level disinfection services market size was valued at in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% from 2021 to 2028. Photocatalyst Market - The global photocatalyst market size was estimated at USD 1.65 billion in 2016. Rising water scarcity owing to rapid industrial growth and depleting freshwater resources is likely to increase water treatment across the globe.

The global photocatalyst market size was estimated at in 2016. Rising water scarcity owing to rapid industrial growth and depleting freshwater resources is likely to increase water treatment across the globe. Primary Water & Wastewater Treatment Equipment Market-The global primary water and wastewater treatment equipment market size was valued at USD 12.12 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.5% from 2020 to 2027.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com

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The management and technology consultancy further expands its global presence and opens a new delivery center in India to scale SAP and digital capabilities

Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint opens a new delivery center in Electronic City/Bangalore (India) to scale SAP and digital capabilities.

With its newly launched presence in India, BearingPoint has established a third delivery hub in addition to its centers in Romania and the Czech Republic. BearingPoint says it is ramping up its digital resources massively and will be working in close cooperation with Robert Bosch Engineering Business Solutions (RBEI).

Kiumars Hamidian, Managing Partner, BearingPoint: "The office opening in India delivers on our global growth strategy of developing and providing IP and digital assets for our clients. We have big plans for future growth, and our clients can benefit from our high-value services, and efficient delivery."

Matthias Loebich, Global Leader Markets and Networks, BearingPoint: "The entry into India is a major milestone for BearingPoint. We strive to hire the most talented consultants in Bangalore to serve our international and local digitalization projects. Cross-country and cross-cultural management and teams add further value to our projects, and that is another reason why our presence in India is advantageous for our clients. I am also excited that we are intensifying our collaboration with RBEI. We deliver very successful projects as a team by providing IT and consulting resources together for our clients."

Dattatri Salagame, President and Managing Director, RBEI: "The vision of the new center is to create a human focused approach in delivering the best possible digital experience. The RBEI and BearingPoint partnership is based on complementary value creation, software competency at scale, and targeted at digital transformation of enterprises. The center is a great platform for frugal innovation and high-speed market validation."

About BearingPoint

BearingPoint is an independent management and technology consultancy with European roots and a global reach. The company operates in three business units: The first unit covers the advisory business with a clear focus on selected business areas. The second unit provides IP-driven digital assets and managed services beyond SaaS. The third unit is designed to explore innovative business models with clients and partners by driving the financing and development of start-ups and leveraging ecosystems.

BearingPoint's clients include many of the world's leading companies and organizations. The firm has a global consulting network with more than 10,000 people and supports clients in over 70 countries, engaging with them to achieve measurable and sustainable success.

For more information, please visit:

Homepage: www.bearingpoint.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/bearingpoint

Twitter: @BearingPoint

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005583/en/

Contacts:

Alexander Bock

Global Manager Communications

Telephone: +49 89 540338029

Email: alexander.bock@bearingpoint.com
Chinese and Italian think tanks and Chinese news portal Global Times Online held a virtual event to release a research report on achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality in the civil aviation sector between China and Italy on Nov. 15.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005640/en/

Chinese, Italian Think Tanks Release Research Report on Carbon Neutrality in Civil Aviation (Graphic: Business Wire)

At the event, the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Italy's Institute of Political, Economic and Social Studies (Eurispes) issued the report titled "Research on Carbon Emissions Reduction Paths and Cooperation Prospects in Civil Aviation Sector between China and Italy," the first international study focusing on emission peak and carbon neutrality of the aviation industry in both China and Italy. The report is available in Chinese, English and Italian.

As an advocate and practitioner of "green flights" in China, China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. (CEA), was one of the main targets of the study and provided support for the study.

Li Junhua, Chinese Ambassador to Italy, and Luca Ferrari, Italian Ambassador to China, attended the event and delivered respective speeches via video link, which marked the first online dialogue between the two ambassadors after the G20 Summit in Rome last month.

Luca Ferrari said actively responding to climate change and achieving carbon neutrality are the consensus of the overwhelming majority of countries, adding that the international community should strengthen coordination and cooperation and take more rapid and effective actions in this regard.

Calling CEA his favorite Chinese airline, the ambassador said the company's active participation in researches on carbon emission reduction could better promote the implementation of solutions for reducing carbon emissions.

Li Junhua said China has stayed committed to a green and low-carbon path to development, and rolled out various pragmatic measures, including an action plan for peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030, laying out a clear timetable and roadmap. He added that China is now systematically moving forward toward its goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.

As the civil aviation sector needs to reduce carbon emissions through scientific thinking and innovative solutions, the report jointly issued by China and Italy is both necessary and timely and will significantly contribute to the low-carbon development of the sector, Li noted.

Liu Xiaodong, director of Brand Management Department of China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd., delivered a speech at the event as a representative of the civil aviation sector. Liu pointed out that CEA participated in a case study conducted between China and Italy last year, namely, "the role of Cooperation between China and Italy in the civil aviation sector in the development of the cultural tourism of the two countries in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative," which was included into the Annual Development Report of Italy (2020-2021) issued by the CASS.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of CEA's launch of flights between China and Italy and the second time for the airline's participation in think tank cooperation between the two countries, Liu said.

According to Liu, at the first North Bund International Aviation Forum 2021, which was hosted by CEA and attended by over 150 international experts in early November in Shanghai, 20 corporations in the aviation sector launched a carbon reduction cooperation initiative for the global aviation sector.

This year's joint research studies typical Chinese and Italian institutions and enterprises, including CEA, ENAV S.p.A., and ITA Airways. It compares the paths of carbon reduction in the civil aviation sector between China and Italy regarding the international environment, technological innovation and carbon market development. It also attempts to map out the future cooperation between the Chinese and Italian civil aviation industry in green and sustainable development.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005640/en/

Contacts:

Company: China Eastern Airlines

Website: http://www.ceair.com/

Contact: Zhang Yun

TEL: (0086-21) 95530

Email: zhangyun3@ceair.com
Digital bank Chase today announced it is offering 3% cashback on Amazon.co.uk spend until the end of 2021, to help customers make more of their Amazon purchases this festive season.

The Chase current account already offers customers 1% cashback on all eligible debit card spend for 12 months*, but beginning today, Chase customers can benefit from an increased cashback offer of 3% on online purchases** from Amazon.co.uk. The promotion will run from 18th November through to 31st December, and will be applicable to up to 5,000 spent on the site.

Customers can earn the 3% cashback when they use their Chase debit card to make purchases at Amazon.co.uk, including digital downloads, Amazon Prime subscriptions, and items sold by third-party merchants through Amazon.co.uk's marketplace.

In order to start earning this additional cashback, customers must activate the offer in the Chase app via the Rewards hub.

Deborah Keay, Chief Marketing Officer of the digital bank says: "The festive season is fast approaching and we know consumers are already busy shopping for the holidays. We want to help everyone to have an even more rewarding festive season this year, so we're delighted to be expanding our fuss-free rewards programme so Chase customers earn a little extra back while they spend with Amazon in the run-up to the holiday period."

JPMorgan Chase launched its new digital bank in the U.K. under the Chase brand earlier this year, offering a range of simple, rewarding features to help people budget, manage money, spend and save.

Additional rewarding features include:

Small change round-ups on which customers can earn 5% interest: customers can save as they spend by rounding up their debit card purchases to the nearest 1, and depositing the small change into a separate account where it will earn interest at 5%***.

Fee-free debit card use abroad: customers won't be charged any fees by Chase when using their card while travelling, including for cash withdrawals at ATMs abroad.

customers won't be charged any fees by Chase when using their card while travelling, including for cash withdrawals at ATMs abroad. A U.K.-led customer support team: with just a few taps in the Chase app, customers will be connected to a specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

New customers interested in taking advantage of the Amazon offer can open a Chase current account quickly and simply by downloading the Chase app.

For more detail on Chase's Amazon offer see www.Chase.co.uk/Amazon.

Notes to editors:

*Exceptions apply see Terms and Conditions at www.Chase.co.uk

**Exceptions apply see Terms and Conditions at www.Chase.co.uk/Amazon

***5% AER (4.89% gross) variable, paid monthly. T&Cs apply

Cashback at Amazon is capped at 5,000 spend (equaling 150 cashback), as part of this promotion. Spending cap includes online purchases, digital downloads, Amazon Prime subscriptions, and items sold by third-party merchants through Amazon.co.uk's marketplace.

This is an additional 2% cashback on top of the current everyday 1% cashback promotion. Once a customer reaches 5,000 (combined pending and cleared purchases) of Amazon.co.uk spend they will not receive the additional 2% but will still continue to receive the 1% from the current everyday 1% cashback promotion. Chase's 1% cashback promotion is uncapped.

About Chase in the U.K.

Chase is the consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase Co (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $3.8 trillion and operations worldwide.

Headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, the new U.K. bank is designed specifically to meet the needs of customers in the country. It will provide a range of banking products and features, having started with a current account. In the U.K., Chase is a trading name of J.P. Morgan Europe Limited. J.P. Morgan Europe Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. For more information, go to chase.co.uk.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006468/en/

Contacts:

Media contact

Chase UK Julian Wadley: julian.wadley@jpmorgan.com
Businesses can take professional product photos with the click of a button, boosting their sales for free

This latest addition to Square's ecosystem of products is a global launch in all operating markets

Today, Square announced the Square Photo Studio app, which makes it easy for sellers to take high-quality product photos from a mobile device and directly sync them to a Square item catalog or online store to improve the customer experience.

In recent years, product images have become increasingly important to online selling success. In fact, according to recent global Square data, retail merchants found that 94% of their first orders included product images, and only 11% were sold for the first time without an image. With the Square Photo Studio app, a seller can add stylish images to their product pages on-the-go and through their phone, without the time and cost of a professional photo studio.

"It's no secret that products with professional-looking photos perform better than those without," said David Rusenko, head of eCommerce at Square. "Unfortunately, the cost, skill set, and labor involved with taking those photos was often prohibitive. Now, with Square Photo Studio, sellers can give their items the look of a professional photo studio shoot from the comfort of their home, the office, or on the go."

The Square Photo Studio app provides easy-to-follow prompts to take the best photo, automatically isolates the product from the background, and then allows users to choose stylised scenes that include new backgrounds, shadows, and colours. From there, a seller can quickly and easily connect those images to items in their Square catalog, or create a new item entirely and immediately start selling. The app isn't just limited to Square sellers anyone with a product to sell can easily snap a photo, style that photo, and sell with a Square Online Checkout link.

"We're thrilled to be launching Square Photo Studio app at a time when businesses are looking for new ways to capture the attention of consumers" said Daniel Nicolas, Head of UK Business Development. "Our recent Future of Retail report uncovered that 97% of UK consumers now make monthly purchases online with 73% having bought products directly from social media in the past few months. These insights show the demand for buying online, which in turn relies on a product being visually appealing. This new addition to Square's ecosystem will continue to level the playing field for businesses of all sectors and sizes."

The Square Photo Studio app is available in the Apple app store now globally, everywhere Square Online is available.

To learn more about how Square is helping sellers of all types and sizes start, run, and grow their business online, visit www.squareup.com/online-store

For questions and additional information reach out to press@squareup.com.

About Square, Inc.

Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) revolutionized payments in 2009 with Square Reader, making it possible for anyone to accept card payments using a smartphone or tablet. Today, we build tools to empower businesses and individuals to participate in the economy. Sellers use Square to reach buyers online and in-person, manage their business, and access financing. And individuals use Cash App to spend, send, store, and invest money. Square has offices in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Ireland, Spain and the UK.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005654/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

press@squareup.com
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.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Hiscox Ltd (HSX), an insurance company said, on Thursday, that it has named Liz Breeze as interim Group Chief Financial Officer as the current Group CFO Aki Hussain is set to replace retiring Bronek Masojada as the Group's new chief executive with effect from January 1, 2022. The company has been in search of a permament Group CFO. Liz will be based in London and also join the Group Executive Committee. Liz joined Hiscox in 2012 and has held a number of senior finance roles across the company, including Group Technical Accountant, Head of Finance for Hiscox UK, and most recently Chief Financial Officer for Hiscox Re & ILS. 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.
ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURVY) on Thursday said it is on track to deliver fiscal 2022 targets. Group Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco said, 'We are very confident in our ability to deliver on our 2022 targets. .. We're growing our business through the combined effect of our own initiatives and increasing rates.' At today's Investor Day, the company will update investors and analysts on the progress of the company's strategy. The presentations will cover strategic priorities for 2020 to 2022, digitalization and innovation, commercial insurance, and finance. In Commercial, Zurich said it sees significant opportunities to continue growing profitably while improving the portfolio quality, expanding resilience services and supporting the energy transition. In Retail, the company continued with innovation of products and services, adding a net 2.5 million retail customers from end-2019 through September 2021. Zurich's Life business, meanwhile, remains an important contributor to earnings thanks to its resilient distribution channels and its focus on unit-linked and protection products. The Farmers Exchanges, which are owned by their policyholders, are concentrating on growing customer reach by expanding and diversifying distribution channels. The acquisition of MetLife's P&C business in the U.S., meanwhile, offers further opportunities to accelerate new business growth. In Switzerland, Zurich Insurance shares were trading at 399.70 Swiss francs, down 0.70 percent. 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.
Regulatory News:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005673/en/

Alexia Abtan (Photo: SFL Blaise Lavigne)

SFL (Paris:FLY) announces the appointment of Alexia Abtan as Investments and Innovation Director, and the promotion of Marie-Laure Vignon and Thibault Demonchaux, both to the position of Asset Management and Client Management Deputy Director.

Alexia Abtan, 37, holds a master's degree in real estate management from the University of Paris-Dauphine. She began her career at SFL as an asset manager before setting up the marketing department and then being promoted to deputy director of the asset management and client management team. Dimitri Boulte, SFL's Managing Director, said, "Alexia will be responsible for sourcing assets in line with our strategy, coordinating the acquisition and disposal processes, and identifying new opportunities across business sectors and asset classes to improve the overall performance of SFL's portfolio."

Aude Grant, Deputy Managing Director of SFL said, "with over 13 years' experience in asset management, Alexia has a proven track record in negotiating complex rental deals and deploying sophisticated service programmes, which she will use to identify the value drivers of each investment opportunity

Marie-Laure Vignon, 30, a graduate of ESC Grenoble business school, joined SFL in 2018. She began her career at Groupama Immobilier and later joined Allianz Real Estate's asset management department.

Thibault Demonchaux, 30, a graduate of ESC Toulouse business school, started his career in audit at PwC. He subsequently joined SFL as a portfolio manager and later moved to asset management.

Pierre-Yves Bonnaud, Asset Management and Client Management Director said, "Marie-Laure and Thibault will directly supervise the asset management teams and coordinate SFL's value creation strategy for the assets under their responsibility, in particular by developing ambitious, cutting-edge spaces and service centres. Their role will also involve supporting our clients in their real estate strategies by anticipating their needs to provide appropriate responses."

About SFL

Leader in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 7.3 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (cloud.paris, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.) and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies in the consulting, media, digital, luxury, finance and insurance sectors. As France's oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties.

Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409 Bloomberg: FLY FP Reuters: FLYP PA

S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook

www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005673/en/

Contacts:

SFL Thomas Fareng T +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00 t.fareng@fonciere-lyonnaise.com

Evidence Gregoire Silly T +33 (0)6 99 10 78 99 gregoire.silly@evidenceparis.fr
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Green River Gold Corp. (CSE: CCR) (OTC Pink: CCRRF) (the "Company" or "Green River") announces that it has entered into a Shareholder Rights Plan Agreement (the "Rights Plan") with Computershare Investor Services Inc., as rights agent.

The Rights Plan is being adopted to ensure that, to the extent possible: (i) the shareholders of the Company and the Board have adequate time to consider and evaluate any unsolicited bid for the common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares"); (ii) the Board has adequate time to identify, develop and negotiate value-enhancing alternatives, if considered appropriate, to any such unsolicited bid; (iii) the Company's shareholders are treated fairly in connection with any take-over bid made for the Common Shares; and (iv) the Board can take steps to enhance shareholder value if an unsolicited bid is received. The Rights Plan has not been adopted in response to, or in anticipation of, any pending unsolicited bid to acquire control of the Company.

Pursuant to the Rights Plan, one right (a "Right") will be issued and attached to each Common Share of the Company outstanding as at November 10, 2021 (the "Effective Date"). A Right will also attach to each Common Share of the Company issued after the Effective Date. The Rights Plan includes "Permitted Bid" provisions which will prevent the dilutive effects of the Rights Plan from operating if a take-over bid is made by way of a take-over bid circular that, among other things, is made to all shareholders, remains open for a minimum of 105 days and is accepted by a specified proportion of the Common Shares held by independent shareholders. Subject to certain exceptions as set out in the Rights Plan, the Rights Plan will be triggered by an acquisition or the commencement of an acquisition, other than pursuant to a Permitted Bid, of 20% or more of the outstanding Common Shares.

While the Rights Plan is effective immediately, the Company has elected to make the Rights Plan subject to confirmation by the Company's shareholders. The Company will be seeking shareholder confirmation of the Rights Plan at the next annual and special meeting of the shareholders of the Company, expected to be held in December, 2021. A summary of the principal terms of the Rights Plan will be included in the management information circular to be sent to shareholders in connection with such meeting and a complete copy of the Rights Plan will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. If the Rights Plan is not approved by the shareholders, it, together with the outstanding rights, will terminate and cease to be effective.

About Green River Gold Corp.

Green River Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on its wholly owned, high-grade Fontaine Gold Project, Quesnel Nickel/Cobalt Project and Kymar Silver Project which are located in renowned mining districts in British Columbia.

The 8,900-hectare Fontaine Gold Project is situated 12 kilometers southwest of Barkerville. The property includes both placer and hard-rock tenures. The properties straddle an 18km length of the Barkerville and Quesnel Terranes and are contiguous to Osisko Development Corp.'s mineral claim group containing a proposed mine location at its Cariboo Gold Project.

The Kymar Project is located in southeast BC, approximately 28 kilometers west of the town of Invermere in the Golden Mining Division. The property is made up of two mineral tenures, totaling 1,440 hectares, along the southeast flank of Mount Catherine.

For more information contact, please contact:

Green River Gold Corp.

Mr. Perry Little - President and Chief Executive Officer

perry.little@greenrivergold.ca

780-993-2193

Ms. Rad Rajaram - Manager, Corporate Relations and Business Development

rad@greenrivergold.ca

416-732-0604

Additional information about Green River Gold Corp. can be found by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

Forward Looking Information: This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Expressions such as "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "could", "intends", "may", "plans", "predicts", "projects", "will", "would" and other similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are generally indicative of forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In addition, the forward-looking information contained in this release is based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumption. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as it is inherently uncertain, and no assurance can be given that the expectations reflected in such information will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this release is made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances.

The securities of the Company have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This release is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104164
NEUWIED, Germany, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For seven decades now, the Dortschy Company from Bielefeld/Germany has been a system supplier for international manufacturers of printing technology for the printing industry and offers cross-process know-how in offset, flexographic and letterpress printing. With around 30 employees, the longstanding family company presents itself as a future-oriented, solid partner in German-speaking countries and sells, for example, printing plates, adhesive plate mounting tapes and cleaning systems.

Founded as early as 1851, Lohmann is considered a pioneer of adhesive tape technology and is now operating worldwide. The company's headquarters are situated in Neuwied/Germany. In the 1950s, the company came into play in the printing industry with its technical adhesive tapes for flexographic printing. Today, the company employs over 1,800 people worldwide and is active in 29 international locations around the globe. This year, Lohmann celebrated its 170th anniversary.

Due to the common focus on the printing industry, the cooperation between the two experienced companies Dortschy and Lohmann was resolved 70 years ago in order to operate as a joint solution provider for the printing industry. During this time, the close and trusting cooperation between the two companies has resulted in many successful customer projects and extensive customer training courses, which have enabled both companies to position themselves accordingly in the market.

Despite increased market requirements and a difficult environment - not least due to the corona pandemic - the two family businesses are still pooling their strengths, and with qualified advice and cross-product know-how, for example in the correct assembly and demounting of adhesive plate mounting tapes on the printing plate, offer their customers the possibility to manufacture efficiently. Whereby the entire value chain is included: from the development of the ideal adhesive for the plate mounting adhesive tape, through coating and customer-specific packaging to downstream service offers. Thus, optimized process integration for the customer is also created.

"In order to ensure that it stays that way in the future, we are continuously developing our established product portfolio for our customers," explains Peter Nissing, Head of Market Management Graphics at Lohmann, "Particularly with respect to increasing efficiency such as process optimization and sustainability. In the process, one of our future goals is sustainable production with the help of, for example, our innovative TwinMelt technology." Dortschy Managing Director Reinhart Dortschy adds: "Our 70th anniversary is both the recognition of tradition and the dawn of a new age. The future of flexographic printing is constantly developing. We must be equipped for this. We therefore want to take our cooperation with Lohmann to a new level, because only comprehensive knowledge of the components involved in the printing process and their interaction guarantee the best solutions for different applications. The focus for us lies also clearly on new products."

www.lohmann-tapes.com

Contact:

Sonja Schobitz

Lohmann GmbH & Co. KG

Irlicher Strae 55

56567 Neuwied / Germany

+49 02631 34 6040

sonja.schoebitz@lohmann-tapes.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1691776/Dortschy_visit_Lohmann.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1671784/Lohmann_Logo.jpg
STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - Sweden's jobless rate declined in October, figures from Statistics Sweden showed on Thursday. The jobless rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 7.6 percent in October from 8.2 percent in September. The number of unemployed persons increased to 418,200 in October from 454,300 in the previous month. The youth unemployment rate, which is applied to the 15-24 age group, rose to 21.6 percent in October from 24.4 percent in the prior month. The employment rate increased to 67.5 percent in October from 67.8 percent in September. The number of employed persons was 5.06 million. On an unadjusted basis, the unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in October. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. (CSE:YUM)(OTCQB:KOMOF)(FRA:9HB) ("Komo"), a premium plant-based food company, is pleased to announce that on October 26, 2021 it entered into an agreement with Vejii, a plant-based online marketplace, to enable online orders of Komo Foods through the shopvejii.com platform throughout Canada. Komo anticipates it's products will be available through Vejii in early December 2021.

Vejii is a digital marketplace offering thousands of plant-based and sustainable-living products, from hundreds of vendors in a centralized, online shopping experience. The Vejii marketplace was built for rapid scale allowing brands to reach national exposure utilizing Vejjii's existing infrastructure of data, tech, marketing and logistics. The company has created a unique consolidated platform for a community of ethically-aligned consumers, with the intention of bettering our planet by supporting sustainable living. Vejii is inspired by purpose and driven by data.

Customers can order with same day delivery in BC and Vejii is aiming to expand this service to the Greater Toronto Area.

"We're excited to have Komo Comfort Foods on board Vejii's online plant-based marketplace," says Darren Gill, President and COO Vejii Holdings Ltd (CSE: VEJI). "Komo offers a unique assortment of wholesome and family-size comfort classics that would add to our selection of frozen meals."

"We are looking forward to making online ordering available for Komo across all provinces in Canada through Vejii," says Komo operating subsidiary CEO Jeffrey Ma. "The Vejii platform is a one-stop shop for vegan products and is a great channel for consumers looking for delicious plant-based comfort food to discover the Komo brand."

About Vejii Holdings Inc.

Vejii Holdings Inc. is headquartered in Kelowna B.C. and is operating its online marketplace ShopVejii.com in both Canada and the US, along with online vegan grocer VeganEssentials.com. Vejii Holdings Ltd. is focused on providing its customers with easy access to thousands of plant-based and sustainable living products in one place. Vejii leverages its logistics infostructure, distribution networks technology integrations like smart lists, reorders features, subscription programs and AI to support its vendors and improve our overall customer experience.

About Komo

Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. is a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals that are always hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients. At Komo, our mission is to help make plant-based meals a staple on every dinner table by sharing our love for feel-good food that connects the people to the planet. We believe plant-based eating is the future and - Change can start with a single biteTM. Our experienced plant-based innovation and development team recreates vegan versions of traditionally cheesy and meaty classics, with 100% plants. Komo's products are sold direct-to-consumer through our eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick and mortar grocery, convenience and natural retailer channels. Our operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods launched in 2021 with our flagship products: plant-based Lasagna, Shepherd's Pie and Chickenless Pot Pie and has recently launched a new line - Komo Plant-Based Meal HelpersTM - versatile meal starters to allow the creation of many dishes at home. All of our products are 100% plant-based, made with wholesome ingredients, free from preservatives, and frozen for freshness. Freezing products is a natural and effective way of keeping food products for longer without having to use any preservatives. Komo's meals have a 1-year frozen shelf life.

Learn more at: www.komocomfortfoods.com and follow on Instagram: @komocomfortfoods

For further information, please contact:

William White, President & CEO, Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

will@komoeats.com

1-866-969-0882

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Komo's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Komo's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, Komo's product development plans, its ability to launch its products on food delivery apps, its ability to retain key personnel, its revenues, and its expectation as to the acceptance of its products by retailer stores and consumers constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Komo disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Komo Plant Based Foods Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673530/Komo-Plant-Based-Foods-to-Launch-Home-Delivery-Across-Canada-Through-Online-Marketplace-Vejii
Soledad Project Highlights Include:

Reporting 12 remaining resource definition holes totalling 2,541m at Breccia Pipe 5 (Bx 5), all with significant intercepts.

Additional resource definition drill results pending for Huancarama.

Off-set IP surveys continue over all high priority targets defined to date.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Chakana Copper Corp. (TSXV: PERU) (OTCQB: CHKKF) (FSE: 1ZX) (the "Company" or "Chakana") is pleased to provide results from the remaining twelve resource definition holes drilled in Bx 5 totaling 2,541m at the Soledad project, Ancash, Peru (see table below). This resource drilling is part of the fully funded 26,000m exploration and resource drilling program planned for 2021 (Fig. 1). These results will further increase confidence in the initial resource estimate, anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021.

"The final resource definition drill results released today for Bx 5 are an outstanding culmination of the drilling on this breccia pipe. In addition to the very strong mineralization that starts at surface, we now have mineralization confirmed to a depth of 485m at Bx 5 where the breccia pipe and mineralization are open at depth. Bx 5 is known to have very consistent and continuous mineralization with zones of very high grades surrounded by long runs of strong copper, gold, and silver grades. The breccia pipe plunges slightly to the east from surface to 200m depth, then plunges gently north in the direction of Bx 6. The area between Bx 5 and Bx 6 is highly prospective for the discovery of additional breccia-hosted mineralization. With this release, all resource definition drill results for Bx 5 have been published. We have pending resource definition drill results for Huancarama to publish leading up to the first ever National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the Soledad project," stated President and CEO David Kelley.

Drill Results

Bx 5 (Resource Definition)

DDH # From - To (m) Core Length (m) Au

g/t Ag

g/t Cu

% Cu-eq

%* Au-eq g/t* SDH21-244 0.00 155.00 155.00 1.41 26.2 0.30 1.45 2.21 SDH21-252 0.00 97.00 97.00 0.77 24.9 0.18 0.90 1.37 SDH21-253 0.00 106.00 106.00 1.24 31.5 0.32 1.40 2.14 SDH21-255 0.00 123.00 123.00 1.23 29.3 0.36 1.41 2.16 and 132.00 141.00 9.00 1.28 24.6 0.36 1.41 2.15 and 158.00 194.00 36.00 0.63 14.6 0.56 1.10 1.68 SDH21-256 0.00 237.00 237.00# 1.74 25.2 0.59 1.94 2.97 including 0.00 105.00 105.00 1.15 26.0 0.27 1.24 1.90 including 105.00 115.00 10.00 15.48 82.4 1.27 12.09 18.50 including 115.00 237.00 122.00 1.12 19.8 0.81 1.71 2.62 SDH21-258 0.00 92.00 92.00 1.32 40.0 0.37 1.57 2.41 SDH21-260 0.00 147.00 147.00 1.36 24.8 0.30 1.40 2.14 SDH21-261 0.00 92.00 92.00 1.42 43.1 0.34 1.64 2.50 SDH21-262 0.00 160.00 160.00 1.80 24.5 0.32 1.71 2.61 SDH21-264 0.00 121.80 121.80 1.34 33.3 0.30 1.46 2.23 SDH21-270 339.80 343.00 3.20 7.82 60.2 0.97 6.60 10.09 and 390.20 414.00 23.80 0.16 6.3 0.71 0.87 1.33 SDH21-272 313.00 417.00 104.00 0.48 10.1 1.38 1.78 2.72 and 432.00 438.00 6.00 0.21 2.2 1.06 1.22 1.86 and 447.00 485.65 38.65 0.26 8.1 1.12 1.36 2.08

* Cu_eq and Au_eq values were calculated using copper, gold, and silver. Metal prices utilized for the calculations are Cu - US$2.90/lb, Au - US$1,300/oz, and Ag - US$17/oz. No adjustments were made for recovery as the project is an early-stage exploration project and metallurgical data to allow for estimation of recoveries are not yet available. The formulas utilized to calculate equivalent values are Cu-eq (%) = Cu% + (Au g/t * 0.6556) + (Ag g/t * 0.00857) and Au-eq (g/t) = Au g/t + (Cu% * 1.5296) + (Ag g/t * 0.01307). # SDH21-256 is mineralized from surface to 237m; for greater clarity the analytical results are also reported in three separate intervals so as to identify a high-grade interval from 105 to 115m.

Bx 5

The Bx 5 breccia pipe is in the north-central part of the project and is one of six breccia pipes that will be included in our initial resource estimate (Fig. 1). The breccia pipe forms a prominent monument outcrop and extends to depths greater than 485m where mineralization remains open. Drill holes described in this release were designed to confirm shallow mineralization in the top southeastern quadrant of the breccia pipe, as well as deeper extents of mineralization probed by two holes drilled to the north from a platform located 100m south of the breccia pipe (Figs. 2 and 3). All holes intersected significant mineralization (see Figure 4 for select core photos of the mineralization).

2021 Resource and Exploration Drill Program

A total of 23,947m of drilling has been completed in 2021. The objectives of this drill program are to complete resource definition drilling on six initial breccia pipes to an approximate depth of 300m and test several new exploration targets. Breccia pipes that will be included in the initial resource estimate are: Bx1, Bx 5, Bx6, Paloma East, Paloma West, and Huancarama (Fig. 1). Additional resource definition drill results for Huancarama are pending. During 2021 our drilling was focused on the north half of the project where drill permits are in place. Permitting for the south half of the project is well advanced. The southern half of the property hosts several outcropping mineralized tourmaline breccia pipes and has been recently covered by the Company's ongoing geophysical program. Numerous targets exist, none of which have been drilled previously.

Geophysical Surveys

Gradient-array induced-polarization (IP) surveys have been completed over the entire 12km2 footprint of the Soledad mineral system. Off-set IP surveys are now in-progress covering high priority target areas. This work complements the extensive exploration database that supports our current inventory of 110 exploration targets. This new information identifies both new targets and prioritizes existing targets that will be tested when the exploration drilling programs resume.

About Chakana Copper

Chakana Copper Corp is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company that is currently advancing the Soledad Project located in the Ancash region of Peru, a highly favorable mining jurisdiction with supportive communities. The Soledad Project is notable for the high-grade copper-gold-silver mineralization that is hosted in tourmaline breccia pipes. A total of 60,854 metres in 261 diamond core holes for exploration and resource definition drilling have been completed since 2017, testing 16 of 110 total exploration targets, confirming that Soledad is a large, well-endowed mineral system with strong exploration upside. Chakana's investors are uniquely positioned as the Soledad Project provides exposure to base and precious metals. For more information on the Soledad project, please visit the website at www.chakanacopper.com.

Sampling and Analytical Procedures

Chakana follows rigorous sampling and analytical protocols that meet or exceed industry standards. Core samples are stored in a secured area until transport in batches to the ALS facility in Callao, Lima, Peru. Sample batches include certified reference materials, blank, and duplicate samples that are then processed under the control of ALS. All samples are analyzed using the ME-MS41 (ICP technique that provides a comprehensive multi-element overview of the rock geochemistry), while gold is analyzed by AA24 and GRA22 when values exceed 10 g/t by AA24. Over limit silver, copper, lead and zinc are analyzed using the OG-46 procedure. Soil samples are analyzed by 4-acid (ME-MS61) and for gold by Fire Assay on a 30g sample (Au-ICP21).

Results of previous drilling and additional information concerning the Project, including a technical report prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, are made available on Chakana's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

Qualified Person

David Kelley, an officer and a director of Chakana, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

(signed) "David Kelley"

David Kelley

President and CEO

For further information contact:

Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer

Phone: 647 964 0292

Email: jjobin@chakanacopper.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking Statement Advisory: This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Chakana to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements or information relates to, among other things, the interpretation of the nature of the mineralization at the Soledad copper-gold-silver project (the "Project"), the potential to expand the mineralization, and to develop and grow a resource within the Project, the planning for further exploration work, the ability to de-risk the potential exploration targets, and our belief in the potential for mineralization within unexplored parts of the Project. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs but given the uncertainties, assumptions and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward- looking statements or information. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, or to publicly announce, any such statements, events or developments except as required by law.







Figure 1 - View looking north showing outcropping breccia pipes and occurrences within the northern Soledad cluster. Pipes that will be included in the initial resource are shown in green (Bx 1, Bx 5, Bx 6, Paloma East, Paloma West, and Huancarama). Breccia pipes shown in yellow have had exploration drilling completed. Other pipes/occurrences and targets defined by other exploration data remain to be tested by drilling. Additional breccia pipes occur on the south half of the property and are not shown here.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2172/104139_09111d92b4389983_001full.jpg







Figure 2 - Map showing drill holes reported in this release and modeled breccia pipe (light red shape) based on all drill holes. Light gray contours are at 10m intervals. Blue rectangle in the inset map shows the area of Figure 2 within the overall Chakana property.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2172/104139_09111d92b4389983_002full.jpg







Figure 3 - 3D sectional view of Bx 5 looking west. Light red 3D shape shows breccia pipe geometry based on all drill holes. Previous holes drilled shown in grey traces.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2172/104139_09111d92b4389983_003full.jpg







Figure 4 - Select core photos from Bx 5 reported in this release: SDH21-244 (34.7m) shingle breccia cemented with chalcopyrite-pyrite; SDH21-252 (33.9m) chaotic shingle breccia with chalcopyrite-pyrite in matrix; SDH21-253 (41.5m) chaotic shingle breccia with chalcopyrite-pyrite in matrix; SDH21-255 (39.6m) shingle breccia cemented with chalcopyrite-pyrite; SDH21-256 (110.55m) chaotic shingle breccia with semi-massive chalcopyrite-pyrite; SDH21-258 (35.45m) shingle breccia cemented with chalcopyrite-pyrite; SDH21-261 (39.25m) chaotic shingle breccia with semi-massive chalcopyrite-pyrite. Core diameter is 6.35cm (HQ) in all instances.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2172/104139_09111d92b4389983_004full.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104139
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Sativa Wellness Group Inc. (CSE:SWEL) ("Sativa Wellness" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that today it has partnered with Superdrug Stores Plc ("Superdrug") to offer an extensive range of blood tests. The agreement includes 40 Superdrug sites which have trained nurses to take blood for a range of tests including:

Well Woman and Well Man Profiles

Pre-Diabetes

Cholesterol

Organ Health, inc. Heart, Kidney and Liver function

Hormones & Fertility

Iron status

Thyroid Function

The customer orders the test they require from the Goodbody Clinic website and can choose whether to use a personal blood testing option, select a Superdrug Clinic or use one of the participating Goodbody stores to take the blood sample.

Geremy Thomas, Executive Chairman, says; "Our Goodbody clinics partnering with Superdrug for wellness blood tests increases the options available for customers to get the test they choose at a convenient location and allows them to manage their own wellness journey."

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Marc Howells Chief Executive Officer Sativa Wellness Group Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@sativawellnessgroup.com www.sativawellnessgroup.com Anne Tew Chief Financial Officer Sativa Wellness Group Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@sativawellnessgroup.com www.sativawellnessgroup.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Sativa's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes" "plan is" or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur", "will be achieved" or "shortly". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to partnering with Superdrug for wellness blood tests increases the options available for customers to get the test they choose at a convenient location and allows them to manage their own wellness journey. Although Sativa believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this press release, and include but are not limited to partnering with Superdrug for wellness blood tests increases the options available for customers to get the test they choose at a convenient location and allows them to manage their own wellness journey.

Sativa does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Sativa Wellness Group Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673094/Sativa-Wellness-Group-Announces-Superdrug-Partnership
LA MIRADA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / For more than a decade now, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has regularly lamented the steady funding decline that has left it struggling with a chronic personnel shortage and a woefully outdated technological infrastructure. While lawmakers are currently not in agreement about the parameters of an IRS budget increase, there is a consensus that the agency does need more funds to resolve the issues that prevent it from operating at optimal efficiency. "The proposed $80 billion boost to IRS funding over the next ten years is considered excessive by some lawmakers, but there is no doubt that the agency is in dire need of replenishing its workforce and needs more money to do it," comments Philip L. Liberatore, CPA , a California-based provider of accounting, tax, and financial management services. "Without adequate staffing, the IRS has little hope of efficiently administering the country's tax laws and offering taxpayers quality service, which ultimately leads to less money flowing into the public coffers."

In his IRS Progress Update FY 2020, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig noted that the agency had lost almost 33,400 full-time workers between fiscal 2010 and 2020, with affected areas including operations support, taxpayer service, and enforcement. "A top priority for the IRS is shrinking the tax gap, which the Treasury estimates at approximately $600 billion annually," says Philip Liberatore, founder and president of Philip L. Liberatore, CPA. "One strategy for reducing that gap is addressing tax avoidance among the top 1% of earners, who are estimated to account for 28% of unpaid taxes. Their lack of compliance translates into an annual revenue loss of about $163 billion, according to the Treasury, so sufficient enforcement personnel is critical for strong tax administration."

Addressing the Senate Finance Committee in June, Rettig pointed out that the agency had lost about 13,400 enforcement officers between fiscal 2010 and 2020, including "revenue agents and revenue officers who audit tax returns and perform collection activities, as well as special agents who investigate tax-related crimes and other issues." While stronger enforcement capabilities are essential for reducing the tax gap meaningfully, adequate staffing at all levels is also critical for improving service quality and compliance, Rettig said as he made his case for a budget increase at the IRS. A boost to the workforce will also enable the agency to increase its oversight of tax preparers, ensuring that vulnerable citizens are not preyed upon.

The economic and social turmoil triggered by the global pandemic has also highlighted the need for customer service improvement, Philip L. Liberatore, CPA notes. Even in "normal" years, the IRS has found it exceptionally challenging to handle the phone calls made by taxpayers. According to the National Taxpayer Advocate's 2020 Annual Report to Congress, "In FY 2020, the IRS received 100.5 million telephone calls. Employees answered only 24% of those calls, with hold times averaging 18 minutes. Put differently, IRS employees did not answer more than 75 million telephone calls from taxpayers seeking help in complying with their tax obligations." Having an adequately staffed customer service operation will aid the IRS in achieving its goal of answering 75% of phone calls, as stated by Rettig. In addition to helping people comply with their tax obligations, such an achievement will significantly impede the efforts of opportunistic players to profit from the difficulties experienced by taxpayers.

Philip L. Liberatore, CPA was launched in 1988 by veteran CPA and entrepreneur Philip Liberatore. Operating from a base in La Miranda, California, the company provides accounting services and financial guidance to enterprises and individuals across Southern California. Philip L. Liberatore, CPA has built its reputation on providing personalized customer care, consistently abiding by the highest professional standards, offering a comprehensive service portfolio, and firmly focusing on maximizing outcomes for its clients.

Philip L. Liberatore, CPA - Financial Advisory Support and Guidance: http://philliberatorenews.com

Philip L. Liberatore, CPA Highlights the IRS Annual Dirty Dozen List of Scams Directed at Taxpayers: https://www.yahoo.com/now/philip-l-liberatore-cpa-highlights-110000304.html

Philip L. Liberatore, CPA Comments on the Implication of New Tax Provisions for Digital Assets Industry: https://www.yahoo.com/now/philip-l-liberatore-cpa-comments-100000735.html

Contact Information:

Philip Liberatore

Philip L. Liberatore, CPA

16800 Valley View Ave

La Mirada, CA 90638

562-404-7996

phil@liberatorecpa.com

http://liberatorecpa.com

SOURCE: Philip L. Liberatore, CPA

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673565/Philip-L-Liberatore-CPA-Discusses-the-Importance-of-Having-an-Adequately-Staffed-IRS
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Tier One Silver (TSXV:TSLV, OTCQB:TSLVF) ("Tier One" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from drill holes 4 - 6 at the Curibaya project in southern Peru (Figure 1). Drill hole 6 targeted the Madre structure, which has emerged as the primary target structure on the project to-date, and intersected 1 metre (m) of 1,480.5 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq) within a broader interval of 3.5 m of 442.5 g/t AgEq at a drill depth of 107.5 m to 111 m (Figure 2). Tier One's technical team believes the result from hole 6 demonstrates the high-grade potential along the 1.4-kilometre (km) long Madre structure, as defined by mapping and remote sensing data. Currently, there are results from three drill holes along the Madre structure pending, including a first drill hole into the diatreme dome complex that the technical team believes is the potential source for precious metal mineralization across the property (Figure 1).

A Message from Peter Dembicki, President, CEO & Director:

"Hole 6 is the first plus-kilogram intercept at Curibaya on a feeder vein that may host the extensive high-grade silver on surface, which gives us the confidence that we are in the infancy of a new silver discovery. Drilling along structures that have yielded positive channel sample results is proving to be a sound strategy as the Company looks to realize the vast potential of the property indicated through high-grade silver mineralization on surface."

Drill Holes 4 - 5:

Drill holes 4 and 5 targeted the Sama and Sambalay structures, respectively, and both drill holes encountered significant silver mineralization in multiple parallel structures. Hole 5 is the second drill hole to test the 900 m long Sambalay structural corridor and intersected 1 m of 579.6 g/t AgEq, 0.5 m of 266.8 g/t AgEq, 1 m of 88.1 g/t AgEq and 11 m of 37.8 g/t AgEq (Figure 3). Hole 4 was the first drill hole to test the Sama structure and intersected 1 m of 211.6 g/t AgEq within a broader interval of 3 m of 96.4 g/t AgEq, 1m of 137.5 g/t AgEq, 1 m of 99.6 g/t AgEq and 0.5 m of 172.8 g/t AgEq (Figure 4). A summary of the results from drill holes 4 - 6 are provided below in Table 1.

Table 1: Summary of Significant Results from Drill Holes 4 - 6

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) AgEq (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Zn % Pb % 21CUR-004 1 105 108 3 96.4 78.4 0.24 0.005 0 Incl.2 105 106 1 211.6 175.0 0.50 0.005 0.01 1 128 134 6 32.9 22.6 0.13 0.016 0 Incl.2 133 134 1 137.5 93.5 0.60 0.010 0.005 2 187 188 1 99.6 66.5 0.42 0.045 0.016 2 336.5 337 0.5 172.8 23.3 0.05 2.450 0.766 21CUR-005 2 114 115 1 88.1 81.2 0.08 0.014 0.013 1 143 154 11 37.8 29.5 0.08 0.046 0.01 Incl.2 149 149.5 0.5 266.8 228.0 0.44 0.092 0.069 1,2 161 162 1 579.6 446.0 1.83 0.026 0.01 21CUR-006 1 107.5 111 3.5 442.5 418.7 0.12 0.184 0.16 Incl.2 108 109 1 1,480.5 1,431.0 0.39 0.182 0.343 AgEq (Ag,Au,Zn,Pb) intervals at 25 ppm (minimum 5 m, max consecutive dilution 6 m) AgEq (Ag,Au,Zn,Pb) intervals at 75 ppm (minimum 1 m, max consecutive dilution 2 m)

Metal prices used for Eq calculations: Au $1,300/oz, Ag $18/oz, Zn $1.25/lb, Pb $1/lb

Significance of Results and Program Update:

The results from drill holes 4 - 6 demonstrate that significant precious metal mineralization extends to depth below mineralization encountered in surface channel samples. In addition, hole 6 was the first drill hole to test the margin of the high chargeability anomaly that, in part, defines the Madre structural corridor. The positive correlation between high-grade mineralization in drill hole 6 and the margins of the chargeability anomaly further strengthens the Company's targeting efforts at depth.

To date, the Company has drilled a total of 12 holes into four of the five precious metal feeder structures for a total of 4,473 m, with results pending for six holes. The Company plans to drill an additional 1,000 m in three holes along the Madre structure, prior to a pause in drilling for the rainy season beginning in mid-December. The Company expects to resume drilling at Curibaya at the end of Q1 2022. In addition, a drill permit expansion is in progress to include the Cambaya structures, to the northeast of current drilling, which the Company plans to drill test in 2022.

A Message from Dave Smithson, SVP of Exploration:

"The positive results from hole 6 represent a major advancement in our understanding of the controls on high-grade mineralization within the project. The combination of alteration vectoring, targeting the margins of high chargeability anomalies and surface geochemical channel sampling is paying dividends with the drill. These results continue to support our view that Curibaya has the potential for a major discovery."

Figure 1: Illustrates the ongoing drill program, the location of the completed and planned holes and their proximity to interpreted feeder structures and the diatreme dome complex.

Figure 2: Illustrates the location and results from drill hole 6, as well as the location of drill hole 7, which also targets the Madre feeder and has results pending.

Figure 3: Illustrates the location and results from drill hole 5.

Figure 4: Illustrates the location and results from drill hole 4 as well as the location of drill hole 8, which also targets the Madre feeder and has results pending.

Michael Henrichsen (Chief Geologist), P.Geo is the QP who assumes responsibility for the technical contents of this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TIER ONE SILVER INC.

Peter Dembicki

President, CEO and Director

For further information on Tier One Silver Inc., please contact Natasha Frakes, Vice President of Communications at (778) 729-0600 or info@tieronesilver.com.

About Tier One

Tier One Silver is an exploration company focused on creating value for shareholders and stakeholders through the discovery of world-class silver, gold and base metal deposits in Peru. The Company's management and technical teams have a strong track record in raising capital, discovery and monetization of exploration success. The Company's exploration assets in Peru include: Hurricane Silver, Emilia, Coastal Batholith, Corisur and the flagship project, Curibaya, which has commenced its first drill program. For more information, visit www.tieronesilver.com.

Curibaya Drilling

Analytical samples were taken by sawing HQ or NQ diameter core into equal halves on site and sent one of the halves to ALS Lab in Arequipa, Peru for preparation and then to Lima, Peru for analysis. All samples are assayed using 30 g nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption finish (Au-AA25) and multi-element four acid digest ICP-AES/ICP-MS method (ME-MS61). Where MS61 results were greater or near 10,000 ppm Cu, 10,000 ppm Pb or 100 ppm Ag the assay were repeated with ore grade four acid digest method (Cu, Pb, Ag-OG62). Where OG62 results were greater or near 1,500 ppm Ag the assay were repeated with 30 g.

QA/QC programs for 2021 core samples using company and lab duplicates, standards and blanks indicate good accuracy and precision in a large majority of standards assayed.

Silver equivalent grades (AgEq) were calculated using silver price of US$18/oz, gold price of US$1,300/oz, zinc price of US$1.25/lb, and lead price of US$1.00/lb. Metallurgical recoveries were not applied to the silver equivalent calculation.

Intercepts were calculated with no less than 5 m of >= 25 g/t AgEq with maximum allowed consecutive dilution of 6 m.

True widths of mineralization are unknown based on current geometric understanding of the mineralized intervals.

Forward Looking Information and General Cautionary Language

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to the Company's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's exploration plans.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Tier One Silver Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673563/Tier-One-Silver-Intersects-14805-gt-Silver-Equivalent-over-1-Metre-on-the-Madre-Structure-at-Curibaya
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Vox Royalty Corp. (TSXV:VOX)(OTCQX:VOXCF) ("Vox" or the "Company"), a high growth precious metals focused royalty company, is pleased to provide recent development and exploration updates from royalty operating partners Gold Standard Ventures Corp. (GSV) ("Gold Standard Ventures"), Black Cat Syndicate Limited (BC8) ("Black Cat"), Silver Mines Limited (SVL) ("Silver Mines"), Karora Resources Inc. (KRR) ("Karora"), ValOre Metals Corp. (VO) ("ValOre"), and Quantum Graphite Limited (QGL) ("Quantum").

Spencer Cole, Chief Investment Officer stated, "We are excited by yet another month of consistent progress across our royalty assets, particularly by the impending release of the South Railroad feasibility study in Nevada and pre-construction progress at Bulong in Western Australia. Our royalty projects continue to exceed Vox management expectations in terms of their pace of development, the volume of discovery drilling and higher likelihood of royalty revenue for Vox. Based on this strong operator progress, Vox management expects that 2022 has potential to be a record year for discovery drilling, engineering studies being released and projects moving into production."

Key Development Updates

Update on feasibility study, permitting and construction financing at the South Railroad gold project in Nevada by Gold Standard Ventures;

First production guidance reiterated for H2 2022 at Bulong gold project by Black Cat; and

Substantial drilling updates at the Bowdens silver project by Silver Mines, the Higginsville mine by Karora, the Pedra Branca platinum group metals ("PGM") project by ValOre, and the Uley graphite project by Quantum.

South Railroad (Pre-Feasibility) - Feasibility Study Expected Q1 2022

Vox holds a 0.633% net smelter royalty with advance minimum royalty payments over part of the South Railroad gold project, which is located in the prolific Carlin Trend of Nevada;

Vox received initial advance minimum royalty payments of ~C$100,000 from the South Railroad royalty in October 2021;

On November 10, 2021, Gold Standard Ventures announced: It anticipates that the feasibility study for the South Railroad project will be completed in Q1 2022; In-fill drilling results at the Pinion deposit indicates the possibility of converting approximately 350,000 contained ounces of gold for inclusion in the feasibility mine plan in Pinion Phases 4 and 5, expected to be majority royalty-linked based on historical disclosure by Gold Standard Ventures; Expected timing of the Record of Decision permit is anticipated to be in Q1 2023; and It anticipates commencing the construction capital financing process in conjunction with the release of the feasibility study in Q1 2022.

Vox Management Summary: The South Railroad project is advancing in line with Vox management expectations based on due diligence completed for the royalty acquisition in June 2021. The majority of the additional ~350,000 ounces expected in Pinion Phases 4 and 5 are expected to be royalty-linked and to generate meaningful royalty revenue for Vox. 2022 promises to be a transformational year for South Railroad with the release of a feasibility study, construction financing process updates and permitting progress.

Bulong (Pre-Construction) - Production on Track for Second Half of 2022

Vox holds a 1% net smelter royalty over part of the Bulong gold project;

On October 29, 2021, Black Cat announced: that it is in the process of securing all items needed at the processing facility to allow for production to commence in the second half of 2022; 89 holes were drilled at the royalty-linked Myhree deposit in Q3 2021 for a total of 3,217m of grade control drilling; and In Q4 2021 Black Cat's key planned activities are 20,000m of drilling targeting regional discoveries, resource upgrades and maiden ore reserves and the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study.

Vox Management Summary: Black Cat management continues to rapidly advance the Bulong project towards first production in 2022 alongside an aggressive +80,000m regional discovery drilling program. Management expects that Vox shareholders can look forward to a combination of development and discovery newsflow regarding this highly prospective gold project in Western Australia over the coming months.

Substantial Drilling Updates

Bowdens Silver: Vox holds a 0.85% gross revenue royalty on the Bowdens silver-lead-zinc project and a 1% gross revenue royalty over surrounding regional exploration Tenure. On October 26, 2021, Silver Mines announced that drilling is to continue into 2022 with four diamond rigs operational targeting a maiden underground mineral resource and scoping study of underground mining scenarios;

Vox holds a 0.85% gross revenue royalty on the Bowdens silver-lead-zinc project and a 1% gross revenue royalty over surrounding regional exploration Tenure. Higginsville Gold (Dry Creek): Vox holds a price-linked production royalty (1) that is equal to A$0.60/gram of gold produced at current gold prices (effective 0.85% net smelter return royalty economics) on part of the Higginsville gold mine held by Karora, covering part of the Hidden Secret, Mousehollow and Paleochannels deposits. On November 8, 2021, Karora announced that at Higginsville, resource definition drilling during Q3 2021 was focused on supporting life of mine objectives for the three active mining operations, including testing extensions to the Hidden Secret open pit and Mousehollow Mineral Resource, with results expected before the end of Q4 2021;

Vox holds a price-linked production royalty that is equal to A$0.60/gram of gold produced at current gold prices (effective 0.85% net smelter return royalty economics) on part of the Higginsville gold mine held by Karora, covering part of the Hidden Secret, Mousehollow and Paleochannels deposits. Pedra Branca PGM: Vox holds a 1% net smelter royalty on the Pedra Branca PGM project. On October 20, 2021, ValOre announced that 19 holes were drilled totalling 2,204 metres, with a primary focus of resource expansion. ValOre's VP of Exploration, Colin Smith, stated "2021 drilling at Santo Amaro has greatly advanced the interpreted geological model for the resource-associated ultramafic package, allowing for more targeted resource expansion drilling and a higher level of confidence in future resource estimations." ; and

Vox holds a 1% net smelter royalty on the Pedra Branca PGM project. Uley Graphite: Vox holds a 1.5% gross revenue royalty on the Uley graphite project. On October 21, 2021, Quantum announced that it had successfully completed its Eastern Conductor drilling program. The program represents extensional drilling immediately to the east of the proposed Uley 2 open pit. The option of extending Uley 2 to the east has a number of advantages including the speedy pathway to a very low-cost extension of the Uley 2 open pit; and On November 1, 2021, Quantum announced that recent assay results returned consistent total graphitic carbon grades and intercept widths. These intercepts are outside of the current Uley 2 resource, highlighting the significant potential for future resource growth.

Vox holds a 1.5% gross revenue royalty on the Uley graphite project. Vox Management Summary: Vox is unique in the emerging royalty industry in having ~20 separate royalty projects with active exploration programs, many of which are the flagship asset of their listed operating company. 2022 is shaping up to be a record year of drilling across the Vox royalty asset portfolio, which increases the probability of further discoveries and medium to long term royalty cashflow for Vox.

Normal Course Issuer Bid Renewal

The Company's normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") is being renewed after the existing NCIB expires on November 18, 2021. The current NCIB provides Vox with the option to purchase up to 1,628,289 common shares as appropriate opportunities arise from time to time. Under the terms of the renewed NCIB, the Company may repurchase for cancellation up to 1,968,056 common shares, being 5% of the total number of 39,361,137 common shares outstanding as at November 11, 2021. The purchases are to be made at market prices through the facilities of the TSXV or other recognized Canadian marketplaces during the period November 19, 2021 to November 18, 2022.

The Company believes that, from time to time, the market price of its common shares does not reflect the Company's underlying value and future prospects and that, at such times, the purchase of the Company's common shares represents an appropriate use of its financial resources and will enhance shareholder value. Independent Trading Group (ITG), Inc. has been appointed by Vox as its broker to assist with purchases pursuant to the normal course issuer bid.

In the last twelve months, the Company has purchased 804,400 common shares pursuant to its NCIB at a weighted average price of C$2.89 per common share through the facilities of the TSXV and other recognized Canadian marketplaces.

Qualified Person

Timothy J. Strong, MIMMM, of Kangari Consulting LLC and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects , has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release.

About Vox

Vox is a high growth precious metals royalty and streaming company with a portfolio of over 50 royalties and streams spanning eight jurisdictions. The Company was established in 2014 and has since built unique intellectual property, a technically focused transactional team and a global sourcing network which has allowed Vox to become the fastest growing company in the royalty sector. Since the beginning of 2019, Vox has announced over 20 separate transactions to acquire over 45 royalties.

Further information on Vox can be found at www.voxroyalty.com.

For further information contact:

Spencer Cole

Chief Investment Officer

spencer@voxroyalty.com

Kyle Floyd

Chief Executive Officer

info@voxroyalty.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results " may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements".

The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include, but are not limited to, summaries of operator updates provided by management and the potential impact on the Company of such operator updates, statements regarding expectations for the timing of commencement of construction at and resource production from various mining projects, expectations regarding the size, quality and exploitability of the resources at various mining projects, future operations and work programs of Vox's mining operator partners, the receipt of future royalty payments derived from various royalty assets of Vox, anticipated future cash flows and future financial reporting by Vox, requirements for regulatory approvals and the ability and intention of the Company to make a normal course issuer bid and to repurchase its common shares for cancellation.

Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Vox to control or predict, that may cause Vox's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to: the requirement for regulatory approvals and third party consents, the impact of general business and economic conditions, the absence of control over the mining operations from which Vox will receive royalties, including risks related to international operations, government relations and environmental regulation, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties; the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with Vox's expectations; accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions in operations; fluctuating metal prices; unanticipated costs and expenses; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations; currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions; liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties.

Vox has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Vox as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While Vox may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Technical and Third-Party Information

Except where otherwise stated, the disclosure in this press release is based on information publicly disclosed by project operators based on the information/data available in the public domain as at the date hereof and none of this information has been independently verified by Vox. Specifically, as a royalty investor, Vox has limited, if any, access to the royalty operations. Although Vox does not have any knowledge that such information may not be accurate, there can be no assurance that such information from the project operators is complete or accurate. Some information publicly reported by the project operators may relate to a larger property than the area covered by Vox's royalty interests. Vox's royalty interests often cover less than 100% and sometimes only a portion of the publicly reported mineral reserves, mineral resources and production of a property.

References & Notes:

The Dry Creek royalty rate is A$0.12 per gram of gold per dry metric tonne of royalty ore, which is defined as mineralised material mined from the applicable tenements which contains an average grade greater than 1 gram of gold per dry metric tonne and not classified as waste or low grade, and the royalty is adjusted monthly as follows: Royalty rate per gram of gold = A$0.12 x (price of gold per gram at Perth Mint / A$14). At the September 2021 average gold price of A$2,330/ounce the effective royalty rate for September 2021 was A$0.67/gram gold per tonne of ore treated. For example, for royalty ore mined at a grade of 2.0g/t the effective royalty rate would be A$1.34/tonne of ore treated. The Dry Creek royalty economics are approximately equivalent to those of a 0.85% net smelter return royalty.

SOURCE: Vox Royalty Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673441/Vox-Provides-Development-Exploration-Updates-And-Renews-Normal-Course-Issuer-Bid
Instadose Pharma Corp. Announces that Instadose Canada has Established a Strategic Joint Venture Partnership in Cameroon Strengthening its Global Distribution Platform

CHESAPEAKE, VA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Instadose Pharma Corp. (formerly Mikrocoze) ("Instadose U.S.A.") is pleased to announce that Instadose Pharma Corp. ("Instadose Canada" or the "Company"), has executed a joint venture agreement with its strategic partner in Cameroon (the "Cameroon JV Partner") to grow, cultivate, process, and produce medicinal cannabis in Cameroon for export and sale into Europe through Instadose Canada's Global Distribution Platform (the "Cameroon JV Agreement"). "Cameroon is strategic as it will provide yet another African contributor to the Company's Global Distribution Platform" commented Grant Sanders, Chairman of Instadose Canada. "Cameroon has critical port access and ideal growing conditions for the cultivation of medicinal cannabis", said Mr. Sanders.

Background

In July 2021, Instadose and the Cameroon JV Partner commenced negotiations on a plan of joint venture that would see the parties work together in Cameroon to secure government-issued licenses to, among other rights, grow, cultivate, process, produce, and export medicinal cannabis in and from Cameroon.

Cameroon is strategically located in Africa with port access to the Gulf of Guinea and has ideal agriculture conditions for growing medicinal cannabis. With a population of 27 million people, medicinal cannabis will ultimately be a meaningful contributor to Cameroon's growing economy.

Operational Update

In November 2021, Instadose Canada and the Cameroon JV Partner officially executed the Cameroon JV Agreement. The Cameroon JV Partner has been working with the appropriate authorities in Cameroon for the eventual legalization of the commercial production, distribution, and export of medicinal cannabis in and from the African country. Instadose Canada believes that Cameroon will become a meaningful contributor to the Global Distribution Platform as yet another source of medicinal cannabis in Africa.

About Instadose Canada

Instadose Canada is seeking to create a large commercial outdoor growing, cultivation, production and global distribution platform for medicinal cannabis and cannabinoid oil (the "Global Distribution Platform"). The Company endeavors to utilize the Global Distribution Platform to open the commercial gateway to a new wholesale marketplace capable of providing pharmaceutical industry companies with large, sustainable, consistent, diverse, and low-cost supplies of high-quality medicinal cannabis and cannabinoid oil for use in bulk as an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Instadose Canada's Global Distribution Platform spans five (5) world continents to date, including Africa, Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. Within each continent, Instadose Canada is establishing operational subsidiaries and joint venture partnerships to secure access to government-issued licenses and permits in countries including The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Southern Africa, the Republic of Cameroon, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of India, Colombia, Mexico, and Canada, each seeking to increase their level of participation within the global medicinal cannabis industry.

Instadose U.S.A. is in the final stages of completing all of the documentation and anticipated filings required to close its plan of arrangement transaction with Instadose Canada (the "Arrangement"). The Arrangement is being completed under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), pursuant to which Instadose U.S.A. will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares (the "Shares") of Instadose Canada. The consideration to be paid for each Share shall be 1.34 common shares of Instadose U.S.A.

For more information please contact:

Please contact: info@instadosepharma.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's plans and other aspects of our anticipated future opportunities. Forward-looking information typically uses words such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "trend", "sustain", "project", "expect", "forecast", "budget", "goal", "guidance", "plan", "objective", "strategy", "target", "intend", "estimate", "potential", or similar words suggesting future outcomes, statements that actions, events or conditions "may", "would", "could" or "will" be taken or occur in the future, including statements about our plans, focus, objectives, priorities and position. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this press release contains forward-looking information with respect to our upcoming shipments of Medical Cannabis. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by our Board and Management. Although we believe that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, by its very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking information and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking information will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that we will derive therefrom. Management has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information provided in this press release in order to provide security holders with a more complete perspective on our future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and we disclaim any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE: Instadose Pharma Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673572/Instadose-Secures-Another-African-JV-Partner
BURLINGTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Murchison Minerals Ltd. ("Murchison" or the "Company") (TSXV:MUR) is pleased to announce that to-date it has successfully completed seven drill holes totalling 1,599 metres of the currently ongoing drill program at the Haut-Plateau de la Manicouagan ("HPM") project located in Quebec. Thus far drilling has tested approximately 550 metres of the 1.95 kilometre airborne electromagnetic anomaly resulting in significant pyrrhotite with minor chalcopyrite mineralization observed in all seven holes. The observed sulphide is consistent with the mineralization mapped on surface (see August 16 news release). The sulphide consists of metre-scale massive to semi-massive pyrrhotite as well as intermittent breccias and disseminations over tens of metres within a dark fine grained gabbroic unit. A handheld portable Niton XRF confirms the presence of nickel, copper and cobalt within the sulphide intervals and assays are pending.

The ongoing drill program is expected to continue throughout the month of November with the objective of defining additional mineralization along strike at PYC. The PYC target is considered highly prospective and is located only eight km from rail and power access. Pending assay results, Murchison anticipates completing additional drilling at PYC in the future to further define the full extent of the mineralization, as well as to drill test some of Murchison's other high-priority exploration targets such as Syrah, Dix and Barre de Fer.

President and Chief Executive Officer Troy Boisjoli comments:

"We are very pleased with the PYC drilling results to-date, they are another step in defining the district scale Ni-Cu-Co potential at the HPM project. In parallel to drilling at PYC we continue to develop the portfolio of high-potential prospects at HPM. To support this process, the Company has engaged the services of Lightfoot Geoscience to help define the camp scale potential at HPM."

Vice President of Exploration John Shmyr comments:

"This current drill program has exceeded our expectations demonstrating that the PYC mineralization has excellent continuity along strike and at depth. We are very excited to see mineralization observed in all the current holes from this program and we are more than pleased with the results thus far of the inaugural drill campaign at HPM."

Figure 1: Location map of the 2021 Drill Collars overlain on the PYC geophysical anomaly.

Table 1 Collar Information

Drill Hole Easting UTM* Northing UTM* Elevation (m) Azimuth ( North) Dip (  ) EOH (m) PYC21-001 613090 5722052 908 46 -49 152 PYC21-002 613090 5722052 908 46 -75 257 PYC21-003 613024 5722126 898 43 -51 128 PYC21-004 613024 5722126 898 57 -79 449 PYC21-005 613445 5721845 902 216 -46 170 PYC21-006 613445 5721845 902 216 -70 285 PYC21-007 613494 5721806 905 193 -45 158

UTM Projected Coordinate System: NAD83 UTM Zone 19N.

Figure 2: Semi-massive and breccia pyrrhotite mineralization observed in hole PYC21-001

Figure 3: Close-up of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite mineralization within hole PYC21-001.

PYC Drill Program

The 2021 fall HPM drill campaign consists of one helicopter-supported drill supplied by Logan Drilling Group of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia. Work crews are based at the nearby Station Uapishka. The program is focused on testing the subsurface of the PYC mineralized body that assayed as high as 0.79% Ni, 0.14% Cu, and 0.15% Co from grab samples collected during the spring 2021 prospecting program. The surface mineralization at PYC has been observed on surface over a strike length of 1.7 km with potential 1.95 km strike length indicated by recent electromagnetic airborne geophysics. The mineralization on surface has been systematically sampled to confirm to a 42 metre-width in two steeply dipping parallel lenses (28 metres- and 31 metres-wide) that were separated by 30 metres of unmineralized gabbro within one location.

Geophysical modelling of the PYC area from the 2021 airborne electromagnetic geophysical data has produced maxwell plate models that approximate the sulphide mineralization and extend to a depth of 300 metres (potential depth limit of the modelling for a vertical conductor). The planned drill holes are designed to test the geophysical modelling.

About Lightfoot Geoscience Inc.

Peter Lightfoot Ph.D. and P.Geo., is the President and Chief Geologist at Lightfoot Geoscience Inc. Mr. Lightfoot is a skilled geologist with significant experience in the minerals industry (Inco and Vale), Ontario Geological Survey, and academia. He was responsible for technical aspects of exploration, research and development portfolio, strategic studies of the nickel market, and mentoring geoscience staff.

Qualifying Statement

The foregoing scientific and technical disclosures on the HPM project have been reviewed by John Shmyr, P.Geo., VP Exploration, a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan and current holder of a special authorization with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec. Mr. Shmyr is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About the HPM Project

The HPM project is located east of the Manicouagan Crater, the site of a major meteorite impact estimated to be 215 million years old. The extensive water reservoir supports five hydro-power installations. The existing Quebec Cartier rail line, located 8 kilometres west of the PYC project area, links Labrador City to Port Cartier and Sept Iles, two major iron ore port facilities.

The project is within the Haut-Plateau de la Manicouagan area. The claims host prospective gabbroic, ultramafic and anorthositic bodies within the Manicouagan metamorphic complex and are associated with significant nickel-copper-cobalt mineralization identified by a total of 32 diamond drill holes (6,479 m) completed in 2001-2 and 2008-9.

The majority of the past drilling at HPM targeted the Barre de Fer geophysical conductor and confirmed the known nickel-copper-cobalt mineralization approximately 300 metres along strike and to a depth of about 280 metres.The mineralization remains open at depth and partially along strike.

Figure 4: HPM Location Map.

About Murchison Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:MUR)

Murchison is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on nickel-copper-cobalt exploration at the 100%-owned HPM project in Quebec and the exploration and development of the 100%-owned Brabant Lake zinc-copper-silver project in north-central Saskatchewan. The Company also holds an option to earn 100% interest in the Barraute VMS exploration project also located in Quebec, north of Val d'Or. Murchison currently has 153.2 million shares issued and outstanding.

Additional information about Murchison and its exploration projects can be found on the Company's website at www.murchisonminerals.com. For further information, please contact:

Troy Boisjoli, President and CEO or Erik H Martin, CFO

Tel: (416) 350-3776

info@murchisonminerals.com

CHF Capital Markets

Thomas Do, IR Manager

Tel: 416-868-1079 x 232

thomas@chfir.com

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities 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 release.

SOURCE: Murchison Minerals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673548/Murchison-Minerals-Provides-Exploration-Update-on-the-Ongoing-PYC-Drill-Program-at-Its-100--Owned-HPM-Project
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pfizer Inc. (PFE) has agreed to supply 10 million treatment courses of its investigational COVID-19 oral antiviral candidate, PAXLOVID, to the U.S. government. The agreement is subject to regulatory authorization from the FDA. Currently, the company is seeking Emergency Use Authorization of PAXLOVID with the FDA. The U.S. government will acquire 10 million treatment courses beginning later in the year and concluding in 2022. Pfizer will receive $5.29 billion from the government, pending and contingent upon regulatory authorization. 'We were thrilled with the recent results of our phase 2/3 interim analysis, which showed overwhelming efficacy of PAXLOVID in reducing the risk of hospitalization among high-risk patients treated within three days of symptom onset by almost 90% and with no deaths,' said Albert Bourla, CEO, Pfizer. Pfizer noted that it has also entered into advance purchase agreements with several other countries and has started bilateral outreach to approximately 100 countries. 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.
Float Glass Market Size, Share, Revenue, Trends, forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis Rise in Preference for Float Glass in Electronic Industry to Escalate Float Glass Market Growth During 2021-2028

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to The Insight Partners study on "Float Glass Market to 2028 - Global Analysis and Forecast - by Type, Application, and Geography," the market is projected to grow from US$ 53,709.30 million in 2020 to US$ 86,984.42 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during 2021-2028.

Float glass is an extremely smooth and distortion free glass which is being used in various end-use industries such as building and construction, automotive, electronics, solar, among others. It is basically made by pouring the molten glass from the furnace into a chamber which contains a bed of molten tin. The increase in the use of float glass in interior design and modern architecture has played a major role in increasing the demand of float glass and are used in other building and construction applications which includes ceiling, flooring, reflective, coated, windows, mirrors, tabletops, and insulated glass. In addition, the growing use of float in automotive applications is expected to drive the float glass industry over the forecasted period.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Float Glass Market - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00011874/

Growing Applications of Float Glass in Solar Industry

In recent years, there have been various technological advancements. Also, there has been an increase in the trend of using float glass in the solar industry. The manufacturers are providing highly scalable and reliable float glass for the solar industry. For instance, AGC provides ultra-low-iron solar float glass with a highly robust and durable anti-reflecting coating. The company offers float glass of 2 mm to 4 mm front and rear panels for the latest glass-glass photovoltaic modules. Along with this, Pilkington provides Pilkington Optiwhite, a range of extra clear low iron float glass having high solar transmittance, providing improved solar energy conversion and consistent performance. The low iron float glass is ideal for thin-film photovoltaics, crystalline silicon photovoltaics, concentrated solar power technology, solar thermal collectors, and solar mirrors. Along with this, the manufacturers are focusing on establishing float glass manufacturing capacities for the solar industry. Thus, an increasing trend of using float glass in the solar industry is expected to drive the market in the coming years.

Float Glass Market: Segmental Overview

Growing technological advancements in float glass manufacturing have increased the focus on manufacturing ultra-thin float glass used in electronics. AGC has developed ultra-thin sheet float glass to be used in next generation displays, lighting, and touchscreens. The flat glass has to go through a series of processing which includes cutting, coating, drilling, grinding, and screen printing. The glass can be used for electronic or electric equipment such as LCD screen, touch screen, advertising machine screen, flat panel, and electromagnetic oven. Along with this, the coating of metallic oxides will help in reducing the light reflectivity and assist in providing the necessary electrical conductivity for the glass screen.

Impact of COVID-19 on Float Glass Market

The shutdown of various manufacturing plants and factories in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered the global supply chain and manufacturing processes, delivery schedules, and product sales. In addition, the restrictions imposed by countries in Europe, Asia, and North America are affecting business collaboration and partnership opportunities. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the float glass market. The disruptions in the production and supply chain have had a negative impact on the float glass market.

Download the Latest COVID-19 Analysis on Float Glass Market Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00011874/

The glass shortfall is expected to last until 2021, causing disruptions in a variety of businesses. Glass supply is tightening and has become more costly to purchase because of a various issue, including the worldwide pandemic and international tariffs. As a result of the global pandemic, many factories and manufacturers have had to suspend or slow down glass production, making it exceedingly difficult to satisfy current demands. Restarting the factories after being closed or producing at a low level for an extended period of time may be exceptionally challenging, especially if the companies aren't operating at full capacity owing to health and safety regulations. Further, with COVID-19 vaccinations being a high priority for both the public and the health business, the availability of glass has been redirected to the cause which has led to the unavailability of glass for other industries, thus creating shortage of glass in the market.

Float Glass Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

AGC Inc.

Nippon Sheet Glass Co., LTD (NSG Group)

Xinyi Glass Holdings Limited

SCHOTT AG

Guardian Industries Holdings

Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc.

China Glass Holdings Limited

Shenzhen Sun Global Glass Co. Ltd.

Saint Gobain Glass India

Qingdao Migo Glass Co. Ltd

are a few of the companies amongst the major players operating in the float glass market. These companies provide a wide range of product portfolio for the float glass market. These companies have widespread global presence, which provides a lucrative opportunity for market to serve a large set of customers and increase the market share.

Order a Copy of Float Glass Market Shares, Strategies and Forecasts 2021-2028 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00011874/

Browse Related Reports and Get Sample copy

Solar Control Glass Market 2028 by Glass Type, Nature, Coating Method, Application and Geography Highly Transparent Extra Clear Glass Market 2028 Product Type, Application and Geography

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CSRtech 2021: Thirteen outstanding startups selected for innovative products, services and technologies responding to the challenges of "Protect Our Planet", "Drive Sustainable Business" and "Value Everyone's Wellbeing".

SHANGHAI, Nov 18, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - The 4th CSRtech Innovation Summit (CSRtech 2021), co-organised by Orange, Saint-Gobain, OPPO and Deutsche Telekom, and co-hosted by Impact Hub Shanghai, was held successfully in Shanghai on October 28. Startups, large domestic and foreign companies and investment institutions gathered for a sustainable development vision in the post-COVID-19 era. The summit looked into the prospects and explored CSR in the context of China's carbon peak and neutrality goals, and further promoted the practice of CSR by empowering innovative tech startups.CSRtech 2021 consisted of keynote speeches, roundtables and startup pitches. The summit invited experts to elaborate the effect of climate change and China's carbon emission goals, enterprises to share their best practice and exploration of green transformation, and startups to present their innovative solutions. The summit offered a platform to connect innovative startups and the needs of socially responsible industries to further promote the best practice of CSR.Orange has co-organized the CSRtech Innovation Summit for four consecutive years, since its launch in 2018. Dr. Alex WANG, VP of Global Procurement & Supply Chain at Orange Group, stated that CSRtech put social responsibility, which had been promoted with industrial partners for a long time, into practice through involving innovative technologies. Orange would like to thank all the startups for providing products and solutions in favor of social responsibility, and hoped to work with partners from all sectors to reach a consensus on sustainable development.Saint-Gobain, as one of the first multinational companies setting a carbon neutrality target for 2050, is driving sustainable developments in the areas of construction, transportation, healthcare and industrial applications. To achieve the net-zero carbon target by 2050, the Group has developed a clear roadmap and is implementing global initiatives including industrial performance and capacity improvement, product and service innovation, and energy transformation. In his speech, Mr. Denis Michel, Saint-Gobain APAC Secretary General, indicated that participation in CSRtech means a lot to Saint-Gobain. Collaboration between large companies and innovative startups is crucial in addressing various social and environmental challenges.OPPO as a tech company shares the brand mission of "technology for mankind, kindness for the world" and its efforts of becoming a healthier and more sustainable company since day one. Mr. Scott ZHANG, OPPO Vice President of Oversea Sales, shared OPPO's CSR practices and indicated that CSRtech aligns with OPPO's long-standing brand spirit of sustainability. OPPO also believes that sustainable development required the joint efforts of the industry and the whole society, and it hopes to work with cross-industry partners to actively identify innovative solutions so as to create more sustainable values for people and society.Deutsche Telekom has always been committed to innovation for sustainability and has created Green Magenta Program to implement this concept. Melanie Kubin-Hardewig, VP Group Sustainability Management of Deutsche Telekom, explained further in terms of greener consumer products, zero waste, greener networks and greener governance. She emphasized that the Green Magenta Program is a great initiative, but it will not come to fruition without the support and inspiration from innovative startups and solutions.Thirteen outstanding innovative startups presented their innovative products, services and technologies, responding to the challenges of "Protect Our Planet", "Drive Sustainable Business" and "Value Everyone's Wellbeing". Among them were Passive Edge Tech, YOUBANGANDA, SATOR TECH, Autonom Loop and Knowcarbon, focusing on energy and carbon emissions; CarbonPlanet, AI Tyre, OrcauBoat and HOHIILIFE, dedicated to resources and environmental protection; AMA and Virtual Scene, using technology to enable health and safety in daily life; Voibook and OPO Disability Group, focusing on accessibility solutions.This is the fourth year of CSRtech. In these four years, CSRtech has witnessed companies, investors, innovators and every consumer having a deeper understanding of responsible footprint and sustainable development; witnessed the growth and success of many startups, and their collaborations with large companies, making positive impact on industries and society. CSRtech believes that persistent collaboration on open innovation will create a more sustainable and inclusive world, and welcomes more aspirants to join us.Media contact:Saint-Gobain ShanghaiJieqi Zhang, jieqi.zhang@saint-gobain.comJing Zhou, jing.zhou2@saint-gobain.comWebsite: https://www.saint-gobain.com/enCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pfizer Inc. (PFE) has made a $15 million equity investment in Cardiff Oncology Inc. (CRDF), as part of the Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiative, Cardiff said in a statement on Thursday. Pfizer Breakthrough Growth Initiativ is a program focused on funding innovative science to meet patient needs. In Thursday pre-market trade, CRDF was trading at $6.19 up $0.96 or 18.36%. As per the deal, Pfizer purchased 2.4 million shares of Cardiff Oncology's common stock at a price of $6.22 per share. Cardiff Oncology plans to use the proceeds from the equity investment to advance its ongoing clinical programs in KRAS-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, as well as to support onvansertib's development in additional indications. Additionally, Cardiff has agreed to grant Pfizer rights of first access to data from its development programs. In connection with the equity investment, Adam Schayowitz, Vice President & Medicine Team Group Lead for Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer and Melanoma at Pfizer, will join Cardiff Oncology's Scientific Advisory Board. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / iMetal Resources, Inc. (TSXV:IMR)(OTC PINK:ADTFF)(FRANKFURT:A7V2) ("iMetal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has completed a field review of the 2021 excavator trenching program to correlate the assay results with the exposed geology, ground and airborne geophysics and 2019 drilling at its flagship Gowganda West Gold Property, in the Shining Tree District of northern Ontario. The technical team is now firming up the geological model in advance of a Q1 2022 drill program.

"We continue to reap the benefits of our continuing joint efforts with the Riverside technical team as we ramp up our focus on the Gowganda West project," commented CEO Saf Dhillon. "The combined team continues to work with the historic and 2021 exploration data to define targets for a proposed Q1 2022 drilling program," he continued.

Zone 1 Trench 1

The trenching / stripping program concentrated at Zone 1,300 metres to the south of the boundary with Aris Gold's Juby Deposit. Trenching extended the mineralization and alteration over a distance of 300 metres, open in both directions, exposing semi-continuous quartz veining within north-south shearing enveloped by 15 to 20 metres of fuchsite (green alteration) and sericite that locally grades into distal epidote.

Mineralization consists predominantly of pyrite (1-2%) with traces of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite within veins that range from several centimeters to about 70cm. Channel sampling in 2018 returned values of 5.1 g/t gold over 0.80m and 8.7 g/t gold over 0.30m. Trenching highlights in 2021 included: 3.29 g/t gold over 1.8m, 10.85 g/t gold over 0.35m and 2.93 g/t gold over 2m. The higher grades appear to be associated with the quartz veins and fuchsite. Equally import, the vein envelopes typically show quartz carbonate veining and sericite alteration that often returns significant (0.2 to 2 g/t) gold values.

Initial drilling in 2019 returned drill intersections including: 2.95 g/t gold over 2.5 metres, 1.43 g/t gold over 4.6 metres and longer intervals of 0.37 g/t gold over 29.4 metres and 0.32 g/t gold over 30.25 metres (see press release dated April 20, 2020).

2021 Trench Locations

Regional Context

The shear zone hosting Zone 1 is a large secondary north-south structure that appears to be traced 6 kilometres to Zone 3, related to the Rideout-Tyrell Fault which strikes at roughly 110 degrees. At the Juby Deposit 800m to the north of 'Zone 1 North' the Rideout-Tyrell Fault forms a prominent boundary to the Archean-aged volcanic and Indian Lake Group classic sediments part of the Porcupine Assemblage.

The Rideout-Tyrell Fault that forms the southern boundary to the Juby deposit trends eastward through the northern portion of the Gowganda West property and has seen minimal exploration as efforts by iMetals has been focused on the clear-cut, easily accessible areas in the Zone 1 - Zone 3 corridor.

At Gowganda, the host rock Indian Lake conglomerates contain peculiar, bright red to maroon jasper grit, granules, pebbles and boulders that share similarities with the slightly younger Timiskamining Assemblage found in the Kirkland Lake and Timmins gold camps. These jasper hosting conglomerates have been mapped on surface and encountered in the limited drilling at Gowganda West.

Next Step

Drill permits and First Nations agreements are currently in place to allow Q1, 2022 drilling at Zone 1. The focus of the drilling will be locating gold mineralization at depth at the Zone 1 South and along the 300m section between Zone 1 South and Zone 1 North, where surface sampling and trenching has returned positive results.

Surface exploration in 2022 will focus in two areas: the Zone 1 - Zone 3 shear corridor and the strike extension of the Rideout-Tyrell Fault onto the Gowganda West property.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo. (British Columbia), a director of iMetal, and a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

Creditor Settlement

The Company has reached an agreement with an arms-length service provider in which it has agreed to settle an outstanding payable totaling $54,643.17 through a cash payment of $15,000 and the issuance of 360,000 common shares. Completion of the settlement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The common shares issuable in connection with the settlement will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Private Placement Update

The Company will not proceed with further tranches of its non-brokered private placement of units and flow-through shares originally announced on May 18, 2021. The Company completed an initial tranche of the placement on May 31, 2021. For further information regarding the placement, readers are encouraged to review the Company's news releases of May 18, 2021 and June 1, 2021.

Property Acquisition

The Company also announces that it does not intend to proceed with the acquisition of a portfolio of gold projects from Riverside Resources Inc., as announced on February 10, 2021. The Company has not assumed any ongoing obligations in connection with the proposed acquisition.

About Gowganda West

The Gowganda West property covers approximately 147 sq km in the Shining Tree volcano-sedimentary succession of the southwestern Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt contiguous to the north and west of Aris Gold Corp.'s (TSX: ARIS) (formerly Caldas Gold Corp.) Juby Gold deposit, a series of four mineralized alteration zones along the Tyrrell Shear Zone. Gold mineralization at Juby is associated with narrow quartz-carbonate-pyrite veins hosted within 20- to 330-metre-wide zones of ankerite-albite-silica-sericite alteration and variable amounts of fine-grained, disseminated. The Juby Deposits host indicated resources of 774,000 ounces at 1.13 g/t Au and inferred resources of 1,488,000 ounces at 0.98 g/t Au. iMetal cautions investors mineralization at Juby is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at Gowganda West. Source: Technical Report on the Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Juby Gold Deposit for Caldas Gold Corp. (named currently changed to Aris Gold Corp.) Dated 2020-Oct-05 By: J. Campbell, A. Sexton, D. Studd, and A. Armitage.

iMetal acquired Gowganda West in 2016, discovering Zone 1 and Zone 3 through focused exploration proximal to the Aris property border, and subsequently completing programs of prospecting, channel sampling, airborne VTEM, ground IP and limited diamond drilling. Zone 1 has excellent access and is located 500m south from the Juby deposit. Two distinct outcrop areas approximately 300m apart have been sampled, Zone 1 that returned: 6.47 g/t Au and 39.3 g/t Au, and 16.9 g/t Au. Five holes were subsequently drilled in 2019. The best drill intersections included: 2.95 g/t Au over 2.5 metres, 1.43 g/t Au over 4.6 metres and longer intervals of 0.37 g/t au over 29.4 metres and 0.32 g/t au over 30.25 metres (see press release dated, April 20, 2020). Zone 3 consists of two distinct areas separated by 225 metres, 6 kilometres due south of Zone 1. Highlights from Zone 3A grab sample results include 56.59 g/t Au and 34.81 g/t Au, while highlight Zone 3B grab sample results include 14.74 g/t Au and 12.7 g/t Au. Zone 3A and Zone 3B remain undrilled.

About iMetal Resources Inc.

A Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. iMetal is focused on advancing its Gowganda West Project that borders the Juby Project, an advanced exploration-stage gold project located within the Shining Tree area in the southern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins gold camp.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

iMetal Resources Inc.

saf@imetalresources.ca

Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 510, 580 Hornby Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3B6.

https://imetalresources.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Forward-looking statements in this news release include but, are not limited to: statements with respect to future exploration and drilling of the Company; statements with respect to the release of assays and exploration results; and statements with respect to the Company's geological understanding of its mineral properties. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

SOURCE: iMetal Resources, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673553/iMetal-Resources-Provides-Corporate-Update
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, today announced that it plans to begin carbon credit auctions for Permian Global, a leading developer of large-scale tropical forest protection and restoration projects. The auctions are expected to launch in 2022 and further details on timing will be announced in due course.

ICE will host auctions for Permian Global's verified emission reduction certificates (VERs), which are the quantifiable emissions that would have been released into the atmosphere had deforestation and forest degradation occurred.

"Natural ecosystems play a vital role in combatting climate change by removing excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," said Stephen Rumsey, Chairman, Permian Global. "Given the urgency and the scale of the climate crisis, it is vital that financial markets become a driving force for positive change. As the world's largest venue for pricing emissions and climate risk, we are delighted to find in ICE a partner that both understands the challenge ahead and is committed to play a key role in the solution through its auctions."

Each Permian Global project is verified against robust third-party forest carbon standards by independent expert auditors. This includes providing evidence of additionality that without the project activity, the forest was at risk of deforestation or forest degradation; avoidance of leakage that the project activity has not displaced deforestation and hence emissions to another location; and permanence that the project and avoided emissions will not be reversed.

"The auctions will allow the market to value the forest projects of Permian Global and contribute to increasing the supply of high quality, credible and verifiable carbon credits," said Gordon Bennett, Managing Director of Utility Markets at ICE. "By bringing transparency to the primary market, which will complement and support the growth of the secondary market, the new initiative between ICE and Permian Global can play an important role in the development of carbon credit markets globally."

ICE Benchmark Administration (IBA), one of the world's most experienced administrators of regulated benchmarks, is forming the ICE Carbon Oversight Committee to provide independent governance and oversight of ICE's activities in the voluntary carbon markets. This will include advising on the criteria that carbon credits must meet to be sold through ICE's auctions. In addition, ICE plans to launch its first Nature-Based Solutions carbon credit futures contract in the first quarter of 2022, subject to regulatory approval, which will be traded and cleared in London.

"We believe that IBA can help bring greater governance and oversight to the voluntary carbon markets", said Tim Bowler, President of ICE Benchmark Administration. "Our work will be designed to help give buyers of carbon credits confidence that credits purchased through the new auctions and futures contract will have environmental integrity."

ICE offers customers access to the largest and most liquid environmental markets in the world to price climate risk. More than 14 gigatons of carbon trades on ICE annually, equivalent to approximately 40% of the world's total annual emissions footprint based on current estimates.

About Permian Global

Permian Global is a business that is working for the protection and recovery of natural tropical forests. Recognizing the vital role forests can play as a means of tackling climate change, Permian Global is working to drive large-scale forest recovery and protection through the sale of verified emission reductions.

Headquartered in the U.K., the international team works with governments and local communities across West Africa, South East Asia and Latin America. And along with its partners, Permian Global is not only making a significant contribution in efforts to addressing climate change, but also enabling the restoration of vital biodiverse ecosystems; supporting local economic growth; while also making substantial and demonstrable contributions to achieving the United Nation's (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

About ICE Benchmark Administration

ICE Benchmark Administration is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the regulated activity of administering a benchmark, and is authorized as a benchmark administrator under the UK Benchmarks Regulation.

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.(NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks to connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes that offer our customers access to mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and operational efficiencies. We operate exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that help people invest, raise capital and manage risk across multiple asset classes. Our comprehensive fixed income data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers capitalize on opportunities and operate more efficiently. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming and digitizing the U.S. residential mortgage process, from consumer engagement through loan registration. Together, we transform, streamline and automate industries to connect our customers to opportunity.

Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading "Key Information Documents (KIDS)."

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021.

ICE- CORP

Source: Intercontinental Exchange

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005784/en/

Contacts:

ICE Media Contact:

Rebecca Mitchell

Rebecca.Mitchell@ice.com

+44 7951 057 351



ICE Investor Contact:

Mary Caroline O'Neal

marycaroline.oneal@ice.com

(770) 738-2151



Permian Global Media Contact:

David Stone

David.stone@permianglobal.com

+44 (0) 7935 778 529
18 November 2021

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND

PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

FIRSTGROUP PLC

RESULTS OF GENERAL MEETING

FirstGroup plc (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, at the general meeting of the Company held on 18 November 2021 (the "General Meeting"), the three special resolutions and one ordinary resolution put to shareholders to approve the Tender Offer and related matters (all as set out in full in the Notice of General Meeting included in the shareholder circular dated 27 October 2021 (the "Circular")) (the "Resolutions") were each duly passed by poll vote.

The number of votes for and against the Resolutions, and the number of votes withheld, were as follows:

Resolution (each as set out in full in the Notice of General Meeting) FOR AGAINST TOTAL WITHHELD Number of

votes % of vote Number of

votes % of vote Number of

votes Number of votes 1. Special resolution to authorise the Company to make one or more market purchases of its Ordinary Shares pursuant to, for the purposes of, the Tender Offer. 922,511,555 99.86 1,338,008 0.14 923,849,563 417,576 2. Ordinary resolution to authorise the Company and its directors, in connection with any Special Dividend, to consolidate or sub-divide the Ordinary Shares of the Company. 922,688,592 99.88 1,076,995 0.12 923,765,587 501,552 3. Special resolution to, subject to any share consolidation taking effect, amend the definition of "nominal amount" or "nominal value" within the articles of association of the Company. 922,327,796 99.86 1,297,590 0.14 923,625,386 641,753 4. Special resolution in substitution for authority granted at the 2021 AGM, to authorise the Company to make one or more market purchases of its Ordinary Shares representing up to approximately ten per cent. of the Company's Issued Ordinary Share Capital. 921,501,300 99.77 2,150,190 0.23 923,651,490 611,899

Votes "For" and "Against" are expressed as a percentage of votes received. A "Vote Withheld" is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the votes "For" and "Against" a resolution. The Company's issued share capital as at today's date is 1,223,006,456 ordinary shares and the number of votes per share is one. The Company held 157,229 shares in treasury, which do not carry any voting rights. The total number of voting rights in the Company was therefore 1,222,849,227.

A copy of the resolutions will be submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority's National Storage Mechanism (the "NSM") and will be available for inspection on the NSM's website at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

Votes were cast for a total of 923,849,563 ordinary shares of 5 pence share, representing 75.55% of the total number of votes capable of being cast at the General Meeting.

As announced on 27 October 2021, the Tender Offer opened on 28 October 2021 and will close at 1.00 p.m. on 29 November 2021. Proceeds are expected to be despatched to Shareholders who successfully tender Ordinary Shares in December 2021.

Capitalised terms used in this announcement have the meanings given to them in the announcement of the Company dated 27 October 2021 in respect of the Tender Offer.

Contacts at FirstGroup:

Faisal Tabbah, Head of Investor Relations

Stuart Butchers, Group Head of Communications

corporate.comms@firstgroup.co.uk

+44 (0) 20 7725 3354

Contacts at Brunswick PR:

Andrew Porter / Simone Selzer, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 549300DEJZCPWA4HKM93. Classification as per DTR 6 Annex 1R: 3.1.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This announcement does not constitute or form part of an offer or invitation, or a solicitation of any offer or invitation, to purchase any Ordinary Shares or other securities.

The full terms and conditions of the Tender Offer will be set out in the Circular, which Shareholders are advised to read in full. Any response to the Tender Offer should be made only on the basis of the information in the Circular.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc (which conducts its U.K. investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove) ("J.P. Morgan"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as lead joint sponsor, joint financial adviser and joint corporate broker exclusively for FirstGroup and for no one else in connection with the Return of Value and will not be responsible to anyone other than FirstGroup for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan or for providing advice in relation to the matters described in this announcement.

Goldman Sachs International ("Goldman Sachs"), which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the United Kingdom, is acting as joint sponsor, joint financial adviser and joint corporate broker exclusively for FirstGroup and for no one else in connection with the Return of Value and will not be responsible to anyone other than FirstGroup for providing the protections afforded to clients of Goldman Sachs or for providing advice in relation to the matters described in this announcement.

Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs (the "Financial Advisers") under FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder: (i) neither of the Financial Advisers or any persons associated or affiliated with either of them accepts any responsibility whatsoever or makes any warranty or representation, express or implied, in relation to the contents of this announcement, including its accuracy, completeness or verification or for any other statement made or purported to be made by, or on behalf of it, FirstGroup or the Directors, in connection with FirstGroup and/or the Tender Offer; and (ii) each of the Financial Advisers accordingly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all and any liability whatsoever, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement or any such statement.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, projects, should or will, or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. Forward-looking statements may, and often do, differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements in this announcement reflect FirstGroup's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Group and its operations, results of operations and growth strategy. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, the Market Abuse Regulation and the rules of the London Stock Exchange), FirstGroup is not under any obligation and FirstGroup expressly disclaims any intention or obligation (to the maximum extent permitted by law) to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overseas Shareholders

The availability of the Tender Offer to Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction in which they are located. Shareholders who are not resident in the United Kingdom should read paragraph 6 of Part IV (Details of the Tender Offer) of the Circular and should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In addition, the attention of Shareholders who are resident in the United States is drawn to the section for US Shareholders below.

The Tender Offer is not being made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, facsimile transmission, telex, telephone and e-mail) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facilities of a national securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Tender Offer cannot be accepted by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction. Accordingly, unless otherwise determined by the Company and permitted by applicable law and regulation, neither the Circular nor the Tender Form nor any related document is being, nor may it be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise forwarded, distributed, or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction, and persons receiving the Circular, the Tender Form and/or any related document (including, without limitation, trustees, nominees or custodians) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send it in, into or from such Restricted Jurisdiction, as to do so may invalidate any purported acceptance of the Tender Offer. Any person (including, without limitation, trustees, nominees or custodians) who would or otherwise intends to, or who may have a contractual or legal obligation to, forward the Circular, the Tender Form and/or any related document to any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom, should seek appropriate advice before taking any action.

US Shareholders

The Tender Offer is not subject to the disclosure and other procedural requirements of Rule 13e-4 or Regulation 14D under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "US Exchange Act"). The Tender Offer will be made in the US in accordance with the requirements of Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act to the extent applicable. Certain provisions of Regulation 14E under the US Exchange Act are not applicable to the Tender Offer by virtue of Rule 14d-1(d) under the US Exchange Act. Goldman Sachs will act as US dealer manager with respect to the Tender Offer in the United States to the extent required. US Shareholders should note that the Ordinary Shares are not listed on a US securities exchange and the Company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the US Exchange Act and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the US Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

It may be difficult for US Shareholders to enforce certain rights and claims arising in connection with the Tender Offer under US federal securities laws since the Company is located outside the US and most of its officers and directors may reside outside the US. It may not be possible to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US federal securities laws. It also may not be possible to compel a non-US company or its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgment.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Tender Offer by a Shareholder who is a US person will be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes. The Circular sets out a guide to certain US tax consequences of the Tender Offer for Shareholders under current US law. However, each such Shareholder should consult and seek individual advice from an appropriate professional adviser.

To the extent permitted by applicable law and in accordance with normal UK practice, the Company, Goldman Sachs or any of their respective affiliates, may make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Ordinary Shares outside the United States during the period in which the Tender Offer remains open for participation, including sales and purchases of Ordinary Shares effected by Goldman Sachs acting as market maker in the Ordinary Shares. These purchases, or other arrangements, may occur outside the United States either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. In order to be excepted from the requirements of Rule 14e-5 under the US Exchange Act by virtue of Rule 14e-5(b)(12) thereunder, such purchases, or arrangements to purchase, must comply with applicable English law and regulation, including the Listing Rules, and the relevant provisions of the US Exchange Act. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK and the US and, if required, will be reported via a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website at http://www.londonstockexchange.com.

While the Tender Offer is being made available to Shareholders in the US, the right to tender Ordinary Shares is not being made available in any jurisdiction in the US in which the making of the Tender Offer or the right to tender such Ordinary Shares would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction.

This announcement has not been approved, disapproved or otherwise recommended by the US Securities and Exchange Commission or any US state securities commission and such authorities have not confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of this announcement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the US.
The Collective enters an exclusive global partnership with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

The new Creole Red Bean Sandwich is developed by Popeyes Global Culinary Innovation Chef in partnership with LIVEKINDLY Collective Innovation Team

LIVEKINDLY Collective, a collection of brands on track to become one of the world's largest plant-based food companies, today announced its exclusive partnership with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for the launch of the restaurant's first plant-based entree coinciding with the restaurant chain opening in London (UK) on the 20th November.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005804/en/

Creole Red Bean Sandwich (Photo: Business Wire)

LIVEKINDLY Collective's Innovation Team has worked in close partnership with Peter Genna, Popeyes Global Culinary Innovation Chef, to develop the new Creole Red Bean Sandwich. Taking the original recipe from ideation to delivery took a couple of months of close collaboration.

Karin Rotem, Chief Scientific Officer at LIVEKINDLY Collective, commented: "We are extremely proud of this product and the partnership which was a true collaboration between both teams. Our R&D team has developed an outstanding, innovative, premium item that is delicious and offers the authentic Cajun flavor that Popeyes is known for across the world."

The new Creole Red Bean Sandwich features a crispy, breaded 100% plant-based patty made with Popeyes' iconic red beans and bold Cajun spices with onions, garlic, peppers, then battered and breaded using a vegan version of Popeyes' signature buttermilk coating system. The patty, certified Halal and registered with the Vegan Society, is baked until hot and crispy and served fresh on a buttery toasted vegan brioche bun with the signature Red Creole sauce, sweet pickled red onion, baby gem lettuce and a thick slice of ripe beefsteak tomato.

Peter Genna, Director of Popeyes Global Culinary Innovation, said: "From the first bite we were convinced this sandwich would be a new star on the menu for all our consumers. It was developed to be Popeyes' gold standard vegan offering, but I also developed it for all our customers to enjoy, as it complements our other menu offerings and brand heritage extremely well. Made with only the finest ingredients and Popeyes signature bold seasonings and spices, we can't wait for our customers to taste it in the UK and look forward to bringing this delicious sandwich to other markets around the world."

The new menu item is Popeyes' answer to a growing demand for plant-based products amongst its customers. After their launch in the UK, Popeyes' intent is to offer the new plant-based item as the gold standard offering for its franchisees worldwide, with India launching next.

LIVEKINDLY Collective sells its brands across 40 markets, quickly adding new retail distributors to the fold. The exclusive global partnership with Popeyes signifies a further move into quick service restaurants and out-of-home sectors for the Collective.

About LIVEKINDLY Collective

LIVEKINDLY Collective was founded on the belief that plant-based alternatives have the power to make the global food system sustainable. Its mission is to make plant-based living the new norm. As a collective of founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the globe, LIVEKINDLY Collective is uniquely positioned to create impact. Through its portfolio of brands, Oumph!, The Fry Family Food Co., LikeMeat, No Meat, The Dutch Weed Burger, and Happy Chicken and Giggling Pig (in China), LIVEKINDLY Collective is providing consumers with delicious food options. Furthermore, the company is the voice of the plant-based movement, with its media and lifestyle platform, LIVEKINDLY, at www.livekindly.com and @livekindlyco on Instagram. LIVEKINDLY Collective has 500 employees and sells in more than 40 countries around the world. To learn more, visit www.thelivekindlyco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005804/en/

Contacts:

Marta Tomczak

press@thelivekindlyco.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Ridgestone Mining Inc. (TSXV: RMI) (OTCQB: RIGMF) (FSE: 4U5) ("Ridgestone" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has received all of the requisite permits for a maiden drill program on the El Cobre copper target at it's wholly-owned Rebeico copper-gold project in Sonora, Mexico.

The permit was issued by the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales or SEMARNAT, the Mexican regulatory body, which allows for the Company to undertake its maiden drill program. The program will be comprised of 14 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes for a total of approximately 2,700 metres and will be conducted along the main El Cobre structure, where recent grab and rock-chip sampling of the surface stockpile of mined material from the El Cobre structure returned up to 3.5% copper, 53 g/t silver and 0.52 % Mo over widths of up to 5.0 metres. Historical records of past mining by Asarco in the 1960's show that high-grade copper was extracted from two levels to a depth of 180 metres, and that the structure remains open along strike and to depth.

The Company is working with its local drilling contractor to finalize schedules for an upcoming program. In addition, it has engaged with ancillary service providers to prepare the drill sites ahead of the anticipated program.

In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that the Company has engaged Think Ink Marketing Data & Email Services, Inc. ("Think Ink") to provide public relations services in an effort to increase public awareness of the Company and its products, services and securities. The agreement is for six months at a budget of $200,000. Think Ink leverages leading-edge technologies to steer traffic to clients' web properties, drive inquiries, and collect metrics regarding engagement with content. Services provided by Think Ink include SEM (search engine marketing), search retargeting, email campaigns, and social media optimization (e.g., using tactics such as geofencing). With the exception of the agreement to provide the foregoing services, the Company does not have any relationship with Think Ink. Think Ink does not hold, directly or indirectly, and securities of the Company or a right to acquire such securities.

Qualified Persons

Noris Del Bel Belluz, P. Geo., Vice-President of Exploration, is a "qualified person" as defined under NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release.

About Ridgestone Mining Inc.

Ridgestone Mining has assembled a highly-experienced and dynamic team to explore and advance its projects in Mexico. The Guadalupe y Calvo gold-silver project, for which Ridgestone can earn a 100% interest, is host to an Indicated Resource of 356,000 gold-equivalent ounces plus an Inferred Resource of 460,000 gold-equivalent ounces. Ridgestone's 100%-owned Rebeico copper-gold project has high-grade copper and gold pervasive throughout the property with highlights including 1.56% copper plus 1.80 g/t gold intersected over 19.3 metres from surface at the New Year Zone and 2.78% copper plus 8.69 g/t gold over 2.0 metres from the Alaska Vein.

For further information, please contact:

Rad Rajaram - Manager Corporate Relations and Business Development

Telephone: 416-732-0604

This news release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. In this news release such statements include but are not limited to any ongoing drilling programs, timing of such programs, or exploration results. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described in the Company's regulatory filings available on www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not exhaustive. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are dependent on other factors, and the Company's course of action would depend on its assessment of the future considering all information then available. All forward-looking statements in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104077
Second drill rig contracted for Santa Helena Project

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC PINK: EQTRF) ("Altamira" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the first two diamond drill holes at the Mutum target within the Apiacas project area, and to provide an update on exploration at the Santa Helena project. Both projects are located within the Alta Floresta Gold Belt in Northern Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Highlights are as follows:

Results from the first two diamond drill holes at Mutum confirm the presence of a broad zone of disseminated gold within altered intrusive rocks. Drill hole DDMUT-0001 returned 131.75m @ 0.15g/t gold indicating the potential for significant volumes of primary gold mineralization within the project area





Two new environmental permits totaling 110 hectares have been received to allow drill access to additional areas of the central zone of the former Mutum alluvial workings which extend over an east-west distance of 6km





A second diamond drill rig has been contracted to begin Altamira's maiden drill program at the Santa Helena project. An initial 2000m of diamond drilling is planned to test both high-grade gold and copper vein mineralization and possible porphyry targets with drilling expected to begin in November 2021

Michael Bennett, President and CEO of Altamira Gold commented "The results of the first drill holes at Mutum are encouraging and demonstrate that primary gold mineralization is disseminated over wide intervals within altered intrusive rocks. Although the average grade encountered in the first drill hole is subeconomic, permitting considerations meant that we were only able to commence drilling on the periphery of the target area at Mutum. The new environmental permits now doubles the area of the central portion of the Mutum target that Altamira can now drill test. At the same time in the Santa Helena Project area, we are preparing to drill test several targets for the first time with porphyry style mineralization and high grade gold and copper veins to be targeted. Diamond drilling of these targets is expected to begin during late November".

MUTUM TARGET, APIACAS PROJECT

The Mutum target is part of the Apiacas Project area and is located 50 km west of Altamira's Cajueiro gold project (Figure 1) which hosts 43-101 compliant indicated resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000oz and inferred resources of 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz. An estimated 1Moz of colluvial gold was historically recovered from the Mutum target, suggesting the presence of a significant underlying hard-rock deposit.





Figure 1. Regional Map showing the location of the Apiacas (drilling in progress) and Santa Helena (drilling commencing Nov 2021) projects and the Cajueiro project

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/104175_5d1ae30d541f1bc1_001full.jpg

In 2019, geological mapping outlined an area of pervasive disseminated-style gold mineralization over at least 4 km2 at Mutum. A total of 93 surface rock samples of disseminated and altered rocks collected on surface over this area returned gold values of up to 406.6 g/t gold (see news release dated September 11, 2019). Recent exploration has also identified four high-grade vein structures with channel samples returning values up to 3m @ 10.39 g/t gold. Silver assays have also returned high grade values up to 871 g/t silver (see news release dated March 8, 2021).

In 2021, Altamira completed an extensive Induced Polarization ("IP") geophysical program which identified an east-west trending chargeability feature 6km in length, associated with quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration and disseminated gold mineralization in intrusive rocks within the area of historic placer gold workings.





Figure 2. Location of first six diamond drill holes within the Mutum target area in the Apiacas project and the new environmental licenses where further drill testing to the west of the initial drill area will be initiated

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/104175_5d1ae30d541f1bc1_002full.jpg

Initial diamond drilling has been limited to the areas with active drill permits covering a 1.5 kilometer east-west corridor within the Mutum target. The first six diamond drill holes were drilled to downhole depths of between 126 m and 276 metres (see Figure 2) and targeted both chargeability anomalies and the depth extension of the surface gold mineralization indicated by both the historic artisanal mining and the channel sample results collected by Altamira (see press releases dated June 4th 2019 and June 8th 2021).

The first diamond drill hole, DDMUT-0001, returned 131.75m @ 0.15g/t gold indicating the presence of widespread disseminated gold mineralization within intrusive rocks at Mutum. The drill hole DDMUT-0001 (see Figure 3) shows a wide section of silicified and sericitized syenogranite which is foliated and displays disseminated pyrite mineralization similar to that mapped and sampled on surface. The second drill hole DDMUT-002 collared to the south of the first hole did not intersect the same silicified and sericitized syenogranite seen in the first hole but cut a two metre wide zone which assayed 0,45 g/t gold within sericitized syenogranite host rock. Drilling of the first six holes was limited to a 1.5 kilometer east-west corridor but with the extension of the environmental permit published recently drilling will be expanded a further 1.5 kilometers to the west in areas which have been historically heavily worked for gold on surface. Both disseminated pyritic and gold mineralization and north-easterly trending higher grade vein structures will be targeted in the next series of drill holes planned for this recently permitted area. Analyses from holes DDMUT-0003-6 are awaited.





Figure 3. Cross section showing the broad, shear related mineralization of drillhole DDMUT01 below the three channel samples CMUT-0001,6 and 7 on surface

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/104175_5d1ae30d541f1bc1_003full.jpg

SANTA HELENA PROJECT

The Santa Helena project is located immediately adjacent to the paved BR-163 federal highway in the state of Mato Grosso and 60km SW of Anglo American's Jaca porphyry copper discovery (Figure 1). Previous artisanal mining activity has focused on high-grade gold hosted in vein structures. However, mapping, soil and rock chip sampling by Altamira has identified both extensions to the known vein gold targets plus significant copper, molybdenum and gold anomalies related to areas of porphyry-style alteration in a zone which extends 7km E-W by 4 km N-S, indicating the presence of a very large hydrothermal system.

The area consists of undulating farmland with generally poor outcrop and deep weathering. Thus far, five main target areas have been identified (Figure 4), all of which have significant gold and/or copper values on surface. These include; Flecha Dourada (17 surface rock samples average of 31.2 g/t gold + 0.13% Cu), Gabriel (20 surface rock samples average of 19 g/t gold + 0.11% Cu), Dorival (6 surface rock samples average of 24.6 g/t gold) and Tucura (6 surface rock samples average 7.2 g/t gold).





Figure 4. Main targets within the Santa Helena project. Note the widely distributed garimpo pits on high-grade gold veins. Soil sampling and trenching is in progress to define precious and base metal anomalies and to develop ranked targets for ground geophysics and/or direct drill testing

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/104175_5d1ae30d541f1bc1_004full.jpg

A trenching program has been initiated at the Dorival North target where visible gold and copper oxides in quartz veining have been observed and mapped from surface float and trench samples (see Figure 5).





Figure 5. Visible gold and copper oxide seen in grab samples within the Dorival north target

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/104175_5d1ae30d541f1bc1_005full.jpg

The most easterly target, Gabriel (Figure 4), includes a small historic open pit artisanal mine which previously produced gold from a series of high-grade veins. A total of 20 rock chip samples were collected on surface from this area in 2018 and returned gold values ranging up to 171.6 g/t gold and 0.96% Cu and averaged 19.0 g/t gold and 0.11% Cu. Seven samples returned values above 10g/t gold.

Recent channel sampling in the former Gabriel garimpo pit has exposed a zone of stockwork quartz veining, 60m wide, in intrusive rocks (see Figure 6). This type of alteration is characteristic of porphyry deposits and additional trenching is in progress to assist with the siting of the initial drillholes on this target.





Figure 6. View of recently excavated trench wall at Gabriel target showing stockwork quartz veining compared to the stockwork seen in the Jaca porphyry copper deposit some 60 kilometers to the north east

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/104175_5d1ae30d541f1bc1_006full.jpg

Qualified Person

Guillermo Hughes, FAIG and M AusIMM., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

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.

About Altamira Gold Corp.

The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold projects within western central Brazil. The Company holds 8 projects comprising approximately 190,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz in the Inferred Resource category.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP.

"Michael Bennett"

Michael Bennett

President & CEO

Tel: 604.676.5660

Toll-Free:1-833-606-6271

info@altamiragold.com

www.altamiragold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104175
CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a research report "Aircraft Insulation Market by Platform (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing), Type (Thermal, Acoustic & Vibration, Electric), Material (Foamed Plastics, Fiberglass, Mineral Wool, Ceramic-based Materials), Application (Airframe, Engine) and Region - Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market size is projected to grow from USD 5.5 billion in 2021 to USD 8.2 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2021 to 2026. The market is driven by various factors, such as increase in demand for lightweight materials, introduction of advanced acoustic and fire resistant materials resulting in safer operations of aircraft, declining cost of composite materials, and increasing demand for military helicopters.

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The aircraft insulation market includes major players DuPont (US), Triumph Group, Inc. (US), Transdigm Group, Inc. (US), Zotefoams (UK), BASF SE (Germany), Rogers Corporation (US), Safran Group (France), and Evonik Industries (Germany). These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. COVID-19 has impacted their businesses as well. Industry experts believe that COVID-19 has slightly affected aircraft insulation production and services globally in 2020.

Increase in demand for lightweight insulation materials will drive the demand for aircraft insulation

Increase in demand for lightweight insulation materials is a key factor that is expected to drive the aircraft insulation market. There is an increase in the use of composite materials to manufacture aerostructures. These materials include concrete, fiber-reinforced polymer, metal composites, and ceramic composites. These materials are combined to make composite materials that have high strength, flexibility, and are lightweight as compared to aluminum or steel. Furthermore, these materials are corrosion-resistant, which keeps the covers of an aerostructure tight under any weather condition.

Investments made towards research & development of new materials in the aircraft insulation market have led to the development of advanced composite materials, such as Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs), Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), and Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs). These composites have heat absorption capacity, less weight, noise cancellation capability, vibration absorbance, etc.

Such advancements in the aircraft insulation technology are expected to lead to their demand during the forecast period.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Aircraft Insulation Market"

146 - Tables

47 - Figures

184 - Pages

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The thermal insulation is projected to witness a higher CAGR during the forecast period

Based on type, the thermal insulation are projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. Thermal insulation refers to the use of materials with low thermal conductivity to reduce the transfer of heat between different aircraft components and parts. The thermal insulation system helps maintain a comfortable internal environment while the aircraft is in flight, and dramatically reduces noise levels and vibrations.

The foamed plastics is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Based on material, the foamed plastics is projected to grow at the highest CAGR for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. Plastic foams are widely used in a cabin in seat cushions and mattresses to absorb heat, noise insulation, vibration, etc. The aerospace industry uses various materials such as polyimide and polyurethane foams, combining acoustic and thermal insulation to be used in aircraft cabin in linings, wall panels, and rest of the areas or insulation blankets for door areas of the aircraft.

Airframe segment projected to witness highest CAGR during the forecast period

The airframe segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. The airframe of an aircraft includes aircraft wings, flight control surfaces, fuselage, etc. It is the backbone of the aircraft, and is responsible for a safe, efficient, and reliable flight. The use of lightweight and high-strength composite materials for the development of the structure of an aircraft is anticipated to drive the growth of the aircraft insulation market.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles segment projected to witness highest CAGR during the forecast period

The unmanned aerial vehicles segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. UAVs include all military and non-military drones used for different applications such as surveillance, security, and battlefields. The market for UAVs is growing at a healthy rate and is not much affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Furthermore, insulation is required to protect critical components of drones such as electrical systems and cameras. Hence, such factors are driving the growth of the segment.

The North American market is projected to contribute the largest share from 2021 to 2026

North America is projected to be the largest regional share of the global aircraft insulation market during the forecast period. North America has the largest commercial aircraft fleets and military aircraft in the world. It also has the largest number of OEMs and MRO companies of the aircraft insulation market. The largest aircraft deliveries are also seen in the North American Region. It also accounts for the largest passenger traffic. The North American region also spends the most in technological and R&D programs. It also has the largest defense spending in the world. North America is home to some of the giants in the aircraft manufacturing industry, like Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Lockheed Martin etc.

DuPont (US), Triumph Group, Inc. (US), Transdigm Group, Inc. (US), Zotefoams (UK), BASF SE (Germany), Rogers Corporation (US), Safran Group (France), and Evonik Industries (Germany). are some of the leading players operating in the aircraft insulation market report.

Related Reports:

Aircraft Cabin Interiors Market by Type (Aircraft Seating, IFEC, Aircraft Cabin Lighting, Aircraft Galley, Aircraft Lavatory, Aircraft Windows & Windshields, Aircraft Interior Panels), End User, Aircraft Type, Material, Region - Global Forecast 2025

Aircraft Fire Protection Systems Market by Product (Fire Detection System, Alarm & Warning, Fire Suppression), Application (Engine, Cabin & Lavatory, APU, Cargo Compartment), Fit (Linefit, Replacement), Aircraft Type and Region - Global Forecast to 2022

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WAKEFIELD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Innovation Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:IPIX) ("the Company"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, today provided an update on clinical development plans for Brilacidin, the Company's defensin-mimetic drug candidate being evaluated in clinical testing for multiple indications.

The Company remains optimistic about Brilacidin even though the Brilacidin Phase 2 COVID-19 clinical trial did not meet its primary endpoint. There is much still to learn from the trial, with full analysis of the data ongoing. Should deeper analysis yield promising data, the plan is to submit Brilacidin for inclusion in government-sponsored COVID-19 clinical trial platforms.

The Company is further encouraged by compassionate use of Brilacidin, which involved the treatment of extremely critically-ill patients who had exhausted all other therapeutic options. Compassionate use cases comprised Brilacidin being administered over a longer duration (up to 10 days) than in the Phase 2 COVID-19 trial (3 and 5 day dosing), with some patients also receiving higher and more frequent dosing (two doses every 24 hours). Patient data is planned to be compiled and evaluated, which may shed additional light on Brilacidin's treatment potential in COVID-19.

More broadly, evaluation of Brilacidin's broad-spectrum antiviral properties continues through collaborations with NIH scientists and academic researchers, and may introduce opportunities to study Brilacidin in neglected tropical diseases. The Company plans to announce new findings as they are reported to us.

The Company also has not lost sight of the fact that, while Brilacidin for COVID-19 moved to the forefront due to the global pandemic, the focus pre-COVID was on developing Brilacidin for Ulcerative Colitis and Oral Mucositis, both areas of large unmet need with substantial commercial opportunities.

New Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) treatments are sought after given IBD's complex pathogenesis and variability in patient response to any one drug. Oral delivery of Brilacidin to the gut is focused on developing an immediate release, multi-particulate capsule formulation in preparation for clinical testing of Brilacidin in Ulcerative Colitis. Research on Brilacidin stability in the GI tract and its interaction with the gut's microbiome also is underway. Oral Mucositis (OM), a painful side-effect of chemoradiation, similarly represents a tremendous unmet need, as there are no approved drugs for prevention of severe OM. The OM competitive landscape has changed significantly, the result of recent later-stage clinical trial failures by Oragenics, Soligenix and Galera. Development of an optimized Brilacidin oral rinse formulation is in progress, with potential to progress to Phase 3 OM testing in 2022.

The Company believes strongly in Brilacidin's treatment potential and its commercial prospects as a novel drug candidate proven to have antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. We remain committed to the advancement of our pipeline on multiple fronts and will provide additional updates on pre-clinical and clinical developments as they occur.

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About Innovation Pharmaceuticals

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPIX) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a world-class portfolio of innovative therapies addressing multiple areas of unmet medical need, including inflammatory diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and dermatologic diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements concerning future drug development plans, statements regarding the antiviral capabilities and therapeutic potential of Brilacidin and its potential impact on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and other viruses. Other statements regarding future product developments, including with respect to specific indications, and any other statements which are other than statements of historical fact. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are risks related to conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and seeking regulatory and licensing approvals for Brilacidin and Kevetrin in the United States and other jurisdictions, including without limitation that the Company's compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere; prior test results may not be replicated in future studies and trials; the Company's need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development, including the amount and timing of the sale of shares of common stock under securities purchase agreements; and the Company's licensee(s) may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing and the Company will not receive milestone payments. A more complete description of these and other risk factors is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to the Company on the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Leo Ehrlich

info@ipharminc.com

SOURCE: Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Gemina Laboratories Ltd. (CSE:GLAB)(FRA:8I7) (the "Company" or "Gemina") is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Michael Catt as Senior Scientific Adviser to the Company.

Professor Catt is an expert in in-vitro diagnostic development for human health and wellbeing. In a storied career, he has held senior development roles at some of the world's leading in-vitro diagnostic and human wellness companies. While at Unilever, Professor Catt served as Head of Research for Women's Health at Unipath and was a co-originator of novel consumer health and wellbeing products marketed under the Clearblue and Clearplan brands, now part of Swiss Precision Diagnostics. Subsequent roles with both multinational and diverse technology start-ups have similarly led to further contributions to novel health and wellbeing products and services. Professor Catt co-created Unilever's 'Healthy Ageing' programme, directly leading to his appointment as a Professor of Practice at the Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University and his subsequent contribution to the establishment of the UK's new National Innovation Centre for Ageing, serving as Director and as Co-Principal Investigator for the UK National Institute of Health Research Innovation Observatory. Professor Catt is now Emeritus Professor at Newcastle University Population Health Sciences Institute and holds a prestigious Turing fellowship.

Gemina began working with Professor Catt in November 2020, at which time Professor Catt, in support of Paragreen Associates, undertook a technical review of the Company's surface chemistry platform. After the conclusion of that review process, Professor Catt continued to work with Gemina on an advisory basis - a role that has already proved immensely productive, as the Company has evolved successive generations of its platform.

"The Company is immensely fortunate to work with someone of Mike's stature," stated Rob Greene, Gemina's co-founder and CTO. "Mike brings to Gemina his internationally significant expertise in the rapid testing domain, and a global network of potential partners in academia, industry and government. It's fair to say that Mike could devote his talents to any number of opportunities, so it is with great pleasure that we're able to formalise his role within Gemina. It is very exciting looking forward to what we will accomplish working together."

In conjunction with the appointment, pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, Gemina has granted options to acquire 100,000 common shares of the Company, at an exercise price of $0.45 cents per common share exercisable for a term of 5 years from the date of grant, subject to vesting requirements.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John Davies

CEO

Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

About Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

Gemina Labs is a biosensor and diagnostic company with a transformative, patented, proprietary chemistry that powers next-generation testing platforms for a wide range of pathogens that affect human health and wellness. Our technology drives testing platforms that are fast, affordable and accurate, and easily self-administered. Our development pipeline includes platforms for the rapid testing of COVID-19, influenza and other viruses. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.geminalabs.com.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Such statements include statements regarding the anticipated terms of any proposed transaction or engagement. Information and statements which are not purely historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Furthermore, the Company is presently unable to fully quantify the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic will have on its operations and recognizes that certain eventualities may affect planned or assumed performance moving forward. As such, any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

For more information regrading the Company, please contact:

James Tansey

Telephone: 604-562-4546

Email: investor@geminalabs.com

SOURCE: Gemina Laboratories Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673567/Gemina-Labs-Announces-Appointment-Of-Senior-Scientific-Adviser
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Honouring Canada's outstanding leaders under 40 years of age, the recipients of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 were announced today in the National Post.

Canada's Top 40 Under 40 independent Advisory Board, comprising 30 notable and experienced leaders from across Canada, met on October 5, 2021 to select the Honourees from a short list put together by Caldwell. A call for nominations was carried out from February to June, garnering close to 1,200 nominations from across Canada.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the selection of this year's Top 40. It's easy to understand why we recognize and celebrate these 40 individuals- as you will see, they are truly remarkable young leaders who are dedicated to and passionate about their work and their communities," said Jeff Freeborough, Managing Partner of Caldwell's Toronto office. "We are committed to the Top 40 program and continuing to share these inspiring stories and celebrating our nation's young leaders. It's been terrific to work with PwC, who embraced their role as Presenting Partner."

The 2021 Honourees are announced in a special feature section today in the National Post and will be profiled in the March 2022 edition of FP Magazine. Honourees will also be interviewed on BNN Bloomberg over the next several weeks.

Tonight, the Honourees will come together for a virtual reception where they will meet each other, as well as advisory board members, program partners and past Honourees. In-person events are expected to take place next Spring where the recipients will be presented with their awards.

"Canada's future is bright, this year's Honourees are an excellent group of diverse young Canadian leaders, making an impact in their communities," said Matthew Wetmore, Managing Partner, Industries and Regions, PwC Canada. "It's important to celebrate and nurture the ideas, aspirations and ambitions of these talented Canadian business leaders. Through the Top 40 Under 40 recognition, we are encouraging and shining a spotlight on talented leaders, which better positions Canada to compete on the world stage."

The 2021 Recipients of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 are:

Jason Abbate

Senior Vice President, Development & Production

Cenovus Energy

Michael Acko

President, Scott Hydro-Vac and

CEO, EnviroBore Directional Drilling

Guy Amini

President

dentalcorp

Dr. Meghan Azad

Co-Director, Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre (MILC) & Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Child Health

University of Manitoba

Mark Boots & Louis Dorval

Co-founder & CTO | Co-Founder & COO

Viamo

Candace A. Borland

Partner, President

Anomaly Inc.

Janice Ciavaglia

Chief Executive Officer

Assembly of First Nations

Jacqueline Cook

Chief Operating Officer

Vendasta

Jonathan Davey

Vice President, Indigenous Financial Services

Scotiabank

Joshua Davis & Daryl Ee

Co-Founders & Co-CEOs

Speedee Transport & Stark TMS

Ryan Dunfield

Chief Executive Officer

SAF Group

Derrick Emsley

Co-founder & CEO

tentree & veritree

Brittany Forsyth

Founding Partner

Backbone Angels

Vincent Giove

Vice President & COO

Rustica Foods Inc.

Jesse Guth

Chief Executive Officer

Avid Apparel

Dr. Siba Haykal

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon/Scientist

University Health Network

University of Toronto

Sarah Joyce

Senior Vice President, E-Commerce

Sobeys Inc.

Andrew Joyner

Managing Director

Tricon Residential

Dr. Jean-Philippe Julien

Senior Scientist, Molecular Medicine Program

The Hospital for Sick Children

Yash Karia

President & CEO

Agrocrop Exports Ltd.

Michael Ladha

Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary

Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro

Dr. Alika Lafontaine

President-Elect

Canadian Medical Association

Seema Lakhani

Chief Product Officer

Wattpad

Isaac Langleben

CEO & Co-Founder

Open Farm

Rob Marsh

President

Liberty Mutual Canada

Mathew Mehrotra

Chief Digital Officer

BMO Financial Group

Leon Ng

Founder & CEO

LNG Studios

Jessica Nordlander

Chief Operating Officer

ThoughtExchange

Lekan Olawoye

Founder & CEO

Black Professionals in Tech Network Inc.

Dr. Teresa Purzner

Neurosurgeon & Entrepreneur

KHSC & Cerebelly

Salima Remtulla

Vice President, Operations & Corporate Strategy

Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.

Tyler Robson

Chief Executive Officer, Co-Founder & Chair

The Valens Company

Adam Segal

President & CEO

Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc.

Sonia Sennik

Executive Director Creative Destruction Lab

Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto

Carolyn Stewart

Executive Director

Feed Ontario

Angela Thompson

Vice President, Project Services & Director, Environmental Services

FLINT, a division of ClearStream

Amelia Warren

Chief Executive Officer

Epicure

Dr. Vikramaditya Yadav

Professor

The University of British Columbia

Maayan Ziv

Founder & CEO

AccessNow

Dr. Jennifer Zwicker

Director Health Policy and Associate Professor

University of Calgary, DSO Kids Brain Health Network

For the full list of Honourees with biographies, please visit https://canadastop40under40.com/honourees-2021.html

Canada's Top 40 Under 40 is an annual recognition of the exceptional achievements of 40 outstanding Canadians under the age of 40. In addition to Caldwell and PwC, the program is supported by several prominent organizations: National Partner Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.; Media Partners BNN Bloomberg and National Post; Travel Partner Air Canada; Event Partner ergocentric Seating Systems; with fact checking and verification carried out by Inline Reference Check.

Founded in 1995 by Caldwell, Top 40 has recognized more than 800 outstanding Canadians and is the country's most coveted award for young leaders. Honourees have a remarkable track record of achievement after their win; the ranks of Top 40 alumni include hundreds of nationally and internationally prominent CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, public sector and social economy leaders. Visit the website www.canadastop40under40.com for nomination details and timelines.

About PwC

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 7,000 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with more than 284,000 people in 155 countries. Find out more by visiting us at: www.pwc.com/ca.

 2021 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

About Caldwell Partners

Caldwell Partners is a technology-powered talent acquisition firm specializing in recruitment at all levels. Through two distinct brands - Caldwell and IQTalent Partners - the firm leverages the latest innovations in AI to offer an integrated spectrum of services delivered by teams with deep knowledge in their respective areas. Services include candidate research and sourcing through to full recruitment at the professional, executive and board levels, as well as a suite of talent strategy and assessment tools that can help clients hire the right people, then manage and inspire them to achieve maximum business results.

Caldwell Partners' common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:CWL) and trade on the OTCQX Market (OTCQX:CWLPF). Please visit our website at www.caldwellpartners.com for further information.

For further information, please contact:

Michelle Jursa

Caldwell

mjursa@caldwellpartners.com

+1 416 934 2226

Julie Ibrahim

PwC

Julie.ibrahim@pwc.com

+1-416-356-8182

SOURCE: Caldwell Partners International, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673521/CALDWELL-and-PwC-Announce-2021-Canadas-Top-40-Under-40R-Honourees
Dick Weil to Retire After 12 Years as CEO; Effective 31 March 2022

Board of Directors Commences Search for Successor

Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE/ASX: JHG) ("JHG" or the "Company")today announced that Dick Weil intends to retire as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Company's Board of Directors, effective 31 March 2022. The Board has initiated an internal and external search process with the assistance of a leading executive search firm to identify a successor to lead Janus Henderson through its next phase of growth. To ensure a seamless transition, Mr. Weil will remain in his role until March 2022 and assist Janus Henderson with an orderly transfer of responsibilities, serving as an adviser to the Company through 30 June 2022.

Richard Gillingwater, Chairman of the Board of Directors stated, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Dick for his outstanding service to Janus Henderson over a 12-year career. As the leader of Janus Capital Group, Dick successfully executed the merger integration that has resulted in the Janus Henderson that we know today. Under his vision and stewardship, the Company has transformed into one of the world's leading active asset managers with steadfast investment principles and an unmatched commitment to serving clients. Dick has instilled a unified culture of excellence throughout Janus Henderson and, as a result, we have built a strong global franchise well positioned for continued growth.

Dick Weil, said, "It has been a true privilege to lead Janus Henderson, and I am incredibly proud of all that our team has achieved over my 12 years with the Company. Together with my colleagues, we have built a strong operational and financial foundation, extended our product offering, created significant value for our clients and our shareholders alike, and successfully positioned the Company for future growth. With the Company operating from a position of strength, I believe that now is the right time to begin the search for a new CEO who will continue the journey of growth that the firm is on. While the search process for my successor is underway, I remain committed to working alongside the Board and executive team to further our strategy and, to ultimately ensuring a seamless transition. In announcing my retirement, I do so with full confidence in my colleagues and their ceaseless dedication to delivering excellence."

Mr. Gillingwater continued, "We wish Dick the very best on his well-deserved retirement and we look forward to working with him as we transition to the Company's next CEO. The Board's focus is on ensuring we identify a leader who can build on our success to date, and who has the relevant skills and expertise to enable us to realise our growth opportunities, expand into new markets and products and continue to drive value for our clients and shareholders."

Mr. Weil was instrumental in executing the transformational merger of Janus Capital Group Inc. and Henderson Group plc. to form Janus Henderson Group plc. During his tenure as CEO, Mr. Weil successfully established Janus Henderson as a global asset manager. He prioritised hiring top talent and reinvented, strengthened, and modernized Janus Henderson's products and business model, all with the purpose of delivering results for clients and long-term profit for shareholders. He implemented a company culture that has always put the client first, which values diversity and inclusion of thought, and has delivered long-term profit for shareholders.

About Janus Henderson

Janus Henderson Group 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 September 2021, Janus Henderson had approximately US$419 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).

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCLAIMER

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal and fluctuation of value. A client commitment is not a guarantee that a stated objective will be met

This release includes statements concerning potential future events involving Janus Henderson Group that could differ materially from the events that actually occur. The differences could be caused by a number of factors, including those factors identified in Janus Henderson Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2020 and in subsequent filings or furnishings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time (Commission file no. 001- 38103), including those that appear under headings such as 'Risk Factors' and 'Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations'.

Many of these factors are beyond the control of Janus Henderson Group and its management. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are as at the date on which such statements were made. Janus Henderson Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005239/en/

Contacts:

Investor enquiries:

Jim Kurtz

Co-Head Investor Relations (US)

+1 (303) 336 4529

jim.kurtz@janushenderson.com

Melanie Horton

Co-Head Investor Relations (Non-US)

+44 (0)20 7818 2905

melanie.horton@janushenderson.com

Or

Investor Relations

investor.relations@janushenderson.com

Media enquiries:

Sarah de Lagarde

Global Head of Communications

+44 (0) 20 7818 2626

sarah.delagarde@janushenderson.com

Stephen Sobey

Head of Media Relations

+44 (0) 20 7818 2523

stephen.sobey@janushenderson.com
Pentwater Capital Management LP ("Pentwater"), the largest minority shareholder of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("Turquoise Hill") (TSX:TRQ) (NYSE:TRQ), wrote the following letter to Rio Tinto plc ("Rio Tinto" or "Rio") (LSE:RIO) Director Mr. Ben Wyatt and the rest of the Rio Tinto Board. Unfortunately, neither Mr. Wyatt nor any other member of the Rio Tinto Board has responded to explain the continued corporate governance breaches Rio Tinto continues to inflict upon Turquoise Hill minority shareholders.

Dear Mr. Wyatt,

I write on behalf of Pentwater Capital Management, LP ("Pentwater"), the largest minority shareholder of Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. ("TRQ") to ensure that you are personally aware of how flagrantly your fellow members of the Rio Tinto board have and continue to breach all reasonable standards of appropriate corporate governance with regard to Rio's controlled subsidiary, TRQ.

I am reaching out directly to you because you recently joined the Board of Rio Tinto after your retirement from the Western Australia Parliament. Given your notable interest in the rights of indigenous peoples, I assume that when you joined the boards of large corporations like Rio Tinto and Woodside Petroleum this year, your intention was to guarantee good governance and ensure the protection of the countries in which these companies operate.

When new board members take their seats, there is often the temptation to defer to the other, more "experienced" board members and C-suite corporate management types and to give the benefit of the doubt, at least for a time, to the corporate culture of the company one has joined. In the case of Rio Tinto, this would be a grave mistake, especially because you are legally and reputationally responsible for all decisions the Board collectively makes from your first day as a Director.

Of course, you have intimate knowledge of Rio's brazen actions in Australia in regard to the Juukan Gorge, and I assume you are at least aware of other misconduct and resulting criminal and other government investigations across the globe, all of which at least occurred or were initiated well before you joined the Board. But there is one instance of flagrant, unacceptable corporate governance on the part of Rio that is coming to a head under your watch: Rio's mismanagement and resulting coverup at the Oyu Tolgoi mine, at the cost of the people of Mongolia and TRQ minority shareholders.

TRQ owns 66% of the entity that owns the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia. The Government of Mongolia owns the other 34%. Rio Tinto's interest in the mine is exclusively through TRQ. As TRQ's majority shareholder, however, Rio Tinto has controlled the election of TRQ's board of directors, has selected TRQ's management team and generally exerts absolute control over all of TRQ's actions. Rio Tinto's interests in the mine, however, are conflicted, as Rio also serves as the mine's contractor and TRQ's primary negotiator with the Government of Mongolia. Remarkably, even in purported negotiations between Rio Tinto and TRQ regarding the mine, the TRQ representatives "negotiating" with Rio are often merely Rio Tinto employees temporarily seconded to TRQ. Rio has refused all attempts by minority shareholders of TRQ to have representation on the board.

At this very moment, Rio is in negotiations with the Government of Mongolia to compensate the government (which owns 34% of the Oyu Tolgoi mine) for the cost overruns and schedule delays caused by Rio Tinto. Hopefully you are aware that an independent group of experts, consisting mostly of mining experts formerly employed by Rio on the Oyu Tolgoi project, has already found that Rio Tinto itself was responsible for the $1.5 billion cost overrun and two year schedule delay. In addition, this same group of experts found that Rio hid these facts from both the government and shareholders. If you haven't been provided with a copy of the nearly 200 page report, we encourage you to ask Rio's management team for a copy. The report concludes that, "[Rio's] lack of a comprehensive, overall project management and project controls team, beginning during project preparation and restart, is the fundamental reason for the project delay and cost overruns."(ICG Peer Report, p. 17)

The key thing that has made the negotiations so difficult with the government of Mongolia is that Rio both failed to be honest about the schedule delays and cost overruns at the time they were happening and then ultimately fabricated a story about adverse geotechnical conditions to cover up its own lies and mismanagement. The report had the following to say on this topic:

"The project began to fall behind schedule almost from the beginning. The sinking (and commissioning) of Shafts #2 #5 was critical to completing HNL1 on schedule. Shaft #2, critical to support development and construction activities for the project, was completed 461 days behind schedule. This caused a delay in the mobilization of development crews, which is the fundamental reason that mine development is behind schedule. The project team never recovered from this delay." (ICG Peer Report, p. 5)

"It is inconceivable that Senior Management both on the Project site and in the higher-level committees were not aware of these shortcomings, as reports were generated on a regular basis by the schedulers who were working in the Project Controls section and by the relevant area managers. But there was also a culture on site that did not welcome negative albeit actual, reporting." (ICG Report, p. 92)

"ICG does not consider ground support variances due to design changes Key Geotechnical Parameter changes. The Rio Tinto statement that these isolated poorer than expected ground conditions significantly impacted the schedule is misleading and not supported in the documents reviewed." (ICG Report, p. 111).

In August 2018, Rio Tinto had its consultant, Broadleaf, conduct a range analysis of chances that the base date of 28 May 2021 for Sustainable Production "had a zero likelihood of being achieved." (ICG Report, p. 44).

It has been publicly reported that a compensation package of over $2 billion has been offered to the government of Mongolia. Obviously, since Turquoise Hill (owner of 66% of the mine) has been harmed by Rio's concealed mismanagement just like the Mongolian government, it is natural that Turquoise Hill should be compensated as well. However, Rio is not compensating Turquoise Hill at all. Instead, Rio Tinto is requiring TRQ to pay the compensation that Rio should be paying to the government of Mongolia. Press reports have stated that TRQ will be forgiving $1.6 billion of debt owed by Mongolia to TRQ as compensation for Rio's lies and mismanagement.

This is outrageous. If Rio's lies and mismanagement harmed the owners of the Oyu Tolgoi mine, then all the owners of the mine should be compensated. Rio should not be permitted to use its influence and control over TRQ to get TRQ to pay $1.6 billion for the damages Rio's actions caused. TRQ minority shareholders are victims because of both the billions of dollars lost due to Rio's concealed mismanagement of the underground construction and the billions of dollars that Rio is forcing TRQ to pay to the government of Mongolia to compensate it for Rio's mismanagement.

Your resume suggests that you should care about corporate governance and the protection against exploitation of the citizenry of countries in which Rio Tinto operates. Among your accolades, you have been awarded the Australian Defense Medal. You also served as a lawyer in top Australian law firms and in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Perhaps most notably, you have served as the Western Australia Treasurer and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, an awesome responsibility. You have broken glass ceilings for others who will follow in your footsteps and have demonstrated a dedication to public service that is admirable.

You were also criticized by some for joining the board of Rio Tinto; it is perhaps understandable why some might see your joining a bad corporate actor like Rio Tinto -- especially so soon after leaving public service where you were an outspoken defender of indigenous rights -- as concerning. To us, the fact that you joined Rio Tinto so soon after your retirement from public service could be read in one of two ways. Either you are using your social capital to obtain lush board seats, or you are a true reformer, believing that you can bring true change to the corporate culture of Rio Tinto and, thereby, greatly improving society. We hope that you are the latter.

In the next few weeks, there will likely be a compensation agreement reached with the government of Mongolia. As such, you will be forced to make a decision. Will you vote to allow Rio to continue to exert its complete control over Turquoise Hill to force Turquoise Hill and its minority shareholders to pay for Rio's mismanagement and dishonesty? Or will you be an advocate for good corporate governance and use your voice to make sure that Rio does not force TRQ to pay over $1.6 billion to the government of Mongolia as compensation for Rio's lies and project mismanagement?

It is unfathomable to us that you would jeopardize and forever blemish your otherwise commendable and storied resume as a fighter for the good and moral side of history, all for the sake of going along with the immoral actions undertaken by your fellow Board members and Rio Tinto management. This is why Pentwater is hoping that you can be one of the few people at Rio who actually starts to clean up the current culture of corruption and put in its place a genuine goal of operating Rio's business honestly. What you decide will surely have significant consequences.

I would be very pleased to speak with you anytime regarding these matters to provide you with all of the information that I have learned over the past decade that we have invested in TRQ and Rio Tinto.

Kindest Regards,

Matthew Halbower

Chief Executive Officer

Pentwater Capital Management

Cc: Members of the Board of Directors of Rio Tinto plc

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005500/en/

Contacts:

David Zirin- Chief Operating Officer

Pentwater Capital Management

312-589-6401
New relationship aims to explore broad-based applications for Rockley's non-invasive biomarker sensing platform in research projects

Rockley Photonics (NYSE: RKLY), a global leader in photonics-based health monitoring and communications solutions, formed a strategic relationship to incorporate Rockley's non-invasive biomarker sensing platform into potential clinical and healthcare research studies. Rockley will be working with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY, part of the Mount Sinai Health System, for potential collaboration in future research studies.

The initiative aims to incorporate the next generation of non-invasive biomarker sensing in a series of studies to evaluate the use of wristbands and other wearables for a variety of potential applications, including remote monitoring and diagnosis. Rockley aims to create new opportunities for its photonics-based sensing platform in healthcare and medical applications and help expand the future use of real-time, non-invasive biomarker sensing for people around the globe.

"At Mount Sinai, we pride ourselves on our full-spectrum healthcare activities and relentless pursuit of leveraging the latest cutting-edge technologies in our research," said Zahi A. Fayad, director of the BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "We look forward to designing studies that evaluate the application of mobile, non-invasive sensing capabilities and examine the ability to identify biomarker correlations. The results have the potential for real and substantial impact in mobile health and clinical care."

"We are honored and delighted to incorporate our unique biomarker sensing technology in what could be many exciting and truly eye-opening research studies," said Dr. Andrew Rickman, chief executive officer and founder of Rockley Photonics. "The learnings gained from these studies have the potential to accelerate the development of new algorithms and applications in remote healthcare, from real-time biomarker measurement to early disease state identification. By enabling these new capabilities on a small wearable device, we expect to bring easier access to key health insights to larger and more diverse populations."

Rockley's sensing platform enables clinical and healthcare research practitioners to integrate more comprehensive non-invasive biomarker measurements in their remote monitoring studies. Rockley's patented silicon photonics-based laser technology significantly expands the range of biomarkers that can be detected and measured by current LED-based sensors. This expanded range includes key biomarkers like core body temperature, blood pressure, body hydration, alcohol, lactate, and glucose trends, among others. These new measurement capabilities have the potential to transform digital healthcare by providing real-time insights into a variety of health conditions and by enabling early detection of multiple disease states.

More information about Rockley's digital health monitoring solution is available here: https://rockleyphotonics.com/biomarker-sensing

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding Rockley's future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, and assumptions regarding future events or performance. The words "accelerate," "advance," "aim" "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "developing," "enable," "estimate," "eventual," "expand, "expect," "focus," "future," "goal," "intend," "may," "might," "opportunity," "outlook," "plan," "possible," "position," "potential," "predict," "project," "revolutionize," "seem," "should," "trend," "vision," "will," "would" or other terms that predict or indicate future events, trends, or expectations, and similar expressions or the negative of such expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words or terms does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the following: (a) the anticipated focus, aspects, and benefits of Rockley's new strategic relationship and research initiative with Mount Sinai, including: (i) the exploration of broad-based applications for Rockley's non-invasive biomarker sensing platform in research projects, potential collaboration in future research studies with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and the incorporation of Rockley's non-invasive biomarker sensing platform into potential clinical and healthcare research studies; (ii) the aim to incorporate the next generation of non-invasive biomarker sensing in studies to evaluate the use of wearables for potential applications, including remote monitoring and diagnosis, (iii) the potential creation of opportunities for the sensing platform in healthcare and medical applications and to help expand the future use of real-time, non-invasive biomarker sensing, (iv) the design of studies that evaluate the application of mobile, non-invasive sensing capabilities and examine the ability to identify biomarker correlations and the potential impact thereof on mobile health and clinical care, (v) the potential to accelerate the development of new algorithms and applications in remote healthcare, and (vi) the ability to bring easier access to key health insights and broader participation to larger, more diverse populations by enabling such capabilities; (b) the ability of the sensing platform to enable practitioners to integrate more comprehensive non-invasive biomarker measurements in remote monitoring studies; (c) the potential for Rockley's patented silicon photonics-based laser technology to expand the range of biomarkers that can be detected and measured by current LED-based sensors; (d) the potential of such new measurement capabilities to transform digital healthcare by providing real-time insights about a variety of health conditions and enabling early detection of multiple disease states; (e)the anticipated and potential features and benefits of Rockley's platform, products, and technology, including its digital health monitoring solution; (f) its development of a range of photonic integrated circuits and associated modules, sensors, and full-stack solutions; (g) Rockley's belief that photonics will eventually become as pervasive as micro-electronics; and (h) Rockley's potential to support hyper-scale manufacturing, address a multitude of high-volume markets, and deliver the complex optical systems required to bring transformational products to market.

Forward-looking statements are subject to several risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rockley's control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) Rockley's ability to achieve customer acceptance and commercial production of its products and technology, including in a timely and cost-effective manner; (ii) Rockley's ability to achieve customer design wins and convert memoranda of understanding and development contracts into production contracts; (iii) risks related to purchase orders, including the lack of long-term purchase commitments, the cancellation, reduction, delay, or other changes in customer purchase orders, and if and to the extent customers seek to enter into licensing arrangements in lieu of purchases; (iv) Rockley's history of losses and need for additional capital and its ability to access additional financing to support its operations and execute on its business plan, as well as the risks associated therewith; (v) legal and regulatory risks; (vi) risks associated with its fabless manufacturing model and dependency on third-party suppliers; (vii) Rockley's reliance on a few significant customers for a majority of its revenue and its ability to expand and diversify its customer base; (viii) Rockley's financial performance; (ix) the impacts of COVID-19 on Rockley, its customers and suppliers, its target markets, and the global economy; (x) Rockley's ability to successfully manage growth and its operations as a public company; (xi) fluctuations in Rockley's stock price and Rockley's ability to maintain the listing of its ordinary shares on the NYSE; (xii) Rockley's ability to anticipate and respond to industry trends and customer requirements; (xiii) changes in the current and future markets in which Rockley is or may be engaged; (xiv) risks related to competition and intellectual property; (xv) market opportunity and demand for Rockley's products and technology, as well as the customer products into which Rockley's products and technology are incorporated; (xvi) risks related to international operations; (xvii) risks related to cybersecurity, privacy, and infrastructure; (xviii) risks related to financial and accounting matters; (xix) general economic, financial, political, and business conditions, both domestic and foreign; (xx) Rockley's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of its recently completed business combination with SC Health Corporation; and (xxi) Rockley's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of strategic relationships, including with Mount Sinai, as well as other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Rockley's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, and in other documents Rockley files with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on Rockley's current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions and are not predictions of actual performance. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of these assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those discussed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Rockley will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and Rockley does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005630/en/

Contacts:

Media

Karen Boud

Resonates

Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 898 698

Email: rockley@resonates.com

Investors

Gwyn Lauber

Rockley Photonics

Email: investors@rockleyphotonics.com
EVerZom, a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the biomanufacturing of extracellular vesicles (or exosomes), announced today that it has obtained non-dilutive funding of 2.5 million as the winner of the European EIC Accelerator competition. This funding will enable the company to transfer its extracellular vesicle biomanufacturing technology for a first clinical grade batch production and to accelerate the scale-up of its production capabilities by developing a process compatible with clinical Phase 2/3 for the pharmaceutical industry.

"We are delighted to be the winner of this highly selective European EIC Accelerator program, and we thank all the stakeholders involved in the European Union Horizon Europe program. This funding illustrates EVerZom's disruptive innovation in the biomanufacturing of extracellular vesicles which will provide new therapeutic modalities for tomorrow's regenerative medicine, particularly in cardiac, hepatic, and renal indications. We have just reached a key milestone which gives us good financial visibility until the end of 2022 and we expect to raise a further 3M at the end of 2022. Our ambition remains unchanged: to become the European leader in the biomanufacturing of extracellular vesicles," explains Jeanne Volatron, Co-founder and President of EVerZom.

As a reminder, extracellular vesicles have the capacity to target organs or regenerate tissues in several pathologies such as osteoarthritis, to regrow tissues after a myocardial infarction or even liver and kidney diseases.

Unlocking the challenge to manufacture extracellular vesicles at large scale

EverZom offers a novel production process that is scalable, reproducible and has a robust quality control system. EVerZom's proprietary innovation consists in applying mechanical stimulation on the cells to trigger massive extracellular vesicles release in a reproducible, standardized manner and at large-scale. This approach allows the production of 10 times more extracellular vesicles in 10 times less time.

EverZom is already marketing its biomanufacturing services to various European and US biotechs, notably for vesicular treatments of digestive fistula in patients suffering from autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease or in patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.

About EVerZom

EVerZom, a biopharmaceutical company specialized in the biomanufacturing of exosomes, is at the service of regenerative medicine with new biological tools: extracellular vesicles or exosomes, which are today considered as a safer and more practical alternative to cell-based therapies. http://everzom.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005748/en/

Contacts:

Press:

Florence Portejoie

fportejoie@fp2com.fr
PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary - Copper is the most widely used metal in energy generation, transmission infrastructure, and energy storage. It is the next most used metal after aluminum and steel in the construction, telecommunications, transportation, and automobile manufacturing sectors. Unlike gold, copper projections seem to come in a wider spectrum but they do share that copper will have growth now and in the future. Here are some projections/comments from varied industry insiders (as revealed in Capital.com and Knoema.com). Knomea said: "(23 May 2021) Copper prices reached an all-time high of $10,512 per metric ton on May 9, marking a 130% growth since March 22, 2020. The consensus forecast from three leading sources (IMF, World Bank, and the Australian Government) for 2021 is $8,357. The average year-to-date price as of May 20 was $8,915, which means the forecasts do not reflect an expectation of further increases over the second half of the year. The copper price growth over the course of the past year was driven primarily by the high demand from China, the top copper consumer, as well as growing optimism about the overall economic recovery in view of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. The demand for copper is expected to rise further amid rising concerns about low copper inventories. Active mining stocks mentioned in today's commentary include: Ridgestone Mining Inc. (OTCQB: RIGMF) (TSX-V: RMI), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), BHP Group (NYSE:BHP), Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (OTCPK: CPPMF) (TSX: CMMC).

Capital.com was more optimistic, saying: "Copper prices retreated at the end of October after climbing to their highest level since the market reached record highs in May. The copper price history chart shows that the metal, which is used extensively across industries from construction to automotive, energy and electronics, rose to $10,652 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME) on 19 October, its highest level since May. The LME spot price slipped to $9,849.50 on 27 October, then ticked up to $9,955 per tonne on 29 October. On 1 November, the metal traded at $9,875 per tonne. Analysts at investment banks including ANZ in Australia, Commerzbank in Germany and Goldman Sachs in the US expect the LME spot market to return to a copper price target at the $10,000 per tonne level by the end of the year. For the longer term, Goldman Sachs predicted that copper prices could average $11,875 per tonne in 2022, $12,000 in 2023, $14,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025.

Ridgestone Mining Inc. (TSX-V: RMI) (OTCQB: RIGMF) (FSE: 4U5) BREAKING NEWSRIDGESTONE RECEIVES PERMIT FOR DRILL PROGRAM ON EL COBRE COPPER TARGET AT REBEICO PROJECT - Ridgestone Mining ("Ridgestone") is pleased to announce it has received all of the requisite permits for a maiden drill program on the El Cobre copper target at it's wholly-owned Rebeico copper-gold project in Sonora, Mexico.

The permit was issued by the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales or SEMARNAT, the Mexican regulatory body, which allows for the Company to undertake its maiden drill program. The program will be comprised of 14 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes for a total of approximately 2,700 metres and will be conducted along the main El Cobre structure, where recent grab and rock-chip sampling of the surface stockpile of mined material from the El Cobre structure returned up to 3.5% copper, 53 g/t silver and 0.52 % Mo over widths of up to 5.0 metres. Historical records of past mining by Asarco in the 1960's show that high- grade copper was extracted from two levels to a depth of 180 metres, and that the structure remains open along strike and to depth.

The Company is working with its local drilling contractor to finalize schedules for an upcoming program. In addition, it has engaged with ancillary service providers to prepare the drill sites ahead of the anticipated program.

In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that the Company has engaged Think Ink Marketing Data & Email Services, Inc. ("Think Ink") to provide public relations services in an effort to increase public awareness of the Company and its products, services and securities. The agreement is for six months at a budget of $200,000. Think Ink leverages leading-edge technologies to steer traffic to clients' web properties, drive inquiries, and collect metrics regarding engagement with content. Services provided by Think Ink include SEM (search engine marketing), search retargeting, email campaigns, and social media optimization (e.g., using tactics such as geofencing). With the exception of the agreement to provide the foregoing services, the Company does not have any relationship with Think Ink. Think Ink does not hold, directly or indirectly, and securities of the Company or a right to acquire such securities.CONTINUED.Read this full release and more news for Ridgestone Mining by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-rmi/

In other mining news of note:



Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) recently announced that it has posted its third-quarter 2021 financial and operating results.

The company reported third-quarter 2021 net income attributable to common stock of $1.4 billion, $0.94 per share, and adjusted net income attributable to common stock of $1.3 billion, $0.89 per share, after excluding net credits totaling $79 million, $0.05 per share, primarily associated with tax credits related to the release of valuation allowances at PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI) and a gain on the sale of FCX's remaining cobalt business.

Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) recently said that it is supporting the development of a battery ecosystem in Europe with an investment in Inobat Auto ('InoBat'), a European-based battery technology and manufacturing company. This investment will support the completion of InoBat's research and development centre and pilot battery line in Voderady, Slovakia. Today's investment follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May, outlining an intention to work together to progress the establishment of a "cradle-to-cradle" electric vehicle battery value chain in Serbia.

InoBat, a European based battery manufacturer with a battery research and development facility and pilot plant under development in Slovakia, is actively pursuing plans to build a number of gigafactories, including one in Serbia. The company specialises in the pioneering research, development, manufacture, and provision of premium innovative electric batteries custom-designed to meet the specific requirements of customers within the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorsport, and aerospace sectors.

BHP Group (NYSE:BHP) recently announced that it will sell its 80% stake in the BMC metallurgical coal venture to Stanmore Resources Ltd. in a deal worth up to $1.35 billion, extending the global miner's withdrawal from fossil fuels.

BMC, which is 20% owned by Mitsui & Co. Ltd., has two operating mines in Queensland with a combined output of about 10 million tons of coal a year, as well as the undeveloped Wards Well project. Stanmore, which is majority owned by Singapore's Golden Energy & Resources Ltd., will pay $1.2 billion in cash with a potential follow-up payment of up to $150 million after two years linked to the performance of coal prices.

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (OTCPK: CPPMF) (TSX: CMMC) recently announced strong third quarter 2021 financial and operating results. All currency is in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. All results are reported on a 100% basis.

"We continued to deliver strong operating metrics and impressive operating cash flow," commented Gil Clausen, Copper Mountain's President and CEO. "With a healthy and increasing cash position, we are on track to advancing our organic growth objective of tripling 2020 production within the next five years, while maintaining a solid balance sheet. Our Net Debt to trailing twelve-month EBITDA(1) continues to improve, reaching 0.6 at the end of the quarter."

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated forty five hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Ridgestone Mining Inc. by a non affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.



This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.



Contact Information:

email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com

+1(561)325-8757
SHANGHAI, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bin Yuan Capital, an asset management company in China announced today that the firm has committed to the Net Zero Asset Managers (NZAM) Initiative, which is part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.

Bin Yuan Capital has fully incorporated ESG factors across its investment portfolios since it was formed by the ex-GE Asset Management Team in China in 2012. Its UCITS fund launched in April 2018 with the Bin Yuan "All China" strategy has been designated as an Article 8 fund under SFDR classifications - 'environmental and socially promoting' fund disclosures.

Bin Yuan believes that Responsible Investment brings superior investment returns and has a positive impact on society. By fully incorporating its proprietary in-house ESG framework into its risk management and investment process, the firm plays a leading role in helping portfolio holding companies develop and engage with sustainable growth practices.

Since joining the PRI in 2019, Bin Yuan challenged itself to extend the true value of reaching net-zero. As a Climate Action 100+ investor, Bin Yuan Capital is responsible for direct engagements with focus companies, individually and collaboratively.

As China's first committed asset manager, Bin Yuan Capital is committed to supporting the goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner with reduction targets set for 2030, in line with global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Ping Zhou, CIO and CEO, Bin Yuan Capital, said: "Our ESG framework mirrors our objective to run a portfolio that resonates with people's desire for a better life, which is consistent with global trends and the China government's strategic environmental goals."

About Bin Yuan Capital Limited

Bin Yuan Capital is an asset management company specialised in investing in Chinese public listed equities. Bin Yuan is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") to carry on regulated activities of Type 9 (asset management) since 17th December 2012 and Type 4 (advising on securities) since 11th March 2016. In 2014, Bin Yuan was registered as an Investment Advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on 17th January. In the same year, Bin Yuan was recognised as the Asset Manager under Asset Management Association of China ("AMAC") in August.

Website:

https://www.binyuancapital.com/gywm
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Argo Gold Inc.'s (CSE: ARQ) (OTCQB: ARBTF) and (XFRA, XSTU, XBER: A2ASDS) ("Argo Gold") 2021 exploration program extended the strike length of the mineralized zones at Woco to 400 metres, at Northgate to 500 metres and at Raingold a new zone of mineralization was identified 100 metres east of Raingold. At Raingold, channel sample results are pending from the south extension zone stripped for 280 metres along a shear zone with abundant sulphides. Exploration drilling to date at the Uchi Gold Project has tested mineralization to depths of 60 to 120 metres with the exception of Woco drill hole AGU-19-007 that intersected 7.4 g/t Au over 0.5 metres was intercepted at depth of about 200 metres.

Northgate

At Northgate, the zone of known gold mineralization was extended to 500 metres from 225 metres with 15 metres of strike length of very high-grade gold exposed right at surface. Drill Hole AGN-21-024 intersected 26.26 g/t Au over 2.65 metres, Drill Hole AGN-21-025 intersected 9.24 g/t Au over 0.95 metres and Drill Hole AGN-21-30 located 225 metres northeast of the Northgate high-grade gold mineralization intersected 22.7 g/t Au over 1.15 metres. The 15 metres of high-grade gold in surface channel sampling at Northgate includes 43.5 g/t Au over 1.65 metres, 40.1 g/t Au over 1.65 metres, 37.7 g/t Au over 1.6 metres and 77.5g/t Au over 0.65 metres.

Raingold

At Raingold, there is surface high-grade gold with 2021 channel sampling results of 32.84 g/t Au over 2.5 metres width. Channel sample results are pending from the south extension zone stripped for 280 metres along a shear zone with abundant sulphides. 2021 drill results identified the mineralized zone 100 metres north of the high-grade gold along with a second mineralized trend of anomalous gold in breccia interpreted to be a new mineralized structure 100 metres east the HST trend which hosts the high-grade Raingold mineralization. The 15 metres of high-grade gold in surface channel sampling at Raingold includes 31.2 g/t Au over 2.3 metres, 29.8 g/t Au over 1.9 metres, 10.3 g/t Au over 1.9 metres and 5.4 g/t Au over 2.65 metres.

Woco

Drill hole AGW-21-020 tested the Woco Vein from the east looking for footwall structures and intersected with 1.92 g/t Au over 1.1 metres at 121 metres. Drill hole AGW-21-021 was a 200-metre step-out south of the high-grade Woco Vein and intersected an altered zone of quartz, epidote, and tourmaline and anomalous gold of 0.45 g/t Au over 1 metre at 78.85 metres. A 3.13 m wide lamprophyre dike located near the mineralized/altered zone and indicates the deep-rooted nature of the high-grade Woco vein system. Drill results at the Woco Zone also include 132.3 g/t Au over 1.8 metres at 88 metres and 20.4 g/t Au over 0.5 metres at 107 metres. Surface high-grade gold mineralization from channel sampling at Woco include 10.4 g/t Au over 1.1 metres and 58.2 g/t Au over 0.55 metres.

Uchi Break Exploration

The Uchi Break is located 230 metres west of the Woco mineralized trend. Drill hole AGU-21-019 tested a gold biogeochemical anomaly located on the Uchi Break and intersected 0.45 g/t Au over 1.4 metres in massive and semi-massive sulphides that were intersected at 75.1-75.8 metres and 76.9-80.4 metres. This drill hole is 190 metres south of AGU-19-009 that intersected 0.35 g/t Au over 3.6 metres in similar massive and semi-massive sulphides of pyrite and pyrrhotite.

Woco-Northgate Corridor

Three drill holes tested the structural corridor between the high-grade Woco Vein and the high-grade Northgate zone that also had a biogeochemical anomaly. Both AGU-21-22 and AGU-21-23 identified quartz veins and quartz/carbonate veinlets with disseminated sulphides near the end of the drill holes along the strike extension of the lithostructural trend that hosts the Woco and Northgate Zones. In addition, drill holes AGU-21-22 and AGU-21-32 intersected multiple zones of sulphide-bearing rocks with anomalous gold assays. The sulphide mineralization consists of abundant pyrite and pyrrhotite with minor chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena.

Map 1

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QA/QC

Samples were geologically logged, the information was captured digitally, and sample locations were marked directly in the core box. Cutting was done on site by Argo personnel and securely bagged. Samples were subsequently transported by Argo Gold personnel to Dryden to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (ActLabs) which is ISO 17025 accredited. A rigorous program of inserted duplicates, blanks and standards was instituted. The laboratory batch size was 35 samples, so Argo Gold ensured that blanks, duplicates and inserted OREAS control standards (three separate standards representing low, medium and high-grade values) were inserted every twenty samples. These results have been scrutinized and values were well within high tolerances. Every sample was analyzed for Fire Assay Gold with either an AA (Atomic Absorption) or gravimetric finish. Where values were over 5,000 ppb, the sample was then re-assayed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish.

At ActLabs, the samples were sorted and dried in a 60C oven. Each sample was then crushed up to 90% passing 10 mesh, riffle split, and a 250g sample was pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh. The pulverized samples were analyzed for gold using a Fire Assay with an AA, (or gravimetric as noted above) finish. ActLabs also has their internal system of inserted blanks, duplicated and inserted control standards which they used to ensure quality of the results.

William Kerr, P.Geo., consulting geologist of Argo Gold, is the Qualified Person, as defined by National Instrument 43-101, who has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

Argo Gold

Argo Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company, focused on gold exploration at the Uchi Gold Project in the Red Lake District. Argo Gold recently added the Talbot Lake Gold Project to its portfolio; (Argo Gold news release June 11, 2020). Information on Argo Gold can be obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Argo Gold's website at www.argogold.com. Argo Gold is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (www.thecse.com) CSE: ARQ, OTCQB: ARBTF and XFRA, XSTU, XBER: A2ASDS.

For more information please contact:

Judy Baker, CEO

(416) 786-7860

jbaker@argogold.ca

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104184
The latest research on the decorative paints market by FMI provides detailed analysis of key factors and opportunities augmenting growth in the market. The decorative paints industry analysis uncovers critical trends driving sales across segments in terms of product type, formulation, application, and sales channel.

DUBAI, U.A.E., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per a recent survey by FMI, the global decorative paints market size is expected to top US$ 57.8 Bn in 2021. Increasing construction of commercial, residential, and institutional buildings across the world is driving the market. On account of this, the decorative paints market is projected to surpass US$ 87.8 Bn by the end of 2031.

Sales of decorative paints grew at a CAGR of 1.8% between 2016 and 2020. Increasing disposable income, growing standard of living, and rising infrastructural spending by consumers to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their homes are some of the primary factors facilitating the demand for decorative paints. Driven by this, the sales in the Decorative Paints Market are expected to rise at 4.3% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2031.

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Owners of commercial spaces such as hotels, restaurants, and malls are increasingly focusing on improving their interiors to create a warm and welcoming ambiance for increasing customer footfall. In addition to this, expansion of the construction sector due to the trend of urbanization across India, China, and other countries is estimated to propel the demand for decorative paints at a year-on-year growth of 4% through 2021.

On the basis of formulation, the emulsion-based decorative paints segment is projected to account for more than half of the overall revenue share in the market. The primary factor favoring the growth in the segment is the ability of these paints to provide a range of finishes such as silk, flat matt, statin, gloss sheen, and others on substrates as per the customer requirement.

"Leading manufacturers are investing in research and development (R&D) activities to develop new paints with light absorption, insulation reflection, and anti-skid properties to protect walls from temperature change, moisture, and ultraviolet (UV) radiations. These efforts are expected to bode well for the market," says a FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways from Decorative Paints Market Study

The U.S. is estimated to emerge as the largest market in North America , expanding at year-over-year growth of 4.1% through 2021 .

, expanding at year-over-year growth of . China is projected to hold the dominant share in the East Asia market, accounting for nearly 70% of the regional sales in 2021.

is projected to hold the dominant share in the market, accounting for nearly 70% of the regional sales in 2021. The market in India is anticipated to register the fastest growth in South Asia & Pacific, surging at a CAGR of 5.2% over the assessment period.

is anticipated to register the fastest growth in & Pacific, surging at a over the assessment period. Japan and South Korea markets are anticipated to cumulatively account for more than 8.8% of the total decorative paints sales by the end of 2021.

and markets are anticipated to cumulatively account for more than 8.8% of the total decorative paints sales by the end of 2021. Based on the application, the interior segment has emerged as the most remunerative segment in the market, exhibiting sales growth at year-over-year of 4.1% in 2021.

Key Drivers

Introduction of environment-friendly, anticorrosive protection, and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paints is expected to facilitate the growth in the decorative paints market.

Rising demand for interior decorations and increasing renovating activities in residential & commercial houses to improve the aesthetic appeal are spurring the sales of interior paints.

View TOC & Report Preview at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/decorative-paints-market

Key Restraints

Volatility in the cost of essential ingredients, such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), for the production of decorative paints is hampering the growth in the market.

Implementation of stringent regulations regarding the use of petroleum-based paints and rising awareness about the presence of heavy toxic metals such as Lead in decorative paints are restraining the market growth.

Competitive Landscape

Key participants in the global decorative paints market are the Sherwin-Williams Company, PPG Industries, Akzo Nobel N.V., RPM International, Nippon Paints and Asian Paints. As per FMI, these players are estimated to account for nearly 41% of total sales in 2021.

Leading companies are focusing on adopting inorganic strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaboration to expand their production capacity and enhance their product portfolio. Some of the players are also aiming at product development by investing in research and development activities to boost their market presence. For instance,

In November 2020 , Eastman Chemical, an American chemical company, announced its plans to invest for increasing the production capacity at its tertiary Decorative Paints manufacturing facility in Ghent, Belgium , by the end of 2021.

, Eastman Chemical, an American chemical company, announced its plans to invest for increasing the production capacity at its tertiary Decorative Paints manufacturing facility in Ghent, , by the end of 2021. In June 2017 , Sherwin-Williams Company, a leading paints manufacturing company, announced acquiring an American manufacturer of paints and coatings, Valspar Corp. The acquisition will assist the company to increasing its production capacity and expand its paints & coatings product portfolio.

Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are:

Azko Nobel N.V.

Sherwin - Williams Company

PPG Industries, Inc.

Asian Paints Limited

NIPSEA GROUP (Nippon Paint)

Valspar Corporation

Jotun

BASF-SE

Berger Paints India Limited

RPM International Inc.

KANSAI Paints Co., Ltd.

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More Valuable Insights on Decorative Paints Market

The latest report published by Future Market Insights (FMI) offers a detailed analysis on the global decorative paints market, forecast sales and demand growth for the assessment period 2021-2031. The study reveals growth projections in decorative paints market with detailed segmentation:

By Product Type:

Water based paints

Solvent based paints

By Formulation:

Emulsion based paints

Distemper

By Application:

Interior Paints

Exterior Paints

By Sales Channel:

Online

Offline

By Price

Premium

Medium

Economical

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Pacific

& Pacific Middle East & Africa

By Product Type:

Water based paints

Solvent based paints

By Formulation:

Emulsion based paints

Distemper

By Application:

Interior Paints

Exterior Paints

By Sales Channel:

Online

Offline

By Price

Premium

Medium

Economical

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Pacific

& Pacific Middle East & Africa

For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-439

Key Questions Covered in the Report

The report offers insight into decorative paints market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031

The market study also highlights projected sales growth for decorative paints market between 2021 and 2031

Decorative paints 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

Decorative paints market share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage on Chemicals and materials Domain

UV Coatings Market: UV Coatings Market By Base, Composition, End-use Industry & By Region for 2021 - 2031: Analysis and Review.

Renewable Naphtha Market: Over US$ 1.15 BN Incremental Opportunity to be Created in Renewable Naphtha Market Driven by High Demand for Bioplastics: FMI

Lithium Mining Market: Lithium Mining Market to Benefit from Increasing Demand for Electronic Vehicles with Sales Increasing at 8.5% in 2021.

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.

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A recent study on drug of abuse testing market by Future Market Insight (FMI) provides insights into micro and macroeconomic factors, impacting key developments in the market. It analyzes prevailing trends and forecasts sales projection across various segments in terms drug types, technique, and end user for the coming decade.

DUBAI, U.A.E., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per a detailed study by FMI, the global Drug of Abuse Testing Market size is estimated to total US$ 1.5 Bn in 2021. Introduction of analyzers for multi-drug detection at a single run and implementation of employment medical screening practices are projected to favor the demand in the market. On account of this, the drug of abuse testing market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5% over the forecast period 2021-2031.

Growing consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs has led to a significant rise in prevalence of substance use disorders across the world. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), nearly 35 million people are suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs), globally, in 2021. The increasing burden of SUDs is underpinning the importance of adequate testing and abuse detection, which is in turn, propelling the demand for drug of abuse testing systems.

Governments across several countries are adopting various initiatives to monitor and combat substance abuse. For instance, the U.S. Government announced allocating US$ 10 Bn to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand access to drug abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services. Through this, they intended to combat the opioid epidemic. Such initiatives are estimated to spur the sales of drug of abuse testing systems by 6.40% year-over-year between 2020 and 2021.

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On the basis of end user, forensic laboratories are anticipated to emerge as the dominant segment in the market. Surging demand for accurate testing of individuals consuming illegal substances and illicit drugs is a chief factor driving the growth in the market.

"Launch of novel technologies to detect the use of drugs in real-time and increasing adoption of these systems for on-ground epidemiologic investigations across high-priority areas of concern are expected to fuel demand for drug of abuse testing tools," says a FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways from Drug of Abuse Testing Market Study

The U.S. is anticipated to account for the largest share in the North America market backed by government initiatives undertaken to control drug abuse.

market backed by government initiatives undertaken to control drug abuse. China is projected to dominate the market in East Asia , favored by a large presence of key market players and easy availability of raw materials for manufacturing detection devices.

is projected to dominate the market in , favored by a large presence of key market players and easy availability of raw materials for manufacturing detection devices. India is estimated to register a swift growth in the South Asia market, due to the rising burden of opioid dependence among the population in the country.

is estimated to register a swift growth in the market, due to the rising burden of opioid dependence among the population in the country. Japan is expected to emerge as a highly remunerative market, contributing nearly 7% of the total drug of abuse testing sales through 2031.

is expected to emerge as a highly remunerative market, contributing nearly 7% of the total drug of abuse testing sales through 2031. As per the technique, the immunoassays segment is forecast to register the fastest growth in the market, favored by the rising adoption of disposable blood testing devices.

Key Drivers

Introduction of new testing devices with integrated drug warning technologies capable of monitoring drug overdose in real-time is expected to propel the demand for drug of abuse testing systems.

Implementation of regulations for annual surveys of substance and drug use in workplaces, households, and schools across the U.S., the U.K., Japan , and others is spurring the sales of drug of abuse testing systems.

Key Restraints

Lack of awareness among common men and consideration of drug testing as a violation of privacy rights in certain countries are primary factors restricting the growth of the market.

High cost and time required for chromatography testing compared to other techniques are hampering the sales of drug of abuse testing across the segment.

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Competitive Landscape

As per FMI, leading players in the global drug of abuse testing market are estimated to account for nearly 50% to 55% of the overall revenue share during the assessment period.

Companies operating in the market are focusing on research and development (R&D) to launch novel testing systems that are more effective and accurate. Besides this, some of the players are aiming at acquisitions, partnerships, mergers, strategic collaborations to optimize their distribution channels and expand their global footprint. For instance:

In August 2019 , Intoximeters announced entering into a partnership with an American multinational medical devices manufacturer, allowing Intoximeters to market Abbott's SoToxaTM Mobile Test System. This system is a handheld rapid detection solution for oral fluid testing for roadsides.

, Intoximeters announced entering into a partnership with an American multinational medical devices manufacturer, allowing Intoximeters to market Abbott's SoToxaTM Mobile Test System. This system is a handheld rapid detection solution for oral fluid testing for roadsides. In May 2018 , Phenomenex Inc. announced launching its new product Strata-X-Drug B Plus, a product for sample preparation of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) which can be used for urine testing in clinical and forensic laboratories for drug abuse detection.

Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are:

Quest Diagnostics

Roche Holding AG

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Siemens AG (Siemens Healthineers)

Abbott Laboratories (Alere, Inc.)

Shimadzu Corporation

Express Diagnostics International Inc.

Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings.

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More Valuable Insights on Drug of Abuse Testing Market

The latest report by FMI provides a detailed analysis of the global drug of abuse testing market. It also offers credible insights into key factor driving the market through 2021 and beyond. The study discloses growth projections on drsug of abuse testing market with detailed segmentation:

By Drug Type:

Psychostimulants

Narcotic

Cannabinoids

Sedatives

Others

By Technique:

Immunoassay

Chromatography

Rapid Testing

By End User:

Hospitals

Diagnostics Laboratories

Forensic Laboratories

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

South Asia

East Asia

Oceania

Middle East and Africa

Key Questions Covered in the Report

The report offers insight into drug of abuse testing market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031

The market study also highlights projected sales growth for drug of abuse testing market between 2021 and 2031

Drug of abuse testing 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

Drug of abuse testing market share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others

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,

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LONDON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gravitiq, the doctor-founded and led healthcare brand aggregator, today announced the close of its seed funding round, raising a total of $55 million. Investors include CoVenture, an asset management firm investing across the capital stack of tech-enabled companies and Crossbeam Venture Partners, a venture capital firm backing startups building the next generation economy.

With a vision rooted in improving the consumer healthcare space on Amazon, the financing will allow Gravitiq to acquire additional companies and expand their portfolio of e-commerce healthcare brands, as well as scale its team across the US, Europe, and Asia. The company, which is led by medical experts, is focusing on building the world's leading digitally-native consumer e-commerce healthcare company.

"Improving the consumer healthcare industry starts with growing and improving individual companies and businesses," said Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Co-Founder. "With the support of CoVenture and Crossbeam we will be able to greatly expand our reach, lending our medical and e-commerce expertise to more businesses."

"As a team of medical professionals, we have the unique ability to enhance current product offerings, allowing us to scale our brands effectively and stand out from the competition. Improving consumer experience is at the heart of what we do" said Dr. Adam Gunasekara, Co-Founder.

Co-Founder Sachin Srivastava, who began his career at Latham & Watkins, brings his background in M&A and private equity transactions to head up Gravitiq's acquisition process, targeting high quality, reputable healthcare brands. Gravitiq's M&A team combines professionals with backgrounds in investment banking, private equity, and strategy consulting, including McKinsey, Citigroup, and JPMorgan.

The founders' medical-focused approach to e-commerce retail and brand building is behind the success of earlier ventures, previously building an 8-figure e-commerce brand recognized as one of the most successful names in its niche and part of Gravitiq's rapidly expanding healthcare portfolio.

"Gravitiq is at the center of both the Amazon third-party seller space and the online consumer health movement, two rapidly growing themes," said Sakib Jamal, Investor at Crossbeam. "With the team's unique medical background and experience in e-commerce, we are confident in Gravitiq's ability to make best-in-class consumer products more accessible."

The health and personal care category is one of the largest and fastest growing e-commerce segments and currently the second largest niche on Amazon.

About Gravitiq

Gravitiq is the doctor-founded and led healthcare brand aggregator building the leading e-commerce healthcare portfolio. Aiming to improve the overall consumer healthcare space, Gravitiq, a Fulfillment-by-Amazon (FBA) aggregator founded and led by medical doctors, acquires and scales healthcare brands on Amazon. For more information, visit https://www.gravitiq.com/ .

About CoVenture

CoVenture is an asset management firm investing across the capital stack of tech-enabled companies, often providing the first institutional equity and/or debt financing to business operations across financial services, new forms of media, platform economies or industries we are yet to imagine. For more information visit https://coventure.vc/ .

About Crossbeam Venture Partners

Crossbeam Venture Partners (Crossbeam) is a venture capital firm that invests in Seed and Series A startups building tomorrow's economy. Focused on the themes of platform economies, fintech, and legaltech, Crossbeam is built to back companies of the next generation economy and the small businesses of tomorrow. For more information, visit https://crossbeam.vc/ .

CONTACT: Emma Tomas, etomas@hstrategies.com

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Virtual awards ceremony recognizes top innovations transforming the global banking industry

Efma, an association of more than 2,550 retail financial services companies in 133 countries, and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced the winners of the eighth annual Efma-Accenture Banking Innovation Awards during a virtual ceremony.

The awards competition, which recognizes the best in banking innovation, attracted a record-breaking 816 entries from nearly 300 institutions in 73 countries. This year's entries reflect a widespread recognition of the need to innovate and deliver digital, customer-centric products to meet changing preferences amid the disruption resulting from the pandemic.

The winners were selected across eight categories through a peer-based voting process combined with a panel of judges from leading global financial institutions. Each entry was assessed using three criteria: originality; strategic capacity to generate a long-term competitive edge and return on investment; and adaptability for use in other markets and countries.

The winners of the Efma-Accenture Banking Innovation Awards 2021 are:

Santander (Spain) received the Analytics Artificial Intelligence award for Self-driven Finance, an artificial-intelligence-driven data initiative that provides customers with crucial insight that empowers them to manage their finances responsibly.

Intesa Sanpaolo(Italy) won the Digital Marketing Sales award for its Digital Sales Boost program, which combines digital marketing and advertising tools to automate and industrialize commercial leads, reduce time-to-market, and provide personalization at scale.

UniCredit (Italy)- received the Future Workforce award for U-City, a gamification initiative that enhances employee knowledge of digital products and services, enabling employees to become digital ambassadors to their customers.

Raiffeisen Bank International(Austria) - won the Offering Innovation award for Nicole, a personal finance management service that gives users a peer spending benchmark to help them make smarter financial decisions.

Minna Bank (Japan) was named the winner of the Neobanks Specialized Players award. Japan's first digital bank, Minna Bank was built from scratch in just 20 months on the Google Cloud, delivering all core banking services digitally to its customers.

Santander(Spain) won the Reimagining the Customer Experience award for the Santander app, which transforms the customer relationship model with an ultra-personalized way to bank, offering automatic operations, savings and related products, along with a tailored financial timeline.

Standard Bank (South Africa) -- won the Social, Sustainable Responsible Banking award for OneFarm Share, a digital food relief platform that combats food shortages in rural areas as a result of the pandemic, delivering approximately 4 million meals to more than 350,000 people.

CaixaBank (Spain)- was named Global Innovator2021 for its impressive digital innovation efforts, which include a new omnichannel customer experience; Noa, its voice banking chatbot; fully digital mortgages and customer onboarding; and its successful neobank, imagin.

"There has been significant disruption over the last 18 months, but the financial services industry is no stranger to disruption," said John Berry, Efma CEO. "This year's edition of the Banking Innovation Awards demonstrates how responsive and dynamic the industry as a whole has been during these unprecedented times. A record-breaking number of submissions show that this pandemic has not hindered banks, but in fact served as an impetus for innovative projects that will change the industry for years to come. It is always a pleasure to highlight the best in financial services, and this year is no different. I congratulate all winners on their achievements and thank everyone who submitted in an especially competitive edition of our annual awards."

Fabrice Asvazadourian, who leads Accenture's Banking industry group in Europe, said, "To sustain their relevance, banks need to understand every market in which they operate and what it takes to succeed. They'll have to be willing to shape new business models, partner in unconventional ways, rediscover their purpose and humanity, and commit to constant innovation. The groundswell of support for the awards this year shows that many banks have met the challenge head-on. Congratulations to the worthy winners."

To find out more about the award-winning innovations, visit innovationinbanking.efma.com or follow the conversation on Twitter at BankingAwards21.

About Efma

A non-profit organization created in 1971 by leading banks and insurance companies, Efma is celebrating this year its 50th anniversary. Counting now a network of 120 financial groups in 133 countries all around the world, Efma facilitates networking between decision-makers. It provides quality insights to help banks and insurance companies make the right decisions to foster innovation and drive their transformation. Headquartered in Paris. Offices in London, Brussels, Barcelona, Stockholm, Bratislava, Dubai, Milan, Montreal, Istanbul, Beijing, Tokyo and Singapore. Learn more www.efma.com.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services all powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 624,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture's Banking industry group helps retail and commercial banks and payments providers boost innovation; address business, technology and regulatory challenges; and improve operational performance to build trust and engagement with customers and grow more profitably and securely. To learn more, visit https://www.accenture.com/us-en/industries/banking-index.

Copyright 2021 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are registered trademarks of Accenture.

This content is provided for general information purposes and is not intended to be used in place of consultation with our professional advisors. This document refers to marks owned by third parties. All such third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. No sponsorship, endorsement or approval of this content by the owners of such marks is intended, expressed or implied.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005886/en/

Contacts:

Jana Lednarova

Efma

+421 915 225 611

jana@efma.com



Melissa Volin

Accenture

+1 267-216-1815

melissa.volin@accenture.com
Industry leaders join forces to provide combined news distribution and advanced investor and public relations solutions to enhance stakeholder engagement and increase workflow efficiencies for global companies

LONDON, EN and RALEIGH, NC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / IHS Markit (NYSE:INFO), a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions, and Issuer Direct Corporation (NYSE American:ISDR), an industry-leading communications company, announced that they will collaborate through a strategic alliance to offer a premier suite of Webhosting, Webcasting and News Distribution products.

Under the agreement, IHS Markit and Issuer Direct, whom together serve the world's leading companies, will give IHS Markit the ability to provide customers with access to a comprehensive communications platform of news distribution, web hosting, design, and webcasting to complement an already best-in-class integrated suite of advanced technology, data science and expertise that helps investor relations professionals target shareholders, communicate effectively, evaluate strategy and improve efficiency.

"This collaboration is a natural next step in support of our Investor Relations clients," said Kelly McGeehan, Head of Issuer Solutions at IHS Markit. "We recently announced the launch of IHS Markit's Capital Access, a platform which empowers IR teams to target and engage investors and prospects while measuring and optimizing success. Today's announced partnership with Issuer Direct will enable our clients to communicate results to the market more efficiently. By combining the power of Capital Access with the efficiency generated through this collaboration, we will now be able to support IR teams more fully throughout their IR workflow. We have a robust partnership network, which enables us to provide outstanding service to companies across all market caps, industries, and geographies, and we are pleased to announce this collaboration with Issuer Direct, a best-in-class provider, which further enhances our ability to deliver for clients."

"We are excited to partner with the IHS Markit team to deliver customers our combined suite of premium services. With over 15 years serving Investor Relations and Public Relations professionals, we will be a significant value add to the current top tier IHS Markit offerings". said Jennifer Hammers EVP of Sales and Marketing for Issuer Direct. "The strategic alliance and partnership will give the IHS Markit IRO customer the ability to take advantage of the most comprehensive technology and distribution in a fast-paced communications landscape."

About Issuer Direct:

Issuer Direct is an industry-leading communications company focusing on the needs of Public Relations and Investor Relations Professionals for over 15 years.Offering a comprehensive suite of communications products, Issuer Direct connects thousands of private and public organizations with journalists, investors, and shareholders, ensuring their most important moments are reaching their audiences. Issuer Direct provides the only flat fee news distribution service through its ACCESSWIRE platform, and is a trusted source for online news for investment professionals for over 4000 companies in over 18 countries. For more information, please visit www.issuerdirect.com.

About IHS Markit

IHS Markit (NYSE:INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world's leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

Issuer Direct Corporation Media Contacts:

Brian R. Balbirnie

+1 919-481-4000

brian.balbirnie@issuerdirect.com

James Carbonara

1+ (646)-755-7412

james@haydenir.com

IHS Markit:

Kate Smith

Tel: +1 781 301 9311

katherine.smith@ihsmarkit.com

SOURCE: IHS Markit and Issuer Direct Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673145/IHS-Markit-and-Issuer-Direct-Announce-Strategic-Alliance-and-Partnership


Navier 27 in Open and Cabin Versions



Navier 27 Top View with Cabin



Navier 27 Top View



Navier27 Electric Foiling Run



Lyman-Morse Shipyard New Facility



Sampriti Bhattacharyya, CEO Navier

SILICON VALLEY, CA, Nov 18, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Just as electric vehicles are having a moment, so are eco-friendly, electric boats. Specifically, an all-electric, hydrofoil, performance craft outfitted with a highly advanced autopilot.Highlights:- Navier is a Silicon Valley startup that's introducing the boat of the future -- a 27-foot all-electric, hydrofoil, performance vessel.- The startup is producing a limited number of boats in its first year under the Pioneer Program.- Navier 27 will be built in the United States with Lyman-Morse shipyard, a well-respected and technologically advanced yard.- Lyman-Morse will build the pre-production vessels and first-year limited-production editions of Navier 27 for the 2023 Pioneer slots.- Navier 27 will be revealed at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October 2022; first-year customer delivery will be in Q2 2023.Navier is a Silicon Valley startup that's building technology to increase the efficiency of small powerboats by 90% while ensuring zero emissions and superior ride performance. To make this vision a reality, co-founders Sampriti Bhattacharyya and Reo Baird signed with Lyman-Morse shipyard in Camden, Maine to build the first year production slot for Navier 27.Lyman-Morse is a well-respected shipyard with roots in the boat building industry dating back to 1978. The yard is well-known for producing custom sailing yachts and custom motor yachts that are sleek and ahead of their time; the company frequently collaborates with naval architects and design firms to bring concepts to life.Navier is producing a limited number of boats in its first year under its Pioneer Program. As the startup focuses on technology development for Navier 27, they wished to partner with an innovative and capable yard. Lyman-Morse is one of the few shipyards in the United States that has experience working with high-tech, carbon composite boats. As a bonus, the shipyard's location is an up-and-coming tech hub with a strong boat-building heritage; Maine is a strategic and ideal setting for Navier's project."Very few shipyards have the extensive experience, in-house capabilities, and deep interest in high-tech projects as Lyman-Morse. Plus, Maine has a long history in boat building, which makes it a special place to build Navier 27," said Co-founder and CEO, Sampriti Bhattacharyya.Navier 27 is a 27-foot foiling performance vessel that's capable of a range exceeding 75 nautical miles under electric propulsion and includes advanced autonomy features. When it launches during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in 2022, it will be the longest-range electric boat in the world. If anyone is capable of making this vision come to life, it's Drew Lyman and his team."What has me - and all of us at Lyman-Morse - excited about the partnership with Navier is that we are developing something that is cutting edge and certain to be the future of yachting in this type of market," commented President and Owner of Lyman-Morse, Drew Lyman. "To build a carbon fiber, foiling, all-electric boat fits well with what we do at Lyman-Morse, plus it's a boatbuilder's dream project. We [Lyman-Morse] built a reputation for beautifully crafted boats, and we are extremely proud of our ability to implement advanced systems and technology. This is exactly what the Navier project embodies!"Spearheaded by two MIT engineers, Navier is teaming up with the most talented minds to build the boat of the future. In July 2021, the startup announced that America's Cup engineer and foiling expert, Paul Bieker is leading Navier's naval architecture and mechanical design by contributing his knowledge in hydrofoil configuration and foil optimization.Lyman-Morse will tie the technology, mechanics, construction, and manufacturing of the boat together."There's a lot to be said about working with a shipyard beyond skills and capabilities. Lyman-Morse is outfitted with the best machines, tools, and technologies that will help Navier reach production goals. Drew has enthusiasm for our vision, and his team truly cares about sustainability," said Sampriti. "We're grateful that Drew and his team are excited to make Navier 27 a reality with us."Customers can register interest at www.navierboat.com or contact the team directly at info@navierboat.com.PRESS OFFICE / SAND PEOPLE COMMUNICATIONsandpeoplecommunication.comElisa Cortie@sandpeoplecommunication.com+39 389 3138060Source: NavierCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
March8 - named in recognition of International Women's Day - will celebrate the achievements of inspirational women from all walks of life

LONDON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizClik Media Group, the UK's fastest growing media company, has announced the launch of March8 - a digital community that celebrates inspirational women.

Inspired by the date of International Women's Day, March8 will provide daily online content, a bimonthly digital magazine, live events, a mentoring programme, and more.

March8 is an inspiring and informative community for women executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and overachievers. The platform recognises, celebrates and champions the achievements and contributions made by women in both business and society.

"When we published a special series of supplements showcasing the Top 100 Women last March for International Women's Day, the reaction was overwhelming and we realised we needed to showcase and celebrate brilliant women every day of the year," says Stacy Norman, Chief Operating Officer, BizClik Media Group.

"That was the inspiration for March8, and we are bringing women together in a positive, inspirational and aspirational community where they can share knowledge, experience and wisdom."

The supportive community offers practical and compelling career, financial and lifestyle resources to help women take their careers to the next level and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

"I am thrilled to be part of the March8 community - an inclusive group of driven and talented individuals looking to educate, motivate and elevate other women," says Lucy Buchholz, Editor in Chief of March8.

"Our March8 Mentorship Programme is just one of the many ways in which we will connect pioneering women across the globe to celebrate their successes and inspire others to achieve fantastic things. We certainly have a lot to look forward to".

www.linkedin.com/company/march8

www.facebook.com/march8magazine

https://twitter.com/March8Magazine

About BizClik Media Group

BizClik Media Group (BMG) is one of the UK's fastest growing media companies with a global portfolio of leading industry, business and lifestyle digital communities.

BizClik's expanding portfolio includes Technology, AI, FinTech, InsurTech, Supply Chain, Procurement, Energy, Mining, Construction, Mobile, Data Centres, Cyber, and Sustainability.

For more information, please visit https://www.bizclikmedia.com/
Location-independent and rapid deployment reduce time-to-market and costs

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, and Proventia Oy, an internationally operating Finnish technology company that provides solutions in the engine, machine and vehicle industries to combat climate change, have collaborated to improve electric vehicle (EV) battery test solutions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005932/en/

Proventia's battery test lab equipped with Keysight's test hardware and software. (Photo: Business Wire)

Automotive manufacturers, suppliers and test facilities need to increase the driving range of an EV, its performance and safety, while reducing costs. When developing and testing high-voltage EV batteries, time becomes critical in a competitive market. The collaboration between Keysight and Proventia delivers a location-independent and safe test lab with rapid implementation time. The test lab incorporates the following key solutions:

Keysight's Scienlab battery test solutions, including the SL1700A series Scienlab Battery test system pack level test high-voltage batteries with up to 1500 V. It addresses safety concerns with features including redundant measurement and utilizes new high-voltage silicon carbide (SiC) technology allowing an energy recovery capability of 96%.

Keysight's Scienlab energy storage discover software, which controls and monitors test systems and lab components from the device under test (DUT), including the battery management system and climatic chambers.

Keysight's software PathWave lab operations for battery test helps manage the entire lab and optimize workflow, data acquisition and handling.

Proventia's standardized, modular and location-independent test units reduce investment time and costs with scalability that enables customers to choose from right sized test chambers for rapid deployment.

Proventia's test laboratories include climatic chamber integration and control, liquid conditioning systems, air conditioning, a control room and DUT preparation space. To prevent hazardous situations and ensure the health of employees when testing batteries, safety features include gas and fire detection, a facility alarm system and access control.

"Combining our experience and knowledge with Keysight has enabled Proventia to quickly deliver an optimized battery test lab that meets our customers' specific needs," says Jari Lotvonen, president and CEO from Proventia.

"Working with Proventia has enabled us to offer customers a modular, safe and fast-to-build test lab infrastructure equipped with Keysight's sophisticated battery test solutions," said Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager for Keysight's Automotive Energy Solutions business unit. "This enables customers to accelerate time-to-market of their battery products without compromising performance, quality and test coverage."

Additional Information

To learn more about the partnership and customer benefits, visit Keysight Booth: 6-460 at The Battery Show to be held November 30th to December 2nd, 2021 in Messe Stuttgart Stuttgart, Germany.

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight delivers advanced design and validation solutions that help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight's dedication to speed and precision extends to software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow's technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimization and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. Our customers span the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. Keysight generated revenues of $4.2B in fiscal year 2020. For more information about Keysight Technologies (NYSE: KEYS), visit us at www.keysight.com.

About Proventia

Proventia Group is an internationally operating technology company that provides solutions and services in the engine, machine, and vehicle industries to combat climate change and to solve the air pollution problem. Proventia develops and manufactures modular test centers for the product development of electric and hybrid vehicles as well as systems and components that increase the energy efficiency of power trains for non-road machines. Proventia takes people, the environment, and future generations into account in all its operations, with zero emissions being the company's vision.

Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at https://www.keysight.com/go/news and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005932/en/

Contacts:

Proventia Contact

Harri Kervinen, Director, Proventia Test Solutions

+358 45 128 1117

harri.kervinen@proventia.com

Keysight Contacts

Geri Lynne LaCombe, Americas/Europe

+1 303 662 4748

geri_lacombe@keysight.com

Fusako Dohi, Asia

+81 42 660-2162

fusako_dohi@keysight.com
Golden Ocean Group Limited will publish its financial results for the third quarter of 2021 on Wednesday 24 November, 2021.

In connection with the release, a teleconference/webcast will be held as described below:

Teleconference and webcast

A conference call will be held at 3:00 P.M. CET (9:00 A.M. New York Time) on Wednesday 24 November, 2021. The presentation will be available for download from the Investor Relations section at www.goldenocean.bm (under "Presentations") prior to the teleconference/webcast.

In order to listen to the presentation you may do one of the following:

a. Webcast

Click the "Webcast" link on www.goldenocean.bm

b. Conference Call

PARTICIPANTS DIAL IN TELEPHONE NUMBERS

International Dial-In: +44 (0) 2071 92 8000 United Kingdom Toll Free: 08003767922 Norway Toll Free: 800 51 874 US Toll-Free: +1 866 966 1396

Participants will be asked for their full name & Conference ID. The Conference ID is 6885309.

Please download the presentation material from www.goldenocean.bm in order to follow the presentation slides while listening to the conference.

REPLAY DETAILS

Replay Access Number: 6885309 International Dial In: +44 (0) 3333 009785 Norway: 21 03 42 35 USA Toll-Free: +1 (917) 677-7532

Participant list information required: Full Name & Company

November 18, 2021

Hamilton, Bermuda

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements of section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Regulatory News:

The Extraordinary General Meeting of the shareholders of AKKA Technologies (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537) will be held at the company's headquarters on Wednesday 22 December 2021 at 11 am.

The documents and information relating to this General Meeting are available on the company's website at the following address: https://www.akka-technologies.com/extraordinary-general-meeting/.

Next event:

Publication of Full Year 2021 Results: Thursday, March 10th,2022 at 5:45 PM (CET)

In case of discrepancy between the French and English versions of the press release, only the English version shall be deemed valid.

ABOUT AKKA

AKKA is a European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services. Our comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions combined with our expertise in engineering, uniquely positions us to support our clients by leveraging the power of connected data to accelerate innovation and drive the future of smart industry. AKKA accompanies leading industry players across a wide range of sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.) to help them rethink their products and business processes. Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and a wide global footprint. Our 21,000 employees around the world are all passionate about technology and share the AKKA values of respect, courage and ambition. The Group recorded revenues of 1.5 billion in 2020. AKKA Technologies (AKA) is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels segment B ISIN code: FR0004180537.

For more information, please visit: https://www.akka-technologies.com/

Follow us on: https://twitter.com/AKKA_Tech

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005970/en/

Contacts:

Stephanie Bia

Group Communications Investor Relations Director

Tel: +33(0)6 47 85 98 78

stephanie.bia@akka.eu
iText Suite 7 (BYOL) migrates to the AWS cloud, broadening its visibility to allow for embedded PDF functionality into developer software and workflow.

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / iText Software, a global leader in innovative PDF technology, announced today its PDF Library, iText 7 Suite, is now available in AWS Marketplace. Offering iText 7 Suite PDF Library within the AWS Marketplace provides broad functionality for manipulating and processing PDFs.

The AWS Marketplace is a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from independent software vendors that make it easy to find, test, buy, and deploy software that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). iText partners with AWS to deploy its technology as a leading solution to reduce developer workload. A Bring Your Own License (BYOL) is a prerequisite to use iText 7 Suite on AWS Marketplace.

The addition of the PDF library suite on the AWS Marketplace comes after the recent offering of iText DITO, delivering a highly-performant, collaborative solution for developers and business users to collaborate simultaneously to get mass PDF documents out in the correctly branded templates, using data from various source systems, which significantly reduces developer workload.

"We are thrilled to have iText 7 Suite available on AWS Marketplace to support our clients who are already using AWS for many of their IT operations," said Gary Fry, CEO, iText. "It's validating to watch the continued adoption of PaaS to simplify PDF tasks, while at the same time supporting our large customer and user base now through AWS and iPaaS when it comes to managing their document management workflows."

Customers on the marketplace can now take advantage of iText's powerful PDF capabilities without thinking about hardware costs, server configuration and more. The PDF library casts a wide range of common PDF tasks for developers to use at their utmost convenience using the REST API. The iText 7 Suite allows developers to embed iText APIs into existing application workflows, freeing up time to handle tasks such as splitting and merging PDFs, conversion of Microsoft Office documents to PDF, delete pages from PDFs, rotate PDFs, password protect and unlock PDFs, convert images to PDF, and flatten XFA to static PDF.

"Companies are finding unsurpassed value from being able to use cloud-native technologies to empower their digital transformation strategies," said Raf Hens, CTO, iText. "Offering iText 7 Suite BYOL to a wider audience means more value equipped to handle the increased challenges of today's document workflows."

About iText Software

iText Software is a global leader in innovative award-winning PDF solutions used by millions of users worldwide - both open source and commercial - to create digital documents for a variety of purposes: invoices, credit card statements, mobile boarding passes, and more.

The iText 7 Core library is available as open source, while commercial licensing provides professional support and release from the AGPL requirements. The iText 7 Suite includes a wide range of add-ons providing extra functionality, and we also develop iText DITO: a collaborative template-based PDF generator with integrated template and resource management.

Customers choose iText because of its world-class software quality, and reliable, mature, and proven technology. The PDF solutions can be embedded into the document workflows of various industries and their applications to enable creation and manipulation of PDFs, and advanced features like secure content redaction, encryption, digital signatures, Microsoft Office document conversion, and ensuring documents are accessible and archivable. iText supports a diverse customer base, which includes more than 70% of the Fortune 50 companies as well as small businesses and government agencies, with iText earning an overall 90%+ customer satisfaction rate.

Contact:

Sarah Thorson

sarah@york.ie

609-234-8531

SOURCE: iText Software Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673648/iText-7-Suite-Now-Available-in-AWS-Marketplace-Simplifying-PDF-Tasks-and-Process-Automation
Press Release

Paris, 18 November 2021 - 6 pm

MADVERTISE ENTERS INTO EXCLUSIVE DISCUSSIONS

WITH A VIEW TO ACQUIRING A STAKE IN VECTAURY

Madvertise (Euronext Growth - FR0010812230 - ALMNG), the French AdTech company specializing in mobile centric digital advertising, has entered into exclusive discussions with Vectaury, a partner of retailers in digital revolution, with a view to acquiring a stake in the company.

Vectaury, founded in 2013, operates an AdTech/MarTech platform that addresses location-based marketing campaigns and counts the largest French advertisers among its clients. Vectaury masters a range of skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics and relies on a highly efficient proprietary software infrastructure allowing the processing of several tens of billions of data each month.

Its unique know-how in data aggregation for creating audiences and distributing targeted messages to the most receptive internet users allows Vectaury to operate the distribution of drive-to-store mobile digital campaigns, Social Performance and Social-to-Store campaigns (on Facebook and Instagram platforms).

In addition, thanks to its proprietary algorithms, Vectaury is now able to model optimal distribution of flyers as well as the possible digital substitution thereof.

Vectaury's proprietary technology, which will be doubly accredited by the CESP in 2021, finally allows a direct and high-resolution reading of the dynamics of catchment areas and the real impact of campaigns on in-store traffic.

Due to their shared culture of innovation, the planned acquisition of a stake in Vectaury will enable an international deployment of the Vectaury solution, especially in Germany where Madvertise is particularly well established. This alliance will also strengthen and modernize the solutions offering dedicated to distributors and advertisers by combining the power of Madvertise's data and their publisher portfolio with Vectaury's geographic and behavioural targeting technology. This acquisition would thus create a major player in drive-to-store solutions and data analytics in Europe.

"We are very pleased to be working closely with a European leader. This will allow us to develop a common approach to innovative services with a strengthened technological base, and thus offer a better service and a broader range of products to our customers," said Jean-Claude Martinez, Chairman of Vectaury.

"This opportunity to join forces is an important step and fits perfectly with Madvertise's strategy for pursuing technological excellence and accelerating premium sales. We are very excited to work together on a much more effective marketing data platform with a market-leading scientific approach," said Francois Roloff, Madvertise's Chief Operating Officer.

This transaction is a first step in Madvertise's strategic refocusing on the video and drive-to-store sectors.

The finalization of this acquisition, subject to the usual due diligence and the lifting of all precedent conditions, should take place by the end of the year or the beginning of 2022.

About Madvertise (www.madvertise.com)

Madvertise is a European pioneer of AdTech founded in 2011 in the heart of Europe. Positioned as Europe's largest independent mobile advertising network in the premium segment in France, Germany and Italy, Madvertise has developed proprietary technology to maximize advertiser visibility and publisher revenues. By developing its technologies in-house, Madvertise offers a range of advertising solutions combining mobile display, Digital Out of Home and Social Media to provide advertisers with the best possible results. With an audience of 55 million unique visitors per month and more than 250 premium publishers to its credit, Madvertise is the best choice to ensure that advertisers in Europe are seen, heard and desired. With its goal to become CO2 neutral by the end of 2022, Madvertise is an environmentally friendly European AdTech player and equipped with an unrivalled SaaS solution Made in Europe.

Madvertise is listed on Euronext Growth Paris (FR0010812230 - ALMNG).

About Vectaury ( www.vectaury.com )

Created with a desire to provide the power of predictive algorithms to physical retailers, Vectaury relies on a proprietary technology designed from day one to be "data agnostic" and highly versatile. This has enabled Vectaury to constantly adapt its offer to the very rapid changes in a still young market [new confidentiality standards, internationalization, customer personalization] and to become a key player in Adtech. In addition to consolidating Vectaury's position in its historical drive-to-store business, the company's acceleration strategy consists of deploying its core artificial intelligence and data processing capabilities to new marketing, communication and media verticals that can benefit from a massive analysis and projection of consumer behaviour and their geographic movement.

Contacts

AELIUM FINANCE - Investors

Valentine Boivin / Solene Kennis

+33 (0)1 75 77 54 65

madvertise@aelium.fr DENTSU Consulting

Gildas de la Monneraye

+33 (0)6 58 18 78 25

gildas.delamonneraye@dentsuconsulting.fr

This press release contains forward-looking information concerning Madvertise's financial position and results. Although based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including matters that are unknown to the company or are not presently considered material, and there can be no assurance that the anticipated events will occur or that the stated objectives will be achieved. In particular, the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic are uncertain and the health crisis could aggravate risks facing the Group.

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Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-72059-pr_madvertise_exclusive_discussions_-vectaury.pdf
The "Tyre Manufacturers (European) Industry Report" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides a detailed overview of the European tyre manufacturers market and delivers a comprehensive individual analysis on the top 110 companies, including Anlas Anadolu Lastik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Bridgestone Poznan Sp. Z O.O. and Continental Italia S.P.A. Pneumatici Prodotti Di Gomma E Plastici.

This report covers areas such as tire, tyre, tyres, tires, rubber and includes a wealth of information on the financial trends over the past four years.

The analysis is ideal for anyone wanting to:

See the market leaders

Identify companies heading for failure

Seek out the most attractive acquisition

Analyse industry trends

Benchmark their own financial performance

Using the publisher's exclusive methodology, a quick glance of this Tyre Manufacturers (European) report will tell you that 21 companies have a declining financial rating, while 8 have shown good sales growth.

Each of the largest 110 companies is meticulously scrutinised in an individual assessment and analysed using the most up-to-date and current financial data.

Every business is examined on the following features:

The Publisher's Chart: A graphical assessment of a company's financial performance

Four year assessment of the profit/loss and balance sheet

A written summary highlighting key performance issues

Key Topics Covered:

The analysis is the most definitive and accurate study of the sector in 2021. The report is split into two sections and uses both a written and graphical analysis analysing the 110 largest companies.

The Tyre Manufacturers (European) report contains the most-up-to-date financial data and the publisher applies these figures to create their unique and authoritative analysis.

Indeed, the first section thoroughly scrutinises the market and this section includes the following:

Best Trading Partners: These are companies that are winning in both sales and financial strength for example Marso Ipari Kereskedelmi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag has been ranked as a best trading partner in the industry.

Sales Growth Analysis: This section reviews the fastest growing and fastest shrinking company for example Goodyear S.A. is among the fastest growing.

Profit Analysis Analysis of gross profit and pre-tax profit over the last ten years and a profitability summary comparing profits in the industry against small, medium and large companies.

Market Size: Based on the largest 110 companies, this is a comparison between last year's market size and the most current figure.

Rankings: The top 50 companies ranked by: Market Share, Sales Growth, Gross Profit and Pre-tax Profit.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6hj2nb

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006108/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

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HOLLYWOOD, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / Broadcast Management Group (BMG) co-produced a one night, live event from the Philadelphia Film Center on November 11th. The engagement included a 20-minute pre-show, followed by a 25-minute Q&A with Sylvester Stallone, star and director of Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago The Ultimate Directors Cut. The event culminated in a presentation of the film across more than 700 Fathom Event theaters nationwide.

In celebration of the film's 40th anniversary, the event also included a fully branded takeover of the interior of the theater and marquee and the lighting up of Chestnut Street for the one night engagement. In true Hollywood fashion, Sylvester Stallone and and Bert Young also made an appearance on the red carpet.

The production was shot with 8 Grass Valley broadcast cameras, including a jib in the theater, and two cameras on the red carpet. BMG's Chief Executive Officer, Todd Mason, directed the broadcast from BMG's REMI Mobile Unit One. Signals were sent back to BMG's REMI Broadcast Hub in Las Vegas and then uplinked to Fathom Theaters. BMG used 2 LiveU 800s, 2 LiveU 610s, and 2 LiveU 4000s for transmissions.

Broadcast Management Group is a full service media company with six practice groups: live production, broadcast consulting, creative content development, long-term production staffing, systems integration and event management. BMG also operates a state of the art broadcast data production hub and custom built REMI Mobile Units. The company has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C.

Contact: skennedy@broadcastmgmt.com

SOURCE: Broadcast Management Group, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673603/Broadcast-Management-Group-Co-Produces-the-Live-Broadcast-Premiere-of-Rocky-IV-Rocky-Vs-Drago-The-Ultimate-Directors-Cut
Regulatory News:

La Francaise de l'Energie (Euronext: LFDE ISIN: FR0013030152), a negative carbon energy producer is proud to announce that Exane BNP Paribas, a leader in European Equities, initiated research on La Francaise de l'Energie with a positive recommendation and a target price ranging from 31 to 46 per share in a report named "High returns from European Green Energy generation" released this week.

The report is accessible on the Research Tree platform: https://www.research-tree.com/companies/france/utilities/la-francaise-de-l-energie-sa/LFDE/PARtab-research

La Francaise de l'Energie confirms its objective of achieving annualized revenue of 35 million and an EBITDA margin of over 45% by the end of 2022.

Next announcement:

November 30th, 2021 -Annual Shareholders' meeting

Reuters code: LFDE.PA Bloomberg code: LFDE.FP

About La Francaise de l'Energie

La Francaise de l'Energie is negative carbon energy producer, specializing setting up decentralized energy production sites. La Francaise de l'Energie supplies gas, green electricity and heat to regional players, thus replacing imported energy with local, cleaner energy. La Francaise de l'Energie has strong development potential and aims to become a benchmark independent player in the energy sector in Europe. The company benefits from the innovative company label awarded by Bpifrance.

More information available on www.francaisedelenergie.fr

About Exane BNP Paribas

Exane was founded in 1990 on the back of a business model built around 3 complementary business lines: Cash Equities (Exane BNP Paribas), Derivatives (Exane Solutions), and Asset Management (Exane Asset Management, Ellipsis AM and Ixios Asset Management). Exane expanded internationally in order to be as close to clients as possible, with Paris and London as its main offices. Its 800 employees are spread across 9 sites worldwide. Exane is now a 100% subsidiary of BNP Paribas.

More information available on www.exane.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward looking statements and estimates concerning LFDE's financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is designed to," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "objective," "should," or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management's current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the company's control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of LFDE or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and LFDE undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006149/en/

Contacts:

Press

contact@francaisedelenergie.fr

+ 33 3 87 04 34 51



Investor Relations

ir@francaisedelenergie.fr

+ 33 3 87 04 34 51
Robert Wessman, the founder and principal shareholder in the Alvo group of leading pharmaceutical companies, formally opened the new London offices of his investment fund, Aztiq, at a ceremony in Hammersmith on 18 November 2021.

Attending the ceremony were co-investors, board-members, leaders of the various Aztiq companies, employees, partners, customers, journalists and other stakeholders.

The London site will serve as a central meeting point and working space for employees within the Alvo group of companies, enterprises with innovative and specialized capabilities across the pharmaceuticals sector, in addition to providing the venue for the board meetings of the various entities.

Robert Wessman commented, "It is a great pleasure to open the doors of our new offices to our colleagues and partners. We have had an amazing year, and so this occasion also provides an opportunity to come together and celebrate our achievements. London offers a great central meeting point for the leaders within the Alvo group of companies around the world, and the office will serve as an active hub for meetings, alignment and collaboration."

The office's central location in Hammersmith, with its vibrant business community and easy access to services, offers excellent commuting and transportation options within London and links to and from major airports and train stations. The facility offers 500 m2 of working space, including working stations for sixteen (16) people and meeting rooms.

The Aztiq portfolio and Alvo group of companies led by Robert Wessman include Iceland-based biosimilars company Alvotech; US-based generics company Alvogen; specialty pharma company Almatica; the global B2B and partnership powerhouse Adalvo; injectable medicines company Almaject; and the global oncology and specialty generics company Lotus Pharmaceuticals, based in APAC.

At the ceremony guests were invited to explore the facilities. Mr. Wessman then provided some brief remarks and insights regarding the different entities, an update on recent achievements and his vision for the group.

About Aztiq: Aztiq is a long-term investment fund led by Robert Wessman. Based in Iceland, it focuses on investments in real estate and pharmaceuticals, and supports arts and cultural organizations as well as numerous community projects both in Iceland and internationally. Aztiq's shareholders are comprised of individual investors as well as large international investment funds.

About Robert Wessman: Robert Wessman is Chairman CEO at Alvogen, and founder and Chairman at Alvotech. He has led over 50 strategic acquisitions and partnerships and established operations in over 60 countries. Today, Robert Wessman and his team continue to successfully launch and scale both industry-leading generic pharmaceutical and biosimilar companies all over the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006208/en/

Contacts:

Lara Omarsdottir

Lara.Omarsdottir@aztiq.is
Strongly recommend shareholders vote only the GOLD proxy FOR all three (3) of the Concerned Shareholders' Nominee's Slate of exceptionally qualified director nominees no later than 5:00 pm (Vancouver Time) on December 7, 2021.

proxy all three (3) of the Concerned Shareholders' Nominee's Slate of exceptionally qualified director nominees no later than 5:00 pm (Vancouver Time) on December 7, 2021. The Concerned Shareholder provides a comprehensive plan to change the direction of FAR and create shareholder value.

The Concerned Shareholders remind fellow shareholders voting for our highly qualified Nominee Slate is your way to put an immediate end to the incumbent board and management's egregious failures and deceptions.

Shareholders with questions on voting should contact Gryphon Advisors Inc. at 1.833.292.5847 toll-free in North America (1.416.902.5565 by collect call) or email us at inquiries@gryphonadvisors.ca or visit www.Farbetterforall.com for up-to-date information and assistance in voting.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - This release is provided by Scott Taylor, who, together with joint actors Christina Barnard, Jason Barnard and affiliates (collectively, with Mr. Taylor, "we" or the "Concerned Shareholders"), hold directly and indirectly approximately 7.7%% of the issued and outstanding common shares of FAR Resources Ltd. (CSE: FAT) (FSE: F0R) (OTC Pink: FRRSF) ("FAR" or the "Company") that are entitled to be voted at the Company's annual general meeting ("AGM") scheduled to be held December 10, 2021, and as a result of discussions with shareholders who are supportive of change at FAR, the Concerned Shareholders, have already received expressions of support from shareholders (themselves included) holding over 45% of the shares entitled to be voted at the AGM.

YOUR CHOICE IS SIMPLE. The Current Board's many failings and deceptions are destroying Shareholder Value. THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW. The Concerned Shareholders are proposing a New Board and Management team that is committed to FAR Resources' success by aggressively developing valuable Lithium assets, engaging with shareholders and attracting new investors and capital to materially increase shareholder wealth.

FAR's current board and management lack a long-term strategy and the ability to convey to the market the underlying intrinsic value of the Company. Shareholders deserve a board of directors ready to take charge and focus their efforts on developing a clear, understandable and achievable long-term strategy that enables investors and the market to properly value the Company. Current management has failed to properly communicate and respond to shareholders in a timely manner and execute the Company's assets in a meaningful way. It has become more than abundantly clear that the Company requires a complete change in leadership to regain market trust and credibility and to start to build significant value for shareholders.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to voice your concern and vote only the GOLD form of proxy FOR the Concerned Shareholders' Nominee Slate with a commitment to focusing on the best interests of ALL Shareholders, while demonstrating a shareholder mindset necessary to ensure that shareholder value is maximized.

Shareholders with questions on voting should contact Gryphon Advisors Inc. at 1.833.292.5847 toll-free in North America (1.416.902.5565 by collect call) or email us at inquiries@gryphonadvisors.ca or visit www.Farbetterforall.com for up-to-date information and assistance in voting.

For ease of reference, the letter to shareholders is below in its full entirety.

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

We (collectively, the "Concerned Shareholders"), are significant shareholders of FAR and are writing to solicit your support at the upcoming annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on Friday, December 10, 2021 (the "Meeting"). The Concerned Shareholders collectively hold 7.7% of the shares of FAR that are entitled to be voted at the Meeting. Together with other shareholders who are supportive of change at FAR, the Concerned Shareholders already have the support of over 45% of the Shares entitled to be voted at the Meeting.

The Concerned Shareholders believe The Company's current Board and Management lack experience, have no coherent strategy and have demonstrated a clear lack of focus which has led to questionable decisions and no increase in shareholder value since they took control of the company in the summer of 2020. The Concerned Shareholders believe that this lack of focus and experience is reflected in the current share value. There has been no material change in the share value in over a year under their direction and mismanagement while comparable Lithium companies have delivered significant increases in shareholder value. The Concerned Shareholders believe investors have lost confidence in the current management given the Current Board's failure to communicate or execute on any meaningful tactical strategy to realize the full potential of the company's valuable Lithium and precious metals assets. The Company's lack of progress puts it at very serious risk of being unable to fund future operations and deliver preliminary resource estimates on each of the assets.

In addition to a lack of corporate strategy, the Company's failure to adopt basic corporate governance practices demands dramatic change. Governance failures include:

The Company's last shareholders meeting was held December 19, 2018, even though shareholders' meetings are required to be held on an annual basis.

The Company has only two (2) Officers: Mr. John Gammack, as President & Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Robert G. Dinning, CPA as Chief Financial Officer who was appointed by Mr. Gammack.

The Company has only two (2) named Directors: Mr. John Gammack and Mr. Robert Dinning. A key role for Directors is to provide oversight of management. Clearly Mssrs. Gammack and Dinning are in an inescapable conflict situation as the only Directors in that they can hardly provide effective oversight of themselves in their dual roles as Officers.

Neither Mr. Gammack nor Mr. Dinning were elected by shareholders. These individuals were appointed via personal and business relationships.

The Concerned Shareholders raise questions about Mr. Dinning and Mr. Gammack's relationship as they have had a decades long friendship and there is no independence or oversight whatsoever from the current Board of Directors. This also raises questions of conflicts of interest, with only two board members all decisions are self-directed and self-approved by the same two board members who aren't acting independently in their decisions on such issues as asset development, taking, negotiations on M&A activity, and use of proceeds.

It has been abundantly clear for quite some time that a change is needed to the Board of Directors and Management of the Company to deliver shareholder value. The concerned shareholders are proposing a New Board and Management team that is committed to FAR success by aggressively developing valuable Lithium assets, engaging with shareholders and attracting new investors and capital.

The Concerned Shareholders propose a new Board of Directors that are aligned with shareholders' interests and who will develop and execute strategies to realize FAR's assets maximum potential and materially increase share value.

At the shareholders meeting, the Concerned Shareholders are seeking to replace the Incumbent Directors due to their track record of incompetence and complete failure to execute any meaningful exploration work on any of the company's assets.

The Concerned Shareholders are nominating and soliciting proxies to elect Scott Taylor, Pierre- Yves Tenn and Andrew Lyons (the "Nominees") as the new directors of FAR with a mandate to build shareholder value through the creation and execution of a logical and coherent business plan focused on:

The creation and delivery of an aggressive technical work program focused on the Company's three (3) lithium assets with a goal of utilizing the recently awarded $300,000 MMDF Grant by the Province of Manitoba to help expand the inferred resource at Zoro and further explore lithium at Jean Lake, as well to ensure exploration and drilling on the Company's gold/silver assets.

Securing financing that will include activities such as investor roadshows to reach new investors and deliver working capital to meet asset development plans.

Implementing an effective shareholder communication strategy that includes transparency, new protocols, and high standards.

Putting an end to current management's litany of mistakes, apathy and inattention to shareholders.

Building both domestic and foreign strategic partnerships and leveraging the current nominee's experience working in Asia with a long-term goal of securing financing opportunities including offtake agreements in the development of FAR's lithium properties as well as in the future production of lithium.

Consider a name change from FAR to better relate to the Company's focus on lithium assets. Incorporating lithium into our corporate name will likely enhance market interest in the Company and likely draw new investors and financing options to aid in the development of our lithium assets.

The Concerned Shareholders and their Board Nominees value the Company's current technical team and have reached out to Drs. Mark Fedikow and Michael Feinstein and Mr. Lindsay Bottomer. They have all have agreed to continue working with the Company once the new Board is elected. It should be clear to all shareholders the current technical team is not the problem at FAR, as they have done an excellent job with respect to the Company's assets. The Concerned Shareholders are highly confident that by combining a new Board and management team with the expertise of Drs. Fedikow and Feinstein and Mr. Bottomer, the Company will be very well positioned to move forward and create significant shareholder value.

THE RATIONALE FOR CHANGE --THE INABILITY TO REALIZE EXPECTATIONS

Inability to Realize Expectations - Stock price performance shows no signs of life

The Company's complete lack of corporate strategy and failed asset development have resulted in negative market perception of management. It is unforgivable that in the current bullish lithium market FAR's promising lithium assets have created little market interest or share appreciation. In almost a year and a half since Mr. Gammack and Mr. Dinning have been in their leadership roles, FAR's stock price has stagnated while comparable lithium companies have delivered significant value to their shareholders

For example, other lithium companies such as Frontier Lithium, Rocktech and Critical Elements have ALL delivered material and substantial total shareholder returns significantly outperforming FAR during both Messrs. Gammack and Dinning's tenures since they were appointed.





Source: Bloomberg Finance LP as at November 16, 2021 (most recent).

Chart 1

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Source: Bloomberg Finance LP as at November 16, 2021 (most recent).

Chart 2

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Over the longer term in the last two years and considering the date when director nominations were received by FAR (October 7, 2021), other lithium companies have vastly outperformed FAR.





Source: Bloomberg Finance LP as at October 7, 2021, the date Far Resources Ltd. received director nominations.

Chart 3

To view an enhanced version of Chart 3, please visit:

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All comparisons to other lithium focused issuers referred to herein are conceptual in nature and there is no certainty that FAR's assets would host comparable mineralization or will have the feasibility of the referenced projects or determination of what additional work would be required to make such a determination.

Though FAR's assets and financial attributes may not be directly comparable to such other lithium companies' assets and financial attributes, it is clear that FAR is underperforming many companies in its sector, even as the demand for lithium has increased.

The value of Lithium carbonate has reached new highs due to limited supply and sustained lithium- ion battery demand in China. Lithium has quickly become one of the most sought-after commodities on the planet and many called January 2021, "The Electric Metals Mobility Inflection Point." With an increasing demand for electric vehicles ("EV's"), the current demand for lithium- ion EV batteries is $27 billion per year. That demand is expected to grow to $127 billion by 2027. The top ten (10) battery manufacturing plants are currently all in China. Both Europe and North America are focusing on multi-billion dollar domestic investment to reduce their reliance on Asian suppliers. European and North American governments are clearly focused on creating a secure and stable supply of domestic battery metals and manufacturers. The aim is to provide the critical battery metals and battery manufacturing locally. The market conditions are a golden opportunity for all companies with lithium assets and yet FAR shareholders have had to suffer with current management's lack of focus and progress on any of the Company's highly valuable Lithium assets.

Failure to Execute on Assets & Selective Disclosure Zoro Lithium Property

On January 18, 2021, FAR announced a Spring 2021 Drill Program on the Zoro Lithium Program. On February 4, 2021, the Company filed on SEDAR a press release providing a positive update on the Zoro Lithium project. The full press release can be found on SEDAR. The following day or on February 5, 2021 the Company issued a retraction to the February 4th press release. The press release on the 5th effectively apologized to shareholders for the misleading disclosure in the press release from February 4th, 2021 referring to a 13 tonne indicated resource that does not exist. Incredibly the Company chose not to file the retraction press release on SEDAR and so many shareholders and the market at large were never formally made aware of the embarrassing mistake committed by Messrs Gammack and Dinning. The retraction press release can be found on stockwatch and we have included it below for illustration of the incompetence and perhaps worse behaviour of your current Board and management. Once again this is a critical example of a colossal mistake by Mr. Gammack who then chose to limit the damage by selectively disclosing the correction to StockWatch and not filing the correction on SEDAR which is a standard practice for Canadian public companies.

"2021-02-05 07:17 ET - News Release

Mr. John Gammack reports



FAR RESOURCES LTD AMENDS FEBRUARY 4, 2021 PRESS RELEASE

Far Resources Ltd. has corrected some statements made in the news release issued on Feb. 4, 2021, regarding its Zoro lithium project in Manitoba.

The company fully retracts the reference to 13 million tonnes of indicated resource on the property. No such resource exists.

The company also wishes to correct a typographical misstatement in the quoted lithium grade of the 1,074,567-tonne inferred resource calculated in the National Instrument 43-101 technical report prepared by Mark Fedikow, PGeo, and Scott Zelligan, PGeo, dated July 6, 2018, and filed on SEDAR. The correct lithium oxide grade (Li20) is 0.91 percent Li20, not 0.091 percent as stated in the earlier news release."

The Company issued a news release on February 16, 2021, announcing plans for a drilling program for the Zoro lithium property. Incredibly no drilling program ever materialized nor was any update or explanation provided by the Company. The failure by Messrs Gammack and Dinning to execute on their stated plans contributed to shareholder apathy and value destruction as the Company stock price dropped when the drill plan failed to materialize. Stock markets in general have an expectation that companies deliver on their commitments or at the very least explain themselves when circumstances change. Unfortunately, Mssrs Gammack and Dinning appear to have never learned the axiom "do what you say you will" and consequently shareholders have been subjected to the painful consequences of a depressed stock price.

FAR's share price has not materially improved over the past 12 months. The green arrow indicates the price on the date of the February 4th news and the red arrow shows the value destruction -66% due to management's complete lack of performance and transparency. It was very unfortunate as the Company share price peaked to a 52 week high of 29 cents on February 03, 2021 and the momentum was lost to such an egregious error.





Source: Bloomberg Finance LP as at October 7, 2021, the date Far Resources Ltd. received director nominations.

Chart 4

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Winston Gold and Silver Property

The Company issued a news release on September 21, 2020, announcing plans for an exploration program on The Winston Gold and Silver Property in New Mexico. On February 2, 2021, a follow up press release was issued that included the first batch of samples together with a positive message from Mr. Gammack in which he said he was "more than pleased to report these findings, to say that I'm over the moon Is an understatement! Additionally, we will be providing further widespread sampling results in future news releases in the weeks to come." Subsequent press releases dated April 23, 2021, May 11, 2021, May 18, 2021, May 26, 2021 all hinted at the launch of a diamond core drilling program. To date there has been no drilling program nor any update on the property. It appears Messrs Gammack and Dinning simply lost interest in the property and clearly failed to recognize they have repeatedly indicated that aggressive development of the property was at hand only to completely drop the ball. Incredibly to date absolutely no material progress has been achieved - no drill program has materialized, without explanation, and the result is a loss of two-thirds (-66%) of the Company's share value.

Incompetence and lack of Best Practices

FAR's current board and management lack a long-term strategy and the ability to convey to the market the underlying intrinsic value of the Company. Shareholders deserve a board of directors ready to take charge and focus their efforts on developing a clear, understandable and achievable long-term strategy that enables investors and the market to properly value the Company. Current management has failed to properly communicate and respond to shareholders in a timely manner and execute the Company's assets in a meaningful way. It has become more than abundantly clear that the Company requires a complete change in leadership to regain market trust and credibility and to start to build significant value for shareholders.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to voice your concern and vote for the Concerned Shareholders' Nominee Slate with a commitment to focusing on the best interests of ALL Shareholders, while demonstrating a shareholder mindset necessary to ensure that shareholder value is maximized.

Sincerely,

The Concerned Shareholders

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104262
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Iconic Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ICM) (OTC Pink: BVTEF) (FSE: YQGB) (the "Company" or "Iconic") is pleased to provide a corporate update. The Company previously announced the completion of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (the "PEA") which confirmed that the Company's flagship lithium property, the Bonnie Claire, is economically feasible using borehole mining techniques. In the new year, the Company will further study borehole mining, as well as other mining techniques.

Plan of Operations

With the completion of a Plan of Operation (the "PoO") environmental study, expected to be approved by the BLM around the end of the year, the Company will embark on a major drilling program. The plan is to move our current resource from "Resource" (Inferred) to "Reserve" (Indicated and Measured). The Company will also be fine tuning its metallurgy and engineering studies in preparations for a preliminary feasibility study.

Smith Creek Valley

In September 2021, Iconic completed Phase I drilling of its 100% owned, Smith Creek Valley lithium project, also located in Nevada. The drilling program consisted of 5 RC holes averaging 90 meters (300 feet) in depth. The sediment and ground waters were shipped to Western Environmental Testing and ALS Chemex in Reno, Nevada. The results are pending, and the Company will report results once they have been released.

Gold Properties Spin Out

In 2020 the Company made the decision to spin out its gold assets into a new entity, NevGold Exploration Ltd., for its New Pass and Midas South gold properties. The strategy is still an active and is intended to be completed at the appropriate time.

Joint Venture Partner

Iconic's joint venture partner (the "JV Partners") Nevada Lithium, successfully listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and is expected to earn the entirety of their 50% interest of the Bonnie Claire Property upon final payment of USD$4,000,000 on or before the 1st of December 2021.

Media Link

A video clip is provided here as well, a multi-media delivery of Iconic's Company status reporting. https://vimeo.com/marketonemediagroup/review/642054732/899c6c04f5

Bonnie Claire Property

The Bonnie Claire Property is located within Sarcobatus Valley, which is approximately 30 km (19 miles) long and 20 km (12 miles) wide. Quartz-rich volcanic tuffs containing anomalous amounts of lithium occur within and adjacent to the valley. Drill results from the salt flat have included lithium values as high as 2550 ppm Li and a 1560 foot (roughly 475 meter) vertical intercept that averaged 1153 ppm Li. The current 43-101 resource from the PEA report for borehole mineable portion of the resource is 3,407 million tonnes grading 1,013 ppm Li or 18,372 million kilograms of lithium carbonate equivalent. (though this is a resource, not a reserve, and has not yet proven economic viability). The gravity low within the valley is 20 km (12 miles) long, and the current estimates of depth to basement rocks range from 600 to 1,200 meters (2,000 to 4,000 feet). The current claim block covers an area of 74 km2 (28.6 mi2) with potential for brine systems and further sediment resources.

Smith Creek Valley Property

The Smith Creek Property is located within Smith Creek Valley, which is approximately 60 km (37 miles) long and 16 km (10 miles) wide. Quartz-rich volcanic tuffs containing anomalous amounts of lithium occur within and adjacent to the valley. Surface sampling around hot springs on patented ground just off the claim block assayed a maximum of 470 ppm Li. The gravity low within the valley is 16 km (10 miles) long, and the current estimates of depth to basement rocks range from 1,300 to 1,500 meters (4,200 to 5,000 feet). The current claim block covers an area of 46 km2 (17.8 mi2 ) with potential for brine systems and further sediment resources

On behalf of the Board of Directors

SIGNED: "Richard Kern"

Richard Kern, President and CEO

Contact: Keturah Nathe, VP Corporate Development (604) 336-8614

For further information on Iconic, please visit our website at www.iconicminerals.com. The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Option, the Joint Venture, the amount of the Offering, the expected use of proceeds from the Offering and the future business plans and exploration activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. 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 typically identified by words such as: "will", "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that investor interest will be sufficient to close the Offering, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals required for the Option Agreement and the future development of the Company's projects in a timely manner.

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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, including on the Bonnie Claire Property, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium and gold, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the business, financial condition and exploration and development activities of the Company, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the TSX Venture Exchange in respect of the Option Agreement and the Offering, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with the Canadian Securities Authorities. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104267
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Permex Petroleum Corporation (CSE: OIL) (OTCQB: OILCF) ("Permex" or the "Company"), a leading junior oil and gas company, will host a virtual roadshow on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Mehran Ehsan, President and CEO of Permex, will present an overview of the Company's recent operational progress, growth initiatives, and strategic vision. The webinar will be accompanied by a presentation and followed by a question-and-answer session, which can be accessed via the webcast link or dial-in numbers below.

To access the webinar, please use the following information:

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Time: 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (8:30 a.m. Pacific Time) Dial-in: 1-877-407-4018 International Dial-in: 1-201-689-8471 Conference Code: 13725290 Webcast: Permex Virtual Roadshow

A telephone replay and transcript will be available approximately four hours after the call and will run through Tuesday, December 28, 2021, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S., or 1-412-317-6671 from international locations, and entering replay pin number: 13725290. The replay can also be viewed through the webinar webcast link above.

About Permex Petroleum Corporation

Permex Petroleum (CSE: OIL) (OTCQB: OILCF) is a uniquely positioned junior oil & gas company with assets and operations across the Permian Basin of West Texas and the Delaware Sub-Basin of New Mexico. The company focuses on combining its low-cost development of Held by Production assets for sustainable growth with its current and future Blue-Sky projects for scale growth. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Permex Petroleum US Corporation, is a licensed operator in both states; and owns and operates on Private, State and Federal land. For more information, please visit www.permexpetroleum.com .

CONTACT INFORMATION

Permex Petroleum Corporation

Mehran Ehsan

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

(214) 459-2782

Scott Kelly

CFO, Corporate Secretary & Director

(778) 373-5421

Or for Investor Relations, please contact:

Brooks Hamilton

OILCF@mzgroup.us

CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:

Neither Canadian Securities Exchange, OTCMarkets nor their Regulation Services Providers (as that term is defined in their respective policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation 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 securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE, OTC Markets nor their Regulation Services Providers (as that term is defined in the policies of either exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104199
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Yubba Capital Corp. (TSXV: YUB.P) ("Yubba" or the "Company"), a "capital pool company" pursuant to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), is pleased to provide the following updates on its previously announced proposed qualifying transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction") with Ruckify Inc. ("Ruckify").

As previously announced, Yubba has entered into a binding letter of intent with Ruckify, which outlines the terms and conditions pursuant to which the parties will complete its proposed Qualifying Transaction. The Qualifying Transaction will result in a reverse take-over of Yubba by Ruckify and will constitute Yubba's "Qualifying Transaction" under Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSXV Corporate Finance Manual.

The completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including the closing of Ruckify's proposed acquisition (the "Fat Llama Acquisition") of Fat Llama Inc. ("Fat Llama"), as previously announced, and obtaining all required approvals, including the final approval of the TSXV.

Yubba Special Meeting of Shareholders Results

Yubba today announced the voting results from its Special Meeting of Shareholders (the "Yubba Meeting") held on Thursday, November 18, 2021 in connection with its proposed Qualifying Transaction.

All matters put forth at the Yubba Meeting, including: (i) the election of directors of the Company both prior to, and upon completion of, the proposed Qualifying Transaction; (ii) the approval of the amendment of the articles of Yubba to change the name of the Company to "Fat Llama Corporation" or such other name as Yubba and Ruckify may reasonably determine and consolidate its common shares on a 7.598:1 basis; and (iii) the adoption of the new stock option plan of the Company, each as further detailed in the management information circular of Yubba dated October 21, 2021, were approved by 100% of the voting shareholders of Yubba.

Ruckify Special Meeting of Shareholders

Ruckify anticipates that its special meeting of shareholders in connection with the proposed Qualifying Transaction (the "Ruckify Meeting") will take place in December 2021. Once the Ruckify Meeting date has been finalized, the management information circular of Ruckify and related meeting materials will be mailed to its shareholders in connection with the Ruckify Meeting.

About Ruckify:

Founded in Ottawa, Canada, in 2017 Ruckify's peer-to-peer rent anything marketplace provides a platform enabling Ruckify users to monetize their assets while at the same time leverage the sharing economy to rent items and minimize what they own, avoiding investment in depreciating assets. Ruckify provides its users with the freedom to do what they want when they want without the restrictions of time, storage, price or availability. In doing so, Ruckify supports sustainability by providing people the means to optimize the use of thousands of items within their communities.

To accelerate its growth, Ruckify identified Fat Llama Inc, the leading rent anything marketplace in the United Kingdom, as a strategic acquisition target. Ruckify expects that Fat Llama's advanced technology and proven business model will provide the foundation upon which it can more effectively operate its marketplace. Ruckify and Fat Llama expect that by working together as one, the merged entity can rapidly expand into new markets and become the global rent anything marketplace leader.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements about Ruckify and the Company's future plans and intentions, the Ruckify Meeting and completion of the proposed Fat Llama Acquisition and the Qualifying Transaction. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the ability to consummate the Fat Llama Acquisition or the Qualifying Transaction; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and Ruckify shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions to the consummation of the Fat Llama Acquisition or the Qualifying Transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the Fat Llama Acquisition or the Qualifying Transaction on relationships, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers and competitors; the re-rating potential following the consummation of the Fat Llama Acquisition or the Qualifying Transaction; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; and the diversion of management time on the Qualifying Transaction. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

For further information, please contact:

Ruckify Inc.

Dean Cosman

Chief Financial Officer

E-mail: dcosman@ruckify.com

Yubba Capital Corp.

Brian Morales

Director

E-mail: bmorales@bjmorales.com

Completion of the proposed Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including, but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and approval. There can be no assurance that the proposed Qualifying Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement or management information circular of Yubba or management information circular of Ruckify prepared in connection with the proposed Qualifying Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the proposed Qualifying Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Yubba should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Qualifying Transaction and has not approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release.

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.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104282
Vaughan, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 18, 2021) - Spyder Cannabis Inc. (TSXV: SPDR) (the "Company"), an established Canadian cannabis and vape retailer, is pleased to announce that it has changed its name to "Delota Corp." (the "Name Change"). In connection with the Name Change, the Company will trade under the ticker symbol "LOTA".

The Company expects that its common shares will begin trading on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") under its new name and ticker symbol on November 22, 2021.

"We are at a pivotal stage in our Company's growth, and we felt it was an important and opportune time to reset. A fresh identity was needed to make that happen," stated Cameron Wickham, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Delota Corp. "The name 'Delota' itself refers to the chemical label for delta-9-THC, and iota is the ninth letter in the Greek alphabet. Combined, the new word refers to our ongoing commitment to the cannabis market, but also subtly opens the door for us to venture into other like-minded, high-growth sectors. The timing couldn't be better as we focus on growing our retail footprint and prepare to launch our new Offside Cannabis dispensary brand."

The new ISIN for the Company's common shares is CA24713H1001 and the CUSIP is 24713H100.

About Delota Corp.

Delota Corp. (formerly, Spyder Cannabis Inc.) is an established cannabis and vape retailer that owns and operates two licensed dispensaries under the brand SPDR Cannabis in Ontario and 27 vape retail locations across Ontario under the retail brand 180 Smoke. 180 Smoke is a leading omni-channel Canadian vape retailer with a strong ecommerce presence and over 230,000 registered customers across its B2C channel.

Cautionary Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements or information". Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: anticipate, intend, plan, goal, seek, believe, project, estimate, expect, strategy, future, likely, may, should, will and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, the anticipated date that the common shares will trade under the Company's new name and trading symbol and statements we make regarding information about future plans, expectations and objectives of the Company overall, including the Company venturing into other like-minded, high-growth sectors, growing their retail footprint and the Company launching their new Offside Cannabis dispensary brand.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. The Company may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the Company not venturing into other like-minded, high-growth sectors, being unable to grow their retail footprint and being unable to launch their new Offside Cannabis dispensary brand, the adequacy of our cash flow and earnings, the availability of future financing and/or credit, developments and changes in laws and regulations, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, consumer sentiment towards the Company's products, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, competition, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions, the impact of technology and social changes on the products and industry, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

The TSXV has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSXV nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Delota Corp.

Cameron Wickham

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

T: (905) 330-1602

E: info@delota.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/104207
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2021 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Nextech AR and Opawica discussing their latest press releases.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

Nextech AR Solutions (CSE:NTAR)(OTCQB:NEXCF) announces 3D metaverse upgrade to its events platform

Nextech AR (NTAR) is pleased to announce the successful integration of its metaverse product offerings. "ARitize Events 3D" is now able to showcase 3D products, creating a first-of-its-kind metaverse event platform. Nextech expects to generate positive revenue growth for its technology services business in 2022 and beyond. Nextech CEO Evan Gappelberg sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the upgrade.

For the full interview with Evan Gappelberg and to learn more about Nextech AR's metaverse update, click here.

Opawica (TSXV:OPW) identifies 14 drill targets on Bazooka

Opawica (OPW) has isolated 14 high-priority drill targets on its Bazooka Property in Quebec. The company enlisted GoldSpot Discoveries (SPOT) to aid with the task. Together, they reinterpreted various datasets leading to an updated geological model of the property that includes faults, fold events and lithostratigraphic units. The 14 targets have been ranked by priority for follow-up exploration in preparation for Bazooka's upcoming drill program. Blake Morgan, Opawica's CEO, sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the results.

For the full interview with Blake Morgan and to learn more about Opawica's results, click here.

Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

CONTACT:

The Market Herald

Brianna Anthony

brianna.anthony@themarketherald.ca

themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/673702/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Nextech-AR-and-Opawica-Discussing-Their-Latest-News
LONDON, Nov. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Clean Energy Transmission provides a big investment opportunity for Rare and Critical Metals such as uranium, aluminium, rare earth, copper, lithium, and graphite. These metals are geologically rare and economically crucial with wide usage in batteries, electric vehicles, and low emission technologies.

Ample Pay-off from Sustainable Investing

The bewildering green initiatives by the advanced economies such as whopping US$1.75 trillion investments by the US government(New Jersey Business & Industry Association press release dated October 28, 2021) towards climate change and infrastructure, and EUR 1 trillion by the EU government (World Economic Forum press release dated July 13, 2021) towards the sustainable investment plan are hard-charging the clean energy space.

The Australian market showcased ample natural resources with rare earth's share of the global output touching high single-digit. The government's big push with $2 billion liquidity support (as per the press release from the Prime Minister of Australia dated 28 September 2021) will lace up the production of critical metals.

The Uranium Frenzy

The investor community elated the comeback of nuclear energy with an upswing in the number of nuclear power plants and reactors by developing countries to tackle the surge in demand and supply gaps in the green energy sector during the turbulent pandemic time.

Kalkine's recent observation in view of insights and research highlights the increased usage of praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium in low emission technologies. Thrilled by offtake from China and Europe, spending on electric vehicles may reach 30% annually by 2030 as per the International Energy Agency. Investments in graphite and lithium metals are expected to be under the limelight with a spurt in consumption by Asia and demand from automakers.

Investments in strategic metals and battery materials hit the podium over the broader index. With the zero-emission push by regulators, the government stimulus and spurt in prices of nickel, spodumene, and uranium, the ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index posted returns of astonishing ~75.91% in the past 5 years versus ~39.60% returns by ASX 200 Index during the same period (Source: REFINITIV).

S&P Global Clean Energy Index more than tripled in the past 5 years versus just ~13.34% return generated by S&P Global 1200 Index over the same period (Source: REFINITIV).

Therefore, there seems to be immense potential through untapped reserves for globally sought-after critical minerals, supporting jobs, economies, and companies operating in the ecosystem across Australia, Europe, and the US.

Given this backdrop, Kalkine provides deep research on opportunities around the Strategic Metals and Rare Earth Sector after carefully assessing the global demand and supply scenario, investment themes, company's valuation, technical trends, outlook, and risks, etc.

Contact -honey.bhargava@kalkinepr.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1341740/Kalkine_Logo.jpg
8fig, a Tel Aviv, Israel- and Austin, TX  based provider of equity-free flexible funding and supply chain management tools for eCommerce sellers, closed a $50m Series A funding round.

Investors included Battery Ventures, LocalGlobe, and Matt Robinson, serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Nested and GoCardless. As part of the round, Silicon Valley Bank will also provide a credit facility.

The company will use the funds to accelerate growth and expand its lending capabilities to more eCommerce businesses.

Led by Yaron Shapira, Co-Founder and CEO, and Roei Yellin, Co-Founder and CRO, 8fig is a fintech platform that aligns continuous, adaptable capital to supply chain demands. Their planning and funding technology was built by payment processing and supply chain risk management experts Yaron Shapira, Assaf Dagan, and Roei Yellin. 8fig provides growth plans combined with low-cost capital, sales forecasts, unit economics, and profit breakdowns for eCommerce brands to uncap growth and eliminate the cash flow crunch.

FinSMEs

18/11/2021
AnyDesk, a Stuttgart, Germany-based provider of remote desktop software, secured more than 60m ($70m) in Series C primary and secondary funding, which brought valuation to $660m.

The round was led by General Atlantic, with participation from existing investors Insight Partners, EQT Ventures and Possible Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Achim Berg, Operating Partner at General Atlantic will join the advisory board to support AnyDesk in further expanding into new markets globally.

The company intends to use the funds to further develop new products and scale its team.

Led by Philipp Weiser, Founder and CEO, AnyDesk develops a proprietary software solution that provides users with secure remote access and delivers remote support on any device running across all major operating systems.

The remote desktop software has already been installed more than 450 million times. The company is in more than 190 countries, with over 80,000 customers who use the software, including internationally renowned companies such as Bosch, McDonalds and Google.

In 2022, AnyDesk plans to offer its business customers even more functionality with a particular focus on enterprise features and localization for improved ease of use in markets across the globe.

FinSMEs

18/11/2021
Cymbio, a Tel Aviv, Israel  based brand-centric, marketplace and drop ship automation platform, raised $20m in Series B financing.

The round was led by Corner Ventures, with participation from existing investors Udi Angel, Vertex Ventures, Yuval Tal (founder of Payoneer) and new investors Chris North (ex-Amazon MD) and Jeff Weiser (ex-Shopify CMO).

The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach.

Led by CEO Roy Avidor, Cymbio provides a digital commerce enablement platform for brands to manage marketplaces, drop ship, boutiques, retail set-up, onboarding, and daily management of all operational needs. Additionally, the technology automates all drop ship and marketplace operations from commercially connecting with retailers and marketplaces to integration, set-up and day-to-day management of the complete operations between brands and retailers.

The company acts as the technology bridge between brands such as New Balance, Authentic Brands Group, Steve Madden, Marchesa, Camper, Micro Kickboard, and thousands of retailers, marketplaces, department stores, and boutiques (such as Nordstrom, Kohls, Macys, Farfetch, Urban Outfitters, Kroger, Walmart, Zappos).

FinSMEs

18/11/2021
Farmers Business Network, a San Carlos, CA and Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based global farmer-to-farmer network and ag tech company, closed a $300m Series G funding round.

The round was led by Fidelity Management & Research Company with participation from LN Mittal Family Office, ADM Ventures Investment Corp., Colle Capital Partners, Walleye Capital, and Tudor Investment Corporation. The financing included existing investors: funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, certain funds managed by Fidelity Investments Canada ULC, Temasek, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., GV, Baron Capital Group, DBL Partners, BAM Elevate.

The company will use the capital to accelerate the growth of both its FBN Direct and FBN Financial platforms, hire over 350 new team members in the next year and make investments in technology and data science, expanding its financial offerings with new land, operating and equipment loan and insurance products. IP investment in FBN Direct will focus on crop protection, seed breeding and biologicals, and robotics with on-farm research and development.

The funds will also support FBNs Gradable platform to measure and verify the carbon score of grain and other crops. With the Gradable platform, farmers can also connect with grain buyers who are looking to source low-carbon, higher-premium bushels.

Led by Amol Deshpande, CEO and Co-Founder, Farmers Business Network is an independent ag tech platform and farmer-to-farmer network of more than 33,000 members with more than 80 million acres in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The company has over 800 personnel and offices in San Carlos, CA., Chicago, Ill., Sioux Falls, S.D., a Canadian headquarters in High River, Alberta, and an Australian headquarters in Perth.

FinSMEs

19/11/2021
Glyconics, a UK-based medtech company, raised 1.5m in an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) funding round.

The round was led by Wealth Club and existing investors Deepbridge Capital and Boundary Capital, and angel investors.

The company intends to use the funds to conduct a large-scale trial program of its point-of-care diabetes screening tool, Glyconics-SX, prior to applying for regulatory approval and CE marking, ahead of a series A round next year.

Based in Cambridge, Norwich and Basingstoke and led by Led by Dr Kam Pooni, CEO, and Dr Paivi Paldanius, Chief Medical Officer, Glyconics is advancing a diabetes screening tool. The non-invasive handheld device exploits the use of miniaturised infra-red (IR) spectrometry for the early diagnosis of diabetes  detecting biomarker changes in a patients fingernail within seconds and without the need for single use plastics.

FinSMEs

18/11/2021
Netlify, a San Francisco, CA-based way to build, deploy, and scale modern web applications, raised $105m in Series D funding, valuing the company at $2 billion.

The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners led the round, with participation from the companys existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, BOND, EQT Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Mango Capital and Menlo Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Mary DOnofrio of Bessemer Venture Partners will join Netlifys Board of Directors. Martin Casado, general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, will take over Peter Levines board seat, while Levine remains a close advisor to the company. Elena Verna, product growth leader, will also join Netlifys Board, with Ohad Eder-Pressman stepping into an observer role.

The company intends to use the funds to hire talent with a constant focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and accelerate the development of its stack.

Led by Matt Biilmann, CEO and co-founder, Netlify provides a platform to build, deploy and scale modern web applications, which integrates with tools and collaborate with their team to deliver the best online experiences, faster.

Netlify acquired OneGraph, a GraphQL platform that simplifies the integration and management of APIs and services that web apps currently use and launched Jamstack Innovation Fund with the goal to invest $10m in early-stage companies and $1m in open source projects to accelerate innovation in modern web technologies.

FinSMEs

18/11/2021
OpenStore, a Miami, FL-based startup that acquires Shopify businesses and gives entrepreneurs liquidity, raised $75M in Series B funding.

The round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from existing investors Atomic, Founders Fund, and Khosla Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.

OpenStore provides a technology platform to sell an e-commerce business by streamlining the entire sales process. The company buys the business directly from the owner, turn around offers in 24 hours and close in as little as 1 week.

OpenStores engine uses the info the owner provides to pull the insights it needs directly from the source, accurately analyze different cohorts of data and build key business forecasts.

FinSMEs

18/11/2021
Subway this month announced it had signed a master franchise agreement with Everstone Group, a South Asia-focused private investment firm. The agreement to build 2,000 restaurants over 10 years, is one of the largest master franchise agreements in QSR history.

We strongly believe that our significant experience in the QSR space, our strong digital focus, our ability to innovate, as well as our proven execution capabilities, will enable Subway to become a dominant player in the region, said Sameer Sain, founder and CEO of Everstone Group.

Todays announcement represents a significant step in Subways transformation journey and global expansion plans, said Subways CEO John Chidsey. Everstone, with extensive knowledge and proven restaurant operational expertise in the region, is the ideal partner as we begin this new chapter for Subway in India and South Asia.

The scale of this agreement is unprecedented and will ensure that Subways presence across India will more than triple over the next 10 years, said Subways EMEA President Mike Keho. Weve seen huge demand from existing Subway guests in India.

The new restaurants will adapt the companys new Fresh Forward design to meet the needs of todays consumers with indoor dining spaces, numerous delivery and order ahead options, and a strong digital-first strategy.

According to the company, this new agreement with Everstone is part of Subways multi-year transformation journey to improve across all aspects of the brand as the business expands its presence around the world. In EMEA, Subway plans to double its number of restaurants across the region in the coming years and will continue to seek strong partners.

Everstone, one of Asias premier investment groups, focuses on cross-border North AmericaAsia investments and domestic investments in India and Southeast Asia. The group has assets in excess of US$6 billion across private equity, real estate, credit, green infrastructure, and venture capital. Within the QSR space, Everstone continues to be the master franchisee of Burger King India, Burger King Indonesia, and Dominos Indonesia, among other investments in this space.
Sydney, Nov. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Eswatini-Swaziland-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





Until 2011 the state-owned Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications also acted as the industry regulator and had a stake in the countrys sole mobile network, in an uneasy partnership with MTN Eswatini.



A new independent regulatory authority was established in late 2013 and has since embarked on significant changes to the telecom sector. Eswatini Telecom was provided with a unified licence in early 2016, while MTN Eswatini secured spectrum in the 1800MHz band to provide LTE services. Eswatini Mobile has launched GSM, 3G and LTE services, supported by a network sharing agreement with MTN Eswatini.



Mobile market penetration in Eswatini is well above the average for the region, though this is largely due to subscribers taking SIM cards from both networks in order to access cheaper on-net calls. Subscriber growth has slowed in recent years and has been affected by the economic slow-down resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.



The internet sector has been open to competition with a small number of licensed ISPs, but prices have remained high and market penetration relatively low. One provider still controls an 80% of the market. Although DSL services were introduced in 2008, development of the sector has been hampered by the limited fixed-line infrastructure and a lack of competition in the access and backbone network.



Eswatini is landlocked and so depends on neighbouring countries for international fibre bandwidth. This has meant that access pricing is relatively high, though prices have fallen more recently in line with greater bandwidth availability resulting from several new submarine fibre optic cable systems that have reached the region in recent years. In addition, Paratus in September 2020 completed a terrestrial cable linking Mozambique with South Africa and running through Eswatini.



BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus has had a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.



On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.



Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.



The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.



Key Developments:



MTN Eswatini consolidates dominance in the mobile market, expands LTE service reach, reduces the cost of postpaid monthly data bundles by 70%;

Regulator imposes sliding scale reduction in call termination rates through to 2023;

Paratus completes 750km terrestrial cable linking Maputo through Eswatini to Johannesburg;

Mbabane Internet Exchange Point (MB-IX) is opened to route local traffic;

Report update includes operator data to Q3 2020, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, regulators market report for 2019; recent market developments.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attralus, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative medicines to improve the lives of patients with systemic amyloidosis, today announced that new preclinical data for AT-03, the companys first-in-class pan-amyloid removal (PAR) therapeutic being developed for the treatment of systemic amyloidosis, will be presented at the 2021 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. In addition, new clinical data from the University of Tennessee from its Phase 1/2 trial of AT-01, the companys pan-amyloid imaging diagnostic being developed to detect all types of systemic amyloidosis, will be presented at the ASH Annual Meeting. The ASH Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held December 11-14, 2021 in Atlanta, GA.



Poster Presentation Details

Abstract Title: Pre-Clinical Characterization of a Novel Fusion Protein (AT-03), with Pan-Amyloid Binding and Removal

Presenter: Christophe Sirac, Ph.D., Professor, University of Limoges

Christophe Sirac, Ph.D., Professor, University of Limoges Session: 605. Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Resistance: Lymphoid Neoplasms: Poster I

605. Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Resistance: Lymphoid Neoplasms: Poster I Date/Time: December 11, 2021, 5:30 p.m.  7:30 p.m. ET

December 11, 2021, 5:30 p.m.  7:30 p.m. ET Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall B5

Abstract Title: Detection of Systemic AL Amyloidosis by 124I-p5+14 PET/CT imaging  Providing the Complete Picture for Diagnosis

Presenter: Jonathan Wall, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicines Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program

Jonathan Wall, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and Director of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicines Amyloidosis and Cancer Theranostics Program Session: 803. Emerging Diagnostic Tools and Techniques: Poster II

803. Emerging Diagnostic Tools and Techniques: Poster II Date/Time: December 12, 2021, 6:00 p.m.  8:00 p.m. ET

December 12, 2021, 6:00 p.m.  8:00 p.m. ET Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Hall B5

For additional information, please visit the ASH Annual Meeting website.

Systemic amyloidosis affects more than 500,000 patients globally, and it is estimated that more than 80 percent of patients with systemic amyloidosis remain undiagnosed, said Gregory Bell, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Attralus. Attralus is developing the first and only therapies with pan-amyloid removal technology for the treatment of patients across all stages of disease, as well as a non-invasive, pan-amyloid, imaging diagnostic designed to detect all types of systemic amyloidosis. We look forward to the presentation of these encouraging new data from our AT-03 preclinical studies, and from Dr. Jonathan Walls Phase 1/2 trial for AT-01, at the ASH Annual Meeting.

About AT-01 Pan-Amyloid Diagnostic

AT-01 utilizes the companys pan-amyloid binding peptide as an amyloid-specific radiotracer to image all types of systemic amyloidosis through PET/CT imaging. In initial clinical trials, AT-01 has been shown to detect multiple types of amyloid deposits, including AL and ATTR, in major organs such as the heart, kidney, liver and spleen. Attralus obtained exclusive rights to commercialize AT-01 under a commercial license agreement with University of Tennessee Research Foundation.

About AT-03 PAR Therapeutic

AT-03 is a fusion of the companys PAR-SAP (Serum Amyloid Protein) technology with a single-chain Fc. The PAR-SAP component mediates binding to all types of amyloid deposits, and the single-chain Fc stimulates the immune system to remove amyloid deposits that are bound by AT-03. Attralus obtained exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize AT-03 under license agreements with University of Limoges.

About Systemic Amyloidosis

Systemic amyloidosis encompasses a diverse group of rare diseases that occur due to accumulation of toxic amyloid deposits in tissues and organs, a consequence of aberrant protein misfolding events. These diseases are progressive, debilitating and often fatal. Systemic amyloidosis is significantly underdiagnosed due to low awareness, lack of specific symptoms, and no current disease-specific diagnostics. The two most common forms of systemic amyloidosis are immunoglobulin light-chain (AL) amyloidosis and transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR). There is a significant unmet need for new therapies and diagnostics in systemic amyloidosis.

About Attralus

Attralus is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on creating transformative medicines to improve the lives of patients with systemic amyloidosis. The companys proprietary pan-amyloid removal (PAR) therapeutics are designed to directly bind to and remove toxic amyloid in organs and tissues. By targeting the universal disease-causing pathology in systemic amyloidosis diseases, PAR therapeutics have the potential to treat and reverse disease in patients with all types and stages of systemic amyloidosis. Attralus was founded by scientific experts in the field of amyloidosis and the company is headquartered in South San Francisco.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to Attraluss continued development of AT-01 and AT-03, including the efficacy and therapeutic potential of AT-01 and AT-03. Words such as demonstrated, may, anticipate, estimate and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Attralus' current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Attralus' actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Attralus expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Attralus' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Contact:

Luke Heagle

Real Chemistry

(910) 619-5764

lheagle@realchemistry.com


Dallas, Texas, Nov. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Green energy is a form of energy that is produced from a number of renewable sources. The energy generated is pure and does not pose any environmental risks. The environment can be kept secure by utilizing green energy technology. Green technology solutions can help you comply with government laws. The study examines market dynamics in order to convey market potential to firms. The industry is being driven by the increasing demand for green energy considerations and energy security.

Get a sample of the report from: https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2294

Due to increased installation costs, the market is constrained. Because of the lower penetration in underdeveloped nations, the market has potential for future expansion. The positive growth trajectory might be linked to the massive volumes of greenhouse gases emitted globally, notably the ecologically damaging gases such as carbon dioxide, which is emitted in large quantities while generating electricity from fossil fuels.

The major growth driver in the green energy market is increasing awareness among end-users globally to participate in energy consumption practices while decreasing carbon bulk to avoid future environmental damage. Furthermore, the significant reliance on fossil fuels has progressively resulted in a scarcity of these resources, leading to volatility in fossil fuel prices. These changes are having an immediate impact on consumer behavior and encouraging reliance on alternative energy sources like renewable energy, which is fueling growth in the green energy industry.

Major Green Energy Market Manufacturers

General Electric

Innergex

Tata Power

Xcel Energy

Geronimo Energy

Enel Spa

EDF

Invenergy

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

ACCIONA

UpWind Solutions

Sinovel Wind Group

Senvion

Green Energy Market Types

Hydroelectric Power

Bioenergy

Wind Power

Solar Energy

Geothermal Energy

Green Energy Market Applications

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Others

Regardless of the scope, widespread production of renewable energy necessitates huge expenditures, which is expected to be a key impediment to the green energy market throughout the projected period. According to credible statistics from international organizations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), clean, renewable, and green energy resources are gaining popularity as many emerging and established countries support electricity generation from solar and wind energy. As governments intensify attempts to attain carbon neutrality, the post-pandemic period is anticipated to see massive development potential in the green energy industry, while conventionally utilized fuel consumption declines as the pandemic problem continue. Furthermore, as green energy technology advances, such as the introduction of sophisticated, the global green energy sector is likely to witness limitless opportunities in the near future.

For more Information or Any Query Visit: https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2294

Green energy, also known as clean energy, focuses on energy generated from ecologically friendly supplies and methods, therefore considerably lowering the carbon footprint. Solar, biogas, geothermal, low-impact hydropower, wind, and a few classes of suitable biomass sources generally generate this energy, which eliminates the chance of greenhouse emissions leaking into the environment.

Green energy, as opposed to fossil fuel-generated energy, entails the use of resources that do not pollute the environment, making the renewable sector an enticing option. On the other hand, green energy aims to achieve zero carbon emission targets rather than just depending on renewables. Clean energy sources frequently remove the need for drilling or mining, both of which have a negative impact on ecosystems. Global green energy market participants comprise a broad collection of bigger corporations as well as new industry entrants bringing current approaches and novel technology. Market consolidation has come from highly competitive differentiation as well as substantially backed technical developments from all over the world.

The global green energy market is basically segregated into type, end-use, and regions. On considering the type segment, the market is segregated into Wind Power, Bioenergy, Solar Energy, Hydroelectric Power, and Geothermal Energy. On considering the end-use, this industry is fragmented into commercial, industrial, residential, and others. In terms of geography, the Because of increased adoption of wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric energy, the North American region dominates the market. Owing to the technological advancements, the Asia-Pacific market would gain traction.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1. Introduction

1.2. Market Definition and Scope

1.3. Units, Currency, Conversions, and Years Considered

1.4. Key Stakeholders

1.5. Key Questions Answered

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Introduction

2.2. Data Capture Sources

2.3. Market Size Estimation

2.4. Market Forecast

2.5. Data Triangulation

2.6. Assumptions and Limitations

3. Market Outlook

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Market Dynamics

3.2.1. Drivers

3.2.2. Restraints

3.2.3. Opportunities

3.2.4. Challenges

3.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis

3.4. PEST Analysis

4. Green Energy Market by Type, 2018-2028 (USD Billion)

4.1. Hydroelectric Power

4.2. Wind Power Energy

4.3. Bioenergy

4.4. Solar Energy

4.5. Geothermal Energy

5. Green Energy Market by End-Use, 2018-2028 (USD Billion)

5.1. Residential

5.2. Commercial

5.3. Industrial

5.4. Others..continued

Direct purchase a single user copy of the report: https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/researchreport/purchase/2294

About Us:

Adroit Market Research is an India-based business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.

Contact Us:

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Dallas, TX 75204

Email ID: sales@adroitmarketresearch.com

Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6068
Sydney, Nov. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Lesotho-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

After the regulator tried to revoke Vodafone Lesothos licence in late 2020, the company fought back and secured a reprieve from the courts. Having considered that one of the difficulties in its relationship with the telco stemmed from its reliance of Vodacom reporting on itself, the regulator in early 2021 secured a system to monitor traffic and billing systems, aimed at protecting consumer rights and safeguarding quality of service.However, the regulator has also assumed the right to approve appointments to managerial positions made by Vodacom Lesotho or Econet Telecom Lesotho, which has been contested by the operators.The dispute also encouraged the regulator to make changes to the market more widely. Although technically the telecom sector is open to competition, in effect it has remained a duopoly, with new entrants only having been able to become players on invitation from the regulator. This changed from October 2020, when amendments made to certain rules came into effect, which removed this restriction and allowed any prospective market entrants to apply for a licence. Licensees must provide services within two years.



Key developments:





Vodacom Lesotho transfers its M-Pesa division to a new independent company, VCL Financial Services;



Telecom regulator assumes the right to approve telcos senior management appointees;



ETL expands FttP network;



Safaricom and Vodacom Group acquire the M-Pesa brand;



Improved internet connectivity following landing of international cables;



Universal Service Agency expanding base tower infrastructure in remote areas;



Report update includes ITU statistics, regulators ICT market report, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, operator data to Q2 2021, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.













Companies mentioned in this report:



Telecom Lesotho, Econet a, Vodacom Lesotho, Eskom, Comnet.



Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Lesotho-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW
BURNSVILLE, Minn., Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Paladin Technologies and VideoTronix, Inc. (DBA VTI Security) have agreed to terms to join forces on Nov. 17, 2021. Headquartered in Minnesota, VTI and its team of over 230 colleagues nationwide will add geographic expansion to Paladin within the central United States, along with passionate expertise on innovative technology solutions for end-users.

VTI Security was formed in 1980 in response to client needs for a quality integration partner in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. Focused on providing outstanding customer service and developing trustworthy relationships, VTI developed Trusted Business Partnerships, invested in its colleagues, and remained at the forefront of technology education and training. VTI expanded its presence, opening offices in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Thomas Asp, President and CEO, shared, "Our growth is a direct result of our ability to deliver and support on customer performance expectations. It also reflects our focus to serve our colleagues by creating an environment where a culture of Trust, Mutual Respect, and Accountability can flourish. I'm very proud of who we've become and what we represent and I look forward to this next chapter with Paladin."

"We truly believe that our merged entities and operations will take fundamental strides in advancing our industry and its standards. Through our collaborative engineering and design capabilities, we are excited to support our clients even better than we did before," stated Ted Reid, President of Paladin Technologies.

VTI's key vertical markets include Energy, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, Government, Financial Services, Data Center, Transportation, Manufacturing, Commercial, Industrial, and Telecommunications. Leveraging collaborative, entrepreneurial cultures, VTI and Paladin will align business practices to enhance service models to clients nationwide.

Paladin Technologies, a 100% employee-owned organization, has 30 branch offices across North America, operating in every major market across Canada and in 20 states across the United States. With over 1,500 team members from coast to coast, Paladin Technologies has grown its professional headcount by 250% since 2017.

All existing contact information and operational practices will be retained as VTI becomes part of the Paladin Technologies group of companies. All VTI colleagues will be a significant part of Paladin's continued growth strategy.

About Paladin Technologies Inc: Paladin Technologies Inc. is a premiere complex systems integrator operating across North America. As a leader in the design, deployment, optimization, management, and maintenance of communication, audio visual systems and digital networks, Paladin is driven by a strong corporate culture and a vision of innovation through teamwork. Paladin designs and deploys sophisticated systems technology for clients on a national scale, while providing premier local support.

About VTI Security: VTI Security is consistently recognized by its global industry as one of the Top Integrators. Services focus on future-proofing solutions through engineering, on-premise services, cloud services, and program management to ensure the life of clients' systems and return on investment.

Press Contact:

Stephanie Whalen, VP Marketing & Communications

E. swhalen@paladintechnologies.com

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MONTREAL and SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coveo Solutions Inc. (Coveo or the Company) today announced that it has filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories in Canada, and obtained a receipt for, its final base PREP prospectus (the Final Prospectus), and has entered into an underwriting agreement in respect of its initial public offering of 14,340,000 subordinate voting shares of the Company (the Offering) at a price of C$15.00 per subordinate voting share (the Offering Price), for gross proceeds of C$215,100,000. The Offering is expected to close on November 24, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has conditionally approved the listing of the Company's subordinate voting shares subject to fulfilling customary listing requirements. The subordinate voting shares are expected to begin trading on the TSX on an if, as and when issued basis on November 18, 2021 in Canadian dollars under the symbol CVO.

The Offering is being made through a syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets, BofA Securities, RBC Capital Markets and UBS Investment Bank, as joint bookrunners, and Canaccord Genuity Corp., Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotiabank, TD Securities Inc. and Ramirez & Co., Inc. (collectively, the Underwriters).

The Company has granted to the Underwriters an over-allotment option (the Over-Allotment Option) to purchase up to an additional 2,151,000 subordinate voting shares at the Offering Price. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the gross proceeds of the Offering will be C$247,365,000. The Over-Allotment Option may be exercised in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of the Underwriters, for a period of 30 days from the closing date of the Offering.

A copy of the Final Prospectus is available, and a copy of the supplemented PREP prospectus containing pricing information and other important information relating to the subordinate voting shares and the Offering will be available on or about November 18, 2021, under Coveos profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The subordinate voting shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any U.S. state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption therefrom.

About Coveo

We believe that relevance is critical to winning in the new digital experience economy. Coveo is a market-leading AI-powered relevance platform. We aim to enable our customers to deliver the relevant experiences that we believe people expect in the new digital economy. Our SaaS-native, multi-tenant platform injects search, recommendations, and personalization solutions into digital experiences. We provide solutions for ecommerce, service, website, and workplace applications. Our solutions are designed to provide tangible value to our customers by helping drive revenue growth, reduce customer support costs, increase customer satisfaction and website engagement, and improve employee proficiency and satisfaction.

Our AI powers relevant interactions for hundreds of the worlds most innovative brands and is supported by a large network of global system integrators and implementation partners.

Coveo is a trademark of Coveo Solutions Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which reflects the Companys current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to complete the Offering, and the factors discussed under Risk Factors in the Final Prospectus. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Contact:

Highwire PR

Coveo

media@coveo.com

+1 418-263-1111
LONDON, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Boku Inc., (AIM: BOKU), provider of M1ST, the worlds largest mobile payments network has today announced the expansion of M1ST into Thailand, with the addition of Thailands two most popular mobile wallets, TrueMoney and Rabbit LINE Pay.



TrueMoney and Rabbit LINE Pay join the M1ST Payments Network, which includes 330+ payment methods in 90 countries, reaching 5.7 billion payment accounts. Combined, the M1ST Payments Network reaches over 30 million consumer accounts in Thailand alone.

This milestone enables global merchants to unlock access to millions of mobile-first consumers. According to J.P. Morgan, 82% of all online sales in Thailand were conducted from mobile devices, with mobile wallets being used in 23% of all transactions. Thailand is one of the fastest growing mobile payments markets in the world, with mobile wallet penetration projected to reach 63% by 2025 (Boku), compared to credit card penetration lower than 10% (Statista).

For global merchants, the opportunity in Thailand is significant, with cross-border transactions making up more than 50% of eCommerce spend (J.P. Morgan). This latest addition to Bokus M1ST Network further strengthens its commitment to ensure retailers around the world gain access to a new generation of mobile first-consumers in Thailand, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

Jon Prideaux, Chief Executive Officer, Boku, commented, "For digital merchants, the world is flat; they can sell to consumers anytime, anywhere. Mobile-first markets like Thailand require global merchants to accept the payment methods consumers prefer. Were thrilled to add TrueMoney and Rabbit LINE Pay, opening up access to millions of new mobile-first consumers in Thailand for our merchants.

Koravut Pavitpok, Head of Commercial, TrueMoney, commented, TrueMoney is the most widely used mobile wallet in Thailand today. Our integration into Bokus M1ST Payments Network ensures that our 20 million users will be able to access digital services from global merchants, using their preferred way to pay.

Victor Topoyossakul, Co-CEO, Rabbit LINE Pay, commented, With an increasing demand for digital payment due to Covid-19 pandemic, our mission is to give our customers a seamless online to offline experience and to be able to access what they need in daily life. Therefore, connecting Rabbit LINE Pay users to more of the online services they love is always important. We are pleased to add Rabbit LINE Pay to Bokus M1ST Payments Network, joining LINE Pay in Japan.

Enquiries:

Boku, Inc.

Jon Prideaux, Chief Executive Officer and Keith Butcher, Chief Financial Officer

+44 (0)20 3934 6630

IFC Advisory Limited (Financial PR & IR)

Tim Metcalfe / Graham Herring / Florence Chandler

+44 (0)20 3934 6630

About Boku

Boku Inc. (AIM: BOKU) is the fintech powering the worlds largest mobile payments network, M1ST (Mobile First). The M1ST Payments Network reaches 5.7 billion consumer payment accounts in 90 countries across more than 330 payment methods.

Bokus technology platform helps the worlds most demanding merchants attract, convert, and retain customers using mobile payments. By turning payments infrastructure into a source of sustainable competitive advantage, Boku safely activates a range of new merchant business models - from bundling to subscriptions.

Bokus platform is used in 90 countries with more than a billion verified transactions in 2020, contributing more than $8 billion to the digital economy. Customers that trust Boku to simplify sign-up, acquire new paying users and prevent fraud include global leaders such as Apple, DAZN, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, PayPal, Sony, Spotify and Tencent.

Boku Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the US.

To learn more about Boku Inc., please visit: https://www.boku.com

About TrueMoney

TrueMoney is a Southeast Asia's leading fintech company providing financial services for users including the unbanked across 6 countries in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia.

Established in 2013, TrueMoney has become a part of Ascend Group in 2014 and also a partner of Ant Financial Services Group since 2016. Today, the company provides various financial services through TrueMoney Wallet, the most popular e-wallet application that enables convenience and ease of payments to serve every lifestyle. Its extensive agent network and offline payment service across Southeast Asia also enable millions of users in the region to access to innovative financial services, leading them to better lives.



About Rabbit LINE Pay

Rabbit LINE Pay is one of Thailands leading digital payment platforms, serving an estimated 8.5 million registered users. The company was established in 2011. It is backed by LINE, one of the most popular messaging apps in Thailand with over 50 million users, Rabbit-the first e-money service in Thailand with a common ticketing platform in BTS and AIS-the number one mobile operator in Thailand.

Rabbit LINE Pay strategic direction is to bring user day to day convenience life solution from food, shopping, transportation, and bill payments. User can use Rabbit LINE Pay at affiliated merchants, popular online shops, BTS, e-commerce platforms, and physical stores.
Montecito, CA, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is proud to announce longtime Montecito REALTOR, resident and community champion Cristal Clarke has donated $100,000 to support non-profit organizations in Santa Barbara County.

Cristals generous donation was made to the Santa Barbara chapter of The Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit run by the dedicated real estate agents and employees of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. Cristal chose The Charitable Foundation because of the support it provides to local organizations that promote health, education, community, and the environment in Santa Barbara County. Her donation is the largest to date to The Charitable Foundation.

Giving back to the community she loves is nothing new for Cristal, an agent in the Montecito Midtown office, and the No. 1 individual agent worldwide for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Cristal has been supporting local small businesses in and around the community she calls home for many years. When the pandemic struck, she saw firsthand how small-business owners and employees were affected. They needed funds and support to help keep their doors open, and I was so grateful to be able to help, Cristal said.

Cristal has always been an extremely generous and gracious individual, both personally and professionally, said Kyle Kemp, Vice President, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. She actively seeks out needs in the community and works to fill them, without any thought of herself. During the recent challenges of the Montecito mudflow and the COVID-19 pandemic, Cristal has risen to every occasion through her magnanimous outreach. Her generosity always comes from a place of humility and grace. We are proud to have Cristal as a member of our company and community.

Cristal felt the best time to make her compassionate donation was now, in November, in honor of the National Day of Giving. This timing allows The Charitable Foundation to begin its grant-distribution process during the holiday season. It was her way of thanking the local business owners and people who are the fabric of the community in which they live and work.

Cristals humble generosity shines through in every aspect of her work, said Martha Mosier, President of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. Cristal continues to give back to the communities she serves, and does so with a generous and open heart. Our California Properties family and the Montecito community are extremely fortunate to know and work with Cristal. We appreciate all of our associates that participate by contributing to The Charitable Foundation, and today we are very grateful for Cristals extremely generous gift.

Cristals generous contribution to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Charitable Foundation is a beautiful expression of her commitment to strengthening and enriching the lives of people throughout her community, said Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices of America and Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Her extraordinary kindness demonstrates the power within us to uplift others and serves as inspiration for others to follow.

Having specialized in the sale of extraordinary estates and land in Montecito, Santa Barbara, Hope Ranch, and Summerland for more than three decades, Cristal is consistently recognized and praised for her dedication to her clients. I go the extra mile for them and it shows, she said. That's true not just throughout the transaction, but beyond escrow. Most of my clients become friends who know they can count on me, and that trust translates into repeat business and referrals as well as personal bonds.

About The Charitable Foundation

The Charitable Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation run by dedicated agents and employees of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties who wish to have a beneficial and constructive impact on our local communities. The Foundation has chapters in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

Each chapter donates to its own community. The Charitable Foundation has provided hundreds of grants totaling approximately $5 million to local organizations that promote health, education, community, and the environment. For more information, please visit www.thecharitablefoundation.net.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties proudly supports 3,000 sales associates in 45 offices spanning Santa Barbara to San Diego. In 2020, our expert agents assisted more than 10,000 client transactions and over $13 billion in volume.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is a wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., and a member of HSF Affiliates, LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. For more information, visit www.bhhscalifornia.com. To learn about career opportunities, visit www.bhhscalifornia.com/careers.

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Pune, India, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Smart Parking Market Size was valued worth USD 5.4 billion in 2021 and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 16.7% during the forecast period, according to a recent market study by Quince Market Insights. The increasing issues of parking due to the rise in the number of cars and other vehicles has driven the smart parking market.

Get Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/request-sample-61663

Smart parking is a smart parking system that allows drivers to park their vehicles safely. The space present in the parking lot is marked with the help of embedded sensors or software. This technology has been developed using different types of sensors as a part of computer systems in the parking lot for detecting the presence and absence of automobiles.

The increasing number of automobiles resulting in the demand for parking solutions is the key driving factors for the growth of the global smart parking market. Apart from this the increasing demand and adoption of internet of things (IoT), applied technology is also another driving factor for the growth of the market.

Furthermore, the increasing investment in developing driverless automobiles along with the increasing initiatives by the government to make smart cities is also boosting the market.

On the other hand, the increasing cost in implementing the strategies planned by the key market players and subsequent increase in the cost of vehicles is also another challenging factor for the smart parking market. Lack of awareness related to the benefits of smart parking is another restraining factor for the growth of the smart parking market.

Some Significant Market Developments Considered in The Report:

February 2020- Amco S.A. signed a contract for the automated fare collection system by Memphis Area Transit Authority in the United States

September 2017- Amano McClann collaborated with the ITR to expand its business in the South California

August 2017- IEM SA was introduced under Preston Park which includes several online portals which has helped the drivers to get enhanced parking experience

March 2017- Smart Parking Limited was introduced for meeting the requirements of city operators

COVID-19 Impact on the Global Smart Parking Market

The QMI team is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the global smart parking industry, and it has been observed that the demand for a smart parking is moderate during the pandemic time. It is anticipated to grow sharply during the analysis period.

To control the spread of the pandemic, many countries across the globe have enforced strict lockdown norms, which is hampering all kinds of business activities. The COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the lives of entrepreneurs and their businesses. The pandemic struck without warning, wreaking havoc on the small business in the middle of nowhere.

Enquiry Before Buying This Report @ https://www.quincemarketinsights.com/enquiry-before-buying/enquiry-before-buying-61663

Global Smart Parking Market, by Type

Based on type, the global smart parking market is segmented into off-street and on-street. The off-street market is sub-segmented into private lots, garages and driveways. Among these, the off street segment is dominating the market due to the increasing need of single slots to park maximum cars.

Global Smart Parking Market, by Component

Based on the component, the market is segmented into software, hardware and services. Among these, the software segment holds the fastest growing segment in 2021 and is expected to remain fastest growing during the forecast period. The segment growth can be because software management service is witnessing highest growth due to the demand in maintaining security and surveillance in the parking areas.

Global Smart Parking Market, by Sensor Type

Based on sensor type, the market is segmented into ultrasonic sensors, image sensors, camera sensors, radar sensors and others. Among these, radar sensors is witnessing the fastest growth during the forecast period. The segment growth can be owing to the rapidly increasing automation such as development towards autonomous driving.

Global Smart Parking Market, by Vertical Type

Based on the vertical type, the global smart parking market is segmented into government and municipalities, commercial institutions, transport facilities and others. Among these, the transport facilities are expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period owing to the smart parking policies for safe and secured parking.

Global Smart Parking Market, by Solution

Based on solution, the market is segmented into license plate recognition, valet parking management, parking reservation management, security and surveillance, and others. Security and surveillance segment is witnessing the fastest growth during the forecast period. The segment growth can be owing to the use of the intelligent parking system with the help of which the drivers can park their vehicles safely.

Global Smart Parking Market, by Region

Based on the region, the smart parking market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America. Among these Europe is expected to witness fastest growth during the forecast period. The regional market growth can be owing to different initiatives taken by the government supporting smart parking system in the region.

Some Major Findings of the Smart Parking Market Report Include:

Major global market trend & forecasts analysis along with a country-specific market analysis for up to 25 countries

An in-depth smart parking market analysis by the segments, along with an analysis of trend-based insights and factors

Profiles of major market players operating in the global smart parking market, which include Amano Mcgann (Roseville), Urbiotica (Barcelona), Smart Parking Ltd. (Port Melbourne), IEM SA (Switzerland), IPS Group Inc. (Canada), Klaus Multiparking Systems (India), Swarco AG (Austria), PArklayer (India), Omnitec group (UAE)

Competitive benchmarking, product offering details, and growth strategies adopted by the leading market players, along with their major investments in the last five years

Key impact factor analysis across regions includes analysis, along with the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges that are prevailing in the global smart parking market

Impact of COVID-19 on the global smart parking market

Browse key industry insights from the report,  Smart Parking Market , by Type (Off-Street {Private Lots, Garages, Driveways}, On-Street Parking), Component (Software, Hardware, Services), Sensor Type (Ultrasonic Sensors, Image Sensors, Camera Sensors, Radar Sensors, Others), Vertical Type (Government and Municipalities, Commercial Institutions, Transport Facilities, Others), Solution (License Plate Recognition, Valet Parking Management, Parking Reservation Management, Security and Surveillance, Others), Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America) in-depth analysis along with the table of contents (ToC).

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Ajay D

Quince Market Insights

Pune India

Phone: US +1 208 405 2835

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Las Vegas, NV, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GEMXX Corporation (OTC Pink: GEMZ) (GEMZ) (the Company), a leader in the Ammolite Gems mine to market segment, is pleased to announce that the company has been spotlighted in Global Business Leaders Mag as one of the 20 Best Companies to Watch in 2021

It was a great honor to be considered by Global Business Leaders Mag and a greater honor to be designated one of the 20 Best Companies to Watch in 2021 commented Jay Maull CEO and President of GEMXX Corporation.

The article, which can be found at the following link: https://globalbusinessleadersmag.com/gemxx-corporation-the-pioneer-of-the-ammolite-industry/ highlights the companys management team of veterans and its plan to change the industry for the better. The article helps investors understand how quality workmanship, environmental stewardship and solid forward-looking vision for an industry will allow a new company to make big strides in a very short amount of time.

For the past 6000 years, gemstones have been traded and admired by millions. Among the precious gemstones, the discovery of Ammolite can be traced back to the 20th century, relatively new in gem history. Ammolite is a multi-colored iridescent organic gemstone that rivals the best Black Opal. Since its discovery, the gem market has keenly shown interest in Ammolite, with the rising value and demand, Ammolite has become an interesting and stable investment option.

Further, the article outlines the companys desire to work with other key industry players to change the perception and value of a globally recognized gemstone.

This designation is great for GEMXX but it is also very good for the industry. It is our goal to work with key players within the industry to achieve our goal of improving the image, value, and desire of this very rare and beautiful gemstone commented Richard Clowater, GEMXX Corporations VP of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Business Development.

ABOUT GEMXX CORPORATION

GEMXX Corporation is a publicly traded, mine to market gemstone and Ammolite Gems producer with global reach that owns mining resources, production facilities, and operating assets. GEMXX controls each stage of its production including gemstone production, jewelry manufacturing and global distribution.

GEMXX produces more top quality finished Ammolite than any Ammolite producer. The companys world-class gemstone cutters and jewelry designers are continuously leading the Ammolite industry in new and exciting directions. Our management team is made up of the industry's leading experts with a combined total of 160 years of Ammolite gemstone and jewelry business experience

GLOBAL BUSINESS LEADERS MAGAZINE

Global Business Leaders Magazine focuses on exulting the contribution of leaders who have been the emissary for their respective industries. The magazines issue provides an ideal platform for the leaders to express themselves while sharing their inspiring entrepreneur journey. Our sole mission is to inspire all new business entrepreneurs to begin their journey. Also, our uniquely stitched story has been constantly pushing new envelopes in the business magazine world. Unlike other platforms, it has allowed leaders to promote their ideas along with the companys unique offerings. Thanks to our content driven approach, we have helped numerous leaders to reach out to several new clients.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

For more information, press only:



GEMXX Corporation

PR CONTACT: Kim Halvorson

IR@gemxx.com

www.gemxx.com

Link to Global Business Leaders Magazine: https://globalbusinessleadersmag.com/gemxx-corporation-the-pioneer-of-the-ammolite-industry/

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LOS ANGELES, CA, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (the Company), a diversified company with operations and investments throughout the cannabis industry, today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021. This is the Companys highest quarterly revenue reported in its history.

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, were $442,178 and $53,195, respectively, an increase of $388,983. This increase is mainly attributable to $407,246 of product sales from our new acquisition of our distribution company called cDistro, which began full operations during the quarter ended September 30, 2021. In addition, MCOA also recorded $12,581 in equipment lease revenues to a cannabis distributor and manufacturer as part of its Lynwood-MCOA joint venture with JV partner Cannabis Global Inc. (OTC: CBGL).

"During the third quarter 2021, despite the fact that we have been in the midst of a global pandemic, the Company produced the highest revenues in its history, said Jesus Quintero, CEO of Marijuana Company of America, Inc. Our Q3 financial performance was strong and reflects our ability, despite being in a challenging environment, to execute on the strategy by diversifying within the Cannabis industry thru strategic acquisitions along with organic growth.

Quintero added, We continue to grow and adapt our business as demonstrated by our entrance into the South American markets via the creation of our new hempsmart-Brazil and hempsmart Uruguay operations, focusing on increasing customer engagement to support the value of our products for the first time globally.

For the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, gross profits were $63,687 and $16,025, respectively, an increase of $47,662. This increase is mainly attributed to gross profits from our acquisition of cDistro which began full operations during the three months ended September 30, 2021. In addition, MCOAs hempSMART business improved gross profits due to new pricing and promotions associated with sales restructuring and new sales strategies, along with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic subsiding during the three months ended September 30, 2021. As a result, the combined gross margins were 14.4% and 30.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Quintero stated, We have begun to selectively increase our acquisition activities and the investments we have made to enhance our value propositions that has yielded strong results, driving expansion into new areas within the Cannabis industry including: Distribution with our acquisition of cDistro; International Expansion with our premium Hemp & CBD Hempsmart products, as well as Cultivation with the October 2021 acquisition of a cannabis nursery cultivation facility in Salinas, California that is both a cultivator and distributor utilizing its own growing systems to produce desirable cannabis clones.

MCOA reported a net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $1,764,591 and $1,872,171, respectively, a decrease of $107,580. The net loss of $1,764,591 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 represents 399.1% of total revenues for the period. The net loss of $1,872,171 for the three months ended September 30, 2020 represents 3,519.4% of total revenues for the period.

Financial Summary of Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared to Nine Months Ended June 30, 2020

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, were $493,988 and $217,972, respectively, an increase of $276,016. This increase is mainly attributable to $407,589 of product sales from our acquisition of cDistro, which was effective towards the end of June 30, 2021 and accordingly, began to contribute revenue during the period ended September 30, 2021. In addition, MCOA recorded $12,581 in equipment lease revenues to a cannabis distributor and manufacturer, under the Lynwood joint venture. MCOA also reported that it had also sold $73,818 of hempSMART products during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, due to a new sales platform as well as changes to sales strategy, including the rebranding of our hempSMART product line.

MCOA reported a net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $7,250,698 and $4,177,391, respectively, an increase of $3,073,307. The net loss of $7,250,698 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 represents 1,468% of total revenues for the period. The net loss of $4,177,391 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, represents 1,917% of total revenues for the period.

Quintero added, We are confident that the steps we are taking will enable us to maintain a growing strong position as we drive growth across the entire business and maximize value for our stakeholders over the long term. Our expectation is that we should have another record breaking quarter in Q4 2021, since we will report a full quarter of revenue from our newly acquired cultivation facility in Salinas, California.

About Marijuana Company of America, Inc.

Marijuana Company of America operates and invests in the cannabis sector directly. The Company's operations include cDistro, one of the THC, Hemp & CBD cannabis industries fastest growing distribution companies, hempsmart, a Premium CBD company, and a cannabis nursery cultivation facility in Salinas, California that is a cultivator and distributor utilizing its own growing systems to produce desirable cannabis clones.

The company's core mission is to leverage its experience, and access to capital to identify and invest in acquisitions with unique growth potential.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains 'forward-looking statements,' which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs, and results of new business opportunities and words such as 'anticipate,' 'seek,' 'intend,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'project,' 'plan,' or similar phrases may be deemed 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based products. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information, please visit www.marijuanacompanyofamerica.com or visit www.sec.gov.

CONTACT:

info@marijuanacompanyofamerica.com

info@mcoainvestments.com

888-777-4362

Corporate Communications
New York, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Digital Transformation Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06184948/?utm_source=GNW





Key Highlights

With the advent of industry 4.0 in the manufacturing industry, various plants are adopting digital technologies to enhance, automate, and modernize the whole process. The integration of different digital transformation technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT), are significantly becoming prevalent, as it provides exceptional benefits. Also, Digital transformation helps organizations in improving their brands reputation, customer experience, and customer retention ratios through the implementation of the software. Digitally transformed organizations can adapt to the evolving technological landscape and can tackle sudden shifts in the industry.

The merging of Big Data with new technology has made processing large data sets easier than ever, and from mining Big Data to predictive analytics, manufacturing organizations are increasingly relying on these new, intelligent tools to help them succeed. The German Machinery and Plant Manufacturing Association indicates that, in 2020, big data-based business models are expected to contribute at least 7% more revenue to German manufacturing companies that they currently provide.

Among all the enabling technologies, Artificial Intelligence is poised to play a significant role over the forecast period. AI is also used to increase safety by providing preventive maintenance, yet there have been growing incidences of accidents. In such regard, intelligent cameras based on AI are being used to access the risk area and lessen the extent of potential damage.

In addition, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) is making use of AI in parallel ways, owing to the United Kingdoms first oil and gas National Data Repository (NDR). It uses AI to interpret data, which, according to the OGA anticipations, is likely to assist in discovering new oil and gas forecasts and permit more production from existing infrastructures.

The COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown restriction imposed across the globe have affected capital investments and industrial activities across the world. Most enterprises operating in the end-user industries (majorly manufacturing, automotive) had shuttered down their production sites due to lockdown restrictions.



Key Market Trends



Industrial Robotics Adoption is Expected to Grow Significantly



Industry 4.0, the newest industrial revolution, has fueled new technologies, like collaborative robots, SCARA robots, single-axis, AI-enabled robots, and the newly developed exoskeletons, which have enabled industries to use robots to streamline many processes, increase efficiency, and eliminate errors. Increased workplace safety and improved production capabilities have further driven industries to invest in robotic systems.

Expeditiously changing market demands and the dynamic development of information technologies are significantly contributing to digital transformation. Currently, industrial robots play a crucial role in industrial automation, as robots manage many core operations in industries. With increased demand across economies, product manufacturers are adopting robots to automate repetitive processes. The automotive sectors growth largely drives the tremendous growth in the deployment of industrial robotics.

The key market players in the market have rolled out collaborative robots that enhance worker safety, like ABBs YuMi and KUKAs LBR iiwa. The plug-and-play collaborative robots have attracted huge traction in recent times, owing to their ease-of-use. Industrial robots are predominantly used for mass manufacturing and production-based assembly applications, followed by spot welding, among other stages of manufacturing in the automotive, electronics, and other industries.

The pharmaceutical industry has experienced some significant impacts over the past year. Since the COVID-19 global pandemic outbreak, the industry has had to rapidly alter its processes to respond to emerging and changing health situations. Thus, automation has been one of the major ways that companies in this industry have been able to keep up with the required production and maintain social distancing guidelines. As a result of these changes, the life sciences, and pharmaceutical industry has seen the highest growth in robotics in the past year. There has been a 69% year-on-year growth in new robot orders.

In 2020, a rising theme in global manufacturing was the concept of the factory of the future or a fully connected factory. The growth of AI-integrated robotics and other data-driven processes will push robotics adoption, providing a broader use case for purchase. But initially, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the progress and production of robots, which negatively affected the market in early 2020. The pandemic also halted automotive production and disrupted the supply chain. However, the market regained some traction when robotics was being used in plants to fill the gap between socially distanced workers.



Asia Pacific is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share



The use of advanced technologies, such as cloud computing, AI, big data and analytics, mobility/social media, cybersecurity, IoT, among others, led to innovation and transformation, thereby stimulating growth in the business ecosystem of Asia Pacific. Digital technologies have transformed the legacy approach to business into a modern approach. Besides, the region is becoming a new hotspot in the digital transformation market due to rising investments in the process of digitalization across potential economies.

The digital transformation market is witnessing strong growth in the country owing to government initiatives, vendor investments, among others. In September 2021, the Japanese government launched the Digital Agency to drive Japans digital transformation as part of the administrative reform agenda. The governments move pushed the digitalization of the public sector.

The rising efforts by the governments for tying up with the major technology companies across the world for a digitalization push in the region. For instance, in February 2021, Cisco collaborated with the government of Japan on a digitization project which included various industry verticals, including government, education, healthcare, and business.

The Ministry of Science and ICT of South Korea, in July 2021, announced the launch of the Korean New Deal Comprehensive Plan to transition into a prominent economy by putting digital capabilities at the forefront of all industrial fields, helping advance digital innovation centered around artificial intelligence (AI) and data. The Digital New Deal is a strategic and preparatory investment toward the global digital economy by developing Koreas digital capabilities. Such deals, collaborations, and partnerships are expected to drive the growth of the market studied further.



Competitive Landscape



The Digital Transformation Market is moderately fragmented. The players have adopted various growth strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations, and new product launches and product enhancements to further expand their presence in the market and broaden their customer base.



October 2021 - Siemens Smart Infrastructure acquired Wattsense, French hardware and software firm that provides a plug-and-play IoT management system for small and mid-size buildings, bringing Siemens building product line to a new level. Wattsense was founded in 2017 and is based in Dardilly, France, near Lyon.

August 2021 - Kubota Corporation formed a strategic partnership with Accenture to accelerate its ongoing digital transformation by evolving its business model to further contribute to food, water, and environmental sustainability solutions. The partnership will enable the creation of a platform for Kubota both locally and globally by incorporating services that combine Accentures digital technologies, including artificial intelligence and the internet of things.



Additional Benefits:



The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format

3 months of analyst support

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06184948/?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.



__________________________
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- his holiday season, Wonderkind gifting and LCBO Food & Drink magazine wrap together A little something including made-in-Canada products with ready-to-drink selections, inspiring thoughtful gifting and highlighting female-owned businesses across the country.



Working with over 100 small businesses across Canada to celebrate gifting with purpose, Wonderkinds founders, Tara Cochrane and Shawna Pereira thoughtfully curated products to pair with LCBO Food & Drink magazine seasonal selections. Highlighting small batch products and entrepreneurs from the Yukon (Klondike Kettle Corn), Manitoba (GORP World), Ontario (JAVA Roasters, Infinite Glassworks, Light + Paper), Quebec (Bonnetier), and Nova Scotia (Rousseau Chocolatier).

We are thrilled to collaborate with LCBO Food & Drink magazine and contribute holiday gift ideas that are unique and support local businesses, says Tara. Canada is home to thousands of talented artisans and producers; it is our passion to discover and highlight businesses and offer products to our customers that are meaningful and leave a lasting impression.

As a gifting service, Wonderkind is built on two guiding principles: to champion Canadian female entrepreneurs and to offer an individually curated gifting experience that both enchants the recipient while respecting the environment. What was initially described as thoughtful gifting, is now simply known as gifting the Wonderkind way.

Founded in early 2019, Tara and Shawna set out to create a unique gift catering service designed to make gifting customized, personal, and impactful. They were the first to create an interactive quiz to elevate the customer experience and learn about a recipients individual and personal preferences. Not surprisingly, the quiz has become an essential guide in curating unique, one of a kind gift sets. Additionally, their Made in Canada products are carefully sourced for individual customers worldwide; along with individual giving, Wonderkind also works with corporate clientssuch as financial institutions and staffing agencies  to help them recognize and reward their teams.

Gifting the Wonderkind way helps connect families, celebrate loved ones, and acknowledge employees or co-workers, says Shawna. This motto also supports our Canadian makers and small businesses, while contributing to the growing circular economy.

However, the benefits of spreading Wonderkind go beyond just that of the creator-curator-customer ecosystem. With each Wonderkind gift ordered, an annual donation is made to each of their charitable partners: Second Harvest Food Rescue, Dress for Success Toronto and Opportunity International Canada.

While the pandemic has kept us apart, Wonderkind uses the language of love to keep people together. After all, gifting is an act of love, and Wonderkind takes pride in helping customers maintain those special bonds with its collection of uniquely crafted gifts.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine A little something

https://lcbofoodanddrink.cld.bz/English/FD-Holiday2021/74/

Wonderkind.ca

Contact

Shawna Pereira

shawna@wonderkind.ca

833.304.9381

Wonderkind.ca

@wonderkind_inc

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a24557f9-36c9-4e6c-b97a-5d49ed5f8d95
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To better understand the state of European supply chains, FourKites  , the #1 real-time supply chain visibility platform, partnered with Reuters Events to survey over 450 supply chain leaders across the continent, with particular emphasis on the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. The responses represent a broad perspective of the concerns and challenges surrounding European supply chains, sustainability and the role of real-time visibility in streamlining operations.

Coming in the midst of ongoing disruptions caused by COVID-19, State of the European Supply Chain: Logistics, Sustainability and Visibility Report 2022 reveals that the demand shock, labor shortages, port disruptions and capacity constraints have accelerated the adoption of supply chain visibility solutions throughout Europe. However, while many companies have adopted new digital practices, more than 60% of European companies admitted theyre slow to react to changing trends in logistics technologies, according to the report.

Key findings include:

Over half of all respondents are currently using supply chain visibility solutions, but one-third (33%) are having trouble improving data-driven processes such as forecasting, receiving operations and labor.

The majority of respondents (67%) cited end-to-end freight traceability as their biggest pain point when transporting goods.

More than half of respondents (63%) cited carriers providing inaccurate ETAs as a persistent problem.



If we have visibility, we can be efficient and flexible," said Ferenc Polgar, Global Distribution Operational Excellence Lead at Bayer. "We can communicate delays to our customers so they can adjust their operations and improve their experience. We can be more effective during peak distribution periods to make sure plans are going accordingly.

Being able to see your goods in transit is one piece of the puzzle, but it doesnt help navigate the many disruptions and delays that inevitably take place once the product leaves the ship or warehouse, said Matt Elenjickal, founder and CEO of FourKites. For that reason, the paradigm is shifting to full end-to-end supply chain visibility, wherein the goal is total predictive visibility across the entire supply chain, enabling proactive risk management vs. reactive problem-solving.

Pain points vary between the UK, Germany and the Netherlands

Looking at their three biggest pain points in transporting goods, respondents from the UK, Germany and the Netherlands had surprisingly different answers:

The UK was relatively balanced, with 71% of respondents citing end-to-end freight traceability, carrier relationships, and dwell times as their biggest pain points.

In the Netherlands, 75% of retailers and manufacturers said their biggest pain point was carrier relationships.

In Germany, 100% of respondents were struggling with ensuring end-to-end freight traceability.



Overall, respondents indicated supply chain visibility improved their planning and inventory management (60%), customer service (56%) and increased efficiency (38%). In the Netherlands, 40% saw an improvement to customer service whereas in Germany that number was even higher at 100%. Meanwhile, in the UK 63% said that improved planning and inventory management is the primary benefit of visibility.

Even the most commonly used mode of transportation also varied widely across the continent: 63% of UK respondents cited full truckload as their key mode of freight, while 80% of Netherlands respondents are using less than truckload, and 100% of German respondents are transporting freight by air, both domestically and internationally.

Sustainability is a priority, but not without challenges

The survey illustrates that sustainability is top of mind for todays supply chain leaders. Over 80% indicated that they were either holding steady (44%) or increasing (40%) their commitment to sustainability, emphasizing the urgency with which businesses understand they are required to act.

The two key supply chain sustainability goals articulated by respondents were the reduction of carbon emissions in transportation (39%) and manufacturing (31%), as well as the reduction of non-renewable packaging materials (31%). However, over a quarter of respondents also reported mapping sustainability impact throughout their supply chain as a challenge to modernizing transportation assets.

"We use supply chain visibility data to understand better where there's waste within the supply chain. Where do we have excessive empty miles?" said Paul Avampato, Head of International Logistics at Henkel. "We believe by reducing dwell time that we can keep the network moving smoother. The more we reduce dwell time, the less trucks that you have to put on the road."



Read the full report here .

About FourKites

FourKites is the #1 supply chain visibility platform in the world, extending visibility beyond transportation into yards, warehouses, stores and beyond. Tracking more than 2 million shipments daily across road, rail, ocean, air, parcel and courier, and reaching 176 countries, FourKites combines real-time data and powerful machine learning to help companies digitize their end-to-end supply chains. More than 750 of the worlds most recognized brands  including 9 of the top-10 CPG and 18 of the top-20 food and beverage companies  trust FourKites to transform their business and create more agile, efficient and sustainable supply chains. To learn more, visit https://www.fourkites.com/ .

Media Contact:

Marianna Vyridi

Big Valley Marketing for FourKites

(650) 468-3263

mvyridi@bigvalley.co

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67c2735f-e32c-457c-b7d0-38077ddce7f5
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Sky Minerals Corp. (AUEN.V) (the Company or Golden Sky) is pleased to announce the 2021 results from the first set of assays from its 4-hole, 1,317.5-metre maiden diamond drilling program at the Sure Bet Zone, located within its 100% owned Hotspot Property (the Property) in the Yukon Territory. The first set of assays was received from drill hole HS-21-02, with results pending for the three remaining drill holes. Drill hole HS-21-02 intersected 0.85 g/t Au over 102 meters, including 2.97 g/t Au over 24.1 meters, in turn including a high-grade, 1.05-meter zone grading 42.4 g/t Au (see Table 1 for results and Table 2 for drill collar information). Hole HS-21-02 was designed to test the westward extent of the Sure Bet mineralized zone.



These results are truly exciting, as they demonstrate that a near-surface, auriferous system exists on the Hotspot Property, stated Cameron Dorsey, VP Exploration of Golden Sky. Significant gold mineralization has now been confirmed to be associated with zones of faulting, brecciation, quartz veining, and hydrothermal alteration. The polyphase nature of mineralization and alteration suggests that the Sure Bet Zone is the result of a long-lived, gold-enriched system that developed within a structurally complex corridor.

Table 1: Assay results from the 2021 Hotspot diamond drill program

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) HS-21-02 8 110 102 0.85 HS-21-02 including HS-21-02 8 32.1 24.1 2.97 HS-21-02 22 28.5 6.5 8.14 HS-21-02 23.9 24.95 1.05 42.4

Table 2: Drill collar information

Hole ID Easting Northing Azimuth Dip Depth (m) HS-21-02 501529 7035701 230 -50 230

Drill Hole HS-21-02 Description:

Hole HS-21-02 was drilled to test the western extent of a ~600 m x 400 m gold-in-soil anomaly located within the Sure Bet Zone, with values ranging from 50 ppb Au to 4,110 ppb (4.11 g/t) Au (Figure 1). The Sure Bet Zone outlines a significant geochemical anomaly marking the southwest end of a 1.6 km gold-in-soil trend that extends to the northeast where it remains open.

The highly positive results from HS-21-02 (Table 1) represent a structural zone, comprising faulting and brecciation, hosting polyphase clay, silica, chlorite, and locally potassic hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralization. Up to 10% finely disseminated pyrite occurs throughout much of the hole, commonly associated with very intense chlorite alteration. The polyphase nature of quartz stockwork veining, silica flooding and quartz vein breccias suggest that several phases of auriferous fluid movement occurred within this structural corridor. Quartz veins typically range from <1 cm to 10 cm in width, with rare quartz breccia veins up to 0.9 m wide. Strong oxidation occurs to a drill hole depth of ~30 m, commonly associated with limonite within fractures and fault gouge (Figure 2). The rocks observed within the drill core primarily consisted of porphyritic rhyolite and rhyolite flows, tuff breccias, and conglomerates. The mineralized system extends through all host rock types but is best developed within the conglomerate unit, where increased primary permeability would have facilitated fluid movement.

Message from John Newell, President and CEO:

"The whole team at Golden Sky Minerals are thrilled to hit high-grade, near surface intercepts on our first diamond drill program at our Hotspot property," states John Newell, President and CEO of Golden Sky Minerals Corp. "Our early success at Hotspot, especially given the difficult nature of the program this past summer with drought conditions and COVID restrictions, along with the recently approved ten-year mining permit from the Yukons Mines Ministry, gives our team a great deal of confidence to advance this project. We are excited to get back to the Hotspot property as soon as possible in the spring of 2022. I would like to thank everyone that worked at Hotspot this year, for all their tremendous efforts.

Graphics accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9ea402dc-8a43-46e5-85a2-9df4c8770db8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/42a9c408-6342-4e7c-8f56-45e3f5c0dbf1

About Golden Sky Minerals Corp.

Golden Sky Minerals Corp. is a well-funded junior grassroots explorer engaged in the acquisition, assessment, exploration, and development of mineral properties located in highly prospective areas and mining-friendly districts. Golden Skys mandate is to develop its portfolio of projects to the mineral resource stage through systematic exploration.

The drill-ready projects include Hotspot, Bullseye, and Luckystrike, all in Yukon, Canada. In addition, the recent purchases of the Rayfield Copper-Gold Project in southern British Columbia, and the staking of the Eagle Mountain Gold Project in the Cassiar Gold District in northern British Columbia, add to the companys substantial early-stage Canadian project pipeline.

The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

More information can be found at the Companys website at www.goldenskyminerals.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

John Newell, President and Chief Executive Officer

Carl Schulze, P. Geo., Consulting Geologist with Aurora Geosciences Ltd, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Golden Skys Yukon exploration projects, and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release.

For new information from the Company's programs, please visit Golden Sky's website at www.GoldenSkyMinerals.com or contact John Newell by telephone (604) 568-8807 or by email at info@goldenskyminerals.com or john.newell@goldenskyminerals.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively, Forward-Looking Information) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as anticipates, expects, understanding, has agreed to or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results would, occur or be achieved. Although Golden Sky has attempted to identify important factors and risks that could affect Golden Sky and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors and risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, without limitation: inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with Golden Skys expectations; accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters; labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations; fluctuating metal prices; unanticipated costs and expenses; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on its projects; that Golden Sky may not be able to confirm historical exploration results and other risks set forth in Golden Sky's public filings at www.sedar.com. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, Golden Sky has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Golden Sky does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Pune, India, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Fortune Business Insights, the global military robots market size is expected to reach USD 25.66 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.15% during the forecast period. The market size stood at USD 13.87 billion. The growing adoption of advanced aerial robots in military operations, including attacking, rescue activities, surveillance, and others will have a tremendous impact on the global market.

The increasing military expenditure coupled with robust homeland security will have an excellent impact on the military robots market growth in the region. Furthermore, the growing focus of companies towards designing and developing small robots capable of transmitting images and videos to the ground-based station for assisting soldiers to make real-time decisions on battlefields will subsequently augur well for the global military robots market during the forecast period.





List of Companies Covered in the Military Robots Market:

Northrop Grumman Corporation (The U.S.)

Thales Group (France)

FLIR Systems, Inc. (The U.S.)

Clearpath Robotics Inc. (Canada)

Cobham Limited (The U.K.)

QinetiQ (The U.K.)

AeroVironment, Inc. (The U.S.)

BAE Systems. (The U.K.)

Elbit Systems Ltd. (Israel)

Raytheon Technologies (The U.S.)





Get a Sample PDF Brochure:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/military-robots-market-104663





Combination of Cutting-edge Technologies in Military Robots to Aid Growth



The amalgamation of technologies such as artificial intelligence, real-time data monitoring, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has accelerated the demand for these robots in modern warfare, thus aiding the market. These robots can track, record, and perform required counter-attacks on the targets located far away from the soldiers, hence easily identifying enemies on the ground, sea, or air. The increasing utilization of robots for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities will bolster the healthy growth of the market.





COVID-19 Pandemic: Suspended Deliveries of Military Robots to Restrict Market Growth

The pandemic has considerably affected the production and delivery of military robots, which, in turn, will diminish the growth of the market. Stringent government norms have disrupted the import and export of robots, resulting in delayed deliveries. The halt on operations has critically thwarted the production in manufacturing processes. The prominent companies situated in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France have experienced enormous loss due to the outbreak. However, companies are implementing strategies to recover the financial damage caused by the coronavirus, which, in turn, can improve the market scenario.





Presence of Major Manufacturing Companies to Boost Development in Europe



Europe is expected to experience a rapid growth rate during the forecast period owing to the presence of prominent manufacturers in the region. According to The World Robotics 2019, 700 service robot manufacturing companies are identified across the globe, out of which 307 companies are operating in Europe. The increasing trend for advanced robots with features such as speech and haptics-based human-machine interface, navigation and collision avoidance, motion, and task planning will further propel the growth of the market in Europe.





Key Development in the last Few Years :

October 2019: BAE Systems, a British multinational defence, security, and aerospace company developed Robotic Technology Demonstrator (RTD) as a program to showcase the latest in robotic combat systems.





Get your Customized Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/military-robots-market-104663





Major Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Emerging Trends in Global Military Robots Market Latest Technological Advancements Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis Key developments: Acquisition, Collaboration, Strategic Partnership, and Joint Venture

Report Scope and Segmentation By Platform (Airborne, Land, Naval) By Mode of Operation (Semi-Autonomous and Autonomous) By Mode of Propulsion (Manual, Electric, and Hybrid) By Application (Intelligence, Airborne Surveillance , and Reconnaissance, Search and Rescue, Combat Support, Transportation, and Others) Regional Forecast, 2020-2027



TOC Continued!





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Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.





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New York, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Wound Debridement Market Research Report by Product, by Wound Type, by End User, by State - United States Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183488/?utm_source=GNW



The United States Wound Debridement Market size was estimated at USD 871.58 million in 2020 and expected to reach USD 907.27 million in 2021, at a CAGR 5.65% to reach USD 1,212.50 million by 2026.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Wound Debridement to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the market was studied across Autolytic debridement products, Enzymatic debridement products, Mechanical debridement products, Other, Surgical debridement products, and Ultrasonic debridement products. The Autolytic debridement products is further studied across Gels and Ointments. The Mechanical debridement products is further studied across Mechanical debridement pads and Medical Gauzes.



Based on Wound Type, the market was studied across Burns, Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Other, Pressure Ulcers, Surgical & Trauma Wounds, and Venous Leg Ulcers.



Based on End User, the market was studied across Clinics, Hospitals, and Other.



Based on State, the market was studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Wound Debridement Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the United States Wound Debridement Market, including Acelity L.P. Inc., ArthroCare Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Derma Sciences, Inc., DeRoyal Industries, Integra Lifesciences, Lohmann & Rauscher, Medline Industries, MISONIX, Inc, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Paul Hartmann AG, and Smith & Nephew PLC.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the United States Wound Debridement Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the United States Wound Debridement Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the United States Wound Debridement Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the United States Wound Debridement Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the United States Wound Debridement Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the United States Wound Debridement Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the United States Wound Debridement Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183488/?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.



__________________________
Sydney, Nov. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Proactive, provider of real-time news and video interviews on growth companies listed in Australia, has covered the following companies:

Pental Ltd (ASX:PTL) has looked to the future at its annual general meeting, signalling to investors it expects to deliver on five key priorities through FY22. Click here

Lithium Power International Ltd (ASX:LPI) has begun exploration at Blackwood Lithium Prospect within the Greenbushes area of Western Australia with a drone-supported magnetic survey designed to provide the highest possible detail of the structural architecture of the Donnybrook Shear Zone (DSZ). Click here

Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN, JSE:ORN) has commenced discussions to collaborate with the Central Energy Corporation (CENEC) to include its flagship Prieska Copper-Zinc Project into CENECs Prieska Power Reserve Project in South Africa. Click here

Aldoro Resources Ltd (ASX:ARN) has collected 275 rock chip samples along the Fairway Corridor target at the Windimurra Igneous Complex in WA. Click here

Amplia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ATX), a biotech company developing new treatments for cancer and fibrosis, has conducted successful Phase 1 clinical trials for its Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitor AMP945. Click here

Kingston Resources Ltd (ASX:KSN) has entered into a binding agreement with US-based Quintana MH Holding Co. LLC to acquire a 100% interest in the operating Mineral Hill Mine, 65 kilometres north of Condobolin in western New South Wales. Click here

Sunstone Metals Ltd (ASX:STM) has made another major discovery in Ecuador, at Bramaderos Project in the country's south, with the first exploratory hole at the new Alba target striking 111 metres at 2.3 g/t gold, including 7.2 metres at 26.88 g/t as well as 1.2 metres at 87.7 g/t. Click here

Rumble Resources Ltd (ASX:RTR) has observed stringer style copper sulphide mineralisation from initial visual observations of diamond drill cores recently completed at the Amaryllis gold-copper-silver prospect. Click here

Venture Minerals Limited (ASX:VMS, OTC:VTMLF) has returned high-grade zones of tin-tungsten mineralisation, including a 93-metre intersection, from its new drill program at Mount Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Project in northwest Tasmania. Click here

Argonaut Resources NL (ASX:ARE)s geologists have confirmed observation of visible copper mineralisation in drill core from the Nyungu Central and East copper-cobalt deposits at Lumwana West Project in Zambia, offering an opportunity to potentially increase the Nyungu mineral resource. Click here

Latin Resources Ltd (ASX:LRS) is teaming up with envirotech organisation CRC CARE to research and develop emission reduction technologies using halloysite mineral from the Cloud Nine deposit in WA. Click here

Volt Resources Ltd (ASX:VRC) has acquired three licence applications in Serbia  Jadar North, Petlovaca and Ljig - that are considered prospective for lithium-borate mineralisation. Click here

Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX:INF) has set up an incorporated subsidiary Infinity GreenTech Pty Ltd to commercialise a new low-carbon lithium hard rock processing technique. Click here

Evolution Energy Minerals Ltd (ASX:EV1) has introduced a major new shareholder to its register. Click here

Matador Mining Ltd (ASX:MZZ, OTCQX:MZZMF)s exploration momentum is continuing at Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada, with 30 diamond holes planned in an inaugural winter season drill program potentially starting in February 2022. Click here

Chase Mining Corporation Ltd (ASX:CML) has boosted its cash balance by $570,000 through a share purchase plan (SPP) that closed on Monday, November 15, 2021. Click here

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:PAR) has added respected scientist Dr Christian Reiter to its R&D Department as senior principal research scientist. Click here

Latrobe Magnesium Ltd (ASX:LMG)'s revenue forecast has been buoyed by two supply agreements into Japan and North America and a strong projected price on the commodity. Click here

Shree Minerals Ltd (ASX:SHH) is honing in on a series of lead-zinc exploration targets at the Arunta Projects Box Hole prospect thanks to a research study backed by Australias national science agency. Click here

Jindalee Resources Ltd (ASX:JRL)s proof-of-concept drilling campaign at its Clayton North Project in the US has confirmed anomalous lithium results from surface soil sampling, intersecting fine-grained siltsone and claystone  the preferred lithological host for lithium  at 24.4 metres depth. Click here

Medallion Metals Ltd (ASX:MM8) continues to improve the outlook of Harbour View deposit within the Kundip Mining Centre (KMC) of its greater Ravensthorpe Gold Project (RGP) through results of up to 9.2 g/t gold and 7.2% copper. Click here

AdAlta Ltd (ASX:1AD) has further bolstered its patent portfolio with a second US patent for its AD-214 treatment from the companys flagship i-body platform, granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Click here

Legend Mining Ltd (ASX:LEG) flagship Mawson nickel-copper-cobalt prospect intrusion has been extended to the northeast, intersecting mineralised intrusion as well as defining the architecture of the Mawson intrusion in relation to the country rock. Click here

Alchemy Resources Limited (ASX:ALY) has improved its understanding of mineralisation at its wholly-owned Karonie Gold Project in Western Australia with a high-resolution magnetic survey, discovering multiple prospective targets including more than 10 kilometres of potential strike at the new Karonie East target. Click here

About Proactive

Proactive is a unique tech-enabled platform providing companies globally with a comprehensive investor engagement solution across their business lifecycle

With six offices on three continents, Proactive works with innovative growth companies quoted on the worlds major stock exchanges, helping executives to engage intelligently with investors

In 2020, Proactive featured in 809 million search results, our content was viewed over 165 million times and our readers spent over 10 million hours on our websites. Proactive has produced over 300,000 articles and 20,000 executive interviews since it was established in 2006

For more information on how Proactive can help you make a difference, email us at action@proactiveinvestors.com
ATLANTA, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Envoy, the pioneer of IP intelligence and high-quality consent-based location data, today announced the launch of their data for good programme, Data for Impact. The programme aims to educate consumers about the realities and benefits of IP & geolocation data, reform the location data industry from the inside out and provide the advantages of location data to causes and organisations that otherwise might not have access to it.



Offering data for projects that are working to do good in the world is our way of giving back. Were helping to level the playing field between the organisations fighting for positive change and the high budget interests they often fight against, said Josh Anton, CSO of Digital Envoy.

By utilising aggregated data that protects user privacy, Data for Impact will provide data information and resources to three core areas:

Protecting human rights: The Data for Impact programme will actively provide data and information vital in stopping human trafficking and promoting fundamental human rights.

The Data for Impact programme will actively provide data and information vital in stopping human trafficking and promoting fundamental human rights. Navigating nature : Information from heat maps has the ability to provide vital data in the case of natural disasters and global pandemics. Of note, this type of information has already produced a groundbreaking study on improving evacuation routes in advance of a natural disaster and on analysis regarding whether preventive Covid measures are working and how the virus may spread.

: Information from heat maps has the ability to provide vital data in the case of natural disasters and global pandemics. Of note, this type of information has already produced a groundbreaking study on improving evacuation routes in advance of a natural disaster and on analysis regarding whether preventive Covid measures are working and how the virus may spread. Shedding light around economic uncertainty: Public policy, infrastructure and services are heavily dependent on data. The Data for Impact programme will be working with organisations to identify new opportunities that can provide more effective sector and programme prioritisation, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.



By partnering with organisations from each core focus area, we have been able to quickly identify data projects that will produce the most impactful outcomes, said Digital Envoy President Jerrod Stoller. Were thrilled that some of the initial programme partners include the COVID Alliance, MIT and The World Bank and look forward to working with additional like-minded organisations.

Digital Envoy and its recent acquisition of Outlogic, a consent-based location data provider, are committed to helping the world navigate complex issues and humanitarian efforts through the power of high-quality privacy-conscious location data. Data such as this has been pivotal in assisting national and local governments identify potential COVID hot spots following larger public gatherings.

About Digital Envoy:

In 1999, Digital Envoy introduced the concept of privacy-sensitive IP-based geolocation and IP intelligence. This technology allows businesses from ad networks to publishers, websites, retailers and more to harness the power of location and new intelligence about connected users for many mission-critical applications. Digital Envoy has three business units that address the unique needs of customers: Digital Element, which provides global geolocation data and services that bring anytime, anywhere relevance and context to online and mobile initiatives; Digital Resolve, which delivers solutions that proactively secure online accounts, information, transactions and interactions from login to logout and Outlogic, which allows companies in retail, real estate and financial markets to develop disruptive tools built on a foundation of quality location data. Landmark Media Enterprises is the majority owner of Digital Envoy. Visit www.digitalenvoy.com for more information.

Media Contact:

Kyle Kuhnel

Broadsheet Communications

201-248-3826

kyle@broadsheetcomms.com
SALEM, Ore., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATRIO Health Plans, a Medicare Advantage Plan in Oregon serving over 20,000 members, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Nevada, will be opening its new local office at 1620 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 19, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. The telephone number is 629-218-3553.

ATRIO Health Plans will be offering two Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug PPO Plans, starting Jan. 1, 2022. ATRIO Health Plans firmly believes care should be centered around the patient and the community. ATRIO Health Plans was developed by doctors and health systems who wanted to make a change in the care of Medicare patients.

"We are thrilled to bring our 4.5 quality star rated Medicare Advantage Plans to Tennessee. US News and World Report just rated us one of the best Medicare Plans in Tennessee, and we are just getting started. We look forward to working in the community with our provider partners to make a difference in the care of our members," said Jeff Fox, Chief Executive Officer at ATRIO.

ATRIO Health Plans is currently offering ATRIO Choice Rx (PPO) and ATRIO Select Rx (PPO) plans in Davidson, Rutherford, Sullivan, Washington, Williamson, Wilson, Bedford, and Coffee counties. The Medicare Advantage PPO plans start at $0 and offer competitive benefits and out-of-network benefits. ATRIO PPO plans offer many extras Medicare does not cover such as prescription drugs, dental, vision, over-the-counter items, and hearing benefits.

The Annual Enrollment Period is occurring right now until December 7, and ATRIO is in the community ready to meet the needs of Medicare beneficiaries today. It has local community, one-on-one, and virtual meetings with agent professionals to assess individual healthcare needs.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary, feel free to stop by ATRIO's new offices, have a cup of coffee or tea and learn more about its benefits, network of doctors and quality ratings. Or give ATRIO a call at 629-218-3553.

About ATRIO Health Plans

ATRIO Health Plans is a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan established in 2004 that offers Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) options as well as a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Special Needs Plans for Dual Eligible. The health plan is supported by the trusted physicians who care for Medicare beneficiaries in Oregon, Nevada, Tennessee, and Louisiana. For more information, visit atriohp.com.

ATRIO Health Plans

Diane Logan Hollie

Chief Marketing Officer

215-499-1417

###

Related Files

ATRIO Comm Press Release Final 11.11.21.docx

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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celebrating its IMEX debut, ETHOS Event Collective hosted clients and attendees at its booth to prepare gift boxes for patients at Sunrise Children's Hospital in Las Vegas.

"Supporting the people and places that make the meetings and events we create possible is paramount to our purpose," said Joe Fijol, Principal, ETHOS Event Collective Florida + Las Vegas. "So it was important to our team to design our IMEX experience around a local give-back."

In partnership with Cheeriodicals , ETHOS and its booth visitors prepared 160 personalized cheer-up gifts during the IMEX America Conference at Mandalay Bay. As the first group following COVID to be allowed to deliver these welcomed packages to patients at Sunrise Children's Hospital, people were excited to get involved.

"It was nice to take a break and do something that would bring joy to a child struggling with illness," said Laura Bergersen, CMP, Director Global Accounts, INNOV8 Meetings & Events. "Following COVID, I think our industry is much more aware of how we support communities and interested in doing more."

These Cheeriodicals cheer-up gifts included a bundle of age-appropriate crafts, activity books, puzzles, and games for children to enjoy, all carefully packed inside a keepsake green gift box.

"Cheeriodicals has worked with the leadership from ETHOS Event Collective numerous times over the years. I've been personally moved by their desire to include a give-back component in their work," said Gary Parisher, President of Cheeriodicals. "They continue to distinguish themselves by living out their purpose of making a positive impact in the communities where they work."

After being assembled and packed, the gift boxes were delivered in-person by ETHOS Event Collective and Cheeriodicals to Sunrise Children's Hospital for distribution to patients by their child life specialists. Each gift box included hand-written note cards with encouraging messages from each attendee that participated.

In light of the ongoing pandemic, the delivery of the gift boxes was made in adherence with Sunrise Children's Hospital's specific COVID-19 constraints and pre-set guidelines to ensure optimal safety for the recipient children.

"We are honored to receive this generous donation of Cheeriodicals from ETHOS and IMEX," said Allie Breckenridge, Chief Operating Officer, Sunrise Children's Hospital. "The Cheeriodicals ensure our pediatric patients are entertained with age-appropriate items and help our patients still feel like kids during their hospitalization, which is an important part of the recovery process."

As part of a long-standing national partnership with Cheeriodicals, Two Men and a Truck Las Vegas donated its services to transport the gift boxes to the hospital.

About ETHOS Event Collective

ETHOS Event Collective is a Destination + Event Management Company that helps meeting and event planners stay ahead of increasing demands while supporting the people and places that make the experiences we create possible. We call it Purposeful Planning and it's how we ensure results for both company and community long after a meeting or event has ended. To learn more, visit www.ETHOSEventCollective.com .

About Sunrise Children's Hospital

Sunrise Children's Hospital is the largest, most comprehensive children's hospital in Nevada that also serves the surrounding region and millions of visitors that come to Las Vegas. Sunrise Children's Hospital offers a full range of specialized services, including Nevada's only pediatric heart surgery program and Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), a dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department and the largest Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Nevada. Sunrise Children's Hospital is located on the same campus as Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center  Nevada's largest acute care facility. Follow us on Instagram @SunriseChildrensHospitalLV , Twitter @SunriseHosp and Facebook.com/SunriseChildrensHospital .

About Cheeriodicals

Cheeriodicals is a national corporate team-building company that conducts philanthropic events benefiting children's hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, Veterans Hospitals, the American Cancer Society, frontline hospital workers, assisted living residents and other charity groups. For more information about Cheeriodicals' in-person and virtual team-building initiatives, visit our website or follow Cheeriodicals on Facebook and Instagram .

ETHOS Event Collective Media Contact:

Barrie Hanlon

barrie.hanlon@ethoseventcollective.com

Cheeriodicals Media Contact:

Mary Martha Parisher

General Counsel

205-677-2069

mparisher@cheeriodicals.com

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IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community Preservation Partners (CPP), one of the nations most active affordable housing preservation developers, today announced the appointment of Belinda Oakes as chief financial officer. Oakes will be responsible for the development, oversight and maintenance of financial policies and accounting systems and functions, ensuring proper financial controls are in place. Working closely with various divisions throughout the company, she will provide strategic direction to support CPPs plans to grow its acquisition and development pipeline across the U.S.



Belinda has significant experience and is an industry leader specialized in affordable housing finance, said Anand Kannan, president of CPP. She brings an unmatched level of sophistication and expertise to our accounting and finance team that will serve as the backbone to the tremendous growth we are anticipating at CPP over the next several years. We look forward to being led by the best in the business during this next chapter.

As part of the executive leadership team, Oakes will lead the controller function and oversee accounting functions including business planning and financial forecasts, in addition to sharing in the oversight of housing acquisition and re-syndication activities. She will work collaboratively with the asset management, development and construction management teams to elevate deals, analyze potential capital transactions, provide long-term goals and assist with forecasting. Additionally, she will foster banking, legal and other strategic relationships to further the growth potential of CPP.

Having been part of the industry for more than 20 years, I understand the importance of affordable housing preservation, said Oakes. I have always admired CPP for their ability to get deals done and prowess to execute on their purpose of preserving affordable housing. I am excited to join an organization whose goals are aligned with my professional experience and personal passion for company culture and vision.

Prior to joining CPP, Oakes spent more than 19 years at Highridge Costa Companies, in a series of roles, most recently as vice president accounting and taxation. Earlier in her career she spent time at Novogradac & Company LLP, Oracle and Arthur Andersen. She volunteers as the treasurer and CFO of the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation. She received her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Golden Gate University and is a certified public accountant. Oakes resides in Hermosa Beach, California with her husband and son.

About Community Preservation Partners

Since its founding in 2004, Community Preservation Partners (CPP), an affordable housing rehabilitation company, has invested more than $2.6 billion into neighborhoods across the United States, keeping housing costs affordable for thousands of seniors, families and individuals. Having developed more than 12,500 low-income housing units, and positively changing the lives of thousands of low-income residents, the award-winning firm continues to expand nationally with headquarters in Irvine, California and Reston, Virginia. With its creative mindset and unwavering vision, CPP proposes big, bold and better solutions that build community and serve the greater good. Creativity. Performance. Purpose. A different way to home. For more information, visit www.CPP-Housing.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5fd2dde9-c057-4e1d-8044-a7bfd42bb1fc
London, England, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today announced that it has partnered with Crowdfunding Platform, Realtize LLC. https://realtize.io/ for the upcoming launch of its NSAVDEX Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange https://nsavdex.org/#/home Native Token, (NSBC). The launch date of the Private Pre-Sale of the NSAVDEX Native Token will be announced tomorrow, Friday, November 19, 2021. This will be the first in a series of major collaborations between NSAV and Realtize.

The NSAVDEX Native Token will be using the OKEx Chain Protocol. OKEx https://www.okex.com/ Exchange ranks third in terms of 24 hour trading volume for Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchanges https://coinranking.com/exchange/hUlMcwWZp_+okex .

NSAV management believes now is the perfect time to launch its DEX Native Token. Uniswap https://uniswap.org/ , the globe's largest Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange, had its Native Token (UNI) hit $140 in market capitalization only 7 hours after its launch. Recently, UNI reached a market capitalization of over $15 billion. https://cointelegraph.com/news/3-reasons-why-uniswap-uni-token-hit-a-new-all-time-high-above-15

Jerry Lee, CEO of Realtize stated, We are extremely impressed with the NSAV team. They are professional and very efficient. This working opportunity is like designing an art piece together with the NSAV team. We cannot wait to see the completion of the token project. We would also like to thank Silverbear Capital for introducing our new alliance partner to us."

Dato Sri Desmond Lim, Interim CEO and Senior Vice President of Cryptocurrency Operations for NSAV and Silverbear Capital partner stated, We are thrilled to develop a long-term alliance with Realtize, as one of the visions of NSAV is to be ahead of the curve in terms of the regulated digital asset arena as the authorities are becoming more and more concerned about the blockchain and crypto environment".

About Realtize:

Realtize is an all-in-one platform that helps real estate, ECO, technology and startup issuers to raise the capital. We will collaborate with variety of industries and help the companies to raise the capital through effective due diligence and client onboarding processes. Realtize is building the next-generation digital investment platform that will help traditional investors to participate in regulated digital asset investment.

About NSAV:

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.

For further information, please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavtech

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at http://nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Premium OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://nsavholdinginc.com/otc-desk/

The NSAV Hong Kong OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://hkotc.co/

The NSAV Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (DEX) website can be accessed at https://nsavdex.org/#/home

Silverbear Capital Inc. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/ , a leading, global investment banking firm, will be advising NSAV on strategic matters related to this transaction.

Silverbear Capital Inc. (SBC) has a dynamic of disciplines on a broad commercial level and practice. SBC has a strong group of Partners in a wide range of disciplines with seasoned experience in finance, management, and professional practice. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/meet-our-team/ .

Disclaimer: Silverbear Capital Inc. does not constitute investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to sell, or a solicitation to buy, or any other investment product (nor shall any such shares or product be offered or sold to any person) in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities law of that jurisdiction.

This press release contains certain 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, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

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CORAL GABLES, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Carmen and Joe Unanue Family Foundation, led by alumnus Andy Unanue, has donated $3.3 million to the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School in honor of Unanues late parents, who led philanthropic initiatives in education and health care through the foundation that carries their names.

The donation, matched by the Herbert Challenge Endowment Gift Match for a total of $5 million, will strengthen the schools capabilities to prepare graduate students to successfully enter the workforce or advance their careers upon graduation.

The Unanue Family Foundations gift is part of the University of Miamis recently announced Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. The most ambitious in the universitys history, the campaign has already raised more than $1.6 billion toward a goal of $2.5 billion and is set to conclude in 2025, when the University will celebrate its centennial.

We are honored and grateful to be the stewards of the Joseph and Carmen Unanue Graduate Career Advancement Center, said Virginia Ginger Baxter, assistant dean of graduate career advancement and engagement and director of the newly named graduate career center. The donation will purposefully advance the career and professional development of graduate students and alumni and transform the way we connect, collaborate, and co-create experiences.

Funds will be used to increase networking opportunities, specialized training, and participation in more national and international case competitions and student conferences. Added resources will also enable continued innovative responses to a rapidly changing hiring climate fueled by technology and a trend toward work-life integration.

For Unanue, who is president of the Carmen and Joe Unanue Foundation, the goals align with his parentsand now his owndedication to elevate job opportunities for students.

My parents always wanted to help educate people and prepare them for the real world so that they could get good jobs with which to provide for their families, he said. The gift will hopefully help prepare the students to get the jobs that they want and that they will be happy in, whether entering the workforce or creating their own businesses.

The New Jersey native recently established the headquarters of his firm AUA Private Equity Partners in West Palm Beach, bringing him back to South Florida after living in several cities around the country and abroad since graduating from Miami Herbert in 1991. Unanue also serves as a member of the deans advisory committee at Miami Herbert and as the Miami Herbert chair of the Universitys Ever Brighter campaign.

We are grateful for this generous gift which underscores the Unanue familys commitment to help drive the University forward, said Josh Friedman, senior vice president for development and alumni relations. It also brings together two philanthropic familiesthrough the Herbert matchwho believe in the power of education, and in particular the University of Miami, to change lives, and are investing in the future of our students so they can become the business innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Unanue said that he learned from my parents that we should never forget where we came from, that there are always people who help us along the way, and that we need to help and give back in return. The University of Miami helped me with my education, along with my niece and nephew, and was one of the building blocks to make me who I am. And I am now in a position to help the students at the University through a helpful hand up, not a handout.

His efforts already nurture a philanthropic spirit among students.

Those of us striving to become business leaders are inspired by donors who invest in our potential and we hope to one day soon be in a position to do the same for others," said Sushant Koppikar, an MBA candidate and president of the Graduate Business Student Association.

Unanues dedicated support extends to potential future Canes, as well. AUA Private Equity Partners, where he serves as the managing partner, recently joined forces with First Generation Investors, a nonprofit that teaches high school students and young adults how to invest and thrive in the financial sector. Through the partnership, AUA now sponsors half of the cohort of FGI students at the University. The sponsorship meets the needs per student for their investment account as they embark on real-life investing.

Miami Herbert Dean John Quelch acknowledges Unanues growing impact on the University and Miami Herbert, especially as his donation to the Ever Brighter campaign occurs as an endowed gift, which enables the charitable objectives in perpetuity.

We cherish the generosity of the Unanue family, Quelch said. Andy Unanue is continuing his parents legacy graciously, and we honor his contributions to help develop the next generation of principled leaders.

Watch a video here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/pUbYxd4Z99U

- www.everbrighter.miami.edu -

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

The University of Miami is a private research university and academic health system with a distinct geographic capacity to connect institutions, individuals, and ideas across the hemisphere and around the world. The Universitys vibrant and diverse academic community comprises 12 schools and colleges serving more than 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Located within one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, the University is building new bridges across geographic, cultural, and intellectual borders, bringing a passion for scholarly excellence, a spirit of innovation, a respect for including and elevating diverse voices, and a commitment to tackling the challenges facing our world.

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MONTREAL, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To comply with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)s stringent regulations for the credentialing of employees and contractors, airports have to undertake complex and time-consuming processes to issue and administer badges or face hefty fines. To help airports of all sizes automate and simplify this process, Genetec Inc. (Genetec), a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations, and business intelligence solutions, today announced its new Genetec Security Center Airport Badging Solution (ABS).

A key element of the TSAs Insider Threat Program involves the thorough vetting and credentialing of airport and airline employees prior to being granted unescorted access to secure and sterile areas of an airport. With hundreds to thousands of employees working in and accessing secure zones every day, the vetting, credentialing and badging process in airports can be long and tedious, and is often at the mercy of incompatibility issues between systems that arent made to work together.

The new Security Center Airport Badging Solution reduces the need to work with multiple different systems and simplifies the entire badging process. This not only minimizes the risk of potential human error that comes with disparate systems and manual processing, but also streamlines the overall badging process by saving time and increasing efficiency.

Some airports have resorted to a variety of single-purpose systems, while others have chosen a complex Identity Management System (IDMS) to manage their badging process and employee background checks. While both options allow airports to remain compliant with new regulations, these solutions present operational inefficiencies. ABS helps reduce human error that can stem from managing multiple disconnected systems and avoids the complexities of large scale Identity Management Systems.

The TSA can show up at any time, in any airport, big or small, and perform a compliance audit of their badging department. Unfortunately, smaller airports have been managing this process using paper, which can be a time-consuming process often resulting in lost information, and potentially large fines for compliance violations. The Genetec Airport Badging Solution provides an industry-first, out-of-the-box, simple solution for these airports to ensure compliance, optimize the badging process, and lower the overhead needed to run a badging department, explains Joseph Degrassi, Regional Director, Public Sector at Genetec Inc.

ABS provides a simple, turnkey solution for airports that streamlines and automates background checks within their unified physical security platform  Genetec Security Center. With a design based on standards set forth by the TSA and specificities from clearinghouses like AAAE, Security Center ABS helps airports deliver the required information in the correct format to successfully submit and process each employee application, and consistently meet audit and compliance requirements set by authorities.

All data collected on each badge applicant is compiled and stored within the system. Customized dashboards are included within Security Center to showcase insights such as real-time applicant statuses, and unaccounted for badge percentages so that airport administrators can make more informed decisions, especially when it comes to meeting audit and compliance requirements set by the TSA.

--ends--

About Genetec

Genetec Inc. is an innovative technology company with a broad solutions portfolio that encompasses security, intelligence, and operations. The companys flagship product, Security Center, is an open-architecture platform that unifies IP-based video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ANPR), communications, and analytics. Genetec also develops cloud-based solutions and services designed to improve security, and contribute new levels of operational intelligence for governments, enterprises, transport, and the communities in which we live. Founded in 1997, and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Genetec serves its global customers via an extensive network of resellers, integrators, certified channel partners, and consultants in over 80 countries.

For more information about Genetec, visit: www.genetec.com

 Genetec Inc., 2021. Genetec and the Genetec logo are trademarks of Genetec Inc. and may be registered or pending registration in several jurisdictions. Other trademarks used in this document may be trademarks of the manufacturers or vendors of the respective product.

LINK TO GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Press Contacts: North America

Veronique Froment

HighRez

Veronique@highrezpr.com

Tel: +1 603.537.9248

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SANTA ANA, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fit-Line Global, a leading component supplier for high-purity fluid processing applications in the semiconductor industry, announced today the launch of its latest product innovation, Nexus Connect. The new product line will be available beginning December 2021.



"Fit-Line Global fittings are known for their high quality reliable, leak-free connections that meet customer and regulatory requirements, said Frank Hayes, president at Fit-Line Global. Nexus Connect will be the gold standard of ultra-high pure PFA insert fittings that are reliable and an easy-to-use solution for a broad range of demanding fluid handling applications.

Nexus Connect insert fittings are made from virgin ultra-high purity PFA material cleaned in Fit-Line Globals certified class 1000 cleanroom. The extensive product line features sweep elbows and is available in sizes ranging from  through 1. They are designed to handle extreme temperatures up to 392F (200C) and are compatible with wet-insert style fittings. Nexus Connect fittings also work with Fit-Line Globals industry-proven TruFASTEN torque wrenches.

Nexus Connect, along with Fit-Line Globals collection of industry-leading products and tools will be on display during the SEMICON West show December 7 through 9, 2021.

For more information on Fit-Line Globals Nexus Connect and their unmatched commitment to quality visit www.fit-lineglobal.com.

About Fit-Line Global

Fit-Line Global is a trusted supplier, designer, research and development resource for SEMI F57-0120 compliant PFA and PVDF components. They employ efficient manufacturing processes to create products that meet the most demanding applications. Fit-Line Global has been a trusted supplier to the Semiconductor industry for more than 25 years. Headquartered in California, Fit-Line Global dedicates itself to providing quality products, with the fastest lead time in the industry, and at a fair price. The company exclusively manufactures PFA and PVDF components, which are strong choices for use in high-purity and corrosive chemical semiconductor applications. To learn more, visit www.fit-lineglobal.com.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b63da84b-063e-4d67-b428-ef658688cb15

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c130931-dd49-47f7-b9c1-92e8bd043257
DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dallas Cowboys are helping to provide critical vision care to people who otherwise would not get it by supporting Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF).

In October, the Cowboys and EVF came together to celebrate World Sight Day and delivered vision care to more than 150 middle school students. Two of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, team mascot Rowdy, and former player and current Cowboys Youth Camps Manager Danny McCray were on hand to play games and visit with the students.

"The Dallas Cowboys were proud to partner with Essilor Vision Foundation to celebrate World Sight Day and provide vision services to local underserved youth," said Charlotte Jones, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. "It is always great to work with a group like EVF that shares our philosophy of giving back to those most in need of assistance."

Through this partnership, EVF and the Dallas Cowboys are elevating the importance of clear vision for children and adults, and are strengthening their community by helping low-income people access vision services.

"EVF believes it takes a community to deliver vital vision care to everyone who needs it," says Becky Palm, EVF President and Executive Director. "Thanks to the Cowboys' commitment, EVF is able to provide life-changing eye exams and glasses and truly make a difference in the Dallas-Fort Worth area."

Over the past four years, EVF and the Dallas Cowboys have partnered on a number of initiatives to help children in the community have the best head start possible, including providing essential vision services so they can see clearly. The organizations collaborate with local schools for the Dallas Cowboys' and NFL's PLAY 60 initiative, and for the annual Back-to-School Kickoff at AT&T Stadium, helping an estimated 500 kids each year receive glasses and back-to-school resources.

Visit www.evfusa.org to learn more about how the foundation and its donors are working to bring clear vision to those who need it the most.

# # #

About Essilor Vision Foundation

We strive to give children a brighter future by helping them see the world more clearly. Since 2007, Essilor Vision Foundation has provided nearly two million pairs of eyeglasses to individuals in need. Essilor Vision Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public, non-profit organization committed to eliminating poor vision and its lifelong consequences. To learn more visit www.evfusa.org.

Contact:

Meredith Marmurek

meredith.marmurek@essilorusa.com

214-850-3642

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HAMILTON, Ontario, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hamiltons own Goodness Me! Natural Food Market launches their Reno Reveal Party to celebrate the end of 5 months of extensive renovations to their flagship store. The Goodness Me! team is delighted to welcome customers to our newly renovated Upper Gage store, says Bruce Beacham, Goodness Me! CEO. We are excited to see our customers enjoying their much-improved shopping experience in the new look and feel of the store. For many in the local neighbourhoods, the store is a brand-new option for healthy and delicious natural and organic food. Our friendly and knowledgeable team members are looking forward to meeting everyone!



Reno Reveal Party (Thursday, Nov. 18-21, 2021) at 1000 Upper Gage, just north of the Lincoln Alexander Parkway. Hamilton local, Darrin Laidman from BOUNCE 102.9 will be Live on Location Sat. Nov. 20th from 9am-1pm. The weekend event will include a free bag of the new low-sugar candy, Smart Sweets, with every purchase of $50 or more, plus more giveaways and offerings as they invite the city of Hamilton into their newly renovated space!



The Upper Gage location overhaul includes a transformation of both exterior and interior, and the 40-year-old natural food market shows off a fresh new look that compliments their specialty offerings and highlights their strict ingredient standards! The stores new fresh and vibrant esthetics also includes art from local Hamilton artists Jacqui Oakley & Jamie Lawson of Vermillion Sands. Its an improved shopping experience that is well worth the wait.



With goodness in their name, the natural food market is also using this Reno Reveal as an opportunity to give goodness back to the community where they started, over 40 years ago. With a $5000 donation to another long-time Hamilton establishment, Neighbour 2 Neighbour Food Share, they are inviting others in the neighbourhood to donate healthy, delicious food, in-store between Nov 18-28. Community is an integral part of our brand. Loyal customers that have been with us for many years, growers, and makers that partner with us, our amazing staff that have a passion for helping others, and the cities in which we have thoughtfully placed our stores  we are always looking for ways to give back to our community! Neighbour 2 Neighbour food bank is a natural extension of our brand, and we are so happy to be able to partner with them! adds Bruce Beacham.

The Goodness inside a Goodness Me!



 100% Certified Organic Fruits & Vegetables

 Verified Humanely Raised Meats

 Locally Sourced Dairy

 Sustainable Seafood

 Natural & Organic Grocery

 High-Quality Vitamins & Supplements

 Healthy Eatery with Hot Bar, Soup Bar, & Salad Bar with 100% Fresh Organic Produce

 Eco-Friendly Home & Kitchen



A Store with a Story



Goodness Me!s mission to discover, educate, and offer quality, healthy products has remained the same for over 40 years. They exist to help Canadians live longer, healthier, happier lives through their vast healthy product offering, education driven focus, and excellent customer service from knowledgeable, friendly staff. Whether you're starting fresh in the world of nutrition or are a seasoned expert, Goodness Me! will help you discover the power of food!



With 9 Goodness Me! locations throughout Ontario, plus 4 Noahs Natural Food locations in Toronto, the business is excited about launching their 10th Goodness Me! location in London, Ontario in 2022. Visit www.goodnessme.ca for a list of locations near you!



For more information contact:

Lindsay McFarland

Communications Manager

Goodness Me! Natural Food Market

1000 Upper Gage Ave., Hamilton, Ontario L8V 4R5

Lindsay.McFarland@goodnessme.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/94baf40b-927a-4f35-bcfa-f426b8ffda21
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Violet Defense , the UV disinfection company dedicated to helping make the world healthier, announces that it is undertaking efforts to expand its global reach into Europe, Australia and South America. Leveraging the patented technology of its parent company, Violet Defense Group , Violet Defense will be broadening its efforts in international markets, including entering into new agreements with distribution partners in Europe and South America.

These efforts coincide with the launch of the new Vantage Series, its Gen 3 Universal Product line, which will operate on electrical systems used in other countries on 100-240VAC and 277VAC.

"Expansion into new international markets through strategic distribution arrangements and other types of partnerships is a critical component of our long-term growth strategy as a company," said Terrance Berland, CEO of Violet Defense Group. "We are very excited to have established these new agreements and to continue our efforts to expand our global reach."

Violet Defense has entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Violet Defense Europe Limited , headquartered in Ireland, which will bring Violet Defense's UV disinfection technology to Europe, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation. Robert Haulbrook, who led the expansion and successful exit of Ireland's Meteor Mobile Communications, has taken the role of Chairman and CEO. Terrance Berland has agreed to serve on the Board of Directors of the otherwise unaffiliated Violet Defense Europe. Violet Defense Group has also agreed to license technology to Violet Defense Europe and become a shareholder upon satisfaction of certain conditions.

"We will be deploying a comprehensive distribution strategy throughout Europe using a direct sales team complemented with retail and wholesale distribution partners to bring a range of UV disinfection solutions to the market," said Robert Haulbrook. "Violet Defense's patented technology gives us the capability to offer powerful, smaller, less expensive devices that can be permanently installed in hospitals, offices, restaurants, hotels and homes," added Haulbrook.

Violet Defense has also established a new distribution relationship with CyberAsept to bring its patented UV disinfection products to Latin America. CyberAsept is a new company, headquartered in Brazil, dedicated to meeting the growing demands for innovative disinfection solutions in the region with an integrated go-to-market strategy of direct sales and local distributors.

CyberAsept will initially address the health care, hospitality, education, and real estate markets in South America. The company was co-founded by two seasoned Brazilian entrepreneurs with a combined 60 years of expertise in bringing technology solutions in Bio, Pharma & Healthcare, Process Industries, IT & Telco to Latin America with a strong background in Banking, Finance and Asset Management for foreign investors in the region.

"We are excited and honored with this partnership. In these fast-changing and unpredictable times, infection prevention and disinfection preparedness are of ever-growing importance for corporations and institutions alike. To CyberAsept, it is particularly rewarding to be able to provide the Violet Defense solutions to different markets in South America," said Rafaella Stassun, Head of Marketing for CyberAsept.

Cablex , a leading manufacturer, integrator and exporter of complex solutions for the defense, aerospace, and transportation markets in Australia, with which Violet Defense entered into a distribution agreement with Violet Defense in 2020 as previously announced, has begun to build out its distribution channels within Australia and recently completed its first commercial sale of Violet Defense's solutions. Cablex first entered into the agreement with Violet Defense to help businesses in Australia re-open safely by leveraging UV technology to disinfect their environments.

"Cablex is very excited to be partnering with Violet Defense to introduce its innovative sanitization systems for the Australian Marketplace. Keeping the public, private sector and government departments safe by creating healthy environments with a layered technology approach is becoming more and more important, and the Violet Defense patented technologies are a perfect fit for purpose," said Michael Zimmer, CEO of Cablex.

To learn more about Violet Defense and its offerings, visit www.violetdefense.com .

About Violet Defense

Violet Defense uses UV disinfection to protect everyday spaces from harmful pathogens by killing up to 99.9 percent of E. coli, Salmonella, MRSA, C. diff., Norovirus, and Coronavirus. Violet Defense's technology is the only known Pulsed Xenon solution that can be installed in a room full-time, creating a continuous way to address disinfection needs of all types of settings. For more information, visit www.violetdefense.com , follow us on Facebook ( @violetdefense ), or LinkedIn ( @violetdefensetechnology ).

Media Contact:

Bianca D'Angelo

(203) 577-7588 (Direct)

bianca@newswire.com

www.Newswire.com

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Casper, WY, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talk about the most glaring problems of the current decade and water and food scarcity will top the list any day. The Federal Government is soon to declare water shortage in Lake Mead, and it is the same picture in many places across the world. On the other hand, 957 million people across ninety-three countries are suffering from severe food scarcity. However, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel- a visionary company, Akvosphere, has developed the world's first atmospheric water solar powered food generation system to solve the staggering water and food crisis today.







Akvosphere gearing to resolve water and food crisis through revolutionary self-sustainable water generation system

Backed by a squad of environmentalists, scientists, and tech geeks, Akvo has produced a self-sustainable water generation solution that eliminates the need of depending on earths remaining water sources for water generation. Titled Akvo Farm and Farming Solutions, the breakthrough product is powered by solar energy and generates water through the help of atmospheric moisture.

In an exclusive interview, Navkaran Singh Bagga, the CEO of Akvosphere, shared that the company has been founded with one primary mission- to de-commodify the worlds biggest commodity - water.

Our groundbreaking water generating system generates water using our proprietary revolutionary air-to-water technology which creates unlimited and clean drinking water from air moisture. That way, our system relieves you from relying on external water generation sources and also eliminates the hassle of paying exorbitant charges to water mafias to access water. Besides, since our system runs on solar power, you will enjoy significant savings on energy bills too. stated Mr. Bagga.

Speaking on, Mr. Bagga stressed that Akvo Farm and Farming Solutions are based on the principles of Hydroponics. Commonly dubbed as water-based planting, Hydroponics can be defined as soil-less and water-based planting. In a Hydroponic setup, plants are grown in an inert medium that receives the growth nutrients through specially treated nutrient-rich water. Hydroponics has shown the potential of solving water requirements in a traditional farming setup- it just takes 1/10th of water consumed in conventional agriculture to grow crops in Hydroponics setup.

Our Akvo 100 LPD (liters per day) will be a great system to support your home farm with pure water and that too on a daily basis. Additionally, our system will also help to keep the humidity issue in check, thereby ensuring a safe environment for planting.

The Akvo solar-powered water generation system comes in two versions- Home and Enterprise.

The Home system is for homeowners and tenants who do not want to waste money on purchased water jars. The Akvo Pod for home will help to generate fifty liters of water per day at rated conditions of thirty and eighty precent Relative Humidity.

We assure you pure water only, devoid of bacteria, virus, harmful chemicals, and pesticides. Our Akvo Pod is equipped with proprietary cutting-edge water filtration technology that comes with three filtration layers that have proven to provide clean water in a way the other technologies cant. In other words, we assure you of the most in-depth and most advanced water cleaning and filtration.

The Enterprise system will generate 100 LPD every day. If an organization is not willing to buy the whole system, it can go for the Pay-As-You- Use model. That way, the enterprise-clients will only have to pay for the specific volume of water they consume.

Top features of Akvo Farm and Farming Solutions:

Self-sustainable water generation system backed by proprietary technology of generating water from atmospheric moisture

UV-treated water free from chemicals, microbes, and pesticides

Aimed to resolve water and food crisis across the world

Generates mineral-rich water only

Assures freedom from water mafias

No risk of pollution

No dependence on external water resource

Beneficial for agricultural farms or home farms

No need of elaborate infrastructure

Prevent fungal growth in farms

Eco-friendly water generation system powered by solar energy

Available for both residential and commercial setups

Easy to maintain

Akvosphere will start mass production of the water generation system from December 2021 and global distribution will begin from January 2022.

For more information about Akvo USA, (833) 246-6365

info@akvo.store

www.akvo.store

Media Contact

Company Name: Avko H2o

Contact Person: Wes Rustin

Email: info@akvo.store

Phone: (833) 246-6365

Address:5830 E. Second St. Ste, 7000

City: Casper

State: WY

Country: United States

Website: http://www.akvo.store/

There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this PR should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation.
MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In response to the growth in cyberattacks, malware and ransomware that has the United States on pace to break the record for most network breaches in a year, Onclave Networks improves the security posture of enterprise networks by integrating Zero Trust principles incorporating microsegmentation from core to edge.

According to a recent report from the Identity Theft Resource Center , a non-profit that has tracked publicly reported data breaches in the United States since 2005, the number of breaches in this year has already exceeded the number for all of 2020 and is on pace to be the biggest year on record.

In conjunction with the rise in network breaches, there has been a 62% global increase in ransomware (158% increase in North America) since 2019. Industries from healthcare to manufacturing, utilities to government agencies, have all seen the number of cyberattacks increase steadily over the past few years.

The reason for these increases is not hard to understand. The average return on investment of a ransomware attack is 1,400%. The profitability of cyberattacks has fueled the rise of highly sophisticated and well-trained organizations that exploit network weaknesses including phishing, software that has not been updated, and Operational Technology that shares data on IT networks.

Cyberattacks are directly impacting lives, such as the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline , the hack of the Oldsmar Water Treatment facility , and JBS meat processing company. About nine in 10 Americans are now at least "somewhat concerned about hacking that involves their personal information, financial institutions, government agencies or certain utilities," according to a poll by The Pearson Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research .

Both the growth in attacks, the costs of ransomware, and consumer concerns are prompting leaders in business and government to get more aggressive about how they approach cybersecurity.

Onclave Networks identifies three key actions to improve security protocols and network infrastructure to significantly increase one's protection from cyberattaks.

Make the move to tougher internal standards

Governments across the world are tightening consumer privacy laws, seeking to regulate payments using cryptocurrencies, and implementing security standards for businesses that work with the government. This means organizations need to make internal standards tougher and improve training of employees to reduce the threat of phishing or human error that can lead to breach and data loss. Identify how the convergence of IT and OT has expanded an attack surface

With the expansion of remote work and the integration of vendors and IoT devices, Operational Technology has expanded the attack surface within IT networks. Since traditional IT security applications cannot see OT and IoT systems and devices, cyberattackers view them as easy points of access to the broader IT network. Therefore, understanding exactly how exposed one is a critical step to identifying the right solutions to protect a network. Leverage Zero Trust Architecture and Microsegmentation

The goal of deploying a Zero Trust framework in the enterprise is to create an environment where trust is never assumed, and that any request to move from endpoint to endpoint within a network must be continuously authorized and monitored. When Zero Trust architecture is deployed with microsegmentation, one can significantly reduce an attack surface.

Gartner Analysts stated in a recent report*:

"Identity-based segmentation, known as micro or zero-trust segmentation, provides an effective approach to limit the effect of malicious lateral network traffic. Security and risk management leaders who choose the right style of identity-based segmentation can reduce risk to their environments."

The Right Solution for 2022

The Onclave TrustedPlatform delivers incorporates microsegmentation and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) by cryptographically separating OT/IoT from the IT network - eliminating attack surfaces, creating secure enclaves, and protecting enterprise data communications and operations. The fully integrated security platform provides detection, isolation, and containment capabilities through continuous monitoring of all endpoint activities and requires no changes to an organization's existing infrastructure. The Onclave solution results in lower costs from cyberattacks and compliance risks.

"In order to effectively manage and secure vulnerable networks, applications, and data, it's important to take the right steps towards a Zero Trust framework leveraging microsegmentation," said Don Stroberg, CEO at Onclave Networks, Inc. "Our mission is to help companies rapidly implement a secure, foundational platform based on Zero Trust."

Contact Onclave or Download its Zero Trust whitepaper to learn more about how to protect critical infrastructure and systems from the increasing threat of cyberattacks.

*Gartner, " Three Styles of Identity-Based Segmentation ", Shilpi Handa, Adam Hils, Rajpreet Kaur, Jeremy D'Hoinne, Jan. 4, 2021.

Gartner Disclaimer:

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

About Onclave Networks, Inc.

Onclave Networks, Inc. (McLean, VA) is a global cybersecurity leader securing new and legacy Operational Technology (OT) and IoT/IIOT devices including those using 5G. Onclave dramatically reduces cyberattack surfaces, breaches, network complexity, and costly overhead created by shared infrastructure - enabling a more efficient and secure way to operate and communicate. Delivering an integrated solution based on Zero Trust and leveraging proven methodologies used by the DoD, Onclave is well-positioned to protect vulnerable endpoints across all sectors, on-prem and in the cloud. Onclave brings real trust to communications by securing networks from edge to core.

For more information or to request a demo: contact us or visit www.onclavenetworks.com .

Media Contact

Savannah Muir

savannah@newswire.com

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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This weekend, Western Governors University (WGU) will celebrate the resilience and dedication of more than 1,000 new graduates who have earned their bachelors and masters degrees in recent months with an in-person commencement, the first in nearly two years. These graduates have persevered through a constantly changing environment brought on by the pandemic and have emerged successfully from their programs with degrees in hand. The new alumni will commemorate their well-earned diplomas with more than 6,000 loved ones at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Delivering the keynote address will be ABC News veteran John Quinones. Quinones spent his youth as a migrant farm-worker alongside his father who encouraged him to pursue his education, leading him to a career in journalism. Quinones ultimately broke through many educational and socioeconomic barriers, giving him the opportunity to spend more than 30 years at ABC News, win seven national Emmy awards for his reporting, and become the face of doing the right thing from his work on What Would You Do?. Today, Quinones celebrates the life-changing power of education and the Latino American dream in presentations all around the country.

Since the last virtual commencement ceremony in August, more than 11,000 students have completed their degree programs, adding to the over quarter-million alumni who have graduated from WGU since its founding in 1997. Some 500 undergraduate and 594 graduate degree recipients from 46 U.S. states and military instillations overseas are expected to participate in Saturdays ceremony.

Approximately 76% of the graduates come from at least one of the following historically underserved populations: first-generation college students, students of color, rural residents, and/or low-income earners. Graduates earned degrees in business, K12 education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing, and many work full time and raise families while completing their programs.

Since our founding nearly 25 years ago, WGU has served Night Owls: students who work hard and study late, earning their degrees as they continue maintaining commitments to their families and jobs, said WGU Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Marni Baker Stein. The pandemic added another layer of complexity, so this milestone represents something truly specialan unprecedented level of dedication, persistence, creativity, and resilience. And for that, we are so proud.

In addition to the keynotes address, four WGU graduates will share their stories. They are:

Zachary Johnson of Honolulu, Hawaii, came from a traveling military family and served as a firefighter in the Illinois Air National Guard when he was deployed to Iraq in 2010 for flood relief. After he earned his bachelors degree from WGU, Johnson sold all his possessions and relocated to Honolulu where he met the love of his life and bought a home near the beach, all while building a successful nursing career.

Adriana Grimes of Long Beach, California, has been a professional dancer since she was 18. Following her passion, she created her own dancing troupe which held residencies at various venues in Southern California. After earning her B.S. in Business Management, Grimes plans to obtain her MBA from WGU to move her career dreams forward to one day owning a business specializing in image consulting, wellness and choreography.

Kathleen Fowers of Lehi, Utah, comes from a long line of educators, making it a natural dream of hers to become a teacher. After living abroad in France, working in an art museum and raising a family, Fowers was ready to pursue her passion for literature and art, and earned her master's degree at WGU. Now, shes able to share her passion with her students as an 11th grade English and Concurrent Enrollment Humanities teacher.

QuTeaus Smith from Locust Grove, Georgia, is a first-generation college graduate who aspires to serve as a positive role model for her children, family and those she mentors. When shes not working as a webinar host, pet rescue volunteer, and diversity and inclusion specialist, Smith enjoys spending time with her family and close friends.

Saturdays ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. PST/12:30 p.m. EST and will stream live at wgu.edu/lasvegas. During the ceremonies, graduates and guests will use the hashtag #WGUgrad to share on social media how theyre celebrating.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 127,000 students nationwide and has more than 254,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nations leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 24 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in todays rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu and wgu.edu/impact.

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GUELPH, Ontario, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Credit union, caisses populaires and mutual directors from across the province will be gathering at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale November 25 - 27, to talk about the boards role in societal transformation; the central theme of the 37th Annual Directors Forum conference.



The theme was chosen by the Directors Forum Co-operative Board, to highlight the tremendous opportunity credit unions have to provide solutions that could address many challenges facing our society, such as housing, childcare, food security and climate change.

As we gradually evolve out of the pandemic, change needs to begin at the board table, says Anthony Piscitelli, Board Chair of the Directors Forum Co-operative and Chair of Your Neighbourhood Credit Union. Credit unions, co-operatives and mutuals believe that the role of the organization is to serve our members and communities. This purpose means our boards should also be considering our role in society, and how we can work to improve our communities and society as organizations.

Eighteen speakers, constituted of directors, academics, lawyers, communicators and CEOs, will be sharing their insights and experiences on how to leverage the unique values that co-operative businesses share, the role that credit unions have in progressively supporting womens equitable participation in society, how collaboration between co-operatives can help create a more inclusive society, and how boards of directors can monitor and mitigate the risks of global warming, while providing authentic leadership to address climate change - to name a few.

Martha Durdin, President and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association will open the conference by sharing an overview of the national credit union landscape.

For 37 years the Directors Forum has been creating a unique platform for directors to learn about system trends and challenges, participate in discussion forums, share best practices, and network with other leaders from across the province and even nationally, adds Piscitelli. The Board looks forward to providing this opportunity for both our in-person and virtual delegates at our first-ever hybrid event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact Audrey Aczel ay audrey@directorsforum.coop. Visit directorsforum.coop for more information about the Directors Forum Co-operative and its programming.

ABOUT THE DIRECTORS FORUM

For the past 37 years, the Directors' Forum Co-operative (DFC) has provided professional development, education and networking opportunities for credit union and caisses populaires directors. Over the past two years, the annual conference has evolved into a year-round event, including virtual director discussions and governance sessions led by expert facilitators and guest speakers from within and outside of the credit union system. The Directors Forum is organized for credit union directors, by credit union directors. The current Board is made up of six volunteers: Anthony Piscitelli, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union (Chair), Tanya Gracie, Central 1 (Vice-Chair); Kathy Stewart, Frontline Credit Union (Treasurer); Leo Racette (Secretary), Sudbury Credit Union; Ken Chan, Alterna Savings and Credit Union; and Tim Foster, Northern Credit Union.

The 2021 conference is made possible through the overwhelming generosity and support of the following sponsors:

Premier Partner: Canadian Credit Union Association/Cusource

Platinum Sponsors: Alterna Savings and Credit Union; Desjardins Ontario Credit Union.

Gold Sponsor: Your Neighbourhood Credit Union

Silver Sponsors: Northern Credit Union; Sudbury Credit Union; PenFinancial Credit Union; Tandia Financial Credit Union.

Bronze Sponsor: Windsor Family Credit Union

Partner Sponsors: DUCA Credit Union; FirstOntario Credit Union; Frontline Financial Credit Union; Kawartha Credit Union.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Actions by Ballad Health are unleashing more than $310 million of investment into two community foundations that will improve quality of life and access to healthcare in rural Southwest Virginia.

The health system has partnered with both the Wellspring Foundation (formerly the Johnston Memorial Healthcare Foundation) and the Smyth County Community Foundation in agreements that restructure both long-time hospital partnerships and pave the way for new population health initiatives and investments throughout Southwest Virginia.

"The partnerships between Ballad Health and these two community foundations have been some of the most productive and successful Ive ever seen, said Ballad Health Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan Levine. Both the Wellspring Foundation and the Smyth County Community Foundation have been steadfast supporters of Ballad Healths mission, and similarly, we strongly support their goals and visions for the future. This announcement is historic in terms of the resources it will unlock.

Ballad Health, through its subsidiary, Mountain States Health Alliance, has been the majority owner of Johnston Memorial Hospital and Smyth County Community Hospital, utilizing its capital upon acquisition of the majority stake in each hospital to build new hospitals serving the people in Southwest Virginia. In each partnership, Ballad Health has been the managing partner, leveraging its expertise to operate the hospitals.

Through the terms of the new agreements, Ballad Health will become the sole owner of both Johnston Memorial in Abingdon, Virginia, and Smyth County Community in Marion, Virginia. Previously, Ballad Health owned 50.1% of Johnston Memorial and 80% of Smyth County Community.

By restructuring the partnerships, more than $310 million can be opened and invested into the local community foundations, which will support other charitable organizations, community health initiatives, educational activities, workforce development and education for the healthcare workforce in Washington, Russell, Smyth, Wythe and Grayson counties, among other initiatives consistent with the goals agreed to by each foundation and Ballad Health.

This new partnership brings the best of all options to Southwest Virginia, Levine said. The hospitals will continue to be operated by people the communities have become familiar with, while at the same time, unleashing historic investment into the communities served by these critically important assets we have also invested so much in. The relationship we have with the people of Southwest Virginia could not be more important now that we are moving forward together with these exciting initiatives.

Ballad Healths partnership with the Wellspring Foundation began with the construction of a state-of-the-art facility for Johnston Memorial, which opened in 2011. Since then, the partnerships success has been illustrated by the hospitals recent four-star ratings by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services hospital compare program. Johnston Memorial also meets or beats Commonwealth and national outcomes in multiple areas, including percentage of patients who receive appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock; percent of patients who came to the emergency department with stroke symptoms who received timely, appropriate diagnostics; and rates of death tied to heart attack, pulmonary disease, heart failure, pneumonia and stroke.

Together, through this incredible partnership, we have built a successful hospital which has saved lives, served the community, and been a source of pride for the region, said Bill Hayter, chairman of the Wellspring Foundation. We are proud of the relationship we have with Ballad Health, and we are grateful to them for their expertise, focus and commitment to high-quality care for our families and neighbors. By every measure, this has been a hugely successful partnership, and now, we are ready for the next step in that relationship.



Along with responsible stewardship of the hospital, which has led to high quality, we have been good financial stewards. Our fiscal management of this hospital has led to the investment  and powerful community impact  we are now proudly able to make.

Johnston Memorials leadership structure will remain unchanged, as will its patient services.

The Wellspring Foundation has done incredible work in the community for more than a century, and now theyre on board to bring health improvement beyond hospital walls and into the broader community, said John Jeter, chief executive officer of Johnston Memorial. This will allow us to take a 21st-century approach to healthcare, and its going to make a real generational impact.

Were ready for the next stage of healthcare in our region, and were so honored to be working with the Wellspring Foundation to advance healthcare in our communities. We are here to drive healthcare in Southwest Virginia, and we think the best way to do that now is to support partnerships like these.

Sean McMurray, Ballad Healths senior vice president of market operations and service line integration and development, will be stepping down from his position at Ballad Health to accept the role as executive director of the Wellspring Foundation. McMurray, who served as the chief executive officer of Johnston Memorial when the current facility first opened, will leave his current position on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

As chief executive officer of Johnston Memorial Hospital when it was first acquired by Ballad Healths predecessor, I was around to see just how much work went into creating this new facility and building an incredible team, McMurray said. Im proud of the decisions we made all those years ago, and Im confident were making the right decision now. This will help us solidify quality, accessible healthcare for years to come in these communities, and we have great confidence Ballad Health will continue to operate a great hospital in our community and continue the wonderful work of Johnston Memorial.

Ballad Healths partnership with the Smyth County Community Foundation has also proven successful. Earlier this year, Smyth County Community Hospital was awarded a Five Star Overall Rating and Patient Experience Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services  the only hospital in Virginia to earn the patient experience rating.

This agreement is the result of months of careful, deliberate discernment about the most effective ways the Foundation can support the long-term viability of Smyth County Community Hospital, a source of pride for our entire region, said David Kiser, MD, of the Smyth County Community Foundation board of directors. Our mission has always been to support efforts that benefit the health of our community, and that mission is not changing. Well continue to partner creatively with Ballad Health to create positive change and diversify the pool of health-focused resources in our region.

The Smyth County Community Foundation plans to pledge an immediate $3 million investment to address substance abuse in the region through a grant program that will benefit the newly formed Appalachian Center of Hope. Moving forward, the foundation will partner with Ballad Health to develop plans that will address health needs to care for an aging population, initiatives to improve health and education for the areas youth and resources to provide holistic substance abuse prevention, care and treatment.

The formation and impetus behind Ballad Health has been unchanged for our three years in operation  were going to do all we can to improve overall health and well-being for the Appalachian Highlands, and were working especially hard to reach into our most rural areas, said Chad Couch, MD president of Ballad Healths Northeast Market, which encompasses both Johnston Memorial and Smyth County Community. Its a heady task, and we cant do it alone  and thats why we are so grateful to be able to work with the Wellspring Foundation and Smyth County Community Foundation to offer innovation and assistance to people and organizations that need it most.

The $310 million investment is intended to improve health and healthcare for the region served by Johnston Memorial and Smyth County Community. Ballad Health and each community foundation will begin immediate work identifying options for enhancing behavioral health services for the community.

Additionally, a community board for both hospitals will be established, with both foundations maintaining involvement in their respective local governance. Additionally, there will be no reduction in services provided by Johnston Memorial or Smyth County Community.

Strong support from the legislative delegation

This is a fantastic opportunity for our community, said Virginia State Sen. Todd Pillion. Through our collaborative efforts, Southwest Virginia is working to reverse the trend that most of rural America is experiencing in terms of dwindling healthcare resources and hospital closures. The significant community investment announced today follows the reopening by Ballad Health of Lee County Community Hospital earlier this year and demonstrates the shared commitment to moving our region forward. I welcome this exciting news and look forward to more announcements in the future.

I am so grateful to the leadership of both community foundations for their stewardship of the hospital in partnership with Ballad Health, said Virginia State Del. Israel OQuinn. I also appreciate Ballad Health recognizing the value created for the community by unleashing these resources. The potential created by this investment is massive, and I look forward to working with the foundations and Ballad Health to see how we can use this investment to enhance our region.

Virginia State Del. Jeff Campbell said, Its an honor to witness the work of the Smyth County Community Foundation. Ballad Healths investment into Smyth County will help support drug abuse education, counseling, and treatment programs right here at home. We know certain social determinants of health can lead to the use of illegal drugs, so we must work together on community-based solutions if we are going to be successful in keeping our region healthy.

This announcement speaks to the power of community investment and partnership, said Virginia Del. Will Wampler. Through prudent fiscal stewardship, Ballad Health will now have the opportunity to invest in our communities in ways we never thought possible. I will work hard with our delegation to do everything we can to leverage these dollars through partnerships with the commonwealth, universities and community organizations to ensure the outcomes we all hope will follow.

More than a decade ago, people in Abingdon took a leap of faith when they chose to work with us, Levine said. Ten years later, I believe it can credibly be said that Ballad Health kept its word, managed the hospital prudently and responsibly, and today, the community will reap important ongoing benefits from that choice that was made all those years ago  just as the Marion, Virginia, community will benefit from our ownership of their hospital.



These partnerships are robust and will continue. I cant wait to see what the next 10 years  and beyond  will bring.

More information about the Smyth County Community Foundation is available at www.smythccf.org, and information about the Wellspring Foundation is available at www.wellspringva.org.

Additional information about Ballad Healths hospitals, service area and community support is available at www.balladhealth.org.

###

About Ballad Health

Ballad Health is an integrated community health improvement organization serving 29 counties of the Appalachian Highlands in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky. Our system of 21 hospitals, post-acute care and behavioral health services, and a large multi-specialty group physician practice works closely with an active independent medical community and community stakeholders to improve the health and well-being of close to one million people. By leading in the adoption of value-based payments, addressing health-related social needs, funding clinical and health systems research and committing to long-term investments in strong children and families in our region, Ballad Health is striving to become a national model for rural health and healthcare. Learn more at www.BalladHealth.org.
EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrogen is recognized as a key component in transitioning to a lower carbon future. Key challenges include understanding the impact of hydrogen on existing infrastructure and equipment.



The Government of Alberta has announced a $1,375,000 investment delivered through Alberta Innovates TIER Economic Recovery Program to expand C-FER Technologies ability to conduct full-scale tests in hydrogen-rich environments. This funding will help advance commercial implementation of well and pipeline technologies for the hydrogen economy.

C-FER will play a critical role in helping the global industry commercially adopt new technologies for hydrogen production, transportation and storage, while maintaining operational safety. Testing equipment at full-scale in a hydrogen-rich environment will provide industry with a better understanding of what may happen in a real-world application, says Francisco Alhanati, Managing Director at C-FER. The innovative activities that we will be conducting right here in Alberta will lead the way for developing new protocols for qualifying materials for use with hydrogen and hydrogen-natural gas blends for the global energy industry.

Clean hydrogen represents an enormous opportunity for our province to diversify the energy sector while leveraging our existing strengths, and our innovators are conducting research and developing the technologies that we need to turn this opportunity into reality. Alberta is already the largest hydrogen producer in Canada, and with innovation like this, its clear now more than ever that we have the resources and expertise needed to become a major global supplier of this emerging resource, says Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation.

Through the TIER program, were developing clean technology solutions and demonstrating how we can diversify or improve energy products. Hydrogen technologies will play a big part of the coming energy transition, and C-FER Technologies will be helping to find how to make hydrogen a fuel of today, and tomorrow, says Laura Kilcrease, CEO of Alberta Innovates.

Combined with industry support, the funding of this project will complete the construction of an automated testing system designed to investigate the impact of hydrogen on pipelines. Traditionally, smalls-scale tests are completed to qualify hydrogen products, but they often fail to capture the full impact of hydrogen in operating environments. C-FERs new facility enables demonstration tests that evaluate materials and products in simulated, real-world conditions at scale.

C-FER is developing testing programs with pipeline operators and pipe manufacturers from around the world to help develop new industry standards and new technologies specifically for hydrogen pipelines.

Completing the system construction and commissioning, and conducting demonstration tests are expected to be completed by mid-2022.

Related Information

Supporting the Hydrogen Industry

Full-scale Hydrogen Testing of Line Pipe

Hydrogen Technology Challenges

Assessing Indoor and Residential Risk

Marine Transportation of Hydrogen

Legacy Pipeline Compatibility with Hydrogen Joint Industry Project

Alberta Innovates received a $50 million funding commitment over three years from the Alberta governments industry-funded TIER system for delivering through Alberta Innovates TIER Economic Recovery Program. Alberta Innovates program supports energy and cleantech projects that accelerate innovation, support long-term competitiveness and stimulate growth in critically important sectors of Albertas economy.

About C-FER Technologies

C-FER is a not-for-profit, fee-for-service subsidiary of Alberta Innovates. For over 35 years, we have helped our clients tackle their biggest technical challenges to improve safety, operational efficiency, and environmental performance. C-FER provides full-scale experimental testing and specialized engineering assessment services from its world-class facilities in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

About Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is the province's largest and Canada's first provincial research and innovation agency. For a century we have worked closely with researchers, companies and entrepreneurs - trailblazers who built industries and strengthened communities. Today we are pivoting to the next frontier of opportunity in Alberta and worldwide by driving emerging technologies across sectors. We are a provincial corporation delivering seed funding, business advice, applied research and technical services, and avenues for partnership and collaboration.

Learn how Alberta Innovates.

About the TIER Fund

This investment through Alberta Innovates is part of governments $750 million spend from the TIER fund and other public funding to support up to 8,700 jobs, inject $1.9 billion into Albertas economy, and cut about 6 million tonnes of emissions each year. This investment is in direct response to the unprecedented economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices.

Media Contact:

C-FER Technologies (1999) Inc.

Paula Kreba

p.kreba@cfertech.com

780.450.8989 x239

Marketing and Communications Advisor
NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, Zachert Private Equity plans to invest more than $500,000 in the sustainable start-up scene. The focus is on the beverage sector in the broadest sense. Whether it's the production of sustainable beverages, new packaging or innovative green distribution, we want to support entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Germany with new, disruptive ideas, says Olaf Zachert, ZPE Managing Director.



We are looking for innovative and growth-oriented start-ups that make a contribution to the green economy with their products, technologies or services," Zachert says. With this, ZPE wants to set the course for a more sustainable and climate-friendly future.



Additionally, ZPE will encourage selected founders to seek start-up assistance or matching funding loans. "We rely completely on equity. In return we only want a minority stake of up to a maximum of 25.1 percent," explains Zachert. "The important thing for us is that the start-ups meet the general sustainability standards of the European Parliament, and the EU taxonomy."



Interested start-ups can apply at office@zachert-pe.com. A brief summary of the founder's idea and a business plan are required.

ABOUT ZACHERT PRIVATE EQUITY (ZPE) - WWW.ZACHERT-PE.COM:

Zachert Private Equity acquires corporations that are deemed non-strategic or challenging in the short term from groups or owners that do not plan to invest or restructure themselves. Its approach is cross-industry and cross-border, including complex international acquisitions or initial situations.



The goal of each transaction is to increase business and retain the teams involved. In addition, ZPE operates in a focused, fast and professional way to unlock value and performance. The focus is always on successful transformation and, if necessary, adjustment of the business model. This may also include strategic acquisitions as part of a buy & build strategy. As a specialized investment company, updated processes are implemented quickly and efficiently. This is the cornerstone for a successful and trusting transformation; characterized by a constructive process and positive outcome for all parties involved.



Media Inquiries:

David Dorsey

david_dorsey@zachert-pe.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mayfair Gold Corp. (Mayfair or the Company) (TSX-V: MFG; OTCQB: MFGCF) today announced a strategic financing (the Offering) to further the successful exploration program at the Fenn-Gib gold project in the Timmins region of Ontario.



The Company intends to issue 4,000,000 common shares ($4,640,000) of the Corporation on a flow-through basis (the FT Shares) at a price per share of $1.16 by way of a non-brokered private placement. The Offering Price represents a premium of 25% over the closing price of Mayfair Gold common shares on the TSX.V on November 17, 2021.

The gross proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used for expenditures which qualify as Canadian Exploration Expenses (CEE) within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Company will renounce such CEE expenditures with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2021.

The Common Shares issued will be subject to a four month hold period. The Offering is expected to close on or before December 15, 2021, and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval from the TSX.V. A finders fee may be paid on a portion of the Offering.

This press release is not an offer of common shares for sale in the United States. The common shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and applicable U.S. state securities laws. Mayfair will not make any public offering of the securities in the United States. The common shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Mayfair

Mayfair is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing the 100% owned Fenn-Gib gold project in the Timmins region of Northern Ontario. The Fenn-Gib gold deposit is Mayfairs flagship asset. An updated open-pit constrained NI 43-101 resource estimate (February 5, 2021) reported a total Indicated Resource of 70.2M tonnes containing 2.08M ounces at a grade of 0.921 g/t Au and an Inferred Resource of 3.8M tonnes containing 75,000 ounces at a grade of 0.618 g/t Au. The deposit has a strike length of approx. 1.25km with widths ranging up to 300m. The gold mineralized zones remain open at depth and along strike to the east and west.

For further information contact:

Patrick Evans, President and CEO

Email: patrick@mayfairgold.ca

Phone: (416) 670-5114

Web: www.mayfairgold.ca

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Mayfairs current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result", "are expected to", "expects", "will continue", "is anticipated", "anticipates", "believes", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "forecast", "projection", "strategy", "objective" and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Mayfairs control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. Mayfair undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Mayfair to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
BOSTON, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A coalition of artists, activists, and local officials invite the Greater Boston community to join a Days Without Art Healing Walk on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 30. The procession will move from Boston City Hall to the Boston Center for the Arts' Cyclorama to formally open SPOKE's 30th Annual World AIDS Day art installation and vigil at midnight Dec. 1, marking the effects of multiple pandemics on the community.

Who: SPOKE, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that activates art to heal, overcome difference, and build social cohesion; Boston Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture; Office of Recovery Services; Office of Neighborhood Services, et al.

What: Days Without Art Healing Walk: Greater Bostonians of all backgrounds will join artists, dancers, musicians, friends, and collaborators in a procession from City Hall to the Boston Center for the Arts' Cyclorama. Following a brief opening program, participants will walk from City Hall, holding electric lanterns and a 150-foot stream of red satin, evoking the AIDS Red Ribbon and the beauty of the thread of connection, to the BCA.

Where: Gather in front of Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square; end at Boston Center for the Arts' Cyclorama, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

When: Tuesday, Nov. 30, 10:45 p.m.

Why: On December 1, SPOKE presents Days Without Art, its 30th annual World AIDS Day installation and vigil at the Cyclorama. This year's program is entitled Touched: In Times of Pandemic, a multimedia series of cultural actions that illustrate the healing power of human contact and the pain of its absence.

"In this 30th year Days Without Art takes on new resonance as we face multiple pandemics: Covid-19, addiction, violence, and racism," says Michael Dowling, SPOKE Founder & Artistic Director. "We invite the community to share this creative experience with us."

Days Without Art originated in 1992 as the "Medicine Wheel" installation in response to the ravages of the AIDS epidemic. Each year since SPOKE has mounted a 24-hour vigil & art installation on World AIDS Day where people from all backgrounds come to remember, reflect, and grieve as a community while artists present prayers, poetry and spoken word, dance, music, and ritual. This year's Days Without Art installation will comprise more than 500 individually crafted works of memorial fabric art, which will be installed at the Cyclorama alongside 30 sections of the historic AIDS/ Names Memorial Quilt, the only Boston venue for this unique work.

Contacts:

Greg Liakos, Executive Director, gliakos@mwproductions.org / 781-820-3053

Erica Goldstein, Communications Associate, egoldstein@mwproductions.org / 301-385-0556

Related Images











Image 1: Days Without Art 2008





This year marks SPOKE's 30th Annual Days Without Art installation & vigil at the Boston Center for the Arts.









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Toronto, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As retail stores, restaurants and food delivery services in Toronto and most other cities across Canada struggle to hire enough staff, Ontario based and founded company SNAPPY is rolling out a series of digital solutions  including ROBOTS!

Teaming up with technology innovators like Tiny Mile, SNAPPY is cutting service fees by providing digital solutions, including using robot technology, which can make food delivery up to 10X cheaper.

Our little pink friends safely role through downtown Toronto with ease, delivering food, drinks and even retail products to waiting customers.

Robots are just one of our innovative and cost saving restaurant solutions. Snappy empowers restaurants to: accept orders from anywhere, including Google's latest product Order with Google, digitize their services and become independent from food delivery platforms/apps.

Check us out:

https://gosnappy.io/about-us.html

Instagram Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

About Snappy:

Were a team of foodies whove come together from across Canada to bring innovative technology to restaurants. Restaurants choose Snappy for our products, but they stay because of the service we provide.

We are a restaurants technology partner. Were invested in their success, implement features based on their feedback, and go the extra mile to provide the same degree of service as restaurants provide to their customers.

As a digital-first and fast-growing company, we put complete trust in our team members to be leaders in their roles. We anticipate industry trends, love to test new ideas, and provide career development opportunities for our people to grow with us and support our mission to empower restaurant owners to adapt and thrive in any market conditionnow and in the future.

At Snappy, we strive to push the industry forward, so restaurants can keep customers happy and their bellies full.

For more information on SNAPPY or for interviews, please reach out:

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**Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or release publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws**

CALGARY, Alberta and TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnetic North Acquisition Corp. (TSXV: MNC) (Magnetic North or the Company) is pleased to announce its intention to conduct a non-brokered private placement (the Financing) of Series A Preferred Shares for gross proceeds of up to $2,000,006.50 CAD. The aggregate proceeds of the Financing may be increased at the discretion of the Company due to market demand. Proceeds of the Financing are intended for investment by the Company in certain opportunities and for general corporate purposes. First closing is expected on or about November 22, 2021. The Company has already received orders of approximately $1.0 million pursuant to the terms of this Financing.

The Financing consists of up to 210,527 Units at $9.50 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one Series A Preferred Share (Series A Preferred Shares) and one Series A Preferred Share purchase warrant (Warrant) for gross proceeds of up to $2,000,006.50 CAD.

Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Series A Preferred Share at a price of $10.00 per share during the period ending on the fifth anniversary of the closing date of the Financing. The Warrants will have an acceleration provision whereby, in the event the 10 day weighted average trading price of the Series A Preferred Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) (or such other stock exchange on which the Series A Preferred Shares may then be listed and posted for trading) exceeds $20.00 at any time, the Corporation will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to 30 days from the date of issuance of a news release of the Company announcing the accelerated exercise period.

The Series A Preferred Shares are listed on the TSXV and trade under the symbol MNC.PR.A. The Warrants will not be listed on the TSXV. The Financing is subject to the acceptance of the TSXV.

The Series A Preferred Shares will be offered in Canadian jurisdictions to "accredited investors" pursuant to the exemption from the prospectus requirement under Section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106  Prospectus Exemptions and other exemptions from the prospectus requirements as determined by the Company. Completion of the Financing will be subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. In connection with the Financing, Magnetic North may pay finder's fees to eligible placement agents.

About Magnetic North Acquisition Corp.

Magnetic North invests and manages businesses on behalf of its shareholders and believes that capital alone does not always lead to success. With offices in Calgary and Toronto, our experienced management team applies its considerable management, operations and capital markets expertise to ensure its investee companies are as successful as possible for shareholders. Magnetic North common shares and preferred shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the stock symbol MNC and MNC.PR.A, respectively. The TSX Venture announced that Magnetic North is a 2021 TSX Venture 50 recipient. For more information about Magnetic North, visit its website at www.magneticnac.com. Magnetic Norths securities filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Graeme Dick Stephen McCormick Investor Relations VP, Capital Markets 403-451-0939 403-451-0939 graeme@colwellcapital.com stephen@magneticnac.com

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 news release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuers business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuers prospective financial performance or financial position. The forward-looking information in this news release includes the Companys expected completion and timing of its proposed Financing and fulfillment of initial orders.

The Company has made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Actual results may vary from the forward-looking information in this news release due to certain material risk factors. These risk factors include but are not limited to: adverse market conditions; reliance on key and qualified personnel; and regulatory and other risks associated with the industries in which the Company's portfolio companies operate, in general. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material risk factors and assumptions is not exhaustive.

The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.
DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aligned, a leading data center provider offering innovative, sustainable and adaptable colocation and build-to-scale solutions for cloud, enterprise, and managed service providers, announces it ranked 157th on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 27th year. This recognition is due to the companys accelerated growth of 870 percent during this period.



Aligned has seen a considerable influx in demand for its data centers within the last year. This was in large part due to a strong resurgence amongst enterprise-level demand, as well as the continued growth and data center footprint expansion of hyperscale organizations. This demand resulted in further innovation of Aligneds Delta3 (the companys award-winning and patented cooling technology), expansion at its Ashburn, VA campus, and breaking ground on new waterless data centers in both Chicago and Salt Lake City.

We are honored to receive this recognition from Deloitte as one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in North America, says Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned. The companys adaptive and sustainable approach to data centers has positioned it as an industry leader in energy and water efficiency, speed to market, and the ability to scale with our customers  meeting their goals today and tomorrow. This is a testament to our solid foundation for rapid revenue growth and scale in 2021 and beyond.

Each year the Technology Fast 500 shines a light on leading innovators in technology and this year is no exception, adds Paul Silverglate, Vice Chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology sector leader. In the face of innumerable challenges resulting from the pandemic, the best and brightest were able to pivot, reinvent and transform and grow. We celebrate the winning organizations and especially the talented employees driving their success.

Overall, 2021 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 212 percent to 87,037 percent from 2017 to 2020, with median growth of 521 percent.

About the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Now in its 27th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2017 to 2020.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the companys operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About Aligned Data Centers

Aligned is an infrastructure technology company that offers adaptable colocation and build-to-scale solutions to cloud, enterprise, and managed service providers. Our intelligent infrastructure allows densification and vertical growth within the same footprint, enabling customers to scale up without disruption, all while maintaining industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). By reducing the energy, water and space needed to operate, our data center solutions, combined with our patented cooling technology, offer businesses a competitive advantage by improving sustainability, reliability and their bottom line. For more information, visit www.alignedenergy.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Press and Analyst Inquiries

Jennifer Handshew

jennifer@180-mktg.com

Mobile: +1 (917) 359-8838
Santa Clara, CA and Kyoto, Japan, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ROHM Semiconductor today announced that the company has been certified as a preferred supplier of SiC power solutions by United Automotive Electronic Systems Co., Ltd., (UAES), a Chinese Tier 1 comprehensive automotive manufacturer. ROHM and UAES have been collaborating and carrying out detailed technical exchanges on the development of automotive applications utilizing SiC power devices since 2015.

In 2020, ROHM established a joint SiC technology laboratory at UAES headquarters (Shanghai, China) with the goal of strengthening cooperation on the development of innovative power solutions centered on SiC. Mass production of a number of automotive products equipped with ROHM SiC power devices is already underway, such as onboard chargers for electric vehicles.

More recently, ROHMs industry-leading SiC power device performance  along with power solutions that include peripheral components  were highly evaluated, resulting in ROHMs selection as the first preferred supplier in this field. ROHM SiC power devices are also being used in inverter modules currently being developed by UAES to extend the cruising range of electric vehicles and reduce battery size. In the future, the two companies will continue to accelerate the development of SiC power solutions to achieve technical innovation for electric vehicles.

Mr. Guo Xiaolu, Deputy General Manager, United Automotive Electronic Systems Co., Ltd.: We have been conducting ongoing technical exchanges with ROHM, a leader in SiC power devices. The high rating that ROHM devices and peripheral solution proposals have received has led to ROHM being selected as a preferred supplier. For us at UAES, vehicle applications utilizing SiC are an important business that is about to go into full swing, and we have now entered a concrete stage of mass production of SiC-equipped inverters and other products. We would like to thank ROHM for their previous efforts and look forward to building a long-term collaborative relationship using this certification as a new start.

Dr. Kazuhide Ino, Managing Executive Officer, CSO and Director of Accounting & Finance Headquarters, ROHM Co., Ltd.: We are very appreciative to have received this recognition by UAES, the largest Tier 1 manufacturer in China. As the automotive market moves quickly towards electrification, we see an important opportunity to help UAES develop advanced applications that meet customer needs. ROHM offers a broad range of products in addition to SiC  including IPMs, IPDs, gate drivers, and LED drivers  that are ideal for onboard inverters and chargers. We look forward to deepening our relationship with UAES and promoting the development of a wide range of products utilizing ROHMs cutting-edge technologies that will contribute to the further evolution of electric vehicles.

About UAES (United Automotive Electronic Systems Co., Ltd.)

UAES, a comprehensive automotive Tier 1 manufacturer, was established as a joint venture by Robert Bosch and Zhonglian Automobile Electronics Systems Co., Ltd. (a Chinese company affiliated with SAIC). Founded in 1995, it has since gained a large share in the Chinese market for engine control units and powertrain systems for gas-powered vehicles, and from 2009 has focused on developing applications for electric vehicles, including the main inverter. For more information, please visit UAES official website: http://www.uaes.com/servlet/portal/index.html

About ROHM

ROHM, a leading semiconductor and electronic component manufacturer, was established in 1958. From the automotive and industrial equipment markets to the consumer and communication sectors, ROHM supplies ICs, discretes, and electronic components featuring superior quality and reliability through a global sales and development network. The companys strengths in the analog and power markets allow ROHM to propose optimized solutions for entire systems that combine peripheral components (i.e., transistors, diodes, resistors) with the latest SiC power devices, together with driver ICs that maximize their performance. Please visit ROHMs website for more information: https://www.rohm.com/

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NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, remind investors of its investigation into whether the officers or directors of Kraton Corporation (NYSE: KRA) breached their fiduciary duties or violated the federal securities laws in connection with the companys acquisition by DL Chemical Co., Ltd.



Click here to learn more and participate in the action.

On September 27, 2021, Kraton announced that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by DL Chemical in a transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Kraton stockholders will receive $46.50 in cash for each share of Kraton common stock owned. The deal is scheduled to close in the first half of 2022.

On November 4, 2021, Kraton released a Definitive Proxy Statement recommending that stockholders vote in favor of the going-private transaction. The stockholder vote date is scheduled for December 9, 2021.

Bragar Eagel & Squire is concerned that Kratons board of directors oversaw an unfair process and ultimately agreed to an inadequate merger agreement. Accordingly, the firm is investigating all relevant aspects of the deal and is committed to securing the best result possible for Kratons stockholders.

If you own shares of Kraton and are concerned about the proposed merger, or you are interested in learning more about the investigation or your legal rights and remedies, please contact Melissa Fortunato or Alexandra Raymond by email at investigations@bespc.com or telephone at (646) 860-9157, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
For all drivers the circuit in Qatar is a big question mark. Formula 1 has never raced there before. Of course every driver has driven some laps in the simulator. That is not completely comparable to reality, but it is an indication of what it will be like this weekend. And it is going to be tough.

High G-forces

One thing that can already be said is that it will be a tough race, several drivers think. "It will probably be quite physical in terms of G-forces and the minimum speed in the corners is quite high," says Pierre Gasly in conversation with Motorsport.com. "Sao Paulo is also always very difficult and also against the clock. Then when you have a triple-header, the neck is still stiff from the first race and the trips."

George Russell is also looking forward to the fast nature of the circuit. "To be honest, it's quite an enjoyable track," says the Williams driver, who already got to know Qatar in the simulator. "Very fast, high downforce, also a long straight. So I think there will be some good racing."



Seeking the limits

Lando Norris particularly notices that there are not many big braking zones. "So it will probably be a pretty physical race indeed. I don't know what the racing is going to be like. No idea. But I think it could be a fun race, looking at what the circuit looks like. I think it's good for us as drivers to adjust a little bit to something new. And it's always exciting that when you have a new circuit to try to get up to speed and try different things," said the McLaren driver.

Read more Verstappen changes his routine in Qatar
Toyotas all-electric bZ4X made its US production model debut for the LA Auto Show. The bZ4X is the first of a global series of battery-electric vehicles to be introduced under the global Toyota bZ brand umbrella. bZ4X will have a manufacturer-estimated range of up to 250 miles for XLE front-wheel drive models.





bZ4X joins Toyotas lineup of Toyota electrified vehicles that, in total, accounts for more than 24% of Toyotas total U.S. sales volume. These include hydrogen-fuel-cell electrics, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles.

Toyota plans to expand to around 70 electrified models globally by 2025. This future lineup will feature 15 dedicated BEVs, including seven carrying the bZ (Beyond Zero) brand moniker. This diverse portfolio of electrified products will help propel Toyota toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Built on the BEV-dedicated e-TNGA platform, a first for Toyota, the bZ4Xs Lithium-ion battery pack is placed flat under the floor, which gives it a low center of gravity. Its handling is due in part to the battery cross-framing structure, which adds to overall vehicle rigidity. The adoption of a lightweight body structure partially made of high tensile steel, as well as the enhancement of frame components around the battery pack and the forward and rear suspension also contributes to the agile responsiveness of bZ4X.

In addition, a redesigned accelerator pedal creates a smoother feel when accelerating and decelerating coupled with an intelligent throttle with slip suppression to provide control on slippery roads.

The engineering team also focused on features that maximize energy-saving and cruising range for year-round driving (particularly in winter settings). In addition to aerodynamic design choices and body weight reduction efforts, the following systems and equipment were adopted to reduce energy consumption, especially power used for heating in cold climates:

Heat pump system for both heating and air-conditioning

Seat and steering wheel heaters

Front-seat radiant foot-and-leg heater (first for Toyota)

In terms of battery safety, Toyota added many measures to help ensure cell integrity was protected. A non-conductive coolant runs through separated flow channels to maintain optimal battery temperature. The battery pack housing is designed to withstand a collision from any angle due to its frame and cross-bracing design.

bZ4X will be the first to feature the latest Toyota Safety Sense safety package (TSS 3.0). This system has been improved by expanding the detection range of the millimeter wave radar and monocular camera. Toyota has enhanced the performance of each function and added new functions to assist in normal driving conditions. For example, the Pre-collision system has been improved to offer Low-Light Cyclist Detection, Daytime Motorcyclist Detection and Guardrail Detection. Also, lane recognition is enhanced to add improved functionality while in Lane Tracing Assist mode.

By strengthening measures to help prevent and detect signs of battery failure, and introducing new technologies, the bZ4X adopted a design and a multiple monitoring system that is intended to provide safety and security of the vehicles battery system.

This includes:

A meticulous production process that helps eliminate contamination of battery components and ensures battery durability.

Redundant monitoring of battery voltage, current and temperature designed to detect signs and occurrence of abnormal heating to help prevent overheating.

Utilization of a high-resistance coolant circulation system, which can help prevent fire from short circuits even if there is leakage of the batterys liquid coolant.

Integration of the high-capacity battery pack within the floor of the body frame structure designed to protect in the event of a collision.

The bZ4X will go on sale in mid-2022.
GREENWICH  Celebrated poet and author Erika Meitner, who has been called the quintessential 21st century storyteller, will read from her work Saturday at the Greenwich Library as part of the Poets Voice series.

The author of five books of poetry, Meitner is director of the MFA program in Creative Writing at Virginia Tech. Her latest collection, Holy Moly Carry Me, was the winner of the 2018 National Jewish Book Award in Poetry and was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award in Poetry.

Saturday, Meitner will also discuss writing and poetry with Diane Meyer Lowman, who is Westports inaugural poet laureate.

In Holy Moly Carry Me, Meitner transports readers into the heart of southern Appalachia as she explores what it means to be the only Jewish family in an Evangelical neighborhood and tells of the anxieties of raising one white son and one black son amid racial tensions and school lockdown drills, according to the Greenwich Library.

Born and raised in Queens and Long Island, N.Y., Meitner is a first-generation American. Her father is from Haifa, Israel; her mother was born in a refugee camp in Stuttgart, Germany, which is where her maternal grandparents settled after surviving Auschwitz, Ravensbruck and Mauthausen concentration camps.

She lives in Blacksburg, Va.

She attended Dartmouth College, Hebrew University and the University of Virginia, where she received an MFA in creative writing and a masters in religious studies. Meitner was the Diane Middlebrook Poetry Fellow at the University of Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing and has received fellowships from The MacDowell Colony, the Virginia Center for Creative Arts, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the Blue Mountain Center and the Sewanee Writers Conference. She was also the recipient of the 2021 Poetry Society of Americas Cecil Hemley Memorial Award.

Her poetry and prose have been included in the anthologies Best American Poetry (2011), Starting Today: 100 Poems for Obamas First 100 Days (2010), Best African American Essays (2010), The Way We Work: Contemporary Writings from the American Workplace (2008) and Women Poets on Mentorship: Efforts and Affections (2008).

Lowman writes a weekly column called Everythings an Essay and received a masters in Shakespeare Studies from the University of Birminghams Shakespeare Institute. She has written more than 2,000 haiku and essays analyzing Shakespeares 37 plays.

The Poets Voice event will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 20, in the librarys Berkley Theater. A meet and greet with the poet for young adults will be available at 1:30 p.m.

It will also be livestreamed. Registration is required by visiting www.greenwichlibrary.org or calling 203-622-7900.

All those who attend in person will be required to show proof of full vaccination  a CDC vaccination card (or a photo or photocopy of the card) or a negative PCR Test taken within 72 hours of the event.

The Poets Voice series is supported by the Horace E. Manacher Poetry Fund and Friends of Greenwich Library.
ROCCELLA JONICA, Italy (AP)  The Italian Coast Guard on Sunday safely brought to shore more than 550 migrants, many of them young men or boys from Egypt, from storm-tossed waters off the southern toe of Italys mainland, as human traffickers increasingly use a new route.

One rescue began Saturday night and ended early Sunday when the 303 migrants, soaked and shivering, stepped on to the port of Roccella Jonica in the the Calabria region.

Later Sunday, after an Italian customs police boat spotted spotted another fishing vessel in difficulty off Calabria, coast guard crews ferried 250 migrants to the same port, Associated Press journalists in Roccella Jonica reported.

While most migrants seeking to reach Italy in the central Mediterranean depart from Libya or Tunisia, authorities say an increasing number of traffickers' boats are plying a route that begins in Turkey and ends at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula.

Those rescued from traffickers' unseaworthy rubber dinghies and wooden boats that depart from North Africa are usually taken to Lampedusa, a tiny Italian island, or to ports in Sicily. Those sailing from Turkey are generally taken to Calabria or Puglia in the heel of the Italian mainland.

The charity Resqship tweeted Sunday that after it alerted authorities about an overcrowded wooden boat with 100 migrants south of Lampedusa, the Italian coast vessel evacuated them to safety.

In Roccella Jonica, Red Cross volunteers early Sunday handed the migrants plastic clogs, blankets, food and protective face masks as part of COVID-19 precautions. Authorities recently set up a tent structure to serve as temporary housing but it's only for up to 120 people, so some of the migrants were driven to other shelters.

As of Nov. 12, 57,833 migrants had arrived in Italy by sea this year.

In 2020, more than 31,000 arrived. In 2019, when anti-migrant leader Matteo Salvini used his post as interior minister to try to thwart charity boats from disembarking people they rescued at sea, just under 10,000 arrived.

___

D'Emilio reported from Rome. AP photographer Alessandra Tarantino contributed from Roccella Jonica.

-

Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Hundreds of migrants who were camped in the cold on the Poland-Belarus border have been moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory, reports said Wednesday, with some still harboring hopes of entering the European Union.

The move came a day after a melee broke out in the border crisis, with migrants throwing stones at Polish forces massed on their side of the razor-wire fence, injuring 12, and they responded with water cannons and tear gas. Warsaw accused Belarusian forces of instigating the conflict, while the government in Minsk denounced Poland's violent actions.

The migrants, mostly from the Middle East, have been stuck at the border since Nov. 8. Most are fleeing conflict or despair at home and want to reach Germany or other western European countries.

The West has accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns to destabilize the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for its sanctions on his authoritarian regime. Belarus denies orchestrating the crisis, which has seen migrants entering the country since summer and then trying to cross into Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

On Wednesday, Polands Border Guard tweeted a video showing migrants with bags and backpacks being directed by Belarus forces away from the camp near the Kuznica border crossing, and Polish Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik said he had received information they were leaving on buses.

The Belarus state news agency Belta reported they were moved to a heated, warehouse-like building about 500 meters (yards) from the border near Bruzgi, giving them the chance to rest indoors after many days in tents.

One of them, an Iraqi Kurd named Miran Ali, took video in the warehouse and said Belarusian authorities told them they wouldn't be forced to return home. In response, the migrants chanted Belarus! Belarus! Belarus! in gratitude.

This is the joy and happiness of Kurdish people after they were told that they will not be sent back to Kurdistan by force, and that they can wait here until Germany or one of the cities in Germany take them there, Ali said as he recorded the video. These people are expressing happiness and optimism in this cold and ugly camp.

They sat on blankets, most still wrapped in heavy jackets and raincoats.

Belta reported about 1,000 migrants agreed Tuesday to move into the building to wait for the situation to resolve, and it quoted some of them as saying that they are not planning to return to their home countries. Most of the building's space was allocated for the migrants, who were offered food, water, medical aid, mattresses and pillows, the news agency said.

Some migrants opted to stay camped near the border. Polands Defense Ministry posted video showing people and tents there, with some smoke rising from campfires.

The next steps in the crisis are unclear. Although arrangements have been made for flights from Minsk to Iraq to repatriate those who want to return, it is uncertain how many will go. Iraq has appealed for its citizens to fly home, telling them the way into the EU is closed. The first flight from Minsk for the voluntary repatriation to Iraq is expected Thursday.

Belarus also released video from its State Border Committee, alleging it showed Lithuanian border guards with dogs pushing migrants away from the Belarus-Lithuania frontier Tuesday night.

Lithuania denied the claim, releasing its own video of the incident. It blamed Belarusian officials for pushing the group of 13 migrants toward the Lithuanian side and preventing them from returning to Belarus after being stopped by the Lithuanian guards.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Lukashenko for the second time this week, stressing that migrants should be given the chance to return to their home countries with the help of the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration.

Steve Alter, a spokesman for the German Interior Ministry, denied Berlin was planning to bring the migrants to Germany. The road to Belarus is a dead end for most people who want to go to Germany. There are no plans to approve taking people in, he said.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said U.N. aid was starting to reach the migrants and it was important to ensure humanitarian agencies gain permanent access, even if it meant talking to Lukashenko, whose legitimacy is questioned by the West following a disputed 2020 reelection.

It makes sense to also talk to those who have the opportunity to change this situation in Minsk, even when it comes to a ruler whose legitimacy, like all other European member states, Germany does not recognize, he said, adding that Merkel has coordinated with other EU partners and remains committed to the blocs stance of tightening sanctions on Minsk.

Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda said there is no military threat at the border from the primarily civilian police and border guards that are there to prevent illegal migration. The presence of the Polish military there is chiefly as a backup, he said on a visit to Montenegro.

Duda stressed that Poland won't accept any international decisions on the border standoff that are made without Warsaw's participation, referring to the talks involving Merkel and Lukashenko.

Information on both sides of the border is hard to verify due to government restrictions. A state of emergency in Poland is keeping journalists, human rights workers and others away from the border along a zone that is 3 kilometers (2 miles) deep, and Belarus limits the presence of independent journalists.

Estonia, which also is affected by migrant movements but to a lesser degree, said it would build a temporary razor wire barrier of up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) on its eastern border with Russia as an interim security solution.

This northernmost of the three Baltic nations with a population of 1.3 million, Estonia shares a 294-kilometer (183-mile) land border with Russia and a 340-kilometer border with Latvia. It does not neighbor Belarus.

Estonian Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets told broadcaster ERR on Tuesday that the crisis stems from Lukashenko's bid to be recognized by the West as president and have EU sanctions lifted, stressing they must stay in place.

In our view, it is important that the European Union remains united and exerts its influence on Belarus through action, Liimets said, adding new sanctions should be imposed as soon as possible.

___

Salar Salim in Baghdad, Daria Litvinova in Moscow, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Jari Tanner in Tallinn, Estonia, and Vanessa Gera in Warsaw contributed.

___

Follow AP's coverage of migration issues at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
WASHINGTON (AP)  More than two weeks have passed since the Supreme Court's extraordinarily rushed arguments over Texas' unique abortion law without any word from the justices.

They raised expectations of quick action by putting the case on a rarely used fast track. And yet, to date, the court's silence means that women cannot get an abortion in Texas, the second-largest state, after about six weeks of pregnancy.

That's before some women know they're pregnant and long before high court rulings dating to 1973 that allow states to ban abortion.

There has been no signal on when the court might act and no formal timetable for reaching a decision.

The law has been in effect since Sept. 1 and the court has been unable to muster five votes to stop it, said Mary Ziegler, a legal historian at Florida State University's law school. While there is some sense of urgency, some justices had more of a sense of urgency than others, Ziegler said.

Meanwhile, the justices are two weeks away from hearing arguments in another abortion case with potentially huge implications for abortion rights in the United States.

The court will take up Mississippi's call to overrule the two major Supreme Court rulings that, starting in 1973, have guaranteed a woman's right to an abortion. The state law at issue bans abortions after 15 weeks, well before the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

Viability, typically around 24 weeks, has been the dividing line: Before it, states can regulate but not ban abortion.

Even before the justices decide what to do about Mississippi's law and the fate of Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Texas' law has effectively changed the standard at least for the time being.

It bans abortion after cardiac activity is detected in the fetus, usually around six weeks, and deputizes ordinary citizens to enforce the law in place of state officials who normally would do so.

The law authorizes lawsuits against clinics, doctors and anyone who aids or abets an abortion that is not permitted by law.

It was designed to make federal court challenges difficult, if not impossible. Federal courts have had no trouble preventing other bans on abortion early in pregnancy from taking effect when they have relied on traditional enforcement.

The Texas law is doing what its authors intended. In its first month of operation, a study published by researchers at the University of Texas found that the number of abortions statewide fell by 50% compared with September 2020. The study was based on data from 19 of the states 24 abortion clinics, according to the Texas Policy Evaluation Project.

Texas residents who left the state seeking an abortion also have had to travel well beyond neighboring states, where clinics cannot keep up with the increase in patients from Texas, according to a separate study by the Guttmacher Institute.

The Supreme Court is weighing complex issues in two challenges brought by abortion providers in Texas and the Biden administration. Those issues include who, if anyone, can sue over the law in federal court, the typical route for challenges to abortion restrictions, and whom to target with a court order that ostensibly tries to block the law.

Under Supreme Court precedents, its not clear whether a federal court can restrain the actions of state court judges who would hear suits filed against abortion providers, court clerks who would be charged with accepting the filings or anyone who might some day want to sue.

People who sue typically have to target others who already have caused them harm, not those who might one day do so and not court officials who are just doing their jobs by docketing and adjudicating the cases.

The justices' history with the Texas law goes back to early September when, by a 5-4 vote, they declined to stop it from taking effect.

At the time, five conservative justices, including the three appointees of President Donald Trump, voted to let the law take effect. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court's three liberals in dissent.

The abortion providers had brought the issue to the court on an emergency basis. After they were rebuffed, the Justice Department stepped in with a suit of its own.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman granted the Justice Department's request for an order that put the law on hold. Pitman wrote in a 113-page ruling that the law denied women in Texas their constitutional right to an abortion and he rejected the state's arguments that federal courts shouldn't intervene.

But just two days later, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overrode Pitman and allowed the law to go back into effect.

The Justice Department made its own emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. Rather than rule on that appeal, the court decided to hear the two suits just 10 days later and without the benefit of an appellate court decision.

At the arguments, two Trump appointees appeared to have doubts about the Texas law. Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether the law allowed people who are sued to air their constitutional claims in court and whether it would lead to a spate of copycat laws on abortion and other rights protected by the Constitution.

The court seemed particularly concerned about the chilling effect similar laws would produce on other constitutional rights, including speech, religion and gun possession, said Sarah Parshall Perry, a legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

The court's intervention has few counterparts in recent history, and those include Bush v. Gore, the fight over publication of the government's secret history of the Vietnam War known as the Pentagon Papers, and Richard Nixon's effort to keep from handing over the Watergate tapes that ultimately doomed his presidency.

The justices have never said why they opted to hear the Texas cases so quickly or how soon they might be decided.

The time since the arguments is less than a blink of an eye in high-court terms, where months typically elapse between arguments and a decision. But the justices themselves created the expectation that they would move quickly.

This is obviously important, but there's not a presidential election deadline looming, Ziegler said. Even by Thanksgiving would be extraordinarily fast.

One possibility is that the court intends to issue a decision before the Mississippi abortion law arguments on Dec. 1.

But Perry said she thinks the court could hold off deciding the Texas case until after it hands down its abortion decision, probably in late June. That would leave the Texas ban in effect.

There's much more that also might only become clear once a decision comes down.

If the court rules in favor of abortion providers or the Justice Department, will there be an accompanying order that blocks the law? That would be the quickest way to allow abortions after six weeks to resume. Justice Elena Kagan raised the prospect of an order during the arguments.

Will there be a majority opinion that speaks for at least five justices or will the court be fractured so that there are at least five for a particular outcome, but for varying reasons? Either side would be happy with five votes, but a majority opinion carries more force.

How many justices will write separate opinions, on either side? A proliferation of opinions can slow the process, as the justices circulate, comment on and revise opinions in their internal deliberations.

This story was first published on November 18, 2021. It was updated on November 19, 2021 to correct name of Heritage Foundation legal fellow. She is Sarah Parshall Perry, not Sarah Marshall Perry.
Fortnite's mobile game in China has been available since 2018 and never actually exited the beta stage in the region due to strict government regulations. And now the developers officially announced that they are shutting down the Chinese Fortnite servers.

Although the official statement of the developers doesn't point at a specific reason why, it's probably safe to assume that it's because the Chinese government continues to tighten the restrictions on the gaming sector. The recently imposed limitation of children playing games is just one example. Anyone below the age of 18 can't play more than 3 hours per week.

Getting a permit to sell virtual items in the country is getting increasingly hard and Fortnite's freemium business model doesn't make sense in the Chinese market. So since November 15, the Fortnite servers are no longer available for players in the country.

Source (in Chinese)
Earlier today two Motorola flagships were spotted at TENAA  the top of the line Moto Edge 30 Ultra (expected to be among the first with a Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chipset) and the Moto Edge S30 (which will be equipped with the Snapdragon 888+ instead). Both are expected next month.

Motorola is already teasing the Snapdragon 888+ phone (XT2175-2), which seems to be ready to go  to prove it, it ran AnTuTu and posted a score of 858,000 or so. This makes it one of the more performant phones with the 888+ chipset.



Moto Edge S30 (XT2175-2) with Snapdragon 888+ runs AnTuTu

Additional specs include a 6.78 LCD (1080p+, 120 Hz), a 108 MP main camera, a periscope with high optical zoom and a 4,700 mAh battery. It will coexist with the Moto Edge 30 Ultra, which will offer a 144 Hz OLED display and a 50+50+2 MP camera, in addition to the Snapdragon 8 gen 1 chip.

Source 1 | Source 2 (in Chinese) | Via
Realme executive Madhav Sheth told us last month that the company is currently focusing on introducing leading processors and quick charging, and theres nothing to share on the foldable topic.

Yet now members of the Realme Design Studio are ready to share a concept of a Realme GT 2 Fold, which later got reposted by the reliable leakster Ice Universe.

The design suggests a radical new solution in the world of foldables - the external screen in on the opposite part compared ot the Galaxy Z Fold line and the Mate X2 phone opens right-to-life.

The images showcase a camera setup with two 50MP shooters and a 6.5 cover AMOLED screen. Unfolded, the device becomes an 8 AMOLED tablet with a USB-C port on the bottom right side. There will be one more camera in the upper right corner.

This handset is tipped to cost over $1,200, which would still be an aggressive price for a horizontal foldable, undercutting the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Huawei Mate X2.

Sadly, we have no launch date or timeframe yet. Hopefully we'll hear more about it in the coming weeks.

Via (in Chinese)
Back in September, we heard that the Samsung Galaxy A73 will feature a 108MP primary camera, and while Samsung's yet to divulge anything about it, renders of the Galaxy A73 5G have surfaced, revealing what the mid-ranger could look like.

The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G looks similar to the Galaxy A72 - it has a punch hole screen on the front, and on the rear are four cameras placed inside a camera bump with the LED flash.

The Galaxy A73 5G has the power button and volume rocker on its right-side frame, and at the bottom is the USB-C port joined by a microphone and speaker. Samsung has ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack, so now there's room for the SIM card tray at the bottom.

These 3D renders are created by Technizo Concept in collaboration with LetsGoDigital and are based on the rumors, so keep in mind that the final product may have slight differences.

The Galaxy A73 5G is expected to have a Snapdragon 750G at the helm and pack a 6.7" FullHD+ AMOLED panel with a fingerprint scanner underneath for biometric authentication. That's what the Galaxy A72 came with, but the screen refresh rate is said to go up from 90Hz to 120Hz, with the panel rumored to be supplied by Chinese manufacturers.

The source claims that the Galaxy A73 5G will have a plastic build and come with an IP67 rating. And like the A73, the A73 5G will feature a 108MP primary camera, but it's unclear what the other three cameras will do.

The Samsung Galaxy A73 5G will likely run Android 12-based One UI 4 out of the box and might ship with a 5,000 mAh battery with 25W charging.

Samsung announced the Galaxy A72 in March, but the Galaxy A73 5G will arrive late since its production isn't expected to kick off before Q2 2022.

Source (in Dutch)
Samsung has been collaborating with fashion brands and music acts to promote its new products. For example, earlier this month it unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 Wooyoungmi Edition. For those who want a matching smartwatch or earbuds for their outfit, the company just expanded its collection.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Wooyoungmi Edition and the Galaxy Buds2 Wooyoungmi Edition were created in collaboration with the fashion brand. The brand was founded in Paris and has been described by The Korea Herald as the most successful Korean independent menswear designer brand.



Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Wooyoungmi Edition

The watch and buds will be available in limited numbers in South Korea starting tomorrow, available at the Musinsa store. The Watch4 comes with an exclusive strap made out of high-quality leather and stainless steel, the buckle is made rectangular in the Wooyoungmi style. There is a custom watch face too.



Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Wooyoungmi Edition

The Galaxy Buds2 come in a graphite color and a bespoke charging case  square, of course, with Wooyoungmi branding.

The Galaxy Watch4 Wooyoungmi Edition will sell for KRW 400,000 for the 44 mm model and KRW 370,000 for the 40 mm one (thats KRW 100,000 more expensive than the regular version). The limited edition Buds2 will be KRW 200,000 (KRW 50,000 more than the regular buds). Its not clear if these will ever be sold outside of Korea.

Source (in Korean)
Another very difficult trek is in store for hikers on Saturday as Boonie Stompers Inc. takes on Cetti Falls.

This three-hour hike over 1.5 miles requires good upper body strength to complete. Boonie Stompers will take the group down into Cetti Valley and then climb up all seven waterfalls.

Get your arm day in while enjoying great views throughout the hike.

If youre joining, you are advised to wear a swim suit and bring 3 quarts of water, hiking shoes that can get wet, gloves, sun screen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lunch and a camera.

You should be prepared to encounter steep slopes and sword grass, climb up a rope, and hike in water.

To join the hike, meet at 9 a.m. in the center court of Chamorro Village in Hagatna.

The cost is $5 for hikers over the age of 17.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult, and hikers should provide their own transportation.

If you complete 10 hikes, you get a free Boonie Stomp T-shirt.

Coming up

Work off that Thanksgiving meal and join Boonie Stompers Inc. on Sept. 27, when they hike from the central mountains of Guam into a pristine valley with four large waterfalls, two jumping spots and two swimming holes. Rated very difficult, the hike takes five hours over 4 miles.
GVB welcomes the TabiMUSE team to Guam. From left: Nobuyoshi Shoji, GVB Japan Account Director; Regina Nedlic, Japan Marketing Manager; TabiMUSE CEO Nami Nonomura, GVB Vice President Gerry Perez; TabiMUSE writer/photographer Emi Kiryu, Nadine Leon Guerrero, GVB director of global marketing; and Mai Perez, japan marketing coordinator.
Guam recorded two more COVID-19-related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 262, the Joint Information Center stated in a news release.

The 261st death occurred at Guam Regional Medical City Nov. 17. The patient was a 40-year-old unvaccinated woman with underlying health conditions. She tested positive Oct. 23.

The 262nd death was at the Guam Memorial Hospital Nov. 18. The patient was a 58-year-old unvaccinated man with underlying health conditions who tested positive the same day.

The island is saddened with each tragic passing, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said in the release. This pandemic has already taken so much. We must remain the course to not let it take anymore from our community.

The governor will make an announcement about easing COVID restrictions at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

New cases

The Department of Public Health and Social Services reported 25 new cases of COVID-19 from 808 tests done Nov. 17. Eight were identified through contact tracing.

Guam has had 19,040 officially reported cases and 1,838 people are in active isolation.

The CAR Score is 2.5.

There were 28 hospitalized for the virus, including two pediatric admissions. Four were in the ICU, with two on ventilators.

Case rate

Guams COVID-19 case rate was steadily declining, but still not where Public Health would like them to be, said Ann Pobutsky, territorial epidemiologist.

Were now below 40 cases per day. Wed like that to get even smaller, like we were back in March and April, where it was like five to 10 cases a day, she stated.

Just 6% of the roughly 700 COVID-19 tests performed each day came back positive. The rate of serious cases of COVID-19 was improving, Pobutsky said.

Were seeing less people in the ICU and were also seeing less deaths.

There have not been any COVID-19 dead on arrival cases reported at any of the hospitals since Nov. 6, Pobutsky said. DOA cases accounted for 57% of COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the July surge.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team on Guam investigating the high rate of DOAs is still in the data collection phase, she said.

We are providing our data to them on the deaths and the cases and especially the dead on arrivals, and they are conducting interviews with the families, Pobutsky said.
The Senior Citizens Housing Task Force met Thursday to discuss priorities for assisted living on Guam.

Government officials, housing experts and community members are gathering information and making recommendations to the governor and the Legislature.

Ray Topasna, executive director of the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority, said the group should assess what buildings on island can potentially be used for assisted living, as opposed to new construction.

He said even if money to build is found, the task force may not have access to the necessary skilled labor and construction material for a new assisted living facility, since it would be in competition with large-scale construction projects by the military and the new medical center by the government of Guam.

I just dont want us to get caught where we put all our eggs in one basket to build, said Topasna.

He said the task force should explore buying property from the government of Guam or private entities.

The need for assisted living homes for elders with disabilities was emphasized by Charlene San Nicolas, administrator for the Division of Senior Citizens at the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Lourdes Bascon Mendiola, representative from the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council, said it is especially important for individuals with disabilities already receiving services who are transitioning into housing for the elderly.

Another topic discussed was the need to plan for how different ages of senior citizens may affect their housing needs said Catholic Social Service Executive Director Diana Calvo.

She said this must be considered since Guam law recognizes someone age 55 years old as elderly, but the eligibility for Medicare is 65.
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptor missile launcher, operated by the Armys 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Andersen Air Force Bases Northwest Field in Yigo Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021.
Tourists, visiting Guam from Taiwan, take some time to explore and capture a few images while at the Plaza de Espana in Hagatna July 13, 2021. Its key for the local government to provide needed support as we try to rebuild the visitor industry.




Haiti - Education : Important partnership meeting between the Ministry of Education and the BRH





Wednesday November 17, Marie Lucie Joseph, Minister of National Education had an important working meeting with Jean Baden Dubois, Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH)



Minister Joseph was accompanied by its Director General Meniol Jeune, by one of his advisers, Professor Guy Serge Pompilus, by the Administrative Director of the Ministry, Nobert Chery and by the Director General of the National Institute for Vocational Training (INFP), Dikel Delvariste.



For his part, Governor Dubois was accompanied by two members of the Board: Myrtho Rene and Edgard Jeudy, Gwendoline Darguste (Department of International Affairs), Yvrose Joseph (Financial Inclusion Unit) and Rotchild Francois Jr. (Department of communication and public affairs).



For more than three hours, Minister Joseph and Governor Dubois took stock of various ongoing or future partnership projects linking the two institutions.



In particular, progress was made on financial education and the steps already taken with the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, the National Strategy for Financial Education and the National Plan for Financial Education, three founding documents of this new partnership.



Regarding financial education, discussions revolved around the need to introduce children to financial concepts at an early age. With the curricular reform projects underway, the two parties believe that it is opportune to study the possibility of introducing them into school curricula.



With the INFP, the BRH plans to launch a training funding program based on the sectors that meet the needs of the job market. This will be a loan that students will have to repay once they are employed or have developed their own business. However, the Ministry and the BRH have agreed to launch a pilot phase in the Grand Sud before extending this program to other departments.



In addition, the BRH intends to contribute to the creation of a digital campus in each public university in the region and to prepare a memorandum of understanding for this purpose.



The two parties agreed on the need to increase these meetings with the idea of evaluating, according to a common agenda, the progress recorded in the implementation of these projects which only aim to enhance the value of children's training and of young Haitians.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





President assassination : A suspect dies from Covid

On Wednesday, the former police officer Gilbert Dragon, suspected of complicity in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, was transferred from the national penitentiary to a hospital in Port-au-Prince where he died of complications related to Covid-19 according to the PNH. Recall that it was Dragon who was responsible for providing the uniforms with the DEA identification to the mercenaries of the commando.



The DCPJ wants to pick up Samir Handal in Turkey

With a warrant to bring three agents from the General Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) should leave the country very soon in the direction of Turkey in order to repatriate Samir Handal arrested for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35261-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-haitian-businessman-samir-handal-in-prison-in-istanbul-for-40-days.html . This was announced by the spokesperson for the Haitian National Police, Garry Desrosiers, recalling that Handal was the subject of an INTERPOL red notice "which is the equivalent of a international arrest warrant." To be continued...



DR : 10 to 20% drop in Haitian deliveries

A reduction of 10 to 20% of Haitian women in labor in Dominican hospitals has been recorded by the health system in recent days, since the Government's decision to no longer provide care to people in an irregular migratory situation, except in cases of urgently, the expulsions of pregnant women in an irregular situation https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35236-haiti-news-zapping.html (control in border areas (Haitian women who are more than 6 months pregnant are no longer no longer admitted in the Dominican Republic) See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35171-haiti-dom-rep-end-of-health-services-to-illegal-haitians-except-in-emergencies.html



DR : Arrest of a Haitian in possession of 1.4 million pesos

On Tuesday, CESFRONT arrested at the Ounaminthe / Juana Mendez border checkpoint, a Haitian national, Delinaire Pierre, who was traveling in a Toyota jeep, model Runner, blue, which was trying to smuggle more than 1.4 million pesos ( 25,700 US dollars) in Dominican territory.



1,263,805 gallons of fuel delivered in 24 hours

Wednesday, November 17 699.145 gallons of diesel, 552,660 gallons of Gasoline and 12,000 gallons of kerosene were loaded at the WINECO varreux terminal. A total of 163 trucks and 1,263,805 gallons delivered, 20% more than the previous day's loads.



3 Dominican truckers released

The three Dominican truckers kidnapped last September were released and returned [without their trucks] to the Dominican Republic. A ransom of $200,000 was demanded for their release. However, no information regarding the circumstances of their release has been disclosed.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2021/11/17 | Source

JTBC's new drama "The One and Only" released the script reading pictures on the 17th. Actress Ahn Eun-jin's first leading role draws attention.

Advertisement

"The One and Only" recently conducted script practice at JTBC's office in Seoul. Major cast members such as Ahn Eun-jin, Kim Kyung-nam, Kang Ye-won, Joy, Go Doo-shim and Jang Hyun-sung attended and worked together in acting.

Ahn Eun-jin plays Pyo In-sook. In-sook is a bathhouse worker who is insensitive to life even after being sentenced to being terminally ill. According to field officials, Ahn Eun-jin was the dry Pyo In-sook herself, from her tone to expression.

Kim Kyung-nam plays Min Woo-cheon, who lives his bottom life. He is a character that gets entangled with Ahn Eun-jin. The two become entangled in an unexpected murder case, heralding a loving melodrama.

Kang Ye-won and Joy are also people who have been sentenced to a terminal life. Kang Ye-won expresses Kang Se-yeon, a housewife and Joy transforms into influencer Seong Mi-do and draws wo-mance with Ahn Eun-jin.

"The One and Only" is a human melodrama. It is the story of three women who meet at hospice. It is the story of three women who decide to kill, facing one real precious person in their lives.

Director Oh Hyeon-jong is in charge of directing and it is written by Moon Jung-min.

"The One and Only" is scheduled to air later this year.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/11/17

The previous episode opened up with Scholar Jeong protecting Crown Prince Lee from sprayed water outdoors. So naturally, this one opens up with Scholar Jeong protecting Crown Prince Lee from a falling object in the library. "The King's Affection" certainly knows its audience. This is a drama for people who enjoy watching romantic imagery between beautiful people wearing traditional Korean men's clothing and there's never any shortage of that.

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I like how the plot kind of covers for this with Crown Prince Lee's limited understanding of male friendship distorting her perception of what kind of behavior she's supposed to find acceptable from either Scholar Jeong or Scion Lee. You can actually see her kind of thinking, do men really put food in each other's mouths? Do they give each other flowers? I guess maybe? I've lived in the palace my whole life and I'm not allowed to go the courtesan clubs so I really have no idea.

There's also some similarly cute flashbacks which see a return of the adorable child actors. And here I can once again take issue with the questionable exposition of the earlier episodes, which clearly implied that Scholar Jeong and Crown Prince Lee, as kids, only knew each other for maybe an afternoon. Apparently they hung out a lot more than that. If this backstory had appeared in the early episodes plot points like Scholar Jeong becoming a doctor would have been far more intuitive.

That much is just bad editing. More generally bad plotting actually takes up the conflict of most of the second half though, as Inspector Jeong's plan to force his son to become the royal tutor backfires spectacularly and predictably when someone finally notices that Scholar Jeong was the doctor at the illegal clinic. Again, what was the point of actually arresting everybody instead of just threatening to? Scholar Jeong hates his dad because he saw him killing people! No one has any doubts that Inspector Jeong will do evil stuff to get what he wants!

The royal politics in "The King's Affection" are a bit questionable like that, although they're never so bad that they actually ruin the show. And I do have to give the script credit for actually forcing the villains to suffer consequences for their terrible strategies. The lack of a clear credible antagonist remaisn annoying. All the same, with cute scenes like Crown Prince Lee practicing her swordfighting, it's hard to complain too much.

Review by William Schwartz

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"The King's Affection" is directed by Lee Hyun-suk, Song Hyeon-wook, written by Han Hee-jeong, and features Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, Jung Chae-yeon. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/10/11~Now airing, Mon, Tue 21:30 on KBS.
BoA honors IAM as Neighborhood Champion

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch executives honored Interfaith Assistance Ministry as the Neighborhood Champion of Western North Carolina and presented a check for $50,000. They posed in front of IAM's new thrift store, which is under construction.

Interfaith Assistance Ministry, the Hendersonville-based crisis services agency that provides emergency relief for families in need, will now be able to help even more people after receiving a multi-year grant from Bank of America.

Bank of America on Wednesday honored IAM as its Neighborhood Champion of 2021 for Western North Carolina for its work in the greater Henderson County area addressing the basic needs of its more vulnerable residents.

As part of the program, officials with Bank of America and BOA-owned Merrill Lynch presented a check today for $50,000 in grant support and an opportunity for engagement in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics like human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling.

Henderson Countys largest provider of crisis services, IAM helps individuals and families with food assistance, clothing, linens, personal care items, utility payments, rent support, as well as by providing referrals to other area organizations and nonprofits.

Bank of America is committed to supporting organizations that provide economic opportunity and stability for Western North Carolinians, especially individuals and families that are the most vulnerable, said Andy H. Nadeau, president of Bank of America Asheville. We are excited to recognize Interfaith Assistance Ministry as our first Neighborhood Champion in Henderson County. The Neighborhood Champions program will help the organization grow sustainably and strategically to assist more residents and have even greater positive impact throughout our region.

In 2020, IAM provided 26,475 services touches to local residents in great need  a 91 percent increase over services provided in 2019. The demand for emergency help with food, rental and utility bill assistance, clothing, personal hygiene items, transportation, blankets, and heating fuel has continued to increase during 2021, according to Elizabeth Willson Moss, IAMs executive director.

This generous and greatly needed grant from Bank of America will help IAM defray the cost of opening our new thrift store, Moss said. We hope to begin store operations in February to provide an ongoing stable revenue stream for IAM for the first time in our 37 year history. We also look forward to taking advantage of the sustaining resources that Bank of America has to offer. We are truly humbled by this honor!

Alongside the greater Asheville area, the bank will bring the program to more than 42 additional communities across the U.S. this fall as part of its commitment to investing in the long-term health of communities. The Neighborhood Champions program is invitation-only for nonprofits who are poised to take their work to the next level. Leading members of the community participated in a collaborative selection process to identify this years awardee.

The Neighborhood Champions program is an extension of the banks signature philanthropic initiative, Neighborhood Builders, the largest corporate philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership in the country. Since the programs inception in 2019, Bank of America has invested $6.3 million in 126 organizations within 42 communities through the Neighborhood Champions program.
Woodhouse announces congressional run

Casting herself as a swamp-draining outsider, Republican N.C. District 11 chairwoman and Laurel Park resident Michele V. Woodhouse announced Thursday that she is running for the now re-numbered 14th Congressional District that includes Henderson County.

Join me in letting the swamp know we are coming. We are coming to take back the house, Woodhouse said to chants of Michele as she made her announcement at Henderson Countys Republican Party headquarters. We are coming to save America.

A standing-room only crowd of at least 60 people filled the office space to hear Woodhouses announcement. She spoke with many individually both before and after her announcement while shaking hands, offering hugs and taking photographs.

Woodhouse, 52, said in an interview shortly after her announcement that she decided to run for 14th District seat at the urging of constituents after incumbent Republican District 11 Rep. Madison Cawthorn decided to seek a second term in the new District 13. Woodhouse is one of four candidates who have announced a run for the Republican nomination and numerous others are mulling a campaign.

Woodhouse is a former medical and pharmaceutical sales rep who owns a business called Purple Door Aesthetics. She has been active in Republican Party politics in Raleigh and in Michigan. Dallas Woodhouse, the former executive director of the state Republican Party, is her husbands cousin.

After her announcement, Woodhouse described herself as an outsider in the Republican Party and an outspoken woman who doesnt look like a Republican.

Woodhouse began her announcement to the sounds of the crowd chanting Michele and the ringing of small red bells that supporters handed out.

Woodhouse pledged that if elected she would say no to President Biden, no to borrowing money, no to infrastructure bills with no infrastructure, no to schools that indoctrinate children and no to government mandates and overreach.

Securing the southern border is also a priority because Woodhouse said recent illegal immigrants crossing the border in just a few weeks totaled the population of several counties in Western North Carolina. She also mentioned planes arriving in Asheville in the dark of night with illegal immigrants.



Woodhouse told her supporters she wants to protect the First and Second Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, protect the born and the unborn and save the country from liberals including the liberal congresswomen known as The Squad.

Send a true conservative warrior to fight the swamp, she said. Im not a politician. Im a patriot,

Woodhouse described herself to the crowd as a woman raised in Detroit who has deep roots in Western North Carolina. She said she is also a mother, later a single-mom and a born-again believer.

Her parents, Mae and Gary Van Hooser, stood alongside Woodhouse as she made her announcement. Her mother said the family was originally from Macon County but moved to Michigan in the 1940s in search of better job opportunities. The family moved back to WNC later as members began to retire.

Her parents taught her the value of hard work and that she could be anything, Woodhouse said.

All Ive ever known is hard work because of these two people, Woodhouse said of her parents.

Mark Tice, a Baptist preacher from the Cruso community of Haywood County, introduced Woodhouse to those gathered for her announcement.

He said he was impressed with Woodhouse when she came to visit the community after it was hit hard with the loss of life and property during flooding over the summer. Unlike others who came for photo opportunities, Woodhouse came to worship and later said she prayed over her decision to run for Congress. He said he was impressed by her character and compassion.

If changes are going to be made, they are going to have to happen with compassion, Tice said.

Redrawn to reach north to Watauga County  including Democratic-voting Boone  the new 14th Congressional District becomes slightly bluer, although few would regard it as competitive. Two years ago, when U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows resigned to become President Trumps chief of staff, the primary drew 10 candidates. Cawthorn won the nomination when he defeated Meadows hand-picked successor, Lynda Bennett, in a runoff.

In addition to Woodhouse, candidates running for the Republican nomination are two military veterans  Navy veteran Wendy Nevarez and retired Army Col. Rod Honeycutt  and Pisgah Inn owner Bruce OConnell. Other potential candidates include state Sens. Chuck Edwards of Flat Rock, Deanna Ballard of Watauga County and Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine; and Matthew Burril, a retired financial adviser and Asheville Regional Airport Authority board member who announced a campaign before withdrawing in 2020.
Arthur Kurzweil first encountered amulets and dreidels excavated by treasure hunters during a trip to his father's hometown in Poland. Now he has collected thousands of them.

(JTA) - Even when Arthur Kurzweil sits by himself in his study, he doesn't feel that he's alone. After all, he has the dreidels - all 4,000 of them.

Kurzweil, 70, is a prolific author and editor who has written books about Judaism and magic and his car rides with Talmud scholar Adin Steinsaltz, as well as the Kabbalah and Torah installments in the "... for Dummies" series.

His most significant contribution to Jewish publishing, however, may be his books and teaching about Jewish genealogy: He has exhaustively chronicled his efforts to trace his own family's lineage, including along the many branches that were broken when family members were murdered in the Holocaust.

The dreidels, pulled from the earth across Eastern Europe, represent an extension of that work, Kurzweil told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency from amid the collection in his Long Island home.

"I look at them ... and I think, what's the history of this? And when's the last time somebody played that game?" he said, adding, "I wonder what this person's fate ultimately was."

It's not just dreidels that surround Kurzweil. Quietly and in collaboration with Eastern Europe's sizable community of treasure hunters, he has amassed a sweeping collection of Jewish objects unearthed from throughout Eastern Europe. While Holocaust museums and concentration camps bring visitors face to face with the piles of shoes and eyeglasses worn by Jews who were about to be killed, Kurzweil lives with reminders of the lives they lived.

In addition to the tiny dreidels, made of pewter and lead and clearly intended for children, Kurzweil has also collected boxes of metal kosher seals, which would have been affixed to packages of food to attest to their kosher status; dozens of pins that would have been worn by members of Jewish youth and Zionist organizations; and coin-sized metal disks that synagogues would have handed out to people being called to the Torah.

The collection also includes amulets that, while not a typical Jewish practice today, were historically used by Jews seeking to ward off various ailments. Several of the amulets in the collection include a prayer to protect the wearer from diphtheria. Others were worn to protect the wearer from the dangers of childbirth.

The size and breadth of Kurzweil's collections paint a unique portrait of everyday Eastern European Jewish life during the late 19th and early 20th century, until the beginning of the Holocaust. That makes them unique in the context of Jewish history and art collections, which more typically focus on ritual objects, such as Hanukkah menorahs, Shabbat candlesticks or intricately decorated spice boxes used in the Havdalah ritual to end Shabbat.

"It shows everyday shtetl life at its most basic and ordinary and, if you will, when things were going relatively well," said Beth Weingast, an art and Judaica appraiser who examined the collection for Kurzweil several years ago.

William L. Gross, a collector of Judaica and Jewish art in Tel Aviv for nearly half a century, owns a large collection of amulets himself. He said he had never heard of a collection of workaday items as large as Kurzweil's, noted that objects such as the ones Kurzweil collected that speak to the daily lives of Jews in pre-war Eastern Europe remain woefully understudied.

"It's fabulous material because it's objects of the normal, regular Jew, not the aristocracy, not the merchant class but the people. And that is of extreme importance," Gross said.

John Ward, who heads the silver department at Sotheby's, likewise said Kurzweil's collection of Judaica made from inexpensive metals such as pewter and lead is significant. "To have this focus on the folk art and the utilitarian side, that would be the only one I've heard of," he said.

While Ward spends most of his time working with objects made of expensive materials, he noted that a collection like Kurzweil's would tell an important story about Jewish communities that were destroyed during the Holocaust.

"There's something very poignant about the idea that these were things that were used and loved and brought out at holidays and then essentially became trash," he said.

Of course, the objects didn't become trash so much as were turned into it by the Nazis and their collaborators.

"My assumption based on where they are found is that most of the people who were entangled with these objects were murdered in the Holocaust. So in a sense the collection becomes a Holocaust memorial," Kurzweil said.

Kurzweil first purchased an unearthed amulet in the 1970s while on a trip to Przemysl, Poland, a town where several members of his family had lived before World War II.

"When I saw my first amulet, my first pendant, I was just drawn to it. I was shocked that they still exist under the ground. I didn't want them to disappear or to be thrown away," Kurzweil said.

But it wasn't until 2015, when Kurzweil traveled to Warsaw on his way to his father's hometown of Dobromyl, that he learned about the tiny dreidels. The friend who showed him the objects introduced him to a metal detector hobbyist, part of a network of treasure seekers who comb regions of Eastern Europe that were devastated during the war.

The hobbyists that Kurzweil has encountered largely look for gold and silver coins to sell, though others hunt more specifically for Nazi paraphernalia, as detailed in "Plunder," the recent book by Menachem Kaiser. Few are interested in holding onto detritus whose value is largely sentimental, and mostly limited to Jews.

"Suddenly I had myself a network of people who are not really looking for Judaica, but they know that there's a guy in New York who's interested in this stuff and they contact me," Kurzweil said.

For some of the hobbyists, Kurzweil said, the act of sending him the Judaica objects they found, often just for the cost of the postage, and thus interacting with a living Jew was clearly meaningful. "They like the fact that they're doing something that's saving the remnants of the Jewish community," he said.

And for Kurzweil, too, the relationships with people in Eastern Europe are important. Kurzweil has traveled to Dobromyl 10 times and has gotten to know some of the people who live there over the years. In 2017, he even donated a playground to the town and raised over $22,000 to purchase supplies for the local school.

"Thank you to everyone who made this happen," he wrote on the GoFundMe page for the school fundraiser. "Standing in front of the house where my father was born, I read each of your names to myself in a whisper. What a privilege it is to help childrenanywhere in the worldto learn."

If the objects Kurzweil collects act as a bridge between him and history, Kurzweil's donations to the children of Dobromyl are firmly rooted in his desire to correct the relationships between those who hated each other in the past.

"The reason I wanted to build a playground was because these were innocent children," Kurzweil said. "If it was the other way around, these would have been my neighbors. I don't want to inherit hatred and bitterness."

The mayor and the English teacher in town, who serves as Kurzweil's interpreter when he visits, send him cards every Rosh Hashanah. He hopes to visit again one day.

"The Lubavitcher Rebbe once said if you encounter something, and you think you can fix it, then fix it," Kurzweil said. "So when I got there, I thought I could fix it a little bit."

Exactly what the future holds for Kurzweil's collections is unclear. For now, he's content to let their presence wash over him as he works on a memoir about his family's story, including about his father's prewar life in Dobromyl. But he's starting to think about whether a museum should one day take them on - and he wonders whether any would.

Weingast, for one, says the collection is of value precisely because the objects within it have no value on their own.

"He's accumulated a fantastic collection of everyday objects," Weingast said about Kurzweil. "The objects are free, they're of no value. But the expense is paying the people to find them and ship them and, you know, enticing people to not throw them away, to not just discard them."
(JTA) - "Arthur's Perfect Christmas," the 2000 TV movie, begins with Arthur sitting at the piano in his jammies singing about how this Christmas is going to be magical - the best one yet. It's clear what holiday is center stage in Arthur's world.

But it's the B plot about the show's Jewish character Francine that speaks to a legitimate Jewish experience - truer than any current kids' Chanukah specials on TV. Francine's best friend, Muffy, refuses to accept that Francine can't attend her Christmas party. Francine tells Muffy 28 times, literally 28 times, that it's on the same night as her family's Chanukah party, but Muffy ignores her, buying her a Christmas gift.

Muffy storms from her party to scream at Francine through the phone.

"But you can see your family any old day," she says. "Besides, it's not like Chanukah is as important as Christmas."

Before my kids were born, I shrugged when people complained about how suffocating Christmas was. I thought they should just get over it: We live in a Christian world. But this year, I realized the influence that television would wield over holidays when my 2 1/2-year-old son Avishai became obsessed with costumes because Mickey Mouse loves Halloween. Suddenly I realized Christmas was racing toward us with a ho, ho, ho.

The problem isn't the lack of Chanukah programming - it's the programming itself. Chanukah specials feature guest characters educating the stars and non-Jewish audience about menorahs and dreidels. Christmas specials feature stars getting presents and chillin' with Santa and reindeer. Joy!

Avishai's favorite channel is Disney Junior. Three of the past four years, the main show to tackle Chanukah has been "Puppy Dog Pals," which juxtaposed segments of Christmas jolliness and Chanukah blah back to back. On Christmas segments, Bingo and Rolly zip off on adventures with elves. The stories never explain why gold shoots out the backs of sleighs, the magic just is, so it's straight into the fun: making and searching for toys. Meanwhile, on their first Chanukah segment, "The Latke Kerfuffle," the pups hunt for eggs and potatoes for latkes, which they find out are "those potato pancakes ... a special Chanukah food." Their Jewish neighbors appear only to explain everything to them. They are barely characters, so you have no reason to invest in them.

On the second "Puppy Dog Pals" Chanukah half-an-episode, "The Dreidel Dilemma," the pups search for a dreidel, which they learn is a "spinny top toy that families play with during the holiday of Chanukah." This year's segment, "Nine Lights Tonight!" is about the pups being called upon by Mrs. Claus - yes, that Mrs. Claus - to save Chanukah. You see, Mrs. Claus has a best friend named Miriam, who we barely meet, and she needs bulbs for her hanukkiyah. The pups team with Randy the reindeer in training, searching for bulbs in a flying sled.

Elsewhere in the Disney Junior universe, last year, "Elena of Avalor" did slightly better with its episode "Festival of Lights." Unlike "Puppy Dog Pals," the Elena episode portrays Chanukah as cool, featuring delicious food and tons of gold stuff. Plus, Princess Rebecca of Galonia has an amazing tiara that seconds as a crowbar.

The episode introduces the royal family of Galonia, who halt the plot to teach Elena and her family about menorahs and gelt. These are all Latin American characters, but the episode shows only a couple cultural similarities. Instead, the Galonians act as tour guides through the foreign Jewish world. There's an emphasis on the Galonians' language, with Elena and her family confused by their weird Yiddish words. While it's true that many Latin American Jews are Ashkenazim, the constant definitions emphasized the culture gap between the Galonians and Avalorans.

To find decent Chanukah programming you need to search. So my family is making our own playlist, watching Jewish characters worth investing in. They may feel alien within the greater culture, but they aren't portrayed as aliens. They don't lecture because they are also figuring things out. Each episode is an adventure my kids love. It's not available on current channels, so your kids' non-Jewish friends won't be in tune with it. Good programming features Jewish protagonists. It isn't aimed at non-Jewish audiences. It portrays Jewish life, uncensored.

The best blueprint is "A Rugrats Chanukah," which debuted in 1996. It features the Rugrats crew finding the "meanie" of Chanukah at the Pickles family's temple. The temple's Chanukah party resembles every temple Chanukah party I've attended, with multiple activity tables and a play starring people named Boris and Shlomo, who can't stand each other. Jewish characters butcher aspects of Judaism, babies wonder what's going on, everyone kvetches, all to traditional tunes. Chuckie's dad, the inquisitive non-Jewish character, wonders, "What's a Shlomo?"

Another household fave is "Shalom Sesame Chanukah: The Missing Menorah," released in 2010, featuring Grover, The Count, Baby Bear and Israeli children visiting Israel landmarks, practicing Hebrew and making olive oil.

"The Chanukah Shaboom! Special" by BimBam, a defunct YouTube channel that used "digital storytelling to spark connections to Judaism," is a recent gem. The main characters, the Plony family, attempt to impress their non-Jewish guests, the Baloneys, by making Chanukah seem cool. Like "Rugrats," it features traditional songs. With animation clearly inspired by "The Fairly OddParents," characters come from diverse racial backgrounds, resembling my own household (I'm Ashkenazi and my wife is Nigerian and Jamaican). Unlike Elana's attempt at showing the diversity of Jewish and Latin American communities while having the Jewish characters explain themselves, the "Shaboom! Special" normalizes diversity within the Jewish community as something that simply exists, no explanation needed.

At the end of "Arthur's Perfect Christmas," most everyone is disappointed. Christmas didn't live up to Arthur's expectations.

The self-proclaimed "Princess of Christmas" Muffy received 37 gifts, but has no one to brag to because she and Francine are no longer friends. Muffy realizes it's all her fault. On Christmas Day, her family appears at Francine's door bearing ham, which Francine's dad dubiously accepts, saying "uh, thanks."

Bingo and Rolly of "Puppy Dog Pals" as dreidels in "The Dreidel Dilemma."

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you," Muffy says, followed by the buts.

"Come with me," Francine says, grabbing her friend by her wrist and pulling her to a menorah that her great-grandmother brought from Poland. She explains that once a year her family gathers for a potluck, lighting the candles and placing the menorah in the window for the world to see.

"Do you understand why that's really important to me?" Francine asks her friend.

Muffy pauses and blinks.

"I'm sorry. I should have listened to you," she says and puts her hand on Francine's shoulder.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
On the night of Nov. 9, 1938, synagogues, Jewish schools and Jewish-owned businesses were targeted in violent riots throughout Nazi Germany. This map shows many of the synagogues destroyed on Kristallnacht.

At least 267 synagogues were burned down or destroyed in the pogroms, which is known as Kristallnacht, the night of broken glass. The map shows the extent of the damage.

Jewish institutions and businesses were desecrated, torched and looted by Nazi paramilitary troops and civilian sympathizers. Tens of thousands of Jews were arrested, many were beaten and some were killed.
(JTA) - A prominent rabbi in the Netherlands compared her country's COVID-19 safety measures to the policies of Nazi Germany, drawing harsh rebuke from Jewish groups.

Tamarah Benima, an outspoken 71-year-old Reform rabbi from Amsterdam, made the comparison on Nov. 4 in a speech in the northern Dutch city of Leeuwarden. She left the Dutch Union for Progressive Judaism on Nov. 9, the rabbinical council of the umbrella group wrote in a statement.

"Scientists worldwide apparently allowed themselves over the past 1 and a half years to be led toward totalitarian thinking," she said of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in December 2019. "What doesn't fit their perspective must be silenced."

Those involved in enforcing COVID-19 public health measures "have the best intentions," Benima added. "But as a Jew, what happened in Nazi Germany is a warning to me. Those in power all had the best of intentions. Also when they declared Jews a danger to 'public health.' Also when they declared a war against the 'virus' of those times. So don't play with fire by setting aside people in our society as 'a danger to public health,' as Health Minister Hugo De Jonge regularly does."

De Jonge has warned that downplaying the dangers of the COVID-19 virus, as well as a right-wing party's forum for criticizing the government's policies on COVID-19, have jeopardized public health.

Following the lead of other European countries, the Netherlands issued an emergency regulation last month that requires that patrons of restaurants and other businesses present a proof of vaccination.

At least three Dutch Jewish groups have condemned Benima's statements.

Yvonne Walvisch-Stokvis, the chairwoman of the Dutch Union for Progressive Judaism, criticized Benima in a statement for what she called "a misplaced comparison between the annihilation of people for who they were and the position of anti-vaccination people today."

In an email to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Benima insisted that she "never mentioned the COVID-policy of the Dutch government with a word" and that this impression owed to "journalistic misrepresentations."

"I spoke out against totalitarian speech and thinking. I spoke out against the new totalitarian ideology Woke, that endangers Jews and non-Jews alike," she added.

Benima told the De Telegraaf daily that many people have written her to express their support and gratitude for her comments, and said some have called her a hero.

The Central Jewish Board of the Netherlands, the country's largest Jewish umbrella group, said her comparison is "contrary to our values and shows a complete lack of realism." The Netherlands Association for Progressive Judaism "strongly rejects the irresponsible and offensive comparisons," that group said in a statement.

Comparisons between COVID-19 public health measures and Nazism have proliferated in recent months throughout Europe and beyond. The wearing of yellow stars at protests against COVID-19 measures in Europe specifically have drawn sharp condemnations by Jewish groups.
Join in the fun with Chabad of Altamonte Springs as they celebrate Chanukah with a festival and gelt drop, and honor the Seminole County Fire Department for their service. The event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the Embassy Suites at Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs.

Hundreds of chocolate coins (gelt) will be dropped by firefighters from 25 feet up in the air. A grand Menorah lighting will follow, along with latkes and donuts to nosh, a childrens petting zoo, Chanukah crafts, and dreidel giveaways.

The event is free and open to all. RSVP is requested by visiting http://www.JewishAltamonte.com/gelt. Also, for those who would like to sponsor this event, visit the same website.
(ISRAEL21c) - Eytan Buchman calls it a "shipstorm."

Speaking from the Israeli headquarters of Freightos, the CMO is referring to the confluence of events behind a global supply-chain crisis.

The Covid-19 pandemic triggered many of these events, such as increased online purchasing, labor shortages, port shutdowns and passenger flight cancellations.

There is a severe backlog at the world's biggest ports, long delays in getting goods to consumers, and skyrocketing costs at every point along the way.

"It's never been more expensive to ship and never less reliable to get there," said Ami Daniel, CEO of maritime intelligence company Windward.

This is a problem of gargantuan proportions, with some $19 trillion worth of goods shipped annually across the globe. About 90 percent, by volume, travels aboard container ships.

We asked freight industry experts to explain the crisis and how Israeli technology can help.

Crazy logistical challenges

The ship began hitting the fan, so to speak, when the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus spread in countries where much merchandise originates.

Eytan Buchman, CMO of Freightos. Photo courtesy of Freightos

"In January and February 2020, the freight industry started to be impacted as we saw a drop in manufacture and export from southeast Asia," said Buchman.

"The biggest initial impact was on air cargo because there was less space and more demand. Half of air cargo travels on passenger planes and nobody was flying, but the need for medical gear and increased ecommerce spiked demand," he explained.

"Costs for air cargo increased 400 percent within weeks, and airlines had crazy logistical challenges because of quarantine requirements for crews."

By summer, ocean cargo was in crisis mode due to "a massive shift from consumption of services to consumption of goods during lockdowns. Everyone was spending more on actual products, and more imports were needed," said Buchman.

"Home Depot shelled out for their own chartered container ship. When Peleton wanted their bikes quickly, they flew them. Smaller companies have shifted sourcing. But everyone's getting hit."

Accidents, illness

Accidents, like the container ship stuck in the Suez Canal, and Covid-caused personnel shortages and port closings, led to unprecedented bottlenecks.

As a result, "If it used to take 35 days for items from a warehouse in China to reach the US, now it takes 71 days. If it used to cost $1,800 to ship a 40-foot container from China to the US, now it costs $22,000," Buchman told ISRAEL21c.

Importers and consumers are willing to pay double or triple to make sure their merchandise arrives on time, says Nir Gartzman, cofounder and managing partner of Israeli maritime-focused venture capital firm theDOCK.

"The one industry that benefits most is shippers, with a huge peak of demand and willingness to pay," said Gartzman.

"The 10 biggest shipping companies got tens of billions in net revenues this past year, more than their entire revenue for the past two decades. This is insane."

The long-term solution, Gartzman added, "is more capacity and more containers, which is already happening. But it will take two or three years to build these vessels."

Meanwhile, innovations from Israel are helping items reach their destination more efficiently and inexpensively. This is a critical issue with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the December holidays approaching fast.

Travel agents for freight

Seven-year-old Freightos, now the largest freight marketplace in the world, pioneered pricing digitization for freight forwarders - the "travel agents" of freight.

Then, Freightos began connecting freight forwarders directly to importers and exporters for price comparisons, bookings and shipping management.

The pandemic "woke up customers to the urgency for digitization, accelerate a trend that was already happening," said Buchman.

Now, he said, "We are building one global freight booking platform that connects all players in the international freight industry," including importers, exporters (from giants like IKEA to individuals selling on Amazon from their basement), airlines, ocean liners and trucking companies.

"While airline passenger seats have been digitized for decades, there was no digitization on the same plane for cargo space. Airlines sell 85 percent of passenger seats while cargo holds are half empty," said Buchman.

Through WebCargo, which Freightos acquired five years ago, the company also helps airlines manage and sell their space in real time. "You can lower the price for importers and improve revenue for airlines if you can improve space utilization in the hold."

Data helps avoid bottlenecks, accidents

Gartzman says streamlining the shipping process "requires a lot more transparency and data sharing between stakeholders that didn't collaborate in the past such as shipping companies, freight forwarders and ports - about which container should go where, when."

Some solutions target specific chokepoints.

One of theDOCK's portfolio companies, WaveBL, built a blockchain-backed digital shipping platform to provide an electronic alternative to printed documents such as bills of lading.

The platform has been adopted by Israel's ZIM Lines, Germany's Hapag Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE) of Japan to shorten document issuance times, streamline cargo release and reduce administrative costs for customers.

Another portfolio company, DockTech, enables real-time dynamic mapping of depth in canals and shallow ports. This helps ships avoid grounding accidents such as happened to the Ever Given in the Suez Canal.

"This was never a digitized landscape," said Gartzman. "Today, with applications like DockTech, you can use ships' sensors to extract data and aggregate that with external sources to map the depth below each vessel in different waterways, from the Rhine to the Mississippi."

AI to predict arrival time

One of the risk-management tools developed at Windward uses artificial intelligence to predict when a shipment will arrive. Arrival time fluctuates depending on conditions along the route.

"No human knows how to predict arrival," says Daniel, "and yet 47,000 ocean freight forwarders are doing this pretty much manually."

Automating estimated times of arrival can cure lots of headaches in the current delay-plagued system.

Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash Port of Marseille, France, in October 2021.

"Two thirds of containers in the world are transshipped, meaning they're moved from one ship to another ship when there's no direct line. From the port, trucks pick up the boxes. Because of the interdependent nature of the supply chain, when there are delays many of these connections get missed," explained Daniel.

"If you can properly predict, you'll know you are missing connections and you can pre-rebook those connections or you could switch from truck to rail. There are many actions you can take with the right data and an accurate prediction."

To sum up, Gartzman said blue-and-white innovations offer valuable solutions for today's shipping crisis.

"I truly believe there is something unique in the Israeli solutions, even though there are such technologies being made around the world," he tells ISRAEL21c.

"We leverage and harness the innovative, vibrant ecosystem of Israel to address all challenges in the global supply chain, help the global market, and do good for all the founders and employees."
Zionist Organization of America President Morton A. Klein released the following statement: ZOA strongly condemns President Biden, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield, and U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN Richard Mills for refusing to oppose the one-sided, illegitimate, dangerous UN Resolution A/C.4/75/L.9, which calls for a so-called Right of Return (repatriation) or compensation to Palestinian Arab refugees.

This so-called right of return could destroy Israel as a Jewish State. The resolution is aimed at overrunning Israel with millions of alleged descendants of the 360,000 alleged Palestinian Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948, when six Arab nations invaded Israel to try to destroy the newly-reconstituted State of Israel, and to murder Israels Jewish population.

The Arab nations and the Arab High Command created the Palestinian Arab refugees by going to war and persuading Arabs living in Israel to leave their homes to get out of the way of the battle, to enable the Arab armies to slaughter the Jews unimpeded. For instance, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Said declared: We will smash the country with our guns and obliterate every place the Jews seek shelter in. The Arabs should conduct their wives and children to safe areas until the fighting has died down.

Thus, by refusing to oppose a UN Resolution that would ultimately destroy the Jewish State, the Biden Administration has become a partner with those seeking Israels destruction!

The resolution also called for funding UNRWA  the bloated, Hamas-infested agency that hides rockets for Hamas and teaches Palestinian Arab children to hate and aspire to murder Jews. The Biden administration sent UNRWA more than $318 million and $400 million to the terrorist dictatorship of the Palestinian Authority this year.

This dangerous UN resolution also ignored that Arab nations pogrommed and expelled close to a million Jews who had lived in Arab countries for thousands of years. The Jewish refugees had to flee for their lives and never received compensation for their lands, homes and businesses. Israel resettled the Jewish refugees in Israel, but Arab nations refused to resettle the Palestinian Arab refugees that the Arabs created. Instead, the Palestinian Arab refugees are being used to try to overrun and destroy Israel.

The Trump administration voted against such anti-Israel resolutions, and stopped funding UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority terrorist regime. It is frightening that the Biden administration has returned to the Obama-Biden administrations anti-Israel voting and funding pattern. ZOA urges the Biden administration to apologize for this dangerous antisemitic Israelophobic action and promise to rectify it. ZOA also urges other Jewish groups to immediately speak out against this horror.
If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand cease to function. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy! (Psalm 137:5-6) Theres no place thats more central to Jews and Christians than Jerusalem. Its the city of the kings, prophets and where Jesus preached, worshipped, and was crucified. As central as Jerusalem is to our history and our faith, Jerusalem is facing a threat to be redivided today, a threat to Israels sovereignty. Sadly, the threat is not from one of our enemies.

From the 1840s, the U.S. had a consulate in Jerusalem, then under the Ottoman Empire. When Israel declared independence, and Jerusalem as its capital in 1948, the consulate became a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Israeli Jerusalem, but not its embassy. That was established in Tel Aviv because the U.S. did not recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, despite the 3000-year-old biblical history, and as modern Israels seat of government.

The 1995 U.S. Embassy Act was a bipartisan law, supported overwhelmingly by the U.S. Congress. It declared Jerusalem Israels capital, that Jerusalem should remain an undivided city, and that the U.S. was required to move its embassy there. Because of a clause that allowed all successive presidents to defer doing so, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem didnt take place until 2018. Then, the consulate that had been operating as a separate entity was closed, and its work was merged into that of the embassy. So, whats the problem?

First, at the risk of overstating the obvious, Jerusalem is and has been the heart and center of biblical Israel, the Jewish people, and modern Israel for over 3,000 years. Jerusalem is mentioned over 600 times in the Bible, and zero times in the Koran.

The stand-alone consulate was grandfathered in when Israel restored sovereignty, and when Israel reunited Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War. But U.S. policy remained schizophrenic: supporting Israel but not Israeli authority in Jerusalem. The consulate became a diplomatic office to the West Bank and, at the time of the U.S. Embassy Act, a diplomatic office to the newly created Palestinian Authority.

Years ago, I was in touch with successive U.S. diplomats posted to the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. Because I live in the Judean mountains, over the Green Line from what was Israeli territory before 1967, also pejoratively referred to as the West Bank, there were diplomats assigned to get the pulse of, and report back on, life on the ground. I proactively hosted a number of these diplomats at my home, and offered tours and insight about modern Jewish life in Judea. Invariably, the same diplomats would visit me either on the way to or from visiting Palestinian Arab communities nearby with the same agenda to understand and file reports.

In addition to being invited to the U.S. Embassy Independence Day celebration, for several years I was invited to the U.S. Consulates parallel celebration on another day. What was fascinating about the later is that in addition to Jewish (settler) leaders invited from the West Bank, Palestinian Arab leaders were also invited. One year, I found myself within meters of then PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. For people supposedly not able to live together, we coexisted just fine in the consulates backyard.

The U.S. Consulate is closed, and presumably the U.S. can find another venue to celebrate its independence with Palestinian Arabs and Jewish Israeli settlers. But now, the Biden Administration wants to reopen the consulate as its diplomatic office to the PA, in the same building in central Jerusalem that is part of sovereign Israel. Such a move is unprecedented, with one nation having a diplomatic office to another entity in the capital of a third nation. It also contradicts American law.

Opening a U.S. Consulate to the PA in Jerusalem is a dangerous precedent and not only will not bring peace, but push peace further out of reach. Recognizing Palestinian Authority sovereignty over any of Jerusalem presupposes the outcome of negotiations that ought to be resolved between the parties. Even if the tried-and-failed two-state solution is the default U.S. position, setting up a consulate to the PA in western Jerusalem contradicts that. As a unilateral move, it would embolden the Palestinian Authority and terrorists within it, by showing Palestinian Arabs that they can win major concessions without negotiating, ceasing terror, or any sincerity on their part.

Both Prime Minister Bennet and Foreign Minister Lapid have declared clearly that they will not support this U.S. attempt. Technically, that should be enough to block it. But nobody knows what form of pressure the U.S. may bring on the issue.

There are a variety of U.S. domestic issues at play as well, from some wanting to undo anything that Donald Trump did as president, even if it was positive, to Democrats pandering to the anti-Israel extremists in their own party a year away from mid-term elections. Its also possible that the U.S. is upping the ante vis a vis the consulate to win concessions from Israel on other issues, specifically relating to Iran.

A U.S. Senate bill has been proposed to prevent the opening of a separate consulate in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, unlike the 1995 law that was overwhelmingly bipartisan, this bill is only supported by Republicans, as of now. If the U.S. wants to have a diplomatic office to the PA, it should be in Ramallah along with 39 other countries whose diplomatic offices are there.

Scripture reminds us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Shalom, peace in Hebrew, comes from the same root as shalem which means whole. It is also the central to the name Jeru-SALEM. So, when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, please pray that the American effort to redivide Jerusalem will fail. Pray for Jerusalem to remain whole, under Jewish and Israeli sovereignty.

U.S.-born and educated Jonathan Feldstein immigrated to Israel in 2004. Throughout his life and career, he has fellowshipped with Christian supporters of Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He writes a regular column for Standing With Israel at charismanews.com and other prominent web sites. He can be reached at firstpersonisrael@gmail.com.
(JNS)  Many of us know the themes of the Chanukah story: pride in being Jewish; the few against the many; the defeat of our enemy; and the rededication of the Jewish Temple. Or perhaps some have only learned of the miracle of the oil and how it burned continuously for eight days. While these are important themes, there is much more to the Chanukah story that is at the heart of why we celebrate the holiday and why its so relevant today.

Looking at the story of Chanukah, which happened in the second century BCE, we know that many Jews of that era were assimilated. They wanted it all; they identified as Jews but didnt want to affiliate, and they were not studying Torah. Some were culturally Jewish  until that, too, was banned. They, like so many today, certainly would have declared themselves Jews of a different or no religion.

These Jews, known as Hellenists, emulated everything Greek culture had to offer. In order to be accepted in the halls of commerce and power, they thought that they had to dissociate themselves from their Jewish brothers. Core Jewish values of justice and morality got in the way of the self-preserving and decadent mores of the conquering Greek culture.

But when the non-Jewish ruling government started to clamp down on religious freedom, life became decidedly uncomfortable for observant Jews. Forced to do away with Jewish rituals, including brit milah (circumcision), Jewish names, Shabbat, festivals and Torah study, those who hadnt assimilated were forced to choose between embracing Greek culture or punishment by death.

A minority within the religious community that chose to fight this oppression joined the Maccabees and became part of an uprising. They managed a miraculous military defeat, the part of the Chanukah story that is well known.

The other piece of the story, however, is that the pressure to stamp out hard-line Judaism came from the Hellenists  the assimilated Jews. They resented the fact that their lives were made more difficult by a minority of their own people who refused to give up their old ways.

The Assyrian Greeks, as conquerors of the land of Israel, expected to absorb the Jews, despite the fact that they were indigenous. Not only was it uncomfortable for those who wanted to fit in; but the Hellenists (Jews) were just as brutal toward their fellow Jews who refused to fit into the new reality and morality.

Those who held fast to their Jewish heritage were called out and turned in to the authorities by other Jews. The Maccabees were forced to go into hiding and deal with castigation from their own, in addition to fighting their Greek oppressors.

As we near the Chanukah season, a time when we celebrate our own Jewish pride, we sadly find ourselves in the shadow of the Hellenists. Here we are today reading about Jewish employees at Amazon and Google who are leading the charge with a petition to get their respective companies to call out their fellow Jews. They are asking for these two corporate giants to renege on a contract with the Israel Defense Forces, which would ultimately compromise the security of the State of Israel  their eventual goal.

Armed with incorrect and erroneous information, the petitioners claim that the use of the governments cloud storage will cause harm to the Palestinians, and aid and abet Israeli settlement activity in occupied territory.

What the petition does not address is that Google and Amazon both have contracts with countries that openly admit to occupying territory. Russia, which occupies part of Georgia and Ukraine; Vietnam, which occupies Cambodia; and others. In other words, these social activists are silent when it comes to human-rights violations around the world.

Both Amazons and Googles signed contracts will help Israel continue to prosper and grow with safety and security, innovating solutions to problems around the world. This is a fact ignored by the United Nations and the majority of the world, with a false narrative of oppression, and misunderstood by the petitions signatories.

If I am a Jew with no understanding of why that matters or how that makes me part of a family, then I can only distance myself from my own people and culture if I find an opportunity to call them out. This allows me to dissociate with the parts of where I come from that I dont understand enough to value or know are sources of pride. And, the self-loathing as a Jew that translates into destructive antisemitism on this systemic level is more than frightening.

Make no mistake about who is responsible for this lack of understanding and the need to dissociate from the greater Jewish community: We are.

The global Jewish community has known for some time that Jewish education has failed most of its own children. The experiment of passing along nice stories and abstract ideas without context, practice or community has simply failed.

Of the 5.8 million adult Jews in the United States, 1.5 million  or just above 25 percent  identify as Jews of no religion. The 2020 Pew study, released in May 2021, tells us that Jews are no longer affiliating with synagogues or even other, secular Jewish institutions.

They have not had positive Jewish experiences. They dont know what the Jewish religion is about or why it should be a source of pride.

They do not identify with other Jewish people as the one Jewish family that we are.

We have watched this problem grow and worsen. AISH founder Rabbi Noah Weinberg warned of the dangerous ramifications as far back as the 1970s. Because we have allowed Jews to grow into young adults without Jewish wisdom or understanding of Jewish values, focusing instead on talent, ambition and intelligence as a way of making a mark on the world, we see the devastating rise of attacks on other Jews. Tragically, it is inevitable.

While I am sure that many of the young, misguided activists involved believe that they are innovative and trailblazing, they could sit down with the thousands of Jews that the Maccabees had to fight so many hundreds of years ago and hear the power of their hindsight. They might wring their heart upon learning just how wrong  dangerously wrong  they are, but should this scenario actually be able to take place, they would rightfully turn to us and ask: Why didnt you teach us to know better? And they would be right.

I have every faith that the cloud-storage contract will move forward as planned. And should Google and Amazon not merit working with Israel, another company will. Even if Israel has to build its own storage or contract with a smaller David instead of a Goliath, someone else will make that money and help Israel continue to be a source of good. It may take longer, but it will happen.

Sadly, it may be too late to bring any kind of understanding to many of those who signed this petition or to their peers. It is Judaisms core values that are the true path to justice, righteousness and human dignity, and the path to actually end oppression in the world.

But it is never too late for those who will come next. And when they turn to us and ask why we didnt teach them to know better, what will our answer be?

As a Jewish community, we have to wake up and deal with the situation as the emergency that it is. We must connect the attacks on Israel, the attacks on Jews, the embarrassment in public and in private, in admitting one is a Jew in America today as the urgent, threatening state that it is. We cannot continue to ignore the lack of Jewish literacy and the growing antisemitism coming at us, even and especially from our own brothers and sisters.

Its not only that our own are turning on their Jewish family. Its not only that the Jewish peoples homeland faces daily attacks from our own. All of this is true. But we are also failing those who are choosing to attack us, and we have the power to bring change.

Rabbi Steven Burg is the CEO of Aish and on the board of governors of the Jewish Agency.
By

(JNS)  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, got himself into an unfortunate mess during the COP26 conference on climate change held in Glasgow, Scotland.

After he claimed that politicians who failed to take the necessary action to halt climate change would be viewed in an even worse light than those who had ignored the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, he was asked whether that meant failure to act on climate change would be worse than allowing genocide to happen.

He replied: It will allow a genocide on an infinitely greater scale. Im not sure theres grades of genocide, but theres width of genocide, and this will be genocide indirectly, by negligence, recklessness, that will in the end come back to us or to our children and grandchildren.

Hit by an outcry that his comparison was outrageous and diminished the genocide of the Jews, the archbishop hastily retracted and made a fulsome apology.

His grossly inappropriate comparison illustrated the way in which the climate issue has unbalanced people so that they lose all sense of proportion. This is because a global hysteria has developed over a seemingly unbroken public narrative, which holds that the world is heading for apocalyptic destruction through man-made global warming caused by an increase in CO2 emissions.

In Israel, 20 rabbis signed a letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett voicing their concern that climate change was among the most critical issues facing humanity. One of them, Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, wrote: A warming globe is becoming more dangerous almost by the day  this is entirely an issue of pikuach nefesh: literally a matter of life and death.

Many Jews were accordingly pleased that Bennett supported the COP26 goals and committed Israel to bring down carbon emissions. Cynics might say he used COP26 to posture as a world statesman, but there is no reason to assume that he doesnt also believe in the cause.

Such unanimity among the worlds movers and shakers has led many to assume that no voices are raised against this dire prognosis because there is no argument to be had. The science, we have been told, is settled. Some 97 percent of the worlds scientists reportedly agree with the man-made global warming hypothesis.

However, this isnt true. Science is never settled about anything, and the 97 percent of all scientists claim is based on a wild misinterpretation of the evidence.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of scientists  among them some of the most eminent in their fields  who have said that this alarmism is unjustified, and that there is no reputable evidence to support it.

All of this will shock many people for whom climate change is the most important challenge of our times. For the vast majority of such folk, wanting to fight climate change is testimony to their innate decency and sense of social responsibility. After all, isnt it a duty to look after our environment and the natural world?

Indeed, it is. Judaism holds very strongly that humanity should steward the earth and protect its resources. Pollution is something we should all fight against, along with deforestation and reductions in biodiversity, while promoting clean air and clean water.

But when it comes to catastrophic man-made global warming theory, the evidence just isnt there to support it. Current global temperature fluctuations are within normal historic climate patterns. As for predicting future climate behavior, this is a fools errand.

The bloodcurdling predictions of apocalyptic global warming are mostly derived from computer modeling. But climate is a vastly complex, chaotic, non-linear system that cannot be predicted.

The global temperature measurements brought to support the modeling predictions are wildly inaccurate and contradictory. And some scientistsacting more like ideological zealotshave manipulated the available data to suppress evidence that contradicts the theory.

Contrary to current claims, extreme weather events arent occurring more frequently. Sea level has been increasing by about 8 inches per century for hundreds of years, and at most coastal locations this is primarily due to changes in land level associated with tectonics and land use.

The Antarctic interior recorded its coldest April-to-September this year since records began in 1957. It was also the stations second coldest winter (June, July and August) on record, with an average seasonal temperature 3.4 degrees C below the average for winter recorded from 1881-2010.

Climate change dogma holds that rising CO2 levels inescapably push up global temperatures. But these temperatures have actually been flat-lining for the past seven years. Globally, its actually cooler now than it was in 2015. This undermines the entire theory.

One of the worlds most distinguished meteorologists, professor Richard Lindzen, has said that not only does the data show no trend towards extreme temperatures, but the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change agrees there is no evident trend. In a lecture in 2018, Lindzen said: Some of the claims, such as those relating to weather extremes, contradict what both physical theory and empirical data show.  An implausible conjecture backed by false evidence and repeated incessantly has become politically correct knowledge, and is used to promote the overturn of industrial civilization.

So what lies behind it?

Partly, its an attempt to destroy the primacy of the West by rolling back capitalism. At a deeper level, its the result of a loss of confidence in humanity resulting from the Wests progressive junking of biblical religion.

For although many Jews support the green movement, it actually repudiates Judaism by explicitly aiming to dethrone humankind from the pedestal upon which it is placed in the book of Genesis.

Far from having roots in enlightened thinking, it has a very dark history. The desire to call a halt to dehumanizing modernity and return instead to an organic harmony with the natural world was a creed adopted by the Nazis, who accordingly fixated on organic food, personal health and animal welfare.

The modern environmental movement sprang in turn from the dread of overpopulation that had led to eugenics. After being discredited through its role in Nazism, this went underground  and emerged in the 1970s repackaged as ecology.

From the 1970s onwards, neo-fascist extremists began to repackage the old ideology of Aryan racism and power in new cultic guises involving esotericism and eastern religions. This created an extraordinary alliance between neo-Nazi doctrines and radical left-wing, anti-capitalist and New Age ideas.

But the public never hears any of this. Speaking in such terms is career suicide for university scientists. As Lindzen has observed, scientists working in climate-related fields simply dont get grant funding unless their research bolsters the theory.

Paganism, of course, is fundamentally anti-Judaism and anti-Jew. Despite being supported by many believing Jews and Christians, climate-change dogma embodies a Western world that has repudiated the Hebrew Bible for paganism. Go figure.

Those Jews and Christians who have signed up to the dogma of catastrophic climate change, along with other anti-Western ideologies, need to wake up fast from their neo-pagan trance.

Melanie Phillips, a British journalist, broadcaster and author, writes a weekly column for JNS. Currently a columnist for The Times of London, her personal and political memoir, Guardian Angel, has been published by Bombardier, which also published her first novel, The Legacy. Go to melaniephillips.substack.com to access her work.
(JNS)  It is frustrating to realize that even after two successive administrations (those of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his successor, Joe Biden) have recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel  and the latter confirmed that the U.S. embassy, which the former moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, would remain there  the State Department is still flirting with the concept of locating what amounts to a symbolic consulate to the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem.

This misguided effort is being pursued despite all the progress made since the recognition, in accordance with U.S. law, of Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, including the momentous Abraham Accords.

Moreover, the Oslo II Accord, signed in Washington D.C. on Sept. 28, 1995, and witnessed by then-U.S. President Bill Clinton, among others, expressly prohibits establishing a consulate for the P.A.

Article IX, Section 5a of the Oslo II Accord provides that the P.A.  will not have powers and responsibilities in the sphere of foreign relations, which sphere includes the establishment abroad of embassies, consulates or other types of foreign missions and posts or permitting their establishment in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, the appointment of or admission of diplomatic and consular staff, and the exercise of diplomatic functions.

Why would the State Department seek to induce a breach of Oslo II, the very basis of the two-state solution for which it so fervently advocates? Furthermore, its hard to imagine why anyone other than a dilettante would insist on opening a consulate dedicated to serving the P.A. in the heart of Jerusalem, in what amounts to a foreign country?

Incredibly, it would appear that the proposed consulate is intended to serve only the non-Jewish residents that the P.A. governs in the areas of Judea and Samaria that it controls. The approximately 60,000 U.S. citizens who live in Judea and Samaria (including parts of Jerusalem beyond the so-called Green Line), who are Jewish, would effectively be excluded.

Aside from this being invidious discrimination of the most sordid variety, why would the U.S. actually reward the P.A. for being judenrein  cleansed of Jews  even to the point that it imprisons Palestinians convicted of violating its noxious laws prohibiting the sale of land to a Jew? Is this Jim Crow-like paradigm the State Departments new policy of choice?

Consider, too, the anomalous character of this initiative. Last year, Congress passed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act, requiring the U.S. open a consulate in Tibet. Yet, to this day, there is no consulate in China-occupied Tibet serving Tibetans. Nor, for that matter, is there a consulate in Turkey serving only the Kurds; in China serving only the Uyghur Muslims; or in Myanmar serving only the Rohingya Muslims.

This is understandable, given that Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations requires that the consent of the receiving state be obtained before any such consulate is established. Presumably, the above states either didnt give such consent, or a request was never made, due to an anticipated negative reaction.

Why, then, the double standard when it comes to Israel? Given that Israel has repeatedly said no, shouldnt this end the discussion? Indeed, it is reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Jerusalem shouldnt host diplomatic missions that arent to and for Israel. He also argued that reopening the consulate would send the wrong message to the Palestinians.

Its worth adding here that it would also send the wrong message to the world. Since the abrupt and undignified U.S. exit from Afghanistan in August, trust in American commitments has been eroding. Just reflect on the temerity of Chinas brazen and provocative incursions in Taiwanese airspace in the aftermath of the withdrawal.

In this regard, the Trump administrations recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was tangible proof that the U.S. could be counted on to be a loyal friend and ally. The mixed messaging of prior administrations, which sought to flirt with everyone, had created a perception that it was not a genuine friend to anyone.

This new consular initiative, devoid of any practical utility, is all-too-reminiscent of the misadventures of the past. Lets be clear: Despite Bidens declaration that the U.S. embassy would remain in Jerusalem, there suddenly appears to be some ambiguity on the subject of Jerusalem. No such equivocation is legally proper or desirable, however.

In 1995, Congress, virtually unanimously, passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act. It provides that Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected, and that it should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel.

It took the efforts of many enlightened members of the Senate and House of Representatives, including Senator Jon Kyl (now retired) and then-Rep. Ron DeSantis (now governor of Florida), interested in doing what was right and just, to bring this vision of U.S. recognition of an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel to fruition.

It was Trump who finally determined to end the useless and counterproductive practice of presidential waivers and issued the executive branchs formal recognition of an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the embassy there.

Its now indisputably U.S. law that an undivided Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. This new attempt to infringe on the sovereign status of Jerusalem as an integral part of Israel and thereby diminish its legitimacy is baffling.

Why engage in frivolous machinations like setting up a symbolic consulate in Jerusalem to service a foreign non-state? Besides being an absurd and irresponsible way of making a point, its also illegal under U.S. and international law. It also flies in the face of the sentiment of the current Senate, which by an overwhelming, nearly unanimous, vote (97 to 3), reaffirmed that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Yet, the State Department doyens insist on this kind of game playing and resort to cunning ploys, as a means of expressing their continued adherence to failed policies that should have been discarded long ago.

Israel is a loyal friend and vital strategic ally of the U.S. Diminishing it or sending mixed signals serves no useful purpose; it only tarnishes the prestige of the U.S.

Its time to end this unrealistic and dangerous ploy. There is no genuinely rational or constructive reason to impinge on the legitimacy of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Indeed, as history has demonstrated in no uncertain terms, this kind of ambivalent policy only causes confusion and raises unrealistic expectations that serve to prevent, not enhance, the prospects for peace.

Farley Weiss, former president of the National Council of Young Israel, is an intellectual property attorney for the law firm of Weiss & Moy. The views expressed are the authors, and not necessarily representative of NCYI.

Leonard Grunstein, a retired attorney and banker, founded and served as chairman of Metropolitan National Bank and Israel Discount Bank of New York. He also founded Project Ezrah and serves on the Board of Revel at Yeshiva University and the AIPAC National Council.
Veteran forward Rudy Gay, who signed a three-year contract with the Jazz in the offseason, is set to make his debut with the team. Utah announced today (via Twitter) that Gay will be available for Thursdays contest vs. the Raptors.

Gay, 35, received a deal worth the full taxpayer mid-level exception this summer after spending the last four seasons in San Antonio. He averaged 11.4 PPG and 4.8 RPG on .420/.381/.804 shooting in 63 games (21.6 MPG) last season before undergoing offseason surgery on his right heel. The Jazz were aware of that procedure when they agreed to sign him.

Well have to wait to see exactly how Gay fits into Utahs rotation, but the club envisions him as a player who can create his own shot on offense and match up with bigger opposing forwards on defense. Hell likely be eased into action in a limited role off the bench.
Reopening

18 November 2021

The Jaffa, a Luxury Collection hotel, welcomes back international guests with the reopening of Israel to international tourism after 18 months of closure. Visitors from all over the world can re-discover this one-of-a-kind, award-winning hotel which combines 4,000 years of history, landmark architecture, and contemporary luxury hospitality.

The Jaffa Hotel and Residences are situated in the 4,000-year-old port city of Jaffa, which is part of Tel Aviv's municipality and one of the most vibrant neighborhoods of this celebrated city. Located at the historic 19th century neo-Roman, former French hospital and monastery, The Jaffa has been fully restored by British architectural designer John Pawson and local Israeli conservationist and architect Ramy Gill. Led by Aby Rosen, co-founder, and owner of RFR Holding LLC, the neo-classical building was lovingly restored for over a decade, maintaining the raw, untouched surfaces. To preserve the building's history, the new building has been seamlessly adjoined with the original, resulting in amazing features, such as a 13th century Crusader's bastion wall snaking through the modernist lobby.

Since its opening in 2018, the hotel has won numerous awards including being named one of best hotels in the Middle East and in the country by Conde Nast Traveller's 2021 'Gold List', best new hotel around the world by Travel + Leisure's 'It List', TIME's world's greatest places, among other leading hoThe Jaffa offers 120 hotel rooms and suites, 32 luxury residences and a roster of impressive amenities. These include an outdoor pool and sundeck, L. Raphael spa, 24/7 state-of-the-art fitness center, Golda's restaurant, Shesh Besh bar and lounge, lobby boutique, and The Chapel event space.tel and design accolades.
Now Open

18 November 2021

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NSYE: H) today celebrated the opening of Hyatt Place Allentown / Lehigh Valley and Hyatt House Allentown / Lehigh Valley, the area's first dual-branded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House project. Situated on Route 222 (Fred Jaindl Memorial Highway) near Hamilton Crossings, Dorney Park, and the new Air Products global headquarters, these new hotels offer guests an approachable yet elevated experience in a convenient location. The opening of these hotels thoughtfully expand the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands' footprint in a market that matters to guests and World of Hyatt members.

The dual-branded project features the Aster event center with 5,900 square feet of meeting and event space, expertly designed for weddings and catered events. The properties also boast extensive indoor and outdoor seating areas with a firepit and grilling area, sundeck, and outdoor dining areas. The ground-level offers a 24-hour fitness center, a 2,400 sq. ft. pool area, and the 24/7 H market with grab-and-go options. Westside Grill, the properties' onsite signature restaurant serving lunch and dinner daily features craft cocktails and exceptional steaks and seafood paired with intentional and personal service. A complimentary breakfast is also offered daily. The hotels were developed and are owned by the Jaindl Land Company and operated by TKo Hospitality.

Hyatt Place Allentown Lehigh Valley offers the following amenities:

109 spacious guestrooms with separate spaces to sleep, work, and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper

with separate spaces to sleep, work, and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and guestrooms

throughout the hotel and guestrooms Complimentary breakfast for guests

for guests Event spaces with 5,900 square feet of flexible meeting/function space

with 5,900 square feet of flexible meeting/function space Fitness Center featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens and complimentary ear buds

featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens and complimentary ear buds Necessities program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow, or enjoy for free

Hyatt House Allentown Lehigh Valley offers the following amenities:

96 guestrooms (studio and one-bedroom suites) featuring fully equipped kitchens, comfortable living areas and complimentary skin and haircare amenities

featuring fully equipped kitchens, comfortable living areas and complimentary skin and haircare amenities Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and guestrooms

throughout the hotel and guestrooms Complimentary breakfast for guests

for guests The Gathering Room , a comfy lounge with an open and welcoming space for guests to relax, gather and socialize, and an outdoor area with comfortable seating and firepit

, a comfy lounge with an open and welcoming space for guests to relax, gather and socialize, and an outdoor area with comfortable seating and firepit 24-hour Workout Room to keep fitness routines going

to keep fitness routines going Borrows Menu with often-forgotten items from phone chargers to razors

Additional conveniences available at both properties include a 24-hour guest laundry and a pet-friendly policy that welcomes furry companions. For more information or to book a stay at Hyatt Place Allentown / Lehigh Valley or Hyatt House Allentown / Lehigh Valley, please visit hyattplace.com and hyatthouse.com or call 610-387-1000.

Guided by its purpose of care, Hyatt's multi-layered Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment further enhances its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. More information on Hyatt's commitment can be found here: hyatt.com/care-and-cleanliness
Appointment

18 November 2021

Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Robert R. Mallia to Vice President of Architecture and Construction. Mallia has been with the company for 10 years.

As Vice President, Mallia will oversee architecture and construction planning efforts for all Dream Hotel Group properties worldwide. His key areas of focus include pre-construction drawings, programming review, building codes, zoning analysis, monitoring construction and renovation budgets, schedules, procurement, overseas sourcing and quality control, construction contract review and, ultimately, the successful handover of the project at hand.

Mallia joined Dream Hotel Group as Architectural Director in 2011, bringing a depth of knowledge and global expertise to the company. Prior to Dream, he was engaged at Manhattan-based architectural firm WQB Architecture PLLC, working on numerous hospitality and residential projects around the world, including the first location of Dream Hotel Group's five-star luxury brand, the Thierry W. Despont-led reimagining of the Lambs Club into The Chatwal New York, with Mallia as Architectural Project Manager.

Having lived and worked in Australia, Malta, Belgium, and the United States, Mallia approaches his work with a global view that enhances his ability to adopt and grasp the circumstances and complexities of projects both within and outside of the company's core domestic market. During his 10-year tenure with Dream Hotel Group, he has overseen multiple construction and renovation projects at all of the group's New York properties, as well as the pre-construction stages on hotels further afield in California, Texas and Belgium.

Robert R. Mallia holds bachelor's degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering from his native Malta and a master's degree in Construction Management from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He is a registered architect in the State of New York and a member of the American Institute of Architects.
Appointment

18 November 2021

Born and bred in nearby Nha Trang, Giang graduated from Nha Trang University with a major in food processing and started her career in 2004 as a waitress at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, where she steadily climbed the career ladder over a decade to become a food and beverage manager. She has also worked for Vinpearl Land and Mia Resort in Nha Trang, and was the food and beverage director at The Anam and then Alma. She was promoted to executive assistant manager of F&B last year.

In her new role, the resort's executive chef, executive assistant manager of rooms, assistant director of F&B and the recreation manager report to her.
Supplier News

17 November 2021

Today, Knowland, the worlds leading provider of data-as-a-service insights on meetings and events for hospitality, and ConferenceDirect, a full service in-person, virtual, and hybrid meeting solution company, announced the results of a survey entitled, 2021 Planner Survey: The State of the Meetings Industry, designed to help industry professionals understand the current state of recovery from the meeting and event managers perspectives, including what they expect and plan to prioritize as the industry accelerates towards recovery in 2022.

Download the 2021 Meeting Planner Survey: The State of the Meetings Industry here.

Despite the drastic changes in the meetings and events business during the past 18 months, people across industries and geographies are ready to return to face-to-face meetings. While hoteliers welcome an uptick in business, they also face various challenges. These include uncertain budgets, the ability to respond to short booking windows, and staff shortages at hotels/venues causing lower service levels. Regardless of these challenges, meetings are moving forward.

Highlights from the survey include:

65 percent of meeting planner respondents have meetings booked in the 4 th quarter of 2021.

quarter of 2021. 60 percent of planners do not expect to cancel or postpone meetings in 2022.

48 percent of planners expect to have the same number of events in 2022 as in 2019.

Kristi White, chief product officer, Knowland, said: Knowland data continues to indicate that in-person meetings are coming back. While these events may not look the same thanks to new processes and social protocols, we can expect a pre-pandemic level of bookings soon. In fact, meeting volume in the U.S. has multiple consecutive months of strong double-digit growth. To that end, hoteliers should look to prioritize sales staffing and training efforts to enable them to handle the coming demand.

Larry Hanson, chief marketing officer, ConferenceDirect said: Meeting planners have continued to evolve and redefine what is possible with events through the latest digital technologies. While they are concerned about constrained budgets and the impact of staff shortages on servicing their meetings, respondents expect in-person meetings to dominate 2022 with approximately 80% of events being face-to-face.

About ConferenceDirect

Based in Folsom, California, ConferenceDirect is a full-service global meetings solution company whose portfolio of services includes: Virtual/Hybrid Meetings, Site Selection & Contract Negotiation, Conference Management, Housing & Registration Services, Event Technology, Strategic Meetings Management Programs, Incentive Programs, Cruise Services and Marketing Support. Our 450+ Associates manage over 13,000 meetings, conferences, and events for more than 4400 customers. For more information, visit www.conferencedirect.com.
Press Release

18 November 2021

The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union included tourism on its programme of work, recognizing the sectors heightened relevance and importance for inclusive, post-pandemic recovery. Addressing the Ministers, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commended European leaders for protecting tourism jobs and businesses, and for playing a leading role in restoring confidence in international travel through harmonized rules and protocols and the introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

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At the same time, the Secretary-General also provided the EU Ministers with an overview of UNWTOs own work leading the sectors response to the crisis, as well as more recent achievements advancing tourisms climate action. Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, played an active role in the UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee, created to unite the sector and provide clear, harmonized recommendations for recovery, and has also visited the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid for face-to-face talks with the Secretary-General.

Strengthening ties

This latest intervention further strengthens the ties between UNWTO and the European Institutions, building on the work done prior to the pandemic. In February 2020, the UNWTO leadership visited Brussels. As well as addressing the European Parliament, Secretary-General Pololikashvili also met with Ministers and Secretaries of State for tourism of European Countries, making clear the role the sector can play in driving inclusive growth across the region and in advancing the ambitions of the European Green Deal. More recently, the UNWTO leadership returned to Brussels in October, with a more in-depth agenda focusing on tourisms place in recovery and future growth for European economies and societies.

Following on from the informal meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Tourism, UNWTO also took part in the 20th European Tourism Forum, also held against the backdrop of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Europes Tourism Ministers will then be part of the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain, 30 November to 3 December.

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Press Release

18 November 2021

NEW YORK  Highline Hospitality Partners (HHP), the hospitality investment platform launched by Highline Real Estate Partners (HREP), has added its fifth property with the off-market acquisition of the 218-room Salt Lake City Marriott University Park and has tapped Stepstone Hospitality to manage the property.

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Highline Hospitality Partners' team has over 60 years of combined experience across sourcing, purchasing, asset-managing, renovating, repositioning, and selling hospital ity properties and has operated all classes of hotels.

"We are pleased to add the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park to our growing portfolio," said Highline Hospitality Partners Managing Partner, Chuck Pomerantz. "With the propertys unparalleled location adjacent to the University of Utah, and easy access to Salt Lake Place Convention Center as well as six major ski resorts, we look forward to many years of success with this exceptional property.

The Salt Lake City Marriott University Park offers impressive mountain and city views with 218 guestrooms and easy access to downtown, the University of Utah, and Rice-Eccles Stadium. The property provides smart, stylish lodging for business and leisure travelers alike. HHP plans a comprehensive and innovative renovation of the guestrooms and public space over the next 24 months.

The hotel boasts two on-site dining options, Thistle & Thyme, featuring eclectic American Comfort Food, and Wak ara Bar, offering local draft beers and craft cocktails. Additional amenities include the M Club lounge, free parking, Starbucks, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and 11 event spaces with customizable business and A/V services. In addition, the hotel is located only a short walk from TRAX, downtowns above-ground trolley.

Salt Lake City Marriott University Park is located at 480 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. For more information and reservations, please click here.
Press Release

18 November 2021

Thailands pristine beaches and resorts recently reopened to tourists for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, spurring a shot of optimism for the hotel sector in the country and beyond.

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The tourism-reliant economy reopened its borders to international travel this month, waiving mandatory quarantine measures for travellers from more than 60 countries and territories.

Authorities are expecting a slow recovery, with 10 to 15 million visitors expected in 2022, down from some 40 million before the pandemic in 2019. Still, its being taken as a positive sign for the hotel investors hunting for opportunities amid pent-up demand, says Mike Batchelor, CEO, Asia Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.

Thailand has been Southeast Asias most active investment sales destination this year, he says. The projected recovery in leisure demand, following the recent reopening, is a timely boost of confidence for investors that the tide is finally turning in the pandemic.

Last year hotel investment dipped alongside other real estate sectors amid general caution around the global economy. But signs of recovery pushed up investment volumes globally in the first nine months of this year.

In APAC, hotel investment volumes are expected to cross US$7 billion this year and US$9 billion in 2022, compared to US$14 billion in 2019, according to JLLs Hotel Investment Highlights 2H21 report.

The Asia Pacific hotels industry is well primed for an investment resurgence that will gather momentum in 2022, Batchelor says. While Covid-19 will continue to impact the industry and influence capital deployment, investors are increasingly viewing the current environment as an opportunistic time to get deals done.

One of the largest deals recorded in the region this year was Kintetsu Group Holdings US$550 million sale of eight Japanese hotels to US investment fund Blackstone Group.

Resurgence in key resort markets

While the top three markets  China, Japan, and Australia  accounted for more than two-thirds of transactions in Asia Pacific this year, leisure travel destinations such as Thailand and Maldives are also seeing an upswing in interest from investors looking to take advantage of the post-Covid travel recovery.

In October, Hawaii-based premier beach-resort brand Outrigger Hospitality Group acquired three beach resorts under Manathai Hotels & Resorts in Thailand to expand its portfolio in the Asia-Pacific region.

Within the same month, Italy-based luxury resort group Emerald Collection extended its investment foray in Asia Pacific with its purchase of the Faarufushi Maldives resort from Maldivian hospitality operator Universal Enterprises.

In our interactions, buyers are viewing the external backdrop as the start of a new investment cycle for the hotels space, says Nihat Ercan, Senior Managing Director, Head of Investment Sales, Asia Pacific, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group.

Global private equity players, as well as corporate and high net worth (HNW) investors from the Middle East, have become more engaged in leisure travel destination markets, based on JLLs research.

Tourism, new cross-border capital driving investments

An influx of cross-border capital is often coming from new investors with little prior exposure to the real estate sector, including family offices and groups from Europe and the Middle East. Recent research showed that 87 percent of European institutional investors expect to increase their allocation to Asia Pacific real estate sector over the next two years.

And signs suggest the growth is underway. Thailand emerged as one of the top locations in the region alongside Australia and Japan, with record amounts of foreign capital raised for real estate investment this year, according to JLL.

As for Thailands November reopening, the news is turning interest toward the countrys popular beach destinations such as Ko Samui and Phuket, which piloted a sandbox program to resume international tourism in July.

The relaxation of travel curbs in Thailand, where tourism accounted for one-fifth of its GDP pre-pandemic, comes at an opportune moment ahead of the year-end holidays when more international travellers are expected to set foot in the Southeast Asian nation.

JLL estimates that hotel investments in the country are on track to reach US$300 million in 2022, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 400 percent.

"Finally, hoteliers see the light at the end of the tunnel and are eager and excited for the opening," says Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, president of the Thai Hotels Association. There is now hope, not just for owners and operators, but for the employees as well.
Press Release

18 November 2021

Key Takeaways

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Airbnb has remitted over $4bn in tourist taxes globally.

Changing travel trends mean EU stays and taxes remitted are distributed more widely across the EU than ever before.

Airbnb wants to collaborate with more authorities to make tourist tax simple for everyone.

Photo: Airbnb

Airbnb has today said that it wants to work with more EU Member States and tax authorities to automate the collecting and remitting of tourist taxes, making it easier for more European communities and authorities to benefit from the travel revolution on Airbnb. The announcement comes as Airbnb highlights today for the first time that it has collected and remitted more than 315 million ($365 million) in tourist taxes across the EU, and follows news that Airbnb has collected and remitted more than $4 billion in tourist taxes globally.

Travel on Airbnb can often be subject to tourist tax and collaborations with authorities across the EU make the process simple for everyone by automating the collecting and remitting of tourist taxes from guests on behalf of hosts. Airbnb first began collecting and remitting tourist taxes in the EU in Amsterdam in 2014 and now has agreements with cities and regions in 15 out of 18 EU Member States where tourist tax is applied, including Amsterdam, Florence, Lisbon and Milan, and generalised collection in France that covers more than 29,000 cities.

Changing travel trends and the dispersal of tourism are helping distribute the economics generated by travel on Airbnb  including tourist taxes  more widely across the EU than ever before. In 2019, the top ten EU recipients of tourist taxes remitted by Airbnb accounted for the majority of all tourist taxes remitted in the region, but in 2021 the top 10 recipients account for a significantly lower share of all tourist taxes remitted by Airbnb in the EU. Almost 60 percent of overnight stays in the EU in the first half of 2021 were in less populated areas, compared to nearly 40 percent of overnight stays in the first half of 2019. Top markets for 2021 globally include Sicily, Var, Pyrenees Atlantique, and Vaucluse. There were more nights stayed in Costa Blanca than in Madrid, more in the Algarve than in Lisbon.

To further support the redistribution of benefits generated by changing travel trends, Airbnb has today issued a collaboration offer across the EU in the hope of securing more comprehensive tourist tax partnerships to make tourist tax simple for more Europeans and tax authorities. Airbnb also pledges to continue to lead the industry on working with governments across Europe to secure smart, cross-industry frameworks that apply to the entire short-term rental sector.

Tourism is one of Europes greatest natural resources and Airbnb helps local families, communities and authorities keep the economics that generates for themselves. Our collaborations in Europe have already automated the collecting and remitting of over 315 million in EU tourist tax revenues. As the travel revolution on Airbnb helps disperse the benefits of travel to more people than ever before, we want to work with more governments and tax authorities to help make tax simple for more Europeans and European tax authorities.

Chris Lehane, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Communications

Read more about: Taxes
Press Release

18 November 2021

According to the Q3 2021 Middle East Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics (LE), at the end of the quarter, the hotel construction pipeline in the region stands at 545 projects/168,042 rooms. While the number of total pipeline projects has increased over the previous quarter, project counts are down 6% and room counts are down 19% year-over-year (YOY).

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Projects presently under construction stand at 350 projects/108,244 rooms, down slightly by 3% by projects and 8% by rooms YOY. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months are down 8% by projects and 10% by rooms YOY to end the third quarter at 78 projects/18,682 rooms. Projects in the early planning stage are at 117 projects/26,299 rooms.

Approximately eighteen months after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting halt to international travel and tourism, the Middle Easts hospitality industry has been slow to recover. While the regions road to recovery thus far has been longer than originally expected, recent statistics suggest there is a brighter future ahead. A rise in tourism from neighboring countries, over recent months, has provided a much needed boost to the regions travel and tourism sector. This upward trend is expected to continue into 2022, and as more countries open borders to foreign travelers.

Middle Eastern countries with the greatest number of projects in the construction pipeline are Saudi Arabia, with 194 projects/66,885 rooms, and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) with 146 projects/40,846 rooms. Egypt follows with 67 projects/15,892 rooms, then Qatar with 62 projects/14,859 rooms. Continuing to lead the construction pipeline in the U.A.E. is Dubai, with 111 projects/32,369 rooms.

Cities with the largest hotel construction pipelines at the end of Q321 are the Provincial region with 65 projects/13,073 rooms, Riyadh with 52 projects/11,005 rooms, Doha, Qatar reached a cyclical peak with 51 projects/12,282 rooms, Jeddah with 44 projects/8,974 rooms, and Makkah with 33 projects/33,833 rooms. Forty-five percent of the projects in the construction pipeline in the Middle East are found within these five cities.

At the end of the third quarter, forty-seven percent of the projects in the pipeline in the Middle East belong to three leading franchise companies. Hilton Worldwide with 95 projects/24,963 rooms, followed by Accor with 90 projects having 26,052 rooms. Next is Marriott International with 73 projects/21,770 rooms.

At the end of the quarter, the leading brands in the pipeline for these companies are Hiltons DoubleTree with 28 projects/6,366 rooms, and Hilton Hotel & Resort with 19 projects/152 rooms. Accors Novotel follows with 13 projects/4,777 rooms and Ibis brands with 10 projects/3,750 rooms, then Marriotts Courtyard with 16 projects/3,650 rooms and Residence Inn with 9 projects accounting for 1,196 rooms.

Through the third quarter of 2021, the Middle East opened 33 new hotels with 7,987 rooms, but only 7 new hotels accounting for 1,953 rooms opened in the third quarter. LE is forecasting 20 additional new hotel openings with 4,454 rooms by year-end. The LE forecast for new hotel openings anticipates 112 projects/27,376 rooms to open in 2022 and another 119 projects/31,043 rooms are forecasted to open in 2023.
Racial and ethnic disparities in medical treatment are among the worst in the nation in Texas, where Black and Latino populations are less likely to receive preventative care and more likely to have treatment delayed, according to a new study.

Texas ranked in the bottom quarter of the states when it comes to both access to and quality of care for Blacks and Latinos, hinting at deep-seated racial and ethnic health inequities, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a health policy foundation in New York. Blacks and Latinos are also more likely to have worse outcomes from treatment than whites, according to the study.

The study examined access, quality and hospital services used as well as health outcomes for racial and ethnic groups, producing a scorecard that ranked each state. Texas ranked in the 22nd percentile for the health systems treatment of Blacks and Latinos, putting it in the bottom fourth. It ranked in the 63rd percentile for treatment of whites, putting it in the top 40 percent.

The scorecard explores the vital question: are people of color having different experiences than white people in the same health system? said Dr. David Blumenthal, president of The Commonwealth Fund. The answer is almost always yes.

On HoustonChronicle.com: New insurers to enter Texas ACA market, which could help keep costs down

People of color were less likely to receive preventative health care because of long-standing historic and systemic barriers, Commonwealth researchers said They are more likely to have lower incomes and inadequate health insurance, reducing their access to health care. They also are more likely to live in neighborhoods that are far from doctors, hospitals and clinics without transportation to get to medical providers, the study found.

Many of the disparities come from factors that dont even involve the health care system, said Andrea Caracostis, CEO of Hope Clinic, which serves the working poor in southwest Houston. Although access to preventative care is important, she said, so is having safe places to live, enough to eat, and access to healthy food.

If you have a child with asthma, we can treat them, Caracostis said, But if they go back to an apartment with mold, they are going sick again.

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.

About 90 percent of the clinics patients are people of color, Caracostis said, and nearly all struggle to make ends meet, stretching low incomes to pay rent, utilities and grocery bills. In many cases, serious illnesses could have been prevented with regular checkups, she said, but working class families often had more immediate needs that force them to put off medical care.

Our population has different priorities, Caracostis said. Checkups and screenings are not a priority if youre trying to pay bills and keep food on your table.

Even if they do make it to a doctors office, they still might not receive the care needed, some research shows. More than a third of Black and Latino adults nationally report that they or household members who have seen a health care professional or been hospitalized overnight, experienced one or more forms of discrimination, including not being offered the best available treatment and being denied or delayed access to services because of their race, ethnicity, or the language that they speak, according to the report.

Uninsured in Texas

About one in five people in Texas have no health insurance, the highest rate of uninsured in the nation. Among Hispanics in Texas, the uninsured rate is 38 percent, nearly double the state average. About 20 percent of Blacks in Texas are uninsured, compared to 15 percent for whites.

These disparities come as no surprise to Cathy Moore, the executive director of Epiphany Community Health Outreach Services, (ECHOS), a nonprofit that helps families who dont have health insurance and cant afford care. The nonprofit helps people signing up for programs such as Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the poor, or the Gold Card, which provides reduced rates for health services in Harris County.

Moore estimates at least 90 percent of Epiphanys clients are people of color, many of them immigrants. Before the pandemic, Epiphany each day would serve 60 to 90 people, who would start lining up outside the office at 5 a.m.

Moore said several factors have kept Epiphanys clients from gaining health insurance and access to care, including language barriers, lack of knowledge of programs, such as Medicaid, that might be available to them, and fear that signing up for the benefits will interfere with efforts to gain citizenship.

Maricela Delcid, a community health worker who helps people sign up for programs, said these trends have persisted throughout her seven years working at Epiphany. Even immigrants who have legal status face challenges gathering documents, such as birth certificates, that are required to enroll in benefits programs. In many cases, obtaining the documents entail paying fees, putting more pressure on tight budgets.

In addition, they often must wait for documents to arrive, forcing them to delay care.

Sometimes people need to see a doctor right away, Delcid said. But its taking longer than it should for them to get documents they need.

Gray area

Many people are also left in a gray area of the health care system. They earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cant afford polices sold through the Affordable Care Act markets.

Texas has had the opportunity to close that gap, but lawmakers have repeatedly rejected efforts to expand eligibility for Medicaid to cover a larger segment of the working poor. Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government would pay 90 percent of the cost of the expansion. Texas is one of 12 states that hasnt expanded Medicaid coverage.

There's no question that failure to cover health care services decreases access to those services, said Blumenthal of the Commonwealth Fund. So, Texas does relatively poorly on uninsurance generally, and failure to expand Medicaid is one factor.

becca.carballo@chron.com
Rising oil production in the U.S. and among OPEC+ and its allies will help reduce crude prices next year, according to the Energy Department, but until then, consumers can expect to pay about the same for things like gasoline and natural gas.

In a forecast this week, the department's Energy Information Administration said global crude demand will continue to outstrip supply through the end of the year, further reduce stockpiles of oil and its refined products, and keep the price of global benchmark Brent above $80 per barrel through December.

The U.S. benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, settled 65 cents higher Thursday at $79.01.

After the new year, however, demand will slow, the EIA said, as OPEC+ and the U.S. slowly raise production. The shift will cut oil prices to an average of $72 per barrel during 2022, the Energy Department said, and as low as $66 a barrel by December 2022.

FALLING PRODUCTION THIS YEAR: Falling crude production costs has Biden, environmental groups asking questions

The anticipated decline in demand will follow more than a year of rising consumption after nations began to ease coronavirus-related lockdowns. Global consumption of crude began to rise in the third quarter of 2020, the EIA said.

During those five consecutive quarters of rising demand, petroleum inventories in the 38 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development declined by 424 million barrels, or 13 percent, according to the EIA.

Increased consumption after vaccine rollouts and fiscal restraint on the part of U.S. producers have pushed the price of oil above $80, its highest level since 2014. That in turn has boosted the average price of gasoline in Houston to almost $3 a gallon and to $3.40 a gallon nationally, according to fuel-price tracking website GasBuddy.

The Biden administration has been under pressure to act to suppress rising gasoline prices that are also at the highest levels since 2014. But the report may weaken the argument for a release of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a move that had been seen as the most direct action U.S. President Biden could take to drive down prices, especially after OPEC+ and its allies resisted Bidens calls to bring more crude supplies into the global market.

A White House official said this week that the administration has reviewed the EIA forecast and welcomes news of moderating prices. The White House also said it had nothing to announce in terms of an SPR release, and it continues to engage with OPEC+ on increasing supply.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve holds more than 600 million barrels of crude in underground caverns in Louisiana and Texas for major emergencies. Existing volumes are large enough to replace all the oil that the U.S. imports from OPEC and its allies for more than a year.

There is no real reason for an imminent release, said Spencer Vosko, director for crude oil at Black Diamond Commodities LLC. The bigger question here is production. While U.S. shale producers are showing constraint it looks like global supplies could be on the mend.

Bloomberg contributed.
Christus Health, a nonprofit operator of health care facilities, signed a lease to occupy 21,263 square feet at the Brookhollow Central office campus in northwest Houston. John Amini with CBREs Office Occupier team represented the tenant. Brian Strait of Lincoln Property Co. represented the landlord, Hertz Investment Group. Christus will relocate its Houston administrative office from its long-time home at 2707 N. Loop Freeway to Brookhollow Central II at 2900 North Loop West in the second quarter of 2022.

Middle Street Partners purchased Folio West, a 266-unit apartment building at 2525 CityWest Blvd. in Westchase from a joint venture of Patrinely Group and USAA Real Estate. The complex was developed by Patrinely and USAA in 2017. Dustin Selzer, Matt Kafka and Jett Lucia of JLL represented the seller.

Hercules Inc. signed a long-term lease for 111,062 square feet at Park 8, a development of Avera Cos. and AEW Capital Management at the southwest corner of Beltway 8 and Interstate 45 North. Jim Autenreith and Jay Wall III of Moody Rambin represented the tenant. Jason Dillee and Nathan Wynne of CBRE represented Park 8. The remaining 131,698 square feet of the 242,760-square-foot distribution center is occupied by Hellman Worldwide Logistics.

In Baytown, Avera Cos. and AEW Capital Management teamed up to develop Kilgore Grand Parkway, a 522,135 square foot cross-dock building on 33.9 acres along the Grand Parkway at Kilgore Parkway. The project will have a 40-foot clear height and is planned for completion in late 2022. Kelley Parker with Cushman & Wakefield is handling leasing.

Miami-based AHS Residential acquired a 6.6-acre site in Ten Oaks, a development of Houston-based Wolff Cos. at the northwest corner of Park Row and Barker Cypress Road in the Energy Corridor, for the construction of three 12-story apartment buildings totaling 576 units. The site, located across from the west campuses of Houston Methodist and Texas Childrens Hospital near Cullen Park, is the last parcel to be sold in the 83-acre Ten Oaks development, according to Wolff Cos. The project, AHS Residentials first in Houston, will offer one, two, and three-bedroom units.

Be A Champion, a provider of services for under-privileged youth through sports, education and nutrition programs, leased 18,004 square feet of office space at 7155 Old Katy, suite 270. Ryan King of MHW Brokerage Services represented the tenant. Daniel Hollek and Simon Ha of Braun Enterprises represented the landlord, Old Katy TIC.

Tomball Best Food purchased Stone Gate Center, a 11,625-square-foot shopping center at 11700 Barker Cypress Road in Cypress. Todd Moore of Colliers represented the seller, Swingstar Corp. Dawn Askew of Republic Central Realty represented the buyer.

7Now leased 13,000 square feet at 5123 Glenmont Drive. Eric Broussard of Resolut RE represented the tenant.

Limestone Commercial Real Estate, a brokerage group founded by Brandi McDonald Sikes in 2017, has joined with SVN | J. Beard Real Estate - Greater Houston. McDonald Sikes will serve as senior adviser and principal in the Houston office, working with Jeff Beard, managing director of SVN | J. Beard Real Estate - Greater Houston. Limestone will be known as SVN | J. Beard Real Estate.

ADBA Group, an electronics and appliance company, signed a 147,595-square-foot lease at Southwest Commerce Center, at 611 S. Cravens in Missouri City. Brian Gammill, Darryl Noon and Jude Filippone of Transwestern represented the landlord. Will Austin of Bridge Commercial Real Estate represented the tenant.

Timeless Skin Care leased 19,200 square feet at Beltway Distribution Center, at 9330 W. Airport Blvd. Boone Smith and Andrew Littlefield of Stream Realty Partners represented the tenant.

Recover America Now expanded into 2,236 square feet at 15311 W. Vantage Parkway. Thomas Emde represented the landlord, Hartman Income REIT.

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The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art today announced plans for a significant expansion project. The visionary art space and organization acquired a 5.7-acre property four years ago that included a 31,000 square foot mid-century building. When the project is complete, the Orange Show's campus will cover an eight-acre footprint celebrating creativity and creation.

The new campus -- designed by Rogers Partners -- will give the OSCVA room to display some of its most beloved vehicles from the Art Car parade, which could be viewed only during the annual parade. Among the attributes touted is an 800-foot ramp that courses through the campus taking visitors past art cars and an open workshop.

"There will be this part of it that focuses on art cars and support for the artist community," says Tommy Ralph Pace, executive director at OSCVA. "But I think even those who feel like they don't understand art can step over that barrier visiting here. It's a place you will be able to get lost for hours."

Pace says "it's a little early" to confirm an opening date for the new space. But he calls 2026 "a rough goal."

"We really rang in our 40th anniversary in a big way and there was so much enthusiasm, we couldn't pass on the opportunity to let people know about this."

The OSCVA expansion speaks to the vision of one man in particular, who believed in an artistic vision. Jefferson Davis McKissack was a Georgia native, who drove an orange truck in his home state during the Great Depression. He studied both welding and cosmetology before moving to Houston in the 1940s, where he worked as a mail carrier. Starting in the 1950s, McKissack spent decades scavenging construction detritus which he turned into an immersive and expansive 3,000 square foot tribute to the fruit he loved so dearly.

McKissack's glorious totem was completed in May 1979, and he died eight months later. But preservationists saw it as a crucial piece of Houston history that needed to be saved. The Orange Show Monument would be a seed that grew into the Orange Show Foundation and later the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, which true to its name offered space and inspiration for artists with, well, a vision, for more than 40 years.

Though OSCVA is most identified with the bright landmark, the organization's work has spread across the city notably through the annual Art Car Parade. Other Orange Show sites include John Milkovisch's Beer Can House, another decades-spanning labor love completed in 1968, as well as Smither Park. The park is adjacent to the OSCVA and the Orange Show Monument, and includes a mosaic park that features the work of hundreds of local and regional artists.

The OSVCA expansion also pushes the campus to where it flows into another green space, Fonde Park.

"With the new space our mission will be the same," Pace says. "To celebrate the artist in everyone. We think the new campus will allow us to increase the scope of that view."
Court documents show the victim in a homicide-by-car case named her former boyfriend as the Cadillac-driving assailant before she died and that the alleged killer reportedly admitted the crime to a friend.

Anthony Dwane Moore, 48, of Houston, was charged with murder in an Oct. 18 incident where Laura Martelli, 38, died at HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe after an SUV drove over her around 8:30 a.m. in the Walden Road Xpress Market in Montgomery, charging documents in the case detail.

Martelli, according to a probable cause affidavit, identified Moore as the perpetrator to a Conroe Police Department officer as she lay in the convenience store parking lot and paramedics tended to her injuries. Martelli, the affidavit continues, gave the officer Moores age, his 6-foot-4 height, his 250-pound weight and his address.

On HoustonChronicle.com: $1K reward set for fatal hit and run in Montgomery

The affidavit mentions a woman who was friends with Moore called the the northwest Houston-area Spring Valley Police Department, reporting him going to her house and telling her he killed Martelli by strangling and running her over.

A Conroe Police officer investigating Martellis death that day reviewed surveillance video from the convenience store and fueling station and observed a black Cadillac SUV. Part of a person thought to be Martelli is seen laying on the ground beside the vehicle, which drives in reverse and then forward with its tire striking and dragging the woman before leaving toward Walden Road, according to the affidavit.

Moore was taken into custody the same date as the incident, Conroe PD announced late that night. He has two federal convictions from 2015 for dealing drugs, according to charging documents. He is being held on a $200,000 bond at the Montgomery County Jail in Conroe, jail records show.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Conroe event grows awareness about domestic violence in Montgomery County

Moores attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Martelli, who was originally from Brazil, left behind a 9-year-old daughter, Montgomery County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack previously told The Courier.

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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Years after coming under scrutiny for contributing to ethnic and religious violence in Myanmar, Facebook still has problems detecting and moderating hate speech and misinformation on its platform in the Southeast Asian nation, internal documents viewed by The Associated Press show.

Three years ago, the company commissioned a report that found Facebook was used to foment division and incite offline violence in the country. It pledged to do better and developed several tools and policies to deal with hate speech.

But the breaches have persisted -- and even been exploited by hostile actors -- since the Feb. 1 military takeover this year that resulted in gruesome human rights abuses across the country.

Scrolling through Facebook today, its not hard to find posts threatening murder and rape in Myanmar.

One 2 1/2 minute video posted on Oct. 24 of a supporter of the military calling for violence against opposition groups has garnered over 56,000 views.

So starting from now, we are the god of death for all (of them), the man says in Burmese while looking into the camera. Come tomorrow and lets see if you are real men or gays.

One account posts the home address of a military defector and a photo of his wife. Another post from Oct. 29 includes a photo of soldiers leading bound and blindfolded men down a dirt path. The Burmese caption reads, Dont catch them alive.

Despite the ongoing issues, Facebook saw its operations in Myanmar as both a model to export around the world and an evolving and caustic case. Documents reviewed by AP show Myanmar became a testing ground for new content moderation technology, with the social media giant trialing ways to automate the detection of hate speech and misinformation with varying levels of success.

Facebooks internal discussions on Myanmar were revealed in 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 received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press.

Facebook has had a shorter but more volatile history in Myanmar than in most countries. After decades of censorship under military rule, Myanmar was connected to the internet in 2000. Shortly afterward, Facebook paired with telecom providers in the country, allowing customers to use the platform without needing to pay for the data, which was still expensive at the time. Use of the platform exploded. For many in Myanmar, Facebook became the internet itself.

Htaike Htaike Aung, a Myanmar internet policy advocate, said it also became a hotbed for extremism around 2013, coinciding with religious riots across Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslims. Its unclear how much, if any, content moderation was happening at the time by people or automation.

Htaike Htaike Aung said she met with Facebook that year and laid out issues, including how local organizations were seeing exponential amounts of hate speech on the platform and how its preventive mechanisms, such as reporting posts, didnt work in the Myanmar context.

One example she cited was a photo of a pile of bamboo sticks that was posted with a caption reading, Let us be prepared because theres going to be a riot that is going to happen within the Muslim community.

Htaike Htaike Aung said the photo was reported to Facebook, but the company didnt take it down because it didnt violate any of the companys community standards.

Which is ridiculous because it was actually calling for violence. But Facebook didnt see it that way, she said.

Years later, the lack of moderation caught the attention of the international community. In March 2018, United Nations human rights experts investigating attacks against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority said Facebook had played a role in spreading hate speech.

When asked about Myanmar a month later during a U.S. Senate hearing, CEO Mark Zuckerberg replied that Facebook planned to hire dozens of Burmese speakers to moderate content, would work with civil society groups to identify hate figures and develop new technologies to combat hate speech.

Hate speech is very language specific. Its hard to do it without people who speak the local language and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically, Zuckerberg said.

Information in internal Facebook documents show that while the company did step up efforts to combat hate speech in the country, the tools and strategies to do so never came to full fruition, and individuals within the company repeatedly sounded the alarm. In one document from May 2020, an employee said a hate speech text classifier that was available wasnt being used or maintained. Another document from a month later said there were significant gaps in misinformation detection in Myanmar.

Facebook took symbolic actions I think were designed to mollify policymakers that something was being done and didnt need to look much deeper, said Ronan Lee, a visiting scholar at Queen Mary University of Londons International State Crime Initiative.

In an emailed statement to the AP, Rafael Frankel's, Facebook's director of policy for APAC Emerging Countries, said the platform has built a dedicated team of over 100 Burmese speakers. He declined to state exactly how many were employed. Online marketing company NapoleonCat estimates there are about 28.7 million Facebook users in Myanmar.

During her testimony to the European Union Parliament on Nov. 8, Haugen, the whistleblower, criticized Facebook for a lack of investment in third-party fact-checking, and relying instead on automatic systems to detect harmful content.

If you focus on these automatic systems, they will not work for the most ethnically diverse places in the world, with linguistically diverse places in the world, which are often the most fragile, she said while referring to Myanmar.

After Zuckerbergs 2018 congressional testimony, Facebook developed digital tools to combat hate speech and misinformation and also created a new internal framework to manage crises like Myanmar around the world.

Facebook crafted a list of at-risk countries with ranked tiers for a critical countries team to focus its energy on, and also rated languages needing more content moderation. Myanmar was listed as a Tier 1 at-risk country, with Burmese deemed a priority language alongside Ethiopian languages, Bengali, Arabic and Urdu.

Facebook engineers taught Burmese slang words for Muslims and Rohingya to its automated systems. They also trained systems to detect coordinated inauthentic behavior such as a single person posting from multiple accounts, or coordination between different accounts to post the same content.

The company also tried repeat offender demotion which lessened the impact of posts of users who frequently violated guidelines. In a test in two of the worlds most volatile countries, demotion worked well in Ethiopia, but poorly in Myanmar -- a difference that flummoxed engineers, according to a 2020 report included in the documents.

We arent sure why  but this information provides a starting point for further analysis and user research, the report said. Facebook declined to comment on the record if the problem has been fixed a year after its detection, or about the success of the two tools in Myanmar.

The company also deployed a new tool to reduce the virality of content called reshare depth promotion that boosts content shared by direct contacts, according to an internal 2020 report. This method is content-agnostic and cut viral inflammatory prevalence by 25% and photo misinformation by 48.5%, it said.

Slur detection and demotion were judged effective enough that staffers shared the experience in Myanmar as part of a playbook for acting in other at-risk countries such as Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Pakistan, India, Russia, the Philippines and Egypt.

While these new methods forged in Myanmars civil crises were deployed around the world, documents show that by June 2020 Facebook knew that flaws persisted in its Myanmar safety work.

We found significant gaps in our coverage (especially in Myanmar and Ethiopia), showcasing that our current signals may be inadequate, said an internal audit of the companys integrity coverage. Myanmar was color-coded red with less than 55% coverage: worse than Syria but better than Ethiopia.

Haugen criticized the companys internal policy of acting only once a crisis has begun.

Facebook slows the platform down instead of watching as the temperature gets hotter, and making the platform safer as that happens, she said during testimony to Britains Parliament on Oct. 25.

Frankel, the Facebook spokesperson, said the company has been proactive.

Facebooks approach in Myanmar today is fundamentally different from what it was in 2017, and allegations that we have not invested in safety and security in the country are wrong, Frankel said.

Yet, a September 2021 report by the Myanmar Social Media Insights Project found that posts on Facebook include coordinated targeting of activists, ethnic minorities and journalists - a tactic that has roots in the militarys history. The report also said the military is laundering its propaganda through public pages that claim to be media outlets.

Opposition and pro-military groups have used the encrypted messaging app Telegram to organize two types of propaganda campaigns on Facebook and Twitter, according to an October report shared with the AP by Myanmar Witness, a U.K.-based organization that archives social media posts related to the conflict.

Myanmar is a highly contested information environment, where users working in concert overload Facebooks reporting system to take down others posts, and also spread coordinated misinformation and hate speech, the report said.

In one example, the coordinated networks took video shot in Mexico in 2018 by the Sinaloa cartel of butchered bodies and falsely labeled it as evidence of the opposition killing Myanmar soldiers on June 28, 2021, said Benjamin Strick, director of investigations for Myanmar Witness.

Theres a difficulty in catching it for some of these platforms that are so big and perhaps the teams to look for it are so small that its very hard to catch water when its coming out of a fire hydrant, he said.

The organization also traced the digital footprint of one soldier at the incineration of 160 homes in the village of Thantlang in late October. He posed in body armor on a ledge overlooking burning homes, with a post blaming opposition forces for the destruction in a litany of violent speech.

Facebook "conducted human rights due diligence to understand and address the risks in Myanmar, and banned the military and used technology to reduce the amount of violating content, spokesperson Frankel said.

Yet Myanmar digital rights activists and scholars say Facebook could still take steps to improve, including greater openness about its policies for content moderation, demotion and removal, and acknowledging its responsibilities toward the Myanmar people.

We need to start examining damage that has been done to our communities by platforms like Facebook. They portray that they are a virtual platform, and thus can have lower regulation, said Lee, the visiting scholar. The fact is that there are real-world consequences.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexicos governor named three new advisers Wednesday who will help guide policy on water, broadband and other infrastructure projects.

Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called the announcements a celebration of the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill signed by President Joe Biden on Monday.

New Mexico has one of the worst reviews in terms of the potential for failing dams in the country," Lujan Grisham said. The money coming from the federal government thats been made available in a number of ways means that we can fix all of those dams, 200 of them.

Former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez will serve as the state's new infrastructure adviser to prioritize an estimated $3.7 billion in federal funding for roads, bridges and other projects in New Mexico.

The governor also acknowledged a New Mexico Supreme Court ruling issued Wednesday that will require her to work more closely with the Legislature to allocate federal pandemic relief. The decision could have implications for federal infrastructure spending.

Lujan Grisham also named a new top water official to replace State Engineer John D'Antonio, who will be stepping down next month. In submitting his resignation, D'Antonio cited a persistent lack of funding for his agency and unfunded mandates.

Mike Hamman, who is currently the chief engineer and CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, will take over the state role beginning in January. Hamman also has served as an area manager for the U.S Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees water projects across the West.

Im up for the task the governor has laid at my feet," said Hamman, who will spearhead the state's response to deepening drought and an ongoing legal battle with Texas over management of the Rio Grande.

The governor also named former Illinois Office of Broadband Director Matt Schmit as an adviser to the newly created state broadband office.

Lujan Grisham said he will move to the state soon to advise the office, which has been charged with centralizing New Mexicos sprawling efforts to increase high-speed internet coverage.

___

Attanasio 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 under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter.
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP)  A Rutland City police officer who fatally shot a man inside a McDonald's restaurant in August after a vehicle chase was justified and will not face charges, the Vermont attorney general's office said Wednesday.

Jonathan Daniel Mansilla, 33, of Miami, died after Rutland City police officer Christopher Rose shot him in the chest on Aug. 25.

Police had been on the lookout for Mansillas vehicle after he was involved in a hit-and-run crash in a parking lot on North Main Street in Rutland.

They then spotted Mansillas vehicle heading north on U.S. Route 7 in Clarendon and a deputy sheriff stopped him. Mansilla drove away but a second sheriffs deputy again located him in a driveway. Mansilla fled again, police said, and crashed into a UPS vehicle near the McDonald's.

Rose told Vermont State Police that he saw Mansilla run from the scene and into the restaurant. Witnesses said Mansilla had fled into the mens bathroom. Rose entered the mens room where Mansilla exited a stall and ran toward him holding a cell phone that Rose perceived to be a weapon, police said. Rose fired three shots, hitting Mansilla twice in the chest, state police said.

In this case, Corporal Rose reasonably believed that he was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily harm when Mr. Mansilla abruptly exited the bathroom stall and ran toward him with what Corporal Rose believed to be a weapon. Under these facts and circumstances and consistent with Vermont law, the actions of the officer were justified," the attorney general's office said.

Investigators later determined that Mansilla was on probation from Connecticut for enticing a minor, and a violation of probation charge was pending, the attorney general's office said. He had absconded from supervision, according to a Connecticut probation office, the attorney general's office said.
HARWICH, Mass. (AP)  A Massachusetts police officer was injured during a firearms training exercise Wednesday morning when they accidentally fired a round into their own right leg, police say.

Officers from several municipal departments were participating in the training at an outdoor firing range in Harwich when the officer was injured at about 10:30 a.m., Harwich police said in a Facebook post.
A number of Houston rappers are pouring out tributes on social media in shock after reports that Young Dolph was fatally shot Wednesday in Memphis.

The 36-year old rapper, whose real name is Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., walked into a South Memphis bakery, Makeda's Butter Cookies, to buy some cookies when an unidentified person drove up and shot and killed him around 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to a FOX13 Memphis report.

The rapper was a regular customer at the bakery, and would frequently stop past every time he was in town, according to a Instagram post from the business last week.

The Memphis Police Department said someone else was with Young Dolph at the time of the shooting, according to the report, but have not identified the person or their condition.

Young Dolph, who is native to Memphis, is well known in the city for his community work according to reports. In 2016, he released his debut studio album, "King of Memphis," and he is also best known for his feature on O.T. Genasis' hit single "Cut It", which peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100.

As news quickly spread of his death, the hip hop community reacted in shock and disbelief, and offered up their condolences for his family and friends. That included many Bayou City natives.

"I am sooo sick (right now) I am in disbelief!" Megan Thee Stallion tweeted. "Praying for his family and friends ! Rest In Peace to my friend a true legend dolph."

Bun B said he didn't want to believe it.

"I didn't wanna believe this one. At all," the rapper shared in an Instagram post. "Always called and checked on me. Like clockwork. Never hesitated. Praying for his family and children."

Slim Thug shared a post on Instagram with the news and admiring him as one of his favorite young rappers.

Paul Wall also shared his shock to the news on Twitter:

"It's always the kids (and) family that suffer the most," Trae tha Truth said in an Instagram post of the rapper with his family. "Prayers... RIP."

Even Houston's "King of Bling" Johnny Dang of Johnny Dang & Co., shared his condolences.

"Rest in Peace my brother Dolph," he wrote on Instagram. "The world will miss you."

The high-end jeweler is well-known for his custom-made grills and jewelry pieces for celebrities from Beyonce to Cardi B.

Young Dolph's death comes two years after California rapper Nipsey Hussle was fatally shot in his hometown outside the clothing store he owned in south Crenshaw, Los Angeles, and nearly two years after the death of rapper Juice WRLD, who Young Dolph revealed was his cousin shortly after his death. Juice WRLD died from an accidental overdose of oxycodone and codeine, according to Cook County Medical Examiners Office.
Huntsville-born Joab Banton was back in his home state 100 years ago today.

The former country lawyer had recently been elected district attorney of New York County, beating out an opponent that tried to smear him as a Democrat hailing from Texas.

While here, Banton took in the sights around Houston, a place he hadn't seen in decades.

"This is quite a metropolis itself, compared to 30 years ago, when I saw it last," he told the Chronicle, while looking over the city from the Rice Hotel roof.

After living in Huntsville, Banton and his family moved to Waco and later married Maude Harris of Belton. In 1896, the two moved to New York City where he practiced law and soon joined the District Attorney's Office in Manhattan.

Banton served in office until 1929. He died in 1949 and is buried in Waco.

Click the image below to enlarge.
A 47-year-old Houston woman has been charged with manslaughter in the death three years ago of a person who had a substance injected in her buttocks.

Lisa Fernandez is accused of injecting Marja McClendon with what she believed was silicone in April 2018, after which she was coughing up blood, according to a document filed with the Harris County District Clerk's office. The document alleges Fernandez knew she wasnt authorized to obtain it, and injected the person with the knowledge that it could cause serious health problems including death if it wasnt done correctly.

When the woman became ill, Fernandez also didnt go with her to a medical facility to identify the substance used and the procedure shed performed, the document says.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston police release suspect sketch in deadly road rage shooting

A Harris County District Attorneys Office prosecutor said at a probable cause hearing Wednesday that an unlicensed person gave McClendon silicone buttock injections in Houston, after which she was coughing and experiencing shortness of breath.

An autopsy showed McClendons cause of death was complications of silicone pulmonary embolism and the manner was homicide, according to the prosecutor.

A witness said the initial round of injections went badly and McClendon and the injector had a verbal altercation regarding getting her money back. McClendon returned the next day for a second round of them because she couldnt get some of the money back, according to the prosecutor.

After getting them, she was reportedly coughing up blood.

On HoustonChronicle.com: HCSO, Harris County sued by family of man who died in custody after being tased

Another witness  who picked up McClendon to get the injections  said the injector needed to stop several times since McClendon, who was in pain, was having difficulty breathing, according to the prosecutor. That witness brought McClendon to a hospital.

After she went to the hospital in Houston, McClendon later flew home, was hospitalized at Saint Louis University Hospital in Missouri and died April 30, 2018.

Fernandez admitted to injecting McClendon with at least one syringe in April 2018, the prosecutor said. Fernandez was aware her client wasnt feeling well and said she was lightheaded, according to a prosecutor.

Fernandez also told investigators she wasnt authorized to give the substance, and knew about the possible complications if the procedure isnt done correctly, according to the prosecutor.

A public defender at the hearing said Fernandez has lived in Houston since 2014 and she works as a beauty consultant from her home.

Nancy Ta, a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorneys Office, said in an interview that other clients may have been victims as well.

We do have concerns that there may be more victims out there, she said.   we ask the public, if anybody has ever received injections from this woman, just please come forward.

Online court records reflect Fernandez' bail is set at $40,000 and she remains in jail.

The case was earlier reported on by KHOU11.
The Harris County District Attorney has issued subpoenas seeking records related to the award of an $11 million contract for COVID-19 vaccine outreach services, Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia said.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis and Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle declined to confirm they, too, had received subpoenas. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramseys office staff said they were unaware of any.

Garcia issued a statement saying his office was in the process of gathering all information requested.

We will continue to cooperate and pledge full transparency in this matter, as we do in everything, Garcia said.

The offices of the district attorney and county attorney also declined to comment. Prosecutors typically issue subpoenas while preparing a case to present to a grand jury, which determines whether sufficient evidence exists to bring a criminal charge.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Hidalgo, Cagle spar over $11M million vaccine outreach contract

The since-canceled contract has been the subject of controversy since shortly after it was awarded in June.

It sprang from a desire of Hidalgos to improve Harris Countys vaccination rate, especially among hard-to-reach populations that are disproportionately poor, lack health care and have limited English language skills.

Her office in March convened a procurement committee that included three members of her staff and two from the county health department to evaluate proposals for a vaccine outreach program.

Including staff from political offices on procurement committees is uncommon, though Hidalgos spokesman said the arrangement was proper, given how involved the county judge has been in directing the governments response to the pandemic.

The committee scored four submitted proposals using criteria that included management experience and plans to canvass neighborhoods. UT Health Science Center placed first with a bid of $7.5 million, followed by Elevate Strategies, with a bid of $19.3 million. The two other vendors received far lower scores.

Following an interview stage with the two top bidders, the committee selected Elevate Strategies as the winner.

Rafael Lemaitre, Hidalgos spokesman, said the committee worried the UT Health proposal was insufficiently ambitious. He said in contrast, Elevate impressed the group with its door-knocking proposal.

The contract required Elevate to launch a digital advertising effort, as well as hire dozens of canvassers to run the door-to-door campaign. It was to include text messaging and direct mail outreach efforts.

Commissioners Court approved the contract on a 4-1 vote in June, with Cagle the lone dissenter.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Grand jury clears Rodney Ellis in unusual African art case

Weeks later, Ramsey and Cagle, the lone Republicans on the court, seized on the contract as evidence of corruption, noting their staffs had not been included on the selection committee. They said they were particularly troubled that Elevate Strategies had a small staff and would have to expand quickly to be able to manage the vaccine outreach effort.

The pair also pointed out that Felicity Pereyra, the head of Elevate Strategies, had assisted the 2015 Houston mayoral campaign of Democrat Adrian Garcia, the current Precinct 2 commissioner, and worked on Democrat Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign.

Garcia said he had no involvement in awarding the contract and was unaware of Pereyras connection until afterward.

The criticism came to head during an August meeting when Hidalgo accused Cagle of lying about the contract, prompting a heated exchange in which Cagle slammed the dais and Hidalgo asserted she was more ethical than her Republican colleagues, citing their reliance on political contributions from county vendors.

Spare me the outrage, Hidalgo said then. Bring it on, yall. Because there is nothing here other than an appropriate COVID response and someone who has gone to lengths to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Commissioners Court canceled the contract in September at the request of Hidalgo, who said it had become political. She maintained there was nothing improper, and said Republicans had helped spread conspiracy theories about the plan.

zach.despart@chron.com
For most of Texas history, tax incentives for corporations werent only rare, they were often against the law.

The Texas Constitution blocked public funds from being loaned or granted to private businesses. The document was enacted in the Gilded Age, when railroads and other corporate barons held undo sway over lawmakers.

The prohibition was not ironclad  Texas attorneys general had interpreted the law to allow grants to private entities if the funds went to a public purpose. As recently as 1974, however, the attorney general said the public benefit a community gained from a new factory coming to town, for instance, was insufficient to satisfy that Constitutional test.

So in 1981, lawmakers asked voters to amend the constitution to let cities cut taxes to spur development or redevelopment, and voters agreed.

Texas new abatement program had basic safeguards  the law required taxpayers to be protected if property owners failed to make the agreed improvements; properties receiving tax breaks had to meet specified criteria; and the tax breaks were capped at 15 years (soon tightened to 10 years).

Then came the 1980s oil bust.

Economic slowdowns in the U.S. and Europe and a glut of global oil production produced a years-long price plunge that bottomed out in 1986. The crash erased one out of every eight jobs in Houston alone and shuttered hundreds of banks across Texas.

In the 1987 legislative session, House Speaker Gib Lewis argued the Legislature should adopt un-Texas tactics from other states  namely, tax incentives  to diversify the economy and lessen dependency on oil.

Part of the economic development package Lewis guided through the Legislature sought to rescind the constitutional ban on giving tax dollars to private businesses.

The resolution sailed through the Legislature and was slotted as Proposition 4 on the November 1987 ballot. Despite an absence of organized opposition, it only narrowly passed.

Now Texas officials could give tax dollars to private companies, but there were no programs to guide that spending, no limits on the scope of the subsidies and no safeguards governing their use.

In 1989, lawmakers passed bills extending these new powers to cities and counties in Chapters 380 and 381 of the Local Government Code.

Robert Eckels, who sponsored the Chapter 381 bill, viewed the measure as a simple economic development effort letting counties make use of the constitutional amendment.

Parker McCollough, meanwhile, was a freshman state representative nearing the end of his first session in 1989 when city officials in Georgetown, which he represented, asked him to duplicate Eckels county bill for cities.

McCollough quickly filed House Bill 3192, which was barely more than a page, on May 8, then took to the House floor to ask for permission to introduce it at such a late hour.

I got this round of Yeah, right, sure, two weeks left in the session, go right ahead, he said. Everybody was laughing at us  but we had it on the governors desk with two days to spare!

Eckels and McColloughs bills combined drew only four no votes as they sailed to passage in both chambers.

There was never any further discussion about it. We passed that bill in 89. It never came back up in my tenure to amend or change or address, McCollough said. It probably should have warranted more discussion, but  we were in fairly uncharted water given the recent constitutional change.

Chapters 380 and 381 have not changed much in the three decades since their passage  and the few amendments that have passed have typically broadened their scope.

Twice, court rulings or attorney general opinions threw the legality of the agreements into question. Both times, lawmakers responded by passing legislation to keep the incentives flowing  and even expanded the area in which cities could grant public funds to cover some land up to 5 miles outside their city limits.

Neither Eckels nor McCollough nor other lawmakers involved in advancing tax break policies during that era recalled any talk about limiting the duration of agreements or adding other guidelines to Chapters 380 or 381.

I would expect that, as time evolves and people get experience with these various economic development programs, Eckels said, that the law is amended and changed to reflect these kinds of issues as they arise.

McCollough echoed that.

If its still serving a purpose and is an economic development tool that is not a taxpayer hit, then its probably a worthy program to continue, McCollough said. Do we need to put some guardrails up, would be a question I would ask.
When the pandemic threw the economy into a recession and job losses to unprecedented levels, Congress rushed out a program meant to help both renters who had been impacted financially and their landlords. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program launched in January, giving states, counties and cities funds to distribute.

Montgomery County Commissioners Court moved Tuesday to return $7.1 million, or roughly 40 percent, of its first round of Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds back to the federal government.

Theres just not that many people needing assistance in Montgomery County, said Jason Millsaps, chief of staff for County Judge Mark Keough. Millsaps said that Montgomery County did not suffer the same economic impacts from the pandemic as other counties. County Commissioners sent a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Department of the Treasury asking it redistribute the sum to other rent relief funds in the state.

The same day the county commissioners voted to return the money, the county also began accepting new applications for its own rent relief funds  previously the portal had routed applications to the state rent relief fund, which stopped accepting applications Nov. 5.

The 66 households Montgomery County had aided through the first round of Emergency Rental Assistance Program funding as of Sept. 30 were applications it had collected in 2020 for aid that was not related to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. At that time, the county had set up aid from other federal funding for residents with difficulties paying their rent or mortgage. When Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds came down from the federal government, the county did not open up a fresh round of applications, but instead used it to work through the roughly 500 applications received from the previous program.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Montgomery, Brazoria counties could lose millions in unspent rent relief funds

Millsaps noted that while working through that initial round of applications, many had already been served by the state rent relief fund. Weve had a really rough time getting applicants who havent already gone through (Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program), he said.

Were not out of funds, and were not going to stop distributing awards, he said. Its just theres no way were going to get that many applications.

Ben Martin, senior researcher at the housing advocacy group Texas Housers pushed back against the idea that the need for rental assistance is low in Montgomery County.

"We know there is need in Montgomery County because we know that there are new eviction cases being filed," he said. "If there is money available for rental assistance, then there should be no evictions for nonpayment." He suggested Montgomery County look into ways to reach its in-need population.

Montgomery Countys decision to return funds could benefit places, like Houston and Harris County, which have been more quickly in distributing funding.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program has had very different rollouts by various state and local governments. While some jurisdictions, including Houston and Harris County, were quick to set up their programs and distribute relief to renters, others have distributed hardly any of their funds, even as the pandemic protections slowing evictions have expired. As a result, the Department of the Treasury, which oversees the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, outlined in October a plan to reallocate unused funds from inactive programs to those that been more efficient.

As of Sept. 30, Montgomery County had distributed less than 2 percent of its $18.2 million of first-round Emergency Rental Assistance Program funding. By comparison, Houston and Harris County, which are running a joint program, had distributed 96 percent of their $143.9 million in first-round funding, helping 36,927 households. The programs spokesperson said that number has since grown  as of Nov.4, it had distributed 86 percent of its $283.4 million in funding  and that the program hopes to receive further funding when the Treasury reallocates Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

In February, Montgomery County Commissioners balked at a request from Joanne Ducharme, then the countys community development director, to hire five temporary employees to move rent relief application more quickly. She said that several nonprofit agencies whom the county was relying on to distribute funds to residents had refused to receive additional grant funds, with some even returning funds to the county; one commissioner called the ask an attempt to empire build. Soon after, Ducharme was replaced.

This story contains previous reporting by Catherine Dominguez.

rebecca.schuetz@chron.com;

twitter.com/raschuetz
Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Prairie View A&M University has received $5 million from H-E-B chairman Charles H. Butt to help establish an endowment that will fund scholarships for Texas students, according to a university release.

The fund, which will generate $200,000 each year as a part of the permanent endowment, will assist incoming first-year Texas students who are in the top quartile of their public high school class. Scholarship recipients, who will be a part of the Founders Scholars cohort program, must be full-time and making progress toward completing their undergraduate degree.
The absence of rules or guidelines in Chapters 380 and 381 has produced enormous long-term tax breaks for corporations, manufacturers, resorts and tech giants in exchange for huge investments and, sometimes, hundreds of jobs.

But some cities and counties have used that same flexibility to put far smaller dollar amounts toward projects as small as a single-family home repair.

Irving once reimbursed 29 single-family homeowners a quarter of their minor home repair projects  new siding, windows, a new roof or driveway  in the hopes of sustaining the appearance and marketability of select neighborhoods around the citys hospital district and in Irving Heights. The payments averaged $5,850 per family.

As we do with our current strategic plan, we have areas were looking to revitalize and promote, said Bryan Haywood, economic development manager in Irving. He said the program did not come with income restrictions.

In Garland, several companies got the same modest offer: In exchange for being refunded up to, say, $100,000 in building fees, the companies agreed to try to buy construction materials in Garland and to market their developments as being located in Garland, Texas rather than identifying the project only as being 'in the Dallas area' or similar non-Garland-specific descriptors."

For some companies its very important to have a Dallas address, or whenever theyre putting their location on the website they put Dallas instead of Garland, said Schuster, the Garland economic development chief. I mean, come on, were giving them money. You have to promote us. Thats how I feel.

The owners of Fort Worth station KXAS-TV got a 25-year deal to consolidate their NBC and Telemundo operations in one space in exchange for an up to 85 percent reduction of their property taxes  as long as the station retained 200 jobs and relocated 78 others and identified itself at least half the time as being based in Fort Worth-Dallas.

Robert Sturns, Fort Worth's economic development director, noted that the station gave the property it was vacating to the city as part of the deal. Officials ultimately left it as green space, per the neighborhoods wishes.

If there are specific things were trying to accomplish, whether thats improving a neighborhood, increased amenities, property were trying to preserve, thats where the flexibility of 380 can come in, Sturns said.

Collin and Tarrant counties, which typically do not approve Chapter 381 deals, have used the law briefly to help small businesses. Tarrant County did so in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, granting $23 million to nearly 3,000 businesses through the end of last year.

This story is part of the Houston Chronicle's investigative series "Unfair Burden." You can read the other parts of the series here.

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Unfair Burden credits

Reporting: Mike Morris, John Tedesco and Stephanie Lamm

Visuals: Mark Mulligan, Marie D. De Jesus, Jon Shapley, Elizabeth Conley and William Luther

Design, Development & Web Production: Ken Ellis, Laura Duclos, Dan Simmons-Ritchie, Jordan Ray-Hart, Dana Burke and Tommy Hamzik

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If natural disasters are teaching moments for local governments, the past 13 years have been an extended remedial lesson for southeast Texas.

The last two major hurricanes to hammer the Houston-Galveston region, Ike in 2008 and Harvey in 2017, exposed the weaknesses of our flood protection system. It soon became clear that Houston could no longer rely on federal recovery dollars and flood insurance payouts in lieu of robust protection.

Enter the Ike Dike. The $29 billion plan, which could take up to 20 years to build, includes a series of gates designed to protect against a surge of up to 22 feet. It would stretch from the east end of Galveston Island across the mouth of Galveston Bay to Bolivar Peninsula. Other coastal protections include 43 miles of 14- and 12-foot dunes on Galvestons west end and on the peninsula. Gates are also planned on the western bank of Galveston Bay for Clear Lake and Dickinson Bayou.

Yet even such a huge project  one most community leaders and this editorial board strongly support, despite its price tag  leaves major parts of our community vulnerable to catastrophe.

A group of researchers at Rice Universitys Severe Storm Prediction, Education & Evacuation from Disasters Center, led by co-director Jim Blackburn, have been sounding the alarm on this issue for years. Its increasingly likely, they argue, that storms stronger than the ones the Corps has designed the Ike Dike to protect against will eventually strike Houston. Most importantly, though, they argue that Ike Dike wont guard against a catastrophic hit to the Houston Ship Channel and Bayport Industrial Complex. If a storm were to swamp either the port or the complex, millions of barrels worth of environmentally toxic crude oil and other chemicals could spill into Houstons bayous and Galveston Bay.

The research centers Galveston Bay Park Plan would construct an archipelago of man-made barrier islands built with repurposed dredge material from widening the ship channel. These islands would act as a 25-foot dike on one side, with the other side doubling as a 10,000-acre public park, allowing for the development of wetlands and beaches. Several storm surge gates on the islands would allow ships to pass through.

The Rice team has identified more than 15,000 properties in the Galveston and Harris county study area vulnerable to flooding should a Category 5 hurricane strike at just the wrong place along the coast  even with the Ike Dike in place. Of those properties, 575 are industrial sites, nearly half of which contain products used for petrochemical production.

The loss of property and homes would be catastrophic. Galveston Bay could become so polluted with toxic chemicals that it could be rendered unusable for a generation. We saw what happened during Harvey when the Arkema plant in Crosby flooded so badly that refrigerated trailers of organic peroxides burst into flames. Just imagine a 20-foot storm surge dislodging storage tanks, contaminating the bay, or floating in floodwaters crashing into homes.

Whether Blackburn and his teams plan to protect Galveston Bay and the industrial complex is the right one, or worth the up to $6 billion he says its likely to cost, remains to be seen. Many questions need answers, including how it can be built and paid for, without delaying the larger Ike Dike.

Still, the worst-case scenario of enormous economic disruption and environmental damage is chilling enough for the Galveston Bay Park Plan to merit serious consideration. At the very least, the basic questions of its feasibility should be answered as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, The SSPEED Center has already put together a coalition to pay for a $1 million feasibility study. The Port of Houston, Harris County, and entrepreneur Joseph Swinbank have agreed to chip in $250,000 each. The City of Houston is also expected to contribute $250,000 and serve as the lead sponsor for the study. Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement to the board he supports doing so, and At-Large Councilman David Robinson echoed that in a meeting with the board earlier this week.

Houston thrives in part because of the relationship it has with the petrochemical industry clustered near the port and along the coast. But materials stored there make the whole region vulnerable to environmental devastation, should a worst-case storm strike Houston. The Rice team has offered a plan to make us all much safer  one that would also have a substantial public benefit in providing coastal access to the bay.

We strongly support moving forward with this study so that critical questions can be answered.
Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying Jan. 6 rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison.

Chansley, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, was among the first rioters to enter the building. He has acknowledged using a bullhorn to rile up the mob, offering thanks in a prayer while in the Senate for having the chance to get rid of traitors and scratching out a threatening note to Vice President Mike Pence saying, Its Only A Matter of Time. Justice Is Coming!"

Though he isnt accused of violence, prosecutors say Chansley, of Arizona, was the public face of the Capitol riot who went into the attack with a weapon, ignored repeated police orders to leave the building and gloated about his actions in the days immediately after the attack.

IN DALLAS: QAnon supporters gather in downtown Dallas expecting JFK Jr. to reappear

Before he was sentenced, Chansley told U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth it was wrong for him to enter the Capitol and that he accepts responsibility for his actions. He emphasized he wasnt an insurrectionist and is troubled with the way he was portrayed in news stories in the aftermath of the riot.

I have no excuse, Chansley said. No excuses whatsoever. My behavior is indefensible.

The judge said Chansleys remorse appeared to be genuine but noted the seriousness of his actions in the Capitol. What you did was terrible, Lamberth said. You made yourself the center of the riot."

The image of Chansley holding a flagpole topped with a spear tip and looking as if he were howling was one of the most striking to emerge from the riot. He previously called himself the QAnon Shaman but has since repudiated the QAnon movement, which is centered on the baseless belief that former President Donald Trump was fighting a cabal of Satan-worshipping, child sex trafficking cannibals.

He is among 650 people charged in the riot that forced lawmakers into hiding as they were meeting to certify President Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. More than 120 defendants have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanor charges of demonstrating in the Capitol that carry a maximum of six months in prison.

Chansley and Scott Fairlamb, a New Jersey gym owner sentenced last week for punching a police officer during the attack, have received the longest prison sentences out of the 38 Capitol riot defendants who been punished so far.

Chansley, who has been in jail for 10 months, sought to be sentenced to time served. His lawyer, Albert Watkins, said his client has longstanding mental health problems that were worsened by being held in solitary confinement due to COVID-19 protocols and is in dire need of mental health treatment.

ACCUSED: Houston man arrested in connection with Jan. 6 Capitol riot

In the year before the Capitol riot, Chansley appeared in costume at pro-Trump events, protests over face mask requirements and at a gathering of Trump supporters in November 2020 outside an election office in downtown Phoenix where votes from the presidential race were being counted.

His attorney has said Chansley was horrendously smitten by Trump and believed like other rioters that Trump had called him to the Capitol, but later felt betrayed after Trump refused to grant him and others who participated in the insurrection a pardon.

Watkins has said Chansley had been under pressure from family members not to plead guilty because they believed Trump would be reinstated as president and pardon him.

After spending his first month in jail, Chansley said he reevaluated his life, felt regret for having stormed the building and apologized for causing fear in others.

He twice quit eating while in jail and lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) until he was given organic food.

The judge had previously rejected Chansleys claims that the six-foot flagpole he carried during the riot wasnt a weapon and that the metal spear tip was an ornament, saying the sharpened six-inch point could have been used to stab people from a distance. _____

Billeaud reported from Phoenix.
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Protesters from several environmental groups march to Berkshire Gas on Wednesday demanding clean energy. PreviousNext

Environmentalists Demand Clean Energy in Postcards to Berkshire Gas



The groups hoped to deliver hundreds of postcards to Berkshire Gas leadership but were asked to leave the property. They said they would be mailed.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Environmentalists on Wednesday attempted to deliver 150 postcards to Berkshire Gas President Sue Kristjansson that demand clean heat solutions to counteract climate change.

Members of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), No Fracked Gas in Mass 350 Berkshire Node and the Mothers Out Front organization of Cambridge met at Allendale Plaza and marched to the gas company chanting "Hey Berkshire, lay off the gas."



Benjamin Downing, former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, had intended on being at the event but was unable to attend, according to the protesters.



"The local utilities decarbonization plan, they have to submit that by March, and so far drafts have mostly included hydrogen and biogas," No Fracked Gas in Mass Program Director Rosemary Wessel said.



"Hydrogen is always touted as a zero-emissions fuel, but it's not it actually, it produces nitrous oxides and it can only blend about 20 percent of that in with the natural gas before it breaks apart the infrastructure, so it's only a reduction in the amount of gas and it comes with its own hazard and what we would really like to see is them offering things like heat pumps."



The protesters were not able to deliver the postcards and were asked to leave the property by an employee.



"I think it's really frustrating that Berkshire Gas reaction is, as a public utility, that we were on private property and they wouldnt even speak to us," BEAT Executive Director Jane Winn said.



"Some of us are their actual ratepayers so that's frustrating, but our next step will be to mail them the postcards and request a meeting with the President and really try to work together on a plan to transition off of all these explosive fuels so we do not accept hydrogen or renewable natural gas as a solution, we want to be going to electrifying and we'd like them to be a part of the solution, not part of the problem."

Company spokesman Christopher Farrell provided the following statement from Berkshire Gas:

"Individuals visiting our headquarters location this morning were invited to leave postcards for our president, as they indicated they wanted to do, in a mail slot at the headquarters building.

"Berkshire Gas is an active participant in the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Docket (DPU Docket 20-80) to define the Future of Natural Gas in the Commonwealth and looks forward to supporting the state's climate goals, while also continuing to meet the energy needs of Western Massachusetts, as we have for more than 150 years."

The protest was part of a statewide rally to pressure utility companies into clean energy solutions. By March 2022, gas companies are expected to submit plans to the state that detail how they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero.



The environmentalists are not pleased with the plans they have heard of so far that include hydrogen or biogas blends. They say the proposals are "false solutions that are explosive, expensive, unhealthy, and still cause climate change."



A transition to biofuels would reportedly cost as much as $20 billion to replace gas piping systems, say the organizations, and they believe that those dollars would be better spent on clean heat.



Wessel said electric heat pumps and even geothermal energy are other options for clean heat.



Heat pumps work like refrigerators, using electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space to change the temperature. During the winter the pumps move cold air outdoors and in the summer move the cool air indoors.



The problem is that the system is expensive. It is comparably like purchasing a new furnace for a home. Wessel said part of this effort is pressuring the state to create a program that makes heat pumps affordable.



Geothermal energy uses heat in the earth to produce electricity. In Iceland, this method generates 25 percent of the country's total electricity production.



Wessel said it could be used here in the existing pipelines.



This aligns with the Mothers Out Front's Future of Clean Heat platform that advocates for all-electric homes and buildings using renewable sources for electricity, and making it affordable by redirecting funds to subsidize it.



Kris Rutman of the Western Massachusetts Labor Action also attended the protest in support of low-income families who deserve equal access to these resources, he said.



"I'm here because I'm representing the low-income community here because the lowest-income working families need two things," Rutman explained. "They need clean energy and they need affordable energy."
Lenox Library's Distinguished Lecture Series: History of US-China Relations

LENOX, Mass.  The Lenox Library's 15th Annual Distinguished Lecture Series will continue on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

Dr. Eugenio Menegon, Associate Professor of History at Boston University, will discuss the history of US-China relations from 1776 to today.

Due to recent COVID directives, this event will take place via Zoom. Meeting details may be found on the Library's website at https://lenoxlib.org or the Library's Facebook page.

According to a press release:

In order to understand today's complex relations between the US and China, we need to know the deep roots of the relationship between our two countries. This lecture will explore in creative ways how both sides, Chinese and American, have seen the other, and how the people (leaders and commoners alike), religions, educational, and medical systems, economies, and the militaries, have interacted with each other over the span of the last three centuries. The lecture will also explain, in historical perspective, why the China-US relationship is so important for the world today, even if it is often fraught with misunderstandings and competition.

Professor Eugenio Menegon has published extensively on the history of Chinese-Western relations, and is the author of two books: "One Single Sky: Geography, Art," "Science, and Religion in Europe and China and Ancestors," "Virgins, and Friars: Christianity as a Local Religion in Late Imperial China," which was the recipient of the 2011 Joseph Levenson Book Prize in Chinese Studies.

Dr. Menegon has been Research Fellow in Chinese Studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium), Junior and Senior Fellow at the BU Humanities Foundation, and the An Wang Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University. He has held appointments as visiting scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing), the Beijing Center for Chinese Studies, the Ricci Institute at the University of San Francisco, the University "L'Orientale" in Naples, the University of Padua, and the Cini Foundation, Venice. He was Director of the Boston University Center for the Study of Asia in 2012-15, and has been a research fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton and a Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Jesuit Studies at Boston College, as well as the recipient of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Scholar Grant.
Dalton Cooperative Nursery School Introduces New Director

DALTON, Mass.  The Dalton Cooperative Nursery School (also known as DCNS and Dalton Preschool) welcomes Stephanie Adornetto as the new Director and Lead Teacher.

Adornetto has more than 20 years of experience in various aspects of early childhood education. Rooted in the Emilia-Reggio philosophy Adornetto believes in a student forward approach which values children as strong, capable, and resilient.

Adornetto believes in nurturing students to encourage natural expression through various art for

Prior to joining DCNS in September of 2021, Adornetto was formerly the Early Child Coordinator at the Berkshire United Way.

With over eight years of preschool teaching experience, and four years as the Director at Bear Care in Dalton, Adornetto felt confidently prepared for her role as the new Director. Adornetto earned her BA from Lesley University in Human Development with a minor in Early Education with Special Needs, her AA in Early Childhood Education from Greenfield Community College, and is certified to teach Pre-K through Grade 2. She also has her Family Credential certificate from Tufts University, and is

certified to facilitate parent training.

In her role as the Director and Lead Teacher, Adornetto, plans to enrich the teaching curriculum by introducing yoga and Spanish language, as well as continuing to build programming around the strengths and interests of the students. In addition to the updates to curriculum, Adornetto is looking forward to building a community around the preschool including learning opportunities for the staff, and parent engagement events for the families.

"I have worked in the child care field for over 20 years in several venues. Working in a cooperative child care program would enable me to work closely with families. The environment is small and a mixed age group where older children can model and teach younger ones promoting both independent and peer learning." said Adornetto on why she took the role at DCNS.

Since the start of this school year, the students have already visited the Dalton Fire Department and visited Main Street businesses to trick-or-treat.

The Dalton Cooperative Nursery School continues to be a cooperative effort between the parent run Board of Directors and the Director. After six years of service former Director and Lead Teacher, Paula Harris has tendered her resignation to the board effective Dec. 16, 2021. She is currently continuing to be a member of the teaching staff. During her time as the Lead Teacher and Director, Harris helped move DCNS to its current location inside the Dalton CRA, and has grown DCNS past the point of uncertainty with continuous full enrollment rosters.
Name: George Gerchow

Organisation: Sumo Logic

Job title: Chief Security Officer

Date started current role: March 2015

Location: California

George Gerchow brings 18 years of information technology and systems management expertise to the application of IT processes and disciplines. His expertise impacts the security, compliance, and operational status of complex, heterogeneous, virtual and cloud computing environments. Gerchow is a highly-regarded speaker and panelist on topics including virtualization, ITSM/ITIL, configuration management, cloud secure architecture design, operational security, and compliance. He holds CISSP, ITIL, Cisco, and Microsoft Certifications, and is also the co-author of CIS Quick Start Cloud Infrastructure Benchmark v1.0.0.

What was your first job? My first job was as a tour guide at the Air Force Academy when I was 16 years old.

How did you get involved in cybersecurity? I initially started out as a network engineer which was prior to there being dedicated roles for security at the time, so I was often pulled in to help automate patching of servers and other security functions.

What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? I achieved a Bachelors in Computer Networking.

I used to hold a CISSP, MSCE, CCN and ITSM but have since let those certifications lapse. They definitely have their value, but perhaps more so earlier on in your career and to demonstrate niche areas of interest.

Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. The road to CISO or CSO is always so unique for each individual. I started out as a network engineer for a company called Logicon (later acquired by Northrup Gruman) where we designed pilot training software for a plane called the T2 Texan. My responsibility was to build, secure and support the infrastructure for the software in addition to some lightweight COBOL coding.

After the company was acquired, I joined one of the largest credit unions in the United States as a technical architect where I was responsible for modernising their systems and moving their data centers. A lot of my focus in this role was security related including; patching, maintaining firewalls, creating policies and procedures around change management, access control and other critical items required by a financial institution.

From there I moved to my first software-based role for an amazing security company called Configuresoft. This role in particular was life changing as I held so many different roles, including; Federal SE, WW SE Manager, Product Manager for Security, and later TAM in Europe where I mainly focused on the UK, Germany, Copenhagen and Spain. As the company prepared to be acquired by EMC, I then moved into a business development role to train our new owners around how to use and sell our software. After the acquisition, I briefly held the title of CTO before we were acquired again by VMware. I then moved between the two companies in various security related roles where I co-founded the Center for Policy and Compliance.

I then followed our CEO Ramin Sayar to Sumo Logic as I wanted to work for a cloud-native based company around six years ago, now the rest is history.

Was there anyone who has inspired or mentored you in your career? Ive been fortunate to have quite a few throughout my career including Bill Riley, the CEO at Logicon, Randy Streu who was the Vice President of Product at ConfigureSoft, Boaz Chalamish (GM at VMware) and most recently Bruno Kurtic and Ramin Sayer at Sumo Logic. These folks were key to my growth where they provided an open door, open heart and tough love when I needed it.

What do you feel is the most important aspect of your job? Managing and supporting people is definitely the most important aspect of my job. I try to make sure my team and those around me have a good work life balance as I know how it can affect peoples mental health. I take responsibility for helping everyone balance both the rigor of working for a software company as well as taking care of themselves and their families.

What metrics or KPIs do you use to measure security effectiveness? Thats a great question, and I believe that transparency is everything. Personally, we set strategic yearly goals that align to our company strategy and then take the tactical tasks that are required to meet those goals and measure them quarterly. The detailed progress is shared with EStaff on a weekly basis and highlights exactly where we are at with meeting our objectives.

Is the security skills shortage affecting your organisation? What roles or skills are you finding the most difficult to fill? Thankfully, this doesnt affect our business because were rarely looking to hire traditional security professionals. We like to hire developers and DevOps professionals, or even those with prior military experience, and this has served us really well thus far.

I think most security leaders look in the wrong places. I care less about direct, relevant experience and instead look for those with talent, ambition and the right work ethic - they can learn everything else.

Cybersecurity is constantly changing  how do you keep learning? Lots of listening and reading across industry news publications, social media, IANS executive updates and talking to developers helps me stay up to date.

What conferences are on your must-attend list? Of course, Im biased and would suggest Sumo Logics own Illuminate user conference, but also AWS ReInforce, RSA, Black Hat and BSides.

What is the best current trend in cybersecurity? The information sharing among the community is the best trend I can see right now. We are getting to an era where we share information about vulnerabilities or potential threats amongst security leaders and even our competitors. This kind of transparency presents a wonderful opportunity to help us keep pace with bad actors.

The worst? Those organisations who are still operating with an old school ivory tower mentality of saying no, siloed information and relying on a culture of fear. Sadly this still exists and just serves to create instances where employees are afraid to report mistakes or potential issues due to fear of repercussions.

What's the best career advice you ever received? Do the tasks that nobody else wants to do. Listen as much as possible, and never stop learning.

What advice would you give to aspiring security leaders? Focus on three things:

Learn the business of the company you work for inside and out Try to foster a technical breadth of knowledge Learn how to evangelise your strategy and align it closely to the business objectives

What has been your greatest career achievement? What Ive achieved here at Sumo Logic - I built and serve a world-class security and compliance team. We created a SOC from the ground up leveraging a modern security architecture and a compliance and audit team that focuses on industry regulations (PCI, FedRAMP, SOX, ISO, SOC2, CSA Star). It was tough in the beginning. Then we went through an IPO during the pandemic which had its own challenges, but it has been rewarding at the same time.

Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? I wish I had been more open minded towards different kinds of talent early in my career as a manager. I was initially looking for people who could replicate my own skill set but I instead should have been more creative to find different kinds of talent that could bring a new perspective or approach.
The IFJ visits the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

A field visit to the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro in Podgorica to discuss the evolution of the Union to Union Project.

Since 2018, the union has conducted three surveys to study the economic and professional status of digital media workers, their working conditions, the average salary among media workers and the impact of COVID-19 on media workers in Montenegro. Each Survey has become an advocacy tool in the union's campaign to secure collective bargaining and improved working conditions.

The studies also led to two major changes being added to the Union's draft action plan:

- To introduce a section in the union membership for freelancers, whose rights are not properly recognised in the labour law

- To develop the union's communication channels to attract young members, mainly students of journalism, communication and audio-visual schools.

The Union and IFJ representatives agreed to focus next year's project work on developing a collective agreement and providing training for union leaders on bargaining and how to find effective ways to communicate with union members.
The Indian government is working on introducing a cryptocurrency regulation as key stakeholders want clarity from the government on issues of definition, tax treatment, and regulation. While the introduction of the regulation is awaited, we discuss what we know about the upcoming regulations objectives. We also report the latest developments pertaining to regulation of cryptocurrency in India.

Government to introduce a bill to ban private cryptocurrency in India

On November 23, 2021, Lok Sabha, the common house of the Indian Parliament, announced a bulletin regarding conduct of business during the winter session. Among the 26 new bills tabled, a bill to ban all private cryptocurrencies in India has also been proposed to be introduced.

The bill titled The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, intends to create a facilitative framework for creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The Bill also seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India; however, it allows for certain exceptions to promote the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and its uses.

This announcement has since sent shockwaves in the digital currency market, with investor panic causing all major cryptocurrencies to witness a steep fall of around 15 percent and more, with Bitcoin down by around 18.53 percent, Ethereum by 15.58 per cent, and Tether by 18.29 per cent.

While the bulletin remains silent on the details of the bill and fails to clarify what private cryptocurrency refers to, it also leaves several questions unanswered about the future of existing crypto investments in India. Amid this ambiguity, around 15-20 million crypto investors in India, with total crypto holdings of around INR 400 billion (US$5.39 billion), find themselves in a state of uncertainty.

Other recent developments giving insight into government stance

November 18, 2021

PM Modi spoke about the need for international solidarity and order to regulate cryptocurrency while representing India at the Sydney Dialogue held on November 18, 2021. The PM said: It is important that all democratic nations work on this and ensure that it does not end up in wrong hands, which can spoil our youth.

The Sydney Dialogue is an annual summit of cyber and critical technologies to discuss the fallout of the digital domain on the law and order situation in the world.

November 13, 2021

On November 13, 2021, India hosted a comprehensive high level meeting chaired by the Indian PM to discuss the future of cryptocurrency in India  with participation from the RBI, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Home Affairs. The main agenda of discussion was the unregulated cryptocurrency market in India, which has seen unprecedented growth in the past year. Intense deliberations were made on the impact of such an unregulated market in India with the RBI governor Shaktikanta Das flagging it as a major threat to Indias economic and financial stability and demanding a complete ban.

However, the government displayed a more optimistic approach towards regulation of cryptocurrency in India, with PM Modi ruling out the possibility of a total ban. Modi, however, expressed concerns about how the unregulated crypto markets are becoming potential avenues for money laundering and terror financing and that it needs to be contained with suitable legislation.

Previous speculations about the expected cryptocurrency bill

September 3, 2021

It has been reported by The Economic Times that Indias federal government is working on introducing a cryptocurrency bill. The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that she is awaiting an approval from the Cabinet on the cryptocurrency bill. It is expected to define cryptocurrencies in India and will compartmentalize the respective, and currently unregulated digital currencies, based on their usage. Meanwhile, the inter-ministerial panel on cryptocurrency under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Economic Affairs), formed to study issues related to virtual currencies, has submitted its report.

The much-anticipated legislative development is timely. At present, there is no uniform definition for crypto assets in India, creating risks for users, investors, and authorities. The lack of uniform definition has posed regulatory challenges for taxation, financial security, monitoring, etc., and these have been repeatedly flagged by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Moreover, investment in cryptocurrencies grew from nearly US$923 million to US$6.6 billion in India, in the period from April 2020 to May 2021.

Overall, the cryptocurrency bills expected objectives (as cited by expert observers) will regulate cryptocurrencies for taxation purposes  so that they can be treated correctly in the books of accounts. The scope of this bill thus does not cover the recognition of digital and virtual currencies as mediums of payment and settlements; rather, its ambit is expected to look only at how to regulate the recognized cryptocurrencies.

How will cryptocurrencies be defined in India?

The Economic Times reports that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, etc. will be treated as assets or commodities for all purposes, including taxation and other utilities like payments, investment, etc.

It is pertinent to note that only government-approved cryptocurrencies will be allowed to be traded in India once the bill comes into effect.

The draft bill will possibly address concerns and ambiguities regarding the tax incidence on cryptocurrency assets in India, which presently persist due to lack of relevant regulations. It is also being speculated that the government may also introduce a security transaction tax (STT) on the trading of cryptocurrencies.

Currently, there is no clarity from the government on whether cryptocurrency should be treated as a commodity, currency, service, or capital asset. Due to the absence of a dedicated and defined cryptocurrency law, it is also feared that government tax revenues have not been realized to the full.

Categorization of cryptocurrencies

Reportedly, the compartmentalization of these cryptocurrencies will be done on the basis of the technology employed and as per use case. In other words, the government will categorize cryptocurrency assets based on their end-use.

What are stakeholders saying?

As India leapfrogs to attain second place globally in terms of cryptocurrency adoption, cryptocurrency exchanges across India have come together to lobby for a cryptocurrency regulation law.

At present, India is trading more than 5000 different cryptocurrencies and each one has different technological features and legal characteristics. A technology law expert at Nishith Desai Associates highlights the need for a tailored regulation keeping in mind the end usage of every particular type of token.

According to reports, these exchanges have sent their representation to the government with various suggestions regarding the regulation and future usage of crypto assets in India. One of the proposals demands that crypto tokens be treated as a digital asset and not as currency.

They have further sought clarification on policies with regards to exchange ownership parameters, KYC, accounting and reporting standards, etc. and have called for a system for introducing home grown assets.

This article was originally published on September 3, 2021. It was last updated November 24, 2021.
A Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary in Tamil Nadu has reportedly been arrested and booked for announcing a cash reward for attacking Tamil star Suriya. He has received multiple threats over a scene in his popular film Jai Bhim.

Twitter

In the midst of this all, there are thousands of fans who are extending virtual support to the superstar and the team of Jai Bhim. Taking to Twitter, he thanked them all.

Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. Ive never witnessed this before! Cant express in words how thankful I am for the trust & reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us   Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) November 17, 2021

"Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. I've never witnessed this before! Cant express in words how thankful I am for the trust & reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us," he wrote.

Recently, five Policemen were deployed at Suriya's Chennai home after Vanniyar Sangam State President issued a legal notice to actor Suriya, Jyotika, director TJ Gnanavel and Amazon Prime demanding an unconditional apology and deletion of certain scenes.

Twitter

Meanwhile, fans outpoured support for him on social media, and #WeStandWithSuriya became a trend in no time.

As per Vanniyar Sangam, while the film is based on real events, the character of the policeman who tortures Rajakannu has been deliberately depicted as belonging to the Vanniyar caste.

Here's what Suriya said in defence of the film.


Rural areas in developing countries do not necessarily benefit from new advances in technology. This research overview assesses the role of folk media in development programs in the light of case studies and highlights areas where the use of folk media in the development programs needs to be improved. VICTOR T. VALBUENA



In the world we live in, the media has a very important role, not just with regards to acquiring information but also understanding the world view. Media has taken a place where it can almost dictate how and what we think. It is instrumental in making people understand what is important for them and what is not.

And when we think of media we usually tend to limit ourselves to social media, news media. However, these modes of the medium have a restriction with regards to their reach and the information forwarded.

Traditional modes of communication still hold some relevance

They are instrumental in propagating ideas and information especially to far-flung areas where modern media finds it harder to reach.

Further traditional media still has more potential to seep in important messages and ideas to society. One such form of traditional media is street theatre.

BCCL

Street Theatre is a type of theatrical performance and presentation that takes place in public locations without a paid audience. It is used as a means of communication to disseminate social and political themes and to raise awareness among the general public.

Concerning today's major societal concerns amateur street theatre productions at the grassroots level have grown popular in community organizing, public health campaigns, and education campaigns. Initiatives all throughout the world themes of street plays have evolved over time. From nationalism to capitalism, peasant and labor movements, environmental issues, communalism, women's sexual harassment, and domestic violence, to name a few.

BCCL

Emancipation of the working class

In the early twentieth century, street theatre developed as a means of emancipating the working class and reinforcing revolution against established power. Its journey began in India, primarily by left-wing theatre activists, during the anti-colonial struggle.

Although street theatre is closely related to folk theatre as a form, it is more of a social communication process with a participatory attitude than a basic art form. The purpose of this article is to examine the function and possibilities of street theatre as a vehicle for community development and social transformation.

During the European Industrial Revolution, laborers and party workers began composing and acting in street plays. Women began actively participating and participating in street plays in the next century, during the Suffragette Movement in London.

During the Russian Revolution, what began as a means of expressing political thoughts and opinions evolved into a tool for teaching the rural masses. When World War II broke out, the street theatre began speaking out for the anti-war movement, and the attitude toward promoting liberal socio-political revolution persisted and spread throughout America and England.

Street theatre was seen being used as a tool of expression against the Vietnam war, racial discrimination, etc.

BCCL

India was not far behind in experimenting with unfettered street performance for the masses. Although a variety of art forms have existed in distant locations for centuries as folk theatre, mostly for enjoyment, it was during the battle for independence that street theatre took on a distinct form for encouraging patriotism and igniting a surge in nationalism.

The street theatre, which began as a means of empowering Indians to fight for their rights, has not only maintained its popularity as a popular mass medium despite competition from electronic media but has also expanded its reach from distant villages to major cities.

Street theatre has become one of the most popular mediums for social communicators to communicate messages, from social activists and NGOs to student unions, artists, and even corporate executives.

Role of Indian People's Theatre Association

In 1943, the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) pioneered the first organised street theatre in India, with the goal of propagating their beliefs on liberalism and teaching the masses about the repercussions of imperialism.

The history of the street theatre movement in India began with IPTA, which later extended across the country despite geographical and cultural hurdles. Women's issues, children's health and education, communism, and economic liberation have all been prominent themes in street plays.

Street plays are being used by organisations such as Jana Natya Manch, Pravah, Alarippu, Action India, Swatantra Theater, and Bihar Art Theater to raise awareness about issues.

BCCL

On the surface, the street theatre has a close relationship with India's indigenous folk theatre, but unlike the latter, it is not primarily intended for mass amusement. In a practical sense, street theatre is a type of group drama performed outdoors, primarily on the street, on a college or university campus, at a railway station, in a market, or in slums, where a group of artists can directly interact with a large audience in order to not only entertain but also to trigger activism.

The feature that distinguishes the street theatre from others is its mobility. Unlike traditional theatres, artists do not have to wait for their audiences to arrive in the hall, and audience members of street plays do not have to queue for tickets.

In street theatre, the audience comes to the theatre rather than the other way around. Unlike traditional modes of communication, which either use a medium between the communicator and the receiver or do away with the scope for feedback, street plays are primarily community-based, short in length, and allow for post-performance conversation with the audience, unlike traditional modes of communication, which either use a medium between the communicator and the receiver or do away with the scope for feedback.

BCCL

John P. McHale while talking about the relationship between advocacy and street theatre mentions the following quote of a theatre artist,

I think it is extremely effective. For instance, with street theater, we call it guerrilla theater, because we use it as a guerrilla tactic. We would not forewarn before announcements of our performances. What is a guerrilla tactic? You dont announce it. Because anyone who wanted to stop that action would be able to. Another thing with doing theater as the guerrilla theater is that it maximizes disruption of the wall. We all go around with these walls around us and its very easy to block something out. But if we have a very strong kick to it and something as unexpected as seeing theater or poetry being performed in a public place opens people, you dont expect that. It can have a greater impact on breaking through peoples walls.

Safdar Hashmi's contribution

An important part of street theatre history in India is Safdar Hashmi. Safdar Hashmi was the founding member of JANAM and an active CPI (M) leader who used street theatre for political and social activism. He actively criticized the problems existing in society through this art.

On January 1, 1989, Safdar Hashmi was attacked during a play. His group was performing a play named Halla Bol, in Delhi, when a troupe of political goons arrived at the place and assaulted Hashmi, who died the next day in the hospital.

Hashmi's death, as a prominent character in the theatre movement and one of the pioneers of Theater for Development in India, enraged a significant number of young theatre aficionados, and as a result, a steady surge of street theatre experimentation was evident in the following years. April 12 - Hashmi's birthday  is now commemorated as National Street Theater Day to honor his contributions in the early days of street theatre and to pay tribute to him.

"If street theatre has any definite tradition in India; it is the anti-imperialist tradition of our

people forged during the freedom movement. In other parts of the world, it is the peoples`

struggle for just social and economic order." - Safdar Hashmi.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.
Over 40,000 young Tamil Brahmin men cannot find brides in the state and so the Tamil Nadu-based association for Brahmins has launched an initiative to look for suitable matches within the community in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, according to Agencies as per TOI.

"We have launched a special movement on behalf of our Sangam," said Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association (Thambraas) president N Narayanan.

He mentioned this in an open letter published in the association's monthly Tamil magazine's issue in November.

For 10 Brahmin boys in marriageable age, only six girls available

"If there are 10 Brahmin boys in the marriageable age group, only six girls are available in Tamil Nadu. The association chief, in his letter, said coordinators would be appointed in Delhi, Lucknow and Patna to take forward the initiative. Narayanan said a person who can read, write and speak in Hindi would be appointed at the association's headquarters in the city to perform the coordination role," he said.

iStock

Some are bemused by the move.

"Though enough number of Tamil Brahmin girls are not available in the marriageable age group, that is not the one and only reason for boys not being able to find brides. Why do parents of boys want marriages to be held in swanky marriage halls? What stops them from conducting the marriage in a simple fashion? Why not in a temple or at home?" said M Parameswaran, who is an educationist.



"Big, fat weddings have become a status symbol, but are unfortunate. The community must choose progression and reject retrogression," he added.

iStock

"It is now not uncommon to see Tamil-Telugu Brahmin marriages or weddings between Kannada speaking Madhwas and Tamil speaking Smarthas. Something like this is unimaginable several decades ago," looking to get married.

"Years ago, even marriages between Thenkalai and Vadakalai sects in the Iyengar community were impossible. Today, it is happening, this move of the association is welcome," said an anonymous Vaishnavite Tamil Brahmin.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


Kiara Kaur, an Indian American five-year-old girl, was born in the U.S. and currently resides in the UAE with her parents. (Twitter photo)
The battery raw materials supply chain in China took a breather after a week-long holiday to mark the countrys national day in early October, with the removal  partially or otherwise  of extensive power cuts announced in late September in several production hubs. The supply chain is still vulnerable to power restrictions, however, which are likely to persist in winter.

Similarly to those for other commodities such as aluminium and zinc, the battery raw materials supply chain in China  from the production of raw materials upstream to cathode and anode materials downstream  has been affected by power restrictions since September.

Most producers affected by the power cuts resumed their operations to varying degrees after the October 1-7 public holiday. But fresh power restrictions will probably roll out in certain cities soon, sources said, though they do not expect such curbs to be too severe or prolonged for the battery raw materials sector, since it is a crucial segment that feeds into the government-advocated electrification of transportation.

Nevertheless, power restrictions still create uncertainties in both supply and demand, making market participants seeking direction more cautious.

Anode materials production

Chinas power crunch has affected the production of anode materials more severely than other segments in the battery raw materials supply chain, market participants told Fastmarkets.

Power restrictions in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region threaten to disrupt about 50% of the countrys upstream anode materials production, leading to surging prices and new projects shifting away from the region. Inner Mongolia is a major production hub for synthetic graphite due to its favorable electricity prices. Graphitization capacity in Inner Mongolia accounts for almost 45-50% of the national total; the rest is in the countrys southwestern region, where electricity rates are also lower.

"Energy consumption controls [in Inner Mongolia] began at the start of the year, tightening graphitization production for synthetic graphite anode materials. While we saw some operational improvements in the middle of the year, things have been getting worse in recent days with more critical power shortages," a China-based anode materials producer source said.

China produced around 55,000 tonnes of synthetic graphite in October, down by 5% from 58,000 tonnes a month earlier, according to sources. The graphitization process is a major part of synthetic graphite production. It consumes large amounts of energy  around 12,000-16,000kWh  to graphitize one tonne of synthetic graphite, according to sources. This makes up 20-30% of its production cost.

Meanwhile, market participants estimate that graphitization accounts for about 50-60% of the total cost in the production of synthetic anode materials.

"Tightening production capacity coincides with sound demand from the downstream battery manufacturing sector, both at home and abroad," a second anode materials producer source in China said. "As a result, increasing production costs need to be shared with downstream users. The synthetic anode materials price has grown by 15% against the first quarter."

While major producers in the country have sought to integrate graphitization capacity with their operations, the market is still reporting tight supply. About 50% of graphitization is carried out separately from the rest of the synthetic manufacturing process at independent facilities, mostly in Inner Mongolia, sources said. Because of the power woes in Inner Mongolia, producers might look elsewhere to set up the integrated facilities, they added.

"With a power crunch in the short term coupled with Chinas long-term goal of decarbonization, the expansion of the high energy-consuming graphitization lines will become increasingly difficult, especially in northern China. As such, we might see a growing trend of new operations in provinces such as Sichuan and Yunnan," a third anode materials producer source told Fastmarkets.

Cathode materials, feedstock salts

The recent power restrictions have disrupted production of both cathode materials and feedstock salts, including precursor raw materials and lithium salts that are used to produce cathode materials.

Typical precursor raw materials include nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate and manganese sulfate, which  together with lithium salts such as lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide  are used to produce nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) precursor materials.

The production of cathode materials usually consumes more power than that of their feedstock, according to market participants. The production of NCM 622 (Ni:Co:Mn: 6:2:2) and NCM 811 cathode materials in particular consumes the most power, they said. This is influenced by the fact that the production of nickel-rich NCM cathode materials involves two rounds of sintering, they added.

Some 10,000-12,000kWh of electricity is needed to produce one tonne of nickel-rich NCM cathode materials, according to several cathode materials producers. "Producers of cathode materials will be more cautious moving forward, and prepare for temporary power restrictions from local authorities that are made at short notice," a cathode materials producer source said. The source estimates that any future power restriction would not exceed 10-20% of their typical consumption.

Market participants are finding it hard to gauge whether the effect of power restrictions on cathode materials will exceed that on their feedstock, which results in uncertainties over demand along the value chain.

Demand trends

While market participants are unable to estimate the extent of the disruptions in various segments of the supply chain as a result of unpredictable power restrictions, they have noticed consumers at every level becoming more cautious about building up feedstock inventories. Demand for cathode materials in the second half of the year failed to outperform that in the first half, according to cathode materials producers.

Meanwhile, some market participants have pointed out that a potential shortage of anode materials is likely to damp battery manufacturers appetite for cathode materials. "If battery manufacturers cant secure enough anode materials, then they cant produce batteries. So there will be less need for them to buy cathode materials," a precursor materials producer source said.

But sources at one leading battery manufacturer and several major cathode materials producers told Fastmarkets that such concerns have yet to materialize in reality. The same battery manufacturer source downplayed the supply bottleneck affecting anode materials for its operations despite continuing disruptions in the production of such materials due to power cuts. "It is less likely for consumers to have difficulty in sourcing anode materials," the battery manufacturer source said. "The crucial issue is whether they can accept the increasingly higher prices [for anode materials].

"As long as they keep purchasing anode materials, demand for cathode materials wont be affected. However, it is a fact that all battery raw materials prices have risen too quickly," the manufacturer source added.

Additionally, demand for NCM cathode materials has grown at a slower pace in recent months because of a worldwide shortage of semi-conductors and a preference for lithium iron phosphate batteries among producers of non-luxury electric vehicles in China, according to sources.

Elsewhere in the upstream market, restocking appetite for feedstock salts has waned amid caution among cathode materials producers, resulting in a slower rally of lithium prices in the country after the holiday earlier this month.

Fastmarkets assessment of the lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot price range, ex-works domestic China, was 190,000-200,000 yuan ($29,697-31,260) per tonne on Thursday October 21, unchanged from a week earlier. Prior to the holiday, the price had been mostly experiencing weekly double-digit increases in percentage terms in September.

Fastmarkets assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, spot price range, exw domestic China, was 177,000-205,000 yuan per tonne on the same day, narrowing upward by 2,000 yuan per tonne from 175,000-205,000 yuan per tonne a week earlier. Prior to the holiday, prices had been rising over several weeks in September at rates of around 10%.

The range widened amid varied purchasing strategies among leading and marginal consumers, and the rate of increases slowed after the National Day break in comparison with pricing sessions in September.

Auxiliary materials prices

Disruptions in the production of certain chemical products that are essential for the production of cathode materials and the upstream feedstock salts have been more significant, according to market participants. "Production costs for battery raw materials producers have risen sharply with prices for electricity, sulfuric acid and liquid caustic soda surging," a second cathode materials producer source noted.

Spot prices for sulfuric acid and liquid caustic soda have risen by about 50% compared with levels in the first half of the year, according to market participants.

In addition, China will allow its floating electricity prices to fluctuate by as much as 20% of the base price from October 15. The floating price limit of 20% will not apply to industries that consume high amounts of electricity, or if their power demand is met via term contracts negotiated directly between them and the grid corporation, the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) said.

These elevated costs have either already contributed to rising prices for salts such as cobalt sulfate and lithium carbonate, or will do so in the future.

Fastmarkets price assessment of the cobalt sulfate 20.5% Co basis, exw China, was 89,000-93,000 yuan per tonne on Wednesday October 20, up by 9,000-11,000 yuan per tonne (12.35%) from a month earlier.

The processing fee for lithium carbonate has also almost doubled due to soaring prices for liquid caustic soda, a trader told Fastmarkets. The upward momentum for lithium carbonate prices will be sustained, the trader said.
A Queens, New York, man has been charged with murdering a woman for life insurance benefits.

A superseding indictment was filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Cory Martin with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Martin was previously charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and fraudulent use of identification relating to an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain life insurance policies in the name of Brandy Odom, a 26-year-old woman, murder her and then claim benefits under the life insurance policies.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, assistant director-in-charge for the Federal Bureau of Investigations New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot F. Shea, commissioner for the New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges.

The defendant allegedly brutally murdered a young woman, dismembered her body and scattered her body parts in a Brooklyn park in order to profit from life insurance policies that he fraudulently obtained in her name, stated United States Attorney Peace in a U.S. Department of Justice press release. He will now be held to account for his alleged heinous acts. We hope that todays charges bring some measure of solace to the victims family.

As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, in March 2017, a year prior to Odoms murder, Martin and a co-conspirator fraudulently obtained two life insurance policies in the victims name. They arranged for premium payments to the life insurance companies to be made by Western Union money order and by using a debit card in Odoms name. In April 2018, Martin allegedly strangled Odom.

In the early morning of April 8 and April 9, 2018, Martin disposed of Odoms body parts in Canarsie Park with the assistance of his co-conspirator. After Odoms murder, at Martins direction, several unsuccessful attempts to claim benefits under Odoms life insurance policies were made by his co-conspirator.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Martin faces a mandatory penalty of life imprisonment or possibly the death penalty.

The governments case is being handled by the Offices Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar and Emily Dean are in charge of the prosecution.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Topics Abuse Molestation New York
A federal jury has awarded $2 million to a high-ranking Boston police detective who said in a lawsuit against the department and her former supervisor that she was the victim of gender discrimination.

The jury Monday after a four-week trial and several hours of deliberations found that Lt. Detective Donna Gavin, who led the Police Departments human trafficking unit for nearly a decade, had proved all her claims, The Boston Globe reported.

The jury found that the former supervisor, Capt. Detective Mark Hayes, discriminated against Gavin because she is a woman, created a hostile work environment, and retaliated against her after she filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

Were thrilled on behalf of Donna Gavin and all the women in the Boston Police Department and the women who may want to work there in the future, said Nicholas Carter, Gavins attorney. The jury has clearly found that Donna Gavin was discriminated against and retaliated against and that thats completely unacceptable.

Hayes, his attorneys and lawyers for the city declined to comment. A spokesperson for the mayors office said the verdict is under review.

Gavin, 57, alleged that she was targeted solely based on her gender to thwart her career and prevent her from reaching the command staff.

Attorneys for the city said that Hayes had legitimate concerns about the quality of Gavins work and that he was simply holding her accountable. They said there was no evidence her career had suffered.

Hayes lawyer, Evan Ouellette, said Hayes was motivated by facts, not gender, and does not have an issue with women in power.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Law Enforcement
Vancouver, Canadas third-largest city, is cut off from the rest of the country by land after days of storms caused flooding and mudslides that have blocked major highways and rail lines.

In response to what local officials are calling the storm of the century, British Columbia declared a state of emergency on Wednesday that will allow it, if necessary, to prohibit non-essential travel, hoarding of goods, and price gouging.

Storm of Century Halts Traffic at Canadas Biggest Port, Adding to Supply Chain Woes Canadian Storms Force Shut-Down of Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline

These are extraordinary events not measured before, not contemplated before, Premier John Horgan told reporters, saying that the volume of rain that fell on Merritt, a town of 7,000 people northeast of Vancouver, was three times the historical high.

The deluge left the Port of Vancouver, Canadas largest port, stranded without access to trucks and rail cars to get goods in and out of the region. Water and landslides have blocked the tracks of the nations two major railways and washed away parts of the main east-west road artery, the Trans-Canada Highway.

With all three major highways through the provinces interior shut, panic buying has set in.

Everyone, realizing that all the highways are cut off for the next little while, basically cleared out the grocery stores, Stephen Way, a resident of Kamloops, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) northeast of Vancouver, said by phone. Its just like the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Everything is gone from toilet paper to fresh produce to meat.

Grocery chain Sobeys Inc. said all shipments in and out of the Vancouver region are on hold due to current road conditions and asked customers to maintain their regular shopping habits. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the government is monitoring reports of gasoline stations running out of fuel.

Horgan warned residents against hoarding. You do not need 48 eggs, a dozen will do, he said at a news conference.

Its the second time in less than five months that British Columbia  a major conduit to Asian markets and home to one of the busiest ports on the West Coast  has been paralyzed by extreme weather.

The impact is expected to be significant and will have a cascading effect, says Wade Sobkowich, executive director of the Western Grain Elevator Association. There will be vessel delays at a time when freight rates and demurrage are already high because of supply chain logjams, he said. The association represents major shippers including Viterra Inc. and Richardson International.

More than 1,500 rail cars carrying grain are estimated to be idled in the Vancouver corridor, up sharply from 947 the prior day, Ag Transport Coalition data show.

The picture looks bleak for the coming days, Ag Transport said in a report Wednesday.

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. and Canadian National Railway Co. are still completing their inspections and havent identified when they might be able to bring lines back into operation.

The Trans Mountain pipeline, which carries oil from Alberta to the Vancouver area and onward to refineries in Washington state, was shut on Sunday due to rain. Teams are working on restart plans for the pipeline and finished initial assessment of the affected areas by air on Tuesday, the company said in a release.

It has been a year of insane weather whiplash for Canada, said Jeff Masters, meteorologist for Yale Climate Connections.

Some of the worst flooding has been near the town of Lytton, which grabbed global headlines in June when it burnt to the ground after recording the highest temperature ever in Canada  49.6 degrees Celsius (121 degrees Fahrenheit).

Summer wildfires almost certainly raised the threat of floods for the region, Masters said. The burn-scarred Earth lets water run freely and raises the risk of flowing mud and debris, which can cause even more damage. This years heat waves, which scientists say couldnt have reached records without climate change, raised the risk of fires.

So this creates a situation where the flooding was likely made worse by last summers climate troubles, he said. When you want to talk attribution, it is not just the event that is going on but the event that preceded it.

With assistance from Jen Skerritt, Robert Tuttle and Brian Sullivan.

Top photograph: The flooded Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford, British Columbia on Nov. 17. Photo credit: Taehoon Kim/Bloomberg

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Windstorm
FRANKFURT  Allianz Chief Executive Officer Oliver Baete said on Thursday that the financial world was getting more dangerous, not safer, setting an ominous tone for investors.

Baete, who oversees one of the worlds largest insurers and asset managers, pointed to high valuations in the car and technology sectors, accidents like the failures of supply chain finance company Greensill and hedge fund Archegos, and weaker banking regulation.

All lights on risk management are flashing red, he said at an investor conference.

The financial system is not getting safer. It is getting more dangerous again, he added.

Munich-based Allianz is one of the worlds biggest money managers with more than 2.5 trillion euros ($2.84 trillion) in assets under management through bond giant Pimco and Allianz Global Investors.

In describing the risks, Baete made no mention of the demise of some of Allianzs own funds last year. The so-called Structured Alpha group of funds plunged in value after the coronavirus pandemic sent markets into a tailspin.

In that aftermath, Allianz is facing a slew of investor lawsuits and related investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Baete criticized regulators for banning the insurance industry from paying dividends during 2020 because of the uncertainty it created for investors, resulting in a rising cost of capital.

That was a disaster for our industry, and it shouldnt repeat itself, he said.

($1 = 0.8818 euros)

(Reporting by Tom Sims and Alexander Huebner; editing by Emma Thomasson, Kim Coghill and Angus MacSwan)

Topics Allianz
Ant Group Co.s profit rose an estimated 39% in the June quarter, attributed to a gain in investments as billionaire Jack Mas fintech giant grapples with the impact of Chinas rapidly shifting rules for private enterprise.

The company contributed 6.5 billion yuan ($1 billion) to Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.s earnings, a filing showed Thursday. Based on Alibabas one-third stake in Ant, that translates to an estimated 19.71 billion yuan in profit, up 39% from a year earlier. Ants earnings lag one quarter behind Alibabas. Ant declined to comment.

The year-over-year increase in share of profit of Ant Group was mainly due to an increase in net gains arising from fair value changes in the investments held by Ant Group, Alibaba said in its statement.

Executives are grappling with how to carve the sprawling firm into separate ventures with state-backed partners, people familiar with the plans have said. While regulators led by the central bank have handed down broad guidelines, theyve been short on details, leaving Ant to proceed by trial and error, the people have said.

In the wake of Chinas yearlong crackdown on the tech industry, firms are seeking to turn the focus away from increasing sales and more toward sustainability and philanthropy  key pillars of President Xi Jinpings drive to reshape Chinas economy.

Ants $35 billion initial public offering was snuffed out by China just over a year ago, and optimism about a speedy revival of the plans has faded while lofty valuation estimates that once reached $300 billion have been cut by as much as two-thirds.

The overhaul of Ant runs deep. Its ubiquitous super-app Alipay, a one-stop shop for the financial needs of a billion users, is on the brink of being sliced up, while its treasure trove of consumer data is to be thrown open to rivals for a fee.

As part of the overhaul, Ant has ramped up its capital base to 35 billion yuan and is moving to build firewalls in an ecosystem that once allowed it to direct traffic from Alipay to services like wealth management, consumer lending and on-demand neighborhood services and delivery.

China kicked off a campaign to rein in its tech giants last year with curbs on fintech and an antitrust probe into Alibaba that culminated in a $2.8 billion fine. Since then, nearly all aspects of the internet sector have come under greater scrutiny.

The companys affiliate Alibaba reported revenue of 200.69 billion yuan in its September quarter, just short of the 206.2 billion yuan average of estimates. It forecast 20% to 23% growth in fiscal 2022 revenue, below the 27% that analysts are projecting.

Topics Profit Loss China
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at re/insurer SiriusPoint, insurer Hiscox and broker BMS.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

SiriusPoint Appoints Bernina Res Kull as CRO

SiriusPoint Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, has appointed Andreas Kull as chief risk officer (CRO), effective March 1, 2022.

Kull will be responsible for overseeing SiriusPoints enterprise-wide risk management strategy as SiriusPoint continues to strengthen its culture of underwriting excellence with an appropriate risk appetite in an evolving landscape of risks.

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, he will be a member of the executive leadership team, reporting to chief executive officer, Sid Sankaran.

Kull joins from Bernina Re, where he served as CRO and member of the executive team. Prior to that, he was the CRO and member of the executive committee at Tokio Millennium Re AG (TMR) and was previously the CRO of AXA Winterthur. His work experience also includes consulting as an executive director at Ernst & Young as well as risk management and actuarial roles at Converium and Zurich Insurance.

Strong, disciplined risk management is essential to SiriusPoints disruptive and entrepreneurial approach. With his extensive industry experience, Andreas will ensure that our enterprise risk strategy and capabilities support underwriting excellence, enable our long-term transformational growth, and help us to deliver sustainable results, commented Sankaran. I am delighted to welcome a risk professional of his caliber to the team as we continue to build out our global business.

Kull is a member of the Swiss and German actuarial societies, with a CERA designation. He holds doctorate in physics from Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich, Germany, and a masters degree in physics from the University of Bern, Switzerland.

***

Hiscox Names Breeze Interim Group CFO

Hiscox Ltd., the specialist insurer, announced that Liz Breeze will be appointed interim group chief financial officer, subject to regulatory approval, while the search for a permanent group CFO is conducted.

Breeze joined Hiscox in 2012 and has held a number of senior finance roles across the group, including group technical accountant, head of Finance for Hiscox UK, and most recently CFO for Hiscox Re & ILS. As part of the Hiscox Re & ILS leadership team, Breeze has driven significant improvements in both financial systems and capital efficiency. She is a chartered accountant, having trained with KPMG, and previously worked as part of its insurance practice in London and Bermuda.

In her new role, Breeze will work closely with Aki Hussain, group CFO and CEO designate, and take on the group CFO duties from Jan. 1, 2022. She will be based in London and join the group executive committee.

Liz has a deep understanding of our business, having spent time in both our big-ticket and retail operations. She has also been an important participant in our work to embed structural finance change as part of our multi-year finance transformation program, said Hussain.

***

Tysers Simpson to Lead BMS Terrorism, Political Violence Team

BMS, the independent specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, announced the appointment of Harry Simpson to lead its new terrorism and political violence team. The team will report to Chris Ritchie, managing director of international direct & facultative, BMS group.

Simpson brings with him more than 19 years experience in the terrorism and political violence field. Until he resigned to join BMS, he was director and head of terrorism & political violence at Tysers.

Simpson began his career at Glencairn in 2002 as a broker and worked alongside Chris Ritchie, who at the time was its head of international property.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters
A Detroit man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and identity theft in a scheme to defraud nine states out of more than $1.6 million in unemployment insurance benefits, announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.

Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General

Jordan Armstrong, 29, of Detroit, entered his guilty pleas this morning, via Zoom, before United States District Judge Victoria A. Roberts.

According to court records, beginning on or about May 4, 2020 and continuing through at least October 21, 2020, Armstrong, with the intent to defraud, successfully submitted applications for unemployment insurance benefits on behalf of individuals in Michigan, California, Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Massachusetts, New York, and Louisiana. Armstrong also unsuccessfully submitted claims in eight other statesin total filing more than 300 claims across 17 states and territories. Armstrong submitted these claims using these individuals Social Security Numbers and did so without their permission. Armstrong directed the benefits to be paid out via debit cards and then used these cards to repeatedly withdrawal the funds via ATMs throughout Metro Detroit.

As part of his guilty plea, Armstrong will be required to pay restitution to the victim-states in the total amount of $1,611,202.

Armstrong faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment on the charge of wire fraud and a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years imprisonment on the charge of identity theft.

Armstrong will be sentenced on March 22, 2022.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Michigan
Doyle: MMC Group President, COO; South: President, CEO, Marsh; Klisura: President, CEO, Guy Carpenter; Donnelly: President, Marsh US and Canada.

Marsh McLennan announced changes to its executive committee effective January 1, 2022.

The company has promoted John Doyle to group president and chief operating officer of Marsh McLennan. He will also continue as vice chair of the company. Doyle is currently president and CEO of insurance broker Marsh, a position he assumed in 2017. In his new role, he will work with president and CEO Dan Glaser on overall strategic business and operational objectives.

The CEOs of Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman will report to Doyle and he will report to Glaser.

Martin South, president of Marsh US and Canada, will succeed Doyle as president and CEO of Marsh. He has also been appointed vice chair of Marsh McLennan and will join Marsh McLennans executive committee. South has more than 30 years of global insurance experience, including serving as CEO for Marshs Asia-Pacific region, Marsh UK & Ireland and Marsh Europe.

Also, Marsh announced the appointment of Pat Donnelly, currently head of Marsh Specialty for Marsh US and Canada, as president of Marsh US and Canada. Donnelly will succeed South and will report to South and join Marshs executive committee. In the role, Donnelly will oversee Marshs insurance brokerage and risk advisory businesses across the US and Canada. Donnelly brings 20 years of experience to the post, having served in his current role since 2019 when JLT was acquired by Marsh McLennan. Previously, he was CEO of JLT Specialty US and held executive leadership positions at Aon Risk Solutions.

Dean Klisura, president of Guy Carpenter, has been named president and CEO of Guy Carpenter, succeeding Peter Hearn. Klisura was also appointed vice chair of Marsh McLennan and will succeed Hearn on Marsh McLennans executive committee. Klisura had been with Marsh for nearly 30 years, serving in executive leadership roles in Marshs Global Placement and Advisory Services and Global Specialties businesses before joining Guy Carpenter last year.

Hearn, currently CEO of Guy Carpenter, will continue in his role as vice chair of Marsh McLennan, focusing on sales and colleague development initiatives. Hearn will continue to report to Glaser.

Dominic Burke, vice chair of Marsh McLennan, will retire in mid-January. Burke, former CEO of Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT), joined Marsh McLennan following its acquisition of JLT in 2019.
Zurich North America announced it will significantly expand the Zurich Apprenticeship Program, doubling the number of participants in 2022.

CEO Kristof Terryn said the insurer plans to hire approximately 70 apprentices in at least nine cities where the insurance provider has offices, including Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Overland Park (Kansas), Philadelphia, San Francisco and Schaumburg (Illinois), as well as in certain agricultural areas where Zurichs crop insurance business operates.

After opportunities are posted in the first quarter of 2022, apprentices will be hired to work in at least 14 of Zurichs businesses and functions, including claims, underwriting, sales, information technology, crop insurance, cyber and other areas. They will begin the program in August 2022.

Zurich introduced its U.S. apprenticeship program in 2016 as an earn-while-you-learn opportunity to launch a career in insurance. Zurich has typically hired 24-30 apprentices in each cohort and has added focus areas for apprentices over the years.

Its no secret that theres fierce competition for talent right now, but thats not the reason were expanding, Terryn said. Were growing the Zurich Apprenticeship Program because apprentices have brought value to our business from the very beginning. This is a talent source that has proven its value and versatility through many different market conditions, including at the height of the pandemic, when we expanded our program from our suburban Schaumburg headquarters to New York City.

Through Zurichs two-year program, apprentices split their time each week, with three days of on-the-job training under the mentorship of Zurich colleagues and two days focused on college coursework toward an associate degree, with tuition funded by Zurich.

Apprentices receive a full-time salary and full benefits and are guaranteed a position and promotion with Zurich when they successfully complete their apprenticeship. Zurich said it has placed 100% of apprentices who complete the two-year program in jobs and the cumulative retention rate for Zurich apprentices is approximately 85%.

Zurich says the program attracts people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Apprentices have included high school graduates, military veterans, people returning to the workforce after a hiatus and workers looking to move from a job to a career. Applicants typically do not have a college degree.

Zurich has shared its model with other organizations to help expand apprenticeship opportunities, including the Borough of Manhattan Community College. As the program expands, Zurich is also working with nonprofit organizations, such as Futures and Options, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Year Up, and various secondary education institutions around the country.

Source: Zurich North America
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans has agreed to pay more than $1 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for payment to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the repair or replacement of certain facilities damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The settlement, which is based on the Archdiocese of New Orleans financial condition, required final approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, which approved the settlement on Oct. 26.

FEMA offers critical financial support when natural disasters strike, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Departments Civil Division. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that these taxpayer funds are properly spent to help disaster victims rebuild their communities.

The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2007 through 2013, the Archdiocese of New Orleans knowingly signed certifications for FEMA funding that contained false or fraudulent damage descriptions and repair estimates that were prepared by AECOM, an architecture and engineering firm based in Los Angeles. Among other things, the alleged false descriptions included purported damage to a nonexistent central air conditioning unit and misstated a facilitys square footage.

Federal disaster funds are an instrumental component in the effort to assist disaster victims with their recovery, said the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The favorable resolution of this False Claims Act matter illustrates the collaborative efforts and firm commitment by our federal partners to use all available remedies to address signs of fraud, waste and abuse.

Funds fraudulently obtained from FEMA deprive deserving recipients and communities truly in need, said Inspector General Dr. Joseph V. Cuffari for Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG). We appreciate the support of our law enforcement partners, and this outcome is another example of the continuing successful partnership between the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, the Department of Justices Civil Litigation Branch in Washington, DC and the Eastern District of Louisianas U.S. Attorneys Office.

The settlement resolved allegations originally filed in a lawsuit brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Robert Romero, an AECOM Project Specialist. The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in any recovery. The False Claims Act also permits the United States to intervene in such an action, as it did in this case, in part, against AECOM, the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and other disaster relief applicants in June 2020. One of those applicants, Xavier University of Louisiana, previously agreed to pay the United States $12 million to resolve its alleged role in the submission of false and misleading repair estimates prepared on its behalf by AECOM. The lawsuit against AECOM and another disaster relief applicant remains ongoing. As part of its settlement, the Archdiocese of New Orleans agreed to cooperate in the litigation.

The whistleblower lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Robert Romero v. AECOM, Inc., et al., No. 16-cv-15092 (E.D. La.). As part of the settlement with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Mr. Romero received approximately $199,500.

The False Claims Act lawsuit is being handled by the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, with assistance from FEMAs Office of Chief Counsel. Investigative support is being provided by DHS OIG, through its Major Fraud and Corruption Unit and New Orleans Resident Office.

The claims alleged in the lawsuit, including those resolved by the Archdiocese of New Orleans, are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Topics Claims
Oklahoma is among 12 state attorneys general filing a federal lawsuit over the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandates for health care workers.

Attorney General John OConnor said Nov. 16 that Oklahoma has a shortage of nurses as it was, and the mandate would worsen the situation.

I will not tolerate the Biden administration threatening Oklahoma healthcare workers with their jobs after they have fearlessly braved the pandemic, OConnor said.

OConnor has also sued Ascension Healthcare over its vaccine mandate for employees in the Tulsa area and said Ascension was violating a state judges Friday order restraining the mandate.

OConnor said he sent the company a cease-and-desist letter, telling it to reinstate employees who were suspended or fired after seeking religious exemptions to the vaccinations.

It appears that Ascension is determined to trample on the sincerely held religious beliefs of the healthcare heroes it employs, OConnor said.

Ascension has moved the case to federal court. Company representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

OConnor previously joined more than a dozen other states in a Nov. 4 lawsuit that challenged a COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirement at all private employers of 100 workers or more.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Oklahoma
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is suing the founders of an e-cigarette maker over his concerns that their product is being marketed to children through kid-friendly flavors and poor age verification.

Stein announced at a news conference that he is suing Juul founders James Monsees and Adam Bowen. He also said he is launching a statewide investigation into several e-cigarette manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

All companies and individuals involved in manufacturing, distributing and selling e-cigarettes in North Carolina should hear this message loud and clear, Stein said. If you get North Carolinas teens addicted to nicotine, there will be consequences.

In June, Juul Labs Inc. was to pay $40 million to North Carolina and take more action to prevent underage use and sales under the terms of an agreement with the state. Stein had sued Juul previously, accusing it of employing unfair and deceptive practices that targeted young people to use its vaping products, which deliver addictive nicotine. The lawsuit was scheduled to be heard in July.

A Juul spokesman had no immediate comment on the latest lawsuit.

Stein also targeted another e-cigarette company that he said sells kid-friendly flavors such as chocolate milk and strawberry doughnut. He also said his investigation would look into retailers statewide which are located near middle schools and high schools who are selling e-cigarettes, three distributors and one online seller.

The attorney general said he would urge Robert Califf, nominated to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration by President Joe Biden, to create national, industry-wide regulations on flavored e-cigarettes.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits North Carolina
A Georgia man who claimed he found a hair in his McDonalds hamburger has now been charged with insurance fraud.

Ronnie Bernard Truesdale, 41, of Raleigh, was arrested this week after authorities determined that he had manipulated an image in his claim to Zurich North America, an insurer for McDonalds Restaurants, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a bulletin.

Truesdale claimed the hair made him nauseous and he sought medical attention. His claim was for $1,596 in medical expenses and for pain and suffering. Investigators determined that the hair had been placed on the burger after the wrapper was removed, Causey said.

Truesdale was released on $10,000 bond.

Insurance fraud hurts consumers, Causey said. Approximately 20% of your insurance premium goes to cover the cost of fraud.

The Department of Insurance also announced that two other people had been charged with insurance fraud for providing false information about vehicles.

Levi Baril, 36, of Fayetteville, was arrested after filing an insurance claim with GEICO on a Ford pickup truck that he said was stolen in July. Investigators found that Baril had actually traded the truck for another vehicle in 2018, the DOI said.

In Raleigh, Malik Gerald Devone, 26, was charged with fraud after he allegedly falsified the date of a car crash, the department said in a news release. Devone filed a claim with Discovery Insurance Co., contending that the accident occurred on July 28.

Authorities determined that it had happened on June 2, before Devone had purchased insurance coverage on the vehicle.

Topics Fraud Abuse Molestation
San Diego, California has agreed to a nearly $24 million settlement with a cyclist paralyzed seven years ago when a car driven by an intoxicated driver collided with him on a blind turn.

The City Council approved the payout to Juan Carlos Vinolo in September, the Union-Tribune reported.

The $23.75 million settlement is one of the largest to a single plaintiff in the citys recent history, the newspaper said.

Theresa Lynn Owens was convicted of driving under the influence of methamphetamine and is serving a 19-year prison sentence. But Vinolo filed a lawsuit in 2016 contending the city also deserved part of the blame.

His suit alleged that blind corners on the one-way road on Fiesta Island were made more dangerous by overgrown bushes and high berms that officials knew were problematic but never addressed.

In 2019, a civil jury assigned 27% of the liability to the city and 73% to Owens.

City Attorney Mara Elliott said after the jury verdict that officials couldnt be expected to prevent an intoxicated driver from speeding on a one-way road in the wrong direction. Elliott declined Monday to provide any additional comment.

Vinolo suffered a severed spine in the 2014 crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
It was Christmas jumpers that were the order of the day as opposed to face coverings as students gathered at pubs across Cork City today to mark an early start to the festive season.

To the outside observer, the optics were not great, particularly given stark warnings from public health officials to cut socialising amid a surge in Covid cases and hospitalisations. Large queues, with hundreds reported in some places, were seen from early morning outside a number of pubs around Cork City without much social distancing being observed.

However, inside it was a different story with students saying there were strict measures in place, including the checking of Covid certs and IDs.

Students wait patiently in the queue outside Annie Macs pub on Bandon Rd, The Lough, Cork at 2pm today. Picture: Larry Cummins

In the Magazine Rd area, students began queuing at around 10am and, by lunchtime, two pubs in the area had queues of around 50-100 people.

By 2pm, the doors at both pubs in the area were closed, with capacity seemingly reached.

Two students from Munster Technological University (MTU) said they were going out as they were in their final year and wanted to mark their last Christmas in college.

Weve been locked up for two years so were over it, they said when asked about the Covid situation.

Were vaccinated. We havent really been able to experience college life at all. When asked about antigen testing, both said they had taken one before going out and will take another test tomorrow

Gardai on the scene on Magazine Rd said students had been very well behaved. The gardai had been on the scene from around 10am to supervise queues but said there had been no issues.

Michael Coffey, whose family own Annie Mac's pub in the area said they had a doorman working to ensure Covid certs and IDs were checked.

He said they were lucky to have a large outdoor area and had staff on hand to ensure there was orderly queuing for the bar.

It was a lot busier around the area than people thought, he said.

We were well prepared. We had two bouncers and five or six staff on.

When asked if staff had concerns, Mr Coffey said they closed the doors and cleared the pub twice to ensure staff got a break and to clean the place up.

The local Centra in the area also saw large queues for food in the morning and at lunchtime. Owner Denis Whelton praised the students for their behaviour saying they were exceptionally well behaved.

"Two of them came in early on, asked us for bags, and they gathered up all the litter outside the pubs  which people don't hear about," said Mr Whelton.

"I think they just wanted a release valve to go out and socialise. Unfortunately with the way they're packed on the footpath to queue up together isn't great, but we really don't have any hassle."

One student said she was concerned as she was going to be seeing her parents at the weekend. However, the first-year student said she would be taking antigen tests after being out.

Another, who had been in Cissie Youngs pub on Barrack St, said staff had been strict there.

He said they werent allowed to move around in the pub, and that vaccine passports and IDs were checked. Cissie Youngs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The student said he had taken antigen tests on Wednesday and Thursday, and had plans to take another on Friday.

Christmas jumpers were much in evidence as hundreds of UCC and MTU students gathered in pubs on the day Ireland's pubs revert to midnight closing due to Covid restrictions. Picture: Larry Cummins

Nearby, there were also large queues outside other bars.

Eric OMahony, who is a manager at the Harp Bar on Pouladuff Rd said capacity is capped at 250 people with Covid measures in place.

He said people began queuing to get in at 10.30am, when the pub opened.

Covid passes are being checked, IDs are being checked, and theyre being let in in groups of six, he told the Irish Examiner.

He said the pub has security on and theyve been at full capacity since around 11am. He added that they were operating a one-in, one-out system.

The colleges in the city do not organise any events linked to the gatherings.

Catherine Clancy, who is chair of the Magazine Road Residents Association said she had some concerns about the number of students out socialising

A Covid outbreak in the area is a cause for concern due to lack of social distancing by students, she said, adding that, due to the queues of students, the local shop has been inaccessible to residents.

'Covid passes are being checked, IDs are being checked, and theyre being let in in groups of six': Controls in place at the Harp Bar in Ballyphehane, Cork, pictured at 1.30pm this afternoon. Picture: Larry Cummins

Ms Clancy said that to see students coming out of shops and off-licenses with water bottles, emptying them and mixing [alcohol] on the street was unacceptable.

Ms Clancy did praise the support that community gardai and University College Cork (UCC) have given them to date, saying that if complaint forms are needed, they will be received.
Reinforcing their sophisticated sand dune strategy to protect Key Biscaynes shoreline, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials Wednesday presented their management study at a pair of virtual open house meetings to discuss the next 50-year protection plan.

Officials gave details on three important parts of the project for Key Biscaynes tentatively selected process, including:

- The Corps plan to top off the newer, higher, reinforced dunes along the ocean perhaps every two years;

- Total damage reduction and recreational benefits of $9,974,000, as opposed to an unprotected shoreline;

- A timeline that could see construction begin as early as 2024-26, depending on Congress approval and appropriations.

Dr. Roland Samimy, the Villages Chief Resiliency and Sustainability Officer, said a lot of engineering and science has gone into the study.

We (Key Biscayne) have had a long relationship with the county, placing sand on our beaches for 46 years, he said. But as the current 50-year plan (which actually began in 1968 and work starting in 1974) is expiring (in 2025). We have to go back to Congress to continue this relationship to help transform the ... international city we have today.

Samimy and other officials pointed out other significant benefits are derived from shoreline protection, including those economically -- preserving property and tourism -- and environmentally --no impact on seagrass resources.

The Miami-Dade County Coastal Storm Risk study originally only included the area from Bakers Haulover Inlet at Bal Harbour  an artificial inlet cut in 1925, where erosion has been the greatest  all the way to Government Cut in South Miami Beach.

But, Key Biscayne  with its coastal vulnerability not only to storms but also impending rising sea level  was added to the federally funded environmental assessment last November, increasing a three-year $2 million study to four years and $3 million.

Marty Durkin, lead planner on the committee, showed what Key Biscaynes beaches looked like in the 70s, with a seawall and minimal beach in front of it.

But now its important to protect everything from infrastructure, environment, recreation to tourism, he said.

The process is currently in a 30-day window for community engagement, with residents being asked to submit comments or concerns by Dec. 12 to the Army Corps at kristen.l.donofrio@usace.army.mil or email VKBShorelineProtection@keybiscayne.fl.gov directly to the Village.

From there, the agency will issue a selection decision milestone in February, 2022, before the state and agency review final report comes out in August. Then, the final report from the Chief of Engineers is due in October, and engineering phases may begin no earlier than 2024.

Studies were conducted looking at the need over the next 50 years, using time-lapse technology with the highest-level sea rise as the model. Studies also compared structural and nature-based features if alternative measures were used, such as simply replenishing sand every few years.

Now, with a plan calling for a reinforced dune wall with a concrete cap and tie-back walls along the northern and southern boundaries, Key Biscayne appears headed into the meat of the $267.6 million project that includes construction and maintenance.

Key Biscaynes low-lying elevation was a key in being selected to this point. Durkin said the Corps will be using the same footprint as they have done up the coast, where some dunes rise as high as 13 feet. On Key Biscayne, Samimy said dune crests could reach as high as 12 feet in some areas, maybe five feet in others.

The Main Segment of the plan, from Bal Harbour to Miami Beach, would mean $40,552,000 in total benefits, including a whopping $36,817,000 in recreation benefits.

Theres no word if President Bidens Infrastructure Bill, which passed this week, would absorb any of those expenditures.
Finnish telecommunications vendor Nokia has reached 4,000 patent families declared as essential to 5G standards, reflecting the companys leadership in cellular technology R&D and standardisation.

Nokia claims it has defined fundamental technologies in 5G, working with the 3GPP organisation to establish 5G standards and launching 5G networks.

As 5G accelerates, Nokia says its 5G technology will make room for a wide range of use cases including immersive experiences, connected vehicles, and cloud robotics.

Were proud to have reached the milestone of 4,000 high quality patent families declared as essential to 5G but the work does not stop there. Our focus is on innovating for the future. Driving the development of the next generation of cellular standards and enabling entire industries to build upon our inventions, Nokia president Jenni Lukander says.

Nokias patent portfolio is built on more than 130 billion invested in R&D since 2000 and over three decades of driving cellular standardisation and contains around 20,000 patent families (each patent family consists of multiple individual patents).

Nokia says several independent third-party studies have confirmed its leadership in standard essential patents, including 5G, and this year, it became one of the first companies to achieve ISO 9001 certification for its high-quality patent portfolio management.

Nokia contributes its inventions to open standards in return for the right to license them on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Companies can license and use these technologies without the need to make their own substantial investments in R&D.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 12 November 2021.
Telecommunications company Optus earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) went up by 6.6% from the same period last year at $1,042 million driven by continued momentum in its mobile business.

According to Optus, despite the conditions posed by COVID-19 such as lockdowns and travel restrictions, the companys financial performance remained strong.

Optus reported that its EBIT was $145 million, up from $69 million in the same period last year.

Operating revenue declined 3.5% year on year, down to $3,932 million. Optus attributes the decline to lower NBN migration revenue with NBN completing its network rollout and from lower equipment revenue due to supply shortages arising from the impact of COVID lockdowns.

Excluding NBN migrations, revenue increased slightly due to strong mobile performance and a 13% year on year growth in ARPUs, reflecting strong price discipline, supported by exciting features and services that appeal to customers.

Free cash flow remained strong at A$416 million for the half year.

Noting the positive trends, Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin comments: These half year results demonstrate our strategy is the right one and we are optimistic about Australias reopening, which will also re-instate COVID-affected revenue streams as we welcome customers back to our retail stores and travellers back into Australia.

Mobile service revenue was up by 9.7% year on year driven by higher post-paid revenue from Optus Choice plans and positive net connections. In the first half, the mobile customer base grew by 66,500 overall and post-paid customer base rose to 82,300.

Optus says customers have responded well to new Optus Living Network features such as Unlimited Data Days, Optus Pause and Call Translate, and also the launch of Choice Plans with subscription pricing.

SubHub, released in August, is a subscription aggregator service and new market for Optus. Optus for Business was also re-branded, with modular plan offerings which provide more flexibility to customers.

Continued investment in 5G saw Optus increasing its coverage and maintaining its speed leadership position in Sydney and Melbourne.

Optus saw further improvement in customer satisfaction, with customer Net Promoter Score improving on the previous all-time high to reach +35. Optus has also seen TIO complaints improve, now at 3.9 per 10,000 customers, which is 36% lower than FY21 levels and the lowest complaint levels since 2014.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 12 November 2021.
The Institute of Data has committed to offering and funding at least 1000 new scholarships in the next 12 months for upskilling or retraining in data science and AI, cyber security, and software engineering.

The scholarships  which will reduce course fees by 30%  will be available to Australian citizens and permanent residents, and are intended to help fill vacancies in these sectors.

"It's not sustainable for Australia to rely solely on importing talent when we have Australians here that want careers in technology. The traditional undergraduate or masters programs simply take too long and our vocational training system hasn't made the jump from training tradies to training data scientists. We need to do something different," said Institute of Data executive director Andrew Campbell.

"As employers ourselves, we saw the need for shorter, targeted training courses that fit the needs of industry and mid-career professionals looking for a switch. These people want to upskill or reskill quickly to improve their potential employability but traditional education isn't giving them what they need.

"The Institute of Data has created practical and job ready skills programs to solve this issue, so now it doesn't take three years to upskill for a career in data, cyber or software. We train people from tech and non-tech backgrounds over three months full time or six months part time and 93% of them have jobs in industry within 180 days.

"Our data, cyber, and software industry programs are designed with a singular focus on helping participants make industry connections and develop the practical skills and portfolio of work necessary to land a job in the industry. Demand is so strong right now that we have reports of some students receiving two job offers before they even complete the program.

"Institute of Data trainers have all worked directly in these fields and provide one-on-one training and career mentoring. We offer students a truly world-class learning experience and the opportunity to launch their career in some of the most exciting and in-demand fields in the world."

Even more students could be trained with further support from industry, university, and government partners, according to the institute.

Graduates of Institute of Data programs can also articulate into Masters programs at leading partner universities via the recognition of prior learning process, receiving up to 48 credit points worth of exemptions.

More details on programs and scholarships can be found here.
GUEST OPINION: The world of digital marketing has certainly found itself in a strange place. As it always has been, the internet is an unfathomably vast, ever-growing system for users to explore. Yet, despite the multitude of other platforms available, for many advertisers, all eyes are on just one: Google.

Looking at the data, its easy to see why many people default to Google as their sole platform for advertising. After all, Googles infrastructure is extensive and allows for incredible reach. Each year, there are over two trillion Google searches, and they own more than 90% of the worldwide search market. For many, this would solidify Google as the only platform worth paying attention to, but this couldnt be further from the truth. After all, advertising and marketing arent all-or-nothing approaches and putting all your eggs in one proverbial basket is rarely going to lead you to the highest returns.

Today, were going to look at another option, one that has never quite gotten the love from the digital marketing world that it deserves, despite its potential value for businesses. We are, of course, talking about Bing, the internets supposed 4th most popular search engine. So, without further ado, lets take a look at why eCommerce stores must advertise on Bing, and how choosing between Bing Ads or Google Ads may not be as clear cut as you may think.

Smaller Pool; Greater Exposure

Google may be an excellent advertising tool, but it doesnt come cheaply. Competition is high, CPCs are lofty for high-volume terms, and it can take an enormous investment before you start to see any solid returns. In this way, Bing advertisings relative obscurity actually works in its favour.

Given that, as the name suggests, cost-per-click ads only charge when someone clicks, the smaller pool of users doesnt mean youre necessarily paying for less. Plus, with fewer overall businesses using the platform, competition for desirable placements is far less than that of Bings more popular contemporaries. To butcher an old saying slightly, its easier to be the big fish when youre in a small pond.

Its also important to note that, whilst Bings user base may be tiny compared to the juggernaut that is Google, its tiny percentage of users still made up 1.066 billion visits in September 2021 alone. This is just a friendly reminder that percentages and statistics can often be misleading in how they present themselves and that theres often more factors to consider than the number before the % symbol may suggest.

Cut Your CPCs With Bing

As we touched on in the last point, just because there are fewer users doesnt mean that youre getting less value. According to several sources, Bing ads average at around 33.5% cheaper than Google Ads campaigns, which means that eCommerce stores have little to lose and a lot to potentially gain from making the switch to Bing.

Demographic Deep Dives

Although the Google Display Network may allow for hyper-specific targeting when planning out your campaigns, the same cant really be said for the search network. With Bing, however, you can get very granular with your targeting in a way that will be invaluable for eCommerce stores. Know that theres a particular age group that leans more towards your product? Target your campaigns directly to them. Think that one gender is going to vibe with your advertising a little more than another? Bing has you covered.

This isnt the only way that Bing allows for more specificity with your campaigns either, as the platform also provides you with more ways to target where your ads end up. Google ads can be placed on search partners or Google search itself; meanwhile, Bing Ads can be targeted across Bing itself, Yahoo!, search partners, and even specifically excluded from certain URLs where preferred.

Bing is More Mistake-Friendly For Users

Although Google was once more lenient towards incorrect spelling variations and such being accepted and processed when showing targeted ads, this is no longer the case. Meanwhile, Bing will still allow you to effectively target these incorrect or variant spellings of your phrases in an easily-managed way.

This may not seem like an enormous deal at first but think about the sheer number of mistakes made when typing queries into Google. Humans are inherently prone to error, thus the term human error, and people are constantly making spelling mistakes in their searches. So, for you to lose out on a large number of those potential users could end up leading to a huge amount of unnecessarily missed potential.

Time Zone Targeting

Want to target someone at a particular time in a particular place? Bing offers a wealth of ways to specifically target people within these various areas and demographics. Thanks to time zone targeting, providing your ads to the right users at the right time couldnt be easier, and its important to keep that in mind when planning your campaigns.

With, Not Against

None of this is to try and dissuade you from using Google for your advertising campaigns, quite the opposite, actually. Google is a magnificent service and provides eCommerce stores with an unmatched level of potential exposure. However, just because its the largest platform doesnt mean that it is your only option. Google campaigns and Bing campaigns can work in tandem, each hitting users and providing options that the other will not. So, if youre gearing up to enter the world of CPC or Shopping ads, keep all of your options in mind: youll thank yourself later.

~

* Samuel Shepherd is a writer, editor, manager, musician, producer, and many other things that are only tangentially related to his work as Head of Content for Digital Next Australia. With a background in music journalism and the fading memory of half-remembered philosophy classes under his belt, Sam is passionate about improving SEO content standards and making the internet a marginally less miserable place in the process.
Technology consulting firm CPT Global has officially named Luke Tuddenham as CEO to assume the role held by his father.

Luke Tuddenhams father Gerry is CPT Globals Founder and former Managing Director and held the role for more than 30 years.

"I'm extremely confident in our teams ability to continue delivering outstanding service to our customers," Luke Tuddenham said about becoming the new CEO.

"We have a deep bench of highly talented people who I trust and respect, and we keep investing heavily in talent and business development so we can deliver the most innovative and cost-effective technology solutions to our customers."

CPT Global says the transition will have a big impact on where the company is headed, particularly regarding advanced and emerging technologies.

Under Luke's direction, the company plans to continue growing these areas while maintaining its focus on mainframe consulting. The change in CEO is just one of many initiatives CPT Global is pursuing to expand its business model and global reach.

"With Luke at the helm, were committed to continuing our growth as world-class mainframe experts for customers around the world, as well as investing heavily in our team's ability to solve our clients deeper technology challenges," said Gerry Tuddenham, who will spearhead a new IT tools and software initiative as board director.

Luke is someone who knows how CPT operates from the inside out and has become an inspired, effective leader. As the company heads into future, we expect to see some of CPT Globals biggest growth yet.

CPT said that in his new position as CEO, Luke Tudenham brings a wealth of tech experience and enterprise knowledge to CPT Global, where hes played an instrumental role in the company's recent growth.

"Before ever joining CPT, Gerry helped guide me in business as a mentor and visionary, especially as I watched him build the company from scratch and shape CPT Global into what it is today. As the new CEO, I plan to build on this success and legacy by taking the company even further in terms of its talent and service capabilities, Luke said, adding, "I'm energised by this new opportunity and excited to be in Melbourne working together with the team so we can execute our strategy of making an even bigger impact with our customers globally.

Luke Tuddenham joined CPT in 2005, overseeing the company's Australian and US markets, before becoming Vice President in 2011.

In 2016, Luke Tuddenham was named President of the Americas and Europe, and CPT says he played a critical role in helping the company generate record-breaking revenue and profit margins in FY2021.

Luke Tuddenham started his career in Melbourne with Andersen in 2007 and joined CPT Global following his time at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In addition to being a graduate of Columbia Universitys Business School with a Bachelor of Business Information Systems and a Certificate in Business Excellence, Tudenham maintains membership in the Australian Computer Society and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
"Varghese's blend of both financial services and technology expertise, as well as his recent leadership position at Mastercard make him the perfect candidate for this role, working closely with our customers to ensure their success," said mx51 CEO and co-founder Victor Zheng.

"Talent continues to be in short supply for the fintech sector. But we're pleased that mx51's mission and growth trajectory continues to draw in candidates like Varghese, who will prove instrumental in further growing our business."

Mathew brings a decade of experience in financial services and technology to mx51.

He most recently worked as vice president at Mastercard, and was previously managing consultant at Mastercard Advisors, consultant with Boston Consulting Group, and business development manager at Altron, following a six-year stint in systems engineering and sales at Cisco.

Mathew holds an honours degree in electronic and telecommunications engineering from the University of Pretoria, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

"It's a pleasure to work with Victor, Magnus and Steven to take mx51 to the next level. My role essentially supports the substantial growth the company has seen in the past year, working closely with our major customers to ensure their success and keep them one step ahead of the escalating disruption in the global payment industry," said Matthew.

"Fintech is on the cusp of yet another great shift, with global companies that were once only payment businesses moving aggressively into traditional banking services such as lending. With so much change happening both in Australia and abroad, it's an exciting time to be on the coalface of this disruption within the payments sector."
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.
Sudanese security forces shot dead at least 15 anti-coup protesters and wounded dozens more on Wednesday, medics said, in the bloodiest day since the militarys October 25 takeover.

The fatalities  all in Khartoum, especially its northern districts  raised to 39 the death toll from unrest since the military seized power, a pro-democracy doctors union said. Hundreds more have been wounded.

The days massacre reinforces our slogans: no negotiations, no partnership, no compromise with the military, said protest organisers from the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA).

Demonstrators had taken to the streets across the capital even though telephone lines and internet services had been disrupted since the military took over, AFP journalists reported.

The people choose civilian rule, demonstrators chanted, also shouting slogans against Sudans ruler, top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The demonstrators, mostly young men and women, clapped hands and ululated before the scene turned violent.

As clashes broke out, the security forces also fired tear gas, injuring several more protesters, witnesses said.

Police have denied using live ammunition and state television announced an investigation into the deaths.

The doctors union said most of the casualties had suffered gunshot wounds to the head, neck or torso, but added that the demonstrators, undeterred and behind makeshift barricades, kept up their protests.

Demonstrations also erupted in Port Sudan, an AFP journalist said, against the coup which halted a democratic transition that followed the 2019 toppling of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir.

It was a very bad day for the protesters, Soha, a 42-year-old protester, told AFP. I saw a person with gunshot wounds behind me and there were a lot of arrests in Khartoum.

 Demonstrations after nightfall 

Hundreds remained on the streets after nightfall, especially in northern Khartoum where tear gas fire reached inside hospitals, doctors said. Rallies in other cities dispersed.

Efforts to stem the protests have seen hundreds arrested, including activists, passers-by and journalists. Qatari network Al Jazeeras bureau chief was arrested Sunday and released Tuesday.

The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors has said security forces have also arrested injured people inside Khartoum hospitals.

The SPA, an umbrella of unions instrumental in the 2019 protests, denounced immense crimes against humanity and accused the security forces of premeditated killings.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Sudans military the country stood to regain badly needed international aid if it restored the legitimacy of civilian government.

Washington has suspended some $700 million in assistance to Sudan since the coup.

If the military puts this train back on its tracks and does whats necessary, I think the support that has been very strong from the international community can resume, said Blinken.

Prior to 2019, Sudan had been under some form of military dictatorship for much of its modern history.

 US shuttle diplomacy 

Burhan has declared a state of emergency, ousted the government and detained the civilian leadership, derailing a transition to full civilian rule and drawing international condemnation.

He insists the militarys move was not a coup.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee has been shuttling between the generals and the ousted civilian government in a bid to broker a way out of the crisis.

Phee has called for the reinstatement of ousted Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who is effectively under house arrest.

The few remaining free members of his cabinet continue to describe themselves as the legitimate government and refuse to negotiate with the military leaders.

While some of the civilian leaders have been freed since the power grab, new ones have been arrested.

Burhan last week announced a new Sovereign Council, the highest transitional authority, with himself as chief and all nine military members keeping their posts.

Its four civilian members were replaced.

Burhan has also removed a clause in the transitional constitutional declaration that mentions the Forces for Freedom and Change, the key group behind the protests that toppled Bashir.

He has continued to promise elections will go ahead as planned in 2023, reiterating to Phee on Tuesday that his actions aimed to correct the trajectory of the revolution.
The UN report on Northern Ethiopias Tigray region is based on a joint investigation of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and was released on November 3. It documents a pattern of serious violations and abuses, including unlawful killings and extra-judicial executions, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, violations against refugees, and forced displacement of civilians, as well as widespread arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances.

The report covers the period from November 3, 2020, when the armed conflict began, and June 28, 2021 when the Ethiopian government declared a unilateral ceasefire. This has subsequently gone up in smoke with a new alliance of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and other rebel groups threatening to take the capital Addis Ababa and topple the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is ironically the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

On November 2, Ahmeds government declared a national state of emergency and called for civilians to take up arms to defend the capital, as Tigrayan forces advanced towards Addis Ababa.

Warnings of genocide

Some NGOs and analysts are also pointing to risks of genocide against ethnic Tigrayans. Norwegian expert on the Horn of Africa Kjetil Tronvoll sees worrying parallels with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda with ethnic profiling of Tigrayans who are being rounded up and language that calls them a cancer and weeds to be rooted out. In an interview with Justice Info, he slammed the UN human rights office for working alongside the state-appointed EHRC and watering down its report. While the TPLF and their allies have also committed serious crimes, he says the majority are being committed by the Ethiopian government. He said that the majority of sexual violence and massacres in Tigray were being carried out by the governments ally, the neighbouring Eritrean armed forces of long-term dictator Isaias Afwerki. In an article in The Conversation, regional expert Marine Gassier adds that the report does not account for the airstrikes that hit Tigray, nor for the famine resulting from the governments decision to prevent the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. By using starvation as a means of combat, the government is committing what the International Criminal Court and Ethiopian law consider a war crime, she said.

In a statement on November 8, UN Special Adviser on Prevention of Genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu of Kenya expressed grave concern about the situation in Ethiopia, including increased incidence of ethnically and religiously motivated hate speech, saying there were serious indicators of risk of commission of atrocity crimes. But she did not name names.

Facebook, long accused of failing to stop its platforms being used for incitement including in Myanmar, earlier this month took down a post by Prime Minister Ahmed urging citizens to organise and march through [any] legal manner with every weapon and power to prevent, reverse and bury Tigrayan forces. A recent report in the respected French newspaper Le Monde quoted a good source who monitors different platforms including Facebook and Twitter saying that online content has recently taken on an unprecedented tone of violence. That report also cites witness accounts of people suspected of Tigrayan ethnicity being arbitrarily arrested at roadblocks and quotes at least one direct call for extermination.

On November 16, the UN reported that at least 1,000 individuals are believed to have been detained over the past week or so  with some reports putting the figure much higher. These developments are all the more disturbing given that most of those detained are reported to be people of Tigrayan origin, arrested often on suspicion of being affiliated to or supporting the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, it said. For William Davison, senior Ethiopia analyst at the International Crisis Group (ICG), the prospect of that state crackdown on Tigrayans under the state of emergency as the war gets closer to Addis, combined with the increased likelihood of more mob violence and anti-Tigrayan hate speech, creates an incredibly worrying situation now and in terms of what may be to come, on top of what we saw during the intervention in Tigray.

There were also reports on that same day that some 200 young children had died of starvation in hospitals in Tigray, where the Ethiopian government has imposed a de facto blockade on humanitarian aid, including food and medicine.

Poor hopes for national justice

The UN report calls for accountability for crimes against civilians committed in this war. It highlights the many calls made by victims and survivors for perpetrators to be brought to justice, saying they conveyed powerful demands for the restoration of their livelihoods and reparations for what they had lost, and for the truth of what happened to their loved ones to be established.

The report stresses that the prime responsibility lies with the government of Ethiopia to investigate and punish serious crimes, as confirmed by Daniel Bekele, chief commissioner of the EHRC, in an interview with Justice Info. We are aware that efforts are already underway including the prosecution of some perpetrators already being convicted, he explains. The Ethiopian judiciary has also since recently demonstrated independent handling of cases. Therefore, there is an opportunity for accountability through the national justice system which is always the most preferred justice mechanism, he claims.

However the UN report said that investigations conducted by Ethiopian national institutions do not match the scope and breadth of the violations () nor that those investigations which are being undertaken sufficiently comply with international standards. It also expressed concern that the national institutions may not be sufficiently addressing issues of command responsibility for the violations they are investigating.

Tronvoll says that while there have indeed been some prosecutions and there may be some individuals in the Ethiopian justice system who are independent, the Attorney General and the judicial system in general are not, because the chain of command goes up to the Prime Minister.

The reports call on the government of neighbouring Eritrea  which has one of the worst human rights records in the world and is hardly known for accountability  to investigate and prosecute serious crimes by its nationals in Tigray provokes an ironic laugh from Tronvoll.

Should the Nobel Committee be held accountable?

The UN report looks at possible international accountability mechanisms. Neither Ethiopia nor Eritrea are members of the International Criminal Court, so the ICC could only investigate and prosecute on a mandate from the UN Security Council. This is unlikely given the veto powers particularly of China and Russia.

The report refers to the possibility of creating an international, independent investigative mechanism charged with collecting criminal evidence and preparing files for future prosecutions, like was done for Syria, Iraq and Myanmar. Bekele does not seem to see it as the most desirable option. We should give priority for the national justice mechanism to work, he told Justice Info. But ICGs analyst Davison backs the idea. Given Ethiopias political conditions, instability and weak institutional capacity in this regard, I think that type of independent international fact-finding into exactly what has gone on is absolutely necessary, he told Justice Info.

Tronvoll, who is also director of private consultancy firm Osloanalytica, recently argued in British newspaper The Guardian that the Nobel committee should resign over the atrocities in Tigray, given that its rules do not allow withdrawal of Ahmeds peace prize. The prize was awarded to Ahmed in particular for his peace deal with Eritrea and political reforms. But Tronvoll told Justice Info it was already clear before the peace prize was announced that domestic reforms were backsliding and that the Ethiopia-Eritrea rapprochement had more political objectives than objectives of peace. Tronvoll thinks the Nobel prize actually helped fuel the conflict in Tigray. We know that Abiy Ahmed used the prize to enforce his policies back home, particularly of dismantling the old government party and establishing the Prosperity Party [see box below]. He did that just three or four days after he came back from Oslo, and he claimed  and I know that from insiders  I have been given an international recognition to do as I like, says Tronvoll.
Four activists abducted and murdered. A man pushed to his death from a police building. Five teenagers lying in bed, shot dead by soldiers.

These are a just some of the apartheid atrocities for which FW de Klerk, South Africas final white president who died last week aged 85, could have been forced to account had he lived longer, observers say.

Outside the country, he nurtured an image of a peacemaker for his role in dismantling apartheid for which he shared the Nobel peace prize with Nelson Mandela, leading to the first multiracial elections in 1994.

But at home, families seeking justice for apartheid crimes have long charged that he resisted giving testimony to investigations into atrocities committed when he was president.

In July, as South Africa was going through unprecedented rioting and looting, his foundation released a statement which went largely unnoticed but provided a major clue as to why that was.

Buried deep in the statement was one paragraph that contained explosive information.

Because of an informal agreement between the (ruling) ANC leadership and former operatives of the pre-1994 government, the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) suspended its prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes, he said.

Whispers of such a deal had swirled for years, but had never been so explicitly confirmed.

We had always suspected there was some kind of trade-off that had taken place behind closed doors, said Lukhanyo Calata, whose father was one of four activists abducted and murdered in the southern town of Cradock in 1985.

 Suppressed investigations 

After Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994, South Africa undertook a much-lauded effort to account for the atrocities that happened under apartheid.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, offered amnesty to those who gave a full accounting of their crimes, with around 850 granted.

But the TRC also recommended that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) pursue more than 300 cases, and set out proposals for reparations.

For the Cradock Four, the TRC denied amnesty to the killers, but they have never been prosecuted.

Its common knowledge that the current democratic government really suppressed investigations into TRC cases, Yasmin Sooka, a human rights lawyer and former TRC member, told AFP.

Previous testimonies revealed that the apartheid State Security Council met three weeks before their deaths.

 Act of terrorism 

De Klerk was on the council, where the military recommended the permanent removal from society of Calatas father, Fort Calata, and fellow activist Matthew Goniwe.

Calata has pursued legal action to force prosecutors to take up the case, and to subpoena testimony from De Klerk.

It is unfortunate that De Klerk is gone. He is a former state president. He would have been privy to a lot more information, Calata told AFP.

Unfortunately we never had the opportunity to do so because the African National Congress and the government it leads never took it seriously to prosecute.

Not all of De Klerks unanswered questions date so far back. Just one month before he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela, he ordered a raid on a home where soldiers shot dead five youths sleeping in their beds. Two were 12 years old.

De Klerk admitted to ordering the raid, but said he received bad information that the house was being used by armed freedom fighters.

For a president to authorise the killing of children is a blatant act of terrorism, Mandela said at the time.

That was far from Mandelas only harsh criticism of De Klerk, but the rainbow nation euphoria that accompanied the Nobel awards and the first election soon overshadowed them.

De Klerk did issue a posthumous video apologising for the pain hurt and indignity and the damage that apartheid has done.

But families are still pushing for answers. Imtiaz Cajees uncle Ahmed Timol was thrown to his death from the 10th floor of the notorious police headquarters in Johannesburg in 1971.

Cajees legal quest to reopen the case  originally ruled a suicide  led to new proceedings against ageing former apartheid policeman Joao Rodrigues.

Rodrigues succeeded in delaying a trial, and died before it began.

De Klerks death is another reminder that the last generation of South Africans to live under the full force of apartheid is passing on, making their secrets harder to expose.

Its a pity that hes no longer there to respond to the questions, Sooka said.

Theres no doubt in my mind that that prejudices the rights of the families to the truth and to criminal justice.
Aetna is taking a group of related radiology companies to court and accusing them of charging at least $580,000 for unauthorized COVID-19 testing.

The insurance company, a subsidiary of CVS Health, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey on Wednesday. According to Aetna, RP and Vestibular Diagnostics Open MRI and imaging are seeking with founder Salvatore Conte and executive Eugene DeSimone Profit from the COVID-19 pandemic By transforming the laboratory into a test site in the spring of 2020. Conte owns two companies that share an address in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. The lawsuit alleges that Conte and DeSimone established two new companies, Universal and Integrated Wellness, at the same address to spread their testing costs and avoid scrutiny.

RPs open MRI and imaging did not immediately respond to interview requests, and Vestibular Diagnostics could not be contacted by Modern Healthcare.

Aetnas claim reflects a claim made by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is also suing Open MRI and Imaging of RP and Vestibular Diagnostics. The radiology companies also sued Cigna, accusing the health insurance company of falsely refusing to pay nearly US$400,000 for COVID-19 testing. These cases are ongoing.

DeSimone and Conte were trained as doctors, but their medical licenses were revoked due to previous health care fraud. In 2015, the Ministry of Justice sentenced DeSimone to 37 months in prison for accepting bribes from medical laboratories in exchange for referrals for blood tests, and then charging medical insurance and private insurance companies. In 2017, the federal government sentenced Conte Three-year probation and similar patient referral programs are fined $50,000.

According to Aetna, Open MRI and imaging for RP and vestibular diagnosis require rapid COVID-19 testing in unlicensed facilities. The insurance company further claimed that the laboratory misrepresented the type of testing performed and charged a sample processing fee that only applies to PCR testing. The complaint alleges that clinicians have also escalated the claims, and some bills predate the establishment of the new company.

Dr. Raymond Reiter, Doney Jain, George Pemberton and Colin Hermann were also named as defendants for allegedly managing the test.

Aetna accused the institutions and doctors behind it of insurance fraud, common law fraud, negligence, unjust enrichment, and civil conspiracy. The company also sued St. Irene Realty, a subsidiary of Stephen Conte Jr., for aiding and abetting insurance fraud. The lawsuit did not describe what family relationship, if any, exists between Stephen Conte Jr. and Salva Conti.

The lawsuit alleges that Vestibular Diagnostics is apparently transferring all of its cash to Stephen Conte Jr. to demonstrate insolvency and avoid allegations of fraudulent repayment of Aetna.

The insurance company seeks reimbursement for claims paid, litigation and investigation fees, attorney fees, triple damages, and any other expenses the court deems appropriate. Aetna also hopes to issue an injunction to prevent Vestibular Diagnostics from transferring its assets to Stephen Conte Jr. during the trial. The insurance company is seeking a jury trial.
It is estimated that 100,000 Americans will die from a drug overdose within a year. This is an unprecedented milestone, and health officials say it is related to the COVID-19 pandemic and more dangerous drug supplies.

The number of overdose deaths has been on the rise for more than 20 years and has accelerated in the past two years. According to new data released on Wednesday, it has increased by nearly 30% in the most recent year.

President Joe Biden called it a tragic milestone in a statement because government officials urged Congress to invest billions of dollars to solve the problem.

This is unacceptable, it requires an unprecedented response, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of national drug control policy.

Experts believe that the main cause of death from drug overdose is the increasing prevalence of deadly fentanyl in the supply of illegal drugs and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has isolated many drug users from society and cannot obtain treatment or other support.

Catherine Keys, an expert on drug abuse at Columbia University, said this number is destructive. This is the number of overdose deaths we have never seen in this country.

Drug overdose has now exceeded the death toll caused by car accidents, guns, and even flu and pneumonia. The total number is close to diabetes, the 7th cause of death in the country.

Based on the latest death certificate data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that from May 2020 to April 2021, 100,300 Americans died from overdose. This is not official statistics. Death investigations involving drug deaths can take several months to complete, so the agency has made an estimate based on 98,000 reports received so far.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously reported that about 93,000 people died from overdose in 2020, the highest number ever recorded. Robert Anderson, director of mortality statistics at the CDC, said that the death rate in 2021 may exceed 100,000.

2021 will be terrible, agreed with Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a drug policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

New data shows that many deaths involve illegal fentanyl, a highly lethal opioid drug that surpassed heroin as the drug that caused the most overdose deaths five years ago. Distributors mix fentanyl with other drugs-this is one reason why deaths from methamphetamine and cocaine are also on the rise.

US Drug Enforcement Administration Director Anne Milgram said that Mexican drug cartels are using chemicals from China to produce and distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine on a large scale in the United States.

Milgram said that this year, DEA seized 12,000 pounds of fentanyl, a record high. But public health experts and even the police say that law enforcement measures will not stop the epidemic, and more needs to be done to curb demand and prevent deaths.

The CDC has not yet calculated the race and ethnic classification of overdose victims.

Compared with the same period last year, the estimated death toll in four states except Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota has increased. The states with the largest increases were Vermont (70%), West Virginia (62%) and Kentucky (55%).

Minnesota increased by approximately 39%, and the estimated number of overdose deaths rose from 858 in the previous 12 months to 1,188 from May 2020 to April 2021.

Police Lieutenant Jeff Wersal, who leads the regional drug task force, stated that the number of deaths from drug overdose in the area around Mankato City increased from 2 in 2019 to 6 last year, and has increased so far this year. To 16 onwards.

To be honest, I dont think the situation will get better, it wont be soon, he said.

Among the victims this year was Travis Gustavson, who died in Mankato in February at the age of 21. Wersal said his blood was found to contain signs of fentanyl, heroin, marijuana and the sedative Xanax.

His grandmother Nancy Sack said that Gustafson was close to his mother, two brothers and other family members.

She said that he is known for his relaxed smile. He might cry when he was young, but if someone smiled at him, he would immediately stop crying and smile back, she recalled.

Sack said that Gustafson tried drug use for the first time as a child and received drug treatment as a teenager. She said that he struggled with anxiety and depression, but mainly used marijuana and different kinds of pills.

Sack said that on the morning of his death, Travis pulled a tooth, but because of his drug history, he was not prescribed a strong painkiller. He told his mother that he would stay at home and use ibuprofen to relieve the pain. She said that he was looking forward to his girlfriend watching the movie that night.

But according to the police, Gustafson contacted Max Leo Miller, also 21, who provided him with a bag containing heroin and fentanyl.

Some details of what happened are controversial, but all accounts indicate that Gustafson is not familiar with heroin and fentanyl.

The police said Gustafson and Miller exchanged information on social media. Once, Gustafson posted a photo of a row of white substances on a brown table, asked if he had taken the correct amount, and then wrote or greater?

According to the police report, Miller replied: Little brother and Please be careful!
To address the huge inequality in the global COVID-19 vaccine, the Biden administration took steps on Wednesday to provide drugmakers with billions of dollars in funding to expand domestic production, share it with the world, and prepare for the next pandemic Prepare.

According to this new initiative, the governments Advanced Biomedical Research and Development Agency is recruiting pharmaceutical companies with the ability to produce more effective mRNA vaccines to bid for US investment to expand production scale. Pfizer and Moderna produce two US-approved mRNA injections.

The White House hopes that this move will increase the ability to produce an additional 1 billion photos per year.

The initiative came as the Biden White House was facing increasing domestic and foreign pressure on the issue of global vaccine supply unfairness-the United States is moving towards approving vaccination for all adults, and disadvantaged groups in poorer countries Waiting for their first dose of protection.

According to the analysis of the ONE Campaign, an international aid and advocacy organization, only 4.7% of people living in low-income countries received the first dose of the vaccine. Rich countries have injected more than 173 million booster shots, while low-income countries have injected about 32 million shots.

The Biden administration believes that improving COVID-19 injection capacity will help alleviate the problem of global dose shortages, especially in low- and middle-income countries, prevent preventable deaths and limit the development of potential new and more dangerous virus variants.

Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 coordinator, said: The goal of the plan is to increase existing capacity by another 1 billion doses per year and start production in the second half of 2022.

On Wednesday, Zients announced that the United States has donated 250 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine worldwide  the most of any country  with the goal of sharing more than 1.1 billion doses of vaccine by the end of 2022.

There has not yet been an agreement with Moderna or Pfizer on this investment, but the Biden administration hopes that by supporting the companys facilities, equipment, employees or training, the enhanced manufacturing capacity will allow more COVID-19 doses in mid-2022. Share overseas and help prepare for the next public health emergency.

The government is prioritizing mRNA vaccines, which have been shown to be more effective in preventing serious illness and death caused by COVID-19 than the Johnson & Johnson virus vector vaccine, which uses harmless viruses that carry genetic material to stimulate the immune system. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made using a piece of genetic code called messenger RNA, which tells the body to make a harmless copy of the spike protein in order to train it to recognize viruses.

Robbie Silverman, senior advocacy manager at Oxfam USA, welcomed Bidens plan to invest in vaccine production capacity, but said it was far from enough.

What the world really needs is decentralized regional vaccine production capacity. It sounds like the focus of this investment is to build American capacity, he said. We urgently need companies that monopolize the COVID vaccine to transfer their technology, and we need the U.S. government to use its influence.

Silverman estimates that if the company does not teach how to make a COVID-19 vaccine, it will take twice as long for manufacturers elsewhere to start manufacturing doses, noting that billions of vaccines against other diseases are usually in development. Produced in China.

Silverman said that although the United States should negotiate the fairness of vaccines while ensuring its own supply, it is not too late to act. He said that the United States should support the proposed exemption drafted by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization, calling for a suspension of patents for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. He said that the United States can invoke the National Defense Production Act to target key components of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The U.S. government has many tools to promote pharmaceutical companies, he said, noting that it has invested billions of dollars to develop Modernas COVID-19 vaccine. The United States needs to ensure that the companies they fund prioritize public health rather than profit.

Ava Alkon, a senior policy and research officer at Medecins Sans Frontieres, said that the 1 billion doses of vaccine that the United States may invest in is still far from the number needed to immunize the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 11 billion doses are needed.

Alkon said that since any newly drafted manufacturer of COVID-19 doses will not be able to produce any supplies for several months, a more direct solution is needed. She said: We believe that the United States can continue to allocate much more than the existing dose, she called on the United States to be more transparent about how many additional doses it has. She said some estimates suggest that by the end of this year, there may be at least 500 million remaining vaccines in the United States.

Moderna said in a statement that it has not reviewed the Biden administrations proposal, but it looks forward to discussing with the government, and to understand whether we can play a role in supporting the governments efforts to tackle the pandemic. Pfizer declined to comment. .

The New York Times first reported on this new initiative.
Alex Katchik: Hello, and welcome to Beyond the Byline at Modern Healthcare, where we provide a behind-the-scenes investigation of our report. Im Alex Kacik, a senior operations reporter. Political reporter Jessie Hellmann will join me today to discuss the latest attempts by House Democrats to get states to expand Medicaid. Thank you for joining me, Jesse.

Jesse Herman: Thank you for your hospitality.

Alex Katchik: So Jessie, you recently wrote about the latest push by policymakers for states that have been insisting on expanding Medicaid programs. You know, first, they suspended additional COVID-19 relief funds in non-expanded states. Now they have taken a more punitive approach by sharing hospital funds disproportionately. Can you tell us about the DSH fund and what is the motivation to push more states to expand Medicaid?

Jesse Herman: DSH aims to help hospitals offset the lower payment rate of Medicaid and help them pay for unpaid care. Therefore, the latest proposal by House Democrats is included in the latest version of the $1.75 trillion domestic policy plan they are developing, which will basically reduce DSH payments in states that have not yet expanded the Medicaid program. So, there are now about 12 states, including Texas and Florida, and hospitals are very dissatisfied with this.

Alex Katchik: You know, the Affordable Care Act expands the coverage to approximately 20 million people, many of whom have joined the Medicaid program. Although hospitals have benefited, they claim that the gap between the governments medical expenses and the medical expenses is growing. . Medicaid beneficiaries dilute these gains. Therefore, supplementary payments like DSH funds are designed to make up for the shortfall in Medicaid and help pay the remaining uninsured persons. So, you know, in addition to these cuts, if I am wrong, please correct me, but in addition to this proposal, the regulations in the ACA have been cut, what is it, the $44 billion in DSH funds in 2024, after them How many delays?

Jesse Herman: Yes, exactly. Therefore, these plans will take effect for a few more years, but they have been postponed for a few years. I think there are still some differences on how to proceed.

Alex Katchik: So Jessie, there are some studies that show the economic benefits of this program. What do those show?

Jesse Herman: Yes, a study by the Brookings Institution shows that under this package, the financial outlook of hospitals will improve, especially in non-expanding states, because it will shrink the 2.2 million by providing them with ACA subsidies The human coverage gap is several years. Therefore, the author of this study believes that this dynamic will offset the reduction in DSH. I know that the hospital has refuted this, pointing out that the subsidy is only temporary and it will take a while for people to register for health insurance, but this is just something to keep in mind. .

Alex Katchik: Understood, I know it is difficult to really rely on some of these regulations, stay in the bill, and take into account some resistance. I want to know, considering some objections from some legislators from their respective states, is it possible that these will be deleted?

Jesse Herman: Therefore, it is not only Republican lawmakers who are worried about DSH cuts. Many Democratic lawmakers from non-expanded states are disturbed by the content contained in the latest version of the settlement bill. They said no, especially this regulation, which was not discussed at the hearing. They were caught off guard, and they are pushing to remove these regulations from the final version. In particular, Senators Warnock and Osoff from Georgia have been pushing Congress to narrow the expansion gap. They hope to see the DSH cuts cancelled and point out that this will have an impact on safety net hospitals that serve low-income patients. Therefore, the terms are entirely possible to change. We do not yet know when the House of Representatives will vote on the bill, and the Senate has not even introduced a legislative text.So I think this fight is far from over

Alex Katchik: Studies have shown that in non-expanded states, it is more difficult for rural hospitals to survive. You know, its better to pay than not to pay, which is the basic theory. So, you know, this means that when uninsured people get medical services, most of their bells will turn into bad debts and charity care, and then the profit margins of rural hospitals in expanded states are much better than those in non-expanded states. Therefore, especially reserved states like Alabama have been very resolute in refusing to extend to the Medicaid program. What do the experts think about the latest proposal that affects them?

Jesse Herman: So the people I talked to, especially those hospitals that have been pushing these states to expand Medicaid since the beginning, dont really believe that this is enough to motivate states like Texas and Florida to pay for Medicaid. Expanding political opposition. They do not believe that this will actually prompt them to do so. As you mentioned, the COVID Relief Act passed earlier this year provided more FMAP funding to non-expanding states, and if they continued to expand, this did not really attract the 12 insisting states to do so. So, now they are trying to take more punitive methods, threatening to cut funding, but the people I have talked to think this will really hurt hospitals, especially safety net hospitals, which are not enough to take care of many low-income people. To motivate these states to change their minds.

Alex Katchik: You know, what is the political mentality of these governors who refuse to make concessions on this matter? Because I know that, as we discussed, many proposals try to get them to change the way they expand on Medicaid. Why is there such strong opposition?

Jesse Herman: Therefore, the estimated amount of funds provided by the states to expand the Medicaid program, experts believe that considering the amount of funds spent by the states on unpaid medical care and poor health outcomes, these funds are actually not large, and these funds will cause people to get into trouble. Coverage gap, no health insurance. Therefore, at this point, people think that the resistance to the expansion of Medicaid is mainly political. The expansion of Medicaid is part of the Affordable Care Act, which is still opposed by many Republican politicians, mainly because it increases the role of the federal government in health care.

Alex Katchik: Well, this is interesting because, for example, the Alabama Hospital Association has been trying to lobby their governor to change shifts for a while, because especially in rural health, I mean that many of their hospitals are rural, but they say it will It is a lifeline. This is, you know, together with some configuration methods of the medical insurance salary index, this is one of the biggest problems in my opinion that 84% of their hospitals lose money. So yes, its interesting to see that, at least in some states, the dichotomy between planned governors and their respective hospitals and providers, to see if their views are consistent.

Therefore, there is also a proposal aimed at narrowing the gap in the expansion of Medicaid. As you said, as you reported, the Democrats plan to bypass governors who have not expanded Medicaid. What does that look like?

Jesse Herman: Yes. Therefore, in the House version of the domestic policy package, 2.2 million people in non-expanded states will be eligible for ACA subsidies within a few years. It is not permanent. These non-expanding state hospitals and Democratic lawmakers hope that this repair will be permanent, but I think the leadership just decided that there is no money. There are many competing priorities in the bill. But those in the coverage gap will get some help to buy health insurance for at least a few years. I think the Democrats hope they can control the House of Representatives and the Senate when these subsidies expire. But some excerpts and political observers I have interviewed think this is a rather bold adventure. They worry that if the Republicans control Congress, they will only let the subsidies expire by then, and the people and the coverage gap will happen to return to these subsidies to take effect. The previous level.

Alex Katchik: OK. Lets talk about some of the consequences of not expanding the Medicaid program. Based on data from the Rural Health Charter Center, you report that the states with the most rural hospital closures have not expanded their Medicaid programs, including Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. So, if there is no coverage, what does this mean for rural hospitals, the elderly, people living below the poverty line, children and mothers? What are some of the inevitable influences here?

Jesse Herman: Yes, many of these people just dont have any other way to get medical care. This will be their only option, they cannot use it. Many studies over the years have shown that expanding Medicaid has many benefits, including better health outcomes, especially for people of color who fall disproportionately into the coverage gap. This is also a good thing for rural hospitals. Rural hospitals and states without expanded Medicaid programs are actually more likely to close.

Alex Katchik: So, if the latest incentives do not allow more governors in more than a dozen non-expanding states to make concessions, do you hope there will be more attempts?

Jesse Herman: I think this may be one of their last chances to close the coverage gap in these states in a period of time. I dont think Republicans in Congress have shown any interest in dealing with this issue. Although Joe Biden will still be president, I think there is a limit to what the government can do in dealing with this issue. Therefore, I think this domestic policy package is regarded by the Democratic Party as one of the last opportunities to resolve it.

Alex Katchik: Glad to know. Well, Jessie, thank you so much for breaking it down for us.

Jesse Herman: Thank you for your hospitality.

Alex Katchik: Okay, thank you everyone for listening. If you want to subscribe and support our work, there is a link in the program description. You can subscribe to Beyond the Byline on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can follow Jessie and me of Modern Healthcare on Twitter and LinkedIn to keep in touch with our work. We thank you for your support.
Creditors of South African crypto trading company Africrypt have agreed to a proposal recently made by an unnamed investor who is seeking to revive the failed company.

Africrypts intellectual property

In addition to paying US$4 million-which will be used to repay part of the crypto companys debt-investors are also willing to allocate US$1 million for the acquisition of 51% of Africrypt and the companys intellectual property.

As before Report According to Bitcoin.com News, an unnamed investor proposed to inject $5 million into the now-defunct crypto company. Although some creditors expressed disagreement with the investors proposal to withdraw the criminal charges against the two young directors of Africrypt, it is expected that the creditors will still accept the proposal.

Not the worst deal

In fact, as Moneyweb reports explain, The majority of creditors voted for the proposal because it represents a more realistic result for many of them. Ruann Kruger, the legal representative of the Africrypt liquidator, aptly summarized this sentiment. Kruger said:

Some people seem to believe that the company has some useful intellectual property rights, and the companys idea is that as part of a compromise, the company will obtain these intellectual property rights.

At the same time, according to an Africrypt investor who asked not to be named, the rescue offer is not exactly a bad offer.

This is not the worst deal that people have hoped for. We might get 40 cents or 50 cents rand, the company might revive in this way, and other funds will be recovered over time, the investor Argued.

What are your thoughts on this story? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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Disclaimer: This article is for reference only. It is not a direct offer or invitation to buy or sell, nor is it a recommendation or endorsement of any product, service or company. Bitcoin Network Does not provide investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. The company or the author is not directly or indirectly responsible for any damage or loss caused or claimed to be caused by using or relying on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
The President of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele claimed that most cryptocurrency transactions are illegal. He also asserted that there is no room for cryptocurrency in Nigerias banking industry.

Retaliation against Endsars protest claims

In his latest anti-cryptocurrency salvo, Publish However, before Punch, Emefiele appeared to refute CBNs sudden decision to exclude cryptocurrency entities from the banking system in order to punish the industry for its support of the Endsars protests.

When CBN froze the bank accounts of individuals involved in organizing the Endsars protest at the end of 2020, the protest leaders began to demand Donate via BitcoinAccording to Bitcoin.com News, this shift in donations to Bitcoin eventually allowed the organizers to continue to fund the protests.

Therefore, when CBN suddenly announced Repel Among the cryptocurrency entities from the banking ecosystem, some observers in Nigeria speculated that the decision was made because the central bank failed to prevent the flow of funds to the organizers of the Endsars protest.

Emefellers point of view

However, in response to these claims, the report cited Emefiele, explaining why CBN generally opposes cryptocurrency transactions.

As you said, the Endsars issue appeared in October 2020. We raised the issue that we will not provide our banking and payment system space to those involved in the cryptocurrency business because we believe that the transactions conducted there are Illegal, he explained.

Emefiele subsequently stated that CBN, like many of its surrounding peers, does not support cryptocurrency transactions because they are encrypted and cannot be decrypted by any central bank. He said:

Look at it this way: What can be hidden? Why are transactions so hidden? Why are they encrypted? If I make a transaction and the regulator or security agency wants to see the nature of the transaction, these (transactions) cannot be encrypted to let people know what happened. This means that cryptocurrency is a highly illegal product embedded.

In fact, according to Emefiele, donations to the Endsars movement have nothing to do with the CBN directive of February 5, 2021. Emefiele explained that, on the contrary, the directive is consistent with the position taken by many central banks around the world.

Do you agree with Emefieles remarks about cryptocurrency? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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The chronic shortage of truck drivers is plagued the supply chain in the United States, making it difficult for companies to obtain the products they need. However, when Matt Schrapp recently visited a truck yard near two California seaports, Los Angeles and Long Beach, he saw 20 trucks idle.

The scene pointed out another factor in the delivery of goods in the country: empty containers. When they were sitting at the port waiting to return to the exporter, many people took up the space on the chassis-the driver needed a special trailer to pick up the complete container arriving from Asia.

It really makes the job difficult, said Schrapp, the head of the Port Trucking Association. Because we cant get these chassis, we are actually sending people home.

The problem of empty containers has become the top priority for port operators, ocean carriers and the Biden government to repair the supply chain Stretch With the surge in consumer demand.

Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, said this week that there are 65,000 empty containers on its terminal, up from 55,000 a few weeks ago. Data from three large enclosure pool operators show that 90% of the enclosures in the port are now in use, up from 75% in January.

At the same time, this week the number of container ships anchored outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach hit a new record of 86.

This situation began earlier this year, when containers were stranded in the middle of the country because some truck drivers did not want to transport empty containers back to the coast. According to supply chain experts, full load can make more money.

Industry executives said that in response, shipping groups began to move containers closer to the terminals, which intensified the accumulation around the ports.

Caitlin Murphy, chief executive of Global Gateway Logistics, a freight forwarding company based in Missouri, said that since May, she has struggled to transport goods inland from Los Angeles and Long Beach by train.

Normally, loaded containers should be transported by rail to inland points; they dont do this anymore, she said, because the shipping group that owns or leases the boxes hopes that these containers can be shipped back to Asia.

She urged the Biden administration to pay more attention to keeping rail services running smoothly, rather than focusing mainly on seaports. Cutting the railroad blocked the supply chain, she said.

Respected

Keith Winter, the CEO of Crane Worldwide Logistics, another freight forwarding company, also expressed her concern, saying that ocean carriers have become more conservative in providing time slots for transporting goods by rail, which limits containers. The usual flow to inland hubs.

The shortage of inland containers in the United States has in turn affected exporters, who usually use empty containers to load goods for the international market. Michael Farlekas, CEO of E2open, said the company produces software for booking sea freight. .

According to the New York Times, more than 80% of the containers exported from the Port of Los Angeles in September were empty Report Recently, it is higher than about two-thirds of September 2020 and September 2019.

Lisa Ellram, a professor of supply chain management at the University of Miami, pointed out that the United States used to have more empty containers until 2018 stopped exporting recyclable materials to China. This helps return to China, she added, because the US imports more than exports.

But the chaos of the port itself-there are tens of thousands of importers, thousands of truck drivers, nearly 20 Terminal operator She added that there is very little centralized control-this is part of the problem.

Southern California port operators tried to clear the container stacking area and announced in late October that they would impose a surcharge on containers that stay in their facilities for too long, and the fines would increase from $100 per container per day.

Although these surcharges will not take effect until Monday, Seroka said this week that the number of containers affected by these surcharges has fallen by about 29%.

He added that the ocean carrier has arranged six sweepers to receive approximately 17,500 empty containers of 20-foot equivalent units, and the other two are on the way. Bidens Minister of Transportation Pete Buttigieg welcomed them on Twitter, but Schrapp and others said more work needs to be done to clear the backlog.

The biggest challenge for truck drivers is to be more bureaucratic. Schrapp said: If there is no appointment to return the empty container, the driver will not be able to free up the chassis to fill a full container. But terminal operators in the port complex will not accept empty containers without knowing that a ship is about to arrive to remove them.

Elleram said the Port of Los Angeles is working hard to provide incentives for truck drivers to bring an empty container with them every time they pick up the goods. She said: They have to make more delays worthy of their endurance.

If it cannot be repaired quickly, Schrapp is worried that drivers who make a living by shuttle cargo in and out of the port will find other jobs. This is ridiculous, he warned: If they cant find a job here, they are in great demand. What prevents them from looking for another driving job?
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledges that the recently launched Nigeria Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is attracting the interest of many institutions around the world, including central banks. Nevertheless, the fund warned that CBDC is at risk in terms of monetary policy implementation, cyber security, operational flexibility, and financial integrity and stability.

CBDC attracts interest

In its latest national focus report The IMF was written by economist Jack Ree and explained why Nigerias new CBDC has aroused great interest from the outside world, especially the central bank. In the report, the author pointed out that unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, e-naira has strict access control by the central bank. In addition, unlike unstable cryptocurrencies, CBDC derives value from the physical naira.

According to the International Monetary Fund, it is through these characteristics that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hopes that its CBDC can bring multiple benefits to the Nigerian economy. Some of the expected benefits include increased financial inclusion and reduced informality.

The gospel of CBDC remittance

The report also explains why CBN hopes that CBDC will increase remittances into the country. The report states:

Remittances are usually made through international money transfer operators (such as Western Union), and the fees are 1% to 5% of the transaction value. e-naira is expected to reduce the cost of remittances and make it easier for Nigerian expatriates to send funds to Nigeria by obtaining eNaira from international remittance operators and transferring it to Nigerian beneficiaries through wallet-to-wallet transfers.

However, the same International Monetary Fund report reiterated a common view that CBDC deposits may actually act as central bank deposits and reduce the demand for commercial bank deposits. The report also warned of other risks associated with CBDC. Relying on digital technology, the cyber security and operational risks associated with eNaira need to be managed, the author wrote.

In short, the report stated that the IMF that participated in the e-naira launch process can still provide technical assistance and policy advice to CBN.

Do you agree with the comments of the International Monetary Fund on Nigeria CBDC? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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Disclaimer: This article is for reference only. It is not a direct offer or invitation to buy or sell, nor is it a recommendation or endorsement of any product, service or company. Bitcoin Network Does not provide investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. The company or the author is not directly or indirectly responsible for any damage or loss caused or claimed to be caused by using or relying on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Narendra Modi) urged democracies to work together to ensure that cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, do not fall into the wrong hands. At the same time, the Modi government is developing a regulatory framework for Indias cryptocurrency.

Indian Prime Minister Modi talks about Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, in a virtual keynote speech at the Sydney Dialogue on Wednesday.

He called on all countries to work together to ensure that cryptocurrencies do not fall into the wrong hands. Take cryptocurrency or Bitcoin as an example. It is important that all democracies work together in this regard and make sure that it does not fall into the wrong hands, which will destroy our youth, Modi said.

In addition, the Prime Minister urged Australia and Indias Indo-Pacific partners in and other regions to jointly invest in future technologies to deepen intelligence and operational cooperation, and develop common standards for data governance and cross-border data flow.

Modi explained that the digital age is changing everything. In addition to redefining politics, economy, and society, it also raises new questions about sovereignty, governance, ethics, rights, and security.

According to reports, after he presided over a statement on cryptocurrency and Bitcoin, Comprehensive meeting After consultations with the Central Bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Interior, consultations were conducted on this subject.

This week, the Standing Committee on Finance of the Indian Parliament also held Meeting With representatives from the encryption industry. This is the first time that India has held parliamentary discussions on the broad topic of crypto finance involving the industry.

At the same time, the Modi government is developing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. Recent reports indicate that the government is planning to regulate cryptocurrency as an asset, allowing Indians to hold it as an investment. However, the use of cryptocurrency for payments and transactions may be prohibited.

The Bank of India continues to make a serious and important voice focus on About cryptocurrency. Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, stated that the central bank has communicated its concerns to the government.

In addition, Business Standards reported on Wednesday that the government is considering classifying cryptocurrency exchanges as e-commerce platforms and imposing a 1% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on them.

What do you think of Indian Prime Minister Modis call for governments to cooperate on cryptocurrencies? Please let us know in the comments section below.

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SevenX Ventures has developed an immersive investment strategy to support the long-term development of entrepreneurs as partners, not just investors. By leveraging its strong network and resources, SevenX Ventures is at the forefront of voting and governance, and provides immediate demand, utility and liquidity to ensure the success of its investment portfolio.

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India seems to have taken a progressive stance on Bitcoin (Bitcoin). Especially considering that the country is trying to reach a unified view on the classification and legality of this new asset class.

In a series of cabinet meetings, industry reports, and increasingly serious banking problems, the countrys prime minister has become more and more vocal about cryptocurrency.

At the Sydney Dialogue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Call Let democracies work together to make full use of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. He also stated that they should not be used for immoral purposes.

Take cryptocurrency or Bitcoin as an example. It is important that all democracies work together to ensure that it does not fall into the wrong hands, which will destroy our youth: Prime Minister Arenal Lundra Modi -PMO India (@PMOIndia) November 18, 2021

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi spoke about cryptocurrencies in the context of money laundering and terrorist financing at a high-level meeting. The overall atmosphere of the meeting indicated that strong regulatory measures are about to be introduced, albeit forward-looking and gradual.

The Indian government has previously taken measures to establish Robust regulatory infrastructure For fast-growing industries. It has conducted many high-level discussions, including discussions between the Central Bank (RBI), the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior, as well as discussions between crypto experts and key industry players from both domestic and foreign India.

Although some government ministers have put forward objective views, Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, still does not believe it.On Tuesday, the executive officer Reiterate His position is that allowing crypto transactions could endanger any financial system because they are not regulated by the central bank.

related: According to reports, Indias largest payment company Paytm is considering using Bitcoin services

Despite the increasing popularity of cryptocurrencies in India, lawmakers still disagree on whether a comprehensive regulatory system is needed. It is expected that the Bitcoin bill will be submitted to the Indian legislature during the next session. Many hope this will provide some calm and clarity to investors and organizations.

According to Cointelegraph, India plans to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Cryptocurrency exchanges from 18% to 1% Reclassification through supervision.In addition, the Governor of Perus Central Bank recently stated that his country will Joining forces with India and two other countries Create your own central bank digital currency, even though Indias encryption regulation remains obscure.
Melissa Blatzer is determined to have her three children receive routine immunizations at a walk-in clinic in suburban Denver on a recent Saturday morning. About a year has passed since the childrens last injection, and Blazer blamed the delay on the pandemic.

Two-year-old Lincoln Blatzer wore flannel dinosaur pajamas, anxiously waiting in line for hepatitis A vaccination. His siblings, 14-year-old Nyla Kusumah and 11-year-old Nevan Kusumah, were vaccinated there with TDAP, HPV and meningococcal vaccines, and Nyla was vaccinated with COVID-19.

Blazer, who lives in the commercial city a few miles away, said: You dont have to make an appointment. You can take three people at once. This convenience surpasses the difficulty of getting everyone up early on weekends.

Child health experts hope that community clinics like this, as well as the resumption of face-to-face classes, more child visits, and the introduction of COVID vaccines for younger children, can help increase routine child immunizations that have fallen during the pandemic. Despite the rebound, the immunization rate is still lower than in 2019, and the disparity in ratios between races and economic groups has increased, especially among black children.

We have not returned to where we need it, said Dr. Sean OLeary, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at the Colorado Childrens Hospital and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Routine immunization can protect children from 16 infectious diseases, including measles, diphtheria, and chickenpox, and curb transmission to the community.

OLeary said that launching COVID vaccines for young children is an opportunity to catch up with regular vaccinations, adding that children can get these vaccines together. Many primary care facilities where children may be vaccinated against COVID usually have other childrens vaccines on hand.

Dr. Malini DeSilva, physician and pediatrician at HealthPartners in Minneapolis-St. Louis, said: It is very important for parents and healthcare providers to work together so that all children can get these recommended vaccines. Paul area. Not only for the health of our children, but also for the health of our community.

Karen Miller, the immunization nurse manager of the Denver District Health Department, which runs the Westminster Clinic, said that people are reluctant to come out for routine immunizations during the worst of the pandemic. National and global data confirm what Miller saw on the ground.

According to a recent study by scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Childrens Fund, the global coverage of childrens vaccines has declined from 2019 to 2020. According to the study, the reasons include reduced visits, lack of traffic, concerns about exposure to COVID and supply chain disruption.

According to this study, the third dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccines and polio vaccine coverage dropped from 86% of all eligible children in 2019 to 83% in 2020. Globally, 22.7 million children did not receive the third dose of DTP in 2020, compared with 19 million in 2019. Three doses are far more effective than one or two doses in protecting children and communities.

In the United States, researchers studied routine vaccination data in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin in 2019 and 2020, and found that during the pandemic that lasted until September 2020, vaccination There has been a substantial interruption in the rate. For example, 7-month-old babies vaccinated with the latest vaccine have dropped from 81% in September 2019 to 74% a year later.

In almost all age groups, the proportion of black children vaccinated to date is lower than that of children of other races and ethnic groups. De Silva, who led the study, said this was most pronounced in children as young as 18 months: by September 2020, only 41% of black children of the same age had been vaccinated, and among all children 18 months old , This proportion is 57%.

A CDC study of data from the National Immunization Survey found that race and ethnicity, poverty, and lack of insurance caused the biggest differences in vaccination rates. The authors pointed out that additional efforts are needed to deal with the pandemics devastation.

Miller said that in addition to the problems caused by COVID, competing life priorities such as work and school have also prevented families from keeping up with the filming. Weekend vaccination clinics can help working parents get their children routinely immunized when they are vaccinated against flu or COVID. Miller and OLeary also stated that reminders via phone calls, text messages or emails can increase immunization rates.

Vaccines are very effective, and I think its easy for families to put immunization in a secondary position because we dont often hear about these diseases, she said.

This is a long and annoying list, which includes hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, whooping cough, polio, rubella, rotavirus, pneumococcus, tetanus, diphtheria, human papillomavirus, and meninges Inflammatory coccosis and so on. Even a small drop in vaccination coverage could lead to an outbreak. Measles is a perfect example that worries experts, especially when international travel is open.

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to mankind, which means that we must maintain a very high vaccination coverage rate to prevent its spread, OLeary said.

In 2019, there were 22 measles outbreaks in 17 states, mainly unvaccinated children and adults. OLeary said the outbreak in New York City is under control because of the high vaccination coverage in the surrounding areas. But he said that outbreaks in unvaccinated communities may still spread abroad.

In some states, due to religious or personal reasons, a large number of parents opposed routine child vaccination even before the pandemic, which poses another challenge for health professionals. For example, in the 2018-19 school year, 87% of kindergarten children in Colorado were vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella, one of the lowest rates in the country.

These ratios soared to 91% in 2019-20, but they are still below the CDCs target of 95%.

OLeary said that he believes that the degree of hesitation in routine immunization is different from COVID. There have always been vaccine hesitations and vaccine rejections. But we have long maintained the vaccination rate of all conventional childhood vaccines above 90%, he said.

Marini said the ripple effect of missed vaccinations in the early stages of the pandemic will continue until 2021. With children returning to face-to-face learning this fall, schools may be the first place families hear about missed vaccinations. Individual states have established vaccination requirements and permitted exemptions for admission to schools and childcare facilities. Last year, Colorado passed a school enrollment immunization law, tightening the allowable exemptions.

OLeary said: Schools that usually enforce vaccination requirements have become thinner due to various reasons (including COVID), he added, adding that for some (but not all) schools, it may be more difficult to manage vaccination requirements.

13-year-old Anayeli Dominguez is receiving TDAP vaccination at Westminster Clinic because her middle school noticed that she was not updated in time.

Denver Public Schools spokesperson Will Jones said: School nurses play an important role in helping identify students who need immunization and linking families with the resources of the school district and the larger community.
Mike Adelberg, head of Faegre Drinker Consulting, said: Many improper payments are not the result of fraud, but the result of insufficient documents and codes. These documents and codes are between the provider and the CMS contractor. There are divergent themes. Reducing improper payments is good news. But it will not automatically translate into reducing fraud and abuse.

CMS attributed the decrease in improper bills to an increase in provider education, which resulted in a decrease of $1.8 billion in improper payments to inpatient rehabilitation facilities from 2018 to 2021. Expansion of targeted audit programs and prior authorization requirements for certain durable medical equipment items also triggered a $388 federal agency that stated that from 2020, improper payments have been reduced by $1 million.

Adelberg said that most of the work began about ten years ago, when the overcharge of electric scooters and other items caught the attention of regulators. In order to combat unnecessary expenditures, regulators have introduced prior authorization requirements for certain services. Adelberg said these administrative tasks have been increasing in recent years.

Last year, CMS announced that it would expand the pre-authorization requirements for repetitive, scheduled, non-emergency ambulance transportation nationwide. Previously, a federal analysis found that non-emergency vehicles were used to send some patients to doctors, saving the federal government More than 550 million U.S. dollars. Two years.

Together with prior authorization, Supplier integration Wolters Kluwer Medical Informatics and Health Language Professional Consulting Director Dr. Michael Stearns said it also helped reduce improper health insurance payments.

According to a report, in January 2021, nearly 70% of doctors were employed by hospitals or companies such as private equity companies and health insurance companies. Avalere Health AnalysisThe company also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the integration trend.

Adjust independent doctors Stearns said the larger health system provides them with access to software used to record patient conditions and codes. He added that the integration between suppliers is driving growth in the revenue cycle management area.

Revenue cycle management According to data from Modern Healthcares digital health business and technology, in 2021, the company has raised US$344.5 million in venture capital, an increase of 78.8% from last years US$192.6 million.

Some health systems do not have contracts with technology suppliers, such as SSM health They are redistributing their revenue cycle staff, adding pressure to the business of companies such as UnitedHealth Groups Optum Health Services Department.

Now you can have doctors check documents together in the room and improve compliance, Stearns said. Small practices actually dont have enough bandwidth to absorb it.

At the same time, Medicare Advantage insurance companies improper payments accounted for $23.1 billion. CMS stated that in fiscal 2021, 10% of all payments for the privatization government program for senior citizens were inappropriate. The agency recently changed the way it reviews Medicare Advantage insurance company claims, and regulators said they did not have enough data to determine trends from one year to the next.

But looking ahead, automated coding by clinicians will reduce improper payments for these two projects, Stearns said. However, using technology to record patient status will be a more difficult task to simplify, because time-critical doctors may not always write down the status of each patient, leaving gaps in the collected data. He said this will continue to pose a threat to improper medical insurance payments.

Its really hard to ask them to slow down and record information about situations that have nothing to do with that point in time, Adelberg said. I think we may see documentation become the most challenging area that Medicare needs to address.

Medical insurance and Medicaid have different analysis of improper payment. Although Medicare charges for services and Medicare Advantage payments are measured annually at the national level, improper payments for child health insurance plans and Medicaid plans are calculated by averaging survey results in some states over three years.

Among the government insurance plans for low-income Americans, CHIP accounted for the largest proportion of inappropriate CMS payments, at $5.3 billion, accounting for 31.8% of the total reimbursements classified as inappropriate. However, the states Medicaid program caused a large number of improper payments, at $98.7 billion, accounting for 21.6% of the total reimbursement.

Service-based medical insurance accounted for 13.9% of total improper payments, while Medicaid managed care accounted for 0.04% of improper payments.this Error rate For managed care, only the monthly per capita payment at the state level is measured, while the service charge varies by service, provider, insurance company, and other factors.

Andy Schneider, a professor of practical studies at Georgetown Universitys McCourt School of Public Policy, said these rates must also take into account information about the eligibility of the insured, which may make the providers documentation more complicated than medical insurance. CMS stated that most improper Medicaid and CHIP payments were due to insufficient documentation regarding membership.

Medicaid is an income-based plan, so you have to figure out whether their income meets the conditions, Schneider said. The dynamics are very, very different. The operating requirements of the income test plan are much higher than those of the social insurance plan.
Joe Biden will meet with Mexican and Canadian leaders at the White House on Thursday. Justin Trudeau Urge U.S. lawmakers to reject protectionist policies in the debate about the U.S. Electric car subsidy.

The first trilateral meeting between the three heads of state since 2016-the so-called Three Friends summit-comes at a time when Mexican and Canadian officials complain that Biden plans to provide tax credits for electric vehicles made in the United States. This is part of the packaging of his $175 million expenditure and violates international trade rules.

The Office of the Prime Minister of Canada stated that Trudeau has spoken to lawmakers on Capitol Hill to let these major lawmakers understand the importance of bilateral cooperation.

As US officials seek to coordinate with allies to strengthen critical supply chains and respond to global crises, the US president will see at the summit that the US presidents goal is to strengthen diplomatic relations across North America.

Respected

US officials said that the three leaders plan to set up a supply chain working group to minimize future disruptions, while other issues that need to be discussed include climate cooperation, health and safety, and immigration.

North America is a platform that is vital to our domestic economic success and partnerships, and can play a truly critical role in solving regional and global challenges, said a US official.

Washington has been working hard to protect the supply chain of key industries such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and electric vehicle batteries to reduce excessive reliance on countries such as China.

Canada, in particular, is a rich source of minerals vital to electric vehicle manufacturing, such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite.

A senior US official said that on Covid-19, the three leaders are expected to reach an agreement that Canada and Mexico will share part of the vaccine donated to them by the United States with other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The official added that public health experts will determine the timing and number of doses.

At the same time, the United States also expressed Mexico Energy Reform, Industry experts say this will make electricity more expensive and dirty.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that if this issue comes up at the summit on Thursday, he is ready to urge his colleagues to help stop what he calls Abuse by foreign energy companies, he believes that foreign energy companies have unfairly benefited from contracts provided by the previous government.

Do you think it is difficult for me to say this to President Biden or Prime Minister Trudeau? No, I doubt whether they are in favor of protecting corruption, he said in the morning press conference. Wednesday.

A U.S. official said that the Biden administration is closely tracking Mexicos proposed energy reforms and is ready for discussions between the two presidents.
Uppsala Security Agency Security tool and service provider for cryptocurrency AML/CTF, Transaction tracking, risk management, regulatory compliance and cybersecurity, today announced that they have successfully helped victims recover approximately 5 million won (more than 4,000 US dollars).

According to the Crypto Incident Response Center (CIRC), the victim reported a fraud case in early November 2021. Investigators from Uppsala Security then tracked and analyzed the movement of digital assets reported by the victims and confirmed that the stolen funds had reached the exchange wallet.

Investigators from Uppsala Security immediately provided the victim with a virtual asset tracking report to help prevent the possibility that the suspect might transfer the stolen funds to a foreign exchange. The victim then submitted a tracking report to the police, showing who held the lost cryptocurrency at the time. The network security team of the local police department then conducted a comprehensive investigation and successfully identified the suspect in the incident.

As a result, the police can quickly arrest malicious actors and help victims recover lost funds. According to Uppsala Securities, the full recovery of funds is still in progress, but some assets (approximately 5 million won) have been recovered.

Encrypted Incident Response Center (CIRC) Utilization Cable TV, A cryptographic analysis transaction visualization tool, and method, A cryptographic analysis risk assessment tool based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, used to track stolen crypto tokens and understand how stolen funds are laundered.

Due to the nature of blockchain technology, it is difficult to recover lost/stolen assets in situations related to fraud or hacking. Nevertheless, our Insurance Regulatory Commission team successfully implemented the third case of recovering stolen virtual assets in South Korea. This is of great significance in the virtual asset industry because it shows that technology can be successfully used to solve some of the complex problems we face today. . We hope that these successful cases will provide an opportunity for people to get rid of the misunderstanding that virtual assets cannot be recovered once they are lost. 

 Min Woo Ku, Korea Regional Manager, Uppsala Security Department

In addition, Uppsala Security and Bithumb, a virtual asset exchange based in South Korea, helped to fully recover the assets lost in two cases, one in April and the other in August 2021, including the use of Uppsala identification Security follow-up report of the suspect in the incident.
An upcoming mystery horror Kdrama, "Hellbound," starring Yoo Ah In, is set to make a grand debut on Netflix.

The six-part episode series will surely keep the viewers at the edge of their seats with the spine-chilling visuals, surprising storyline, and a roster of talented actors.

Apart from the "Chicago Typewriter" star, joining the "Hellbound" cast isKim Hyun Joo, who recently headlined the JTBC series "Undercover," as well as Park Jung Min and rising star Won JIn Ah.

Slated to premiere on November 19, the highly anticipated Kdrama is helmed by "Train to Busan" and "Peninsula" director Yeon Sang Ho.

Following the massive success of Lee Jung Jae and Park Hae Soo's "Squid Game," some predict that "Hellbound" will be among the blockbuster K-series this 2021.

Ahead of the most awaited debut, let's dig into the details with three important key points that everyone should know about Netflix's "Hellbound."

Based on the Webtoon Co-Created 'Hellbound' Director

Yoo Ah In's new drama is based on the webtoon titled "Hell," written by PD Yeon Sang Ho himself, while the live-action adaptation is produced under Lezhin Studio.

The upcoming Netflix series is set to showcase the story between good and evil through a chaotic supernatural phenomenon.

In the drama, the award-winning actor plays the cult leader, Jung Jin Soo, and his obsession with the emerging religion, Saejinrihwe.

He spoke about the rare occurrence of death angels from hell condemning people, causing a tumultuous and confusing period in the human race.

On the other hand, the feisty lawyer Min Hye Jin, portrayed by Kim Hyun Joo, doubts Jung Jin Soo's beliefs and is determined to find the reason behind the strange phenomenon.

During the press conference, PD Yeon Sang Ho revealed why he opted to use angels and grim reapers, saying that it was the way he imagined it to be.

"They say it appeared suddenly in ancient times, but it could appear once every 100 or 200 years. I figured that our imaginations of the angel and devil were built off the imaginations of people in these ancient times. I was curious about the original archetype they saw," he said.

Lauded by Oscar Winner and 'Parasite' Director Bong Joon Ho

Not only did "Hellbound" was created by the renowned director but is also praised by the equally talented Bong Joon Ho, who is the genius behind the award-winning movie "Parasite."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy-winning director expressed his admiration to Choi Gyu Seok, the cartoonist for the webtoon series.

The famous director says that his works are very detailed and sharp illustrations that depict "the character's anxiety and fear."

"A truly overwhelming world of fear that cannot be explained with words like 'God's prank' or 'grand nonsense.' We are already burning in the center of the hell that Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu Seok are portraying," he added.

Became the First K-Drama to be Invited at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival

Prior to the "Hellbound" release, the thrilling horror Kdrama garnered the attention of international fans and was invited to the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival.

Not only that, the Netflix series became the first-ever Korean drama to be officially invited to such a prestigious annual event.

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
For "Now, We Are Breaking Up" episode 3, Yoon Jae Guk (Jang Ki Yong) is ready to confront Ha Young Eun (Song Hye Kyo) about her relationship with his brother 10 years ago.

With its successful broadcast last week, SBS teased viewers and unveiled new "Now, We Are Breaking Up" stills displaying the tension between Jang Ki Yong and Song Hye Kyo's characters.

'Now, We Are Breaking Up Episode 3 Spoiler

In "Now, We Are Breaking Up," episode 2, which aired on November 13, ended with an intriguing scene giving the fans a hint on what will happen next in the story.

While on his way to the airport going back to Paris, Yoon Jae Guk discovered a shocking truth about the fashion designer he is attracted to that connects to what happened to his brother years ago.

Due to that, the male photographer canceled his flight and decided to stay in Seoul for a while. Ha Young Eun, who is ready for their next photoshoot, gets surprised to see Yoon Jae Guk as their new photographer. He went near Ha Young Eun and asked if she knew a man named Yoon Soo Wan, Jae Guk's brother. The female designer did not anticipate hearing that familiar name again and started to compose herself not to be emotional in front of Yoon Jae Guk. After a minute of silence, she replied to him by saying, " I am still trying to break up with him." The subtle emotional changes between the two started to arise due to the revelation.

Ahead of the next episode premiere, SBS new still cuts, Ha Young Eun and Yoon Jae Guk are facing each other at the photoshoot. The two are only focused on each other, making everything around them blurry. Will Ha Young Eun finally reveal her past to Yoon Jae Guk and discover his relationship toYoon Soo Wan? Find out in the next episodes of "Now, We Are Breaking Up" on November 19 and 20 at 10 p.m (KST) on SBS.

'Now, We Are Breaking Up' Cast Instagram Update

Song Hye Kyo, Choi Hee Seo, and Park Hyo Joo show their close friendship on Instagram as each of them posted a photo of them together. The close bond between the three co-stars receive love from the fans.

Same as with Kim Jun Hun, he recently uploaded a photo with Jang Ki Yong on Instagram. The snaps were taken during their scene in "Now, We Are Breaking Up" episode 1.

Meanwhile, the drama's official page also released behind the scene cuts and candid shots of the "Now, We Are Breaking Up" cast. To see more updates about the drama, visit their page @nowwearebreakingup_official.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Hye Kyo and Jang Ki Yong Reveal Selfie Together After Successful 'Now, We Are Breaking Up' Premiere + Drama Achieves New Impressive Ratings

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.
Far from the typical meet-cute scenario, one of the beloved genres in the Hallyu world is the enemy to lovers Kdrama.

Despite the main characters fighting like cats and dogs, it is a type of romance where we never saw coming.

Viewers are drawn to their unique chemistry and not to mention a ton of heart-fluttering moments with their budding relationship.

In case you need a little dash of romantic excitement, here are some of the classic enemies to lovers Kdramas to binge-watch over the weekend.

'Full House'

The rom-com series that skyrocketed the popularity of now hottest Hallyu stars Song Hye Kyo and Rain, "Full House" is one of the iconic enemies turned lovers themed Kdrama.

The 2004 KBS series follows the interesting story of an aspiring scriptwriter named Han Ji Eun, played by the "Now, We Are Breaking Up" star, who lived in a dreamy home built by her father who calls it the "Full House.

However, things drastically changed after two of her friends tricked her and sold her house to a famous actor Lee Young Jae, portrayed by Rain.

Of course, living under one roof caused chaos between the two of them; interestingly, they developed a relationship that eclipsed their love-hate connection after they eventually fell head over heels with each other.

Moreover, Song Hye Kyo and Rain's Kdrama became a blockbuster hit not just in South Korea but also in neighboring countries and was remade in Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai and Filipino.

'Boys Over Flowers'

Definitely one of the classic enemies-turned-lovers Kdrama is "Boys Over Flowers," which stars Lee Min Ho, Kim Bum, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Joon and Gu Hye Seon.

The Hallyu star plays the leader of the notorious F4 Goo Joon Pyo, who is intertwined with his new target, Geum Jan Di, played by Gu Hye Seon.

Unlike the chaebol's son, Jan Di belongs to a middle-class family who runs a dry-cleaning shop near the university.

She managed to enter the prestigious Shinhwa High School due to a scholarship program.

As the high school student became the F4's new victim, Jan Di resists bowing down to the group, especially to Goo Joon Pyo amid their silly fights; they begin to see a different side of each other, which leads to a budding romance.

'It's Okay, That's Love'

Third on the list is Gong Hyo Jin and Jo In Sung's Kdrama "It's Okay, That's Love."

The actor plays the famous mystery writer and radio host Jang Jae Yeol, who meets the feisty psychiatrist Ji Hae Soo in one of his shows.

Although the duo got off on the wrong foot when they first met, Hae Soo managed to see his soft side after knowing his struggles during his childhood.

They became each other's confidants, especially Gong Hyo Jin's character, who expressed how she desperately wanted to help and comfort him.

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
PHOENIX, Ore. -- September 8 marked one year since the Almeda fire tore through the city of Phoenix and Talent, leaving devastation in its path.

I don't know how to put it into words. It's just, it's been ... it's been a whirlwind of a year after the Almeda Fire, Mike Sandoval said.

Sandoval is a retired firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service. Now he works as a full-time volunteer as well as raising two teenagers.

The kids and I, after our home burned down, we were in a hotel for a couple months, Sandoval said.

Now Sandoval and his family are living in FEMA-supported housing in Medford.

Now, we're trying to find a full-time housing in the area right now, Sandoval said.

Today, with the help of the United Way and the Maslow Project, Mike was awarded a check for $500 as well as a certificate of appreciation for his efforts during the Almeda Fire.

They went to the Expo, they helped evacuate Northridge Terrace, the assisted living facility. They also rescued some people from their upstairs apartment and got them to safety, Kirstin Cronin said.

Cronin works as a case manager for the Maslow Project.

He really puts everyone above himself. I've seen  firsthand, Cronin added.

Sandoval added that the $500 dollars is huge for his family and his hoping to use some of the money to find more ways to give back to the community.

We need to inspire our youth right now, reach them right now, whatever we can do to inspire the youth, motivate them and push them forward. It's incredible, Sandoval said.
By Aya Elamroussi, Amy Simonson and Paul P. Murphy, CNN

(CNN) -- There are significant delays for railways and trucks using the Canadian port city of Vancouver after severe and widespread flooding slammed the Pacific Northwest, officials said Wednesday -- and the impact could be felt for days.

Vancouver is Canada's largest port and the third largest in North America by tonnes of cargo, according to the port authority.

"The Vancouver gateway is experiencing significantly disrupted rail and truck movement due to widespread flooding throughout the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions," Matti Polychronis, a spokesperson for Port of Vancouver, told CNN in an email. He added that port marine terminals are still operating.

British Columbia and neighboring Washington state were inundated with so much rain and wind Monday that people were ordered to evacuate their homes, and dozens needed to be rescued.

Nearly 300 people were trapped by mudslides on British Columbia roadways, Jonathan Gormick with Canada Task Force 1 said. There were three incidents in which cars were trapped between debris flows where hundreds of people were trapped, Emergency Management British Columbia communications director Jordan Turner said. They were all eventually rescued, he said.

And as officials attempt to examine the extent of the damage, they are facing challenges. Evacuation orders in various communities have hindered efforts to assess the damage to major railways, the Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), Polychronis said.

"CN and CP main rail corridors are not currently operational between Vancouver and Kamloops due to washouts and landslides," Polychronis said. "Both CN and CP crews are clearing debris and conducting repairs at multiple sites with progress being made in restoring some impacted rail sections.

"Flooding impacts on highways remain severe and widespread throughout southwestern B.C. All main highway routes to the Metro Vancouver area are closed."

It may take up to three days for traffic to resume, he said.

Some additional localized flooding may impact recovery efforts Thursday, according to CNN meteorologist Rob Shackelford, who said Friday may bring some relief.

The Pacific Northwest region could see between 2 and 4 inches of rain on Thursday, he said.

"I actually do think there could be some impacts to relief and recovery impacts for the worst-hit tomorrow, but by Friday it should be good. There is a slight chance of localized flooding with rounds of moisture like this," Shackelford said.

Canadian police said a woman had died after a mudslide Monday near Lillooet, which is located to the north of Vancouver.

And in Washington state, crews discovered Wednesday the body of Jose Garcia, a 59-year-old man who was washed away early on Monday by flood waters on his way to work in Everson while calling his family for help, authorities said.

His son notified authorities of his father's plea for help and told police that his father said he was "clinging to bushes or trees in the field."

"He told his family he tried to get out of the vehicle and was swept away by the current north into the field," Everson Police Chief Daniel MacPhee said in a news release.

The nearby town of Sumas, Washington, saw about 75% of its homes sustain damage by floodwaters, officials said.
SALEM, Ore.  The state of Oregon has reached an overall vaccination rate against Covid-19 of 70%, the Oregon Health Authority announced Wednesday evening, citing CDC data.

Based on the CDC's numbers, more than seven in 10 Oregonians of all age groups have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, accounting for more than 2.95 million people.

More than seven in 10 people in Oregon of all age groups have received at least one dose of a #COVID19 vaccine, according to the @CDCgov. pic.twitter.com/LgyM47DhZC  OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) November 18, 2021

The Oregon Health Authority's own numbers lag behind somewhat, as they do not include shots administered through federal facilities, such as US Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

By those numbers, Oregon ranks 19th among US states and the District of Columbia for the percentage of its total population who are protected by at least one dose. It also ranks 19th in administration of booster doses, OHA said.

A large part of that growth comes due to the recent expansion of Pfizer vaccine authorization to include kids 5 to 11 years old. As of Wednesday, almost 40,000 kids in that age group had received at least one dose, accounting for 11% of all Oregon children ages 5 to 11.

"Having 70% of all those eligible and living in Oregon vaccinated is great news, especially as we head into the holiday season when families and friends will more likely be gathering together, said Dr. Tom Jeanne, deputy state epidemiologist for the OHA. OHA urges everyone in Oregon five years and older to get fully vaccinated, so we can better protect everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable, including older adults, our youngest children and people with compromised immune systems.

For the first time in months  since before the late-summer surge fueled by Delta variant infections  Oregon this week has seen daily Covid-19 case counts consistently below 1,000, counting 778 cases on Monday and 996 on Tuesday after particularly low weekend cases.

Hospitalizations for Covid-19 have also been sagging, albeit with corresponding sluggishness. As of Wednesday's report there were 427 patients hospitalized across the state for Covid-19, 100 of them in intensive care.
By Devon M. Sayers, Alta Spells and Jason Hanna, CNN

(CNN) -- In defendant Travis McMichael's second day on the witness stand Thursday, a prosecutor pressed him about differences in his initial accounts to police and his later testimony about the pursuit and killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

She also probed him on the final moments of Arbery's life -- including asking why McMichael ever raised his shotgun.

"You're not letting him run away -- you're pointing (the) shotgun at him," prosecutor Linda Dunikowski said about the encounter during cross-examination.

"I am not letting him run to me, directly to me," McMichael countered, talking of his raising his weapon.

McMichael, one of three defendants charged in the killing, had testified a day earlier that he acted in self-defense as he and Arbery wrestled over McMichael's shotgun.

On Thursday, Dunikowski challenged McMichael over what she said were inconsistencies in his accounts. That included not telling police initially that he and his father were trying to make a citizen's arrest, though that's what the defense has since contended. She also covered differences in his accounts on when and where he told Arbery certain things, such as to stop.

McMichael responded he was "scattered" and "mixed up" in the hours after the shooting, because "this is the most traumatic event I've ever been through in my life."

McMichael also acknowledged several times, under Dunikowski's questioning, that he never saw Arbery armed during the pursuit, never heard Arbery verbally threaten him, and that Arbery never responded or showed any interest in conversing with McMichael as he tried to ask what he was doing.

She also pushed him on what he chose not to do.

"You could have driven behind (Arbery) and not spoken to him at all," and "you could have stayed in your truck" instead of getting out and eventually drawing a gun, Dunikowski said.

McMichael responded "yes" to both statements.

Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael and their neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan Jr., all of whom are White, face charges including malice and felony murder in the death of Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was chased by the trio on February 23, 2020, in the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick, Georgia.

The younger McMichael shot and killed Arbery and it was captured on cell phone video by Bryan. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Arbery's family has said he was out for a jog when he was shot and killed. Defense attorneys contend the McMichaels, suspecting him of burglary, were trying to conduct a lawful citizen's arrest, and that Bryan, after seeing the McMichaels chase Arbery, attempted to cut Arbery off, followed and recorded video of the pursuit and shooting.

In addition to malice murder and felony murder, the defendants also face charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony. All have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, each man could face life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prosecutor probes Travis McMichael on final encounter

On Thursday, Dunikowski also challenged Travis McMichael on why he now claims Arbery grabbed his gun in the final encounter, since he initially told police he didn't know if that's what happened.

"It's obvious he had the gun. ... I obviously missed every minute detail" when speaking to police that day under stress, McMichael testified Thursday.

On Tuesday, the forensic pathologist who performed Arbery's autopsy testified that Arbery's first gunshot wounds -- to his wrist and chest -- could be consistent with Arbery grabbing or pushing away the shotgun.

When McMichael described the encounter Wednesday, he said that after he and his father pursued Arbery in a pickup truck, he'd parked his vehicle and saw Arbery coming in their direction. He yelled at Arbery to "stop where you're at" and went to grab his shotgun. Arbery turned and ran, before eventually coming back again, Travis McMichael said.

As Arbery got closer, Travis McMichael drew his weapon on Arbery, McMichael said Wednesday. Arbery darted to the right and later, "starts running back straight to the truck where my father's at the back of it." The younger McMichael testified he made his way to the front of the vehicle, and Arbery "turns and is on me, is on me in a flash."

"He grabs the shotgun, and I believe I was struck on that first instance that we made contact," Travis McMichael testified Wednesday.

On Wednesday, McMichael said that "if he would have got the shotgun from me, then it was, this is a life-or-death situation. And I'm gonna have to stop him from doing this, so I shot."

Dunikowski asked him Thursday about what she called his "attitudes toward ... vigilantism." She asked about a January 2019 Facebook exchange with somoene, in which that person felt that examples needed to be made out of somebody if they steal things.

"You (responded), 'That's right. Hope y'all catch the vermin,'" Dunikowski said.

"That's correct," McMichael said.

Travis McMichael describes days and moments leading to pursuit

The McMichaels, according to their attorneys, suspected Arbery of burglary in part because they and several neighbors were concerned about people entering an under-construction home -- and because of Travis McMichaels' encounter with a man in the neighborhood on February 11, 2020, nearly two weeks before the shooting.

Defense attorney Bob Rubin said in opening statements two weeks ago that the person that Travis McMichael saw on February 11, 2020, was Arbery -- verified by surveillance video -- and that the encounter gave Travis McMichael the belief 12 days later that the person now running could be armed.

According to testimony, the deadly pursuit started with this: A neighbor called police on the afternoon of February 23 to say a man later identified as Arbery was at the construction site alone. Arbery ran off as the man called police, the neighbor testified.

Gregory McMichael, investigators testified, said he initiated the pursuit after seeing Arbery speedily run by McMichael's home, and that he believed Arbery matched the description of someone who'd been recorded at the construction site before.

On Wednesday, Travis McMichael testified that he was sitting in his home on February 23 when his father ran inside in a "frantic state" and told his son to get his gun, saying the man from days earlier had "just ran by the house" and "something's happened."

"I was under the assumption that it was the same individual that I saw (at the unfinished home) on the 11th," and he had heard previously that things had been stolen from the site, Travis McMichael testified.

The prosecution has said surveillance videos do show Arbery at the construction site multiple times, including the day he was killed, but always without breaking in and without taking anything.

However, prosecution witnesses have testified that the McMichaels did not know for certain at the time of the chase that Arbery was at the site that day, or whether the man in the videos had ever taken anything from the construction site.

Travis McMichael said he grabbed his shotgun when his father beckoned him. As Travis and Gregory McMichael drove and encountered Arbery on February 23, they "identified that yes, this is him," Travis McMichael testified Wednesday.

"(We decided) let's try to hold him for the police to talk to him," Travis McMichael testified. He said he his father told him he had called police, and so assumed police were on their way -- but it turned out the father did not have his phone.

The son testified he tried to ask Arbery while still in his truck what was going on, "trying to deescalate" the situation. He said Arbery did not respond and kept running. He testified he tried talking to Arbery a second time, during which Arbery stopped, did not say anything, but took off again after Travis McMichael said police were coming.

Eventually, Travis McMichael said he noticed another truck in the neighborhood. Prosecutors contend Bryan, the third defendant, got in his own truck and joined the pursuit, though he did not know what was going on, and struck Arbery with his vehicle. Arbery at one point seemed to be "grabbing" the other truck well before the final encounter, Travis McMichael testified.

Only late in the sequence, shortly before the shooting, did Travis McMichael realize that his father hadn't called police. Travis McMichael dialed 911 and handed the phone to his father, he testified.

Arbery had no weapon when he was killed, authorities said.
MEDFORD, Ore.  Investigators from the Southern Oregon Child Exploitation Team raided a Medford apartment complex Wednesday morning after learning that "numerous" images of child pornography were uploaded from one of the units, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

The search happened at an apartment complex in the 1600-block of Coker Butte Road. The Sheriff's Office said that investigators are interviewing possible witnesses and people involved, and the investigations are still ongoing.

The investigation began with tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), precipitating subpoenas and a search warrant for the apartment. During the search, investigators seized digital devices to be forensically examined by the Southern Oregon High Tech Crimes Task Force for evidence of child exploitation.

SOCET, the team that served the search warrant on Wednesday, is a joint interagency task force started in June of 2020 to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. It includes investigators from the Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, Medford Police, Grants Pass Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and high-tech crimes examiners.
GRANTS PASS, Ore.  To help make the Covid-19 vaccination process a little bit easier for kids, Siskiyou Community Health Center brought a little fun to its pediatric vaccination clinic this week.

Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center teamed up with the clinic to give the kids something they could look forward to  even bringing Kokoro, a Eurasian eagle-owl, and some hissing cockroaches (and yes, they do hiss).

Some parents and their kids showed up first-thing when the clinic opened Wednesday afternoon to get their pediatric Covid-19 shots, including Emily Doak and her son.

"We had already decided we were going to do it," Doak said. "Me and my husband got vaccinated early on as soon as we could. We've been talking to our kids about it, and he said he was very excited  and, as he put it, he wanted to do his part to help things get back to normal."

Wildlife Images will be at the health center's Grants Pass location on Wednesday and Friday, November 17 and 19, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. They'll also be at the Cave Junction location on Thursday, November 18, during the same time period.

Educational materials and a few animals will be on-site during those hours, and kids who get their flu or Covid-19 shots can visit with the animal ambassadors afterward.

"This event is an excellent way to kick off COVID-19 vaccinations for kids ages 5-11," Siskiyou Community Health Center said in a statement. "Our goal is to help save lives, keep people out of hospitals, and stop the spread of influenza and coronavirus."
Construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline is pictured near Hope, B.C., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. The precautionary shut down of the Trans Mountain pipeline continues, but British Columbia's gasoline supply is secure for now. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
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Oh, how the tide has turned. Three months ago, COVID was ravaging my homeland, India. The Delta variant was burning through the country like an uncontrolled wildfire. People carted dying relatives town to town, desperately seeking hospital beds or a whiff of oxygen. A cousin in India said, COVID is not taking lives, just the beds. Lack of oxygen is taking lives.

I watched Indias suffering unfold and felt guilty for living in one of the worlds most resourceful and scientifically advanced countries. My homeland was floundering, but at least my other homeland  the U.S.  was finally on track.

104 million Americans had been vaccinated. The Pfizer vaccine alleviated the worst outcomes of the B.1.1.7 and B.1351 variants. Adolescents aged 12-15 were gearing up for vaccine eligibility within days, and the CDC was reporting the U.S. could see a sharp decline in COVID cases by July if nationwide vaccinations continued. Health care workers had proper PPE, millions of people were getting vaccinated each week, and infection rates were declining steadily. We could finally see Springs light at the end of the years tortuous dark tunnel. Our country was in the home stretch.

Now the Delta variant is here and I have to wonder, Who were we kidding? We dont live in a world where vertical borders prevent airborne particles from crossing time zones. Planes and boats carry viruses from one country to the next like microscopic stowaways. The virus doesnt abandon ship. It mutates, and adapts, and colonizes.

We had a real chance to strangle this monster, to show the rest of the world how it was done, to help them all in the process. We let that chance slip away. Not everyone and not everywhere, but enough people got complacent. Some waited for herd immunity to carry the loada number that crept from 60 to 70 to 85 percent, depending on what you read and when you read itand others just figured it would pass. Now the Delta variant, the same one that tore through India and Great Britain, has twisted out of our flimsy grip and is roaring with laughter.

How did this happen?

Misinformation. Political discord. Vaccine hesitancy. The bottom line is our vaccination rate faltered. The CDC reported that on August 1, 2021, approximately 400,000 Americans received their first COVID dose. While that seems high, its less than a quarter of the peak in mid-April. We havent maxed out eligible people (only 58.1 percent of eligible people were fully vaccinated as of a week ago). Were maxing out the number of people who know COVIDs real repercussions are far worse than the vaccines feared ones.

The U.S now has the third-highest rate of vaccine skepticism among 15 of the worlds largest economies. Our vaccine surplus is so large the FDA extended Johnson & Johnsons vaccine expiration dates to avoid throwing out perfectly good doses. Less than a week ago, President Biden announced the U.S. has donated and shipped more than 110 million doses to 60 countries. While I applaud the humanitarian effort, I question the fate of those doses if the 41.9 percent unvaccinated eligible people in our country had wanted them.

It makes me wonder: Why does science take a backseat to unsubstantiated pseudoscientific claims?

Spreaders of vaccine disinformation fill their social media accounts with statements questioning COVIDs existence and purporting unproven treatments (never mind the fact that we wouldnt need treatments if COVID didnt exist) with little to no peer-reviewed scientific research to support their anti-vaccine claims. According to Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, twelve people  the disinformation dozen  produce 65 percent of the shares of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms.

Is it easier for some to believe that a science-backed treatment is inherently more dangerous than an unknown herb plucked from a field? Perhaps. But what do they say to the approximately 216 kids hospitalized daily in the U.S. over the past week, particularly in areas where vaccine coverage is low? Bad luck? You werent strong enough? What would have made them stronger?

Yes, there are measures underway to increase vaccinationsfull FDA approval, social media crackdowns on misinformation, and government, company, military, and college mandates. But lets be honest, many Americans are fighting these measures, as they will fight future mandates, and the next vaccine.

Only two things can change how non-vaxxers perceive COVID vaccines: education and trust. We need to sincerely hear their reasons, and then gently clarify misinformationvaccines dont introduce disease into our bodies. They stimulate our immune systems to obtain immunity without getting the disease. Vaccines dont alter our DNA. Their safety has been tested. Medicines have potential side effects, but illnesses have definite ones. COVID kills indiscriminately; vaccines dont.

Trust is harder. How can we help people trust these vaccines? I suppose on a deeper level, its more about trusting the people that make the vaccines. Big pharma, for-profit companiessure, they are the money makers. But behind the scenes, the vaccines are created by men and women whove accepted the charge to make this worldnot just individualssafer and healthier. Theyve spent years studying, researching, and testing potential vaccines with dedication and patience, including the mRNA technology in COVID vaccines. Just because the COVID vaccines rollout was fast-tracked to combat the pandemic doesnt mean the scientists cut corners in designing and testing it.

Unfortunately, we dont have the luxury of slowly educating and gradually building trust. COVID is terrorizing our planet now. The world is shaking its heads at the U.S., wondering what happened. We were supposed to be the leader. This morning, an aunt in a small town in India sent me a WhatsApp message: I have taken the vaccine  the positivity rate has gone down  I am worried for America  how r u? I dont know. America, how are we? Its not too late to destroy this monster, but if the unvaccinated remain unmoved, it will be soon.

Anita Vijayakumar is a psychiatrist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
LANE COUNTY, Ore. -- Cybercriminals are going after local governments. That's why many county organizations are calling on employees to stay alert and get educated.

Tyler Janzen, the legislative affairs manager with the Association of Oregon Counties, told KEZI these criminals are becoming bolder and sneakier with their attacks. They're asking the state and federal government for money to pay for system upgrades.

"We at the association are doing the best we can to really build a culture of cyber resiliency and make sure folks have the information that they need to make sure they are protected against those cyberattacks," Janzen said.

That starts with properly educating all employees and yourself. It's something Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich and his team are doing right now.

"We require all of our employees to go through mandatory anti-phishing training; it's really a concern for local governments," Bozievich said.

Bozievich said training became a top priority when the pandemic forced a huge number of employees to work from home, and increased the amount of work they did online.

"Just remember that these folks that want to attack you are trying to take advantage of human nature. They make these phishing attacks tempting in some way for you to click that, and they will try multiple different ways of getting at your psyche," Bozievich said.

This is exactly what happened to Tillamook County. Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto said they were one of the first counties to get hit.

"We were shut down for a week and a half or so because none of our computer systems worked; our backup systems were bulky, to say the least," Yamamoto said.

He said money is what it takes to recover from one of these attacks. He hopes that other counties will pay attention to his warning to take action and be prepared before it's too late.

"It's always best to stop it before it actually happens," Yamamoto said.

FBI spokesperson Beth Anne Steele agrees. She said the best offense is a good defense.

"Make sure all the software updates are done, that the apps, the browsers, all of that are protected. Have anti-virus and anti-malware software in place so that it's regularly updating," Steele said.

She also said employees must know exactly what a phishing attack looks like.

"It's that email with that link or social media post, or an attachment to an email, and you open it, and it's filled with malware," Steele said.
Time has been stopped in its tracks and an important part of Callans built heritage has been given a new lease of life.



Wrought iron railings and stone walls surrounding St Marys Church, in the centre of the town, were in dire need of restoration for more than 30 years when funding was allocated to the project, last year. Now, 12 months on, the landmark heritage site not only looks better, but can be enjoyed by future generations.

Scroll down to read more or click 'NEXT' to see more photographs

ABOVE: Architectural Conservation Officer Francis Coady and Kilkenny County Council Area Engineer Declan Murphy outside the restored plinth and railings at St Marys Church in Callan

BELOW: The entrance gate as work began, a year ago



Kilkenny County Councils Architectural Conservation Officer, Francis Coady, explained that work was carried out thanks to 80% funding from the Heritage Council under the Historic Towns Initiative, and 20% funding from Kilkenny County Council. Approximately 150,000 was spent on the project in total.



It is thought the railings were not originally made for St Marys, but that they were repurposed from a big country house in the 19th century - possibly even nearby Westcourt House.



Kilkenny limestone has been used to repair parts of the plinth and piers that had cracked, split and delaminated over the years. A plinth stone used under the railings is also not original to the site, but its not known where it might have been repurposed from.



Mr Coady said he hopes this work will spur more activity on the St Marys site, following this considerable injection of public money into the town.



The gateway from St Marys onto Green Street, has a pair of finely worked, limestone piers and wrought iron double gates with cast-iron finials (points).

These railings of wrought iron are positioned on limestone ashlar chamfered plinth - plinth stones that are finely worked and have right-angled edges.



The boundary railings and stones of Saint Marys Church were in an advanced state of deterioration and required immediate attention to stop further decay. The renovation project was also an aim of the the Callan Town Plan.



Work was carried out in two phases, on the Green Street side and then the Mill Street side of the site.

Stonemasons, ODwyer Masonry in Westmeath, and Tallis and Co. from Freshford, worked on the project. Dublins Bushy Park Ironworks repaired the railings, and archaeologist Colm Flynn monitored soil and excavations at the registered monument.


A Kilkenny-based bladesmith and jeweller has won a prestigious accolade at an exclusive online show.

A knife created by the multi-award winning knife maker, leather smith and jeweller, Patrick Brennan won the Best in Show Award The honour was awarded at Damasteel Chef International Online Culinary Knife Show, which took place this November, 2021.

Damasteel has been operating since 1676 from a small village in Sweden. It is renowned for producing the best performing stainless damascus patterned steel in the world, famed for its incomparable toughness and strength. The show, the fourth of its kind, brought together world class knife makers and included demonstrations by a selection of accomplished chefs.

Patrick feels particularly indebted to John Whelan, the chef from The Devils Menu restaurant in Tinnahinch in Graignamanagh who ably demonstrated Patricks prize winning knife and heaped praise upon its effectiveness.

The knife in question has silver ferrule and pommel with a curly maple handle. The dimensions are 274 mm in width and 410 mm in length and it weighs in at 295g, 116g of this being silver.

Patrick Brennan said he was 'honoured and delighted' to receive the award, which is yet another addition to his ever-growing collection.

Patrick overcame a life threatening motorbike injury twelve years ago to become one of Irelands leading bladesmiths. Building knowledge in the area and practising the mastery of his craft were both major components in his return to health. He has trained with master knife makers in the US and is a member of The Knifemakers Guild, The American Bladesmith Society and The Design Craft Council of Ireland. For the past five years, under the name of the Kilkenny-based Brennan Knives, he has specialized in crafting bespoke, sustainable products using precious metals while combining traditional methods with cutting edge technology.

Patrick is also an accomplished jeweller and has recently completed The Design and Crafts Council of Irelands Jewellery and Goldsmiths Skills and Design Course. This enables him to incorporate design theory into his knife making. His emphasis is on function over form, where the form emerges organically from the function of the knife. He uses jewellery techniques to construct his handles, utilising various precious metals and gem stones, to enhance the look and value of his pieces. He also integrates hammering techniques, which enable him to create unique textures and patterns in the metal he crafts.

Each piece produced by Brennan, whether it be blade, leather case or item of jewellery is meticulously handcrafted inhouse to a unique design. For more see www.brennanknives.com
A Co Louth man has claimed before the High Court that he wrongfully spent ten days in jail after Gardai merged his PULSE profile with that of another unrelated person with a similar name.

Joseph Connor (aged 34) from Scarlet Crescent, Drogheda Co Louth has launched High Court proceedings arising out of his arrest on July 19th last for allegedly committing a public order offence.

Following his arrest, he was told by the Gardai that there was a live bench warrant in existence for him, and was denied station bail.

Mr Connor at all times disputed the existence of such a warrant against him.

He was detained by Gardai in Drogheda and brought before a sitting of District Court the following day.

Despite his protestations the District Court was wrongly told that Mr Connor had a substantial bench warrant history, which was provided to the Court.

Mr Connor said that he has always attended his court dates.

The Judge hearing the case remanded Connor in custody with consent to bail, the conditions of which required than an independent surety of 250 be lodged.

Mr Connor was not in a position to meet that condition, either on that date or when his case was next mentioned before the District Court, due to a lack of financial means and that there was no person will to come forward to act as a surety.

As a result, he spent a total 10 days in Cloverhill Prison on remand. He was released on July 29th after he was able to put up the surety.

At the High Court Micheal O'Higgins SC for Mr Connor said that it subsequently transpired that the bench warrant did not relate to his client.

Counsel said the bench warrant was in respect of a person called 'Joseph O'Connor,' with a different date of birth, and address.

Counsel said when his client's case returned before the District court in September the Gardai accepted responsibility for making the error.

What appeared to have happened was that Gardai had merged his client's PULSE profile with that of the other man, counsel said.

The information put before the court last July was attributable to a personal called 'Joseph O'Connor' and not his client, counsel said.

Counsel said his client's rights had been breached and he had suffered damage due to the Commissioner's negligence due to a patently erroneous merging of Garda PULSE profiles.

Arising out of his incarceration Mr Connor has brought judicial reviews proceedings against the Commissioner and the Governor of Cloverhiil Prison.

Mr Connor seeks various orders, including an order for damages, and declarations from the court and that he is given an apology.

These include an order compelling the Garda Commissioner to investigate and provide him with full reasons as to why his Constitutional Rights and Rights under the European Convention were breached,

He also seeks an order quashing orders by the District Court remanding him in custody.

He further seeks declarations that his Constitutional and ECHR rights were breached when he was unlawfully arrested by the Garda, and unnecessarily detained at Drogheda Garda Station on July 19th 2021 last.

The matter came before Mr Justice Anthony Barr, who on an ex-parte basis, granted Mr Connor permission to bring his action.

The judge made the matter returnable to a date in December.
An Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that the government can't rule out further COVID-19 restrictions in the coming weeks if case numbers continue to increase.

The Fianna Fail leader made the comments in his address to the nation yesterday evening, where he also detailed a new midnight curfew for the hospitality sector and changes to self isolation rules for households.

4,407 new cases of the virus were confirmed yesterday, while 614 patients are being treated in Irish hospitals.

Mr Martin says the Government will have to keep its options open on further restrictions, explaining: "NPHET have put in a caveat also that further measures can not be ruled out... (I) can be very honest about that."

His warning has been echoed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, who said that "it is impossible" to say if there could be a lockdown in the future.

Minister Donnelly added that while a lockdown cannot be ruled out, it is "not where we are" currently as a nation.

Other measures that are due to be introduced by the govt include:

People will be told to work from home, under recommendation from NPHET

Vaccine passes will be required to access theatres and cinemas but not at hairdressers, barbers or gyms

Strict rules around mask wearing for indoor and outdoor settings.

In addition to the new rules, two other measures aimed at reducing transmission of the virus were also revealed.

Firstly, antigen tests will be made more affordable for the people, although they will not be free, and secondly, that the States vaccine advisory body, NIAC, has given the go-ahead for booster jabs for people in their 50s.

This campaign also extends to those aged under 50 with underlying health conditions.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 27F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 27F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Higher wind gusts possible.
Weather Alert

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 553 IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BOND CLINTON FAYETTE MARION MONTGOMERY IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS CALHOUN GREENE JERSEY MACOUPIN MADISON IN WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS ADAMS BROWN PIKE IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 21 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MISSOURI AUDRAIN BOONE CALLAWAY COLE MONITEAU OSAGE IN EAST CENTRAL MISSOURI FRANKLIN GASCONADE LINCOLN MONTGOMERY SAINT CHARLES SAINT LOUIS SAINT LOUIS CITY WARREN IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI KNOX LEWIS MARION MONROE PIKE RALLS SHELBY THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ALTON, BOWLING GREEN, CENTRALIA, COLUMBIA, EDWARDSVILLE, FULTON, HANNIBAL, JEFFERSON CITY, LITCHFIELD, MEXICO, MOUNT STERLING, PITTSFIELD, QUINCY, SAINT CHARLES, SAINT LOUIS, SALEM, SULLIVAN, UNION, VANDALIA, AND WASHINGTON.

The National Weather Service in St Louis has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northwestern Cole County in central Missouri... Southeastern Boone County in central Missouri... Callaway County in central Missouri... Southeastern Moniteau County in central Missouri... * Until 700 PM CST. * At 612 PM CST, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Columbia Regional Airport to 6 miles southwest of Ashland to McGirk, moving east at 55 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Severe thunderstorms will be near... Columbia Regional Airport around 615 PM CST. Ashland around 620 PM CST. Jefferson City around 625 PM CST. Holts Summit around 630 PM CST. Other locations in the path of these severe thunderstorms include Fulton, Auxvasse, New Bloomfield, Lake Mykee Town, Lake Mykee, Shamrock and Williamsburg. This includes Interstate 70 in Missouri between exits 137 and 161. This also includes Rock Bridge State Park and Jefferson Landing Historic Site. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for central and east central Missouri. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CST for central and east central Missouri. && HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN; WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

TORNADO WATCH 553 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1100 PM CST FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS MO . MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE AUDRAIN BOONE CALLAWAY CAMDEN CHRISTIAN CLARK COLE DALLAS DOUGLAS FRANKLIN GASCONADE GREENE KNOX LACLEDE LEWIS LINCOLN MARIES MARION MILLER MONITEAU MONROE MONTGOMERY MORGAN OSAGE OZARK PHELPS PIKE PULASKI RALLS SHELBY ST. CHARLES ST. LOUIS STONE TANEY WARREN WEBSTER WRIGHT MISSOURI INDEPENDENT CITIES INCLUDED ARE ST. LOUIS CITY
ST. LOUIS  The University of Missouri System Board of Curators approved a resolution to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its employees Thursday afternoon.

The Board of Curators voted 7-1-1 to comply with the Biden administration's executive order. Curator Jeffrey Layman voted against the measure and curator Todd Graves abstained from voting.

The mandate is for all staff, faculty and student employees at all four UM System campuses.

UM System President Mun Choi said he will develop a plan for religious and medical exemptions and policies for isolating employees who do not comply. He will later present the plan to the Board of Curators.

At this point, curators are unsure if outsourced employees will be required to be vaccinated. Choi's plan is expected to address that.

Testing was not discussed as an alterative Thursday.

In early September, President Joe Biden announced all federal contractors and employees will be required to get vaccinated by Dec. 8, but the requirement was pushed back to Jan. 4.

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The UM System said on Nov. 2 it has many federal contracts that fund research and "other activities crucial to the system's mission and service to Missourians."

"Significant interruptions to the university's research and service missions and loss of federal funds were likely had the Board not taken this action," an email to employees said.

Under the White House's Executive Order 14042, the following federal employees are subject to the mandate:

Individuals who work directly on government contracts (even if they work remotely);

Individuals who work in connection with a government contract, such as individuals working in supporting departments;

Individuals who work at the same location or who may come in contact with individuals in the two categories above unless the University can affirmatively determine that the covered employee will have no interaction with a non-covered employee, including in common areas such as lobbies, stairwells, parking garages, etc.

This comes after Gov. Mike Parson issued an executive order, which prohibits any workplace penalties for not complying with the vaccine requirement.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt also issued a lawsuit, along with 10 other states, claiming the mandate leaves government contractors little choice but to require their entire workforce be vaccinated."

The resolution states that in the event of a federal mandate withdrawal, modification, injunction or invalidation, federal contractors for the UM System will not be required to get vaccinated.
U.S. President Joe Biden meets virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Monday (local time). AP-Yonhap



US-Sino cooperation on North Korea's denuclearization unlikely: experts



By Kang Seung-woo



The highly-touted virtual summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping revealed that issues regarding the Korean Peninsula, specifically the denuclearization of North Korea, were not a priority between the two superpowers that have a large influence on the matter.



Biden and Xi held the remote talks for three-and-a-half hours, which mainly featured the topics of trade, Chinese aggression toward Taiwan and human rights, leaving diplomatic observers to surmise that the North Korean issue has been put on the back burner for the time being.



The White House's post-summit statement mentioned North Korea only briefly, noting the two leaders "also exchanged views on key regional challenges, including DPRK, Afghanistan, and Iran." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.



"Given that there were a heap of pending bilateral issues between the United States and China, the two leaders may have touched on the North Korean matter in principle. That is why the White House simply mentioned that they discussed it," said Shin Beom-chul, director of the Center for Diplomacy and Security at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy.



Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, echoed Shin's view.






Zay Min, center, co-representative of the Myanmar Migrant Worker Welfare Center, poses with his colleagues during the Minu Memorial Award Ceremony held in Seoul, Nov. 16. Korea Times photo by Lee Hyo-jin





By Lee Hyo-jin







A local welfare center supporting migrant workers from Myanmar has won the Minu Memorial Award, recognized for its contribution to enhancing migrant worker's rights and helping them settle in Korea.







The Minu Memorial Award was established in 2020 by a group of supporters of Minod Moktan, the late migrant worker and activist from Nepal, to commemorate his death and remember his accomplishments. "Minu" was his Korean name.







The annual award ceremony took place at the Seoul Anglican Cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin and St. Nicholas, Wednesday.







The Myanmar Migrant Worker Welfare Center, based in Bupyeong, Incheon, opened in 2019. It is currently run by three co-representatives  Zay Min, Thaung Tun, and Lee Ju-hee  along with 32 regional representatives across the country.







"I am proud to say that our center was established by the Myanmarese people and is operated by the monthly membership fees of our 500 members, without receiving any help from outside," Zay Min told The Korea Times after the ceremony.







Min is a 64-year-old activist and currently the owner of a Burmese restaurant in Bupyeong, before which he had worked in local factories for over 10 years since he entered Korea in 2000.







"I feel honored and happy to become the second winner of the Minu Award. He is an icon for migrant workers' labor movement. This award will be a big motivation for our center," he said.







Due to the decade of experience at factories, Zay Min knows very well about the struggles often experienced by foreign national workers here, such as delayed payments, employers refusing to provide severance payments and extra payments for overtime work, all of which are violations of Korea's Labor Standards Act.







"In order to help the workers deal with such issues and fight for their labor rights, we needed an integrated, organized platform that everyone can reach out to easily," Zay Min explained.







The center is currently open not only to workers from Myanmar, but those from other foreign countries who are working in Korea.







The center operates every day from 10 a.m to 6 p.m, and provides face-to-face consultations about labor issues, as well as assistance via phone calls or messengers. It also provides its members with education on Korean language, culture and software used by Korean businesses so that they can easily adapt to the working environment.







"Our goal is not only to help the workers solve labor issues, but also to assist them to adapt to their workplace and become responsible members of Korean society."







The Myanmarese activist did not hesitate to voice support for the ongoing pro-democracy movements against the military coup in his home country.







"I hope the situation will be normalized soon. We are very thankful to the Korean people, who have shown continuous support. I also hope the Korean government will recognize the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG), the administration set up by opponents of the military coup," he said.


Korea's Minister of Trade Yeo Han-koo poses with his U.S. counterpart Katherine Tai after a meeting in Sorrento, Italy, Oct. 12. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy



By Kim Bo-eun



Korea's role in the global semiconductor supply chain is expected to be a top issue in talks between Minister of Trade Yeo Han-koo and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai slated for Friday.



Tai arrived in Seoul, Thursday, as part of a trip to U.S. allies in Asia. Prior to her visit to Seoul, the U.S. trade chief agreed in Tokyo to set up a forum to boost the two countries' trade partnership.



This is the first time in a decade for the chief U.S. trade negotiator to officially visit Seoul, since 2011 when discussions for the Korea-U.S. FTA (KORUS FTA) were taking place.



Tai is expected to ask Korea to confirm its commitment for an increased trade alliance amid the ongoing dispute between the U.S. and China regarding supply chain issues, and ask Seoul to play a key role in ensuring stability in the global semiconductors supply chain, given Samsung Electronics and SK hynix's weight in the chip industry. Better management of global supply chains has become a top agenda for the U.S., after experiencing disruptions in auto chip supplies, which have taken a toll on carmakers around the world.



The Joe Biden administration is seeking cooperation from allies in revamping global supply chains as a means to contain China's growing influence. The U.S. has stepped up calls for businesses in key sectors including semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries to build production plants on U.S. territory, as a means to secure a supply in the case of further possible supply disruptions.



Samsung is currently in the process of finalizing the location of its second foundry plant in the U.S., with Taylor, Texas, expected to be selected as the site for its $17 billion investment. Local authorities there have finalized a tax incentive package for Samsung, according to reports.



The White House is also said to have being taking various actions, such as lobbying the Netherlands to prevent advanced equipment needed for semiconductor production from being exported to China. While this has not yet affected SK hynix or Samsung's Chinese operations, Washington's stance is posing uncertainties for the firms.



Additionally, the two trade chiefs will address various issues ranging from steel tariffs and trade in technology to tackling climate change.



The USTR is also set to meet with Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk, Friday, and the two are expected to discuss FTA-related labor issues.



Tai will leave Seoul, Sunday, for India. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo also met government officials and business leaders in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia this week, in what is seen as a strategic tour by key officials to reaffirm cooperation with the U.S.


Kendallville, IN (46755)

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 46F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening becoming more widespread overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 46F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Angola, IN (46703)

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Rain showers in the evening with thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Rain showers in the evening with thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 43F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Auburn, IN (46706)

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Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 47F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 47F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%.


The Seva Vanitha Unit of the Sri Lanka Mission in Geneva comprising staff members and spouses through various fund raising activities collected the necessary funds and donated 8 Oxygen Concentrators to be used in government hospitals in Sri Lanka treating Covid-19 patients.

The donation was presented at a ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry in Colombo. Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage handed over the donation to State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Prof. Channa Jayasumana and Secretary of the State Ministry Dr.R.M.S.K.Rathnayake.

State Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana who accepted the donation appreciated the efforts of the Mission staff members and spouses to raise funds to save lives during the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Ministry

Colombo

18 November, 2021
Rapper Young Dolph, who was best known for his 2020 album Rich Slave and collaborations with his fellow Memphis rapper and cousin Key Glock, has died in a shooting in Memphis, Tenn at the age of 36. According to Variety, an APA representative, in a statement said, "All of us at APA are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our dear friend and client, Young Dolph." XXXTentacion Murder Footage: Chilling Video of American Rapper Being Shot Dead in His BMW Released in the Court.

"The world has lost an icon, a great man and beloved artist who has been taken too soon. His dedication, drive, hard work and loyalty to all those around him always came first and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this most difficult time," added the representative. The shooting took place at Makeda's Homemade Cookies in South Memphis on Wednesday afternoon, a local station, as per a news outlet. The owner of the store told the outlet that Young Dolph walked in to buy cookies when someone drove up, shot and killed him around 1 p.m.

Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was born in Chicago but moved to Memphis at a young age. He was the cousin of rapper Juice Wrld, who died at 21 of a drug overdose at Chicago's Midway International Airport on December 8, 2019. Making his studio album debut, Young Dolph released 'King of Memphis' in 2016, which reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He dropped seven albums from 2016 to 2021, the most recent being 'Dum and Dummer 2' with Key Glock, which peaked at No. 8. US Gun Violence: Nearly 190 Shot Dead Across United States During Fourth of July Weekend, Says Research Report.

He was signed to Paper Route Empire, and his most successful album was 2020's 'Rich Slave', which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was his highest-charting release. From 2008 to 2017, he dropped more than a dozen mixtapes and EPs. In September 2017, Young Dolph was shot outside a retail store in Hollywood and hospitalized in critical condition. He spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from three gunshot wounds.

Released prior to the shooting, his April 2017 album 'Bulletproof' secretly spelt out a message through the track listings ('100 Shots', 'In Charlotte', 'But I'm Bulletproof', 'So Fuk'em', 'That's How I Feel'). Following the news of his death, tributes for Young Dolph poured in on social media from fans and fellow artists. Rapper Gucci Mane tweeted "R. I.P. to my friend Dolph this broke my heart." Chance the Rapper wrote, "God bless Dolph Real independent Memphis rapper born in chicago. loved by millions of ppl. Always showed love everytime I seen him this is tragic God bless his family man."

"Damn R.I.P DOLPH PRAYER FOR YA KIDS AND FAMILY SMH," wrote Offset.

Record producer Kenny Beats shared, "LONG LIVE DOLPH. Only person to ever pull up to the cave with a fleet of cars and made sure to shake every single persons hand he met. Legendary artist and person." Young Dolph was well known in the Memphis area and donated turkeys around Thanksgiving time, donated to Hamilton High School, which he attended, and spoke to students. He was in Memphis participating in local charity work for Thanksgiving at the time of the shooting, as per Variety.

In 2018, he made headlines for donating USD 20,000 to two baristas at Duke University who were fired for playing his song 'Get Paid'. He also flew the two out to see his performance at the Rolling Loud music festival.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], November 18 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs from Punjab will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan on Friday on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.

According to the party, all 11 MLAs will visit Kartarpur Sahib along with Punjab AAP chief and party MP Bhagwant Mann.

Also Read | Drones Banned in Noida, Greater Noida Till November 25 Ahead of PM Narendra Modis Visit.

In a major decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government decided to re-open the Kartarpur corridor from November 17. It was shut in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima. This year the day falls on November 19.

Also Read | Air Pollution: Schools, Colleges to Remain Closed in Noida Till Further Orders.

The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long corridor joins the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019.

More than 20 months after the Kartarpur corridor was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a jatha of Sikh pilgrims from India crossed over to Pakistan on Wednesday ahead of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Pakistan had issued around 3000 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims on the eve of the 552nd Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev from November 17-26.

"They [the jatha] will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Sri Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

"Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued around 3000 visas to Indian Sikh Yatrees to participate in the 552nd Birth Anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak in Pakistan from 17-26 November 2021. During their stay in Pakistan, the Sikh Yatrees would pay obeisance at different Gurdwaras including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur," read a Pakistan High Commission release.

The move came keeping in view the significance of the upcoming occasion of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, and the sentiments associated with the religious festival.

Earlier in this year, Pakistan has denied permission to Sikh pilgrims from India on two occasions in June this year-- one on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and the second on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

Visas of the Sikh pilgrims have been issued under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, which provides for the visit of Sikh pilgrims from India to Pakistan for the birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak.

The 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between India and Pakistan is a set of principles that was implemented while keeping in view the sentiments and devotion of the various communities in the two countries.(ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh, November 18: With the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor, a delegation of the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal, Pakistan on Thursday on the eve of the Prakash Purab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev. The Chief Minister's office informed about this development today.

As the Centre decided to re-open Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from November 17, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's decision will benefit a large number of Sikh pilgrims. The operations at the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor had been suspended since March 16, 2020, on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kartapur Sahib is a place of devotion for crores of Indians. Pilgrimage through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor would be facilitated as per existing procedures and adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Gurupurab 2021: Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Teachings That Will Change the Way You Look at Life.

India had signed an agreement with Pakistan on October 24, 2019, on the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at Zero Point, International Boundary, Dera Baba Nanak. Representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Home Affairs along with the representatives from the Government of Punjab were present during the signing ceremony.

The Union Cabinet had passed a resolution on November 22, 2018, to celebrate the historic occasion of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in a grand and befitting manner, throughout the country and across the globe. Gurupurab 2021 Dishes: From Kadha Prashad to Sindhi Dal Pakwan, Heres What Dishes Are Prepared for Guru Nanak Jayanti in A Sikh Household.

In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet had also approved the building and development of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to the International Boundary, to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, round the year, in a smooth and easy manner.

(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, Nov 18 (PTI) Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday cautioned cotton bale traders to refrain from manipulation of prices or resort to hoarding to make unfair profits.

Addressing textile industry players in a meeting, he also told them to "resolve cotton pricing issue in the spirit of collaboration rather than competition".

Also Read | Lava Agni 5G Smartphone Goes on Sale in India.

The Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution asked the textile industry leaders not to push the government to intervene.

"Goyal cautioned the cotton bale traders from manipulation of prices or do hoarding to make unfair profits," according to an official statement.

Also Read | Congress Questions PM Narendra Modis Silence on Chinese Villages Coming Up Near Dokalam Plateau.

The minister further stated that manufacturing sectors should not depend on government support for growth.

"Too much dependence of state support is not healthy for the robust growth of the sector," the statement said.

The minister was intervening to resolve issues regarding cotton yarn prices between cotton yarn manufacturers and downstream textile industry.

He observed that farmers' interests are being taken care of for the first time as they are now getting better cotton prices supported by good base MSP.

Pricing issue of cotton bales and yarn for the industry should not be allowed in any way to impact the better prices that farmers are getting, he added.

India's cotton production is estimated at 362.18 lakh bales. The cotton season 2021-22 commenced from October with an estimated carryover stock of 73.20 lakh bales. Opening stock in the country is adequate to meet about two and a half month's mills consumption.

"Cotton prices are ruling above the MSP level by about 40 per cent i.e. Rs 8,500 per quintal as against a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 6,025 per quintal.

"Farmers are getting reasonably good prices for their produce which is in tandem with other agri-commodities as well," the statement said.

Goyal said the idea of short-term supernormal profits by a section of players in textile value chain is not sustainable.

"No one should force the government to intervene. Let free and fair market forces play out. Supernormal profits should not be booked for short-term goals," he said.

The minister asserted that the entire value chain gets adversely impacted even if one section gets weak.

He said cotton bale and yarn prices need to be such that all get benefitted.

Goyal emphasised that all stakeholders in textile value chain need to support each other for long-term sustainable growth.

The world cotton acreage is expected to increase 4 per cent to 33.27 million hectare as against 31.97 million hectare of last year. The production is projected to increase 6 per cent to 1,512 lakh bales (25.72 MMT) as against 1,426 lakh bales (24.26 MMT) of last year, and the consumption is expected to increase 2 per cent to 1,530 lakh bales (26.01 MMT) as against 1,505 lakh bales (25.60 MMT) of last year.

The Cotton Corporation of India is appointed as a central nodal agency under the Ministry of Textiles for undertaking MSP operations for cotton. HRS hrs

(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, Nov 18: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday termed vaccine hesitancy as the greatest threat in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic while urging all adults to get vaccinated at the earliest.

He said that 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were lying with the states and people should get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible.

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"The vaccine industry has worked tirelessly to provide enough stocks for the nation. Today there are over 200 million doses available with states. I urge all adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic," Poonawalla said in a tweet.

Earlier in the day Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also appealed to all eligible citizens to get vaccinated.

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccines administered in the country has exceeded 113.68 crore mark. Of all the vaccine doses administered, around 90 per cent are Serum's Covishield and close to 10 per cent are Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

The number of fully vaccinated individuals against COVID-19 has surpassed the partially vaccinated eligible population for the first time in India.

The country has in total administered over 113.68 crore doses, according to the provisional report at 7 am.

This has been achieved through 1,16,73,459 sessions. Out of which, 75,57,24,081 doses were administered as the first dose and 38,11,55,604 doses were administered as second dose. The number of fully vaccinated individuals (38,11,55,604) exceeds those who have been administered a single dose (37,45,68,477).

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
United Nations, Nov 18 (PTI) India has been reelected to the UNESCO Executive Board, one of the three constitutional organs of the United Nations, for the 2021-25 term.

The election of members of the executive board took place on Wednesday.

Also Read | US Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Attempting to Support ISIS.

"India gets reelected to the Executive Board of UNESCO with 164 votes for the term 2021-25, the Paris-based Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) said in a tweet.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to Twitter on Thursday to applaud the good work of the MEA and the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO.

Also Read | Afghanistan Blast: IS Claims Responsibility for Two Explosions in Kabul, Says Reports.

Good work #TeamMEA and @IndiaatUNESCO, he said in a tweet.

Reacting to India's election, Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi thanked countries for supporting India's candidature.

Delighted to inform that India has made it to the Executive Board Of UNESCO. Heartiest congratulations and thankful to all the member countries who supported our candidature, she said on Twitter.

In Group IV Asian and Pacific States, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cook Islands and China also were elected.

The UNESCO Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of the United Nations' agency (the others being the General Conference and the Secretariat) and it is elected by the General Conference.

Acting under the authority of the General Conference, the board examines the programme of work for the organisation and corresponding budget estimates submitted to it by the Director-General.

It consists of 58 member-states each with a four-year term of office, according to the UNESCO website. UNESCO has 193 member states.

(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 [India], November 18 (ANI): Two persons were evacuated from Afghanistan on Thursday by Indian World Forum (IWF), in coordination with the Indian government and assistance from Sobti Foundation.

Those evacuated include Satvir Singh, an Indian citizen who was serving as Head Granthi at Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul for the past 21 years and Sorjit Singh, an Afghan citizen hailing from Khost Province and is the caretaker of the gurdwara located there.

Also Read | US Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Attempting to Support ISIS.

The duo is scheduled to arrive at the Delhi Airport on Friday night after an overnight stay at Tehran.

Puneet Singh Chandhok, President of the Indian World Forum has been supervising and assisting those stranded in Afghanistan, after the Taliban regime took over, and coordinating with the Indian government for their early and safe return to India, according to the IWF.

Also Read | Afghanistan Blast: IS Claims Responsibility for Two Explosions in Kabul, Says Reports.

Till date, 218 Afghan citizens belonging to the Hindu and Sikh communities are awaiting the issue of electronic visas from the Government of India, the NGO said.

In August the external affairs ministry (MEA) had introduced a new category of "e-Emergency X-Misc Visa" of electronic/e-visa in order to fast track applications of Afghan citizens wanting to enter India.

Indian World Forum has also thanked the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Embassy of Iran in Kabul and the Sobti Foundation for their assistance. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, November 18: A US man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State terror group (IS, banned in Russia), the Department of Justice said.

"A New York man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, aka ISIS," the Justice Department said in a press release on Wednesday.

Also Read | Coronavirus in Animals: SARS-CoV-2 Spreads Like Any Other Virus Among White-Tailed Deer, Other Wild Animals in US.

Ali Saleh, 28, was also sentenced to an additional eight years in jail for assaulting a federal correctional officer in 2018 and possessing contraband at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in New York, the release said.

Saleh pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to IS in July 2018, the release said.

Also Read | Afghanistan: Taliban Arrest Man for Selling At Least 130 Women in Northern Jawzian Province.

The release said Saleh swore an oath of allegiance to IS in 2013 and attempted to travel from New York to Turkey in August 2014 but he was unable to take the trip because his parents took away his passport.

After Saleh was unable to travel make his trip, he began to help other IS supporters around the world including in Mali, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Saleh made other attempts to travel to the Middle East but continued to encounter travel restrictions, the release said.

Saleh also posted instructions online about how to make a soda can hand grenade, the release said. Saleh made numerous remarks online supporting IS, claimed he is a terrorist and encouraged others to implement shariah law.

(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, November 18: The initial public offer of Go Fashion (India) Limited, which owns women's wear brand Go Colors, was subscribed 6.87 times on the second day of subscription on Thursday. The Rs 1,013.6-crore IPO received bids for 5,55,12,051 shares against 80,79,491 shares on offer, according to NSE data.

The category meant for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) was subscribed 24.64 times, Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) 3.24 times and non-institutional investors 2.30 times. The initial public offer of Go Fashion (India) Limited was fully subscribed within hours of opening on Wednesday.

The initial public offer has a fresh issue of up to Rs 125 crore and an offer for sale of up to 12,878,389 equity shares. The price range for the offer, which would conclude on November 22, is at Rs 655-690 per share. Go Colors IPO: Go Fashion Raises Rs 456 Crore from Anchor Investors.

Markets will remain closed on Friday on account of 'Guru Nanak Jayanti'.

Go Fashion (India) Ltd on Tuesday raised a little over Rs 456 crore from anchor investors. The proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to fund the roll-out of 120 new exclusive brand outlets to support working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

The company is engaged in the development, design, sourcing, marketing, and retailing of a range of women's bottom-wear products under the brand 'Go Colors'. Its bottom-wear products, including churidars, leggings, dhotis, harem pants, Patiala, palazzos, culottes, pants, trousers and jeggings are sold across multiple categories such as ethnic wear, western wear, fusion wear, athleisure, and types of denim. JM Financial, DAM Capital Advisors, and ICICI Securities are the managers of the offer. The equity shares will be listed on BSE and NSE.
Dev Deepavali also known as Kartik Poornima will be observed on November 18, Thursday, this year. The festival is also known as Tripura Purnima Snan. Dev Deepavali is the Diwali of the Gods celebrated fifteen days after Diwali in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Tripura Poornima Snan is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Shiva over the demon Tripurasur. Also, Ganga Seva Samiti organises a program on this day where the martyrs are remembered and garlanded at Dashashwamedh Ghat and Rajendra Prasad Ghat at Amar Jawan Jyoti. Observing this day with multiple significance, we at LatestLY, have curated messages that you can send to greet one and all with WhatsApp status, GIF Images, HD wallpapers, Facebook messages and SMS. Send WhatsApp Stickers, Wallpapers, Facebook Status Pics with Diyas, Quotes, Messages & GIFs to Celebrate The Day

The five-day festival of Dev Deepavali will start with Dev Uthani Ekadashi on November 15, Monday and end with Kartik Poornima on November 19, Friday. The main event of the festival is the Kartik Snan where devotees bathe in the holy river Ganga. In the evening, they lit a lamp and float it in the river. Grand Ganga Aarti takes place at Dashmeshwar Ghat in the evening with continuous bhajan kirtan, rhythmic drum drum and blowing of conch and brazier. The aarti is performed by 21 Brahmin priests and 24c women. Devotees sing devotional songs throughout the night on this day. As you celebrate this festival of lights of the Gods, here are the greetings that you can send through Wishes, WhatsApp Messages, Images and HD wallpapers on this auspicious day.

Millions of messages float on the internet on this day depicting pictures with Happy Dev Deepavali and Happy Diwali of Gods. Social media is flooded with HD wallpapers and GIF Images showing lamp lit picture of ghats around the Ganges. Here you are at one-stop destination for all the WhatsApp stickers, GIF Images, HD wallpapers and SMS that you can send and wish your family and friends with Happy Dev Deepavali. Wishing everyone a Happy Dev Deepavali 2021!

WhatsApp Messages to Share on Dev Deepavali

Dev Deepawali Messages (Photo Credits: File Image)

Wishes to Celebrate Diwali of the Gods

Dev Deepawali Wishes (Photo Credits: File Image)

Shubh Dev Deepawali Images

Shubh Dev Deepawali Images (File Image)

HD Wallpapers To Celebrate Dev Deepawali This Year!

Dev Deepawali Images and HD Wallpapers (Photo Credits: File Image)

Special Wallpapers for Dev Deepawali

Dev Deepawali HD Wallpapers (Photo Credits: File Image)

Dev Deepavali ki Shubhkamnaye

Dev Deepawali Hindi Greetings (Photo Credits: File Image)

Send these lovely WhatsApp messages, wishes, greetings, images and HD wallpapers to your friends and family and observe the auspicious day in style. Dev Deepavali Ki Hardik Shubhkamnaye!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2021 11:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Happy International Men's Day 2021! Like International Women's Day, International Men's Day is celebrated every year on November 19. This day is mainly celebrated to protect men from discrimination, exploitation, oppression, violence and inequality. International Men's Day is celebrated in 80 countries and it is also supported by UNESCO. The main objectives behind celebrating International Men's Day are the mental health of men, appreciation of positive qualities of masculinity, gender equality etc. International Men's Day was first celebrated in India on November 19 in 2007. Let's discuss the history, importance and some interesting facts related to men. 'When Is Men's Day?' Has Been the Most-Searched Query on International Womens Day! Here Are All the Details You Need to Know.

International Men's Day 2021 Date, Theme & Significance

In 1923, some men demanded that February 23 be celebrated as International Men's Day on the lines of International Women's Day. After this, in 1968, American journalist John P. Harris, writing an article, said that the Soviet system lacked balance. This system celebrates International Day for women but it does not celebrate any kind of day for men. After this, on November 19 1999, the people of Trinidad and Tobago celebrated International Men's Day for the first time. Dr. Jerome Tilak Singh made a lot of efforts to bring the contributions of men into the mainstream society. Since then, on November 19, International Men's Day is celebrated all over the world on his father's birthday.

Importance of International Men's Day

International Men's Day is mainly celebrated to focus on the health of men and boys, improve gender relations, promote gender equality and highlight male role models. According to the website of International Mens Day, 3 times more men commit suicide than women in the world. One in 3 men is a victim of domestic violence. Males die 4 to 5 years earlier than females. Men are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as women. Men's Day works on the positive aspects of the identity of men.

International Men's Day is celebrated in different ways. If you want to celebrate International Men's Day, start from your home. Make the male members of the house feel special. Tell them why they are a role model for you and this household.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2021 12:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The National Investigative Agency (NIA) sleuths have arrested a suspected ISIS terrorist in Bengaluru. Zohaib Manna has been identified as the suspected terrorist and was arrested on Wednesday.
The tension in Kenosha, Wisconsin continues to rise as the police appear to make their arrest outside the courthouse where the trial for Kyle Rittenhouse took place, as they await Rittenhouse's verdict after killing at least two during an anti-police brutality protest in the area last year.

Kenosha Police intervene after a fight breaks out. At least two people have been arrested. pic.twitter.com/gyuhor4jzo  Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) November 17, 2021

A video surfaced on Twitter that showed a crowd of people running towards a commotion, Unilad reported.

The commotion centered on the police officers trying to keep the crowd away from a person on the ground who appears to be put in handcuffs.

It can be recalled that Governor Tony Evers ordered at least 500 National Guard troops on standby outside Kenosha to prepare for the unrest once the final verdict on Rittenhouse is announced. It was not clear if the National Guard was involved in the recent commotion that occurred outside the courthouse.

READ NEXT: Prosecutors to Request "Lesser Charges" Against Kyle Rittenhouse After 2020 Shooting That Killed 2

Kyle Rittenhouse Trial: 2 People Arrested Over Fight Outside Courthouse

Newsweek reported that the commotion stemmed from a fight between protesters outside the Kenosha County Courthouse.

A short fight breaks out on the courthouse steps.



No injuries pic.twitter.com/bcKlz8eyCz  Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) November 17, 2021

One person wearing sunglasses and a black coat while holding a sign that says "BLM and Antifa are here" calls other protesters wearing "F*ck Kyle" and "dumb b*tch" shirts as he throws his sign at them. The other protester attempted to pick up the sign and break it, but another protester grabbed the placard to stop them as they both fall to the ground.

The man in the black coat came back to get his sign then punched another individual.

Two people were arrested by the police as the fight broke out between the protesters. Authorities have not released further details. However, protesters outside the courthouse reportedly have been clashing since the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse was given to the jury.

Police arrested at least 1 protester near the courthouse where the Kyle Rittenhouse trial is being held.



Police earlier did not arrest a man identified as "Maserati Mike" who had an AR-style weapon. Police cautioned him due to his proximity to a school but let him leave. pic.twitter.com/avKwfljfhr  AJ+ (@ajplus) November 17, 2021

Another man who carried an AR-style weapon was also seen outside the courthouse. However, AJ+ reported that the man identified as "Maserati Mike" was not arrested by the authorities. Rather, he was cautioned by the police "due to his proximity at a school.

Protesters Shouts 'No Mistrial' Outside Courthouse as Kyle Rittenhouse Defense Team Filed for Mistrial

On Wednesday, Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team filed for a second motion for a mistrial, accusing the prosecutors of supplying a drone video that was not the same version they wanted to utilize during the trial. The defense team also contended that the video presented was altered.

Prosecutors denied the claims. The judge then allowed the jury to view multiple versions of the drone video footage.

Outside Kenosha courthouse, protesters chanted "no mistrial." Despite chanting the phrase outside the courthouse, the demonstration reportedly had "occasional arguments" and yelling between protesters and Rittenhouse supporters.

The #Rittenhouse jurors looked fatigued at the end of their second day of deliberations without a verdict. But there were no outward signs of tension among them at the end of their day here, which started at 9 a.m. and ended just after 4:30 p.m. https://t.co/AYuiz1PeiN  Michael Tarm (@mtarm) November 17, 2021

The judge has not made a ruling for mistrial as the jury deliberated in the court for at least 17 hours. Reporter Michael Tarm said that the second day of Kyle Rittenhouse's trial ended just after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Kyle Rittenhouse is slammed with at least three homicide-related charges, including first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree attempted intentional homicide.

The third day of deliberations for Kyle Rittenhouse is expected to begin around 9 a.m. on Thursday.

READ NEXT: Travis Scott Slammed With $750M Lawsuit Over Astroworld Festival Tragedy

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Tense Scenes Outside Court as Protesters Await Verdict of Kyle Rittenhouse - From Guardian News
Mexican National Guard troops are set to be deployed in Cancun and other neighboring resort towns after growth in violence connected to organized crime groups.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador made the announcement during a press conference almost two weeks after members of a street-level drug dealing group opened fire and killed two members of a rival drug-dealing ring, according to a Daily Mail report. The gangs were reportedly linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

Lopez Obrador said that the incident cannot be repeated, noting that at least 1,500 National Guard troops are to be mobilized to Quintana Roo.

Mexico's Secretary-General of National Public Security said that the state of Quintana Roo reported 442 murders between January and September 2021, almost the same compared to 463 over the same period last year.

Lopez Obrador said the new troops will be permanently based in the area, particularly tourist zones, and will focus on intelligence work, according to a Reuters report. In addition, the troops will be permanently based in the area starting on December 1.

READ NEXT: Mexican Drug Cartel Wave of Gun Violence Leaves 2 Foreign Tourists Dead in Mexico's Bar, Turns More Villages Into Ghost Towns

Rising Violence in Resort Towns

Mexico's resort town of Tulum has faced an incident of violence after a number of foreigners have been killed.

Two foreign tourists were shot dead at a restaurant in Tulum. They were travel bloggers from India and a German citizen, according to a Business Insider report. Three other tourists were injured.

The German government issued a travel advisory warning its citizens about visiting Tulum in October. The advisory was then later retracted.

Local businesses are highly concerned about the violence driving away tourism.

Tulum has attracted tourists, including criminal groups eyeing drug trafficking and extortion opportunities in the tourist hotspot.

David Ortiz Mena, president of the Tulum Hotels Association, said that large raves and dance parties have led to an increase in demand for drugs, attracting organized crime groups.

Ortiz Mena said that while the world was shut down amid the pandemic, Tulum became popular for having raves and music festivals, which was accompanied by a rise in demand for drugs.

Juan Noriega Granados, another member of the Tulum Hotels Association, said that hotel owners are concerned as their clients and tourists are being threatened by the bad guys.

Noriega Granados continued to say that when owners demanded attention from authorities, they did not get any response.

In late October, 450 federal troops were sent to Tulum after the murder of two tourists.

Earlier this month, four guests at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera scrambled for shelter during a shootout between rival drug gangs on the beach at the resort. No tourists were seriously hurt. However, it was reported that two of the gunmen were killed.

Meanwhile, the Tourist Security Battalion is set to be placed in the province, particularly Benito Juarez, Solidaridad, and Tulum, according to a New York Post report.

National Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said that the group will provide security to the entire tourist area. Sandoval noted that they will give the team the tools to do its job.

READ MORE: Armed Men Stormed Cancun Resort As Tourists and Staff Take Shelter; Shooters Suspected Drug Dealers in Mexico

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: New video shows deadly shooting at Cancun resort - from FOX 11 Los Angeles


Los Angeles model Christy Giles was found dead on a hospital sidewalk after a group of men dumped her there Saturday.

According to Daily Mail, Giles, who was last seen at a party with friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, was left by a group of men driving a Prius with no plates at Southern California hospital in Culver City at around 5 p.m. The men hid their identities with balaclavas.

Two hours later, the men were recorded in a surveillance camera dumping the body of Cabrales-Arzola outside Kaiser Permanente hospital in West Los Angeles.

Cabrales-Arzola was reportedly in a coma, without any brain activity and with little possibility of recovery.

READ NEXT: City Will Clean Up California Hoarder Home; Neighbors Fed Up, Say There's a Lot of Cockroaches and Rats

Christy Giles' Husband Fears His Wife Was Sexually Abused

Christy Giles' husband, Jan Cilliers, said his wife and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola met some men at a party in the city before they ended up at a West Los Angeles apartment.

Cilliers noted that he got all the messages that his wife exchanged with anybody else that night. He said her wife was texting Cabrales-Arzola at around 5:30 a.m. and asked her to leave the party with the "wide eye emoji," Independent reported.

The 24-year-old Los Angeles model died of a suspected drug overdose while Cabrales-Arzola's toxicology report came out with heroin in her system, New York Daily reported.

Cilliers noted that neither woman would have taken those drugs voluntarily. Giles' husband was not around last weekend as he was visiting his father in San Francisco.

Cilliers, a photographer, said that Cabrales-Arzola liked one of those guys and left the party, which led them to one of the guys' houses.

Cilliers told Daily Mail that he feared that his wife was sexually abused by an underground pornographer who he suspects could have injected Giles with heroin and filmed her.

Los Angeles Model Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola Case

Daily Mail reported that Jan Cilliers had identified the men, who were last seen with Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, before they were dumped.

Cilliers said those people are the "worst of the worst," adding that one of the guys is in the underground porn scene and associated with people known to attend "snuff parties."

He noted that those men were not the kind of people his wife and her friend would typically hang out with. Cilliers said he was not sure how these men had convinced the women to get in the car.

Both of the victims had gone out with another friend, who requested to remain anonymous. The third friend left the two women at around 4 a.m.

Cilliers said he texted his wife good morning while he was at his father's home in San Francisco. However, he became concerned when she never responded and noticed that she was at the same address all day, which he did not recognize.

Cilliers then saw that Giles' location had moved to a hospital, prompting him to call the hospital for information. He also called Giles' parents in Alabama for help.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department said there was an ongoing investigation on the "undetermined death" case. The police department declined to give more details regarding the case.

READ MORE: California Health Officials Shut Down Second In-N-Out Chain for Defying Vaccine Mandates for Indoor Dining

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Family Suspects Foul Play in Death of Los Angeles Model Christy Giles - From ABC7






Officials said the Colorado pilot, who died in a plane crash while fighting a wildfire on Tuesday, was making a final pass over the blaze before he met his demise.

NBC News reported that CO Fire Aviation, the pilot's company, confirmed this information on Wednesday. Marc Thor Olson was found dead after the Air Tractor AT-802A went down at around 6:40 p.m Tuesday.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said the plane crash happened south of Estes Park, in the mountains west of Loveland, about three hours after authorities received a report of the crash.

The sheriff's office noted that Olson, an Army and Air Force veteran with 42 years of flight experience, was the only passenger on the plane that tragically crashed amid a Colorado wildfire.

READ NEXT: More Than 500 Flights in Denver, Colorado Delayed Over Wildfire Smoke

Colorado Pilot Fighting Wildfire Dies In Plane Crash

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that they hired the plane to fight the Kruger Rock wildfire because of its potential to spread quickly in dry, windy conditions, and the terrain made it too dangerous to have firefighters fight it on the ground.

The sheriff's office noted that Marc Thor Olson was conducting drops on the Kruger Rock Fire when the plane crashed. Police said the plane successfully made one water drop before Olson reported turbulent conditions on its second flight over the fire about an hour later.

"Moments later, at approximately 6:37 p.m., ground resources heard the plane crash," the sheriff's office noted. Marc Thor Olson was reportedly flying the single-engine plane using night-vision goggles after nightfall.

According to the sheriff's office, "recent advances in technology to achieve night air operations already in use in other states has proven to be an effective tactic to help prevent medium-sized fires from exploding and making large runs" like they saw last year.

On Wednesday, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator arrived in the area to collaborate with firefighters and law enforcement to look at the crash site and make documentation before the fire could potentially burn the area.

It was still unclear what caused the plane crash that killed the Colorado pilot. The pilot's company said it is fully cooperating with investigators and is deeply saddened by Olson's loss.

Kruger Rock Fire in Colorado

The Colorado wildfire started early Tuesday morning in the area of Little Valley and Fish Creek near Kruger Rock. FOX 31 reported that the Kruger Rock Fire began when high winds blew a tree onto a nearby powerline causing it to bend and start the blaze.

As of Wednesday evening, the fire had burned 145 acres with 40 percent containment. No structures have reportedly been damaged, and some evacuation orders were lifted or downgraded to voluntary by the authorities.

READ MORE: California to See Worsening Forest Fires for the Next Decade: Study

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Kruger Rock Fire Crests Trees, Sends Flames 50 Feet Into The Air - From CBS Denver
Brian Laundrie was reportedly seen alive in Texas after he allegedly underwent surgery to fix his underbite.

A Twitter account with the handle @ManOfTheLibrary said Gabby Petito's fiance was "seen in Texas recently." It has been nearly a month since authorities found Laundrie's partial skeletal remains in a Florida park.

The Twitter user said Laundrie was seen in Texas "in disguise with the exact same suit and shirt," referring to one of the photos he posted wherein Laundrie and another man who looks like him can be seen wearing almost similar suits.

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that Brian Laundrie got a mandibulectomy to fix his underbite. The mandible portion was planted in the CR with his belongings. He was seen in Texas in disguise with the exact same suit and shirt recently. @FBIDenver @BrianEntin @Nerdy_Addict pic.twitter.com/bwRi8wm3xo  Man of the Library (@ManOfTheLibrary) November 17, 2021

The Twitter user also shared some photos to prove that Laundrie had removed part of his jaw bone after undergoing a mandibulectomy.

In the caption, the Twitter user wrote that "there is a lot of evidence to suggest that Brian Laundrie got a mandibulectomy to fix his underbite," adding that "the mandible portion was planted in the CR [Carlton Reserve] with his belongings."

A mandibulectomy is a medical procedure to remove all or a part of your jaw, while the mandible is the largest bone in the human skull that holds the lower teeth in place.

The online sleuth's claim seemed to imply that Laundrie underwent mandibulectomy weeks after discovering the skeletal remains, and what was removed from Laundrie's skull was possibly planted in the Florida park.

It can be recalled that after a month-long manhunt for their son, the elder Laundries directed the North Port police and the FBI agents to a swampy area in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park where Laundrie's partial remains, bag, and notebook were found.

Law enforcement officials earlier said the remains include "a portion of a human skull, badly decomposed." The FBI said the skeletal remains found in the Florida park on October 20 were confirmed to be Laundrie after a review of dental records.

No documents could confirm that Laundrie underwent a mandibulectomy. But some netizens agreed to the theory and noticed how Gabby Petito's fiance had a different nose following the supposed surgery based on the photos shared by @ManOfTheLibrary.

Meanwhile, several netizens disagreed with this theory. A Twitter user said if the anthropologist found Laundrie's DNA "in the skull, then it's all over." Another user said she does not think this claim was based on an FBI report or a photo of all the bones collected.

That might - and I emphasise MIGHT - explain the teeth but they also found a partial skull! If the anthropologist finds his dna in the skull then its all over red rover! If not, well talk!  Irina Asanova (@IrinaAsanova1) November 18, 2021

READ NEXT: Brian Laundrie Update: Gabby Petito's Family Is Still Grieving, but Says Foundation in Her Honor Is Helping Them Cope

New Photo Catches Chris Laundrie Bringing Notebook, Other Items to Florida Park?

A new photo that recently went viral on Twitter suggested that Brian Laundrie's father, Chris Laundrie, may have planted the notebook, skeletal remains, and other items found in the Florida park.

A photo shared on Twitter by user @johnmarchetti showed that Chris carried a white bag similar to what was discovered at the Florida park. A notebook-shaped object can be seen at the bottom part of the said bag together with some various items inside.

Some netizens claimed it could be the notebook discovered at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, while others also suggest it was a different bag. However, there were reports that Chris' shirt in the photo is similar to what he wore when they joined the search that day.

Family Attorney Disputed Claims of Brian Laundrie's Parents Planting Their Son's Remains, Items

Questions surrounding the timeline of events between Brian Laundrie's parents telling authorities they were going to search for their son and the discovery of his belongings have been raised by many people.

Former chief of detectives Robert Boyce of NYPD earlier told ABC 7 that it's quite strange that the elder Laundries went "to this exact spot" and found the bag and the notebook in this particular area.

Boyce noted that there were just too many strange turns that Laundrie's parents have not been involved in it "to not believe that something is amiss here."

"So, they go to this one remote location, all of a sudden we found something, we found the remains... There's a lot of things here that don't add up to coincidence, so you wonder how they got there and what they knew all along," Boyce said.

But Laundrie family attorney, Steven Bertolino, disputed claims that the elder Laundries could have planted their son's remains and personal items, calling it "ludicrous."

"Do you really think that the Laundries has skeletal remains of their son, you know, in a plastic bag, and brought them to present to the [Carlton Reserve]," Bertolino earlier told NewsNation Prime.

He added: "Do you realize how ludicrous that is... How aggravating, how maddening it is to even hear those things?"

The North Port police had also said they were "100 percent confident" that the elder Laundries never brought anything with them into the park when Laundrie's remains and some of his items were discovered.

Brian Laundrie was named a person of interest by the North Port police after returning home on September 1 or 10 days before Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family.

Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when the YouTuber stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August.

Gabby 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 initial autopsy of Laundrie's remains did not uncover a cause or manner of his death, so the remains of Gabby Petito's fiance were sent to a forensic anthropologist for further examination. Bertolino said the results of the forensic anthropologist's examination are expected this month.

READ MORE: Brian Laundrie Case: Here's Why Dog the Bounty Hunter Thinks Remains Found May Not Be Gabby Petito's Fiance

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Psychiatrist Analyzes Brian Laundrie's Behavior - From FOX 13 Tampa Bay
U.S. President Joe Biden is now being criticized after he claimed that GM (General Motors) CEO Mary Barra is the one that changed the rising EV industry.

"Mary, I can remember talking to you way back in January about the need for America to lead in electric vehicles. And I can remember your dramatic announcement that by 2035, GM would be 100% electric," said POTUS via Electrek's latest report.

He added that Barra did the most when it came to electrifying the vehicle market. Biden further complimented the CEO, saying that he is serious that General Motors drastically reduced hundreds of millions of oil barrels, enhancing the current status of the planet's climate.

U.S. President's Compliment for GM is Inappropriate?

Various critics said that the statement of the American leader is quite inappropriate, providing proof that GM did not do that much when it comes to changing the auto industry.

READ MORE: Former Pres. Donald Trump Could Spend Three Years in Prison for the Violation of Hatch Act - Legal Experts

They added that Biden also did the same thing with Ford's CEO Jim Carley, saying that the guy, the automaker's head for around a year, also massively changed the electric vehicle industry.



Meanwhile, experts said that GM is still having a hard time enhancing its own all-electric vehicle models. They added that the only EV released was the Chevy Bolt during Barra's term, which was launched back in 2012.

The Chevy booth here (ghost town) at the LA Auto Show has 0 EVs. I don't even think there is a hybrid here. No Silverado, no Bolt/EUV, nothing. Only chargers are iPhone chargers.



This is where companies like GM show their future.



So must for "All in on Electric" ? pic.twitter.com/ZVcjkOOeUv  Seth Weintraub (@llsethj) November 18, 2021

However, the giant carmaker seems to have insufficient units of Chevy Bolt EVs, which was revealed in a Twitter post of Seth Weintraub, a reliable tech journalist from 9To5Google, 9To5Mac, Electrek, and other giant news sources.

"I don't even think there is a hybrid here. No Silverado, no Bolt/EUV, nothing. Only chargers are iPhone chargers," said the report via his latest tweet.

Biden's Infrastructure Bill Includes EV Enhancement

CNBC reported that the latest infrastructure bill approved by the American leader plans to provide funds for broadband utilities and the transportation industry.

Around $1 trillion budget is to be released over a five-year period. Meanwhile, around $550 billion funds are planned to be released specifically for the EV industry and transportation sector.

Recently, he announced that the bill would allow the use of adaptive headlights in the United States.

READ NEXT: U.S. Pres. Joe Biden Wants a Probe on Oil Companies Over Rising Gas Prices, Tapping FTC to Do the Investigation
Nearly three quarters of prisoners with Covid-19 in Irish prisons are behind bars in one of Portlaoise's jails according to new figures from the Irish Prison Service (IPS).

The latest update from the Services also reveals that more prisoners have tested positive for Covid-19 two weeks after the first cases were identified at the Midlands Prison Portlaoise.

The IPS said three outbreaks of Covid-19 currently being managed at Irish jails. It said there are 63 confirmed prisoner cases of Covid-19 in Cloverhill, Midlands and Mountjoy Prisons.

One prisoner has tested positive for Covid-19 in the Progression Unit, Mountjoy Prison while there are 16 case in in Cloverhill Prison.

However, the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise is the hotspot with 46 prisoners have been confirmed as positive. Despite the prison being in lockdown, five more cases tested positive on Wednesday. The outbreak began in the Laois jail on November 4 when two prisoners caught the virus.

Prisoners and staff in all divisions of the Midlands have been the subject to testing since as prison management and public health teams attempt to control the outbreak which is by far the worst since the start of the pandemic.

The IPS said Outbreak Control Teams (OCT) have been established in each of the location to agree and oversee the appropriate actions taken to mitigate against further possible spread of the disease within those prisons.

A prisoner with an underlying condition in the custody of the Midlands Prison died during the current outbreak. While the IPS did not confirm the death, it is understood to be the first death of a prisoner in Ireland who had contracted the virus.

The IPS does not release numbers on prison officer infections but has confirmed that staff have tested positive in Portlaoise.

Recent figures revealed that 90% of prisoners in jails had been vaccinated. Vaccination rates for staff are not known.

There are 818 prisoners in the Midlands on November 17 which represents 93% occupancy. The jail is separate from the high-security prison which houses gangland criminals and paramilitaries.

The IPS says it has successfully managed the virus during the pandemic up to the current wave. It now says it is facing an 'unprecedented challenge'.

Laois has had one of the highest incidence rates of the virus through October and November in Ireland.
A thoughtful Christmas gift for people in emotional distress is being offered by a newly opened Laois mental health support centre.

The SOSAD Laois centre is asking the public to donate Christmas 'self-care' packs to gift to their clients.

The packs can contain items like chocolates, socks, candles, giftsets and games.

"This year, let's brighten up someone's Christmas by donating a self-care pack. Each donated self-care pack will be given to SOSAD clients," they say.

To receive a pack, sign up by phone or email to SOSAD Portlaoise. The packs will be distributed on December 20.

Donations of packs can be dropped into the recently opened SOSAD Portlaoise office. They are welcomed wrapped or bagged ready to go, marked with the gender or if gender neutral.

That new office is the second positive announcement by the community funded charity this week.

The co-ordinator of SOSAD Portlaoise Grace Ennis has confirmed that their first temporary home is now open.

It is in Shamrock House, on the Abbeyleix Road in Portlaoise (just past the Garda Station) eircode R32AH51.

"I am thrilled that we have been able to open our office and are able to provide face to face therapy now, it's such an honour to be part of the community here in Laois," Grace told the Leinster Express.

The centre is open from Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm. It is preferred for people to contact via phone or email to make appointments.

Donations will be needed into the future to keep the Laois service going.

"As we rely on fundraising and donations to keep the office running, people can donate to us via our website, Rallyup or drop in a donation to the office if they wish. Members of the community can also run fundraisers to support us, we would love to hear their ideas," Grace said.

Call 083 029 1706 or email laoisoffice@sosadireland.ie

Below: a counselling room at Shamrock House.

The opening of a Laois branch for SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters) Ireland has been driven by a passionate group of local mental health advocates, backed by strong community support. The ethos of SOSAD is to offer early intervention in local communities to prevent suicides. Any money donated to the centre will stay in Laois to support Laois people.

SOSAD Ireland is a non profit organisation that provides free counselling services to people who are suffering with:

- Suicidal Ideation - Self Harming - Depression - Stress & Anxiety - If You Simply Need To Talk.

See https://sosadireland.ie/
Abbeyleix TidyTowns group who won the title of Ireland's Tidiest Small Town last week, are requesting urgent attention to the public library.

The group were just one point behind the overall winners Ennis, and the push has begun to raise the standard even higher to win in 2022.

The town's library, an award winning refurbishment of the old market house needs expert painting and new lights.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly, a member of Abbeyleix TidyTowns, tabled a motion to Laois County Council this week, asking for an update on the maintenance works.

He wants it done ahead of next summer.

"I have spoken two or three times on this. I appreciate that it is an historic building requiring a special render. We looked at it as the TidyTowns group to see where we can help. I ask that this is done before next summer and have it completed," he said.

Laois County Librarian Bernie Foran reported that quotations have been sought to repaint the exterior.

"Due to the age of the building and the type of render on the exterior the painting will have to be done by painters with experience in heritage buildings.

"Regarding the lighting, some of the external groundworks around the library have been water damaged and are not working and we are trying to source replacements and or alternatives," she reported.

Cllr Fennelly who is chair of the Portlaoise Municipal District, had thanked all involved in the town's success at the start of their monthly meeting, especially two men who get up at the crack of dawn to voluntarily clean the streets.

"It is a fantastic community effort, I want to particularly thank Anthony McHugh and Jonathan Carthy. I want to thank the council, the CEO, the engineer and supervisor and outdoor staff. We wouldn't be where we are today but for your support and help with funding. Please God we are just one point behind the overall winner and we will be able to bring home the full title to Laois next year," he said.

Read more on Abbeyleix's five TidyTowns awards below.
The ESB insists that is not breaching any conditions of the planning permission to build a large electricity substation in Laois and there is no evidence that the water supply is threatened by the build.

The power company was responding to claims by county councillors and a local residents group that the site should be inspected by Laois County Council who in turn should shut down the site due to non-compliances with conditions of the planning permission granted in 2014.

The State owned company issued a statement to the Leinster Express about work on the Coolnabacky site near Ratheniska and Timahoe.

"ESB is carrying out the works at the site in compliance with planning, with all relevant documents being publicly available through Laois County Council. All matters regarding planning are a matter for Laois County Council.

"There is no objective evidence for any claim of destruction of water supply, which has been exhaustively examined.

ESB takes its responsibilities to its workers and contractors seriously, who have now been blocked from accessing the site a number of times by members of the protest group.

"At all times, ESB and EirGrid have acted in good faith and have engaged fully with the community and sought to address any issues raised," it said.

The company also took the opportunity to explain why the 110 million substation is needed.

"The Laois/Kilkenny Reinforcement Project is a vital project in terms of strengthening the electricity network in Ireland, which is essential in order to facilitate the development of the county and wider region for the overall benefit of its communities.

"EirGrid proposed the project to address problems related to the quality of supply across Laois, Carlow, Kildare and Wicklow and a security of supply issue that affects County Kilkenny. These problems are caused by weaknesses and a lack of reliability on the transmission network across the region as a result of continued growth in demand for electricity. The problems are starting to become critical," it said.

The substation has been fought for more than a decade by residents who are members of the Ratheniska Spink Timahoe Action Group. They claim the project threatens the water supply for up to 25,000 people due to the storage of 300,000 litres of oil on the site.

The issue was raised on their behalf at the most recent meeting of the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District meeting where Cllrs Padraig Fleming, Aidan Mullins, Aisling Moran and Ben Brennan called for work to stop on a number of grounds.
Aldis nationwide expansion continues today with the opening of its new store in Newbridge, creating 20 permanent jobs in the local area.

Located on Moorefield Road, the store was officially opened today by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development, Martin Heydon, TD.

The new store is Aldis ninth to open in County Kildare. Aldi now operates 149 stores around Ireland.

New Store Design

Featuring Aldis exciting award-winning Project Fresh layout and design, the new store boasts a large shop floor spanning 1140sqm, wide aisles and hi-spec fixtures and fittings. There are also 72 car park spaces available to customers in Newbridge, along with 10 bicycle rack stands. Aldis Newbridge store will also provide access to four electric vehicle-charging points for customers. Aldi has invested in ventilation heat recovery, which will be used to power underfloor heating, in addition to solar panel energy.

Speaking at the store opening, Dermot Magan, Aldi Newbridge Store Manager said: Our brand new Newbridge store is fantastic news for local shoppers! The spacious design means customers can easily pick up what they need, and having recently been voted as the supermarket with the best customer experience in Ireland*, our aim is always to ensure that our customers have the very best shopping experience in store. From all the staff here at the new store, we hope everyone has a chance to pop in an avail of our great savings and pick up some of our award-winning products at unbeatable prices!

Welcoming Aldis arrival in Newbridge, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Research & Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development, Martin Heydon, said: After what has been a very challenging 18 months for the industry, its great to see Aldi continue to confidently invest in Ireland and open new stores. Aldis Newbridge store is a fantastic addition to the town and Ive no doubt will play a central role in the retail fabric of the town for years to come.

Aldi staff, like all retail and front-line workers in Ireland, have provided an essential service to their local communities during the past year and a half. I would like to thank them for their dedication and outstanding contribution during the pandemic.

Aldis Investment in County Kildare

Aldi has made a capital investment of over 58 million in Co. Kildare since it laid roots in the county. Aldi is the market-leading supermarket for pay and currently employs 190 full-time staff across the county. Aldi is seeking to recruit 35 new employees for its Kildare stores next year.

Community Support

Aldis existing stores across Kildare are deeply involved in their local communities. To celebrate the opening, Aldi welcomed John Cradock, Homeless Care CLG, to collect a donation of 1000 as part of Aldis Community Grants network.

To date, the Kildare stores have donated over 56,000 meals to local charities through FoodCloud, saving the charities more than 70,000.

In addition to supporting local charities, Aldis national tree planting initiative will also involve the Newbridge team. More than 10,000 trees will be planted in Kill, Co. Kildare before the end of next month. Aldi is the first retailer in Ireland to commit to planting 1 million native Irish woodland trees by 2025, working together with its partner Green Belt.
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Twitter has argued before the High Court that it should not be compelled to provide two journalists with all the details they seek regarding accounts that published allegedly malicious and defamatory posts about them.

The Court heard that the Social Media giant has proposed an alternative order, which it says it will not oppose.

Reporters Allison Morris of the Belfast Telegraph and Aoife Moore of the Irish Examiner claim that the Twitter accounts in question have posted highly defamatory statements about them.

Arising out of those tweets, which were posted between June of 202 they have brought High Court actions, including defamation proceedings against Twitter International Company and the former Sunday Independent columnist, Eoghan Harris.

As well as seeking damages, the plaintiffs want an order known as a 'Norwich Pharmacal' order, requiring Twitter to make disclosure of the identities of persons, who controlled, or used, several named twitter accounts, including the Barbara J Pym account @barbarapym2 and an account called Dolly White (@DollyWh72057454).

The information they seek includes IP addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and any other contact details of persons they claim are associated with those particular accounts.

They also seek details of log-in times from when the posts complained of were published.

They also want twitter to give the names and contact details of other twitter account holders who they claim republished or retweeted any of the allegedly defamatory material posted by the Barbara Pym and other allegedly linked accounts.

However, Twitter opposes their application on the grounds that the precise nature of the orders sought are burdensome, unnecessary and onerous.

Represented by Alan Keating Bl, Twitter says it does not wish to be involved in the main battle between the two reporters and Mr Harris.

However, it claims the orders sought would require Twitter to conduct an investigation into potential wrongdoing, which counsel argued that this goes beyond the scope of what a 'Norwich Pharmacal' order allows.

Counsel said that it has advanced an alternative order, containing a formula of words which it would neither oppose nor consent, regarding the disclosure of details concerning the accounts in question.

The two journalists claim that they have been the subject of many defamatory tweets published by the accounts to bring these proceedings in order to vindicate their good names and professional reputations.

Mr Harris denies the claims.

At the High Court on Wednesday Thomas Hogan SC for the plaintiffs, who rejected Twitters arguments, said that his clients had been the victims of a "malicious," "campaign of defamation." His clients had established strong cases which merited the granting of the precise orders sought counsel said.

Outlining the reasons behind the order sought counsel said that it was believed that several persons may have either contributed to the accounts which posted the material about his clients or had retweeted.

His clients want to join any such persons to their defamation claims, counsel added. Counsel said Mr Harris had said in a sworn statement put before the court that he alone was behind the 'Barbara J Pym' account, and that Mr Harris Wife Gwen Halley had control of the 'Dolly White' account.

Counsel said this contradicted earlier statements and comments made in an interview with RTE radio made by the former columnist earlier this year, when he said that other, unnamed persons had contributed to the account.

Counsel said that it seemed from statements made by Mr Harris in May that there was sufficient evidence, that others had contributors to what was published on Twitter.

Frank Callinan SC, appearing with Hugh McDowell Bl for Mr. Harris, who denies the allegations against him, said his clients response to the claims are "very clear" in his sworn statement that he was only person who controlled and posted on the barbarajpym.

Counsel said his client was not objecting to any disclosure orders being sought against Twitter, but questioned to scope and nature of the relief the journalists were seeking.

Counsel said Mr. Harris had sworn on oath that he is the person behind the Barbara JPym account and, while there were elements of contradiction of what was said in the RTE radio interview, his client could be cross-examined on that at the full trial of the actions.

Counsel said that Harris had said in his sworn statement that some of the posts were based on casual conversations with other persons, and discussed ideals with friends.

Mr Harris said that he did not operate or control any other twitter accounts and rejected any suggestion that he was associated with accounts purportedly suspended by Twitter.

Counsel said that there were many things that had been said about his client in the media regarding Mr Harris and purported links to other twitter accounts, which were incorrect and had damaged the former columnist's reputation.

The pretrial application came before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey.

Following the conclusion of submissions from all parties, late on Wednesday evening, reserved his decision.

The judge said he would give judgment in the matter "as soon as possible."
Ireland is set to see plenty of different weather this weekend as Met Eireann predicts rain, hail and shine across the country.

Today will be mostly cloudy with some patches of rain, drizzle and mist with bright or sunny spells developing. Temperatures of between 12 to 16 degrees with strong winds on western and northwestern coasts.

Tonight will be mainly cloudy overnight with patches of rain or drizzle, mainly across Connacht and Ulster with temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.

Friday will be mostly dry but cloudy and occasional bright spells. Patches of rain and drizzle in southern and western coastal areas and hills with highest temperatures of 13 degrees.

Friday night will be generally cloudy with patches of drizzle or mist. Persistent rain is expected in the northwest towards Saturday morning with lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Mostly cloudy today with some patches of rain, drizzle and mist.

A few bright or sunny spells will develop during the day in some areas.

A mild day with maximum temperatures of 12 to 16 degrees pic.twitter.com/08asMbJC6P  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) November 18, 2021

Saturday will see a band of rain spread across Connacht and Ulster during the morning that will extend southeastwards to remaining areas of the country in the afternoon. Colder conditions with scattered showers will follow across the west and north of the country later in the day. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees but turning colder later in the day.

Saturday night will be cold and breezy with showers in western and northern coastal counties, with some expected hail. Elsewhere in the country will be mainly dry with long clear spells and minimum temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees.

Sunday will be a cold and blustery day with showers and some sunny spells. Showers will mainly affect west and north coastal districts, with some showers of hail. Maximum temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with brisk northerly winds.

Sunday night will be cold and mainly dry with long clear spells. Some frost is expected to form widely across the country into Monday morning with lowest temperatures of -1 to 3 degrees.
A judge has said that a mother-of-two who identified one of the boys convicted of murdering Ana Kriegel on her Facebook page showed utter contempt for the law.

In June 2019, Hazel Fitzpatrick (25) posted a screenshot of a photo that identified Boy A on the day after both juveniles were convicted of murdering Ana Kriegel in May 2018.

Fitzpatrick, who has no other criminal convictions, told gardai that she thought it was wrong they are protected when she [Ana Kriegel] was not protected.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that there was no premeditation, that Fitzpatrick acted out of pure anger and that at the time she had become almost reliant and addicted to social media. She later described her action as the biggest mistake she has ever made in her life.

Fitzpatrick of Easton Green, Easton Road, Leixlip, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to contravention of the Children Act 2001 within the state on or about June 19, 2019.

Sergeant David O'Neil told Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, that on the day after two juveniles referred to in media reports as Boy A and Boy B were convicted of the murder of Ana Kriegel in June 2019, a picture identifying Boy A was published on the Facebook account of the accused.

The court heard this post contained a picture of the boy, as well as the words Name and shame the c*nts and that justice was served but they should not be allowed to see daylight again.

The post also called the two convicted juveniles sickos and said that everyone should see who did it.

Sgt O'Neil said the presiding judge of the murder trial had made an order that nothing could be published that would identify or tend to identify the two convicted juveniles. He said the trial and this order was extensively reported by media outlets.

Sentencing her this week, Judge Karen O'Connor said there has to a deterrent element in respect of people who use social media in utter and blatant breach of a court order.

She said Fitzpatrick knew about the court order and knew what she was doing was wrong, but had made a decision that she did not agree with the court order.

Such utter contempt for the law must have consequences, she said. She said she could not accept a defence submission to defer sentence under section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

She set a headline sentence of 12 months imprisonment but reduced this to eight months which she suspended on condition Fitzpatrick keep the peace for that period. She noted Fitzpatrick is deemed to be at a low risk of reoffending and that she is a person of previous good character.

She also noted Fitzpatrick was fully co-operative with the garda investigation and pleaded guilty at a very early stage. She said that at the time of the offending Fitzpatrick was suffering from anxiety and depression.

During a previous hearing, the court heard that snapshots of certain posts made on social media sites were brought to the attention of gardai, including the post made by Fitzpatrick. Gardai were satisfied the image shared was a clear breach of the order and identified the accused's address.

The sergeant said that when gardai attended at her address in July 2019, Fitzpatrick said she had been expecting them, invited them into her home and agreed to an interview, stating that she had nothing to hide.

In interview with gardai, Fitzpatrick said she had followed the case online, that people were talking about it and she was from the locality. She said she was also a mother and this formed a part of her interest in the case.

Fitzpatrick told gardai she could not understand how two juveniles could do something like that. She said she had heard about the judge's order and that people could be brought to court and fined.

She admitted to sharing the material on Facebook, saying she had copied the photo from someone else's page and then shared it. She said she took it down two or three minutes later because people were texting her.

When asked by gardai why she had shared the photo, Fitzpatrick said she questioned why the boys were being hidden when their actions were not the actions of juveniles and that the girl did not get a say in anything.

Fitzpatrick said she thought it is wrong they are protected when she [Ana Kriegel] was not protected. She said she was sorry for the boys' families, but was not sorry for them.

The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) initially directed a summary disposal in the District Court and that jurisdiction was accepted by a District Court judge, only to later be refused by another judge.

Sgt O'Neil agreed with Kevin Roche BL, defending, that his client posted a screenshot of a photo and she was not the original person who uploaded the photo to Facebook.

He agreed with counsel that there was no premeditation, that it happened out of pure anger and his client was not part of a greater conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He agreed her admissions were important as the case would have been very difficult to prove otherwise.

The sergeant agreed Fitzpatrick was previously of exceptional character who was suffering from anxiety and depression at time. He agreed he did not expect to see her come to garda attention again.

Mr Roche said his client was suffering from post-natal depression at the time of the offence. He said she became almost reliant and addicted to social media, particularly Facebook.

Counsel said that anger within his client's local community led her to make a mistake that is going to follow her around for the rest of her life. He said his client knew her actions were illegal, but did not fully ascertain their severity.

He said the offending behaviour was spontaneous and represented an utterly misguided foray into criminality. He said she describes the offence as the biggest mistake she has ever made in her life.

Mr Roche said a report from the Probation Service describes his client as being at a low-risk of reoffending. He said his client has two small children.

Counsel asked the court to consider utilising Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. This section allows the court to impose a fine and defer the passing of a sentence of imprisonment for the offence.

At the earlier hearing, Judge O'Connor remanded Fitzpatrick on continuing bail and adjourned the matter for finalisation to today, November 18.
The Irish prison service has said it's facing "an unprecedented challenge" in trying to manage three outbreaks of Covid-19 involving at least 63 cases, as the first death of a prisoner with the virus was confirmed this week.

The outbreaks are in Cloverhill prison, Mountjoy and the Midlands prison while Outbreak Control Teams (OCT) have been established in each location to oversee and agree on appropriate actions taken to mitigate against further spread of the virus.

A spokesperson for the prison service has said it had been "hugely successful" in protecting the prisoners from the virus in the earlier stages of the pandemic but said due to the current level of prevalence of the virus in the community it now faces an unprecedented challenge in keeping the prisoners safe.

Although the prison service said it has introduced a more "restricted regime" to help prevent further infection, this may impact on access to phone calls and video visits in the short term for prisoners in precautionary isolation but it says it is working to ensure that it can continue to facilitate family contact as much as possible.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has called for an acceleration of the booster rollout in prisons while also expressing concern about restricted regimes as a result of outbreaks of the virus and potential isolation of prisoners from their families.
AIB has apologised for the inconvenience caused to customers following a breakdown in their ATM machine in Abbeyfeale earlier this month.

On the weekend of November 5, 6 and 7, the machine was out of order and people looking to take out cash were obliged to go to Listowel.

The problem in Abbeyfeale, an AIB spokesman told Minister of State, Niall Collins was caused by a hardware fault in the machine which led to "intermittent outages". The fault was fixed by an engineer on the Monday.

However, the spokesman said that all the bank's other ATMs in the area were operational the same weekend.

In a separate email, Minister Collins was told that a Bank of Ireland ATM in Listowel had been experiencing a technical fault on the same weekend but was back in operation on the Monday and was then checked by a technician.

"We would like to apologise for the inconvenience to customers arising from this fault," a spokesman for Bank of Ireland said.

Meanwhile, Bank of Ireland has confirmed that it has appointed Sherry Fitzgerald to handle the sale of its bank building in Rathkeale. It is expected to go on the market in early 2022.

Limerick City and County Council has already been in contact with the bank, a spokesman said. "We continue to engage with them as part of the sales process."
A LIMERICK man is set to feature on an RTE documentary that focuses on eating disorders in Irish men.

Unspoken will give a voice to the un-told crisis of eating disorders in men with Cormac, Eoin and Daniel sharing their personal experiences.

The powerful and honest documentary will aim to dispel commonly held misconceptions and challenge stereotypes to allow for a broader understanding of the condition.

One of the contributors to the documentary is Eoin who lived in the city centre for 20 years and who said his eating disorder started with a health kick before it turned much darker.

"I lived a very regular life for 30 odd years and didn't realise that underneath there were a lot of things bubbling.

"I have always had certain coping mechanisms and I have lived with OCD for almost all of my life.

"In 2019 I decided to go on a healthy life kick and try and improve my life so I would feel better.

"I lived with a constant critic and judgement in my head, I tried to use healthy eating and exercise as a way to change that.

"Little did I know when I started out that the state of mind I was in at the time was always going to lead to an eating disorder. It became obsessional."

Eoin said his 'life very quickly spiraled downhill' and the onset of his eating disorder was very acute.

"It was a quick spiral in to a world of complete and utter disarray. I became very sick, I got to a place where I did not want to be on the planet.

"Eventually after a lot of cajoling and coaxing, I entered three months of residential treatment followed by day patient treatment and then therapy."

During Eoin's treatment he promised himself that he would be for anyone else in a similar situation.

"Whether it was silent support, a hand on their shoulder or in physical support that I would try and help them.

"It didn't have to be directly to them but I wanted to help somehow, through whatever way I spoke about it.

"They wouldn't have to suffer in silence, we are not encouraging people to watch the documentary and ring Bodywhys in the morning, that is not the agenda here.

"The agenda is for people to watch it and if all they can do is feel comfortable with the distressing or uncomfortable emotions they are feeling.

"The expectation is to watch it and be open to whatever it might bring up."

Unspoken will be on RTE One, Thursday 18th November at 10:15pm
A WOMAN was terrorised and threatened she would be killed by a gang of vigilantes who forced their way into her home.

Limerick Circuit Court has been told eleven men who were suited and booted arrived at the house at Cois Rioga, Caherconlish at around 6.20pm on February 17 last.

The men had their faces covered and some of them were armed with weapons such as pitchforks and hurleys.

William Lyons, aged 43, of Mount Singland, Garryowen, Limerick has been jailed for his role in the incident which the presiding judge said smacked of vigilantism adding it was unacceptable in any civilised society.

Mr Lyons, who is also known as Liam Walters, had pleaded guilty to several charges relating to the incident which arose from a dispute he had with the womans partner some time earlier.

During a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Laide said there were a number of young children in the house at the time and that the windows of the property and a car were smashed by the intruders.

Mr Lyons, Judge Tom ODonnell was told, was directing operations on the night and it was he who threatened to come back and kill the woman.

After he was identified as a suspect, gardai searched his home which was described in court as a fortress.

CCTV footage obtained by gardai shows the men gathering at the house before they departed in two cars for Caherconlish.

Judge ODonnell said what happened was outrageous and premeditated and was clearly designed to instill fear and intimidate those in the house.

He accepted Mr Lyons guilty plea had prevented a difficult and complex trial but said it was an aggravating factor that he had tried to leave the country following the incident only to be stopped at Dublin Airport as he did not have the proper Covid-19 paperwork.

Judge ODonnell also noted that an offer of 10,000 in compensation had been rejected by the injured party.

He imposed a three and-a-half year prison sentence, suspending the final 12 months.

Mr Lyons is not to have any contact with the woman or her partner for a period of five years.
A JUDGE has refused to alter the verdict of a jury even though one of the jurors contacted a defence barrister following the conclusion of the trial.

Judge Patrick Meghen was told the female juror emailed senior counsel Michael Bowman the day after his client was convicted  by unanimous verdict  of assault causing serious harm and violent disorder.

The offences occurred in a town in County Limerick a number of years ago and the defendant  a man in his 40s  was remanded in custody pending a sentencing hearing before Christmas.

After the matter was re-entered before Judge Meghen at Limerick Circuit Court, Mr Bowman expressed concerns about the validity of the verdict given the contents of the email  specific details of which cannot be reported.

I have not replied or engaged (with the juror), said Mr Bowman who submitted the email and its contents creates a difficulty for the court.

There is a clear query about the verdict, he said as he formally asked Judge Meghen to quash the verdict of the jury in the circumstances.

Opposing the application Lily Buckley BL, instructed by State Solicitor Aidan Judge, said she did not believe the judge had the jurisdiction to make such an order.

She submitted such orders can only be made in limited circumstances and must be done before the jury leaves the jury box following the conclusion of any trial.

Its not an issue for this court, she said submitting the concerns raised by Mr Bowman are a matter for the Court of Appeal to adjudicate on.

Ms Buckley urged the court not to look behind the verdict of the jury and submitted the unsworn statement of one member was not sufficient for the judge to alter or quash the verdict.

It was conveyed in a clear and unambiguous way, she commented.

The verdict given to the court should not be revisited. Nothing has changed, she added.

Rejecting Mr Bowmans application, Judge Meghen said he agreed the Court of Appeal is the appropriate venue for the concerns to be raised.

The judge also refused an application to release the defendant on bail pending his sentencing hearing.

He said the guilty verdict displaced the presumption of innocence and that the defendant would have to carry the consequences of his conviction.
THREE people were arrested for public order offences following the 'Christmas Jumper Day' celebrations in Limerick city.

Hundreds of students thronged several streets in Limerick city centre on Wednesday for their annual Christmas celebration.

In response to queries from the Limerick Leader, gardai confirmed that three people were arrested for public order offences.

"All have all been released without charge, with one receiving an adult caution while another received an on the spot fine," said a garda spokesperson.

Videos were circulated widely on social media from early on Wednesday afternoon showing snaking queues - some with up to seven people abreast - outside several licensed premises in the city centre.

The garda spokesperson said that a number of proactive patrols were launched in the city on Wednesday "as part of local policing plans".

Concerned residents and pedestrians in Limerick city voiced their anger on national and local radio today, at the scenes they witnessed as early as 2pm on Wednesday afternoon.

One city pedestrian, Annette, told Joe Duffys Liveline how she witnessed elderly individuals who were unable to walk up the street due to hundreds of students coming towards them.

She also said that two of these students started urinating in the street in front of the elderly ladies.

It was desperate, absolutely desperate. It was just mayhem. We need to control it," she said.

There has to be a way we can sort something so that they are not drinking at 12pm in the day and frightening the life out of people at 5.15pm in the evening, she added.

Another caller said: Sheep held in a pen would have more space than they had getting into this club."

Student Conor Brennan told Liveline on RTE Radio 1 that in spite of the large numbers in Limerick last night, the majority of students are abiding by public health guidelines, and this should not tar our image.

Nightclubs around the country have announced new opening hours on social media in recent days after An Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced that from this Thursday night all nightclubs, pubs and late night venues will have to shut their doors at 12am.

One Limerick club is now set to open at 8pm this Friday and Saturday night to allow punters get a full four hours in on the dance floor before the midnight closing time.

The gardai say they will "continue to provide ongoing support to the Government response to the Covid-19 pandemic and to business and society through our normal daily policing functions where required".

A spokesperson added: "The wearing of face coverings outdoors, social distancing and other public health guidelines and are not penal provisions. Members of An Garda Siochana are not compliance officers. An Garda Siochana will continue to support and assist compliance officers if or when requested."

Gardai say they continue to appeal to all citizens to comply with public health guidelines and regulations in order to continue to save lives.
THREE-time Eurovision winner Johnny Logan has teamed up with a Limerick-based orchestra to release a reimagined Christmas hit single in aid of Parkinsons disease.

The Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) announced the release of a Christmas charity single Driving Home for Christmas, a reimagined cover of Chris Reas 1987 iconic song hit of the same name.

This new collaboration with Johnny Logan and producer Jimmy Smyth will help raise vital funds for the Parkinsons Association of Ireland (PAI) while at the same time support Irish Chamber Orchestras free education and social development projects in Limerick.

Johnny Logan said I was delighted to work with the ICO on this terrific song. My great friend, Songwriter Shay Healy wrote my first Eurovision winning song What's Another Year back in 1980.

His battle with Parkinsons Disease was inspirational for many dealing with the same struggles, though we lost Shay last April. Its great to know this collaboration can help the trojan work of Parkinsons Association of Ireland.

The charity single is available for purchase here and will raise essential funds to help people living with Parkinsons Disease.

There is a limited edition of 78 only signed Giclee Prints available now for sale on ICOs online store, with the figure 78 representing the late Shay Healys age on his death from Parkinsons.

Johnny Logan commended the ICO on how passionate it is in its commitment to its fantastic work in Limerick city, providing hundreds of children with free music through its inclusive and innovative education programmes.

ICO CEO, Gerard Keenan concluded:

Exploring and consolidating mutually beneficial partnerships such as this venture with Parkinsons Association of Ireland are core to the ICOs mission.

We must do everything in our power to ensure there is no disruption in supporting these children and those suffering from Parkinsons Disease.
KERRY COLLEGE will hold a live information webinar event on Monday 29th November at 7pm.

This free event will feature graduates from Fibre and Overhead Lines (OHL) courses who are now working in the sector, Kerry College Admissions Office staff and members of the TLI Group Training Team.

It will run via Zoom.

The next Fibre Installation Technician course starts in February. Recruitment will start in January. Civils for Fibre Installation is also open for applications now and is due to start later in the year.

Kerry College Admissions Officer Niamh O Donavan is advising people to apply now as these are popular courses which lead to direct employment in the Fibre/OHL sectors.

At present, the start date for our Fibre Installation Technician course is the 21st of February 2022. Anyone interested in this course is encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The reason this course is so popular is it will set you up with job ready skills to move straight into the world of work.

Kerry College, Monavalley Campus Manager Mr. Con O Sullivan is encouraging people to sign up: Join us on the 29th of November at 7pm. Discover the strong employment opportunities to be had by doing the Civils for Fibre Installation, Fibre Installation Technician and Overhead Lines Operative courses. You can hear from past students who are now working with the TLI Group. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and get information on how to apply for these courses from a member of the Kerry College team.

The event is free and pre-registration is essential via this link https://bit.ly/3F5Shsl

You can browse and sign up for all courses online: https://kerrycollege.ie/full-time-courses/

For queries, contact the Admissions Office on 066-714 96 96 or info@kerrycollege.ie

Kerry College, Ireland's first integrated College of Further Education and Training offers over 180 full time courses across its campus locations in Tralee at Monavalley, Clash Road and Denny Street, in Killorglin and in Listowel.

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FRANKFURT : AstraZeneca said its antibody cocktail against COVID-19 would  unlike its vaccine - be priced commercially as it negotiates supply contracts with governments around the globe.

"We are looking at a commercial pricing strategy. That is part of our negotiations with governments," Iskra Reic, Astra's Executive Vice President for vaccines and immune therapies, said in a media call on Thursday.

She added that the group's main objective was to make the shot affordable and broadly available.

AstraZeneca earlier cemented its lead in bringing a preventative COVID-19 shot to market, saying its antibody cocktail offered 83% protection over six months, another possible weapon in the fight against the pandemic.

Chief Executive Pascal Soriot said on the call that the antibody treatment was more complicated to produce than a vaccine but that there would be enough production capacity around the world to meet demand.

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Petrol pump dealers in Bikaner division have called for an indefinite strike from October 25, Monday, to press for their demands. The dealers have raised nine demands, including ban on sale of illegal diesel, base oil or paraffin coming in form of biodiesel in the division, ban on smuggled diesel coming from Punjab and Haryana, one-state-one-price for fuel, VAT rate on the lines of Punjab and Haryana, reduction of 6 per cent VAT raised during Covid-19 lockdown and reduction in the storage limit for farmers from 2,500 litres to 1,000 litres.

A meeting of petrol pump dealers was held in Ratangarh of Churu district in which dealers decided to go on indefinite strike from October 25 to press for their demands, Rajendra Singh Bhati, president of Rajasthan VAT steering committee said in a statement.

Earlier today, petrol and diesel prices were hiked for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday by 35 paise per litre. With this, the total increase in rates of petrol has now reached 36 per litre, while diesel has become costlier by 26.58 per litre since early May 2020 when taxes on the two fuels were raised to record levels.

Petrol in Delhi now costs 107.24 a litre and diesel comes for 95.97, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

The latest increase that follows the unrelenting hike in international oil prices has pushed pump rates across the country to their highest-ever levels. While petrol is above 100-a-litre-mark in all major cities, diesel has crossed that level in more than a dozen states.

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New Delhi: During his visit to Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch and dedicate to the nation multiple initiatives of the Defence sector at 'Rashtra Raksha Samparpan Parv', which is being held in Jhansi from November 17-19 as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahaotsav' celebrations.

1) Prime Minister will formally hand over indigenously designed and developed equipments to Armed forces Service Chiefs. These include handing over of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) to Chief of the Air Staff; drones/UAVs designed and developed by Indian startups to Chief of the Army Staff; and DRDO designed and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactured Advanced Electronic Warfare suite for naval ships to the Chief of Naval Staff. The LCH incorporates advanced technologies and stealth features for effective combat roles.

2) Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the 400 crore project at the Jhansi node of UP Defence Industrial Corridor. The project is being executed by Bharat Dynamics Ltd for setting up a plant to produce propulsion systems for Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.

3) He will launch the NCC Alumni Association with the objective to provide a formal platform to enable NCC Alumni to reconnect with NCC. The Association will further the aims of NCC and assist in nation-building. It will witness enrolling the Prime Minister, a former NCC cadet, as the first member of the Association.

4) PM will also launch the National programme of Simulation Training for NCC cadets with the aim to scale up simulation training facilities for all three wings of NCC. It includes setting up of Rifle Firing Simulators for the Army Wing of NCC, Microlight flying simulators for Air Wing and Rowing simulators for the Naval wing.

5) Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation augmented reality-powered electronic kiosks at the National War Memorial which will enable visitors to pay floral homage to martyrs through the simple click of the button.

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For a drugmaker licensed to produce Merck & Co.s promising Covid-19 pill and sell Russias Sputnik V shot, Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd. is surprisingly mellow about the rewards it expects from these medical breakthroughs even as virus waves continue to hit parts of the world.

Covid portfolios are going to be short-lived," G.V. Prasad, its co-chairman and managing director said in an interview at the companys headquarters in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. Life-cycles tend to be shorter, the opportunity will be very competitive, so I dont see Covid medicines as a driver of profit."

And this is despite Dr Reddys, one of Indias largest drugmakers, gearing to export Sputnik shots next year and expecting regulatory nod to produce Mercks antiviral drug molnupiravir within weeks. The reason: multiple licensees for the Merck drug will cap profits and manufacturing glitches for Sputnik have led to loss of precious time as the worlds second-most populous nation was ramping up its inoculation drive.

Even as oral Covid pills from Pfizer Inc. and Merck are being hailed as game changers in the fight to curb the pandemic, generic drugmakers are getting a reality check that there may not be too much money on the table for them. With nearly every country eager to secure a drug stockpile -- the disease looks on course to becoming endemic -- the mounting pressure to ensure drug access is forcing innovators to sign a bevy of production pacts.

Sublicenses

Dr Reddys, for instance, is one of five Merck licensees in India. The agreement that was announced in end-April when the country was in the grip of a devastating virus wave, allowed these five generic drugmakers, including Cipla Ltd. and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., to supply molnupiravir to India and more than 100 low- and middle-income countries. Last month, Merck announced a pact with United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool, allowing the latter to issue sublicenses to provide the drug in underserved areas.

The downbeat forecast from Prasad comes soon after Pfizer said it will expand access to its Covid pill to 95 low-to-middle income nations, also through the Medicines Patent Pool.

Pfizer said it will allow the treatment to be licensed to generic-drug manufacturers to churn out cheap versions -- something Indias huge pharmaceutical industry is well equipped to do since it involves chemical techniques which are mature and well-established, unlike the exotic mRNA technology deployed in the American drugmakers Covid-19 vaccine.

To be sure, Dr Reddys surprised analysts with a 31% jump in its latest quarterly profit, padded in good measure by its range of coronavirus treatments including remdesivir. But that windfall is unlikely to be sustained, explained Prasad, as daily infections in India slip to less than 15,000 cases from a record high of over 400,000 cases in early May.

The country has also administered more than a billion vaccine doses, with more than half of its nearly 1.4 billion population receiving at least one shot. Recent antibody surveys are suggesting most Indians have been infected at some point.

Fast Evolving

The pandemic has come down, the demand has come down and there are a lot of manufacturers because these companies gave licenses to multiple people," said Prasad. Treatment is evolving very fast."

He declined to comment on the volumes Dr Reddys is looking to manufacture of Mercks Covid pill but downplayed the opportunity in the longer run. It will be an opportunity, but not a massive opportunity," Prasad said, adding of course there will be initial stockpiling by governments and all that."

Despite RDIF signing deals with a handful of Indian manufacturers to produce hundreds of millions of doses a year for local and export markets, those targets have so far been missed. Shortage of second doses from Russia forced India to send back something like" 2.7 million shots because they ran past their six-month shelf life, Prasad said.

Insignificant Levels

Sputnik V once a significant opportunity, is now diminishing," Nithya Balasubramanian, the head of health-care research at Bernstein India, wrote in a report on Monday. Demand for Sputnik in India has shrunk to insignificant levels and globally vaccine coverage is picking up steadily."

Russia and its Indian partners have now shifted focus to the one-shot Sputnik Light version, which Dr Reddys is running local trials for. The vaccine has been approved in 19 countries and has a base demand of about 225 million doses, according to Bernstein.

India may start exporting the Russian inoculation next year, Prasad said, adding that Sputnik could also be used as a booster shot, which Indias government may start rolling out within four months as Covid immunity wanes.

The experience is now spurring Dr Reddys to mull building a vaccine unit, especially after it acquired a small portfolio of 62 products from Wockhardt Ltd. last year. It could potentially be a business," Prasad said.

For all of Sputniks missed potential, the drugmaker doesnt regret its involvement. We learnt a lot about vaccines, we learnt a lot about regulatory processes, about doing clinical trials and all that," he said.

Dr Reddys is also downbeat on Sputnik after it ran into widespread second-dose manufacturing challenges. Last year, the state-owned Russian Direct Investment Fund, or RDIF, chose the drugmaker to run distribution and Indian testing. The shot also gained local approval in April but the production plan floundered soon after.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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Transgender is an umbrella term that describes people whose gender identity or expression does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a transgender person may identify as a woman despite having been born with male genitalia.

About 1.4 million adults in the United States identify as transgender, according to 2016 research by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles. Broken down on a state level, that research found that 0.8% of adults in California, Georgia, Hawaii and New Mexico identify as transgender, compared with 0.3% of adults in Iowa, Montana, North Dakota South Dakota and Wyoming identify as such.

What is transgender?

Being transgender means different things to different people, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). "There's no one way to be transgender, and no one way for transgender people to look or feel about themselves," the organization says on its website.

A person's internal sense of being male, female or something else is their gender identity. For cisgender, or non-transgender people, their gender identity matches their sex at birth. For transgender people, the two do not match.

Sometimes, a person's gender identity doesn't fit neatly into two choices. People who see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories may identify as genderqueer, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), an LGBTQ advocacy organization. (LGBTQ refers to the community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning individuals.)

Activists of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transvestite, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTTTI) community participates in a march against homophobia on June 1, 2018, in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Image credit: Getty / NurPhoto)

How a person communicates their gender identity  through dress, behavior, voice or body characteristics  is their gender expression. A person's gender expression may or may not line up with society's expectations of masculinity or femininity, according to the HRC. The term "gender non-conforming" refers to people whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity or femininity. However, not all gender-non-conforming people identify as transgender, and not all transgender people identify as gender non-conforming.

The public's understanding of gender identity and expression is evolving as more transgender people share their stories, according to the HRC.

The transgender flag

The transgender flag was designed in 1999 by Monica Helms, an openly transgender American woman and Navy veteran, according to nonprofit organization Point of Pride. The light blue and pink tones represent traditional colors for baby boys and girls, while the white horizontal line represents "those who are intersex, transitioning or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender."

The transgender flag was designed in 1999 and represents the traditional colors of baby boys and girls (Image credit: Public Domain)

According to Point of Pride, the flag is designed to be symmetrical so it appears the same whichever way up it is flown. The original flag created by Helms, and first displayed at a pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2000, is now held at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History .

Sex versus gender

Sex and gender are two different concepts. A person's sex refers to his or her biological status as either male or female. The determination of a person's sex depends primarily on various physical characteristics, including chromosomes, reproductive anatomy and sex hormones, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Gender, on the other hand, is a societal construct that deals with the expected behaviors, roles and activities typically associated with the different sexes, the APA said. Gender roles, which vary across cultures , influence how people act and feel about themselves.

Sexual orientation is different from gender identity. Sexual orientation is a person's physical, emotional or romantic attraction to another person, while gender identity is about one's own sense of self, according to GLAAD, an anti-discrimination organization. Transgender people may be straight, lesbian, gay or bisexual. For example, a person born with male genitalia may transition to being female but may be attracted to females. In this case, the person may identify as lesbian even though she was born with male genitalia.

Making the transition

Trying to change a person's gender identity is no more successful than trying to change a person's sexual orientation, GLAAD said. In other words, it can't be changed. Some people may take steps to better align their sex with their gender using hormones and surgery. HRC points out, however, that many transgender people cannot afford medical treatment or have no desire to pursue surgeries.

"So-called 'gender reassignment surgery' (more commonly called 'gender-affirmation surgery' by both medical professionals and transgender individuals) usually references transgender genital surgery," said Dr. Joshua Safer, medical director of the Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery at Boston Medical Center (BMC), who is also in the BMC Department of Endocrinology. "There are also chest-reconstruction surgeries and facial feminization surgeries, among other options."

Genital surgery is typically reserved for transgender individuals over the age of 18 who have been treated with hormones, if that is what is medically indicated, and who have lived for at least a year in the gender roles that match their gender identities, Safer said. Candidates for surgery are reviewed by a medical team that considers mental health and physical health in determining the best treatment strategy, potentially including surgery, for each person.

Related: How gender reassignment surgery works

Altering the voice so that it better matches gender identity can also be important to those transitioning. "Here, we envision a world where a transgender person feels no need to change their voice or speech  that is, they would live in a world where people accept and respect them as whatever gender they claim, regardless of how their voice sounds," said Dr. Leah Helou, a speech pathologist who leads the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center's transgender voice and communication services.

"However, in the absence of such radical and global acceptance, many trans individuals feel that their communication style is a top priority for making their external self congruent with their inner self," Helou said. "Our goal is to serve and support those people, while advocating for broader acceptance of the transgender population."

Names and pronouns

After transitioning, transgender people often change their names  either to one that matches their gender or to something neutral. A critical step in transitioning is changing legal documents, including driver's licenses, Social Security cards, passports and credit cards. They often have to go to court to order the changes to be made  an expensive, time-consuming task, according to the NCTE.

It is considered rude to call people who have transitioned by their former name (called "dead-naming"), and it is appropriate to respectfully ask them their name and which pronouns they prefer, according to the HRC.

Most transgender people prefer to be identified with the pronoun that corresponds to the gender with which they identify, according to the HRC. A transgender woman should be called "she" or "her," if that's what she prefers. Some transgender people don't believe in binary gender appellations and prefer "they" or a non-gendered pronoun.

Discrimination

Being transgender is not a mental disorder. It cannot be "cured" with treatment. Transgender people may experience a persistent disconnect between their assigned sex and their internal sense of who they are, according to the HRC. Medical professionals refer to this disconnect as gender dysphoria because it can cause pain and distress in the lives of transgender people.

In 2012 The American Psychiatric Association announced that a new version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) would replace the term "gender identity disorder" with the more neutral term "gender dysphoria." This was followed in 2019 by the World Health Organization removing the term "gender identity disorder" from its list of mental illnesses, CBS reported .

Research has shown that transgender people are at high risk of experiencing prejudice and mental-health problems. The 2015 National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that 60% of health care providers refuse treatment to transgender people. Additionally, the research found that 64% to 65% of the transgender people surveyed suffered physical or sexual violence at work, and 63% to 78% suffered physical or sexual violence at school.

Trans people and allies marching through Jackson Heights and Corona, New York City, for the eighth annual Trans Latinx March. (Image credit: Getty / Erik McGregor)

In the most recent iteration of this survey, taken in 2015, results revealed that even children are at risk: Those in grades K through 12 who had come out as transgender reported being verbally harassed (54%), physically attacked (24%) and sexually assaulted (13%) because of their sexual identity.

Transgender people often face discrimination even when using the bathroom. In a 2016 poll of Americans by CBS and The New York Times, 46% of respondents said those who are transgender should use the bathrooms assigned to their birth genders, while 41% said such individuals should be able use the bathroom that matches their identities. In May 2016, the U.S. Education and Justice departments stepped in to advise school districts to permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that matched the students' gender identities. In response, several states joined in a lawsuit, stating that the federal government had overreached its authority.

Because of discrimination and other factors, the suicide rate among transgender people is high. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center reports that more than 83% of transgender people had thought about suicide and 54% had attempted it. (The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255.)

Help for parents

Parents who think their children may be transgender should seek the assistance of experts. "Determining if children are transgender can be a challenge and should be done with careful evaluation from a knowledgeable multidisciplinary team," Safer said.

It is important to note that many children question their gender identities without being transgender. Safer advised parents to be respectful of the child's feelings and recognize that there will be no actual medical intervention until the child begins puberty. Even then, initial medical treatments are reversible, he said.

Related: How parents and doctors can support transgender children

Transgender history

Though transgender people have existed for hundreds and even thousands of years according to an article by the HRC, the transgender movement for social change has existed for less than a hundred years. According to Susan Stryker, a visiting professor at Yale University, laws specifically targeting transgender people began to emerge in the 19th century. "In the 1850s, a number of U.S. cities began passing municipal ordinances that made it illegal for a man or woman to appear in public "in a dress not belonging to his or her sex,"' she wrote in her book "Transgender History" (Da Capo Press, 2009).

American transgender woman, Christine Jorgensen arriving at Idlewild Airport, February 12, 1953. (Image credit: Getty / New York Daily News Archive)

In the early 20th century, gender reassignment, or affirmation, surgery was only being carried out in a few specialist medical centers around the world. One of the largest, in Germany, was targeted by the Nazis, according to Elliot Evans, author of " Queer Permeability " (Routledge, 2020). "Magnus Hirschfelds pioneering Institut fur Sexualwissenschaft [Institute of Sexology, or Sexual Science] in Berlin, provided treatment for Lili Elbe (whose story was made famous by the 2015 film "The Danish Girl") and Dora Richter," Evans wrote in an article for All About History magazine. "It was all but destroyed after Hitler came to power in 1933, its archives and library publicly burned. The Institute only re-emerged  this time in Frankfurt  in 1973."

Transgender healthcare did not fully emerge until the second half of the 20th century, though it was still very limited and in many countries gender affirmation surgery remained illegal. "In the US, the Stanford Gender Dysphoria Program in Palo Alto, California, associated with the pioneering doctor of transgender healthcare, Harry Benjamin, would not be founded until 1968," Evans wrote. "Some medical assistance for trans individuals was available in Europe: in Sweden, and in Denmarks Copenhagen University Hospital, which provided surgical interventions for the American trans woman Christine Jorgensen in the early 1950s, after she had obtained special legal permission from the Danish Minister of Justice."
NEW YORK (AP)  Department store chains Macy's and Kohl's delivered strong results for the fiscal third quarter as shoppers go back to buying dresses and other goods that fell to the bottom of the shopping list when the pandemic struck.

Macy's and Kohl's swung to a profit during the quarter as sales surged. Both companies raised their annual financial outlooks.

Macy's and Kohl's join a slew of other retailers posting strong sales as they grapple with surging costs and snarled supply chains heading into the holiday shopping season. They're rerouting shipping to less congested ports to get goods onto shelves. Still, Kohl's said the delays have disproportionately affected its women's business, and the department store is working to address the issue. Kohl's said some of the late merchandise may have to be packed up and used for another season. Both retailers said they don't think supply chain issues will be resolved until later next year.

Retailers like Macys are also paying higher wages and expanding benefits for its workers amid a tight labor market. Earlier this month, the department store said that it would a pay minimum of $15 per hour for new and current workers by May.

Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette also told investors on its earnings call that it has hired consulting firm AlixPartners to evaluate whether the retailer should spin off its e-commerce division from its stores, similar to what Saks Fifth Avenue did earlier this year. The move comes as it is under pressure from activist shareholder Jana Partners to split off the division to create better valuation.

Macy's earned $239 million, or 76 cents per share, for the three-month period ended Oct. 30. Adjusted earnings were $1.23 per share, easily topping Wall Street per-share projections of 31 cents, according to a survey by FactSet.

The company lost $91 million last year during the same period.

Sales reached $5.44 billion for the quarter, also topping analyst expectations.

Sales at stores opened at least a year rose 35.6%, including licensed businesses like cosmetics.

Online sales increased 19% compared from the year-ago period, and rose 49% compared with the same quarter in 2019.

The company booked strong sales of home goods, fragrances, jewelry, watches and sleepwear. Categories like dresses, men's tailored clothing and luggage continue to recover.

The New York-based company added 4.4 million new customers into the Macys brand, a 28% increase over 2019.

Macy's was able to increase inventory 19.4% compared with last year's third quarter, navigating shortages and slowed supplies as the U.S. economy emerges from a downturn caused by the pandemic.

Macy's said that it will launch a third-party marketplace that will expand its assortment of product categories and brands.

Macy's is narrowing and raising its full-year 2021 guidance. It now expects sales of $24.12 billion to $24.28 billion, up from a range of $23.55 billion to $23.9 billion. Adjusted earnings per share are now forecast in the range of $4.57 to $4.76, up from $3.41 to $3.75.

Analysts expected $3.92 per share on sales of $23.78 billion, according to FactSet.

Kohl's, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, said it earned $243 million, or $1.65 per share, for the three-month period ended Oct. 30. That compares with a loss of $12 million, or 8 cents per share, last year.

Sales rose 15.5% to $4.36 billion, and sales at stores opened at least a year rose 14.7%.

The company raised its full-year earnings-per-share guidance to between $7.10 and $7.30, up from its previous forecast of $5.80 per share to $6.10 per share. Analysts were expecting $6.14 per share, according to FactSet.

The launch of Sephora shops at Kohl's is getting a good response so far, with 25% of those customers new to the retailer. They are also younger and more diverse.

During the earnings call with analysts, Kohl's CEO Michelle Gass said that overall inventory is down 25% compared to 2019; women's inventory is down even more. The company had aimed to have levels below 2019 but they're still down lower than planned. On the other hand, inventory in activewear, which is enjoying strong sales, is in great shape," she said.

Gass told The Associated Press that inventory delays were a missed opportunity." She said the customers are loving the overall rejuvenation of the women's business including brands like Lauren Conrad, but we just need more of it.''

Shares of Macy's surged about 21% while Kohl's shares added nearly 8% in Thursday afternoon trading.

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This story has been corrected to show that Kohl's overall inventory is down 25% and women's even more, instead of just women's inventory down 25%.
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Chinese film authorities on Wednesday granted both Dune and No Time to Die one month longer in local theaters, giving the Hollywood blockbusters a full two months on the big screen in the worlds largest film market.

The former will now run through Dec. 21 and the latter through Dec. 28.

Films are given a default one-month theatrical run in China, which can be extended to two months if the title is proving to be particularly commercially successful. Longer runs beyond that are reserved for propaganda films whose success is seen as politically expedient.

During the height of the pandemic from July 2020 to April 2021, however, digital cinema packages for imported films were sent with keys that lasted three months, giving releases a bit more breathing room to help with market recovery, according to local reports. This marks the first instance since the start of the pandemic where film keys have been actively extended an extra month, they said.

That means that since May, no imported film has had more than a month in Chinese theaters  even those that would typically be expected to receive that special treatment. To protect the important political milestone of the 100th anniversary of the Communist Partys founding on July 1, F9: The Fast Saga was only given a month in theaters out from its May 21 release, despite grossing $204 million. Similarly, while Free Guy gathered $94.8 million-worth of momentum after its late August release, it wasnt granted a second month as to protect the local films of the Oct. 1 National Day holiday release window.

While the news of the extension is certainly welcome, an extra month in Chinese theaters isnt expected to bring either Dune or No Time to Die significantly more business. As of Wednesday, Dune has grossed $71.5 million (RMB456 million) against a projected $39 million (RMB249 million) run in China, while No Time to Die has grossed $59.3 million (RMB378 million) against a projected $62.9 million (RMB401 million) run, according to the Maoyan ticketing platform.

The former currently ranks the seventh most successful imported film of 2021, and the latter the fourth.

Extensions for both films were announced on the same day, just as their release dates had also been announced simultaneously, despite standing a week apart.

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It started with a refrain of "Come to Brazil." After "Stranger Things" premiered on Netflix in July 2016, a then-13-year-old Finn Wolfhard logged on to Instagram to find he was rapidly going from unknown Canadian kid to one of the most recognizable young actors in the world. As the flood of three-word requests from new South American fans poured in and his follower count skyrocketed, Wolfhard looked on agape.

Netflix's original programming had already been well underway with critically acclaimed dramas like "House of Cards" and "Orange Is the New Black," but the streaming giant hadn't had a global hit that could inspire such a broad and zealous fan base. When Wolfhard filmed the first season in Atlanta, "the show felt really contained," he said during a recent video call from his home in Los Angeles. "It felt like a thing that was big, but also really small."

But, of course, it wasn't small at all.

Five years later, "Stranger Things" remains one of Netflix's most popular shows, with its second and third seasons racking up more than 1 billion combined viewing hours, according to data provided by Netflix. Wolfhard's face can be found on T-shirts, Christmas ornaments and action figures. And his star-making role led to his earning blockbuster parts in the "It" films and this month's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife."

Wolfhard plays the grandson of Egon Spengler in "Afterlife," directed by Jason Reitman, son of the original films' helmer, Ivan Reitman. (Spengler, for those who don't remember, was played by the late Harold Ramis and was the awkward but resourceful inventor in the original Ghostbusters team.) "Afterlife" is set decades after 1989's "Ghostbusters II" and sees Egon's daughter (Carrie Coon) and her two children (Wolfhard and McKenna Grace) inherit Egon's Oklahoma farmhouse and get swept up in their own paranormal adventures in the Ecto-1, which was gathering dust in the barn.

With his gangly 5-foot-11 frame, Wolfhard thought it would be fun to take his character, Trevor, from a "boring older brother" part into a paradigm of physical comedy. "I had come into my body a little more with puberty, and I thought my body was really funny," he said. For Reitman, the way Finn "listens and acts through his limbs reminds me of the great teenage [performances] of the '80s. Ferris Bueller, Marty McFly, Bender," the director said in an email. "Finn is a storyteller at heart. He's looking for every opportunity to convey story, not just the dialogue."

In fact, 18-year-old Wolfhard has grown nearly a foot since his career began. Excellent for comedy, difficult for blending in with a crowd. The Internet is full of dimly lit, heavily zoomed videos and photos shot by fans trailing him down city streets and loitering at the movie theaters and restaurants he patronizes. While filming "Afterlife" in Alberta, Canada - as is the case pretty much anywhere he goes in the world - Wolfhard was routinely approached by fans of all ages who recognized his mop of dark curly hair and unique features as belonging to "the kid from 'Stranger Things.' "

"That is very heavy space to occupy," his co-star Coon said. "As we know, many child stars do not make it. They don't make it in the business, but they also sometimes don't make it in the world because of the pressure. Finn has great parents, and he recognizes that his self-worth is not contingent upon that attention."

Perhaps because of the '80s nostalgia woven throughout his career, it's easy to view Wolfhard through a time-warped lens, to imagine he's actually a world-weary Gen Xer with a decades-long career behind him. But he wasn't even born until 2002, and as a child actor coming of age in the late 2010s, he's grappled with a type of fame completely foreign to those who came before him.

In an age when social media posts are a currency often written into contracts and follower counts can serve as a deciding factor in casting, Wolfhard refuses to get caught up in the hype.

He's amassed more than 20 million Instagram followers but uses his verified account only for the requisite publicity posts because he finds the platform "anxiety-inducing and distracting." Same with TikTok and Twitter, the latter of which he deleted entirely before returning to fulfill contractual promotional obligations for "Afterlife."

"I learned after the fact how many people love him, how huge he is, how many followers he has - things I have no awareness of because I'm a fossil," his "Afterlife" co-star Paul Rudd said. "Working with him, you would never know that. There's nothing pretentious or high and mighty about him. He's just a cool kid."

But the access some fans feel entitled to and the information they're able to dig up online are alarming. Strangers periodically threaten to release Wolfhard's personal data in a bid to get his attention, and recently, someone threatened to expose an address that belonged to his girlfriend unless Wolfhard confirmed their relationship. He complied. "They're like, 'Oh, okay, I'm so sorry. We love her,' " he said. "It all fades literally once you're like, 'Hey, calm down. It's cool. I'm a real person.' It's almost like a trance or something. Maybe it's a power thing."

He wrestles less with the notion of what his life could have been if he wasn't famous and more with why he didn't give himself the space to want typical teenage experiences in the first place. As his fame grew, so did the gulf between him and his "normal" childhood friends. They'd invite him to house parties. He'd instantly decline. They assumed he thought he was too good for them. He was secretly panicking that he'd lose everything with one wrong move.

"In my head, I couldn't let loose in any certain way. I thought that if I would have gone with a friend to a party, my career would have been over," he said. "You're afraid that someone can see you as a 14-year-old at a party with a beer in your hand, and it can all go away. That was my thought."

Instead, at 14, he was dealing with other public issues. In October 2017, the nascent weeks of Hollywood's #MeToo movement, Wolfhard's then-agent Tyler Grasham was accused of sexual misconduct by several other young male actors. Wolfhard swiftly left the agency, making him one of the first clients to take concrete action. That decision, he says now, was an easy one.

"He was abusing his power. When it comes to something like that, you can't be personal, like, 'Yeah, but I've met him and he's really nice.' When something incredibly serious and awful like that comes out, there's no going back," Wolfhard said. "When I found that out, I was like, 'Oh, absolutely fire him. That's insane.' I felt so terrible for the people who were harmed by this person." (Grasham did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Ultimately, no charges were filed against him, and he continues to work in the industry.)

Those who've worked with Wolfhard praise the way he makes it all feel "effortless" and "easy," but in private, he's struggled with anxiety about performing, fame and life in general. Transcendental meditation and Lexapro help, he said, and this year, he found a kindred, anxious spirit in Jesse Eisenberg, who directed him in the upcoming dramedy "When You Finish Saving the World."

"I was really nervous about doing the movie, and Jesse was like, 'Who do you think you're talking to? Have you seen my movies? I'm the most anxious person you've ever seen in your life,' " Wolfhard laughed. Eisenberg shared stories of vomiting in bed before shooting the first "Zombieland" and having a panic attack on the set of "Adventureland," which "kind of made me calm down," Wolfhard said. "The anxiety never goes away, but it's something that becomes way easier to deal with. You need a little bit of anxiety to get out of bed in the morning."

As a kid, Wolfhard appeared in music videos for local bands in his hometown of Vancouver and played bit TV parts before answering an open casting call for the role of Mike Wheeler on "Stranger Things." Matt and Ross Duffer, the twin creators and showrunners of the Netflix series, said it was Wolfhard's "authenticity" that won him the role.

"You find a lot of kids who are very polished, but it feels Disney Channel in a way," Ross said. "We were trying to find kids that reminded us of kids that we knew growing up."

Talking to Wolfhard now, the candidness remains. His answers, even the ones that hint of rehearsed, PR-approved sound bites, lack the disquietingly poised delivery that many young stars learn to perfect. Instead, Wolfhard uses "like" with reckless teenage abandon and meanders off course with details and anecdotes that excite him. There's a lengthy tale about a tipsy Rami Malek imparting advice at a 2016 Critics Choice Awards after-party - "Did you really have fun tonight?" the older star implored of Wolfhard. "Because if you're doing any of this stuff and you're not having fun, you need to stop it immediately" - and an apologetic f-bomb as Wolfhard marveled at how "crazy" it is that he will potentially be the same age in "Stranger Things 5" as his older co-stars Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton were when they started the show.

Wolfhard shares "a lot" of scenes with Heaton in "Stranger Things 4," which was delayed by covid and is finally due to arrive next summer, and said they became "incredibly close" during filming. In fact, he found a new appreciation for most of his castmates over the chaotic past two years. "When you start a show that young, there's drama and there's rivalries because it's like school. And then you become older, and you stop caring," he said. "I think it's actually such an incredible thing to come back to each other and be like, 'Wow, I really understand you. We're all going through this thing together. I love you.' "

The details of the wrapped fourth season remain a closely guarded secret, but Ross Duffer teased that Wolfhard portrays "a more emotional Mike," while Matt added, "We shot this huge monologue with him toward the end of the production, and it's the best performance Finn's ever given. We gave him some big, really hard-hitting stuff this year. And he knocked it out of the park."

While "Stranger Things 5" has yet to be officially greenlit, the Duffer brothers have insisted "4" won't be the end of the story. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos has also hinted at the possibility of multiple spinoff series. For his part, Wolfhard isn't interested in the idea of a Mike-centered vehicle. He'd prefer to revisit the role for a movie in "like 10 years, to come back and do a 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' thing," he said. "I think that they probably could do a lot with the world of 'Stranger Things,' like the Harry Potter books, but I don't think I'm a part of that."

Besides, acting is just one feather in his cap. Earlier this month, his band, the Aubreys, self-released their debut album, which Wolfhard described as evoking artists as varied as Jeff Tweedy, the Flaming Lips, LCD Soundsystem and Tame Impala. He used to want to go to NYU to study filmmaking, but then he realized he was learning more on set under the tutelage of creators like Reitman and the Duffers than he would in any classroom, and he's already written and directed a short film.

"It's not about being famous. It's about being able to be involved in art that he loves with people he respects. As a young person, that's a deeply impressive attitude," Coon said. "That's a sign of somebody who's going to be able to stick it out in an industry that's really punishing."

Punishing - and exposing. Whether followed on social media or down the street, at times it feels like there's nowhere to hide. Recently, Wolfhard asked a non-famous friend to show him old photos from his awkward school days. "He was like, 'Nah, dude, that's so embarrassing,' " Wolfhard said, his voice rising with exasperation. "I'm like, 'Try going through puberty in front of literally the entire world.' "
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Leading French documentary production and distribution banner ZED has signed a deal with Curiosity, the U.S. non-fiction company headed by Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks, to deliver 10 exclusive programs by the end of 2022.

They will premiere across Curiositys subscription-based platform, and its linear channel. Under the pact, the first 7 original productions set to be delivered include Besieged Fortresses, Battles of Legend  Season 2, a gripping series of four episodes exploring how fortresses redefined the art of warfare. Locations visited as part of the series are the sieges of Saint John of Acre in Israel, Rhodes in Greece, Malta and Stirling in Scotland.

Fabrice Buysschaert, Sophie Scala, Marion Vaque-Marti and Angele Berland are directing the 4K-lensed series, which is scheduled for spring 2022.

The documentary series first season, which revisits milestone events at the fortress of Richard the Lionheart and the siege of La Rochelle, is already available on SVOD service CuriosityStream and Curiosity Channel.

ZED is also producing for Curiosity a three-part series titled Normandy, Northern Men Empire, which is directed by Juliette Desbois and will offer a deep dive into the great armed conflicts that made Normandy one of the most coveted territories in Europe.

Shot in 4K, the ambitious series will give a unique insight into three centuries of heroes, battles, fortresses and strategy. The series, which will be delivered for the last quarter of 2022, will highlight Rollo the Walker, William the Conqueror and Richard the Lion Heart and John Lackland.

Manuel Catteau, president of ZED, said the agreement strengthened the close ties between Curiosity and ZED.

Were thrilled by the trust Curiosity has placed in us by ordering these films, which confirm our ability to produce high-end platform-appropriate content with strong storytelling, said Catteau. The pact also strengthens ZEDs growth strategy in the U.S. market, which has become a key territory for the company, added the executive.

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A new Hulu Original by ABC News will focus on the potentially catastrophic allegations against Jen Shah, a star of Bravos The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who was arrested and indicted for fraud and money laundering in March. Shah, who is facing up to 30 years in prison, has been accused of running a telemarketing scheme that defrauded older people by selling lead lists for nonexistent business opportunities.

The program, called The Housewife & the Shah Shocker, follows the success of The Housewife & the Hustler, a Hulu Original in June that focused on the allegations against Erika and Tom Girardi of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

The Housewife & the Shah Shocker will premiere on Nov. 29. Variety is exclusively premiering the trailer below.

According to the description of The Housewife & the Shah Shocker, it delves into Shahs alleged involvement in a long-running telemarketing scheme that preyed on the elderly and features interviews with friend of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills series Dana Wilkey, as well as some who knew Shah, including her childhood classmate Beth Hahne and her aunt Lehua Vincent. In a rare interview, Shahs former designer Koa Johnson opens up about his brief time working for her.

Also featured will be alleged victims Penny Jo Pucket and Marie Walkere, who reveal how they were duped by several companies involved in the alleged scam and the damage that wreaked havoc in their lives.

Perhaps most appealing, given how complicated the accusations against Shah are, is the promise that the special will include law enforcement officials breaking down the inner workings of the alleged scam.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premiered in September, and Shahs arrest  after being teased in the debut episode to great effect  has been the centerpiece of recent episodes. The Nov. 14 episode, which illustrated the immediate aftermath of Shahs arrest as the rest of the cast digested/reveled in it, hit a series high of 823,000 total viewers and a .3 in the 18 to 49 demographic in Nielsens Live + Same Day ratings  even though Shah wasnt in the episode at all.

The fallout from Shahs legal miseries will surely be the focus of the rest of the shows season. Even in the lead-up to her dramatic arrest, her alleged co-conspirator Stuart Smith has been featured in scenes with her in which nothing happened, other than to show their close relationship. Shah herself is a divisive figure  her tagline this season is The only thing Im guilty of is being Shah-mazing  and in the Nov. 7 episode in which she was arrested, she seemed to have no difficulty whatsoever lying to the other women about why she suddenly couldnt go on a cast trip to Colorado. She bailed immediately after receiving a call, and said with a straight face that her husband was in the hospital with internal bleeding. Law enforcement arrived minutes later, swarming the casts bus.

Both Shah and Smith have pleaded not guilty.

The Housewife & the Shah Shocker is produced for Hulu by ABC News Studios. Roxanna Sherwood is senior executive producer, and Loen Kelley serves as senior producer.

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Following recognition by the city, Laredo College paid homage to Antonio Mateo Bruni on Wednesday who traveled from Italy to the U.S., established the town of Bruni and whose legacy led to the creation of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust.

Furthermore, several pieces held by the family were entrusted to the college in a gesture to showcase Brunis life, family and impact.

Bruni was born on Sept. 19, 1856, lost his parents early in his life  in 1864 and 1872  and set out to the U.S at the approximate age of 17 without money. This was after he walked across Italy on foot to reach the harbor and took a job on two ships before reaching New Orleans, said Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust Trustee James Pearl.

He stayed and worked with his uncle Antonio in San Antonio, with his brother Luigi Bruni reuniting with him sometime after. Starting with a general mercantile store in 1877, he moved toward agriculture and gathered over 2,000 acres of land, employed over 50 cowboys and would often visit parts of his ranch, which would take a full day to travel and visit. Pearl said it was possible for him to travel from Bruni, Texas toward the Rio Grande and still be on his land.

As a prominent rancher, one artifact on display at the Laredo College Harold R. Yeary Library is a brand with a capital B. Both LC Board President Lupita Zepeda and Interim President Dr. Marisela Rodriguez-Tijerina emphasized the honor the college had in being entrusted with the artifact and thanked the family for their trust.

These heirlooms have remained in the Bruni and Martin family for decades. Now our institution has been entrusted with these extraordinary pieces for generations to enjoy, Tijerina said. Mr. Bruni has left a legacy that will remain for decades.

The Lamar Bruni Vergara Trust has been a staunch supporter for Laredo College and the community. The institution appreciates the continuous support and generosity which has enabled many Laredoans to achieve their goals and dreams through quality education.

With approximately 100 beneficiaries as part of his legacy, the trust was established in 1989 through trustee collaborations following the death of Lamar Bruni Vergara, who believed in philanthropy and often dedicated time to the Catholic Church and social service organizations in the community. She ensured that her will stated that the wealth accumulated would be used for the benefit of Webb County and the surrounding area.

The trusts website states that upon her death in 1989, co-trustees at the time, J. C. Martin Jr. and Solomon Casseb Jr. worked diligently to execute the legacy of Lamar Bruni Vergara through the trusts continuous support of religious, health and educational initiatives in the community.

According to Pearl, the trust provides funding to multiple programs throughout the community, including Casa Misericordia  a school district literacy program  multiple community outreach programs and scholarships, and help for higher education institutions.

Their website includes a list of recipients as well as photos of multiple projects it was involved with including Bethany House of Laredo, Boy Scouts of America, Burke Foundation, Casa de Misericordia, Childrens Advocacy Center of Laredo and more.

Pearl added that as a trustee, he pushed to give funds to LC for their efforts in work education and highlighted their nursing program. As for scholarships, those are directed through TAMIU for undergraduate and graduate degrees, and Pearl said that the trust gives approximately $1 million to the university each year.

Compounding the impromptu history lesson on Bruni by Pearl, items on display continued to tell more of Brunis story. A photo shows Bruni and his wife Consolacion Henry Bruni  married in 1879  with five of their nine children, a portrait of them and his brother Luigi, and numerous properties and buildings built on Bruni land.

To supplement the stories in the pictures is an Aug. 13, 1931 issue of The Laredo Times that reads how the city was in mourning after the announcement of his death at the age of 75. The story elaborated on aspects of his life, including his political involvement in the 1890s. He was elected as the county commissioner and as the county treasurer, which he held until he died being re-elected 18 times.

Now decades later, he is still remembered by the city. On Monday, Laredo City Council recognized and honored Brunis legacy and the trust for their $3.5 million annual donation. They stated that since 1989, the LBV Trust has donated over $100 million to various organizations in Laredo, and that has made a difference in many local families.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  Two suspected Iranian computer hackers have been charged in a broad campaign of election interference aimed at intimidating American voters during last year's presidential race and undermining confidence that the results of the contest could be trusted.

The activities, prosecutors say, exploited not only computer vulnerabilities but also existing social divisions to sow discord and confusion among voters. The Iranian cyber campaign included bogus emails that targeted Democratic and Republican voters with different messages, the distribution of a fabricated video that purported to show acts of election fraud and an unsuccessful effort the day after the election to gain access to an American media company's network.

The overall effort attracted publicity in the run-up to the November 2020 election, when law enforcement and intelligence officials held an unusual evening news conference to accuse Iran of orchestrating an email campaign aimed at intimidating Democratic voters in battleground states so they would vote for Trump.

The indictment makes clear that even as much of the public concern about foreign interference in last year's election centered on Russian efforts to disparage Trump's challenger, Joe Biden, Iranian hackers were engaged in a wide-ranging influence campaign of their own.

U.S. intelligence officials said in a March assessment that Iran's efforts were aimed at harming Trumps reelection bid, and probably authorized by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but that there was no evidence that Tehran or any other foreign actor had done anything to change the vote totals.

The indictment, filed in federal court in Manhattan and unsealed Thursday, accuses Iranian nationals Seyyed Mohammad Hosein Musa Kazemi and Sajjad Kashian of helping carry out the scheme. The Treasury Department also announced sanctions against the men, some of their colleagues and the company they worked for.

The defendants, described in the indictment as experienced hackers who worked as contractors for a cybersecurity firm, are not in custody and are believed to be in Iran still. But officials hope at minimum that the indictment and accompanying sanctions will restrict their ability to travel. Each faces a broad array of charges, including voter intimidation, transmission of interstate threats and computer crimes.

Asked Thursday whether the defendants' activities were endorsed by the Iranian government, a Justice Department official who briefed reporters on a conference call noted that the indictment alleges that the company the men worked for  formerly known as Eeleyanet Gostar  provided services to the government. But the indictment does not directly implicate the government because the Justice Department can rely only on unclassified, admissible evidence that it can bring to court, the official said.

Court documents allege vast efforts to spread disinformation about the presidential contest and to intimidate and pressure voters. Some of the activities persisted even after the election.

As part of the cyber campaign, officials say, the hackers attempted in the weeks before the election to compromise voter websites in 11 states, and successfully downloaded voter information related to more than 100,000 people in one state.

While the defendants did not use that information to attempt to change vote totals, officials say, they created the appearance that the election results could not be trusted by leaving the false impression that it was possible to submit fraudulent ballots.

They also sent Americans what officials describe as carefully curated messages, specifically tailored to appeal to  and divide  members of both major political parties.

That included messages that purported to be from a far-right group, the Proud Boys, that threatened Democratic voters with physical harm if they didn't change their party affiliation and vote for Trump.

You will vote for Trump on Election Day or we will come after you, the email said, according to prosecutors.

Though the messages pressured voters to support Trump, they may have been designed to actually harm his campaign by aligning him in the minds of voters with the Proud Boys after he was criticized for failing to unequivocally denounce the group during the first presidential debate.

To Republican officials and people associated with the Trump campaign, meanwhile, the hackers crafted Facebook messages that falsely claimed that Democrats were planning to exploit security vulnerabilities in state voter registration websites and commit voter fraud, the indictment says.

Another tool was a fake video spread through social media platforms that purported to show an individual hacking into state voting websites and creating fraudulent absentee ballots, according to the indictment.

In September and October 2020, prosecutors say, the hackers gained unauthorized access to the computer network of an American media company  prosecutors would not say which one  that provided a content management system for dozens of publications. They tested the capability to modify and create content on the system, which the indictment says would have provided them another vehicle for further disseminating false claims concerning the election.

On Nov. 4, 2020, the day after the election, hackers attempted to access the system through stolen credentials, but by that point, the company had fixed the issue and the hackers' log-in attempt failed, the indictment says.

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Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  Defense attorneys rested their case in the Ahmaud Arbery trial Thursday after calling just seven witnesses, including the shooter, who testified that Arbery did not threaten him in any way before he pointed his shotgun at the 25-year-old Black man.

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley scheduled closing arguments in the trial for Monday, setting up the possibility of verdicts before Thanksgiving for the three white men charged with murder in Arbery's death.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution on his second day of testimony, Travis McMichael said that Arbery hadn't shown a weapon or spoken to him at all before McMichael raised his shotgun. But, McMichael said, he was under the impression that Arbery could be a threat because he was running straight at him and he had seen Arbery trying to get into the truck of a neighbor who had joined in a pursuit of Arbery in their coastal Georgia neighborhood.

All hes done is run away from you, prosecutor Linda Dunikoski said. And you pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at him.

Cellphone video from the Feb. 23, 2020, shooting  replayed in court Thursday  shows Arbery running around the back of McMichael's pickup truck after McMichael first points the shotgun while standing next to the open driver's side door. Arbery then runs around the passenger side as McMichael moves to the front and the two come face to face. After that, the truck blocks any view of them until the first gunshot sounds.

McMichael's testimony Wednesday marked the first time any of the three defendants has spoken publicly about the killing. The other two defendants did not testify. McMichael said Arbery forced him to make a split-second life-or-death decision by attacking him and grabbing his shotgun.

Dunikoski noted Thursday that's not what McMichael told police in an interview about two hours after the shooting occurred.

So you didnt shoot him because he grabbed the barrel of your shotgun, Dunikoski said. You shot him because he came around that corner and you were right there and you just pulled the trigger immediately.

No, I was struck, McMichael replied. "We were face to face, I'm being struck and thats when I shot.

McMichael said he had approached Arbery because neighbors indicated something had happened down the road and he wanted to ask Arbery about it. Arbery was running in the Brunswick neighborhood at the time. He said Arbery stopped, then took off running when McMichael told him police were on the way.

Asked how many times he had previously pulled up behind strangers in the neighborhood to ask them what they were doing there, McMichael said never.

You know that no one has to talk to anyone they dont want to talk to, right?" Dunikoski said.

The prosecutor also pressed McMichael on why he didn't include some details of his testimony Wednesday in his written statement to police, namely the part about his telling Arbery police were on the way.

McMichael said he was under stress, nervous, scared at the time of his police interview and probably being choppy.

What were you nervous about? Dunikoski asked.

I just killed a man," McMichael responded. "I had blood on myself. It was the most traumatic event of my life.

You were nervous because you thought you were going to jail, right? Dunikoski asked.

No. I gave them a statement, McMichael said.

McMichael and his father, Greg McMichael, armed themselves and pursued Arbery in a pickup truck after he ran past their home from the house under construction. A neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, joined the chase in his own truck and recorded cellphone video. Arberys killing deepened a national outcry over racial injustice after the video leaked online.

Defense attorneys have argued that their clients were lawfully trying to stop burglaries in their neighborhood and that McMichael opened fire in self-defense. Prosecutors say there's no justification for what the men did and no evidence that Arbery had committed any crimes.

Six neighbors testified Thursday about sharing reports of property crimes and suspicious people on their subdivision's Facebook page. Brook Perez said one neighbors 2019 post about a car break-in prompted her to check her husbands truck and discover some of his tools missing.

Im home by myself with the kids, Perez said. So it just felt like a violation.

Outside the Glynn County courthouse, hundreds of pastors gathered, while a defense lawyer renewed his bid to keep Black ministers out of the courtroom. The Rev. Jesse Jackson again joined Arbery's family in the courtroom, as he had on some other days this week. Walmsley declined to take the issue up again, noting hed already rejected the same motion from Bryan attorney Kevin Gough twice.

Gough first asked the judge last week to remove the Rev. Al Sharpton from the court, saying the civil rights activist was trying to influence the disproportionately white jury. He also has complained that activists outside the courthouse are trying to influence the jury with banners and signs, and likewise objected to the pastors' rally.

We had a huge protest at lunchtime that was so loud, with bullhorns literally 20 feet from the front door of this courthouse, that you could literally hear what was being said at the doors of this courtroom, Gough told the judge.
Courtesy photo /U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 47 fighting roosters and hens from a SENTRI card holder at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, authorities said.

This is a large quantity of live animals, a significant violation of federal agriculture law uncovered by our frontline CBP officers and agriculture specialists and it resulted in a fine, the revocation of the drivers SENTRI card and a vehicle seizure, said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. We remind the traveling public that utilization of SENTRI is a privilege and violation of federal law revokes those privileges.
MODIIN, Israel (AP)  An Israeli couple held by Turkey on suspicion of espionage returned home on Thursday after they were released from a weeklong detention.

Mordi and Natalie Oknin arrived in central Israel where they were greeted by family and a crowd of reporters. From her apartment's balcony, Natalie thanked all those involved in securing their release.

There was no official statement from Turkish officials on the release. Turkeys private DHA news agency reported that a Turkish citizen who was arrested along with the couple was also released.

A flurry of high-level phone calls followed, a rare connection between the leaders with relations between their countries at a low in recent years. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement that he thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his personal involvement in the matter.

Earlier, Erdogan and Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke and according to both of their offices, Erdogan emphasized the importance of ties between the countries. They both highlighted the need to focus on regional peace. The leaders agreed to remain in touch, Herzog's office said.

Once robust regional allies, relations between Israel and Turkey have been at a nadir throughout Erdogans rule, during which the Turkish leader has been an outspoken critic of Israels policies toward the Palestinians. The couples arrest threatened to further weaken the relationship, but Israeli officials said the incident showed that the countries diplomatic channels remained intact.

The Oknins were arrested for espionage last week after taking photographs of Erdogan's residence in Istanbul, Turkeys official news agency reported at the time. Anadolu Agency said a Turkish national was also arrested. Police detained the three after a tip-off from an employee working in a radio and television tower on the Asian side of Istanbul.

The employee claimed the couple had been taking photographs of Erdogans nearby home from the towers restaurant. They were awaiting trial for political and military espionage by an Istanbul court.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid denied after their detention that the couple worked for an Israeli agency.

___

Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.
A man landed behind bars for causing fractures to his girlfriends face and skull area, according to Laredo police.

On Tuesday, Juan Ramiro Alvarez-Mendez, 27, was served with an arrest warrant charging him with aggravated assault.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted Wednesday to recommend clemency for a death row inmate after questioning the states execution methods.

The board, by a 3-2 vote, recommended that Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt commute the sentence of Bigler Jobe Stouffer II, 79, to life without parole, despite several saying they were convinced of Stouffer's guilt.

Stouffer is scheduled for execution on Dec. 9.

Stitt spokesperson Charlie Hannema said the governor, who is considering a clemency recommendation for death row inmate Julius Jones, has no plans to comment.

The board noted that a federal lawsuit challenging the states three-drug lethal injection protocol is to begin in February and the Oct. 28 execution of John Marion Grant, in which Grant vomited and convulsed after the sedative midazolam was administered.

The last four (executions) if you go back six or seven years now, well that process is obviously flawed. We've had individuals on the table suffering for 20 and 30 minutes," said board member Larry Morris, who voted for the clemency recommendation.

I don't think that any humane society ought to be executing people that way, until we figure out how to do it right, Morris said.

Board members said they are convinced of the guilt of Stouffer, who is not part of the federal lawsuit and maintained his innocence during a video appearance before the board.

Stouffer was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to die for the shooting death of Linda Reaves, the girlfriend of the estranged husband of Biglers girlfriend, after his first conviction and death sentence was overturned.

He was also convicted of shooting and wounding the estranged husband, Doug Ivens.

I was not present when Linda Reaves was shot, Stouffer said. I am totally innocent of the murder of Linda Reaves and my heart goes out to the family of Linda Reaves that have suffered as a result of her murder.

Stouffer said Ivens was shot as the two men fought over the gun.

Stouffer went to the home to borrow the gun from Ivens, then fatally shot Reaves and wounded Ivens in an attempt to gain access to Ivens $2 million life insurance policy, according to prosecutors.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Night after night, hundreds of people marched the streets of Oregon's largest city, demanding racial justice after the murder of George Floyd by a white officer.

Among the rallying cries were defund the police  a call for elected officials to reallocate some law enforcement funding elsewhere. In June 2020, the Portland City Council and the mayor answered by cutting millions from the police budget.

Now, a year and a half later, officials partially restored the cut funds. On Wednesday, the Portland City Council unanimously passed a fall budget bump that included increasing the current $230 million police budget by an additional $5.2 million. The added police spending is occurring amid a year of a record number of homicides, the city's greatest police staffing shortage in decades and reform recommendations made by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Many Portlanders no longer feel safe, Mayor Ted Wheeler said. And it is our duty, as leaders of this city, to take action and deliver better results within our crisis response system.

Portland isnt the only liberal city doing an about-face on police spending. From New York City to Los Angeles  in cities that had some of the largest Black Lives Matter protests, and some with an extensive history of police brutality  police departments are seeing their finances partially restored in response to rising homicides, an officer exodus and political pressures.

In recent mayoral elections, some winning candidates have pledged to bolster public safety budgets. In Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed, voters rejected a proposal to replace the police department with a new Department of Public Safety.

Although the three-word call to action was the jumping-off point for communities to talk about how they want to be policed, experts say the goals of defund the police are debatable. To some it means abolishing police departments, for others it is about cutting law enforcement budgets and to others it is about reform and accountability.

The defund-the-police movement spearheaded an opportunity for historically disenfranchised and historically under-resourced communities to express their continued discontent with policing, said Howard Henderson, the Center for Justice Research director at Texas Southern University.

For months, beginning in late May 2020, Portland  one of the whitest cities in America  was roiled by near-nightly Black Lives Matter protests. At the time, officials including Wheeler were criticized for what many described as an overly aggressive police force.

During the height of protests, officers reported more than 6,000 uses of force. The U.S. Department of Justice rebuked the bureau for its abnormally high reliance on violent tactics.

Portland police have a history of being combative. In 2014, the city and Department of Justice reached a settlement agreement following a federal investigation that found Portland officers used excessive force against people with mental illness. Some of the police spending that passed on Wednesday  including $2.7 million for body-worn cameras and hiring staff to assess the police department's crowd control tactics  were created in order to meet the Justice Department's reform requirements.

During last year's protests, Portlanders called for $50 million to be cut from the department budget, with the money going to community-driven initiatives.

The City Council responded by cutting $15 million. An additional $12 million was cut due to pandemic-caused economic shortfalls. As a result, school resource officers, transit police and a gun violence reduction team  which was found to disproportionately target Black Portland residents during traffic stops, according to an audit in March 2018  were disbanded.

Similar action was taken elsewhere.

In the wake of protests, the Los Angeles City Council cut $150 million from the police budget, promising to put that money into other social services. Likewise, in New York City lawmakers approved a shift of $1 billion from policing to education and social services. At the time the NYPD budget was around $6 billion, with several billion dollars more in shared city expenses such as pensions. However, since the cut, concerns about crime led to about $200 million in restored funding.

Henderson says some of the loudest voices of the defund movement weren't people in neighborhoods most riddled by crime.

The folks who live in these high-crime communities . they dont want to get rid of police altogether," Henderson said. "What they want to do is get rid of bad policing,

In Portland, gun violence has disproportionately impacted communities of color. Family members of homicide victims and advocates who work with young gang members have questioned the cuts and asked for greater police presence, along with accountability and increased social services.

In the November elections, questions about when and where police are needed were at the forefront.

In Seattle, mayoral candidates who wanted to defund police stumbled. In New York City former police captain Eric Adams, who has not embraced calls to defund the police, was elected mayor.

In Minneapolis, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo has proposed a $192 million budget for 2022, which would restore funding to what it was before Floyds death. The proposed budget, which will be voted on in December, includes funds to replace around 300 who have quit since last year.

Similarly in Portland, the police department is 128 officers short of authorized strength. The added police spending includes signing bonuses for new officers, funding a retire-rehire program and bolstering recruitment with the goal to hire 200 additional sworn officers and 100 unarmed community safety officers by 2024  which some advocates see as a meaningful reform win and a compromise to defunding police.

Nationally, homicides increased by nearly 30% from 2019 to 2020, based on FBI data. However, in Portland, deadly violence has increased at a faster rate than nearly all major cities, with an 83% increase in homicides in 2020.

Aaron Chalfin, a University of Pennsylvania criminologist who has studied four decades of police budgets in major cities, says 54% of the times that cities hired more officers, homicide numbers decreased. Many factors are at play in the fluctuation of crime rates, including the number of officers and police department budgets. Other factors include financial and mental health struggles caused by the pandemic, the economy, programs for young people and even the amount of street lighting.

There are "a million things that drive crime up and down, Chalfin said.

Across the country, officials have used the defund the police movement to discuss policing alternatives.

In Portland, it paved the way for City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty  the first Black woman elected to City Council and key architect of police reform plans  to create Portland Street Response. The unarmed policing alternative  comprised of a paramedic, a mental health crisis responder and peer support specialists  respond to non-emergency calls for people experiencing a crisis.

Henderson said that because of defund the police, a valuable national conversation was started.

At the end of the day was it the best phrase? Maybe it was? Maybe it wasnt? Henderson said. But at least were talking about it."

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Sara Cline 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.
The first man Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was irrational and crazy, Rittenhouses attorney told jurors at his murder trial.

Joseph Rosenbaum had been on medication for bipolar disorder and depression, and he was trying to take Rittenhouse's rifle, attorney Mark Richards said, suggesting there could have been more bloodshed if Rittenhouse hadn't acted.

Im glad he shot him because if Joseph Rosenbaum got that gun I dont for a minute believe he wouldnt have used it against somebody else," Richards said during closing arguments in the 18-year-old Illinois man's trial for killing Rosenbaum and another man and wounding a third during a chaotic night of protests in August 2020.

To some legal experts and other observers, Richards' remarks were a smart courtroom strategy and an accurate depiction of the threat faced by Rittenhouse, who says he shot the men in self-defense. But mental health advocates heard something different: a dangerous assumption that people living with mental illness are homicidal and need to be killed, and terminology such as crazy" that they say is pejorative and adds to the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Studies have shown that people with bipolar disorder and depression are more likely to hurt themselves than hurt others, said Sue Abderholden, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota. That's why NAMI's work includes training police officers to use de-escalation strategies when dealing with people who have a mental illness.

You just dont have someone shot down, particularly someone who is unarmed," she said.

Jason Lackowski, a former Marine who said he went armed to the Kenosha protests to protect property, testified during the trial that Rosenbaum acted belligerently that night and seemed to want "to entice someone to do something, but did not appear to pose a serious threat to anyone. Lackowski said he turned his back on Rosenbaum and ignored him.

Ryan Balch, a former Army infantryman who patrolled the streets with Rosenbaum, testified that Rosenbaum was hyperaggressive and acting out in a violent manner, including trying to set fires and throwing rocks. Balch said at one point, he got between Rosenbaum and another man while Rosenbaum was trying to start a fire and that Rosenbaum got angry, shouting, If I catch any of you guys alone tonight, Im going to f- kill you! Balch said Rittenhouse was within earshot when the threat was made.

Rittenhouse didn't know Rosenbaum or his background when they crossed paths at the protest that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer. And the jury wasn't supposed to know much about him either.

During pretrial hearings, defense attorneys said they wanted to present evidence of Rosenbaum's past, including an Arizona conviction for sexually abusing a minor in 2002. They planned to argue that Rosenbaum, 36, was trying to take the then-17-year-old Rittenhouses weapon during their encounter because Rosenbaum wasnt legally allowed to have a gun due to his criminal past. Prosecutors argued that the defense was trying to signal to the jury that Rosenbaum was a bad guy who deserved to die.

Judge Bruce Schroeder blocked defense lawyers from revealing the sex crime conviction at the trial. Jurors also were not supposed to hear about Rosenbaum's mental health history, which Schroeder said wasn't relevant because Rittenhouse didn't know it when he shot him.

But the information came out in court after prosecutors asked Rosenbaums fiancee, Kariann Swart, whether Rosenbaum  whom she said had just been released from a hospital  had taken medication earlier on the day he was shot. Schroeder later ruled that by asking that question, prosecutors opened the door for the defense to ask Swart what the medication was for. Under cross-examination, she told jurors it was for bipolar disorder and depression.

Swart also testified that Rosenbaum had returned from a Milwaukee hospital on the day of the shooting. The jury did not hear that Rosenbaum had been in a mental health ward following a suicide attempt.

Phil Turner, a former federal prosecutor who is now in private practice and who isn't involved in the Rittenhouse case, believes the testimony about Rosenbaums mental illness was very important to the self-defense argument and therefore fair game.

People, including the jury, might agree that mental illness on its own does not cause someone to be violent, Turner said. But that information along with Rosenbaum's actions that night  from getting in the face of men armed with rifles to at one point chasing after Rittenhouse  likely was a nodding their head kind of moment for jurors.

It fortifies the defense argument that this is the truth, this is the reality," Turner said.

Kim Motley, an attorney representing Rosenbaums estate, said she understands Richards' efforts to vigorously defend his client. But she called his comments about being glad Rittenhouse shot Rosenbaum  among the final words jurors heard before they started deliberating Tuesday following a roughly two-week trial  disgusting and offensive to people who struggle with mental illness.

This trial isn't about the type of person Joseph Rosenbaum was, Motley said This trial is about his client, Kyle Rittenhouse.

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Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)  A man already charged with four deaths in the St. Louis area was charged Thursday with two killings at an apartment complex in Kansas City, Kansas.

Perez Reed, 26, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Damon Washington Irvin and Raudaja DeNaya Farrow, whose bodies were found in separate apartments at that Wyandotte Towers Apartments in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

Irvin was killed between Oct. 28-29 and Farrow was killed on Oct. 29, the Wyandotte County District Attorney's office said in a news release. His bond was set at $1 million.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's office charged Reed on Nov. 9 in the shooting deaths of two people in the city in September. That came two days after he was charged in two other fatal shootings in September in St. Louis County. He was being held in St. Louis on $2 million bond.

A phone call to the office of a public defender assigned to Reed's case in St. Louis rang unanswered Thursday. It was not immediately clear if Reed had an attorney in the Kansas cases.

An FBI affidavit says surveillance video showed Reed entering Irvin's apartment on Oct. 28. The videos also showed Reed and Farrow entering the complex on the night of Oct. 29, with Reed leaving 15 minutes later.

Authorities found Irvin's body on Nov. 1 and Farrow's body the next day.

Officers who were tailing Reed arrested him on Nov. 5 as he got off an Amtrak train and boarded a bus in the Kansas City suburb of Independence.

He was allegedly carrying a .40-caliber handgun that investigators believe he used in the St. Louis-area shootings, according to the FBI affidavit.

Reed, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, denied to police that that he hurt anyone, the affidavit says.

Reed is charged in the St. Louis County killings of 16-year-old Marnay Haynes on Sept. 13 and 40-year-old Lester Robinson on Sept. 26. In the city of St. Louis, he is suspected in the killings of 49-year-old Pamela Abercrombie on Sept. 16 and 24-year-old Carey Ross on Sept. 19. All four victims were shot in the head.

St. Louis County Lt. Craig Longworth has said there was no known connection between the victims.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)  Tribes welcomed an infusion of money in the massive infrastructure bill to expand broadband coverage, fix roads and address water and sanitation needs, but they say real change will come only with sustained investment.

President Joe Biden signed the $1.2 trillion deal earlier this week that includes about $11 billion in benefits for Indian Country, according to the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. About one-third of that, $3.5 billion, will go to the Indian Health Service, the federal agency tasked with providing healthcare for more than 2 million Native American and Alaska Natives.

The funding is enough to address more than 1,560 projects on the agency's list of water and sanitation deficiencies in 12 regions, estimated to cost nearly $2.6 billion. Projects in Alaska and the Southwest region that covers the Navajo Nation  where many tribal members live without running water and indoor plumbing  collectively have the largest price tags.

In these and several other tribal communities, sanitation and clean water systems would never be built because the annual appropriations were insufficient to cover all the deficiencies, the National Indian Health Board said Wednesday.

Indian Health Service spokeswoman Jennifer Buschick said the agency will consult with tribes soon to determine how to allocate the funding.

Another $2.5 billion will go to fulfill tribal water rights settlements that already have been approved. The Interior Department hasn't specified which agreements that quantify tribes' rights to water are included. But the leaders of the Navajo Nation, which extends into parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, and the White Mountain Apache Tribe in eastern Arizona said they expect to benefit from the funding.

Heather Tanana, who is Navajo and an assistant law professor at the University of Utah, is part of a group that released a roadmap Tuesday on how the federal government can move forward with the funding effectively. It includes coordination among federal agencies, working with tribes and through an existing tribal task force.

Officials with the Biden administration repeatedly referred to a whole of government" approach this week during the White House Tribal Nations Summit in announcing agreements among federal agencies on tribal treaty rights and sacred sites.

Tanana, the research lead for the Tribal Clean Water initiative, said goals and accountability also must be part of the equation, along with building capacity for tribes to operate water and sanitation systems on their own. The group of tribal members, water experts and nonprofits pushes for access to clean water for tribes in the Colorado River basin and beyond.

Whole of government shouldnt just be a catchy phrase, Tanana said. Its critical to getting the money that Congress just appropriated on to the ground and into actual projects.

Building and improving upon water and sanitation systems will have a cascading effect in tribal communities and urban areas where most Native Americans live, improve health disparities and foster economic development, the National Indian Health Board said. The group also said the momentum should continue with Congress fully funding health care facilities serving Indigenous people as part of the federal government's obligation to federally recognized tribes.

Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who had co-sponsored a separate bill to improve water and wastewater systems in Indian Country, said: This is the first step of many to reduce this shameful disparity and help ensure that tribal communities have access to safe, clean water."

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska said the infrastructure funding is not inconsequential but is long overdue.

Its been decades that weve been talking about eliminating the honey bucket and getting clean drinking water into communities, and sanitation systems," she said, referring to lined buckets used to collect human waste in many isolated Alaska Native villages that lack indoor plumbing.

A flush toilet is not too much to ask in this day and age, Murkowski said.

Tribal leaders told the Biden administration during the virtual summit that they appreciated the money in the infrastructure bill but pointed out some potential hurdles, including for tribes that don't have the resources to compete for grants or match the funding.

Why can't tribes just receive the funding? said Janet Davis, chairwoman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Nevada. Why do we have to write grants to be able to use it, so we can use it for our communities to be safe?"

Navajo President Jonathan Nez suggested federal policies and regulations be eased or updated so projects wont be stalled. He cited needing environmental clearances from two different federal agencies when a U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs road or bridge is constructed on the reservation.

A failure to clear out some of the burdens that prevent infrastructure investment will mean all our efforts to help pass the infrastructure bill may not lead to the progress we want for our people, Nez said. Whats the point of giving us money if regulations make it almost impossible to spend it?

White Mountain Apache Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood said lasting differences will come only with sustained investments to make up for decades of underfunding and neglect.

We hope this administration will continue to focus on the critical needs and keep its foot on the gas in future budget years, she said during the two-day summit that wrapped up Tuesday.

Biden administration officials said they would work to address the tribes concerns.

___

Associated Press writer Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, contributed to this story. Fonseca is a member of the AP's Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FonsecaAP.
A surge in cases in the Upper Midwest has some Michigan schools keeping students at home ahead of Thanksgiving and the military sending medical teams to Minnesota to relieve hospital staffs overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients.

The worsening outlook in the Midwest comes as booster shots are being made available to everyone in a growing number of locations. Massachusetts and Utah became the latest to say anyone 18 or older can roll up a sleeve for a booster shots, and an advisory committee for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is meeting Friday to discuss expanding boosters.

Cold weather states are dominating the fresh wave of cases over the last seven days, including New Hampshire, North Dakota and Wisconsin, according to federal data. But the Southwest had trouble spots, too, with more than 90% of inpatient hospital beds occupied in Arizona.

In Detroit, where only 35% of eligible residents were fully vaccinated, the school district said it would switch to online learning on Fridays in December because of rising COVID-19 cases, a need to clean buildings and a timeout for "mental health relief. One high school has changed to all online learning until Nov. 29.

At another high school, some students and teachers briefly walked out Wednesday, saying classes still were too large for a pandemic and the school needed a scrubbing.

Detroit health officer Denise Fair Razo said new cases have skyrocketed in the city in the last 14 days to 3,858, compared to 2,322 in the previous two-week period.

We're in Michigan so we're not finding ourselves spending time outdoors in flip-flops and tank tops, Fair Razo said Thursday. We are indoors and we're frankly becoming a little bit too relaxed. We're no longer wearing our masks. We're no longer washing our hands as frequently as we should. But we know these precautions.

Fair Razo is urging people to get tested for COVID-19 before gathering at Thanksgiving, even if they're vaccinated. She absolutely predicts a post-holiday spike.

Elsewhere in Michigan, some schools are taking next week off for the Thanksgiving holiday instead of just three days.

This school year has presented some major stressors that are noticed and recognized, Superintendent Greg Helmer told parents, citing staff shortages and student absences in Ravenna.

In Minnesota, the U.S. Defense Department will send two 22-member medical teams to Hennepin County Medical Center and St. Cloud Hospital next week to immediately treat patients and assist weary health care workers.

I need Minnesotans to recognize, as weve been saying, this is a dangerous time, Gov. Tim Walz said in pushing vaccinations.

New Hampshire reported 327 people with COVID-19 in hospitals, passing its previous pandemic high from last Dec. 31. Neighboring Maine also hit a high mark for COVID-19 hospitalizations this week.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott is calling legislators into a special session next week to pass a bill giving local governments the power to adopt temporary mask mandates. He has been opposed to a statewide mask order even as Vermont's new daily cases approach numbers not seen since the earliest days of the pandemic.

In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law that prevents businesses from ordering workers to be vaccinated unless they also allow them to opt out for a variety of reasons, including regular testing. Schools and local governments are barred from making vaccination mandates, and parents can sue schools over masks.

Florida lately has one of the lowest rates of new cases in the country. DeSantis has become one of the nations most prominent Republicans through his opposition to lockdowns and other virus rules.

The U.S. is now averaging nearly 87,000 new coronavirus cases per day, up from 72,000 two weeks ago, and hospitalizations are starting to increase again after steadily falling since the peak of the summer delta variant surge. The country is still averaging more than 1,100 deaths a day, and the number of Americans to die from COVID-19 now stands at 768,000.

About 59% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, or about 195 million Americans. The government and health officials are urging more people to get vaccinated, especially the 60 million people who have yet to receive a first dose.
The city received a Purple Heart City plaque in a ceremony held at City Hall on Monday. Purple Heart recipients joined Mayor Pete Saenz and councilmembers to grant the designation.

The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the president to those wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military. It is also the oldest military medal in the nation.

To be declared a Purple Heart City, a mayor and/or city council must deliver an official proclamation, which is then presented to the local chapter of the military order of the Purple Heart.

Purple Heart recipients joined city officials for this important ceremony in which they also shared their memories while being in combat and earning this recognition.

The Purple Heart Designation is one of the most prestigious honors a city can receive, and were extremely grateful for that, Saenz said. By proclaiming Laredo as a Purple Heart City, were committing to remembering acts of resiliency of brave men and women. It is with much admiration, honor and respect that we should salute all of the Veterans and Purple Heart Recipients.

Without you, obviously, we wouldnt be doing what we do here, and thats exercising our rights, liberties and our opinions.  The Purple Heart city designation will serve as a reminder of your service for our community.

Texas Department Commander for 2021-22 Lazaro Airborne Camarillo, a combat-wounded Vietnam Army veteran, presented the proclamation for the citys designation.

What does it mean to become a Purple Heart City? It means that you are going to represent, you are going to honor every single Purple Heart recipient, he said. Especially all those veterans who earn in combat this badge.

Camarillo is a recipient of the Purple Heart himself earning a Bronze Star with Valor for his actions in Vietnam.

According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, as an Army Sergeant (E-5), Camarillo was wounded during his service in Vietnam.

For his Valor, Lazaro received the Bronze Star with V Device, and received a Purple Heart for his actions on April 5, 1969 at the A Shau Valley, Vietnam. Lazaro Camarillo spent 122 days in the A Shau Valley, fought at Hill 654, Airborne Hill, Hamburger Hill, DMZ and through the entire A Shau Valley. Lazaro was forced to go hand-to-hand twice in combat on Airborne Hill and again on Hamburger Hill.

District VI Councilmember Dr. Marte Martinez reminded present guests the importance of having this designation. As Laredo even being a small city, has always had a big presence in the military, remarking the citys devotion for serving its country.

I am proud to be a part of this, he said. Im proud of this proclamation, I want to thank you (Camarillo) for allowing us the honor of joining the other 200 cities in Texas that are now Purple Heart cities, and that we take a moment, not today, but every day to look at this plaque as were driving by and remember that is not just a plaque. When we see Purple Heart designations  its not just a plaque, this is a commitment from Laredo to stand up and protect our country.

According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the state of Texas is home to more than 47,000 recipients of the honor.

Victor Salazar is the Veterans Program Coordinator at Alamo Area Council of Governments. He served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from 2002-05.

A lot of people dont know the gravity, the pain behind this Purple Heart award, he said. We lost a lot of brothers.

This is an award no service member wants to get, but its an award were all ready and willing to receive for the love of our country.  Were in this together. Our men fight together, we live together, we do this for the love of our country. This award, it signifies more than just bravery and wining, and combat, its so much more than that.

Laredo is one of 200 cities nationwide that have received this prestigious title. The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration, created as the Badge of Military Merit by General George Washington in 1782, to honor all military service members who have been wounded or killed during combat.

cecilia.trevino@lmtonline.com
Houston-born rapper Travis Scott was once the posterboy for major brand endorsements. From Nike to McDonalds and Sony, Scott has collaborated with some of the largest multinational companies in the world. But in the wake of the tragedy at the Astroworld music festival in Houston on Nov. 5, 10 concert-goers are dead, hundreds more injured, lawsuits are pending and brands once close to Scott are distancing themselves from the "Sicko Mode" rapper with others keeping quiet on next moves.

Nike, which has partnered with Scott on a number of projects over the years, announced Monday that it is pausing its latest shoe collaboration with the musician. "Out of respect for everyone impacted by the tragic events at the Astroworld Festival, we are postponing the launch of the Air Max 1 x Cactus Jack," the brand said in a statement shared via its SNKRS app and the Nike website. The statement, released Monday, follows the death of 9-year-old Ezra Blount, the youngest victim to succumb to injuries related to the concert.

Nike has had numerous successful, sold-out footwear collaborations with Scott since first partnering up with the rapper in 2017. Its latest sneaker offering was expected to drop in late 2021, but a new date was not announced.

Other brands associated with the Texas native have likewise taken measures to insulate themselves from Scott, who was named alongside Drake, Apple Music and Astroworld promoter Live Nation on Tuesday in a $750 million lawsuit filed by Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee. Epic Games-owned Fortnite has quietly removed its Scott-themed emote, a customized dance move, from its platform following the deadly concert, according to IGN. Scott was previously the star of Fortnite's first major concert event in April 2020, earning the rap star $20 million, according to Forbes. Mega64, a film and production company, announced the day after the concert that it had terminated its upcoming project featuring Scott.

In an emailed statement, General Mills, which previously partnered with Scott for a custom Reese's Puffs cereal box in 2019, said they have no new plans for future promotions involving the 30-year-old hip hop star. "The news coming out of Astroworld was indeed tragic," the statement said. "We extend our sympathies to the families of the victims, the injured parties and other fans who were impacted by the unfortunate events. Reese's Puff partnered with Travis Scott on a custom cereal box in 2019. We have no new plans to partner with him."

Women's fashion periodical W Magazine is also scrambling to pull an upcoming edition featuring Scott and girlfriend Kylie Jenner on the cover, according to Page Six. The issue, which includes an interview with the celebrity couple, was shot and printed prior to Astroworld and has not yet shipped. "W editors have cleared any planned coverage of Travis and Kylie from their website, but the magazine was already printed, and now they are trying to stop the delivery trucks," a source told Page Six. "In light of what happened at Astroworld, the interview and cover lines seem inappropriate, to say the least."

Despite the ensuing fallout, Scott announced a new partnership with therapy app BetterHelp, just three days after Astroworld, offering a free, one-month trial of mental health services for concertgoers traumatized by the experience.

It is unclear whether Scott's upcoming spring/summer menswear collection with fashion label Christian Dior, dubbed the Cactus Jack Dior line, will be seen through, but experts say the line, inspired by Scott's home state of Texas, has already been manufactured and will be shipped to stores by January, according to Rolling Stone. "It is an apocalyptic marketing turn for that brand when you double down on this icon to Gen Z that now has effectively detonated in your face," Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, told Rolling Stone.

Other major sponsors and partners with Scott, like beer giant Anheuser-Busch, McDonalds, Sony Playstation, Byredo, and Mattel have been quiet in the wake of the Astroworld tragedy and did not respond to requests for comment by the time of this writing.
Courtesy of Ron Bauml / Conservation Society of San Antonio

For the first time in nearly 50 years, an iconic King William property is hitting the market for $3.975 million. Since 1974, the 6,000-square-foot, Italianate-style house at 107 King William Street has served as the headquarters for the Conservation Society of San Antonio. Now, the organization is selling the property, citing the city's "crazy market" in an interview with the Express-News.

The emphasis really is just more like, hey, this is a crazy market, better now than if we wait, executive director Vincent Michael tells the Express-News of the decision to sell and relocate.
HSE senior management have been accused of trying to renege on a government agreement to provide a second palliative care bed in St Joseph's Care Centre.

Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy said the commitment to allocate an additional hospice bed to the Dublin Road facility had been given the green light by former Health Minister Simon Harris in 2019.

Mr Carrigy described a recent response given by HSE bosses as outrageous in which it was revealed any move to add a second bed would result invariably impact the level of service provided in St Joseph's long stay units.

HSE officals also warned the decision would require a further budgetary allocation to offset expected income reduction under the Fair Deal Scheme.

That is a ridiculous reply, to be honest, said Senator Carrigy, who claimed hospital palliative care home visits in Longford were much higher than other counties.

The availability of a second bed in Longford would allow hospital discharges for people who do not wish to die in the Midland Regional Hospital and who want to be closer to home.

It (second palliative care bed) would also allow for respite for the families who need that extra support and the opportunity of having a break while looking after a loved one.

Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler argued however that occupancy rates for the palliative care bed already in place in St Joseph's stood at 54 per cent in 2020 and 64 per cent to date this year.

Current plans do not include an increase in the number of beds available for palliative services (in St Joseph's), she said.

Those figures would determine that one bed seems to be sufficient.
Christmas came early for trad trio, Ril Og, who claimed their 1,500 prize package last week after winning Longfords Next Superstar.

The online talent competition saw a lot of interaction among the public with a total of fourteen acts running in five public heats.

Shooting to first place in their own heat, Ril Og found themselves up againse other talented finalists, Freyal Lilly OConnor, K Muni X ND, Ella Mulligan and Mikey Mollaghan.

Setanta Flood (16), Tomas Mulligan (14) and Dylan Hanley (17) are a young trad group, known across the county for their lively performances, comprising a bodhran, a banjo and an accordian.

Their one-minute video entry into Longfords Next Superstar was popular on the Longford Leader website, helping them to secure 68% of the public vote in the first round of voting.

They stole the show in the grand final, picking up 38% of the public polls, which ran on the Longford Leader website for five days.

Longford boutique Fabiani crowned National Store of the Year 2021 Longford boutique Fabiani is celebrating this morning after fending off a host of high street giants to be crowned National Store of the Year 2021.Fabiani, a luxury independent fashion outlet, secured the top award at the five-star Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin last night.

Freya Lilly OConnor nabbed 32% of the votes and came in second, while third place and 14% of the public vote went to Ella Mulligan. She was closely followed by Mikey Mollaghan with 10% of the public vote and fifth place went to K Muni X ND with 5% of votes.

But the public vote only counted for 50% of the overall score and our panel of esteemed judges set about scoring the five finalists to make up the other 50%.

The judging panel included Janice Gibney of the Backstage Theatre, who comes into contact with some of the most talented local artists on a weekly basis.

Also on the panel was Jimmy Connell, from Edgeworthstown, who puts his own talents to good use via his hilarious sketches, Jimmys Jests.

Our final judge, representing the Longford Leader, was Jessica Thompson.

Ril Og and K Muni X ND were the top choices of the judges, who gave their top scores to these two acts, giving K Muni X ND the chance to make up some points and move to third place.

Once all scores were added up, Ril Og came out on top, with Freya Lilly OConnor coming in second place. K Muni X ND came in third, while Ella Mulligan and Mikey Mollaghan came fourth and fifth.

Ril Og arrived into the Longford Leader office on Friday where they were presented with a 1,500 prize packet containing vouchers from Supermacs Longford, Stakelums Pharmacy, The Sin Bin, Mullingar Credit Union and Stephen Olwell Opticians.
Friday evening, November 26, at 7pm will be another momentous occasion for the Edgeworth Society with the launch of a new book on Maria Edgeworth by Dr Cliona O Gallchoir, a lecturer at the Department of English, UCC and an Edgeworth scholar.

Part of the new Key Irish Women Writers series from the publisher Edward Everett Root, is a critical introduction to her work intended for students and general readers.

The book will be launched by Siona Cahill, who has featured on the National Stage as former President of the Students Union of Ireland and is currently Public Affairs & Communications Manager with Gaisce  The Presidents Award.

Alongside the opening of the wonderful Maria Edgeworth Visitor Centre, thought to be the only centre solely dedicated to a woman writer, the society has endeavoured to reinstate the work and legacy of Maria Edgeworth and to bring it to a wider audience.

Clionas book comes at an appropriate time and is a must read for those familiar with the writings of Maria Edgeworth and equally for those wishing to introduce themselves for the first time.

Susan Manly, Reader in English, University of St Andrews and an authority on the life, times and work of Maria Edgeworth speaks of it as, a sparkling lucid book, hugely enjoyable to read, richly insightful and suggestive.

Until relatively recently, Edgeworth was known primarily as the author of Castle Rackrent, but Cliona O Gallchoirs book sets out to introduce the reader to the wide range, extent and quality of her work which was exceptional and is matched by very few writers of the period.

She was acclaimed as a novelist of female experience, a pioneer of social realism, and an innovator in the representation of regional and national identity whose Irish Tales broke entirely new ground. She was also a prolific and successful writer for children, and a significant figure in the development of educational thought.

The launch will take place on Friday evening, November 26 at 7pm in the New Community Library. It is fitting on many fronts that the launch be held in this wonderful new Library.

The Library is situated on a very historic site, which was the location for the school where Oliver Goldsmith received his early education, and was also the site of the experimental school established by Lovell Edgeworth, Marias brother.

The school at the time came to the attention of many educationalists from all over Europe who visited Edgeworthstown to study the experiment.

One of its most famous pupils was James Bronterre OBrien who went on to Trinity College Dublin and was later to become a leader in the struggle for Universal Suffrage in England, which eventually led to one man one vote and the freedom of the press in England.

The opening of the new library is something that the society has been advocating for, and indeed through its associate group the EDDA purchased the site and gifted it to the local authority with the aim of building a new library for the people of the town.

It will now become the focal point in the town and hopefully inspire further development and economic activity.

Proceeds from the launch will go to the upkeep of the Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown. For more information, visit mariaedgeworthcentre.com.
Pre-school children in Longford will take part in National Pyjama Day this coming Friday, November 19, with 13 childcare facilities across the county registered to participate in the fundraiser.

The annual event  organised by Early Childhood Ireland, the leading organisation in the early years sector  will see families in Longford and across the country, sponsoring both preschool children and school age children to wear their pyjamas to their early years setting or afterschool for a day of fun and fundraising.

All funds raised will be donated to three charities that work to support children with additional needs, including: AsIAm, Children in Hospital Ireland and The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation.

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland said: Having had to cancel last years event, we are so delighted to be bringing National Pyjama Day back again this year. It is fantastic to have over 1000 services across the country taking part and despite the challenges that Covid-19 has thrown at them, they have shown that they are willing to join in and put their support behind this initiative which will raise vital funds for children with additional needs and help hundreds of families in communities right across the country.

The annual event is always a fun and playful day for the children and staff with special activities and challenges happening throughout the day. There will be pillow fights, storytelling, teddy bear picnics and more! This will be our 18th year to run the fundraiser, and we are so grateful to the children and parents who get involved and the event couldnt happen without the efforts of the childcare settings who work hard to make it all possible on the day.

Where will the donated funds go?

AsIAm, Children in Hospital Ireland and The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation are the chosen beneficiaries of National Pyjama Day this year. Funds raised from the event will go towards supporting the following three projects, within each of the charities:

AsIAms Teach me as I am evidence-based training programme for early years practitioners who work with autistic children.

Children in Hospital Irelands new information hub for parents with children in hospital.

Jack and Jills provision of home nursing care and in-home respite for children with highly complex medical conditions in communities across Ireland.

To date, the event has raised over 3.5 million for charities that support children with additional needs.

Further information on National Pyjama Day is available at: https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/national-pyjama-day-brought-to-you-by-early-childhood-ireland/
The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) - which represents organisations working with over 380,000 young people nationwide - is urging young people to make sure they have registered to vote before the deadline on Thursday, November 25.

Registering to vote now means less red tape and bureaucracy than registering down the line, explains the youth council.

James Doorley, NYCI Deputy Director said Census 2016 figures indicate that there are 702,796 young people aged 18 to 29 in Ireland, which represents a potentially very large youth vote. Based on the most recent population data from the Central Statistics Office this would mean up to 1,252 young people in County Longford would have turned 18 since February 2020 and may risk missing out on their right to vote unless they register by Thursday, November 25."

James Doorley, NYCI Deputy Director explained We know from our work with young people that the vast majority want to vote but not all are aware they have to register. This is particularly an issue among the 126,344 young people who turned 18 and became eligible to vote in the last 2 years since the 2020 General Election.

Check the register

Local Authorities are currently preparing the 2022/2023 electoral register. For those unsure whether they are registered or not, the NYCI advises that they check online at www.checktheregister.ie

If young people are not on the electoral lists, we are strongly encouraging them to register now. To do this they need to fill out an RFA1 form (available at www.checktheregister.ie) and return it to their local city or county council by Thursday November 25th. In effect the deadline is Wednesday, November 24rd as the form needs to be completed and posted back to the local authority to arrive by the deadline. If applicants miss the postal deadline, the only other option is to deliver the completed RFA1 form by hand, continued Mr Doorley.

Anyone 18 on or before February 15, 2022

This does not just apply to those currently aged 18-29 years. Any person who turned 18 since the election in February 2020 and is not registered, but also any young person who is currently 17, but will turn 18 by February 15 2022, can apply for inclusion in the 2022/2023 register. NYCI also reminded applicants that it is their responsibility to make sure all the documentation arrives on time, so we recommend they post it by Wednesday, November 24 at the latest.

One of the privileges of living in a democracy is the right to have a say in who represents us at local level and who governs us at national level. We only get the chance to have our say every four or five years in general elections, so it is important that all citizens, especially young people who have recently gained that right, make sure they can exercise their franchise by being registered to vote in time, and we strongly recommend they do so on or before the upcoming deadline on Thursday, November 25 next, concluded Mr Doorley.
A boil water notice affecting almost half of Longford's population could be lifted by the end of the month after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bosses agreed to undertake an independent report on the plant at the centre of the crisis.

It comes after the Leader revealed only nine days ago how Irish Water officials the company could not "be conclusive" as to when water will be deemed safe to consume again.

That came after a cryptosporidium barrier at a treatment plant in Longford was compromised following a deterioration in raw water quality from a lake source affecting the Lough Forbes Water Treatment Plant.

Now, and after what Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty termed as being fresh and "extensive discussions" with Irish Water, EPA officials yesterday gave the go ahead to carry out an assessment into the ongoing impasse over the coming days.

Mr Flaherty said it is hoped a report will then be forwarded to Irish Water senior management with a decision on whether the boil water notice can be lifted by "no later than Monday week".

In the region of 17,500 customers in Longford town, Newtownforbes, Ballinalee, parts of Edgeworthstown, Drumlish, Killashee and surrounding areas have been forced to boil their water until further notice following a public announcement made two weeks ago.

"I know people are frustrated by the absence of news, but I think this is a positive development and hopefully we are close to a breakthrough," he said.

Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy was more cautious, saying the audit due to be carried out "may give a guideline" as to when normal water services will resume.

He also rubbished claims made on social media that Irish Water had indicated the water notice could still be in place by January.

"Following recent suggestions on social media I also queried rumour that boil water notice would be in place until after the new year but I have been told today by the communications department in Irish Water that at no stage have Irish Water communicated that boil water notice will be in place into the New Year and beyond," he said.
The Minister for Education has said people should reconsider hosting and attending children's birthday parties and play dates.

Speaking on RTE's Today with Claire Byrne, Norma Foley asked people to "hunker down" in light of the spike in Covid-19 cases following the Governments announcement of new measures to try and curb the rise in infections.

She asked people to be vigilant and restrictive with their social engagements adding "there is a window of opportunity to re-assert ourselves and do the right thing".

Meanwhile, plans for the use of antigen testing in schools are expected to be made operational by the end of the week.

Minister Foley said, "We await finalisation of those plans and it is my understanding they will be finalised in the next day or two".

These plans are expected to include advice for how school principals should approach the confirmation of positive cases and teachers would not be "fast-tracked" for booster vaccines, adding that it is the considered view of public health authorities that the rollout is based on age.

"Priority must be given to those most in need and that is a public health judgement," she said.
A partial eclipse of the moon is set to happen tomorrow morning at sunrise, according to Astronomy Ireland.

Editor of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore said "Everyone should watch from 6.30am to 8am as the Moon goes down in the west and dawn begins to break."

In the first lunar eclipse visible from Ireland since July 2019, as much as 68 per cent of the Moon is due to disappear.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned, with the Earth in the middle. When they are exactly alligned, the Moon is completely within the Earth's shadow. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon is only partially within the Earth's shadow and part of its surface appears darker.

Observers in Ireland are advised to view a clear western horizon to see the event which is expected to occur around 7.18am, when the Moon will be 5 degrees above the west to northwest horizon.

Every lunar eclipse is different and this one is no exception, as it will occur against a brightening sky before sunrise.

The next lunar eclipse visible from Ireland won't be until in May 2022.






Local News, Business & Finance

By Chris Boyle Published: November 18 2021

Artisan Mortgage Company is what is known as a small boutique mortgage broker, in that the company works primarily in residential 1-to-4 family financing.

The single largest purchase most people will ever make is when they commit themselves to a multi-year mortgage and finally step through the doorway of their new home for the first time. However, the journey it takes to get to that point can be fraught with complexities, and having the guidance of a knowledgeable professional is vital.

Artisan Mortgage Company is a wholesale mortgage broker in Bay Shore, NY, and according to President Jim Barry  who founded the company in 2005  the question hes asked the most is to explain the advantages of going through a firm such as his for a home loan, as opposed to dealing with a bank directly.

Bankers and brokers handle things differently, Jim said. In the wholesale broker channel, you're going to find much more experienced, professional originators who have the flexibility to work with different lenders and who may have distinct guidelines and standards. We're much better at matching the client with the lender that fits them best.

Jim noted that Artisan Mortgage Company is what is known as a small boutique mortgage broker, in that the company works primarily in residential 1-to-4 family financing.

We definitely work a narrow client databasewe work the meat and potatoes type of clientele, he said, "the middle-of-the-road clients, your average Long Island homeowner. Its where we excel.

Compared to most other regions in the country, Jim said that the real estate market on Long Island is unique in many ways, and actually presents several challenges that many other places in the country do not.

There are a lot of chefs in the kitchen on a real estate transaction in New York State, he said. If you go to a real estate closing in New York, you have a buyer's attorney, a seller's attorney, a bank attorney, a title closer, two real estate agents, the buyer, the seller, the mortgage company...there are a lot of parties involved in New York, especially when it comes to Long Island transactions.

In contrast, in Pennsylvania and many of the states, it's much simpler, Jim continued. In other places it's a much more streamlined process than it is here in New York, so you have to be aware of making sure that youre coordinating with the other contacts on the transaction, making sure you're aligning timelines, expectations, and keeping the transaction on board.

In recent years, Long Island has developed a bit of a reputation for being an expensive place to live; with skyrocketing real estate prices, some are beginning to feel that Long Island is pricing out many residents and driving them away to cheaper regions of the country. However, Jim said that when it comes to Long Island, it's important to compare the costs of renting  as opposed to the costs associated with buying a home  to see that perhaps things aren't quite as tight as you thought.

Its the comparison between the cost to rent and the cost to buy. That's really what drives home pricesif your cost to rent was much cheaper than your cost to buy, people wouldn't purchase as much, he said. But when you start talking about rental markets and somebody is renting a two bedroom apartment for $2,700 a month, that's not that far away from owning a home. When you're paying a monthly rent that's very expensive, it gives you much more incentive to actually purchase a home because it's not going to cost that much more.

Jim noted that Artisan Mortgage Company isn't the biggest mortgage company on the block, but that's a conscious decision he made in order to provide the very best, most personal care and attention to his clients.

Aside from myself, I have four licensed originators who work under me and a full-time processor, he said. All of our originators are long-time, experienced mortgage professionals. We're small, and we're not in a growth model...I'm not looking to expand. We intend to stay small, provide personal care, stay available and make sure that we're giving clients the attention they deserve. If I had a thousand clients a month, I wouldn't be able to give you that personal attention."

As far as tips go, when it comes to acquiring a mortgage for a first-time home buyer, Jim said that the best thing somebody can do is to find professional help, as opposed to going it on their own.

I encourage people to find a professional...a mortgage person, a real estate person, an attorney, he said. You should always go with somebody who's experienced and knowledgeable, who's recommended. There are a lot of questions you should ask that you wouldn't know to ask, and a professional should be able to tell you what those questions are.

At the end of the day, Jim said that he feels an immense amount of satisfaction in having helped a great number of people to achieve the American dream of home ownership through Artisan Mortgage Company.

The best ones are the clients who come to you and say, 'Jim, we know we're not ready to buy a house yet but we want to do it, it's our goal. We look at their finances, we look at their credit, and we put them on a plan that can be revisited. Six months later and they're a little bit closer. A year later and they're ready, he said. They've fixed some credit issues, they saved up a down payment, they've really readied themselves. They find a home and we close the mortgage. It's really satisfying to see them come in with a plan, prep it, get there, and see their dream of homeownership become true.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: November 18 2021

Special Veterans Day commemoration included acknowledgement of unwavering support.

Each Veterans Day, the members of VFW Post 347 in Glen Cove are honored for their bravery and dedication for their years of service fighting for our freedoms. The Post hosts a public service at the Doughboy Monument and prior to the public ceremony they host their own members event at their Post on Hill Street. During recent years, Councilman Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews has been invited to join the veterans for their ceremonies. This year, he arrived at the Posts member ceremony with Im Proud to be a Veteran'' lapel pins, which he distributed to each member present. Yet, in a surprise twist, prior to the start of their standard service, it was the Councilman who was celebrated. The VFW members surprised Stevenson-Mathews with a plaque honoring him for his meritorious and distinguished service to their post. I was truly surprised and humbled to be presented with such an important and distinguished honor, said Stevenson-Mathews. To be acknowledged by veterans, who sacrificed so much in their own lifetimes is a true honor and will be something I will always cherish.

VFW member and trustee Joseph Moores, who presented Gaitley with the award, explained that Gaitley has been a tremendous help to all veterans, especially our VFW Post 347. He usually attends breakfast each month at St. Roccos with American Legion Post 76, he touches base with us before important meetings to ensure our voice will be heard and recently he set up a VFW Facebook page for us, so that we can share important veterans announcements with the community. During our recent emergency, when our Post caught on fire in the early morning hours, Gaitley was one of the first to arrive and offer assistance. Our Facebook page, which Gaitley manages with input from a designated member, allowed us to petition vital support and funds to help rebuild our post. Gaitley is a loyal friend and we wanted everyone to know how much we appreciate him.

Former Commander Ben Farnan added After the fire, it would have been easy to lose hope, but Gaitley was right there with us, getting the word out and encouraging the community to help and guide us through this tragedy. We will forever be thankful. Post Commander Henryk Nowicki also commented, It was only natural that we honor Gaitley on the day that means so much to us.

A longtime supporter of veteran initiatives, Stevenson-Mathews comes from a military family and was raised with a strong sense of civic duty, faith, and commitment to community. His brother, retired Colonel J. Hunter Mathews, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. His father served in the Navy (WWII), and his mother served in the Cadet Nurse Corps (WWII). Stevenson-Mathews also has a nephew who served as an army combat medic. I knew Gaitleys parents, said former Army Capt. Julia McManus Love It is no surprise to me that Gaitley is as committed to the community as he is. He was certainly raised with a strong sense of the importance of serving others.

Stevenson-Mathews has a long history of community service and is committed to helping those within his community as demonstrated by his involvement and leadership in many organizations. Knowing that a dedicated community leader like Gaitley serves our town and has so much commitment to our veterans makes me truly proud to be a resident here, said Eva Casale, founder of Team E.V.A., a nonprofit organization which supports ongoing veterans and active military members and their families. Together, we can rebuild the VFW and remind our local veterans how much their honor and bravery matters to us each and every day.

While the renovations of VFW Post 347 will hopefully begin soon and some financial support will be available via insurance, additional funding is still needed to build back the hall and make some much needed improvements. The public is invited to support the Post by making financial contributions. Checks can be made payable to VFW Post 347 and mailed to James E. Donahue Post 347, 15 Hill St., Glen Cove, NY 11542. The VFW is a non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Local News, Seasonal & Current Events

By Ls Cohen Published: November 18 2021

Popular visit with Old Saint Nick in historic Roe House already booked up.

Old Saint Nick will be making appearances all over Long Island this season but one of the most anticipated meet and greet with the big man is in Port Jefferson Village where he will be at The Roe House.

Unfortunately, the appearance is so popular its already sold out.

In order to avoid crowding and make visits more enjoyable for visitors, the village scheduled specific time slots that parties of up to six people could reserve for their visit. The scheduling also helped to eliminate long lines. Time slots were reserved online. The event was completely free.

There is no word if additional times will be scheduled to open up more visits with Santa Claus in Port Jefferson Village.

Located on the corner of Barnum Avenue and West Broadway, The Roe House is a museum that shows the history of Port Jefferson village and its importance to the success of America in the Revolutionary War. According to an article on Patch.com, the structure miraculously survived being moved from four separate locations since it was built in the mid-1700s.
(Alliance News) - Crest Nicholson Holdings PLC on Thursday said it expects profit for its recently ended financial year to be ahead of market consensus, as the company marks the completion of its first step towards its turnaround.

Shares in the Chertsey, Surrey-based housebuilder were up 2.6% at 342.60 pence on Thursday in London, the second best performer in the FTSE 250.

For the year that ended October 31, Crest Nicholson anticipates adjusted pretax profit to be marginally ahead of consensus expectations, set at GBP101.2 million, driven by a stronger contribution from Longcross Film Studio than initially anticipated.

In May, the group sold its 50% interest in the studio to Longcross General Partner Ltd, an Aviva Investors company.

Crest Nicholson posted adjusted pretax profit of GBP45.9 million in financial 2020 and GBP121.9 million in financial 2019.

In addition, Crest Nicholson reported a strong sales performance throughout the second half of the year, as the sales rate remained robust across all regions.

As at November 12, forward sales were 2,503 units at a gross development value of GBP623.9 million, compared to 2,330 units at a GDV of GBP496.6 million the same date a year prior.

Looking ahead, Crest Nicholson said it has completed the first stage of its turnaround plan, with the planned introduction of new house types with around 6,000 units.

The group has now started its strategy to establish new division in Yorkshire and East Anglia from 2022 onwards.

Crest Nicholson's overall strategy is to achieve gross margin rate accretion and volume growth from existing divisions through to the financial year ending October 31, 2024, as phase one. After that, in phase two, the company said it will aim for volume growth from the three new divisions, which will span from the 2024 financial year to 2026.

"The group has performed strongly in the second half of the year with our full year underlying profit before tax marginally ahead of our expectations. While the trading environment remains robust, it has been a challenging operational environment for our sector as we have emerged from the pandemic, with disruption to supply chains and the availability of materials," said Chief Executive Peter Truscott.

"I am delighted that our teams have remained focused on implementing our strategy and have managed to successfully navigate our way through these issues," Truscott added.

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Rank Group PLC - Maidenhead-based gambling operator, which owns Grosvenor Casinos and bingo venue Mecca - Non-Executive Director Susan Hooper to step down on January 31.

Chair Alex Thursby says: "On behalf of Rank I would like to thank Susan for her valuable contribution as a director on the board for over six years and as chair of the ESG & Safer Gambling Committee for the past three and a half years. Susan's customer-centric approach has had a strong influence on the development of our transformation programme and helped lay the foundations for Rank's future growth.

"Her experience has also been crucial in broadening the scope of our Safer Gambling Committee to encompass ESG in its wider form, without losing our clear commitment to safer gambling. Susan will leave the Rank board with our best wishes."

Also notes, Director of Finance Simon Hay, will step up as interim chief financial officer until successor to outgoing Bill Floydd has been appointed.

Current stock price: 150.20 pence

Year-to-date change: up 7.9%

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Seplat Energy PLC - Nigerian energy company - Co-founder & Chair Bryant Orjiako to step down at annual general meeting in May. Expects to replace Orjiako with independent chair at AGM.

"As chair of the group since 2009, Orjiako has led the transformation of Seplat into a globally respected energy Company. Notable achievements include instilling best practice corporate governance, and significant growth through several successful acquisitions. He was also the driving force behind Seplat Energy becoming the first and only Nigerian corporate to dual list on the Nigerian Exchange and the Main Board of the London Stock Exchange in 2014," company says.

Current stock price: 72.80 pence

Year-to-date change: up 12%

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Unilever PLC said Thursday it has agreed to offload its tea business, ekaterra, to CVC Capital Partners Fund VIII for EUR4.5 billion.

ekaterra, Unilever notes, runs a portfolio of 34 brands including Lipton, PG tips, Pukka, T2 and TAZO. The unit generated revenues of around EUR2 billion in 2020. Group revenue was EUR50.72 billion in 2020.

The deal is on a cash-free, debt-free basis.

Unilever Chief Executive Alan Jope said: "The evolution of our portfolio into higher growth spaces is an important part of our growth strategy for Unilever. Our decision to sell ekaterra demonstrates further progress in delivering against our plans.

"We are proud of the place that our Tea business has in our company's history. We look forward to seeing ekaterra, with its strong brands and global footprint, prosper under CVC's ownership. I would like to thank our Tea colleagues around the world for their passion and commitment to our Tea business and wish them well for the future."

The deal is still subject to regulatory clearance, but is expected to complete in the second half of 2022.

Unilever noted the sale excludes Unilever's Tea business in India, Nepal and Indonesia as well as Unilever's interests in the Pepsi Lipton ready-to-drink Tea joint ventures and associated distribution businesses.

John Davison, CEO of ekaterra, said: "ekaterra is a strong business with positive momentum and has an exciting future ahead under the new ownership of CVC. We look forward to the next stage of our journey as the world's leading Tea business."

Shares in Unilever closed 0.8% lower at 3,823.00 pence in London on Thursday.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Manchester Center, VT (05254)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low near 30F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low near 30F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
MANISTEE COUNTY  For just over a year, Cape Air has taken passengers to and from Manistee County Blacker Airport, but officials say that staffing issues have led to more and more flights being cancelled.

Andrew Bonney, Cape Airs senior vice president of planning, met with members of the Airport Authority via Zoom on Monday to discuss the problem and deliver a mea culpa.

I'm here to say that I am sorry that we have not delivered the reliability to which you are entitled, and to let you know that our intention is absolutely to get you back up and running at full capacity and full speed with flights being predictable and reliable, Bonney told the board members.

Cape Air has canceled 56 flights across its entire system for company controllable reasons in November. Ten of those flights were in Manistee.

While Manistee represents 1.6% of Cape Airs total operations, it has had 18% of its cancellations this year, according to Bonney.

Very often when Im doing these, year end, touch-bases, its rainbows and unicorns in the background and that is clearly not the case here, Bonney said. What we have delivered for you in Manistee is first, not what you deserve. It is also not representative of Cape Air as a whole, either in todays operation or historically what we have performed.

While some delays and cancellations can be chalked up to safety reasons, Bonney said that many were due to a lack of air crew.

One of the problems that we have had with Manistee service so far is that we haven't built yet a cadre of captains who were actually based in Manistee, who are homesteading in Manistee, he said.

One cancellation this month was due to a pilot missing their commute into Manistee to pick up an aircraft.

The cancellations that we've taken recently have been particularly painful because the bookings have been very strong. Looking ahead now for the rest of the month, we're booked to 81%.

To improve reliability going forward, Bonney said that Cape Air will work on moving some of its training personnel to Manistee on a temporary basis. The goal is to get more full time pilots trained and established in Manistee, according to Bonney.

That I think is probably the top of our list for the long-term solution, which is getting crew there who want to homestead, Bonney said. One of the things that we are talking about internally is housing, and helping make housing attractive for people who want to homestead in a Cape Air base at Manistee.

Another challenge for Cape Air is where Manistee is located, relative to the rest of its operations. The distance between Blacker Airport and the nearest Cape Air maintenance base in St. Louis requires a lengthy flight. The U.S. Department of Transportation last week selected Cape Air to serve Burlington, Iowa. Bonney says this will help Cape Air provide more aircraft and crew along the northern tier of its operation which includes Manistee.

Perhaps most troubling for Cape Air, and not just in Manistee, is the reliability of its next generation airplane, the Tecnam P2012 Traveller, which Bonney said has not performed at acceptable levels.

We have started to use more and more of the Cessna 402s while we work with the aircraft manufacturer  on reliability for the aircraft platform, he said. You can imagine that we are addressing  the lack of reliability for a brand new, very expensive airplane that we have invested significantly in.

The level of reliability that we are seeing on that aircraft, particularly in Manistee, is not yet where we need it to be, nor where you need it to be, Bonney continued.

Cape Airs contract to provide essential air service to Manistee County Blacker Airport runs until Sept. 30, 2022. The Massachusetts based-air service provider took over from North Country Sky, which is operated by United Air Shuttle, in 2019.


KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP)  The Qatar-based satellite news network Al-Jazeera said Sunday its bureau chief in Sudan was detained by security forces, a day after mass protests against last month's military coup.

The network said on Twitter that Sudanese forces raided the home of El Musalmi El Kabbashi and detained him.

The development comes after security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas Saturday to disperse protesters denouncing the militarys tightening grip on the country.

The Sudan Doctors Committee said a 15-year-old protester died Sunday of gunshot wounds to his stomach and thigh, raising the death toll to six people.

In a later statement, Al-Jazeera said El Kabbashi had been arrested at his home in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. The broadcaster said it held the Sudanese military responsible for his safety.

Al-Jazeera condemns in the strongest terms the reprehensible actions of the military and calls on the authorities to release El Kabbashi immediately and to allow its journalists to operate unhindered, free to practice their profession without fear or intimidation, the channel said.

Sudanese officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets across Sudan on Saturday to rally against the military coup last month. The takeover has drawn international criticism and massive protests in the streets of the capital of Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.

The killings Saturday took place in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman. The dead included four people killed by gunshots and one who died from being hit by a tear gas canister. The 15-year-old who died of his wounds Sunday brought to six the number of fatalities, the doctors committee said. Several other protesters were wounded, including from gunshots, it said.

That brought the tally since the Oct. 26 coup to at least 21 protesters dead, according to the medical group.

Saturday's rallies, called by the pro-democracy movement, came two days after coup leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan reappointed himself head of the Sovereign Council, Sudan's interim governing body. Thursdays move angered the pro-democracy alliance and frustrated the United States and other countries that have urged the generals to reverse their coup.

The newly appointed body held its first meeting, chaired by Gen. Burhan Sunday in Khartoum, the council said on its Facebook page. In a statement after the meeting, the council said it would form a civilian government in the coming days.

The pro-democracy movement condemned the excessive use of force against the protesters Saturday. The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change said their struggle to establish a full civilian government will not stop and called for mass demonstrations on Wednesday.

The Sudanese military seized power Oct. 25, dissolving the transitional government and arresting dozens of officials and politicians. The takeover upended a fragile planned transition to democratic rule, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government.

___

Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed.
Wanting to expand the Sanford Post Office parking lot, Chet Hunt, who owns the post office building, paid $25,000 to a Gladwin contractor but hasnt yet seen any work completed.

Im sure I got scammed, Hunt said.

Hunt, 85 and a semi-retired realtor living in Hawaii, said it has been difficult for large mail trucks to get in and out of the post office's current parking lot, at 239 West Saginaw Road. So, he wanted to help ease the stress.

In April, Hunt started looking for bids to expand the parking lot, but was coming up empty because contractors were so overwhelmed with jobs.

Then, Hunt was referred to a contractor, Kyle Willman from Straight Edge Concrete in Gladwin, who later put in a bid.

The bid was higher than I wanted to pay, Hunt said, but noted that he wanted to help out a village that's rebounding from the flooding of 2020.

Then, Willman asked for an advance of $25,000, saying he needed to buy equipment. Hunt said he wired that sum to Willman from Hawaii in July.

My golden rule is to never advance money to contractors, Hunt said. I reluctantly gave it to him. But through business, sometimes you have to take some risks."

Hunt said Willman, after receiving the $25,000, told him he would start on the work the next day. But instead, Willman took off on vacation, Hunt said.

Willman then gave Hunt a list of days he could start the work. Yet, Hunt said Willman has still not started the work.

Shortly after that, Hunts calls to Willman went to voicemail and his emails were not returned. The last message Hunt sent Willman was prior to Nov. 9, when he demanded his money back from Willman for not doing the job.

Hunt threatened going to the police, filing a lawsuit and more. Still, Hunt said Willman hasn't returned his calls or emails.

Several calls by the Daily News to Willman over the last three weeks were also not returned.

Hunt said he has no other recourse but to go to authorities and consult the legal system. He is sad that his good intentions have resulted in this hardship.

The people of Sanford are just amazing, Hunt said. I was just trying to make it a real nice post office for them.
Atletico Madrid have finally been informed been informed by UEFA that Antoine Griezmann will have to serve the second of a two-game ban in the Champions League and will therefore miss Los Rojiblancos' clash against AC Milan on November 24.

As we explained in MARCA on Tuesday, Atletico found it curious that they had not been told of the length of Griezmann's ban, with it only clear that he would miss the Matchday 4 fixture away at Liverpool.

Diego Simeone will now be without one of his star players for a crucial match against Milan, with UEFA adding to the controversy of Griezmann's original sending off with the issuing of a two-game ban.

Atletico will appeal

Atletico believe that a two-game suspension for Griezmann is excessive, so they will appeal this decision as soon as possible. Due to how late UEFA have been in informing Los Colchoneros, they will have to act a lot quicker in this instance, with just a week to go until the fixture takes place.

Griezmann has been in fine form in the Champions League so far this season, so his absence will be a big blow for Simeone. Should his ban not be reduced, Atletico will have to rely on the likes of Luis Suarez, Joao Felix and Angel Correa.

Felipe given two-match ban

Felipe Augusto has also been handed a two-match suspension by UEFA after his red card at Anfield. The Brazilian was given his marching orders in the first half for a foul on Sadio Mane.
The European Union (EU) urged Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to grant leniency to Julius Jones.

Jones, 41, was sentenced to lethal injection Thursday for the 1999 murder of businessman Paul Howell during a carjacking.

His life hangs in the balance as he awaits the governor's decision on whether to accept the state Board of Pardons and Paroles' recommendation to commute his sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

The U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Criminal Appeals denied an execution stay request from Jones and three other death row prisoners on Friday, leaving the decision in Stitt's hands.

The Howell family contends that the evidence is overwhelming and that Jones' execution should go forward.

Stavros Lambrinidis' letter

"The concerns expressed by Board members, including Mr. Jones' lack of understanding of the consequences of his actions at age nineteen, fundamental questions about the evidence, and the disparity between his sentences and those of Mr. Christopher Jordan, underscore the importance of commuting Mr. Jones' sentence," said Ambassador to the U.S. Stavros Lambrinidis.

Jones has maintained his innocence, alleging he was framed by his co-defendant Jordan. Jordan testified against Jones and is now free after being sentenced to 15 years.

The state Pardon and Parole Board, whose members are appointed by the governor, recommended clemency for 13 death row prisoners between 2001 and 2013.

Stitt has not commented on whether he will grant clemency to Jones, but Lambrinidis' letter adds to a growing chorus that includes celebrities, state Republican lawmakers and faith leaders.
Troops have been deployed in British Columbia to help stranded residents and search areas hit by landslides and floods after a powerful storm dumped a month's worth of rain in two days across a swath of the Pacific north-west in Canada and the US.

A woman was killed in a mudslide in western Canada on Wednesday.

Military personnel will assist with evacuation efforts, support supply chains and protect residents against floods and landslides.

The Canadian government approved a request for federal assistance from the embattled province, the minister of emergency preparedness Bill Blair confirmed.

Some members of the armed forces were already on the ground and additional troops were expected to arrive shortly, Canada's Defence Minister Anita Anand said.

South of the border in Washington state, water levels showed signs of dropping on Wednesday after floods damaged three-quarters of the homes in the border town of Sumas, leaving 1,600 residents without power and forcing hundreds to flee.
CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NetSfere, a global provider of next-generation secure and compliant messaging and mobility solutions, today announces its partnership with Deutsche Telekom, one of the worlds leading integrated telecommunications companies, to deploy NetSferes secure mobile messaging platform in all St. Augustinus hospitals, a leading German healthcare group.



Quick, instantaneous communication tools offer undisputed benefits to streamline staff communication, however, St. Augustinus noticed an alarming increase in the use of personal devices and popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, which pose critical privacy and compliance risks. In response, NetSfere and Deutsche Telekom partnered to implement NetSferes HIPAA and GDPR compliant messaging platform that offers similar functionality to apps like WhatsApp but provides the highest level of end-to-end encryption through Deutsche Telekoms highly secure data center.


In a world where digital media makes up most of our lives, its easier to just hide behind the laptop screens and share your meanest opinions without the fear of being caught. This is increasingly becoming the sad reality of the world we are living in. Just the day before yesterday, Vir Das video started to go viral wherein he delivered a monologue as part of his recent performance at the John F Kennedy Centre in Washington DC. He uploaded a video on Instagram, titled I Come From Two Indias.

It was only a matter of hours after he uploaded the video that he started trending on Twitter with many social media users calling him out for insulting the country. He was termed a traitor and people didnt approve of his act. In the video, he is heard talking about the duality of the country. He mentions topical issues India is grappling with including the battle against COVID-19. Vir talks about how Bollywood divides the nation on Twitter and ironically unites the audience in the theatres. He mentions how women are worshipped in the day and gang-raped at night. Vir is also heard talking about the crackdown against comedians, lack of information about the PM CARES fund and does not forget to mention the farmers' protests. He also mentions that some might find it a gigantic joke but its not.

People were offended by his monologue and a complaint was registered against the comedian. Not just Vir Das, we have found out five more Indian comedians who have landed in trouble for their acts in the past.

1. Munawar Faruqui

On January 1, 2021, standup comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested for a show in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He was booked under various IPC sections including 295A, which relates to deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings.

Town Inspector of Tukaganj Police Station Kamlesh Sharma had told The Indian Express that they had no evidence against Faruqui directly and that he had been booked as an organizer. Theres no evidence against him for insulting Hindu deities or Union Minister Amit Shah, he said.

The comedian has been a target of Hindutva groups for the past year. Last month, two shows featuring Faruqui were canceled after members of Bajrang Dal traveled from Gujarat to Mumbai and threatened the venue owners. They feel he has mocked Lord Rama in his previous videos and hence, they want to get all of his shows canceled.

2. Kunal Kamra

Kunal Kamra has always been in the news for his controversial tweets. He faced contempt charges over a series of tweets criticizing the Supreme Court for granting TV anchor Arnab Goswami interim bail.

Heres one of the tweets that got him in trouble:

 Twitter/Kunal Kamra

3. Agrima Joshua

Mumbai-based stand-up comedian Agrima Joshua landed in big trouble after she joked about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a standup gig. She even received rape and death threats because of a harmless joke.

Swara Bhasker came out in support of her and also shared the video of the comedians act.

Heres the video:

4. Kiku Sharda

Comedy Nights With Kapil actor Kiku Sharda was arrested for mimicking Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on his show. He was arrested for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the self-styled godmans followers. Kiku was booked on December 31 under section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious belief). Kiku Sharda was sent to 14-day judicial custody after police produced him before the court of Nandita Kaushik, Chief Judicial Magistrate in Kaithal. But, he was granted bail in this case.

5. Tanmay Bhat

Tanmay Bhat got in major trouble after he used an app called Face Swap, which allows users to borrow another persons face, for creating two videos titled Sachin Vs Lata #Civilwar that agitated followers of both the singer and the cricketer. Police complaints were filed against Bhat by Maharashtra's ruling BJP and also Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus M.Barysevich meets the Ambassador of Israel

On November 17, 2021, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Mikalai Barysevich met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to the Republic of Belarus Alex Goldman-Shayman.

Within the framework of regular contacts, the bilateral agenda as well as a number of regional policy matters in the Middle East region were discussed.

The parties touched upon the topic of joint events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

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Sharon P. Holland addresses her audience in the Dolibois Room at Shriver Center.

Written by Julia Holzl, CAS communication intern

Sharon P. Holland, a professor in American studies at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, visited Miami on November 4 to deliver a Humanities Center-sponsored lecture titled A Black Feminist Consideration of Animal Life in the Shriver Center.

After graduating from Princeton University, Holland went on to earn a Ph.D. in English and African-American studies from the University of Michigan. She is the author of the books Raising the Dead and The Erotic Life of Racism.

I am not here to bring you what you already know, I am here so that we can become recognizable towards others, Holland told her audience.

Holland began her lecture by educating the audience about the backstory of writing her article, Vocabularies of Vulnerability, which seeks to think through relations among animal, human and Black(ness). She then moved on to point out that the captivity of animals poses a question of how humans live, and quickly transitioned into information about MOVE, a pro-animal and activism group.

Natural living on the MOVE

MOVE, originally called the Christian Movement for Life, is a communal organization founded in 1972 in Philadelphia by John Africa. It advocated for nature laws and natural living and was centered around the question, How should we live as humans?

The MOVE conflict was a strange hybrid, a charged space at the intersection of race, modernity, class, nature, and culture, said Holland.

Holland explained how she worked directly with the archives of MOVE, but it became difficult to find footage of the compound due to COVID-19. She then shared that MOVE started as a protest against the caging of animals in the Philadelphia Zoo in 1972, but eventually became what it is known as today: an organization whose ideologies include Black liberation, environmentalism, and animal rights.

Holland wrapped up her lecture by explaining how MOVE was also passionate about reproductive rights within the organization.

Food for thought

Tyler Eyster, an English Literature major, said the notion of belonging was what stuck with him the most.

I came to this talk thinking it would be about the practices and theory and mechanics of human-animal relationships, Eyster said, adding that he found the happiness and joy of MOVE to be its own kind of revolutionary action.

This group, they dont always have to be serious, he said. Theyre finding communal ways of being and finding ways of making life work for them, and the animals that they care about and love so much. Myself, and being interested in animal studies, I was just thinking about race and animality as being interconnected, just in our given historical moment, for my own kind of work.

Maddy Evans, an English Education and Creative Writing major, had similar thoughts.

I thought the lecture was very insightful, and I learned about the MOVE group in Philadelphia, which I had never heard of before, Evans said. It sort of relates to my English major because it was about looking at concepts we may have already known about through a different lens, which reading literature encourages.
MDARD: Chronic Wasting Disease Confirmed in Two Farmed Elk from Kent County

For immediate release: November 18, 2021

Media contact: Chelsea Lewis-Parisio, 517-331-1151

LANSING, MI - Today, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) confirmed two cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in elk from a farmed cervid facility in Kent County. The two infected elk, a two-and-a-half-year-old and a three-and-a-half-year-old, were discovered through disease tracing efforts that resulted from finding CWD in a different Michigan farmed cervid herd. These are the first cases of CWD in Michigan elk.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects different cervid species, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, and moose. The disease can be transmitted directly from one animal to another and indirectly through the environment. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss, and physical debilitation in the latter stages of the disease.

"The discovery of chronic wasting disease in elk housed at a facility linked to a positive animal is not surprising," said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM. "MDARD's main priority is to limit the spread of this disease by working together with other state departments, farmers, and ranchers. These findings underscore how important it is to pay attention to CWD and the movement of animals that may allow the disease to spread."

The presence of CWD in farmed cervid facilities and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan. Since 2008, including these new cases, CWD has been detected at nine Michigan cervid farms in the following counties: Kent (2), Mecosta (3), Montcalm (3), and Newaygo.

No wild elk have tested positive for CWD in Michigan. The disease was first discovered in free-ranging deer in May 2015; cases have been found across nine counties in Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. To date, 37 free-ranging white-tailed deer have tested positive for CWD in Kent County.

As part of MDARD's disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out any possible exposure to other farmed cervids.

Currently, there have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, as a precaution, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that animals that have tested positive for CWD should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals.

More information about CWD can be found at Michigan.gov/CWD or Michigan.gov/MDARD-Cervid.

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BWB commuter pass program enrollment offers discounted travel rate as token program targets end date

Jocelyn Garza, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-245-7117 Transportation

Fast facts:

- The Blue Water Bridge (BWB) commuter pass program (Edge Pass Program) offers a discounted rate to eastbound BWB travelers.

- The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited is currently offering a token redemption program for customers with tokens remaining. As of July 1, 2022, tokens will no longer be accepted as payment.

- Travel restrictions continue to evolve. For information related to border crossing criteria, please reach out to the appropriate border security office.

November 18, 2021 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation's Blue Water Bridge (BWB) is currently enrolling customers in their discounted commuter Edge Pass Program. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, BWB toll operators transitioned away from cash payments, instead requiring the use of commercial accounts or debit/credit cards as the only acceptable forms of payment while the commuter program was developed.

Customers are encouraged to explore the option of the Edge commuter pass to help streamline payments at BWB tolls and ensure a reduced rate of $2.50 per toll for non-commercial vehicles with no more than two axles. In addition to the discounted rate, Edge pass holders will have use of a dedicated toll lane, as well as 24-hour access to manage their account balance online. As toll operations continue to evolve, use of the Edge commuter pass will ensure seamless payment at the BWB eastbound plaza. Questions regarding the Edge commuter pass can be directed to MDOT-BWB-CustomerCare@Michigan.gov.

In addition to the Edge pass programs discounted rate and ease of use, it is important to note than the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL) recently announced they will begin a token redemption program. The FBCL previously sold tokens, an accepted form of payment at both plazas, at a discounted rate for passenger travel. In 2016, the token program was canceled, but remaining tokens purchased prior to April 1, 2016, were still accepted as payment. Recently, the FBCL announced they will cease accepting any remaining tokens by July 1, 2022. A number of tokens still remain in circulation and the FBCL has announced a token redemption program that will transition any remaining tokens to the equivalent number of crossings via their ConneXion pre-payment frequent traveler program. If token holders do not currently have a ConneXion account, it will be created for the user. The ConneXion pre-payment account program was launched by the FBCL in October 2018 and offers users the best toll rate and savings for westbound BWB travel. Anyone currently possessing tokens is encouraged to exchange them by Dec. 31, 2022, via the following locations:

Blue Water Bridge Corporate Centre, 1555 Venetian Blvd., 4th Floor, Point Edward, Ontario. Office hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Exchange House at the BWB. Office hours 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Duty Free Store at the BWB. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

As travel restrictions are continually updated for entry into the United States and Canada, it is important for all commuters to understand travel requirements for each border crossings. The most up to date information can be found for both U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at the website links below, or by calling each agency's toll free number.
MVAA awards Statewide Veterans Service Provision Grant to the Michigan Veterans Coalition

MVAA awards Statewide Veterans Service Provision Grant to the Michigan Veterans Coalition

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has awarded the Statewide Veterans Service Provision Grant to the Michigan Veterans Coalition with a goal of getting more Michigan veterans connected to the benefits they earned for their service.

The grant, for fiscal year 2022, totals $5.15 million. That includes a $4.25 million base grant - which was increased by the Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this year from $3.8 million - as well as $900,000 in a one-time appropriation.

The grant was awarded to the Michigan Veterans Coalition (MVC) through a competitive grant process. The MVC is comprised of representatives from four Veteran Service Organizations: American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America.

The grant program supports veteran-specific services provided by the coalition's Veteran Service Officers throughout the state. The program aims to increase veteran applications submitted for disability compensation and health care enrollment to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as well as to communicate information about the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund and other VA benefits, including education, employment and memorial benefits.

"Through this grant program, Veteran Service Officers can assist veterans and their families with veteran-related issues, whether that's filing a disability claim, signing up for VA health care, connecting veterans to emergency assistance or other issues," said Zaneta Adams, Director of the MVAA, the state's central coordinating agency for Michigan's 567,919 veterans. "The goal is to increase both the breadth of services provided and the number of veterans and dependents reached across Michigan."

With expanded grant program should significantly increase the number of veterans and family members throughout Michigan who are connected to local, state and federal resources and benefits.

The MVC will pursue this goal through existing or enhanced Veteran Service Officer operations, such as a mobile service van that's being deployed in Region 2, which encompasses the greater Traverse City area.

Eligible applicants for the grant were Michigan Veteran Service Organizations, Michigan counties either individually or as a multi-county partnership, and Michigan tribal organizations.
City of Benton Harbor residents reminded of available resources to help reduce the risk of lead exposure

City of Benton Harbor residents reminded of available resources to help reduce the risk of lead exposure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 18, 2021

CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding City of Benton Harbor residents of resources available to them as part of an accelerated, across-the-board effort to reduce the risk of exposure to lead in drinking water while the city replaces all lead service lines.

Pipe replacement

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called for the replacement of lead service lines in Benton Harbor in 18 months and the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration has provided just under $20 million to Benton Harbor to speed up their service line replacement timeline.

There is no cost to City of Benton Harbor residents for lead service line replacement. To assist with assuring the work can be completed as soon as possible, residents are encouraged to complete the Water Service Line Replacement Agreement available online. Contractors cannot begin work on any property without property owner authorization. Completed forms can be returned to Abonmarche, 95 West Main Street, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 or emailed to bvasher@abonmarche.com

Home lead services

Funding though the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance coverage for low-income children, is available to provide comprehensive services to identify and remediate all lead hazards in Benton Harbor homes. This includes dust, paint, soil and drinking water.

Families living in Benton Harbor can apply for this service by filling out and mailing in an application that is available online. Residents also can call 866-691-5323 to obtain information.

Blood lead testing

Blood lead testing is being offered in the City of Benton Harbor next week to provide residents of all ages an opportunity to get their blood tested for free. For individuals who have elevated blood lead levels, the goals are to identify the source of lead, stop the lead exposure and to talk with their doctor to discuss any other tests or follow-up that might be needed.

Children less than 6 years old with an elevated blood lead level are offered nurse case management through the Berrien County Health Department, which includes a home visit with a registered nurse. More information is available in English and Spanish.

WIC ready-to-feed formula

To protect Benton Harbor's youngest residents and reduce lead exposure, the Michigan WIC program recommends breastfeeding or offering breast milk as long as possible. Talk to your medical provider if you have questions about your lead exposure. Contact your local WIC clinic at 269- 927-5646 to take advantage of additional breastfeeding support and nutrition education services. For parents choosing to formula feed, formula that does not require mixing with water is available to eligible Benton Harbor WIC clients. Ready-to-feed formula benefits may be obtained by using the WIC EBT card at authorized WIC vendors.

Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program

A federally funded program is helping pay the water and wastewater bills of eligible City of Benton Harbor residents who are past due on their bills or in disconnect status.

The City of Benton Harbor is providing a list of customer accounts to MDHHS that are past due or in disconnect status for a data match to current benefit status to help determine eligibility and expediate the payment process. The earliest eligible customers would see updates on their billing statements is mid-December. For more information about assistance, call 211.

Community ambassadors

To ensure the continued success of bottled water distribution locations in Benton Harbor and to recognize the city residents who have been stepping up to donate their time and talent, the State of Michigan has partnered with local agencies to pay city residents who work at state-supported bottled water distribution sites. Individuals who want to serve as community ambassadors to help distribute water should connect with an established distribution site. Individuals or groups who want to serve as unpaid volunteers can sign up on the United Way's online platform.

For more information on any of these programs or the work being done in the city of Benton Harbor, visit Michigan.gov/MILeadSafe.

Free bottled water continues to be provided by MDHHS and local, paid residents as City of Benton Harbor residents are being encouraged to use bottled water for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, rinsing foods and mixing powdered infant formula.

To arrange water delivery to homebound or residents without transportation in the city of Benton Harbor, contact 211, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phones that cannot contact 211 should contact 844-875-9211.

The upcoming schedule for bottled water pickup is:

Friday, Nov. 19

Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Self-service)

Saturday, Nov. 20

Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor, 600 Nate Wells Sr. Drive, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.,

Harbor of Hope Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 769 Pipestone Street, 4 - 6 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 21

Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, 3 - 5 p.m.

Brotherhood of All Nations, 1286 Monroe Street, 4 - 6 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 22

Southwest Community Action Agency, 331 Miller Street, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Self-service)

Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, noon - 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 23

Abundant Life Church of God, 693 Columbus Avenue, noon - 2 p.m.

Ebenezer Baptist Church, 214 E. Britain Avenue, 4 - 6 p.m.

The ongoing response in Benton Harbor includes the city, Berrien County Health Department, local community organizations, MDHHS and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Additional dates and locations for bottled water pick up will be added to make sure community needs are met. Information will be posted on Michigan.gov/MiLeadSafe.

For questions about lead, MDHHS can be reached at 866-691-5323 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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EGLE takes enforcement action against Stellantis

EGLE takes enforcement action against Stellantis

Nov. 18, 2021

Jill Greenberg. EGLE Spokesperson, GreenbergJ@michigan.gov, 517-897-4965

EGLE Media Office, EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov, 517-284-9278

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Air Quality Division (AQD) has announced it is taking escalated enforcement action against Stellantis.

The enforcement action will address several violation notices issued to the Detroit Assembly Complex Mack and the Warren Truck Plant, including odor violations and not installing pollution control equipment required by their air permits to collect, control, and reduce emissions.

"Escalating enforcement in a case where pollution control equipment was not installed properly, causing odors and health concerns from the community, is vital. The requirements in an air permit are necessary to protect the community. If the permit is not followed, companies must be held accountable." said Chris Ethridge, AQD field operations supervisor.

The enforcement action will contain a monetary penalty, a compliance plan and may include a Supplemental Environmental Project. The public will have an opportunity to view and submit comments before the enforcement action is finalized. Further information about the public's involvement will be provided at that time.

The results of escalated enforcement can take time. During this time, Stellantis will continue to fix the ductwork and any other issues with the equipment installation. AQD staff will be vigilant in inspecting and monitoring the source as well as responding to any complaint which may come in.

Additionally, EGLE has requested the help of the United States Environmental Protection Agency in conducting some air monitoring in the area around the Detroit Assembly Complex with their mobile lab. This monitoring was done on Nov. 16 and 17. Results of the monitoring will be provided once it is complete. Additional air monitoring also is planned.

Information about this enforcement action, such as violation notices and the company's response to those violation notices may be found online. Current permits, inspection reports, stack tests, and how to contact EGLE with a complaint, comment, question or concern can be found at EGLE's Stellantis webpage.

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Police investigating an October domestic violence complaint discovered nine poached bucks in a barn located in Decatur. Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers determined the illegal, trophy deer belonged to a previously convicted felon who is suspected of driving his truck through fields, shining and shooting deer. Justin Ernst, 33, Decatur, faces up to $59,500 in reimbursement to the state if convicted of the more than one dozen violations he was charged with. He was arraigned Nov. 9 in 7th District Court in Paw Paw. Ernst has a prior DNR conviction from 2018 for illegally taking or possessing whitetail deer. Previous felony charges on record for Ernst include possession of methamphetamine or ecstacy, third-degree fleeing a police officer and third offense (felony) operating a vehicle under the influence of liquor. "It's a shame that this criminal ruined the chance for ethical, legal hunters to have their opportunity to take one of these trophy deer," said Lt. Gerald Thayer, of the Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division. "Not only did this felon steal from the natural resource, he also damaged agriculture crops, and has been doing so for some time. The financial penalty is the minimum he should serve." The 15 DNR charges pending against Ernst include: Two counts of firearm possession by a felon.

Two felony firearms violations.

One count of hunting with a revoked hunting license.

One count of applying for, or obtaining, a hunting license when ineligible.

Nine counts of taking game illegally. On Oct. 17, DNR Conservation Officers Matt Page and Tyler Cole received a tip from Michigan State Police, that while troopers were investigating a domestic violence complaint involving Ernst, several deer were seen in a barn where Ernst spends time at. Shortly after receiving the tip, Page and Cole arrived at the residence to investigate the deer. Ernst had yet to be located by law enforcement following the domestic violence complaint. The homeowner told the conservation officers that Ernst was believed to be under the influence of methamphetamine. They were also told that he often stays out all night, and the next morning there would usually be a new buck in the barn. Receiving the homeowner's permission to "search anywhere," Page and Cole located and seized eight illegal bucks in the barn - five 10-pointers and three with 8-points. Two days later, Page received a tip from the DNR's Report All Poaching hotline that Ernst had been arrested on Oct. 18 and was being held at the Van Buren County jail for his Oct. 17 domestic violence charge. The tipster also reported that there was another buck in the barn. Page returned to the residence and again received permission from the homeowner to search the barn. There he located a 9-point buck that appeared to have been shot within the past 48 hours. While searching the barn, Page interviewed two additional witnesses. One said they saw Ernst with a dead deer in the back of his vehicle earlier that month. The second witness had located the 9-point buck that morning. At the jail, Page and Conservation Officer Travis Dragomer interviewed Ernst, who denied any connection to the poached bucks. He said he could not hunt because his hunting license had been revoked. On Oct. 20, Page executed a search warrant with Cole, Dragomer and Conservation Officers Zach Bauer and Sgt. Steve Mooney. During their search they located two shotguns and a crossbow, a bloody crossbow bolt from the bed of Ernst's vehicle, a cellphone that didn't work and a handheld spotlight located under the driver's seat of Ernst's vehicle. Ernst is free on bond and scheduled to reappear in court Dec. 20. Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and conducting lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.
Benson lifts driver's license suspensions for more than 150,000 Michiganders, cancels infractions for many more

Benson lifts driver's license suspensions for more than 150,000 Michiganders, cancels infractions for many more

NOVEMBER 18, 2021

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced today that her department has lifted suspensions on the driver's licenses of more than 150,000 Michiganders after ongoing implementation of laws that took effect last month identified additional infractions to cancel. The department lifted the suspensions of 12,000 Michiganders in October. Michigan residents who are now eligible for a driver's license may still need to pay a reinstatement fee or renew or reapply for a license, depending on how long the license was suspended.

In all, the Michigan Department of State has canceled infractions on the driving records of more than 350,000 Michiganders; however, many had additional infractions that were not impacted by the change in the law, and therefore their licenses remain suspended.

"We've continued to analyze the new laws in order to get eligible Michiganders safely back behind the wheel," said Benson. "Countless Michiganders need to drive to get to work, get groceries and get their children to medical appointments and I am committed to making government work for all of them."

Letters with more information are being sent this week to all impacted Michiganders at the address listed on their driving record. Copies of the letters will also be posted on each person's Secretary of State account online. The letters will indicate whether they are eligible to reinstate their license or if they continue to have outstanding infractions. Individual cases vary and impacted residents should obtain a copy of their driving record and seek legal assistance to determine what steps to take. Legal resources are available and can be found at Michigan.gov/SOSCleanSlate.

Residents can visit their Secretary of State online account to view their letter and purchase a copy of their driving record. Instructions and additional information are available at Michigan.gov/SOSCleanSlate.

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For media questions, contact

Tracy Wimmer at 517-281-1876.

We welcome questions and comments at the Contact the Secretary of State page.

Customers may call the Department of State Information Center to

speak to a customer-service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).
Gov. Whitmer Meets with Benton Harbor Residents and Local Leaders, Underscores Actions to Provide Safe Drinking Water

Gov. Whitmer Meets with Benton Harbor Residents and Local Leaders, Underscores Actions to Provide Safe Drinking Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 19, 2021

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Meets with Benton Harbor Residents and Local Leaders, Underscores Actions to Provide Safe Drinking Water

Governor calls on legislature to fully fund LSL replacement with additional $11.4 million investment, reiterates goal to replace 100% of Benton Harbor lead service lines in 18 months

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer today met with residents and local leaders in Benton Harbor, underscoring the Executive Directive she signed a few days ago implementing an all-hands-on-deck, whole-of-government approach to coordinate federal, state, and local resources to move forward with urgency and ensure that every parent in Benton Harbor can give their kid a glass of water with confidence. The governor reiterated her administration's goal to replace 100% of lead service lines (LSLs) in Benton Harbor in 18 months and called on the legislature to fully fund the cost of replacement with an additional $11.4 million investment.

"Every Michigander deserves safe drinking water," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Today, I visited Benton Harbor to hear from community leaders doing the work on the ground and residents living through water challenges every day. I called on the legislature to fully fund lead service line replacement with an additional $11.4 million investment, helping us meet our expedited timeline to replace 100% of lead service lines in 18 months. Our work will build on the Executive Directive I signed last week to pursue an all-hands-on-deck approach to protect access to safe drinking water right now and make lasting investments in water infrastructure. 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. That's why we will not rest until every parent feels confident to give their kid a glass of water knowing that it is safe."

"With Governor Whitmer's visit today, our administration continues to lift up the Benton Harbor community in every way that we can," said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "Last week's executive directive reaffirmed our strong partnership with Benton Harbor residents and local officials. It implements a whole-of-government approach to the challenges facing this community and commits state government to helping Benton Harbor replace every lead service line with better infrastructure. We must complete these critical upgrades as quickly as possible, and I join the governor in calling on the legislature to work with us to appropriate the funds Michigan has received from the American Rescue Plan."

"Today's listening sessions demonstrated the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration's commitment to the Benton Harbor community and were a welcome chance for residents and community leaders to communicate their concerns directly to Governor Whitmer," said Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad. "I am grateful that Governor Whitmer visited Benton Harbor today, and for our continued partnership with the state of Michigan as we work to protect access to safe drinking water, upgrade our community's water infrastructure, and keep Benton Harbor families safe."

"Clean water is not a luxury. It's a basic necessity," said Rep. Fred Upton. "In 2016, I worked with Representative Dan Kildee, who represents Flint, to require the EPA to immediately notify states of potential lead contamination. Last October, I also helped secure $5.6 million for lead pipe replacement in Benton Harbor. Replacing lead lines is not a partisan issue and I would hope that every Republican and Democrat would work together on this issue confronting our communities."

"The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is committed to partnering with the Berrien County Health Department and other community, state and federal partners to provide safe drinking water to Benton Harbor residents until lead service lines are replaced," said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. "MDHHS will be there for the residents of Benton Harbor - today, tomorrow and until lead has been eliminated from the city's drinking water. We will ensure that residents have an alternative drinking water supply by helping them access free bottled water. And we will work swiftly on a long-term solution by replacing lead service lines."

"It's past time to 'fix the damn pipes.' Our decades-long failure to invest in infrastructure continues to threaten the health and safety of Michigan children," said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. "The best path forward to guarantee safe drinking water is the quick replacement of Benton Harbor's lead pipes."

"We commend Governor Whitmer's commitment to the health and well-being of Michigan's families and communities," said We the People of Detroit, a water justice organization. "By working to replace 100% of lead service lines in Benton Harbor in 18 months, she's following through on her responsibility to protect drinking water in the state of Michigan. We will continue working with local and state leaders to replace every lead pipe in every community in our state so that all Michiganders can give our children a glass of clean affordable drinking water and have confidence that it is safe."

"Benton Harbor is a proud community with a rich history and everyone I talk to in Benton Harbor wants to protect their children, neighbors and friends. They just want to know that the water is safe to

drink," said Regina Strong, Michigan's Environmental Justice Public Advocate. "That's why Governor Whitmer's actions today are so important. They reflect what we have committed to do - ensure that everyone in Benton Harbor has access to clean, safe drinking water. Standing with the families of Benton Harbor is an environmental justice priority that we must address with urgency."

Funding

The estimated cost to replace 100% of LSLs in Benton Harbor is $30 million. The State of Michigan has so far delivered $18.6 million with $10 million in the recently signed FY 2022 budget, $3 million from the MI Clean Water plan, and a $5.6 million Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.

With $18.6 million out of $30 million appropriated to date, Benton Harbor still needs at least $11.4 million to replace 100% of their LSLs in the next 18 months. Today, Governor Whitmer called on the legislature to secure the remaining funding by utilizing the billions in federal funding available to Michigan under the American Rescue Plan.

The FY 2022 budget also includes $15 million in water emergency funding currently being used to supply bottled water to Benton Harbor, among other key uses.

Executive Directive (ED)

The ED builds on ongoing efforts underway at various departments and by critical stakeholder groups and community leaders, ensuring state government and its partners are all rowing in the same direction and laser-focused on shared goals.

Here are some of the actions the ED takes:

Residents of Benton Harbor must continue to have access to free bottled water until further notice.

Residents must be offered free or low-cost lead-related services including but not limited to drinking water testing and health services.

The State of Michigan will collaborate closely with federal partners, county officials, city officials, and community leaders to communicate up-to-date information and leverage every available resource to accelerate lead service line replacement.

To view the full executive directive, click the link below:

[EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE 2021-06]

Lead Service Lines (LSLs)

Under Michigan's Lead and Copper Rule, the strictest nationwide, every community is required to replace 5% of its LSLs every year, meaning 100% replacement in 20 years. However, any community experiencing an action level exceedance, or ALE, is required to replace their LSLs at a rate of 7% per year, meaning 100% completion in just under 15 years.

With additional federal funding expected under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act making its way through Congress, the State of Michigan will receive billions more to fix its infrastructure, including lead pipes.

Lead

There is no safe level of lead. Lead exposure harms brain development in children and it causes both short and long-term health problems for adults. The leading causes of lead exposure are drinking water and paint. About 34 million homes have lead-based paint and around 9.2 million have lead pipes. Michigan's top priority is simple: safe drinking water for everyone. Residents should visit MI Lead Safe (michigan.gov/lead) to see all available resources and guides.

Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration Actions

In the two and a half years since the Whitmer-Gilchrist Administration took office in January 2019, the State of Michigan has invested more in its water infrastructure than the previous five years-from 2014 to 2018-combined. The governor launched the MI Clean Water plan to invest $700 million to build up drinking and wastewater infrastructure while supporting 10,000 good-paying jobs. The plan addresses high water rates, tackles toxic contaminants like PFAS, builds up sewer and septic systems that can't meet demand, and replaces lead service lines. In addition to MI Clean Water plan, Michigan has invested millions in drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater facilities across the state supporting thousands of local jobs.

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Gov. Whitmer announces 30 jobs & $11.2 Million Investment from Expansion of BorgWarner Thermal Systems in Cadillac

Gov. Whitmer announces 30 jobs & $11.2 Million Investment from Expansion of BorgWarner Thermal Systems in Cadillac

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 18, 2021

Contact: Kathleen Achtenberg Achtenbergk@michigan.org

Gov. Whitmer announces 30 jobs & $11.2 Million Investment from Expansion of BorgWarner Thermal Systems in Cadillac

Company launching new high-voltage cooler heater systems to be used in hybrid, electric vehicles

Project builds on Michigan ' s leader ship in mobility and electrification sector

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) today to announce that BorgWarner Thermal Systems, a manufacturer of thermal technology for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles, is expanding its operations in Cadillac with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

The project is expected to generate a total capital investment of $11.2 million and create up to 30 jobs with the support of a $225,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. Michigan was chosen for the project over a competing site in North Carolina.

"This investment by BorgWarner will create 30 good-paying jobs in Northern Michigan as we work to grow the state's economy, create good-paying jobs, and build the industries of the future," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "This expansion reinforces our reputation as a leader in the future of mobility and electrification. We're excited to celebrate BorgWarner's expansion in Cadillac and look forward to working together to grow and add jobs for Michigan residents in the future."

BorgWarner Thermal Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Auburn Hills-based BorgWarner, specializes in thermal management technology for combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles. The company's most recent technology is the high-voltage coolant heater used in electric vehicles. BorgWarner currently has approximately 1,300 employees in Michigan.

BorgWarner is growing its EV business and plans to manufacture advanced high-voltage coolant heater systems that will be used to manage cabin and battery temperatures, critical for vehicle efficiency in hybrid and pure electric vehicles.

"Congratulations to the team at BorgWarner on your tremendous growth and success. We appreciate this continued vote of confidence in our incredible talent and competitive business climate here in Michigan," said Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. "We're pleased to work with our local partners to support BorgWarner's investment in Cadillac, reinforcing Michigan's position as the leader in electric vehicle manufacturing."

The project bolsters Michigan's leadership position in advanced manufacturing and will further boost the state's efforts to position itself as the global leader in the future of mobility and vehicle electrification. BorgWarner provides full benefits to its employees and encourages promotion from within and is also developing training programs to further upskill its employees.

"I want to thank BorgWarner leadership for their continued investment in this plant and our people, as well as the MEDC and city of Cadillac for their support in growing our community," said Hari Kumar, plant manager of BorgWarner's Cadillac facility. "The Cadillac plant has more than 75 years of rich, automotive history and I am excited and honored to lead the team into the electrification era with the launch of our new high-voltage coolant heaters."

The city of Cadillac has offered to support the project with permitting assistance. The city of Cadillac is certified with MEDC's Redevelopment Ready Communities program.

"As City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer of the city, I want to thank BorgWarner for its longstanding commitment to our community and for bringing good jobs to our residents. As a newly-certified RRC community, I can attest that our organization offers a 'hands-on' approach to working with all of our industries," said Cadillac City Manager Marcus A. Peccia. "We are thrilled this project has become a reality for our city and state. I also want to thank the MEDC and all our partners who helped to make this happen."

Today's news builds on the September announcement that electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian is establishing a new Rivian Service Support Operations facility in Plymouth, a project that is expected to generate a total capital investment of $4.6 million and create 100 jobs.

Michigan continues to focus on forward-thinking innovations around mobility and electrification, including through the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, which is working across state government, academia and private industry to enhance Michigan's mobility ecosystem, including developing dynamic mobility and electrification policies and supporting the startup and scale-up of emerging technologies and businesses.

For information on careers with BorgWarner, visit https://www.borgwarner.com/careers.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

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Although I dearly love all hunting avenues and the various hunting arms used, I must admit that hunting with a handgun has truly become my favorite passion. That is why a dozen years ago, I decided to finally take the plunge and invest in a dream I had harbored for some time. Some hunters, when they reach a certain point in their life (such as when the last of three kids is finally through college) might decide to finally buy that long-thought-of (and probably expensive) bow, rifle or shotgun.

For me, of course, that desired item would have to be what I personally consider the ultimate hunting revolver.

The person who most influenced my deep affection for handgun hunting was the late Larry Kelly, founder of Mag-Na-Port International, a Michigan-based business in Harrison Township, near Mount Clemens. Larry (who passed away in December 2010) developed the process for porting the muzzles of firearms to tame recoil, and created many customizing features to further enhance performance and handling characteristics. (For instance, the snub-nosed magnum revolvers being manufactured today that are designed for a fishermans or hikers last-ditch protection from big bears, were originally created and customized by Mag-Na-Port.)

Larry Kelly actually began handgun hunting not long after he was married. His passion at the time was pursuing local cottontails with beagles, and he had already switched from a shotgun to a .22 rifle to add more challenge to the hunt when his wife presented him with a gift, a .22 H&R nine-shot revolver. From then on, there was no looking back for Larry.

When Ruger first came out with its .44 Magnum Black Hawk (single-action) revolver, Larry bought one right away, although at that time he had to do so on the layaway plan, as money was short. The first big-game animal he took with a handgun was a four-point whitetail buck taken near Pinconning using the Ruger revolver. This Ruger revolver would also play a major role in the Mag-Na-Port legacy, as it was the first firearm to be ported after Larry had experimented with the special EDM process on some military-surplus rifle barrels.

To promote his new business, Larry began using his passion for handgun hunting to pursue big-game animals all over the world. I can remember seeing Mag-Na-Port ads (as well as articles by Larry) in outdoor publications which had photos of him posing next to everything from big bears to even elephants, holding only a handgun.

It was over 35 years ago when I contacted Larry to interview him for my weekly newspaper column. It was then that I got to hold and admire a newly developed hunting revolver he had recently used quite successfully on some African safaris to shoot not only Cape buffalo, but lions and even elephants as well. (Larry killed a male lion that was charging at close range, hitting the lion in the chest when it was in midair and not only stopping its forward momentum but knocking over it backwards.)

This revolver was the Freedom Arms .454 Casull revolver (first manufactured in 1983), which at that time was the only firearm being made for that particular (new) cartridge, making it the most powerful revolver in the world, for a while, anyway. Constructed of stainless steel, it is of the Colt-type single-action design and has a five-shot cylinder, instead of the typical six-shot cylinder, to assist its stout nature for handling heavy loads designed for hunting.

Larry Kelly considered the Freedom Arms .454 Casull the finest revolver ever made (he literally staked his life on it), and I must concur.

However, at that time, our house was under continual construction, and my wife Ginny and I had three young sons for whom we had already begun saving funds for college, so the Freedom Arms revolver was a tad out of my reach, even on the layaway plan.

So, I went with what I had: a new model Ruger Black Hawk revolver in the venerable .45 Colt (which I had purchased in 1974  weve been together awhile).

Mag-Na-Port has two custom designs for hunting revolvers: the Predator, which is a shorter-barrel (usually just under five inches) version with open sights, and the Stalker, which features a longer barrel (usually over eight inches) and is topped with a handgun scope. The custom features include a trigger with a three-pound pull (no creep), a crowned muzzle (to improve accuracy when the bullet exits), and porting to control recoil.

I selected the Predator customization for my Ruger revolver, but had the barrel left to its original 7  inches because I always liked its balance and feel, and I believe that is a good barrel length for milking out the best in my .45 Colt hand-loads.

The person doing the work on the handgun was Larry Kellys son, Ken, who now heads the business and was also the 2007 Pistolsmith of the year. When it comes to customizing handguns (and all other firearms), Ken is a true artist. (He actually started helping his dad at the age of 12 and has certainly earned his spurs working from the ground on up.)

Ive never regretted having my Ruger revolver Mag-Na-Port customized, Ive taken my share of local whitetails with it, and it will always remain a favorite handgun of mine. But I must admit that I never got over being smitten with Larry Kellys Freedom Arms .454 Casull that he had customized into a Mag-Na-Port Stalker. I just had to have one, is all I can say. The key would be convincing my wife that it was all a business expense."

When you make decisions like this, you need to start early and not wait until a couple weeks before the opening day of deer season. Ive always said that all firearms require a dating period, so to speak, before the marriage in order to know them well. It is good I followed my own advice because I discovered Freedom Arms revolvers dont grow on trees, even at the factory in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming. I had to wait nine weeks for mine to be built.

Then it was off to Ken Kelly to get the Mag-Na-Port Stalker conversion. I had also ordered a 2X Leupold handgun scope (which Larry Kelly swore by) and had it ready and waiting when the work began.

I stuck with the original 10-inch barrel, not only for optimum performance, but also because it felt just right in my hand. I also ordered the revolver with the smooth black micarta grips, not only because it looks nice with stainless steel, but also because single-action revolvers are designed to literally rock in the palm of your hand during recoil, which is a distinct asset, in my opinion.

Needless to say, I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I traveled to the Mag-Na-Port facility to fetch my completed ultimate hunting revolver." And there was plenty of time left for the dating process before the marriage, so to speak, until the next local deer season arrived.

My ultimate hunting revolver continually serves me quite well for local whitetails, and it is a favorite firearm for Michigan black bear hunting. The .454 Casull round also comes in a wide variety of bullet selections for every hunting application you can think of, and it is truly a powerhouse.

The worldwide hunting feats and adventures performed by Larry Kelly using his trusty Mag-Na-Port Stalker revolver for bagging an amazing variety of big-game (including dangerous game) animals certainly say it all.

Email Tom Lounsbury at tlounsburyoutdoors@gmail.com
BIG RAPIDS  One marijuana shop has permanently closed its doors in Big Rapids after less than a year since opening.

The Wellflower, located along Maple Street next to Jets Pizza, initially opened in January as a medical marijuana dispensary. The business later expanded to adult recreational use and offered in-store and curbside services.

A message, written in paint, at the entrance of The Wellflower reads, Shop closing. Last day to shop Oct. 31.

The Wellflower was Big Rapids fifth marijuana shop to open and third in the downtown area. The Big Rapids location also was the owner's first location to open in the state of Michigan.

The company later expanded to the city of Manistee, where it currently operates one recreational/medical marijuana store. It is Manistee's third such store, located at 50 Arthur St. It opened in late May.

Related content Third marijuana business to open in Manistee

Big Rapids now has 11 marijuana shops open and a 12th  Timber Provisioning Center, which will operate at the former site of Ttowa Sushi  is set to open before the end of the year.

Prior to opening the Maple Street location, Wellflower staff were required  by the state and city  to renovate and bring the building up to code. Under Big Rapids current marijuana ordinance, a potential marijuana business could occupy the space, if desired, in the future, according to Paula Priebe, community development director for the city.

Priebe said that in recent months, Big Rapids officials have modified portions of the citys marijuana ordinance pertaining to the downtown area. The planning commission implemented a 400 foot setback buffer zone around the Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District Transition Center on Michigan Avenue.

In the case of the Wellflower, its outside of the setback area  so another (marijuana) business could purchase the property, Priebe said.

Any business owner or company would still be required to go through each of the citys and states processes and paperwork before a new business opened, she said.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP)  Free menstrual products will be mandatory in restrooms that serve the public in Ann Arbor.

The ordinance was approved unanimously this week by the city council and will kick in on Jan. 1.

These products support basic human needs, and its long past time that we as a society acknowledge and respond to that reality," Mayor Christopher Taylor said.

All public restrooms in Ann Arbor, including in bars and restaurants, must offer toilet paper, soap, paper towels, tampons and menstrual pads. Violations can result in $100 tickets, MLive.com reported.

Taylor gave credit to a high school student who expressed concerns about some residents having difficulty obtaining menstrual products.

Council member Travis Radina said the ordinance will apply to men's restrooms, too. Churches and other places of worship might qualify for exemptions.

Council member Ali Ramlawi, who also is a restaurant owner, predicted that enforcement will be a challenge but he supported the ordinance.

This is not going to put people out of business, but I think it needs to be noted that we need to have our own public restrooms as a municipality and not just put the responsibility on everybody else, Ramlawi said.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Chinese coast guard ships blocked and sprayed a powerful stream of water at two Philippine boats carrying supplies to troops at a disputed South China Sea shoal, prompting Manila to order Beijings ships to back off and warn that its supply vessels are covered by a mutual defense treaty with the United States, Manilas top diplomat said Thursday.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said no one was hurt in the incident on Tuesday, but the two supply ships had to abort their mission to provide food to Filipino forces occupying Second Thomas Shoal, which lies off western Palawan province in the Philippines internationally recognized exclusive economic zone.

Locsin said in a tweet that the three Chinese coast guard ships actions were illegal and urged them to take heed and back off.

It was the latest flare-up in the long-simmering territorial disputes in the strategic waterway, where China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and has transformed seven shoals into missile-protected island bases to cement its assertions, ratcheting up tensions and alarming rival claimants and Western governments led by the U.S.

The Philippine government conveyed to China our outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident, Locsin said, adding that this failure to exercise self-restraint threatens the special relationship between the Philippines and China that President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, worked to nurture.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Chinas coast guard had upheld Chinas sovereignty after the Philippine ships entered Chinese waters at night without permission.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon told reporters in Manila that two Chinese coast guard ships blocked the two wooden-hulled supply vessels. A third coast guard ship water cannoned the two for one hour," he said, adding that the outrigger of one of the Philippine ships was displaced by the impact.

A water cannon is a device on firetrucks that shoots high-velocity water for firefighting and crowd control but has also been installed on Chinese coast guard ships to drive away what China considers intruders in the waters it claims.

The Philippines plans to deploy coast guard and Bureau of Fisheries vessels instead of navy ships to back up its forces and enforce its fishing laws at Second Thomas Shoal, which Filipinos call Ayungin and China refers to as the Ren'ai reef, Esperon said.

The number of Chinese surveillance ships has increased in recent weeks in the far-flung shoal and also around Thitu, a larger Philippine-occupied island in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Seas most hotly contested area, he said.

Philippine forces wont be deterred from traveling again to the shoal following the incident, he said.

We will continue the resupply and we do not have to ask the permission of anybody because that is within our territory, Esperon said.

The Philippine military deliberately ran aground a World War II-era warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, at the submerged shoal in 1999 to fortify its claim and provide a shelter to a small contingent of Filipino marines.

The Sierra Madre is now effectively a rusty shipwreck but the Philippine military has not decommissioned it. That makes the ship an extension of the government and means any attack on the ship is tantamount to an assault against the Philippines.

In 2014, the Philippine military invited more than a dozen journalists, including from The Associated Press, on a resupply mission to the shoal in a bid to draw global attention to what Philippine officials have called Chinas bullying tactics.

Two Chinese coast guard ships then tried to block the slow-moving, military-chartered vessel carrying the journalists, with one cutting dangerously through the Philippine ship's path twice. The Chinese coast guard warned the Philippine vessel by radio to turn back, saying it was illegally venturing into Chinese territory.

The Chinese ships blew their horns intimidatingly, but the boat managed to maneuver toward the Sierra Madre through shallow waters dotted with rocky coral outcrops, preventing the Chinese ship from pursuing.

Washington has no claims in the busy waterway but has patrolled the region with its Navy ships and aircraft to assure its allies, including the Philippines, and protect freedom of navigation and overflight. China has repeatedly warned the U.S. to stay away from the disputed waters and not meddle in what it says is a regional issue.

President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, have repeatedly assured the Philippines that the U.S. will honor its obligation under the nations Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine forces, ships or aircraft come under attack in the region.

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Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP)  Maria Ressa says much still remains uncertain about her life in the month since she became the first ever Filipino and the first working journalist in more than 80 years to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Will her battle against a libel suit in the Philippines lead to jail time? Will she be able to travel to Norway to accept her prestigious award next month? When is the next time shell be able to see her family?

You know the painting The Scream? Ressa said Tuesday evening, holding her hands to her face and mock-bellowing into the existential void like the famed Edvard Munch work. I wake up every day like that.

I dont know where it will lead, Ressa continued during an interview with The Associated Press at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, shortly before delivering the universitys annual Salant Lecture on Freedom of the Press. But I know that if we keep doing our task, staying on mission, holding the line, that theres a better chance that our democracy not only survives, but that I also stay out of jail. Because Ive done nothing wrong except be a journalist. That is the price we have to pay."

Her Harvard speech came just hours after American journalist Danny Fensters emotional reunion with family in New York following his negotiated release from military-ruled Myanmar, where hed spent six months in jail for his work.

It shows how it crumbles fast. The ground were on is quicksand, the 58-year-old co-founder of Rappler, a Manila-based news website, said of Fenster's ordeal. Power can do what it wants.

Ressa worries about what next years elections in the Philippines, U.S. and elsewhere will bring. She criticizes American social media companies as misinformation continues to proliferate on their platforms, allowing repressive regimes to thrive and threaten democratic institutions.

If you dont have facts, you cant have truth. You cant have trust. You dont have a shared reality, she said. So how do we solve these existential problems  the rise of fascism, coronavirus, climate change  if we dont agree on the facts? This is fundamental.

Ressa said U.S. policymakers should revise key sections of federal internet law and the international community should take other steps.

You need to look at algorithms that prioritize the spread of lies, hate, anger, and conspiracy theories, she said. Lets cut it off upstream. Not downstream, where it becomes content and you run into all the freedom of speech questions.

Ressa, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, is wrapping up a monthlong stint as a visiting fellow at Harvard. It's her first time out of the country since being convicted last summer of libel and sentenced to jail in a decision seen as a major blow to press freedom globally.

Ressa, who has remained free on bail while that case is on appeal, says shes looking forward to spending Thanksgiving in Florida with her parents, who she hasnt seen in two years. Then its back to Manila, where she faces up to six years in prison, not to mention a series of other active legal cases against her.

Its also no certainty that Ressa will be granted court approval to travel again next month to attend the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Before this months trip, the Philippine courts denied a number of other travel requests, including one she says was to visit her ailing mother.

Its like death by a thousand cuts, said Ressa, who was born in Manila but raised mostly in the U.S. before moving back to the Philippines and launching a journalism career. You dont know how free you are until you begin to lose your freedom, or you have to ask people for your freedoms.

At Harvard, Ressa has been meeting with faculty and students, giving talks and doing research for a forthcoming book.

She co-founded Rappler in 2012, and the website quickly gained notoriety for its reporting on Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes bloody, yearslong crackdown on illegal drugs. The news organization has also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.

During Tuesdays lecture, which Ressa gave remotely from her hotel room due to a potential COVID-19 exposure related to the campus event, she also reflected on the toll on her personal life.

In the Philippines, shed taken to wearing a bulletproof vest at times in public, and pleaded with Facebook to delete violent posts against her as death threats mounted.

For female journalists in particular, Ressa said, attacks on social media quickly become menacing. Among roughly half a million online attacks shes received, some 60% were against her credibility while 40% were more personal and meant to tear down my spirit," she said.

There are moments when you go, Why? Why does it demand this much? Ressa said. But the cost of not doing the right thing is far greater than the consequences for one person.
A Michigan woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a murder-for-hire plot that came unravelled thanks to a bogus, satirical website called "Rent-A-Hitman," and could face up to nine years in prison.

The 52 year old woman, Wendy Lynn Wein of South Rockford, used the fake website "Rent-A-Hitman" to try to solicit the murder of her former husband on July 17, 2020, according to a news release from Michigan State Police.

Wein contacted the website, which claims to offer hitmen to "solve problems," under a fake name, but provided other real information at the end of her "service request," prompting the owner of the website to contact MSP, according to the release.

The website owner was concerned that Wein may be attempting to kill her ex-husband because she specified him as the target of her problems.

An investigation was then initiated by the MSP Monroe Post where an undercover state trooper posing as a hitman met with Wein in her hometown, according to the release.

Upon meeting, Wein offered to pay the undercover state trooper $5,000 to murder her ex-husband, who lives in another state, and provided him with an up-front payment of $200 for travel expenses. Wein also gave the detective her former husband's home address, work address and work schedule, according to reporting by FOX 2 Detroit.

On July 21, 2020, Wein was arraigned in the First District Court where she was charged with solicitation to commit murder and illegal use of a computer to facilitate a crime, according to the MSP release.

On Friday, she pleaded guilty to both charges and will appear in court again for her sentencing Jan. 13, 2022, according to reporting by Fox 2 Detroit.

Since launching the fake site in 2005, the owner of www.rentahitman.com told investigators that he has been contacted numerous times by people requesting murders, school shootings and even a baby abduction. He claims the website has been responsible for preventing more than 130 murders because he refers all requests to MSP, according to the release.
This story has been updated with information on how the amount of grand funding available to counties is calculated based on the number of medical marijuana cards issued and renewed in each county.

Manistee and Benzie Counties both stand to receive some money from the Marijuana Regulatory Agency to educate the public about medical marijuana.

The agency recently released the amounts for potential Medical Marihuana Operation and Oversight Grants for fiscal year 2022, and opened the applications process. Counties can apply for the funds or act as the fiduciary for another organization looking to utilize them.

The grants are used for education, communication and outreach regarding the 2008 Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, but cannot be used for law enforcement purposes.

Manistee County organizations can potentially net at total of $4,348. Benzie County could receive a total of $14,587.

The amounts are based on the number of marijuana registry identification cards issued or renewed in the county as of Sept. 30. According to the agency, cards are needed by those seeking medical marijuana products.

"The formula for the MMOOG grants is based on a countys percentage of the total cards (renewal/new) issued by the State of Michigan," wrote David Harns, public relations manager for the Marijuana Regulatory Agency in an email to the Record Patriot.

In some years, counties have more cards issued and renewed than previous years, but they are allotted less potential funding.

"Even though a specific county may have more cards (than a previous year) in a given year, their percentage to the total number of cards issued to all Michigan counties may be less," Harns continued in the email.

Benzie County saw 567 cards issued or renewed, and Manistee saw 169 cards issued or renewed.

The largest grant total available for a county was Wayne County at $566,541 and Gladwin County was the lowest with a possible $257 in grants, according to the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs grant listing of the $3 million available statewide.

The oversight grants have been available annually since 2016, according to the agency.

Medical marijuana cards issued or renewed since 2016 2022 Benzie: 567 Manistee: 169 2021 Benzie: 573 Manistee: 218 2020 Benzie: 353 Manistee: 171 2019 Benzie: 350 Manistee: 420 2018 Benzie: 324 Manistee: 348 2017 Benzie: 382 Manistee: 394 2016 Benzie: 288 Manistee: 250 Information comes from the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency See More Collapse

Lisa Sagala, administrator for Manistee County, said the county has taken advantage of the funds in the past by acting as a fiduciary for District Health Department # 10.

The county applies and act as a fiduciary through which the health department can get the grants, Sagala said. The county acts as a pass-through. There are stipulations, and we must apply.

Sagala said the funding allows the health department to create an outreach program.

It helps them receive funds and do some projects they might otherwise not be able to do, she said.

Jen Hansen, community health supervisor fro District Health Department #10, said the department has not yet talked with county governments in its jurisdiction about applying for the grant funding.

"Each year when the RFP (request for proposal) comes out we get in touch with our county administrators in all 10 of our counties and see if they are interested in partnering on this," Hansen wrote in an email. "Being that we have not yet had those conversations I am unsure if Manistee intends to apply or not. If they do, we create a plan for the year, get their approval and it gets submitted to the state."

In the past, the department has used the funds for educational billboards and social media campaigns, lockboxes for residents and healthcare provider education.

"Our efforts are primarily targeted at preventing youth access to marijuana, accidental ingestion by kids, and information regarding the risks of marijuana use during pregnancy," Hansen said.

In total, the Michigan Legislature has appropriated three million dollars for the 2022 Medical Marihuana Operation and Oversight Grants

Once grant applications are accepted and approved by the agency, the grant recipients are required to submit quarterly financial status reports and a final report.

Application information and instructions can be found at michigan.gov/mra.

Medical Marijuana Operation and Oversight Grant applications must be received electronically no later than Jan. 1, 2022 at MRA-MMOOG@michigan.gov.
NEW DELHI (AP)  Air pollution remained extremely high in the Indian capital on Thursday, a day after authorities closed schools indefinitely and shut some power stations to reduce smog that has blanketed the city for much of the month.

New Delhis air quality remained very poor, according to SAFAR, Indias main environmental monitoring agency. The concentration of tiny airborne particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter  known as PM 2.5  neared 300 micrograms per cubic meter in some parts of the city, it said.

The World Health Organization designates the maximum safe level as 25. The tiny particles can lodge in the lungs and other organs, causing long-term health damage.

New Delhi, a city of 20 million, is one of the worlds most polluted cities. Air quality often hits hazardous levels during the winter, when the burning of crop residue in neighboring states coincides with lower temperatures that trap smoke. The smoke travels to New Delhi, obscuring the sky.

Emergency measures went into effect on Wednesday in an attempt to stem the health crisis.

Schools were closed indefinitely and employees were asked to allow half of their staff to work from home for a week. Some coal-based power stations outside New Delhi were ordered to shut down and construction activities were halted.

The measures, however, are expected to have very little effect.

Meanwhile, the New Delhi state government is weighing whether to lock down the capital after Indias Supreme Court last week sought an imminent and emergency action plan to tackle the crisis.

The PM 2.5 concentration has soared to nearly 15 times above the WHO's safe level on many days in November and forecasters warn the pollution is likely to get worse in the coming days.

New Delhis pollution woes are due to various causes.

Auto emissions contribute nearly 25% of the citys pollution in the winter, according to the federal government. Other sources of air pollution include emissions from industries, smoke from firecrackers linked to festivals, construction dust and agricultural burning.

Several studies have estimated that more than a million Indians die each year from air pollution-related diseases.

In 2020, 13 of the world's 15 cities with the most polluted air were in India, according to the Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir.
SUMAS, Wash. (AP)  Residents of this small U.S. city along the Canadian border were assessing damage from flooding that hit an estimated three quarters of homes, as Washington state and British Columbia tried to dry out from an intense, days-long rain storm that cut off key roadways and forced hundreds of evacuations.

Skies were sunny Wednesday morning in the area around Sumas, Washington, where about 500 rescues and evacuations were reported.

Were looking at going door-to-door, as waters go down in different parts of town, Sumas Mayor Kyle Christensen told The Seattle Times. Half is on dry ground, half has water.

By Wednesday afternoon, only one river in western Washington had active flood warnings.

The soaking fueled by a so-called atmospheric river that dumped torrents rain on the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia from Saturday through Monday reminded people of western Washingtons record, severe flooding in November 1990 when two people died and there were more than 2,000 evacuations.

While the weather was improving, the situation remained dire in British Columbia, where the Canadian government was sending in the military to help with floods and mudslides that destroyed parts of several major highways. One death was reported and officials said Wednesday that more deaths were expected.

Immediately across the border from Sumas, police using helicopters and boats had evacuated about 180 residents of a flooded low-lying area of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Evacuations continued Wednesday.

Mayor Henry Braun said Wednesday that conditions were bad overnight because a key pumping station was in danger of being overwhelmed. He said crews spent Tuesday night sandbagging around the station and things were holding steady.

Im feeling much better today than last night, Braun said, although he cautioned the danger had not passed.

Those evacuated in Abbotsford joined thousands of others in the province who were forced from their homes by floods or landslides starting Sunday night.

On Facebook, the City of Sumas said Wednesday that water levels were continuing to drop and it looked like the community wouldn't be affected by additional potential flooding in Abbotsford. It said crews were working hard to clear roads and return power to some parts of town.

These families and businesses need our prayers and support as we start the process of cleanup and rebuilding over the next few days, the city said in another Facebook post.

To the south, a flood warning for Washington's Skagit River will remain in effect until Thursday because it will take time for the floodwaters to drain, the National Weather Service said. Officials recommended that residents of several nearby islands evacuate.

Across the border, the body of a woman was recovered from a landslide near the small community of Lillooet, British Columbia. Royal Canadian Mounted Police said at least two other people were reported missing.

British Columbia Premier John Horgan declared a state of emergency Wednesday following the unprecedented flooding.

In Washington's Whatcom County, home to Sumas, the county sheriff's office said on Facebook that authorities and search crews on Wednesday had located a body believed to be a 59-year-old man who had last been seen clinging to a tree after his truck was swept into a flooded field in the town of Everson.

In the city Ferndale, also southwest of Sumas, officials had urged people in homes and businesses Tuesday to evacuate near the rising Nooksack River and bystanders had rescued a man who had driven into floodwaters by mistake.

Evacuation notices were rescinded Wednesday and the flood warning had ended by Wednesday afternoon. Southwest of Ferndale, authorities said Wednesday that all routes off the Lummi Peninsula, home to the Lummi Nation, were closed because of water over the roads.

Officials in the city of Bellingham said only a few roads there remained closed on Wednesday because of flooding and officials were also assessing damage.

More rain fell in Bellingham from Saturday through Monday  about 5.57 inches (14.14 centimeters)  than normally falls there during all of November, according to National Weather Service data. The normal monthly rain total is 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) for November, the weather agency said.

Transportation officials on Washington's Olympic Peninsula  where the Coast Guard earlier in the week rescued 10 people stranded by floodwaters  on Wednesday were also assessing conditions and clearing debris from roads.

Officials said Wednesday that in the far northwest corner of the peninsula, people on the Makah Reservation have been prevented from leaving or entering because of landslides on nearby highways, The Seattle Times reported.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday declared a severe weather state of emergency in 14 counties. On a visit to Whatcom County Wednesday, he said some 500 homes had damage from the storms.

Inslee said he spoke with the mayors of Everson and Sumas and was astonished at the devastation he saw, The Bellingham Herald reported.

Im told they did top all-time flood levels in some places, he said.

Some of the floodwaters came after warmer rains quickly melted 4 feet of snow that previously fell in the Mount Baker wilderness. Inslee said Whatcom County should prepare for repeated floods and address the causes of climate change.

We have to realize that were going to face decades of increased floods in our state of Washington, he said.

Inslee promised to use state and federal money  including funds from President Joe Bidens recent infrastructure bill  to ease the effects of climate change.

___

This story has been updated to correct the name of the mayor of Sumas, Washington.

___

Baumann reported from Bellingham, Washington.
COCKEYSVILLE, Md. (AP)  Four people were found dead Thursday inside a car which matched the description of a vehicle connected to a former Maryland police officer accused of taking off with his daughters in Pennsylvania, authorities say.

Elena Russo, spokeswoman for Maryland State Police, told a news conference that Pennsylvania State Police were attempting a to stop a car that may be related to an incident in Baltimore County when they found the four.

Russo said after the car crossed over from Pennsylvania into Maryland, it ran off the highway and struck a fence line. She said Maryland troopers surrounded the car and tried to make contact with the people inside.

Our crisis negotiation team made several attempts to contact the occupants of the vehicle, Russo said. After receiving no response and low visibility inside the vehicle because of a thick layer of smoke that was contained in the interior of the vehicle, police made entry into the passenger side.

Troopers found the driver and three people in the back seat, Russo said, adding that two of the three in the backseat were juveniles. She said all four occupants appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds, and that three of them were pronounced dead at the scene.

She said one of the juveniles was pronounced dead at a hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Russo declined to identify the four victims because family hadn't been notified and the investigation was ongoing. But she said police believe they know who the victims are.

Investigators do believe this incident is potentially related to two other incidents one in Maryland, and one in Pennsylvania, she said.

Former Maryland County Police Officer Robert Vicosa carjacked and kidnapped a driver Wednesday afternoon in Cockeysville, Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt said at a news conference in York, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. The driver was later released unharmed, Hyatt said.

Vicosa had a handgun and was accompanied by two young girls and Baltimore County Police Sgt. Tia Bynum, police said.

Police in York County, Pennsylvania, said Vicosa assaulted his estranged wife over 24 hours at her home there starting Sunday, news outlets reported. Police said she escaped to contact authorities, but when they reached the home Monday, Vicosa and the girls  ages 7 and 6  were gone.

Investigators traced Vicosas phone to Bynums home, but she wasn't forthcoming, police said. When they returned to her home later, she was gone, they said.

Vicosa was terminated in August and Bynum is suspended and stripped of her police powers in relation to the situation, Baltimore County Police spokesman Kevin Gay said. He didn't elaborate on how Vicosa and Bynum were connected.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The Idaho Legislature on Wednesday wrapped up its longest ever session, one dominated by COVID-19 that entered into numerous speeches, new laws and some lawmakers.

The Legislature took a five-month break before returning Monday for three days that saw a final spasm of three dozen pieces of legislation. The bills mainly centered around COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates.

But the only one to make it through both chambers was a non-binding declaration stating opposition to President Joe Bidens vaccine requirements for federal workers and contractors and vaccine requirements for large employers and health care employers.

Idaho is involved in three lawsuits against the requirements, and Biden on Wednesday suspended the requirements for large employers, which had been put on hold by a federal court.

The House approved seven bills in all, but a Senate committee held hearings on only three of them on Wednesday before voting to kill them, effectively ending the session at 311 days.

I think everybody is just trying to figure out a very complicated situation, said Republican Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Winder after the committee hearing. Trying to protect the rights of all the individuals, and its not an easy thing to do.

Typically, the part-time Idaho Legislature meets for about three months starting in January. But the 2021 session stretched into May and included a two-week recess due to a COVID-19 outbreak among lawmakers in the House.

After lawmakers returned to Boise, the House chose not to formally adjourn in May so it could return and deal with millions of dollars in federal pandemic relief money if needed. Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke then summoned House members to the Statehouse this week to deal Bidens vaccine requirements. The Senate, though it did adjourn in May, also showed up.

Normally, only the governor can summon the part-time Legislature back to the Statehouse after adjourning. The Idaho attorney generals office said the Legislature reconvening was likely legal, but was unprecedented and a court could decide otherwise, making any laws passed null. However, no laws were passed in the last three days.

Winder and Bedke said versions of the vaccine legislation killed by the Senate committee on Wednesday could return when the Legislature meets for its 2022 regular session in January.

We think some of these concepts are important, but the testimony we heard was they need some amendments, said Winder, who is a member of the committee that killed the bills.

Bedke said the two chambers would need to increase cooperation, "and that's how we'll solve these types of issues, including property tax, education policy and set the budgets. Plus there's that little matter of $1.4 billion surplus.

Lawmakers will return on Jan. 10 for the 2022 regular session, and the state's record budget surplus will be a key focus.

Democratic House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel said she was happy the session had wrapped up.

"I think the best we could hope for out of this session was to get out of it without damaging legislation passed, and so, all in all, I think we largely accomplished it, she said.

Of the bills killed by the Senate committee Wednesday morning, one involved making it easier for Idaho residents to get worker compensation if they become ill after taking an employee-mandated vaccine. Another bill would have prohibited questioning the sincerity of people claiming religious exemptions from vaccinations. The third bill would have prevented employers from asking employees whether they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Lawmakers opposed to the legislation said Idaho already has laws the three bills involved, and that even if passed, the remedy would remain in the courts, not the Legislature.

The lawmakers also noted Idaho is involved in three federal lawsuits against Bidens vaccine requirements, and legislation is premature until those cases are decided.

Republican Rep. Brent Crane, chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, supported the three bills and testified in the Senate committee. After the meeting, he said he appreciated the Senate panel holding a public hearing on the bills with testimony that went over three hours.

I also thought it was very productive," he said. "For the businesses sitting in here to realize the Legislature is serious about protecting First Amendment rights. Stop doing what you're doing and punishing people because of their religious beliefs. I think that message was sent loud and clear by the Senate State Affairs Committee today even though they didn't advance the legislation."

Lawmakers have said that workers are losing their jobs for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The House on Monday censured Rep. Priscilla Giddings, a Republican from White Bird who publicized the name of a 19-year-old intern who reported she was raped by another legislator. Giddings was also stripped of a committee assignment for the 2022 session.
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP)  A pro-military minister in Sudan says time is running out for the countrys deposed prime minister to agree to take a post in a military-led government after top generals seized power last month.

Security forces, meanwhile, opened fire on thousands of anti-coup protesters in the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman, killing at least 15 people, according to doctors. Wednesdays tally was the highest daily count of people killed since the Oct. 25 coup.

The crackdown on protesters has come as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Africa to boost thus-far unsuccessful U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the deepening conflicts in Ethiopia and in Sudan.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is currently under house arrest in the capital of Khartoum. He and more than 100 other government officials were detained during the coup. Many have been kept in undisclosed locations.

The country cannot wait forever, so if he doesn't take the job, then someone else will definitely take it, Gibreil Ibrahim, the finance minister of the deposed government, told The Associated Press late Tuesday.

Speaking from his office in Khartoum, Ibrahim said calls by some pro-democracy groups, the United States and its western allies to return the pre-coup transitional government are unrealistic. Negotiations have focused on convincing Hamdok to lead a technocratic Cabinet that runs day-to-day affairs, he said.

Ibrahim, 66, is a rebel leader who joined the government earlier this year after the transitional administration reached a peace deal with a rebel alliance, ending years of civil war. He was one of those leading protests against Hamdok and others in Khartoum before the top generals initiated their coup.

He spoke to the AP ahead of rallies Wednesday in Khartoum and other cities across the country against the militarys takeover. Authorities have shut bridges linking Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman and tightened security across the capital. Security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas at anti-coup protesters in at least one location in Khartoum, according to activists.

The Sudan Doctors Committee said most of the killings took place in Khartoums district of Bahri. It said dozens of others were wounded, as security forces used what the committee called, brutal repression against protest rallies.

A spokesman for Sudanese police did not respond to calls seeking comment.

The top U.S. diplomat for Africa, Molly Phee, condemned the violence against protesters and called for the respect and protection of human rights in Sudan.

Magdy Mohamed Osman, a researcher with Human Rights Watch in Sudan, said the developments show the military has taken their power grab to a new level. He added that security forces have employed extreme levels of brutality against the protesters - including attacking health care facilities.

Wednesday's fatalities brought the death toll since the Oct 25 coup to at least 39 people killed and hundreds wounded in protests since Oct. 25, according to the doctors committee.

An advocacy group said that Sudan has been experiencing a near-total telecommunications blackout amid Wednesdays protests. NetBlocks said on Twitter that internet access remains largely disrupted across the country since the coup, despite a court ruling to restore services.

The Sudanese military seized power Oct. 25, dissolving the transitional government and arresting dozens of officials and politicians. The takeover upended a fragile planned transition to democratic rule, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government.

The coup has drawn international criticism and massive protests in the streets of Khartoum and elsewhere in the country for the past three weeks.

The U.S. has retaliated for the coup by suspending $700 million in direct financial assistance. The World Bank also suspended disbursements for its operations in Sudan, whose economy has been battered by years of mismanagement and sanctions. It also was dealt a blow when the oil-rich south seceded in 2011 after decades of war, taking with it more than half of public revenues and 95% of oil exports.

Ibrahim, who earned a PhD in economy at Japans Meiji University, urged the international community to weigh on the policies of the new government, regardless those leading it. He said it doesnt matter who the next prime minister is. If the policies are good, then Sudan should receive financial support, he said.

Cracks, meanwhile, have started to surface among members of the broader pro-democracy movement. The main protests groups have insisted on the military fully handing power over to civilians.

Other political parties and groups have demanded a return to the power-sharing deal that established the deposed transitional government late in 2019, as well as a full handover to civilians to lead the transition to democracy.

Ibrahim, however, dismissed such demands. He argued that the situation has changed since the coup - an apparent reference to militarys tightening grip on power.

It is rather unrealistic to say, Either we turn to October 23rd or 24th or we are not going to talk to you, he said. There is a new reality, and we need to look into it.

Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan reappointed himself as the chairman of newly formed sovereign council, in a move that angered the protesters and frustrated the U.S. and its western allies.

Phee, the U.S. diplomat, met Tuesday with Hamdok, Burhan and others, part of ongoing mediation efforts to reach a compromise between civilians and the generals.

Burhan said the leaders of Sudan were willing to engage in dialogue with all political forces without conditions. He also said the military have already started releasing political prisoners who dont face criminal charges.

Ibrahim said those detained, including Hamdok, would be free very soon."

I dont expect these people to stay in detention for long, he said.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo.
WEST HARTFORD  Looking at the list of clients Friedman, Kannenberg & Company has under its belt, you wouldnt expect to see them call the Farmington Valley home.

Alan Friedman, a West Hartford resident, is a music industry accountant who might be better suited working in New York or Los Angeles.

Were an oddity, Friedman said.

Their list of clients includes musicians like Walfredo Reyes Jr., who has played with Santana and Chicago, and Rolling Stones backing vocalist Bernard Fowler. There are bands on the list too, like Living Colour and progressive rock legends King Crimson.

Their representation also extends to music retailers, recording studios, record labels and just about anything else you might find in the music industry.

Friedman is a musician himself, too. Like many others of his generation, he became obsessed with music after seeing the Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 when he was 8 years old.

All I saw was an audience of girls screaming their heads off for rock and roll, Friedman said. It wasnt just a music event. It was a cultural shift that they started. Thats where it began.

After dabbling with the guitar for a few years, he joined his first band at the age of 14 and hasnt stopped playing. He is in a band of accountants called The Accounting Crows.

His love for music and interest in accounting were married when he started his firm in 1985. They didnt set out to become a favorite of the music industry. That, he said, sort of happened by chance.

After visiting the annual National Association of Music Merchants trade show in California just to see music gear, he was asked to speak on financial topics related to the music industry.

Once we started speaking at the trade show, thats when the doors blew open for our firm, Friedman said. We were getting music stores and manufacturers as clients. We were at a trade show and there were all these famous musicians there. Thats how the musician side grew.

Friedman is now using his love for playing music and his attachment to the music industry to benefit the Asperger/Autism Network, a nonprofit whose mission is near to his heart.

His 7-year-old granddaughter, Emma, was diagnosed with autism when she was 2 years old.

A lot of it is about my oldest granddaughter who is on the spectrum, Friedman said. Cognitively, she is really smart. A lot of these kids are. A lot of these kids are brilliant. She was reading at the age of 3. Its all social for her. Its how they react and how they communicate. Ive just been intrigued and passionate about learning and understanding it since Emma was diagnosed.

Friedman helped raise around $10,000 through a two-day concert event in South Windsor.

One day saw his band Alan Friedman and Friends perform highlights from his five solo albums, while the other day featured a performance by The Immediate Family, a band consisting of musicians who have made a career of backing up bands and artists like James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Erica Remi is director of development at the Massachusetts-based Asperger/Autism Network and also Friedmans daughter. She said 80 percent of the funding received by the nonprofit goes toward programming that supports people with Asperger's and autism.

Its so important, Remi said. We are riding a wave right now of increasing awareness and perhaps increasing acceptance of autistic folks. The world around us is still built by and for neurotypical individuals. We celebrate neurodiversity. Differences in neurology is normal and that neurodiversity in the world makes it a better place.

Remi said the world can be difficult for a neurodiverse person to navigate, which is why the programming they offer is aimed to support people with autism and empower them to live independent lives.

And while the nonprofit is based out of state, Remi said the COVID-19 pandemic caused them to shift programming online, something they plan to keep in place. Doing that, she said, opened up their world and they now constantly see newcomers from out of state and out of the country.

The mission is really personal to me, Remi said. We can support individuals to navigate a world that is incredibly challenging.
WASHINGTON -- American officials are unsure why Russian President Vladimir Putin is building up military forces near the border with eastern Ukraine but view it as another example of troubling military moves that demand Moscow's explanation, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.

"We'll continue to call on Russia to act responsibly and be more transparent on the buildup of the forces around on the border of Ukraine," Austin told a Pentagon news conference, adding, "We're not sure exactly what Mr. Putin is up to."

He said the troop buildup has the Pentagon's attention and that the Russians should be "more transparent about what they're up to."

Austin also criticized Russia for using a missile to shoot down one of its old satellites on Monday, an action that created hundreds of pieces of space debris that U.S. officials have said will be a long-term hazard to space operations.

"What's most troubling about that is the danger that it creates for the international community," Austin said. "It undermines strategic stability, and as you know, there's a debris field there now that'll be there forever. And it's a safety concern. And so we would call upon Russia to act more responsibly going forward."

Austin's language on Russia's use of an anti-satellite missile was milder than that of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has called the move "dangerous and irresponsible." Blinken on Monday said it showed Russia is willing to "imperil the exploration and use of outer space by all nations."

Russia's Defense Ministry on Tuesday confirmed destroying a defunct satellite that has been in orbit since 1982, but it insisted "the U.S. knows for certain that the resulting fragments, in terms of test time and orbital parameters, did not and will not pose a threat to orbital stations, spacecraft and space activities." It called remarks by U.S. officials "hypocritical."

The Russian military buildup near Ukraine is of potentially bigger concern. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said last week that about 90,000 Russian troops are stationed not far from the border and in rebel-controlled areas in Ukraine's east.

Russia has supported a separatist insurgency in Ukraine's east that erupted shortly after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and has left more than 14,000 people dead.

Earlier this year, a massive buildup of Russian troops in the Russia's west raised concern in Ukraine and in the West, fueling fears of an escalation of hostilities. Russian officials said the troops were deployed for training, casting them as part of measures to counter security threats posed by the deployment of NATO forces near Russian borders.
The Pentagon is increasing housing allowances and temporary lodging reimbursements to military families as it grapples with food insecurity and hard economic times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.

Austin said he ordered the department to come up with a new strategy within three months to help hungry service members and their dependents. In the meantime, military leaders will get an "economic security toolkit" on how to identify troops experiencing food insecurity and connect them with resources, the secretary directed in a newly published memo.

The assistance comes as housing and rental rates surge in some military communities in the U.S. due to shortages caused by COVID-19, and aid groups say many service members have struggled to feed themselves and their families since the virus emerged in early 2020.

"Our men and women in uniform and their families have enough to worry about. Basic necessities like food and housing shouldn't be among them," Austin said in a press briefing at the Pentagon.

The effort to shore up economic security also includes an order from Austin for military commands to allow longer assignments and overseas tours, as well as leniency on when service members are to show up for new assignments.

Service members in 56 geographic areas where housing costs have risen at least 10% could be eligible for a temporary Basic Allowance for Housing boost to cover it. The initiative touted by Austin was originally announced in September and will last until new rates are announced in December and hit paychecks on Jan. 1, 2022.

Temporary lodging reimbursement for families looking for homes or rental properties will be extended beyond 10 days in areas with shortages, Austin said.

Read Next: Don't Let Predatory Companies 'Hide Behind' Forced Arbitration, Military Groups Urge Congress

The pandemic, which caused more people to work from home, led to a boom in housing sales and increased prices, while the cost of renting dropped off, making it more affordable. Construction was slowed and could not keep up with demand, leaving families to compete for places to live.

Austin said "the pandemic and tight housing markets across the country have made financial struggles even tougher" for the military's 2.2 million active-duty and reserve troops.

Food insecurity among military families has been a striking and largely unseen effect of the pandemic. As many as 160,000 active-duty enlisted service members have difficulty getting enough food, and 29% in junior enlisted ranks reported food insecurity over the previous year, the group Feeding America estimated.

During a recent House hearing, Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-Conn., said that 22,000 households with a service member received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, funds, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Austin said the DoD is rolling out what it calls the Military Leader's Economic Security Toolkit, which will consist of online help at the Military OneSource website.

"The toolkit has specific resources for leaders on how to identify service members who are struggling to feed themselves and their families, how to engage in difficult conversations to assess food insecurity, and connect service members to additional resources and support programs addressed to alleviate food insecurity," according to Austin's memo.

Here are some of the changes Austin told the military to pursue:

Extend accompanied tours at overseas locations with quality of life that is comparable to the U.S. when possible.

Extend the 36-month time-on-station limit for troops within the continental U.S. when possible.

Allow maximum flexibility on dates when service members are supposed to show up for assignments to alleviate problems finding housing.

Expand financial counseling and education, as well as spouse employment resources.

-- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Thousands of Military Families Struggle with Food Insecurity
More than 50,000 Veterans Affairs patients died in 2020 than expected based on previous years -- a finding that provides additional insight into the true impact of the pandemic on the veteran community, according to a new study.

The study, set to be published next year in The Lancet Regional Health - Americas but released online Oct. 30, found that 17% more VA patients died in March through December at VA than expected from all causes, including COVID-19, compared with 2016-2018.

By the end of 2020, VA had slightly more than 7,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. That means that 44,000 of the deaths above the roughly 375,000 the VA averages yearly were either COVID-related but not categorized accordingly, or they were preventable, caused by something that would have otherwise been treatable in a year when hospitals weren't overwhelmed or people stayed home.

VA researcher Kevin Griffith, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University's Department of Health Policy, said statistics that focus only on confirmed COVID-19 deaths "really understate the human suffering the pandemic is causing."

"What you want to count is the number of people who would still be alive today, not just those who died of COVID," Griffith said during an interview with Military.com.

Read Next: More Housing Money Coming as Pentagon Ponders Fix for Military Family Hunger

The researcher set out to determine the number of excess deaths in 2020 overall and for individual VA medical facilities, thinking the data could be useful for the department while it examines its pandemic response and plans for the next national emergency.

They found that compared with the general U.S. population, VA had fewer excess deaths -- a data point they found surprising, given that VA serves an older patient population with complex medical issues.

According to a study published in April in JAMA Network, during the same period, the U.S. saw more than 522,300 excess deaths, up 23% from previous years, including more than 350,000 from COVID-19.

VA did better than expected, and we think a lot of it is related to its very strong response, very robust response to the COVID pandemic early, Griffith said.

While the team did not explore why VA fared better during the pandemic, researchers theorized that VA patients were able to maintain access to medical services while many in the general population lost their medical insurance as the result of unemployment. VA also ramped up its telehealth capabilities, locked down nursing homes and facilities with high-risk patients and canceled elective procedures early on.

"The VA dusted off all their pandemic plans, rewrote them, stockpiled ventilators and had staff training," Griffith said. "Giving credit where it's due, [then-Secretary Robert Wilkie] had a population at high risk for severe COVID, and he managed to navigate the early days of the pandemic better than expected."

The study found that areas hit hardest by the pandemic tended to have higher excess deaths -- places like the VA medical facilities in VA New York Harbor Health Care System in New York City and Beckley VA Medical Center in West Virginia, while others did not see a spike, including the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Las Vegas and the Chillicothe VA Medical Center in Ohio.

Griffith said VA could look to those VA medical centers to determine "best practices" and shortcomings during a future crisis.

"This level of data allows us to see how well specific policies mattered, how different health system's response mitigated the pandemic," Griffith said.

Since March 2020, there have been 376,424 cases of COVID-19 among VA patients, and 15,536 have died.

"There's this perception that the VA is terrible for quality of care, and everyone hates it, which makes sense because any time VA does anything bad, it makes the news. But the VA in this case didn't mess around," Griffith said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: VA Won't Challenge COVID Vaccine Religious Waiver Requests in Most Cases
A new Defense Department regional security center focusing on the Arctic will be established in Anchorage, Alaska, the Pentagon has decided.

The location choice was announced Wednesday in a DoD statement. The exact site of the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, named after the former U.S. senator from the state, is still undetermined, the statement said.

The strategic importance of the Arctic is growing, with Russia and China competing for resources and eyeing new potential shipping routes there.

The facility will be the DoD's sixth center for security studies, which provide "executive-level" education and training for U.S. and foreign military officials, civilians and nongovernmental participants, the Pentagon said.

The first center was established in Germany in 1993 and focuses on Europe. Other centers focusing on Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia are all based in the United States.

Their ultimate aim is to advance U.S. national security priorities in the broader areas where they are located, a DoD statement in September said.

Anchorage is also home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The base is the headquarters of Alaska Command, a joint subordinate unified command of U.S. Northern Command that is responsible for operations in and around the state.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who secured authorization and $10 million in funding for the facility, said in a separate statement Wednesday that DoD's decision to locate the center in Alaska was "incredibly welcomed news."

"As a nexus for security cooperation, the center will soon play host to America's global partners and allies along with a variety of federal and state authorities and academic institutions, also bringing economic benefit to the area," Murkowski said. "I appreciate that the Department of Defense took our advice and made the right choice to locate the Center in Alaska."

In September, Air Force Maj. Gen. Randy Kee was tasked with overseeing the establishment of the center as part of his duties as senior adviser for security in the Arctic.

The opening date for the center has not yet been announced.
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to announce in 2022 whether some forms of cancer and a rare lung disorder seen in patients exposed to burn pits and other forms of pollution should entitle veterans to expedited benefits and disability compensation.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Thursday that the VA will announce "early next year" whether some cancers will be deemed as connected to military service, and for constrictive bronchiolitis -- a rare disease that affects the lungs' smallest passageways -- by summer 2022.

The White House announced on Veterans Day that it planned to improve the disability claims process for veterans with illnesses linked to toxic exposure, announcing several initiatives and plans to speed up reviews of exposure-related illnesses.

Read Next: 50,000 Extra VA Patients Died in 2020 Compared to Normal, Study Finds

Veterans with injuries and illnesses connected to their military service are eligible for medical care and disability compensation from the VA.

But unless they have a condition that the VA has listed as officially linked, they must provide documents to support their claim that their illness is tied to serving in the military -- claims that are then compared with recommendations by a national advisory board based on existing, often scant, research.

The VA will now consider other sources of data when considering whether illnesses are related to military service, including its own research and how common the illnesses are among VA patients and veterans receiving disability compensation.

"It doesn't mean lowering the standards; it means increasing the aperture on the available science," McDonough said during a press conference with reporters.

In August, the VA designated three conditions -- asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis -- as illnesses caused by burn pit and air pollution exposure and therefore eligible for disability pay and health care.

According to McDonough, the VA has processed 6,900 claims for the three presumptive conditions to date, awarding $14 million to 4,682 veterans or their survivors.

VA expects eventually to receive 300,000 claims for those three conditions, McDonough added.

"This is only the beginning of our efforts, and we will keep moving ahead with urgency," McDonough said.

Burn pits have been used by the U.S. military for decades to destroy waste generated during overseas operations. According to a 2010 Government Accountability Report, more than 1,000 known toxins and carcinogens were burned in the pits, generated as the U.S. military and its contractors burned Styrofoam, plastics, tires, pesticide containers, batteries and medical waste.

More than 240,000 former service members have joined the VA's Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit registry. Those eligible for the registry include 3 million veterans who served overseas in designated locations starting on Aug. 2, 1990.

Regions and countries include Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Djibouti, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, waters of the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.

Prior to the announcement on the new presumptive diseases related to burn pits, 49% of veterans' claims for asthma, 55% of claims for sinusitis and 29% of those for rhinitis were rejected, according to the VA.

Roughly 65% of claims for environmental cancers filed by 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans also have been rejected.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: Veterans Legal Group to Offer Assistance Filing Burn Pit-Related Disability Claims
The 13 U.S. service members killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul in August are on track to receive Congress' highest honor after the Senate unanimously approved posthumously awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Senate vote Wednesday night comes after the House approved the medals last month and sends the bill to President Joe Bidens desk for his signature.

Today, the United States Senate moved to recognize the courage, sacrifice and service of the 13 brave young men and women who were killed in Afghanistan, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said in a press release. During a pivotal point for our nation, they gave the last full measure for our freedoms. I look forward to the president honoring these American heroes and swiftly signing this bill into law.

Daines introduced the bill in the upper chamber with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. It has 67 co-sponsors.

The service members, who would be the last U.S. fatalities in Americas longest war, were killed in an Aug. 26 suicide bombing outside Hamid Karzai Internetional Airport in Kabul.

Read next: More Housing Money Coming as Pentagon Ponders Fix for Military Family Hunger

Critics of the evacuation effort have pointed to the attack, as well as images of desperate Afghans clinging to the side of a U.S. transport plane and the fact that hundreds of U.S. citizens and thousands of eligible Afghans were left behind, as evidence the withdrawal was poorly planned, even as the Biden administration has touted its efforts as a success with 124,000 people evacuated.

The bombing, for which the Afghan branch of ISIS later claimed responsibility, happened while the U.S. military scrambled to evacuate as many civilians as possible before the military fully withdrew from Afghanistan on Aug. 31.

Throngs of Afghans desperate to flee the newly reinstated Taliban rule had crowded outside the airport, and an estimated 170 Afghans were killed in the suicide blast in addition to the 11 Marines, one Navy corpsman and one soldier killed.

The Pentagon identified the service members killed as Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 22; Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23; and Marines Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20; Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20; Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20; Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22; Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31; Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23; Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23; Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22; Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20; and Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25.

The bill awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal applauds them for having gone 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 Congressional Gold Medal is considered one of the highest civilian awards in the United States. A practice dating back to the American Revolution, the medal has been awarded to 173 individuals and groups as of August.

The American service members exemplified extreme bravery and valor against armed enemy combatants, the bill says. The American service members dedicated their lives and their heroism deserves great honor.

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: House Votes to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Troops Killed in Kabul Airport Blast
VIENNA  The United Nations' atomic watchdog says it believes that Iran has further increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in breach of a 2015 accord with world powers.

The International Atomic Energy Agency told member nations in its confidential quarterly report Wednesday that Iran has an estimated stock of 17.7 kilograms (39 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, an increase of almost 8 kilograms since August.

Such highly enriched uranium can be easily refined to make atomic weapons, which is why world powers have sought to contain Tehrans nuclear program.

The Vienna-based agency told members that it is still not able to verify Irans exact stockpile of enriched uranium due to the limitations that Tehran imposed on U.N. inspectors earlier this year.

The IAEA has been unable to access surveillance footage of Iranian nuclear sites or of online enrichment monitors and electronic seals since February. The agency's chief, Rafael Mariano Grossi, told The Associated Press this month that the situation was like flying in a heavily clouded sky.

In a separate report to member states Wednesday about its work in Iran, the agency said Grossi was concerned about inspectors being subjected to excessively invasive physical searches by security officials at nuclear facilities in Iran."

He reiterates the call upon Iran to take immediate steps to remedy the situation, and to implement security procedures at nuclear facilities that are consistent with internationally accepted security practices and Irans legal obligations in relation to privileges and immunities of the agency and its inspectors, the IAEA said, according to the confidential quarterly report seen by The Associated Press.

The agency said it categorically rejects the idea its cameras at Iranian nuclear sites played a role in a sabotage attack on the Karaj facility near Tehran in June. Iran accuses Israel of being behind the incident.

A senior diplomat who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the searches of the inspectors carried out in Iran were very time-consuming and made some feel intimidated. The diplomat was not authorized to be named while speaking to the media.

Mohammadreza Ghayebi, caretaker envoy of the Iranian Mission to the United Nations in Vienna, called on other IAEA member states to refrain from making hasty or politically motivated comments.

State-run IRNA news agency quoted him as saying that Grossi was expected in Tehran for talks Monday "to discuss the status of cooperation between the two sides.

Senior diplomats from Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia plan to meet with Iranian officials in Vienna on Nov. 29 to discuss bringing Tehran back into compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The pact eased sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

The United States pulled out of the accord under former President Donald Trump and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to resume its uranium enrichment.

___

Frank Jordans contributed to this report from Berlin.
By November 1970, conditions for American prisoners being held by North Vietnam were reaching their darkest days. More than 450 were captive, they were dying from torture and starvation, and many already had been prisoners for some 2,000 days. The U.S. military was looking for any opportunity to rescue them.

In 2021, filmmaker Ehren Parks finished "27 Minutes At Son Tay," a documentary film that goes behind what it took to put 56 Special Forces soldiers on the ground in North Vietnam, in the middle of hundreds of thousands of enemy troops.

"These guys today, they know the story they want to tell," Parks tells Military.com. "We're telling the story that they told us. We've removed the political layer, and we talk about it in terms of the relation to the troops on the ground."

View the trailer for "27 Minutes at Son Tay" on Vimeo.

In 1970, the U.S. got intelligence that an estimated 61 prisoners were being held at Son Tay Prison, just 23 miles west of Hanoi, so American planners decided to act. The Army, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) teamed up to plan Operation Ivory Coast, the rescue of American POWs from the Son Tay complex.

The top-secret mission was the first military operation conducted under the direct control of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It required 148 troops and 28 aircraft and was the U.S. Navy's largest nighttime carrier operation of the war. It went off almost without a hitch. The only problem was that after the Special Forces soldiers assaulted the prison compound, they found there were no POWs held there.

The movie is a story told by the Vietnam veterans who were there for the raid and features high-resolution graphics and live-action recreations of what happened on the ground. Having the veterans' input for truth and accuracy was of prime importance to the filmmakers.

"Usually, in a documentary, the subject doesn't have any say in the content; it's a journalistic integrity kind of thing," Parks says. "But for me, having the veterans involved and willing to sign off is super important. I knew that if I could get it right and have these guys approve of it, then I know that all the U.S. special operators will like the movie."

They were even able to construct a 3-D rendering of the prison using the memories of one Son Tay prisoner, Bob Jeffreys, by recalling his daily trip to the bathroom.

Parks is a film producer and professor who was teaching a 58-year-old retiree in one of his classes. That retiree was Lt. Col. Dan Smith, a longtime Special Forces veteran who was still known to the special operations community, having served from 1975 until 2008 in Special Forces and military intelligence. He was working on a script about the Son Tay Raid. Smith asked Parks whether he wanted in on the project.

A fellow producer who had worked with Parks on a series about Fort Benning told him he should do it. Parks had never heard of Operation Ivory Coast.

"He told me, 'Ehren, if this guy knows the Son Tay Raiders, you have to do this project. You don't understand how cool it is,'" Parks says. "From there, we dedicated ourselves to do it and then we interviewed a bunch of raiders at a reunion. We kicked it off that way."

Special Forces veteran and producer Dan Smith interviews Command Sgt. Major Vladimir Jakovenko for the film "27 Minutes At Son Tay" in February 2020. (Ehren Parks/Operation Kingpin)

Parks is a Nebraska native with no familial ties to the military. His dad was passed over for the Vietnam War draft, but there were a few veterans around when he was growing up. He packed his production team with veterans to develop a level of trust with their subject matter.

"Military guys may not say certain things to a non-veteran the way they might to someone who served," Parks says. "So it was important to have that for the interviews, and then for the recreation team, everything had to be period accurate, so we hired vets wherever we could."

Immediately upon starting work on the film, Parks was floored by how much he didn't know about the Son Tay Raid -- or the Vietnam War in general.

"I was actually really shocked when I started researching it, because it's really not out there as part of the Vietnam story," Parks recalls. "I start looking at the political narrative, but then you start talking to these combat guys, and hey, this is the thing that really brought the North Vietnamese to the table. It was a military operation that had results, because we are really not taught that in the Vietnam narrative, as it is today, so I think it's important."

"27 Minutes At Son Tay" features reenactments of the mission featuring real U.S. military veterans. (Silent Warrior Foundation)

Parks' work on the film soon uncovered more facts he never knew, not just about Vietnam but also about the history of special operations.

"I got a PowerPoint that showed this mission is still being taught at Fort Bragg," says Parks. "This is like the number one piece of special operations tactical and educational material out there, and the 90% of Americans who didn't serve don't know anything about it."

When the raiders landed in the Son Tay Prison complex, it was just after 2 a.m. local time. The assault began with strafing the guard towers as four elements of SOF soldiers, codenamed "Blueboy," assaulted the prison buildings. Outside the prison, team "Greenleaf" waited in case of enemy action or to reinforce Blueboy's efforts. Team "Redwine" was on the prison perimeter to be the first line of defense in case any of the thousands of North Vietnamese stationed nearby came in force.

Room by room, the soldiers cleared each prison building, killing guards and looking for POWs. After two complete sweeps of the prison and a firefight between Greenleaf and some NVA troops holed up in what was thought to be a school, the raid was over. It took 27 minutes from start to finish.

The success of the raid, coupled with the failure to bring home rescued POWs -- the prisoners had been moved from the complex in July of that year due to flooding -- has led to the raid being known as a "successful failure" by the intelligence community. By 3:15 a.m., all the raiders had left North Vietnam with no men killed in action, but no POWs were rescued, either.

For the POWs, some said the raid improved their lives slightly. Former prisoners of North Vietnam said morale among prisoners was raised when they heard about the Son Tay Raid. Others reported a slight improvement in food and treatment afterward.

For Parks, who will soon screen "27 Minutes At Son Tay" for veterans of the raid, it changed the way he looks at special operators and Vietnam veterans in general.

"It just really brought home how much the American media crapped on those guys in Vietnam, you know?" says Parks. "I really would just love the chance to set the record straight, not just about this mission, but like all of Vietnam, because we still have time to do that."

Catch the trailer for "27 Minutes At Son Tay" by director and producer Ehren Parks, and writer, producer and Special Forces veteran Dan Smith on Vimeo. It will be available for viewing to the public in 2022.

To learn more about the film, filmmaker or the team of veterans who produced it, check out the Operation Kingpin website.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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''After completion of the patrol, a U.S. Marine officer approached the Israeli unit and claimed that it should not be in this area. The Israeli commander explained that he was operating in the territory previously agreed upon and left.''

That was how the Israeli government described what happened in Beirut in February 1983. What the statement from Israel doesn't mention is that the Israel Defense Forces commander left when the Marine Corps' officer in charge climbed upon the Israeli tank, pistol drawn and told them they could cross Marine lines "over my dead body."

Marines were in Lebanon following a negotiated ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), hoping to end each side's involvement in the ongoing Lebanese Civil War. A four-nation Multinational Force (MNF) was created to keep the peace as the PLO evacuated the country, along with other foreign forces.

U.S. Marines take cover during a firefight in Beirut, 1983. (National Archives)

Lebanon's civil war had been going on since 1975. Christian militias, secular Arabs, Shi'a Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Druze, Maronites and Armenians all formed their militia groups alongside the external forces, which included the PLO, IDF, Syria and the Soviet Union.

In the middle of all of that were French, British and Italian peacekeeping troops, along with U.S. Marines. The MNF's mission was to prevent attacks between the Lebanese Army and Israel Defense Forces as the two sides negotiated a bilateral end to the war that had been raging since Israel invaded Lebanon in June 1982.

Within a week of the Israeli invasion, Beirut was under siege. An estimated 6,000 people died, an overwhelming majority of whom were civilians. The loss of life was so bad, President Ronald Reagan called it a "holocaust" while on the phone with Israel's prime minister.

On Feb. 3, 1983, The New York Times reported an Israeli government claim that three tanks on a routine patrol happened across a unit of U.S. Marines. According to Israel, the tanks were operating in a previously agreed-upon area. The Marines on the ground didn't see it that way; all they saw were three Centurion tanks driving toward the MNF perimeter.

Marine Corps Capt. Charles B. Johnson walked into the path of the tanks and stood motionless as they stopped within a foot of his face. He stood there for a full five minutes while not much seemed to happen. Eventually, an Israeli lieutenant colonel exited the lead tank to talk to Johnson.

The Israeli told Johnson his mission, and when the Marine wouldn't budge, he demanded to speak to a general. When Johnson repeated his orders that the Israelis could not pass, the IDF commander told Johnson he would drive through the Marines. Johnson drew his sidearm, climbed up the tank and told the commander he could drive through the lines over his dead body.

A Washington Post report of the same incident was much more action-packed. According to the Post report, Johnson approached the lead tank with his sidearm drawn and in ready position. It also says the two other tanks approached the Marines at "battle speed," Johnson climbed the tank with his pistol in the air and demanded the commander order his tanks to stop.

However it happened, the standoff in Beirut lasted about 50 minutes, after which the IDF tanks withdrew. The Israeli government denied the tanks were ever trying to cross the Marines' line. Johnson was praised by Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger for his "courageous action."

U.S. Marines at Beirut International Airport in 1982. (National Archives)

Later that year, the Marine barracks in Beirut were hit by suicide bombers, killing 241 U.S. Marines. It soon became clear that the situation in Lebanon was getting out of hand and the Lebanese Army was collapsing. The Marines were moved offshore in February 1984, and the Multinational Force left Lebanon in July of that year.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was the only one of the fourteen players tagged with the one-year, $18.4MM qualifying offer this offseason to accept the deal, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter link). That means players like Justin Verlander, Freddie Freeman and Robbie Ray have all declined the offers, as had been anticipated.

Verlander was the only one of the aforementioned trio who ever looked like a realistic possibility to accept the QO, as hes coming off a season lost to Tommy John surgery recovery and turns 39 years old in February. Astros owner Jim Crane told reporters last month that Verlander was looking for a contract of some length, though. He and his representatives found that multi-year pact on the open market, as Verlander quickly re-signed with Houston on a two-year guarantee with an opt-out possibility after 2022.

Freeman and Ray, meanwhile, made the very easy call to turn the QO. Theyre among the top handful of players in this years class, with each likely to land a five or six-year deal that pushes well north of $100MM. There was no incentive for either player to entertain the possibility of taking a QO, since declining has no impact on their ability to continue to negotiate a longer-term arrangement with their incumbent clubs, as Verlander did with the Astros.

Heres a full rundown of the players who rejected the qualifying offer (all other decisions had been previously reported):
Insurance regulator IRDAI has rejected the application of 5Paisa Insurance Brokers Ltd for a certificate of registration to act as life and non-life insurance direct broker.

Rejecting the application of 5Paisa Insurance filed in 2019, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India (IRDAI) said on Wednesday that only single registration can be given to one corporate group.

The IRDAI said 5paisa Insurance is part of the India Infoline Group, which already has a direct insurance broking company -- IIFL Insurance Brokers Ltd.

According to IRDAI, the promoters and ultimate beneficial owners/shareholders of 5Paisa Insurance and IIFL Insurance Brokers are one and the same, and both are related parties of IIFL Group and associate companies.

Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article.
Expressing anguish over the arrest of doctors and staff on duty for the fire incident at Civil Hospital in at Ahmednagar, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded comprehensive steps to prevent fires in hospitals. In addition, IMA blames the authorities for passing the buck to doctors and nurses.

While the specialised task departments like fire, electricity and public works department (PWD) exist in all government institutions, action against doctors and nurses is nothing but swaying away from responsibilities by the machinery. Mechanisms of fire audit, maintenance and firefighting are allocated responsibilities of these specialised departments undoubtedly. Why doctors and nurses should be treated as scapegoats to project some action? Suppose doctors and nurses can be arrested without any complete enquiry and slapped with responsibilities for which they are not accountable. In that case, it speaks volumes about the system, said IMA national president Dr JA Jayalal and honorary national secretary Dr Jayant Lele, in a statement.

On Thursday, a delegation of IMA Maharashtra met state health minister Rajesh Tope about the arrest of the intern doctor and nursing staff in the Ahmednagar hospital fire. During the meeting, the health minister spoke with Manoj Patil, superintendent of police (SP) from Ahmednagar. The SP assured Mr Tope that the police department had already written that they would have no objection to granting the bail to the doctor and nurses arrested in this case.



The IMA delegation was represented by Dr Pankaj Bandarkar, honourary state secretary of IMA and Dr Shivkumar Utture, president of Maharashtra Medical Council, among others.

Last week, in a drastic action, the Maharashtra government took action against six officials in connection with the major fire in Ahmednagar Civil Hospital, which claimed the lives of 11 COVID-19 patients on 6 November 2021. While district health surgeon Dr Sunil Pokhrana, medical officersDr Suresh Dhakne and Dr Vishakha Shinde, and nurse Sapna Pathare have been suspended, two other nursesAsma Sheikh and Channa Anant - have been compulsorily retired from services.

Shockingly, Dr Shinde and the three staff nurses were arrested by police. The health department assumed Dr Shinde was a medical officer on duty and had suspended her. However, when it was realised that Dr Shinde was a postgraduate medical student doing her internship at that Hospital, the health department revoked her suspension.

It has been almost two weeks; Dr Shinde, the intern, and three staff nurses are still in jail while the officials are not even taking any decision on a preliminary investigation that revealed a lack of fire audit of the hospital. The Civil Hospital did not have any no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department as per the preliminary investigation. It also did not have functional water sprinklers.

Further, the installation of firefighting systems at the Hospital was allegedly held up due to technical reasons. Apart from fire extinguishers, the Association says, the Civil Hospital lacked a concrete firefighting system. It and is alleged that the Hospital had no fire sprinklers, hydrants, or smoke detectors.

Instead of knee-jerk reactions, IMA says, it is time for all stakeholders concerned to audit the safety norms on physical infrastructure, violence prevention and ensures adequate funds for the upkeep and maintenance of equipment to ensure patient safety.

When such fire incidents take place in private hospitals, the owners of the hospitals are taken into the task by the authorities; however, in government hospitals, the unfortunate postgraduate student doctor and nurses are arrested and put in jail, it asks.

Demanding immediate release of the student doctor and all nurses, IMA says, the Maharashtra government should commence a threadbare study on this incident to formulate practical guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future for which we assure our full-hearted support.
Judges need to start writing their judgments in plain and simple language that is easy to understand for the small proportion of English speakers in India, and to translate for the rest of the citizens, writes VIKRAM HEDGE.

A few days ago, Senior Advocate Fali Nariman, speaking about essential lawyering skills, few days ago, Senior Advocate Fali Nariman, speaking about essential lawyering skills, said

In India, striving for excellence in the law can only be achieved by striving for and achieving some degree of proficiency in the language of the law. In colonial times, for over 200 years, English, as spoken and written in British India, had always been looked upon as a foreign language, but no longer. English has now become a language in independent India we have now accepted as our own by choice,

He, no doubt, makes a valid point. Also, consider the reported exchange between the Chief Justice of India and the Solicitor General of India on Saturday: Both shared that they learned English only from Class 8. The medium for their education, except for their legal degrees, was their respective mother tongues. The two legal luminaries have this in common with around 10 percent of India, which speaks English as a second or third language.

These two vignettes paint a picture of the peculiar system we have gotten used to functioning under. No doubt English is an Indian language today. But its speakers relationship perhaps falls under a category known in native Anglophone countries as English as a Second Language.

Judgments in simple and clear language

This statement by the Chief Justice fits with his earlier stated goal of I ndianisation  of the judicial system.

This author has previously argued for widespread translation of judgments and greater use of Indian languages in Courts. That is a process that is bound to take some expense, effort, and time, though it would be well worth it. But before that courts would do well to keep some aspects in mind when writing judgments.

First, Indians speaking in English are heavily influenced by the sounds, syntax, inflections, intonations and even words and phrases from their mother tongues. In linguistics, this is known as language transfer or L1 interference.

In India, with whole societies being under similar influences, English as influenced by each major language takes a form of its own, distinct enough to be identifiable, but not so different that it is unintelligible.

Secondly, a significant number of Indian English speakers have learnt English only in their professional contexts. Many of them might not use much English outside their professional lives. This inevitably means that their English is also heavily influenced by the jargon associated with their professions and workplaces. When language plays a major role in carrying the knowledge essential for that professional role, it is easy to internalize a notion that the language of the profession as being coextensive with the English language itself.

This means that it is not safe to presume that the average English speaker in India is not familiar with literary references or other usages that require some knowledge of the cultural context from where the word or phrase arises. The phrase the man on the Clapham Omnibus  may not be immediately understood by the Indian equivalent of the man on the Clapham Omnibus.

The importance of clarity and precision takes a new dimension once you consider that not only should the judgment be understood clearly enough by the 10 per cent who speak some English, howsoever influenced, it should also be understood by the other 90 per cent who do not speak English at all but will only hear or read the translations of the judgments from some among the 10 per cent who speak it as a second language. The judgment writers, and also the lawyers who provide the raw material for the judgments with their drafts and submissions, must keep in mind that it must also be capable of easy translation into the hundreds of mother tongues of our diverse land.

Further, plain and simple language may one day be required by law. The UKs Consumer Rights Act 2015 stipulates the use of plain and simple language, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of USA publishes guidebooks to facilitate it. There would be severe incongruence if, on the one hand, the law mandates simple language, and on the other hand, the mandate of the law as laid down in judgments is not in simple language.

Interpretation and reference to precedent

The use of simpler language might mean that each sentence would not be precise in itself and needs to be understood in context. This is not a difficult proposition and is very much in keeping with the accepted norm of reading judgments. But it might change the way in which reference to precedents is made.

Judgments and other legal documents are not meant to have any literary merit. They serve a utilitarian purpose and should be easy to disseminate.

Very often judgments tend to extract entire paragraphs from the older judgments they rely upon rather than be content with stating the principle drawn from that precedent, together with the necessary citation. This practice causes judgments to expand in length and become harder to read. Simple writing would make this form both unnecessary and inexpedient.

Judgments and other legal documents are not meant to have any literary merit. They serve a utilitarian purpose and should be easy to disseminate.

The same holds true for pleadings filed by lawyers too, but perhaps a little less so. The intended audience of lawyers filings and arguments are judges who are well versed in English and are master purveyors of legalese. The intended audience of a judgement is every last citizen who is expected to follow it.

But to be on the safer side, keep your witticisms, puns, quips, and flourishes for speeches, articles, and social media. Keep your judgments and pleadings simple, even at the cost of being boring.

(Vikram Hegde is an advocate on record at the Supreme Court of India. The views expressed are personal.)
The much-hyped initial public offering (IPO), which was oversubscribed by 1.89 times, saw Paytm listing below 9% of its issue price. One 97 Communications Ltd (Paytm) ended the day 27.25% or Rs585 down against its issue price on the BSE. The listing day debacle of Paytm reminds listing of Reliance Power Ltd, a lesson for investors that big names are no guarantee of big returns. But more about it later.



On Thursday, Paytm opened at Rs1,955, but soon the scrip started moving downward before hitting a low of Rs1,586.25 on BSE. It hit its lower circuit and then closed 20% or Rs390, down at Rs1,564.15 against its opening price of Rs1,955.

Paytm, when listed, was expected to be one of Indias most valued companies with a valuation of a whopping $20 billion.

One 97 Communications is a loss-making company as it declared a net loss of Rs4,230 crore, Rs2,942 crore and Rs1701 crore for FY18-19, FY19-20 and FY20-21, respectively.

Read: IPO Analysis: Paytm ) As reported by Moneylife, Paytm demands a price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 39, based on its annualised Q1FY21-22 sales, not profits. The company is consistently reducing its operating losses and is on its way to achieving operating profit breakeven. However, its exorbitant valuation already prices in the expected improvement in its profitability. For Paytm to justify its valuation, it will need to demonstrate a strong track record of top-line growth while achieving operating profit breakeven. This may be several years away. (

Paytms banking products and services such as Paytm Wallet, Paytm UPI, NACH, Paytm FASTag and fixed deposits (FDs) are offered on the platform from Paytm Payments Bank. However, Paytm owns only 49% of Paytm Payments Bank, while 51% is owned by Paytms founder, Vijay Shekhar Sharma. As a result, Paytm does not have operational control over Paytm Payments Bank, the services of which constitute a major chunk of Paytms products and services.

The payment services industry is intensely competitive with large and well-funded players like Mobikwik, Freecharge and Phonepe. Moreover, mobile wallets are expected to become inter-operable by FY22-23, further increasing the competitive intensity among payment services-providers. This could further delay Paytms path towards attaining operational breakeven.

The Paytm IPO had seen surplus demand rushing in as qualified institutional buyers (QIBs), domestic institutional investors and mutual funds bid on the final day of the IPO offer.

Paytm closed India's most significant anchor round on 3rd November as it raised Rs8,235 crore. Blue-chip global investors and tech-focused funds have made their first-ever investment in Indian public markets through the Paytm IPO, while investment giants like Blackrock, CPPIB and GIC have made their largest bets in an Indian IPO.



The company has also attracted the world's top pension funds, superannuation funds as well as sovereign wealth funds like the Government of Singapore, CPPIB, ADIA, APG, City of New York, Texas Teachers Retirement, NPS Japan, University of Texas, NTUC Pension out of Singapore, and the University of Cambridge.



The largest emerging markets dedicated investors like Standard Life Aberdeen, UBS and RWC have also taken part in Paytm's anchor round.

Historical records have proven that when it comes to large IPOs, while retail investors bet on the first day, QIB and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) invest in the later days of the subscription.

Earlier on the first day, Paytms IPO had secured the highest-ever retail percentage subscription for IPOs with retail sizes over Rs1,000 crore over the last decade, which was subsequently oversubscribed early on the second day.

Coming back to the much-hyped issue of Reliance Power, at Rs11,700 crore, it was the largest Indian IPO at that time. It was priced at Rs450 per share and got oversubscribed 73 times. However, on 11 February 2008, the scrip opened to a disastrous listing. Far from quoting at the expected price of Rs1,000 and allowing everybody to make tonnes of money, it tanked to as low as Rs355.05 and closed at Rs372.50, down 17% from the issue price on the day of listing.



Today, Reliance Power closed 2.45% down at Rs13.52. The scrip had hit a 52-week low of Rs2.92 on 19 November 2020 and a 52-week high at Rs18.36 on 23 June 2021.
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Rapper Young Dolph, best known for his 2020 album Rich Slave and collaborations with his fellow Memphis rapper and cousin Key Glock, has died in a shooting in Memphis, Tenn. He was 36.

All of us at APA are shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our dear friend and client, Young Dolph, an APA representative said in a statement to Variety. The world has lost an icon, a great man and beloved artist who has been taken too soon. His dedication, drive, hard work and loyalty to all those around him always came first and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this most difficult time. 

The shooting took place at Makedas Homemade Cookies in South Memphis on Wednesday afternoon, local station FOX News 13 reported. The owner of the store told the outlet that Young Dolph walked in to buy cookies when someone drove up, shot and killed him around 1 p.m.

Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Robert Thornton, Jr., was born in Chicago but moved to Memphis at a young age. He was the cousin of rapper Juice Wrld, who died at 21 of a drug overdose at Chicagos Midway International Airport on December 8, 2019.

Making his studio album debut, Young Dolph released King of Memphis in 2016, which reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He dropped seven albums from 2016 to 2021, the most recent being Dum and Dummer 2 with Key Glock, which peaked at No. 8. He was signed to Paper Route Empire, and his most successful album was 2020s Rich Slave, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was his highest-charting release. From 2008 to 2017, he dropped more than a dozen mixtapes and EPs.

In September 2017, Young Dolph was shot outside a retail store in Hollywood and hospitalized in critical condition. He spent two weeks in the hospital recovering from three gunshot wounds. Released prior to the shooting, his April 2017 album Bulletproof secretly spelled out a message through the track listings (100 Shots, In Charlotte, But Im Bulletproof, So Fukem, Thats How I Feel).

Young Dolph was well known in the Memphis area and donated turkeys around Thanksgiving time, donated to Hamilton High School, which he attended, and spoke to students. He was in Memphis participating in local charity work for Thanksgiving at the time of the shooting. In 2018, he made headlines for donating $20,000 to two baristas at Duke University who were fired for playing his song Get Paid. He also flew the two out to see his performance at the Rolling Loud music festival.

Following the news of his death, tributes for Young Dolph poured in on social media from fans and fellow artists.

R. I.P. to my friend Dolph this broke my heart  Gucci Mane (@gucci1017) November 17, 2021
BALTIMORE (AP)  U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved a long-anticipated document on Communion on Wednesday that stops short of calling for withholding the sacrament from politicians such as President Joe Biden who support abortion rights but offers plenty of tacit justification for individual bishops to do so.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' first major statement on Communion in 15 years, The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, does not explicitly address the debate over elected officials, abortion and the sacrament that has surrounded the document over the past several months and partly inspired its creation in the first place.

Instead, it gives an overview of church teaching, emphasizing the centrality of the Eucharist in the faith and worship and in part reflecting concern among bishops that many Catholics dont know or accept such teachings.

It was approved by a 222-8 vote at the conference's fall assembly in Maryland after receiving only minor revisions in recent days by drafters on the bishops Committee on Doctrine.

Drafters added a reference to defending the unborn along with other vulnerable persons, such as immigrants, older adults and victims of racial injustice. They also bolstered the definition of scandal as weakening the resolve of other Catholics to follow church teachings.

The latter revision came in a passage reaffirming a 2006 statement saying its a scandal if a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly or obstinately to reject the churchs doctrines or moral teachings.

The document does not identify Biden or other politicians by name, though it says at one point, Lay people who exercise some form of public authority have a special responsibility to embody Church teaching.

It calls on Catholics to examine their conscience and make sure they're in harmony with church teachings, and says bishops have a "special responsibility" to respond to situations that involve public actions at variance with the visible communion of the church and the moral law.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, who chairs the Committee on Pro-Life Activities and whose work includes advocacy against abortion, took the document as affirming the importance of our responsibility for the care of the souls of these politicians.

Naumann, wearing a facemask with the words REMEMBER The Unborn, called for bishops to find common ground where politicians agree with the churchs vision for the dignity of the human person. But he also urged them not to be afraid to fulfill our obligations to let them know how serious it is to dissent from church teaching.

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, an outspoken critic of the president, asked colleagues to amend the document by quoting the church catechism and the Bible as saying anyone who creates scandal would be better off having a millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in ... the sea.

The proposal was met with silence when put to a voice vote and was not adopted.

The conference cannot dictate a blanket policy on denying Communion to politicians; each bishop has authority in his own diocese.

While some bishops have said they would deny the sacrament to Biden, the archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Wilton Gregory, has affirmed that the president is welcome to receive the sacrament there.

Biden has said that Pope Francis, too, told him in a recent private meeting in Rome to continue receiving Communion. While the Vatican has not confirmed that, Biden did subsequently go to Mass and receive Communion at a church in Rome  evidence that Francis did not forbid priests in the Diocese of Rome, which he oversees, from giving Communion to Biden.

The document highlights the centrality of the doctrine of transubstantiation, which says that when a priest celebrates Mass, the bread and wine is transformed into Jesus actual body and blood. It says Catholics can perceive this as a reality through faith, even though the elements appear to the senses to be bread and wine.

Some bishops have expressed concern over Catholics acceptance of the doctrine, citing a 2019 survey that found most church members dont believe in transubstantiation. Other researchers have questioned that finding, however, saying that when survey questions are phrased differently, higher numbers of Catholics align with church teaching.

Auxiliary Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, who is spearheading efforts to increase Eucharistic devotion, said the statistic that convinced the bishops there was a crisis ... was the fact that 75 percent Catholics dont go to Mass on Sunday. If people believed in the Eucharist, how could they possibly miss Mass on Sunday?

The document also says the sacrament is central to church unity and worship and leads to personal and moral transformation, motivating believers to take care of vulnerable people and, in a broader sense, the environment.

Bishops began working on the document after Biden took office, with some citing confusion over the president presenting himself as a devout Catholic despite his political stance on abortion.

The Vatican repeatedly sent caution signals to the U.S. bishops as they prepared the document.

The papal ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, on Tuesday urged bishops to listen before they teach, even in situations where some want to clarify confusion. And earlier this year, the head of the Vaticans doctrine office urged bishops to go slowly on the document, pursuing dialogue among themselves and with Catholic politicians.

Also during the fall meeting, bishops are launching a broader initiative to promote devotions centered on the Eucharist with plans for a major gathering focused on the sacrament in 2024 in Indianapolis.

Later Wednesday, Naumann expressed optimism about a pending request by the state of Mississippi before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision permitting abortion.

Parishes and dioceses, he said, need to be ready for increased requests for assistance if the court allows states to ban abortion. Naumann touted a new program, Walking with Moms in Need, in which parishes assess and support programs for expectant mothers in their communities.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
VIRGINIA  Some Virginia residents have gone months without answers about what's causing the brown water coming out of their faucets, and they're growing increasingly frustrated about it.

Resident Angela Hilst wakes up to brown water several times a month, she said, adding that it has ruined clothes in her washing machine and means she buys water to use for cooking and drinking.

"It's not an everyday occurrence, but it is an ongoing problem," Hilst said. "We've talked with the mayor, we've talked with the aldermen  it just seems like it's getting ignored."

Hilst has taken two samples of her water to the Environmental Protection Agency for quality and safety testing after getting brown water again last week, she said.

The water ranges in color from light brown to rusty brown, she said.

"I filled my washer one day and it looked like I got a bucket of muddy water and just dumped it in there," Hilst said. "I've had probably $300 worth of clothes ruined."

When Virginia's water first turned brown, residents understood because there was a large water main break, Hilst said.

But the problem has continued, she said.

"Here we are in November, there is no water main break and our water is nasty again," Hilst said. "It's at least three times a month and, most of the time, it lasts all day."

In a statement on the city's website, Mayor Randy McClure said the city is conducting a flushing program to help eradicate rust from the water system.

"This flushing is being conducted in a systematic manner, forcing water in the distribution system outward from the water tower," he said in the statement. "Obviously, this means that some customers will begin to see improvement before others. At this time, we believe that the water quality is improving. Although, continued flushing will be required to continue to eliminate the transient water quality concern that persists in some areas of the distribution system."

McClure did not return a call requesting comment.

However, the statement was posted online several months ago and Hilst said the issue persists.

Hilst has called the city several times to complain about the issue but keeps getting different answers, she said.

"It's been excuse after excuse," she said. "They haven't touched this hydrant in the last three years. I was told by someone at city hall they can't flush this hydrant because it could collapse the pipe. The same girl told me it would cost like $2 million to replace the water lines, which would cost the residents more money for the water."

In the statement, McClure said it is not the new Virginia Water Treatment Plant that is causing the problem but a change in flow conditions causing rust from the iron water mains to be distributed to customers.

He said the change is a result of two new customers on the northeast side of town  the F.S. plant and a concrete plant  having larger draws from the water plant.

"It is believed that these large users were causing some flow reversals in the system which in turn caused rust to be scoured from the iron pipes," he said in the statement. "The problem increased in May when a large water main break occurred. This, again, is believed to have further resulted in distributed water collecting rust particles."

The age of the hydrants delayed the flushing program, McClure said.

"During this time of the aesthetic water quality complaints, the city has continued to comply with regulatory requirements for disinfectant residual and bacterial water quality as a plan of action has been formulated," McClure said.

Hilst now is hoping the EPA will provide answers about her water's safety  and that the city will step up and solve the problem.

"We really just want answers," Hilst said.
FangXiaNuo/Getty Images

An effort to collect coupons for distribution to military families neared the $300,000 mark in its first year.

Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club members launched the "Troopon" campaign on Veterans Day 2020. They asked people to donate unused manufacturers' coupons that could be used by military families for such things as food, baby supplies and other items. Coupons are distributed through the charity Support Our Troops.
A Jacksonville man was arrested Wednesday on sexual assault charges.

Jacksonville police said detectives arrested John A. Levins, 62, of Woodfield Boulevard about 4 p.m. on two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault.

Levins, whose full address was unavailable, was being held in the Morgan County Detention Facility.

No other details were provided.
Wine; Italian goods; fresh, homemade pasta; and breads will be featured at a new business on the downtown square that is set to open the week after Thanksgiving.

"I always wanted to be a chef; I was always inspired by cooking," chef and owner Andrew Deuel said.

Growing up, Deuel's favorite toy wasn't a race car or a ball. Instead, he loved a miniature electric stove that his mom would let him use on special occasions.

"I was inspired by my mom's spice rack," Deuel said. "In high school, I really got serious about cooking."

That small stove inspired the name for Deuel's new venture. He is opening The Little Stove to bring a little bit of Italy and his love of cooking to Jacksonville.

With training from the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont; a masters degree in Italian cuisine from the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Costigliole Dasti, Italy; and experience at restaurants in New York and Chicago, Deuel eventually moved with his wife to Jacksonville while working as the executive chef of Hagel 1891 in Mount Sterling.

About five years later, he and his wife, Liz Tracy, began exploring starting their own business.

"We realized there was an opportunity to bring something different to Jacksonville," Deuel said.

With the centerpiece being his Mugnaini wood-burning brick oven, The Little Stove also will have a wine draft system, beer, mixologist, espresso machine and deli case with fresh, in-house-butchered meats.

While he will not be operating a full restaurant, Deuel will be making bistro-style foods such as brick oven pizzas, cast-iron cooking and shareable plates.

"Eventually, we may try to do some pop-up dinner nights, where we will set a dinner menu and people can come and enjoy that meal," he said.

Deuel is excited about the open concept of the kitchen, which will allow guests to watch him cook, he said.

"We'll be here to chat, share what we are cooking," Deuel said. "It's a much more personal experience."

The Italian market will showcase Italian ingredients and goods, vinegars, pastas and spice blends. Some of the items will be imported, while others will be made in-house. Deuel also will make pastas and breads.

"Some of the items are harder to find in Jacksonville," Deuel said. "They are from a Chicago-based Italian importer that I reconnected with and I'm looking forward to featuring them on our shelves.

In addition to the wine bar and market, there will be a shared office space in the back of the building, Deuel said.

The office space will be available to members, have high-speed internet, and allow those who work from home to have a space outside their home to work.

"The thought is they can come in get an espresso and work, or they can enjoy a brick oven pizza while they work, or their friends can meet them for a drink after they work," Deuel said.

The office space should be open soon after the wine bar and market.

The market and bar will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, though Deuel said the hours could change depending on demand.

The Little Stove is at 56 N. Central Park Plaza.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)  Two days before he was gunned down while buying cookies at his favorite bakery in Memphis, Tennessee, rapper Young Dolph visited a cancer center where a relative had received treatment.

The 36-year-old who grew up on the Memphis streets was in town to hand out turkeys at a church and other locations ahead of Thanksgiving. He stopped by West Cancer Center in the Memphis suburb of Germantown on Monday, spending time with clinical staff and thanking them for compassionate care given to a relative, the center said in a statement.

Return trips like this one had become common in his life, which ended Wednesday when he was shot multiple times inside Makedas Cookies, a popular bakery owned by a Black family and known for tasty butter cookies and banana pudding. The gritty southern city where Young Dolph grew up helped him forge the material that fueled his influential career in the hip-hop world  and was ultimately where his life was taken from him.

Our associates were deeply touched by his sincerity and effort to extend such gratitude, the cancer center's statement said. During his visit, Dolph explained that he would soon venture to donate turkeys to the Memphis community at a variety of community centers across the city before Thanksgiving  which is yet another testament to his gracious heart.

Police continued to search for suspects in the killing, which shook Memphis and shocked the entertainment world as another senseless act of gun violence against an African American man. Police on Thursday released photos taken from surveillance video that shows two men exiting a white Mercedes-Benz and shooting Young Dolph before fleeing.

Since his killing, social media has been filled with messages of respect and love for the rapper, whose music discussed drug dealing, street crime and his crack-addicted parents alongside hard-earned lessons of strength and perseverance in the face of difficult circumstances. His legacy as a fiercely independent artist and businessman was cemented in the hip-hop universe.

His acts of charity galvanized his reputation in Memphis, a city dealing with poverty, gun violence and disproportionately high incarceration rates of Black people. In 2020, Young Dolph donated $25,000 to Hamilton High School for new sports equipment at his alma mater.

Earlier this year, he visited children on the day before Easter at St. James Missionary Baptist Church. There, he met Pastor Rodney Herron, who asked him to return to the modest church to hand out turkeys to families before Thanksgiving.

The rapper happily agreed and was planning to hand out the food on Friday. Despite his death, the event will go on, Herron said.

This is a nice young man, he was down to earth, Herron said. I am distraught, because I knew what the young man was doing for the community, how far he was going to go in the community. ... He came back to where his heart was, and he always gave."

Herron said Young Dolph had discussed buying a local community center. Herron said he wants to push to rename the center after the hip-hop artist.

The rapper also was scheduled to attend a holiday event for children of incarcerated parents at a church in December, said Tameka Greer, executive director of Memphis Artists for Change.

His generosity knew no bounds, she said in a statement. "Young Dolph didnt deserve to die, and neither do the children, youth, and adults who lose their lives to gun violence every day."

Young Dolph, whose real name was Adolph Thornton Jr., began his career by handing out CDs in the streets. He later released numerous mixtapes, starting with 2008's Paper Route Campaign, and multiple studio albums. He collaborated with fellow rappers Key Glock, Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and others.

The streets know me, everyone already knows who I am, he said in a 2014 interview with VICE. Real respects real, so if you can get Memphis to love you, you have to have something real there. Memphis doesnt just support anybody.

Like the Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was killed in 2019, Young Dolph pursued an independent approach to the music business. His Paper Route Empire label retained control over his music.

Fans have descended on the cookie shop, where a memorial of balloons and stuffed animals steadily grew in front of the store's boarded up windows. Makeda's Cookies issued a statement saying its owners are heartbroken by the death of Young Dolph, who recently appeared in an Instagram post promoting the store.

Smoking a cigarette outside the store, Marquize Brand, a 31-year-old Memphis native, said he used to visit the cookie shop as a boy with his grandmother and still does today. Brand said he was disgusted by the rapper's killing.

It's really sour for the worst to happen, and you're trying to do the best you can, with the best heart, Brand said. I heard stories about how good Dolph was to people. Why get rid of good people?

___

Associated Press reporters Ryan Pearson in Los Angeles and Joshua Housing in Munster, Indiana, contributed to this report.
Sudans police chief denies role in killing of protesters View Photo

CAIRO (AP)  Sudans police chief on Thursday defended his security forces, saying they use only legal means to contain anti-coup protests. The Sudanese have been taking to the streets in masses since last months military takeover, which upended the countrys fragile transition to democracy.

The remarks by Chief of Police Lt. General Khalid Mahdi Ibrahim came a day after doctors said at least 15 people were killed by live fire during demonstrations against the Oct. 25 coup  the highest daily count of people killed since the takeover.

The United States expressed dismay over the protesters deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a Thursday news conference in Abuja, Nigeria, that the U.S. is deeply concerned by the violence used by the Sudanese military against people engaged in peaceful protest.

Speaking to reporters in Khartoum, Ibrahim insisted that police are protecting civilians and primarily use tear gas to contain violence at the protests. He repeated claims that there have also been police casualties and promised investigations into any deaths, civilian or other.

Ibrahims statements contradict accounts from those at the protests and doctors who have been treating the wounded. Protest leaders in Sudan have repeatedly called on demonstrators to abide by nonviolent tactics in their attempt to halt the coup.

Security forces, including police but also military, and also the countrys paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces have faced off with protesters since the coup, trying to stop their marches.

Wednesdays fatalities occurred in mostly in Khartoums district of Bahri, and the Sudanese capitals twin city of Omdurman, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee. The deaths brought the overall death toll since the coup to at least 39. Hundreds have also been wounded, the committee says.

In one instance, video from the protests showed a member of the security forces raising a rifle in the direction of protesters. Blood stained the asphalt on a Khartoum road. Injured and bleeding protesters could also be seen being ferried away by cars from areas of confrontation.

Another video, circulated online, shows protesters standing in an open field before they are dispersed by gunfire into side streets. In one segment, protesters are seen carrying a woman who appears to be shot in the head and unconscious into a nearby home.

The coup, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government, has drawn international criticism. The United States, its allies and the United Nations have condemned the use of excessive force against protesters.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday that the world body strongly condemned the repeated use of excessive force against peaceful protesters and renewed calls on the de facto authorities and the security forces to exercise restraint, and refrain from committing further human rights violations.

Freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental human rights afforded to every Sudanese and they need to have the opportunity to express themselves peacefully and without fear of retaliation, Dujarric said, and called for the release of all detained as a result of the protests since the coup.

Also Thursday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which is part of the countrys pro-democracy movement, renewed calls for a national strike. It urged people to boycott all government agencies, abstain from paying bills and taxes, and erect roadblocks on the streets. The group also urged protesters not to engage with security forces.

Lets work all together to paralyze public life in the face of the criminals of the military council, it posted on the groups Facebook page.

Since the coup, mobile and internet services have been in near-complete dysfunction in Sudan  an apparent tactic to limit calls for gatherings and the spread of information. On Thursday, the Sudans state news network announced authorities have restored communications across the country.

But NetBlocks advocacy group said Thursday that social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp could still not be accessed through mobile networks.
Some roads partially reopened in flooded British Columbia View Photo

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  An advance team of Canadian soldiers went to work Thursday and more were due as some major highways reopened to limited traffic in British Columbia, but officials said the situation remained critical after floods and mudslides that forced evacuations, blocked transportation routes, caused the death of at least one person and killed thousands of farm animals.

Federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said the good news is that the significant rainfall has ended and no further major precipitation is expected for the rest of the week.

The situation remains critical, but there is an improvement, he said in Ottawa.

British Columbias premier, John Horgan, has declared a state of emergency after record rainfall drenched much of the provinces south for more than 48 hours. One person is confirmed dead in a landslide that swept vehicles off a road near Pemberton, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the number of people believed to be missing at the site had been raised to four.

The provinces public safety minister, Mike Farnworth, said at an afternoon news conference that the cost of repairing damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure is going to be substantial.

It is far too early at this point to understand what the total damage is going to be, he said. The province has the fiscal capacity to be able to rebuild.

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Highway 7, which connects Vancouver to the interior of the province, was reopened to alternating, single-lane traffic. Another major route is expected to be opened by the weekend.

Other highways could take months to repair, Fleming said.

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said talks were underway with Canadian and U.S. border officials to reach an interim agreement to allow cargo trucks to detour through border crossings to reach their destinations.

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand said 120 soldiers would arrive in British Columbia late Thursday to join a nine-member team from the Edmonton-based 3 Canadian Division Immediate Response Unit that arrived a day earlier to assess the situation for planning and coordinating relief efforts.

An additional 160 military personnel were preparing to leave Edmonton with a convoy of military vehicles and equipment, she said.

Farnworth said the soldiers will assist with evacuation efforts, help with logistics and operate equipment.

About 17,000 people remain out of their homes, with 6,900 properties under evacuation order, he said. An additional 2,700 properties are on alert for possible evacuation.

The weekend storm left all major routes between the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, where Canadas third largest city of Vancouver is, and the interior of the province cut by washouts, flooding or landslides.

With dairy farms underwater around the city of Abbotsford and transportation routes closed, the province could face a shortage of milk products.

There will be a short-term interruption, but everybody thats involved in the industry is trying to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible to get this whole supply chain thing back to some semblance of normality, Holger Schwichtenberg, chair of the British Colombia Dairy Association.

On his farm near Agassiz, Schwichtenberg is tending to 50 head of cattle brought from flooded areas around Abbotsford.

Schwichtenberg said 59 dairy farms scrambled to save their cows. Some were able to load their animals on trucks. A YouTube video shows one person on a jet ski leading a cow through water up to the animals back.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said he had heard that about 2,000 cows had died in the flooded area.

Schwichtenberg said closed roads are preventing trucks from collecting milk from farms.

If youre milking but the tracks cant get to your farm, then you have to dispose of the milk because its a perishable product, he said.

Lana Popham, the provinces agriculture minister, said residents shouldnt worry about food shortages.

Our food is secure. Were just re-gigging routes to get it to folks, she said. Were definitely not going to run out of food.

Flooding is also delaying deliveries of Pfizer Canada products, including the companys coronavirus vaccine.

Weather conditions have resulted in an unfortunate delivery delay of our medicines to BC, Pfizer said on Twitter. We are working to ensure the supply chain has sufficient inventory of critical products for patients.

By JIM MORRIS

Associated Press
Brazil swaps acclaimed welfare program for untested stand-in View Photo

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazils government rolled out a new welfare program Wednesday, temporarily ensuring much needed financial help for millions of families while also worrying experts because funding and other details have yet to be determined.

The cash-transfer program is called Brazil Aid and replaces Bolsa Familia (Family Grant), a widely praised, two-decade-old initiative of the leftist Workers Party. The new program increases the monthly stipend for each beneficiary to an average of 224 reais ($40) from 190 reais and also will raise the number of recipients.

It is expected to reach 17 million families by year-end, up from the 14.5 million enrolled in Bolsa Familia before the pandemic  but less than half of those who received emergency pandemic payments, which ended last month. That has caused some confusion for many Brazilians about whether they remain eligible for assistance.

President Jair Bolsonaro created Brazil Aid in August with an emergency provisional measure that Congress must ratify before Dec. 9. The clock is ticking, but lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies are awaiting Senate approval of a proposed constitutional amendment that would raise maximum government spending and free up funding for the program.

The amendment is divisive, however, as it has heightened investor concerns over the potential for excessive government spending.

Political analysts, meanwhile, say Bolsonaro is effectively rebranding an existing program to buoy his reelection chances. He is expected to compete in next years election against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who launched Bolsa Familia in 2003. Bolsonaro is trailing in early polls, after a bump in his approval ratings from the governments pandemic welfare program faded.

Brazils pandemic aid was among the most generous in the world, and had already prompted some market concern that Latin Americas largest nation was spending beyond its means. Brazil Aid, while a sharp drawdown from the pandemic outlay, will represent additional costs over that of Bolsa Familia.

Pedro Guimaraes, chairman of the state-owned bank distributing welfare aid, Caixa Economica Federal, sought to allay fiscal concerns at a news conference Wednesday.

From the payment standpoint we have no problem. Zero problem, Guimaraes said.

Regardless of funding, critics have questioned the reasons for discontinuing a welfare program that drew broad acclaim for its achievements. Bolsa Familia was the subject of thousands of academic studies in Brazil and abroad, which reported significant reductions in poverty, inequality and infant mortality.

Researchers also found greater access to basic health and said school attendance  one requirement to receive the benefit  also improved. The birth rate of Brazils poorest families decreased, contradicting a common claim that the program would encourage women to have more children.

There were always very modest sums, but it always worked well. Its a program that was cheap, efficient and effective, said Pedro Ferreira de Souza, who co-authored a 2019 study on Bolsa Familia for the governments Institute for Applied Economic Research. This new program raises more questions than it answers.

Brazil Aid does create a series of new benefits, including for working parents who cannot secure childcare and for small family farmers in exchange for food donations. These provisions, however, wont come into effect until additional funding has been earmarked.

You have these nine new types of benefits, many of which are variants of previous benefits. Theyre not (entirely) new, but theyre interesting, said Marcelo Neri, director of the Getulio Vargas Foundations social policy center.

Tereza Campello, who was part of a team that worked on the creation of Bolsa Familia in 2003, expressed anger that a longstanding pillar of Brazils fight against poverty is being toppled.

Im outraged. Its not even sadness, its outrage, said Campello, who later served as Brazils minister of social development and fight against hunger. In her time as minister, Campello said, she received delegations from dozens of countries interested in learning about Bolsa Familia.

What drives this new program? Its not scientific evidence, its not peoples reality. Its improvisation and electoral interest. These are the only two things that drive this public policy, she said.

On Wednesday, some Brazilians headed to bank branches to inquire about payments, complaining about the shortage of information regarding who is eligible for the benefits and how much they will be. Lines were spotted in some parts of Brazil, though their sizes were a far cry from the chaos some analysts had predicted.

Waiting in one line in Rio de Janeiro, Suzanne Vieira, 22, said she had been getting the emergency pandemic aid and was surprised to find no money deposited into her bank account this month. She is unemployed and has two children, with a third on the way.

I dont know what Im going to do, she said.

___

Associated Press writers Debora Alvares in Brasilia and Diarlei Rodrigues in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.

By DIANE JEANTET

Associated Press
California Department of Public Health, California Vital Data (Cal-ViDa), Last modified November 10, 2021 View Photos

Tuolumne County Public Health reports a man in his 50s has died due to COVID-19, he was unvaccinated. As detailed here, at the end of October there were 121 deaths due to COVID-19 now there are 138.

Californias vital statistics most recently released records for local counties shows preliminary numbers through the end of September as charted in the images. The average number of deaths per month in Tuolumne County between 2019 and 2015 was 56.36 making 17 Covid deaths this month 30% of that average. This year already has more Tuolumne resident deaths by the end of September than in the past 7 years. The 35 COVID deaths reported in October and November are not included in the chart.

There are 30 new COVID-19 cases since yesterdays report with 28 unvaccinated. Active cases are down 17 to 132 including 8 unvaccinated people who are hospitalized. The California Department of public health reports one ICU beds available in Tuolumne which is one more than the previous day, data is delayed by a day.

Todays newly reported cases had 8 cases age 17 or younger and 9 cases age 60 or older. New COVID-19 cases by gender and age: 1 girl and 2 boys age 0 to 11, 3 girls and 2 boys age 12 to 17, 2 women and 2 men age 18 to 29, 1 woman and 1 man in their 30s, 2 women and 1 man in their 40s, 4 men in their 50s, 1 woman and 4 men in their 60s, 2 women and 1 man in their 70s, and 1 woman her 80s.

The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County increased to 33 from 32.3 per 100,000 population yesterday. A total of 47 individuals were released from isolation today, in all 5,829 have been released from isolation. There have been 6,099 community cases and 1,621 inmate cases. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports no active COVID-19 case at the Sierra Conservation Center. The SCC manages 3,271 inmates including all the southern fire conservation camps.

Calaveras County Public Health reports 18 new cases since yesterday with active cases increasing to 30, including three Covid hospitalizations. Since the pandemic began Calaveras reports 717 Covid-19 positive children who are 17 and under and 753 Covid-19 positive people 65 and over. Calaveras has vaccinated 53.7% of their population eligible to get vaccinated. Calaveras, with a population 19.7% smaller than Tuolumne has lost 11 residents to COVID since the end of September.

COVID-19 Testing Public health recommends if you believe you have been exposed to Covid, schedule an appointment to get tested 5 days after exposure and if you are having any symptoms, get tested right away. The Tuolumne County State testing site is open 7 days a week beginning from 7 AM to 7 PM at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123 the same website and phone number can be used to schedule tests in other counties. Testing is also available through some pharmacies, at Rapid Care, the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider.

COVID-19 Vaccine appointments and booster vaccine shots available to adults over 18 as detailed here or for children ages 5 to 11 can be made through myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255. Tuolumne County Public Health notes it has extended the hours for our 5 to 11-year-old COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The hours are now from 1:00-6:00 p.m. The clinic will be located at the Public Health Department. They also state the pediatric vaccine may also be available through some pharmacies and healthcare providers.

Tuolumne Public Health will be holding a COVID-19 (Moderna) clinic on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, from 10am-12pm and 12:45-2:30pm at the First Presbyterian Church located at 11155 Jackson St. Columbia, CA 95310. Initial vaccine series are available for those 18 years old and older and additional dose/boosters are available for those eligible. Walk-ins welcomed, appointments encouraged, to schedule go to myturn.ca.gov For more information call (209) 533-7440.

COVID-19 vaccine appointments are also available at local pharmacies more details are here. Appointments for COVID-19 boosters can be made at myturn.ca.gov. If you would like to get a different booster from your initial vaccine series, call Tuolumne Countys COVID-19 Information line to arrange an appointment (209) 533-7440.

County/Date

Active

New

Total Deaths Amador 11/17 40 9 3,718 57 Calaveras 11/17 30 18 4,185 85 Mariposa 11/17 48 8 1,537 17 Mono 11/17 35 4 1,558 5 Stanislaus 11/17 1,390 49 80,360 1,401 Tuolmne 11/17 132 30 7,720 138
U.S. Drought Monito Map 11-11-21 View Photo

Sacramento, CA  A call to Californians to save more water this year due to the drought has gone unanswered.

Last summer Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the states nearly 40 million residents to voluntarily reduce water use by 15% in 2021. New data released Tuesday shows few people are heeding that request. The data shows that in September, Californians reduced their water use by only 3.9%, down from 5.1% in August. Overall, since Newsom made the request in July, water consumption has gone down by just 3.6%.

State officials had hoped reduced water use would continue to improve each month as the public learn about the drought and water agencies pushed conservation efforts. Instead, the data showed none of the states hydrologic regions met the 15% threshold, Additionally, two in the Central Valley region, accounting for 10% of the states population, actually used more water in September than a year ago. However, water agencies say California has actually reduced its consumption because of changes put in place during prior droughts. They say that makes cutting even more now harder.

Californias most recent water year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, was the second driest on record in terms of statewide precipitation. Even with last months atmospheric river storm that blew through dumping record amounts of rain in the northern half of the state, including 5.44 inches in Sacramento over 24-hours.

While state regulators have temporarily lifted curtailments for farmers and other large water users after that storm increased flows in the states major rivers and streams. That may not last for long though, as California heads into its traditionally wettest time of the year with 80% of the state classified as in extreme or exceptional drought, the two worst categories assigned by the U.S. Drought Monitor. To the right is the latest state reservoir level map provided by the Department of Water Resouces:
MANKATO, Minnesota (AP)  Charlie Kirk stood 80 miles from where George Floyd was murdered, faced an overwhelmingly white audience, and declared he was going to say things no one dares say out loud.

What followed was an avalanche of aspersions and debunked claims about Floyd, the Black man whose death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer set off a global reckoning over racial injustice and broad calls for change. But the white conservative agitator had a counter view: Floyd was a scumbag, he said, unworthy of the attention.

The insult lodged at Floyd  a 46-year-old father suspected of passing off a counterfeit $20 bill  was intended to be shocking. But anyone familiar with Kirk shouldnt be surprised. For years, the conservative provocateur and his group, Turning Point USA, have built a following inflaming racial divides and stoking outrage. Kirk thrived during President Donald Trumps tenure  landing speaking spots at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and 2020 and occasionally counseling Trump on campaign messaging and tactics.

Now the 28-year-old is expanding his reach, trying to rally a next generation of aggrieved white conservatives. On a tour of college towns, he blasts schools and local governments for teaching about racism, with a confrontational style some call dangerous. Yet Kirk is drawing large crowds of millennials and Gen Zers, millions of online followers and donor cash, often with little media attention.

Kirk is stoking fear among a group that is coming of age in a time of social restlessness, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights lawyer and activist.

Hes taking the discontent that some people may be experiencing and combining it with racial animus, which is a dangerous recipe in a country that is still in the midst of racial turmoil, she said.

Like many leading Republicans, including Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin and Trump, Kirk seizes on opposition to critical race theory. The once obscure academic framework has been transformed by conservatives into a catchall term for education about inclusion, diversity and systemic racism in the U.S.

Kirks answer is a free K-12 alternative curriculum described as the key to a reliable, honest and quality America-first education, and aimed primarily at homeschooling parents.

Its just one offering in Kirks buzzing conservative content portal designed to meet young people where they live online. Theres also an array of podcasts hosted by Kirk and other conservative figures, and a Professor Watchlist to label instructors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda.

Turning Point Live is a three-hour streaming talk show aimed at Gen Z and featuring 20-something host John Root. Recent guests include Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, both Republicans.

And theres plenty of swag: Buy merch. Save America, the site suggests.

Turning Point USAs online audience is large and growing. It averaged 83,000 monthly unique visitors over the past three years, but it grew to a monthly average of 111,000 in the past year, according to the digital intelligence firm Similarweb. Thats more than three times the traffic for conservative TV and radio host Laura Ingrahams website over the past year.

That traffic is driven in part by at least a dozen social media accounts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that, combined, have more than 10 million followers online.

Money into Kirks nonprofit network has followed the traffic.

Turning Point USA is a 501c3 nonprofit, meaning contributions are tax-deductible and its donors are not disclosed. But in 2019, the most recent year for which tax records are public, Turning Point USA raised more than $28 million, according to Internal Revenue Service filings. Thats almost twice what it raised in 2014, its first-year as a tax-exempt charity.

Though Turning Point USA doesnt have to disclose its donors, some are foundations established by wealthy conservatives, which report their donations to the IRS in annual tax filings. A partial list reads like a roster of conservative megadonors.

Kirk also leads a fundraising group aimed specifically at political advocacy. That group, Turning Point Action, has endorsed several congressional candidates for 2022. The list includes candidates who are running to oppose GOP House members who voted for Trumps second impeachment.

Kirk has shown a knack for anticipating the outrage of the moment. Months before Youngkin was seizing on parental outrage in Virginia, Kirk had turned to critical race theory.

He works within the framework of the Trump movement. He is a good barometer of what the Republican right wing feels it can get away with, said Michael Hayden, a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit group that tracks far right figures and organizations.

Turning Point USA was listed among the 11 groups involved in the March to Save America rally that preceded the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Days before the rally, Kirk boasted on Twitter about sending buses full of patriots to DC to fight for this president. He later deleted the tweet.

Online contributions to Turning Points website spiked immediately after the riot, according to Similarweb, which can track frequency of online payments but not amounts.

Kirk is not among the more than a dozen rally organizers subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the Capitol siege. A committee spokesperson would not comment on whether Kirk has been interviewed or approached by the committee.

Lately Kirk, who did not respond to interview requests, has stayed out of the headlines. However, an event in Idaho drew attention last month when a man shouted from a crowd, How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?

Kirk answered by denouncing the comment, but blamed the left: They are trying to make you do something that will be violent, that will justify a takeover of your freedoms and liberties.

Kirks Exposing Critical Racism Theory tour has promoted recent stops in Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont. Last month, he packed a convention center ballroom in Mankato, Minnesota, with roughly 600 people  mostly teenagers and college students  on a Tuesday evening.

For 90 minutes, Kirk spoke directly to the virtually all-white crowd and told them radical leftists want them to feel ashamed.

Just because youre a white person does not mean you have to begin apologizing simply for how God made you, he said.

Riley Carlson, the campus coordinator for Turning Point USA at Minnesota State, said she didnt know much about critical race theory before the event.

Were just excited Charlie is here to explain it, said the senior from St. Michael, a Minneapolis suburb. Theres so many different ways you can look at it. And Im looking for where I stand on it.

__

Hannah Fingerhut, Mary Clare Jalonick and Amanda Seitz contributed from Washington. Michelle Smith contributed from Providence, Rhode Island.
DALLAS (AP)  A man charged with killing 18 Dallas-area women told a police detective in a taped interview played at his murder trial Wednesday that less than an hour before his arrest, a man whose name he didn't know had sold him jewelry. A relative earlier testified that the jewelry belonged to a woman Billy Chemirmir is accused of slaying.

It just doesnt make any sense, what youre telling me, Dallas Detective Brian Tabor tells Chemirmir during the interview.

Chemirmir is accused of capital murder in the death of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris. He faces life in prison without parole if convicted. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty.

In the interview with Tabor, who has since retired from the force, Chemirmir repeatedly denied killing Harris or going to her home.

Ive never murdered anybody, Chemirmir told the detective.

Chemirmir was arrested in March 2018 after 91-year-old Mary Annis Bartel survived an attack at her apartment at an independent living community for seniors in Plano.

When police tracked Chemirmir to his nearby apartment the next day, he was holding jewelry and cash. Documents in a large red jewelry box police say he had just thrown away led them to a Dallas home, where Harris was dead in her bedroom, lipstick smeared on her pillow.

Chemirmir told Tabor he made money by buying and selling jewelry and had also worked as an at-home caregiver and as a security guard.

Chemirmir said he typically bought jewelry online, but that he purchased the jewelry he had when he was arrested in person from a man who told him he had a batch of jewelry for Chemirmir to look at.

He came to my apartment, 20 minutes before I was arrested, Chemirmir said.

Chemirmir said he got what he wanted from the jewelry box and then threw the box away because he didn't want it.

When Tabor asks the man's name, Chemirmir replies: He didn't tell me."

Harris son-in-law, Richard Rinehart, testified Tuesday that the discarded jewelry box belonged to his mother-in-law, as did numerous pieces of jewelry that officers found as they arrested Chemirmir.

Tabor testified in court Wednesday that Chemirmir struggled for the details of who he met, how much he paid for the jewelry box.

Jurors also saw surveillance video from a Walmart showing that Harris and Chemirmir were at the store at the same time, just hours before she was found dead. Chemirmir told the detective that he had been at the Walmart.

Evidence presented at trial has shown that Chemirmir was also in possession of numerous $2 bills at the time. Rinehart testified Tuesday that his mother-in-law loved giving them as gifts. Chemirmir said on the tape that he had bought the $2 bills in Fort Worth a few days earlier.

Police have also said that a set of keys found with Chemirmir when he was arrested opened the front doors of Harris' home.

Following Chemirmir's arrest, authorities announced they would review hundreds of deaths, signaling the possibility that a serial killer had been stalking older people. Over the following years, the number of people Chemirmir was accused of killing grew.

Most of the victims were killed at independent living communities for older people, where Chemirmir allegedly forced his way into apartments or posed as a handyman. Hes also accused of killing women in private homes, including the widow of a man he had cared for in his job as an at-home caregiver.

The defense did not make an opening statement. Chemirmirs attorney says the evidence against Chemirmir is circumstantial.
NEW YORK (AP)  Fox News' Maria Bartiromo says that it's absurd to think that she personally lobbied former Attorney General William Barr to aggressively investigate Donald Trump's charges of voter fraud during the 2020 election.

Instead, she said she was doing a journalist's job in asking follow-up questions.

A passage in Jonathan Karl's new book, Betrayal, raised questions about whether Bartiromo overstepped her bounds as a journalist in the weeks after the election. Karl wrote that Bartiromo called Barr to complain that the Department of Justice hadn't done anything to stop Democrats from stealing the election.

She called me up and she was screaming, Barr told Karl, according to the book. I yelled back at her. She's lost it.

Bartiromo, through a spokesperson, said that at no point did I lobby or make any demands of Bill Barr ... nor did I call him screaming. The insinuation is absurd.

The Sunday Morning Futures host said she called to follow up on a June 2020 interview she had done with Barr, where he said the possibility of expanded voting by mail opens the floodgates to fraud.

Barr did not respond to requests from the AP to talk about their conversation.

Barr drew Trump's ire when he declared in an interview with the AP that the Justice Department uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud, disputing Trump's persistent, baseless claims. Trumps unfounded allegations of massive voting fraud have also been dismissed by a succession of judges and refuted by state election officials and an arm of his own administrations Homeland Security Department.

Barr's comments were particularly striking because he had been one of the presidents most ardent allies. Before the election, he had repeatedly raised the notion that mail-in voting could be especially vulnerable to fraud during the coronavirus pandemic as Americans feared going to polls and instead chose to vote by mail.

Karl, the ABC News White House correspondent, is critical of Bartiromo in his book for giving airtime to some of the Trump team's post-election claims without pressing for proof.

She is hardly the first Fox News personality with a pipeline to power. Tucker Carlson asked for and received a meeting with Trump in the early days of the pandemic to urge him to take it seriously. It was widely reported that Sean Hannity spoke to Trump frequently when he was in the White House, although the nature of those calls hasn't been revealed.

Theres been a lot of speculation about my relationship with the president," Hannity told the New York Post in an interview published last month. Nobody has ever gotten it right. And I'm not going to tell them.

___

Writer Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The jury at Kyle Rittenhouses murder trial deliberated for a third full day without reaching a verdict Thursday, while the judge banned MSNBC from the courthouse after a freelancer for the network was accused of following the jurors in their bus.

The jury members will return on Friday morning to resume their work. Unlike on previous days, they had no questions and no requests to review any evidence Thursday in the politically and racially fraught case.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for killing two men and wounding a third with a rifle during a turbulent night of protests that erupted in Kenosha in the summer of 2020 after a Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by a white police officer.

Even as the jury weighed the evidence, two mistrial requests from the defense hung over the case, with the potential to upend the verdict if the panel were to convict Rittenhouse. One of those requests asks the judge to go even further and bar prosecutors from retrying him.

Also Thursday, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder banned MSNBC after police said they briefly detained a man who had followed the jury bus and may have tried to photograph jurors.

NBC News said in a statement that the man was a freelancer who received a citation for a traffic violation that took place near the jury vehicle, and he never photographed or intended to photograph them.

Before the jurors retired around 4 p.m. at what the judge said was their own request, one of them asked if she could take the jury instructions home, and the judge said yes but told her she couldn't talk to anyone about them. Before deliberations, Schroeder read the jury some 36 pages of instructions on the charges and the laws of self-defense.

After the jury departed, Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards told the judge he feared that letting members take home instructions would lead to jurors looking things up in the dictionary or doing their own research.

Tom Grieve, a Milwaukee attorney and former prosecutor not involved in the case, called the move definitely unusual in my experience." The natural issue is that it will precipitate armchair research and table discussion, he said.

At the end of the day, jurors looked tired, but no more than they did at the end of their first day. No one seemed visibly upset. Two jurors spoke genially to each other as they walked out the door.

Rittenhouse was a 17-year-old former police youth cadet when he went to Kenosha in what he said was an effort to protect property after rioters set fires and ransacked businesses on previous nights.

He shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28. Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot.

Rittenhouse said he acted in self-defense after coming under attack, while prosecutors argued he instigated the bloodshed.

The case has exposed deep divides among Americans over guns, racial injustice, vigilantism and self-defense in the U.S.

To some civil rights activists, the shootings were an attack on the movement for racial justice, and some have complained of a racial double standard in the way Rittenhouse was treated by law enforcement that night.

The defense has twice asked the judge to declare a mistrial, alleging that they were given an inferior copy of a potentially crucial video and that the prosecution asked improper questions of Rittenhouse during cross-examination.

Schroeder has said the mistrial bid will have to be addressed if there is a guilty verdict. If Rittenhouse is acquitted, the dispute wont matter. But if he is convicted and the judge then declares a mistrial, that would void the verdict.

Rittenhouse could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

___

Forliti reported from Minneapolis, Bauer from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Todd Richmond in Madison contributed to this story.

___

Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
CAIRO (AP)  Sudans police chief on Thursday defended his security forces, saying they use only legal means to contain anti-coup protests. The Sudanese have been taking to the streets in masses since last month's military takeover, which upended the country's fragile transition to democracy.

The remarks by Chief of Police Lt. General Khalid Mahdi Ibrahim came a day after doctors said at least 15 people were killed by live fire during demonstrations against the Oct. 25 coup  the highest daily count of people killed since the takeover.

The United States expressed dismay over the protesters' deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a Thursday news conference in Abuja, Nigeria, that the U.S. is deeply concerned by the violence used by the Sudanese military against people engaged in peaceful protest.

Speaking to reporters in Khartoum, Ibrahim insisted that police are protecting civilians and primarily use tear gas to contain violence at the protests. He repeated claims that there have also been police casualties and promised investigations into any deaths, civilian or other.

Ibrahim's statements contradict accounts from those at the protests and doctors who have been treating the wounded. Protest leaders in Sudan have repeatedly called on demonstrators to abide by nonviolent tactics in their attempt to halt the coup.

Security forces, including police but also military, and also the countrys paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces have faced off with protesters since the coup, trying to stop their marches.

Wednesday's fatalities occurred in mostly in Khartoum's district of Bahri, and the Sudanese capital's twin city of Omdurman, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee. The deaths brought the overall death toll since the coup to at least 39. Hundreds have also been wounded, the committee says.

In one instance, video from the protests showed a member of the security forces raising a rifle in the direction of protesters. Blood stained the asphalt on a Khartoum road. Injured and bleeding protesters could also be seen being ferried away by cars from areas of confrontation.

Another video, circulated online, shows protesters standing in an open field before they are dispersed by gunfire into side streets. In one segment, protesters are seen carrying a woman who appears to be shot in the head and unconscious into a nearby home.

The coup, more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government, has drawn international criticism. The United States, its allies and the United Nations have condemned the use of excessive force against protesters.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday that the world body strongly condemned the repeated use of excessive force against peaceful protesters and renewed calls on the de facto authorities and the security forces to exercise restraint, and refrain from committing further human rights violations.

Freedom of expression and assembly are fundamental human rights afforded to every Sudanese and they need to have the opportunity to express themselves peacefully and without fear of retaliation, Dujarric said, and called for the release of all detained as a result of the protests since the coup.

Also Thursday, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which is part of the country's pro-democracy movement, renewed calls for a national strike. It urged people to boycott all government agencies, abstain from paying bills and taxes, and erect roadblocks on the streets. The group also urged protesters not to engage with security forces.

Lets work all together to paralyze public life in the face of the criminals of the military council, it posted on the groups Facebook page.

Since the coup, mobile and internet services have been in near-complete dysfunction in Sudan  an apparent tactic to limit calls for gatherings and the spread of information. On Thursday, the Sudan's state news network announced authorities have restored communications across the country.

But NetBlocks advocacy group said Thursday that social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp could still not be accessed through mobile networks.
Kin Man Hui /San Antonio Express-News

Fair Oaks residents who love H-E-B will welcome this news. It appears the San Antonio-based grocery chain is planning a 110,377-square-foot store and fueling station at 29388 I-10 W, according to a recent construction permit filing on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The fueling station, filed separately, will also have a car wash.

The store has a projected total cost of over $28 million, adding to a list of recent planned multimillion-dollar H-E-B projects. Google Maps can't pinpoint the address, but the project is filed as "HEB Fair Oaks Store."
El Arroyo

It's finally happening, y'all. Netflix has released the premiere date for the much-anticipated Texas season of Queer Eye. The show temporarily shut down production in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Netflix announced on social media Thursday, November 18, that the series will premiere on its streaming platform on New Year's Eve, December 31.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  With a legal battle over management of the Rio Grande before the U.S. Supreme Court and more hot and dry weather in the forecast, New Mexicos top water official said Wednesday that lawmakers have to provide enough funding to protect one of New Mexicos most precious commodities.

State Engineer John DAntonio told members of a key legislative panel that the Office of the State Engineer is lacking resources and is short dozens of staff.

He said the shortfall equates to 140,000 lost staff hours per year at a time when the agency is processing nearly 90,000 water right transactions and is involved in negotiations that range from settlements with Indigenous nations to water-sharing contracts with other western states.

Complicating matters is the changing climate and the potential for more evaporation and more wildfires, he said.

The impacts really threaten the communities, the irrigators, the businesses that depend on New Mexicos water, D'Antonio told members of the Legislative Finance Committee.

DAntonio recently cited the lack of resources as a reason for his decision to step down from the post next month. He previously served as the state engineer during former Gov. Bill Richardson's administration and was appointed to the office in 2019 by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

New Mexico has been grappling with drought for the past 20 years, with rivers seeing record low flows this year. That includes the Rio Grande. In the pending Supreme Court case, Texas argues that groundwater pumping in southern New Mexico is reducing the river's flow and cutting into how much water makes it across the border. New Mexico argues that it has been shorted on its share of the river.

D'Antonio said Wednesday that the administration directed his office to submit a flat budget for the next fiscal year, hoping that federal recovery funds could fill some of the gaps. He told lawmakers that New Mexico's water problems are not going away and that long-term funding solutions are needed rather that one-time cash infusions if the state hopes to protect its interests.

We've got to level that playing field for us to be effective. Water is a technical issue. It's a legal issue, he said, explaining that permanent funding would help to absolve the agency from some of the political pressures that happen with changes in the governor's office.

Officials with the Office of the State Engineer also pointed to new duties resulting from New Mexico's move to legalize recreational marijuana and encourage the expansion of the cannabis industry. Along with that comes the need for water managers to evaluate applications for water rights and ensure the state's limited sources are protected.

Rolf Schmidt-Petersen, director of the Interstate Stream Commission, also briefed the committee on the severity of the ongoing drought. He said New Mexico likely experiences more drought and variability than any other state in the West.

It's important to recognize that up front. We're not just very dry; we're drier than everybody else and even the state of Nevada, he said. We have less surface water than the state of Nevada.

Schmidt-Petersen said the 50-year plan that the stream commission and D'Antonio's office has been working on aims to develop recommendations that will help with decision making in the future as supplies shrink.

He pointed to a graphic that showed a bullseye over the northwestern part of the state where temperatures are expected to see the largest increases. He said this will have cascading effects.

You have the same amount of precipitation but you have more water being evaporated or transpired into the air. You have impacts across your entire landscape, he said.

When asked whether this dry year would be considered one of New Mexico's wetter years five decades from now, D'Antonio said he hoped that wouldn't be the case but noted that trends are pointing to warmer temperatures and more variable precipitation.

Existing New Mexico laws that allow for active management of water rights on a real-time basis will be key along with boosting infrastructure for water storage, D'Antonio said.
One can't hold a fervently political event filled with "Let's go Brandon" chants at a church and expect it to go unnoticed. Now Matt Hagee, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church and son of its controversial founder, John Hagee, has issued an apology for the far-right political conference saying it was "not appropriate" to hold in the church.

"Last week, I allowed an event to be held at Cornerstone Church by an outside organization. Regrettably, the organization was not properly vetted," Hagee says in the statement. "The Church is not associated with this organization and does not endorse their views."

It's not clear how much, if any, vetting was done. The ReAwaken America conference had controversial speakers like Dr. Stella Immanuel, who preached that alien DNA was in vaccines, and Donald Trump's former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, who has been linked to QAnon events and conspiracy theories.

Also on the speaker list was Roger Stone, who was convicted of witness tampering and obstruction during an investigation into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. (He was pardoned by Trump just days before he was set to begin his prison sentence.)

Speakers touted misinformation about the vaccine and COVID-19 pandemic as well as calls for the U.S. to have only one religion.

Twitter immediately took notice when news of the event broke last week. Users were calling for the church to be taxed if it was going to hold political events like ReAwaken America while others called rallied people to give the church one-star Google reviews.

Hagee, who took the stage at one point during the event, went on to clarify his involvement in the event. He says he was invited to welcome the crowd and thank the veterans in attendance. He also thanked the crowd for their "commitment to their faith."

"I deeply regret, and ask forgiveness, for what took place in the Cornerstone sanctuary as a result of my oversight," Hagee says. "In the future, Cornerstone Church will ensure that organizations using our facility are an appropriate reflection of our mission and vision."
Juli Marchbanks, Debbie Davis, Gods Dogs Rescue

Heartbreaking and preventable thats how Gods Dogs Rescue founder and president Juli Marchbanks describes the large number of heartworm-positive dogs she and her rescue partner, Debbie Davis, take off the streets every day. We are just blown away at the number of people who still do not keep their dogs on heartworm prevention, said Davis, the director of operations. Seventy-five to 80% of the dogs we rescue over the age of 8 months old are heartworm positive. Heartworm disease can be deadly for dogs, and the treatment is expensive. However, if you ask Marchbanks and Davis, theyll say the cost is worth it.

When Marchbanks, a retired Army nurse, met Davis, an HR manager, in 2013, it didnt take long for them to decide to join forces. In 2014, Marchbanks and her husband, Lonnie, turned their 5-acre property in Von Ormy into their home base. Thats where youll find most of the rescues being cared for by a team of employees and volunteers. Davis said about 140 are housed at home base, and more than 200 are living with foster families throughout the San Antonio area. Rescued pups come from all over the city and as far as Laredo and Del Rio. Some end up in households in Texas, but many get transported to grateful adoptees in other states. Davis said Gods Dogs Rescue transports about 60 dogs a week to their new homes in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and East Coast. She supervises two teams of dedicated drivers and occasionally drives herself.

Committed volunteers are among the many things the organization always needs, especially those willing to serve as long-term or even short-term fosters. Along with monetary donations, Marchbanks said their wish list includes supplies such as dog food, treats, chew toys, bowls and bedding. Both women say requests for assistance are constant, and their medical expenses are higher than ever before. We are probably turning away 50 to 60 dogs a day in requests of some form or another, said Davis. Were absolutely overflowing, and were probably pushing 400 dogs right now.

Marchbanks and Davis are committed to finding good homes for the rescues, and there is a vetting process for those who want to adopt. People can apply by going to godsdogsrescue.org and clicking on the Adopt tab. Davis stressed that all dogs in the home must be spayed or neutered and on heartworm prevention.

People can go online or see the dogs up close at Gods Dogs Rescue Adoption Center at 6123 Callaghan Road. The center is open from noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The adoption fee for a puppy is $250 and $200 for adult dogs. The cost includes spaying and neutering, all required shots, and a microchip.

Home for the Holidays, a special adoption event will be held on Dec. 18th at the center. Several area rescue groups will participate. Were all just trying to save as many as we can, said Marchbanks. Its been a really rough, tough couple of months.

Despite the long hours and often tragic cases, Marchbanks and Davis keep going. Davis could not hold back her emotions as she talked about a dog they had recently rescued from the streets. Hes a walking skeleton, she said. He doesnt deserve that; the dogs dont deserve this.

Marchbanks said the work they do is for God, and the dogs need them.

For more information about how to donate or become a volunteer, visit godsdogsrescue.org.

Sandy Merrill, Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.

Photos Courtesy of Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.

Under Sandy Merrills leadership, Guide Dogs of Texas has expanded its dog breeding program and increased its net assets by $1.4 million. Merrill, who has been CEO since 2014, recently decided to step down. Now shes looking forward to going back into the field as a guide dog trainer. Merrill was the director of training for eight years before being asked to become CEO. As an internationally certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, she teaches dogs dozens of important skills. Theyll learn how to indicate the right spot on a curb to cross, check for traffic, avoid obstacles and navigate through crowded malls, and much more.

Shell teach guiding skills to dogs that have completed the puppy program and are ready for advanced training. Guide Dogs of Texas trains Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and Lab golden retriever crosses. We always work the dogs in blindfold, so I never put out a dog that I havent personally walked downtown and crossed streets and rode the bus in blindfold with them.

Merrill said for the dogs, formal training takes at least six months. Once thats been completed, the canine graduates are matched with a client on their waiting list. Then both will learn how to work together. In most cases, the training lasts about three weeks for new clients and two weeks for returning clients. Merrill and guide dog Lilly recently started working with a client in Corpus Christi.

Altogether shes been working in this highly specialized field for 20 years. As much as she loves it, this wasnt her first career choice. Merrill has degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology. When she realized she didnt want to spend so much time in a lab, she followed a suggestion to explore becoming a guide dog instructor. A blindfold walk with one of the dogs was all it took. You could tell that when you pick up that handle, you cant see, but when you pick up that handle  you can fly. She said thats when she realized what a huge difference a guide dog can make in peoples lives.

Guide Dogs of Texas has been assisting visually impaired Texas residents since 1989. Clients only pay $1; the organization covers the cost of the guide dog, training, and the first set of supplies.

The Guide Dogs of Texas Thankful Event to honor volunteers and supporters will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 22. The free celebration will take place at the groups facility at 1503 Allena Drive. Registration with Eventbrite is requested.

For more information or to make a donation go to guidedogsoftexas.org.

Rebecca Mayberry, San Antonio Pets Alive!

Photos Courtesy of San Antonio Pets Alive!

Rebecca Mayberry has been looking out for abandoned animals for a long time. She recalls picking up strays for the first time when she was about 7 years old. She has taken care of feral cat colonies and served as a foster for several rescue groups. Mayberry, the executive director of San Antonio Pets Alive!, said shes always loved cats and dogs, and it shows. I cant imagine doing anything else with my career, this is definitely my passion.

San Antonio Pets Alive! is a no-kill rescue organization. The nonprofit organization saves about 5,000 dogs and cats each year. The animals live with volunteer fosters and rescue partners until theyre adopted. One location is Building One at Animal Care Services on Highway 151. The other locations and hours of operation are listed on the nonprofits website.

Mayberry, who has been executive director since 2018, has worked in the nonprofit sector for about 30 years. Before coming to San Antonio Pets Alive!, she was a national development manager for the Petco Foundation. The citys ongoing problem with stray animals is why she decided to work for San Antonio Pets Alive! Mayberry said community support, fostering, and spaying and neutering are essential to solving the stray animal problem.

When they enter the municipal shelter, sometimes they only have two or three days, and the municipal shelter is clamoring for space, and they have to make hard decisions on who is going to be euthanized, she said. If rescues dont step up to help, then animals get put down.

Mayberry and her staff and volunteers do everything they can to buy each cat and dog more time. The organization has 300 foster homes, but more volunteers are always needed to help with programs such as the neonatal kitten program. More cats are waiting to be adopted than dogs, but there are plenty of pictures of both on San Antonio Pets Alive!s website, and Facebook page.

Last year because of the pandemic, many people adopted, but now, Mayberry said shes started to see an increase in residents who may be in crisis because theyre losing their housing. More people are asking to relinquish their pets because they are facing eviction.

Mayberry said requests have gone from one or two a day to 10. One way to help is to donate on Nov. 30th on Giving Tuesday, and of course, donations are welcome any time of the year. Mayberry said the most rewarding part of her job is knowing that at the end of the day, San Antonio Pets Alive! has made a big difference.

Go to sanantoniopetsalive.org for more information or to make a donation.

To learn more about the program and to nominate extraordinary women like this, visit mysa.com/extraordinarywomen.
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By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans.

Yesterday, Apple, perhaps the most prominent corporate opponent of a right to repair  announced a reversal in its repair policy.

Beginning next year, under the companys new Self Service Repair program, consumers will be able to buy parts to repair their iPhones, as well as get access to repair manuals and other diagnostic tools. Its expected that Apple will implement similar changes covering repair of other devices, including MacBooks and iPads, yet the company has yet to release any such plans, yet alone details. According to Apple:

The initial phase of the program will focus on the most commonly serviced modules, such as the iPhone display, battery, and camera. The ability for additional repairs will be available later next year.

And Ill admit, although I noted in my post yesterday that I expected welcome news ahead on the right to repair front, I didnt expect anything like this to happen quite so soon (see Naked Capitalism: Nurturing Our Community of Critical Thinkers During the Pandemic YearsAnd Some Good News Stories).

Whats Motivated Apples Volte Face?

Whats behind Apples move? Increased consumer pressure? Perhaps consumer concerns influenced Apples calculation, at least in part. After all, this summer, even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak endorsed the right to repair, as I noted at the time (see Steve Wozniak Endorses the Right to Repair).

I think two other factors combined to convince Apple to mend its ways. First, in July, the new sheriff in town at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Khan, backed by a Biden executive order, adopted a get tough on right to repair issues(see FTC Votes 5-0 to Crack Down on Companies For Thwarting Right to Repair). With Apple, along with John Deere, a poster child for right to repair foot-dragging, Im speculating that Apple might be concerned that the FTC might be looking for a test case to signal its new resolve on right to repair issues.

The second reason: shareholder activism. As I wrote in October in Microsoft Endorses Right to Repair; Apple Doubles Down on Opposition:

As Grist reported last week, Bowing to investors, Microsoft will make its devices easier to fix: In a first-of-its-kind victory for the right-to-repair movement, Microsoft has agreed to take concrete steps to facilitate the independent repair of its devices following pressure from its shareholders. On Monday, Microsoft and the investor advocacy nonprofit As You Sow reached an agreement concerning a shareholder resolution As You Sow filed in June urging the tech company to analyze the environmental and social benefits of making device repair easier. After months of negotiations, Microsoft has agreed to comply  and then some. Not only will the company study how increasing access to the parts and information needed for repair can reduce its contributions to climate change and electronic waste, it has also agreed to act on the findings of that study by the end of next year. Microsofts shift is the first of its kind and was in response to shareholder pressure. Lets hope its not the last  especially given the burgeoning concern about climate change and other environmental issues, especially waste. Enacting a right to repair would help in mitigating climate change and environmental damage.

Yesterday, I was alerted to Apples action by an email from Nathan Proctor, senior right to repair campaign director for US PIRG, enclosing a statement. Proctor noted that the companys announcement of its self service repair program followed its pledge last week to stop deactivating Face Time after independent third party repair services repaired an iPhone screen.

Proctor was careful not to overstate the significance of Apples latest move:

The new program isnt as comprehensive as the Right to Repair reforms discussed in more than two dozen state legislatures this year would be. Given current public information, Apple still maintains a lot of proprietary control over repairs on its devices, although more details are emerging.

Nonetheless, Proctor recognized that Apples action represents a major milestone:

This is a huge milestone for the Right to Repair. One of the most visible opponents to repair access is reversing course, and Apples move shows that what repair advocates have been asking for was always possible. After years of industry lobbyists telling lawmakers that sharing access to parts, service tools and manuals would result in safety, security and intellectual property risks, Apples sudden change indicates these concerns were overblown. Right to Repair is breaking through. Our coalition of tinkerers, fixers, repair shops, DIYers, and consumer and environmental advocates has forced one of the worlds biggest companies to change for the better. Its a win for repair shops, its a win for consumers and its a win for the planet. As more and more manufacturers show that repair access is reasonable and doable, it should become clear to lawmakers that there are no more excuses. Its time to give every American the Right to Repair, so everyone can fix all their products. Thats the way it should be.

The Verge provides further details about what Apple has done, highlighting the importance of shareholder activism in advancing this result, in The shareholder fight that forced Apples hand on repair rights:

But Apple didnt change its policy out of the goodness of its heart. The announcement follows months of growing pressure from repair activists and regulators  and its timing seems deliberate, considering a shareholder resolution environmental advocates filed with the company in September asking Apple to re-evaluate its stance on independent repair. Wednesday is a key deadline in the fight over the resolution, with advocates poised to bring the issue to the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve. Apple spokesperson Nick Leahy told The Verge that the program has been in development for well over a year, describing it as the next step in increasing customer access to Apple genuine parts, tools, and manuals. Leahy declined to say whether the timing of the announcement was influenced by shareholder pressure. Activist shareholders believe that it was. The timing is definitely no coincidence, says Annalisa Tarizzo, an advocate with Green Century, the mutual fund company that filed the right-to-repair resolution with Apple in September. As a result of todays announcement, Green Century is withdrawing its resolution, which asked Apple to reverse its anti repair practices and evaluate the benefits of making parts and tools more available to consumers.

Just how Apple will expand this new program beyond the initial two iPhone models is not yet known. Per The Verge:

Apples announcement of the program is light on details, including whether the program will be expanded beyond iPhone 12 and 13 as well as Mac computers using M1 chips, how much genuine parts will cost customers, and whether it will eventually make parts available for a wider range of repairs. Although the announcement implies it will, Leahy declined to confirm that the program will eventually be expanded to other iPhone models. Still, the announcement effectively fulfills Green Centurys request that Apple make significant changes to its repair policies to facilitate independent repair  assuming the tech giant follows through with it.

Yet what we can say at the point is that shareholder activism seems to have provided a key spur to change, with implications beyond the fight for a right to repair. According to The Verge:

Apples initial response to the Green Century resolution was less than conciliatory. Tarizzo says that on October 18 (30 days before the self service announcement), Apple submitted a no action request to the Securities and Exchange Commission asking the investor oversight body to block the proposal. According to Tarizzo, Apples argument before the SEC was that the proposal  that the company prepare a report on the environmental and social benefits of making its devices easier to fix  ran afoul of shareholder proposal guidance by infringing on Apples normal business operations. However, earlier this month, the SEC issued new guidance concerning no-action requests that includes a carve-out for proposals that raise significant social policy issues. In other words, shareholders can bring resolutions that affect a companys day-to-day business operations if those proposals raise issues with significant societal impact. Tarizzo believes that this change made it much more likely the SEC would side with Green Century rather than Apple, particularly since the mutual fund company connected the dots between increased access to repair and the fight against climate change. (Using devices as long as possible through maintenance and repair is one of the best ways to reduce the climate impact of consumer technology since the majority of the emissions associated with our gadgets occur during the manufacturing stage.) It wasnt a guarantee that the SEC would side with us, but the new guidance indicates its very likely we would prevail, Tarizzo says. It effectively took away a lot of Apples leverage in the process. Now, Apple seems to have regained some leverage by announcing its new Self Service Repair program on the same day that Green Century was required to respond to the no-action request. Instead of arguing that the SEC should allow the shareholder resolution to move forward, Green Century is now withdrawing the resolution entirely.

The Verge notes that companys typically ignore shareholder resolutions. But the combination of a more activist FTC and with more than half of U.S. states mulling new right to repair laws, the company may have read the tea leaves and decided it could no longer maintain its hardline stance on the issue.

What Comes Next?

Next step: keeping Apples feet to the fire to make sure its right to repair reversal represents a deep and genuine corporate shift rather than just the latest form of corporate greenwashing

And, whereas iPhone repair is surely significant, I want to know exactly what Apple intends to do about the rest of its product line: iPads and MacBooks.

In addition, another key concern is whether Apples newfound support for broadening customer access to cheap and easy repair will also carry over and influence other design decisions. At present, Apple is notorious for doing things, like using bespoke parts, and constructing and gluing its devices to make it difficult for consumers or independent third party repair services to fix the device when something goes wrong. Will its promise to allow anyone to get access to genuine Apple parts, at least for iPhones 12 and 13, extend to reevaluating how it constructs its devices to enable easy repair? That would mean abandoning its previous mindset that embraced throwing away devices and replacing them rather than extending their lifespans.

In the right to repair universe, maybe Apples capitulation will increase pressure on John Deere, another noted right to repair opponent, to reconsider its policies as well.

But beyond that, dare I hope that Apples capitulation bodes well for other shareholder activist initiatives  such as measures directed towards combating climate change. That would be some welcome news, given the failure of the COP26 summit to agree a program to confront the looming climate change disaster. I am of course well aware that only massive government-backed initiatives offer any promise of mitigating significantly, let alone averting  the dire climate catastrophe that looms ahead. But little looks on offer on that score at the moment.

So allow me to close on a wan note of cautious optimism, at least with respect to the right of repair. According to The Verge:

The result is a huge victory for Green Century and a validation for shareholder activism more broadly. Tarizzo says that while Apples new program doesnt go all the way where we want the company to go, we think its a significant enough step that it warrants a withdrawal. The fact theyll be selling common replacement parts, tools, releasing repair manuals, its all very much in the spirit of what we were hoping to see happen.

Certainly not an end result, perhaps. But perhaps a meaningful first step on the journey.
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#COVID-19

JAB RAGE MMA fighter who called himself the Unvaccinated Assassin stabs doctor to death with animal bone in row over Covid jab Sun (resilc). Roid rage on top of, um, strongly held views?

Getting a foothold in global opera: the cost of COVID openDemocracy

COP26/Climate Change

China?

India

Brexit

An Unlikely Threat to the Western Alliance Atlantic. Wowsers, overlooks multiple issues: 1. EU offered many concessions on the supposed sticking point, intra UK trade, exempting that dont or are unlikely to wind up going from NI to the EU. EU has every reason not to allow NI to become a backdoor for evading EU rules. 2. The GFA was never EUs problem to solve, yet Barnier went further than needed in offering the UK three options in December 2018; 3. The UK has made clear that it wont be happy until it is free of the jurisdiction of the ECJ over certain issues.which so far have not come into play. So the EU expects the UK to keep retrading the deal bit by bit if it doesnt make that ask now; 4. Northern Ireland will do worse economically than under current arrangements.

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I wish Dems got rid of jargon like equity, marginalized, underserved and used words like people, power, bargaining, etc. We need to stop sounding like a giant corporate HR department.  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) November 17, 2021 Hochul pledges hire of new Italian-American Affairs director amid backlash New York Post (resilc)

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Antidote du jour. Bob H: Low tide in Maine:

And a bonus (guurst):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
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Yves here. So many simmering and hot conflicts, and so little time to make sense of them. So thank the War Nerd, Gary Brecher, and Mark Ames for letting us have first dibs on an update of an September post, when the media started kinda-sorta paying attention to the Tigray-Ethiopia conflict.

By Gary Brecher, the nom de guerre-nerd of John Dolan. Buy his book The War Nerd Iliad.Hear him read his comic memoir Pleasant Hell in audiobook format. To read more Radio War Nerd newsletters, subscribe to the RWN podcast at patreon. This is a repost of a Radio War Nerd newsletter originally published September 21, 2021, and updated on November 15 for this article.



Ethiopian POWs paraded through Mekelle

The big news sites have finally started to do some serious reports on the war in Tigray, but theres a funny tilt to their coverage: theyre not very interested in the war aspect of the war, if you know what I mean. There are a few honorable exceptions, but looking back at mainstream coverage of this war, its odd how little there is about actual combat. This happens a lot with African war stories, as if the MSM can only think of African war as atrocities, not as strategy and tactics. Im not minimizing the atrocities, but as Ive said a lotta times, atrocities are part of war-fighting everywhere, just as publicizing and hiding them is part of overall strategy.

Most people by now understand that theres been terrible suffering in Tigray. That too is true of every war. And though its a good idea to draw attention to civilian suffering, what happens on the battlefield still decides the outcome. In Syria, for example, the pro-rebel MSM won the media war, no contest. But the SAA/Hezbollah/Russian side went and won on the battlefield, nullifying the efforts of thousands of hard-working propagandists from NYC to Ankara.

In fact, it makes much more sense to fold atrocities and propaganda into the category of war-fighting than to take them as if they were just tragic events unconnected with real strategy. This is especially true in the Ethiopian wars of the last four decades, which have never gotten the respect they deserve for the sheer ferocity and brilliance with which they were fought.

Thats true for this latest episode of the Ethiopian long war, the one that flared when the Ethiopian and Eritrean armies tried to sandwich Tigray between them in November 2020. This war was a typical war in the Horn, with uniformed armies deploying infantry, artillery, armor, and aircraft (both piloted and drones.) Yet its hard to find stories about what happened on the battlefields. When the war started, I thought there would be more video of the battles, since everyone has a camera phone and a Twitter account. But the Ethiopian govt came up with a simple plan to stop anyone filming its wet work in Tigray, cutting off all wifi from Tigray and locking down the borders. I wrote about how well this worked in a newsletter for the Radio War Nerd podcast .

The short version is, it worked. Although, you cant help but wonder if it wouldve worked quite as well if thered been a lot of interest from the people who run the big news organizations. Bans like this work a lot better when the rich consumers arent very hungry for news anyway.

The mainstream narrative was simple: in early November 2020, the ENDF (Ethiopian National Defense Force) moved into Tigray and crushed the Tigrayan rebels within a few days. The Tigrayan leadership said they were retreating to the hills to fight a guerrilla war, but weve heard those stories too often to take them seriously. It was over and the ENDF had won.

So it was a giant surprise, the biggest military surprise in years, when on June 28, 2021just seven months after the supposedly powerful ENDF rolled through Tigraythe Tigrayan Defense Force (TDF, formerly TPLF), the rebranded military force of the TDLF (Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front), reconquered the Tigrayan provincial capital Mekelle, marching in with thousands of Ethiopian and Eritrean prisoners.

How did that happen? Lets go back to the Battle of Adwa, another shock victory that happened in Tigray in 1896. In that battle, an Ethiopian force cut an Italian army to pieces. That wasnt supposed to happen either. An African army had destroyed a large European force. Many people remember Japans victory over Russia as the moment when the rest of the world realized European armies could be beaten by non-Europeans, but in much of the world Adwa meant even more.

Adwa is a Tigrayan town northwest of Mekelle so, as you might expect, it came back into military news as soon as the war began. On November 20,2020, Al Jazeera reported that the ENDF had taken both Adwa and Axum.

Adwa and Axum! You couldnt imagine a more illustrious, familiar pair of cities to pop up in war news. Theyre like those Belgian towns that were battle-sites every few summers during the 16th-21st centuries. The names of those Belgian towns came up so often, yet were so difficult for both British and French poets to use, that Matthew Prior, one of the war poets of 17th-c. Britain, mocked them in a poem on the British victory at Blenheim:

What work had we with Wageninghen, Arnheim,

Places that could not be reduced to rhyme?

And though the poet made his last efforts,

Wurts  who could mention in heroic  Wurts?

Priors poem is an apostrophe to his counterpart, Boileau. As you can see in the quoted lines, Prior is very collegial, basically having a post-game beer with Boileau, gloating but at the same time sharing the misery they both went through trying to find a way to incorporate un-heroic place names like Wurts into their bread and butter, which was providing patriotic verse as required.

TDF guard and possible future war poet getting in some reading

There are probably poets writing in Tigrinya and Amhara right now, trying to work Tigrayan place names into their war poems. And when the current iteration of this very long war stops for a while, they may well josh each other over a bottle of Habesha about the problem of working Jijiqe or Adigrat into their rhyme-schemes (the fact that there were massacres in those places may not matter as much as some might think. Places described as war-torn develop an excellent and very dark sense of humor).

So, two weeks into the war, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) announced it had captured the very heart of Tigray. It sure looked like the war was over.

But there was another precedent that should have warned us not to be too quick in calling the fight for the favorite: the great Battle of Afabet in the spring of 1988, in which a huge, mechanized Ethiopian force was annihilated by Eritrean guerrillas from the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF).

At that time, the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) were allied to the EPLF, and were the most effective of the Ethiopia-based groups. The war against the Derg was won by a coalition of many militias, but only these two really had much combat powerand both were dominated by ethnic Tigrayans.

Theres not a clear ethnic divide between the elites of Eritrea and Tigray, though theyre now enemies. The Eritrean elite is mostly ethnically Tigrayan. In fact, the EPLF, the victorious Eritrean insurgent force, started as a force dominated by highland-Christian Tigrayan Eritreans. Their first victory was not against Ethiopia but their rivals, the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), a Saudi-backed movement led by lowland, coastal Eritrean Muslims.

Tigrayan domination of Eritrea goes right to the very top. And the top, in Eritrea, consists of one very scary guy, Isias Afwerki. He doesnt want it advertised, but hes from an aristocratic Tigrayan background.

Isias Afwerki: He might be the real winner of this war.

Theres a simple lesson here: Tigrayans are the bulk of combat power in the Highlands of the Horn. Youd think that would lead to the conclusion that you shouldnt mess with Tigray unless youre ready to get in a long, nasty war, even when the conventional military wisdom is that the Tigrayans dont have a chance. They werent supposed to have a chance against the Europeans in 1896, eitheror the Ethiopian Derg in the 1980s. If youre running a war-nerd bookmaking business, put a sign on the window: No bets on wars in Tigray.

One reason we all underestimated Tigray is that no one outside TPLF circles seems to have admitted to themselves how much of the combat power of both Eritrean and Ethiopian forces came from ethnic Tigrayans. Admitting that would be politically unwise, especially in Ethiopia. Officially, Ethiopia is a federal, multi-ethnic state in which all ethnic groups are equal. But thats a polite fiction. The Ethiopian state is the product of 19th-c. conquests by the Habesha, which is what the Highland Orthodox peoples, Tigrayan and Amhara, call themselves. Ethiopia was created by Habesha armies pushing south and east, absorbing Somali, Afar, Oromo, Sidamo, and dozens of other peoples who became Ethiopian citizens, but had very little share in ruling the country.

Ethiopia ethno-linguistic map: until now, power was in the hands of the two groups in gray

The real struggle for power was always between the two Habesha peoples, Tigrayan and Amhara. Since Menelik II moved the capital southward to Shewa, the Amhara seemed like the stronger of the two groups. Amhara are a much bigger group, for starters. Tigrayans are only about 6% of the population, Amhara about 26%.

But after the Eritrean/Tigrayan insurgents destroyed the Derg in the late 20th c., it was the Tigrayans of the TPLF who really ruled Ethiopia. Their domination was so clear that the TPLF tried to minimize their power, dutifully talking about their multi-ethnic coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). No one was fooled; it was the TPLF who had the power in Ethiopia.

The TPLF leader Meles Zenawi was the ultimate power in the country all through the first two decades of this century. Zenawi knew that the TPLF was so much better organized than the other members of the EPRDF coalition that he and his fellow Tigrayans could let the EPRDF make a show of ethnic equality while keeping Tigrayan control. Henri IV went through the motions of converting to Catholicism in return for the throne with the line Paris is worth a mass or two, and Zenawi seems to have decided Addis and the whole GDP is worth letting those weaker militias from other ethnic groups share the credit.

Zenawis PR campaign worked so well that Ethiopians forgot the hard truth that it was the Tigrayans who had the real combat power.

The Tigrayans only rival in terms of military power was the Eritrean army (EDF.) The Eritrean label made people forget that the EDF is also dominated by ethnic Tigrayans. Tigrinya-speakers are the majority in Eritrea, not only the dominant but the biggest ethnic group.

That has never stopped Eritrean Tigrayans from killing other Tigrayans. That shouldnt be a surprise  when have people of the same ethnic group ever fretted about killing each other?  but it does underline what seems like the dominant fact at the moment: The Tigrayans are the most formidable people in the Horn.

Why didnt Abiy Ahmed and his generals realize that before deciding to invade Tigray in 2020? Well, one thing you discover when you read the Twitter war thats been blazing since the invasion is that Amhara have a weird double view of Tigrayans, one typical of large groups who have been dominated by smaller groups. Amhara tweeters seem to believe that the Tigrayans are simultaneously all-powerful, conniving, clannish supermen, and parasites who can and should be crushed.

The trouble with this sort of stereotyping is that, if you stress the weak parasites pole, you can end up thinking that crushing the hated minority will be a cakewalk. Which brings us to Abiy Ahmeds choice to go to war in 2020.

The TPLF had been running the country far too long; most Ethiopians seem to agree on that. The hated Tigrayan minority might have overseen a big jump in economic growth, but it just plain rankled having this small group running the country, thinking theyre better than other Ethiopians. Abiy, whose background is mixed Amhara/Oromo, was the choice of Ethiopian voters who wanted the other, bigger ethnic groups to have power commensurate with their numbers. Zenawi, the TPLF leader whod been pulling the strings, died in 2012, weakening Tigrayan control. Six years later, Abiy Ahmed was elected on an anti-corruption and implicitly anti-Tigrayan platform. If his agenda hinted at violent revenge against the snotty Tigrayanswell, maybe people liked that too. Voters arent as humanist as pundits like to think, as the past few years/decades/centuries have shown.

That was the situation at the start of the war: The TPLF was hunkered down in Mekelle and other Tigrayan cities, planning for their response to the inevitable Ethiopian attack. They more or less provoked that invasion when they decided to hold elections in Tigray, even though Abiy had announced that all elections were cancelled because of Covid. Rashid Abdi, a journalist who covers the Horn, warned that war was coming on October 30, 2020.

Since Abdi is close to the TPLF leadership, he probably got his info from them. So they knew Tigray was going to be attacked. They decided to strike first, hitting ENDF bases in every Tigrayan city on November 4, 2020.

TPLF special forces grabbed the local commanders of the ENDF, took any weapons they thought might be useful, and packed ENDF soldiers into trucks for transport to camps far away from the cities. Some ENDF commanders who were ethnic Tigrayans collaborated with the TPLF during the raids and joined the Tigrayan forces.

Two days after these preemptive TPLF attacks, the ENDF answered with air raids, a classic first move by national governments dealing with an insurgent province. The Ethiopian command also unleashed their own ethnic-Amhara militia, usually called Fano (or Fanno  it means something like Ronin in Amharic). These were used to terrorize soft targets  Tigrayan civilians in the south, near the border with the Amhara province.

At the time, most news sites took the Fanos deployment and subsequent massacres and rapes as proof that the fighting in Tigray was just another African atrocity, to be deplored and then ignored. That was totally wrong. For centuries, wars in the Abyssinian Highlands have been highly organized, conventional affairs, not bush wars. So the atrocities committed by various forces should be seen as a standard military tactic, a way to use troops with low combat value to create chaos and terror among the enemy population.

Eritrea, pushing into Tigray from the north, soon showed that it had a different policy for terrorizing the Tigrayan towns it conquered. While the ENDF preferred deniable Fano men for its pogroms, Eritrea used its regular troops to commit atrocities. This too made conventional military sense. Eritrea had no interest in winning hearts and minds in Tigray proper, so it didnt need a deniable irregular force to do the dirty war. Nor did Eritrea have any reason to worry about international opinion, since its already a pariah state, walled off from the world of NGOs, first-world advisors, IMF plans, and the rest of the standard African-state package.

Ethiopias needs are totally different. Its heavily dependent on Western aid, tight with the NGOs (until lately anyway), and must think long-term about a way to reconcile Tigrayans to its continued rule (assuming it was going to win, of course). So it makes simple cold-blooded sense for Eritrea to let its own forces commit atrocities, while Ethiopia either farmed them out to Fano or tried to hide them.

Ethiopias resort to using Fano signaled something else: desperation. Few people realized it back in November 2020, but the ENDFs reliance on Fano from the very start of the war meant that they knew their army had lost most of its combat power when the Tigrayans defected.

Fano Militia: Amhara Twitter began calling them the saviors of Ethiopia in the Summer of 2021, suggesting how badly the war was going for the ENDF proper

There was also, from the beginning, an interesting difference in the way ethnic Tigrayan soldiers behaved when serving with the Eritrean and Ethiopian forces. The EDF was able to order even its ethnic Tigrayan soldiers to carry out massacres against fellow Tigrayans. The ENDF was not. Its an interesting divergence. Was this because the EDF is more disciplined, or because their Tigrayan soldiers buy into the new Eritrean identity rather than their Tigrayan heritage? Whatever the explanation, it seems clear that the EDF kept its Tigrayan recruits, while the ENDF lost theirs and had to call up an ethnic-Amhara militia as backup.

However, these terror weapons  air strikes and massacres  werent going to reconquer Tigray. That would take a big offensive aiming for Mekelle. The expected pincer movement began about a week after the TPLFs preemptive attacks. The Eritreans sent armor and infantry south into Zalambessa, in northeastern Tigray. Zalambessa is another of those towns which have become metonymic for endless war. I was writing about war in Zalambessa 20 years ago.

The ENDF seemed to be advancing too in the first few weeks of the war. ENDF armored columns rolled into Alamata on the A2 highway, which leads straight north from the Amhara heartland to Mekelle. The ENDF was striking for the heart of Tigray and it didnt seem like anything could stop them. As far as most pundits could tell, the TPLF was just getting rolled up by the bigger, better-armed ENDF.

We at Radio War Nerd had enough sense to avoid premature predictions of a quick Ethiopian win. We stressed that the TPLF had fought and won a classic Maoist insurgency against terrible odds once before, against the Derg, so it couldnt be counted out too soon.

Still, even to us, the strategic picture looked pretty grim. The ENDF was rolling toward Mekelle from the south, and the Eritrean army was attacking from the north on a wide front. Even Somalia, which has problems of its own, had loaned thousands of troops to the war against Tigray.

How could the TPLF hold Mekelle against forces like that?

By the end of November 2020, the answer seemed simple: They couldnt, and they hadnt. The ENDF moved up the A2 road with only minor fighting and took Mekelle on November 28. The TPLF said it had left the capital and moved into the mountains to wage a guerrilla campaign, but weve all heard that kind of claim, Its not over! way too many times. The TPLFs threats sounded like face-saving rhetoric.

Well, that turned out to be wrong. They meant every word of it. The TPLFs strategy worked like a training video for Maoist insurgency. It may not work everywhere (thinking back to the sad RCMP recruiters peddling Red Guard badges on Sproul Plaza) but in poor, mostly rural countries with weak central governments, it is extremely effective. Mao doesnt get much credita lotta Bolshevik-love going around and none for Maobut in my anything-but-humble opinion he will be remembered as the preeminent strategist of the last century. The TPLF had done exactly what their PR claimed they had done: withdrawing from the cities, avoiding battle, and regrouping in the boonies.

The thing about Maos strategy, though, is that its slow. That makes it very difficult for the CNN/BBC model to cover. Day after day, nothing happensuntil it happens. The guerrillas withdraw from the cities, and its easy to conclude that theyve simply fled, headed home, given up. You can refresh your browser fifty times a day and theres no news, no maps moving, no sign of anything but a total rout.

Looking back now, there were signs that the Ethiopian armys victory wasnt as complete as it seemed. For starters, where were the leaders of the TPLF? They should have been the most valuable trophies for a victorious ENDF, but only one of the top leaders, Abay Weldu, was captured.

The most important catch of all, TPLF overall leader Debretsion Gebremichael, had slipped away. There were all kinds of rumors about him: hed fled to Sudan, or South Sudan, or the mountains, or had been killed.

It wasnt until early 2021 that there was any reliable news about how the fighting in the Tigrayan countryside was going. And when it came, it was more bad news for the Tigrayan forces. In a conversation with journalist Alex de Waal, a TPLF veteran said that in the first month of the war, the TPLF had decimated the EDF, ENDF, and Fano attackers. Then came the UAE drones.

And then the Emirates came. The Emirates effectively disarmed Tigray. They started killing tanks, then howitzers, then fuel, then ammunition. Then they started hunting small vehicles, targeting leaders, [indistinct] all over. This created [unclear: risk?] and sort of dislocation, and this is part of the weakness of the preparation. So many people moved out of the cities of Tigray towards the rural other areas following the army, some including their families.

CAIG Wing Loong

We know now, though, that the drones were not decisive in the war. Despite them, the TDF won. One of the most interesting military questions coming out of this war will be why drone warfare, which was decisive in Nagorno-Karabakh, was not in Tigray.

Maybe the difference is between the Maoist model of war-fighting and the Soviet one. The Tigrayan forces didnt commit everything they had to stopping the ENDF as it rolled in at the end of 2020. They pulled back, maybe using a few suicide squads to delay the Ethiopian advance (those would be the tanks and other assets destroyed by drones) but putting their big bet on watching, waiting, and looking for weak points in the occupying force. Its pretty clear, by 2021, that thats the way to fight a high-tech occupying force. By this time everybody knows what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its no secret how to defeat a massive occupationif youre willing to pay the price.

And its a terrible price. Its hard to see how terrible the price is until you read a lot of insurgent memoirs. You do not want to live through an insurgency. Its not romantic, its not adventurous, its a nightmare. Because another lesson of Iraq and Afghanistan is that recent experiments in counterinsurgency doctrine, the theory that says We can win the insurgent people over without terrorizing themwell, even if those were carried out as cleanly as they claimed (and they werent)even then, they do. Not. Work.

The Armenian forces in Artsakh didnt have the strategic depth to use Maoist strategy, even if they wanted to. In fact, they were using an adapted Soviet model, heavy on armor, artillery, and prepared positionsand were expecting the same kind of war from the Azeris, who trained in the same Soviet school. But the Azeri army, with all the money on earth behind it, plus the discreet backing of every member of the dominant cartel  the US, Israel, NATO, the UAE, and Turkey (our NATO ally), brought a new mode of war-fighting, using drones to destroy all that Armenian armor, all that artillery, all those prepared defense points, right off the hilltops.

It might also be that the Artsakh Armenian community, a small population, could not accept the casualties this sort of war creates. The Tigrayan population is more numerous and poorer, with very recent experience of horrific warfare. They may simply have been more willing to pay the terrible price. Or perhaps they simply had no other choice; invading armies with a vengeful ethnic agenda dont offer civilians the chance to surrender peacefully, and Tigray, unlike Artsakh, did not have Russia right next door to help it negotiate a settlement. It was pretty much fight or die.

The TDF also relied less on prepared positions, making their squads harder to drone. Maos strategy relies on mobility and patience. He once claimed that a bandit chief told him All you need to know about war is circle around, circle around, circle around. That couldnt have worked in a tiny theater like Nagorno-Karabakh, but it was perfect for Tigray. Central Tigray looks eerily like Monument Valley where they used to film all those Westerns. Lots of room, lots of hiding places and ambush sites:

John Wayne territory, vs

Tigray Defense Force turf

So though the ENDFs drones probably wiped out the TDF rear guard, they didnt decide the war. And with TDF moving in the countryside rather than holding a front line, they were harder to find and kill.

Killing was the plan. The ENDF didnt even bother with trying the new-model COIN. They just killed people. The horrible truth is that thats how COIN works. Thats what Julius Caesar did in Gaul, and many other commanders before and after him.

The goal is not usually to kill all of the target population. (Though there are plenty of examples of that policy in the record, as recently as Rwanda in 1994.)

More often, the goal is to commit atrocities so lurid that they shock the enemy population into running away. Thats the key: make them run away. When civilian populations have to flee, especially very poor people with lots of children, they will die on their own. And their children will die first. Children die quickly when theres no food or rest.

This is why those senseless slaughters you read about are not senseless at all. Theyre traditional, universal practices designed to create horror. Horror makes the enemy civilians run, and running kills them very efficiently. Better yet, the news sites dont see the connection and attribute their deaths to famine or wartime chaos, letting you, the occupier, off the hook very nicely.

Rape is a big part of this process. Mass rape breaks the spirit of the enemy fighters, because one of the universal goals of male defenders in every war ever is protecting the women. Its no accident that theres a long scene of Scarlett OHara being menaced by a leering Union soldier in Gone with the Wind. And its no accident she shoots him dead, eitherbecause that was a very pro-Dixie movie, and defeated elites need literary victories, over and over.

IRL, rape victims rarely find themselves on the stairway of a mansion with a pistol conveniently to hand. 999 times out of a thousand, they have nowhere to run when the enemy trucks roar into their towns or villages. They may live after being gang-raped, but their lives have been destroyed, and any children they have will be pariahs. So rape, like massacre, is intentionally horrific, rather than senseless. A monstrous sense is still sense, and a far more common form of it than wed like to think.

Soldiers of the Eritrean Defence Forces seem to have done more than their share of these atrocities. It was the Eritreans who committed the biggest massacre, or at least the biggest one we know about, in Aksum.

The Ethiopian command might have been under some sort of weak directive to take it easy on the horrors (Remember, we want to make the survivors good patriotic Ethiopians again!) but the Eritrean command clearly became more brutal as Tigrayan resistance increased. They wanted to bring the nightmare to Tigray, and by all accounts they did a good job of it.

We cant know for sure exactly which force did which massacre. From the very beginning of the war, Eritrean units went into battle wearing Ethiopian uniforms. The official story in both Ethiopian and Eritrean media on the war for the first few months was that there were no Eritreans fighting in Tigray. It wasnt until April 2021, five months into the war, that Eritrea admitted it had invaded northern Tigray. And even then, they didnt exactly admit they DID have troops there; they just said We are now withdrawing our troops from Tigray. Thats the sort of fine distinction that foreign-affairs officers love, though its fine-ness is usually lost on the locals who have been getting raped and killed by those un-acknowledged invaders.

I mentioned that the Tigrayans retreated to the mountains, and that was true. But there are a lot of people in the world now, and roads were as big a factor as topography. Ethiopian and Eritrean armor, drones, and aircraft had enough destructive power to control the roads, but a lot of the province is off-road through sheer poverty. So the TDF regrouped away from those roads and cities. This led to the classic guerrilla situation: the occupier controls the cities, the roads, and the daytime, while the guerrillas own the countryside and the nighttime.

Tigray road system, with the key A2 road running straight north through Mekelle

The Ethiopian forces were much more road-bound than the TDF. In fact, destroying the TDFs armor early in the war might have helped the TDF avoid the temptation of pitched battles along major roads.

Road-bound armies do better on flat land than in rough terrain, so the Ethiopian forces were dominant in the flat plains of western Tigray. To the east, in the highlands where most Tigrayans live, they had a much harder time.

Western Tigray, with its friendly topography, was the front assigned to the Amhara militias. They considered big parts of the area Amhara territory, and when they took control of it, they reacted the way irregular ethnic militias always have: by offering the locals the choice of leaving or dying.

Tigrayan refugees trying to cross the Setit River into Sudan

Well, it seems they didnt offer the leaving option in some cases, but that, unfortunately, is pretty standard ethnic or sectarian militia behavior too. These massacres may have been going on all over western Tigray, but the ones that were reported were concentrated along the Sudan border, in places like Humera and Mai Kadra. Thats a very strategic zone, where Eritrea, Sudan, and Tigray/Ethiopian borders collide. Humera, site of a long series of massacres, is exactly at the point where the three countries meet, and Mai Kadra is a village in the Humera District. So the massacres of Tigrayans there could have been aimed at total extermination rather than the usual makeem run, then theyll die pattern I mentioned above.

Itll be a long time before anybody knows how many massacres happened in Tigray, but it does seem clear that the pace picked up as TDF ambushes started chipping away at EDF/ENDF/Fano forces. This is another constant of war: When the occupying force starts to take casualties from guerrilla attacks, they react by firing at any civilians in their sights. Its armies in the process of losing who commit some of the most bloody massacres.

That strategy of reprisal doesnt work very well against a united population, especially when the occupied people know they will be targeted no matter how docile they are. In fact, that sort of occupier overreaction is a key part of all guerrilla strategies, a way to alienate the people from the occupier. And the ENDF/EDF/Fano forces were more than willing to play the occupiers bloody role.

The result was nearly unanimous support for the TDF within Tigray. And once an insurgent force has that kind of local support, it can take the offensive. Like good Maoist guerrillas, the TDF must have spent weeks or months watching the occupiers outposts, timing their patrols, marking their weak points, and sifting reports to gauge the enemys morale, identifying their weak points, their most demoralized garrisons. Once youve done that sort of insurgent homework, staging an attack is easy. Well, easy isnt the right word, maybe. Insurgents die at a much higher rate than occupiers in almost all asymmetrical wars. But when the occupiers are as brutal as the Ethiopian/Eritrean/Amhara forces were in Tigray, its not hard to find volunteers willing to take the risk of a better death that will make them heroes.

As Yeats said about Irish kids who decided to fight at home rather than on the Western Front in 1916, they decided to sell their deaths at a better market.

The TDFs tactics havent changed very much from the ones the TPLF first learned from the Eritreans in the 1980s, as I described them in a previous Radio War Nerd newsletter [#96]:

The EPLA had perfected a sophisticated mix of conventional and guerrilla tactics, often sending five columns into an enemy position, with one assigned to kill everyone in the enemy HQ while the others kept the force busy along the perimeter. They used these tactics very effectively against the slow, tired Ethiopian Army, now full of cannon fodder dragged out of Ethiopian villages to replace the slaughtered veterans.

The biggest weakness of the Ethiopian forces is that they had lost their best soldiers, the Tigrayans. In fact, they were going into battle against them. Some estimates claim that half of the ENDF Northern Command, presumably the ethnic Tigrayans, defected to the TPLF/TDF after Abiy sent the ENDF into Tigray. Most would have taken their weapons and vehicles with them, making the TDF much better-armed than other insurgent groups.

Used tank, needs work

The tactics used to destroy Ethiopian tanks, the ones you see in brief videos from Tigray, probably were very similar to those used in the great Battle of Afabet in 1988. Afabet is deep in Eritrea rather than Tigray, but it has the same kind of terrain as central Tigray, a landscape of sharp rock buttes and narrow canyons with few roadsand the TDF is the descendant of the TPLF, which learned big-battle tactics from the Eritrean EPLF, the force that destroyed the Ethiopian army at Afabet. The EPLF insurgents first forced the Ethiopian forces out of their HQ in Nafka. That forced the Ethiopians to flee south to Afabet. And that ensured an insurgent victory. You can see from this map why an armor-heavy force, fleeing along a classic narrow valley with one road, has little chance against guerrillas with good intel and popular support:

Heres how that battle developed, as described in my RWN newsletter:

The Ethiopians held for a while, and then the commander of an elite unit, the 29th Mechanized Brigade, decided to break out southward towards Afabet. Withdrawing with an armor-heavy force, through narrow mountain passes, is a very dangerous move. By this time the Eritreans had quite a significant armored force of their own in action, entirely made up of captured Ethiopian tanks, SP artillery, and APCs. So Eritrean armor, including T-55 MBTs, was trailing the retreating 29th Brigade as they withdrew. When one of the trucks in the Ethiopian convoy made it to the summit of the pass, an Eritrean T-55 managed to destroy it with a direct hit, and when the T-55s main cannon hits a truck, it makes quite a mess, especially when the wreckage is right at the top of a narrow mountain pass. This is the worst thing that can happen to an armor-based force: stuck in a convoy in a narrow mountain valley, with the exit blocked by burning vehicles. All you can do in that situation is get out of the vehicle and try to flee on foot. Thats what the 29th Mechanized Brigade, which had been one of the armys best units, had to do. Before fleeing they tossed hand grenades into their abandoned vehicles to make sure they couldnt be used by the enemy. Then they fought their way out towards Afabet, the main Ethiopian base south of Nafka. When the over-centralized Ethiopian command heard about the disaster they ordered their own air force to bomb the abandoned column, making extra sure those vehicles couldnt be used by the Eritreans. So at this point you have your own AF bombing a convoy of your best armor. The optics, as they say, were not good: Ethiopian MiG 23s bombing Ethiopian T-55s. The Ethiopian high command, over-managing from the safety of Addis Ababa, ordered attacks from Keren, the big town to the SW of Afabet, and simultaneous sorties from Afabet toward Keren, to open the road. But that meant sending more armor-heavy convoys along roads that followed the courses of dry riverbeds down long mountain valleys. Thats a defenders dream landscape. The Italians had discovered that at the Battle of Adwa a century earlier, and the Ethiopian Army, which shouldve known better, was finding it out all over again. The attacks failed, as the weary Ethiopian troops and mid-rank officers must have known they would. That left the garrison in Afabet totally isolated. And these werent the proud Ethiopian troops of the Ogaden War. Theyd been terrorized and mismanaged by their own command for way too long, and the best soldiers had died years ago. Most of them were conscripts rounded up from the streets of the cities, along with any rural kids too slow to avoid the recruiting gangs. The Eritreans were fast. This was their terrain, they had the enemy demoralized and on the run, and for the first time they could advance by truck and APC. They attacked Afabet on March 19, just two days after beginning the campaign. The town fell fast. Just as in the debacle at the mountain pass, all the Ethiopian commanders could do was blow up what they could and flee south toward Keren.

Most likely the TDF used the Afabet scenario on a smaller scale, dozens or hundreds of times. And the likeliest explanation for at least some of the massacres of Tigrayan civilians is that they were slaughtered in revenge pogroms, after TDF guerrillas destroyed the occupiers convoys or outposts. Of course not all the massacres would have happened this way; its pretty clear that the Addis Ababa government wanted a mass purge of Tigrayans everywhere in Ethiopia, even in places like Addis Ababa, where there are still plenty of journalists watching. What happened in at least some parts of Tigray, where no journalists were allowed, looks pretty much like straight-up genocide.

It was a genocide that failed, however. As in Syria, the battlefield has trumped the massacre/PR campaign. By July 2021, it was clear that the ENDF was getting run out of Tigray.

On the northern front where the Eritrean forces were invading, things are very different, very grim. Unlike the ENDF, the EDF seems to have held together and fought well. Its still occupying part of northern Tigray, and by the summer of 2021, Eritrean troops were replacing ENDF/Fano in the flat land of western Tigray, especially the strategic corner around Humera:

An internal European Union document dated August 20 said Eritrean troops were present in western Tigray, where they have taken up defensive positions with tanks and artillery around Adi Goshu and Humera, and possibly also along the border with Sudan.

As the war went on, Eritrea got more and more aggressive, even taking over for the fading ENDF on some fronts. As of November 2021, it looks like the TDF hasnt even been able to dislodge the Eritrean forces from the Tigrayan territory theyve taken around Aksum. This could be simply a strategic choice by TDF command to attack southward against the ENDF, the weaker enemy.

No matter how you construe it, the control map at this point seems to show that Eritrea is the only faction to gain anything at all from this war.

Thats when you look back at that Ethiopian-Eritrean Pact of 2018, the one that got Abiy his Nobel Peace Prize, and start to wonder if Afwerki lured Abiy, whos a naive politician with delusions of grandeur, into a private agreement to attack Tigray simultaneously. Afwerki might even have guessed that the ENDF would be destroyed in Tigray. After all, Afwerki knows the combat power of the Tigrayan forces up close.

Looking cold-bloodedly from Afwerkis stronghold in the north, its a cant-lose deal: Both Tigray and Addis Ababa would be weakened, while Eritrea would only lose a few thousand soldiers. From Afwerkis perspective, sending those young men to die in Tigray might be a benefit in itself. Kept at home without jobs (and there are very few jobs in Eritrea these days) they could be dangerous; sent to the front, they will be out of the picture. Better yet, many will not come home at all.

In old-school power-politics terms, Eritrea has done well.

This doesnt mean that the people of Eritrea have won anything. Afwerkis clique has won, but his country has gained nothing but a few arid acres and another generation of resentment. Tigray has lost even more. Whenever the war is fought on your terrain, you lose. And Tigray, a very poor place, couldnt afford to lose anything. After the devastation wrought by the invaders, Tigray will be in poverty and hunger for a long, long time. The TDF victory was heroic, but the price Tigrayans have paid for it is horrific.

Every one of those cars and trucks was a Tigrayan familys biggest investment

The Ethiopian state may have lost most of all. We may soon be talking about the former Ethiopia. It all depends on whether the Tigrayan forces, which have been advancing steadily south on the A2 road, can take Addis Ababa. So far, it doesnt look as if the ENDF can stop them or even slow them down. In fact, it looks as if the ENDF no longer exists as an effective fighting force.

Its astonishing, tracking the TDFs progress since it retook Mekelle at the end of June 2021. As of now (November 16 2021), the control map shows the TDF and its new Oromo allies control the key A2 road as far south as Ataye, only 270 km north of Addis Ababa. But be sure to check the updated map, because by the time you read this the TDF and its allies will almost certainly have moved even closer to Addis.

And from Abiys perspective, the TDF advance due south might not even be the most frightening prospect. The scariest threat is that the TDF will push east toward Mille, cutting the crucial A1 road from Djibouti. Thats the route that carries most of landlocked Ethiopias imports from the Indian Ocean to the Highlands. If the insurgents cut that road, the Ethiopian government will have to start thinking about negotiating or face collapse.

The biggest new development in the war is, of course, the alliance between the TDF and the Oromo Liberation Army

We said on Radio War Nerd way back when the war started that the Oromo, the biggest ethnic group in Ethiopia, have been getting tired of seeing Highland groups, whether Tigrayan or Amhara, act like they owned the country when the Oromo, more than a third of the total population, have so little power. Oromia is south of the Amhara highlands, so the Amhara, currently the most powerful group in the country, could end up sandwiched between the Tigrayans to their north and the Oromo to the south, just as Tigray seemed to be sandwiched between Eritrea and Amhara.

That nightmare scenario was clear to anyone looking at a map, so its not at all clear why Abiy and his handlers couldnt see it. And now it has come true. The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) announced an alliance with the TDF in August 2021.

The OLA doesnt represent all Oromo, of course. In a very standard development, Oromo independence activists have split into two groups along the usual lines: take-it-slow moderates of the OLF and the fight-back-right-now militants of the OLA.

At the moment, the OLA doesnt have much of a record for armed insurgency. A lot of Ethiopian Twitter-ers make a show of contempt for the combat power of the OLA, a very different attitude than how they talk about the TDF. Basically, the trash-talk from Abiy loyalists is that the OLA is a paper tiger. They speak very differently of the Tigrayans, emphasizing their power and cruelty. But weak insurgent movements can grow strong very quickly when their occupier is distracted elsewhere, as the ENDF is distracted, to put it mildly, in Tigray.

The OLA can also make (probably IS making) a big contribution to the TDF advance even if it doesnt have a lot of traditional combat power. In a war like this, incorporating conventional battles, massacres, and guerrilla raids at once, local support is vital. The OLA may not have the sheer military skill of the TDF, but as the TDF moves into Oromo-populated areas, just having the Oromo guerrillas on your side is a big advantage. They can guide you, keep the locals from fighting you, and warn you about ENDF forces in the area. In that way, the alliance is already paying off for the TDF.

Its a real possibility, the TDF/OLA taking the capital. Mostly because it doesnt seem that theres any force capable of stopping them. The ENDF seems to have dissolved. Abiy called on civilians to muster for the defense of the capital weeks ago (November 2 2021.) Thats a very bad sign for the ENDF. It seems likely that the Ethiopian Army, once a force to be feared, has just plain melted away. And if that happens, the TDF can just roll into Addis the way they rolled into Mekelle a few months ago.

Thats when things could get even nastier. You might be able to keep an alliance like this going as long as youre fighting a common enemy in the Ethiopian government. What will happen when the war comes to some sort of pause, if not end? What if the TDF makes a deal with Abiys people over the heads of its OLA allies? What if the TDF/OLA forces go all the way to Addis and take control of what is now Ethiopia? Its a pretty safe bet that their alliance would dissolve in a matter of months, and the country would descend to a multi-ethnic war between provinces, then between towns, as panicked civilians fight for water and food.

Tigray and Oromia arent the only Ethiopian provinces with their own ethnic militias. In fact the TDF has made formal alliance with six other groups:

The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, Agaw Democratic Movement, Benishangul Peoples Liberation Movement, Gambella Peoples Liberation Army, Global Kimant People Right and Justice Movement/ Kimant Democratic Party, Sidama National Liberation Front and Somali State Resistance, according to organizers.

I havent even gotten into the next-level nightmare scenarios in which neighboring countries jump into the war to carve out pieces of a dissolved Ethiopia. Theyll regret it eventuallyIts not easy to dial up the precise level of chaos you think you want in a neighboring statebut that doesnt stop half-bright local Machiavellis from trying, over and over. Ask Erdogan about that.

Sudan, for starters; whats the plan in Khartoum? How much chaos do they want in Ethiopia?

And what about Turkey? Big player in Somalia, big drone-seller to Addis, and nearly as recklessly aggressive as the US itself.

Then theres Egypt, which has a much more urgent reason to take up Ethiopia-destabilizing as a hobby, the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which would reduce the Blue Niles flow downstream. Rumors about Egyptian interference have been going around Ethiopian Twitter for a while, and Trump himself lobbed a tactful boulder into the pond:

Which brings us to the nightmare scenario of some kind of American intervention, God forbid. So far the Washington DC interventionist Blobs attitude to the war in Tigray has had several stages, first looking the other way as the ENDF ravaged Tigray, then miming a more even-handed approach when the TDF started winning, and more recently trying to halt the TDFs momentum before the Ethiopian state, a big US client/ally, is destroyed. As always, the best thing the Blob could do is stay out of it, but as always, they wont realize that. Theyll manage to jump in at the wrong time, with the wrong side, somehow or other.

The tectonic plates are still moving in the Horn, and this round of fighting, for all its heroism and overlooked military significance, wont settle anything. This round of war may peter out soon, though I doubt it. But the war over domination of Ethiopia, or what is now Ethiopia, will run hot for decades.

And so far, it looks like every group loses. If any group or neighboring country ends up winning, it will probably one which had sense enough not to jump into the meat-grinder until its wearing out. Thats when the big gains are made.

In the meantime, its terrible to watch  especially for those like me who admire all the cultures ripping each other apart. These are heroic peoples; theyve endured so much already; and its a safe bet that things will get even worse.
(Natural News) Nearly two-thirds of vaccinated Americans say they will ban unvaccinated family members from holiday gatherings this year. A survey of 2,000 U.S. residents found that two in three respondents feel they cannot go home for the holidays without first getting vaccinated.

Of the 65 percent of respondents who are vaccinated, nearly six in 10 (58 percent) reported cutting off family members who refuse to get the vaccine, while 63 percent feel that they are not comfortable inviting unvaccinated relatives to their gatherings.

Furthermore, 72 percent of vaccinated respondents dont think they can ever get some of their family members to understand the importance of getting vaccines, while 14 percent dont plan on getting vaccinated themselves.

There are legitimate reasons why people are not keen on getting vaccinated. When asked, some respondents said they dont trust the vaccine is safe, while some said they are concerned about the side effects. There were also some who believe that the vaccine was rushed and that people who are vaccinated are still getting sick.

Those who are unvaccinated also stopped communicating with family members who dont understand why they refuse to get vaccinated, and these strained family dynamics may explain why 22 percent of unvaccinated respondents have been excluded from family gatherings, including the holidays.

Some 38 percent of unvaccinated individuals still remain in contact with their vaccinated family members, and 58 percent of the same group said that they are still welcome at family get-togethers. (Related: Want to travel for the holidays? You should get vaccinated, says Fauci.)

Separation between politics and personal life

Author and political commentator Andrew Sullivan said that even those who do make it to the dining table around the holidays will find themselves in divisive debates about politics in the country. He also said that the separation between politics and life is what were losing, and it is a terrible thing to lose.

Sullivan also explained how the Americans inability to set their differences aside is a symptom of a larger illness that saw its peak during the Capitol riot back in January.

This country came to a point where we have violence in the usual peaceful transfer of power. That is a huge warning to how unstable our system can be if we remain rivals in a system that is supposed to be designed for reasonable citizens, he said.

The same study suggests that the vaccine also influenced workforce dynamics the same way it did family dynamics, as 43 percent of unvaccinated respondents confess theyre worried about potentially losing their jobs and benefits, or that they may have to pay for higher health insurance premiums because theyre unvaccinated.

These concerns come after President Joe Bidens federal mandate required Americans working at companies with over 100 employees to get their vaccine by January 4 or go for COVID testing every week.

Regardless of their vaccination status, 53 percent of the respondents agree that the politicization of the vaccines has divided their families, with four in five (79 percent) believing politics should not play a role in science or medicine.

Hosting unvaccinated friends and family

The risk of celebrating with unvaccinated loved ones is just not worth it for some. But for those who want to gather a group with mixed vaccination status, experts say that there are ways to be cautiously safe.

Dr. Juan C. Salazar, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist and physician-in-chief of Connecticut Childrens in Hartford, Connecticut, said that families can still get together, but each family will need to ask the crucial question: What is the likelihood that we will get very sick from COVID-19?

For those who are uncertain how to proceed, Daniel L. Shapiro, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, suggested calling unvaccinated family members and soliciting their ideas on how to gather safely. Ask how to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable. For instance, get mandatory testing right before dinner, or gather outside instead of inside someones home.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking a coronavirus test ahead of the holiday celebrations can reduce the risk of spreading the virus  especially if there are people from multiple households from different parts of the country.

Rapid antigen tests, for instance, can indicate within minutes whether or not someone is contagious with COVID-19. Taking the test just before entering someones home is ideal as the results only reflect whether or not you are carrying a virus at that moment.

For those who balk at the idea, they can be reminded that an infected person can easily spread the virus to other people even if they dont have symptoms.

Eleanor Murray, an epidemiologist at the Boston University School of Public Health said: If a rapid test says youre positive, then that is a very reliable indication that you are infected and infectious. You should not be around other people.

Get more updates about COVID-19 at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

StudyFinds.org

CBS.news

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) The Austrian government ordered a nationwide lockdown for the unvaccinated as the country struggles to slow the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg confirmed that millions of citizens will be placed into lockdowns amidst the worrying increase in infections.

Schallenberg told reporters in Vienna on Saturday, Nov. 13, that it is the governments job to protect the people. The lockdowns for the unvaccinated started Monday, Nov. 15.

The lockdown will initially last for ten days, with police officers asked to check people outside to ensure that they are vaccinated. It can happen any time and anywhere. Every citizen has to expect to be checked, said Interior Minister Karl Nehammer.

The move will affect around two million people in a country of 8.9 million. The government is prohibiting unvaccinated individuals from leaving their homes except for basic activities such as going to work, grocery shopping or getting vaccinated. It will not affect children under the age of 12 as they cannot officially get vaccinated yet.

Austrian citizens aged 12 and older who have not been fully vaccinated can be released from lockdown if they show a negative PCR test, while those found to be in breach of the rules can face fines of up to 3,600 ($4,078).

In response to the mandate, hundreds of Austrians descended upon the streets of Ballhausplatz during an anti-vaccination rally. Protesters held placards reading no compulsory vaccination as they marched down the streets.

Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe, with only 65 percent of its total population being fully vaccinated. In recent weeks, the increasing trend in infections showed 11,552 new cases on Sunday, Nov. 14. A week before, there were 8,554.

This seven-day infection rate stands at 775.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In comparison, the rate is at 289 in neighboring Germany. There are also about 437 people being treated for COVID in intensive care units in Austrian hospitals as of Friday, Nov. 12.

The government planned to implement measures when the number of people being admitted to the ICU reached 600, but Schallenberg said that it was no longer sensible to wait. Unvaccinated people were then effectively barred from entering restaurants, hotels, and events of more than 25 people.

New government rules dictate that all bars and restaurants be closed by 8 p.m., leaving many streets around the country deserted. (Related: Austria tightens border controls as coronavirus cases reach 2,000.)

COVID situation in other European countries

Germany already passed the five million mark in the cumulative case count for the COVID-19 infections.

The Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases reported 33,498 cases on Sunday, bringing the national total to 5,021,469 since the beginning of the pandemic, with 55 deaths on Sunday alone. Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a national effort to break another wave of the virus, urging people to get vaccinated.

In Italy, nearly 4,000 people took to the streets of Milan to protest the strict COVID rules. Protesters were opposing a government mandate of having workers in the public and private sectors get government-issued health passes as the country reported 8,544 new COVID cases and 53 virus-related deaths on Saturday alone.

Bulgaria also saw a surge in COVID-19 infections with 334 deaths in a single day  the highest in the country since the beginning of the pandemic  as the parliamentary and presidential elections got underway.

In the Netherlands, hundreds of Dutch protestors had a water cannon turned on them by police as they objected to the partial return of lockdown introduced by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Read more about how governments are handling COVID-19 at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheGuardian.com

DW.com
(Natural News) Even before OSHA had announced suspension of Bidens illegal vaccine mandate earlier today, I recorded the Situation Update podcast late last night (see below), predicting that the Biden vaccine mandate was doomed.

Why? The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals isnt the only court involved in this. Now, the Sixth Circuit court has taken up the consolidation of 30+ lawsuits against the mandate, spanning the entire country. And the Sixth court has 27 judges, with 20 out of 27 of those judges being nominated by conservative presidents (Bush 1, Bush 2, Trump and even Reagan).

With the Fifth Circuit court issuing its stay of the mandate, and the Sixth Circuit court now taking up the lawsuits filed across the country, it looks like Joe Bidens unconstitutional vaccine mandate is headed for the trash heap of history. (As is Joe Bidens entire presidency, come to think of it)

Biden wants to make your body government property you will be a SLAVE under a vaccine mandate

On the facts alone, the vaccine mandate is blatantly unconstitutional and represents a grave violation of fundamental human rights. It claims that the government owns your body and can force you to be injected with absolutely anything the government labels a vaccine. The CDC, notably, had to change their own definition of vaccines in order to push mRNA gene therapy propaganda, claiming its a vaccine when it isnt. So whos to say the government wont one day claim a euthanasia shot is a vaccine, too? (Or have they already)

If the American people dont own their own body, then they are slave property owned by the government and we have at that point re-established slavery in America. Theres also the issue of discrimination based on whats in your blood, with the Biden vaccine mandate claiming no one should be allowed to work unless they have toxic spike protein nanoparticles coursing through their veins. Hes essentially demanding that youre only allowed to work a job if you commit vaccine suicide as an act of obedience to the state.

Thats simply not acceptable. In fact, it is an assault on humanity.

The courts are almost certainly going to strike this down as a broad overreach of power. While vaccine mandates will likely be recognized as legal for biohazard workers who occupy actual laboratories that handle level-IV pathogens, no vaccine can be mandated across the entire working population simply out of a demand that everyone comply with the bizarre demands of the very same government that funded the covid bioweapon to begin with.

Vaccine mandates are destroying the US economy, too

Another consideration that the courts must take into account involves the economic implications of forcing people out of work if they dont comply with experimental medical injections. The worsening supply chain disruptions now afflicting America are largely caused by vaccine mandates, and the emptying of police departments, fire departments and sheriffs offices  putting public safety at risk  is also due to vaccine mandates.

With hundreds of thousands of Americans already killed by covid vaccines  and possibly millions more this coming winter  it is a rational decision to reject the toxic, experimental jab, especially when the pandemic it claims to halt has a greater than 99% survival rate for most Americans.

Even worse, the experimental vaccine destroys immune function and accelerates cancer tumor growth across the body, meaning that taking the vaccine actually reduces a persons health and lifespan. Thus, a decision to take the vaccine is an irrational choice that harms society as well as harming the individual.

By striking down the Biden vaccine mandate as unconstitutional, US courts will establish a precedent for fundamental human rights while simultaneously unleashing economic freedom that will help heal Americas broken supply chain and food shortages. If Americas economy is to function, we need people getting back to work, and that includes people with natural immunity who reject deadly vaccine experiments.

I cover all this and more in todays Situation Update podcast:

Brighteon.com/ae8444bd-cc66-4b49-8079-4dada7671747

Find more podcasts and interviews each day at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport

Also find my daily interviews at Brighteon.TV at 3pm Eastern, Monday  Friday.
(Natural News) Police are now investigating allegations that the president of an Arizona school board kept an online dossier on parents who opposed the Scottsdale Unified School Districts push to jam Critical Race Theory down the throats of their children.

(Article by Jack Davis republished from WesternJournal.com)

The Scottsdale Police Department said in a statement it was aware of the allegations against Scottsdale Unified School District President Jann-Michael Greenburg. We are conducting an investigation into the matter and will report our findings once it is complete.

The statement encouraged those with information about the case to contact police, according to the Associated Press.

Greenburg is a 27-year-old male with no children and lives with his father, Mark, who admitted to secretly filming parents on school property and hiring a private investigator to take down their license plate numbers. https://t.co/tmcoWkXHWQ  Christopher F. Rufo  (@realchrisrufo) November 14, 2021

These lunatics want to permanently mask your children and pump them full of critical race theory. We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave Arizona moms who are standing up to creeps like Mark and Jann-Michael Greenburg. Don't stop until they are removed from public life.  Christopher F. Rufo  (@realchrisrufo) November 11, 2021

In a statement, Scottsdale Superintendent Scott Menzel tried to distance the district from the dossier, saying it was not involved in its creation and did not supply information for it. The district said Friday it will conduct a forensic IT examination of its technology to determine if it was used inappropriately to compile the dossier.

The dossier kept on a Google Drive has extensive information on parents who dared have opposed the board publicly, including Social Security numbers, background checks, a divorce paper, mortgage documents, trade certifications and screenshots of Facebook posts, according to Fox News.

The information appears to have been compiled by Mark Greenburg, the board presidents father, and appears to have been shared with the board president.

Id call this retaliation, said parent Amy Carney. The list of parents targeted in the drive appears to be anyone who has spoken out about anything against our district publicly or online.

Carney said the district response was pathetic.

Parents are so disappointed by the district trying to deflect what was going on, Carney said of the district letter responding to the scandal. That was just for damage control, but I mean we really need the district to step up and send out an apology and let us know they are investigating this, she said, according to the Daily Mail.

Parent Michelle Dillard noted that although the National School Boards Association has referred to parents standing up for their children as domestic terrorists, the truth is the other way around.

We the parents are the people and [the school board is] the government and the Constitution and the laws are there to protect us against the very thing that theyre doing and trying to accuse us of doing and potentially wanting to charge us for, Dillard said in an appearance on the Fox News show the Ingraham Angle, according to Fox News.

This latest scandal in Scottsdale  is proof  who[m] the label domestic terrorist really belongs to. Its not the parents, Carney said.

Carney said that parents want the board president to resign because parents  felt threatened. They feel endangered.

The president of the Scottsdale school board kept sensitive personal information on 47 parents who spoke out against the school board. @AmyLCarney called it retaliation and said that more than 650 parents demanded the prez resignhttps://t.co/7eTCXoyoVI  Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) November 12, 2021

Ingraham said the episode is deeply troubling. This is like an authoritarian regime; this is something out of Kafka going on in Scottsdale, Arizona. Politicians better pay attention and recall petitions should be undertaken.

Read more at: WesternJournal.com
(Natural News) Efforts by green energy fanatics to stop all mining and burning of dirty coal in the West have backfired in a major way.

According to reports, the push to greenify Western energy habits only ended up pushing more coal usage in the East  and particularly in China, which always seems to be mysteriously exempt from climate change tyranny.

India is another place where coal usage is skyrocketing. A report by Bloomberg found that India now burns more coal that Europe and the United States combined, and miners are betting on rising demand over the next decade in other Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

As it turns out, trying to sell coal mines at a time when the environmental lobby wants them shut down for good is not all that attractive. Because of this, companies that own mines are choosing to keep them open.

Not only that, but China is building new coal power plants at breakneck speed. According to reports, the communist dictatorship is currently building, and has more slated to build, coal power plants with the equivalent of six times the capacity of Germanys entire coal-burning capacity.

New coal plants in Asia are offsetting the retired plants elsewhere, reads the descriptor on a graph showing that Asian coal usage is skyrocketing.

Its tough to get rid of coal when you build more coal plants than you retire, added Mish Talk.

COP26 turns into COP-OUT26 as world leaders soften coal phase out to accommodate China

At the same time that North Americans are being told they are horrible people for still using fossil fuels, China and Southeast Asia are burning more of it than ever before  and nobody is saying a thing about their usage.

In fact, the recent COP26 climate conference included a watered-down pledge that was inserted at the last minute to phase down rather than phase out the use of coal.

This seemingly small change makes all the difference for China, which will continue to grow and expand its industrial base using inexpensive coal and other fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the United States and other Western countries are being forced into clean energy alternatives like wind and solar that are expensive, ugly, and not very efficient.

Credit India, with backing of China, for the watered down pledge on coal, Mish Talk added. That alone should tell you what you need to know.

As we reported back in 2017, coal is necessary to produce steel. Without steel, there is no way for modern society as we know it to function.

The more the environmentalists push to eliminate coal, in other words, the more our economy, our way of life and our prosperity dwindle away to nothing. Meanwhile, China is growing by leaps and bounds and is fast-becoming a world superpower, along with India, thanks to the Asian exemption from these climate mandates.

If you eliminate environmental penalties, coal is the cheapest reliable source of energy, wrote one Mish Talk commenter. So, of course 3rd world countries migrate to it. And the OECD deciding to phase out coal drives down the price of coal.

Failure of COP26 was the best possible result we could have, wrote another. What a joke.

The delusions of grandeur of John Kerry and his cretinous retinue, thinking they are saving the planet. The reality is that the Earths climate is completely ho-hum, and in fact considerably cooler and with lower atmospheric CO2 than average. Mother Nature must be scratching her pretty little head at this utter nonsense.

More related news about the global warming scam can be found at Climate.news.

Sources for this article include:

MishTalk.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Former Israeli soldier and politician Brig. Gen. Avigdor Kahalani talked about Israels national security situation and the threats it faces from Iran during the Nov. 11 episode of His Glory with Pastor David Scarlett on Brighteon.TV.

Kahalani, one of the most decorated generals in Israel, started his long career with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in 1962 at the age of 18. He spent over 30 years as a career soldier in several of the IDFs tank units. By the time he retired, he had attained the rank of brigadier general.

He has served in multiple conflicts, including the Six-Day War in 1967, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the Lebanon War in 1982. After the Yom Kippur War, Kahalani earned Israels highest military decoration, the Medal of Valor, for successfully defending a strategic position against an attack by a vastly superior force.

After retiring from the military, Kahalani began a career in politics, first as deputy mayor of Tel Aviv and then as a member of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, from 1992 to 1999. During his time in the Knesset, Kahalani served as minister of public security.

Kahalani told Scarlett that Iran is an existential threat to Israel.

If we have a threat from Hezbollah, Syria or from Palestinians in Gaza, it does not threaten our lives, said Kahalani. Its a battle and we suffer a lot and we have to fight against them. The threat we have is from Iran

Kahalani added that Iran calls for the destruction of Israel almost every day even though Iran does not have a border with Israel and is over 500 miles away to the east. They have a mission to destroy our country, he said.

For the moment, Kahalani said that the problem with Iran can be solved by the United States. The main obstacle to this is the current American strategy of being so gentle with Iran. (Related: Why hasnt he been arrested? John Kerry reportedly leaked classified information about Israel to the terrorist Iranian regime.)

But the moment that  if they dont care about us, about the future of our country, and continues to be a threat to the future of our country, I believe that Israel will find some kind of solution for this problem, he said.

Of course, you can imagine what we can do, he added. We have a strong army. We have intelligence forces. Were strong enough to protect ourselves.

Israel trying to prevent escalating tensions with Iran

Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz recently said that Israel is working all the time to prevent a possible war with Iran by carrying out operations, conveying messages [and] preventing [military] build-up.

Despite doing everything it can to prevent a war with Iran, Gantz said the country is still preparing for the possibility that war might erupt.

Israel will be prepared to execute operations that havent been seen in the past, with means that werent in our hands in the past, that will harm the heart of terror and its abilities, Gantz said.

While Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, Israel is concerned that the country may soon be able to develop nuclear weaponry. Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi stated that Israel is doing everything it can to speed up its operational readiness to deal with such a scenario.

During his interview with Scarlett, Kahalani said Israel will be able to protect itself but many people both in small towns and large cities will be vulnerable because of rocket attacks. Hezbollah have thousands upon thousands of rockets, he said.

To protect Israel, Kahalani suggests that the country must present itself as a strong nation capable of retaliating severely if it is threatened. He agreed that Israel will not be able to shoot down every rocket fired by Iran or Hezbollah, but if Tel Aviv or Jerusalem is attacked, Israel should threaten to destroy Lebanon.

Kahalani stressed that Israel has every right to defend itself against attacks that target the countrys civilian populations. He, his family and their friends have all lost loved ones due to the conflict. We are tired of war, he said. We want quiet. We want peace.

Scarlett and Kahalani have a lot more to say regarding Israels security situation, and the threats the nation faces not just from Iran, but also from other militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Watch the full Nov. 12 episode of His Glory with Pastor David Scarlett, featuring Gen. Avigdor Kahalani, here.

His Glory with Pastor David Scarlett airs every Friday from 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Learn more about Israels conflict with its neighbors by reading the latest articles at WWIII.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

PeoplePill.com

Newsweek.com
(Natural News) While alerting city residents of a disturbing trend involving follow-home robberies, the Los Angeles Police Department has raised a lot of eyebrows by telling people to cooperate and comply when they are being robbed.

In follow-home robberies, suspects locate victims and then follow them and rob them as they arrive home or at their workplace. Victims are being followed from places such as Los Angeless jewelry district, upscale shopping area Melrose Avenue, high-end restaurants and nightclubs.

Violent crime has been rising throughout the country in general, but the Melrose area is currently outpacing other parts of Los Angeles, with a 75 percent rise in robberies with guns recorded this year through September in the Wilshire and Hollywood divisions. The robbers often target expensive purses and jewelry such as necklaces and watches. They are also targeting victims based on the type of car they drive.

In response, the LAPD recently tweeted recommendations for members of the community. These include common-sense advice like being aware of your surroundings and looking for anything that seems unusual before you get out of your car or leave a restaurant, business or club. They also advise citizens to be cautious when displaying luxury goods in public, such as jewelry, watches and purses.

Their suggestions also included recording and reporting any suspicious activity and calling 911 if people believe that they are being followed.

Be a good witness

They also wrote: If you are being robbed, do not resist the robbery suspects; cooperate and comply with their demands. Be a good witness.

Of course, many Californians have little choice in the matter because the state has some of the strongest gun control measures in the nation. They have had universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons in place since the 1990s. They also limit the number of guns that law-abiding citizens are allowed to buy each month and require them to show good cause before they can be approved for a concealed carry permit. California has also banned grade school teachers from carrying guns for classroom defense as well as campus carry for students who wish to defend themselves.

In addition, California has strict gun registration requirements, a ban on high-capacity magazines, a red flag law and a waiting period on gun purchases of 10 days. Meanwhile, its ammunition controls include background checks for buying ammo.

As a result, many Californians find it a lot harder to defend themselves from violent crimes than people in states with looser restrictions. And despite all of these controls, violent crime there continues to rise.

Their announcement might be well-meaning, but there are concerns that the LAPD has essentially given criminals a free pass to rob people by instructing everyone not to fight back. In addition, by telling people to be a good witness, robbers might be more inclined to kill their victims so they cant report them to the police.

We are also seeing a similar attitude being adopted in San Francisco, which has become, in the words of one Wall Street Journal writer, a shoplifters paradise as thefts under $950 have been effectively decriminalized there. Walgreens has been forced to close ten stores there due to the spike in organized retail crime, with brazen thieves walking out the door with armfuls of goods in full view of helpless workers.

California is not the only place that is noting a rise in violent crime. New York City, Seattle, Boston, Portland, St. Louis and Chicago are also noting rises in crimes like muggings, shoplifting and vehicle break-ins.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

FoxLA.com

WSJ.com
(Natural News) This may be the most radical Biden nominee youve never heard of. On Thursday, Saule Omarova is set to face Senate hearings to head Comptroller of the Currency, a branch of the Treasury Department. Who is this woman? She appears enchanted with Soviet Russia, and wants to bankrupt industries. And ABC, CBS and NBC havent said a word about her.

(Article by Scott Whitlock republished from NewsBusters.org)

The Cornell University law professor back in February appeared at a social wealth seminar and said this: What Im thinking about primarily is primarily the coal industry and the oil and gas industry. A lot of the smaller players in that industry are going to probably go bankrupt in short order. At least we want them to go bankrupt if we want to tackle climate change, right?

But thats only the start. Back in 2019, she praised the old USSR, a regime that murdered tens of millions of people, because they didnt have a gender pay gap.

The Soviet Union may have murdered millions, but at least there was no gender pay gap, right? ABC, CBS and NBCs morning and evening newscasts have allowed zero minutes and zero seconds on this nominee.

Omarova graduated from Moscow State University in 1991 and, as Senator Pat Toomey noted, wrote her thesis on Karl Marxs Economic Analysis and the Theory of Revolution in The Capital. The Daily Mail explained the only copy was mysteriously destroyed by the Russian University. According to Fox News, she has received the Lenin award while in college. This woman is slated to be the Comptroller of the Currency.

According to USA.gov, The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency charters, regulates, and supervises all national banks. It also supervises the federal branches and agencies of foreign banks. Its not some obscure, unimportant position.

Infatuated with Soviet Russia? Wants to destroy U.S. industries? Doesnt this sound like someone that American media outlets should investigate? The corrupt journalists at the networks are doing their best to hide this extreme, radical nominee. To paraphrase The Washington Post, democracy dies under a liberal press.

The hearing is on Thursday. Journalists should do their jobs and cover this story.

Heres coverage from the Fox Business Channel on November 10.

Making Money With Charles Payne

11/10/2021 CHARLES PAYNE: The administrations war on fossil fuels is absolutely relentless. Al Gore suggesting well be completely off Saule Omarova, Bidens choice for Comptroller of the Currency actually had this to say. Take a listen. SAULE OMAROVA (Biden Treasury nominee): And here what Im thinking about primarily is primarily the coal industry and the oil and gas industry. A lot of smaller players in that industry are going to probably go bankrupt in short order. At least we want them to go bankrupt if we want to tackle climate change, right? PAYNE: So were going to tackle climate change and we want American businesses to go bankrupt. This is blowing my mind that anyone associated with our government would say something like that.

Read more at: NewsBusters.org
(Natural News) Former intelligence officer Jeffrey Prather touched on fifth-generation warfare during the Freedom and Health Conference in San Antonio. His remarks aired on the Nov. 12 episode of Prather Point on Brighteon.TV, right after Veterans Day.

No matter where you live, no matter how long youve been there, someone else came there first before you to the place where you now play, live and sleep soundly. But they did not play; they patrolled. They did not sleep; they stood watch. And often, in doing their duty, they did not live to complete it. They paid the price in blood for you so that you could play, live and sleep there, he said.

Prather then called on Americans to secure the ground, hold the line and make it safe for all the others.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day was originally celebrated to commemorate the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. It later became a celebration honoring American veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Prather then explained why Veterans Day is an important celebration for living veterans. Its because we honor our warriors as they follow a type of warriorship. This warriorship is based upon American exceptionalism  [which] is based on the fact that we love life and freedom, he said.

We love life and freedom so much that we will send our sons and daughters to fight, kill and die for it  even sending them out to foreign countries. We always win when we are unleashed, because the world has never seen the equal of the American warrior. [But we] do something that no one else in the history of the world has ever done: We give that country back. And thats what makes us exceptional: our love of life and freedom.

Prather: American warriorship based on three principles

The Prather Point host said the love of freedom and life serves as the essential element of American warriorship. He added that it is based on morals that stem from three core spiritual beliefs. Thats a trinity of Judeo, Christian and native [American] beliefs, Prather pointed out.

Prather said the Judeo part consists of the Mosaic law. He also noted that the Founding Fathers saw themselves as the new Israelites. He cited two examples: Benjamin Franklin  wanted the Great Seal of the U.S. to be Moses parting the Red Sea with a pillar of fire behind him. Thomas Jefferson signed his letters [with] yours in Christ.'

For the Christian part, Prather quoted the two great commandments of Jesus as mentioned in the Gospel. Of course, the two commandments of the Savior states: Love your neighbor as yourself; and love God with all your might, heart, soul and mind. (Related: Dr. John Diamond: Government, God and rights are inseparable  Brighteon.TV.)

The third core belief stems from the warrior law of native American tribes. Nothing must ever be done to harm children, and everything is born of woman, Prather said. Compartmentalizing these three beliefs into a moral and national ethic makes for strong American citizens, he added.

More American warriors needed to take back the country

The Brighteon.TV host said the corrupt U.S. government lost a culture war against China in 2020. Whats special about the Chinese is they figured out that no one can take on the American warrior head-on. They changed the culture of the U.S. government. Thats why [its] now boys are girls, medicine is poison, the good guys are the bad guys. (Related: Jeffrey Prather: Culture change is part of fifth-generation warfare  Brighteon.TV.)

Prather named China and other foreign and domestic traitors as the ones responsible for this loss. These included entities controlled by globalist George Soros; Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and other Big Tech executives; and the drug cartels.

While they beat up the U.S. government, they did not change the culture of America. America as a nation did not lose that war, just our corrupt government. The American people have not; they are gathering and they are growing stronger, he said.

Our culture of freedom and life is growing stronger every day. They do not hold the human terrain and they are losing human terrain daily. We need warriors to restore our Constitution and our Republic, and we are in the process of doing that.

Watch the full Nov. 12 episode of Prather Point at the video below. Prather Point airs every Friday at 10-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Revolt.news has more articles about American warriors stepping up to the plate to take back the Republic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

VA.gov
(Natural News) Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz says Kyle Rittenhouse should be acquitted of killing two men and wounding a third during riots and protests last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and he should file defamation lawsuits against media outlets for claiming that hes guilty of murder.

(Article by Jack Phillips republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

If I were a juror, I would vote that there was reasonable doubt [and] that he did act in self-defense, Dershowitz told Newsmax on Nov. 13.

Rittenhouse, if acquitted, should then bring lawsuits against corporate news outlets for articles claiming the teen engaged in vigilante justice, Dershowitz said.

Its CNN who is involved in vigilante justice. Its The New Yorker thats guilty of vigilante justice, he said.

Several years ago, then-Kentucky high school student Nicholas Sandmann filed defamation suits against CNN, The Washington Post, and other outlets following accusations of racism against him after a viral video showed an encounter with a Native American activist in Washington, D.C. Last year, Sandmann ended up reaching a settlement with CNN and The Washington Post.

The idea is to make the media accountable for deliberate and willful lies, said Dershowitz, referring to Sandmanns case.

Now, left-leaning media outlets want an outcome in the trial, Dershowitz said.

They want a result, and if they dont get their resultsand you know this seeps through to the jury. I worry that the jury could be influenced by the fear that if they vote to acquit, theyll be called racist and theyll be attacked.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, during protests and rioting that followed a police-involved shooting. Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty.

According to video footage of the incident, both Huber and Grosskreutz chased Rittenhouse as he was trying to run toward police after shooting Rosenbaum. Several videos and photos also show Huber hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard, while Grosskreutz, who himself was armed with a handgun, testified last week that he thought Huber was attempting to attack Rittenhouse.

Dershowitzs remarks come after Judge Bruce Schroeder, the presiding judge in the case, said he may allow the jury to consider several lesser charges in addition to the murder charges that prosecutors brought against Rittenhouse.

On Nov. 12, he told Rittenhouse that with the lesser charges, youre raising the risk of conviction, although youre avoiding the possibility that the jury will end up compromising on the more serious crime.

Youre also decreasing the risk that youll end up with a second trial because the jury is unable to agree, he said. Rittenhouse confirmed that he understood.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com
(Natural News) Cannabis legalization is the latest scapegoat from the government for why children everywhere are now suffering heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems after getting injected for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19).

The American Heart Association (AHA) blames cannabis sativa  and more specifically the growing legalization of it  for the sudden spike in heart attacks that is occurring all across the country as children get vaccinated with Operation Warp Speed syringes.

An alleged study presented by the AHA, which has not been published nor peer-reviewed, claims that marijuana is somehow responsible for more young people having heart attacks. The data the group claims to have collected dates back to 2007, and there is even a name for this fake phenomenon: cannabis use disorder.

The timing of the AHAs release of this bizarre new claim is no coincidence as it directly coincides with rising cases of myocarditis, pericarditis and other heart-related issues in children who recently got jabbed for the Fauci Flu.

It is apparent that the AHA wants people to believe that cannabis, rather than covid vaccines, are responsible for this surge in young people getting sick with heart problems.

Worse yet, the AHA is trying to make people believe that cannabis is responsible for hospitals becoming overrun with sick children when the reality is that the jabs are the obvious culprit.

American Heart Association aggressively promoting covid jabs

Nowhere on the AHA website is there any mention of the potential heart risks associated with Chinese Virus injections. In fact, the AHA aggressively promotes Fauci Flu shots.

The AHA claims that while there have been some reports of myocarditis and other heart problems associated with the injections, the benefits outweigh the low risk.

In other words, the AHA wants you to believe the experimental Big Pharma chemicals are more beneficial than they are dangerous, but cannabis is a serious health risk that should be avoided  talk about backwards.

In the serious side effects section of its covid-19 injection information page, the AHA further claims that very rarely will anything serious occur. The most common side effects, the group says, are things like redness and swelling at the injection site, which eventually subside.

As for people with a history of heart disease or stroke, the AHA still recommends that they get injected.

People with cardiovascular risk factors, heart disease, and heart attack and stroke survivors should get vaccinated as soon as possible because they are at much greater risk from the virus than they are from the vaccine, AHA leaders insist.

Meanwhile, there is not a single mention on the AHA website about the anti-covid effects of cannabis. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and other cannabis constituents have been found to protect against covid spike proteins, but the AHA does not acknowledge any of this.

Keep in mind that this is the same AHA that once declared exercise to be an alternative therapy, suggesting that it is an unproven distraction from pharmaceutical drugs.

There arent many large well-designed studies lasting longer than a few weeks looking at alternative therapies, yet patients have a lot of questions about their value, announced Dr. Robert D. Brook, M.D., an AHA panel chairman, back in 2013 about how exercise should not be a substitute for standard drug treatments.

This tells us everything we need to know about the AHAs perspective. Much like the federal government, this so-called nonprofit is little more than a mouthpiece for the pharmaceutical industry that tells people to do the exact opposite of what they should actually do to maintain good heart health.

To learn more about how cannabis promotes health, check out CannabisCures.news.

Sources for this article include:

Heart.org

Heart.org

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Pastor Leon Benjamin and Ohio lawyer Tom Renz talked about fear and faith amid the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the Nov. 15 episode of B-alert News on Brighteon.TV.

We are in, I believe, the most important times of our history. We are living on the brink not only of a revival, but also of the full manifestation of what we know as the tyranny of the Antichrist. And we must respond accordingly  not only as Christians, but as Americans [and] patriots, said Benjamin, who met Renz at the San Antonio leg of the Clay Clark Reawaken Tour.

Renz agreed with hosts statement, adding that some Americans have given in to corruption and evil. Weve got people who are willing to sacrifice lives for money, power and freedom. As long as theyre getting theirs, they dont care about the American people. They dont care about the working class, [those] people who are struggling to make it, Renz said.

The Brighteon.TVs Lawfare host continued: Theres no accountability, they just do whatever they got to do. And if the rest of us all have to be sacrificed to maintain their power, so be it.

Benjamin dubbed these people the hidden elite that stay in the shadows yet control all the levers. He said: If this is not the pinnacle of communism, if this is not the pinnacle of the introduction of Marxism, then I dont know what is.

The pastor quoted the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities; against powers; against the rulers of the darkness of this world; [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Renz: Im a nobody who stood up and said no

The B-alert News host asked Renz about his background and expertise. The lawyer replied that he was just a little nobody from a little place who said no. (Related: Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance calls for mass civil disobedience in response to Joe Bidens tyrannical mandates.)

Renz told Benjamin: They said I got to put a mask on, I said no. They said I got to stay home, I said no. They said that I got to take injections, I said no. Im nobody and I still said no. Not only have I said no, but I fought for it.

According to Renz, the powers that be have used fear from day one to get Americans to comply.

He said: Anyone who knows anything about epidemiology  could look at this and say listen, this looks like its about the flu. [Yet] they tried to convince everybody [that] this was terrifying.

Before, we locked down in Ohio with three cases  three cases. They told us we had to stay inside our [houses] for 14 days under house arrest without due process, because we were all going to die with three cases. You know, these [COVID] modelers are scientists  guys who are supposed to know this stuff. You know what they said? Its [going to] be millions and millions of deaths. No, no, no way.

From day one, you could see this is about an equivalent to a flu, and they lied to us. Theyve been lying to us from day one.

Faith will overcome fear

The Lawfare host continued: From the beginning, this was really about fear. Fear is the key  because [it] is a weapon of the devil. Having faith allows you to overcome fear.

According to Renz, the powers that be worked hard to eliminate faith from American culture  founded on a bedrock of Judeo-Christian values. They knew that if we werent a moral society, our Republic would crumble. So what happened for the last 50 to 100 years [is that] theyve attacked our morality  [and] our Judeo-Christian foundation, he said.

Benjamin concurred with his guest, adding that the values uniting Americans of all backgrounds have been targeted. The main [things] about who we are as Americans, all those values  family, faith, freedom, liberty, justice  have been under attack, he said.

Renz mentioned that the fear-based narrative was part of a huge psy-op dating from the 1950s that aims to destabilize the country. He explained: What did they do? They started to undermine our culture. They went into higher education  and started educating people away from morals, values, faith [and] family. Our families and culture have been attacked.

When you remove values from people, it becomes much easier to sow fear. If I believe [and] have faith, if I trust God, I have nothing to fear, Renz continued.

The Ohio lawyer also voiced out his criticism of public health. Public health isnt about public health. Its a great title, but the underlying principles  [are] remarkably close to socialism [and] communism. How [and] what do we do for the public good, the universal good  not for the individual.

Renz mentions that many articles that show the link between public health and fear are available online, with some dating back from the 1980s.

There [are] articles  talking about the use of fear as a a tool in public health to scare [people] into submission. What theyve done is theyve practiced it over decades and theyve mastered it. And now with COVID-19, theyve implemented it just perfectly, Renz said.

America has always focused on individual rights over group rights. Groupthink is socialism and communism; individual rights is what were based on. They sowed so much fear  [and] tried to convince us that you have to do this for the good of others. So what happened is theyve broken down our values [and] taken away our faith, which has allowed the sowing of fear. (Related: Nurse whistleblower says true outbreak gripping the nation is not the coronavirus, but the pandemic of fear  Brighteon.TV.)

Watch the full Nov. 15 episode of B-alert News with Tom Renz below. B-alert News airs every Monday at 10-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Evil.news has more articles about how domestic enemies made use of fear to subdue the American population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

BibleGateway.com
(Natural News) For years, Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has pushed the bogus claim that then-GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump colluded with Mother Russia to steal the 2016 election from Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

It was a lie the first time he said it, and it continues to be a lie every time he alludes to it, which he did again during a recent interview with the far-left hosts of ABCs The View.

You defended, promoted, you even read into the Congressional record the Steele dossier. We know last week the main source of the Steele dossier was indicted for lying to the FBI about most of the key claims in that dossier, Morgan Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman during Trumps administration, said last week. Do you have any reflections on your role in promoting this to the American people?

First of all, whoever lied to the FBI or lied to Christopher Steele should be prosecuted, and they are, Schiff said, Unlike in the Trump administration if theyre convicted, they should go to jail and not be pardoned.

At the beginning of the Russia investigation, I said that any allegations should be investigated. We couldnt have known, for example, that people were lying to Christopher Steele, Schiff said. So, it was proper to investigate them.

He went on to claim that Trump should have culpability for inviting Russia to help them in the election, which they did.

None of that is true, and the allegation that Trump colluded with Russia was fabricated by the deep state Adam Schiff is loyal to and protects.

But when it comes to the real enemy of America  which is a rising China  Schiff is all on board with promoting Beijings self-interests, as noted by the National Pulse:

Schiff met with a Chinese Communist Party official previously responsible for spearheading the regimes foreign influence operations on a visit to Washington, D.C. sponsored by the China-United States Exchange Foundation

The foundation, known as CUSEF for short, has been flagged by the U.S. government for seeking to influence foreign governments to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijings preferred policies.

A key promoter of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax and leading member of the unconstitutional January 6th committee, Rep. Schiff met with officials from the documented Chinese Communist Party-linked foreign influence group in October 2009.

The outlet went on to report that most recently, the California Democrat has turned his attention on Steve Bannon, Trumps former top political adviser and a China hawk who has just been indicted by a federal grand jury for something no one else has been indicted for in the modern era: Ignoring a congressional subpoena to provide testimony to the highly partisan Jan. 6 committee.

Like Trump, Bannon, a former U.S. Navy officer who has a masters degree from Harvard University and a national security degree from Georgetown University, is well aware of what China is attempting to do with its massive wealth: Take over as the globes No. 1 power by subjugating the globes current No. 1 power, the United States. Bannon has also recently raised questions as to whether Schiff is working to suppress critics of the Chinese Communist Party, the National Pulse continued.

The China-United States Exchange Foundations (CUSEF) website reveals it sponsored the visit of Chinese Communist Party official Xu Kuangdi to the U.S., including a stop in Washington, D.C., the outlet reported.

The former Mayor of Shanghai, Xu also served as the Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, the highest-ranking entity overseeing Chinas controversial United Front Work Department,' the outlet continued.

The United Front, meanwhile, is an entity used by Beijing to inject Chinese influence around the world; the U.S. government has described the organization as working to co-opt and neutralize sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of its ruling Chinese Communist Party and influence foreign governments to take actions or adopt positions supportive of Beijings preferred policies.

But no, its Russia that is a threat  and Trump  not China, as far as Schiff is concerned.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

AmericanWireNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Nearly two years into the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Democrats continue to justify the unconstitutional lockdowns and human rights violations as following the science.

Environmental lobbyist Renee Parsons wrote in an article published by Global Research that Democrats have morphed into an activist throng as the pandemic offers the perfect opportunity to distort science in order to accomplish the final malevolent chapter of the globalist cabals agenda of altering Homo sapiens into a transhumanist world order.

Parsons also hit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for perpetuating the mandatory COVID lockdowns and vaccine requirements as science-based. (Related: States that imposed lockdown have more COVID-19 deaths per million compared to no-lockdown states.)

The CDC has a long history of offering politically inspired evidence as a facsimile for real science where the dilemma may rarely be settled, Parsons wrote.

She also accused the CDC of deceit as it appropriated itself as the official legal enforcer of arbitrary unscientific principles as if Americans were required to unquestioningly obey its every directive, with no validating justification.

Scientism allows local dictatorial health departments to overstep their authority as the state concedes its legal influence to unelected bureaucrats. Even once-revered peer reviewed science, where expert peers vet a scientific breakthrough, may now be suspect and no longer trusted as the credibility of a once-reliable communication process has been tainted by politics, Parsons wrote.

American public duped into accepting lockdowns, vaccines

Parsons noted that the American public is thoroughly duped into accepting a gradual series of onerous lockdown requirements, the inoculation of a pseudo-vaccine has proven to be more of a bioweapon imposed on the public.

She also delved into the financial support being given to the CDC by a private sector of individuals, philanthropists and corporations to address public health challenges despite flagrant conflict of interest. The agencys benefactors include some of the biggest names in Big Pharma, Fortune 500 and advanced bioscience research and technology.

The CDC cashed in the gifts to launch over a thousand projects, with $740 million raised as of 2017. The American Academy of Pediatrics is also on the take, with approximately $25 million in contributions from the pharmaceutical vaccine industry.

In this age of censorship and suppression, compromised quasi-medical government agencies will not tolerate public dissent and are beyond civilian or congressional control as if they were a branch of the military-intelligence complex, which reports to no one, Parsons wrote.

The most recent example of a misappropriation of science is the Biden administrations renewed attack on American children when the FDAs vaccine advisory panel was asked whether the benefits of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks in the use for children five to eleven years old. There were 17 votes of approval with one abstention. (Related: CDC, FDA ready to inject children with deadly six-in-one vaccine.)

However, several members on the FDAs panel said they are less confident in saying that every child should get the shot, or if it should only be recommended for kids at high-risk of severe disease for now, such as those who are obese, have asthma or have weakened immune systems.

I do believe children at high risk do need to be vaccinated, said panelist Dr. James Hildreth, president of Meharry Medical College. But vaccinating all of the children to achieve that does seem a bit much for me.

Most alarming were the comments by Dr. Eric Rubin, member of the panel and editor of the New England Journal of Medicine. Rubin said: Were never going to learn how safe the vaccine is [to children] until we start giving it. Thats just the way it goes.

In other words, American children are expendable as lab specimens in an untested, unproven program in the name of speculative scientific experiments.

Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

BusinessInsider.com
(Natural News) The University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus reports 313 new influenza cases for the week of November 8th. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was deployed to investigate the outbreak, along with the local health department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The group handed out questionnaires to determine who was vaccinated for the flu and who wasnt, and this was reported to the corporate media. The University Health Service reported a total of 528 influenza cases since October 6, 2021. These outbreaks are sudden, rampant and come months before a new flu season was even expected.

While we often start to see some flu activity now, the size of this outbreak is unusual, said Juan Luis Marquez, medical director at the Washtenaw County Health Department. Were grateful for the additional support of the CDC and our ongoing partnership with the university as we look more closely at the situation.

Fully vaccinated campus is experiencing outbreaks, but this year its being called the flu

The fully vaccinated campus is experiencing outbreaks of sickness, but they are taking flu tests this year instead of the covid tests. On the week of November 8, a shocking 37 percent of flu tests came back positive. This high positivity rate prompted the CDC to investigate. UHS medical director Lindsey Mortenson claims that these cases are all from the influenza A (H3N2) virus. Most of the students are doubly vaccinated for covid-19, and only 23 percent have received a flu vaccine for the 2021-2022 season.

Just one year prior, nearly every fever, respiratory symptom and sickness was labeled covid-19. Because of this diagnostic sleight-of-hand, the flu magically disappeared last year (according to CDC statistics).

As vaccine uptake increases (but sickness remains) its time to bring the flu back and confine covid-19 cases strictly to the unvaccinated. After the campus imposed a covid-19 vaccine mandate on July 30, 2021, symptoms of respiratory illness are no longer referred to as covid-19. The CDC stopped tracking breakthrough cases of covid-19, so moving forward, respiratory symptoms are classified as something entirely different for students who are fully-vaccinated with the covid-19 spike protein mRNA. The only students who are required to take a covid-19 test are the ones who exempted themselves from the vaccine mandate. Today, all the fully-vaccinated students can skip the covid-19 test and call their sickness the flu.

According to a recent Bill Gates interview, 2022 is the year that public health authorities will unleash rapid response teams to conduct germ games and infectious disease surveillance. These teams will be in charge of checking vaccine status, swabbing people, making judgments on who is responsible for the spread of a virus, before issuing quarantine orders and administering injections on the spot. The CDCs investigation of the University of Michigan and the corporate medias follow-up report did nothing but blame people for not getting the flu vaccine, with no investigation into why people are getting sick after being repeatedly vaccinated, year after year. This deceitful demagoguery by the corporate media and the public health authorities is just a taste of what is to come in the years ahead.

Will the CDC investigate antibody-dependent enhancement and pathogenic priming?

The increasing level of sickness is likely a sign of antibody-dependent enhancement, a process of immune depletion that can occur when vaccine-induced antibodies enhance future virus entry and replication in certain cell types. Antibody-dependent enhancement occurs when there is an inadequate supply of non-neutralizing antibodies. Scientists were concerned that the covid-19 vaccines would cause this inadequate immune response, leading to further sickness. Vaccines for respiratory viruses are notorious for generating either specific or cross-reactive antibodies that inadvertently enhance viral attachment and replication. When these weak antibodies are present during re-infection, the person suffers from enhanced infection.

When a weakened, vaccinated person faces re-infection with a wild type virus, these non-neutralizing antibodies are not intelligent enough or present in sufficient numbers to bind to the virus and neutralize it. These ineffective antibodies dock at the Fc receptor on the surface of the cells, assist the virus into the cell, and enhance its infectivity. Non-neutralizing antibodies may form immune complexes with viral antigens, ultimately provoking excessive secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The ensuing cytokine storm causes local tissue damage.

The covid vaccines can additionally cause pathogenic priming, leading to more severe respiratory disease in the future, but the CDC wont be investigating this matter either. An in-silico analysis documented antigenic SARS-CoV-2 protein epitopes for any homology to endogenous human proteins. There was a total of twenty-eight SARS-CoV-2 proteins that contained antigenic regions sharing homology with human proteins. At least one third of these are associated with the adaptive immune system. The odds are good that prior exposure to the virus through vaccination could generate antibodies that target endogenous proteins in the human body. This could trigger autoimmune reactions. This pathogenic priming is capable of suppressing the adaptive immune system, leading to more severe disease.

Sources include:

MSN.com

CDC.gov

InternationalCenter.UMICH.edu

NaturalNews.com

YouTube.com

PubMed.gov

EuropePMC.org
(Natural News) The supply chain crisis, which is causing retailers to run out of food to sell, may have been engineered to make people submit to tyrannical government directives.

S.M. Smyth, writing for Global Research, points to historical examples of people using deliberate food shortages and engineered famines to control populations.

This includes pioneers in the old Wild West taking control of salmon populations to defend themselves against American Indians, and the Canadian governments former policy of controlling buffalo populations to starve out First Nations tribes across the Canadian Prairies.

Such attack, Smyth wrote, will greatly affect people in America and the rest of the Western world, who probably have never experienced food shortages of this scale in their lives before.

Made weak from the lack of adequate nourishment, or outright starving, a people can be easily managed, wrote Smyth. Desperation will bring them to heel, famine will seal their fate.

It would seem that the masters of manipulation, at this stage of their bold experiment, not satisfied with poisoning us with toxins in the air, water and food  to say nothing of pills and injections  now want to choke off our rations, he continued. (Related: Food pantries strongly affected by supply chain crisis, unable to provide food to thousands of people.)

It is hard for the average denizen of our great cities and comfortable suburbs to imagine, in spite of now visible shortages, that the day may come when the groaning supermarket shelves are well nigh empty, save for state-approved lab-grown delicacies.

Smyth argued that governments may even begin restricting who gets to eat using tracking mechanisms that monitor a persons purchasing and social media habits, or even their Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status.

One wonders how the average urbanite will fare, when faced with the prospect of dwindling supplies of food, and perhaps even water, fuel and power, he concluded.

Armed Forces members struggling with food insecurity

Some of the first Americans being targeted by the engineered food shortages are active-duty members of the armed forces.

According to Feeding America, an organization that partners with and coordinates the work of more than 200 food banks around the country, as many as 160,000 active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces are having trouble feeding their families.

Activists point out that Feeding Americas statistics may be underestimating the scope of the food insecurity problem that members of the military, primarily low-ranking officers with spouses and children, have been experiencing this problem for years now.

Its a shocking truth thats known to many food banks across the United States, said Feeding America Government Relations Officer Vince Hall. This should be a cause of deep embarrassment.

Feeding Americas estimates suggest that at least 29 percent of troops in the most junior enlisted ranks experienced food insecurity during the past year alone.

It is what it is, said James Bohannon, 34, of San Diego. Bohannon is a petty officer third class with the Navy and he relies on food assistance to help feed his two daughters.

You know what youre signing up for in the military, he said. But Im not going to lie. Its really tough.

Meredith Knopp, an Army veteran and CEO of a food bank in St. Louis, said the food insecurity problem is present in all branches of the military. She recalls an experience when she was a young officer and she was approached by a new private with a baby.

They were getting ready to turn off his electricity because he couldnt pay his bills, said Knopp. It was shocking to me.

To help active-duty servicemen and women, a nationwide network of charitable organizations like the Armed Services YMCA and Blue Star Families has developed a lot of charitable infrastructure near most of the countrys major bases. These food banks help alleviate food insecurity issues for thousands of people.

Josh Protas, vice president of public policy for Mazon, an organization that has conducted a lot of research on food insecurity in the military, points out that this situation directly threatens national security.

Active-duty servicemen and women who are dealing with food insecurity issues at home are less likely to re-enlist and instead find more lucrative work in the private sector. This may also cause entire families with long histories of service in the armed forces to leave for good.

Were doing a disservice to future recruitment efforts, said Protas. We could be losing good people because they cant support their families.

Protas pointed out that the situation is made worse by the fact that the Department of Defense is actively ignoring the problem. The denial by the Pentagon has been frustrating, he said. Its embarrassing for our leaders to acknowledge the problem.

Learn more about the engineered food shortage and how this has impacted the lives of millions of Americans by reading the latest articles at Starvation.news.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

APNews.com
(Natural News) Preacher and evangelist Franklin Graham was recently hospitalized for pericarditis, an inflammatory heart condition commonly associated with Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination.

Roughly eight months ago, Graham was pushing covid shots on his Facebook account, claiming that if Jesus were physically walking the earth now, he would be an advocate for vaccines.

My answer [is] that based on the parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, I would have to say  yes, I think Jesus Christ would advocate for people using vaccines and medicines to treat suffering and save lives, Graham added in his post about his response when asked if Fauci Flu shots should be taken by Christians.

Months after stating this blasphemy, Graham, who presumably got jabbed in obedience to the government, had to undergo specialized heart surgery to deal with severe inflammation of the pericardium, which is a sac that surrounds the heart.

I want people to know that COVID-19 can kill you, Graham further shilled in months past, prior to when he developed this serious heart condition.

But we have a vaccine out there that could possibly save your life. And if you wait, it could be too late.

Graham previously gave an interview with Axios that appeared on HBO in which he pleaded with Christians to take the injections because that is supposedly what Jesus would have done.

Franklin Graham accepted the lie and spread it to his followers

The timing of Grahams hospital admission on November 8 strongly suggests that he experienced a serious adverse reaction from getting injected himself.

According to reports, Graham was admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where surgeons removed his pericardium.

I want to thank all of you who have prayed for me and shared such encouraging words after my surgery, Grahams account tweeted two days after the surgery.

It means more than you know. I thank God for the good reports. My doctors say Im doing well and recovering normally.

Pericarditis and myocarditis, two different yet similar forms of heart inflammation, are a common occurrence post-injection for the Chinese Virus. These two conditions are the primary reason why Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark have suspended use of Modernas mRNA (messenger RNA) injection.

Taiwan has also suspended the second dose of Pfizers mRNA injection for teenagers due to the same problem: recipients continue to develop serious inflammatory heart conditions, which in some cases result in death.

Graham did not even mention the vaccines in his thank-you tweet, however. Instead, he chose to ignore the elephant in the room and pretend as though the injections had nothing to do with his new heart condition (assuming he got injected, of course).

Since he was pushing them so aggressively on Christians, Graham more than likely took the injections himself. This would explain why he developed heart inflammation seemingly out of the blue.

How much did he get for supporting the lie? asked one commenter at The Covid World blog. Jesus and God provided healthy plants for our bodies and non-GMO foods  for starters  what a freak.

He is a freemason like his dad so it is expected, responded another, referring to the late evangelist Billy Graham.

Jesus raised people from the dead; he didnt need biological weapons, wrote another about how the real Jesus Christ would never have promoted these injections, which are clearly part of the Mark of the Beast system that is rapidly being unveiled.

All vaccines have toxins in them and we have been lied to for decades about them. The drug companies inject people with aluminum, mercury, and other things that cause all kinds of problems through life and make a person a continual customer for the drug companies. If you follow Jesus, you wouldnt recommend these or any vaccines.

The latest news about the spread of Chinese Virus injection deception, including from self-proclaiming Christians, can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheCovidWorld.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Houston Methodist Hospital suspended the privileges of ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) Dr. Mary Bowden for allegedly spreading dangerous misinformation about Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) treatments.

Bowden, who ran her own private practice before joining the staff at Houston Methodist, claims that during her time at the hospital, she has treated over 2,000 COVID-19 patients and has been outspoken on social media regarding vaccine mandates and treatments. The issues with vaccines and ivermectin really go against patient autonomy and their right to choose their treatment, she said.

She also said that some people are being discriminated against because they have not been vaccinated, prompting her to send out an email saying she was going to prioritize those who are unvaccinated and stressing that she would never turn away a patient.

As a result, Houston Methodist stopped Bowden from posting about hospital policies on her social media accounts by suspending her hospital privileges. (Related: The biggest crime committed during the vaccine heist is the censorship of ivermectin.)

In a series of tweets, the hospital stated: Dr. Mary Bowden, who recently joined the medical staff at Houston Methodist Hospital, is using her social media accounts to express her personal and political opinions about the COVID-19 vaccine and treatments.

These opinions, which are harmful to the community, do not reflect reliable medical evidence or the values of Houston Methodist, where we have treated more than 25,000 COVID-19 inpatients, and where all our employees and physicians are vaccinated to protect our patients.

Despite what she has posted, Houston Methodist does not and will never deny care to a patient based on vaccination status. Dr. Bowden, who has never admitted a patient at Houston Methodist Hospital, is spreading dangerous misinformation which is not based in science.

Furthermore, Dr. Bowden has told Houston Methodist that she is vaccinated, as required of all physicians who practice at Houston Methodist.

Doctor shifts focus on treating the unvaccinated

Bowden has previously been involved in a lawsuit with another hospital over her use of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients. Texas Health Huguley Hospital refused to allow Bowden to use ivermectin on Jason Jones, a patient who has been hospitalized with COVID-19 for over a month.

The hospital insists that ivermectin would be medically inappropriate. A trial court issued an order that would give Bowden temporary privileges at the hospital, but they appealed to block it. The case is now on hold.

On her practices website, Bowden said that she is shifting her focus on treating the unvaccinated. In order to make room for unvaccinated who cannot find care, I will not be accepting new patients with routine ENT problems who are vaccinated, she said.

Bowden added that she will continue to care for her established patients and wont turn away anyone with life-threatening illnesses based on their vaccination status.

In an interview, she said that she has loose ties with Houston Methodist and is not an employee. She had privileges in case one of her patients needed to be admitted, but she mentioned that she will no longer be sending her patients to the Methodist emergency room.

In a statement, Bowden said that she first heard of her suspension when a newspaper reached out to her for confirmation. She said that nobody from the hospital bothered to talk to her about their concerns and that she received an email regarding her suspension from a staff member she never met before.

Ive been very disappointed with how Methodist has handled this, she shared.

I dont consider myself dangerous, and I submitted my letter of resignation to them this morning. I have been overwhelmed by the positive support Ive received from my patients and from people around the world thanking me for standing up for my beliefs. This will not alter my practice and I will continue to treat COVID early and aggressively.

Learn more about how COVID-19 is being treated at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

Click2Houston.com

CBSNews.com
(Natural News) Protesters in Italy who oppose their governments tyrannical new Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine passport scheme are now having their homes raided by police in retaliation.

According to reports, the Turin prosecutors office directed multiple police raids in several Italian cities against people believed to be opposed to the so-called Green Pass, which is now required in Italy to buy and sell.

Italian law enforcement claims that the raids were only perpetrated against people believed to have extremist links and criminal backgrounds. These include prior convictions for theft or using plant substances that the government considers to be illegal drugs.

The General Investigations and Special Operations Division (DIGOS) of Palermo claims to have found containers of an acid substance in one of the raids, which was supposedly intended to be thrown at police during a protest.

Police in Brescia and Cremona further claim they found knives and a crossbow in other raids. (RELATED: The Italian government is also committing economic terrorism by demanding that employers stop paying their unvaccinated employees.)

Unlike Americans, Italians of all political persuasions are opposed to Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) fascism. Both the far-left and far-right, as well as everyone in between, have been seen at protests across the country.

The Italian government is free to commit chemical violence against its citizens, but protesting against it is not allowed

The Italian government is also freaking out about Italians using online chat platforms like Telegram to organize their protests. Officials claim that these types of apps are encouraging extremism, and some want them to be shut down in response.

One chat group called Basta Dittatura, or Enough of the Dictatorship, appears to be one of the primary organizers for anti-Green Pass demonstrations. One member of the group is accused of threatening Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

The raids, meanwhile, came about after the Italian Interior Ministry promised to crack down on anti-Green Pass protesters, who are being accused of committing violence.

The governments chemical vaccine violence, conversely, has been sanctioned as normal by government officials who believe that informed consent is no longer valid within the realm of medicine and science.

Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese recently ordered that all anti-Green Pass protesters be banned from historic city centers. He would prefer that their protests be limited to sit-in style protests that have no effect.

The so-called No Pass demonstrations have been paralysing every Saturday, for weeks, the historic centre of many cities, creating inconvenience to citizens and traders, as well as generating gatherings among the unvaccinated, announced Carlo Sibilia, the undersecretary of the interior, in a recent statement.

This announcement came just days before the Mayor of Trieste Roberto Di Piazza banned anti-vaccine passport demonstrators from the citys Piazza Unita dItalia.

They (the governments) never seem to have the resources to raid the homes of migrants without passports, though, noted one Breitbart News commenter about the utter hypocrisy of these raids.

Reminds me of the Nazis going from house to house looking for Jews, wrote another.

One man pointed out that governments that refuse to listen to their people  which seems to be most of them in the West these days  will eventually suffer.

Reap what you sow, this person added. The last Italian totalitarian dictator, Mussolini, came to a sticky end. There will still be a few who remember that.

Another commenter wrote a famous quote that describes the current state of our world to a T:

When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

Society is breaking down at breakneck speed due to Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) tyranny. To keep up with the latest, visit Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Big Tech censorship was even worse in the third quarter of 2021. This was especially alarming considering the platforms didnt have much farther to fall from their pathetic second quarter grades. Online Freedom on Google, Twitter and Facebook all continued to decline. Once again, this quarter saw widespread censoring of conservative content.

(Article republished from NewsBusters.org)

Pro-life activist and head of Live Action Lila Rose said Google banned LiveAction from running ads. Former Google senior software engineer Zach Vorhies wrote in his new book that Google altered its news algorithm to target former President Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal released the beginning of its Facebook Files project this quarter, which produced stories from internal documents damaging to the platform. The project launched with news that Facebook maintains a VIP list of users whose content is not moderated as strictly as others on the platform. And Twitters latest transparency report released in July indicated that it had removed nearly 4 million tweets in just six months last year.

The increased censorship received positive coverage on broadcast evening news. Pro-censorship stories and mentions outnumbered those supporting free speech 12-to-0 on network evening news. Much of that coverage focused on network support for President Joe Bidens push to restrain Coronavirus content.

Amazon surprisingly improved its grades slightly. TikTok debuted on the list this quarter with a D in Online Freedom. TikTok replaced Apple in the report card for this quarter. TikTok has surpassed 1 billion active monthly users, and has censored more and more content. The left continued to argue that Big Tech was not doing enough to silence online dissent. For the latest incidents of censorship, check CensorTrack.org.

Google reportedly removed a personal copy of a document containing data about COVID-19 that contradicted the leftist narrative. Twitter admitted in this quarter that it took action against over 11 million accounts between September 2020 and August 2021 for COVID-19-related content. It also worked to suppress a Project Veritas video of Johnson & Johnson employees unflattering comments about the companys COVID-19 vaccine.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged this quarter that his company had removed over 20 million COVID-19 related posts. YouTube, meanwhile, reported that it has removed at least 1 million videos for so-called COVID-19 misinformation, according to TechCrunch, including one of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaking about masks.

Amazon is the only platform that improved this quarter, refusing to cave to calls from both its employees and the likes of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to remove books speaking out about transgender issues. The platform also reportedly chose to remove a terror-supporting site from its Amazon Web Services, and reversed its decision to reject ads for a critical book about Black Lives Matter. Amazon should be credited for the improved performance in the areas that MRC Free Speech America investigates each quarter.

MRC Free Speech America once again graded Big Tech using five categories, culminating in an overall grade for each companys Online Freedom. The five areas included: Free Speech, User Transparency, Bias, Responsiveness to User Complaints and Fact-Checking.

More freedom and less restriction is the only model that celebrates American principles and treats users as adults who can make their own decisions. Big Tech continued to demonstrate through its actions that it does not support the American principles of free speech.

Media Analysis:

Media coverage of the Coronavirus led to overwhelming support for online censorship. Pro-censorship stories and mentions outnumbered those supporting free speech 12-to-0 on broadcast network evening news shows. Much of that coverage focused on network support for President Joe Bidens push to restrain Coronavirus content.

The other 20 percent of network evening news broadcast stories that covered Big Tech censorship (3 out of 15) were neutral. None of the stories took a pro-free speech position. This comes from a Free Speech America analysis of ABC, CBS, and NBC evening news coverage of third quarter news coverage.

NBC Nightly News offered the most blatant call for censorship when Investigative and Consumer Correspondent Vicky Nguyen reported that anti-vaccine groups are trying to stop Facebook from removing their posts by using code words and fake profile names. She lamented that the tactic would make it tougher for Facebook to fight [so-called] misinformation. Nguyen even acknowledged that, at the time, Facebook had already claimed to have removed 18 million pieces of alleged misinformation. Facebooks aggressive censorship was treated as a positive with no counter-argument.

All three networks reported on President Joe Bidens comment alleging that Facebook is killing people by allowing so-called misinformation on its platform. Both CBS and NBC framed stories justifying Bidens claim. Each blamed the unvaccinated for a swift rise in July COVID-19 cases and portrayed the situation as if those skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines were misinformed. ABC World News Tonight did not justify Bidens claim, but it did not challenge the narrative either.

ABC also undercut former President Donald Trumps lawsuit against Google, Facebook and Twitter for deplatforming him after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The network acknowledged Trumps claim that the companies violated his First Amendment rights but condoned the censorship and deferred to [l]egal experts, who claimed, private companies are not bound by the First Amendment. The network provided no constitutional counter-argument nor any indication that the topic is hotly debated among even experts.

GOOGLE

Overall Grade: F

Bias at Google can be harder to explain than other Big Tech platforms, but some damning incidents speak volumes. A culture war sparked as Texas passed legislation to protect the unborn from abortion once they have a detectable heartbeat. That put abortion center stage in American consciousness. Google punished pro-life organizations at the behest of pro-abortion activists,. Pro-Life activist Lila Rose addressed in September how Google At the request of abortion activists had BANNED all of @LiveActions pro-life ads, including those promoting the Abortion Pill Reversal treatment, a resource that has saved 2500 children to date.

Google reportedly had many censorship incidents ranging from manipulating traffic around public figures like Donald Trump via its algorithms and strategically demonetizing entire conservative outlets. Google is also part of the prominent tech trade group, NetChoice, which has filed a lawsuit against Texas for its new anti-censorship law.

Free Speech: Google admitted demonetizing British journalist Piers Morgans Daily Mail article about American gymnast Simone Biles. In the article, Morgan criticized Biles for withdrawing from the Olympic competition. Google, according to Reclaim the Net, sent Morgan a notice that it was disabling ads on the article, citing its dangerous or derogatory content policy.

Google also reportedly told The Gateway Pundit that it would be disabling ad serving for the outlet starting Sept. 1: Were emailing you to let you know that weve repeatedly found content on one of your sites that violates our Google Publisher policies. Included in the email were two violation explanation[s] that suggested The Gateway Pundit was being penalized for Dangerous or derogatory content and Misrepresentative content  Unreliable and harmful claims.

The search engine company also reportedly removed Alexey Navalnys voting app from its Russian stores before the Russian general election. Google faced threats that its Russian employees could be imprisoned to remove the voting app under a threat to imprison local employees, Bloomberg News reported. Grade: F

User Transparency: Google whistleblower and former senior software engineer Zach Vorhies said in his latest book, released Aug. 3, that Google altered its news algorithm to directly target former President Donald Trump. He said Googles algorithm tacked new negative stories about Trump onto old ones in order to keep them at the top of search results longer. They allowed the mainstream media to structure their stories so that they could remain in the top of their search index, he illustrated.

But Google reportedly has also spied on the private files of its users, so long as they are made in Gmail, apparently. According to a mid-July tweet from digital specialist Aaron Ginn, Google is reading what you host in Google Docs. They deleted and removed access to my personal copy of Evidence over Hysteria: COVID-19. Free is never free. An essay from Aaron Ginn, a Silicon Valley technologist, titled Evidence over hysteriaCOVID-19 was removed from Medium, where it was publicly posted back in March of 2020. Grade: F

Bias: Under its search bar, Google shared a link to Experience stories about inclusive places for the LGBTQ+ community. The page listed numerous businesses that Google then praised for discriminatory hiring practices in favor of social justice amid a pandemic that threw people of all kinds into financial struggle. Minas World was described as a trans- and POC-run cafe. Rainbow square was described as a Community arts space for women, queer folks, non-binary artists, and artists of color. Trans Sistas of Color was described as a Nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the lives of trans women of color living in Michigan. The page then touted that This year alone, Google.org committed $4M of funding and Ad Grants  as well as tools, training, and volunteer opportunities  to LGBTQ+ businesses and organizations affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Grade: F

Responsiveness to User Complaints: N/A

Fact-Checks: While Google does not use fact-checks like Facebook, it does rely heavily on Wikipedia for content that is provided in knowledge boxes above search results. A study found that only one-third of Google searches result in clicks, in part due to the knowledge boxes that seemingly provide the information sought. Wikipedias co-founder Larry Sanger called Wikipedia propaganda, saying that it is not neutral, often not true and that he is embarrassed by it. Google also said that it would start adding more context to search results in an effort to counteract so-called misinformation, according to Reclaim the Net. Grade: F

TWITTER

Overall Grade: F

In Q3, Twitter admitted that it had removed 3.8 million tweets in the second half of 2020 for various rules violations. It also revealed that between Q3 of 2020 and the end of Q2 2021, it took action against 11.7 million accounts in regards to COVID-19 content. Twitter is also part of the prominent tech trade group, NetChoice, which has filed a lawsuit against Texas for its new anti-censorship law. There was no response from Twitter on the news that Politico confirmed the infamously censored New York Post article on the contents of Hunter Bidens laptop showing links between Biden, his father, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, and Ukrainian businessmen.

Free Speech: Twitter continues to be one of the busiest censors among the Big Tech platforms. This quarter, it took swings at some big names. It temporarily restricted accounts for BlazeTV commentator Dave Rubin, Trump spokesperson Liz Harrington, bestselling author and candidate for senate in Ohio J.D. Vances press account, Florida governor Ron DeSantiss press secretary Christina Pushaw, reportedly performer Nicki Minaj and popular account Libs of TikTok. It permanently suspended former New York Times reporter and now independent journalist Alex Berensons account and at least eight accounts that were reporting on various election audits. Twitter also unverified the account of reporter Christopher Rufo who has been at the front of the pushback against Critical Race Theory. Twitter also suppressed a video of the border crisis from The Heritage Foundation, and a Project Veritas undercover video showing Johnson & Johnson employees talking about the COVID-19 vaccine. Grade: F

User Transparency: In an odd move, Twitter changed its policies this quarter to allow users to change the response setting on tweets after they have been published. In other words, if a user tweets something highly controversial, and starts getting ratioed, mocked or questioned, the user can then decide to disallow other users from commenting. It is unclear what happens to all of the comments made prior to changing the setting on a tweet. Twitter also announced this quarter the testing of new labels to combat so-called misleading information. Additionally, it is seeking input from users on a new feature that it is working on to prevent people from seeing potentially harmful or offensive replies to tweets. Grade: F

Bias: The biggest bias-related stories for Twitter this quarter centered around the president of Cuba and the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. In Cuba, President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez was inciting citizens to violence against each other in July, exactly what Twitter claimed it removed former President Donald Trumps account for. Meanwhile, Trumps account is still banned, while Bermudez is still actively tweeting three months later. Twitter also allowed the Taliban to remain on Twitter despite not just its threats of violence, but its violent takeover of Afghanistan. An alleged Hamas leader was allowed to praise the Talibans actions, and still maintains his alleged account. The official spokesperson for the Taliban also maintains his account as well. While Facebook and TikTok were confirming that they would not allow the Taliban on their respective platforms, Twitter continues to maintain that as long as the terrorist organization now running Afghanistan follows the rules, they will be allowed to stay. Twitter confirmed in February that it will never allow Trump back on, even if he runs for president again. Grade: F

Responsiveness to User Complaints: Twitter decided to cancel its answer to Instagram Stories known as Fleets after only eight months. Users spoke with their apps, hardly using the feature, so Twitter made the decision to move on. Twitter reversed the restriction on J.D. Vances press account quickly, but generally the appeals process took longer than most account restrictions last for, so there is not a lot of information about positive results from appeals. Grade: D

Fact Checks: Twitters version of a fact-check is less intrusive than Facebooks, typically consisting of a linked warning label that appears below the tweet. The site admitted that in most cases, when such a label is used, the platform will also [r]educe the visibility of the Tweet on Twitter and/or prevent it from being recommended. The fact-check pages that are linked are typically not one authoritative article written by a fact-checking organization as Facebooks are. Rather, Twitter has created pages that are a roundup of many articles and tweets about the topic, though nearly all of them come from left-leaning sources.

Twitter continues to use these most heavily for COVID-19 related tweets. In one case, Twitter rounded up all of the fact-checks about a statement Biden made about getting vaccinated as part of hurricane preparedness. In some cases, when a warning label is utilized, Twitter will also restrict the ability to like, share or comment on the tweet, as was done in at least one case this quarter on a tweet about natural immunity to COVID-19. Twitter has been working on implementing a tiered label system for alleged misinformation that enhances what was already in place. However, Twitter did nothing to stop the proliferation of a provably false story that Rolling Stone printed. Grade: F

FACEBOOK

Overall Grade: F

Facebook received an overall F on the last report card for not allowing conservative users to freely express their opinions on the platform. The trend for the platform this quarter is more of the same. The platforms User Transparency grade fell for the third quarter in a row, to a solid F this quarter. The continued plummet for this particular score was due to revelations from The Wall Street Journal detailing secret VIP user lists reportedly received special treatment and because Facebook reportedly knew of the harm Instagram caused to teenagers. Facebook also admitted this quarter that its AI made an egregious error, labeling videos of black men as primates as part of a video recommendation engine. Facebook is also part of the prominent tech trade group, NetChoice, which has filed a lawsuit against Texas for its new anti-censorship law.

Free Speech: Facebook continued to censor users, including the Media Research Center (MRC), this quarter for posting content that it disagrees with. Facebooks approved fact-checker PolitiFact rated a graphic from the MRC as FALSE, even though the image merely shared a chart from the Centers for Disease Control. Comedian and cultural commentator Nicole Arbour also accused Facebook of removing a video she uploaded that lampooned the constantly changing narrative around COVID-19 and vaccines. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in a televised interview this quarter, noted that Facebook had removed over 20 million pieces of so-called misinformation about COVID-19. Facebook also made a widely-panned effort to alert users that they had been exposed to alleged extremism on its platform. The warning boxes reportedly offered confidential support to users who may be concerned that someone [they] know is becoming an extremist. Grade: F

User Transparency: The biggest story for Facebook in Q3 was the release of what The Wall Street Journal called the beginning of The Facebook Files. The first story released in this series showed that Facebook reportedly has a list of top celebrities, influencers and content creators who are not held to the same rules as everyone else. The next bombshell from The Journal was that Facebook was reportedly aware how toxic Instagram is for teen girls. This revelation even led to Congressional hearings. Facebook executives deflected on the Facebook Files reports, but even the platforms Oversight Board called for greater transparency in light of the expose. Facebooks VP for Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, admitted that the platform would welcome some guidance from the Oversight Board on how best to improve its cross-check system, the internal name for the VIP list. Also reported this quarter was a story indicating that Facebook-owned messaging app WhatsApp misrepresented user privacy when it claimed that not even WhatsApp can read or listen to messages, a huge blow to user transparency and privacy. Grade: F

Bias: Facebook buckled under pressure from the White House, cracking down on a list compiled by the radical leftist organization Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) called the Disinformation Dozen. According to CCDH, the Disinformation Dozen is a list of accounts that are the most prolific spreaders of alleged misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccines. It also cracked down this quarter on the #revolution hashtag, unimpressively on the July 4th weekend. The Illinois Associations of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) said Facebook rejected an ad to celebrate its officer of the year. The platform puzzlingly applied its standards for political ads to it. It also came to light this quarter that Zuckerberg backed far-left candidates with dark money over the past few years, and the Capital Research Center said he went to great lengths to hide his donations from the public. One small point in Facebooks favor is that it actively removed Taliban content in the midst of the terrorist organizations takeover of Afghanistan, while Twitter and YouTube delayed action. Grade: D

Responsiveness to User Complaints: Facebook acted quickly to reverse its removal of a political ad for a Republican candidate. Instead of reversing its decision on the ILACP ad ruling on appeal, however, Facebook instead chose to explain that perhaps the association did not know how to properly create an ad. Facebook-owned Instagram did reverse its removal of the account of the mother of a Marine slain in the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. An analysis of Facebooks Oversight Board rulings in the third quarter revealed that the Board overturned three of Facebooks content moderation decisions. It upheld one decision. Additionally, one other case that was selected for review by the Board was immediately reversed by Facebook. When the Board ruled on the case, it agreed with Facebooks decision to reverse itself. Grade: C

Fact Checks: An old story from April re-surfaced this quarter, with independent journalist John Stossel filing a lawsuit against Facebook for its fact-check on one of his videos. He said that the fact-check addresses something he never said, but Facebook maintained that it was correct in its decision to leave the fact-check. Also this quarter, Facebook announced a partnership with global tech non-profit Meedan in an effort to up its fact-checking game. The leftist organization planned to train its more than 80 partner organizations on how to fact-check health and vaccine-related content. As part of the Facebook Files reporting on the VIP list that Facebook maintains, it was also revealed that Facebook reportedly asked some of its fact-checking partners to change the results of their reviews of content generated by accounts on the specially protected list. Zuckerberg admitted that while he has empathy for the victims of Facebooks fact-checking partners who may not provide an accurate review, he has no plans to make any changes to lessen the impact of such incidents. Grade: F

YOUTUBE

Overall Grade: F

YouTube is where many young internet users get their news. It also serves as a critical junction for both aspiring commentators and seasoned public figures to have a direct line of communication with audiences. Unfortunately, YouTube has a history of censoring creators and does so on a massive scale, including veteran politicians. YouTube appeared to remove Sen. Rand Pauls (R-KY) video protesting the platforms censorship and reportedly suspended him for seven days.

Paul created a video in response to YouTubes reported removal of an interview he did with Newsmax in which he discussed masking and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Faucis handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The senator told viewers the reasons YouTube purportedly gave for removing the Newsmax interview. YouTube said the video violated their policy because of my comments on masks and that they dont allow videos that contradict the governments guidance on COVID, he said. In fact, YouTube admitted this quarter that it has removed at least 1 million videos for COVID-19 so-called misinformation. Google, which owns YouTube, is also part of the prominent tech trade group, NetChoice, which has filed a lawsuit against Texas for its new anti-censorship law.

Free Speech: YouTube reportedly suspended Right Side Broadcasting Network from uploading or posting new content, or live streaming, for an entire week shortly before its planned coverage of former President Donald Trumps July 3 Save America rally in Florida. YouTube said the videos of rally footage violated its community guidelines around Spam, deceptive practices and scams, a common justification YouTube has used to censor political content on its platform that the company disagrees with, or doesnt like.

YouTube censored a video from the Convention of States Project hosted by its president, Mark Meckler, according to a report from the Convention of States site. A purported screenshot indicated that YouTube removed the video for violating the platforms medical information policy. Meckler made numerous statements that could have triggered YouTubes action. The Convention of States report recounted that Meckler likely had been punished for having criticized the greatest of all doctors, Dr. Anthony Fauci when Meckler said, I think that Fauci has lost his mind. This guys not a public servant. This guys acting like a king. The Convention of States blog then lamented: For this grave sin, Marks show was pulled from YouTube and our channel received a strike. With enough strikes, Big Tech will have the excuse to totally shut down our channel. Grade: F

User Transparency: YouTube allegedly deleted a video of Trump uploaded by the American Conservative Union and then banned the channel from uploading new content for a week. The video was reportedly in violation of YouTubes community guidelines surrounding so-called COVID-19 medical misinformation, but the platform did not specify which statements made in the video violated that policy, the ACU stated.

YouTube was also tight-lipped about why it had reportedly booted Immanuel Baptist Church off the air twice, according to an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal. The first interruption reportedly came with a notice that the video had violated YouTubes copyright rules, which The Journal surmised could have been related to Christian music that was played during a break in the talk. The second more mysterious instance was due to an allegedcontent violation, The Journal op-ed summarized. Was this an intervention by a human being or an algorithm on automatic pilot? Neither Mr. Trueman nor Immanuel Baptist has been told, The Journal op-ed explained. Equally unclear is the specific nature of the alleged content violation. Grade: D

Bias: YouTubes sloppy approach to censoring information that still is being hotly debated demonstrates a clear bias seemingly only valuing the lefts perspective. YouTube reportedly took down multiple videos uploaded by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros channel after he reportedly suggested using indigenous teas and unproven drugs, such as chloroquine, to fight the virus, according to The Washington Post. The Post reported, citing CNN Brazil, that Bolsonaro promoted unproven drugs, such as chloroquine, to fight the virus  despite there being no scientific evidence to support their effectiveness. Hydroxychloroquine, however, has been used by other countries such as Spain, Italy, France, and Germany throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

YouTube also took action against Sky News Australia, banning it for seven days, according to The Guardian. YouTube prevented the outlet from uploading content to the platform after Sky News Australia encouraged viewers to take hydroxychloroquine. Specifically, we dont allow content that denies the existence of Covid-19 or that encourages people to use hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to treat or prevent the virus. We do allow for videos that have sufficient countervailing context, which the violative videos did not provide, a YouTube spokesperson reportedly told The Guardian. Grade: F

Responsiveness to User Complaints: While YouTube acknowledged that it has a problem with removing public meetings and promised to do better, many local governments and school boards have been censored multiple times and decided to move to other platforms. YouTube, on occasion, will reinstate videos after user complaints.

YouTube is known for regulating copyrighted material at the request of organizations. The video platform removed leaked footage of a CNN interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) released by investigative reporting outlet Project Veritas. YouTube purportedly sent an alert explaining: This video contains content from Turner CNN, who has blocked it on copyright grounds.

YouTube initially removed a Sept. 11, 2001 commemorative video posted by an ACT For America staffer, explaining: [W]e think it violates our violent criminal organizations policy. A YouTube spokesperson responded to an inquiry from MRC Free Speech America by explaining the platform had made an error. The platform reinstated the video: Upon review, weve reinstated this video from the ACT For America channel. When its brought to our attention that a video has been removed mistakenly, we act quickly to reinstate it.

YouTube also reversed itself after the CensorTrack team reached out about the brand new You Are Here podcast co-hosted by The Blaze reporter Elijah Schaffer. Two videos had been removed and two strikes on the new channel generated in the first nine days of its existence. Schaffer tweeted that the channels two strikes were reduced to a warning and that YouTube reinstated the clip it had previously removed. Grade: C

Fact-Checks: YouTubes fact-checking is not as robust as some other platforms. But there are examples to be found, and the fact-checks MRC Free Speech America observed are all one-sided. YouTube has called these labels information panels that are meant to provide topical context to certain videos. A YouTube Help page explains that these are used on videos about topics prone to [so-called] misinformation. YouTube stated that it will source information for these labels from independent, third-party partners. The examples found this quarter all source information from the United Nations (UN)  an obviously biased source  especially on the subject of these videos, climate change.

Both The Washington Examiner and the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) posted videos featuring Marc Morano, author of the book Green Fraud: Why the Green New Deal Is Even Worse Than You Think. In both cases, YouTube applied an information panel to provide more context about climate change, courtesy of the UN. The panel states Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, mainly caused by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels. It then links to a UN page titled What Is Climate Change? The UN page provides only leftist talking points about climate change, with no other context. Another video that got the same label was posted by the National Post channel, and was titled Steven Koonins controversial climate contentions. Grade: F

AMAZON

Overall Grade: D

This quarter, Amazon surpassed Walmart to become the largest retailer outside of China. With such power comes great responsibility. Amazon stood firm on its decision to sell books offering various viewpoints, even despite pressure from employees and others not to. As a bookseller, we believe that providing access to written speech and a variety of viewpoints is one of the most important things we do, an Amazon spokesperson reportedly said, even when those viewpoints differ from our own or Amazons stated positions. Amazon is also part of the prominent tech trade group, NetChoice, which has filed a lawsuit against Texas for its new anti-censorship law.

Free Speech: Amazons commitment to free speech was stronger during Q3 than it was during previous quarters. The company withstood pressure from employees and activists, refusing to ban at least one book on transgender ideology, despite having done so in Q1 of this year with President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D.s book, When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. Amazon initially rejected ads for a book on Black Lives Matter (BLM) by a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, but it later restored the ads. Grade: C

User Transparency: A report from Reuters this quarter indicated Amazons Web Services (AWS) division would be proactive[ly] removing content that violates its cloud service policies, such as rules against promoting violence. Reuters reported that AWS would be expanding its Trust & Safety team and would also be hiring a small group of people in its Amazon Web Services (AWS) division to develop expertise and work with outside researchers to monitor for future threats. The move adds to the debate over how much power Big Tech should have in regards to restricting free speech. Amazon shot back against Reuters reporting, reportedly calling it wrong and adding that AWS Trust & Safety has no plans to change its policies or processes, and the team has always existed. Grade: D

Bias: As noted in the User Transparency section, Reuters reported in Q3 that Amazon would be cracking down on customers of its AWS product, specifically noting that rules against promoting violence will be more strictly enforced. However, it remains to be seen how this new rule will be applied, and whether it will be enforced in an unbiased manner. While Amazon rejected ads for a book on Black Lives Matter, it has continued to sell books such as Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf and a young adult book praising Communist activists called Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds. It is becoming more difficult to find universally objectionable items on Amazon, like those for ISIS or Antifa, though there is still a large number of items praising communists such as the hammer and sickle icon, Fidel Castro and Vladimir Lenin. Grade: D

Responsiveness to User Complaints: It took public pressure in the form of a Washington Post report to get Amazon to end the promotion of Islamic extremism, which was being proliferated online with help from the companys web services arm. Following The Posts reporting about the terrorist-related site, the company shut it down. After Amazon rejected ads for a book titled BLM: The Making of a New Marxist Revolution, written by Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow Mike Gonzalez, Heritage complained. As a result, Amazon reviewed the decision and claimed it was an error, restoring the ads. Grade: D

Fact Checks: N/A

TIKTOK

Overall Grade: D

TikTok is a new addition to the report card this quarter as censorship has increased and the platform has grown in dominance over the last year. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, sold a 1 percent stake of TikTok to a Beijing company owned by three state entities in communist China, according to Reuters. BBC reported at the beginning of September that TikTok surpassed YouTube for the average time per user spent on the apps, according to data analytics firm App Annie. By the end of September, Forbes reported that TikTok reached 1 billion active monthly users worldwide. The rapidly growing platform allowed for the auto-ban of a user with no account violations and has repeatedly censored content critical of COVID-19 vaccines. It often does not provide specific reasons for removing content or banning accounts. Its ties to communist China combined with its lack of transparency are harmful to its grades.

Free Speech: Savannah Edwards, a popular creator known for challenging critical race theory, said TikTok permanently banned her account in early July. Edwards used a second TikTok account to tell her followers about the ban and said she was unaware of any recent violations that might have caused the censorship. She said in a follow-up video that the platform confirmed in an email that she had no Community Guidelines violations and that her account was restored two days later.

The platform also removed a video made by Tennessee State University athlete John Stokes who made a video from his hospital bed describing a purported Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine injury he allegedly experienced. Stokes said in the deleted video that he had no prior health issues and that he was diagnosed with myocarditis just four days after purportedly receiving the second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. TikTok removed the video due to an alleged Community Guidelines violation, according to Stokes and the screenshots he shared on TikTok. The platform later allowed a short form of the video to be uploaded after the story rapidly spread on Twitter and received media attention. Grade: D

User Transparency: TikTok is notorious for not listing why an account or video was censored. Edwards suggested in her follow-up video that when users mass report an account it triggers a ban. However, TikToks Community Guidelines do not clearly enumerate how frequently reported accounts can be automatically banned. Stokes similarly did not seem to know which Community Guidelines he had violated. He appeared to speculate in his follow-up video that he violated the so-called misinformation policy. The policy vaguely forbids [m]edical misinformation that can cause harm to an individuals physical health. TikToks Community Guidelines do not further clarify what types of content might break its ambiguous policy. Grade: D

Bias: As of yet, TikTok has not clearly exhibited a specific pattern of overt political bias. However, TikTok is also part of the prominent tech trade group, NetChoice, which has filed a lawsuit against Texas for its new anti-censorship law.

The platform has shown consistent bias related to discussion of COVID-19 vaccines on its platform. Stokess incident is a prime example of such censorship and though he appears to be openly Christian, he has left his political associations unidentified. Dr. Zubin Damania, a free-thinking podcaster who has spoken favorably of the COVID-19 vaccines, tweeted a screenshot showing that TikTok removed one of his videos when he criticized the Biden administration for calling the third dose of the vaccine a booster shot. Former podcast host Jeremiah Dieujuste told MRCs CensorTrack that TikTok permanently banned his account after he posted a video about How to Fight Back Against Vaccine Mandate From Employer, School, Etc . Grade: D

Responsiveness to User Complaints: TikTok has typically responded to appeal requests from the Media Research Centers MRCTV TikTok account within a couple of days. The day after John Stokes made a follow-up video criticizing TikTok for censoring him he was able to upload a short version of his censored content. TikTok however has not yet restored Stokess original video, Dr. Damanias censored video nor Dieujustes permanently banned account. TikTok restored Savannah Edwardss account two days after she was banned from the site. However, she identified a single email contact, [email protected], that actually responds to complaints, implying that the site may not usually be so responsive. Grade: C

Fact Checks: N/A

Parler, Rumble, GETTR and Others

When conservatives rightfully called out Big Tech platforms for censorship and suppression of free speech online, a common refrain from the left was that conservatives should start their own platforms. Several alternative platforms have stepped up to the challenge, some claiming to hold to free speech values: Parler, Rumble, Gab, GETTR, FreeTalk and CloutHub. But it turns out the left  and Big Tech  were not serious about their challenge to free speech-loving Americans. Even after some of the more prominent startups, like Parler and Gab, began to grow, Big Tech has censored them and attempted to shut at least one of the new alternative platforms down.

Given how new these alternative platforms are, there was not much data on how they moderate content. Trump advisor Jason Miller announced the launch of GETTR on July 1. The platform aims to become the new home for conservatives on social media. CloutHub announced that it had taken steps to ensure that it would not suffer the same fate as Parler, which was booted off of Amazons web hosting services previously. CloutHub no longer relies on hosting services and is thus able to freely choose its own path for content moderation. One America News Network also launched a free-speech alternative social network this quarter called FreeTalk 45. Both Telegram and Rumble continue to increasingly be the home for controversial content to be posted in order to ensure it will not be censored, as well as to report on censorship experienced on other platforms.

Given the relative newness of many alternative platforms, MRC Free Speech America did not assess grades for them this quarter.

Read more at: NewsBusters.org
(Natural News) Authorities in New Zealand instructed school authorities to call law enforcement if unvaccinated staff report for work. School employees who do not get injected with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine by Nov. 15 will be fined, they added.

The New Zealand Ministry of Education released the guidance on Nov. 11, according to a report by the Daily Mail. It informed school leaders that if they or other staff members show up on school premises without being injected, they would be committing an offense.

As per the ministry, school teachers and early learning staff members must have their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by Nov. 15. Only those who have been injected by that date could work onsite with students, it added.

The [erring] staff member will be committing an infringement offense if they have not had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and are onsite [on] Nov. 15. This means [that] they may be liable for a fine, the Nov. 11 advice stated. It comes after the New Zealand governments no jab, no job policy enacted in October 2021.

The ministry advised schools: If staff [members] do turn up on site after this date, we encourage school leaders to deal with this in the usual manner you would if other inappropriate people were to turn up on site. If you feel your safety, or the safety of  pupils or students, or other staff [members are] compromised, you should consider contacting the police.

Furthermore, the ministry noted that unvaccinated school staffers can no longer work in educational premises without a valid medical exemption. A written letter from a physician stating that such a request has been sought would also suffice. (Related: Nearly everyone who holds a job in New Zealand now required to get vaccinated for covid.)

The announcement initially caused confusion among a number of educators, who initially thought they could still work on-site until Jan. 1, 2022 without being vaccination. Later clarification revealed that the Jan. 1 date was the deadline for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Draconian measures part of New Zealands zero COVID strategy

New Zealand is no stranger to draconian COVID-19 measures. It gained the worlds attention during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic for its zero COVID strategy that kept its case counts low. However, the strategy came at a cost of restricting peoples freedom  through hard lockdowns over huge areas of New Zealand. (Related: New Zealand transforms into a tyrannical regime in pursuit of COVID Zero.)

The countrys Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called on people back in the summer to avoid talking to their neighbors. Stay local and do not congregate, dont talk to your neighbors [and] please keep to your bubbles, she said at the time.

In August 2021, Ardern put the entirety of New Zealand under a strict lockdown following a single COVID-19 infection. The city of Auckland, where the infected person lives, and the town of Coromandel, where the infected person visited, went into a seven-day full lockdown. The rest of the country also went into a three-day lockdown.

Ardern urged New Zealands population of five million to do their part in eliminating the latest outbreak. We have seen what happens elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it. We only get one chance, she warned.

Prior to the August lockdown, New Zealand had managed to achieve zero COVID  with its last outbreak happening in February. However, the prime minister warned that the more contagious B16172 delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 would likely require more drastic actions than earlier strains.

Ardern eased coronavirus restrictions in Auckland on Sept. 20, ending almost five weeks of the citys stringent lockdown. However, she reiterated that the relaxing of restrictions in Auckland ought to be considered a cautious step.

We keep doing the job of stamping out COVID, [but] we are not stepping out  because the job is done. Nor are we moving because we dont think we can achieve the goal of stamping out COVID-19, she said.

MedicalTyranny.com has more articles about New Zealands use of draconian measures to ensure zero COVID.

Sources include:

GlobalResearch.ca

DailyMail.co.uk

FoxNews.com

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) Every second, drug giants Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna rake in $1,000 from the sale and administration of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines.

This amounts to $65,000 in profits per minute for each of these Big Pharma players, all thanks to Operation Warp Speed, which was started by Donald father of the vaccine Trump in 2020 before the baton was passed to fake president Joe Biden in 2021.

Most of these profits are coming from rich countries like the United States, Canada, Israel and the gamut of Western European nations. Soon, these profits will expand even more once the shots arrive in the third world. (RELATED: Moderna never produced a single medicine prior to its mRNA injection, and exists solely as a pump-and-dump scam that generates profit for the rich.)

The Peoples Vaccine Alliance (PVA), a coalition pushing for wider access to these injections, estimates that this trio of vaccine corporations will make pre-tax profits of $34 billion this year. This amounts to a whopping $93.5 million per day.

It is obscene that just a few companies are making millions of dollars in profit every single hour, while just two percent of people in low-income countries have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, complained Maaza Seyoum of the African Alliance and PVA.

Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna all subsidized by taxpayers to the tune of more than $8 billion

PVA is apparently not so much concerned about the obscene profits being made by these three companies, but rather that these profits are not even higher than they currently are due to a lack of access in low-income parts of the world.

Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna have used their monopolies to prioritise the most profitable contracts with the richest governments, leaving low-income countries out in the cold, Seyoum is further quoted as saying.

AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), meanwhile, are reportedly providing their injections on a not-for-profit basis, reports claim. However, this is soon to change once the plandemic is considered to be over.

Keep in mind that all three of these companies are heavily subsidized with American tax dollars. More than $8 billion was sent their way by government officials, and now all three companies continue to pile in the loot from their profit-generating scam.

Meanwhile, not a single one of these three companies is agreeing to transfer their injection technology to producers in low- and middle-income countries, a move that could increase global supply, drive down prices and save millions of lives, according to PVA.

In Modernas case, this is despite explicit pressure from the White House and requests from the WHO that the company collaborate in and help accelerate its plan to replicate the Moderna vaccine for wider production at its mRNA hub in South Africa, the group further says.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, who says that anyone who criticized his companys vaccine should be jailed, claims that transferring Pfizers covid jab technology to poorer countries is dangerous nonsense.

This criminal billionaire pig would rather continue feeding his endless greed while taking advantage of the public, which appears to be the only way he knows how to live his pathetic life.

PVAs 80 members include the African Alliance, Global Justice Now, Oxfam and UNAIDS. All of them are calling for pharmaceutical corporations to immediately suspend all intellectual property rights for their covid injections and make them open source for the rest of the world to use.

More than 100 nations, including the United States, back that move, but it is being blocked by rich countries including the UK and Germany, MedicalXpress reported.

The latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine racket can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

MedicalXpress.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The governor of Tennessee became the latest to sign a measure banning Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandate for businesses with more than 100 workers, even as the mandate has had tough sledding thus far in federal courts.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a sweeping measure into law on Friday that will largely ban COVID-19 vaccine passports and restrict the enforcement of mask mandates across the state, The Epoch Times reported.

The new law will take effect immediately, banning government entities, public schools, and many private businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of entry, or mandating vaccines among their staff, the outlet continued.

Businesses that serve as federal contractors and thus receive federal funds, to include public universities, may be excluded from the order and able to issue their own vaccine and mask mandates but only after they apply for approval from the Tennessee comptrollers office if they can convince officials that not implementing the requirements will cause them to lose out on federal funding.

Some institutions of higher learning, along with other companies in the state, have already begun inquiring about the exemption. The state comptrollers office plans to put an application form online to speed up the process, according to John Dunn, a spokesman for the agency.

I think most businesses dont want the intervention that was delivered first by the federal government, Gov. Lee told reporters on Wednesday, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

We had a federal government who required businesses against their will to require their employees against their will to make a personal health decision which is an egregious overreach by the federal government, he maintained.

Tennessee Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who pressed Lee for the special session, lauded the governors signing of the new bill.

A big win 4 upholding the constitutional rights of all citizens! noted Sexton on Twitter. Proud that we protected parental rights & the ability of Tennesseans to make health decisions free of government intrusion & coercion while also drawing a line in the sand against Bidens unconstitutional overreach.

A big win 4 upholding the constitutional rights of all citizens! Proud that we protected parental rights & the ability of Tennesseans to make health decisions free of government intrusion & coercion while also drawing a line in the sand against Bidens unconstitutional overreach. https://t.co/dh4cWi7HGJ  Speaker Cameron Sexton (@CSexton25) November 12, 2021

The Epoch Times adds:

The new law also only allows public schools and government entities to mandate masks if there are at least 1,000 COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 residents within a 14-day period. No county in Tennessee has reached that figure since the start of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. Even if a mask mandate is enforced, it would only be allowed to last for 14 days.

The measure would also allow for people who left their job because they refused the COVID-19 vaccine amid workplace mandates, to qualify for unemployment benefits.

Biden issued his vaccine mandate Sept. 4 for federal workers and contractors as well as all private sector businesses who employ 100 or more workers. Its not clear how the regime arrived at the number 100, but it cant be because someone within the White House is following the science because if that were so, the mandate would apply to all businesses since the virus doesnt care how many employees work at any given company.

But so far, the vaccine mandate has run into legal trouble, with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans already having issued two rulings prohibiting it from taking effect.

Last week the court found that the mandate exposes [petitioners] to severe financial risk and threatens to decimate their workforces (and business prospects). The court also noted that the petitions give cause to believe there are grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate.

The Mandate is a one-size-fits-all sledgehammer that makes hardly any attempt to account for differences in workplaces (and workers) that have more than a little bearing on workers varying degrees of susceptibility to the supposedly grave danger the Mandate purports to address, the ruling further noted.

Sources include:

AmericanWireNews.com

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Americans go to work, talk to people, and explain what they know about the pandemic, from what theyve heard on the mainstream news. Some people are experts and repeat exactly what they heard or read on the mainstream news. Others are seasoned practitioners because they specialize in some specific medical field, and they can even explain, in great detail, how the masks and vaccines are safe and effective.

Yet, taking a look at the advertising on television and on allopathic websites we see exactly who is funding this expert insight, and its all pharma scripted cover for sick-care medicine. This time around, were talking about bacterial infections of the mouth and viral infections of the lungs, and no matter what you die from, including the clot shots, its labeled death by Covid.

For the past 50 years, the vaccine industry slogan has been the same for every single vaccine: Its always 95% effective and 100% safe

Since the 1960s, most Americans have been conned and hoodwinked into believing every vaccine is safe and effective. From polio to measles, from HPV to Covid, hundreds of millions of people have been injured, maimed for life and killed by experimental, dangerous vaccinations, and its all been covered up by the media, the FDA and the CDC. People dont want to believe that the regulatory agencies and the famous doctors (actors) on television could possibly be lying and promoting medicine to their countrymen (men, women and children) that causes autism, cancer and blood clots. How could it possibly be?

Most conversations that pro-vaccination people are having right now rely solely on news that is scripted by the companies that make the toxic medical products and invest in the costly diagnostic equipment. Thats why cancer, diabetes and obesity are so prominent in America, because the mainstream doctors dont really try to fix anything; they only treat the symptoms. Now theyre treating fear.

The pandemic is fear-based, and the clot shots are the nails in the coffin of Covid. Still, the Covid-vaccinated are so brainwashed that they are walking around still wearing their masks, still succumbing to more shots, still believing theyre all safe from Covid if they huddle together, still watching the nightly news on TV, still scrolling on the smart device to WebMD, and still reading the fiction newspaper, from front to back, every morning.

The fully vaccinated are throwing parties with each other, while masked, while Fauci declares the vaccines dont work at all anymore

Did your efficacy wane? Arent you watching the news? Youll need a new gene therapy jab every 4 months for the rest of your shortened life. Plus, the Covid vaccines never did stop transmission, as the CDC confessed. The China Flu jabs never did stop anyone from catching Covid, as the FDA admitted. The clot shots stop providing any type of protection against Covid after a few months, as Fauci just divulged.

Maybe its time to think twice about another scripted lie thats been perpetuated by the media, the CDC and every Covid-vaccinated person in this country, and thats the one about the Covid vaccines saving you from a bad case of Covid. Wheres any scientific proof of that?

The masks breed bacterial infections in the mouth, throat and lungs. The vaccines cause microscopic blood clots that cause hyper-inflammation, myocarditis, prion diseases and many doctors say, eventually cancer. Social distancing never worked. And that brings us to the top 7 lies vaccinated people tell each other and themselves so theyll feel all safe and cozy, or at least subside all that media-influenced anxiety and fear for a little while.

LIE #1. Covid-vaccinated people are safer around each other because they arent carrying and spreading the disease anymore.

LIE #2. If youre vaccinated for Covid and still catch it, you wont get as bad of a case of it.

LIE #3. The Covid vaccine ingredients stay at the site of injection, thats why it can get swollen and hurt a little.

LIE #4. Booster shots will boost your immunity and make it stronger, more able to fight off new Covid variants.

LIE #5. Breakthrough Covid cases in vaccinated people are all caused by unvaccinated people.

LIE #6. If everyone would just get the shots, the pandemic would end.

LIE #7. The Covid shots are safe and effective or the FDA and CDC would not have approved them.

Want the best in truth news on your internet dial? Tune to Pandemic.news because it doesnt take a scientist or doctor to see that Covid vaccines, Remdesivir, masks, ventilators and bad CDC advice are creating a pandemic of their own.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

TruthWiki.org

NaturalNews.com

ZeroHedge.com
In 2015, Phoenix Islands Protected Area was classified as a "no-take" zones, which stopped commercial fishing in an area of over 157,000 square miles.

No-take Zone Now Opened to Commercial Fishing

On Monday, the Kiribati government revealed that commercial fishing will once again be allowed in one of the world's biggest protected marine areas.

"Our decision as a sovereign country and Government is people-centric and commensurate with holistic options for marine protection and management, economic diversification, sustainable tourism and fisheries, to promote the growth of Kiribati's blue economy, and uplift the lives of all I-Kiribati," a government statement said.

However, despite assurances from the Pacific Island country, the government has not been able to make up for lost income as a result of PIPA creation.

According to The Guardian, Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) was classified as a "no-take" zone, which covers an area of more than 157,000 square miles in the south Pacific.

"Similar to any Government, our decisions, as we make them, put the livelihoods of our people at the fore and have been carefully considered and agreed to as a Government," a government press statement read, speaking about the economic advantages the nation may get if the commercial fishing ban is lifted, as per The Guardian.

A sovereign nation and government's choice is people-centric and consistent with comprehensive solutions for marine preservation, management, economic diversification and sustainable tourism and fisheries to develop Kiribati's blue economy and improve the lives of its people.

Also Read: WARNING: Hiking in Protected Areas Can Negatively Affect Wildlife

Lost Revenue Brought About by the Creation of PIPA

As a result of the introduction of PIPA, the government has apparently been unable to make up for lost income, despite assurances from the Pacific Island country that it would be able to recover any losses.

There are over 800 identified species of wildlife in the region, including 200 coral species, 500 fish species, 18 marine animals, and 44 bird species, according to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Anote Tong, the former president credited with establishing the protected region, expressed his disappointment at the news.

He remarked that he didn't think it would happen like this. Tong said, "And this was precisely the reason that we put it into legislation. Because it had to be something that would remain regardless of any political changes."

Future of PIPA

But senior vice president Richard Jeo, Conservation International's Asia-Pacific field division revealed to the outlet the act would need to be officially authorized by parliament before it begins. The proposal hasn't been introduced.

According to the statement, as a sovereign country in the Pacific, Kiribati has the ability to decide on the future of PIPA.

At the time, Kiribati was a worldwide conservation leader, dedicated to saving 30% of its land and sea by 2030, and Jeo told the publication the organization was confident that Kiribati will remain as a conservation leader.

Related Article: Protected Areas All Over the World Vulnerable to Invasive Alien Species

For more news, updates about protected areas and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
An air quality monitor deemed Lahore, Pakistan's capital city, to be the most polluted city in the world, and inhabitants are pleading with the government to take action.

Residents in Lahore Calls For Government Intervention

According to IQAir, a Swiss technology firm that manages the AirVisual monitoring platform, Lahore had an air quality index of 348, significantly over the dangerous lavel of 300.

"Children are experiencing breathing diseases... for God's sake, find a solution," labourer Muhammad Saeed said to AFP.

Low-grade diesel exhaust, seasonal crop smoke, and cooler winter temperatures combine to create stagnant haze in Pakistan during the last several years.

Air pollution in Lahore, a busy megacity of over 11 million people in Punjab province close to the boundary with India, frequently ranks as one of the world's worst cities in regards to air pollution.

Locals are building their own air purifiers and suing government officials in an effort to clean up the air, but authorities have been reluctant to respond, blaming the haze on India or saying that the statistics are overstated, according to Phys.org.

"We are poor people, can't even afford a doctor's charges" shopkeeper Ikram Ahmed told AFP.

"We can only plead with them to control the pollution. I am not a literate person, but I have read that Lahore has the worst air quality and then comes India's Delhi. If it continues like this, we will die."

In the past, Saeed the laborer would take his children out for a stroll with him, but he no longer does so.

In order to get rid of this haze, there are manufacturers and small enterprises working here, so either relocate them, compensate them, or make mordern technology available, labourer Saeed said.

Also Read: Scientists Claim that Prolonged Exposure to Air Pollution May Worsen Depression

How Can Air Pollution be Controlled?

One way to control air pollution is to use less fossil fuel. Some ideas for conserving fossil fuels include:

Considering the use of bike or walking, instead of driving.

Taking public transportation or joining a carpool

Investing in a vehicle with better fuel efficiency.

Making use of light bulbs and appliances that are energy efficient.

Reducing how you buy products made with fossil fuels.

Energy production by power plants is reduced as a result of all of the above measures.

New Forms of Energy

It is critical to work on developing new forms of energy. In what ways are alternative energy sources being hindered? Alternative energy technologies, such as solar and wind, are continually being refined. As compared to burning fossil fuels, solar and wind power are still prohibitively expensive. The price will decline if the technology improves.

The sun doesn't shine enough in certain places, therefore solar power can't be used. Others are stifled by a lack of breeze. In order for regions to thrive, they must establish their own unique solutions.

The Great Plains may rely on wind power instead of solar in the Southwest's arid climate. Even though existing nuclear power plants have serious issues with safety and waste management, certain places may still depend on nuclear power.

The use of technology may be necessary in reducing air pollution in certain cases.

Related Article: The True Silent Killer: Air Pollution Killed More People Than Any Viruses

For more news, updates about air pollution and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Amazon customers across the pond might have problems with upcoming purchases from the retailer as one major credit card distributor will no longer be accepted.

Starting January 19, Amazon shoppers in the UK will no longer be able to pay via Visa credit card.

"As a result of Visa's continued high cost of payments, we regret that Amazon.co.uk will no longer accept UK-issued Visa credit cards as of 19 January, 2022," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement provided to Reuters.

The company cited high transaction fees as the reason for the decision, an issue that arose after Brexit was signed into order, removing an EU-enforced cap on the fees credit card issuers could charge in the UK.

Visa debit cards, however, will still be accepted, as will American Express, Mastercard and Eurocard credit cards.

Findings by Casinosites.org show that Google searches for Mastercard (Visas top competitor) increased more than 1,300% upon Wednesdays announcement, with a subsequent finding that the search term "cancel Visa" shot up over 700% on the 17th.

"We are very disappointed that Amazon is threatening to restrict consumer choice in the future," a Visa spokesperson said, per Reuters.

Visa shares reportedly dropped 2.5% in pre-market trading Wednesday.

"If Amazon can't make it work, with all their resources and ability to navigate legislation to avoid costs, then small businesses have no chance, and so the government must improve the UK-EU trade and cooperation agreement to keep British businesses competitive," Tamara Cincik of the UK Trade and Business Commission told Reuters.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Visa was down 6.10% from the same time the day prior.

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Windy with thunderstorms, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low near 35F. Winds SSW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Windy with thunderstorms, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low near 35F. Winds SSW at 25 to 35 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
The UK Mission partnered with the Swedish Mission in Geneva to unveil a new art exhibition entitled 'The Silent Pandemic: No Time To Wait' to mark the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week today. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest public health threats facing the world. The emergence of drug resistance means that antimicrobials (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, antimalarials, antiparasitics) are becoming ineffective against the infections and illnesses they aim to treat, including for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis (TB), HIV and maternal and newborn infections.

The exhibition features a graphic cartoon series raising awareness of AMR by Wang Xulin, an award-winning illustrator from Toronto and a three-part display "Save Modern Medicine" by Josh Campbell, Claire Oxlade and Pim Pearce.

The exhibition was unveiled by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva on Monday.

During his keynote address, Dr Tedros said, "Art has the power to reach audiences in a way that technical documents cannot. I am particularly grateful to Wang Xulin, the talented artist behind the canvasses, for their role as an awareness champion for antimicrobial resistance."

AMR is a top priority for the UK and COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated that infectious diseases, including resistant infections, do not respect borders. The rising threat of AMR - often called the 'silent pandemic' - demonstrates the continuing need for international cooperation". Simon Manley, The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva

Sweden's Permanent Representative to the UN, Anna Jardfelt in her remarks said, "The pandemic has taught us that by making the necessary political decisions, it is possible to take great strides in a short period of time. We hope that this excellent piece of work by the artist Wang Xulin, can contribute to such political commitment also on AMR, by illustrating the consequences of inaction."

On bringing the topic of AMR to life through their drawings, the artist Wang Xulin said, "My goal for this exhibit was to create something visually distinct, colourful, and emotionally resonant. I chose to show moments that most people can relate to, connecting the issue of AMR to their own families and their experiences. I wanted to be involved because fighting AMR is such an important cause, and will impact the lives of every human being. As an artist I have always been interested in science and social justice, and I find meaning in educating and helping people the best way I can."

The UK Mission also partnered with the Cambridge Mask Company who provided custom made masks for the launch of the exhibition. The partnership illustrates the importance in educating everyone, not just thought leaders, into choosing the right mask in order to protect long term respiratory health from a variety of external threats including viruses and air pollution. The company which was founded by Christopher Dobbing in 2015 was keen to highlight that this partnership is the first step to ensuring we steer away from single use disposable masks which are becoming an ever increasing threat to both our planet and the oceans.

The exhibit will be displayed at the UN in Geneva until Wednesday 24 November.
Years ago, there was a time that kids from a rural village in South Africa still wanted to swim in the rivers nearby. But when they got out of the water, those with sensitive skins would have the worst rash ever, says Prof Philiswa Nomngongo. She is from the University of Johannesburg's (UJ) campus in the CBD.

Nomngongo is the DSI/NRF SARChI Chair: Nanotechnology for Water, within the UJ Department of Chemical Sciences.

She grew up in the village of Flagstaff in the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

In my village there are streams and rivers. What happens is, those who do not have money to buy a tank for rainwater harvesting, they depend on the stream or river." Prof Philiswa Nomngongo, University of Johannesburg

The people who have tanks will do their bathing, dishes and laundry with the convenient and relatively safe rainwater. Then they release their wastewater into the river nearby.

"Downstream someone else is drinking water from that river," she adds.

Most rivers in South Africa may only be a few meters across, and about waist deep most of the year until flash floods arrive.

And it's not just people affecting water quality in such a village, it is livestock also.

"When the cows walk in the water and it looks dirty, the villagers wait for the water to clear again, but the question is, is it clean? The challenge is, we always look to see if water is clear, rather than looking at the quality of that particular water," she says.

Upstream from the city

People who live in large towns and cities may think that upstream contamination doesn't affect them. After all, water treatment plants protect them, removing heavy metals, bacteria, viruses and more from their tap water.

But the tap water in large towns and cities often come from rivers upstream. And there is another type of contamination that slips right through almost all water treatment plants.

That contamination is the medicines other people use upstream. Those pass through their wastewater treatment plants. Then the medicines end up in the rivers supplying drinking water to cities and towns downstream.

Pharma in our own taps

"What I can say to a city person is, not all clear water means clean. As researchers we know the challenges with pollutants. Water treatment plants cannot remove pharmaceuticals. But we release pharmaceuticals ourselves into wastewater on a daily basis," says Nomngongo.

"In the cities, we get medications because we have medical aids (health insurance). Sometimes, we don't care and say, 'I am healed now' and throw our medicines away. The easiest way to do it is to flush it down the toilet.

"We don't think that this might come back to us through our own tap."

Treatment plants only do so much

"The technologies at wastewater plants remove some pollutants, but not everything," says Dr Mpingana Akawa. She lives near the Orange River in Namibia. Dr Akawa conducted the experimental work for the research as part of her PhD studies at the university of Johannesburg.

"Pharmaceuticals are regarded as emerging organic pollutants. We need to remember that most pharmaceuticals are not regulated.

"Hence there are no limits on how much should be in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant before it is discharged into the environment.

"Because they are not regulated, people are not really monitoring these things before releasing the treated wastewater. I think that is where the whole problem is," adds Akawa.

Stuck between need and pollution

One of the reasons pharmaceuticals in wastewater are not yet regulated, is because a 'cocktail' of many of these are released daily into rivers. Sometimes this makes it very difficult to make rules about this, says Nomngongo.

One reason water treatment plants are not designed to remove pharmaceuticals, is because they are present in water at very low concentrations, she adds.

There is also the tension between individual medical treatment and collective water management.

"Mothers living with HIV have to use Nevirapine to prevent transmitting the virus to their babies. If you started regulating ARVs, how would you regulate Nevirapine in wastewater? We are stuck between a need and pollution."

Nevirapine is also used as part of combination therapy for people who are on antiretroviral treatments.

"The wastewater from our homes goes to a wastewater treatment plant. There it is treated in multiple stages. In the end, the treated water is released into the nearest river.

"That is why most of these plants are built close to a river or stream. And if that water is not treated well, it means that the river close by will be contaminated by some of the pollutants of the treatment plant," she adds.

"When you talk about ARVs, they are not only going to be in the city. They will be there in the rural areas because mothers taking the ARVs are there too," says Nomngongo.

Says Akawa: "It's not only with HIV treatment drugs, but also any other pharmaceutical that people take, the human body does not use up all the medicine. Only some of it is absorbed and the rest is excreted through urine or faeces. All this will eventually end up in surface water, such as rivers, which we drink."

Monitoring rivers and wastewater

Nomngongo and Akawa's research makes possible regular monitoring of rivers and the effluent of wastewater treatment plants.

It detects two widely used antiretroviral drugs, nevirapine (NVT) and zidovudine (AZT).

The method they developed is simple, quick, and cost-effective. It requires equipment one would find in most chemistry laboratories.

Their study is published in Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring and Management.

The sample preparation method was described in previous studies by other researchers. Also, previous studies have also monitored antiretroviral drugs in water using other methods, says Akawa.

In this study, water samples are pre-concentrated before analysis. The composite water samples were taken from the river, upstream and downstream from a wastewater treatment plant.

"The ARVs are present at low concentrations. This means you have to increase the sample concentrations to analyse with the instrument.

If you just take water from the river, and you go to the HPLC (High-performance Liquid Chromatograph), you won't be able to detect anything. The instrument will not be able to pick up the ARVs at that very low concentration," says Akawa.

Results in an hour

The method includes making an environmentally friendly adsorbent, which takes about two days. One of the ingredients is activated carbon made at UJ from waste tyres. The ingredients and the manufactured adsorbent can be stored at room temperature.

Once the method is calibrated, it takes about an hour to analyse three composite water samples from a glass bottle in triplicate, says Akawa.

"The data from this study can be used as a reference when governments and legislation bodies set up guidelines for the maximum allowable levels for the ARVs nevirapine and zidovudine, concludes Akawa.
Even after almost two years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and extensive research, many aspects that could curb the pandemic remain unknown. The causal agent of this pandemic is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has evolved with time, and some of the variants are more virulent with a higher rate of transmission and mortality rate.

Study: Precise blood proteome profiling in an undiagnosed population with COVID-19. Image Credit: Fotomay/ Shutterstock

COVID-19 infection affects an individuals respiratory system and damages many other physiological systems, including cardiovascular, digestive, and nervous systems. Researchers stated that one of the primary factors of COVID-19 pathogenesis is the over-activation of the innate immune response, which causes the cytokine storm.

Previous studies have helped understand the molecular mechanism behind SARS-CoV-2 infection or the factors contributing to severe infection. However, the long-term effects related to mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 infection are still not clear. Some studies using computed tomography revealed that even mild or asymptomatic infection could cause subclinical lung abnormalities.

Background

Scientists have highlighted the need for population-based studies to understand heterogeneous phenotypes, genetic and environmental factors, and their association with disease severity, mortality, and long-term effects of its health. Some large-scale population studies have been conducted, but their results contain biases. The main problem in conducting large-scale population studies is proper sampling. Biased results may be obtained by including undetected or non-hospitalized individuals affected by COVID-19 infection with mild or no symptoms.

To reduce bias, scientists have come up with a possibility to reach a population that is typically hard to reach, i.e., via home-sampled dried blood spots (DBS). Some of the advantages of the DBS system include the collection of samples without direct contact or requiring a skilled person. Further, this system also prevents visiting a healthcare center. The shortcoming of the DBS approach has recently been corrected by a new microfluidic-based DBS device that can collect the precise volume of blood in a controlled manner.

During the first pandemic wave, scientists have used a volumetric DBS home-sampling device to collect 878 samples from Stockholm, Sweden, randomly. This study helped determine the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against several proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a multi-analyte assay. The same group of researchers currently collected DBS samples in the Stockholm population to conduct more analyses to understand the molecular effects of the infection. This study is available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

In this study, scientists have profiled 276 circulating proteins that are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic functions. These proteins were present in the eluates previously prepared for the serological survey. The main focus of this study has been to gather a comprehensive picture of the biological processes along with the diverse immune responses associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a random population.

Proteomic survey

The authors claim that this study is the first proteomics survey conducted in a general population. The main strength of this study is the integrity of the home sample that enabled obtaining high-quality molecular data with large cohorts. Scientists used proximity extension assays (PEA) for the proteomics analyses owing to their low sample volume requirement. PEA assays are also highly sensitive and specific. Previous studies have also used PEAs to quantify proteins from filter paper-based DBS samples collected from clinical settings.

This study validated the DBS sampling system by comparing the protein profiles generated using venous blood draw and DBS sample via finger pricking. Researchers found comparable results in both sampling systems. This study revealed that a higher abundance of protein was found in the DBS samples from the skin, intracellular, and blood cells due to cell lysis. Researchers have conducted variability analysis and found that BLMH, THOP1, SOD1, and BAG6 are among the least variable proteins.

Generally, assessment of circulating proteins helps monitor disease progression and determines the response to therapy in severely infected and hospitalized patients. It also helps understand the causes behind the long-term symptoms experienced by the individuals affected with mild COVID-19 symptoms. Previous studies have reported that overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines causes multi-organ failure and increases levels of cardiac biomarkers such as Troponin, BNP, and MBL2, which are the predictors of mortality.

Compared to seronegative individuals, those with mild symptoms showed high levels of MBL2, IL2RA MMP3, and FCGR2A protein, which were previously associated with ICU mortality. Proteins, such as CRTAC and CHRDL2, involved with the active proliferation of cells and adaptive immune responses, were also found. The authors also indicated the presence of GP1BA, VWF, SDC4, ANG, and CHL1 in the sample.

Future studies

In the future, the authors aim to quantify stable proteins occurring at lower abundance, such as IL6 or TNF, and inflammatory biomarkers in circulation. Also, a more sensitive quantitative method is required to analyze proteins from DBS samples. This study has provided valuable insights into the molecular effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

*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.
Melissa Blatzer was determined to get her three children caught up on their routine immunizations on a recent Saturday morning at a walk-in clinic in this Denver suburb. It had been about a year since the kids' last shots, a delay Blatzer chalked up to the pandemic.

Two-year-old Lincoln Blatzer, in his fleece dinosaur pajamas, waited anxiously in line for his hepatitis A vaccine. His siblings, 14-year-old Nyla Kusumah and 11-year-old Nevan Kusumah, were there for their TDAP, HPV and meningococcal vaccines, plus a covid-19 shot for Nyla.

"You don't have to make an appointment and you can take all three at once," said Blatzer, who lives several miles away in Commerce City. That convenience outweighed the difficulty of getting everyone up early on a weekend.

Child health experts hope community clinics like this, along with the return to in-person classes, more well-child visits and the rollout of covid shots for younger children, can help boost routine childhood immunizations, which dropped during the pandemic. Despite a rebound, immunization rates are still lower than in 2019, and disparities in rates between racial and economic groups, particularly for Black children, have been exacerbated.

"We're still not back to where we need to be," said Dr. Sean O'Leary, a pediatric infectious-disease doctor at Children's Hospital Colorado and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Routine immunizations protect children against 16 infectious diseases, including measles, diphtheria and chickenpox, and inhibit transmission to the community.

The rollout of covid shots for younger kids is an opportunity to catch up on routine vaccinations, said O'Leary, adding that children can receive these vaccines together. Primary care practices, where many children are likely to receive the covid shots, usually have other childhood vaccines on hand.

"It's really important that parents and health care providers work together so that all children are up to date on these recommended vaccines," said Dr. Malini DeSilva, an internist and pediatrician at HealthPartners in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. "Not only for the child's health but for our community's health."

People were reluctant to come out for routine immunizations at the height of the pandemic, said Karen Miller, an immunization nurse manager for the Denver area's Tri-County Health Department, which ran the Westminster clinic. National and global data confirm what Miller saw on the ground.

Global vaccine coverage in children fell from 2019 to 2020, according to a recent study by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and UNICEF. Reasons included reduced access, lack of transportation, worries about covid exposure and supply chain interruptions, the study said.

Third doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP) vaccine and of the polio vaccine decreased from 86% of all eligible children in 2019 to 83% in 2020, according to the study. Worldwide, 22.7 million children had not had their third dose of DTP in 2020, compared with 19 million in 2019. Three doses are far more effective than one or two at protecting children and communities.

In the United States, researchers who studied 2019 and 2020 data on routine vaccinations in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin found substantial disruptions in vaccination rates during the pandemic that continued into September 2020. For example, the percentage of 7-month-old babies who were up to date on vaccinations decreased from 81% in September 2019 to 74% a year later.

The proportion of Black children up to date on immunizations in almost all age groups was lower than that of children in other racial and ethnic groups. This was most pronounced in those turning 18 months old: Only 41% of Black children that age were caught up on vaccinations in September 2020, compared with 57% of all children at 18 months, said DeSilva, who led that study.

A CDC study of data from the National Immunization Surveys found that race and ethnicity, poverty and lack of insurance created the greatest disparities in vaccination rates, and the authors noted that extra efforts are needed to counter the pandemic's disruptions.

In addition to the problems caused by covid, Miller said, competing life priorities like work and school impede families from keeping up with shots. Weekend vaccination clinics can help working parents get their children caught up on routine immunizations while they get a flu or covid shot. Miller and O'Leary also said reminders via phone, text or email can boost immunizations.

"Vaccines are so effective that I think it's easy for families to put immunizations on the back burner because we don't often hear about these diseases," she said.

It's a long and nasty list that includes hepatitis A and B, measles, mumps, whooping cough, polio, rubella, rotavirus, pneumococcus, tetanus, diphtheria, human papillomavirus and meningococcal disease, among others. Even small drops in vaccination coverage can lead to outbreaks. And measles is the perfect example that worries experts, particularly as international travel opens up.

"Measles is among the most contagious diseases known to humankind, meaning that we have to keep very high vaccination coverage to keep it from spreading," said O'Leary.

In 2019, 22 measles outbreaks occurred in 17 states in mostly unvaccinated children and adults. O'Leary said outbreaks in New York City were contained because surrounding areas had high vaccination coverage. But an outbreak in an undervaccinated community still could spread beyond its borders, he said.

In some states a significant number of parents were opposed to routine childhood vaccines even before the pandemic for religious or personal reasons, posing another challenge for health professionals. For example, 87% of Colorado kindergartners were vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella during the 2018-19 school year, one of the nation's lowest rates.

Those rates bumped up to 91% in 2019-20 but are still below the CDC's target of 95%.

O'Leary said he does not see the same level of hesitancy for routine immunizations as for covid. "There has always been vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusers. But we've maintained vaccination rates north of 90% for all routine childhood vaccines for a long time now," he said.

Malini said the "ripple effects" of missed vaccinations earlier in the pandemic continued into 2021. As children returned to in-person learning this fall, schools may have been the first place families heard about missed vaccinations. Individual states set vaccination requirements, and allowable exemptions, for entry at schools and child care facilities. Last year, Colorado passed a school entry immunization law that tightened allowable exemptions.

"Schools, where vaccination requirements are generally enforced, are stretched thin for a variety of reasons, including covid," said O'Leary, adding that managing vaccine requirements may be more difficult for some, but not all, schools.

Anayeli Dominguez, 13, was at the Westminster clinic for a TDAP vaccine because her middle school had noticed she was not up to date.

"School nurses play an important role in helping identify students in need of immunizations, and also by connecting families to resources both within the district and in the larger community," said Denver Public Schools spokesperson Will Jones.
Even with high incidence rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many universities face increasing pressure to return to full on-campus operations. A variety of studies have been conducted that have implemented simulation to assess the risk of transmission and effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical intervention methods (NPIs) in the context of university settings. However, there are many shortcomings associated with the studies that limit their relevance to university decision-making. Only a few studies consider NPIs in combination with vaccines, and none include the Delta variant.

Many existing studies focus on residential university settings and model both contacts in the context of courses and housing. This type of study is typically not applicable to the European higher education sector. In many European countries, students are often spread out within the university's city, not all living on campus. To date, there is no existing research that combines an empirically determined co-location network with rigorous calibration of model parameters and simulation scenarios.

To solve the issues with the current research, a team of researchers from Graz University of Technology modeled transmission dynamics in a European university, comprised of 10755 students and 974 staff. The authors based their simulation on a co-location network reconstructed from enrolment data obtained from the winter term 2019/20. When this study was being conducted, 82% of the student population had been vaccinated. Due to high vaccine coverage, the authors examined if the full on-campus operation was possible, even if the dominant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain within the population was the Delta variant.

A preprint version of this study, which is yet to undergo peer review, is available on the medRxiv* server.

The study

This study suggests that it is safe to relax some of the NPIs given the high vaccination rate among the student population. The reproduction (R) could be kept below one with just the implementation of reducing the number of students within lecture halls and mandatory mask-wearing. Even if the assumed vaccination coverage were lowered to 70%, mandatory mask-wearing would be sufficient in keeping outbreaks to a minimum. Even so, the model utilized in this study is sensitive to the assumed vaccine effectiveness against infection of 47%.

Previous research report vaccine effectiveness to be 60%; in that case, no NPIs would be required to keep the R number below one. If booster vaccines become more widespread, then this would further allow the relaxation of NPIs. Due to the model used in this study resting on a set of assumptions, an analysis of its shortcomings and the uncertainty with these assumptions is warranted. This model only includes contact situations in the context of courses within the university campus.

It was assumed that five months following the second dose of vaccine, the vaccine efficacy against high viral load would be 47%, which is also a conservative estimate because most students will receive their second dose during the summer in many national vaccination programs. The authors also calibrated their model using empirical observations of cluster sizes in secondary schools in Austria during the Autumn months of 2020. It was assumed that the situation regarding contacts would be similar to what is seen in universities. The simulation used in this study depicts a worst-case scenario that still shows it is safe to relax NPIs as long as vaccination coverage is high.

Implications

This study mainly addresses the two most common implemented policies seen in European universities to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which are reducing individuals in enclosed spaces and mandator mask-wearing, in the context of high vaccine coverage and the dominant strain being the highly transmissible Delta variant. It is suggested that the current reported vaccination rates among student of 70% and above is sufficient in preventing large outbreaks of COVID-19 and should allow for universities to return to full on-campus operations, if they implement a single NPI, either reduced numbers in lecture halls to 50% capacity or mandatory mask-wearing.

*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.
Duy Hoa Tran, a retired Vietnamese schoolteacher, arrived in Los Angeles in February 2020 to visit his daughter and 2-month-old grandson. Two weeks later, the door closed behind him. To prevent the spread of covid-19, Vietnam shut its borders. No commercial flights would be allowed into the country for the next 18 months.

Tran's daughter, An Tran, who has a doctorate in business administration and teaches marketing at the University of La Verne in California, did what she thought was necessary to ensure medical coverage for her then-65-year-old father during the pandemic. But the only option for a visitor on a tourist visa was travel insurance. In early March 2020, An Tran found and purchased a policy, for about $350 a month, from a company called Seven Corners.

She might as well not have bothered.

The elder Tran had been staying at An's home in Diamond Bar, California, about a year when he told his daughter he was having trouble seeing out of his right eye. A visit to an ophthalmologist produced a solemn verdict: Tran had severe glaucoma and would quickly go blind unless he got surgery.

Seven Corners gave written preapproval for the procedures recommended by Dr. Brian Chen. To be safe, An Tran called the insurer "many times" to confirm it would cover the expense, but no one she spoke with would give her a definitive answer, she said. Chen, however, assured An that insurance companies typically covered the treatment, which was pretty routine.

On April 19, Tran underwent the first of three eye surgeries to resolve the glaucoma. The surgeries  the last was on July 19  were successful. And then on Aug. 5, Seven Corners sent An Tran a denial of service letter.

The company's policy excluded coverage for any "preexisting condition," by which it meant any condition "whether or not previously manifested, symptomatic, known, diagnosed, treated or disclosed," the letter said.

An Tran and her father were on the hook for nearly $38,000 in medical bills, although Seven Corners had preauthorized the surgery and she had paid around $6,000 for the insurance over the previous year and a half.

As for the bill, "my dad obviously can't pay it," Tran said. His $260 monthly pension from the Vietnamese government isn't enough even for him to live on in Vietnam, she said.

The surgical procedures Duy Hoa Tran received are quite routine in the United States, said Dr. Davinder Grover, an ophthalmologist in the Dallas area and clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Medicare would generally pay about a quarter of the $37,896.83 Tran was billed for the surgeries, Grover said. If Tran's daughter had known beforehand that insurance wouldn't cover the procedures, the physician's practice might have been willing to charge something like $12,000, he said.

The policy An Tran purchased had no deductible and offered coverage of up to $100,000 in medical bills, including covid care. But travel insurance generally covers only emergency or urgent medical expenses, according to the California state insurance commission, which regulates policies in the state.

Megan Moncrief, chief marketing officer for Squaremouth, which aggregates various companies' travel insurance plans  including some from Seven Corners  and offers them through its website, said the policy language was not unusual for travel insurance. She noted the policy's stipulation that it covered some acute conditions only if the patient sought treatment within 24 hours of the initial symptoms.

Moncrief said the fact that Tran did not seek treatment immediately may be the reason his surgeries weren't covered. (Seven Corners refused all comment on the case.) She acknowledged it was hardly surprising he hadn't dashed to the doctor at the first sign of discomfort: "I don't know that I would have done that either, if I just had blurry vision."

As for Seven Corners' refusal to pay despite precertification, this is not uncommon, she said. By precertifying, the insurer verifies that a procedure is a covered benefit but doesn't guarantee the insurer will cover it for that particular patient.

Travel insurance typically offers little protection for any health problem linked to a preexisting condition, regardless of whether that condition has ever been diagnosed, says Susan Yates, general manager in the U.S. for Falck Global Assistance, an international insurer.

"For visitors to the U.S., especially those who are not permanent residents or citizens, it can be difficult to obtain health insurance," she said. The Affordable Care Act doesn't cover tourists, though some resident noncitizens can buy coverage.

"It's usually better for a visitor to buy travel insurance from their country of origin, but in some countries (Vietnam being one), the insurance market is not developed," Yates wrote in an email.

Tran had tried unsuccessfully for months to fly home to his town near Ho Chi Minh City, where his wife lives with another grandchild. On 14 occasions, An bought him tickets on regular commercial flights that were subsequently canceled. He was also unable to get a seat on charter flights arranged by the Vietnamese government; those tickets generally were available only through third parties charging up to $10,000.

The eye surgeon, Chen, offered to discuss the case with KHN, but his medical group's counsel said it had a policy against discussing insurance issues with reporters, even with the patient's consent.

After KHN approached him to discuss the issue, Chen told An Tran that he was waiving his $8,144 fee for the surgeries. The Acuity Eye Group, where he practices, would not immediately confirm Chen's offer, but told An Tran they were seeking approvals to waive his fee and all other charges as well.

On Sept. 15, Duy Hoa Tran finally managed to get on a charter flight back to Vietnam. He's happy to be home, An Tran said.

Under California's filial responsibility laws, she could be liable for his remaining bills.

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
(Newser)  "He just wanted a Slurpee," a TikTok user quipped after a 7-Eleven employee in California shared a video of a bear wandering into the store. In the video, the employee at the store in Olympic Valley, around 7 miles away from Lake Tahoe, can be heard screaming at the brown bear to get out after it opened the door and began sniffing around, triggering the hand sanitizer dispenser with its nose, the Sacramento Bee reports. Employee Rachel Ducusin said the bear entered the store after she tried to stop it ransacking garbage cans outside, per the New York Post. Ducusin said she called 911, and the bear departed after authorities shot it with rubber bullets.

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The store said the bear, which has an ear tag, has been spotted in the 7-Eleven parking lot numerous times but has never made its way into the store before. But Kevin Thomas, a regional manager for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, says it might become a repeat customer. "The behavior is not typical of wild bears," Thomas tells SFGate. "It is a learned behavior from pursuing human food sources rather than foraging in the wild. Lake Tahoe has a robust bear population and they often interact with homes and businesses in search of food," he says. "Once they get a taste of human food it can be difficult to reverse the behavior." (This woman fought off a bear she found in the kitchen of her Lake Tahoe cabin.)
(Newser)  A cross-border investigation has led to the arrest of a teenager in Canada suspected of a cryptocurrency theft of more than $36 million US from a single person. Officials called it the largest cryptocurrency scam involving one person in Canadian history, CTV News reports. Police did not release the age of the suspect but said he's from Hamilton, Ontario, and was arrested midway through last year. The investigation included the FBI and US Secret Service.

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The method used in the US theft was a SIM swap attack, investigators said, in which thieves intercept two-factor authentication requests going through cellular networks. Investigators found that "some of the stolen cryptocurrency was used to purchase an online username that was considered to be rare in the gaming community," police said in a statement. "This transaction led investigators to uncover the account holder of the rare username."

Police suggested vigilance in protecting currency of any type, per CTV News. "If you have 15 accounts all with the same password, you're definitely not secure," said Detective Constable Kenneth Kirkpatrick. "So having different passwords for each different account, that's very important." Multifactor authentication still is central to protecting data and money, he said. Accounts often can add a factor, making for two- or three-step authentication, Kirkpatrick said. "In today's day and age, you need to kind of go one step further," he said. (Read more cryptocurrency stories.)
(Newser)  After spending nearly six decades behind bars, the Louisiana inmate whose Supreme Court case was instrumental in extending the possibility of freedom to hundreds of people sentenced to life in prison without the opportunity for parole when they were juveniles was freed on parole Wednesday. From the AP:

Freed hours after decision. Henry Montgomery, 75, was released from prison just hours after the parole board's decision and went to the offices of the Louisiana Parole Project, a nonprofit that is supporting him after his release, the AP reports. There he was embraced by tearful staff and former juvenile lifers who were freed as a result of the court case that bears Montgomery's name.

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He was sentenced to death in 1963 . Montgomery had been convicted in the 1963 killing of East Baton Rouge sheriffs deputy Charles Hurt, who caught him skipping school. Montgomery was 17 at the time. He was initially sentenced to death, but the states Supreme Court threw out his conviction in 1966, saying he didnt get a fair trial. The case was retried, Montgomery convicted again but this time sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

. Montgomery had been convicted in the 1963 killing of East Baton Rouge sheriffs deputy Charles Hurt, who caught him skipping school. Montgomery was 17 at the time. He was initially sentenced to death, but the states Supreme Court threw out his conviction in 1966, saying he didnt get a fair trial. The case was retried, Montgomery convicted again but this time sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Two pivotal SCOTUS cases. Montgomery's release owes back to two specific Supreme Court cases. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory sentencing of life without parole for juvenile offenders was "cruel and unusual" punishment. But it didn't settle the question of whether that decision applied retroactively or only to cases going forward. In 2016, the Supreme Court settled the matter when it took up Montgomery's case and extended its decision on such sentences to people already in prison.

Application was rejected twice . The decision ushered in a wave of new sentences and the release of inmates from Michigan to Pennsylvania, Arkansas and beyond. But until Wednesday, Montgomery remained in prison. After the Supreme Court decision, he was resentenced in 2017 to life with parole. The state judge who resentenced Montgomery called him a "model prisoner" who appears to be rehabilitated. But then the parole board rejected his application two times, the most recent rejection coming in 2019.

. The decision ushered in a wave of new sentences and the release of inmates from Michigan to Pennsylvania, Arkansas and beyond. But until Wednesday, Montgomery remained in prison. After the Supreme Court decision, he was resentenced in 2017 to life with parole. The state judge who resentenced Montgomery called him a "model prisoner" who appears to be rehabilitated. But then the parole board rejected his application two times, the most recent rejection coming in 2019. Decision was unanimous . A three-member board voted unanimously in favor of parole. Due to the pandemic, the meeting was held on Zoom with Montgomery appearing on camera at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he has spent his entire adult life. "Hes been in prison for 57 years. He has an excellent ... disciplinary record. He is a low risk by our assessment. Hes got good comments from the warden," said board member Tony Marabella.

. A three-member board voted unanimously in favor of parole. Due to the pandemic, the meeting was held on Zoom with Montgomery appearing on camera at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where he has spent his entire adult life. "Hes been in prison for 57 years. He has an excellent ... disciplinary record. He is a low risk by our assessment. Hes got good comments from the warden," said board member Tony Marabella. "It feels so wonderful." Montgomery told the AP that it feels "wonderful" to be free. When asked what he plans to do now that he is out of prison, Montgomery said he wanted to pay his respects to his mother, grandmother, and other family members who died when he was behind bars. "I destroyed my life, they life and the people that I hurt," referring to his own family and that of the slain deputy's.

(Read more life sentence stories.)
(Newser)  In a victory for the right-to-repair movement, as well as owners of Apple products, the company soon will permit DIY repairs. Apple announced Wednesday that it will provide instructions on home repairs, as well as start selling more than 200 parts and the necessary tools, the Verge reports. Until now, consumers have had to take their gadgets to an Apple store or third-party shop. Right-to-repair advocates noted caveats but still welcomed the change. Calling it a "big milestone," one said that "one of the most visible right-to-repair opponents is reversing course in a meaningful way."

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The program, called "Self Service Repair," is scheduled to begin in early 2022 in the US with the iPhone 12 and 13. Owners will be able to replace the phone's display, battery, and camerawith Apple's parts at first and other companies' later. Macs with M1 chips then will be opened up for home repairs. Apple said that most consumers still should turn to a professional for repairs and that the program is intended "for individual technicians with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices." But home repairs won't void the warranty, though TechCrunch says inflicting more damage while making repairs might.

Right-to-repair advocates have long been critical of Apple making repairs impossiblelocking down its software so that parts are encoded to a single device, per the AP. Attempts to just replace a cracked screen with a third-party one have been known to knock phones out of commission. For now, the program solidifies the company's place in repairs, with product owners likely to buy parts from Apple to avoid triggering the company's protections instead of from third-party manufacturers that might offer cheaper alternatives. New pressure from the Federal Trade Commission on tech companies encouraged the change, per the New York Times. (Read more Apple stories.)
(Newser)  Rapper Young Dolph, widely admired in the hip-hop community for his authenticity and fierce independence, was shot and killed Wednesday inside a beloved local cookie shop in his hometown of Memphis, Tenn., authorities said. Police tweeted they had no information to release about a possible suspect in the shooting, which took place at Makedas Cookies near Memphis International Airport, the AP reports. The tragic shooting death of rap artist Young Dolph serves as another reminder of the pain that violent crime brings with it, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said in a statement.

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The Daily Memphian newspaper reported that Young Dolphs cousin, Mareno Myers, said the 36-year-old rapper had been in town since Monday visiting an aunt who has cancer and was also giving out Thanksgiving turkeys. He was inside (Makedas), and somebody just rolled up on him and took his life, Myers said. Just last week, the cookie shop posted a video on Instagram of the rapper promoting the stores cookies, saying he returns to the store whenever he is in Memphis. Like the Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was killed in 2019, Young Dolph pursued an independent approach to the music business. His Paper Route Empire label retained control over his music.

A large crowd gathered near the shop after the shooting. At a news conference Wednesday evening, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn CJ Davis asked the public to remain calm and recommended that residents stay home for the night. She did not say if police think other shootings under investigation Wednesday were related to the rapper's killing. A city council member called for a curfew. Davis did not rule out issuing one at some point. Young Dolph had survived previous shootings. He was shot multiple times in September 2017 after a fight outside a Los Angeles hotel. In February of that year, his SUV was shot at in Charlotte, NC, more than 100 times. (Read more Memphis stories.)
(Newser)  A settlement between the city of Aurora, Colo., and the family of Elijah McClain is one of the biggest of its kind on record, insiders say. Sources tell CBS Denver that the city has agreed to pay $15 million to the family of the 23-year-old Black man, who died in 2019, days after police put him in a chokehold and paramedics injected him with an excessive dose of ketamine. Lawyers for McClain's mother, Sheneen McClain, announced last month that a settlement had been reached in the federal civil-rights lawsuit she filed last year, though financial details weren't released at the time.

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The settlement is less than the $27 million Minneapolis paid to George Floyd's family, but it's the largest in the Aurora Police Department's history by a long way, per CBS Denver. Sources tell the station that $5 million not covered by insurance will probably come from the city's general fund, which is in good shape thanks to sales tax revenue up more than $24 million from last year.

Three police officers and two paramedics have been indicted in the death of McClain, a massage therapist described by friends and relatives as a gentle "angel among humans." Officers confronted McClain on his way home from a convenience store after somebody called police and said he looked "sketchy." An independent report found that the stop and subsequent use of force were unjustified.

The Colorado Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday that the leaders of the city's police and fire departments had agreed to make major changes to numerous policies and practices, including on the use of force and the use of sedatives, the Denver Post reports. "The city shall change, in measurable ways, how Aurora Police engages with all members of the community, including by reducing any racial disparities in how Aurora Police engages, arrests, and uses force in the community," a consent decree released by the AG's office states. (Read more Elijah McClain stories.)
(Newser)  Volcano scientists issued an alert Wednesday, warning that a cloud of ashfrom an eruption more than century agowas headed toward Alaskas Kodiak Island. The ash is from the powerful 1912 eruption of Novarupta, a volcano on the Alaska Peninsula that dropped volcanic ash that is still visible today. Strong northwesterly winds in the vicinity of Katmai National Park and Preserve and Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes on Wednesday kicked up the loose volcano ash. "Generally, this time of year, we get these northwestern winds that can come down from the Katmai region and really scour some of the free ash that thats deposited from the 1912 eruption and then bring it up to height," Hans Schwaiger, a US Geological Survey research geophysicist at the Alaska Volcano Observatory, tells the AP.

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Winds are expected to carry the ash about 100 miles southeast toward Kodiak Island. An aviation alert to aircraft has been issued for the low-lying event. Scientists estimated the cloud would not go above 7,000 feet. Some of these events can cause a light dusting of ash in nearby communities. The three-day Novarupta eruption, one of the largest in history, began June 6, 1912, and sent ash as high as 100,000 feet above the Katmai region, located about 250 miles southwest of Anchorage. The US Geological Survey estimates 3.6 cubic miles of magma erupted, about 30 times what spewed from Mount St. Helens in Washington state 40 years ago. It left ash deposits up to 600 feet deep in what is now known as the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.

(Read more Alaska stories.)
(Newser)  Monkeypox, a rare viral illness that usually occurs in Central and Western Africa, has been identified in a second US resident since July. A Maryland resident who recently returned from Nigeria is in isolation with mild symptoms of the virus first detected in lab monkeys, the Maryland Department of Health said Tuesday, per the New York Times. This comes after a Texas resident who'd returned from Nigeria was hospitalized with an infection in July. It was the first known US case since a 2003 outbreak involving 47 confirmed and probable cases in six states. More than 200 contacts of the Texas resident were asked to monitor their health for three weeks, but no more cases emerged, per CBS News.

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Monkeypox, which is related to smallpox, most often occurs in animals, including rats, mice, and rabbits. However, people can become infected through contact with an infected animal or perhaps even animal products, according to the CDC. All those infected in the 2003 outbreak had contact with pet prairie dogs, who were infected "after being housed near imported small mammals from Ghana," the CDC said. An infection can trigger flu-like symptoms, swelling of lymph nodes, a rash, body sores, and other symptoms. A vaccine is available, but data on possible treatments for existing infections, which typically last two to four weeks, is limited.

"No special precautions are recommended at this time for the general public," Maryland health authorities say, per the Times, noting the virus that can pass from person to person through bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or large respiratory droplets was likely contained during air travel due to the use of face masks. Still, the CDC said it was working to reach anyone who may have had contact with the Maryland resident, who is infected with a strain that has a 1% fatality rate. Nigeria has seen 218 monkeypox cases in humans since 2017, when the virus re-emerged in the country after a 40-year lapse. Eight cases, including the two US cases, have been reported in international travelers from the country in the last four years. (Read more monkeypox stories.)
(Newser)  US State Department official Wendy Sherman conducted a press conference Wednesday about tensions in Asia, but it was most notable for who wasn't there. Her counterparts from Japan and South Korea failed to show up as scheduled because they're feuding over regional islands, reports Reuters. The three diplomats had just concluded talks about a wide range of issuesincluding China's military presence in the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear programand Sherman tried to downplay the subsequent no-shows at the news conference.

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There are some bilateral differences between Japan and the Republic of Korea that are continuing to be resolved, and one of those differences, which is unrelated to todays meeting, has led to the change in format for todays press availability, she told reporters. The two nations disagree about ownership of a group of islands in the sea of Japan, which are currently administered by South Korea. Japan calls them Takeshima, while South Korea calls them Dokdo, and neutral parties might refer to them as the Liancourt Rocks, thanks to an old French shipwreck, per the Guardian.

The dispute intensified recently because the head of South Korea's police visited the disputed islands and angered Japan, the first such visit in more than a decade. We cannot accept this at all and regard it as extremely unfortunate, considering that [the islands] are clearly an inherent part of Japans territory in view of historical facts and international laws, said Japans chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno. One party enjoying the friction appears to be China. Bloomberg notes that Chinese state media played up the abandoned news conference as a sign of waning American influence. (Read more Japan stories.)
(Newser)  The second-highest figure in the US military says a hypersonic missile China tested in July "went around the world," raising the possibility of a surprise nuclear attack on the US. "They launched a long-range missile. It went around the world, dropped off a hypersonic glide vehicle that glided all the way back to China, that impacted a target in China," Gen. John Hyten, the outgoing vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CBS News in an interview shared Tuesday. Asked if the missile hit the target, Hyten replied, "Close enough." The Financial Times reported on the test last month, noting the missile launched from a rocket in low-orbit space "missed its target by about two dozen miles."

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The outlet quoted Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, as telling a conference in August that China had "recently demonstrated very advanced hypersonic glide vehicle capabilities" that would "provide significant challenges to my NORAD capability to provide threat warning and attack assessment." (China issued a denial.) Flying at five times the speed of sound, hypersonic missiles are slower than ballistic missiles but can change trajectory on their way to a target, making them more difficult to track, per Foreign Policy. "Why are they building all of this capability?" Hyten asked, per CBS. "They look like a first-use weapon. That's what those weapons look like to me."

"From a technology perspective, it's pretty impressive," Hyten added, noting the US is still years away from fielding its first hypersonic weapon. Russia, China, and North Korea are all reportedly testing hypersonic missiles, which aren't limited by international treaties, per Foreign Policy. Unlike those countries, the US has no designs to put nuclear warheads on the missiles, the outlet adds. This follows a report from the Pentagon that found China was expanding its nuclear arsenal at a much faster pace than initially suspected, and may be on track to have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030. The US currently has 3,750 nuclear warheads, per CNN. (Read more China stories.)
(Newser)  Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz says Kyle Rittenhouse has helped the country. Now, he's suggesting he'll give the 18-year-oldon trial for murder after fatally shooting two people and injuring another during a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wis., last yeara chance to do more. "He's not guilty. He deserves a not guilty verdict, and I sure hope he gets it because you know what, Kyle Rittenhouse would probably make a pretty good congressional intern," the congressman told Newsmax on Wednesday, per Business Insider. "We may reach out to him and see if he'd be interested in helping the country in additional ways."

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Newsmax host Grant Stinchfield, who said Rittenhouse's case was one of self-defense, then interjected. "I want him here at Newsmax," he said, per the Washington Post. "Maybe he can be a Stinchfield intern, too. He'll have all kinds of job offers." Rittenhouse must first be acquitted of five felony charges, in a case in which the jury has been deliberating since Tuesday. Gaetz, under investigation as part of a sex trafficking investigation, also defended Jacob Chansley, the so-called "QAnon Shaman," who was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He's a "relatively harmless, nonviolent vegan" and "the notion that he's got to be in prison for three and a half years to settle some sort of political score defies justice," he said. (Read more Kyle Rittenhouse stories.)
(Newser)  A newborn baby girl has found a home in a shelter in India after being pulled "from a drain where she was left to die," the BBC reports. Mumbai police said "neighborhood cats created a ruckus" before someone spotted the 5-day-old infant in the drain in a suburban Mumbai neighborhood on Sunday, per CNN. Police said the infant was "soaked in sewage water" and had been in the drain with "a thin flow of water" for at least an hour, per the BBC and Times of India. She was freezing and her arms had turned blue, police constable Sheetal Sonawane told the Times.

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However, the newborn was "completely fine" when admitted to Mumbai's Rajawadi Hospital, medical superintendent Vidya Thakur told CNN. The child was monitored before being discharged Wednesday. She's been named Pari, which translates to fairy, per the Times. She's now being cared for at a shelter, according to police, who are looking for her parents. While officers did not speculate about why the girl was in the drain, the BBC notes the abandonment or killing of newborn girls is "not uncommon" in the country, where there is a general preference for sons. (A baby girl was previously found buried alive.)
(Newser)  If Kamala Harris is unhappy behind the scenes in her role as vice president, she's not voicing the sentiment in public. In a Thursday interview with George Stephanopoulos on ABC News, he addressed the issue:

Stephanopoulos: "So, you don't feel misused or underused?"

"So, you don't feel misused or underused?" Harris: "No, I don't. I'm very, very excited about the work that we have accomplished. But I am also absolutely, absolutely clear-eyed that there is a lot more to do, and we're gonna get it done."

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As Stephanopoulos noted, some of Harris allies', including California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, have publicly expressed frustration that the VP isn't being given enough to do. The interview also comes on the heels of a lengthy CNN story asserting that mutual friction has emerged between the Harris and Biden camps. The president's team is "worn out by what they see as entrenched dysfunction and lack of focus," according to the story, while Harris' aides "fume that she's not being adequately prepared or positioned, and instead is being sidelined." It adds that Harris herself "has told several confidants she feels constrained in what she's able to do politically."

The VP's spokesperson has dismissed the CNN report as "gossip," notes Axios. And Harris spoke only in positive terms about the administration during the ABC interview, particularly passage of the president's infrastructure package. (Biden, for his part, made a point to credit Harris at the public signing.) Hanging over their White House relationship is uncertainty over 2024 and whether Biden will run again. Harris, of course, would be the natural front-runner if he opts out. "So, you're not discussing 2024 yet?" Stephanopoulos asked. "Absolutely not," Harris responded. (Read more Kamala Harris stories.)
(Newser)  While the jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse homicide trial is deliberating, the judge decided to bar MSNBC crews from the Wisconsin courthouse. The order followed reports that a network freelancer may have been following a bus carrying jurors, Fox News reports. Judge Bruce Schroeder said Thursday that the freelancer was about a block behind the bus the night before when he was pulled over after running a red light. He said he was following instructions from a producer in New York, the judge said.

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"I have instructed that no one from MSNBC News will be permitted in this building for the duration of this trial," Schroeder announced. "This is a very serious matter and I dont know what the ultimate truth of it is, but absolutely it would go without much thinking that someone who is following the jury busthat is an extremely serious matter and will be referred to the proper authorities for further action." An NBC spokesperson said the freelancer didn't contact any jury members or photograph them. "We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with the authorities on any investigation," the spokesperson said.

The Kenosha Police Department tweeted Thursday that it's investigating, per CNN, and that there "was no breach of security regarding the jury." Also on Thursday, the local school district announced that five schools have gone to remote learning for the rest of the week because of safety concerns. National Guard troops are on standby in the area, should violence follow the announcement of the verdicts. (Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz says he might hire Rittenhouse as an intern.)
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Snow showers. Low 3F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

Tonight

Snow showers. Low 3F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574.

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Bahrain unveils strategic plan for strengthening logistics sector

TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed has revealed the details of Bahrains Logistics Services Sector Strategy as part of the Kingdoms wide-ranging Economic Recovery Plan. The strategy was designed to capitalize on Bahrains strategic geographic position, while uplifting logistical capacity across several services and expanding their offerings to position Bahrain as one of the top 20 global destinations for logistic services by 2030. Speaking at a press conference to explore the strategy, the minister, alongside the President of Customs, Shaikh Ahmed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, detailed the main targets of the strategy and ongoing efforts to increase the logistics services sectors contribution to GDP in 2030, to 10%. The minister outlined that the continued development of the logistics services sector is closely aligned with Bahrains Economic Vision 2030, noting that it is a priority sector for the Government of Bahrain due to the significant role it plays in attracting investments and creating jobs for citizens. He highlighted the strength of the logistics infrastructure in the Kingdom, reiterating that it serves as a strong foundation to build on in pursuit of this ambitious strategy. The strategic objectives of this strategy anchor on clear indicators to be achieved by 2030, which include reaching an airfreight capacity of 1 million metric tonnes, reaching a cargo capacity of 1 million containers, and increasing the number of airline destinations to over 70, he added.

Discussing the strategys key pillars, the minister stressed that they rest on several strategic initiatives that focus on reviewing laws and regulations, developing infrastructure facilities, enhancing policies and procedures, providing incentives for investors, promoting investment opportunities while strengthening regional and international engagement. Turning to Bahrain International Airports Growth Strategy, the Minister pointed out that the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has adopted a multifaceted plan that hinges on the building of a new 25,000 square metre air cargo area, which allows for receiving larger volumes of cargo up to 1.3 million tonnes per year. This includes upgraded warehouse, aircraft parking and stat-of-the-art infrastructure, he added. This will support the government's Economic Recovery Plan and its ambitious targets through transforming the logistics and airfreight sector into one of the most important active economic sectors in the Kingdom. The minister explained that the new air cargo area is located north of the runway at Bahrain International Airport and will double the airports ability to accommodate larger flows and volumes of shipments. The minister also spoke about the signing of a 10-year contract with FedEx Express to operate a 9,000 square metre area, while underscoring the efforts in place to strengthen the presence of DHL in Bahrain by, expanding and increasing their facilities at the Bahrain International Airport.

The Minister spoke about the role of the Khalifa bin Salman Port in providing logistics services, capitalizing on its strategic location in the Salman Industrial Area, only 13 kilometres from Bahrain International Airport, allowing easy access to Saudi Arabia via the King Fahad Causeway, at a distance of no more than 30 kilometres. He indicated that the port was built on an area of 110 hectares of reclaimed land and includes a berth of 1800 meters in length and includes a container terminal on an area of 900 square metres. Four gantry cranes are used in the port that can handle container ships with a width of 61 metres, in addition to facilities for handling and storing general cargo, ro-ro ships and passenger ships. He added that Khalifa bin Salman Port is also preferred due to its strategic location in the middle of the Arabian Gulf region, the deep-water berths it embraces, and the entry channel to receive the new generation of giant container ships. Another advantage is the availability of direct landlines to Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Gulf states, which placed it as a major regional centre for distributing trade in the region. Kamal Ahmed added that APM Terminals - the leading port operator - operates, manages and develops the port under the supervision and control of Ports and Maritime Affairs, following the concession contract concluded between the Government of Bahrain and the operating company.

Discussing digital transformation in the port, the minister mentioned that the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) had been replaced by a new and advanced one that increases efficiency and enhances accuracy to ensure the safety of maritime navigation. This has been compounded by the launch of the CSMI electronic platform to pre-disclose the arrival of ships and utilize all the resources necessary for docking in the port, in addition to the launch of the electronic platform LIFT, which allows customers to pre-book and pay fees to receive incoming containers. Moving to operational efficiency at the Khalifa bin Salman Port, the minister noted the key attributes that distinguish the services it delivers, highlighting that it only takes less than 30 minutes for trucks to complete their services in the container terminals. The productivity of gantry cranes has increased to 37 containers per hour, while the quay container productivity has increased to 67 containers per hour, he added. The Minister said that a new bundle of services for importers had been launched including a special truck route for refrigerated containers. He recalled the recent launch of the fastest Global Sea-to-Air Logistics Hub in the region, which affirms Bahrains strategic position midway between European and Asian markets as well as its proximity to regional target markets.

Establishing the most efficient multimodal sea-air transhipment hub in the region with a global reach will play a key role in realizing our targets for the logistic services sector, he remarked. He Kamal Ahmed explained that the Global Sea-to-Air logistics hub can lead to 40% cost savings compared to airfreight only and 50% faster lead times than pure sea freight, with only a two-hour turnaround time for all containers. He outlined the global interest in this service and confirmed that several countries have been designated as the authorized trusted shipper, the most recent of which was Brazil. The President of the Customs spoke about the role Customs Affairs play in reinforcing cross-government efforts to develop the logistic services sector across a range of workstreams, in line with the objectives of the customs affairs strategy 2021-2024. He underlined that Bahrain has succeeded in protecting the health and economic security of the community from the repercussions of the global spread of COVID-19, and is now on the path to achieving an economic recovery through a forward-looking plan with clear targets. As part of the Logistics Services Sector Strategy, Shaikh Ahmed shared the details of the truck management system project that solves for preventing traffic congestion, reducing waiting time, and increasing port control. This project has allowed both importers and exporters to facilitate the movement of trucks at the port, by booking an appointment in advance through the "Fasah" platform of the Saudi Tadawul Company, improving operational efficiency and easing customs procedures at the port, he noted.

Shaikh Ahmed added that that work is underway to link the Ofoq system to the Fasah platform, to regulate and control the flow of trucks originating from the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this regard, he said that the Fasah platform is linked to a smart vehicle plate reader system for entry and exit and provides several statistical reports to measure performance indicators. He clarified that activating the truck appointment management system will support the facilitation of trade between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will achieve several objectives pertaining to the ease of movement of goods and swifter service delivery. The President of Customs stressed that the "Ofoq 2 system is among several digital transformation initiatives being adopted by Customs Affairs. These initiatives enable regulatory authorities to prepare statistics and performance indicators, link them with the modern radiology systems and electronic portals at ports, in addition to using the best smart solutions and artificial intelligence applications such as the Block Chain technology, to achieve electronic integration and data exchange facilitating an efficient port community, he said. Speaking about the advancement of Ofoq 2, Shaikh Ahmed added that he has just signed a contract with the Singaporean company CrimsonLogic to that effect and noted that this new partnership will see wider developments to the efficiency of the system and align it further with international best practices, as part of the Logistics Services Sector strategy.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The 'DIVA! Italian Glamour in Fashion Jewellery' exhibition opened yesterday evening at the Bahrain National Museum and will run ongoing until December 11, introducing the public to a unique aesthetic of Italian art and design.

This exhibition is organized by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) in cooperation with the Italian Embassy in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The opening ceremony was attended by BACA Director General of Culture and Arts Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, , Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Marina Sereni, Ambassador of Italy in Bahrain, Paola Amadei, as well as a number of diplomats, artists, media professionals and other officials.

BACA President Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said on this occasion, The Italian culture continuously enriches our cultural movements with all its arts and craftsmanship, and todays exhibition comes as a reflection on the most beautiful Italian jewelry displayed at the Bahrain National Museum, opening new horizons for culture lovers in the Kingdom to pursue.

She extended her thanks to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Embassy in Bahrain for their cooperation to ensure the success of this exhibition.

These efforts mirror the depth of relations between the two friendly countries and the unanimous achievements to enhance cultural work locally and globally, she said.

Sereni, expressed her happiness to be present at the opening of the DIVA! Italian Glamour in Fashion Jewellery exhibition, and thanked the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities for its cooperation in making the exhibition a success.

She noted that Italy and Bahrain have many commonalities, including interest in the arts, crafts and fashion, and expressed her hope that the exhibition will attract the curiosity of visitors to explore the Italian art pieces presented by the exhibition, which enjoy refined craftsmanship and design.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain was termed as a very-important economic and strategic partner by the New Zealand ambassador during a press briefing. We have quite complementary economies, Barney Riley, New Zealand Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen.

New Zealand, the envoy said, is a large producer of food products, and Bahrain is a large producer of energy products, which New Zealand does not produce. So there is a natural match.

Riley told the media that the border of New Zealand had been closed since the pandemic. And so tourism has been down in New Zealand in the last 18 to 20 months.

The ambassador said they are in the process of going through a careful reopening phase, where we are starting to reduce border measures. And its starting to become possible, I think, for people to visit New Zealand. For tourism to restart, I expect that sometime next year, that tourism relationship will be able to begin again.

This part of the world is important for New Zealand in terms of our transport, air connections. Pre-COVID, I think there were something like 25 or 30 direct flights from this region to New Zealand.

The vaccination rate, he said, is getting close to 90% and that we will be able to reopen our borders and resume tourism. On education, the envoy said, New Zealand has a very high-quality education system. We have universities that are well-regarded internationally.

New Zealand is also welcoming foreign students, and were hoping that this will resume again in the coming months. The envoy also pointed out that the total two-way trade has reached $80 to 100 million per annum. Thats held up quite well. As for Covid-19, because both Bahrain and New Zealand specialize in producing important products that people have had needed.

So weve seen demand for New Zealand exports of food products has remained very strong. And clearly, you know, energy products also have remained very important. So, trade has held up over the pandemic. But we have ambitions to grow it further.
Cincinnati, OH (45221)

Today

Isolated thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 56F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 56F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Staples High School Principal Stafford Thomas, Jr. recently announced the recipients for Novembers Students of the Month.

They include ninth graders Max Levy and Maria-Despina Mutescu; 10th graders Chanel Wash and Tyler Rockwell; 11th graders Michael Porzio and Christina Meehan; and 12th graders Nina Driscoll and Alonzo Darby.

The Students of the Month program recognizes students, who help make Staples High School a welcoming place for their peers, and teachers alike. Recipients are nominated by their teachers.

Symphony wind quintet to perform at library

Westport Library is welcoming the Stamford Symphony Wind Quintet to the stage of the Trefz Forum at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21.

Tickets are $25: Purchase tickets at https://e.givesmart.com/events/okw/.

The musical program is titled: A Celebration of All Our Voices. It features Elizabeth Mann on flute, Melanie Field on the oboe, Todd Palmer on the clarinet, Cynde Iverson playing the bassoon and Lawrence DiBello playing the french horn.

The Westport Library is located at 20 Jesup Road.

Free coffee available for Wheels2U Riders

Westport Transit District Director Peter Gold has arranged for the Steam Coffee Tea company to provide free regular coffee from 6 to 10 a.m. Nov. 19 at the Saugatuck (Westport) train station for anyone who takes a ride on the Wheels2U Westport shuttle service bus in town.

Participants will need to show proof of their completed ride at Steam, to receive the free coffee. The Westport train station is located at 1 Railroad Place. Steam is also located at Railroad Place.

Wheels2U Westport is the Westport Transit Districts on-demand, group ride, door-to-train platform shuttle service.

Proof of completed Wheels2U rides can be found under history on the Wheels2U app.

Residents who live in the service area of Wheels2U Westport, can use the app to request a pickup between 5:45 and 9:45 a.m., and between 4 and 8 p.m., to be taken to or from the Saugatuck or Greens Farms train stations, and their front door.

Pickups should be requested about 20 minutes before a resident would normally leave to drive to their train station.

The fare will be $2 when it is paid with the Wheels2U app. A Metro North Uniticket rail/bus pass can also be used.

The Greens Farms train station is located on New Creek Road in the Greens Farms neighborhood of Westport.

Westport Astronomical Society calendars available

The Westport Astronomical Society has rolled out an all new, handmade 2022 calendar.

The calendar has the best astrophotography from society members, along with daily astronomical data from astronomy author and educator Phil Harrington.

Calendars can be picked up in-person at any of the upcoming events at the Westport Astronomical Society.

Calendars are $15 for members of the Westport Astronomical Society, and $20 for non-members.

There is a $5 shipping fee for purchasing one or two calendars and $10 for three to five calendars. Supplies are very limited.

Click on the Order Now, or Pay Now, button in the newsletter email from the Westport Astronomical Society about the calendars, or email Westport Astronomical Society Treasurer Alex Kuhn at alex@was-ct.org to order.

Buyers will receive an invoice from PayPal.

Church in Westport awarded $50,000

The Church Council of Saugatuck Congregational Church has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the 2021 Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program.

Saugatuck Church is one of 190 congregations throughout the U.S. selected to participate in the highly competitive program, which is funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc and administered by the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

The programs grants allow congregations to support their pastors with the gift of extended time away from their ministerial duties and responsibilities.

Rev. Alison Patton, the pastor at Saugatuck Church, will spend her sabbatical volunteering with a marine conservation program in Maldives, and spend time with her family on a regenerative farm in Costa Rica. Patton will begin her three month sabbatical in June.

While Patton is away, congregation members will deepen their connection with the local ecosystem and dig deeper into issues of climate change. Initiatives will include field trips to explore coastal Connecticut, and arts and photography exhibits that highlight the surrounding coastal habitat.

Rev. Jim Antal, a United Church of Christ leader, activist and public theologian, will serve as a theologian in residence in June. Antal also serves as United Church of Christs national spokesperson for climate change and has written Climate Church/Climate World.

All programs that the Saugatuck Community Church sponsors during the time will be open to the public.

Earth Animal co-founder selected to Power 50 list

Earth Animal pet supply store co-founder Dr. Bob Goldstein, has been selected to Pet Age magazines, Pet Industrys 2021 Power 50 list.

Goldstein founded Earth Animal with his wife, and partner, Susan Goldstein, with a holistic mission of caring for dogs and cats.

The Pet Industry 2021 Power 50 list recognizes people who are important to the pet care industry through their contributions to the community, care for the wellbeing of companion animals, and their leadership to pursue uncharted territory in the industry.

Earth Animals corporate offices are in Southport and its flagship store is in Westport. It develops, and manufactures premium, and natural organic herbal remedies, ingredients, food, and treats formulated by Goldstein.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Bidens choice to become one of the top banking regulators endured a contentious nomination hearing Thursday, with Republican senators warning she would nationalize the U.S. banking system and Democrats saying she's eminently qualified and would be tough overseer of Wall Street.

Saule Omarova, 55, was nominated in September to be the nations next head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. If confirmed, she would be the first woman and person of color to run the 158-year-old agency.

Omarova is a long-time academic and well-regarded expert on financial regulation, but many Republicans and the banking industry have taken issue with several papers published during her career where she's proposed wholesale changes to the banking system.

On Thursday, Omarova fielded questions about her academic writings and whether she would have the power to implement those proposals. She was also asked by Republicans whether it was appropriate for banks to not lend to certain industries if they chose, such as the oil and gas industry and gun manufacturers. Democrats focused on blunting the GOP attacks.

Taken in totality, her ideas do amount to a socialist manifesto for American financial services, said Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

Another Republican senator, referring to Omarova's childhood in the former Soviet Union, said he did not know whether to call her professor or comrade.

The banking lobby is overwhelmingly against the nomination, with opposition coming from both the big Wall Street institutions and smaller community banks. In an interview with The Associated Press this week, Omarova said their opposition is largely due to fears that she would be a tough regulator for Wall Street and the banks.

During the hearing, Omarova said she would be advocate for smaller banks and keep a close eye on the large banks who tend to outcompete smaller institutions.

I wish the community bankers and their trade associations actually read more carefully what I have written, Omarova said.

Republicans on the committee focused most of their questioning or statements on Omarova's past writings and public comments.

Last year, she published a paper arguing for an overhaul of the nations banking system that would expand the Federal Reserves role by allowing the central bank to hold consumer deposits. Proponents of such a move say the Fed could extend credit more quickly when needed to individual accounts during times of economic downturns. Following the Great Recession, banks hoarded deposits and did little lending to rebuild their balance sheets.

"Youve clearly scared the heck out of them, said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, referring to the banking industry's opposition to her based on her writings.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, a long-time critic of the big banks, called the criticism of Omarova a vicious smear campaign, coordinated by Republicans who are doing the (industry's) bidding.

The nomination could hinge on moderate Democratic senators who sit on the Banking Committee: Jon Tester of Montana and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Republicans are united in their opposition and Toomey and others tried to paint Omarova as a radical choice in order to dissuade Tester and Sinema from giving their support.

Tester said during his questioning he still had significant concerns about Omarova's nomination even after meeting with her privately. Tester focused most of his questions on Omarova's previous opposition to a bipartisan law that eased some of the restrictions placed on banks after the 2008 financial crisis. He was a co-sponsor of that law.

Omarova said her criticism of that law was narrow. She said she approved of how it lessened the regulatory paperwork required of small community banks.

Omarova was born in Kazakhstan when it was part of the Soviet Union and immigrated to the U.S. in 1991. She has worked primarily as a lawyer and, for the last several years, at Cornell University as a professor of law. Over the years she has testified numerous times as an expert witness on financial regulation. She worked briefly in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Her origins in the former Soviet Union have become red meat for some members of Congress and their allies in the conservative press. Toomey requested a copy of a graduation paper she wrote about Karl Marx in the original Russian when she was an undergraduate at Moscow State University. Omarova said she no longer had a copy of that paper.

While some senators at the hearing tried to downplay this narrative, the issue was raised by Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana. The senator inquired as to whether Omarova still had a membership with youth Soviet communist organizations.

I dont know whether to call you professor or comrade, Kennedy said, a comment that elicited some gasps in the hearing room and, later, a rebuke from the chairman of the committee, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

In her introductory testimony, Omarova emphasized a point she's made previously, that members of her family in Kazakhstan were persecuted and killed under Stalin's regime for not joining the Communist Party. She became an American citizen in 2005.

I am not a communist, Omarova said strongly. I could not choose where I was born.

Omarova's nomination will likely go to a vote in front of the Banking Committee in December.

___

This story corrects and earlier version that erroneously attributed comments by Sen. Jon Tester to Sen. Pat Toomey.
DENVER (AP)  Authorities on Wednesday were investigating the death of a pilot who crashed while fighting a wildfire near Rocky Mountain National Park at night, the second person to die amid wind-driven, late season wildfires in the Rockies this week.

The pilot of the single-engine air tanker was found dead Tuesday night south of Estes Park about three hours after authorities received reports of a crash, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office said. The pilot was the only person on board, it said.

KUSA-TV reported that it spoke to the pilot who died before he took off, saying that he was excited for the night time flight, which he said was the culmination of about five years of hard work.

The pilot's name has not been released by the coroner's office but the company he worked for and the state's firefighting agency identified him as Marc Thor Olson. The company, CO Fire Aviation, said Olson was an Army and Air Force veteran with 42 years of flight experience.

The sheriff's office hired the plane to fight the fire because of the fire's potential to spread quickly in dry, windy conditions and because the terrain made it too dangerous to have firefighters fight it on the ground, it said in a statement. The plane was able to drop a load of water on the fire before the pilot reported turbulent conditions on its second flight over the fire about an hour later, according to the sheriffs office. Shortly after, crews heard the plane crash, it said.

Recent advances in technology to achieve night air operations already in use in other states has proven to be an effective tactic to help prevent medium-sized fires from exploding and making large runs like we saw last year, the office said, noting its experience with 2020's massive Cameron Peak Fire, which burned over 313 square miles (811 square kilometers).

Colorado officials have been studying the use of the use of aircraft to fight wildfires at night  when fires are typically less active due to lower temperatures, reduced winds and increased humidity  but has been focused on helicopters. The state has contracts to use CO Fire Aviation planes to fight fires but they do not provide for flying planes at night, said Melissa Lineberger, the chief of staff for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control.

A National Transportation Safety Board investigator arrived Wednesday and planned to work with firefighters and law enforcement to get to the crash site and document it before the fire could potentially burn the area, agency spokesperson Peter Knudson said. What kind of equipment the Air Tractor AT-802A had to fight fires at night would be something investigators would look at, he said.

Earlier this week, another wind-driven wildfire led to the death a person near Wyoming's border with Montana.

Firefighters fully contained that fire that burned about half a square mile in the area of Clark, an unincorporated community of about 300 people just south of the Montana line. The fire happened when a branch blew into a power line and caught fire, Park County Fire Warden Jerry Parker said.

In south-central Montana, a fire reported late Monday night led the Stillwater County Sheriffs Office to order evacuations southwest of the town of Absarokee.

The Colorado fire was also started by high winds. Investigators found wind blew a tree onto a nearby powerline causing it to arc and start the fire, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office said.

The fire started amid warmer-than-normal temperatures and drought conditions in much of Colorado though the weather was cooler Wednesday after some light snow fell in parts of the mountains. No measurable snow fell in Denver, which is on track to set a record for its latest snowfall, according to the National Weather Service.

The fire did not grow much overnight and was estimated to have burned about 145 acres (57 hectares) as of Wednesday, with the fire considered contained around 40% of its perimeter, the U.S. Forest Service said. Firefighters hoped to take advantage of cooler temperatures and lighter winds to stop its growth, it said.

____

Associated Press writer Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyo. contributed to this report.
Although the slaughter and enslavement of Native Americans in the 1637 Mystic Massacre predates international standards of behavior during armed conflicts, Maj. John Mason is a war criminal and his statue above the State Capitols north entrance is a lingering symbol that should be removed, Connecticut tribal leaders say.

But state historians warn against generalities and the possible reaction of hiding Connecticuts past, when the current moment in time could be ripe to commission statues of historic Native American leaders to join the larger-than-life marble likenesses of English settlers on the Capitols exterior.

In written and video testimony sent to the State Capitol Preservation & Restoration Commission in advance of Thursdays forum on the future of the statue, Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Chief Many Hearts Lynn Malerba from the Mohegan Tribe, say the intimidating symbol of white supremacy should be relocated to a museum.

There is no doubt Mason engaged in what we now call genocide, Butler says in a video sent to the commission. The question for us here in the year 2021, is whether a man who burned alive over 500 men, women and children; systematically hunted and slaughtered any remaining members of the tribe; and intended to eradicate an entire cultural identity, language and heritage deserves a place of distinction on the face of Connecticuts State Capitol. I submit to you that he does not.

Mason was the leader of the state militia during the Pequot War and joined the Mohegan Tribe in defeating the Eastern Pequots at the battle of Mystic. Uncas, the Mohegans leader, or sachem, was appalled at the carnage, particularly the slaughter of women and children, according to the tribes oral history.

If the State Capitol is the house of our Connecticut people, then all people should feel comfortable visiting the Capitol, Malerba wrote, stressing that while the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes allied with the English settlers on the attack at Mystic village, the brutality was shocking.

It was not our form of conflict, Malerba wrote. Our form of conflict was with other tribal warriors: to embarrass other tribal leaders, address territorial disputes, extend authority and increase power. Casualties were to be kept to a minimum given our small populations. Elders, women and children were not to be attacked. Our oral traditions tell us that Uncas was distraught during the attack and said, It is too much, it is too much. However, in the eyes of the colonists, this battle was so successful as the United States settled westward lands were taken by force and similar brutality, including Mohegan lands.

The commission, whose members include former and current state lawmakers, nonpartisan legislative staff and historians, will hold the forum of invited guests to air the issues of possible removal. The project of taking down and relocating the statue is included in the current state budget, although bids for the project have exceeded the amount projected.

But Walter Woodward, the retiring state historian, and Jason Warren, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who is a military historian, argue the Mason statue should remain, stressing that the details around the Mystic battle are complicated.

Far from hating all Indians or planning their extirpation, Mason enlisted the support of sachem or chief Uncas and his Mohegan native group that were rivals of the Pequots, Warren wrote to the commission. After launching his assault on Mystic Fort, Masons heavily outnumbered army came under threat of annihilation. In an act of military necessity, based at least on the limited sources still available for interpretation, Mason ordered the burning of the fort that led to the deaths of many Pequot non-combatants that permanently altered the demographics of the native group.

Warren believes Mason did not intend to kill noncombatants, but the decision to burn the fort was made under duress, in battle.

The destruction of the fort resulted in the downfall of Pequot power, a situation that preserved Connecticut Colony, and a consequence that Connecticut citizens continue to benefit from indirectly, Warren wrote to the commission.

The statue of Mason was hoisted into a third-floor niche overlooking the Capitol grounds and adjacent Bushnell Park in 1910  32 years after the building was completed. There are 26 Gothic niches, several of which are empty. The statues are of early white male leaders, except for one on the south facade depicting Gov. Ella T. Grasso, the nations first female governor, who died in 1981.

The north and east facades include statues of men who participated in the founding of the state and the American Revolution. The south facade includes Civil War leaders.

Born in England, Mason came to the state in 1632, and by 1635, led Connecticuts combat against pirates, according to a Capitol guide book that calls him a valiant commander.

Recently, Masons state-owned statue in Windsor, which he founded and where he lived, was the target of criticism. It was moved from Groton in 1996 amid a similar controversy.

Other sculptures on the Capitols exterior depict David Humphreys, of Derby, who recruited the first Black regiment in the country, in 1781. He later created the first planned factory village in the country, Humphreysville, located along the Naugatuck River where Seymour is today.

Another sculpture, honoring David Wooster, was raised into its niche in 1917. During the American Revolution, he was wounded by British troops during the April 1777 battle of Danbury and died about a week later.

The statue of Alfred Howe Terry highlights a story on his rise to major general during the Civil War. During the nations westward expansion after the war, he helped confine western tribal nations onto reservations ordered a brash cavalry commander named George Custer to avoid engaging with Native Americans. After Custers death at the famous Battle of the Little Bighorn, Terry accepted Chief Sitting Bulls surrender.

kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT
DETROIT (AP)  Deere & Co. workers approved a new contract Wednesday that will deliver 10% raises immediately and end a monthlong strike for more than 10,000 employees.

The United Auto Workers union said 61% of its members approved the deal with the tractor maker on their third vote, even though this offer was strikingly similar to one that 55% of workers rejected two weeks ago.

Deere workers  and other unions  have been emboldened to ask for more this year because of the ongoing worker shortages and because workers didnt always feel appreciated while working long hours during the pandemic.

This latest proposal made only modest changes to the details of Deeres internal incentive pay plan. The new contract covers 12 plants in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas where the Moline, Illinois-based companys iconic John Deere green agricultural and construction equipment is made.

The company said work would resume on Wednesday night.

After the last vote on Nov. 2, Deere officials told the union not to expect the company to offer any more money, and Deere largely stuck to that promise in its latest offer, which it called its final one.

The workers had been on strike since Oct. 14. And in recent weeks, they have had to endure increasingly colder temperatures along the picket lines while trying to get by on the unions $275 in weekly strike pay or by finding another job.

UAW John Deere members did not just unite themselves, they seemed to unite the nation in a struggle for fairness in the workplace, UAW President Ray Curry said in a statement Wednesday night.

Deere CEO John C. May said he is pleased that workers will be back on the job "building and supporting the industry-leading products which make our customers more profitable and sustainable.

In addition to the initial raises, this weeks offer kept the 5% raises that were in the third and fifth years of the six-year deal and 3% lump sum payments in the second, fourth and sixth years of the deal. The offer would also provide an $8,500 ratification bonus, preserve a pension option for new employees, make workers eligible for health insurance sooner and maintain their no-premium health insurance coverage.

What Deere did in this latest offer was tweak the complicated formula it uses to determine which workers receive bonuses based on whether their team hits certain productivity goals. The changes in the formula could make it easier for workers to qualify for the incentive pay, but there are some Deere workers who arent eligible for the bonuses based on the job they do in the companys factories and warehouses.

The workers had been holding out for more from Deere, which has predicted it will report record annual profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion when it releases its earnings report later this month. More than 90% of the workers rejected Deeres initial offer, but the second vote was much closer after the company essentially doubled the raises it was offering.

Another group of UAW-represented workers went on strike earlier this year at a Volvo Trucks plant in Virginia and secured better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers. Currently, about 1,400 Kelloggs workers have been on strike since early last month at the companys four U.S. cereal plants.

____

Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska.
Apple is letting some iPhone users fix their own phones, a sharp turnaround for a company that has long prohibited anyone but company-approved technicians from fiddling with its proprietary parts and software.

The company said Wednesday that it will enable users of two of the newest iPhone models and eventually some Mac computers to get access to genuine Apple parts and tools for consumer repairs.

The shift reflects a strengthening right to repair movement embraced by President Joe Biden and affecting everything from smartphones to cars and tractors. It's a reaction to the infusion of software into more everyday products and the practices of manufacturers who have increasingly made those products difficult and expensive to repair.

Apple is launching an online store for self-service repairs early next year that it says will have more than 200 individual parts and tools for making the most common repairs on the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13. It will initially be focused on do-it-yourself fixes to screens, batteries and displays, which Apple previously resisted and cited concerns about security and safety, such as faulty battery replacements that can damage a device.

Apple's action is welcome news for consumers and a sign that similar standards should apply to other electronics, said Maureen Mahoney, a senior policy analyst at Consumer Reports.

If you buy a product, you should be able to fix it, she said. Otherwise consumers have to either rely on the manufacturers' authorized repairer or they have to buy a new one.

The Federal Trade Commission, the Biden administration and state legislatures have been eyeing regulatory changes that would make it easier for Americans to repair their broken devices.

Regulators have expressed concerns about restrictions that steer consumers into manufacturers and sellers repair networks, adding costs to consumers and shutting out independent repair shops from business opportunities. They've also said those repair restrictions often fall heavily on minority and low-income consumers. An FTC report to Congress in May noted that many Black-owned small businesses make equipment repairs, and repair shops often are owned by entrepreneurs from poor communities.

Apple has long been a target for right-to-repair advocates because of its practice of locking down its software so that parts are encoded to a specific device. Some attempted repairs  such as replacing a broken original screen with one made by a third party  have left phones unusable.

There are limits to the changes that Apple is making but it's still "a big milestone, said Nathan Proctor, senior director for the Right to Repair campaign at U.S. PIRG, a consumer advocacy group.

One of the most visible right-to-repair opponents is reversing course in a meaningful way, he said.

Proctor said that's thanks to growing pressure, including from some of Apple's own investors. A shareholder proposal from an environmentally minded investment group calls for the company to cease its anti-repair practices, arguing that they are contributing to electronic waste.
"Mr. Woodward is perhaps the most influential journalist of our lifetime and has witnessed many chapters in American and world history," said Vito Paladino, President at Audi Canada. "We are looking forward to sharing our rich discussion with Mr. Woodward with you and closing out an incredible year of growth for the Audi Innovation Series."

Woodward, who made his name in journalism as the young reporter who broke the Watergate scandal at the Washington Post, has since authored or co-authored 20 non-fiction books in the past 35 years and authored more number one national non-fiction bestsellers than any contemporary author. In his talk with Audi Canada, Woodward imparts advice to anyone seeking to make an impact in the world. "Don't be timid, there's far too much timidness in too many institutions," Woodward shared with Brown. "How you approach things is really important  the key is patience," Woodward added.

Find the full conversation on Audi Canada's social channels.

About the Audi Innovation Series

The Audi Innovation Series is a unique Canadian speaker series created to spark dialogue by featuring world-renowned individuals who have changed the trajectory of their respective industries. The series highlights Audi Canada's commitment to celebrating progressive thought leadership and promoting innovation through dialogue. The series has formerly hosted fashion icon, Tommy Hilfiger; Netflix co-founder, Marc Randolph; Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak; Toronto Raptors Vice-Chairman and President Masai Ujiri; Academy Award-winning actor and musician, Jared Leto; multiple award-winning actress and musician, Jennifer Hudson; and Academy Award-winning director, Spike Lee.

Follow @AudiCanada on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Audi Canada

For further information: or to set up an interview with Vito Paladino (President at Audi Canada), please contact: Sarah Ellam, Public Relations Manager, Your Brand Integrated Marketing Communications Inc., E: [email protected], M: 1 (647) 296-1879; Elaine Quan, Senior Public Relations Consultant, Your Brand Integrated Marketing Communications Inc., E: [email protected], M: 1 (437) 235-7830
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF) together with Children's Healthcare Canada (CHC) are thrilled to announce a $26 million investment from Thistledown Foundation to support Canada's 13 acute care children's hospitals across the country. This historic gift recognizes the immense impact of the pandemic on Canadian children, youth, and their families.

A donation of $2 million to each acute care children's hospital coast-to-coast is intended to meet urgent local needs and to ensure children and their families have access to the best available care, regardless of where they call home. "Through this gift, our hope is that children across Canada will have the best possible care to enable them to feel better soon and get back to the important job of being kids," said Fiona McKean, co-founder and Chair of Thistledown Foundation.

$26 million investment from Thistledown Foundation to support Canada's 13 acute care children's hospitals. Tweet this

For millions of children and youth who have experienced extended school closures, delays in access to essential social, community and healthcare services, and physical separation from friends and family, the pandemic has had both direct and indirect impacts on their health and well-being. Deferred or delayed access to child development services, mental healthcare, surgical and other diagnostic services can have devastating and long-term impacts on children's health outcomes. Of particular concern, children's hospitals across the country are reporting significant increases in visits and admissions related to anxiety, depression and eating disorders among children and youth. Canada's children's hospitals have responded swiftly, adapting and innovating to support timely delivery of urgent and emergency physical and mental healthcare services for Canada's eight million kids.

This gift coincides with National Child Day which is celebrated on November 20. It commemorates a commitment Canada made to uphold the rights of all children. This includes the opportunity for children to be protected from harm, be provided with their basic needs including access to healthcare, be advocated for and have a voice to ensure every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Thistledown Foundation is a private charitable foundation established by Fiona McKean and Tobias Lutke, CEO of Shopify.

Quotes:

"The incredible generosity and power of this donation through the national network of children's hospitals will create a positive impact and be felt in the smallest and largest communities throughout Canada. It's heartwarming to have these donors step up to put children's needs first at a time when they need it the most," said Jennifer Gillivan, President and CEO, IWK Foundation and Chair, CCHF Board of Directors.

"IWK Health is incredibly grateful to the Thistledown Foundation for this tremendous gift and for prioritizing the health of children. There's no question the pandemic has been especially tough for patients and families. These funds will make such a positive impact  providing new opportunities to enhance care and support the children, youth and families who need our services more than ever," said Dr. Krista Jangaard, IWK Health Centre President and CEO.

"The health and wellbeing of children and youth have always been at the heart of everything we do. Now, our patients are counting on us more than ever before. We must prioritize innovations in pediatric care as we start envisioning how our post-pandemic healthcare institutions and systems will evolve. We are so grateful to Thistledown Foundation for recognizing this through such a generous donation that will have an impact right across Canada," said Dr. Ronald Cohn, President and CEO, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

"Tobi and Fiona are incredible change-makers with huge hearts. Their unprecedented and historic gift will help children, youth and their families all across Canada, including eastern Ontario, northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut  all of which we serve here at CHEO. Kids are truly the unsung heroes of this pandemic, and this gift recognizes and highlights the urgent need to make them a priority," said Alex Munter, President and CEO, CHEO.

"National Child's Day is a day to reflect on what we need to do differently as a country, to give Canada's eight million children and youth their best chance for a healthy future. Tobi and Fiona's gift comes at a critical time for children's hospitals, experiencing an increased demand for specialized services. This gift will help our children's hospitals address unprecedented pressures, locally," said Emily Gruenwoldt, CEO, Children's Healthcare Canada.

About Thistledown Foundation

The Thistledown Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in late 2019 by Tobias Lutke and Fiona McKean. Its core mission is to advance technological solutions for decarbonization. In the spring of 2020, in light of the global pandemic, Thistledown expanded its focus to contribute to Canada's response to COVID-19 by providing funding to accelerate academic research and to improve the domestic supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE). Visit Thistledown.ca

About Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations

Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations (CCHF), established in 2017, is a not-for-profit organization that raises funds for a national network of hospital foundations as the largest single, non-government funder of child health in Canada. CCHF continues to receive generous support through donors within Children's Miracle Network as well as contributions from additional companies and donors. Together, we represent 13 of Canada's children's hospitals where the greatest challenges are tackled; our hospitals see the most critical cases. Your contribution helps your local children's hospital ensure that all sick and injured children have access to the very best care from coast to coast. Visit childrenshospitals.ca

About Children's Healthcare Canada

Children's Healthcare Canada is a national association representing health service delivery organizations serving children and youth. Our members include all sixteen Canadian Children's Hospitals, Regional Health Authorities, Community Hospitals, Rehabilitation and Children's Treatment Centres, and Home Care Agencies. Through purposeful partnerships, we accelerate excellence and innovation in health systems caring for children and youth. Visit childrenshealthcarecanada.ca

SOURCE Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations

For further information: National Media Contact: Brady Carballo-Hambleton, VP, Marketing, Engagement & Analytics, Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations, 647.336.2024, [email protected]; Sandra Chiovitti, Media Relations, SickKids Foundation, 416.553.4198, [email protected]

Related Links

http://childrenshospitals.ca/


TORONTO, Nov. 17, 2021 /CNW/ - Trez Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (the "Company") today released a third quarter financial and business update.

Financial & Business Update

On June 16, 2016 the shareholders of the Company approved the orderly wind-up of the Company ("Orderly Wind-Up"). The Company is currently in the final wind-down period. All litigations have been settled and its remaining activity involves solely the maintenance of the corporation pending release and discharge of its liabilities.

As previously announced effective at the close of markets on July 31, 2019 the Company delisted and no longer trades on the TSX. Upon delisting the Company filed an application for an order that it cease to be a reporting issuer. The order, was granted on October 4, 2019 and permits the Company to reduce financial and regulatory reporting requirements. The Company is updating investors by posting a quarterly press release and annual audited financial statements onto https://www.trezcapitalmic.com.

In the first quarter of 2020 the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Currently the situation is dynamic and the ultimate duration and magnitude of the impact on the economy and our business are not fully known at this time. However, given that we have divested from all our mortgage investments and liquidated assets remaining the effect on the Company is expected to be minimal.

Below is a summary of the return of capital per book value since inception of the Orderly Wind Up plan:

Summary of Return of Capital since Inception of the Orderly Wind Up Plan











Book Value per Share Opening Book Value at inception of Orderly Wind Up June 30, 2016

$ 8.85











Total Regular and Special Distributions to Investors since inception of Plan (9.02)











Increase/decrease from Operations in net assets (including SIB*)

0.30











Ending Book Value at September 30, 2021



$ 0.13 * Substantial Issuer Bid







In the quarter, the Manager settled a lawsuit and received an additional recovery totaling $49 thousand from a mortgage that was previously in default.

The Company has approximately $1.5 million in cash, an amount unchanged from last reported as at December 31, 2020, as a reserve against ongoing expenses and contingent liabilities. Upon release and satisfaction of all liabilities, the Company intends to make a final distribution of all remaining funds to the holders of its Class A shares (the "Final Distribution"). If and to the extent there are proceeds to do so, one or more interim distributions may be made to the holders of Class A shares prior to the Final Distribution. However, there can be no assurance that any such interim distributions will occur. The formal dissolution of the Company will follow the Final Distribution. The expected time frame to obtain the release and discharge of all liabilities, distribute its remaining assets to shareholders and to dissolve is expected to be approximately nine to fifteen months.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release about the Company and its business, operations, investments and strategies, and financial performance and condition may constitute forward-looking information, future oriented financial information, or financial outlooks (collectively, "forward looking statements"). The forward-looking statements are stated as of the date of this news release and are based on estimates and assumptions made by Trez Capital Fund Management LP ("Trez") in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that Trez believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results, performance and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Past performance is not an indication of future returns, and there can be no guarantee that targeted returns or yields can be achieved. Trez refers you to the Company's public disclosure for information regarding these forward-looking statements, including the assumptions made in preparing forward-looking statements and management's expectations, and the risk factors that could cause the Company's actual results, yield, levels of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such public disclosure is available at the request of Trez. This news release does not represent an offer or solicitation to sell securities of the Company.

About the Company

Trez Capital Fund Management Limited Partnership is the manager of and portfolio advisor to the Company. On June 16, 2016 the Shareholders of the Company approved the orderly wind-up of the Company. Under the orderly wind-up plan the Company will distribute the net proceeds through special distributions, the repurchase of shares pursuant to the normal course issuer bid, or otherwise.

SOURCE Trez Capital

For further information: Clint Matthews: Chief Financial Officer, Trez Capital, Tel: 604-689-0821

Related Links

http://www.trezcapital.com/


The Bitcoin controversy has devolved into a political dispute, with the Congress requesting an independent probe demanding explanations concerning the alleged loss of 31 Bitcoins worth Rs 9 crore.

In Karnataka, a year-old case involving a well-known high-profile hacker and his foray into Bitcoin and criminality has resurfaced. Srikrishna Ramesh, the main suspect in the case, is accused of buying narcotics using bitcoins on the dark web and selling them to high-profile customers. Sriki is also suspected of stealing more than Rs 11.5 crore from the Karnataka governments e-procurement platform in 2019.

Srikrishna and his companions were detained in a drugs investigation by Bengalurus Central Crime Branch police in November 2020. Further research found that Srikrishna was also a hacker who committed cybercrimes such as ransomware attacks, hacking into bitcoin exchanges, looting cryptocurrencies, money laundering, and cyber fraud.

The Bitcoin controversy has devolved into a political dispute, with the Congress requesting an independent probe demanding explanations concerning the alleged loss of 31 Bitcoins worth Rs 9 crore recovered by Bengaluru police in January from a hacker by a Special Investigation Team overseen by the Supreme Court.

On Twitter, Congress national secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala chastised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence, claiming that the Karnataka BJP government was responsible for Indias largest ever Bitcoin Scam Coverup. The Congress has accused CM Bommai of turning a blind eye to the matter while he was the Karnataka Home Minister at the time.

Responding to this, Chief Minister Bommai stated that his government will take action against all individuals implicated in the fraud. He further stated that the ED is already conducting the probe and the CBI has taken it to Interpol as well. Bommai assured that those engaged are proved to have committed any fraud against the country, state, or any individual, the government will act harshly against them.
The new construction on Bhutanese soil is particularly worrying for India since India has historically advised Bhutan on its External Relations policy and continues to train its armed forces.

According to recent satellite images tweeted out by a leading satellite imagery expert on Chinese military development, China has established four new villages in Bhutans territory in the previous year. The word circulated quickly on social media after Shen Shiwi, a Chinese journalist, shared satellite photos of a settlement near Doklam.

Images show multiple settlements being built across an area of 100 square kilometers on the disputed terrain near the Doklam plateau, where India and China clashed in 2017 and China evaded Indian defences to begin road development in the area. The area stands at a tri-junction between China, India, and Bhutan.

As the revelations unfolded, the Congress took a dig at the Centre again on Thursday, this time over the border dispute with China, and slammed the Modi government for compromising national security. Congress spokesperson Gaurav Vallabh addressed a press conference and said that Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the country have undermined the astounding velour and insurmountable grit of the countrys Armed Forces, who faced Chinese incursions and aggressions with indomitable courage and sacrifice. He urged the Prime Minister not to hide behind smokescreen and answer to the people.

Disputed land between #Bhutan & #China near Doklam shows construction activity between 2020-21, multiple new villages spread through an area roughly 100 km now dot the landscape, is this part of a new agreement or enforcement of #China's territorial claims ? pic.twitter.com/9m1n5zCAt4  d-atis (@detresfa_) November 17, 2021

He further said that China is getting active and developing infrastructure, roads, and highways in the Chumbi valley, as stated by the GOC in Chief of the Eastern Army Command. The Chumbi valley has a direct impact on and threatens the Siliguri corridor which connects the seven northeastern states to the rest of India and is of strategic importance.

Bhutan, on the other hand, has denied accusations that Chinese settlements have been created in Bhutanese territory in Doklam. There is no Chinese village within Bhutan, Maj Gen Vetsop Namgyel, Bhutans envoy to India, told the media.
Following Sidhu's exclusion from the delegation, Sidhu's media advisor Surendra Dalal on Thursday informed that the Punjab Congress chief will now visit Kartarpur Sahib on November 20.

A fresh tussle erupted in Punjab Congress following the exclusion of State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu from Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led delegation comprising of state cabinet ministers that is scheduled to visit the Kartarpur Sahib on Thursday. Some Congress MLAs and officials are also likely to be a part of the jatha (group) led by Channi.

Following Sidhus exclusion from the delegation, Sidhus media advisor Surendra Dalal on Thursday informed that the Punjab Congress chief will now visit Kartarpur Sahib on November 20. Speaking to ANI, Sidhus media advisor Surendra Dalal said, We had submitted all the papers to the Punjab Government yesterday. He was to visit Kartarpur Sahib along with the cabinet today. Now we do not know why Navjot Singh Sidhu has been told by the Punjab government that he can go on November 20 while the whole cabinet is going today.

Guru Nanak Jayanti is on November 19, but what was the reason that Navjot Singh Sidhu was made to leave behind. Only the Punjab government has the answer because there is no issue from the Union Home Ministrys side. So, whatever is the mistake, it seems to be from the Punjab governments side, he added.

In a major decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government decided to re-open the Kartarpur corridor from November 17. It was shut in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long corridor joins the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019.

Pakistan had issued around 3000 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev from November 17-26. The move came keeping in view the significance of the upcoming occasion of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, and the sentiments associated with the religious festival.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima. This year the day falls on November 19.
The entire Punjab Cabinet will pay obeisance at Sri Kartarpur Sahib on November 18 as a part of the first delegation after reopening of Kartarpur corridor, said a press release from Chief Minister Office on Tuesday.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi lauded the decision of the Centre to re-open the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor from Wednesday. Its a happy moment that Kartarpur Corridor is reopening and prayers of Sikh community being answered. I had met PM, HM as CM and had requested them. Now theyve announced, I thank them. Punjab cabinet will be part of the first jatha for paying obeisance on November 18, Channi said.

I warmly welcome the decision to reopen the Sri Kartapur Sahib Corridor on the auspicious occasion of 552nd Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This laudatory step has fulfilled the aspirations of millions of devotees whove been deprived of Darshan Didare due to the COVID pandemic, said Channi in a tweet.

Channi had also announced that the entire Punjab Cabinet will pay obeisance at Sri Kartarpur Sahib on November 18 as a part of the first delegation after reopening of Kartarpur corridor, said a press release from Chief Minister Office on Tuesday.

The nation is all set to celebrate the Prakash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev on November 19. The reopening of Kartarpur will assist thousands of devotees, largely Sikhs, to visit the final resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan.

The corridor was shut in wake of the COVID pandemic. The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long corridor joins the Indian border to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019 and was inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The move to inaugurate the revamped war memorial in Rezang La is seen as India's show of strength in the area which is very close to the Chinese territory and is visible from the other side of the Line of Actual Control.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that Rezang La Memorial in Ladakh symbolises Indias stand of giving a befitting reply to anyone who threatens the sovereignty and integrity of the country.



The Defence Minister arrived in Leh, Ladakh today to inaugurate the newly revamped Rezang La Memorial at a solemn ceremony at Chushul in Ladakh. The renovation of the memorial is not only a tribute to our valiant Armed Forces but also a symbol of the fact that we are fully prepared to protect the integrity of the nation. This monument symbolises the Governments stand of giving a befitting reply to anyone who threatens our sovereignty and integrity, said Rajnath Singh as per an official statement released by the Ministry of Defence.



The Defence Minister dedicated to the nation the renovated Rezang La Memorial that was constructed in 1963 in the Chushul plains, at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, right at the India-China border to honour the troops of Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon Regiment, who on November 18, 1962, had defended Rezang La and the surrounding areas located at over 16,500 feet on the Kailash Ranges in Eastern Ladakh.



As per the official statement, the decision to renovate the Memorial was taken by Rajnath Singh when he had visited Leh in June 2021. In a major upgradation exercise, the renovation of the Memorial commenced in mid-July and the complex was ready within three months for inauguration on the 59th anniversary of the battle.



The Defence Minister paid homage to the gallant Indian soldiers who fought the battle of Rezang La and laid wreath at the Memorial. In his address, he said, the courage and sacrifice of the Charlie Company will always inspire future generations, describing the Rezang La memorial as an epitome of the passion, determination and fearless spirit of the bravehearts of the country.

Singh also lauded the Indian soldiers, who continue to carry forward the valour and patriotism of the fallen heroes and protect the country fearlessly. Reaffirming the Governments commitment of the welfare of the Armed Forces personnel and their families, he assured them of all possible support to fulfill their needs.



The Defence Minister appreciated that the renovation of the memorial was carried out on the lines of a national-level memorial without compromising with the original structure and sentiments attached to it.

Asserting that the monument will bolster the feeling of nationalism and encourage tourism, he said that the renovated memorial will attract people from within the country and abroad. He congratulated all those who worked tirelessly in harsh conditions for the renovation of the monument.



It was a saga of unparalleled bravery as Major Shaitan Singh and 113 soldiers had made the supreme sacrifice, fighting one of the worlds rarest last man, last bullet battles. Major Shaitan Singh was bestowed with the Nations highest gallantry award, the Param Veer Chakra, posthumously. The entire project of Rezang La Memorial was spearheaded by the troops of Chushul Brigade, the very same formation under which the Armed Forces had defended the entire Ladakh sector in 1962, read the statement.



The renovated complex includes a double-storied museum, a mini-theatre to screen a special documentary on the battle, a large helipad and various other tourist amenities. The Rezang La Memorial, located very close to the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, is set to become a major tourist attraction in the coming years, the Defence Ministry said.



Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh RK Mathur, Member of Parliament from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen CP Mohanty, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lieutenant General YK Joshi and other military officials were present on the inauguration of renovated Rezang La Memorial. Those associated with 13 Kumaon, including Brigadier RV Jatar (Retd) who had participated in the battle as a Captain; Major Shaitan Singhs son Narpat Singh Bhati and the family of the then Commanding Officer of 13 Kumaon, Lt Col HS Dhingra and other veterans also attended the event and were felicitated.
The Pakistan National Assembly had on June 10 this year adopted a bill to give the right of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav. The bill seeks to provide a further right of review and reconsideration in giving effect to the judgment of the International Court of Justice, Ary News reported.

The Pakistan Parliament, in a joint sitting on Wednesday, passed a bill that will give Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav the right to appeal against his conviction. The International Court of Justice (Review and Re-consideration) Bill, 2020, was moved by Law Minister Farogh Nasim. It was passed with a majority vote, Dawn reported.

Jadhav, a retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April 2017. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its judgment on July 17, 2019, observed that Pakistan was under an obligation to provide by means of its own choosing effective review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence of Jadhav.

The ICJ had ruled that Pakistan was in breach of its international obligations because of the failure to provide consular access to Jadhav. Pakistan claims that Jadhav was arrested from Balochistan in 2016 on charges of espionage. India has rejected Pakistans allegations and said he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar.

The Pakistan National Assembly had on June 10 this year adopted a bill to give the right of appeal to Kulbhushan Jadhav. The bill seeks to provide a further right of review and reconsideration in giving effect to the judgment of the International Court of Justice, Ary News reported.

It was adopted by the National Assembly after approval from the 21-member standing committee.

According to the bill, the High Court has the power to review and reconsider where the ICJ, in relation to a foreign national, passes an order in respect of rights under the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations or a foreign national is aggrieved in respect of the rights available under the same.
PRAGUE (AP)  The Czech and Slovak governments on Thursday approved new coronavirus restrictions that will come into effect next week and specifically target unvaccinated people amid a record surge of infections in both neighboring countries.

Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said most unvaccinated people will no longer be allowed to show negative coronavirus tests in order to attend public events, go to bars and restaurants, visit hairdressers, museums and similar facilities or use hotels.

Only people who are vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 will remain eligible. There are exceptions for teenagers aged 12 to 18, people whose medical condition doesnt allow vaccination and people who have been partially vaccinated.

Vojtech said the goal of the measures that will come into force on Monday is to motivate people to get vaccinated. The measures will be in force until the end of February.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said his government was inspired by similar measures imposed in the German state of Bavaria.

The situation is serious and we again urge everyone to get vaccinated, Babis said.

A negative test will be enough for visitors to hospitals and nursing homes.

Additionally, the government is imposing mandatory testing for non-vaccinated employees of all companies once a week. Those who are over 60 and have been vaccinated will also have to be tested.

At the same time, the testing at elementary and high schools that was supposed to end on Nov 29 will continue.

The announcement came after the Czech daily count soared to 22,511 new cases on Tuesday, eclipsing the previous record set Jan. 7 by almost 5,000 and nearly 8,000 more than just a week earlier. The countrys infection rate has risen to 819 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, up from 558 a week earlier.

In Slovakia, those who have not been vaccinated will be banned from all non-essential stores and shopping malls, starting on Monday.

Theyll not be allowed to attend any public events and gatherings and will be required to test twice a week to go to work.

Only in the hardest hit parts of the country, fitness and wellness centers, restaurants and hotels will be closed for all.

Prime Minister Eduard Heger called the measures a lockdown for the unvaccinated. They should be in place for three weeks but we will react promptly if we can see the restrictions are not effective, Heger said.

Slovakia, a nation of 5.5 million, reported 8,342 new virus cases on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 7,244 set Friday.

Heger said Thursday some of the countrys hospitals have been already overwhelmed.

Both, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have vaccination rates below the average of the European Unions 27 nations.

___

Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
NORTH BRANFORD  John Zane, 84, is celebrating 75 years as a Boy Scout and hes writing a book about it, titled Ever a Scout, because people always comment, Youve been a Scout forever.

Zane, a retired chemist, became a Boy Scout in 1946 and attained the rank of Eagle Scout at the age of 15, quickly becoming a mentor to his peers.

As an adult with two sons who went through the scouting program, Zane has held virtually every volunteer position there is in the organization, from working with kids to the council level. Hes also brought a lot of fun to Boy Scout campfires and other events with his accordion playing and singalongs.

Contributed photo /

John was one of the guys who was everywhere, said Jonathan Glassman, Boy Scouts of America district director for Connecticut Yankee Council, who remember Zane from when he was a young Scout.

Johns a guy whos always been a mentor to many people, Glassman said. Hes the person theyre going to for advice and help. ... Just a wonderful, nice man who would do just about anything for the program and kids involved.

Zane likes to joke that, I would have been a much better student if I hadnt spent so much time in scouting, but it made him who he is.

It was worth every minute I put into it, he said of 75 years in scouting.

Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is one of the defining experiences of my life. I feel as though it quite literally set my lifes philosophy in stone, Zane said. The words of the Scout Law reach a level of consciousness in my mind several times a day.

Zane had been keeping notes on his scouting experiences from a young age and while on business trips would pull them together toward a book.

While its largely a concrete record of events  or a just the facts maam piece, as he calls it  running through the book is the message of scoutings great benefits in the stories of his wonderful mentors, fun and other notable experiences.

He recalls the value of mentors on many occasions, including in earning the bird study badge. Zane needed to identify 35 birds and couldnt find the last one, the yellow-bellied sap sucker.

One of mentors at camp said, The woods are full of them. It would turn out he was seeing them, but thought it was a cardinal, as they looked similar.

Some of his notes for the book were so old they were decomposing.

Contributed photo

I hate to think its just a history book without inspiration to the younger Scouts, he said. It (scouting) kept a lot of kids off the street, kept them physically active, intellectually. Boys say their teachers would ask, Where do you learn this stuff? The Boy Scouts, of course.

Zane became a Scout under the mentorship of his mothers brother, his uncle George Heigelmann, and unofficially began doing Scout-like activities at the age of 4.

A lot was different when Zane came up in scouting than it is today.

The boys wore knickers and high socks in the early days; there was no electricity during camping - and just a latrine or sheltered hole in the ground for a bathroom. The beds were a piece of canvas stretched between two poles. They needed a lot of flashlights and batteries.

These days there are merit badges for atomic energy and computers  as well as the old-fashioned stuff  and although they may not start campfires with friction, the kids still have to master the act.

Back in the day there were no telephones at camp, and these days they have to discourage kids from bringing cellphones.

Its different, Im not implying its less, Zane said.

Zanes scouting ultra-specialty always was music, whether at a campfire or other event attended by hundreds. An accordion player and entertainer, Zane said they still are singing songs at Camp Sequassen that he brought up there in 1951.

An interactive favorite, Bill Halls Goat, is one of them.

The music merit badge is his favorite.

Ive seen kids jumping up and down in wild machinations. Singing at a campfire they settle down, he said. Singing is part of scouting.

Zane isnt sure when Ever a Scout will be completed  and hes in no rush.

He gives a lot of credit for it all to his wife of 63 years, Patricia Zane.

Without her encouragement and cooperation I would have stopped at Eagle, Zane said.

Zane had a distinguished career in the chemical industry, authoring or co-authoring 36 U.S. patents, 104 foreign patents and 19 scientific publications.

In scouting, in addition to many high-level volunteer roles, Zane helped organize and served as Cubmaster of Pack 412, East Haven, for 10 years, and in 2003 returned to work at the unit level by organizing and serving as Cubmaster of Pack 471, sponsored by St. Georges Catholic Church in Guilford.

Zane was instrumental in developing and later leading the Quinnipiac Councils Merit Badge College, which prepares Eagle Scout candidates with formalized instructions in badges required for advancement to Eagle. Thousands have benefited from the program.

Glassman said theres no official label that says Zane has been in scouting longer than anyone else in the Connecticut Yankee Council, but he said Zane is always the last man standing when they have longtime Scouts stand up at the annual dinner, asking them to be seated in five-year increments.

Seventy-five years is definitely a long time, Glassman said.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  An alleged city gang member was charged this week in connection with a ghost gun found in a stolen vehicle he was driving while out on probation, according to federal prosecutors.

A federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment Wednesday that charged 21-year-old Shavarius Smith, of New Haven, with possession of ammunition by a felon and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine base. The ammunition charge carries a 10-year maximum term in prison, while the drug offense carries a 20-year maximum.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Florida Republicans approved a sweeping bill Wednesday to hobble coronavirus vaccine mandates in businesses, rejecting claims that they were sacrificing public health to hand Gov. Ron DeSantis a win in his fight against White House virus rules.

Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled statehouse expedited the measure, along with a package of virus bills, after hours of debate in which Republicans maintained they were protecting workers from onerous mandates by the federal government.

If you want to get a vaccine, you can get a vaccine. If you don't want to get a vaccine, you can choose not to get a vaccine, said Sen. Danny Burgess, a Republican. "Thats the entire purpose of this bill, trusting Floridians and allowing us to make that choice for ourselves.

DeSantis, a Republican, called the special legislative session on vaccine mandates as he waged a legal and media campaign against vaccine mandates pushed by Democratic President Joe Biden. The governor has become a star in the GOP through his opposition to lockdowns and other virus rules, boosting his profile as he runs for reelection and eyes a possible 2024 presidential run.

The vote Wednesday night capped a short session in which Republicans were all but certain to pass the bills. The most contentious measure would prevent private businesses from having vaccine mandates unless they allow workers to opt out for medical reasons, religious beliefs, immunity based on a previous infection, regular testing or an agreement to wear protective gear. The state health department, which is led by Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who opposes mandates, will be tasked with defining standards for the exemptions.

The measure also includes fines for businesses that fire a worker without allowing the exemptions. Additionally, it bars schools and governments in the state from having vaccine mandates and allows parents to sue schools with masking requirements. Another bill would block the public release of records regarding state investigations of vaccine policies in businesses.

Its just mind-blowing most days to think that it is an acceptable position to hold that another person will get to make the health care decision about whether or not to be vaccinated, that an employer would get to make a health care decision for their employee, said Rep. Erin Grall, a Republican.

Democrats have repeatedly slammed the legislation as dangerous to the public and burdensome to businesses. They also said the special session amounts to political theater meant to serve DeSantis' political ambitions.

Does this bill truly attempt to keep Floridians safe, or was it crafted to kick off a presidential campaign for our governor? asked Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat.

Separately, lawmakers passed a bill to stop the state health officer from being able to mandate vaccines during a public health emergency. Republicans also approved a bill directing the state to begin considering a withdrawal from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which drafted White House vaccine requirements for businesses with more than 100 employees.

Florida  with more than two dozen other GOP-led states, employers and several conservative and business organizations  has sued over the OSHA rule and a federal court has since placed it on hold. The state has also sued over another White House mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccines for federal contractors.

During debate, Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, echoed frustrations his party has maintained since the session was called.

Lets call this exactly what it is, and this is the governors direct defiance of the president and the federal government, that is the only reason were here right now, said Jones.
HAMDEN  A food delivery and ride sharing driver was charged Wednesday after attempting to break into the homes of female customers, according to the Hamden Police Department.

Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Hamden Police officers responded to a home on Kimberly Road for a report of an attempted residential burglary.

Police said a female college student was in her house when someone attempted to break into the home through a window.

The student shined a flashlight toward the window, prompting the suspect to flee on foot, according to the Hamden Police Department.

A little while later, police responded to a nearby home on West Woods Road for a similar complaint. A suspect entered an unlocked back door of a home while a female college student was asleep. The student woke up to the suspect standing at the foot of her bed. The student started to yell and the suspect fled, police said.

No one was injured in either incident, police added.

Police found the suspects vehicle in the neighborhood and attempted to stop him. The suspect fled, but was later apprehended by state police on Interstate 84.

Officers found evidence in the car, but did not specify what it was.

Police identified the suspect as Adiel Viana-Ribeiro, 24, of Bridgeport. Viana-Ribeiro delivers food and drives passengers for different apps. Police said he targeted houses where he previously made deliveries to women.

Viana-Ribeiro was charged with first-degree burglary, criminal attempt to commit first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny, engaging police in a pursuit and reckless driving.

He is being held on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 29.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
SHELTON  Dr. Bruce Sofferman held his first Thanksgiving food drive in the mid-1980s to generate awareness about aiding those suffering from food insecurity.

Nearly four decades years later, the drive, held in front of his dental office at 1000 Bridgeport Ave., has become a Thanksgiving tradition, and not just for the Sofferman Family. Dozens of area residents return every year to donate frozen turkeys and and non-perishable food items to support Spooner Houses Operation Holiday initiative.

This is as good as it gets, Sofferman said Wednesday as he watched vehicles begin to line up to donate even before the drives 10 a.m. scheduled start time.

It makes me feel so good to help . Its a great thing, he added.

Sofferman, his wife, Deborah, and daughter Sophia, take their annual food drive to the next level, dressing in traditional Thanksgiving apparel. And the family even has quite an enthusiastic turkey, also known as Brendan Carey, with them as they collect the food and monetary donations for Spooner House.

Last year, the familys collection helped feed some 800 families, but Sophia says this year, the need to aid those suffering food insecurity is more defined.

The need is greater than ever, Sophia said. The message here is to create awareness . That was always the goal. My father wanted to ignite that spark in people to donate. I feel that we have worked to make that happen.

Sofferman said when he first donned the pilgrim suit and went out to collect food for those in need, he was the only game in town. In the decades since, Sofferman said he is pleased that others have joined the cause. This year there are more than a dozen collection sites spread throughout the city.

"We dont care where people donate. It could be here, or maybe they drive by, cant stop. But seeing us and what is happening here makes them remember to donate later. Thats the goal, Sophia said.

This years food drive, like the one held in 2020, was contactless, with people pulling into the Smile Dental circular driveway with masks on. The donations were collected right from their cars.

I donate every year, Dorene Meyer, one of the first in line to donate food, said. It feels really good to be able to give back.

Donations in the form of checks can also be made, payable to Spooner House, during the Thanksgiving Turkey Drive at Smile Dental Center. Or mail a check directly to Spooner House at 30 Todd Road, Shelton, CT. 06484. Donations will also be accepted through PayPal at http://www.actspooner.org/.

For information on other giving opportunities, contact Spooner House at 203-225-0453 x100.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
WARREN, Maine (AP)  Inmates in solitary confinement at Maine State Prison ended a hunger strike to protest living conditions, officials said Thursday.

As many as five inmates started refusing meals Monday, and three had abandoned the effort on Wednesday, the Maine Department of Corrections told the Portland Press Herald. Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition publicized the strike and has been in touch with some of the prisoners, the newspaper said.

Inmate Nicholas Gladu told the coalition in text messages that the inmates in solitary confinement are locked in for at least 22 hours per day and lack adequate medical and mental health treatment and access to religious services. Gladu is serving a 38-year sentence for crimes including gross sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact against a child.

Several inmates ended their hunger strikes on Wednesday and the remainder joined them Thursday, officials said.

Some in the unit have spent months or years there, Jan Collins, a Wilton-based prisoner advocate, told the newspaper. Its unclear if prison officials answered any of the demands.
PONTIAC, Mich. (AP)  A jail in southeastern Michigan has a vending machine that dispenses kits designed to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.

Naloxone nasal rescue kits are available free of charge to inmates being discharged from the Oakland County Jail in Pontiac, the sheriffs office said Thursday.

As part of the release process, deputies advise discharged inmates they can take the kits for personal use or for a family member who may be dependent on opioids.

Naloxone commonly is referred to as Narcan.

The Narcan project is through Wayne State Universitys School of Social Work and its Center for Behavioral Health and Justice, the sheriffs office said.

The center purchased the vending machines through grant funding. The Narcan kits each contain two doses of medication and instructions for use. They are provided at no cost to the jail by Michigans Health and Human Services department.

The project is patterned after a program in Los Angeles in which about 30,000 individual doses were distributed in 2020.

Oakland County is north and northwest of Detroit. In 2020, there were 255 drug-related deaths in the county. Of that number, opioids were present in 211 deaths.

Oakland County deputies have used Narcan rescue kits on 124 occasions through October of this year. They were successful in all but eight instances, the sheriffs office said.
Brian Zahn / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

NEW HAVEN A student at Hill Central Music Academy allegedly was found in possession of an unloaded BB gun Thursday, according to a district spokesman.

The students action was a serious breach of school rules, which bar weapons of any kind on school premises, district spokesman Justin Harmon said in an email.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and its collapsing economy is heightening the risk of extremism, the U.N.s special representative for the country warned Wednesday.

Deborah Lyons said the United Nations predicts that 60% of Afghanistans 38 million people face crisis levels of hunger in a food emergency that will likely worsen over the winter. She said the countrys GDP is estimated to have contracted by 40%.

But she told the U.N. Security Council that a humanitarian catastrophe is preventable, saying the main cause is financial sanctions on the Taliban, who took over the country Aug. 15. Sanctions have paralyzed the banking system, affecting every aspect of the economy, Lyons said.

The Afghanistan central banks $9 billion in reserves, most of which is held in the United States, were frozen after the collapse of the former government. Afghanistan was also slated to access about $450 million on Aug. 23 from the International Monetary Fund, but the IMF blocked the release because of a lack of clarity about a new government.

Lyons said the paralysis of the banking sector will push more of the financial system into unaccountable and unregulated informal money exchanges. That, she said, "can only help facilitate terrorism, trafficking and further drug smuggling that will first affect Afghanistan and then infect the region.

She said a major negative development has been the Talibans inability to stem the expansion of the Islamic State extremist group, which now seems to be present in nearly all provinces and is increasingly active. The number of attacks attributed to IS has increased significantly from 60 last year to 334 this year, she said.

Lyons urged the international community to find ways to provide financial support to the Afghan people, who she said feel abandoned, forgotten and indeed punished by circumstances that are not their fault." Abandoning them would be a historic mistake, she said.

We must focus for the next three or four months on helping the most vulnerable Afghans during the winter, Lyons said.

The international community needs urgently to find a way to provide financial support to health care workers in state hospitals, staff in food security programs, and, yes, eventually to teachers provided that girls right to education is emphatically met, she added.

She assured council members that the U.N. will make every effort to ensure that funds will not be diverted to the Taliban -- or by the Taliban.

China and Russia urged the unfreezing of Afghanistan's reserves, but U.S. deputy ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis made no mention of sanctions.

He criticized the Taliban for ignoring calls by the Security Council and the international community to peacefully pursue a political settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan and instead choosing a battlefield victory. And we are now seeing the terrible consequences of this choice unfold before our eyes, he said.

But the Afghan people should not have to pay twice for the Taliban decision, DeLaurentis said, saying the United States is the largest humanitarian donor to Afghanistan, with $474 million in aid provided in 2021, and urging other countries to step up their support.

Lyons said the only way to avoid losing much of the progress of the last 20 year is for the Taliban to avoid its past isolation and engage in a policy dialogue with other Afghan parties, the wider region and the international community. She said the goal should be to spell out a roadmap with concrete steps to establish constructive relations between Afghanistan and the world at large."

Lyons said she continues to raise difficult issues with the Taliban, including calling for the restoration of rights for women and girls and ethnic minorities and for a more inclusive administration.

The composition of Afghanistan's Cabinet remains entirely male, essentially Pashtun and almost all Taliban, at both the capital and provincial levels, she said, and recent appointments continue to appear designed more to rewarding fighters than promoting governance and inclusion.

The Taliban government has not been recognized by any country or the United Nations. Afghanistan's U.N. seat is still held by the representative of the previous government, Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai.

Isaczai told the council that Afghanistan is facing a crisis of historic proportions."

The life and dignity of millions of Afghans are threatened by a failing economy, severe food insecurity and absence of security, basic rights and freedom," he said. If the current trends continue, Afghanistan will experience near universal poverty."
Matt Stone/AP

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Utah became the latest state Thursday to open COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to all adults despite it not yet being authorized by the U.S. government.

Republican Gov. Spencer Cox announced the change during his monthly news conference on KUED. Utah is one of dozens of states dealing with increased spread of the virus as weather turns colder and people spend more time inside.
WEST HAVEN  Barry Lee Cohen says he knows there are city residents who think he should throw in the towel.

But more than two weeks after an election and subsequent recount that gave incumbent Democratic Mayor Nancy Rossi a 32-vote lead, Cohen said he is not ready to give up.

There are simply too many open questions and concerns to just walk away, Cohen said. Our city deserves better than that.

In his quest to give the city better, Cohen, a Republican councilman, filed a lawsuit alleging irregularities in the election, including with absentee ballot counting, and seeking to overturn the vote.

The lawsuit asks the court to throw away 702 absentee ballots, a decision that would favor Cohen, who led Rossi on machine voting in the Nov. 2 election by 72 votes.

It is our position that, although it would result in disenfranchising those who voted by absentee ballot  297 of which voted for Barry, and 393 who voted for Nancy  the election officials, the town clerks, the registrars of voters, their failure to ensure the integrity of the ballot calls those ballots into question and you cannot let an election stand on ballots that lack integrity, said attorney Vincent Marino, who filed the lawsuit Monday.

On the night of the Nov. 2 mayoral election, Rossi won by 29 votes but the close margin automatically triggered a recount. Five days later, Rossis lead over Cohen grew slightly, to 32 votes, according to the moderator.

The lawsuit makes two primary allegations, about alleged mishandling of absentee ballots and a claim a Hamden resident voted in West Haven, although Marino said he has a legal entitlement to amend the lawsuit with 30 days of filing if he chooses to do so.

Rest assured, there are a number of concerns that are not in the complaint, he noted.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Part of Cohens claim, according to the lawsuit, is that absentee ballots were not properly sealed and endorsed prior to counting.

On Election Day, prior to counting the absentee ballots, Absentee Ballot Moderator Catherine Conniff and the subordinate absentee ballot counters allegedly failed to: seal the outer and inner envelopes, together with the rejected ballots, in a depository envelope prescribed by the Connecticut Secretary of State, by wrapping the depository envelope lengthwise and sideways with nonreusable tape, as required by law and to endorse on each depository envelope their names, the voting district and the time of the count, also required by law, the suit claims.

At one point on Election Day, the lawsuit alleges, Democratic Registrar of Voters Sherri Lepper entered the central counting room where the absentee ballots were being counted with a number of unopened absentee ballots in her hand, and despite a counter questioning their validity, contending none of them were endorsed by the municipal clerk, did not reject them

Lepper then contacted the secretary of the states office and reported that office had ruled that the ballots could be included, the suit claims.

The lawsuit alleges all of those votes were exclusively for the (D)emocratic candidates.

Hearst Connecticut Media /

Lepper and Republican Registrar Jo Ann Callegari did not respond to a request for comment.

City Clerk Patty Horvath and West Haven Corporation Counsel Lee Tiernan declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. The lawsuit names Rossi, Horvath, Callegari, Lepper, Head Moderator George Chambrelli, and Conniff as defendants. A message seeking comment was left with Chambrelli.

We did everything we were trained to do, Conniff said Thursday. I feel its going to end up the same way.

Chambrelli previously has said all of the absentee ballots were handled correctly.

The lawsuit also alleges at least one nonresident cast a vote in the election. One woman is highlighted in the complaint as being registered to vote in West Haven, while the complaint also alleges she has lived in Hamden since 2017. A search by the Register indicated the voter was affiliated with the Republican Party.

In a list contained in the suit, the document claims Cohen is aggrieved by the defendants rulings in one or more of these ways: processing and counting absentee ballots that should have been rejected; failing to process and count the absentee ballots in substantial compliance with the statutory requirements; and failing to properly maintain the chain of custody of the absentee ballots in accordance with the procedures established by the statutes.

Also, failing to properly endorse the depository envelopes in accordance with the procedures established by the statutes; failing to properly endorse the outer envelopes in accordance with the procedures established by the statutes; and failing to prepare the statutory affidavits at the times that the ballots were exchanged between Horvath, Lepper, Callegari, Chambrelli and Conniff.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

The lawsuit asks the court to declare the absentee ballots as void and either declare Cohen the winner of the race or to order a special election to do the vote over.

Rossi said she feels the timing of the lawsuit raises questions about the validity of the issues raised.

If he thought everything was done so incorrectly, why didnt he express that publicly during the recount to the moderator before the election was certified? she said. It seems he went home, thought about it, and came up with this stuff.

Marino said the Cohen campaign did in fact state its objection to the process during the recount.

Prior to the lawsuit, three former chairmen of the Republican Town Committee addressed a letter to Cohen asking him to concede the race to Rossi. One of the letter writers, Councilwoman Colleen OConnor, told the Register after the lawsuit was filed that she believes Rossi was the winner of the election.

Its time for him to accept she won by 32 votes, she said. I think she won fair and square.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

However, former RTC chairwoman Michele Gregorio, who ran against Rossi in 2019, said she supports Cohens effort.

I dont see this as a frivolous lawsuit, she said.

Gregorio maintained there have long been questions about the validity of the citys election process, but many West Haven Republicans lack the economic resources to challenge the process in court. She said that, with the 2021 election so close, she supports Cohens decision to raise allegations about irregularities.

The issue is equity, fairness and legality, she said.

Cohen declined to comment, but later sent a statement saying the significant irregularities spurred the lawsuit.

I know that some believe that I should throw in the towel. I have debated the issue with my team. It would be the easier path for me and save me significant personal expense, he said.

Brian Zahn / Hearst Connecticut Media

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
Anthony Ehilebo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Director of New Media, has called for the sack of Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Informat...





Anthony Ehilebo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Director of New Media, has called for the sack of Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, over the EndSARS panel report.





Ehilebo also called for the immediate removal of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratais immunity.





The Abuja-based lawyer made the call while reacting to the Lagos State EndSARS panel which indicted the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army, and the police.





Speaking exclusively with Daily Post, the PDP Media Director explained that the EndSARS massacre was the second massacre Buratai allegedly presided over while in office.





Lamenting the circumstances surrounding the Lekki Toll gate shooting, Ehilebo said the then Inspector General of Police should also be recalled and probed.





According to Ehilebo: Lai Mohammed should be sacked, and three things should happen. Buratais immunity should be revoked immediately; the National Assembly is joking. EndSARS is the second massacre he presided over. The IG of Police during the EndSARS protest should be recalled.





Ehilebo also said the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu should be commended for establishing the EndSARS panel.





He, however, called on the governor to ensure the implementation of the panels recommendations.





Ehilebo said: They were a very brave set of human beings, for whatever reason, I will forgive Sanwo-Olu if he implements the findings of that panel. I think rather than condemnation, Sanwo-Olu deserves commendation.





Despite being in opposition, if you see what is done out of courage, you dont need to politicize it. He was absolutely courageous.





History will judge Sanwo-Olu very kindly for letting the truth come out. I and my friends are still arguing, why will he allow that kind of thing.





He urged constituted authorities to probe who ordered the soldiers drafted to Lekki Toll Gate during the protest to shoot live ammunition at protesters.





The constitutional lawyer wondered why soldiers would shoot at Nigerians singing the national anthem while holding the countrys flag.





He said: Who gave those instructions? The Army cant fire live ammunition without an instruction from their Commander, and the Commander must have had instruction from above.





When the incident happened, those of us that could speak out were monitored, our phones were monitored; at a time I could not make calls because they killed people.





People are saying the outcry was because EndSARS happened in an urban environment that is why we are up in arms, but that is not the true story. Its not because it happened in an urban environment, its because of the circumstances surrounding the incident.





Do you know what it means to kill a citizen of your own country while they are singing the national anthem? The Army is paid and their bullets are bought by the taxes of citizens, and they opened fire on them.





Nobody can give a soldier instruction to shoot citizens singing the Nigerian anthem while holding the countrys flag, when they are not enemies of the state.





In the Nigerian Army there is a provision which is to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, so when they go against their very principle of creation, then they have become mutinous. The circumstances surrounding that shooting is what bothers me, how can you shoot people singing the national anthem?
Crisis is currently looming at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso over alleged humiliation of a female Muslim...

Crisis is currently looming at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso over alleged humiliation of a female Muslim student.

It was gathered on Thursday that a female Muslim student whose identity has not been revealed was allegedly humiliated by the Dean of Faculty of Nursing for wearing Hijab (a veil usually worn by female Muslims to cover their head).

The incident according to a video occurred on Wednesday when the board of Open and Distance Learning Programme addressed the newly admitted nursing students.

It was gathered that the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Ajibade Lawal while addressing the students asked one one of the students who was wearing a Hijab to leave the class.

Lawal had earlier said that scrub is the only approved uniform for student nurses.

He maintained that any other form of dress must not be put atop or underneath the scrub.

The action of the Dean angered the students who vowed to disrupt academic activities in the institution today.

The students who asked Lawal to apologize in public, described the action of the lecturer as a violation of the rights of the female Muslim students.

As at Thursday morning, it was gathered that students of the institution are currently protesting at the entrance of the university.

Public Relations Officer of LAUTECH, Mr. Akin Fadeyi when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Fadeyi, in a statement made available on Thursday morning, noted that the case was being handled by the university management.

He said, This is to inform stakeholders that the unfortunate issues of yesterday as it affects Professor Bayo Lawal Ajibade and a particular Muslim woman is being handled by Management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Ag. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mojeed Olaide Liasu already mandated the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Adeyemi, to supervise a high powered investigation into the matter.

Management is, therefore, imploring students particularly, to maintain peace as they go about their duties on the University premises to allow investigation go on.

The Ag. Vice-Chancellor has assured that nobody will be shielded.








The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has carpeted the United States of America, USA, for unilaterally delisting Nigeria ...





The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has carpeted the United States of America, USA, for unilaterally delisting Nigeria from a list of countries violating religious freedom.





Recall that the US had on Wednesday delisted Nigeria from the list of countries violating religious freedom.





US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.





In December 2020, the US had listed Nigeria among countries blacklisted for violating religious freedom.





However, reacting to the development, HURIWA, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, said the US government under Joe Biden has demonstrated a non-challant tendency concerning the massive religion-motivated genocides that are currently going on under the active watch and conspiratorial connivance of the Federal Government of President Buhari who concentrated the powers of internal security to only members of Hausa/Fulani Moslems even when Nigeria is a plural democracy with the multiplicity of Ethnicities and Religious/Belief systems.





HURIWA said it was wrong for the United States to adopt this provocative and ignorant decision even when hundreds of thousands of Christians of Northern Nigeria extraction are still facing genocides by Moslem Fulani armed militia supported by officials working inside the office of President Muhammadu Buhari.





The Rights group asked the President of the USA and the United States Congress to change the decision immediately.
Temitope Majekodunmi, the youth representative on the Lagos judicial panel on police brutality, says there are errors in the panels repor...

Temitope Majekodunmi, the youth representative on the Lagos judicial panel on police brutality, says there are errors in the panels report currently in circulation.

On Monday, the panel submitted two documents  a consolidated report on cases of police brutality and another on the Lekki incident investigation  to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state.

Hours after submission of the report, the 309-page document appeared in the media space.

In the report, the panel said the killing of unarmed protesters by soldiers on October 20, 2020 could be described in the context of a massacre'.

The report has elicited varied reactions, with some persons citing errors in the document currently in circulation.

For instance, on pages 297 and 298, which has the list of casualties, numbers 37 and 38 are repeated, making it appear that 11 deaths were recorded instead of nine.

Reacting to the development, Majekodunmi, in a statement on Wednesday, said the errors were corrected before final submission, adding that the leaked report in circulation is not far from the original.

A leaked report of the Panel has been in circulation since yesterday, and I got numerous calls and messages from various persons asking me to confirm if the report was authentic, he said.

While others were particular about the error of name duplications, it is imperative to note that the leaked report in circulation is not far from the original, but I can confirm that the original is without all the identified errors.

Furthermore, we did approve the report for print after several reviews of typographical error, omission of some documents but duplicated as final edit; final, final edits and final of the finals of edit.

Regardless of errors identified, it is important that we stick to the facts of the findings and its recommendations contained therein and also interpret appropriately.

This report is all encompassing for the reasoning of peace and justice. I am sure every one of you must have gone through the details.

To provide a summary, you can find an executive summary of the report on pages 11-15, background on page 16, general proceedings on pages 17-280, panel findings on pages 281-304, a compendium of recommendations on pages 305-300 und the conclusion to page 305.

The report of the panel further validates our position that peaceful protesters were injured and/or killed by security operatives who were meant to protect us. The findings of the panel, and most importantly, the recommendations are now in the public domain.

In conclusion, it is not the time to rest nor sleep; it is the time to peacefully demand accountability and ensure that the recommendations of the panel are implemented.

It is the time to ensure that our fallen heroes do not die in vain, and that citizens of Nigeria are never afraid to peacefully protest in their native country.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 36F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 36F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
For most of us, the November nip in the air means nothing more than changing into long sleeves. But for homeless people, the approach of winter brings the threat of difficult-to-escape discomfort, and worse. Tents provide some relief from the wind, but with scant insulation, they can do only so much.

By the time its mid-January, it will be intolerably cold, said Joe Warpup, who lives in a small homeless encampment under the Claiborne Avenue overpass in New Orleans.

So as the evening temperatures dipped into the 50s, Warpup set out to build a sturdier, more weather-resistant shelter. In a dumpster on Rampart Street, he discovered a stash of discarded plastic planks that had once been used as traffic barricades. Warpup used those to build the walls of a small cabin.

He predicts the hollow orange and white boards will provide much better insulation than a tent. Plus, he said, the plastic cabin cant be slashed by a knife, as happens to tents sometimes in the long cold nights under Interstate 10.

Warpup, 44, knows about the cold. He comes from Detroit, where, he said, when he was in ninth grade authorities canceled school for three days, because it was just too cold to go outside.

He has lived on the street on and off more three years. He came to New Orleans in August 2020. He says he speaks a little French and was seeking the most French place in the United States. He heads up a small organization called Homeless for Homeless. He said there are nine members who camp together near Lafitte Street and share meals.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee donated a load of silver-gray tents, once occupied by rock 'n' roll fans, to homeless and needy people who'd lost their shelters in Louisiana. Warpup helped distribute the tents in New Orleans.

He borrowed the tools to build his new cabin. A chainsaw got stolen in the process, he said.

Warpup said he picked up carpentry skills back when he helped his stepfather renovate a 19th century house and build another from scratch. His stepfather was a perfectionist, Warpup said, and would not have tolerated the rough construction of the 8-by-13-foot cabin.

Im not a professional builder; I just play one on TV, Warpup said, laughing as he installed a plastic plank with an electric screwdriver.

Theres been a learning curve and this looks like s--t, he said of the structure. But, he added, the wind probably couldn't get through the walls.

The intersection of the orange and white stripes on the walls of cabin is dazzling. The two windows are rimmed with silver duct tape, and the roof is made of a tent frame that Warpup plans to cover with discarded campaign signs from the recent municipal elections.

Warpup said he realizes that the hazard barriers and political signs lend the cabin a certain symbolic resonance. It seems to be a commentary on New Orleans' infrastructure woes and political vicissitudes. But, he said, those associations were unintentional.

Homelessness is fundamentally an economic situation, not a political one, he said. The fact that these signs are political doesnt matter. They were free and available.

The striking orange and white cabin illustrates that we dont have anyplace to go, he said.

It also implies that your waste is enough to sustain us, he said.

Warpup said that when the cabin is all finished, it will be a place where he and his small group can hang out, play cards and find some reprieve from the constant drone of the highway overhead. He plans to install lighting in the ceiling and loudspeakers for music. He hopes someday to add an external propane burner that will provide hot water to pipes that circulate through the cabin for heating.

He said he wont be surprised if someday he and his group must move along. He predicts that people in the nearby neighborhood might eventually complain to City Hall about their encampment. Thats why he designed the cabin to be disassembled and transported to a new location.

If they dont kick us out, well stay, he said. If they do kick us out, well start again.

Warpup said hes held a string of jobs through his life, but hes not cut out for workday routines. Years ago, he said, he attended the University of Michigan in Flint, where he studied poverty issues. He said hes volunteered at shelters and churches that aid homeless people. But it wasnt until he became homeless himself that he was really able to offer a helping hand.

Homeless people listen to me in a way they dont listen to any institution, he explained.

Still, he said, hes had enough of life on the street and hopes to find a permanent residence soon. Maybe Christmas. Maybe even Thanksgiving.
The Orleans Parish Library is currently hosting three weekly story times.

A new virtual, pre-recorded story time premiers online every Monday at 10 a.m. at nolalibrary.org/early-literacy.

In-person, outdoor story times are held at 10:30 a.m. every Tuesday at Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive; Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 St Charles Ave.; and East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd.

And a series of six Zoom storytimes designed to teach children age 5 and up about social justice concepts takes place at 4 p.m. Wednesdays.

The Dec. 1 Social Justice Storytime explores gender identity and expression, and was created in partnership with local social worker Cara Zajac, MSW. This series is sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.

The Dec. 8 storytime theme is What Makes Us Wonderful: Exceptionalities and Disabilities.

Visit nolalibrary.org/events to register.

EARLY LITERACY: Dive into BookFlix, the New Orleans Public Librarys newest e-resource for kids. The digital literacy resource pairs more than 120 animated stories from Weston Woods with a best-selling nonfiction eBook from Scholastic on a similar subject.

The fiction and nonfiction pairings are designed to strengthen early literacy skills while exposing young learners to real-world concepts.

Visit e-resources.nolalibrary.org to explore BookFlix, as well as other online and electronic resources.

WRITING WORKSHOP: Writers of all skill levels, styles and genres are invited to a Virtual Creative Writing Workshop on Nov. 27, hosted by librarian and Pushcart Prize-winning poet and Fulbright Fellow Kathleen Balma. It will be held on Zoom from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Participating writers will create, share, and critique original work while learning to develop their own voice.

Each program will open with an optional writing prompt for those without a prepared work. The Virtual Creative Writing Workshop will be held every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.

For details and registration, email kbalma@nolalibrary.org.

GIRLS WHO CODE: Build coding and creativity skills by joining Girls Who Code, a weekly New Orleans Public Library club for sixth graders through high school seniors to learn about computer science in a fun and safe environment.

Girls Who Code is a virtual place to spend time with supportive peers and role models. It encourages female and non-binary identifying individuals to get involved in the technology center.

The club meets from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday through Dec. 6 via Zoom. New members are always welcome. A limited number of library computers will also be available for members to use for attending club meetings. To reserve a computer or get information, email Amy DeNisco at adenisco@nolalibrary.org or call (504) 596-2638.

Jane LeGros is the director of marketing and communications for the Orleans Parish Library.
Actor and producer Will Smith is gifting New Orleans with a Fourth of July fireworks display this weekend, according to city officials, bringing back the annual celebration on the Mississippi River after it was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a press release Friday, the Cantrell administration said that the annual "Go 4th on the River" display will take place on the riverfront at 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 4th.

"The gift of city fireworks was made possible by actor and producer Will Smith, along with his company," said the prepared statement from City Hall.

Will Smith film 'Emancipation' moving to New Orleans from Georgia due to voting law A film starring Will Smith set to be filmed in Georgia that was pulled over concerns about a controversial new voting law there will instead b

Smith is in town working on the production of his latest feature film, "Emancipation," which will tell the story of Whipped Peter, an enslaved man who escapes terrible conditions on a Louisiana plantation. Peter was a key figure in exposing the brutality of slavery and served as a solder in the Civil War.

Smith chose to move production of the film from Georgia to Louisiana in early April over concerns of a controversial voting law.

The display comes as many towns and cities are holding celebrations this year after canceling the annual shows in 2020 to try and prevent large gatherings. In addition to the fireworks along the river, New Orleans City Park will be hosting a fireworks display on July 3 at 9 p.m., and a number of other events will be held throughout the New Orleans area.

In anticipation of large crowds, the city said there will be an increased presence of local, state and federal public safety agencies.

The press release also included the following information on street closures and parking information:

To ensure the safety of pedestrians, the NOPD will restrict traffic, with no vehicles allowed on the following streets:

Bourbon Street from Canal to St. Ann streets from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The 700 and 800 blocks of Iberville, Bienville, Conti, St. Louis, Toulouse, St. Peter, Orleans and St. Ann streets from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Decatur Street from Canal to Dumaine streets from 6:30 p.m. (or until crowd size warrants) and until crowds disperse.

No-parking zones will be in effect on the following streets:

Bourbon Street from Canal to St. Ann streets from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.

The 700 and 800 blocks of Iberville, Bienville, Conti, St. Louis, Toulouse, St. Peter, Orleans and St. Ann streets from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Decatur Street from Canal to Dumaine streets from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Jackson Square will close early at 5 p.m. Crescent Park will extend its hours to 10 p.m. to accommodate fireworks viewers.

The City of New Orleans encourages everyone to be vaccinated before they join in on holiday plans.
With 50-plus years in the restaurant and catering businesses and a large family that includes siblings, children and grandchildren, Judy and Joey LaBella are both family- and food-centric, the perfect combination for Thanksgiving.

Each year, about 50 family members and friends gather at their River Ridge home for the holiday, which includes an afternoon sit-down dinner and a revolving door of drop-in visitors.

Here's how their Thanksgiving story came to be.

Twenty-one years ago, the LaBellas moved from Metairie, where they raised their three children and lived near multiple family members, to their current address, a 1950s ranch house, which they've enlarged and renovated.

A year later in 2001, Margy and Bill Raye (Judy LaBellas sister and brother-in-law), moved next door.

In 2005, Jenny and Lewis Tusa (the LaBellas' daughter and son-in-law), along with their 4-year old daughter and his 22-year-old son, moved several houses down from the LaBellas.

And in 2009, Robyn Schmitt (Judy LaBellas and Margy Rayes niece) and her husband, Victor, and kids moved next door to the Rayes.

The family members affectionately refer to the block, which holds only six houses in total, as The Compound.

Were very family-oriented on this block, said Judy LaBella.

Some adopted family members also are part of the Compound network. Jeff Bater and his husband, Tim Irving, both from New York and now retired, moved into the house between the LaBellas and the Rayes eight years ago. They were instantly brought into the fold.

They had no choice, said Margy Raye. Theyre part of our family now. It was meant to be.

We moved in and they wrapped their arms around us, said Bater. We were told we were to come to their house for Thanksgiving, and ever since, every holiday were included.

Food is a family focus

The former owners of LaBellas restaurant in Kenner, and later of LaBellas Catering, Judy and Joey LaBella provide both their home and their cooking skills for the Thanksgiving meal.

Eight-foot banquette tables  set up inside and outside and decorated with linens (this year ivory and gold), candles, seasonal centerpieces, flowers brought by guests, and Judy Labellas pilgrim figurines  stretch the seating capacity of the couple's dining room and kitchen.

The LaBellas are technically retired. Their daughter Jenny Tusa now owns both LaBellas Catering and The Crossing reception venue with two partners (Nancy Gaspard and Leslie Gaspard). But Joey LaBella is the primary chef du jour.

In addition to traditional and New Orleans-traditional Thanksgiving fare  turkey, oyster dressing, duck sausage, stuffed mirliton, he usually prepares a meat dish, such as pork loin stuffed with cornbread, pecan and cranberry dressing, and Italian specialties like baked eggplant Parmesan, a pasta-free spin on lasagna.

My father doesnt know how to cook small, said Tusa, the couples eldest child and the third generation of the bloodline to own the eponymous family business. In fact, Joey LaBellas nightly dinners frequently feed neighboring members of the busy family.

There is no shortage of other culinary and entertaining expertise in the rest of the family.

Tusa enjoys putting together the Thanksgiving decor, while middle daughter Jeena LaBella Seals and son Joseph Jeaux LaBella (formerly executive chef on The Natchez and now at The Crossing) enjoy going off the list of holiday mainstays.

In past years, Jeena Seals' contributions have included tamale balls; Jeaux LaBella's have been an international smorgasbord of everything from pho to rolled sushi to charcuterie boards.

Everybody nibbles on the Thanksgiving dishes, but it gets exciting with the other stuff, he said.

A big year for the Rayes

This Thanksgiving Day marks 20 years since Margy and Bill Raye moved into their compound abode.

Now retired from NOLA Restaurant, where he typically worked on Thanksgiving, Bill Raye will join the festivities this year. Margy Raye has been a part of the family businesses and Thanksgivings for decades. She says her cranberry bites (an appetizer of pizza dough filled with brie, cranberries and pecans, drizzled with rosemary) and key lime pie have become fan favorites at the event.

Laughter and thanks

An impressive menu, however, is only part of this familys recipe for creating memorable Thanksgivings. Working shoulder to shoulder over the years has endowed the extended clan with an appreciation of hard work and of loved ones  and a healthy portion of gratitude always accompanies the diverse spread.

Before sitting down to dinner, everyone in attendance forms a circle, joins hands and gives thanks.

If youre around this table, with this abundance of food and camaraderie and family, you have a lot to be thankful for, said Judy LaBella, noting that there is also plenty of laughter to go around.

We work too much to sweat the small stuff, and were super grounded, Tusa said of her close-knit family. We know paying it forward is part of being happy.

Schmitt, whose late father was Judy LaBella and Margy Rayes brother, moved to the neighborhood after she and her husband, celebrating Fathers Day with the LaBella crew, spotted an empty lot just a stones throw away. She eventually built a brick house with wrought-iron accents inspired by the French Quarter.

My husband and I went for a walk and he showed me the lot and asked what I thought about buying it. It brought tears to my eyes, she said.

All in the genes

Schmitt credits both her Sicilian great-grandmother Lena and grandmother Rose with passing down her devotion to family, love of cooking and secret recipes.

Joey LaBellas Sicilian ancestors also have strong ties to food and family. His father started LaBellas meat market in 1966, and he worked there as a boy.

Were all raised and heavily rooted in a heritage that is based around food and love, said Schmitt. Were also raised very proud of who we are and where we came from. In the end, it boils down to your family and your health.

n, who makes pecan pie for the Compound Thanksgiving when not spending the holiday with relatives in Mississippi.

The LaBellas daughter Jeena Seals, who lives about a mile away and likewise learned to cook at her grandmother Roses side, is so passionate about the importance of family food culture that she teaches it in a Culinary Arts course at East Jefferson High School.

Her students do a food history project  in which they interview and video a family member about a favorite recipe  as a way to connect with their heritage and keep it alive.

My grandmother used to drill me on her recipes, said Seals. It was important to her that it wasnt lost.

This Thanksgiving as in years past, Seals will bring the red gravy that her grandmother taught her to make.

I always bring it and it always goes first because its old-school, she said.
Borgne, the seafood restaurant that was once a hot spot for downtown New Orleans, is closed for good, ending a run of nearly 10 years.

The restaurant inside downtowns Hyatt Regency hotel has been shuttered since the pandemic began in March 2020. But now its 10-year lease is coming due and Octavio Mantilla, a partner in its management company BRG Hospitality, confirmed that it will not return.

We didnt feel comfortable renewing the lease at this time, said Mantilla. Right now, we prefer to concentrate on our other restaurants and other projects we have coming.

One of those is a third location for Pizza Domenica, this time in Lakeview. That restaurant, at 117 W. Harrison Ave., is now slated to open in January.

The Hyatt Regency has already begun the process of finding a new restaurant for the space, hotel general manager Michael Smith said.

We want something that will be a differentiator, and that will drive people here, he said. We want someone whos going to do something different and stand out.

The 1,200-room Hyatt Regency operates a host of its own food concepts, including its 8 Block Kitchen & Bar, the lounge Vitascope Hall, Pizza Consegna, and others. So Smith said the hotel is looking for a chef and a concept that can bring something fresh and different.

The ground floor restaurant at 601 Loyola Ave. is a large restaurant space, with capacity for over 200 people and a bar the size of a landing strip that runs nearly the length of the dining room. Smith said he expects a new restaurant will open here sometime in 2022.

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Borgne first opened in 2012, when the downtown dining scene was just beginning to rev up. At the time, there were few other dining options around this area. It became a destination, especially around games and shows at the nearby venues, and for its affordable daily lunch specials and tapas happy hour.

It was developed by what was then called Besh Restaurant Group and the kitchen was led by chef Brian Landry, who went on to co-found his own group, QED Hospitality, which runs Jack Rose and other food and beverage concepts in the Pontchartrain Hotel.

From Landrys first menus here, Borgne blended a modern style with traditional Louisiana flavors. Raw and chargrilled oysters, whole stuffed flounder, fish a la plancha, empanadas and fishing camp-style snacks like duck poppers and boiled turkey necks were staples.

Restaurants under the BRG Hospitality umbrella now include August, Luke, Domenica, Pizza Domenica, Shaya, Willa Jean, Cho Thai (in partnership with Banana Blossom founder Jimmy Cho) and Eunice, in Houston.

+5 Brennan family's Palace Cafe remains closed after Ida but has big plans for reopening The doors at Palace Cafe have been closed since the prominent Canal Street restaurant took roof damage during Hurricane Ida. But it has not be

+10 Donald Link's new riverfront restaurant at Four Seasons prepares to open; see details Chef Donald Link had a kitchen apron on, a menu in his hand and a list of dishes to field test at his forthcoming restaurant in the Four Seaso

+14 Holiday tables hard to get at New Orleans restaurants this year. The reason: staffing. If chef Alfred Singleton had his Christmas wish, hed be able to fill the dining rooms across all three floors of Cafe Sbisa with festive grou
Lawmakers love simplistic buzzwords and catchy slogans that conveniently hide politicians  and many citizens  aversion to the truth. A good example of that is tort reform, the weary bromide that insurance industry apologists breathlessly prescribe for Louisianas perennially high auto insurance rates. What is tort reform? Its a slate of anti-consumer laws that make it significantly more difficult for people injured in auto accidents to sue insurance companies and be made whole.

Thanks to an increasingly anti-consumer Legislature and a powerful business lobby (assisted by at least four dozen lobbyists), Louisiana lawmakers enacted their latest version of tort reform last year.

This comes as no surprise to us. Last year, as lawmakers prepared to debate tort reform legislation amid the COVID-19 pandemic (which effectively prevented the public from attending committee hearings on the subject), we wrote in this space that proponents of tort reform claim it will save jobs and reduce insurance rates. That is a lie. Such bills will increase profits for insurance companies [and] reduce peoples ability to be made whole after being seriously injured in accidents. To this day, were still waiting for someone to name a single state whose insurance rates actually went down as a result of adopting so-called tort reform.

Commentary: State lawmakers protecting Big Oil and insurance companies, not constituents One bill would kill lawsuits already filed against Big Oil by parish governments over the loss of coastal wetlands.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, who should be the leading advocate for consumers on such matters, told the biggest whopper of all when he said last year that passing the proposed legislation would reduce insurance rates by up to 25% within a year of the new law taking effect. On Nov. 15, he admitted to the Task Force on Affordable Automobile Insurance that rates have actually gone up 2% this year through October  and that the 25% estimate he gave lawmakers last year was a pure guess, not a guarantee. Thats not how it sounded last year.

Advocates of the new law say it needs more time to show its promised benefits. On its face, that excuse makes some sense, considering accident victims have a year to file lawsuits and cases take time to wind their way through the courts. However, in contrast to what he told lawmakers in 2020, Donelon said this week that insurance rates went up because highway fatalities increased this year by 7% across the state. Notably, Donelon also pegged previous rate hikes to highway fatalities  not to the insurance industrys time-worn bogeyman of lawsuit abuse or Louisianas alleged status as a judicial hellhole.

Eric Holl, executive director of the pro-consumer group Real Reform Louisiana, says tort reform was never about lowering auto insurance rates ... If we want to lower auto insurance rates in Louisiana, we need real pro-consumer insurance reform.

Insurance reform  now theres a catchy slogan. But dont hold your breath waiting for Louisiana lawmakers to rally behind it. Theres too much money and political muscle on the other side.

+3 Clancy DuBos: The Top 10 Political Stories of 2020 Veteran cops and politicos share an old saying when they tell stories about the crazy things theyve seen in the course of their careers: We 
Thanksgiving is days away, which means it's time to start planning a menu and getting groceries. For families hit hard by the double whammy of the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Ida, Thanksgiving giveaways can make a big difference (and free up the holiday budget for buying gifts).

Here's a rundown of times and places to find free turkeys, ham and other Thanksgiving staples in New Orleans.

Know of other Thanksgiving giveaways? Email mwilkinson@theadvocate.com.

Sarah T. Reed Senior High School (5316 Michoud Blvd.)

1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18

Einstein Charter Schools holds a drive-through giveaway of more than 80 turkeys for Einstein Charter Schools families.

The New Philippians Missionary Baptist Church (5234 North Claiborne Ave.)

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20

In partnership with Butterball Turkey, Whole Foods Market and Walmart, the church will give away 100 gourmet Thanksgiving baskets and pre-register families for its Dec. 11 Toys for Tots event.

DVine Events (1449 N. Claiborne Ave.)

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Noon Saturday, Nov. 20

Prepackaged Thanksgiving food will be distributed by community partners including Chef Tiffany Lane & Off Da Hook Community Foundation, Lost One, Lemonade, Lost One Designs, Family & Money Entertainment, Chics That Braids, Straight Pressure Life Style,Runners Circle, Outlaws Clothing, Armor Crudo, Sheeky Styles Boutique, Teriece Cherell, Asolid Photography, Fion Productions, Charliemac Barber, Leakonnlenz, Breeding Gifted Individuals, E-1 Electric, Social Butterflies, Bread of Life, Treme Sidewalk Steppers, Because I Can Foundation, Versatile Entertainment, Divine Foundation and Professional Funeral Services.

St. Roch Park (1800 St. Roch Ave.)

Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20

The Mayors Neighborhood Engagement Office, Abundant Life Tabernacle, NORD, Giving Hope NOLA and Antwigadee host a first-come, first-served Thanksgiving turkey giveaway.

Rouses Market # 6 (5818 West Main St., Houma)

2:30 p.m.  3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22

Master P, also known as Percy Miller, will sign autographs and provide hot meals, sides, his special edition cereal and other Rouses items.

Alice Hart Charter School (5300 Berkley Drive)

10 a.m. until supplies run out Tuesday, Nov. 23

InspireNOLA and Freddie King III host a free turkey, ham and perishable food giveaway.
The federal government auctioned a record amount of offshore oil and gas acreage in the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday, the first such sale to be held by the Biden Administration after attorneys general from Louisiana and other states filed suit to force their resumption.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Wednesday that energy companies bid more than $198.5 million for the drilling rights on 308 tracks covering more than 80 million acres.

The high bids totaled around $192 million. They came from Exxon Mobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and other majors, as well as independent drillers such as Covington-based LLOG Exploration.

The last auction, in November, 2020, resulted in bids for 93 tracts with high bids totaling about $121 million.

The auction Wednesday, which included the largest number of tracts since 2014, attracted relative enthusiasm from oil companies while it brought the ire of environmental groups. Advocates for more aggressive actions to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions complained that the sale went against the principles the Biden Administration agreed to at last week's climate change summit in Scotland.

Analysts said rising oil prices, coupled with concerns about future lease sales, led to additional interest among oil and gas companies.

Prices are higher now than they've been since 2018," said Rene Santos with S&P Global Platts. The other thing is this fear that the Biden Administration is here for another three years. They're certainly not going to accelerate the number of lease sales and they could potentially have fewer sales.

Biden campaigned on ending drilling on federal lands and waters, and the lease sale was held only reluctantly by his administration. Biden had imposed a moratorium on offshore drilling and fracking soon after taking office in January, but it was overturned by a U.S. District Court judge in June after Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry led a group of 13 states suing to challenge the ban.

"Todays sale was consistent with a U.S. District Courts preliminary injunction while the government appeals the decision," the BOEM said in a statement after the auction.

"The Biden-Harris administration is continuing its comprehensive review of its offshore and onshore oil and gas leasing programs and initiating reforms," which will include taking into account greenhouse gas emissions and social costs when assessing the impact of oil lease sales, BOEM said.

Still, environmental groups on Wednesday condemned the government for not doing more to block the sale.

"I don't think it matters if they were reluctant if they're auctioning off this huge historic amount of land to these oil companies," said Cecelia Hammond, a spokesperson for the Party for Socialism and Liberation  Central Gulf Coast. "The auction has the same result and impacts on the coast line, indigenous peoples, and fisherman, whether they're reluctant or not."

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Hammond echoed complaints by other environmental organizations, including Friends of the Earth, Healthy Gulf, Oceana, and Earthjustice, which earlier in the week had projected messages like "No New Drilling" onto the Dept. of Interior's walls in Washington D.C. They also submitted petitions which they said were signed by more than 100,000 people calling on Biden to uphold his commitment to ending new leasing for offshore oil and gas leasing.

Though the U.S. government signed onto the broad agreement to try and mitigate climate change at last week's summit, it did not join with a group of countries seeking to ban further oil and gas drilling.

Oil industry groups said more lease auctions should be scheduled. Lori LeBlanc, interim President and Executive Director of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, said that while the group welcomed Wednesday's auction, the Biden Administration is still dragging its heels over future ones.

"There are no plans for another lease sale. None," said LeBlanc, referring to the fact that the Biden administration was already behind on the 2017-2022 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which calls for two auctions a year, and hasn't committed to introduce a new five-year program after next year.

"They're still slow-walking lease sales and the five year plan and the oil and gas industry and these operators need a high degree of certainty to make these type of investments," LeBlanc said. "We do think it threatens the long term competitiveness of the Gulf of Mexico and might mean we see companies shift of investments to other parts of world."

While employment in the oil sector generally has been declining in recent years, offshore jobs have been more stable.

Oil industry groups estimate that between 15,000 and 16,000 people work offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, with thousands more supporting them onshore. The Louisiana Workforce Commission said in its latest report that jobs in "mining and logging", which mostly is in the oil extraction sector workers, rose by 1,200 over the last year to 29,800.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobbying group, also pushed the Biden administration to commit to more lease sales.

Shell, the only major oil company whose Gulf of Mexico operations are still headquartered in New Orleans, was the apparent high bidder on 20 blocks totaling approximately $19.2 million, or about 10% of the total.

Bill Langin, a Shell executive who oversees parts of the oil and gas giant's deep water operations, said that each of the leases is "a potentially significant opportunity for our continued presence in the deep water Gulf of Mexico."

Wednesday's auction was the 257th since Gulf of Mexico lease sales began in 1954. Before the latest sale, a total of more than 2.5 billion acres of offshore exploration territory had been offered at auction, raising just under $68 billion of fees for the federal government, as well state governments of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The national home-security company ADT Inc. has agreed to purchase Mandeville-based renewable-energy company Sunpro Solar for $825 million in cash and stock, the latest in a string of major acquisitions of fast-growing New Orleans-area companies.

Sunpro designs, installs and maintains solar panel arrays on homes and businesses, and has rapidly expanded since it was founded in 2008. Headquartered in Mandeville, the company now has 56 locations and 3,600 employees in 22 states, and with a local workforce of 500 is one of the largest employers in St. Tammany Parish.

Sunpro founder and CEO Marc Jones said he and the management team will stay on with ADT to lead a new division focused on renewable energy. Jones said he expects more jobs to be added to support the growth, and that the company's headquarters is expected to remain in Mandeville.

"Weve had really strong growth and have added more than 1,700 jobs in 2021 alone," he said in a written response to questions Wednesday. In 2020, there was a 90% increase in Sunpro's solar panel installations, ADT said.

Chris Massengill, CEO of the parish's economic development agency, St. Tammany Corp., said Sunpro's growth is an example of the business acumen that exists in St. Tammany Parish.

This company had its roots here and was headquartered here and utilized the talents and workforce, Massengill said.

In 2019, Jones was named one of EYs entrepreneurs of the year in the Gulf Coast region.

ADT will pay $160 million in cash and about 77.8 million shares of ADT common stock, according to a news release. The sale, which was announced last week, will be finalized later this year.

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Following the acquisition, Sunpro will be rebranded ADT Solar.

In a statement, Jim DeVries, the president and CEO of ADT, said that the partnership with Sunpro is a logical extension of our ecosystem, unlocking an integrated home experience that includes security, automation, and energy management and could accelerate growth for both companies.

Residential solar represents a $15 billion annual market, but is still only in 3% of all U.S. homes, DeVries said.

Jones, who was born in Slidell and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, said he started the business in 2005 as a general contractor after Hurricane Katrina, working on mostly residential and small commercial properties. The company expanded into solar after the state began offering a solar tax credit program.

Sunpro Solar is the latest New Orleans area company to sell for a hefty sum.

Lucid, a New Orleans tech company, became Louisiana's first "unicorn" company, when it sold for over $1 billion to a Swedish technology firm in late October. That deal followed the sale of New Orleans-based construction-software company Levelset, which was bought in September for $500 million, the previous record tech start-up sale for Louisiana until Lucid.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Marc Jones was co-founder of Sunpro Solar. He was the founder.
APM Terminals said Wednesday it has signed a preliminary agreement with Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal Authority to manage a $1.5 billion container terminal it has proposed as part of a larger plan to develop the port and its surrounding area.

APM, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and the world's fifth largest port operator, said the decision came after a six-month feasibility study. APM and Plaquemines Port said in a joint statement the deal will be dependent on private financial backers moving ahead with the development.

Louisiana 23 Development Co., the private sector "master developer" run by CEO Christopher Fetters, said in August it secured an option to buy 1,000 acres of land and 8,200 feet of Mississippi River frontage adjacent to the existing port.

At the same time, Plaquemines Port said its governing body, which is comprised of the members of the Plaquemines Parish Council, approved another private sector partner in the project, Sustainability Partners, to start on a $50 million plan to connect the proposed terminal site to railroads.

Fetters said Wednesday that $850 million of private equity and debt financing has been secured for the first phase of the container port. "The financing is coming through LA23, the funds have been committed (by equity and debt investors) and will be released as contracts are confirmed," he said.

Though the Plaquemines Port authorities don't publicly bill theirs as a rival to the $1.5 billion container terminal that Port of New Orleans plans to build 8 miles upriver at the site of Port of St. Bernard in Violet, it has been widely seen as an alternative, especially by residents of St. Bernard Parish who are opposed to the terminal being built there.

Both port authorities agree on the rationale for a downriver container terminal. Container-based shipping has exploded worldwide in the last two decades and New Orleans, while seeing a growing volume of business, has lagged well behind other Gulf of Mexico ports, including Houston and Mobile, Alabama.

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The initial $1.5 billion container port build-out, which would include rail links between the port and existing lines, is part of a larger plan to create a logistics hub in that part of the parish, Fetters said. He said the broader $15 billion vision would include an "air base", warehousing facilities, additional rail links and utilities.

Our vision is to create a new port with an entirely new supply chain network into the United States," Sandy Sanders, Plaquemines Port's executive director, said in the statement. "We will have multiple routing options to inland markets which give supply chain planners the resiliency and contingency layers essential to manage future supply chains effectively."

APM, an independent division of giant Copenhagen, Denmark-based shipper Maersk, already operates 76 terminals worldwide, including five in the U.S. In the Gulf, it is already the manager of the container terminal in Mobile, which has been gaining market share from New Orleans over the past decade.

State-level politicians have so far avoided explicitly backing any particular port, all of which are political subdivisions of the state.

In Wednesday's statement, Gov. John Bel Edwards, said, "APM Terminals  a leader whose expertise is known globally  is ideally qualified to help us develop and operate one of the newest ports in the world.

He has also expressed support for Port Nola's St. Bernard proposal.
Louisiana health officials updated guidelines for who should get a COVID-19 booster shot Wednesday to say that all adults should now get another dose.

Gov. John Bel Edwards called the extra shot critical to protect the state against another surge as the holidays approach.

Questions about COVID booster shots? Replay our panel discussion with Louisiana doctors While most people are still well-protected, public-health officials say that even highly-effective COVID vaccines can lose power over time. Th

The vaccines are widely available, safe and offer the most effective protection we have against this virus, Edwards said in a news release. We want everyone to spend time with their family and friends and to do so as safely as possible.

The timeline for when to get a booster is different depending on the previous shot. For adults 18 and over who got the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, another dose is now recommended six months after the second shot. For adults who received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, another shot is recommended two months after the first dose.

The Louisiana Department of Health did not specify which vaccine people should get as a booster, noting that federal guidelines allow for a mix and match approach.

Previously, the booster was recommended and authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people who are at a higher risk for exposure or serious illness from COVID-19.

Louisiana joins several other states, including California, Colorado, Arkansas, Kentucky, Kansas and New Mexico recommending booster shots to everyone. The decision by those states may be a precursor for a federal recommendation that may come this week.

Pfizer filed for FDA authorization for its booster shot last week, and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine advisory group is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss Pfizers booster.

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Pfizer has said that a study of 10,000 people showed that a booster shot provided 95.6% efficacy during the delta wave. During the study period, there were five cases of COVID-19 in the booster group, and 109 cases in the non-boosted group, according to a press release from the drugmaker.

The recommendation comes as Louisiana is experiencing an all-time low in hospitalizations, with just 195 COVID patients statewide. But the current low, likely influenced by some level of immunity from vaccination and infection during the most recent delta wave, could easily rise again when immunity wanes.

While our COVID-19 trends are much better than they have been, the virus remains active statewide and that means there is still risk involved when people gather together, said Dr. Joseph Kanter, state health officer. We experienced our third surge after last years holiday season and we are seeing cases surging across the country as we head into Thanksgiving. With the winter holidays approaching again, we want families to have the opportunity for maximum protection as they celebrate together.

Not many people in the U.S. have gotten a booster shot -- around 17% of fully vaccinated adults, according to the CDC. In Louisiana, 342,629 extra doses have been given, according to the LDH, which represents about 15.3% of the vaccinated population.

Some have said that may be due to a set of guidelines from the CDC that patients found confusing. Many patients who qualified for a booster may not have realized it.

"I've heard accounts of a few people who weren't sure if they were eligible for a boost or not," said Kanter, who also works as an emergency room physician. "When listening to them and hearing what their personal medical histories were or exposure risks, they were clearly eligible."

The new guidelines will streamline the process for people who want boosters, said Kanter, but Louisiana still has a large population of unvaccinated people. Around 48% of the population is vaccinated compared to a 59% national average.

"If we do, God forbid, have another surge, it's not going to be because not enough people got boosted," said Kanter. "It's going to be because not enough people got vaccinated in the first place."
Five youths -- four boys and a girl -- carjacked a 28-year-old man Wednesday night, police say.

New Orleans police responded to the call at 9:20 p.m. The man, who was driving his car for a ride-hailing service, was summoned to pick up passengers at Peoples Avenue and Mendez Street.

Four boys and a girl got in his 2016 black Jeep Grand Cherokee. The girl pulled a gun and demanded his vehicle. The juveniles fled in the Jeep, which has Louisiana license plates reading 287EHS.

No other information was immediately available.
Hurricane Ida might be responsible for the loss of 106 square miles of wetlands, an area only slighter larger than Baton Rouge, with most of the loss occurring in the Barataria Basin south of New Orleans, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority was told Wednesday.

"It's incredibly significant," Brady Couvillion, a geographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, said of the preliminary estimate. "This is probably the most impactful storm we've seen since Hurricane Katrina, and it's definitely the most impactful event for the Barataria Basin in recorded history."

But Couvillion cautioned the final loss total is likely to shrink, as wetlands reestablish themselves over the next year or so.

"We saw this with Katrina," he said of the 2005 storm, which was blamed for turning more than 200 square miles of wetlands into open water along Louisiana's coast. "We saw this with Rita, Gustav, Ike. These initial numbers are often inflated, as they have some ephemeral effects in them, and as we continue to observe things, these numbers will go down."

Still, Wednesday's estimate, the first to put a number on the size of wetlands lost to Ida, underscores the increasing vulnerability of southeast Louisiana at a time when climate change is causing more intense storms.

The estimates include the loss of flotant, a type of wetland grasses that grows in a mat on the water's surface and is connected to water bottoms by long roots. But they don't include aquatic plants that simply grow on the surface of the water.

Couvillion said another part of the estimate totals that is likely to change are areas where some flotant, other vegetation or mud redirected by Ida shows up as new land. Plant life that is moved into areas of open water, often called wrack, is likely to disappear as it decomposes.

He said scientists must wait weeks, months or longer to assure that high water levels caused by the storm or other issues aren't obscuring how much land and wetlands were actually lost. As an example, he showed a satellite photo of an area of wetlands and flotant just south of Lake Salvador. It looked as if it had turned to open water on Aug. 30, the day after Category 4 Ida made landfall at Port Fourchon, packing sustained winds of 140 mph and pushing a storm surge in excess of 12 feet into portions of the Barataria Basin.

"There were some early reports showing this image of complete doom and gloom for all of the Barataria Basin," he said. "But thats an important aspect of how we study wetlands. We cant look at one particular day. We knew that a lot of this was just ephemeral flooding.

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"Instead we gave it some time and we collected more imagery, and unfortunately when we started looking at imagery that was removed from the event, we did find a lot of persistent wetland loss, Couvillon said. He used before and after photos of that same area, with the later photo from Sept. 24, almost a month after the storm, as an example.

By then, it was clear that large areas south of Lake Salvador, east of Delta Farms and Clovelly Farms and west of Little Lake, had turned into open water.

The chair of the coastal authority, Chip Kline, said the location of those lost wetlands are significant, as they served as a buffer for the Larose to Golden Meadow hurricane levee.

Couvillion said he expects a more accurate estimate of the Ida losses in the results of his agency's update of Louisiana's coastal land loss, which will be published in early 2022. But even then, future adjustments are likely as more wetlands regain their footing, following next spring's natural growout.

He said the updated report was supposed to have been released this fall but was delayed to capture Ida's effects. The report also will address similar land loss that occurred in the aftermath of hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020 in western Louisiana, he said.

Couvillion said there is little past research linking major hurricanes and land loss. Most past studies focused on other known issues, such as subsidence, loss of sediment caused by the Mississippi River levee system and the construction of canals and navigation channels for oil and gas and commerce.

The coast has lost more than 1,900 square miles of land and wetlands since 1930, he said.

But more recent studies, like the Geological Survey's review of wetland losses associated with Katrina in 2005, have indicated storms are a significant player. As a result, he said, Ida's damage comes as no surprise.
COVID-19 health guidelines through Thanksgiving and Winter Recess

Dear students, faculty and staff,

As we approach the final weeks of another unprecedented year, we are proud to affirm that Northwestern has maintained a consistently healthy community since our return to campus.

More than 98% of us are fully vaccinated, and our current COVID-19 positivity rate is 0.6%. These reassuring numbers are not an accidentthey are due to your diligence and care as we have relied on a combination of vaccinations, testing, masking and symptom tracking to protect our students, faculty, staff and visitors.

When we have experienced minor spikes in positive cases, we have strategically employed additional testing to guard against spread in and beyond the affected communities. We will continue to monitor Northwesterns health landscape closely through the winter and, if necessary, adjust our approach in consultation with local health officials and our own experts.

We write today to share our plan through the rest of this year and into 2022.

Thanksgiving Break

Northwestern strongly encourages anyone who plans to travel or gather with friends and family over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to test before and after the break. Our testing centers in Evanston and Chicago will offer the following extended hours to accommodate the anticipated increase in visitors before and after the break:

Monday, Nov. 22 through Wednesday, Nov. 24: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 28: Closed

Monday, Nov. 29 through Wednesday, Dec. 1: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

When you visit a testing center, we encourage you to pick up a free at-home test as an additional resource for monitoring your health.

If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, please do not come to campus. Northwestern outlines the processes for symptomatic testing for students and faculty and staff.

Return from Thanksgiving Break and Fall Term exams

Northwestern will resume in-person classes on campus after Thanksgiving Break, and the final exam period falls shortly after our return for most students. Faculty generally will continue with the final assessment plans and timeline laid out in their syllabi. While some may allow students to take a final exam remotely, faculty are not required to do so and students should plan to return to campus after break and stay for the exam period.

Return from Winter Recess

After Winter Recess, the Winter Quarter will begin on Monday, Jan. 3, and the Spring Semester on Monday, Jan. 10. Again, we encourage everyone who plans to travel or gather with friends and family to pick up an at-home test from one of our testing centers before leaving campus this fall to use immediately before your return. Additionally, all students will be required to take an in-person COVID-19 test during the first week of classes. Our testing centers in Evanston and Chicago will offer extended hours from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. from Jan. 3 through Jan. 7 and from Jan. 10 through Jan. 14.

Booster shots

At this time, Northwestern does not plan to host large-scale vaccine or booster clinics in the coming months, given the individualized nature of booster decisions and the widespread availability of vaccines in the community. Students who receive care from NU Health Service may consult a physician regarding their COVID-19 booster options. The University recommends that faculty and staff consult with their primary care physician to discuss if and when a COVID-19 booster vaccination is appropriate. Additionally, you can fill out the City of Evanstons Vaccine Booster Survey to be notified of upcoming vaccination events. Most local pharmacies also have booster appointments available.

In the coming weeks, the University will update the vaccine disclosure form to allow individuals to report when they received boosters, and for faculty and staff to provide copies of their vaccine records in accordance with State of Illinois requirements.

Return to Campus review

We are assessing our return to campus operations to learn more about the experience across schools and units. While this work takes place, we encourage continued work flexibility consistent with the Alternative Work Strategies Policy that was approved over the summer. Schools and units should plan to continue their current strategies into calendar year 2022 as long as they continue to support academic, research and administrative needs. If you have questions, please contact Human Resources.

Thank you for your commitment to the health and safety of your fellow students and colleagues. If you have not already, we encourage you to get your seasonal flu shot. We wish you a safe, healthy and happy holiday season with your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Luke Figora

Vice President for Operations

Priya Harjani

Interim Vice President for Human Resources
Huawei has lifted the lid on the MateBook E, a 2-in-1 with a 2.5K OLED display. The device comes in three configurations, has a Thunderbolt 4 port and will be available in two colours.

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Huawei has unveiled the MateBook E, a 7.99 mm thick tablet that runs Windows 11. Undoubtedly, the MateBook E will be a Surface Pro 8 competitor, which Microsoft announced in September. The MateBook E also weighs 709 g and supports a detachable keyboard. Arguably, the star of the show is the tablet's display, a 12.6-inch OLED panel that operates at up to 400 nits in a 2,560 x 1,600-pixel native resolution. Accordingly, the display has a 16:10 aspect ratio.

Additionally, Huawei has equipped the MateBook E with LPDDR4X RAM, a PCIe SSD, and a 42 Wh battery that can be recharged at 65 W. Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6 are also onboard, as is active stylus support. The MateBook E has a single Thunderbolt 4 port, too.

Currently, Huawei has only announced the MateBook E in China, where it starts at CNY 5,999 (~US$938). The entry-level configuration comes with a Core i5-1130G7 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. By contrast, the company offers a model with the same processor but 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD for CNY 6,999 (~US$1,095). Alternatively, there is a third model with a Core i7-1160G7, 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD for CNY 7,999 (~US$1,251).
Motorola has announced the Moto Watch 100, a 42 mm smartwatch with up to 14 days of battery life. The Moto Watch 100 is available to order for US$99.99 and is packed full of features, but not Wear OS.

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The Moto Watch 100 has already leaked several times, most recently courtesy of 91mobiles. While Evan Blass published numerous marketing assets yesterday, Motorola has quietly unveiled the smartwatch. It is worth keeping in mind that Motorola has licensed the Moto Watch brand to eBuyNow eCommerce, which the FCC and a press pack confirms.

Arguably, one of the most notable features about the Moto Watch 100 is one that it lacks. For some reason, the smartwatch does not rely on Wear OS, which underpins the Moto 360. Instead, the Moto Watch 100 comes with Moto Watch OS, an operating system that Motorola describes as:

A streamlined experience focused on health and routine dramatically increases battery life.

Accordingly, the Moto Watch 100 has much longer quoted battery life than the Moto 360. Officially, the Moto 360 lasts 24 hours between charges, or for 3 days if you use 'Time Only Mode'. By contrast, the Moto Watch 100 is billed to last up to 14 days.

The Moto Watch 100 is only available as a 42 mm smartwatch, which corresponds to a 1.3-inch display. The smartwatch also has built-in GPS, 5 ATM waterproofing, a heart rate monitor and a SpO2 sensor. Motorola pre-loads over 100 exercise modes, too.
The Moto G41 is one of many smartphones Motorola has launched today, including the Moto G200, Moto G71 and the Moto G51. The Moto G41 offers an OLED display, a 48 MP camera with OIS and a 5,000 mAh battery for 249.99.

4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Human 2.0 , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker

Motorola has announced the Moto G41, one of two MediaTek Helio G85-powered smartphones on which it has lifted the lid today. Bizarrely, the Moto G41 and Moto G31 share many parts, not just their SoCs. The pair also have the same display as the Moto G71, a 6.4-inch OLED panel with a 60 Hz refresh rate and a 1080p resolution.

The Moto G41 comes with 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The device will be available in Meteorite Black and Pearl Gold, colours that are unique to the Moto G41 in the new Moto G range. The Moto G41 has a 5,000 mAh battery like its Moto G siblings, though. Incidentally, the Moto G41 supports 30 W wired charging, a higher wattage than the Moto G51 is capable of.

However, the IP52 certification of the Moto G71 and Moto G51 is lacking. Instead, the Moto G41 has IPX2 certification, which should mean that it can withstand dripping water when tilted at 15. The 'X' means that there is no data available to provide a protection rating against the ingress of solid parts, though.

Moreover, Motorola has equipped the Moto G41 with a 48 MP primary camera that supports OIS, an 8 MP ultra-wide, and a 2 MP macro camera. There is also a 13 MP front-facing camera that sits behind the large display.
QUITO, Ecuador  More than 60 inmates were killed Tuesday in the worst prison riots in Ecuadors history, as rival gangs battled for control of the countrys growing drug trade.

The violence broke out in a series of coordinated mutinies on Tuesday morning in three large prisons across the country, according to the police. It was not until the afternoon that the authorities regained control.

Videos recorded by inmates and shared on social media showed beheaded corpses and mutilated arms and legs, shocking a nation unused to massacre. The ghastly imagery made clear just how far Ecuador has fallen into the violent spiral of organized drug crime.

This sort of thing was unthinkable in our country, Ricardo Camacho, who once headed Ecuadors prison system, said in an interview. This is a tragedy, a true shock.
NDJAMENA, Chad  Gunshots rang out in the capital of Chad Monday night into early Tuesday morning as supporters of the president, Idriss Deby, fired in the air celebrating the announcement that after three decades of iron-fisted rule, he had just won a sixth term.

Meanwhile, Mr. Deby was dying on a battlefield north of the capital, Ndjamena, of wounds sustained while fighting rebels trying to overthrow his government, his military generals said. His death was announced on Tuesday.

The death of Mr. Deby, who brooked no dissent and was feared by his own people, could spark a battle for succession and leave a gaping hole in a country heavily relied upon by the West in its wars against Islamist extremists in West and Central Africa.

Chad is a desert nation three times the size of California, surrounded on all sides by countries facing serious instability, like Libya, to the north, and Nigeria to the south. Its military forces have been key to both the war in the Sahel, a vast stretch of territory to the south of the Sahara, and the fight against Boko Haram and its splinter groups in the Lake Chad region.
Amazon had a record-breaking year in Europe in 2020, as the online giant took in revenue of 44 billion euros while people were shopping from home during the pandemic. But the company ended up paying no corporate tax to Luxembourg, where the company has its European headquarters.

The companys European retail division reported a loss of 1.2 billion ($1.4 billion) to Luxembourg authorities, according to a recent financial filing, making it exempt from corporate taxes. The loss, which was due in part to discounts, advertising and the cost of hiring new employees, also meant the company received 56 million in tax credits that it could use to offset future tax bills when it makes a profit, according to the filing, released in March.

Amazon was in compliance with Luxembourgs regulations, and it pays taxes to other European countries on profits it makes on its retail operations and other parts of the business, like its fulfillment centers and its cloud computing services.

But the filing is likely to provide fresh ammunition for European policymakers who have long tried to force American tech giants to pay more taxes. And the Biden administration is pushing for changes in global tax policy as part of an effort to raise taxes on large corporations, which have long used complicated maneuvers to avoid or reduce their tax obligations, including by shifting profits to lower-tax countries, like Luxembourg, Ireland, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
Mark Lowcock, the top humanitarian emergency official at the United Nations, told a webcast meeting of aid officials and diplomats that the number of people affected by the famine was higher than anywhere in the world and was the worst in any country since a 2011 famine gripped neighboring Somalia.

Mr. Lowcock said the data paints a picture of a very, very extreme situation, requiring a generous donor response and smoother humanitarian access to areas of Tigray that he said had been blocked by Ethiopian forces and allies from neighboring Eritrea.

This is going to get a lot worse, said Mr. Lowcock, recalling the 1980s famine in Ethiopia that caused an estimated 1 million deaths and showed the horrors of mass starvation with jarring images on television.

The new famine data was from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a system used by humanitarian aid agencies and governments to determine the scale of a hunger crisis. The system is based on a five-phase scale of food insecurity  Phase 1 is minimal and Phase 5 is famine. The data showed that of 5.5 million people facing food insecurity in Tigray and neighboring zones during May and June, 350,000 were now in Phase 5.

This severe crisis results from the cascading effects of conflict, including population displacements, movement restrictions, limited humanitarian access, loss of harvest and livelihood assets, and dysfunctional or nonexistent markets, a summary of the data said.
Its a cautionary tale: Across southern Europe and beyond, countries  Turkey, Italy and Algeria among them  have struggled to respond to wildfires, as decades of underinvestment have withered the states ability to protect its citizens. In Greece as elsewhere, to have any chance of mitigating climate catastrophe, the state must reverse much of what it has done for the last 30 years  and commit to the patient, long-term task of investing in environmental resilience. Otherwise Athens, streaked by smoke, could become Europes first uninhabitable capital city.

The roots of this summers fires in Greece go back to the postwar period, when breakneck urbanization  spurred by flimsy, often illegal building sprees  lured tens of thousands from the countryside to Athens. Entire coastlines were despoiled with concrete for the sake of touristic development, while colossal tracts of countryside, long overseen by shepherds and olive farmers with stakes in the well-being of the land, were emptied of many of their handlers. Even more devastating, on a global scale, was the environmental damage committed by Greeces ship-owning magnates, whose ceaseless transport of hydrocarbons, combined with a stranglehold over the countrys political system, made them some of the worlds most stupendous agents of planetary desecration.

Even so, at least until the late 1980s, the state played a large role in securing public welfare. But over the next decade, that started to change. In search of immediate profits, the government sold off chunks of the countrys public sectors, among them telecommunications, electricity and gas. Responsibilities once held by the state fell to private interests, whose priority was to turn a profit off them, or to private citizens, who were left to pick up the pieces.

Take Greeces firefighting sector. Though nominally under the states care, it suffered from under-resourcing: In the 90s, the government annually deployed a small force of just 4,500 permanent firefighters  aided by thousands of seasonal hires  to stamp out summer blazes. Little attempt was made to harness resources for the long-term care of forestland that might prevent the onset of fires in the first place. Exacerbating the problem, in 1998 the liberal administration, as part of its bid to decentralize government further, uncoupled the task of firefighting from that of forest management altogether. Efforts to stymie fires became tangled in bureaucracy.

It got worse. The financial crash of 2008 and the ruthless austerity that followed  insisted on by the European Union countries now dispatching troops of firefighters to Athens  forced the Greek government to operate within strict budgetary requirements. With only minimal control over its own finances, it stripped back the firefighting budget by more than 100 million, or $118 million. The result was considerable abandonment. In recent weeks, as their homes burned in Evia, residents threw up their arms in despair. The state is absent, said one villager. We were fighting alone, said another.
Trash surveys and cleanups

Todd Clardy, a marine scientist in Los Angeles, sometimes counts the P.P.E. he sees on the 10-minute walk from his apartment in Koreatown to the Metro station. One day this month, he said, he spotted 24 discarded masks, two rubber gloves and loads of hand sanitation towelettes. Sometimes he sees them atop grates that read, No Dumping, Drains to Ocean.

Dr. Clardy suspects some masks simply slip from wrists. Once it falls on the ground, people probably look at it like, Huh, Im not wearing that again. Breezes likely free some from trash cans, too. The bins are always full, Dr. Clardy added. So even if you wanted to put it on top, it would fly away.

Dr. Clardys accounting isnt part of a formal project, but there are several such undertakings underway. In the Netherlands, Liselotte Rambonnet, a biologist at Leiden University, and Auke-Florian Hiemstra, a biologist at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, keep a running count of masks and gloves littering streets and canals. They track animals interactions with the castoff gear.

Among their documented examples are an unfortunate perch trapped in the thumb of a phlegmy-looking latex glove, and birds weaving P.P.E. into nesting materials, risking entanglement. Nowadays it would be difficult to find a coot nest in the canals of Amsterdam without a face mask, Ms. Rambonnet and Mr. Hiemstra wrote in an email.

The researchers maintain a global website, Covidlitter.com, where anyone can report animal and P.P.E. incidents. Dispatches include sightings of a brown fur seal tangled in a face mask in Namibia; a mask-snarled puffin found dead on an Irish beach; and a sea turtle in Australia with a mask in its stomach. Back home, the researchers, who also lead canal cleanups in Leiden, worry P.P.E. trash will increase now that the Dutch government has reinstated mask requirements.

Every weekend we encounter face masks  new ones and old, discolored ones, Ms. Rambonnet and Mr. Hiemstra wrote. Some are barely recognizable, and blend in with autumn leaves.
Still, the decision to return to orbit with the Bebop gang was easy, she explained: Im a die-hard fan of the show.

On a video call from Tokyo, with the assistance of her translator, Kanehira Mitani, Kanno talked about reuniting with her band, Seatbelts, to rerecord tracks from the original series, and about engaging all five senses in order to create an interstellar soundscape. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

What was your reaction when you were approached to score the new series?

The first response was surprise. Since the original anime series was from 20 years ago, that they would be making this live-action version now  I was surprised at the courage they had.

How would you compare working on the new show to your experience back then?

In the anime version, I didnt really get any direction from Mr. Watanabe. So what I did was just create all these pieces of music, and then the director and creative team would piece it together and put it into the anime. Id heard that was the kind of approach that Ennio Morricone used back when he was working on western movies. But in the live-action, we actually had to look at the material and spot where to put the music in.

The Best Music of 2021 From Lil Nas X to Mozart to Esperanza Spalding here is what we loved listening to this year. Best Songs: A posthumous political statement and a superstars 10-minute redo are among the 66 best tracks of 2021. Pop Albums: Recordings with big feelings and room for catharsis made the most powerful connections. Jazz Albums: Even the big-statement albums this year had a feeling of intense closeness. Classical Music: 2021 was a year of reawakening for the art form, with performances that spoke meaningfully to the moment.



How did that work in practice?

I received the script three years ago. Then the first time I actually saw the visuals that were shot was around April this year. During the time in between, I would kind of imagine what the music would be like and gestate those ideas. Once I saw the actual footage, those ideas went away and I started all over again.
Jason Mott won the National Book Award for fiction on Wednesday for his novel Hell of a Book, an account of a Black authors book tour intertwined with one focused on a Black boy in the rural South and a third character, The Kid, who may be imaginary.

Mr. Mott, who said that his agent had picked his work out of the unsolicited slush pile 10 years ago, is a poet and the author of three novels in addition to Hell of a Book.

I would like to dedicate this award to all the other mad kids, to all the outsiders, the weirdos, the bullied, he said in his speech. The ones so strange they had no choice but to be misunderstood by the world and by those around them. The ones who, in spite of this, refuse to outgrow their imagination, refuse to abandon their dreams and refuse to deny, diminish their identity, or their truth, or their loves, unlike so many others.

The historian Tiya Miles won the nonfiction prize for All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashleys Sack, a Black Family Keepsake. The book traces the history of a family through a cotton sack that an enslaved woman gave to her daughter in the 19th century when they were about to be sold apart.
Lukashenkos risky play at the Belarus-Poland border

Aleksandr Lukashenko, the Belarusian leader whom the E.U. accuses of engineering a migrant crisis on the border with Poland, could face a serious headache if thousands of asylum seekers try to stay in his country.

Belarus is a poor, highly repressive former Soviet republic with little to offer in the way of jobs and other opportunities. But for some migrants, remaining in place seems more enticing than either returning to their home countries or facing off against Polish soldiers and border guards. Belarus is a very, very good country, one migrant observed.

A rush of people seeking asylum could be problematic for Lukashenko. Belarus has little experience in taking in immigrants, and it has generally been hostile to non-Christian settlers from outside Europe. For weeks, it has denounced its neighbors for violating international law by refusing to consider asylum requests from those who make it across the border.

Show of support: An unofficial network in Poland has been working to support those who have made it across from Belarus, including by placing a green light in a window to show migrants that they are safe to ask for help.
23D. When lambs are not silent, they are BAAing.

26D. Speaks on the record? is not hinting at someone giving an interview or sworn testimony. It refers to RAP.

28D. Heres a conundrum for newer solvers. You are given the clue Captain Pierce portrayer on old TV, and you know that the four-letter answer, in some form, is Alan Alda from M*A*S*H. Do you write in ALAN or ALDA?



The answer lies in the matching rule in crossword puzzle solving, which even extends to names. A last name in the clue (Pierce) means that the answer should also be a last name: ALDA.

Todays Theme

Mr. Brian has taken five common phrases and clued them in a very clever way. Each theme clue offers three examples of a topic (such as Di Gaga Godiva at 16A), and arrows surround one of the examples. What could that mean, and why is it being singled out?

It turns out that the example inside the arrows indicates its place in the order of the list. For example, Di at 16A is inside the arrows, and she is first in the above list of people with Lady in their name. That would make her 

 Are you ready for this one? 

 the FIRST LADY.

That was the first theme clue that I solved, and I can confidently say that my initial reaction to this was What?

Then I started to understand more of the theme, and I loved it. Themes that are multilayered are my favorite, and this one is great.

You have to:

1. Figure out why there are arrows in your clues. (No, its not a typographical error.)

2. Determine why the three examples are listed together. (What do they all have in common?)
Americans died of drug overdoses in record numbers as the pandemic spread across the country, federal researchers reported on Wednesday, the result of lost access to treatment, rising mental health problems and wider availability of dangerously potent street drugs.

In the 12-month period that ended in April, more than 100,000 Americans died of overdoses, up almost 30 percent from the 78,000 deaths in the prior year, according to provisional figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. The figure marks the first time the number of overdose deaths in the United States has exceeded 100,000 a year, more than the toll of car crashes and gun fatalities combined. Overdose deaths have more than doubled since 2015.

Administration officials said on Wednesday that they will expand access to medications like naloxone, which can reverse an opioid overdose, by encouraging states to pass laws that will make it more widely available and promoting its use by Americans.

I believe that no one should die of an overdose simply because they didnt have access to naloxone, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Sadly, today that is happening across the country, and access to naloxone often depends a great deal on where you live.
A man answering to the name Mujahid Halim responded to the exoneration of two men convicted alongside him in 1966 for Malcolm Xs murder with a relieved benediction, delivered quietly through a closed door.

God bless you, theyre exonerated, the man said in response to a reporters question on Wednesday, after the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., acknowledged that Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam did not get a fair trial. Mr. Vance plans to ask a judge to vacate the convictions on Thursday.

Mr. Halim was known as Talmadge Hayer in 1966 when he admitted in court that he took part in the assassination. He did not cooperate with the district attorneys review of the evidence, according to prosecutors and defense lawyers.

The man who identified himself as Mr. Halim did not open the door to his first-floor apartment in Brooklyns Sunset Park neighborhood. The door was decorated with a single bumper sticker that read Prophets of Islam. A mat at its base depicted roses and read, Live, Laugh, Love.
We love outdoor dining and sharing it with the community!

Elzi Volk

Perry, N.Y.

To the Editor:

I enjoy outdoor dining, but have become increasingly aware of how it can make the lives of people in nearby houses miserable. Given how narrow West Village streets are, the outdoor sheds impact on residents there is even more oppressive. I find the self-interested bar owners remarks that the complaints only come from people who dont have lives outrageous.

There is something very wrong when a supposed vision of a more humane and dynamic city alienates the citizens who live there.

Barbara Quart

New York

To the Editor:

As a longtime frequent tourist to New York City, I hope that some reasonable compromise is reached between the city, the neighborhoods and the food industry about outdoor eating and sidewalk cafes. For the most part, they are wonderful and should continue, as they add a charming ambience to the city.

I just spent two full weeks in the city after an absence of two years given the pandemic and thoroughly enjoyed my daily visits to the variety of cafes in my neighborhood, meeting people from all walks of life while breaking bread. Such experiences contributed significantly to my visit, and when I return next year, I look forward to having them once again.

Vincent Linares

Kula, Hawaii

The Social Policy Bill: Religion and Child Care Funding

To the Editor:

Re Looming Fight on Faith, Funds and Child Care (front page, Nov. 15):

So religious groups are complaining that their failure to comply with nondiscrimination requirements might disqualify them from receiving federal largess for their child care facilities. That is, they not only want to be permitted to continue their discriminatory practices, but they also want to receive taxpayer funding while doing so.

No one suggests that secular groups should be exempt from nondiscrimination policies. We are being asked to allow religious groups, and only religious groups, to maintain their bigotry. It is troubling, and perhaps ironic, that those who claim to represent Gods love on earth also assert a unique right to disfavor people based on their gender or sexuality.

Marc Gold

Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

To the Editor:

You report that faith-based groups are lobbying to receive a huge new infusion of federal money from President Bidens prekindergarten and child care plans. They complain that to receive the funds, the provisions nondiscrimination language would no longer permit them to refuse to hire gay employees, to give preference to applicants of their own faith and to refuse to accommodate disabled students.
OBITUARIES

An obituary on Monday about the artist Bettina Grossman misstated the name of the city in Italy where she traveled to select marble for her sculptures. It is Carrara, not Carrera. The error was repeated in a picture caption.

OPINION

An article on Saturday about teaching children how to assess risk misspelled the surname of the director of the film Licorice Pizza. He is Paul Thomas Anderson, not Andersen.

An article on Monday about Senator Kyrsten Sinema included an unverified reference to her net worth. The most recent estimate from the organization OpenSecrets, based on disclosure documents from 2018, lists it at $32,500, not $1 million.

Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions.
During the war, I would face death by firing squad. Today, in the worst-case scenario, I will go to prison. This is nothing.

MARIA ANCIPUK, of Michalowo, Poland, who shines a green light as a signal to migrants that her house is a safe place to seek assistance, referring to the penalty for helping Jews during the Nazi occupation.
Travis McMichael, the man who shot Ahmaud Arbery to death after chasing him through a suburban Georgia neighborhood, testified in his own defense on Wednesday, arguing that pointing his gun at Mr. Arbery was an attempt to de-escalate the situation, a tactic he said he had learned during use-of-force training while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.

If you pull a weapon on someone, from what Ive learned in my training, usually that tells people to back off, Mr. McMichael said, describing it as compelled compliance.

Mr. McMichael, 35, is among three white defendants facing murder charges in Mr. Arberys death. Along with his father, Gregory McMichael, and their neighbor William Bryan, he stands accused of chasing Mr. Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, in two trucks through the Satilla Shores neighborhood outside the city of Brunswick. When Travis McMichael got out of his truck, he and Mr. Arbery struggled over Mr. McMichaels shotgun.

Mr. McMichael described the encounter as a life or death situation and said he suspected that Mr. Arbery was a burglar who was potentially armed. No evidence has been presented that Mr. Arbery had a weapon with him.
After being stopped by the police in South Carolina in July, a Black man was ordered to lie on the ground. When he did not do so quickly, because he has metal rods and pins in his leg and hip, an officer stomped on the back of his head.

The man, Clarence Gailyard, 58, will now receive $650,000 in compensation from Orangeburg, S.C., the city announced on Wednesday.

Body camera footage from July 26 shows Mr. Gailyard being stopped by Officer David Lance Dukes. The officer points a gun at Mr. Gailyard, who is on his hands and knees.

In the video, Mr. Dukes, who was later fired, yells, Get on the ground! He then stomps on Mr. Gailyard, causing his forehead to hit the ground.
When the Covid-19 pandemic began last year, a Southern California man recruited his brother, his wife and many others to use the identities of older people, foreign exchange students who had left the country and dead relatives to apply for $20 million in federal relief funds, the authorities said.

The man, Richard Ayvazyan, 43, bought a $3.25 million mansion and filled it with gold coins, luxury watches and imported furniture using the stolen Covid-19 disaster-relief funds, federal prosecutors in California said.

In June, Mr. Ayvazyan; his wife, Marietta Terabelian, 37; and Artur Ayvazyan, Mr. Ayvazyans brother, were convicted of scheming to fraudulently obtain funding that was meant for people and businesses that had sustained economic losses as a result of the pandemic.

In August, as they awaited sentencing at their home in the San Fernando Valley, Mr. Ayvazyan and Ms. Terabelian removed their bracelet monitors and fled, according to the F.B.I. They left their children behind, according to federal prosecutors.
That could include building new plants or production lines, and it might require licensing technology from other vaccine manufacturers.

This is about assuring expanded capacity against Covid variants and also preparing for the next pandemic, Dr. Kessler said in an interview. The goal, in the case of a future pandemic, a future virus, is to have vaccine capability within six to nine months of identification of that pandemic pathogen, and to have enough vaccines for all Americans.

Dr. Kessler and Mr. Zients conceded the plan is not fully fleshed out; the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency on Wednesday issued a request for ideas from industry. The price tag is unknown; Dr. Kessler estimated it at several billion, with the money coming from the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Mr. Biden signed into law earlier this year.

Mr. Zients said the government was looking to move quickly, and wanted responses from industry within 30 days. The potential partners appear to be limited; only two major vaccine makers  Pfizer and Moderna  are currently using mRNA technology, although those companies employ contract manufacturers to do the work for them.

In a statement on Wednesday, Pfizer commended the administration and pledged to come to the table with how we can best contribute to the fight against Covid-19. Officials at Moderna did not respond to an email message seeking comment. But Steve Brozak, an investment banker whose company, WBB Securities, specializes in biotechnology, said engaging industry could prove difficult.

Without a specific commitment of money, without a specific time plan, companies may not be interested, Mr. Brozak said. If the administration wants to ramp up vaccine manufacturing, he added, it will also have to increase production of resins and other vaccine components.

Reaction to the plan was mixed, especially among activists who have been pushing the Biden administration to lean on Pfizer and Moderna to share their technology with manufacturers overseas. (The National Institutes of Health is in a patent dispute with Moderna, which received billions in taxpayer funding, over who deserves credit for inventing the central component of the companys coronavirus vaccine.)
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba  A defense lawyer on Wednesday invoked the bedrock American right to confront ones accuser as he asked a military judge to permit the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to attend secret testimony by two psychologists who waterboarded him 183 times.

The argument illustrates the on-again, off-again nature of the war crimes proceedings, whose rules generally exclude the defendants from classified testimony in the pretrial phase.

The psychologists, both former C.I.A. contractors, began testifying in open court in January 2020. But their return to court to resume testifying has been on hold in part because the judge who heard it abruptly announced his retirement two months later, and in part because the pandemic paralyzed the proceedings for more than 500 days.

The overarching issues are whether admissions that the defendant in this case, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, made years after the waterboarding were tainted by torture, and whether they can be used as key evidence in an eventual trial.
Gillian Wearing, one of the Young British Artists (or Y.B.A.s) of the early 1990s, sailed to success on a tide of provocative confessional work. The confessions werent her own: Using masks, cue cards, and other distancing devices, she has been able to convince a stream of ordinary people to disgorge their most shameful secrets on camera.

Since 1997, when she was awarded the Turner Prize, Wearing, now 57, has covered a lot of ground. Shes continued to amass confessions in photographs and on video, and shes made elaborate self-portraits in which she, too, appears in disguise. Shes also been commissioned to make public sculptures of average citizens, constructed ingenious lightbox videos that look like still photos till they startle you by moving, and even, during Covid lockdown, run off a smattering of paintings.

Samples of all this work are now installed in an expansive new retrospective at the Guggenheim, her first in the United States. Aptly, if inevitably, the show is called Wearing Masks. Despite its variety, though, everything in it revolves around a single question: Who are you, and can I ever really know you?
People who buy their own health insurance would be able to keep collecting tax credits that were created by President Bidens pandemic stimulus bill in March. Those subsidies lower the price of health insurance for almost everyone who buys their own plan. Adults with low incomes would be able to sign up for free plans, and those with higher incomes could keep new financial assistance that didnt exist in Obamacares first decade.

Those increases were aimed at concerns among researchers and Democratic lawmakers that the Affordable Care Act had not made insurance affordable enough. Combined with a big enrollment push, the changes prompted 2.8 million more Americans to sign up for insurance this year.

New rules in the bill would limit how much pharmaceutical companies can increase drug prices each year. That could help lower premiums and co-payments for the two-thirds of Americans with private health insurance. (Though, as Politico recently reported, pharmaceutical companies are lobbying hard to weaken this proposal.)

Children

The bill would permanently extend the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which provides inexpensive health benefits to nearly 10 million children from lower-income families.

It would also make a technical change to Medicaid that experts say would help children keep their health insurance for longer. The change requires that children be allowed to keep the insurance for a year after being signed up, even if their familys income changes. Frequent eligibility checks in certain states had contributed to loss of coverage for more than a million children in recent years.

The Bottom Line

The sum of these parts is much smaller than the tear-downers might have preferred. Americas health coverage system remains fragmented. Some groups, such as undocumented immigrants, remain left out. Other people may still struggle to afford coverage or may lack insurance for benefits such as dental care. Price regulations wont take a huge bite out of pharmaceutical industry profits. And some of the key coverage expansions will expire after 2025 if Congress doesnt renew them.
4. The leaders from the U.S., Canada and Mexico met to discuss trade and migration.

The summit at the White House between President Biden, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was the first after a five-year hiatus during the Trump administration.

One of the biggest issues for Canada and Mexico is a tax credit in the expansive social spending bill that would benefit American production of electric vehicles. The leaders of Canada and Mexico will announce a plan to send millions of coronavirus vaccines to much of Latin America and the Caribbean.

As he met with Trudeau, Biden said that the U.S. was considering a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing to protest human rights abuses.
No, I dont think its fear so much as unfamiliarity, as a few readers suggested, though admittedly, what separates these feelings can sometimes be a fine distinction.

Being new to Greek reds, I do find their names distractingly complicated, said Shweta of Michigan. And, referring to a Greek grape, Bunk McNulty of Northampton, Mass., (a fine alias derived from The Wire, I hope) said, Agiorghtiko doesnt exactly roll off the American tongue.

Possibly, with an added complication: Greek words must be transliterated from the Greek alphabet into the English alphabet. This does not happen systematically, so most Greek grapes have multiple spellings in English. Unlike Bunk McNulty, for example, I would use the spelling agiorgitiko which is preferred by the authoritative book Wine Grapes, rather than the alternative spelling agiorghtiko.

Here at Wine School, we are keenly aware of the subtle messages conveyed by words and language, and the discomfort that can come when facing something new. Wine is difficult and intimidating enough in any language. Throw in a different alphabet, and its easy to get overwhelmed.

This ought to be expected, and it speaks to the important role restaurants and sommeliers play in familiarizing the public with new and different wines. In my introductory article on Greek reds, I alluded to the scant few opportunities to learn about Greek wines, partly because few restaurants are around to play a significant educational role, just as the rarity of German and Austrian restaurants does not help Americans feel more comfortable with Germanic wines.

One wine, gruner veltliner, is an exception to this notion. At the turn of the 21st century, gruner was virtually unknown to Americans, yet it swiftly became a popular restaurant wine. How did that happen? Sommeliers embraced it, transcending national boundaries. American restaurants began serving it by the glass, with bartenders and waiters ready to offer tableside reassurance to the hesitant.

I dont expect that to happen with Greek reds. It will be a long haul with many baby steps, including the first one, simply trying the wines because they have so much to offer. As usual, I suggested three bottles to drink over the course of the last month.
If Americans know one thing about wine, they know this: Napa Valley makes cabernet sauvignon.

They know it so well that many Americans simply assume that all cabernet sauvignon comes from Napa Valley. Paul Draper, the longtime head of Ridge Vineyards, which makes Monte Bello, perhaps the greatest American cabernet, once joked to me that people were surprised to learn that Monte Bello was not from Napa. It comes from the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Actually, a lot of California cabernet sauvignons dont come from Napa Valley. Many supermarket cabernets come from the Central Valley, where industrialized farming has been scaled up to produce wine very cheaply. Much better cabernets come from elsewhere in the state. Of the roughly 95,000 acres of cabernet in California, according to the United States Agriculture Department, only about 22,000 acres are in Napa.

Thats a sizable percentage, but it means an awful lot of cabernet is farmed elsewhere, including almost 13,000 acres in Sonoma.

This month, were going to try three cabernet sauvignons from outside of Napa Valley. The three bottles I suggest are:

Broadside Paso Robles Margarita Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 $18

Camp Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 $22
PARIS  As settings go, it could hardly be a better match.

On Nov. 18, the newly renovated Hotel de la Marine on the Place de la Concorde became the long-term home for a highly curated selection of objects from the Al Thani Collection, widely recognized as one of the most important and eclectic private art collections in the world.

The neo-Classical stone building was commissioned by King Louis XV and designed by his principal architect, Ange-Jacques Gabriel, to match the Hotel de Crillon on the opposite side of the Rue Royale. During the reign of Louis XVI, the building was the royal repository for furniture, tapestries and even the crown jewels (which were stolen one September night in 1792).

It occasionally was opened to the public to show off royal splendors, making it the French capitals first museum, predating the Louvre by more than a decade. After the French Revolution, it became the official headquarters of the French Navy for 266 years. And this past summer it emerged from extensive renovations as a monument to the French art of living. Features include a richly embellished suite of 19th-century reception rooms and a loggia overlooking the plazas Luxor Obelisk and, inside the main courtyard, the Cafe Laperouse and Mimosa, a restaurant run by the Michelin-starred chef Jean-Francois Piege.
The English title of Radu Judes new feature, Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn, strikes me as deliberately clumsy, in keeping with the cacophonous, off-kilter tone of the movie itself. My Romanian isnt what it should be, but I might quibble with loony, since the porn in question  a three-minute clip that is the first thing audiences see  doesnt seem especially crazy. Its certainly explicit, but the lunacy Jude is interested in exploring has less to do with whats happening on camera than with some of the reactions to it.

A decidedly amateur piece of adult cinema, the video shows a married couple exuberantly enjoying each others company. The action, recorded on a cellphone, is inadvertently comical (a mother-in-law knocks on the door in medias res) and mildly kinky. Theres a lot of breathless dirty talk, and also a latex flogger, a magenta wig and a leopard-print mask  the costume-party kind, not the Covid-precautionary kind.

There will be plenty of those in evidence later, when the camera (now wielded by professionals) moves out into the noisy, pandemic-anxious streets of Bucharest and the focus shifts from sex as a conjugal pastime to sex as a political and cultural issue. Thats where the bad luck comes in. The naughty video has made its way onto the internet  exactly how is a matter of some ambiguity  causing problems for one of the participants, Emilia Cilibiu (Katia Pascariu), a history teacher at a prestigious secondary school. Outraged parents have demanded a meeting, and much of the movie consists of Emi (as she is called) preparing for that event and then enduring it.
If it seems that the only movie Big Hollywood knows how to make is the one they made last year  and the year before that  theres a reason. The industrys franchise fever is real, though much depends on timing. My colleague Kyle Buchanan once determined that while successful sequels tend to be rolled out every few years, those that wait six years are often doomed to fail. That may be welcome news for the latest Ghostbusters, a cautious, painlessly watchable kid-centric romp that is opening precisely five years, four months and four days after the previous installment went splat.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife was directed by Jason Reitman, whose father, Ivan Reitman, directed the first two movies in the 1980s, and was in line to take on the third. Over many years and after many more studio notes, a new director, Paul Feig, was brought in, and the third movie became a female-driven reboot. Before it even opened, the reboot became the target of viciously sexist and racist trolling and rage, a casualty of the culture wars. But much like the troublesome apparitions that haunt this series, profitable franchises (and even barely profitable ones) rarely truly die in Hollywood. And Ghostbusters is simply too goofy, too smart about dumb fun and too potentially lucrative to stay buried for long.

And so: Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which is as cuddly and toothless as you would expect from a relaunched studio property in which the main characters are children and Paul Rudd plays a love interest. Theyre all predictably adorable and have big, easy-to-read eyes, the better to widen in feigned surprise or mock fear when various ghosts come a-calling. For their part, the cartoonish apparitions range from the cutesy to the PG-13 snarly and include a roly-poly metal muncher, a pair of slathering hellhounds and some puffy, gurgling creatures whose wide-open arms and demonically cheerful smiles have been engineered for toy shelves and maximum nostalgia.
Steadfastly shouldering this rambling, barely penetrable narrative, Hawke smoothly distinguishes the implacable intensity of J.J. from the delusions of his brother (whose messianic rantings recall Hawkes startling performance as John Brown in last years Showtime drama The Good Lord Bird.) Saddled with some of the films dippiest dialogue (You hate trees!, he screams at his unidentified tormentors), Justin serves as the enfeebled, despairing conscience of a world seemingly abandoned by God and compassion alike.

With its prickling, apocalyptic aesthetic and persistent paranoia, this spooky political thriller is all about a mood: conspiratorial, sinister, unsettled. Here, the accessories of pandemic life become even more ominous: A sanitizing team on the subway recalls plague thrillers like Contagion (2011), and a suddenly-brandished thermometer pointed at J.J.s forehead plays like a gun attack. When everyone is wearing a mask, how do we tell the good guys from the bad?

Utterly baffling, yet never less than intriguing, Zeros and Ones lingers in the mind. Even after you think youve brushed it off, its chilly tendrils continue to cling.

Zeros and Ones

Rated R for temptation and torture. Running time: 1 hour 25 minutes. In theaters and available to rent or buy on Amazon, Google Play and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.
I always told myself as a younger child that one day Id live a great and amazing life, he said.

Figuring out how to make that happen took some time. Mr. Manning, 29, was first connected with Childrens Aid, a beneficiary agency of The New York Timess Neediest Cases Fund, when he entered its foster care program in 2004. After graduating high school, he attended a free vocational program at the School of Cooperative Technical Education.

He also became involved with the Next Generation Center, a Childrens Aid program focused on young people, including those moving out of foster care. When the center opened a music studio in 2010, Mr. Manning had an opportunity to explore music and sound production, recording and how to D.J.

I found my niche, Mr. Manning said.

Six years after finishing the vocational program, he began the associate degree hed been aiming for, channeling his musical interest at Hostos Community College. Last year, he received his associate degree in digital music, and after encouragement from a teacher, he decided to continue his education.

But when Mr. Manning was accepted at the City College of New York to pursue a bachelors degree, his finances were too tight. He continued to work at the grocery store and could not afford the tuition. He turned to Childrens Aid for help. Using money from The Neediest Cases Fund this summer, Childrens Aid provided $1,949 for two courses.

Im very happy and blessed that even past aging out many moons ago, Childrens Aid is still supporting me in pursuing this childhood dream, Mr. Manning said.
The girl was 16 when Christopher Belter raped her, according to court documents. He was a teenager too, a student at an elite private boys school whose familys western New York home was known as a party house where teens gathered to consume liquor, marijuana and Adderall.

It was August 2018, and the girl, identified in court filings as M.M., was at Mr. Belters house to spend the night with his sister before going to Chicago the next day.

He asked her into his room, and then threw her onto the bed, pulled off her clothes and told her to stop being such a baby, according to court documents. At a hearing this summer, she described focusing her attention on the leaves of a plant in the room as the attack continued.

This week, Mr. Belter, 20, was sentenced in the assault on M.M. and in sexual attacks on three other teenage girls. Facing up to eight years in prison, he was instead given eight years probation by a judge who said he had agonized over the decision.
Now, as the mayor contemplates a run for governor next year, he has returned to his core campaign issues: In an appearance on MSNBC on Thursday morning, he proposed statewide, year-round, all-day school, a vision that he said would revolutionize education in the State of New York.

Mr. de Blasio has yet to announce his plan to ban horse-drawn carriages, which would require approval by the City Council, but it has been quietly moving forward. In the emails, city officials said they were aiming to have the legislation ready by Dec. 16, when the City Council is expected to hold its last full meeting of the year.

Danielle Filson, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said he had always wanted to ban horse-drawn carriages, and that he hoped the City Council would again consider it.

A Guide to the 2022 Governors Races For all of the attention on the House and Senate campaigns, the governors races in 2022 may be just as important. Key Races: Learn more about whats at stake and where, and who might come out on top. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania: In these states, Republicans are pushing to rewrite election laws. What does this mean for the 2022 races? New York: The New York governors race will see one of the most high-profile Democratic primary battles in the nation.



The mayors office has directed the Economic Development Corporation to contract with a consulting firm, Langan Engineering, to conduct an analysis of the proposal, with a focus on its environmental, transportation, and socioeconomic impacts, according to the emails. The firms managing principal did not respond to requests for comment.

It remains unclear if there is any appetite in the City Council to ban horse-drawn carriages. The Council has not received a proposal from the mayor, Shirley Limongi, a spokeswoman for the Council, said in a statement. We will review anything we do receive.
In New York City, when someone wants to build something, theres almost always a fight  over luxury high rises in Queens, a homeless shelter in Midtown Manhattan and even a dog run on the Upper West Side. But rarely has there been a battle as vicious as the one unfolding in one of New Yorks wealthiest neighborhoods  the Upper East Side.

At issue: the New York Blood Center, one of the countrys largest independent blood suppliers, which is seeking city approval to replace its three-story brick headquarters in the Manhattan neighborhood with a 16-story glass tower in partnership with a Boston developer. The center would occupy parts of the first five floors, while the developer would lease the upper floors to life science companies.

In short order, community groups mounted opposition. Nearly every local politician, including the City Council member who represents the neighborhood, joined in. It would be too big on a low-rise residential block, they said, and cast shadows on a park across the street.

The city has also proposed granting tax incentives over 25 years to the developers that could exceed $450 million, according to an analysis of documents obtained by The New York Times. Just a handful of recent developments in New York City have received larger tax incentives of this kind, including Hudson Yards on the Far West Side of Manhattan.
The official record of one of the most important political assassinations in American history will be rewritten on Thursday afternoon when the Manhattan district attorney steps into a courtroom and asks a state judge to vacate the convictions of two men found guilty in the killing of Malcolm X more than a half-century ago.

A 22-month review jointly conducted by the district attorneys office and lawyers for the two men, Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, found what historians and scholars had long known: that the case against them was dubious from the start, based on conflicting witness testimony and no physical evidence.

The Manhattan district attorneys office, the New York Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation all withheld evidence pointing to different suspects that would have likely led to the mens acquittal, the review found.

Now, 55 years after they were convicted, the verdicts are expected to be tossed out in a historic rectification of injustice. Mr. Aziz, 83, will be in court and is expected to make a statement. He was released from prison in 1985. Mr. Islam was released in 1987 and died in 2009 at age 74. His relatives are also expected to be in court.
The Fifth Circuits aggressive behavior in the vaccine case almost pales in comparison to what the court has done with abortion. In September the court rejected pleas from abortion providers in Texas to put the vigilante law Senate Bill 8 on hold to enable the clinics to litigate their case against it. The clinics emergency motion came before the same three judges who later ruled in the OSHA vaccine case.

The panels 19-page unsigned opinion in the case, Whole Womans Health v. Jackson, analyzed the obstacles the private plaintiffs faced in finding someone to sue over a law that purports to insulate all state officials from responsibility for administering a flagrantly unconstitutional ban on abortion after only six weeks of pregnancy. In rejecting the clinics motion, the panel declared primly that we must respect the limits of our jurisdiction. The clinics claims against a Texas state court judge and court clerk were specious, the court said.

The federal government then brought its own suit against Texas on the completely different theory that S.B. 8 was an affront to the sovereign interests of the United States and to the supremacy of federal law. A federal district judge, Robert Pitman, granted the preliminary injunction the federal government sought in a 113-page opinion that meticulously dismantled all of the states objections to the courts jurisdiction.

A different Fifth Circuit three-judge panel, by a vote of 2 to 1, promptly blocked Judge Pitmans order, explaining in a single sentence of a single paragraph that it was granting the states request for the stay for the reasons stated in Whole Womans Health v. Jackson. How could this be? The reasons stated in rejecting the private plaintiffs case had nothing to do with the federal governments suit, as the Solicitor Generals Office told the Supreme Court in its application to vacate the Fifth Circuits stay.

Those reasons do not apply to this very different suit, the acting solicitor general, Brian Fletcher, explained to the justices. Sovereign immunity forced the private plaintiffs in Whole Womans Health to sue individual state officers, and this court and the Fifth Circuit questioned whether those officers were proper defendants. This suit does not raise those questions because it was brought against the state of Texas itself, and the state has no immunity from suits by the United States. The Fifth Circuit ignored that distinction, which refutes the courts only justification for the stay. When the justices refused to lift the stay, instead setting the case for the argument that took place on Nov. 1, Justice Sonia Sotomayor echoed the solicitor generals point in a powerful dissenting opinion.

There is no conceivable excuse for the Fifth Circuits failure to explain itself or for the Supreme Courts failure to call the court to account for its dereliction of duty. But so far, the Fifth Circuit is winning. S.B. 8 is still in effect.

Lets not forget that this is the same court that in 2018, in a challenge brought by an abortion provider, June Medical Services, upheld the Louisiana law that required doctors who provide abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. It was bad enough that this was a requirement that, in the political and religious climate in Louisiana, doctors could not meet. What was really wrong with the Fifth Circuits decision was that two years earlier, in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt, the Supreme Court invalidated an identical law from Texas. In that case, the Supreme Court overturned a Fifth Circuit decision concluding that the admitting privileges requirement, despite having resulted in the closing of nearly half the abortion clinics in Texas, did not impose an undue burden on womens access to abortion.
To the Editor:

Re Republican Censured by a Divided House for a Violent Video (news article, Nov. 18):

So what that Representative Paul Gosar was censured? He gets to remain a congressman. Anyone in any other organization would be summarily fired for a similar stunt. He is unrepentant after the vote, going so far as to retweet the animated video of him killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and assaulting the president.

He no doubt plans to act the martyr, wearing his censure like a badge of honor, designed to stir his angry constituents to re-elect him by an even greater margin.

I dont know what the bigger scandal is, whether its Mr. Gosars actions or the virtual lock step support given him by the rest of his party, with Kevin McCarthy leading the way, pointing the finger at Democrats with sanctimonious false equivalencies that are Republicans stock in trade.

But the underlying problem is Mr. Gosars supporters in Arizona. Blind hatred gives meaning to their lives. Please dont tell me I as a Democratic voter need to sympathize with their so-called grievances.

Bryan L. Tucker

Boston

To the Editor:

Isnt it funny that when Kathy Griffin posted a video of herself holding what looked like the severed head of President Donald Trump, she was shunned by the media, put on the no-fly list and had tour appearances canceled? And, oh yeah, she was investigated by the Secret Service and the U.S. attorneys office. In other words, she was treated as if she were a potential presidential assassin.

Yet Kathy Griffin is a comedian. For making what some consider a tasteless joke, she was mercilessly punished.

Now Representative Paul Gosar posts a video of himself murdering another member of Congress and slashing and threatening our president with swords. Where is the Secret Service and the U.S. attorneys office now? Why isnt his career ruined?
At 10 p.m. last Friday  laughably early by nightlife standards  there was already a line outside of House of X, a new Manhattan club conceived by the creators of House of Yes and the hotelier Ian Schrager.

Michael Becker  a so-called vibe ambassador, hired by the club to nudge patrons to get looser, freer and freakier  ushered a stream of guests into the subterranean nightclub. Mr. Becker, 39, wore a leather crown and a red glittery collar over a black harness that revealed a torso honed at his day job as a fitness instructor.

Oh thank God, said a clubgoer, Davide Fikri Kamel, 30, as he eyed Mr. Becker. I thought I would be the only one who was transgressive tonight.
Siblings Emily Cameron and Owen Mears grew up surrounded by scents in a village in Somerset, England, where wafts of apples and fresh-cut hay would mingle with a cocktail of cumin, cinnamon and cloves from a local herb farm. It was only when I left home and moved to the city that I realized how much fragrance had been a part of our lives, says Mears. To recapture this intoxicating landscape, the pair launched Ffern, a small-batch organic-scent subscription service, created with fourth-generation perfumer Francois Robert. Quarterly releases, each evoking a particular place and timed either to the solstice or the equinox, are mailed to a ledger of clients whose number is kept low in order to ensure the integrity of the artisanal production process. This winters fragrance summons the English seaside town of Lyme Regis via a heady blend of mimosa, sweet orange, bergamot, vetiver and marjoram. From $129, ffern.co to register for waiting list (customers will receive an invitation to join the client ledger via text shortly thereafter).

Ts Instagram

An Antiquarians Parisian Homecoming
SAN JOSE, Calif.  At the height of her acclaim in 2015, Elizabeth Holmes, the entrepreneur who founded the blood testing start-up Theranos, was named Glamours Woman of the Year. Time put her on its list of 100 luminaries. And she graced the covers of Fortune, Forbes, Inc. and T Magazine.

Theranos collapsed in scandal three years later, failing in its mission to revolutionize the health care industry. But it did change the world in another way: It helped sour the media on Silicon Valley.

That point was brought home on Thursday when Roger Parloff, a journalist who penned the Fortune cover story on Ms. Holmes and Theranos in 2014, testified in a federal courtroom in San Jose, Calif., where Ms. Holmes is on trial for 12 counts of fraud. Mr. Parloff said Ms. Holmes had made misrepresentations to him, including the volume and types of tests that Theranos could do, as well as its work with the military and pharmaceutical companies.

Theranoss law firm, Boies Schiller, had introduced him to the start-up, Mr. Parloff said. The law firm had told him that the real story was this remarkable company and its remarkable founder and C.E.O., Elizabeth Holmes, he testified, looking directly at Ms. Holmes across the courtroom.
Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Not my president! Not my president! Not my  [sirens] Hear these words. You will never be ignored again. On inauguration day, I was looking for Richard, because I hadnt met him yet. Ive given conferences for ages, and well usually expect some protesters. I was going around looking for them and I was walking past that limousine that was on fire. I got a phone call from somebody thats like, hey, did you just see Richard got punched? Pepe has become a symbol  I was pissed off because I was like, oh my god, if I had already found him or I was already there, that wouldnt have happened. I need to meet up with Richard to make sure that that doesnt happen again. Thats when I  I knew I had to get serious. And I knew we had to professionalize. A year ago, if you had asked me, what would you have been doing? You could have given me a million guesses and I wouldnt have told you this. Essentially, I went from being an anonymous Twitter troll to being an activism leader of the alt-right, all in the span of about nine months. You will not replace us. You will not replace us. You will not replace us. Identity politics for white people is my immediate goal. And getting alt-right people to push from the online world to the real world and take up space. Im Eli Mosley here representing Identity Evropa and the American alt-right. We are here today to show the establishment of this country that they will not remove white symbols in an act of white iconoclasm. The anti-white policies of the left and the right in this country come together to oppress our people and our interests. Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame! You will not stop us from representing our interests. You will not replace us. You will not replace us. You will not replace us. You will not replace us. Its a far more fulfilling life  Shame! Shame! Youre anti-white!  than going through the motions of a life that could be anybodys. A little over a year ago, Elliott Kline was living a dual life. In his day job, he was an entry level H.R. administrator, but online, he was a far-right-wing Twitter troll troll who called himself The Jew Hunter. Here he is in a podcast when he thought only an alt-right audience was listening. Just a warning, youre about to hear some extremely offensive language I work in H.R. firing niggers and spics all day. Before that, I was in the Army and I got to kill Muslims for fun. Im not sure which one was better, watching niggers and spics cry that cant feed their little mud children, or watching Muslims brains sprayed on the wall. Honestly, both probably suck compared to listening to a kike scream while being ovened. His trolling name was Eli Mosley, after Oswald Mosley, a British fascist leader and admirer of Adolf Hitler. Hail Trump. Hail our people. Hail victory. As the Trump campaign gave way to a polarizing victory and white nationalists started coming out in public, Back the [expletive] up! Eli Mosley stepped away from his keyboard into real life. Lets go, start lighting your torches. Start lighting your torches. Jews will not replace us. Jews will not replace us. He became a lead organizer of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Im about to send at least 200 people with guns to go get them out  This is where violent clashes have broken out between white nationalists and counterprotesters. New video, you see it here, of that deadly car attack, the driver, charged with murder. I think theres blame on both sides and I have no doubt about it. And you dont have any doubt about it, either. While some fled the movement after the violence in Charlottesville, Eli leaned in. We are done with DACA. We elected Donald Trump to  Soon after, he was named head of one of the largest groups in the alt-right, called Identity Evropa. Hes taken on the air of a polished spokesman, dressing up his despicable language. Eli is happy to engage the media when he thinks he controls the narrative. A middle-class kid from suburban Pennsylvania, he had opportunities in life. But he went to several colleges and never graduated. He served in the National Guard, but quit before his contract was up. Now hes on a path where past failures dont matter. Hes leading others like him  disaffected white men who found each other in the dark corners of the online world. His mission, to repackage a racist worldview and sell it to the American public. All right, fellas, heres the scoop. We got different types of sandwiches. So what were going to do is youre just going to take one and dont open it, and if you dont like it, trade with somebody else on the bus, O.K.? I see theres turkey and this says club, so who knows. Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton. Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton. Old times there are not forgotten. Old times there are not forgotten. Look away, look away, look away, Dixieland. I wish I was in Dixie, hooray, hooray. In Dixies land Ill take my stand to live and die in Dixie. Away, away, away down south in Dixie. Away, away, away, away down south in Dixie. All right, that was pretty good. Do you want to do the whole thing one more time? The alt-rights basic strategy, which they call triggering, is to provoke a reaction from the public by stirring outrage and fear. They think that if their opponents then respond aggressively, even violently, the alt-right may appear less offensive in comparison. Today, theyve chosen the ultimate trigger. Theyre returning to the site where they shook the nation with a brazen display of white supremacy. Theyre going back to Charlottesville. Do not allow yourself to get separated. Do not allow yourself to get isolated. And even if you do, do not panic. The last time we came to this city, somebody got isolated and shit got bad and he panicked when shit got bad. And he is probably never going to leave the state of Virginia alive. Some of these people were at the last Charlottesville event. And some are new recruits still in their teens. Some, like Eli, are military veterans. And they planned to the minute how theyre getting in and how theyre getting out. 16-inch barrel. No, thats a 20-inch barrel. Is it? Should we be having the cameras in here? Whatever, fuck it. What? Ill just sit right here in the middle. Yes. O.K. Does everybody have one? Yep. All right. So I was in the Army for about six years. I joined when I was 17 and I was infantry. I did become jaded in the fact that I didnt understand, like why are we in Iraq. And I saw it firsthand how silly it was. Is this what war felt like, Eli? I was the driver. Oh, you were the driver? Actually, being in the back of a seven-ton is preferable to this, almost. A lot of the people that I rely on for security and logistics, anything like that, are former military. All right. Right, guys, out. Left side, left side, left side of the sidewalk. Get on the sidewalk on the left side. Well, people expect that people with our views are going to come out 400 pounds. They call them white trash or things like that. And were kind of showing that thats not the case. We are a group of well-mannered, good-looking young white people who have something to say. We are here to represent white Americas interests. When polled, white Americans do not agree with what we see here  this statue being covered up and torn down in front of all of these people who are terrified to say it, because of the evil R-word they might be called. No more. Absolutely not. This ends now. We will be back. We will be back. We will be back. We will be back. We will be back. Step it out. All right, go, go, go, go, double time, double time. Lets go. Everyone, right now. Walk it out. If you are [unclear] in front of the next person, you are wrong. Lets move. Hurry it up, 15, lets go. Lets go. Hey everyone, Charlottesville 3.0 was a great success and it was a lot of fun. We came, we triggered, we left. We demonstrated that we came in peace in May, we came in peace in July, we were badly mistreated. And we came in peace tonight. It was a great success, and were  This event isnt for the few people who happen to be at the park. Its for the world to witness. Before long, the return to Charlottesville is trending on Twitter. And the next day, its all over the news. Donation basket  Donations, donations, thank you, thank you, thank you, gentlemen. Greatly appreciated. Thank you, thank you. There are no reliable numbers about the size of the alt-right, let alone how many veterans are involved. That lack of information allows them to say whatever they want about who they are. I went from Kuwait to Baghdad back and forth, and then we did a little bit on the east border over by Iran with those [expletive] Shia [expletive], you know what Im talking about, those Shia militia people? On alt-right podcasts, Eli portrayed himself as a callous combat veteran. Wed rather a Chechen shoot at us than a [expletive]  be next to a Haji. But in our interviews, hes vague about his time in Iraq. Sorry, did you say you were in Iraq? Yes. How long were you there? Only three  nine months. Oh. Different than three. Well, I went there  I went to Kuwait for a little bit for three months, and it wasnt really Iraq. Its the base. And then it was nine. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Right. And it was towards the end part, so the demobilization period. Because I only graduated high school in 2010. Right. Will you just say in a full sentence how long you were in the Army? Hold on a sec. His accounts of deployment didnt add up. And soon wed find out why. We contacted the Army to get his military records. Next on Elis agenda  University of Florida is bracing for potential violence today at a speech by white nationalist leader Richard Spencer. Hes opening for Richard Spencer on a so-called college tour. Officials at the state-run University of Florida initially turned down Spencers request to speak, but when he threatened a First Amendment lawsuit, administrators relented. [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] Claiming free speech rights, Spencer and his group target a public university. The governor declares a state of emergency and media from across the country comes to cover the controversy. Just so you know, there are metal detectors around here, so make sure you have nothing on the prohibited list. Theyll hand it to you there next to you. Our movement was once an atomized, autonomous and aimless individuals. This November it will be one year since I made the leap into meeting others in the alt-right. Ive gone on podcasts, Ive argued with people in debate groups, but Ive never given a live political speech. Im not really nervous, Im just excited. [expletive] And Im also spilling water all over Richards bed. No Nazis, no K.K.K., no fascist U.S.A. No Nazis, no K.K.K., no fascist U.S.A. Move back up little bit. Back up so they can work. Please back it up. Please, everybody, back up. I was denied entrance to this event because I have phone numbers on my arm, which they know is a tactic that protesters use in case theyre arrested. Like, right now like I got racially profiled trying to go in, because apparently we dont fit the Caucasian stereotype of how we should look. Any time, any place. Punch a Nazi in the face. Which side of history are you on? Which side of history are you on? Allow me to speak. And then well have a conversation afterwards. What do you think about that? Go home, Spencer. Go home, Spencer. Are you adults? Are you adults? Are you ready to think for yourselves? It doesnt look like it. O.K., Hi, Mr. Dick Spencer. Thanks for coming. Id like to introduce myself as Eman Elshahawy, and my ethnicity is Egyptian and Puerto Rican. And I am a beautiful brown woman here today. And I guess my question for you is, how did it feel to get punched in the face on camera? It hurt. Yeah, it hurts when someone punches you in the face. Is that a real question? Yeah, how bad did it hurt, like, did you [expletive] your jaw? Hey, excuse me, Egyptian Puerto Rican woman that just asked the question. I have an answer for you, actually, from the third-person perspective. I was in D.C. the day that Richard got punched. And that day changed my life, and it changed hundreds of people who are white Americans lives that day, when they fundamentally realized that this country did not belong to us and that we were going to have to fight for what we believed in and fight for our people. So you can thank yourselves and all of your celebrations of violence for why we are here today, because we are fundamentally reacting to what you have said and done. I never really kind of got anything when I was Elliott Kline, until I became Eli Mosley. Eli Mosley was able to find that sense of purpose that I was always looking for. Yeah, it was a little obnoxious trying to give a speech with 600 people screaming at you. To struggle, friends. To struggle. However, the audio came in just fine over the internet and millions of people are going to see what we said. I gave a speech yesterday and now Twitter has removed my account completely. When you go to tweet, you hit tweet, Your account is currently suspended. For more information, go to Twitter.com. The social media platforms that initially allowed the alt-right to flourish are starting to stifle it. Twitter is cracking down, sporadically, on hate speech, banning some accounts affiliated with white nationalism. Ive been banned maybe 20 times at this point, now. And they dont understand. No, you shut us down, we come right back. You shut us down, we come right back. Were not going anywhere. Every time I get an account shut down, Im making a new one the next day. Elliott Klines Army documents arrive. The story they tell is far different from the one he created. Turns out, he never deployed  not to Iraq, not anywhere. Elliott Kline spent about six years in the Pennsylvania National Guard, coming in to train one weekend a month and for some weeks over the summers. Two soldiers from his unit also confirmed that he never deployed. The Army tells me that you did not deploy. The Army tells you? Yeah. So did you go to Iraq? I was in Kuwait. I told you that before. You told me you went to Kuwait and then you went to Iraq. Well, theyre  theyre  basically, its the  its very similar, the way it works. So what were the dates that you were there? Um, let me think. Hold on, Im trying to find out. Um, 2012, I believe, but Ive got to look. Because the last troops left Iraq in the end of 2011. The facts dont seem to matter to Eli. But maybe thats the kind of person who becomes a leader in this movement. The more that people like him come out into the open, the more they reveal the alt-right for what it really is.   was in Dixie, hooray, hooray. Its a movement where 30 people with cheap tiki torches can seem like an army in the echo chamber of social media, where white men claim to be the real victims, and where a weekend warrior can pass himself off as a disillusioned veteran of war.
The stage is set for what could be the most dramatic moment of the criminal trial of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the failed start-up Theranos.

After 11 weeks of court proceedings plagued by delays, prosecutors appear prepared to rest their case soon. Then the defense will be up.

The defense lawyers list of potential witnesses includes Holmes, the former Silicon Valley darling who has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Taking the stand would be a risky move, but Holmes has shown she can be very persuasive and charismatic, Erin Griffith, a reporter for The New York Times, told me. And shes clearly a risk-taker.
KENOSHA, Wis.  Only 12 people know definitively why jury deliberations in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial have lasted nearly three days without a verdict.

But one thing is clear: The length of the deliberations is not necessarily a good or bad sign for either side, and there have been high-profile precedents for both acquittals and convictions after lengthy deliberations.

The only things jurors have made clear about their approach is that at least some of them wanted to rewatch parts of the copious video footage shown at trial and that they needed more copies of the 36 pages of jury instructions.

Juries can take days to either acquit or convict. Jurors in Minneapolis deliberated for roughly 10 hours over two days in April before convicting Derek Chauvin, a former police officer, of charges including second-degree murder for killing George Floyd.
KENOSHA, Wis.  The judge overseeing the Kyle Rittenhouse trial said on Thursday that a producer for MSNBC had followed a bus carrying jurors home from the courthouse the previous night. Judge Bruce Schroeder called it an extremely serious matter and said he was banning anyone affiliated with the cable network from the courthouse.

During a brief hearing on Thursday morning, Judge Schroeder said Kenosha Police officers had noticed a car following the bus by about a block. At one point, it ran a red light. When the officers pulled the car over, Judge Schroeder said, the man driving said he was a producer working with MSNBC and that someone who worked for the network in New York had instructed him to follow the jurors.

The Kenosha Police Department said the man, whom the judge identified as James Morrison, had been released after being taken into custody and given traffic citations and that he had not taken any pictures of the jurors.

In a statement, NBC News said the man was a freelancer and that while he had received a traffic citation near the vehicle carrying the jurors, he had never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations. The network said that the man had also not photographed or intended to photograph the jurors.
The report, which was reported earlier by The Washington Post, said that other decisions at the agency at the same time  such as changes to its organizational structure  led to additional departures and an increased reliance on details, or employees from other agencies who are temporarily assigned to perform the duties of a position that has been vacated.

The result, the report said, was a loss of headquarters staff, increased numbers of headquarters vacancies, a loss of experienced staff and decreased representation of employees of some races and ethnicities. Increased vacancies, and the details used to temporarily fill those vacancies, sometimes led to confusion and inefficiency.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced in September that she had decided to reverse the Trump administrations decision to move the Bureau of Land Managements headquarters.

But Representative Raul M. Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona and the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, had requested the Government Accountability Offices report. He asked the accountability office to examine changes in the bureaus work force after the decision by the Trump administration.

The authors of the report said it was difficult to assess the full effect of the move and other changes at the 8,800-person agency because officials did not maintain comprehensive data about vacancies and other personnel issues.
The bill would cut taxes sharply for the next five years by increasing the value of the deduction, but it would mean higher taxes in the following five years than if the cap were allowed to expire. The Congressional Budget Office said on Thursday that over the course of a decade, the changes to the deduction would amount to a tax increase that would raise about $14.8 billion in revenue.

The House proposal is likely to change in the Senate, where it has its own champions and detractors. Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, has embraced a more generous deduction while Senator Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who is the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, has sharply criticized the House proposal. He joined Senator Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, in negotiating an income cap  as high as $550,000, though that number is in flux  on who can receive the deduction.

This week, the National Republican Congressional Committee released survey data that it said suggested most voters in battleground states would be less likely to vote for Democrats who supported a policy that gave tax cuts to rich homeowners in New Jersey, New York and California. It said that the Democratic Party would have to defend its politically toxic policies which penalize hard working families to reward liberal elites.

Prominent tax and budget analysts have argued that expanding the deduction amounted to an unnecessary giveaway to the rich.

According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a family of four in Washington making $1 million per year would receive 10 times as much tax relief next year from expanding the state and local tax deduction as a middle-class family would receive from another provision in the social policy package, an expansion of the child tax credit. Citing calculations from the nonpartisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, the group said that two thirds of households making more than $1 million a year would get a tax cut under the legislation because of the increase to the state and local property tax deduction.
WASHINGTON  President Biden hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico at the White House on Thursday, a diplomatic mission that saw three leaders trying to project a united front amid trade scuffles, accusations of American protectionism and ongoing concerns over surging migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.

But while they agreed to form a working group on regional supply chain issues, including for critical minerals, and struck an agreement to share vaccines, the leaders seemed intent on relaying diplomatic niceties over tackling thornier questions like trade disputes or the surging numbers of migrants.

We can meet all of the challenges if we just take the time to speak with one another, Mr. Biden said during a meeting with both leaders on Thursday evening.

The return of the summit after a five-year hiatus signaled an increased appetite among North American leaders to show a sense of strategic and economic solidarity amid a rise in competition from Asia and Europe. The gathering also comes at a critical moment for the United States, as the breakdown in global supply chains and the mass movement of people across the Americas has made cooperation with Mexico and Canada more vital than ever.
Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:26 - 0:00 transcript Biden Hosts Summit With Canadian and Mexican Leaders The North American Leaders Summit returned after a five-year hiatus, signaling an increased interest in showing strategic and economic solidarity in the region. As leaders, we share an innate understanding that our diversity is an enormous strength, that we are best able to reach our potential when we unleash the full  the full range of our peoples talents. I want to thank you, President Biden, for hosting this, now the first since 2016 when I welcomed the then leaders to Ottawa. It is a real pleasure to be gathered here with friends, with you and President Lopez Obrador. We are three countries with extremely strong ties between our people, with our visions and values for the future, strongly united. We must not forget that while Canada, United States and Mexico account for 13 percent of the world market, China domains 14.4 percent. And this imbalance started out only 30 years ago in 1990. Chinas share was 1.7 percent. This is why the best, the most convenient thing is to strengthen our economies, to strengthen our trade operations throughout North America and the entire continent. The North American Leaders Summit returned after a five-year hiatus, signaling an increased interest in showing strategic and economic solidarity in the region. Credit Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Biden hosted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico at the White House on Thursday, a diplomatic mission of three leaders trying to project a united front amid trade scuffles, accusations of American protectionism and concerns over a surge of migration toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

We can meet all of the challenges if we just take the time to speak with one another, Mr. Biden said during a meeting with both leaders on Thursday evening. As leaders, we share an innate understanding that our diversity is an enormous strength, that we are best able to unleash our potential when we unleash the full range of our peoples talents.

The return of the summit after a five-year hiatus during the Trump administration signaled an increased interest among North American leaders to show a sense of strategic and economic solidarity amid a rise in competition from Asia and Europe. The gathering also came at a critical moment for the United States, as the breakdown in global supply chains and the mass movement of people across the Americas have made cooperation with Mexico and Canada more vital than ever.

The leaders agreed on Thursday to form a working group to address regional supply chain issues, including a steady supply of critical minerals, and they struck an agreement to share vaccines. But thornier questions, including what to do about surging numbers of migrants, went unanswered.

Image Mr. Biden met separately with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times

Mr. Bidens advisers said the leaders would discuss humane ways to address the root causes that drive people to the border and address the flow of fentanyl and other drugs. But they also said the group would not talk about policies that have become flash points for immigration activists, including a program that forces some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their cases are pending.

When asked how the problem of migration could be discussed without mentioning those programs, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, told reporters that pending litigation prevented the policy, known as Remain in Mexico, from being openly discussed. But certainly migration will be, she said, as will every step that can be taken to reduce the number of people who are coming to the border.

At the end of the day, getting back together will give the right impression, said Tony Payan, the director of the Mexico Center at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy. The bad news is that the issues are many and thorny.

No accords were expected in the continuing disagreements over how each country has handled its trade commitments. Since Mr. Biden took office, the details of that Trump-era revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement  called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement  have been in dispute. The accord sought to update Mexicos labor laws, encourage more auto production in North America and open Canadian markets for American dairy farmers.

In recent weeks, the Canadian government has argued that the tax credit offered to American consumers who buy U.S.-made electric vehicles is in breach of the accord. Speaking to reporters in a news conference on Monday, Mr. Trudeau said that the Biden administrations buy-American ethos was counterproductive to promoting commerce between the two countries.

We dont view it that way, Ms. Psaki said to reporters on Thursday. In our view, the electric vehicle tax credit is an opportunity to help consumers in this country.
NEW DELHI  Rajiv Naths factories were cranking out more than 7,600 syringes a minute when India decided to limit their export last month to shore up its own vaccination campaign.

The products were meant for clients around the world as nations scramble to inoculate their people and bring the pandemic to an end, but instead Mr. Naths warehouses were left with stocks of more than 45 million syringes that he had largely promised to UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization.

And with Indias export restrictions on syringes in place through the end of this year, experts say the world could experience a shortfall of two billion to four billion needles through the end of next year. The shortages are expected to hit African countries the hardest.

That will be truly disappointing, said Prashant Yadav  a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, a Washington research organization, and an expert on health care supply chains  that after having waited for over a year to get a reasonable quantity of vaccines, when they do obtain the vaccines, they dont have syringes to administer them.
NEW DELHI  A thick blanket of noxious haze has settled over the Indian capital of New Delhi, burning eyes and lungs, forcing schools to close and prompting ardent calls from residents for action.

Indias leaders have responded with what has become an annual tradition: by pointing fingers at one another.

The central government, run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is accusing city officials of inaction, and vice versa. The countrys Supreme Court has stepped in to shut down factories and order farmers to stop burning fields. But the courts other efforts, which last year included ordering the installation of a pair of air-scrubbing filter towers, have been derided as ineffectual.

The airborne murk and the towers stand as symbols of Indias deep political dysfunction. The choking pollution has become an annual phenomenon, and the countrys scientists can accurately predict the worst days. But deep partisanship and official intransigence have hindered steps that could help clear the air.
Despite leaving the immediate vicinity of the border to take shelter from the biting cold in the warehouse, many migrants held out hope they might still get to Europe and, failing that, settle in Belarus rather than being forced to return home, which for many is Iraq.

Yuri Karayev, an aide to Mr. Lukashenko representing the surrounding border region of Grodno, declined to answer questions about what lies in store for the migrants now that they have given up their hold on the patch of forested border land they had occupied for weeks  but not their desire to get to Europe.

Poland, backed by fellow members of the European Union, shows no sign of relenting on its hard-line stand against migrants trying to enter the country. Polands prime minister told a German newspaper that by defending our border, we defend the whole of Europe.

Under the gray gloom of the November sky, phalanxes of Polish soldiers remained in formation Thursday around the Bruzgi border crossing, still flanked by water cannons  used on Tuesday to repel a push by migrants toward Poland from Belarus. The government in Warsaw had repeatedly portrayed the migrants as an invading horde, but they had now suddenly vanished, at least from view.

Polish officials said Thursday that they had recorded 501 attempts to cross the border from Belarus in the previous 24 hours and, repeating a claim made daily by Warsaw, accused Belarusian security officials of leading groups of migrants to try to breach the frontier. Migrants give contradictory accounts of whether their forays into Poland, nearly all unsuccessful, had been aided by Belarus.
Two states in Austria will restrict public life for vaccinated and unvaccinated people starting next week as hospitals strain under the latest surge in coronavirus infections. The general lockdown in the states  Salzburg and Upper Austria  goes into effect a week after the country imposed broad restrictions on the activities of unvaccinated people.

We no longer see an alternative to a lockdown beginning next week, Wilfried Haslauer, the governor of Salzburg, told the Austrian news service APA on Thursday.

The general lockdown in the two states, which is expected to last at least several weeks, comes amid record caseloads. The Austrian authorities registered 15,609 new cases in a single day nationwide on Tuesday, a record in the country since the pandemic began. About 40 percent of those cases were in Salzburg and Upper Austria.

The exact rules were expected be announced on Thursday afternoon.

The national opposition leader, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, called for the measures to be expanded for the entire country. She said the choice was stark.
A Belavia airline boarding pass from Dubai to Minsk left under a birch tree. A childs overalls abandoned next to the old rail track, linking Belarus with Poland. An eye shadow palette hidden among brown, damp leaves.

These are not regular sights in the Bialowieza Forest, one of the last remaining swathes of a primordial forest that used to stretch across Europe, home to bison and deers. The people who come across them are not regular hikers, either. They are residents and activists looking for asylum seekers from the Middle East, victims of a standoff between a Belarusian government trying to funnel them into Poland, and a Polish government, supported by the European Union, adamant at keeping them out.

We used to come to the forest in search of the beauty of nature, said Iza, a local resident who has been helping asylum seekers, and who asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of repercussions from authorities and far-right groups. Now we are looking for things that seem out of place.
The first repatriation flight to Iraq ferried home hundreds of migrants who had been trapped in worsening misery in Belarus, caught in an international standoff and unable to reach their goal, the European Union.

I wish I had died and they were bringing my corpse back, said Awara Abbas, 30, who got off the flight in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, having spent $5,500 in a futile attempt to leave a country where he sees no economic future.

He said he had made eight attempts to cross from Belarus into Poland, and when he finally did, Polish forces caught him and pushed back into Belarus. From now until my last breath I will try to get to Europe, he said. I will try Turkey or Iran or any other way to reach Europe.

The flight, arranged by the Iraqi government, was part of efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded as migrants, many of them from the Middle East, have tried and failed to enter Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, European Union countries that border Belarus.
Mr. Mitsotakis appealed to all, particularly the unvaccinated elderly, to get their shots without delay.

Greece is mourning unnecessary losses as it very simply does not have the vaccination rates of other European countries, he said.

About 61 percent of Greeks are fully vaccinated, below the average rate in the European Union of 65.4 percent, according to the vaccine tracker of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Since the end of September, new daily cases have shot up from an average of about 2,100 to more than 6,500, according to the Our World in Data project at Oxford University, and daily Covid deaths have spiked over the same period, going from an average of around 30 to more than 74.
An armed drone strike last month on an American military base in southern Syria was Iranian retaliation for Israeli airstrikes in Syria, according to eight American and Israeli officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

The drone attack, which caused no casualties, would be the first time Iran has directed a military strike against the United States in response to an attack by Israel, an escalation of Irans shadow war with Israel that poses new dangers to U.S. forces in the Middle East.

Five so-called suicide drones were launched at the American base at Al Tanf on Oct. 20 in what the U.S. Central Command called a deliberate and coordinated attack. Only two detonated on impact, but they were loaded with ball bearings and shrapnel with a clear intent to kill, a senior U.S. military official said.

Most of the 200 American troops stationed at the base, whose main role is training Syrian militias to fight the Islamic State, had been evacuated hours earlier after being tipped off by Israeli intelligence, the officials said.
In the Middle East, there is this misconception that girls really should not see the gynecologist until they get married, she said. Many go years without visiting one  if at all  over fear that undergoing a pelvic exam would lead to a loss of virginity.

Women and girls send her questions over Instagram, and while she cannot give treatment or diagnoses over the app, she offers general advice, knowing that many of her correspondents may never visit a clinic.

Another common problem she has found is that the emphasis on celibacy before marriage, often instilled through fear, can carry over into the marriage. A virgin suddenly finding herself lying next to her husband on her wedding night, she said, may be overcome with fear and discomfort, which can manifest physically in vaginismus, a condition in which vaginal muscles involuntarily contract during penetration.

For some women, the new platforms have changed their lives in small but powerful ways.

Salma, 32, an Egyptian high school teacher who preferred not to use her last name, said a class she took with Ms. Emam left her feeling more comfortable about her body.

When she gets her period, for instance, she no longer feels the need to conceal a pad on the way to the bathroom. Because why do I have to hide? she said.

She has found her body to be a source of pleasure.

I used to feel like masturbating was something shameful, she said. But now I know that its normal and natural, something to do and enjoy.
The secretary of the Army has issued a memo warning the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in its National Guard that if they decline to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, they may not be renewed in the guard.

I have determined that all soldiers who refuse the mandatory vaccination order will be flagged, wrote Christine E. Wormuth, the secretary, in a memo this week, which would prevent them from promotions, awards, bonuses and the like. If troops persist in declining, they will not be permitted continued service unless granted an approved exemption from the vaccine, she wrote.

Last week, Oklahomas newly appointed adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, announced on behalf of Gov. Kevin Stitt that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get a Covid-19 vaccine. The policy defies a Pentagon directive issued in August that makes vaccination mandatory for all troops, including the National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch.

The memo created a testy stand off between Oklahoma officials and the Pentagon, which insists that all National Guard members must follow the same vaccine procedures as active duty troops. Guard troops are under the authority of the governor unless federally deployed. However, the Pentagon has stood its ground on the notion that its vaccine mandate trumps states rights.
Exhibition as Image focuses on the role exhibition documentation plays within artistic practice, exhibition making, and criticism and is curated by Saim Demircan, on view at 80 Washington Square East Gallery (80WSE) at New York University, on view until February 20, 2022.



With the advent of increased visibility online, the homogenization of documentation has typically flattened exhibitions into images. As such, this group re-frames how art is seen by artists who have either documented exhibitions or who take the documentation of art as a basis for their own work, offering counterpoints to processes of standardization.

These range from lens-based media wherein the recorder is an active component in the work, to, more recently, depictions of arts image as most commonly seen through the screen rather than in physical space. Whilst some of the works in Exhibition as Image might formally exist in-between art and documentation, most take subjective and embodied approaches, or offer critical responses, to the re-representation of art in the documentary mode.

The group show features Lutz Bacher, Judith Barry, Contemporary Art Writing Daily, Jana Euler, Renee Green, Hans Haacke, Esteban Jefferson, Louise Lawler, Jeff Preiss (in collaboration with Andrea Fraser, Nicolas Guagnini, Josiah McElheny, Moyra Davey, Isaac Preiss & Barney Simon, and Anthony McCall), Carissa Rodriguez, and Gili Tal.

80WSE is open to members of the public by appointment only. Schedule an appointment using Calendly at least 72 hours before your intended visit, in conjunction with NYU's visitation policy. Members of the NYU community can visit the exhibition using their NYU ID.

Background:

A curator and writer, Demircans longstanding interest in exhibition documentation originally stemmed from self-directed research into a network of lesser-known artist-run spaces and collectives between Germany and the UK as part of a collaboration with the Academy of Fine Art in Munich while he was curator at Kunstverein Munchen in Munich, Germany. During this time, he met artist Stephan Dillemuth who granted him access to his unique archive of video documentation of the exhibitions that he had filmed at Friesenwall 120, the artist-run space he co-ran in Cologne between 1991 and 1994.

Demircan organized the first public screening of this footage at the Kunstverein in 2015, which provoked an intense discussion on self-historization and agency over (art) history-making. Following this he published an interview with Dillemuth in frieze d/e in which they further discussed the artists use of handheld video to document walkthroughs of the exhibitions at Friesenwall 120.

Demircan subsequently curated a screening, Exhibition on Film at the Artists Moving Image Biennial at the ICA in London in 2016, as well as the exhibition Exhibition as Image: Art Through the

Cameras Eye at Ludlow 38 in NY in 2017. For the past several years he has taught and lectured on the subject under the title, Exhibition as Image.

A program of events will be held at:

Goethe-Institut New York

30 Irving Pl

New York, NY 10003

Friday, December 3, 7pm

Pattern recognition in Contemporary Art, a talk by Mahan Moalemi

About 80 Washington Square East (@80WSE):

Founded in 1974, NYU's 80 Washington Square East is a not-for-profit gallery presenting contemporary and historical exhibitions.



Recent shows include Louise Lawler, Lutz Bacher, Dora Budor, Harun Farocki, Nina Beier and John Miller, Diamond Stingily, Patricia L. Boyd, Peter Gidal, Lyle Ashton Harris, and Duane Linklater. The gallery exhibits in two further locations, at Broadway Windows (Broadway and East 10th Street), and Washington Square Windows (next to the gallery), both on view 24/7. 80 Washington Square East's regular hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 12 p.m.  6 p.m. For more information, please visit https://80wse.org/
Chinese real-estate agencies are paying so-called haunted house testers to spend at least 24 hours in stigmatized properties in order to convince potential buyers that they are completely safe.

Real-estate properties where unnatural deaths have occurred are really tough to sell, especially in markets where superstition and the belief in supernatural phenomena are strong. Japan, for example, has an agency that specializes in marketing and selling such stigmatized properties, because they dont really appeal to the mainstream market. China does things a little differently. Apparently, real-estate agencies pay haunted house testers to spend at least one night in problematic homes to prove that they are not haunted.

Photo: Celina Albertz/Unsplash

Hong Kong-based newspaper the South China Morning Post recently posted an article on haunted house testers, who, for a price, travel across the country and check every nook and cranny of potentially-haunted houses to prove that they are completely safe to live in.

According to Zhang, an experienced haunted house tester who gets paid 1 yuan for every minute he spends in a stigmatized property, most of the time its real-estate agents and superstitious clients who require his services. He spends at least 24 hours on the property and often calls in via video to show his employers that there is nothing to worry about.

The new owners dont dare to visit the property, so they pay someone else to do it, to see if its safe, Zhang said. This job is not suitable for full-time work, but it can be flexible as an extra income. People who do this job have to travel all over the country, not knowing where their next destination will be.

Some of my friends say its an easy job, just sleep one night and get paid. They ask me to find clients but most are scared, many give up after the first try, Zhang added.
While most real-estate firms try their best to conceal potentially disturbing details about the properties they are trying to sell or lease, one Japanese company puts these details front and center, focusing on the advantages haunted or spooky houses have.

Jikko buken, the Japanese term for accident properties are a controversial aspect of Japanese culture. The term describes generally undesirable homes, be it because of their proximity to cemeteries or crematoriums, or because of disturbing events that took place in them, from suicide, to accidental deaths or even murder. Because Japanese law states that any potential buyer or renter needs to be notified about any such details, the term accident property is generally used. But while most real-estate companies avoid giving details about the accidents in their listing, Jobutsu Estate, aka Buddhahood Real Estate, has built its business model around giving potential clients as many disturbing details as necessary.

Photo: Jan Jakub Nanista/Unsplash

Founded in April of 2019, Jobutsu has built a reputation as the number one accident property real estate company. On its website, properties are sorted by a number of categories relating to the stigma around them, including suicide, murder, proximity to cemeteries or funeral homes, etc.. It is a model unique to Buddhahood Real Estate, one that has so far proven very effective from a business standpoint.

I wanted to make real estate transactions smoother by making it open rather than hiding it, Jobutsu founder and CEO, Koji Hanahara, told Asahi. The company can be accused for going into too much detail, as it even sorts properties by whether the person who died there was discovered within or after 72 hours, or if they died in a housefire.

Although Japanese law requires real-estate companies to inform potential clients about the accidents that took place in the properties they are trying to sell or lease, there is no clear guideline on how to do that. Koji Hanahara claims that most companies will try their best to keep disturbing details from buyers. For example, if 10 years have passed since the accident, or if the person is not the first to move in after the demise of the previous owner, they wont even mention it.

Hanahara says that he built his business around accident properties after someone asked him if he was interested in promoting a home in which someone had died of natural causes. His elderly mother lived alone so he saw lonely death as a familiar issue. After doing some research, he found that over 20% of Japanese people live alone, so it was a nationwide problem.

There are over 50,000 accident properties listed for sale or lease in Japan, but the manner in which these controversial properties are being promoted is inadequate, according to Koji Hanahara. His company is trying to change this. They are up-front about the history of the place, and emphasize the financial discount they come with (from 10 to 50 percent cheaper than regular listings).

Young and elderly people are the main age demographics interested in the stigmatized properties featured by Jobutsu, as they care more about the financial discounts than the accidents that took place in them. Still, Hanahara believes there is plenty of room for growth in the market, as these types of homes are ideal for foreign workers or other categories with difficulties securing housing.



To make accident properties more appealing, Jobutsu Estate also specializes in cleaning, disinfecting and renovating such homes, and offering a Buddhahood Certificate as proof of the work they conducted.

The unique Japanese real-estate company even has a YouTube channel where it goes into detail about the particularities and benefits of accident properties. Unfortunately, its in Japanese, so
The Gallagher Group has inked a $27,500 monthly retainer pact to provide strategic counsel and tactical planning advice to Polands minister of defense to further US-Poland ties.

The Alexandria, VA-based firm will take on issues that arise in relation to Poland-US defense relations and provide the MOD crisis communications support, if requested.

Gallagher will also conduct outreach to US government officials and non-governmental groups on behalf of the MOD.

Poland is currently locked into a standoff with neighboring Belarus over the fate of thousands of migrants from the Middle East.

Gallaghers contract with Poland went into effect on Nov. 5 and runs through Feb. 5.

It will automatically renew for another three months, unless the MOD decides to end the relationship.
Heather Kernahan

Among the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, theres been a notable change in professionals attitudes as they pertain to work.

People have reassessed what matters to them and increasingly are acting to turn their aspirations into reality, whether thats a determination to stick with remote working to reduce their everyday commute and allow for more family time or to leave their current job and purse a passion project, as witnessed by the rise of the Great Resignation.

The ramifications of these actions are simple; HR and management experts have been warning companies of the Great Resignation and its here, whether we like it or not. Businesses face the risk of damage through a sudden draining away of talent. In fact, according to a recent survey by Bankrate, 55 percent of Americans anticipate looking for a new job thats a better fit for them, foreshadowing a continued trend of the Great Resignation.

This article is featured in O'Dwyer's Nov. '21 Technology PR Magazine

(view PDF version)

At the same time across the country, news reports blare out that there are more jobs now than workers as the economy comes roaring back.

This is a complex situation, and from the hundreds of tech leaders weve been talking with, no one seems to have the right answer. With no proven solution having surfaced just yet, we should take the time now to pause and decide if were asking the right questions about this problem.

Given the last 18 monthsthe worries, frustrations and constant changeswe need to focus on giving people greater freedom to accommodate whats right for them: a New Deal and a sweeping away of needless restrictions.

A key part of this is a philosophy called Thoughtful Working, which has been around since before the pandemic struck. Its a results-oriented approach to work that prioritizes autonomy and accountability, and sees work as what you do, not a place you go.

At its core, Thoughtful Working aims to expand the possibilities of how people work and how businesses can grow toward the future. For instance, by opening up roles to people who dont live in or close to big cities like London, New York and San Francisco, companies have access to a broader talent pool, benefiting both them and their clients, providing them with a competitive advantage against others in their industry.

Now, after the challenges and subsequent opportunities introduced over the last year and a half, businesses must look to take a step further toward Thoughtful Working 2.0. I know at my company, weve questioned everything over the past year and are working on questioning the assumptions weve had about what it means to be a high-performance organization. We want to give our team the space to decide how they want to contribute to our work together. And we intend to meet our diversity, equity and inclusion commitments as we do this. Here are some ways we can all start rethinking our work and approach to Thoughtful Working 2.0.

Reach beyond the current industry talent pool

Open doors to diverse individuals who think differently and move your business ahead. At Hotwire, for example, were looking for great people in sectors like travel, tourism and manufacturing who are interested in transitioning into a career in the tech industry and who we know will make a big, positive difference for our clients.

Spread a wider net

More and more companies are recognizing the advantages that stem from many having a workforce with diverse viewpoints and backgrounds. Still, we need to do better. Silicon Valley, where Im based, may be a hothouse for technological change, but as The Wall Street Journal observes, this tech hub still struggles from a continuing diversity problem. All the more reason to spread our hiring nets wide.

Champion different ways of working

At the same time, Thoughtful Working 2.0 means trying our hardest to meet our employees where they are now in their lives. Aim to create an environment where employees have the confidence they need to come forward and articulate what they want. In a number of cases, businesses like yours and mine can likely help them achieve what theyve wanted for so long as were willing to listen and champion different ways of working.

If that passion project is calling, rather than simply resign, my hope is people will discuss it so we dont lose them entirely. Well work to make it work somehow. One recent solution at my company was to support a switch to a contractor role with reduced hours so that someone on our team could explore their interest in social impact. Another example was when a member of our team decided to go back to school for a few months, but remains working with us on one client only now.

Make mental health a priority

More people than ever are also needing to prioritize their mental health. Research shows coronavirus response measures have taken a heavy toll on mental health and this is one of the long-term concerns of business leaders.

The Center for Workplace Mental Health is monitoring employee mental health and wellbeing and have reported that anxiety and depression symptoms have more than tripled since 2019, with Black Americans shouldering the heaviest burden. If someone wants to cut their workload for a period of time, possibly for health and wellbeing issues, that shouldnt be an awkward conversation. Remain supportive, even after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

As we look toward further implementing Thoughtful Working 2.0, all of the above is possible when organizations give their people autonomy and accountability. In other words, trust them. Its with this high degree of trust that businesses can feel comfortable reshaping agreements with employees concerning how they work.

The next few years will see continuous change but, as leaders, we dont need to be at the tail end of the impact. We can be proactive in creating a New Deal, and, for our people, Thoughtful Working 2.0 will be even better than version 1.0. When our team is looking after themselves and their loved ones, it will ultimately create a stronger business for everyone.

***

Heather Kernahan is Global CEO of Hotwire.
Elizabeth Warren

Senator Elizabeth Warren wants the Securities and Exchange Commission to probe Donald Trump's SPAC deal.

The Massachusetts Democrat says SPAC sponsor Digital World Acquisition Corp. may have violated securities laws because it discussed the merger with Trump before the SPAC went public, according to media reports.

DWAC's failure to disclose the talks "appears to be an omission of material information necessary for both early institutional investors and retail investors in the SPAC's public offering," wrote Warren in her Nov. 17 letter to SEC chairman Gary Gensler.

Warren also believes the lack of a core business model for Trump Media and Technology Group raises questions about the extent to which DWAC is profiteering off the SPAC model and inherent disclosure failures.

She noted that the overview of Trump Media and Technology Group fails to list any officers, employees or operations, "instead relying on the brand of former president Trump and aspirational statement about the company's ability to compete with existing social media giants, traditional news media, and streaming services including Netflix and Disney Plus."

Warren wrote that she frequently holds public officials to task for lawbreaking and ethics violations: "This includes the former president, who is not above the law."

She hopes the probe of the Trump deal would lead to a broader SEC investigation "of wrongdoing and fraud in the SPAC space."
ARCHIVES recording nearly 400 years of Offaly history were described as a treasure trove by Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan today.

Minister Noonan was speaking when he officially opened Offaly Archives, a repository of documents from the county housed in purpose-built units at the Axis Business Park in Tullamore.

After inspecting some of the records, the Minister said: It's just absolutely amazing to delve into that. And actually as you delve into that archive material, the stories behind that, the people, the photographs, it's just quite remarkable.

There are State records, business records, local authority records and private collections.

These records provide fascinating accounts of life in the Midlands from the early medieval period to the present day, said Minister Noonan.

The Offaly Archives are a collaboration between Offaly History (Offaly History & Archaeological Society) and Offaly County Council, with the support of State funding and private donors.

Minister Noonan said councils around the country could replicate the Offaly project and he also spoke of the importance of keeping local records locally, especially in the context of current debates around mother and baby homes, whose survivors deserved justice and redress.

In many cases these are the only records they have of their existence, said the Green Party TD from Kilkenny.

Also speaking at the event, Virginia Teehan, Heritage Council chief executive, noted that Ireland still had many unresolved issues in relation to the management of archives, unlike other European countries.

For that reason, she described Offaly Archives as an exemplar of what could be done at national level in Ireland and she praised Offaly History and the council for how they had worked together.

The work here that you have achieved is just extraordinary in that context, said Ms Teehan.

An archivist herself, she emphasised the richness of the information in the records.

The information is contained in the records and the records contain the truth, the truth of identity. And at the end of the day a lot of what heritage is about is about the truth of identity and celebrating that identity and understanding it.

Cllr Declan Harvey, Cathaoirleach, Offaly County Council, recalled how Offaly History had begun with a premises in the gate lodge to Charleville Castle on the Charleville Road in Tullamore, then moved to a building in Bury Quay and had now expanded to Offaly Archives.

This is huge for both Tullamore and Offaly, said Cllr Harvey.

The facility is managed by archivist Lisa Shortall and she told the Tullamore Tribune that the oldest document in the collection dates from 1631.

It is a deed of conveyance for the purchase of land in Tinnycross, Tullamore by a man called Mathew DeRenzy (also known as Derenzie) for his son from the local O'Molloy family.

It actually existed in an old solicitor's collection. So it was retained with the title deeds, said Ms Shortall.

The records specifically mention the towns and lands of Derrykilliagh and Killbeg and say the land had been granted to the Molloys by King Charles.

Offaly Archives contains local government records such as the King's County grand jury, the boards of guardians for Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry, rural and urban district councils, town commissions and the county council.

There are also many important collections relating to Offaly's social history, including papers from the landed estates, literary papers, diaries, photographs, letters and tenants' records.

They've been collected by both the library and the Historical Society and now they're all together under one roof so a researcher need only come here to get access to all this manuscript material, said Ms Shortall.

An example of social history is the collection of photographs taken by the landlord Middleton Biddulph (1849-1926), Rathrobin, Mountbolus in the early 1900s.

Ms Shortall described the albums, which identify the people pictured, as priceless, especially for ordinary people at that time who would never have been actually able to take a picture of themselves. They wouldn't have had cameras or photographs.

Records are being digitised and the digital images can be viewed online on www.offalyarchives.com

The Offaly Archives premises is open to anyone but is by appointment only because all of the records are in storage.
A marginal change in people's behaviour could bring Covid-19 "back under control", Professor Philip Nolan of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has said.

The Chair of NPHET's Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group spoke on RTE's Morning Ireland radio show.

"Unless we can pull back our level of contacts, work from home and be very careful about our priority contacts, we are heading for a very challenging December," Prof Nolan.

"If we follow the public advice, then it's entirely possible that we will bring this back under control, and then allow the booster programme do its job through Christmas and into the spring, and help us suppress the virus in spring," he said.

Over the last two to three weeks, he said, daily cases have gone from 2,000 to 4,300 and he warned that if nothing else changes Ireland is on a "trajectory towards very large case numbers and very large numbers of people in hospital coinciding with Christmas".

The risk that 450 people may need intensive care by Christmas is "possible" but he said they "are trying to do everything we can do avert that scenario".

He said those models have only just been run and they will rerun them again next week.

A reproduction number of 1.2 or 1.3 is not that far above 1, he said, but is "enough to sustain a rapidly escalating epidemic".
A range of five attractively designed Christmas cards are now on sale locally and will raise funds for the work of Mary's Meals Offaly.

The initiative is the brainchild of Ann McCormack and Paul Galvin, two stalwarts of Mary's Meals, and all proceeds will go towards the life-saving work of the charity.

Ann enrolled the help of her daughter Siobhan, an accomplished artist, her sister Mary and local photographer, Paul Moore to help in the design of the cards.

Another friend, the best selling author, Geraldine O'Neill, also came on board and wrote seasonal verses for the cards.

The pack of five cards, which sell for 10, are available from Tyrrell's shop, O'Moore St, Tullamore, O'Sullivan's Centra, Kilcormac or directly from Ann McCormack at (086) 1205514.

Marys Meals is a no-frills charity with a simple idea that really works: by providing one good meal in a place of learning, children are drawn into the classroom where they can receive an education that could one day free them from poverty.

Marys Meals works with local volunteers in some of the worlds poorest communities. The charity sets up the cooking and feeding facilities at the sponsored school, provides the food and the communities cook and serve the meals.

Marys Meals Offaly is committed to feeding the 593 children in Libuda Primary School, Blantyre, Malawi. This means they have to raise 10,850 each year (18.30 per child).

If you would like to find out more about Marys Meals please check out Child 31 and Generation Hope or visit their website MarysMeals.ie.

To get involved with Marys Meals Offaly in any way please contact Paul Galvin on 0878375407, Vincent McDermott on 0877934148, Rose Lyons on 087 2393853, Carmel McConigley on 0860746648, Teresa Feery on 0860612328, Camilla Hogan Shiel on 0876752806, Sheila Duffy on 086 3750242 or Teresa Mc Redmond on 0863313655.
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.
The Police Crimes Division launched on Monday a new police clearance certificate with security features.

Assistant Commissioner Crimes Hodges Ette said the issuance of the new certificates will prevent false police clearance certificates from being issued. The new Police Clearance Certificate which was launched at the Crime Division conference room at the police headquarters in Port Moresby was witnessed by senior police officers as well as staff from the Crimes Division and the Interpol.

Mr Ette said the new police clearance certificate came into effect on Monday 15 November. Certificates issued prior will remain valid until March, 2022. He said the RPNGC is changing the old police clearance certificate that has been used for the last 46 years since independence.

The old format of producing police clearance certificates has been abused, and fraudulently used. People are printing them outside of the actual established system. We have fraudsters producing police clearance certificates fraudulently. The constabulary has been accused of facilitating or fraudulently producing false documents, Mr Ette said.

Mr Ette however said that the police clearance certificate was previously done at a small administrative fee of K10.00 which was increased to K65.00 this year. He said Police make about K9,000.00 per day especially from the applications received in the National Capital District. He added that so far this year the Constabulary was able to collect K800,000.00 in police clearance fees.

This particular certificate comes in three categories one for citizens, another one for expatriates and we also developed for PMVs as well. I am sure Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited (MVIL) and the transport sector will also be interested, Mr Ette said, adding that certain categories would be put in with a reasonable fee at a future date. For instance, a person trying to get a job as a security guard will pay K65.00 but if they are trying to become the head of a government department they may pay up to K1,000.00 for the certificate.

Mr Ette said police are in the process of developing a work base system that can be accessed anywhere in the country. This system will also be of interest to various stakeholders including the National Statistical Office (NSO), Foreign Affairs and others.

Mr Ette said the new certificate with the security features will cost zero kina to develop.

Police Media

Next: Solomon Islands MHMS condemns Media Report on Magnetic Arm after vaccination
For vendors looking for another event or space to sell their goods, a new opportunity is present.

Nicole Grubowski and Tony Schiappacasse have organized the Greater Thumb Trade Show to give vendors another opportunity to sell goods and customers a chance to shop.

The first show took place Nov. 6 at the Harbor Beach Community House gymnasium, with future shows taking place on Nov. 20, Dec. 11, and Jan. 15. Grubowski said more shows will be held after those planned dates.

We are sad to see many farmers markets and craft shows end after the summer season, said Grubowski. We would like to give those in the Thumb the opportunity to continue shopping supporting local business, Michigan brands, and handmade products during the fall and winter months.

Businesses and crafters throughout the Thumb and Central Michigan plan to vend at the show, with the organizers open to bringing in people from all over. Some of the vendors that set up for the show include Thumb Leather Goods, Freeland Wood and Steel, MI Knots, and Bullydog Ag.

Products available to shop from include home decor, wood work, musical instruments, personalized gifts, cosmetics, clothing, and art.

Grubowski said the first show was successful with 15 vendors and around 75 shoppers present.

"We be accepting up to 30 vendors for each show," Grubowski said. "We expect both the number of vendors and shoppers to rise with each event."

Anyone who is interested in vending can send their name with a description and photo of their products to GreaterThumbTradeShow@gmail.com.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin.

Tuesday, Nov. 16:

11:00 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence regarding a 13-year-old Lee Township female who said she and her 36-year-old mother were verbally arguing. The juvenile was located at a neighboring residence and was taken back home. The mother said her daughter could stay at her grandmother's house for the night. Deputies transported the 13-year-old to her grandmother's residence in the city of Midland for the night.

10:00 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to Midland County Jail for an assault. Deputies were informed they were no longer needed prior to their arrival.

8:46 p.m.  Deputies were sent to Edenville Township for a report of a flare seen in the sky near state land. Deputies checked the area and contacted a group of hunters who thought they were shooting off fireworks and not a flare. There was no emergency, and no hunters were missing.

7:29 p.m.  Officers responded to a driver operating with a suspended license.

7:14 p.m.  Deputies responded to a Mills Township residence regarding a wellbeing check. Deputies spoke to a 14-year-old Jerome Township female who stated everything was fine. This was confirmed by her grandmother, a 67-year-old Mills Township female. The deputies left without incident.

12:47 p.m.  An animal control deputy received a complaint about dogs running loose from a residence in Hope Township. Previous complaints have been handled by verbal warning, and an appearance citation was issued for this ongoing problem.

10:20 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence to assist EMS with a 34-year-old Lee Township male and a 16-year-old Lee Township male. Both subjects were passed out in a vehicle. Contact was made and it was determined that both parties were simply sleeping in their vehicle.

8:53 a.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Isabella Street and West Main Street.

5:06 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township location for an alarm. Upon arrival, the deputies checked the building and surrounding areas. The doors and windows were secure and there were no signs of forced entry. A keyholder was contacted to disable the alarm.
To the editor:

Congratulations to the Michigan GOP. You've managed to spend time saving our public schools from Critical Race Theory. Oh wait, Critical Race Theory is not even taught in K-12 schools-anywhere. It's a graduate, law school level course. You've been duped by national GOP "leaders" who needed another dog whistle issue to rile up your voters. No one on the right seems to care about the truth. Hopefully voters will see through this nonsense and vote to return sane people to Lansing next fall.
Geneva, Switzerland (PAMA) - At least 39 people have been killed by security forces in Sudan since the 25 October military coup, 15 of whom were reportedly shot dead on Wednesday, according to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights
Photo: (Photo : lorozco0993/Pixabay)

The father of an 11-year-old girl, who became the sole survivor of a Michigan plane crash, died while protecting his daughter, according to his wife.

Mike Perdue of Gaylord, Michigan, was on board the small plane heading to Beaver Island with his daughter and another pair of passengers when the unexpected tragedy happened. In a statement, his wife, Christina Purdue, said that Mike hugged his daughter, Laney, tight to protect her as their plane plunged to the ground. That hug apparently saved his daughter's life, with the 11-year-old sustaining injuries from the crash.

"He hugged the best bear, and I'm sure he grabbed our daughter and protected her," Christina said. "It's his last memory before the accident."

Read Also: Family Sues Over Travis Scott Astroworld Tragedy as 9-Year-Old Boy Remains in Coma

Dad Squeezed Her So Hard

Ryan Wojan, the family's friend, also believes that Mike protected his daughter in his last moments. Speaking with CNN, Wojan confirmed that the 11-year-old does not remember much about the Michigan plane crash, except that her dad "squeezed her so hard."

Laney, who is one of four kids, has undergone two surgeries since the crash, which happened on Saturday, November 13. Doctors from the McClaren Northern Michigan Hospital assured the family, however, that her injuries are not critical.

Though Laney survived, their community has been mourning the tragedy, which also killed couple Kate Leese and Adam Kendall and the pilot, Charlevoix County Sheriff Lieutenant William Church. His body has not yet been identified by the recovery team.

According to reports, Mike often flew to Beaver Island to regularly check on his properties and his daughter joined him because she was going to meet up with some friends for the weekend. Leese and Kendall, on the other hand, were on the small plane to take their two dogs to the veterinarian and they were also looking into opening a winery on the site. The dogs also didn't survive the crash.

Friends recalled that Mike was always a gentleman who had this positive aura about him. Friends and family of Leese and Kendall, on the other hand, said that the couple were just starting their lives together and have been excited to move to Beaver Island to set up their new business.

Coast Guard Responded

According to New York Daily News, members of the U.S. Coast Guard who were conducting training nearby saw the crash and proceeded to respond to the site. They were still able to airlift Mike and his daughter to the mainland. An update on Twitter indicated that the Coast Guard members were doing chest compressions on Laney as she was brought to the hospital.

Investigations about the Michigan plane crash are still underway, per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Island Air, the owner of the Britten-Norman BN-2A plane, has not made any comments about the crash. However, short trips to Beaver Island from the mainland via Charlevoix are done every day in good weather, according to the manager of the airport, Rachel Teague. She also said that there have been no recorded fatalities on this route before the accident involving the Perdues and the couple.

Related Article: Quick-Thinking 9-Year-Old Girl Saves Her Family From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

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Photo: (Photo : PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP via Getty Images)

The presence of therapy dogs and the appeal of free cookies, toys, or comic books are just some of the ways vaccination sites across the U.S. are conducting a fuss-free rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids.

Micaela Inglese, who has volunteered at the John R. Oishei Children's Hospital in New York, told Today Parents that therapy dogs are the "perfect distraction" for the children. These trained animals help "ease the nerves" and make the vaccination more fun.

In Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas, and Washington, D.C., therapy dogs are also a common sight at the vaccine clinics. Mom Jessica Mabie, whose seven-year-old son got his COVID-19 vaccine for kids, said that the therapy dogs provide a "friendly face" for the children lining up to get their shots. Dog mom Kimberly Fryer, who is part of D.C.'s Children's National Hospital animal visitation and therapy program, said that her trained dog, Barney, gives children a sense of control and comfort for something as nerve-wracking as a vaccination.

"The kids may not have a choice whether they're coming in to get the vaccine," Fryer said. "But they can choose where they want Barney to sit or to lay across their lap while they're getting [the shots]," the trainer added.

Read Also: Matthew McConaughey Clarifies Stance on Vaccine Mandate for Kids, Believes Vaccines Can End Pandemic

Safer with the Dogs

Sharon Cohan, who founded Vax Together Austin, said that the children feel safer holding the therapy dogs next to them during their vaccination since "shots are a little scary" for the young ones. Her group has also prepared plush toys, puppets and fidget items to appease the children's anxieties. They've been giving away free cookies as a reward as well.

Vax Together Austin collaborates with the Austin Independent School District and Walgreens for the weekend COVID-19 vaccine for kids program in this Texas city. Their focus is among children in underserved communities.

Today we vaccinated over 250 children at our PAC pop-up clinic through our partner VaxTogetherAustin.



A big thank you to @VaxAustin for coordinating Austin Dog Alliance therapy dogs to help our small patients keep calm during their vaccination. pic.twitter.com/LJYKmI1cab  Austin ISD (@AustinISD) November 13, 2021

Jean Kenney, 7, said that her 15-minute experience waiting in line to get her COVID-19 shot has been wonderful since she's a dog lover. Meanwhile, her mother, Sarah Cavanaugh, said that they are grateful their youngest member of the family has been vaccinated right before the holidays so they could have that "extra safety", especially around Jean's grandparents.

At the University Health System vaccination hub in San Antonio, six-year-old therapy dog, Laddie, as well as eight other animals, including a cat, have been helping the children feel less intimidated by the jabs. However, there are also medical professionals who talk to the children and their parents if they have some concerns before proceeding with the vaccination.

Hortencia Castano-Urbanowiez, the director of the University Health System said that the response to the therapy dogs and the vaccination program as a whole has been positive. Laddie's trainer, Mark Oholendt, on the other hand, said that he and his dog both loved getting involved with the program as volunteers because helping out is always a rewarding experience.

Jill Biden Brings Comic Books

Meanwhile, First Lady Jill Biden has been going around various vaccination sites in Houston with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and a couple of superheroes like Superman and Wonder Woman. According to ABC News, the White House has partnered with DC Comics and Warner Media to distribute comic books to the children.

Jeff Zients, the coordinator at the White House said that they have estimated nearly one million have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine for kids during the first week's launch. An additional 700,000 have pending appointments at the vaccination hubs, while more sites will be activated in the coming weeks.

Related Article: Children Who Get COVID-19 Shots To Be Paid Cash, Receive Other Incentives From These Cities
Ed Westwick and Madalina Ghenea are to star in the shark survival thriller 'Deep Fear'.

The pair have signed up for the film that is set in the Caribbean and directed by Marcus Adams from a screenplay he penned alongside Robert Capelli Jr. and Sophia Eptamentis.

Madalina will play Naomi, an accomplished yachtswoman who sets out on a solo trip to meet her boyfriend Jackson (Westwick) in Grenada. But her tranquil sail takes an unexpectedly dark turn when a storm forces her off the plotted course.

Circumnavigating an uninhabited island, she responds to a distress signal to aid a sinking vessel and finds three survivors clinging to shattered remains of a boat. It transpires that they are actually drug traffickers who force Naomi to dive into the sunken wreck to retrieve 850 kilos of cocaine.

The plan is thwarted when Naomi finds herself surrounded by a frenzy of man-eating tiger sharks  lured by the dead bodies in the wreck.

'Deep Fear' is described as an "intense and visceral survival thriller with furious action throughout".

Adams said: "This script presents the opportunity to create a truly original context for the genre.

"The malevolent narcos characters juxtapose acutely with Naomi and Jackson, an earnest and honourable couple who are daring to live their dream of running a yacht chartering business in the West Indies.

"Essentially ordinary folk thrust into an extraordinary situation, Naomi and Jackson are forced to do combat with both the narcos and one of nature's most awesome apex predators, creating a three-way battle that elicits tension and fear at every turn."

Madalina added: "I loved this character from the moment I read the script. Naomi is a fiercely confident, vibrant and highly accomplished young woman  it's an honour to be playing such an empowering female lead role.

"I've had lots of fun completing a month of intensive diving training in preparation for the role and am super excited to start shooting alongside such a talented team."
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Microsofts Edge browser already contains several shopping-specific tools for Black Friday and holiday shopping. Today, Microsoft said its adding even more: automatic alerts of price changes, and a migration of its coupon and price-history features to the mobile version of Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft may be actively trying to block users from choosing another browser in Windows 11, but where online shopping is concerned, Edge is truly useful. When shopping at Amazon or Best Buy, for example, Edge will not only suggest coupons that it knows of, it will also automatically try inputting them when its time to check out. Edge also tracks the price history of a specific item, letting you know if youve found the best price available and tracking the historical price of the product, too. Price history has been a staple of sites like Camelcamelcamel for years, but before Edges browser integration the feature often required a plugin.

Edge is now taking price tracking a step further. Soon, Edge will use your browsing history to keep an eye on products youve viewed, and if that product changes in price, Edge will let you know. (Edge often uses the URL bar as a message center, with notifications that slide out. Presumably, Microsoft will also use this to notify you of price changes.)

Currently, you can use Microsoft Edge to browser to a particular product on a shopping page. Edge will then show you its pricing history. Mark Hachman / IDG

For now, however, many of those pricing features have been reserved for the desktop browser. Microsoft said Thursday that its already ported over the coupons feature to the mobile version of Edge for iOS and Android. Later this month, Microsoft will be bringing the pricing comparison and price history tools to Edge on Android as well, while the remaining shopping features will be added in future versions.

The company will also allow users to pin the Microsoft Rewards experience to the Edge toolbar. Rewards, Microsofts way of paying you to use its services, is already quite aggressive in pushing itself on you; in March, for example, Bing was caught pushing popup ads to promote Bing Rebates. Now, Microsoft said, you can simply click the ellipsis menu within Edge, right-click the Microsoft Rewards option, and select show in toolbar.

Finally, for every ten purchases made in Microsoft Edge at eligible retailers, Microsoft said it will make a donation to the Eden Reforestation Project for planting trees.
The Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu says the 2022 budget should be able to raise more money for the development of the country.



According to him, borrowing nowadays has become difficult due to the Covid-19 as many well-to-do countries in the world are also struggling to stabilize their economies, making borrowing almost impossible.



He added that the outbreak of the pandemic has compelled the government to take drastic measures against the original plan of the country; thus, the health sector has to be looked at.



He maintained that the Covid-19 has hit hard at businesses as many companies had to fold up and others were unable to recover from the shock of the pandemic.



He stressed that the cost of food is expensive even abroad, making such a challenge difficult to borrow money to develop the country.



He admitted that the debt of the country is already high and therefore going to borrow again will shoot the country's debt higher; hence, it is important to look within for money to develop the country.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs asserted that it takes money to run the affairs of the country, hence, the Finance Minister with his 2022 budget presentation will indicate how the country will raise funds for the development of the country.



But the Suame Lawmaker cautioned against overtaxing Ghanaians even though the country needs money to develop.



If we are not careful and you load people with too much taxes, they will break, he cautioned.



He, however, suggested that in order to raise resources from within, the tax net should be broadened to enable as many people as possible to contribute to the development of the country.



He noted that it is the belief of the government to make private enterprises thrive as the development of the sector will take care of the unemployment situation in the country.



"We want to promote the private enterprises so that the country can develop eventually. I am expecting that the budget will address the businesses that are down in the country. We want to hear how the businesses will be promoted to increase employment," he indicated.



Watch video below





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The Design and Technology Institute (DTI), Ghanas first privately accredited TVET institution, has held its second graduation ceremony for learners who have successfully completed their programme.



DTI provides TVET education in a practical and hands-on approach to help learners sharpen their talents in a conducive environment, supervised by facilitators who are passionate about TVET and the youth.



A total of 77 learners successfully graduated from the one-year intensive training programme in Precision Fabrication and Precision Quality, comprising 59 males and 18 females.



Ms. Jemima Jackson, Acting Director of Institute at DTI, in her welcome address, congratulated the graduating learners for working hard throughout the programme.



She urged the learners to take stock of what they have achieved and make a conscious decision to let their experiences at DTI count in their future endeavours by changing the unemployment narrative.



You've got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it, she added.



The keynote speaker for the ceremony, Mrs. Linda Ampah, CEO of Cadling Fashions and KAD Manufacturing Limited, who was the keynote speaker, urged the graduating learners to set high standards for themselves and charged them to contribute their quota to building the nation.



The world is waiting to see your creativity in action; your family needs you, your community needs you and our nation needs you. There is, therefore, the need to be agents of change; for your relevance to society will be measured by the problems you solve and the legacy you leave behind for future generations, she added.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of DTI, Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, commended the management, faculty, staff, and learners of DTI for their commitment and hard work.



We will work to remove barriers that restrict access and success in TVET studies, through excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, she stated.







She urged the graduands to make good use of the training they have received and use themselves as a reference of the TVET success story, especially their decision to learn a skill rather than seek white-collar jobs or travel abroad in search of non-existent greener pastures.



"You have shown the world that you are brave and committed to using legitimate means to make a living, and this is commendable. At DTI, we dont only teach, we create things that support socio-economic growth. Also, I want to encourage you all not to compromise on quality. Let your works stand out and that will do all the talking for you," she said.

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda in Ghana, H.E Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, who was the special guest of honour at the graduation ceremony, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to use their skills and ethics to push Africas industrialization agenda.



She commended the CEO of DTI, Constance Swaniker for the setting up of DTI and sharing her talent and expertise with African youth.



DTI is an all-inclusive and gender-friendly institute that dedicates 30% admission per cohort to females. This is the Institute's commitment to championing gender equality in TVET for a sustained livelihood for the youth.



Raymond Adu Adjei who was adjudged the overall best student, reminisced the long and often arduous journey which had brought them to their graduation day, and on behalf of the graduating class, thanked faculty, administrators, and staff of the Institute, as well as the families of the graduating class for their support.



At DTI, after learners have successfully completed the program, they are carefully transitioned into various sectors of industry to work. It can be recalled that last year we had 77 learners graduating during the first DTI graduation. Out of the 77 learners, 67 have been transitioned into work and are working several industries in the country. Six of them have since enrolled for the certificate 2 program at DTI.

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The outbreak of Yellow Fever in the Savannah and the Upper West regions has claimed 25 lives, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed.



The outbreak, which was initially detected in the Savanna Region, has now spread to the Wa East District in the Upper West Region, and last Tuesday, two more persons died at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital in the Bono Region.



The two were among three cases which had been referred from the neighbouring Bole-Bamboi District in the Savanna Region to the Wenchi facility.



The Wenchi Municipal Director of Health, Mr Robert Kwaku Bio, who confirmed the deaths to the Daily Graphic, explained that blood samples of the three were confirmed at the Public Health Reference Laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra and another one in Dakar, Senegal, as yellow fever.



GHS alert



A statement signed by the Director General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said 18 people were currently on admission.



The GHS, on October 29, 2021, notified the public about an outbreak of Yellow Fever in some districts in the Savannah Region, with eight deaths reported.



The outbreak was confirmed after initial laboratory tests were conducted by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.



The GHS, subsequently, dispatched a team of experts from the service, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Office and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to the Savannah Region to investigate the outbreak and implement appropriate control measures.



It said the team, among others, assessed the of risk of Yellow Fever transmission based on the population of the vector responsible for transmitting yellow fever, the aedes mosquito.



Victims



Mr Bio explained that following the outbreak, the GHS informed all district and municipal directorates of health to be alert and look out for signs and symptoms in persons who reported to health facilities.



He said not long afterwards, the first victim who was referred from the Bole-Bamboi District died soon on arrival at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital, while the second one also died some days after the referral.



He indicated that although the first victim had died on arrival, his sample was taken because of the signs and symptoms of yellow fever.



We sent four samples to Korle Bu and three of them were confirmed yellow fever positive.



Yesterday we sent blood samples of other suspected yellow fever cases to Sunyani to be taken to Korle Bu and we are waiting for the results, Mr Bio said.



Caution



He urged residents of the Wenchi municipality, particularly farmers, to cover themselves properly to save them from being bitten by mosquitoes that cause the disease.



Let us be very careful because the Wenchi municipality shares boundaries with Bole-Bamboi in the Savannah Region where there is an outbreak of yellow fever, he cautioned.



GHS interventions



Meanwhile, the GHS says it has implemented several interventions, including targeted vaccination of selected communities for Yellow Fever in the affected districts in a bid to control the disease and prevent it from spreading further.



As of November 15, 2021, more than 43,615 people had been vaccinated in the Savannah Region as part of the intervention.



Also, the service has dispatched 50,300 doses of Yellow Fever vaccines from Accra, with the support of the Ghana Air Force, to the Savannah Regional Health Directorate for onward distribution to selected districts for vaccination.



The service has thus given an assurance that, together with the Ministry of Health, it will continue to engage its partners, such as the WHO and the CDC, to ensure that the outbreak is brought under full control.



The GHS will continue with efforts aimed at improving outcomes for persons who are unfortunately affected, while continuing with the vaccination drive to improve the immunity of the population against Yellow Fever, the DG said.



Yellow Fever



According to the WHO, Yellow fever is an acute viral internal bleeding disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.



 Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.



 A small proportion of patients who contract the virus develop severe symptoms and approximately half of those die within 7 to 10 days.



 The virus is endemic in the tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.



 Large epidemics of yellow fever occur when infected people introduce the virus into heavily populated areas with high mosquito density and where most people have little or no immunity due to lack of vaccination. In these conditions, infected mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti species transmit the virus from person to person.



 The disease is prevented by an extremely effective vaccine, which is safe and affordable. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to grant sustained immunity and life-long protection against yellow fever disease.





Source: graphiconline.com









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Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has averred that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) was able to stabilize the economy during the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic.



According to him, between January 2017 and March 2020, the local economy witnessed a turn around from its wobbling state.



Presenting the 2022 budget before parliament on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the Finance Minister said the economy has been put on the path of fiscal stability.



He said, "Mr. Speaker, we know we can get the job done. It is well-known that prior to the pandemic, we had stabilised and turned around the economy between January 2017 and March 2020. We had reversed the worrying economic trend we inherited and placed the country on a path of fiscal sustainability and growth.



"We doubled the economic growth rate from 3.4 percent to an average of 7.0 percent between that period. It is undisputed that we brought down the fiscal deficit below the 5 percent threshold, we improved our gross international reserves from US$4.9 billion (2.8 months of imports) to US$9.9 billion (4.7 months of imports), we provided free SHS for 1.2 million Ghanaian students," he added.



The budget presentation is in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).



However, some economists have share contrary views saying Ghana is broke and needs to be revamped.















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.

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Ken Ofori-Atta says current economic hardship keeps President Akufo-Addo awake at night.



Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cannot sleep due to the current economic challenges citizens are enduring.



According to him, the President is concerned about the current economic hardship citizens are going through.



Delivering the 2022 budget statement and Economic policy on the floor of Parliament, Ken Ofori-Atta mentioned that the president was fully aware of the challenges of Ghanaians.



According to him, thoughts of the economic plight of Ghanaians keep the president awake at night.



"Mr Speaker, we are under no illusions as to the economic challenges facing our country today. How to ease the sufferings of Ghanaians, transform the economy to create jobs and share the expected wealth across all households, such as providing security and education, keeps the President awake at night.



"How to broaden the revenue base, keep a grip on expenditure, protect the public purse and at the same time build with urgency the needed infrastructure, collecting revenue, managing our debt and expenditure commitments, and paying the bills to stimulate economic activity are the orders he has given to us, his Ministers and other appointees, to carry out over the next three years," he said.



The country has recently experienced an astronomical increase in the price of petroleum products.



This has had a rippling effect on food prices on the market, which has skyrocketed, leading to a high cost of living.





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Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has eulogized former Transport Minister Dzifa Attivor, who passed away on Monday, November 15, 2021, after a short illness.



Mr. Mahama, in a tweet, indicated that the deceased minister was a very dedicated member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who contributed immensely to the growth of the party.



He mentioned that the party, together with friends and sympathizers, were still struggling to come to terms with her departure.



May the soul of our sister and mother, Dzifa Aku Attivor, rest peacefully. Dzifa was a very dedicated comrade; she was always ready and willing to get things done for our party, the NDC, and help others in need. We are struggling to come to terms with her departure. She will be sorely missed by all, especially the Volta Region NDC and the teeming number of our people operating under the Volta Caucus across the country. My deepest condolences to her family, friends and the NDC, in the wake of this painful loss, he said.



Tributes have been pouring in for Dzifa Attivor since news of her demise became public.



Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has described her as someone who was passionate about national transformation.



You were passionate about national transformation and contributed your quota with hard work and infectious zeal as epitomized by Ghanas multiple-award-winning Terminal. Your dedication to the NDC and the Volta Region was most remarkable. Rest in Glory, Mama Dzifa Attivor, he indicated in a tweet.













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.

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Fraud is a serious problem to world economies including Ghana and one of the difficult challenges to address as day in, day out, innocent people are duped through fraudulent deeds.



The projected global fraud loss is 6 trillion dollars, according to the 2021 report by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).



The report reads that fraud damage ''could be incredibly large however the 6 trillion dollars' estimate give some insight into how huge the problem maybe''.



In this digital world where most individuals and organizations rely on technological networks to transact businesses and undertake other relevant activities, these entities usually stand a risk of cyber-attacks from criminals.



Therefore, as part of efforts to raise awareness about cyber fraud and fraud at large, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - Ghana Chapter has launched various activities to sensitize Ghanaians and every person in the world not to fall a victim.



A series of activities has been lined up as the ACFE celebrates its 2021 International Fraud Week Awareness this week.



The weeklong programme under the theme ''CYBER FRAUD AWARENESS IN DIGITIZATION ERA'' began on Monday, November 15 and will end on Sunday, November 21.



It commenced with sharing of videos, infographics, a quiz and fraud check-up link on Monday, November 15 and followed by an introductory session themed International Fraud Awareness Week on Tuesday, November 16, then education on Mobile Money Fraud in Ghana on Wednesday, November 17, a virtual public lecture on Thursday, November 18 under the topic ''Protecting Society From Scammers Is Everyone's Responsibility''.



On Friday, there will be a Live ACFE Virtual Closing Session which will be presented by Mr. Wim Vandekerckhove, a Professor of Business Ethics at University of Greenwich as well as ACFE Connect to treat ''Cyber Fraud/Crime Trends Affecting Our Ecosystems''.



The programme will be climaxed with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 21, 2021 and these events are aimed at minimizing the impact of fraud.



According to a statement by the President of ACFE - Ghana Chapter, Madam Rebecca Lomo, ''although robbery is seen as negative and attracts more attention, the losses from fraud could and in most cases far exceed losses from robbery in monetary terms...Fraud is on the increase in size, complex in form, challenging as a problem and has a destructive impact on the quality of life''.



Thus, it is imperative that the general public attaches seriousness to this fraud awareness week by participating in the ACFE activities and to do so, they are encouraged to visit http://www.fraudweek.com and http://www.acfe.com to upgrade their knowledge on fraud.



Facts About Fraud



Fraud, as defined in the ACFE statement, is an ''intentional misrepresentation of material existing fact made by one person to another with knowledge of its falsity and for the purpose of inducing the other person to act, and upon which the other person relies with resulting injury or damage''.



It is further classified as ''corruption asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. Fraud is a serious problem. The seriousness of the fraud problem is not due to increase in fraud cases but rather those who commit fraud and why they do so''.



The ACFE President also described the nature and style of fraudsters saying ''fraud perpetrators have profiles that look like those of honest people: more religious, better educated, less likely to commit crime, not likely to abuse drugs. Fraudsters express self-control, kindness and empathy, achievement, motivation and self-esteem. They appear to have traits that are required in making friends, hiring employees, seeking customers or selecting vendors''.



According to the 2020 Report of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), 2504 cases of occupational fraud and Data have been recorded in 125 countries across the globe.



About ACFE



The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners is the world's largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education.



The organization is reducing business fraud worldwide through its anti-fraud awareness and education.



It also serves as the international representative for Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) and provides quality leadership to inspire public confidence in the integrity and professionalism of the CFEs which is equipped with the expertise in fraud prevention, detection and deterrence.



The CFEs protect the global economy by uncovering and preventing fraudulent activities.



ACFE - Ghana Chapter has over 200 members.



Full press statement below:

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The General Legal Council, GLC, has decided to admit the 499 law students who were denied entry into the Ghana School of Law, according to their lawyer.



This was revealed after a crunch meeting between leaders of the aggrieved 499 law students, the Attorney General, and representatives from the General Legal Council on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The 499 law students were failed in the law entrance exams after a new quota system was initiated by the General Legal Council.



After protests from the students including a lawsuit, the Attorney General recommended that the GLC admits the students.



Speaking to the media, lawyer for the aggrieved students, Martin Kpebu, said the students are however yet to be informed when their admission will take effect. Mr. Kpebu said the admission will be subject to some modalities as to when these students will commence the course.



The subcommittee of the GLC that we met this evening will go back and report on the contents of these deliberations we have had, he explained. Before this meeting, the students withdrew their lawsuit against the GLC and the Attorney General.















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An Accra High Court presided by Justice Afia Asare-Botwe has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Christine Tamakloe.



The Court sitting on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, issued the warrant for the arrest of Madam Tamakloe who is standing trial for causing financial loss to the state.



According to a Daily Guide report, she failed to make an appearance having been granted leave to travel to the United States of America for medical check-up.



With the prosecutions final witness called in the case, the prosecution had been set to close its case but for an application filed at the Supreme Court by a second accused person, Daniel Axim.



The court had granted Madam Attionu leave to travel and asked her to return to court on October 6, 2021, but she failed to do so.



The court adjourned the case to November 16, 2021, but the accused person again failed to make an appearance with her legal counsel telling the court that the hospital she was attending in America has sent a letter.



According to Samuel Osei Sarfo who held a brief for Agbesi Dakpasi, the accused person needed to undergo another scan having gone through a previous one.



The defense counsel told the court that it received the letter from the hospital in America on Monday and were yet to file it in court. He thus prayed that the case be adjourned to December 10, 2021.



The presiding judge in her ruling however said I will not sit here and know the law and decide not to use it.



Justice Asare-Botwe who was not convinced by the arguments of the defense counsel thus issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Madam Tamakloe and adjourned the case to December 15, 2021.



Sedinam Tamakloe Attionu and Daniel Axin are in court on allegations of stealing, causing financial loss of GHC93 million to the state among other charges.



The two accused persons have been charged with conspiracy to steal, stealing, unauthorised commitment, resulting in a financial obligation for the government, improper payment, money laundering and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.



Prosecutors say the two allegedly stole a total amount of GH3,198,280 while at MASLOC and willfully caused a GH1,973,780 financial loss to the state.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has eulogized the late former Minister of Transport, Dzifa Aku Attivor.



Madam Attivor died in the early hours of Tuesday, November 16 after a short illness, family sources said.



She was first appointed into public office by the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills as a Deputy Minister of Transport in his government.



She was promoted to be the substantive minister after former president John Dramani Mahama took the reins in 2012.



She held this position until 2015 when she resigned due to the infamous bus branding saga.



In a tweet, Mr Ablakwa said You were passionate about national transformation and contributed your quota with hard work and infectious zeal as epitomized by Ghanas multiple-award-winning Terminal 3.



Your dedication to the NDC and the Volta Region was most remarkable. Rest in Glory Mama Dzifa Attivor, Mr Ablakwa said in a tweet.





Source: 3 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.

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Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has rebuked the NDCs Deputy General Secretary, Peter Otokunor for stating that Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings must reapply to join the party.



Koku said that his statement was a sign of gross disrespect to one who supported her husband in founding the party.



He added that many who left the party and decided to come back were not required to reapply and as such it will be preposterous to ask one of the founding members of the party to reapply.



He was speaking in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show when he said: Anybody who says someone will have to reapply is being ridiculous. It is a political organization. So where from this reapply? It is ridiculous and preposterous to the extreme.



"Reapply for what? When the NDC was being founded by Konadu and her husband, where was the person saying that Konadu should reapply? Lets give respect to where respect is due.



Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor has said the wife of the late Jerry John Rawlings, Konadu Agyemang Rawlings must reapply if she wants to return to the party.



This follows the appeal made by the daughter of the late Jerry John Rawlings, Zanetor Rawlings at the 1st Anniversary of her late father where she asked the party to work to bring back her mother.



Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has said that the party will take steps to ensure the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings returns to the party.



The late Rawlings wife broke away from the party after missing out in a flagbearer bid to form her party, the National Democratic Party (NDP).



Following the death of her husband last year, she withdrew from the 2020 general elections and has since not been active in politics.













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.

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Peacefmonline.com can authoritatively confirm that the Vice President, HE Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, will today not be in Parliament to observe the presentation of the 2022 Budget Statement and Government Economic Policy.



Though it was often not the usual occurrence for a President or even the Vice President to be present during a budget reading, it had become a regular feature since the advent of the Fourth Republic for Ghanaians to see Dr Bawumia seated in Parliament, and somewhat providing moral support for the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, as he presents the governments economic policy.



However, on Wednesday, November 17th, this spectacle which used to be as constant as the Northern Star since the Akufo-Addo led NPP administration assumed office, will be markedly missing.



Why Dr Bawumia Can't Be In Parliament!



The Vice President, is currently acting as president, - since President Akufo-Addo is on leave - and as such will have to be ushered in a special way done to any president who enters the chamber.



Additionally, the President, by constitutional mandate allows the finance minister to read the budget on his (president's) behalf, so should Dr Bawumia (acting president) make a appearance in Parliament today, he will be required to read his own budget.



It is in this regard that the Vice President will not be in parliament for the budget presentation.



Previous Appearances



The Veep has constantly joined Parliamentarians for the presentation of the budget in accordance with Article 111 of the 1992 constitution.



Article 111 which talks about Attendance in Parliament of Vice President and Ministers states that, "The Vice-President, or a Minister or Deputy Minister who is not a member of Parliament, shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings of Parliament and shall be accorded all the privileges of a member of Parliament except that he is not entitled to vote or to hold an office in Parliament."



The Vice President is the head of the Economic Management Team.





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.

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An Independent Presidential Candidate in the 2020 elections, Mr Alfred Kwame Asiedu Walker, has rallied his national executive and supporters for an electoral showdown with the countrys two main political parties.

He asked them to fight hard until the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are defeated in the 2024 election.



Addressing Southern Ghana regional representatives last Sunday in Accra, he encouraged them not to relent but to work vigorously till 2024 to win power by preaching his vision and mission to Ghanaians.



It was the second and final meeting for the year for those regional executives in Southern Ghana, including the Ashanti, the Western North, the Volta, the Central and the Greater Accra regions.



Previous meetings have been held for representatives from northern Ghana.



The meetings also attracted other members of some political parties willing to join Mr Walker campaign for the 2024 general elections.



Change mentality



The Ghana Union Movement (GUM) 2020 Parliamentary Candidate for Kwabre East, Mr James Kwabena, said it was about time Ghanaians, especially the youth, changed the NDC and the NPP mentality because they were not helping in the rapid development of the country.



We need a saviour, someone who will talk for us. It is time we the youth put our minds together as one listening to the visionary leader who shall die for us and for the love of the country because Mr Walker thinks more for the youth than the older people.



Im appealing to the Ghanaian youth that let us come together to rally behind him to win 2024 general election and rescue us from the two parties, he stated



For his part, a former NDC Branch Organiser in Nungua, Mr Kofi Opoku alias (Henry B), told the GNA that he left the party because they had not been fair to Ghanaians in terms of their promises.



I was an NDC member but I have realised that they are untruthful to Ghanaians so I left to join United One Ghana.



I believe that Mr Walker can help Ghana so let us all come together and vote for him so that when he comes to power our wishes will be granted, he said.



He, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to dislodge both the NDC and the NPP because they had proved beyond doubt that they had nothing tangible to offer the nation other than dancing to the tune of their family and friends.









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.

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The government's decision to continue with the Nations Builders Corp (NABCO) has received major criticism from one of the pressure groups in the country- the Citizen Watch.



According to Citizen Watch, the government cannot sustain the current model of NABCO hence the need to redirect the program to the private sector.



With the ongoing digitalization program, we believe the government should reduce its labour strength, and redirect NABCO to the private sector. This would help ease pressure on the wage bill, which accounts for almost 60 percent of our total revenue," the Citizen Watch said in a statement issued and signed by Francis Agbenyegah, the Convener of the group.



For the past three years, the government has spent over GHc 3billion as wages on 100,000 NABCO recruits.



This, Citizen Watch is of the view that, the monies could have built factories across the country through the support of the private sector where the youths would be in outsourcing program and also be part of the agricultural value chain, which is more sustainable.



The statement reiterates that the GHc 3billion spent on the NABCO recruits could have been channeled through the banks for the private sector to access and build factories across the country to ease the high rate of unemployment in the country, as they would have been absorbed by the private sector and also participate as forming small and medium enterprises.



The GHc 3 billion could have be channeled through ADB Bank, GCB Bank, National Investment Bank among others for the incubation of SMEs to create a more sustainable income generating ventures. We need to build entrepreneurs in the country to propel growth as we keeping saying the private sector is the engine of growth, it said.



"We are grateful to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta for letting us know the true state of affairs and any further expenditure on NABCO from the government without integrating them into the private sector would be a waste of resources. The government should realign and also program the NABCO to be more private sector driven.



Citizen Watch research has revealed that out of 500 NABCO recruits interviewed, 80 percent of them either sit idle at work or dont show up for work, but receive their monthly allowances due to lack of monitoring, which clearly shows that the program is a failed venture hence needs a redirection.

Source: Ruth Aboagye









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The beleaguered Member of Parliament for Madina, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu has been seen in Parliament today, Wednesday, November 16, 2021, ahead of the 2022 Budget presentation by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta.



His presence in Parliament has come as a surprise to many journalists as the Kaneshi Court was for the second time yesterday forced to adjourn the case involving the MP to November 29, as he was said to have travelled out of the country on Parliamentary duty.



The Legislator has been charged for unlawfully blocking a public road and the destruction of public property.





When the case was called on Tuesday (Nov 16), counsel for the legislator, Mr Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, told the court that his client was still out of the country and was expected to return next week.



He, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the case to November 29.



For his part, the prosecution, represented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare told the presiding judge that the Police had not received any communication to indicate the inability of the accused person to attend court.



Letter



The judge, in his response, indicated that he had received a letter on his file signed by the Deputy Clerk to Parliament, Eric Owusu Mensah which read: Please refer to your letter No. KDC/202/22 and dated 9th November, 2021 which attached a Hearing Notice on the above matter for service on the Honourable Member for Madina Constituency, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu.



The letter further read; I have been directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to bring to the attention of the Hon Court that the Hon. Member is attending at the proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament which commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021 and is also currently representing Parliament and the Country in a conference in the United States of America.



Pursuant to article 117 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, I am unable to bring the service to the attention of the Member of Parliament as requested the letter dated the 10th of November 2021 indicated.



After the court had read the letter, ASP Asare requested a certified true copy of the said letter for police records.



The court subsequently adjourned sitting to 29 November 2021.



Background



The MP joined his constituents of Ayi-Mensah, Danfa and the Otinibi in a demonstration over poor roads on Monday, October 25, 2021.



During the protest, some of the protestors allegedly blocked roads, burnt tyres and destroyed some public property.



Following the demonstration, the police have been unsuccessful in their attempts to arrest Mr Sosu with Parliament upholding its privileges and requesting proper procedures for MPs who must face criminal prosecution.



It is the case of the police that Mr Sosu had questions to answer in respect of the criminal act the protestors engaged in they tried to invite the MP to assist with investigations.



However, the MP had been on the defence that he followed due process in organising the protest and, therefore, stated that there was no basis for his arrest.



After the first attempt to arrest him, Mr Sosu filed a formal complaint in Parliament accusing the Greater Accra Regional Operations Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Isaac Kojo Asante, and the Adentan Divisional Commander, ACP Mr Eric Winful, of contempt of Parliament.



The Speaker of Parliament has since referred the complaint against the two police officers to the Privileges Committee of Parliament.



He was first expected to appear in court on Monday, November 8, this year but was absent.



The prosecution notified the court that the Police had received a letter from the Speaker of Parliament indicating that Lawyer Sosu was out of the country on Parliamentary duties, a situation which compelled the court to adjourn the case to today (Nov 16).

Source: kasapafmonline.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.

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Minority spokesperson for Finance and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejumako Enyan Esiam, Hon. Casiel Ato Forson, says the group will stand with Ghanaians and fight against Government's new introduction of levies on mobile money transactions.



According to him, the NPP government is insensitive to the plight of the already suffering Ghanaian.



He was speaking to the press moments after the 2022 Budget presentation by the Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori Atta.



Addressing the media, Hon. Ato Forson accused the NPP government of failing to exlpore other means of widening the tax net and expreesed worry that going by the proposed economic policies outlined by the current administration, Ghanaians should expect a grim yuletide this year.



"How do you remove road toll to tax the already burdened Ghanaian on mobile monies? We want to send this fair warning to our brothers on the majority side that we shall not agree with their intentions to tax the poor Ghanaian.



"Infact, this is going to be one of the worst christmas ever in this country as prices of comodities are going to skyrocket with the removal of 50% bench mark values on essential products," he added.



1.75% MOMO Levy



Government, on Wednesday, scrapped the amount of money being paid by motorists as tolls on public roads in the country.



This was announced by the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta in his presentation of the 2022 budget statement and economic policy to Parliament.



Explaining the rationale behind the scraping of the road tolls, the Minister said the revenue that accrues to the state for the construction and maintenance of roads is inadequate and hence, the government has to look elsewhere to equitably generate revenues for the construction and maintenance of our roads.



Over the years, the tolling points have led to heavy traffic on our roads and lengthened travel time from one place to another, impacting negatively on time and productivity. The congestion generated at the tolling points, besides creating these inconveniences, also leads to pollution in and around those vicinities.



To address these challenges, the Government has abolished all tolls on public roads and bridges. This takes effect immediately after the Budget is approved. The toll collection personnel will be reassigned. The expected impact on productivity and reduced environmental pollution will more than offset the revenue forgone by removing the tolls, he added.



The Minister said to compensate for the road tolls, the government is looking to introduce innovative ways of raising revenue such as the proposed 1.75% electronic transactions levy.



He said this will help the government to shore up revenue inflows to fund road projects in the country.



Insensitive Gov't



But the Minority believes this will burden an already stressed public.



Hon. Ato Forson questioned why despite increased suffering and hardships, government is introducing this new levy, moreso in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.



"We are hearing that they are going to introduce electronic transaction levy which is going to affect mobile money transaction and bank transfers as well as remittances . . . We think this is not acceptable and we will advise ourselves when the time comes.



"Again, we are seeing that they are going to introduce a special tax on mobile money, we have served notice through our Minority Leader that the Minority caucus of Ghanas Parliament will stand by the ordinary Ghanaian in opposing the mobile money tax, he said.





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[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.

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A woman who helped deliver her best friend's baby claimed that just days later - she discovered that her own husband was the father of the child.



Hailey Custer, 28, from Wickenburg, Arizona, said she was left heartbroken after finding out her husband of six years, Travis Bowling, 36, had allegedly cheated on her with her close pal.



The mother-of-four said after being there 'every step of the way' to support her unnamed best friend during the pregnancy and birth - including wearing the hospital's 'daddy wrist band' - she was devastated when she spotted a birth defect on the baby's neck that was identical to one her husband has.



After confronting the pair about her suspicions that her partner had fathered the baby, she claimed her worst fears were confirmed - and she now alleges that Bowling had cheated on her with up to 30 women during their marriage.



Despite the infidelity, Custer said she welcomed her friend into her home after she gave birth because she had 'nowhere to go.' She said: 'I kept thinking of my kids, at the end of the day that is their blood sibling and I'm not going to be the one who causes harm to that child.'



Read Full Story .... dailymail.co.uk >>> :

















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Pen-Hi leadership students prepare for 10,000 Tonight which will be held Nov. 25. Front row, from left, Manjot Gill, Zara Fuentebella, Kyla Alva and Emily Mottershead. Back row, same order, Owen McRann, Simon Mennell and Annika Neill. Students from Pen-Hi and Princess Margaret are hoping to collect at least 16,000 non-perishable food items to help stock the local food bank.
Get All the 2021 WSOP Europe and EPT Prague Updates Here at PokerNews

November 18, 2021 Matthew Pitt

The 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is rapidly nearing its conclusion, and the PokerNews Live Reporting team has brought you live and exclusive coverage from each of its scheduled events. Those reporters have little time to rest because PokerNews has partnered with King's Resort in Rozvadov to bring you updates from each of the 15 bracelet-awarding events at the 2021 WSOP Europe festival.

King's Resort, Rozvadov is hosting the WSOP Europe festival for the fourth time and is doing everything in its power to make sure this edition is the most exciting on record. Of course, the 2020 WSOPE festival fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, but King's Resort is ensuring everything will run as smoothly as possible for the 2021 edition.

All King's Resort staff are fully vaccinated, and all venue areas are frequently disinfected, including all tables and slots. In addition, hand sanitizer dispensers are available throughout King's Resort, and patrons are encouraged to use them as often as possible.

Furthermore, to help protect everyone's safety, King's Resort is checking that every single gust is either vaccinated or has tested positive and recovered from COVID-19 (with a recovery certificate and recovered within the past 180 days). Entry to King's Resort will not be possible unless you satisfy the COVID checks.

2021 WSOP Europe Schedule

PokerNews' live reporting team is on the ground from November 19 through to December 8, bringing you all the action, as it happens, from the 2021 WSOP Europe festival.

A 350 buy-in 300,000 guaranteed No-Limit Hold'em Opener kicks off the festival on November 19, the first of 15 events that award coveted WSOP bracelets. Ukraine's Renat Bohdanov won this tournament in 2019; he walked away with 53,654.

The entire three-week schedule is brimming with action, but a handful of events stand out from the crowd.

November 29 sees the 25,000 Platinum High Roller shuffle up and deal. The 2019 edition drew in an 83-strong crowd who were all outlasted by Australia's Kahle Burns, who scooped an impressive 596,883.

Then there is the 2021 WSOP Europe Main Event, which is scheduled to run between December 3-8. The 10,350 buy-in tournament has 5 million guaranteed and will attract some of the biggest names in the business. The last time this event ran, Alexandros Kolonias defeated Claas Segebrecht heads-up and banked 1,133,678 for his troubles.

Finally, a 100,000 buy-in Super High Roller brings the curtain down on the festival. Malaysia's Chin Wei Lim is the reigning champion after getting his hands on the 2,172,104 top prize in 2019.

EPT Prague Follows WSOP Europe

The 2021 European Poker Tour Prague festival takes place immediately after the 2021 WSOP Europe festival. EPT Prague runs at King's Casino Prague, formerly the Casino Atrium - Hilton Hotel, from December 8 through December 19. It features almost 60 events, many of which the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be covering, including an eagerly anticipated 5,300 buy-in Main Event.
Darren Elias to Host "The End Boss Poker Series" Via BetMGM Nov. 23-28

November 18, 2021 Jon Sofen

From November 23-28, Darren Elias will host an online poker series dubbed "The End Boss Poker Series" on the BetMGM platform in a trio of states  Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Given player pools are not yet combined, each state will hold its own online series.

Each day, BetMGM will host one tournament with buy-ins ranging from $150 to $1,060. All told, there is more than $750,000 in guaranteed prize pools across all three states. Elias is known as an "end boss" himself, at least on the World Poker Tour (WPT) where he holds the record with four titles and 12 final table appearances.

Elias plans to participate throughout the New Jersey series, and if you knock him out in the $150K GTD Main Event Tournament on November 28, you will earn a free 3-day/2-night stay at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Additionally, the winner of the Main Event, youll receive a free entry into a special New Year Knockout Tournament.

Were thrilled to introduce The End Boss Poker Series to our players," said BetMGM Director of Poker Luke Staudenmaier. "During the development process, we worked closely with Darren, a poker legend, to ensure that the series was accessible to those celebrating the holiday weekend and created with the entire partypoker US Network in mind, from our recreational players to our most competitive players.

Learn more & download to play:

New Jersey: https://poker.nj.betmgm.com

Pennsylvania: https://poker.pa.betmgm.com

Michigan: https://poker.mi.betmgm.com

Learn about End Boss Poker Series on PokerNews Podcast

Elias Gives Us the Details

PokerNews presenter Lara Neacy interviewed the WPT G.O.A.T. during the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) to discuss his new poker series.

"It's an online series on BetMGM and the partypoker network in the U.S.," Elias said. "It will be available in three states at the same time. We're already running satellites. I think we're going to have 40 to 50 satellite players in each state in the Main Event."

The Main Event, a $150,000 guaranteed no-limit hold'em tournament, will take place November 28 and costs $1,000 to enter. Each of the three states will have a separate but similar tournament running daily during the series. Over the course of seven events in six days, the End Boss series promises to award at least $750,000 in prize money.

To participate in The End Boss Poker Series, players must be physically located in New Jersey (BetMGM Poker, Borgata Poker, partypoker NJ), Pennsylvania (BetMGM Poker, Borgata Poker), or Michigan (BetMGM Poker). There will be a variety of tournament qualifiers and satellites for players to win their way into The End Boss Poker Series, starting as low as $5. Any player that participates in the Series will be invited to a December freeroll that will award entries into a special New Year Knockout PKO tournament.

End Boss Poker Series Schedule

Date Time (ET) Tournament Guarantee 11/23 7:00 p.m. Event #1 $535 8-Max NLH $40,000 11/24 7:00 p.m. Event #2 $215 8-Max PLO $20,000 11/25 7:00 p.m. Event #3 $320 8-Max Progressive Knockout Bounty $25,000 11/26 7:00 p.m. Event #4 $215 Friday Night Freezeout $15,000 11/27 5:00 p.m. Event #5 $535 Saturday 6-Max NLH $40,000 11/28 5:00 p.m. Event #6 $1,060 Main Event 8-Max NLH $150,000 11/28 7:00 p.m. Event #7 $215 Second Chance 8-Max NLH $25,000

As mentioned above, players in New Jersey will have an opportunity to compete against Elias in these online poker tournaments. And players in all three states will compete for a separate "End Boss" award, handed out to the top overall performer during the series, which includes a special entry into a New Year Knockout PKO tournament.

PokerNews will provide daily recaps of the End Boss series events.
Paulo Joanello Makes Dream Come True After Winning First WSOP Bracelet in Event #77 $1,500 Fifty Stack ($321,917)

November 18, 2021 Adam Lamers

Paulo Joanello has topped a field of 1,501 players to capture his World Series of Poker gold bracelet in Event #77: $1,500 Fifty Stack No-Limit Hold'em. Joanello defeated Toby Price after a back and forth heads-up match that saw Joanello walk away with the first-place prize of $321,917.

This is Joanello's fourth WSOP cash of his career, but this one will go down as his largest by far to date. The Brazilian has played poker for the majority of his career in his home country and usually only travels to the United States for the WSOP. He's been attending the annual event in Las Vegas since 2013 but this was his first final table and he wasn't about to let the bracelet escape him.

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Paulo Joanello Brazil $321,917 2 Toby Price United States $198,970 3 Martin Bicanik Czech Republic $146,061 4 Ron Moisescu Israel $108,349 5 Roongsak Griffeth United States $81,228 6 Axel Hallay France $61,550 7 Elio Fox United States $47,145 8 David Morel United States $36,508 9 Scott Hall United States $28,585

2021 WSOP Live Reporting Hub Follow all the live-action as it happens from the 2021 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas! Click Here

"When he came back in heads-up, I thought I was going to lose. But I looked at the bracelet and my rail and I said "No" this is going to Brazil and these people and I'm very happy."

Joanello specifically came to the WSOP this year for the Main Event but was eliminated on Day 3. He made a deep run in Event #75: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout, finishing in 74th place just yesterday. After jumping into this tournament shortly after, Joanello said everything just fit into place.

"Today, I ran good. It feels awesome," Joanello shared with PokerNews after his victory.

Joanello had one of the most boisterous rails at the 2021 WSOP and the Brazilians seem to never disappoint. When the final river card was dealt, Joanello was jumping around with his rail and the echoes could be heard throughout the Amazon Room. He admitted afterward what this means to him and the country of Brazil.

"It's a dream, a dream come true. I have no voice left because I was yelling, but it's a dream for all of us." Joanello could barely fight back the tears but he was still grinning from ear to ear.

Final Day Action

There were 114 players that returned to the felt for the second and final day of this event. The action was fast and furious right from the start with players all over the room being eliminated in the first hand. Some of the early exits included Bart Lybaert (107th place), Anthony Spinella (87th place), Ari Engel (86th place), Martin Jacobson (71st place), Gal Yifrach (56th place), and Damian Salas (44th place).

It was a sprint to the final table which occurred prior to the dinner break in level 32. Scott Hall started the final table third in chips but sent a big double to Price in the early going. On the very next hand, his pocket sevens fell to the pocket kings of Joanello. He was quickly followed to the payout desk by David Morel in eighth place who was also a victim of Joanello's hot streak.

On the last hand before the dinner break, Elio Fox bowed out in seventh place. Fox was the shortest stack remaining on the table and decided to get his chips in the middle before the blinds came around one more time. Unfortunately for him, Joanello woke up with pocket tens in the big blind and Fox was unable to recover.

Elio Fox

Once the players returned from dinner break, Axel Hallay, Roongsak Griffeth, and Ron Moisescu filed their way to the payout desk in short order. Hallay lost a coin flip, Griffeth bluffed his stack after missing a combo draw, and Moisescu ran into kicker problems after flopping top pair.

With only three players remaining, Price held a commanding lead with around 80% of the chips in play. However, those chips got splashed around a bit, with the majority of them going to Joanello. Martin Bicanik and his rail were enjoying watching the action unfold but eventually, the blinds got too big for the short stack. Bicanik got it in good with ace-king against the ace-jack of Joanello, but a jack on the flop would put Joanello in the lead and Bicanik was ousted in third place.

The heads-up battle started with Price in the lead but the two players exchanged the chip lead multiple times over the course of the two-hour battle. Price was slowly getting shorter near the end of the last level and it all came to a halt when he flopped top pair against the overpair of Joanello. An explosion of cheers could be heard throughout the rail and Price was forced to head to the payout desk in second place.

Paulo Joanello and Friends

This concludes the PokerNews coverage of this event but check out the WSOP Live Reporting Hub to follow all the exciting action here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
Master of Ceremonies Vince Vaughn Suffers Bad Beat in His First WSOP Tournament

November 17, 2021 Chad Holloway

Hollywood actor Vince Vaughn, the star of Swingers, Old School, Wedding Crashers, and Dodgeball, was recently announced as the "Master of Ceremonies" for the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Yesterday, he gave the traditional "shuffle up and deal" announcement at the final table of the WSOP Main Event, and on Wednesday he returned for several other promotional endeavors. Once finished, he took the opportunity to enter his first-ever WSOP gold bracelet tournament, Event #79: $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty where every Poker Hal of Famer had a bounty on their head.

While not a member of the PHoF, Vaughn, too, had a target on his back as Jack Effel revealed the WSOP was putting a $10,000 bounty on the actor, much to the delight of players sat with him at Table 2 in the Brasilia Room.

Vaughn took his seat in Level 6 (300/600/600) with 7:10 remaining in the level. In his first-ever WSOP hand, action folded to the player in the small blind who tossed in chips. He had meant to call but because of the amount it actually constituted a raise to 1,200. That did the trick as Vaughn released his hand.

Over the next few hands, Vaughn continued to fold as several Poker Hall of Famers interacted with the star of The Break-Up.

"I want a table change," said Eli Elezra, who was earlier in the day inducted into the PHoF as its 60th member. Elezra was no doubt hoping to get a shot at the $10,000 bounty.

GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu swung by as well offering some advice to Vaughn on how to deal with the target on his back: "Do not try to bluff these people."

Vince Vaughn in the PHoF Bounty Event.

Eventually, the break rolled around, and then Vaughn disappeared for the entirety of Level 7 as he was blinded off. Rumor had it he was busy either in the commentary booth or living up to some other obligations. He returned in Level 8 (500/1,000/1,000) and folded four more hands before finally getting involved.

It began when he limped from middle position and action folded to the player in the small blind, who also limped. Kunal Patni then raised to 4,000 from the big blind. Vaughn, who was calm, cool, and collected, grabbed his entire stack of approximately 25,000 and spiked them in the middle. The player in the small blind folded, and everyone seemed to know that with a $10,000 bounty on the line, Patni was prone to call. Indeed he did just that.

Vince Vaughn:

Kunal Patni:

According to the PokerNews Odds Calculator, Vaughn was a 67.55% favorite while Patni would come from behind 31.05% of the time. Unfortunately for the WSOP Master of Ceremonies, this was one of those times as the flop came down to pair Patni's queen.

Neither the turn nor river helped Vaughn, and Patni offered a consolatory, "Sorry."

"No worries, good suck out," Vaughn said with a smile before shaking hands with everyone at the table. "We'll see you down the road."

Vaughn really only played one hand in the tournament and it proved to be a bad beat. As they say, that's poker!

Check out our 2021 WSOP Hub here!
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COLUMBIA  The South Carolina House will return to Columbia to meet in a special session about redistricting in early December.

House Speaker Jay Lucas said the House will first meet at 2 p.m. Dec. 1 with the primary focus on approving the new state House, Senate and U.S. House districts based on 2020 U.S. census data.

The chamber may also be in session on Dec. 2 and Dec. 6 if necessary.

The Senate hasn't announced the dates it might meet in special session, but they are expected to gather in early December, too, because that would leave three months for legal challenges about the new maps to be resolved before filing for the new districts in the 2022 elections begins in March.

The Legislature set aside only a few issues that can be taken up in the special session without a two-thirds vote. They include redistricting, spending billions of dollars in federal pandemic funds and from a settlement with the federal government over radioactive material stored past a deadline at the Savannah River Site.

The list of items did not include COVID-19 vaccine or mask mandates.

The General Assembly returns in January for the second year of its regular session.
GOOSE CREEK  The Hudson, a 300-unit multifamily development in Berkeley County, has been sold to an Irmo-based real estate investment firm for $79.5 million.

Virginia-based real estate developer Monday Properties sold the 17.3-acre site at 900 Owl Wood Lane off U.S. Highway 176 to Passive Investing, according to a release by the company.

The Hudson sale comes out to roughly $263,333 per unit.

We do a ton of deals and the first thing we always look at is location, said Eric Fitzgerald, Passive Investings director of acquisitions. In Cane Bay, we were right in the pocket of a Publix retail center so that was a major draw that caught our interest.

Monday Properties broke ground on The Hudson in October 2019 and delivered the first buildings in April 2021. The Hudson is now over 59-percent leased with 163 units occupied at sale.

With the Hudson's lease and occupation rate where it was at the time of the sale and the high market demand in Charleston and investor interest in the property made it the right time to sell, said Frank Craighill, Vice President of Development at Monday Properties.

Passive Investment has more than 4,300 units in its portfolio worth an estimated $742 million throughout the Southeast and Texas, Fitzgerald confirmed.

The firm is no stranger to the Lowcountry. Besides the Cane Bay Hudson development, the company also owns the 350-unit complex Bluewater at Boltons Landing in West Ashley, which they purchased in September.

Weve been looking at properties in Charleston since about 2018 and we were fortunate enough to get these two this year, Fitzgerald said. Were very bullish on the Charleston market as a whole and the area around Cane Bay.

This is Monday Properties second multi-family property sale in the Charleston market since the beginning of the summer. Monday Properties sold The Mason, a 264-unit community, in June 2021 to American Landmark Apartments, a South Florida company, for $53.1 million.

"We are continuing to actively look at new development opportunities in a number of different markets," Craighill said. "Our success in the Charleston area with the sale of two large multifamily developments in a five-month time period reflects the strength and continued growth of the market. We consider South Carolina and the Southeast overall a critical component as we continue to grow our multifamily portfolio."

The Hudson features studio, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments range from 550-to-1,320 square feet and are priced from $1,098 to $1,890 per month. The apartments feature open concept floorplans, hardwood-style flooring with granite countertops, walk-in closets and balconies for most units.

Sixty-percent of the units were 2- or 3-bedroom models, and they are right next to the school system and theres a wait list to get into those schools, Fitzgerald said. We felt like the unit mix and actually quality of the asset combined with the location was something we were definitely interested in.

The complex includes resort-style amenities, including a zero-entry pool with a clubhouse and business center.
CAYCE  Mayor Elise Partin accused council members of gaslighting a city employee and tarnishing the city's reputation at a Nov. 17 meeting, as tensions continued over a divided vote to keep a volunteer official following his racist comments on the Columbia mayoral race.

While Partin and members of council called for unity last week, little was shown at the first City Council meeting since a divided vote over whether to remove Marion Hutson from the Cayce Historical Museum Commission following allegations he said Columbia didn't need another "colored person" as mayor.

"How do we begin to rebuild trust when a majority of council gaslighted an employee who stood up and properly and professionally handled an inexcusable situation?" Partin said. "How do we begin to rebuild trust with our citizenry who thought they had a city leadership who would represent all of them?"

Partin and Councilman James Jenkins, the only Black member on the council, voted Nov. 9 to remove Hutson in a tense meeting. Councilmen Phil Carter, Tim James and Hunter Sox voted to keep Hutson in his role until the city could conduct an investigation. Hutson resigned Nov. 12 before City Council could vote on whether to launch an official review.

Partin criticized councilmen for conducting "rogue interviews" with the media that she said further divided them. After Carter, James and Sox voted to postpone new appointments to two city commissions, Partin said she was concerned of how it will be perceived, especially because one applicant, Kelly Wuest, ran for the council seat Sox now holds. The other is Native American and would add diversity to the museum commission, she said.

"It would concern to me to postpone these and maybe end up never appointing either of these because of what it may look like," Partin said. "One was a candidate for council, and one is Native American. I'm not sure what message we're sending," Partin said.

The City Council voted unanimously to conduct an investigation into whether the city has a larger cultural problem and if other employees have heard offensive comments from Hutson. City Attorney Danny Crowe will conduct the investigation since he does not oversee any Cayce employees.

Carter and James both defended their votes to keep Hutson in his position, saying they believed the city employee's statement but wanted to ensure due process before taking action.

"This 'no' vote was not a vote for racism but a vote for due process," Carter said. "I cannot and I will not ever make a decision of this magnitude on an unsigned statement 15 minutes from when I saw it."

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin is the citys first Black mayor. Daniel Rickenmann, a White businessman, defeated Tameika Isaac Devine, a Black attorney, to become the citys next mayor in a Nov. 16 runoff election.

A few Cayce residents, including the chairman of the museum commission, criticized the council's handling of the allegations against Hutson, saying the council wronged him by not allowing him to respond to the allegations or explain his actions. Hutson was not present when City Council discussed his remarks, and he told The State newspaper that he wasn't aware council members considered removing him.

Ann Bailey-Robinson, a former councilwoman Sox defeated in the Nov. 2 election, attended the Nov. 17 meeting to say she was disappointed with the council's decision to keep Hutson on the museum commission.

"What is council willing to tolerate for our city?" said Bailey-Robinson, who is Black. "You have to stand on your word. If you're going to represent everyone, represent everyone."

Tensions flared earlier in the City Council meeting as Partin and Jenkins argued with Carter over the appointment of mayor pro tempore, a largely ceremonial role. Carter accused Jenkins, the current mayor pro tempore, of going back on his word to support him for the appointment.

"You changed your mind, and that's certainly your right. A courtesy phone call would've been appreciated," Carter said after apologizing to his wife and son for any embarrassment, as he'd asked them to attend the meeting to see his appointment.

Jenkins denied telling Carter he would support him for the appointment, saying, "We have to be careful about knowing that we are not here to put words in people's mouths."

In response, Carter whipped off his mask and glared at Jenkins across the council dais. Partin disputed Carter's characterization of the council's behind-the-scenes discussions about who should be selected as mayor pro tempore.

"Those weren't exactly the words I used with you," Partin said to Carter.

"Mayor, I don't think this is the time and place for that debate," Carter said.

"Council meetings are always the time and place for debate," Partin replied before saying Carter had not told her the "full truth."

Partin and all four councilmen, including Carter, ultimately voted in favor of Jenkins remaining as mayor pro tempore. Carter said he supported Jenkins in the interest of maintaining unity of the council.

"This council, while going through a difficult time, is not broken. If we were broken, I possibly could've insisted on being mayor pro tem. I certainly had the votes," Carter said. "But I want harmony and unity."
GEORGETOWN  Tuscany Bistro on Front Street in downtown Georgetown will be closed indefinitely after a fire engulfed its kitchen, bar and restroom areas early Nov. 18.

"The kitchen is a total loss," the owner's fiancee Lisa Hawes said, though the owners Eddy Chacon and Anthony Chacon are unsure just how much the damage will cost.

The fire started just after midnight and Georgetown City Fire Department was at the scene within minutes, Hawes said. Georgetown City Fire Chief Charlie Cribb said the fire was caused by electrical wires and that Georgetown County Fire/EMS and Midway Fire Rescue were also called to the scene to assist.

Cribb said when City Fire arrived, fire was coming out of the roof of the building and it took about 45 minutes to get contained.

"It suffered pretty significant damage," Cribb said.

In 2013, a fire destroyed nearly a whole block and seven buildings along Front Street, shaking many in the city to their core. Tuscany's roof is nearly completely caved in, Hawes said, but the fire was luckily contained to Tuscany Bistro and did not spread to other businesses nearby like 8 years ago.

Though fighting fires is what he and his team do everyday, Cribb said this fire's resemblance to the 2013 one made the whole team more concerned than just any other fire.

"It was definitely a heightened awareness going into this incident knowing that we had such a big fire in 2013 and this is similar obviously, the exact same set up," Cribb said.

Tuscany Bistro opened under the name Fresco's Bistro in 2012 but closed during COVID-19 and reopened under the new name in late 2020. While the fire did not reach the dining or patio areas of the restaurant, Hawes said they experienced extensive smoke damage.
While South Carolina health officials haven't released the official number of people in this state who died from drug overdoses in 2020, federal estimates suggest the numbers are climbing higher than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a more dangerous drug supply.

On Nov. 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that an unprecedented 100,300 Americans died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021. The estimate was drawn from the latest available death certificate data, but it's not an official count. It can take many months for death investigations involving drug fatalities to become final, so the agency made the estimate based on 98,000 reports it has received so far.

A spokeswoman for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said this state's numbers haven't been finalized for 2020 deaths yet, but the agency's data shows overdose deaths have been climbing since at least 2010. In 2019, more than 1,130 people in South Carolina died due to a drug overdose, up from 679 deaths more than a decade ago in 2010.

The CDC estimates South Carolina's number of overdose deaths dramatically increased during the pandemic. During the 12-month period ending in April 2021, the federal agency projected 1,907 South Carolinians died from an overdose  a 45.4 percent increase from 12-month window ending in April 2020.

South Carolina's numbers mirror the national trend. Overdose deaths have been rising for more than two decades. They have accelerated in the past two years and, according to the new federal data posted Nov. 17, jumped nearly 30 percent in the latest year.

President Joe Biden called it a tragic milestone in a statement, as administration officials pressed Congress to devote billions of dollars more to address the problem.

This is unacceptable and it requites an unprecedented response, said Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of National Drug Control Policy.

Experts believe the top drivers of overdose deaths are the growing prevalence of deadly fentanyl in the illicit drug supply and the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many drug users socially isolated and unable to get treatment or other support.

"We're in a time where we're all dealing with stressors that we haven't had," said Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency room physician for Trident Medical Center in North Charleston. "COVID brought up a lot of mental health issues, and people will self-medicate using opiates or other drugs because they don't have the opportunity or appropriate place to find treatment."

The number of national overdose deaths is devastating, said Katherine Keyes, a Columbia University expert on drug abuse issues. Its a magnitude of overdose death that we havent seen in this country."

Drug overdoses now surpass deaths from car crashes, guns, and even flu and pneumonia. The total is close to that for diabetes, the nation's No. 7 cause of death.

The CDC previously reported there were about 93,000 overdose deaths in 2020, the highest number recorded in a calendar year. Robert Anderson, the CDC's chief of mortality statistics, said the 2021 tally is likely to surpass 100,000.

2021 is going to be terrible," agreed Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a drug policy expert at the University of California, San Francisco.

The new data shows many of the deaths involve illicit fentanyl, a highly lethal opioid that five years ago surpassed heroin as the type of drug involved in the most overdose deaths. Dealers have mixed fentanyl with other drugs  one reason that deaths from methamphetamines and cocaine also are rising.

"Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate, so it's a manufactured drug with a much higher potency," said Perry, the Trident Medical Center physician. "Oftentimes users of these drugs will take their normal amount of whatever drug they choose. And all of a sudden they are unable to breathe through it, which is when a lot of these overdose events occur."

Drug cartels in Mexico are using chemicals from China to mass-produce and distribute fentanyl and meth across America, said Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

This year, the DEA has seized 12,000 pounds of fentanyl, a record amount, Milgram said. But public health experts and even police officials say that law enforcement measures will not stop the epidemic, and more needs to be done to dampen demand and prevent deaths.

The CDC has not yet calculated racial and ethnic breakdowns for the overdose victims.

It found the estimated death toll rose in all but four states  Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota  compared with the same period a year earlier. The states with the largest increases were Vermont (70 percent), West Virginia (62 percent) and Kentucky (55 percent).

Minnesota saw an increase of about 39 percent, with estimated overdose deaths rising to 1,188 in May 2020 through April 2021 from 858 in the previous 12-month period.

The area around the city of Mankato has seen its count of overdose deaths rise from two in 2019 to six last year to 16 so far this year, said police Lt. Jeff Wersal, who leads a regional drug task force.

I honestly don't see it getting better, not soon, he said.

Among the year's victims was Travis Gustavson, who died in February at the age of 21 in Mankato. His blood was found to show signs of fentanyl, heroin, marijuana and the sedative Xanax, Wersal said.

Gustavson was close to his mother, two brothers and the rest of his family, said his grandmother Nancy Sack.

He was known for his easy smile, she said. He could be crying when he was a little guy, but if someone smiled at him, he immediately stopped crying and smiled back, she recalled.

Gustavson first tried drugs as a kid and had been to drug treatment as a teenager, Sack said. He struggled with anxiety and depression, but mainly used marijuana and various kinds of pills, she said.

The morning of the day he died, Travis had a tooth pulled, but he wasn't prescribed strong painkillers because of his drug history, Sack said. He told his mother he would just stay home and ride out the pain with ibuprofen. He was expecting a visit from his girlfriend that night to watch a movie, she said.

But Gustavson contacted Max Leo Miller, also 21, who provided him a bag containing heroin and fentanyl, according to police.

Some details of what happened are in dispute, but all accounts suggest Gustavson was new to heroin and fentanyl.

Police say Gustavson and Miller exchanged messages on social media. At one point, Gustavson sent a photo of a line of a white substance on a brown table and asked if he was taking the right amount and then wrote Or bigger?

According to a police report, Miller responded: Smaller bro and Be careful plz!

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 51F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
CONWAY  Horry County Schools latest graduating class fell behind nationally when it came to both SAT and ACT scores, and ranked below the state's other large school districts.

John Washburn. the South Carolina's third-largest school district's director of assessment, attributed the drop in scores to the COVID-19 pandemic and severe weather that created the "perfect storm for the class of '21."

"There's more than just COVID  you have to remember that, yes COVID was a major impact on that particular class  there was actually a major disruption to their high school experience every year they were in high school," Washburn said.

For the district's 2021 SAT scores, the average was 1,029 on a 1,600-point scale, which was lower than the national average of 1,060. South Carolina's largest school district, Greenville County, and second-largest school district, Charleston County, had average scores of 1,059 and 1,084, respectively.

The Palmetto State average score was 1,028, just one point behind Horry County.

Horry County SAT scores have been on the decline for years, dropping a total of 67 points since 2018. But, Washburn said the drop came from more students taking the SAT, which impacts the average score.

From 2018 to 2020, the number of Horry County students taking the SAT steadily rose though there was a slight dip in 2021, which Washburn attributed to smaller class size.

The increase in test-takers is in part due to Horry County's unprecedented growth spilling into the school district as the district's student population increased by over 2,000 students in the last five years. Roughly 46,000 students are enrolled in the district.

There are some bright spots as three Horry County schools surpassed the district, state and national average including; the Academy for Arts, Science and Technology at 1,157; Aynor High at 1,114; and Scholars Academy at 1,415.

The district's ACT scores had a slight bump in 2021 at 18.1 on a 36 point scale from 18, but its average still fell short against the state's norm of 18.3.

Comparatively, HCS also was outranked by Greenville, which averaged 19.9, and Charleston, which matched the national average at 20.3.

In the last few years, the district's ACT scores have zigzagged in the 18 and 19 point range starting at 18.3 in 2018 and jumping back up to 19 in 2019. The average dropped back down in 2020 amid the pandemic.

Washburn explained that students' scores vary across the two tests primarily because they are different. The SAT is an aptitude test that scores a student's inherent knowledge, while the ACT is based on achievement and skills a student gained through the school year.

"I would never say that one is better, or harder than the other. They're different tests," Washburn said. "I grew up in the South, and the South is still notorious for thinking the only way to get into college is the SAT  but it's not  every school takes the ACT to. It's just it's historically the SAT has been the test of choice on the East Coast."

But, for a few years, the ACT was the test of choice in South Carolina.

Up until 2018, the state paid for all 11th-graders to take the ACT, so any students who wanted to take the SAT had to shell out their own money. But in the spring of 2018, the S.C. Department of Education along with state lawmakers made the switch to allow students to take either test for free.

The statewide switch can be seen in Horry County where the ACT was the most common test in the district until 2018 when SAT test-takers started to increase.

In 2021, the SAT surpassed the ACT for the first time in years with over 1,500 students taking the SAT and about 775 taking the ACT.

"College and career readiness is a major component for our high schools. It is a major focus for our high schools," Washburn said. "We are providing a ton of opportunities for our students to take advantage of career readiness opportunities through work-based learning, through internships, through experiences that they can get through our partnerships with Horry-Georgetown Technical College."
German immigrants brought the Charleston Schutzenfest beer and community festival to the grounds of the German Rifle Club in the 1850s. German Americans allowed everyone, including free and possibly enslaved Black Charlestonians, to participate in the festival held in downtown Charleston's Wagener Terrace neighborhood that's now home to six breweries.

The Germans, who made up 9 percent of the White population, became companions with Black Charleston residents in the first decade of the Schutzenfest while drinking beer, playing games and dancing. This relationship extended outside of the annual festival to German grocery stores called Dutch Corner Shops that doubled as saloons. The shops depended on Black patronage, making them unpopular among the slaveholding class because they gave Black people a place to establish their own drinking culture.

The thought of Blacks and Whites sharing a few pints never occurred to Jamaal Lemon when he was growing up in Charleston. In fact, Lemon only became a cicerone-certified beer server and writer after moving to Washington, D.C., a district with three Black-owned breweries, more than the state of South Carolina.

At Fort Dorchester High School, Lemon wasn't taught the history of the Schutzenfest, which became a beacon of hope for Charleston's approximately 40,000 Black residents, who, under Charleston law, were assumed to be slaves unless they had documentation that proved otherwise. He never learned that the Gullah-Geechee people and White Germans not only attended the same festival but also resided in the same northern and western parts of Charleston.

After the Civil War, this small celebration of German culture exploded in popularity in Reconstruction-era Charleston, giving the immigrant Germans the chance to be accepted by the broader White population. Historian Dr. Brian Alberts estimates that the event saw 10,000 or more participants during this time, when about 50,000 glasses of beer were consumed. Witnessing the festival's immense growth, the Germans gave in to the White majority's desire to diminish Black participation. Eventually, Black people were pushed out entirely.

While the Schutzenfest continued into the 1900s, it changed forever in 1873, when the German Rifle Club admitted its first non-German members and made the shooting competition and festival an invitation-only event. The Black ban bled into the 21st century for the German Rifle Club, which eventually became known as the Charleston Rifle Club. Located steps away from a downtown brewery, this private club didn't admit its first Black member for 165 years.

Black exclusion in craft beer continues today in Charleston, home to zero Black-owned breweries out of 35 in the tri-county area.

After researching the Schutzenfest for years, Alberts and historians Mike Stein and Pete Jones connected with Lemon to publish a three-part series of articles called Tek Cyear uh de Root" detailing the festival and its influence on beer culture today.

"(For) any African American, coming up in Charleston can be very suppressive in a sense. Opportunities are just not there, and you don't see many models of representation," Lemon said. "Whatever system that came out of that Schutzenfest that barred and excluded those African Americans ... I think it's still in place now."

By sharing his story, Lemon has become the Black leader in beer Charleston didn't have when he turned 21. Now others in Charleston are telling theirs.

On the outside looking in

Customer and employee interactions are part of the fabric of craft breweries, as beer experts provide newcomers with a base knowledge of the styles and techniques behind each beer. These conversations have been an integral part of the sector's growing popularity that's resulted in more than 30 new Charleston breweries in the past decade.

Monique Wilkinson, a Black mail carrier who lives in North Charleston, became interested in craft beer five years ago when a friend started inviting her to tastings. Shes grown weary of the automatic assumption that Black people only drink Heineken, Bud Light or Budweiser, but she makes an effort to have an open mind when visiting local breweries.

Wilkinson seldom sees more than a handful of Black people at breweries, but what irritates her the most is the lack of attention they receive. She wonders, how can Black people become more involved in beer if they aren't given the same tasting spiel White people receive the second they walk in the door?

Wilkinson's partner Alandria Mustafa, a Black therapist, describes herself as an outgoing person. At work, helping people open up and face their fears is part of her job, but she still has to mentally prepare herself for the potential rejection she might find inside a brewery.

Mustafa recalls receiving weird looks at breweries on several occasions, especially when she and Wilkinson walked in as a couple.

Its when the looks last or when they linger. Theres not necessarily any sign or anybody saying that, Mustafa said. Its mostly just feeling as if Im not supposed to be in a space.

Mustafa's feeling of not belonging in breweries resonates with her partner.

"No one wants to be filled with anxiety when they go to have a beer," Wilkinson said.

David White Jr. grew up on the East Side of Charleston, so hes witnessed the craft beer industry explode right before his eyes. Downtown's brewery district, located in and around historically Black communities, is a perfect example: It's grown from one to 12 breweries since 2011, and another is set to open in 2022.

After visiting more than half of Charlestons breweries, White has seen some make an effort with diversity and inclusion. Others seem content with their mostly White clientele.

White calls initiatives like posting a black square on Instagram for Blackout Tuesday or brewing the Black is Beautiful beer "temporary" if breweries stop there. He wants change to be permanent.

My passion is to keep the conversation going, White said. Having a diverse front of the house and back of the house, thats something thats going to be long-lasting.

April Dove collaborated with White and Holy City Brewing to brew Tha CommUNITY American lager earlier this year, becoming one of the first female Black brewers in Charleston. She believes breweries located in Black communities should do more for their surrounding neighborhoods.

You can hire people in your own community to do the things that you have outsourced already, Dove said. I mean, these breweries are in the middle of these Black communities. Its about being in your community and saying, Hey, were not just a place to drink beer and get drunk.'

Dove credits Holy City head brewer Chris Brown with giving her a chance to spread the word about inclusivity in craft beer. Since an Oct. 1 launch party for Tha CommUNITY, the North Charleston brewery has seen a more diverse clientele, according to Brown. He hopes to continue making his brewery a space for everyone with monthly community happy hours, led by Dove and White. The first one took place on Nov. 18.

Diversity in craft beer is a big topic right now, and I think its an ongoing topic," Brown said. "But the conversation had to be started."

An inclusive moment

The truths about the German Rifle Club and its Schutzenfest were discussed at the Nov. 4 Tek Cyear uh de Root Festival at Commonhouse Aleworks, located near Holy City in Park Circle.

At 7 p.m., attendees finished making their rounds with local Black-owned vendors, and DJ Earls Dance Doctors gave the stage to Black Food Fridays founder KJ Kearney, who moderated a panel discussion with Lemon and Cocktail Bandits founders Taneka Reaves and Johnny Caldwell.

People were able to kind of say the hard stuff that a lot of us have been thinking, Dove said. You had Black chefs that were cooking great meals, the music was great. We wanted it to be Black and that was felt. Sitting at the table with different people and even seeing the White people listening to what Jamaal was saying was really awesome.

Commonhouse Aleworks beer-tender Clay Palmer was right where he loves to be at the festival  behind Commonhouses inside bar pouring pints of Park Circle pale and White Point lager. Palmer thrives in the front-of-the-house role that enables him to connect with Black people who might not feel comfortable inside breweries.

Being in this space, whenever I see someone thats a little overwhelmed, just making them feel welcome and being that person that they can relate to and understand, Palmer said. Our family up here is doing a really great job of pushing and promoting that.

Palmer, who grew up in the historically Black Snowden community of Mount Pleasant, appreciates Commonhouse owner Pearce Fleming's efforts to create an inclusive environment at his brewery.

I know a lot of people, they speak about inclusivity, that right now is a trending thing to do, Palmer said. I felt like it wasnt a gimmick. I wasnt hired just to be a Brown face behind the bar. They really wholeheartedly wanted me in this space.

Confronting the past

Edmunds Oast co-owner Scott Shor and his team hired a local typography company to develop the name of their Morrison Drive restaurant in 2014. The company pulled historical information about Charleston's brewing industry, and the two sides played around with names they thought might stand out in Charleston. A man by the name of Edmund Egan, known in some historical circles as the "rebel brewer" for his monetary contributions to the Revolutionary War, came up shortly after the two sides had discussed oast houses, or buildings designed for drying hops.

Research for Lemon's articles unearthed the truth about Egan: Enslaved workers brewed the beer at his circa-1760s Charleston brewery.

The first thread of history that we pulled on Edmund Egan was an article that came out in the 1950s, historian Mike Stein said. What it glossed over was the enslaved brewers, keg builders ... all of these jobs that were done by the enslaved laborers inside his brewery. Its kind of ironic that there were a ton of Black hands in the brewing trade at the start and today there is zero Black ownership.

After reading the articles, Shor and Timmons Pettigrew, who operates Edmund's Oast's brewery that opened in 2017, reached out to Lemon to learn more about Egan. Discovering the truth about the person they unintentionally named their restaurant and brewery after reminded Shor that racism surrounds all facets of Charleston.

Disturbed by Lemon's findings, what Shor and his team does next will not be reactionary; conversations about better serving the Black communities that surround Edmund's Oast have been ongoing for years. They've attempted to address the lack of brewery inclusion through community work, staff workshops and the commissioning of a street-facing mural by Alexandria Searles that reads Until Black people are free, no one is.

But now more than ever before, Shor recognizes Charleston's brewing community must approach industry inclusion in a different way: by listening to the brave Black voices who say they don't belong.

Shor doesnt want to hide from the naming oversight. Rather, he plans to keep Edmunds Oasts name to shine light on the whitewashing of history Lemon discusses in his articles. Recognizing who Egan was and how Edmund's Oast was able to be blind to his past will be key to future representation of the Black population in the craft brewing industry.

Were trying to tackle this for real and not be afraid to talk about that racism exists all around us, Shor said. I dont think you make it better by pretending the past didnt happen. We all have to make ourselves a little more uncomfortable by actually delving into this stuff. Lets live in that zone.

Edmund's Oast collaborated with Lemon to brew the 8 And All beer thats dedicated to Egans eight enslaved brewers. Despite extensive research by Lemon, the historians who researched his articles, Shor and Pettigrew, the names of the enslaved brewers have not been found.

The beers can, which shows two enslaved Black men wearing iron punishment collars, will be disturbing for some, but thats the point.
Nine people have been arrested in recent months as part of a drug-trafficking ring authorities say brought vast quantities of a powerful and deadly opioid to the Lowcountry, according to newly filed court records.

Authorities said in a search warrant affidavit unsealed Nov. 15 the defendants used stash houses to traffic kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine throughout the Charleston area.

The drugs were smuggled into South Carolina from Mexico, federal authorities said.

In June, the S.C. Highway Patrol found 2 kilograms of fentanyl, or approximately 4.4 pounds, hidden in the air intake system of one defendant's vehicle.

In September, a Folly Beach mother and her 1-year-old child overdosed on fentanyl allegedly supplied by the drug ring, court records state.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid traditionally used to treat cancer patients or those with extreme pain. Fifty times stronger than heroin, the drug has in recent years increasingly found its way onto the streets, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mexican cartels mass produce fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills designed to look like traditional prescription medication using chemicals sources mainly from China, the agency says. The drugs are then distributed through U.S. criminal networks.

The DEA estimates 1 kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people, or almost two-thirds of the Charleston metro area.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated an unprecedented 100,300 Americans died of drug overdoses from May 2020 to April 2021, with many of those deaths involving fentanyl.

The defendants identified in an Oct. 20 superseding indictment are Geno Curtis White Jr., 30; Ebony Williams; Maurice "Black" Adams, 27; Emily Moore; Xavier "Pretty" Williams, 41; Brianna White, 25; Maurice "Frapp" Mitchell, 42; Jesus Wilson-Lombida, 48, of North Carolina; and Jorge Estrada, 46, of California. Ages and other identifying information on all the defendants was not available.

All face charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, among other counts.

Federal authorities continue to make arrests in the case. On Nov. 16, Alif Williams of Charleston was booked into Charleston County jail on charges in his alleged role in the conspiracy, court records state.

At an arraignment on Nov. 18, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Molly Cherry entered not guilty pleas on Williams' behalf to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Williams, 46, is accused of selling heroin and fentanyl to a confidential informant on several occasions in January 2020, Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards said at Williams' hearing.

Sowards said the confidential informant only asked to purchase heroin, but he was instead supplied fentanyl on one occasion. Whether it was intentional or a mistake, Sowards said it was "extremely dangerous conduct," given fentanyl's lethality.

Charleston police officers executed a search warrant at Williams' Grove Street residence after the controlled buys, where they found fentanyl, ketamine, heroin and seven 1-pound bags of marijuana, Sowards said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in South Carolina, said he could not comment on the investigation.

The DEA and Homeland Security Investigations, along with local law enforcement, have been investigating the organization for almost three years, the affidavit states.

Authorities identify Mitchell as one of the two main distributors of fentanyl for the organization, the affidavit states.

On Nov. 17, 2020, a cooperating defendant arranged to sell 2 kilograms of "sham" fentanyl to Mitchell outside a Goose Creek grocery store, the affidavit states. Authorities watched as Mitchell arrived at the grocery store in a red Buick SUV and pulled up next to a Ford F-350 pickup.

Authorities said Mitchell placed a black bag containing nearly $100,000 into the truck. The truck's driver, who is not identified in the affidavit, then gave the cooperating defendant the money in exchange for the fake fentanyl.

Law enforcement officers conducted a stop on both vehicles and placed Mitchell under arrest. Authorities seized the fake fentanyl and three baggies of cocaine found in Mitchell's SUV.

Mitchell was charged with trafficking in cocaine by Berkeley County Sheriff's Office after his arrest and released on a $30,000 surety bond. The cocaine charge was dismissed late last month after Mitchell was arrested in the federal case, police and court records state.

The cooperating defendant told authorities as part of a plea deal he had arranged several large fentanyl sales between Mitchell and the pickup truck's driver before the sting operation.

Authorities said Mitchell continued to sell drugs after his release on bond in the Berkeley County case. On three occasions in the spring and summer, authorities said, Mitchell sold heroin and crack cocaine to a confidential informant working for the North Charleston Police Department.

On June 1, Jesus Wilson-Lombida was arrested in Berkeley County after a S.C. Highway Patrol officer stopped his 2021 Nissan Altima on Henry Brown Boulevard in Hanahan, court records state.

Wilson-Lombida told the officer he was traveling to Goose Creek to buy a car, but he could not provide the address where he was traveling or details about the vehicle for sale, records state.

Officers searched Wilson-Lombida's vehicle and found 2 kilograms of plastic-wrapped fentanyl hidden in the car's air intake system, records state.

Wilson-Lombida was born in Cuba but is a naturalized U.S. citizen, records state.

He was previously convicted in Minnesota in 2010 of offering to sell an undercover officer a kilogram of cocaine for $23,000, records state.

On Sept. 20, Charleston County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a residence in Folly Beach for reports that a woman and her 1-year-old child had suffered a fentanyl overdose, the affidavit states.

Authorities identified the person who provided the fentanyl to the woman, the affidavit states. He told authorities he purchased the fentanyl from Mitchell.

Mitchell was arrested four days later by federal authorities.

Charleston County Sheriff's Office spokesman Andrew Knapp said both the child and mother survived the overdose.
SUMMERVILLE  Deputies arrested a former school bus driver after accusing him of exchanging hundreds of text messages with several juvenile students.

Dorchester County sheriffs deputies charged Archimedes Bernard Bateman, 26, on Nov. 17 with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was taken to the countys detention center following his arrest the same day.

The charge stems from a complaint provided to the sheriffs office by the uncle of a 15-year-old boy, a student at Summerville High School. Bateman was his bus driver, according to a redacted incident report.

The boys uncle, who is also his legal guardian, had taken the phone for disciplinary reasons. The uncle looked through the phone and discovered hundreds of inappropriate text messages exchanged between Bateman and the student, the report states.

The bus driver texted the student, who has not been publicly identified, several times to ask if he could come over, the uncle told authorities. Bateman asked to purchase weed from the student, and the messages advised he was texting other children from the bus as well, according to the report.

Bateman appeared via video conference at 3 p.m. Nov. 17 for a bond hearing. A Dorchester County detective investigating the case told the judge authorities had downloaded the students phone records, revealing around 55 pages worth of messages between him and Bateman.

The bus driver contacted the boy through text and Snapchat, the detective said. Bateman also appeared to have messaged at least five other juveniles from his bus, including both middle and high schoolers.

Authorities received a warrant approving the search of Batemans cellphone, the detective said.

The investigation was ongoing to determine whether more charges would be warranted, sheriffs spokesman Lt. Rick Carson said.

At Batemans bond hearing, the detective told Magistrate Judge Ryan Templeton some evidence suggested the suspect had driven by the students home, at one point getting out of the car and speaking with him. This necessitated a no-contact order, the detective said.

The boys uncle appeared at Batemans bond hearing and asked Templeton to set the maximum bond, as well as a no-contact order. He thanked the sheriffs office and Dorchester District 2 officials for their work in investigating the case.

Batemans mother Paula entered the courtroom as well, telling the judge her son lived with her in Summerville and posed no flight risk. He had spent seven years working for the school district and had been good all his life," the woman said.

"I don't understand all this," she said.

Bateman has no criminal history. He declined to speak at the hearing.

Templeton set his bail at a $5,000 surety bond, with the stipulations he may not contact the victim nor any other minor and may he access the internet until the case is resolved.

Bateman no longer worked for the school district as of Nov. 12, a spokeswoman said. District personnel are cooperating with authorities.
Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations.
Republican Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, takes an elevator as the House of Representatives prepares to vote on a resolution to formally rebuke him for tweeting an animated video that depicted him striking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., with a sword, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. In addition to the official censure, House Democrats want to oust him from his seats on the House Oversight Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
GREER  BMW Manufacturing will expand its logistics operations with a $100 million investment in Spartanburg to include a new facility across Interstate 85 from its main campus.

Part of the investment will also pay for two private bridges to connect its facilities.

The German automaker's only U.S. manufacturing plant recently announced it would add a 1 million-square-foot logistics center to its campus.

Scheduled for completion in mid-2022, it will sit on 120 acres off of Freeman Farm Road. The center will supply parts to the 7 million-square-foot Greer plant.

The expansion aims to make the luxury car company's supply chain smoother. It will allow for the consolidation of two offsite warehouse operations that are used for returnable containers and for body shop parts to be put into one location. The 400 employees from the two warehouses will relocate to the new site, BMW Manufacturing spokesman Steve Wilson said.

To address truck traffic concerns, the company will also build bridges over Freeman Farm Road and Interstate 85 that will connect the logistics center to the main campus. The construction of the bridges is already underway.

When completed, the new logistics center will have space for future expansion.

For nearly three decades, BMW has called South Carolina its second home. This expansion in our logistics operation represents our continued commitment to this state, and it will prepare Plant Spartanburg for the future, BMW Manufacturing CEO Robert Engelhorn said in a statement. The new warehouse will allow us to consolidate our logistics processes as well as implement efficiency measures for a more sustainable logistics operation.

BMW is also still on track to open a $20 million training center in the summer of 2022. The 67,000-square-foot expansion was announced in February.

The company estimated it has invested more than $11.4 billion into its South Carolina factory since 1992. It's also one of the Port of Charleston biggest customers.
FUEL EFFICIENCY: A United Airlines aircraft is featured on its website's environmentally green pledge. The airline has previously announced its goal of becoming 100% green by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 100% by 2050. Fuel efficiency alone wont be enough to reach this ambitious target, so the airline is investing in new technology, like sustainable aviation fuel that emits far less CO2 than conventional fuel. Photo courtesy of United Airlines
The islands local military command has shot down international media reports of a month-long deployment of Taiwanese Marines to Guam, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero told reporters Thursday.

Although the Department of Defense so far has been mum on multiple articles that confirmed an on-island exercise, Guams chief executive was told it wasnt true by a military official.

Leon Guerrero said when media reports began to circulate, the official called her "and said that that was fake news," in response to a question on the matter from The Guam Daily Post.

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Earlier this month, sources like Newsweek, Taipei Times and the South China Morning Post began sharing that Chiu Kuo-cheng, Taiwans defense minister, appeared to confirm initial reporting that a group of about 40 members of Taiwans Marine Corps were on island.

The Pentagon did not deny the reports when speaking to Newsweek on the matter.

"I don't have any comments on specific operations, engagements, or training, but I would like to highlight that our support for and defense relationship with Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People's Republic of China and is in line with our commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act and our One China policy, Lt. Col. Martin Meiners, U.S. Defense Department spokesperson, told the magazine.

U.S. Indo-Pacific command in Hawaii has yet to respond to a request for comment from the Post. A JRM spokesperson said they were not able to comment on the reports.

(From) his sources, and up through the chain (of command) of DoD  there was no exercise, Leon Guerrero said, referring to her conversation with the official. And we know that because we didnt see any Taiwan exercise event happening here.

The island is seen as a safe harbor for port calls during the pandemic and continues to serve as the location for multinational war games.

Guam has played host to various military units of Americas allies this year, including the United Kingdom, Singapore, India, Australia, Japan and Germany.
The fate of the long delayed third phase renewable energy project for the Guam Power Authority is now in the hands of Superior Court Judge Elyze Iriarte. She has 120 days to decide on the appeal filed by Glidepath Marianas Operations Inc, one of the companies that competed for the $200 million project.

Glidepath is the current operator of the Dandan solar power plant, which was formerly operated by NRG Renew LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy Inc.

The Phase III renewable energy project procurement began in 2017, when GPA issued a multi-step bid.

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Phase III would utilize U.S. Navy properties at Naval Base Guam and South Finegayan, and will be the first to include battery storage technology that could help power the grid at night.

The purpose of these projects is to curb the island's reliance on fuel oil, reduce costs for ratepayers and meet renewable energy thresholds mandated by law.

Five bidders, Glidepath included, proceeded past the technical proposal phase of the Phase III procurement and were able to submit price proposals for their bids.

The power utility ultimately selected competitor ENGIE Solar as the least expensive responsive bidder for the project.

Glidepath's concerns were first heard at the Office of Public Accountability, where the company filed an initial appeal in November 2019 after its bid protest to GPA was denied the month prior. It argued that ENGIE did not comply with the procurement's technical requirements.

About 10 months later, and a couple more protest denials and appeals later, the OPA decided against Glidepath, finding that ENGIE's bid did not violate the procurement, that GPA's acceptance of ENGIE's bid was valid, that the utility's handling of the procurement did not render it sole source, and that the procurement record was not materially incomplete to prevent an award.

Glidepath appealed the OPA decision in the courts in October 2020, eventually bringing the parties before Iriarte on Tuesday.

The procurement was "fatally flawed" for a number of reasons, according to Glidepath's attorneys.

Glidepath legal counsel Joshua Walsh stated that both ENGIE and GPA now admit that the procurement contains a 20.7-megawatt limitation while ENGIE's proposals exceeded that limit.

ENGIE submitted proposals based on installations of 27.64 MW and 26.47 MW respectively for the two navy sites.

The 20.7 limit was the initial point highlighted by Glidepath when this matter began.

The company argues that because the battery storage systems is capped at 30 MW, and that this cap is supposed to be 145% of the actual solar installation, then that meant the capacity of the solar installation was limited to 20.7 MW.

At the OPA, that claim was said to be contradicted by various witnesses in the sense that there was no specific mention of a "20.7 MW" limitation in the bid and that there was no capacity limitation on the solar array at all.

But that's a simple calculation to make, Walsh said Tuesday.

"And ENGIE and GPA themselves both did that calculation," he added.

Iriarte wondered if the opposing parties actually made that admission or if their statements were taken out of context as they argued against Glidepath's point in their opposition briefs.

Walsh said there is this idea that 20.7 MW is perhaps not a limit on the physical solar installation, but he believed it is fair to point out that there is an agreement on a 20.7 MW "box to check," and that ultimately a plain reading of language in the bid sets the physical limitation on the solar installment.

R. Marsil Johnson, representing ENGIE, said Glidepath insists that the project's photovoltaic charging system means the solar panels, but Daniele Rosati, ENGIE's vice president of engineering and professor of engineering at Polytechnic Milan, testified at the OPA that the panels do nothing without converters and they must work together to charge the battery storage system.

In its opposition brief, ENGIE explained that the megawatt rating of the photovoltaic charging system is 20.7 when the battery storage system is 30 MW and following the 145% ratio rule.

"I believe Glidepath's position is the PV charging system and PV panels are essentially interchangeable ... but the thing is ... the megawatt peak capacity of a PV panel is a standardized capacity. It only gives out that amount of electricity under ideal conditions," Johnson said. "Which is why it's important, if someone is going to try to charge this (battery) to a specific amount, to build more PV capacity on site."

Moreover, Glidepath was the only bidder to interpret a 20.7 MW limit, according to ENGIE. All others submitted designs for at least one of the sites that exceeded that alleged limit.

Walsh responded that "PV charging system," "peak installation," and "PV capacity" have to be used interchangeably in order for language in the bid, specifically in its amendment XIII, to work.

Other issues argued during Tuesday's hearing included whether the procurement record was complete and whether the OPA decision, which is otherwise final, is subject to review by the court.
This Fall, Northern Virginia, and above all Loudoun County, became a major battleground in the fight against wokeism in public schools. The issue played a role in Glenn Youngkins victory over Terry McAuliffe, though not a primary role in my opinion.

In Loudoun County, the matter of public school wokeism has also been litigated in the case of Tanner Cross. Hes the teacher suspended for stating, at a school board meeting, that his Christian faith precluded him from deferring to a students preferred pronouns because doing so would constitute a lie about the reality of the childs identity.

Cross sued. A judge ruled that the school board violated Cross First Amendment rights, and temporarily blocked the suspension through an injunction. The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed that ruling. We wrote about the litigation here.

Now, in a settlement of this case, the Loudoun County School Board has agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting it from retaliating against Cross for expressing his constitutionally protected views on the boards transgender policy. The school board also agreed to remove any reference to Cross suspension from his personnel file and to pay $20,000 toward his attorneys fees.

Cross attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom announced the settlement here.

The litigation isnt over, though. Prior to settlement, the court allowed Cross complaint to be amended to add new claims against the school board by three Loudoun County teachers. Unlike Cross, who just challenged his suspension, they contest the underlying preferred pronoun policy to which Cross objected at the school board meeting. That portion of the lawsuit will continue against the board.

Cross claim did not present the precise issue raised by the other teachers. However, in the appeal of his case, the Virginia Supreme Court cited with seeming approval the decision of the Sixth Circuit in Meriwether v. Hartop. The Virginia court noted that the Sixth Circuit emphatically held that a university professor stated viable free speech and free exercise claims based on his universitys disciplining him for refusing, based on his Christian faith, to use a students preferred pronouns.

We congratulate Cross and his lawyers at Alliance Defending Freedom on their victory, and will continue to monitor the case as the important claims added by the new plaintiffs proceed.

UPDATE: In a related development, two sets of parents have filed a lawsuit against a Wisconsin school district challenging the districts policy that allows students to alter their names and pronouns without parental consent. Alexandra DeSanctis reports on the case here.

She notes that the policy being challenged in Wisconsin mirrors similar ones that have been adopted across the country in recent years. Thus, well try to keep an eye on this litigation, too.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to censure Rep. Paul Gosar, a conservative Arizona Republican. The resolution of censure also removes Gosar from his assignments on the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.

The vote was 223 to 207. According to the Washington Posts report, Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger voted in favor of the resolution. Rep. David Joyce voted present.

Gosar was censured for tweeting out an anime-style cartoon which, at one point in the 90 second video, depicts him killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and physically attacking Joe Biden.

Gosar has said that the video was meant to be a symbolic cartoon and that he does not espouse violence or harm towards any Member of Congress or Mr. Biden. He also pointed out that he took the tweet down. He never apologized.

Its good to know that Gosar doesnt espouse violence or harm towards members of Congress or Joe Biden. If he did espouse these things, he would deserve more than censure.

But a video depicting one member of Congress killing another member seems like good grounds for censure. I wish more Republicans had seen it that way and voted accordingly.

Democrats cited the events of January 6 in support of their resolution. They claimed the rioting that day shows that violent rhetoric like Gosars can cause real threats against lawmakers, particularly female legislators. That might be true if you remove the part singling out females. But in my view, censuring Gosar would be appropriate even if the storming of the Capitol had never occurred.

I disagree, however, with stripping Gosar of his committee assignments. I agree with Rep. Tom Cole, who said:

Throughout the history of the House of Representatives, the majority and minority have respected the right of each of their conferences to assign their respective members to committees. [The resolution] continues to set an extremely. . .dangerous precedent for future Congresses.

The Democrats are very likely to lose their House majority a year from now. By 2023, Republicans will be able to cite Gosars deprivation of committee assignments as precedent for removing radicals like Ocasio-Cortez from committee assignments for their misconduct.

Unless Kathy Griffin gets elected to Congress, I dont expect House Dems, even the squad members, to post videos like Gosars. But what about the next time Rep. Ilhan Omar indulges in anti-Semitic rhetoric?

In 2019, the House condemned her in a resolution for such rhetoric. Republicans wanted to censure her, but didnt have the votes.

By 2023, they probably will. Why, given what happened to Gosar, wouldnt they also remove her from committee assignments?
Peter and Paul Okoye, Nigerian twin singing sensation, formerly known as P-Square, have settled their four-year rift.

The twin brothers, who had been estranged for years, in a viral video on Wednesday evening, reconciled embracing each, after many years of messy controversies that hurt their colleagues and fans alike

In the viral video, their elder brother and manager to the defunct group, P-Square, Jude, could be seen warmly celebrating his twin brothers.

The reconciliation was reportedly brokered on Wednesday evening by their brother Jude Okoye, their colleague; J Martins, and Pauls lawyer, Somadina Eugene Okorie of Senocean Law Practice.

Many saw this reconciliation coming after the twin brothers followed each other on Instagram, on Sunday-a signal that relief may be in sight after all.

Separation

The 40-year-old brothers, who started their musical career in 1999, dominated the African music industry for over a decade until 2016 when they fell out.

On September 25, 2017, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the group had disbanded. Reports about a breakup surfaced after Peter sent a termination letter to their lawyer, Festus Keyamo..

The musical duo once known as P-Square became two separate artistes, independent of each other. Peter adopted the moniker Mr P while Paul became known as Rudeboy. Not only did the separation affect their careers, it also affected their personal lives.

Fans kept anticipating their reconciliation and held on to a line in one of their hits 2015 hit, Busy body which went Peter and Paul them be one no be two but all hopes were dashed when on August 17, 2020, Peter tweeted that fans should stop anticipating a reconciliation.

Peter, who is the most outspoken of the Okoye brothers, had inferred that their older brother and ex-manager, Jude, was behind the irreconcilable spat between himself and his twin brother.

He also explained that the whole drama began after Paul began posting the lyrics of most of their songs on Instagram and claimed to be the writer. He also accused Paul of being weak and not standing up to their older brother.

Aftermath of reconciliation

Their newly found bromance did not stop at the mere following of each other on Instagram, Peter also took Pauls children on a shopping spree in Texas, U.S., where they currently live, ahead of Christmas.

Pauls kids had the fun of their lives as their uncle got the beautiful toys, clothes, and jewelry, their mum was heard in the background saying they need not do Christmas shopping anymore.

Also, to celebrate the return of P-Square, Paul, through his Twitter handle, has called on their fans to prove that two are better than one; it reads:

Starting from Obi Cubana and Jude Okoye, even Davido, lets show Davido that two heads are better than one. Everything na double double.

Before they parted ways, they produced and released their albums through Square Records. In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akons Konvict Muzik label.

In May 2012, P-Square signed a record distribution deal with Universal Music Group.
The Enugu State Government said it is targeting 20 per cent of the state population, representing at least one million children under five years, for vaccination against wild poliovirus.

George Ugwu, the executive secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ENS-PHCDA), disclosed this in Enugu during a sensitisation meeting with stakeholders and partners on the forthcoming statewide mass polio vaccination.

Mr Ugwu said: Enugu State does not have any case of wild polio but the exercise is to ensure we do not have a resurgence or suspected case.

According to him, What we intend to do is to emphasise prevention and total elimination of polio in the state forever.

The ENS-PHCDA boss said the agency had trained and kitted 2,834 vaccinating teams, comprising 1,643 home-to-home teams, 780 special teams and 411 fixed teams.

The exercise will reach all nooks and crannies of the state, covering our 17 council areas, 291 wards and over 3,000 settlements.

The vaccinators have been mandated to look out for every child and ensure no child is left out.

We are going to homes, schools, churches, malls, parks, markets, farms as well as all living areas, where a child can be found.

We are appealing to parents, teachers, caregivers and family members to support this exercise and ensure no child known to them is left out of the oral polio vaccine, he said.

Responding, the chief Imam of Nsukka Central Mosque, Yakubu Omeh, promised that the Muslim community would ensure that all children under five found in all mosque and Islamic schools were vaccinated.

Education is key and today you have enlightened us more on why polio must be totally eliminated.

The vice-chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Enugu State, Lily Okechukwu, said the association would fully mobilise all the private schools and inform parents about the exercise to ensure full compliance.

READ ALSO: African leaders commit to ending all remaining forms of polio

The association is assuring the agency of maximum cooperation in order to get our children fully protected from the dreaded polio disease in the state, Ms Okechukwu said.

Jonathan Agbo, the secretary-general of the Christian Association of Nigeria, South-east, said the body would ensure through all its communication platforms that churches in the state comply with the vaccination.

I have already sent out e-mail(s) and WhatsApp messages to churches to ensure they comply because of the seriousness the vaccination deserves, Mr Agbo, who is also the Archdeacon of Ogui Archdeaconry in Anglican Communion in Enugu, said.

Other concerned parties at the meeting included local and international health partners, representatives of state ministries of education, health, gender affairs and planning.

The rest were representatives of different ethnic communities in the state, traditional rulers and town union executives, amongst others.

(NAN)
Suspected members of a Cameroonian separatist group, known as Ambazonia rebels, killed at least 11 persons, including a traditional ruler, during an attack on Wednesday in Manga in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Joseph Manga, an aide to Governor Darius Ishaku, told BBC Hausa on Thursday that many residents of the area remain missing after the attack by the rebels on the border community. He said the missing are feared kidnapped by the rebels.

Mr Manga said the gunmen arrived at the community around 5:30 a.m. in speedboats with sophisticated weapons, shooting at residents on sight and burning down buildings.

They killed 11 people, including the king of Manga who is my brother, the official said.

Mr Manga said the deadly attack was not the first by the rebels in the area. They have been terrorising residents, destroying farm produce and stopping peasants from cultivating their farmlands, he said.

They are Cameroonian separatists, they are just like Boko Haram, he added.

Now our people are living in fear. Many women and children are yet to be accounted for, it is not clear whether they were kidnapped or they are hiding in the bush.

However, Mr Manga said the Nigerian government has deployed security forces in the community, adding that this has built back the trust.

READ ALSO: Nigerian govt detains more Southern Cameroonian separatists

The official said the community borders a lake that is shared with Cameroon, which he said the armed group is exploiting to launch attacks.

The separatist group is fighting for the creation of Ambazonia as a separate country from Cameroon. It launched a guerilla campaign against Cameroonian security forces, and has unilaterally proclaimed the independence of the English speaking regions from the Francophone central African nation. .

The government of Cameroon has declared war on the separatists and sent its army into the English speaking regions. Ambazonia is located in the west of Cameroon and south-east of Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea.
The death toll from the violent attacks on Sunday and Monday in Illela and Goronyo Local Government Areas of Sokoto State has risen to 45, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has said.

On Wednesday, Mr Tambuwal said he was briefed about the gravity of the attacks during a visit to the affected areas.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported the governor initially saying at least 15 people were killed in the attacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari also condemned the incidents.

On Thursday morning, Governor Tambuwals spokesperson, Muhammad Bello, told the BBC Hausa Service that residents told the governor during his visit that 45 people were buried after the attacks.

He said dozens others were injured, including a village head. Mr Bello said the injured victims are receiving treatment at health facilities and in their houses.

He said the gunmen raided Illela town and at least seven villages in the suburbs.

According to his spokesperson, Mr Tambuwal also condemned the activities of illegal vigilante groups in the areas, warning that the government will not tolerate their lawlessness.

He said the governor, however, commended the security forces and registered volunteer groups complimenting the efforts of the security agencies.

Goronyo and Illela are among council areas where the state government has shut down telecommunications networks and banned weekly markets to curb the activities of bandits.

However, reprisal attacks involving bandits and vigilante groups have intensified in Sokoto.

Bandits have been reported to have established administration in many rural communities in the state, imposing taxes on villagers.

As Tambuwal visits locations, Buhari condemns killings

Earlier, President Buhari had condemned the killings in Sokoto State.

Reacting to the incident from South Africa through his media aide, Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari said, this needless and mindless violence against innocent people cannot go unpunished.

The president also sympathised with the victims of the attacks and urged the security forces to redouble their efforts in fighting the criminality.

This persistent and unprovoked violence against unarmed civilians must be met with fierce response by the government.

Let me once again, reassure Nigerians, that this administration will not abandon them to their fate in the face of this existential challenge caused by banditry.

According to the president, we are taking delivery of military equipment to improve the capacity of our security forces to effectively deal with this issue.

Our military is also deploying advanced technology to enhance surveillance and related operations to locate and crush these criminals and enemies of our common humanity.

This administration will not tolerate this state of affairs where criminals deprive the people of their means of livelihood and turn them into beggars and refugees.

The bandits are living in a fools paradise if they believe that they cant be crushed. The criminals cannot be lucky always; they will ultimately meet their Waterloo. Evil cannot triumph over good no matter how long it takes, President Buhari said in the statement.
Bandits operating in Katsina State are using Radio Frequency Walkie Talkie Transceivers to overcome the shutdown of telecommunications service in the state, the state government has said.

The state government had in September cut telecommunications networks in 13 local government areas it said are in the front line of banditry in the state.

But at a press conference Thursday afternoon, the Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Mustapha Inuwa, said the bandits have been unrelenting in circumventing the security measures devised to curb their activities.

In spite of the successes recorded, however, it is worthy to note that since the commencement of the Containment Order, the bandits elements across the frontline local government areas have been unrelenting in devising new strategies aimed at circumventing the impact of the Containment Order.

The strategies range from attacking motorists/motorcyclists to siphon PMS from fuel tanks, to ransacking communities and coercing villages into sourcing PMS on their behalf. A recent and most worrisome move by the criminals is the observed acquisition of Radio Frequency Walkie Talkie Transceivers by the bandits, he said.

Mr Inuwa, who is also the chairman of the security committee in the state, said security agents are, however, on the trail of bandits using the walkie talkie.

724 bandits arrested since March, 298 under prosecution

He said between March and September, 480 suspected bandits were arrested, 42 of whom are under investigation and 216 under prosecution.

While insisting there has been a reduction in bandits attacks since the Containment Order, Mr Inuwa added that from September to date 244 suspects have been arrested with 33 under investigation and 80 under prosecution.

Mr Inuwa said the security measures in the Containment Order were taken to strategically tackle insecurity, calling it a child of necessity.

The Containment Order is a child of necessity, and has not been put in place to hurt or cause hardship to the citizens of the State. The driving objective was to arrest the emerging situation that was becoming a threat to peace, order and our collective well being, he said.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU) and the federal government have reached an agreement on the N22.17 billion earned allowances and N30 billion revitalisation fund.

The agreement was reached on Thursday after a meeting between the representatives of ASUU, led by its president, Emmanuel Sodeke, and the government representatives led by the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.

The meeting was presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The House had on Tuesday resolved to intervene following a motion by Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo). Following the motion, the Speaker announced that he wouldl be meeting the union and FG.

The union had on Monday issued a three-week ultimatum to the government to implement the agreement both parties reached failing which it would embark on strike.

Mr Gbajabiamila in his opening remarks, said strike action should be the last resort, and also criticised the government for failing to fulfil its part of the agreement.

At the meeting, Mr Osodeke said the union had given the federal government several opportunities to fulfil the 2009 agreement and other agreements signed.

He noted that the minimum the union was willing to entertain was that the government should pay the N30 billion agreed as part of the N220 billion tranche for the revitalisation of schools and the N22.17 billion earned allowances.

We met in August 2021, we returned to our members that they should not be agitated, that they have promised that everything will be sorted out by August. When none of it was implemented, we met again in October 14, we were assured that all these things will be resolved by end of Octobe,. Mr Osodeke, a professor, said.

According to the ASUU president, the union decided to take drastic action after the inability of the government to implement the agreement.

Mrs Ahmed said the Ministry of Education already gave a directive for the money to be paid. She noted that all the funds will be released within a week.

The minister assured the union that the earned allowances will not be affected by issues of sharing formula.

Non-Academic Staff Unions of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) are opposed

to the sharing formula for the earned allowance.

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She said the ministry is waiting for payment schedule from the National Universities Commission (NUC), adding that once the schedule is provided, the funds will be sent to the schools.

Mrs Ahmed also said there will be a need to review the current agreement signed in 2009. According to her, the government is under financial constraints, hence, will not be able to meet the financial pledge in the agreement.

She said the N1.3 trillion is not feasible for the government. She said out of the N30 billion revitalisation funds, N20 billion has been released to NEEDs account at the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr Nwajiuba said the Ministry of Education is not in disagreement with the union and that it is commitment to the agreements.

On the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system (IPPIS), Mr Gbajabiamila said the House Committee on Telecommunication will interface with the union.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari during which he urged the president to sign the recently passed electoral amendment bill into law.

Mr Gbajabiamila told journalists in Abuja after the meeting that he told the president to support the conduct of direct primaries by political parties as contained in the bill recently passed by lawmakers.

The bill has been opposed by many state governors, across the two main parties, who have urged the president not to sign it into law because of the clause that mandates political parties to conduct direct primaries in selecting candidates.

Apart from the governors, the main opposition party, PDP, is also opposed to the clause on direct primaries.

Lawmakers believe that the conduct of direct primaries will take away the power that governors currently have to determine who emerges candidate for elective offices in a state.

Details later
Moments after the Nigerian government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday agreed on the disbursement of the controversial earned academic allowance, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has kicked.

It warned the government against the disbursement based on the current sharing formula.

PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday reported how Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila held a meeting with representatives of the federal government and ASUU to forestall fresh strike by the union.

But the western zone of the union during a media briefing on Thursday in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, said it is opposing the disbursement as currently configured by the government.

It accused the government of using divide and rule tactics against the university workers in the country.

Addressing the media on the matter and other similar issues of welfare of members and general insecurity in the country, the national vice-president for the zone, Abdussobur Salaam, said the 75 to 25 per cent sharing formula for ASUU and three other unions of SSANU, NASU and NAAT in the disbursement of the about to be released N22.7 billion allowance is unacceptable.

Mr Salaam, who spoke with reporters shortly after the meeting of the executive council of the zone, said the unions members are prepared to collapse the university system over the matter.

As a union, SSANU wholesomely and vehemently rejects the lopsided sharing formula, and will use every legitimate means to sustain its position on this. We have directed our members to be vigilant and shall collapse the system at any hint of the payment of the Earned Allowances using this evil formula, he said.

Union attacks minister

The union described as unfortunate the explanation allegedly offered by the minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, on the reason for fixing the sharing formula at 75 per cent and 25 per cent to ASUU and other workers unions respectively.

According to Mr Salaam, Mr Uwajiuba had claimed in an interview that the figure of beneficiaries among the non-academic staff unions are lower than the number of the academic counterparts.

He said; To underscore our position about the mischievous and wicked designs of government and its officials, the news report in Punch of yesterday, 17th November 2021, quoted the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, in justifying the skewed ratio for Earned Allowances stated that the non-teaching unions are made up of just a small population of librarians and laboratory workers who cannot equate to the large number of professors in the university system.

By deliberately watering down the membership of SSANU and ignoring the fact that registrars and administrators, bursars and accountants, lawyers, medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses, engineers, architects, and people from almost every profession form the fulcrum of SSANU, shows the hypocrisy of a minister whose status supposedly earns him the tag of honorable. In the light of his statement, how honorable can we describe our Minister of State for Education?

Other issues

The union also said the continued refusal of the government to obey court rulings on the case of the staff school teachers can no longer be tolerated, saying the plan to migrate the teachers to other payment plan will be resisted.

We recall with disrelish how our teachers were said to have been removed from the payroll of the public universities in 2016. Rising up against the injustice, the Federal Government took SSANU to court, and judgement was made in favour of SSANU.

Since 2018 when the judgement was delivered, the Federal Government has not obeyed to the letter the court ruling, but rather has been looking for ways to circumvent the judgement. Distinguished press men, it is apposite to note that the government has perfected arrangements to move the teachers to a new salary scale, known as CONPISS. SSANU Western-Zone considers this to be contemptuous of the court order, and a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights of the affected teachers. In the circumstance, SSANU wishes to state that it would not fold its arms and allow the rights of its members trampled upon or allow any agency of government to continue to impoverish its members. SSANU has resolved to take every legitimate means to take its members out of the current doldrums.

The union also demanded the payment of its arrears of new minimum wage, noting that all other ministries, departments and agencies of government have received the arrears but the university workers.

Other demands

SSANU said before it could listen to the government, N20 billion which it described as the shortfall due to its members based on the sharing formula used for the disbursement of the earned allowance in 2019, must be released to its members.

The union further demanded; Immediate payment of N20 billion to SSANU and NASU as agreed in the negotiations of January and February 2021; immediate payment of arrears of the national minimum wage without further delay; immediate implementation of the National Industrial Court judgement in respect of the university school and as well as payment of their arrears; immediate review of the economic policies and strategies to stop the remorseless falling of Naira against Dollar in order to improve the standard of living of Nigerian workers, and improvement of the security architecture of the nation by strengthening the Nigeria Armed Forces, Police Force and other paramilitary agencies.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a Screening Appeals Panel to examine the complaints arising from the screening of aspirants for the governorship election in Ekiti State.

The party disclosed this in a statement issued by its National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu on Wednesday in Abuja.

The governorship election holds on 18 June, 2022.

Mr Akobundu listed members of the Screening Appeal Committee to include Okwesilieze Nwodo as Chairman, Tanimu Turaki as Secretary, and Zainab Maina as well as Dakas Shan as members.

Other members include Taofeek Arapaja, Emmanuel Bovoa, Dan Orbih, Ali Odefa, Aminu Abdullahi, Adado Yusuff, Mobolaji Lamuye, Gladys Okoro and Hauwa Gana.

Mr Akobundu said the appeal committee would sit on Tuesday, at the National Working Committee (NWC) hall, PDP national secretariat, Abuja, at 10 a.m.

Sale of forms for Osun

The PDP also said it would begin sales of expression of interest and nomination forms for Osun State Governorship Election, from 22 November and to close on 10 December.

Mr Akobundu also stated this on Wednesday in Abuja.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the state governorship election for July 16, 2022.

Mr Akobundu said under the revised timetable for activities leading to the primary election as approved by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), the last day for submission of forms had been fixed for 17 December

The statement said Screening of Aspirants is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 at the National Secretariat, while appeals on screening have been slated for Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

Ward congresses to elect 3-man ad hoc delegates have been fixed for Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 to Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022.

Local government congress for election of one national delegate and one person living with disability per local government has been scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022.

Mr Akobundu added that publication of delegates list had also been scheduled for 5 March, 2022.

He added that the partys governorship primary for the election would be Monday, 7 March, 2022.

Appeals on the governorship primary will be taken on Thursday March 10, 2022, he added.

Mr Akobundu advised all stakeholders, intending aspirants, leaders and members of PDP in Osun state to note and be guided accordingly.

(NAN)
Banners inscribed with Ibikunle Amosun for President have surfaced around Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as the race to Aso Rock in 2023 gradually picks up.

Mr Amosun, 63, is a former Ogun governor and currently an All Progressives Congress senator representing Ogun Central.

One of the banners was hung on one side of the NNPC bridge, along the Kuto-Okemosan road, while another was placed close to the popular Panseke market in the state capital.

In the campaign banners, Mr Amosun was seen dressed in Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa attires, symbolising the three major ethnic groups in the country. The banner had an inscription Your voice, your choice, SIA (Senator Ibikunle Amosun) for President.

Also, vehicles branded with a similar inscription were sighted in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

As Nigeria prepares to hold another presidential election in 2023, some of the chieftains of the major political parties in the country have clamoured for the position to be zoned to the south.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is from the north and elected on the platform of the APC, will complete his eight years office in 2023.

Although the party has not officially announced its position on zoning, there have been moves to nudge top members of the party, who are from the south, to throw their hats into the ring.

Since the beginning of the year, different campaign groups have emerged across Nigeria canvassing support for Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the APC.

Not aware

An aide to Mr Amosun told PREMIUM TIMES his principal does not know anything about the banners.

The aide declined to be named because he had not been authorised by the senator to speak on the matter.

The factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Derin Adebiyi, also said Mr Amosun did not approve the posters.

No. He is not the one behind it. What you are saying is a news to me. I have not heard about it.

Another ally of the senator, who does not also want his name in print because he was not allowed to speak on the matter, also toed the same line.

I am not sure Senator Amosun knows anything about the poster, he said.

That must have come from people who want him to contest for the presidency. Amosun is currently busy with how to serve the nation and his constituents, who elected him to represent them at the red chamber.

However, different supporters and politicians across the nation do paste their posters. So, theres nothing strange about this but I can tell you that those posters are not from us.
Panic gripped residents of Gbodofon area in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, on Thursday, when unknown gunmen invaded Oranmiyan House, the venue of the meeting of a faction of the All Progressives Congress, The Osun Progressives (TOP).

The faction of the party is said to be loyal to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the immediate past governor of the state.

There has been a running political battle between the TOP group and a faction of the party loyal to the governor.

Trouble started at Oranmiyan House, the venue of the weekly meeting of the factional group , when gunmen, suspected to be political thugs, suddenly invaded the venue, shooting continuously in the air.

Party faithful scampered for safety when the gunmen reportedly appeared at the meeting point in a black Sienna bus and headed towards Ogo-Oluwa, after about five minutes of shooting.

Speaking, the Chairman of TOP, Adebiyi Adelowo, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, to wade into the crisis to avoid unnecessary attacks going forward.

The factional chairman insisted that the governor should be questioned, saying his group and cabinet members are responsible for the attack.

Last week, we did a statement where we noted that members of the Governors cabinet were planning to assassinate the leadership of TOP. This that just happened had justified our claim.

As I speak, I am with the Commissioner of Police, trying to incident our report and we are also calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to interfere and question the Governor on this issue.

The Ileri group, which is loyal to the Governor are behind this attack. We have the video of those who came to attack us and we shall report and remain law-abiding.

My principal is not a violent man  Chief Press Secretary

Playing out a script

In his reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ismail Omipidan, dispelled any allegation against Governor Gboyega Oyetola, adding that his principal is not a violent man.

Mr Omipidan added that the group was only playing out a pre-planned script, claiming that intelligence has it that one of the attackers met the secretary of the group recently.

We want the concerned security agencies in the state to watch Adebiyi closely, as he appears to be up to something sinister.

I have intelligence report that Abdulrasaq Salinsile, the former APC Secretary in the State, met with one of those that were alleged to have carried out todays attack. I want to believe they are acting out a script already prepared by them.

The CPS, however, called on Mr Aregbesola to disown the TOP group chairman to prevent being rubbished.

My principal is not a violent man and will never support any violence in whatever form. I strongly urge our former governor and current Interior minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to disown Adebiyi before he rubbishes his good office.

When contacted, the Spokesperson of the police in Osun, Yemisi Opalola, told PREMIUM TIMES that she was yet to get details of the incident.
PREMIUM TIMES in partnership with Strictly Speaking have held the second edition of the recently launched weekly programme, tagged The Dialogue, as relevant stakeholders in Nigerias basic education subsector have emphasised the need for government at all levels to tackle violent attacks on schools.

They also proffered what they regarded as lasting solutions to some of the major challenges confronting the nations education sector as a whole.

Anchored by a veteran broadcaster and team lead for Strictly Speaking, Bimbo Oloyede, the episode featured Judith Giwa-Amu, Coordinator, Education in Emergencies, United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF); Frank Odita, a retired commissioner of police; Juliana Francis, crime editor with New Telegraph Newspaper and the head of development desk at PREMIUM TIMES, Mojeed Alabi.

Community measures

According to Mrs Giwa-Amu, the community is the most strategic partner for tackling insecurity, saying their close proximity to the schools is a greater advantage for intelligence gathering and surveillance.

She said UNICEF is working towards building the capacity of some communities as part of efforts towards addressing conflicts, adding that the local government chairmen and the governors across the states will also have to be engaged.

She said: Were working towards building their capacity in the way they can address conflict sensitive measures including evacuation drills, having plans that are developed at targeting prevalent risks, and cushioning the fears of the student.

UNICEF is looking at how to bring stakeholders together, by engaging with the Nigeria Governors Forum because they are the custodians and chief security officers of their various states.

On her part, Mrs Francis said attackers of schools are on a daily basis developing new survival strategies and are defeating existing security measures in place. She said one of the best approaches to tackle the crisis will be public prosecution of any one found guilty.

Once somebody somewhere is publicly prosecuted it will serve as a strong warning to others in the trade. But the current strategies which seem to indulge the criminals cannot be said to be working at all, she said.

According to Mr Alabi, whatever efforts the partners are making towards addressing the insecurity must be in strong partnership with the media, saying effective communication measures are the key to meaningful engagement of the public.

They need strong partnership with the media and we need to create that kind of opportunity so that it is not left at the level of discussion but it should be taken to the grassroots. Let us have ambassadors, community representatives who are going to be carried along in terms of this conscious awareness, Mr Alabi said.

Enforcement of laws

Speaking further on prosecution, Mrs Francis recommended the enforcement of laws, saying the problem with the country isnt about laws but implementation of those laws.

We have too many laws and we keep talking about new laws, why not focus on the laws on ground. We have so many laws that are not working because people are not interested in enforcing them, she added.

Speaking on the safe school declaration, Mrs Giwa-Amu said one of the key actions has been the development of security manuals she noted have have been infused in the security doctrines and training manuals, noting that as new recruits come on board, they already have the safe schools manuals and the need to protect these schools.

Safe school declaration is against military use of schools for camping, and it suggests that there is no need for security operatives within schools, but around them, she added.

She noted that UNICEF is looking at the capacity of building the teachers of community members in schools, with good safety practices.

The training is in conflict sensitive disaster and risk reduction skills, especially for the students to know what they need to do at any point in time and to deal with school emergency preparedness and response plans, she said.

Recommendations

The participants in their recommendations suggested prosecution of criminals towards getting justice for victims, even as Mrs Francis added that international intervention is needed to implement the child right acts in Nigeria, and the northern region in particular.

We need international intervention for the implementation of child rights acts in the North, as long as there are out of school children, girls are not safe, they need to be educated and secured.

On his part, Mr Alabi said community policing and the reintroduction of the culture of communalism to the society will help to secure the schools and the communities in general.

The UNICEF official also suggested safe school financing and community-based interventions.

She said; Safe school financing is very critical in our budget. Our plans have to be emergency and crisis sensitive; safe school financing and community based intervention in their role as gatekeepers because these communities are in charge of the schools.

About the Dialogue

PREMIUM TIMES in partnership with Strictly Speaking- a media and English Language training organisation, launched the weekly roundtable forum, tagged The Dialogue- for education experts, policy makers, parents, students and other relevant stakeholders towards appraising the declining fortune of education in Nigeria.

The weekly forum, which is anchored by a veteran broadcaster and team lead for Strictly Speaking, Bimbo Oloyede, is designed to feature various experts and journalists who have recently published investigative reports on different challenges facing basic education in Nigeria.

The first six episodes of the programme, which focuses on basic education, are sponsored by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.

It is targeted at advancing conversations around investigative reports sponsored by the centre and aimed at mobilising support for meaningful impacts.
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the recent removal of Nigeria from watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, by the United States of America, as a welcome development.

He also spoke on the report of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on EndSARS which indicted the military and the police for extra judicial killings.

The president spoke when he hosted the U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday.

While appreciating the removal of Nigeria from watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, Mr Buhari noted that there was freedom of worship in the country, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

According to him, education is a priority in the country, because when you educate a people, there are certain levels they will not fall below.

The president equally appreciated the United States of America for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism in the country, and for the training given to Nigerian military.

Its helping us to stabilise the situation in the North-east, and weve made a lot of progress since 2015.

We are doing a lot on security, and the people involved appreciate our efforts, he said.

#EndSARS

On the EndSARS Probe Panel Report, Mr Buhari said the federal government would allow the system to exhaust itself, and therefore, await pronouncements from state governments which set up panels to probe police brutality in the country.

He said: So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels.

We at the federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work.

We cant impose ideas on them. federal government has to wait for the reaction of the states.

On development of democratic ethos, Mr Buhari said Nigeria had adopted the American model, hook, line, and sinker, with its term limits. Those who have attempted to breach it were disappointed, if not disgraced.

You are even lucky if you have two terms. Others try hard, and dont get it. The American model has been accepted by Nigerians as the best, he said.

He noted that Nigeria and her neighbours had been living with the impact of climate change for a while, which has seen the Lake Chad shrink drastically from its original size, and affected the livelihood of about 30 million people in the Lake Chad Basin countries.

That is why the youths defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean to attempt emigrating to Europe.

Inter-basin water transfer is needed to keep the youths at home, and they can resume their lives of farming, fishing, and animal husbandry.

Mr Blinken, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian president earlier in the year ,said jocularly that it was now good to see him mask to mask, hoping that we will soon see face to face.

He appreciated the contributions of Mr Buhari to protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Mr Blinken observed that America and Nigeria had diverse challenges, but a common denominator is security, and hoped for better partnerships, so that the bad guys wont get the good guys.

He described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as democracy in action, stressing that America equally had its own police brutality, and hoping that necessary reforms would be made.

Mr Bliken, who along with his Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama, briefed journalists, pledged U.S. support for Nigeria in the areas of healthcare, economic, as well as security challenges.

(NAN)
Dozens of armed police officers Wednesday positioned themselves in strategic areas at the national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja following a tip-off of a possible protest by aggrieved members against the partys national leadership.

The police officers arrived at the secretariat located on Blantyre Street in the Wuse 2 district of Abuja early morning in about six vehicles and positioned themselves in the strategic areas.

They were later joined by some operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).

It was not clear which group was planning the protest allegedly to express their dissatisfaction with the just concluded congresses in some states, including Zamfara.

No protest was eventually held on Wednesday.

However, the interim national secretary of the party, John Akpanudoedehe, explained to journalists later that the high presence of police officers in the premises was meant to protect the secretariat and workers after receiving security intelligence.

Its a routine thing. The police liaise with the FCT Minister, the IG and other people if they have any information. Not only here, if you are coming to Abuja, going to the airport, we have the duty to protect the people who work here.

We read security reports and Im sure you are fully aware we have every security agency in our secretariat. We are only acting on security reports, there is no cause for alarm, he said.

In March 2020, the police sealed off the secretariat following the conflicting rulings by two courts over the status of the then national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

Meanwhile, the APC said it would no longer join issues with a chieftain of the party in Zamfara State, Kabiru Marafa, who threatened to challenge the legitimacy of the caretaker committee.

Mr Marafa, a former senator from Zamfara, on Sunday, criticised the leadership of the party following the rescheduled ward congresses in Zamfara over the weekend.

Dissatisfied with Mr Bunis management of the party affairs in interim capacity, Mr Marafa threatened to damn all consequences and challenge the formers legitimacy to lead the party while serving as the executive governor, a position he reiterated on Wednesday.

The committee is illegal and alien to the constitution of the party. We are building everything on nothing. Rather than the expulsion threat, the committee or the chairman should respond to issues I raised.

What does our party constitution say that renders Bunis committee null and void? Section 17 (4) of the constitution of our beloved party, says no officer in any organ of the party shall hold executive position in government concurrently. Article 20 states the only way the leadership of the party can evolve.

Section 13.3(iv) which was relied upon to create the illegal body called CECPC talked about the power of NEC to create committees, Mr Marafa said in a statement Wednesday following the reaction of both Mr Bunis aide and the APC interim national secretary on behalf of the party.

While Mamman Mohammed, the spokesperson to the Yobe governor, on Sunday, likened Mr Marafas criticism to an empty ranting of an ant, Mr Akpanudoedehe, on Monday, issued a statement warning the former senator against such utterances or risk suspension or expulsion.

On Wednesday, however, Mr Akpanudoedehe said he would no longer reply Mr Marafa.

We are not abusive to any member of our party, we are too mature to go into personal response. Our interest is in the general public and then the party. We are not going to go back and forth with anybody. Any information that is given out, we are duty bound to respond by stating the fact as it is, Mr Akpanudodehe told journalists on phone, shortly before journalists noticed heavy security presence at the partys national secretariat in Abuja.
Towards ensuring growth and investment in the mining sector, the federal government has announced that the amendment of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA) is underway.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the opening ceremony of the 5th annual mining week, themed; Seven Compelling Reasons to Invest in Nigerias Mining Sector.

The announcement is coming at a time experts have consistently reiterated the call for an amendment of the Act.

They said the current mining laws do not conform to the modern-day reality of global best practices, and by implication hampers the growth and development of the mining industry.

Mr Osinbajo at the virtual event revealed that the development of the sector is an important component of the nations economic policy. He said the mining sector features prominently in the National Development Plan 2021 to 2025, as approved by the Federal Executive Council about a week ago.

He said: Concurrently, there is an ongoing review of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, aimed at bringing legislation into conformity with global best practices, limiting the role of the government to that of regulation, and creating the space for the private sector to maintain a more expansive presence in the sector.

So as we deepen our efforts to revitalize the mining sector, we are doing so with lessons learned from a half-century of resource extraction. We recognize, for instance, that it is not enough to seek investments merely for the sake of exploitation and extraction. Rather than writing this new chapter of economic growth, our aim is to develop local industries, generate employment, and focus on resource beneficiation to create wealth along the mineral value chain.

The Mining Roadmap Implementation Strategy Team (MIST), a team set up in 2016 to implement the roadmap, stated in the report that: there may be the need to review some of the laws as contained in the Mining Act of 2007 as they may no longer be achievable given the current business operating environment.

He said the team had noted that lack of enforcement of the enabling laws leads to the failings of the Mining Act.

Nigerias mining law

The Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act 2007 was re-enacted to repeal the Minerals and Mining Act No. 34 of 1999 for the purpose of regulating all aspects of the exploration and exploitation of solid minerals in Nigeria.

However, despite the gloomy view by the general public, the sector has recorded tremendous growth since the inception of the current administration as noted by the Vice President who cited notable inflow of investments and increase in revenue generation.

He said: It is significant that within the space of a year, we have recorded a 26.7 per cent increase in revenue generation from N2.56 billion in 2019 to N3.242 billion in 2020. But while this is encouraging, we recognise that there is still a lot of work to be done. This is why this forum is so important.

Minister speaks

Likewise, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), Olamilekan Adegbite, said the ministry is building a globally competitive mining sector through policy reforms that are geared towards creating a viable business environment for potential investors.

According to him, this is being done by adhering religiously to the mining roadmap.

He said: We have indeed created a very business-friendly environment in the mining sector through reforms that grew out of the roadmap for the growth and development of the Nigerian mining industry.

As part of the milestone achieved since the assumption of office, the minister highlighted some notable achievements in the sector.

He said: We launched the Made in Nigeria Barite in Port Harcourt, as part of our modest efforts towards the development of industrial minerals. This initiative is expected to spur the promotion and growth of local content, boosting the economy with a corresponding increase in revenue.

The ministry will also commission an open marketplace portal that will connect all stakeholders along the barite value chain to a hub that allows for easy coordination, stocking, effective costing, and seamless sale of barite, as we adhere to the ease of doing business initiative.

We have commenced one pilot project per geopolitical zone in order to enhance local content along the mineral value chain. This is in line with our mandate to fast-track mineral processing in the country using a cluster approach. Each cluster will be equipped with modern equipment and technologies to support a network of miners, processors, skills development providers, logistics providers, among others.

He said Nigeria has operationalised an Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Remote Sensing Monitoring System to regulate and support ASM activities.

Through the Nigeria Integrated Exploration Programme (NIMEP), we are building a strong geoscience base to enhance our competitiveness as a world-class mineral exploration destination that foreign investors would find attractive, Mr Adegbite added.
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and his Kaduna counterpart, Nasir El- Rufai, have offered financial support to the family of Dzarma Zirkushu, a brigadier-general killed by insurgents in Borno State on Sunday.

Governor Zulum, during a condolence visit on Wednesday to the bereaved family at Ribadu Cantonment in Kaduna, announced the donation of N20 million to the family, according to a statement by the governors spokesperson, Isa Gusau.

Mr Gusau added that the support will be extended to the families of soldiers who died alongside Mr Zirkushu, as well.

Mr Zulum was received at the airport by Kaduna States Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, and the Garrison Commander of the Nigerian Armys One Division, T. Opuene, a brigadier-general..

The governors delegation on the visit included the three Borno senators, Kashim Shettima, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Abubakar Kyari; the State Chairman of APC, Ali Bukar Dalori, and two members of House of the Representatives, Haruna Mshelia and Ahmad Jaha.

The members represent constituencies that include Chibok where late Mr Zirkushu was commanding the 28 Task Force Brigade, and Askira-Uba which was attacked by insurgents, for which the general died.

The Borno governor met the widow of the late general, Blessing Zirkushu, and her five children, after being received by Gurdebil Zirkushu, a brother to the late officer among other family members.

In his condolence message, Mr Zulum urged the family to take solace in the heroic legacy bequeathed to it by the late general.

Mr Zulum said the people of Borno will remain eternally grateful for the sacrifice of the late general and other soldiers who died with him, along with many others who made similar sacrifices as well as those in the front lines.

Kaduna announces N2 million for Zikushus

Also, the Kaduna State Government announced a donation of N2 million to the family of late Mr Zirkushu.

Mr Aruwan, announced the donation shortly after Governor Zulum donated N20 million to the family.

Mr Aruwan said Kadunas support was to complement Borno in reaching out to the late generals bereaved family.

The Garrison Commander, Mr Opuene, who spoke on behalf of the family and the Nigerian Army, thanked the governor and his delegation for traveling from Maiduguri to visit the family.

He described Mr Zulum as a compassionate leader who had been supporting the military.

Mr Zirkusu, and three other officers of the Nigerian Army died on Sunday in Askira Uba Local Government Area in Borno State during an encounter with terrorists from the breakaway Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The troops of the Joint Task Force, North East Operation HADIN KAI had neutralised many of the terrorists in the process.
Nigeria on Tuesday recorded no new deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, as the death toll since its outbreak in the country currently stands at 2,973.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this on its official Facebook handle Wednesday night, adding that 82 new cases were recorded across eight states of the federation.

The new update shows that Nigerias total infection from the pandemic currently stands at 213,403.

According to the disease centre, a total of 206,245 Nigerians have been discharged nationwide.

Breakdown

The breakdown of the NCDC data reveals that Rivers State in the South-south reported more than half of the new infections, with 52 cases out of 82.

Kano State in the North-west reported nine cases; Kebbi State, six; while Kaduna and Plateau states recorded five cases each.

While Enugu State reported three cases, Bauchi and Lagos states recorded one case each.

The NCDC noted that Sokoto State reported no cases on Wednesday.
The United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP26) inclusion of the necessity for healthy oceans was welcome news. However, despite some notable calls for action before and during the event, insufficient emphasis was placed on the importance of conserving fish, fisheries and marine ecosystems.

The 2019 Africa Blue Economy Strategy lists fisheries and aquaculture as one of seven crucial areas for creating sustainable blue economies. Fishing is seen as a relatively untapped sector for Africas development and prosperity. It is unlikely to bear fruit though, unless the exploitation of marine resources is curbed. Illegal fishing takes different forms, but large-scale industrial operators do the most damage to ecosystems and the environment.

Climate change worsens the effects of overexploited fish stocks, limiting their ability to regenerate. Given the current crisis, urgent measures are needed in vulnerable coastal communities, particularly in West Africa where piracy, armed robbery and kidnapping are rampant.

Illegal fishing in West Africa is a challenge on three levels. First, it jeopardises the management of fish stock by disrupting regulatory processes. To achieve a sustainable fishing sector, countries must manage the growth and depletion of fish stocks, enforce safety and operational rules, and delineate areas for fishing and conservation.

Illegal fishing undermines emerging blue economy initiatives across Africa, costing states billions in lost revenue. Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone alone lose US$2.3 billion annually to illegal fishing.

The second challenge is the damage to food security in coastal communities, where fish provides a significant source of sustenance and, for some, their only income. And third, illegal fishing erodes community trust in law enforcement, creating a sense of lawlessness and neglect. This is an environment in which organised crime thrives, and together with a loss of livelihoods, can fuel local-level violence and other criminality.

For instance, rampant illegal fishing off Somalias coast, coupled with lawlessness, resulted in local fishers taking up arms to attack foreign fishing vessels in Somali waters. These vigilante groups were one of the precursors to piracy in the region. This serves as a warning to West Africa, where continuous coastal instability could worsen the piracy situation.

As the global demand for fish increases, it is likely that so too will the incursions of foreign fleets into African waters. Non-African countries play a significant role when they turn a blind eye to their industrial fishing fleets venturing into African waters. State fishing subsidies also promote illegal fishing by enabling fleets to sail and operate anywhere in the world.

What makes this situation difficult to deal with is that legally, ships observe the regulation of their flag states. Without the active support of flag states, it is impossible to address industrial illegal fishing in Africa. Some progress has been achieved though. For example in 2015, Spain enforced harsher punishment for its citizens involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. China has created a blacklist and pledged to place harsh sanctions on illicit operators and their companies.

To combat threats to their ecosystems and fisheries sectors, African states must be more active in ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations to end harmful and unsustainable fishing subsidies. Non-African states must recognise that their short-term profit-driven approach erodes maritime security, particularly in West Africa. This will ultimately damage their interests in other sectors, such as shipping.

Most African states do not have enough resources to monitor and control their vast exclusive economic zones. So tackling illegal fishing depends on cooperation, as weaker efforts in one country can undermine fisheries management steps in a neighbouring state.

This is a task that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) can lead on, to protect West Africas blue economy prospects. Driven by the need to suppress piracy, ECOWAS states recently made significant progress in improving their capacity to detect, respond to, and prosecute maritime crimes.

The region is also home to the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, covering the maritime domains of the ECOWAS states. These institutions were established to monitor fishing vessels operating in the region and support the fight against illegal fishing. But more work is required, and threats will continue without a holistic approach to maritime security.

Finally, West African states can take a proactive step by joining established mechanisms to fight illegal fishing. The Food and Agriculture Organization Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) is an important global initiative to block fishing vessels from landing illegal catch in ports subject to the agreement.

When signatories robustly enforce the PSMA, it creates a significant deterrence and disincentive to illicit fishing vessels, partly by denying them ports and restricting their access to markets. Encouragingly, 12 out of 27 African state parties to the PSMA are from West Africa. To have a genuine impact though, Nigeria  a major regional player  must also ratify the agreement.

Denys Reva, Researcher and David Willima, Research Officer, Maritime, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
To stem incessant jailbreaks, the House of Representatives has asked the federal government to equip officers guarding correctional facilities with General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG).

The House also asked the government to provide electric fences and CCTV cameras at all the facilities in the country.

These resolutions followed a motion moved by Kazaure Gudaje (APC, Jigawa) on Thursday during plenary.

Mr Gudaje lamented the spate of attacks on correctional facilities across the country by armed men.

This year alone, Nigeria has experienced three major jailbreaks. In April, gunmen attacked Owerri Correctional Centre and freed 1,844 inmates.

Similarly, in September, 114 inmates escaped from Kabba Correctional Centre in Kogi State, while 837 inmates were freed from Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town, Oyo State following an attack.

In 2020, at least 2,051 inmates escaped after the jailbreaks in Edo and Ondo States while some of the inmates escaped during the EndSARS protests.

Speaking on the motion, Mr Gudaje said often correctional officers carry AK47 the same type of weapon used by the jailbreaker. He noted that providing superior weapons for officers will tilt the battle to their side.

Mr Gudaje harped on the need to keep convicted prisoners behind bars.

Correctional Centres are where convicted criminals are kept to make the society safe, thus it is dangerous for such convicts to be let loose, he said.

He also asked the House to urge the federal government to take over the payment of electricity bills of the Correctional Centres in Nigeria or exempt the Centres from paying electricity bills;

He urged the House to mandate the Committee on Appropriations to include the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Correctional Centres in the 2022 budget estimates.

The motion was carried when the motion was put to vote by the presiding officer, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau).
Security forces Wednesday opened fire on anti-coup protesters in Sudan, killing at least 15 of them.

The protests were held in the capital Khartoum and another city, Omdurman.

According to Aljazeera, Wednesdays was the highest daily death toll since the October 25 coup, which saw the military seize power, dissolving the transitional government and arresting dozens of officials and politicians.

Security forces fired live ammunition and tear gas at anti-coup protesters in at least one location in Khartoum, according to activists. The Sudan Doctors Committee said most of the killings took place in Khartoum Bahri.

The crackdown on protesters comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Africa to boost so-far unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to resolve the deepening conflicts in Ethiopia and in Sudan.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is currently under house arrest in Khartoum. He and more than 100 other government officials were detained during the coup. Many have been kept at undisclosed locations.

Authorities have shut bridges linking Khartoum and Omdurman and tightened security across the capital.

In what was the 35th coup detat (including plots) in Sudans history, the military on October 25, 2021, seized power, dissolved the military-civilian Sovereign Council, and declared a state of emergency.

This was met by backlash from Sudanese youth opposed to the coup who barricaded streets and clashed with troops. According to the health ministry, seven people were killed by gunfire and 140 injured as a result of the clash.

Not deterred by the high-handedness of the military, the protesters as seen in television broadcasts have continued to protest against the toppling of the civilian government, moving their procession into neighbourhoods.

Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was arrested alongside other top civilian officials including the news director of state TV, a Reuters report said.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan who led the takeover said the armed forces needed to protect safety and security; promising to hold elections in July 2023 and hand over to an elected civilian government then.

What the country is going through now is a real threat and danger to the dreams of the youth and the hopes of the nation, he said.

Nations of the World Condemn Coup

The Nigerian government, African Union, Arab League, and the United Nations had all expressed concerns about the situation in Sudan and condemned the coup.

The Nigerian government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it strongly condemns the coup detat. It called for the immediate release of the Prime Minister and all other political prisoners and an immediate restoration of the transitional government and implementation of the agreed roadmap to return the country to constitutional democracy.

Political leaders should be released and human rights respected, AU Commission Chair Moussa Mahamat said in a statement.

UN special representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, in a live broadcast, called on the security forces to immediately release those who have been unlawfully detained or placed under house arrest.

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also called on all Sudanese parties to fully abide by the constitutional document signed in August 2019.

What Sparked the Coup

According to NBCNews, tension has been growing for months between supporters of the military and of civilian rule with The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change (FDFC), the main protest umbrella group, stepping up calls for the military to hand leadership over to civilians in the government. Instinctively, supporters of the military also have stepped up action.

Since September, tribal protesters have blocked the main road to Sudans Red Seaport as well as fuel pipelines, demanding Mr Hamdoks government be dissolved.

READ ALSO:

NBCNews reports that many of the protesters on both sides are motivated by economic hardship. Already a problem under deposed dictator Omar al-Bashir, it was one of the reasons people rose up against him. But since then, the country has faced even greater shocks in trying to rejoin the global economy.

History of Coup in Sudan

Since gaining independence in 1956, the North African country has been plagued by internal conflicts leading to several wars, coups, and counter-coups.

The country has witnessed 35 coups including that of October. Out of the 35, only five were successful; the other 30 were thwarted or failed outrightly.

The successful coups happened in 1958 led by Prime Minister Abdallah Khalil and in 1969, led by Colonel Gaafar Nimeiry against the government of President Ismail al-Azhari. The coup signalled the end of Sudans second democratic era and saw the beginning of Mr Nimeirys 16-year rule.

In 1985, a counter-coup that ousted President Gaafar Nimeiry was led by Field Marshal Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab; in 1989, Omar Al-Bashir, a military officer, led a coup against the democratically elected Sadiq al-Mahdi and Ahmed al-Mirghani.

Mr Al-Bashir remained in power for 30 years until 2019 when he was overthrown by the Sudanese army led by Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf following a series of protests demanding his departure.
A.B.C Orjiako has informed Seplat Energy Plc of his decision to step down as Chairman and from the company board of directors.

This was revealed in a statement by Seplat Energy, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

According to the statement, Mr Orjiako will remain Chairman until the next Annual General Meeting in May 2022, when an independent chairperson will take over.

The board of Seplat Energy thanked its chairman for his strategic vision, drive and limitless energy to create Nigerias leading indigenous independent energy company.

Following his decision, Mr Orjiako said, The past 12 years at Seplat Energy has been exhilarating for me. As a chairman, I am proud that the board, management and entire staff of Seplat Energy were able to achieve several enviable milestones and exceptional successes.

Notably, the acquisition of eight oil and gas assets, expansion of the Oben and development of the ANOH gas plants and the dual listing on both the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges  a first by a Nigerian company.

While there were challenges along the way, we overcame these by the special grace of God, the outstanding performance and professionalism of each member of the board and management, and the sterling efforts of our staff.

I will continue to give my utmost energy and commitment to the company until I step down from the board at the next AGM.

A Senior Independent Director of Seplat Energy, Basil Omiyi, said, On behalf of all members of the board, I would like to thank Dr A.B.C. Orjiako for his immense contribution as a co-founder and Chair of Seplat Energy since inception.

READ ALSO:

He has been chairman during both exciting and challenging times, and his dedication has been constant throughout.

The board and management look forward to working with him during the transition period and we will miss his insight, expertise and leadership when he finally steps down in May, Omiyi said in the statement.

The statement also noted that Mr Orjiakos decision to step down and be replaced by an independent chairperson was a testament to the strong corporate governance and best practices he instilled in the board.

It also noted that Mr Orjiako was the co-founder and pioneer of Seplat Energy since 2009. As chairman of the Seplat Energy Group, Mr Orjiako took the company through a number of acquisitions.

It said the chairman was the driving force behind Seplat Energy becoming the first and only Nigerian corporate organisation to have dual listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Main Board of the London Stock Exchange in 2014.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to study a Report on how best to ensure effective policy design and implementation with a view to implementing some of its recommendations.

The report entitled, Getting Things Done: Strategies for Policy and Programme Implementation in Nigeria, was presented to the president by the Senior Executive Course 43 (2021) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) , Kuru, Plateau State.

While receiving the report, the president assured the course participants that it would be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves.

As such, I am directing the MDAs and the National Steering Committee on the Vision 2050 to study the Report, with the view to diligently consider the recommendations presented and incorporate them as part of over-all execution strategy, he said.

Mr Buhari said his administration had invested great efforts in the provision of good governance and making tremendous progress at getting the desired results.

This report becomes important and timely in our quest to enhance service delivery to our citizens, he added.

On the importance of NIPSS and its course participants, the president noted it was always a delight to receive their input on important issues that are of very great concern to the government and the nation.

No nation will progress without paying close attention to the ways policies are made and implemented, as it is often unclear how best to ensure effective policy design and implementation.

The gaps between policy design and programmes implementation must be closed in order for our country to continue to make meaningful progress.

This was why I charged participants of the Senior Executive Course No. 43, 2021 to work on the theme: Getting Things Done: Strategies for Policy and Programme Implementation in Nigeria, he said.

While alluding to the report and the presentation done by participants of Course 43, Mr Buhari noted that their research had drawn attention to the numerous efforts of his administration in policy and programme implementation, as well as the challenges faced.

He acknowledged that the report also generated constructive and compelling recommendations with adequate implementation strategies.

The structure, content and mode of presentation of this report shows great commitment and hard work that has gone into it.

This confirms to me and our administration of the consistency and reliability of the National Institute in delivering on very critical and sensitive assignments of national importance.

While I congratulate the participants for justifying the confidence in nominating you for this course, I wish to commend the National Institute for once more living up to expectations.

Let me express my pleasure at the level of knowledge and discipline you have openly demonstrated about our country and our challenges, he said.

Mr Buhari urged the course participants, mainly drawn from the senior cadre of Federal and State establishments, to put to work all they have learnt in their various establishments.

I am convinced that you are now well equipped for the task of handling higher and more complex responsibilities for the benefit of our country, he told them.

In his remarks at the presidential parley, the Acting Director-General of NIPSS, Chukwuemeka Udaya, a brigadier general, told the president that the 85 participants of Senior Course 43 of 2021 were distributed into seven groups to interrogate the theme of the study.

The seven groups received lectures and presentations from top class resource persons, went on study tours in order to interact with and gather data on the theme for study from experts, public and private sector practitioners from across the globe carried out individual and group research work and rigorous intellectual debate, he said.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari has said the federal government would wait for the decision of the Lagos State government on the final report of the states judicial panel of inquiry submitted to the governor this week.

Mr Buhari spoke at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday, while receiving Anthony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State.

The report, which was leaked hours after it was submitted to the governor, stated that at least 46 unarmed protesters were either shot dead, injured with bullets, or assaulted by security forces at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.

So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels, the president said, according to a press release by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity.

We at the federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states and we have to allow the system to work. We cant impose ideas on them. Federal government has to wait for the reaction of the states.

Read the press release below:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

ENDSARS PROBE PANEL REPORT: WE WAIT FOR THE STATES, PRESIDENT BUHARI TELLS BLINKEN, AMERICAN SECRETARY OF STATE

Federal Government will allow the system to exhaust itself, and will, therefore, wait for pronouncements from state governments which set up panels to probe police brutality in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

The President spoke Thursday at State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience Mr Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of State.

So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels, the President added. We at the Federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We cant impose ideas on them. Federal Government has to wait for the reaction of the states.

On the recent removal of Nigeria from watchlist of countries violating religious freedom, which Blinken said was based on facts, President Buhari expressed the countrys appreciation, noting that there was freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

He said education is a priority in the country, because when you educate a people, there are certain levels they will not fall below.

The President equally appreciated the United States of America for allowing Nigeria to procure military hardware to fight terrorism in the country, and for the training given to Nigerian military.

Its helping us to stabilize the situation in the Northeast, and weve made a lot of progress since 2015, he said. We are doing a lot on security, and the people involved appreciate our efforts.

On development of democratic ethos, President Buhari said Nigeria has adopted the American model, hook, line, and sinker, with its term limits. Those who have attempted to breach it were disappointed, if not disgraced. You are even lucky if you have two terms. Others try hard, and dont get it. The American model has been accepted by Nigerians as the best.

Nigeria and her neighbors, the President noted, have been living with the impact of climate change for a while, which has seen the Lake Chad shrink drastically from its original size, and affected the livelihood of about 30 million people in the Lake Chad Basin countries.

That is why the youths defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean to attempt emigrating to Europe. Inter-basin water transfer is needed to keep the youths at home, and they can resume their lives of farming, fishing, and animal husbandry.

Mr Blinken, who had held a virtual meeting with the Nigerian President earlier in the year said jocularly that it was now good to see him mask to mask, hoping that we will soon see face to face.

He appreciated the contributions of President Buhari to protection of the climate, particularly his presence and contributions at the recent COP26 climate conference held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Blinken said America and Nigeria have diverse challenges, but a common denominator is security, and hoped for better partnerships, so that the bad guys wont get the good guys.

He described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as democracy in action, stressing that America equally had its own police brutality, and hoping that necessary reforms would be made.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)

November 18, 2021
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, on Thursday met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr Blinken, who is on three-nation tour of Africa, and Mr Osinbajo deliberated on a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation, including climate change, security, pandemic response, infrastructure, among others.

The duo agreed that that there was a need to strengthen and improve relations between the U.S. and Nigeria.

The vice president thanked Mr Blinken for the visit, saying that Nigeria is pleased to get much attention from the U.S.

And again, just to reaffirm what the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said on the importance of cooperation and the importance of working together.

And it is actually critical; it is has been shown in the response to COVID-19; this is equally a way of showing how interconnected the whole world is.

There is no real solution without everyone being protected from this pandemic and the possibility of others.

And I will also like to thank you through a friend of the Government of the U.S. for the cooperation on security which is very important to usthe Super Tucanos have been delivered and of course, we are looking forward to the helicopters.

Mr Osinbajo said another important aspect of the cooperation is infrastructure and the intelligence support from the U.S. on the security issues in the North-east and the Sahel.

He said the security challenges are critical, especially in the Sahel and Lake Chad region with the ISWAP and others.

The vice president said that greater cooperation has become imperative as terrorism, especially with ISWAP, Boko Haram and ISIS had assumed serious dimensions.

According to him, climate change is another important area of collaboration.

Some of the concerns we had, President Muhammadu Buhari has mentioned at COP26, especially around the whole issue of gas as zero transition fuel given the fact that some countries especially developing countries are fossil fuel rich.

And no industrialised nation is able to industrialise using renewable energy alone.

He said it would be unfair to call on developing countries to rely on renewable energy, especially for industrialisation.

So, we are looking at adaptation and mitigation measures.

And I think that we should really look at how there is public investment programme, especially for gas, because it remains the way through which we can increase access to electricity with its problem in developing nations and again it is closely tied to poverty.

So, we think these are issues that we want to collaborate with you; again, to just say that we are very pleased with the work the U.S. has done in Nigeria.

I mentioned earlier that these are works that are somehow masked in a way to ensure that there is bottom up approach.

There is participation of those that will be the beneficiaries in developing the programme which has been very helpful and I think that accounts for a lot of success we have seen in a good number of those programmes.

We need to thank the U.S. for that and we thank you also, he said.

On his part, Mr Blinken pledged U.S. collaboration with Nigeria on climate change, investments in infrastructure, developing capacity to manufacture vaccines, security, among others, saying there are many areas of cooperation between U.S. and Nigeria.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Onyeama said that the U.S. had been very supportive in the health sector with vaccine for COVID-19, adding that Nigeria is looking forward to getting support to develop manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccine.

The highlight of the meeting was the adoption of the Development Objective Assistant Agreement by the U.S. Secretary of State and Nigerias Minister of Foreign Affairs.

(NAN)
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau Council, has urged members of the state House of Assembly to resolve their leadership crises in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

The union gave the advice in a communique issued after its congress meeting in Jos.

The document was signed by the councils Secretary, Peter Amine.

Council observed with dismay the leadership tussle at the Plateau State House of Assembly which has portrayed the state in bad light.

Council called on the legislators to put aside their personal interests and address the issues in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in the interest of the State, it said.

The union also called for synergy between journalists and security personnel in the interest and development of Plateau and Nigeria.

It, however, commended security agencies for the relative peace the state has enjoyed in the last few weeks and called for sustainable measures to consolidate the fragile peace.

It noted with concern the adamant nature of some tricycle riders also known as Keke NEPEP, who defied the 6 p.m. curfew imposed by the state government, thereby constituting traffic nuisance and security risks at night.

The council called on the law enforcement agencies to beam their searchlight on these tricycle riders to bring them to book.

It also noted with dismay the indiscriminate use of NUJ/PRESS stickers by commercial vehicles drivers and other non-members of the union.

Council appeals to the FRSC, the Police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that anybody who carries NUJ/PRESS stickers should provide his/her NUJ identity card and that of his office as a means of identification.

Failure to do so, the individual should be apprehended for impersonation and penalised according to law.

The NUJ also wishes to advise Plateau Government and reputable organisations in the state to take advantage of trained and professional journalists in propagating their activities, the communique added.
A former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Simon Okeke, has advised Anambra State governor-elect, Charles Soludo, to avoid greedy politicians if he must succeed in governing the state.

Mr Okeke gave the advice during a press briefing in his country home, Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

He said that avaricious politicians can frustrate any administration, and are capable to stop any government from fulfilling election promises to the people.

Mr Soludo, he said, should learn from former governors in the country who failed because of listening to covetous politicians, who pose as godfathers as well as friends or relatives.

He said Mr Soludo has no reason to fail.

Soludo must be wary of rapacious politicians who would be hovering around him, and advising him to share the money meant for the development of the state, he must learn how to say no to such advisers.

The governor-elect has the capacity to take Anambra to the next level, giving his knowledge, antecedents and vast connection; therefore, no excuse of failure should come from him.

For the little time I interacted with him, I found in him a person who has the capacity to turn the fortunes of the state for the better, Mr Okeke said.

He said the electorate voted for Mr Soludo because he promised that with his international connection, he would make the light of the state to shine better, and to leave the state better than it is presently.

We all believed him because of the legacy he left at the banking sector, when he was the Central Bank of Nigeria governor.

Citizens of Anambra hold him to very high esteem, and that was why he received massive support during the governorship election. He must not betray this confidence, he added.

IPOB

Mr Okeke appealed to the federal government to review its stand on the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and address the assumed injustice which led to their agitations.

He said that agitations by IPOB arose from felt marginalisation, inequality and lack of a level-playing ground for all to operate and noted that where there is no justice, agitations will continue to reign.

I believe strongly that if adequate attention is given to their cause and equity assumed, the agitations will die down, he said.

He also urged the government to ensure equality and equity in the leadership of the country at the centre and address the issue as it is one of the agitations that has kept the country divided.

Mr Okeke said since the inception of the country, Nigeria has not elected a president of the South-east extraction.

Igbo people of the South-east extraction have sound materials for president, Nigerians should give the South-east the opportunity to serve the country in that capacity come 2023, he said.

(NAN)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has said there is no plan to eject female officers residing in police barracks with their civilian spouses.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the clarification was in reaction to a signal said to have been issued by the police in Enugu State.

Mr Mba said the signal stated that female police officers living in the barracks with their civilian husbands should vacate their apartment before January 31, 2022.

The IGP, who is miffed with the said directive, described it as unlawful, discriminatory, obnoxious, reprehensive and totally out of tune with the concept of equality as enshrined in our Constitution.

He noted that the directive is not in line with the Force Gender Policy, which institutionalises gender mainstreaming as a core value in the Nigeria Police Force.

The IGP further noted that a Police Force that has produced several top ranking and successful female officers will never walk such a retrogressive path, Mr Mba said.

He said the IGP has ordered the Force Provost Marshal to carry out immediate investigations into the viral document and pledged that any person(s) found wanting would be made to face disciplinary action.

He urged the public, particularly female police officers and their families, to ignore the signal, describing it as illegal, null and void.

Mr Mba pledged the commitment of the police to continue to advance the general well-being, rights and privileges of its personnel, irrespective of rank or gender.

(NAN)
About 127 inmates of Enugu Custodial Centre are expected to sit for the November/December National Examination Council (NECO) senior secondary certificate examination (external), an official has said.

Monday Chukwuemeka, the spokesperson of the state command of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Thursday.

Mr Chukwuemeka said the NCoS, under the leadership of the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, was focused on using education as a viable tool for reforming inmates in custodial centres in the state.

This has resulted in the admission of over 400 inmates into various degree programmes of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) across the federation, he said.

The state Controller of Corrections, Nicholas Obiakor, said the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation and Isaac Blessings Foundation sponsored the registration of 71 and 56 inmates respectively for the NECO examination.

The spokesperson said the controller is soliciting the support of the public to end the stigmatisation of ex-inmates to ensure they were fully re-integrated into the society.

The command is advising inmates to emulate previous inmates who performed excellently in NECO exams as well as pursue other higher educational attainments.

The command is encouraging other inmates to utilise opportunities made available by the service in the various learning and skill acquisition centres in the custodial centres to improve themselves and get fully reformed, he said.

NAN reported that 84, 120, 130 and 145 inmates from the Enugu Custodial Centre sat for the NECO examination in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

(NAN)
Two detained underage friends regained their freedom on Tuesday after spending nine months in prison in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Monday Oni, 17, and Femi Ayomide, 15, detained since February for allegedly stealing eye drops, were ordered to be released by a magistrates court in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

Their lawyer, Tope Temokun, who announced this in a Facebook post and series of messages shared with PREMIUM TIMES, also told our reporter that Tuesdays order came after the magistrate struck out the case against them.

The police arrested, charged them and got them remanded in prison, but stopped coming to court due to lack of evidence. So the magistrate had to strike out the case, Mr Temokun told our reporter.

The Nigerian laws prohibit under-18 persons from being detained in regular prisons, where they could also be mixed with hardened criminals.

How they were arrested

According to Mr Temokun, the boys were arrested in Ikole Ekiti, about 49 kilometres from Ado-Ekiti, in February, over allegations of stealing eye drops meant for Femis father, who is said to be down with perennial eye problems.

The man lives in his house with the boys and depends on the proceeds of their menial jobs, Mr Temokun said.

Dismissing the theft allegation levelled against the teenagers as unfounded, Mr Temokun said a neighbour, who accused them of bringing things home without any source of income, instigated the police against them.

These two teenagers went to prison not because they were caught in the act of any crime, but because a neighbour tipped the police off that they brought things home without any source of income, he said.

He added that the police subsequently searched their house and found eye drops, which they alleged to be stolen by the boys because they could not provide a receipt to prove it was legitimately acquired.

Mr Temokun said the police arrested the boys but chose not to charge them at any court in Ikole Ekiti where their blind father lived, but were taken to Ado-Ekiti to be charged before a magistrates court who remanded them in prison since February 2021.

#EndSARS protester discovered them in prison

A detained #EndSARS protester, Moyinoluwa Olowoyo, was said to have discovered the two boys during his incarceration in the same prison.

Mr Temokun said, Mr Olowoyo, after regaining his freedom, in October, informed his law firm about the boys situation.

The law firm, represented by another lawyer, Benjamin Obilor, was said to have intervened and secured the teenagers freedom on Tuesday.

I followed the matter since the early hours of today, till the orders were signed by the magistrate, and the police went to produce them from the prison, the lawyer stated on Tuesday.

He said his chambers also mobilised the boys back to their hometown, Ikole-Ekiti, to be reunited with Femis sick and blind father. The duo was super-excited and due to profuse joy, pour encomiums on Tope Temokun Chambers for securing their release.

He added that the boys were full of praises for Mr Obilor, who was on ground to attend to the case.

Sons of nobody

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Temokun said These teenagers went to prison because they were sons of nobody in the society.

We wont have a just society for all until those who are not directly affected feel as enraged and outraged as those who are direct victims.

Also speaking of the plight of Mr Olowoyo, who gave the hint about the teenagers detention, Mr Temokun said the young man was arrested in Ekiti State for participating in last years #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest, and subsequently moved to the police headquarters, Abuja, where he was allegedly detained for 30 days without trial.

He said Mr Olowoyo was moved back to Ekiti, where he was detained before his arraignment in November 2020, after pressure from Nigerians.

He was arraigned at a magistrate court, charged with arson and eventually granted bail in liberal terms.

Mr Olowoyo was able to meet his bail conditions and was set free by the police on October 13, 2021, Mr Temokun said.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has paid a visit to his predecessor and a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olusegun Osoba, who is recuperating in London after a knee surgery.

Speaking about the visit via his verified Facebook page, Mr Abiodun said the former governor is recuperating well.

Earlier this week, I visited our leader and dear father, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, the former Governor of Ogun State who is in the United Kingdom for medical treatment, Mr Abiodun said.

Our highly revered Baba is recuperating very well following a knee surgery, and we all look forward to welcoming him back to our midst very soon.

Also, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, and two other members of the House were seen in a photo-op with the 82-year-old former governor.

In October, Mr Abiodun announced that Mr Osoba had undergone a knee replacement surgery in the United Kingdom.

Mr Osoba was the governor of Ogun State between 1999 and 2003.

Unlike his friend and ally, Bola Tinubu, who was also in the UK for medical treatment, there were no photos showing top party members visiting Mr Osoba fuelling rumours that he had been abandoned by his associates.

But Gbenga Obadara, an associate of the former governor, denied the claims, saying Mr Osoba is a private man.

I would not like to start mentioning names of those who have gone to see him and those who have not, said Mr Obadara, who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015

But I am in contact with Chief Osoba. If I tell you whether I have gone or not, it means I will have to tell you those who have gone. I dont need to start reeling out names because Chief Osoba would not want that. Hes a private man.

Those insinuating that he has been abandoned should just leave the man to rest. They should allow the man to recuperate well and leave the man in the hands of God, which we know hes really enjoying his rest in England.

This is a man that goes to London one month, two months, even without having surgery done. So, I can tell you nobody abandoned Chief Osoba and he does not feel like that.
The Ogun State House of Assembly has ordered the arrest of Goriola Hassan, who has allegedly been parading himself as the Olu of Imobi in Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state.

The lawmakers also directed security agencies to present Mr Hassan to the assembly within 14 days of the passage of the assemblys resolution on Thursday in Abeokuta.

The resolution was the outcome of the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to the assembly submitted by its Chairman, Bolanle Ajayi.

Mrs Ajayi later moved the motion for its adoption, which was seconded by Ganiyu Oyedeji, and supported by all the lawmakers through a voice vote presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.

According to the committees observations, Mr Hassan had converted a government building to private use and disobeyed orders to stop parading himself as the Olu of Imobi.

The committee also observed that Mr Hassans activities had been causing tension that could lead to a serious crisis in the community if he is not stopped.

The committee affirmed that the Onitasin of Itasin remains the only traditional ruler and recognised

authority in Imobi land.

The committee directed that the Community Dispensary House at Fotedo, which Mr Hassan earlier converted to private use be taken over by the community.

The committee also recommended in its report that Mr Hassan should be declared wanted, arrested, and handed over to security agencies for presentation to the assembly.

The assembly, in its resolution, also enjoined the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to take necessary steps to ensure that Mr Hassan stops parading himself as Olu of Imobi.

The Committees report reads in part, It would be recalled that the assembly had earlier extended three separate invitations to Mr Goriola on August 10, August 17 and September 2. respectively.

He failed to appear to respond to allegations leveled against him by members of the Imobi Descendants Union, Imobi Ijebu Development Association, the Baales of the 36 villages in Imobi at the instance of the lawmakers.

(NAN)
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State are currently trying to justify the appointment of the governors son as the Director General of the states Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit.

Babajide Akeredolu was among the new appointments of Commissioners and Special Advisers forwarded to the House of Assembly on Tuesday for approval.

The governors son was resourceful in his reelection last year.

He obtained his first degree at New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2010, in chemical engineering, environmental engineering and business and then went to Colorado School of Mines for a Masters in Chemical Engineering and petroleum refining in 2014.

He also obtained a Masters in Mining and Mineral Engineering from Queens University in 2015.

But the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has raised dust over his appointment, describing it as a flagrant abuse of office.

The opposition party had also described it as an affront on the people of Ondo State and a grand design to finally empty the treasury of the state before Akeredolu returns to Ibadan.

This is coming a few days after a group, Ondo state Concerned Timber Merchants (OSCTIM), accused the governor of plotting to hand over the state forest reserve to a consultant company allegedly linked to his son.

In a statement by the PDPs Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, entitled Akeredolus misrule in Ondo State: Government of Father, the Wife and the Son, the party said the governor by his actions had shown insensitivity to the plight of the Ondo people.

Only last week, Babajide was reported to have brought another consultant to take charge of forestry operations in the State, PDP alleged.

lt thus appears that Mr Governor and his immediate family are bent on living fat on the lean resources of the people, when poverty has taken over the land, walking in all four legs.

Meanwhile, Mr Akeredolu, while reacting through his Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, described the PDPs allegations as unresourceful.

One big error in public governance is the fear of taking decisions, and it becomes unpardonably grievous when sound decisions are avoided over what I consider unresourceful criticisms, he said, in a statement on Wednesday.

There is no way such sound appointment as that of Babajide would not have elicited uncanny attacks from the PDP.

They were expected. Ours is to be focused on what we are doing for the good people of the State and not to be distracted by lazy opposition.

When Jang appointed his son, Yakubu as a commissioner in Plateau, it was okay for them; what about Okowa who did it in Delta? When their principals brothers in Ondo literally did all appointments while they held sway, it was okay.

We can only enjoy their gallery-looking dance. They are hypocritical aside being saddened by their antecedents.

We are more concerned about the deliverables in whatever we do as a Government.

The APC, in its intervention, said the news of the appointment of Babajide Akeredolu has generated needless furor and brought to the fore the penchant of the Peoples Democratic Party to scream wolf when none is in sight.

For the records, Babajide Akeredolu was nominated by our great party on the strength of his relentless contribution to the overall success of the APC in Ondo State and not as the governors son, the partys statement -kigned by its Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said on Thursday.

It is important to note that this young man did not emerge overnight from the blues. He has been on ground for an appreciable length of time as resource person to the party and has consistently and diligently proven his mettle, at personal cost, in not only joining other party faithful in building the party but also going the extra mile in ensuring improvement is recorded by the party which has largely enhanced the electoral value of the APC as well as the fortune of our great party.

The party also argued that the governors son deserved the appointment for his contributions in ensuring the party emerged victorious in the last governorship election in the state.

The party also cited his involvement in the mobilisation of funds in tackling COVID-19 in the state.

When has it become a violation of the constitution to appoint a hard-working, devoted, loyal and committed party man into a government position? the party asked.

As a political party Babajide, with all sense of modesty can be described as a great asset to the APC Ondo State and we fully endorse his appointment.

Appointments

The 14 new commissioners are Bamidele Olateju (Akoko South East), Adefarati Gboyega (Akoko South West), Olotu Fatai (Akoko North East), Julianah Oshadahun (Akoko North West), Dele Ologun (Akure North), Sunday Adekunle (Idanre) and Razaq Obe (Ifedore).

Others are Banji Ajaka (Ilaje), Emmanuel Igbasan (Irele), Yetunde Adeyanju (Odigbo), Femi Agagu (Okitipupa), Akinlosotu (Ondo East), Omolola Fagbemi (Ondo West) and Olayato Aribo (Ose).

Special Advisers include Victor Ategbole, Wunmi Ilawole, Tobi Felix, Ajibayo Adeyeye, Olamide Falana, Francis Faduyile and Oyeniyi Oseni.
The Prince William 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.
OSLO, Norway, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aker Horizons ASA's wholly owned subsidiary Aker Horizons Holding AS ("Aker Horizons") has today entered into an agreement with South Korea's Hanwha Solutions Corporation ("Hanwha Solutions"), one of the leading solar PV manufacturers in the US, and with REC Silicon ASA ("REC Silicon").

Hanwha Solutions will acquire 21,891,275 shares in REC Silicon from Aker Horizons and will subscribe for 48,213,001 new shares in REC Silicon through a private placement in REC Silicon. Both transactions are conditional upon each other and will be completed simultaneously, and are done at the same share price of NOK 20 per share.

The private placement will provide approximately NOK 964 million in proceeds to REC Silicon, and will be implemented based on the existing authorization granted to the board of REC Silicon. The share sale will provide proceeds to Aker Horizons Holding AS of approximately NOK 438 million. Following the transaction, Aker Horizons and Hanwha Solutions will each own approximately 16.67 percent of the shares in REC Silicon.

"Aker Horizons develops industrial scale solutions to contribute towards meeting Net Zero by 2050 or sooner," said Kristian Rkke, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Horizons. "REC Silicon is the lowest CO2 footprint producer of polysilicon globally, and we see further potential for positive impact through the development of a US solar value chain. We welcome Hanwha Solutions as a shareholder and partner in the development of REC Silicon with their extensive capabilities and ambitions."

The transaction brings together two of the leading producers in different parts of the solar PV value chain. Hanwha Solutions is one of the world's largest solar PV manufacturers with a total cell manufacturing capacity of 10GW globally. The company provides high-quality solar PV panels to the residential market through their wholly owned brand Q CELLS, which holds a 25 percent market share in the US1. The company operates one of the largest solar module factories in the US with an annual production capacity of 1.7GW, corresponding to 12,000 PV modules per day.

REC Silicon is a leading producer of advanced silicon materials, delivering high-purity polysilicon and silicon gas to the solar and electronics industries worldwide. Operating two polysilicon manufacturing facilities in the US, the company has an annual production capacity of 20,000 MT. REC Silicon's highly advanced and efficient FBR production process at Moses Lake uses significantly less energy compared to the traditional process. Using hydropower-based clean energy, REC Silicon can produce low-cost polysilicon with a low carbon footprint.

The transactions are expected to strengthen REC Silicon's financial position and ensure that REC Silicon has the necessary resources to reopen its FBR facility in Moses Lake, Washington, and enable valuable investment opportunities in Butte, Montana. Hanwha Solutions' investment represents a step towards establishing a highly efficient, low carbon solar value chain in the US and to ensure that REC Silicon plays an integral role in these efforts.

The Solar Energy Manufacturing for America (SEMA) Act currently being considered in the US Congress is aimed specifically at encouraging strategic investments in US manufacturing capabilities. This transaction clearly demonstrates the potential to build solar manufacturing capabilities in the US quickly and efficiently  which is the primary objective of the proposed SEMA Act. The eventual passage of the legislation will support the parties' ambitions to establish a comprehensive US solar value chain, from production of polysilicon to fully assembled solar modules.

Completion of the transactions is expected to occur early in the first quarter 2022, subject to customary anti-trust filing in the US.

Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables

CONTACT:

For further information, please contact:

Ivar Simensen, Communications, Aker Horizons

Tel: +47 46402317

Email: ivar.simensen@akerhorizons.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-horizons/r/aker-horizons-and-hanwha-solutions-join-forces-in-rec-silicon-to-explore-us-solar-value-chain-expans,c3456080

SOURCE Aker Horizons
The app uses a recent photo of the pet to create a Smart ID that is unique to them. In the unfortunate instance that a pet goes missing, ForPaws can use the photo to highlight unique facial features and visual characteristics of the pet, helping people in the ForPaws network connect lost pets with their families. The technology is powered by an advanced machine learning algorithm that constantly improves accuracy rate with the addition of more photos to its database.

Every festive season, many pets tend to get frightened and run away due to the bursting of crackers and other loud noises associated with the festivities. With the help of ForPaws, pet owners on the network can rely on the app's artificial intelligence-based image analysis to find their missing pet. Similarly, individuals who come across a lost pet can take a photo and find a match on the app if another user is looking for that pet.

The app is initially launching in Bangalore and will be providing this service first for dogs before expanding to more cities and including more pets like cats.

"With the increase in smartphone penetration & sharp drop in internet data costs, more & more services are leveraging smart tech to solve consumer pain points. With ForPaws we want to leverage facial recognition technology & a network of pet lovers to solve a serious problem of tracking missing pets & helping them find their way home."

- Mohit Arora, Global Digital Marketing Lead, MARS Petcare

The pet food and pet services category is one of the fastest-growing in India. Dogs and cats are now considered members of the family, as confirmed by consumer trends within the pet owner category. A Euromonitor report in 2020 showcased a significant rise in the sale of pet products and forecasted a 68% increase in value growth by 2025. This can be attributed to the rapid growth in pet ownership in the last 18 months, especially during the lockdown period.

"We are happy to launch the ForPaws app that can reduce the instances of pet owners losing their pets permanently, through the use of technology and a widespread network of pet lovers. With the rise in the number of pet adoptions in the past few years, the pet care category has witnessed tremendous growth. In addition, there has been an attitudinal shift as pets are now increasingly being seen as members of the family. Mars Petcare is a leader in the pet food category with brands like Pedigree and Whiskas, and making a better world for pets is at the core of our organizational purpose. We hope people will use this app and help pet parents have the joy of recovering their lost pets."

- Ganesh Ramani, Managing Director, MARS Petcare

MARS Petcare has been leading the category development in the country through its various initiatives and activities, including the education of pet owners, veterinarians and other stakeholders about the right nutrition and wellness requirements of pets. Mars Petcare works closely with NGOs on adoption, stray feeding, vaccination and neutering programs as well as with school children to sensitize them towards pets and responsible pet parenting. Consequently, MARS Petcare is leveraging its role in the industry to support the use of technology and innovation in petcare, providing impetus to the growth of the category.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, BEN'S ORIGINAL, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, Pet Partners, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive.

For more information about Mars, visit www.mars.com . Join us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn and YouTube . Please follow the QR code for more content:

Guest Speakers

Ms. Priya Chetty Rajgopal - NGO- CJ Memorial Trust

An impactful businessperson, CXO search consultant & now civic evangelist, Priya Chetty Rajagopal is well known in business and industry circles. On the Boards of TiE, Bangalore, Akshara Foundation & Civilia, she has been in the People Consulting space from 2004; her previous assignment was as Board Member & Executive Director- Leadership & Board Practice, RGF Executive Search. Priya was nominated Femina Woman of the Year 2017, conferred the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Excellence in 1997.

Priya is the Founder of CJ Memorial Trust is a trust in the memory of a beloved pet CJ, that focuses on promotion of Community Guardianship, and is strong voice in advocacy of ABC, #AdoptDontShop, animal welfare et al. Runs the Facebook groups Cubbon Park Canines, The Global Indie, India Pet Grief Support, Dwiddlywinks (Dogs with Disability) and many more - covering over 15000 members. It has many successes & campaigns to its credit - ##NotWithoutMyDog #BanOnlinePetSales. The Annual CJ Memorial Community Guardian Award is well known recognition champions in dog welfare.

Ms Sudha S Narayanan - Charlies Animal Rescue Centre (CARE)

CARE is headed by Ms Sudha Narayanan, Founder Trustee of CARE who comes with her immense expertise, knowledge and skills of over two decades. Charlies Animal Rescue Centre  CARE is an animal shelter established in January 2013 with the aim of providing timely medical aid to injured and ill animals of the street in Bangalore city. They aim to provide lifesaving veterinary care on par with private veterinary setups to all animals, irrespective of their ownership status. CARE has a rescue helpline, animal ambulance services and a fully equipped veterinary trauma care unit. No animal left behind is main motto.

CARE strives to provide dignity to animals, who are old, blind, paraplegic & suffering from chronic diseases and allow them to live out their lives at the shelter in a safe & peaceful environment. CARE is home to many dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks, hens, pigs, Guinea pigs, birds & terrpins.

Apart from rescue & shelter services, CARE also provides adoptions, humane education in schools, animal cruelty prevention & control and volunteering opportunities.

Dr. Shiela Rao, Co-Founder Trustee, CUPA

Shiela Rao is a veterinarian and trustee of CUPA (Compassion Unlimited plus Action), an NGO that she co-founded to take animal welfare to the next level. She is also a Trustee of WRRC (Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre) and has done extensive research on Captive Elephants in India. She is a veterinarian and an alumnus of the Bangalore Veterinary College in Hebbal. In 1991, along with Ms. Crystal Rogers,and Mrs. Suparna Ganguly and under the guidance and mentorship of Ms. Crystal Rogers, CUPA was started. What started in a single room in Crystal Rogers' house, has, in 30 years, grown into one of the most well-known animal welfare organisations, not just in Bengaluru and India, but also in other countries around the world. She is very active in the domain of Animal Welfare at Bangalore.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1690880/Paws_poster_Fridge_magnet.jpg

SOURCE MARS Petcare
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PERIS Hill, a new intentional affordable housing community in Lowry Hill, celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, Nov 16th. The first of its kind, PERIS Hill offers an innovative, affordable housing model that includes and supports young people who are aging out of foster care.

The PERIS Hill building includes 45 units  30 for adults and 15 for young people aging out of foster care in Hennepin County. PERIS Hill is unique in its mixed-housing model with onsite supportive services for young people, provided by The Link, in a beautiful onsite space designed with youth input. Market competitive amenities available to all tenants include in-house washer and dryer, fitness center, bike lounge/repair station, community spaces and large windows in every unit. In addition, PERIS Hill's central location is close to multiple transit options, the newly redone Thomas Lowry Park, Uptown, Downtown, numerous grocery stores, restaurants and retail shops.

At every step of the way, young people were involved in PERIS Hill's creation, from the building design to branding and the onsite supportive housing programs. Artwork by Juxtaposition Arts, Dakota Hoska and local photographers are featured throughout the building. Volunteers of America are the property managers of the building. PERIS Hill utilized the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program with additional funding from the Graves Foundation, City of Minneapolis Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Hennepin County Affordable Housing Incentive Fund, Metropolitan Council Livable Communities Demonstration Act, and investment and loans from R4 Capital and Bremer Bank.

"With incubation support from the Graves Foundation, PERIS Hill was created to address the urgent need for affordable housing in our community, particularly for young people aging out of foster care," said Courtney Kiernat, the executive director of the PERIS Foundation, which managed PERIS Hill's development and will continue to oversee and champion PERIS. "Young people aging out of foster care, disproportionately black and brown youth, are at higher risk of falling into homelessness. PERIS works to prevent that and surround youth with support as they transition into adulthood. It's a first of its kind model that provides intentional affordable housing and support for youth aging out of foster care. Our partnerships were vital in making this dream a reality."

As of September 2021, Hennepin County reported 1,182 youth currently in the foster care system, with almost 30% between ages 13 and 20. The Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Function of Former Foster Youth reports 18% will be homeless at least once before age 21. With only 4.6% vacant houses and rentals according to the 2020 U.S. census data, the Twin Cities housing market is highly competitive. As foster care youth typically experience numerous traumas and setbacks, the community and shelter PERIS Hill provides can make a big difference.

"As a Guardian Ad Litem for over 25 years, I witnessed too many young people age out of foster care with limited to no support," said Denise Graves, the co-founder of the Graves Foundation. "Affordable housing was critical but not just any housing. After significant national research, it was clear that we needed to be intentional in creating affordable housing coupled with strong support services within a larger community that can provide role models and healthy connections. Seeing PERIS open after six years of hard work by so many folks, including our Youth Advisory, brings me so much hope."

PERIS Hill is located at 1930 Hennepin Avenue, was designed by Collage Architects and was built by Weis Builders. After opening to tenants, PERIS Foundation will evaluate and track the project. If successful, PERIS Hill may become a shared model. To support the project, donate to PERIS at PERISFoundation.org.

About the PERIS Foundation:

The PERIS Foundation was designed to develop and manage PERIS Hill, an affordable housing community in Minneapolis for adult renters and youth aging out of foster care. Created with youth voice and youth experience at the center, PERIS Hill supports young people aging out of foster care as they transition to adulthood. Learn more about the PERIS Foundation at PERISFoundation.org and PERIS Hill at www.PERIShousing.org.

Contact:

Carol Schuler

[email protected]

612-281-7030

SOURCE Graves Foundation
CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arete Wealth , a full-service broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, and insurance firm, announced it has agreed with Masterworks , a provider of art investment securities, to launch an affiliated branch office in New York City. The two-year agreement is effective immediately.

Financial considerations for the agreement were not disclosed, and neither company has taken any equity ownership in the other party or any of its affiliates.

Using its proprietary data to build a diversified portfolio of art curated by its industry-leading research team, Masterworks' platform offers investment opportunities in works from the world's most renowned artists including Banksy, Kaws, and Basquiat.

The new branch will conduct business under the Masterworks brand and become part of Arete Wealth's network of more than 100 locations across the United States; it also represents Arete Wealth's first branch office in New York City.

Under the agreement, Chicago-based Arete Wealth will act as a co-managing broker-dealer, underwriter, and placement agent for all of Masterworks' art securities products offered for sale in primary offerings. The branch will participate as a syndicate member in any transaction that names Arete Wealth as a co-manager.

The arrangement also provides a boost to Arete Wealth's highly regarded Art & Wine Advisory group, an exclusive service for clients thought to be the only one of its kind in the U.S. offered by a financial services firm. The Arete Wealth Art & Wine program allows clients to work with advisors who are experts in these specific alternative investments.

"This agreement underscores Arete Wealth's efforts on behalf of our valued clients to seek the market's best alternative investments," said Arete Wealth Founder and CEO Joshua D. Rogers. "The collaboration with Masterworks also provides a perfect complement to our Art & Wine advisory group, a practice that we promote with a savvy approach and high standards for any desired level of investing."

Both firms will seek to recruit up to 50 registered representatives for the new branch, and Arete Wealth will provide full regulatory compliance services and advice to New York-based Masterworks.

"Arete Wealth is the only firm with experience in both art and investing," said Scott Lynn, Masterworks Founder and CEO. "We're excited to partner to deliver some of the first registered art investment products."

The agreement with Masterworks is the latest significant move for Arete Wealth in 2021  in January, the firm announced it had acquired Center Street Securities, a Nashville, Tenn.-based securities broker-dealer and registered investment advisor whose endowment-style investing for high-net-worth clients is consistent with Arete Wealth's investment philosophy.

About Masterworks

Masterworks.io, the first investment platform to securitize contemporary art. Masterworks is a members-only platform where investors can buy and sell shares in iconic works of art, by artists such as Basquiat, Banksy, Kaws, and more.

Art is estimated to be a $1.7 trillion asset class, and contemporary art has appreciated 14.0% from 1995-2020, outperforming the appreciation rate of most other asset classes including the S&P 500, real estate, and gold. For centuries, this asset class has only been available to the ultra-wealthy who can afford multi-million-dollar paintings. Masterworks' vision is for any investor to be able to allocate to art, just as they do with stocks and bonds.

About Arete Wealth

Through its full-service broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, and insurance units, Arete Wealth Inc. has been offering comprehensive and sophisticated wealth management services for investors, clients, and partners since 2007. The Chicago-based firm offers high-net-worth investors access to a unique suite of alternative investments in addition to providing services that include investment banking, private equity programs, and other traditional financial planning.

In 2021, in its most significant transaction to date, Arete Wealth acquired Center Street Securities, a Nashville, Tenn.-based broker-dealer and registered investment advisor that provides a natural complement to Arete Wealth's distinct endowment-style investing philosophy. Arete Wealth also features a highly regarded Art & Wine advisory practice, an exclusive service for clients thought to be the only one of its kind in the U.S. offered by a financial services firm.

Arete Wealth's impressive growth is increasingly gaining attention from trade publications such as InvestmentNews, FA Magazine, and Financial Planning which all feature the firm's rising prominence in their current annual industry surveys. Arete Wealth's 265 registered representatives, spread across 100 offices in the United States, manage more than $5.7 billion in total assets. Find out more at www.aretewealth.com .

Contact:

For Arete Wealth

Nate Moster, Chief Marketing Officer

312.940.3684

[email protected]



For Masterworks

Matt Sutherland, VP, Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Arete Wealth

Related Links

https://www.aretewealth.com/


BEIJING, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 and its US$200 million share repurchase program.

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights [1]

Net Revenues in the third quarter of 2021 were RMB1,763.8 million ( $273.7 million ), compared to RMB2,315.6 million in the corresponding period of 2020. Online Marketplace and Others Revenues in the third quarter of 2021 were RMB561.2 million ( $87.1 million ), representing an increase of 2.5% year- over- year.

in the third quarter of 2021 were ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. in the third quarter of 2021 were ( ), representing an increase of 2.5% year- over- year. Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc. in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB521.7 million ( $81.0 million ), compared to RMB846.7 million in the corresponding period of 2020 and net income attributable to Ordinary Shareholders in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB511.0 million ( $79.3 million ), compared to RMB846.7 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

in the third quarter of 2021 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020 and in the third quarter of 2021 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc. (Non-GAAP)[2] in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB583.2 million ( $90.5 million ), compared to RMB901.8 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

[1] The reporting currency of the Company is Renminbi ("RMB"). For the convenience of readers, certain amounts throughout the release are presented in US dollars ("$"). Unless otherwise noted, all conversions from RMB to US$ are translated at the noon buying rate of US$1.00 to RMB6.4434 on September 30, 2021 in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at such rate. [2] For more information on this and other non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP and GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this release.

Share Repurchase Program

On November 18, 2021, Autohome's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$200 million of its American depositary shares over the next twelve months.

The Company's proposed repurchases may be made from time to time through open market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions, in block trades and/or through other legally permissible means, depending on the market conditions and in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The timing and dollar amount of repurchase transactions will be subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b-18 and/or Rule 10b5-1 requirements. The Company's Board of Directors will review the authorized share repurchase program periodically, and may authorize adjustment of its terms and size or suspend or discontinue the program. The Company plans to fund repurchases from its existing cash balance.

Mr. Quan Long, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, stated, "We are pleased to announce the financial results of our third quarter of 2021, which is another profitable quarter, as we maintained our leading market share and delivered total revenues of RMB1.76 billion. Despite the challenges for our traditional business due to chip shortage and reductions in marketing spending by OEMs and dealers, we are inspired by our solid progress in strategy implementation, which focuses on high-quality future growth in new business. In particular, revenues from new energy vehicle ("NEV") brands more than doubled year-over-year in the third quarter as we increased our efforts to engage with NEV automakers. Besides, the popularity of our digital-dealer-solutions packages grew steadily, evidenced by increasing data products adoption among dealer stores along with high penetration rate."

Mr. Long added, "Our content differentiation strategy and a series of innovative initiatives have successfully strengthened Autohome's content ecosystem, delivered a better user experience and sustained solid traffic expansion. In September 2021, our mobile daily active users increased by 12.3% year-over-year, a further testament to our leadership position in the auto media vertical.



Mr. Long continued, "we are also pleased to announce the share repurchase program of US$ 200 million, which demonstrates our confidence in Autohome's fundamentals, business outlook and the growth opportunities presented by our upgraded strategies. We believe that the share repurchase program will ultimately benefit Autohome as well as maximize value for our shareholders. Our strong cash positions bolster our ability to carry out this program while continuously investing in our value-driving strategies and new business, promoting Autohome's sustainable growth."

"Looking ahead, we will continue to build upon our solid business fundamentals and strong cash position, together with support from Ping An Group, to execute our strategic upgrades, and we are highly confident that we will make significant progress with more competitiveness in the long run." Mr. Long concluded.



Unaudited Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues in the third quarter of 2021 were RMB1,763.8 million ($273.7 million), compared to RMB2,315.6 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Media services revenues were RMB434.1 million ( $67.4 million ), compared to RMB927.4 million in the corresponding period of 2020. The decline was primarily due to the decrease in average revenue per automaker advertiser, who adjusted their advertising budgets due to the ongoing global chip shortage and the elevated price of raw materials.

revenues were ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. The decline was primarily due to the decrease in average revenue per automaker advertiser, who adjusted their advertising budgets due to the ongoing global chip shortage and the elevated price of raw materials. Leads generation services revenues were RMB768.4 million ( $119.3 million ), compared to RMB840.5 million in the corresponding period of 2020. The decline was primarily due to the decrease in dealers' marketing spending.

revenues were ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. The decline was primarily due to the decrease in dealers' marketing spending. Online marketplace and others revenues increased by 2.5% year- over- year to RMB561.2 million ( $87.1 million ) from RMB547.7 million in the corresponding period of 2020. The increase was primarily due to the consolidation of TTP.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB281.2 million ($43.6 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB250.1 million in the corresponding period of 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to the consolidation of TTP. In addition, share-based compensation expense included in cost of revenues was RMB6.4 million ($1.0 million) during the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB5.5 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were RMB1,187.0 million ($184.2 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB1,468.0 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB712.2 million ( $110.5 million ) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB979.3 million in the corresponding period of 2020, primarily due to the decrease in promotional spending and continuous budget control. Share-based compensation expense included in sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB14.7 million ( $2.3 million ), compared to RMB11.2 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

expenses were ( ) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to in the corresponding period of 2020, primarily due to the decrease in promotional spending and continuous budget control. Share-based compensation expense included in sales and marketing expenses in the third quarter of 2021 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. General and administrative expenses were RMB110.7 million ( $17.2 million ) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB139.6 million in the corresponding period of 2020. Share-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB9.6 million ( $1.5 million ), compared to RMB11.5 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

expenses were ( ) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. Share-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2021 was ( ), compared to in the corresponding period of 2020. Product development expenses were RMB364.0 million ( $56.5 million ) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB349.0 million in the corresponding period of 2020, primarily due to the increased investment in research and development activities. Share-based compensation expense included in product development expenses in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB23.6 million ( $3.7 million ), compared to RMB25.7 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Operating Profit

Operating profit was RMB365.1 million ($56.7 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB744.2 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Income Tax Expense

There was an income tax expense of RMB18.2 million ($2.8 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB31.9 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc.

Net income attributable to Autohome Inc. was RMB521.7 million ($81.0 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared with RMB846.7 million in the corresponding period of 2020.

Net Income attributable to Ordinary Shareholders and Earnings per Share/ADS

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB511.0 million ($79.3 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB846.7 million in the corresponding period of 2020. Basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS") were RMB1.01 ($0.16) and RMB1.01 ($0.16), respectively, as compared to basic and diluted EPS of RMB1.77 and RMB1.76, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2020. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB4.04 ($0.63) and RMB4.04 ($0.63), respectively, as compared to basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB7.09 and RMB7.06, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2020.

Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc. (Non-GAAP) and Non-GAAP EPS/ADS

Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome Inc. (Non-GAAP) was RMB583.2 million ($90.5 million) in the third quarter of 2021, compared to RMB901.8 million in the corresponding period of 2020. Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS were RMB1.15 ($0.18) and RMB1.15 ($0.18), respectively, compared to non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS of RMB1.89 and RMB1.88, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2020. Non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB4.61 ($0.72) and RMB4.61 ($0.72), respectively, compared to non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB7.55 and RMB7.52, respectively, in the corresponding period of 2020.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB19.18 billion ($2.98 billion). Net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter of 2021 was RMB567.5 million ($88.1 million).

Employees

The Company had 6,048 employees as of September 30, 2021, including 2,191 employees from TTP.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host an earnings conference call at 7:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 18, 2021 (8:00 PM Beijing Time on the same day).

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States: +1-855-824-5644 Hong Kong, China: +852-3027-6500 Mainland, China: 8009-880-563/ 400-821-0637 United Kingdom: 0800-026-1542 International: +1-646-722-4977 Passcode: 67228218#

Please dial in ten minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers until November 25, 2021:

United States: +1-646-982-0473 International: +61-2-8325-2405 Passcode: 520000132#

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://ir.autohome.com.cn.

About Autohome Inc.

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to engage, educate and inform consumers about everything auto. Autohome provides original generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its "Autohome Mall," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit www.autohome.com.cn.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, Autohome's business outlook, Autohome's strategic and operational plans and quotations from management in this announcement contain forward-looking statements. Autohome may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in announcements made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Autohome's goals and strategies; Autohome's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; the expected growth of the online automobile advertising market in China; Autohome's ability to attract and retain users and advertisers and further enhance its brand recognition; Autohome's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services; competition in the online automobile advertising industry; relevant government policies and regulatory environment of China; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement net income presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we use Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc., Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS and per ADS, Adjusted net margin and Adjusted EBITDA as non-GAAP financial measures. We define Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc. as net income attributable to Autohome Inc. excluding share-based compensation expenses and amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisition. We define Non-GAAP basic and diluted EPS as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc. divided by the basic and diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares. We define Adjusted net margin as Adjusted Net Income attributable to Autohome Inc. divided by total net revenues. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Autohome Inc. before income tax expense, depreciation expenses of property and equipment, amortization expenses of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expenses. We present these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, in addition to net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are important to help investors understand our operating and financial performance, compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and assess our core operating results, as they exclude certain expenses that are not expected to result in cash payments. The use of the above non-GAAP financial measures has certain limitations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and will continue to be incurred in the future and are not reflected in the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures, but should be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliation of non-GAAP and GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Autohome Inc.

Investor Relations

Tel: +86-10-5985-7483

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Jenny Cai

Tel: +86-10-6508-0677

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

AUTOHOME INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA (Amount in thousands, except per share / per ADS data)













For three months ended September 30,

2020

2021

RMB

RMB

US$

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited) Net revenues:









Media services 927,361

434,102

67,372 Leads generation services 840,470

768,412

119,256 Online marketplace and others 547,737

561,249

87,104 Total net revenues 2,315,568

1,763,763

273,732 Cost of revenues (250,085)

(281,212)

(43,643) Gross profit 2,065,483

1,482,551

230,089











Operating expenses:









Sales and marketing expenses (979,337)

(712,196)

(110,531) General and administrative expenses (139,632)

(110,748)

(17,188) Product development expenses (349,010)

(364,029)

(56,496) Total operating expenses (1,467,979)

(1,186,973)

(184,215) Other income, net 146,672

69,506

10,787 Operating profit 744,176

365,084

56,661











Interest income 135,091

152,307

23,638 Loss from equity method investments (280)

(102)

(16) Income before income taxes 878,987

517,289

80,283











Income tax expense (31,914)

(18,204)

(2,825) Net income 847,073

499,085

77,458 Net (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling

interests (402)

22,635

3,513 Net income attributable to Autohome Inc. 846,671

521,720

80,971 Accretion of mezzanine equity -

(24,445)

(3,794) Accretion attributable to noncontrolling interests -

13,763

2,136 Net income attributable to ordinary

shareholders 846,671

511,038

79,313











Earnings per share for ordinary shares









Basic 1.77

1.01

0.16 Diluted 1.76

1.01

0.16 Earnings per ADS attributable to ordinary

shareholders (one ADS equals for four ordinary

shares)









Basic 7.09

4.04

0.63 Diluted 7.06

4.04

0.63











Weighted average shares used to compute

earnings per share attributable to ordinary

shareholders:









Basic 477,836,800

505,628,316

505,628,316 Diluted 479,842,768

505,851,862

505,851,862

AUTOHOME INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP AND GAAP RESULTS (Amount in thousands, except per share / per ADS data)













For three months ended September 30,

2020

2021

RMB

RMB

US$

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)











Net income attributable to Autohome Inc. 846,671

521,720

80,971 Plus: income tax expense 31,914

19,914

3,091 Plus: depreciation of property and equipment 42,364

56,550

8,776 Plus: amortization of intangible assets 2,951

9,538

1,480 EBITDA 923,900

607,722

94,318 Plus: share-based compensation expenses 53,943

54,276

8,424 Adjusted EBITDA 977,843

661,998

102,742











Net income attributable to Autohome Inc. 846,671

521,720

80,971 Plus: amortization of intangible assets resulting

from business acquisition 1,139

7,191

1,116 Plus: share-based compensation expenses 53,943

54,276

8,424 Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome

Inc. 901,753

583,187

90,511











Net income attributable to Autohome Inc. 846,671

521,720

80,971 Net margin 36.6%

29.6%

29.6% Adjusted net income attributable to Autohome

Inc. 901,753

583,187

90,511 Adjusted net margin 38.9%

33.1%

33.1%











Non-GAAP earnings per share









Basic 1.89

1.15

0.18 Diluted 1.88

1.15

0.18 Non-GAAP earnings per ADS (one ADS equals

for four ordinary shares)









Basic 7.55

4.61

0.72 Diluted 7.52

4.61

0.72











Weighted average shares used to compute non-

GAAP earnings per share:









Basic 477,836,800

505,628,316

505,628,316 Diluted 479,842,768

505,851,862

505,851,862



AUTOHOME INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Amount in thousands, except as noted)













As of December 31,

As of September 30,

2020

2021

RMB

RMB

US$

(Audited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited) ASSETS









Current assets









Cash and cash equivalents 1,751,222

2,321,132

360,234 Restricted Cash -

87,235

13,539 Short-term investments 12,878,176

16,862,459

2,617,013 Accounts receivable, net 3,124,197

2,263,101

351,228 Amounts due from related parties, current 47,303

44,624

6,926 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 563,182

361,236

56,063 Total current assets 18,364,080

21,939,787

3,405,003 Non-current assets









Restricted cash, non-current 17,926

5,200

807 Property and equipment, net 410,081

410,756

63,748 Goodwill and intangible assets, net 4,511,812

4,448,529

690,401 Long-term investments 70,418

69,356

10,764 Deferred tax assets 79,661

96,191

14,929 Other non-current assets 276,867

196,586

30,510 Total non-current assets 5,366,765

5,226,618

811,159 Total assets 23,730,845

27,166,405

4,216,162











LIABILITIES AND EQUITY









Current liabilities









Accrued expenses and other payables 2,577,709

1,739,412

269,953 Advance from customers 127,235

114,520

17,773 Deferred revenue 1,315,667

647,134

100,434 Income tax payable 85,177

257,689

39,993 Amounts due to related parties 79,895

32,445

5,035 Other current liabilities -

14,247

2,211 Total current liabilities 4,185,683

2,805,447

435,399 Non-current liabilities









Other liabilities 104,861

47,937

7,441 Deferred tax liabilities 631,509

594,082

92,200 Total non-current liabilities 736,370

642,019

99,641 Total liabilities 4,922,053

3,447,466

535,040











MEZZANINE EQUITY









Convertible redeemable noncontrolling interests 1,056,237

1,436,972

223,015











EQUITY









Total Autohome Inc. shareholders' equity 17,625,734

22,556,366

3,500,693 Noncontrolling interests 126,821

(274,399)

(42,586) Total equity 17,752,555

22,281,967

3,458,107 Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity 23,730,845

27,166,405

4,216,162

SOURCE Autohome Inc.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bantam Pharmaceutical, a drug discovery and development company targeting selective modulation of mitochondrial dynamics in cancer, today announced that data on BTM-3566, in development for the treatment of hematological malignancies including Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, was selected for an oral presentation at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), being held from December 11- 14, 2021, virtually and in-person in Atlanta. Dr. Adrian Schwarzer, MD, PhD, Hannover Medical School, will present non-clinical research on the activity and mechanism of BTM-3566 a novel, oral compound that targets mitochondrial dynamics leading to cellular stress and tumor cell apoptosis.

Details of the abstract and oral presentation session are as follows:

Title BTM-3566, a Novel Activator of the Mitochondrial Stress Response Promotes Robust Therapeutic Responses in Vitro and In Vivo in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Date Monday, December 13, 2021, 4:00 P.M. ET Location Georgia World Congress Center, Room B213-B214, Level 2 Presenter Adrian Schwarzer, MD, PhD, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Abstract Available online at: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2021/webprogram/Paper145637.html

Accepted abstracts are currently available in a special online-only issue of Blood, ASH's official journal, at https://ashpublications.org/blood.

About BTM-3566

BTM-3566 is an orally-available novel small molecule compound with broad anti-cancer activity in hematologic and solid tumors, initially focused on Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas (DLBCL). BTM-3566's anti-cancer mechanism of action is unique and differentiated from other therapeutics, disrupting mitochondrial function in tumor cells to induce apoptosis (cell death). An IND application for BTM-3566 in B-cell malignancies is being completed for submission in Q1 2022.

About Bantam Pharmaceutical

Bantam Pharmaceutical is a drug discovery and development company channeling the power of mitochondrial dynamics to address unmet needs in oncology. Using its unique expertise in mitochondrial cellular biology, Bantam is developing novel, first-in-class small molecule oral therapeutics for difficult-to-treat hematological and solid tumors. Bantam is currently pursuing an IND application for Its lead candidate, BTM-3566, in B-cell malignancies. Learn more at https://bantampharma.com/.

Media Contact:

Terri Clevenger

ICR Westwicke

[email protected]

203-856-4326

Company Contact:

Meghan Reynolds, Chief of Staff

646.598.4823

[email protected]

www.bantampharma.com

SOURCE Bantam Pharmaceutical, LLC

Related Links

http://www.bantampharma.com


AURORA, Ill., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BERNINA of America, the premier manufacturer of sewing, embroidery, and quilting machines, is proud to announce that Kai Hillebrandt has been appointed CEO of BERNINA Textile Group. Hillebrandt will be in charge of leading BERNINA Textile Group's 15 global companies including BERNINA International and BERNINA of America. Hillebrandt succeeds Claude Dreyer who held the position since 2008.

BERNINA of America BERNINA of America

"We are delighted to welcome Kai to the BERNINA family," said Paul Ashworth, President and CEO of BERNINA of America. "Kai has a long history of bringing innovative ideas to the forefront. His leadership and proven ability to deftly navigate the peaks and valleys associated with today's business landscape will serve BERNINA well. I look forward to working closely with him to bring continued success to the American market."

Prior to joining BERNINA, Hillebrandt spent many years working in the consumer electronics industry. He has held senior executive roles at Philips, Samsung and, most recently, at Panasonic where he served as Managing Director and was responsible for Consumer Electronics and Appliances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. As CEO of BERNINA Textile Group, Hillebrandt will focus on continued growth, innovation, sustainability and the quality, and durability of all BERNINA products.

"I am humbled and honored by the warm welcome from BERNINA employees and customers across the globe," said Hillebrandt. "I look forward to leading a company that has always been synonymous with quality and innovation. I promise to work tirelessly to uphold the values that have been exemplified by five generations of owners and to continue the tradition of providing our loyal customers with the same high-quality, innovative products they have come to expect from BERNINA."

For more information on BERNINA, please visit BERNINA.com.

About BERNINA



BERNINA is the world's premier manufacturer of quality state-of-the-art sewing, quilting and embroidery machines, overlockers and embroidery software. Since being founded over 125 years ago, BERNINA has maintained a strong commitment to serving the creative community. This dedication threads through the swiss precision found in every machine, the training and education available through our over 400 fully trained independent BERNINA Dealers and the endless tutorials and content shared on BERNINA's blog and social media channels. BERNINA products are designed for beginning to advanced sewists and priced to meet a variety of budgets, with new products being introduced every year. Shop for BERNINA products online or buy directly from your nearest BERNINA Dealer. Follow BERNINA on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. BERNINA's sister machine, bernette, can be found on Instagram. You can also find helpful tips and tutorials for every skill level on BERNINA's Blog, WeAllSew.

Media Contact

Tyler Rabel

Two by Four

(312) 445-4728

[email protected]

SOURCE BERNINA of America
GREENSBORO, N.C., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tencarva Machinery Company ("Tencarva" or the "Company"), the Southeast's premier value-added distributor of flow control and process equipment solutions and services to the industrial and municipal end-markets, and Bessemer Investors LLC ("Bessemer"), a New York-based investment firm, announced today that Bessemer has agreed to make a significant investment in Tencarva. Bessemer will partner with Tencarva's existing management team, including President Ed Pearce, who will continue leading the Company, to support the Company's growth. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Mr. Pearce commented, "We are very pleased to have established this partnership with Bessemer and are confident that they are a great steward to retain our culture and lead our business into the future. Bessemer understands our vision and recognizes the value of our industry-leading employees, including over 100 employee equity owners in the business who will retain significant stakes going forward. We believe Bessemer's values and longer-term, more flexible capital base is the right match for our employee-owned business and will assist us in our next phase of growth."

With over 350 employees across 28 locations in the Southeast, Tencarva provides high quality flow control and process equipment solutions and services on behalf of its industry-leading original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") partners. Tencarva focuses on providing top-quality equipment and best-in-class repair and support services to both industrial and municipal end-customers.

Andrew Mendelsohn, Principal at Bessemer, said, "We are excited to partner with Tencarva and build on their 40-year history of growth, strong execution and long-term partnerships with their OEM partners. Tencarva's highly skilled salesforce of degreed engineers and repair service providers is a unique differentiator within the industry. Their business sits at the intersection of two of our key investment areas of focus: value-added distribution and flow control, and our capital base offered the Company an attractive alternative to traditional private equity."

Wells Fargo served as financial advisor to Tencarva, while Schell Bray served as legal counsel. William Blair served as financial advisor to Bessemer Investors and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as legal counsel. Barings is leading the debt financing for the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close prior to year-end 2021.

About Tencarva Machinery Company

Tencarva was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1978 with the mission of providing pumps and associated liquid handling equipment to industrial customers. Tencarva has increased its capabilities, added new suppliers, expanded geographies and enhanced its product portfolio, entering the municipal market in 2006. Today, Tencarva employs over 350 employees, including over 100 employee shareholders, across 28 locations in the Southeast. Tencarva also goes to market under the following brands throughout the Southeast: Southern Sales, Saladin Pump & Equipment, Hudson Pump & Equipment, ESSCO Service & Sales, and Uniguard Machine Guards. For more information, please visit https://tencarva.com.

About Bessemer Investors

Bessemer Investors is a New York-based investment firm focused on partnering with middle market businesses to support growth and enhance value creation. Bessemer differentiates itself by combining a long-term, flexible capital base with a team of experienced private equity professionals. This approach offers unique solutions to Bessemer's partners and the flexibility to maximize long-term value. For further information, please visit https://www.bessemerinvestors.com.

Contact:

Joanne Lessner

Lambert & Co.

212-222-7436

[email protected]

SOURCE Bessemer Investors LLC
IRVING, Texas, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences (Caris), the leading molecular science and technology company actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare, announced today that the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) has joined Caris' Precision Oncology Alliance (POA). The POA is a growing network of leading cancer centers across the globe that collaborate to advance precision oncology and biomarker-driven research. POA members work together to establish and optimize standards of care for molecular testing through innovative research focused on predictive and prognostic markers that improve the clinical outcomes for cancer patients.

The HICCC is the home for cancer research and patient care at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Their cancer center researchers and physicians are dedicated to understanding the complex biology behind cancer, from before it begins to its evolution and spread. The HICCC is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States, a designation maintained since 1979.

"Our innovative cancer therapies and prevention strategies can help reduce cancer's incidence and progression and improve the quality of life for all those affected," said Dr. Anil Rustgi, Director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. "We look forward to working with the POA's network in research as we remain committed to our mission to reducing the burden of cancer for our patients, our community and the world."

"We are thrilled that the HICCC joined the POA. As a leader in innovation and discovery in cancer research, HICCC complements the mission of the POA," said Chadi Nabhan, M.D., MBA, FACP, Chairman of the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance. "Their vision to design new ways to look at cancer biology, understand how it evolves, and develop novel and precise therapies that halt its progress align with Caris' vision to provide the best treatment options to patients worldwide that would ultimately improve their outcomes and their quality of life."

"The HICCC has maintained its status as a top cancer center in the United States for more than 40 years by offering an exceptional environment of patient care and biomedical research," said Brian J. Brille, Vice Chairman of Caris Life Sciences. "The POA is excited to welcome their knowledge of innovative cancer care and research to further precision medicine and cancer treatments across the globe."

The Caris Precision Oncology Alliance includes 57 cancer centers and academic institutions. These institutions have early access to the extensive database and artificial intelligence platform within Caris to establish evidence-based standards for cancer profiling and molecular testing in oncology. By leveraging the comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling available through the Caris Molecular Intelligence platform, Caris seeks to provide this network with the ability to prioritize therapeutic options and determine which clinical trial opportunities may benefit their patients. POA members are also able to integrate with a growing portfolio of biomarker directed trials sponsored by biopharma. Additionally, as a member of the POA, institutions have access to Caris CODEai, the most comprehensive data solution in the industry with cancer treatment information and clinical outcomes data for over 275,000 patients covering over 1,000,000 data points per patient.

About Caris Life Sciences

Caris Life Sciences (Caris) is the leading molecular science and technology company actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing) and the application of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms, Caris has created the large-scale clinico-genomic database and cognitive computing needed to analyze and unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This information provides an unmatched resource and the ideal path forward to conduct the basic, fundamental research to accelerate discovery for detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development to improve the human condition.

With a primary focus on cancer, Caris' suite of market-leading molecular profiling offerings assesses DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular blueprint that helps patients, physicians and researchers better detect, diagnose and treat patients. Caris' latest advancement, which is currently available within its Precision Oncology Alliance, is a blood-based, circulating nucleic acids sequencing (cNAS) assay that combines comprehensive molecular analysis (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing from blood) and serial monitoring  making it the most powerful liquid biopsy assay ever developed.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Denver and Basel, Switzerland. Caris provides services throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit CarisLifeSciences.com or follow us on Twitter (@CarisLS).

About The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) is the home for cancer research and patient care at Columbia University and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. HICCC researchers and physicians are dedicated to understanding the complex biology behind cancer, discovering and designing innovative cancer therapies and prevention strategies to reduce the burden of cancer on patients and their families.

The HICCC is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. The HICCC has more than 250 members across six schools at Columbia University with more than $30 million in National Cancer Institute funding and over $100 million in cancer grants. Partnering with the top hospital and leading academic center in New York City, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University, the HICCC fosters a community of scientific excellence and outstanding patient care. For more information, visit www.cancer.columbia.edu.

Caris Life Sciences Media Contact:

Allison Kreutzjans

Edelman

[email protected]

314-550-1327

SOURCE Caris Life Sciences

Related Links

http://www.carislifesciences.com


It will include attention for new functions related to human resources, supply chain and digital and information technologies.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pfizer, one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical and innovative companies, and considered one of the best places to work, has announced its expansion in Costa Rica to support the company's operations in different countries across the Americas. Specifically, it will include attention for new processes related to the areas of human resources, supply chain planning, as well as digital and information technologies.

Currently, the country supports the entire operation in the continent and other parts of the world, in areas such as finance, risk management and compliance, transformation and project management, as well as compliance with anti-corruption regulations. The whole support unit is independent of Pfizer's commercial and pharmacovigilance teams in Costa Rica.

Pfizer's purpose is to bring breakthroughs that change patients' lives and this expansion is essential to support the realization of that purpose in different markets across the continent. Therefore, the company expects to hire more than 100 employees between the end of 2021 and 2022, to occupy new positions in Human Resources, financial services and in the digital area.

The President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, highlighted that in this situation of crisis due to the pandemic, Pfizer has been a very reliable supplier for the country, which has allowed the government to develop a successful vaccination campaign that places us among the countries with the highest percentage of vaccinated people.

"The expansion of operations of a company as important worldwide as Pfizer, demonstrates the confidence they have placed in a country that has shown a strong leadership in the life sciences sector, our main source of exports, which translates into a reliable environment where companies of the highest level have found the optimal conditions for their operations," said Alvarado.

Andres Valenciano, Minister of Foreign Trade, said: "Pfizer has been in our country for more than 70 years and the news of its expansion demonstrates not only its strong commitment and confidence in Costa Rica, but also its support in the proposal to consolidate the country as a health sciences hub. Professionals in areas such as human resources, finance and information technology will be added to the more than 800 current employees of the company providing their services to a platform focused on continuous improvement of the health of their patients to more than 33 territories. We celebrate this news that brings quality jobs to Costa Ricans by a company that has innovatively and effectively managed to bring relief and stability to the health crisis we are facing."

Jorge Sequeira, Managing Director of CINDE, said: "We congratulate Pfizer for its growth by expanding its services from Costa Rica to the rest of the region. That demonstrates the versatility of Costa Rican human talent, in which leading companies like Pfizer trust Costa Rica to develop knowledge-based services. It is a field in which the country stands out internationally and whose dynamism and growth could exceed US$6 billion in exports this year, with an average annual growth of 18%, according to data from the Central Bank."

"We are pleased to announce Pfizer's nationwide expansion. This reaffirms our trust of more than 70 years in Costa Rica, its talent and government authorities, to successfully develop our operations for contributing to the health of thousands of patients in the region. This growth is also a sign of our support to the country's efforts to position itself as a health and life hub, where innovation, science and technology transfer must be strongly intertwined to place the Costa Rican health system as a benchmark worldwide, which encourages the integral well-being of the population, promotes human capital and enables greater economic growth," affirmed Bradley Silcox, General Manager of Pfizer Central America and the Caribbean (CAC).

Nathan Bland, Leader of Pfizer's Shared Services Center, remarked, "At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to provide people with therapies that significantly prolong and improve their lives. In this context, the company has focused on consolidating its operations in the Americas. When analyzing how to do that, we certainly thought of Costa Rica as the best place to incorporate new functions, thanks to the high potential and specialization of its human talent."

As a forward-thinking company, Pfizer conducted an exhaustive analysis of various markets and aspects to make the best decision. In addition to Costa Rica's human capital, Pfizer considered its presence of more than 70 years in the country; the operations of other companies with similar business lines, bilingual and trilingual staff, the country's life quality standard, as well as its socioeconomic and political stability. This expansion will generate among employees' new ideas, develop greater knowledge and experience, to be shared with other of the company's operations worldwide.

Pfizer's operations began in Costa Rica in 1950. In 2008, thanks to the region's evolution and potential, Pfizer's headquarters in the country became the Corporate Center for Central America and the Caribbean, from where it serves a total of 33 territories.

The talent, specialization and skills of Costa Ricans helped the country to position itself as a great option to offer services to Pfizer's global operation. Thus, the company established the Global Business Services area in 2013 and currently has more than 800 employees in the country.

SOURCE CINDE

Related Links

https://www.cinde.org


DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per a detailed analysis by FMI, the global color cosmetics market is expected to exceed US$ 50 Bn by the end of 2021. Easy availability of a wide variety of cosmetic products owing to the growing e-commerce penetration is boosting the market.

Shifting preference of consumers in favor of natural cosmetic products and higher awareness about toxicity present in synthetic ingredients, traditionally used in the cosmetics industry are favoring sales of organic color cosmetics. In response to this, the color cosmetics market is anticipated to expand at a 5% CAGR over the forecast period 2021-2031.

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Growing consciousness about animal health and environmental protection among present-day consumers is encouraging them to opt for organic color cosmetic products. This is expected to spur sales in the market at 4.5% CAGR in terms of volume through 2031.

Numerous cosmetic companies are aiming at adopting strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations to expand their portfolio. For instance, L'Oreal announced the acquisition of a Germany-based natural cosmetic products manufacturer, Logocos Naturkosmetik, to expand its portfolio of vegan products including hair color, make-up, and lipstick. A slew of such developments is anticipated to propel the demand for color cosmetics in the coming years.

In terms of product category, the facial makeup segment is projected to outrank other segments, accounting for nearly 33.4% of sales in 2021. Surging demand for face powder, face creams, and other cosmetics is driving the sales of facial make-up.

"Leading manufacturers are emphasizing on enhancing customer experience by integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) with the company's e-commerce platforms. These developments will enable customers to try and experiment with their make-up virtually before making the final purchase. This is expected to accelerate growth in the market," says a FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways from Color Cosmetics Market Study

North America market is projected to expand at 2% CAGR through 2031, owing to the presence of premium brands such as L'Oreal, Estee Lauder , Dior, and others in the U.S.

market is projected to expand at through 2031, owing to the presence of premium brands such as L'Oreal, , Dior, and others in the U.S. The U.K. color cosmetics market will register growth, favored by the rising demand for organic and natural skincare and cosmetic products in the country.

Japan and South Korea are forecast to account for around 30% and 20% of the global sales through 2021, respectively.

and are forecast to account for around 30% and 20% of the global sales through 2021, respectively. Based on product type, natural & organic segment is anticipated to remain dominant, exhibiting sales at 6.2% CAGR through 2031.

CAGR through 2031. In terms of price, the premium segment is expected to hold the largest revenue in the market, accounting for more than 60% of sales in 2021.

Key Drivers

Increasing expenditure on enhancing facial aesthetic and growing trend of beautifying face to hide wrinkles, black spots, and dark circles are the factors propelling demand for color cosmetics.

Emergence of specialized online cosmetics platforms such as Nykaa and rising consumer preference for online shopping owing to the convenience of door-step delivery are spurring sales via e-commerce and online stores.

View TOC and Report [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/colour-cosmetics-market

Key Restraints

Side-effects associated with the use of chemical-based color cosmetics such as contact urticarial, pigmentary disorders, damage of hair and nails, photosensitization, and others are hindering the sales across the chemical product type segment.

Competitive Landscape

As per FMI, leading players in the global color cosmetics market are anticipated to hold nearly 30% to 35% of the total sales in 2021.

Key companies are focusing on launching new products to expand their product portfolio. Besides this, some of the players are adopting expansion strategies such as collaborations, mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their global presence. For instance,

In July 2021 , Bloomers, a leading company in prestige beauty, announced launching of a new brand of color cosmetics in India . The brand offers a wide range of products such as lipsticks and foundations which will be available in pharmacy stores and local marts.

, Bloomers, a leading company in prestige announced launching of a new brand of color cosmetics in . The brand offers a wide range of products such as lipsticks and foundations which will be available in pharmacy stores and local marts. In 2019, G&M cosmetics, an Australian cosmetics manufacturer, announced acquiring a natural & vegan skincare product manufacturer, PURE Papayacare skincare. The acquisition with assist the company to expand its portfolio of vegan beauty and baby care products.

Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are:

L'Oreal SA

Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy (LVMH)

Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

Revlon Inc.

Shiseido Co. Ltd.

Chanel S.A.

Coty Inc.

Mary Kay Cosmetics

Amway Corporation

Kose Corporation

Others

For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1019

More Valuable Insights on Color Cosmetics Market

The latest report published by FMI offers a detailed analysis on the global color cosmetics equipment market, forecast sales and demand growth for the assessment period 2021-2031. The study reveals growth projections in color cosmetics equipment market with detailed segmentation:

Product Type:

Chemical

Natural & Organic

Distribution Channel:

Hypermarket/ Supermarket

Convenience Store

Specialty Store

Direct Selling

e-Commerce

Price:

Economic

Premium

Product Category:

Nail Products

Facial Makeup

Eye Makeup

Lip Products

Hair Colour Products

Special Effects Products

Region:

North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific excluding Japan

excluding Middle East & Africa

& Japan

Key Questions Covered in the Report

The report offers insight into color cosmetics market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031

The market study also highlights projected sales growth for color cosmetics market between 2021 and 2031

Color cosmetics 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

Color cosmetics market share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others

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Future Market Insights,

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Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/colour-cosmetics-market

Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/colour-cosmetics-market

SOURCE Future Market Insights
In this new role, Ms. Ratto will be responsible for originating and executing corporate finance and capital markets transactions, with focus on the retail industry and other financing transactions. Ms. Ratto will be based in Hilco's Boston office and will work on identifying and originating lending/investment opportunities through Hilco Global's and her own existing network of professional contacts and relationships, including investment banks, private equity firms and hedge funds.

Ms. Ratto returns to the financial services industry following a short break from her impressive career and track record of success at Bank of America, where she served as Managing Director of the U.S. Retail Finance Group. During her 30-year tenure at Bank of America, Ms. Ratto scaled one of the nation's most profitable Asset Based Lending platforms from a handful of retail clients to a market leading average of +$20 billion in assets under management with an evolving portfolio of 90+ large national retailers.

Ms. Ratto and her team were responsible for all aspects of problem loan management, including Debtor in Possession and Exit Financing with over $25 billion in assets under management worked out over her leadership tenure to a zero-loss result. During her years at Bank of America, Ms. Ratto's responsibilities also included new client acquisition, loan syndication, relationship management, problem loan management, and risk management techniques.

"I'm excited to join the Hilco Global team," said Ms. Ratto. "Having worked with Hilco for many years, I've always been impressed with their partnership approach and ability to provide fully integrated solutions from strategy through execution. Given Hilco's recent expanded capabilities in both the investment and advisory space, joining the team is an opportunity to leverage my 30+ years of lending expertise from a totally new perspective."

Over the years, Ms. Ratto has won numerous awards and acknowledgements for her outstanding work. Known to be an innovative and creative leader, she has built an impressive reputation across the banking industry for solving challenging client issues and for always taking an active role in financing a broad range of complex acquisition transactions.

"We're so thrilled to have Betsy join the Hilco Global family. She is highly skilled at developing new business opportunities with an aptitude for creative, out of the box solutions that address the needs of diverse constituents," said Jeffrey Hecktman, CEO and Founder of Hilco Global.

Ms. Ratto earned a Master of Science in Accounting from Fairfield University and a Master of Business Administration from Boston College. She currently lives in Boston with her husband and two daughters.

About Hilco Global: Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com) is a privately held diversified financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on maximizing the value of assets for both healthy and distressed companies. Hilco Global financial services leverage a unique blend of deep restructuring and advisory experience with capital solutions and principal investing. Hilco Global delivers customized solutions to undervalued, high potential companies to resolve complex and stressed situations and enhance long-term enterprise value. Hilco Global operates as a holding company comprised of over twenty specialized business units that work to help companies understand the value of their assets and as needed monetize the value. Hilco Global has almost 4 decades of a successful track record of acting as an advisor, agent, investor and/or principal in any transaction. Hilco Global works to deliver the best possible result by aligning interests with clients and providing them strategic insight, advice, and, in many instances, the capital required to complete the deal. Hilco Global is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has 700 professionals operating on five continents with US offices located in Boston, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and internationally in Australia, Canada, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, and throughout Asia.

SOURCE Hilco Global

Related Links

www.hilcoglobal.com


STOCKHOLM, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crunchfish is a digital payments pioneer focusing on Digital Cash. This patent application extends the scope of Digital Cash from offline to online usage, providing commercial e-wallets and CBDC implementations with easier onboarding, improved payment integrity and interoperability.

Digital Cash is an extremely flexible digital payment service that complements any payment service with a two-stage payment process; first instant verification of the Digital Cash payment from reserved funds and then settlement where the payment service moves money between accounts.

Digital Cash replicates paying with cash in digital form. Crunchfish has focused on offline payments, as cash does not require online access. However, cash is also an inclusive means of payment where the receiver does not have to prepare to be able to accept it. By verification online it is possible for users to receive Digital Cash securely even if they are not yet onboarded. Privacy is supported if users are allowed to be anonymous within set limits.

Easier onboarding

Digital Cash with online access makes it much easier to onboard new users as there are no pre-requisites to receive payments, making it just as easy to receive Digital Cash as physical cash. New users verify payments using a link integrated with the Digital Cash payments. There may also be a link where user may opt for opening new accounts with the payment service provider to settle and make other Digital Cash payments. Easy onboarding is expected to be desirable by commercial payment applications as well as CBDC implementations.

Improved payment integrity

Allowing users to use Digital Cash without prerequisites opens the possibility to support privacy, a key feature for CBDC in countries planning to preserve payment integrity when cash goes digital. Regulators or payment service providers may establish limits for Digital Cash transactions with privacy. To prevent money laundering, the payment service provider would be obliged to request more knowledge of the user if limits are exceeded. This mirrors current procedures depositing physical cash.

Interoperability

Interoperability for offline payments is a pending patent application by Crunchfish that relies on trusting a pre-installed root certificate to verify payments offline. Online payment interoperability, where the root certificate is accessed online to verify payments, is part of this patent application.

"There are tremendous benefits using Digital Cash with online access. Instant verification made possible by Digital Cash' two-step payment process, adds value to complex open-loop payments that may experience response delays at the moment-of-payment, e.g. payments involving open banking, international remittances and CBDC. Easier onboarding and interoperability are beneficial for many payment service providers and most CBDC implementations have privacy as a key requirement.

This innovation is strategically very important for Crunchfish as it makes Digital Cash more versatile and valuable. It will be faster to roll-out as it does not require any local app installations. Users wishing to pay or verify payments without online access may download compatible Digital Cash applications for offline payments" says Joachim Samuelsson, CEO of Crunchfish.

For more information, please contact:

Joachim Samuelsson, CEO of Crunchfish AB

+46 708 46 47 88

[email protected]

Erik Berggren, IR Manager

+46 726 01 16 73

[email protected]

This information is such information that Crunchfish AB is obliged to publish in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was provided for publication by the contact person above, on 18 November 2021 at 00:01 CET.

Vastra Hamnen Corporate Finance AB is the Certified Adviser. Email: [email protected]. Telephone +46 40 200 250.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/crunchfish/r/crunchfish-patents-inclusive-payments-with-privacy-and-interoperability-using-digital-cash,c3455947

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/14959/3455947/1497953.pdf 211118 - Crunchfish patents payments with privacy and interoperability using Digital Cash https://news.cision.com/crunchfish/i/digital-cash,c2981300 Digital Cash

SOURCE Crunchfish
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Daring Foods , the leader in plant-based chicken whose mission is to rethink and replace the animal chicken from our food system, announced today the launch of their latest platform, Daring Moves. As a brand that's committed to taking on an outsized challenge and effecting positive change, Daring Moves is a way for the company to express its support for others doing the same across a wide variety of domains. The platform launches with Olympic Bronze Medalist and World Champion, Miles Chamley-Watson , a fencing athlete known for challenging the status quo in and outside of his sport. Additionally, Daring Moves showcases a cast of trailblazers and the nontraditional approaches they're taking to leave the world better than they found it.

The centerpiece of the launch is a docu-style film and photo series featuring Miles Chamley-Watson. From challenging conventions in fencing to making moves in the fashion industry, Miles Chamley-Watson has consistently forged his own path in his career. This film is produced by Honor Society , directed by Molly Shiot, acclaimed director and creator of "The Unsung Heroines," and the photos were shot by esteemed photographer Raven B Varona, who's worked with the likes of Beyonce and Nike.

"I am honored to partner with Daring on this initiative and to help bring attention to pioneers creating change in their communities," said Miles Chamley-Watson. "What inspires me about working with Daring is that we have the exact same mindset and morals. We want to do more than disrupt our respective spaces - we want to change them completely. It's the absolute perfect match and this is just the beginning."

"Daring Moves is rooted in our mission to be unapologetically ambitious, unconventional and daring in realizing the change we want to see in the world," said Ross Mackay, CEO & Founder of Daring. "Miles exemplifies that spirit every move he makes by breaking boundaries and working to create new norms in the world of fencing. We couldn't have chosen a better person to launch this platform. And we're excited for the world to meet these daring people."

While Daring is focused on disrupting an industry that is unsustainable and destructive to our feathered friends and health, its partners' missions encompass a range of causes. The partners featured in this Daring Moves campaign include:

This platform marks the beginning of Daring's ongoing commitment to support daring individuals through storytelling, features and donations.

Daring Moves is now live and can be explored at daringmoves.com. For more information on Daring Foods, visit Daring.com and follow the brand on Instagram at @daringfoods .

ABOUT DARING

Daring is the leading plant-based chicken brand, founded with the mission of removing chicken from the global food system. Backed by global celebrities like Drake and Naomi Osaka, the award-winning brand is widely available at national supermarkets like Whole Foods, Walmart and Kroger, independent retailers and online markets. For vegetarians, vegans and carnivores alike, Daring is a true 1:1 substitute for chicken that doesn't compromise on taste or texture.

Daring offers plant-based chicken pieces seasoned in four flavor-packed signature spice blends including Original, Lemon & Herb, Cajun and Breaded. The plant-based chicken is made with simple, natural ingredients and looks, cooks and tastes like its animal-based counterpart. Daring is non-GMO and high in protein, with 10-14g of protein per serving.

SOURCE Daring Foods
DUBAI, U.A.E., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per a recent survey by FMI, the global decorative paints market size is expected to top US$ 57.8 Bn in 2021. Increasing construction of commercial, residential, and institutional buildings across the world is driving the market. On account of this, the decorative paints market is projected to surpass US$ 87.8 Bn by the end of 2031.

Sales of decorative paints grew at a CAGR of 1.8% between 2016 and 2020. Increasing disposable income, growing standard of living, and rising infrastructural spending by consumers to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their homes are some of the primary factors facilitating the demand for decorative paints. Driven by this, the sales in the Decorative Paints Market are expected to rise at 4.3% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2031.

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Owners of commercial spaces such as hotels, restaurants, and malls are increasingly focusing on improving their interiors to create a warm and welcoming ambiance for increasing customer footfall. In addition to this, expansion of the construction sector due to the trend of urbanization across India, China, and other countries is estimated to propel the demand for decorative paints at a year-on-year growth of 4% through 2021.

On the basis of formulation, the emulsion-based decorative paints segment is projected to account for more than half of the overall revenue share in the market. The primary factor favoring the growth in the segment is the ability of these paints to provide a range of finishes such as silk, flat matt, statin, gloss sheen, and others on substrates as per the customer requirement.

"Leading manufacturers are investing in research and development (R&D) activities to develop new paints with light absorption, insulation reflection, and anti-skid properties to protect walls from temperature change, moisture, and ultraviolet (UV) radiations. These efforts are expected to bode well for the market," says a FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways from Decorative Paints Market Study

The U.S. is estimated to emerge as the largest market in North America , expanding at year-over-year growth of 4.1% through 2021 .

, expanding at year-over-year growth of . China is projected to hold the dominant share in the East Asia market, accounting for nearly 70% of the regional sales in 2021.

is projected to hold the dominant share in the market, accounting for nearly 70% of the regional sales in 2021. The market in India is anticipated to register the fastest growth in South Asia & Pacific, surging at a CAGR of 5.2% over the assessment period.

is anticipated to register the fastest growth in & Pacific, surging at a over the assessment period. Japan and South Korea markets are anticipated to cumulatively account for more than 8.8% of the total decorative paints sales by the end of 2021.

and markets are anticipated to cumulatively account for more than 8.8% of the total decorative paints sales by the end of 2021. Based on the application, the interior segment has emerged as the most remunerative segment in the market, exhibiting sales growth at year-over-year of 4.1% in 2021.

Key Drivers

Introduction of environment-friendly, anticorrosive protection, and low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paints is expected to facilitate the growth in the decorative paints market.

Rising demand for interior decorations and increasing renovating activities in residential & commercial houses to improve the aesthetic appeal are spurring the sales of interior paints.

View TOC & Report Preview at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/decorative-paints-market

Key Restraints

Volatility in the cost of essential ingredients, such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), for the production of decorative paints is hampering the growth in the market.

Implementation of stringent regulations regarding the use of petroleum-based paints and rising awareness about the presence of heavy toxic metals such as Lead in decorative paints are restraining the market growth.

Competitive Landscape

Key participants in the global decorative paints market are the Sherwin-Williams Company, PPG Industries, Akzo Nobel N.V., RPM International, Nippon Paints and Asian Paints. As per FMI, these players are estimated to account for nearly 41% of total sales in 2021.

Leading companies are focusing on adopting inorganic strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, and collaboration to expand their production capacity and enhance their product portfolio. Some of the players are also aiming at product development by investing in research and development activities to boost their market presence. For instance,

In November 2020 , Eastman Chemical, an American chemical company, announced its plans to invest for increasing the production capacity at its tertiary Decorative Paints manufacturing facility in Ghent, Belgium , by the end of 2021.

, Eastman Chemical, an American chemical company, announced its plans to invest for increasing the production capacity at its tertiary Decorative Paints manufacturing facility in Ghent, , by the end of 2021. In June 2017 , Sherwin-Williams Company, a leading paints manufacturing company, announced acquiring an American manufacturer of paints and coatings, Valspar Corp. The acquisition will assist the company to increasing its production capacity and expand its paints & coatings product portfolio.

Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are:

Azko Nobel N.V.

Sherwin  Williams Company

PPG Industries, Inc.

Asian Paints Limited

NIPSEA GROUP (Nippon Paint)

Valspar Corporation

Jotun

BASF-SE

Berger Paints India Limited

RPM International Inc.

KANSAI Paints Co., Ltd.

We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-439

More Valuable Insights on Decorative Paints Market

The latest report published by Future Market Insights (FMI) offers a detailed analysis on the global decorative paints market, forecast sales and demand growth for the assessment period 2021-2031. The study reveals growth projections in decorative paints market with detailed segmentation:

By Product Type:

Water based paints

Solvent based paints

By Formulation:

Emulsion based paints

Distemper

By Application:

Interior Paints

Exterior Paints

By Sales Channel:

Online

Offline

By Price

Premium

Medium

Economical

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Pacific

& Pacific Middle East & Africa

By Product Type:

Water based paints

Solvent based paints

By Formulation:

Emulsion based paints

Distemper

By Application:

Interior Paints

Exterior Paints

By Sales Channel:

Online

Offline

By Price

Premium

Medium

Economical

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Pacific

& Pacific Middle East & Africa

For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-439

Key Questions Covered in the Report

The report offers insight into decorative paints market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031

The market study also highlights projected sales growth for decorative paints market between 2021 and 2031

Decorative paints 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

Decorative paints market share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others

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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.

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
Accelerates the Deployment of Asset Management and Family Office Business

Records a Significant Increase in Gross Profit of 67.2% Despite Difficult Economic Environment

Results Highlights

The Group's gross profit increased significantly of approximately 67.2% to approximately HK$88.9 million for the six months ended 30 September 2021 despite the difficult economic environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and international trade conflicts, reflecting that the Group has established a secure foothold in the market.

for the six months ended despite the difficult economic environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and international trade conflicts, reflecting that the Group has established a secure foothold in the market. Gross profit margin of the Group for the six months ended 30 September 2021 was approximately 57%, representing an increase of 26 p.p. compared to from approximately 31% for the six months ended 30 September 2020 .

was approximately 57%, representing an increase of 26 p.p. compared to from approximately 31% for the six months ended . The Group intended to acquire part of its affiliated company DL Family Office (HK) Limited. The possible acquisition indicated that the Group is striving to accelerate its deployment and deep cultivation in the fields of asset management and Family Office Business.

The Group acquired a company providing global immigration consulting services, to develop its global residency planning and wealth inheritance consultancy services.

The Group was recognized and selected by Financial Services Development Council, Invest Hong Kong and Consulate General of Israel in Hong Kong & Macau to join the " Hong Kong - Israel (HKI) Collaboration Working Group as one of the founding members, to address the strategic opportunity that raises the profile of Hong Kong and its role as an international financial centre, a leading capital market, and specifically a Family Office hub in Asia .

in & to join the " - (HKI) Collaboration Working Group as one of the founding members, to address the strategic opportunity that raises the profile of and its role as an international financial centre, a leading capital market, and specifically a Family Office hub in . The initiatives by the Central Government and HKSAR Government such as GBA development opportunities and limited partnership fund (LPF) regime in Hong Kong provided a favourable external environment for the Group.

Hong Kong, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Holdings Group Limited ("DL Holdings" or the "Company" and its subsidiaries (together, the "Group"), Stock Code: 1709) is pleased to announce its unaudited consolidated interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2021 ("1H FY2021").

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and international trade conflicts on the global economy, the Group's gross profit increased to approximately HK$88.9 million for 1H FY2021 from approximately HK$53.2 million for the six months ended 30 September 2020 (the "Last Period"), representing a significant increase of approximately 67.2% mainly attributable to the contribution of gross profit of approximately HK$78.6 million from the Financial Services Businesses. The total asset size of the Group for the six months ended 30 September 2021 was 850 million, representing a significant increase of approximately 72.5% compared to the Last Period. The apparel business turned loss into profit for the first time, from a loss of more than HK$3 million to a profit of HK$0.3 million during the reporting period. The Group's gross profit margin increased to approximately 57% for 1H FY2021 from approximately 31% for the Last Period. An interim dividend for the six months ended 30 September 2021 of HK$0.0104 per ordinary share, amounting to approximately HK$14.87 million, is declared by the Board at the board meeting of the Company.

During the Reporting Period, the Group recorded a decrease in revenue by approximately 7.2% to approximately HK$156.6 million, compared to that of HK$168.8 million in the Last Period. The Group recorded a total comprehensive income attributable to the owners of the Company of approximately HK$51.6 million, representing a decrease of 22.2% from approximately HK$66.3 million from the last period. The decrease in revenue is mainly attribute to the decrease of investment income segment from HK$59 million in the last period to HK$10 million due to the huge volatility of stock market globally especially in Hong Kong, and the financial services segment profit of the licensed business increased 47.5% from HK$30.4 million in the last period to HK$44.9 million, reflecting that the group's income structure is more stable and healthier and its ability to resist external risk fluctuations is strengthened.

As at 30 September 2021, the Group has 297 securities brokerage clients. During the Period, the transaction amount for the securities trading and brokerage services amounted to approximately HK$7,830 million. As at 30 September 2021, the total customer asset size for brokerage services amounted to approximately HK$1,887 million.

The margin financing business includes provision of stock-secured financing for retail, corporate and high-net-worth clients who need financing to purchase securities. As at 30 September 2021, the loan receivables from margin financing services amounted to approximately HK$149.4 million.

Following the acquisition of a licensed entity in the Cayman Islands ("Cayman Investment Manager") and a licensed entity in Singapore ("Singapore Investment Manager"), the Group commenced the provision of investment management services in both places, and the management fees charged by the Cayman Investment Manager and the Singapore Investment Manager contributed to the revenue of the Group during the Reporting Period. The investment advisory services include providing securities advisory services to clients. As at 30 September 2021, the assets under investment management and assets subject to investment advisory services of the Group were approximately HK$4,841 million. During the Reporting Period, the service fees charged by the Group for managing the assets under investment management in Cayman Islands and Singapore amounted to approximately HK$23.3 million.

See more data as below:

HK$'000 30-Sep-21 30-Sep-20 Revenue 156,583 168,790 Gross Profit 88,919 53,166 Gross Profit Margin 57% 31% Net Profit 51,589 66,271 Total Asset 850,321 492,811

HK$'000 30-Sep-21 30-Sep-20 Revenue by Segment 156,583 168,790 Licensed Business 79,397 99,731 Money Lending Services 8,056 1,944 Apparel Business 69,130 67,115

HK$'000 30-Sep-21 30-Sep-20 Profit before Tax by Segment 54,752 70,700 Licensed Business 44,871 30,415 Money Lending Services 4,608 1,325 Apparel Business 311 (3,260) 2020: Asset Management Services

2021: Investment Income 10,941

(Investment Income) 59,756

(Asset Management Services) Corporate Expenses (5,979) (17,536)

Intended to Acquire Family Office Business to Accelerate the Company's Deployment of Asset Management and Family Office Business

In September 2021, DL Holdings issued a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of inside information and announced that it intended to acquire part of its affiliated company DL Family Office (HK) Limited which the asset under management and advisory is around US$1.27 billion, equivalent to approximately HK$10 billion. The possible acquisition of part of the equity and business of the family office indicated that DL Holdings is striving to accelerate its deployment and deep cultivation in the fields of asset management and wealth inheritance.

The possible acquisition can be regarded as accelerating the integration of the asset management segment into the business scope of DL Holdings, becoming possibly the first listed financial company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that provides licensed services of multi-family offices. In the future, in terms of the expansion of the client base, the linkage between family clients and corporate services, the amount of assets under management and the number of clients will have broader room for growth. Clients and channel resources of family office can fully match with the corporate clients of securities services, resulting in an expected substantial and long-term growth in revenue and profits.

Expanded to Global Residency planning and Wealth Inheritance Consultancy Services

In October 2021, DL Holdings acquired a global immigration consulting services company, to develop its global residency planning and wealth inheritance consultancy services. The Acquisition will be beneficial for the Group to expand its customer base and source of income and increase the service offerings of family offices and wealth inheritance services, which will enhance its expertise and impact in the industry, and serve as an important role in its strategic development for worldwide business expansion.

Joined the Hong Kong Israel Collaboration (HKIC) Working Group

DL Holdings was recommended and selected by Financial Services Development Council (FSDC), Invest Hong Kong and Consulate General of Israel in Hong Kong & Macau to join the Hong Kong-Israel (HKI) Collaboration Working Group as one of the founding members, to address the strategic opportunity that raises the profile of Hong Kong and its role as an international financial center, a leading capital market, and specifically a family office hub in Asia. DL Holdings started a joint venture with a well-known Israel family ten years ago, and was already established a solid partnership with the most experienced family offices in the world. The HKIC will definitely broaden the investment opportunity in Israel and enhance DL's position and importance in Family Office Business.

Favorable External Environment Under Initiatives by the Government

The Limited Partnership Fund Ordinance (Chapter 637), which introduces Hong Kong's very own limited partnership fund (LPF) regime for private equity funds, has officially implemented for over a year. DL has established 18 LPFs as first mover to provide investment services with more efficiency and lower cost.

In the context of the accelerated deployment of the Greater Bay Area, the trading volumes in Hong Kong will find great room for growth based on the launch of the measures such as the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Connect, the Wealth Management Connect which will create huge opportunities for the Group in coming future, especially when the pandemic situation is over.

Looking ahead, Mr. Victor Ai, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer of DL Holdings Group commented, "We expect that opportunities outweigh challenges in future. As the pandemic slowed down in China, the economic recovery of China accelerates with further increase in capital demand and liquidity. Given the homecoming listings of China concepts stocks and the huge demand of wealth management of Chinese families, the financial industry in Hong Kong has shown good prospects and we believe that there will be significant growth potential. With the outstanding management and seasoned professionals of the Group, the Group is well positioned to grasp development opportunities to expand business portfolio to maximize returns for Shareholders."

SOURCE DL Holdings Group Limited
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today announced the recipients of $1 million in grants through the Duke Energy Foundation for North Carolina nonprofits working to advance social justice and racial equity.

$25,000 grants will be distributed to 40 organizations across North Carolina. Since 2020, the Duke Energy Foundation has committed more than $8 million to social justice and racial equity organizations, with $7.2 million dedicated to support nonprofits across North Carolina.

"As we accelerate North Carolina's clean energy transition, Duke Energy is committed to ensuring that diverse communities throughout the state benefit from this important work," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "These organizations are delivering meaningful change for underserved communities, and we're proud to support their ongoing commitment to justice and opportunity for all."

This year's grant recipients are organizations focused on:

Increasing civic engagement.

Reducing disparate outcomes.

Supporting policy, training and criminal justice reform.

Providing legal assistance, including pathways to citizenship across the state.

One example of an organization receiving support in North Carolina to reduce disparate outcomes is the National Institute of Minority Economic Development.

"Support from the Duke Energy Foundation will advance the capacity and reach of our Research, Policy and Impact Center, which focuses on the root causes of racial disparities in economic indicators and social determinants of health," says Kevin J. Price, president and CEO, National Institute of Minority Economic Development. "With increased capacity, we can do more to keep small businesses and communities informed of shifts in our entrepreneurial ecosystem and opportunities to participate in corporate and public policy dialogues and decision-making. We appreciate the support from Duke Energy Foundation."

A list of all 40 grant recipients, including quotes from each organization, can be found here.

Duke Energy will continue to engage with local organizations and leaders to help create long-term solutions to the social justice issues our communities face. The company is also strengthening its internal diversity and inclusion programs to foster greater awareness, respect and inclusion.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 7.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities  with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to own or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2021 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contact: Shawna Berger

Media line: 800.559.3853

Twitter: @DE_ShawnaB

SOURCE Duke Energy

Related Links

www.duke-energy.com


Now, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System two five-year grants totaling $7.6 million to study the structural and chemical changes in the brains of people living with HIV, depression, and cannabis use disorder.

"Given the health disparities associated with both a mental health diagnosis and HIV-positive status, we're hopeful our findings will serve as an important step in advancing health equity in the Bronx and around the country," said Vilma Gabbay, M.D., M.S., co-director of the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein and co-principal investigator on both grants.

Cannabis Use and Depression in People with HIV

The first research project, funded by a five-year, $4 million grant, will enroll 280 people ages 18-34 who are living with HIV. Some of the participants will have depression and regularly use cannabis. Investigators will use neuroimaging, including functional MRI, to examine brain circuitry related to reward and pain to better understand their links to depression and substance use disorder in this population. Principal investigators on the grant are Dr. Gabbay, Anjali Sharma, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist and infectious diseases specialist at Montefiore; and Joanna Starrels, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist and addiction medicine specialist at Montefiore.

"Our collaborative project involves experts in depression, HIV, addiction medicine, and neuroimaging, who will investigate the role of neural mechanisms to learn about the connection between cannabis use and depression in people living with HIV," said Dr. Gabbay, who is also associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience at Einstein. "We hope to identify specific biomarkers of depression and develop better treatments."

Understanding Depression in People Living with HIV

The second project, funded by a five-year, $3.6 million grant, will examine how the immune system, brain circuits, and neurochemicals interact in people living with HIV. Investigators, led by Dr. Gabbay and Dr. Sharma, who co-chair the HIV and Mental Health Scientific Working Group for the Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research, hope to untangle this complex system to understand why these individuals are more vulnerable to depression.

The Einstein-Montefiore researchers believe that when the central nervous system (CNS) becomes inflamed by HIV, it results in two adverse effects: chemicals called free radicals injure nerves of the CNS and levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)a neurotransmitter known to have a calming effectare reduced. These neurochemical changes are believed to cause depression.

"If we can confirm that this chain of events leads to depression," said Dr. Gabbay, "we may be able to devise treatment strategies that can ward off depression in people infected by HIVperhaps by inhibiting the inflammatory proteins that accompany HIV infection."

Researchers will enroll 300 people living with and without HIV. At the start of the study, participants will be tested for levels of depression or anxiety, past psychiatric trauma, HIV treatment, and levels of CD4+ T cells (a type of T cell affected by HIV infection). The tests will be repeated after six and 12 months.

The first grant, titled "The Neural Underpinnings of Depression and Cannabis Use in Young PLWH," was awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (1R01DA054885-01). The second grant, initially titled "The Neuroimmunology of Depression in Women Living With HIV," was awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health (1R01MH128878-01).

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospitaland more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2020-21 academic year, Einstein is home to 721 M.D. students, 178 Ph.D . students, 109 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program , and 265 postdoctoral research fellows . The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates . In 2020, Einstein received more than $197 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore , the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

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SOURCE Montefiore Health System
Q3 2021 revenue increased $95,307 , a roughly 46% increase over Q3 2020.

, a roughly 46% increase over Q3 2020. $1.6M of variable convertible debt converted and settled in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 .

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Electromedical Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: EMED) (the "Company"), a pioneer in the development and production of bioelectronic devices designed to relieve chronic, intractable, and acute pain by using frequencies and electro-modulation, is pleased to announce that it recorded positive results for the third quarter of 2021, ending September 30, as compared to the same period in 2020. The Company's Form 10-Q may be viewed on the Company's SEC Edgar page located here: https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1715819/000141057821000301/elcq-20210930x10q.htm.

Matthew Wolfson, Founder and CEO of EMED, noted, "We are pleased with our positive operating results for the third quarter of 2021. Implementation of our new sales and marketing initiatives are starting to pay off, as indicated by the increases in both unit sales and revenue. We will continue to emphasize these initiatives going forward, which could provide an enhanced foundation for our outreach efforts, potentially resulting in repeat orders from our partners and distributors."

"Separately, as year-end approaches, we plan to update shareholders regarding our progress with the development of the WellnessPro POD, which is a critical pending milestone for EMED." Wearable technology has been rapidly developing in recent years. This is because more people are becoming conscious of their health and are pursuing a healthier drug free, pain free lifestyle. The WellnessPro POD will fit that criteria perfectly. In addition, it will be more affordable, which will help reach a larger segment of the population in need of chronic pain relief."

Third Quarter 2021 (Q3) Financial Highlights

Revenue increased to $301,157, up from $205,850, a roughly 46% increase over Q3 2020 due primarily to increased unit sales.

Gross margin increased to 78% in Q3 2021 as compared to 72% in Q3 2020.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses declined by approximately $1.8M, to $0.4M, down 80% from the $2.2M recorded in Q3 2020. Included in Q3 2020 expenses was stock-based compensation expense of $1.8M . Excluding the stock -based compensation expense, our selling, general and administrative expenses remained flat at approximately $0.4M .

. Excluding the stock -based compensation expense, our selling, general and administrative expenses remained flat at approximately . Net loss from operations was ( $0.2M ) versus ( $2.1M ) in Q3 2020.

) versus ( ) in Q3 2020. Net loss increased to ( $3.3M ) in Q3 2021 as compared to a net loss of ( $2.2M ) in Q3 2020. Excluding an increase in interest expense related to the amortization of debt discount of $1.0M and an increase in the value of derivative liabilities of $2.0M , Q3 2021 net loss is ( $0.3M ).

Nine-Months ended September 30, 2021 Financial Highlights

Revenue increased to $670,551, up from $557,476, a roughly 20% increase over the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due primarily to increased unit sales.

due primarily to increased unit sales. Gross margin was 76% and 75% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

and 2020, respectively. Selling, general, and administrative expenses declined by approximately $1.0M, to $2.8M, down 26% from the $3.8M recorded in the nine months ended September 30 , 2020. Included in selling, general, and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 is stock-based compensation expense of $1.4M and $2.8M , respectively. Excluding the stock -based compensation expense, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.4M , reflecting increased product development efforts, headcount, and public company expenses.

, 2020. Included in selling, general, and administrative expenses for the nine months ended and 2020 is stock-based compensation expense of and , respectively. Excluding the stock -based compensation expense, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by , reflecting increased product development efforts, headcount, and public company expenses. Net loss from operations was ( $2.3M ) versus ( $3.4M ) in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 .

Net loss increased to ($6.6M) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to a net loss of ($3.5M) in the 2020 period. Excluding an increase in interest expense related to the amortization of debt discount of $2.8, and an increase in the value of derivative liabilities of $1.4M, the net loss is ($2.4M) for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Cash Flows and Balance Sheet Highlights

During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, lenders converted principal totaling $1,549,800 plus accrued interest into 43,316,791 shares of common stock. The remaining principal outstanding of $972,353 includes $772,353 for which a forbearance agreement was entered into on September 3, 2021 with a lender, and $150,000, which was separately converted by another lender into shares of common stock in October 2021.

On October 14, 2021, the Company entered into two financing contracts: one with Mast Hill Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Mast Hill"), in the principal amount of $500,000; and another with Talos Victory Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Talos") in the principal amount of $250,000.

On November 10, 2021, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with a third party to invest up to $5,000,000 to purchase the Company's common stock. Concurrently, the Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, as an inducement to the investor to execute and deliver the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, whereby the Company agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933. The Company also entered into a non-exclusive placement agency agreement in connection with the offering and sale under the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, subject to market conditions and negotiations between the Company, the placement agent and the prospective investor.

Matthew Wolfson, Founder and CEO of EMED, "Since I founded this Company, my goals were to provide a safe drug free solution for pain management, strengthen the Company's financial performance, implement supply chain efficiencies, produce premium products, and provide a culture that will generate an increase in sales and distribution around the globe. I am delighted with the outcome of settling our variably convertible notes. We anticipate this substantial reduction in convertible debt will allow us to better utilize our financial resources to expand our production capacity, strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our bottom line, as well as provide protection for market dilution to preserve shareholder value."

"We are making every effort to retire the remaining balance of fixed price convertible notes prior to conversion with money raised from an S-1 registration statement that we intend to file with the Securities & Exchange Commission. EMED is now moving forward with the anticipation of raising funds without the use of dilutive convertible debt financing. We are also happy that we were able to negotiate the settlement of warrants at a fixed price without reset provisions. This will serve us well as we seek to uplist to a more senior and reputable exchange next year."

Over the remaining part of Q4 leading to the end of fiscal 2021, the Company intends to be making numerous positive changes. This has already commenced with the increase in authorized shares to 250 million common shares on October 14, 2021. This increase should allow the Company to strengthen its financial metrics on a consolidated basis. The Company is also planning on appointing independent directors in the near future to help with oversight and management and growth of the Company.

About Electromedical Technologies

Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Electromedical Technologies, Inc. is a commercial stage, FDA cleared, bioelectronic medical device manufacturing company initially focused on the treatment of various chronic, acute, intractable, and post-operative pain conditions. Through University collaboration agreements, the Company is working to develop a comprehensive research program in defining the effects of electro-modulation on the human body. By studying the impacts of electrical fields in cell signaling and effects on virus assembly and immune responses, the Company's goal is to reduce pain and improve overall human wellbeing. The Company's current FDA cleared product indications are for chronic acute post traumatic and post-operative, intractable pain relief. For more information, please visit www.electromedtech.com .Nonhuman preliminary studies that we are planning to start in the near future and their applications are not related to our current product in any way and currently not cleared in the US.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations or beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions about future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements and the assumptions upon which they are based are reasonable, we can give no assurance or guarantee that such expectations and assumptions will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by the use of words like "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as these statements are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to: adverse economic conditions, competition, adverse federal, state and local government regulation, international governmental regulation, inadequate capital, inability to carry out research, development and commercialization plans, loss or retirement of key executives and other specific risks. To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.

Corporate Contact:

Electromedical Technologies, Inc.

Hanover International

Tel: 1.888.880.7888

Email: [email protected]

https://electromedtech.com

SOURCE Electromedical Technologies, Inc.
DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Employer Direct Healthcare, a leader in healthcare solutions for self-funded employers, today announced their partnership with Accolade, a healthcare provider serving millions of people and their families. This partnership will advance the shared vision for high quality, Personalized Healthcare that is affordable and accessible.

As an Accolade ecosystem partner, clients of Accolade will have access to Employer Direct Healthcare's services, including SurgeryPlus, the nation's leading centers of excellence program with the largest network of high-quality providers offering best-in-class access to top-quality care for nearly 1,500 common, planned surgical procedures.

This integration provides care coordination that will enable members to reach us seamlessly, getting to the quality care they need faster. Accolade's world-class expertise in delivering personalized health recommendations aligns with the concierge guidance delivered by the Care Advocates supporting the SurgeryPlus experience. For employees at shared clients of Accolade and Employer Direct Healthcare, access to the integrated services will begin in January 2022.

About Employer Direct Healthcare and SurgeryPlus

Employer Direct Healthcare is a market-leading healthcare services business providing high-quality and cost-efficient solutions for self-funded employers and their members. The company's solutions democratize healthcare for its members, facilitating access to top-quality care at fair prices nationwide.



Employer Direct Healthcare's first product, SurgeryPlus, is the market-leading surgical benefit, providing full-service concierge and network services to millions of covered members across hundreds of employers. In early 2022, the company will launch a first of its kind, comprehensive end-to-end oncology solution.

For more information and the latest updates about Employer Direct Healthcare, visit EDHC.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Contacts:

Michael Sigmund, Chief Commercial Officer [email protected]

Megan Torres, Corporate Marketing [email protected]

SOURCE Employer Direct Healthcare

Related Links

http://www.edhc.com


IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Imperial County Planning Commission approved all aspects of EnergySource Minerals' Project ATLiS. After a nearly yearlong process, the Planning Commission came to favorable approvals on the Conditional Use Permit, the water supply assessment and the environmental impact report.

EnergySource Minerals' ATLiS operation leverages the brine resource of a profitable 55MW geothermal plant that has been running at the Salton Sea site since 2012 and offers step-change improvements in efficiency and reliability of lithium extraction. The John L. Featherstone Plant is currently selling its power pursuant to a 30-year power purchase agreement with Salt River Project.

"We are thrilled to be able to tap into an existing facility and begin decarbonizing the supply chain of lithium for the EV industry," said EnergySource Minerals COO Derek Benson. "To electrify the auto industry by 2030, we need more domestic lithium sources. Project ATLiS set the bar for sustainably sourced lithium, and our ILiAD platform technology will be deployed to other operations in the US and around the world."

Lithium is the lynchpin in the transition away from fossil fuels to high-performance batteries for transportation and energy storage applications. Geothermal extraction omits the energy-intensive process of extracting lithium from solid rock by using the power of naturally occurring geothermal energy. EnergySource Minerals' geothermal based lithium operations at ATLiS require only 30 acres in total, a small fraction compared to traditional mining methods, and marginal ground and water footprints. Additionally, CO 2 emissions at this location are the lowest of any lithium resource type in the world.

The ATLiS project will also provide direct full-time employment. It is expected to include 60 operations jobs, and a multiple of that in the local services industry, including transportation of goods, contractor, and supplied maintenance. Project ATLiS is anticipated to generate direct, local economic payments in excess of $60,000,000 per year, including payroll, royalties, utilities, and property tax payments.

About ES Minerals

EnergySource Minerals is a privately held company leading the development of Project ATLiS, a premier lithium project located in Imperial County, California, United States  as well as ILiAD platform technology, which can be adapted for geothermal operations around the world.

EnergySource Minerals' team is comprised of leaders in industrial project development, continuous adsorption and ion exchange processes, and battery materials. A 30-year veteran of ion exchange and adsorption technology, Dr. Charles Marston has led the ILiAD technology project as Senior Development Officer. Dr. David Deak (President of Marbex LLC, former CTO of Lithium Americas, ex-Tesla) and John Featherstone, CTO of EnergySource Minerals, provide leadership support for ILiAD and our own project development efforts.

Media Contact

Erinn Lynch

[email protected]

(805) 570-0990

SOURCE EnergySource Minerals
BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Newswise -- Florida Atlantic University has named Julie G. Pilitsis, M.D., Ph.D., as the new dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Pilitsis, who currently serves as division chief of functional neurosurgery and chair and professor of the basic neuroscience department at Albany Medical College (AMC) in New York, will assume her role as dean effective February 2022. AMC is an integral component of the Albany Medical Center, the only academic center in northeastern New York and western New England.

As dean of FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine, one of 155 accredited allopathic (M.D.) medical schools in the United States, Pilitsis will build upon the success of the college's innovative medical student and graduate medical education programs in partnership with a consortium of five Palm Beach County hospitals. In addition, she will spearhead the college's vibrant research focus areas, which include healthy aging; geriatrics and neuroscience; chronic pain and opioid use; and genomics and precision medicine.

"We are very excited to welcome Dr. Julie Pilitsis to the Schmidt College of Medicine and to our FAU family as we embark on the next phase of success for our burgeoning medical school," said FAU President John Kelly. "She has made significant contributions at the national level in medicine, education, advocacy and research and will be an outstanding leader and mentor for our students, faculty and staff. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Stella Batalama, chair of the search committee and dean of our College of Engineering and Computer Science; search committee member Dr. Michael Dennis, chair of our College of Medicine's advisory board and a former member of the FAU Board of Trustees, and to all of the search committee members for their efforts on identifying our new medical school's dean. We also extend our gratitude to Dr. Sarah Wood for serving as interim dean of the Schmidt College of Medicine."

As chair of the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics at AMC, Pilitsis oversees departmental teaching programs, including graduate school, research and outreach programs such as community service, translational research efforts, alumni relations and development. Together with a colleague, she designed an inter-professional (M.D., Ph.D., nursing, allied health) team-based master's degree curriculum in clinical investigation. During her tenure, the department's grant funding has increased tenfold; academic productivity, as measured by publications, has increased fourfold; and graduate students who self-identify as underrepresented in medicine have increased by 40 percent.

In her role as division chief of functional neurosurgery at AMC, Pilitsis developed the service line of functional neurosurgery, a subspecialty of neurosurgery aimed at improving quality of life, which includes multidisciplinary pain/movement disorder teams. Currently, the group performs 650 operative procedures annually and are participating in several industry-sponsored device trials and investigator-driven trials. She also developed and directs a functional neurosurgery fellowship program. The philanthropic fund related to her specialty has doubled in size during her tenure. Further, she has worked with administration to develop a system-wide plan for multi-disciplinary chronic pain services across multiple hospitals.

Pilitsis is the co-founder and co-director of the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP) at AMC, which assists in the academic development of faculty and supports professional and leadership development activities. In this role, she identified and recruited stakeholders needed to bring these programs to fruition, developed the curriculum and evaluation process, and co-directed the program. To date, 70 faculty have completed the program with 70 percent female graduates and in some classes as many as 20 percent of the graduates self-identify as historically underrepresented in medicine. For her efforts on the JFDP initiatives, she received the AMC Mentorship and Innovation in Clinical Education Award.

A successful physician scientist and fundraiser through philanthropy, grants and contracts, Pilitsis is a national leader across multiple organizations including the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), which has approximately 2,000 members. She has mentored more than 150 students through translational research projects and has more than 200 published articles to her credit including four textbooks. She currently serves as specialty editor of Frontiers in Pain Research: Neuromodulatory Interventions and has been recognized with the "Pain Paper of the Year" by the journal Neurosurgery for the past three years.

Her national leadership positions include serving as chair of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (AANS/CNS) Section Pain (2013-2015); the AANS/CNS Section Women in Neurosurgery (2013-2014); the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN) (Treasurer 2020-2022); North American Neuromodulation Society (Treasurer 2020-2021); Women in Neuromodulation (2014-2016); and International Neuromodulation Society Board of Directors. Pilitsis is likely to serve as chair of three of seven AANS/CNS sections - one of the first neurosurgeons to have done so. Further, she has directed national mentorship programs for medical students in Women in Neurosurgery and for residents and fellows in ASSFN.

Pilitsis has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2009 and has been a principal investigator on multiple grants exceeding $7 million. She received more than $2.5 million in grant funding from industry partners, and she holds three patents and two filed patent applications. She serves as chair of the medical board for Aim Robotics, a company founded around her NIH research. She is a frequent speaker at national meetings and at neurosurgical grand rounds across the country. Her TED talk, "So You Want to be a Neurosurgeon," has had more than 250,000 views and led to an increase in the number and quality of resident applications at AMC.

Pilitsis received a B.S. in biology magna cum laude in 1996, and her M.D. with distinction from AMC in 1998. She participated in a six-year combined B.S./M.D. program with AMC Troy. In 2002, she received her Ph.D. in physiology from Wayne State University (WSU) in Detroit and completed her residency and internship in the Department of Neurosurgery at WSU from 1998 to 2006. She completed a fellowship in functional neurosurgery from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago from 2006 to 2007. Pilitsis expects to complete an M.B.A. with concentration in health informatics from Fayetteville State University next month.

"I am very excited to join FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine and work alongside outstanding students, professors, staff members, supporters and community and hospital partners," said Pilitsis. "I look forward to continuing the medical school's legacy of accomplishments grounded in a diverse and inclusive environment that fosters teamwork, embraces compassion and patient-centered care, and advances cutting-edge translational research to improve quality of life."

About the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine:

FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine is one of approximately 155 accredited medical schools in the U.S. The college was launched in 2010, when the Florida Board of Governors made a landmark decision authorizing FAU to award the M.D. degree. After receiving approval from the Florida legislature and the governor, it became the 134th allopathic medical school in North America. With more than 70 full and part-time faculty and more than 1,300 affiliate faculty, the college matriculates 64 medical students each year and has been nationally recognized for its innovative curriculum. To further FAU's commitment to increase much needed medical residency positions in Palm Beach County and to ensure that the region will continue to have an adequate and well-trained physician workforce, the FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine Consortium for Graduate Medical Education (GME) was formed in fall 2011 with five leading hospitals in Palm Beach County. The Consortium currently has five Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residencies including internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and neurology.

About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com

Media Contacts: Gisele Galoustian

Senior Media Relations Director, Research and Health

[email protected]

Phone: 561-985-4615

SOURCE Florida Atlantic University

Related Links

http://www.fau.edu


US Specialty and Precision Fermentation Capacity Set to Increase for Key Markets Tweet this

"The framework of talent, capacity and experience is in place here at a critical time to fill the vacuum to produce high quality products in a sustainable, reliable and flexible way," stated Jon Getzinger, CEO of FERMWORX. "With the tremendous innovation occurring around small molecules as well as the cry for more specialty and precision fermentation-based products produced here rather than abroad, we are uniquely poised to quickly increase our capacity to meet the demands of the market."

According to the Good Food Institute (GFI), "Investment in fermentation technology skyrocketed in 2020. Fermentation companies raised $587 million, a greater than twofold increase from 2019 that represents 57 percent of all-time sector funding." A common theme for these companies is a lack of capacity to meet demand. This is true across virtually all of the categories that FERMWORX serves and the trend is accelerating. "More than 80 percent of the companies devoted to fermentation-enabled alternative proteins fermentation applications have formed in just the past five years," according to GFI.

"After 38 years in the fermentation world with most of those running Merck's fermentation assets, it's great to see a US based company like FERMWORX doubling down and growing capacity here in the US," said Jeff Haney, Chief Operating Officer. "Specialty fermentation is taking off and I'm proud to help prepare our team to accelerate to the next phase of our growth."

"We are excited to be investing and partnering with FERMWORX as the company embarks on its quest to become a leading fermentation products company," said Dr. Shri Iyer, Managing Director of Goradia Capital, a private equity firm (Houston, TX) with a decades-long history of creating and managing successful companies in the materials sector. "We are confident that our strong and experienced management team will successfully execute its strategy to bring significant fermentation capacity online to make products that serve multiple industries."

About:

Based in Columbus, GA, FERMWORX produces the next generation of high-performance biopolymer-based and bio-based fermentation products and offers product development and toll manufacturing services to select partners with a commitment to renewable and sustainable practices.

SOURCE FERMWORX

Related Links

https://fermworx.com/


On Tuesday, participants gathered virtually to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Flying Tigers' arrival in China. The heroism of the US fighter pilots and the Chinese forces they served alongside were recounted at the event, which sought to help keep alive the spirit of cooperation in a world facing shared threats including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

"What we have learned from the story of the Flying Tigers is that, human beings are different in races, languages, and cultures, but for the sake of world peace and justice, as well as the welfare of all peoples around the world, the Chinese and American peoples are fully able to work in solidarity and fight side by side," said Lin Songtian, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the organizer of the webinar.

In 1941, the volunteer pilots who went on to become celebrated as the Flying Tigers began to help China drive back the Japanese invaders.

They also flew over the Himalayas, helping to ship strategic supplies to China to help the Chinese break through the Japanese blockade. The US pilots left China in 1944.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang said the Flying Tigers are a symbol of the deep friendship between the two peoples, and their example also sheds light on ways to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.

"China and the US should carry on the legacy of the spirit of solidarity and friendship, instead of heading to the road of misunderstandings and conflicts," said the envoy, who called on the two countries to share responsibilities to meet challenges and find a way toward a better future for humankind.

The event also drew veterans who recounted the stories shared and the friendships forged with Chinese people.

Bill Peterson, a 95-year-old Flying Tigers veteran, told of how he and his fellow airmen would go to nearby villages when they had a night off and give the children and their parents food packages.

"We could not speak Chinese, but we could tell from their eyes what they felt in their hearts," he said. "I just plain love the Chinese people."

The veteran said he has done everything he can to promote good relations with China. "I mention China at least three times a day to people I interact with," told the gathering.

"If the US people could meet the Chinese people in person, they could understand how peaceful and loving they truly are."

Larry Jobe, president of the Flying Tiger Historical Organization, praised the special bond forged 80 years ago, which opens a door to boosting mutual understanding and cooperation in the present and the future.

"Emulating the Chinese people and Flying Tigers of World War II in confronting a seemingly unbeatable enemy as a team of friends working together for the good of all is demanded today if we are to succeed against the current enemies of our troubled world," he said.

"Certainly the crisis of climate change, COVID, other diseases yet to surface, lack of fresh water due to drought, starvation and many ills, are common enemies today, enemies against which we all need to unite in a fight for the common good."

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE: FMAN

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Freeman Gold Corp. (CSE: FMAN) (OTCQB: FMANF) (FSE: 3WU) ("Freeman" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Paul Matysek, Executive Chairman, and Will Randall, CEO and Director of the Company, will be presenting an overview of the upcoming drilling campaign at Lemhi and the Beauty Zone in a live webinar taking place on Tuesday, November 23rd, at 1pm PT / 4pm ET. The webinar will be hosted by Focus Communications Investor Relations ("FCIR") and Cory Fleck of the Korelin Report. Participants are encouraged to submit any questions for the Company prior to the event by emailing FCIR at [email protected]. To register for the webinar please click the link below:

Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Time: 1pm PT / 4pm ET

Registration: https://event.webinarjam.com/channel/FreemanGold

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 kilometers of highly prospective land. The project hosts a near surface, shallow, high grade oxide gold resource. The pit constrained National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 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). See the NI 43-101 technical report titled "Maiden Resource Technical Report for the Lemhi Gold Project, Lemhi County, Idaho, USA" with an effective date of June 1, 2021, and signing date of July 30, 2021, as prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. and F. Wright Consulting Inc. available under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). 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 NI 43-101.

On Behalf of the Company

William Randall

President and Chief Executive Officer

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/


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. The firm is investigating possible securities law violations and certain investors may have valuable claims.

Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/DM

Contact An Attorney Now: [email protected]

844-916-0895

Desktop Metal, Inc. (DM) Investigation:

The investigation focuses on Desktop Metal's disclosures concerning its widely touted $300 million acquisition of EnvisionTEC, which closed on Feb. 16, 2021, and concerning claims that the acquisition well-positioned the company to offer customers a complete platform across polymers and metals for volume production photopolymer 3D printing solutions for end-use parts.

Within months after the acquisition, on Nov. 8, 2021, the company announced that in response to a whistleblower complaint its audit committee opened an internal investigation into manufacturing and compliance practices and procedures at the EnvisionTEC US facility in Dearborn, Michigan. The company said the complaint and investigation relate to EnvisionTEC's manufacturing and compliance procedures with respect to certain polymer equipment and materials.

The same day, Desktop Metal announced the resignation of EnvisionTEC's founder and CEO (Ali El Siblani).

Then, on Nov. 15, 2021, the company announced that, as of Nov. 12, 2021, based on compliance issues with certain shipments of EnvisionTEC's Flexera dental resins and its PCA4000 curing box the company would notify the FDA.

These events sent the price of Desktop Metal shares sharply lower.

"We're focused on investors' losses and whether Desktop Metal lied about the benefits of the EnvisionTEC acquisition," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Desktop Metal and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Desktop Metal should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email [email protected].

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw.

Contact:

Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Related Links

https://www.hbsslaw.com


HAVAL 7Million Celebration-Drive Beyond

In fact, in addition to this campaign, HAVAL has organised multiple activities for users around the world, to whom the brand has become an important part of their life. For example, it has partnered with IRONMAN, a popular triathlon competition in Australia, to share a healthy lifestyle with its users. It has also sponsored the Russian DOTA 2 team VP, winning customers who love e-sports.

HAVAL has being the best-selling SUV brand in China for years. Since HAVAL first sold 500 vehicles to Italy in 2006, it had reached annual sales of over 30,000 in 2011. This indicates HAVAL had laid the foundation of its global sales a decade ago.

GWM has made some optimisations to its models over the years. It launched HAVAL JOLION, 3rd Gen HAVAL H6, HAVAL H6 HEV and other new products globally this year.

"This car is for sure stylish and presents a positive life attitude with its distinguished blue colour," said the Russian HAVAL JOLION owner. "HAVAL H6 a machine like no other, very versatile, comfortable and powerful engine, I have it and it has proved to be effective," said Mario Arias from Australia.

HAVAL was rated "China Brand Leader" by Za Rulem, the most authoritative automobile media in Russia; it won the 16th National 2021 SUV Award of 4X4 Club. It was also praised as "the best Chinese car in Australia so far" by the Australian media Carsales in a test drive.

HAVAL has become a preferred choice of users in Australia, Russia and South Africa. Following the exploration of emerging markets such as Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Brunei, it has developed a sales network covering over 50 countries and regions all over the world.

All these well explain why HAVAL has managed to sell over 7 million vehicles.

According to the official announcement of GWM, new models such as HAVAL Dagou and HAVAL H6S will make their global debut next month, which is another exciting news.

SOURCE GWM
TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - As the world changes, so do the needs of the elite, and the current crop of high net worth individuals face a new challenge in maintaining their wealth while simultaneously sustaining their global mobility standards, which is why we at Hepta Global have decided to offer our clients the solution to both problems - residency and citizenship by investment (RCBI).

How RCBI benefits the wealthy

RCBI has a long track record of enhancing the elites' lifestyle and has since cultivated a reputation for being the optimal venture for safeguarding one's family, wealth, and freedom.

The pandemic highlighted hidden financial and mobility gaps, and investors from world-leading nations such as the US and UK found themselves grounded without the ability to conduct business, travel, or see to their wealth. This shackling of freedoms brought by the pandemic turned investors' heads towards the only solution, RCBI.

The US and UK passports, for example, are some of the most powerful passports in the world, but during the pandemic, we had to sit back and redefine the meaning of passport power. High taxes and low mobility couldn't be construed as powerful anymore.

Other passports, such as that of Dominica, for example, present robust global mobility, but don't impose vigorous taxes. Those with a second passport from the right country could enhance their mobility and save money. The great thing is, a person can get them through the citizenship by investment program.

These CIPs are not only good news for investors, as they are crucial for the nation. By implementing a CIP that generates foreign income, the government doesn't need to tax its citizens and residents heavily like other nations such as the US. It's a win-win situation for everyone.

CIPs also play a significant role in the development of the nation. Take Dominica's brand new international airport, the first one in the country and one of the few in the region, which the country's CIP completely funds.

Where Hepta Global comes in

We understand the needs of our clients, and we always strive to present them with the best solutions possible. We have a team of veteran experts who have mastered the craft to help guide our clients through this life-transforming journey. Contact us at [email protected] or +17046590730(Whatsapp/Signal/Telegram) or www.heptaglobal.com

SOURCE Hepta Global LP
The House Wine partnership with the Human Rights Campaign was conceived out of the brand's founding belief that "Everybody is Welcome in Our House." With a grassroots force of more than three million members and supporters nationwideand serving as America's largest civil rights organization working for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equity HRC was the natural partner for House Wine to maximize impact for the LGBTQ+ community.

"House Wine's authentic and unapologetically bold voice are a natural fit for a message of inclusion and acceptance," said Brad Mayer, vice president of communications at Precept Wine, parent company of House Wine. "I am extremely proud of our HRC partnership and what we have accomplished with the brand to raise awareness both in my community and my industry."

House Wine donates $2 for every case sold to the HRC with the goal of building lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer equity. To date, the project has contributed over $100,000 in financial and product support to the important work of HRC.

"We are delighted that House Wine is supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ equality through this impactful partnership," commented Luigi Lewin, Human Rights Campaign director of corporate partnerships. "It's inspiring when well-recognized and respected brands embrace positive change, and House Wine Rainbow cans symbolize a celebration of love and acceptance, and we are proud to partner with House on this unique product."

House Wine is the leader in the can wine category it's the #1 overall wine brand selling 375ml can and the Rose Bubbles is the # 1 selling can wine in the country among all can sizes. (Nielsen, $ Volume, Period Ending 10/29/21). Additionally, Wine Enthusiast has rated more than 25 House Wine products as Best Buys over the past 10 years.

"We are honored to be recognized by Wine Enthusiast for this partnership," noted Alex Evans, chief marketing officer, Precept Wine. "House Wine Rose Bubbles was born from a place of love and a desire to make impact in our industry and the LGBTQ+ community as whole; at Precept, we recognize and seek to address the underrepresentation of this community within the wine business."

Now in its 22nd year, the Wine Star Awards are produced and presented by Wine Enthusiast Media and annually recognizes individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world. The award ceremony will take place on February 7, 2022, in Miami, Fla.

To learn more about House Wine, visit OriginalHouseWine.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook .

About House Wine

House Wine is approachable and unpretentious. It's a wine you can enjoy for all occasions. Originally created in 2004 by acclaimed winemaker Charles Smith  who partnered with and later sold House Wine to Precept Wine in 2009  House Wine was designed with the goal of providing maximum quality and value in a minimalist package. Today, Winemaker Hal Landvoigt continues driving its irreverent spirit by travelling the world to source the finest grapes and cultivate its uniquely unpretentious style. House Wine cans, since launching in 2017, continue to delight with new flavor innovations and steady growth. For more information: www.originalhousewine.com.

About Precept Wine

Seattle-based Precept Wine is the largest privately held wine producer in the Pacific Northwest and a top 12 American wine producer. With deep roots representing more than 30 years of Northwest investments in the wine industry, Precept owns and maintains nearly 4,000 planted vineyard acres across Wash., Idaho, N.M. and Ore.; such leading wine brands as Waterbrook, Gruet, Browne Family Vineyards, Canoe Ridge Vineyard, House Wine, Pendulum, Primarius, Washington Hills, Battle Creek Cellars, Callaway Cellars, Ste. Chapelle, Cense, Sheffield Cellars, Fairbanks and AG Perino Vermouth; plus tasting rooms and hospitality throughout the Pacific Northwest and N.M. Additionally, Precept owns Pacific Northwest Distillery based in Spokane, Wash. Founded in 2003 by Andrew Browne and Dan Baty, Precept's wineries have garnered more than 1,000 combined best buys and critical scores exceeding 90 points. Learn more at www.preceptwine.com.

About The Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. Learn more at www.hrc.org.

SOURCE Original House Wine

Related Links

http://www.originalhousewine.com


DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Iowa Total Care has donated $50,000 to support literacy in schools throughout Iowa. Through their 100 Schools in Iowa campaign, 100 schools will each receive $500 in in-kind gifts to provide students access to literacy resources.

The 100 schools were selected based on the greatest need, specifically those with higher numbers of students on free and reduced lunch. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students from low-income families have much lower rates of reading proficiency compared to their peers.

"Iowa Total Care's mission is to improve the health of the community, one person at a time," said Mitch Wasden, Plan President & CEO. "Access to education is a social determinant of health, and we want to ensure students in Iowa receive the resources they need to excel, especially when it comes to literacy. We are grateful for the chance to achieve our mission one student and one school at a time."

About Iowa Total Care

Iowa Total Care provides Medicaid healthcare coverage to eligible individuals in Iowa. Established in 2019, Iowa Total Care exists to improve the health of its members through focused, compassionate and coordinated care. Iowa Total Care is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise. For more information, visit iowatotalcare.com.

For kid-friendly educational tools and resources, visit iowatotalcare.com/docskidsclub.

SOURCE Iowa Total Care
LISLE, Ill., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After tragic events like the natural gas explosion in Edgewood, MD, on October 10, 2021, which hospitalized an individual and destroyed three homes, people are continuing to come together to look for ways to help their neighbors in need. To support the Edgewood community in their efforts, and in partnership with the Joppa-Magnolia Fire Co., New Cosmos USA, Inc. is donating nearly $25,000 worth of their DeNova Detect brand natural gas alarms to Edgewood. With this product donation, New Cosmos hopes to eliminate any further injuries or property damage that can arise from another devastating natural gas explosion.

The DeNova Detect brand offers accurate and reliable natural gas alarms to protect people and property and is deeply committed to educating residents of the potential danger of natural gas leaks.

The Baltimore area has been devastated by natural gas explosions in recent years. In August of 2019, a Baltimore explosion killed two people, injured seven, and destroyed three rowhomes. These are strong reminders for communities to be aware of the dangers of natural gas leaks and how they can protect themselves and their families. Natural gas explosions like these are potentially preventable when natural gas alarms are present in homes.

"Unfortunately, natural gas explosions such as this one in Edgewood are becoming far too common, and they serve as a sobering reminder of a household danger that many people might not be aware of," said Ron Lazarus, COO of New Cosmos USA. "Through our natural gas alarm donation and partnership with the Joppa-Magnolia Fire Co., we hope to protect the Edgewood community, so they never have to experience something like this again."

For more information on DeNova Detect's life and property saving natural gas alarms, and to purchase your own, please visit: www.DeNovaDetect.com.

About New Cosmos USA, Inc.

New Cosmos Electric has been a leading global supplier of gas detectors and gas alarm systems for more than 60 years. New Cosmos Electric formed a wholly owned subsidiary - New Cosmos USA, Inc., in 2019. New Cosmos USA is headquartered in Lisle, IL, and has developed the DeNova Detect brand to provide gas alarms to some of the largest utility companies in the U.S. today. We are the leading supplier of residential methane detectors in the global market and our mission is to protect people and property with innovative safety products. Our team remains committed to deliver cutting-edge safety solutions to our customers in order to detect and protect what matters most. For more information on DeNova Detect's life and property saving natural gas alarms, and to purchase your own, please visit: www.DeNovaDetect.com.

Contact:

Betsi Schumacher

[email protected]

SOURCE New Cosmos USA, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.denovadetect.com/


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Rich Buery, CEO of Robin Hood , and Christina Hanson, Executive Director of Part of the Solution (POTS) , led a tour of POTS' food pantry facility in the Bronx where Robin Hood released its latest Poverty Tracker report, " Spotlight On State of Food Hardship in New York City ". The new report, developed in collaboration with Columbia University's Center on Poverty and Social Policy and the Columbia Population Research Center, found that 39% of New Yorkers experienced food hardship in 2020, including 46% of Bronx residents.

"Too many New Yorkers still struggle to put food on the table, including nearly one out of every two residents of the Bronx," said Richard R. Buery, Jr., CEO of Robin Hood. "That is why Robin Hood is proud to partner with organizations like POTS doing the necessary work to help rebuild a (new) New York so we can get families back on their feet, kids back on track, and New Yorkers back to work. The data demonstrates how essential food distribution services are to the people of this city, and we must continue to invest in the organizational and governmental infrastructure to support struggling families."

The number of New Yorkers who are hungry or worry about running out of food paints a dire picture of food insecurity in New York. Robin Hood's report found:

Use of food pantries more than doubled between 2019 and 2020 for New Yorkers in the sample facing food hardship, rising from 25% to 51%.

47% of households with children said that they struggled to keep enough food on the table during 2020.

Among immigrant New Yorkers, the use of food pantries rose from 11% to 32% between 2019 and 2020, and 43% of foreign-born New Yorkers reported that they sometimes or often worried about running out of food or ran out of food last year.

57% of Latinx New Yorkers and roughly 45% of Black New Yorkers said they experienced food hardship in 2020.

Nearly 1 in 2 (46%) Bronx residents report facing food hardship.

residents report facing food hardship. Pantry use became more frequent, with 58% of respondents reporting visiting pantries weekly or several times a month in 2020 compared to 34% in 2019.

As New Yorkers struggled to keep food on the table, Robin Hood worked with New York emergency food providers who, like POTS, responded to the crisis by increasing the amount of food delivered to keep New Yorkers fed.

"As we strive to address the complex issues associated with poverty and food insecurity in The Bronx, we saw a significant growth in need since the onset of the pandemic, particularly for the immigrant population. We were only able to meet this increase in demand for comprehensive services due to the matching additional support from our partners and donors," said Christina Hanson, executive director of Part of the Solution (POTS).

Last week, Robin Hood renewed two grants to POTS totalling more than $700,000, including a 24-month grant to help POTS distribute more than two million pounds of food annually, representing a 37% increase in food distribution between 2020 and 2021. $200,000 of the grant funding is allocated to connecting low-income families with wraparound benefits that alleviate a variety of needs associated with poverty and food hardship, including SNAP, TANF, unemployment insurance, health coverage, legal services, and other direct support that defray the costs of housing and utility bills.

Together, the policy reforms made at all levels of government and the programmatic changes made throughout the city's emergency food distribution network appear to have guarded against a more significant rise in the rate of food hardship in New York City in 2020. According to the Poverty Tracker, the number of New Yorkers facing food hardship stayed roughly the same from 2019 to 2020, increasing only from 37% to 39%, while the rate of severe food hardship stayed steady at 9%.

Chantal Bannerman, the Poverty Tracker Study Coordinator at Columbia University, added, "Given the severity of the economic shock caused by COVID-19, we were prepared to witness a sharp increase in food hardship in New York City -- which was already too common among New Yorkers. But this didn't happen. The robust response to the crisis from both policymakers and food assistance providers seems to have blunted what would have been a stark rise in food hardship, underscoring the importance of increased investment in these policies and programs in the continued fight against food hardship in the city."

While the prevention of a sharp increase in hardship is laudable, the rate of food insecurity in New York remains a pressing issue requiring permanent solutions. Many of the benefits that prevented the food hardship crisis from worsening are temporary, such as SNAP benefits that are set to expire when the public health emergency is lifted. Further, more investments in the city's emergency food distribution network are needed in concert with a concentrated effort to enact policies and appropriate public funding to support wraparound services that address the issues that underlie food insecurity.

In 2021, Robin Hood invested nearly $9 million in aid to soup kitchens, food pantries and other emergency food services, including 10 grants funded through Robin Hood's core grant program each averaging about $527,000 and more than 90 smaller grants administered through the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

Since 2012, the Poverty Tracker has surveyed a representative sample of New Yorkers every three months, providing critical information on the dynamics of poverty and other forms of disadvantage in the city while tracking data on employment, assets and debts, and health. The Poverty Tracker has monitored the impacts that COVID-19 and the related economic downturn has had on life in New York City since the onset of the pandemic.

Read the full report here .

About Robin Hood:

Robin Hood has been fighting poverty in New York City since 1988. Because Robin Hood's board covers all overhead, 100% of every donation goes directly to the poverty fight. Last year, Robin Hood awarded $172 million in grants, filling a critical void during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing cash assistance, meals, housing, healthcare, education, and other urgent needs to one million New Yorkers impacted by COVID-19, as well as funding an array of programs and initiatives developed to elevate families out of poverty in New York City. Follow the organization on Twitter @RobinHoodNYC and learn more at www.robinhood.org.

About the Center on Poverty and Social Policy (CPSP):

The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at the Columbia School of Social Work produces cutting-edge research to advance our understanding of poverty and the role of social policy in reducing poverty and promoting opportunity, economic security, and individual and family-wellbeing. The Center's work focuses on poverty and social policy issues in New York City and the United States.

About Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC):

The Columbia Population Research Center supports population health researchers across Columbia University, galvanizing new interdisciplinary and cross-campus collaborations, promoting the professional development of junior scientists, and enabling members to do work that is more innovative and impactful. Our members' interests encompass four primary research areas: Children, Youth, and Families; Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS; Immigration/Migration; and Urbanism, with cross-cutting attention to inequalities and policies to mitigate those inequalities.

About POTS:

Since 1982, Part of the Solution (POTS) has grown to become a leading provider of emergency food, social services and legal representation in the Bronx. POTS' comprehensive and personalized approach assists individuals as they move from crisis to stability and, ultimately, self-sufficiency. Currently, its services include a Community Dining Room, open six days a week; a Food Pantry; Clothing Room, Shower, and Mail Facilities; Barbershop; Case Management to help people address barriers to stability; a Legal Clinic specializing in eviction prevention and improper denial of benefits; and comprehensive case management to address the complexities associated to poverty and food insecurity. POTS also holds a variety of seasonal distributions for items such as back-to-school supplies, Thanksgiving turkeys, and holiday gifts. Our facilities are also host to Care for the Homeless' Medical and Dental Clinic.

SOURCE Robin Hood
Through its annual Pilot Grant Program, LCRF funds innovative research focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. This year, LCRF will be funding four projects through this mechanism. The James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit is presented to the investigator whose proposal was selected for outstanding overall merit by the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board. This year's recipient is Nikhil S. Joshi, PhD, Assistant Professor, Immunology at Yale University. Dr. Joshi's research project is titled, "Manipulating the functions of T cells in lung tumor draining lymph nodes."

"I'm truly excited and honored to receive this James B. Dougherty, MD Award for Scientific Merit," said Dr. Joshi. "This award will enable us to focus on two things: how to make T-cells go out of the lymph node gland and into the tumor, and then figure out how to kill the cancer cells once they get there. I am grateful for the support of the LCRF that will help us take on this challenge."

LCRF's other funding mechanism focuses on overcoming disparities in lung cancer, supported in part by a grant from Bristol Myers Squibb. This year, LCRF will be funding two projects in this area that will address important questions across the care continuum and ultimately help to understand and overcome the significant gaps in health equity among lung cancer patients.

LCRF's William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer is presented to the investigator whose proposal not only demonstrated exceptional scientific merit but also exemplified an enduring commitment to making an impact in the field of lung cancer research. This year's recipient is Loretta Erhunmwumsee, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery; Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. The title of Dr. Erhunmwunsee's research project is "Using Social Determinants of Health to Predict Adherence of Lung Cancer Screening in Minority High-Risk Smokers."

"I am honored to receive the William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. I am floored by this recognition," said Dr. Erhunmwunsee. "I am hopeful that we truly are prioritizing the vulnerable and this award will allow us to do that. The project will allow us to really understand the impact of different social determinants on the vulnerable and minority communities and their adherence to lung cancer screening. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and excited to be part of this prestigious group."

The LCRF-AstraZeneca partnership grant track, focused on resistance to targeted therapies and immunotherapies, awarded five grants, totaling $900,000 in funding over two years.

In addition to the presentation of the 2021 Scientific Grant Program awards, LCRF's Evening of Innovation Virtual Celebration included remarks from LCRF's Scientific Advisory Board Chair, Dr. Katerina Politi, on the impact of the research that LCRF supports, as well as several prior grantees who shared their motivation for this field of research, led off by LCRF Board of Directors Vice-Chair, Dr. Brendon Stiles. Lung cancer patients and founders of the advocacy group, EGFR Resisters, Jill Feldman and Ivy Elkins, shared their personal journeys, and we heard from Dr. Matthew Meyerson, who discussed his past and current research focused on oncogenic mutations. LCRF's Board Chair, Reina Honts, led attendees in a moment of silence to honor loved ones lost to lung cancer before sharing the hope that research brings to survivors like her. The program closed with a special appearance by the grandson of Olympic-great Jesse Owens, Stuart Owen Rankin, with his message of hope for people with lung cancer because of the research and investigators funded by LCRF. The program was recorded and can be viewed at LCRF.org/innovation.

The 2021 Pilot Grant Program award recipients include:

Nikhil S. Joshi, PhD  2021 James B. Dougherty, MD Award recipient

Yale University

Manipulating the functions of T cells in lung tumor draining lymph nodes

Yang Tian, PhD  EGFR Resisters grant recipient

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Targeting lung lineage plasticity to suppress Osimertinib-induced drug-tolerant persisters

Joshua Veatch, MD PhD

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Using CD4+ T cells to target the tumor microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer

Aria Vaishnavi, PhD

University of Utah

Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of radon-induced lung cancer through a novel mouse model

The 2021 Disparities in Lung Cancer Research Grant Program award recipients include:

Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD  William C. Rippe Award recipient

City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

Using social determinants of health to predict adherence of lung cancer screening in minority high-risk smokers

Mariam Jamal-Hanjani, MD PhD

University College London Cancer Institute

Investigating the association between air pollution and EGFR mutant never smoker lung cancer

The 2021 LCRF-AstraZeneca Resistance Grant award recipients include:

Justin Jee, MD, PhD

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Subclone Capture Sequencing to Guide Combination Therapy and Improve Osimertinib Response

Lingtao Jin, PhD

University of Florida

Targeting tumor-immune microenvironment to improve durvalumab efficacy in small cell lung cancer

Giorgia Foggetti, PhD

Universita Vita-Salute San Raffaele

Dissecting the Role of the KEAP1 Pathway in Mediating Therapeutic Sensitivity in EGFR-Driven Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lior Golomb, PhD

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Investigating the ER Acetyl-CoA transporter as a putative metabolic dependency of mutant EGFR lung cancer

Antja-Voy Hartley, PhD

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Targeting YAP/TEAD bypass activation in Osimertinib-induced drug tolerant cells: a strategy to overcoming tumor recurrence and therapeutic resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancers

For more information about LCRF and the Scientific Grant Program, visit LCRF.org/Research.

About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation

The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF's mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 394 research grants, totaling nearly $39 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org.

Contact:

Sheila Sullivan

Sr. Director, Marketing and Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Lung Cancer Research Foundation

Related Links

http://www.LCRF.org


MARIN COUNTY, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Maker , the highest-rated canned wine company on a mission to amplify the voices and wines of women-led and minority-owned wineries, is expanding to 45 states to reach wine lovers nationwide.

Maker

Founded by Sarah Hoffman, Kendra Kawala, and Zoe Victor, Maker launched in California in 2020, and sold out of its initial production by bringing people together with their virtual wine tastings and shipping wine directly to customers via their subscription "Can Club". They've now raised $2.3 million from over 30 angels and operators including Pear VC, Marcy Venture Partners, The Chainsmokers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rachel Mansfield, Charles Hudson, Mariam Naficy, Bryan Mahoney, Henry Davis, Inflection Capital, Context Ventures, Matt Kanness, Nikil Viswanathan, Daniel Kan, Bridgette Lau, Alyssa Rapp, James Beshara, Leah Culver, Tyler Elliston, and Chris Fanini, to triple production, build out their team, and bring premium canned wine across the country.

Maker has already made their mark by being the highest-rated canned wine company on the market today having received 90+ point ratings from Wine Enthusiast and 15 Gold medals from top bottled wine competitions like NY Int'l Wine Competition, Sommeliers Choice Awards, and Sunset Mag Int'l Wine Competition.

"Antiquated liquor laws make it hard for the best small production wineries to get their products out there. And "Big Wine" just isn't delivering what modern drinkers want. We're excited to can wines from the best independent wine producers in the country, and make wine more accessible for everyone." said Sarah Hoffman, co-founder at Maker. "With the expansion and new funding, we're ushering in a new era of small wineries, transparency, and approachability for the wine industry. Modern drinkers want a high quality, better-for-you option that fits into their lives and lifestyles. We're here to provide an eco-friendly, portable way to enjoy premium wine, any damn time."

Every wine that Maker sells is vegan-friendly, gluten-free and keto-friendly and is made by their partner winemakers who believe in sustainable farming practices and low intervention winemaking. Each 250 ml can is from a different small production winery and comes with the "maker's" unique story and signature. All wines are dry, with zero grams of sugar, less than five carbs per serving, and minimal sulfur additions.

"We are grateful to have brought together a coalition of over 30 best-in-class investors and operators as diverse as the wines and makers we support, to shake up the wine world for the better. We're proud that female and minority investors account for over 50% of our cap table," said Kendra Kawala, co-founder at Maker. "We started Maker because we are passionate about supporting the independent creators and makers of wine. Our goal is to make wine more inclusive on BOTH sides of the glass while bringing recognition to our amazing producers."

"I invest when talent and ambition in exceptional founders meets a brand that solves a problem in the market. With the three Maker co-founders that was a no-brainer," said Bryan Mahoney, current CEO of Chord Commerce and former Glossier CTO. "I see a lot of similarities for Maker in Glossier's earliest days -- while we pioneered the democratization of beauty, Maker's mission is to do the same for wine. They're creating an amazing brand, they care deeply about the product and customer experience, and are using technology to build community and democratize an industry. This is Maker's moment."

Maker offers different options to purchase their canned wines online, from holiday and group gifting to their first-of-its-kind, customizable Can Club membership. Perks of being a Can Club subscriber include ordering via text on Maker's Wine Line, 10-20% off all wines, and access to limited production, members-only wines.

"We believe the future of wine is shipping directly to customers," said Zoe Victor, co-founder at Maker. "We've produced 20 wines from independent winemakers to date, leading the way in premium canned wine. From Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc to single-vineyard Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, we're changing the perception of what canned wine can be."

To learn more about Maker visit www.makerwine.com .

About Maker

Maker serves up award-winning wine from the nation's best small producers in the perfect single-serving pour. Each wine is from a different small production winery that comes with the story of the winemaker who crafted it. All Maker wines are dry, with minimal sulfur additions, 0g sugar, and less than 5 carbs per serving. Maker is the highest rated canned wine on the market today, with three wines scoring 90+ point scores from Wine Enthusiast and 15+ gold medals from major competitions like the Sommeliers Choice Awards and Sunset Mag Int'l Wine Competition. The best way to experience Maker is their customizable Can Club, with SMS ordering, meet the maker virtual events, and a rotating selection of small-batch wines. To learn more about Maker, visit www.makerwine.com or follow them on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter .

Contact:

Jillian Wong

213.225.4419

[email protected]

SOURCE Maker

Related Links

http://www.makerwine.com


BOSTON, TORONTO and LONDON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife Investment Management released today its third annual sustainable and responsible investing report for its institutional investment management business. The report demonstrates its ongoing commitment to sustainability, as interest in this area continues to grow across the world.

The report documents significant progress across three key areas of the firm's sustainability efforts: ESG integration, active stewardship, and global collaboration to address systemic sustainability issues.

Paul Lorentz, President and CEO at Manulife Investment Management, said: "Our efforts support our clients' aims and help bolster the environmental and social foundations that enable the global economy to function. Our priority is to continue to expand our sustainable investing capabilities across public and private asset classes to meet our clients' evolving needs."

Advancements in sustainability

In 2020, Manulife Investment Management had 1,122 engagement interactions with 985 equity and fixed-income issuers globally and launched a proxy voting dashboard to disclose proxy voting records. 1 There was a conscious shift in focus from just volume of conversations to outcomes-based engagements to address material sustainability risks.

There was a conscious shift in focus from just volume of conversations to outcomes-based engagements to address material sustainability risks. Manulife Investment Management invested further in its sustainability teams, which have grown from 16 to 25 sustainability professionals globally as of 12/31/20.

The firm was one of only 20 investment managers included in the 2020 PRI Leaders' Group in recognition of advanced efforts in climate reporting.

Building on its advanced ESG integration efforts across asset classes, the firm expanded its sustainability offering through the launch of a number of strategies with specific sustainability objectives and made a significant impact-first timberland investment that will primarily be used for carbon sequestration and storage.2

Brian Kernohan, chief sustainability officer, private markets, comments: "Our purpose as an asset manager is to deliver strong risk-adjusted investment returns for our clients over time while having a positive impact on the environment and society through strong stewardship. We believe a commitment to sustainable investing is necessary for investors to be successful."

Peter Mennie, global head of ESG integration and research, public markets, concludes: "We are proud of our contributions in pursuit of more sustainable business practices across the globe. We believe integrating all elements of sustainable investing into our conversations with company management, and using measurable data points to demonstrate progress, can help mitigate the impact of material sustainability risks in our portfolios and is aligned with the best interests of our clients over the long term."

Since becoming a PRI signatory in 2015, Manulife Investment Management has enhanced its sustainability practices across asset classes and deepened its involvement in initiatives addressing global sustainability challenges.

Click here for more information about the Manulife Investment Management 2020 sustainable and responsible investing report.

Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of September 30, 2021, Manulife Investment Management's assets under management and administration, including assets managed for Manulife's other segments, totaled CAD $1.1 trillion (US $835 billion). Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

1. The full record is not publicly available. More information is available on request. Proxy voting activities are completed for public markets investments managed by Manulife Investment Management public markets.

2. We look to incorporate material ESG considerations throughout the stages of our investment and asset ownership lifecycles, taking into account the characteristics of the asset class and investment process in question, as well as industry and geography, among other factors. Each investment team operates in different markets and with different nuances to its approach to investing. Accordingly, each team integrates ESG factors into its investment process in a manner that best aligns with its investment approach.

SOURCE Manulife Investment Management

Related Links

https://www.manulifeim.com/


This acquisition puts us in a position to execute against client strategies with tangible results. Tweet this

RevTrax's industry-leading Offer Management Platform delivers innovation to brands at the intersection of digital marketing, offers and artificial intelligence. RevTrax solutions empower brands to modernize promotional marketing campaigns through one-to-one offer personalization, advanced performance measurement, best-in-class security and anti-fraud features. Their turnkey integrations with both cloud-based digital messaging platforms (web, display, email, mobile, etc.) and backend providers (payments, point-of-sale, etc.), deliver increased value to consumers while driving optimal ROI for brands and retailers.

Leveraging more than 11 years of powerful and unique first-party data, combined with state-of-the-art artificial intelligence for offer management, brands use RevTrax to automatically deliver each individual consumer the precise offer value needed to drive increased response, revenue, and profitability.

Increased shopper adoption of UMO reflects consumers' increased preference for digital coupons (vs printed coupons), in turn allowing for increased levels of data-driven personalization, actionable insights/analytics and fraud prevention for brands and retailers  both online and at the shelf. Owning this capability allows NRS to offer retail & CPG partners unique flexibility of offer delivery, along with enhanced benefits from a deeper understanding of shoppers and performance metrics at scale.

"We are thrilled to be accelerating our growth together with the Neptune team. It was clear from the beginning that their incredible in-store network of over 47,000 North American grocery and drug stores would quickly expand the potential and reach of game changing products like UMO and future RevTrax solutions," said Jonathan Treiber, CEO, RevTrax. "As part of the Neptune family, we are now squarely positioned to bring the much-needed digital innovation and transformation to brands and retailers at a scale that we simply couldn't accomplish as a standalone company."

ABOUT Neptune Retail Solutions:

NRS is a leading omnichannel retail marketing company in the US & Canada that delivers profitable growth for retailers and brands. The NRS platform is powered by both exclusive in store marketing rights in North America's largest grocery and drugstores, including Kroger, Ahold, Loblaws, Walgreens and CVS, in addition to exclusive deterministic first party shopper data, generated from the company's owned and operated cashback app, Checkout 51, capturing deterministic first party shopping data via receipt scans from key retail locations across the US and Canada including Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club and the retailers noted above.

About RevTrax:

RevTrax empowers brands to deploy intelligent promotions and offers across channels, track performance, and increase profit and marketing ROI. With a robust portfolio of patents relating to offer security, RevTrax brings control back into the hands of the brand. For more information, visit revtrax.com.

For further information, please contact [email protected]

Related Links:

www.neptuneretailsolutions.com

www.revtrax.com

SOURCE Neptune Retail Solutions.com

Related Links

www.neptuneretailsolutions.com


New research finds strong support for state-facilitated retirement programs to help employees save for retirement. Tweet this

"It's encouraging that many states are taking action to help employees save for retirement, and it's equally promising to see strong public support for these new retirement programs," said Dan Doonan, NIRS executive director and report co-author. "At the same time, it's important to note that the state-facilitated programs are a backstop for employees who lack workplace plans like pensions and 401(k) accounts."

"Ideally, the state-facilitated programs will nudge more employers to offer retirement plans to their employees. Employer-sponsored retirement plans have advantages that are not available to state-facilitated plans, including employer contributions. In fact, research indicates that more employers in states like California, Oregon, and Illinois are moving toward plan sponsorship in response to the new state-facilitated programs," Doonan explained.

This research finds:

The vast majority of Americans (72 percent) agree that state-facilitated retirement programs are a good idea. There is high support across party and generational lines, with support highest among Millennials (78 percent).

Three-quarters of Americans (75 percent) say they would participate in state-facilitated retirement programs, consistent across party and generational lines.

Americans view many key features of state-facilitated retirement programs as highly favorable, especially portability (84 percent), higher returns (82 percent), and lower fees (82 percent).

These results come as most working Americans are not on track for a secure retirement. Half of U.S. households will not have enough retirement income to maintain their standard of living in retirement. The causes of the retirement savings crisis are many, including fewer pensions, lower Social Security income, and the rising costs of housing, healthcare, and long-term care.

To help Americans lacking retirement plans at their workplace, many states have taken action, establishing state-facilitated retirement savings programs.

Since 2012, some 46 states have either enacted, studied, or considered legislation that would establish state-facilitated retirement programs, according to Georgetown University's Center for Retirement Initiatives. Currently, 14 states and two cities have enacted these new programs for private sector workers.

While each program is different, the most popular type of program that states are enacting automatically enrolls workers in moderate risk, low-cost retirement savings accounts referred to as auto-IRAs. Typically, the state-facilitated programs require private sector employers lacking retirement plans to provide their employees with access to retirement accounts through payroll deductions. These programs are overseen and administered by the state, while investments are managed by private companies. Workers in states that offer these programs can access these retirement savings accounts when they retire.

Conducted by Greenwald Research, information for this study was collected from interviews conducted between December 410, 2020, of 1,203 individuals aged 25 and older. The final data were weighted by age, gender, and income to reflect the demographics of Americans aged 25 and older. Tabulations in some of the charts may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

For the purposes of this research, Millennials include those ages 25 to 43, Generation X includes those ages 44 to 55, Baby Boomers include those ages 56 to 74, and the Silent generation includes those age 75 or older.

The National Institute on Retirement Security is a non-profit, non-partisan organization established to contribute to informed policymaking by fostering a deep understanding of the value of retirement security to employees, employers and the economy as a whole. Located in Washington, D.C., NIRS membership includes financial services firms, employee benefit plans, trade associations, and other retirement service providers. More information is available at www.nirsonline.org. Follow NIRS on Twitter @NIRSonline.

SOURCE National Institute on Retirement Security

Related Links

www.nirsonline.org


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pure NZ is a bottled water brand of the future. From the way it sources its water to how it runs its facility to its investment in sustainable packaging, the company has clearly established itself as a forward-thinking leader in its industry. Pure NZ has also officially crossed the pond, bringing its quality, artisanal bottled water into a thirsty U.S. marketplace.

Pure NZ is a Kiwi company located just south of the massive New Zealand city-center of Auckland. The brand has built a state-of-the-art bottling facility a half-hour drive outside of the metropolis nestled amidst the gorgeous backdrop of the sleepy town of Pokeno. Why the rural location? Because the structure happens to be located directly over an underground aquifer.

This has allowed Pure NZ to bottle water captured by nature directly at the source to the tune of up to 220 million bottles per year. The large-scale, high-speed bottling facility is also designed to create bottles from rPET (recycled) plastic, allowing the company to operate on a level of sustainability unmatched in the industry.

From its aquifer access to its top-of-the-line facility, Pure NZ has created a business model that gives it complete control over the entire bottling process  allowing the organization to maintain the highest standards in the process.

For years this has been great news for residents of New Zealand, where Pure NZ has remained a top-selling bottled water provider. However, in recent years, the company has begun to spread further afield.

In late 2019, Pure NZ officially entered the U.S. marketplace, where it began offering its artisanal water to a consumer base that has steadily increased its demand for both bottled water and sustainably made products. The arrival seems well-timed, as Pure NZ's vision resonates perfectly with countless Americans looking for ways to adopt habits that are good for both themselves and the environment.

About Pure NZ: Pure NZ is owned by NZ Drinks and is one of the top beverage brands in New Zealand. NZ Drinks owns one of the largest bottling plants in the country and has received accolades from the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, Inc, the Waikato District Council, and others for its sound business methods. Learn more about these certificates and the various Pure NZ products available at nzdrinks.co.nz .

Media Contact:

Dion Hurd

(954) 324-6823

[email protected]

SOURCE Pure NZ
CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Next News Network is thrilled to announce that we will be sponsoring the 2021 Coalition for Free and Fair Elections on Saturday, November 20 in Chicago, Illinois. To add to the excitement, our lead anchor Gary Franchi will be serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the event's 2021 Election Judge Training.

Gary Franchi, Lead Anchor of Next News Network 2021 Coalition for Free and Fair Elections Invitation

Responsibility In Government and Freedom Initiative NOW have organized this event to turn the tide on the election judge problem in Cook County. "Recruiting and training active and retired law enforcement officers to become election judges is not only part of the solution, but it may be the single biggest step that we can take to improve election integrity in Cook County," Gary Franchi stated.

Franchi will be joined at the event by Keynote Speaker Bernard B. Kerik, the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City, along with speakers including Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison, Former Congressional Candidate Mark Vargas, Newsmax contributor and host of "Mark My Words" on AM 560, John Anthony, Former Illinois legislator and law enforcement officer and host of "Black & Right" on AM 560, Nick Richmond, President of Freedom Initiative NOW and Chairman of Responsibility In Government, Scott Kaspar, and the Police Leadership Panel Featuring Sheriff Jim Root (Macon County) and other speakers to be announced.

Kaspar echoed Franchi's sentiments on the event, adding, "For far too long, there has been a shortage of election judges and observers in many of the polling places throughout Chicagoland. I organized this workshop to draw awareness to this problem and to encourage law enforcement officers to become part of the solution. Police officers are trained to enforce the law and to de-escalate situations, two very valuable skills that translate well to the role of an election judge."

NYC Commissioner Kerik said of his support for the event, "Law enforcement officers are among the best equipped to participate in the electoral process. They give 110%. They pay attention. And they don't back down from confrontation. Law enforcement officers are among the solutions to this and so many problems in Illinois."

Mark your calendar now for an afternoon of election judge training, which is open to any active or retired Chicago area law enforcement officer. Importantly, the training is free for law enforcement officers, and parking also will be covered for those active or retired law enforcement officers attending.

When: Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 12:30 pm  4:00 pm

Where: Trump International Hotel and Tower

You can sign up using the links below.



Free Law Enforcement registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coalition-for-free-fair-elections-registration-199456679297?csc=NextNewsNetwork

General Admission registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coalition-for-free-fair-elections-registration-199456679297?csc=NextNewsNetwork

Secure your VIP Reception tickets:

https://secure.winred.com/responsibility-in-government/vip-reception?sc=NextNewsNetwork

More details at the event website:

https://www.responsibilityingovernment.com/coalition-for-free-and-fair-elections/

For more information and to register, contact: [email protected]

Follow Next News Network on Youtube https://youtube.com/NextNewsNetwork

Media Contact:

Stacey Shelton

[email protected] | (702) 483-8094

SOURCE Next News Network
ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced a new partnership with Pacific Dental Services (PDS), a leading dental support organization, to increase awareness of the link between periodontal disease and diabetes, and how oral health providers can assist patients in preventing and managing this chronic health condition. The timing of this announcement coincides with American Diabetes Month, a month-long campaign that recognizes all forms of the diseaseincluding Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes and prediabetesalong with the millions of Americans living with diabetes today and those who remain undiagnosed.



Educating others on the link between their oral health and overall healthwhat PDS and its supported practices call The Mouth-Body Connectionis a priority for PDS. Research shows that harmful bacteria and inflammation in the mouth can indicate and even cause systemic conditions throughout the body. Maladies of the mouth, including periodontal disease, may be linked with other medical conditions including diabetes, oral cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and more.



According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes.

"Oral health is the window to the entire body, and nearly 1 in 5 people with severe gum disease have type 2 diabetes and don't know it," said Charles D. Henderson, chief development officer for the American Diabetes Association. "Through our partnership and collaboration with Pacific Dental Services, we look forward to raising awareness about the connection between oral health and diabetes."



"Due to the bi-directional relationship of periodontal disease and diabetes, oral health care providers can truly make a difference in preventing and managing the disease," said Stephen E. Thorne IV, Founder and CEO of Pacific Dental Services. "We recognize the importance of dental and medical providers working more collaboratively together to improve the overall health of their patients and are investing heavily in this area  through clinical education as well as proven technology."

"Through this partnership with the ADA, PDS and its supported practices will have the ability to extend education and awareness of the Mouth-Body Connection even further, and ultimately improve the health of an even greater audience," said Daniel Burke, Chief Enterprise Strategy Officer of Pacific Dental Services."



In recognition of American Diabetes Month, PDS-supported practices distributed the latest issue of Generations of Smiles, an educational magazine produced by the Smile Generation that aims to educate the public on the link between oral health and whole-body health. The issue focuses on the link between oral health and diabetes, and contains nutritional information, as well as a 60-second diabetes risk test developed by the ADA. Click HERE to read the issue.



About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 81 years the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the nearly 122 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociacion Americana de la Diabetes), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).



About Pacific Dental Services

Founded in 1994, Pacific Dental Services ("PDS") is one of the country's leading dental support organizations, providing supported autonomy that enables dentists to concentrate on clinical excellence and the highest levels of cost-effective, comprehensive patient care. PDS originated the Private Practice +  model to enable dentists to focus on their passion: serving patients. PDS also pioneered the concept of Modern Dentistry so that dentists are equipped to combine advances in the latest technology with the best operational practices and procedures, highly skilled support staff and a commitment to ongoing training and education. PDS continues to grow, with more than 850 supported dental offices across the United States. PDS has been on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America 14 times. PDS supported dentists aim to be the provider of choice in all the markets they serve and to develop Patients for Life. For more information, visit us at pacificdentalservices.com.

Facebook: @pacificdentalservices and @experiencePDS

Instagram: @pacific.dental and @experiencePDS

LinkedIn: @pacific-dental-services

Twitter: @pacificdental

YouTube: @pacificdentaltv



About Smile Generation

The Smile Generation connects patients to Smile Generation-trusted dentists who are dedicated to providing an exceptional patient experience and advanced clinical care. Smile Generation also provides financial choices for patients and education about the connection between oral health and overall health. The Smile Generation network spans 850 dental offices in 25 states. Smile Generation-trusted offices are supported by Pacific Dental Services. For more information, visit us at smilegeneration.com.

Facebook: @smilegen

Instagram: @smilegeneration

Twitter: @smilegen

YouTube: @SmileGenerationTV

Contact: Daisy Diaz, 703-253-4807

[email protected]

SOURCE American Diabetes Association

Related Links

http://www.diabetes.org


MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Monica DeBellis, a managing director with global consulting firm Protiviti, has been named to Consulting magazine's 2021 'Women Leaders in Consulting' list. The award recognizes top women executives who are making a profound difference for their firms, clients, future women leaders and entrants to the consulting profession. DeBellis is recognized in the Excellence in Leadership category.

DeBellis sits on Protiviti's Executive Team Advisory Council where, during the past 18 months, she has been responsible for Protiviti's global office and client re-entry effort and is currently shaping the strategy for the firm's transition to a hybrid 'Future of Work' work environment. An internal audit expert and founding member of Protiviti, she has over 20 years of experience in advising clients on a broad range of financial, operational and regulatory matters.

"As a leader at Protiviti, Monica embodies critical qualities of integrity, influence, learning agility and empathy," said Joseph Tarantino, Protiviti president and CEO. "With her guidance, we were able to develop the principles, processes, approaches and protocols necessary to support our people and our clients during the pandemic and now enabling our transition to a future workforce. She has also demonstrated excellent client account leadership. She is greatly deserving of this recognition."

DeBellis and the other 2021 Women Leaders in Consulting honorees are featured on the Consulting website.

Previous Protiviti recipients of the Women Leaders in Consulting award are Managing Director Sharon Lindstrom (2019), Senior Director Ashley Hartley (2018), Senior Managing Director Nancy Pechloff (2017), Executive Vice President Susan Haseley (2016), Managing Director Yasumi Taniguchi (2015), Managing Director Shaheen Dil (2014), and Executive Vice President Barbara Rothenstein (2013). Protiviti was also named recently to Consulting magazine's 'Best Firms to Work For' annual list for the eighth consecutive year.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit through its network of more than 85 offices in over 25 countries.

Named to the 2021 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, Protiviti has served more than 60 percent of Fortune 1000 and 35 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

Editor's note: photos available upon request.

SOURCE Protiviti

Related Links

http://www.protiviti.com


MIAMI, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Psycheceutical, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of psychedelic medicines, today announced the addition of Zachary Clayton, PhD, to its scientific advisory board. Clayton is an experienced researcher with expertise in designing fully translational preclinical studies that allow for maximum efficiency while creating reliable, applicable results intended to directly benefit human health.

Psycheceutical grows its scientific advisory board with the addition of translational research expert Zachary Clayton, PhD, who brings the expertise necessary to further its mission of quickly and safely bringing therapies based on psychedelic compounds to market.

"Translational research is vital in Psycheceutical's mission to quickly and safely bring therapies based on psychedelic compounds to market," said Chad Harman, CEO, Psycheceutical. "Dr. Clayton brings a wealth of experience to our scientific advisory board that will allow us to further streamline the research needed to safely get these therapies to the patients who need them."

"I'm intrigued by the novel delivery systems the visionary team at Psycheceutical have developed, allowing patients to access the medicinal properties of compounds that have, in the past, held some stigma," said Dr. Clayton. "I'm eager to apply my translational research expertise to this fascinating industry in the hopes of unlocking new treatments that combat a growing mental health crisis."

Dr. Clayton holds a PhD in Human Physiology from the University of Oregon and a dual Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Sciences from San Diego State University. Dr. Clayton is a sought-after conference presenter and guest lecturer, and his research expertise is evidenced by authoring or co-authoring more than 35 peer-reviewed research publications to date.

About Psycheceutical, Inc.

Psycheceutical, Inc. is using cutting-edge delivery technologies to develop safe and effective psychedelic pharmaceutical medicines. Powered by a team with more than 100 years' combined experience in development, regulatory approval processes and commercialization across the pharmaceutical industry, Psycheceutical is on a mission to bring safety and efficacy to psychedelic compounds. Learn more at Psycheceutical.com .

CONTACTS:

Kaia Roman, VP, Strategy & Communications

[email protected]

(831) 295-2111

SOURCE Psycheceutical, Inc.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Responsible Business Lending Coalition (RBLC)  the leading cross-sector small business financing coalition  commends the introduction today of the Small Business Lending Disclosure Act of 2021. The Act will establish common-sense transparency standards in small business financing at a critical time of recovery for Main Street. The RBLC thanks House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez and Senator Bob Menendez for exemplifying true leadership and commitment to small businesses by sponsoring this bicameral legislation. We also applaud House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Chairman Ed Perlmutter, Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, and Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman Ben Cardin for serving as lead cosponsors on the bill.

Today, the federal Truth in Lending Act ensures transparency in consumer lending but does not apply to small business financing. Without the transparent disclosure of the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) that we take for granted in loans for homes, cars, credit cards and personal lending, a range of confusing or misleading ways of disclosing the true cost of financing has emerged in small business credit markets. This lack of transparency can make it difficult or impossible for small business owners to compare their financing options effectively, and can conceal APRs as high as 358%. Selecting an unaffordable financial product could be the difference between success and failure for businesses re-emerging from COVID-19 and for entrepreneurs just starting out.

By enabling small business owners to identify which loan or advance may be affordable for them, and by bringing transparent price competition to small business financing, we project that the Small Business Lending Disclosure Act of 2021 will bring over $4.7 billion in savings for nearly one million small businesses annually, including hundreds of millions in savings for approximately 400,000 minority-owned small businessesa substantial sum that can further propel our national economy towards full recovery.

The Responsible Business Lending Coalition, along with 20 local, state, and national business organizations and stakeholders, urges lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to pass this historic legislation in support of our small businesses, local communities, and our national economy.

RBLC Member Federal TILA Endorsement Quotes

Accion Opportunity Fund

"Entrepreneurs of color bore the brunt of COVID-19's economic fallout, with more than 19% of Black-, 10% of Latinx-, and 10% of Asian-owned businesses closing permanently, and they will continue to face an uphill battle in the months ahead. This is a critical time for small businesses to start rebuilding, and accessing capital will be crucial in this effort. The Small Business Lending Disclosure Act of 2021 is much-needed to provide transparency, giving small business owners, especially entrepreneurs of color, a fair opportunity to make informed financial decisions for their businesses."  Luz Urrutia, CEO of Accion Opportunity Fund

Community Investment Management

"Small businesses deserve common sense transparency in evaluating financing options so they can make well-informed financial decisions and play a key role in rebuilding our economy--and this bill delivers that. In the face of our current economic crisis, entrepreneurs desperate to keep their doors open are vulnerable to predatory lenders at the worst possible time. We all have a stake in the financial health of our small business community and should rally around national legislation to protect their basic rights to responsible and transparent financing."  Jacob Haar, Managing Partner of Community Investment Management

Funding Circle

"We believe a free and fair market operates most efficiently when there is transparency in pricing, terms and conditions. When a small business has all of the necessary information up front including the annual percentage rate (APR), they can comparison shop and make informed decisions that are best for their business. Funding Circle supports one national uniform small business financing disclosure law because it is in the best interests of small businesses and they need our support now more than ever."  Ryan Metcalf, Head of U.S. Public Policy at Funding Circle U.S.

LendingClub

"Commonsense transparency standards promote innovation by enabling small businesses to comparison shop. This groundbreaking bill will create healthy competition, which enables lower prices for small businesses and supports responsible lending."  Louis Caditz-Peck, Director of Public Policy at LendingClub

Opportunity Finance Network

"At a time when many small business owners need capital to stabilize their businesses, this legislation is critical to helping small businesses access affordable, responsible financing and avoid high-cost predatory loan products. Requiring lenders to disclose key information including the annual percentage rate (APR) ensures entrepreneurs have the knowledge they need to make financial decisions that grow and strengthen their business."  Lisa Mensah, Opportunity Finance Network President and CEO

Small Business Majority

"Unregulated, predatory lenders come with the promise of fast cash for small businesses; however, these lenders often use bait and switch tactics that can send a business into financial ruin. For years predatory lenders have been able to skirt transparency and trick small business owners into repaying a loan at exorbitant ratessometimes as high as 350% APR. As small businesses face a long road to recovery from COVID-19, we cannot allow them to be taken advantage of any longer. Having access to clear and accurate lending terms will be critical to aiding small business recovery in the months and years ahead. We commend Senator Menendez and Congresswoman Velazquez for leading this charge in Congress and urge all Members to join them in providing America's entrepreneurs with the financial transparency they rightly deserve."  John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO of Small Business Majority

About the Responsible Business Lending Coalition

The Responsible Business Lending Coalition (RBLC) is the leading cross-sector voice on small business financial protection. The coalition includes nonprofit and for-profit CDFIs, fintechs, investors, and small business advocates that share a commitment to innovation in small business lending and serious concerns about the rise of irresponsible small business lending. The coalition created the Small Business Borrowers' Bill of Rights, the first cross-sector consensus on the rights that small business owners deserve and what financing providers, brokers and lead generators can do to uphold those rights. Over 110 small business lenders, brokers and lead generators, and advocacy organizations have endorsed these standards. Members of the Responsible Business Lending Coalition include Accion Opportunity Fund, Community Investment Management, Funding Circle, LendingClub, Opportunity Finance Network, Small Business Majority, and the Aspen Institute. For more information, visit www.borrowersbillofrights.org.

Contact: Caitlin McShane

[email protected]

415-225-8855

SOURCE Responsible Business Lending Coalition
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With Thanksgiving a week away, Sendero Health Plans, the Austin-based non-profit Affordable Care Act health plan, gave out 1,000 whole turkeys last Saturday to help elderly, disabled and low income Austinites have a little more to enjoy this coming holiday.

Austin, TX - Volunteers from Austin Public Works prepare over 16,000 holiday side meal items at the Turkey Fest/Fiesta del Pavo event sponsored by Sendero Health Plans and Austin Public Health that were distributed to elderly, disabled and low-income residents Saturday, November 13 at The East Austin Neighborhood Center. Photo Credit: Rodolfo Ybarra, Sendero Health Plans Austin, TX  A volunteer from Austin Public Works helps load a turkey and holiday-meal sides into a car. The turkey and sides were given to elderly, disabled and low-income residents at the Turkey Fest/Fiesta del Pavo event sponsored by Sendero Health Plans and Austin Public Health, Saturday, November 13 at The East Austin Neighborhood Center. Photo Credit: Rodolfo Ybarra, Sendero Health Plans

The turkey-giveaway titled Turkey Fest/Fiesta del Pavo, held in collaboration with Austin Public Health's East Austin Neighborhood Center, is part of Sendero Health Plans celebration of 10 years of service to the community. Sendero Health paid for the turkeys and Austin Public Health provided additional holiday-meal side items that included three cans of peas, three cans of green beans, three cans of pears, two boxes of Mac & Cheese, four pouches of instant mashed potatoes, and one large bottle cooking oil. Some households also received a dozen eggs.

"Sendero is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and we wanted to give back to the community that has supported us this past decade," said Wesley Durkalski, president and CEO of Sendero Health Plans. "We wanted to help make this Thanksgiving holiday a little easier for some of our community's most vulnerable.

Recipients of the turkeys drove up to volunteers who loaded a turkey and sides into the cars. Free flu vaccines were also provided to those wanting one.

Other participating organizations in addition to Sendero Health and Austin Public Health and its East Austin Neighborhood Center were Austin Public Works, the Central Texas Food Bank, and Austin ISD.

Sendero Health Plans recently received a Four-Star Quality Rating for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid making Sendero the only four-star and highest rated health plan in Texas and the first and only to achieve that distinction in Central Texas. Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health plans is underway now. The deadline to enroll for plans with a January 1, 2022 start date is December 15, 2021. Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2022. Go to SenderoHealth.com to learn more.

Formed in 2011, Sendero Health Plans, Inc. is a community-supported nonprofit Health Maintenance Organization affiliated with the Travis County Health District, known as Central Health. Sendero is the first and only area Affordable Care Act health plan to receive a 4-Star Quality rating from the federal government. Sendero is dedicated to improving the health of the community by providing affordable, quality healthcare coverage, especially for Travis County residents with low income. Sendero offers its IdealCare plans on the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace and is available in Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Burnet, Fayette, Lee and Caldwell counties.

SOURCE Sendero Health Plans
GENEVA, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a statement released today by the International Raelian Movement (IRM), on November 20World Children's DayRaelians worldwide will celebrate the 7th annual Sex Education Day and promote early sex education as recommended by experts in the 2009 UNESCO report.

"Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE), as defined in the report, is exactly what international spiritual leader, Rael, has been advocating and teaching for more than 45 years," explained Clemence Linard, Raelian Bishop and spokesperson for SexEd Day. "The goal is to give children and adolescents a sex education and tools that are adapted to their age and culture, and that emphasize pleasure, fulfillment and well-being in terms of sexual health as defined by the WHO," she added.

Children are particularly vulnerable when kept in the dark about their sexuality and early sex education, according to the Raelian philosophy, must also include acknowledging the importance of pleasure while removing guilt and shame associated with sexual pleasure.

"Those who oppose the sex education program that is based on science, are simply conditioned to sexual guilt by their medieval Christian upbringing. They say they are opposed to the so-called 'sexualization' of children Wake up dinosaurs! Children are sexual from birth and even before! Sexuality education simply allows them to avoid developing guilt about their own sexuality," Rael said in an earlier IRM statement.

Linard emphasized, "Comprehensive Sex Education teaches the youth that sexuality is a normal and healthy part of human life that can allow them to make more informed decisions later in life. This includes information on masturbation/self-pleasuring from childhood to simply understand how their body works and that self-stimulation is normal and healthy."

In 2009, following pressure from Christian lobbyists, UNESCO censored one of their reports that talked about teaching masturbation from age 5. And for the past twelve years, Raelians have been campaigning to have this language reinstated in the UNESCO report, but no change yet. According to Linard, "It is absolutely outrageous for a scientific report to be censored as a consequence of backward religious pressures."

"If we cannot work towards normalizing sex-positive messages about masturbation to reduce associated feelings of shame, guilt and fear, as well as improve the overall sexual health and literacy in children, this will undoubtedly negatively impact their physical and mental well-being in the long term," she concluded.

SOURCE Raelian Movement

Related Links

http://www.rael.org


SKF is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of bearings, seals, lubrication and lubrication systems, maintenance products, mechatronics products, power transmission products, condition monitoring systems and related services. The partnership will allow the two companies to benefit from Shanghai Electric's rich experience in infrastructure construction as well as SKF's comprehensive global supply chain and innovation capacity to boost their R&D capacity, leveraging the combined strength of both companies to enhance their competitive advantages and boost business value.

China's largest import trade fair, CIIE 2021, held from November 5-10, was the fourth edition that Shanghai Electric attended, which also saw the company inking more than 10 import procurement contracts and framework agreements with global companies during the six-day event, with the total value of the deals exceeding 1.7 billion RMB.

As part of China's green push to accelerate towards its carbon goals, the fourth edition of CIIE aimed at facilitating green trade and cooperation between global companies in an effort to expedite the pace of green transformation in China and beyond.

As a global leader and pioneer in renewable energy, Shanghai Electric brought the latest innovative solutions that promote China's domestic-international dual circulation strategy and showcases its achievements for business upgrade and transformation through technological empowerment. Leading the showcase were the Qingpu new energy buses tasked with providing a fast and climate-friendly transport link for global visitors at CIIE, equipped with Shanghai Electric's Guoxuan power battery system.

Over the past four years, CIIE has provided a platform on which Shanghai Electric has been able to expand its cooperation with global investors and companies for the development of new energy and advanced manufacturing.

At CIIE 2018, Shanghai Electric Group and Siemens Power and Natural Gas Group signed a contract to supply the power generation equipment used in the 700MW CSP project in Dubai, the world's largest CSP plant. This partnership was followed by a framework agreement signed between Shanghai Electric and Consolidated Power Projects Australia Pty Ltd (CPP) at the second CIIE in 2019 for a RMB100 million purchase deal. In the same year, Shanghai Electric also secured several deals worth RMB710 million to supply gas turbine equipment to Datang Group, State Power Investment Corporation and Ansaldo Energia.

The successful CIIE 2020 marked a renewed momentum of international trade and business cooperation amid a disrupted global economy due to the pandemic-induced restrictions, where Shanghai Electric formed another milestone collaboration with Siemens Energy on building a smart energy empowerment center in China.

"CIIE is a fast and efficient matchmaking platform for multinational companies to find the golden key to open the gate to China's market, as well as a window for global businesses to establish in-depth communication channels with Chinese customers. On this platform, Shanghai Electric hopes to seek new partners and create more win-win cooperation opportunities with world-leading enterprises," said Jin Xiaolong.

SOURCE Shanghai Electric

Related Links

www.shanghai-electric.com


The initiative will bring increased transparency, rigor, and integrity to the pricing of voluntary carbon market (VCM) assets, providing the market with greater confidence. It brings together Xpansiv's expertise as the global leader in trading physical carbon offsets with Platts' market-leading experience providing pricing transparency to the developing VCM markets.

"This partnership brings together all the necessary elements of a well-ordered market ecosystemprice transparency, liquid spot and futures markets, and robust market data," said John Melby, Xpansiv President and Chief Operating Officer. "It will enable the carbon market to further scale to accommodate demand and provide much-needed investment in high-quality carbon offset projects."

"The voluntary markets have the potential to play a pivotal role in helping close the gap between what governments can deliver and what the world needs to achieve in terms of overall emissions reductions," said Saugata Saha, President, S&P Global Platts. "The value of the market is now more than $1 billion and forecast to increase fifteen-fold by 2030, according to the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets. Our suite of VCM assessments is providing increased transparency and understanding of these markets, and this partnership with Xpansiv will enable us to develop scalable opportunities as this market continues to evolve."

Under the agreement, Xpansiv marketplace CBLthe world's largest exchange for spot-market trading of physical carbon offsetswill expand the data it makes available to Platts for the development and management of daily market price assessments. In addition, Platts and Xpansiv will collaborate with market participants to develop new types of price assessments and spot contracts to respond to rapidly evolving demand.

Notes to Editors

Xpansiv's XSignals business unit currently assesses daily closing prices used to settle the CBL Global Emissions Offset (GEO) and Nature-Based Global Emissions Offset (N-GEO) which underpin CME Group's futures contracts. As part of the collaboration, Platts will work with Xpansiv to establish the value of settlement prices, bringing its long track record of aligning with IOSCO objectives and principles to settling the value of carbon market prices.

S&P Global Platts launched the market's first daily voluntary carbon credit assessments with the publication of Platts CEC, representing CORSIA-eligible carbon credits which have surged by 944% since being launched in January 2021, with the value now pegged at $8.35/mt at the close on Nov. 12. Throughout this year, Platts has expanded its suite of VCM assessments to include Platts CNC, which reflects nature-based carbon credits as well as a variety of project types including removal, avoidance, renewable, and methane-collection credits.

In October, Xpansiv and Platts launched a new benchmark for methane performance in natural gas production to support the launch of Xpansiv's Methane Performance Certificate (MPC). The MPC enables natural gas producers to earn a premium for natural gas produced and transported with low methane emissions intensity.

For additional details on Platts price assessment methodology, see this subscriber note.

S&P Global Platts' parent, S&P Global, has an equity investment in Xpansiv through its S&P Global Ventures arm.

About S&P Global Platts

At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better informed trading and business decisions with confidence. We're the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing, and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil, gas, LNG, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture, and shipping.

S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spglobal/platts.com.

About Xpansiv

Xpansiv is the global marketplace for ESG-inclusive commodities. These Intelligent Commodities bring transparency and liquidity to markets, empowering participants to value energy, carbon, and water to meet the challenges of an information-rich, resource-constrained world. The company's main business units include CBL, the largest spot exchange for ESG commodities, including carbon, renewable energy certificates, and Digital Natural Gas; H2OX, the leading spot exchange for water in Australia; XSignals, which provides end-of-day and historical market data; and EMA, the leading multi-registry portfolio management system for all ESG-inclusive commodities. Xpansiv is the digital nexus where ESG and price signals merge. Xpansiv.com

CONTACT

S&P Global Platts:

Americas: Kathleen Tanzy, + 1 917-331-4607, [email protected]

SOURCE S&P Global Platts

Related Links

http://www.platts.com


The new worldwide map, published today in the journal Nature Sustainability , builds on a landmark study that introduced the concept of irrecoverable carbon. The research finds that half of Earth's irrecoverable carbon is highly concentrated on just 3.3% of land  primarily old-growth forests, peatlands and mangroves. These vast reserves of carbon are equivalent to 15 times the global fossil fuel emissions released last year.

Researchers say that knowing which ecosystems contain the greatest irrecoverable carbon stores can help governments focus global efforts to protect 30% of land by 2030. Targeted conservation would yield big gains  increasing the land under protection key areas by just 5.4% would keep 75% percent of Earth's irrecoverable carbon from being released into the atmosphere, researchers found.

"We are at a pivotal moment for climate action  the science and the solutions are here, and so is the urgency," said Monica Noon, a Conservation International scientist and the study's lead author. "Knowing that irrecoverable carbon is concentrated in a relatively small area of land can help guide the protection of ecosystems we now know are essential for Earth's climate."

An accompanying report, also released today, reveals that many of these irrecoverable carbon areas overlap with places containing high concentrations of biodiversity  meaning that protecting lands essential for climate stability would also conserve habitats for thousands of mammal, bird, amphibian and reptile species. The paper calls for the creation of "irrecoverable carbon reserves," new, area-based conservation measures designed to ensure irrecoverable carbon remains in these critical ecosystems.

According to the Nature Sustainability study, the largest and highest-density irrecoverable carbon ecosystems include

The tropical forests and peatlands of the Amazon biome (31.5 Gigatonnes irrecoverable carbon);

The Congo Basin (8.2 Gigatonnes);

Basin (8.2 Gigatonnes); Islands of Southeast Asia (13.1 Gigatonnes);

(13.1 Gigatonnes); The temperate forests of northwestern North America (5.0 Gigatonnes);

(5.0 Gigatonnes); Mangroves, seagrasses and tidal wetlands globally (4.8 Gigatonnes).

The study also details how vulnerable irrecoverable carbon areas are to human activity and climate change  and how much irrecoverable carbon is stored within Indigenous and protected lands. These key findings include

52% of the world's irrecoverable carbon currently lacks any formal protection or management;

More than a third of irrecoverable carbon (46.7 billion gigatonnes) is stored within the government-recognized lands of Indigenous peoples and local communities;

Across ecosystems, the highest concentrations of irrecoverable carbon are found in mangroves (218 tonnes per hectare, on average), tropical peatlands (193 t/ha) and boreal wetlands (173 t/ha).

In the last decade alone, agriculture, logging and wildfires have released at least 4 gigatonnes of irrecoverable carbon, equal to 5% of human-caused fossil fuel emissions over that time, the study reveals. Threats to irrecoverable carbon vary by ecosystem and location, researchers noted, but the most imminent and widespread risks come from legal rollbacks to protected areas that shrink or eliminate existing protections, land use changes for agriculture and development, and climate-change-driven events such as forest fires or extreme weather.

"The consequences of releasing this stored carbon would stretch on for generations, undermining our last chance to stabilize Earth's climate at tolerable levels for nature and humanity," said Johan Rockstrom, Conservation International chief scientist and co-director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, a leader in climate and sustainability research. "We must act now to safeguard the planet's ability to serve as a carbon sink, which includes prioritizing these unique ecosystems."

"We have less than 10 years to cut emissions in half and prevent our climate and biodiversity from reaching an irreversible tipping point," said Allie Goldstein, a co-author on the study and Conservation International's director of climate protection. "The good news is that we haven't yet reached that threshold. This is a rare scenario in which we have the time and information needed to prevent environmental disaster before it happens. Our research shows that investing in irrecoverable carbon reserves is a win-win-win approach that can improve the health of our climate, the health of Earth's species and, ultimately, the health of humanity."

Susan Cook-Patton, a coauthor of the paper and senior forest restoration scientist with The Nature Conservancy said that, "given the strengthened commitments that need to come out of the Glasgow UNFCCC COP this year, this global map represents a valuable addition to the science toolkit for climate policymakers. It is especially critical that governments fast-track protection of irrecoverable carbon stores that are at imminent threat of irreparable damage. This map can help find those locations before it's too late."

To secure the benefits of irrecoverable carbon, the study's authors recommend

Supporting Indigenous peoples and communities, who manage more than a third of Earth's irrecoverable carbon but face increasing threats to their lands;

Immediately reversing policies and practices that threaten Earth's last remaining irrecoverable carbon reserves;

Expanding the area of irrecoverable-carbon lands under conservation, through protected areas as well as Indigenous and community-led conservation measures;

Prioritizing areas with high concentrations of irrecoverable carbon in strategies from national governments and multilateral funders such as the Global Environmental Facility, Green Climate Fund and World Bank;

Designing comprehensive and collaborative land use planning practices that promote sustainable development and climate change resilience, such as fire and pest management and protecting coastal and freshwater wetlands to reduce flooding and storm surges.

To read the entire study authored by scientists from Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, click here.

For additional information and to view some of the study's maps, visit the irrecoverable carbon landing page here.

About Conservation International

Conservation International works to protect the critical benefits that nature provides to people. Through science, partnerships and fieldwork, Conservation International is driving innovation and investments in nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, supporting protections for critical habitats, and fostering economic development that is grounded in the conservation of nature. Conservation International works in 30 countries around the world, empowering societies at all levels to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet. Follow Conservation International's work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

SOURCE Conservation International

Related Links

http://www.conservation.org


"Like US-based health systems, Canadian health systems are facing a tremendous backlog of elective surgeries and experiencing an unprecedented amount of nursing vacancies," said Todd Plesko , CEO, Syft. "These challenges are exacerbated by an underprepared and underprioritized supply chain. We look forward to our continued expansion into Canada and partnering with more hospital clients throughout all provinces to help them create stronger supply chain processes."

With nearly 350 associates, Syft has a deep bench of supply chain and clinical experts to support its continued expansion into Canada. Also as part of Syft's enhanced prioritization of the Canadian market, Michael Weisnagel has joined the company as VP of Sales for Canada. In this role, he will oversee growth strategy throughout the country. With more than 30 years of technology sales experience, he brings a passion for enterprise solutions and collaborative clinical platforms.

"Increasing Syft's presence across all Canadian provinces will help hospitals fortify against this pandemic and any future supply chain disruptions," said Weisnagel. " Our Syft Synergy platform improves efficiency, accuracy, and demand forecasting through automation, data analytics, and point-of-use solutions . We also help hospitals successfully adopt the Clinically Integrated Supply Outcomes Model ( CISOM ), which was created by the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS)."

Syft has also announced that its Chief Nursing Officer Lee Smith , DHA, MBA, BSN, RFNA, will be presenting at the HIMSS Ontario Chapter Innovation Conference on November 24. Her presentation will provide hospitals with strategies for creating a supply chain that prioritizes clinical workflow efficiency and visibility.

" Supply chain fractures and financial woes are worsening in both the United States and Canada," said Smith. "Outdated systems, manual processes, limited and unreliable data are just a few factors that are contributing to poor supply chain visibility and increased expenses. It's imperative for hospitals to improve their supply chain processes so that they can thrive in the present and future."

About Syft. Syft enables enterprise-wide inventory management through a powerful combination of services, automation tools, and real-time data analytics. The comprehensive Syft Synergy platform eliminates the need for multiple point solutions and facilitates immediate supply savings with a range of capabilities including master data management, inventory services, supply chain management software, analytics, and advanced reporting. Founded in 1999, Syft is used by more than 245 customers (970 U.S. hospitals) to control costs, processes, and productivity across the entire organization. For more information, visit Syft at www.syftco.com .

For More Information

John Gonda

616-309-4888

[email protected]

SOURCE Syft
As an enabler, it will provide R&D advisory and pilot-scale manufacturing facilities to support food-tech businesses accelerate their product commercialisation;

As an operator, it will provide manufacturing capabilities, along with market insights into commercialisation opportunities to support scaling up across Asia ; and

; and As an investor, it will also provide businesses with a network of strategic connections and allocate capital to promising food-tech start-ups.

"Asia is expected to require around US$1.55 trillion of investment over the next decade to satisfy growing consumer demands for healthier and more sustainable food options. We need to evolve our current capabilities to bolster food security and strengthen supply chains," said Yeoh Keat Chuan, Deputy Head, Enterprise Development Group at Temasek.

"Temasek has invested over US$8 billion in the global farm-to-fork value chain since 2013, and will continue to increase our investments in this space. Singapore has a significant role to play in the transformation of the agri-food sector. The Asia Sustainable Foods Platform aims to support local and regional businesses, innovate, scale up and commercialise," he added.

The Asia Sustainable Foods Platform will be managed by a core team of food-tech professionals, led by newly appointed CEO, Mathys Boeren. Prior to joining the Platform, Mr Boeren worked in the food and food-ingredients industry for more than 25 years, amongst others for Unilever, Givaudan, Symrise and Kerry. More recently, he has advised start-ups in the sustainable food space on the alignment of product attributes and consumer preferences.

Mr Boeren highlighted that "Our key differentiating factor is our end-to-end enabler, operator, and investor capabilities that provide bespoke solutions and support to aspiring food-tech companies at every stage of their growth cycle. With our support to remove friction-to-adoption, companies can speed up their product development and pilot launch, as well as accelerate their commercial scale-up and go-to-market. In the end, it is our goal to delight consumers across Asia with tasty, fresh, traceable and sustainable food."

Accelerating Product and Process Development with the Food Tech Innovation Centre (FTIC)

The Asia Sustainable Foods Platform and A*STAR's Singapore Institute of Food & Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) have committed to invest over S$30 million in the Food Tech Innovation Centre (FTIC) over the next three years, to provide tailored infrastructure and service offerings to promising food-tech start-ups.

FTIC will be a one-stop shop where aspiring food-tech start-ups will have access to a

food grade pilot scale facility with extrusion and fermentation equipment, shared labs, test kitchens, co-working spaces, as well as A*STAR's deep R&D know-how.

"SIFBI is excited to partner with Temasek's newly established Asia Sustainable Foods Platform on the FTIC, which will provide much-needed pilot scale capabilities for Alternative Protein (AP) companies to shorten time to market. We expect that this partnership will help anchor AP companies, and to contribute significantly to the flourishing and vibrant food-tech landscape here in Singapore," said Dr Hazel Khoo, Executive Director, SIFBI.

This will address pain points food-tech businesses face in bringing their innovations to market, such as long wait-times for pilot-scale facilities and equipment; the lack of deep product & process development capabilities; and the difficulty in navigating regulatory processes and understanding unfamiliar markets in other parts of Asia.

FTIC is also pleased to announce that its first partner, Next Gen Foods, will be setting up their global R&D and innovation centre within FTIC. Next Gen Foods is a food start-up that is creating a portfolio of delicious, nutritious and sustainable plant-based foods  beginning with its popular chicken made from plants, TiNDLE, now available in over 150 restaurants across seven markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

"At the core of Next Gen Foods is a dedication to creating plant-based foods that are not only sustainable  but also delicious, nutritious and scalable," says Timo Recker, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Next Gen Foods. "We can only do this through a commitment to continuous product innovation and growth, and we're thrilled to become the first company to put down roots in the brand-new FTIC. It is a significant milestone that reinforces our commitment to build a global impactful player based in Singapore, and we are grateful to our partners at A*STAR and Temasek's Asia Sustainable Foods Platform for joining us on our mission to create a better food system for future generations to come."

Robust Co-manufacturing Capacity with Leading Industry Players

The Asia Sustainable Foods Platform is exploring two joint ventures with global industry experts in plant-based and microbial proteins.

A partnership with CREMER, a German agri-food multinational with expertise in plant-based protein, through a joint venture company, will augment the Platform's manufacturing capabilities for plant-based protein products. Key to this process is high moisture extrusion (HME), a new technology for producing texturised proteins that more closely resemble meat than other plant-based manufacturing techniques. The Platform's investment in, and the operation of, the joint venture company are subject to obtaining all required regulatory approvals and consents.

Given the nascent technology, CREMER's expertise in contract manufacturing and operating other HME plants globally will provide essential support for businesses in this area where few companies have mature HME capabilities and capacity, particularly in Asia.

"For CREMER, the customer has always been the starting point of our decisions. We are constantly improving and developing value-added services and products for our customers in tomorrow's world. Recognising the growing importance of sustainability, health and plant-based foods in supporting the global food ecosystem, CREMER wants to play a major role in driving these trends by contributing production knowledge we have gained over decades. By bringing HME capabilities to Asia, CREMER aims to provide production support to the fast-growing plant-based community here," said Damian Krueger, General Manager of Sustainable Nutrition at CREMER.

The Asia Sustainable Foods Platform has also signed an agreement with ADM, a global leader in nutrition, that will pave the way to form a joint venture that enables contract development and manufacturing services for microbial proteins produced via precision fermentation. ADM's global capabilities, and innovative fermentation-based expertise, will help enable smaller existing food-tech companies to efficiently scale their fermentation innovations through to the pilot scale. This project is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

"We've talked to innovators, from startups to mature food providers, in Singapore and across APAC, and they have told us that they are eager and waiting for a partner that can provide support for food-grade precision fermentation technology," said Joe Taets, president of ADM's APAC business. "This first-of-its-kind joint venture in Singapore would meet that demand, and in doing so, will help further the development of the alternative protein industry in APAC."

"EDB is pleased to be supporting ADM and Temasek's Asia Sustainable Foods Platform efforts in building up precision fermentation expertise in Singapore. The joint venture addresses the needs of innovators in developing and scaling fermentation-based solutions, allowing them to serve global customers from Singapore. This will also strengthen our agri-food ecosystem through ensuring that the suitable infrastructure and technological capabilities are in place to spur innovation of agri-food technologies," said Damian Chan, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board.

To explore business partnerships with the Asia Sustainable Foods Platform, please scan the QR code:

About Temasek

Temasek is a global investment company with a net portfolio value of S$381 billion

(US$283b, 241b, 206b, RMB1.86t) as at 31 March 2021. Headquartered in Singapore, it has 13 offices in 9 countries around the world.

The Temasek Charter defines Temasek's three roles as an Investor, Institution and Steward, which shape its ethos to do well, do right, and do good. As a provider of catalytic capital, it seeks to enable solutions to key global challenges.

With sustainability at the core of all Temasek does, it actively seeks sustainable solutions to address present and future challenges, as it captures investible opportunities to bring about a sustainable future for all.

For more information on Temasek, please visit www.temasek.com.sg.

About Asia Sustainable Foods Platform

The Asia Sustainable Foods Platform, a wholly-owned company of Temasek, aims to delight consumers across Asia with tasty, fresh, traceable and sustainable food by accelerating the commercialisation of sustainable foods in the region. It provides solutions and support to aspiring food-tech companies at every stage of their growth cycle, alleviating friction-to-adoption as they advance from product development and pilot launch to commercial scale-up and go-to-market.

About CREMER

CREMER was founded in 1946 by Peter Cremer. Today, in its third generation of family ownership, the company has grown to become an established German multinational with a long-standing history of success in trade, logistics and industry. With over 2,000 employees in over 60 companies and holdings, CREMER is active on all continents.

In recent years, recognising the growing market for healthy and sustainable food products, CREMER embarked on a growth strategy in the plant-based protein segment.

The company has now committed investments into plant-based contract manufacturing capabilities in North America, Europe and Asia, and is well-equipped to

help clients in the plant-based space with their various contract manufacturing needs.

For more information on CREMER, please visit www.cremer.de/.

About ADM

At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We're a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world's premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over.

Learn more at www.adm.com.

About Next Gen Foods

Founded in 2020, Next Gen Foods is a food-tech startup developing and commercializing innovative and sustainable plant-based food products -- starting with TiNDLE. Next Gen Foods is backed by top-tier investors and led by a team with proven experience in plant-based foods technology, along with global brand development and operational scaleup. For more information, visit www.nextgenfoods.sg.

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

A*STAR is Singapore's lead public sector R&D agency. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit the economy and society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by improving societal outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. A*STAR plays a key role in nurturing scientific talent and leaders for the wider research community and industry. A*STAR's R&D activities span biomedical sciences to physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

About the Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI)

The Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI) was inaugurated in 2020 with a vision to be a global leader by providing end to end capabilities in the food innovation value chain while establishing a sustainable food ecosystem. Our core capabilities include discovery, strain engineering, biotransformation, nutrition and food process engineering.

About Economic Development Board

Economic Development Board ("EDB") is a government agency under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, is responsible for strategies that enhance Singapore's position as a global centre for business, innovation, and talent. EDB undertakes investment promotion and industry development, and work with international businesses, both foreign and local, by providing information, connection to partners and access to government incentives for their investments.

SOURCE Temasek

Related Links

https://www.temasek.com.sg/


INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Across the country and for many years, American Legion posts have assisted Marines and volunteers with Toys for Tots collection drives. This holiday season, the need is greater than ever, with supply-chain breakdowns expected to reduce availability and increase toy costs for families facing financial hardships.

Also, according the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation  which operates local campaigns in 2,042 counties across the country, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands  less fortunate children in several specifically identified communities won't have much of a holiday season without the program.

That is why The American Legion and the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation recently solidified their partnership to enhance their collaboration to collect new, unwrapped toys for distribution where needs are greatest this holiday season.

"Dozens of American Legion posts assist the Marines in this important mission every year," American Legion National Commander Paul E. Dillard said. "This winter, we want to put smiles on the faces of children, no matter where they live or the economic conditions their families face."

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and The American Legion have identified specific geographic areas where gaps occur in the service. American Legion posts in those communities will be alerted and provided information about how they can get involved in those areas, by visiting www.toysfortots.org/campaigns on the web.

"There's an old saying in The American Legion that's really a promise to kids, no matter their situation  a 'square deal for every child,'" Dillard said. "We have always respected and assisted where possible with the Toys for Tots program because it fulfills that promise in about two-thirds of our country. However, more than 1,100 communities do not have Toys for Tots programs, and we need to reduce that number, knowing that those are places where disadvantaged children stand likely to be forgotten this holiday season. We are going to connect local posts with Toys for Tots in those communities to close that gap."

Since 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed some 604 million toys to approximately 274 million children in need.

About The American Legion

The American Legion, the nation's largest veterans organization, is dedicated to the motto of "Veterans Strengthening America." Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome community programs, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security and continued devotion to servicemembers and veterans. Nearly 2 million members in more than 12,600 posts across the nation and regions overseas serve their communities with a devotion to mutual helpfulness.

About Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots, a 74-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides happiness, and hope to less fortunate children during each Christmas holiday season. The toys, books, and other gifts collected and distributed by our Marines and volunteers during the Christmas season offer these children recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. Toys for Tots also provides support year-round to less fortunate families experiencing challenges and exceptional circumstances, thus sending a message of hope beyond the holiday season. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Last year, the Marine Toys for Tots Program fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of 7.4 million less fortunate children in over 800 communities nationwide. Since 1947, over 272 million children have been assisted. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, please visit www.toysfortots.org.

Media Contact: Amber Aragon, [email protected]stdegree.com, (719) 213-5712.

SOURCE The American Legion

Related Links

https://www.legion.org


CARLISLE, Penn., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of International Education Week, The Forum on Education Abroad is pleased to announce the 2021 recipient of the Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design: "Negotiating Peace: From Conflict to Coexistence," a course developed by Kate Kunzman and Dr. Emira Ibrahimpasic of the University of Nebraska  Lincoln.

Dr. Emira Ibrahimpasic (left) and Kate Kunzman (right) of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, recipients of the 2021 Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design for their course, "Negotiating Peace: From Conflict to Coexistence"

Kunzman, the university's Education Abroad Coordinator, and Dr. Ibrahimpasic, a cultural anthropologist, Assistant Professor of Practice, and Assistant Director of Global Studies, drew on their experiences developing faculty-led programs and resources and best practices from The Forum, NAFSA, and SIT to create a virtual summer course designed to keep students connected with the world while travel was paused due to COVID-19. The session began by grounding students in an understanding of colonialism, native lands, and historical conflicts in the United States before moving on to understanding modern-day conflicts in Syria and Ireland through guest lectures from individuals with real-world experience in conflict negotiation and individuals affected by the conflicts studied.

Uttiyo Raychaudhuri, Vice Provost for Internationalization at the University of Denver and Awards Selection Committee Chair explained that it was difficult to choose just one winner this year. "To me, they are all winners because they pushed forward with high-quality, engaging, innovative coursework through a difficult period for our field," he said. "That is inspiring."

The Forum's Award for Excellence in Curriculum Design honors instructors who develop and implement innovative and effective education abroad curricula. It is the education abroad field's only award presented to an individual or group of individuals for excellence in the design of an education abroad course. By recognizing the outstanding efforts of instructors who are committed to the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad, The Forum hopes to inspire the field to strive for enrichment of education abroad curricula, and to continually reflect on how to best encourage student learning abroad.

The award will be presented to Kunzman and Dr. Ibrahimpasic during The Forum's 18th Annual Conference, "Globally Interconnected: New Opportunities and the Challenge of Change", which will take place on March 21-25, 2022 in Chicago and online.

Learn more about the Award for Excellence in Education Abroad Curriculum Design: https://forumea.org/award-for-excellence/

About The Forum on Education Abroad

The Forum on Education Abroad is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, membership association recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission as the Standards Development Organization (SDO) for the field of education abroad. The Forum provides training and resources to education abroad professionals and its Standards of Good Practice are recognized as the definitive means by which the quality of education abroad programs may be judged. The Forum's mission is to cultivate educators who champion high quality education abroad experiences that ignite curiosity, impact lives, and contribute to a better world.

Media Contact:

Dominique Tate-Williams, Marketing and Social Media Manager, The Forum on Education Abroad

717-245-1031

[email protected]

SOURCE The Forum on Education Abroad

Related Links

https://forumea.org/


IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Habit Burger Grill , the California-based restaurant company renowned for its award-winning Charburgers grilled over an open flame, signature sandwiches, fresh-cut salads and more announces the grand opening of a new location in Herndon. Located at 6724 N Brawley Avenue, the fast-casual restaurant will serve up its 'Habit Hospitality' on November 23rd.

In honor of the exciting grand opening, The Habit Burger Grill is hosting an exclusive pre-opening VIP event for The Habit's CharClub members. Guests can receive an invite to this exclusive sneak peek by signing up for the CharClub at www.habitburger.com/fresno.

Free Charburger Day ( Saturday, November 20th ): The first 200 guests at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. will receive a free freshly-made Charburger, Fries and Drink. Must be a CharClub member and present VIP invitation. (Safely serving our guests is our top priority, proper safety measures will be in place.)

The first 200 guests at and will receive a free freshly-made Charburger, Fries and Drink. Must be a CharClub member and present VIP invitation. (Safely serving our guests is our top priority, proper safety measures will be in place.) Free Habit Day ( Monday, November 22nd ): The first 200 guests at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. will receive a free chargrilled meal from one of our pre-set menus. Must be a CharClub member and present VIP invitation.

Upon opening, the local restaurant will offer dine-in, takeout and drive-thru ordering. Convenient curbside pick-up and delivery is available via The Habit Mobile App and online at order.habitburger.com. Contactless delivery is also available through DoorDash, Postmates and Uber Eats. Guests also have additional convenient ordering options including state-of-the-art indoor self-serve kiosks and ordering ahead via phone.

"The team at The Habit Burger Grill is thrilled to be opening our fourth location in Fresno. This community has been so supportive and we look forward to continuing to serve them our best in class hospitality," said Iwona Alter, Chief Brand Officer at The Habit Burger Grill.

The Habit Burger Grill is California's best-kept secret, as it was recently named in Thrillist's list of "Underrated Burger Chains that Need to be in Every State!" With its cooked-to-order mantra, The Habit Burger Grill's open flame sears a distinctive smoky flavor into their famous Charburgers, fresh marinated chicken, sushi-grade Ahi tuna and USDA Choice tri-tip steak. The Habit Burger Grill also offers three family bundles at an unbeatable value, perfect for lunches or dinners at home. Guests at The Habit Burger Grill can always count on freshly-made, handcrafted quality served up with genuine hospitality.

This Habit Burger Grill restaurant's dining room and drive-thru will be open Monday through Sunday from 10:30am-11:00pm.

Connect with The Habit Burger Grill on social media at facebook.com/habitburger , instagram.com/habitburgergrill , twitter.com/habitburger , and youtube.com/habittube .

About The Habit Restaurants, Inc.

The Habit Burger Grill is a burger-centric, fast-casual restaurant concept that specializes in preparing fresh, cooked-to-order chargrilled burgers and handcrafted sandwiches featuring USDA choice tri-tip steak, grilled chicken and sushi-grade Ahi tuna cooked over an open flame. In addition, it features fresh-cut salads and an appealing selection of sides, shakes and malts. The Habit Burger Grill was named the "best tasting burger in America" in July 2014 in a comprehensive survey conducted by one of America's leading consumer magazines. The first Habit Burger Grill opened in Santa Barbara, California in 1969 and was recently named in Thrillist's list of "Underrated Burger Chains that Need to be in Every State!" The Habit Burger Grill has since grown to over 300 restaurants in 14 states throughout Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia and Washington as well as 12 international locations, eight in China and four in Cambodia. More information is available at www.habitburger.com .

SOURCE The Habit Burger Grill
ORRVILLE, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM) today announced it will invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in McCalla, Alabama, dedicated to production of Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches. Construction of the facility is expected to begin no later than January 2022, with production commencing in calendar year 2025. The project demonstrates the Company's commitment to meet increasing demand for this highly successful product and deliver on its strategy to focus on growth brands.

The new facility marks the third manufacturing location dedicated to the Smucker's Uncrustables brand, along with existing facilities in Scottsville, Kentucky, and Longmont, Colorado. This new facility, and a completed expansion at the Longmont location, will support the Company's strategy to more than double its current production capacity.

The ongoing demand for the frozen handheld sandwich has driven the brand's growth over time to approximately $500 million in annual net sales, demonstrating double-digit net sales growth annually over the past decade. With increased production capacity, the Company expects to grow the Smucker's Uncrustables brand over the next five years to approximately $1 billion in annual net sales.

"Our Smucker's Uncrustables brand continues to be one of the fastest growing in our portfolio and in the food sector more broadly. We are proud of the success the brand has achieved, due in no small part to the tremendous efforts of our employees, and we're excited to take advantage of the opportunities and growth our investments will enable," said Mark Smucker, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We appreciate the support we have received from the State of Alabama and Jefferson County officials, and we look forward to being a part of the greater Birmingham community."

Construction of the facility and production will occur in three phases over multiple years, creating up to 750 jobs. Financial investments and job creation will align with each of the three phases and are contingent on the approval of tax and business incentives and the closing of the transaction to purchase the property where the facility will be located.

"Because The J.M. Smucker Co. is one of America's leading consumer packaged goods companies in the food sector, its decision to make a significant investment in Jefferson County represents a powerful endorsement of Alabama's inviting business environment," said Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey. "Not only will the Company's growth project create a large number of jobs in McCalla, but it will also permit us to build a long-standing relationship with a top consumer brand."

"Smucker's is a household name, and we are proud they have selected Jefferson County for their next manufacturing facility," said Commissioner Steve Ammons, Chair of the Jefferson County Economic Development Committee. "It's important for us to recognize the previous Commission and their forethought to add acreage to the Jeffmet Industrial Complex. The McCalla area is hot right now due to useable land availability, interstate access and productive growth potential. We are excited for the continued momentum of job creation for the citizens of Jefferson County and the region as a whole."

The J.M. Smucker Co. Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made on the basis of the Company's views and assumptions as of this time, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update this statement unless required by law. This statement is not a guarantee of future performance, and actual events or results may differ materially from this statement. Investors should consult the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 2021 fiscal year ended April 30, 2021) for information about certain factors that could cause such differences. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting the Company's website at jmsmucker.com.

About The J.M. Smucker Co.

Each generation of consumers leaves their mark on culture by establishing new expectations for food and the companies that make it. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to be at the heart of this dynamic with a diverse portfolio that appeals to each generation of people and pets and is found in nearly 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants. This includes a mix of iconic brands consumers have always loved such as Folgers, Jif and Milk-Bone and new favorites like Cafe Bustelo, Smucker's Uncrustables and Rachael Ray Nutrish. By continuing to immerse ourselves in consumer preferences and acting responsibly, we will continue growing our business and the positive impact we have on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com.

The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein except for Rachael Ray, a registered trademark of Ray Marks II LLC, which is used under license.

SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co.

Related Links

http://www.jmsmucker.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Paley Center for Media announced today its highly anticipated Grand Reopening with the return of its classic holiday extravaganza, PaleyLand, beginning December 4, 2021. The cultural institution's museum in New York will welcome back visitors for the first in-person event since it began virtual programming in March of 2020, after closing due to the global pandemic. At PaleyLand, visitors of all ages can watch exclusive holiday screenings and meet beloved characters from notable holiday classics, see a live holiday-themed LEGO demo from LEGOMasters, take photos with Santa and a stunning seven-foot menorah, play their favorite video games, and enjoy the newest centerpiece, The Paley Express, a magical winter wonderland holiday train display, along with much, much more.

"We are so thrilled to be bringing our friends, families, and Paley Members together once again with the grand reopening of our Paley Museum, and the return of our beloved PaleyLand, during this magical time of year," said Maureen J. Reidy, President and CEO of the Paley Center. "Just steps from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and Radio City Music Hall, Paleyland has taken its place as a must-visit, favorite, New York holiday tradition. We are delighted to welcome visitors this holiday season and throughout all of 2022 for an exciting lineup of special events, exhibits and once-in-a-lifetime experiences."

PaleyLand will offer endless holiday cheer filled with seasonal activities for friends and families to enjoy. The month-long holiday celebration begins on Saturday, December 4, 2021 and ends with the visit from the Three Kings on January 6, 2022.

The extravaganza provides visitors with 4 floors of experiential holiday exhibits and fun throughout the month, featuring:

Santa Claus visits and Menorah photo opportunities: Capture your magical memories by posing for a professional photo with Santa in his festive Paley Station . Guests can also enjoy a photo in front of the stunning seven-foot menorah. * This activity is free for members. An additional $10 for non-members will be charged.

Capture your magical memories by posing for a professional photo with Santa in his festive . Guests can also enjoy a photo in front of the stunning seven-foot menorah. * Holiday character meet and-greets: Enjoy meet and greets and photo-ops with beloved holiday characters such as Frosty the Snowman and Snoopy, among others.

Enjoy meet and greets and photo-ops with beloved holiday characters such as Frosty the Snowman and Snoopy, among others.

Special star appearances and screenings: Watch a special screening of Disney's Christmas Again, and meet the star in-person , Scarlett Estevez

and meet the star in-person

Watch a special screening of DreamWorks Animation & Netflix's Gabby's Dollhouse, and meet the character Gabby in person

and meet the character Gabby in person

Learn from LEGOMasters Season 2 contestant, Richard Dryden , with a live holiday-themed LEGO demo and instruction.

, with a live holiday-themed LEGO demo and instruction.

Enjoy holiday Christmas Carolers, along with other stars throughout the month.

PaleyGX gaming stations : Level-up with the latest games from the PaleyGX studio (Xbox Series X, PS5, Switch and PC Games), and show off your moves at the 2022 " Just Dance " interactive showcase.

: Level-up with the latest games from the PaleyGX studio (Xbox Series X, PS5, Switch and PC Games), and show off your moves at the 2022 " " interactive showcase. American Girl stylist demo: An American Girl Store stylist will host tutorials featuring styling tips and techniques for a variety of holiday themed American Girl dolls. Bring your favorite doll to participate!

An American Girl Store stylist will host tutorials featuring styling tips and techniques for a variety of holiday themed American Girl dolls. Bring your favorite doll to participate! A special Paley Express Holiday train display: Marking a new annual tradition at PaleyLand, visitors can enjoy a magical winter wonderland holiday train display and take a photo with the Paley Express conductor.

Marking a new annual tradition at PaleyLand, visitors can enjoy a magical winter wonderland holiday train display and take a photo with the Paley Express conductor. Screenings of holiday classics: The Paley Archive will once again be accessible to the public, featuring a curated collection of holiday classics that celebrate Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Three Kings Day, and Christmas. Screenings available include: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Rugrats Chanukah, A Rugrats Kwanzaa, and Dora the Explorer Saves Three Kings Day, among others.

In addition, Paleyland will offer arts and crafts activities and games for children and families, and will feature interactive, social media holiday photo experiences in the magical winter wonderland of PaleyLand. Visitors are encouraged to share their festive moments on social media by tagging @paleycenter and using hashtags #Paley #PaleyLand.

Visitor Information

New events will be added to PaleyLand throughout the month. To learn more about the full schedule of holiday activities, please visit https://www.paleycenter.org/

Schedule

PaleyLand is open 12pm  6pm ET on Wednesday  Friday, and 11am  6pm Saturdays and Sundays, every week until January 6, 2022. Special exclusive members-only hours are from 10am  11am on Saturdays and Sundays. For the detailed schedule, visit paleycenter.org

Admission

Tickets are free for members; $20 for non-members; $16 for students, teachers, seniors, veterans and early responders; free for children 12 and under.

*Advanced ticketing is encouraged but not required. All proceeds support The Paley Center for Media's mission.

Location

The Paley Center for Media

25 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019, USA

Enhanced Covid-19 Safety Measures

The Paley Center for Media follows New York City's enhanced and safety requirements. In compliance with the New York City vaccine requirement, all visitors over the age of 12 must show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter the museum. Masks are required for all guests over the age of 2. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety protocols by visiting paleycenter.org.

About The Paley Center for Media

The Paley Center for Media is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms, drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the media community. The general public can participate in Paley programs in both New York and Los Angeles that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. The public can also access the Paley Center's permanent media collection, containing over 160,000 television and radio programs and advertisements. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry.

For more information about The Paley Center for Media, and to learn about the Paley Center's acclaimed programming, please visit www.paleycenter.org

SOURCE The Paley Center for Media

Related Links

www.paleycenter.org


BOSTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trillium Asset Management, LLC (Trillium), an affiliate of Perpetual Limited (ASX:PPT), today announced that Tanya Svidler has joined the Perpetual Distribution team as a Director of Institutional Client Portfolio Management and Business Development.

With over 15 years of industry experience, Svidler brings all aspects of client centric solutions in sustainable investing to her role. She will lead Trillium's institutional outreach and support the firm's continued growth of core investment strategies and manage institutional client relationships. She reports to Chuck Thompson, Head of Distribution & Corporate Strategy - Americas for Perpetual Asset Management. Trillium has continued to experience strong growth since its acquisition by Perpetual in July 2020, with 48% growth to an AUM of $5.0B (as of 9/30/21).

"We are excited to have Tanya join our team, as she has a wealth of experience in leading institutional sustainability solutions," Thompson said. "Her knowledge of sustainable investing space coupled with a deep understanding of the institutional marketplace is a great fit with our ambition to grow Trillium's institutional client base."

Previously, Svidler was a Director of ESG Solutions at Morningstar, where she drove global adoption of ESG solutions for the company for five years. Prior to joining Morningstar, she held the role of VP, Americas ESG Index product at MSCI. Svidler started her career in in early 2000 at Fiduciary Trust (a subsidiary of Franklin Templeton) on the investment side and has held senior client management roles. While at Morningstar, she spoke regularly at industry events and conferences and was recently featured on Morningstar's "ESG Investing and a Path forward" webinar. Svidler is also an active member of DCIIA ESG Subcommittee thought leadership group.

"I am thrilled to join the team and focus on Trillium  they are a leader in sustainable investing with a track record of managing successful investment strategies and delivering an outstanding benefit to investors through its shareholder engagement efforts," said Svidler. "I believe the firm's reputation in ESG coupled with the Perpetual partnership strongly positions the firm for continued expansion and growth."

About Trillium

Trillium Asset Management, with assets under management of $5.0B (as of 9/30/21) offers investment strategies and services that seek to advance humankind toward a global sustainable economy, a just society, and a better world. For nearly 40 years, the firm has been at the forefront of ESG thought leadership and draws from decades of experience focused exclusively on responsible investing. Trillium uses a holistic, fully integrated fundamental investment process to uncover compelling long-term investment opportunities. Devoted to aligning stakeholders' values and objectives, Trillium combines impactful investment solutions with active ownership. The firm delivers equity, fixed income, and alternative investments to institutions, intermediaries, high net worth individuals, and other charitable and non-profit organizations with the goal to provide positive impact, long-term value, and 'social dividends'. For further information visit www.trilliuminvest.com.

About Perpetual

Perpetual Limited (ASX:PPT) is an ASX-listed, diversified financial services company, which has been serving clients since 1886. Across our four businesses: Perpetual Asset Management Australia, Perpetual Asset Management International, Perpetual Corporate Trust and Perpetual Private, we aim to protect and grow our clients' wealth, knowing that by doing so we can make a difference in their lives.

Our origin as a trustee company, coupled with our strong track record of investment performance, has created our reputation as one of the strongest brands in financial services in Australia.

Perpetual Asset Management International is a growing international division with a presence in Hong Kong, the UK, Europe and the US. The division includes the operations of Trillium Asset Management (Trillium), a pioneering US ESG investment specialist, as well as Barrow Hanley Global Investors (Barrow Hanley), a diversified investment management firm that offers value-focused investment strategies spanning global equities, US equities and US fixed income.

For further information, visit www.perpetual.com.au.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Sarah Tremallo

[email protected]

908.967.0381

SOURCE Trillium
PHOENIX, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Unity Rd., the cannabis dispensary franchise from Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB), continues to set the pace for growth and success in becoming the first brand of its kind to be named an International Franchise Association (IFA) member. Further solidifying its position as an industry trailblazer, Unity Rd. has broken barriers as the first national cannabis dispensary franchise model in the United States in response to increased demand from consumers and entrepreneurs alike.

The world's largest membership organization for franchises and franchise suppliers, the IFA is a prominent organization for industry-leaders, education, networking and growth opportunities. For more than 60 years, the IFA has represented excellence in franchising education, advocacy and advancement through the collective power of their membership. With more than 1,000 franchise brands across 300 industries, Unity Rd. is currently the sole franchise model to represent the plant-touching cannabis space.

"It's an honor to be the first cannabis dispensary franchise to become members of the IFA," shared Mike Weinberger, chief franchise officer at Unity Rd. "The franchise business model is proven to help current and future entrepreneurs succeed across a wide variety of sectors, but the cannabis industry has yet to tap into franchising. This is a high recognition in the franchising world, and we are confident it will be a mutually beneficial relationship as Unity Rd. continues to be a brand of 'firsts' and make our franchise opportunity more accessible nationwide."

Unity Rd. is primed for aggressive growth as states continue to legalize cannabis use for adults. Currently, the franchise has nearly 20 entrepreneurial groups developing the brand across the nation. Even with the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, the demand for cannabis products surged to unparalleled levels and many states experienced record sales throughout the year. By the end of 2021, adult-use and medical cannabis sales in the U.S. are expected to reach upwards of $26.4 billion.

Unity Rd.'s proven performance coupled with high-tier franchise support has resulted in eager and sophisticated entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators flocking to the franchise opportunity. The brand is actively seeking qualified franchise partners in target development markets including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Oklahoma and the Northeastern United States.

Learn more about Unity Rd. franchise opportunities,

contact [email protected] or 720-923-5262, or visit unityrd.com.

A Support System Backed by Industry Veterans and a Reliable Supply Chain

Despite the complexities of the cannabis industry, Unity Rd. has developed a streamlined approach and offers the safest route for entrepreneurs looking to stake their claim in this fast-growing industry. The Unity Rd. team boasts more than 200 years of combined legal cannabis and franchising experience, and provides guidance every step of the way  from securing a dispensary license to managing cash flow and product selection. The veteran team shares their knowledge and trusted resources, as well as provides the ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary.

In addition to offering the franchise opportunity to entrepreneurs who may be new to the industry, Unity Rd. also partners with existing dispensary owners via its Local Alliance Program, providing access to the buying power, resources and supportive network normally reserved for multi-unit operators.

Unity Rd. franchise partners receive even more resources and supply chain connections as the brand was acquired by Item 9 Labs Corp.a publicly-traded, award-winning cannabis operatorin March 2021. The combination of the Unity Rd. cannabis retail franchise and premium Item 9 Labs products makes Item 9 Labs Corp. one of the first vertically integrated cannabis franchise companies in the nation. As Unity Rd. grows its franchise network, Item 9 Labs plans to develop or partner with cultivation facilities in states where Unity Rd. franchise partners open cannabis retail shops. This move will give Unity Rd. operators front-of-the-line access to a reliable product supply chain.

ABOUT UNITY RD. :

Unity Rd. is bridging the two previously disconnected worlds of cannabis and franchising. The industry trailblazer is the first to bring the cannabis dispensary franchise model to the United Stateswith duality of prowess in both industries to back it up. Built up from a collective 200 years in the legal cannabis industry and franchising, the company helps eager operators enter the complex industry with ease. The marijuana franchise pioneer offers its partners the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. Launched in 2018, Unity Rd. has signed multiple agreements with nearly 20 entrepreneurial groups across the country. Recently, it was named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily magazine and one of the "Best Cannabis Companies to Work For" in both the dispensary and cultivation categories in Cannabis Business Times' elite 2020 list. The company is also the first cannabis business to earn a Franchise Times Dealmakers award. For more information, visit unityrd.com.

MEDIA CONTACT : Marisa Beaumont, Fishman PR, [email protected], 847.945.1300

SOURCE Unity Rd.
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Vejii Holdings, Inc. (CSE: VEJI) ("Vejii" or the "Company"), a North American online marketplace for plant-based and sustainable products, is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. (CSE: YUM) (OTCQB:KOMOF) (FRA:9HB) ("Komo"), a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals to offer its products through Vejii's Canadian platform.

With a planned launch coming in December, customers can order Komo products across the country, and with same-day delivery in the greater Vancouver area.

"We are looking forward to making online ordering available for Komo across all provinces in Canada through Vejii," says Komo operating subsidiary CEO Jeffrey Ma. "The Vejii platform is a one-stop shop for vegan products and is a great channel for consumers looking for delicious plant-based comfort food to discover the Komo brand."

"We're excited to have Komo Comfort Foods on board Vejii's online plant-based marketplace," says Darren Gill, President and COO Vejii Holdings Ltd (CSE: VEJI). "Komo offers a unique assortment of wholesome and family-size comfort classics that would add to our selection of frozen meals. Komo is one of the many Canadian plant-based brands to join Vejii's platform, as we focus on providing brands with exposure to a national audience of like-minded consumers."

Vejii is a digital marketplace offering thousands of plant-based and sustainable-living products, from hundreds of vendors in a centralized, online shopping experience. The Vejii marketplace was built for rapid scale, allowing brands to reach national exposure utilizing Vejii's infrastructure of data, tech, marketing and logistics. The company has created a unique consolidated platform for a community of ethically aligned consumers, with the intention of bettering our planet by supporting sustainable living. Vejii is inspired by purpose and driven by data.

About Komo

Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. is a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals that are always hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients. At Komo, our mission is to help make plant-based meals a staple on every dinner table by sharing our love for feel-good food that connects the people to the planet. We believe plant-based eating is the future and - Change can start with a single biteTM. Our experienced plant-based innovation and development team recreates vegan versions of traditionally cheesy and meaty classics, with 100% plants. Komo's products are sold direct-to-consumer through our eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick and mortar grocery, convenience and natural retailer channels. Our operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods launched in 2021 with our flagship products: plant-based Lasagna, Shepherd's Pie and Chickenless Pot Pie and has recently launched a new line - Komo Plant-Based Meal Helpers - versatile meal starters to allow the creation of many dishes at home. All of our products are 100% plant-based, made with wholesome ingredients, free from preservatives, and frozen for freshness. Freezing products is a natural and effective way of keeping food products for longer without having to use any preservatives. Komo's meals have a 1-year frozen shelf life.

Learn more at: www.komocomfortfoods.com and follow on Instagram: @komocomfortfoods

About Vejii Holdings Inc.

Headquartered in Kelowna B.C., Vejii is a unified digital marketplace and fulfillment platform featuring thousands of plant-based and sustainable-living products from a growing list of hundreds of vendors. The platform offers an easy-to-use, omnichannel experience for both vendors and buyers, leveraging big data and artificial intelligence to elegantly connect brands with a targeted consumer base, both organically and through specialized marketing programs. Dynamic fulfillment services empower brands to offer fast and reliable delivery, with ongoing engagement being driven through features like smart lists, subscription programs, reordering functions, sampling programs, and more.

Information on the Company and its many products can be accessed through the links below.

VejiiHoldings.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Kory Zelickson

Director and CEO

Find Vejii on Social Media: on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Vejii in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities may not be offered or sold within the U.S. or to U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws with respect to the Company. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements relating to the timing and completion of the Veg Essentials Transaction, the timing and completion of the conversion of the Subscription Receipts and Special Warrants and completion of the listing on the CSE. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release including, without limitation, failure to satisfy the conditions precedent to the closing of the Veg Essentials Transaction and the conversion of the Subscription Receipts and Special Warrants and failure to receive final approval of the listing on the CSE and other risk factors described in the Final Prospectus. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

SOURCE Vejii Holdings Ltd.
Mr. Wershe was recently released from prison after serving over thirty-two years for non-violent drug offenses allegedly committed while he was a minor. As such, his life story, which has been the subject of several recent films and documentaries, is a prime example of the overly harsh penalties levied against victims of the decades-long "War on Drugs" started by the Nixon Administration and further escalated in the Reagan Era.

At launch, the brand will feature pure and premium flower and branded clothing. Mr. Wershe and Pleasantrees will dedicate a substantial portion of sales proceeds toward the release of wrongfully or excessively imprisoned drug offenders. In that regard, he will work closely with Pleasantrees' Director of Social Equity, Jerome Crawford, an active commentator on such matters. The brand's slogan  "Time is Money"  acknowledges the immense damages owed to such persons, including Mr. Wershe who recently sued the City of Detroit for $100M for their alleged involvement with his conviction and excessive incarceration as a minor.

For more information visit www.the8thbywhiteboyrick.com .

About Pleasantrees

Pleasantrees is a vertically-integrated, multi-state cannabis company which prides itself on cultivating the highest-quality cannabis. For more information visit enjoypleasantrees.com .

Media Contact:

The Bee Agency on behalf of Pleasantrees

[email protected] / 734.383.4285

SOURCE Pleasantrees
NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zinnov, a leading global management consulting and strategy advisory firm, acted as the exclusive buy-side financial advisor to Intive, a Digital Engineering services company from the European region, in its acquisition of SimTLiX, an agile services company, based in Argentina.

The Digital Engineering space has been seeing massive consolidation as companies strive to build digital capabilities to serve the dynamically changing customer, employee, and partner experiences. Mergers & Acquisitions are a growing testament to this heightened focus to not only build new digital products and experiences, but also to digitally enable existing products and services.

Intive is a global digital powerhouse headquartered in Munich, Germany, and a partner to some of the worlds' leading brands. The company operates development centers, design studios, and offices in Germany, Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, the UK, the USA, and Argentina. Intive's acquisition of SimTLiX was done to boost its domain expertise in FinTech, Telecom, Healthcare, and Retail, and its regional presence across both North and South America. Zinnov's role as a financial buy-side advisor included an overview of the landscape and the identification of opportunities aligned to the business's needs and capabilities.

Amit Kulkarni, Partner at Zinnov, remarked, "The ER&D spend has remained resilient despite the pandemic, with Digital Engineering being the core focus. Service Providers are looking to strengthen capabilities and bolster their presence across geographies to cater to the increasing demand for digital skillsets from enterprises. We are proud to have advised Intive's leadership team and the Board on this significant transaction, helping them in their journey of capability building. Zinnov believes that this acquisition momentum will carry through to 2022, with competition for top ER&D, digital services, and software assets becoming fierce."

About Zinnov

Founded in 2002, Zinnov is a global management consulting and strategy advisory firm, with presence across 3 continents. Zinnov has successfully consulted with 250+ Fortune 500 enterprises to develop actionable insights to help them create value  across dimensions of both revenue and optimization. With core expertise in Product Engineering, Digital Transformation, Global Talent, Globalization, and Mergers & Acquisitions, Zinnov relies on its in-depth industry understanding to offer tailor-made solutions that enable clients to meet their strategic aspirations. The company has been consistently ranked among the top 10 Outsourcing Advisory firms for 15 years in a row by IAOP (International Association of Outsourcing Professionals) and has been accredited to the coveted Global Outsourcing 100 List 2021. Zinnov assists clients by:

Advising global PE firms in asset shortlisting and target evaluation, commercial due diligence, and value creation;

Enabling global companies to develop and optimize a global engineering footprint through center setups, and technology and functional accelerators to achieve higher R&D efficiencies, innovation, and productivity;

Growing revenue for companies' products and services in newer markets through account intelligence, market entry, and market expansion advisory;

Structuring and implementing Digital Transformation levers enabled by technologies like AI/ML, Cloud, IOT, and RPA;

Helping global companies outline and drive their open innovation programs, design and operate accelerator programs, and enable collaboration with start-ups across specific use cases and predefined outcomes.

With their team of experienced consultants, subject matter experts, and research professionals, Zinnov serves clients from across multiple industry verticals including Enterprise Software, BFSI, Healthcare, Automotive, Retail, and Telecom in the US, Europe, Japan, and India.

For more information, visit http://www.zinnov.com.

SOURCE Zinnov
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of the fourth annual Las Vegas Global Wine Awards were announced on November 18th, 2021. The competition was held October 11-13 at the Ahern Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas.

For the second time in four years, the 2021 Best in Show award went to Oak Farm Vineyards of Lodi, California for their 2020 Mokelumne River Fiano, Estate Grown, with a score of 95 Points.



The Chairman's Award for Highest Score of the Competition went to Oomrang Winery of Stanwood, Washington for their 2020 Estate Grown Puget Sound Siegerrebe, with a score of 99 points, the highest score of any wine ever entered in the Las Vegas Global Wine Awards. Other top scoring wines included Best of Class for Washington's 2020 Roaming Dog Columbia Valley Rose, Best Sparkling for Herzog Special Reserve Russian River Valley 96 Points, Best Cabernet Sauvignon and Best in Show Red for Rodney Strong Vineyards Alexander Valley Estate Vineyards 93 Points, and a tie for Best Sweet Wine between Lilly Pilly Riverina Barrel Aged, 98 Points, and Lilly Pilly Estate Grown, Produced & Bottled, Noble Harvest, 96 Points.

Judges at the competition included wine buyers and educators, sommeliers, wine journalists, and distributor representatives from across the country.

According to founder and executive director Eddie Rivkin, even the ongoing global pandemic wasn't enough to decrease the number of entries or dissuade the expert judges: "For the second year in a row we were able to complete our judging in person, with plenty of distancing and masking requirements." Rivkin said the judges were able to discuss and analyze entries from around the world in a controlled and safe environment.

"We don't want any of these results to stay in Vegas," quipped Rivkin.

The competition will publicize winning producers globally via press releases, direct contact with publications, and blogs around the world, accompanied by a social media campaign. Select winners will also be offered immediate distribution in the Las Vegas Market.

The complete list of winners can be found here: www.vegaswineawards.com/awards.

The Fifth Annual 2022 Las Vegas Global Wine Awards are scheduled for June of 2022. For more information on entering the competition or for questions about results, visit www.VegasWineAwards.com.

Contact:

Eddie Rivkin, executive director

702.613.5351

SOURCE Las Vegas Global Wine Awards
ST. PAUL, Minn., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced the following investor event:

Credit Suisse 9th Annual Virtual Industrials Conference on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 . Mike Roman , chairman and chief executive officer, and Monish Patolawala, executive vice president and chief financial and transformation officer, will speak at 10:10 a.m. EST .

This event will be webcast live and a replay will be available on 3M's Investor Relations website at http://investors.3M.com.

About 3M

At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily as our employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M's creative solutions to global challenges at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNews.

Investor Contact:

Bruce Jermeland

(651) 733-1807

Tony Riter

(651) 733-1141



Diane Farrow

(612) 202-2449

Media Contact:

Tim Post

(612) 398-4190

SOURCE 3M

Related Links

www.3m.com


First cannabis-infused seltzer to originate in Missouri, named 'Society', will be available statewide by early 2022. Tweet this

The brand's seltzers are crafted from citrus and tropical ingredients, infused with a tasteless, micro-dosed extract of 5 milligrams of THC, are fast-acting and contain 15 calories. Society comes in a stylized painted and resealable,12-ounce can, with a price to consumer of $7.

Society seltzers are initially available in three flavors: Cherry Blossom, a refreshing subtle sweetness of cherries, balanced by a fresh floral aroma; Blood Orange + Yuzu, a subtly sweet orange flavored seltzer, with the citrusy, tart flavor of Yuzu; and, Ginger and Lime, featuring classic notes of ginger spiciest with the zest of lime.

Monarch is based in St. Louis and is owned and operated by a local team with 70 years of combined experience in both legacy beer leadership and craft brew brand building, and in cannabis business-building and dispensary experience.

"Our combined beer and cannabis experience gives our Society beverage portfolio an edge and an advantage," said Monarch Chief Operations Officer, Doug Mars, adding, "Society Beverages is committed to fueling growth and transforming innovation in the category." Prior to Monarch, Mars evolved a 26-year-long career with Anheuser-Busch. More recently he was general manager of a local, high-producing independent craft brewery, and managed the first licensed medical retail dispensary in the Midwest's early adopting state of Illinois.

Monarch leadership said that "beverage" is the consumer product format most capable of broadening usage occasions for the medical cannabis patient, and ultimately, introducing cannabis to the mainstream. "Drinking is a consumption format people are familiar with, and Society seltzers deliver a better taste and gauge of dosingamong the benefits many cannabis consumers want," Mars said. Society also appeals to consumers interested in "better-for-me" products, he said.

Monarch Chief Executive Officer, Corey Christanell, says Society also appeals to broader trends, including as an alternative for millennials and baby boomers who are abandoning sugar drinks and drinking less alcohol. Christanell is an accomplished senior-level sales and marketing executive who spent over 20 years with Anheuser-Busch in several senior management roles. He also is among the Missouri medical marijuana program pioneers, having served as a founding board member of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Trade Association (MoCannTrade). "Society represents a game changer as it offers a transformative way to consume cannabis and seamlessly incorporate the plant into our lives," Christanell said.

"Seltzer sales have dramatically increased because people, especially women, are wanting to make healthier choices and decrease the amount of sugar and alcohol they consume," said April Hatch, R.N., co-founder of Cannabis Care Team, a cannabis nurse education and training company active in Missouri. "Cannabis is medicine for Missourians." Hatch said, adding, "Overconsumption is not as likely to occur with an option like this, and that's the number one reason why people who try cannabis never try again."

The name "Society" recognizes how sociable an infused beverage is, reflecting the brand's commitment to make cannabis socially acceptable. Because "purpose" is a core value of Monarch, the Society Beverage portfolio features a social impact initiative called Support A Purpose. Support a Purpose is designed to advance the cannabis community's collective efforts to destigmatize the plant, while simultaneously enabling customers to fund donations in partnership with their hometown dispensaries for their hometown charities.

To learn more about Society Beverages, visit www.SocietyBeverages.com , and follow @socitybevs and @supportapurpose on Instagram.

About Monarch Supply Company (Monarch):

Monarch Supply Company (Monarch) is a purpose-driven, cannabis consumer products company, specializing in manufacturing, wholesaling, distributing, and marketing cannabis-infused beverages. Monarch also is the exclusive provider of products in other high-demand consumer cannabis product categories, including concentrates and oils. The licensed Missouri medical marijuana operator supports Missouri patients and dispensaries with locally crafted, quality-focused products that provide new choices and confidence, helping to meet their needs, drive social acceptance, and give back to the community. Support A Purpose is the company's social impact initiative to advance the cannabis community's collective efforts to destigmatize the plant, while simultaneously enabling customers to fund donations in partnership with their hometown dispensaries for their hometown charities. Monarch Supply Company is a member of the Missouri Medical Cannabis Association and Missouri Independent Medical Cannabis Association.

SOURCE Monarch Supply Co.
DETROIT, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit-based AaDya Security announced today that the company has partnered with EclecticIQ, a leading global provider of cyber threat intelligence, hunting and response technology and services, to offer its innovative endpoint detection and response (EDR) technology to customers of AaDya's all-in-one cybersecurity platform.

Built specifically for small and midsize business customers, AaDya's platform is the first to offer six pillars of protection in a unified platform. The solution is powered by Judy, a unique AI and machine learning agent that works on the back-end to ensure each of the pillars (single sign-on, password management, endpoint detection and response, threat detection and automated remediation, anti-phishing, and compliance mapping) work in tandem to provide a seamless experience for both the end-user and platform administrators.



AaDya this year also launched a successful channel partner program to offer its solution to managed IT and security service providers and value-added resellers who recognize the benefits of the unified platform for themselves and their clients.

"Judy was built by our engineers to deliver a full suite of enterprise-grade security tools in one simple, accessible, and affordable platform," explains Raffaele Mautone, CEO and founder of AaDya. "We are thrilled about our partnership with EclecticIQ, which aligns perfectly with our mission to provide small and midsize business customers access to the same security as their larger counterparts at a fraction of the cost. Their EDR solution hits all the marks in that it is light enough for our customers to implement and manage without having to compromise on security. Combined with the fact we were able to work with the EclecticIQ team to fully integrate the solution with Judy's capabilities made our decision to partner with them an easy one."



"AaDya built their solution with the understanding that security should not be a barrier to productivity," said Julie Cullivan, a veteran cybersecurity executive and AaDya board member. "The fact that many current security solutions are complicated and cumbersome to deploy has caused many SMB organizations to go unprotected. EclecticIQ's EDR technology was the perfect fit at the perfect time, allowing AaDya to expedite getting their endpoint solution pillar to market at a critical time for many small businesses as they face more cyber-risk and are being forced to meet the latest compliance requirements. I look forward to watching the partnership between these two innovative cybersecurity companies make a significant impact."



With many recent high-profile attacks and a renewed focus on security at all levels of the Nation's value chain, across all verticals and businesses of all sizes, timing has never been more critical to provide accessible and reliable protection against ubiquitous attacks like ransomware and phishing to a market segment that has traditionally been an afterthought for the big players in cybersecurity.

EclecticIQ, founded in 2014, is a leading cybersecurity company which is pioneering the intelligence-led analyst-centric platform that helps MSSPs, enterprises and governments to manage threat intelligence, hunting, detection and response.



EclecticIQ Endpoint Response is a full-featured, flexible and embeddable endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution designed for integration into existing security stacks. It ensures kernel-driven reliability to capture events in real-time on Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints using the unique endpoint telemetry plugin supported by open source osquery-based agent. It is easily integrated into existing toolsets and workflows via a straightforward REST API which leverages configuration, notifications, scheduled queries, and ad hoc queries for faster time to detection and response. And it installs in minutes, so this low-cost, low-footprint multifaceted solution enables faster mitigation of endpoint attacks.

"When we understood the potential of AaDya's Judy platform, it became obvious that EclecticIQ's highly embeddable EDR would make it both more powerful and more extensible for further market-specific innovation," said Sridhar Jayanthi, senior vice president, endpoint security, EclecticIQ. "The fact that AaDya could significantly accelerate their endpoint goals with EclecticIQ's proven technology makes this an ideal partnership."

To request a product demo email [email protected], or call (800) 918-9113.

About AaDya Security

Headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, AaDya Security provides smart, simple, effective and affordable cybersecurity software solutions for small and midsize businesses. Our all-in-one cybersecurity platform, powered by Judy, an interactive AI virtual assistant, provides enterprise-grade, 24/7 protection and support for companies who lack the time, expertise and capital to successfully implement these solutions on their own. For more information please visit our website, AaDyaSecurity.com

About EclecticIQ

EclecticIQ is a global provider of threat intelligence, hunting and response technology and services. Stay ahead of rapidly evolving threats and outmaneuver your adversaries by embedding Intelligence at the core of your cyberdefenses. We operate worldwide with offices and teams across Europe and UK, North America, India and via value-add partners. For more information, please visit eclecticiq.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12894219

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE EclecticIQ

Related Links

https://www.eclecticiq.com/


WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP's new 2021 Home and Community Preferences survey found that while more than three-quarters of adults ages 50 and older want to stay in their homes (77%) and communities (79%) as they age, one-third (33%) also report their houses would need modifications to be able to do so safely and independently. These needs are consistent for adults overall (ages 18+) who wish to stay in their current homes (63%) and communities (67%).

This comes at a time when the number of older adult households is rapidly growing, intensifying the need to provide more accessible and affordable housing options. Households headed by those age 65+ are expected to grow from 34 million to 48 million in the next 20 years.

Of the adults who are caregivers to someone living on their own, nearly half (49%) are concerned about the ability of the person they care for to continue living independently in their home in the future.

According to the survey, adults are interested in updates and options, like home renovations, safe streets, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), to better meet their housing and community needs:

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): A majority of adults would live in an ADU or in-law unit to live close to someone but maintain their own space (64%), if they needed help with daily activities (62%) or to save money (52%), while 62% would consider building an ADU on their property for a loved one who needed care, and 54% would for a family member or friend who needed a home.

A majority of adults would live in an ADU or in-law unit to live close to someone but maintain their own space (64%), if they needed help with daily activities (62%) or to save money (52%), while 62% would consider building an ADU on their property for a loved one who needed care, and 54% would for a family member or friend who needed a home. Top Renovations and Modernizing Priorities: Key renovations people favor include adding grab bars in bathrooms and having no-step showers (79%), making homes more accessible from the outside as well as inside (71%), installing an emergency response system (61%), and adding Smart Home devices such as a voice activated home assistant or a doorbell camera and smart appliances (48%).

Key renovations people favor include adding grab bars in bathrooms and having no-step showers (79%), making homes more accessible from the outside as well as inside (71%), installing an emergency response system (61%), and adding Smart Home devices such as a voice activated home assistant or a doorbell camera and smart appliances (48%). Relocating: Nearly half of adults (49%) would leave their home to find one that would allow them to age independently. Of those surveyed, 55% would consider leaving their community to find one that is safer, 49% would for a lower cost of living, 48% would for more affordable housing options, and 45% would for better housing choices.

Nearly half of adults (49%) would leave their home to find one that would allow them to age independently. Of those surveyed, 55% would consider leaving their community to find one that is safer, 49% would for a lower cost of living, 48% would for more affordable housing options, and 45% would for better housing choices. Livable Communities: A majority report it's important for their communities to have access to reliable and affordable in-home high-speed Internet (73%), clean water (82%), safe trails to walk, run or bike (62%), and safe, well-lit parks (73%).

New legislation passed this year, the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, included measures to help adults stay in their homes and communities by expanding high-speed Internet access, improving public transportation, making streets safer, and making housing more affordable. In addition, the Build Back Better Act, which is currently under consideration in Congress, could further address the nation's housing needs by investing $150 billion in proposed funds to supply more safe, affordable and stable houses for homeowners and renters.

"For decades, AARP has worked with state and local leaders to make cities and towns around the country great places for people of all ages," said Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. "COVID-19 was a wake-up call for the issues many older adults face in their homes and communities. It's more important than ever that we continue fighting for the essentials that allow Americans to age in place, including affordable housing options, high-speed internet access, reliable transportation, and safe communities."

AARP and Lowe's also announced a new initiative yesterday to provide consumers with tips and resources to build, renovate, and update homes to fit their needs now and in the future.

"A significant majority of adults want to continue living in their homes as they age, but the unfortunate reality is that many homes and communities weren't built to support that desire," said Rodney Harrell, PhD, AARP Vice President, Family, Home and Community. "As the number of households headed by older adults grows rapidly, there's an urgent need to provide information and support for how to do renovations and build homes and communities so they better accommodate people of any age and ability."

To see the full Home and Community Preferences report and methodology, visit www.aarp.org/livablesurvey2021.

About AARP

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.

SOURCE AARP
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Motor Corporation unveiled the company's stunning mid-size sedan named SAGA at THE ZEVAS, the Los Angeles Auto Show's inaugural zero-emission vehicle awards program powered by Electrify America. The unveiling followed an announcement of the company's ACE Coupe as THE ZEVAS Winner in the category of "Top Coupe."

SAGA, extends the sleek ACE Coupe into a mid-size sedan for five passengers on an electric platform, combining versatile driving performance, durability, and clean power.

SAGA launch can be viewed at https://youtu.be/3dQvPUDfy6Y. Tweet this Alpha Motor Corporation Unveils SAGA Pure Electric Sedan At LA Auto Show ZEVAS 2021 Alpha Motor Corporation  2021. All Rights Reserved.

The core technology of SAGA (Sleek & Adaptative Geometric Architecture) streamlines integration of modern electric vehicle components into an architecture that is built to optimize commonization.

"SAGA is different from a traditional 'skateboard chassis.' A skateboard chassis is a popularized term for a motorized platform which the upper body conforms to, whereas SAGA is an open vehicle architecture for holistic integration of components and technology."

"The special process of building the SAGA requires carefully constructing feasible geometry. Ultimately, it is the result of an efficient automobile commercialization system to make electric vehicles more accessible," said Alpha Motor Corporation.

SAGA comes in a single motor rear-wheel drive and dual motor all-wheel drive system with an estimated zero to sixty acceleration time in 6 seconds and maximum speed of up to 124 miles per hour.

The vehicle is intended to be equipped with an 85-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery system with an estimated 300 miles of range. Vehicle charging is achieved using a combination electric vehicle charger with an estimated 80% charge capacity in 1 hour using DC power.

Each battery module features cylindrical cells which are seamlessly packaged into the lower vehicle frame. The battery mass is used to establish a low center of gravity and contributes to a balanced distribution of weight throughout the vehicle.

The exterior architecture and form streamline aerodynamics to improve range efficiency, with an estimated .32 drag coefficient.

SAGA features spacious storage compartments, both underneath the hood and trunk of the vehicle. The vehicle interior integrates several advanced features, including a driver-centric digital speedometer, a digital center display, haptic interior climate and audio controls, digital sound system and ergonomically bolstered seating, all designed for an enjoyable in-vehicle experience.

A performance edition in collaboration with Rotiform and hatch back variant of SAGA are expected to follow.

SAGA vehicle dimensions measure approximately 4,700mm (185in) in length, 1910mm (75in) in width, and 1450mm (57in) in height. The special launch edition SAGA Sedan was unveiled in SD Gray, a deep metallic gray finish inspired by the marine layer clouds of San Diego, California.

"We anticipate SAGA to resonate with people, in terms of what they are looking for in an electric vehicle. It's a functional and elegant vehicle that we will strive to bring to the market," said Alpha Motor Corporation.

Additional information on the SAGA Sedan, including its price, are available on Alpha Motor Corporation's website: https://www.alphamotorinc.com .

To indicate your interest to reserve the SAGA Sedan, visit https://www.alphamotorinc.com/vehiclereservation.

SAGA launch can be viewed at https://youtu.be/3dQvPUDfy6Y .

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

*Vehicle specifications are provided for illustrative purposes only and subject to change.

SOURCE Alpha Motor Corporation

Related Links

https://www.alphamotorinc.com/


BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Apprise by Walker & Dunlop announced today that it has expanded its reach in the West Coast region with the addition of Managing Director Aaron DeCollibus, MAI, Senior Director Nikolas Rieser, MAI, and Associate Director Jared Nelson. Mr. DeCollibus and Mr. Nelson are based in Seattle, Washington, and Mr. Rieser is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Together, the team will support Jacinto Munoz, Apprise's West Coast Lead and Head of National Strategy and Compliance, in growing the firm's commercial real estate appraisal capabilities.

"With Aaron, Nikolas, and Jared joining our team, Apprise continues to provide regional support for our client base by increasing our experts on the ground," commented Mr. Munoz. "Their proven expertise and deep valuation knowledge perfectly align with our company's mission of backing our transformative technology with the best appraisers in the business."

Mr. DeCollibus added, "We're excited to join the future of commercial real estate valuations with a forward-thinking, technology-oriented startup company such as Apprise and contribute to the firm's rapid expansion. I am eager to contribute my unique skill set in my new role as Managing Director of the Pacific Northwest region."

Mr. DeCollibus is a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) as well as a Designated Commercial Review Appraiser (AI-GRS), and he previously worked for commercial real estate appraisal firms Atlus Group and CJM Investment Property Advisors. Mr. Nelson gained significant valuation experience at CJM Investment Property Advisors before joining Apprise and holds a Certified General Appraiser license in Washington state. Mr. Rieser joins Apprise from Valbridge Property Advisors in Phoenix and is recognized as a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI).

Apprise harnesses artificial intelligence, state-of-the-art trend analysis, and enhanced analytics and pairs that technology platform with its leading appraisers to consistently deliver trusted appraisal and asset valuation reports to their clients. The firm's proprietary technology is supported by machine learning, which considers nuanced, market-level information such as age, size, built structure, expenses, location, demographics, amenities, and walk score to ensure consistent and streamlined valuations. With instant access to 20 years of licensed data on more than 2.5 million property records from proprietary databases and industry-standard resources, Apprise's appraisers can deliver property- and market-level insights within hours, ensuring client confidence in decision-making and exceptional risk mitigation.

Launched by Walker & Dunlop and GeoPhy, Apprise is focused exclusively on the U.S. market. The firm's national team now has a collective track record of valuing $150 billion worth of commercial real estate properties, comprising more than 900,000 units per year. Serving a client base that includes GSE lenders, owners/operators, banks, and institutional lenders, the Apprise team specializes in FIRREA and USPAP-compliant appraisals, as well as consulting assignments for multifamily assets.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is the largest provider of capital to the multifamily industry in the United States and the fourth largest lender on all commercial real estate including industrial, office, retail, and hospitality. Walker & Dunlop enables real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities  where Americans live, work, shop and play  to life. The power of our people, premier brand, and industry-leading technology make us more insightful and valuable to our clients, providing an unmatched experience every step of the way. With over 1,000 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop has consistently been named one of Fortune's Great Places to Work and is committed to making the commercial real estate industry more inclusive and diverse while creating meaningful social, environmental, and economic change in our communities.

About GeoPhy

GeoPhy, with U.S. headquarters in New York City, helps lenders and investors understand property value and its underlying drivers. The company sources, links, and cleanses traditional and unconventional data, then applies advanced algorithms to provide a unique perspective on commercial property values. GeoPhy's unique approach provides the industry's most accurate, objective property valuations and tools that allow users to develop a deeper understanding of the factors influencing property values.

SOURCE Apprise by Walker & Dunlop
Artprice Metaverse

 'Alchemical Fractal 1' (collection of 999 works), raw steel, NFT sculpture and algorithm by thierry Ehrmann.

Courtesy of Organe Museum / Abode of Chaos / La Demeure du Chaos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/home_of_chaos/albums/72157714573284962

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692202/Artprice_Metaverse.jpg

artprice-nft.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692203/Artprice_NFT_Bill.jpg





This prediction is based on the economic reality of the NFT medium as it is today and its almost unlimited potential in the rapidly emerging Multiverse of Metaverses.

It is also based on the history, economic model, eco-responsible choices and disruptive philosophy that are part of the DNA of Artprice by Artmarket, which has always sought to place artists at the heart of the Art Market.

In order to appreciate the dimensions and magnitude of what might loosely be termed the 'NFT phenomenon', one needs to start by digesting the following fact: by the end of the third quarter of 2021, NFTs had generated 45 billion dollars around the world!

With its pioneering digital experience on the Internet for almost a quarter century and its leading position in the collection, exploitation and delivery of art market information, Artprice by Artmarket is perfectly positioned to capture a significant portion of this new market  at least several tens of millions of euros  because its clients are already key art market players all over the world.

According to a Harris survey, 11% of American adults have already purchased an NFT. However what makes this figure so stunning is that they had never before bought an artwork. This suggests the existence of a colossal reservoir of new buyers who will inevitably generate new sources of income... and that's just in the USA.

Financial analysts at Jefferies  a prestigious American investment bank  are expecting the NFT market to double in value in 2022 and believe it very likely to represent at least $80 billion in 2025. It is important to remember that the current non-digital secondary art market is worth approximately $10 billion a year. We are therefore looking at a massive new growth driver and a complete change in the dimension and structure of the global art market. (Jefferies is a highly influential broker on global financial markets and is listed as a Fortune 1000 company in the United States).

Meanwhile, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase (market cap of $73 billion) has speculated that sales of NFTs could overtake cryptocurrency trading. At the company's latest earnings conference call, he said that its future may soon lie in the NFT market.

"We are very excited about NFTs, this is going to be a very large market for crypto going forward, and it is already happening today. It could be as big, if not bigger, than the company's cryptocurrency business" he said.

Caty Tedman, Head of Partnerships at Dapper Labs and leader of the NBA's Top Shot digital collectibles project told CNBC, "NFTs are here to stay."

According to a Reuters press dispatch dated November 17, 2021: 'On the biggest NFT marketplace, OpenSea, there were $2.6 billion of sales in October this year, a massive increase from the $4.8 million in October 2020'.

These estimates and opinions all suggest that the NFT market has gone from a niche market to a multi-billion dollar market in just a few months.

Artmarket.com therefore plans to use its key position in the art market to become a key player in the fine arts segment of the NFT universe/metaverse, which  far from peaking  is growing like wildfire. We firmly believe this sphere is now in its infancy and that Artprice by Artmarket will become one of the reference players in an industry already on track towards exponential growth.

The choice of Artprice by Artmarket in the Blockchain

Artprice by Artmarket will operate with the Ethereum platform and its native cryptocurrency, the Ether (ETH), the second largest cryptocurrency in the world by market value, and above all, the preferred cryptocurrency of the NFT digital art world. The world's major art vendors have all chosen Ethereum including Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams and Phillips.

For a number of reasons  not the least of which are Artmarket's environmental concerns  Ethereum with Artmarket will function in staking mode (proof-of-stake). This will avoid both the wanton consumption of data mining energy and major investments in hardware.

According to thierry Ehrmann: "the data mining activity, devoid of any ethical values, has turned its miners into a digital proletariat".

Staking allows Ethers to be immobilized in an Artprice smart contract. In reality, Artprice's primary added-value will be in its certification of the authenticity of the artist and his/her works from its reference databases. Artprice already has an open community of 765,000 artists and 5.4 million involved and contributing members including 4.5 million art collectors and enthusiasts and 900,000 art professionals (auction houses, appraisers, institutions, art dealers, family offices and private banking, etc.).

Artprice's Metaverse community will effectively merge with the economic and virtuous ecosystems in the broader metaverse, and vice-versa, thus allowing exponential growth in full compliance with Metcalfe's famous law on network proliferation.

At the same time, Artprice will allocate 'wallets' to its community.

The development of 'staking' will likely lower entry barriers into the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

After numerous exchanges with NFTs platforms and marketplaces, Artmarket.com maintains the best contacts with two major NFTs operators, namely Opensea and Rarible.

Artprice by Artmarket has decided to build its Metaverse with Ethereum 2.0 and the transition to proof-of-stake (POS). The developers of the Ethereum platform always wanted to change to the consensus system by moving to a proof-of-stake mechanism, known to offer better performances.

Artprice by Artmarket is very sensitive to the ecological impact of its activities. Considering the energy consumption in proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining, this decision is also ecologically responsible.

With proof-of-stake, miners are replaced by players called 'validation nodes'. In this mechanism, the latter must deposit, or stake, 32 ETH on an address to be able to validate and add transactions to the blockchain.

Artprice is particularly motivated by the writings of Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the Ethereum network, who has been lauding the merits of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism since 2016. The transformation of Etherium towards 2.0 has indeed confirmed the maturity of his project.

Vitalik Buterin's philosophical and political vision is in accordance with the values that thierry Ehrmann has carried through Artprice and Groupe Serveur since 1987, himself a pioneer of the Internet (cf. Time Magazine).

Artprice's IT community, its members and crypto enthusiasts around the world are indeed very pleased with the news of the switch in early 2022 to Ethereum 2.0 (also called "Serenity") via an upgrade of the proof-of-stake platform.

According to thierry Ehrmann  Artmarket.com's CEO, founder of Artprice and CEO of Server group, an "Internet pioneer" since 1987 and Artprice's reference shareholder 

"In historic terms, the nearest thing to the impact of NFTs on the art world was the paradigm shift we now call the 'Renaissance'. Not since then has there been such a massive transfer of power into the hands of artists, because it was thanks to Johannes Gutenberg's printing press that artists were able to print editions of their work.

The Renaissance allowed artists to generate incomes and to control their production independently in their workshops and factories. Today with NFTs, we are experiencing a similar paradigm shift."

Artprice by Artmarket's Metaverse Manifesto

Artprice's Metaverse will allow the emergence and liberation of artistic creativity, backed by 25 years of expertise in the economy of artistic creation. In order to be free in their 'FabLabs', artists need to overcome obstacles and technological barriers.

The Metaverse is not a 2D or a 3D world. It is about the dematerialization of the physical world towards a new universe where once impossible experiences become possible.

During the 21st century's Enlightenment, the art world will be reshaped around virtual creation and the virtual (but very real) economy, allowing the emergence of a genuinely boundless space for artists to express themselves.

Even in the virtual world of the Metaverse, singularity will remain one of the most prized qualities.

Artprice by Artmarket's Metaverse will allow the emergence of a creative interaction within an artistic community where collectors and artists will generate an entirely new narrative. The Metaverse will be the basis for a social 'immersion' generating precisely the interaction that artists seek, thus propelling the art market deeper into the Metaverse.

We are in effect talking about a vast "push and pull" ecosystem where all the actors of the art market, including artists and collectors, will share a 'community content'. Artists will be at the center of the Metaverse. The artist's 'FabLab' will be open in real time to the community through the Metaverse.

Experiences within the Artprice Metaverse will be increasingly immersive, with artists having access to all the necessary technologies both easily and cheaply, generating a virtuous economy.

The Artprice Metaverse will support, among other things, art market events such as art fairs and exhibitions which, in their current format, have a seriously negative carbon impact. These events will thus be reborn in the Metaverse by being at last constantly present with their community of artists, gallery owners, collectors and enthusiasts.

The organization of Artprice's clean rooms and its data clouds across continents is a question of space computing, allowing hybrid (i.e. real / virtual) computing, which ensures the permeability between the physical world and the Metaverse.

The Metaverse of Artprice's head office is located deep within the Organe Museum of Contemporary Art which manages the Abode of Chaos. To create the Metaverse of this singular architecture and Total Artwork by thierry Ehrmann, the European group TT Geometres Experts and its 3D Lab conducted, from 2020 to 2021, a complete digitization of 6,300 artworks integrated into the buildings, outbuildings and perimeter walls over 7,555 m, thereby generating a digitized heritage of 1.2 Terra-Bytes.

The Artprice Metaverse  currently under development  is being designed so that people can forget about rigid IT, a real obstacle to creation.

Artprice by Artmarket's Research & Development has been working for five years on non-intrusive interfaces that allow people to access augmented and virtual realities.

Clearly, 5G mobile networks  with their spectrum of miniscule frequencies  allow an opening towards the Metaverse and connection to the 'Internet of Things'.

In the real world, we have a universe made up of millions of galaxies; in the virtual world  the next generation of Internet  we will have a multiverse made up of millions of metaverses.

However, the most relevant Metaverse to Art History will be the one that is most relevant to artists and the art community: the Artprice Metaverse...

The Artprice Metaverse Manifesto is quite simply an invitation to the new era of Enlightenment.

#ArtMarket by #ARTPRICE $ PRC #NFT #CryptoArt #metaverse #DigitalArt #NFTs #MarketPlace #BTC #ETH #OpenSeaNFT #raribleNFT #Ethereum #Manifesto

Images:

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Copyright 1987-2021 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com

Don't hesitate to contact our Econometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: [email protected]

for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo

Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription

About Artmarket:

Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF.

Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video

Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987.

See certified biography in Who's who :

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2021/06/Biographie_nov2020_WhosWho_thierryEhrmann.pdf

Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 770,000 artists.

Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform.

Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians.

Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 6300 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 5.4 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code).

Artmarket with its Artprice department, has been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI) (for the second time in November 2018 for a new period of 3 years) which is supporting the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the market art.

Artprice's 2020/21 Contemporary Art Market Report by Artmarket.com:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2021

Artprice by Artmarket's 2020 Global Art Market Report published in March 2021:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2020

Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department:

serveur.serveur.com/press_release/pressreleaseen.htm

Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter:

www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 5,4 million followers)

twitter.com/artmarketdotcom

twitter.com/artpricedotcom

Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013

L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o

www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (4.4 million followers)

https://vimeo.com/124643720

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Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Artmarket.com
BOSTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marks five years that Voice of the Faithful has reviewed annually all U.S. Catholic dioceses' online financial transparency. Over the past five years, according to VOTF reviewers, overall diocesan transparency scores have increased, and some dioceses have achieved considerable success, but much work remains to be done.

The 2021 report shows that overall diocesan online financial transparency scores increased from 65% in 2020 to 69% in 2021, but that only 64% of all dioceses posted current audited financial reports, even though those dioceses posting such reports increased from 104 in 2020 to 113 in 2021. Looking back five years, VOTF reported in 2017 that only 65 of the 177 U.S. dioceses posted current audited financial statements. Additionally, the 2017 report showed that 15 dioceses scored 90% or higher, while, in 2021, 38 dioceses achieved scores above 90%.

The 2021 report shows that several dioceses achieved considerable success over the past year. Among those most improved from 2020 are the Diocese of Camden, which scored 20% in 2020 and 82% in 2021. Similarly, Cheyenne scored 25% in 2020 and 70% in 2021; Rapid City 30% and 72%; and Biloxi 57% and 96%.

This year's top-scoring dioceses all scored 100%: Bridgeport, Charleston, Orlando, and Scranton. The Diocese of Bellville scored next highest, maintaining its 2020 score of 98%. The poorest performing dioceses were: El Paso, 22%; Allentown, 20%; Nashville, 20%; Tulsa, 20%, and St. Thomas, 17%.

In addition, VOTF's 2021 reviewers concluded:

Transparency concerning the membership and activities of Diocesan Finance Councils is limited, with an average score of 4.1 out of 10 on this question. Further, 62 out of 177 dioceses posted no information on their DFC this year. This will figure strongly in VOTF's current review of lay involvement in Church governance through DFCs.

The only area where scores dropped this year is on the parish collection security question. The decrease was only 3.1 to 2.9 out of 10 points, but reflected primarily the conflicting guidance and contradictory policies found within posted financial policies in dioceses. Consistency between posted policies on a diocese's web pages could easily raise the diocese's score on this section.

VOTF's fifth annual review of all dioceses comprising the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops was conducted between June 1 and Aug. 31 by three independent reviewers and their report, "Measuring and Ranking Diocesan Online Financial Transparency: 2021 Report," and all previous VOTF reports on diocesan online financial transparency can be read by clicking here.

VOTF 2021 reviewers concluded that, "Although significant progress has been achieved in the last decade, and in particular during the last three years, members of the church in the U.S. must be vigilant if they wish to prevent financial mismanagement and abuse." They recommend the following for dioceses committed to increasing their financial transparency:

If your diocese does not post audited financial reports, communicate your concerns

to your parish and diocesan leadership. If they say they will provide it upon request, request it!

to your parish and diocesan leadership. If they say they will provide it upon request, request it! If you cannot find any useful information on your diocesan website concerning the Diocesan Finance Council, communicate your concerns.

If your diocese does post audited reports, use the guide What to Look for When Reviewing Diocesan Financial Statements (http://www.votf.org/Financial_Acct-Trans/ReadingFS-VOTF-FWG.pdf) to assess the report. If dioceses post reports that no one reads, who is holding them accountable?

(http://www.votf.org/Financial_Acct-Trans/ReadingFS-VOTF-FWG.pdf) to assess the report. If dioceses post reports that no one reads, who is holding them accountable? If your diocese's financial transparency score has dropped dramatically since the last review it may be an indication of serious financial problems. Look into possible causes and work to demand transparency and accountability.

Voice of the Faithful News Release, Nov. 12, 2021, Nick Ingala, [email protected], 781-559-3360

Voice of the Faithful: Voice of the Faithful's mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. VOTF's goals are to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, to support priests of integrity, and to shape structural change within the Catholic Church. More information is at www.votf.org.

SOURCE Voice of the Faithful

Related Links

http://www.votf.org


Ascend Newton to offer delivery services to Greater Boston Area within a 25-mile radius from the dispensary

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH" or the "Company") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, announced the soft opening of its Newton, Massachusetts adult-use dispensary, with delivery services beginning on opening day. The store will be celebrated with a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony in early December to mark AWH's second Ascend location in the state. The Company's flagship location on Friend Street in Downtown Boston opened in May this year.

Located at 1089 Washington Street, less than 10 miles from Downtown Boston, Ascend Newton is easily accessible from the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 95. The approximately 5,000 square foot dispensary features an open floor plan to allow for high throughput. The store will carry a selection of premium products from AWH-owned brands Ozone and Ozone Reserve, partner brands Lowell Smokes and Flower by Edie Parker, as well as popular third-party brands 1906 and AiroPro. Customers can make appointments for in-store ordering and order online for streamlined pick-up or convenient delivery.

Ascend Newton is the first of AWH's retail locations to offer delivery services from the dispensary. Customers can order directly from the dispensary website, select a two-hour delivery window and pay at the time of delivery via cash or debit. Delivery will be available within a 25-mile radius from the Newton location, including Downtown Boston, providing Ascend delivery access to 3.6 million people.

"With 2021 Massachusetts cannabis sales expected to more than double from last years' total, we're excited to bring Ascend's high-end retail experience and robust product offering to Newton," said Andrea Cabral, CEO of Ascend Massachusetts. "We're proud to launch our first delivery service, which increases consumer access to premium cannabis products for those in Middlesex County and Downtown Boston. We are committed to diverse, local hiring and look forward to building relationships and supporting the local Newton residents."

AWH remains dedicated to supporting the surrounding communities in which it has a retail presence. Ascend Newton anticipates it will create approximately 50 jobs for the Newton community, offering health insurance and other benefits.

"We are thrilled to expand our presence across the flourishing Massachusetts cannabis market with the opening of Ascend Newton, the second of three Ascend dispensaries planned for the state," said Abner Kurtin, Founder and CEO of AWH. "Strategically located just outside of Downtown Boston with delivery capabilities, the new location will help to better serve customers in the suburbs with best-selling products and a best-in-class shopping experience."

Recreational cannabis sales in Massachusetts have already exceeded last year's total and are on pace to reach $1.2 billion in 2021 and up to $2.6 billion by 2025. Adult-use sales have eclipsed $2 billion in total since the market launched less than three years ago. Ascend Newton will help ensure consistent supply to consumers in Massachusetts' rapidly-growing cannabis market.

About AWH:

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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "continue", "will", "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate.

Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Such factors include, among others: the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and in the Company's other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, LLC

Related Links

https://awholdings.com/


HONG KONG, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BIT Mining Limited (NYSE: BTCM) ("BIT Mining," "the Company," "we," "us," or "our company"), a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company, today reported its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Cryptocurrency Business Progress

BIT Mining has completed the transition of its business to an enterprise that covers cryptocurrency mining, data center operation and mining pool. The Company has adopted a development strategy to focus on the migration and expansion of cryptocurrency mining operations globally.

The Company has commenced ethereum mining operations with a theoretical maximum total hash rate capacity of 3,451 GH/s deployed as of today. Ethereum mining machines with a total theoretical maximum hash rate capacity of 4,800 GH/s are expected to be deployed by the end of November 2021. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we produced 779 ethereum from our ethereum cryptocurrency mining operations, and recognized revenue of approximately US$2.5 million. As of today, we produced 52 ethereum per day, and have produced 2,300 ethereum in aggregate. Based on the current total network hash rate of ethereum and price1 of ethereum, we expect to produce approximately 80 ethereum per day theoretically, starting in December 2021. Based on the current ethereum price1 of US$4,279, and the current bitcoin price1 of US$60,366, we expect to produce approximately 2,400 ethereum monthly, which are equivalent to approximately 170 bitcoin and worth approximately US$10.3 million in aggregate.

As of today, the theoretical maximum total hash rate capacity of our bitcoin mining machines is approximately 800 PH/s. To increase the cost efficiency of its mining business, the Company sold some low-end mining machines with a total hash rate capacity of 610.7 PH/s. As of today, we have completed the migration of all of our bitcoin mining machines to the U.S. and Kazakhstan. In the U.S., we have bitcoin mining machines with a total hash rate capacity of 507.3 PH/s, of which 119.7 PH/s have been deployed in data centers and the remainder have been fine-tuned and are waiting to be deployed. In Kazakhstan, we have bitcoin mining machines with a total hash rate capacity of 292.7 PH/s, of which109.4 PH/s have been deployed in data centers and the remainder have been fine-tuned and are waiting to be deployed. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, we produced 79 bitcoins from our cryptocurrency mining business, and recognized revenue of approximately US$3.4 million.

In terms of our data center business, in September 2021 we entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement and certain other auxiliary agreements (the "Ohio Mining Site Agreements") with Viking Data Centers, LLC ("Viking Data Centers") to jointly invest in the development of a cryptocurrency mining data center in Ohio (the "Ohio Mining Site") with power capacity of up to 85 megawatts. In October 2021, we increased our investment in the Ohio Mining Site and brought its total planned power capacity up to 150 megawatts. We currently expect to complete the Ohio Mining Site in March 2022. As of today, we have finished the construction of plant and substantion of power capacity of 50 megawatts, of which 11 megawatts has started to operate. We are also constructing new data centers in Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. The new data center in Hong Kong, with a maximum processing capacity of approximately 1.4 megawatts, has been operational since October 2021. Moreover, we will construct and operate a data center in Kazakhstan which is located in Uralsk region of West Kazakhstan with a maximum processing capacity of approximately 40 megawatts, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

On October 14, 2021, the Company announced that its mining pool subsidiary, BTC.com, would completely exit the China market, cease registering new users from China and start to retire accounts of existing users from China. Due to BTC.com's discontinuation of service to users in China, the Company expects to see a decrease of 10% to 20% in revenues for the three months ending December 31, 2021. The Company is working on solutions with its existing users in China, such as migrating such users' mining machines to overseas markets, so that they may have access to our services in a compliant manner. In addition, the Company expects that its continued growth in international markets will help offset the loss of business in China. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the mining pool business generated revenue of approximately US$397.8 million.

Removal of VIE Structure and Disposal of Chinese Lottery Business

We previously conducted a lottery business in China through a series of contractual arrangements with the lottery business-related VIEs. In July 2021, the Company announced its decision to dispose of its Chinese lottery-related business and the Company terminated all of its lottery business-related VIE contracts for nil consideration and recognized a disposal loss of US$6.7 million. The lottery business-related VIE subsidiaries were deconsolidated and their financial results were not included in the Company's financial results in the third quarter of 2021 as a result of eliminating the VIE structure. The condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the three months ended September 30, 2021, June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 have been reclassified to reflect the disposal of the VIE subsidiaries' business segment as a discontinued operation.

Termination of the Online Lottery Business in Europe

The Company is in the process of terminating its online lottery business in Europe being operated under The Multi Group ("TMG"), which the Company acquired in July 2017. We expect to terminate all business operations under the Malta e-Gaming license by the end of November 2021, all business operations under the Sweden e-Gaming license by the end of December 2021, and all business operations under the Curacao e-Gaming license by the end of January 2022. The termination of TMG's online lottery business in Europe is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022. TMG contributed US$0.6 million, or 0.1%, of the Company's total revenue and net loss of US$0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Due to the expansion of the Company's cryptocurrency mining business, the Company does not expect the termination of its online lottery business in Europe to have a material impact on its operational results or financial position.

Conversion of Reporting Currency

Starting from the third quarter of 2021, the Company has changed its reporting currency from the Renminbi ("RMB") to the U.S. Dollar ("USD"), to reduce the impact of increased volatility of the USD to RMB exchange rate on the Company's reported operating results. The alignment of the reporting currency with underlying operations will better depict the Company's results of operations for each period. The related financial statements prior to July 1, 2021 have been recast to USD as if the financial statements originally had been presented in USD since the earliest periods presented.

"We are glad to announce our third quarter 2021 financial results, as we continue to execute our strategy to create value within the cryptocurrency ecosystem," said Mr. Xianfeng Yang, CEO of BIT Mining. "Over the past six months we completed the migration of our mining machines to overseas markets and have made significant progress in the construction of our US data centers, which provide critical operational efficiencies for our business. Additionally, we saw the potential value ethereum has as the fundamental currency for applications such as nonfungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized finance (DeFi), and the metaverse. We foresaw the growth of ethereum mining as a result and have deployed massive ethereum computing power in advance which have generated relatively positive returns. Looking forward, we plan to continue to enhance our value proposition and strengthen our technology on mining techniques."

1 The ethereum price is based on the price on November 18, 2021, at UTC 0:00, published on https://coinmarketcap.comthe bitcoin price is based on the average of the prices on November 18, 2021, at UTC 0:00, published on https://www.bitfinex.com and https://www.bitstamp.net.

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights for Continuing Operations

Revenues were US$404.3 million in the third quarter of 2021, representing a decrease of US$40.6 million from US$444.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, and a sharp increase of US$403.8 million from US$0.5 million for the third quarter of 2020. Revenues during the third quarter of 2021 primarily consisted of US$397.8 million in revenue contribution from our mining pool business that we consolidated from April 2021 .

in the third quarter of 2021, representing a decrease of from for the second quarter of 2021, and a sharp increase of from for the third quarter of 2020. Revenues during the third quarter of 2021 primarily consisted of in revenue contribution from our mining pool business that we consolidated from . Operating loss was US$35.0 million in the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of US$20.1 million from US$14.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of US$30.1 million from US$4.9 million for the third quarter of 2020. The increase in operating loss was mainly due to a migration that resulted in the decrease of the revenue and the impairment of cryptocurrencies.

in the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of from for the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of from for the third quarter of 2020. The increase in operating loss was mainly due to a migration that resulted in the decrease of the revenue and the impairment of cryptocurrencies. Non-GAAP operating loss 2 was US$22.7 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared with non-GAAP operating income of US$1.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, and non-GAAP operating loss of US$3.1 million for the third quarter of 2020.

was in the third quarter of 2021, as compared with non-GAAP operating income of for the second quarter of 2021, and non-GAAP operating loss of for the third quarter of 2020. Net loss attributable to BIT Mining was US$29.6 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared with net loss attributable to BIT Mining of US$14.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, and net loss attributable to BIT Mining of US$4.5 million for the third quarter of 2020.

in the third quarter of 2021, as compared with net loss attributable to BIT Mining of for the second quarter of 2021, and net loss attributable to BIT Mining of for the third quarter of 2020. Non-GAAP net loss 2 attributable to BIT Mining was US$17.3 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared with non-GAAP net income attributable to BIT Mining of US$2.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, and non-GAAP net loss attributable to BIT Mining of US$2.7 million for the third quarter of 2020.

attributable to BIT Mining was in the third quarter of 2021, as compared with non-GAAP net income attributable to BIT Mining of for the second quarter of 2021, and non-GAAP net loss attributable to BIT Mining of for the third quarter of 2020. Basic and diluted loss per American Depositary Share ("ADS") attributable to BIT Mining Limited for the third quarter of 2021 were US$0.43 .

. Non-GAAP basic and diluted loss per ADS2 attributable to BIT Mining Limited for the third quarter of 2021 were US$0.25 .

2 Non-GAAP financial measures exclude the impact of share-based compensation expenses, impairment of property and equipment, impairment of cryptocurrencies, net gain or loss on disposal of cryptocurrencies and changes in fair value of derivative instrument. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP financial measures are set forth in the table at the end of this release.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results for Continuing Operations

Revenues

Revenues were US$404.3 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing a sharp increase of US$403.8 million from US$0.5 million for the third quarter of 2020 and a decrease of US$40.6 million from US$444.9 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase was mainly attributable to our mining pool business that we consolidated from April 2021. The sequential decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease of US$11.4 million in data center business due to the suspension of data centers in Sichuan, China and a decrease of US$25.4 million in revenues from the mining pool business. Revenues were mainly comprised of revenues from the mining pool business of US$397.8 million and the cryptocurrency mining business of US$5.9 million.

Operating Costs and Expenses

Operating costs and expenses were US$425.5 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of US$420.1 million from US$5.4 million for the third quarter of 2020, and a decrease of US$17.3 million or 3.9% from US$442.8 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to a significant increase of US$406.3 million in cost for the allocation to pool participants associated with the mining pool business and an increase of US$6.2 million in depreciation and amortization expense. The sequential decrease was mainly due to a decrease of US$8.6 million in service expense associated with data center business and a decrease of US$8.5 million in cost for the allocation to pool participants associated with the mining pool business, which was partially offset by an increase of US$3.0 million in share-based compensation expenses associated with share options granted to the Company's directors and employees.

Cost of revenue was US$416.1 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of US$415.7 million from US$0.4 million for the third quarter of 2020, and a decrease of US$19.5 million or 4.5% from US$435.6 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase was mainly attributable to a significant increase of US$406.3 million in cost for the allocation to pool participants associated with the mining pool business and an increase of US$6.2 million in depreciation and amortization expense. The sequential decrease was mainly due to a decrease of US$8.6 million in service expense associated with data center business and a decrease of US$8.5 million in cost for the allocation to pool participants associated with the mining pool business. Cost of revenue was comprised of the direct cost of revenue of US$409.0 million and depreciation and amortization of US$7.1 million. The direct cost of revenue mainly included direct costs relating to the mining pool business of US$406.3 million and the cryptocurrency mining business of US$1.3 million.

Sales and marketing expenses were US$0.2 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing a decrease of US$0.2 million or 50.0% from US$0.4 million for the third quarter of 2020, and a decrease of US$0.1 million or 33.3% from US$0.3 million for the second quarter of 2021.

General and administrative expenses were US$8.1 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of US$4.2 million or 107.7% from US$3.9 million for the third quarter of 2020, and an increase of US$2.0 million or 32.8% from US$6.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to an increase of US$2.3 million in consulting expenses and an increase of US$1.2 million in expenses for employees mainly due to consolidations of Loto Interactive Limited and the mining pool business. The sequential increase was mainly due to an increase of US$2.0 million in share-based compensation expenses associated with share options granted to the Company's directors and employees.

Service development expenses were US$1.1 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of US$0.5 million or 83.3% from US$0.6 million for the third quarter of 2020, and an increase of US$0.3 million or 37.5% from US$0.8 million for the second quarter of 2021.

Net Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Cryptocurrencies

Net gain on disposal of cryptocurrencies was US$11.2 million for the third quarter of 2021, related to the increasing market prices for cryptocurrencies by using first-in-first-out ("FIFO") to calculate the cost of disposition during the third quarter of 2021. Net loss on disposal of cryptocurrencies was US$8.6 million for the second quarter of 2021 and there was no such net loss or gain for the third quarter of 2020. The sequential change was mainly due to the general increasing trend of market prices for cryptocurrencies.

Impairment of Cryptocurrencies

Impairment of cryptocurrencies was US$13.6 million for the third quarter of 2021, representing an increase of US$4.7 million from US$8.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, mainly due to impairment provided for cryptocurrency assets held in mining pool business, including cryptocurrencies payable to pool participants as a result of the price fluctuation of cryptocurrencies. There was no such impairment for the third quarter of 2020.

Impairment of Property and Equipment

Impairment of property and equipment was US$9.8 million for the third quarter of 2021, mainly due to the closure and demolition of big data centers in Sichuan, China.

Operating Loss

Operating loss was US$35.0 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with operating loss of US$4.9 million for the third quarter of 2020, and operating loss of US$14.9 million for the second quarter of 2021.

Non-GAAP operating loss was US$22.7 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with non-GAAP operating loss of US$3.1 million for the third quarter of 2020, and non-GAAP operating income of US$1.8 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase in non-GAAP operating loss was mainly due to increases in revenue and costs of revenue for the mining pool business as mentioned above. The sequential increase in non-GAAP operating loss was mainly due to the decrease in revenue of the mining pool business for the third quarter of 2021 and the suspension of data center business in China since June 2021.

Net Loss Attributable to BIT Mining

Net loss attributable to BIT Mining was US$29.6 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with net loss attributable to BIT Mining of US$4.5 million for the third quarter of 2020, and net loss attributable to BIT Mining of US$14.5 million for the second quarter of 2021.

Non-GAAP net loss attributable to BIT Mining was US$17.3 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with non-GAAP net loss attributable to BIT Mining of US$2.7 million for the third quarter of 2020, and non-GAAP net income attributable to BIT Mining of US$2.2 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase in non-GAAP operating loss was mainly due to the inclusion of revenue and the costs of revenue for the mining pool business as mentioned above. The sequential increase in non-GAAP operating loss was mainly due to the decrease in revenue of the mining pool business for the third quarter of 2021 and the suspension of data center business in China from June 2021.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results for Discontinued Operations

Net Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes

Net loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes was US$6.7 million for the third quarter of 2021, compared with net loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes of US$1.8 million for the third quarter of 2020, and net loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes of US$0.9 million for the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase and the sequential increase are results from an increase of US$6.7 million in disposal loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes. The Company disposed of its Chinese lottery-related business and terminated all of its lottery business-related VIE contracts in July 2021. The comparative financial information for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 have been reclassified to reflect the disposal of VIE subsidiaries as a discontinued operation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of US$34.4 million and restricted cash3 of US$0.2 million, compared with cash and cash equivalents of US$10.1 million and restricted cash of US$44.1 million as of June 30, 2021.

Cryptocurrency Assets

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cryptocurrency assets of US$56.8 million, the equivalent of 860 bitcoins, 2,024 ethereum, and various other cryptocurrency assets, including those of the mining pool business from April 2021 and those generated from the cryptocurrency mining business initiated at the end of February 2021.

3 Restricted cash represent deposits in merchant banks yet to be withdrawn.

About BIT Mining Limited

BIT Mining (NYSE: BTCM) is a leading technology-driven cryptocurrency mining company, with a long-term strategy to create value across the cryptocurrency industry. Its business covers cryptocurrency mining, mining pool, and data center operation. The Company owns the world's top blockchain browser BTC.com and the comprehensive mining pool business operated under BTC.com, providing multi-currency mining services including BTC, ETH and LTC. The Company has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 7-nanometer cryptocurrency mining machine manufacturer, Bee Computing, to complete the Company's vertical integration with its supply chain, increase its self-sufficiency and strengthen its competitive position.

Safe Harbor Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "target", "going forward", "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the Company's financial results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company uses non-GAAP financial measures, which are adjusted from results based on U.S. GAAP to exclude share-based compensation expenses, impairment of property and equipment, impairment of cryptocurrencies, net gain or loss on disposal of cryptocurrencies and changes in fair value of derivative instrument relating to valuation allowance in the Company's consolidated affiliated entities. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP financial measures are set forth in table at the end of this release, which provide more details on the non-GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP financial information is provided as additional information to help investors compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the historical and current financial performance of the Company's continuing operations and prospects for the future. Non-GAAP financial information should not be considered a substitute for or superior to U.S. GAAP results. In addition, calculations of this non-GAAP financial information may be different from calculations used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.

For more information:

BIT Mining Limited

[email protected]

Ir.btc.com

www.btcm.group

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1 (212) 481-2050

Email: [email protected]

BIT Mining Limited

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars ("US$"), except for number of shares)





December 31, 2020*

(recast) September 30, 2021



US$ US$



Audited Unaudited







ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents

47,307 34,396 Restricted cash

587 167 Accounts receivable

- 523 Amounts due from related parties

- 125 Prepayments and other current assets

1,562 22,812 Cryptocurrency assets

- 56,784 Current assets for discontinued operations

2,016 - Total current assets

51,472 114,807







Non-current assets:





Property and equipment, net

997 50,739 Intangible assets, net

240 56,937 Deposits

162 3,952 Long-term investment

14,056 9,213 Right-of-use assets

1,429 1,848 Other non-current assets

87 29,384 Goodwill

- 26,915 Non-current assets for discontinued operations

3,660 - Total non-current assets

20,631 178,988







TOTAL ASSETS

72,103 293,795















LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable

- 60,972 Amounts due to related parties

- 373 Accrued payroll and welfare payable

171 151 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

7,498 27,034 Income tax payable

84 880 Operating lease liabilities - current

569 1,024 Current liabilities for discontinued operations

2,960 - Total current liabilities

11,282 90,434







Non-current liabilities:





Operating lease liabilities - non-current

890 995 Non-current liabilities for discontinued operations

81 - Total non-current liabilities

971 995







TOTAL LIABILITIES

12,253 91,429















Shareholders' Equity:





Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.00005

per share, 700,000,000 and 1,599,935,000

shares authorized as of December 31, 2020

and September 30, 2021, respectively;

430,127,692 and 706,330,240 shares issued

and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and

September 30, 2021, respectively

22 36 Class A preference shares, par value

US$0.00005 per share;0 and 65,000 shares

authorized as of December 31, 2020 and

September 30, 2021; 0 and 65,000 shares

issued and outstanding as of December 31,

2020 and September 30, 2021, respectively

- - Class B ordinary shares, par value

US$0.00005 per share; 300,000,000 and

400,000,000 shares authorized as of

December 31, 2020 and September 30,

2021,respectively; 99 shares issued and

outstanding as of December 31, 2020 and

September 30, 2021

- - Additional paid-in capital

412,364 588,183 Treasury shares

(21,604) (21,604) Accumulated deficit and statutory reserve

(324,351) (373,852) Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(4,619) (2,469) Total BIT Mining Limited shareholders' equity

61,812 190,294 Noncontrolling interests

(1,962) 12,072 Total shareholders' equity

59,850 202,366







TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

72,103 293,795

















* The Company has changed its reporting currency from Renminbi ("RMB") to U.S dollars ("USD")

for the period commencing July 1, 2021. Prior periods' comparative financial information has

been recast as if the Company always used USD as its reporting currency.

BIT Mining Limited

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(Amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars ("US$"),

except for number of shares, per share (or ADS) data)



Three Months Ended

September 30,

2020*

June 30,

2021*

September 30,

2021

US$

US$

US$

Unaudited

Unaudited

Unaudited Revenues 484

444,942

404,319











Operating costs and expenses:









Cost of revenue (449)

(435,591)

(416,052) Sales and marketing expenses (359)

(322)

(226) General and administrative expenses (3,932)

(6,081)

(8,120) Service development expenses (613)

(828)

(1,057) Total operating costs and expenses (5,353)

(442,822)

(425,455) Other operating income -

10

4 Government grant 11

-

- Other operating expenses (74)

(390)

(4,592) Net gain (loss) on disposal of cryptocurrencies -

(8,634)

11,239 Impairment of cryptocurrencies -

(8,863)

(13,552) Changes in fair value of derivative instrument -

836

2,860 Impairment of property and equipment -

-

(9,820) Operating loss from continuing operations (4,932)

(14,921)

(34,997) Other income, net 6

99

84 Interest income 23

22

19 Interest expense -

(600)

(66) Gain from equity method investments 413

130

24 Gain from disposal of subsidiaries -

126

17 Loss before income tax (4,490)

(15,144)

(34,919) Income tax benefit 1

-

- Net loss from continuing operations (4,489)

(15,144)

(34,919) Loss from discontinued operations , net of applicable income taxes (1,811)

(864)

(47) Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of applicable

income taxes -

-

(6,697) Net loss from discontinued operations, net of applicable income

taxes (1,811)

(864)

(6,744) Net loss (6,300)

(16,008)

(41,663) Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest from continuing

operations -

(694)

(5,302) Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest from

discontinued operations 79

(134)

- Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 79

(828)

(5,302) Net loss attributable to BIT Mining Limited (6,379)

(15,180)

(36,361) Other comprehensive income (loss)









Share of other comprehensive income of an equity method investee 103

-

- Foreign currency translation loss (1,742)

(1,526)

(470) Other comprehensive loss, net of tax (1,639)

(1,526)

(470) Comprehensive loss (7,939)

(17,534)

(42,133) Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling

interests 79

(828)

(5,268) Comprehensive loss attributable to BIT Mining Limited (8,018)

(16,706)

(36,865)











Weighted average number of Class A and Class

B ordinary shares outstanding:









Basic 430,014,891

596,995,942

692,417,296 Diluted 430,014,891

596,995,942

692,417,296











Losses per share attributable to BIT Mining Limited-Basic and Diluted









Net loss from continuing operations (0.011)

(0.024)

(0.04) Net loss from discontinued operations (0.004)

(0.001)

(0.01) Net loss (0.015)

(0.025)

(0.05)











Losses per ADS** attributable to BIT Mining Limited-Basic and Diluted









Net loss from continuing operations (0.11)

(0.24)

(0.43) Net loss from discontinued operations (0.04)

(0.01)

(0.10) Net loss (0.15)

(0.25)

(0.53)























*The Company has changed its reporting currency from Renminbi ("RMB") to U.S dollars ("USD") for the period commencing July

1, 2021. Prior periods' comparative financial information has been recast as if the Company always used USD as its reporting currency.











** American Depositary Shares, which are traded on the NYSE. Each ADS represents ten Class A ordinary shares of the

Company.

BIT Mining Limited

Reconciliation of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures

(Amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars ("US$"),

except for number of shares, per share (or ADS) data)





Three Months Ended



September 30,

2020*

June 30,

2021*

September 30,

2021



US$

US$

US$



Unaudited

Unaudited

Unaudited Operating loss from continuing operations

(4,932)

(14,921)

(34,997) Adjustment for share-based compensation expenses

1,824

29

3,040 Adjustment for impairment of property and equipment

-

-

9,820 Adjustment for impairment of cryptocurrencies

-

8,863

13,552 Adjustment for net (gain) loss on disposal of cryptocurrencies

-

8,634

(11,239) Adjustment for changes in fair value of derivative instrument

-

(836)

(2,860) Adjusted operating (loss) income from continuing operations (non-

GAAP)

(3,108)

1,769

(22,684)













Net loss attributable to BIT Mining Limited from continuing operations

(4,489)

(14,450)

(29,617) Net loss attributable to BIT Mining Limited from discontinued operations

(1,890)

(730)

(6,744) Net loss attributable to BIT Mining Limited

(6,379)

(15,180)

(36,361) Adjustment for share-based compensation expenses

1,824

29

3,040 Adjustment for impairment of property and equipment

-

-

9,820 Adjustment for impairment of cyptocurrencies

-

8,863

13,552 Adjustment for net (gain) loss on disposal of cryptocurrencies

-

8,634

(11,239) Adjustment for changes in fair value of derivative instrument

-

(836)

(2,860) Adjusted net (loss) income attributable to BIT Mining Limited from

continuing operations (non-GAAP)

(2,665)

2,240

(17,304) Adjusted net loss attributable to BIT Mining Limited from discontinued

operations (non-GAAP)

(1,890)

(730)

(6,744) Adjusted net (loss) income attributable to BIT Mining Limited (non-

GAAP)

(4,555)

1,510

(24,048)













Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares

outstanding:











Basic

430,014,891

596,995,942

692,417,296 Diluted

430,014,891

599,477,107

692,417,296













(Losses) earnings per share attributable to BIT Mining Limited (non- GAAP)-Basic and Diluted











Net (loss) income from continuing operations (non-GAAP)

(0.006)

0.004

(0.02) Net loss from discontinued operations (non-GAAP)

(0.004)

(0.001)

(0.01) Net (loss) income (non-GAAP)

(0.01)

0.003

(0.03)













(Losses) earnings per ADS** attributable to BIT Mining Limited (non-

GAAP)-Basic and Diluted











Net (loss) income from continuing operations (non-GAAP)

(0.07)

0.04

(0.25) Net loss from discontinued operations (non-GAAP)

(0.04)

(0.01)

(0.10) Net (loss) income (non-GAAP)

(0.11)

0.03

(0.35)



























*The Company has changed its reporting currency from Renminbi ("RMB") to U.S dollars ("USD") for the period

commencing July 1, 2021. Prior periods' comparative financial information has been recast as if the Company

always used USD as its reporting currency.













** American Depositary Shares, which are traded on the NYSE. Each ADS represents ten Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

SOURCE BIT Mining Limited

Related Links

http://ir.btc.com/


The company also has a wide variety of Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum and CBD products, which range from their top rated sleep gummies to their great tasting tinctures. The company strives for the highest quality ingredients and cleanest manufacturing practices. Botony's industry leading Delta 8 distillate is derived from the cleanest materials in the market. When manufacturing our Delta 8 vape products, we only use our Delta 8 distillate and natural terpenes. Their team carefully selects the best terpene profiles, so they can offer unique products, which really set them apart from the rest of the industry. This same Delta 8 distillate is used in all of their Delta 8 products. You will truly be able to feel the difference in their products, compared to other competitors in the market.
CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- How can you get answers to solve business challenges more quickly and accurately?

Today it has become impossible to sell a or develop a product or service without any kind of market research. Even more so after the COVID-19 pandemic, which was accompanied by tremendous amount of demand and supply chain disruptions. The period of self-isolation, lockdown, and contagion may be temporary but has had some permanent effects on consumer behavior. These new consumer behaviors effect all areas of customer's life. From how they work to how they shop and entertain themselves. These shifts in behavior affects all kinds of goods and services market in some way.

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Apple is one of the largest names in technology products for years. This isn't because of just their innovations. Instead, it is because of their inhouse market research team 'Apple Customer Pulse' who finds out what customers exactly wants from Apple devices by conducting several studies and surveys. These surveys have led to several design modifications and innovations in Apple products. One of these innovations was for the phones to have bigger screens to view videos and games clearly.

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CreatorSpace: AI Accelerator will be held on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT, and is open to students 6-18 years of age and their parents. The event is a part of BYJU'S FutureSchool's flagship virtual interactive learning series, CreatorSpace, which addresses a new topic each month with the help of world-renowned experts. During the intensive, action-packed two-hour sessions, students will learn from experts about the growth of AI across sectors, how AI interplays with math and physics, entrepreneurial insights and the importance of diversity in tech. Additionally, students will watch live AI demonstrations and have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the event's speakers.

"In just over 6 months, CreatorSpace has established itself as our most popular monthly educational event, bringing together tens of thousands of kids and their parents from around the world. Such traction motivates us to identify and curate immersive sessions with a wide array of renowned speakers to enlighten the young generation," said Trupti Mukker, CEO, BYJU'S FutureSchool. "With AI Accelerator, the attempt is to further feed the curiosity of students by introducing them to the fascinating ways in which technology is changing our lives today and how it can potentially shape our tomorrow."

As a part of BYJU'S FutureSchool's CreatorSpace initiative, students have the opportunity to experience immersive sessions with renowned experts in various fields that range from music to space exploration. This series is one of learning platform's most popular monthly educational events, bringing together thousands of kids and their parents from around the world. Prior events featured global STEM leaders in the areas of math, coding, satellites and gaming.

The event will be moderated and hosted by Joshua Seth, a celebrity voice actor (and world touring magician) turned entertaining inspirational keynote speaker. The event is fully complimentary for all enthusiastic learners and their parents. Register for free at creatorspace.byjusfutureschool.com .

ABOUT BYJU'S FUTURESCHOOL

BYJU'S FutureSchool is an interactive, learning platform that offers education programs on coding, math and music that are designed for students ages 6-18. Through the platform, students receive personalized attention with live access to a teacher in a one-on-one setting, as well as engaging hands-on activities. BYJU'S FutureSchool is on a mission to help students become creators and shift from passive to active learning by blending real-time feedback with lessons that generate creative outcomes. Part of BYJU'S, the world's leading education technology company, BYJU'S FutureSchool seeks to help students unlock their love for learning through creative and engaging hands-on activities, best-in-class teachers, technology, and content. In 2021, BYJU'S FutureSchool expanded its global footprint beyond India and the United States to new markets including Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. BYJU'S FutureSchool currently has over a million registered students in the United States. Learn more at BYJUSFutureSchool.com .

ABOUT ALEX ATANASOV

A PhD student in theoretical physics at Harvard University, Alex is driven by the prospect of applying tools from physics to study a diverse set of complex systems in the real world. He is currently studying how artificial neural networks process and learn from information. He studies these systems using techniques and ideas from field theory, a field of physics that was originally invented to study fundamental particles. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale with a BS in Physics and MS in Mathematics. Alex is also a classical guitarist with a passion for Bach.

ABOUT AI CHING GOH

Ai Ching co-founded a web app, Piktochart, a visual communications tool that makes it easy to condense and consume information. Piktostory, the latest addition is an all-in-one video editing tool. As a startup that operates from Malaysia, but serves over 25 million users globally, Ai Ching has taken an unconventional approach to growth. She has bootstrapped two companies for more than 10 years.

BYJU'S FutureSchool Media Contact

Catherine McNally

PR Director, North America

[email protected]

SOURCE BYJUS FutureSchool
DUBLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CAI, a global consulting company that provides technical, operational consulting, and project management services to life sciences, data centers, and industrial process manufacturing industries, today announced that it is officially open for business in the UK.

CAI is proud to now be able to serve clients in the data center, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries in the UK market. CAI's focus is on operational readiness and helping customers improve their speed to market by serving the commissioning and startup needs of lifesaving manufacturing facilities and critical infrastructure.

CAI Europe employs 128 employees of 14 different nationalities and have supported over 70 different customers. In addition to Ireland, CAI Europe has Legal Entities in Switzerland and Italy and a branch in the Netherlands, this facilitates our ability to support activities throughout Europe.

CAI's leaders' thoughts on achieving this long-time goal:

Mike Martin, President:

"Our first global office opened in Europe 10 years ago. Expansion to Italy and the Netherlands followed in response to the rise in data center technology and the increasing demand for engineering services in the life sciences. Now, we are establishing our physical presence in the U.K. CAI has a proven track record of delivering global experience on a local level, meeting our customers where they arein their culture and language. That is one of CAI's key differentiators and what drives our commitment to our customers."

Rich Tree, COO:

"As a company that provides world-class consulting services and a commitment to our clients, we believe now is the right time to establish our U.K. operations to grow our global leadership in operational readiness and deliver industry expertise on mission critical facilities and manufacturing regulation."

John Henchion, Vice President for Europe:

"As head of CAI Europe, I look forward to building strong teams of experts and bringing CAI's long tradition of excellent service to our clients. Since establishing our European presence back in 2011 we have built both our team and our reputation rapidly and look forward to doing the same in the U.K. Establishing our U.K. presence grows our European footprint in a globally important market."

ABOUT CAI

Since CAI's founding in 1996, we have delivered nearly a billion dollars in services for hundreds of clients across thousands of projects globally. With offices in the US, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Korea, Switzerland, India, Ireland, Italy, China, Singapore, and Malaysia, we have built an international team of over 750 professionals providing local support from a global company. Our engineering, technical, and consulting services are fashioned to deliver mission critical facilities with a high level of performance and reliability. When operational readiness and startup are critical, CAI delivers to a higher standard. www.cagents.com

David Shenberger

+13177219847

[email protected]

SOURCE CAI
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman: California couple Alva and Alberta Pilliod will retain an $87 million verdict stemming from their lawsuit against Monsanto Company (now part of Bayer AG), claiming the company's Roundup weed killer causes cancer.

Pilliod et al. v. Monsanto was the third Roundup case to go before a jury. The Pilliods had their case expedited to trial due to their advanced ages and cancer diagnoses.

In 2019, the jury in Pilliod awarded the plaintiffs $2.055 billion, finding that Monsanto was liable for knowingly marketing a dangerous product. While the judge later reduced the verdict to $86.7 million, it went on to survive appeal. In August of 2021, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco affirmed the verdict, finding that Monsanto demonstrated "conscious disregard for the safety of others."

Yesterday, the California Supreme Court denied Bayer's request for review of the appeal's court decision.

"This is not even remotely surprising," says Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman attorney R. Brent Wisner, who served as co-lead counsel for the Pilliods at trial. "It's not clear how many times Monsanto needs to lose before it stops making frivolous appeals. The Pilliod verdict was based on solid science and unanimous law. They need to stop using the appeals process to deny paying this family its judgment."

Wisner was just 35 years old when the jury awarded his clients a staggering $2.055 in damages. He became the youngest attorney to ever earn a multi-billion-dollar jury verdict. In response to his legal success, Wisner has received numerous awards, including "Civil Plaintiffs Trial Lawyer of the Year" by the National Trial Lawyers Association, "Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar" by Law360, "West Trailblazer" by The American Lawyer and named one of "America's 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers" by The National Law Journal.

Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is no longer accepting Roundup cases. Nothing in this release is intended to promote or encourage further litigation against Monsanto related to Roundup and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman Consumer Attorneys

Wisner is now actively litigating Zantac lawsuits on behalf of clients who allege ranitidine contains a dangerous carcinogen. His firm also represents parents in baby food lawsuits alleging several major brands knowingly sell products tainted with high levels of toxic heavy metals.

SOURCE Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman

Related Links

https://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/attorneys/r-brent-wisner/


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On November 8, 2021, the California Court of Appeal sided with LTL Attorneys' client DAS Corporation, headquartered in Korea, against Optional Capital, Inc., another Korean company, in the parties' decade-long dispute over stolen funds. The result is a complete victory for LTL's client in the litigation.

Optional sued DAS in 2011, claiming that funds DAS had received from a Swiss bank account maintained by a third-party fraudster belonged to Optional. The fraudster had stolen funds from DAS and Optional, but DAS was the first to collect on its debt. Unable to enforce its judgment against the fraudster, Optional sued DAS for conversion, fraudulent transfer, and receipt of stolen property, seeking over $150 millionthe $12.6 million DAS received, an additional $25 million allegedly owed to Optional by the fraudster (claimed to be DAS's co-conspirator), treble damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.

In a three-week 2019 trial conducted by LTL Partners Joe Tuffaha and Prashanth Chennakesavan, with assistance from associates David Crane and Kevin Kelly, a jury rejected most of Optional's claims, but awarded Optional $2 million after finding that DAS knowingly received stolen funds. Both sides appealed. A unanimous panel agreed with LTL, reversed the judgment, and rejected Optional's cross-appeal.

"We couldn't be more gratified with the Court of Appeal's decision. This was truly a slugfest in the trial court, and while we were disappointed that the jury did not find in DAS' favor on all of the claims, we were confident that the Court of Appeal would correct that mistake," said LTL Managing Partner David Ammons. "Joe and Prashanth, and really the entire LTL team did an outstanding job in both the trial court and the court of appeal, and we could not be prouder to continue our unbeaten streak in the state and federal courts of appeal over the last four years," said Ammons.

SOURCE LTL Attorneys LLP
PROVIDENCE, R.I ., Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carmen D. Sanchez, DMD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Dentist for her years of excellent work she celebrates the 20th anniversary as the Owner of her practice, Comfort Dental of Rhode Island.

Carmen D. Sanchez, DMD

Born in Santiago, DR, she moved to Boston to attend college, then earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine at Boston University in 1995. In 1997, Dr. Sanchez started at the Providence Ambulatory Health Center, working as the Dental Department Coordinator. In this role, she ensured that people with a low income received the proper dental care they deserve.

In 1999, Dr. Sanchez opened her own practice, Comfort Dental in Providence, RI. For over two decades, she has been offering top-quality dental services, restoring confidence to her patient's smiles. Patient comfort and minimized discomfort are the hallmarks of her practice. With demand for her exceptional dental services rapidly growing, she opened a second office in 2008. She has now been practicing dentistry for over 22 years.

At these two offices, located in Providence and Central Falls, Dr. Sanchez specializes in giving the appearance of natural smiles, utilizing the full range of dental services. Comfort Dental serves patients of all ages, offering family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative dentistry.

Dr. Sanchez's practice is known for treating patients of all ages, including children. She diagnoses and treats dental issues, such as correcting overbites and underbites, performing surgeries, extractions, and performing routine checkups. Comfort Dental offers cosmetic bonding, inlays and onlays, Invisalign Braces, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and white spot removal. As for family dentistry, they offer comprehensive care, complete with treating dental emergencies, TMJ therapy, oral cancer screening, exams, cleanings, and halitosis treatment. For patients needing restorative dentistry, she offers extractions, implants, dentures, oral surgery, porcelain bridges, root canals, scaling and root planing, and tooth-colored fillings. Comfort Dental accepts some insurances and is currently accepting new patients.

Comfort Dental of Providence is located at 1482 Broad Street, and Comfort Dental of Central Falls is located at 725 Dexter Street. Both offices have a team of highly trained and qualified dentists and hygienists ready to assist patients with their dental issues.

Awarded for her excellent work, Dr. Sanchez achieved Fellowship status for the placement and restoration of dental implants from the Misch Implant Institute. She is an active member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, the International Dental Implant Association, the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, the Hispanic Dental Association, the Rhode Island Dental Association, and the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce.

Her motto is to provide "the best dental care possible while feeling comfortable." On a personal note, Dr. Sanchez enjoys exercising, traveling, and listening to music in her spare time.

She is a proud mother of three, and would like to dedicate this honorable recognition to her children, Laura Patricia Carrasco (who is also a dentist), Christopher Sanchez, and Nicholas Sanchez.

For further information, visit https://ricomfortdental.com/.

Contact: Katherine Green , 516-825-5634 [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


The Church of Scientology of the Valley presented its annual Humanitarian Award to Guillermo Ahumada, Chief of Chaplains of Professional Chaplains Inc. "As a chaplain of God," reads the award, "Guillermo Ahumada exemplifies the true value of a being: That a being is only as valuable as he is willing and able to help others." Through Ahumada's work training chaplains in drug education and vital counseling skills, he reaches those in need with effective tools to assist them and help them turn their lives around.

Mr. Ahumada, who uses the Scientology Tools for Life courses to assist chaplains in their work and to help them cope with the challenges they face, described Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard as a leader whose "legacy is a beacon of light and guidance, and will benefit countless generations."

The celebration also featured the work of the Church of Scientology of the Valley Women's Auxiliary, serving the Greater Los Angeles area since 1998. The group raises funds to support Church programs and to assist underserved members of the community. It partners with many groups and individuals who are committed to social betterment.

"So many people of good will go out of their way to help the community," said Lisa Malm, president and cofounder of the Women's Auxiliary. "It is really important to us to support these efforts."

The Women's Auxiliary was inspired by L. Ron Hubbard's belief that "a community that pulls together can make a better society for all." Among the programs the Women's Auxiliary has supported are:

Sickle Cell Disease Foundation, which runs summer camps for children suffering from the disease

for children suffering from the disease Covenant House, which makes available shelter, food, immediate crisis care and other services to homeless and runaway youth

and other services to homeless and runaway youth Family Promise of the Verdugos, a nonprofit homeless service agency which provides shelter, homeless prevention, community workshops and transitional housing

which provides shelter, homeless prevention, community workshops and transitional housing Boys and Girls Club, whose afterschool programs include homework help, tutoring, recreation, sports, art and dance and healthy meals for youth

include homework help, tutoring, recreation, sports, art and dance and healthy meals for youth YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter, which offers safety and support to victims taking the next step to break free from abuse

to victims taking the next step to break free from abuse Edelman's Children's Court Shelter Care, supporting children who have been removed from their homes due to a parent's abuse or neglect

who have been removed from their homes due to a parent's abuse or neglect And annual police and fire department holiday toy drives

The Church of Scientology of the Valley is an Ideal Scientology Church, dedicated by Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige in March 2017. The Church and its community programs are featured in an episode of Destination Scientology on Scientology Network, available at DIRECTV 320 and streaming at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms.

SOURCE Church of Scientology International

Related Links

http://www.scientology.org


LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Circumference Group, a unique, operationally-focused investment firm led by former Endurance International CEO Jeff Fox, today announced it has appointed Chad Brown, Joe Hill and Forrest Short to new positions focused on private investments as the firm continues expanding its investment platform.

In their new roles, Mr. Brown, Mr. Hill and Mr. Short will leverage their proven finance and investment experience to support Circumference Group as the firm invests in people building businesses. The addition of Mr. Brown, Mr. Hill and Mr. Short further enhances Circumference Group's operational and strategic expertise and builds on the recent appointment of industry leaders Kurt Silverman, Luca Sechi and Virgil Prewitt to leadership positions at the firm.

"Our investment discipline begins with the people building our partner companies, because strong talent and a commitment to human capital are vital to the long-term success of a business," said Mr. Fox, CEO and Founder, Circumference Group. "By welcoming Chad and Joe back to Circumference Group following their years of proven operational and analytical experience, we are strengthening our team of experts and enhancing our ability to support businesses throughout their growth journey. I am thrilled that Chad, Joe and Forrest are part of our team and look forward to leveraging their unique and invaluable insights for the benefit of our partner companies."

Chad Brown rejoins Circumference Group as Vice President, Private Investments, where he is the lead finance and analytical resource for the firm's private investing initiatives. He previously served as Circumference Group's Director of Research from 2009 through 2019, where he was responsible for identifying, researching, and monitoring public equity investments.

In between his positions at Circumference Group, Mr. Brown served as Director of Strategic Finance at Constant Contact / Endurance from 2019-2021. In this role, he performed due diligence on potential M&A targets, executed two transactions and served as the targets' lead Finance partner post-transaction. Mr. Brown holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University and serves on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas and the Hat Club.

Joe Hill serves as Vice President, Private Investments, leading Circumference Group's lower middle market buyout initiative. In this position, Mr. Hill pursues opportunities for control acquisitions of regionally-based companies with less than $10 million in annual cash flow, primarily focusing on tenured companies with strong track records in business to business software or services, telecommunications, and other software and tech-enabled services. He previously worked on private company investing at Circumference Group from 2013 through 2017.

Prior to rejoining Circumference Group, Mr. Hill helped establish the Enterprise Transformation Office at Endurance International Group and served as the head of finance for the company's HostGator brand. Mr. Hill also served as an Analyst in the Leveraged Finance Group of Bank of America and the Investment Banking division of Stephens Inc. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the University of Arkansas.

Forrest Short is an Associate at Circumference Group, where he focuses on private company investing. He previously served as an Associate at Harbert Management Corporation, where he worked on private investments in the infrastructure, power & renewables sectors. Prior to Harbert, Mr. Short was an Investment Banking Analyst at Guggenheim Securities and Stephens Inc., where he advised on M&A and financing transactions. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Mississippi.

About Circumference Group

Circumference Group is an investment firm designed to deliver superior risk-adjusted performance for its capital partners. The firm leverages the broad and deep operational experience of its team to thoroughly understand a target investment's current competitiveness and performance and the execution risks that may prevent it from reaching its performance potential. Circumference Group invests when its organizational insight, operational intelligence and strategic perspective identify pathways to significant value creation with mitigated risk.

Circumference Group was founded in 2009 by a team of veteran business operators and investors led by Jeff Fox, a proven executive who has served in multiple leadership roles including CEO of Endurance International Group, CEO of Convergys Corp. and COO of Alltel Wireless. For over a decade, Circumference Group has successfully invested in the public and private markets utilizing its Core Value Assessment (CVA), a proprietary framework that evaluates a company's growth and cash flow potential, as well as its organizational and operational strengths and weaknesses. The CVA underpins all of Circumference Group's investment strategies. For more information please visit www.CircumferenceGroup.com .

SOURCE Circumference Group

Related Links

www.circumferencegroup.com


BEIJING, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) has received the highest level of 5-year EQUIS re-accreditation by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), adding to its prestigious collection of global accreditations. In 2021, CKGSB also received the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Accreditation, a quality assurance standard more widely used in North America. CKGSB is proud to attain two top international accreditations this year receiving the highest seal of excellence in business management education any institution can achieve.

EQUIS and AACSB are world-leading international systems of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation for higher education institutions in management and business administration. They not only ensure the standard of management education worldwide, but are also acknowledged by students, faculty, employers, corporate clients and the media.

Upon receiving both accreditations, Founding Dean and Professor of China Business and Globalization at CKGSB, Dr. Xiang Bing said, "We are honored and proud to receive two accreditations this year. These recognitions are a testament to the quality we place on management education, our emphasis on academic rigour and faculty research. I would like to thank our dedicated professors and staff for their commitment to building an institution that not only offers programs that are global in perspective, but to producing a generation of business leaders who are socially responsible. These awards encourage us to continue our pursuit for academic excellence, to experiment and innovate, and to promote more inclusive economic development and social advancement for global, common and long-term good."

CKGSB has made headway towards expanding its curriculum internationally through CKGSB Americas, CKGSB Europe and partnerships with top global universities such as Columbia, Harvard and IMD. These two accreditations will allow the school to acquire and share insights that strengthen its programs and improve the quality of its business education courses worldwide. Looking forward, CKGSB will continue to develop internationally both in terms of faculty recruitment and students' diversification.

CKGSB is committed to offering rigorous, dynamic and relevant programs that will challenge business leaders to change the world for the better. Receiving accreditation from AACSB and EQUIS is receiving the highest global recognition to this commitment. Since CKGSB's establishment in November 2002, the school has aimed to cultivate transformative business leaders with a global vision, social responsibility, innovative mindset and ability to lead with empathy and compassion.

SOURCE Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB)
WESTLAKE, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise, returns to Ohio with its first Westlake location on Friday, November 19 in Crocker Park. Located at 262 Crocker Park Blvd Ste. 1010, the new bar will offer guests five signature styles on its hair menu, a variety of hair treatments, plus five signature makeup looks and a brand new section of customized looks to provide endless inspiration. Also, for a limited time, the new bar will offer founder's rates for its Mane Squeeze Memberships which includes two blow outs a month for $70 or 4 blow outs a month for $135, discounts off each additional blow out and 10% off retail products and make up applications."

The new bar is owned and operated by local resident and entrepreneur Jen Alicea-Volak. Originally from the Cleveland area, Alicea-Volak has worked in Bank Operations for the last 22 years as well as operated as a barber stylist, real estate agent, and owned and operated a personal chef and catering business. Ready to leave the corporate world, she set out to accomplish her long-time goal of owning her own business full-time. She found Blo Blow Dry Bar while researching different opportunities and found that it aligned with her goals and her passion for all things self-care. Now, she is ready to open her first Blo Blow Dry Bar location with plans to sign on for additional bars in the future.

"Blo Blow Dry Bar has a great atmosphere and is an affordable way to be pampered," said Alicea-Volak. "I love 'girl time' and helping people feel good in their own skin. Not only can I provide an affordable self-care experience in the luxurious Crocker Park, but I get to become immersed in my community and partner with women-owned organizations. I can't wait to be able to grow with this business and the Crocker Park community."

To celebrate the opening, Blo Blow Dry Bar guests will be able to purchase a blow out for $29, this offer runs from November 19th to November 28th. Along with the founder's rates of $70 for the Classic Mane Squeeze Membership and $135 for the Deluxe Mane Squeeze Membership. Founder's rates are available for a limited time only.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is on a mission to create a space where people of all ages, ethnicities, and orientations are welcomed, represented, and made to feel gorgeous while emphasizing the need for self-care and wellness. Combining a sophisticated design with a fun and energetic environment, Blo cultivates a seamless and enjoyable experience for guests upon their arrival, during, and after their services. Expertly trained blo-ers are available for consultation seven days a week to meet the needs of all guests. The brand's hair menu includes five signature styles from sleek and straight to bouncy curls, plus a wide assortment of customized looks including updo's and braids. Blo Blow Dry Bar also offers makeup services from expert artists on hand to help guests look and feel amazing for any occasion.

Blo Blow Dry Bar is open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on Blo Blow Dry Bar in Crocker Park, please visit https://blomedry.com/blo-crocker-park/ or call 440-471-4070.

About Blo Blow Dry Bar

Blo Blow Dry Bar is North America's original blow dry bar and the world's largest blow dry bar franchise. The company transformed beauty norms and reinvented the salon industry when it launched the "no cuts, no color" concept: only blow outs. Since opening its first location in Canada in 2007, Blo has grown to over 130 locations across the U.S. and Canada and continues to expand rapidly. With a mission to enhance the lives of those in the community through the power of flawless blow outs and beauty services, Blo Blow Dry Bar offers perfectly styled hair and exceptional customer experiences seven days a week. For more information visit www.blomedry.com.

Media Contact: Leah Trice, Fishman Public Relations, 615-887-3815, or [email protected]

SOURCE Blo Blow Dry Bar
The CDR is known as one of the premier dairy food research centers in the world. With more than 30 researchers and scientists onsite, the CDR focuses on scaling down large-volume manufacturing and exploring functional, flavor and physical properties of cheese, cheese products and other milk components. The CDR significantly benefits the dairy industry, offering specialized training and short courses with over 1,400 industry personnel impacted annually.

The two-phase construction project consists of a new addition to the CDR (Phase I) and Babcock Hall Dairy Plant renovation (Phase II). The $47 million, Phase I expansion gives the program two full floors of research space, training center for dairy industry employees, specialized ripening rooms, space for different styles and types of cheese vats, and ample dry and cold storage space.

Phase II is now underway to modernize the dairy plant, which will add a new ice cream maker, more freezer and cooler space and an improved raw milk processing. Additionally, new piping, pumps and valves will be installed to move milk and milk products more efficiently around the plant. Phase II renovations are scheduled to be completed in Fall 2022.

C.D. Smith Construction, Inc. (C.D. Smith), of Fond du Lac, WI, provided general contracting services to UW-Madison. During Phase I CDR Addition, C.D. Smith self-performed concrete, structural steel, masonry, studs and drywall, and carpentry trades. In Phase II Dairy Renovations, C.D. Smith will self-perform demolition, masonry, concrete, studs and drywall, carpentry and structural steel trades.

C.D. Smith has played a vital role in providing construction services to Wisconsin's dairy manufacturers. Over the last 85 years, C.D. Smith has provided construction services to dozens of iconic dairy producers throughout the state, including Grande Cheese Company, Sartori, Saputo, Sargento Foods, Schreiber Foods, Masters Gallery Foods, Land O'Lakes, Baker Cheese and many others. This extensive knowledge and expertise in dairy manufacturing construction made C.D. Smith a natural choice for the CDR Expansion and Dairy Plant renovations.

SOURCE C.D. Smith Construction

Related Links

https://www.cdsmith.com


Infrastructure expansion will power staking and DeFi applications as part of DeFi Infrastructure and Governance business, generating revenue from staking and advancing the overall DeFi ecosystem

Bison Trails, the leading blockchain infrastructure platform-as-a-service company, will provide secure infrastructure for both staking as well as development capabilities across multiple blockchains

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - DeFi Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "DeFi Technologies") (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJR) (OTC: DEFTF), a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance, announced today it selected Bison Trails, the leading blockchain infrastructure platform-as-a-service company, to enhance the node infrastructure for the DeFi Infrastructure and Governance business line. This collaboration with Bison Trails will enable DeFi Technologies to expand on its mission to promote the DeFi ecosystem with node decentralization and governance participation along with staking.

As part of the agreement, Bison Trails will begin by openly implementing validator nodes leveraging Bison Trails' infrastructure and protocol expertise. The effort will contribute to the DeFi ecosystem by further establishing secure and reliable networks, voting, and increasing overall decentralization. DeFi Technologies will be actively staking in collaboration with its wholly owned subsidiary, Valour Inc.

"Bison Trails is an industry-leading infrastructure provider for a growing number of blockchains, who importantly shares an aligned mission with Defi Technologies: to advance the DeFi ecosystem and improve network security," said Diana Biggs, Chief Strategy Officer at DeFi Technologies. "We share Bison Trails' strategic vision to support the entire decentralized ecosystem, and hope our contribution will help fuel some of the world's leading crypto and financial technology projects and protocols."

"We are excited to work with companies like DeFi Technologies that are contributing to the growth of the crypto ecosystem. By providing secure, reliable infrastructure, our goal is to empower DeFi Technologies to seamlessly launch products and services that bring in participants from traditional capital markets into crypto markets," said Aaron Henshaw, Head of Engineering at Coinbase Cloud and Co-Founder of Bison Trails.

Learn more about DeFi Technologies and Valour at defi.tech and valour.com.

About DeFi Technologies

DeFi Technologies Inc. is a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralised finance. Our mission is to expand investor access to industry-leading decentralised technologies which we believe lie at the heart of the future of finance. On behalf of our shareholders and investors, we identify opportunities and areas of innovation, and build and invest in new technologies and ventures in order to provide trusted, diversified exposure across the decentralized finance ecosystem. For more information or to subscribe to receive company updates and financial information, visit https://defi.tech/ .

About Valour

Valour Inc. issues exchange-listed financial products that enable retail and institutional investors to access investment in disruptive innovations, such as digital assets, in a simple and secure way. Established in 2019 and based in Zug, Switzerland, Valour is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeFi Technologies Inc. (NEO:DEFI, GR: RMJ.F, OTC: DEFTF). For more information on Valour, visit www.valour.com.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information:

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect the collaboration with Bison Trails; the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by DeFi Technologies and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited to the ability of Bison Trails to enhance the node infrastructure for DeFi Technologies; investor demand for DeFi Technologies' and Valour's products; the growth and development of DeFi and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to DeFi and cryptocurrency; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

SOURCE DeFi Technologies, Inc.

Related Links

https://defi.tech/


NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Diebold Nixdorf (NYSE: DBD), a global leader in driving connected commerce across the financial and retail industries, announced today that Jeffrey Rutherford, chief financial officer, will speak at two upcoming investor conferences.

On Monday, Nov. 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET, Rutherford will speak at the 2021 Stephens Annual Investment Conference in a fireside chat hosted by Stephens Inc. Research Analyst, Chuck Nabhan.

Additionally, Rutherford will speak at the Bank of America Securities 2021 Leveraged Finance Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 9:45 a.m. ET, in a fireside chat hosted by Bank of America Analyst, Ana Goshko.

A webcast of the presentations will be available on Diebold Nixdorf's investor relations website at Events & Presentations.

About Diebold Nixdorf

Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) is a world leader in enabling connected commerce. We automate, digitize and transform the way people bank and shop. As a partner to the majority of the world's top 100 financial institutions and top 25 global retailers, our integrated solutions connect digital and physical channels conveniently, securely and efficiently for millions of consumers each day. The company has a presence in more than 100 countries with approximately 22,000 employees worldwide. Visit www.DieboldNixdorf.com for more information.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/diebold

Twitter: twitter.com/dieboldnixdorf

Facebook: www.facebook.com/DieboldNixdorf

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dieboldnixdorf

DN-F

SOURCE Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated

Related Links

https://www.dieboldnixdorf.com/en-us


Wallace's career spans more than 30 years in the electronic components industry, with experience at both electronic manufacturers and distributors. Most recently, Wallace served as senior director of EMEA business development for Digi-Key where he has led significant growth in the region for 10 years.

"Digi-Key is excited to announce the expansion of this position for Ian, expanding his role to include the Americas as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa," said Jim Ricciardelli, executive vice president of digital business at Digi-Key. "Ian has been instrumental in Digi-Key's growth and success in EMEA, and he is a proven leader of Digi-Key's digital model. We look forward to leveraging Ian's leadership and expertise to continue the strong momentum of growth across multiple regions."

For more information about Digi-Key, please visit here.

About Digi-Key Electronics

Digi-Key Electronics, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minn., USA, is recognized as both the leader and continuous innovator in the high service distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. As the original pioneer in this space, Digi-Key provides more than 12.6 million components from over 2,000 quality name-brand manufacturers with an industry-leading breadth and depth of product in stock and available for immediate shipment. Beyond the products that drive technology innovation, Digi-Key also supports design engineers and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions and tools to make their jobs more efficient. Additional information can be found at digikey.com and on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , Instagram and LinkedIn .

Editorial Contact

Megan Derkey

Bellmont Partners

+1 612-255-1115

[email protected]

SOURCE Digi-Key Electronics

Related Links

http://www.digikey.com


The cryptocurrency market is now worth over $3 trillion , yet it's estimated that only a few hundred nonprofits are accepting crypto as a donation method. As Classy works to expand the ways nonprofits can tap into new technologies to improve their funding, its Crypto Giving Funds will serve as a way to give nonprofits an easy entry point into the crypto market before Classy launches its own in-house offering next year.

"Nonprofits need to build relationships within the crypto community, which is full of young philanthropists looking for ways to make a difference," says Chris Himes, Classy's CEO. "Crypto is the first form of money that's ever existed entirely online, and it needs to play a more prominent role in funding social and environmental progress. The tax advantages of donating an appreciated asset can be tremendous, so connecting the crypto community with the social sector is a high priority for Classy."

Donors can choose to give to a fund managed by The San Diego Foundation that benefits a variety of impactful organizations in three categories:

Food Relief: Benefits World Central Kitchen, Feeding San Diego, Greater Boston Food Bank, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Oregon Food Bank.

Hospitals and Health: Benefits CDC Foundation, City of Hope, Cleveland Clinic, HFC, and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Community Support: Benefits Pencils of Promise, Team Rubicon, The Salvation Army, and Museum of Science.

To make a donation in cryptocurrency to one of the cause-specific funds, visit https://www.classy.org/crypto-donations/. To read more about the tax benefits of cryptocurrency donations, visit the Classy blog .

About Classy

Classy is a B Corp Certified Public Benefit Corporation and giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about. Based in San Diego, CA and trusted by thousands of nonprofits, from the fastest-growing nonprofits to some of the world's largest social organizations, Classy's platform provides the formats and flexibility to activate donors when and how they need to by creating more relevant connections to their causes. Since 2011, Classy has helped nonprofits mobilize and empower the world for good by helping them raise over $3 billion on its platform. Classy also hosts the Collaborative conference and the Classy Awards to spotlight the innovative work nonprofits are implementing around the globe. For more information, visit www.classy.org.

About The San Diego Foundation

The San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. For more than 46 years, The Foundation and its donors have granted more than $1.3 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org .

Contact: Krista Lamp, [email protected]

SOURCE Classy
Founded in March 2015, DPVR has been developing key VR technology for seven years. It is a company that integrates software solutions and hardware design and manufacturing. It has customers spread over 40+ countries around the world, serving 13,000 + developers.

DPVR was recently selected as one of the "Top 50 VR Companies in China" for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021. In September 2021, DPVR launched P1 Ultra 4K all-in-one VR headset with a modular design and it is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, with more than 30% higher performance than previous models. This product also won the VR/AR Innovation Award in 2021 World VR Industry Conference Cloud Summit. As the most instrumental part of the metaverse age, VR hardware has been updated and iterated rapidly in various aspects such as chips, screens, and data transmission capabilities in recent years.

In terms of IDC's latest report in 2021, global VR headset shipments in the first quarter of 2021 have increased by 52.4% compared to the same period last year. The average annual growth rate of global VR headset shipments is expected to increase 41.4% between 2021 and 2025.

From Q4 of 2020 to Q1 of 2021, DPVR maintains a rapid growth in shipments. According to Counterpoint data, DPVR's Q4 overseas shipments in 2020 ranked Top 5 in the world.

The investor, Qianyi Capital, said, "Qianyi Capital has been optimistic about VR industry for a long time. As one of the earliest VR headset companies established in China, DPVR has its own VR technology and large customer base, and its business model and core team are more mature. Qianyi Capital is pleased to work with DPVR to promote the development of the industry."

Li Pengfei, a co-funder of Xiaocun Capital, said, "DPVR, founded by Mr. Chen Zhaoyang, is one of the first batches of outstanding companies in the field of VR in China. After years of steady development, it has accumulated affluent experience and technologies. It has formed its own unique strategy to expand its market, which makes it one of the most valuable VR companies that deserve to be invested. Xiaocun Capital will continue to work closely with DPVR to build an entire metaverse ecological chain".

Chen Zhaoyang, the founder of DPVR, said that DPVR would continue to increase investment in product research and development, introduce top talents, and create excellent VR products for users. Looking forward to the next decade, Metaverse, evolving from the Internet, will give birth to a new type of economy, society, and civilization. A series of new and exciting technological revolutions are kicking off. DPVR would like to work with upstream and downstream partners to explore the development of the industry from the aspects of technology, standards, content, etc., to build a more imaginative future.

SOURCE DPVR

Related Links

http://www.dp-vr.com


The action stems from an incident on Sept 28 where Dr Simon testified during the public comment period at a Washoe County School District Board of Trustees Work Session meeting. (view video here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1etjdp47NWKnK9kcCT6bcmkbkGfaurZP-/view?usp=sharing )

After interrupting Dr. Simon multiple times, approximately one minute into his testimony, Ms. Taylor abruptly recessed the proceedings and the entire Board retired.

This action by Ms. Taylor is just one of many examples of the violation of Nevada Open Meeting Law by Ms. Taylor.

Parents in Washoe County have been showing up in large numbers at school board meetings attempting to exercise their first amendment rights only to be subjected to unreasonable and possibly unlawful tactics to prevent their participation.

"Angela Taylor and this Board are not listening to the parents who have elected them," said Dr. Simon. "We have been respectful and have presented stacks of data to this board on the harm to children from mask mandates, vaccines, and the Board's implementation of Critical Race Theory curriculum in the classroom. Ms. Taylor believes that she has the power to squelch speech; speech that is our right under the Nevada and US constitutions."

"Parents have every right to speak their mind and criticize the Chair and Board Members for their failings or arrogant, dismissive behavior," said Dr. Simon. "Parents are sick and tired of school board Trustees that are implementing policies that actually harm their children."

www.simonforgovnv.com

SOURCE Simon for Nevada

Related Links

https://www.simonforgovnv.com


A recent study on drug of abuse testing market by Future Market Insight (FMI) provides insights into micro and macroeconomic factors, impacting key developments in the market. It analyzes prevailing trends and forecasts sales projection across various segments in terms drug types, technique, and end user for the coming decade.

DUBAI, U.A.E., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per a detailed study by FMI, the global Drug of Abuse Testing Market size is estimated to total US$ 1.5 Bn in 2021. Introduction of analyzers for multi-drug detection at a single run and implementation of employment medical screening practices are projected to favor the demand in the market. On account of this, the drug of abuse testing market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 5% over the forecast period 2021-2031.

Growing consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs has led to a significant rise in prevalence of substance use disorders across the world. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), nearly 35 million people are suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs), globally, in 2021. The increasing burden of SUDs is underpinning the importance of adequate testing and abuse detection, which is in turn, propelling the demand for drug of abuse testing systems.

Governments across several countries are adopting various initiatives to monitor and combat substance abuse. For instance, the U.S. Government announced allocating US$ 10 Bn to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand access to drug abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services. Through this, they intended to combat the opioid epidemic. Such initiatives are estimated to spur the sales of drug of abuse testing systems by 6.40% year-over-year between 2020 and 2021.

Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1649

On the basis of end user, forensic laboratories are anticipated to emerge as the dominant segment in the market. Surging demand for accurate testing of individuals consuming illegal substances and illicit drugs is a chief factor driving the growth in the market.

"Launch of novel technologies to detect the use of drugs in real-time and increasing adoption of these systems for on-ground epidemiologic investigations across high-priority areas of concern are expected to fuel demand for drug of abuse testing tools," says a FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways from Drug of Abuse Testing Market Study

The U.S. is anticipated to account for the largest share in the North America market backed by government initiatives undertaken to control drug abuse.

market backed by government initiatives undertaken to control drug abuse. China is projected to dominate the market in East Asia , favored by a large presence of key market players and easy availability of raw materials for manufacturing detection devices.

is projected to dominate the market in , favored by a large presence of key market players and easy availability of raw materials for manufacturing detection devices. India is estimated to register a swift growth in the South Asia market, due to the rising burden of opioid dependence among the population in the country.

is estimated to register a swift growth in the market, due to the rising burden of opioid dependence among the population in the country. Japan is expected to emerge as a highly remunerative market, contributing nearly 7% of the total drug of abuse testing sales through 2031.

is expected to emerge as a highly remunerative market, contributing nearly 7% of the total drug of abuse testing sales through 2031. As per the technique, the immunoassays segment is forecast to register the fastest growth in the market, favored by the rising adoption of disposable blood testing devices.

Key Drivers

Introduction of new testing devices with integrated drug warning technologies capable of monitoring drug overdose in real-time is expected to propel the demand for drug of abuse testing systems.

Implementation of regulations for annual surveys of substance and drug use in workplaces, households, and schools across the U.S., the U.K., Japan , and others is spurring the sales of drug of abuse testing systems.

Key Restraints

Lack of awareness among common men and consideration of drug testing as a violation of privacy rights in certain countries are primary factors restricting the growth of the market.

High cost and time required for chromatography testing compared to other techniques are hampering the sales of drug of abuse testing across the segment.

Request for report Customization as per your requirement - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-1649

Competitive Landscape

As per FMI, leading players in the global drug of abuse testing market are estimated to account for nearly 50% to 55% of the overall revenue share during the assessment period.

Companies operating in the market are focusing on research and development (R&D) to launch novel testing systems that are more effective and accurate. Besides this, some of the players are aiming at acquisitions, partnerships, mergers, strategic collaborations to optimize their distribution channels and expand their global footprint. For instance:

In August 2019 , Intoximeters announced entering into a partnership with an American multinational medical devices manufacturer, allowing Intoximeters to market Abbott's SoToxaTM Mobile Test System. This system is a handheld rapid detection solution for oral fluid testing for roadsides.

, Intoximeters announced entering into a partnership with an American multinational medical devices manufacturer, allowing Intoximeters to market Abbott's SoToxaTM Mobile Test System. This system is a handheld rapid detection solution for oral fluid testing for roadsides. In May 2018 , Phenomenex Inc. announced launching its new product Strata-X-Drug B Plus, a product for sample preparation of Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) which can be used for urine testing in clinical and forensic laboratories for drug abuse detection.

Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are:

Quest Diagnostics

Roche Holding AG

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Siemens AG (Siemens Healthineers)

Abbott Laboratories (Alere, Inc.)

Shimadzu Corporation

Express Diagnostics International Inc.

Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings.

Ask from Market Research Expert - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-1649

More Valuable Insights on Drug of Abuse Testing Market

The latest report by FMI provides a detailed analysis of the global drug of abuse testing market. It also offers credible insights into key factor driving the market through 2021 and beyond. The study discloses growth projections on drsug of abuse testing market with detailed segmentation:

By Drug Type:

Psychostimulants

Narcotic

Cannabinoids

Sedatives

Others

By Technique:

Immunoassay

Chromatography

Rapid Testing

By End User:

Hospitals

Diagnostics Laboratories

Forensic Laboratories

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

South Asia

East Asia

Oceania

Middle East and Africa

Key Questions Covered in the Report

The report offers insight into drug of abuse testing market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031

The market study also highlights projected sales growth for drug of abuse testing market between 2021 and 2031

Drug of abuse testing 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

Drug of abuse testing market share analysis, covering key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others

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/drug-of-abuse-testing-market

Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/drug-of-abuse-testing-market

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197648/FMI_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Future Market Insights
HEALDSBURG, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dry Creek Vineyard is proud to announce that Wine Enthusiast Magazine will be honoring Sonoma County wine pioneer David S. Stare as its "American Wine Legend" at the upcoming 22nd annual Wine Star Awards. The momentous occasion marks the first time that the family-owned and sustainably-farmed winery has been awarded a renowned Wine Star Award. Stare will be honored in Wine Enthusiast's special "Best of Year" issue and at the annual black-tie gala in Miami, FL on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022.

Dry Creek Vineyard Founder David S. Stare

Stare is the original innovator of present-day Dry Creek Valley and has made a significant impact on the Sonoma County wine industry. Coming west in the late 1960s with little more than a dream to start his own winery, Stare's work ethic and determination drove his early success. As the first new winery in the Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition, Dry Creek Vineyard has become the standard-bearer for Fume Blanc and Zinfandel in Sonoma County. Over the last 49 years, the winery has also developed an international reputation for its Dry Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Bordeaux varietals and Meritage blends.

Stare's legacy as an "American Wine Legend" reflects his lasting impact. Among the many achievements during his career, Stare was:

First to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley in 1972.

First to produce a Fume Blanc in Sonoma County .

. First to initiate the appellation status for the Dry Creek Valley in 1983.

First to label a wine with the Dry Creek Valley appellation.

Ranked among California's first proponents of Bordeaux-style blending.

first proponents of Bordeaux-style blending. First to release a wine using the classification of "Meritage" (1985 vintage) on the label to classify Dry Creek Vineyard's Bordeaux-style blend.

First to champion Zinfandel among world-class vinifera.

First to coin the term "Old Vines" Zinfandel, beginning with the 1985 vintage.

Stare embodies the essence of a visionary spirit through sheer determination and hard work. As a wine industry community leader, he has served as President of the Society of Blancs, President of the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley and President of the Sonoma County Wineries Association, as well as serving on the board of directors of the California Wine Institute. He was honored with a "Lifetime Contribution to the Sonoma County Wine Industry Award" at the 2014 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Stare has a passion for philanthropy and serves as the Board Chairman for Global Partners of Development. He helped initiate the Vineyards to Villages program in 2012, which raises money from the wine industry to bring clean water to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Among Stare's other interests are spending time with his family, railroad history, New Orleans jazz, and playing both trombone and banjo.

"I am honored and humbled to be named an 'American Wine Legend'," said Stare. "All along the way, I was told that my ideas had never been done before. Being a kid from Boston, I was just bullheaded enough to do what I wanted to do. Nearly 50 years later, I am so proud that Dry Creek Vineyard remains one of the last truly private, family-owned, iconic wineries from Sonoma County consistently producing 90-plus point wines."

Established in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard is Dry Creek Valley's flagship winery located in the heart of Sonoma County, California. This premier, family-owned winery is celebrating 49 years of winemaking and is led by the second generation. Dave's daughter, Kim Stare Wallace, serves as President overseeing a successful family winemaking and grape growing business that includes 185 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards. Named a Top 100 winery by Wine & Spirits Magazine and a Top 10 Tasting Room by USA TODAY, the winery is also 100% Certified Sustainable. Dry Creek Vineyard proudly produces delicious Dry Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage blends as well as a portfolio of single vineyard selections. To learn more, visit www.drycreekvineyard.com. Connect with Dry Creek Vineyard on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

SOURCE Dry Creek Vineyard

Related Links

http://www.drycreekvineyard.com


Now, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System two five-year grants totaling $7.6 million to study the structural and chemical changes in the brains of people living with HIV, depression, and cannabis use disorder.

"Given the health disparities associated with both a mental health diagnosis and HIV-positive status, we're hopeful our findings will serve as an important step in advancing health equity in the Bronx and around the country," said Vilma Gabbay, M.D., M.S., co-director of the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein and co-principal investigator on both grants.

Cannabis Use and Depression in People with HIV

The first research project, funded by a five-year, $4 million grant, will enroll 280 people ages 18-34 who are living with HIV. Some of the participants will have depression and regularly use cannabis. Investigators will use neuroimaging, including functional MRI, to examine brain circuitry related to reward and pain to better understand their links to depression and substance use disorder in this population. Principal investigators on the grant are Dr. Gabbay, Anjali Sharma, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist and infectious diseases specialist at Montefiore; and Joanna Starrels, M.D., M.S., associate professor of medicine at Einstein and an internist and addiction medicine specialist at Montefiore.

"Our collaborative project involves experts in depression, HIV, addiction medicine, and neuroimaging, who will investigate the role of neural mechanisms to learn about the connection between cannabis use and depression in people living with HIV," said Dr. Gabbay, who is also associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience at Einstein. "We hope to identify specific biomarkers of depression and develop better treatments."

Understanding Depression in People Living with HIV

The second project, funded by a five-year, $3.6 million grant, will examine how the immune system, brain circuits, and neurochemicals interact in people living with HIV. Investigators, led by Dr. Gabbay and Dr. Sharma, who co-chair the HIV and Mental Health Scientific Working Group for the Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research, hope to untangle this complex system to understand why these individuals are more vulnerable to depression.

The Einstein-Montefiore researchers believe that when the central nervous system (CNS) becomes inflamed by HIV, it results in two adverse effects: chemicals called free radicals injure nerves of the CNS and levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)a neurotransmitter known to have a calming effectare reduced. These neurochemical changes are believed to cause depression.

"If we can confirm that this chain of events leads to depression," said Dr. Gabbay, "we may be able to devise treatment strategies that can ward off depression in people infected by HIVperhaps by inhibiting the inflammatory proteins that accompany HIV infection."

Researchers will enroll 300 people living with and without HIV. At the start of the study, participants will be tested for levels of depression or anxiety, past psychiatric trauma, HIV treatment, and levels of CD4+ T cells (a type of T cell affected by HIV infection). The tests will be repeated after six and 12 months.

The first grant, titled "The Neural Underpinnings of Depression and Cannabis Use in Young PLWH," was awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (1R01DA054885-01). The second grant, initially titled "The Neuroimmunology of Depression in Women Living With HIV," was awarded by the National Institute of Mental Health, part of the National Institutes of Health (1R01MH128878-01).

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York's premier academic health systems and is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley. It is comprised of 10 hospitals, including the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospitaland more than 200 outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation's premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2020-21 academic year, Einstein is home to 721 M.D. students, 178 Ph.D . students, 109 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program , and 265 postdoctoral research fellows . The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates . In 2020, Einstein received more than $197 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore , the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube.

SOURCE Montefiore Health System
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Elevation Gold Mining Corporation (TSXV: ELVT) (OTC: EVGDF) (the "Company" or "Elevation") a U.S. focused gold producer with district scale exploration projects in the Walker Lane Trend of Nevada and Arizona reports the upcoming departure of its Chief Financial Officer.

Effective November 29, 2021, Mr. David Splett will be leaving his position with the Company to pursue another opportunity, and the Company wishes him well in his future endeavors. As part of its succession planning initiatives, the Company is in discussions with various candidates and expects to announce a new Chief Financial Officer prior to Mr. Splett's departure.

About Elevation Gold Mining

Elevation Gold Mining offers investors a rare combination of cash flow, production, top-tier management, and exceptional exploration potential within two projects on the Walker Lane Gold Trend of western Nevada and Arizona. Management is executing a clear strategy that expands production and resources at the Moss Mine in Arizona while aggressively exploring the Hercules Project in Nevada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ELEVATION GOLD MINING CORPORATION

"Michael G. Allen"

President

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein is "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to statements regarding the Company's plans with respect to appointing a new Chief Financial Officer. Words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "contemplate", "target", "plan", "goal", "aim", "intend", "continue", "budget", "estimate", "may", "will", "can", "could", "should", "schedule" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, including that the Company will be able to identify and engage a suitable Chief Financial Officer prior to November 29, 2021. All of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, forecast or intended and readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. 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 information. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance. 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 document. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forwardlooking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Elevation Gold Mining Corp.

Related Links

www.northernvertex.com


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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

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SOURCE SpendEdge

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For more than 20 years, Brecker has built, scaled and successfully operated multiple award-winning marketing organizations. Most recently he worked with an array of Fortune 500 brands and start-ups, helping them transform their internal creative, communications and design teams, thereby driving innovation and exponential business growth.

Previously in his career, Brecker served as vice president at Kimberly-Clark where he led global creative, design and content development for all sectors and brands across 170 countries. His depth of agency experience includes managing director responsibilities at R/GA Chicago, where he launched multiple new PepsiCo brands and spearheaded the global Brand AI practice. In addition, Brecker has held senior leadership roles at Digital Kitchen, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy and DDB, and is a recognized leader with exceptional strengths in creative, technology and production, along with operations and structure.

Recognized with some of the industry's highest honors, Brecker's work has garnered a host of awards and multiple gold Cannes Lions, notably the Cannes Lions Design Grand Prix for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' digitally infused interior design.

"Jeff is a trusted advisor and an innovative, strategic leader who has a solid track record of growing business by nurturing key client relationships and recruiting top talent," said Kevin Bauer, CEO, Envoy. "He has an impressive track record in aligning and scaling design thinking across all operations, from product development to marketing, with flawless optimization and delivery; Jeff's approach will give both Envoy and our clients a great competitive advantage."

As managing director, Brecker will be responsible for strengthening, optimizing and scaling Envoy Chicago's team of 25, which services clients' end-to-end needs across three pillars: brand innovation, digital transformation and growth acceleration. Envoy's Chicago office, the heart of the agency's digital environments team (formerly Leviathan), transforms distinctive physical environments into exceptional experiences. By blending artful content, digital technology and physical space, the team designs destinations that engage audiences, changes perceptions and drives transactions for bold clients worldwide.

"I saw this as an incredible opportunity to join a highly creative, independently-held organization, full of some of the most talented creatives, technologists and strategists in our industry," said Brecker. "Envoy's enviable client and category expertise along with this team's deep understanding of true consumer engagement that goes way beyond marketing is what makes the agency so unique."

The agency has experienced tremendous growth momentum this past year with the appointment of Caroline Murphy as chief growth officer for North America and the unification of its three agency brands: Envoy, Bulldog Drummond, and Leviathan, now operating under the Envoy name.

Envoy's current portfolio includes: McDonald's, Acorns, Vizio, Arlo, TaylorMade, Verizon, Nike, HyperX, and Diageo. To learn more about Envoy and its current career opportunities, please visit https://www.weareenvoy.com/careers.

ABOUT ENVOY

Envoy is an end-to-end digital consultancy that helps organizations accelerate growth through connected customer experiences. Trusted by iconic brands and tomorrow's category leaders, Envoy's multidisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and technologists deliver unprecedented levels of impact through brand building, ecommerce, and digital products. Headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in San Diego and Chicago, Envoy transforms experiences for clients such as T-Mobile, VIZIO, Arlo, Nike, and Diageo. To learn more, visit Envoy's website and follow the team on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Envoy
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Corporation (NYSE: EQT) (the Company or EQT) today announced the commencement of an underwritten public offering of 10,973,685 shares of its common stock by certain shareholders who received the shares as a part of the Company's acquisition of Alta Resources Development, LLC's upstream and midstream subsidiaries (the Offering). Such selling shareholders intend to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,646,051 shares of the Company's common stock. EQT will not sell any shares of its common stock in the Offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares being offered by the selling shareholders. The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed.

Citigroup and RBC Capital Markets are acting as joint book-running managers for the Offering. The Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, which was filed as part of an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on Form S-3. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus relating to the Offering, as well as copies of the final prospectus supplement once available, may be obtained on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or from: Citigroup, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone: (800) 831-9146; or RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281, telephone: (877) 822-4089, email: [email protected].

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy or an offer to purchase or sell any 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.

Investor Contact:

Andrew Breese

Director, Investor Relations

412.395.2555

[email protected]

About EQT Corporation

EQT Corporation is a leading independent natural gas production company with operations focused in the cores of the Marcellus and Utica Shales in the Appalachian Basin. We are dedicated to responsibly developing our world-class asset base and being the operator of choice for our stakeholders. By leveraging a culture that prioritizes operational efficiency, technology and sustainability, we seek to continuously improve the way we produce environmentally responsible, reliable and low-cost energy. We have a longstanding commitment to the safety of our employees, contractors, and communities, and to the reduction of our overall environmental footprint. Our values are evident in the way we operate and in how we interact each day  trust, teamwork, heart, and evolution are at the center of all we do.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking. Statements regarding the Offering, including the size thereof, are forward-looking statements and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to complete the Offering on favorable terms, if at all, and general market conditions that might affect the Offering. Other risks relating to the Company are described under Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other documents the Company files from time to time with the SEC. In addition, the Company may be subject to currently unforeseen risks that may have a materially adverse impact on it. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE EQT Corporation (EQT-IR)

Related Links

http://www.eqt.com


Tenth recognition for this year for Validus platform

AUSTIN, Texas and TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eventus Systems, Inc. , a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions, announced that the firm this week won the award for Best Market Conduct Solution for 2021 at the inaugural Canadian RegTech Awards. The recognition is the 10th for this year for the firm's Validus platform.

Hosted by the Canadian Regulatory Technology Association in partnership with Ernst & Young (EY), the awards are designed to recognize significant achievement and innovation in the advancement of Regulatory Technology solutions to meet and improve regulatory compliance and oversight in Canada.

Eventus CEO Travis Schwab said: "As the regulatory environment in Canada and globally continues to evolve, and as compliance officers are continually challenged to do more with less, it's more important than ever that financial institutions have robust, cost-effective tools to fulfill their regulatory obligations. We're honored to play a mission-critical role in our clients' businesses and to now have Validus deployed with our first client in Canada. With several more Canadian firms in the pipeline and Eventus staff based in three provinces, we are well positioned to serve a broad cross-section of the Canadian market as the trade surveillance and risk management solution of choice, both for traditional finance and digital assets."

Paul Childerhose, Board member with the Canadian RegTech Association, said: "Our inaugural Canadian RegTech Awards event drew wide interest from across the ecosystem, and we extend our gratitude to all of those that submitted a nomination. Congratulations to Eventus for the recognition by the judging panel of its Validus platform as the Best Market Conduct Solution for 2021."

The Canadian RegTech Association is a non-profit organization focused on solving regulatory challenges through collaborative efforts between key regulatory technology stakeholders: regulated entities, technology vendors, regulatory bodies, government and professional service providers.

Eventus has now earned 19 global awards and honors since late 2018 for its technology, innovation and client service.

About Eventus Systems

Eventus Systems is a leading global provider of multi-asset class trade surveillance and market risk solutions. Its powerful, award-winning Validus platform is easy to deploy, customize and operate across equities, options, futures, foreign exchange (FX), fixed income and digital asset markets. Validus is proven in the most complex, high-volume and real-time environments of tier-1 banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants (FCMs), proprietary trading groups, market centers, buy-side institutions, energy and commodity trading firms, and regulators. The company's rapidly growing client base relies on Validus and Eventus' responsive support and product development teams to overcome its most pressing regulatory challenges. For more, visit www.eventussystems.com .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ellen G. Resnick

Crystal Clear Communications

+773-929-9292; +312-399-9295 (mobile)

[email protected]

SOURCE Eventus Systems
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exadel (www.exadel.com), a software engineering company that delivers digital platforms and products, today announced that industry leader Darren Oberst has joined Exadel as its new CEO. With more than 20 years in leadership roles with global organizations, including IBM and HCL Technologies, Darren Oberst brings a strong background in technology leadership to the Exadel brand.

Fima Katz, president and CEO since Exadel's founding in 1998, will transition to the position of the Executive Chairman of the Board. Fima Katz built and grew the company from a small start-up to a global brand of software excellence in North America, Europe and Asia.

"Darren is the right leader for Exadel at this time," said Fima Katz. "Darren's extensive experience with strategic development and plan execution, as well as a long history in enterprise software and services, will help Exadel strengthen our growing brand and expand our global presence."

"I am very excited to be joining the Exadel team," said Darren Oberst. "I believe we have a great business model and talented leadership and engineering teams that uniquely position Exadel for tremendous growth in 2022 and many years to come."

Darren graduated from UC-Berkeley with degrees in Physics and Philosophy. He also received a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Darren joins the Exadel team during it's highest performing year-to-date, including:

Adding 27 new clients in 2021, including one of the largest yoga studio chains in the United States , a leading outdoor product company and a healthtech ad agency

, a leading outdoor product company and a healthtech ad agency New offices in Georgia and Uzbekistan , increasing its presence in the Eastern European region

and , increasing its presence in the Eastern European region Organic 33% YoY revenue growth in 2021 and 30% increase in employees

Recent acquisition of the strategic consulting firm Coppei Partners based in Seattle, WA

About Exadel

Exadel is a software engineering company that delivers the digital platforms, products, and applications our clients need to run and grow their businesses. For more than 20 years we have developed solutions that accelerate the speed, quality, and efficiency of our delivery while adding value to our customers. Since the advent of the cloud, Exadel has helped companies get the most out of their data, reducing expenditure and increasing scalability and access. A Forrester-recognized market leader in distributed Agile, we are proud of our long history of partnering with the largest brands across all industries. For more information on Exadel services and areas of expertise, visit exadel.com and follow us on Linkedin and Twitter @exadel .

Media Contact:

Olivia Heel

Catapult PR-IR

303-581-7760

[email protected]

SOURCE Exadel

Related Links

http://www.exadel.com


PHOENIX, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Excelsior Mining Corp. (TSX: MIN) (OTCQX: EXMGF) (FSE: 3XS) ("Excelsior" or the "Company") announces that Arizona-based M3 Engineering & Technology Corporation (M3) will prepare an updated technical report on the Company's new operating plan for the Gunnison Copper Project and Johnson Camp Mine that was originally announced in the Company's press release of September 9, 2021.

M3 is a full-service, international engineering firm providing engineering, procurement and construction management services to the minerals industry. Founded in 1986 in Tucson Arizona, M3 has a diverse staff of over 600 people with project experience in over 30 countries. M3 has won numerous awards including the prestigious AISC Engineering Award for Excellence in 2005 and 2015, and the American Mining Hall of Fame's 2007 Mining Foundation of the Southwest Industry Partnership Award.

Roland Goodgame, SVP Projects and Business Development comments, "With M3's diverse experience and familiarity with the project, they were the best choice to prepare an updated technical report for the new operating strategy. The Company has been actively moving forward with operational planning and permitting to re-start the Johnson Camp mine and implement wellfield adjustments at the Gunnison Project. Once operational, the cashflow from the Johnson Camp mine is expected to provide an alternative to financing the capital costs of the neutralized raffinate plant for Gunnison. The Company intends to operate Johnson Camp for only a short period of time to support its much larger and more environmentally friendly in-situ operation at Gunnison."

The new technical report will focus on an operating plan for both the Gunnison ISR Copper Project and Johnson Camp heap leach component. With respect to Gunnison, the focus will be on flushing the wells with neutralized raffinate, which does not require additional water or evaporation infrastructure. This approach should generate sustained improvement in injection and recovery flow rates for individual wells. It will require additional infrastructure such as a raffinate neutralization plant, additional piping and pond modification.

The Johnson Camp operations will be focused on exposed copper oxides within the existing Burro and Copper Chief open pits and high-value oxides in local extensions. The only new required infrastructure will be a new leach pad and minor piping and pumping facilities. Operations could provide up to 5 years of copper production at the 25 million pounds per annum capacity of the existing SXEW plant. Excelsior expects that copper cathode production from the Johnson Camp open pits could potentially commence in the second half of 2022, subject to receipt of permits, reclamation bonding, and construction schedules.

The Company is also planning to undertake well stimulation trials in the first half of next year. Well stimulation has the potential to clean out some of the CO 2 bubbles, improve flow rates, improve sweep efficiency, and increase permeability and copper production. Data will be collected during the trials to ascertain the effectiveness of the technique. The trials will be subject to EPA approval.

About Excelsior Mining

Excelsior "The Copper Solution Company" is a mineral exploration and production company that owns and operates the Gunnison Copper Project in Cochise County, Arizona. The project is a low cost, environmentally friendly in-situ recovery copper extraction project that is permitted to 125 million pounds per year of copper cathode production. Excelsior also owns the past producing Johnson Camp Mine and a portfolio of exploration projects, including the Peabody Sill and the Strong and Harris deposits.

Excelsior's technical work on the Gunnison Copper Project and Johnson Camp MINE is supervised by Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President & CEO of Excelsior and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Twyerould has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release related to the Gunnison Copper Project and Johnson Camp mine, and underlying sampling, analytical and test data.

For more information on Excelsior, please visit our website at www.excelsiormining.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the future development plans for the Gunnison Project and its status as a low cost environmentally friendly in-situ recovery copper extraction project;(ii) future production of copper from the Gunnison Project and Johnson Camp Mine; (iii) the details of the Company's new operating strategy; (iv) the details of the well stimulation trial and potential results therefrom and (v) future financing requirements.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, expectations and anticipated impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project or Johnson Camp Mine, risks relating to variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions and the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.

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 information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

SOURCE Excelsior Mining Corp.

Related Links

http://www.excelsiormining.com/


PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FinancialNewsMedia.com News Commentary - Copper is the most widely used metal in energy generation, transmission infrastructure, and energy storage. It is the next most used metal after aluminum and steel in the construction, telecommunications, transportation, and automobile manufacturing sectors. Unlike gold, copper projections seem to come in a wider spectrum but they do share that copper will have growth now and in the future. Here are some projections/comments from varied industry insiders (as revealed in Capital.com and Knoema.com). Knomea said: "(23 May 2021) Copper prices reached an all-time high of $10,512 per metric ton on May 9, marking a 130% growth since March 22, 2020. The consensus forecast from three leading sources (IMF, World Bank, and the Australian Government) for 2021 is $8,357. The average year-to-date price as of May 20 was $8,915, which means the forecasts do not reflect an expectation of further increases over the second half of the year. The copper price growth over the course of the past year was driven primarily by the high demand from China, the top copper consumer, as well as growing optimism about the overall economic recovery in view of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. The demand for copper is expected to rise further amid rising concerns about low copper inventories. Active mining stocks mentioned in today's commentary include: Ridgestone Mining Inc. (OTCQB: RIGMF) (TSX-V: RMI), Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX), Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO), BHP Group (NYSE:BHP), Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (OTCPK: CPPMF) (TSX: CMMC).

Capital.com was more optimistic, saying: "Copper prices retreated at the end of October after climbing to their highest level since the market reached record highs in May. The copper price history chart shows that the metal, which is used extensively across industries from construction to automotive, energy and electronics, rose to $10,652 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME) on 19 October, its highest level since May. The LME spot price slipped to $9,849.50 on 27 October, then ticked up to $9,955 per tonne on 29 October. On 1 November, the metal traded at $9,875 per tonne. Analysts at investment banks including ANZ in Australia, Commerzbank in Germany and Goldman Sachs in the US expect the LME spot market to return to a copper price target at the $10,000 per tonne level by the end of the year. For the longer term, Goldman Sachs predicted that copper prices could average $11,875 per tonne in 2022, $12,000 in 2023, $14,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025.

Ridgestone Mining Inc. (TSX-V: RMI) (OTCQB: RIGMF) (FSE: 4U5) BREAKING NEWS RIDGESTONE RECEIVES PERMIT FOR DRILL PROGRAM ON EL COBRE COPPER TARGET AT REBEICO PROJECT - Ridgestone Mining ("Ridgestone") is pleased to announce it has received all of the requisite permits for a maiden drill program on the El Cobre copper target at it's wholly-owned Rebeico copper-gold project in Sonora, Mexico.

The permit was issued by the Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales or SEMARNAT, the Mexican regulatory body, which allows for the Company to undertake its maiden drill program. The program will be comprised of 14 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes for a total of approximately 2,700 metres and will be conducted along the main El Cobre structure, where recent grab and rock-chip sampling of the surface stockpile of mined material from the El Cobre structure returned up to 3.5% copper, 53 g/t silver and 0.52 % Mo over widths of up to 5.0 metres. Historical records of past mining by Asarco in the 1960's show that high- grade copper was extracted from two levels to a depth of 180 metres, and that the structure remains open along strike and to depth.

The Company is working with its local drilling contractor to finalize schedules for an upcoming program. In addition, it has engaged with ancillary service providers to prepare the drill sites ahead of the anticipated program.

In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that the Company has engaged Think Ink Marketing Data & Email Services, Inc. ("Think Ink") to provide public relations services in an effort to increase public awareness of the Company and its products, services and securities. The agreement is for six months at a budget of $200,000. Think Ink leverages leading-edge technologies to steer traffic to clients' web properties, drive inquiries, and collect metrics regarding engagement with content. Services provided by Think Ink include SEM (search engine marketing), search retargeting, email campaigns, and social media optimization (e.g., using tactics such as geofencing). With the exception of the agreement to provide the foregoing services, the Company does not have any relationship with Think Ink. Think Ink does not hold, directly or indirectly, and securities of the Company or a right to acquire such securities. CONTINUED. Read this full release and more news for Ridgestone Mining by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-rmi/

In other mining news of note:



Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE: FCX) recently announced that it has posted its third-quarter 2021 financial and operating results.

The company reported third-quarter 2021 net income attributable to common stock of $1.4 billion, $0.94 per share, and adjusted net income attributable to common stock of $1.3 billion, $0.89 per share, after excluding net credits totaling $79 million, $0.05 per share, primarily associated with tax credits related to the release of valuation allowances at PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI) and a gain on the sale of FCX's remaining cobalt business.

Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) recently said that it is supporting the development of a battery ecosystem in Europe with an investment in Inobat Auto ('InoBat'), a European-based battery technology and manufacturing company. This investment will support the completion of InoBat's research and development centre and pilot battery line in Voderady, Slovakia. Today's investment follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May, outlining an intention to work together to progress the establishment of a "cradle-to-cradle" electric vehicle battery value chain in Serbia.

InoBat, a European based battery manufacturer with a battery research and development facility and pilot plant under development in Slovakia, is actively pursuing plans to build a number of gigafactories, including one in Serbia. The company specialises in the pioneering research, development, manufacture, and provision of premium innovative electric batteries custom-designed to meet the specific requirements of customers within the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorsport, and aerospace sectors.

BHP Group (NYSE:BHP) recently announced that it will sell its 80% stake in the BMC metallurgical coal venture to Stanmore Resources Ltd. in a deal worth up to $1.35 billion, extending the global miner's withdrawal from fossil fuels.

BMC, which is 20% owned by Mitsui & Co. Ltd., has two operating mines in Queensland with a combined output of about 10 million tons of coal a year, as well as the undeveloped Wards Well project. Stanmore, which is majority owned by Singapore's Golden Energy & Resources Ltd., will pay $1.2 billion in cash with a potential follow-up payment of up to $150 million after two years linked to the performance of coal prices.

Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (OTCPK: CPPMF) (TSX: CMMC) recently announced strong third quarter 2021 financial and operating results. All currency is in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated. All results are reported on a 100% basis.

"We continued to deliver strong operating metrics and impressive operating cash flow," commented Gil Clausen, Copper Mountain's President and CEO. "With a healthy and increasing cash position, we are on track to advancing our organic growth objective of tripling 2020 production within the next five years, while maintaining a solid balance sheet. Our Net Debt to trailing twelve-month EBITDA(1) continues to improve, reaching 0.6 at the end of the quarter."

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated forty five hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Ridgestone Mining Inc. by a non affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.



This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.



Contact Information:

email: [email protected]

+1(561)325-8757

SOURCE FinancialNewsMedia.com
Digital Future Society's director, Cristina Colom , inaugurated the event encouraging a call to action: "We need to shift some of our priorities to focus on some key social pressing challenges. The way we tackle these challenges, the way we seek solutions, the way we foster international cooperation, will determine the digital future, will determine our digital future."

By her side, the writer and philosopher of the Institute of Ethics at the IA at Oxford University, Carissa Veliz, emphasises the right to data protection and control: "our democracy is at stake."

Another session focused on the use of data as a fight against digital divides. The New York CTO, John Paul Farmer, opts for a strategy that considers access, connectivity, infrastructure, and affordability, since "tech is not a luxury, rather a necessity and connectivity must be universal." The Director of ONTSI, Lucia Velasco, points out the growing digital frustration by stressing that "we ask citizens to interact with digital administrations regardless of users and their experience or access."

The Executive Director Alliance for Affordable Internet, Sonia Jorge, shifted her attention on gender divides, stating that "The world has missed out an opportunity of $1 billion for not including girls in digital societies." Also, Nuria Oliver of the Data-Pop Alliance reflects on the lack of STEM women: "Any field lacking in diversity will not unlock its full potential and solutions will never be fully inclusive."

Regarding facial recognition in cities, the European Digital Rights Initiative advisor Sarah Chander states, "We need to understand human risk, who will be impacted, how and why." Similarly, the rapporteur and AI Act, Brando Benifei encourages the European Parliament to "declare a clear position" on this technology, as the regulation continues "having many interpretations." In the same vein, the researcher on Human Rights Watch, Amos Toh points out the need to "empower citizens to understand how technology is designed and its limits."

To address the regulation of AI, the cabinet member of the Vice-President of the European Commission, Werner Stengg, recalls that "AI is not necessarily the enemy of technological innovation." For her part, the COE of Open Knowledge Foundation, Renata Avila, stresses that privacy should "be default, but it's not enough, we need other values like open innovation."

The act concluded with the intervention of the CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, Carlos Grau, who committed himself to "working together and fostering cooperation between all key actors."

Media Contact: Emily Henley [email protected], +34 661 267 495

SOURCE Digital Future Society
QUEENS, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Supporters of the United Nations International School hosted a candlelight rally on Tuesday night to save the longtime Queens campus from an abrupt and unexplained closure on its 75th anniversary. Rally attendees included parents, students, alumni, teachers, and community leaders. Supporters spoke of the importance of the school to families, the community, and the United Nations. The school, nestled amid the most diverse neighborhoods in the nation, has been a beloved second home for tens of thousands of children from Queens and across the world since it opened in 1947. Children have walked the halls, sung at UN day, and made life-long friends at this school.

"As chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Cmte. and a former member of the UNIS Queens parents family, I understand how important it is to have Educational facilities that offer exemplary staff, tools for learning, a diverse student body, and an opportunity to positively impact people with an understanding of the global community. The UNIS Queens Campus has been such a place for a very long time. It would be disastrous for many if U.N.I.S. couldn't help the much needed U.N.I.S. Queens campus continue to put smart, caring, and desperately needed global citizens in the world," Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee

Assemblyman David I. Weprin participated in the Rally and said, "I hope that we can come together to find creative solutions, engage in constructive dialogue, and I especially hope the decision to close UNIS Queens will be reconsidered and REVERSED!"

"We're calling on Secretary-General Guterres to step-in and save our school. The planned closure is particularly galling given the timing and the impact it will have on children. These children are just emerging from the pandemic, and in addition to COVID-19 related loss and suffering that was experienced by many in our community, the effects of closing the school is likely to be felt both in the short- and long-term. Earlier this year, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote that 'leaders must do everything in their power to cushion the impact of the pandemic'. We urge the Secretary-General to do what is in his power and reverse this decision," said Shantanu Rana, UNIS Queen Parent, and UNIS Alumnus.

Save UNIS Queens was started in response to a November 1st, 2021 email from the United Nations International School (UNIS) administration and Board of Trustees that abruptly announced the closure of the UNIS Queens campus. UNIS Queens families, who put their trust in the UNIS administration, were shocked by the news and the lack of transparency or dialogue--central tenets of the United Nations--in how the decision was made. UNIS, a financially stable institution with a multi-million dollar endowment, has the resources to maintain the school as it has since 1947. Supporters are eager to work with the administration to increase enrollment and build the long-term sustainability of the school. An outreach and marketing proposal is in the works for UNIS Queens to boost enrollment--and the greater UNIS Queens community has stepped up and voiced their support for the school.

Mr. Rana stated, "Our ask is simple--we just want to be heard. We are asking that Secretary-General Guterres: 1) Pause the current plan of closing UNIS Queens; and 2) Allow the UNIS Queens community to collaborate with the Board of UNIS to forge a different path forward, one that is sustainable and keeps UNIS Queens open for generations to come."

The Parents Association has appealed to the Secretary-General to help keep the Queens campus open and maintain the school's exceptional education for this and future generations.

About Save UNIS Queens

Save UNIS Queens is made up of parents, students, faculty, alumni and community members who believe in the principles of the UN and it being the "one place on Earth where all the world's nations can gather together, discuss common problems, and find shared solutions that benefit all of humanity. Unfortunately, the decision to announce the closure of UNIS Queens did not align with the ideals of inclusivity and transparency. Save UNIS Queens is asking that the Board's decision be suspended and a new process started that engages those whose lives are touched by UNIS Queens. For more information on the effort to save UNIS Queens visit: https://www.saveunisqueens.org

SOURCE Save UNIS Queens

Related Links

https://www.saveunisqueens.org/about-us




JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Fiber Optics Market" By Fiber Type (Glass and Plastic), By Cable Type (Single-Mode and Multi-Mode), By Application (Telecom, Oil and Gas, Military and Aerospace, BFSI, Medical), and By Geography. According to Verified Market Research, the Global Fiber Optics Market size was valued at USD 4.54 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 9.53 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 9.9% from 2021 to 2028.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=48325

Browse in-depth TOC on "Fiber Optics Market"

202 - Pages

126  Tables

37  Figures

Global Fiber Optics Market Overview

With digital transformation on a rise, demand for Fiber Optics technology is witnessing massive growth. Technological advancement has led to the enhancement in the field of communication networking, which has further boosted the Fiber Optics Market. The rise in a number of internet connectivity in both developed and developing regions has further created a demand for Fiber Optics technology. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in 2019, over 51% of people were using the internet at a global level. It further states that the global penetration rate increased from nearly 17 per cent in 2005 to over 53 per cent in 2019. Thus, with the rise in the number of internet users, there is an increased demand for data transfer, creating demand for Fiber Optics.

The growing demand for FTTx technology is also an emerging high growth prospect for the Fiber Optics Market. FTTx is any broadband network architecture that uses fiber optics as the optical medium to transmit information in a local loop for last-mile telecommunications. With the development of fibre optic networks, service providers have been able to optimise FTTx  fiber-to-the-X, in which X can refer to various subscriber locations, such as homes (H, as in FTTH) and buildings (B, as in FTTB)  with the most effective, cost-effective connectivity and bandwidth capabilities. With the rise in OTT (Over-the-Top) culture, demand for video technology, which has the highest bandwidth consumption has increased.

Key Developments

In June 2021 , Corning introduced Corning SMF-28 Contour optical fiber, to assist telecommunications operators in dealing with the ever-increasing number of connected devices, the deployment of 5G networks, and advances in cloud computing.

, Corning introduced Corning SMF-28 Contour optical fiber, to assist telecommunications operators in dealing with the ever-increasing number of connected devices, the deployment of 5G networks, and advances in cloud computing. In April 2021 , Corning announced plans to build an optical fiber manufacturing facility in Mszczonow, Poland . The site is expected to be one of the largest optical fiber manufacturers in the EU and is set to open in 2022, to meet the growing demand for optical fiber.

Key Players

The major players in the market are Corning Incorporated, Prysmian Group, Sterlite Technologies Limited, AFL Global, Finisar, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd, LS Cable & System, Leoni AG, Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd., General Cable Corporation, Optical Cable Corporation.

Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Fiber Optics Market On the basis of Fiber Type, Cable Type, Application, and Geography.

Fiber Optics Market, By Fiber Type

Glass



Plastic

Fiber Optics Market, By Cable Type

Single-Mode



Multi-Mode

Fiber Optics Market, By Application

Telecom



Oil and Gas



Military and Aerospace



BFSI



Medical



Railway



Others

Fiber Optics Market by Geography

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





U.K





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





Rest of Asia Pacific



ROW



Middle East & Africa

&



Latin America

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Optical Transport Network (OTN) Equipment Market By Service (Network Design And Optimization Services, Network Maintenance And Support Services), By Component (Optical Switch, Optical Transport), By Technology (Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM), Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM)), By End-User (Telecom, Government), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

Optical Networking And Communication Market By Component (Optical Fiber, Optical Amplifier, Optical Transceiver), By Application (Data Center, Telecom, Enterprise), By Technology (Width Division Multiplexing (WDM), Fiber Channel, SONET), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

Coherent Optical Equipment Market By Equipment (Modules/Chips, Optical Amplifiers, Optical Switches, Wavelength-division Multiplexer (WDM)), By Application (Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Networking, Data Center), By End-User (Industries, Public Sector, Service Provider), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

5 Leading Optical Transceiver Manufacturers building a connected world

Visualize Fiber Optics Market using Verified Market Intelligence:-:

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Former CMMI director, Amy Bassano, joins HMA, will lead Medicare team with Julie Faulhaber Tweet this

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the HMA expert team and our clients to improve value and care for Medicare patients," Bassano said.

As HMA continues to further expand its Medicare team and expertise, HMA's Julie Faulhaber, MBA, has been tapped to serve as the firm's managing director of Medicare and Dual Eligibles. Faulhaber joined HMA in 2019 and is a nationally recognized leader in Medicare, dual eligible and special needs plan (SNP) and Medicaid programs and policies from her 25 years of experience leading these areas at health plans.

"I am excited to collaborate with Amy to bring HMA's strong Medicare policy, operations, analytics and financial expertise to clients," Faulhaber said.

Bassano and Faulhaber will lead the team of Medicare experts at HMA, many of whom also served at the federal level, and leverage their collective expertise to help clients and partners understand the nuances and innerworkings of the national program. HMA services and expertise span the entirety of the program, including policy, financing mechanisms, benefits, coverage, operations, quality, and the unique care needs of different Medicare populations, including the growing dual eligible population.

Founded in 1985, HMA is an independent, national research and consulting firm specializing in publicly funded healthcare and human services policy, programs, financing, and evaluation. Clients include government, public and private providers, health systems, health plans, community-based organizations, institutional investors, foundations, and associations. HMA has more than 20 offices and over 400 multidisciplinary consultants coast to coast.

For more information about HMA, visit https://www.healthmanagement.com/.

SOURCE Health Management Associates

Related Links

http://www.healthmanagement.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Collective[i] Forecast, November 11, 2021, featured one of the most significant leaders in the aerospace world, Norman R. Augustine and explored the topic, "Is America losing to China?: Former Lockheed Martin CEO weighs in on the battle for the future." Mr. Augustine served as Under Secretary of the Army and Acting Secretary of the Army and is the retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Collective[i] provides AI/ML and a network of crowdsourced insights to businesses for the purposes of forecasting and optimizing revenue produced by their sales teams. In this virtual briefing for Collective[i] clients and community members, Mr. Augustine addressed America's declining position in relation to China, as well as how crucial it is for the U.S. to invest in research and development (R&D) in order to remain a global leader. Mr. Augustine responded to questions from business leaders, industry influencers, and journalists on a variety of themes ranging from U.S. trade ties with China to how the U.S. might accelerate progress in technological innovation.

Takeaways from the session:

In the next few years China will surpass the U.S. in R&D expenditure, calculated at purchasing power parity. According to Augustine, "80 percent of major company CEOs in America stated they would cut R&D rather than miss the following quarter's earnings forecast." Augustine contends that, when paired with the U.S.' poor rankings in educational quality  particularly in science and math  this failure to prioritize research will result in the U.S. slipping behind in terms of innovation. "The consequences of falling behind China could go far beyond the fields of science and technology," he said.

will surpass the U.S. in R&D expenditure, calculated at purchasing power parity. According to Augustine, "80 percent of major company CEOs in America stated they would cut R&D rather than miss the following quarter's earnings forecast." Augustine contends that, when paired with the U.S.' poor rankings in educational quality  particularly in science and math  this failure to prioritize research will result in the U.S. slipping behind in terms of innovation. "The consequences of falling behind could go far beyond the fields of science and technology," he said. Augustine criticized the U.S. for not having even a two-year budget plan for R&D or a capital budget at all, while addressing the importance of China's five-year plans. "No successful corporation in America does not have a capital budget somehow, we've got to change our thinking," he stated. "By 2042 or sooner, there will be no money for so-called discretionary items." These include national security, infrastructure, federal aid to education, and R&D.

five-year plans. "No successful corporation in America does not have a capital budget somehow, we've got to change our thinking," he stated. "By 2042 or sooner, there will be no money for so-called discretionary items." These include national security, infrastructure, federal aid to education, and R&D. Investing in science and technology is critical. Augustine asserts that the U.S. should increase financial support and funding of research universities and scientific laboratories given the short-term focus of many corporations. "Today, basic research is funded at a rate of two-tenths of one percent of the nation's GDP. That happens to be about what the nation's citizenry spends on beer. One probably shouldn't be surprised by the outcome of such a policy."

When asked how the U.S. should accelerate innovation, Augustine said, "Our focus on the near-term spending on consumption, as opposed to investment, must change. Education and research happen to be two of the most long-term investments one can make."

Augustine's proposals to accelerate innovation include eliminating tenure in K-12 schools, embracing the free enterprise system for determining teacher's compensation, doubling the size of Pell grants, abolishing the tax on gains on university endowments, federal funding of pre-schools, and placing teachers on renewable contracts. Aside from reforms to the U.S. education system, Augustine stated that another way to drive innovation is "to build stronger relationships with our allies."

The U.S. has many advantages over China , but "We have met the enemy, and it is us," Augustine stated. To compete effectively with China , "it's going to be based on discovery, innovation, motivation, and leadership."

, but "We have met the enemy, and it is us," Augustine stated. To compete effectively with , "it's going to be based on discovery, innovation, motivation, and leadership." Augustine predicts that we will enter a form of Cold War, but that "trade will continue." He emphasized the importance of establishing a common ground for the rules of trade, stating that in the past the rules have been unacceptably imbalanced.

Members of the press interested in attending a future Collective[i] Forecast should contact Amy Small for more information.

About Collective[i]: Collective[i] is the world's first network designed to superpower sales, working with companies around the globe to amplify the impact of their sales professionals on the ground, layering in data from sales transactions, current market information, and ongoing team activities to create real-time, probabilistic recommendations that help teams engage, optimize, and close multithreaded sales deals.

Collective[i]'s application and network augment traditional CRM with AI, surfacing every advantage a modern sales organization needs to winincluding daily forecasts, pipeline intelligence, live deal rooms and collaboration tools that boost productivity and grow revenue. Collective[i] also manages Connectors, the first social network designed to help sales leaders leverage valuable professional connections to improve and accelerate the buying experience.

Collective[i] is a private company headquartered in NYC. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter .

Contact

Amy Small - Director, Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Collective[i]

Related Links

collectivei.com


Featuring approximately seventy works by Cuban artists of multiple generations, the exhibition inspires dialogue regarding the physical, social, and political landscape of the island and its diaspora. Artists include Yoan Capote, Los Carpinteros, Teresita Fernandez, Enrique Martinez-Celaya, and Zilia Sanchez. Vanderbilt University art professor Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, who won the prestigious Perez Prize in 2021 in honor of her powerful explorations of history, race, and culture, has two large triptychs in the exhibition.

The horizon line functions as a motif and symbol of personal desire, existential longing, or geographical containment throughout the exhibitionwhile always visible and alluring, it remains perpetually distant and unattainable. Works in the exhibition demonstrate how artists can weave political commentary into their practices, providing insight into the sophistication of creative expression that is possible even in an authoritarian system. Those artists working in exile offer a different perspective, exploring memories, political contrasts, and personal identity through the lens of displacement. "Because of the strained history of Cuba-US relations and current unrest in Cuba, especially in artistic and intellectual circles, the exhibition's timeliness cannot be overstated," says Frist Art Museum chief curator Mark Scala. "In these works, guests will see hardship and humor, despair and hopefulness, spirituality and political critique."

Organized thematically, three sections explore various meanings and associations related to the horizon. The first section, Internal Landscapes, begins with works that find emotional power in seascapes, landscapes and imagery relating to Afro-Cuban experience. In Yoan Capote's painting Island (see-escape) (2010), a perilous sea made of fishhooks appears like a prison wall and is a reminder of the ideological barrier separating communist Cuba from the U.S. Threats loom from every direction in Luis Cruz Azaceta's Caught (1993), in which a terrified and demonized man is stuck with no good optionsonly rough water, imprisonment by the Cuban government for attempting to leave, or interception and return by U.S. officials.

The next section, Abstracting History, examines abstraction employed as both a formalist strategy and a tool for critical and subversive thought. Geometric abstraction, as seen in works by Waldo Diaz-Balart, Jose Angel Rosabal, Zilia Sanchez, and others, demonstrates how cosmopolitan Cubans of the 1950s and early '60s embraced modernist European styles such as neoplasticism, constructivism and suprematism. "Such styles quickly fell from favor in the early years of the Castro regime, when art with a clear social message was officially preferred, as it had been in the Soviet Union since the rule of Josef Stalin," said Scala. Despite the government's position, artists such as Glenda Leon and Reynier Leyva Novo continued to develop personal approaches, creating social or political critiques as well as poetic abstractions.

The artworks in the final section, Domestic Anxieties, relate to the anxieties and stresses felt today by many Cubans on the island and elsewhere. Rene Francisco's seemingly utopian image Heaven (2007) offers ironic commentary on collectivism, in which individuality and personal freedoms are subordinated to the greater dictates of society. The word heaven hovers over a crowd like giant propaganda assuring them of how good their lives are. Upon closer inspection, however, prison bars are visible in the letters, suggesting that the masses may face imprisonment if they do not accept this vision of communal bliss.

"Prompting a dialogue about Cuba and its diaspora, the artists in the exhibition connect their own experiences with historical, political, and psychological realities to create works that can resonate with anyone who grapples with questions of freedom, identity, and displacement," says Scala.

Programs

January 27

Curator's Perspective Presented on Zoom by Tobias Ostrander, exhibition curator

6:30 p.m.

Free; registration required

Join curator Tobias Ostrander for a discussion on the development of the exhibition, which was originally presented in three parts at the Perez Art Museum Miami in 2017 and 2018. During this one-hour lecture, Ostrander will address the theme of the horizon as an organizing strategy. Ostrander is the Estrellita B. Brodsky Adjunct Curator, Latin American Art at Tate. He is the former chief curator and deputy director for curatorial affairs at the Perez Art Museum Miami (201119).

Details about additional programs will be posted on FristArtMuseum.org and @FristArtMuseum on social media.

Exhibition Credit

Organized by Perez Art Museum Miami

Supporter Acknowledgment

Platinum Sponsor: HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health

Education and community engagement supporter: Windgate Foundation

Supported in part by the 2022 Frist Gala patrons.

The Frist Art Museum is supported in part by The Frist Foundation, the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Connect with us @FristArtMuseum #TheFrist #CubanArtattheFrist

About the Frist Art Museum

Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Frist Art Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art exhibition center dedicated to presenting and originating high-quality exhibitions with related educational programs and community outreach activities. Located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tenn., the Frist Art Museum offers the finest visual art from local, regional, national, and international sources in exhibitions that inspire people through art to look at their world in new ways. Information on accessibility can be found at FristArtMuseum.org/accessibility. Gallery admission is free for guests ages 18 and younger and for members, and $15 for adults. For current hours and additional information, visit FristArtMuseum.org or call 615.244.3340.

SOURCE Frist Art Museum

Related Links

https://fristartmuseum.org


Just a month ago, the IRS received the green light to issue special summonses to financial services companies doing business with U.S. taxpayer clients who utilized the Panamanian law firm Panama Offshore Legal Services. The information gained from the summonses will be used to mount investigations and cases against taxpayers who are suspected to have violated tax code provisions on overseas asset filing laws. Individuals or businesses that have concerns about the recent crackdown may choose to voluntarily disclose information about their holdings. If this process is conducted incorrectly, it could have serious ramifications for the honest taxpayer who just hopes to avoid an audit or for those that intentionally broke the law alike.

Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply.

It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution.

Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure.

As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!

No matter the situation in which you find yourself, you deserve the advice of the professionals. The advice you get from the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing can make the difference between financial security and hefty IRS civil and live altering criminal penalties for intentional noncompliance. For an assessment of your finances and the status of your past and present compliance, speak to one of our dual licensed International Tax Attorneys and CPAs by calling (800) 681-1295 today or scheduling a consultation online here.

IRS Gets Approval to Pursue Information on U.S. Tax Evaders that Used Panamanian Law Firm

On Thursday, July 29, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (S.D.N.Y.) approved the IRS' request for the service of 10 John Doe Summonses to be distributed to various large financial services corporations. The summonses target information on certain U.S. taxpaying people and entities that did business with Panama Offshore Legal Services (POLS). POLS is a Panamanian law firm that is alleged to have provided clients with assistance in creating and operating offshore tax evasion schemes.

POLS and its various associates are suspected to have advertised opportunities to conceal assets in offshore vehicles such as financial accounts and shell foundations and corporations. POLS allegedly offered their services with a guarantee of "100% anonymity, privacy, and confidentiality." Through POLS and its affiliates, the IRS believes that at least several U.S. taxpayers utilized the firm's offer of a "carefully designed corporate strategy" that would allow clients to "care for [their] loved ones free from probate, inheritance taxes, and other legal and tax problems."

In response, the S.D.N.Y. ordered the distribution of several John Doe Summonses. A John Doe Summons is a legal tool that can turn over information from a corporation about large groups of identified individuals in connection with some suspected illicit activity. In this case, the John Doe Summons is being sent to various banks and other financial services companies that may have records on U.S taxpaying clients who did business with POLS.

These John Doe Summonses will be sent to 10 different entities: Federal Express Corporation; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc.; DHL Express; United Parcel Service, Inc.; the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; The Clearing House Payments Company LLC; HSBC Bank USA,, N.A.; Citibank, N.A.; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.; and Bank of America, N.A.

How Does a John Doe Summons Affect Wealthy American Account Holders in Panama?

John Doe Summonses are controversial because they are so broad and effective. They achieve their goals by eliciting information from companies other than the one that they suspect to be involved in the improper scheme. These larger companies possess large swathes of information on U.S. taxpayers and have significant motivation to comply. Otherwise, they will be roped into the substantial IRS action, and no one wants that. As such, the government will obtain massive amounts of evidence on potential transgressors without needing the compliance of the small, Panamanian entity who promised "100% anonymity, privacy, and confidentiality" to its patrons.

The IRS is quickly bolstering its electronic capability in order to handle (data mining) the types of large data dumps that it acquires through John Doe Summonses. This allows the federal government watchdog to comb through information on potential tax evaders more efficiently than ever before. Any information that the IRS gleans on suspected evaders through the John Doe Summons may be used to mount civil and criminal investigations.

Because of their effectiveness, John Doe Summonses are not going away any time soon. They will be used to target wealthy U.S. taxpayers that utilize small, overseas entities to facilitate their foreign holdings with greater frequency in the coming months and years.

How to Protect Your Overseas Financial Holdings

One option that many concerned taxpaying individuals and small businesses utilize is the voluntary disclosure program. By voluntarily disclosing information that alters or amends your previous tax filings, you may benefit in the form of reduced or waived noncompliance penalties and even avoid an audit.

However, voluntary disclosure is not the best for everyone. Depending on the nature of the noncompliance and the information that the government already has, choosing to voluntarily disclose your financial information can backfire on you. You should never try to engage with the voluntary disclosure program without the help of a tax attorney who is familiar with the process and can advise you on your next steps.

If you have failed to file an FBAR for one or more years or have failed to report offshore taxable income or taken any position on a tax return that could not be supported upon an IRS or state tax authority audit, eggshell audit, reverse eggshell audit, or criminal tax investigation, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney to determine your best route back into federal or state tax compliance without facing criminal prosecution.

Are You Concerned About IRS Investigations into Your Offshore Assets? We Can Help You Today

The Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing has built a reputation around our fierce and discrete defense of our clients in the face of IRS actions. The fact is that you won't know what our Dual Licensed Tax Attorneys and CPAs can do for you until you ask. Call (800) 681-1295 today to find out.

See our 2011 OVDI Q and A Library

See our FBAR Compliance and Disclosure Q and A Library

See our Foreign Audit Q and A Library

See the full version of this article here:

Public Contact: Dave Klasing Esq. M.S.-Tax CPA, [email protected]

SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC

SOURCE Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing, PC

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VAUGHAN, ON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL) (TSX: GFL) ("GFL" or the "Company") today announced that certain of its shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") intend to offer for sale 12,658,228 subordinate voting shares (the "Shares"). GFL will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares (the "Offering"). J.P. Morgan will act as underwriter for the Offering.

The Shares issued pursuant to the Offering will be offered in all provinces and territories of Canada by way of a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus (the "Final Base Shelf Prospectus"). The Company has filed a registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Form F-10") and will file the Prospectus Supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in accordance with the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system established between Canada and the United States.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any province, state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such province, state or jurisdiction.

Prospective investors should read the Final Base Shelf Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement and the documents incorporated by reference therein before investing in the Shares. When available, these documents may be accessed for free on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

GFL has filed the Form F-10 (including a prospectus) with the SEC. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement relating to the Offering, the prospectus in the Form F-10 and other documents GFL has filed with the SEC. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may request the prospectus supplement and prospectus from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at [email protected].

About GFL

GFL, headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario, is the fourth largest diversified environmental services company in North America, providing a comprehensive line of non-hazardous solid waste management, infrastructure & soil remediation and liquid waste management services through its platform of facilities throughout Canada and in more than half of the U.S. states. Across its organization, GFL has a workforce of more than 17,000 employees.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements relating to the proposed Offering. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects", "believes", "could" or "potential" or variations of such words. Forward-looking statements are based on our opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of our experience, track record and perception of historical trends, current conditions, growth opportunities and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we currently believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Completion of the proposed Offering is subject to numerous factors, many of which are beyond GFL's control, including but not limited to, the failure of customary closing conditions and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time, including, without limitation, risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of GFL's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, and in our other public filings filed with Canadian Securities Commissions and the SEC. There can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Accordingly, we caution investors not to rely on the forward-looking information contained in this news release when making an investment decision in our securities. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents our expectations as of the date of this news release (or as the date they are otherwise stated to be made), and are subject to change after such date. However, we disclaim any intention or obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable U.S. or Canadian securities laws.

SOURCE GFL Environmental Inc.

Related Links

http://www.gflenv.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Open Wing Alliance launched a global animal welfare campaign urging leading food conglomerates Focus Brands and Groupe Le Duff to eliminate cruel battery cages from their egg supply chains. Led by 80 animal protection organizations across 63 countries, the global coalition calls on Focus Brands and Groupe Le Duff to release a cage-free commitment for all of its brands and locations globally.

Egg-laying hens raised in battery cages in a typical factory farm environment.

Focus Brandsdeveloper of global foodservice brands, including Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Jamba, Carvel, and Moe'soperates in more than 6,000 locations in 60 countries. Focus Brands claims to be "committed to the wellbeing and humane treatment of all animals." Meanwhile, it sources its eggs from factory farms where egg-laying hens live in filthy and outdated battery cages .

Groupe Le Duffa French conglomerate with 1,300 locations worldwideowns several restaurant brands including French bakery, Brioche Doree. Claiming to be committed to "high-quality, healthy dishes," it prides its bakery on the "freshness, friendliness, and simplicity" of its food. Still, its eggs come from hens confined to cruel battery cages .

"Major companies around the world are eliminating cages altogether, as they witness consumer demand for cage-free eggs growing every year," says Alexandria Beck, Director of the Open Wing Alliance . "Focus Brands and Groupe Le Duff must put action to their words and slogansby putting a stop to the needless animal abuse taking place in their global supply chains. It's time these restaurants make a meaningful animal welfare impactsomething their customers are looking for from them."

On cage farms, hens are confined in cramped, filthy cages with six to ten other birds. The cages are so small and crowded, birds cannot engage in natural behaviors. Their bodies get caught in the caging, resulting in broken bones, deformities, and feather loss. Some hens, unable to move, end up trampled to death by cage mates. Eliminating battery cages markedly improves the wellbeing of hens raised in egg supply chains. While more must be done to make long-term changes to their quality of life, this is a significant first step.

As consumer demand continues to grow, industry leaders have been abandoning cages around the world. More than 100 global commitments to end the use of battery cages have been made by some of the largest companies in the world, including KFC, Burger King, Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, Nestle, Aldi, Kraft Heinz, and Shake Shack.

The campaign is led by the Open Wing Alliance , a global coalition founded by The Humane League and made up of 80 animal protection organizations from 63 countries united to improve the welfare of chickens raised in factory farms.

Sign the petitions today at FocusBrandsBrutality.com and LeDuffCruelty.com .

For more information about the Open Wing Alliance, please visit OpenWingAlliance.org . Follow along on Twitter @GlobalCageFree .

Media Contact:

Julia Tomkins

973-722-4736

[email protected]

SOURCE The Open Wing Alliance

Related Links

http://OpenWingAlliance.org


DUBLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "E-Hailing Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global e-hailing market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 24.02% to grow to US$238.191 billion by 2026, from US$52.775 billion in 2019.

The rising proliferation of smartphones and internet connectivity is driving the demand for e-hailing services across the globe. According to DataReportal, 2021, the number of mobile subscriptions associated with smartphones reached 6.4 billion globally. Further, the growing internet penetration nationwide is contributing to the growth of the e-hailing market.

INCREASING INVESTMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

One of the key factors complementing the demand for the global e-hailing market is the lucrative investment and increasing collaboration and partnerships in the industry. The investment in the e-hailing cluster has been constantly increasing every year which is propelling the market growth. Several market giants are forming partnerships and collaborations in the mobility sector to meet the increasing customer demand which is increasing the competitiveness of the market.



Since 2010, the investors have invested over $330 billion in more than 2,000 mobility companies. At the beginning of 2019 alone, over $100 billion was invested. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, in October 2020, $39 billion was invested globally in mobility technologies.



Furthermore, Ford and Volkswagen, in July 2019, together invested $7 billion in Agro Al, an autonomous vehicle platform. Similarly, in February 2019 Daimler and BMW entered into a partnership of $1.13 billion to introduce car-sharing, ride-hailing, and multi-modal transportation services. Such partnerships and collaborations will strengthen the market growth of the e-hailing market during the forecast period.



RISING IMPACT OF E-HAILING CARS

Urban transportation is certain to be affected more by the rapid growth of ride-hailing services. Furthermore, it is likely to have an effect on urban traffic congestion and environmental pollution.



In the Asia-Pacific region, e-hailing is projected to grow rapidly. China and India have dense populations and rising urbanization, which account for much of the growth in Asia-Pacific. With urbanization and growing traffic congestion, ride-hailing services are likely to be in demand.

By 2030, South Asia's urban population is expected to grow by almost 250 million, more than the entire demographic of Japan between 2001 and 2011. In a survey done by Cox Automotive in 2019, around 55% of millennials and 34% of Gen X agree that transportation is important, but owning a vehicle is not.

Therefore, millennials are less likely to own cars, so on-demand transportation services like e- hailing, due to their lower rates of ownership are driving the market growth.



INDIA IS EXPECTED TO REGISTER SIGNIFICANT GROWTH

The state of public transportation in India has remained in a dilapidated state over the years with low connectivity. The launch of e-hailing services in the market has transformed the way people travel. The increasing usage of smartphones and cheap internet services has assisted the spread of the market.

The booking apps provide a hassle-free service easing the journey for travelers. Uber started in India in 2013 currently operating in all major cities. Currently, Uber not only provides riding services but also package delivery. Uber Moto is highly popular in the country as traffic congestion remains a major issue. Other two-wheeler services like Rapido are also extensively used. Homegrown brand Ola also provides similar services with the largest share in the market during the period.

In 2021, Ola launched its electric scooter bringing transformation in their product and service portfolios. Self-driven e-hailing services like Zoomcar are a common choice for long-distance journeys. Other market players in the country include Meru Cabs, Carzonrent, Jugnoo taxi, Mega cabs accrue a considerable market share even in the presence of giant market players. As electronic vehicles are launched in India, the e-hailing market will further expand with a low-cost structure due to the high price rise of petrol and diesel.



IMPACT OF COVID-19 On The E-Hailing Market

However, with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the E-hailing market had been estimated to lose a fair share of revenue, due to the increase in restrictions by the government, worldwide. Moreover, the travel ban imposed, and closure of public and private places also had a negative impact on the market growth, in the year 2020.

Major companies such as Uber, Lyft, and others, had reported a significant decline in their revenue in 2020. These companies had reported a major decline in their gross bookings in 2020, as compared to its previous year.

Many countries have also allowed the movement of e hailing vehicles, as these countries have begun to ease COVID-19 restrictions. For instance, in June 2021, in Malaysia, e-hailing vehicles and taxis in Malaysian Peninsula had been allowed to operate across states and districts.

Report Scope

Company Profiles

Uber Technologies, Inc.

Lyft, Inc.

Didi Chuxing Technology Co.

Ola Cabs

MyCar

Grab Holdings Inc.

Gojek

Bolt

Segmentation:

By Type

Cars

Three-Wheelers

Two-Wheelers

By Geography

North America

United States

Canada

Mexico

South America

Brazil

Argentina

Others

Europe

Germany

France

UK

Others

Middle East and Africa

and Saudi Arabia

UAE

Others

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Others

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f1gitw

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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DUBLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Pain Management Devices Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global pain management devices market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.04% over the forecast period to reach a market size of US$10.059 billion in 2026 from US$4.834 billion in 2019.

As of late there is expanded utilization of pain management devices because of ascending in maturing populace. Expansion in malignancy populace, expanding predominance of a way of life-related sickness, and expanding neuropathic messes are a portion of the key variables driving the development of the global pain management devices market.

Furthermore, expanding medical services mindfulness and ascend in medical care consumption are likewise energizing the development of the worldwide pain management devices market. Be that as it may, results, for example, skin excessive touchiness, redness, and hyper-pigmentation, and accessibility of substitutes, for example, pain alleviation prescriptions are a portion of the main considerations limiting the development for worldwide pain management devices market.

Lastly, taking into account the estimated increase in demand for pain management devices in the upcoming years, market players all around the globe are undertaking various strategic actions to develop new products and subsequently, increase their market share too.



Growth Factors

Rising prevalence of pain-inducing diseases

The rising cancer cases are expected to further increase the demand for pain management devices over the forecast period. Besides, the high predominance of musculoskeletal problems, like joint inflammation, osteoarthritis, muscular degenerative issues, and rheumatoid joint pain, and a resultant ascent in instances of ongoing pain and failure to do routine errands, will support item interest.

The incapability of oral medications is boosting patients to search for elective treatment choices, for example, pain management devices. The significant expenses related to hospitalization are additionally expected to help the pain management devices market as these significant expenses related to hospitalization have expanded the requirement for a diminished medical clinic stay and the need to move to more affordable consideration settings, in this way boosting item interest.



Rising elderly population



The consistently rising population of people above the age of 65 years is also expected to contribute to the pain management devices market growth.

Due to increasing life expectancy and falling fertility levels, the UN explained that for the first time in history, individuals aged 65 or above outnumbered children under five years of age globally. Moreover, by 2050, one in six people in the world will be over the age of 65 (16%), up from one in 11 in 2019 (9%). Thus, with the increasing geriatric population, the demand for pain management devices is also expected to increase, considering the prevalence of arthritis in them.



COVID - 19 Impact on pain management devices market



The COVID-19 outbreak affected most of the sectors including the medical device industry. Cross country lockdowns have affected patients who explicitly depended on practice projects or PT as a pain management routine. In addition, numerous elective systems, in-person persistent visits have been suspended or postponed, which is relied upon to build the interest for at-home pain treatment, thus expected to affect the pain management devices market growth.



Competitive Insights.

The increasing demand for pain management devices has led to the entry of several new market players like Pain Management Technologies in the pain management devices market. The entry of these new players in a market where traditional pharma behemoths like Abbott Laboratories and Boston Scientific Corporation already exist is expected to lead to further innovation in the pain management market.

Moreover, in order to further increase their clientele as well as increase their market share in the upcoming years, many of these market players have taken various strategic actions like partnerships and the development of novel solutions which primarily focus on providing comfort to the patient.

For instance, in June 2020, Abbott partnered with Tandem Diabetes Care to develop integrated diabetes solutions. These strategic actions by the various competitive market players are expected to keep the market competitive and constantly evolving.

Company Profiles.

NeuroMetrix, Inc.

Medtronic

Boston Scientific Corporation

Zynex Medical

BioElectronics Corporation

Pain Management Technologies

SPR Therapeutics

Becton, Dickinson, and Company

Abbott

Nevro Corp

Market Segmentation:

By Devices

Electrical Stimulators

Neurostimulation Devices

Analgesic Infusion Pumps

Ablation Devices

By Application

Facial & Migraine Pain

Neuropathic Pain

Cancer Pain

Musculoskeletal Pain

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/j9b980

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


DUBLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Photodiode Sensor Market Research Report by Type, Material, End-use, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Photodiode Sensor Market size was estimated at USD 492.48 million in 2020, is expected to reach USD 528.44 million in 2021, and projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.63% reaching USD 765.97 million by 2026.



Market Statistics

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.

Competitive Strategic Window

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Photodiode Sensor Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitor's strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Photodiode Sensor Market, including Edmund Optics, Everlight, Excelitas Technologies Corp, First-sensor AG, Global Communication Semiconductor LLC, Hamamatsu Photonics Deutschland, Hamamatsu Photonics Deutschland GmbH, II-VI Incorporated, Kyosemi Corporation, Luxnet Corporation, ON Semiconductor, OSI Optoelectronics, OSRAM Optoelectronics, Panasonic, Quantum Devices, Rohm Semiconductor, Thorlabs, Inc., and Vishay Intertechnology.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Photodiode Sensor Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Photodiode Sensor Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Photodiode Sensor Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Photodiode Sensor Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Photodiode Sensor Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Photodiode Sensor Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Photodiode Sensor Market?



Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Overview

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19



5. Market Dynamics

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Drivers

5.2.1. Rising healthcare awareness and adoption of remote health monitoring wearable devices

5.2.2. Penetration of smartphones and consumer electronics

5.2.3. Increasing use of portable barcode scanners in the retail industry

5.3. Restraints

5.3.1. Poor temperature stability, high operating voltage and low response time over large distances

5.4. Opportunities

5.4.1. Rising adoption of photodiodes in the automotive sector

5.4.2. Developments in optical sensing and optical communication

5.5. Challenges

5.5.1. Phototransistors and photo darlingtons, alternatives to photodiodes



6. Photodiode Sensor Market, by Type

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Avalanche Photodiode

6.3. PIN Photodiode

6.4. PN Photodiode

6.5. Schottky Photodiode



7. Photodiode Sensor Market, by Material

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Gallium Phosphide

7.3. Germanium

7.4. Indium Gallium Arsenide

7.5. Silicon



8. Photodiode Sensor Market, by End-use

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Aerospace & Defence

8.3. Automotive

8.4. Consumer Electronics

8.5. Health Care

8.6. Telecommunication



9. Americas Photodiode Sensor Market

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Argentina

9.3. Brazil

9.4. Canada

9.5. Mexico

9.6. United States



10. Asia-Pacific Photodiode Sensor Market

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Australia

10.3. China

10.4. India

10.5. Indonesia

10.6. Japan

10.7. Malaysia

10.8. Philippines

10.9. Singapore

10.10. South Korea

10.11. Taiwan

10.12. Thailand



11. Europe, Middle East & Africa Photodiode Sensor Market

11.1. Introduction

11.2. France

11.3. Germany

11.4. Italy

11.5. Netherlands

11.6. Qatar

11.7. Russia

11.8. Saudi Arabia

11.9. South Africa

11.10. Spain

11.11. United Arab Emirates

11.12. United Kingdom



12. Competitive Landscape

12.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix

12.1.1. Quadrants

12.1.2. Business Strategy

12.1.3. Product Satisfaction

12.2. Market Ranking Analysis

12.3. Market Share Analysis, by Key Player

12.4. Competitive Scenario

12.4.1. Merger & Acquisition

12.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership

12.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement

12.4.4. Investment & Funding

12.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion



13. Company Usability Profiles

13.1. Edmund Optics

13.2. Everlight

13.3. Excelitas Technologies Corp

13.4. First-sensor AG

13.5. Global Communication Semiconductor LLC

13.6. Hamamatsu Photonics Deutschland

13.7. Hamamatsu Photonics Deutschland GmbH

13.8. II-VI Incorporated

13.9. Kyosemi Corporation

13.10. Luxnet Corporation

13.11. ON Semiconductor

13.12. OSI Optoelectronics

13.13. OSRAM Optoelectronics

13.14. Panasonic

13.15. Quantum Devices

13.16. Rohm Semiconductor

13.17. Thorlabs, Inc.

13.18. Vishay Intertechnology



14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/7taslu

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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BRENTWOOD, Mo. and DENVER, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL) announced that Global Down Syndrome Foundation's President & CEO, Michelle Sie Whitten, will be honored with the organization's Shining Star Award at their upcoming 45th Anniversary Gala.

The theme of the event is "A Night With the Stars," and it will celebrate DSAGSL's 45 years of serving families and individuals with Down syndrome in the greater St. Louis area throughout every stage of life. The gala will include a presentation of awards to Michelle and four other pioneers of Down syndrome advocacy, a variety show, music, local food and drinks, an exciting auction, and other great surprises.

"DSAGSL is thrilled to be able to honor Michelle Sie Whitten and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation," says Erin Suelmann, Executive Director, Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. "GLOBAL has been there for us with Education Grants, Employment Grants, COVID Emergency Relief, and of course their adult guidelines."

"On behalf of GLOBAL and our affiliates, I am honored to receive this award from Erin Suelmann and our friends at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis," says Michelle. "The work they do makes such an impact locally and we are proud to partner with them nationally on our GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome."

Virtual tickets are available for $25 and in-person tickets are $150. To register for the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis 45th Anniversary Gala, visit dsagsl.org/events/gala/

To learn more about the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis, visit https://dsagsl.org/

To learn more about the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, visit www.globaldownsyndrome.org

To learn more about becoming a GLOBAL member, visit https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/global-membership/

About Global Down Syndrome Foundation

The Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) is the largest non-profit in the U.S. working to save lives and dramatically improve health outcomes for people with Down syndrome. GLOBAL has donated more than $32 million to establish the first Down syndrome research institute supporting over 400 scientists and over 2,000 patients with Down syndrome from 33 states and 10 countries. Working closely with Congress and the National Institutes of Health, GLOBAL is the lead advocacy organization in the U.S. for Down syndrome research and medical care. GLOBAL has a membership of over 150 Down syndrome organizations worldwide and is part of a network of Affiliates  the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, and the University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center  all on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

GLOBAL's widely circulated medical publications include GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome, Prenatal Testing and Information about Down Syndrome, and the award-winning Down Syndrome WorldTM magazine. GLOBAL also organizes the Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show, the largest Down syndrome fundraiser in the world. Visit globaldownsyndrome.org and follow us on social media (Facebook & Twitter: @GDSFoundation, Instagram: @globaldownsyndrome).

About Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis

The mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL) is to serve, support, and celebrate the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, through every stage of life. Our vision is for an inclusive community where all people with Down syndrome can achieve their full potential. DSAGSL serves nearly 2,000 individuals with Down syndrome and their families through Family Support programs, small steps, next steps, and steps to independence programs, employment programming, and Silver Steps programs. DSAGSL advocates, educates and celebrates with communities in St. Louis and surrounding areas, including across the river in Illinois and as far south as Cape Girardeau and Springfield, Missouri.

Press Contacts



Anca Call Abigail Beckord Bosslet [email protected] [email protected] c: (720) 320-3832 c: (314) 833-7560

SOURCE Global Down Syndrome Foundation

Related Links

www.globaldownsyndrome.org


PARAGOULD, Ark., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GRT Rubber Technologies (GRT), a leading manufacturer of engineered rubber products for applications across a diversified array of end-markets, today announced a strategic acquisition of Valley Rubber, a manufacturer of custom rubber solutions for tough mining and industrial applications. The two industry-leading manufacturers will join forces to share resources, end-market expertise and expand their geographic footprints.

Combination to enable international growth and increased market share

GRT and Valley Rubber have significant overlap in complementary product offerings and channels in relation to conveyer belt systems. GRT manufactures an extensive line of conveyer belt products and primarily sells through distributors across a diversified array of end-markets, with a core focus on aggregate (sand, gravel, cement, etc.). Valley Rubber provides auxiliary components that control transfer points and dust suppression, addressing issues of end users and selling directly into the aggregate and mining markets.

"Our team is thrilled to be partnering with a fellow Southern rubber manufacturing company," said David Brown, CEO of GRT. "Valley Rubber is respected in the industry, and their well-defined culture and operational excellence aligns with our values. Valley's expertise in the aggregate and mining industries will provide us with more access and material exposure to our current and new markets."

The partnership will also allow GRT to significantly expand its international footprint. Valley Rubber has a growing presence in Chile, Mexico and Peru with a focus on the mineral producing markets that GRT will support and grow.

"We could not ask for a better partner than GRT, and our team is excited about the synergies that will be created by combining complementary products and solutions," said Cronan Connell, CEO of Valley Rubber. "GRT's involvement in markets like agriculture, where transfer points and dust suppression are crucial, will provide new exposure for our company. Together, we will be stronger to the benefit of our employees, customers, and business partners."

GRT's longstanding capital partner funds deal

Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN), a publicly traded business development corporation who has been a partner and capital provider of GRT's since 2014, helped facilitate the deal. Following a corporate carve-out transaction in 2014, GRT has experienced tremendous growth, culminating in this Valley Rubber partnership.

"During the time with our previous parent company, GRT became less of a strategic fit within the larger vision," said Brown. "Having a steady and willing provider of capital with a long-term, patient approach to investing like Main Street opened the door to many possibilities for our company, which has allowed us to expand our product offerings and add services that we did not previously have."

"GRT has been a tremendous investment and portfolio company for us over the past seven years," said Colton Braud, Managing Director at Main Street. "Add-on acquisitions rarely occur this far from the initial investment date for private equity-backed companies, but our continued financial support of GRT is a testament to the strength of our partnership with management, our belief in the value creation opportunities presented by the strategic acquisition of Valley, as well as Main Street's long-term investment horizon and permanent capital base."

To learn more about GRT and Valley Rubber's product solution offerings, visit https://www.grtrubber.com and https://www.valleyrubber.solutions/.

GRT Rubber Technologies

GRT Rubber Technologies (GRT) (https://www.grtrubber.com) is a leading manufacturer of engineered rubber products, including conveyor belts and sheet rubber products, for many applications across a diversified array of end-markets. Over its 100+ year history, the Company has developed strong brands and a reputation for high quality, reliable products, and differentiated customer service. GRT's product line is manufactured in a 142,000 square foot facility in Paragould, Arkansas.

Valley Rubber

Valley Rubber (https://www.valleyrubber.solutions/) is a leading manufacturer of custom rubber solutions for tough mining, infrastructure and industrial applications. As a solutions-based company, they excel in helping their customers improve safety, meet regulatory requirements and reduce maintenance costs. Valley Rubber was founded in 1967 and has locations in Falkville, Alabama, Minden, Nevada and Antofagasta, Chile.

About Main Street Capital Corporation

Main Street (www.mainstcapital.com) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies and debt capital to middle market companies. Main Street's portfolio investments are typically made to support management buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors. Main Street seeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams and generally provides "one stop" financing alternatives within its lower middle market portfolio. Main Street's lower middle market companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million. Main Street's middle market debt investments are made in businesses that are generally larger in size than its lower middle market portfolio companies.

Main Street, through its wholly owned portfolio company MSC Adviser I, LLC ("MSC Adviser"), also maintains an asset management business through which it manages investments for external parties. MSC Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

Contact:

Emily Roberts

[email protected]

SOURCE GRT Rubber Technologies
CINCINNATI, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Carousel, one of the nation's fastest growing and most respected providers of healthcare staffing and workforce solutions, has named Zack Storer as its new Chief Technology & Product Officer (CTPO). Health Carousel's digital advancement in recent years resulted in the acquisition of Lucidity, a digital platform for physician staffing, and the launch of 'On Demand', an omni-channel platform that empowers healthcare professionals to find, apply and work assignments across the country. On Demand is accessible across the company's three travel nursing brands  Tailored Healthcare Staffing, Next Travel Nursing, and Medical Staffing Options  and is currently being customized for its Passport USA international staffing brand. The appointment of Zack Storer as CTPO further reinforces the company's position as a leader in digital transformation of healthcare staffing and workforce solutions.

Storer is a seasoned and accomplished digital innovator, who has led digital transformation across a spectrum of companies, from early and late-stage startups to iconic multi-billion-dollar public enterprises. As the leader of digital technologies and a co-founder of Kroger's digital transformation, Storer manifested an organization and engineering culture that brought to life capabilities that have transformed the retail industry. As chief growth officer for News Corp's CPG & retail media business (News America) Storer led P&Ls, digital, technology, and product organizations. He founded Angel Equity to expand innovation across industries and has led as strategic chief technology officer (CTO) with companies that span the nation's largest indoor vertical farming startup Bowery Farming and the MRO industry's W.W. Grainger, Inc. As a relentlessly curious pioneer, Storer has attended Cornell, MIT, the d.School at Stanford, and was honored by the University of Cincinnati's College of Applied Science in 2008 for lifetime achievement.

"One of the things that matters most in my life is making positive impacts in everyday lives," said Storer. "How we use our time and who we spend it with is one of the most precious things on earth. I believe Health Carousel is positioned to not only support the health and wellbeing of millions of patients across the country through skilled healthcare professionals but also deeply cares about their associates and shaping the future of the industry with advanced technologies."

Storer will be leading Health Carousel's newly combined product and technology engineering organizations and enabling strategic growth through technology platforms and new services in partnership with Chief Digital Officer, John Sebastian and Chief Information Officer, Kevin Armour.

"I'm very proud of the progress of our digital initiatives to date, and the addition of Zack Storer should accelerate our product and technology transformation as a premier digitally-led healthcare staffing and workforce solutions organization," said Bill DeVille, CEO and co-founder of Health Carousel. "Storer is uniquely qualified for this role, having successfully led several other companies across key growth phases and we are confident that he will have an even bigger impact for Health Carousel."

ABOUT HEALTH CAROUSEL

Health Carousel is a total talent management company with a leading portfolio of healthcare staffing and workforce solutions: Health Carousel Travel Network, Health Carousel Locum Network, Health Carousel International Network, and Health Carousel Workforce Solutions. By delivering highly qualified healthcare professionals across a range of in-demand healthcare professions, as well as strategic clinical, MSP and workforce solutions, we are working to ensure every patient in the United States of America has access to a qualified healthcare professional, when and where they are needed.

In 2021, Health Carousel was recognized by Staffing Industry Analyst's (SIA) as one of the fastest-growing U.S. staffing firms, the 9th largest healthcare staffing company in the nation, and was listed on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America list for the fifth consecutive year.

For more information about Health Carousel visit www.healthcarousel.com or contact [email protected].

SOURCE Health Carousel
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until December 27, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Hoegh LNG Partners LP (NYSE: HMLP), if they purchased the Company's securities between August 22, 2019 and July 27, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Get Help

Hoegh LNG investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-hmlp or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Hoegh LNG and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On July 27, 2021, the Company disclosed that its quarterly cash distribution had been slashed from $0.44 per common unit to $0.01 per common unit, that its revolving credit line would not be extended when it matured on January 1, 2023, and that its parent company would have very limited capacity to provide additional future support, among other things.

On this news, Hoegh LNG's common unit price plummeted 64%, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The case is Sanchez v. Hoegh LNG Partners LP, et al., 21-cv- 19374.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
The awards were presented Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 5:30pm (PST). The HMMAs honors composers, songwriters, music supervisors and filmmakers for their work in music for film, television, and videogames.

Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) is the premier awards organization to honor original music (Song and Score) in all visual media from around the globe. The HMMA nominations have historically been representative of the nominees and winners of the Golden Globes, Oscars, Grammys and Emmys that occur months later. The Hollywood Music in Media Awards will feature music performances, celebrity presenters, tributes to music industry icons, awards for composers, songwriters and artists and the new category, Outstanding Onscreen Performance in a Film. The new category recognized an outstanding song (original or pre-existing performance). This award will be presented to the performer on screen.

Past HMMA winners who then won Oscars include Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & Jon Batiste for SOUL, Hildur Gunadottir for JOKER, Ludwig Goransson for BLACK PANTHER, Alexandre Desplat for SHAPE OF WATER, songs from JUDAS & THE BLACK MESSIAH, LA LA LAND, A STAR IS BORN and more. The HMMA voters consist of select journalists, Oscar, Grammy, Golden Globe and Emmy voters. For a list of winners and nominees in all categories visit https://www.hmmawards.com/2021-music-in-visual-media-nominations/

HMMA FILM WINNERS IN BOLD AND UNDERLINED

SCORE - FEATURE FILM

DON'T LOOK UP (Netflix) - Nicholas Britell



SCORE - INDEPENDENT FILM

C'MON C'MON (A24) - Bryce Dessner & Aaron Dessner

SCORE - SCIFI/FANTASY FILM

DUNE (Warner Bros.) - Hans Zimmer

SCORE - INDEPENDENT FILM (Foreign Language)

PARALLEL MOTHERS (Sony Pictures Classics) - Alberto Iglesias

SCORE - ANIMATED FILM

THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 (MGM / United Artists Releasing) - Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna

SONG - FEATURE FILM

"No Time to Die" from NO TIME TO DIE (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) - Written by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell. Performed by Billie Eilish

SONG - INDEPENDENT FILM

"Beyond the Shore" from CODA (Apple) - Written by Nick Baxter, Sian Heder, Marius de Vries, Matt Dahan. Performed by Emilia Jones

SONG - ONSCREEN PERFORMANCE

Emilia Jones - "Both Sides Now" from CODA (Apple) written by Joni Mitchell.

SONG - ANIMATED FILM

"Good Mood" from PAW PATROL (Paramount Pictures) - Written by Karl Johan Schuster, Savan Kotecha, Oscar Gorres and Adam Levine. Performed by Adam Levine



SONG - DOCUMENTARY FILM

"Secret Sister" from REBEL HEARTS (Discovery+) - Written and performed by Rufus Wainwright

SCORE - HORROR FILM

A QUIET PLACE II (Paramount Pictures) - Marco Beltrami



SCORE - DOCUMENTARY

JULIA (Sony Pictures Classic) - Rachel Portman

PRESS CONTACT: COSTA COMMUNICATIONS LANA LAY /RAY COSTA

[email protected]; [email protected] (323) 650-3588

SOURCE Hollywood Music in Media Awards

Related Links

http://www.hmmawards.com


IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM, curator of the nation's premier property database, today released its third-quarter 2021 special report analyzing qualified low-income Opportunity Zones established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (see full methodology below). In this report, ATTOM looked at 5,402 zones around the United States with sufficient sales data to analyze, meaning they had at least five home sales in the third quarter of 2021.

The report found that median single-family home and condo prices increased from the second quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2021 in 62 percent of Opportunity Zones around the country and rose by at least 20 percent annually in 47 percent of them. Those patterns continued to closely parallel the broader U.S. housing market as it powered through a 10th straight year of gains. By some measures, values in Opportunity Zones did even better, extending patterns from over the past year.

Home values in most Opportunity Zones did again trail well behind values in most other neighborhoods around the U.S. in the third quarter of 2021. About three-quarters of zones with enough data to analyze had typical third-quarter prices below the national median of $310,500. That was about the same as in earlier periods over the past year.

Median values also remained under $200,000 in 53 percent of Opportunity Zones in the third quarter of this year. But that was down from 57 percent in the second quarter of 2021 and 63 percent a year earlier as values inside some of the nation's poorest communities kept up with broader national housing market gains despite the Coronavirus pandemic remaining a threat to the U.S. economy.

In a sign of even better growth, prices spiked by at least 25 percent in the third quarter, measured year over year, in four of every 10 Opportunity Zones, compared to three of every 10 communities in the rest of the country.

Those increases came despite the pandemic's financial impact causing the worst damage in lower-income communities like those comprising most of the zones targeted for tax breaks designed to spur economic redevelopment.

Opportunity Zones are defined in the Tax Act legislation as census tracts in or along side low-income neighborhoods that meet various criteria for redevelopment in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Census tracts, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, cover areas that have 1,200 to 8,000 residents, with an average of about 4,000 people.

"The third quarter of 2021 was just like the second, which was pretty much like the first when it came to home prices in some of the more distressed neighborhoods around the United States. Values in markets scattered through so-called Opportunity Zones kept rising at around the same pace seen in more upscale areas, as the housing-market boom kept lifting fortunes just about everywhere," said Todd Teta, chief product officer with ATTOM. "Home values in Opportunity Zones are still very low relative to other areas. But the ongoing gains showed that lots of households are buying in those areas - something that should lure the attention of investors looking to take advantage of Opportunity Zone tax breaks."

High-level findings from the report include:

Median prices of single-family houses and condominiums rose from the second quarter of 2021 to the third quarter of 2021 in 3,136 (62 percent) of Opportunity Zones with sufficient data to analyze and increased in 3,416 (78 percent) of the zones from the third quarter of last year to third quarter of this year. By comparison, median prices rose quarterly in 65 percent of census tracts outside of Opportunity Zones and annually in 82 percent. (Of the 5,402 Opportunity Zones included in the report, 5,040 had enough data to generate usable median-price comparisons from the second and third quarters of 2021; 4,393 had enough data to make comparisons between the third quarter of 2020 and the third quarter of 2021).

Measured year over year, median home prices rose at least 20 percent in the third quarter of 2021 in 2,055 (47 percent) of Opportunity Zones with sufficient data. Prices rose that much during that time period in 53 percent of other census tracts throughout the country.

Opportunity Zones again did even better when comparing areas where prices rose at least 25 percent from the third quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2021. Measured year over year, median home prices rose that much in 1,696 (39 percent) of Opportunity Zones but in only 31 percent of census tracts elsewhere in the country.

Typical single-family home values in roughly half of all Opportunity Zones increased annually in the third quarter of 2021 by more than the 15.9 percent increase in the overall national median home price.

Among states that had at least 20 Opportunity Zones with sufficient data, those with the largest percentage of zones where median prices rose, year over year, during the third quarter of 2021 were Idaho (where median prices were up, year over year, in 97 percent of the zones), Arizona (94 percent), Massachusetts (91 percent), Delaware (90 percent) and Utah (89 percent).

(where median prices were up, year over year, in 97 percent of the zones), (94 percent), (91 percent), (90 percent) and (89 percent). Of all 5,402 zones in the report, 1,951 (36 percent) still had median prices in the third quarter of 2021 that were less than $150,000 and 913 (17 percent) had medians ranging from $150,000 to $199,999 . The total percentage of zones with typical values below $200,000 was down from 63 percent in the third quarter of 2020 to 53 percent in the third quarter of 2021.

and 913 (17 percent) had medians ranging from to . The total percentage of zones with typical values below was down from 63 percent in the third quarter of 2020 to 53 percent in the third quarter of 2021. Median values in the third quarter of 2021 ranged from $200,000 to $299,999 in 1,186 Opportunity Zones (22 percent) while they topped the national median of $310,500 in 1,250 (23 percent).

to in 1,186 Opportunity Zones (22 percent) while they topped the national median of in 1,250 (23 percent). The Midwest continued in the third quarter of 2021 to have the highest portion of Opportunity Zone tracts with a median home price of less than $150,000 (60 percent), followed by the South (42 percent), the Northeast (35 percent) and the West (5 percent).

(60 percent), followed by the South (42 percent), the Northeast (35 percent) and the West (5 percent). Median household incomes in 87 percent of the Opportunity Zones analyzed were less than the medians in the counties where they were located. Median incomes were less than three-quarters of county-level figures in 56 percent of zones and less than half in 16 percent.

Report methodology

The ATTOM Opportunity Zones analysis is based on home sales price data derived from recorded sales deeds. Statistics for previous quarters are revised when each new report is issued as more deed data becomes available. ATTOM compared median home prices in census tracts designated as Opportunity Zones by the Internal Revenue Service. Except where noted, tracts were used for the analysis if they had at least five sales in the third quarter of 2021. Median household income data for tracts and counties comes from surveys taken the U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov) from 2015 through 2019. The list of designated Qualified Opportunity Zones is located at U.S. Department of the Treasury. Regions are based on designations by the Census Bureau. Hawaii and Alaska, which the bureau designates as part of the Pacific region, were included in the West region for this report.

About ATTOM

ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID  the ATTOM ID. The 20TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, and more. Also, introducing our latest solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management  ATTOM Cloud.

Media Contact:

Christine Stricker

949.748.8428

[email protected]

Data and Report Licensing:

949.502.8313

[email protected]



SOURCE ATTOM Data Solutions

Related Links

www.attomdata.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HONK Technologies, the industry-leading digital roadside assistance and vehicle transport platform company, today announced a new Partner Performance Dashboard designed specifically for tow truck business owners. The new dashboard enables tow business owners to quickly and easily track key performance indicators (KPIs) all in one place.

The HONK Partner Dashboard gives service providers complete transparency into how their business is performing on HONK towing and roadside assistance jobs. Partners can now view their companies' completed jobs performance, track their year-to-date revenue and monitor customer ratings for each of their drivers.

HONK's Partner Performance Dashboard includes five performance-based metrics:

Availability to take jobs

Tracking enabled on the HONK Partner App

Job completion rate

On-time (meeting estimated time of arrivals - ETAs)

Quality of service

With the largest GPS-enabled network of service vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, tow truck professionals who join the HONK Partner Network are able to innovate faster and move their businesses into the digital age. HONK is one of the few towing and roadside companies to offer free partner resources, exclusive discounts, performance-based benefits, industry education, and podcasts, along with access to real-time metrics that tow owners and operators need to more effectively manage their businesses.

HONK Forms a True Partnership With its Network of Tow Providers

In 2021, HONK experienced record growth  Q3 was the company's biggest volume quarter in its history. Motorists have returned to the roads in force post-pandemic, and strong growth in towing and roadside is expected for 2022. Tow professionals face economic and business challenges that have and will continue to affect their level of profitability. It's vital for them to find partners like HONK that empower a more efficient workflow to keep operational costs down and set their businesses up for exponential growth driven by the increased demand for digital roadside solutions.

HONK manages numerous towing and roadside assistance programs for top insurance carriers, automotive OEMs, and fleet management companies. HONK's insurance-compliant, background-checked, and high-performing service provider Partner Network is a key element of HONK's success. HONK treats tow providers as true partners, providing them with complete transparency into each job and payment in just 27 minutes, on average. HONK's proprietary proximity-based dispatch algorithm ensures the closest, best-performing provider from the network is dispatched quickly, most estimated time of arrivals (ETAs) are under 33 minutes. That's about 50% faster than traditional services, which ensures that customers are happier and increases their brand loyalty.

"We're able to provide motorists with the best level of service in the industry because of the strong relationships we've built with our network of more than 108,000 towing vehicles across the country," said Corey Brundage, CEO and Founder at HONK. "This new dashboard will provide our tow partners with even more transparency about their KPIs, giving them near real-time information so they can better track their quality of service and performance."

To view a video on the Partner Performance dashboard, visit https://vimeo.com/636471202

About HONK Technologies

HONK, a flexible on-demand mobility platform, helps top insurers, fleets, automotive OEMs and retailers deliver modern, digital roadside customer experiences and meet scalable same-day vehicle transport demands. HONK's digital-first, modular approach is designed to optimize roadside assistance programs, auto claims processing, accident scene management, fleet maintenance management, vehicle logistics and transport, so businesses can increase efficiencies through advanced digital tools, customizable integrations, and HONK's high-performing service provider network to build brand-defining retention and loyalty engines.

To learn more, visit www.honkforhelp.com/industry-solutions.

SOURCE HONK Technologies
Springer joined HRSP in 2018 and since then, has served as director of the HR department.

Staffing Solutions provides a different approach to recruiting and staffing by focusing on your culture. In July, the number of job openings hit a record high of 10.9 million. In the current market, employers understand how difficult it is to find quality candidates, which is why everybody's hiring but nobody's getting hired. Staffing Solutions will help your business fill positions as it thrives on helping employers identify their cultural strengths and effectively market them to the workforce.

Staffing Solutions will offer reduced rates to clients by segmenting out service levels that represent more than a 50% reduction in recruiting costs compared to the market standard rates of 15-25% of a median salary.

Risk Solutions

Delgado also joined HRSP in 2018 and has directed the safety and risk department since. As VP of Risk Solutions, he brings 25+ years of experience to the table.

"It's a blessing and a curse to have been working in the safety and claims field for an extended amount of time. On the positive side, you see clients/customers that embrace safety and then revel in the successes that a strong proactive approach to safety can bring to an organization. Increased productivity, excellent employee morale, reduced turnover, and lower injury/illness costs. Unfortunately, I have also seen how a severe injury can affect an employee's life and an organization's bottom line. We want to provide all our clients the tools they need to build the safest possible working environment," Delgado said.

Risk Solutions will have unique opportunities ready to share with all clients starting in 2022, such as:

Safety Training courses tailored for the Medical industry

Client-branded Safety Manuals

Comprehensive Safety Audit Services

Telehealth services catered to respond to worksite injuries. Through AXIOM, an injured employee can receive medical assistance from registered nurses, instantly reducing any costs

SOURCE HR Service Partners
ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The use of PBAT in the making of garbage and shopping bags is increasing. The bag making business has been evolving and growing at a rapid pace globally. The rise in population and urbanization are likely to drive the expansion of this market, which is likely to work in the favor of the global polybutylene adipate terephthalate market.

Consumer goods business has been developing as well as flourishing for many years. Consumer goods and fast-moving customer goods (FMCG) industries respond to changing consumer trends and expectations. Digital innovation and a growing emphasis on a sustainable and healthy living are largely influencing the consumer products sector. The demand for PBAT is likely to be fuelled by a thriving consumer industry, which is likely to benefit the global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market in the forthcoming years.

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The global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period, from 2021 to 2031. The market is expected to attain a value of US$ 2 Bn through 2031. Fruit and vegetable intelligent packaging using PBAT-based biodegradable mulch films is utilized to reduce food waste. These films provide increased oxygen and water vapor transfer rates in fruit and vegetable bags.

Key Findings of Market Report

Biodegradable Stand-up Pouches Used for Nuts Packaging Gaining Traction among PBAT Manufacturers

Producers of PBAT are making biodegradable stand up pouches, which are used for the packing of nuts. PLA, PBAT, and cornstarch are used in these biodegradable pouches. Biodegradable and moisture-proof stand-up pouches for the purpose of food packaging are becoming more widely available from the manufacturers. As a result, food packages are expected to generate the considerable income for the global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market.

Antimicrobial packaging techniques extend the shelf life of food products by limiting the growth of microbes. Companies are increasing their output capacity in this domain. The demand for antimicrobial PBAT films with various quantities of chitosan nanofibers has risen as a result. Aliphatic polyester films are brittle; however, this may be solved by combining PLA with other bio-based polymers such as PBAT. Besides, PLA/PBAT/TPS/nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) nanocomposites with superior mechanical and barrier properties can be also used in food packaging.

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Addition of PBAT Improves Hardness of Blends Comprising Brittle Polymer

PBAT is a strong, ductile material that can be manufactured using standard film extrusion procedures. This aids in the production of films having LDPE (low density polyethylene)-like mechanical characteristics. In comparison with its homopolymers, however, PBAT is relatively rigid. As a result, adding PBAT to polymer blends, including brittle polymers such as thermoplastic starch (TPS) or PLA (Polylactic Acid) can help in enhancing toughness without compromising on its biodegradability.

Businesses in the global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market are emphasizing on developing moldable and flexible composites using PBAT and calcium carbonate. When compared to other biodegradable polymers, calcium carbonate in conjunction with PBAT is comparatively affordable. Companies, on the other hand, are boosting the production of packaging films made from a mixture of PBAT and PBS (polybutylene succinate).

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PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) Market: Growth Drivers

Farmers all over the world are updating their agricultural practices to boost crop yields to satisfy the growing food demand and raise their farming profits. PBAT is a sustainable raw material-based biodegradable polymer. It is frequently utilized as a mulch film for soil preservation in the farming industry. As such, the global PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) market is being fuelled by the increase in the demand for PBAT in the agriculture industry.

For the past few years, the packaging business has been growing at a steady pace. The packaging sector has benefited significantly from the food & beverage industry. Growth of the packaged food sector is expected to drive the demand for paperboard packaging, which is likely to augur well for the market in the near future.

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PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate) Market: Key Competitors

Some of the key market players are

Go Yen Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd

JinHui ZhaoLong High Technology Co., Ltd.

Eastman Chemical Company

Feddersen Group

FillPlas Co. Ltd.

Chang Chun Group

PBAT [Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate] Market: Segmentation

Type

Pure PBAT

Modified/Blended PBAT

Application

Shopping Bags

Food Packages

Mulch Films

Garbage/Bin Bags

End Use

Packaging

Agriculture & Fishery

Consumer Goods

Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials Market:

Polybutylene Succinate Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polybutylene-succinate-market.html

Plastic Compounding Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/plastic-compounding-market.html

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.



Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ

Contact

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Transparency Market Research

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USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/pbat-polybutylene-adipate-terephthalate-market.htm

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
- Builds agile, resilient administrative backbone to improve agency services and efficiencies

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys Public Services (IPS), a US-based subsidiary of Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), successfully upgraded South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) ERP system to the SAP S/4HANA platform. The migration will drive greater efficiencies, improve analytical capabilities, and prepare the business for necessary technological transformations to follow.

SFWMD manages water resources for 16 counties and 9 million residents. As the region's oldest and largest water management district, SFWMD is responsible for several critical programs  from flood control to water supply and quality. However, the agency's legacy SAP systems, which support all business functions from accounting to payroll, were last updated well over a decade.

IPS leveraged the proven Infosys SAP S/4HANA Migration Framework, and tools such as Infosys S/4Assist and HANA Code Migration and Optimization (CMO), to replace outdated SAP ECC-based systems with the SAP S/4HANA platform. SFWMD moved to the HANA platform without disrupting its existing business processes, while at the same time delivering a more engaging and intuitive experience to its employees. IPS also migrated SFWMD's existing Business Data Warehouse application to the HANA database enabling the agency to generate actionable, real-time data insights.

"The SAP S/4HANA platform and partnership with Infosys has allowed us to deliver a better user experience," said Ronda Albert, IT Bureau Chief, South Florida Water Management District. "We have seen value from this latest transformation. Business processes are significantly optimized, user experiences are enhanced with Fiori, and data management cycle times were reduced by 70 percent. This program has established a foundation for SFWMD's future business capabilities."

IPS completed the migration in less than one year. The transformation improved application response times by an average of 10 percent, and in some cases by over 90 percent, due to the use of in-memory-processing provided by the SAP S/4HANA platform. The new system also delivers improved employee experience with productivity increasing by 10 percent. With the new upgrade, employees execute transactions quickly and are able to shift their focus to higher value tasks, resulting in a continued boost in productivity.

Eric Paternoster, President and CEO, IPS, said, "We thank South Florida Water Management District for giving us the opportunity to migrate their administrative system to the new SAP S/4HANA platform. Our proven execution, SAP S/4HANA capabilities and public sector expertise enabled us to deliver this program ahead of schedule and without any disruptions, providing South Florida Water Management District with an intelligent and resilient foundation to support their strategic priorities more effectively."

About Infosys Public Services, Inc.

Infosys Public Services is a leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. With benchmark processes, access to cross-industry insights and innovative solutions, Infosys Public Services is helping public sector organizations to navigate their digital transformation, helping them renew existing systems into modern, agile, intelligent platforms, develop new capabilities and deliver better outcomes to all stakeholders at a lower cost with less risk.

Navigate your next with Infosys Public Services. Visit www.infosyspublicservices.com to see how.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in more than 50 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, financial expectations and plans for navigating the COVID-19 impact on our employees, clients and stakeholders are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding COVID-19 and the effects of government and other measures seeking to contain its spread, risks related to an economic downturn or recession in India, the United States and other countries around the world, changes in political, business, and economic conditions, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

SOURCE Infosys Public Services
The global residential air purifier market is expected to enjoy solid growth, expanding from $3.4 billion in 2020 to over $6.7 billion in 2027, according to Grand View Research. 1 iRobot sees exciting opportunities to accelerate consumer adoption of the Aeris aair brand of premium air purifiers by leveraging its extensive marketing capabilities, global network of retail partners and distributors, and installed base of connected customers around the world. Once fully integrated into the company's go-to-market and innovation strategy, iRobot plans to add new features and functionality to Aeris product offerings, integrating them with its existing ecosystem of connected home robots. In the future, iRobot will leverage its Genius  Home Intelligence platform to offer consumers more personalized and intuitive ways to clean the air in their homes, maintain their floors and create a healthier environment.

Founded in 2015, Aeris Cleantec designs and sells a range of high-quality, high-performance air purifiers that consumers around the world rely upon to improve overall air quality in their homes. Using HEPA filtration,2 state-of-the-art engineering, intelligence and sophisticated design, Aeris' aair air purifiers are designed to improve overall quality by quietly removing a wide range of pollutants, including allergens, smoke, odors and pet dander. With the Aeris mobile app, users can activate their air purifier, control the fan speed, compare indoor and outdoor air quality, and increasingly leverage other intelligent technologies to train the device to operate according to their individual needs.

"Today's acquisition of Aeris is an important step in iRobot's strategy to expand our total addressable market and diversify our product portfolio in ways that will provide consumers with new ways to keep their homes cleaner and healthier," said Colin Angle, chairman and CEO of iRobot. "We are enthusiastic about the growth potential for Aeris' products, especially as the pandemic has raised greater consumer awareness of the value of maintaining a cleaner, healthier home. We are also excited about the potential to leverage our Genius Home Intelligence platform and existing ecosystem of home robots to bring the iRobot experience to air purification."

"With air quality negatively impacting people's lives worldwide, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic forcing them to pay more attention to the air they breathe at home, consumers are increasingly looking for new ways to stay healthier indoors," said Pierre Bi, CEO of Aeris. "Regardless of where you live, breathing air that is free from allergens, pollen, smoke, pet dander, and other pollutants is extremely important. We are excited to be joining with iRobot to offer smarter, more effective air purification products to consumers worldwide."

Aeris' founders Pierre Bi, CEO, and Constantin Overlack, COO, will join iRobot and lead air purification product operations, including engineering, product management and design. Aeris currently employs over 30 people, all of whom are expected to join iRobot. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Although iRobot anticipates that the Aeris business will be modestly dilutive to iRobot's full-year 2022 earnings, the company expects that accelerated revenue growth during the second half of 2022 will deliver improved operating profitability and that this transaction will be accretive to the company's full-year 2023 earnings. The company expects to provide additional information about the Aeris products and the anticipated financial impact from this product line over the coming years during the company's Investor Day on December 9, 2021.

Investor Conference Call

iRobot will host an investor conference call later this morning at 11:00 a.m. ET to review today's announcement. Pertinent conference call details include:

Date: November 18, 2021 Time: 11:00 a.m. ET Call-In Number: 213-358-0894 Conference ID: 8068500

A live webcast of the conference call, along with the conference call prepared remarks, will be accessible on the event section of the company's website at https://investor.irobot.com/events/event-details/irobot-aeris-acquisition-call. An archived version of the broadcast will be available on the same website shortly after the conclusion of the live event. A replay of the telephone conference call will be available through November 25, and can be accessed by dialing 404-537-3406, passcode 8068500.

Aeris Products

Aeris' line of air purifiers feature customized HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters with H13/H142 ratings that remove a wide range of pollutants creating a better air quality inside the home. Selected models also offer activated carbon filters to remove odors and other gas pollutants. In addition to residential use, Aeris air purification products are used by schools, hospitals, and other businesses wanting the provide the highest quality of air for their customers. For more information about Aeris air purifiers, please visit www.Aerishealth.com/compare-purifiers.

1 Grandview Research, Air Purifier Market Analysis 2020 2 H13 filters remove 99.95% of particles, H14 filters remove 99.995% of particles. Aeris filters are designed and tested to meet H13/H14 according to EN1822 at particle sizes 0.1 microns and above, see website for additional information

About iRobot Corporation

iRobot, the leading global consumer robot company, designs and builds robots that empower people to do more both inside and outside of the home. iRobot created the home robot cleaning category with the introduction of its Roomba Robot Vacuum in 2002. Today, iRobot is a global enterprise that has sold more than 30 million robots worldwide. iRobot's product line, including the Roomba and the Braava family of vacuuming and mopping robots, feature proprietary technologies and advanced concepts in cleaning, mapping and navigation. iRobot engineers are building an ecosystem of robots and technologies to enable the smart home. For more information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.

For iRobot Investors

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to iRobot Corporation's vision, strategy and plans, including: integration of acquisitions into the sales and marketing activities; development of new features and functionality; integration of air products into iRobot's home intelligence system; the performance of new products; and the impact of the acquisition on 2022 and 2023 financial performance. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. iRobot 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. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by iRobot, see the disclosure contained in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

SOURCE iRobot Corporation

Related Links

http://www.irobot.com


"There was no better place to build our West Coast office," said Jackpocket CEO Peter Sullivan. "Santa Barbara offers an amazing active lifestyle, beautiful weather, a strong sense of community, and access to top colleges and universities. Jackpocket is excited to invest in the local technology community and help foster the next generation of innovation."

Following raising a $120M Series D, with participation from new investor Santa Barbara Venture Partners, Jackpocket has begun hiring for key roles, including a Brand & Community Ambassador , who will be an evangelist for Jackpocket's brand and presence in the local community as an employer, corporate partner, and socially responsible entity. The company plans to make an additional 15 hires within the next 12 months.

"We'll be working with local philanthropic organizations to create more than just jobs," Sullivan added. "Just like the lottery gives back to important causes, we want to make sure we are supporting great non-profit organizations in our new home. We'll be creating affiliations with higher learning institutions like UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, and Santa Barbara City College to develop talent and create opportunities for students as well as working with local governments to create new incentives for growth."

The presence of established technology companies alongside emerging startups like Apeel Sciences, Procure Technologies, and WELL Health Technologies make Santa Barbara a prime location for Jackpocket to further its mission to innovate the mobile gaming and lottery industry.

Jackpocket's founding headquarters are located in New York City. For more information on career opportunities at Jackpocket, visit https://jackpocket.com/careers .

About Jackpocket

Jackpocket is on a mission to create a more convenient, fun and responsible way to play the lottery. The first licensed third-party lottery app in the United States, Jackpocket provides an easy, secure way to order official state lottery tickets. Jackpocket is currently available in Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, D.C., and is expanding to many new markets. Download the app on iOS or Android and follow along on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

SOURCE Jackpocket

Related Links

http://jackpocket.com


Josh Cellars was created in 2005 by vintner Joseph Carr as a tribute to his father, Josh. Inspired by his dad's work ethic and values, Carr mortgaged his house and began selling Josh Cellars out of the back of his truck, meticulously building the brand's distribution. Josh Cellars started with one wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, and over the years has captivated consumers with eleven popular varieties, including two sparkling selections from Italy, and a Reserve portfolio of fine wines from California's best growing regions. In 2011, Carr partnered with Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits to manage the sales, marketing and production for Josh Cellars, tapping acclaimed industry expert Wayne Donaldson to lead winemaking.

"I am honored to receive the American Winery of the Year Award from Wine Enthusiast, and I share this award with all the incredible partners and consumers who've made our success possible," said Josh Cellars Brand Founder, Joseph Carr. "The values my dad instilled in me are reflected in every bottle of Josh Cellars that we painstakingly make. Producing delicious wines takes a lot of hard work, but dad wouldn't have had it any other way."

Josh Cellars has come a long way since its modest beginnings. Today, under the direction of Deutsch Family Wines & Spirits, the brand is the number one premium table wine in America, selling more than 4 million cases per year. Josh Cellars is also a top seller in all $11-14.99 California varietal segments, with the number one selling California Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Red Blend, Pinot Grigio and number two selling Chardonnay in the country*. Despite this rapid growth, Josh Cellars has continued to elevate its wine quality as evidenced by the nine 90+ scores from Wine Enthusiast since 2019, including three this year for Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Merlot 2019 and Reserve Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. The wines are well known for being bold and complex but also approachable.

Through it all, Josh Cellars has remained a brand rooted in gratitude. Josh Cellars, led by Joseph Carr, consistently supports causes and communities that were important to Carr's Father Josh  from military and veteran organizations, to volunteer firefighters and out-of-work restaurant workers. Josh Cellars has donated more than $1 million to charitable organizations across the country, through direct donations and proceeds from the annual release of the Josh Cellars Reserve Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon.

"This prestigious award for Josh Cellars is the result of the extraordinary commitment of our employees, distributors, customers and consumers and the vision of brand founder, Joseph Carr," said Tom Steffanci, President of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. "As much as we've accomplished, the best is yet to come for Josh, with new wines on the horizon and more opportunity to give back to our communities and spread the love from which this brand was born."

To learn more about Josh Cellars, visit www.JoshCellars.com. Follow @JoshCellars on Instagram for the latest brand updates.

*Source: IRI Total US MULO 52 w/e 10/24/21, Cognos Data 12M thru September 2021.

About Josh Cellars

Josh Cellars was founded by Joseph Carr, a sommelier and vintner. Josh Cellars offers bold, complex and approachable wines for drinking with family and friends. Sourced from vineyards across California and Italy, Josh Cellars offers 11 varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Rose, Legacy Red Blend, Pinot Gris, Prosecco, Prosecco Rose and Pinot Grigio. Josh Cellars also offers a more premium Reserve tier of wines, which includes North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast Chardonnay and Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Josh Cellars wines are available at retailers nationwide and for purchase online: www.joshcellars.com

About Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Initially called W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., the company was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. In 2009, it announced the expansion of the award-winning company to include a spirits portfolio. Today the company is renowned for its brand-building prowess and its ability to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus, two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine and spirits industry.

The portfolio includes award-winning wines from Australia: [ yellow tail ], [ yellow tail ] Bubbles; [ yellow tail ] Pure Bright; California: Bellacosa; Girard Winery, Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars, Josh Cellars Reserve, Layer Cake; The Calling; France: Andre Lurton, Cave de Lugny, Fleurs de Prairie, Hob Nob Vineyards, Sauvion et Fils; Italy: Barone Fini, Villa Pozzi; New Zealand: The Crossings; Portugal: Quinta Do Vale Meao; Argentina: Clos de los Siete; and award-winning spirits: Redemption Whiskey, Bib & Tucker Bourbon, Masterson's Rye, Luksusowa Vodka and Gray Whale Gin. www.deutschfamily.com

2021 Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Stamford, CT. Please drink responsibly.

Contact:

Justina Nielsen | FMPR

[email protected]



SOURCE Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Related Links

http://www.deutschfamily.com


MONTREAL, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Karl Winters, a home fragrance company that specializes in the development of luxury candles and diffusers, announced the introduction of an exclusive signature scent creation service. The turnkey end-to-end private label service offers brands the opportunity to deliver a world class olfactive experience that is consistent with their brand identity.

Perfumer creates signature scents that align with a brand's goals The Ritz-Carlton Luxury Candle & Diffuser

"Having created luxury private label candles for leading brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont and Peninsula Hotels, we are excited to launch a fragrance development service that leverages the expertise of a perfumer based in Grasse, the fragrance capital of the world. We believe that luxury home fragrance is a personalized way to differentiate and elevate a brand experience  both from an aesthetic and olfactory point of view," says Feras Ray Zikra, founder & CEO of Karl Winters.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, candles with appealing aromas have become popular gifting products for the home. Creating high end candles demands the ultimate in quality ingredients and sophisticated aesthetics. Karl Winters is a leading private label candle manufacturer that offers a range of colored candle vessels, luxury candle boxes, and custom candle scents. An experienced perfumer trained in the art of fragrance creation composes beautiful scents based on brand's objectives. The results are luxury candles that tell a brand's a story in a unique and memorable way.

Brands are offered two options for fragrance selection:

1. Custom Scent Creation. A 12-week consultative program with a perfumer that ends with a signature scent that the brand owns the rights to.

2. Scent Library. Choose from 10 fragrances that are representative of the floral, fresh, woody, and oriental families.

For the month of November, Karl Winters is offering new customers an introductory incentive of 25% OFF when they sign up for the signature scent service. For more details, please email [email protected]

About Karl Winters

Founded in 2013 by Feras Ray Zikra, Karl Winters is a home fragrance brand that specializes in the design & marketing of luxury candles and diffusers. Working with the best fragrance suppliers and an experienced perfumer in Grasse, Karl Winters creates private label candles that inspire and delight. The company has developed luxury private label candles & diffusers for international brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont and Maison Birks.

Media contact:

Pascal Morin

[email protected]

718-717-2780

SOURCE Karl Winters Company
LONDON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The founder and CEO of LaoCann Capital has been named "Financial Services CEO of the Year  Southeast Asia" in the Business Worldwide Magazine 2021 CEO Awards.

The Awards seek to identify and honour the Most Respected C-level executives across the globe from a variety of different sectors. The awards themselves do not focus on a company's success, as many do, but instead the spotlight is on the success of individuals who make the corporations tick namely senior executives such as CEOs, Managing Directors, Directors and senior-level management. The intention is to give a worthy individual the recognition they deserve, while using their example to inspire other companies and business leaders to achieve similar success.

Based in Vientiane, Laos, LaoCann Capital specialises in delivering investment banking services to high-net-worth individuals, governments and larger corporations. With Kenneth Nealey at the helm, the company offers a range of services, including assisting clients with divestitures, mergers; private placements; financial restructuring; and financial advice. The emphasis is on finding bespoke solutions that are targeted to the unique needs and characteristics of every client, helping them achieve the full potential from their investment portfolios.

Kenneth's career in the investment world began at the age of 20, when he purchased his first property on Canada's Vancouver Island. Just six months later he was able to leverage the capital on the property to buy a second home, and within a couple of years he already had an impressive property portfolio. Since then, Kenneth's eye for a good investment has led him to become a revered expert in his field, and he established LaoCann Capital based on projections that Laos was heading for a boom.

Those projections were right. With support from the United Nations, Japan and Germany, the company now has a booming Chamber of Commerce that focuses on promoting private businesses. LaoCann Capital is today a global private market investor responsible for some of the most successful, sustainable and market-leading businesses in Asia.

Kenneth and his dedicated team of finance professionals invest, develop and seek out high return investments that grow capital for clients and their portfolios. Blockchain has revolutionised the finance industry, making the process more efficient and manageable than anyone could have imagined just a decade ago. LaoCann Capital is at the forefront of this revolution in Asia, not only leveraging the latest fintech but also actively pursuing asset tokenization for fungible and non fungible tokens alike.

Kenneth's management style is motivational and inspirational; leading by example and believing that the only time someone really fails is when they quit. Speaking to Business Worldwide Magazine, he shared his advice for new entrepreneurs seeking finance:

"Take the first step. Write it down and make a plan. You do not need money to start, but you must start. It costs nothing to begin your plan. Do as much work as possible in the area of your business and never give up. When you start writing things down you will see, and the resources you need will start to appear in front of you. Study your craft. There are millions of books and successful entrepreneurs that have most likely done what you are wanting to do. Learn from them. Use the internet. Google it!"

Kenneth is also the director of SG Investment Holdings, a Singapore-based private fund management company that offers Variable Capital Company (VCC) services for all types of investment funds. Find out more at www.SGInvestmentHoldings.com

To find out more about LaoCann Capital, visit the company website at https://laocann.com/

An article on the company can be found on the Business Worldwide Magazine website: https://www.bwmonline.com/2021/09/19/vision-perseverance-and-four-hours-of-sleep-the-secret-to-kenneth-nealeys-success/

Further information about the Business Worldwide CEO Awards can be found at https://www.bwmonline.com/ceo-awards-winners-2021/

About Business Worldwide Magazine

Business Worldwide Magazine is the leading source of business and dealmaker intelligence throughout the world. Our quarterly magazine and online news portal enables an established audience of corporate dealmakers to track the latest news, stories and developments affecting the international markets, corporate finance, business strategy and changes in legislation. This readership includes of CEO/CFO - Banks, Corporate Lawyers and Venture Capital/Private Equity Companies to name a few.

Contact:

David Jones

Awards Department

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Business Worldwide Magazine
DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.14 per share. The dividend is payable on January 4, 2022, to stockholders of record on December 10, 2021.

This represents the 49th consecutive year that Kimberly-Clark has increased its dividend and the 87th straight year that the company has paid a dividend to shareholders.

The company also announced that it will hold its next annual shareholder meeting on April 27, 2022.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's nearly 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.

[KMB-F]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Related Links

http://www.kimberly-clark.com


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC), the parent company of LendingClub Bank, America's leading digital marketplace bank, endorsed a bill introduced today in the United States House and Senate that would extend the transparency standards of the federal Truth in Lending Act to small business financing.

"Small business owners deserve transparent disclosure of the price they would pay for a loan, plain and simple. Chairwoman Velazquez and Senator Menendez have stood up to support small businesses owners and a more transparent, responsible, and potentially innovative small business lending system," said Louis Caditz-Peck, Director of Public Policy at LendingClub.

Since 1967, the Truth in Lending Act has established transparent disclosure of the prices and terms for loans to consumers. But the Truth in Lending Act does not apply to most small business financing, and in recent years less-transparent pricing practices have emerged. Research by LendingClub's partner Accion Opportunity Fund has found small businesses paying APRs as high as 358%, often without those rates being clearly disclosed to the small business borrower. The payments charged to the small businesses in the study were, on average, nearly double what the business could afford to pay.

"We're looking forward to working on this bill with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to help small businesses recover economically, and to encourage innovation in small business lending. LendingClub has shown that innovation can lower prices, but that only benefits small business customers if they are able to easily compare the prices they are being offered. Truth in Lending standards are not being upheld across the market today, and small businesses are literally paying the price," said Caditz-Peck.

The Small Business Lending Disclosure Act was introduced by Chairwoman Velazquez and Senator Menendez and co-sponsored by House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Chairman Ed Perlmutter, Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, and Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman Ben Cardin. In addition, it was supported by the Responsible Business Lending Coalition (RBLC), which LendingClub co-founded in 2015 with nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), small business advocacy groups, and for-profit fintech partners including Funding Circle, Accion Opportunity Fund, Opportunity Finance Network, Small Business Majority, Community Investment Management and the Aspen Institute.

The Small Business Lending Disclosure Act is based on similar small business financing transparency laws that LendingClub and Responsible Business Lending Coalition partners led to passage with overwhelming, bipartisan support in California in 2018 and New York in 2021. Similar laws have been also introduced for consideration in North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut.

LendingClub's small business financing products include SBA loans and other commercial loans, as well as unsecured online loans offered in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund and Funding Circle. An analysis of LendingClub's small business lending program found five-times the representation of minority-owned businesses, and four-times the representation of women-owned businesses, when compared to conventional bank lending.

About LendingClub

LendingClub Corporation (NYSE: LC) is the parent company of LendingClub Bank, National Association, Member FDIC. LendingClub Bank is the leading digital marketplace bank in the U.S., where members can access a broad range of financial products and services designed to help them pay less when borrowing and earn more when saving. Based on more than 150 billion cells of data and over $68 billion in loans, our AI-driven credit decisioning and machine-learning models are used across the customer lifecycle to expand seamless access to credit for our members, while generating compelling risk-adjusted returns for our loan investors. Since 2007, more than 3.8 million members have joined the Club to help reach their financial goals. For more information about LendingClub, visit https://www.lendingclub.com.

CONTACT:

For Investors: [email protected]

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE LendingClub Corporation

Related Links

https://www.lendingclub.com/


LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CouCou Sentiment enters into its first holiday season ready to make shopping more fun and exciting, providing unique gift ideas that are snarky, sassy with a touch of traditional.

Browse our collections here: https://coucousentiment.com/collections

"Our one stop shop for cards, fun gifts and party supplies is tailored to a wide range of shoppers," said shop owner Danielle Zann. "And don't forget, with all the supply chain issues dominating the news recently, potentially impacting holiday shopping schedules  shop early and ship ASAP this holiday season!"

CouCou Sentiment offers free local shipping, and standard shipping options anywhere in the U.S.

Upcoming promotions at the shop include:

Black Friday, 11/26 -- In-store scratch offs for a surprise percentage off entire regular priced purchase. (Up to 25% off.) All online orders will receive 15% off at their checkout.

-- In-store scratch offs for a surprise percentage off entire regular priced purchase. (Up to 25% off.) Small Business Saturday, 11/27 -- Buy one, get one 50% off on all party plates, cups, utensils, adult and kid apparel, drink mugs.

-- on all party plates, cups, utensils, adult and kid apparel, drink mugs. Cyber Monday, 11/29 -- Free shipping on all online U.S. domestic orders made this day.

Please visit and follow us on Instagram for holiday gift ideas, upcoming promotions: https://www.instagram.com/coucousentiment/

Connect with us via whichever channel is best for you:

Shop address: 17409 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, OH 44107

Shop online: www.coucousentiment.com

Instagram: @coucousentiment

Facebook: CouCou Sentiment

Email: [email protected]

Phone: Danielle @ 216-471-8746

SOURCE CouCou Sentiment
Neolth will receive a $35,000 award to further develop its mission of addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health by using technology to deliver affordable and accessible mental health support to students during times of crisis. Neolth's AI-driven digital platform and mobile app offer an end-to-end solution for youth mental health, providing multiple resources and tools to help teens build resilience, increase emotional awareness, reduce stigma, and gain community and professional support.

Two runners-up will each receive a $20,000 award to further the growth of their companies. Yair Saperstein, MD, founder and CEO at avoMD, was selected for providing next-generation clinical decision support at the point of care, offering the best way for clinicians to deploy evidence-based protocols and standardized care pathways and thus reduce variations in the delivery of care. Additionally, Mihir Shah, founder and president at UE LifeSciences, was selected for enabling frontline health workers to easily find and document breast lumps without pain or radiation and in just a few minutes, providing equitable, affordable, and scalable access to care for women of all demographics.

The 2021 Innovation Challenge awards are funded by the generous endowment from Bob and Betty Parkinson, which created the Parkinson School. In addition to opportunities to network and engage with Loyola leadership and its broader community of students, faculty, and connected institutions, the three winners also received an invitation to participate in the five-week [email protected] training program, which will be hosted by the Parkinson School in Spring 2022.

"The level of innovation presented by each finalist was impressive and inspiring, and we look forward to seeing their ventures grow and positively impact the healthcare ecosystem," said Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD, founder and CEO of Lyfebulb. "COVID-19 has posed significant challenges for all, but we have witnessed its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, and we applaud our three winners for their dedication to improving access to care and reducing health disparities to create healthier and more resilient communities."

The 2021 Innovation Challenge took place virtually on November 16-17 and was open to entrepreneurs from diverse sectors working to address the effects of emerging infectious diseases (such as COVID-19) by improving population and public health, health care delivery, and health equity. Finalists were selected to compete at the Challenge and pitch their companies' solutions to a panel of independent judges from a range of industries, including experts in the fields of public health, venture philanthropy, technology, and health care. Solutions presented ranged from biotechnology and contact tracing platforms to virtual clinics, wearables, and other products for consumers and healthcare professionals.

"This marks an exciting chapter for the Parkinson School," said Elaine Morrato, DrPH, MPH, CPH, founding dean, Parkinson School. "With our inaugural 2021 Innovation Challenge, we are catalyzing innovation by funding novel solutions to improve society's responsiveness to emerging health crises with the dual goal of reducing health inequities."

To continue their commitment to facilitating discourse on public health, health care delivery, and health equity, the Parkinson School and Lyfebulb will be hosting a Fireside Chat with the winners of the 2021 Innovation Challenge and two members of the jury on Tuesday, November 30, at 4:30 p.m. EST. This virtual discussion is open to all members of the community, and more information may be found on Lyfebulb.com.

About the Lyfebulb and Loyola University Chicago Partnership

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes for individuals, populations, and systems. The inaugural 2021 Innovation Challenge seeks to strengthen and engage entrepreneurs from health care, technology, and other sectors as well as the Lyfebulb and Loyola communities. Additionally, the 2021 Innovation Challenge will generate awareness around the effects of emerging infectious diseases and identify promising solutions that reduce health disparities and improve health care delivery.

About the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health

Loyola University Chicago launched the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health in Fall 2019 to educate the health entrepreneurs of the future and impact health care accessibility and equity nationally. The Parkinson School offers 17 degree programs and three certificate and internship programs through four areas of study: Public Health Sciences, Healthcare Administration, Health Informatics and Data Science, and Applied Health Sciences. In Fall 2021, it launched a new 4+1 BSPH/MPH dual-degree program. The Parkinson School builds on the foundations of Loyola's nationally recognized Stritch School of Medicine and its Biomedical Programs, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, and Loyola's partnership with Trinity Health (known in the Chicago area as Loyola Medicine). To learn more about the Parkinson School, follow us on Twitter @LoyolaParkinson or on Instagram @loyolaparkinson.

About Lyfebulb

Lyfebulb is an innovation accelerator that bridges the gap between patient communities and the healthcare industry by working directly with patients and care partners to generate insights and build new solutions to reduce the burden of living with chronic disease. Lyfebulb operates across 11 disease states and counting. For more information, visit Lyfebulb.com, TransplantLyfe.com, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Karin Hehenberger LinkedIn.

CONTACT:

Loyola University Chicago

Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health

Taylor Utzig

Communications Specialist

608-931-3414

[email protected]

Lyfebulb

Karin Hehenberger, MD, PhD

CEO & Founder

917-575-0210

[email protected]

SOURCE Lyfebulb

Related Links

lyfebulb.com


GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO) ("MINISO", "MINISO Group" or the "Company"), a fast-growing global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 ended September 30, 2021.

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 ended September 30, 2021

Revenue was RMB2,654.1 million ( US$411.9 million ), exceeding the high end of the Company's guidance range of RMB2,450 million to RMB2,650 million , representing an increase of 28.1% year over year and 7.4% quarter over quarter.

was ( ), exceeding the high end of the Company's guidance range of to , representing an increase of 28.1% year over year and 7.4% quarter over quarter. Gross profit was RMB728.4 million ( US$113.1 million ), representing an increase of 39.4% year over year and 14.0% quarter over quarter. Gross margin was 27.4%, compared to 25.2% in the same period of 2020 and 25.8% in the previous quarter.

was ( ), representing an increase of 39.4% year over year and 14.0% quarter over quarter. was 27.4%, compared to 25.2% in the same period of 2020 and 25.8% in the previous quarter. Operating profit was RMB213.5 million ( US$33.1 million ), compared to a loss of RMB2.1 million in the same period of 2020 and a profit of RMB187.8 million in the previous quarter.

was ( ), compared to a loss of in the same period of 2020 and a profit of in the previous quarter. Profit for the period was RMB154.5 million ( US$24.0 million ), compared to a loss of RMB1,676.3 million in the same period of 2020 and a profit of RMB111.2 million in the previous quarter.

was ( ), compared to a loss of in the same period of 2020 and a profit of in the previous quarter. Adjusted net profit[1] was RMB184.2 million ( US$28.6 million ), representing an increase of 80.3% year over year and 27.0% quarter over quarter. Adjusted net margin[1] was 6.9%, compared to 4.9% in the same period of 2020 and 5.9% in the previous quarter.

Operational Highlights for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 ended September 30, 2021

Number of MINISO stores increased to 4,871 as of September 30, 2021 , representing a quarterly net addition of 122 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 108 stores in the same period of 2020 and 162 stores in the previous quarter, respectively.

increased to 4,871 as of , representing a quarterly net addition of 122 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 108 stores in the same period of 2020 and 162 stores in the previous quarter, respectively. Number of MINISO stores in China increased to 3,035 as of September 30, 2021 , representing a quarterly net addition of 96 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 100 stores in the same period of 2020 and 127 stores in the previous quarter, respectively.

increased to 3,035 as of , representing a quarterly net addition of 96 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 100 stores in the same period of 2020 and 127 stores in the previous quarter, respectively. Number of MINISO stores in overseas markets increased to 1,836 as of September 30, 2021 , representing a quarterly net addition of 26 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 8 stores in same period of 2020 and 35 stores in the previous quarter, respectively.

increased to 1,836 as of , representing a quarterly net addition of 26 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 8 stores in same period of 2020 and 35 stores in the previous quarter, respectively. Number of TOP TOY stores increased to 72 as of September 30, 2021 , representing a quarterly net addition of 39 stores, compared to a quarterly net addition of 24 stores in the previous quarter.

The following table provides a breakdown of the number of MINISO and TOPTOY stores as well as their year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter changes of the relevant dates:





As of







September June September





30, 30, 30,





2020 2021 2021 YoY QoQ Number of MINISO stores[2] 4,330 4,749 4,871 541 122 China 2,633 2,939 3,035 402 96 Directly operated stores 5 5 4 (1) (1) Third-party stores 2,628 2,934 3,031 403 97 Overseas 1,697 1,810 1,836 139 26 Directly operated stores 115 105 108 (7) 3 Third-party stores 1,582 1,705 1,728 146 23 Number of TOP TOY stores[3] - 33 72 72 39 Directly operated stores - 2 6 6 4 Third-party stores - 31 66 66 35



[1]See the sections titled "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this press release for more information.

[2]"MINISO stores" are any of the stores operated under the "MINISO" brand name, including those directly operated by the Company ("Directly operated stores"), and those operated by third parties under the MINISO Retail Partner model and the distributor model ("Third-party stores").

[3]"TOP TOY stores" are any of the stores operated under the "TOP TOY" brand name, including Directly operated stores and Third-party stores.



Mr. Guofu Ye, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of MINISO, commented, "We kicked off fiscal year 2022 with a solid quarter. In spite of the headwinds from the resurgences of pandemic, rainstorm disaster and weak consumption data in domestic market in this quarter, we executed our strategies well and our domestic operations recorded an encouraging performance, while our overseas operations moved further along the path of recovery."

"During this quarter, we added 161 stores to our global store network, including 122 MINISO stores and 39 TOP TOY stores. MINISO Group's revenue reached RMB2,654.1 million, exceeding the high end of our expectation, demonstrating the resilience of our business model and core competitive strengths." Mr. Ye continued.

Mr. Saiyin Zhang, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of MINISO, commented, "MINISO Group's adjusted net profit reached RMB184.2 million in this quarter, increasing by 80.3% year-over-year, adjusted net margin of 6.9% was the highest in recent six quarters since the pandemic broke out. Going forward, our financial strategy will be to remain disciplined in our budgeting, cost controls, and allocation of capital, as we focus on the consistent delivery of solid financial performances."

Recent Developments

Impact of COVID-19

The outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to significantly impact the Company's operations and results in the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

In China, sales growth was challenged by the outbreak of the Delta variant in Nanjing from late July to late August and in Heilongjiang and Fujian province in late September. The Company estimates that the GMV loss from those influenced stores in China during this quarter was north of RMB200 million. Going into the quarter ending December 31, 2021, the Company expects the effects of COVID-19 to persist and strict public health measures to remain in effect nationwide. With the recent regional outbreaks resurging across approximately 20 provinces and rigorous preventative health measures in force across the country, the Company currently estimates that its sales will continue to be pressured by the lingering effects of the pandemic in the short term. The Company will continue to focus on those elements of its business that are under its control, driving product innovation, enhancing inventory management, improving operating efficiency and executing omni-channel strategy to drive sales and protect margins.

In overseas markets, 157 stores had not resumed operations as of September 30, 2021, compared to 205 stores as of June 30, 2021. Many of those stores that resumed operations also had reduced operating hours due to regional resurgences of COVID-19.

Change to Board Composition

To comply with the relevant SEC and NYSE requirements on corporate governance, Mr. Guofu Ye has stepped down from his position as the chairman of the compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee of the Company's board of directors, effective on November 18, 2021. Mr. Ye will continue to serve as a director and chairman of the board of directors. The Company has appointed Mr. Yongping Wang as an independent director of its board of directors, effective on the same day. Mr. Wang will also serve as a member of the audit committee and compensation committee, and as the chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee of the Company's board of directors. In addition, Mr. Yonghua Zhu has been appointed as the chairman of the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors.

After this change, the Company's three committees are in compliance with the relevant SEC and NYSE requirements that all of the members of these committees should consist of only independent directors.

Mr. Wang currently serves as the president of China Commercial Real Estate Association and as a vice chairman of The Commerce Economy Association of China. He also currently serves as an independent director of Easyhome New Retail Group Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000785) and an independent non-executive director of SCE Intelligent Commercial Management Holdings Limited (HKEx.0606). Before that, Mr. Wang held various senior management positions in several national commercial real estate institutions, including as a vice-chairman and secretary-general of China Federation of Urban Commercial Outlets Construction Administration, a national commercial real estate industry association from 2003 to 2010. Mr. Wang started his career as a successful business news reporter in 1990, after receiving his bachelor's degree in economics from Hangzhou College of Commerce (now known as Zhejiang Gongshang University).

"We are very excited to welcome Mr. Wang to MINISO's board of directors. His extensive leadership experience and industry expertise in commercial real estate will bring significant value to MINISO as we move into the next stage of growth." said Mr. Ye.

Unaudited Financial Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 ended September 30, 2021

Revenue was RMB2,654.1 million (US$411.9 million), representing an increase of 28.1% year over year, primarily driven by the growth of the Company's domestic operations and the recovery of its international operations.

Revenue generated from domestic operations was RMB2,030.8 million (US$315.2 million), increasing by 17.9% year over year. Revenue generated from domestic operations of the MINISO brand was RMB1,873.5 million (US$290.8 million), increasing by 12.8% year over year, mainly driven by a year-over-year increase of 15.6% in average store count and a year-over-year increase of 58.0% in the Company's e-commerce business. The TOP TOY brand also contributed RMB109.2 million (US$16.9 million) to the Company's revenue generated from domestic operations.

Revenue generated from international operations was RMB623.3 million (US$96.7 million), representing an increase of 78.0% year over year, reflecting an improved recovery of sales in certain international markets and re-stocking by distributors for the upcoming holiday season.

Revenue per MINISO store, which is calculated by dividing the revenue of the MINISO brand by the average number of MINISO stores at the beginning and the end of the relevant period, was RMB519.1 thousand (US$80.6 thousand), representing a year-over-year increase of 10.5%. In particular, revenue per MINISO store in international markets increased by 65.3% year over year.

Cost of sales was RMB1,925.7 million (US$298.9 million), representing an increase of 24.3% year over year.

Gross profit was RMB728.4 million (US$113.1 million), representing an increase of 39.4% year over year.

Gross margin was 27.4%, compared to 25.2% in the same period of 2020. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to an increase in revenue contribution from international operations, which typically has a higher gross margin than domestic operations. International operations contributed 23.5% of revenue in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to 16.9% in the same period of 2020.

Other income was RMB16.1 million (US$2.5 million), compared to RMB36.0 million in the same period of 2020. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to a decrease in government grants received by the Company in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.

Selling and distribution expenses were RMB340.8 million (US$52.9 million), representing an increase of 18.9% year over year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, selling and distribution expenses were RMB322.5 million (US$50.1 million), representing an increase of 40.0% year over year. The year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to increased personnel-related expenses, logistics expenses and marketing expenses that were in line with the year-over-year revenue growth and brand awareness improvement for both MINISO and TOP TOY, and to a lesser extent, increased licensing expenses associated with increased revenue contribution from IP products.

General and administrative expenses were RMB211.3 million (US$32.8 million), representing a decrease of 16.2% year over year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses were RMB199.9 million (US$31.0 million), representing an increase of 28.7% year over year. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to increased personnel-related expenses and IT expenses for the Company's new initiatives such as TOP TOY, partially offset by decreased professional service fee related to the Company's IPO in the same period of 2020.

Other net income was RMB33.6 million (US$5.2 million), compared to a net loss of RMB15.7 million in the same period of 2020. The Company recorded other net loss in the same period of 2020 mainly due to an appreciation of Renminbi against U.S. dollar during that period, which resulted in foreign exchange losses. Increase in investment income also contributed to the change from net loss to net income in this quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Operating profit was RMB213.5 million (US$33.1 million), compared to a loss of RMB2.1 million in the same period of 2020.

Profit for the period was RMB154.5 million (US$24.0 million), compared to a loss of RMB1,676.3 million in the same period of 2020.

Adjusted net profit, which represents profit for the period excluding (i) fair value changes of redeemable shares with other preferential rights and (ii) equity-settled share-based payment expenses, was RMB184.2 million (US$28.6 million), representing an increase of 80.3% year over year.

Adjusted net margin was 6.9%, compared to 4.9% in the same period of 2020.

Basic and diluted earnings from operations per American Depositary Share ("ADS") were RMB0.50 (US$0.08) in the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to basic and diluted losses per ADS of RMB7.08 in the same period of 2020. Each ADS represents four of the Company's Class A ordinary shares.

Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB0.60 (US$0.09) in the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to adjusted basic and diluted earnings per ADS of RMB0.40 in the same period of 2020.

See the sections entitled "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this press release for more information about adjusted net profit, adjusted net margin, and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per ADS.

As of September 30, 2021, the combined balance of the Company's cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and other investments amounted to RMB6,138.5 million (US$952.7 million).

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2022 ending December 31, 2021, the Company currently estimates its revenue to be between RMB2,500 million and RMB2,700 million, representing an increase of 8.8% to 17.5% year over year. This estimate represents management's current and preliminary views on the market and operational conditions as of the date of this press release, which does not factor in any of the potential future impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and is subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:00 A.M. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 18, 2021 (8:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. The conference call can be accessed via the following zoom link or by dialing the following numbers:

Access 1

Zoom link:

https://dooyle.zoom.us/j/89323740265?pwd=NkZObW1RMnA3RTRVSjlYOVBHc0xEUT09

Meeting Number: 893 2374 0265

Meeting Passcode: 601915

Access 2

Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers with the same meeting number and passcode with Access 1.

United States Toll Free: 833 548 0282 (or 877 853 5247)

Mainland China Toll Free: 400 182 3168 (or 400 616 8835)

Hong Kong, China Toll Free: 800 906 780 (or 800 931 189)

United Kingdom (Charge Fees): +44 208 080 6592 (or +44 330 088 5830)

France (Charge Fees): +33 1 7037 9729 (or +33 1 7095 0103)

Singapore (Charge Fees): +65 3165 1065 (or +65 3158 7288)

Canada (Charge Fees): +1 647 374 4685 (or +1 647 558 0588)

Access 3

Listeners can also access the meeting through the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.miniso.com/.

A replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.miniso.com/.

About MINISO Group

MINISO Group is a fast-growing global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit https://ir.miniso.com/.

Exchange Rate

The U.S. dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release, except for those transaction amounts that were actually settled in U.S. dollars, are presented solely for the convenience of the readers. The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into US$ in this press release is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of September 30, 2021, which was RMB6.4434 to US$1.0000. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on the RMB amounts.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

In evaluating the business, MINISO considers and uses adjusted net profit, adjusted net margin, adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share and adjusted basic and diluted earnings per ADS as supplemental measures to review and assess its operating performance. The presentation of these non-IFRS financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. MINISO defines adjusted net profit as profit/(loss) for the period excluding (i) fair value changes of redeemable shares with other preferential rights and (ii) equity-settled share-based payment expenses. MINISO calculates adjusted net margin by dividing adjusted net profit by revenue for the same period. MINISO computes adjusted basic and diluted net earnings per ADS by dividing the adjusted net profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company by the number of ADSs represented by the number of ordinary shares used in the basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share calculation on an IFRS basis and retrospectively adjusting for the effect of the issuance of Series A preferred shares by the Company that are deemed to have been converted into ordinary shares since July 1, 2019. MINISO computes adjusted basic and diluted net earnings per share in the same way it calculates adjusted basic and diluted net earnings per ADS, except that it uses the number of ordinary shares used in the basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share calculation on an IFRS basis as the denominator instead of the number of ADSs represented by these ordinary shares.

MINISO presents these non-IFRS financial measures because they are used by the management to evaluate its operating performance and formulate business plans. These non-IFRS financial measures enable the management to assess its operating results without considering the impacts of the aforementioned non-cash and other adjustment items that MINISO does not consider to be indicative of its operating performance in the future. Accordingly, MINISO believes that the use of these non-IFRS financial measures provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating its operating results in the same manner as the management and board of directors.

These non-IFRS financial measures are not defined under IFRS and are not presented in accordance with IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. One of the key limitations of using these non-IFRS financial measures is that they do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect MINISO's operations. Further, these non-IFRS financial measures may differ from the non-IFRS information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited.

These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered in isolation or construed as alternatives to profit/(loss), net profit/(loss) margin, basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share and basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per ADS, as applicable, or any other measures of performance or as indicators of MINISO's operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review MINISO's historical non-IFRS financial measures in light of the most directly comparable IFRS measures, as shown below. The non-IFRS financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting the usefulness of such measures when analyzing MINISO's data comparatively. MINISO encourages you to review its financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

For more information on the non-IFRS financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures" set forth at the end of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. Among other things, the guidance for the fiscal year 2022's second quarter ending December 31, 2021 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as MINISO's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. MINISO may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about MINISO's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: MINISO's mission, goals and strategies; future business development, financial conditions and results of operations; the expected growth of the retail market and the market of branded variety retail of lifestyle products in China and globally; expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of MINISO's products; expectations regarding MINISO's relationships with consumers, suppliers, MINISO Retail Partners, local distributors, and other business partners; competition in the industry; proposed use of proceeds; and relevant government policies and regulations relating to MINISO's business and the industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in MINISO's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and MINISO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Raine Hu, Mengru Wang

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

MINISO GROUP HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Expressed in thousands)































As at

As at June 30, 2021 September 30, 2021 (Audited) (Unaudited)



RMB'000

RMB'000

US$'000 ASSETS











Non-current assets











Property, plant and equipment

76,316

317,333

49,249 Right-of-use assets

689,887

651,007

101,035 Intangible assets

61,005

56,495

8,768 Goodwill

19,640

19,640

3,048 Deferred tax assets

168,552

168,030

26,078 Prepayments

138,481

390,484

60,602 Interest in an equity-a

ccounted investee

352,062

344,170

53,414

















1,505,943

1,947,159

302,194













Current assets











Other investments

102,968

205,290

31,861 Inventories

1,496,061

1,559,103

241,969 Trade and other receivables

824,725

1,015,150

157,549 Cash and cash equivalents

6,771,653

5,930,870

920,457 Restricted cash

3,680

2,290

355

















9,199,087

8,712,703

1,352,191













Total assets

10,705,030

10,659,862

1,654,385













EQUITY











Share capital

92

92

14 Additional paid-in capital

8,289,160

7,982,456

1,238,858 Other reserves

928,005

965,977

149,917 Accumulated losses

(2,558,291)

(2,406,252)

(373,444)













Equity attributable to

equity holders of the

Company

6,658,966

6,542,273

1,015,345 Non-controlling interests

(6,812)

(4,265)

(662)













Total equity

6,652,154

6,538,008

1,014,683













LIABILITIES











Non-current liabilities











Contract liabilities

59,947

56,729

8,804 Loans and borrowings

6,925

6,865

1,066 Lease liabilities

483,144

450,400

69,901 Deferred income

20,005

18,623

2,890

















570,021

532,617

82,661













Current liabilities











Loans and borrowings

13,669

4,817

748 Trade and other payables

2,809,182

3,003,397

466,120 Contract liabilities

266,919

249,182

38,672 Lease liabilities

321,268

262,006

40,663 Deferred income

6,060

6,083

944 Current taxation

65,757

63,752

9,894

















3,482,855

3,589,237

557,041













Total liabilities

4,052,876

4,121,854

639,702













Total equity and liabilities

10,705,030

10,659,862

1,654,385

MINISO GROUP HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS

(Expressed in thousands, except for per share and per ADS data)













Three months ended September 30





2020

2021

(Unaudited) (Unaudited)



RMB'000

RMB'000

US$'000

Revenue

2,072,139

2,654,115

411,912

Cost of sales

(1,549,763)

(1,925,672)

(298,860)

















Gross profit

522,376

728,443

113,052

Other income

35,993

16,076

2,495

Selling and distribution expenses

(286,741)

(340,809)

(52,893)

General and administrative expenses

(252,131)

(211,275)

(32,789)

Other net (loss)/income

(15,671)

33,627

5,219

Credit loss on trade and other receivables

(5,968)

(12,547)

(1,947)

















Operating (loss)/profit

(2,142)

213,515

33,137

Finance income

9,170

13,057

2,026

Finance costs

(7,100)

(8,809)

(1,367)

















Net finance income

2,070

4,248

659

Fair value changes of redeemable shares with other

preferential rights

(1,625,287)

-

-

Share of loss of an equity-accounted investee, net of

tax

-

(7,891)

(1,225)

















(Loss)/profit before taxation

(1,625,359)

209,872

32,571

Income tax expense

(50,976)

(55,343)

(8,589)

















(Loss)/profit for the period

(1,676,335)

154,529

23,982

















Attributable to:













Equity shareholders of the Company

(1,672,619)

152,039

23,596

Non-controlling interests

(3,716)

2,490

386

















(Loss)/earnings per share for ordinary shares













-Basic

(1.77)

0.13

0.02

-Diluted

(1.77)

0.12

0.02

















(Loss)/Earnings per ADS













(Each ADS represents 4 Class A ordinary shares) -Basic

(7.08)

0.50

0.08

-Diluted

(7.08)

0.50

0.08



















MINISO GROUP HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Expressed in thousands)







Three months ended September 30





2020

2021

(Unaudited) (Unaudited)



RMB'000

RMB'000

US$'000

















(Loss)/profit for the

period

(1,676,335)

154,529

23,982

















Items that may be

reclassified subsequently

to profit or loss:













Exchange differences on

translation of financial

statements of foreign

operations

(35,742)

7,718

1,198

















Other comprehensive

(loss)/income for the

period

(35,742)

7,718

1,198

















Total comprehensive

(loss)/income for the

period

(1,712,077)

162,247

25,180

















Attributable to:













Equity shareholders of the

Company

(1,676,335)

159,700

24,785

Non-controlling interests

(35,742)

2,547

395



MINISO GROUP HOLDING LIMITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES (Expressed in thousands, except for per share and per ADS data)







Three months ended September 30



2020

2021 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)



RMB'000

RMB'000

US$'000













Reconciliation of (loss)/profit for

the period to adjusted net profit:











(Loss)/profit for the period

(1,676,335)

154,529

23,982 Add back:











Fair value changes of redeemable

shares with other preferential

rights

1,625,287

-

- Equity-settled share-based

payment expenses

153,190

29,641

4,600













Adjusted net profit

102,142

184,170

28,582













Attributable to:











Equity shareholders of the

Company

105,858

181,680

28,196 Non-controlling interests

(3,716)

2,490

386



























Adjusted net earnings per share

for ordinary shares[4]











-Basic

0.10

0.15

0.02 -Diluted

0.10

0.15

0.02













Adjusted net earnings per ADS











(Each ADS represents 4 Class A

ordinary shares) -Basic

0.40

0.60

0.09 -Diluted

0.40

0.60

0.09

MINISO GROUP HOLDING LIMITED UNAUDITED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (Expressed in millions, except percentages)





Three months ended September 30

2020

2021





RMB

RMB

US$

YoY Revenue













Domestic Operations 1,722

2,031

315

18% -MINISO Brand 1,660

1,874

291

13% -TOP TOY Brand -

109

17

N/A -Others 62

48

7

(22%) International Operations 350

623

97

78%

2,072

2,654

412

28%

[4] See the sections titled "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this press release for more information.

SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited

Related Links

https://ir.miniso.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Molekule , the global leader in reinventing air purification, is unveiling its first-ever mobile showroom in the Bay Area, just north of San Francisco. Starting today, shoppers can purchase Air Mini+ and Air Pro purifiers from the company's pop-up store in The Village at Corte Madera, an open-air shopping center in Marin County.

After nearly two years of facing the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening smoke conditions due to wildfires, Californians have become acutely aware of the importance of clean air. Backed by science and more than 25 years of research, Molekule's proprietary PECO technology is an entirely new approach to air purification. PECO goes a step further than conventional air purification methods to not only capture, but also destroy microscopic pollutants, such as viruses and bacteria, at the molecular level. Research from third party laboratories show that Molekule destroys Covid-19 virus by over 99% in under 1 hour in small chamber and swatch lab tests1, and inactivates H1N1 flu virus by up to 99.99% in single pass experiments2. These achievements have positioned Molekule as a go-to comfort for many, making it a must-have gift this holiday season.

"Over this past year we've seen conversations around air quality take center stage, whether we're talking about protecting ourselves and our loved ones from wildfire smoke, mold, viruses, or the return to office," said Jonathan Harris, CEO of Molekule. "Our customers can always find Molekule online or at their favorite retailer, and having our first-ever retail showroom right in our own backyard marks an exciting milestone for us. We look forward to welcoming the Bay Area community to this space and introducing our neighbors to Molekule as we all prepare for the holiday season and the start of 2022."

The FDA has cleared both the Air Mini+ and Air Pro purifiers that will be on-site and available for purchase as Class II medical devices for the destruction of viruses and bacteria, and Air Pro is additionally cleared for the destruction of mold.3 Air Mini+ is an ideal solution for air purification in smaller spaces up to 250 square feet, which is essential for apartments, bedrooms, and offices. Air Pro, our most sophisticated air purifier, is designed to protect larger spaces and open floor plans in both business and home settings, up to 1,000 square feet. Both of these air purifiers have particle sensors that are able to detect particulate matter in the air of the room in which they operate and rate the air quality from "Good" to "Very bad." If on Auto Protect mode, Air Mini+ and Air Pro will automatically adjust fan speed based on the indoor air quality detected.

"Retailers and shoppers alike are much more attuned to the importance of air quality, stemming from the pandemic, recent wildfire seasons, or even from everyday indoor pollutants like mold, pet dander, and pollen. Shoppers will benefit from having Molekule on-site to answer questions about at-home air quality and provide exciting deals for our guests while visiting The Village", said Stan Hoffman, General Manager of The Village at Corte Madera.

Air Mini+ and Air Pro retail for $499 and $1,199, respectively. Come visit Molekule at The Village at Corte Madera, located at 1618 Redwood Hwy, Corte Madera. The showroom will follow The Village at Corte Madera's regular and holiday hours, found here .

Disclaimer: No air purifier can prevent transmission of a virus. Molekule recommends using PPE & following guidance from the CDC and other government authorities.

About Molekule

Molekule is on a mission to provide clean indoor air to everyone, everywhere. Based on 25 years of research and development, the company's patented PECO technology destroys the widest range of pollutants, including VOCs, mold, bacteria, viruses, and allergens, when compared to conventional filters. Molekule's range of air purification solutions have been reviewed and validated by third-party laboratories, as well as continual internal testing, and its medical-grade products have been granted medical device clearance by the FDA. Today, Molekule is available at Home Depot , Best Buy , Amazon , and at our mobile showroom at The Village at Corde Madera . It is also sold internationally in India, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. For more information and customer reviews , visit https://molekule.com .

Molekule Media Contact

Ali Rae Hunt

[email protected]

1 2021 test results in collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience, demonstrate PECO air purification technology's success in removing 99.98% of the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2 from the air, and achieving total destruction rates exceeding 99% after one hour. These results are from a multiple pass chamber test and swatch level test, respectively. The multiple pass chamber test utilized an Air Mini device in a small 5.3 cubic-foot chamber with a single injection of aerosolized virus, and the swatch level test used PECO filter media for direct virus application.

2 In 2020, the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine tested Molekule's PECO technology using an Air Mini device and its operating flow rate in single-pass efficiency testing with viable viruses in aerosol transmission. Methods developed for the research allowed measurement and characterization of airborne virus detection and inactivation by air purification technologies. For the PECO technology, testing showed near 99.9% removal and total removal rates (virus titer based) approaching 99.99% for influenza A after four hours. Dr. Chris Hogan and Dr. Montserrat Torremorell led this research.

3 Although the FDA clearances do not apply specifically to SARS-CoV-2, Molekule's devices satisfy the criteria established in the FDA's non-enforcement guidance for air purifier use in connection with SARS-CoV-2.

SOURCE Molekule

Related Links

https://molekule.com


NEWTON, Mass., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MPINarada, a global leader in batteries for the critical power, telecom, and energy storage markets, is pleased to announce the latest addition to their warehouse facilities in support of US customers. With a rapidly growing market and a supply chain that is challenged worldwide, this new location will significantly help decrease transit times and strengthen the company's commitment to best-in-class service to customers.

The new 32,000 square foot facility is centrally located in Grand Prairie, Texas, and features both warehouse and office space, some of which will be utilized as a lab area for testing on energy storage systems and other new product innovations. The additional capacity provided by this new facility supports customers in all markets serviced by MPINarada.

The company chose the area of Texas after careful analysis and consideration of freight cost, time, and transit and recognized the multiple benefits of the location. Close proximity to the customer base provides significant advantages with managing costs and key highway routes leading in and out of the Dallas area conveniently offer easy access in all directions. Additionally, with the ongoing challenges with the global supply chain, utilization of the Houston port provides faster clearance times for containers to further cut down on delivery times.

"Supply chain instability is being felt across the globe," said Michael Sirard, MPINarada's EVP Technical Operations & Engineering. "At MPINarada, our focus is to make choices that will have a direct, positive impact on our customers and our new warehouse delivers on this goal."

As MPINarada continues to grow, warehouse additions like this new Texas facility are essential to support the current and future growth of the battery market. The company now has four warehouse locations extended across the United States and is well-positioned to support customers everywhere. For more information, visit www.mpinarada.com .

About MPINarada: Since 1994, Narada has been a leader of one of the broadest and most reliable VRLA and lithium battery solutions for telecom , data center , colocation, edge, grid, microgrid, and C&I energy storage . MPINarada is the North American operation providing local sales support, engineering and design, and multiple inventory locations.

CONTACT: Jennifer MacNeil

Marketing Manager

[email protected]

SOURCE MPINarada
MYND Diagnostics will be initiating a clinical validation study on the use of its proprietary biomarker testing in Multiple Sclerosis diagnostics

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - MYND LIFE SCIENCES INC. ("MYND" or the "Company") (CSE: MYND) (OTC: MYNDF) is pleased to announce its wholly-owned subsidiary MYND DIAGNOSTICS INC. ("MYND Diagnostics") has commenced clinical research on a testing procedure as an aid for diagnosing and monitoring Multiple Sclerosis ("MS") utilizing the Company's proprietary anti-inflammatory peptide ("MAP") biomarker.

"According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, at this time no symptoms, physical findings or laboratory tests can, by themselves, determine if you have MS1", stated Dr. Lyle Oberg, MD CEO of MYND. "This makes MS such a challenging disease to diagnose; the wide variance of symptoms can make early detection difficult. It is our goal through MYND Diagnostics' clinical validation study targeting MS to provide health care practitioners with an objective diagnostic aid to help discover MS earlier and monitor treatment progress or regression."

MYND Diagnostics will be initiating a clinical validation of the MAP biomarker in MS by collecting known blood samples of MS patients and quantifying the presence of MAP against control samples. This validation is planned to start in first quarter 2022. The Company anticipates that, pending those results, a submission for FDA approval could take place as early as second half 2022 to prepare for commercialization and making the MAP Biomarker test available to the public through healthcare practitioners. The Company's goal is to develop and refine a diagnostic protocol to monitor and potentially identify inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system such as Multiple Sclerosis. The Company's aid to diagnosis test is intended to give health care providers an objective monitoring tool to improve patient outcomes by providing more tailored and efficacious treatments.

The global multiple sclerosis therapies market was valued at $22.99 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $28.00 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 2.5% from 2019 to 2026.2 Management's view is that the total addressable market is substantial and existing diagnostic methods are outdated and ready for disruption. Management believes this affordable tool coupled with MYND Diagnostics' proprietary intellectual property has the potential to revolutionize how central nervous system diseases are diagnosed and monitored around the globe.

MS currently affects approximately 2,800,000 people around the world, females far more often than males, and it is estimated that every 5 minutes, someone in the world is diagnosed with MS. Nearly 1,000,000 of those people are living in the United States3. Canada continues to have one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with over 90,000 people living with MS or 1 in every 400 people4.

ABOUT MYND LIFE SCIENCES INC.

MYND Life Sciences Inc., the parent company of MYND Diagnostics Inc., is a medical biotech drug research and development company focused on neuro-pharmaceutical and novel psilocybin drug development, diagnostics and vaccines. The Company is advancing pharmaceuticals through rigorous science and clinical trials, while diligently patenting and safeguarding its intellectual property. For more information and to subscribe to the Company's mailing list, please visit https://myndsciences.com/contact/.

CONTACT INFORMATION

MYND Life Sciences Inc.

Dr. Lyle Oberg, MD, CEO

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.myndsciences.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of MYND to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this release.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

None of the securities issued in connection with the Offering will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

______________________________ 1 National (US) Multiple Sclerosis society 2 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/multiple-sclerosis-market 3 https://www.nationalmssociety.org/About-the-Society/News/Updated-Atlas-of-MS-Shows-Over-2-8-million-People 4 https://mssociety.ca/research-news/article/prevalence-and-incidence-of-ms-in-canada-and-around-the-world

SOURCE Mynd Life Sciences Inc.

Related Links

https://myndsciences.com/


SEATTLE, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Pandemic Action Network released new research findings revealing challenges that continue to burden doctors and nurses in the U.S. well over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and pointing to what is required to be better prepared for this crisis and future pandemic threats. Notably, access to personal protective equipment (PPE) continues to be a problem  with nearly a third of doctors and nurses saying they did not have sufficient access to PPE, even as recently as summer 2021. Sixty-one percent felt that they did not have sufficient early warning to prepare for the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite best efforts, a third felt it was challenging to follow changing workflows and protocols.

The study, funded by Flu Lab , included a survey conducted by Klick Consulting of 532 doctors and nurses from across the U.S. The survey focused on addressing perceptions of pandemic readiness, knowledge, containment, treatment, and vaccination. Additional qualitative interviews with nearly four dozen health officials, public health workers, doctors, and nurses, revealed a stark reality: while healthcare workers are committed to caring for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have faced increased personal risks and an exceptionally high work volume. And they need more support.

Dr. Carrie Tibbles, an ER physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, participated in this research. "Healthcare systems are really stressed right now, and the workforce is tired. Hospitals need support to build back up  and build our workforce back up  so we can take care of our communities," said Dr. Tibbles. "The pandemic hit us so hard and in Boston, we felt the first wave shortly after New York. We were able to learn in real time from our friends and colleagues in New York and I'm confident we saved many lives as a result. But if we were armed with the tools to be better prepared for pandemics, I know we could do more."

These stories further come to life in the new documentary, The First Wave , premiering today in New York at the DOC NYC festival and showing in select theaters tomorrow. The film focuses on the doctors, nurses, and patients from one of New York's hardest-hit hospital systems during the "first wave" from March to June 2020. By laying bare what healthcare workers braved in hospitals flooded with COVID patients, The First Wave honors both their ongoing commitment to their patients, as well as their own personal sacrifice.

"The study results and the harrowing realities presented in The First Wave make one thing clear: we need to listen to doctors and nurses," said Gabrielle Fitzgerald, co-founder of Pandemic Action Network. "Hailing health workers as heroes is insufficient  we must ensure they have the information and equipment to do their jobs effectively  before, during, and after a crisis."

Survey participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share their perspectives. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my pandemic experience and opinions It is a rarity that we are asked about our experience," said one participant. Another shared, "Thanks for working to improve our processes and systems for the next time this happens (hopefully never)."

"Healthcare workers around the country have been stretched to their breaking points countless times over the course of the pandemic. As a group, we have been labeled heroes, but healthcare workers are only human, and resilience is waning in the face of exhaustion and burnout," said Dr. Kelly C. Sanders, a pediatrician and Pandemic Action Network member. Dr. Sanders also serves as the technical lead for the Pandemic Response Initiative at UCSF and co-authored a case study on the first year of the pandemic in the U.S. "As a country, if we don't continue to improve frontline conditions, we risk losing desperately needed healthcare workers. We need to improve local vaccination rates, develop new diagnostic and treatment options, and provide more resources for our stressed public health and hospital systems. This is how the American public and decision-makers can show up for the frontline now."

To respond to the findings of this study, Pandemic Action Network is calling on U.S. policymakers to:

Fully resource and accelerate the global COVID-19 response by allocating at least US$17 billion of new funding to assist the world in reaching 70 percent vaccine coverage in every country by the middle of 2022; save lives now through increased access to other lifesaving tools; and prevent future pandemics from occurring. Learn more .

of new funding to assist the world in reaching 70 percent vaccine coverage in every country by the middle of 2022; save lives now through increased access to other lifesaving tools; and prevent future pandemics from occurring. Learn . Provide ongoing funding for surge capacity and measures that prioritize the safety and security of healthcare workers.

Approve the International Pandemic Preparedness and COVID-19 Response Act, in tandem with the Global Health Security Act to strengthen America's cross-government coordination on pandemic preparedness and response and bolster our support for global preparedness.

Approve legislation to strengthen America's Strategic National Stockpile to ensure adequate PPE and medical supplies for healthcare workers.

Approve the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among healthcare professionals.

Approve a resolution that would designate the first Monday in March as "COVID-19 Victims and Survivors Memorial Day" to memorialize those lost to the COVID-19 virus and recognize the suffering of COVID-19 survivors.

More details of the research and survey results can be found here .

About Pandemic Action Network

Pandemic Action Network drives collective action to end the COVID-19 crisis and to ensure the world is prepared for the next pandemic. The Network is a robust partnership of over 140 global multi-sector organizations aligned in a belief that every effort made in the fight against COVID-19 should leave a long-term legacy. One where humanity is better prepared to deal with outbreaks and prevent a deadly and costly pandemic from happening again.

About Klick Consulting

Klick Consulting solves the problems others can't by leveraging applied sciences and novel thinking to decode healthcare's gnarliest challenges. The consultancy embraces science at the speed of business with a specific focus on commercial solutions with real-world applications. With its diverse team of medical, behavioral science, data science, engineering, business model, machine learning, and strategic design experts, the multidisciplinary, collaborative group resolves business problems through a scientific lens. Klick Consulting works with companies across the healthcare spectrum, including consumer wellness, pharmaceutical, device manufacturers, insurers, health systems, and providers.

SOURCE Pandemic Action Network

Related Links

https://pandemicactionnetwork.org


This collaboration will provide AI-powered coverage for NFP's Canadian clients shipping transit inland and around the world for all types of cargo

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides specialized business and personal insurance, group benefits, retirement, and individual solutions, today announced its Canadian-based offices have formed an exclusive partnership with UK-based Loadsure. Through this relationship, Loadsure will provide instant and on demand cargo and shippers' coverage to NFP's Canadian logistics clients shipping cargo globally, including inland transit, a significant advantage in an environment where the challenge of securing timely and sufficient coverage has contributed to an underinsurance crisis.

Loadsure is an international insurtech managing general agent and Lloyd's of London coverholder. The company provides an end-to-end, API-connected digital solution (from premium pricing to claims payment delivery), eliminating the excess costs associated with conventional underwriting of low complexity risk and claims processing. Through the Loadsure digital platform, NFP can deploy this state-of-the-art solution to retail broker environments or even into insureds' workflow, enabling them to address risk exposures and protect business sustainability rapidly and cost-effectively.

"At NFP, we strive to address all our clients' risk management needs by applying forward-thinking and out-of-the-box strategies," said Tracy McLean, senior vice president, Global Logistics Insurance. "As an organization, we value every opportunity to highlight tools that equip our clients with one-of-a-kind solutions."

"Adding Loadsure's ability to incorporate data analytics, in real-time, into the marine cargo sector complements our other strategic partnerships, allowing us to provide innovative, best-in-class recommendations to our Canadian shipping clients."

By partnering with Loadsure's online platform, NFP's customers can simply answer a few questions, get a quote, bind and have coverage issued in 40 seconds or less, while having access to Loadsure's white glove automated claims service.

"Every day, millions of loads are transported under or uninsured," says Loadsure CEO Johnny McCord. "This business busting reality only exists because traditional insurance processes can't keep up with the just-in-time needs of brokers, shippers, and carriers. Additionally, labor-intensive underwriting makes transactional coverage prohibitively expensive. Through AI and automation, we underwrite risk in real-time, providing instant coverage and granular pricing that cuts per-load coverage costs by up to 80 percent."

About NFP

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized business and personal insurance, group benefits, retirement and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 800 employees based in Canada, more than 6,000 employees globally, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue (Business Insurance), 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal) and 13th largest global insurance broker (Best's Review).

For more information, visit NFP.ca .

About Loadsure

Loadsure, an international Insurtech Managing General Agent (MGA) and Lloyd's coverholder, leverages AI and automation to provide an industry first: pay-as-you-go, all-risk digital insurance for brokers, shippers, and carriers. Through Loadsure.net insurance partners and leading TMS platforms, transactional coverage can be automatedor secured in less than 40 secondswith claims resolved in minutes. Visit loadsure.net .

SOURCE NFP Corp.

Related Links

https://www.nfp.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- nTopology , the leading generative design software, today announced it has secured $65 million in Series D funding, bringing the company's total financing to $135 million to date. The funding round was led by Tiger Global with participation from Oldslip Group as well as existing investors Root Ventures, Canaan Partners, DCVC, Haystack, and New York-based global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners. The new capital will be used to expand the types of applications nTopology serves in the product development process and strengthen its global footprint.

nTopology's mission is to provide the next generation of design tools for engineers in the aerospace, automotive, medical device, and industrial design spaces. The company's software is built on three main technologies: implicit modeling; field-driven design; and the block system. Together, they empower users to find solutions to engineering problems in ways not previously possible in computer-aided design (CAD) software.

"Earlier in my career, I found that most of the engineering software, like CAD, was a bottleneck in driving innovative design. Our company was built specifically to solve engineers' problems, allowing them to fully utilize the power of additive manufacturing processes and fill the gaps left by these old legacy design tools," explains Bradley Rothenberg, co-founder and CEO of nTopology.

In April, the company launched nTopology 3.0 , which introduced GPU acceleration to bring down the visualization time of highly complex structures from minutes to mere seconds. nTopology also collaborated with 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys to further automate the design of manufacturing aids and to streamline adoption of 3D printing for the factory floor. Its FDM Fixture Generator is a tool that automates 90% of the design work required for simple jigs and fixtures while their most recent collaboration, the Masking Fixture Module, eliminates the need for manual masking techniques. In addition, the company recently released a connector that streamlines nTopology's integration to PLM systems , giving enterprise customers a clear roadmap for enhancing their product development software stack with powerful generative design capabilities.

"nTopology customers use this software to design the most critical parts of their products," said John Curtius, Partner, Tiger Global Management. "We're excited for nTopology to emerge as the new leader in engineering software as advanced manufacturing continues to push the boundary of how products are made."

nTopology services over 300 customers, including Ford, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Emerson, and Wilson, and is excited to get its software to more engineers who will benefit from the product's expanding range of applications. This growth requires adding new talent to nTopology's team . In less than a year, nTopology has increased its headcount by ~40% while seeing its revenue double.

About nTopology:

nTopology was founded in 2015 to enable engineers and designers to create any geometry  no matter how complex  and meet the requirements of high-performance products. Our software is used from research through production to create breakthrough processes and products for the aerospace, automotive, medical, and consumer industries. Our customers depend on nTopology's generative design capabilities to take full advantage of new hardware, optimize parts where performance is critical, overcome design bottlenecks, and augment their traditional CAD, simulation, and engineering software stack. For more information, visit www.ntopology.com

SOURCE nTopology

Related Links

https://ntopology.com/


NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until January 3, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against ON24, Inc. (NYSE: ONTF), if they purchased the Company's shares issued in connection with its February 2021 initial public stock offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Get Help

ON24 investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-ontf/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

ON24 and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information in the Company's IPO Registration Statement and Prospectus, violating federal securities laws. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that the Registration Statement and Prospectus failed to disclose, among other things, that the surge in customers leading up to the IPO consisted of a significant number that, driven by COVID-19 related demand, did not fit the Company's traditional customer profile, and, as a result, were significantly less likely to renew their contracts leading to an increase in churn.

On August 10, 2021, the Company provided its 2Q2021 financial results including guidance below analysts' expectations and disclosed "higher-than-expected churn and down-sell from customers [it] signed up in the second quarter of last year during the peak of COVIDprimarily in the first-time renewal cohort, customers who signed up one-year contracts last year and who were up for renewal." On this news, the Company's share price plummeted approximately 31%, damaging investors.

The case is Douvia v. ON24, Inc., 21-cv-08578.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
"OneTrust is uniquely positioned to define and own the Trust category of software." - Guido Torrini, OneTrust's new CFO Tweet this

"Privacy, security, and ESG are creating a massive total addressable market centered around Trust as a competitive advantage. OneTrust is uniquely positioned to define and own this new category of software. The company has built major separation from other players in the market with the broad platform approach, $920 million in funding, nearly 200 patents, and deep customer adoption with over 10,000 customers," said Guido Torrini, OneTrust's new CFO. "I'm proud to join this incredible team and build upon the next generation of growth for OneTrust as it builds and defines the trust category."

"Consumers and employees today want to work with companies they trust. This tectonic shift in decision making is creating an entirely new category of software that brings together privacy, security, ethics, and ESG that transforms compliance initiatives into trust as a competitive advantage. OneTrust's investments in our technology, customers, and community best positions us to define and lead the industry of trust software," said Kabir Barday, OneTrust CEO. "Bringing Guido's deep experience in category-defining global software companies into OneTrust represents a new milestone for our growth. As our CFO, Guido can help us capitalize on the way we innovate, scale and grow. I'm excited to welcome Guido to the team and deliver on our market opportunity to define and lead the new software category of trust."

For information on OneTrust or to request a demo, visit OneTrust.com.

OneTrust is a registered trademark or trademark of OneTrust LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

1 Forbes, Celonis Raises $1 Billion At $11 Billion Valuation, Making It New York's And Germany's  Most Valuable Startup, June 2, 2021

2TechCrunch, Celonis snares $1B Series D on $11B valuation, June 2, 2021

About OneTrust

OneTrust is the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust. More than 10,000 customers, including half of the Fortune Global 500, use OneTrust to make trust a competitive differentiator, implementing central agile workflows across privacy, security, data governance, GRC, third-party risk, ethics and compliance, and ESG programs.

The OneTrust platform is backed by 190 patents and powered by the OneTrust Athena AI and robotic automation engine, and capabilities include:

OneTrust Privacy - Privacy Management Software

OneTrust DataDiscovery - AI-Powered Discovery and Classification

OneTrust DataGovernance - Data Intelligence Software

OneTrust Vendorpedia - Third-Party Risk Exchange

OneTrust GRC - Integrated Risk Management Software

OneTrust Ethics - Ethics and Compliance Software

OneTrust PreferenceChoice - Consent and Preference Management Software

OneTrust ESG  Environmental, Social & Governance Software

In 2020, OneTrust was named the #1 fastest-growing company in America on the Inc. 500 with a 48,000% three-year growth rate. According to the IDC Worldwide Data Privacy Management Software Market Shares Report, 2020, "OneTrust is leading the market outright and showing no signs of slowing down or stopping."

OneTrust has raised a total of $920 million in funding at a $5.3 billion valuation from Insight Partners, Coatue, TCV, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Franklin Templeton. OneTrust's fast-growing team of 2,000 employees is co-headquartered in Atlanta and London with additional offices in Bangalore, Melbourne, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Sao Paulo, Munich, Paris, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.

To learn more, visit OneTrust.com or connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Media Contact

Gabrielle Ferree

+1 770-294-4668

[email protected]

SOURCE OneTrust

Related Links

https://onetrust.com/


"Benefits education and communication is key for employees to understand and make the most of their benefits," said Colonial Life's vice president of Enrollment Market Development, Wendra Johnson. "Our multi-channel approach keeps employees engaged and informed during one of the most important financial decisions they will make this year."

Colonial Life's parent company, Unum, surveyed 1,500 full-time U.S. workers in August 2021. Research found new trends due to the pandemic:

46% of workers said talking with a benefits expert would make selecting benefits easier.

would make selecting benefits easier. 2 in 3 workers (64%) plan to pay more attention to their employee benefits and spend more time reviewing and understanding them.

to their employee benefits and spend more time reviewing and understanding them. Nearly 3 out of 5 workers (57%) report financial stress or hardship .

. 46% of workers said including their spouse or partner would make decision-making easier.

would make decision-making easier. More than 1 in 3 workers (36%) plan to enroll in different benefits this year.

Virtual enrollment

While employers will continue to offer virtual benefits education this year, Colonial Life has more than 10 years' experience managing virtual enrollments.

"Live video counseling can be highly effective and engaging just like in-person benefits counseling," said Colonial Life's assistant vice president of Enrollment Strategy, Kaleb Unverfehrt.

The power of 1-to-1 counseling

No two employees are the same. Everyone's needs are different, and those needs evolve over time. From babies to senior care, college tuition to retirement planning, life changes  sometimes unexpectedly. Colonial Life benefit counselors use 1-to-1 sessions to get to know employees and help them tailor benefits to meet their needs.

Combat 'The Great Resignation' with voluntary benefits

The number of workers looking for a new job has almost doubled since spring. According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers pulse survey, 65% of workers are on the hunt for a new job.1

More than half of workers (56%) are more likely to stay with their current employer because of the benefits package. And 8 in 10 employers believe the pandemic has made employees more interested in or aware of the benefits the organization offers.2

Offering a robust employee benefits package is one of the top ways to attract and retain top talent. As an employer, voluntary benefits show you value your employees.

Understand your benefits better

Download Colonial Life's Annual Enrollment Guide for an overview of common workplace benefits. You'll find clear definitions on coverage, tips for evaluating what you may need depending on your unique situation, and information on who pays for these benefitsyou, your employer, or a combination.

About Colonial Life

Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company , a subsidiary of Unum Group, provides financial protection benefits to America's workers and their families when the unexpected happens. The company offers workplace benefits, including disability, life, accident, dental, cancer, critical illness and hospital confinement indemnity insurance. Benefit services, education and innovative enrollment technology supports over 87,000 businesses and 4 million workers. In 2020, Colonial Life paid more than $700 million in benefits to policyholders.

Connect with Colonial Life on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and Instagram.

1 PwC, "Next in work" U.S. Pulse Survey. August 2021.

2 Unum. 2021 Employer Benefits Education and Enrollment Survey of 404 U.S. employers. Unum Group. August 2021.

SOURCE Colonial Life

Related Links

https://www.coloniallife.com


The Gauguin will also be returning to Fiji in 2023, offering 13-night Fiji, Tonga, Cook & Society Islands itineraries. These comprehensive voyages follow in the wake of explorers, encompassing the exquisite Society Islands, home waters of The Gauguin, and the Cook Islands with its unique culture and exquisite lagoons. Other highlights include sailing across the International Date Line, a rare visit to the Kingdom of Tonga, and the stunning Fijian islands. Ports of call on the voyages are Papeete, Tahiti; Moorea, Society Islands; Taha'a (Motu Mahana), Society Islands; Bora Bora, Society Islands; Aitutaki, Cook Islands; Vava'u, Tonga; Savusavu, Vanua Levu, Fiji; Suva, Viti Levu, Fiji; Beqa Island, Fiji; and Lautoka, Fiji. A 16-night Fiji to Bali (or reverse) voyage from Lautoka, Fiji and continues on to visit Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu; Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands; Samarai Island, Papua New Guinea; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Thursday Island (Jan. 21, 2023 sailing only), Australia; Dili, Timor-Leste; At Sea; Komodo Island, Indonesia; and Benoa, Bali, Indonesia.

The Gauguin underwent an extensive renovation in February of 2021. In addition to the ship's staterooms and suites, Studio Jean Philippe Nuel redesigned the ship's public spaces including its Le Grand Salon, restaurants, piano bar, La Palette Lounge, spa and salon, fitness center, boutique, pool deck, and reception area. A reading nook was also added to Deck 5, Deck 6 is now boasting a digital museum featuring over 150 of Paul Gauguin's pieces, as well as updates to the ship's sound and lighting systems.

Designed specifically to sail the pristine lagoons of these islands, The Gauguin provides an up-close, authentic experience of the South Seas and offers an elegant yet casual ambiance with luxurious accommodations, exceptional service, gourmet dining, trademark Polynesian hospitality, private beach retreats, and extraordinary all-inclusive value.

To launch its 2023 voyages, Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering savings of up to 30% off standard

cruise fares on all voyages.

Paul Gauguin Cruises' top priority has always been to ensure the safety and comfort of its passengers. The health protocols developed by Paul Gauguin Cruises and PONANT exceed international regulations.

For rates or more information on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please contact a Travel Professional, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 5+-star cruise ship, the 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a deluxe cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific. Paul Gauguin Cruises has been recognized by notable publications in travel and lifestyle. One of the "Top Small Cruise Lines" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2021 Readers' Choice Awards and is honored on the publication's 2021 "Gold List." Paul Gauguin Cruises was selected as "Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" in Global Traveler's Leisure Lifestyle Awards from 2016 to 2021. And recently the line was recognized for the fourth time for having the "Best French Polynesia Cruises" in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards, and "#3 Top Midsize-Ship Cruise Line" in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2021. In September 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT's family, the world leader of small-ship cruising.

Media Contact:

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Public Relations Department

[email protected]

SOURCE Paul Gauguin Cruises

Related Links

http://www.pgcruises.com


OXFORD, England, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaVentures is delighted to announce it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the leading Korean investment bank, Shinhan Investment Corp Group & Global Investment Banking Group (SHIC). This MOU was signed by Adrian Dawkes, Managing Director at PharmaVentures and Keun Soo Chung, SHIC GIB Group Head, during an event last week at Seoul Yeouido SHIC tower, Seoul, South Korea.

Through this MOU, PharmaVentures and Shinhan Investment Corp intend to collaborate closely to provide a much broader range of capabilities and services to both Korean biotech companies and global biopharma companies looking at the Korean biotech opportunity. This will allow better access for the pharma and biotech industry to the financial services provided by Shinhan Investment Corp and the corporate advisory services provided by PharmaVentures who have reach into the global markets. The collaboration intends to give Korean companies better access to global markets, and for international companies to gain greater access to the Korean bio industry and its capital markets.

Adrian Dawkes, Managing Director at PharmaVentures said "We have been assisting many Korean biotech companies over the last 5 years and with our new collaboration with Shinhan Investment Corp we will be able to assist even more companies and bring the technology innovations of the Korean biotech sector to new audiences globally".

SHIC GIB Group Head Keunsoo Chung said, "Starting with this MOU, SHIC will assist bio ventures to successfully enter the capital market and provide differentiated investment banking services to mid-to-large size pharma to succeed in global biopharma industry. This MOU provides groundwork to improve the quality of strategic consulting and financial services for Korean bio/healthcare companies to innovate the IPO and M&A domains".

Fintan Walton, Founder and CEO of PharmaVentures, said "PharmaVentures has a long and strong history in supporting our clients in their deal making activities. Our specialist knowledge and experience of the Korean emerging biopharmaceutical sector sets us apart from other transactions advisory firms. We have the expertise to connect the Korean and Western Biopharma industries and vice versa, enabling them to collaborate through licensing and M&A deals."

South Korea is recognised as one of the leading nations for innovation, and Western pharmas are increasingly turning their attention to the rapidly expanding biotech sector there.

Examples of PharmaVentures work with Korean clients include:

Advisor to IntoCell throughout the initiation, negotiation, and execution of this multi-target collaboration agreement with Cellectar

Advisor to GPCR Therapeutics, Inc (GPCR) providing due diligence for their acquisition of Burixafor targeting CXCR4

Valuation advisor to Yuhan Corporation on its licensing of Lazertinib for NSCLC to Janssen

For further information, please contact:

Adrian Dawkes

Managing Director

Phone: +44 (0) 7931 428487

[email protected]

Luke Lee

Associate

Phone: +44 (0) 7859 885177

[email protected]

Jessie You

Associate

Phone: +44 (0)7387 101283

[email protected]

About PharmaVentures

PharmaVentures is a premier transaction advisory firm and a leading international company in partnering, M&A deals and strategic alliances. For nearly 30 years, PharmaVentures has acted as advisor on over 900 deal related projects covering licensing, mergers, acquisitions, divestments, and joint venture activities for companies world-wide.

PharmaVentures' deep bank of specialist experience, deal analytics and network of contacts among innovators and large pharma makes it uniquely placed to support business in all aspects of deal making and strategic planning. PharmaVentures is well known for its deep insight into deal structures and its success for generating partnering interest.

PharmaVentures' services include:

M&A (divestments, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions)

(divestments, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions) Licensing (in and out licensing)

(in and out licensing) Fundraising

Strategy (commercialisation, deal strategy, due diligence, market entry)

(commercialisation, deal strategy, due diligence, market entry) Valuation and Positioning (licensing, M&A, and fundraising)

PharmaVentures is based in Oxford, UK, and employs over 20 professionals and has associates in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

PharmaVentures Capital Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of PharmaVentures Ltd. All regulated activities are delivered through PharmaVentures Capital Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (741356).

For more details, visit https://www.pharmaventures.com

Shinhan Investment Corporation

Shinhan Investment Corp (SHIC) is one of Korea's leading securities brokerage and investment banking houses. Through merger with Shinhan Securities, SHIC set a solid platform to become an investment powerhouse with excellence in financial service advisory and execution. SHIC's long-term objectives and determination lie in pursuing high capital efficiency and business diversification, achieving industry's top client and employee satisfaction, sustaining profitable growth in the long-term and most importantly creating higher value for their shareholders.

SOURCE PharmaVentures
DALLAS, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Priority Aviation, Inc. (USOTC: PJET) ("PJET") today confirmed the company is adding an electric vehicle (EV) pilot to its existing brick-and-mortar student housing pilot. After making the EV pilot announcement yesterday, PJET received multiple inquiries about bringing a similar pilot to additional university campuses. Management is evaluating the opportunity to expand the pilot. PJET's EV supply is viable. The company plans to follow up on terms and conditions on the other campuses.

PJET recently introduced a new business focus delivering technology solutions to improve the student living experience.

The PJET student living technology solution is centered on a Student Housing By Owner (SHBO) App. The development of the App is complete, and the App is now undergoing an internal quality review. The App is expected to launch in production before the end of the year.

PJET is building a brick-and-mortar component of its business to physically trial and prove parameters for its technology solutions. The company has reached terms to fund and build a student housing residential building in Texas that will support a small private university with an enrollment of approximately 1200 students.

PJET yesterday announced that it will add an EV pilot to its brick-and-mortar pilot. PJET has ordered ten electric scooters that will deployed for use on the same campus with a mobile app to access the scooters. PJET will use the pilot to generate data for a more comprehensive technology solution that can be scaled to any university.

21 million U.S. college students are estimated to have over $376 billion in spending power. In 2020, students spent $39 billion on food alone. Annual student spending on clothes and accessories is estimated at $67 billion. Universities themselves spend approximately $1 billion annually advertising to the university student demographic.

See College Student Spending Habits For 2021 to learn more.

PJET's Student Housing App design includes an artificial intelligence engine intended to integrate a network of businesses addressing the student living ecosystem.

Visit the company's new website periodically to look for the latest updates

Company Website  www.pjet-info.com

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.





Contact:

Steven Rash

[email protected]

+1 (800) 861-1350

SOURCE Priority Aviation, Inc.
NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to The Insight Partners study on "Plant-Based Vaccines Market Forecast to 2028  COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis  by Vaccine Type, Source, Application, and Geography," the market is projected to reach US$ 2,672.05 million by 2028 from US$ 1,143.72 million in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% from 2021 to 2028. Increasing research & development (R&D) activities and growing prevalence of infectious diseases are driving the market.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for vaccines has skyrocketed. The plant-based vaccines market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The growing investments by leading companies and rising interest of related industries in the regional market fuel the plant-based vaccines market's growth.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Plant-Based Vaccines Market - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00024327/

Plant-Based Vaccines Market: Key Insights - COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic highly impacted hospital services. The hospitals were overloaded with the COVID-19 and the other routine patients. The surging volume of patients suffering from COVID-19 led to the demand for a vaccine that can be developed faster and in a cost-effective way. Due to the increasing demand, the key players operating in the market are undergoing various strategic initiatives such as product launches, mergers & acquisitions, and partnerships to increase their production capacities and meet the rising demand. For instance, on October 2, 2021, MedicaGO Inc. started Phase 1/2 clinical trials in Japan for Medicago's plant-derived virus-like particle (VLP) COVID-19 vaccine candidate combined with GSK's pandemic adjuvant. The study was conducted by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, the parent company of Medicago. In Asia Pacific countries, COVID-19 has created an extraordinary emergency that significantly affected the supply chain. The supply chain disruptions, along with the enormous demand for effective therapies for the treatment of COVID-19, have put the healthcare research industry in a critical situation. For instance, the pandemic led the Japanese economy to contract by 29% on an annualized basis. As the pandemic spread across the globe, the demand for plant-based vaccines has skyrocketed. The demand created was so high that many industry players increased the investment in plant-based vaccines.

Download the Latest COVID-19 Analysis on Plant-Based Vaccines Market Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00024327/

Plant-Based Vaccines Market: Segmental Overview

Based on application, the plant-based vaccines market is segmented into influenza, zika virus, Ebola virus, poultry disease, COVID-19, and others. The influenza segment would hold the largest share of 32.42% in 2021 and is expected to retain its dominance during the forecast period. However, the COVID-19 segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 13.8% in the market during the forecast period. The COVID-19 disease has spread worldwide and has a higher mortality rate than the influenza virus. Therefore, there was a surge in worldwide efforts to produce a suitable vaccine for COVID-19. Over a dozen vaccines have been authorized and are being administered worldwide. The current situation generated the need to produce low-cost, stable vaccines without any cold chain requirements, which can be used in developing countries. Therefore plants provided a viable platform for the generation of the COVID-19 vaccine. As a result of the numerous advantages, the segment is predicted to grow during the forecast period.

Plant-Based Vaccines Market: Competition Landscape and Key Developments

Companies such as iBio, Inc. and LENIOBIO have implemented various inorganic developments that have bought about dynamic improvements in the plant-based vaccines market in which they are operating. Various companies are focusing on organic strategies such as product launch and expansion. Inorganic growth strategies witnessed in the market were partnerships and collaboration. These growth strategies have aided the market players in expanding their business and enhancing their geographic presence. Additionally, growth strategies such as acquisitions and partnerships helped strengthen their customer base and increase the product portfolio.

Order a Copy of Plant-Based Vaccines Market Shares, Strategies and Forecasts 2021-2028 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00024327/

In December 2020, the FDA approved the investigational new drug application of British American Tobacco p.l.c. for COVID-19 candidate vaccine, allowing BAT to progress into a Phase I clinical trial in adult volunteers. The vaccine candidate was created by using innovative plant-based technology.

In July 2020, MedicaGo Inc. reached an agreement to supply the Government of Canada with its vaccine against COVID-19, subject to Health Canada approval. Medicago received US$ 173 million in funding support from the Government of Canada for its vaccine research and development and the construction of its Quebec City manufacturing facility.

Browse Related Reports and Get Sample copy

Typhoid Fever Vaccines Market to Grow at a CAGR of 9.3% to reach US$ 525.32 Million from 2020 to 2027

Veterinary Vaccines Market 2028 By Vaccine Type, Technology and Geography

Pneumococcal Vaccines Market 2028 By Dosage, End User

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person: Sameer Joshi

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +1-646-491-9876

Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/plant-based-vaccines-market

More Research: https://www.einpresswire.com/newsroom/the_insight_partners/

SOURCE The Insight Partners
TOKYO, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Plug and Play Japan KK (Based in Shibuya, Tokyo, CEO: Philip Vincent, hereinafter "Plug and Play Japan") held a Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka, a Demo Day to present the results on their accelerator program. The event was live-streamed from Osaka on November 12, 2021. A total of 12 companies (six startups and eight corporate partners) from the Batch 2 program presented on stage to showcase their work in the Smart Cities area.

About Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka

Plug and Play Osaka was established in 2020 as the branch office of Plug and Play Japan in Osaka and has been striving to build a startup ecosystem through the Smart Cities program by supporting the growth of startups and the creation of innovations with major corporations.

This set of startups who took part in Batch 2 of the accelerator program, which ran from July 2021 to November 2021, focused on four key areas: Sustainability, Experience, Clean Tech, and Smart Life. The program provided opportunities for business matching, startup business growth support, and fostering a culture of innovation. At the end of the program, "Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka" was held and a total of 12 startups and a handful of corporations took the stage to present the results of the program, their initiatives, and their services and products.

The event was held in a hybrid format with both online streaming and in-person demo booths that were set up at the venue to allow participants to experience some of the startups' products and networks.

Batch 2 Selected Startups (alphabetical order):

Be Bridge Co., Ltd. (Japan)

http://www.bebridge.com

Providing solutions that utilize the xR (AR / VR / MR) platforms

Bergen Carbon Solutions (Norway)

https://bergencarbonsolutions.com

Manufacturing and provision of carbon nanofiber (CNF)

Carbon Clean Solutions (UK)

http://www.carbonclean.com

Carbon dioxide (CO2) separation technology for industrial and gas processing applications

Dreamwaves (Austria)

https://www.dreamwaves.io

Development of an audio navigation app

FlaVR Labs (USA)

http://www.flavrlabs.com

Development of digital taste

Leakmited (France)

http://www.leakmited.com/

Locating leaking pipes using AI and satellite imagery

Scenery Scent Co., Ltd. (Japan)

https://www.sceneryscent.com

Producing scent spaces that create a "memory" of dreams and/or excitement

Serendious Co., Ltd. (Japan)

https://www.serendious.com/

Providing "SERENDIOUS," a matching service between artists/creators and exhibitions/sales spaces

At the Summer/Fall 2021 Summit Osaka, Plug and Play selected two startups that received the most votes in their respective fields and a select group of corporate partners that provided energetic support from program construction to operation, and announced the awards. Please see below for more details.

[EXPO Startup Award]

Plug and Play names a demo in each vertical "EXPO," and startups in each EXPO that earn the largest number of votes from the audience receive an award. Award winners acquire the opportunity to give their pitches in front of venture capitalists and international corporations at Plug and Play global offices.* EXPO Winners are written from the following:

*The schedule and destination of EXPO Winners are under discussion.

International Startup: FlaVR Labs

Japan Startup: BeBridge, Inc.

[Startup Friendly Award]

Startup Friendly Awards were given to the following partners in honor of being friendly to startups in the process of their meetings/collaborative projects. The award goes to the corporate partners in each vertical based on the largest number of votes from startups selected in the Summer/Fall 2021 Batch.

Winner: Resona Holdings, Inc.

[Corporate Innovation Award]

Corporate Innovation Awards were given to the corporate partners who have passionately engaged with Plug and Play Japan's Summer/Fall 2021 Batch accelerator program from designing the program to operating itself.

Winner: Kintetsu Group Holdings Co.,Ltd.

About the accelerator program in Plug and Play Japan

Plug and Play Japan provides accelerator programs to accelerate innovation by connecting Plug and Play Japan's corporate partners with Japanese and international startups. Through these programs, corporate partners are able to connect with participating startups with technologies and services that could accelerate their innovation activities. For startups, they have the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of major corporations.

Summit (Demo Day) is the final step of the accelerator program where startups give pitches outlining their results from the program. It is a great opportunity to get the latest updates on innovative technologies, meet cutting-edge startups, and develop new business partnerships.

About Plug and Play Japan

Plug and Play Japan was established in 2017 as a subsidiary of Plug and Play, which is a global innovation platform headquartered in Silicon Valley. Our major strength is to provide "consortium-type programs with our extensive global network" and support startups through "Venture Capital Investment."

By working closely with 45+ official corporate partners, Plug and Play Japan supports Japanese and international startups to scale their businesses and to enhance collaboration with industry-leading corporations.

Plug and Play Website: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/about/

Company Overview

Company: Plug and Play Japan KK

Founded: 2017/7/14

Address: Shibuya Center Place 3F 1-16-3, Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Representative: Phillip Vincent

URL: http://japan.plugandplaytechcenter.com/

Inquiry regarding this Press Release

Plug and Play Japan KK

The person in charge: Haruka Ichikawa

TEL: +81 80 4495 9319 / Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Plug and Play

Related Links

http://plugandplaytechcenter.com


CANTON, Mass., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Point32Health today announced the appointment of Patricia Howard as chief operations officer. Patricia will report to Cain Hayes, president and chief executive officer of Point32Health.

Patricia Howard, chief operations officer of Point32Health

"Patricia is a proven leader in the health care industry and I am thrilled to welcome her to Point32Health," said Hayes. "I am confident the expertise she brings to the organization, along with her commitment to our nonprofit mission, will help advance Point32Health's priorities and enhance the role we play in improving the health and well-being of our members and communities."

In her role as chief operations officer, Patricia is responsible for the direction of Point32Health's operations and technology strategy, programs and investments, driving a range of initiatives to improve business processes and company performance. Additionally, she is responsible for corporate shared services functions supporting service delivery to Point32Health's customers and providers, including operations, member and provider services, information technology, corporate network strategy and operations, and centralized care management and pharmacy management.

"I am honored and excited to bring a culmination of 30 years of serving the health care industry to Point32Health," said Howard. "I look forward to working with Cain and all my colleagues at Point32Health to better shape health care for the members we serve."

Patricia joins Point32Health from C-Suite Assets, a consulting firm supporting C-suite leaders, where she was founder and principal. Prior to this role, Patricia served as senior vice president of health plan operations at Highmark Inc. and previously held the position of senior vice president of revenue cycle enterprise platform operations at UnitedHealth Group, Optum360. Patricia also served as senior vice president of administrative and care management operations at Magellan Behavioral Health and senior director of operations and key systems capabilities at Horizon Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New Jersey. During Patricia's career, she has had responsibility for core administrative and clinical operations, medical management, compliance, account installation and revenue cycle management, as well as many other health care-related activities, including the development of health care reform operations strategy.

About Point32Health

Point32Health is a leading health and wellbeing organization, delivering an ever-better health care experience to everyone in our communities. Building on the quality, nonprofit heritage of our founding organizations, Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, we leverage our experience and expertise to help people find their version of healthier living through a broad range of health plans and tools that make navigating health and wellbeing easier.

Our programs take a 360-degree view of health for our membersno matter their age, health, race, identity or incomeand our Foundation and Institute work to improve population health. We use empathy to understand what's important to those we serve, always making their priorities our own. And we work to guide and empower people by bringing together wide-ranging partners and perspectives to create new approaches that make a real difference for both our industry and our 2.3 million members across New England.

SOURCE Point32Health
ATLANTA, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prospera, the economic development nonprofit organization, announced today the opening of an office in the Atlanta metro area to serve local Hispanic entrepreneurs year-round. Prospera's individual consulting services, business training in Spanish, and guidance to access capital are offered to clients for free thanks to support raised from public and private funders. Prospera is opening its Georgia office thanks to financial contributions from Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, Wells Fargo, Truist, and Bank of America.

"For a couple of years, we have engaged with numerous elected officials, corporate executives, community organizations, and other local leaders in the Atlanta metro area, gaining a better understanding of the local need and opportunity to serve Hispanic entrepreneurs. We are now excited to announce the opening of an office with full-time staff to serve both Hispanic business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Georgia," said Prospera President & CEO Augusto Sanabria. "We know the market has a growing Hispanic population, a large Hispanic entrepreneurial community, and many resources in a robust ecosystem that will complement what Prospera will offer clients to help them start, sustain, and grow their businesses."

Prospera's office will be located in Town Brookhaven at 705 Town Blvd, Suite R430, Brookhaven, GA 30319. Hispanics who wish to receive Prospera's assistance for their established businesses or new business ideas, can call (678) 904-0944 or email [email protected].

"Prospera specializes in helping Hispanics, especially immigrants, learn how to do business effectively in the U.S., saving them time and money and increasing their likelihood of succeeding," said retired executive Anibal Torres, who has been collaborating with Prospera to establish its presence in the Atlanta metro area. "For over 30 years, Prospera's model has produced excellent results in Florida and North Carolina. Its potential impact on Hispanic business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Atlanta metro area can play a major role in addressing wealth creation and equity for Georgia's vibrant Hispanic community."

Prospera is an economic development, nonprofit organization that since 1991 has specialized in providing bilingual assistance to Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to establish, sustain, or grow their businesses. In the last five years, Prospera has facilitated over $73 million in loans, trained over 18,000 entrepreneurs, and helped consulting clients create or retain nearly 17,000 jobs. It provides services in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia. For more information, visit www.prosperageorgia.org.

Media Contacts:

Maria Yabrudy, 407-412-3303, [email protected]

Anibal Torres, 404-882-3896, [email protected]

SOURCE Prospera

Related Links

http://www.prosperageorgia.org


OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quattro Development ("the Company") today announced that it has reached a binding agreement to settle a lawsuit with Mattress Firm, Inc., that commenced in 2017 in the 151st Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas.

The settlement resolves all claims asserted against Quattro Development without any admission, concession or finding of any fault, liability or wrongdoing by the Company. Quattro Development continues to deny any wrongdoing or improper actions, and it maintains its position that the allegations were completely meritless.

The terms of the settlement agreement remain undisclosed. This was the first and only serious allegation or complaint Quattro Development has ever received in its nearly 15-year history.

For more information about Quattro Development, please visit www.quattrodevelopment.com.

About Quattro Development

Founded in 2008, Quattro Development is focused on creating 'preferred developer' relationships with expanding retail and office tenants to help deliver consistent results for its clients. The Company has completed over 110 - projects across more than 30states, and it works with leading brands in industries such as quick service/fast casual restaurants, health goods, medical service providers, schools and more.

Media Contact

Brendan Griffith

[email protected]

847-899.2135

SOURCE Quattro Development

Related Links

http://www.quattrodevelopment.com/


NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Relevance Ventures, the only Native American privately owned and operated venture capital firm, announced today the hiring of Jason Judge as an investment analyst. Judge will step into an important role with the firm, working directly with the investment team at the company headquarters in Nashville.

As the firm's new investment analyst, Judge will be responsible for deal analysis, pipeline management, portfolio monitoring, reporting and modeling. Judge will work alongside the investment managers and general partners, helping to conduct market analysis, evaluate new investment opportunities, and assist in the growth of Relevance Ventures. His role is critical to the success of the firm in its day-to-day operations and forecasting new deals.

"When looking to build our internal talent pool, we seek individuals that are hungry to learn and will help us grow thoughtfully, offering new perspectives that will enable us to seek out new investment opportunities to build a harmonious roster of healthy growing companies," said Cameron Newton, Founder and General Partner at Relevance Ventures. "Jason is experienced well beyond his years. His energy and talent will help Relevance Ventures advance the firm's unique harmony-based investing strategy."

Jason Judge joins Relevance Ventures with an impressive track record, having just graduated from Villanova University in 2021. While completing his business degree, he worked with Venture Capital firms for three years. He most recently worked as a Strategy Analyst at WindRate, a cloud storage pricing engine, where he analyzed data about clients and cloud storage providers.

"I'm thrilled to be at Relevance Ventures; at the center of the rapidly evolving wellness sector," explained Judge. "Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and a hub for many innovative startups. There is something really special about the area, and how firms like Relevance Ventures support and advance the next wave of entrepreneurs in the region."

Judge got his start in venture capital at 645 Ventures, where he spent two summers interning as an analyst. Judge was responsible for market research, meeting with entrepreneurs, and portfolio tracking. He also assisted at Negotiatus, one of 645 Ventures' portfolio companies writing case studies and outbound sales. His experience includes one summer at Insight Partners, interning on their ONSITE team advising Insight's portfolio companies on their marketing and sales efforts.

To learn more about Relevance Ventures, please visit their website at https://www.relevanceventures.com/ . You can find Jason Judge on LinkedIn .

About Relevance Ventures:

Relevance Ventures is the only Native American privately owned and operated venture capital firm. Relevance Ventures provides strategic venture assistance and guidance to entrepreneurs working to foster harmony while delivering a positive communal impact. With over $115 million under management, the firm focuses on opportunities within the health & wellness and fintech/enterprise software industries. The firm specializes in identifying proven management teams with a solid business plan to bring harmony to an addressable market of at least $1 billion. Relevance Ventures was founded by Cameron and Dean Newton, and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. The company is currently actively raising its fourth fund with a targeted size of $75 million.

SOURCE Relevance Ventures

Related Links

http://www.relevanceventures.com/


Christopher Alexander to lead the Western & Ontario-Atlantic Canadian network of over 19,000 agents

DENVER, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RE/MAX, LLC (the "Company" or "RE/MAX") today announced that the Company has named Christopher Alexander as the President of RE/MAX Canada. Having recently completed the acquisition of the North American regions of RE/MAX INTEGRA, RE/MAX added the Ontario and Atlantic provinces (approximately 12,000 agents) to its previously owned Western Canada roster (approximately 7,000 agents). Only the Quebec region remains independently owned within Canada.

In this role, Christopher will lead the brand throughout Canada, working directly with Executive Vice President, Elton Ash, and the leaders of the independent Quebec region. Christopher and Elton have proven to be results-driven leaders in their respective regions and together, they will continue to bring forward the best practices, strategies, and insights to build RE/MAX's new cohesive brand strategy across the company owned regions in Canada.

"I have every confidence in his ability to continue to energize our network and regional teams as we create one unified brand across all of our Canadian regions," said RE/MAX President Nick Bailey. "Under Christopher's leadership we aim to drive scale and streamline operations across many functions, creating a stronger national brand offering for consumers, agents and franchisees alike."

The RE/MAX brand has seen tremendous success over its 40+ years in Canada. Most recently, RE/MAX agent count across Canada grew by about 10% year over year as of the end of the third quarter of 2021.

"As we continue to forge forward as a global brand, it is important that we have strong leadership at the national level to ensure we are able to react and adapt to regional differences," adds Bailey. "Christopher's extensive knowledge of the Canadian real estate industry and proven track record of agent and franchise growth will make him an integral addition to the RE/MAX leadership team."

Christopher began his career as a RE/MAX Sales Associate at an independently owned and operated brokerage in 2010 before joining sub-franchisor RE/MAX INTEGRA as a Franchise Sales Consultant in 2014. He then served as Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President of RE/MAX INTEGRA and was responsible for the day-to-day operations as well as developing and overseeing business strategies. He joined RE/MAX, LLC as the Senior Vice President of Canada in July 2021.

RE/MAX has a worldwide network of more than 140,000 agents in over 8,600 offices across more than 110 countries and territories and a global footprint larger than any of its competitors. RE/MAX, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of RMCO, LLC, which is controlled and managed by RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

About the RE/MAX Network

As one of the leading global real estate franchisors, RE/MAX, LLC is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings (NYSE: RMAX) with more than 140,000 agents in over 8,600 offices across more than 110 countries and territories. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by residential transaction sides. RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. RE/MAX agents have lived, worked and served in their local communities for decades, raising millions of dollars every year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities. To learn more about RE/MAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit www.remax.com. For the latest news about RE/MAX, please visit news.remax.com.

SOURCE RE/MAX, LLC

Related Links

https://www.remax.com


Expansion further contributes to Revolution's position as unrivalled market leader in factoring.

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Revolution Capital, the leading provider of factoring & cash-flow financing in Canada and the United States is continuing its strategic growth strategy by opening a new office in Kansas to service the American Mid-West.

The office will be headed by Davinder Singh, formerly of Compass Funding Solutions, who specializes in customized factoring solutions for the transportation industry and brings with him a stellar reputation and strong contacts within that field throughout the Mid-West United States.

"I love to a be a part of a winning team, so I'm thrilled to be joining Revolution Capital, the market leader in factoring," said Singh. "Their growth strategy and expansion plans were particularly appealing, and combined with my extensive background and connections within the industry I knew I could further contribute to the company's already outstanding success."

The Kansas office located at Commerce Plaza, 7300 West 110th Street, 7th Floor, Overland Park, Kansas, opened its doors on November 1st, 2021.

"Choosing Davinder to run the Kansas office was not a difficult decision as he brings with him an expertise and commitment to customer service that aligns with Revolution Capital," said Loren Shifrin, CEO of Revolution Capital "This new office is a part of our overall growth strategy and commitment to expanding our footprint in the United States. Davinder will play a key role in allowing us to continue to outperform our ambitious growth projections and in the establishment of Revolution Capital as the leading choice for factoring and cashflow solutions for our Mid-Western client base."

Singh and Shifrin will work closely together as they continue to build their portfolio and widen their North American reach.

ABOUT REVOLUTION CAPITAL

Revolution Capital is a financial factoring and asset-based lending company based in Woodbridge, ON and a leader in both the Canadian & U.S. factoring industries. They are providers of trustworthy, transparent, and reliable cashflow solutions that provide clients with financial stability and opportunities for growth. For more information, visit https://revinc.com/

SOURCE Revolution Capital
NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. (NYSE: GOTU, GSX) between March 22, 2021 and March 29, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important December 20, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Gaotu securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Gaotu class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2182.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 20, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. ("Goldman Sachs") and Morgan Stanley sold a large amount of Gaotu American Depository Shares (ADSs) during the Class Period while in possession of material non-public information about Archegos Capital Management (at the time a family office with $10 billion under management) and its need to fully liquidate its position in Gaotu because of margin call pressure. As a result of these sales, the defendants in the case, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, avoided billions in losses combined.

To join the Gaotu class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2182.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

Related Links

www.rosenlegal.com


BOSTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, legacy cannabis manufacturer Rove has launched its award-winning cannabis products into dispensaries across Massachusetts, from Boston to Springfield. Produced locally, six Black Box vape SKUs are now available, including High Times Massachusetts Cup award-winner Skywalker, with another seven SKUs launching this winter. In 2022, Rove will also launch live resin, infused pre-rolls and other award-winning products into the Massachusetts market.

Woman holds Rove's Black Box vape pen

With an annual sales revenue of $30MM, Rove remains one of few bootstrapped, legacy cannabis manufacturers. Its growth to-date is entirely due to its customers. Rove's dedication to best-in-class cannabis is evident in a quality commitment included on every product: a QR code on each package details terpene content, and guarantees authenticity and safety.

Made locally by Massachusetts residents, all of Rove's Massachusetts products are handmade and contain no fillers. Each product is formulated in-house by Rove's esteemed R&D team. Licensing partner Cloud Creamery, the state's only cannabis-infused ice cream manufacturer, facilitated Rove's Massachusetts market-entry. Retailers include Columbia Care, Diem, Solar Therapeutics, Dazed and more. Local cannabis enthusiasts can now purchase Rove's Black Box vape pens in a variety of flavors including Skywalker, Kush, Bellini, Drema, Punch, Waui and holiday strain Apple Pie.

While new to Massachusetts, Rove originally launched in California and has become the number-one-selling vape brand in Nevada. It is seeing exponential growth in new markets Michigan, Oklahoma and Arizona. In addition to vapes, Rove produces flower, pre-rolls, concentrates and hemp CBD products. The brand's celebrity following includes household name professional athletes, culture-setting reality stars and others. In addition to the recent High Times Massachusetts cup award, Rove distinctions include first place wins at the Emerald Cup, High Times Cup, Las Vegas Cannabis Awards and more.

Rove President Paul Jacobson says of the new launch, "Massachusetts marks Rove's east coast entry. The reception we have already received has been so positive, and we can't wait to continue adding to our product lineup." He continues that, "What's been amazing to see is how much our Black Box vapes have connected with people in the city, of course, but we've been so grateful to see so many suburban and exurban regions have been loving our vapes."

About Rove

Rove means to wander, and was envisioned in 2016 to encourage enthusiasts to enjoy cannabis while searching for new experiences. Headquartered in California, Rove is a multi-state cannabis manufacturer operating in California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Arizona, Michigan and Massachusetts. All Rove products are specially crafted by its in-house product development team and designed to provide the best quality, best tasting, and safest experience to consumers. Rove is the first cannabis manufacturer to implement a QR code-scanning mobile app to ensure authenticity and provide information on cannabinoid and terpene content, as well as ensure any given product is free from pesticides and foreign material.

Media Contact:

Margaux Lushing

(424) 256-6776

[email protected]

SOURCE Rove
NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Village Family and community partners invite children and families from Norfolk's most vulnerable communities to join us for Village Family and Community Partners "Santa is Coming" holiday community outreach distribution event on Sunday, December 19, 2021 at First Calvary Church 813 Henry Street, Norfolk Virginia 23504, located behind the Attucks Theatre.

There are many seniors, individuals and families that are struggling just to put food on the table. Too often, simple survival takes all of their resources. But Village Family is unifying with several community partners to help put more meals on the tables and smiles on faces. "We want to help make the holidays magical for their kids like we do and did for ours".

The "Santa is Coming" outreach event is a wonderful way to collaborate with us and connect with the community and families during the holidays. Whether you want to donate cash, gift cards, new clothes, and/or unwrapped toys; there is a place and family who will benefit from them and be eternally grateful in the process.

This is a charity event that will provide free groceries, toys, clothes, personal hygiene, PPE, and outreach resource information for our children and families while building lasting relationships. Registration for the event is free. Sponsorship opportunities are available. The outreach event starts at 3:00 PM. "This is our 7th year serving with love". We hope to have our own building soon." Village Family is also hosting our Thanksgiving Distribution Sunday November 21st 3pm First Calvary Baptist Church. We invite everyone to join us every 4th Sunday 3pm - 5pm in 2022 at First Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk. Virginia. For more information or to register or donate online, please visit www.villagefamilyoutreach.net Volunteer opportunities available at www.volunteerhr.org

About Village Family

Founded in 2014 by Natisha Wilson to provide outreach resources to those in need. Village Family is a valuable community resource that feeds, clothes and educates. Hunger relief is a main thrust for Village Family. Village Family is a partner agency with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and Eastern shore and food pantry host at First Calvary Church 813 Henry Street in Norfolk. Our mission is to make sure that no one that comes to us in need goes without assistance or goes to bed hungry.

SOURCE Village Family Related Links https://www.villagefamilyoutreach.net

SOURCE Village Family

Related Links

https://www.villagefamilyoutreach.net


SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA) recently named the World's Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline by SkyTrax, has appointed Discover the World as GSA for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Scoot also announced its first UK route - the only low-cost non-stop flight between London's Gatwick Airport and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. With searches for holidays to Thailand increasing by 112% since the lifting of travel restrictions for UK travelers[1], Scoot's entry on this popular leisure route comes hot on the heels of the borders reopening between the UK and Thailand, enabling travel without quarantine at either end.

Aiden Walsh, Head of Airline Development at Discover the World, commented, "We are delighted to be partnering with Scoot to develop the sales and marketing strategy for the UK and Irish markets. This new direct, low-cost award-winning service is going to be extremely popular for the UK and Irish markets. We are also excited with the connection opportunities from Bangkok and Singapore especially to Melbourne and Sydney which are also very popular destinations from the UK & Irish markets."

The new Scoot flights will commence on December 16, 2021. This will be followed by three weekly scheduled seasonal services from March 2022. All services will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliners offering both economy and Scoot plus cabins, sporting features such as inflight Wi-Fi and the ability to upgrade to Scoot plus or to Scoot-in-Silence  Scoot's quiet-zone. To celebrate the launch, Scoot has released attractive fares to Bangkok starting from GBP 170 one-way on economy, inclusive of taxes.

Scoot Vice President of Sales Lee Yong Sin said, "Scoot is delighted to commemorate our entry to the UK with our partnership with Discover the World. We believe there is much pent-up demand for travel, and we look forward to providing additional travel options amidst the expansion of our network to better connect our customers between Europe and Asia. The intent represents our commitment as a leading low-cost carrier to provide our customers with safe and reliable high-quality Scootitude travel experiences across our network, bolstered by the knowledge and expertise of Discover the World."

Gordon Stalker, Discover the World's Director for UK, Ireland and Benelux commented 'We can't wait to introduce the UK and Irish trade partners to the Scoot product. Our team will be actively engaging with trade partners focused on setting up trade partners to sell the December seasonal flights and the schedule flights in March!"

For more information about Discover the World, visit discovertheworld.com.

About Scoot

Scoot is the low-cost arm of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group. Scoot took to the skies in June 2012 and merged with Tigerair Singapore in July 2017, retaining the Scoot brand for a new chapter of growth. Scoot has carried more than 65 million guests, and has a fleet of close to 50 aircraft, comprising its widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliners and single-aisle Airbus A320 family aircraft. Scoot's network presently encompasses 68 destinations across 15 countries and territories in Asia-Pacific and Europe. Travelers on Scoot can earn and redeem KrisFlyer miles. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Scoot was the world's first low-cost carrier to attain the highest ratings for both the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying and Skytrax Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating audits. In 2021, Scoot was recognized as the 'World's Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline' and ranked third in the 'World's Best Low-Cost Airlines' in the World Airlines Awards by Skytrax. Book your tickets FlyScoot.com.

About Discover the World

Discover the World has earned a reputation as an innovative global sales representation leader in the travel industry through a worldwide network of 85 offices in more than 60 countries. With a portfolio of over 100 clients utilizing its sales, marketing and business process outsourcing services, the work of Discover the World has a direct positive impact on the growth of our clients and trade industry partners every day.

SOURCE Discover the World
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited or ("the Company") (OSE:SDRL) (OTCPK:SDRLF) announces today that a new, independent, seven-member Board of Directors ("Board") will assume leadership of the new parent company of the Seadrill group upon emergence from Chapter 11. Seadrill received confirmation of its Plan of Reorganization on 26 October 2021 and is targeting emergence early in 2022.

The Board will be comprised of the following individuals, who collectively bring extensive industry and leadership experience:

Julie Johnson Robertson, Chair of the Board

Ms. Robertson is one of the most respected leaders in the offshore drilling business, and she also was one of the highest ranking female chief executives in the energy sector. Her career at Noble and its predecessor companies spanned more than 40 years and many roles, including Executive Chairman, President, and CEO. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for EOG Resources and Superior Energy Services. She is a resident of Houston, Texas.

Mark McCollum, Chair of Audit Committee

Mr. McCollum has extensive global OFSE experience and is an NYSE financial expert who has chaired three different public-company Audit Committees. He is a 17-year veteran of the oil and gas industry, having most recently served as President and CEO of Weatherford International. He also held several roles of prominence at Halliburton, including EVP and CFO. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Westlake Chemical Corporation. He is a resident of Houston, Texas.

Karen Dyrskjot Boesen

Ms. Boesen brings more than 20 years' experience from finance and commercial roles, and more recently general management roles, within the Oil & Gas industry. She currently serves as the Group Chief Financial Officer at Sonnedix Group. She has previously held various CFO roles at TotalEnergies and A.P. Mller-Mrsk. She is a resident of London, England.

Jean Cahuzac

Mr. Cahuzac is a highly regarded senior executive in the offshore energy service industry. Until recently the CEO of Subsea 7, he brings over 41 years in the industry having previously worked for Transocean and Schlumberger in operational and management roles. He currently sits on the Audit Committee at Subsea 7 and is a member of the Board at Bourbon Maritime. He is a resident of Paris, France.

Jan Kjaervik

Mr Kjrvik is an accomplished financial executive who brings over 35 years of experience in financial roles across the banking, energy and maritime sectors. He was most recently Head of Treasury & Risk for A.P. Mller-Mrsk and prior to that held similar role at Aker Kvrner/Solutions. He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Hegh Autoliners. Previous directorships includes Mrsk Supply Service, Mrsk Insurance, Danish Ship Finance and Britannia PI. He is a resident of Oslo, Norway.

Andrew Schultz

Mr. Schultz is an experienced turnaround investor and executive, as well as a seasoned director with extensive experience in stressed and distressed situations. As a lawyer and investor, his career has spanned many industries. He is very familiar with both the offshore drilling sector and the E&P sector, serving as Board Chair for Pacific Drilling and a Director for Vanguard Natural Resources. Currently a professional non-executive director advisor, he sits on a total of seven Boards. He is a resident of New Canaan, Connecticut.

Paul Smith

Mr. Smith is a highly analytical and energetic financial leader who brings depth and expertise in capital allocation, capital structure, capital markets, and restructurings with a global track record across various industries, including mining & metals, oil & gas, and steel. Currently, he is Founder and Principal of Collingwood Capital Partners which manages public and private investments focused on resources, energy transformation, and technology sectors. He had a nine-year career with Glencore, culminating as CFO for Katanga Mining. He currently sits on the Board for Trident Royalties. He is a resident of Zug, Switzerland.

Commenting on the new board, Seadrill Chief Executive Officer Stuart Jackson said: "We look forward to welcoming this new Board of Directors to help grow the Seadrill brand and execute on our strategic priorities. The new Seadrill will start 2022 in a position of strength and, together with our new Board, we will be ready to focus on the reshaping of the industry."

About Seadrill

Seadrill is a leading offshore drilling contractor utilizing advanced technology to unlock oil and gas resources for clients across harsh and benign locations across the globe. Seadrill's high quality, technologically advanced fleet spans all asset classes allowing its experienced crews to conduct its operations from shallow to ultra-deep-water environments. The Company operates 38 rigs, which includes drillships, jack-ups and semi-submersibles.

Seadrill is listed on the Oslo Brs and OTC Pink markets. For more information, visit https://www.seadrill.com/.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

For further information, please contact:

Media questions should be directed to:

Sara Dunne

Director of Communications

[email protected]

+ 1 281 630 7064

Analyst questions should be directed to:

Hawthorn Advisors

[email protected]

+44 (0) 203 7454960

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/18925/3455903/1497913.pdf Seadrill Limited Announces Appointment of Successor Company Board of Directors_171121

SOURCE Seadrill Limited
NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Desktop Metal, Inc. ("Desktop Metal" or the "Company") (NYSE: DM). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Desktop Metal and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On November 8, 2021, Desktop Metal announced an independent investigation resulting from an internal whistleblower complaint concerning the Company's EnvisionTec subsidiary. On this news, Desktop Metal's stock price fell $0.39 per share, or 4.24%, to close at $8.81 per share on November 9, 2021. Then, on November 15, 2021, the Chief Executive Officer of EnvisionTec resigned, and Desktop Metal disclosed compliance issues with shipments from EnvisionTec resulting in Food and Drug Administration regulatory activity.

On this news, Desktop Metal's stock price fell $1.19 per share, or 14.84%, to close at $6.83 per share on November 16, 2021.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

www.pomerantzlaw.com


"We bring decades of Dallas-Fort Worth experience and a community-oriented business strategy to the Shipley system and look forward to being an integral part of the brand's growth," said Michael Poates, CEO of HPL Capital. "We collectively believe in the Shipley franchise model and its beloved reputation."

Poates will be involved in the site selection and construction of the Shipley stores and will also oversee the franchise managers and operations team. Poates has held leadership positions with Dairy Queen, Whataburger, Papa John's and Mr. Gatti's Pizza.

"With this multiunit signing, the Dallas-Fort Worth market is officially sold out, which is a tremendous milestone for the brand," said Shipley Do-Nuts CEO Clifton Rutledge. "As we look forward to growing our footprint throughout 2022, we hope to add experienced multiunit operators in new and existing markets, just like we did with HPL Capital in Dallas-Fort Worth."

The fast-growing brand, now with more than 330 locations, has franchise commitments in place to open an additional 300 stores over the next five years in Texas and across the Southeast. It is actively recruiting additional franchisees in all markets, with a focus on increasing its presence in Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma.

For more information, visit https://shipleydonuts.com/franchise.

ABOUT SHIPLEY DO-NUTS

Founded in 1936, Houston-based Shipley Do-Nuts is a leading do-nut restaurant franchisor and manufacturer of specialty food products. Shipley franchises over 300 restaurants to a diverse group of operators across nine states and has served its do-nuts, kolaches and beverages to generations of guests. For information on franchising, visit shipleydonuts.com/franchise .

Media Contact:

Ashley Lennington, SPM Communications

[email protected]

214-379-7000

SOURCE Shipley Do-Nuts
LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Rock Band Six Gun Sal released their second album  "Rebels and Rogues"  to the public on Monday, November 15, 2021, on all streaming formats. They will host an exclusive release party and red carpet event on Saturday, November 20, at the Long Beach Scottish Rite Cultural Centre in Long Beach, California.

The first act, Kicker Shaver Band, will begin at 6:30 PM PST, followed by Family of Funk at 7:30 PM, and Six Gun Sal will kick off their set at 8:30 PM.

Six Gun Sal band members include: Anthony Appello (Lead Vocals), Dusty Lang (Rhythm guitar), Joey Durant (Drummer), Matt Geinitz (Bassist), Ed Fierro (Lead Guitar), Mia Dunn (Backing Vocals), and Gwendolyn Casella (Backing Vocals).

Six Gun Sal is no stranger to performing in all types of venues. Past performances have taken place at the Whiskey a Go Go, the historic Viper Room, The Rainbow, The Canyon Club, The Rose, and many other venues. They recently returned from their first East Coast tour performing from Vermont to Washington, DC where they had sold-out performances.

Fans can also find them frequently opening for bands including LA Guns, Lynch Mob, Jack Russell's Great White, and the Bullet Boys.

Among much praise, The Hollywood 360 said, "It's no surprise that Six Gun Sal is quickly rising to the top of the industry and you will want to see these guys live!"

Their second album follows the great success of their first albums, "West of Heaven''. The songs "Mama Said" and "Take Me Home" will appear on the second album. The singles were produced by Dan Malsch who is well known for working with the band Tantric and many others.

Famed Platinum producer Timothy Eaton  known for working with Greg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special  closely worked with Six Gun Sal to produce their version of "Hair of the Dog"  set to be released with the new album.

Six Gun Sal has received accolades for their past music video "The Life," which was directed by Rickey Bird Jr. from Hectic Films. The two awards received were for the Best Music Video at the Action on Film Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Best Metal Award at the California Music Video and Film Awards in Hollywood, California.

Stay connected with Six Gun Sal:

Website: www.sixgunsal.net

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoCa-tWJFH4

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialSGS

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sixgunsal/

Free tickets to attend the event must be reserved on Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/a67ftntc .

SOURCE Six Gun Sal
MILPITAS, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the global network firewall market, Frost & Sullivan recognize SonicWall with its 2021 Global Competitive Strategy Leadership Award due to its strategies that lead to outstanding performance, products, and services.

For over three decades, SonicWall has been at the forefront of providing advanced cybersecurity solutions for service providers, data centers, large distributed enterprises, and government agencies. Throughout that time, SonicWall has continuously evolved based on ever-changing customer demands from a trusted firewall vendor to an advanced next-generation security leader comprising comprehensive security services across cloud, hybrid, and traditional environments.

"SonicWall frequently redefines its roadmap to deliver the best network security and cybersecurity solutions to organizations across industry verticals, ensuring higher efficiency, security, and reliability," said Maksym Beznosiuk, Best Practices Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "SonicWall strategically positions itself by broadening its portfolio with on-premises, hybrid or virtual firewalls while also ensuring flexible price ranges."

Frost & Sullivan's global team of growth pipeline experts continually identifies and evaluates growth opportunities across multiple industries, technologies, and regions worldwide. As part of this ongoing effort, they identify and acknowledge companies  like SonicWall  that consistently develop growth strategies based on a visionary understanding of the future. This approach involves deliberation of best practices and deployment of strategic analytics of best practices and the development of core analytics across the entire value chain of specific products and services.

"We appreciate the recognition of SonicWall's cybersecurity prowess as we charge forward in our mission to deliver partners and customers with proven protection for organizations that have become borderless," said SonicWall President and CEO Bill Conner. "Our commitment to providing world-class security solutions for businesses of any size, coupled with our frequent product innovations, reinforce the company's position as a leading cybersecurity innovator well into the future."

Frost & Sullivan applies a rigorous analytical process to evaluate multiple nominees for each award category before determining the final award recipient. The process involves a detailed evaluation of best practices criteria across two dimensions for each nominated company. SonicWall excels in many of the criteria in the network firewall space.

To learn more about SonicWall and Frost & Sullivan's 2021 Global Competitive Strategy Leadership Award, please visit here.

About SonicWall

SonicWall delivers Boundless Cybersecurity for the hyper-distributed era in a work reality where everyone is remote, mobile and unsecure. SonicWall safeguards organizations mobilizing for their new business normal with seamless protection that stops the most evasive cyberattacks across boundless exposure points and increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled workforces. By knowing the unknown, providing real-time visibility and enabling breakthrough economics, SonicWall closes the cybersecurity business gap for enterprises, governments and SMBs worldwide. For more information, visit www.sonicwall.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE SonicWall

Related Links

www.sonicwall.com


This in-depth ethnographic research report looks at Gen Z's powerful cultural impact  and what it means for brands. Tweet this

The research revealed fascinating insights from Gen Z themselvesfrom topics like fluid self-identity, to changing definitions of wellness, to the unpredictable future of education and the workplaceand illuminated critical implications for business leaders that want to capture this demographic.

"As Cultural Meteorologists, we took on a passion project to better understand the tastemakers of the futureGen Z," said Michael Filippi, Founder & CEO of Spectacle. We're thrilled to share the outputs of this two-year study, helping business leaders authentically connect with the generation that will shape the next decade of culture."

The 86-page report deep-dives into subjects such as:

How outspoken Gen Z is ushering in the death of taboo topics, like sexuality and mental healthwith 64% of Gen Z agreeing that therapy will be commonplace by 2030

agreeing that therapy will be commonplace by 2030 Why TikTok and Billie Eilish are the quintessential embodiments of the Gen Z ethos

are the quintessential embodiments of the Gen Z ethos The changing value exchange between work and money; education and worth; providing context to the recent VICE report on work and education that found 98% of Gen Z respondents feel shortchanged by their education

To download the free report, visit: spectaclestrategy.com/genzine

About Spectacle

Spectacle is the agency for change agents. Offering a range of brand-building services, Spectacle helps purpose-led, profit-enabled companies reach their full growth potential. Founded in 2017, Spectacle has landed an impressive client roster, ranging from fast-growing startups like Fifth Season and CoPilot to Fortune 100s. Their team of strategists and designers leverage visionary insights and creative expression to help brands grow smarter and faster. They have offices in Austin, TX and Denver, CO.

Media Contact

Lori Reifert, Managing Director [email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectacle-strategy/

SOURCE Spectacle Strategy

Related Links

spectaclestrategy.com


"We are excited to dive even further into the Maryland self storage market. After much review, we saw these facilities being great additions to our portfolio and look forward to making our mark in the community," Cris Burnam, CEO, StorageMart.

These new stores are part of a strategic plan to expand the StorageMart footprint in the Baltimore area. Both of the newly acquired properties have been evaluated and will be upgraded with new lighting, updated security and accessibility, improved unit doors, and new paving with the StorageMart promise  easy, clean storage solutions and friendly customer service.

About StorageMart: Dedicated to providing clean, well-lit storage units and friendly customer service, StorageMart is the largest family operated self storage company in the world, and is led by the Burnam family, which has been in the storage industry for four generations. Through the "Store it Forward'' charitable giving program, StorageMart gives back to the many communities it calls home. In recent years, the company has donated more than one million dollars in sponsorships and storage space to non-profits through its Store it Forward charitable giving program.

Find out more at https://www.storage-mart.com.

Contact: Sarah Little

573.449.0091

[email protected]

SOURCE StorageMart

Related Links

https://www.storage-mart.com


StoreDot, a pioneer of XFC technology, whose investors include BP, Daimler AG, TDK and Samsung, has revolutionized the conventional lithium-ion battery by designing a battery cell based on a silicon-dominant anode with its proprietary synthesized compounds. The XFC technology overcomes the major barrier that currently prevents consumers from adopting electric vehicles - range and charging anxiety.

"We are extremely excited by the prospects of this partnership with Group14. This partnership will give StoreDot the potential to accelerate the time to market of our XFC cells and reduce battery cost which can eventually be passed onto customers," said Dr. Doron Myersdorf, StoreDot CEO and co-founder. "It supports our mission of making it easier for consumers to adopt zero-emissions electric vehicles, contributing to a cleaner net-zero world."

Silicon has been pursued extensively as the promising battery chemistry that enables greater energy density. The commercial leader in lithium-silicon battery materials, Group14's proprietary technology complements StoreDot's XFC technology in EV batteries as a solution to overcome known range and charging anxiety.

The commercial leader in lithium-silicon battery materials, Group14 counts SK materials, ATL, BASF, Showa Denko and Cabot Corporation as partners in its mission to deliver on the electrification of everything from consumer electronics to EVs and more. With commercial-scale Battery Active Materials factories in the U.S. and South Korea  the latter as part of its joint venture with SK materials  Group14 is poised to deliver quantities of its mass-market product SCC55 required to meet the demand from the automotive industry.

"As we scale new technologies to meet growing demand in the EV sector, one factor we cannot overlook is the importance of lowering the barrier to entry to EV ownership," said Rick Luebbe, CEO and co-founder of Group14 Technologies. "We see the partnership with StoreDot as a union of the best of both worlds: high energy density and extreme fast charging, both critical elements of the electrification equation that consumers are demanding. With a solution that addresses both of these concerns, we now can forge a pathway to the electrification of everything."

About Group14 Technologies

Founded in 2015 to enable the coming electrification of everything, Group14's battery materials breakthrough brings new levels of energy performance to lithium-ion-powered devices and vehicles. Recognized by the Department of Energy for its novel, drop-in ready nanomaterials and reliable industrial-scale process, Group14 serves the global transition to an all-electric future with performance for any use case. Company investors include Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), BASF, Cabot Corporation, Showa Denko and SK materials. Visit us at www.group14.technology.

About StoreDot

StoreDot is a pioneer and leader of extreme fast charging (XFC) batteries that overcome the critical barrier to mainstream EV adoption  range and charging anxiety. The company has revolutionized the conventional Li-ion battery by designing and synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, making it possible to fully charge an EV in just five minutes  the same time it takes to refuel a conventional combustion engine vehicle. StoreDot's battery technology is optimized for best driver experience with XFC in Li-ion batteries, as well as future technologies for extreme energy-density (XED).

https://www.store-dot.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692017/StoreDot_EV_Battery.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692016/Storedot_CEO.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692015/Group_14_Technologies_CEO.jpg

Media Contacts

mc2 for Group14 / [email protected]

Influence emobility for StoreDot / [email protected]

SOURCE StoreDot
" The Impact of Organized Retail Crime and Product Theft in the United States ," quantifies the onslaught of news stories about criminal activity targeting local retailers, in particular organized and professional theft rings that steal merchandise in large quantities. These syndicates have increasingly turned to online marketplaces like Amazon and Facebook to fence mass quantities of stolen product quickly and anonymously to unsuspecting consumers.

The study, which was conducted utilizing exclusive data provided by some of the largest retailers in the country, provides new insights into the economic impact of retail crime:

As much as $68.9 billion worth of products were stolen from retailers in 2019 (pre-COVID).



worth of products were stolen from retailers in 2019 (pre-COVID). Retail crime results in $125.7 billion in lost economic activity and 658,375 fewer jobs, paying almost $39.3 billion in wages and benefits to workers.



in lost economic activity and 658,375 fewer jobs, paying almost in wages and benefits to workers. Retail theft costs federal and state governments nearly $15 billion in personal and business tax revenues, not including the lost sales taxes.

"Organized retail crime is more than petty shoplifting, and the economic impact has become alarming," said Michael Hanson, Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Retail Industry Leaders Association. "Professional thieves and organized criminal rings are building a business model by stealing and reselling products, increasingly online thru marketplace platforms like Amazon or Facebook"

"The lack of transparency online has made it easy to hide behind a screen name and fake business information to peddle stolen products," added Hanson. "Washington needs to establish a base level of transparency on e-commerce platforms to make it harder for criminal enterprises to operate in the shadows of the Internet."

The Buy Safe America Coalition continues to lead efforts to address the growing problem of stolen merchandise sold online by urging Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act. This bipartisan measure would modernize consumer protection laws and require online marketplaces to collect and verify basic business information from sellers, making it difficult for retail theft rings to peddle stolen goods on leading e-commerce platforms. The House bill has also been endorsed by the Coalition to Protect America's Small Sellers (PASS), a group of third-party marketplaces and e-commerce facilitators.

Both data and news stories from across the nation also paint an alarming picture of organized retail crime's impact on frontline retail employees. Nearly 67 percent of asset protection managers at leading retailers surveyed report a moderate to considerable increase in organized retail crime, while over 86 percent said that an organized retail criminal has verbally threatened an associate with bodily harm.

"The impact on front line retail workers can no longer be ignored by policymakers," said Ben Dugan, President of the Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail (CLEAR). "As these crimes have become more organized and brazen, they have also led to more violence against employees. These crimes are not just property crimes, they impact the safety of everyone in the store."

With organized retail crime spiking dramatically, state law enforcement officials have been vocal about the need for sweeping solutions. Attorneys general in Georgia and New Mexico have come out in support of the INFORM Consumers Act, recognizing how it would counter the retail crime sprees occurring in their states.

"The Impact of Organized Retail Crime and Product Theft in the United States" is the second report released by the Buy Safe America Coalition. "The Counterfeit Silk Road - Impact of Counterfeit Consumer Products Smuggled into the United States" was published last month, and examines the degree to which counterfeit products cost American businesses, workers, and consumers. Both studies were developed in partnership with John Dunham & Associates.

For images and video footage of ORC taking place in retail stores across the country, please visit here.

The Buy Safe America Coalition represents a diverse group of responsible retailers, consumer groups, manufacturers, intellectual property advocates and law enforcement officials who support efforts at all levels of government to protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods.

RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

SOURCE Retail Industry Leaders Association

Related Links

http://www.rila.org


TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) (the "Company") announced today the successful completion of the public offering in Canada of $500 million principal amount of Series 2021-1 Subordinated Unsecured 2.46% Fixed/Floating Debentures due 2031, $1 billion principal amount of Series 2021-2 Subordinated Unsecured 2.80% Fixed/Floating Debentures due 2033 and $500 million principal amount of Series 2021-3 Subordinated Unsecured 3.15% Fixed/Floating Debentures due 2036 (collectively, the "Debentures") for an aggregate principal amount of $2 billion. The net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes of the Company, which may include funding a portion of the purchase price for the previously announced acquisition of DentaQuest Group, Inc., investments in subsidiaries, repayment of indebtedness and other strategic investments.

Each series of Debentures was sold under a pricing supplement dated November 16, 2021, issued pursuant to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus and its prospectus supplement, each dated March 19, 2021, all of which are available on the SEDAR website for the Company at www.sedar.com.

The Debentures have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States of America and its territories and possessions or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of such Act. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy such securities in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements

From time to time, the Company makes written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements (i) regarding the use of proceeds of the offering; (ii) regarding the Company's intention to acquire DentaQuest Group, Inc.; (iii) that are predictive in nature or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions; and (iv) that include words such as "intends", "expects", "will" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this news release are stated as at November 18, 2021, represent the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events and are not historical facts. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Some of these assumptions and risks and uncertainties are described further in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading "Forward-looking Statements", in the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading "Risk Factors" and in the Company's interim management's discussion and analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 under the heading "Risk Management", in the other factors detailed in the Company's annual and interim financial statements and in the Company's other filings with Canadian and U.S. securities regulators, which are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov, respectively. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2021, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.39 trillion. For more information please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars

Media Relations Contact: Investor Relations Contact:



Irene Poon Yaniv Bitton Manager

Corporate Communications Vice-President, Head of Investor

Relations & Capital Markets t. 416-988-0542 t. 416-979-6496 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.
PEACHTREE CORNER, Ga., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraCap Management LLC, a privately held investment firm with its headquarters in Naples, Florida, announced today the acquisition of The Reserve at Peachtree Corners, a 354-unit Class-B apartment complex located in Peachtree Corners, GA, a northeastern suburb of Atlanta. The property was built in 1985 and features one, two, and three-bedroom units. On-site amenities include a pool overlooking a private lake, fitness center, lakeside clubhouse, dog park, and playground.

TerraCap Management

Steve Good, TerraCap National Director of Acquisitions, said, "We're pleased to add another asset to our holdings within the northern Atlanta suburbs. Peachtree Corners is a vibrant and growing city with a local government that is firmly committed to both economic and community growth. The property and area are a good fit for our thesis, so we're excited for another opportunity to expand within this market." Good added, "We enjoyed working with the seller and JLL during the transaction, and we wish all parties the best in the future."

The Reserve at Peachtree Corners is located in the North Gwinnett submarket, which has seen rent growth outpacing the Atlanta metro average over the last year. TerraCap plans to reposition the property and capture this rent growth through several capital projects, including a premium renovation program on the unit interiors.

Matt Stewart, TerraCap Director of Asset Management, said, "As commercial property owners in Peachtree Corners, we have studied the area for the past three years and believe the multifamily properties in the immediate area will continue to have strong demand and limited new supply. The Reserve at Peachtree Corners has strong surrounding amenities, great access to employment districts, and a spacious 45-acre site with a lake, creating a unique value-add story to residents. Our capital plan is geared towards updating unit interiors, renovating the clubhouse, and boosting the overall curb appeal to meet the market demand. These improvements, together with strong organic rent growth, give us a great opportunity for success with our first multifamily in Peachtree Corners."

Bill Shippen of JLL represented the seller in the disposition. First Communities Management was hired by TerraCap as property manager.

About TerraCap Management LLC

TerraCap Management LLC considers thematic factors such as business formation, employment growth and population growth on a market-by-market basis, as most metros and submarkets have different economic-based industries and therefore move through their economic cycles differently. TerraCap makes moderate strategic overweighting or underweighting to markets, depending on the specific economic drivers influencing supply and demand.

The Investment Manager has been in operation since 2008 with its headquarters located in Naples, FL, the firm also has offices in Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. As operators, TerraCap believes it can make decisions more efficiently while leveraging expertise from property to property. The firm has over 9 million square feet of commercial assets within its portfolio, with over 1.6 billion dollars of assets under management.

More information can be found at terracapmgmt.com.

For More Information, Contact:

Matthew Hart

239.494.8922

TerraCap Management LLC

SOURCE TerraCap Management

Related Links

http://terracapmgmt.com


The Foundation's first-year efforts permit the increase of its annual scholarship program to $100,000 in tuition assistance to students of all ages attending an accredited college or university, trade, or vocational school. For the 2022-2023 academic year, the Foundation will offer ten different scholarship types to member students ranging from high school seniors, college students, and full-time working adults going back to school.

In addition, the Foundation is proud to introduce its newest scholarships: the Donald I. Steppe Memorial Scholarship and the McGee Family Scholarship. Both scholarships are family gifts as inaugural donors to the BayPort Foundation Legacy Giving Program, which honors those who share BayPort's commitment and philanthropic efforts.

The Donald I. Steppe Memorial Scholarship is a $2,000 one-time scholarship awarded annually to a Thomas Nelson Community College graduate pursuing a baccalaureate degree at a four-year college or university. The McGee Family Scholarship is a $2,000 one-time scholarship awarded annually to a student attending the Thomas Nelson Community College Early Childhood Development program.

"The success of our first-year fundraising is a testament that acknowledges BayPort's longtime supporters. Philanthropy is more critical today than it has ever been. We are deeply grateful to our business partners and board members. Without this community support, the Foundation's mission would not be possible," said Foundation Chairman and BayPort President/CEO Jim Mears.

As the philanthropic arm of BayPort Credit Union, the Foundation is an extension of the credit union's charitable giving. BayPort Credit Union commits more than half a million dollars in annual corporate donations and pays all the Foundation's overhead to ensure that 100% of the Foundation donations support its mission.

About BayPort Foundation

BayPort Foundation is the charitable arm of BayPort Credit Union and was established to extend the credit union's philosophy of "people helping people." The BayPort Foundation's mission focuses on four philanthropic efforts: educational scholarships, financial literacy education, promoting family health and wellness, and hardship and emergency assistance in communities where BayPort members live and work.

For more information, visit bayportfoundation.org.

SOURCE BayPort Credit Union
WACO, Texas, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Driveway Company, a leading franchise for concrete driveway repair and maintenance, is looking to expand its presence in Colorado by opening three new locations by the end of 2022. The Driveway company is set to open its first location in Colorado by the end of the year.



"Concrete driveways in Colorado are more susceptible to peeling, chipping, and cracking due to the state's fluctuating weather conditions, which makes The Driveway Company's services important in this market, "said Courtney Harmon, president of The Driveway Company. "TDC franchisees have had a fantastic year pushing the concrete repair industry to new heights. We are excited to see what the coming year has in store for us as we continue to grow and expand into new territories."



The Driveway Company currently operates in 24 locations and is rapidly expanding into new markets across the country. In the next three years, the company intends to expand to 125 locations.

Based in Waco, Texas, The Driveway Company has been involved in driveway repair and maintenance for over 30 years. They have developed proven techniques for extending the life of concrete including crack and joint repair, concrete sealing, overlays, lifting, leveling and more. Currently, there are 24 locations across the United States.

To learn more about The Driveway Company franchising, visit thedrivewaycompany.com/own-a-driveway-company-franchise/ .

About The Driveway Company

The Driveway Company has been involved in driveway repair and maintenance for over 30 years. Throughout those years the organization has developed techniques for extending the life of driveways using concrete sealants that stop the penetration of harmful corrosives along with barriers that prevent water saturation. For more information, visit thedrivewaycompany.com

SOURCE The Driveway Company
NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A holiday as significant as Thanksgiving demands the gastronomic creations to match. Memorable and healthy dishes that will transform your evening into something truly unforgettable. With this in mind, the delicious and versatile European olive is sure to give your celebration a little extra sparkle.

That's why, the Interprofessional Organization of Table Olives (Interaceituna), with the backing of the European Union, is launching a historic promotional campaign in the United States, with the aim of offering the benefits of European table olives to American consumers. The aim of the three-year program (2021-2023) is to increase awareness and demand for this Mediterranean staple among American professionals and consumers, by focusing on the varieties available, its unmistakable flavor, and the insuperable versatility of this ancient fruit.

Its versatility is evident through the many ways in which it can be integrated into iconic Thanksgiving recipes, and how it is able to enhance and transform traditional dishes into something a little different, adding a seductive Mediterranean touch. Because when you serve up this delicacy at an American dinner party, you're offering much more than just food. You're offering wellness, vitality, and happiness, as this fascinating recipe made with pepper-stuffed olives, mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, truffle paste, and dried apricots demonstrates.

In addition, the table olive is a gateway to a sensory universe since it comprises four flavors (bitter, sour, sweet, and salty) and can be found in an infinite number of formats (whole, sliced, sliced, pitted, etc.) For this very reason, the culinary possibilities are endless. The table olive can be used in over ninety recipes for tapas, appetizers, pizza, salads, sandwiches, and more!

A Mediterranean touch to an American classic, now also available to vegans

The multitude of possibilities and flavors offered by this ancient fruit, which is carefully picked by hand to avoid damaging it, works surprisingly with foods such as the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. However, more and more families are choosing to include vegan options as a main course on this special day.

Given this culinary shift, Interaceituna has also considered the needs of vegans and therefore proposes this innovative and tasty alternative with tofu, mushrooms, vegetables, and Queen Olives for Thanksgiving. Here, you can find more inspiring recipes https://olivesatyourtable.eu/our-tables/, because it's not all about roast turkey.

A natural food like the olive, a source of energy and health, containing oleic acid, vitamin E, minerals, fiber, and iron, is an absolute must on celebration as important as Thanksgiving. Moreover, this Mediterranean staple complies with the standard of the European Model of Production, whose standards of quality and food safety are among the highest in the world. This offers consumers peace of mind in terms the quality of the produce, landscape protection, and respect for the environment.

One of the most coveted products in the USA.

The European table olive has tirelessly reinvented itself in order to adapt to the demands of modern life for the most discerning American consumers. In this context, it has become a trendsetter and one of the most coveted products in the North American market given in its versatility and unique flavor. What is more, they can be easily found on the shelf at your local supermarket and can be purchased in large quantities, as they are easy to store.

It is worth highlighting that Europe is a world leader in the production and export of table olives, which is proof of its experience and constant adaptation to the tastes and needs of consumers across the world. The United States is the primary destination for European olives, importing more than 293 million pounds in 2020. This means that more than 78% of the olives consumed in the USA are European imports.

- Picture is available at AP Images ( http://www.apimages.com ) -

About INTERACEITUNA

INTERACEITUNA is the Interprofessional Organization of Table Olives which is recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food, and the Environment that brings together all the organizations representing the sector, such as ASAJA, ASEMESA, COAG, Agrifood Cooperatives and UPA. It was created to implement various programs and activities of general interest, to disseminate knowledge of the Spanish table olive, and to carry out research and development programs related to production techniques.

Press contact

Oscar Westermeyer

[email protected]

Phone: +34 915062860

SOURCE Europe at your table, with olives from Spain
RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans Service Organization, The Independence Fund, is praising North Carolina's neweset state budget legislation, which marks wins for members of the Military, Veteran (MilVet), and Afghan Ally communities in North Carolina. As Governor Roy Cooper prepares to sign the new budget on Friday, November 19th, The Independence Fund (TIF) is commending the new budget allotments for these heroic groups.

"Our work at The Independence Fund focuses on meeting the unmet needs of catastrophically wounded Veterans, Caregivers, and their families through our personalized programming," explains TIF CEO Sarah Verardo. "This new legislation will help fill the gap of many of the most in-need and at-risk members of the families we serve, including our newly resettled Afghan Allies. We are so pleased with the work of Governor Cooper and his team to make North Carolina a leader in Veteran Service Care by passing this legislation."

Most notably for the The Independence Fund's work is the appropriation of two million dollars to the No Veteran Left Behind Act, which the House passed earlier this year. These new funds will administer the Veterans Justice Intervention Program that will not solely train officers and departments in CRT but will be veteran-focused.

No Veteran Left Behind's goal is to deescalate and decriminalize a Veteran's early experiences with the Criminal Justice System and explore alternative routes to traditional law enforcement responses. TIF has worked tirelessly to destigmatize mental health issues within the Veteran community, and this funding will help do just that.

"This expanded funding of No Veteran Left Behind is a huge win for all Veterans," says Verardo. "In addition to the increased Veteran-centric crisis response training, the new dollars will allow for investments in Accountability and Recovery Courts, which will prioritize veterans in Cumberland and Onslow County struggling with substance abuse. These are truly life-saving funds for so many families and heroes being served by TIF. Governor Cooper and his team have shown us over and over that they also value this important work."

A closer look at the new budget includes these other noteworthy items that will provide benefits to MilVet and Afghan Ally groups:

- Record-setting investments in new staffing positions and allocation of resources for the NC Department of Military & Veterans Affairs.

- Spending on a new Claims management system allowing Veteran Resource Officers to track and update their Veterans Benefits more efficiently.

- Allocated funding for suicide prevention for Active-Duty Military and Veterans

- Dollars to update the state's veteran resource guide, helping Veterans with job placement, recruitment education, and benefit explanation.

- $2.65 million dollars for Veteran Non-Profits for Disabled Veterans and their families

- $1 million dollars given to non-profits whose work supports our Afghan Allies.

- Another $1 million into BRAC

- Record investments into the upkeep and maintenance of Veterans cemeteries as well as the creation of the North Carolina Veterans Cemetaries Fund.

- A quarter of a million dollars will be earmarked for Cumberland county to establish a new veteran's pilot program.

- $150,000 was approved for experimental treatment for the use of hyperbaric chamber to treat veterans with traumatic brain injury or PTSD.

- Financing for double the number of scholarships for children of wartime veterans.

MEDIA:

Media can contact Ashley Skinner at [email protected] for interview requests with Sarah Verardo or additional quotes.

BACKGROUND:

The Independence Fund's Mobility Program provides catastrophically wounded Veterans the chance to regain their independence through the use of all-terrain wheelchairs. The program is open to Veterans of all eras who have undergone a severe loss of mobility from a service-connected catastrophic injury or illness. To qualify, Veterans must provide documentation from the VA showing a service-connected catastrophic injury or illness that affects their mobility over half of the time.

ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE FUND:

Established in 2007, The Independence Fund is a national Veterans Service Organization dedicated to meeting the unmet needs of catastrophically wounded Veterans, Caregivers, and their families through a variety of programs. To learn more, visit www.independencefund.org .

Media Contacts:

Ashley Skinner, Communications Manager

[email protected]

(704) 712-5380

SOURCE The Independence Fund

Related Links

independencefund.org


WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Menkiti Group was joined by Mayor Muriel Bowser and city officials for a ribbon cutting earlier this week on November 15 to celebrate the completion of Phase One of the historic MLK Gateway project in Anacostia. The first phase of the project includes a mix of uses and features the restoration of 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail as well as 20,000 square feet of newly built office space.

"We are proud to deliver phase one of this catalytic project east of the river," said Bo Menkiti, Founder and CEO, The Menkiti Group. "We have been actively engaged with the historic Anacostia community, working together with the Bowser Administration, DMPED, and local leaders, residents and business owners to execute on a collaborative vision for equitable and sustainable economic development in Ward 8 and believe that MLK Gateway demonstrates how the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors can truly drive neighborhood impact."

The project is anchored and co-developed by Enlightened Inc., an award-winning Black-owned information technology and cybersecurity firm that has relocated its nearly 150 District-based employees to this new headquarters in historic Anacostia. By moving to MLK Gateway, Enlightened became the largest private technology employer to move east of the Anacostia River in four decades, further accelerating job growth in Historic Anacostia. Enlightened plans to launch a technology incubator to groom growing tech firms to do business with the federal government and will run a cybersecurity training program to enable local residents to gain marketable information technology skills.

"Enlightened is proud to be a part of this community and to be an agent of positive economic development," said Antwanye Ford, President and CEO, Enlightened Inc. "Bringing training programs and jobs is what we love to do, and we are looking forward to leading the charge in developing local entrepreneurs, launching businesses, and creating a national tech hub at the entrance to Anacostia."

Additional tenants at phase one include a new restaurant run by The Gaston Group, a Ward 8-based business and Capital One Cafe, a full-service coffee and tea bar with collaborative workspaces and meeting rooms for public use. The cafe, which occupies approximately 3,700 square feet of retail space, brings locally sourced food and beverages, complimentary Wi-Fi, private rooms for guests to enjoy, and financial education opportunities for the community.

We are continuing the transformation of this historic neighborhood by revitalizing the gateway of the Anacostia business area, said Mayor Bowser. My Administration never gave up on this project because we know it has helped us bring jobs, housing, and new amenities to Ward 8.

The first phase of MLK Gateway was financed using a combination of $4.25 million in New Market Tax Credits and $3.3 million in Opportunity Zone funding, grant funding, and senior debt. The project was one of the first in the country to deploy a combination of both Opportunity Zone funding and New Market Tax Credits. Additionally, the project also received a $700,000 grant from DMPED's Neighborhood Prosperity Fund. Financing partners for the first phase of MLK Gateway include PNC Bank, City First Bank, LISC, Consortium America, and Uplands Real Estate Partners.

"The completion of MLK Gateway Phase I brings economic opportunities and jobs to the historic Anacostia community," said George Ashton, Managing Director, LISC Strategic Investments. "LISC is proud to partner with mission driven developers like The Menkiti Group that build impactful community-based projects that are directly responsive to the community's needs. We are excited to celebrate this milestone and look forward to continuing to support our Ward 8 residents."

"As fellow Washingtonians, we are thrilled to partner with The Menkiti Group to deliver vibrant retail and high-quality jobs to historic Anacostia," said Joshua Hoffman, Principal, Uplands Real Estate Partners. "MLK Gateway represents the best of what a public-private partnership can achieve."

Through engaging with the community and local business owners, The Menkiti Group has been able to bring to life the local residents' vision for the neighborhood. The design of the building by architects Hickok Cole embraces and incorporates the site's existing historic facades, a vibrant mix of neighborhood-serving retail, and provides a gateway to commerce, culture, and technology at the entrance to Anacostia.

"It's a privilege to be entrusted by The Menkiti Group, Mayor Muriel Bowser, and the Anacostia community to design Phase I of MLK Gateway. We've been deeply integrated within the community, working with local review boards from the start, and committed to delivering a design that bridges the gap between Anacostia's history and its bright path forward," said Bertin Radifera, Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager at Hickok Cole. "We are incredibly proud to play a role in launching Anacostia's next chapter and look forward to engaging with this vibrant community on many more opportunities down the road."

Located at the corner of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, MLK Gateway is a two-phased community-oriented project that drives neighborhood impact in the heart of historic Anacostia. The development of both phases of the project is being led by local D.C.-based Black-owned integrated real estate services company, The Menkiti Group. MLK Gateway is a powerful example of a successful collaboration between the D.C. Government, private sector, and local residents.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Bo Menkiti and The Menkiti Group were joined by Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio, Enlightened Inc. President and CEO Antwanye Ford, Executive Vice President of External Affairs at Capital One, Andy Navarette, and community members as well as representatives and partners of the projects.

"At The Menkiti Group we have remained diligent over the last 17 years to pursue our mission of transforming lives, careers, and communities through real estate and this project is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the fabric of life in America's urban communities. We are proud to celebrate this significant milestone in bringing to life the community's vision for the historic MLK Gateway alongside partners who share a similar commitment to driving neighborhood impact for Anacostia. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to show the power and strength of D.C. residents east of the river," said Menkiti.

ABOUT THE MENKITI GROUP

Founded in 2004, The Menkiti Group is a 100% minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Worcester, Massachusetts. The organization was founded with the mission to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate. The Menkiti Group is a double bottom line company, measuring success in terms of financial and positive social impact. The company's approach to urban neighborhood transformation and investment is centered upon residential and commercial development, residential sales, and commercial brokerage.

The Menkiti Group invests in abandoned and underutilized properties and transforms them into exciting and affordable homes and workspaces. Projects range from residential renovations and the development and tenanting of main street commercial properties to large-scale, mixed-use, transit-oriented development projects. Over the past 17 years, The Menkiti Group has invested over $250MM in DC's emerging neighborhoods, worked on the development of over 2.1MM SF of real estate, and has assisted over 2,000 families in purchasing their first homes. For more information, please visit MenkitiGroup.com or call (202) 733-5455.

SOURCE The Menkiti Group

Related Links

www.MenkitiGroup.com


DUBLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The 2021 Market for Research Antibodies: Keys to Success for Commercial Suppliers" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Designed specifically for suppliers of commercial, pre-made catalog antibodies, this primary research report identifies scientists' expectations and preferences with regards to usage, brands, purchasing, product quality and budgets.

For companies competing in the antibodies market and for those about to enter, key findings highlight market share, competitive positioning, customer satisfaction and how well current products meet researchers' needs.

Additionally, the report identifies "best in class" vendors by application and by the most widely-used techniques, all of which identify gaps that present opportunities for antibodies suppliers.

The Voice of 818 Scientists Working With Research Antibodies

The publisher spoke to 818 scientists from a variety of geographies who use research antibodies to develop the insights in this report. The report can be useful for understanding the various criteria laboratories use to choose their antibodies suppliers and the critical touchpoints in the purchasing process where suppliers can influence this decision.

More specifically, how antibodies are ordered is documented, with an emphasis on typical size of purchases, average spend, projected spend, preferred ordering channels and likelihood to repurchase.

COVID-19 Research Antibody Market Insights

As variants continue to drive focus on COVID-19, the report has a section dedicated to COVID-19 related antibody usage:

COVID-19 Antibody Usage by Region and Type

Percent of Research on COVID-19

How Much are Supply Issues a Factor

Insights That Are Unavailable From Other Sources

The 2021 Market for Research Antibodies: Keys to Success for Commercial Suppliers is a valuable resource, based on a survey from Science and Medicine Group's proprietary panel.

For suppliers that are seeking ways to differentiate their products in this competitive market, The 2021 Market for Research Antibodies: Keys to Success for Commercial Suppliers highlights what more than 800 scientists from laboratories around the world indicate would help them achieve their research objectives. At strategic and tactical levels, suppliers can use this report with confidence to make decisions about developing and marketing commercial, pre-made catalog antibodies.

Among the Considerations of the Report

Percent Spent By Brand

COVID-19 Considerations in 2021

Perception of "Best in Class" Antibody Brands

Antibodies Used by Technique

Volume Estimates

Types of Conjugated Antibodies Used

Recombinant Antibody Structures Used

Budgets for Research Antibodies

Key Considerations When Evaluating Vendors

Products and Resources Desired From Suppliers

Major Problems Requiring Troubleshooting, by Technique

Concentrations ordered for pre-made standard catalog antibodies

Vials or Tubes Ordered

What Would Encourage Customers to Order More

Companies Mentioned

Abcam

Abnova

Active Motif

Aviva

BD

Beckman Coulter

Bethyl

Bio-Rad

BioGenex

Biotechne

Cell Signaling

Cytiva

Dako

MBL

Millipore Sigma

Miltenyi Biotec

New England Biolabs

PeproTech

Perkin Elmer

Promega

SAB

SantaCruz

Seracare

ThermoFisher

Vector Laboratories

WuXi AppTec

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ey9muo

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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SOURCE Research and Markets

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VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carl Jung is often quoted as saying that life begins at forty. If that's the case, it seems that some of us are getting a strong head start. ThoughtExchange, the world's only Enterprise Discussion Management platform powered by patented anti-bias technology, congratulates its Chief Operating Officer Jessica Nordlander for becoming a recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 for 2021.



As a female technology executive for more than a decade, Nordlander is known for breaking barriers. An XGoogler and once named "Sweden's Most Innovative Leader," she originally started working in Canada in 2013 and joined ThoughtExchange in 2019. Through her role as COO, Nordlander's leadership helped ThoughtExchange navigate COVID-19 and ultimately emerge with 600% year-over-year usage growth in the first three months of the pandemic. Representing ThoughtExchange at major conferences such as Collision, Nordlander is a thought leader within the areas of corporate innovation, hybrid/remote work and the future of leadership and digital workplaces. She uses her experience as a female executive to further educate the next generation of leaders and create workplaces that remove bias and unlock performance. Additionally, Nordlander lives in and works remotely from the small city of Nelson, BC proving a successful career in technology is no longer only possible in big cities.

Canada's Top 40 Under 40 is an annual leadership award that recognizes exceptional achievement by 40 outstanding Canadians who are under the age of 40. The program is supported by several prominent organizations including: Caldwell, PwC Canada, Gluskin Sheff, BNN Bloomberg, National Post, Air Canada, ergoCentric Seating Systems and Inline Reference Check. Nordlander and other honorees were selected out of hundreds of nominees by a respected and independent Advisory Board made up of 30 diverse leaders from across Canada. Four key criteria were assessed to select the recipients: Vision & Innovation, Leadership, Impact & Influence and Social Responsibility.

"Jessica is the type of executive whose leadership transcends the role she holds inside a company," said Dave MacLeod, co-founder and CEO of ThoughtExchange. "Yes, her ideas have been critical to driving exponential growth for ThoughtExchange, but it's her ability to think beyond just her role; to drive change and inspire leaders in enterprises around the world to think differently that sets Jessica apart. We are proud and honoured to have her talents on our team and stand alongside her in celebrating this well-deserved recognition."

"It's an honor to be recognized by Canada's Top 40 Under 40 following an unpredictable year," said Jessica Nordlander, COO of ThoughtExchange. "We were faced with changing the company's entire go-to-market model and balancing it with the wellbeing of our employees as the world was thrown the massive curveball that's COVID-19. I strongly believe that companies achieve greater success when they work holistically and inclusively so I thank my team at ThoughtExchange for fostering this culture and trusting me to lead during these turbulent times."

The 2021 Top 40 Recipients were announced today in the National Post. Recipients will be honored at a series of events to take place in the coming months.

About Canada's Top 40 Under 40

Founded in 1995 by Caldwell, Top 40 has recognized almost 1,000 outstanding Canadians and is the country's most coveted award for young business and community leaders. Recipients have a remarkable track record of continuing achievement; Top 40 alumni now include hundreds of nationally and internationally prominent CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs in the private, public and social economy sectors.

About ThoughtExchange

ThoughtExchange is the only Enterprise Discussion Management platform powered by patented anti-bias technology. Modern leaders use ThoughtExchange to quickly gain critical insights and improve decision making. Whether you're engaging ten stakeholders or a community of 10,000 people, ThoughtExchange allows leaders to drive strategic discussions at scale.

Leaders use ThoughtExchange to increase alignment, improve performance, and drive better results. Unlike traditional surveys, respondents feel more comfortable answering questions candidly and our dynamic analytics make it simple for leaders to see which topics matter most.

ThoughtExchange was founded in Rossland, British Columbia, but our teams enjoy working remotely from anywhere.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Reese

Kickstand Communications

[email protected]

603-305-4155



SOURCE ThoughtExchange
DENVER, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelers Haven , the leader in workforce housing on-demand for nomadic workers and professionals, today announced its partnership with Furnished Finder, a monthly furnished rentals provider for nomadic specialists and professionals such as travel nurses and construction workers, as well as other business travelers who need furnished housing. Travelers Haven will integrate Furnished Finder's robust data set to further expand its ability to provide mid-term housing in any location and address a major housing gap for nomadic workers and professionals, especially in rural areas across the US.

As the housing crunch continues throughout the country, nomadic workers and professionals are among those most challenged to find temporary homes. The partnership expands Traveler Haven's property inventory by over 70,000 enabling the company to provide housing in both middle market and major metropolitan areas, as well as more rural areas that lack a significant presence of property management companies. According to Travelers Haven, nearly 20 percent of its current leases already come from private owner inventory. By integrating directly with Furnished Finder's data, Travelers Haven increases the depth and scope of its inventory across the U.S., enabling discovery of more housing options in less time, and reducing the time it takes for nomadic workers and professionals to secure their top options at the best possible price. In the healthcare industry alone, Furnished Finder is trusted by over 100 medical staffing companies to service over one million users per month.

"There is a very real workforce housing gap impacting the key nomadic workers and professionals who need to find safe, comfortable living options in hundreds of cities and towns that traditional corporate housing simply doesn't reach," said Carlos Abisambra, CEO, Travelers Haven. "By incorporating Furnished Finder's established inventory into our proven network and patented on-demand framework, we can deliver an ever-increasing number of flexible, affordable solutions for these nomadic workers and professionals."

"Major housing providers across the country rely on Furnished Finder for our proven data, and we're always looking for ways to expand our reach," said Brian Payne, CEO of Furnished Finder. "Travelers Haven has a proven reputation as a leading provider of housing for healthcare and infrastructure specialists, and we're thrilled to be able to partner with them and be a part of the solution to the growing workforce housing problem."

About Furnished Finder

Furnished Finder is the leading housing site for traveling professionals and remote workers to book monthly furnished rentals directly with verified landlords. With more than 75,000 properties and representing a potential of 30M bookable nights per month, Furnished Finder is the source of direct bookings for landlords, property managers, and hoteliers. Fueled by their strategic industry partnerships and high search ranking, traveling nurses, remote workers, and other traveling professionals depend on Furnished Finder for monthly furnished rentals. Furnished Finder also owns KeyCheck, a site that provides tools for landlords, including online rent payment, free tenant screening, and custom residential leases. For more information, visit www.furnishedfinder.com .

About Travelers Haven

Travelers Haven is the leading provider of workforce housing-on-demand for nomadic workers in specialized industries, including construction, health care, disaster relief, infrastructure and more. Since 2008, Travelers Haven's proven network, relationships and services has offered the fast and highly customizable sourcing of temporary housing, anywhere in the U.S. Travelers Haven secures the best housing at the best rates, and manages every aspect of the short-term housing process to save clients money, time and stress. Travelers Haven offers unparalleled support and a complete suite of tools and features to inform and optimize every housing program. For more information, go to www.travelershaven.com.

SOURCE Travelers Haven

Related Links

http://www.travelershaven.com


DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UpHealth, Inc. (NYSE: UPH) and Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) today announced a partnership to provide remote language interpretation services to patients with UpHealth's Martti solution. Martti is a telehealth solution that includes language access and is also interoperable with EHR, other telehealth, and patient experience platforms to put patients and care teams in touch with certified and qualified medical interpreters trained in more than 250 languages and available 24/7.

"The UpHealth partnership with Yale New Haven Health brings best-in-class language access via Martti telehealth to support its 28,000+ employees in over 3.8 million patient encounters annually. Together, we empower care teams to meet their patients where they are, despite the challenges of the pandemic," said Andy Panos, President of US Telehealth at UpHealth. "We're proud to partner with YNHHS in bridging healthcare disparities and enhancing the lives of those we serve."

At YNHHS, over 1,000 Martti devices have been deployed across the health system to enable teleinterpreting and have provided over one million minutes of service to date. All of the devices were deployed during the pandemic and are currently in use in YNHHS' COVID-19 vaccine clinics. These devices are supporting more than 28,000 employees and over 3.8 million patient encounters annually. Of the 250+ languages Martti can interpet, the top six languages accessed at YNHHS are for patients speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic and Russian. In the middle of a pandemic, Martti helped safely connect patients and care teams instantly, directly to the bedside at the touch of a buttonproviding care anywhere, any time and in any language.

"The ability for healthcare providers to communicate clearly and effectively with people of all backgrounds and cultures is critical," said Tina Bennett, interim chief experience officer, YNHHS. "Martti's interpretation ability helps ensure that our patients are understood by the clinical team and that they understand what is going on with their and their loved ones' healthcare."

Overall Martti tele-interpretation satisfaction among providers sits at 4.8 out of 5 stars. For more information about Martti, please visit https://uphealthinc.com/martti.

About UpHealth Inc.

UpHealth is a global digital health company that delivers digital-first technology, infrastructure and services to dramatically improve how healthcare is delivered and managed. The UpHealth platform creates digitally enabled "care communities" that improve access and achieve better patient outcomes at lower cost, through digital health solutions and interoperability tools that serve patients wherever they are, in their native language. UpHealth's clients include global governments, health plans, healthcare providers and community-based organizations. For more information, please visit https://uphealthinc.com and follow us at @UpHealthInc on Twitter and UpHealth Inc on LinkedIn.

About Yale New Haven Health

Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS), the largest and most comprehensive healthcare system in Connecticut, is recognized for advanced clinical care, quality, service, cost effectiveness and commitment to improving the health status of the communities it serves. YNHHS includes five hospitals  Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial, Westerly and Yale New Haven hospitals, several specialty networks and Northeast Medical Group, a non-profit physician foundation with several hundred community-based and hospital-employed physicians. YNHHS is affiliated with Yale University and YSM's clinical physician practice, Yale Medicine, which is the largest academic multi-specialty practice in New England. YNHHS and Yale partner on clinical care, education and research, bringing the latest discoveries, technology and therapies to patients. www.ynhhs.org.

SOURCE UpHealth, Inc.

Related Links

https://uphealthinc.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, as required by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken identified the "Countries of Particular Concern" - those who are in severe violations of religious freedom. Burma, the People's Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan received the designation for having engaged in or tolerated "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom." However, the notable absence of Nigeria, which ranks #9 on Open Doors' 2021 World Watch List , has the Christian persecution watchdog troubled. Open Doors has reported that in Nigeria alone, an average of 10 Christians a day are killed for their faith, driving a startling 60% worldwide increase in Christian martyrdom last year.

"We're deeply alarmed at today's decision by the U.S. State Department to end the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). This is not only a baffling error, it's likely in direct violation of the International Religious Freedom Act, the law that requires these designations to be made in the first place," said David Curry, CEO of Open Doors USA.

Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" as a Country of Particular Concern.. The law defines particularly severe violations as "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom," including violations such as: (1) torture; (2) prolonged detention without charges; (3) forced disappearance; or (4) other flagrant denial of life, liberty, or security of persons. The President has delegated the authority to make CPC, SWL, and EPC designations to the Secretary of State.

Curry said, "Open Doors USA has documented thousands of targeted killings of Nigerian Christians every year for more than a decade. In no other country on earth do we see such a sustained level of outright violence directed towards a Christian community, and the situation has only deteriorated over the past 12 months. The Nigerian government has stubbornly refused to address this violence. The removal of Nigeria from this list will embolden bad actors and strongly deter efforts to bring peace to the region."

Ambassador Sam Brownback, Senior Fellow at Open Doors USA, said, "The sudden removal of Nigeria from the CPC list is a serious blow to religious freedom in both Nigeria and across the region. Just when we should be doing everything possible to stop the relentless violence that's targeting Christians and others, we do the opposite. This rewards the Nigerian government for tolerating severe religious freedom violations and sends a message to extremists that their actions will continue to go unpunished. People of faith in Nigeria will bear the fallout of this decision, and that's unacceptable."

For interviews with Ambassador Sam Brownback or David Curry, please contact [email protected] .

About Open Doors USA

For more than 60 years, Open Doors USA has worked in the world's most oppressive and restrictive countries for Christians. Open Doors works to equip and encourage Christians living in dangerous circumstances with the threat of persecution and to mobilize the Western church to pray and advocate for the persecuted. Christians are one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world and are oppressed in at least 60 countries. For more information, visit OpenDoorsUSA.org .

Media Contact:

Icon Media Group

[email protected]

SOURCE Open Doors USA

Related Links

http://www.opendoorsusa.org/


Factors such as increasing implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems and the growing regulatory requirements for patient data management will offer immense growth opportunities. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The computer assisted coding market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period.

The report covers the following areas:

Computer Assisted Coding Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

Deployment

On-premise



Cloud

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



South America



MEA

By deployment, the market generated maximum revenue in the on-premise segment in 2020. The market growth in the segment will be significant over the forecast period. In terms of geography, North America is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for players during the forecast period. The region currently holds 48% of the global market share. The US and Canada are the key markets for computer-assisted coding in North America.

Get highlights on the top revenue-generating segments, regions, and key countries in the computer assisted coding market.

Download a Free Sample Report

Computer Assisted Coding Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis and Scope

Some of the major vendors of the computer assisted coding market include 3M Co., Artificial Medical Intelligence Inc., athenahealth Inc., Cerner Corp., Craneware plc, Dolbey Systems Inc., Nuance Communications Inc., Streamline Health Solutions Inc., The Coding Network LLC, and UnitedHealth Group. To help businesses improve their market position, Technavio's report provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the market.

The computer assisted coding market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate. The increasing implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the high implementation and maintenance costs will hamper the market growth.

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 . View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually!

Computer Assisted Coding Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist computer assisted coding market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the computer assisted coding market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the computer assisted coding market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of computer assisted coding market vendors

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Global Fintech Blockchain Market - Global fintech blockchain market is segmented by component (platform and services) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

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Global Coding and Marking Equipment Market - Global coding and marketing equipment market is segmented by technology (CIJ printing and coding, laser coding and marking, TIJ printing, DOD printing, and others), end-user (food and beverage, healthcare, industrial, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America).

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Computer Assisted Coding Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of over 11% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 2.38 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 10.23 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 48% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, Japan, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., Artificial Medical Intelligence Inc., athenahealth Inc., Cerner Corp., Craneware plc, Dolbey Systems Inc., Nuance Communications Inc., Streamline Health Solutions Inc., The Coding Network LLC, and UnitedHealth Group Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

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Based on end-user, the vaccine research market has been segmented by public and private. The public segment will have significant market growth during the forecast period. In terms of geography, North America will present significant opportunities for market vendors due to factors such as the rising focus on immunization programs.



Vaccine Research Market: Major Growth Drivers



The vaccine research market report considers the following factors as major growth drivers during the forecast period:

High prevalence of infectious diseases

Rising focus on immunization programs

Growing government support for vaccine development

Gain more insights into the global trends, drivers, and challenges impacting the future of the vaccine research market. Request a Free Sample Report Now!

Vaccine Research Market: Key Vendor Offerings

Bavarian Nordic AS: The company offers vaccine research solutions that are used for clinical development on products that include MVA BN freeze dried, MVA BN RSV, ABNCoV2, TAEK VAC and MVA BN WEV, under the brand name of Bavarian Nordic.

The company offers vaccine research solutions that are used for clinical development on products that include MVA BN freeze dried, MVA BN RSV, ABNCoV2, TAEK VAC and MVA BN WEV, under the brand name of Bavarian Nordic. CSL Ltd: The company offers vaccine research solutions that are used to enhance the immune response of those particularly vulnerable to influenza such as children and older adults using cell-based technology and MF59 adjuvant immune booster, under the brand name of CSL.

The company offers vaccine research solutions that are used to enhance the immune response of those particularly vulnerable to influenza such as children and older adults using cell-based technology and MF59 adjuvant immune booster, under the brand name of CSL. Emergent BioSolutions Inc: The company offers vaccine research solutions that help in achieving balance in the products that are developed through a pipeline comprising innovative vaccines and therapeutics that target diseases worldwide which include Vaxchora, AV7909, CHIKV VLP, and many more, under the brand name of Emergent BioSolutions.

Reasons to Buy Vaccine Research Market Report:

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist vaccine research market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the vaccine research market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the vaccine research market across North America , Europe , APAC, South America , and MEA

, , APAC, , and MEA Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of vaccine research market vendors

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000. View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually!

Related Reports:

Clinical Mass Spectrometry Market: The clinical mass spectrometry market has been segmented by end-user (healthcare facilities and pharma and biotech companies and research labs and institutes) and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and ROW). Download Free Sample Report

The clinical mass spectrometry market has been segmented by end-user (healthcare facilities and pharma and biotech companies and research labs and institutes) and geography ( , , , and ROW). Single-use Bioprocessing System Market: The single-use bioprocessing system market has been segmented by product (bags and mixers, bioreactors and fermenters, filtration devices and sampling systems, bioprocess containers, and others), end-user (pharmaceutical companies, CROs and CMOs, biotechnology companies, and academic and research institutions), application (mAb production, vaccine production, plant cell cultivation, PSCTs, and others), and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and ROW). Download Free Sample Report

Vaccine Research Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.08% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 11.93 billion Market structure Concentrated YoY growth (%) 7.22 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key consumer countries US, Canada, Germany, China, UK, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Bavarian Nordic AS, CSL Ltd., Emergent BioSolutions Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc., Merck and Co. Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp., Novavax Inc., Pfizer Inc., and Sanofi SA Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
PLEASANTON, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today showcased its latest enhancements to Veeva CRM at the European Veeva Commercial and Medical Summit Connect. To meet evolving access dynamics and healthcare professional (HCP) preferences, Veeva has delivered a simplified experience to support engagement across in-person and digital channels. Field teams now gain a tailored experience on any device they choose as their work environments change.

"Veeva has played a key role in providing us with the capabilities to blend physical and digital interactions throughout the customer journey," said Alex Day, innovation and business excellence director, AstraZeneca. "Veeva CRM provides critical insights that put our customer-facing teams in the driver's seat, so they can tailor each interaction and deliver valuable, relevant experiences."

Device flexibility for where field teams work

Veeva CRM has been fully optimized to improve productivity with the right experience on the right device. Faster, more intuitive workflows help teams take needed actions across browsers, on Windows, or on the iPad. Veeva will continue to deliver additional device-specific applications, with macOS coming in early 2022 and new connected iPhone and Android apps later in the year.

Role-based applications for how field teams work

Veeva CRM delivers a purpose-built library of applications tailored to specific roles. For example, medical teams can now find, assemble, present, and share scientific content as easily from their home office as in the field. Other Veeva CRM apps are available for key account managers, event coordinators, marketing operations, and pharmacy sales.

"The hybrid approach requires more complete solutions that increase agility as field teams work remotely and in-person," said Arno Sosna, general manager, Veeva CRM. "We work closely with life sciences companies to help anticipate and adapt to changes in the commercial landscape, delivering key innovations that support the industry."

Veeva CRM is used by 42 of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies, as well as growing biopharma innovators, to deliver best-in-class customer engagement. It provides the tracking, visibility, and insights life sciences organizations need to personalize both remote and in-person interactions with HCPs across channels.

To learn more about Veeva CRM, life sciences industry professionals can register for today's Veeva Commercial and Medical Summit Connect Europe at veeva.com/eu/summit. Biopharma leaders from AstraZeneca, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, and LEO Pharma will discuss how they are adapting to changing commercial models. Veeva also released news about new Veeva CRM Engage Connect capabilities at today's Summit.

Additional Information

For more on Veeva CRM, visit: veeva.com/CRM

Connect with Veeva on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/veeva-systems

Follow @veevasystems on Twitter: twitter.com/veevasystems

Like Veeva on Facebook: facebook.com/veevasystems

About Veeva Systems

Veeva is the global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry. Committed to innovation, product excellence, and customer success, Veeva serves more than 1,000 customers, ranging from the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Veeva is committed to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the industries it serves. For more information, visit veeva.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including the market demand for and acceptance of Veeva's products and services, the results from use of Veeva's products and services, and general business conditions, particularly within the life sciences industry. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon Veeva's historical performance and its current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent Veeva's expectations as of the date of this press announcement. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and Veeva disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements in the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Veeva's financial results are included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in the company's filing on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2021. This is available on the company's website at veeva.com under the Investors section and on the SEC's website at sec.gov. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings Veeva makes with the SEC from time to time.

Contact:

Deivis Mercado

Veeva Systems

925-226-8821

[email protected]

Kiran May

Veeva Systems

+44-796-643-2912

[email protected]

SOURCE Veeva Systems

Related Links

http://www.veeva.com


DENVER, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, today announced it acquired AgencyZoom, a cloud-based sales automation platform for insurance agents. Modern agencies count on software and technology solutions to create more efficient processes, automate workflows, empower employees and better serve their clients. The combination of Vertafore's agency management systems with AgencyZoom's sales automation solutions delivers on Vertafore's vision for the connected modern agency.

AgencyZoom's easy and intuitive platform provides producers with technology that drives new business and growth for their agency. The solution enables them to be more efficient with their time, follow up faster with their clients, analyze and incorporate data and insights into their decision-making and ultimately drive faster growth.

"The expectation of today's consumer has changed so dramatically that agencies must change at the same pace," said Amy Zupon, CEO of Vertafore. "A modern agency should be obsessed with their customers' and employees' experiences. Driving an improved customer experience, automating engagement, increasing retention, and closing leads faster  these are the areas that successful agencies are most focused on," Zupon noted. "AgencyZoom was built to do exactly this. Their understanding of the needs of the modern agency aligns with Vertafore's vision for the future. We are thrilled to welcome AgencyZoom to Vertafore."

Thousands of insurance agents use AgencyZoom's solutions to better manage leads, pipelines and onboarding, thereby driving growth and streamlining business development. Vertafore's and AgencyZoom's customers will benefit immediately from the combination of the two companies.

"Vertafore is the perfect home for AgencyZoom. Our customers, staff and products will further benefit from the long-term investment that Vertafore brings to us," said Moe Latif, CEO of AgencyZoom. "We've partnered with Vertafore for years in the Orange Partner Program and have delivered value to our joint customers with a solution tightly integrated with Vertafore products. As a part of Vertafore, our customers will benefit from more tools, deeper integrations, and more valuable solutions and services to drive their success. We could not be happier to be joining forces with a company that shares both our commitment to an innovative company culture and the long-term prosperity of the individual agent."

The acquisition aligns with Vertafore's broader strategy to simplify and automate operations and processes so that agencies can spend more time on what matters most to them. With its open architecture, Vertafore has long been committed to supporting independent agencies of all sizes by providing the flexibility for agencies to access the right solution for their business. AgencyZoom's sales automation, pipeline management and onboarding solutions combined with Vertafore's expansive suite of solutions ensure that customers have access to the technologies that can best modernize their agency operations across the entire customer lifecycle.

"At Vertafore, we believe that customer success is our success, and Moe and his team at Agency Zoom have created a culture that fits perfectly with our core beliefs," said Cassidy Smirnow, chief revenue officer of Vertafore. "We look forward to working together to continue to provide purpose-built and modern technology solutions that enable independent agencies to focus on their customers and drive growth for their business."

About Vertafore

As North America's InsurTech leader for more than 50 years, Vertafore is modernizing and simplifying insurance distribution so that our customers can focus on what matters most: people. Vertafore's solutions provide end-to-end connectivity, improve the client and agent experience, unlock the power of data, and streamline essential workflows to drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability for independent agencies and carriers. For more information about Vertafore, visit www.vertafore.com.

2021 Vertafore and the Vertafore logo are registered trademarks of Vertafore. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About AgencyZoom

AgencyZoom is a Columbus, OH based InsurTech company. Designed to grow your book-of-business, AgencyZoom provides insurance agents with powerful sales analytics and customer engagement automation. AgencyZoom solutions help you manage leads with ease, oversee sales in real-time, and better track monthly goals. The robust automation will drive retention and give customers a fuller experience with personalized onboarding, check-ins, renewal reminders, and google reviews for every policy sold  all while keeping you laser-focused on sales. For more information about AgencyZoom, visit www.agencyzoom.com.

Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to AgencyZoom.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Vertafore
DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertical Capital Income Fund (NYSE: VCIF, the "Fund") and Oakline Advisors, LLC ("Oakline"), adviser to the Fund, announced today that the Fund's Secretary, Stanton Eigenbrodt has resigned. With a vote of the Fund's trustees on Friday, November 12, Oakline's Chief Operating Officer Jason Mattox will assume the role of Secretary for the Fund. Officers of the Fund serve subject to annual reappointment. Mr. Mattox will continue in his role at the Fund's adviser Oakline and its parent company Behringer as well.

With over 25 years of tenure, Mr. Mattox has served in numerous executive leadership, investment, and operational capacities amongst all Behringer entities and sponsored investment funds since its inception. With Oakline Advisors, Mr. Mattox coordinates investor inquiries with AST Financial, VCIF's transfer agent and amongst the entire executive team. Mr. Mattox received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, with honors, and a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He is a former member of the National Advisory Board of the University of Colorado Real Estate Center, The Real Estate Council Foundation, and The Real Estate Council Political Action Committee.

Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value. The market price of Fund shares may vary from net asset value based on factors affecting the supply and demand for shares, such as Fund distribution rates relative to similar investments, investors' expectations for future distribution changes, the clarity of the Fund's investment strategy and future return expectations, and investors' confidence in the underlying markets in which the Fund invests. Fund shares are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested. No Fund is a complete investment program and you may lose money investing in a Fund. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. Before investing, prospective investors should consider carefully the Fund's investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. For further details, please visit Vertical Capital Income Fund's website at vertical-incomefund.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the business and financial outlook of Vertical Capital Income Fund that are based on the Fund's current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections and are not guarantees of future performance. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release.

About Vertical Capital Income Fund

Vertical Capital Income Fund (VCIF) is an NYSE-listed closed-end fund that seeks monthly income by investing primarily in performing non-agency residential whole loans secured by real estate. As a secondary strategy the Fund aims to provide total return by acquiring performing residential loans at a discount to the unpaid principal balance (UPB). VCIF realizes capital gains as loans are paid off before maturity.

About Oakline Advisors, LLC

Oakline Advisors, LLC is the adviser to Vertical Capital Income Fund. Founded in 2013, Oakline Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser that specializes in the residential whole loan market. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dallas, TX-based Behringer. Since its inception in 1989, Behringer, together with its affiliates, has raised equity of more than $6 billion in assets through public and private fund structures. For more information about Oakline and Behringer please visit their respective websites at oaklineadvisors.com and behringerinvestments.com.

SOURCE Vertical Capital Income Fund

Related Links

www.vertical-incomefund.com


TSX: VOYG

OTCQX: VYGVF

Borse Frankfurt: UCD2

Particle makes fine art ownership accessible and inclusive, in line with Voyager's strategy to make crypto easy and accessible

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Voyager Digital Ltd. ("Voyager" or the "Company") (TSX: VOYG) (OTCQX: VYGVF) (FRA: UCD2), one of the fastest-growing, publicly traded cryptocurrency platforms in the United States, today announced participation in the $15 million seed funding round in Particle.

Powered by the Avalanche blockchain, Particle is building a platform that enables anyone to own some of the world's greatest masterpieces by collectively participating in the art market. Founders include Loic Gouzer, former chairman of Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art, Shingo Lavine and Adam Lavine, co-founders of Ethos.io, Philip Eytan, co-founder and chairman of Voyager, and Oscar Salazar, founding CTO and Chief Architect of Uber and advisor to Voyager.

"Voyager's respect for and working relationships with the founders of Particle make it an ideal fit for our first venture into the Non Fungible Token ("NFT") market," said Stephen Ehrlich, CEO and co-founder of Voyager. Ehrlich added, "Voyager plans to deliver unique access to NFTs and more to our customer base as part of our product roadmap, all with the goal of providing a wide range of NFTs to our over 2.7 million users. Voyager Loyalty Program ("VLP") members will have first access to purchase the highly-anticipated, debut NFT collection from Particle."

Particle divides each piece of art into 10,000 unique NFTs or "Particles," each with its own title deed stored on the Blockchain. Once a buyer purchases a Particle, they receive a digital certificate, or collector's card, representing its owner's specific ownership in the artwork. Purchasers then have the right to buy and sell their Particles on secondary markets, trade, or transfer them to anyone they wish. Particle purchasers will also have the opportunity to view the artwork whenever and wherever it is displayed and enjoy the right to call the artwork partly theirs.

About Voyager Digital Ltd.

Voyager Digital Ltd. (TSX: VOYG;OTCQX: VYGVF; FRA: UCD2) is a fast-growing, publicly traded cryptocurrency platform in the United States founded in 2018 to bring choice, transparency, and cost efficiency to the marketplace. Voyager offers a secure way to trade over 65 different crypto assets using its easy-to-use mobile application, and earn rewards up to 12 percent annually on more than 30 cryptocurrencies. Through its subsidiary Coinify ApS, Voyager provides crypto payment solutions for both consumers and merchants around the globe. To learn more about the company, please visit https://www.investvoyager.com .

The TSX has not approved or disapproved of the information contained herein.

Press Contacts

Voyager Digital, Ltd.

Michael Legg

Chief Communications Officer

(212) 547-8807

[email protected]



Voyager Public Relations Team

[email protected]

SOURCE Voyager Digital (Canada) Ltd.

Related Links

https://www.investvoyager.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global water desalination equipment market size is expected to reach USD 22.79 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2020 to 2028. Increasing water scarcity, depletion in freshwater reserves, and fast-paced advancements in desalination technologies are anticipated to have a positive impact on the market growth.

Key Insights & Findings:

The reverse osmosis technology segment accounted for over 55.0% share of the global revenue in 2020 on account of its inexpensive installation cost, ease of processing, capacity to treat various types of feed water, and minimal usage of chemicals

The municipal application segment accounted for more than 50.0% share of the global revenue in 2020 owing to the growing urban population, coupled with the expanding megacities that are putting a strain on the available water sources, thereby augmenting the market growth

The seawater source segment is projected to expand at the fastest CAGR from 2020 to 2028 owing to the increasing scarcity of water for domestic and industrial use, which is expected to be a key driver in augmenting the demand for seawater desalination

The Middle East and Africa accounted for over 40.0% share of the global revenue in 2020. This is attributed to the scarcity of water resources in the region, which is likely to create a strong demand for water desalination equipment over the forecast period

In July 2020 , Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) started the construction of the largest water desalination plant in the world at Al Taweelah Power and Water complex, which is slated to be completed by 2022

Read 137 page research report, "Water Desalination Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Reverse Osmosis (RO), Multi-stage Flash (MSF) Distillation), By Source, By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2028", by Grand View Research

Deteriorating environmental factors, such as fluctuating weather patterns, rising pollution, and deforestation, have resulted in water scarcity and drought-like scenarios across the globe. The governments of various countries are investing in the development of desalination facilities to combat this situation, which is expected to drive the market.

The rising adoption of renewable energy to desalinate water is gaining traction in the market as the conventional systems require a considerable amount of energy to function, making them expensive and impracticable for usage in underdeveloped countries. Such developments are expected to drive the demand for water desalination equipment over the forecast period.

Key players such as Veolia and Suez have subsidiary companies that are benefited from the international presence of parent companies. Many companies are also investing in outsourcing R&D facilities in developing economies that can be used to expand their geographical presence and reduce the overall production costs by sourcing raw materials from the regional market.

Grand View Research has segmented the global water desalination equipment market on the basis of source, technology, application, and region:

Water Desalination Equipment Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2028)

Seawater



Brackish Water



River Water



Others

Water Desalination Equipment Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2028)

Reverse Osmosis (RO)



Multi-stage Flash (MSF) Distillation



Multi-effect Distillation (MED)



Others

Water Desalination Equipment Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2028)

Municipal



Industrial



Others

Water Desalination Equipment Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2028)

North America



U.S.



Europe



Spain



Asia Pacific



China





India





Australia



Central & South America



Chile



Middle East & Africa

&

UAE





Saudi Arabia

List of Key Players of Water Desalination Equipment Market

Acciona S.A.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction

Veolia

SUEZ

IDE Technologies

Xylem

Aquatech International LLC

Biwater Holdings Limited

Genesis Water Technologies

Guangzhou KangYang Seawater Desalination Equipment Co., Ltd. (KYSEARO).

Find more research reports on Water & Sludge Treatment Industry, by Grand View Research:

Spiral Membranes Market  The global spiral membranes market size is expected to reach USD 13.3 billion by 2027 registering a CAGR of 10.9%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

The global spiral membranes market size is expected to reach by 2027 registering a CAGR of 10.9%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Water Treatment Systems Market  The global water treatment systems market size is projected to be valued at USD 44.01 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a 7.1% CAGR during the forecast period.

The global water treatment systems market size is projected to be valued at by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a 7.1% CAGR during the forecast period. Point Of Entry Water Treatment Systems Market The global point of entry water treatment systems market size is expected to reach USD 10.8 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 4.1%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weidai Ltd. ("Weidai" or the "Company") (NYSE: WEI), a leading auto-backed financing solution provider in China, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at Hongxin Science and Technology Park, No.668, Jianshe Third Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, the People's Republic of China on December 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (local time).

No proposals will be submitted for shareholder approval at the annual general meeting. Instead, the annual general meeting will serve as an open forum for shareholders to discuss the Company's affairs with management.

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on November 19, 2021 as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Holders of record of the Company's ordinary shares at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to attend the annual general meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person.

The notice of the annual general meeting is available on the Company's website at http://weidai.investorroom.com/. The Company filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 8, 2021, U.S. Eastern Time. The annual report can be accessed on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company will also provide a hard copy of its annual report containing its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and American Depositary Share holders upon request.

About Weidai Ltd.

Weidai Ltd. is a pioneer and leading auto-backed financing solution provider in China supported by sophisticated and effective risk management system and technology. The Company transforms used automobiles, a type of "non-standard" collateral, into investable assets, to provide accessible credit for China's small and micro enterprises, and connects the borrowers with institutional funding partners through its platform.

For more information, please visit http://weidai.investorroom.com/ .

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "confident" and similar statements. Weidai may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Weidai's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited the following: Weidai's goal and strategies; Weidai's expansion plans; Weidai's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Weidai's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its solutions and services; Weidai's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with borrowers, investors and financial institutions and other platform participants; general economic and business conditions; Weidai's assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing regulations and governmental policies relating to the online consumer finance industry in China; and Weidai's ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the NYSE, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the NYSE's continued listing criteria; litigation and negative publicity surroundings China-based companies listed in the U.S.; and the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the emergence of COVID variants, and its potential impact on the Company's business and financial performance. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Weidai does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Christensen

Mr. Rene Vanguestaine

Tel: +86-10-5900-1548

E-mail: [email protected]

In US:

Christensen

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Tel: +1-480-614-3004

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Weidai Ltd.

Related Links

http://weidai.investorroom.com/


WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As we adjust to the pandemic and workplaces prepare to re-open, many women are taking a hard look at how they work. A long commute, worry over childcare and lack of flexibility are leading many to explore entrepreneurship. Owning your own business has many benefits, but building a business is also hard work. In fact, 50% of small businesses fail and many never really get off the ground.

"The process of starting and building a business is even harder when you're a woman small business owner in a rural region or marginalized socioeconomic community," said Kathleen Warnick, 2021-2022 Board Chair of the NAWBO Institute for Entrepreneurial Development, a 501(c)3 non-profit educational foundation of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). "These women have big dreams, but often lack the support and resources to be successful, which is why NAWBO is stepping up to provide those with help from our partners at Wells Fargo."



Applications are currently being accepted for Launch Right, the new NAWBO Institute program made possible by a Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund grant. The goal is to reach and positively impact under-represented women who are exploring entrepreneurship to provide them with tools for a strong start.



"What's exciting about the Launch Right program is that it is focused on aspiring small business owners at a time when many people are choosing entrepreneurship as their path forward," said Val Jones, who represents Wells Fargo on the National Advisory Council for NAWBO. "Having access to NAWBO's vast network of experts can help an entrepreneur better plan and get their ideas off the ground. At Wells Fargo, we understand the value of technical assistance and how it can potentially speed up success on an entrepreneur's journey."

Starting this winter, the program will be delivered through a dynamic workshop seriesavailable virtually and on demand to reach all parts of the countryfor two six-month cohorts. As the voice of America's 11.6 million women business owners, NAWBO members will play a role in these workshops by sharing their stories and expertise.

The series' combination of webinars and facilitated roundtables will:

Guide participants through self-discovery to discern whether they possess the temperament, knowledge and resources that leads to business success

Lead them through the start-up phases of business, discussing business forms, trademarks and copyrights, financial record keeping, marketing and more

Provide a membership in NAWBO and roundtable groups so they have ongoing support from NAWBO's community of women business owners

To learn more about Launch Right and apply by the November 30th deadline, please visit https://www.nawbo.org/resources/nawbo-institute-entrepreneurial-development/launch-right-program.

About NAWBO

Founded in 1975, NAWBO is the unified voice of America's more than 11.6 million women-owned businesses representing the fastest growing segment of the economy. NAWBO is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries. NAWBO develops programs that help navigate women entrepreneurs through the various stages of their business growth. To learn more, please visit www.nawbo.org.

SOURCE National Association of Women Business Owners

Related Links

http://www.nawbo.org


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to OPTEC's press release yesterday, WeShield CEO and current OPTEC shareholder, Michael Sinensky states, "We learned in the OPTEC announcement that for health reasons, OPTEC CEO Roger Pawson will retire from the Company's Board of Directors by early 2022. We sincerely wish him well in his journey to improve his health."

We ask that the Company clarify whether Mr. Pawson also will retire as an officer and employee of the Company.

The announcement from Mr. Pawson also states that "We [OPTEC] hope to have all outstanding legal and remaining issues resolved prior to my retirement from the Board of Directors, including a resolution with the WeShield legal action." In order to avoid confusion arising from that statement, we wish to clarify that neither the Company nor its counsel has contacted us or our attorneys regarding any proposed resolution. Accordingly, we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against OPTEC's meritless claims and pursue all remedies we believe we have against the Company and all other responsible persons or entities.

Michael Sinensky added that "I have heard that rumors are circulating which imply that I, or that others who are or have been associated with WeShield, may take an active role in OPTEC management going forward. To be clear, there has been no outreach from OPTEC or any discussions with OPTEC with regard to my future participation in OPTEC management and governance or the participation of other former WeShield shareholders."

Mr. Sinensky concluded that "Mr. Pawson's imminent departure from the Board presents a welcome and much needed opportunity for the Company to adopt and adhere to corporate governance best practices, including allowing shareholders to have a voice in the selection of Board members."

SOURCE WeShield

Related Links

weshield.us


Long before the outbreak of Covid-19, public schools across the U.S. faced shortages of nurses, psychologists, autism specialists, and behavioral health professionals. Today, almost half of public school students attend a school without a psychologist on staff, and fewer than 40% of schools employ a full time nurse . The impact of these talent gaps has only become more acute over the past two years as a growing number of students report experiencing mental health challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

"The past two years have only exacerbated a healthcare personnel shortage that threatens almost every rung of the U.S. economy, including our public schools," said Sandie Tracy, RN, a member of Ro Health's advisory board. "Rather than waiting for workers to show up, it's incumbent upon healthcare providers like us to build talent from within  an approach that will both address our partners' near-term needs and build stronger talent pipelines for the years to come."

Through its investment in Ro Health, Achieve Partners will work to address this extreme shortage  which mirrors similar challenges being faced at hospitals and other public health environments  by launching a training program that will equip entry-level workers with the skills to enter full-time roles in fast-growing healthcare jobs in a variety of contexts. Named one of the country's fastest-growing medical staffing agencies by Staffing Industry Analysts for two consecutive years, Ro Health has brought its expertise to bear on supporting a broad range of public health environments beyond school and home settings, such as long-term care facilities, public health agencies and correctional facilities.

"The foundation of the apprenticeship model is the belief that it's possible to solve employers' talent gaps and fulfill job-seekers' aspirations at the same time," said Cassidy Leventhal, Vice President at Achieve Partners. "Building on its track record of success, Ro Health is putting this model to work to tackle the labor shortage in one of the most critical fields for the long-term health of our economy and our society."

About Achieve Partners

Achieve Partners is engineering the future of learning and earning by investing in cutting edge technologies and novel business models to bolster skill development and secure the future of work for millions of Americans. By harnessing digital transformation to build new models for learning and new pathways to good jobs, Achieve is helping to level the playing field, improve socioeconomic mobility, and rekindle the American Dream.

www.achievepartners.com

About Ro Health

Ro Health is a rapidly growing medical staffing and home health agency. We supply our clients and patients with healthcare providers that are kind and caring. We believe that our success depends on the success of our providers. Every day, we focus on how we can improve our providers' experience and their performance. We are committed to helping our providers achieve their goals while delivering exceptional patient care, and we are committed to making sure that our providers are comfortable and happy on their assignments.

SOURCE Achieve Partners

Related Links

https://www.achievepartners.com/


ALPHARETTA, Ga., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Xpanxion a wholly owned subsidiary of UST, announced today that it will launch 10 tech cohorts with employer partners in its Step IT Up  (SIU) national Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program, providing new paid "earn and learn" opportunities for job seekers in 11 states in 2022.

Today's announcement coincided with the national release of the program's newest video, showcasing current and graduated apprentices talking about the value of RA as a solid, well-paying career pathway. The video can be seen on Xpanxion's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/4IIXyoww6io.

As an approved US Department of Labor (USDOL) RA Program and a Department of Defense SkillBridge program, Step IT Up can more easily and efficiently help employers diversify their workforce by providing industry-aligned training for veterans, women, and minorities.

"Apprenticeship creates the skilled, loyal workers that employers are looking for," said Olwyn DePutron, Director of Step IT Up. "However, despite its impressive return on investment  including a 92 percent retention rate for program completers - not enough employers are taking advantage of this workforce development model. We created a program to give our employer partners all of the benefits of apprenticeship while mitigating the most commonly-cited risks."

Through SIU, Xpanxion collaborates with employer partners to ensure that apprentices are gaining the skills and knowledge they need on the job. "Employers choose the occupation they want to hire and train for, determine class makeup, select applicants for training, customize the curriculum, and pay nothing until the apprentice successfully completes their training and begins their OJL," explains Connie Robbins, Step IT Up Apprenticeship Director.

Apprentices receive paid on-the-job learning (OJL) with mentoring, high-quality related Instruction to support the OJL, progressive wage Increases commensurate with skill gains, and a nationally recognized credential upon completion.

With technical assistance and ongoing program support of Safal Partners, a USDOL national industry intermediary for cyber and tech occupations, Xpanxion is opening registration for an upcoming employer outreach webinar in January 2022. Register online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MKRZ9QP.

In particular, Xpanxion is interested in engaging companies from Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Tennessee among others. According to Cyberseek.org these states alone represent 85,982 currently unfilled cybersecurity jobs.

SOURCE Safal Partners

Related Links

https://www.safalpartners.com


BERLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeotap, the next-gen Customer Data Platform (CDP), today announced its availability on Google Cloud Marketplace. The new partnership means that Google Cloud customers can now offset their Zeotap platform subscription costs against their Google Cloud spending commitments, meaning that they can onboard Zeotap at no additional cost to their budget.

Google Cloud Marketplace offers vetted integrated solutions, helping its users identify and purchase the third-party solutions that help them move to, build on and work in Google Cloud. For companies seeking to onboard a Customer Data Platform, the new Zeotap listing on Google Cloud Marketplace not only presents a significant cost saving through offset billing, but offers a more frictionless procurement process to speed up time-to-value. In purchasing Zeotap's CDP on Google Cloud Marketplace, Google Cloud customers will also benefit from consolidated billing, as Zeotap fees will appear directly on customers' Google Cloud invoices.

Zeotap delivers a solution to one of the foundational challenges of modern marketing: addressing the customer as an individual while safeguarding their privacy. Its CDP is built to the world's strictest data privacy and security standards, leading to its recognition as a Leader in G2's Fall 2021 Grid Report for Customer Data Platform Software. Last month, the company announced the availability of new Consent Orchestration functionality to help marketers easily and scalably activate data within the parameters of a customer's consent choices.

"We're excited to be joining Google Cloud Marketplace and to take this opportunity to make it faster, easier and more affordable for marketers to realise the value of their customer data," said Projjol Banerjea, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Zeotap. "We look forward to working with the Google Cloud team to introduce our CDP to even more brands across the world."

To learn more about Zeotap's listing in the Google Cloud Marketplace, click here .

About Zeotap

Zeotap is the next-generation Customer Data Platform. It empowers brands to unify, enhance and activate customer data in a cookieless future, all while putting consumer privacy and compliance front-and-centre. Recognised by Gartner as a "Cool Vendor", Zeotap works with over 80 of the world's top 100 brands, including P&G, Nestle and Virgin Media. It is also the founding member of ID+, a universal marketing ID initiative.

SOURCE Zeotap

Related Links

www.zeotap.com


Kiev, Nov 18 : Visiting British Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace said his country stands ready to continue its support for Ukraine, according to a statement issued by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.

"The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine and will continue its long-standing determination to support them," Wallace added in the joint statement with Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov following their talks in Kiev on Tuesday.

In the statement, Reznikov and Wallace said last week the governments of their countries signed an agreement that would continue progress on the joint projects to develop the capabilities of the Naval forces of the Armed forces of Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported.

The agreement followed another deal signed in June between Ukraine, the UK and British industry representatives, which is aimed at boosting Ukraine's naval capabilities.

Ukraine and the UK, which are strategic partners in security and defence, remain "vigilant and united" in the defense of their common values and freedoms, the statement said.

Wallace arrived in Kiev on Tuesday for a one-day working visit. During his visit, he also held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Britain provides assistance to Kiev in the wake of the conflict in eastern Ukraine that started in 2014.

In 2015, Britain launched Operation Orbital, a training program for the Ukrainian Armed forces, following the request of the Ukrainian authorities.

So far, the British Armed Forces had trained more than 20,000 Ukrainian servicemen as part of bilateral military cooperation.
Vancouver, Nov 18 : The government of Canada's British Columbia declared a state of emergency in the Pacific province due to floods and mudslides caused by rainstorms in the last few days.

British Columbia Premier, John Horgan made the declaration at a news conference on Wednesday.

"Heavy rains, strong winds, flooding have devastated entire communities of our province." The declaration gives the province various powers from stopping hoarding to restricting travel in and out of flood zones, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The order will preserve basic access to services and supplies for communities across the province," Horgan said.

Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and one woman was confirmed dead in southern British Columbia.

"Sadly, we expect to confirm more fatalities in the coming days," he added.

The Premier said he has spoken to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, adding that his government has now formally requested the assistance of the Canadian Armed forces.

He said the Trudeau government and provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have offered support to his province.
Brussels, Nov 18 : The Belgian authorities have announced new measures to curb the rise in new coronavirus cases, including mandatory mask wearing in all closed public places.

"The virus is three times more contagious than the virus of 2020," said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, following the announcement of the new measures.

"We put emphasis on prevention and protection, not closure," he added.

Wearing a face mask will be mandatory for everyone from the age of 10, except at school. This will apply in all closed public places such as public transport, shops, cinemas, and during outdoor events subject to the obligation.

Teleworking becomes compulsory in the private sector and in all public administrations, unless the nature of the function or the continuity of activities does not allow it, Xinhua news agency reported.

The "Covid Safe Ticket Plus" (CST+), which combines the CST and the wearing of the mask will be required to enter restaurants, as well as for public and private events with more than 50 people indoor and 100 people outside.

The Prime Minister warned that social distancing should be observed at 1.5 metres, noting that a new vaccination campaign for a booster dose is being prepared.

The number of infections, hospitalizations and intensive care patients has almost doubled across the country in the past two weeks. Belgium has so far recorded a total of 1,524,862 infection cases and 26,444 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Reducing marine debris by 50-90 per cent and a globe circling, high-tech system of monitors are two essential aims among several championed by nine distinguished international experts appointed to help the United Nations reach the goal of a clean ocean by 2030.

The Clean Ocean International Expert Group of the UN Decade for Ocean Science for Sustainable Development will formally present its short list of activities and goals, and a strategy to reach them in a "manifesto" at the outset of a three-day online conference on achieving a clean ocean that will conclude on November 19.

Co-chaired by Angelika Brandt of Germany, a southern ocean and Antarctica biodiversity expert, and Elva Escobar Briones of Mexico, a deep sea biodiversity expert, the group concisely outlines "the challenges and some of the opportunities that the Ocean Decade can provide for a clean ocean." The statement charts the most direct route to a clean ocean citing these objectives for 2030: Enlarge understanding of pathways for spread and fate of pollutants, reduce and remove top-priority forms of pollution (e.g. marine debris) by large amounts, as much as 50 to 90 per cent and to prevent recurrence, reduce sources or emission of pollutants (e.g. anthropogenic noise, discarded plastic and harmful chemicals, farming practices adding harmful sediment outflow).

With such a framework agreed and in place, specific objectives can be identified and efforts activated, with targets and timetables similar in scope and character to next spring's anticipated world agreement to protect 30 per cent of the marine environment by 2030, and the completion of high-resolution mapping of the seabed also by 2030.

The expert group underlined that, "This process should aim to define and attract financial and other support to meet an initial set of goals for 2025, followed by goals for the end of the Ocean Decade in 2030." And they set out examples of nearer term objectives for 2025. These include quantify the global harm of marine pollution from all major sources on ecosystems and organisms and on human health; assessment methods need to take into account multiple stressors; and survey the totality of anthropogenic chemicals flowing into the oceans.

"By 2030 we want to achieve measurable improvement in monitoring and clear reduction of emissions and harm through a spectrum of technical and behavioral strategies," the group says.

The three-day online conference will highlight more than 30 activities in place or in development around the world that can make important contributions by 2030 to a clean ocean.

These include initiatives to: Successfully and consistently monitor marine debris from space as part of an Integrated Global Marine Debris Observing System; operate deep sea observatories in the Atlantic that document and publicize multiple stressors; and observe the vast southern ocean to give early warnings of possible pollution hot spots in this relatively pristine ocean.

The manifesto, which presents the signatories' views and not official positions of their respective institutions, is also directed at other groups such as the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, the Economist magazine World Ocean Initiative, and the World Ocean Council.

The group plans to share its manifesto with other expert groups, national committees, and with endorsed projects and programmes of the UN Ocean Decade to speed up development of a strong set of Clean Ocean activities.

Lead author Jesse Ausubel, Director of the Program for the Human Environment at The Rockefeller University, New York City, says: "We want this decade to transition from increasing to decreasing the environmental problems of the oceans."
Lucknow, Nov 18 : A court in Lucknow has issued an arrest warrant against noted dancer Sapna Chaudhary for allegedly cancelling a program and not returning the money to ticket holders.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shantanu Tyagi on Wednesday issued the warrant against Chaudhary, asking the police to execute it by November 22, which is the next date of hearing of the case.

The court is slated to frame charges in the case against the dancer for which the presence of the accused is necessary.

Chaudhary had earlier also moved the court to quash the FIR against her but she was denied the relief.

The FIR against Chaudhary was registered at the Ashiana police station on October 14, 2018, for her alleged failure to turn for the dance show at Smriti Upvan in Lucknow on October 13 that year.

Besides the dancer, the FIR also names programme organisers Junaid Ahmad, Naveen Sharma, Ibad Ali, Amit Pandey and Ratnakar Upadhyay.

The ticket for the programme was sold both online and offline at the cost of Rs 300.

Thousands of people had turned up to watch the performance but when Chaudhary did not turn up till 10 p.m., the crowd created a ruckus at the spot.

The people's money too was allegedly not refunded to them.
Seoul, Nov 18 : The US-led UN Command (UNC) plans to resume a tour program to the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom later this month after a Covid-19 pandemic-driven hiatus, its officials said on Thursday.

The UNC will restart the program to the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas on November 30 in line with South Korea's "living with Covid-19" scheme for a gradual return to normal life, Yonhap News Agency quoted the officials as saying.

The UNC coordinated the date for the tour resumption with Seoul's Unification Ministry.

"The purpose of the UNC commander's DMZ Education and Orientation Program is to increase public awareness of the security conditions on the Korean Peninsula and educate visitors on the terms of Armistice that underpin peace and stability," the Command said in a statement.

Non-essential visits to the area have been mostly limited since December 18, 2022.

Tours temporarily resumed in April, but they were suspended again in July when South Korea applied the highest level of social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area.

Since this month, South Korea has implemented the "living with Covid-19 scheme", which entails eased distancing rules.

The scheme came as the country's vaccination program accelerated. More than 78 per cent of South Koreans had been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.

"The UNC will continue to monitor Covid-19 conditions within South Korea to ensure all necessary mitigation measures are in place to preserve the health and safety of all visitors to Panmunjom," the Command said.

The UNC oversees activities in the DMZ.

It is an enforcer of the armistice agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.
Washington, Nov 18 : Steve Bannon, a one-time adviser to former US President Donald Trump, is pleading not guilty to his contempt of Congress charges, according to a court filing.

Bannon, who defied a subpoena by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot that asked documents and deposition from him, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12 over two charges of criminal contempt of Congress -- one for failing to appear for a deposition before the panel on October 14 and another for refusal to provide documents before the October 7 deadline, reports Xinhua news agency.

Each count of contempt of Congress carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, as well as a fine of $100 to $1,000.

"I do hereby waive formal arraignment and enter my plea of not guilty to the indictment," read the court filing published on Wednesday, which bears Bannon's signature at the bottom.

Bannon said he and his attorneys would participate in a virtual conference anticipated to be convened by the court on Thursday, during which he did not need to have his charges read by a judge.

Skipping a formal arraignment, however, will have to be approved by the judge.

If convicted, Bannon will face up to two years in jail and a maximum fine of $200,000, according to the Justice Department's announcement of the former advisor's indictment.

Surrendering himself to federal authorities on Monday, Bannon struck a defiant tone when briefly addressing the reporters.

"I'm telling you right now, this is going to be the misdemeanor from hell for (Attorney General) Merrick Garland, (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi and (President) Joe Biden... We're going on the offense," he said.

Contempt of Congress prosecutions by the Justice Department often have been both time consuming and notoriously difficult to succeed, oftentimes ending in acquittal or dismissal on appeal.

The last time the department prosecuted a contempt referral was in 1983, during the Superfund investigation in the Ronald Reagan administration.

Then Environmental Protection Agency official Rita Lavelle was charged with contempt but her case ended in acquittal.
Kabul, Nov 18 : The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has signed agreements with three leading aid agencies in a bid to support hundreds of thousands of displaced families ahead of the winter season.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Refugee Affairs said that it recently signed three Memorandums of Understanding with ACTED-Afghanistan, Organization for Relief Development (ORD), and International Rescue Committee (IRC), reports Xinhua news agency.

The total budget from the three aid organizations reaches more than $9 million aimed at providing aid for the war-displaced families, according to the statement.

According to the UN OCHA, a total of 667,903 Afghan individuals have fled their homes due to conflict in the period between January 1 to October 18 of this year.

A total of 33 out of 34 provinces had recorded some level of forced displacement.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, there were some 2.9 million people internally displaced across the country by the end of 2020.
Unnao, Nov 18 : After the Zika virus, a case of scrub typhus has been found in Hasanganj area of Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district.

The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme's (IDSP) nodal officer, Dr V.K. Gupta confirmed the scrub typhus case and said that the patient is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Lucknow.

"A health department team visited the pocket from where the patient hails on Wednesday. Distribution of medicines, besides fogging exercise will be conducted there on Thursday." The patient, a resident of Gazaffar Nagar of Hasanganj, complained of fever followed by headache since the past few days.

The family members admitted him to a hospital in Lucknow, where the doctors after intensive examination confirmed him to be a case of scrub typhus.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Satya Prakash told reporters that a team from Hasanganj CHC has been sent to the village.

Gupta said that scrub typhus is a vector borne disease and "affects the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, kidneys, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. In several cases, the patient may even die due to multi-organ failure".

He said that scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is caused by the bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi, commonly reported from rural pockets.

"Scrub typhus spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites). The most common symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rashes." No vaccine is yet available to prevent Scrub Typhus.

It can be cured by antibiotics if given soon after symptoms begin.
Mumbai, Nov 18 : The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) on Thursday opened on a positive note during the morning trade session.

At 9.30 a.m., the S&P BSE Sensex of the BSE traded at 60,166.86 points, up 0.26 per cent.

It opened at 60179.93 points from the previous close of 60,008.33 points.

Till now it touched a high of 60,167.00 points and a low of 59,936.24 points.

On the other hand, the broader 50-scrip Nifty at National Stock Exchange (NSE) opened at 17,890.55 points after closing at 17,898.65 upoints.

It traded at 17,944 points, up 0.26 per cent during the early-morning trade session.

Zomato and Asian Giants stocks were in green in the early trade today.
Srinagar, Nov 18 : Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said it was 'outrageous' that the J&K administration did now allow the relatives killed in the Hyderpora encounter to conduct a peaceful protest.

In a series of tweets, Omar said that the J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha should reach out to the families and give them the bodies of their kins killed in the gunfight on Monday.

"This is the naya Kashmir of 2021. This is how the J&K police fulfils @PMOIndia promise to remove "dil ki doori & Dilli se doori. It's outrageous that the J&K administration did not allow the families to conduct a peaceful sit in protest," Omar tweeted.

"I've rarely seen families who have been wronged conduct themselves with such dignity. They have been reasonable in their demands & dignified in their conduct. The result of this is visible for all to see as the police drags them away in the dead of night." "LG @manojsinha_ should reach out to these families, hear them in person & then give them the bodies of their loved ones. It's the only right thing to do, it's the only humane thing to do." On Wednesday night the protesting family members of Mudassir Gul and Altaf Ahmad, who were killed in the encounter, were evicted and detained by the police.

The families insist that Altaf Ahmad and Mudassir Gul had no involvement in militancy and demanded that their bodies be returned to them.

Police said four persons were killed in the encounter at Hyderpora, including a foreign militant identified as Haider and his accomplice.

Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said in a press conference that an Overground Worker of the militants Mudassir Gul and the house owner Altaf Ahmad were killed during the gunfight. He said that the house owner was killed in the crossfire while Gul, living on rent in the building, had provided shelter to Haider and his associate.
Sofia, Nov 18 : A runoff election on Sunday will elect a new Bulgarian President as none of the candidates in the first round of polls on November 14 receive enough ballots to secure the top office, according to the country's election commission.

According to the final results of the first round, the country's incumbent President Rumen Radev received 49.42 per cent of the votes and his rival Anastas Gerdjikov received 22.83 per cent, paving the way for Sunday's runoff, the country's Central Election Commission announced.

Radev and Gerdjikov were the top two candidates among 23 contenders.

The total number of eligible voters was 6,691,150 but only 2,687,307 cast their ballots, the commission said.

No President was elected because fewer than half the number of eligible voters cast a ballot, and none of the candidates received more than half the actual votes cast, the commission said.

The runoff winner is the candidate who secures the most votes, with no regard to voter turnout, according to the Bulgarian Constitution.

In the first round, 58-year-old Radev was backed by several political formations such as Continue the Change, Bulgarian Socialist Party and There Is Such A People, while his opponent was supported by Bulgaria's centre-right GERB party.

The President of Bulgaria is the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces and has prerogatives such as appointing a caretaker government and dissolving parliament.

The President is elected directly by the people for a period of five years.

Radev's term will expire at the end of January 2022.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Powered by mega brands such as Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Classmate, and Savlon, ITC is set to drive into a commanding position in what some analysts have estimated to be a Rs 5 lakh crore addressable FMCG industry market segment by 2035, with Chairman Sanjiv Puri putting in motion a carefully crafted 'ITC Next' strategy.

This re-crafted strategy, built around portfolio revitalisation, rapid platform-based innovation, aggressive digitisation, deeper synergies with other group businesses, structural leverages and a sharper focus on margins.

As an FMCG major, ITC is the only company that is dominant across a range of product categories from branded atta to biscuits; snacks to spices; noodles to dairy; chocolates to coffee; juices to frozen snacks and vegetables; deodorants to hand and body wash; sanitizers and masks to floor cleaners; and from notebooks to agarbatti, that none of the other Indian or multinational brands can claim to be present in.

Puri's 'ITC Next' strategy pivots around a multi-pronged approach to revitalize the company's current FMCG portfolio by fortifying and scaling up its proven megabrands, leveraging adjacencies through horizontal brand extensions, and nurturing new platforms with innovative products that will scale up to be leaders in their respective categories.

Mega brands and adjacencies ITC has a plethora of megabrands such as Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo! and Classmate that already command leadership positions in the market.

The strategy of creating value added adjacencies could be best illustrated by the new Aashirvaad portfolio including Aashirvaad Nature's Super Foods range comprising ragi flour, multi-millet mix, gluten free flour, organic atta and pulses as well as chapatis, instant meals and the Aashirvaad Svasti dairy range.

ITC is also fostering new platforms and strengthening its new brands including Fabelle chocolates, Sunbean coffee, B Natural juices, Nimyle home cleaners, Savlon hygiene products and so on. The overarching strategy for new platforms of innovative products is to first validate the concept and business model in select beachheads. Having gained a dominant market penetration, these new lines of products and brands will gain strength to occupy adjacent markets with different opportunities, building a larger brand with each new product, creating new and steady vectors of growth for the future.

ITC under Puri is unwavering in its resolve to build a formidable FMCG business. With innovation as the new lifeblood, the company today is one of the largest incubators of world-class Indian brands.

The Company's wide range of FMCG portfolio has demonstrable headroom to expand rapidly in the FMCG industry overall addressable market segment of Rs 5 lakh crore.

For instance, the total size of the packaged snacksmarket for the overall industry is set to vault 4.5 times from about Rs 32,000 crore to an estimated Rs 1.43 lakh crore by 2035. The market for overall spices industry is projected to grow from about Rs 22,000 crore currently to Rs 1.1 lakh crore in 15 years, a growth of five times. Similar industry growths are expected in other categories such as biscuits, branded atta, noodles, deodorants, personal care products and the cleaners categories.

Most of ITC's FMCG products occupy the first or the second positions in their respective categories giving them unique opportunity to corner most of these segment growths.

Aashirvaad, India's number one branded packaged atta, itself has a consumer spend of over Rs 6,000 crore.

Digital, consumer-centric and future-ready Puri's strategy to make ITC future-ready manifests in his focus on driving the three megatrends emerging out of the pandemic - innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. The Company's R& D Centre, the ITC Life Sciences and Technology Centre (LSTC) in Bengaluru helped ITC to launch 120 differentiated products amid the pandemic to meet emerging preferences. To further support this goal, the company has set up 9 state-of-the-art integrated consumer goods manufacturing facilities (ICML) to create structural advantages.

Digitalisation is being accelerated pan-ITC through the use of new technologies such as Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data, Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), etc. These technologies are also being deployed across the entire supply chain spanning sourcing, manufacturing, trade engagements and e-commerce, including its own ordering platform the ITC e-store. The FMCG business has further driven enhanced competitiveness through a multi-channel distribution strategy which have been strengthened by-customised apps.

Power of Synergies The 'ITC Next' FMCG strategy has also been bolstered by synergies flowing in from the company's other businesses.

A good example of synergies is ITC's foods business deriving a significant competitive advantage from agribusiness's sourcing capabilities. The culinary expertise of ITC's Hotels business has also enabled ITC to craft differentiated food offerings.

Stronger growth, better margins The robustness of Puri's strategy for FMCG is evident from the segment EBIDTA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) increasing by by 82 per cent this Q2 from Q2 FY 20, as outlined in ITC's second quarter financial results.

The FMCG businesses have been posting steady growth ahead of industry peers. During the last four years, ITC's revenue from FMCG increased from around Rs 10,500 crore to nearly Rs 15,000 crore.

ITC's FMCG business during 2020-21 grew 16 per cent versus the industry average of 8.5 per cent.

There has also been a steady improvement in profitability in the FMCG segment, with EBITDA margins having improved by more than 640 basis points between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

'ITC Next' strategy for other businesses In August, at the company's annual general meeting, Puri unveiled the extensive 'ITC Next' strategy to architect the structural drivers that will power ITC's next horizon of growth and ensure that the enterprise remains future-oriented, consumer-centric and nimble.

ITC's other businesses too have pivoted to create new frontiers for the future, with enhanced competitiveness as well as sharper focus on cost management to strengthen leadership or rapidly attain the top positions in the case of newer segments.

Some of the key drivers of growth, as identified by Puri, for ITC's other businesses include an asset right strategy for Hotels powered by a repositioned WelcomHotel brand as well as newly launched brands such as The Storii and Mementos done with management contracts. Two management contracts have already been signed under the Mementos brand.

Similarly, in the Paperboards business, the company is concentrating on sustainable packaging and value-added paper, while in agriusiness, the emphasis is on Next Generation agriculture driven by the 'super app' ITC MAARS and value-added agriculture.

Special strategic thrust is also being provided to ITC Infotech, the wholly owned subsidiary which is on a strong growth and profitability trajectory over the last few years.
Los Angeles, Nov 18 : Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino's attorney has responded to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday accusing the director of copyright infringement by selling NFTs based on the screenplay for 'Pulp Fiction'.

"Miramax is wrong, plain and simple," Tarantino's attorney Bryan Freedman said in a statement, reports variety.com.

"Quentin Tarantino's contract is clear: he has the right to sell NFTs of his hand-written script for Pulp Fiction and this ham-fisted attempt to prevent him from doing so will fail." "But Miramax's callous decision to disclose confidential information about its filmmakers' contracts and compensation will irreparably tarnish its reputation long after this case is dismissed." Tarantino announced the sale at a recent crypto-art convention in New York.

The plan is to auction off NFT (non-fungible tokens) based on excerpts from Tarantino's original handwritten script for the film, accompanied by commentary. The NFT is pitched as 'secret', meaning that its contents will be viewable exclusively by the owner.

But according to the suit, Tarantino did not consult beforehand with Miramax, which still owns the rights to the director's 1994 classic.

Miramax's attorneys have sent a cease and desist letter seeking to block the sale, but that has not stopped Tarantino and his team from moving forward.

Miramax claims that Tarantino's actions have interfered with the studio's own plans to enter the market for 'Pulp Fiction' NFTs.

In a statement, Miramax attorney Bart Williams accused Tarantino's team of a "deliberate, pre-meditated, short-term money grab".

"This group chose to recklessly, greedily, and intentionally disregard the agreement that Quentin signed instead of following the clear legal and ethical approach of simply communicating with Miramax about his proposed ideas," Williams said.

"This one-off effort devalues the NFT rights to aPulp Fiction,' which Miramax intends to maximize through a strategic, comprehensive approach." The suit appears to turn on the question of whether selling NFTs based on excerpts of a screenplay qualify as a "publication" of the screenplay. According to the suit, Tarantino's lawyer has told Miramax that the director retained the right to publish his screenplay in the Miramax contract, and that he is exercising that right through the NFT sale.

Miramax argues that NFTs are a one-time sale, and are not equivalent to publication of a screenplay, and that therefore Miramax owns the NFT rights.

The suit states claims of breach of contract, copyright infringement, trademark infringement and unfair competition.
Patna, Nov 18 : Three persons, including the principal of a school, have been arrested for flouting the liquor ban in Bihar's Nawada district.

The arrests were made late on Wednesday night and all three were found in a drunken state.

The accused, Sanjay Kumar Tarun, principal of Inter (10+2) school Rajauli along with Sandeep Kumar and Udesya Kumar were roaming in the Jajpur Tola village under the Rajauli police station.

The Bihar Police is on high alert ever since a series of liquor tragedies happened in Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Bettiah and Samastipur districts in the past 20 days.

Darbari Chaudhary, the SHO of Rajauli police station, at the same time also reached Jajpur Tola village for inspection. He noticed that three persons coming from opposite directions were in a drunken state.

"When we stopped them for breath analysis, they tried to flee from the spot. We have arrested them after a brief chase," Chaudharay said.

"We have conducted a breath analysis of alleged persons which confirms their inebriation. We have booked them under the Liquor Prohibition Act. They will be produced before the duty magistrate on Thursday," Chaudhary said.

Earlier on Wednesday, a block statistic officer of Kanti in Muzaffarpur district was nabbed in a drunken state and sent to jail.
United Nations, Nov 18 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his call for the immediate release of 10 UN staff members detained in Ethiopia.

"As far as the Secretary-General is aware, the staff members are being held without charge, and no specific information has been provided regarding the reasons for their arrest," said a statement made by his spokesperson.

UN personnel carry out critical and impartial work in Ethiopia, the statement said, adding the Secretary-general stresses the obligation of respecting the privileges and immunities of UN personnel, both international and Ethiopian, as well as protecting UN personnel and other humanitarian workers in Ethiopia, including from arbitrary detention.

"The course of military conflict will not bring lasting peace and stability to Ethiopia," said the statement, adding the Guterres urges the parties to end hostilities and prioritize the welfare of civilians, noting safe and unhindered humanitarian access must be restored urgently.

"He underlines that the challenges facing Ethiopia can only be resolved through dialogue involving all Ethiopians," it said.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : As many as five Nigerian nationals were booked by the Delhi Police for illegally staying in India, an official said here on Thursday.

According to the official, all the accused Nigerian nationals were residing at Om Vihar, Uttam Nagar in the city. The accused were identified as -- Dalington, Theophilus, Sundy Patrick, Nmadi and Nonso.

The police got information that some African nationals were illegally residing in the Uttam Nagar area. Acting on the tip-off, a team of six policemen was formed to nab the accused.

The accused foreigners were apprehended by the police in the area of Uttam Nagar Police Station at the Najafgarh Road, near Nawada, Delhi.

After their apprehension, the cops asked them to produce the passport and visa, but they could not produce the same and were found overstaying in India without valid documents.

"The police have registered an FIR under sections 14-A of the Foreigners Act and further probe is on," an official said.

Notably, the Dwarka district police had recently launched 'Operation Varchasva' in their mission to make Dwarka area crime free. Since the launch of the operation, several gangsters, snatchers and robbers have been arrested in a small period of time. The police are also keeping a tab on illegally staying foreigners in the area.
Baku/Yerevan, Nov 18 : Azerbaijan and Armenia have separately announced that soldiers have died in clashes that broke out along the countries' border.

In a statement on Wednesday, Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry said that seven soldiers were killed, and 10 others wounded in the clashes on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, the Armenian Defence Ministry said one soldier was killed, and 24 others were reportedly missing in the clashes, adding that troops were captured by Azerbaijani forces.

Two Armenian military positions were taken by the Azerbaijani side, it further claimed.

Both sides have accused each other of launching provocative attacks.

Hours after the clashes, the two countries reached a Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Both confirmed on Wednesday that the clashes had stopped, and that the border situation was stable since the ceasefire.

The last round of major armed clashes between the two South Caucasian countries over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh broke out in September last year, that claimed the loves of more than 6,000 people.

It ended with a Russia-brokered truce in November 2020.

Some 2,000 Russian peacekeepers were deployed to patrol the area in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.
November 18 : Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa Paul returned to Mumbai after their wedding in Chandigarh. They tied the knot on November 15 at the Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort. The couple was in a relationship for 11 years.

The newly wedded couple returned to Mumbai on Wednesday night, and was seen walking hand-in-hand at the airport. They also posed for pictures, amidst shouts from paparazzi who called out for Patralekhaa as bhabiji. The actress looked at Rajkummar and burst out laughing. Rajkummar donned a white shirt with some frill details and teamed it with white pants. Patralekhaa wore a red saree with a red spaghetti strapped blouse. Her mangalsutra and sindoor also grabbed eyeballs.

Meanwhile, actor Zeeshan Ayyub shared a couple of pictures of newly wedded couple from their wedding. Taking to his Instagram page, Zeeshan shared the photos, in which the couple were seen dressed in their wedding attires, as they posed with Zeeshan Ayyub. Sharing the pictures, Zeeshan wrote, "Mere bhai ki shaadi (My brother's wedding)(red heart emojis)...Two of the most genuine people, marry each other...they are truly made for each othercongratulations @rajkummar_rao & @patralekhaa much (red heart emoji)."

Several filmmakers and actors attended Rajkummar and Patralekhaas wedding. It was almost like a union of the filmmakers with the presence of Farah Khan, Hansal Mehta, Anubhav Sinha, Anurag Basu, Raj and DK. Siddharth of Rang De Basanti fame and Aditi Rao Hydari also attended the wedding.

On Monday, Patralekhaa and Rajkummar shared the news of their wedding on their respective Instagram handles. Sharing pictures from the wedding, Rajkummar wrote, Finally after 11 years of love, romance, friendship and fun, I got married to my everything today, my soulmate, my best friend, my family. Today there is no greater happiness for me than being called your husband @patralekhaa Heres to forever .. and beyond.

The couple wore personalised Sabyasachi outfits on their special day. Patralekhaa's wedding ensemble consisted of a red tulle embroidered saree with butis and an embroidered veil, inscribed with a Bengali verse written and dedicated by Sabyasachi for the adorable couple. The actress completed her look with heritage jewellery in 22k gold with uncut diamonds, pearls and emeralds, also by Sabyasachi.

Rajkummar wore a silk kurta and churidar from Sabyasachis collection. He teamed his kurta with an embroidered raw silk jacket in ivory colour with gold plated Bengal tiger buttons. He also wore handcrafted Sabyasachi heritage jewellery in strands of cultured Japanese pearls.
Colombo, Nov 18 : US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met virtually earlier this week to ensure competition between Beijing and Washington does not lead to conflict. The tensions over Taiwan, bilateral trade, Indo-Pacific security have escalated over time. The meeting came at the backdrop of warnings by senior-level security experts against Chinas military buildup and its hypersonic missile capability.

The virtual meeting failed to produce major breakthroughs, according to Amy Mackinnon, but it did lower the temperature as geopolitical tensions rise, China is already assiduously securing its national interest detrimental to many South Asian nations, and Sri Lanka is a clear case of the Chinese grip due to its militaristic regime and the escalating economic crisis.

Sri Lanka, the island-nation closer to the Indian sub-continent, has been a clear case study to understand the implications of China's large scale infrastructure projects, vaccine diplomacy, and Chinese loans. Being aided by a regime with a military grip headed by a former military officer, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Beijing found the present regime more conducive than the first Rajapaksa regime in 2005-2015 due to its military orientation.

China has built two critical infrastructure facilities facing the Indian ocean -- the Hambantota Port and the Colombo Port City. China has secured long term foothold from lease agreements signed loosely where these facilities could transform to military outposts. China cleverly demonstrates that it has no malign intentions to make it military by floating the idea that third countries could invest in the Chinese infrastructure. However, where are the third countries? It is more of a strategy to hide the military intentions from the public perception.

A new Pentagon report highlights China's "intention to establish a more robust overseas logistics and basing infrastructure to allow the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to project and sustain military power at greater distances. Beyond its base in Djibouti, China is pursuing additional military facilities to support naval, air, ground, cyber, and space power projection. China has likely considered a number of countries, including Sri Lanka, as locations for PLA facilities".

With multiple financial borrowings from China, Sri Lanka has become heavily dependent on China. This is further exacerbated by the presuusere that China exerts on domestic politics. Pressure exerted on the regime is visible from the recent Chinese fertiliser shipment rejected by Sri Lankan authorities.

The Chinese Embassy tweeted blacklisting Sri Lanka's People's Bank explaining the events leading to the aggressive decision.

In a tweet, the mission said: "Seawin (Chinese company) won open bid, signed contracts, passed tests of China and Int'l agency designated by Ceylon Fertilizer, shipped before due. NPQ SL disagreed in halfway, called toxic/harmful. Ship refused. Third-party test refused. L/C payment obligation refused. PBS blacklisted." The blacklisting was a clear warning of Chinese pressure on Sri Lanka.

Ajantha De Silva, director-general, Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture, said: "Our tests on the samples showed that the (Chinese) fertiliser was not sterile. We have identified bacteria which are harmful to plants like carrots and potatoes." The clear rejection was a black mark for the Chinese fertiliser company Qingdao Seawin defending and saying: "The unscientific detection method and conclusion of National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQ) in Sri Lanka obviously do not comply with international animal and plant quarantine convention" and falsely accuses Chinese company to slander the image of the Chinese enterprises and the Chinese government.

While the Sri Lankan authorities have not changed their position, the Chinese would prefer to retest the sample from a third party. The authorities rejected this attempt to retest. The question is why is the Chinese ship 'Hippo Sprit' is still in Sri Lankan waters. After the Sri Lankan authorities rejected these shipments a month before the ship was seen closer to the Sri Lankan waters in November. China is pressuring the Sri Lankan government to accept an alternative process (third party test) to save the reputation of their global company Qingdao Seawind. The blacklisting of the bank was an initial indicator to exert pressure on the regime. Another reason for the ship to remain in Sri Lankan waters was explained by Nalinda Jayatissa member of the JVP political party, due to a substantial underhand corruption between the Prime Minister's office and the local agents of the Chinese company.

The fertiliser incident was an eye-opener to the regime to recalibrate its posture and balance the China tilt and dependency. New Delhi stepped in to support Sri Lanka to promote organic fertiliser amidst the tussle between Colombo and Beijing. The two Indian IAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft arrived in Colombo with 100,000 kg of nano nitrogen. India will be able to bounce back and reduce the Chinese footprint in the island now, and the Sri Lankan government could recalibrate its China bandwagoning foreign policy posture.

China depicted their aggressive posture over the fertiliser incident when Sri Lanka is facing a severe economic crisis. The same aggressiveness of China is visible in India's immediate periphery, according to Rajeswari Rajagopalan. China is building villages in Arunachal Pradesh where they are populating with perhaps military/civil population. In Ladakh, there are at least nine patrol points in the fingers area and south of Demchok that India is no longer able to access, which are severe concerns for the security of India. Adding to this is China's pressure and expanse in Sri Lanka.

Clearly, "India's behaviour has been defensive in both diplomatic and military spheres, while China has adopted an extremely aggressive tone and engaged in similar military behaviour", assess Rajagopalan.

This Indian posture could change if the present aggressiveness continues escalating in India's periphery.

Protest over economic dysfunctionality in Sri Lanka Synchronously, addressing the insurmountable external foreign pressure and the domestic public frustration over a heightened economic crisis will be a formidable challenge for the Sri Lankan regime. The new budget presented by Finance minister Basil Rajapaksa did not suggest any solution to the foreign exchange crisis the country is facing nor the food crisis stemming from the recent ban on agro-chemical fertiliser. Thousands gathered in a mass rally in Colombo to demonstrate their frustration and anger over the Sri Lankan repressive regime of Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The economic crisis triggered multiple shocks, including shortage of essentials and the rising cost of living was the substantial factor for the public agitation despite multiple attempts by the Police to prevent the rally, being organised without the approval of the health authorities. The regime has abused the pandemic restrictions for their benefit, to suppress the democratic norms of the country and expand its autocratic rule. The massive protest depicts the apparent anger of the public risking to protect the democratic essence of the country.

Despite various attempts by the government, including court orders, to prevent the protest march, the main opposition party SJB, held the rally in Colombo. The heavily militarised regime in Sri Lanka will face severe headwinds in the coming months on the escalating economic crisis and human rights abuse.

The majoritarian polity shows signs of a clear shift, a detachment from the Rajapaksa regime. The arbitrary detention of hundreds using the PTA and handing over the crucial 'one country one law' task force to an ultra-nationalist Buddhist monk was a disappointment for the minority community, overall the policy prescription of the regime are all signs towards anarchy and a crisis worsening by the day.

(Asanga Abeyagoonasekera is a Geopolitical Analyst, Strategic Advisor on Security and Author from Sri Lanka)
Colombo, Nov 18 : Sri Lankan health authorities have started administering Covid-19 booster shots to people aged 60 and above.

The booster dose administration started on Wednesday in Western and Southern Provinces and the Anuradhapura and Ampara districts.

Doctors on the ground told Xinhua news agency that the Pfizer jab is used as the booster dose, and that all people in the cited age group can visit their nearby inoculation centres with their vaccine cards to take the third shot, regardless of whatever vaccine they received as the first or second dose.

The first and second doses administered in Sri Lanka were the Sputnik V, Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinopharm.

Health officials said people over 60 are eligible for the booster dose if it has been three months since they received the second dose.

Officials also called on people not to queue up at vaccination centres but to await a digital message to be sent to them stating the vaccination time.

According to health authorities, the booster dose rollout in the country started earlier with frontline health workers including security forces personnel, with over 120,000 people having so far received it.

According to official statistics, 93.5 per cent of the population over 20 years of age in Sri Lanka have been fully vaccinated.

As of Thursday, Sri Lanka's overall Covid caseload and death toll stood at 553,722 and 14,057.
Ankara, Nov 18 : Turkey and the US have agreed to continue talks on Ankara's demand to acquire F-16 fighter jets after a meeting between the two sides was conducted in a "positive and constructive atmosphere", the Defence Ministry here said.

During the meeting in Washington on Wednesday, delegations from the two sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional defence and security issues, and the agreed to hold their next talks in Ankara, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

The Turkish delegation was visiting Washington for discussions on the country's proposal to acquire more F-16 jets and for modernisation of its current fleet with the money paid to the US for the F-35 fighter jet program, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said while addressing a parliament budget meeting on Tuesday.

Turkey's procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defence systems prompted the US administration to suspend Ankara's participation in the F-35 joint program in 2019.

Tensions between the US and Turkey have escalated ever since over the deal, as Washington claimed that the S-400 systems would be incompatible with the NATO system and risk to expose its confidential military information to Russia.

The US imposed sanctions on Turkey over the S-400s, targeting the Turkish defence procurement agency and its officials.

Ankara says it paid $1.4 billion for F-35 jets, and asks for reimbursement with F-16 jets.
Imphal, Nov 18 : A powerful bomb was detonated at Kairang, a Muslim dominated area, in Manipur though none was hurt in the explosion as it occurred early in the morning on Thursday, police said.

Police said that explosion took place in front of the shop of one Mohammad Tolen in Imphal East District at around 4 a.m. on Thursday morning. No organisation has yet claimed responsibility of the blast.

Police personnel led by senior officials immediately rushed to the spot and a search operation was on to nab the perpetrators.

Security forces including Army and para-military Assam Rifles are on high alert in Manipur after the Saturday's deadliest terror attack in which an Assam Rifles Colonel Viplav Tripathi and four jawans of the para-military force were gunned down in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar.

The guerrillas of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) jointly with Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, had also killed Tripathi's wife, their nine-year-old son in the ambush.

After Saturday's bloodiest militant attack, the security forces recovered a large cache of powerful Improvised Explosive Devices, fitted with a mobile phone handset and digital watch, from three separate locations in Manipur.

Months ahead of the assembly elections in Manipur, militant activities have increased in the northeastern state with the authorities having asked the security forces to intensify vigil in the sensitive, mixed populated and vulnerable areas.

Elections to the 60-seat Manipur assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.
Hanoi, Nov 18 : For the first time in 20 months, Vietnam has received the first batch of quarantine-free international travellers amid efforts to revive the Covid-battered tourism sector.

Wednesday's arrivals were from Australia, France, South Korea, and the US, and will go on a package tour covering flights and accommodation in Quang Nam province as part of a quarantine waiver for visitors fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Xinhua news agency quoted the local newspaper VnExpress as saying in a report.

The province is scheduled to welcome some 300 other foreign tourists in the next few days under the Vietnamese government's vaccine passport program.

Staff members at resorts and tourist facilities chosen for the trial program have been fully vaccinated, according to provincial authorities.

The central province, home to popular tourist spot Hoi An ancient town, is one of the first five localities allowed to welcome fully vaccinated tourists from this month onwards along with the northern Quang Ninh province, the central Da Nang city and Khanh Hoa province, and the southern Kien Giang province.

Also under the program, Phu Quoc in Kien Giang will welcome some 200 foreign tourists on Saturday, the first international visitors to the island after nearly two years of a ban on tourism due to Covid-19, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Vietnam closed its border and grounded all international flights in March last year due to the pandemic, only allowing entry for repatriates, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers with certain quarantine requirements.

The Southeast Asian country hosted just more than 3.8 million international arrivals in 2020, plunging 78.7 per cent from a record number of over 18 million in 2019, according to its General Statistics Office.
Damascus, Nov 18 : Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said that the Western sanctions imposed on the country are preventing the return of refugees, according to the state news agency SANA.

The senior diplomat made the remarks during a press conference, where he also accused the Western countries of not wanting the return of refugees so they can use the refugees to exert pressure on Damascus, Xinhua news agency quoted the SANA report as saying.

"These countries are taking advantage of the pains of the Syrian refugees for their own political agendas," he said.

The Minister stressed that the Syrian government is exerting "tremendous efforts" to facilitate the return of refugees and is inviting them to return without conditions.

"They don't even need an invitation because this is their country," he said, stressing that the Syrian government is providing all facilitations with the help of friendly countries to realise a volunteer and safe return for the refugees.

According to the Unicef, the Syrian refugee crisis remains the largest displacement crisis in the world, with 5.6 million registered refugees, including over 2.5 million children, living in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

In 2020, the situation in all affected countries was further aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn.

Approximately 20.6 million people, including 6.1 million children, need assistance.

The Syrian refugee crisis is the result of a March 2011 violent government crackdown on public demonstrations.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 18 : With complaints galore in the manner in which Kannur University in Kerala allegedly violated rules to "speed up the process of appointment" of the wife of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's private secretary as Associate Professor, the interview to the post began on Thursday morning amidst protests by the Youth Congress activists.

The Youth Congress activists early Thursday morning arrived at the residence of Kannur University vice-chancellor Gopinath Raveendran and locked the gate.

The ire of the protesters is against Raveendran as he is the person who is doing all this as he is retiring in a few days time.

The police had a tough time as the Congress protesters put up a stiff resistance and in the end the police had to use force and after removing the protesters, Raveendran's car moved forward as he wanted to be on time for the online interview.

In the melee, he told the media, the interview will go on as scheduled.

The Save University Campaign Committee and others have written to Kerala Higher Education Minister R. Bindhu and Kannur University Vice Chancellor Gopinath Raveendran to check if the UGC rules were violated while short listing Priya Varghese's name for the post.

Priya figures in the list of six candidates called for the interview.

The ground of those opposed to the way rules are being swept under the carpet to allegedly favour Priya is she joined as an Assistant Professor of Malayalam at the Kerala Varma College in Trissur in 2012.

And those who have come out against this pointed out that the qualifications for an Associate Professor includes PhD and eight years of teaching experience, adding Priya does not have that.

They claimed that for three years, she had taken leave for PhD, and it cannot be counted as teaching experience.

Besides, they submitted that her experience of two years, when she was student director on deputation at the Kannur University, also cannot be counted as teaching experience.

Therefore, taking these factors into consideration, she does not have the eight years teaching experience that has been prescribed as the qualification for the post of Associate Professor.

Priya however has reacted by saying that she has all the required qualifications, and she is eligible for the post and hence, she has applied.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hyderabad, Nov 18 : Hyderabad police have booked former Uttar Pradesh Shia Wakf Board chairman Wasim Rizvi and his associates for allegedly creating hatred against Muslims and insulting Prophet Mohammed.

On a complaint by AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, an FIR was registered at Kamatipura police station.

Rizvi and his associates have been booked under sections 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups), 153 B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration), 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (1) C (Publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report with intent to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community).

"Following our complaint against Wasim Rizvi for creating hatred against Muslims & insulting Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), FIR has been registered and case has been entrusted to SI, Kamatipura PS. We hope that immediate action is taken," Owaisi tweeted.

A delegation of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi had called on Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar on Wednesday seeking action against Rizvi.

The delegation brought to the police commissioner's notice that Rizvi authored a book in which he "vilified" Prophet Mohammed.

The AIMIM alleged that Rizvi's statements are also targeted at creating a feeling of enmity against Muslims of India which is likely to result in a threat to the breach of peace.

Owaisi told reporters they also gave the commissioner excerpts of the book. He said the police commissioner assured the delegation that a criminal case will be booked.

The MP hoped Telangana government will not only book the case and arrest the accused. He also appealed to Muslims and other peace loving people of the country to file criminal cases against Rizvi.
Srinagar, Nov 18 : On a day the J&K Lt. Governor ordered a magisterial probe into the Hyderpora encounter in which four persons were killed, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said the "police is open to correction if anything has gone wrong".

Earlier in the day, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a time bound magisterial probe into Monday's Hyderpora encounter in which, according to the police, 'a foreign terrorist, his local associate, Altaf Ahmad (owner of the building where the encounter took place) and Dr Mudasir (was running a call centre in a rented floor of the building, but was a terror associate), were killed.

Families of the building owner, Altaf Ahmad and Dr Mudasir have demanded their bodies to be returned so that the last rites could be performed.

The families also challenged the authorities to prove that the two civilians had anything to do with militancy.

All the four persons slain in the Hyderpora encounter were buried by the authorities in north Kashmir Handwara tehsil after the demand of the families to return the bodies was turned down.

Dilbag Singh (DGP) told some reporters, "We will look into the demands of the families. We are open to corrections if anything has gone wrong. A police probe will also find out what went wrong.

"We will find out what happened in the Hyderpora encounter. We are for the safety of people and will not shy away from a probe." All mainstream politicians, including three former Chief Ministers (Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti), Sajad Lone of the Peoples Conference and Yusuf Tarigami of the CPI-M have demanded an impartial probe into the incident.

Peoples Conference leaders, including Abdul Gani Vakil, Khurshid Alam and others carried out a protest against the Hyderpora incident.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Buenos Aires, Nov 18 : Everyone in Argentina should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before autumn arrives in the Southern Hemisphere, Health Minister Carla Vizzotti said.

Some "80 per cent of the people in Argentina have had at least one dose", and by Wednesday some 60 per cent, or about 27.5 million people, "were fully vaccinated", Xinhua news agency quoted Vizzotti as saying.

"Completing the vaccination timetable and doing the booster shot is very important, because we are seeing the pandemic of the unvaccinated in the Northern Hemisphere," she said.

"That is why we must prepare strongly for the fall with the entire population vaccinated with both doses and booster shots," she stressed, adding "the good news is that we have stock." The austral fall season begins on June 21, 2022.

Argentina detected its first case of Covid-19 in March 2020.

As of Friday, the country has registered 5,310,334 cases of the infection and 116,313 deaths from the disease.
Seoul, Nov 18 : South Korea, the US and Japan agreed during their latest vice foreign ministerial talks to keep working together for regional peace and response to such global issues as climate change, supply chain resilience and Covid-19, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said on Thursday.

South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun held the meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese counterpart Takeo Mori in Washington D.C., reports Yonhap News Agency.

"The vice ministers of the three nations shared the perception that the Korean Peninsula and regional peace, stability and prosperity are in their shared interests and also agreed to expand substantive cooperation in such regions as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Central America," the Ministry said in a statement.

"The three also agreed to pursue future-oriented, mutually beneficial cooperation on the pending global issues, including the climate change, (global) supply chain and the Covid-19 response," it added.

The Washington session, meanwhile, laid bare a deep rift between the two of Washington's key Asian allies, which have long bickered over shared history and territory issues.

A joint news conference of the trio was cancelled at the last minute, as the Japanese official boycotted it in protest of South Korean police chief's visit to the easternmost islets of Dokdo earlier this week, according to Choi.

Dokdo is a set of South Korea-controlled islets in the East Sea. Tokyo lays claim to the islets.

In her solo news conference, Sherman said the US was very satisfied with its consultations with South Korea and Japan on the best way to denuclearize Korea.

Choi said South Korea was also satisfied with the "speed" and "direction" of its discussions with the US on declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War as a way to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.

On Thursday, Seoul's Foreign Ministry reiterated its clear position on the sovereignty over Dokdo.

"Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically and by international law," Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam said in a briefing.

"The government's position remains the same that it will sternly respond to Japan's unreasonable claims over Dokdo."
Jaipur, Nov 18 : A BJP MLA from Gogunda has been accused of rape for the second time in ten months.

A case was lodged against Pratap Lal Gameti in Udaipur's Ambamata police station on Wednesday based on a woman's complaint.

Police, after recording the statement, got the victim's medical test done.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that she had gone to the MLA for a job after which he started abusing her sexually for almost two years on the pretext of marriage.

Recently, after the Vallabhnagar Assembly by-election, he stopped taking her calls and hence she decided to lodge a complaint.

The 38-year-old woman gave a written complaint in the SP's office on Wednesday following which a case was registered. The case is currently with a CID-CB team headed by ASP Anjana Sukhwal.

The victim said that she came in touch with the MLA two years back when she approached him for a job. First, they socialised and then he forced her to have physical relations on the pretext of marriage. The MLA continued to exploit her by threatening to kill her.

Nine months back, the 52-year-old MLA was accused of rape by another BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh. The woman had alleged that the MLA promised to marry her citing his unhappy married life.

This case also was investigated by CB-CID. However, the matter was settled after mutual agreement.

The MLA has been sarpanch twice in his native village Dadia.
Tokyo, Nov 18 : Japan plans to spend a record 55.7 trillion yen ($488 billion) on an economic stimulus package, which is designed to help recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, local media reported on Thursday.

The total package, including funds that do not lead to immediate spending, will be worth 78.9 trillion yen and is set to be approved by the Cabinet on Friday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The amount of the package has turned out to be larger than expected, as the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to increase support for households and companies.

The key measures in the package include handouts of 100,000 yen in cash and vouchers for children aged 18 or younger, wage hikes for nurses and care workers, and financial aid of up to 2.5 million yen each for smaller companies suffering from the pandemic.

The Japanese government is hoping to pass a supplementary budget to fund the package in an extraordinary parliamentary session scheduled by the year-end, and the size of the budget is expected to be 31.9 trillion yen.
Patna, Nov 18 : Former MP Anand Mohan has alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is torturing him by illegally extending his jail term despite completing 14 years life imprisonment in Saharsa prison.

While interacting with media persons during a hearing in Saharsa district court on Thursday, Anand Mohan said, "either Nitish Kumar will shoot me or will put poison in my food to kill me. He has crossed all limits.

"I completed 14 years of life imprisonment five-and-a-half month ago, still Nitish Kumar is not allowing me to come out of the jail. It is a clear violation of the Supreme Court order. Moreover, he has used government machinery to frame me under wrong charges of keeping a mobile in my cell," Anand Mohan said.

Anand Mohan pointed out that the district magistrate and Saharsa SP conducted a raid at the district jail and alleged that they recovered 4 mobile phones from my cell.

"I have already completed 14 years of life imprisonment, why would I take chances? They have levelled a false charge to keep me inside the prison," he said.

"During the raid, the DM and Saharsa SP were outside the prison gate while DSP and SDO went inside. They registered an FIR upon recovering 4 mobile phones from my cell. Moreover, the complaint was lodged on a plea by the jail superintendent who was in the jail premises at that time," Anand Mohan said.

Anand Mohan was convicted and imprisoned for the murder of then Gopalganj DM G. Krishnaiyya in 1994. The lower court had awarded him death penalty in 2007 but the judgement was challenged in the Patna high court which gave the benefit of doubt to him and changed the sentence to life imprisonment.

The high court found that G. Krishnaiyyah was lynched by a mob and Anand Mohan was present there.

As per an official, Anand Mohan was close friends with then Muzaffarpur don Chhotan Shukla. When Chhotan Shukta was killed in 1994, Anand Mohan participated in his funeral. When supporters of Chhotan Shukla were taking his body to the cremation ground, a red beacon car came there. The angry mob, on seeing a red beacon car, attacked it. The car was occupied by Gopalganj DM G. Krishnaiyyah. The mob kept beating him until he died. As Anand Mohan was also present there, he was booked on a murder charge and for abetting the mob to kill the officer.
San Francisco, Nov 18 : Apple has released an update to its mobile operating system to fix dropped calls on iPhone devices, including the iPhone 12 and 13.

The release of the iOS 15.1.1, an updated version of the iOS 15.1, fixes the call drop performance issue on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 as well as the usual bug fixes.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 users have recently experienced consistent dropped calls on their devices, preventing them from receiving incoming calls.

Apple users on an online community in South Korea also reported similar experiences, particularly among those subscribed to LG Uplus Corp., a major South Korean telecom operator, reports Yonhap news agency.

An official at LG Uplus said the company has received complaints among its customers and is working to identify the exact cause.

Users can now update to the latest iOS from the Settings app on their devices.

Apple recently introduced a new 15.1.1 software update designed for the HomePod.

According to Apple's release notes, the update addresses a problem that could cause podcasts to fail to play on the HomePod and HomePod mini.

Apple's smart speakers will automatically update themselves, but users can do it manually.

To perform a manual HomePod software update, open the Home app then tap on the Home icon in the upper-left corner of the screen. Choose Home Settings from the resulting pop-up window. Then choose Software Update. Apple's support website has more details.
Mumbai, Nov 18 : Filmmaker Luv Ranjan's untitled next featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor will release on January 26, 2023.

Earlier this year, the makers had announced that the Ranbir-Shraddha starrer will release in Holi 2022.

After delivering back to back super hits like 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' franchise and 'Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety', Luv is currently busy finishing his next untitled romantic comedy.

The details of the project are kept under wraps by the makers. It's learnt that the makers are in Delhi to start the last leg of shoot in India.

Produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg and presented by Bhushan Kumar, the untitled next starring Ranbir and Shraddha will also feature Dimple Kapadia and Boney Kapoor.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Tel Aviv, Nov 18 : An Israeli couple jailed in Istanbul for suspicion of espionage, was released by Turkey and arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday, according to a statement issued by the government here.

"After joint efforts with Turkey, Mordi and Natali Oknin were released from prison and are on their way home to Israel," the statement issued by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said.

Bennett and Lapid expressed their gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government "for their cooperation", reports Xinhua news agency Photos released later by the Israel Airports Authority showed the couple arriving at the Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv in central Israel.

Bennett published on his Twitter account a photo of the couple hugging their son and daughter at the exit of the plane, and wrote: "Welcome home." The couple was arrested for espionage last week after taking photos of the Ottoman-era Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul while taking a tour on a ferry.

Parts of the building are used as the Istanbul office of Erdogan.

After the arrest, Lapid denied the couple worked for any "Israeli agency".
Chennai, Nov 18 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to convert eight State Highways into National Highways.

Stalin in a letter to PM Modi said the eight State Highways are important roads connecting significant pilgrimage centres like Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchendur and Palani, major trade and tourist centres.

"Hence, these roads need immediate improvements to fulfill the needs of the road users," Stalin said.

The eight roads are: Thiruvannamalai-Kallakurichi, Vallioor-Tiruchendur, Kollegal-Hanur-MM Hills-Palar Road-TN Border extended up to Mettur in Tamil Nadu, Palani-Dharapuram, Arcot-Tindivanam, Mettupalayam-Bhavani, Avinashi-Mettupalayam and Bhavani-Karur, totalling 500 km.

Stalin said 'in-principle' approval was granted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for conversion of eight roads into National Highways and sanction had also been accorded for the preparation of detailed project reports (DPR) in 2016 and 2017.

"The proposals for declaration of the roads have also been presented to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H) on 06.12.2018. However, formal notifications for the declaration of these roads as new National Highways are yet to be issued by the Ministry," Stalin said.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched an investigation into Texas-based Cassava Sciences. The agency will investigate claims that the company manipulated research data on its experimental Alzheimer's drug, Simufilam, Biospace reported.

In an SEC filing on November 15, Cassava indicated it was cooperating with government investigations, although it did not name which government agency or agencies were requesting information. The company emphasized that an investigation is not a sign of wrongdoing, the report said.

Since 2015, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded up to $20 million in grants to the company and its academic collaborators. According to Remi Barbier, president and chief executive officer of Cassava, the NIH is also investigating the claims.

The original allegations occurred in a public petition in August asking the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to suspend the company's clinical trials, the report said. The authors of the petition are two physicians who, according to the Wall Street Journal, "said they came to doubt Cassava's research and have shorted its stock, betting the share price would fall once investors recognized the problem they found." The physicians are David Bredt, former neuroscience research chief at Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly, and Geoffrey Pitt, a cardiologist and professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. They argued that Cassava's published research included images of experiments that seemed to have been manipulated using Photoshop or similar software. They are being represented by Jordan Thomas, partner and chair of the whistleblower representation practice at Labaton Sucharow. A second Citizen Petition was filed in October 2021, the report added.

Barbier responded in a statement in October, saying, "There is zero evidence, zero credible evidence, zero proof that I've ever engaged in, nor anyone I know, has ever engaged in funny business." He claims that short sellers - essentially betting that a stock price will go down - have lodged "outlandish accusations" against Cassava. "Under these conditions you would hope that someone in a position of authority is looking into the legitimacy of the allegations", the report added.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Re-entering India's sky after a gap of nearly 10 years, the Texas-based American Airlines is looking to connect more destinations, especially Mumbai to the US, via non-stop services.

Besides, the airline sees the sector gaining more capacity as competition heats-up, notably from the Tata Group-backed Air India.

This week, American Airlines launched a new non-stop flight between New York to New Delhi on a Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

In a conversation with IANS, Tom Lattig, Managing Director, EMEA, Sales at American Airlines said the airline has seen healthy demand from 'visiting friends and relatives' (VFR) in this sector.

Besides, the airline expects to cater to more of student traffic from the new academic session.

"We know there are a lot of Indian students in North America, who will travel back and forth. There is also a huge Indian population in the United States. So that is the biggest segment right now.

"We are also seeing quite a bit of North America point of sale, leisure business. So we do see some leisure customers, and then the corporate business is still a bit slow to materialise, but we do expect corporate recovery will happen," Lattig told IANS.

After Delhi, the airline plans to start a Bengaluru-Seattle service from March 2022.

"We are going to work really closely with IndiGo to make sure that we have good connecting times and services for both Chennai and Hyderabad for our Bengaluru service, and as the markets develop, we will evaluate, whether or not it makes sense to add more nonstop flights," Lattig added.

At present, the airline it has a codeshare agreemnet with IndiGo.

In aviation parlance, a codeshare agreement allows airlines to sell seats on each others' flights in order to provide passengers with a wider choice of destinations.

On other new destinations, he cited the airline's interest in launching a new non-stop flight to Mumbai. "Certainly, I think Mumbai is one we would look at." Additionally, Lattig acknowledged the foreseeable competition in the sector.

"We certainly expect Air India and other airlines to be competitors for non-stop flying between India and North America. We are going to reach a lot more of the Indian market through our partnership with IndiGo, as long as, we have a fair level playing field to compete.

"I am sure there will be more capacity that gets added to the India-US market and we will add more capacity when we think it makes sense but good luck to Air India.

"I think they have got new backing and support from the Tatas, which should be good for them. We look forward to compete against them," he added.

(Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
November 18 : The makers of Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui dropped a new song from the film, titled Tumbe Te Zumba. The super peppy track is sung by Sukhwinder Singh, Sachin and Jigar, and composed by the duo Sachin-Jigar. Its lyrics are penned by IP Singh.

Tumbe Te Zumba music video features Vaani Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurana. Vaani is seen as a zumba instructor at a gym where Ayushmann is a trainer. While Vaani looked stunning as she does zumba in the video, Ayushmann sported a never-seen-before look with a ponytail and bulging biceps. His new look is quite different from his previous characters in films like Badhaai Do, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and Bala.

Sharing the track on Instagram, Vaani wrote, "Zumba, Eat, Sweat, Repeat." Ayushmann also shared the music video and wrote, "Jumba teacher ho ya Zumba. Hum toh bas dekhte hi reh gaaye."

Directed by Abhishek Kapoor and produced by T-Series in collaboration with Guy In The Sky Pictures, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is scheduled for theatrical release on December 10, 2021. While Ayushmann plays a gym bro named Manu, Vaani Kapoor plays a zumba instructor named Maanvi. They fall in love but their love hits a roadblock when Manu comes to know about Maanvi's gender identity.

At the recent trailer launch of the film in Mumbai, Ayushmann had said, This is very special for me because it's happening after two years. It feels like this is my first film, my first launch. I'm getting those butterflies. I'd like to thank Abhishek sir for his vision and Vaani Kapoor for being a revelation in the film. It's an extremely unique script that we have. I'd like to thank the audience for supporting the theatres.

About the script of the film, Ayushmann said, "Such unique scripts like Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui trigger community conversations and it is imperative that such films have a community watching experience which can only happen in a theatre. The actor is known for his choice of unconventional filmsbe it about sperm donation, LGBTQ+ relationships, or erectile dysfunctionAyushmann is often credited for bringing stories which are otherwise not considered as mainstream.

With Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Abhishek Kapoor returns to direction after three years after his romantic film Kedarnath, starring late actor Sushant Singh Rajput and Sara Ali Khan.
Bengaluru, Nov 18 : The kingpin of sensational Bitcoin scandal Srikrishna Ramesh has gone incommunicado in spite of the Karnataka government instructing the police to provide security to him.

The accused has gone into hiding after switching off his mobile phone. Even his family members seem to have no clue of his whereabouts.

Karnataka police was instructed to provide security to him on the insistence of Opposition leader Siddaramaiah who feared threat for the accused's life.

Siddaramaiah had claimed that since thousands of crores of ruprees are involved and many powerful politicians are said to be hand in glove with the accused, there is danger to his life.

The police department had decided to provide him a gunman for security. When police tried to approach the accused, they could not find him. His family informed the police that Ramesh was not at home.

Now, the police department is in a fix because if anything happens to the accused, there will be huge political fallout. The scandal is being discussed in the national capital and even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised concern over the handling of the scandal by the Karnataka government.

Police have asked the kingpin's family to contact them as soon as they hear from him. The cops are also tracking his friends to get a clue on his whereabouts.
Srinagar, Nov 18 : The Hyderpora killings have raised a political storm in Kashmir with every party registering protest and seeking the handing over of the bodies of two of the four killed in the encounter to their families. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sat on dharna on Thursday, Congress veteran leader Saifuddin Soz wrote a letter to LG and many other parties took out marches.

Accompanied by some senior party leaders, Omar Abdullah sat on dharna at the 'Gool Chakri' (Fourway traffic junction) in Sonwar area of Srinagar.

When the reporters asked Omar about his reaction to the Lt. Governor's decision to hold a magisterial probe into the encounter, he said, "I have nothing to do with that magisterial probe. If I had anything to do with it, then I would not be sitting on dharna here.

"My demand is that the bodies of the civilians killed in this encounter be returned to their families".

Reacting to police statements on Hyderpora encounter, Omar Abdullah said, "I am still unable to understand what does the term hybrid militant mean.

"I was chief minister for 6 years. I headed unified headquarter meetings and would get intelligence reports. I never heard the term hybrid militant.

Condemning the Hyderpora incident, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz said that he has written a letter to the LG.

"Today, I have written strongly to the Hon'ble Lt. Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha regarding the recent Hyderpora Encounter and brought to his notice the public perception based on facts related to it.

"In my letter, I told the Lt. Governor that the killings could have been avoided if the representatives of the administrative machinery had adopted the method of getting to know the facts for a response that would be largely in the public interest.

"I laid great stress on the fact that the Killings of innocent civilians were a great sin, especially, when the killings necessarily provoked Social-Commotion," Soz said in his statement.

He further stated that he has told the Lt. Governor that the evidence of the episode clearly shows that the killings could have been avoided.

"I earnestly requested him to institute a high level enquiry into the episode so that facts come to light, keeping the larger public interest in view," he added.

"Meanwhile, I also earnestly requested Lt. Governor that the bodies of the slain Altaf Ahmad Bhat, Dr. Mudasir Gul and Aamir Ahmad should be handed over to the families concerned immediately for which they have been requesting the Administration, consistently." The J&K Peoples Conference also held a protest demanding the return of bodies of the civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter and initiation of a judicial probe by a serving High Court Judge into the matter.

The party's senior vice president Abdul Gani Vakil said that the Hyderpora encounter is strife with doubts when seen with perception of neutrality and it is only after impartial or neutral probe that the recent turn of events would be justly perceivable to every citizen of this country beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Our President Mr. Sajad Lone has already appealed to the Prime Minister for his personal intervention in ensuring justice is delivered to the families of the victims. The LG has ordered a probe by an ADM rank officer, however, we demand a judicial probe by a sitting judge so that neutrality in the investigation is beyond doubt.

"We stand in solidarity with the families of Altaf Bhat and Dr. Mudassir Gul and share their pain and agony in this hour of grief. We also appeal to every media outlet and civil society of India to raise this issue with utmost urgency and sincerity", he added.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Two members of the Sikh community are being evacuated from war-torn Afghanistan, officials of India World Forum said on Thursday.

Satveer Singh, an Indian citizen serving as Head Granthi at Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Kabul, for the past twenty one years and Sorjit Singh, Afghan Citizen hailing from Khost Province and caretaker of Gurdwara situated there, were evacuated on Thursday.

The Indian government in coordination with India World forum has made this evacuation process possible. India World Forum in a statement said, "On the eve of 552nd Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev, Indian World Forum in coordination with the Government of India and assistance from Sobti Foundation has evacuated two persons from Afghanistan earlier today".

Both the evacuees - Indian Citizen Satvir Singh and Afghan citizen Sorjit Singh will land at New Delhi airport through private airline on Friday. Both of them are having a night stay in Tehran.

However, a total of 218 Afghan Citizens belonging to Hindu & Sikh Communities await issuance of e-visas from the Government of India as of date, said Puneet Singh Chandhok, Indian World Forum President.

India's mission to evacuate its citizens from Kabul started after the Taliban took over the power in Afghanistan and seized the capital city. The evacuation mission has been named as "Operation Devi Shakti".

India began the complex evacuation mission by airlifting 40 Indians from Kabul to Delhi on August 16. So far, India has evacuated over 800 people from Afghanistan.

The external affairs ministry had introduced a new category of "e-Emergency X-Misc Visa" of electronic/e-visa in August to fast track applications of Afghan citizens wanting to enter India.

India World Forum has thanked the Ministry of External Affairs and other agencies involved in the evacuation process.
Bengaluru, Nov 18 : "The US remains India's biggest trading partner and largest export market with trade exploding from approximately $20 billion in 2001 to just over $145 billion in 2019 notwithstanding the pandemic taking a toll on trade," said US Consul General Judith Ravin.

She was addressing members of the US India Business Council after Karnataka IT Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan opened the India-US Tech Conclave on Wednesday night at the 'Bengaluru Tech Summit-2021'.

Judith Ravin, participating in the conclave which has been a new initiative under BTS. said the growth in Indo-US economic ties had been extraordinary and the 2021 data indicate a strong rebound. She said if it continues, the countries would be on track to exceed 2019 numbers.

In addition, she said, the US companies continue to be the biggest source of foreign direct investment, fueling continued growth in India.

Ravin said the US-India bilateral relationship continues to expand on diverse fronts, from collaboration on mitigating the impacts of Covid-19 and climate change to space exploration and both the countries' joint commitment towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The US Consul General said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Joe Biden in September in Washington, D.C. to confirm collaboration and commitments to the Indo-Pacific Region.

"Since that visit, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman have come to India to continue these important discussions in advancing a range of initiatives," she said which would go a long way in cementing ties between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Ravin also announced that the US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to New Delhi on November 22 to meet with her counterpart, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and added that both have agreed to take a comprehensive look at ways to expand the bilateral trade relationship.

"When it comes to business, there is no stronger partner to India than the US. We believe that India's economic strength is not just in India's interest, but in the interest of the United States, the region, and the world," she said.

However, particularly from her perspective in South India, the US Consul General said the commercial ties formed between the US and Indian tech companies -- big and small -- have buoyed our business relationship and supported the recovery in both economies.

"Since my arrival amidst the pandemic just over a year ago, I have witnessed how India's tech sector has successfully adapted to the lockdowns and Covid-19 protocols as well as led by example in accommodating the health and well-being of their workforce while facilitating a seamless work-from-home operation," Ravin said.

The US Consul General said these companies at the same time have stepped up to meet the rising demand of software development, data-driven customer service, and back-office support for US firms, ensuring that economies of both the nations remain on track through these difficult times.

"This support comes at a crucial point in our lives, where we now depend more than ever on emerging technologies to virtually attend school, conduct business, and accomplish everyday tasks online, with the click of a mouse," she said.

Ravin said Bengaluru, as one of the top beneficiaries of US foreign direct investment, has seen the positive impact of quality investments.

"US companies enter foreign markets as true partners and good neighbours. They bring high-paying jobs, advanced technologies, skills, good corporate governance practices, and significant opportunities for Indian Small and Medium Enterprises to integrate with the global economy," she said.
Chennai, Nov 18 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained the red alert issued in Chennai and adjoining districts on Thursday in the wake of heavy rains lashing the area.

According to the IMD, a depression has been formed over SouthWest Bay of Bengal from Thursday morning onwards and is 310 km southeast of Chennai. It may move northwestwards and cross north TN and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh by the early Friday morning, an IMD statement said.

The weather department predicts a very heavy rain spell over Chennai and adjoining districts with very heavy rains likely in several places in the area. It has also predicted very heavy rainfall in South Tamil Nadu.

Tiruppur received the highest rainfall in Tamil Nadu with the district recording 20 cm on the morning of Thursday.

Meanwhile, heavy rains are lashing Puducherry and Karaikal and all the educational institutions remain closed. Police, fire, and rescue forces have been continuously in action. One company of NDRF has also been posted at the revenue control room for any immediate necessity.

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy told mediapersons that the situation is under control and the territory government is monitoring the weather developments closely. He said that all the government departments are coordinating with each other and the back ups are also ready.
Chennai, Nov 18 : The Virudhunagar District Crime Branch Police have registered two cheating cases against Former Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji, his assistants, and a former functionary of the AIADMK.

The cases were registered on the basis of a complaint filed by a former functionary of the AIADMK, K. Nallathambi, that he had collected Rs 1.6 crore from several people and handed over the money to people close to Bhalaji to get government jobs.

One person, S. Raveendran from Sattur in Tamil Nadu said that he had handed over an amount of Rs 30 lakh to K. Nallathambi, union secretary of the AIADMK between November 20 and February 2021.

He complained that he was promised a job as a manager in Aavin by another AIADMK functionary, Mariappan who introduced him to Nallathambi. Raveendran said that he handed over the amount of Rs 30 lakh raised by taking various loans to Nallathambi after meeting Rajenthra Balaji at his residence.

Ravindran also alleged that the Virudhunagar East District Secretary of the AIADMK, Ravichandran was the brother of Nallathambi and that he was also aware of the money being handed over. He said that after the AIADMK lost the Assembly elections and the DMK government assumed office, he was not able to meet any of them.

Meanwhile, Nallathambi has also filed a complaint against former Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji and his accomplices Baburaj, Muthupandian, and Balaraman stating that he had collected Rs 1.60 crore from various people on the instructions from Bhalaji promising them jobs and had handed over the money to Bhalaji and his associates.

Nallathambi also charged that Bhalaji had not repaid him Rs 1.40 crore which he had spent for various programmes of the AIADMK under the instructions of Bhalaji. In the complaint, the former AIADMK functionary also said that he was receiving death threats from Bhalaji and his associates.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 18 : Former Prime Minister H.D.Deve Gowda on Thursday visited the famed Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in the state capital.

Gowda, who is the national president of the Janata Dal (S), is in the state to meet the leaders of his party, which is an ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front government led by Pinarayi Vijayan.

The 88-year-old Rajya Sabha member was accompanied by his state party colleague and Minister for Electricity K. Krishnankutty and other state leaders.

Since the custom of the temple demands all males to enter the sanctum sanctorum clad in a 'dhothi', the former PM followed the rule and spent about 40 minutes in the temple.

The temple became the centre of attraction after a Supreme Court appointed panel stumbled upon six vaults inside it and with just vault B left to be opened. The treasure found in the five vaults has been estimated to be worth over Rs one lakh crore.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 18 : A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed for quality debates in Parliament, former Union Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday took a dig at him and asked will the PM participate in the debate? The BJP has hit back at the former union minister.

In a tweet on Thursday, Chidambaram said, "Interesting to read that PM stressed the need for 'quality debates' in Parliament. He also suggested setting a separate time for quality debates. The question is -- Will PM ever participate in a debate in Parliament?" The Congress has been raising the issue that the Prime Minister hardly comes to Parliament. However, the BJP has hit back and asked who creates pandemonium in the house.

BJP national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal said, "the Prime Minister always tells the MPs to participate in discussions, but the opposition creates ruckus. You see in winter session, the opposition will do that in this session also." Addressing a convention of presiding officers on Wednesday, the Prime Minister proposed whether separate time for Quality Debates could be demarcated. He said such a debate in which traditions of dignity and seriousness are scrupulously followed. With no one making political slurs on anyone. In a way, it should be the 'Healthy Time' of the house, a Healthy Day.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Etawah : , Nov 18 (IANS) Celebrations turned into mourning when a 40-year-old man died due to celebratory firing at a pre-wedding function here on Wednesday night.

The incident took place in Nagla Khushali village under the Jaswantnagar police station area where the 'Tilak' ceremony of Satish Jatav was being held.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jai Prakash Singh, said, "One of the guests, Brijesh Kumar, fired a shot from a country-made weapon and the bullet hit Kamlesh in the chest. He was rushed to a nearby community health centre, where the doctors declared him dead." The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination, the SSP said, adding that efforts are on to nab the culprit, who fled the scene after the incident.
November 18 : After celebrating daughter Aaradhyas 10th birthday in the Maldives, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan returned to Mumbai on Wednesday. The Ponniyin Selvan actress shared a couple of new pictures from the trip.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Aishwarya shared two pictures, where the actress along with Abhishek and Aaradhya posed together for selfies with a hotel staff. In the pictures the mother-daughter duo glammed up while they sported stylish sunglasses.

On Wednesday, Abhishek also shared a picture with Aishwarya and Aaradhya as the family posed with the staff of the Amilla resort in the Maldives, where they stayed. A big thank you to the staff and management of the @amillafushi for making our stay so memorable and comfortable. Especially Gondo. Till we meet again, the actor wrote.

On Aaradhyas birthday on Tuesday, November 16, the star couple wished their princess on social media, as they shared beautiful pictures from her birthday party. Taking to his Instagram handle, Abhishek shared a beautiful picture of Aaradhya and wished her on her tenth birthday. Happy birthday princess! Like your mother says you make the world a better place. We love you and god bless you always, Abhishek captioned the post. Aaradhya wore a pink gown for the party.

Aishwarya also shared a bunch of pictures from Aaradhyas birthday party and wrote, My Angel Aaradhyas 10 You are the reason I breathe my Darling Aaradhya you are my life my soul I love you unconditionally. The party was a pink flamingo-themed one with the birthday girl wearing a pink gown and pink balloons lying all around.

Throughout their stay in the island nation, the couple shared glimpses of the mesmerising views of the ocean and the beach. From the stunning sunset on the ocean to the thrilling dolphins swimming in the blue water, the couple had shared pictures on their respective Instagram handles.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Abhishek Bachchan was recently seen in The Big Bull, in which he played a character inspired by the scam-tainted stockbroker Harshad Mehta. He was recently working on Oththa Seruppu Size 7's remake. It is being directed by R Parthiban. Abhishek has bought the rights for the Hindi remake of the film. Apart from this, the actor will also be seen in the new season of his Amazon Prime series Breathe: Into The Shadows. Aishwarya, on the other hand, will make her come back to the big screen with Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Artist Ranjan Kaul is presenting his fourth solo exhibition titled 'Ringside View' that tells the story of contemporary times through the painter's eyes at Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi (on till November 18).

Ranjan Kaul continues to evolve his nuanced oeuvre that chronicles and portrays quotidian life by infusing it with drama, colour and emotion. He portrays real-life stories not merely as an active participant, but as an empathetic and perceptive observer.

In this exhibition, he showcases not only the time of the pandemic but the pre-and post-pandemic periods as well. The plight of migrant labourers, who travelled thousands of kilometres from the metropolis to their homes and are now back -- once again in search of a livelihood. He has depicted them through a series of artworks like 'Flight to Survival' and 'Rootless', and their life on the footpath as in 'Home and Supper'. In his work 'An Arm and a Leg for a Job', migrant labourers have been shown in post-pandemic times sitting vacantly in the big city, jobless, lost, defeated.

During the lockdown, cars gathered dust, salons downed their shutters. While 'Shine' comments on the futility of the fascination with material want, 'Beauty' draws attention to the growing obsession with the outward self. 'Beauty' also looks at how the real persona is morphing into a virtual, false entity with the widespread use of social media - the reflection in the mirror is a new reality, while the 'real' is reduced to a mere shadow.

With the virus redefining physical spaces, 'Ringside' depicts the transformation in human behaviour - with people on a short fuse, a minor road accident leading to a major skirmish while onlookers watch the incident. Issues related to women safety on deserted streets with the easing of lockdown restrictions are another concern that kindles the artist's imagination in 'Twilight Zone'. 'Holding On' portrays the resilience of women in the face of tribulations.

Lockdown has led to group isolation and people's disconnection with the world outside the bubble. In 'Cocktail Party', an evening of high-society gathering is depicted with palpable tension in the air, even as the people inside are unaware of being watched from the window. The work is also a comment on the increasing invasions of privacy. The post-pandemic series, 'Fragmented', depicts the grave fallout on the human psyche and mental health.

The curatorial advisor for the exhibition is Aakshat Sinha.
Lahore, Nov 18 : The capital of Pakistan's largest province in terms of population, Lahore, is witnessing the worst air quality and has become one of the worlds most polluted cities, choking the residents.

Lahore has been declared the most polluted city in the world by IQAir, a Swiss technology company that operates the AirVisual monitoring platform.

With a recorded air quality ranking of 348, which is above the hazardous level of 300, residents are choking in acrid smog, calling on the authorities to find a solution.

"Children are experiencing breathing diseases. Find a solution", said Muhammad Saeed, a labourer who works as a daily wager.

Lahore has seen its name appearing among the worst cities in the world for air pollution. The city chokes under the effect of low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal crops' stubble burning and cold winter temperatures.

Adjoining India through the Punjab province, air pollution plagues both the countries, keeping them on top of the pollution table. Residents of this city of at least 11 million people, many of whom are under the poverty line, say the ongoing breathing problems due to air pollution are causing major issues for poor families as they cannot afford to afford to pay doctor's fees.

"We are poor people, can't even afford a doctor's charges. We only plead with them to control the pollution. I am not a literate person, but I have heard that Lahore has the worst air quality and then comes India's Delhi. If it continues like this, we will die", said Saeed.

"Before, I used to go for a walk with my children. But now, I don't bring them with me," he added.

While the Pakistan government under Prime Minister Imran Khan sees itself as one of the frontline campaigners for climate change, residents have been repeatedly filing lawsuits against government officials, demanding immediate action to clear the air.

Residents say despite the legal recourse, authorities have been very slow in acting or have opted to put the blame on India or claim that the figures quoted are exaggerated.
Hyderabad : Demanding the Centre to enhance rice procurement from Telangana and protesting its policies, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues, MPs and state legislators began 'maha dharna' here on Thursday,November 18, 2021. (P Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad : Demanding the Centre to enhance rice procurement from Telangana and protesting its policies, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues, MPs and state legislators began 'maha dharna' here on Thursday,November 18, 2021. (P Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad : Demanding the Centre to enhance rice procurement from Telangana and protesting its policies, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues, MPs and state legislators began 'maha dharna' here on Thursday,November 18, 2021. (P Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, Nov 18 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday came down heavily on the Centre for its anti-farmer policies and declared that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is ready to lead a nation-wide agitation of farmers.

Making it clear that positions of power were never dear to TRS and that he was not afraid of any cases, Rao vowed to carry on the fight for protecting the interests of farmers till the last drop of his blood.

KCR was addressing ministers, MPs, state legislators and other TRS leaders after leading a three-hour long 'maha dharna' at Indira Chowk here to protest the Centre's policies on rice procurement.

The TRS chief asked the Centre to clarify whether it will procure rice from the state or not.

"We are asking a simple and straight question. Will you procure rice during the ongoing rainy season or not, will you take 5 lakh tonnes of rice which was not procured during the previous Kharif season or not, and do you want Telangana farmers to grow paddy during coming Kharif season or not," said the chief minister, who also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same issue on Wednesday.

He alleged that instead of giving a clear reply to the question, the Centre was adopting delaying tactics creating confusion among farmers while state BJP leaders were trying to provoke farmers for their political mileage.

KCR tore into the BJP government at the Centre saying people have understood all its drama of whipping up communal passions by pitting one section of people against the other and cashing in on the sentiments.

"Times have changed. People have understood. Your surgical strikes, your dramas on border and all your cheatings stand totally exposed," he said.

The TRS chief said BJP has been ruling the country by uttering lies, spreading hate on Facebook and WhatsApp and by resorting to character assassination of its critics.

KCR said the voice of farmers of Telangana was not the only voice in the country as lakhs of farmers have been protesting for more than a year in north India demanding the Centre to repeal anti-farmer laws. He alleged that the ruling party was trying to suppress the protest by farmers.

KCR said all the parties who ruled the country since independence have miserably failed in addressing the problems of people, half of whom rely on agriculture.

He pointed out that India is lagging behind countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan on the global hunger index. "Can anything be more shameful than this?" he asked.

The TRS chief said this was the situation despite the fact that the country has 12 crore farmers, 40 crore acre of cultivable land, abundant water resources and best scientists.

KCR reminded the Centre that procurement of agricultural produce was its responsibility as the Food Corporation of India (FCI) comes under its control and it has godowns across the country and can even export the food grains.

The chief minister listed out the steps taken by his government since formation of Telangana state to revive the agriculture sector. He said the government improved the irrigation facility by completing several projects and revival of tanks, overcame electricity shortage to ensure round the clock free supply to farmers and was providing investment support and extending insurance facility to cultivators.

He claimed that no other state in the country was providing 24 hour free electricity to farmers and implementing schemes like Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima.
Bengaluru, Nov 18 : In a bid to encourage women to take up entrepreneurship, the Karnataka government will soon set up exclusive industrial parks dedicated to them in Mysuru, Dharwad, Harohalli and Kalaburagi, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani announced here on Thursday.

The minister was inaugurating a women entrepreneurs' event titled 'Together We Grow' organised by UBUNTU Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs Associations to mark International Women Entrepreneurship Day at a private hotel here.

UBUNTU is a Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs Associations. Over 30 women entrepreneurs associations and 1,500 members function under single platform.

Explaining the various government initiatives, Nirani urged budding women entrepreneurs to make use of those schemes. "Karnataka is the first state in India to set up exclusive industrial parks dedicated to women in Mysuru, Dharwad, Kalaburagi and Harohalli. The purpose will be served if women entrepreneurs take advantage of this initiative. Women should join hands with the government in driving industrial growth by taking up entrepreneurship and providing jobs," Nirani urged.

Lauding the achievements of women in every sector, the minister wanted women entrepreneurs to create jobs. "Women are shining in every field in this competitive world. Empowerment of women will become more meaningful when women become entrepreneurs and provide jobs to others. Successful women entrepreneurs like Sudha Narayana Murthy of Infosys, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon have become role models and their success stories should become a source of inspiration for budding women entrepreneurs," Nirani opined.

The minister said government, through various initiatives has been encouraging women entrepreneurs to unlock their potential to generate unlimited profit and create jobs. 'Udyami Aagu, Udyoga Needu' programme in Bengaluru was a grand success and it will be conducted in other districts in the coming days, Nirani informed.

He lauded UBUNTU for supporting and guiding women entrepreneurs and promised to extend government's cooperation and support in their endeavours.

"We are proud of the fact that today India has 13.5 - 15.7 million women-owned enterprises, representing 20 per cent of all enterprises. Accelerating quantity and quality of entrepreneurship towards such benchmarks can create over 30 million women-owned enterprises and this is not an impossible goal," Nirani expressed.

Explaining the regulations aimed at helping women, minister Nirani promised incentives for women entrepreneurs from weaker sections. "Amendment to the Factories Act, 1948 allows women to work in the night shift between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Additional incentives are proposed to special category entrepreneurs such as SC/ ST women under new industrial policy," Nirani informed.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The story of the offshore companies created within Dubai's corporate enclave casts fresh light on Dubai's rise as one of the world's financial capitals - and on the UAE's role as a nexus for money laundering and other financial crimes, The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) said in a report.

The UAE is home to a thriving trade in financial secrecy. It offers shell companies that mask their real owners' identities; dozens of internal free-trade zones that provide even more shadows for them to hide in; and a regulatory system known for what anti-corruption advocates call its "ask no questions, see no evil approach" to dealing with money tied to gold smuggling, arms trafficking and other crimes.

The more than 11.9 million files in the Pandora Papers include some 190,000 confidential files from SFM Corporate Services, a UAE-based firm that has billed itself as "the World's number one Offshore Company Formation Provider." SFM is one of thousands of firms in the Emirates that help clients incorporate companies, including hard-to-track companies for people living and doing business outside of the UAE. These company formation providers are part of a global web of lawyers, accountants and other operatives who make the offshore financial system possible, the report said.

ICIJ's review identified the owners of at least 2,977 companies in the UAE, the British Virgin Islands and other offshore financial centers that were incorporated with SFM's help or received other services from SFM. The owners of these companies include the Belgian gold tycoon, the internet mogul, the dark web impressario and more than 20 other people accused of financial crimes and other wrongdoing around the world, ICIJ research found.

For several years, SFM operated out of an office on 16th floor of the H Hotel tower at 1 Sheikh Zayed Road, a building that ICIJ research indicates is owned by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's former national security adviser and brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince of the emirate of Abu Dhabi and next in line to become UAE president, the report said.

Along with internal records from SFM, the Pandora Papers include tens of thousands of additional files related to the UAE, including documents from Seychelles and other jurisdictions that reveal offshore holdings of at least 35 members of the UAE's ruling families.

Heavyweight Emirati royals with offshore holdings revealed in the data include Sheikh Hazza; his successor as national security adviser, his brother Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, and the UAE's Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The files show that the Prime Minister is connected - via two companies in the British Virgin Islands - to the founder of Dark Matter, a UAE-based cybersecurity firm that has been accused of spying on human rights activists and government officials in multiple countries.

In September, three former senior managers at Dark Matter, all former American military and intelligence personnel, admitted in a deferred-prosecution agreement with US authorities that they had helped hack mobile phones and computers around the world. Dark Matter has not been charged. It has acknowledged working closely with the UAE government but denies it has engaged in hacking.

The leaked records also show that Sheikh Tahnoon, the UAE security adviser, owned a British Virgin Islands company using unregistered "bearer shares," which provide deep levels of secrecy because they are owned by whoever physically holds the share certificates. Long associated with financial misconduct, bearer shares have been banned in many jurisdictions.

Sheikh Tahnoon became embroiled this year in a US political scandal involving the chairman of President Donald Trump's 2016 inaugural committee, the American billionaire Thomas Barrack. A US indictment charges that Barrack acted as an unregistered agent for the UAE by providing help to high-level Emiratis - including an Emirati official widely understood to be Sheikh Tahnoon - as they sought to covertly sway Trump administration policies. Barrack has pleaded not guilty.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)
Lucknow, Nov 18 : UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami have managed to resolve disputes related to asset sharing between the two states that had been pending for over two decades.

The two leaders and officials of the two states held a meeting here on Thursday and settled the disputes.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Pushkar Singh Dhami said that it had been decided that there will be a joint survey of both the states and disputed land including 1,700 houses will be given to UP.

The two barrages (Vanbasa and Kichha) of Uttarakhand, which are in bad condition, will be rebuilt by the UP government.

Along with this, the UP government will pay the outstanding Rs 205 crore to the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation.

The Uttarakhand chief minister said that the housing development liabilities will be paid by both the states under 50-50 per cent.

The Alaknanda Hotel in Haridwar will be handed over to Uttarakhand within a month and chief minister Yogi Adityanath will attend the ceremony.

Apart from transferring the land of Kichha bus stand to Uttarakhand, the Uttar Pradesh government will also give Rs 90 crore to the Uttarakhand Forest Department.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 18 : An eight-year-old girl on Thursday approached the Kerala High Court seeking Rs 5 million as compensation after she and her father were falsely accused of mobile phone theft by a woman police officer and shamed publically.

In her petition, the girl stated that despite several pleas, no action was taken against the woman police officer, hence they want justice from the court.

Following public shaming, she went into a state of shock and had to undergo counselling sessions and that episode continues to haunt her, her petition read.

The incident occurred on August 27, when 38-year-old Jayachandran and his daughter were out on the main road in the outskirts here near Attingal to watch the movement of a huge trailer carrying equipment to the ISRO unit.

Suddenly Rejitha, the woman officer finding her mobile missing, accused Jayachandran who was standing near the police patrol vehicle, of stealing it. She even said that he must have passed the mobile to his eight-year-old daughter, his accomplice.

She publicly humiliated the father and the daughter and threatened to take both of them to the nearby police station. This was witnessed by a large crowd.

Later, Rejitha found out the mobile phone in the vehicle. The entire episode was filmed by an onlooker.

He shared it on social media and it went viral.

On August 31, Jayachandran approached the state police chief Anil Kant seeking action against Rejitha, as his daughter was in a state of shock for being publicly admonished.

Promising action, Kant, asked South Zone IG Harshita Attaluri to conduct a probe and Rejitha was transferred.

However, it was found out that Rejitha was transferred to a more convenient location and there was actually no action taken against her.

Finding no further action in September, the family observed a day long sit-in in front of the Kerala Secretariat protesting inaction against the woman police officer attached to the pink patrol unit . When this also went unnoticed, the family decided to move the court.
Chennai, Nov 18 : Tamil Nadu Brahmin youths are in search of north Indian Brahmin brides after acute shortage in the home state.

The Thamiznadu Brahmin Association (TBA) has launched a movement to seek brides for 40,000 men from the community. An article in the November issue of the Tamil mouthpiece of the TBA stated that the community is searching for Brahmin brides in the Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Association president N. Narayanan while speaking to IANS said, "Around 40,000 Tamil Brahmin men in the age group between 30 and 40 are having difficulty in finding brides in Tamil Nadu from the community." He cited the skewed sex ratio as the main reason and said that for every ten boys only 6 girls are there and this is creating major problems in finding brides.

The Brahmin community of Tamil Nadu is a stickler for tradition and even marriages between Tenkalai and Adikalai sects in the Iyengar community are not possible. Marriages between Telugu and Tamil Brahmins are common and so are marriages between Kannada speaking Madhwas and Tamil speaking Smarthas. Now the Brahmins of the state are stretching their wings to North India in search of Brahmin brides.

However, intellectuals and academicians differ on the reason for the shortage of brides even though they agree that there is a shortage.

R. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio-Economic Development Foundation, a think tank based out of Madurai and himself a Brahmin, told IANS, "More than the sex disparity ratio, several Brahmin parents are finding it difficult to marry off their girls. The reason is the standard set by rich and affluent Brahmins in marriages even though the customs and traditions and teachings of the community are against pomp and show. Thus, several parents are finding it difficult to marry their daughters and this is a major reason for the shortage of brides." The Tamizhnadu Brahmin Association is planning to appoint coordinators in Delhi, Lucknow and Patna to scout for brides for Brahmin youths from the state. A person proficient in Hindi will be appointed at the association headquarters in Chennai to coordinate for the Tamil Nadu part.

The TBA is of the opinion that taking up family planning as proposed by the government is one reason for the shortage of brides and for the imbalance in the sex ratio between brides and grooms.

Gourikrishna, a homemaker in Adayar, Chennai who belongs to the traditional Iyengar sect, told IANS, "Brahmin boys can search for brides from other communities as well. This is not happening because everyone wants to maintain their legacy and is sticking to their traditions. This has led to the youths searching for brides in North Indian states. I don't know how the girls of those places will adjust to South India, especially Tamil Nadu, as the Brahmins here are entirely different from the North Indians. If they are marrying North Indian girls, they can easily marry outside the community." The subject has become a topic of hot debate and a social issue with as many as 40,000 youths of the community not getting brides within the state.

Social commentator and retired Professor M.K. Krishnan told IANS, "Brahmins must think outside their community and then they can marry within Tamil Nadu. It will be better than marrying from outside the state especially, North Indian states."
Chennai, Nov 18 : The Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross between Puducherry and Chennai by early Friday, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather department has predicted moderate rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places and extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

The IMD has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall and extremely heavy falls at isolated places over adjoining districts of Rayalaseema and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and south interior Karnataka for Thursday.

For Friday, the IMD has said light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and coastal Andhra Pradesh and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Rayalaseema and Karnataka.

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph likely to prevail over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 24 hours and decrease gradually thereafter, the IMD said.

The sea condition will be rough and the fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea.

According to the Tamil Nadu government, surplus water from Redhills lake, Cholavaram, Chembarambakkam and Poondi are being released.

In order to meet the flood situation in Chennai, 54 boats, 793 giant water pumps and 46 excavators are kept ready.

In other districts, tree cutting machines, excavators, water pumps, generators and others are kept ready, the government said.

The government said 2,156 persons have been housed in 36 relief centres in nine districts and in Chennai 839 persons are housed in five relief centres.

Those affected by rains can complain at toll free 1077, TNSMART website and WhatsApp number 9445869849.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram on Thursday announced that it has begun testing the ability for people to add music to their feed posts, in three countries, including India.

The other two countries, where this feature will first be tested, are Brazil and Turkey.

"With this test, Instagram hopes to give its community a way to add a soundtrack to their Feed photos, like they can with Reels and Stories already. If a user clicks on the song, they will be taken to an audio page that showcases all Feed posts that have used that song," the company said in a statement.

This feature is being tested with a small percentage of Instagram's global community and expanded based on the learning and feedback from the Instagram community.

Meanwhile, Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Wednesday said that the company has added two new features to improve user experience, including a "rage shake" that will let users report a problem more quickly.

The Verge reported that this feature will give Instagram feedback that will help it prioritise bug fixes.

The other new feature Instagram shipped on Wednesday is what Mosseri called a "finally" feature -- the ability to delete a single image from a photo carousel.

At the moment, the carousel feature is only available for iOS users in US.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The detention of Zhang Zhan, the Chinese journalist jailed after reporting on the Covid pandemic in Wuhan, is intended as a "warning to others", her former lawyer said, The Guardian reported.

Hundreds of Chinese human rights lawyers and citizens have put their names to an open letter calling for immediate medical care for Zhang, who her family fear is close to death.

Zhang has been on a hunger strike for more than a year in protest at her persecution for reporting on the Wuhan lockdown in early 2020, the report said.

On Thursday, she was awarded the Reporters Without Borders' 2021 Press Freedom award for courage.

Ren Quanniu, whose legal licence was revoked after he represented Zhang and members of the Hong Kong 12, said it was possible Zhang's severe punishment was "retaliation" against citizen journalists trying to cover the Wuhan outbreak, aimed at sending a message to others given her initial arrest was so widely covered by international media, The Guardian reported.

"The virus issue is indeed very sensitive, including where it came from and what is the situation in Wuhan," he said.

"She went there to do some on-site interviews, and was in contact with Radio Free Asia and the Epoch Times for interviews. Both are viewed by Chinese officials as hostile media." Ren said the conviction was also the manifestation of China's strict control over journalism, public opinion, and freedom of speech.

"No matter if you are citizen journalists or independent media, things that are so-called 'sensitive' and do not conform to the calibre of propaganda are not allowed to be said. If you make these things public, you may encounter similar results like Zhang Zhan. This is a warning to others," the report added.

Earlier, the US state department has urged China to release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, expressing deep concerns over her deteriorating health, the BBC reported.

She was given a four-year jail term over her reporting of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan when the pandemic began.

Zhang has been on an intermittent hunger strike since she was detained in May last year, the report said.

The US move comes after reports that she is perilously close to death.

"We have repeatedly expressed our serious concerns about the arbitrary nature of her detention and her mistreatment during it," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters, the report added.

"We reiterate our call to the PRC for her immediate and unconditional release."
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Sukesh Chandrashekhar -- the silk stocking conman -- has been the talk of the town for the past couple of months.

Accused of duping the rich -- businessmen, politicians and celebrities alike -- the multi-millionaire conman hit the headlines after the sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing Chandrashekhar in a money laundering case landed at his luxurious sea-facing bungalow in Chennai in August.

What was inside astonished everybody! To start with, the value of the bungalow ran into crores of rupees. It had a movie theatre, gym, swimming pool and rooftop recreational area, including a mini bar. All the rooms in the bungalow were stuffed with expensive furniture and the dining room had a sprawling table.

A fleet of luxury cars -- Lamborghini, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Bentley, Mercedes, BMW and Land Rover -- were lined up outside the house. Not to forget hundreds of pairs of shoes. They were of such expensive brands that a poor man might not even earn the amount in his entire life to buy a single pair.

The sleuths of the financial probe agency had seized the massive bungalow, Rs 82.5 lakh in cash and over a dozen luxury cars.

The limelight was now on Chandrashekhar, who was incarcerated at the high-security Tihar Jail in the national capital. How did a 12th pass man gather so much money? Born in a lower middle-class family in Bengaluru, Chandrashekhar always dreamt of becoming a millionaire. In order to turn his dream into reality, Chandrashekhar was determined to earn money by hook or by crook.

He started conning people from the age of 17. In 2007, he duped around 100 people of Rs 75 crore on the pretext of providing them jobs, posing as a high-ranking bureaucrat. After a few years, he also duped politician T.T.V. Dhinakaran of Rs 50 crore.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested Chandrashekhar based on Dhinakaran's complaint, following which he was lodged at Tihar Jail.

What was more astonishing was the fact that the conman continued to run his racket from inside the prison. He is accused of extorting Rs 200 crore from the family of ex-Fortis Healthcare and Ranbaxy Lab promoters, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, from within the premises of the high-security prison.

But how did he do that? Certainly there was an inside help, but the price of that help was also high. The conman was reportedly paying Rs 75 lakh per fortnight as bribe for a cellphone.

Later, the Economic Offences Wing of Delhi Police arrested five top Tihar Jail officials. However, Chandrashekhar's modus operandi to con the Singhs was extremely impressive.

While calling Shivinder's wife, Chandrashekhar posed as Union Law Secretary Anoop Kumar and offered help in getting bail for her husband. In August 2020, he used a spoofing app to pretend that he was calling from then Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's home. Interestingly, before disconnecting every call, Chandrashekhar used to say 'Jai Hind'.

Earlier this month, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against the accused conman, his wife Leena Maria Paul and 12 others in the same case related to duping Shivinder's wife of Rs 200 crore.

Reportedly, there are 32 criminal cases registered against the couple -- Chandrashekhar and Leena -- which are pending before the courts.

The police had also invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against Chandrashekhar and his wife. Besides the duo, MCOCA has been invoked against 10 other people.

The probe is still going on and the Delhi Police have made a number of arrests in connection with the Rs 200 crore extortion case after filing the charge-sheet.
Bengaluru, Nov 18 : The decision of the Karnataka State Road Transport Company (KSRTC) to grant maternity leave for women employees who adopt children has been well appreciated.

KSRTC Managing Director Shivayogi Kalasad issued a notification in this regard granting 180 days of maternity leave to women staff who adopt children. However, this facility is not available for those who have two surviving children.

Till now, parents who adopted children had to take separate leaves and this recent order enables parents who adopt children also to avail maternity leaves granted to biological mothers.

The adopted mother can avail the leave within one year of adoption or before the adopted child turns one year. The decision had been taken as per the state government's directive to treat adopting parents on par with biological parents.

The Karnataka government had earlier issued an order granting 180 days of maternity leave for women and 15 days of paternity leave for father.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked its cadre in Jammu and Kashmir to keep an eye on the activities of foreigners which includes individuals, groups and NGOs in the union territory (UT).

The BJP leadership believes that knowing their activities will help the party and the government to plan future courses of action against these foreigners.

It has been learnt that during the recent two days state executive meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir BJP, workers were asked to keep a close eye on activities of foreign delegation or group or individuals, and gather knowledge on "what they are doing".

"We called our cadre to keep an eye on an agenda run by the foreign groups, delegations or individuals. Workers should also find out which NGOs these groups are supporting for what reason," a senior BJP leader said.

Calling the direction a new working style, a party insider said: "It will help us know for what they are coming and what they are doing. It also helps the party to know whether they are creating a regional divide between Jammu, and Kashmir. Basically, cadres have been asked to do so as it will make us aware about their activities. It will also help us to understand their activities in a better way." Asked about the new direction to party cadre in the UT, Jammu and Kashmir BJP co-incharge Ashish Sood told IANS that it will help the organisation to know what kind of narrative they are building in the state.

"It is one of the activities, our cadre is undertaking. It will help us to identify and know what kind of narrative they are building in Jammu and Kashmir. They could be both friendly and unfriendly foreigners and it will help us to know everything they are doing," Sood said.

The two-day BJP state executive meeting held on November 15-16 passed a resolution saying that it will form a government on its own in the UT without any outside support.

The saffron party also asked its cadre to learn from the different ongoing projects.

"State unit vice presidents are asked to visit ongoing projects with district presidents and office bearers and learn from it. It will also broaden the workers' vision and he or she will become a better asset to the party. In place of following old rhetoric, we planned to upgrade our workers' knowledge by giving them real experience," a BJP source said.
Bhopal, Nov 18 : After Habibganj railway station in Bhopal was renamed Kamalapati railway station, questions are being asked if the condition of Ginnorgarh fort, which was home to the Gond queen, will also change for the better.

With the inauguration of the newly revamped railway station by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is now expected that the fort, which is in ruins, will get a new lease of life.

The heroic saga of 18th century Gond queen Kamalapati continues to enthrall people even today, as she did not compromise to save her kingdom and life. She took jal samadhi to save her honour.

The district closest to Bhopal is Sehore, where the fort of Ginnorgarh is located. The fort was ruled by the Gond kings. The Gond kings merged 750 villages to form the state of Ginnorgarh. Gond king Nizam Shah had seven wives, of whom Kamalapati was the most beautiful. She became the last Gond tribal and Hindu queen of Bhopal.

According to folklore, Nizam Shah was poisoned to death by his cousin Chain Singh, who wanted to marry Rani Kamalapati.

The queen then went into hiding with her 12-year-old-son Nawal Shah and reached out to Afghan leader Dost Mohammad Khan, a mercenary in those days.

As per popular belief, Rani Kamalapati offered one lakh coins to Dost Mohammad Khan and asked him to kill Chain Singh. Dost Mohammad attacked the fort of Ginnorgarh, killed Chain Singh, and captured the fort.

But Dost Mohammad changed his mind and wanted to capture the entire princely state of Bhopal and also wanted to marry Kamalapati, enchanted by her beauty.

When Kamalapati's son Nawal Shah came to know of his intention, he started a war against Khan at Lalghati, but was killed.

Now not being able to prevent Dost Mohammad from marrying her, the queen ended her life by taking jal samadhi in 1723 after dumping all the wealth, jewellery, ornaments in the palace in a small pond.

The Ginnorgarh fort still exists but its condition has been deteriorating with the passage of time. In the last three centuries, this fort has turned into ruins. After the independence of the country, several governments promised to renovate the fort, but nothing happened.

Bhupendra Gupta, a Congress leader, while sharing a picture of this fort, taunted that this picture should be put in the VIP lounge of Rani Kamalapati Railway Station, so that people should know what the BJP has done in 17 years to bring back the pristine glory of the fort.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Pakistan will soon communicate its decision to India on allowing a humanitarian shipment of wheat to pass through to Afghanistan via the Wagah border, as concerned authorities finalise the modalities, Express Tribune reported.

"The decision will be announced soon," a senior government official told The Express Tribune while requesting anonymity.

Last month, India had announced 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat for Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance, and requested Pakistan to ship the foodgrain via the Wagah border.

Currently, Pakistan only allows Afghanistan to export goods to India, but doesn't allow any other two-way trade through the border crossing.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had told acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last week that his government would "favourably consider" the request by 'Afghan brothers' for transportation of wheat offered by India through Pakistan for humanitarian purposes after working out the modalities, the report said.

Muttaqi had requested Imran Khan to allow India to transport wheat via Pakistan, suggesting that the Taliban government was willing to accept the humanitarian assistance from India, the report added.

The official made it clear that Pakistan never said it would not allow the transportation of wheat via its land. The official explained that there are many issues to look into, such as the view of the Afghan interim government and logistics etc.

"We have almost finalised the modalities and soon India would be communicated about our decision," the official added, the report said.
Bengaluru, Nov 18 : Pulitzer Prize winner Dr Siddharth Mukherjee has opined that it is necessary to accord special sector status to health infrastructure, food, agriculture, biotechnology, and medical sciences.

Addressing the plenary session at the 'Bengaluru Tech Summit-2021' on Thursday, he said technologies should be made affordable and easier to use.

"It is not a joke to build a nation. The progress of a nation is measured by discoveries and research activities," he said.

Dr Mukherjee said India has made rapid strides in computer science and information technology but it is unfortunate that people are unable to afford the high cost of cancer disease treatment even as the number of patients afflicted with the disease has risen." He said it is not possible for all Indian families to visit England, US or Germany to undergo treatment for cancer and so it is necessary for investors to change their attitude.

He said immunotherapy, gene therapy, and gene editing among others are gaining traction in the treatment of cancer disease and they have been effective in treating children suffering from cancer and others from myeloma, lymphoma, and breast cancer.

Dr Mukherjee said the healthcare sector should be treated on par with the nation-building.

He said India should constitute a commission on the American model to elevate the healthcare sector and get the recommendations in six-eight months. The government could provide land and funds with tax breaks to expedite the process.

He said new methods have come up to treat cancer without radiotherapy and chemotherapy but they haven't got the due recognition. He said China could achieve success, so could India.

Dr Mukherjee said he had floated nine companies in the US and had invested a huge amount to offer affordable treatment of cancer. One of the companies Vor had developed medicine to treat thalassemia which has proven to be effective using gene-editing technology.

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairman of the vision group of biotechnology, the government of Karnataka, moderated the discussion.
Panaji, Nov 18 : Following complaints from farmers, the Goa government on Thursday opened the doors for conditional culling of wild boars, which cause destruction to agricultural and horticultural crops.

According to an order issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Santosh Kumar, the deputy conservators of forests in North and South Goa districts have been authorised to sanction culling order for the species (Sus scrofa) in privately-held areas.

"In exercise of the power conferred by Sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, I, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Goa, with prior approval of the Government of Goa do hereby delegate the powers and duties under Clause (b) of Sub-section (1) of Section 11 of the said Act exclusively in relation to the wild animal, namely wild pig (sus scrofa), as specified at serial number 19 of the Schedule III of the said Act, to Dy Conservator of Forests (North Goa Forest Division) and Dy Conservator of Forests (South Goa Forest Division)," an order issued by Kumar said.

The decision of the state government comes ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls and on the heels of a series of complaints by farmers in Goa's hinterland, who had complained of destruction of crops by the marauding herds of wild boar.

While wild boars are a species protected by Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Act also allows for culling of boars by following strict protocols.

Wild boars can only be culled in privately-held areas following a formal complaint to the forest authorities by aggrieved farmers and following a panchnama and favourable report by the local range forest officer.

Only professional shooters are allowed to kill wild boars with heavy bore rifles and the carcass of the slain animal is treated as government property, which cannot be sold commercially.

Incidentally, wild boar is a popular but contraband game meat in Goa, often sold at restaurants in rural areas.

Rapid deforestation and urbanisation has led to increasing human-animal conflict throughout the state.

Recently, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had told the state Assembly that the Goa government is in the process of planting fruit bearing trees in the forest areas and other lands available for plantation to prevent wild animals from entering human habitation.

Some years back, peacocks featured on the state agriculture ministry's wish-list of vermin species, along with monkeys and bisons, with farmers claiming the species were damaging crops extensively. While the peacock is the national bird, the bison is the state animal.
Kolkata, Nov 18 : Former Governor of Tripura and Meghalaya, Tathagata Roy, who was in the news for quite a long time, has again targetted the West Bengal BJP leadership, asking them to "mend their ways".

In his latest tweet in Bengali, the veteran BJP leader said: "BJP's well-wishers say my complaint about money and women should be made within the party, not publicly. I politely say that time has passed. The BJP can do whatever it wants to me. But if they do not radically reform their behaviour, the extinction of the party in West Bengal is inevitable".

The tweet has again triggered political controversy in the state.

Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) refused to say anything officially, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress immediately jumped into the fray.

Speaking to the media on Friday, West Bengal Transport Minister Firhad Hakim said: "Tathagata Da (elder brother) is a knowledgeable man and he has told the truth. We have been telling this for a long time. People will never go with them." Though the West Bengal BJP has been in a denial mood, Roy has been vocal for long time over the use of money and woman in the party, and he had also taken pot shots at senior leaders including former state BJP President Dilip Ghosh and the central leadership like Kailash Vijayvargiya and others in-charge of election in West Bengal.

Tathagata Roy even changed his 'bio' on Twitter and Facebook.

In a tweet, he wrote, "General information: A small change has been made to my profile description. Where it was said 'Iconic Rabindra Setu now it can be seen in the picture', it is written 'Recently Whistleblower'.

Not only on Twitter, but also on Facebook, he made the same change. Roy, however, did not make it clear whether this change is an indication of bigger explosion in the party.
Chennai, Nov 18 : Actress Nayanthara, hailed as the lady Superstar of Tamil cinema, will next work with director Ashwin Saravanan on a film titled 'Connect'.

More importantly, the film will also feature veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher and actor Sathyaraj in important roles.

Breaking the news on Thursday on the occasion of Nayanthara's birthday, director Vignesh Shivan, who is producing the film, tweeted, "Always proud to be connected with you #Nayanthara. Happy working with this excellent filmmaker Ashwin Saravanan. Signing the legendary Anupam Kher sir with our own legend Sathyaraj sir for this project makes Rowdy Pictures feel more blessed & successful." This is the second time that Ashwin Saravanan will be working with Nayanthara. Nayanthara had played the lead in 'Maya', Ashwin's debut film as well. The film had gone on to become a hit and had made an impressive profit at the box-office.

Ashwin Saravanan also took to Twitter to express his happiness.

He tweeted, "Six years later & the reunion has finally happened! Extremely honoured to be working with the one and only! Thank you Vignesh Shivan brother & Rowdy Pictures for backing my vision. I couldn't be more excited to show the world what we are up to. #HappyBirthdayNayanthara."
New Delhi, Nov 18 : India is among the countries with the lowest quit rate for smoking, with the rate for men less than 20 per cent, finds a study.

The study by the International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking examined the trends in tobacco use, challenges to cessation efforts, the emergence of technological innovations, the role of physicians, the function of industry, economic and regulatory policy, smoking and youth, and lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The study showed that tobacco prevalence in India is three times higher among men than women. India also accounts for some of the highest rates of smokeless tobacco use and oral cancer in the world. However, India is among the countries with the lowest quit rate for smoking.

E-cigarettes were found to be 95 per cent less harmful than combustibles. About 37 per cent Indian respondents also showed a desire to change behaviour with a plan to quit smoking, according to the report.

An estimated 1.14 billion people worldwide still use tobacco, which kills nearly 8 million people and eliminates nearly 200 million disability-adjusted life years annually. The cost to the world is nearly $2 trillion dollars a year. The drastic socio-economic impacts of smoking make it urgent to reignite the fight against smoking.

China and India are home to more than 500 million tobacco users between the ages of 16 and 64. India ranks second with 250,002,133 smokers between 16 and 64 years of age.

"Smoking and its health impacts highlight a global public health crisis. This report offers trends in tobacco usage worldwide and makes recommendations to achieve the global goal of ending smoking," said Ambassador (ret.) James K. Glassman, Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

"Technology and innovation are driving change and will play a key role in reigniting this fight against smoking. Misinformation and misunderstanding are key hurdles we face, as 58 per cent of Indians responded that they believe e-cigarettes are equally or more harmful than combustible tobacco. We need to focus on research and policy interventions to achieve our goals of a smoke-free world," he added.

As per the study, nearly all countries ban marketing and direct sales of tobacco products to children, but in low-to-middle income countries, especially, these prohibitions are not rigorously enforced.

The report cites data from Consumer Voice 2019, which states that despite prohibitions in India, a study of areas around 243 schools found nearby vendors displaying tobacco products in ways that are appealing to children and youth. Around 91 per cent of displays were at 1 metre (that is, a child's eye level.) An estimated 54 per cent of the points of sale had no visible health warning; and 90 per cent of displays were beside candy, sweets and toys, items marketed to children.

The study also recommended adopting best practices to combat misinformation and build a healthier information environment to reduce harm from tobacco by advocating risk-proportionate regulations as a means of making it easier for smokers to switch from combustibles and quit. It also aims nudge expansion of access to tobacco harm reduction products in low-to-middle-income countries.
Mumbai, Nov 18 : The Bombay High Court on Thursday took on record additional documents submitted by Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik, and Dnyandev Wankhede -- the father of Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, in a defamation suit filed by the latter.

Justice M. Jamdar said that he would pass the order on the interim plea by Wankhede -- to restrain Malik from making any defamatory statements against the family till the disposal of his Rs 1.25 crore defamation suit -- on November 22 (Monday).

In a series of exposes in the past over six weeks, Malik has accused Sameer Wankhede of allegedly submitting a fake caste certificate to get a UPSC job in the IRS cadre under a reserved category.

Even as the Wankhedes denied the allegations, Malik revealed the purported school leaving certificates which shows the name of Sameer Dawood Wankhede and his religion as Muslim.

However, his wife Kranti Redkar-Wankhede countered the same by posting a set of purported SLCs with "corrections" that were made, but after a gap of three years.

Wankhede's lawyer Arshad Shaikh has submitted 28 documents on record to the court including caste certificate of 1974, passport and SLCs to show that his father's name was 'Dnyandev' and he belongs to the Mahar community.

Malik has challenged the NCB officer's claims and demanded a probe by the Maharashtra and Mumbai Police, besides the caste verification authority to unravel the truth.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The joint session of Pakistan Parliament was an opportunity for Prime Minister Imran Khan to prove his majority in Parliament, which he did.

With the support of 221 votes of his party members and that of the allies, the government cruised through the session amid the Opposition's protest, Express Tribune reported.

Despite the opposition lawmakers' speeches, urging the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to adjourn the session so that both the sides could sit together and deliberate upon the agenda items; their hue and cry; sloganeering; surrounding of Speaker's desk; tearing of the papers and heated arguments with him, the government moved ahead with the legislative business and passed 33 bills, the report said.

The Pakistan Opposition thought Prime Minister Imran Khan had lost the confidence of his members and the allies in the National Assembly and the Senate. However, he passed through this storm comfortably, the report said.

Last week, the government was defeated twice in the National Assembly and it had to put off the joint sitting of parliament within 24 hours of its summoning, as the allies had distanced themselves from the government.

The Opposition was hoping, once again, the government would not be able to complete the numbers and would, ultimately, fail to pass the legislation for changing the voting system. They had believed that they would have the chance to stop the government just the way they did a week ago.

However, when the votes were counted, the opposition found that its seven members were absent for varying reasons - ranging from health issues to foreign visits, the report said.

The Opposition had been putting up brave face ahead of the joint session of parliament but Wednesday belonged to the treasury.

The joint sitting passed all the required bills, including the two key ones, which deal with holding the next elections via electronic voting machines and allowing overseas Pakistanis the right to vote in the future elections.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : While India never had any intention to occupy other country's land, the forces will give a befitting reply to anyone who threatens the sovereignty and integrity of the nation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

"The brave soldiers of our army are capable of protecting every inch of India's land," Singh said while dedicating the Rezang La Memorial at Chushul in Ladakh to the nation.

The memorial was constructed in 1963 in the Chushul plains at an altitude of over 15,000 feet, right at the India-China border, to honour the troops of Charlie Company of 13 Kumaon Regiment, who on November 18, 1962, had defended Rezang La and the surrounding areas located at over 16,500 feet on the Kailash Ranges in Eastern Ladakh.

The decision to renovate the Memorial was taken by Singh when he had visited Leh in June 2021. In a major upgradation exercise, the renovation of the Memorial commenced in mid-July and the complex was ready within three months for inauguration on the 59th anniversary of the battle.

Singh paid homage to the gallant soldiers who fought the Battle of Rezang La and laid a wreath at the Memorial.

In his address, he said the courage and sacrifice of the Charlie Company will always inspire future generations, describing the Rezang La Memorial as an epitome of the passion, determination and fearless spirit of the bravehearts of the country.

"The renovation of the memorial is not only a tribute to our valiant armed forces, but also a symbol of the fact that we are fully prepared to protect the integrity of the nation. This monument symbolises the government's stand of giving a befitting reply to anyone who threatens our sovereignty and integrity," said Singh.

He also lauded the Indian soldiers, who continue to carry forward the valour and patriotism of the fallen heroes and protect the country fearlessly.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to the welfare of the armed forces personnel and their families, he assured them of all possible support to fulfil their needs.

Singh appreciated the fact that the renovation of the memorial was carried out on the lines of a national-level memorial, without compromising the original structure and sentiments attached to it.

He said the renovated Memorial will attract people from within the country and abroad, bolster the feeling of nationalism and encourage tourism. He congratulated all those who worked tirelessly in harsh conditions for the renovation of the monument.

Singh escorted Brigadier (Retd) R.V. Jatar of 13 Kumaon Regiment, who bravely fought in the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict, to the memorial.

It was a saga of unparalleled bravery as Major Shaitan Singh and 113 soldiers had made the supreme sacrifice, fighting one of the world's rarest 'last man, last bullet' battles.

Major Shaitan Singh was bestowed with the nation's highest gallantry award, the Param Veer Chakra, posthumously.

The entire project of Rezang La Memorial was spearheaded by the troops of Chushul Brigade, the very same formation under which the armed forces had defended the entire Ladakh sector in 1962.

The renovated complex includes a double-storied museum, a mini-theatre to screen a special documentary on the battle, a large helipad and various other tourist amenities.

The Rezang La Memorial, located very close to the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, is set to become a major tourist attraction in the coming years.
Ranchi, Nov 18 : The Tata group of companies is facing the ire of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, which has put forth several demands, including 75 per cent reservation to locals in its various establishments located in the state.

The JMM's five MLAs along with locals on Wednesday protested the shifting of the headquarters of Tata Motors and Tata Cummins Company to Pune.

Thousands of people staged demonstrations for 10 to 12 hours at various offices of the company from Jamshedpur to Chaibasa. This affected production of the company's iron ore mines. The JMM has warned that this one-day agitation is just a trailer, if the company does not agree to the demands, more protests will be held.

The JMM has called its agitation as 'Hudka Jam'. The party's opposition is against shifting of the registered office of Tata Cummins and Tata Motors to Pune. The party has said it will take away employment opportunities of thousands of locals.

In Jamshedpur, thousands of people led by JMM MLAs gheraoed the main gates of Tata Steel, Tata Motors and Tata Cummins offices for 12 hours on Wednesday. In Chaibasa, the main gate of the mine was blocked from 6 a.m. on Wednesday till late night. Hundreds of JMM workers gathered outside the main gates of the companies and railway sidings carrying flags and banners. Work of loading and unloading of iron ore was badly disrupted due to the stir.

MLA Sukhram Oraon said, "the Jharkhand government has decided in the interest of the people that all private companies located in the state will have to give 75 per cent jobs to the locals in their establishments. To avoid this compulsion, the headquarters of Tata Motors and Tata Cummins are being shifted to Pune (Maharashtra)." The MLAs who led the protest in Jamshedpur included Ramdas Soren, Sanjeev Sardar, Mangal Kalindi, Samir Mohanty and Savita Mahto.

However, Tata Cummins has issued a statement saying that the company is only shifting its registered office. "This will not affect the functioning of the company in Jharkhand or Jamshedpur. We in the company comply with all labour laws and other rules of the state government." It added, "we are fully committed to carry out our business in Jamshedpur. As before, we will continue to contribute to the development and prosperity of Jharkhand."
Panaji, Nov 18 : OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon and others will debut in the 52nd edition of the International Film Festival of India, which gets underway in a hybrid mode in Goa from November 20, organisers said on Thursday.

The festival will screen 148 films from 73 countries in the festival's international section, while the 12 world premieres, 26 Asia premieres will also be screened at the event, festival director Chaitanya Prasad said.

"For the first time in the history of IFFI, we have major OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Zee 5 and Viacom participating in the festival, with releases, masterclasses and more," Prasad said.

'The King of all the World' (El Rey de Todo El Mundo) directed by Carlos Saura will be the Opening Film and this will also be the film's international premier, while 'The Power of the Dog' directed by Jane Campion, Winner of Best Director at Venice Film Festival will be the mid-fest film, Prasad also said.

The opening feature film of Indian Panorama 2021 is Semkhor directed by Aimee Baruah, which is the first ever film to be made in the Dimasa language to be featured at IFFI, Prasad said.

Cinema giants Martin Scorsese and Istevan Szabo will also be honoured with the first Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award, even as the festival will also pay homage to Kannada film actor late Puneet Rajkumar as well as Sir Sean Connery.
Dera Baba Nanak : , Nov 18 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday urged the national governments of India and Pakistan to simplify the procedure for obtaining permission to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

The Chief Minister, while interacting with the media after returning from Sri Kartarpur Sahib, said this is a historic occasion as the corridor has been reopened after the pandemic.

However, he said that it is the need of the hour that both the national governments of India and Pakistan should make concerted efforts for simplifying the process to enable pilgrims for obtaining permission to pay reverence at this holy shrine.

Channi said it would help facilitate the pilgrims to visit this sacred shrine thereby saving their time, money and energy.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also said the state government will soon start free buses from across the state to enable the pilgrims to pay obeisance at this sacred place.

He said these buses would ply till the corridor to facilitate pilgrims having permission to visit Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

Batting for opening of cross-border trade from Punjab borders, the Chief Minister said that both the national governments should deliberate on it to commence trade and commerce through it.

He said this will be helpful in ushering a new era of unprecedented progress and prosperity in the state. Besides, giving impetus to economic activity in the region it will also help in improving people to people contact between both the countries.

The Chief Minister also thanked the people of Pakistan and the administration for showering lots of love and affection on him and his family during their visit to Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan for taking this historic initiative of reopening the corridor.

Channi said he had been urging the Prime Minister since long to reopen this corridor thereby cherishing longtime aspiration of Sikh 'sangat' to pay reverence at this sacred shrine.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizvi was reportedly released on Thursday from the Kot Lakhpat jail, a party spokesperson stated, the Express Tribune reported.

As per videos and pictures shared, the TLP chief reached the Rehmatul-il-Aalimeen mosque in Lahore shortly after his release. A large number of supporters had gathered outside the party headquarters to welcome Rizvi, the report said.

The TLP chief was under detention since April 11. His release is said to be a part of the recent agreement reached between the Pakistan government and the TLP, following the party's recent sit-in.

On October 31, the Pakistan government had announced that an agreement had been reached with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) after the latest round of dialogue between the two parties.

The pact came after around two weeks of clashes left at least seven policemen dead and scores injured on both sides.

A week later, on November 7, the federal cabinet of Pakistan revoked its earlier decision of declaring the TLP a 'proscribed' organisation under the country's anti-terrorism law after it committed that it would abide by the Constitution and the laws of the country.

Four days later, Rizvi's name was taken off the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 by the Punjab government.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : India and China have agreed on the need to find early resolution to the remaining disputes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry said that both the countries agreed on the need to find an early resolution while fully abiding by the bilateral agreements and protocols so as to restore peace and tranquility in the region.

"The two sides also agreed that both sides should in the interim continue to ensure a stable ground situation and avoid any untoward incident," the ministry said after the 23rd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC), whic was held on Thursday.

The Indian delegation was led by the Additional Secretary (East Asia) in the Ministry of External Affairs. The Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.

The two sides recalled the agreement reached between the Indian External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of China during their meeting in September in Dushanbe that military and diplomatic officials of the two sides should continue their discussions to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.

Accordingly, the two sides had candid and in-depth discussions on the situation along the LAC in the Western Sector of India-China border areas and also reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the senior commanders of both sides which held on October 10.

It was agreed that both sides should hold the next 14th round of senior commanders' meeting at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols.

India and China are engaged in a border dispute for 19 months now.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : India has deployed a naval ship in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to ensure safe and secure movement of trade, instill confidence in the maritime community and contribute to regional maritime security.

"INS Trikand is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman as part of Operation Sankalp, the Indian Navy's effort to maintain a frontline ship in the region to ensure safe and secure movement of trade," said the Indian Navy.

The ship entered Manama, Bahrain, on November 13 for a three-day operational turn round (OTR). During her stay at the port, the ship engaged extensively with various maritime security agencies to enhance cooperation in all aspects of maritime security, including training and other mutually beneficial subjects.

Captain Harish Bahuguna, Commanding Officer, INS Trikand, visited the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain on November 15 and called on the Deputy Commander of CMF, Commodore Edward Ahlgren.

The port call offered the ship the opportunity to visit the US Coast Guard's Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) facility titled 'Ship in a Box'.

"It also enabled a better understanding of the SOPs and training methodologies of other maritime forces, besides allowing the ship's team to interact with the newly-formed Task Force (TF 59 - unmanned force), an experimental unit in a niche domain," the naval force said.

The Commanding Officer of INS Trikand also called on Ambassador of India to Bahrain, Piyush Srivastava, who was deeply appreciative of the role the Indian Navy played through such ship-visits in furthering bilateral relations and enhancing maritime security in the region.

INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art guided missile stealth frigate and is part of the Western Fleet that operates under the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, based at Mumbai.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested one Debabrata Haldar in a case related to loss of Rs 173.50 crore to the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC), officials said on Thursday.

"Haldar was arrested on Wednesday under the provisions of Prevention of Money laundering Act, 2002," the ED said.

A day before the arrest, ED had carried out a search operation at six different places in West Bengal.

Two vehicles -- one Toyota Fortuner, and a Toyota Corolla Altis (worth Rs 50 lakh), cash and jewellery (worth Rs 18.4 lakhs) were seized and an amount of Rs 3.95 crore, lying in the bank accounts of related fictitious MSME firms has been frozen under PMLA.

ED had initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the CID, West Bengal.

There was a total loss of Rs 173.50 crore to NSIC lent under its Raw Material Assistance Scheme (RMA Scheme) through criminal conspiracy by submitting Bank Guarantees (BGs) of other unconnected entities and fake BGs, purported to be issued by various branches of the erstwhile United Bank of India, Kolkata which came to fore when these were enforced by NSIC.

The funds of NSIC obtained under its RMA Scheme, were laundered or diverted through accounts of various fictitious supplier firms.

RMA scheme has been devised to provide credit facilities to various needy MSME firms.

During investigation, it was revealed that Debabrata Haldar, one of the main conspirators of the scam, acted as a middleman and main beneficiary of the whole scam.

The accused has acquired various movable and immovable properties out of the proceeds of crime. The Enforcement Directorate said that during the PMLA investigation, Haldar had been non-cooperative, evasive and did not divulge any relevant information.

"Therefore, he was placed under arrest on November 17 and the Special PMLA Court has remanded him to 10-day ED," the probe agency said, adding further investigation is under progress.
Lucknow : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meeting family members of alleged custodial victim of Agra in Lucknow on Thursday November 18,2021.(PHOTO:IANS/TWITTER) Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meeting family members of alleged custodial victim of Agra in Lucknow on Thursday November 18,2021.(PHOTO:IANS/TWITTER) Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, Nov 18 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday met the family of the Dalit sanitation worker, Arun Valmiki, who died in police custody last month in Agra.

Gandhi said that despite promises, the state government had not done anything for Valmiki's family.

She said that as promised, UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu would soon give a cheque of Rs 30 lakh to the family of the deceased.

"I will not let the voice of justice be muffled and will stand by the family in their battle," she said.
Srinagar, Nov 18 : Monday's encounter at the Hyderpora area in Srinagar has raised more questions than the authorities have so far satisfactorily answered.

Four persons were killed in the encounter, including a foreign militant, his local associate, Altaf Ahmad, the owner of the building where the encounter took place, and Mudasir Gul, who ran a call centre on a rented floor of the same building.

IGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar told reporters that the owner of the building, Altaf Ahmad Bhat, was asked to knock at the doors of the rooms in his building where the foreign militant was reportedly hiding.

Kumar said the hiding militant fired from a pistol from the room he was hiding in, and the security forces fired with AK rifles in retaliation.

"The civilian died in the crossfire. If evidence from the body shows a pistol wound, then he died due to the militant's firing, and if it has an AK injury, then he died in our retaliatory firing," Kumar told reporters.

The senior police officer said that Mudasir Gul, the second civilian killed in the encounter, was an over-ground worker (OGW) of the militants.

While it is understandable that the body of the foreign militant had to be buried as per the Islamic rites by the authorities, a disturbing question still remains unanswered.

Why was the body of Altaf Ahmad, who the police accepted to be innocent, not handed over to the family for last rites? Altaf Ahmad was reportedly buried by the authorities in north Kashmir's Handwara area.

Similarly, Mudasir Gul was also buried in the same area despite the fact that even as an OGW, his body should have been handed over to his family members.

Another disturbing unanswered question is about Aamir Ahmad, the associate of the foreign militant, who belonged to Ramban district in Jammu division. His father has refuted the police claim that he was an associate of the foreign militant.

Aamir's father told reporters that he has been provided with armed guards by the authorities, as he is under threat from the militants.

No official version is yet available to refute the claim of Aamir's father.

Families of the two civilians, Altaf Ahmad and Gul, have demanded their bodies and also challenged the authorities to prove the involvement of the two in any militant activity.

Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu told IANS, "The encounter was shrouded in murkiness and contradictory statements from the very beginning. The circumstances which led to the killing of the civilians are highly questionable, as are the narratives being propounded.

"What was even more insensitive and ruthless was that the grieving families of the civilians were denied of their rights to conduct the final rites of the deceased. Whatever the final conclusion of the inquiry may be, we need to understand that these were non-combatants and citizens of India, who had basic fundamental rights in life and in death.

"The way the police press conference was held was contemptuous and insulting. This behaviour and arrogance are great disservices to the idea of India in Kashmir." Mattu further said: "It is important that people's faith be restored in the institutions and the idea of India. The first step would be to return the mortal remains of the civilians to their families, and the next would be the institution of a judicial inquiry with impartiality and neutrality.

"There should be no institutional or individual pressure on the probe and rule of law must prevail. The idea of India is an idea of upholding the truth and ensuring every citizen's rights are safeguarded." J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered a time-bound magisterial probe into the matter. DGP Dilbag Singh has said that the police are always ready for correction if a wrong has been committed.

All mainstream politicians cutting across party lines have reacted sharply to the incident.

Three former Chief Ministers -- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- have demanded the return of the bodies of the two civilians to their families.

Professor Saif-ud-Din Soz of the Congress, Sajjad Lone of the People's Conference, Yusuf Tarigami of the CPI-M and many others have demanded an impartial probe, in addition to immediate handing over of the bodies to their families.

Omar Abdullah sat on a dharna in Srinagar demanding that the bodies be handed over to the families. The Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party also held protests against the incident in Srinagar.

The local bar association held a protest against the incident and called for a protest shutdown.

For the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of the state into two Union Territories in 2019, separatist leaders Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Masrat Alam have called for a public shutdown against the incident.

Notwithstanding what the politicians say about Monday's encounter, one thing is clear -- the authorities haven't been able to clear the air on it to the satisfaction of the common man.

The sooner this is done, the better for both the authorities and the general public.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said the authorities have now decided to hand over the bodies of the two civilians to their families.

Sources said the bodies would be handed over anytime on Thursday evening. There is, however, no official word on this so far.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala has moved the Supreme Court against two ordinances that allow the Central government to extend the tenure of heads of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) for up to five years.

The plea questioned the reason for bringing the ordinance 15 days before the Parliament is to convene.

Surjewala, in the petition, contended that the extension of tenure, in this ad-hoc and episodic fashion, in fact reaffirms the control of the executive over investigative agencies and is directly antithetical to their independent functioning.

"Fixity of tenure has been repeatedly held to be an essential element in ensuring the independent functioning of government officials. A piecemeal extension system, as envisioned by the Impugned Ordinances and Notification, creates a perverse incentive for officials to serve at the pleasure of the Central government," said the plea, filed through advocate Abhishek Jebaraj.

The CBI and ED directors are appointed for a two-year tenure.

The plea argued that this extension is against the top court rulings, which intend to insulate these agencies from any kind of political interference.

On September 8, the top court, considering the extension granted by the Centre to the incumbent ED director, said such extension should be in "rare and exceptional" circumstances and for a short period.

Surjewala also cited the 1997 decision in Vineet Narain case wherein the top court held a minimum secured tenure for CBI and ED directors, and also cited the 2019 Alok K. Verma case where the need to insulate CBI director from all extraneous influences was laid down.

"These investigative agencies were created to serve the public but with these amendments, they are being subordinated in a clear and malicious fashion to serve the will of the executive," added the plea.

On November 14, two ordinances -- Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Ordinance and Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Ordinance -- which amended Section 25 and Section 4B of the CVC Act 2003 and DSPE Act 1946, respectively, were promulgated.

The amendments allow the Central government to extend their original tenure by one year at a time with a rider that "no such extension shall be granted after the completion of five years in total, including the period sanctioned in the initial appointment".

On Wednesday, Trinamool Congress MP Mohua Moitra also filed a petition challenging the two ordinances.
Hyderabad/Amaravati, Nov 18 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches across seven districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and seized several incriminating documents, Maoist literature and digital devices.

The search operations were conducted at 14 locations in Hyderabad, Rachakonda, and Medak districts of Telengana, as well as Prakasam, Vishakhapatnam, Vijaywada and Nellore districts in Andhra Pradesh, an NIA release said.

The case relates to the exchange of fire on July 28, 2019 between the cadre of CPI (Maoist) and a combined team security forces including local district Reserve Guard, Special Task Force and CRPF.

The encounter resulted in the killing of six Maoists and one civilian. An FIR was registered in this regard at Nagarnar police station in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, was later re-registered on March 18, 2021, by the NIA against the accused -- namely Sanju alias Pandu Punem, Laxman, Munni, Dashari, and 30-40 other unknown individuals.

Further investigation in the case is underway.
Imphal, Nov 18 : The November 13 terror attack in Manipur, in which an Assam Rifles Colonel, his wife, son and four jawans of the paramilitary force were killed, would be handed over for probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said here on Thursday.

While delivering his speech at the 12th annual award presentation ceremony of the Manipur State Award for Literature-2020, the Chief Minister said that the case would be handed over to the NIA to reveal the actual details and identity of the perpetrators of the violence.

Manipur Governor La Ganesan and other dignitaries were present at the function.

According to a senior Home Department official in the state, Saturday's terror attack in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar has many dimensions, hence only a central agency probe can unearth the genuine details.

"The issues related to the attack are not just limited to the northeastern region, but have possible international links and multiple dimensions," the official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Armed with sophisticated weapons, guerrillas of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) along with militants of the Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) had killed Assam Rifles Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife, their nine-year-old son and four jawans of the paramilitary force in the November 13 ambush.

Security forces, including the army and the Assam Rifles, have been put on high alert in Manipur after Saturday's terror attack, the deadliest in the region.

After the incident, security forces recovered a large cache of powerful Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), fitted to a mobile phone handset and digital watch, from three separate locations in Manipur.

Menahwhile, on the request of the Manipur government, the Union Home Ministry had last month asked the NIA to probe the assassination of influential tribal leader and social activist Athuan Abonmai on September 22 in Tamenglong district, bordering Assam and Nagaland.

After the widespread condemnation of the assassination of Abonmai by suspected militants of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), the Manipur Chief Minister had publicly apologised for the police inaction to protect the life of the well-known tribal leader.

Months ahead of the Assembly elections in Manipur, militant activities have increased in the northeastern state, forcing the authorities to ask the security forces to intensify vigil in the vulnerable areas.

Elections to the 60-seat Manipur Assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year, along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.

Manipur shares around 400 km international border with Myanmar, and most parts of the frontiers are unfenced.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : India on Thursday debunked the Pakistani law enacted to bring into effect the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, citing that Pakistan continues to deny unimpeded and unhindered consular access to Jadhav.

Pakistan on Wednesday passed a bill at a Parliament joint session to give Jadhav the right to appeal against his death sentence as per the decision of the ICJ.

In response to it, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: "We have seen reports of Pakistan enacting into law the earlier ordinance that was ostensibly enacted to bring into effect the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case." He said that nothing could have been further from the truth.

"As stated earlier, the ordinance did not create the machinery for an effective review and reconsideration of Jadhav's case as mandated by the judgement of the ICJ," said Bagchi, while pointing out that the law simply codifies the shortcomings of the previous ordinance.

He said that Pakistan continues to deny unimpeded and unhindered consular access to Jadhav, and has failed to create an atmosphere in which a fair trial can be conducted.

India has repeatedly called upon Pakistan to abide by the ICJ judgement in letter and spirit.

Jadhav, a 51-year-old retired Indian Navy officer, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism in April 2017.

India had approached the ICJ against Pakistan for denial of consular access to Jadhav, besides challenging the death sentence.

In December 2017, Jadhav's wife and mother were allowed to meet him across a glass partition, with India contesting Pakistan's claim that it was "consular access".
Srinagar, Nov 18 : The bodies of two civilians killed in Monday's encounter in Hyderpora area of Srinagar have been handed over to their families, official sources said.

Same sources said the bodies of Altaf Ahmad Bhat, the building owner where the encounter took place and that of Dr. Mudasir Gul, who was running a call centre in a rented floor of the same building, were exhumed in presence of their family members in Handwara area of north Kashmir.

"The bodies have been handed over to the families and they are on way to Srinagar now," sources said.

There was an outrage over the killing of these two civilians and also over the decision to bury them away from their homes without any family member attending the last rites.
Jaipur, Nov 18 : A 2.5-year-old child died here due to Covid-19 -- the first fatality reported in Jaipur after three months.

"The child passed away on late Wednesday night. However, the test reports came on Thursday," Jaipur CMHO Narottam Sharma told IANS.

He further said that the 2.5-year-old kid is from Jaipur's Chomu area and his parents are working as labourers.

"He was admitted to RUHS four days back. Earlier, he was in JK Lon. His reports on Thursday confirmed that he was a Covid positive patient." Officials said a team of doctors shall be sent for testing those who came in contact with the child and his parents.

"In fact, his parents shall also be tested," said Sharma, adding, "the addresses submitted in the hospital are wrong. We have got in touch with the police team in Chomu which shall get thorough testing done".

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Jaipur registered 12 new cases while the state had 18 new cases.

Out of 12 new cases in Jaipur, a 12-year-old child has also tested positive. Her mother tested positive on November 14.

Besides Jaipur, active caseload has started increasing in Ajmer too where four new cases have been traced and the number of active cases has increased to 19.

Besides Jaipur and Ajmer, one new case was found in Bara and Pali too.

It needs to be mentioned here that many restrictions have been eased out in Rajasthan.

Schools and colleges have been opened with full capacity.

In fact, cinema halls and other malls are also operating at full capacity.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The Director-General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, on Thursday held separate farewell meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad, The News reported.

In the farewell meetings, both Imran Khan and Qureshi appreciated the efforts and services of Faiz Hameed as ISI DG.

They also expressed their best wishes on his new assignment as the Peshawar Corps Commander, the report said.

A day earlier, the Hameed paid a farewell visit to Pakistan President Arif Alvi at the President House, where Alvi too appreciated the efforts and services of Hameed as ISI DG for the country's security.

Hameed will serve as ISI DG till November 19, after which Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum will take charge of the post on November 20, the report said.

Lt Gen Anjum was appointed the new ISI DG by Imran Khan on October 26.

"The Prime Minister has seen and approved the appointment of Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum as Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence with effect from November 20, from the panel of officers at Para 6 of the summary," read the notification from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
New Delhi, Nov 18 : The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Centre to disinvest its residual 29.5 per cent stake in Hindustan Zinc (HZL) in open market, and directed the CBI to register a regular case into the alleged irregularities in the disinvestment of its controlling share in 2002. The top court also sought the periodic status reports.

A bench comprising justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna took objection to the closure of preliminary inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the HZL disinvestment during 1997-2003.

"There is no bar on the constitutional power of this Court to direct the CBI to register a regular case, in spite of its decision to close a preliminary enquiry," said the bench.

The top court directed the CBI to fully investigate the National Democratic Alliance government's 2002 decision during the tenure of then minister Arun Shourie to disinvest the majority shareholding in HZL.

Allowing further disinvestment, the top court said HZL ceased to remain a government company after Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Resources firm, Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures, picked up 64.92 per cent stakes in it.

Directing a full-fledged CBI probe, the top court said: "It is our considered opinion that the disinvestment (26 per cent stake in HZL) in 2002 evinces a prima facie case for registration of a regular case. We are desisting from commenting on some crucial facts and names of individuals involved, so as to not cause prejudice to the investigation of the matter." The bench took into account CBI officials' observation, who recommended the conversion of the preliminary enquiry into a regular case, and added that it satisfies court's conscience for exercising its exceptional powers to direct the CBI to conduct an investigation into the matter.

"The registration of a regular case, followed by a full-fledged investigation must be conducted. This court shall be duly apprised of the status of the investigation," it added.

In 2016, the apex court had directed the Narendra Modi government to maintain status quo on the proposed disinvestment of the public sector undertaking. It was a huge blow, which restricted the government to initiate any process of further disinvestment of world's second largest zinc producer, and also delayed Vedanta Resources taking control of the company.

The top court allowed the Centre's plea contending that the residual shareholding of 29.5 per cent, valued at about Rs 40,000 crore, should be off-loaded in the open market, as it will strengthen revenues for public purposes.

The top court judgment came on a plea of National Confederation of Officer's Association, an employee union, represented through advocate Prashant Bhushan sought CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in HZL's stake sale.

The petitioner alleged that Sterlite Industries, picked up a majority stake at an undervalued price, resulting in estimated losses running into hundreds of crores to the exchequer.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Greeting his fellow citizens on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday appealed all to follow the foot-steps of Guru Nanak and strengthen the spirit of harmony and unity in the society.

"On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I extend my warm greetings to all Indians, especially the Sikh community, settled in India and abroad," the President said in a message.

"The implicit message of love, compassion and sacrifice in the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev promotes spiritual progress of humankind. His thoughts encourage us to emulate the ideals of peace and brotherhood in our lives. Guru Nanak Dev, while leading the life of a simple householder, emphasised upon service as a means to attain 'Ek Omkar Satnam, Karta Purakh'," the communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said quoting Kovind.

"Let us all follow the foot-steps of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and strengthen the spirit of harmony and unity in our society," he said.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said on Thursday that the feedback has been very positive from the industry on the recently announced production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes by the Centre.

Goyal said this during a review meeting of the Steering Committee on advancing local value-addition and exports.

Notably, PLI schemes in the textile, automotive and white goods' sector are already beginning to encourage growth, a Ministry of Commerce statement said.

The Centre aims to double its auto component exports to $30 billion by 2026, the statement added. Currently, India's auto component trade share is $15 billion, as compared to global $1.3 trillion.

In addition, the minister asked the industry participants to take advantage of low labour costs and reap the benefits of India's scale and demographic dividend.

On automobile sector, he stressed upon ramping up of indigenous production of magnets and electric motors.
Kathua/New Delhi, Nov 18 : As a mark of show of strength, loyalists of former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad held a rally at Dayala Chak in Kathua on Thursday.

The rally was organised a day after a dozen leaders of the Congress, loyal to Azad, resigned from their respective posts.

In the rally, Azad demanded restoration of statehood for J&K and attacked the Centre for bifurcating the erstwhile state of J&K into two Union Territories, something which even the Britishers did not dare to do.

The Congress leader, who is leading the G-23 in the Congress, has been upset for being reportedly sidelined from the party affairs, sources said.

His supporters said that only Azad can lead the party to victory in J&K, adding that the current state unit chief of the party is not making any effort to revive the Congress.

On Wednesday, several Azad loyallists in Jammu and Kashmir resigned as a mark of protest against the continuation of state Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir.

The Azad loyalists want him to be appointed as state unit chief ahead of the Assembly polls in J&K.

The state leaders are reportedly miffed with Mir's style of functioning and his continuation in the post, despite Mir and his son losing in the Lok Sabha and District Development Council elections.

As per sources, the resentment is also against the party's top leadership for neglecting the deterioration of the party in the Union Territory.

The resignation letters read, "Sycophants have captured and hijacked the functioning of the state Congress."
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday ordered a reshuffle in the ranks of six senior officers of Delhi Police.

According to an order by Baijal, as many as four Indian Police Service (IPS) officers and two Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service cadre officers have been transferred to new positions.

Jaspal Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer who was holding the charge of Special CP (New Delhi Range) has now been posted as Managing Director of the Delhi Police Housing Corporation.

Special CP (Crime) Alok Kumar was transferred to Provisioning and Logistics which is under the Provisioning and Finance Division.

Manish Kumar Aggarwal, Special CP (Traffic HQ) has been sent to Protective Security Division as ID Shukla, who was earlier posted there was transferred to Goa as the Director General of Police.

Special CP (HQ) Shalini Singh, a 1996-batch IPS officer was transferred to the Welfare Department which is under Human Resource Division.

Sukhraj Katewa, who was currently serving as Additional DCP (Security) was transferred to the Dwarka district as Additional DCP-II while Satish Kumar, who was posted at Dwarka as Additional DCP-II will now serve as DCP/HQ-1 (Welfare).

The LG has forwarded his order to Commissioner of Police Rakesh Asthana for necessary action.

The development comes just two days after 44 policemen, including Station House Officers and Inspectors, were transferred and given new responsibilities.

Officials privy to the development told IANS that the transfers are a part of the normal process and these rejigs are intended to bring more transparency and accountability in the system.

The months of September and October also saw several transfers of the senior officers of Delhi Police.

Over 50 senior IPS officers were given new assignments in just two months.
New Delhi/Chennai, Nov 18 : In view of the heavy rainfall in several districts of Tamil Nadu and Pudducherry, and the reservoirs in the region getting heavy inflows, the Central Water Commission (CWC) on Thursday issued an advisory for the dam operators to keep strict vigil and release water carefully.

The heavy rainfall is a result of the depression over Bay of Bengal, off north Tamil Nadu coast that moved with a speed of 23 kmph on Thursday morning and lay centred at about 250 km from Chennai, 220 km from Puducherry and 210 km from Karaikal.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued flash flood warnings for Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pudducherry. Its Land Surface Model have shows as high as 95-100 per cent saturation in few watersheds of southern parts of Rayalaseema, southern parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam adjoining to North Tamil Nadu and Tamil Nadu, Pudducheery & Karaikal subdivisions of IMD and up to 80-85 per cent saturation in few watersheds of Rayalaseema and Kerala IMD subdivision.

The depression is very likely to continue to move, and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between Puducherry and Chennai early Friday morning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

"The depression is not deep. But the rainfall is expected to be high mainly because the north-east monsoon is active and hence the moist north-easterly winds converging along Tamil Nadu coast would bring in copious amounts of rainfall," said IMD's senior scientist Sunitha Devi.

IMD has already issued a forecast of high rainfall of more than 250 mm in the next 24 hours.

There has been heavy rainfall activity in the districts of Cudallore, Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai, Peralambalur and Kallakuruchi in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, because of which water levels in the rivers in the regions - South Pennar, Palar, Gedilam, Varahanadi, Velhar, including Gomukhi and Manimuktha, - are likely to rise significantly creating flood type situation and inundation till November 20, the CWC said.

"Reservoirs such as Sathanur dam and Veedur dam are likely to get significant inflows. Releases, if any, may be done as per standard operation procedure after alerting the downstream stakeholders," the CWC advisory from its Hydrology Division in Chennai said.

Similarly, due to ongoing heavy rainfall activity in basins of Kosasthalai, Araniyar, Adayar, smaller rivers in Thiruvallur, Vellore, Ranipet, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu districts, water levels in rivers are likely to rise significantly creating flood type situation and inundation from Thursday till November 20.

"Reservoirs in these basins in Pichatoor dam (Araniyar river in Andhra Pradesh), Poondi reservoir, Chembarambakkam reservoir and other dams are likely to get significant inflow, strict vigil may be kept and releases may be made carefully keeping in view the downstream level conditions," the CWC said.

Authorities concerned may monitor the situation with caution and are advised to be in high alert and also alert the downstream areas for increase in river levels, the advisory said.

Besides, the IMD has issued a Persistent Flash Flood Threat (PFFT) applicable till Thursday evening with moderate to high threat likely to occur over few watersheds and neighborhood of Kadapa, Chittoor districts of Rayalaseema, Nellore, Prakasham districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Kanchipuram, Villupuram and Puducherry, Ariyalur, Perumbulur, Tiruchirapally, Salem, Dharmapuri, Karaikal, Krishnagiri and Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal met subdivisions by Thursday evening.
Kolkata, Nov 18 : After sweetmeat and 'telebaja' (crunchy fritters quoted in corn-flour) industry, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday suggested pillow and blanket curved out of Kans grass (a kind of white flower that blooms during Autumn in Bengal).

During an administrative meeting in Howrah, she also directed the district administration to start a duck feather project to further facilitate the shuttlecock industry.

"Kash phool (Kans grass) is abundant in Howrah as well as in rural Bengal. If we can preserve these natural objects, which can be used effectively to manufacture pillows and blankets. It is expensive, but there is a market. We can also export these things," Banerjee said.

She also asked the MSME department to work on this so that it can become an effective way of business.

The Chief Minister asked the district administration to promote local trade effectively. Representatives of the Howrah Chamber of Commerce then said that shuttlecock is a very popular industry in Howrah, but there is a dearth of duck feather which is an important component for manufacturing shuttlecocks.

The Chief Minister then asked the Secretary in MSME department, Vivek Kumar, to develop duck poultry so that there is no dearth of supply of feathers.

"We have already started two duck poultries at Sitampur and Kushambi in Birbhum and another at Kalyani in Nadia. We will develop more poultries so that there is adequate supply of feathers for shuttlecock manufacturing," an official in the MSME department said.

Banerjee then jokingly said, "Ask the self-help groups to collect feathers and create a steady supply chain. Just like 'Duare Sarkar' (government at doorstep), we will now have 'Duare Palok' (feather at doorstep)." The Chief Minister also said that Rs 20.48 crore has been invested in Howrah in the last two years, besides the creation of over 1,16,000 jobs.

Another Rs 10,460 crore will be invested and 1,56,000 job opportunities will be created, she said.
New Delhi, Nov 18 : Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Thursday said there has been very positive feedback from the industry on the recently announced production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes by the Central government.

Goyal said this during a review meeting of the 'Steering Committee on Advancing Local value-addition and Exports'.

Notably, PLIs in the textile, automotive and white goods' sector are already beginning to encourage growth, a Ministry of Commerce and Industry statement said.

The Centre aims to double its auto component exports to $30 billion by 2026, the statement added.

Currently, India's auto component trade share is $15 billion, as compared to global $1.3 trillion.

In addition, the minister asked industry participants to take advantage of low labour costs and reap benefits of India's scale and demographic dividend.

On automobile sector, he stressed upon ramping up of indigenous production of magnets and electric motors.
Guwahati, Nov 19 : Six senior Congress leaders in Assam on Thursday lodged a complaint with the police against actress Kangana Ranaut for allegedly making defamatory comments against Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom movement.

The Congress leaders, including former MPs Dwijen Sharma and Bolih Kuli, in their complaint lodged at the Dispur police station referring to an article in a newspaper, said that Ranaut severely criticised Mahatma Gandhi, who devoted his life to free India from the British rule.

"It is a grave insult towards the martyrs of the freedom movement. The statements made by the actress are also an act of sedition. The statements have broken the hearts of the Indian people as well as the freedom fighters of Assam. It is a grave offence of sedition with the intention to dishonour the freedom fighters," the Congress leaders said.

Stating that it was a highly objectionable and defamatory statement, the Congress leaders requested the Assam police to take necessary action as per the law to book Ranaut immediately.

Ranaut had reportedly said that "freedom struggle and Independence were 'khairat' (alms) that the Indians got from the British", triggering a widespread controversy.

The President of the All India Mahila Congress, Netta D'Souza, had last week written to President Ram Nath Kovind, demanding withdrawal of the Padma Shri conferred upon Ranaut.
Gurugram, Nov 19 : A total of 130 FIRs have been registered in a week against establishments across Gurugram during a special drive against illegal advertisements, on the recommendation of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), officials said on Thursday.

The MCG officials have also issued 150 notice to the establishment owners amid the installation of illegal hoardings and advertisements.

Naim Hussain, SDO, Zone-3 of the MCG, told IANS: "The department has to recover Rs 48 crore penalty... and 750 FIRs have been registered during the current financial year." MCG additional commissioner Vaishali Sharma said Haryana Municipal Corporation bye-laws should be strictly adhered to, and nobody should advertise without taking permission from the civic body.

The officials said the illegal advertisers will have to face a penalty and an FIR will also be lodged against them.

Sharma has also instructed the corporation officials to submit an action plan within a week to remove the unauthorised advertisements.

Meanwhile, Hussain said that the drive will be conducted in a phased manner.

"During the drive, we will first check malls and in the second phase, we will focus on shops. The enforcement team has removed multiple illegal advertisement materials from malls and liquor shops in the last two days," Hussain said.

As per the Haryana Municipal Corporation Advertisement Bye-laws, 2018, it is mandatory for any agency or building owner to get approval from the civic body before putting up hoardings.


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Hines, on behalf of Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK), has signed a lease with The European Parliament to welcome Europa Experience, a space open to the public, at 28 Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.

Hines, who acquired the space vacated by the Pinacotheque de Paris art gallery o...

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Building new homes won't solve the problem. For every affordable housing unit that is built, two others are lost to abandonment, deterioration, or conversion to more expensive housing, Davis said.

Leaders in the world of nonprofit home repair announced the rebranding of ReFrame Association as the Coalition for Home Repair at its annual conference today.

This marks a new chapter for this nonprofit that has grown rapidly since its formation a decade ago as a way to advocate and share best practices in the effort to create safer, healthier homes across the country, said Becca Davis, the organizations Executive Director and one of its founders.

It is more efficient to repair a home than to build a new affordable unit, she said. Repairs are an effective and sustainable solution for our countrys housing shortage.

This organizational change comes at a time when almost all parts of the nation are facing an affordable housing shortage. Housing is considered affordable when it costs less than 30% of residents' monthly income. This includes rent or mortgage payments, insurance, utilities, property taxes and home repairs and maintenance. The pandemic has exacerbated the affordable housing crisis. Approximately 10.7 million people are behind on their rent and 10 million people have overdue mortgage payments.

The Coalition for Home Repairs work is important because it helps people stay in homes instead of losing them and trying to find new shelter in a world where costs are exploding. Almost nine million low-income renter households have significant repair needs, and 6.6 million low-income homeowner households are in need of home repair.

Building new homes won't solve the problem. For every affordable housing unit that is built, two others are lost to abandonment, deterioration, or conversion to more expensive housing, Davis said.

Coalition members repaired approximately 38,000 homes for 89,000 low-income people in 38 states in the last five years. With the help of 306,000 volunteers serving 7.8 million hours through the 85 member organizations, more than 71,000 projects were completed such as roof repairs, accessibility modifications, weatherization, room additions, plumbing and electrical repairs.

There is a severe shortage of affordable homes in the United States. People in low-income households have to compete with higher-income households for the limited number of affordable homes available for purchase and rent, said Dan Sargent, the chair of the Coalitions board as well as the Executive Director of Rebuilding Together of the Triangle in North Carolina.

The Coalition began as a conference of like-minded organizations seeking ways to share wisdom, resources, and best practices within the nonprofit home repair and rehabilitation community. Out of that conference was born an association dedicated to a year-round approach with a powerful reach to bring together organizations from across the country to make a stronger and more strategic effort to help eliminate substandard housing.

Some of the Coalition for Home Repairs successes and programs include:



Funding for Tools & Building Materials: Distributed $99,000 in Lowe's gift cards to members in Spring 2021 to help off-set the high cost of building materials.

Disaster Recovery: Distributed $15,500 in Fall 2021 to members repairing homes impacted by disasters.

Cooperative Grants: Work with members to apply for grants that can benefit multiple organizations. It funded anti-racism consultations for members, thanks to the East Tennessee Foundation. It also funded half of the staff time for members participating in a Construction Workforce Development Cohort, thanks to the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Annual Conference: Approximately 150 people gather each November in Kingsport, Tennessee (and now also online) to learn from expert speakers  both from within the membership and from their respective fields  about best practices in construction, fundraising, volunteer management, and more.

Affinity Groups: Like-minded members gather virtually on a regular basis to share best practices. The current groups are: Anti-Racism Community of Practice, Faith-Based Affinity Group, Healthy Homes Affinity Group, and Camp-Model Roundtable. Members participate for free.

Webinars: Free monthly webinars are available to members on topics related to repair methods and materials, volunteer management, fundraising, program development, board governance, self-care, and more.

Coalition leadership stressed these were all part of a bigger puzzle that revolves around community building. Home repairs are an effective way to address crime through nonpolice interventions, according to the University of Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, home repairs resulted in a 21.9% reduction in total crime, and the number of units repaired directly correlated with decreased crime.

Investing in repairs can also prevent homes from falling into severe disrepair, lessening the risk of property abandonment that can lead to overall community decline, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

When a low-income home is renovated, the property value increases which benefits the entire neighborhood. Repairing homes is the key to restoring vibrant communities nationwide, Sargent said.

Davis said home repairs are an important solution to the affordable housing crisis and we can address the need more effectively and efficiently together. Through the Coalition, nonprofits, businesses, governments, and individuals partner on projects that improve lives and restore communities.

We are creating a bigger umbrella for organizations that are focused on improving housing quality across the country, Davis said. We are excited about our future and hope we can help our members keep growing and serving.

About the Coalition for Home Repair:

With more than 85 members nationwide, the Coalition for Home Repair is dedicated to bringing together organizations from across the country to share wisdom, resources, and best practices within the nonprofit home repair and rehabilitation community. The Coalition for Home Repair promotes the preservation of safe, healthy, affordable housing for all by supporting the work of home repair and rehabilitation partners nationwide. Learn more about the Coalitions impact and view a directory of member organizations at CoalitionForHomeRepair.org.
Luke Tuddenham "With Luke at the helm, were committed to continuing our growth as world-class mainframe experts for customers around the world, as well as investing heavily in our team's ability to solve our clients deeper technology challenges."

On November 1, 2021, Luke Tuddenham was officially named CEO of CPT Global, following the companys announcement in late April. Voted in unanimously by company board members, Luke assumes the role held by his father, CPT Globals Founder and former Managing Director Gerry Tuddenham, for almost 30 years.

"I'm extremely confident in our teams ability to continue delivering outstanding service to our customers," Luke said about becoming the new CEO. "We have a deep bench of highly talented people who I trust and respect, and we keep investing heavily in talent and business development so we can deliver the most innovative and cost-effective technology solutions to our customers."

The transition will have a big impact on where CPT Global is headed, particularly regarding advanced and emerging technologies. Under Luke's direction, the company plans to continue growing these areas while maintaining its focus on mainframe consulting. The change in CEO is just one of many initiatives CPT Global is pursuing to expand its business model and global reach.

"With Luke at the helm, were committed to continuing our growth as world-class mainframe experts for customers around the world, as well as investing heavily in our team's ability to solve our clients deeper technology challenges," said Gerry Tuddenham, who will spearhead a new IT tools and software initiative as Board Director. Luke is someone who knows how CPT operates from the inside out and has become an inspired, effective leader. As the company heads into future, we expect to see some of CPT Globals biggest growth yet.

In his new position as CEO, Luke brings a wealth of tech experience and enterprise knowledge to CPT Global, where hes played an instrumental role in the company's recent growth.

"Before ever joining CPT, Gerry helped guide me in business as a mentor and visionary, especially as I watched him build the company from scratch and shape CPT Global into what it is today. As the new CEO, I plan to build on this success and legacy by taking the company even further in terms of its talent and service capabilities, Luke said, adding, "I'm energized by this new opportunity and excited to be in Melbourne working together with the team so we can execute our strategy of making an even bigger impact with our customers globally.

Luke joined CPT in 2005, overseeing the companys Australian and US markets, before becoming Vice President in 2011. In 2016, Luke was named President of the Americas and Europe, where he played a critical role in helping the company generate record-breaking revenue and profit margins in FY2021.

Starting his career in Melbourne with Andersen in 2007, Luke joined CPT Global following his time at PricewaterhouseCoopers. In addition to being a graduate of Columbia Universitys Business School with a Bachelor of Business Information Systems and a Certificate in Business Excellence, Luke maintains membership in the Australian Computer Society and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

About CPT Global

CPT Global is a technology consulting firm with a strong focus on mainframe and emerging technologies. Approaching its 30th year in business, the company has helped 80% of the worlds largest banks and many other Fortune 500 companies maximize their IT investments and enhance their mainframe capabilities.

Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, CPT Global has over 180 employees worldwide and serves an impressive roster of clients in more than 70 countries around the world. The company has been recognized by Gartner as a leader in mainframe management and for its success with the IBM Z platform.

For more information please contact:

Grant Sincock

Company Secretary

T: +61 3 9684 7900

E: gsincock@cptglobal.com

http://www.cptglobal.com/
Andy Jacob, CEO and Host of The DotCom Magazine Show We are honored to award great companies like Kazoo our DotCom Magazine 2021 Impact Company of The Year Award. Companies have so many ways to make an impact, and thats why each companys unique impact is more important than ever before."

DotCom Magazine today announced that Kazoo has won the DotCom Magazine Impact Company Of The Year 2021 Award, which celebrates the most important segment of the economy  Americas privately owned companies whose founders, CEOs and team members are making a positive difference in an incredibly unique year.

Companies have so many ways to potentially make a positive impact, and Kazoos unique approach is ensuring peoples' safety during emergencies. Current 911 technology uses cellphone hits from multiple towers to estimate where a phone is located, which is only accurate up to a quarter mile. As a result, 10M+ 911 calls are accidentally routed to the wrong 911 dispatcher each year, resulting in a critical delay when every second counts. Emergency help also frequently has trouble locating callers, especially if callers are unable to talk or they dont know exactly where they are.

Kazoo developed a mobile platform that saves lives by providing enhanced connectivity to 911. Instead of relying on outdated technology that only estimates location, Kazoo relays pinpoint-precise location data from smartphones directly into the 911 infrastructure. In our modern world, companies use location-based technology in all sorts of ways, like showing specific advertisements to consumers as they pass by display windows. Through Kazoo, individuals have the same access to cutting-edge location-based technology and can use it to stay safe.

Existing communications tools allow users to livestream events in real-time or document an incident by taking a video. What good does it do to record or stream an emergency without being able to intervene for help? This is a huge missing piece  getting assistance, avoiding disasters, and saving lives, says Peter Goodman, Kazoo CEO. Kazoos SOS technology allows users to livestream, chat with, and relay precise pinpoint location to emergency contacts. If help is needed, any emergency contact can call the victims local 911 dispatcher on the victims behalf, even if the emergency contact is located halfway around the world. The victims name, phone number, and pinpoint location are all automatically seen by the local 911 dispatcher, allowing for faster response times that save lives.

Andy Jacob, CEO of DotCom Magazine says, We are honored to award great companies like Kazoo our DotCom Magazine 2021 Impact Company of The Year Award. Companies have so many ways to make an impact, and thats why each companys unique impact is more important than ever before.

# # #

About Kazoo

Located in Washington, D.C., Kazoo developed a 911 SaaS mobile platform that saves lives through enhanced 911 connectivitytransforming smartphones into personal safety lifelines to deliver ultimate security for tens of millions of users worldwide. For more information about Kazoo, visit https://kazoo.ai. To learn about Kazoos investor crowdfunding campaign on Netcapital, visit https://netcapital.com/companies/kazoo

About DotCom Magazine

DotCom Magazine is a leading news platform providing news and unique interviews with newsmakers, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. The DotCom Magazine Impact Company of The Year Awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of todays entrepreneurial privately held small businesses that drive the economy. For more information, visit http://www.DotComMagazine.com.
Symptomatical - Symptom Screening and Health Tracking Platform for Schools The primary goal of Symptomatical  help to stay ahead of the curve and ensure a safe school environment.

Symptomatical launches a platform that helps schools to move daily student Covid-19 screenings online. Parents can quickly and easily submit daily health information about their children and Covid-19 symptoms online before entering school buildings.

A new screening method that allows your school to stay open.

Symptomatical offers additional features to ensure safety to students and schools. It enables offline learning by providing screening results tracking, departments and location management, comprehensive reporting, customizable questionnaire, and more.

The primary goal of Symptomatical  help to stay ahead of the Covid-19 curve and ensure a safe school environment.

How does the online screening process work?

In the app, parents answer the questions if their child is experiencing symptoms. They are based on the states regulations and CDC documents. After that, the parents see if their child can enter the school premises or stay home. Finally, the school leaders see information about daily statuses in the dashboard.

"To keep kids safe... I know that in my children's school there were 2 cases disclosed like that. So it helps to disclose cases." - Assad, Toronto, public-funded college, 10 000 students.

The app sends automatic reminders before the classes begin. No downloads are needed. Parents can complete a form each morning using a smartphone app or a website. The school administration sees daily results in the dashboard. In addition, it can easily create reports for school districts if required. School principals mention that similar apps have already helped them disclose cases among students.

How Does It Affect Schools?

According to recent research, offline education is more effective compared to online learning. This is because students understand the materials better when they can directly meet their lecturers. Using daily screening apps, schools can resume offline learning and improve their students performance.

CEO of Symptomatical Iva Kozlovskaya started platform development when several schools requested help in moving the health screening process online to keep the health of each student under control. Symptomatical makes daily health screenings and temperature assessments easier. Parents need just a couple of minutes to respond to the required questions about childrens well-being before reporting to school.

Learn more at Symptomatical.com

About Symptomatical

Symptomatical is a symptom screening and health management system that helps schools and companies to reopen, be ahead of the Covid-19 curve, and protect people from infectious diseases. Our syndromic surveillance platform empowers response to infectious diseases, helps to protect communities, enhances security, and fundamentally improves public health. Utilize digital technologies and advanced data to stay a step ahead of infectious disease risks!

Contacts

Symptomatical.com

+ 1 315 636 4574

info@symptomatical.com
Petit & Dommershausen, SC Super Lawyers

Petit & Dommershausen, SC, is proud to announce that four of its attorneys have been named to the Wisconsin Super Lawyers lists for 2021. The prestigious list selected two attorneys as Super Lawyers and two as Rising Stars from the Northeast Wisconsin law firm.

The Super Lawyers list is highly selective with no more than five percent of the nominated attorneys making the final list each year. The team members at Petit & Dommershausen, SC, receiving recognition include:



Gregory Petit, who has received the honor since 2018;

Tajara Dommershausen, who has received the honor since 2018, also a rising star 2008, 2009;

The Rising Stars list is a highly selective honor that recognizes attorneys if they are 40 years old or younger or have practiced law for 10 years or less. The team members at Petit & Dommershausen, SC, receiving recognition include:

Steffanie Walczak, who is a first-time honoree;

Brittany Running, who has received this honor since 2019;

About Petit & Dommershausen, SC. Petit & Dommershausen, SC, provides legal representation throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. Founded in 2003, the firm handles cases involving family law, criminal defense & criminal appeals, estate planning, and other legal services. Clients can visit the team at any of the firms locations in Green Bay, Menasha, and Oshkosh. Call the firm at 920-739-9900 to schedule your initial consultation or visit pdlawoffice.com.
Richard Karn knows a thing or two about work boots. He has been working with the tools of the trade for decades, first as Al Borland on ABCs Home Improvement and most recently on the History Channels Assembly Required. Karn, in a brand new series of six videos, heaps heavy praise on some of the toughest work boots around, Iron Age Work Boots.

In one video, Karn educates on how to save ones foot with metatarsal protective footwear from Iron Age. In another, he invites viewers to just say no to (boot) crack with Iron Ages industry-only crack-resistant leather. Other spots highlight the importance of picking out the right boot for the right job, and Karn even gives tough workers the okay to wear soft toes for some jobs, profiling Iron Ages first-ever soft toe offering, a boot not a slipper. With humor, straight talk, and good old-fashioned wisdom, Karn profiles an Old School Tough Work Boot brand that has helped build America since 1918.

Check out Richard Karns Iron Age videos on the Iron age YouTube Channel: Iron Age Footwear - YouTube. Please utilize these videos on any of your social media channels and use hashtag #ironagefootwaer

Iron Age Footwear is a brand of Warson Brands, also known as Warson Group, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Warson Brands is a global manufacturer and marketer of military, tactical, and industrial safety footwear since 1989, and provides a variety of work and duty footwear under the worlds finest brand names, Reebok, Rockport Works, Florsheim, Iron Age, Grabbers, and Knapp. Iron Age was the first protective toe footwear manufacturer in the United States, originating in Pittsburgh, PA in 1918. For more information, visit http://www.ironagefootwear.com. For all of our latest news, updates, events, promotions, and new product introductions, visit http://www.facebook.com/ironagefootwear and http://www.instagram.com/ironagefootwear.
"Tim displays a powerful mixture of personal humility and an indomitable will to see ABC Legal take on amazing new initiatives"

ABC Legal Services, LLC, the nation's largest service of process provider, announced today that Timothy Dinehart has been named Chief Executive Officer. Dinehart replaces Steve Carrigan, longtime CEO, who will be shifting his position to provide targeted support to the organization in a new role as Chief Process Server.

Tim displays a powerful mixture of personal humility and an indomitable will to see ABC Legal take on amazing new initiatives," said Steve Carrigan, outgoing CEO. His ambition to lead with the best talent and ideas from outside traditional approaches positions ABC Legal to be a powerhouse under his leadership."

Dinehart, throughout his 14 years as Chief Operating Officer at ABC Legal, helped set new performance and quality standards for customers, process servers, and employees within the legal services industry. Prior to ABC Legal, Dinehart applied his MBA from the American Graduate School of International Management at Fortune 500 companies IBM, Whole Foods Markets, and Level 3 Communications.

"Having earned this opportunity to steward ABC Legal and its thousands of customers, partners, and employees, is an honor," said Tim Dinehart. "This industry is still fragmented and supported by outdated technology. We've already built the best-in-class platform. Now, we're going to be focusing on modern solutions to keep driving us forward. You'll see it play out in the metrics in real-time compared to our competition."

ABC Legal Services, LLC is the nations leading service of process and court filing provider, as well as the official contractor to the U.S. Central Authority of the Department of Justice. ABC Legal provides service of process in all 50 states and 77 countries. To learn more about ABC Legal, please visit: http://www.abclegal.com.

ABC Legal is backed by Aquiline Capital Partners, a New York-based investing firm that provides private capital to innovative leaders in financial services and technology. Aquiline looks for teams that have cracked complex end markets, entrepreneurs who have commercialized their expertise, and companies that are indispensable to their clients. For more information about Aquiline, its investment professionals, and its portfolio companies, please visit: http://www.aquiline.com.
Project Equity works with partners around the country to raise awareness about employee ownership as an exit strategy for business owners, and provides hands-on consulting and support to companies that want to transition to employee ownership.

Evan Edwards has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Project Equity, a national leader in the movement to harness employee ownership to maintain thriving local business communities, honor selling owners legacies, and address income and wealth inequality. Edwards was selected for his visionary leadership and business acumen acquired over his lifetime career, including the past nearly five years serving as Director of Strategic Partnerships and Business Engagement at Project Equity.

Edwards has played a critical leadership role at Project Equity during a period of growth as it expanded through partnerships including city and county localities, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and business associations throughout California and in targeted regions across the United States.

We are at an inflection point in the history of our country and also our organization, said Edwards. Today marks a crossroads on our roadmap to resiliency: we saw during the worst of COVID how employee-owned businesses were significantly more resilient. Now we see employees leaving their jobs in unprecedented numbers in search of better jobs that present meaningful opportunity. Now more than ever, our communities need resilient businesses that offer quality jobs, which in turn create financial resiliency for workers and their families. At Project Equity, we are shifting to focus more deeply on scaling employee ownership in order to help realize this vision.

Prior to joining Project Equity, Edwards spent over two decades working with start-up and early growth companies and in nonprofit leadership. His work identifying, cultivating and leading partnerships helped companies in multiple technology sectors scale. Edwards track record enables him to bridge the private and nonprofit sectors, which is critical to the growth of employee ownership among businesses and as a field of economic development.

Project Equity co-founders Alison Lingane and Hilary Abell have led Project Equity for the past ten years. Today, Evan Edwards steps into the CEO role as the organization moves into its next chapter of growth. The co-founders remain in critical roles focused on moving the field of employee ownership to scale.

Project Equity will now take a more active role in engaging with policymakers, government agencies and other stakeholders to advance employee ownership, said co-founder Abell. We see interest in employee ownership growing, and it is time to include it in our national vision for an equitable economic recovery.

The future is bright for employee ownership, and we have tremendous opportunity in front of us right now. As a field and as an organization, we need to be pulling the levers of awareness raising, private and public sector engagement, capital and policy to scale employee ownership, shared co-founder Lingane. It is time to ignite this critical phase of growth for our organization, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have somebody with Evans talent as our first CEO.

With employee recruiting and retention being such a critical need for businesses, employee ownership offers a blueprint for attracting and retaining people for the long term. And, for retirement-aged business owners, it preserves their legacy while providing a market sale of the business, on their own timeline without having to search for an external buyer.

Transitioning a business to employee ownership can support business continuity, preserve good jobs and rebuild local economies. This helps businesses and the communities where they are located to thrive for generations to come.
Shockoe Logo With this partnership, more organizations will be able to transform their business and meet the ever growing digital needs of their customers and employees. Shockoes expertise, paired with the depth and breadth of the OutSystems platform, will enable better solutions, faster than ever,

Shockoe, an award-winning multi-platform digital product solution leader announced a new partnership with OutSystems, a global leader in modern application development. The collaboration will enable teams to exceed customer expectations while decreasing time to market with fewer development hours to build best-in-class mobile solutions.

Shockoe is thrilled to announce our partnership with OutSystems. said Alex Otanez, Shockoe CEO. The team at OutSystems aligns with our focus on innovation and ingenuity and I look forward to the great work we can do together to create the multi-platform solutions our clients need.

As a leader in mobile app development Shockoe works with leading companies like American Express, Nissan and Dominion Energy to create seamless mobile experiences for employees and customers. Shockoe's award-winning work is driven by the desire to create measurable impact which further highlights its innovation and industry leadership.

With this partnership, more organizations will be able to transform their business and meet the ever growing digital needs of their customers and employees. Shockoes expertise, paired with the depth and breadth of the OutSystems platform, will enable better solutions, faster than ever, explained Melissa Lyons, Channel Manager at OutSystems.

As part of the partnership, Shockoe and OutSystems will host a joint event on Thursday, November 18 2021 for technology leaders in Richmond, VA to discuss legacy technology modernization. Learn more about Shockoe at https://shockoe.com/ and OutSystems at https://www.outsystems.com/.

Shockoe is an award winning multi platform app development company based in Richmond, VA. It is focused on using a holistic approach to develop measurable digital products that make an impact for leading companies, their customers and their employees. Founded by Edwin Huertas in 2010, Shockoe has been featured in Inc 5000, Entrepreneur Magazine, and recognized as one of Virginias fastest-growing digital companies, as well as one of Richmond Times Dispatchs Best Places to Work.

Learn more about Shockoes design and development processes at Shockoe.com
Khristine Carroll, Vice President of Business Development, Forum Plastics Khristines extensive background, knowledge and dedication to the medical device industry will not only help us grow using our current capabilities, but also help us identify unmet, underserved and innovation-focused upcoming market needs.

Forum Plastics is pleased to announce that, effective October 4, 2021, Khristine Carroll has joined the company in the newly created role of Vice President of Business Development. In this key role, Ms. Carroll is responsible for managing all commercial activities and leading the organizations innovation and technology enablement, enhancement, alliance and acquisition platform.

We are very excited to welcome Khristine to our team, said Mark Polinsky, President of Forum Plastics. Her extensive experience, knowledge and dedication to the medical device industry will not only help us grow using our current capabilities, but also help us identify unmet, underserved and innovation-focused upcoming market needs. We have spent the last several years building a strong foundation focused on providing the highest levels of quality, superior technical knowledge and efficiency, and a fully committed and customer-responsive infrastructure. The organization is now well-positioned to strategically invest in and expand our capabilities to better support our current and future customers, and we look forward to fully engaging in these critical programs with Khristine on board.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to help strategically position and enhance the Forum Plastics portfolio of products and services in continued support of the medical device and pharmaceutical community, Carroll said. It is an exciting time to embrace next-stage requirements and help build an organization to meet currently unmet or undermet needs to overcome the challenges we together anticipate as well as to evaluate future technology platforms and determine which will best enhance our contributions and support of our industry. Doing this while simultaneously working with a client committed, innovation and technology focused group and with the support of a highly ethical and team focused parent company is truly an honor.

Ms. Carroll brings with her over 25 years of medical device and material science background at increasing levels of responsibility and across functional disciplines. Most recently, Ms. Carroll was responsible for leading the AdvanSource Biomaterials group following their acquisition by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. She holds a BSc and MSc in Organizational Leadership, as well as an MBA from Quinnipiac University.

ABOUT FORUM PLASTICS:

Based in Waterbury, Connecticut, Forum Plastics is a world-class injection molding, assembly and critical solutions provider solving complex problems for a range of industries. With a primary focus on the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors, Forum provides expert engineering from the initial concept stage through planning, design for manufacturing (DFM), complex mold designs and construction, IQ/OQ/PQ validation support to full-scale production. The organization is committed to investments in new technologies, continuous improvement and best-in-class support of clients, employees, suppliers, and additional stakeholders. For more than 25 years, Forum has built a reputation for meeting the requirements of complex medical designs with the highest levels of integrity and customer-focused responsiveness. For more information, visit forummolding.com.

From prototype to production, get there faster with Forum.
Arable CFO Anand Desai Anand brings a wealth of leadership experience from a broad range of technology and SaaS companies that will be invaluable in helping Arable continue to scale in our next phase of growth, said Arable CEO Jim Ethington.

Arable, a leading IoT-enabled SaaS agricultural technology company, announced today the appointment of Anand Desai as its Chief Financial Officer. Desai is a renowned business strategist and dynamic leader, and brings to Arable more than 15 years of experience in tech finance, operations, and new market development. Desai will oversee all aspects of finance and accounting, working closely with Jim Ethington, Arables CEO, and the executive team as Arable enters its next phase of global expansion.

Prior to joining Arable, Desai served as the Senior Director of Corporate FP&A at HashiCorp, a leader in cloud infrastructure automation. He helped the company through a tremendous growth phaseHashicorp recently filed for an IPO this month at a $10 billion valuation. Before that, Desai was Director of Business Operations at Rigetti Quantum Computing; during his tenure, they experienced more than 100% growth in employees and went from pre-revenue to commercial. Over the course of his career, he has held executive finance and leadership roles at Nest, worked on new category development at Google headquarters in San Francisco, led product finance at Google Maps, and worked at Microsoft as a financial analyst.

Anand brings a wealth of leadership experience from a broad range of technology and SaaS companies that will be invaluable in helping Arable continue to scale in our next phase of growth, said Arable CEO Jim Ethington. His dedication to our mission of increasing the sustainability and resilience of how we feed the world makes him a perfect fit for our team. We are thrilled to have him join us on our journey.

Desais addition comes as Arable continues to receive industry recognition for its product innovation, including winning AgTech Breakthroughs IoT Monitoring Solution of the Year. His hiring demonstrates Arables commitment to investing across the board to build the right leadership for sustainable growth.

Im excited to bring my experience in finance and technology together with my love for the natural world at Arable, said Desai. Im deeply motivated by Arables mission to move the needle on efficiency and sustainability in agriculture, and Im inspired by Arables successful execution in a crowded market. Feeding the worlds growing population is a global issue, and Im thrilled to contribute to the mission as part of this talented and diverse team.

Desai received a dual degree in Finance and Liberal Arts from the University of Texas, Austin, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.

###

About Arable

Arable helps the most innovative companies in agriculture to optimize decisions and understand crop outcomes through better data. Its integrated hardware, agronomic modeling, and software suite enable farmers, agronomists, researchers, processors, and food companies to understand the full crop system at the plant, field, and regional level. This helps reduce risk, improve productivity, and optimize for sustainability.

Arable continues to receive several recognitions, including the Irrigation Associations Best New Product of 2018, Plug & Plays Top 10 Ag Tech Companies to Watch in 2019, THRIVEs Top 50 Companies for 2020, and the 2021 AgTech Breakthrough IoT Monitoring Solution of the Year'' awards. Based in San Francisco, the Arable team is led by former Climate Corporation executive Jim Ethington, and brings a diverse set of experience across crop modeling, IoT, data science, software engineering, and farm management.

For more information on Arables solutions and how the company is reshaping agriculture, visit arable.com. To see how theyre building and expanding the team, view Arables open positions at arable.com/jobs.

Media Contact:

Jamie Hardy

Arable Communications

press@arable.com

510-992-4095

https://www.arable.com
Mauna Loa's Non-Dairy Macadamia Milk Ice Cream comes in a variety of flavors, with more on the way, and is available online at MaunaLoa.com and in-stores nationwide. Its an incredible feeling for our team to have been able to introduce innovation to not only our historic brand, but also to the category of plant-based ice cream that has been gaining momentum in recent years, said Danielle Laubenstein, Director of Global Marketing for Mauna Loa.

KEA Mauna Loa (http://www.maunaloa.com), the global leader of macadamia nut products for 75 years, is celebrating the successful launch of its Hawaii-inspired, plant-based Macadamia Milk Ice Cream line  the first and only commercialized line of macadamia milk ice cream, which have claimed the top four new items in the Natural Channel, within plant-based ice creams.

Delivering paradise in a pint to consumers through its online shop and in the freezer aisles of stores such as Safeway/Albertsons, Sprouts and Whole Foods, since earlier this year, Mauna Loa is ending the year as the top-selling plant-based ice cream amongst new items, within the Natural Channel, for 2021.

Its an incredible feeling for our team to have been able to introduce innovation to not only our historic brand, after 75 years of focusing primarily on our macadamia nut lines, but also to the category of plant-based ice cream that has been gaining momentum in recent years, throughout every retail channel, said Danielle Laubenstein, Director of Global Marketing for Mauna Loa. We are so excited to see the response from consumers, in the months following the launch of our ice cream, whose strong purchase desire and positive feedback has made four of our SKUs top sellers in the set. We cant wait to keep delivering more innovation that brings a slice of paradise into the homes and lives of our customers, across the country.

The success of the initial launch has prompted a high demand for Mauna Loa to innovate further within the category  taking the macadamia nut where its never gone before  and adding additional variety and Hawaiian flavors to its lineup.

Over the summer, the brand launched Strawberry Guava, as its 7th Macadamia Milk Ice Cream flavor, which takes some of the islands most popular fruits to the mainland in perfect, pint-sized portions. As the initial response to the latest innovation has been highly positive, Mauna Loa plans to release additional flavors in 2022, with the next being Molokai Sea Salt & Caramel.

The new flavor is a unique recipe of creamy caramel swirls and a dash of sea salt, sourced from the Island of Molokai. Under the watchful eye of a Saltmaster, seawater sourced from the ultra-pure waters around Molokai are solar evaporated to achieve an ultra-mineral-rich sea salt. While the salt has also been used historically for ceremonial purposes, such as blessings and purifying sea-going canoes, it also works wonders on and in foods and recipes to accentuate flavor.

With caramel, a top-rated flavor in the ice cream category, Mauna Loas creamy Molokai Sea Salt & Caramel delivers a plant-based alternative to consumers looking for dairy-free options without sacrificing taste or texture.

The two new innovations of its ice cream line add to Mauna Loas already popular lines of dry-roasted flavored macadamias and chocolate-covered macadamias, and currently includes:



Rocky Road to Hana is a Hawaiian twist on the classic with a nod to the fabled, winding drive on the Eastside of Maui. Think creamy chocolate, vegan marshmallows and crunchy macadamias

Vanilla Orchid offers a delightful option for the classic flavor with a side of aloha

Mango Lilikoi is a sweet and tart union of mango and passionfruit

Kona Coffee is premium Kona coffee in frozen form

Vanilla Chocolate Chip offers a fun texture to a timeless flavor

Chocolate is a plant-based take on the traditional flavor, made with premium cacao

With a simple ingredient list, all ice cream flavors are Vegan.org Certified, dairy- and gluten-free, and Non-GMO Project Verified. Both chocolate SKUs are Cocoa Horizons Certified, and all flavors are available in retailer freezers across the country, including Albertsons/Safeway (Seattle, Hawaii, NorCal, SoCal, Texas and New Mexico), Sprouts nationwide, Whole Foods Market (Hawaii) and Longs Drugs (Hawaii). All SKUs are also available for purchase on MaunaLoa.com.

About Mauna Loa

Beginning in 1946, beneath the shadow of Mauna Loa volcano herself, the Mauna Loa brand began growing and roasting macadamias to produce a nutritious nut with a buttery flavor and unique crunch. Since then, the Hawaii-based company still roasts macadamias in its own manufacturing plant in Keaau, on the Big Island of Hawaii, and has created a wide variety of macadamia nut products, including Non-Dairy Macadamia Milk Ice Cream, flavored nuts, and chocolate-covered nuts. With a passionate team that embodies the aloha spirit, Mauna Loa continues to innovate with bold new products that harness the vibrant flavors and exquisite tastes of Hawaii.

With the launch of its online store, all of Mauna Loas products are now available to island-lovers throughout the country, with products shipped directly to the customers front door.

For more information on Mauna Loa, visit null http://www.maunaloa.com.

About Hawaiian Host Group

Hawaiian Host Group, the parent company to Hawaiian Host. Mauna Loa and Koho brands, is the leading manufacturer of premium chocolate and macadamia nut snacks. Renowned for providing an authentic chocolate and macadamia nut experience, the iconic Hawaii company has been offering high-quality, delicious productsfrom fine confectionery gifts to indulgent snacks, since 1927. Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaiian Host Group produces a wide assortment of unique premium chocolate and macadamia nut snacks and distributes them globally. For more information on Hawaiian Host Group, visit http://www.hawaiianhostgroup.com.

Top plant-based ice cream brands, Naturals Channel - Latest 12 Weeks SPINSScan Natural Enhanced Channel, TPL Universe, L52 Weeks ending 05/16/2021 ------- Top plant-based ice cream brands, MULO - Latest 12 Weeks SPINSScan Conventional Multi Outlet (powered by IRI), TPL Universe, L12 Weeks ending 06/13/2021, Top 20 brands in $ sales, ranked by $/TDP
Kurmi Software For businesses already challenged with complexity, fragmentation, and lack of automation across multiple communications platforms and collaboration tools, the pandemic response highlighted a critical need for a re-unification of enterprise communications."

Kurmi Software has expanded its presence in North America with new leadership hires to support accelerated growth in its largest market. The appointments include Eric Olson, Vice President, Sales, who brings more than 15 years experience in unified communications (UC) having led UCaaS sales for PGi across North America, and Debra Perry, Vice President, Alliances, who joins with deep experience in both direct and indirect selling, previously serving as VP, Mid-Market Americas for Anaplan.

North Americas largest banks, hospitals, universities, and telcos already rely on Kurmi for simplified, smarter, and automated unified communications and collaboration (UCC) management. The companys newly augmented North American leadership team enables it to address further market demand from enterprises challenged with managing user administration and management at scale during a period of accelerated digital transformation and a permanent shift to hybrid work environments.

Joining from virtual networking firm, PGi, where he served as VP UCaaS Sales North America, Eric Olson, brings a wealth of UCC sales experience to Kurmi. Olson has previously held senior positions at Vonage Business, where he operated as Director Enterprise Sales and, prior to that, VP of Sales Americas at workspace scheduling company, Condeco Software, with responsibility for all sales activity within the Americas region.

Kurmi solves a clear problem for organizations, and its one that Ive come across many times throughout my career in this industry: user implementation and management, explained Olson. Whether its an enterprise adopting UC for the first time or adding new collaboration tools, the implementation and rollout of these services is time-consuming and expensive. When I combine Kurmis ability to solve this problem, its global reach, and best-in-class R&D, with my own experience in this sector building and developing sales organizations, joining the company was a no-brainer.

New Kurmi VP, Alliances, Debra Perry, joins from Anaplan with responsibility for defining the companys North American partner strategy. Prior to that, Perry worked as Senior Director, Global Technology Partners, for pioneering Business Intelligence (BI) leader Qlik, where she led alliance programs with OEMs, consulting firms and resellers. Perrys strengths include building and growing long term, mutually valuable relationships with both customers and partners to drive solutions, cost savings and revenue.

On her appointment, Perry said, I am excited to join Kurmi at this pivotal point in the organizations journey and look forward to working with my new colleagues to further establish the company in the North American market as we build out our network of strategic alliances. I have been inspired by Kurmi's commitment to both innovation and creating the best possible working environment and culture to support each and every Kurmi team member.

From banks to universities, hospitals to energy and aerospace, Kurmi is trusted by the worlds largest enterprises and MSPs to deliver transparency and control of users on unified communications and collaboration (UCC) platforms. Its award-winning, tech-agnostic management solution handles the most complex UCC environments, streamlining and simplifying user administration and saving up to 80% of day-to-day user management costs.

For businesses already challenged with complexity, fragmentation, and lack of automation across multiple communications platforms and collaboration tools, the pandemic response highlighted a critical need for a re-unification of enterprise communications, explains Pascal Moindrot, COO and Co-Founder, Kurmi. This commitment to expansion is a direct response to the increased demand we are seeing from large enterprises across North America, and we are delighted to welcome Eric and Debra to our team as we move into this next phase of growth.

With the majority of Kurmis US team operating from its New York headquarters, the company plans to double its current North American headcount. New hires will be in the areas of sales, marketing, professional services, and support, all of whom will help accelerate the delivery of Kurmis regional offering to both existing and prospective enterprise customers and Managed Service Providers.

About Kurmi Software

Kurmi Software has developed award-winning software solutions that automate, simplify, and reduce the administration cost and time of Unified Communications and Collaboration services (telephony, videoconferencing, email and messaging, collaborative applications). Kurmi offers a powerful, user-centric software suite for simple, customizable, and ultra-scalable management of the markets leading Unified Communications platforms (Cisco, Avaya, Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, and others). Founded in 2011, with offices in New York, Montreal, Berlin, Rennes, Paris and Dubai, Kurmi Software supports global enterprises with a network of certified partners around the world.
Vaimo Partners With Next Generation Commerce Platform "We are well placed to jointly deliver fantastic customer experiences in the B2B and B2C commerce sector." - Dirk Weckerlei, Global VP commercetools

Vaimo, a full-service global omnichannel agency is pleased to announce an official partnership with commercetools. With rapid changes in digital commerce, Vaimo initiated this partnership to fulfill the requirements of merchants who have chosen a headless commerce architecture. This new partnership gives merchants seeking a flexible solution the chance to meet customer needsacross all channels and touch-pointsthroughout their entire shopping journey.

In response to this new partnership, David Holender, Vaimos CEO, stated, We are excited to partner with commercetools. Their innovative headless commerce platform is changing the face of commerce as we know it. This partnership will allow us to meet the demands of todays ecommerce  where we support brands and merchants to grow their digital presence and push the boundaries in experience-driven commerce."

Commercetools is a leading cloud-native headless commerce platform suitable for microservice architectures, where all commerce capabilities are exposed through APIs and each API can be consumed independently. In 2021, Gartner named commercetools as a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce for the second year in a row. They received distinction as a leading commerce company for both their B2B and B2C digital commerce solutions. With a headless commerce platform that separates frontend and backend functionality, commercetools enables businesses to build seamless shopping experiences across all digital touchpoints. The flexibility of the commercetools API allows merchants to be agile in a dynamic digital commerce world.

Partnerships have always been an integral part of commercetools' success, and we are now very excited to welcome Vaimo to our partner ecosystem to drive growth across Northern Europe and the Middle East and beyond. Vaimo has established itself as one of the leaders in commerce services over the past few years and has recognised the importance of adopting a composable approach. By combining commercetools' MACH platform, with Vaimo's strategy, design, development and engineering prowess, we are well placed to jointly deliver fantastic customer experiences in the B2B and B2C commerce sector, stated Dirk Weckerlei, Global VP Channel & Alliances at commercetools.

About Vaimo

Vaimo is one of the worlds most respected experts in digital commerce. As a full-service omnichannel agency, Vaimo delivers digital enablement, customer experience design, solution development and managed services to brands, retailers, and manufacturers all over the world. Their sharp focus, broad experience, and deep expertise within B2B, B2C, D2C, PIM, headless commerce, mobile apps, integrations, security make them a key partner for driving success in digital commerce. With local offices in 15+ markets across EMEA, APAC, and North America and over 500 employees, they provide an international presence that allows them to cultivate close, long-term relationships with merchants. For more information, visit https://www.vaimo.com/

About commercetools

commercetools is the worlds leading platform for next-generation B2C and B2B commerce. To break the market out of being restrained by legacy suites, commercetools invented a headless, API-first, multi-tenant SaaS commerce platform that is cloud-native and uses flexible microservices. Using modern development building blocks in a true cloud platform provided by commercetools, customers can deliver the best commerce experiences across every touchpoint on a large scale. commercetools has offices across the US, Europe, and the Asia Pacific, with headquarters in Germany. Since 2010, commercetools software has been implemented by Fortune 500 companies across industries, from retail to manufacturing and from telecommunications to fashion. For more information, visit https://commercetools.com/
James Green, President of A#1 Air. Were so proud to have received this honor again in 2021, said James Green, President of A#1 Air. Our employees are the best in the business. Its great to know they love working for us. Happy employees make the best employees.

The Texas Association of Business held its 2021 Annual Best Companies to Work for in Texas Gala at the Fairmont Austin Hotel in Austin, TX on October 4, 2021. For the third year in a row, A#1 Air was named one of the best companies to work for in Texas.

It is quite an honor just to be among the top 100 companies recognized. Last year, the company ranked #2 in the Medium Employer category and this year, #3 in that same category. The A#1 Air staff in attendance to receive this prestigious award were Kelly Kapson, Ken Kapson, Jessica Smith, Cody Pruitt, Kaylee Grandell, Lacey Ruttkowski and Meaghan Lucy.

Created in 2006, the annual Best Companies to Work for in Texas Awards are presented by Texas Monthly, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management, and Best Companies Group. The 2019 list of winners includes 100 companies that benefit Texas economy, workforce and businesses.

Companies from all over Texas entered the two-part survey process. The first part evaluated each nominee for its workplace policies, systems, philosophies, practices and demographics. The second part was a survey given to employees to measure their overall experiences at the organization. Combined scores determined the top companies, and their rankings.

Were so proud to have received this honor again in 2021, said James Green, President of A#1 Air. Our employees are the best in the business. Its great to know they love working for us. Happy employees make the best employees.

About A#1 Air

Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, A#1 Air is the leading heating and air conditioning service provider in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The company also provides top-notch plumbing and electrical services. Our highly-skilled professionals are drug-tested, background-checked, licensed and certified, and receive advanced ongoing training to deliver the best possible services to our customers. https://anumber1air.com/


AIS Network CEO Jay Atkinson receives RVATech's MLM Male Ally Award for his work supporting women in IT. Also pictured are Courtney Totten of General Dynamics, left, and Mary Lynne Staib of Vaco. Jay has always embraced his role in advancing Virginias future, and to that end, has engaged actively as an ally of women in the IT field and as an ally of those who seek to make the world a better place through equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion.

AIS Network CEO Jay Atkinson has been honored by RVATech for his work regionally to improve the diversity levels of women in technology and prioritize supporting their careers.

The Richmond technology council presented Atkinson with the prestigious 2021 Margaret Lyn McDermid Male Ally Award in an evening ceremony on Oct. 28. The award is presented annually to a senior male figure who has gone out of his way to improve the diversity levels of women in IT within the organization and/or in the wider community. Male allies relentlessly work towards changing the prevailing mindsets and attitudes.

Jay has always embraced his role in advancing Virginias future, and to that end, has engaged actively as an ally of women in the IT field and as an ally of those who seek to make the world a better place through equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion, said AISN Vice President Laurie Head.

Jay has used his deep reservoir of talent and expertise to promote the successes of women within the company and in the IT community and open doors for their advancement. He has positively impacted the careers of women in technology here in Richmond and the broader community over the last eight years, since AISN first built a presence in central Virginia.

Within his Richmond-based company, Atkinson has strategically prioritized female success and has fostered the growth of women in their technology careers. More than a third of AISN staff consists of women, and half of those are in leadership roles.

In 2020, Atkinson founded and continues to sponsor the RVATech Equity Impact Award, which is awarded to an individual or team whose leadership and creative use of technology has benefited the environment for equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion in the Richmond metropolitan area or the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has also been an active sponsor of the Commonwealth of Virginias Women in Innovation conference, providing financial sponsorship and content for the event. Additionally, he has successfully completed the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate program at Cornell University and serves on both the Governors Disparity Study Group as well as the Henrietta Lacks Commission Advisory Committee. Recently, he was named to the Henrico County Public Schools Equity Diversity Adversity Committee.

The MLM Awards recognize women technologists in the greater Richmond area. The program is named after Margaret Lyn McDermid, who has had a direct impact on central Virginias tech economy, Virginas image across the country, opportunities for women and young people in technology and RVATechs continued growth as an organization.

About AIS Network

Ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing companies, AIS Network is a Virginia SWaM-certified leader in cloud enablement, information security and risk management, managed services and award-winning application development with a wide footprint in the health care, government, financial and other corporate sectors. Solving complex IT challenges and managing digital risk to help clients thrive in an unpredictable world has been our core business for nearly 29 years. As the trusted and reliable partner of the Commonwealth of Virginia since 2012, we drive exceptional value through our deep knowledge of state agency data protection, compliance, governance and internal auditing procedures and controls. Our unmatched customer experience is rooted in decades of expertise engaging with Forbes- and Fortune-ranked global corporations, government agencies and other large enterprise clients to deliver these solutions in addition to multi-cloud managed services for the worlds leading platforms, data visualization and analytics, high security hosting and consultative reviews. Visit http://www.aisn.net.


Captain Sullenbergers powerful words resonated not only with the millions of Americans, and people worldwide, who stutterbut with the public at large.

Captain Sully Sullenberger will receive the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associations (ASHA) most prestigious public honor, the Annie Glenn Award, on November 19, 2021, at the ASHA Convention in Washington, D.C.

Captain Sullenberger is best known for the 2009 Miracle on the Hudsonhis safe landing of a US Airways passenger flight on the Hudson River after both engines failed.

Last year, during the U.S. presidential campaign that saw numerous high-profile instances of politicians, media commentators, and other public figures mocking now-President Joe Bidens stutter, Captain Sullenberger penned a widely hailed op-ed in The New York Times: Like Joe Biden, I Once Stuttered, Too. I Dare You to Mock Me.

In it, he wrote: The fact that I once stuttered did not keep me from being a successful U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, an airline pilot, or even a public speaker.

And on that frigid day in January 2009, when I had to tell the air traffic controller at New York Departure Control that I was about to land US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, after a bird strike following takeoff caused both engines to fail, my words came out with precision and control, even in the stress of a life-threatening emergency.

ASHA President A. Lynn Williams, PhD, CCC-SLP, remarked, Captain Sullenbergers powerful words resonated not only with the millions of Americans, and people worldwide, who stutterbut with the public at large. We are honored to present him with ASHAs most esteemed public honor [the Annie Glenn Award] for using his platform to denounce the unacceptable mocking and bullying of people who stutterand for showing those who stutter that the skys the limit when it comes to what they can achieve in their lives.

In his op-ed, Captain Sullenberger concluded with these remarks: So, to every child who feels today, what I felt, after hearing those cruel remarks by an adult who should know better, here is what I want you to know:

You are fine, just as you are. You can do any job you dream of when you grow up. You can be a pilot who lands your plane on a river and helps save lives, or a president who treats people with respect, rather than making fun of them. You can become a teacher to kids who stutter. A speech disorder is a lot easier to treat than a character defect. You become a true leader, not because of how you speak, but because of what you have to sayand the challenges you have overcome to help others. Ignore kids (and adults) who are mean, or dont know what it feels like to stutter. Respond by showing them how to be kind, polite, respectful and generous, to be brave enough to try big things, even though you are not perfect.

Named for lifelong advocate Annie Glenn, ASHAs Annie Award honors those who have made a positive impact on the lives of people with communication disorders. Mrs. Glenn, who experienced a severe stutter well into her adult years, worked tirelessly for roughly 40 years as a champion for people with speech, language, and hearing disorders before her passing in 2020 at 100 years of age.

Past recipients of the Annie Glenn Award include actors James Earl Jones and Julie Andrews; former U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and U.S. Senator and retired astronaut Mark Kelly; and President Joe Biden.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 218,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology support personnel; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems, including swallowing disorders. http://www.asha.org/

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What happened today is proof that when pro-choice Catholics stand up and speak out for abortion rights and reproductive freedom, they can  and do  change the church.

Catholics for Choice lauded the majority of U.S. Catholics who believe in reproductive freedom today after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, meeting in Baltimore to consider a document that could be used as justification to deny Communion to pro-choice Catholic politicians, instead approved a version that focuses on Christs presence in the Eucharist and doesnt specifically mention abortion or politics at all.

The reversal happened after months of unrelenting public backlash from lay Catholics, progressive Catholic groups, Vatican officials, and Pope Francis himself. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Indiana, who led the process of approving the document, conceded this week that the massive pushback against the initial version is what led to its several revisions.

Catholics for Choice President Jamie L. Manson said:

The U.S. bishops retreat from their crusade of using the Eucharist as a tool for political intimidation is a huge victory for the nations pro-choice Catholic majority, who let them know, in no uncertain terms, that abusing the power of our sacraments is absolutely unacceptable. Its also a subtle admission by the bishops that theyre distinctly in the minority on the abortion issue, and that taking such a drastic action in the face of overwhelming opposition from faithful Catholics in the pews would only further undermine their authority and erode their already compromised moral credibility. What happened today is proof that when pro-choice Catholics stand up and speak out for abortion rights and reproductive freedom, they can  and do  change the church.

But the threat to abortion rights is graver than ever. Although the document doesnt specifically refer to abortion, politics, or pro-choice Catholic leaders like President Biden, it still gives tacit approval for individual bishops to continue their crusade against pro-choice politicians and their supporters. And two weeks from today, another group of radical, anti-choice minority Catholics on the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Mississippis abortion ban and seem poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, which 68% of Catholics support. In the face of these threats, we call on the U.S. pro-choice Catholic majority to raise their voices louder than ever before in support of our shared Catholic values, including the right to abortion.

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Catholics for Choice shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to a persons well-being and respect, and affirm the capacity of all people to make moral decisions about their lives.
Cisive and IntelliCorp Named to HRO Todays 2021 Bakers Dozen List of Top Background Screening Providers At Cisive, were committed to providing our customers with the highest quality solutions and rapid response times combined with exceptional customer service.

Cisive, a global provider of compliance-driven human capital management and risk management solutions, and its mid-market background screening division IntelliCorp were named by HRO Today to the 2021 Bakers Dozen rankings of top Pre-Employment Screening Providers, the most respected and anticipated annual ranking of its kind in the HR industry.

Cisive and IntelliCorps appointments to the list are based exclusively on direct input from customers in HRO Todays customer satisfaction survey.

Cisive is very proud to be named to the HRO Today Bakers Dozen list for the fifth consecutive year along with our mid-market solutions division, IntelliCorp, said James Owens, Cisives President and CEO. We are most proud of the fact that our clients input has kept both Cisive and IntelliCorp in the rankings over the past several years. At Cisive, were committed to providing our customers with the highest quality solutions and rapid response times combined with exceptional customer service. The fact that our customers continue to acknowledge this commitment is very exciting.

Cisive helps mitigate risk for businesses in highly regulated industries by empowering clients with actionable intelligence and clarity throughout the hiring process. Cisives pre-employment screening solutions focus on actionable reporting, legal compliance, and integrity of source material. For more information about Cisives suite of solutions, visit http://www.cisive.com.

About Cisive

Cisive is a global leader in compliance-driven human capital and risk management solutions, providing onboarding and pre-employment background screening solutions to address the complex challenges and needs of large enterprises with dedicated, in-country account management teams committed to customer satisfaction. Cisive is accredited by the Professional Background Screeners Association (PBSA) and was named for the fourth consecutive year by HRO Today to the 2020 Bakers Dozen Customer Satisfaction rankings of Top Pre-Employment Screening Providers, in addition to being named Company of the Year by CIO Review. The company and its brands serve clients in financial services, transportation, telecom/media, healthcare, utilities, and the home services end-markets, among others. For additional information, please visit http://www.cisive.com.

About IntelliCorp

IntelliCorp Records, Inc., is a provider of comprehensive background checks and employment screening solutions for businesses and nonprofit organizations. A Cisive company, IntelliCorp is accredited through the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). Clients benefit from industry-leading data, easy-to-use services, personalized customer service, and training and compliance education. IntelliCorps customer-driven solutions and flexible system architecture allow for simple integration into multiple platforms. A robust operational framework and infrastructure of guiding principles and industry best practices demonstrate IntelliCorps steadfast commitment to compliance with federal and state requirements pertaining to background screening. For more information, please visit http://www.intellicorp.net.


LucidaClub reimagines the cannabis buying experience for the Cannacurious in Massachusetts, with a beta launch this month in partnership with Cape Cod Cannabis in Wellfleet, MA.

The majority of adults are curious about the benefits of cannabis, know the experience they want, but are unsure how to proceed. LucidaClub offers a members-only, seamless eCommerce platform paired with Sherpa-level guidance and access to the best products from top retailers. Members of LucidaClub receive individual consultations with a personal cannabis curator to discuss all questions, concerns, and desired results.

LucidaClub is launching with three experiences: Calm, Sleep and Focus. They will be adding more to their foundational offerings, along with more specialty experiences, in short order. LucidaClubs Curator will hand pick strains and high-quality products that are tailored to fit your lifestyle and desired outcome.

Todays cannabis retail experience works great for those who know what they want. Weve created LucidaClub for the rest of us  the 75% of adults who can describe the benefits they desire but just dont know how to get started. We have purpose-built a company dedicated to making the cannabis buying process simple, convenient and welcoming, said LucidaClub Founder and CEO, Jack Roosevelt.

The idea for LucidaClub came to Roosevelt when he bought cannabis for the first time after legalization. Im 6 8. I dont intimidate easily. I thought I knew what I was doing but when I was handed a menu with an insane array of options and obscure terms, I just panicked and chose a tincture because I liked the word. I had no idea what to do with it and its still sitting on my shelf.

On track to officially launch in early 2022, LucidaClub has operations in Massachusetts and will expand into other adult-use states later in the year. Technical development of the platform was completed at the end of Q3 and the company is already gaining interest from cannabis retailers interested in partnering. Competition is incredibly strong among adult-use retailers. LucidaClub welcome the Cannacurious into the cannabis market, helping our Retail Partners sell to consumers who they are not yet reaching, said Roosevelt.

We could not be more excited about partnering with Cape Cod Cannabis (CCC). We will only partner with the best 10 to 12 retailers in Massachusetts. When we sat down earlier this year and wrote our dream list of Retail Partners CCC was right at the top, said Roosevelt. Not only does CCC have a fantastic location that is incredibly welcoming, but everything about their business is focused on offering only the best for their customers from the variety and quality of their products to how friendly and knowledgeable their team is. Culturally and philosophically, we could not have found a better launch partner.

Cape Cod Cannabis is thrilled to partner with LucidaClub and welcome their members to our store, commented Derek DAmbrosio of Cape Cod Cannabis. LucidaClub welcomes the Cannacurious to our store and the Massachusetts cannabis market. We are excited to be a part of continued education and demystification for all interested consumers.

Register to become a member or a partnering dispensary at LucidaClub.com. Members must verify that they are at least 21 years of age.

ABOUT LUCIDACLUB

LucidaClub reimagines the cannabis buying experience for the Cannacurious making it simple, convenient and welcoming. With its rich content and simplified and streamlined buying process, the LucidaClub ecommerce service delivers an elegant customer experience akin to top lifestyle brands.

LucidaClub is a community for the cannabis curious: people who want to enhance their lifestyle with cannabis but are hesitant to start their journey. Our community is made up of parents, friends, grandparents, and professionals. As part of the community, members have access to Curated Experiences which are hand-picked by our Head Curator and available for pick-up at your local dispensary for easy, informed shopping.

ABOUT CAPE COD CANNABIS

Conveniently located in a shopping plaza along the State Highway Route 6 we offer plenty of designated and municipal parking and a wide variety of premium cannabis products and other brand merchandise. Their product assortment includes flowers, pre-rolls, edibles, tinctures, concentrates, and smoking accessories. The stores knowledgeable and friendly staff will ensure that you have a pleasant and informed shopping experience. A parking attendant and our security staff ensure convenient and safe parking in our designated spaces during the stores operating hours. Visit us at CapedCodCannabis.com or in-person at 1446 State Highway Route 6, Wellfleet, MA.
Good content incentivizes a brand's readers to return in the future. Writing meaningful, compelling content is an effective way for brands to establish their personalities and incentivize their readers to engage more frequently.

To market a brand effectively, creating quality content should be a top priority. The written word is one of the most potent and effective ways to deliver information to a large audience, especially on the internet. Actual SEO Media, Inc., a Houston-based digital marketing agency, explains how writing high-quality content can help companies add character to their brands and create a stronger online presence.



What is Content?

The word "content" sounds vague when it's used outside of a specific context. In the case of digital marketing, content refers to the written material that brands create to inform, persuade, or engage their audiences. Content is everywhere, and using the internet guarantees some level of interaction with it. Blogs, for example, are an increasingly popular way to consume information and absorb ideas at the click of a button. Other types of content include news articles, social media posts, and email campaigns. There's no shortage of content in contemporary society, but what exactly makes good content?

Identifying Good Content

Good content fulfills one or more of a reader's needs. For instance, if a brand specializes in graphic design, it might create blog content intended to keep its readers informed of the industry's latest developments. However, someone who writes satire is more likely to create content that's designed to keep their readers entertained. In both examples, content plays a role in providing a solution to a reader's needs.

By creating engaging content, a brand can attract more visitors to its site and keep its followers hungry for more. Another way to ensure that readers actually benefit from content is to make it as accessible as possible. When a brand's written content is easy to understand, its message can reach more people. Through creating relevant, readable content, brands can ensure that they're appealing to as many people as possible.

How Brands Can Benefit from Content-Writing

Writing quality content ensures that a brand can expand its reach and create a more substantial online presence. When readers engage with useful content that satisfies some type of need, they'll have a reason to revisit that content in the future. Additionally, by developing a consistent tone and style in its content, a brand can cultivate a distinct personality that becomes more familiar to its audience over time.

Merely creating content isn't enough to maximize a business's potential online. Writing meaningful, useful content that is easy for readers to grasp is critical for any company to strengthen its brand's web presence and further distinguish itself from its competitors.

As a leading SEO company in Houston, Actual SEO Media, Inc. helps clients to expand their online presence. By using a variety of techniques, the company aims to maximize clients' search engine optimization and widen their clients' scope of recognition. For more information, follow ASM of LinkedIn or Facebook, contact the office at (832) 834 - 0661, or email them at info@actualseomedia.com.
Choosing to onboard or support a crypto asset carries some risk and is challenging for regulated firms. DARs Asset Vetting Reports allow firms to evaluate and make informed decisions about individual crypto assets by providing key background and quantifiable metrics in an easily consumable format.

Digital Asset Research (DAR), a leading provider of crypto asset data and research, today announced the availability of newly enhanced crypto Asset Vetting Reports for institutional clients. The enhancements, which were released in response to market demand for a complete assessment of individual crypto assets, include a deeper network analysis, the inclusion of new market metrics, and an optional suitability opinion, among other improvements.

DAR has performed crypto asset vetting since 2017 and its Asset Vetting Reports use a standards-based approach to address key concerns related to public crypto assets, including safety of asset use and custody, health of the assets ecosystem, decentralization metrics, and more.

Choosing to onboard or support a crypto asset carries some risk and is challenging for regulated firms, said Doug Schwenk, DARs CEO. Our updated Asset Vetting Reports allow firms to fully evaluate and make an informed decision about individual crypto assets by providing key background information and quantifiable network metrics in an easily consumable format.

DARs Asset Vetting Reports include four sections: Token Profile, which includes a project description, benchmark status and taxonomy information, circulating and max supply, consensus mechanism details, exchange listings, and institutional support; Market Trends and Comparisons, which looks at the assets price trends, correlation to taxonomy peers, and volatility metrics in comparison to similar assets; Network Analysis, which is a quantitative review of the decentralization of the assets network; and Suitability Assessment, which evaluates the assets codebase, network characteristics, cryptography, liquidity, transactions, and price against a set of standards.

DARs asset vetting process is used in its partnership with FTSE Russell for FTSE DAR Reference Prices, which are designed to meet the requirements of the EU Benchmark Regulation for benchmark assets. DAR also worked with FTSE Russell to launch the FTSE Digital Asset Index Series earlier this year; the FTSE Bitcoin Index, FTSE Ethereum Index, and FTSE Cardano Index are currently available.

Additionally, DARs taxonomy and pricing data are used in the Bloomberg Galaxy DeFi Index and the newly released Bloomberg Galaxy Solana Index. Asset Vetting Reports are available for all assets included in these indexes.

For further information, visit https://www.digitalassetresearch.com.

About DAR:

Digital Asset Research (DAR) is a specialist provider of crypto data and research. Since 2017, DAR has combined its expertise in traditional financial services and the crypto space to meet the needs of institutional clients, including asset managers, banks, custodians, family offices, fintech firms, fund administrators, hedge funds, and venture capital firms; flagship clients include FTSE Russell, who partners with DAR to deliver FTSE DAR crypto-asset reference prices and indexes, and Bloomberg, who uses DARs taxonomy and pricing data in the Bloomberg Galaxy DeFi and Solana Indexes. DARs core offerings include Clean Pricing & Verified Volume Data, a Crypto Events Calendar, a Reference Data Master, an Industry Taxonomy & Taxonomy Themes, Exchange Diligence, and Token Diligence, as well as related crypto market research.

Follow DAR:

Twitter: @DAR_crypto

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-asset-research/

Medium: https://medium.com/digitalassetresearch


A shockingly high number of respondents (16 percent) took no action after receiving a notice of data breach Organizations need to review how they notify consumers of data breaches to reduce the level of inaction and improve the credit freeze adoption rates," said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center.

Today, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, published research conducted by DIG.Works that explored several issues related to data and account compromises, as well as data breach notices.

The ITRC and DIG.Works surveyed 1,050 U.S. adult consumers about the issues and discovered that, overall, consumers reported a high level of awareness of data compromises and the range of actions they can take to protect themselves before and after a data breach. However, there is a significant gap between consumers' level of awareness and actions that leave most people open to additional attacks and identity crimes.



A shockingly high number of respondents (16 percent) took no action after receiving a notice of data breach; less than half (48 percent) changed the password only on the breached account; only 22 percent changed all of their passwords.

Just three (3) percent of respondents said they placed a credit freeze to block new accounts from being created.

Only 15 percent of respondents say they use unique passwords for each of their accounts; the other 85 percent admit to reusing passwords on multiple accounts.

Thirty-three (33) percent of the respondents who do not follow suggested password practices answered that their practices are good enough; 13 percent say they dont think strong and unique passphrases are important.

Download the Data Breach Notice Research

Most people know what they should do, but choose not to in the areas of data protection and password practices, said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Organizations need to review how they notify consumers of data breaches to reduce the level of inaction and improve the credit freeze adoption rates. Also, businesses should recommend to consumers that they reset any passwords that are not unique and offer multi-factor authentication with an app.

Other findings include:

Seventy-three (73) percent of respondents believe their personal information has been impacted by a data breach; 72 percent have received a notice of data breach letter.

Fifty-five (55) percent of social media accounts have been compromised, including 42 percent of Facebook users and 32 percent of Instagram users.

When asked why they didnt act after receiving a breach notice, 26 percent said my data is already out there; 29 percent believed organizations responsible for protecting their data would address the issue; 17 percent did not know what to do; 14 percent thought the notice was a scam.

Consumers can receive free live victim support or guidance from a knowledgeable advisor by calling 888.400.5530 or visiting idtheftcenter.org to live-chat.

About this Survey

The ITRC thanks Jonathon Sasse and Anders Steele for their donation of this research project on behalf of the ITRC and identity crime victims. Please visit DIG.Works to learn more.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center

Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chat idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities.

Media Contact

Identity Theft Resource Center

Alex Achten

Head of Earned & Owned Media Relations

888.400.5530 Ext. 3611

media@idtheftcenter.org
Its a true honor to be awarded Spirit Brand/Distiller of the Year within Wine Enthusiasts Wine Star Awards, a company so influential in the world of wine & spirits. We are indubitably proud of the premium quality of our portfolio of brands."

Illva Saronno is proud to announce its prestigious win in Wine Enthusiasts Wine Star Awards as Spirit Brand/Distiller of the Year. The Wine Star Awards are considered one of the most acclaimed awards in the alcoholic beverage industry and for Disaronno to be recognized as a leader in the global wine and spirits business is an incredible achievement.

Disaronno Originale is the iconic and the worlds favorite Italian liqueur. During the pandemic, Disaronno, a global symbol for Italian sophistication, released a substantial global campaign called The Endless Dolce Vita, illustrating the elegance and taste, tradition and contemporary, and unmistakable Italian style for which Disaronno is proudly a global ambassador.

Illva Saronno SpA and its subsidiary Disaronno International, LLC have had an exciting few years of growth due also to their strong focus on innovation. Noteworthy developments have included the launch of a bold and contemporary brand called The Busker which offer a full range of Irish Whiskeys, introducing a successful line extension with Disaronno Velvet Cream Liqueur, the relaunch of Tia Maria Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur and a disruptive product like Tia Maria Matcha.

Illva Saronno SpA is not only a global leader in the spirit industry, but also in the wine industry. Their Duca di Salaparuta Group owns three historic wine brands that represent Sicily and Italy worldwide: Corvo and Duca di Salaparuta, founded in 1824, and Florio launched in 1833, one of the most visited winery in Italy. Gathered into one group, the three wine brands together today constitute the largest private wine group in Sicily.

Its a true honor to be awarded Spirit Brand/Distiller of the Year within Wine Enthusiasts Wine Star Awards, a company so influential in the world of wine & spirits. We are indubitably proud of the premium quality of our portfolio of brands. Quality and innovation have always been a driving factor for us and one of the proof is the launch of the disruptive brand. The Busker Irish whiskey and all the awards won by the whole product range in the last year. Today our products are present in over 160 countries, says Luca Picotti, Global Marketing Director Spirits of Illva Saronno SpA.

We selected Disaronno as the winner of this award for their innovation within the spirits category all while staying true to their Italian traditions, says Adam Strum, Editor and Publisher at Wine Enthusiast. During an unprecedented time when consumers were looking to support their tried and true spirit favorites, they managed to maintain their growth and innovation, which is most admirable.

Wine Enthusiast will officially award Disaronno at the 22nd anniversary of the Wine Star Awards black tie gala on February 7, 2022 in Miami at the Nobu Eden Roc. This award will also appear in the special Best of Year'' December 31 issue for Wine Enthusiast.

DISARONNO

Disaronno is the worlds favorite Italian liqueur. Featuring an original taste and unmistakable aroma, Disaronno stands out on the world stage with distribution in more than 160 countries. The Disaronno bottle has a unique design and a cap, which lends elegance and modernity, embellished with a golden label that enhances its contemporary style. Disaronno is a pleasure to enjoy on the rocks as well as in its various mixed drinks, including the new Disaronno Fizz. Recognizable and versatile, it makes every cocktail one-of-a-kind.

http://www.disaronno.com

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Illva Saronno SpA

Illva Saronno SpA, a leader in the global wine and spirits business, with subsidiaries in US (Disaronno International LLC), UK and Holland. Illva Saronno SpA has always centered on the values of heritage, innovation, and quality. Founded by the Reina family in 1947, but the familys origins in the Saronno area date back to 1525, with the creation of Disaronno Originale, the worlds favorite Italian liqueur, and today the portfolio includes also The Busker Irish Whiskey, Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur, Tia Maria Matcha, Rabarbaro Zucca Amaro, Duca di Salaparuta & Corvo, and Florio Marsala. For more information, visit http://www.illva.com and http://www.disaronnointernational.com/.

About Wine Enthusiast

Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum and composed of Wine Enthusiast Media and Wine Enthusiast Commerce, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. With custom products reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, a thriving e-commerce site and a business-to-business division, Wine Enthusiast Catalog provides everything wine lovers need to enjoy wine to the fullest in their homes. Wine Enthusiast Magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine and food trends, enotravel, and over 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. To be put simply, our company mission statement is: We Bring Wine to Life.
This innovative technology process will reestablish Maryland and the Port of Baltimore as a destination for veneer log exports, which is a billion-dollar industry in the United States, said Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce.

The environmentally-friendly log treatment is a steam-based, non-chemical alternative to a fumigant called methyl bromide. Methyl bromide, a chemical used to control pests in agriculture and shipping, was identified as an ozone-depleting pollutant nearly two decades ago, and was phased out by the United States and the European Union for most uses, with log quarantine and pre-shipment as notable exceptions.

After more than ten years of dedicated research by Virginia Tech and the USDA Forest Service, the technology is a commercially viable solution to an industry problem. Its revolutionary process employs the application of steam and vacuum. Methyl bromide, previously used for log export sanitization, will be replaced with this more environmentally-conscious and practical science.

The steam/vacuum technology system is a scalable solution for the forest product and agricultural industries, as its portable or stationary and chemical-free. According to the Maryland Department of Commerce, forest products represent the fifth largest industry in the state of Maryland, so the safety and accessibility of the technology could significantly benefit family farms.

On November 10, the efficacy of the treatment was put to the test. A test shipment of logs was prepared at the Mill Creek lumber site, consisting of two 20-foot containers filled with 8-foot white oak veneer logs. One container of treated logs and one container of untreated logs will ship from the Port of Baltimore to the Danzer Veneer Bohemia Mill in Melnick, Czech Republic.

The test shipment itself is a collaboration between the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC), the Danzer Veneer Americas, Mill Creek Lumber/Polo Pallet Manufacturing Company, and Virginia Tech. Funding support is from the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund. This is the first of three quality tests slated for the steam vacuum log treatment system to take place at Mill Creek Lumber/Polo Pallet Manufacturing in Elkton.

In 2016, the Port of Baltimore closed its fumigation facility and prohibited exports using methyl bromide, following its classification as an air pollutant by the State of Maryland. As a result, veneer log exporters sought out fumigation facilities in neighboring states. Thus, theres optimism about the technologys potential to revive revenue in this sector.

After arriving in the Czech Republic, the white oak veneer logs will be inspected, tested, and sliced. Upon inspection, the quality and yield of the treated logs will be compared to the untreated logs to determine any impact of the treatment on the product itself. When the test period concludes in early 2022, the results will be documented and published.

This is a key moment for international commerce in Maryland, said Kelly M. Schulz, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce. This innovative technology process will reestablish Maryland and the Port of Baltimore as a destination for veneer log exports, which is a billion-dollar industry in the United States.

A recently drafted Economic Adjustment Strategy identified development of this technology as a critical component of retaining and growing Marylands forest-based industries, said Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources. We were pleased to support this initiative recognizing steam vacuum treatment as an environmentally-friendly method to get Maryland products to the market, potentially through our own ports.

Sometimes its difficult to balance sustainability with economic viability, said Susan ONeill, Executive Director of USRC. But with dedicated collaborators from the Upper Shore, state, higher education, and private industry partners, we can pave a way forward.

Ron Mack, Commodity Treatment Specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA APHIS CPHST) comments, Vacuum steam treatment for export logs will help open markets again to countries in Europe and other locations where methyl bromide treated logs have been banned from being imported. Test shipments that demonstrate quality of the process to industry and regulatory authorities will help place the technology in use in the near future.

The Port of Baltimore is one of the top ports in the nation for handling forest products, said William P. Doyle, Executive Director for the Maryland Port Administration. Using this new environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient technology is great news and will help us attract new business opportunities and generate additional jobs.

Marshall White, who leads the research team from Virginia Tech, is thankful for the support of USRC to help advance this technology to commercialization. I believe the Mill Creek Lumber/PoloPallet, Danzer Veneer, USRC, and Virginia Tech collaboration will lead to economic development opportunities for the region. We look forward to future collaborations.

I commend Polo Pallet and all the stakeholders who were vital in this effort, stated Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger. This project is yet another example of how Cecil County is leading the agriculture industry in the state, country, and on an international scale.

Don Beazley, whose Mill Creek lumberyard was the site of the log test, is excited about the treatments potential impact on small business exports. The science behind the process has taken years to develop, but the system itself is simple to use. Its adaptability to different wood products, including the pallets we produce, can bring about new export opportunities to Marylands small businesses.

About the Upper Shore Regional Council

Since 2003, the Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) has fostered planning and development in Cecil, Kent and Queen Annes counties. USRC affords federal, state, county and local governments a regional forum to identify issues and opportunities. USRC plans and implements programs to improve the quality of life in the Upper Shore Region of Maryland.

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4cp0qdyyp1qy4bp/AADsc5qvTJI0YjL_-iuHINABa?dl=0
Ranging from the science behind spontaneous healing to a disruptive new idea for the college experience, this season continues to feature conversations with unforgettable thought leaders from all sectors of the multi-trillion-dollar wellness economy.

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) announces an exciting lineup of guests for the fifth season of the Global Wellness Summit Podcast, reflective of the 2021 Summit theme A New New Era in Health & Wellness. The six-episode series will not only showcase groundbreaking voices in wellness and the world of design, but it will also offer one-on-one, origin story conversations with four of the top keynote speakers at this years Global Wellness Summit being held at the Encore Boston Harbor from November 30 to December 3, 2021.

Ranging from the science behind spontaneous healing to a disruptive new idea for the college experience, this season continues to feature conversations with unforgettable thought leaders from all sectors of the multi-trillion-dollar wellness economy. The Global Wellness Summit Podcast is the leading wellness podcast dedicated to exploring the latest industry research and the real-world impact of evidence-backed wellness trends.

Hosted by wellness industry veteran Kim Marshall, the conversations are lively and down-to-earth, with a unique chance for listeners to get to know industry icons and to have wellness principles brought home to a real-world audience. Partly recorded at the first ever Global Wellness Institute Real Estate Symposium this fall in New York City, season five of the podcast will be posted weekly starting November 17, 2021, in this order:



Clodagh -- This Hall of Fame designer was born in Oscar Wilde's summer home in Ireland, and she was one of the first to put forth the idea that good design can support wellbeing. Today her sleek, minimalist designs in hotels and homes as well as her products like carpet, furniture and fixtures are as recognizable and exquisite as a Balanchine ballet. The episode is co-hosted by Veronica Schreibeis Smith, the wellness architect featured in Episode #34 and the Global Wellness Summit 2020 Leading Woman in Wellness.

Jeffrey Rediger, MD -- Harvard University professor, psychiatrist and theologian, Dr. Rediger wrote CURED: The Lifechanging Science of Spontaneous Healing after nearly 20 years of research. Dr. Redigers surprising life storyone that took him from Amish country to the Ivy League and the jungles of Brazilis a message of hope and healing that is not to be missed.

Joanna Frank -- With the health of indoor air being paramount in a post-COVID world, come hear the optimistic attitude of Joanna Frank, former member of the Bloomberg administration in charge of opening healthy grocery stores in the citys food deserts. Frank will discuss changing the health of buildings everywhere. Now President and CEO of the Center for Active Design, she works in concert with the Centers for Disease Control to offer FitWel Certification for buildings around the US.

Abby Brody -- Education disruptor, lifetime educator, and former administrator at the World School, Brody will discuss why the traditional college track is leaving families shackled in debt and students without life skills needed to succeed in the workforce. Hear why shes created a new kind of university experience called MYX.

Dr. Howard Murad -- A skincare pioneer who has been granted 19 patents and authored three books, Dr. Murad will talk about his career of firsts: first doctor-backed skincare line and day spa; first dermatologist to link skincare with healthcare; first to identify the cellular water principle and the dangers of cultural stress. Find out how being a son of hardworking, positive minded immigrants and nurturing his artistic side has influenced his work.

Dr. Sharon Malone -- Dr. Malone is among the nations leading OBGYNs with a focus on the specific health challenges associated with menopause. The youngest of eight children from Mobile, Alabama, she went on to graduate cum laude from Harvard University and obtained a medical degree from Columbia University. Her husband is Eric Holder, US Attorney General during the Obama Administration. Dr. Malone is the Medical Director of ALLOY, a telehealth platform specializing in womens health, and she will be joined by ALLOY co-founder Monica Molenaar in this episode.

This seasons sponsor is Miskawaan Health Group, an integrated medicine company with centers in Thailand, Hong Kong and Germany. Miskawaan uses highly accredited doctors, scientists, and oncologistsas well as technology solutions such as artificial intelligence and machine learningto create cutting-edge, highly personalized treatments, specializing in preventive medicine, post-cancer rejuvenation therapies, and womens health.

SWell The Agency produces the Global Wellness Summit Podcast with Crate Media, a full-service audio and design team producing over 60 different podcasts. Podcast host Kim Marshall is the co-founder of SWell The Agency. The GWS Podcast is free to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are available.

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About the Global Wellness Summit The Global Wellness Summit is the premier organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. Its future-focused conference is held at a different global location each year and has traveled to the US, Switzerland, Turkey, Bali, India, Morocco, Mexico, Austria, Italy and Singapore. GWS also hosts regular virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes, Wellness Sector Spotlights and Investor Reverse Pitch events. The organizations annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness. The 2021 Summit will be held in Boston from November 30December 3.

Registration is now open for the in-person 2021 Global Wellness Summit event at the Encore Boston Harbor; space is extremely limited.

Virtual attendees have access to all on-stage presentationslive and on-demandas well as online breakout and networking sessions hosted by Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses Wellness Pioneer. Register to attend virtually here.

Media: To apply to attend virtually or in-person as press, please fill out the media accreditation form.
We anticipate a dramatic growth surge as we expand our model into new markets here in Florida and elsewhere.

Genuine Health Group, a Miami-based healthcare company focused on transitioning physicians to value-based care models, announced its accountable care organization, Genuine Health ACO, saved the Medicare system $11.6 million in 2020. The savings have been confirmed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and underscore the companys continued success in improving health outcomes while reducing unnecessary medical expenditures. The savings also demonstrate Genuine Healths rapid growth as measured by the number of physicians affiliated with the company and the total number of Medicare beneficiaries for whom Genuine Health manages care delivery.

Genuine Health ACOs $11.6 million in savings represents the difference between how much Medicare anticipated spending on healthcare for the Medicare beneficiaries aligned with its ACO and how much the company actually spent. The anticipated amount is adjusted for patients age and health circumstances.

At its most basic level, the $11.6 million in savings means Medicare beneficiaries aligned with Genuine Health ACO required less hospital care than similar populations enrolled in traditional Medicare. And fewer hospitalizations are the result of a company-wide, disciplined approach to disease prevention, care access, and medication adherence: the foundation of Genuine Health Groups approach to value-based care.

We know what it takes to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital, said Genuine Health Groups CEO, Joe Caruncho. The $11.6 million in savings we achieved is proof-positive that our model works. Its also a testament to the high-performing physicians that have joined Genuine Health to bring about positive change in the way we care for people on Medicare.

Genuine Health Groups latest enterprise, Genuine Health Direct, will continue to advance care delivery aimed squarely at better health outcomes, reducing unnecessary healthcare expenses, and keeping patients healthy. In fact, as a Direct Contracting Entity, or DCE, Genuine Health Direct, which the company launched earlier this year, operates under a mandate from CMS to drive down healthcare expenditures, improve health outcomes, and increase health options for Medicare beneficiaries. However, unlike its ACO, Genuine Health Direct keeps 100% of the savings it earns for the Medicare system. In addition, as a DCE, Genuine Health Direct can pay monthly capitation payments to its participating physicians for providing care to their patients with traditional fee-for-service Medicare. Plus, they can earn bonuses for the savings they deliver to Medicare.

Were at a defining moment in our evolution, said chief medical officer and Genuine Health Group co-founder, Dr. Orlando Fernandez-Lopez. We have proven the power of technology-enabled healthcare delivery as a tool to reduce cost and improve health. Now, we anticipate a dramatic growth surge as we expand our model into new markets here in Florida and elsewhere.

In addition to nearly tripling its savings over the previous year from $4 million to $11.6 million, Genuine Health ACO achieved a top quality score of 96.87%. The high quality score is based on physicians performance as well as Genuine Healths support programs such as home health visits for patients leaving the hospital, and robust care for patients with chronic conditions, including those with diabetes, congestive heart failure, and COPD.

This year, Genuine Health Group received additional recognitions, including an Excellence in Healthcare award for CEO Joe Caruncho from South Florida Business & Wealth and a place on South Florida Business Journals Fast 50 list, which recognizes the fastest-growing companies in South Florida. Genuine Health Group will be featured as one of the Hispanic-Owned Businesses highlighted by the South Florida Business Journal.

For press inquiries, please contact Meieli Sawyer at (305) 668-0070 or msawyer@weinbachgroup.com.

About Genuine Health Group

Genuine Health Group is an analytics-driven healthcare company that assists physicians and health plans in successfully transitioning to value-based payment models.
Attorneys from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP advised Greyline Partners, LLC (Greyline), an industry-leading U.S. provider of governance and regulatory compliance solutions for private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, and investors, in its sale agreement to IQ-EQ, an Astorg portfolio company.

The opportunity to represent Greyline in its sale demonstrates a great amount of trust in our team, which we truly appreciate, Corporate Shareholder Steven Bartz, who led the Greenberg Traurig team, said. It is our honor to support the excellent work of Matt Okolita and the Greyline team, and to work with PL Advisors and BKD, who served as financial advisers to Greyline.

According to its website, Greyline is a partner-led compliance services business that employs 56 individuals across its six offices and is led by Managing Partner Matt Okolita. Also part of Greyline is GCM Advisory, an outsourced CFO, finance, and accounting business launched earlier this year. The Greyline team provides a range of services including regulatory compliance; management consulting and governance; outsourced operations and middle office services; and outsourced finance, accounting, and back-office services. The sale is expected to close before the end of the year.

Additional Greenberg Traurig deal-team members include Corporate Shareholder Thedoor Melchers and Associates Margaret Kim Heitjan and Chazz Sutherland; Tax Shareholder Labry Welty and Associates Blake Martin and Josh Prywes; Antitrust Litigation & Competition Regulation Shareholder Gregory Casas; Finance Shareholder Lou Ann Brunenn and Associate Ruth Guo; Intellectual Property & Technology Shareholder Jerry Fellows; Labor & Employment Of Counsel Alicia Voltmer; Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Shareholder Jena Valdetero and Associate Philip Bryans; Export Controls & Economic Sanctions Shareholders Kara Bombach and Donald Stein, and Of Counsel Sonali Dohale; Investment Management Of Counsel Tanya Boyle; and others.

Read the press release issued by Greyline.

About Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice comprises more than 500 lawyers in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The groups industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP  Texas: Texas is important to Greenberg Traurig, LLP and part of its history. With approximately 130 Texas lawyers in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, Greenberg Traurig has deep roots in the Texas business, legal, and governmental communities. Greenberg Traurig Texas works with clients to address their interdisciplinary legal needs across the state utilizing the firms global platform. The Texas attorneys are experienced in industries key to the states future, including: aviation, chemicals, construction, education, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, health care, hedge funds, hospitality, infrastructure, insurance, media, medical devices, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, real estate, retail, sports, technology and software, telecommunications, transportation, and video games and esports.

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
"Our Hawaiian CBD oil products are all infused with real tropical fruits, essential oils, or honey, and will make people feel like they've been transported to a luxurious Hawaiian spa."

Hawaiian Choice has launched its much-anticipated Black Friday Deal early and is offering "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" on its entire line of Hawaiian CBD products. CBD tinctures, CBD topicals, and CBD edibles can all be mixed and matched. Customers can put any three products in their cart and the least expensive will be free.

This is the company's largest sale ever and its early release is intended to help people avoid the anxiety of shopping over Thanksgiving weekend.

"As a health and wellness company, the last thing we want is to create Black Friday shopping stress," said the brand's creative director, Jennifer Carlile.

"Our Hawaiian CBD oil products are all infused with real tropical fruits, essential oils, or honey, and will make people feel like they've been transported to a luxurious Hawaiian spa," she said.

In fact, Hawaiian Choice products are sold at the Four Seasons Maui, Hyatt Andaz Wailea and in more than 200 locations from New York to Tokyo to the Mariana Islands.

In addition to the buy two get one free Black Friday sale, Hawaiian Choice is also giving away their CBD Real Fruit Jellies. Customers who spend $100 get a free box of CBD jellies (worth $18.95). For every $50 they spend beyond that they receive another free box.

"Our CBD jellies are a grown-up version of the CBD gummy. They're vegan and made of real Maui pineapple, passion fruit, and a hint of turmeric. With 25mg broad spectrum Hawaiian CBD in each gummy, they offer a lot of relaxation and relief," Carlile said.

"They also make great stocking stuffers," she said.

Hawaiian Choice CBD is widely seen as a giftable CBD option. The brand was recently featured in an L.A. Weekly article with the headline: "What's the best CBD to give as a gift? Hawaiian Choice CBD's flavor and feel are like an island vacation." You can see L.A. Weekly's CBD gift guide here.

The Los Angeles area newspaper highlights the organic and wild gathered all-natural ingredients in Hawaiian Choice CBD products and their superior taste and feel. The high-end spa-like quality of their products as well as the fact all the CBD is broad spectrum (Zero THC) makes them ideal for everyone from weight lifters to grandmas. Hawaiian CBD from hemp grown on the slopes of dormant volcano Haleakala on Maui also offers a special sense of calm, balance, and relief from daily pains and stresses.

Hawaiian Choice offers four unique CBD oil tinctures: Relax (for calm and sleep), Relief (for soreness and discomfort), Active (for exercise and appetite control), and Focus (to aid concentration and alertness). All tinctures are infused with pineapple, passion fruit, hibiscus, noni, and Big Island honey. Unique blends of terpenes determine their different effects.

For those shopping for a dog or cat, they have a Pet CBD "fit for humans, formulated for pets" that contains the same premium quality broad spectrum CBD as their other products. The difference is that it's dosed for canine and feline friends, comes with a dropper instead of a spray cap for precision dosing, and is free of terpenes or fruit extracts that could upset an animal. Pet owners will also be happy that it has a dosing chart by weight on the package for ease.

For those with aching joints or over-exercised muscles, Hawaiian Choice's CBD Topical Gel will hit the mark. Its weightless, non-greasy, non-sticky formula and fresh (but neither masculine nor feminine) scent makes it an ideal gift for a wide range of people. It offers a gently cooling feel and is scented with super premium eucalyptus and lemongrass extracts from the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Lastly, their CBD Real Fruit Jellies are the only pate de fruit to contain CBD. A pate de fruit is a French confectionary made of a concentrated fruit paste. Hawaiian Choice's version is a Hawaiian take on the French delicacy, but it has all the same hallmarks of a pure, natural, real fruit jelly candy that is 100% vegan, non-GMO, and low in sugar. They have a flavor and texture similar to a fruit leather and are tangy and sweet. With 25mg CBD per jelly and four jellies per box, they offer a lot of relaxation in a couple bites.

Hawaiian Choice was established in 2017 and is the sister brand of Rare Cannabinoid Company which was founded in the first quarter of 2020. While Hawaiian Choice focuses on broad spectrum Hawaiian CBD products infused with real Hawaiian botanicals, Rare Cannabinoid Company offers a wide range of pure rare cannabinoids, 1:1 blends, and gummies. Rare Cannabinoid Company sells THCV, Delta-8-THC, CBDV, CBG, CBN, CBC, and CBDA pure oil tinctures, full spectrum Rare Hawaiian CBD, 1:1 blends of rare cannabinoids CBN, CBG, CBC, and THCV with CBD, and THCV gummies, CBG gummies, CBN gummies, CBD gummies and Variety Bundles of rare cannabinoid gummies.
InSight Imaging will implement Cranberry Peaks ezCDS, clinical decision support service. Referring providers for InSight Imaging in the state of Hawaii will be able to use ezCDS to consult the appropriateness of advanced imaging orders, including those using fax or paper orders.

We take pride in providing outstanding service of care to our patients and in supporting our referring providers to have a seamless experience during the referral process. Hence, we are looking forward to working with the Cranberry Peak team to implement their innovative and practical workflow for consulting imaging appropriateness by our referring providers. said Joshua Rosen, Physician Relations at InSight Imaging. "We are thrilled with Cranberry Peak teams common sense, flexibility and their focus not only on innovation, but also on practical solutions.

ezCDS is a CMS qualified clinical decision support mechanism (CDSM) for the Appropriate Use Criteria Program (AUC), supporting the implementation of Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA). Specifically, under this program, ordering physicians would be required to consult a CDSM for advanced diagnostic imaging orders. In addition to facilitating evidence-based medicine and standards of care at the point of care, ezCDS is also transforming user experience in healthcare, enabling practical workflows that are easy to deploy by outpatient imaging centers for referral networks; all in an effort to reduce physician burnout.

Cranberry Peaks Founder and CEO, Neculai Archip, PhD, MBA, said, We continuously innovate to provide practical and effective workflows for both radiology practices and referring providers. One of the current challenges is to effectively manage CDS consultations for imaging orders submitted on paper or fax. This innovation is addressing this exact challenge, and we look forward to working with the innovative Insight Imaging team to support them establish state of the art technology and operational workflows.

About Cranberry Peak

Cambridge, MA based Cranberry Peak Corp. is a leader in digital health, providing AI, conversational interfaces, clinical decision support, and radiology workflow technology. In addition to enabling evidence based medicine and standards of care, at the point of care, with the goal of improving healthcare delivery, Cranberry Peak is also aiming at reducing physician burnout.

For more information https://www.cranberrypeak.com or email contact@cranberrypeak.com

About InSight Imaging

InSight Imaging offers unparalleled access to the most advanced diagnostic imaging services in Hawaii, including the most advanced PET/CT scanning technology along with diagnostic CT and Ultrasound services.

More information is on InSight Imaging is available at http://www.insightimaginghawaii.com/
From left to right: District of Columbia City Council Chair Mendelson, me, UDC School of Law Dean Renee Hutchins, UDC President Ronald Mason, Jr. and Foundation Chair Jon Bouker (Arent Fox)

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Johnine P. Barnes, Shareholder and Chair of the Washington, D.C. Labor & Employment Practice Group, was recently appointed to the Board of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC Law) Foundation (the Foundation).

According to its website,, the Foundations mission is to promote excellence in public legal education in the District of Columbia, specifically through provision of financial support for the students, faculty, and programs of the Districts public law school, UDC Law. UDC Law is recognized as one of the nations most diverse law schools, is the only public law school in the nations capital, and one of just six HBCU law schools in the country.

Barnes, located in Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. office, is nationally recognized by the Legal 500 U.S. Guide for her counselling and compliance practice regarding employment laws. She is also recognized by Lawdragon 500 as Leading Lawyer in America and as a Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyer. She is experienced in litigating and defending employment claims of harassment, retaliation, discrimination, wrongful discharge, and breach of contract, as well as business litigation matters.

About Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. Office: Home to a multidisciplinary team of lawyers and governmental affairs professionals, the members of Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. office help clients of all sizes navigate the federal government. The team of lawyers and lobbyists provide strategic corporate, regulatory, and litigation assistance on Capitol Hill, in the board room and before administrative agencies, and federal and state trial and appellate courts. The D.C. offices practice areas include governmental affairs; federal procurement and government contracts; global trade and investment; corporate, securities and financial services; health care and FDA; antitrust; energy; environment; real estate and hospitality; telecommunications; international arbitration; intellectual property; public finance; and employment law. Greenberg Traurig attracts clients from an array of sectors  from federal defense to energy, telecommunications to health care  and represents them before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies and regulatory bodies, and the entire U.S. court system.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,300 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 Plus Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com
"Our firm and clients will greatly benefit from Joshs extensive experience addressing the risk and compliance needs of global organizations."

Frazier & Deeter, one of the nations Top 50 accounting and advisory firms, announced today that Josh Haxel, CPA, joined the firm as a Partner in the firms Process, Risk & Governance Practice.

Our firm and clients will greatly benefit from Joshs extensive experience addressing the risk and compliance needs of global organizations, said Jason Sammons, FDs National Process, Risk & Governance Practice Leader. We are delighted to add Josh to our leadership team to help our clients manage risk, achieve compliance and improve their business processes.

Haxel brings the firm more than 15 years of experience, with an emphasis on internal audit, Sarbanes-Oxley, enterprise risk management and process improvement. He has a successful track record of leading large, multifaceted engagements for multibillion-dollar companies with global operations and complex business processes.

While he has worked with a broad range of clients, Haxel has proven industry expertise in manufacturing & distribution, technology, energy, financial services, asset management and retail.

Im excited to be a part of a firm with Frazier & Deeters reputation for client service, and especially to join the fastest growing practice in the firm, said Haxel. The firms focus on Investing in Relationships offers an excellent foundation for serving clients well by helping to address their needs as their business evolves.

Prior to joining FD, Haxel was a Managing Director in Ernst & Youngs Business Consulting Practice. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Georgia and holds a finance degree from the University of Oklahoma.

About Frazier & Deeter

Frazier & Deeter is an award-winning Top 50 accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm provides a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory services to serve the emerging needs of clients as they evolve. Frazier & Deeter and its FD family of brands have nine offices across the United States and two in the United Kingdom. The firm has been recognized repeatedly as a Best of the Best Accounting firm, a Best Firm to Work for in the U.S. and a Best Firm for Women in Leadership. Frazier & Deeters brand promise is Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference.
MaidPro, one of the largest and fastest-growing cleaning franchise companies in North America, today announces that The Quality Business Awards of Canada has named MaidPro of Waterloo, Ontario Best Home Cleaning for 2021.

The Quality Business Awards recognizes the top businesses in Canada that have earned an average quality score of 95% or more over the course of the previous 12 months while conducting their day to day efforts with the highest integrity and showing a continuous trend of giving back to the local community and reducing their carbon footprint. Awarded based on an internal point scoring system, a business must have outstanding customer reviews and an esteemed reputation from more than three different platforms, while quick-turn responses to customers and low customer complaints are highly valued for the award.

Mamad Saeedi has served as the owner of MaidPro of Waterloo since January 2020  a crucial time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, where new normals were being created worldwide and businesses were shuttering each day as a result of pandemic-induced shutdowns. Despite these challenges, Saeedi successfully navigated his team, and his business, through the past year and continued to provide safe and superior service to customers in the Waterloo area. And his thoughtful and deliberate approach to service did not go unnoticed.

I am thrilled that MaidPro of Waterloo has been recognized for providing a necessary service to our community, especially when more people are at home than ever before and in need of a clean living space, Saeedi said. We prioritized employee and customer safety above all else, while continuing to offer the high-quality professional services that MaidPro is known for.

Founded in 1981, MaidPro offers affordable in-home and environmentally friendly cleaning services to clients across North America. What began as a single storefront has quickly become a 150-unit cleaning service, serving thousands of clients across the U.S. and Canada and offering lucrative franchise opportunities for interested entrepreneurs.

Mamad has had incredible success as a franchise owner in just 10 months of operation, said Tom Manchester, brand president of MaidPro. We could not be more thrilled that his hard work and dedication to his customers has been recognized with this award and we are looking forward to what will surely be years of accomplishments from him and his business.

To learn more, visit: https://www.maidpro.ca/kitchener-waterloo/.

About MaidPro:

MaidPro is part of the Threshold Brands family of franchises. MaidPro is a Boston-based franchisor of house cleaning services with over 285 locations in 38 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1997, takes pride in its strong owner community, cutting-edge technology, and creative marketing. It has been honored with the Franchise Business Reviews Four-Star Rating and Franchise 50 awards every year from 2006 to 2021 for owner satisfaction. MaidPro was named one of the Top Franchises by Forbes, Entrepreneur and USA Today. MaidPro is also a proud member of the International Franchise Association, Canadian Franchise Association, and the New England Franchise Association. https://maidpro.com/
In 2021, Kelsey and Lauren have delivered virtual, hybrid, and live events, mastered new technologies, and established health and safety protocols. They have gone above and beyond to meet the needs of their event clients, and Im thrilled that PCMA is recognizing them for their stellar work.

MCI USA is proud to announce that Kelsey Secules, CMP, CSEP, DES, Senior Manager, Strategic Event Management, and Lauren Stroud, Manager, Strategic Event Management, have been selected to be in the 20 in Their Twenties class of 2022 by the Professional Convention Management Association. PCMAs 20 in Their Twenties showcases the brightest and most talented young event management professionals from around the world.

After a year where event professionals were required to adjust, pivot, and plan for the unexpected, Im especially proud to congratulate Kelsey and Lauren on being included in the 20 in Their Twenties class of 2022, said Elisa Perodin, CMP, CEM, Senior Vice President, Strategic Event Management, MCI USA. In 2021, theyve delivered virtual, hybrid, and live events, mastered new technologies, and established health and safety protocols. Kelsey and Lauren have gone above and beyond to meet the needs of their event clients, and Im thrilled that PCMA is recognizing them for their stellar work.

Kelsey Secules, CMP, CSEP, DES is a Senior Manager, Strategic Event Management. In 2021, she managed several high-profile events for clients such as the Incentive Research Foundation and the International Live Events Association. She is a member of the LGBT+ Meeting Professionals Association, where she volunteers on the development committee. Kelsey recently earned her Digital Event Strategist certification from PCMA.

Lauren Stroud, Manager, Strategic Event Management, has supported events for MCI USA clients National Association of Black Accountants, Association of Women Surgeons, and the World Petroleum Congress. She serves as chair of MCI USAs DE&I committee, and she received her DE&I in the Workplace Certificate from University of South Florida Muma College of Business in 2021. Lauren has earned Cvent Certifications for Hybrid, Virtual and Event Management.

Each of the 20 in Their Twenties class members is selected by a committee comprised of veteran industry professionals and 20 in Their Twenties alumni. Members of the 2022 20 in Their Twenties class will receive recognition as the next generation of industry leaders and a scholarship to attend PCMAs Convening Leaders event in Las Vegas in January 2022.

ABOUT MCI

MCI is a global engagement and marketing agency. We design human-centric solutions that unleash the power of people to deliver innovation and growth for our clients. Our offering includes live & virtual events, strategic & digital communications, consulting & community solutions. We help brands, companies, associations and not-for-profits solve their challenges, bringing their people together to shape their tomorrow. MCI is an independently owned company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with a global presence in 60 offices across 31 countries. http://www.wearemci.com

MCIs US headquarters is in the Washington, DC area with offices in New York, Baltimore, Dallas, and Chicago. http://www.wearemci.com/en-us
Dr. Anthony Caramico

NJ Top Dentist, Dr. Anthony Caramico is 100 percent dedicated to delivering an unmatched patient experience with a relaxed and friendly environment and the latest technology in dentistry.

Dr. Caramico graduated with honors from Fairleigh Dickinson University and went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in 1987.

During his tenure at UMDNJ, Dr. Caramico was selected as the Universities first recipient in Geriatric Dental Medicine. Hes also an active member of numerous dental associations and societies, which keep him at the forefront of change and provide access to many of the brightest minds in the industry.

Over the past few decades, Dr. Tony has seen how state-of-the-art technology has transformed the way dentists care for their patients. His commitment to provide the very best remedy in the most efficient way possible means that hes implemented such tools in his own practice.

Staying abreast of the latest advancements in the field of dentistry is critically important to Dr. Tony. What he learns, while attending continuing education and training programs, as well as specialized events and study clubs composed of esteemed colleagues and thought leaders, is used to continue to enhance and elevate the level of care he provides to his patients. Participating in these online groups, allows Dr. Tony to dialogue and collaborate with like-minded dentists from across the globe.

Hes also a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, American Dental Association, New Jersey Dental Association, Cerec Doctors Academy, and the Academy of General Dentistry.

To learn more about Dr. Anthony Caramico and Midland Park Family Dentistry please visit: https://njtopdocs.com/nj-dentists/dranthonycaramico/

About Us

NJ Top Dentists is a division of NJ Top Docs. NJ Top Docs is a comprehensive, trusted and exclusive healthcare resource featuring reviewed and approved Top Doctors and Dentists in New Jersey online in an easy to use format. NJ Top Docs only reviews and approves providers based on merit after they have been extensively vetted.

NJ Top Docs is a division of USA Top Docs which allows patients to meet providers online before making their appointment.

For more information, please click here to contact us or visit http://www.NJTopDocs.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.
As the father of three daughters, todays program to motivate and inspire these young women to believe in themselves and achieve great things for their communities was especially meaningful, said President Jerome.

Monroe College, a national leader in educating first-generation and international students, today proudly hosted Sisters In Law: Rising as We Climb, an uplifting, motivational female empowerment event attended by 240 young women attending local high schools.

The event, held on the Colleges Bronx campus, welcomed prominent New York women as guest speakers. Among them: Bronx County District Attorney Darcel Clark, Bronx Borough President-Elect Vanessa Gibson, NYS Attorney General Letitia James, NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross-Porter, NYS Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia, and NYC Councilmember-Elect Pierina Sanchez.

Darcel Clark, the Bronx County District Attorney, opened the event with rousing words that kicked off the program on the right energetic note. Monroe President Marc Jerome and Joy Tolliver, the Colleges Vice President for Government Relations and General Counsel, then led the two-hour program for the highly engaged juniors and seniors from 15 Bronx and Manhattan high schools.

Todays attendees, most of whom are women of color, were clearly moved by the powerful messages shared by the aforementioned prominent women helping lead New York State and New York City forward. The students were challenged to dream big for themselves and for their communities, and to find the courage, conviction, and confidence to make those dreams come true. They also heard about the importance of fighting injustice, lifting each other up, finding their voices, and making them heard.

As the father of three daughters, todays program to motivate and inspire these young women to believe in themselves and achieve great things for their communities was especially meaningful, said President Jerome. I offer my great thanks to our very special guest speakers and to the wonderful students who joined us this morning. Rest assured, Monroe will be offering more impactful programming like todays event going forward.

ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE

Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in educating first-generation and international students. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, and the recognition it has received nationally for its impact on students social mobility.

Monroe educates more than 8,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, and Masters degree programs from New York campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle, as well as in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia. Students may also pursue degree programs through Monroe Online.

Programs are offered through Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business and Accounting, Criminal and Social Justice, Education, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through its King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.


Our innovative solutions are making a positive impact for Courts. New Mexico is our 8th statewide Justice implementation along with numerous county installations throughout the country.

Avenu Insights & Analytics (Avenu) recently announced its award of the Statewide Jury Management System (JMS) contract by New Mexicos Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

Avenus Clearview Jury met the AOCs needs of providing a secure state-of-the-art application that was fully configurable to meet the growing needs of their judiciary. Clearview Jury is a web-based system that provides accurate, timely, and reliable jury data to all judicial agencies and is being implemented across New Mexicos thirteen (13) judicial districts, thirty-three (33) counties, and seventy-six (76) trial courts.

Utilizing a modern statewide system allows New Mexicos Courts to have up-to-date information and operate with a single data source. The system will also automate the entire juror process including qualification, summoning, check-in, and juror payment calculations. Ultimately, Clearview Jury will create a smooth and hassle-free jury process for staff and constituents by automating the bulk of paperwork and management while providing automated summons postcards to potential jurors.

We are proud to partner with New Mexicos AOC and provide our Clearview Jury solution across the state, shared Avenu CEO, Paul Colangelo. We have a very seasoned and tenured Justice staff who keep developing innovative solutions that will make a positive impact for Courts. New Mexico is our 8th statewide implementation for our Justice team along with numerous county installations throughout the country.

About Avenu Insights & Analytics

Over 3,000 state and local governments have partnered with Avenu to drive positive results for their communities through software administration and revenue enhancement solutions. Avenus comprehensive software solutions digitally transform government by modernizing processes, providing online access to records, and reducing costs. Avenu also provides a robust ecosystem of revenue management services that identify and recover untapped revenue. State and local governments work closely with Avenu to increase revenue without raising taxes, streamline internal operations, and improve services by enhancing connectivity for constituents. Avenu is a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital. To learn more, visit http://www.avenuinsights.com.

About Mill Point Capital

Mill Point Capital is a middle-market private equity firm focused on control-oriented investments in the business services and industrial sectors. The firm works with executive partners to leverage its investment professionals' experience, while providing strategic and operational guidance designed to drive long-term value creation in its portfolio companies. Mill Point is based in New York.
Chobani president and COO, Peter McGuinness (left) with his Cornerstone Award, presented by Operation Homefront president and CEO, Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray, Jr. (right) From the start of our amazing partnership, Peter McGuinness has made it clear that Chobani is a purpose-driven company-one that shares our unwavering commitment to helping our military families who are struggling to make ends meet. Brig Gen (ret) John I Pray Jr, Operation Homefront President & CEO

Operation Homefront, the national nonprofit serving Americas military families, has presented its prestigious Cornerstone Award to Peter McGuinness, President and Chief Operating Officer of Chobani. Operation Homefront presents this award to individuals who have gone above and beyond to help the organization accomplish its vital mission to build strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive, not simply struggle to get by, in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.

Mr. McGuinness was instrumental in initiating Chobanis partnership with Operation Homefront in 2018 as part of the companys vision to make high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating their communities and making the world a healthier place. Recognizing the need to support Americas military families, Chobani set the goal to raise $1 million through their first charitable product: Red, White, and Blueberry Hero Batch Greek Yogurt. The product, crafted and conceptualized by veterans at Chobani, can still be found in grocery store chains nationwide. Since launching Hero Batch, the company has donated more than $2.25 million to Operation Homefront. These funds have contributed to advance our mission and to support military families in need through our Critical Financial Assistance program and our Holiday Meals for Military program.

As the COVID-19 pandemic threatened livelihoods and sent many Americans into financial uncertainty, Chobani also dedicated $225,000 to military families directly impacted by the pandemic in California and Texas. In February 2021, millions of Texans struggled to find heat, water, and food due to the crippling effects of a massive winter storm. Chobani put $100,000 toward Operation Homefronts efforts to help military families in the state through the nonprofits Critical Financial Assistance program. And Chobani has been a tremendous supporter of Operation Homefronts Holiday Meals for Military program that will serve more than 15,000 military families in 2021.

From the very start of our amazing partnership, Peter McGuinness has made it clear that Chobani is a purpose-driven companyone that shares our unwavering commitment to helping our military families who are struggling to make ends meet, said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., President and CEO of Operation Homefront. We are incredibly grateful to all at Chobani for their continued support of our important work.

About Peter McGuinness  President and COO, Chobani

Since September 2020, Peter McGuinness has been President & Chief Operating Officer, leading all day-to-day operations and overseeing the Chobani Cafe and Chobani Food Incubator. Before McGuinness became President in August 2019, he was Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer from 2017 to 2019 and Chief Marketing Officer & Brand Officer from 2013 to 2017. Prior to Chobani, McGuinness served as President & CEO of DDB Chicago and Chairman & CEO of Gotham.

Instituted in 2015, Cornerstone Award recipients have included:

Gina Collins  former Chief Marketing Officer, Outback Steakhouse

Kathy Cox  former Senior Manager, Walmart Foundation

Chelle Davis - Manager, Investor Relations, Dollar Tree

Loren Dorshow  Executive Director, Car Donation Foundation

Ed Delgado - CEO, The Five Star Group

Camille Jenkins - Vice President National Customer Relations, Meritage Homes Corporation

John Kitchens  Director of Corporate Citizenship, CSX Corporation

Marc Knowles - Global Military Team Leader, P&G

Mike Monroe - Director, Veterans Initiatives, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

Tony Montalto  President and COO, The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation

Heather Prill - Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships & Programs, The Home Depot Foundation

Ken Ruff - VP, National Accounts, Beam Suntory

Rusty Smallwood - former AVP REO-Manager, JPMorgan Chase

About Operation Homefront: Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive  not simply struggle to get by  in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 90 percent of Operation Homefront expenditures go directly to programs that support tens of thousands of military families each year. Operation Homefront provides critical financial assistance, transitional and permanent housing and family support services to prevent short-term needs from turning into chronic, long-term struggles. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the support from thousands of volunteers, Operation Homefront proudly serves Americas military families. For more information, visit OperationHomefront.org.

About Chobani: Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, we are a values-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and have been since Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S., founded the company in 2005. We produce yogurt, oatmilk, dairy- and plant-based creamers, ready-to-drink coffee and plant-based probiotic drinks. Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, and its made with only natural ingredients without artificial preservatives.

Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world  putting humanity first in everything we do. Our philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to our communities and beyond: working to eradicate child hunger, supporting immigrants, refugees and underrepresented people, honoring veterans, and protecting the planet. We manufacture our products in New York, Idaho, and Australia. Chobani products are available throughout North America and distributed in Australia and other select markets. For more information, please visit http://www.chobani.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
"We are incredibly honored to be included on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row! This recognizes the outstanding efforts of our pack to support furbabies and fellow pet parents everywhere."

Inc. magazine revealed that Pet Parents is ranked as No. 1001 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

Pet Parents, founded in 2016, has seen exceptional growth. Ranking the 5th fastest growing company in Iowa in 2021, this is the second consecutive year Pet Parents has made impressive rankings on the Inc. 5000. Learn more about Pet Parents at https://petparentsbrand.com/.

Blake Anderson, founder and CEO of Pet Parents, says, "The mission of Pet Parents is to help furbabies live longer, healthier, & happier lives by creating products, services, and an information platform to solve everyday pet parenting needs. Our exceptional growth is wonderful proof that our mission matches the consumer's needs. We are incredibly honored to be included on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row! This recognizes the outstanding efforts of our pack to support furbabies and fellow pet parents everywhere."

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this years list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020s unprecedented challenges. Among the 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate soared to 543 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, those companies added more than 610,000 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc.

The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled, says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis weve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.

Pet Parents began its journey in the beginning of 2016 & continues to grow in size every year. Recognized by Inc. 5000 for being one of the fastest-growing companies in America in 2020 and 2021, Pet Parents creates products to help pet parents raise their pets from birth to senior years, keeping their homes clean and pet families happy and healthy. Their brand & product lines are at the crossing point of two macro pet industry trends: the humanization of pets with a focus on healthcare.

Learn more about Pet Parents at https://petparentsbrand.com/.

Follow Pet Parents on social: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

For more information, contact Sydney Klein. Email: Press@PetParentsBrand.com

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this years Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including web sites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Vision Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Vision Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.
Business texting is in high demand and represents a significant opportunity for our selling agents and white-label partners and the businesses they support.

ChannelVision Magazine has recognized Pidj.co, a nationwide provider of business texting services, as a winner in the 2021 Visionary Spotlight Awards for Digital Transformation.

We are honored to present Pidj.co with a 2021 Overall Excellence VSA for Digital Transformation, said Beka Business Media President and CEO Berge Kaprelian. Pidj.co was recognized for its part in contributing to enable businesses to adapt to digital-first communications, sales, marketing, zero-touch service delivery and customer care environments through the Pidj.co business text messaging platform. Congratulations to the entire team at Pidj.co on this well-earned recognition.

Pidj.cos business text messaging platform enables texting on existing landline, VoIP, or toll-free telephone numbers, allowing organizations of all sizes to connect with customers instantly via automated and two-way text messages on their mobile devices.

The platform automates outbound text messages, including:



Textcasts  Send a broadcast of text messages to a targeted list of contacts.

Timetexts  Automate texts to be sent at a specific time for reminders and follow-up.

Series  Schedule texts at predefined intervals to targeted contacts.

The platform also supports inbound text routing, including:



Pathways  Handle inbound messages with automated responses or actions.

Live Agent  Engage in two-way text conversations in real time.

Pidj.cos business text messaging platform is ideal for customer notifications, promotions and live interactions, such as:



Appointment Reminders

Delivery Tracking

Customer Surveys

Marketing Drip Campaigns

Sales Inquiries

Customer Support

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global market for application-to-person SMS messaging is expected to grow from $46.81 billion in 2021 to $64.24 billion in 2028, with customer engagement and acquisition driving growth.

Business texting is in high demand and represents a significant opportunity for our selling agents and white-label partners and the businesses they support, said Jeff Beck, President at Pidj.co. Texting is the future of communication, and were ready to help our partners and their customers leverage texting to grow their businesses.

Text messaging has proven effective for all types of communications. Gartners research shows text messages have, on average, a 98 percent open rate and a 45 percent response rate  all of which are significantly higher than with traditional communications methods using voice calls, voicemail, and email.

For more information on the Pidj.co business text messaging platform, visit http://www.pidj.co. Go on an interactive tour that showcases some of the platforms automated features by texting DEMO to 855-818-7435 on your mobile phone.

For more information on channel and wholesale partnerships, visit http://www.pidj.co/partners/.

About Pidj.co

Pidj.co empowers organizations to connect with customers and other stakeholders with real-time, personalized communications via text messaging. The companys business text messaging platform enables automated outbound text messages to be broadcasted to a targeted list of contacts as a one-off or a scheduled series. Uniquely, the Pidj.co platform also supports inbound text routing, including automated responses or actions or two-way text conversations with live agents. The platform is ideal for customer notifications, promotions and live interactions, such as appointment reminders, delivery tracking, customer surveys, marketing drip campaigns, sales inquiries, customer support and more. The Pidj.co business texting solution is available as a retail subscription service from Pidj.co and its authorized sales partners or as a white-label platform to wholesale partners seeking a branded business texting solution. For more information, visit Pidj.co online at http://www.pidj.co, or text us at 855.818.7435.
"Consultants. Fixers. Change Makers" Propeller is uniquely focused on providing an exceptional work environment for their consultants, which I think translates directly to how Propeller has exponentially grown such a high level of relationship and expertise trust with all their clients.

Propeller Consulting today announces the promotion of Allison Torpey to the role of managing director and has hired Andy Tanner in the role of director of Propellers data and analytics practice. The Denver-based appointments are in direct response to accelerated client demand in the greater Denver market, and nationwide, for agile, responsive business solutions across technology transformation, people and change, experience design, and data and analytics.

Since joining Propeller in 2014 as a consultant, and then as Propellers Director of People Strategy, Allison helped establish the firms recruiting and talent growth, processes and values, and is responsible for the hiring and onboarding of more than 75 employees. She then moved to Denver in 2019 to open that office as director overseeing new market operations, marketing, talent acquisition, and business development. Within the past year, she grew the talent base by 600% and client revenue by 1000%, bringing in Propellers largest Denver client, a multibillion-dollar retail organization where she oversees a team of 25+ and partners with VP-level client decision makers.

Allison is also invested in her Denver and Colorado communities, serving through business associations like Women in Technical Infrastructure and Colorado Womens Chamber of Commerce, as well as pro bono consulting for two Denver nonprofits. For Propeller, Allison is executive sponsor for the firms Propel Her program, focused on providing guidance and insight to support gender-diverse leaders across all operating markets.

Allisons passion and skill at building high-performing teams for our clients and within Propeller have been critical to her success. Given the pace of current workplace change, Allisons unique ability to create momentum and drive growth through a structured and people centered approach is an asset to our client partners in the Denver market. -- Amy Weeden, Propeller CEO

Im thrilled to take on my new role as managing director of the Denver office and to continue to oversee the offices dramatic growth. The market potential for consulting services such as Propellers is huge and Im excited to scale our office to help meet the growing demand. Our brand, culture, and overall approach seems to resonate with how Denver-area companies want to be supported. Im confident in our rapidly growing teams ability to partner with these businesses to meet a variety of their critical business initiatives in the coming years! -- Allison Torpey, Propeller Denver Managing Director

Andy Tanner joins Propeller following a 17-year consulting career with EY in progressively pivotal leadership roles including serving as their first Detroit advisory analytics leader, then Midwest advisory analytics co-lead. He also served as the firms first global analytics learning and development leader. In 2016 he joined The Regis Company as their chief analytics officer, launching their first data and analytics practice.

Data and Analytics continues to be an important area of growth and focus in the market, and among our clients. A dedicated leader in this practice area ensures that we are able to grow talent and help our clients drive impactful results in this space. Andy brings multiple decades of D&A expertise and progressive leadership capability to leading the practice at Propeller. -- Sunil Kasturi, Propeller Chief Growth Officer

I was drawn to Propeller because it operates, first and foremost, as a people-first firm. Propeller is uniquely focused on providing an exceptional work environment for their consultants, which I think translates directly to how Propeller has exponentially grown such a high level of relationship and expertise trust with all their clients, said Andy. Im really excited about standing up and quickly growing Propellers data and analytics practice to help meet an exploding industry need, and Im equally excited about upskilling everyone at Propeller with a higher level of data and analytics knowledge and fluencyto better serve our clients. -- Andy Tanner, Propeller Denver Director, Data and Analytics Practice

About Propeller Consulting

Propeller is a nationally recognized consulting firm that helps clients bring simpler, more efficient solutions to their business challenges. Propeller consultants work alongside client teams to deliver project management, business consulting, and change management results that help them nimbly negotiate rapidly evolving business demands. Since its founding in 2012, Propeller has received numerous industry awards including Consulting Magazines Fastest Growing Firm, and Fortune Magazines Great Place to Work, for the last five consecutive years. Propeller has offices in Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; San Francisco, California; and Silicon Valley, and will soon be announcing growth plans to new markets. For more information, visit: http://www.propellerconsulting.com.
Reagan Sahadi and Wife Donate Historic First National Bank Building to the City Of Goliad - Photo Courtesy of Main Street Goliad With the right plan in place and some motivation, it is going to really be a beautiful asset for the city. We just love the community of Goliad and the surrounding area and to the extent we are able to do so, we will always help this community,

The Sahadi Legal Group, helping victims of negligence get the justice and compensation they deserve, today announced attorney Reagan Sahadi and his wife, Dr. Mary Margaret Ara, have purchased and donated the First National Bank building to the City of Goliad, Texas. The hope is the historic building, located on Market Street across from the courthouse, will be converted into a new city hall.

Historic buildings can represent the cultural richness and importance of a city, helping to connect citizens to the past. According to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, building preservation is in the public interest so that its vital legacy of.educational...inspirational, economic, and energy benefits will be maintained and enriched for future generations. By buying and donating the First National Bank building in Goliad, Reagan Sahadi and his wife Mary Margaret Ara, M.D. - a Goliad native - hope to do just that.

The 1912 building was only partially used by American Bank before it was abandoned around 2013. The building has sat vacant and for sale for several years. Its historic features include a basement made of stone from the Mission Espiritu Santo, old bank vaults and decorative glass. Designed by architects Green and Finger of Houston, Texas the Classical Revival style boasts four Tuscan limestone columns.

The hope is the building will now be refurbished as Goliad's City Hall. At 12,000 square feet, it could also house other civic departments such as public works like the fire department, the municipal court and serve as a utility billing.

"With the right plan in place and some motivation, it is going to really be a beautiful asset for the city. We just love the community of Goliad and the surrounding area and to the extent we are able to do so, we will always help this community, said Reagan Sahadi, Attorney at Sahadi Legal Group. I was brought here 11 years ago by my wife and had never seen anything like the beautiful square surrounding the courthouse and the old buildings which house stately apartments on the second floor with shops on the first floors. I was personally sold."

Reagan Sahadi was raised in South Texas and comes from a family of entrepreneurs. In 2005, he returned home to Corpus Christi and began his law practice as a personal injury attorney who represents clients in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. Sahadi has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. Recently, he was named for the third consecutive year to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list.

The Sahadi Legal Group is planning a permanent office in Goliad in 2022 which will serve Goliad and the surrounding crossroads area for those who are victims of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death. Sahadis wife, Dr. Mary Margaret Ara, whose family has lived in Goliad County for generations, hopes to open up her own medical practice on an adjoining lot in the back of the historic building that they were also able to buy.

"This is my home and there have always been rumblings in the community on what to do with this building. Chatter on the street has always been it would make a great city hall! However, there are no strings attached to what the city may do with the building. adds Dr. Ara.

The couple have declined to disclose the purchase price of the building but they also own the Pettus building and founded the Commercial St. Bar - both of which are located in downtown Goliad.

Rehabilitating old buildings not only adds character to the area, but can also help attract investment, as well as tourists. Goliad, the place where the first Declaration of Texas Independence was signed in 1835, serves as an important historical center for the state. Its aesthetic can now reflect that.

Having toured the structure, we feel certain that many of the walls can be moved and false ceilings taken away. There exist some of the old vaults which still have deposit cards of many citizens who are no longer here. It definitely felt like walking back in time to a different period seeing those old bank cards. said Sahadi.

For more information please visit http://www.sahadilegal.com

About Sahadi Legal Group

The Sahadi Legal Group was founded by Reagan Sahadi on the idea that clients deserve more than just representation in the courtroom or around the negotiation table. The Sahadi Legal Group has a wealth of experience representing victims of catastrophic accidents.

Since 2009, Reagan Sahadi's verdicts and settlements in cases have exceeded $200 million for his clients. From car accidents to tire defects, the Sahadi Legal Group aggressively pursues each claim for clients with finesse. The Sahadi Legal Group is ready to put their expertise and passion to work for you. The legal team at the Sahadi Legal Group has over 45 combined years of experience.

The dedicated staff will be with you every step of the way to help you understand the process and keep you informed. http://www.sahadilegal.com
Restaurants continue to post better sales than they did in 2019. Unfortunately, sales growth is slowing down and is propped up by unusually high average guest check growth. Guest counts continue to fall.

Sales growth was 6.0% during October, a small decline from the 6.3% reported for September. Compared to July, it was a much bigger drop from the peak of 8.2% reached during that month.

Guest counts have not recovered to their pre-pandemic level and are softening. Traffic growth was the worst for industry since March, at -6.4% in October. Meanwhile, restaurants are still challenged by staffing constraints which are complicating restaurant execution. The latest data from Black Box Workforce Intelligence suggests the industry may be taking some steps back when it comes to staffing levels in recent months.

Given the staffing limitations, it is no surprise to see more negative online reviews about restaurant service. The percentage of these service comments classified as positive decreased by 1.1% year over year during October. The average for the last 3 months fell by a similar 1.0%. In fact, October had the smallest percentage of positive service mentions since the beginning of the year. The peak was reached in February, when sales were still down and there was less pressure on execution.

Despite the increased operational difficulties, restaurants have been able to excel when it comes to food sentiment. The percentage of food-based comments in reviews that were classified as positive improved marginally year over year in October (+0.4%), while the 3-month average remained essentially flat.

Largest Area of Opportunity: Speed of Service

Service guest sentiment has been slipping since Q2, when more people started going back to restaurants. Specific areas like speed of service being negatively affected is not surprising given the combination of higher guests counts and rising turnover levels.

For limited-service, hourly, non-management turnover increased by over 20 percentage points year over year in Q3. For full-service restaurants, hourly turnover increased by about 15 percentage points during the same period. With turnover rates increasing steadily each quarter since the beginning of the year, there are still no signs of employee retention improving.

Meanwhile, guests are noticing issues in the speed of service they are receiving when visiting restaurants, with limited-service brands experiencing the biggest problems. Net sentiment specific to speed of service was down 13% in Q3 year over year. Speed of service sentiment was down by an even larger margin (16%) compared to immediately before the pandemic (Q1 2020). Speed is one of the main attributes of the limited-service experience and value proposition. Guests are sensitive to issues related to how quickly they can get their meals.

Guest sentiment based on speed of service has also dropped for full-service restaurants, albeit not as much as limited-service. Net sentiment for this attribute fell by only 3% year over year in Q3. Net sentiment for speed of service was flat compared with Q1 of 2020. Furthermore, its value pre-COVID (Q1 2020) was 3.5 times smaller than speed of service net sentiment among limited-service brands. This suggests speed is not as strong a driver in full-service or perhaps the fact that speed was already a problem for these brands preceding the challenges brought by COVID.

**Net sentiment: a value representing the percentage of positive mentions minus the percentage of negative mentions for a specific attribute of the restaurant experience.

Regional & Market Performance

Out of the 25 biggest markets in the country, the one with the most positive guest sentiment based on restaurant beverages, ambiance and intent to return was Orlando. This DMA consistently has positive net sentiment.

New York is leading the country in strongest net sentiment for restaurant food and service. Part of the reason this may be happening is restaurants there may not be under the same pressure as those in other parts of the country. Out of these 25 largest markets, New York ranked the 3rd worst in October based on traffic growth, with guest counts still dropping in double-digit rates compared to where they were in 2019.

The story is quite different for San Francisco, which seems to be challenged on many fronts. Despite being the major metropolitan area with the worst traffic growth results during October, restaurants there are having a hard time providing their guests with a solid restaurant experience. San Francisco had the lowest net sentiment based on restaurant food, service and value during the month.



Financial metrics are same-store metrics & reported on a 2-year comparison unless otherwise noted

The Restaurant Guest Satisfaction Snapshot (RGSS) is produced by data from Black Box Guest Intelligence. Guest Intelligence is tracking over 190 brands to benchmark customer satisfaction and is the only online tool that integrates with operational performance data to validate the impact on financial performance. The data set focuses on six key attributes of the restaurant industry experience: food, service, ambiance, beverage, value and intent to return.

The RGSS algorithm determines the highest-ranking brands based on sentiment. Brands included in this monthly snapshot must have a total of at least 250 mentions for the month. Restaurants must have a minimum number of units to be eligible as well. DMA rankings consider only the largest 25 areas.
Philip White Water Restoration

Philip White Water Restoration is a trusted provider of water damage restoration services that helps homes and businesses in Orlando, FL and the surrounding areas. RestorationMaster recently added Philip White Water Restoration as a new business on RestorationMasterFinder.com to help improve their online presence in their main service areas and generate more quality sales leads. New micro-sites for Orlando, Ocoee, Oviedo, Casselberry, and Winter Park, FL were added to attract more local search traffic and increase their number of leads and conversions.

The new micro-sites that were added for Philip White Water Restoration cover Orlando, FL and the surrounding areas in central Florida. These micro-sites consist of geo-based, highly optimized water damage restoration service pages built to increase visibility by ranking well in the local search results. Each page has a contact form and the phone number for Philip White Water Restoration so that visitors can reach out to them immediately if there is an emergency. The visibility of the micro-site pages in the local search results will bring in more quality sales leads for Philip White Water Restoration and help boost their conversion rate.

About RestorationMasterFinder.com

RestorationMasterFinder.com, or RMF, is a lead generation website that generates high quality, cost-effective leads for businesses in the disaster restoration and cleaning industries. Proceed Innovative built and developed RMF to generate leads using location based, highly optimized micro-sites that help boost local search traffic. Businesses included on RMF will get more sales leads from the high online visibility within their service areas which will help improve their conversion rates. RestorationMasterFinder.com is highly visible on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo in addition to many local, vertical, and social media web portals.

About Philip White Water Restoration

Philip White Water Restoration is a water damage restoration service provider that serves homes and businesses in Orlando, FL and the surrounding areas. Their technicians are highly trained and use high-tech equipment to detect and remove all water and moisture and restore damaged property to its pre-disaster state. They can also work with insurance carriers to help with claims.

You can reach Philip White Water Restoration by calling (407) 818-1110 or by visiting https://restorationmasterfinder.com/orlando-florida/.


Rosica Communications has earned top honors in four prestigious PR industry awards competitions nationally, in New York, and in New Jersey for its work on behalf of The Salvation Army Greater New York Division.

Rosica Communications, a national agency specializing in PR, integrated marketing, social media, thought leadership, positioning/messaging, and content marketing just won four PR industry awards for its work. The first-place honors are for campaigns the agency executed in the nonprofit PR sector.

Rosica Communications has earned top honors in four prestigious PR industry awards competitions for its work on behalf of The Salvation Army Greater New York Division  two nationally, one in New York, and one in New Jersey. The awards were presented to Rosica for its success in elevating awareness and donations for the nonprofits Giant Red Kettle campaign.

Last Christmas, the pandemic hindered The Salvation Armys kettle donations drive, but the Giant Red Kettle brought much needed awareness. Rosicas promotion of a larger than life-sized Giant Red Kettle in the middle of Times Square exceeded earned media goals and significantly increased fundraising at a critical time. The awards include:



Galaxy Awards (Gold & Grand Award Winner), Public Relations, 1st Place - Event Marketing: Rosica Communications and The Salvation Army Greater NY Division Giant Red Kettle

Public Relations Society of America 2021 Big Apple Award, 1st Place - Events and Observances (1-7 Days): Rosica and The Salvation Army Greater NY Divisions Giant Red Kettle

Public Relations Society of America 2021 Pyramid Award, 1st Place - Event: Rosica and The Salvation Army Greater NY Divisions Giant Red Kettle

MerComm Inc. (Galaxy Award) just announced yesterday that Rosica Communications has been named a Grand Award Winner in its 2021 Galaxy Awards Competition. According to MerComms announcement, More than 500 companies/agencies competed from 16 countries. The Grand Award Winners represent the top 1% of scoring from all entries received.

Rosicas work on this campaign was deeply satisfying, knowing that our efforts were supporting The Salvation Armys lifesaving work during an extremely challenging time for so many, said the firms president, Chris Rosica. The Salvation Armys team is incredibly talented and creative and taking top honors in all four awards is testimony to their capabilities.

With no dedicated marketing support for the Giant Red Kettle other than PR, The Salvation Armys Red Kettle holiday fundraising campaign  which was facing a 50% decrease in donations over the prior year  saw a 17% increase, enabling it to over deliver and bring relief and joy to thousands of New Yorkers facing their worst Christmas ever. Dozens of national, regional, and New York media placements for the event exceeded goals, delivering an estimated advertising value of approximately $500,000.

ABOUT ROSICA COMMUNICATIONS

Established in 1980, Rosica Communications specializes in PR for nonprofit, education, healthcare, and food sectors, building its clients share of voice and thought leadership. Always focused on its client-partners strategic objectives, the national agencys services include integrated marketing communications, media relations / storytelling, social media marketing, crisis communications, cause marketing, content development / marketing, and influencer marketing. For more information, visit http://www.rosica.com.
Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority Bid Opportunities on the Empire State Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority (SMHA) announced it has joined the Empire State Purchasing Group and will be publishing and distributing upcoming bid opportunities on the system. bidnet directs Empire State Purchasing Group connects over 275 participating agencies from across New York to a large vendor pool and streamlines the bid and vendor management process. The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority invites all vendors to register online at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/smha1.

The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority joined the purchasing group in November. The SMHA will utilize the system to streamline the purchasing process including bid management, bid distribution and vendor relations. The Empire State Purchasing Group is a single, online location for managing sourcing information and activities and provides local New York government agencies the tools needed to minimize costs and save time throughout the purchasing process.

Before joining the system, the SMHA was distributing bids and managing the procurement process manually. The traditional procurement process is being replaced by local government agencies throughout New York. In joining the Empire State Purchasing Group, the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority looks to save time, reach out to more vendors automatically and achieve cost savings over the traditional bid process.

The Empire State Purchasing Group expands an agencys vendor pool and enhances vendor competition without increasing distribution costs. In addition to the existing vendors on the Empire State Purchasing Group, all vendors looking to do business with the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority can register online: https://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/smha1. The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority invites all interested bidders to register today.

Registered vendors can access all open bids, related documents and files, additional addendum and award information. In addition, the Empire State Purchasing Group offers a value-added service to notify vendors of new bids targeted to their industry, all addenda and advance notification of expiring term contracts. Registered vendors have access to not only the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority bid opportunities, but all participating agency bids.

Our valued vendors can now save time. Plus, they not only have direct access to our open bids, but those from numerous other agencies throughout the state. We invite all of our current vendors to register on the Empire State Purchasing Group to start receiving business opportunities, stated Steve Tama, Procurement Administrator of the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority.

Vendors may register on the Empire State Purchasing Group: http://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york. bidnet directs vendor support team is available to answer any questions regarding the registration process or the bid system at 800-835-4603 option 2.

Other local New York government agencies looking to switch from a manual bid process, please contact the Empire State Purchasing Group for a demonstration of the no-cost sourcing solution.

About the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority:

On February 6, 1934, the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority, the first in New York State, was authorized and established by the City Common Council. On March 23, 1934, with the appointment of the first five members, the Authority became a reality. In 1938, the first tenants of the Authority occupied Schonowee Village.

Since our first 217 units in 1938, the Authority has grown to encompass seven conventional housing developments serving a total of 943 low-income families. Three properties, Schonowee Village, Ten Eyck Apartments and Lincoln Heights, serve the elderly and disabled, while four other properties, Yates Village, Steinmetz Homes, MacGathan Townhouses and Maryvale Apartments, serve families with children. The Schenectady Municipal Housing Authoritys Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program serves the housing needs of 1,387 households throughout the City of Schenectady.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Empire State Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia is pleased to partner with SENTA. We are looking forward with great anticipation to working alongside their esteemed doctors and sharing best practices, said Eugene Hurwitz, MD, Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia. SENTA Partners outstanding leaders

Today, SENTA (Southern Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy Physicians), proudly announces another physician led, patient focused practice joining its prestigious group of ENT and Allergy practices, Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia (CAAG). The addition of the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia continues to build SENTAs already expansive footprint.

Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia is pleased to partner with SENTA. We are looking forward with great anticipation to working alongside their esteemed doctors and sharing best practices, said Eugene Hurwitz, MD, Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia. SENTA Partners outstanding leadership and physician/patient focused mentality will support our practices future growth.

CAAG has thoughtfully grown to encompass 10 clinic locations in the greater Atlanta area. CAAG joins Atlanta Allergy & Asthma, ENT and Allergy Associates of South Georgia, Northwest ENT and Allergy Center, and Piedmont Ear, Nose, Throat and Related Allergy as part of the SENTA alliance. With this latest partnership, SENTA now encompasses 37 doctors and 34 locations across Georgia. Cross Keys Capital, a leading middle-market investment bank, served as the financial advisor to CAAG on the transaction.

This is a great collaboration bringing additional resources and expertise that will enhance our ability to bring unrivaled state-of-the-art care to patients over a broader geographic range throughout Atlanta and Georgia, said Adam Low, CEO, SENTA.

If interested in learning more about a partnership with SENTA, contact the Chief Development Officer, Zack Usilton at Zack.Usilton@SENTAPartners.com

ABOUT SENTA PARTNERS

Southern Ear, Nose, Throat and Allergy Physicians (SENTA) is a leading community of the Southeasts finest ENT and Allergy/Immunology specialists. SENTA is physician led and patient focused, providing the highest quality allergy, asthma, immunology, and otolaryngology care leading to better patient outcomes. Founded in 2019 with an investment from Shore Capital Partners, SENTA provides strategic, operational, and administrative support to our partner practices, empowering physicians to focus on their patients. For additional information on SENTA, please visit http://www.SENTAPARTNERS.com.
SGF's Center for Male Fertility, comprised of reproductive urologists, Drs. Hayden, Shin, and Tanrikut (left to right), provides free resources to support and generate awareness of men's health. Mens Health Awareness Month prioritizes conversations like cancer, mental health, and fertility preservation because the truth of the matter is that between 40 and 50 percent of the male population will experience some issues with sexual health and fertility.

Mens Health Awareness Month occurs every November to heighten awareness and provide education about cancers specific to men as well as mens mental health. Separate from Mens Health Month recognized in June, Novembers Mens Health Awareness Month raises awareness and support for men coping with prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health issues, and suicide.

Shady Grove Fertilitys (SGF) Center for Male Fertility, comprised of reproductive urologists Paul Shin, M.D., Cori Tanrikut, M.D., and Russel Hayden, M.D., encourages male fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment in order to secure future family-building options. Similar to egg and embryo freezing, men can freeze their sperm to preserve fertility when faced with testicular tumors or other cancers. Cryopreservation of sperm is a viable option for men to safeguard their fertility prior to undergoing cancer treatments.

Mens Health Awareness Month prioritizes conversations like cancer, mental health, and fertility preservation because the truth of the matter is that between 40 and 50 percent of the male population will experience some issues with sexual health and fertility, explains Dr. Hayden.

SGF Physicians help couples overcome male-factor infertility

In addition to male fertility preservation, SGFs Center for Male Fertility offers a range of male services from basic fertility evaluation and testing to surgical interventions and state-of-the-art microsurgical techniques, including:



varicocele repair

vasectomy reversal

percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA)

testicular sperm extraction (TESE)

no-needle, no-scalpel vasectomy

testicular microdissection

Nearly one in eight couples will face infertility, understandably resulting in possible medical, emotional, physical, and financial stress. SGF offers a wide array of free resources for men seeking more knowledge on reproductive health, such as:



SGF also offers individuals or couples professional counseling and support groups:



Following a pregnancy loss

Following an unsuccessful treatment cycle

When considering third-party reproduction, such as using donor eggs, donor sperm, and/or a gestational carrier

When considering transitioning from one treatment to another or when considering discontinuing treatment altogether

When financial, emotional, physical, or relationship obstacles seem to be insurmountable

At the start of any feelings of isolation or depression

If the coping strategies they once found to be helpful no longer seem to be working

To schedule an appointment with our reproductive urologists, or any of SGFs reproductive endocrinologists, call 1-888-761-1967 or complete this brief online request form.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)

SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 100,000 babies born. With 43 locations, including new locations in Colorado and Norfolk, VA, as well as throughout CO, FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, SGF offers patients virtual physician consults, delivers individualized care, accepts most insurance plans, and makes treatment more affordable through innovative financial options, including 100% refund guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. SGF is among the founding partner practices of US Fertility, the largest physician-owned, physician-led partnership of top-tier fertility practices in the U.S. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.
Our clients are upending outdated surveillance marketing approaches based on third-party cookies and questionable, compiled data replacing it with exclusive rewards for specific communities using zero-party data from the consumer," said Jake Weatherly, CEO at SheerID

SheerID today announced it ranked 316 on Deloittes Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, and energy tech companies in North America now in its 27th year. This is the third consecutive year in which SheerID has been named to Deloittes Technology Fast 500.

SheerID has grown rapidly in 2021, both in new logo acquisition and expansion with existing customers, as digital marketers in hundreds of brands rely on SheerID to verify eligible consumers for gated, personalized offers. In addition to helping brands achieve 20:1 return on ad spend (ROAS), these programs replace third-party cookie marketing with zero-party information provided directly from the consumer that the SheerID platform then authoritatively verifies to redeem the reward.

2021 highlights include:



Expanded its product line to support 100s of consumer communities with exclusive rewards

Surpassed 235 million requests for exclusive offers worldwide

Opened first European office and expanded product coverage to 13 more countries in Europe

Increased the average enterprise contract value by 280%

Hired first Chief Customer Officer in Anjanette Hill Mendoza

Hired Chief Financial Officer John Ewert, a technology finance veteran

Grew employee base by 32%

Our business has continued to grow rapidly over the last year, as brands continue to recognize and reward the heroes of the pandemic, including nurses, doctors, first responders, educators, and students, stated Jake Weatherly, CEO. Our clients are upending outdated surveillance marketing approaches based on third-party cookies and questionable, compiled data replacing it with exclusive rewards for specific communities. Consumers receive exclusive offers and the brand gets valuable, accurate zero-party data from the consumer. This forms the foundation for a long-term relationship based on trust and invited personalization.

Founded in 2011, SheerID works with more than 300 B2C brands in retail, telecommunications, streaming media, internet services, software, and hospitality, and has the ability to verify 2.5 billion consumers for personalized offers around the world. SheerIDs Identity Marketing Platform allows brands  such as Target, Amazon, Comcast, YouTube, HomeDepot, NASCAR, and T-Mobile  to create gated, personalized offers and instantly verify a consumers eligibility with authoritative data in the brands existing customer experience.

Each year the Technology Fast 500 shines a light on leading innovators in technology and this year is no exception, said Paul Silvergate, vice chair, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology sector leader. In the face of innumerable challenges resulting from the pandemic, the best and brightest were able to pivot, reinvent and transform and grow. We celebrate the winning organizations and especially the talented employees driving their success.

About the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Now in its 27th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2017 to 2020.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the companys operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About SheerID

SheerID is the leader in identity marketing. With SheerID, brands identify and acquire consumer communities  such as the military, students, teachers, first responders, and more  with personalized offers, gated by instant verification from the largest set of authoritative zero-party data worldwide. SheerID verifies over 2.5 billion people via 9,000 authoritative data sources; provides global insights from hundreds of the worlds leading brands, and never shares or sells customer data. As a result, the worlds biggest brands  including Amazon, Home Depot, Spotify, and T-Mobile  rely on SheerID as their identity marketing partner. Founded in 2011, SheerID is backed by Voyager Capital, Arnold Venture Group, Centana Growth Partners, CVC Growth Partners, and Brighton Park Capital.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (DTTL), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as Deloitte Global) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the Deloitte name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see http://www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Contact:

Matt Tatham

SheerID

matt.tatham@sheerid.com

917-446-7227

# # #
HeroZona Foundation is excited to announce the 18th annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway in a drive-thru format to ensure the safety of volunteers and individuals picking up the donations. On Monday, November 22, families in need will receive free turkeys beginning at noon at the Travis L. Williams American Legion Post 65 (1624 E. Broadway Rd.) There will be a limit of one frozen turkey per family with no income requirements or ID necessary, while supplies last.

Unvaccinated community members will also have the chance to receive a $100 grocery gift card if they opt to receive either one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines at any upcoming OneCommunity Initiative event.

This years holiday season is a chance to celebrate the communitys slow return to normalcy following COVID-19, said Alan AP Powell, chairman of AP & Associates - Strategic Alliances, U.S. Army Desert-Storm Veteran and HeroZona cofounder. We want to make sure that families have both hearty Thanksgiving meals and the chance to get vaccinated if they arent already.

Giving back to those in need is what we as public servants should be involved with, said Jeri Williams, Police Chief of the Phoenix Police Department. The American Legion Post 65 has been a place where people who have served continue to serve the community. Phoenix P.D. is proud to be a part of this effort.

Crescent Crown along with our valued retail partners are so proud and honored to support the Thanksgiving Turkey Drive-Thru Giveaway and believe that everyone, including the less fortunate in our community, should be able to enjoy a joyous Thanksgiving dinner with their family and friends, said Bubba Moffett, President of Crescent Crown Distributing.

A big part of our company mission is to always give back to the community that takes care of us and we are honored to partner up with our friend Alan Powell and the other sponsors to turn this heartfelt initiative into a reality for families throughout the Valley.

The Loyalty Restaurant & Lounge family are proud supporters of events like this, that give us purpose and shows dedication to the betterment of surrounding communities, said June Durr, Loyalty Restaurant & Lounge Owner. Without caring and unselfish individuals who are willing to give back, many services and events within our communities would not be possible. Without this drive and other similar events, less fortunate families could be negatively impacted.

The giveaway is supported by a variety of different partners including Andrew and Amy Cohn, Phoenix Police Department, Phoenix Fire Department, Crescent Crown Distributing, Equality Health Foundation, Albertsons and Safeway, Prensa Arizona, APS, Mega 104.3, 101.1 The Bounce, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, SRP, Safeway, U.S. Representative for District 7 Ruben Gallego, Arizona State District 27 Senator Rebecca Rios, Arizona State District 27 Representative Reginald Bolding, Arizona State District 27 Representative Diego Rodriguez, Maricopa County District 5 Supervisor Steve Gallardo, City of Phoenix District 8 Vice Mayor Carlos Garcia, Velma Treyham with Thinkzilla Consulting, 100 Black Men of Phoenix, Greater Phoenix Urban League, 48 Foundation, Arizona Coalition for Change, Loyalty Restaurant & Lounge, Roosevelt Elementary School District, Phoenix Union High School District, La Campesina 101.9 Phoenix, The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center Phoenix, the Zion Institue and the African American Christian Clergy Coalition.

For more information about the foundations community program partnerships visit herozona.org or follow on Facebook.com/HeroZonaOrg.

About the HeroZona Foundation

The HeroZona Foundation is a non-profit organization that empowers Heroes in the community through entrepreneurship, employment, and education. The group works with veterans, first responders and those that bring social good to future generations and under-served communities. The foundations mission is to create opportunities for the brave men and women who serve their country, and community, every day. For more information, please visit HeroZona.org.

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"Having both online and offline capabilities is now critical to meet the channel-agnostic needs of consumers today. Nick Hedges, Chief Strategy Officer & EVP North America, Uberall

Uberall, a global leader in local customer experience solutions, today released a report on customer expectations and behaviors in the post-COVID era. The study, which includes responses from nearly 4,000 consumers in four countries*, revealed that while most buying journeys start online, consumers prefer to do business with brands and retailers that have real-world locations.

The pandemic increased the number of people who were using the internet for e-commerce, out of necessity, said Nick Hedges, Chief Strategy Officer & EVP North America, Uberall. But that hasnt changed the value and importance of a local presence; having both online and offline capabilities is now critical to meet the channel-agnostic needs of consumers today.

The survey found that a large majority of consumers (88%) think its important to trust the businesses they transact with. And 67% say they trust local businesses more than online-only companies. Its also worth noting that two-thirds of consumers also include the nearby locations of national chains in their definition of local business.

With online consumer trust declining, buyers are reassured by a local presence, said Greg Sterling, VP of Market Insights, Uberall. People want to buy as their convenience dictates; nearby locations provide convenience as well as additional confidence to buy online, with the knowledge they can pick up or return products locally.

KEY FINDINGS

The survey data confirms that consumers are using a mix of online and offline resources to make buying decisions as part of an increasingly hybrid customer journey.

The Buyer Journey Starts Online, Often With Local Intent



The vast majority of consumers (96%) reported they start their research online regardless of where they ultimately decide to buy.

Google is a primary consumer research tool; and nearly 70% said that more than half their search activity has a local intent, meaning its focused on businesses, services and activities in their area. Local intent as a percentage of overall search volume was even more pronounced among Millennials and Gen Z.

Consumers Trust Local Businesses But Also Expect More



67% of consumers trust local businesses more than online-only companies. Thats especially true for older people: more than 75% of baby boomers agreed with this sentiment, compared to 57% of Gen Z or 64% of millennials.

55% of consumers feel more emotionally connected to a business in their area. This beat out other drivers of emotional connection, including exceeding product/service expectations, getting to know staff and business is aligned with my values.

With greater trust come higher expectations: respondents said they expect the most of independent local businesses (41%), compared with national chains (38%) and e-commerce providers (20%). This reveals that local stores and national chains are held to a higher customer experience standard than online-only brands.

The pandemic appears to have boosted loyalty in some cases, with 58% of respondents saying it has made them more loyal to local businesses.

Loyal customers can become advocates: 63% of respondents said they would refer friends and family; 41% said they would write positive online reviews.

Failing to satisfy customer expectations could result in switching to a competitor (49%), negative word of mouth (43%) and negative reviews (24%).

WHAT'S NEXT  CONNECTED LOCAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES

In this new hybrid environment brands and retailers must utilize online and offline assets together in an integrated way. The blurring of online and offline channels creates a unique opportunity for brick-and-mortar businesses to leverage a significant convenience and trust advantage, reflected in the survey results.

Whether an independent business or a national chain, all businesses need to get found, be chosen and drive loyalty. Uberalls customer experience platform  Uberall CoreX  powers the entire customer journey.

Visit our website for more information about Uberall CoreX and the full Local CX Advantage survey.

*About the Data

To better understand consumer expectations, trust, and loyalty, Uberall conducted a survey in September 2021 among 3,857 adults ages 18 and older in the UK, US, Germany, and France. The survey represented a diverse sample of ages and genders.

About Uberall

Uberall helps the worlds most innovative brick and mortar businesses stay relevant, competitive, and profitable, by using digital technology to win clicks online and feet offline. Uberall CoreX, our local customer experience platform, powers the entire customer journey from online discovery, to store visit, to recommendation and repeat purchase. Uberall makes sure businesses are not only found, but attract and delight customers on every corner, across the globe  driving revenue and customer lifetime value, at scale.

Uberall, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Berlin, Germany, has offices in 8 countries with close to 350 employees. Uberall currently services over 1,850 multi-location businesses across 170 countries.

For further information visit http://www.uberall.com | LinkedIn | YouTube | Twitter
Ambassador Program the best way to reach people is with people

Epiq MD, Inc., the convergence of primary care, mental health, preventative, and wellness programs through an online healthcare platform, announces the launch of its Brand Ambassador Program today. This groundbreaking initiative will combine community, entrepreneurship, and technology to bring healthcare solutions to the 80 plus million uninsured and underinsured, hardworking U.S. residents who have been left behind by ever-increasing insurance and medical costs.

The Ambassador Program is the next step in Epiq MDs vision towards fixing a broken system - that system being healthcare in America. Epiq MD believes this initiative will result in a new wave of entrepreneurship, education and health & wellness in communities throughout the nation. In Epiq MDs existing efforts to bring healthcare solutions to these communities, they have perceived a glaring hole, the desire for independent employment. Its estimated that 79 million people will start home based businesses in the next 5 years. Epiq MD CEO, Alejandro Rodriguez commented, there has been a clear rising need and inclination for people to become self-employed and we believe those who have a passion for health and wellness will be given their jump start through programs like our Ambassador Program. Mr. Rodriguez further commented, regarding ideal customers, our target audience is everywhere, all-encompassing members from 3 or 4 economic classes, workers in the restaurant, hotel, retail and construction industries, residents in both urban and rural areas, every type of household, and spans four major generations  Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, Millennials and Generation Z.

The Company undoubtedly believes that its audience transcends class, color or age, however they are equally adamant about the importance of acknowledging many of the alarming facts within. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 8% of White Americans, 11% of Black, 20% of Hispanic and an astounding 22% of American Indians and Alaska Natives lack health insurance coverage. While socioeconomic factors contribute to the high rates of uninsured and underinsured Americans, mistrust in the medical system and language barriers also play a key role in accessing quality healthcare, and/or, obtaining a healthy lifestyle. Epiq MD believes that its Ambassador Program will create diverse community leaders, who will be instrumental in teaching their circles about the Epiq MD platform and how healthcare and wellness should and can be accessible. Epiq MD Director, Michael Ladner commented, The primary objective of the Ambassador is to effectively bring smart healthcare services to their neighbors, communities, consumers and employer groups across the nation. Our Ambassadors are the embodiment of the Live Epiq, Be Epiq mentality.

The Company is confident its Ambassador Program will give millions of underserved Americans the potential to become community leaders and take the reins of healthcare into their own hands, while also earning a meaningful income stream for their own household. Epiq MD CEO, Alejandro Rodriguez stated, the best way to reach people is with people. I will always trust my loved ones and neighbors alike over the faceless machine that has turned away millions of Americans. We are providing training, support and the very tools needed for anyone, regardless of background, to take their health, their income potential and their community into their own hands. We are putting a face on healthcare, and the best part is its a face you know. Its a face that delivers your mail, its a face that makes your morning coffee, its the face of a mother, a father. Its a face you trust, believe in and love. Thats what the Ambassador Program is all about and thats what makes it truly special.

The Ambassador Program is currently offered in four states during what Mr. Rodriguez would categorize as a soft launch mode, however the company has extensive plans for aggressive expansion, future deployments, and marketing events that will go through the end of 2022. Mr. Rodriguez stated, We feel that it is vital we lay a firm foundation of training and support with our early Ambassadors, making sure they are properly equipped to accommodate our future desired growth.

As part of the Ambassador Program reveal, the Company has created an informative website featuring a reveal video, an FAQ section and other introductory materials. The Company is also making available an abbreviated version of the Ambassador Programs Brand & Style Book, which Rodriguez states, will effectively relay both the spirit of and the brass tacks of this organic distribution channel and income opportunity for those that share our passion. Those interested in pursuing the Ambassador opportunity as an income earning option for their household can also schedule a conference call with a member of our support team by simply emailing us at ambassadorsupport@epiqmd.com.

Get all of the latest news and developments by following Epiq MD on social media outlets: Facebook, Instagram or Linked-In.

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About EPIQ MD, Inc.

EPIQ MD believes that everyone deserves to live an epic life. It is the convergence of primary medical and mental health care, preventative care and wellness programs - on one digital platform, in a single offering. Conceived as a digital telemedicine-based business from the start, its core mission is to bring these services and knowledge to the 80 million Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. Its telemedicine platform provides services such as: primary care, medical advisory, ask a medical expert, mental health services, discounted diagnostic lab services, prescription discount program, nutritional counseling and much more. For more information, please contact us at media@epiqmd.com or by phone at 1-844-8 EPIQ MD.
Our goal has always been to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing for which effectively making connections across the supply chain is a key success factor.

The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA) is partnering with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and the Secure America Institute (SAI) in a new consortium establishing the Texas Defense Aerospace Manufacturing Community (TDAMC). This five-year program, the result of a grant from the Department of Defense (DoD), will inject targeted smart manufacturing skills and technologies into Texas diverse aerospace manufacturing portfolio to support defense aerospace manufacturing needs and affiliated supply chains across the state.

With this announcement, TBGA is now a team member of two Defense Manufacturing Communities, having been a foundational member of the AIM Higher Consortium in the Pittsburgh region. TBGA Founder, John E. Barnes, sees the value of these strategic partnerships in connecting the industry. Our goal has always been to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing for which effectively making connections across the supply chain is a key success factor, said Barnes. We embrace this role as we link organizations and communities with similar goals to provide maximum impact for the DoDs investment.

Leveraging experience in advanced materials and processes, people and workforce development, and the creation of manufacturing supply chains, TBGA has been providing strategic support behind the scenes with TEES for over a year on various manufacturing initiatives that include SAI and the National Imperative of Industrial Skills led by the DoDs Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program office. TBGA Director of Programs, Laura Ely, added, The TEES team is uniquely placed to play the role of community developer for the state of Texas with other active programs already developing a critical pipeline of manufacturing skills for the state. We are excited to represent the aerospace industry in this new community and to help create the blueprint to strengthen and grow the already significant manufacturing supply chain in the region.

This isnt the first time TBGA has supported manufacturing partnerships, as the company has also been instrumental in the strategic development of Neighborhood 91 at the Pittsburgh Airport Innovation Campus. The first tenants have already moved into this Additive Manufacturing (AM) production campus, developed to strategically condense and connect all components of the AM supply chain in one location. In less than 3 years from concept, parts are being exported globally and more neighbors will move in later in 2022.

Get more information about TBGA and TEES.
Alliance 2022 Just as the world has changed, Alliance will continue to evolve to exceed our member's needs and expectations. We are excited to welcome you back in person at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle where you will find there is no place like HEUG!

The Higher Education User Group (The HEUG), is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2022 Alliance conference. The Alliance Conference is the premier annual member-driven conference with users from around the world. Alliance's expanded vendor inclusion, makes this conference the place for higher education and public sector professionals to share knowledge, collaborate and become inspired regardless of product or platform. Join us March 13 -16, 2022 as we celebrate our 25th-year in person! Cheri McEntee, the 2022 Alliance Conference Chair said, Just as the world has changed, Alliance will continue to evolve to exceed our member's needs and expectations. We are excited to welcome you back in person at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle where you will find there is no place like HEUG!

While the educational program is a primary focus, the ability to network with peers from institutions around the world to help solve problems is equally important. Andy Helms from Miami University, a first-time attendee at the 2018 event, said I made so many great connections and learned a lot. This was also the first event I've attended in a while where I can truly say I felt inspired. It's nice to have gone to a conference that exceeded the learned stuff level and made the inspire me to go back and improve level."

This years conference agenda is stronger than ever with an array of opportunities for networking and learning. Some of the highlights for this year:



Networking: Connect with HEUG members and sponsors face-to-face at our Stop & Share, Meet the Experts, and social events.

Specialty Sessions: Join Sandbox, HEUG ThinkSpace Powered by Beyond Academics, Community Discussions and Birds of a Feather sessions to break away from the traditional breakout session.

Pre-Conference Education: Sunday Trainings (7 hours) and Workshops (3 hours) provide you with hands-on experience to take back to your organization and implement with your colleagues.

Executive Event: Cloudy with a chance of ERP is an invite-only event designed for organizational leaders to have candid conversations around administrative systems transformation.

Pathways: Take part in one of our five pathways comprised of sessions that will guide you through a progression of information based on the selected interest area.

Vendor Inclusion: Our program is more diverse than ever, and attendees can easily filter through sessions based on ERP System (Ellucian, Oracle, Workday and more) preference.

In addition, the Alliance Solution Center hosts over 90+ exhibitors, enabling members to connect with solution delivery partners to help solve problems that require resources beyond the ability of an institution. For more information on becoming a partner at this years event, please visit: https://www.alliance-conference.com/p/cm/ld/fid=4515.

Registration opened on November 17, 2021. The Early Bird rate (sign up before January 26, 2022) offers an impressive discount of $400 off the regular registration rate, so it is encouraged that attendees register early.

Please visit this link to find out more information: http://www.alliance-conference.com.
East Point, Prince Edward Island / Photo credit: Tourism PEI/Sander Meurs

With endless miles of beaches, charming small towns, and bountiful acres of farmland, Prince Edward Island boasts a stunningly diverse landscape. Now travelers can circumnavigate Canadas smallest province, also known as the countrys food island, by foot with The Island Walk, a roughly 435-mile walking route that loops around PEI.

Ideal for both seasoned hikers and casual walkers, The Island Walk runs along the outer perimeter of PEI offering an idyllic landscape in both terrain and scenery for those looking for an outdoor long-distance walking adventure. Featuring a mix of inland and coastal sections, the route spans the ocean, much of the Confederation Trail, red dirt roads, beaches and quiet streets inviting walkers to see both tips of the Island at North Cape and East Point.

The full trail takes approximately 32 days to complete, when walking 12-15 miles per day. It has 32 sections leaving many opportunities to complete the Island Walk in sections and more time to explore specific areas of the Island. Minimal equipment is needed to complete this trail (sneakers and a small backpack).

"Just like the Camino de Santiago, the Island Walk will give you the time to slow down and be present in your thoughts and daily journey, while experiencing the simple beauty of the Island around you, said Bryson Guptill, Island Walk creator.

The Island Walk intertwines through PEIs two major cities, Charlottetown and Summerside, and through many small communities allowing participants to immerse in the Islands culinary and art scene, as well as meet the locals. Along the route, many partnering inns and hotels offer transfer services to deliver luggage when changing accommodations.

Culture and Cuisine Along the Trail

A short detour from the trail is the community of Tyne Valley, famous for its annual Oyster Festival, Rock the Boat Music Festival, and burgers. The community also has an oyster bar, a tearoom and a small grocery store to stock up on essentials. Trail location: Waypoints 12-13 Portage to Notham 20 km

In Montague, beer lovers will find two local craft breweries with spectacular water views - Bogside Brewing and Copper Bottom Brewing. Trail location: Waypoints 26-27 | Cardigan - Montague 12 km

Situated on PEIs South Shore, Victoria-by-the-Sea serves up Maritime charm, history and local flavors. A seaside lunch awaits hungry travelers at The Lobster Barn (the lobster roll is famous) then dessert at Island Chocolates for handmade delicacies. Visitors can also take in a show at the historic Victoria Playhouse, PEIs longest running little theatre. Trail location: Waypoint 1-2 | Dunedin - Victoria 24km

In the heart of one the Islands most productive potato farming regions is OLeary, home of the Canadian Potato Museum. At the museum, visitors can take a self-guided tour to learn about the history and culture of the potato and examine the extensive collection of antique machinery. Trail location: Waypoints 7-8 OLeary - Miminegash 19 km

For more information on The Island Walk, visit https://theislandwalk.ca/. For more information about the province, visit http://www.tourismpei.com.

About Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT):

This project has been made possible through funding provided by the Atlantic Canada Agreement on Tourism (ACAT). ACAT is a nine member pan-Atlantic initiative comprising the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the four Atlantic Canada Tourism Industry Associations, and the four Provincial Departments responsible for tourism.

For more information on the four provinces, visit these websites or follow on social media:

New Brunswick

Web: http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca

Instagram: @DestinationNB

Twitter: @SeeNewBrunswick

Facebook: @DestinationNB

Nova Scotia

Web: http://www.novascotia.com

Instagram: @VisitNovaScotia

Twitter: @VisitNovaScotia

Facebook: @NovaScotia

Newfoundland and Labrador

Web: http://www.newfoundlandlabrador.com

Instagram: @newfoundlandlabrador

Twitter: @NLtweets

Facebook: @NewfoundlandLabradorTourism

Prince Edward Island

Web: http://www.tourismpei.com

Instagram: @tourismpei

Twitter: @tourismpei

Facebook: @tourismpei

MEDIA CONTACT:

Gina Dolecki/Ashley Mindnich

Redpoint

212.229.0119

dolecki@redpointspeaks.com

mindnich@redpointspeaks.com

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2021 Super Doctor CEO Paul Singh stated, "Having 31 of our physicians named to the prestigious Super Doctors lists by their peers reflects that commitment of providing ethical and exceptional patient care experiences and reaffirms their clinical excellence.

U.S. Dermatology Partners is proud to announce 31 of its doctors are being recognized by their peers in Texas Monthly Magazine. Of those, 22 are being recognized as Super Doctors in the December 2021 issue of Texas Monthly. Six will be recognized as members of the Super Doctors Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame members are those who have received the award for 10 or more years. As one of the medical fields most prestigious titles, only 5% of the states physicians receive this designation.

An additional nine U.S. Dermatology Partners doctors were recognized as Rising Stars in the July 2021 issue of Texas Monthly. Doctors recognized as Rising Stars meet the same criteria as Super Doctors and have been actively practicing for 10 years or less. Only 2.5% of all active physicians are selected to the Rising Star list.

Each year, Super Doctors asks doctors across the state to nominate colleagues (excluding themselves) who they would trust for their own medical care. Their research team then investigates independently. Candidates are evaluated based on peer recognition, professional achievement, and disciplinary history. In addition to their skills in patient care, candidates are also rated on their involvement in scientific publications, medical research, participation in lectures, and other professional activities. The highest-ranking nominated physicians are asked to serve on a selection panel of peers, which helps to determine the final list of Super Doctors.

U.S. Dermatology Partners was founded in 2013 and has grown to be one of the largest single-specialty dermatology practices in the country. The group is focused on attracting and retaining the top physicians in the field of dermatology and also includes fellowship-trained Mohs Surgeons and dermatopathologists. The Texas Super Doctors is a unique award, designed to benefit educated consumers seeking exceptional care. Physicians from U.S. Dermatology Partners have been named as recipients of this prestigious award for six consecutive years with a growing number of U.S Dermatology Partners physicians receiving the award each year. U.S. Dermatology Partners can be found in over 50 locations throughout the state of Texas. To find a dermatologist near you go to http://www.usdermatologypartners.com.

U.S. Dermatology Partners Chief Executive Officer Paul Singh stated, U.S. Dermatology Partners is committed to bringing excellent consumer experiences to dermatology patients. Having 31 of our physicians named to the prestigious Texas Monthly Super Doctors lists by their peers reflects that commitment of providing ethical and exceptional patient care experiences and reaffirms their clinical excellence.

The physicians being honored represent cities throughout the state of Texas including Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Sherman, Grapevine, Austin, Georgetown, Greater Houston, San Antonio, Weatherford, and Tyler.

The complete list is published in the December 2021 issue of Texas Monthly.



U.S. Dermatology Partners Super Doctors Legacy Hall of Fame 2021

Recognized for Dermatology

Lawrence L. Anderson, M.D., Tyler  17 years

Aaron Joseph, M.D., Pasadena  16 years

Howard A. Rubin, M.D., Dallas  17 years

Hans M. Sander, M.D., Austin  17 years

Dale G. Schaefer, M.D., Austin  18 years

U.S. Dermatology Partners Super Doctors Hall of Fame 2021

Recognized for Dermatology

Mark A. Price, M.D., Houston

U.S. Dermatology Partners Super Doctors 2021

Recognized for Dermatology

Alma Criseida Berlingeri-Ramos, M.D., Tyler

Roopal Bhatt, M.D., Austin

Jessica Dorsey, M.D., Cedar Park

Cindy Greenberg, M.D., Kingwood

Annette Harris, M.D., Bellaire

Aubrey Chad Hartmann, M.D., Cedar Park

Jennifer Holman, M.D., Tyler

Jordan Ilse, M.D., Belton

Laura Lester, M.D., Cedar Park

John LeVasseur, MD San Antonio

Monica Madray, M.D., Georgetown

Amy A. McClung, M.D., Austin

Elizabeth Morris, M.D., Georgetown

Clint Moss, M.D., Sherman, Paris

Breck Thrash, M.D., Dallas, Fort Worth

Bryan L. Townsend, M.D., Austin

U.S. Dermatology Partners Rising Stars 2021

Recognized for Dermatology

Matthew Hoffmann, M.D., Longview

Lindsey Hunter-Ellul, M.D., Tyler

Michaela Overturf, M.D., Nacogdoches

Lauren Snitzer, M.D., Sugar Land

Titilola Sode, M.D., Dallas

Valerie Truong, M.D., Dallas, Plano, Corsicana

Greg Walker, M.D., Waco

Dustin Wilkes, D.O., Weatherford

John Jay Wofford, MD, Dallas, Plano

About U.S. Dermatology Partners

As one of the largest physician-owned dermatology practices in the country, U.S. Dermatology Partners patients not only have access to general medical, surgical, and cosmetic skin treatment through its coordinated care network, but also benefit from the practices strong dermatology subspecialty thought leaders and medical advisory board. To be the best partners to its patients, U.S. Dermatology Partners is fervently focused on providing the highest level of patient-first care, and its team, therefore, includes recognized national leaders in areas such as clinical research, psoriasis, and Mohs Surgery. To learn more, visit usdermatologypartners.com.
Clean cooking is a significant opportunity to make a difference in public health while simultaneously reducing harmful climate emissions. I applaud Senator Durbin and Senator Collins for supporting this important work, said Dr. Sola Olopade.

On the heels of the COP26 international climate conference, two U.S. Senators have introduced a bill to accelerate access to clean cooking.

Led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Clean Cooking Support Act will help people in low- and middle-income countries switch from using open fires and polluting fuels for cooking to using more modern stoves and fuels such as electricity, solar power, gas, and biofuels.

Globally, nearly one out of three people rely on polluting cooking fuels like charcoal, wood, and kerosene. Such dirty cooking is a leading source of carbon emissions and contributes to the death of some 4 million people each year, according to the World Health Organization.

The bipartisan Clean Cooking Support Act, which is already supported by more than 50 businesses, research institutions, governments, and advocacy organizations, would accelerate financing, research, market development, technological standards, and support to countries carbon emissions reductions plans. The bill would also create a much-needed Interagency Working Group, chaired by the offices of the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, to work with organizations including the Clean Cooking Alliance to increase global access to clean cooking fuels and technologies.

Our bill aims to address a serious global public health and environmental issue where leadership by the United States can make a real difference. It would directly benefit some of the worlds poorest people, including the women and girls who are disproportionately affected, and reduce harmful pollution that affects us all, said Senator Susan Collins. I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Durbin in supporting the Clean Cooking Support Act.

The U.S. should take a leadership position in creating and implementing climate solutions that support a cleaner, healthier planet for all, said Senator Dick Durbin. With the Clean Cooking Support Act, we can reduce harmful emissions and protect people from the dangerous health risks of using inefficient and unsafe cookstoves and fuels. Im proud to join Senator Collins in introducing this bipartisan legislation to ensure that American development assistance and expertise helps in this timely effort.

At an event during the recent climate summit, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Michael S. Regan said, The U.S. government will work with the Clean Cooking Alliance, other country governments, and partners at every level of government to reduce emissions from home cooking and heating that contribute to climate change and directly affect the health and livelihoods of almost 40 percent of the worlds population.

Clean cooking is a significant opportunity to make a difference in public health while simultaneously reducing harmful climate emissions. I applaud Senator Durbin and Senator Collins for supporting this important work, said Dr. Sola Olopade, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Global Health, University of Chicago.

The message from COP26 was clear: we need climate solutions that not only reduce harmful emissions, but also help address health, economic, and gender inequities, said Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Cooking Alliance. This transition cannot happen without significant increases in funding and dedicated resources. We thank Senator Collins and Senator Durbin for their leadership on this important issue, and we look forward to working together to pass this legislation and help make universal access to clean cooking a reality.

Since 2010, more than 400 million people have gained access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, with more than 4.6 million lives saved from harmful health impacts attributed to household air pollution, according to the World Health Organization and Health Effects Institute.

Despite these significant achievements, the pace of progress remains far too slow. Billions of people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America still rely on inefficient fuels and stoves. Climate-damaging emissions from cooking with non-renewable woodfuels amount to a gigaton of CO2e per year  on par with emissions from aviation and shipping.

The Clean Cooking Alliance is working with partners around the world to improve access to clean cooking, including through a multi-stakeholder Clean Cooking Energy Compact that brings together countries and organizations commitments to action, and the implementation of a Clean Cooking Systems Strategy, which is spearheading innovative activities like a Delivery Units Network to help governments achieve their clean cooking plans.

Supporting the Clean Cooking Support Act

A diverse coalition of more than 50 businesses, research institutions, governments, and advocacy organizations have signed on to support this new legislation. To add your name, please contact info@cleancooking.org.


"It's a great opportunity to interface with our international clients in-person, who we haven't seen in years, as well as some who are also traveling from the USA," commented Jason Roth, VP of Business Operations for Platinum Research Network.

Platinum Research Network (PRN) will sponsor the World Vaccine Congress meeting in Barcelona (2021), and attend the West Coast meeting in San Diego.

The World Vaccine Congress is the leading annual meeting hosted by Terrapin in the USA. Life Science professionals from around the globe travel to discuss current challenges and opportunities in the development of safe and more effective vaccines for the globe.

"It's a great opportunity to interface with our international clients in-person, who we haven't seen in years, as well as some who are also traveling from the USA to Barcelona" commented Jason Roth, VP of Business Operations for Platinum Research Network. "We look forward to seeing our colleagues' faces outside of the Zoom app!"

PRN plans to have several representatives at the meeting from across their network of clinical research sites. The network has been awarded Best Clinical Site Network by the World Vaccine Congress in the past, and sponsors nearly every meeting in the circuit.

Contact Jason Roth to set up a meeting at the World Vaccine Congress, or for further inquiries: prnrequest@platinum-research.net.
Victory Addiction Recovery Center, a provider of behavioral health and addiction treatment services in Lafayette, La., owned and operated by Summit BHC, has expanded its trauma treatment services to include Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and the Seeking Safety counseling model.

Two of Victorys clinicians, Peter Barrilleaux, RAC, and Jason Michon, LPC, have completed training in these treatment models. Barrilleaux can now treat patients in the Seeking Safety model, and Michon will provide care when appropriate utilizing cognitive processing therapy (CPT).

Victory Addiction Recovery Centers commitment is to improve the lives we touch, and this approach is a cornerstone to how we treat our clients, said Melanie Courville, CEO of Victory Addiction Recovery Center. These new services provided by Peter Barrilleaux and Jason Michon continue to enhance the exceptional clinical program and quality of client care provided at our facility.

CPT is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that has been effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD that have developed after experiencing traumatic events, including child abuse, combat, sexual assault, and natural disasters. This therapy helps clients learn how to challenge and modify unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma. CPT is endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense and the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies as a best practice for the treatment of PTSD.

Seeking Safety is listed in SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. This counseling model is a present-focused, integrative treatment approach developed specifically for co-occurring PTSD and substance abuse. Seeking Safety helps people attain safety from trauma (PTSD) and/or substance abuse and restore lost ideals. It is an extremely safe model, as it directly addresses both trauma and addiction but without requiring clients to delve into the trauma narrative, thus making it relevant to a very broad range of clients.

Barrilleaux has worked with people battling addiction for over 15 years. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) and completed training with the Louisiana Association of Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers. Barrilleaux has worked at residential treatment centers as well as long-term care facilities in the state of Louisiana. Peter joined the Victory team in 2016.

Michon has worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. He received his bachelors degree in psychology from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his masters degree in mental health counseling from Southern University. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Michon also served as a team leader for NHS, working with clients who have severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders. He joined the Victory team in 2018.

Victory Addiction Recovery Centers experienced, licensed clinical and medical staff is committed to guiding clients to full family recovery. Treatment is individualized, focusing on the mind, body, and soul. The staff strives to provide the best substance abuse services possible, moving the community forward through its positive impact on the lives of its clients.

For more information on Victory Addiction Recovery Center, visit http://www.myvictorycenter.com.

About Summit

Headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, Summit operates a leading network of behavioral health hospitals and addiction treatment centers throughout the country. The company's primary focus is on psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment within a flexible and dynamic continuum of care. The leadership team at Summit is composed of senior executives with decades of combined experience in the behavioral healthcare industry. The company currently owns and operates 24 freestanding facilities nationwide.
I am so proud we were able to come together and create a truly synergistic team with Valley Land Group. Casa Grande is just the beginning for us as we continue to make our marks in the commercial real estate industry.

Valley Land Group, a new Phoenix-based land investment and development company, announced today the closure of a 321-acre property in Casa Grande, Ariz. for $23 million. This property is the largest parcel ever purchased for the group of women.

Valley Land Group was founded by a dynamic, female-encompassing team including Equity Land Group co-founder Smita Patil Mehta and Arizona Land Venture co-founders Jennifer Verma and Seema Patel. Each person brings a different set of unique expertise to the team, including working with investors on identifying ways to diversify their portfolios and being a trusted source to working professionals and real estate investors.

I am so proud we were able to come together and create a truly synergistic team with Valley Land Group, says Patel. Casa Grande is just the beginning for us as we continue to make our marks in the commercial real estate industry.

The property is located off Selma Road and the I-10 freeway. There are plans for a future onramp for Selma Road, bringing more traffic to the area. This specific parcel of land holds a certification of assured water supply, an important factor for residential development. The team plans to rezone the property and increase density on the residential side. Valley Land Group has already received offers at a higher value for multi-family and commercial use.

Casa Grande is seeing a shortage of homes, says Anita Verma-Lallian, founder of Arizona Land Consulting and acting consultant on the land purchase. The city is feeling the pressure to add housing, and quickly as large manufacturers continue to move into the area and bring job opportunities with them. We are seeing this as the chance to help the city fill a void and educate the leaders about the importance of helping developers entitle and develop their projects quickly and efficiently to meet the growing demands.

Patty Lafferty, a principal with Scottsdale-based The Land Agency, represented the buyers in the transaction.

"This type of activity drives population, which in turn, drives a significant need for housing, said Lafferty. As you look at existing inventory, there is roughly an 18-month supply of finished lot inventory on the ground today, so builders will have to start looking to develop new lots to supply them with inventory moving forward.

For any property-related inquiries, please email casagrande320acres@gmail.com.

ABOUT VALLEY LAND GROUP

Valley Land Group is a Phoenix-based land development and investment company founded by Smita Patil Mehta, Jennifer Verma and Seema Patel.
Chad Himel, Managing Director, Ziegler Senior Living Finance added, Ziegler was very excited to begin our relationship with Simpson Senior Services, and we are proud to have financed its latest Series 2021 issuance.

Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the successful closing of Simpsons Series 2021 Bonds.

Simpson is a Pennsylvania not-for-profit corporation, headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Simpson House, once known as the Methodist Episcopal Home for the Aged, was one of the first health and welfare ministries of the Methodist Church in the Philadelphia area and is the oldest existing retirement community historically related to the United Methodist Church.

Simpsons Obligated Group is comprised of three retirement communities: Simpson House, Simpson Meadows, and Jenners Pond. Simpson Meadows is a continuing care retirement community located in a suburban setting on an approximately six-acre site in the Borough of Downingtown, East Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Jenners Pond has been in operation since 1997 and is located on an 88-acre campus is located in the Borough of West Grove, in southern Chester County. In aggregate, Simpsons operates 609 total units comprised of 482 independent living units, 56 personal care units, 118 assisted lives units, and 178 skilled nursing units. In addition to these communities, Simpson also operates two affordable housing properties that are not included in the Obligated Group.

Simpsons mission statement is to create vibrant lifestyles for senior adults to embrace life to the fullest. The organization prides itself on its ability to service seniors from diverse backgrounds and economic circumstances in settings that are both caring and gracious. They offer residents and staff opportunities for personal growth and spiritual enrichment.

Simpsons entire capital structure is comprised entirely of public fixed rate bonds as a result of the financing. Ziegler was honored to use its market expertise to help Simpson access the capital markets once again.

Proceeds of the Series 2021 Bonds will be used to refinance Simpsons outstanding Series 2015B Bonds, finance various capital expenditures, finance a swap termination related to the Series 2015B Bonds, fund a deposit to a master debt service reserve fund and pay for eligible costs of issuance related to the financing. The Series 2021 Bonds were non-rated, and carry a yield to call of 3.41% and a blended weighted average yield to maturity of 3.61% for 30 years through 2051. The Series 2021 Bonds also have call provisions of seven years @103%, declining to par in year 10.

Carol McKinley, President & Chief Executive Officer of Simpson stated, The Ziegler team worked relentlessly to support our refinancing endeavors. They did this with efficiency, expediency, great communication, and most importantly, with care of the 156-year legacy of Simpson. Thank you, Ziegler, for all of your efforts. We are very appreciative of your team!

Ken Franiak, Chief Financial Officer added, I would like to thank Chad, Pat and the entire team at Ziegler for guiding us through this round of financing. Their experience, expertise and especially their dedication to our needs will ensure that the mission of Simpson Senior Services continues to move forward.

Chad Himel, Managing Director, Ziegler Senior Living Finance added, Ziegler was very excited to begin our relationship with Simpson Senior Services, and we are proud to have financed its latest Series 2021 issuance. We look forward to Simpsons continued commitment to its mission of providing top quality care to the seniors they serve.

Ziegler is the nations leading underwriter of financing for not-for-profit senior living providers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its senior living clientele, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, seed capital, FHA/HUD, capital and strategic planning as well as senior living research, education, and communication.

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.

# #


"Everyone close your eyes for a second," asked Phoebe Robinson, the author, comedian, Tiny Reparations Books publisher, and host of the 72nd National Book Awards from the Penguin Random House offices in Manhattan. "Now think about the first book that changed you. Try to remember how the pages smelled.... Imagine its weight in your hands, how comforting that felt. Finally, think about the excitement that coursed through you, as if you just could not wait, before you could tell your parent, teacher, or friend about what you just read." Awards are nice, Robinson explained, but what really matters is the reading and the writing of books.

At the second virtual National Book Awards in a row (in spite of the National Book Foundation's best efforts to hold a live event), that sentiment, as always, took center stage. That began with the Foundation's decision to honor author, critic, literary activist andabove alllibrarian Nancy Pearl with its Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, one of its two pre-announced lifetime achievement prizes.

"Nancy's voice on radio, television, and in her own bestselling books resonates so powerfully because she represents the ideal of the librarian," the Washington Post's Ron Charles said in his presentation speech. "An activist for the unbridled pleasure of reading, she's not a guardian of the treasuresshe's a farmer of the orchard."

In her remarks, Pearl thanked, among others, her childhood librarian, Ms. Frances Whitehead, the children's librarian at the Parkman Branch of the Cleveland Public Library, "who took this miserably unhappy eight-year-old girl that I was and gave me the world through the books she recommended." She continued: "Ms. Whitehead showed me that books are places where you can both find yourself and lose yourself. I knew when I was 10 that I wanted to be a librarian just like Ms. Whitehead, so I could give to other children what she gave me." Pearl added: "I am, I believe, the first librarian to win this award, and I'm dedicating it to all of the librarians who do such essential work for their communities. One of the foundational principles of the public library is that it is a truly egalitarian institution, available free to everyone regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, age, or economic statusand as such, it is a democratizing and unifying force in our society, which is needed now more than ever before."

The evening's other lifetime achievement honor, the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, was presented by author Viet Thanh Nguyen to author Karen Tei Yamashita.

"She's ambitious, and it's one of the things I most love about her as a writer," Nguyen said. "Her masterpiece, I Hotel, is, for me, the Great (Asian) American Novelwith 'Asian' in parentheses....She has played her role with unwavering commitment to her amazing vision."

In her remarks, Yamashita thanked her "small but mighty independent press, Coffee House Press, and its visionary publisher, Allan Kornblum," who "read my work and took a chance on my writing" and "schooled me on the world of publishing." She continued: "Asian American literature is, at heart, a literature of politics and resistance. For our community, your recognition tonight is significant, especially this year," going on to cite hate-mongering and acts of violence against Asian Americans that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. "In such times," she said, "may our writing forge tolerance and care."

Following his customary remarks, Foundation chairman David Steinberger introduced Ruth Dickey, who succeeded Lisa Lucas as executive director of the Foundation in May.

"Through each grief and each joy in this historic time, there have been books." Dickey said."Books don't just reflect our humanity. Books remind us that humanity is shared. Reading gives us an experience that is simultaneously unmitigated, impersonal, in-depth, personal, and universal. We need books, and the deep thinking, learning, and empathy that reading brings. Books can open minds, and that's why books can be challenging, and why books are currently being challenged. Yet this is also precisely why books matter, and why it feels especially important to celebrate literature, uplift the voices of authors, and champion reading."

Dickey ceded the floor to Robinson, who introduced the awards portion of the evening. First up was Cathryn Mercier, chair of the Young People's Literature judging category, who announced that Malinda Lo won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Last Night at the Telegraph Club (Dutton Books for Young Readers). "In lustrous detail," the judges' citation read, "Malinda Lo materializes Chinese American Lily and white Kath's love story during the rise of 1950s McCarthyism."

A visibly moved Lo explained how the book began as a short story, and how she was encouraged her agent, Michael Bourret, to make it into a full book, before thanking her parents and aunt for help writing the parts of the novel rendered in Chinese, as well as her grandmother"you may not be here in this world any longer, but you are here with me"and her wife, who was just offscreen.

"When my first novel came out in 2009, it was one of 27 young adult books about LGBTQ characters or issues published that year," Lo added. "This year, hundreds of LGBTQ YA books have been published. The growth has been incredible, but the opposition to our stories has also grown. This year, schools across the country are facing significant right-wing pressure to remove books about people of color, LGBTQ people, and especially transgender people from classrooms and libraries. I urge every one of you watching to educate yourself about your school boards and vote in your local elections. 2022 is coming, and we need your support to keep our stories on the shelves. Don't let them erase us."

Stephen Snyder, chair of the Translated Literature judging category, then announced that author Elisa Shua Dusapin and translator Aneesa Abbas Higgins had won the National Book Award for Translated Literature for Winter in Sokcho (Open Letter). "Narrated by a sharply observant young French Korean resident," the judges' citation stated, "the story explores rifts of identitypersonal, cultural, and nationaland the fleeting kinship that is possible between solitary strangers. "Aneesa Abbas Higgins's elegant translation brings out the lyricism of Elisa Shua Dusapin's tender and mysterious novel."

Dusapin, as Higgins translated, said "Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is a book that comes from the bottom of my heart." Higgins added: "Elisa, it's just fantastic for all of us, for all of the people who have read your book and now get to read all of your work."

Then A. Van Jordan, chair of the Poetry judging category, announced that Martin Espada won the National Book Award for Poetry for Floaters: Poems (Norton). In their citation, the judges wrote: "Martin Espada's Floaters manages to address the concerns of our times through a timeless voice that can be heard above 'this cacophonous world."

Espada was "speechless, to a large extent because I did not prepare a speech," he said, "but also because I am very honored by my selection." He added, speaking to the other finalists: "I know what it's like to be where I am, and I know what it's like to be where you are. And I hope that we can form friendships and relationships independently of the National Book Awards."

Nell Painter, chair of the Nonfiction judging category, announced that Tiya Miles had won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family's Keepsake (Random House). "Tiya Miles's graceful prose gives us narrative history, social history, and object history of women's craft," the judges wrote in their citation, adding: "This book is scholarship at its best and most heartrending."

Speaking to Painter directly, Miles said: "I, like so many people, many of us, read you in graduate school, and I admired you so, so, so much for your path-breaking work in African American history. I can't tell you what it means to me that you were chair of this jury." She very movingly thanked her agent, Tanya McKinnon, and especially her editor, Molly Turpin, for her passion and dedication for the project, saying: "We both know this was a co-written book." She also thanked the women at the center of the narrative, adding: "I want them to know, and to see, how much they were loved and honored today."

Finally, Luis Alberto Urrea chair of the Fiction judging category, announced that Jason Mott won the National Book Award for Fiction for Hell of a Book (Dutton). The judges said, in their statement: "In a structurally and conceptually daring examination of art, fame, family, and being Black in America, Mott somehow manages the impossible trick of being playful, insightful, and deeply moving all at the same time." A teary Mott dedicated his award "to all the other mad kidsthe outsiders, the weirdos, the bullied, the ones who... in spite of this, refused to lose their imagination, who refused to abandon their dreams."
Last week, a school board member in Flagler County, Fla., urged the local sheriff to open a criminal investigation over four copies on school library shelves of George M. Johnson's queer YA memoir All Boys Aren't Blue. And while just months ago that kind of move would have been regarded as a shocking but isolated incident, it is now all too common. A similar criminal complaint against librarians in Wyoming garnered national headlines this summer, although the district attorney last month declined to pursue charges.

New headlines virtually every day tell the story: across the country, there is an unprecedented spike in attempts to ban books from schools and libraries. And while efforts to remove books from schools and library collections are not uncommon, librarians and freedom to read advocates warn that this current spike in challenges is different, as it appears to be part of a broader political strategy.

We have seen a 60% increase in challenges to books received in the month of September compared to last year, Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Information Freedom, which tracks book challenges nationwide, told PW. And while Caldwell-Stone is quick to point out that challenges to books on race and the LGBTQIA+ experience in particular have been trending up for years, she says the dramatic increase in book challenges, which includes challenges by conservative politicians, is widespread, and troubling.

For example, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott is demanding that the state agencies that oversee education and library funding keep "inappropriate books out of Texas schools. Abbott specifically called out two books involving LGBTQIA+ themes that have been featured in complaints in other statesGender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe, and In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado. And according to the Texas Tribune, Abbott has even directed agency officials to open criminal investigations over offending titles. Furthermore, Abbotts directive follows a headline-grabbing inquiry launched in October by a Texas state representative (who also happens to be planning a run for state attorney general) that included a list of some 850 books singled out for scrutiny.

We should always take any attempt to ban or remove books from libraries seriously, because its an attempt to censor ideas and to enforce an orthodoxy of what is thought about and talked about in our communities, Caldwell-Stone says. But the volume of challenges we are hearing and seeing now appears to be the result of an organized movement by certain groups to impose their political views and make them the norm for education and for our society as a whole. You have a state representative circulating a list of 850 booksand if you read that list they are all dealing with sex education, LGBTQIA+ identity, or the experience of persons of color. You also have people showing up at school boards complaining about the exact same books, repeating almost world for word the same complaints found on social media.

Thats absolutely what were seeing, says Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association. There is clearly an organized effort going on to bring large groups of people to school board meetings or to City Council meetings. And we as a community of educators and librarians need to stand together. We need to find a way to explain to people, in a way that makes sense to them, that were standing up for one of their fundamental rights as Americans. That may be a silver lining to all thiswere getting a chance to explain to people what librarians do, how librarians are educated in collection development, and that there are policies and procedures in place to ensure that the library is safe for every member of the community.

In fact, in many cases the policies and procedures in place are holding up, and librarians and educatorsoften bolstered by support from the communityhave had some success in pushing back against many of these recent efforts to ban books.

For example, in Goddard, Kans., this week, school officials rejected an attempt to pull a list of 29 booksa list that has been circulating nationally.

 There is an attempt to shift the conversation away from books and ideas to a conversation about parental control... 

In Virginia, the Spotsylvania County School board reversed its recent decision to remove a list of sexually explicit books from its schools after pushback from the community. One member of the board had previously said he'd like to see the books burned.

And earlier this summer in Pennsylvania, a student-led movement garnered national attention for successfully pushing back against an attempt by the local high school principal to ban a list of articles, videos, and books mainly featuring Black and Latino representation.

But the more sobering view, observers say, is that the current shockwave of book banning is no accident, and it is not just about the books. Rather, it appears to be part of a political strategy on the right designed to activate voters in communities across the nation, alongside calls to ban the teaching of so-called Critical Race Theory.

There is an attempt to shift the conversation away from books and ideas to a conversation about parental control, says John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary, a political action group that works to support libraries at the local level. What were seeing is the weaponization of parental control to advance a political agenda.

Chrastka stresses that EveryLibrary does not get involved with individual book challenges. We look at individual book challenges as legitimate conversations within the community, where there are policies in place that need to be articulated and understood and followed, he says.

But in the recent spike in book challenges Chrastka sees the work of political actors seeking to build a base, establish their bona fides, and attract donors. When book challenges become a tool in a larger political fight that threatens the funding or the structure of libraries or schools, thats when we go to work, Chrastka says, adding that EveryLibrary is already engaged in a few locales.

The question, however, is how do librarians, educators, and supporters of the freedom to read, including publishers, effectively push back? It is one thing to defend books when they are challenged. But how do freedom to read advocates push back against an organized political movement effectively using book banning as a political cudgel?

"We really need our allies to stand with us in this fight," says Robinson. "What were trying to do in Texas is to engage the community and our legislators, who I think are now starting to see how this effort ripples out and can impact the future of our democracy. And we really need publishers and authors to use their voices to stand with the library and school library community."

Chrastka agrees, but cautions that the usual statements of outrage may not be enough.

"Resources like the Freedom to Read Foundation and the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom have served us extremely well for 50 years and will continue to serve us well in terms of the policy frameworks and the capacity to help librarians respond to individual challenges in their communities," Chrastka says. "But we've entered a period where certain forces don't want to participate in that process. They want to burn it down."
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Diego Britto, vice president of finance for Purdue University Global, has been named to the University Professional and Continuing Education Association finance committee for 2022-23.

UPCEA is a Washington, D.C.-based association for college and university leaders in professional, continuing and online education.

I am deeply humbled and honored to represent Purdue University Global as a member of UPCEAs finance committee, Britto said. I look forward to a productive year as a committee member.

With Purdue Global, Britto is responsible for the financial support for all schools and supporting departments. He serves as a financial and strategic liaison with Purdue University executives.

Britto has more than 24 years of fast-track, cross-industry financial and operational success and over 13 years of experience in the education industry. He boasts a diverse background spearheading new business implementations as well as risk-management and cost-saving initiatives.

Britto will begin his one-year term at the conclusion of the 2022 UPCEA annual conference in Orlando, Florida, on April 14.

It is a credit to Diegos reputation as a forward-looking thinker in the challenging environment of college finance that he has been selected by UPCEA, Purdue Global Chancellor Frank Dooley said. We are fortunate to have him as a long-standing member of our leadership team, and I know he will prove to be a valuable asset and resource for UPCEA.

About Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global delivers personalized online education tailored to the unique needs of adults who have work or life experience beyond the classroom, enabling them to develop essential academic and professional skills with the support and flexibility they need to achieve their career goals. It offers personalized paths for students to earn an associate, bachelors, masters or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, desired pace, military service, previous college credits and other considerations  no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is affiliated with Purdue Universitys flagship institution, a highly ranked public research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue University also operates regional campuses in Fort Wayne and Northwest Indiana, as well as serving science, engineering and technology students at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. For more information, visit purdueglobal.edu.

About UPCEA

UPCEA is the association for professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UPCEA now serves most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. With innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities and timely publications, we support our members service of contemporary learners and commitment to quality online education and student success. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA builds greater awareness of the vital link between adult learners and public policy issues. Visit upcea.edu.

Media Contact: Tom Schott, 765-427-1721, tschott@purdue.edu

Sources: Frank Dooley

Diego Britto
Japanese broadcaster WOWOW has acquired the spy thriller for its linear TV and on-demand streaming service. The award-winning series produced by multi service provider Elisa Estonia and Estonian public broadcaster ERR is written by playwright and screenwriter Martin Algus and directed by Ergo Kuld.

The series stars Tambet Tuisk, winner of the Best Actor Award for Traitor at the Estonian Film and Television Awards 2020.

Inspired by recent spy scandals in Estonia, Traitor is set in 2004 just before Estonia joined NATO and became a top target for Russian intelligence. Greed and the need for recognition leads new recruit Alfred Vint (Tuisk) to co-operate with Russian intelligence, leading to a cat-and-mouse game with determined young Estonian counter-intelligence officer Marko Arrak (Veiko Porkanen) as they navigate the challenges faced in their personal lives.

Chinatsu Otsuki, acquisition Manager at WOWOW, said: We are very excited to close the first deal with GoQuest Media. Traitor is a superb spy thriller, and the story is very twisting. Our viewers love to watch rewarding good and punishing evil. However, we all know that reality is a lot more different from what is portrayed in fictional drama. This Estonian spy drama is very realistic in that way that is inspired by true events.

Vivek Lath, managing director at GoQuest Media, added: We are delighted that Traitor will make its debut in Asia, and we couldn't have asked for a better launchpad than WOWOW. As Japanese audiences watch the unravelling of a brutal but charming government servant who will betray everyone, including his country, to amass power and wealth, we promise that this compelling spy scandal drama may leave them shaken, but they won't stop watching. Alfred Vint has that effect on you!
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/18/2021



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

alum Hannah Brown says sleeping with Peter Weber while his The Bachelor season was airing in 2020 was "a poor decision" that showed a lack of good judgment on her part.Hannah eliminated Peter in third place on 's fifteenth season in favor of runner-up Tyler Cameron and winner Jed Wyatt in 2019, but after her engagement to Jed failed, she admittedly still had feelings for Peter while he filmed The Bachelor's 24th season.Once Peter broke off his engagement to The Bachelor 24 winner Hannah Ann Sluss in late January 2020, Hannah wrote in her upcoming book, God Bless This Mess: Learning to Live and Love Through Life's Best (and Worst) Moments, that she and Peter reconnected at Bachelor in Paradise couple Dylan Barbour and Hannah Godwin 's February 2020 engagement party, Us Weekly reported Hannah reveals in her book that she and Peter left the party together to catch up somewhere private and they ended up at the home of Peter's parents in Los Angeles, CA.While Hannah began sleeping in his little brother's room, Peter allegedly texted Hannah to join him in his own bedroom, and Hannah obliged -- which resulted in the pair having sex Unfortunately, the sexual encounter was apparently a disappointment for the 27-year-old former Alabama beauty queen."I think it's relatable. I mean, maybe not the parents' house, but [people can] definitely [relate to] making a poor decision when you're hurting. And I think a lot of girls can relate to that," Hannah told Us in an interview while doing press for her book that hits shelves on Tuesday, November 23.The morning after her tryst with Peter, Hannah claims she had an awkward breakfast with Peter's parents, Barbara Weber and Peter Weber Sr., knowing that her connection with their beloved son had completely fizzled out.The pilot then called Hannah an Uber and left for work.The next time Peter and Hannah talked on the phone, Hannah says Peter confessed that he still had feelings for his The Bachelor runner-up, Madison Prewett , who decided to give Peter another chance on The Bachelor: After the Final Rose in March 2020. (But Madison and Peter announced their official split only two days after the ABC special aired).Although Hannah acknowledged to Us that she was a little "hesitant" to share such intimate details of her past and even "worried" about how people will react, she thought it was important to include stories that have a purpose and can help women going through similar situations."Telling that story, I think it just really gives an honest and vulnerable account of what was kind of going on in my life," Hannah explained of her February 2020 hookup."There's this buildup that kind of happens, you know, and then my brother has the overdose and the stuff with the quarantine crew."For weeks beginning in March 2020, Hannah quarantined with Tyler in his hometown of Jupiter, FL, with Tyler's best friends, including The Bachelor Season 25 star Matt James , amid the coronavirus pandemic.Hannah and Tyler both confirmed in October 2020 that they never hooked up -- or even kissed for that matter -- but the "friendly" reunion created emotional inner turmoil for Hannah, who still had feelings for her runner-up, and caused the former couple to bicker.Hannah eventually returned home to Alabama on April 1 single and a bit confused about her love life.Going back to her rendezvous with Peter, Hannah concluded, "It was, like, this perfect storm that unfortunately there were some mistakes and all that, but [it] led me to getting the help that I needed. So I think that story really was important."Hannah, however, apparently didn't think it was important to ask Peter for his blessing to write about their sexual encounter. She said she didn't even give him a warning or a heads-up about the explicit material in her book."He has not been in the process of writing this book," Hannah confirmed. "And yeah, that's all I'm going to say."According to People, Hannah writes in her book that her hookup with Peter in February 2020 "just sucked" and "the chemistry just wasn't there." She called the whole ordeal "so bizarre."It appears Hannah and Peter found their way to each other at the engagement party because they didn't have closure from their time together on reality television.During Peter's The Bachelor season, Hannah showed up twice.On Night 1, Hannah returned a flyer's wings clip Peter had given her, and then she hosted a "sex stories" group date, which got derailed when Peter found her alone in a room crying.Hannah admitted to Peter she had unresolved and lingering romantic feelings for him in a very touch-feely and teary-eyed conversation, and Peter seemed to feel the same way."Going back and seeing him as the Bachelor, it brought up a lot," Hannah says in her book, according to People."[Off-camera], Peter told me he'd quit the show, 100 percent, if I could say that I wanted to be with him. I wanted to go on a date with him, but I couldn't say that I knew for sure."As for what was actually shown on television, Peter essentially asked Hannah to join his cast of bachelorettes because they clearly still had intense chemistry, but Hannah seemingly wanted to take off together and try dating in the real world.Peter actually admitted back in April that he was ready to walk away from his The Bachelor season during filming when Hannah reappeared in his life."I was an idiot, producers probably hated me, but I literally, like, I think they edited this part out, I was like, 'I'm gonna leave the show , like, if you want to, if you want to give this a shot, I'll leave right now,'" Peter revealed on Us' "Here for the Right Reasons" podcast."And she's like, 'You can't do that, Peter, you're the Bachelor, you signed a contract.' I'm like, 'No, like, I'll do it. What are they gonna do to me?'... I don't know what I was thinking that day. I was very confused."But the episode showed Peter, recognizing he had been Hannah's third choice on , deciding to part ways with Hannah once and for all in order to give his cast of women a fair chance."Our lives kind of separated there," Peter noted on the podcast.Once Peter had Hannah, Madison and Sluss in his rearview mirror, he reunited with his fifth-place The Bachelor finisher Kelley Flanagan and the pair quarantined together in Chicago beginning in March 2020.What supposedly started out as a friendship quickly turned into a romantic direction and then the couple dated -- on and off -- until they announced their split in February 2021 Peter said in April that he's "super happy" for Hannah and her current relationship with boyfriend and model Adam Woolard."I see she's in an awesome relationship... and so that just makes me super happy," Peter shared. "And she's an amazing person. And I've got nothing but great things to say about her."For Peter's part, he reportedly recently joined a dating app and is interested in dating a woman outside of Bachelor Nation.However, Peter hasn't ruled out a future appearance on Bachelor in Paradise if he's still looking for love by that point.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Cinema Styles: The Power of the Dog's bite bigger than its bark
Athens, GA (30605)

Today

Foggy with a few showers after midnight. Areas of dense fog. Low 51F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Foggy with a few showers after midnight. Areas of dense fog. Low 51F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
As the COVID-19 delta variant continues to spread across the nation, questions about booster shots, hospitalizations, and vaccine hesitancy leave many frustrated. As part of The Red & Blacks health news coverage, we are publishing weekly reports on news relating to COVID-19 and its recent statistics.

Major updates

COVID-19 cases increased at the University of Georgia compared to last week, according to the universitys reporting system. UGA reported 29 new cases over the week of Nov. 8-14 compared to the 23 last week. The surveillance testing positivity rate increased this week to 1.3%.

According to The Hill, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said on Sunday that as the winter season approaches, an increase in COVID-19 infections is expected. He urged people to get vaccinated.

Due to fewer people wearing masks, respiratory illnesses such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus have been spreading across the nation.

Following the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, Clarke County schools are sponsoring another round of immunization campaigns.

The initial doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered at primary schools from until Dec. 2, with the second round of vaccinations being delivered at a later date.

The deadline for covered University of Georgia employees to be vaccinated has been extended to Jan. 4, 2022, from the previous deadline of Dec. 8, 2021, according to an ArchNews email sent on Thursday. The new deadline was announced by the White House on Thursday.

This extension will give UGA's covered contractor employees additional time to get vaccinated. Some covered contractor employees have been alerted, according to the ArchNews email, while others are still being identified and notified.

Appointments can be scheduled here. Due to vaccination status being verified on-site, individuals should bring their original vaccine card to the appointment.

Employees covered by this policy include those who work on or in connection with a federal contract, or who work in a covered contractor workplace.

On Sept. 20, The Red & Black launched a survey for students, faculty, and staff at UGA that gathered data on vaccination status and thoughts on vaccination and mask policies on campus. The results showed a high vaccination rate among respondents and mixed feelings about campus COVID-19 policies.

Georgias hospitals have about 19% of their intensive care unit beds left for sick patients. From Nov. 7-13, nearly all of COVID-19 cases in the southeastern U.S. were delta variant cases, according to the CDC.

The majority of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

Data breakdown: University of Georgia

The university conducted 405 surveillance tests during the week of Nov. 7, the lowest of tests conducted this semester. With fewer tests occurring, fewer cases can be detected.

Of the total positive cases this week, seven of them belonged to employees and 22 belonged to students.

There were seven positive tests at the University Health Center. There were four positive tests through UGA surveillance testing, two positive tests from UGA community members reporting from testing sites in Athens, and 16 positive tests from UGA community members reporting from other testing sites.

Students that test positive for COVID-19 off-campus are required to report it through DawgCheck, UGAs monitoring tool. Because students may have tested positive off-campus and not reported it, the actual number of COVID-19 cases in the UGA community may be higher.

For the week of Nov. 8-14, the UHC administered 537 vaccines, a significant decrease from the 824 administered last week. Cumulatively, the UHC has administered 30,203 vaccines.

Students and faculty may book a vaccine appointment through the UHC Vaccine Portal or get vaccinated at any University System of Georgia school. Students may also get tested for COVID-19 at the UHC with walk-in appointments.

Data breakdown: Athens-Clarke County

From Nov. 12-17, the county reported 60 new confirmed cases, compared to 50 from Nov. 6-11, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. The countys seven-day average positivity rate was 4%. The World Health Organization recommends communities maintain a positivity rate below 5%.

This week, ACC reported two confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

According to the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, the number of current hospitalizations in Region E  which includes ACC and several surrounding counties  decreased slightly last week. On Nov. 17, there were 35 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, compared to 41 on Nov. 10.

According to the Georgia DPH, about 45% of the county is fully vaccinated.

Data breakdown: Georgia

Statewide, the weekly rate of new confirmed COVID-19 cases has increased.

According to the DPH, Georgia reported 6,127 confirmed COVID-19 cases between Nov. 12-17. This is an increase of about 800 from the 5,303 cases between Nov. 6-11. The states seven-day average positivity rate on Nov. 17 decreased to 3.6%, according to current data.

The number of confirmed deaths in the state decreased. Georgia recorded 170 confirmed COVID-19 deaths between Nov. 12-17, compared to the 218 between Nov. 6-11.

According to the DPH, almost 5.3 million Georgians have been fully vaccinated, or about 51% of the state. In comparison, the U.S. has a current full vaccination rate of 58%. Approximately 6 million Georgians, or 57% of the state, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

According to the CDC, even fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission. Currently, the CDC says Clarke Countys level of community transmission is substantial, along with many other counties in Georgia. The CDC has also released guidelines advising vaccinated individuals to still wear masks when in public, indoor settings.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening then becoming overcast with periods of freezing rain after midnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 70%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening then becoming overcast with periods of freezing rain after midnight. Low 26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 70%.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  Shortcomings in the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Office caused $3.9 billion in overpayments during the processing 5.4 million unemployment claims amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a state audit released Thursday.

The agency's inaction and mishandling of procedures to ensure out-of-work Michigan residents could receive financial support during the pandemic led to 648,100 Michigan residents receiving letters this summer saying that they would have to reapply for eligibility, according to the audit. Of those claimants, 347,437 who had previously been marked as eligible for benefits were found ineligible for benefits.

The state will likely not recoup that money, according to the audit, since the fault lies solely on the agency and not the claimants.

Republican lawmakers have criticized the agency and called for accountability, particularly concerned at the anxiety the letters caused Michigan residents and the agency's mishandling of funds.

Republican Rep. Steve Johnson, who chairs the state House Oversight committee, issued a statement on Thursday blaming Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration for confusing people navigating unemployment and her for implementing executive orders that shut down people's livelihoods during the pandemic.

These findings provide concrete proof that a pivotal arm of Gov. Whitmers administration failed when people needed it most, this was a state mistake," Johnson said. ...rampant ineptitude and ineffectiveness at the agency led to weeks and months of hardship for a tremendous amount of people.

Leadership at the unemployment agency has changed at times amid criticism for slow payouts and fraudulent claims. Former Director Steve Gray resigned in November 2020. He was replaced by acting Director Liza Estlund Olsen, who then was replaced by current Director Julia Dale.

The audit mentions Gray creating a presentation for an April 2020 meeting where the agency weighed paying ASAP and establishing eligibility in parallel or establishing eligibility and delaying payments until eligibility is verified. The presentation acknowledged the possibility of having to recoup claims paid in error, one slide saying, we have a choice between speed and overpayment risk.

The agency persistently used four eligibility criteria that were unauthorized by the U.S. Department of Labor. According to the audit, the state agency cited confusion over federal eligibility requirements, but did not reach out for clarification, despite being alerted by the Labor Department in June 2020 of critical issues over implementation.

Dale, who took over the agency in recent weeks, acknowledged the audit's findings in an email statement Thursday, saying the agency is working to implement the suggestions, but she maintained that the agency should still be proud of the work it has done.

"The work the UIA did this time supported millions of Michiganders by providing a temporary lifeline to pay for food, housing, prescriptions and other critical needs. So far, more than $39 billion has been paid out to nearly 3.5 million Michigan residents," Dale said. But we should also be sure to learn from this experience so that we can do a better job of stopping fraud and paying legitimate claims in a timely fashion.

___

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.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP)  Hundreds of pastors both rallied and prayed Thursday outside the trial of three white men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, gathering in response to a defense lawyer's bid to keep Black ministers out of the courtroom.

As testimony resumed inside the Glynn County courthouse, with its four huge columns, arched windows and shaded lawn, a group of mostly Black ministers gathered outside  a sea of dark suits and white collars.

Many carried signs reading, Black pastors matter, and some wore buttons with Arberys picture and the hashtag they were using for the case, #JusticeForAhmaud. A vendor sold T-shirts under one tent while a woman under another offered water and snacks and asked people to put donations in a pickle jar.

The Rev. Al Sharpton announced the rally after a defense attorney intensified frustrations in the coastal Georgia community of Brunswick when he said he didnt want any more Black pastors sitting in the courtroom with Arberys family.

As the crowd grew outside, the Rev. Jesse Jackson once again joined Arberys family in the courtroom. Criticizing the failed attempt to keep black pastors out of court, Sharpton told the rally that no one had questioned who is sitting with the defendants' families.

No lawyer can knock us out. Because no matter where you are, God is there, he said. We are going to keep coming until we get justice.

Martin Luther King III, son of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., addressed the throng saying, It only takes a few good women and men to bring change."

Prayer has been a key to helping Black people through centuries of slavery, violence and discrimination in America, said Arbery's father, Marcus Arbery. Thats all we lived on. Thats all we had was prayer. What did our great-grandmothers depend on?"

Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing the Arbery family, predicted the defense would ask the judge for a mistrial because of the demonstration outside the courthouse.

We need preachers to come pray for them in this insane situation, this inhumane situation, he said. Earlier, people in the crowd chanted the names of Black people who have been killed in high-profile cases in which racism or police brutality were alleged.

Church vans from a wide range of denominations were parked along streets around the courthouse. The Rev. Gregory Edwards was broadcasting a Facebook Live video back to his friends in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he is pastor of the Resurrected Life Community Church, United Church of Christ.

As soon as the call for pastors to come to Brunswick went out, Edwards said, he rearranged his schedule to fly down.

I would have walked, said Edwards, who also runs a multifaith, multiracial community organizing group. Edwards said he cried when he saw the video of Arbery's shooting death and thought of his three Black adult sons.

Through technology we have been forced to bear witness to the public executions of our Black brothers and sisters, Edwards said.

A group of businesses in Brunswick and surrounding Glynn County joined together to provide a lunch of free barbecue sandwiches, shrimp and side dishes before the pastors rallied. Organizer Mike Mally said the group wanted to show that the community was united, not divided by race.

We figured this was a good thing to do with all these visitors, Mally said.

Cellphone video of Arbery's death on Feb. 23, 2020, leaked online about two months later, deepening a national outcry over racial injustice. The defense contends Arbery was killed in self-defense.
GOSHEN  Since 1980, the Goshen Land Trust has worked to preserve land for the people of Goshen. Members recently announced the land trust has achieved national recognition - joining a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the publics trust in their work, according to a statement.

Accreditation demonstrates the Goshen Land Trusts commitment to permanent land conservation in Goshen, said land trust president Barry Donaldson. We are a stronger organization for having gone through this rigorous process. Our accreditation gives residents the assurance that the land in the Goshen Land Trusts care will be protected forever.
Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy / Contributed photo

The Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy will hold its annual meeting at 4 p.m. on Zoom Nov. 20. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a year-in-review and special presentation: Seizing the Moment -The Benefits of Conservation in a Warming World.

Natural lands and waters are essential for a healthy environment, healthy people, and a healthy planet. NCLCs staff will share how they are using the latest science to prioritize conservation acquisitions, moving rapidly to protect new lands now, and taking bold, local action to address the challenges of global climate change.
Heaping praise on Yogi Adityanath ahead of the UP polls due early next year, veteran BJP leader Uma Bharti stressed that the CM is a "better version" of her. Bharti is one of the rare politicians to have won an Assembly election from two states- Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. While she served as the CM of MP from 2003-2004, the saffron-clad leader also won the Charkhari seat in the 2012 UP Assembly election. On Wednesday, she told the media in Prayagraj predicted that BJP will secure a comfortable victory in the upcoming polls.

Former Union Minister Uma Bharti remarked, "Yogi Ji is my better version. Yogi Ji has proven himself. He was uninterested in himself and showed interest in development works. These people (opposition leaders) have been left far behind. There is a stampede-like situation in Mulayam Singh's family-there is the son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren and the list is endless. On the other hand, there is Behenji who always remained in isolation. Their times are over."

Frowning upon Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's election campaign, she observed, "Nothing is achieved by becoming active only at the time of elections". The BJP leader added, "Yogi Ji is like my younger brother. He is very dear to me. His Guru Avaidyanath and my Guru Pejawar Swamy Maharaj were friends".

BJP's thrust on UP polls

In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, BJP had won a whopping 312 seats in the 403-member House, whereas BSP could win only 19 seats. On the other hand, the SP-Congress alliance failed to bear fruit as it could win in only 54 constituencies. While this was seen as a mandate for PM Modi as BJP had not declared any CM candidate, Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath was a surprise pick for the post. Though some BJP leaders made conflicting statements over Adityanath's future as the Chief Minister, PM Modi put rest to all speculations by lauding UP's governance model during his successive visits to the state.

Leaving no stone unturned for the 2022 Assembly election, BJP appointed Dharmendra Pradhan as its election in-charge and Anurag Thakur, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Shobha Karandlaje, Annapurna Devi, Saroj Pandey and Vivek Thakur as the co-in-charges. Meanwhile, Sanjay Bhatia, Sanjeev Chaurasiya, Y Satya Kumar, Sudhir Gupta, Arvind Menon and Sunil Oza were named as the organizational in-charges of Western UP, Braj, Awadh, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Kashi. On September 24, BJP formally announced an alliance with the Nishad Party and Apna Dal (S).

Image: ANI
With an aim to offer strategic partnership and discuss shared interests, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked upon the journey to African countries, beginning with Kenya. On Wednesday, the top US diplomat engaged in conversations with Kenyan leaders and discussed ways to work together to address shared challenges "as democracy requires active citizen participation". He also met the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, and expressed Washington's commitment to the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Partnership is stronger than ever. "From COVID-19 to climate change, to fostering an inclusive, growing economy, meeting global goals is not possible without partners like Kenya," Blinken said in a subsequent tweet.

Nearly 10 months into the tenure, Blinken's trip brought to Africa the 'America's back' strategy, however, it is yet to catch up with China's deep-rooted business and diplomatic engagements in almost 54 African nations, ABC News reported. On the sidelines of the diplomatic meeting, the State Secretary also engaged in social events like planting trees in the Kenyan Karura forest and participated in the National Geographic show 'Kids in Africa' to spread the verse of conservation.

Thank you, President Kenyatta, for hosting me in Nairobi. Our commitment to the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Partnership is stronger than ever. From COVID-19 to climate change, to fostering an inclusive, growing economy, meeting global goals is not possible without partners like Kenya. pic.twitter.com/LRxZI8CGon  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 17, 2021

Blinken also met the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo in Nairobi late on Wednesday for the 2nd round of Bilateral Strategic Dialogue. Although Blinken will skip visits to Ethiopia and Sudan, owing to the worsening crisis in the region. Thus, talks revolving around bringing peace and stability in the nations remained a staple discussion between Blinken and the African diplomats. On Wednesday, Blinken also met with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, to discuss situations in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia and looked forward to continuing US partnership with IGAD 'to see the region prosper.'

Blinken warns of global 'democratic recession' amid crises in Africa

Amid the simmering crises in Ethiopia and Sudan, Blinken highlighted the need to combat potential "democratic recession" looking at the fragility of the conflicts in the continent. He joined Kenya's foreign minister in calling for a ceasefire in Ethiopia. Speaking to civic leaders during his five-day visit, Blinken emphasised that "this is an important time...around the world we've seen over the last decade or so...what some have called democratic recession," the AP reported. Alluding to the presidential elections in August 2022 in Kenya, the US too diplomat also advised that it was mandatory to refrain from misinformation, political violence and voter intimidation to avert the backslide of democratic principles.

US seeks to resolve conflicts in Ethiopia and Sudan

Despite months of engagement by the US administration, including an August visit to Ethiopia by Samantha Power, US Agency for International Development and Jeff Feltman (Biden's special envoy to the Horn of Africa), Washington has made very little progress in bringing peaceful negotiations to the table. Instead, tensions across the regions have escalated far more than earlier, with inter-ethnic killings and violent uprisings and million displacements, the Associated Press reported.

In order to curb violence in the African region, Biden imposed sanctions on Ethiopia, excluding it from a US-Africa trade pact. As per AP, possibilities of sanctions on Ethiopian officials like PM of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed also loom. While on one side Feltman has shuttled between Addis Ababa and Nairobi, the situation in Sudan has further worsened with Chief of Military Forces, Abel Fattah Al-Burhan, declaring himself the head of Sovereign Council last week. However, in the last few days, with Lt. General Al-Burhan agreeing to engage in substantive 'unconditional dialogue' to reinstate democratic government in the Sudanese Council, rays of hope have emerged, as per Xinhua.

(With inputs from AP)

(Image: @SecBlinken_Twitter)
On Wednesday, an analyst shared two separate sets of satellite images laying out evidence regarding China's encroachment policies. The images depict that China has constructed a cluster of buildings in Arunachal Pradesh and established multiple villages in Bhutanese territory close to Doklam in Sikkim. The photographs first shared on Twitter showcased at least four discrete villages constructed in the disputed territory measuring roughly 100 km in area. As per the Intel Lab analyst, the new settlements were constructed between May 2020 and November 2021.

Disputed land between #Bhutan & #China near Doklam shows construction activity between 2020-21, multiple new villages spread through an area roughly 100 km now dot the landscape, is this part of a new agreement or enforcement of #China's territorial claims ? pic.twitter.com/9m1n5zCAt4  d-atis (@detresfa_) November 17, 2021

What is the conflict around Doklam?

The Doklam Plateau is located at a trijunction between Chinas Chumbi Valley, Bhutans Ha Valley and Sikkims Nathang Valley. The region gained international attention after Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a two-month-long standoff there in the summer of 2017. The conflict was a direct result of the Peoples Liberation Army of China (PLA) trying to construct a road in the region. Notably, Doklam is located strategically close to the Siliguri corridor (also known as Chickens neck) which connects mainland India to its North East.

While the standoff was ongoing, China further exacerbated the conflict by releasing a map that pointed out at Indian Army incursion in the Doklam region. The said map portrays Doklam as part of the Chinese territory. The map immediately sparked outrage from both New Delhi and Thimphu which issued a statement accusing China of violating the 1988 and 1998 agreements.

What is the Sino-Bhutanese border dispute?

Bhutan and China share a 477 km (296 mi) long border through the Himalayas between the two tripoints with India. The border has triggered several disputes over the years, with Beijing claiming three regions in western Bhutan, including Doklam, other three regions in the north, and a June 2020 reassertion of its claim to a large chunk of eastern Bhutan, according to Observer Research Foundation. While attempts to resolve the dispute commenced back in 1984, it was concreted last month after both the parties signed a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The document states a three-step roadmap to expedite the talks and break the deadlock at the contested border.

China has never taken an inch of land from others: Jinping

Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a virtual summit with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, wherein he blatantly claimed that China has never occupied an inch of land belonging to other states. Chinese people have always loved and valued peace. Aggression or hegemony is not in the blood of the Chinese nation, Jinping said. Furthermore, the communist leader went on to assert that since the countrys foundation, China has never started a single war or conflict, and has never taken an inch of land from other countries.

India-China agree on complete military disengagement along LAC

On November 18, India and China participated in the 23rd meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). In the meeting, both India and China agreed to the 14th round of talks and also agreed on the need to find an early resolution to the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh while abiding by bilateral agreements.

"It was agreed that both sides should hold the next (14th) round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols," the statement addded.

Image: AP/DETRESFA/ Twitter
Islamabad, Nov 18 (PTI) Sex offenders convicted of multiple rapes in Pakistan could face chemical castration after Parliament passed a new legislation that aims to speed up convictions and impose tougher sentences.

The bill is a response to a public outcry against a recent spike in incidents of rape of women and children in the country and growing demands for effectively curbing the crime.

The passage of the bill comes almost a year after President Arif Alvi approved the new anti-rape ordinance that was cleared by the Pakistan Cabinet, calling for the chemical castration of rapists with the consent of the convict and setting up of special courts for speedy trails.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2021 bill was passed along with 33 other bills by the joint session of parliament on Wednesday. It seeks to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Chemical castration is a process duly notified by rules framed by the prime minister, whereby a person is rendered incapable of performing sexual intercourse for any period of his life, as may be determined by the court through administration of drugs which shall be conducted through a notified medical board, according to the bill.

Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed protested over the bill and termed it un-Islamic and against Sharia.

He said a rapist should be hanged publicly, but there was no mention of castration in Sharia.

Chemical castration is the use of drugs to reduce sexual activity. It is a legal form of punishment in countries including South Korea, Poland, the Czech Republic and in some states in the US, according to media reports.

Critics say fewer than 4 per cent of sexual assault or rape cases in Pakistan result in a conviction. PTI SH RUP AKJ RUP RUP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Ever since the Taliban took over Kabul in August, the situation of Afghanistan has taken the centre stage on the international agenda. In a recent development, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, according to ANI. The UN Migration Agency has warned that the country might fall into extreme poverty by mid-2022 if no efforts are made immediately to address the humanitarian, economic and political crisis in the war-torn nation.

The International Organization for Migration in a statement informed that Afghanistan has a population of around 40 million people and nearly all of them might face extreme poverty in the coming year. According to IOM, the countrys essential services are deteriorating and prices of commodities have increased, according to ANI. Furthermore, the IOM noted that employment in Afghanistan continues to vanish and banking services face disruption amid the cash shortage.

Afghanistan is a country of almost 40 million people, nearly all of whom may fall into extreme poverty by mid-2022 if no action is taken immediately to address the simultaneous humanitarian, economic and political crises, IOM said in a statement as per ANI.

Internally Displaced People

The International Organization for Migration also highlighted the condition of internally displaced people. The UN Migration Agency has estimated that approximately 5.5 million internally displaced people are present in Afghanistan. The internally displaced people include those living in protracted situations and over 6,80,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict in 2021. In addition, this year, there have been around 1.1 million undocumented Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan.

There are now an estimated 5.5 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including those living in protracted situations, and more than 6,80,000 newly displaced by conflict in 2021. This is in addition to 1.1 million undocumented Afghan returnees from Iran and Pakistan in 2021 alone, IOM said in a statement as per ANI.

UN calls for more inclusive government

The United Nations on Wednesday called for a more inclusive government in the war-ravaged Central Asian nation, according to ANI. The UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefed about several issues with the Talibans governance in Kabul, particularly womens rights, girls education and inclusivity. The UN Chief's Special Representative for Afghanistan highlighted that the de facto authorities have indicated that they are working on a nation-wide policy to ensure access to education for Afghan girls so that the right to girls education can be exercised across the country, however, policy and its implementation has been taking more time.

(With Inputs from ANI)

Image: AP
In Afghanistan's Ghor province, girl schools have been allowed to reopen after extensive efforts were made by the Ferozkoh council. Female students from classes 7 to 12 were allowed to attend their schools in the capital of the western province, Ferozkoh after months of denial. Head of the council, Sultan Ahmad was quoted saying, 'We reached an agreement that the high schools for girls in the capital and all districts of Ghor should be reopened'.

Civil rights activists express happiness:

"Fortunately the schools will be reopened for girl students. If women are deprived of education, the next generation of society will not have a bright future," added civil rights activist Habib Wahdat.

Soon after the Taliban had taken over the country, the girl students were denied to attend school. So far in western Afghanistan Herat and Ghor provinces, girls have been allowed to attend schools. Afghan girls have been repeatedly sending requests to the Taliban's interim government to reopen girls' schools across the country.

Afghan girls find alternative activity amid closure of schools

In an earlier update, two girls from Kandahar province two girls were seen starting a painting centre at their home. The girls, who are siblings, had started a painting and drawing centre in one of the rooms in their home, reported TOLO News. Another female student, Mariam of 12th grade, had expressed her concern about not being able to complete her secondary education, telling an Afghan news organisation, ANI reported, 'It has been over two months that we have been deprived of education, and I feel that all the girls who have stopped going to school feel the same way.'

Afghanistan women face Taliban restrictions

Masoma Amiri, a painter stated that the Taliban government has provided them around 10 to 12 rules which are to be 'strictly followed'. Furthermore, Amiri added that they have also prohibited them to come without 'mahram,' as per TOLO News report. Shugofa Amiri requested the Taliban government to reopen the educational centres so that the girls of the country can pursue their studies. As per the report, the girls learnt painting and drawing in an institute in Kandahar city, however, they were unable to pursue their art classes due to the closure of the art centre.

(With inputs and image from ANI)
In the latest development, Yoga guru Baba Ramdev arrived at Nepal's capital Kathmandu for the launch of two new television channels as a part of the Patanjali Ayurveda group. Baba Ramdev, who is on a three-day-long visit to Nepal, will also inspect other trade projects apart from taking part in the launch of the new television channels. As per PTI, Baba Ramdev will launch Aastha Nepal TV and Patanjali Nepal TV on Friday.

At the event, Patanjali Sewa Sadan, a residence for employees of Patanjali, and Swadeshi Samridhi card will be inaugurated. During the visit, Baba Ramdev will also go to Syangja in Western Nepal to inspect a project being developed by the group.

Patanjali group & its rapid expansion

The two channels set to be launched by Baba Ramdev are a part of the Patanjali group's latest venture. Founded by Acharya Balakrishna in 2006, Patanjali went on from starting as an Ayurveda medicine manufacturing company to other fields including clothing (Patanjali Paridhan), diary (Patanjali Diary), food items and more. Recently, the Patanjali-owned Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd on Monday posted a 29.62% jump to Rs 164.27 crore for the second quarter of the financial year 2021-22, on robust sales.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 126.73 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal, according to a regulatory filing. Ruchi Soya's branded business, including brands sold under royalty arrangements and institutional segment, achieved sales of Rs 45,511.82 crore in the second quarter of 2021-22 fiscal. The food business segment achieved sales of Rs 431.12 crore in the second quarter of this fiscal, contributing to 9.56 per cent of the company's total branded business. The company brands include Ruchi Gold, Mahakosh, Sunrich, Nutrela and Ruchi Star, among others.
As talks over the revival of the 2015 nuclear program with Iran are awaited, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) published it's a new quarterly report about the implementation of Tehran's obligations to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Referring to the content of the report, the head of Iran's mission to the UN in Vienna, Reza Ghaebi said that the agency and the world leaders should refrain from making "hasty or politically-motivated" comments on the country's nuclear program, Xinhua reported quoting the diplomat.

The assertions come after the IAEA report showed that the agency has been unable to re-install surveillance cameras at Iran's TESA Karaj centrifuge component manufacturing workshop. Additionally, IAEA has also found that Iran has increased its enriched uranium stockpiles to 113.8kg, which is 20% up from 84.3% in September and 17.7 kg (39 lbs) enriched up to 60%, up from 10 kg (22 lbs) in September, Tehran Times reported.

However, Ghaebi explained that Iran is currently conducting judicial and security investigations into terrorist acts, which sabotaged monitoring equipment on a nuclear site near Karaj, in the area, and access to the site is beyond 'legal obligations.' Ghaebi's assertions come a day after the US floated short-term nukes deal to buy time for JCPOA talks.

US floats the idea of interim deal to buy time for talks over stalled JCPOA talks

In fresh efforts to buy time for talks over stalled Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran, United States National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan has floated the idea of a short-term agreement with Tehran. Citing its sources from Israel and US, Axios said Sullivan has discussed the idea of the interim deal with his Israeli counterpart Eyal Hulata. The talks are currently at a preliminary stage and are likely to hit further developments in the Vienna summit on 29 November.

However, Israeli leader Hulata disagreed with Sullivan explaining that any interim deal might become a permanent agreement allowing Iran to maintain its nuclear infrastructure and uranium stockpile, an Israeli source told Axios under conditions of anonymity. Instead, Hulata stressed that the US and its European allies must push for a 'censure resolution' against Iran in the Vienna meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Image: AP
Ever since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in August, the Indian government has made several efforts to bring back their diplomats and nationals stranded in the war-torn country. In a key development concerning evacuation efforts by the country, two persons have been evacuated by the Indian World Forum (IWF) on Thursday, 18 November, in coordination with the Indian government and assistance of Sobti Foundation, according to ANI. Satvir Singh, an Indian national who served as Head Granthi at Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Kabul for the last twenty-one years and Sorjit Singh, an Afghan national from Khost province and caretaker of Gurdwara located in the region were rescued.

As per the report by ANI, both the persons evacuated from the war-torn nation are scheduled to land at the Delhi Airport on Friday, 19 November. Satvir Singh and Sorjit Singh will be arriving in India following an overnight stay in Tehran. The Indian World Forum has expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Embassy of Iran in Kabul and the Sobti foundation for their assistance in the evacuation of people.

Two persons evacuated from Afghanistan

After the Taliban re-conquered Afghanistan, Puneet Singh Chandok, President of the Indian World Forum has been assisting in the evacuation of those stranded in the war-ravaged nation. Reportedly, the Indian World Forum has been working with the Indian government for the safe return of people stranded in a war-torn nation. As per the ANI report, the NGO mentioned that approximately 218 Afghan citizens belonging to the Hindu and Sikh community are waiting for the issuance of electronic visas from the Indian government.

Humanitarian groups claim Afghan nationals await evacuation

Last month, the India World Forum (IWF) and other humanitarian NGOs in a letter to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) and senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), have said that approximately 100 Indians, including children and 200 Afghan nationals were waiting to be evacuated out of Afghanistan, according to ANI. This comes as the Indian citizens and Afghan nationals of Indian origin had previously held a three-year visa, however, due to the turmoil within the country, the government of India decided to cancel it. The central government announced that the Indian-origin citizens and the stranded Hindu and Sikh community from Kabul will travel to India instead and the government is considering only e-Visa for travelling to the country from Afghanistan.

This is in regard to our earlier requests addressed to the Government of India for issuance of visas to Afghan nationals belonging to Hindu and Sikh community i.e. minorities. Most of our community members were holding valid visas but unfortunately, on August 25, the earlier visas issued by the Embassy of India have been invalidated, a letter of the president of Guru Singh Sabha Karte Parwan accessed by ANI read.

Inputs from ANI

Image: ANI
A former police commissioner and a prime suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise was died due to COVID-19 complications on Thursday, news agency Sputnik reported citing a local media report. Gilbert Dragon, the accused, breathed last while the jail authorities were shifting him from pre-trial detention to the hospital. Some media reports also claimed the suspect died of cardiac arrest and added that the 52-year-old was suffering from COVID-19 complications. According to the media outlet Haiti24, his death was confirmed by Pierre Rene Francois, an official from the Penitentiary Administration.

Subsequently, more than 40 people were arrested including three police officers for their alleged involvement in the killing. While addressing a press conference in July, Director-General Leon Charles told reporters, "There was infiltration in the police." Though the officer did not name the infiltrators involved in the brutal assassination, the Haitian National Police said in a report released after a month revealed Dragon's involvement in the planning of Moise's assassination. The police said he had held a meeting with other suspects on the night of the killing. However, his wife claimed Dragon was at home when the President was killed by a group of armed men. Though days after the murder, Prime Minister Ariel Henry, a neurosurgeon and former Cabinet minister-- sworn as the new prime minister with promises of providing justice to the slain President but the police authorities are yet to solve the mysterious death.

Who was Moise?

On July 7, this year, Haitian President Jovenel Moise, who ruled Haiti for more than four years, was assassinated at his private home during a highly coordinated attack by an extremely trained and heavily armed group. Subsequently, more than 40 people were arrested including three high-ranking police officers in connection with the assassination of Haiti President Jovenel Moise. The soft-spoken Moise seemed like an unlikely politician. According to the reports published in local media outlets, his father was a small-time farmer and his mother helped sell their crops and worked as a seamstress. Mouse won the 2015 presidential vote. However, the results were thrown out following allegations of fraud. Later, he won the November 2016 elections. He took office in February 2017.

Image: AP
India Wins Re-election To UNESCO Executive Board For 2021-25 Term, Bags 164 Votes

India on Wednesday was re-elected to the executive board of the United Nations' cultural and education organisation for the 2021-25 term. India won the re-election with 164 votes. Indias election was done to Group IV of Asian and Pacific States which also includes countries like Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cook Islands and China.

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India, Russia To Hold First-ever 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue Alongside Annual Summit

The very first edition of the India-Russia '2+2' defence and foreign ministry conversation may take place alongside a summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is expected to take place on December 6, according to PTI. Due to schedule constraints, the two parties are considering holding the '2+2' dialogue around the time of the summit. At the summit, the two sides are expected to finalise a number of agreements in the fields of defence, trade and investment, and science and technology. The summit will also announce a joint committee on technology and science, as well as refresh a framework for military-technical cooperation for the next decade.

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Sidhu Not To Accompany Punjab Cabinet To Kartarpur; Visit Likely After Guru Nanak Jayanti

Even as the Punjab Cabinet led by Charanjit Singh Channi and other Congress MLAs will visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara on Thursday, Navjot Singh Sidhu will not accompany them. Speaking to the media on Wednesday night, the Punjab Congress president's media advisor Surinder Dalla revealed that Sidhu had been given permission by the Centre to go to Kartarpur on November 20. This implies that he can pay obeisance at the historic shrine only after Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab which will be observed on November 19.

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'Kashmir Drifting Away Due To BJP's Strong-arm Tactics; Jammu Must Be A Bridge': Mehbooba

People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti called on the people of Jammu to 'be a bridge' and maintain a strong bond with Kashmir that is 'drifting' away due to the ruling BJP government's "strong-arm tactics." The former chief minister said she would continue her peaceful struggle for the restoration of the special status that was enjoyed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir until August 2019.

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UP Polls: SP's Vijay Rath Yatra Ends; Akhilesh Yadav Asserts Party Will Win 2022 Elections

The 'Samajwadi Party Vijay Rath Yatra' led by Akhilesh Yadav from Ghazipur to Lucknow culminated on Thursday night, in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, scheduled for next year. Yadav however stated that the 'real journey' will end after the ruling BJP is overthrown and the SP forms the government in the state.

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Pakistan Passes 33 New Bills Including Kulbhushan Jadhav's 'Right To Appeal'

On Wednesday, the Pakistani administration passed 33 bills in a joint sitting of Parliament, with the opposition rejecting the legislation, claiming that the Treasury benches bulldozed the bills. One of the bills passed grants India's Kulbhushan Jadhav the opportunity for review and reconsideration. Pakistan also passed a bill to amend the Elections Act, 2017, authorising the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) to allow Pakistanis abroad the right to vote in general elections.

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Sharad Pawar Defends Anil Deshmukh Again As Court Declares Param Bir 'proclaimed Offender'

After Param Bir Singh was declared 'proclaimed offender' by a court on Wednesday, Sharad Pawar asserted that this was a vindication of NCP's stance on Anil Deshmukh. Addressing a gathering in Nagpur, he reiterated that the former Maharashtra Home Minister was framed at the behest of BJP. Lashing out at Param Bir Singh for not cooperating with the authorities, Pawar lamented that Deshmukh was still in jail despite the former's failure to corroborate his 'extortion' allegations. On this occasion, the NCP supremo predicted that the saffron party will have to pay a price for allegedly falsely implicating Deshmukh.

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India Ready To Send Wheat To Afghanistan; Consignment Likely To Be Shipped Via Pak: Report

India has agreed to step forward and ease Afghanistans worsening hunger crisis, and food insecurity by supplying 50,000 tons of wheat in order to mitigate the neighbouring countrys ongoing woes that have spiralled for worse since the Talibans political takeover, reports revealed on Wednesday. The consignment is expected to be shipped via a route in Pakistan, an Afghan government official confirmed in a report carried by The New York Times.

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Israel Dismisses US Proposal For Interim Deal To Buy Time For Nuclear Talks With Iran

In fresh efforts to buy time for talks over stalled Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran, United States National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan has floated the idea of a short-term agreement with Tel Aviv. Citing its sources from Israel and US, Axios said Sullivan has discussed the idea of the interim deal with his Israeli counterpart Eyal Hulata. The talks are currently at a preliminary stage and are likely to hit further developments in the Vienna summit on 29 November.

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Coimbatore: Heavy Rains Bring Down Giant 50-year-old Tree; IMD Issues Red Alert In Chennai

A 50-year-old big tree toppled in Coimbatore's Ukkadam neighbourhood last night. Four motorcycles were damaged. Heavy rains with thunder and lightning pounded the whole Coimbatore district over the previous few days, and now, the 50-year-old tree collapsed yesterday evening. People in the vicinity did not come out owing to the rain, therefore there were no casualties. The fire department arrived on the site with logging machines and earthmovers to clear the road.

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The Russian Federation has discarded attempts to divide the Syrian Arab Republic and create quasi-states on its territory, a top official said, adding that the country will continue to help Damascus achieve its goal of national and inter-religious harmony in the country. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Alexander Lavrentyev, who serves as Russian presidents special envoy to Syria, said that the issue should be left to Syrians to resolve sans any external pressure," as reported by Sputnik.

Russia is aimed at further searching for ways of the Syrian settlement in the interests of preserving the independence, unity and territorial integrity of the state any attempts to divide the country and create quasi-state formations, regardless of the pretexts under which such attempts are made, remain unacceptable to us," Lavrentyev said in during a roundtable, which took place in Damascus as part of the visit of the Russian interdepartmental delegation.

Russia entered the civil war back in September 2015 following an official invite by President Vladimir Putins Syrian counterpart and his long term ally Bashar al-Assad. In over five years, Russian troops have not only managed to preserve al-Assads administration but also minimise and marginalise opposition. However, over a decade of conflict and contestation over land has brought the country on the verge of a possible fragmentation.

About the same, the Russian envoy on Wednesday emphasised that the situation in Syrian couldnt be allowed to overcome the line after which the existence of Syria as a unified state would be impossible. Furthermore, he emphasised that Moscow was willing to continue supporting the Syrian administration in achieving national and inter-religious harmony in the country.

Lavrentyev opposes Israeli bombings of Damascus

During his address, Lavrentyev also opposed the Israeli bombings of Damascus. On Wednesday, two projectiles fired by Israel targetted empty warehouses in the south of Syria's capital city Damascus, as per Syrian state media reports. The Israeli forces in the Golan Heights carried out the attack around 12:45 am (local time). However, no casualties have been reported so far and the Syrian Defence Forces intercepted one of the missiles, which the Israeli defence officials and analysts dismissed as "empty boasts", Times of Israel reported.

Image: AP
Russia will deliver the first shipment of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan on Thursday, Nov 18, which includes 36 tonnes of food, medicine, and essential goods, said Russias Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov. The country will also repatriate Afghan nationals with Russian citizenship on dedicated flights in November. "Now we are preparing special flights to that country [Afghanistan] to deliver large humanitarian aid, foodstuffs. On these special flights in November, we will also repatriate Afghan nationals with Russian citizenship," the Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 TV Channel, and Izvestia newspaper separately on Nov. 18.

"The special flights carried out by the Russian Defense Ministry will deliver to Afghanistan a large consignment of humanitarian cargo prepared by the Emergencies Ministry. It includes food, medicine, and essential goods. The first batch of 36 tonnes will be delivered on November 18. Then there are going to be two more shipments. Overall, over 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid will be supplied," the Russian envoy noted.

Taliban have assured equitable distribution of the international aid within the war-ravaged country suffering from critical food insecurity since the Talibans political take over. Additionally, it agreed that Russia can evacuate its citizens from Afghanistan on return flights. "This is essential. The Afghan authorities understand that any mistake will seriously complicate their further work with foreign funders," Zhirnov stressed in his recent remarks. Moscow last operated the evacuation flights from Afghanistan for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan between August 25 to 26. The Foreign Minister emphasised that the return flights would not be evacuation but "an assistance in the return to the homeland for those citizens who faced challenging conditions amid a dramatic change in Afghanistans military-political situation."

India asks international community to sideline partisan interests and send assistance to Afghanistan

India's Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) TS Tirumurti urged the international community and countries of the subcontinent to come together, to rise above partisan interests for assistance in Afghanistan. He called for inclusive dispensation in Afghanistan which evenly represents all sections of the Afghan society. While stressing that Afghanistan has witnessed much bloodshed and violence, the Indian Ambassador to UNSC stated that more than half of its population is headed for a crisis on emergency levels of acute food shortage and urgent humanitarian assistance to meet the basic food demand in the war-ravaged country.

"India is willing to coordinate with other stakeholders to work towards enabling the expeditious provision of much-needed assistance to the people of Afghanistan," TS Tirumurti said at the UNSC session on Wednesday.

India has also agreed to step forward and ease Afghanistans worsening hunger crisis, and food insecurity by supplying 50,000 tons of wheat in order to mitigate the neighbouring countrys ongoing woes. The consignment is expected to be shipped via a route in Pakistan, an Afghan government official confirmed, according to NYTimes. On Wednesday, the security chiefs from Iran and Russia met in New Delhi, making appeals to India to send humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
United Nations' atomic watchdog on Wednesday warned that Iran has drastically increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in breach of the commitments made with the worlds governments under the 2015 nuclear deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told member nations on Nov. 17 that its estimates of Irans nuclear stockpile as of November 6 have found that the Islamic Republic has been enriching uranium several times in excess of what was agreed by P5+1 in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) accord.

Irans outgoing President Hassan Rouhani had warned earlier that the Islamic Republic could enrich Uranium up to 90% purity at weapons-grade if its nuclear reactors needed it. The 2015 nuclear deal coerced Tehran to scale back its nuclear or uranium enrichment program in exchange for economic relief and ease of trade embargo.

Former US president Donald Trump had unilaterally scrapped the deal over Irans non-compliance, but US President Joe Biden agreed to repeal nearly 1,040 Trump-era sanctions to bring Iran on the negotiation table. Head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami had informed earlier last month that Iran has stockpiled more than 120 kilograms of enriched uranium as he accused the western powers who he said were meant to give Tehran enriched fuel at 20% to use in the Tehran reactor, but they havent done so.

Irans nuclear stockpile stood at 2,489.7 kg on Nov 6

In its explosive confidential quarterly report on Wednesday, obtained by the agencies including Associated Press, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stressed that Iran now has an estimated stock of 17.7 kilograms (39 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent fissile purity, that increased by 8 kilograms since August. On Nov. 6, Irans nuclear stockpile stood at 2,489.7 kg, an alarming level that can be used to make atomic weapons, and also that is much higher as compared to the limits set in the 2015 agreement, the Vienna-based agency stated.

Although the exact quantity could not be defined by the IAEA as the agency has been unable to access surveillance footage of Tehrans nuclear facilities via the online enrichment monitors and electronic seals since February after the country made these devices non-operational amid the ongoing talks in Vienna.

In September, however, the IAEA had reached a deal wherein Tehran agreed to allow the United Nations to upkeep its monitoring cameras at Iranian nuclear sites in order to avert the deadlock in talks pertaining to the 2015 nuclear deal. The international inspectors will be able to install new memory cards into surveillance cameras and resume the video recording in a new diplomatic step forward, the IAEA said.
UNESCO on Thursday elected Vietnam as a member of the Executive Board for the 2021-2025 term, reported Vietnam Plus on November 18. This comes after Hanoi won 163 out of 178 approval votes during a plenary session of the UNESCO General Assembly held on Wednesday at its Paris-based headquarters. With this, Vietnam will also become a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the fifth time.

Notably, Executive Board is one of the three constitutional organs of UNESCO-- a UN agency meant at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, the arts, the sciences, and culture. It is elected by the General Conference.

"Vietnam's election as a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for 2021 - 2025 holds great importance in many perspectives" Vietnam Plus quoted Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son as saying after the UN agency's decision.

More about UNESCO Executive Board

While explaining about the Executive Board, the Minister informed it consists of 58 members, serving under the authority of the General Conference the Board examines the program of work for the Organization and corresponding budget estimates submitted to it by the Director-General. Also, he notified that in Group 4 Asian and Pacific States, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cook Islands and China also got chosen to the Executive Board. "Vietnam is pledged to fulfil the duties of an Executive Board member so as to encourage and bring into play the role of UNESCO for the interest of humankind," the media outlet quoted the minister.

"This is also a good opportunity for the nation to magnify cooperation with the UN agency to open up new development spaces for it, thereby enhancing the religious life in society and creating a positive base for Vietnam to gain the sustainable expansion goals."

Vietnam opens airspace after 7 months

It is worth mentioning the country has opened the airspace nearly seven months after it has closed in April this month due to the COVID pandemic, reported VOVWORLD. The Government recently allowed five localities, including Quang Nam, to welcome back vaccinated visitors from abroad under a pilot program. On Wednesday, a Vietnam Airlines flight departing from the Republic of Korea (RoK) landed at Da Nang International Airport, bringing nearly 30 foreign tourists to local destinations under a pilot program to welcome them back to foreign travellers.

Image Credit: Twitter/@FMBuiThanhSon
Thousands of people infected with HIV in the United Kingdom will no longer have to take daily medications after health officials approved a groundbreaking treatment that involves an injection every two months. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued draft guidance offering the antiretroviral drugs cabotegravir and rilpivirine in England and Wales, according to a report by The Guardian. The report stated that the draft was issued after trials proved that the antiretroviral drugs work as effectively as daily tablets. The injections have also been authorised by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for adults living with HIV in Scotland.

The breakthrough was hailed as a "huge step forward" by Debbie Laycock, head of the strategy at Terrence Higgins Trust. Despite the fact that HIV, which affects the immune system, is still incurable, researchers discovered that individuals who received the new treatment may reach a point where the virus particles in their blood (viral load) were so low that they couldn't be identified or transmitted between people. The medication is the first injectable, long-acting HIV treatment for adults. It's also the first time NICE has made a recommendation about HIV treatments since they were brought under its competence two years ago.

'About 100,000 people are infected with HIV in UK': Reports

Cabotegravir with rilpivirine is now being recommended as an alternative for adults with HIV infection after it has been found that the antiretroviral medicines have kept the virus at a low level. It's also being advised in cases where there's no evidence to suspect viral resistance no previous side effects of other anti-HIV medicines. Notably, in the United Kingdom, about 100,000 people are infected with HIV. In England alone, it is expected that at least 13,000 people will be eligible initially for the new jab, reported the outlet.

It should be mentioned here that currently, HIV treatment entails daily antiretroviral tablets taken for the rest of one's life. The results of clinical trials demonstrate that cabotegravir with rilpivirine is just as effective as oral medicines at lowering virus loads. Every two months, the antiretrovirals will be administered as two separate injections. According to Chloe Orkin, an HIV medicine professor at the Queen Mary University of London, this is a paradigm-shifting moment in the UK since it is now possible to free patients with HIV from the burden of daily oral therapy and offer them just six jabs per year, reported The Guardian.

Image: Shutterstock
In fresh efforts to buy time for talks over stalled Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran, United States National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan has floated the idea of a short-term agreement with Tehran. Citing its sources from Israel and US, Axios said Sullivan has discussed the idea of the interim deal with his Israeli counterpart Eyal Hulata. The talks are currently at a preliminary stage and are likely to hit further developments in the Vienna summit on 29 November.

A source close to Axios informed that Sullivan's idea was a result of "brainstorming" over potential ways to resume JCPOA talks. The US NSA suggested the idea of unfreezing some Iranian assets or waiving off sanctions on Iranian humanitarian goods in return for stalling nuclear activities, Axios informed, citing the US sources.

Israel disagrees with US on interim nuclear deal

However, Israeli leader Hulata disagreed with Sullivan explaining that any interim deal might become a permanent agreement allowing Iran to maintain its nuclear infrastructure and uranium stockpile, an Israeli source told Axios under conditions of anonymity. Instead, Hulata stressed that the US and its European allies must push for a 'censure resolution' against Iran in the Vienna meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Meanwhile, US envoy to Iran Rob Malley visited Israel earlier this week to meet Hulata. He also engaged in discussions with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid. As per Axios, both the Israeli leaders emphasised the idea of increasing rather than loosening pressure on Iran -- to which, Malley also conveyed that the Biden administration also has similar views.

It is to mention that the JCPOA deal on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 together with the European Union. The P5+1 refers to the UN Security Council's five permanent members -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; as well as Germany. The JCPOA is an agreement that enables world powers to have core access to Iranian nuclear establishments for inspection purposes in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the talks on restoring the deal and bringing Iran back into compliance have been stalled since June 2021 after Tehran has incrementally violated the terms of the agreement and widened cap on its stockpile of uranium and increased activities above 3.67% allowed under JCPOA, House of Commons, UK had said in a statement.

(Image: @JakeSullivan46_Twitter/AP)
The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the US-India Strategic Partnership, Dr Mukesh Aghi, highlighted the urgency to drive the economic agenda under the Quad umbrella. Notably, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or QUAD is a strategic dialogue between the United States, India, Japan and Australia that is maintained by talks between member countries.

While speaking to news agency ANI, the head of a top India-centric American business advocacy group noted that both the countries must look at trade ties from a geopolitical perspective.

"Let look at it geopolitically. Biden administration has decided, along with Republicans, that China is an adversary. The three Cs that they apply --- Competition, Cooperation and Containment. From a bigger Quad perspective, the economic agenda plays a bigger role," the trade body chief said.

Notably, the statement from Aghi came days ahead of US Trade Representative Katherine Tai's visit to Asian countries, including India. During the conversation with ANI, Aghi said that the Quad countries would not only concentrate on Malabar exercise but also stress on vaccine diplomacy, technology and building advanced infrastructures.

"While the four Quad countries are having Malabar exercise but they are also focussing on vaccine diplomacy, newer technology or infrastructure. And I think that is where the economic agenda becomes more pivotal."

Aghi stresses the importance of driving economic agenda under Quad umbrella

According to him, the trade between New Delhi and Washington is improving and added that the business between the two countries would thrive further under the Biden and Modi administration. Urging for a "piecemeal approach" to the whole economic agenda, the trade chief said, "Overall if you look at a relationship on a trade side is improving."

"The numbers are going up. India's exports are up both goods and services and at the same time, the US has become one of the largest trading partners for India. India's FDI from the US is up by 60%. So we see a lot of interest momentum picking up. Pick up 50 items which are on the US side and 50 from the Indian side and work on those and how you can get the export-import going much smoother in that direction."

"You have to realise this is not just about tariffs. Here, some issues are much more complicated. It's about localisation, data protection and privacy. The complexities are much bigger than before 5-10 years ago," added Dr Mukesh Aghi.

With inputs from ANI

Image: ANI
A Democratic lawmaker from Texas has urged the White House to identify a replacement for Vice President Kamala Harris as "border czar" so that the migrant crisis can be addressed, according to a report by Washington Examiner. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, November 17, South Texas' senior Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar said he is no longer dealing with Harris on immigration issues and has changed his focus to working with other Biden administration officials, whom he termed as more forthcoming and helpful. He further stated that he has moved on from the Vice President to say, 'Okay, let's work with the ambassadors and the State Department. Let's work with the Homeland Secretary to address the migrant issues.'

"With all due respect to the Vice President, I don't think she has done justice with her role as 'border czar.' She was given this title but he failed to put in any efforts there. Now it's high time we look for other folks who have the expertise on that," Cuellar was quoted as saying by the outlet. The Biden administration has been strongly condemned by political opponents for the extraordinary immigration influx since Kamala Harris' nomination as "border czar" in March. Her role was to improve conditions in nations like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, which were the top three countries of origin for migrants, apart from Mexico.

Republicans continuously criticised Harris for not doing enough to address migrant issues

According to senior Border Patrol officers, Venezuela and Haiti have seen more residents cross the border than the Central American countries since September. Republicans have continuously criticised Harris for not doing enough to address the issue. Earlier in the month of June, Harris travelled to Guatemala and Mexico, urging illegal migrants "not to come" to the United States, and then she visited the US-Mexico border. However, thousands of Central American migrants have continued to approach the US border, fleeing poverty and crime in their own countries, reported news agency Sputnik.

It is significant to mention here that the number of noncitizens encountered attempting to enter the US from Mexico skyrocketed shortly after Biden entered the White House, rising from 80,000 in one month to over 215,000 by July. Meanwhile, the Rio Grande Valley Sector has registered nearly 65,000 migrant encounters since the beginning of October, up by 161% from the same period last year. According to data from US Customs and Border Protection, there were more than 164,000 migrant encounters along the US Southwest border, down by 14% from last month and 128% from the same time last year.

Image: Twitter/@ Rep. Henry Cuellar/AP
The BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded and rusting World War II-era ship that serves as an outpost for the Philippines, is seen from an aircraft flying above the South China Sea in a file photo.

Updated at 1:53 pm ET on 2021-11-18

The Philippines issued a strongly worded protest Thursday over the Chinese coast guards reported firing of water cannons to block a Filipino resupply mission to a military outpost at a reef in the South China Sea, calling the action illegal.

Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he had filed a protest in response to an incident on Tuesday around the Second Thomas Shoal  or Ayungin Shoal as Manila calls it  which lies within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

I have conveyed in the strongest terms to His Excellency, Huang Xilian, Ambassador of China, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing our outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident, Locsin said in a statement.

The acts of the Chinese coast guard vessels are illegal. China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must heed and back off, Locsin said, adding that supply missions to Second Thomas Shoal would continue.

We do not ask permission to do what we need to do in our territory, Locsin said.

China Coast Guard ships blocked and fired water cannons on two Philippine supply ships transporting food to military personnel stationed in Ayungin, Locsin said, citing military incident reports.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, the top Filipino diplomat said.

I reminded China that a public vessel is covered by the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty, Locsin added.

Under the 1951 treaty, U.S. troops would come to its allys aid in case of foreign aggression  including in the South China Sea, as top American defense officials affirmed recently.

The Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged atoll in the Spratlys Islands, is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Since 1999, the Philippines has maintained a Marine detachment there aboard a World War II-era warship, the BRP Sierra Madre (pictured), deliberately grounded on the reef to serve as an outpost.

Locsin reiterated that the shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island group, the portion of the Spratlys that Manila claims as part of its territory. The island group is an integral part of the Philippines, its EEZ and continental shelf.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, who heads a national task force for the West Philippine Sea, said that two Chinese coast guard vessels blocked the Filipino ships while a third fired water cannons for an hour. The West Philippine Sea is Manilas name for its territories in the South China Sea.

They maneuvered but had to abort their resupply mission, Esperon told reporters, referring to the Filipino ships.

He also noted an unusual movement of Chinese ships near the shoal during the past week as Philippine spotters monitored about 19 Chinese militia vessels in the area. Elsewhere, about 45 ships have been spotted near Pag-asa, an island also known as Thitu, in the past year.

So they are very aggressive. We are protesting that because thats part of our EEZ, and those are low-tide elevations. Nobody is supposed to be there. It is within our EEZ, he said.

Chinese ships have in the past attempted to block resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal by chasing and harassing Philippine boats. This weeks incident was the first time in years that Philippine authorities reported that Chinese vessels used water cannons against Filipino ships.

China used a similar tactic in a 2014 incident near Scarborough Shoal against Filipino fishermen, the military told foreign correspondents at the time.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to telephone calls seeking comment.

In Hanoi on Thursday, Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement responding to the news about the incident off the Second Thomas Shoal.

Vietnam urges all relevant sides to adhere to international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) in all their activities in the South China Sea, avoid actions that could complicate the situation and strive to maintain peace, security, stability and maritime order in the region, said Le Thi Thu Hang, spokeswoman for the ministry.

Activists protest against Chinese ships in South China Sea waters claimed by the Philippines, during a demonstration outside the Chinese consulate in Manila, July 12, 2021. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews]

Recent encounters

In April, reports surfaced that Chinese navy warships had chased a civilian boat carrying a Philippine news crew near the shoal.

Chinas recently enacted Coast Guard Law authorizes the use of aggressive tactics on what it considers intruders in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims in nearly its entirety.

However, a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal invalidated the sweeping nine-dash line claim of Beijing and affirmed Manilas sovereign rights to a 200-nautical mile EEZ in the sea.

Earlier this year, Manila and Beijing became embroiled in a diplomatic spat after the Philippine military reported the presence of about 200 Chinese ships it believed to be maritime militias near Whitsun Reef, also within the Philippine EEZ.

The ships lingered in different parts of the EEZ for months, prompting Manila to deploy more military, coast guard and other government ships.

Despite these provocations from China, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has refrained from directly calling out or criticizing Beijing, which he considers a friend.

Under his administration, Manila has sought closer ties with Beijing and taken a softer tone when addressing the South China Sea dispute. He claims to have sealed an agreement with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on ships access to the Philippine EEZ.

While the effectiveness of the diplomatic notes is yet to be seen, they may indicate that Manila has become more open in their intention of how to deal with Beijing, according to Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the University of the Philippines.

The wind is changing in the Philippines approach, said Viet Hoang, a well-known Vietnamese South China Sea analyst.

Joint marine research

Meanwhile, Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to resume a joint marine scientific research expedition that had been halted since 2007, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced this week.

According to a statement from the department issued on Wednesday, the Philippines-Vietnam Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns met last week to discuss various initiatives for science-based cooperation and also maritime security cooperation.

The last such event took place in 2019.

The DFA said upholding the rule of the law in the South China Sea and the revival of the joint marine scientific research expedition were among the highlights of the group.

Joint maritime activities between Vietnam and the Philippines were suspended during President (Rodrigo) Dutertes term mainly because the President wanted to foster a strong relationship with China, Viet, the analyst, said.

But since Dutertes term is nearing its end, Philippines seeks to expand cooperation with other countries, especially the U.S., he said, adding that Vietnam should seize this opportunity to bring forward bilateral maritime projects with the Philippines.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Dai Zigeng is serving time with forced labor in Beijing Prison after a secret trial, a former colleague says.

Authorities in Beijing have sentenced former Beijing News publisher and co-founder Dai Zigeng to eight years' imprisonment for "bribery," RFA has learned.

Court records showed Dai was the subject on an enforcement ruling by the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court on Feb. 22, 2021 that seized more than 16 million yuan of Dai's assets, selling some of them.

Dai, 58, resigned as publisher at the Beijing News after the CCP stepped up control and censorship of the media, beginning with the Guangzhou-based Southern newspaper group, in 2013, and later worked as general manager and deputy secretary of the CCP committee of Beijing Cultural Investment and Development Group, a state-owned investment and management services company.

State media reported in June 2019 that Dai was under investigation by the disciplinary arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for "serious violations of discipline and law."

A letter written by Dai in prison and posted to social media said he is now assigned forced labor at the Beijing Prison after a period of "intensive re-education" at the Beijing No. 2 Prison.

He writes that his legs are swollen due to prolonged periods sitting down, and that he is forced to work up to seven hours a day, and has so far failed to fill his labor quota.

Veteran journalist Cheng Yizhong, who co-founded the Beijing News with Dai, said he believes the leaked prison letter is genuine.

He said Dai's sentencing and trial appeared to have taken place in secret, as neither the sentence nor any details of the charges against him had been made public.

"The CCP knows perfectly well that every one of its officials is corrupt," Cheng said. "That means that they had all better do as they are told or risk being exposed as such."

"They have set up this system so they are in a position to control everyone."

According to lawyer Wu Youshui, every inmate in Chinese prisons is expected to do daily forced labor in return for easier treatment or early release, with the exception of high-ranking facilities like Qincheng Prison in Beijing, where former top officials are sent.

"There is forced labor in every Chinese prison," Wu told RFA. "The word inside is that they don't have to work in Qincheng Prison, or if you [served as an official ranking] above provincial and ministry level."

"So many people are getting sent to prison these days, that everyone below departmental level is regarded as low-ranking, and have to work four hours every morning and three hours every afternoon," he said.

"If you work hard and well, you can earn rewards, like a shorter sentence," Wu said. "They set the targets very high, for example making 800 cardboard boxes in one morning, so older people can't make these targets."

"Those who can't fill their quotas are punished," he said.

'In line with current law'

An official who answered the phone at the Beijing municipal prison administration on Thursday denied it engaged in forced labor, and said the practice was in line with current prison law.

"According to the Prison Law, criminals who are capable of working must take part in labor," the official said. "Maybe this is what you mean by seven hours' forced labor."

Asked whether higher-ranking officials didn't need to comply with that law, the official said: "I don't know about that."

Asked why inmates at Qincheng Prison weren't required to work, she said: "That [facility] is under the direct management of the ministry of justice, so we don't know about it. It's not convenient for me to answer this question."

An employee who answered the phone at Beijing Prison declined to comment when contacted about Dai Zigeng's situation on Thursday.

Dai founded the Beijing News in 2003 as the investor representative of the Guangming Daily, where he had been Guangdong provincial bureau chief.

The Beijing News was handed over to the Beijing propaganda authorities in 2011. Dai was transferred in 2017 to the Beijing Cultural Investment and Development Group. Online rumors say he may have been purged due to some connection with the crackdown on the Anbang Insurance group.

Wu Xiaohui, a relative by marriage of late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping and chairman of the once-aggressive overseas investor Anbang Insurance, was placed under investigation by the CCP's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in 2017.

Wu, who is married to Deng's granddaughter Zhuo Ran, was taken away by Chinese authorities on June 9, 2017. The company was later taken over by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, and Wu was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for "fraud and embezzlement" in May 2018.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Growers have been forced to give away or destroy hundreds of tons of their product.

Growers in Laos were forced to give away or destroy hundreds of tons of bananas intended for export to China when a renewed coronavirus surge closed the border, the growers told RFA.

A truck driver from China last week tested positive after returning home through the Mohan-Boten gate in Laos northwestern province of Luang Namtha, prompting authorities to temporarily close the point most often used to transport bananas from Laos to China.

Exporters also attempted to send the bananas to China via Vietnam, but a COVID surge there closed borders as well.

China wont allow us to enter, a banana farmer from the northern province of Oudomxay told RFAs Lao Service.

We threw away more than 100 tons of bananas from Oudomxay. Normally it takes two to three days for the bananas to get from Oudomxay to China. If we send them from through the border gate in Vietnam, and then on a boat to China, it takes about three to four days, but we cannot enter Vietnam either, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak freely.

Vietnam shut down its border with Laos, an official in the province of Savannakhet, told RFA.

If it were up to us, we would allow them to transport in and out, as long as they follow the rules, the official said. But we dont understand why Vietnam wont allow them to enter.

Farmers scrambled to give away their bananas before they rotted, but much of their product ended up being destroyed on site.

There are so many  maybe two or three truckloads of bananas  that we couldnt send out, a Savanakhet farmer told RFA.

Around 200 to 300 boxes that we couldnt ship had to be destroyed last week, the farmer said.

The border closures have left many smaller farmers on the brink of financial ruin, a recipient of free bananas told RFA.

Large banana operations have also suffered huge losses, but these farms were able to recoup some of the loss by charging the recipients of the free bananas for shipping.

It depends on the farm owner how much they can give to an individual. If we ask for five bunches, they will give it to us, but we have to pay for transport, the banana receiver said.

The others dont give them for free. They sell it cheaply, at a price lower than market price, the source said.

Most of the banana farms in Laos are owned by Chinese companies and are situated near the Chinese border in northern Laos. But Chinese investors are moving into the central and southern parts of the country year by year.

The areas for banana plantations in Laos are not fixed and fluctuate year to year. In some years we have more, and in others we have less, an official from the Agriculture and Forestry Department told RFA.

Before there were a lot in the northern part of Laos, but now there are plantations as far away as Borikhamxay [in the central region] and Saravane [in the deep south], the official said.

The Vientiane Times reported this week that many banana companies would likely be forced to close if the Mohan-Boten border gate remain closed for three months.

Banana farming is a major source of employment in rural Laos. But illnesses and deaths have long been reported among Lao workers exposed to chemicals on foreign-owned banana farms. Chemical run-off from the farms has also polluted many of the countrys waterways, killing fish and fouling drinking water.

Many in Laos are also concerned about growing Chinese influence as a result of massive investment in hydropower dams and other infrastructure projects under Beijing's $1.3 trillion Belt and Road Initiative.

China is Laos largest foreign investor and aid provider, and its second-largest trade partner, after Thailand.



Reported by RFA's Lao Service. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Women continue to be trafficked from Laos into China in spite of warnings against trusting promises of well-paid work across the border.

The Boten Check Point on the border between Laos and China is shown in a May 14, 2021 photo.

A young Lao woman missing from her home for more than two months is believed by family members to have been trafficked to China, lured by the promise of work, her mother and other sources say.

Fongsamouth Vilayhong, 20, had traveled first to the Lao capital Vientiane and then later dropped from sight, the young womans mother told RFAs Lao Service.

I havent been able to contact my daughter for more than two months now, the mother said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Whenever I called, a Chinese man answered the phone, and now her mobile phone has been completely shut down.

I believe she has been sold or trafficked to China, Fongsamouths mother added.

Fongsamouth had gone to Vientiane in early January to work as a housekeeper, and a couple of weeks later became acquainted with a Lao woman who said she was married to a man in China, the mother said.

This Lao lady convinced her to go to work in China, where she said she could make a lot of money, and she called me to transfer 400,000 kip [U.S. $40] to the Lao lady, saying that the money was needed for filing travel documents to go to China, the mother said.

Now I cant contact that Lao lady anymore, because her phone number has been blocked, she said.

Authorities in the missing womans Nakhong village in the Houn district of Oudomxay province issued a notice of her disappearance on May 5, saying that Fongsamouth had left the village on January 12 and had later lost contact with her family for more than two months.

Also speaking to RFA, an Oudomxay province police officer said that Fongsamouth had been detained at the Boten Border Check Point on Feb. 12 while trying to cross into China using false travel documents, and was released on Feb. 24.

The Oudomxay provincial police department informed the family and the village authorities, who called Fongsamouths phone number. At first a Chinese man answered the call, but later the phone was shut off, the officer said, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

Taken across the border

In early May, police traced the signal of Fongsamouths mobile phone and found that it no longer came from Laos, the officer said, adding, She must have already been in China and must have been taken across the border illegally, because the Lao border officials wouldnt allow her to pass through earlier.

Were having trouble contacting Chinese police right now because of COVID-19. Usually, they respond to us quite quickly, he said.

Young women continue to be trafficked from Laos to China in spite of NGO and government efforts to alert them to the dangers involved in trusting recruiters promises of well-paid work across the border, police officials say.

Since January of this year, a dozen girls and women between the ages of 15 and 30 have been trafficked to China, but we have not been able to rescue them because of the situation with COVID-19, an officer in the Houn district police department said.

Last year, two Hmong girls were trafficked to China from our district but were later sent home, and after questioning them, we determined they had been the victims of human trafficking.

In the case of Fongsamouth, we dont know for sure if she was trafficked or not, because shes still missing, he said.

Reported and translated by Max Avary for RFAs Lao Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Activists have endured dismal conditions while detained in Myanmars notorious Insein Prison since the military seized power in a coup, according to a former detainee, who said that she survived COVID-19 and other illnesses in the facility and remains haunted by her experience despite being released last month.

A 30-year-old woman, who referred to herself by the pseudonym Grace in an interview with RFAs Myanmar Service, was arrested on March 3 while protesting the juntas takeover during a rally in Yangons Kyaukmyaung Ward. She was sentenced to more than eight months in Insein Prison for making statements questioning the legitimacy of the government but released on Oct. 19 as part of a general amnesty.

Grace, who withheld her real identity for fear of reprisal, said that she and the other nearly 300 inmates who were held in the No. 2 Womens Dormitory were denied clean water and that she continues to suffer from severe skin rashes and lesions as a result.

The water pumps often broke down and the authorities would ask for donations [to get them fixed], she said.

The water in the bathing tanks was often dirty with sediment because about 200 inmates had to share them. We were allowed to have a bath once a day, either in the morning or in the evening, but there would be too many people in the mornings and the water would be filthy in the evenings. Thats how I got my skin problems.

While Grace has been freed, she told RFA that she remains traumatized by her time in Insein. She regularly experiences anxiety attacks and nightmares, and says she often thinks of the countrys political prisoners who remain behind bars.

Grace said prison authorities did not provide inmates with proper medical care, and many of them suffered from skin afflictions similar to hers. In July, she and several other inmates became infected with COVID-19 and a 60-year-old woman died. The conditions were so deplorable that the inmates tried to care for themselves, believing that to be a better alternative that seeking help from prison staff.

Whenever we had shortness of breath, we used plastic bags as an emergency oxygen supply, she said. Otherwise, if we reported we had fever or sickness, we would be sent to the prison hospital and that was something we didnt want, because youd be all alone and unattended there.

After the woman died, the inmates demanded to see the prison warden to complain about official negligence, but the dorm-in-charge said the warden wouldnt see us simply because we made demands.

We were infuriated and said we would make him come to see us. That day, we refused to observe the prison rules, we didnt go out for the roll call, didnt gather for the prayer session, etc.

On July 23, the inmates collectively began singing I want to go home, a song written by detained musician Po Po. After that, they sang political songs, and staged a protest, demanding an explanation from officials about why the COVID-19 victim had not been properly cared for, as well as access to proper medical treatment. The inmates chants of protest could be heard well outside the walls of the compound, Grace said.

The inmates got carried away and started singing political songs and chanting slogans. At that time, the assistant warden and other officers came in a rush, she said.

We saw that the prison staff had batons tucked under their jackets.  We tried to calm the young people  and told them not to make a fuss or make their mistake ours and they all sat down quietly on the floor. And so, there was no violence.

A week later, prison officials told us that our demands had been forwarded to higher authorities.

Prison officials told the media at the time of the protest that full medical care had been given to those with COVID-19 infections.

The protest came three days after the juntas July 20 order to release all prisoners held under a group of 11 charges that include gambling, possession of illicit liquor, drugs and prostitution. The release, which the military said had been granted to protect against the spread of COVID-19, drew criticism for omitting detainees who had spoken out against the juntas Feb. 1 coup detat.

Nine months after the coup, security forces have killed 1,270 civilians and arrested at least 7,344, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Many of the deaths and arrests have occurred during crackdowns on anti-junta protests.

Detainees whove endured torture and other forms of abuse at the hands of Myanmars junta security forces say they suffer from severe depression and mental illness long after their release and live in constant fear of rearrest.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
About 100 captives are being forced to work without pay in a factory that might be bribing police, sources said.

Authorities in China have detained more than 400 Myanmar migrant workers for more than a year for entering the country illegally and working without official documents, released migrants told RFA.

About 300 of the migrants were held at a prison in the southern coastal city of Dongguan, while the rest are detained inside a seafood factory in the city of Weihai, Shandong province, a peninsula that juts eastward into the Yellow Sea.

The 400 workers are among a pool of some 230,000 migrants who have sought work in China in the wake of armed conflict, environmental destruction and natural disasters in Myanmar, the Mekong regions largest source of migrants, according to the U.N.s International Organization for Migration. The undocumented status of the workers leaves them susceptible to exploitation at the hands of business owners and local officials.

Hailing from Kyauktaw township in Myanmars western state of Rakhine, Aye Lwin Than arrived in China in March 2018 to work in a wire factory in Dongguan. He was arrested in September 2020 and released one year later.

It was a large dormitory, and there were many dormitories, each about five floors. There were 19 or 20 rooms on each floor and all the rooms were full, Aye Lwin Than, who was granted her release in September, told RFAs Myanmar Service about his time at the prison in Dongguan.

When we arrived after being arrested, there were 27 or 28 occupants in each room. They were all, like us, arrested while working. We had no idea at the time how many months or years we would be there or when we would be released, said Aye Lwin Than. He called the situation hopeless.

Aye Lwin Than said 20 Myanmar citizens worked with him at the factory. Nine men and eight women were arrested, and three others escaped, he said.

He and five others were sent to the prison in Dongguan. He said that he did not know the fate of the other 12.

The police asked me how we came into the country, who the agent and brokers were, how long we had been in the country, where we had worked, how much we earned, and things like that. They never told us what charges we were being held under, he said.

They then took us away in handcuffs, gave us medical checks and sent us straight to prison. On the way, in the prison bus, I asked where my friends were and they said we would be staying at the same place, but I never saw them again, Aye Lwin Than said.

The five others who went to prison with Aye Lwin Than included one person from Yangon, one from Kachin state and three from Rakhine. They were all released and deported to Myanmar in September 2020.

Family members of some of the detainees in the Dongguan prison told RFA that they needed help securing their release.

Myanmar migrants work at factories, construction sites, farms, restaurants and as domestic helpers in China. But they are not legally allowed to be there, a situation that leaves them vulnerable to abuses, including forced labor, wage theft, human trafficking, extortion and debt bondage, aid groups say.

Chinese government officials sometimes work with business owners to exploit migrants, according to Aung Myat Min, who told RFA he escaped from the Nishi Haitai Marine Food Co. plant in Weihai, Shandong province, where he and at least 90 others he is aware of were forced to work without pay.

While preparing seafood for export to South Korea and Japan, Aung Myat Min and 45 other Myanmar nationals were arrested by Chinese police, who said they could avoid prison by working for the companys owner without pay.

He and the five others reported their situation to Myanmars embassy and were released with the embassys help.

But 90 workers are still enslaved at the factory, he said.

The companys name is Yang Ming in Nishi Haitai Group, Wendeng district, Weihai, Shandong province. There were 46 of us, all Myanmars. We were held for two or three days in a big room in the company compound, which has iron gates and bars like a prison, Aung Myat Min said.

After three days, 28 other Myanmar nationals were brought in from another factory in Wendeng district. There were nine rooms in the dormitory. I and the other 45 people were kept in the nine rooms, with men and women separate. Each room held about nine people and they locked the door and we could not communicate with those in other rooms, he said.

Aung Myat Min said there were 23 people who were detained at the factory before his group of 46 arrived. Another 28 people arrived later, bringing the total number of detained Myanmars working without pay there to 97.

Aung Myat Min said the factorys Chinese owner and the police handcuffed and kept him in isolation for 11 days in another part of the factory when they found out he reported the situation to the Myanmar embassy. He gave the embassy a list of 90 of the detainees.

Aung Myat Mins brother, who requested anonymity because he is still working in Wendeng district, told RFA that most factories in Weihai are working alongside the police and are likely holding about 300 Myanmar migrants who are being used as unpaid laborers.

"Of those arrested along with my brother, only four or five of them have been released. I dont know where the others are being held now. Sometimes they are taken to work for other companies, said Aung Myat Mins brother.

The embassy said they would be released in November. Even my brother was freed only about two months after we reported the situation to the embassy. I have no contact with the embassy now. Whenever we call them they just say everything will be all right. When we contact them, they only give us a reply after a week or more. I don't know if they're too busy to talk to us," he said.

In a previous report, Aung Myat Min said he suspected the companies bribed the police so that they could exploit the workers.

There is no official bilateral agreement between China and Myanmar on migrant workers, but hundreds of thousands of Myanmar nationals go to China every year to work. Residents on the Chinese side of the border said most Myanmar workers in China are often considered illegal workers and often get arrested because there is no agreement for migrant labor.

Chinas embassy in Myanmar told RFA that Beijing recognizes the rights and interests of foreigners in China.

If foreigners in China encounter difficulties or disputes, they can seek help from the nearest local public security agencies or their country's embassy or consulate in China, the embassy said in an email.

In response to a question about Myanmar citizens detained in prisons, the embassy also said that China is a country ruled by law and foreigners should abide by those laws.

Translated by Khin Maung Nyane Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Members of a bipartisan congressional commission warned Wednesday that Chinas use of technology to repress Muslim Uyghurs in its far-western Xinjiang is widening and could be exported around the world.

The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which Congress established in 2000, held a hearing in Washington to draw attention to human rights abuses and the strategic impact of mass surveillance technology and censorship used by China, including in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, co-chairperson of the 17-member commission, said that without proper guardrails to protect privacy and human rights, technology can be used by authoritarian regimes to control populations, prevent freedom of expression, and undermine democratic institutions.

China has the most pervasive surveillance state the world has ever seen using technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing, said Merkley, a U.S. senator from Oregon.

The government has amassed huge amounts of data from cell phones, personal computers, and security cameras to impose political and social control of targeted populations, he said.

Nowhere do we see this more than in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Merkley said.

For years, Chinese authorities have subjected Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang to arbitrary arrests and restrictions on their religious practice and culture. The system is enforced by a pervasive digitized system that monitors the every move of residents through surveillance drones, facial recognition cameras, mobile phone scans, and an extensive police presence.

Chinas Digital Silk Road  a component of its Belt and Road Initiative to enhance digital connectivity abroad  is an intrusive ecosystem of internet architecture and surveillance technology aiming to expand the Peoples Republic of Chinas influence around the world, Rep. Chris Smith said.

Chinese authorities relentless persecution of predominantly Muslims Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Central Asian people in the countrys Xinjiang region provides a disturbing preview of what these tools misuse [would be] on an even broader scale, he said.

China has held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and others in re-education camps since 2017. It dismisses widely documented evidence, including testimony from former detainees and guards, that it has mistreated Muslims living inside and outside the camps.

Instead, Chinese officials contend that the camps are vocational training facilities used to prevent religious extremism and terrorism in the region, which is home to about 12 million Uyghurs.

But Geoffrey Cain, author of a recent book on surveillance in China, told commission members that former camp detainees and Uyghur and Kazakh refugees he had interviewed told similar stories about Xinjiangs descent into a total surveillance dystopia.

China uses its Integrated Joint Operations Platform to store data collected from police human inputs, camera surveillance and criminal and court histories. It then takes the information to determine whether Uyghurs are likely to commit a crime, Cain said. Local police interrogate and detain Uyghurs flagged by the system through notifications sent to the authorities smartphones.

The technologies developed by Chinese tech firms such as telecom giant Huawei, facial recognition technology provider Megvii, and AI software provider SenseTime amount to a system of mass psychological torture, he said.

Xinjiang minority residents have a feeling of constantly being watched not by humans, but by crude software algorithms designed to predict future crimes and acts of terrorism with great inaccuracy, Cain said.

The reasons for detention could be as far-flung as whether they went through the front or back door, whether they began a physical exercise routine suddenly, and whether they had the flu and were simply late for work that day, Cain told the commission.

There was no immediate response about the hearing from the Chinese government.

A government installed facial recognition device to grant residents access to their compound is seen on a gate in Urumqi, capital of northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, May 7, 2021. Credit: Reuters





'Situation could have been far worse'

The hearing came two days after a three-hour virtual meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to discuss bilateral relations.

During the meeting, Biden underscored U.S. concerns about human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, according to a briefing the following day by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. He did not elaborate on what was said.

Dolkun Isa, president of the Germany-based World Uyghur Congress, said he was grateful that Biden broached Chinas atrocities against the Uyghurs during the virtual summit with Xi.

If it was not for Americas condemnation of China committing genocide against Uyghurs, our situation could have been far worse today, he told RFA on Tuesday.

The Biden administration must boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics, Isa said. If it doesnt, itll only embolden China to continue to commit the genocide.

In June, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China urged Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, to postpone the 2022 Beijing Games and to relocate them if the host government did not end its human rights abuses.

The U.S. government has declared that the Chinas campaign of abuse against Uyghurs in Xinjiang amounts to crimes against humanity and genocide.

On the same day Biden and Xi met, the 2021 China Xinjiang Development Forum was held in Beijing to highlight the success of the Belt and Road Initiative and the important role Xinjiang has played, while accusing Washington of using the issue to weaken China.

The U.S.-led Western anti-China forces time and again manufactured Xinjiang related empty claims such as genocide, forced labor, and forced sterilization and used so-called human rights issues to harshly interfere in Chinas internal affairs, said Jiang Jianguo, vice minister of the Chinese Communist Partys Central Propaganda Department.

Through political motives, they attempted to use Xinjiang to contain China and use terrorism to constrain China. By wreaking havoc in Xinjiang, they attempted to prevent the development of a strong China, he said.
The Russian state media monitor Roskomnadzor has filed a lawsuit in a Moscow court seeking a 500,000-ruble ($6,800) fine against the news website The Insider, which was added to the country's controversial registry of "foreign agents" in July.

The case is over the lack of appropriate labeling of content on The Insider website, according to TASS, citing a source in the court. A court document cited by TASS is dated November 17. A hearing date has not been set.

The Ministry of Justice entered The Insider on the register of "foreign agents" on July 23 as part of a mounting crackdown on independent news media.

Russia's "foreign agent" legislation requires nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign assistance and that the government deems to be engaged in political activity to be registered, to identify themselves as "foreign agents," to submit to audits, and to label their content with an intrusive disclaimer, with criminal fines for not doing so.

The Insider is registered in Latvia and operates under Latvian law, its editor in chief Roman Dobrokhotov said after its designation as a "foreign agent." It is therefore not obliged to obey the requirements of the Russian authorities, he said.

Just days after The Insider was labeled as a "foreign agent," Moscow police searched Dobrokhotov's apartment and that of his parents. Dobrokhotov's passport was confiscated, but he still managed to leave the country.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in September said an arrest warrant had been issued for Dobrokhotov.

Dobrokhotov is accused of illegally crossing the border into Ukraine in August, "bypassing the established checkpoints," the FSB said. The statement added that Dobrokhotov faced criminal prosecution and up to two years in prison.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service and TASS
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the Iranian judiciary's "unrelenting persecution" of an Iranian photojournalist and activist who must serve two years of internal exile after being released earlier this week from nearly eight years in imprisonment.

On November 16, Soheil Arabi was released from prison, where he was mistreated and tortured, but he must now spend two years in the southern city of Borazjan, more than 1,000 kilometers from his Tehran home, the Paris-based media freedom watchdog said in a statement on November 17.

Iran, which is ranked 174th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2021 World Press Freedom Index, "does not content itself with arresting and jailing its citizens arbitrarily but also gives them 'complementary sentences' in order to silence them forever," said Reza Moini, the head of the group's Iran-Afghanistan desk.

Arabi's family condemned the additional sentence and claimed he had been imprisoned "illegally for 285 days." His lawyer said these days should be discounted from the time he has to spend in internal exile.

Arabi, who was awarded the RSF Press Freedom Prize in the citizen-journalist category in 2017, was "the victim of arbitrary and illegal judicial and 'disciplinary' harassment for years," according to the watchdog.

Arrested in Tehran in late 2013, the activist was successively sentenced to three years in prison, 30 lashes, and a heavy fine.

Arabi was convicted of "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" on Facebook and sentenced to death in 2014, but that sentence was overturned. The following year, he was finally sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison.

During his first months in detention, he was mistreated to try to make him confess to involvement in the creation of a Facebook network that posted blasphemous messages and spread information critical of the regime, RSF said.

It also said that Arabi "was moved from one prison to another, spent long periods in solitary confinement, and was even tortured and injured for becoming the mouthpiece of those inmates denouncing the appalling conditions" in prison.

Arabi's mother, Farangis Mazloom, was notified last month that she will have to serve a one-year prison sentence for drawing the public's attention to the inhuman and degrading treatment that her son was subjected to while behind bars.
Belarus cleared some camps where migrants had gathered in freezing temperatures along the border with Poland, while hundreds of migrants were flown back to Iraq in a potential sign that a weeks-long crisis could begin to ease.



Around 2,000 migrants were moved into a crowded heated warehouse near the border, Belarusian state-run media reported on November 18.



But the Polish Defense Ministry posted video showing a few hundred people and their tents still near an official crossing point that has been the scene of clashes between Polish security forces and migrants in recent days.



It was not clear if the two countries were talking about two different sites on their border, or whether Belarus would try to transfer the migrants to other sections of the Polish frontier.

Earlier, Polish soldiers detained about 100 migrants that officials said were aided by Belarusian security forces to illegally cross the border. The Defense Ministry in Warsaw said Belarusian forces carried out reconnaissance and then allegedly damaged a border fence.

The EU accuses Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka of flying in migrants and funneling them to the borders of member states Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania to retaliate for sanctions the bloc imposed over a sweeping crackdown since last years disputed presidential election.

WATCH: With temperatures dropping, some migrants who had camped out by the border have now moved to a temporary shelter in Belarus where they await potential deportation.



Meanwhile, in the first repatriation flight since the crisis began, some 430 Iraqi migrants boarded an Iraqi Airways aircraft in Minsk for the journey back home, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. The plane stopped first in Irbil, the capital of Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdish region, before flying on to Baghdad.



Belarus was treating us very badly and the Polish authorities did not allow us to cross the border, the Kurdistan 24 news site quoted one repatriated women as saying at Irbil airport.

Kurdish leader Masrour Barzani said his government would take efforts to ensure citizens are not caught in a similar situation again.



I'm relieved by the safe return of our citizens caught up in the border between Poland and Belarus, he said. We will continue working with the federal government and partners to bring home all those who wish to return.

The camp clearances and repatriation flight came during a week of intensified diplomacy, with the European Union and United States simultaneously threatening fresh sanctions on Minsk for weaponizing migration.



German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke with Lukashenka on November 17 about the EU providing humanitarian aid to the migrants and helping them return home, in the second such call in less than a week.



Until Merkels calls with Lukashenka, the EU had refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus.



A spokeswoman for Lukashenka, Natallya Eismont, said on November 18 that about 7,000 migrants were currently in the country, 2,000 of whom were in areas near the border. Eismont said Belarus wants the EU to open a humanitarian corridor to allow 2,000 migrants to head to Germany, while Belarusian authorities try to get the other 5,000 to return home.



However, the European Commission and Germany denied that EU countries will take in 2,000 migrants trapped in Belarus.



"If we took in refugees, if we bowed to the pressure and said 'we are taking refugees into European countries,' then this would mean implementing the very basis of this perfidious strategy," German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said in Warsaw.



Polish Foreign Minister Mateusz Morawiecki cautioned against holding direct talks with Lukashenka's government, saying that doing so would "legitimize" his presidency despite the bloc's rejection of the results of the August 2020 Belarusian presidential election.



Polish President Andrzej Duda said a day earlier that Poland must be included in any decisions regarding the crisis.



"Poland will not recognize any deals agreed without us," Duda said.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, Kurdistan 24, and BelSat
Germany has raised the issue of sanctions against officials of the Serbian-majority entity that makes up part of Bosnia-Herzegovina who have threatened to unilaterally withdraw from state institutions established under the 1995 peace accord that ended the Bosnian War.

Berlin asked the European Union's European External Action Service (EEAS) to draft a document with proposals on sanctions against officials of the Republika Srpska, RFE/RL reported on November 17, citing diplomatic sources in Brussels.

The issue was discussed that day at a meeting of the bloc's political and security committee at the level of ambassadors of member states.

There was strong support for the document, which was also officially requested by the Czech Republic, sources confirmed to RFE/RL.

The sanctions are expected to cover people who "seriously endanger the security situation" or undermine the Dayton peace accords that created two entities in Bosnia, the Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation. The country is still governed and administered along ethnic lines established by the agreement.

"If we agree, the name of Milorad Dodik will be at the top of that list," a senior EU official told RFE/RL.

The Bosnian Serb leader has been threatening to withdraw from state-level institutions, including Bosnia's joint judiciary, military, and tax administration. He has brushed aside international concerns that such an agenda could spark renewed conflict in the ethnically divided Balkan country.

The initiative was met with strong resistance from Hungary, according to several sources familiar with the matter.

Dodik, the Serbian representative in Bosnia's tripartite presidency, welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Republika Srpska for a brief visit on November 6.

The presentation of a document with proposed sanctions to the EEAS is a regular procedure that must be followed when raising the issue of sanctions against one country or entity at the EU level.

A decision on sanctions would require a consensus among all members.
Britain says it will hold a public inquiry into the death of a woman believed to have died indirectly during the 2018 poisoning of a former Russian double agent.

Dawn Sturgess's inquest could be converted into a public inquiry, Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote in a letter to Coroner Heather Hallett on November 18, saying she hoped it would "bring comfort" to the family.

Public inquiries are major probes convened by a government minister that can be gifted special powers to compel testimony and the release of other forms of evidence.

Sturgess, 44, died in a hospital in July 2018 after she and her partner became seriously ill in the English town of Amesbury. The two came into contact with the Novichok nerve agent on a discarded perfume bottle.

Her death followed the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and a former police officer, who fell ill in the nearby town of Salisbury in March 2018.

All three survived, as did Sturgess's partner.

British authorities say Russia's GRU military intelligence was responsible for the chemical attack, and have charged three of its agents with committing the poisoning, in which Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement.

Based on reporting by the BBC, Reuters, and dpa
A Danish high court has rejected an appeal filed by a Russian citizen sentenced to three years in prison on an espionage charge.

The court upheld the Russian's sentence on November 17, while also confirming a lower court ruling to deport the scholar to Russia after completion of his prison term.

Russian media reports have identified the man as Aleksei Nikiforov.

Nikiforov was arrested and charged with providing information about Danish energy technology to Russia in December 2020.

Moscow harshly criticized Danish authorities at the time, calling the arrest and investigation of the suspect "anti-Russian hysteria."

In 2012, a Finnish national working with the University of Copenhagen as a researcher was sentenced to five months in prison for spying on Denmark on behalf of Russia.

Based on reporting by Ritzau, Reuters, and Interfax
U.S., British, and Australian authorities say a hacker group "associated" with the Iranian government is behind cyberattacks on targets in the United States and Australia, including in the health-care and transportation sectors.

"The Iranian government-sponsored APT actors are actively targeting a broad range of victims across multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the transportation sector and the health-care and public-health sector, as well as Australian organizations," according a joint advisory issued on November 17.

Advanced persistent threat (APT) is a designation often given to state-backed hackers.

Since at least March 2021, the group has exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange and Fortinet software to break into computer networks, including those of a U.S. municipal government and a children's hospital in the United States, the advisory said.

The group leveraged the initial hack for additional operations such as data theft, ransomware, and extortion.

The advisory did not identify any specific targets for the hackers, or say how successful they have been.

Microsoft said in a blog post that it had observed "six Iranian threat groups" deploying ransomware since September 2020 "in waves every six to eight weeks on average."

"As Iranian operators have adapted both their strategic goals and tradecraft, over time they have evolved into more competent threat actors capable of conducting a full spectrum of operations," it said.

Iranian officials did not immediately comment on the accusations.

In July, Facebook said it had disrupted a group of hackers in Iran behind "espionage operations" targeting mostly U.S. military personnel and companies in the defense and aerospace industries.
Russia's parliament is considering the introduction of a federal QR code system to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The QR codes could only be used by those who have been vaccinated or who recently recovered from COVID-19 or by people who can't be vaccinated on medical grounds. They would be needed to enter restaurants, most stores (except grocers), public events, and cultural institutions. Similar initiatives introduced in the regions to combat a surge of new infections and deaths have provoked public anger.
Thirty years ago, ethnic Kazakhs in Mongolia began heading to their ancestral homeland as the Soviet Union collapsed. Among them was a little girl called Asemgul Mukhitqyzy, now an RFE/RL reporter. She spoke to her father, who led a group of 600 people from Ulan Bator, about the many challenges they faced.
NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana has called on Russian officials to establish a "solid, transparent, and honest dialogue" with the Western military alliance amid persistent high tensions between Moscow and the West over issues including its seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and the ongoing conflict in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

More recently, Russia has been accused of helping its ally, Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, orchestrate a border crisis with the European Union's eastern member states -- which the Kremlin denies.

Western countries have also expressed concerns over a Russian military buildup close to Ukraine's borders in recent weeks, while Moscow has been angered by stepped up naval visits to the Black Sea by NATO member states.

In an interview with RFE/RL, Geoana said that despite relations being at the lowest level since the end of the Cold War, NATO officials "are seeking and looking forward to continuing discussions with their Russian counterparts" on both the political and military levels.

"We stand ready to continuing and urging Russia to come back to the NATO-Russia Council," the main forum for dialogue between the two sides, he said.

"For the time being, Russia is turning down our invitations, but we hope that they realize the merit of having a solid, transparent, and honest dialogue with NATO."

Kremlin-backed separatists continue to control wide swaths of eastern Ukraine in a seven-year conflict that has claimed more than 13,200 lives since April 2014. The war erupted after Russia invaded and illegally annexed Crimea in the Black Sea in March 2014.

Periodic buildups of Russian troops in the area have set off alarms in Kyiv and Western capitals. Earlier this month, Ukraine said up to 90,000 Russian troops remained near its border despite the end of military drills, triggering calls for Russia to be transparent about its intentions.

Geoana said he would not speculate about the reasons behind such "unusual activities" by the Russian military around Ukraine, but insisted that NATO was "vigilant" and "very firm in deterring and defending against any threat from any direction."

Last week, the Kremlin vowed to safeguard its borders in the face of actions by countries trying to "contain" Russia, including in the Black Sea region. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, also claimed that "the movement of our armed forces on our territory should not be a cause for concern."

But Geoana rejected Russian suggestions that NATO is a potential threat to the country as "just not true," saying, "Everything we do in the Black Sea or on the eastern flank of NATO is purely defensive and perfectly transparent."

Noting that NATO has three member states in the region -- Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey -- as well as two "very important partners" -- Ukraine and Georgia -- the NATO deputy chief said, "There's absolutely no surprise to anyone when we do air policing, when we do maritime presence in the Black Sea."

"And in the end, it was not NATO, we didn't occupy Crimea or invade eastern Ukraine, so everything we have done after 2014 was purely defensive, deterrence, and defense, as we should, but always being careful of not being provocative or giving a sense of misinterpretation."

Moscow has been working closely with its ally in Minsk amid a border crisis as thousands of third-country migrants the European Union accuses Lukashenka of "weaponizing" are trapped along Belarus's western borders with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The EU has accused Lukashenka of flying in migrants and funneling them to the bloc's borders -- particularly on the Polish frontier -- to retaliate against Brussels for sanctions imposed over a sweeping crackdown on the political opposition, civil society, and independent media since last year's disputed presidential election.

"This is something that is part of a new arsenal of hybrid tools that Belarus is using" against the NATO and EU member states, according to Geoana.

"And of course, knowing the close relationship and partnership between Belarus and the Russian Federation, we also know that there is, you know, a way in which this is not indifferent or unknown to Moscow."
Four people were killed and four others were injured in an explosion at a munitions factory in southern Romania, local media reported.

Local health officials said an antipersonnel mine exploded while several employees were working to defuse it.

The four injured are stable and conscious, the local emergencies service spokesman, Octavian Fulger, told the media.

An investigation has been opened into the incident, Fulger added.



According to the website of the plant's parent company, Energotech Group, the Babeni factory is a certified supplier for the Romanian Defense Ministry and NATO.

In 2019, a blast at the same factory killed a 22-year-old man.

Based on reporting by hotnews.ro, digi24.ro, AP, and dpa
Russian comedian Denis Chuzhoi was one hour into his recent stand-up show -- which painted a grim picture of a Russia plagued by corruption and suicide -- when he turned his attention to the man whom few Russians dare criticize in public for fear of repercussions -- President Vladimir Putin.

"I started to think about how societal stereotypes that a man should be tall and powerful are so widespread that even Putin succumbs to them and tries to appear taller to please us," Chuzhoi said of the former KGB officer who has stood at Russia's helm since 2000. "And I started to pity him a little."

The risky jokes didn't end there. Chuzhoi suggested that Putin, whose height most sources list at about 170 centimeters, wears contraptions raising his stature because he wasn't loved enough by his parents.

He references Putin's former role in the 1990s as an assistant to then-St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, during a period when he was photographed carrying briefcases and other things while trailing Sobchak at official meetings.

"If we knew then that Putin is short, then we'd be proud of it. We'd say: 'Putin carried suitcases on his own? The midget Putin carried suitcases for that beanpole Sobchak?!'" Chuzhoi said.

The audience erupted in applause. A few minutes later, Chuzhoi added a concluding line that seemed to hint at his awareness of the backlash that might follow those jokes -- and that has followed other performers who've dared to rib the president.

"Putin's very cool," Chuzhoi said. "These days you're legally obliged to end every stand-up concert with that phrase."

If Chuzhoi was trying to cover his back, subsequent events appeared to justify those concerns. After video of the concert, whose title roughly translates as You're On Your Own From Here, was posted to YouTube, Chuzhoi said friends in his hometown of Zheleznogorsk began receiving visits from police officers asking for the comic's contact details.

"I don't know why," Chuzhoi wrote of the visits on Twitter. "Until the concert, nothing of the sort had ever happened to me.... If you have contacts for a good lawyer, I'll be grateful."

'That's Not Funny'

The alleged interest in Chuzhoi comes amid a broader clampdown against satire that targets the authorities. Russians face prosecution for remarks about an increasing range of issues including religious believers and government officials, both of whom are protected by laws that were enacted under Putin. And comics, who often compete to air the boldest jokes, are especially under fire.

In January 2020, a probe into Putin jokes by comedian Aleksandr Dolgopolov led to the 25-year-old fleeing the country amid threats of criminal charges. In August, Russia's Interior Ministry banned comic Idrak Mirzalizade from the country for life after he made fun of habits he suggested many Russians share, though a court later suspended the ban.

In the most recent high-profile case, a group of amateur comedy actors in Russia's Far East was jailed because of appearances in an online comedy sketch making fun of local officials and the ruling United Russia party.

But intimidation of comedians is not a new thing in Russia. During Putin's first term as president, between 2000 and 2004, the popular TV satire Kukly (Puppets) was removed from the air amid reports that Putin -- whom the show parodied for his short stature, just like Chuzhoi's jokes -- had taken personal offense at his depiction.

In Zheleznogorsk, Chuzhoi's hometown in the Kursk region, south of Moscow, law enforcement confirmed to local media that an investigation had been launched into the comedian's performance, citing not his jokes about Putin but a story he told of paying a bribe to expedite the processing of a new passport.

(The YouTube video of Chuzhoi's show begins with a disclaimer reading: "All the stories in this show are fictional. Literally none of them happened in real life.")

On November 11, Chuzhoi took to the airwaves of independent TV channel Dozhd to make clear his views about the police questioning of his friends and to clarify his decision to involve a lawyer.

He cited previous cases targeting Russia's comics and said that his decision to go public was motivated by the speed with which these previous campaigns have unfolded.

"It's sad we've found ourselves in this place where simply mentioning certain topics immediately elicits fear in people," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States, the European Union, and NATO over their stance on the situation in the territories controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and other issues, but said his country is ready "for contacts and a dialogue."

In a wide-ranging speech to Foreign Ministry officials in Moscow on November 18, Putin said that his talks with the U.S. President Joe Biden on June 16 had "eventually tapped some opportunities for a dialogue and for the gradual leveling and correction of relations."

"Joint activities [with Washington] on strategic stability and information security have started," Putin said, adding, though, that "on many issues our interests, estimations, position differ dramatically."

The Russian president's remarks come at a time of elevated tensions between Moscow and the West, particularly since Moscow's 2014 forcible annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea and its support for separatist formations in parts of eastern Ukraine.

Western assessments that Moscow interfered in elections, used chemical weapons to carry out attacks against Kremlin critics in the United Kingdom, provided the anti-aircraft system that was used to shoot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, and has been involved in cyberattacks against NATO countries have also tested relations.

In his speech, Putin repeated charges that the Ukrainian government has refused to hold direct negotiations with Russia-backed separatists who have controlled parts of Ukraines eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, known jointly as the Donbas, since April 2014.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of violating the Minsk agreements meant to put an end to the conflict that has killed more than 13,200 people since April 2014.

Despite compelling evidence that Moscow has provided military, economic, and political support to the separatists, Russia claims it is not involved in the Ukraine war. Ukraine and NATO have claimed in recent weeks that Russia has been massing military forces near the border between the two countries.

"It must be taken into consideration that the Western partners are aggravating the situation [in the Donbas] by supplying Kyiv with modern lethal weapons and holding provocative military maneuvers in the Black Sea and other regions close to our borders," Putin said, stressing that Moscow will "adequately" respond to what he described as NATO's attempts to extend its military infrastructure to countries close to Russia.

Kyiv has accused Moscow of undermining the Minsk agreements by refusing to help Ukraine establish control over all its international borders.

Ukraine and the United States have held major military drills in the Black Sea in recent months. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on November 15 that such exercises in the Black Sea region are "defensive and transparent."

In September, the Kremlin warned that if NATO expanded its military infrastructure in Ukraine, it would amount to overstepping a red line.

"We're constantly voicing our concerns about this, talking about red lines, but we understand our partners -- how shall I put it mildly --have a very superficial attitude to all our warnings and talk of red lines," Putin said.

Putin also claimed that Western strategic bombers carrying "very serious weapons" were flying within 20 kilometers of Russia's borders.

His comments came in the wake of numerous close encounters between Russian and NATO military aircraft in recent years.

Putin also said that opportunities for talks with the European Union are "withering" because of sanctions imposed on Russia over the Crimea annexation and its involvement in the Donbas conflict.

With reporting by Reuters and TASS
France and Germany have accused Moscow of violating diplomatic protocol by publishing confidential correspondence related to efforts to resolve the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine.

"We consider this approach to be contrary to diplomatic rules and customs," French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said on November 18.

Germany's Foreign Ministry issued a similar statement.

Moscow published its correspondence with the so-called Normandy Format group -- which includes Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany -- one day earlier in what the Russian Foreign Ministry said was an effort to show that Moscow's positions had been misrepresented.

After Paris accused Russia of refusing to participate in a ministerial-level meeting of the Normandy Format countries and denied that the group had failed to respond to Moscow's proposals regarding the Ukraine conflict, Moscow published 28 pages of confidential correspondence that it claimed showed Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had said in advance that he could not participate in the proposed November 11 meeting.

After Moscow published the documents, Kyiv accused Russia of trying to undermine the Normandy process.

One of the released documents was a November 4 letter from the German and French foreign ministers taking exception to Moscow's characterization of the war between Russia-backed separatists and Kyiv as an "internal Ukrainian conflict."

Legendre said the publication of the documents showed that Moscow was trying to obstruct the process by insisting on numerous preconditions that the other parties could not accept.

She called on Russia to return to the talks as soon as possible.

For his part, Lavrov said in Moscow that when the prospect of a ministerial meeting was discussed, the French and German sides "were making arrogant, not very appropriate, and not very ethical statements."

At least 13,200 people have been killed in fighting in parts of eastern Ukraine between the central government and separatist formations that have been provided military, political, and economic assistance by Moscow.

Russia denies any involvement in the conflict, which broke out in the spring of 2014, shortly after Russia forcibly annexed the Ukrainian Black Sea region of Crimea, despite compelling evidence to the contrary.

With reporting by Reuters and TASS
A group of U.S. lawmakers have urged Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the authoritarian president of Turkmenistan, to release political prisoners in the tightly controlled former Soviet republic.

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, Patrick Leahy, and Sherrod Brown and U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski sent the letter to Berdymukhammedov calling on him to release journalist Nurgeldy Halykov, physician Khursanai Ismatullaeva, and activist Gulgeldy Annaniyazov.

"We write with interest as Turkmenistan pursues an ambitious agenda under your administration to join international institutions, including the WTO, and highlight its economy to the world. Such welcome efforts to participate further in the global economy will undoubtedly be strengthened by further attention to your countrys human rights record," the lawmakers wrote in the letter, dated November 16.

The authors of the letter emphasized that although Annaniyazov was released from prison recently after serving 13 years, "he remains in remote and poor conditions, and his full unconditional release seems long overdue."

The lawmakers also wrote that journalist Halykov's arrest and sentencing to four years in prison last year for reposting a photo of a visiting World Health Organization mission "reinforces the image that people in Turkmenistan do not have freedom of expression."

The letter also calls on Berdymukhammedov to release Ismatullaeva, a noted physician who was dismissed in 2017 and then handed a lengthy prison term on corruption charges the day after the case of her dismissal following a sick leave was discussed in the European Parliament.

Berdymukhammedov has ruled the extremely isolated and secretive Central Asian state with an iron hand, tolerating little dissent, since he came to power after the death of autocrat Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006.
The meeting was included in the program of the Conference on attracting personnel to the Arctic, which was held in Arkhangelsk on November 15-16, 2021, as part of the Russian Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 2021-2023.

(narfu.ru)  Thirty-eight representatives of universities, research centers, and other organizations included in the Association took part in the event. At the meeting, which was held in an online format, the results of work in 2021 were summed up and work plans for 2022 were outlined. Association Chairwoman Elena Kudryashova noted that the members of the Consortium play an important role in the development of four world-class scientific and educational centers (SEC), whose activities are aimed at the development of the Arctic. These SECs include "The Russian Arctic: new materials, technologies, and research methods," "West Siberian interregional scientific and educational center of the world level," "North: the territory of sustainable development," and "Yenisei Siberia."

In 2021, the National Arctic Scientific and Educational Consortium (NASEC) held the V All-Russian competition of student research papers on Arctic topics among the organizations participating in the consortium, supported by AGD Diamonds JSC and United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC. The development of a new information portal for the Association was started. The main tasks of the new Internet portal of the Consortium are to provide access to systematic and most complete information about the state of training and scientific research in the interests of the development of the Russian Arctic, as well as to promote the results of educational and scientific activities of the Association members in the interests of the development of the Russian Arctic. It provides for the creation of personal accounts of members of the Association giving them an opportunity to promptly upload announcements, news, scientific publications, and information about projects, said Alexander Saburov, the executive secretary of the Association in his speech.

In the reporting year, with the active participation of the Consortium members, three significant events were held under the Russian Chairmanship of the Arctic Council in 20212023. These were the X International Arctic Congress of Social Sciences "Arctic Generations: A Look into the Past and the Future" (15-20 June), the expedition "Arctic Floating University - 2022" (10 June-1 July), and the International Conference on Attracting Human Resources to the Arctic (15-20 November 16). The First Vice-Rector of Tomsk State University, Viktor Demin noted that as a result of the work of the NASEC Association, cooperation is developing not only at the level of organizations management but also at the horizontal level between researchers.

The Consortium Council unanimously voted for admission to the Association of St. Petersburg State University. Thus, today the Association includes 39 organizations.

It is noteworthy that NASEC is a voluntary association of universities, scientific organizations that implement in their activities training programs for the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation conducting research, economic and economic activities in the Arctic territories and on Arctic topics. The Chairman of the Association is the rector of Northern (Arctic) Federal University (NArFU) Elena Kudryashova.


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(Photo : Chris Livingston/Getty Images) Vials of smallpox vaccine sit on a counter before a vaccination December 16, 2002 at Mid-Florida Biologicals in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently confirmed the accidental discovery of several frozen vials with the label "smallpox" by a lab employee.

Fox News reported, the laboratory worker accidentally found the vials while "cleaning out a freezer in a facility that's carrying out vaccine studies in Pennsylvania.

In an email, a spokeswoman at the CDC said there is no specification that any individual has been "exposed to a number of frozen vials."

CDC, its administration alliances, and law enforcement are currently investigating the matter, and the contents of the vials appear intact.

ALSO READ: Modern Human Lifestyle a "Perfect Storm" for Pandemics Like COVID





Discovery of the Vials

The lab worker who found the vials was wearing a face mask and gloves. Meanwhile, the organization said it would provide further details once available.

Yahoo! News, which cited an alert sent to Department of Homeland Security leadership, reported that vials were reportedly discovered in a freezer at a Merck facility outside Philadelphia on Monday evening.

The nearest Merck sites to Philadelphia are the expansive campuses located in West Point and North Wales, Montgomery County, although, according to 6ABC Action News, it could not verify if there are questionable vials inside any of the buildings.

A copy of the report obtained by Yahoo! News specified, there were reportedly 15 questionable vials in all, as indicated in the unclassified "For Official Use Only" alert.

Five of these vials had a "smallpox" label, while 10 had a "vaccinia" label. The said vials were secured immediately, according to the report.

What is Smallpox?

On its website, the CDC has described smallpox as a disease caused by the variola virus. It was eradicated because of the success of vaccination, and no cases of naturally occurring smallpox have occurred and been reported since 1977.

The last natural outbreak of smallpox in the United States took place in 1949. The virus was considered so fatal that only two laboratories worldwide are authorized to store specimens of it, including one in Russia and another one at the Atlanta-based CDC.

For years now, scientists have been debated whether or not to destroy the remaining specimens. Those who wanted to keep them contended there was a need to develop new vaccines in the fight against a new outbreak.

In a separate CDC report, it was specified that before the eradication of smallpox, the virus spread through direct and relatively prolonged face-to-face contact between people.

Patients became infectious when the initial sores appeared in their mouth and throat. This is identified as the early rash stage. They stayed infectious until the last smallpox scab fell off.

Vaccination

This report said, most Americans are not yet vaccinated against smallpox, and those who have received their vaccine would have possibly fading immunity.

The CDC was scheduled to arrive this week to take custody of the vials and take them to another facility for examination. Merck, for its part, has not immediately responded to a request for comment on the issue.

Report about the accidental discovery of the vials is shown on 6abc Philadelphia's YouTube video below:

RELATED ARTICLE: CDC Confirms Monkeypox Case in Maryland After a Traveler Returns From Nigeria, Virus Has Been Re-emerging Since 2017

Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors appointed the late Wilma Chans chief of staff, Dave Brown, to fill her seat on the board, disappointing community activists who are frustrated that the board is now all male and includes no Asian Americans.

Some community advocates  led by the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County  had urged the board to appoint an Asian American to the seat, noting that one in three Alameda County residents is Asian American or Pacific Islander. Advocates said in a letter that representation matters, especially in light of recent incidents of anti-Asian attacks and the impact of COVID-19 on the community.

Brown, who is white, will serve the remaining 14 months of Chans term, and pledged not to run for the seat next year. The board voted 3-0 to choose Brown, with Supervisor Nate Miley abstaining.

I will be supporting an Asian American/Pacific Island woman for supervisor in the (June primary) election, Brown told The Chronicle in a text Wednesday.

But some community activists didnt want to wait that long to make the board more representative of the community.

Serena Chen, the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County president, said the board rushed to fill the position before hearing enough from constituents about who should replace Chan, the longtime supervisor who was killed by a motorist this month while walking her dog.

Expediency trumped a community process that would have allowed community members still stunned and grieving to catch up, Chen said Wednesday.

Chans family, however, supported the choice of Brown, who was Chans first staff member during her first term on the board that began 30 years ago, working for her for 15 years over her two stints on the board. Brown also worked for former Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker, who succeeded Chan on the board.

The Chan family is very appreciative of the appointment of Dave Brown, said Jeanette Dong, a spokesperson for the Chan family, and herself a former chief of staff for Chan.

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He will be able to move forward with her projects, tasks and vision. Mr. Brown will be able to honor, complete and fulfill the legacy of our mother, Dong said. The Chan family also wishes to extend their gratitude to the Board of Supervisors for their decisive action to appoint Mr Brown.

Board president Keith Carson described Brown as an excellent chief of staff, one of the best Ive seen during my time on the Board of Supervisors and predicted he will have the ability to continue to carry out the programs Supervisor Chan supported.

Brown said he was humbled that the board had the confidence in me to serve Alameda County and to honor Wilma, her family and her legacy.

After becoming the first Asian American elected to the board in 1994, Chan served six years before being elected to the state Assembly, where she became the first woman and first Asian American to serve as majority leader. She was again elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2010 and was re-elected twice, most recently in 2018.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
San Franciscos school board failed to follow state law when it voted to end a century of competitive academic admissions at Lowell High School, a judge ruled Thursday, handing yet another legal setback to the embattled school district.

Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman found the district plainly failed to follow the states Brown Act, which requires public officials to provide comprehensive information on board meeting agendas about actions to be considered.

The agenda listing regarding the change in admission policy gave entirely inadequate notice to parents and others that the board was considering eliminating Lowells merit-based admissions policy, the judge said in his ruling. The board could have readily complied with the act, and it knew how to do so, but it did not.

The board voted 5-2 to repeal the policy in February, replacing it with the same lottery-based system used at other district high schools.

The school board will review the courts decision regarding Lowell within the next 30 days and have more information then about the impact of the ruling, district officials said in a statement.

The judge chastised the board in his ruling, saying critics sent the district at least four letters advising them of the Brown Act violation and asking them to correct the lapse, but the board never responded to those letters.

Had it done so, it could have long since cured the defect, and would not now be facing the problems it complains of, the judge said.

The decision was the latest defeat in court over controversial school board decisions that failed to follow proper procedure.

In a separate case, Schulman found the board violated the Brown Act when it voted to rename 44 school sites, requiring the district in September to pay $60,000 in plaintiffs attorney fees.

The board also lost a lawsuit challenging its decision to cover up a controversial mural featuring the life of George Washington, a Depression-era fresco that included images of white settlers walking over a dead Native American and slaves in a field. Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo ruled the board failed to follow environmental impact regulations, requiring board members to reverse the decision, a ruling the district has decided to appeal.

The district did succeed in defeating an $87 million lawsuit filed by board member Alison Collins, who accused five fellow board members of violating her First Amendment rights when they removed her from the board vice presidency and committee positions after the discovery of anti-Asian tweets she made before her election. A judge dismissed the lawsuit before the first hearing. Board members declined to pursue Collins for the more than $115,000 in legal costs associated with the lawsuit, which the judge said had no merit.

The lawsuits have cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees, as well as those of some plaintiffs.

The school board will review the courts decision regarding Lowell within the next 30 days and have more information then about the impact of the ruling, district officials said in a statement.

The Lowell Alumni Association, which was part of the lawsuit against the district, said the judges ruling confirmed the school board used a flawed process.

San Francisco students and families deserve public meetings that are transparent, inclusive and equitable, the group said in a statement.

Schulman stopped short of requiring the district to reinstate competitive admission, leaving open the possibility the school board could take the same action after giving adequate notice to the public.

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I am setting aside this (February) resolution. What the board does as a result is up to the board, Schulman said at a brief hearing Wednesday morning. But he agreed with attorneys for opponents of the school boards action that his order could have the effect of reinstating the schools merit-based policy, at least temporarily.

The citys voters could also play a role if they recall three of the boards seven members in an election scheduled for February. Lowell admissions are one issue in the election, along with a fiscal crisis resulting in a $125 million deficit next year and the boards now-abandoned plan to rename 44 schools that board members said were emblems of slavery and colonization.

Lowells admissions policy has resulted in relatively low enrollment of Black and Latino youths at the 2,600-student school. The boards public notice of the February meeting said it would be acting in response to ongoing, systematic racism at Lowell High School, but it said nothing about changing the admissions policy.

Supporting documents attached to the agenda included the resolution requiring the change in admissions, but Schulman said that wasnt good enough.

The Lowell Alumni Association, Friends of Lowell Foundation and the Asian American Legal Foundation sued the district and school board in April, asking the court to overturn the decision and reinstate the former policy.

Attorneys for the school board urged Schulman to leave the new admissions policy in place even if it was adopted improperly. They noted that Lowell had suspended its longtime policy during the 2020-21 school year during the pandemic, and that the new policy had taken effect Oct. 25 with the start of applications for admission in 2022-23. Ordering an immediate change would be unfair to new applicants and cause financial hardship to the district, the attorneys said.

If so, Schulman responded in his ruling, the district and the board have only themselves to blame.

Bob Egelko and Jill Tucker are a San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko @jilltucker
Tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente union employees are scheduled to hold a 24-hour sympathy strike starting on Thursday morning in solidarity with the IUOE Stationary Engineers, Local 39, which has been bargaining with the health system for several months, union officials said.

Roughly 40,000 union members with SEIU-UHW, OPEIU Local 29, and IFPTE Local 20 in Northern California are scheduled to start their sympathy strike on Thursday, and Kaiser nurses represented by the California Nurses Association will start their 24-hour strike on Friday morning, union officials announced in separate statements. Local 39 represents roughly 600 Kaiser operating engineers, Kaiser officials said.

Participating union members said they hope the sympathy strike will help Local 39 members win a fair contract, according to a statement from SEIU-UHW. Union representatives with SEIU-UHW say Kaiser officials have not even tried to negotiate an agreement with the engineers in recent weeks.

Kaiser officials said they bargained for many hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, but said there is no movement in negotiations with Local 39, pointing to reported requests from union representatives to receive more ... than other union agreements covering Kaiser Permanente employees. In a statement Wednesday night, Kaiser officials said that they have been bargaining in good faith with Local 39, adding that the unions ongoing strike has kept employees out for more than two months.

This will not bring us closer to an agreement and most important, it is unfair to our members and patients to disrupt their care when they most need our employees to be there for them, Kaiser officials said, referring to the sympathy strikes. We are optimistic that we can resolve the remaining issues with Local 39 at the bargaining table and reach an agreement that continues to reward our employees and supports health care affordability, just as we have with several unions this week.

Kaiser officials also announced that members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers, the union that represents Kaiser mental health professionals, is scheduled to strike for one day starting on Friday.

Cathy Kennedy, a registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville (Placer County) and the president of the California Nurses Association, said in a statement last week that nurses understand the impact that short staffing has on the communitys well-being, but said the sympathy strike is crucial.

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We also know that in order to provide the safe patient care our communities need and deserve, we must be able to count on our coworkers and they must be able to count on us, Kennedy said. So we are standing with the Kaiser engineers in their righteous fight for a safe and just workplace.

Kaiser officials said in a statement Wednesday that they have prepared to reduce the impact of the scheduled strikes and urged Kaiser members to use the health systems Mail Delivery pharmacy if they need to refill a prescription right away. Some of Kaisers outpatient pharmacies will be temporarily closed during the strike, and are expected to reopen on Saturday.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
A woman described by the San Francisco district attorneys office as a prolific retail thief is facing multiple charges in connection with more than 100 thefts from Target that total more than $40,000 in value, district attorneys officials said Wednesday.

Aziza Graves has been charged with eight felony counts of grand theft and 120 misdemeanor counts of petty theft in thefts of items from the Stonestown Target store between October 2020 to November 2021, district attorneys officials said. Graves was arrested by San Francisco police at the Stonestown Target location on Tuesday, authorities said.

The womans arrest is the result of an operation conducted by the district attorneys office, District Attorney Chesa Boudin said in tweet on Wednesday morning. San Francisco city officials in September unveiled a plan to respond to reports of retail theft in the city, and district attorneys officials said Graves arrest and subsequent charging is part of the offices commitment to the Organized Retail Theft Taskforce.

Boudin told The Chronicle the arrest is the first step in what will be a whole series of arrests related to the district attorneys office ongoing retail theft operations, adding that they are handling more than half a dozen active investigations.

Boudin said Graves stole laundry detergent, among other items, that are frequently stolen and resold for profit. Grand theft refers to money, labor, or real or personal property taken with a value exceeding $950, according to the California Legislative Information website.

He said his office is committed to stopping those who participate in organized retail theft, including by dismantling the fencing networks that make this type of crime profitable.

Targets Asset Protection Team had reached out to the district attorneys office and asked authorities to investigate Graves, district attorneys officials said.

San Francisco police Chief Bill Scott described the suspect as a particularly brazen and prolific retail theft offender. Authorities said in nearly all of the alleged thefts at Target Stonestown, Graves used self-checkout kiosks after choosing merchandise from the store floor.

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She reportedly scanned the items and then submitted a nominal cash payment of $1, or in some instances, 1 cent, district attorneys officials said, adding that Graves would then leave the store without completing each transaction.

Scott said he hopes this case sends a strong message to would-be shoplifters that their lawless conduct wont be tolerated in San Francisco.

Graves is expected to be formally arraigned on charges on Thursday, Boudin said.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
To one student, Andrew Zieman was one of the most chill and awesome educators at San Franciscos Sherman Elementary School. Another student said he was always willing to help them with their math problems.

And almost every Sherman student who spoke of their beloved Mr. Andrew at a vigil Wednesday evening at the schools garden  seven days after he was struck and killed by a motorist at the Franklin and Union streets intersection  remembered Zieman, 30, as a kind and patient adult who lived to serve his students.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that he was a vital part of our Sherman community and all of our lives, and that we all love and appreciated what he did for us, said Ryder Bramfitt, a Sherman fifth-grader who saw Zieman in class every school day.

The Sherman community mourned the loss of an educator whose death they said could have been prevented had the city acted sooner to address concerns about the intersection where he was killed by a motorist when she allegedly ran a red light. Zieman was killed about 7:55 a.m. just as the school day was getting started.

On Wednesday, as traffic on Franklin Street whirred in the background, the crowd of students and adults lit candles and drew art for Zieman. One parent said the synchronous timing of stoplights on Franklin allows motorists to sometimes drive more than 50 mph. He suggested the city immediately change the timing at stoplights on nearby Franklin intersections so that traffic near the school slows down.

This was an avoidable death, Sherman Principal Helen Parker said.

Ziemans death was the citys 12th pedestrian fatality of the year. While the intersection at Union and Franklin is not part of the high-injury network of streets where most serious and fatal traffic injuries occur in San Francisco, Sherman parents and educators said its street design promotes fast driving.

Ziemans ties to Sherman ran deep. He attended the school as a kid, as did his father, Richard, and great uncle, Parker said. Zieman had worked at the Cow Hollow campus after-school program for five years before working with Sherman students who needed extra help as a paraeducator for the past two-and-a-half years, Parker said.

Buzz Harris, a fifth-grade teacher at Sherman, marveled at Ziemans innate calmness and patience with students when he helped in his class, and he had encouraged him to pursue a teaching credential. Parker, the principal, said Zieman had a gift for being able to reach some kids who were more difficult to reach.

He was always trying to figure out how to hook a kid, how to connect with a kid, and was really engaged in learning more around psychology so that he could deepen his practice and grow as a professional, Parker said.

Irene Garcia, parent of a Sherman first-grader, recalled Zieman as quiet but really proud that he attended the school as a kid after speaking with him at a summer camp this year.

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She noted that he was both enthusiastic and compassionate toward students. She said his death was very heartbreaking.

Other parents who didnt interact much with Zieman learned of Mr. Andrew and his kindness from their kids.

Thank you for sharing one of the greatest gifts in the world with all of us, Sherman parent Latoya Pitcher told Ziemans parents, Richard and Maridine, who attended Wednesdays vigil. Our boys came home every day talking about Mr. Andrew, how wonderful he was and how kind he was.

Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano
Earlier this month the Biden administration released sweeping COVID-19 workplace safety rules including a vaccine-or-test mandate for tens of millions of workers nationwide. California workplace safety regulators had been poised to adopt the federal rules at their monthly meeting Thursday, but called off the vote as those rules now face a series of legal challenges and no clear timeline on if or when they will take effect.

On Thursday the Cal/OSHA Standards Board  the seven-member body appointed by the governor to adopt workplace regulations  did not vote on any changes to workplace COVID prevention standards or vaccine requirements, but still has a series of choices to make this year and early 2022 when it comes to slowing the spread of the coronavirus at work.

While the challenges to the federal rules are resolved in the courts, the board will still have to vote at its next meeting in December on extending a temporary workplace safety standard, in place since the summer, as a potential winter surge looms.

The board is also working on a more permanent set of COVID-19 prevention rules that could take effect in 2022 and last for two years.

In the short term, the current, temporary rules adopted in June are set to expire in January. Those include masking requirements for unvaccinated employees and largely do away with social distancing rules, among other requirements.

If the board extends those rules, they would be in effect through April. Draft language released by the board includes some changes to address breakthrough infections and would reinstate some masking and social distancing for vaccinated people in some circumstances.

One of the most contentious issues going forward is whether employees will get exclusion pay, drawing wages and benefits while they stay at home because of workplace exposure to the coronavirus.

The rules that would run through April require it, but the two-year rules under consideration currently do not.

Exclusion pay is probably the biggest top line issue, in the permanent standard being discussed, said Benjamin Ebbink, a labor and employment attorney at the law firm Fisher & Phillips LLP.

He said the board could look to the state Legislature to require the pay in a law instead, but labor advocates are still pushing for it to be included in the permanent standard.

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Exclusion pay is a really important piece of this regulation that keeps workers who are sick away from workers who are not, Mitch Steiger of the California Labor Federation, a labor advocacy group, said during the board meeting Thursday.

Another unknown is what the future of workplace vaccine mandates will look like in California. Neither the temporary nor the longer-term rules the board is currently looking at address the issue, and there is no telling if or when the Biden administrations rules will be allowed to go forward.

Ebbink said a state bill was written toward the end of the past legislative session addressing the issue but was shelved. He said with the gubernatorial recall election in the rearview mirror, that kind of potentially controversial law could resurface during the next years session.

Its more likely the Legislature comes back in January and does a vaccine mandate by legislation, Ebbink said.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice
The retired Oakland police captain injured in a deadly shootout last month has been released from the hospital and is continuing to recover from a gunshot wound, police said Wednesday.

Ersie Joyner had been in critical condition on Oct. 21 after fatally shooting one of three assailants who ambushed and robbed him as he pumped gas at a downtown gas station. Joyner was shot himself during the confrontation and underwent surgery at Highland Hospital.

On Wednesday, Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong told The Chronicle that Joyner had been discharged from the hospital and was recovering.

He is doing better, Armstrong said. He is recovering fairly well.

Armstrong added that two of the assailants involved in the incident had not yet been identified and urged the community to send tips.

We are still seeking tips, he said. We need the communitys help.

One of the assailants, identified as Desoni Djuan Lamar Gardner, a 20-year-old Vallejo resident, was shot and killed by Joyner during the robbery.

The shooting occurred around 1 p.m. at a Chevron station just off the Interstate 980 near downtown Oakland. The confrontation was captured on surveillance video and showed three men exit a black sedan near one of the gas pumps. The three men who went up to Joyner, who was standing at an adjoining pump putting gas in a white Porsche, and robbed him.

Joyner then pulled out a gun and shot two of the men. One of the men who was shot ran back into the vehicle. Gardner fell to the ground after he was shot. Joyner walked to the other side of the gas pump with his gun drawn, but fell to the ground after appearing to be shot.

Armstrong previously said that Joyner was lawfully permitted to carry a gun.

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Under California law, a person can claim self-defense if they reasonably believed they or someone else were in imminent danger of being killed or badly injured, or if they were in danger of being the victim of forcible crimes. The law states that the person is not required to retreat.

Joyner is well known for his role in overseeing the citys Ceasefire program, which works to reduce violence through support services. He has most recently turned to operating cannabis businesses.

Staff writer Rachel Swan contributed to this story.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
Stand outside Afghan Awasana Kabob House in Fremont for five minutes, and youll see people emerging with stacks of 30-inch-long loaves of bread, the sweet smell of yeast wafting through the air.

The bread, called Afghan naan, is both so long and so treasured that customers lay them across the back seats of their cars with the tenderness of tucking a child into a car seat. Some make the trip from miles away, the owners said, to snag one of the 200 loaves the restaurant bakes in a day. Some buy as many as 30 loaves at once to gift to family members or to freeze for later. Customers in the know have also figured out a secret way to purchase the bread: through a small window in the back corner of the Afghan market next door.

Shafah Arsala, who runs the restaurant with her mother, Wazhma Arsala, and father, Khushal Arsala, recounted a time she brought fresh Afghan naan to her in-laws in Southern California. The joy on their faces, she said, was better than giving them an expensive bag.

Bread is a very important staple in the Afghan community, Shafah Arsala said. We eat bread with everything.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The popularity of the bread and the restaurant is largely due to the efforts of Wazhma Arsala, who rolls out the dough in the restaurants small kitchen. Theres no shortage of Afghan naan in Fremont  the city is known as the best destination for Afghan food in the Bay Area  but her obsessive devotion to making it fresh, along with everything else at the restaurant, sets Afghan Awasanas apart.

Afghan naan is typically made from a mix of white and wheat flour and oil for added moisture. At Afghan Awasana, huge trays of oblong dough get baked off in enormous ovens in the back of the restaurant. The finished product, dimpled and golden brown, is sprinkled with poppy, sesame and nigella seeds. Squares of the naan accompany pretty much everything at the restaurant, from the crispy-edged chapli kebabs to juicy, charred chicken stained red from paprika.

Wazhma Arsalas bread is informed by her time eating and making it as a child in Nangarhar, Afghanistan. Both her parents worked, so she took over food duties to ensure there was something on the table for her younger siblings. She learned to cook by watching her mother and through trial and error. Her father, who died when she was young, was particularly encouraging, especially when she made mistakes, like failing to properly clean rice. She long dreamed of opening a restaurant, but supporting the family became the top priority when she and her husband immigrated to the United States in 1994.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The Arsala family opened the restaurant in February 2020, an offshoot of Wazhma Arsalas catering business. She fell into the profession by accident: Her sister ended up with the number of a defunct Afghan restaurant and often fielded calls from customers. One caller was so desperate for food for a last-minute funeral that she took pity on them and called her sister. Wazhma Arsala made kebabs, rice and borani banjan (a fried eggplant dish) that day. Through word of mouth, her food snowballed into the catering business that became successful enough to launch a restaurant.

Its not just the bread diners are returning for at Afghan Awasana. Without any marketing or website, the restaurant has built a following for Wazhma Arsalas kebabs and other Afghan fare. Pizza boxes filled with slices of squash bolani, a type of stuffed flatbread, fly out of the kitchen.

The flatbreads thin, slightly chewy dough serves as a vehicle for roasted squash, leeks and potatoes. Wazhma Arsala doesnt take any shortcuts for the preparation. For the squash bolani, she bakes the gourd for hours before cooking it down further in a pan with spices. The stuffed flatbread gets grilled until golden brown. Other popular dishes include beef mantoo, labor-intensive dumplings (call ahead to ensure theyre not sold out) and qabuli palow, a lamb shank buried in a pile of raisin-studded rice.

The family matriarch, a perfectionist, has high standards for herself and those around her. Wazhma Arsala got frustrated recently with a new employee who suggested shortcuts to trim cooking time and costs. She bristles at the thought of cutting corners, even at the expense of profit.

Everything has to be perfect. Everything takes a long, long time to make the way it should be, she said.

Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The restaurants success was hardly guaranteed. Afghan Awasana had barely been open for a month when shelter-in-place orders shut down the Bay Area. Sales dropped by 80%. Some days, not a single customer walked through the door. The restaurant didnt qualify for government assistance because it had opened just before the pandemic shutdown. Friends told them to cut their losses and close, but Wazhma Arsala was determined to carry on.

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That decision says something about my moms perseverance, Shafah Arsala said.

As pandemic restrictions loosened, business started to pick up. They were able to reopen the small dining room decorated with Afghan paintings and talk to customers picking up loaves of Afghan naan.

Before they could afford to hire staff, Wazhma Arsala often stayed in the kitchen until 4 a.m. prepping ingredients for the next day. With more employees helping now, she takes Mondays off, when Afghan Awasana is closed. She usually spends her day off doing laundry, running errands and, inevitably, thinking about the restaurant.

My heart wants to be in the restaurant again to make food, she said.

Afghan Awasana House. Takeout and indoor dining. 37012 Towers Way, Fremont. 510-494-8043

Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany
In the late September days following the eruption of the Glass Fire, which would turn out to be the 10th-most-destructive wildfire in California history, officials zeroed in on one possible point of origin: an electric fence at a vineyard, high up a rugged ridgeline on Howell Mountain.

It belonged to Cakebread Cellars, one of Napa Valleys most famous wineries.

The Cakebread family understood what was at stake. Anyone would have, especially after seeing the example set by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The utility, whose equipment has caused more than 1,500 fires since 2014, has set aside billions of dollars to pay the fires victims.

If Cakebreads vineyard fence were found to have sparked the Glass Fire, and if the winery were found guilty of negligence or another statutory violation, it would have been vulnerable to lawsuits from Cal Fire, the states firefighting agency, as well as the owners of 650 destroyed homes.

Those damages would amount to a very sobering number, said Richard Linkert, a lawyer representing Cakebread. I know it would have a lot of zeroes.

So the Cakebreads jumped to action. Rather than wait for Cal Fire to complete a report on the fires origins, a process that could take upwards of a year, the winery undertook its own investigation.

Soon theyd retained Linkert, an experienced wildfire attorney who proceeded to hire an extensive crew of forensic and technical experts. The findings from this commission, which focused on analyses of photographs taken in the fires early hours, exonerated Cakebread, showing that the fence did not ignite the Glass Fire and that the blaze did not start on its property.

Those findings heavily informed Cal Fires own investigation, whose results were published this month. The evidence that Cakebread provided allowed investigators to rule out their vineyard property, fire Capt. Gary Uboldi wrote. (PG&E power lines were also ruled out.) Ultimately, Uboldi and his colleagues were unable to determine an exact cause or point of origin of the Glass Fire.

Its common for Cal Fire to make use of privately funded research in its wildfire investigations, according to Ken Pimlott, a former director of Cal Fire who wasnt involved in inquiries into the Glass Fire. But the scope of the Cakebread study, unprecedented for a California winery, raises questions about the states independence and points to possible new ways in which businesses with a lot to lose may seek to play a larger role in the future of natural-disaster accountability.

Of the 14 people interviewed for Uboldis report, nine represented Cakebread.

Members of the Cakebread family swear they were seeking the truth, not simply absolution, and instructed their consultants accordingly. If it was us, we were going to take our lumps with it. We wanted to understand what happened there, said co-owner Bruce Cakebread. But if it wasnt us, we wanted to understand that, too.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle 2020

Cakebread Cellars is one of Napas most storied names. Since the family first started its eponymous winery in 1973, it has developed a devoted following for its Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines and for its luxurious tasting room on Highway 29 in Rutherford.

The companys land holdings extend far beyond that Rutherford address. The Cakebreads own about 1,000 acres in Napa Valley, including a 210-acre parcel above St. Helena on Howell Mountain. They call their 27 acres of grapevines here Dancing Bear Ranch; Cakebread Cellars produces one of its highest-end red wines from here, sold for about $150 per bottle.

Any implication that the winery was responsible for starting a massive wildfire would have threatened Cakebreads public image and its standing in the Napa wine community  a danger that the family understood from the start.

A KTVU report on Sept. 30 that Cal Fire was investigating the Dancing Bear Ranch electric fence created a sense of urgency to get in front of the story. We had a lot of reputational damage, said CEO Mike Jaeger.

Jaeger and his team engaged Linkert the very same day. Typically, companies hire him two years after a fire, once theyre already being sued, he said. Linkert assembled a brain trust  an electrical engineer, forensic animator, fire investigator and fire engineer  to work on Cakebreads behalf.

The final bill hasnt yet been tallied, but Jaeger said the winery has spent several hundred thousand dollars on the project so far.

The main piece of exculpatory evidence: five photographs taken during the Glass Fires first moments, between 3:37 and 3:54 a.m. Two were taken by Steve Burgess, the former owner of Burgess Cellars, who snapped iPhone photos from his Howell Mountain porch just as the blaze was becoming visible. The images show a pitch-black night with bright orange flames advancing across a ridge. (Cakebread showed me the images but would not release them for publication, citing concerns that the images could be manipulated.)

Those photos turned out to contain key information, said Toby Terpstra, a forensic video technician whom Cakebread hired. Terpstra specializes in re-creating scenes based on photographs or videos, such as those taken at the scene of a vehicle accident. He often uses a technique called photogrammetry, which enables measurements to be taken from an image. Terpstra plotted the location of the fire at the time those photographs were taken.

According to Terpstra, his models revealed that by 4 a.m. on Sept. 27, the Glass Fire had already begun  but had not yet reached the area with the electric fence. Although the blaze did arrive at Dancing Bear Ranch sometime before dawn, those early pictures offer incontrovertible proof, Cakebreads team believes, that it could not have been the origin point.

Cal Fire did not use photogrammetry techniques in its Glass Fire investigation, and its unclear whether it has in the past. Pimlott, who retired from Cal Fire in 2018, was not familiar with it. The technology is not yet widespread, Terpstra said; he estimated that about 50 companies in the country employ it. The U.S. Geological Survey is now using photogrammetry to create maps, and independent forensic technician John DeHaan said he has commissioned photogrammetry in fire investigations hes led in the past.

In December, when Cakebreads team presented Cal Fire with their findings  which came in the form of a highly produced short film  it changed the course of the official investigation, Uboldis report suggested.

From the video and pictures, I saw I could rule out my prior identified location of interest for the origin of the fire at 300 North Fork Crystal Springs Road which is owned by Cakebread vineyards, Uboldi wrote.

Cal Fire did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

Heat maps collected by the California National Guard at 4:16 a.m. on Sept. 27 would eventually corroborate this, as a diagram in the Uboldis report shows. The heat maps indicate that there was a period when the fire was burning but had not yet engulfed Dancing Bear Ranch.

Theoretically, that made the electric-fence hypothesis moot, but Cakebreads investigators insist that the fence could not have caused the fire anyway.

The winery had initially installed the fence to keep bears and deer from eating the grapes. But after finding that the animals could easily hop the fence, it switched to putting bird netting over the vines instead. The netting has done a better job of protecting the fruit, Bruce Cakebread said, and they hadnt turned the fence on for a couple of years.

Cal Fire investigators found the electric fences controller set to the off position during their initial inspection of the property, according to the state report. If someone had turned the fence back on, Bruce Cakebread said, he would have been notified under the companys protocol.

One might easily mistake it for an origin area, Linkert said of the fence. The burn pattern on the ground, showing char in a V-pattern advancing up a slope, looked like a possible beginning, said Linkert. So it makes sense that Uboldi had focused on the fence so intently for the first few months.

But the results of the photogrammetry eliminated that possibility, Linkert said. With only one other, de-energized power line on Dancing Bear Ranch, that left no other ignition sources on Cakebreads land, according to him.

Cal Fire agreed.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

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As wildfires become more frequent and destructive in California, the stakes for holding someone accountable are growing higher, too. Victims who lose homes, businesses or loved ones can  and do  seek compensation. With residents and commercial property owners finding it increasingly difficult to secure wildfire insurance, litigation may become an increasingly important part of that compensation process. And understanding the exact cause of each fire can help mitigate future disasters.

When a Cal Fire investigation comes up inconclusive, which is not a rare occurrence, it can be frustrating to victims.

Everyone was hoping for a more definitive response from Cal Fire, said Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin, who represents areas affected by the Glass Fire. She hopes more information may yet come to light: There will certainly be more discussion about the origin.

These dynamics take on unique meaning in Wine Country, which has suffered numerous megafires in recent years. While a winery or vineyard has not been found culpable for sparking any of those blazes, these rural agricultural parcels often contain fuel sources  electrical equipment, large propane storage tanks and power tools.

Wineries are also often public-facing businesses, dependent on the goodwill of customers and wary of the sort of public-relations nightmare that PG&E has endured.

On top of that, wealthy businesses such as wineries may be able to offer resources that perpetually under-resourced Cal Fire lacks. If an individual or a business has collected its own information  as insurance companies frequently do  Cal Fire will want to look at it.

At the end of the day, Cal Fire or the local unit is responsible for conducting the investigation, but any public agency will rely on bringing in additional experts, said Pimlott, the retired Cal Fire director. Conducting an examination like this really takes expertise thats available both in the public and private sector.

Such an arrangement presents ethical questions: Can evidence be credible if its collection is funded by an interested party? Theres a clear conflict of interest there, said Timothy Ingalsbee, executive director of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, a nonprofit that promotes wildland management practices.

Nevertheless, multiple experts confirmed, its standard for Cal Fire to incorporate information provided by private investigators working on behalf of an insurance carrier or a company like Cakebread. All relevant information should be considered and reviewed, no matter who collected it, Ingalsbee said.

A lot of it comes back to the integrity of the private-sector investigator, said forensic technician DeHaan. The attitude, he said, is were going to look at all the options and test all the hypotheses and keep our minds open.

Pimlott said Cal Fire corroborates outside information it receives and carefully guards investigations against meddling.

You are always protecting the area of origin like a crime scene, he said. It doesnt mean a crime was committed, but they are treated like that.

Just like people accused of crimes, companies implicated in wildfire causation have varying means to spend on their defenses. Cakebreads investigation could set a new example for how businesses can work to clear their names of wrongdoing. But not every business, not even every Napa Valley winery, has several hundred thousand dollars for such an endeavor.

For the Cakebreads, the arrival of the Cal Fire report seemed to mark the end of a long, anxiety-ridden saga. While its possible the winery could still face lawsuits from victims, Linkert said the extent of the evidence they collected and its endorsement by Cal Fire would likely dissuade people from such actions. If someone wanted to file a suit, Linkert said, hes confident that theyd change their minds after seeing the high-production video he showed Cal Fire.

Cakebreads absolution doesnt change the fact that investigators still dont know what caused the Glass Fire, and its possible they never will. Knowing that Cakebread isnt responsible doesnt ease the pain of this community, a fact that co-owner Dennis Cakebread acknowledged. No matter where it started, it was still a horrible event, he said.

Still, he added, Ive got to admit theres a certain feeling of relief.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
The California Department of Public Health updated its My Turn website on Thursday to open COVID-19 vaccine booster sign-ups to all people 18 and older. Those who want a shot can schedule an appointment or find a walk-in clinic on the website.

Everyone 18 and up is eligible, as long as it has been at least six months since they got their Pfizer or Moderna second dose, or at least two months since they got a Johnson & Johnson shot.

Previously, the state had followed federal booster guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which make the shots available to those 65 and older; to Johnson & Johnson recipients; and to those 18 and older with underlying health conditions or working or living in a high-risk setting.

But California officials expanded their guidance last week. They said the move was based on the CDCs provision that people ages 18 and older may get a booster based on individual risk and benefits, though that appears to be a more permissive reading of the agencys actual criteria.

However, the expanded eligibility led to some confusion, since most vaccine appointment portals  including My Turn  still required users to attest they were in an eligible group under the CDCs more restrictive guidelines. That requirement was removed from the website Thursday morning.

Moderna and Pfizer have asked the Food and Drug Administration for booster authorizations for all adults, which could happen as early as this week, the New York Times reported. If the CDC also gives the green light, federal standards would match Californias.

Here are the booster options currently available under Californias expanded guidance:

My Turn

Californias My Turn program allows residents to find and schedule vaccine appointments with a variety of providers, including county clinics, mass vaccination sites and pharmacies. Visit myturn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255.

County-run clinics and sites

Each Bay Area county hosts its own county-run clinics and vaccination events, and shares other avenues in which to get vaccinated, including via My Turn. Heres a list of vaccine websites for each county:

Alameda County: The county has said that no one will be turned away if they have determined for themselves that they need a booster. There are a number of county-run clinics, and a vaccine finder feature on the county vaccine site.

Contra Costa County: The county has noted that vaccine clinics run by Contra Costa Health Services will provide boosters to anyone who feels they are at increased risk of COVID-19. Vaccine locations can be found here.

Marin County: The county has said that those 18 and older who were fully vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine at least six months ago, or Johnson & Johnson at least two months ago, will not be turned away for a booster. County and pop-up clinics, as well as retail pharmacy vaccine sites, can be found here.

Napa County: The county has updated its vaccine website to reflect the expanded eligibility, and also offers a list of places to get vaccinated including a clinic calendar.

San Francisco: The city announced last Friday it had opened booster eligibility to those 18 and older. Here is the list of vaccine sites that includes links to make appointments, hours, types of vaccines offered and more.

San Mateo County: The county provides a vaccine clinic schedule, including a drive-thru booster clinic at the San Mateo County Event Center.

Santa Clara County: The county has a list of drop-in vaccine clinics and a scheduler through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

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Solano County: The countys vaccine website acknowledges the states expanded eligibility and encourages residents to get a booster shot at the mass vaccination site at the Solano County Fairgrounds. The website also lists upcoming vaccine events and other places to get vaccinated.

Sonoma County: The countys emergency response website offers a map and calendar of vaccine clinics.

Pharmacies

When booking a booster appointment online directly through major pharmacy chains CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens, users are asked to attest that they are eligible for a booster under the CDCs guidelines.

Rite Aid noted in a statement that it is a member of the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, which allows the government to provide COVID-19 vaccines directly to pharmacies. The company said:

By participating in this program, Rite Aid is bound to follow CDC guidelines concerning COVID-19 booster eligibility, but scheduling eligibility will be updated as soon as federal guidelines shift.

CVS Health spokesperson Monica Prinzing sent a similar statement via email:

We understand that some states may expand the criteria for COVID-19 boosters, but our participation in the Federal Pharmacy Program requires us to follow recommendations from the FDA and CDC.

Health providers

Public health officials encourage people to go to their own health care providers for advice on getting a booster, and to make an appointment at their doctors offices if available.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
PHOENIX (AP)  With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations on the rise again and the holiday season approaching, the head of one of Phoenix's biggest hospital systems renewed pleas Wednesday for the unvaccinated to get inoculated.

Dr. Michael White, of Valleywise Health, said the majority of their patients hospitalized with severe symptoms are unvaccinated. Valleywise is currently caring for more than 40 COVID-19 patients, up from 20 three weeks earlier.

In a media briefing, White urged the use of masks if families with mixed vaccination status plan to congregate for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

If youre going to be in an indoor area without folks that you live with, it is time to continue to wear a mask even if youre vaccinated at this particular point  just with the amount of spread were seeing within the community," White said.

The surge in cases is also overlapping with a pent-up demand for routine procedures that require hospital stays. That double whammy is taking a toll on staff, most of whom are now vaccinated.

Our staff is continually getting beaten up here by the number of folks that were seeing around us and putting increased strain within the system, White said.

The state Department of Health Services reported 2,315 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 as of Tuesday, a high not seen since mid-February. Hospitalizations have been above 2,000 for the last eight days, the figure inching upward every day but one.

The dashboard also recorded 3,459 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 16 more deaths. This brings the state's pandemic totals to 1,223,892 cases and 21,752 deaths.

Johns Hopkins University data indicates Arizona's rolling seven-day case average was about 3,564 on Tuesday, up from about 3,001 on Nov. 1. The rolling seven-day death average fell from 50.8 to 35.7 in that same time period.

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 states coronavirus dashboard also showed that more than 4.3 million Arizonans  60.9% of the states population  have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Over 3.8 million state residents are fully vaccinated, which is roughly 53% of the population.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that a statewide cut in gross receipts taxes will be on her agenda when the Legislature meets in January.

She made the announcement during an economic development event Wednesday in Albuquerque. The first-term Democratic governor is running for reelection and has been battling criticism over her handling of the pandemic and economic fallout among businesses across the state.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  The remains of a 19-year-old soldier from upstate New York killed during the Korean War have been identified more than seven decades after he was reported missing in action, defense officials announced Wednesday.

Army Sgt. Howard R. Belden of Hague, near the Vermont border, was accounted for on Oct. 14 and will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery at a date that has yet to be determined, according to the The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.
When Joan-Marie Shelley became an honors French teacher at her alma mater, San Franciscos prestigious Lowell High School, in the mid-1960s, it could have been her crowning achievement. What she did not know was that she was just beginning to leave her mark on public education in San Francisco.

She was always linguistic and bookish, but she was also the daughter of Jack Shelley, president of the California Federation of Labor and later a state senator, congressman and mayor of San Francisco.

She, in turn, became a union representative at Lowell on her way to being elected head of the San Francisco Federation of Teachers, the first woman to hold that post. From there, she engineered a merger with the San Francisco Classroom Teachers Association to form the United Educators of San Francisco in 1989, a powerful and influential union with 6,000 members.

Joan brought a distinctive flair to union leadership, said Dennis Kelly, retired president of United Educators of San Francisco. The popular impression of unions is cigar-smoking men who made deals in backrooms. Joan was seen as not only ladylike, but very genteel.

Shelley led the teachers union through four strikes. And even when Type 2 diabetes caused mobility issues and forced her to leave her apartment on Twin Peaks and move into an assisted living facility at Cypress at Golden Gate, she kept on organizing.

Her first cause was an unsuccessful fight for rent control for the residents at her facility. Her last cause was refusing to cross a picket line of striking workers when she was rushed to Kaiser San Francisco last month: She insisted on entering the hospital through a rear door. The workers were picketing out in front.

Shelley died Nov. 10 of heart failure and complications of diabetes, said her half brother Kevin Shelley, former California secretary of state. She was 88.

Joan was an incredibly successful and driven personality with a very gentle soul, he said, and she loved to laugh.

Joan-Marie Shelley was born June 15, 1933, the only child of John Francis Shelley and his first wife, Gwen Giles, who died in 1952. Her father rose from bakery truck driver to head of the San Francisco Labor Council, which represents public- and private-sector unions in the city. At age 29, he presided over the General Strike of 1934, which is infamous for a deadly shooting by police.

When Joan was young she used to go watch our dad at the labor council, Kevin Shelley said. She walked her first picket line at 11 or 12. Thats the environment she grew up in.

The family bounced among neighborhoods, and Shelley attended John Muir Elementary School in the Western Addition, Sherman Elementary in Cow Hollow, Commodore Sloat Elementary in Balboa Terrace and Jefferson Elementary in the Inner Sunset, where one of her classmates was John Burton, future member of Congress, the state Assembly and the state Senate.

Joan-Marie was very smart. She let me copy her homework, Burton said. Her father was a big shot. I was one of the few people who paid attention to that.

After graduating from Lowell in 1950, Shelley entered Stanford University, where she became friends with another city girl  future Mayor and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Shelley earned her bachelors degree in French in 1954. After obtaining her teaching credential at San Francisco State College, she returned to Stanford for a masters degree in French.

She used to say that her father was amazed that a nice Irish girl would want to learn French, said former colleague Sara Trelaun. But she loved reading in French and teaching that love to her students.

Her first job was at Lincoln High School in the Outer Sunset. From there she advanced to Lowell, which had recently moved from its brick campus near the Panhandle to a sprawling campus that backs up to the Stonestown shopping mall. The student body was so large that the graduation ceremonies were held at the Cow Palace in Daly City. Shelley did what she could to give the venue some sophistication, imploring her her French students call it Le Palais des Vaches instead. Another favorite among students was whoopsie marguerite, her translation of whoopsy daisy.

Joan-Marie spoke beautiful French, said Trelaun, who lived most of her life in France and taught alongside Shelley at Lowell. Shelley was known to break down and cry in class when reading aloud in French from The Little Prince.

The students loved her because she was so genuine and so emotional when she taught them, and the students liked that, Trelaun said.

Shelleys presence on campus was such that even students who never took her class knew who she was.

She just radiated through the halls, said Julie D. Soo, a former student of Shelleys who graduated from Lowell in 1978. Joan-Marie was like a ray of sunshine in the constant fog. Shed walk down the hall saying bonjour to everyone.

Shelley walked the picket line on teachers strikes in 1968, 1971, 1974 and 1979.

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.

During the last of these, after school officials made deep cuts to offset lost tax revenue following the passage of Proposition 13, she stood before a packed meeting in Kezar Pavilion and exclaimed, We dont have to to take this s anymore. According to Kelly, who was there, when Shelley used colorful language, the entire membership gasped and went silent.

Joan-Marie was a public speaker like no other, said Pam Clisham, who taught in the San Francisco Unified School District for 40 years. She could be in a meeting with 400 people and you could call upon her and shed stand up and deliver a speech with no notes.

One of her better speeches was at a hearing before the Board of Supervisors. At the time, her younger brother was president of the board. She addressed him as Mr. President, and he addressed her back as Madame President. Then she took over the board chamber.

I couldnt hold a candle to her, Kevin Shelley said. When she walked into a room you would just feel the presence.

While serving 10 years as president of United Educators of San Francisco, Shelley was also vice president of both the California Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers. In 1994, she was one of 10 leaders nationwide selected by the AFL-CIO to fly to South Africa and monitor the first free and fair election in that country.

After Shelleys health began to decline, friends and colleagues formed the Friends of Joan-Marie as a support group. The group blossomed into a birthday party attended by 150 people at her assisted living facility on 19th Avenue, attended by fellow teachers, former students and union leaders. During testimonials, Shelley teared up though did not sob the way she used to while teaching The Little Prince.

Joan-Marie was born into a labor family, and it showed  she was a staunch champion of labor and a lifelong Democrat, said Feinstein, her old Stanford pal. The passion that Joan-Marie showed for improving the lives of working Americans, particularly teachers, is a model for us all.

She is survived by her half sister, Kate Shelley, half brother, Kevin Shelley, and nephews Michael and Jack Shelley, all of San Francisco.

A memorial service is pending. Donations in her name may be made to the Lowell High School Student Body, Attention Maria Seeto, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive, San Francisco, CA 94132.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@samwhitingsf
Gridley Police Department/Handout

Phones have been found for two friends from Alabama who disappeared after arriving in Sacramento on a trip to visit friends, but there is still no sign of the men, police say.

LaDexter Pelt, 25, of Greene County, Ala., and John DuBose Jr., 20, of Tuscaloosa arrived at Sacramento International Airport on the morning of November 4. Surveillance footage obtained by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office shows the men getting into a dark blue, four-door sedan, potentially a Nissan or Toyota, at the airport. According to family members, their last contact was a confirmation from Pelt to his mother that he'd arrived in Sacramento.
Courtesy of KTVU

The California Highway Patrol said in a statement that a woman was killed in a shooting Thursday morning on Interstate 80 near the Bay Bridge toll plaza in Oakland.



The woman was traveling in the right-front passenger seat of an SUV with a man and two juveniles when the vehicle was hit by gunfire on westbound I-80 just east of West Grand Avenue, the CHP said in a Facebook post.

The male driver and both juveniles were uninjured.



A massive traffic backup remained on East Bay highways after four lanes were closed on westbound Interstate 80 near the Bay Bridge toll plaza Thursday afternoon, the CHP said. All lanes were reopened at 11:50 a.m. KCBS said.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  Conservatives railed against JPMorgan Chase on Thursday after a subsidiary pulled out of a business deal related to a Missouri political fundraiser that was to feature Donald Trump Jr.

Missouri political action committee Defense of Liberty was using online payment company WePay for ticketing for the Dec. 3 event in the suburban St. Louis city of St. Charles.

But state Sen. Bill Eigel, a co-host, said WePay cut off services to Defense of Liberty on Nov. 9.

According to a screenshot of an email provided by Eigel, WePay wrote that the PAC violated its terms of service against hate, violence, racial intolerance, terrorism, the financial exploitation of a crime or encouraging that behavior.

Chase representatives didnt respond to Associated Press questions seeking more information on why WePay stated Defense of Liberty violated that policy.

After another organizer on Tuesday announced that the event would be canceled, Chase reversed course.

After further review, we determined that this organization didnt violate the terms of service, and we are reaching out to the client to discuss reinstating the account, a Chase spokesperson said in a statement Thursday. To be clear, we have never and would never close an account due to a clients political affiliation.

Eigel said the PAC's account was still canceled as of Thursday afternoon. He wants to reschedule the event for a later date.

The damage is done, no matter what happens moving forward, Eigel said.

Republicans are using the dispute as an example of cancel culture attacking conservatives.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who is in a crowded Republican primary for U.S. Senate, on Thursday tweeted that this Cancel Culture nonsense has to stop." Schmitt, as well as U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, each wrote letters to J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon questioning the decision.

Missouri will not tolerate a powerful bank discriminating against political views with which it disagrees, Schmitt wrote in his letter. Missourians deserve an explanation for why this event was canceled.
LONDON (AP)  Customers are caught in the middle of a growing dispute between Amazon and Visa over transaction fees.

The online retail giant moved this week to stop shoppers from using Visa credit cards issued in the United Kingdom starting next year, the latest salvo in a battle between payment networks and retailers. Amazon blamed high fees for its decision, marking an escalation from action it has taken in Singapore and Australia, where it has started charging 0.5% extra for using credit cards from the payment juggernaut.

Seattle-based Amazon and San Francisco-based Visa are two of the biggest forces in retail, and their showdown over fees marks an inflection point in the payment industry, said Laura Hoy, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Historically, Visas been able to charge whatever it sees fit because of its huge network of card users  not accepting Visa meant cutting out a huge pool of potential customers, Hoy said. More merchants accepting Visa meant more customer sign-ups, and the virtuous loop spun onward.

Amazon hopes to break this chain by cutting the card company out of its payment options in the U.K., and it is probably one of the only players with enough power to do so, Hoy said.

Visa is the dominant payment network in Europe, with 58% of the market, while MasterCard has 41% and American Express 1%, according to the Nilson Report, an industry publication. Visa has a similar footprint in the U.S., where it has about half the market while its two rivals together account for about a third.

In the U.S., Amazon could drop Visa as the provider of its Prime credit card. Its in talks with MasterCard and American Express as part of a standard review of its co-branded credit card agreement, a spokesperson said.

Merchants have been grumbling for years about card fees, which include various payments to banks on either side of the transaction and the card network itself.

In the U.K., the British Retail Consortium industry group has warned that abusive fee hikes" add to costs that consumers pay for goods and services. The country's Supreme Court even ruled in 2020 that interchange fees, which are collected by a shopper's bank, are unlawful.

The ruling came shortly before the United Kingdom left the European Union, which resulted in rising interchange fees in the U.K. because card companies were no longer required to comply with the bloc's caps on those charges.

Major card brands have hiked those fees on some transactions between the EU and the U.K. to 1.5% from 0.3% before Brexit, according to the British Retail Consortium.

Meanwhile, other fees paid to the card networks themselves have also gone up in the U.K., doubling between 2014 and 2018, the group said.

With retailers now spending over 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion) to accept card payments, it is no surprise many retailers are frustrated by these surging fees," said Andrew Cregan, the group's payments policy adviser.

It urged regulators to tackle what it called anti-competitive card charges."

Ultimately, it will be consumers who suffer higher prices unless these spiraling costs can be brought to heel," Cregan said.
Arguably the most famous San Franciscan to ever serve as a streetcar conductor in the city, poet and writer Maya Angelous tenure as the first Black woman conductor has been largely obscured by history.

But Angelou's story can be pieced together from her writings and interviews. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Mom & Me & Mom, Angelou writes in detail of her time as a streetcar conductor in San Francisco, from getting rejected to riding the lines all the way out to Playland by the Beach.

In Mom & Me & Mom, she describes being able to take a semester off from school because she was already far ahead in her studies.

I said, Ill get a job, she writes.

What do you want to do? her mom replied.

I said, I want to be a conductorette on a streetcar.

Waldemar Sievers photo, Market Street Railway Archive

Angelou describes the enchantment of watching women on streetcars with their little moneychanging belts and with bibs on their caps and well-fitted uniforms.

At the time, she writes, I hadnt considered that all the women were white. I simply told my mother I wanted to become a conductorette.

Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928, had moved to San Francisco three years before she expressed a desire to become a conductor. Just 12 at the time of the move, she and her mother lived at 1661 Post Street in what is now Japantown.

According to Rick Laubscher, the president and CEO of Market Street Railway, a nonprofit that preserves the history of the streetcar company that operated in San Francisco from 1893 to 1944, Angelou likely began working for the railway in the fall of 1943.

Market Street Railway Archive

The caveat here is that all we know is what she has written and said about it, Laubscher said. She had indicated in a couple of cases that she wasn't particularly interested in talking about that part of her life.

Its not entirely clear which lines Angelou ran. From his research, Laubscher said theres indications that she worked on the 5-Fulton and 7-Haight lines, which terminated at Ocean Beach.

In an interview with Mark de Anda of SFMTA in 2013, Angelou was asked which line she worked on, to which she replied, I cant remember. I do remember that I took the streetcar out by the beach. I know that we came down McAllister, then down Market Street to the Ferry Building. The interview, notably, took place more than 50 years after her conducting days, one year before Angelou died.

Laubscher hypothesized that Angelou worked multiple lines, as she was low on the company totem pole. In Mom & Me & Mom, she writes that she worked from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., then 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  a punishing shift.

She worked a split shift. Quite often you are assigned to different routes in the morning and afternoon, he said. If you did the job for five months, I would say the chances of her being on only one line are pretty low. You would have been moved around.

Market Street Railway Archive

Just 15 at the time, Angelou lied about her age on her application to secure the gig.

Women had replaced men on the streetcars as conductors and motormen, she writes in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and the thought of sailing up and down the hills of San Francisco in a dark-blue uniform, with a money changer at my belt, caught my fancy.

It wasnt easy securing the job, which she found listed in the pages of the San Francisco Chronicle.

On her first attempt, she writes in Caged Bird, the secretary turned her away. But with encouragement from her mother, she went back to the office and attempted to apply again. Eventually, the secretary gave in.

I was given blood tests, aptitude tests, physical coordination tests, and Rorschachs, then on a blissful day I was hired as the first Negro on the San Francisco streetcars, she writes.

The claim that she was the first Black streetcar conductor in the city is not accurate, according to Laubscher.

There were African Americans being hired at the time, fitfully, but more and more because of the labor shortage, he said. And women were being brought on for the same reason. How many Black women were brought on is kind of lost to history. Whether she is the first one is generally accepted, and I'm not going to be the one to say it's not true.

She was certainly a pioneer, he added.

When asked what she garnered from the short experience, Angelou recounts, I learned I am not afraid to work, and thats about all.

Her mother didnt like that. No, you learned that you have power  power and determination. ... With those two things, you can go anywhere and everywhere.

And indeed, she did, eventually going on to win three Grammys, Pulitzer and Tony nominations and more than 50 honorary degrees. Market Street Railway has proposed dedicating to her memory the type of streetcar she worked on, a 798.

When resources allow it to be fully restored (the body has already been done), we will formally propose it be named for Angelou, and we expect that will have wide support, Laubscher said. We hope that will happen early next year, but with all thats on SFMTAs plate right now, it might be a little longer.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former first lady of San Francisco turned Trump-world fundraiser, reportedly bragged about raising $3 million for the Jan. 6 "Save America" rally that immediately preceded the Capitol riot.

ProPublica reviewed text messages sent from Guilfoyle to Katrina Pierson, another Trump campaign advisor, on Jan. 4. The text messages were presumably obtained after Pierson was served with a subpoena by a House select committee investigating the riots.

In the messages, Guilfoyle reportedly "expressed specific concerns that she might not be allowed to speak on stage" to introduce her boyfriend Donald Trump Jr. due to the lengthy list of speakers who pushed debunked claims that widespread voter fraud changed the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

ProPublica reports that Guilfoyle noted to Pierson that she "raised so much money for this" and added, "Literally one of my donors Julie at 3 million, a reference to Publix supermarket heiress Julie Jenkins Fancelli. It's not clear if Fancelli did donate to the rally. Guilfoyle's attorney denied to ProPublica that the text was related to the "Save America" rally that was held in D.C. before rioters stormed the Capitol.

Guilfoyle's fundraising chops had previously been called into question. In the days immediately following the conclusion of the 2020 election, GOP operatives complained to Politico that Guilfoyle "underperformed and was an HR nightmare," alleging that she "frequently joked about her sex life and, at one fundraiser, offered a lap dance to the donor who gave the most money."

Currently, Guilfoyle is serving as a co-chair for the Senate campaign of former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a candidate whose record is so controversial Trump himself is reportedly questioning why Guilfoyle is working for him

You can read the full ProPublica report on Guilfoyle and Jan. 6 here.
NEW ORLEANS (AP)  A New Orleans mail carrier has been charged with delay or destruction of mail after more than 1,000 pieces of mail were found in an apartment complex trash bin.

The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reports that the man was charged with a single count in an indictment returned Friday. The indictment says he secreted, destroyed, detained and delayed 1,377 pieces of mail.
BANGOR, Maine (AP)  The accused ring leader of an operation that allegedly diverted and sold more than $13 million in marijuana grown for Maines medical cannabis program pleaded not guilty Thursday to eight charges.

Lucas Sirois, 41, of Farmington, was arraigned in federal court on charges stemming from an elaborate program in which marijuana that was grown in western Maine for registered caregivers was sold illegally with the proceeds being laundered through a complex corporate structure.
HONOLULU (AP)  A grand jury on Wednesday indicted a Hawaii couple for the murder of their 6-year-old adopted daughter they reported missing.

The body of Isabella Kalua, known by some by her birth name of Ariel, has not been found.

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm announced that Isaac and Lehua Kalua are charged with second-degree murder, hindering prosecution and other charges.

Police believe Isabella was killed about a month before the Kaluas reported her missing. According to court documents, the girl's older biological sister, also adopted by the Kaluas, told a detective she saw Isabella in a dog cage, with duct tape on her nose and mouth and not breathing.

The Kaluas were being held without bail. A public defender entered not guilty pleas on their behalf in court last week. They are now being represented by court-appointed attorneys. Isaac Kalua's attorney, Donovan Odo, and Lehua Kalua's attorney, Jason Say, declined to comment.

This is a heinous crime," Alm said. "They need to be held accountable for it.

The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is life in prison with the possibility for parole. But because Isabella was younger than 8, Alm said he will seek an enhanced sentence of life without parole if the Kaluas are convicted.

Police declined to discuss efforts to find Isabella's body. Alm said it's possible to prosecute the Kaluas even if a body isn't recovered.

Its not the most common situation, but it certainly is possible, he said.

Lehua Kalua is also charged with abuse of a family member, Alm said. According to court documents, the Kaluas also adopted another of Isabellas siblings and were foster parents to another sibling.

The abuse involved more than one child, Alm said.

Lehua Kalua's murder charge involves allegedly inflicting the damage that led to Isabella's death, Alm said, and not taking reasonable steps to seek medical help for her. The husband is charged with what's referred to as murder by omission, by not helping Isabella, Alm said.
BOSTON (AP)  All adults in Massachusetts are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, Gov. Charlie Bakers administration announced Thursday.

Residents aged 18 and over will be able to get a booster from any federally approved vaccination.

State health officials recommend people get an additional shot six months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months since receiving a Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccine.

Residents may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said people can safely take a booster dose different from their original vaccination.

The booster shots are available in more than 1,000 locations across the state. A full list of locations can be found at the state's Vaxfinder tool.

State health officials say residents don't need to provide identification, health insurance documents or their vaccine card to receive a booster.

Massachusetts leads the nation in vaccine administration.

More than 83% of residents have received at least one dose and more than 70% of residents fully vaccinated, according to CDC data. State officials say more than 800,000 residents have received a COVID booster.

Massachusetts is averaging about 2,144 new COVID-19 cases per day, up from about 1,287 daily two weeks ago.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration took action Thursday to restore federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, undoing a Trump-era rule that was considered one of that administrations hallmark environmental rollbacks.

At issue is a regulation sometimes referred to as waters of the United States, or WOTUS, that defines the types of waterways qualifying for federal protection under the Clean Water Act. The regulation has long been a point of contention among environmental groups, farmers, homebuilders, lawmakers and the courts.

The announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army reinstates a rule in place before 2015 while the Biden administration arrives at its own, which is expected to be next year.

The administration had said in June that it planned to repeal the Trump-era water rule and issue new regulations defining which waterways are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. In August, a federal judge in Arizona threw out the Trump water rule and restored a 1986 standard. It was broader in scope than the Trump rule but narrower than what was established by the Obama administration, which brought federal protections to nearly 60% of the nations waterways.

The Trump-era rule was long sought by builders, oil and gas developers, farmers and others who complained about the federal overreach of Obama administration restrictions that they said stretched into gullies, creeks and ravines on farmland and other private property. They have frequently argued that broad federal protections for waterways make it difficult to do their work.

The agencys action Thursday formalizes steps it already has been taking since the court order.

Environmental groups and public health advocates say a strong federal rule is crucial to protect countless small streams, wetlands and other waterways that are vulnerable to pollution from development, industry and farms. The Trump-era rule resulted in an estimated 25% reduction in the number of streams and wetlands that are afforded federal protection, officials said.

Groups including the National Association of Home Builders and the American Farm Bureau Federation argued that the court should not have removed the Trump rule without deciding on the merits of legal challenges. The judge's ruling in August casts uncertainty over farmers and ranchers across the country and threatens the progress theyve made to responsibly manage water and natural resources, the farm bureau said at the time.

An EPA spokesman declined to comment on the legal appeal.

In a statement, EPA Administrator Michael Regan acknowledged the uncertainty that has come to define the water rule. "The only constant with WOTUS has been change, creating a whiplash in how to best protect our waters in communities across America, he said.

EPA spokesman Nick Conger said Thursday's proposal included updates that reflect the latest science and Supreme Court rulings. The EPA also said long-standing clean water exemptions for farmers will continue.

Kelly Moser, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, which has pushed for stricter regulation, said the action shows that this administration is serious about quickly returning to a mode of protecting the quality of nations waters instead of dismantling them."

The agencies will accept public comments on the proposal through late January.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/environment
GREER, S.C. (AP)  BMW will expand its South Carolina operations with the construction of a $100 million logistics center, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMasters office says.

The facility will be located near the German automakers existing factory in Greer, according to a news release from the governor's office. The new logistics center will be connected to existing Spartanburg County operations with two private bridges.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected a request by Steven Avery to review his conviction for killing a young photographer in 2005, a case that became the focus of a popular Netflix series Making a Murderer.

Avery has been fighting unsuccessfully for years to have his conviction overturned. His latest appeal asked the court to review three issues: failure to disclose evidence, the destruction of bone fragments and ineffective assistance of counsel.

The court on Wednesday denied Avery's petition for review without commenting.

Avery, 59, is serving life in prison for killing Theresa Halbach, 25, on his familys property on Halloween 2005. Halbach had gone to the Avery family salvage yard to photograph a vehicle that Avery planned to sell.

His nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also convicted in the case. Both Avery and Dassey have maintained their innocence.

We are not surprised since the Wisconsin Supreme Court only grants 1-2% of petitions for review. Mr. Avery has many options including proceeding to the U.S Supreme Court, and then federal district," Avery's attorney, Kathleen Zellner, said in a statement. "Since the appellate court only ruled on 50% of the issues raised we will be filing a new petition with the circuit court at the appropriate time.

The case gained widespread attention in 2015 after Netflix aired Making a Murderer, a series whose creators raised questions about the convictions. Those who worked on the cases accused the filmmakers of leaving out key pieces of evidence and presenting a biased view of what happened. The filmmakers defended their work and supported calls to set Avery and Dassey free.

Dassey was 16 when he confessed to detectives that he helped his uncle rape and kill Halbach. A judge threw out the confession in 2016, ruling it was coerced by investigators using deceptive tactics. That ruling was later overturned by a federal appeals court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case.
VUKOVAR, Croatia (AP)  Tens of thousands of people on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the eastern Croatian town of Vukovar that was demolished by the Serb-led Yugoslav army during the 1991-95 war, becoming a symbol of resistance and national unity in the conflict.

Top officials headed a huge column of people during a traditional march through the town on the Danube, near the border with Serbia. The participants carried Croatian flags or were wrapped in them as they walked in silence.

Many people later also laid flowers and lit candles at a cemetery where the victims of the 87-day siege of Vukovar had been buried.

More than 10,000 people died in the Croatian war that erupted after the country declared independence from Serb-led Yugoslav federation, triggering a rebellion by the minority Serbs who took control of swaths of Croatian territory.

The Yugoslav army troops relentlessly shelled Vukovar, reducing it practically to rubble. Croatia views the town as a martyr of its resistance to what the Croats describe as Serb aggression against the nation.

Hundreds of people were also killed after the town's fall in November 1991 and their bodies were dumped in a mass grave at a nearby pig farm. The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has sentenced to prison terms two former Yugoslav army officers and a former Croatian Serb official in connection with the killings.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said Thursday that Croatia is still looking for more than 1,800 people missing from the conflict and is seeking information from Serbia. Relations between the Balkan rivals remain tense, decades after the war.

The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, also said many of the victims of the Vukovar siege are still awaiting truth and justice.

I reiterate my call on political leaders in the region to open police and military archives which may hold information on missing persons and for improved cooperation in this field, said Mijatovic.

The war ended in 1995 after Croatia retook most of the territories that had been held by the Serb rebels. Tens of thousands of Serbs then fled the offensive.

Croatia organized Thursday's march despite soaring virus infections in the country. Plenkovic urged people to show responsibility and avoid putting each other at risk.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  A detective in Florida investigating the disappearance of Carole Baskin's second husband said Thursday that the Tiger King star had three times refused requests for interviews, and that the probe was ongoing.

Cpl. Moises Garcia of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Tampa held a news conference to provide an update on the investigation into Don Lewis' disappearance. The case was reopened following the March 2020 release of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a Netflix documentary series which became a huge hit during the pandemic.

Lewis was a Tampa millionaire who vanished in 1997, leaving Baskin with dozens of big cats at their animal sanctuary. The series launched rumors about how Lewis disappeared, including conjecture that he was buried in a septic tank on the sanctuary's property or living in Costa Rica.

The detective said he and his investigators had conducted 50 interviews and followed up on 200 leads.

When asked about the Costa Rica rumor, Garcia refused to comment, but he said federal agents had run down leads in the Central American country. Getting a search warrant for the animal sanctuary to follow up on the septic tank rumor would require probable cause, either evidence showing something happened on the property or a witness who could testify to that effect, he said.

Besides Baskin, a former handyman at the sanctuary, Kenny Farr, also didn't interview with us," the detective said.

It's unusual for a spouse or relative to refuse to cooperate when a family member goes missing, and Baskin is a person of interest, though others are too, Garcia said.

Baskin said Thursday in an email to The Associated Press that she has referred Garcia to her attorney. She pointed out she did everything she possibly could to assist detectives after Lewis' disappearance, including interviews, continued correspondence and unfettered access to the Big Cat Rescue property.

There is nothing that I know that is not either in the Sheriffs files or in the diary I have published at SaveTheCats.org, Baskin said. And no way I am going to have a clearer memory, or anything to add, twenty-four years later.

In response to a question on Reddit this week, Baskin wrote that she believed that Lewis took off in a small experimental airplane that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.

He wasnt licensed to fly, yet did all the time. He couldnt file a flight plan and had to take off from closed airports to evade detection," Baskin said. I think this was the most likely scenario."

Baskin recently sued Netflix and a production company to try to prevent the use of interviews and footage involving her in the Tiger King" sequel, which was released Wednesday. Netflix countered that Baskin and her husband agreed in writing that the material could be used in the future and that she is trying to block the companys First Amendment right to free speech.

Garcia said he is confident Lewis' disappearance will be solved.

If you ask a homicide detective if he can solve a case, and he says no, you should take away his badge," he said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina Republicans pushed a bill through the legislature on Thursday that would prohibit officials from counting mail-in absentee ballots received after Election Day. Gov. Roy Cooper is likely to veto the proposal, which fellow Democrats and allies say reinforces a nationwide narrative by the GOP based on unfounded allegations of widespread voter fraud.

Republicans contend the measure, along with an elections funding bill the House also approved along party lines, is designed to rebuild voter trust that has eroded in recent years.

Current law  in place for more than a decade  allows ballot envelopes postmarked by the day of the election to count if received within a three-day grace period. Republicans remain angry that a legal settlement extended the period to nine days during the November 2020 election because of postal delays and the pandemic.

Under the new measure, which passed the Senate in June, ballots would have to be turned in to county election workers by 7:30 p.m. on the day of a general or primary election, whether through the mail or in person. Republicans say the wait for absentee ballots to trickle in delays results that the public wants. The measure doesn't apply to military or overseas absentee ballots.

Election Day is a date that voters know well. Its a date thats easy for voters to remember, Rep. Grey Mills, an Iredell County Republican, said during House debate. Providing certainty to election outcomes sooner, Mills added, will build voter confidence in our election process.

About 30 states already dont accept absentee ballots received after Election Day. But Democrats said the measure makes it almost impossible for those who are weighing their election decisions in the final days of a campaign to be assured their mailed ballot will count.

Some folks may not make up their minds until Election Day, said Rep. Kelly Alexander Jr., a Mecklenburg County Democrat, before the bill passed 62-48. I urge you to seriously not tamper with something thats not broken."

More than 11,600 ballots received during the first three days after Election Day last year were lawfully counted, according to the State Board of Elections. More than 5.5 million North Carolina voters cast ballots for the November 2020 election. The new measure would begin with the March 8 primary.

Cooper spokesperson Mary Scott Winstead said the governor will carefully review the bill.

The real way to guarantee election integrity is to make sure every vote counts that is legally cast," she said. "This bill does the opposite and makes it likely that some of them wont.

Another Senate measure that passed the House  also with only GOP support  would bar election boards and county commissioners from accepting private money to run elections.

Millions of dollars were received from entities to purchase pens and to provide bonuses to workers at early voting sites for the November 2020 elections. The Center for Tech & Civic Life, one grant distributor, received large donations from Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of the company formerly known as Facebook, and his wife. GOP lawmakers have said such donations to government agencies create the impression of undue influence in elections.

Another Republican bill the House passed on Thursday is designed to ensure that non-U.S. citizens are kept off voter rolls by sending to election officials information about potential jurors who have been disqualified because they arent citizens. Two years ago, Cooper vetoed a version of that bill, which critics say could encourage the harassment of immigrants.

These undemocratic efforts are part of a national playbook to slowly erode North Carolinians access to the ballot piece by piece, said Ann Webb, senior policy counsel for the North Carolina chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. In advancing these anti-voter bills, state lawmakers are extending our states shameful legacy of voter suppression.

The donations and juror bills each would need affirmative Senate votes before they could go to Cooper. The legislature will return to Raleigh on Nov. 29 with hopes of wrapping up its work for the year that week.

Scores of elections bills were filed by Republican state legislators nationwide following the 2020 elections, many of which stem from former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud in the presidential election.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP)  A shooting Wednesday in suburban St. Louis left a 25-year-old man dead and injured three other people, authorities said.

Cornelius Eiland of East St. Louis, Illinois, was pronounced dead at the shooting scene Wednesday evening in East St. Louis, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr., the Belleville News-Democrat reported.

A second person was airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital with serious injuries and two other people were taken to area hospitals, Illinois State Police said. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Police have not released details of the shooting.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A fast-tracked map of Ohios new congressional districts continued its breakneck pace through the Republican-controlled state Legislature on Wednesday.

An Ohio House committee approved the proposal along party lines Wednesday, with a floor vote anticipated Thursday. The 15-district map cleared the Senate Tuesday, only about 16 hours after it was unveiled.
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)  A 35-year-old transient accused of setting a Las Vegas house fire that killed his girlfriend has been arrested in Carson City on arson and homicide-related charges.

Shyhelee Jamal Coleman was booked into the Carson City Jail Tuesday after Carson City sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle trespassing at a gas station on College Parkway, the Nevada Appeal reported.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  Four men have been sentenced to prison in connection with a scheme that used stolen identities to secure bank loans and purchase electronics, federal authorities said.

A news release from the U.S. Attorney's office for the Western District of North Carolina, citing court documents and a sentencing hearing, the defendants obtained multiple identities which they used to apply for automobile and personal loans as well as cell phones and tablets.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Years after coming under scrutiny for contributing to ethnic and religious violence in Myanmar, Facebook still has problems detecting and moderating hate speech and misinformation on its platform in the Southeast Asian nation, internal documents viewed by The Associated Press show.

Three years ago, the company commissioned a report that found Facebook was used to foment division and incite offline violence in the country. It pledged to do better and developed several tools and policies to deal with hate speech. But scrolling through Facebook today, its not hard to find posts threatening murder and rape in Myanmar.

The breaches have persisted -- and even been exploited by hostile actors -- since the Feb. 1 military takeover this year that resulted in gruesome human rights abuses across the country.

One 2 1/2 minute video posted on Oct. 24 of a supporter of the military calling for violence against opposition groups has garnered over 56,000 views.

So starting from now, we are the god of death for all (of them), the man says in Burmese while looking into the camera. Come tomorrow and lets see if you are real men or gays.

One account posts the home address of a military defector and a photo of his wife. Another post from Oct. 29 includes a photo of soldiers leading bound and blindfolded men down a dirt path. The Burmese caption reads, Dont catch them alive.

Despite the ongoing issues, Facebook saw its operations in Myanmar as both a model to export around the world and an evolving and caustic case. Documents reviewed by AP show that Myanmar became a testing ground for new content moderation technology, with the social media giant trialing ways to automate the detection of hate speech and misinformation with varying levels of success.

Facebooks internal discussions on Myanmar were revealed in 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 received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press.

Facebook has had a shorter but more volatile history in Myanmar than in most countries. After decades of censorship under military rule, Myanmar was connected to the internet in 2000. Shortly afterward, Facebook paired with telecom providers in the country, allowing customers to use the platform without needing to pay for the data, which was still expensive at the time. Use of the platform exploded. For many in Myanmar, Facebook became the internet itself.

Htaike Htaike Aung, a Myanmar internet policy advocate, said it also became a hotbed for extremism around 2013, coinciding with religious riots across Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslims. Its unclear how much, if any, content moderation was happening at the time.

Htaike Htaike Aung said she met with Facebook that year and laid out issues in the country, including how local organizations were seeing exponential amounts of hate speech on the platform and how preventive mechanisms, such as reporting posts, didnt work in the Myanmar context.

One example she cited was a photo of a pile of bamboo sticks that was posted with a caption reading, Let us be prepared because theres going to be a riot that is going to happen within the Muslim community.

Htaike Htaike Aung said the photo was reported to Facebook, but the company didnt take it down because it didnt violate any of the companys community standards.

Which is ridiculous because it was actually calling for violence. But Facebook didnt see it that way, she said.

Years later, the lack of moderation caught the attention of the international community. In March 2018, United Nations human rights experts investigating attacks against Myanmars Muslim Rohingya minority said Facebook had played a role in spreading hate speech.

When asked about Myanmar a month later during a U.S. Senate hearing, CEO Mark Zuckerberg replied that Facebook planned to hire dozens of Burmese speakers to moderate content, would work with civil society groups to identify hate figures and develop new technologies to combat hate speech.

Hate speech is very language specific. Its hard to do it without people who speak the local language and we need to ramp up our effort there dramatically, Zuckerberg said.

Internal Facebook documents show that while the company did step up efforts to combat hate speech, the tools and strategies to do so never came to full fruition, and individuals within the company repeatedly sounded the alarm. In one May 2020 document, an employee said a hate speech text classifier that was available wasnt being used or maintained. Another document from a month later said there were significant gaps in misinformation detection in Myanmar.

Facebook took symbolic actions I think were designed to mollify policymakers that something was being done and didnt need to look much deeper, said Ronan Lee, a visiting scholar at Queen Mary University of Londons International State Crime Initiative.

In an emailed statement to the AP, Rafael Frankels, Facebooks director of policy for APAC Emerging Countries, said the platform has built a dedicated team of over 100 Burmese speakers, but declined to state exactly how many were employed. Online marketing company NapoleonCat estimates there are about 28.7 million Facebook users in Myanmar.

During her testimony to the European Union Parliament on Nov. 8, Haugen, the whistleblower, criticized Facebook for a lack of investment in third-party fact-checking, and relying instead on automatic systems to detect harmful content.

If you focus on these automatic systems, they will not work for the most ethnically diverse places in the world, with linguistically diverse places in the world, which are often the most fragile, she said while referring to Myanmar.

After Zuckerbergs 2018 congressional testimony, Facebook developed digital tools to combat hate speech and misinformation and also created a new internal framework to manage crises like Myanmar around the world.

Facebook crafted a list of at-risk countries with ranked tiers for a critical countries team to focus its energy on, and also rated languages needing more content moderation. Myanmar was listed as a Tier 1 at-risk country, with Burmese deemed a priority language alongside Ethiopian languages, Bengali, Arabic and Urdu.

Facebook engineers taught Burmese slang words for Muslims and Rohingya to its automated systems. It also trained systems to detect coordinated inauthentic behavior such as a single person posting from multiple accounts, or coordination between different accounts to post the same content.

The company also tried repeat offender demotion which it lessens the impact of posts of users who frequently violate guidelines. In a test in two of the worlds most volatile countries, demotion worked well in Ethiopia, but poorly in Myanmar -- a difference that flummoxed engineers, according to a 2020 report included in the documents.

We arent sure why  but this information provides a starting point for further analysis and user research, the report said. Facebook declined to comment on the record if the problem has been fixed a year after its detection, or about the success of the two tools in Myanmar.
HOMER, Alaska (AP)  City officials in Homer are considering accepting funds for additional little libraries around the community.

The Homer City Council plans a hearing next month on a proposed ordinance to accept $25,000 in federal grant funds for the public library. The money would come through the Institute of Museum and Library Services and be divided between buying and installing five little libraries and upgrading the librarys Wi-Fi equipment, the Homer News reported.
SRINAGAR, India (AP)  Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir ordered an investigation into a police raid that killed four people and later Thursday exhumed two bodies and returned them to families who say Indian troops shot them in cold blood.

Police earlier said the two civilians died in crossfire when government forces on Monday attacked suspected rebels in Srinagar, the divided region's main city.

Witnesses and families of the civilians and one suspected rebel have denied the police version of events, saying they were deliberately killed by Indian troops while being used as a human shield in the standoff.

Police said the rebels included a Pakistani citizen, but offered no evidence. They also described one of the civilians as an overground worker, a term Indian authorities use for rebel sympathizers and their civilian supporters.

Authorities later secretly buried all of the victims in a remote northwestern village.

Following widespread public outrage, the bodies of trader Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Ahmed, a dental surgeon and real estate dealer, were exhumed late Thursday in presence of government officials and a team of doctors.

Family members said authorities asked them to bury the two in presence of only close relatives and immediate neighbors, fearing the funerals could turn into anti-India protests.

The exhumation of bodies came after police detained and later released over a dozen relatives of the slain civilians during a daylong sit-in late Wednesday in Srinagar. The families had been demanding that authorities return the bodies so they could be buried in local graveyards.

Manoj Sinha, New Delhis top administrator in the region, said the investigation into the killings will be led by a senior civilian officer and the government will take suitable action as soon as the report is submitted in a time-bound manner.

He added that his administration will ensure there is no injustice.

Kashmirs separatists called for a shutdown of businesses and public transportation on Friday in the region to protest the killings.

Over the last two years, authorities have buried the bodies of hundreds of suspected rebels and their alleged associates, including civilians, in unmarked graves in remote areas, denying their families proper funerals.

Authorities have said the policy is aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus and to avoid unrest during funerals.

The policy has added to widespread anti-India anger and some rights groups have fiercely criticized it as a violation of religious rights. Rights groups also have said that investigations into the killings rarely result in prosecutions and are often aimed at calming public anger.

These probes in the past have never resulted in providing justice to the aggrieved. It helps the state in buying time and tiring the families, said Parvez Imroz, a prominent rights lawyer who heads the Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

Kashmiris for years have accused Indian troops of targeting civilians and committing abuses with impunity.

Such allegations include staging gunfights and then saying the innocent victims were militants so that Indian troops can claim rewards and promotions. Indian officials acknowledge the problem but deny abuses are part of a strategy. They have also said the allegations are mostly separatist propaganda meant to demonize troops.

The probes, if done honestly, may only help to know the truth but not establish justice, said Imroz.

Both India and Pakistan claim divided Kashmir in its entirety. Rebels in the Indian-controlled portion of the region have been fighting New Delhis rule since 1989.

India insists the Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, and most Kashmiris consider it a legitimate freedom struggle. Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraqs influential Shiite cleric who emerged as a winner in last months general elections on Thursday called on the countrys myriad pro-Iran Shiite armed factions to disband if they want to join his upcoming government.

Muqatada al-Sadr also asked the factions to hand over their weapons to the government-sanctioned umbrella known as Popular Mobilization Forces. In turn, he also asked the PMF to purify its ranks from undisciplined elements and surrender corrupt individuals to the judiciary.

The militias are certain to reject the demands, which in turn could complicate al-Sadrs efforts to form a government after the vote. It could also increase tensions between Shiites who support the pro-Iran factions and al-Sadrs own followers.

The pro-Iran factions lost a significant number of parliament seats in the Oct. 10 elections and have called the vote fraudulent, rejecting the results. Their supporters have held protests outside Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone, home to government offices and foreign embassies.

The protests turned deadly earlier this month, when demonstrators tried to enter the Green Zone, demanding a ballot recount. One protester affiliated with the militias was killed in an exchange of fire, for which the militias blamed Iraq's incumbent Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Tensions were further ratcheted up after a failed assassination attempt against al-Kadhimi at his residence the next day. The prime minister suffered a light cut and several of his guards were injured in the Nov. 7 attack by armed drones on his Green Zone residence. There was no responsibility claim for the attack, although suspicion immediately fell on the armed factions.

Your losses cant be a pretext for ruining the democratic process, al-Sadr said at a rare press conference Thursday, addressing the factions.

Political analyst Ihsan al-Shammari, who heads the Iraqi Political Thinking Center in Baghdad, said al-Sadr's comments underscored clear and deep Shiite divisions," which will not help speed up the formation of a new government. Shiite armed factions serve as Iran's arms in Iraq, he said, and are being used to pressure political leaders.

As the winner in the elections, al-Sadrs bloc will seek coalition partners and name the next prime minister. The protests staged by supporters of hard-line Iran-aligned militias appeared to be aimed at pressuring al-Sadr to ensure that they are part of the next Cabinet.

But al-Sadr's call on Thursday practically ruled that out, instead asking the armed factions who function outside the PMF to disband.

The PMF is an umbrella group of mostly Shiite groups officially under the prime ministers command. It was created during the war against the Sunni extremist Islamic State group, which in 2014 seized large swaths of western and northern Iraq. IS was eventually defeated but the thousands of mainly Shiite paramilitary fighters who fought against it never disbanded or surrendered their arms.

Some of the most Iran-friendly militias under the PMF have shown signs of splintering into new, previously unknown groups, allowing them to claim attacks targeting U.S. interests under different names to mask the extent of their involvement.

A senior official with Kataib Hezbollah, one of the hard-line pro-Iran-militias, said he welcomed in principle al-Sadr's call to hand over weapons. But that can only happen, Abu Ali Al-Askari said, after al-Sadr's own armed group, Saraya al-Salam, surrenders its weapons, as Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters should also do.

"Only after these two things happen can the project of limiting arms in the hands of the state succeed," Al-Askari said.

Al-Sadr commands the devotion of millions of Iraqis, including those who fought in his former Mahdi Army militia, a force that battled U.S. troops in the early days of the U.S.-led occupation. In 2014, al-Sadr revamped the militia under the name the Peace Brigades  Saraya Salam  that fought against Islamic State militants.

He recently announced the closure of the offices of his Saraya al-Salam fighters in various provinces  a largely symbolic move apparently meant to show he is serious about bringing all arms under state control.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  Jurors recommended the death penalty on Wednesday for a Florida man convicted of fatally shooting his girlfriend and her 10-year-old son during an argument.

Following a two-week trial, the panel of seven women and five men unanimously concluded that Tyrone Terell Johnson, 45, deserves to die, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The Hillsborough County jury had found him guilty of murdering the mother and child, but prosecutors only sought the death penalty for the boy's slaying. A judge will officially sentence Johnson at a hearing scheduled for January.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP)  A Kansas man has pleaded guilty to a felony for throwing his ex-girlfriends caged miniature poodle in a river.

Davion Simpson, 24, pleaded guilty Wednesday to animal cruelty in the case and faces possible jail time when hes sentenced Dec. 17, Leavenworth County prosecutors said.

Witnesses told police that on July 31, Simpson dragged a kennel with the dog inside it out of the back of his car at Riverfront Park in Leavenworth and threw the kennel into the Missouri River.

Bystanders rescued the dog. Police said Simpson had recently ended his relationship with the girlfriend and had texted a friend of hers that the dog was gone.

Investigators have said Simpson took the woman's three dogs after an argument. The woman's Chihuahua was later found running loose at another park, and her brindle pug terrier was found with her ex-boyfriends family.
VERNON, Conn. (AP)  Anyone who got a COVID-19 vaccine more than six months ago should not consider themselves fully vaccinated, Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday as he urged Connecticut residents to get a booster shot.

Lamont spoke along with the state's health commissioner and other health officials in Vernon, where he said he would not wait for official word from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before telling all adults to get a booster vaccine and urging providers to make them available.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP)  A Wichita man man arrested on suspicion of murder has been released from prison while an investigation continues.

Charles Burnham, 28, was arrested Tuesday after his roommate died. He was being held on $500,000 bond facing a possible first-degree murder charge.
BOSTON (AP)  The Massachusetts Senate unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would guarantee Massachusetts residents are eligible for annual mental health wellness exams at no cost  akin to annual physical exams.

The sweeping bill, which passed on a 39-0 vote, would also create an online portal to help smooth the transition from emergency to longer-term care; establish a panel to help resolve barriers to care for children with complex behavioral health needs who find themselves in an emergency room; and dedicate $122 million to support nearly 2,000 behavioral professionals.

This investment is absolutely critical. Its a game-changer. It includes the retention and recruitment we need to get the workforce we need, where we need it, Democratic Sen. Julian Cyr said during the debate.

The legislation would enforce existing mental health parity laws, which are intended to ensure that insurance coverage for mental health care is equal to insurance coverage for other medical conditions.

The goal of the bill is to create a more functional, transformed mental health care system, Cyr said.

This legislation builds more robust mental health care by advancing parity implementation and other insurance reforms, supporting our mental health workforce and doing everything we can to bring down barriers to care and make mental health care more accessible, he added.

The bill would rely in part on $400 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Although the concept of mental health parity has been codified in federal and state law for decades, enforcement has been spotty, with patients often denied coverage for mental health treatment, advocates say.

Its a sad pathetic myth to say that we have parity in Massachusetts, Democratic state Sen. Mark Montigny, said during the debate.

The proposal would address the enforcement issue in part by allowing the Division of Insurance to more swiftly receive and investigate parity complaints.

The bill is an updated version of legislation approved by the Senate last year. It now heads to the Massachusetts House for consideration.

Another problem the bill would address is whats known as emergency department boarding or ED boarding. Thats what happens when adults or children in the throes of a mental health crisis seek help in a hospital emergency department.

If they ultimately need to be admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit, the wait can last days or weeks. In the interim, the individual seeking help must often wait in the emergency department, receiving little or no psychiatric care.

The bill would address the issue by creating an online portal with real-time data to help health care providers more easily search for open beds, requiring hospital emergency departments to have a qualified behavioral health clinician to evaluate patients seeking mental health care during all operating hours, and directing the state Office of the Child Advocate to produce an annual report on child ED boarding.

The legislation would also reimburse mental health providers more equitably, create a standard release form, eliminate requirements for prior authorization from insurance providers for acute mental health treatment, encourage health care facilities to develop more emergency psychiatric services, and increase access to mental health care in more geographically isolated areas.

During the debate senators adopted an amendment that would create a state 988 crisis hotline center to provide intervention services and crisis care coordination to individuals calling into the federally designated 988 suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline.
SAN DIEGO (AP)  Scores of Mexican adolescents were bused to California on Thursday to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as efforts get underway across Mexico to get shots in the arms of teens.

Mexico has resisted vaccinating minors ages 12 to 17, in part because the government focused on older adults believed to be more vulnerable. Mexico also has not had enough vaccine supply for most of its minors, who account for one-third of its population. The country this month is preparing to start vaccinating only teens ages 15-17.

So a group in San Diego along with San Diego County stepped in to help their neighbor.

The pilot program in San Diego aims to get shots in the arms of 450 youths ages 12 to 17 before it ends in late December. The adolescents from Tijuana were selected by Mexican social service organizations, including those who work with the children of parents deported from the United States.

About 150 kids from Tijuana were bused to the Mexican consulate in San Diego on Thursday where county nurses administered the Pfizer vaccine.

Among them was 14-year-old Leslie Flores who said she was nervous but also happy about getting the shot.

Because this way I can protect myself and my family," Leslie said.

The county donated the doses. The teens will return in about three weeks for a second shot.

All of the adolescents have a U.S. visa or passport, but they were unable to come to the United States before now to get the vaccine because they did not have an adult able to cross the border with them, said Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the Mexican consul in San Diego.

Adrian Medina Amarillas, Baja California's secretary of health, praised the effort.

Baja California is experiencing a third wave of infections, he said. There is no doubt that this will help."

The program will be evaluated in early 2022 and officials will decide then whether it needs to be continued.

Hundreds of parents in Mexico have taken legal action against the Mexican government to demand the right to be able to give the vaccine to their children. Overall, about 84% of Mexico's adult population has had at least one dose of the vaccine.

The effort comes less than two weeks after the United States fully reopened its borders, and Mexican officials see it as another step toward ensuring the border stays that way. Border businesses were decimated by the 18-month closure to tourists and shoppers.

About 80% of the adult populations in both San Diego County and in Baja California have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

The first mass vaccination of Mexican minors happened last month along the Texas border when more than 1,000 children from the Mexican border state of Coahuila were bused to Eagle Pass, where they got their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine administered by members of the Texas National Guard. The youths ages 12 to 17 are the children of workers at border assembly plants known as maquiladoras.

In May and early June, more than 26,000 maquiladora workers in Baja California were vaccinated at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  The International Space Station remains at increased risk from orbiting debris following this weeks Russian weapons test, NASA said Thursday.

On Monday, Russia launched a missile to destroy a satellite orbiting just above the space station.

NASA said late Wednesday that the highest threat to the station and its seven residents was in the first 24 hours. Hatches between many of the station compartments were closed as a precaution, but they were reopened Wednesday.

The U.S. Space Command is tracking more than 1,500 satellite fragments, but hundreds of thousands of pieces are too small to see. NASA and the State Department have condemned the missile strike, saying it also puts satellites and Chinas space station at risk.

NASA said its reviewing an upcoming spacewalk and other station operations, to assess the risks before proceeding. The spacewalk to replace a bad antenna is targeted for Nov. 30. The space agency also plans continued inspections for potential damage.

The space station currently is home to four Americans, two Russians and one German.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP)  Maui's new police chief is bringing a colleague from the Las Vegas department he came from to serve as his deputy chief, according to a letter to members of the Maui Police Department obtained by The Maui News.

Incoming Chief John Pelletier announced in the letter he selected as his second in command Charles L. Hank III. Both men , who served in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, will be sworn in at a December ceremony in Wailuku.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Going a step beyond federal guidance, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that she believes being fully vaccinated means three shots and she pushed for all adults in her state who are eligible to get their boosters.

She made the comments during a virtual pandemic briefing, citing the increasing number of COVID-19 infections among residents who received their vaccinations more than six months ago.

Some cities and states already allow all adults to get boosters of Pfizers vaccine, but it is not yet official U.S. policy. In the last week, California, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia and Colorado expanded the shots to all adults. New York City made a similar move.

State health officials have been concerned about waning immunity and the role it has played in the recent increase in cases. The latest state data shows nearly 29% of infections confirmed over the last four weeks were among the vaccinated. Still, unvaccinated people make up higher percentages of those who are hospitalized or die from the virus.

The Democratic governor, who is running for reelection, blamed the unvaccinated for the ongoing pandemic but later acknowledged that the vaccinated can also contract and spread the virus. She said those who do often have only mild symptoms and don't end up in the hospital.

We know vaccinations are the most effective tool to both blunting the spread of the virus and to protecting ourself and our families, she said. So we are analyzing what we can do to create those incentives  and potentially mandates  for making sure that people are fully vaccinated, which means three vaccines.

Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase said discussions are underway about changing the definition of what it means to be fully vaccinated and that he expects a new public health order to be rolled out in the coming weeks.

That will mean some policy changes for hospitals and state agencies since Lujan Grisham already has mandated vaccinations for health care workers, educators, other school personnel and all state workers.

Some employers, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, also imposed mandates in recent months for workers to be fully vaccinated.

Officials said it's still too early to say whether COVID-19 vaccinations will be required for school children. They're expecting more data on children to be available by the summer that could help in the decision making process.

Scrase said many health care workers already were in line when boosters were announced so he's confident that the rate of uptake among that group will be high. He also noted that those workers who got vaccinated at the last minute to keep their jobs would have at least another six months to consider getting boosters  or two months if they received the Johnson & Johnson shot.

Nearly 74% of New Mexico adults are considered fully vaccinated under the current definition. Data released during the briefing showed more than 292,000 booster doses have been administered in the state since Aug. 1. Officials said that puts New Mexico's administration of boosters ahead of the national average.

The U.S. recommends boosters for people who initially received their second Pfizer or Moderna shots at least six months ago if theyre 65 or older or are at high risk of COVID-19 because of health problems or their job or living conditions. Boosters are also recommended for people who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Officials said Lujan Grisham made the decision this week to make boosters accessible to all adults because the state is considered high risk" given the rates of spread being reported statewide. In two counties  De Baca and San Juan  more than 22% of tests during the past two weeks were positive.

State officials also vowed not to let up with testing, saying it's a valuable tool that helps with tracking the virus.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico State Police were searching Thursday for a 10-year-old Albuquerque boy believed to be with his mother who no longer has custody of him.

They said Nicolai Kuznetsov was last seen on Nov. 5 and was believed to be with Jacqueline Haymon.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey's top political leadership is in no hurry to adopt  or even consider  a bill that would permanently ban smoking in Atlantic City's casinos.

On the day when smoking opponents make a national push for people to kick the habit, New Jersey state Senate President Steve Sweeney said there has been no discussion about whether to move forward with a bill pending in the state Legislature to ban smoking in Atlantic City's nine casinos.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who earlier this month won re-election, has said he will sign the measure if lawmakers approve it.

But Sweeney, the state's second-most powerful politician, who was defeated in a re-election bid in a shocking upset, showed no urgency Thursday to consider it.

That was the same day that smoking foes held another news conference to urge passage of the bill during the current lame-duck session of the Legislature, which ends Jan. 11 before the newly elected members are sworn in to office.

We haven't even started to talk about it, really, in any deep dialog, Sweeney said before an appearance at a ground breaking ceremony for a supermarket in Atlantic City. "The governor, myself and the (Assembly) speaker have to get together and decide which bills we're going to move forward.

We're not committing to ... he said, his voice trailing off before adding, I don't know what the lame duck's going to look like. The Legislature and the governor all have to be in agreement. So, we'll see.

That was not what smoking foes and several casino workers wanted to hear on the day of the Great American Smokeout, when people across the country are urged to try to stop smoking.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network released a poll it commissioned that showed New Jersey residents favor banning smoking in the casinos by a margin of greater than 2-to-1.

Were glad that New Jersey voters agree that we should not have to choose between our health and a paycheck, said Robin Vitulle, a dealer supervisor in Atlantic City for more than 36 years. From our experiences, our customers have no problem stepping outside to smoke because they must do so everywhere else. Then they come back inside and continue to gamble. We cannot wait any longer for clear air in our workplace and we urge the legislature to finally act to close the casino loophole.

New Jersey's law banning smoking in most indoor places specifically exempts casinos.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit last year, Murphy banned smoking as a virus transmission-prevention measure when the casinos reopened in July after 3 1/2 months of being closed.

That ban expired in April of this year, and smoking foes have been trying to get it reinstituted and made permanent ever since.

Right now, our policy that allows smoking in casinos, but bans smoking outside the casino doors on Atlantic City boardwalks and beaches is not only inconsistent, it is inconsiderate and unfair to casino workers, said state Sen. Shirley Turner, a central Jersey Democrat. "In this day and age, secondhand smoke should not be an occupational hazard.

The situation is now what it was before the pandemic: Casino patrons can smoke on no more than 20% of the casino floor, signs designate areas where smoking is allowed, and the casinos have invested heavily in air filtration systems.

Earlier this year, the Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade group representing the Atlantic City casinos, said a permanent ban would do great harm to the industry.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at @WayneParryAC
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP)  Pakistan on Thursday released a radical Islamist leader under a deal struck with his party that was behind last months deadly anti-France protest over the publications of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

The deal to free Saad Rizvi also included lifting of a government ban on his party, Tehreek-e-Labiak Pakistan. Last week, Pakistan also freed 2,000 of his supporters, detained during last months rally. That protest triggered clashes that killed seven policemen and four demonstrators.
PHOENIX (AP)  Officials agreed Wednesday to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit over the January 2017 death of a Black man during an arrest attempt in which he cried out that he couldnt breathe as officers held him down.

The 7-2 vote by the City Council ends the lawsuit by the sister of Muhammad Abdul Muhaymin, who was homeless and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia.

Although they (city officials) didnt acknowledge any specific kind of wrongdoing, the settlement makes a strong statement -- and for that reason, I am happy we could move forward, said Muhaymins sister, Mussallina Muhaymin.

City spokesman Dan Wilson declined to comment on the settlement on behalf of the city and police department. Lawyers representing the city had previously denied the lawsuits allegations of excessive force and wrongful death.

The struggle leading up to the death outside a community center arose after a city employee tried to deny Muhaymin access to a bathroom there because he had a dog with him. Officers who were called to the scene then discovered Muhaymin had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a misdemeanor drug-paraphernalia possession charge.

Outside the community center, tensions rose as an officer told Muhaymin to put down his service dog because he was under arrest. An officer knocked the dog out of Muhaymins hands after he said he didnt have anyone to care for the animal, according to the lawsuit.

Muhaymin was forced to the ground after police asked him to cooperate, and he screamed in pain as officers handcuffed him. An officer made a profane, belittling comment to Muhaymin that he was now facing a felony.

After officers brought Muhaymin to a police SUV in the parking lot, officers again urged Muhaymin to stop moving. Still, the struggle continued, with officers again forcing him to the ground. I cant breathe, Muhaymin said. I cant breathe.

Minutes later, the 43-year-old went into cardiac arrest, began vomiting and died, the lawsuit said.

While the police body camera footage released by the Phoenix Police Department is often hard to follow, an officer can be seen in one clip pressing his knee into Muhaymins head.

A woman who witnessed the encounter in the parking lot testified in 2019 that officers dragged Muhaymin to the police SUV, slammed him against the vehicles hood and took him to the ground, according to court records. She testified she didnt see Muhaymin punch, shove or act aggressively toward the officers.

None of the officers were criminally charged or faced internal discipline for their actions.

An autopsy report lists several factors in Muhaymins cause of death: cardiac arrest in the setting of coronary artery disease, psychiatric disease, acute methamphetamine intoxication and physical exertion when being subdued by law enforcement.

The civil rights group Muslim Advocates had previously released a video clip of the struggle that it said shows police mocking the religion of Muhaymin, who was Muslim. In the clip, Muhaymin is heard crying out in pain and calling for Allah, the Arabic word for God.

Allah? Hes not going to help you right now, an officer is heard saying. Relax dude. Stop moving. Stop resisting. You understand?

Phoenix police disputed that interpretation, saying officers were trying was trying to diffuse the situation according to their training.

Earlier this month, a judge issued an order to make public key pleadings and rulings in the case after Muslim Advocates and the First Amendment Clinic at Arizona State Universitys law school had separately petitioned the court to unseal the records. The ASU clinic made its request on behalf of The Associated Press.

Though the records havent yet been made publicly available, the judge set a Dec. 1 deadline for Muhaymin's sister and the city to offer final objections to releasing the records.

The U.S. Justice Department revealed this summer that it had launched a widespread civil rights investigation of the Phoenix Police Department.

The federal agency said it would would scrutinize whether officers have used excessive force, abused disabled people and those experiencing homelessness, engaged in discriminatory policing practices and retaliated against people for activities protected by the First Amendment.

City Council member Carlos Garcia, who voted to approve the payout approved Wednesday, said he hopes the money will prevent Muhaymins family from facing the sort of hardships he endured, but Miller doesnt necessarily believe the settlement represents justice.

Justice would have been for Muhammad to have housing and resources, Garcia said.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. (AP)  One person was shot during a fight in a clothing store at a northern Virginia mall Thursday afternoon, and police said afterward that there was no active threat to the public.

Prince William County police said in a news release that the shooting occurred at Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, an outer Virginia suburb of the nation's capital. Officers called to the mall quickly determined the incident was isolated to the Fashion Mechanics store, police said.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)  Officers responding to reports of a shooting in northeast Kansas City, Kansas, found one person critically wounded and later found another person dead from gunshot wounds, police there said.

The shooting happened around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, and officers called to the scene found a wounded man outside of a home. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
MANASSAS, Va. (AP)  A Virginia woman charged in a fatal hit-and-run is now accused of preventing the injured person from calling for help, police said.

The Prince William County police said a preliminary investigation showed Keiry Beatriz Alvarez Contreras, 23, was driving a Hyundai Sonata southbound on Centreville Road on Monday evening when she hit 74-year-old Jose Pastor Manzanares of Manassas Park as he walked in the roadway.
DETROIT (AP)  A decision to release a Michigan man from prison because of COVID-19 fears was overturned Thursday by a federal appeals court, which pointed to his long history of violence against women and abuse of children.

The court said U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts made the wrong call in granting a compassionate release.

Roger Sweet, 73, had seven years remaining on a 21-year sentence for sexual exploitation of children when Roberts ruled in his favor in April. She acknowledged that his crimes were abhorrent but said chronic health conditions made him vulnerable in the pandemic.

Prosecutors opposed Sweet's release and noted that he had survived a COVID-19 infection in prison and was subsequently vaccinated.

In 2008, Sweet was convicted in two Detroit-area courts and federal court. Those crimes included second-degree murder in the 1990 death of his first wife, the sexual assault of a teenager and the sexual exploitation of children.

Sweet's federal prison sentence was the longest. The others have expired.

"Sweets long history of violence against women and sexual abuse of children counsels against his release, the appeals court said in a 3-0 opinion.

In 2007, Sweets second wife disappeared after a fire at their Brownstown Township home, south of Detroit, a blaze that triggered the criminal investigations that landed him in prison.

Lizzie Mae Collier-Sweets remains were found years later, in 2013, in a secluded area less than a mile from their former home. No one has been charged, but police consider it to be a homicide and Sweet to be a person of interest.
MILWAUKEE (AP)  A QAnon supporter accused of attacking two U.S. Army reservists in a Milwaukee suburb earlier this year was sentenced Thursday to 14 months in federal prison.

Prosecutors say Ian Alan Olson, of Nashotah, drove a car spray-painted with QAnon slogans to the Wisconsin Army Reserve Center in Pewaukee on March 15 and shouted, This is for America before firing two or three paintball rounds at the soldiers. His gun then jammed.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic as hundreds of thousands of masked students flocked to schools on Thursday for the countrys highly competitive college entrance exam amid growing concerns about the delta-driven spread.

About 509,000 students were taking the one-day exam at 1,395 sites across the nation, including hospitals and shelters.

The annual exam, called Suneung, or the College Scholastic Ability Test, is crucial in the education-obsessed country, where careers, social standings and even marriage prospects greatly depend on which university a person attends.

Students were required to have their temperatures taken before entering classrooms, and those with fevers were sent to separate testing areas. The Education Ministry said that 68 infected students and 105 others in self-quarantine took the hours-long test in isolation.

The 3,292 new cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Thursday marked the second straight day of over 3,000 cases. The agency said 29 patients died in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 3,187, while 506 others were in serious or critical condition.

To reduce noise, transportation authorities were planning to temporarily stop landings and departures of planes at airports during the English-listening part of the test. Government offices and private companies had their employees come in late, and the countrys stock market delayed its opening by an hour to clear roads for test-takers.

(Students) werent given proper classes (because of COVID-19) and I often saw my child worrying much and struggling, said Seo Kwang-sun, a mother of a test-taker in Seoul.

While schools have been alternating between on-and-offline classes, the Education Ministry had planned a full return to classrooms starting next week to help reduce education gaps and align with the government's virus strategies.

Officials eased social distancing rules starting this month in what they described as the first step toward restoring some pre-pandemic normalcy. In allowing larger social gatherings and longer indoor dining hours at restaurants, officials cited concerns about the pandemic's impact on the economy and expressed hope that improving vaccination rates would keep hospitalizations and deaths down even if the virus continues to spread.

But there has been a rise in serious cases and fatalities among older people who rejected vaccines or whose immunities waned after being injected early in the mass immunization campaign that started in late February, prompting questions about whether the decision to loosen virus restrictions was premature.

So far, officials have issued no plans to re-impose stricter social distancing measures or postpone a full reopening of schools.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  The man arrested in the killings of his 7-year-old niece and another man in Sacramento has a lengthy criminal history and had been released from custody in October while he was awaiting trial on charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, according to court records.

Tyrice Martin, 22, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the shooting that left Isabel Agnes Delgadillo Martin and Clifford Hall, 42, dead.

Sacramento police said an investigation revealed that a neighborhood disturbance between two groups escalated into the tragic fatal shooting.

It wasnt immediately known if Martin has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

Martin had been released from custody in October in a case from 2021 despite the objections of a Sacramento County prosecutor, Chief Deputy District Attorney Rod Norgaard told the Sacramento Bee.

Online court files show Martin failed to appear for court on Sept. 20, but later appeared and was released on his own recognizance with ankle bracelet monitoring in a case alleging a prior strike conviction.

Court records show Martin was charged in March with possession of a 9 mm handgun and 38 rounds of .40-caliber and 9 mm ammunition, and that he had a previous 2018 felony conviction for carrying a loaded firearm. Martin also was charged in the 2021 case with possession of oxycodone, and court filings in that case say he has a March 2021 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon personally inflicting great bodily injury that stemmed from a case filed in 2019. That assault case stemmed from him using a vehicle as a weapon, court filings say.

On Wednesday, the girl's family and friends held a candlelight vigil in the housing development parking lot where the shooting occurred.

Isabels mother, Monica Delgadillo, carried with her an album of Polaroid-style photos. She said they were the final photos Isabel took. Her mother said the girl loved to take pictures and do video blogs, KCRA-TV reported.

Isabels mother was with her in the childs final moments of life.

I was just screaming for help. Someone help me, Delgadillo said.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP)  A 33-year-old man sought in a double-homicide in New Jersey has been arrested in Arizona, authorities said Thursday.

Members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force arrested Gabriel B. Vilorio-Jaquez on Wednesday at a Tucson apartment complex while he was walking his dog, the Marshals Service said in a statement.
GENEVA (AP)  Switzerland's financial markets watchdog on Thursday said it has reprimanded and set restrictions on two Swiss banks for violating their obligation to fight money laundering in connection with clients in Venezuela, notably with links to state-run oil giant PDVSA.

Banca Zarattini & Co. SA and CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvetique SA were found to have breached their duties to put in place adequate risk-management policy, which represented a serious infringement of supervisory law, the Swiss Financial Markets Supervisory Agency, FINMA, said in a statement.

FINMA said it was in contact with more than 30 Swiss banks over alleged cases of corruption with regard to Venezuela, and in particular PDVSA. It ultimately opened enforcement proceedings  the highest level of scrutiny possible at the authority  and wrongdoing was found at five banks including Julius Baer and Credit Suisse.

The authority said the announcement Thursday ends all enforcement proceedings against banks with regard to Venezuela and PDVSA.

It said CBH and Zarattini cooperated well during the proceedings and had taken steps to remove the deficiencies in their organization in combating money laundering.

The Associated Press reported last year that an investigation in Switzerland's tiny neighbor Liechtenstein had identified a Swiss banker who worked at CBH as a person in charge of transferring the funds of corrupt members of the Venezuelan government to Switzerland.

The misconduct at Banca Zarattini took place from 2014 to 2018. FINMA said it has imposed a temporary ban on the Lugano-based bank accepting new Venezuelan clients.

Geneva-based CBH, which was found to have breached its obligations to fight money laundering between 2012 and 2020 in the case, was ordered to end all its remaining business relationships with Venezuelan clients and to review other especially risky client relationships and terminate these if necessary, the authority said.

Both banks failed to carry out sufficient economic background clarifications into business relationships and transactions with increased money-laundering risks, FINMA said. Adequate documentation was also lacking in these areas.

CBH said the statement from the authority confirmed that it had already taken measures to reinforce its due diligence and control procedures, and said in a statement that the restrictions imposed by FINMA corresponded to decisions the bank had already taken.

Much information about our bank in relation to Venezuelan clients was disseminated in the media in recent years, CBH said. The result mentioned above puts an end to all speculations.
KINGSTON, Tenn. (AP)  A Tennessee grand jury this week declined to indict four men who helped supervise the cleanup of a massive 2008 coal ash spill at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant.

A former investigative reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel, Jamie Satterfield, had asked the grand jury to indict the men on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Satterfield has extensively covered the plight of the cleanup workers who say they were sickened from long exposure to the ash without respiratory or skin protection.
Despite Covid-related cancellations, delays and general inconveniences, automakers descended upon La La Land to debut an array of new vehicles ahead of the official opening of the Los Angeles Auto Show, which runs for 10 days over the Thanksgiving holiday and is a must-see for industry insiders, car enthusiasts and consumers. Over the past decade, the theme of the L.A. Auto Show has evolved into green technology, electrification and mobility innovation, and this year was no different. This year Forbes Wheels watched as automakers, both legacy and new, pulled the veil on sedans and crossovers that embody whats to come.

2023 Fisker Ocean

AFP via Getty

Henrik Fisker finally found his footing. The entrepreneur and longtime car designer stood beside the Ocean (and the ocean) in Manhattan Beach as he showed off the new electric crossover targeted at the mass market with a sub-$40,000 price tag and an expected 250-mile range. Unlike his previous ventures, the Ocean is an approachable EV that will offer younger shoppers a flexible purchase model with home delivery and no commitment leasing terms. The Ocean features several innovative modes, including the California mode that rolls down all the windows and a Hollywood mode that turns a swiveling vertical 17.1-touchscreen on its side for passenger media consumption while the vehicle is hooked up to a public charger. There also is a solar panel on the roof that will recapture energy to extend mileage as much as 1,500 miles over a year. Read the full story.

2022 Porsche Taycan GTS Sedan and Sport Turismo

Porsche

Porsche expanded its electric vehicle lineup with a pair of high-performance electric vehicles: Taycan GTS Sedan and Taycan GTS Sport Turismo. Porsche uses its GTS badge to delineate a curated blend of performance and luxury. Both use the same front and rear motors with a combined output of 590 horsepower, a figure placing the new Taycan GTS and Sport Turismo comfortably between the 462-horsepower Taycan 4S and 670-horsepower Taycan Turbo. Both new GTS models use an 800-volt architecture and a standard 93.4-kWh battery, the same as the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S. Porsche didnt provide a range for the GTS models yet (is it really about that?), but the 2021 Taycan Turbo with the same Performance Battery Plus is rated at 212 miles. Porsche did say that the Taycan GTS Sedan and Sport Turismo can sprint from zero-to-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Read the full story.

2023 Subaru Solterra

Subaru

Subarus showcased is the all-new Solterra EV, which was built alongside Toyotas new bZ4X. Though exterior styling cues are similar, Subarus Solterra will have a distinct personality and attract a more outdoorsy-type crowd versus the urban and suburban loyalists that will be drawn to Toyotas version. That might be due in part to Solterras all-wheel drivetrain, which is the biggest mechanical difference between it and the bZ4X. It will be powered by dual motors that will deliver 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Subaru did not confirm battery size or range, but Forbes Wheels caught wind that it Subaru is targeting 220 miles. The Solterra will employ two new X-Mode selectable traction settingsone for sand and dirt, the other for deep snow and mud. The EV also features 8.3 inches of ground clearance. Read the full story.

2023 Toyota bZ4X

Toyota

Toyotas electrified collaboration with Subaru comes in the form of the 2023 bZ4X. It will be the first in a string of EVs that the company will roll out over the next three years. The bZ stands for Beyond Zero, which Toyota will use as a sub-brand for EVs. The 4X represents its compact size as a crossover. Like Subarus twin Solterra, a dual-motor, all-wheel drive variant will be available, but the bZ4X will come standard as a front-drive single-motor EV with an estimated 250 miles of range. The all-wheel dual-motor models will likely drop to around 230 miles, on par with the estimate Forbes Wheels got for the Solterra. The AWD bZ4X will also get X-mode for off-road travel and a new Grip Control function that serves as a sort of low-speed cruise control for off-road driving. Read the full story.

2023 Acura Integra

Michael Van Runkle

In the days leading up to the show, Acura unveiled a pre-production prototype for the revived 2023 Integra at the nearby Petersen Automotive Museum. Acura promises a six-speed manual transmission harnessing power from a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (the same used in the new eleventh-generation Honda Civic Si). An automatic with paddle shifters is widely expected to be announced closer to the cars formal introduction next year but isnt confirmed. The new Integra will be front-wheel drive, in line with the originals from the 1980s and 1990s. The prototype debuted with four doors and perhaps a little more Civic DNA than was expected. Read the full story.

2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Kia

Kias all-new fifth-generation 2023 Sportage Hybrid debuted at the show with styling and features echoing its recently introduced near-twin, the non-hybrid 2023 Kia Sportage. Kia is targeting 39 mpg and a range of over 500 miles for the hybrid, numbers that put real space between it and its gasoline-powered competition. It wont suffer for efficiency either, with a combined 226 horsepower from a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a 44kW electric motor bettering the 187 ponies of the standard Sportages 2.4-liter four. All-wheel drive is available, and four drive modesEco, Sport, Smart and Snoware on board to help manage the situation at hand. Read the full story.

Hyundai SEVEN Concept

Hyundai

Hyundai showed off its newest SEVEN concept, an extension of the brands growing Ioniq EV line that strongly hints at a future Santa Fe-sized battery-electric crossover. Its unclear how close the SEVEN is to a production vehicle, but its filled with contemporary design details and eco-friendly materials. It also features an air sterilization system to keep the SUV free of bacteria when not in use much like whats used aboard commercial aircraft. The SEVEN is built on Hyundais Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) architecture just like the 2022 Ioniq 5, but it wraps its mechanical pieces in a more conventional SUV shape. This type of skateboard platform, with the battery architecture as a base and the drive motors on both ends, allows for a flat floor and a scalable wheelbase, making it possible to create many different models for varying purposes. Read the full story.

2022 Mazda CX-50

Mazda

Mazda is pushing into the capability game with a new SUV for 2023, the CX-50, which will sit between the smaller CX-30 crossover and CX-5 crossover. The CX-50 will offer enhanced all-wheel drive for consumers that want to dabble in light trailblazing. Positioned to compete with Subarus all-wheel lineup, it wont have the off-road credentials of vehicles like the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but it will have a slightly more robust platform for occasional off-pavement travel. Two engine choices will be available: a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine or a 2.5-liter turbocharged engineboth four cylinders and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Mazda didnt provide output or fuel economy ratings, but all-wheel drive will be standard. Read the full story.

Ford Bronco Sasquatch

Ford

For 2022, Ford is adding a seven-speed manual option to two- and four-door Broncos equipped with the hardcore off-roading Sasquatch Package, or as it was being referenced during its L.A. appearance, ManSquatch. The Sasquatch is available across the lineup and groups together the key off-road items including 35-inch Goodyear Territory tires (the only midsize SUV to offer 35-inchers from the factory) on 17-inch bead-lock ready wheels, Bilstein dampers as part of a mil suspension lift, front and rear locking axles and fender flares. The Sasquatch also lifts the base models 8.4-inch ground clearance to 11.6 inches in the two-door and 11.5 inches in the four-door. The approach angle goes from 35.5 to 43.2 inches and the departure angle increases from 29.8 to 37.2 inches. Read the full first drive review.

BONUS: Hyundai Kona N and Elantra N

Michael Van Runkle

Meanwhile, in Northern California, Hyundai was busy showing off its new N models at the Sonoma Raceway on and off the track through the hillsides of wine country. The Hyundai Elantra N and Kona N join the Veloster N in its performance line, which is more than an appearance package. Both are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injected engine with an N eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters that deliver 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque (the Elantra comes standard with a six-speed manual). Hyundai says the Kona is the first SUV N to join the lineup, but its really a tall hot hatch. Both of these vehicles are all about cornering and tight suspension, but theyre respectably fast off the line.

This article, The 10 Coolest Cars From The 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, originally appeared on Forbes Advisor.
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms" the intrusion and seizure of the now-closed U.S. Embassy in Yemens capital and the detention of dozens of local employees by the country's Houthi rebels.

A statement approved by all 15 members of the U.N.s most powerful body called for an immediate withdrawal of all Houthi elements from the premises and the immediate and safe release of those still under detention.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters last week that diplomatic efforts had succeeded in securing the release of most of the detained employees, but that some remain in custody. He said then that work was continuing to free the others.

The Security Council stressed that the Vienna convention prohibits any intrusion into diplomatic property as well as the inviolability and immunity of the premises from searches and requisition  and that property and archives of a diplomatic mission that has been temporarily closed must be respected and protected.

The council's statement followed Wednesdays demand by the United Nations for the release of two U.N. staffers detained earlier this month by the Yemen rebels.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday that U.N. officials were given assurances by senior Houthi officials last week that the two men, both Yemenis, would be released. He told reporters Thursday that they still have not been freed.

He said the U.N. staffers work for the U.N. human rights office and UNESCO, and were detained on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7.

Yemen has been convulsed by civil war since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthis took control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the northern part of the country, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia.

A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in March 2015, backed by the United States, to try restore President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to power. Despite a relentless air campaign and ground fighting, the war has deteriorated largely into a stalemate and spawned the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
BOSTON (AP)  U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland joined with Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday to mark the groundbreaking of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the United States.

The project is the first of many that will contribute to President Joe Bidens goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 and to Massachusetts goal of 5.6 gigawatts by 2030, Haaland said at the event in the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod.

The first steps of construction will include laying down two transmission cables that will connect Vineyard Wind 1 to the mainland.

The farm will generate 800 megawatts of electricity annually, enough to power more than 400,000 homes. It will be built by union labor and create hundreds of jobs, Haaland said.

Vineyard Wind 1 represents a historic milestone for advancing our nations clean energy production," Haaland said. This project and others across the country will create robust and sustainable economies that lift up communities and support good-paying jobs, while also ensuring future generations have a livable planet.

In July, the Department of the Interiors Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved the project to construct 62 wind turbines about 15 miles south of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket and 35 miles from mainland Massachusetts.

The commercial fishing industry has pushed back against the wind farm.

In September, the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance  a coalition of commercial fishing groups  filed a legal challenge to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements approval of the Vineyard Wind 1 project with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.

The approval of the wind farm "adds unacceptable risk to this sustainable industry without any effort to minimize unreasonable interference with traditional and well-managed seafood production and navigation, the group said at the time.

The group said the current design of the wind farm project endangers the fishing industry by placing turbines too close together for vessels to safely navigate during rough seas, and does not address impacts to fish populations.

Another Vineyard Wind project  Vineyard Wind South  is also under development.

Offshore wind development is still in its infancy in the U.S., which is home to two small projects off Rhode Island and Virginia.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Israel has charged the housekeeper for the country's defense minister with espionage for offering to spy for hackers reportedly linked to Iran, Israeli officials said Thursday.

The man, identified as Omri Goren, reportedly has a criminal record but worked at Defense Minister Benny Gantz's home as a cleaner and caretaker.

How he got close, personal access to an Israeli leader with security clearance remains something of a mystery, even to experts. The incident raised questions about how thoroughly such workers are vetted.

The Shin Bet security service, which announced the arrest, said it was reviewing its vetting procedures.

According to the security service and the indictment, Goren saw reports in the Israeli media about a hacker group called Black Shadow." He looked up the group and used the Telegram app to contact one of its agents, presenting himself as someone who worked for Gantz. Goren demonstrated his access to the defense minister by sending photographs of various items in Gantz's home, including his computer.

The government said Goren, also identified in the indictment under the name Gorochovsky, discussed infecting Gantz's computer with malware but was arrested before any plans were carried out. He had no access to classified material, it said.

Gorens public defender, Gal Wolf, was quoted in news reports as saying the suspect was desperate for money and had no intention of damaging national security.

Israeli media reported that Goren has been sentenced to prison on four occasions, including for armed robbery and breaking into homes. According to the reports, he did not undergo a security review before working for Gantz.

The incident drew attention on Thursday from Israel's robust cybersecurity industry, especially for the hackers' reported connection to the country's archrival, Iran. Black Shadow is well-known in Israel for crashing widely-used web sites.

Experts said the group's activities appear to be an example of a state willing to use cyberterrorism to undermine feeling of safety among civilians living in a rival country.

The fact that Goren allegedly reached out to the hackers - and not the other way around - reflects to some extent the group's success at spreading word of their brand.

I think they got more than what they hoped to, said Lionel Sigal, who leads cyber threat intelligence at Israel-based CYE and is a veteran of the Defense Ministry. People here know Black Shadow. It's a common term here, now."
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Ardeshir Zahedi, Iran's flamboyant ambassador to the United States during the rule of the shah who charmed both Hollywood stars and politicians with his lavish parties until the 1979 Islamic Revolution, died on Thursday, Iranian state media reported. He was 93.

Whether seen with Henry Kissinger or entertaining Barbra Streisand, Zahedi cut such a memorable presence across Washington's social scene that one newspaper report referred to him as both the playboy of the Western world and the capital's most-sought-after bachelor. He was linked romantically to Elizabeth Taylor, the siren of the age.

But as the revolution erupted and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fatally ill with cancer, fled the country, the Iranian Embassy on 3005 Massachusetts Ave. that hosted Zahedi's raucous parties was abandoned and would stand empty for the next 40 years. The revolution swept through the country, installing the Islamic theocracy that governs the nation to this day.

Iran and America needed and still need each other, and it is in their interest to pursue a new and constructive approach in their relations, Zahedi wrote in 2020 from Switzerland where he eventually settled. It is the governments that need to be ready to make sacrifices, to show goodwill, remove artificial barriers, and prove their sincerity and desire to reconcile.

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency attributed Zahedi's death to old age, without elaborating. Other semiofficial news agencies in Iran, as well as the BBC's Persian service, said he had recently been ill, without elaborating.

Zahedi was the son of Gen. Fazlollah Zahedi, the man who a 1953 CIA-backed coup against the countrys elected prime minister installed in power, cementing the rule of the young shah. For those who would later overthrow the shah and storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, that coup represents the original sin by America, leading to the four decades of enmity that followed.

Zahedi would marry Shahnaz, the shah's first daughter with Egyptian Princess Fawzia Fuad. Though that marriage only lasted seven year, the shah considered Zahedi as another son and a trusted adviser. Zahedi would serve as ambassador to the U.S. and the United Kingdom, as well as Iran's foreign minister, before returning to Washington as the shah's top diplomat there.

At the time, the shah had rapidly modernized his country with its oil wealth, and expanded its military with American-manufactured weapons. The U.S. considered him as a bulwark against the neighboring Soviet Union in the Persian Gulf and operated secret listening posts in Iran to monitor its Cold War enemy.

Zahedi, single again and back in Washington, threw himself into the capital's social scene. The Iranian Embassy became known as the the number one embassy when it came to extravagance, Barbara Walters would write in her memoirs. Guests munched on caviar and swilled champagne.

While partying, however, Zahedi maintained close relationships with both the Nixon and Carter administrations. Along with ambassadors from Egypt and Pakistan, he helped resolve a 1977 hostage crisis in Washington that saw two people killed and over 140 captives freed.

But the shah, who had both limited all dissent and waffled as his country increasingly found itself in turmoil, felt increasingly isolated and ended up fleeing. His departure and the revolution the following month brought an end to 2,500 years of monarchial rule across Persia.

Yet despite facing a death sentence back home and later settling in Switzerland, Zahedi acknowledged the woes that led to the revolution and pushed for a reconciliation between Iran and the U.S. even amid recent tensions over Tehran's collapsed nuclear deal with world powers. He dismissed President Donald Trump's maximalist campaign targeting Tehran as a pressure tactic wrapped in bellicosity folded inside a chimera.

It is bereft of a viable vision and based on the naive assumption that overthrowing the Islamic Republic will miraculously lead to a pluralistic and pro-American order, Zahedi wrote in 2019. That previous U.S.-sponsored regime change in the region has ushered in failed states or worse autocracies seems to be an afterthought.

The Iranian Embassy from which he charmed so many sits empty to this day, becoming a prop in one 2019 online video by former U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook.

We look forward to the day when we can return the keys of this embassy to a truly representative Iranian government that is motivated not by a hateful, antiquated revolutionary ideology, but by the interests and the will of the great Iranian people, Hook said. Hook said in the video that the furniture and rugs once inside the embassy are held in temperature-controlled storage.

However, Zahedi's liquor cellar did not survive the revolution as representatives of the Islamic Republic who briefly ran the embassy at the time poured more than more than 4,000 bottles of Scotch, champagne and other beverages down a drain.

It took four hours of continuous pouring to dispose of all the alcohol, an embassy publication said at the time.

___

Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

___

Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.
By Bay City News

The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert early Thursday in four Southern California counties for a 15-year-old Vallejo girl who was reported abducted Wednesday afternoon in Santa Rosa.

The alert includes the name and photograph of the man suspected of forcing Georgiana Bambaloi into his car at a filling station at 1:50 p.m.

The alert identifies the suspect as 20-year-old Ionita Cimino, described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, about 115 pounds with brown hair and eyes and who was last seen wearing an orange shirt and black pants. Authorities said he was seen driving a green 2007 Chrysler Town and Country mini van, with temporary Texas license plate 12478U3.

The CHP issued the alert on behalf of the Santa Rosa Police Department at 2:52 a.m. Thursday for Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles and Riverside counties. The alert urges anyone who sees the vehicle or its occupants to call 9-1-1.

Santa Rosa police reported the abduction late Wednesday night in a news release, describing Bambaloi as 5 feet, 6 inches tall with a thin build and long dark hair. She was last seen wearing black jeans and a black sweatshirt with green and red cherries on it.

Police responded at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday to a suspicious missing person report at a filing station in the 2500 block of Guerneville Road in Santa Rosa.

Police said the victim's parents told them several men forced their daughter into a dark colored Jeep or similar vehicle.

Upon further investigation, police learned that the possible abduction took place across the street at the ARCO station, and that video surveillance cameras had captured some of the incident.

Police said that a man wearing an orange shirt ran across the filling station parking lot at about 1:40 p.m. and grabbed Bambaloi and forced her into a dark gray vehicle that was then driven east on Guerneville Road.

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.
Horn Barbecue

Five Bay Area restaurants have cause for celebration after landing on Esquires Best New Restaurants in America list.

Out of 40 businesses throughout the country, five restaurants from San Francisco and the East Bay were recognized. Jordanian restaurant Shawarmaji in Oakland was among the celebrated. Chef-owner Mohammad Abutaha told SFGATE that after the initial shock of learning that his restaurant made the list, he felt an immense sense of gratitude.
StackCommerce

Whether you own your own business, work in the marketing field, or are simply hoping to make your resume as strong as possible for potential employers, keeping up with the latest Google programs is absolutely essential to commerce these days. With that being said, it can also definitely be difficult to ensure that you are on top of all the latest market trends for your business or brand.

With The Google Analytics Master Class Bundle, you can easily get up to speed on the program that helps sites and businesses grow with ease. With 115 lessons divided into five jam-packed courses, this bundle is a must-have for any savvy business person. Luckily, it just so happens to be a Pre-Black Friday Doorbuster deal.
Cloud cover increased and temperatures were chilly across the San Francisco Bay Area Thursday afternoon as a weak weather system approached the region.

Light rain started falling in north Sonoma County at 2 p.m., and drizzly conditions are expected to spread throughout the North Bay into Thursday evening before pushing south of the Golden Gate Thursday night into Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Precipitation is forecast to remain light. Projected rainfall amounts for North Bay valleys are about a tenth of an inch while coastal mountains could receive up to 0.30 inch, the weather service said.

The central Bay Area, including San Francisco and Oakland, are will likely receive a few hundredths of an inch. Locations such as Livermore in the far East Bay and San Jose in the South Bay could see only trace amounts of rain.

"It's not looking like a soaker," said weather service forecaster Brayden Murdock, but the agency noted it will be enough to wet roads and cause some commute issues Friday morning, especially with lingering fog.

The wet weather is good news for the water-starved Bay Area, but this is bad news for anyone who wants to catch the nearly total lunar eclipse early Friday.

The moon will traverse the earth's shadow cast by the sun early Friday. In a total lunar eclipse, the entire moon falls within the earth's shadow, but in this eclipse, up to 99.1% of it will pass through the earth's umbra, NASA said.

While the eclipse will last over 3 hours, the best viewing will be around the peak at 1:03 a.m. Friday, NASA said.

"Going into the night when we see the front come through that's when we'll start to see the clouds really pack it in," Murdock said. "There will be multiple layers of clouds that will make that lunar eclipse hard to see."

Conditions will dry up Friday afternoon and continue through the weekend and into next week.

"It looks like the majority of the rest of the month will be mostly dry," Roger Gass, a weather service forecaster, said. "There's some indication of a weather system dropping in late the following week closer to Thanksgiving, but I wouldn't say it's going to rain Thanksgiving by an stretch. The potential for dry weather through the remainder of the month is looking high."

The drying trend is bad news for a region that's starved for water amid a statewide drought. The region saw a powerful atmospheric river in October and a weaker, but still wet storm in November that brought beneficial rainfall and marked a promising start to the rain season. But while the storms put an end to the wildfire season, they barely put a dent in the drought.
Asia's Largest Technology Event, Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) is organized by the Department of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka and Co-Hosted by Software Technology Park of India (STPI) with its central theme "Driving the Next". It has witnessed the coming together of global tech leaders, Indian corporate and startups from IT, Deep tech and Biotech deciphering the future, showcasing disruptive technologies, forging partnerships and alliances. Bengaluru has truly kept the world moving and emerged as the next Headquarter to the Global MNCs driving their businesses across continents.

BTS 2021, in its 24th edition, aims to give global audiences access to the best innovations, new products and cutting-edge ideas for building a collaborative, global tech community. Over the last few years, BTS has become the place of convergence for the leading cross-sector tech companies to startups, technocrats to young innovators, policymakers to investors, researchers to academia, facilitating dialogue and collaborations.

Basavaraj Bommai, Chief Minister of Karnataka, addresses Asia's Largest Technology Event, Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS), Bengaluru, the tech capital of Karnataka is home to 400+ Fortune 500 companies. Most companies have high quality workforce working in Bengaluru  focusing on product development, IP creation and research and development. These multi-national companies and global in-house centres are substantial contributors to the States GDP. State of Karnataka and City of Bengaluru in particular is talked about as being the Startup Capital of India and one of the leading startup capitals of the world. He also asserts on the new aspects of the summit:

The India Innovation Alliance track has been launched in BTS for the first time to bring to light the innovative interventions created in India. India Innovation Alliance will bring together heads of 8 innovation centres from Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kanpur, Delhi, Bhubaneshwar and Panaji to exchange learnings and explore areas of co-operation and collaboration to accelerate innovations for public good.

India US Tech Conclave is another avenue launched newly during BTS 2021. The Conclave will be held in association with US India Business Council. This programme will consist of two sessions focused on IT, Technology & Startups and Biotechnology addressed by stellar speakers from East Coast, West Coast and Mid America as well as India opening the new avenues of international cooperation in the areas of innovation and technology.

Bengaluru Next Leadership Conclave has been launched to be conducted for the first time this year. The program will discuss the way forward and future for the city of Bengaluru, acclaimed to be as most dynamic. This will highlight how GCCs will run in the post-pandemic world and how the Government can help support these Captive centres. The Bengaluru Next Innovators Conclave will be conducted to recognize and award emerging Biotech firms that have shown dynamic leadership, exciting technologies, and standout contribution in their chosen fields in biotech like Biopharma, Bio services, Agribiotech, Med-tech among others.

Naftali Bennett, PM of ISRAEL says, Practical, innovation, creativity, and future are right here. Youre the leaders of tomorrow. He emphasizes to visit India, and explores what the nation has to offer you.

M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India, delivers a message through the platform, People are coming together and bringing values. Bangalore is a happening place and PM Modi is focusing his attention to transform the system with technology, IT and BT.

He adds, Do your duty, it will be beauty. Considering the Indian philosophy, Share & Care, he urges the people to share knowledge, new innovation, new ideas, and make the knowledge as the wealth of the nation.

He points out the necessities to generate employment, to create innovative operation and bring digital transformation.

He also mentions the mantra of PM Modi - Reform, Perform and Transform; transformation of system and nation for the betterment of the nation. He hopes that people will focus on these ideas in the coming three days and come out with wonderful solutions for the common good and prosperity of entire humanity. In other words he has called upon the entire fraternity to have a vision and mission which would realize the happiness of society.

Shri. Scott Morrison, Honble Prime Minister of Australia, says, We know that technology-leading nations will have greater economic, political and military power  and considerable influence on global norms and values  into the years ahead. India is a major technology power. And technology is at the forefront of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which Prime Minister Modi and I signed last year.

Were also cooperating on space science, technology, and research  and Australia is proud to be supporting Indias inspirational Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, added PM Morrison.

Dr. E V Raman Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Deptt of E IT Bt and S&T, Government of Karnataka BTS, 2021, says, Technology has emerged as a saviour-be it in fighting the virus, in resurrecting the crippling industries or in bringing together people in these challenging times. During this time, Bengaluru has truly kept the world moving and emerged as the next Headquarter to the Global MNCs driving their businesses across continents. BTS 2021 with its central theme "Driving the Next" will witness the coming together of global tech leaders, Indian corporate and startups from IT, Deep tech and Biotech deciphering the future, showcasing disruptive technologies, forging partnerships and alliances.

Furthermore, he delivers words of thanks to honorable Vice President of India, Scott Morrison, PM of Australia, Naftali Bennett, PM of ISRAEL and Thawar Chand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka.

Pawan Goenka, Chairperson of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), throws light on the theme and aim of the conference. Startup is one of the theme of the conference.

Indian government is especially a key to handhold the spaces startup and makes them strength of the Indian Space system. He mentions IT, as the third theme of the conference, backbone of the space application.

Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Switzerland, as a stronger believer in India says, India has potential to shape global technological and economic agenda. He is personally excited about Indian Startups that are coming up with innovating ideas such as digital payment, retail, and educational software and expects more such startups will create global companies born out of India.

Ms. Debjani Ghosh, President of Nasscom, hopes that this decade would not just known as techade due to the increasing role of the technology, in fact it would known as Indias techade to showing the world how to unleash the real impact and use of technology to improve human life. In other words, she focuses on all forms of technology should be human life.

Shri Prashanth Prakash, Partner Accel, Chairman, Vision Group on Startups, Government of Karnataka, presented his insight on the driving themes of the future and he calls it as fourth-wave of innovation, when it comes to deep-tech and the more broader inclusive and growth that will also drive the state and city.

He states, Karnataka is the space capital, we are seeing companies launch new nano-satellites, new types of rocket vehicles here from the city.

DR.Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson of Vision and group on Biotechnology, focuses on the theme of the virtual summit that is the next wave is Innovation. It is about imagining about the post covid world which is thriving with new innovation in the digital world.

She addresses the event as an annual event that is growing and the covid has brought it as spotlight on the conversion of technologies like never before. The world has been transformed into a digital and biomedical ecosystem with irreversible disruption in the way we work, live, learn and regulate.
Technology based ascent has already begun and smart technology is going to pave the way for India @100, says Dr. Jitendra Singh, Honble Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences at an ASSOCHAM event.

Speaking at the curtain-raiser conference for the 2nd edition of The SMARTecIndia Initiative 2021 held today at New Delhi, the Minister highlighted various initiatives taken by the government to promote science and technology for start-ups. SMARTec India2021 in partnership with Department of Science & Technology, and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Govt. of India will be held from December 03  15, 2021

India is emerging as among world top leaders in the area of Science & Technology and recently it entered the list of top 50 innovative countries reaching to 46th position in the Global Innovation Index 2021. The power of collaboration with government, industry and stakeholders needs to be systematically harnessed for realizing the vision of a new resurgent India, Everything cannot be left to government and government should also not be hesitant to involve stake holders outside the government sector because that is not compatible with progressive advancement the minister said.

India has consistently improved its business and innovation environment and is now ranked 63 among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, according to the latest World Bank annual ratings. There is very little correlation between formal and digital literacy, smart literacy which can be acquired without formal education and the government has brought the New Education Policy which has multiple entry/exit options to promote innovation and start-up culture. he further added.

H.E. Ms Katrin Kivi, Ambassador of Estonia to India said, We are living in what is known as Asian century, where global outlooks are shifted towards a rapidly growing economies in Asia. Estonia is fully synchronised with this trend. For the last few years, Estonian exports to India have been growing considerably and given the ambitions and the strengths of India and Estonia, I believe that there is room for genuine partnership and true collaboration. India is a strategically important market attractive for Estonian entrepreneurs due to its large market opportunities and growing consumer base. We hope to foster a real collaboration that also advances Indian interest. Our strategic geographical presence, attractive ecosystem of innovation, beneficial tax structure, stable government and highly skilled personnel gives Estonia a distinguished advantage and provide a solid platform for up scaling and expanding business operations.

Dr. Sheetal Chopra, Chairperson ASSOCHAM IPR Council, addressing the gathering said, What we used to dream of is a reality today and we cannot do without our smart phones and smart watches. Doctors are performing remote surgeries and there are connected cars that are saving us fuel and making our commute much safer. We must appreciate the work of global standardisation framework, where there are a handful of companies who over a period of years had taken lot of effort and spent billions of dollars in coming up with the best of technologies. A 90 minute movie takes 72 hours to download in 2G and with 5G the same can be downloaded in less than 90 seconds. More than 50k+ start-ups in all sectors including IOT, AI, and robotics are already registered and certified by The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. For India to achieve that global economic scale, it is important that we facilitate these start-ups and they are able to take advantage of the already standardised technologies. Today we have sufficient eco system like start-up India hub, PLI scheme, National IPR policy, national manufacturing policy and other policies

Dr. Lovneesh Channana, Chairperson National Council IT, ITES & Digital Commerce said, We have moved from the stage of discussing the why of technology to what of technology and now moving into the how of technology. How we apply technology and how do we make technology application are becoming more important. We are getting adept at using technology to improve operational effectiveness. The time is coming where citizen experience data or consumer experience data will be differentiators due to the huge level of digitisation. Very soon we will be managing experiential data in addition to operational data. This revolution we are talking about in Smart tech is not one way, earlier we were creating products and giving it to users, today its a two way. For India, unless we cover the 63 million SMEs in the larger technology journey, we cannot achieve the desired impact. Awareness, access to low cost tech, creation of digital talent pool and getting global market access for Indian SMEs through technology are some of the areas we must address.

"The SmartTec India 2021 is one of the initiative that can be partnered with International Trade Council (ITC) where sharing of new technologies and best practices can be of immense benefit to everyone around the world", said Ms. Ranjini Rangan, Honorary Chair Person, International Trade Counsil (SEA) & Director, Olimea Advisory Pte Ltd.

"The SMARTec India 2021 is a wonderful opportunity for our Australian companies, to engage with tech experts, industry leaders and advance collaborative efforts to build our technological partnership", said Ms. Petula Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce.

The curtain-raiser event was also attended by dignitaries from partner countries like Finland, Estonia, Israel, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Japan. The focus areas for SMARTec India2021 include Aerospace & Defence, Financial Services, Healthcare, Enterprise AI & Automation, Industry 4.0, MSME & Start-ups, Smart Mobility. To celebrate the spirit of innovation, awards for 10 top innovations from various sectors and fields or work will be handed out on 03rd December 2021. The curated confluence of smart technologies will experience a 13 days long virtual exhibition which will be attended by over 50 Exhibitors from India and various leading countries, live demonstrations and product launches of exciting products and services, participation from progressive central & state governments.
Treks new Speed Concept has not been a well-kept secret, but that's what happens when you've got eager and faithful customers. Trek tends to release its new products to its partner athletes for in-race use prior to the official launch, and pics of those bikes invariably leak. When you see a lot of leak activity, that tells you its a product people really want.



The discussion thread on our Reader Forum about the new Speed Concept has 350 or so posts as Im writing this, that is, before the launch. This is distinct from the ongoing Fit Assistance Thread for all Speed Concept editions, where you give fit coordinates to a fit specialist and are guided to your correct bike size and front end config. That thread has, all told, north of 10,000 posts. I have a feeling that Fit Assistance thread is going to see a big jump in activity.

This Speed Concept arrives a decade later than the original, and 7 years after the 2014 update. This is the first disc brake Speed Concept which makes it the last really popular tri bike to get disc brakes. Trek may have been late to disc brake tri bikes, but it nevertheless had impeccable timing. Tri bikes were a hard sell during COVID because those bikes really need a race to justify the purchase, and racing was on hiatus. A huge 2022 in triathlon is a safe bet, probably the biggest year since 2015 and maybe the biggest since 2012. It will certainly be among the best years ever in equipment purchases because of the pent up demand and Trek is sitting pretty with a brand new bike.





Speed & Aerodynamics

About that report that has been getting so much attention. What is claimed is that this bike is 16 watts easier to pedal than the prior edition, and thats a boatload when you consider how slippery that 2014 bike was. Translated to time, The number were using is 6 minutes faster over the bike length of the Kona full distance course, sez Trek. Some of this 6 minutes is the frame; some is not. Lets get into it.

About half of that 16 watts is what happens below the waist of the bike, that is, at the wheels, tires, the interaction between the wheels and the fork. Some of you are going to cry foul at this, but Trek says that one-third of the speed increase is in the latest model Bontrager wheel and thats discounting the aero increases in the wheel. Its just rolling resistance. When I pressed the engineers on this its simply Bontragers move to a wider inner bead width. Just the move to a 23mm inner bead  just that  gets you 5 or 6 watts. That seems hard to believe. But this is what tire testing company Wheel Energy reported back (Trek relied on a third party for this). I would have some questions about protocol, but thats a subject for another day. In any case, Bontrager joins most of the wheel brands Ive been highlighting recently  Zipp, HED, CADEX, ENVE, Shimano and others  by moving to that inner bead width of 22mm or wider.



A bit of that 6 minutes is gained  claims Treks engineers and aerodynamicists  through a reworking of the handlebars. Trek returned to a pair of armrest pedestals, which were on the first Speed Concept launched in 2011, and did away with the mono-pedestal, and the wishbone extension. Thank you! I never did like that 2014 front end as much as I did the cockpit on the 2011 Speed Concept. Todays bike is much easier to work on, adjust, travel with. More on this front end below.

Then there is the frame, which is noticeably wider in the top and down tubes than the old Speed Concepts. But these tubes do more than just serve as a skeleton for the bike. Note that top tube storage is not above the top tube, but inside of it. Likewise, the flat kit moves inside the down tube, and the Speed Box has been eighty-sixed by the company that developed that storage motif and made it famous.



Treks narrative for the aero performance of this bike is a little like Quintana Roos launch of a couple of weeks ago, in that the QR launch focused on the performance of the bike with the rider off. They didnt test the bike with the rider off; they tested it with the rider on and then removed the drag of the rider from the data. Likewise, Trek spent a lot of time testing the riders interaction to the bike. Rather than just reworking the cockpit and testing this as a discrete bike element, Trek looked at the behavior of the air around the rider as a result of changes to the cockpit.

Trek was faithful to the original theme of this bike, certainly, which since 2011 has been the most fully integrated bike (with integrated storage, electronics, and so on). But with this bike there was a subtle difference: The performance of the bike with rider aboard appears to have been more of a focus.





Storage

The Speed Box was about drag neutral (you add the Speed Box and you dont lose or gain any advantage). But the new Speed Concepts storage saves about a minute on that Kona course (storage is 1 of the 6 gained minutes), and thats why the Speed Box got the heave ho. The bike comes with the down tube frame bottle standard, but not with an aero bottle you see.

Here is the aero bottle, the between-the-arms bottle, and it looks an awful lot like the Profile Design HSF/Aero HC 800! Its refillable, and is a part of the aero story here.



Here is the down tube storage  the flat kit storage  which sits underneath the down tube hydration bottle. There is not a lot of room here. You can fit a tube and one CO2, a tire lever, and not much else. But thats okay, because Im riding tubeless. Ill omit the tube, throw in a couple more CO2s, perhaps a plug kit, and call it good.

Where you have a lot of room is in that inside-the-top-tube bento. Theres a ton of space in there and its hard to get that much storage in that area without it interfering with something (like my thighs, when Im out of the saddle). I dont like big bentos for that reason, but this one is unobtrusive because its inside the top tube.



The top of this bike is just clean, clean, clean and lets face it: the one thing about the Speed Box is you can only get into it when youre off the bike on the side of the road. So, having a clean bike while enjoying all that top tube storage is best-of-class.

Travel

You need to remove 4 bolts to pull the pursuit bar off the frame. Its another 4 bolts to pull off the handlebar, which may be necessary. The headset top cap is a true compression cap, which is often not the case on superbikes. You tighten it down and it pulls the head parts together. I like that.Now, if you do travel with this bike, in a bike case, on a plane, I have a recommendation. Remember, this is an electronically shifted bike. The good part of that is that the shift ables dont run full length; there are junctions along the way.

However, everything runs internally. I recommend buying two Park Tool replacement parts out of an internal cable wiring kit. You would buy a pair of Cable with +Magnet and Di2 Adaptor Tip out of this kit (youll see it as #5 of the 5 pieces in the kit). When you disconnect the Di2 cables to take off the aerobar for travel youll plug the Di2 port into this cable, which will run through the pursuit bar.

When you get to your destination, this cable is already threaded, and you wont need to curse as you try to fish the Di2 cable through the inside of the pursuit bar.



There is no more junction box, per se, in Shimano 9200 and 8100 (Dura Ace and Ultegra 12 speed), and all firmware and charging occurs at the rear derailleur. But neither SRAM nor Shimano is wireless yet for TT/Tri and the routing of hose and cables through this bike was well executed. Underneath the pursuit bar theres a cache box for electric wire and junctions and here is what it looks like, along with its appearance with the door affixed.

Fit

For every Speed Concept prior to this one you had decisions to make as a consumer, to get a bike that fit you right. You had to buy the right stem  and there were 6 of them  and the right pedestal (there were 4 of them). The bike did not come with 6 stems; it came with 1 stem. If your fit migrated during your ownership of that bike you may have needed a new stem, paired with a different pedestal, and because these were Project One purchases woe unto you if you needed any of this hardware. If you sold the bike the new owner had to come up with a new stem and pedestal to fit him or her, if it wasnt what was on the bike already.Todays bike has none of that stuff. There is, basically, one stem/pursuit bar combo. Most of the rise adjustment comes from pedestals under the aero bar, and there is ample length adjustment built into the system.

But your first decision is the pursuit bar. This does not add any complexity to the build, or the bike, or traveling or anything of that sort, but it does add complexity in this way: there are 3 pursuit bar options. There are 3 pursuit position heights, and theyre separated by 35mm of height at the pursuit position (the highest pursuit hand-hold is 70mm higher than the lowest). Those pursuit bars arent nearly as different from each other in height where the aerobars fix to them. At that point theyre only 15mm in height apart from each other.



Why this is impactful is that youll want a given height difference between the pad and the pursuit hand-hold, and maybe thats (I dont know) 70mm. If you have a lot of pedestal height under your pads youll want to choose the pursuit bar with the higher position. This will be a part of your fit calculus and I recommend you refer to our Speed Concept Owners Thread for advice on this before you start ordering on the Trek Project One web portal. Trek has a person monitoring that thread for just these kinds of questions.



Used to be there were 6 stem options  as discussed  and these represented 3 heights and 2 lengths. The pursuit bar sat on the stem, so, the pursuit hand-hold was longer or shorter depending on the stem chosen. What you lose in this simplifying move are the 2 length options, but the pursuit position is made overlong, and is made to be cut. The length of that hand-hold platform is the long stem position. If you cut it you get the short stem. (Please note my final remarks, regarding your reasonable Trek dealer expectations.)

Back to adjustability. As noted, the height options begin with the pursuit bars. Each pursuit bar is 15mm taller than the one below it where the pad pedestals attach. Then there are the major pedestals, in 15mm increments, up to 75mm of pad height. Then there are 5mm pedestals as well, and they are very similar to the original Speed Concept pedestals, but with slots in the pedestals to keep from having to de-cable the bike.



There is 60mm of run (horizontal) adjustment on the whole front end cradle, plus extra beyond that in the sliding extensions. The pads do not move fore/aft via multiple holes in the pads. The pad placement is mostly used for width adjustment. Aerobar tilt is done with pad pedestals, like these below.

There will be a fit calculator on the Speed Concept microsite. Still, unless you know exactly what youre doing youll want to refer to folks who know what theyre talking about. That will be your Trek dealer in certain matters, but perhaps not so much on what bike you should buy in order to make sure its the right fit.





Geometry

Here it is below. I dont see much in changes between the various Speed Concept editions. They were always very good handlers. My size, which is L, has a frame stack and reach of 541mm and 426mm respectively and each of the prior Speed Concepts in that size were exactly that.

The chain stay is longer by a centimeter and thats only going to help the shifting, and provide a little more clearance for wider tires. You can certainly put 28mm tires on this bike and perhaps 30mm. That chain stay is really the only meaningful geometric difference.

Weight & Comfort

Spec & Pricing

Reasonable LBS Expectations

Trek has a comfort feature in its bikes called IsoSpeed, which decoupled the seat tube from the top tube. This has been a decade-long project for Trek, and you can see the ISO speed elastomer added to this bike under the the IsoSpeed tongue, for damping. Think if it like a carbon plated run shoe.Its hard for bike brands to get lighter with their products. Theyve already wrung the weight out of their systems. Dura Ace 9200 was no lighter than the prior edition, but, a lot of features were added. Likewise, this Speed Concept is not much if any lighter, to my scale, but a lot has been added.It is mighty hard to get a tri bike in my larger size, with pedals, and hydration, to 20 pounds. This one, with Wahoo Speedplay stainless steel pedals, computer and mount, down tube bottle, built-in top tube storage, rear Varia radar, is at 20.77lb. The only thing this bike lacks is a front hydration system.There are 5 groupkits for this bike, all 12-speed, both Shimano kits  Dura Ace and Ultegra  and all 3 SRAM upper end groupkits: Rival, Force and RED. As you know, all groupsets are wireless from the shifters back to the derailleurs, but none of these are wireless yet for triathlon. (They're working on it!)The frameset is $5,000, but buying that makes no sense these days because you cant get any parts. Best is to purchase the whole bike. Trek calls these bikes Speed Concept SLR (the tri version) and Speed Concept TT (for their pro teams and other time trialists). Yes, there are differences but Im omitting mention of the TT, which lacks the stuff we need (like storage). The SLR have numbers affixed: SLR 6, SLR 7, SLR 9. This appears only to refer to the groupset.The SLR 6 has a SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupset and and the prices are $8,800 (minus a penny) for Rival eTap AXS; for $9,500 you get Ultegra 8100; its SRAM Force eTap AXS for $10,000 and then youre up to a penny under $14,000 for either Dura Ace 9,200 or SRAM RED eTap AXS. Mind, a lot of the parts are common to these groupsets, specifically shifters and TT levers. Both Shimano and SRAM make only one level of tri shifter, so when you buy Rival groupset its mostly a crank, derailleur and cassette difference. As chains and cassettes are consumables anyway, a really good way to save money is to go Rival or Force on this bike (if youre thinking SRAM).About those kits: What Ive seen on the official docs are Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51mm road wheel , throughout, all the build kits. This isnt correct. Mind, thats a really nice wheel, DT Swiss star ratchet inners , 23mm inner bead width, tubeless ready. But on the Project One configurator youll be given a range of wheel options, including the 62mm and 75mm options. You will probably, eventually if not sooner, be given 3rd party wheel options. Tires? Well see. But dont get indignant if you only see the 51mm wheel option listed. Youll have choices, and the prices will vary as well as you select in different options in the configurator.The bottom bracket standard is T47, there are some religious differences between folks on this, but I personally like that BB standard, mostly because its easy to get a BB out if and when you need to (versus pressfit).If this were a consumer direct bike I would encourage you to get it the way that Ventum and Quintana Roo are sending out their bikes: no box, built, white glove, door to door. Further, the way that Quintana Roo does it via its Fit Ready program , where you get it built exactly to your specs. But Trek has retailers, and this is a big win for you if you avoid what you should avoid, and use what you should use. Heres what you may want to avoid: Having your Trek retailer prescribe the bike you need. Why? Because  and Im going to break some china here  Trek is very, very good at bike fit at thelevel. Treks engineers have always been best-of-class in understanding how bikes should fit, specifically tri bikes. However, the engineers arent whos talking to and training the bike dealers. The engineers never had much if any intersection with Treks fit systems. Therefore, its the exceptional Trek retail store owner/manager who understands which size Speed Concept you need and with which pursuit bar. If you have that exceptional LBS at your disposal, great. Otherwise, double-check that shops prescription by using the resources here that Ive described above.Heres what Trek does do well: train its retailers in literally the nuts & bolts of its bikes. Your Trek LBS should deliver your Project One Speed Concept to you exactly to your fit coordinates, with the pursuit bar mitered to length. Use this resource. You dont want to do this work. Your bike fitter is good at fitting you; your Trek store is better at making this bike conform to your fit coordinates. If your Trek dealer doesnt deliver this bike to your precise fit coordinates, the bike is not ready for you to take possession. Your Trek dealer is making a margin on this bike, and because its a Project One purchase there is no risk to him or her. Therefore, make sure that margin is earned, and this is how it's best earned in my opinion.Here is the new Speed Concept on Trek's site.
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Treasury Wine Estates chief executive has warned the Penfolds winemaker will be forced to raise prices on some of its selected brands in the coming months as inflationary pressures mount across the globe.

Chief executive Tim Ford said certain input costs were increasing as a result of ongoing global supply chain issues, and indicated that price hikes on some of its products were imminent.

Well be quite selective in how we manage that in terms of prices of our brands. I think consumers will pay more for our wines and our brands where the brand equity is so strong, Mr Ford told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Tim Ford said the business will have to raise prices on some of its products. Credit:Simon Schluter

He said the price increases would happen over the next six months but would not be applied with a broad brush. Well be quite targeted and selected in doing that.
Austin Cain, 25, an Atlanta-based financial adviser who is helping to organise ConstitutionDAO, said in an interview this week that the groups goal was to purchase the Constitution of the United States in a way that utilises the capabilities of the technology we all believe in. Like many crypto-world phenomena, ConstitutionDAO was born in the grey area between dumb stunt and serious business venture. Last week, when stories about the Sothebys auction began circulating, a group of acquaintances started half-seriously DMing one another on Twitter about bidding on it. They organised a Zoom call and began working through some of the logistics. The copy of the Constitution owned by Dorothy Goldman to be auctioned by Sothebys on Thursday. It is the only known copy to be privately owned. Credit:Ardon Bar-Hama, via Sothebys When I first got on the Zoom call, I was thinking that maybe the odds of this happening were about 20 per cent, said Julian Weisser, a South Dakota-based investor. And then we started talking, and I said, Wow, theres some interest here. For some, the bid was pure caper. But the more earnest participants started seeing parallels between crypto culture  a world full of outsiders, iconoclasts and radical governance experiments  and the values of the Constitutions original framers.

Decentralisation and cryptocurrency (web3) have created structures that allow people to self-govern with unparalleled levels of autonomy and freedom, the groups website reads. Its fitting that we use this technology to honour and protect the greatest historical tool for human governance: the US Constitution. ConstitutionDAO now has roughly 30 volunteer core contributors, who include entrepreneurs, investors, a purple-haired developer and at least two teenagers. None of them are experienced collectors of historical artefacts and they are figuring out many of the details as they go. Over a series of sleepless nights, they put up a website, formed subgroups to research the various legal and financial wrinkles associated with the auction, and opened a Discord server that swelled to more than 13,000 members. The copy of the Constitution being auctioned by Sothebys belongs to Dorothy Goldman, the widow of a New York real estate developer who bought it for $US165,000 in 1988. It is the only known copy of the Constitution that is privately owned  a fact that intrigued the members of ConstitutionDAO, who saw an opportunity to make it accessible to a wider audience. If it wins the auction, the DAO plans to partner with a prominent museum or historical society to exhibit the document in a free, public setting. Organisers have had discussions with the Smithsonian and New York Public Library about hosting it, they said, although the artefacts final destination will be decided by a vote of the DAO.

Were going to stop it from going into more private hands and actually open-source it, make it a public good, said Alice Ma, one of the organisers. In truth, ConstitutionDAO is more of a symbolic gesture to decentralisation technology than a real-world demonstration of it. Some in the group had initially hoped to make participants fractional owners of the Constitution, but that plan fell apart, possibly because it could run afoul of securities laws. The current plan is to issue crypto tokens, called $USPEOPLE, that will entitle participants to vote on certain decisions governing the Constitutions use but will not confer any actual ownership. If it wins the auction, the DAO plans to partner with a prominent museum or historical society to exhibit the document in a free, public setting. Organisers have had discussions with the Smithsonian and New York Public Library about hosting it, they said, although the artefacts final destination will be decided by a vote of the DAO. In addition, since Sothebys accepts only government-issued currency and does not allow DAOs to bid on auctions directly, the group plans to partner with a crypto exchange that will convert its Ethereum to dollars before the bid and a crypto nonprofit that will place the bid on the groups behalf. According to the groups FAQ document, a limited liability corporation will take control of the Constitution temporarily while the DAO figures out a long-term ownership structure. Buying the Constitution, it turns out, is a hard, weird project, made even harder and weirder by the choice to do it in less than a week with a bunch of internet strangers, inside a new, complicated organisational structure that nobody outside the crypto world fully understands yet.

Loading And it could all be for naught if ConstitutionDAO simply gets outbid by someone with deeper pockets. If that happens, participants will get their money back, minus transfer fees. But the groups members are already talking about owning the Constitution as if it is a done deal. Their motto is WAGBI, or were all gonna buy it. This article originally appeared in The New York Times
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Matt Damon has a reputation as the nicest actor in the business. An actor who gives a bottle of champagne to every stuntman he has to hit, a top dad who has to negotiate with his four daughters to spend anything over two weeks away from home, an obliging team player who is always willing to do one more interview if it will help, the kind of person any Irish village would like to have as a guest during a COVID-19 lockdown. Everyone knows hes a card-carrying Hollywood liberal, but even Trump voters cant help liking someone so nice, as he discovered when he spent time with oil industry roughnecks as part of his research for Stillwater, a film in which he plays an oil industry worker from Oklahoma who goes to France to try to get his daughter out of prison. People like him and he likes them right back. Nice guy Matt Damon in Cannes for the premiere of Stillwater. Credit:AP Damon grew up in a hippy commune; he isnt an open-carry kind of guy, but he fondly remembers a day he and the director of Stillwater, Tom McCarthy  who also wrote and directed Spotlight  spent shooting with his roughneck hosts. Imagine the scene: a barbecue, a singalong of church songs with guitars, then the shotguns came out. We had the absolute best time! I said to Tom: Look, pulling out the shotguns doesnt make sense in New York City, right? But out here  Its not how I grew up, but I 100-per-cent get it. Its the best part of my job, the access that I get. Of course, he says, those mid-western oil men rolled their eyes at the liberal Democrat from out of town. Some even remembered that he had written and starred in an anti-fracking film called Promised Land, which certainly didnt fit the local agenda. Big John, who had a business providing emergency heavy equipment to rigs and looked, Damon says, exactly as you would imagine someone called Big John would look, told him straight up that he hoped this new oil film would be better than the last one he made. Matt Damon with Stillwater director Tom McCarthy. The pair had the absolute best time meeting roughnecks in Oklahoma. Credit:AP But we had a really great vibe and energy, he says. Its a good reminder that when television is telling us that there are these unbridgeable gaps, when we actually get together, we love hanging out and spending time getting to know each other, despite those differences.

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When we meet at the Cannes Film Festival in July, he is getting over jetlag after spending five months in Byron Bay, filming Thor: Love and Thunder in Thors own hometown. Being Matt Damon, he immediately acknowledges the resentment felt by many Australians who were overseas and could not get back into their own country. I understand that resentment; I would feel that too, he says. The only way I can defend that is to say that when we come to work, were creating jobs and, you know, we want to keep working. It is also true that, being Matt Damon  an actor who blends into roles to the point of invisibility  he blended into Byron Bay as well. Does he surf? Horribly. But, you know, I said this to someone the other day: surfing is like sex, its really fun even if youre not any good at it. Bill Baker, the character he plays in Stillwater, is based directly on the men he met in Oklahoma, right down to the seemingly regulation goatee. The springboard for the daughters story, however, was obviously the case of Amanda Knox, an American student living in Italy who was convicted in 2007 of killing her flatmate. She was later exonerated, but only after she had spent almost four years in prison. Allison Baker is supposed to have killed her flatmate, too. Her defence is weak and, in a foreign country, nobody is going to stand up for her. The resemblance to anyones real story stops there. Knoxs father was a mathematics teacher, not an oil man. Bill Baker, having come to the rescue, surprises himself by developing a relationship with a left-wing French actress (Camille Cottin). The tense estrangement between Bill and Allison, played by Abigail Breslin, is the meat of the film and entirely drawn from McCarthys imagination. But the Knox case was the set-up, which drew rumblings of disapproval, not least from Knox herself. A third-act vigilante plotline, while it clearly had nothing to do with real events, was seen only to add insult to the initial injury. The script had never struck Damon that way. Its kind of loosely based on that, but the character I play is from a very specific place, he says. I dont know anything about Amanda Knoxs father, for instance. I think Tom was interested in what happens after all the press attention, what happens to a regular family with its own dysfunction; what is the aftermath of something like that? What if her father came from a place in America where people tend not to travel and was forced into a different culture, where he has no tools or skills to survive? What would that look like if, instead of doing it like a normal American movie  like Taken, something like that  we did it in a very real way? What attracted Damon was the story of a failed dad belatedly trying to do his best. I thought it was so beautiful and original.

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Damon shed tears at the Cannes premiere. It wasnt any particular thing that set him off, he says. The film team was asked to stand up at the end, as is customary. It wasnt the applause that got him. It was seeing all those people in a cinema again. Im not alone in that, he says. All the filmmakers and actors that Ive bumped into have expressed that same feeling; its great to be together again. The next night, they had a screening in Marseille as a gesture of thanks to the city for having them. McCarthy asked anyone who had worked on the film to stand. There were dozens of them; he welled up then, too. Damon is 51. I think Im just getting old, he sighs. Matt Damon with Lilou Siauvaud in a scene from Stillwater. Siauvaud plays the daughter of a French actress who helps Damons character in his bid to free his own daughter. Credit:AP The odd thing about Damons irresistible likeability is that it seems to mean that in this happy age of Twitter, he gets a lot of criticism from what you might reasonably call his own side. We met before the negative comments on Stillwater  which had generally good reviews  started to appear, but you knew the pitchforks would be approaching. When #MeToo erupted, Damon was in deep trouble for saying that he worried about sexual harassment as the father of four daughters. He was supposed to be one of the good guys; he should be worried on everyones behalf. Fair point, he agreed. But in a 2018 interview, he and his old friend and Good Will Hunting co-writer Ben Affleck suggested there could be a spectrum of behaviour that would categorise the seriousness of sexual assaults. He was publicly roasted. He apologised and said he should get in the back seat and close [his] mouth. You couldnt ever call him cancelled, exactly, but he does get rapped over the knuckles publicly and repeatedly in a way that even flagrantly objectionable stars are not. Whatever it is he said, Matt Damon should know better. Most recently, he was in trouble during the Stillwater promotion for telling The Times how one of his daughters upbraided him for using the once-common slur fag as a joke, writing him a long, beautiful treatise on how that word is dangerous. It was obviously a tale told by a proud father, but by the time it had gone through the Twitter wringer, Damon  star of Behind the Candelabra!  was fighting accusations of being a homophobe. Matt Damon as Jean de Carrouges, right, and Adam Driver as Jacques LeGris face off in historical epic The Last Duel. Credit:AP The serious-minded film website Indiewire speculated that this brouhaha cast a pall over Stillwater in its second week of release. Come September, Ridley Scotts The Last Duel  written by Damon and Affleck  was unveiled at the Venice Film Festival. It was based on Eric Jagers 2004 account of Frances last official trial by combat, fought by two rival knights in 1386 to decide whether one was guilty of raping the others wife.

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For an artist whos toured almost continuously since 1974, the pandemics spell of enforced domesticity was an odd experiment for Sting.

It was an interesting opportunity to be home for a long period of time, to be in the same bed every night. I got to know my wife a lot better, the 70-year-old jokes from a hotel room in Paris, a hub between the homes he splits in Italy, New York and England with partner Trudie Styler.

Of course, my mind went there. I dont know if the infamously tantric master meant it, uh, that way, but lets give him the benefit of the doubt. The past two years of relative isolation could leave even the most veteran celebrity a little press-rusty.

Sting returns with new solo album The Bridge and hope for live musics post-COVID renaissance. Credit:Eric Ryan Anderson

For Sting, the interruption to his professional routine also sparked some existential questioning.
On the 80th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney, which claimed 645 lives, the identity of the only body ever recovered has finally been revealed.

The crew member, known as the unknown sailor, was on Friday identified as 21-year-old Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark, from New Farm in Brisbane.

During a brief shore leave, according to word within the family, he had stopped in Brisbane and is understood to have got engaged to his girlfriend. It was not long after that HMAS Sydney sailed on its fateful voyage.

A colourised studio portrait of Able Seaman Thomas Welsby Clark when he was an Ordinary Seaman on HMAS St Giles. Credit:Defence Images

The announcement, following a positive DNA match, was made at the Second World War gallery at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra by Minister for Veterans Affairs Andrew Gee with Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Michael Noonan.
A former deputy Liberal mayor whose wifes development bid arose from an unusual zoning decision is one of multiple council candidates to deny a close association to developers.

The NSW government is facing a fresh push from Labor to ban property developers from local government as the December council elections loom closer.

Hassan Awada, the land to be developed, and his wife, Souad. Credit:

Sutherland Shire candidate and childcare centre operator Hassan Awada, who was involved in his wife Souads plan to have 52 apartments built on her land and an adjoining property, has sworn to the electoral watchdog he is neither a developer nor closely linked to one.

He told the Herald neither he nor his wife, who also goes by Sue, considered themselves to be property developers.
A NSW Police investigation has concluded the three-day disappearance of toddler Anthony AJ Elfalak from a Hunter property earlier this year was the result of misadventure and not wrongdoing.

The three-year-old, who has autism and is non-verbal, was reported missing by his parents in September after he vanished while playing with his brothers at the familys house in Putty, south-west of Singleton, late on a Friday morning.

His disappearance sparked a large-scale search which concluded on its fourth day when police aboard a PolAir helicopter spotted AJ sitting in a creek bed and cupping muddy water into his mouth, less than 500 metres away from the home where he was last seen.

Hunter Valley Police District Commander Superintendent Tracy Chapman told radio station 2GB on Friday that police had finished their investigation this week and concluded it was a case of misadventure.
NSW universities expect student enrolment numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels by 2024.

A panel discussion between seven vice-chancellors hosted by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia in Sydney on Thursday also heard calls for university funding reform and a flat student fee for all courses.

NSW Vice-Chancellors Committee convener Professor Barney Glover, from Western Sydney University, said if borders remained open and international students were allowed to return, a resurgence in enrolments could be expected to start next year and in 2023.

I think we will see a return to 2019 levels over the next two years, Professor Glover said.

At the moment we are predicting 2024 to return to 2019 levels.
Half a world away, Thai police have seized 300 kilograms of heroin bound for Queensland hidden in paint drums.

Chatter on An0m  a messaging platform popular with the underworld but which was actually run covertly by the FBI  about the shipment of heroin in Bangkok intercepted by Australian Federal Police operatives allegedly identified Evan Isshak as the Sydney-based buyer of the drugs.

Mr Isshak was arrested at his home in Edensor Park, in western Sydney, on Thursday and charged with conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of heroin, unauthorised possession of knuckledusters and a butterfly knife, possession of MDMA and failing to comply with a court order.

He was refused bail and is due to appear in Central Local Court on Friday.

Police will allege Mr Isshak was a broker or investor in the large-scale attempted importation of heroin.
As tense negotiations over Victorias controversial pandemic bill continued inside Parliament House late on Thursday, the chanting from protesters on the steps outside subsided to the occasional call for freedom.

After four nights camped on the Spring Street steps, the crowd vowed to continue their demonstration. But aside from the regular honking of passing car horns, the chants and singalongs that had punctuated the previous few days began to dull.

People protest against the pandemic bill outside the Victorian Parliament on Thursday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

What do we want? Freedom, one man occasionally called through a megaphone.

Earlier in the day, as Premier Daniel Andrews announced an easing of COVID-19 restrictions inside Parliament House  effectively giving Victorians back many of the freedoms they lost during months of lockdown  there was little reaction from those sitting on the buildings front steps.
That foreshore should be an exciting place to visit rather than a big, bleak, windblown kind of experience that it is now. He referenced the new 5.2 hectare common ground space in downtown Dallas  Klyde Warren Park  as an example of what could be achieved. Weve got to get the green in the right place, put it where its needed and makes sense. Perth architect Damien Percicles As for What If?, Mr Pericles said everyone went hell for leather without necessarily addressing major challenges, such as land ownership. It wasnt necessarily about the individual projects, but more about generating a culture of discussion and review, and to garner political and other government leadership around some of these things, he said.

Some ideas have been realised: Wellington Square has been developed (in a different way), while Langley Park was an area of focus in the publication that appeared to be proceeding. The 5.2 acre Klyde Warren Park in Dallas was created in 2012 over an eight-lane freeway and features active and passive spaces like childrens parks and reading spaces, fountains, game areas and dog parks, plus a 6,000-square-foot (estaurant and performance stage Credit:Facebook Perhaps it was a bit of a shopping exercise, to see which of the projects and proposals put forward could find legs, and some of them were really big moves, Mr Pericles said. Another grand idea was reconnecting the city with Parliament House, which Mr Pericles believed could still be done and had since been progressed. Thats a huge project for Perth because the freeway represents an aggressive cut in our topography and to repair that is a massive move, he said.

The City of Perths current green strategy  the Urban Forest Plan  focuses on tree planting and providing shade. Contrast it to what three of the worlds biggest and most populated metropolises are now embarking on (London, Paris and Milan), and you get a sense of what could have been. The Perth Green City concept from Hassell with Aecom required Perth to evolve and establish a set of hyper-efficient systems, in effect become a Metabolic City. Were yet to see the benefit of all of this work, it takes time once those trees are in the ground, said Mr Pericles, a member of the State Design Review Panel of 37 experts across planning, architecture, urban design and landscape architecture. Everybody is trying to address the canopy loss.

The worlds major metropolises are using infrastructure in interesting new ways. The C40 group of cities has urged collective action to improve the resilience of cities and communities, as well as investments against future threats, such as pandemics and climate change. In Paris, 70,000 parking spots are being freed for more eco-friendly and leisure spaces, and trees. C40 chair Guiseppe Sala, the mayor of Milan  whose Forestami project would see three million trees planted by 2030  said cities around the world had fundamentally changed and called for a green and just recovery to protect the health and wellbeing of citizens. London mayor Sadiq Khan is on record saying he wants London to become the greenest city in the world, and recently said Paris was jealous of the English capitals cycle lanes and was copying its green initiatives. Mr Pericles said Perth had different opportunities at its doorstep.

We dont have that old heritage but what we do have is a truckload of open space, all of our foreshore and our unique Aboriginal culture like none other on the planet, he said. How we overtly but also in passive ways highlight that through our plant materials, all the uniqueness and biodiversity that we have, there are big opportunities. Mr Pericles, who was involved in the public open space component of Raine Square, said canopy cover there for example was yet to expose itself. He said precincts such as Raine and Yagan Square were urban spaces and the provision of green within them were inherently limited and challenging. This is where the City of Perth and Development WA have to strike the right balance, theres clearly a shift in community expectation around greening of public spaces, he said.

But it comes at a cost; theres maintenance, the cost of water, which is a real issue in a drying climate in Perth. And weve got to get the green in the right place, put it where its needed and makes sense. I look at Yagan and its a highly urban place and probably has the right balance of green versus grey. Canopy cover focus in CBD The Citys Urban Forest Plan has already seen 1200 new street trees planted, including 90 at the east end of central Perth and 350 as part of the Wellington Square Enhancement project to boost canopy cover.

An additional 5000 trees are planned along Roe Street, an identified hot spot with little shade or shelter. The new trees will help to transform this important corridor into a cooler, more inviting and comfortable environment for pedestrians and cyclists, a City of Perth spokesperson said. We are also focusing on understorey native planting (low level plants and shrubs) ... and worked with Main Roads on the Wildflower Capital City Initiative and Kings Park to develop interesting and vibrant plants to support biodiversity and create a calming and healing environments. The Citys Micro Greening Guide also supports small-scale planting and greening in privately-owned spaces across the city, but these concepts on grander scales along King Street, for example, have not been met as enthusiastically. Other councils are displaying the benefits of ecological change, Mr Pericles said.

There are several groups around that are really active in greening Perth ... there are things that we can do and are being done that I think are quite successful, he said, referencing suburban council verge strategies. They are really turning the streets around, aesthetically and from a biodiversity perspective. But the big one is the planning of the city. Top concepts for Perth before 2050 from What If?
Western Australias wealthiest university will continue unabated in its School of Social Sciences restructure now a Fair Work commissioner has ruled in its favour.

The University of Western Australia plans to dissolve its sociology major and make its affected academics redundant, which will include sociology associate professor Martin Forsey  who brought the Fair Work action  and newly anointed professor of sociology, Farida Fozdar, who was a witness.

UWA sociology academics, Farida Fozdar and Martin Forsey, leaving the WA Fair Work Commission. Credit:Aja Styles

Dr Forseys lawyer argued last month that the university breached its Enterprise Agreement by not conducting genuine consultation given its lack of transparent, reliable and accurate data and information in its restructure proposal  therefore the redundancies were a foregone conclusion.

But the Fair Work Commission found the university did comply with its consultation obligations and even though one data element contained within the proposal for change was proven incorrect, the university, no doubt with some embarrassment, subsequently acknowledged their error and advised staff of this during the consultation timeframe.
Australia has always had a tradition of lively political protest but the anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown movements seem to be going beyond what can be permitted, even in a robust democracy.

As the Herald reported on Thursday, police have charged a man involved in the protests outside the Victorian Parliament with incitement to manufacture explosives.

A Herald and Age investigation also discovered that the man, Imre Pelyva, posted messages in an encrypted service about bringing guns and rifles to the protests and shooting Premier Dan Andrews in the head.

Other participants at the protests made threats of violence and even brought a replica of a gallows to make their point. In September, anti-vaccine protesters ran riot on the streets of Melbourne.

It might have been possible to shrug these incidents off a few years ago as an unpleasant but unavoidable part of a free society but several recent incidents have highlighted the risks of neo-Nazi, right-wing and libertarian extremism. ASIO has estimated these pose a greater risk than Islamic extremism.
The nations top cyber spy has suggested it would be unwise to permanently expand the Five Eyes intelligence alliance to include other nations, saying its 80-year history means a lot of thought must go into any significant changes.

Australian Signals Directorate boss Rachel Noble said the intelligence-sharing arrangement between Australia, the United States, Britain, New Zealand and Canada gave Canberra a significant advantage compared with its adversaries when defending against cyber attacks.

Rachel Noble, director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate, suggested the Five Eyes network should not be suddenly changed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

She said the Five Eyes alliance could instead collaborate with other democracies on a needs-basis, saying well partner with other countries when it is in our mutual interests to do so.

Japan has said it would like to join the Anglosphere spying network, saying all six countries share universal values and strategic interests in the face of a rising China.
The man charged with raping former ministerial staffer Brittany Higgins will likely go to trial after next years federal election.

The ACT Supreme Court has set a tentative trial date of June 6, 2022, for Bruce Lehrmann to face a charge of sexual intercourse without consent and being reckless as to whether Ms Higgins had consented.

Former ministerial staffer Brittany Higgins allegation sparked a spate of further claims about bad behaviour and sexual harassment in Parliament House. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The trial is expected to last four weeks, with ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold telling the court on Monday he anticipated his case would take two weeks.

Mr Drumgold asked if it was possible to hold the trial sooner than June, but its anticipated length restricted possible dates. Defence lawyer Warwick Korn told the court an offer of an alternative trial period in April was not suitable.
London: AstraZeneca has unveiled a new antibody injection that it says works as both a COVID-19 preventative and treatment, and can be used on patients with severely weakened immune systems.

The monoclonal drug, AZD7442, is derived from antibodies or B cells from people who have recovered from COVID-19 and is fortified with synthetic or manufactured antibodies that last almost three times a long as human ones.

AstraZeneca said the antibody drug reduced the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 83 per cent in one of its trials. Credit:Bloomberg

Because the treatment is antibody-based, it doesnt involve the risk of inducing an anaphylactic reaction like vaccines can. The company said the treatment could be effective for up to 12 months and has not produced any adverse side effects in clinical trials.

AstraZeneca said it carried out two separate trials called PROVENT and TACKLE.
Paris: Eric Zemmour, the hard-right polemist and likely French presidential candidate, has skipped a trial for inciting hatred saying he stood by his description of unaccompanied child migrants as racists.

The 63-year-old, who is a virulent critic of immigration and Islam, faces up to one year in prison and a 45,000 ($70,200) fine if found guilty of public insults and incitement to hatred or violence against a group of people due to their ethnic, national, racial or religious origin. He could theoretically be banned from running for office, though this is considered unlikely.

Eric Zemmour is the Trumpian cat among Frances establishment pigeons. Credit:AP

His trial was on Wednesday. The verdict will be handed down at a later date.

Zemmour, who opinion polls say could reach the second-round presidential run-off vote next year, alleged there was a campaign to intimidate him but that they wont shut me up.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on November 18, 2021.

The Central Committee meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at 14.00 hrs., was rescheduled due to technical issues and will now take place on Thursday at 11.00hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Ombudsman will be present.

The agenda point is:

Annual Report 2020  Ombudsman (IS/918/2020-2021 dated August 11, 2021)

Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is only allowing persons with an appointment to enter the Parliament building.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and www.pearlfmradio.sx
Grand Cayman:--- CCRIF celebrates the success of its 2021 Regional Internship Programme: Providing Young Caribbean Nationals with Work Experience from Anywhere

This year, CCRIF redesigned its internship programme to include virtual internships and was able to place 34 recent university graduates in regional and national organizations across the Caribbean, investing over US$65,000.

This years programme is mostly virtual, with 31 interns working remotely with a national or regional organization in the Caribbean. The other 3 interns are part of on-site internships and are working face-to-face in their home country. Each intern spends at least 10 weeks with their host organization. Interns are working on exciting projects and assignments in areas such as early warning systems, environmental management, meteorology, disaster risk management, post-disaster relief and recovery, and climate change, among others.

This year, 15 organizations are hosting CCRIF interns, including 8 regional organizations, 3 departments/centres at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), and 4 national meteorology or disaster management agencies. Organizations hosting interns are CCRIF, Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), CARICOM Secretariat, Tobago Emergency Management Agency, Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, Barbados Department of Emergency Management, Hazard Management Cayman Islands, and the following departments of The UWI: Department of Geography, St. Augustine; Department of Geography and Geology, Mona; and the Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (DRRC), Mona.

Each year, CCRIF invites organizations in the region to host interns and engage them to work on interesting projects and programmes. All interns are provided with stipends each month and those who traveled outside of their country pre-COVID were provided with airfare and accommodation for the period of their internship.

Since 2015, CCRIF has provided support totaling US$374,000 for 137 young university graduates to implement internships at 29 national and regional organizations.

CCRIF interns along with several other young university graduates in the region also benefited from an online summer course in disaster risk financing, titled Introduction to Disaster Risk Financing, which was offered in collaboration with The UWI Open Campus over the period July 29  August 19, 2021. This was the second year that CCRIF has offered the course, with 102 students participating this year. Persons who completed the course received a UWI/CCRIF Certificate and 2 continuing education units/credits. Later in November, CCRIF will host a forum for all of the 2021 interns to share experiences, best practices, lessons learned and, importantly, to expose these young professionals to new and emerging areas of work in disaster risk financing, insurance, shock-responsive social protection, and sustainable adaptation among other areas. CCRIF will use this opportunity to also share with them other professional development opportunities provided by the Facility that they can benefit from.

CCRIFs Regional Internship Programme provides opportunities for recent university graduates from the Caribbean who have earned degrees in courses of study such as disaster risk management, environmental management, actuarial science, geography, civil engineering, climate studies, and other related areas to be assigned to national and regional organizations where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments and research projects. Host organizations benefit by receiving young, bright minds who can assist them in various projects and programmes, achieving the organizations targets, and sometimes completing tasks that have remained undone for years.

The internship programme is part of the Facilitys wider Technical Assistance (TA) Programme, which provides scholarships to Caribbean nationals as well as support to member countries, regional organizations, non-governmental and community-based organizations, and academic institutions to develop and implement disaster risk management and climate change adaptation projects and programmes. The Facility has made a total investment of over US$6 million under its TA Programme since 2010.
~ Donations made to K1 Britania and Mental Health Foundation.~

Cole Bay:--- Several dignitaries and members of the business community joined the Al Yousef family at the grand opening of the Ashleys Furniture Homestore in Cole Bay St. Maarten on Wednesday night. The Al Yousef family have been doing business on St. Maarten for years as they started off with Ace Liteline in Philipsburg then advanced to Ace Home Center in Cay Hill then expanded to Ace Mega Center.

At the Ace Stores, the Al Yousef family began selling Ashley's Furniture some years ago. To mark the grand opening the owners made donations to two foundations on St. Maarten, are K1 Britania and the Mental Health Foundation.

However, their main intention was to open an Ashleys Furniture Homestore on St. Maarten but they encountered several setbacks due to Hurricane Irma and the COVID -19 world pandemic. Despite the challenges, the Al Yousef family managed to complete their mission by having one of the largest Ashley Furniture Store in the Caribbean.

Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams congratulated the businessmen for the courage and faith they have in St. Maarten despite the pandemic and economic downturn. Wescot Williams said while the island may be in a dip economically the island remains sophisticated which she said will contribute to tourism shopping.

Ashleys Furniture regional manager who was present for the grand opening said he visited the island some years ago and offered Ace the opportunity. He said that Ashley started in 1945 in Wescoin USA. Their mission is to have the largest and best furniture on the island of St. Maarten.

Sami Al Yousef thanked everyone including his brother, nephew who placed their all in getting the store built and furnished for the grand opening.

The ribbon-cutting was done by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Sami, and Yusuf Al Yousef owners of the Ashleys Furniture Homestore St. Maarten.

Click here for more photos of the Grand Opening.
4 smart ways to use security to power the business of the future

In the new era of work, our relationship with the workplace is defined by flexibility and mobility. Employees are working across the home, office, and blended spaces more than ever before, as well as working varied hours to suit the modern work schedule. This new hybrid workforce model holds the potential for more diverse talent and better productivity, but it also comes with its challenges  one being how to ensure security, health, and safety in the workplace. Strong and smart security ecosystem While nearly one-third of companies report that theyve implemented a hybrid model, according to a recent survey by STANLEY Security, many still have much to do to prepare their office for the future. Building a strong  and smart  security ecosystem is crucial in preparing for the future. As such, businesses should consider technologies that help protect their people, as well as safeguard their assets, optimise their operations, and secure their network. 1)Protect your people Implementation of a security ecosystem combines health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly Nearly 60% of mid-market and enterprise businesses across the UK and US report that the health and safety of their employees and customers are a primary concern when implementing modern and hybrid working models. This begs the question: How can businesses create a safe and healthy work environment when 59% are planning to bring employees back on-site in some capacity within the next 18 months? The answer lies, in part, in the implementation of a security ecosystem that combines various health, safety, and security hardware and software solutions seamlessly. Integrating platform Nearly half (46%) of business decision-makers say they are interested in adopting an integrated platform such as this. This means integrating traditional and digital security solutions, then leveraging the data and insights they produce to further enhance the workplace experience. Take this example: With employees and visitors moving in and out of the office at different times, a business may lack oversight of occupancy or density levels, people flow, workspace scheduling, visitor check-in processes, and more. However, with visitor management, access control, and other building/business systems integrated, employees can reserve a workspace for a specific date and time and be granted access to the building. Leveraging AI and machine learning Visitors can pre-register, answer a health screening questionnaire, and receive a mobile credential before arriving. Once the visitor arrives on-site, the system can alert the respective department  all without the close contact typically required for traditional visitor check-in processes. When layering artificial intelligence and machine learning on top of the data, a business may identify trends in people flow and opportunities to optimise congested areas. They may also see that certain rooms within the building get more use than others and leverage these insights to manage their space more effectively. All of this is powered by a security ecosystem that can help a business better protect its people while realising other benefits in the process. 2) Safeguard your assets Businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model Even more, businesses are concerned about the security of their assets when it comes to the hybrid workforce model. About 72% of leaders say this is, in fact, their primary concern with the hybrid approach. This figure isnt surprising when you consider the impact of the pandemic, which left many businesses closed either temporarily or permanently, with few people allowed on-site to manage facility operations. As a result of the pandemic, we saw tech adoption accelerate at an astonishing rate  simply because businesses had to implement cloud and remote technologies to survive during a time when buildings were closed indefinitely. Remote management and visibility This was particularly true for security solutions, such as cloud video surveillance and cloud access control solutions like wireless IoT-connected locks. Nine out of 10 businesses (91%) report that they have already implemented cloud security technology; of those, nearly half (48%) stated that this was due to the pandemic. These technologies allow for remote management and provide visibility into business operations at the same time. In a retail setting, for example, cloud video surveillance allows businesses to identify and track not only criminal activity, but also foot traffic patterns, peak operating hours, staff shortages, and more. Loss prevention strategy When integrated with the retailers point-of-sale (POS) system, businesses can gain greater insights into their traffic counts, end cap effectiveness, loyalty card activity, and a variety of POS exceptions, such as high-dollar transactions, repeated transactions, excessive returns, employee discounts, and more. For retailers especially, a security ecosystem means a more efficient loss prevention strategy that helps safeguard assets and profits. 3) Optimise your operations The future of work is still very much a work in progress, but one thing is clear: Businesses are looking for ways to increase efficiencies, drive cost savings, and, ultimately, optimise their operations  especially now with the challenges posed by price inflation. A relatively untapped opportunity for businesses to achieve these goals lies within their security infrastructure. Security technology and solutions gather incredibly rich data which, when unlocked, can help businesses understand how their buildings are being used, when the busiest times are, where there are highly trafficked areas, and more. Leveraging cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs Cloud video surveillance systems For example, by leveraging the insights produced by cloud video surveillance systems, businesses could identify emerging staff training needs, which could ultimately result in improved employee satisfaction and reduced attrition. However, much of this data sits untouched within the infrastructure, leaving businesses unaware of the opportunities in front of them. 44% of businesses that currently use a cloud security system for its primary use say they want to know how else this technology can be utilised, and an additional 20% arent even aware that it could be used in other ways. AI and analytics The interest in adoption is promising for the office of the future, especially when we see that the majority of businesses (78%) would consider using AI and analytics technologies to optimise their operations, helping their business to operate more effectively and efficiently. The increase in adoption of cloud technology  paired with the rise in interest in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics  could make it possible for businesses to uncover invaluable insights from their security infrastructure and leverage them to adapt and build business resilience. 4) Secure your network Advanced technology help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry With cyber threats becoming more prevalent, businesses are increasingly looking to secure their networks and protect their data. More than half (54%) of those surveyed expressed interest in using AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to secure their network by identifying and eliminating cybersecurity threats. Advanced and automated technology can help businesses improve their cybersecurity, making it harder for hackers to gain entry to the larger corporate network. Modern cybersecurity tools that use AI and machine learning can detect anomalies in network traffic or alert and act on suspicious behaviour. Cybersecurity software For example, if an IoT device suddenly begins broadcasting and establishing connections with multiple devices, cybersecurity software could detect this abnormal behaviour, send an alert, and suspend traffic or quarantine an endpoint immediately  saving precious time during a potential breach. A single data breach could result in widespread distrust from workers and customers, potentially leading to decreased business as well as litigation issues. As such, businesses need to take action to update and strengthen their defences so that they can avoid downtime and continue to operate with peace of mind. Prepare your business for the future Businesses will continue to look for more ways to extract value out of their existing infrastructure, including their security technology. For many, the tools to do so are already in place, its just a matter of unlocking the insights with a security ecosystem. With such an ecosystem  one that helps protect a business people, assets, and network, while optimising operations  companies can better safeguard the future of their workspaces and usher in the new era of work with confidence.
The Prague city administration together with the Criminal Investigation Department relies on security technology from Germany-based Dallmeier in Prague's Wenceslas Square, one of the largest city squares in Europe with an area of 45,000 square metres, and the Old Town Square.

Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square in Prague are both steeped in history, and now as ever before remaining important hubs for tourism and traffic. To ensure the safety of the streams of people and vehicles in these places, when it comes to security equipment the Prague city administration relies on a combination of conventional cameras and a solution from the Regensburg company Dallmeier.

From horse market to commercial thoroughfare

Wenceslas Square in Prague was created in the 14th century and originally served as a horse market, as was reflected in its name. It was renamed "Wenceslas Square" in 1848 in tribute to Saint Wenceslas of Bohemia. Since the 19th century, the function of the square has evolved from that of a place for trading horses to a busy commercial district.

The function of the square has evolved from that of a place for trading horses to a busy commercial district

It is used by pedestrians, cyclists, motor vehicles, and local public transport alike, and so constitutes a major confluence point in Prague's New City. The city administration attaches great importance to ensuring that all these traffic elements can coexist in harmony, and to have a general overview of what is happening, the administration together with the police criminal investigation department rely on the sharp "eyes" of the Panomera.

Tourist magnet Old Town Square

Panomera also provides security in the 9000 square metre Prague Old Town Square. The Old Town Square is the historic heart of the city and attracts thousands of tourists every year with its atmosphere, sights, and markets. Its history dates to the 11th century, and it has always been a crossroads for commerce and a marketplace.

It is a magnet for tourists and its borders abound with restaurants, museums, galleries, and shops. The astronomical clock on the tower of the Old Town Hall is one of the most well-known sights in Europe.

Advantages of Panomera technology for monitoring

The solution for both Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square consists of Panomera models from the Topline series. The Panomera multifocal sensor system can provide coverage for vast expanses and areas.

Infrastructure costs are also lower since a single Panomera captures a much larger area and fewer installation points

The advantage: The combination of general overview with the highest possible resolution of details is very important, particularly for large squares, and with this camera technology more remote objects can also be displayed with the same resolution as objects in the image foreground. Several operators can zoom into the same image at the same time. Even then, the overall scene always remains in view and the recording continues.

Where previously several megapixel cameras would have been needed, the users' workload has been reduced significantly, because fewer images must be captured. Infrastructure costs are also lower since a single Panomera captures a much larger area and fewer installation points are needed. For customers, this means savings not only in terms of infrastructure but also regarding operation and management, so total operating costs are reduced.

Planning that delivers

In the project planning phase, the Dallmeier 3D specialist team consisting of engineers and graphic designers created a three-dimensional simulation of the customer's environment. In the 3D model, the team simulated the real camera models and locations/installation sites, and thus also angles of vision and ranges.

The completed 3D model was presented to the customer jointly with integration partner KH Servis in Prague and comprised the entire solution including the cameras and other essential components. The city administration and police authorities were delighted by this manner of project visualisation because this approach also allowed an accurate calculation of costs to be made, giving the customer certainty regarding the cost and scope of the project.

"What we plan is what you get"

3D planning also guarantees that there are no surprises either on the technical or financial level

3D planning also guarantees that there are no surprises either on the technical or financial level during or after the installation.

Dallmeier calls this approach "What we plan is what you get". Besides the technical advantages delivered by Panomera, the customers were also impressed by the planning certainty they were given by the 3D visualisation, and, at the end of 2017, Dallmeier won the order to put the project into practice.

Test run at the Dallmeier FAT Centre

Before it was installed, the planned solution underwent a Dallmeier Factory Acceptance Test at the FAT Centre in Regensburg. All components were assembled there, and the final environment was tested in live operation.

While testing was proceeding in the FAT Centre, KH Servis was also attending training in Regensburg so they would be ready for the on-site installation and so they could see the system operating flawlessly for themselves.

Observation and intervention

With the installation of the multifocal sensor systems, the desire for increased security and more effective intervention capabilities was realised. The cameras are used to observe situations and when necessary, enable rapid countermeasures or also a rapid investigation of incidents.

In the event of criminal offences, the video material can be stored separately as evidence.

Special challenge: Protection of historic monuments

Permission had to be obtained from the building owners before the cameras could be mounted

Both squares are bordered by buildings with historic monument status, the Panomera cameras could not always be mounted where single sensor cameras had hung previously, enabling the "old" installation points to be used.

Permission had to be obtained from the building owners before the cameras could be mounted, but this was managed successfully for all the new installation points.

Conclusion

The conclusion by KH Servis, Dallmeier's integration partner in Prague, "We worked together with extreme professionalism, the city administration and police authorities were ultimately convinced, not only by the quality of the systems and the image material but also the impressive planning phase and planning certainty it gave them."
Madrid, Nov 18, 2021 (SPS) - The independent Spanish journalist, Axel Alvarez, confirmed during his visit to the liberated Sahrawi territories, the state of war which prevails in the region and praises the Sahrawi fighters and their determination to defeat the Moroccan occupier, calling on UN to intervene to end the conflict in Western Sahara.

"Since Morocco's violation of the ceasefire agreement on November 13, 2020, there is great ambiguity surrounding the information circulating in Spain on the reality of the return to war in Western Sahara, hence the need to lift the media blackout on this affair, "said the Spanish journalist in a Saharawi statement at the end of his visit to the Saharawi refugee camps and the liberated Saharawi territories.

"I visited with the international press, the Sahrawi refugee camps and I moved to the region of Mahbes where we lived and directly followed real military clashes between the units of the Sahrawi army and the Moroccan forces which responded the bombardments by Sahrawi forces all along the sand wall ", separating the occupied territories from the liberated territories of Western Sahara," he added.

During his testimony, the independent journalist also assured to have witnessed the fall of a Moroccan shell near their location in the region of Mahbes, which, according to him, forced the media team to leave the premises places to ensure their safety.

Based on his stay in the region, Alvarez stressed that "the war is an established fact, although Morocco tries to deny it".

In addition, he spoke of the good state of mind he felt among the Saharawi people, in particular the soldiers on the front line.

"I met soldiers on the front line, armed with very good morale and a strong belief in the inevitability of victory, and I felt during my exchanges with them a conviction that the causes righteous always win in the end, he said during his testimony.

In this context, the Spanish journalist called on UN to intervene to end the conflict in Western Sahara. "These clashes must force UN to intervene to settle the conflict," he said, noting that "waiting 30 years is not easy and left the Saharawi people no other choice than to resume war "

The Spanish journalist posted photos on his "Instagram" account highlighting aspects of the war he witnessed, one of which shows Frente POLISARIO soldiers attacking a Moroccan military post behind the wall of sand separating the liberated territories from the territories occupied by Morocco in the region of Mahbes.

He specified in particular that this is the first time since last October 14 that the international press has been able to access the Saharawi territories to testify the real existence of the war in this region and to broadcast the armed clashes in sound and images which erupted following Morocco's violation of the ceasefire agreement SPS

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GREENWICH  Looking to relax la vita dolce? A new shop on East Putnam Avenue offers everything needed to decorate your space in high style.

Lucenti Interiors held a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently for its new showroom at 124 E. Putnam Ave. in central Greenwich. It is the second location for the interior design firm, which also operates on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Discerning shoppers can find furnishings, millwork and other items from high-end design brands that are appropriate for residential, commercial or hospitality projects. The new store provides expert consultation and custom interiors that showcase Italys signature design aesthetic.

My flagship showroom is in NYC, which has served as my home base, until my wife, who is a breast surgeon, received an offer to join an amazing team in Connecticut  so we moved. While exploring the area, we just fell in love with Greenwich, owner Biagio Lucenti said in a statement.

We found Greenwich to be very clean, safe and have a wonderfully chic and fashionable vibe, not to mention the excellent schools that were a factor for our son, Lucenti said.

Once we bought a home here, I knew the next step was to open this new showroom and share the luxury of elegant comfort, which is the cornerstone of Italian style and is reflected in life here in Greenwich, he said.

He promises the new local showroom brings Italys legendary craftsmanship and quality to America with an ever-expanding selection of items.

First Selectman Fred Camillo officiated at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting on Oct. 29 as Lucenti Interiors officially expanded into Greenwich.

The team at Lucenti Interiors is committed to upholding the highest European standards in impeccable form, the finest quality, endless flexibility, countless finishes and exceptional service, it said in a statement.

The materials for the many brands offered are sourced in Italy, and the pieces are designed and manufactured in Italy by Italian artisans, the statement said.

With floor plans and elevations provided through an architect, or in-house CAD drawings, Lucenti Interiors workshop can produce any custom design required or desired, the statement said. Lucenti said his team is ready to create the environment of your dreams.

Designers, architects and other clients will find a large exhibition space at the store, with different furniture solutions all made in Italy. The brand selection includes Ernestomeda, Flexform, Edone, Res, Flos, Pacini & Cappellini, Tagliabue Mobili, Besana Carpet Lab, Vescom, Dresswall, Terragni and BM Luxury.

According to the website for the showroom, Lucentis grandfather  and namesake  was renowned for transforming architects drawings into award-winning, intricate hand inlays made from the finest woods.

His only son, Giuseppe, showed a similar talent for detailed craftsmanship, the website says.

The hours at the Greenwich showroom are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays by appointment. For more information, visit LucentiInteriors.com.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  A human rights group is suing the North Carolina Department of Public Safety alleging its staff censors magazines inmates receive by mail, especially those with articles about prison misconduct.

Human Rights Defense Center in Florida filed the suit Friday in U.S. District Court, The News & Observer reported. The nonprofit publishes Prison Legal News and Criminal Legal News, which focus on inmates rights, court rulings and other criminal justice issues and circulate to 232 people in state correctional facilities.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  The state of Mississippi has named its next chief medical examiner.

Dr. Staci Turner, previously the state's interim chief medical examiner, is stepping into the role, Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell announced Wednesday.

Turner joined the state medical examiner's office in January 2020 as the first full-time pathologist in south Mississippi at the start of what would become one of the deadliest years in state history. There were 578 homicides in Mississippi in 2020, a state of 3 million, compared with 440 in 2019 and 389 in 2018.

Pathologists were dealing with an increased workload at the same time as they were trying to whittle down a backlog of unfinished autopsy reports. Tindell said in September there were 1,600 pending reports, some dating back to 2015.

Turner gained a reputation with coroners and within the medical examiner's office as being dependable and timely with reports.

She wraps reports up so fast, its almost making our head spin," Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict said. We finally got somebody that can communicate with us and help us out. Were excited to have her down there. She's really doing a great job.

She was was named interim chief medical examiner after the departure of former head, Dr. Mark Levaughn, this past January. Levaughn resigned after being placed on administrative leave for an undisclosed personnel matter. He had worked at State Medical Examiners office for around a decade.

Tindell did not say why Levaughn was put on leave. He has since been back at the medical examiner's office working part time, finishing up old reports and cases.

Prior to coming to Mississippi, Turner served as the regional deputy chief medical examiner for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. She also previously served as the assistant medical examiner at Forensic Medical in Nashville, Tennessee, and as the medical examiner for the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Turner received her medical degree from the University of Kentucky and completed pathology residency training at the University of Kentucky. She also completed the forensic pathology fellowship program at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

She will be one of three pathologists in the state conducting autopsies at the medical examiner's office. Currently, Turner and another doctor in Jackson are the only state of Mississippi employees performing autopsies. The state also uses private contractors to help with the workload.

Tindell said Wednesday that Dr. Ariane Robison was hired to join the medical examiner's office as a third pathologist performing autopsies. Robison will be a deputy medical examiner.

Robison received her medical degree from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Department of Pathology in Baltimore. She completed pathology residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and forensic pathology training at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Tindell said the state has hired a director for the state medical examiner's office that will allow the chief medical examiner to focus on doing autopsies instead of the day-to-day operations of the medical examiners office.

Kristy Simmons is serving in the director role. Simmons has served with the state medical examiners office for more than 15 years as a chief pathology technician, administrator and investigator.

The state has also hired four medical examiner investigators, created as a result of legislation passed during the 2021 legislative session. Medical examiner investigators aren't doctors, but they do have a medical background, such as in nursing, emergency services or forensics. They work as liaisons between the coroners and the doctors and assist with death investigations.

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Leah Willingham 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.
NORWALK  Shut down originally in March 2020 due to COVID restrictions, the Stepping Stones Museum for Children kept its doors closed a little bit longer to pursue a massive renovation project in one fell swoop.

The childrens museum will reopen its doors to the public on Saturday at 8 a.m. and reveal four new exhibits, renovations to longtime favorites, and new, STEAM-infused educational programming. The museum has also added a gift shop and expanded its Healthyville Cafe with a focus on locally sourced food.

All of us at Stepping Stones Museum for Children cannot wait for our community to take this amazing journey into the future with us, said Rhonda Kiest, president and chief executive officer of Stepping Stones in a news release. We are thrilled to fully reopen our doors and debut this newest iteration of our wonderful childrens museum.

Stepping Stones will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the museum remains at $16 for non-member adults and children over 1 year of age and $12 for seniors. All museum members and children under the age of 12 months will be admitted for free.

The museum offered virtual experiences throughout the pandemic and opened its outdoor spaces this past summer as part of the governors CT Summer at the Museums program. Carolyn Knott, the museums vice president of integrated brand communication, expects people to be absolutely astounded when they walk through the doors for the first time in almost two years.

Theyre certainly going to be welcomed with open arms and likely teary eyes because we have absolutely missed out public, Knott said. We were able to get a glimpse and hear some giggles outside in the Celebration Courtyard over the summer, but it just doesnt compare to feeling that energy that comes through the door when were open.

As visitors come through the door, theyll see old favorites such as the ColorCoaster, Tot Town and the Energy Lab, but as they round the corner, theyll walk into an immersive light experience, and beyond that see Connecticuts state dinosaur, the Dilophosaurus.

The new Lights On! exhibit features the latest light gadgets and innovations. Children can learn about reflection, refraction, bending light, manipulating, kaleidoscope light, and playing with shadow as well as hologram technology, according to Knott.

The Big Adventures: Dinosaurs exhibit gives children the opportunity to be junior paleontologists, uncovering dinosaur bones and other fossils at a dig site. They can also launch back in time 50 million years ago through the wacky and whimsical time machine to see a living Dilophosaurus and other dinosaurs and plants that existed in the Connecticut area during the early Jurassic period, according to Robert Townes, the museums director of public affairs.

Its an opportunity for a child to learn through play about Connecticut history and learn more about where theyre from, Townes said. Thats one of the really exciting things, were starting to introduce more things about our local area into these exhibits.

Knott added, Its very immersive. Theyre touching. Theyre exploring. Theyre learning.

The Healthyville Cafe will soon allow families to order their food ahead of time using a QR code, so they dont need to wait in line. The museum is also taking advantage of a grant from the Campbell Soup Company to overhaul nearly everything in its cafe and stock it with locally sourced food, starting with produce and dairy products from Silvermans Farm and Shaggy Coos Farm in Easton.

Were really getting the opportunity to introduce children to the farm to table concept, Townes said, explaining it goes beyond how the food is processed and makes it to a persons table, but also how that affects real-world issues such as the national and global supply chains.

So, you get the opportunity to teach children these things when theyre young and these lessons take hold now, and these are going to be habits that they form for later on in their lives, he said.

Upon reopening, the museum will also launch its Worldwide Light Celebration, illuminating nearly every square inch of the building, inside and out. The museum will celebrate the traditions of light and how they play into winter celebrations and holidays around the world, such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Years Day.

Stepping Stones isnt done yet adding to it collection. The museum launched a five-year capital campaign leading into its 20th anniversary in 2020. A $1 million donation from the Bauer Family Foundation jumpstarted the campaign and the museum is maintaining its progress toward a $6 million goal, according to Townes.

In 2023 and 2024, Stepping Stones plans to build then unveil a new Energy Lab exhibit, a We (Heart) American exhibit, and a new toddler exhibit. The Lights On! and Big Adventures: Dinosaurs exhibits are traveling showcases and will make room for new exhibits in the future.

For information about the museums reopening, visit the website at steppingstonesmuseum.org or call the museum at 203-899-0606 ext. 264.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
NEW CANAAN  First Selectman Kevin Moynihan denied that the playing field next to the YMCA was his favored location for the new police building after Selectman Nick Williams insisted Tuesday that it was.

Williams asked to have a discussion on the Police Departments potential new headquarters, since he and the other selectmen listened in to a joint-board meeting the night before where presentations were made on the seven options for its future. The next morning at their meeting, the three selectmen did not vote but voiced their opinions on the future of the building.

My takeaway was that the overwhelming sense was to keep the police department where it is in terms of location to rehab the existing facility, Williams said of the three-board meeting.

On Monday, the selectmen, Town Council and Board of Finance listened to presentations that included two scenarios for the current location at 174 South Ave. by Brian Humes of Jacunski Humes Architects and five site plans for different town-owned potential locations by Kaestle Boos architects.

The costs would range from $11.6 million for renovating the building with officers working onsite to as much as $34.3 million if the town used one of two of its parking lots.

I would argue that if we tried to do an alternative site, let's just take Saxe because Saxe clearly has been at the top of your agenda, Williams said to Moynihan referring to the most controversial option to date, which has been the playing fields between the YMCA and Saxe Middle School.

The playing field is considered the easiest of the five potential town-owned locations to construct a building on and considered the top spot by Eric Rossi with Kaestle Boos. Constructing on the location is estimated to cost $21 million.

Moynihan said that was not his favored site. You told me two years ago you thought that this was a good idea, Williams said. Williams, who has been outspoken against building on the ball field, said he has received nearly 500 emails against using that site and not a single one in favor. He said there is also a petition with 1,000 signatures opposing the ball field site.

The first selectman said he did not want to renovate an old building, instead wished to move the department to a site on the west side of South Avenue, south of Saxe Middle School. The town once considered building a Board of Education building on the property, but decided against it. A new two-story police department constructed on the lot is estimated to cost $21.6 million. The architects cited that one disadvantage of the property is that the public may believe the building to be part of Waveny Park as it connects to a trail that leads from the park.

Two groups have been working concurrently on the police building project as the nearly 30,000 square-foot police station, built in 1926 and retrofitted from a school 38 years ago, is in disrepair and needs updating. Most town officials at the meeting agreed the police needed a better facility to accommodate modern needs such as simulated officer training, advanced technology capabilities and a female officer locker room.

The building committee voted unanimously last Thursday that a new or renovated facility is needed.

Williams argued that if the town renovates the current site, construction would be able to start sooner and that he wanted to see the town pull the trigger and go forward.

I agree that I will support the renovating in place. I will tell you having seen the existing conditions at the police department, we certainly need this as quickly as possible, Selectman Kathleen Corbet said.

Moynihan said that he believes people are not always happy with the results of renovating old buildings. He added that even he doesnt like the way the windows open in his office in the pre-renovated section of Town Hall. Too often, he said, there are unexpected expenses from an old building down the road.

Williams said he is glad that when Town Hall was renovated, the Main Street-facing facade was kept intact, adding that it has been used for scenes in movies as recent as this year. The selectman also likes the current location of the police building.

Whether it be a brand new building at the current site or renovation, I think the police department is in the best place possible, Williams said. It's close to the schools, it's close to downtown (and) it's on a major road.

Both Corbet and Williams thought a benefit to renovating the current building was the lower cost, but said they would favor spending the extra money to move the police offsite while the building is being renovated.

To renovate the current building while occupied by officers could cost anywhere from $11.6 to $13.1 million while renovating the building vacated is estimated to cost $13.1 to $14.6 million. Constructing a new building on the current site is estimated to cost $26.3 to $29.3 million, according to building committee member Jim Beall.

I would also be in favor of considering a new building on the site. However, the economics just don't make sense, Corbet said.

The first selectman believes that if the police are relocated, the present facility could be sold to offset the construction expense and be used for multi-family housing.

We have a lot of pressure to have multi-family housing in town. So I just think it's something we need to do, Moynihan said. This gives us an opportunity to have a new building somewhere and at a net cost lower than what we're going to end up with renovation.

Police Chief Leon Krolikowski explained his desire to upgrade the training facilities with a multi-use training center that can be used as pistol range. There's three things that make a great police department: policies, training and oversight. We are missing the training aspect of this, he said.

I think our police chief made a passionate, articulate argument for a training facility in town  training being one of the three keystones of having a great police force, Williams said.

Corbet said she absolutely agreed, with the police having a training center. I think having it in close proximity to the police department is very important.

The three town boards will each vote on the options in the next few weeks and Moynihan said he would like to see the project decided on in December.
STAMFORD  After three days of deliberation, a jury acquitted two men of murder charges connected to the 2015 fatal shooting of Maxine Gooden.

The jury found DeShawn Hayes and Jhonel Telemin-Valerio not guilty of murder and first-degree manslaughter with a firearm in the death of Gooden, a 43-year-old mother of five who was struck by a stray bullet at Lione Park in November 2015. However, they were found guilty on the lesser charge of criminal possession of a firearm.

A group of nearly 20 friends and family members of the accused received the verdict with hushed celebrations and stifled applause in the courtroom Wednesday afternoon before taking their jubilant celebration outdoors.

Lilly Hayes, mother of DeShawn Hayes, said she felt amazing as she wiped tears of joy from her eyes.

I havent hugged my son in six years. I was nervous, I was scared, but I knew that light always out-rules darkness. I know he is not an angel, but I knew what he wasnt. He wasnt a murderer, so for that I give God praise, Hayes said.

Friends and family joined hands outside the courtroom following Wednesdays hearing and, as some cried and others cheered, they shared words of praise and a song. The group then formed a circle around attorney Darnell Crosland, who represented Hayes, as he danced with a stereo speaker in his hands.

Ive been waiting for this moment, Crosland said as he danced with his clients family.

Two sisters of Telemin-Valerio were also present for the post-hearing celebrations, though both declined to comment.

While Hayes and Telemin-Valerio were cleared of the most serious charges that they were facing, they didnt leave Wednesdays hearing unscathed.

The jury found both men guilty of criminal possession of a firearm, a Class C felony that carries a minimum of two years in prison and up to 10 years.

Hayes and Telemin-Valerio could also each face further prosecution on a charge of negligent homicide, a Class A misdemeanor, after the jury failed to come to a unanimous decision on that charge.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Joseph Valdes said during court Wednesday that the state would need to discuss how it will proceed with the case.

The States Attorneys Office did not respond to a request for comment following Wednesdays decision.

The murder acquittal comes nearly a week after Morris Moore, a third defendant in the case who pleaded guilty two years ago to a lesser charge related to the shooting, took the witness stand and claimed responsibility for Goodens death.

Im the one who did it, he told the jury.

Moore is currently serving 20 years in prison.

No date was set for the sentencing of Hayes and Telemin-Valerio on the gun conviction.

Attorney Lindy Urso, who represented Telemin-Valerio, said while he was happy with the result, there were no winners in this tragedy.

An innocent womans life was lost, one young man is serving 20 years for this senseless crime, and these two other young men have lost 6 years of their lives awaiting their justice, Urso said. At this point, Im just very happy for Jhonel, DeShawn and their families.
Published: 18 November 2021

Prices of old single-family houses rose by 5.5 per cent in July to September from the previous year

In the third quarter of 2021, prices of old single-family houses rose by an average of 5.5 per cent in the whole country from the previous year. Compared with the previous quarter, prices of old single-family houses decreased by 0.9 per cent. These data derive from Statistics Finlands index of real estate prices, which is compiled by utilising data from the real estate transaction register of the National Land Survey of Finland. The statistics cover single-family houses located on own plot.

Development of prices in old single-family houses, index 2015=100

In municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants prices rose by 5.8 per cent from the year before. In municipalities with 60,000 to 100,000 inhabitants prices went up by 3.0 per cent, in municipalities with 20,000 to 59,999 inhabitants by 8.9 per cent and in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants by 3.5 per cent.

In the whole country, the average price per square metre of old single-family houses was EUR 1,727 in the third quarter of 2021. The price per square metre was highest in Greater Helsinki, where the price per square metre was EUR 3,557. In municipalities with over 100,000 inhabitants the price per square metre was EUR 2,553 and in municipalities with under 20,000 inhabitants EUR 1,338.

In the third quarter, prices of single-family house plots rose by 12.5 per cent in the whole country from the year before. From the previous quarter, prices of plots increased by 0.4 per cent. The average price per square metre for a detached house plot was EUR 24.3 and the average size of sold plots was 2,703 square metres.

In the third quarter of the current year, around 4,940 transactions of old single-family houses were made, which is about two per cent fewer than in the corresponding period of last year. In the third quarter of 2021, around 1,070 transactions of single-family house plots were made, which is six per cent more than in the third quarter of 2020.

In the third quarter of 2021, prices of new single-family houses went up by 5.7 per cent from the previous year. Compared with the previous quarter, prices rose by 3.4 per cent. The data for new single-family houses are based on the construction price index and price data describing professional and own-account construction.

Source: Real estate prices, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Petri Kettunen 029 551 3558, Anu Ramo 029 551 3450, asuminen.hinnat@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (301.0 kB)

Updated 18.11.2021

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Real estate prices [e-publication].

ISSN=2342-8902. 3rd quarter 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 11.12.2021].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/kihi/2021/03/kihi_2021_03_2021-11-18_tie_001_en.html
Acting Health Minister Cseke Attila met today with European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton, who is currently on a working visit to Romania, the Health Ministry said in a release, agerpres reports.

The two officials discussed subjects of interest for the European health sector, such as the Covid immunization campaign, vaccine supplies, as well as the measures taken by member states in this epidemiological context regarding the use of the digital certificate.

The acting Health Minister briefed the European Commissioner on Romania's epidemiological situation and on the state of its Covid vaccination program.Cseke Attila also discussed with the senior European official about the measures planned in the coming period for speeding up the vaccination rollout."Big thanks for the European Commission's constant support. Today I will have a phone conversation with European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakides. We appreciate your strong message on the measures that need to be taken in order to ensure the free and safe movement of European citizens with the use of the digital certificate," said the acting Health Minister as cited in the release.
President Klaus Iohannis, on Thursday welcomed at the Cotroceni Palace the European Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, with whom he discussed topics on the current agenda of the European Union, such as the vaccination process against COVID- 19, strengthening the Union's Internal Market and cybersecurity, the Presidential Administration informs in a press release.

Thus, the Romanian President voiced his appreciation for the support granted by the European Commission in managing the health crisis and mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic still involves many challenges, pleading for further coordination of Member States' actions and keeping European Union unity in this respect.

"Regarding the epidemiological situation in Romania, President Klaus Iohannis highlighted the importance of speeding up the vaccination campaign, the vaccine being the main tool to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection. At the same time, the Romanian President underscored that strengthening management procedures in the case of the persons found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 is extremely important, in managing the next waves, as well as in supporting the health system to cope with the pressure it is subjected to in the context of the current health crisis," the same sources said.During the talks, the head of state reiterated Romania's strong commitment to participate in the strengthening of the integration of the European project. In this regard, President Iohannis pleaded for the unity and solidarity of the Member States to be preserved.With regard to cybersecurity, President Klaus Iohannis and Commissioner Thierry Breton underscored the need to pay adequate attention to security issues related to the future of the digital environment, where cybersecurity issues and the approach to misinformation are major priorities. Thus, President Klaus Iohannis mentioned that our country is committed to ensuring the operationalization of the European Competence Centre on Cyber Security, hosted by Romania, underscoring the importance of constant dialogue and cooperation at the level of the European Commission in this regard.According to the Presidential Administration, European Commissioner Thierry Breton appreciated the involvement of President Iohannis in the joint efforts to consolidate the European project.Thierry Breton also mentioned that the European Commission's efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic would continue and called for the proper use by Member States of the tools and mechanisms created within the Union.The European Commissioner emphasized that considerable efforts are being made at EU level to prevent and counter misinformation, including in the online environment, stating that information sharing and the exchange of good practice between Member States are key issues in this regard.
Chair of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday that he has learned from the public space that National Liberal Party (PNL) leader Florin Citu proposed Alexandru Rafila as prime minister, adding that he agrees with this option and will convince his colleagues that it is the best solution, agerpres reports.

"I understand that we have an option. Mr. Rafila. I totally agree. I learned from the public space that Mr. Florin Citu proposed to me Mr. Rafila. I assume, as president of the PSD, that I convince my colleagues to have Mr. Rafila as prime minister. If Mr. Citu made me this proposal, I announce that I agree. I heard in the public space from the ousted Prime Minister that he had proposed to me Mr. Rafila. I totally agree. I repeat, Mr. Florin Citu said in the public space that he proposed Mr. Rafila and I refused. I'm letting him know that I am not refusing this proposal, it means that we have a prime minister whom we have agreed upon," Ciolacu said at the PSD headquarters.

The chairman of the National Liberal Party, Florin Citu, said on Wednesday that, in discussions with the leaders of the PSD and the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), he proposed to Marcel Ciolacu that Alexandru Rafila be prime minister, but Ciolacu did not agree.
Crown Custodian Margareta on Wednesday called for national responsibility and pleaded for a "broad national dialogue" on "constitutional obstacles" that prevent Romania's political system from functioning "properly."

"Mr Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,

Your Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

As some of you may be aware, the tradition of this yearly meeting with the Diplomatic Corps in our capital city goes back to the days of Carol I in the 19th century and was revived by my late Father after the fall of the communist dictatorship.

In deciding to reinstate this yearly event, my Father not only aimed to remind all Romanians of our own traditions of decent dialogue and respect for diplomatic protocol; he also saw this yearly event as an opportunity to address broader questions about Romanias role and global presence.

Prince Radu and I are determined to continue upholding this tradition, and I am particularly grateful to see you all this year, which marks the centennial of my Fathers birth, a century during which Romania went from the euphoria of the achievement of national unity after the First World War, to the disaster of the Second World War, the decades of misery of communist despotism that followed, and the period of hope and renewal after the end of the Cold War.

Every single one of the events commemorating King Michaels Centennial has touched me profoundly. Wherever I go throughout our land, my sense of pride is not only in the contribution my Father made to our nation, but also for the contributions which his generation of Romanians made. That generation is now slowly fading away, but it behoves us all never to forget the burden they shared and the contributions they made.

Mr Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,

Your Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

This year is, of course, unusual for other reasons as well, for although the pandemic has continued, we have also begun to see and feel our way out of this calamity. Much has been said about how our country performed and is performing during this humanitarian emergency. There are lessons we should draw at every level: there are questions about the efficiency of our administration, the state of our health services and the investment we put into them, as well as the ability of our state institutions to combat the wave of conspiracy theories and malicious rumours, which contribute to the relatively slow pace of our vaccination programme.

At the same time, we should also be careful about drawing too many conclusions, and too hastily: since this pandemic begun almost two years ago, many nations claimed to have discovered the most perfect way of dealing with the health crisis only to be confronted later with new calamities, other took pride in their supposedly good health statistics, only to admit later on that, sadly, their mortality figures were not that different from those suffered by their neighbours. So, while we must maintain our sense of self-criticism and look every day at how we are doing in meeting this challenge, we should also withhold our judgment until this crisis is truly over and we can offer a more balanced assessment of what has happened.

There are, however, several lessons for Romania which I would like to signal.

The first is that although  ironically  the initial response to the pandemic was the closure of borders, the suspension of international travel and a greater reliance on national supply chains, the crisis is a reminder of how interlinked and inter-dependent we really are.

Literally tens of thousands of Romanian doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff trained in our country have helped to save lives during this pandemic in other parts of Europe. But at the same time, it is also a fact that the financial assistance offered by our European Union partners and non-EU nations remains our key instrument in working our way out of the current crisis. Here is one perfect example of inter-dependence.

For me, the importance of European solidarity is one of the key lessons from the pandemic. It is not for me to express an opinion about some of the current political differences which preoccupy the European Union. But I would like to say that regardless of how significant these differences may seem to be, we should not lose sight of some basic facts.

All the nations that joined the European Union after the end of the Soviet domination continue to believe that we are stronger together as part of one Union. All are both beneficiaries and contributors to this Union. Of course, we do have our differences, and will continue doing so; families of democratic nations are noisy families. But Romania remains determined never to be an obstacle to this wider and deeper European Union. And most Romanians accept that the EU represents our best guarantee of prosperity and stability. Millions of my compatriots are scattered throughout the continent; the solid anchoring of Romania in Europe  a task that preoccupied my Father for most of His life  is now an accomplished fact.

The second lesson from the current crisis may also seem self-evident, only that it frequently goes unmentioned. Although the pandemic is rightly attracting all our attention now, the world does not stand still and, sadly, the security of our neighbourhood appears to be taking a turn for the worse. Over the past few weeks alone we have witnessed a deliberate attempt to challenge the status quo in Europe as created at the end of the Cold War.

The key reason our country remains determined to respect her obligations to continue spending at least 2 percent of our gross national product on our military is precisely because we take our defence responsibilities seriously. And in this respect, there have also been some impressively positive developments.

The unity of the NATO alliance is one such development. Last year, I was proud to meet our troops stationed in Poland, and to mark a century of close Polish-Romanian defence cooperation, one which remains the cornerstone of our regional security arrangements. I also wish to pay tribute to the British, Canadian and United States contributions to our security, just three out of many more non-EU nations that remain critical to safeguarding our independence.

And the other positive development was offered by the people of our region. Despite all the hostile propaganda, the people of the Republic of Moldova have elected leaders determined to assert their course of European integration. Despite all the difficulties of a brutal conflict that continues to kill soldiers and civilians, Ukraine maintains her democratic path.

The key task facing us is to consolidate these positive developments in the region, to ensure that they are irreversible, and that they lead to the prosperity and solidarity which people expect. This is not an act of charity, but a European necessity. I fear that, if we do not act rapidly, we will miss a historic opportunity and encourage aggressors into new adventures or catastrophic miscalculations.

For obvious reasons, Moldova will always have a special place in our hearts. But for what should also be obvious reasons, we need a new consensus throughout the trans-Atlantic alliance on how we should rebuff renewed efforts to destabilise our continent.

Yet probably the most important lesson from the current health crisis is on the importance of good governance and political maturity. We are only as strong as our national institutions, and only as efficient as our administration. The burden of our national defence depends not only on our soldiers and their weapon platforms, but also on our doctors and nurses, and their oxygen ventilators. And coordinating these efforts, ensuring that all entities play their roles, is the business of politicians.

I know, of course, that political fights are the essence of democracy. I also know that it is easy for someone like me to make appeals to national unity. But tonight, I would like to make a different appeal: one to NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. We cannot expect our close partners to take us seriously if we spend months without a government, and if ministers come and go monthly. We cannot expect voters to keep away from populist politicians if the existing politicians offer them nothing. Our private sector is vibrant, talented, and competent. But we cannot expect to return to the strong economic growth our nation needs if the only thing that our elected politicians and officials do is to bicker about the allocation of cabinet portfolios.

We need a broader national discussion on how to address the obvious constitutional obstacles which prevent our political system from functioning properly. We should not shy away from constitutional change: most of our key European partners not only talk about this all the time, but also periodically implement constitutional amendments.

But nor should we shy away from a demand and an expectation that our politicians should not only be incorruptible but should also act with a sense of national responsibility. This is not just the pursuit of an ideal; it is an absolute requirement. For, as the pandemic reminded us, bad administration literally costs lives.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished guests,

My Father led a life in which he never compromised on the principles he held dear but also never considered any duty as being beneath his dignity, if it helped his nation. I am determined to continue in his footsteps.

I would like to conclude by thanking you all for your presence, and for what you have all done and are doing to promote links between your country and ours. I know that on such occasions people prefer to emphasise the positive and set aside the negatives. I have defied that tradition tonight because I believe that only by acknowledging what pains us, we can adopt a positive outlook to the future.

I wish you all a better New Year! La multi ani!"
Interim Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca, had an official meeting on Thursday with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, visiting Romania, the two officials addressing topical issued on the EU agenda, such as the state of cooperation at European level for overcoming the health crisis, military mobility and cyber security.

According to a press release of the Ministry of National Defence sent to AGERPRES, European Commissioner Thierry Breton voiced his concern about the situation generated by COVID-19 in Romania and specified that the European executive provided the member states with all the necessary tools to stop the spread of the virus, such as vaccines, the green certificate, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

In this context, the Romanian Minister of Defence underscored the important role of the European institutions in combating the health crisis, thanking the European Commissioner for the support provided by the European Commission in combating the pandemic and pointed out the role of the Ministry of National Defence in supporting civil authorities.Nicolae Ciuca highlighted the role of the European Commission in carrying out some projects with a major impact on the defence field, such as military mobility, and stated that "the implementation of major infrastructure projects in Romania, with the support of the European Commission, will contribute to improving military mobility with a major impact at the Black Sea, a relevant area for European security, including in the context of recent developments in the Union's Eastern vicinity."Discussions on cyber security highlighted the synergistic role of the member states and the Commission in implementing the EU Cyber Security Strategy and the positive impact of civil-military cooperation, including in the context of the making operational the European Cyber Security Center in Bucharest. The discussions highlighted the relevance of the field within the wider efforts to define the level of ambition of the EU in the field of security and defence, by adopting a new programmatic document (Strategic Compass), states the Ministry of National Defence.The European Commissioner emphasized the EC's emphasis on cybersecurity and outer space, areas where the Strategic Compass needs to provide concrete benchmarks, such as creating an integrated cyber incident response capability (Joint Cyber Unit), using, in an integrated manner, the instruments available at European level and in the member states, are also shown in the quoted press release.
Mexico reopened on Thursday its honorary consulate in Cluj-Napoca, an event that was marked by the presence of the Mexican ambassador to Romania, Jose Guillermo Ordorica Robles, and Mexico's new honorary consul in Cluj, entrepreneur Dorin Zagrean.

"We are here to introduce the new honorary consul, Dorin Zagrean. (...) From the point of view of the Mexicans, we are far from Romania, but we are very close in heart. We are two countries that share values and criteria that we follow, such as the democratic principle, freedom, free trade, the rule of law and respect for human rights. We are countries that attach importance to international organisations in solving problems and identifying solutions in this globalised world. Both Romania and Mexico share the same conviction that in fact we can live in this world only if we respect these rights of coexistence and human rights," said the Mexican ambassador to Romania.

He mentioned the history of bilateral relations between Mexico and Romania."There are 86 years of Mexico-Romania bilateral relations. During all this time, both historically and legally, we have managed to create relations allowing us to follow the same path together (...) Mexico recognises in Romania a partner and a reliable friend. Romania is to us a gateway to the European space, a privileged gate from an Eastern perspective," added Ordorica Robles.In his turn, the new honorary consul, Dorin Zagrean, said that he will get involved in the development of relations on multiple levels between the two countries, especially with Transylvania and Cluj."I want to thank the ambassador very much for his presentation; at the same time I want to thank him for the trust he has placed in me by appointing me to this honorable position. Of course, this position involves a lot of work, knowledge, and I am convinced that together with the ambassador and with support from the embassy in general we will accomplish some beautiful things. Now we are writing the front page in the history of Mexico's collaboration with Cluj and the area we are responsible for as a consulate. I am sure that we will be able to develop serious relations between the Mexican business community and the Romanian business community; culture is a very important component to us," said Zagrean.Part of the Mexican ambassador's visit to Cluj-Napoca was also a meeting with Cluj-Napoca Mayor Emil Boc.
Romania's General Anti-Corruption Directorate (DGA) announced on Thursday having signed a co-operation protocol with Poland's Central Anti-Corruption Bureau to exchange experience and good practices in combating and preventing corruption.

"The Director General of the General Anti-Corruption Directorate, Liviu Vasilescu, and the Director of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) of Poland, Andrzej Strozny, signed on Thursday in Warsaw a cooperation protocol between the General Anti-Corruption Directorate of Romania's Interior Ministry and the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau on Poland in the area of corruption prevention," DGA reported on Thursday in a press statement.

The objective of the co-operation protocol is the exchange of experience and good practices of combatting and preventing corruption, developing and implementing measures and assessment mechanisms, as well as conducting regular meetings at expert level, based on reciprocity, on subjects of common interest.At the same time, providing seminars and training courses are considered, as well as joint implementation of projects carried out by the EU and other programmes funded by international financial grants."Practically, the signing of this bilateral co-operation document is particularly important as we need to expand the exchange of experience with entities that can support the further consolidation of the professional resources of the General Anti-Corruption Directorate."Co-operation with the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) was initiated in 2011 and continued over the years with exchanges of information and best practices, training sessions, participation in various conferences and events, in working groups and annual conferences organised under the aegis of EPAC/EACN (European Partners against Corruption/European Anti-corruption Network), European networks of which both are full members."Given the need to establish co-operation relationships with counterpart entities in other European Union countries and beyond, the Anti-Corruption Directorate-General has so far signed eight co-operation documents in the areas of preventing and combating corruption with similar entities in all countries. These bilateral co-operation documents are flexible working tools, especially for operational cases, and also for preventive actions."
The President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, on Thursday underscored, during the meeting with Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, the importance of the vaccine in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The European Commission has made the Sars-CoV-2 vaccine available to us less than a year after the outbreak of the pandemic. We have at our disposal the most important tool to end this pandemic. For this we thank Commissioner Thierry Breton, who is discussing the issue of the low vaccinate rate in out country with Romanian officials these day. Thierry Breton assured us that the Commission's efforts remain focused on the EU's health and economic recovery. However, we need to make more efforts to increase the vaccination rate in our country so as to eliminate the barrier to the recovery of the economy," Dragu wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

According to Anca Dragu, "we have the support of the EU, we have the best tool to fight the virus," but we must "also have the will to contribute to the well-being of public health and, implicitly, of our national economy."
The Government's Department for Sustainable Development will receive the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) award for innovation and excellence in public service at a gala in December in the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai, agerpres reports.

According to a statement from the Department for Sustainable Development issued on Thursday, each year, UN DESA recognizes excellence in public service by rewarding the creative achievements and contributions of public institutions to a more efficient and responsive public administration in countries around the world.

Of the 193 UN member states and 63 countries listed in the category "Increasing the efficiency of public institutions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals," the Department for Sustainable Development was named the winner."We have dared to believe in a Sustainable Romania and this is how all our efforts in the last 4 years in the field of sustainable development are officially recognized by the most important international organization in the world. Our path to a sustainable future does not stop here. We are also motivated to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda in Romania. The fruitfulness of all the achievements of the Department depends on the efforts of each of us, in daily life. Only through combined efforts, conscious and sustainable choices can we achieve the prosperity we desire for the future generations," State Councilor Laszlo Borbely, coordinator of the Department for Sustainable Development, was quoted as saying.The United Public Service Forum 2021 will take place this year in Dubai from 13 to 15 December, with the theme "Innovating the future of public service: new governance models for a new era to achieve sustainable development goals."The Department for Sustainable Development was invited to participate in the awards ceremony, but also in five workshops aimed at presenting good practices and developing the skills needed to design concrete actions to accelerate progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals over the next decade.Laszlo Borbely will also represent our country at the Ministerial Roundtable where emerging issues and trends, strategies, actions and innovative approaches to providing efficient services and transforming institutions will be discussed.The Department for Sustainable Development will promote the award-winning initiative and Romania's actions to involve each segment of society in implementing the 2030 Agenda in Romania in a holistic manner during a presentation stand during the three days of the forum, the same press release said.
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, will pay an official visit to Bucharest on Thursday, on which occasion he will be welcomed by President Klaus Iohannis, and will meet with the Acting ministers of Health and Defense, informs the Representation of the European Commission in Bucharest, agerpres reports.

The European Commissioner will also participate in a press conference with the head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), Raed Arafat and the coordinator of the vaccination campaign in Romania, Valeriu Gheorghita.

It is important for me to come, personally, to Bucharest to discuss with the political leaders in Romania especially about the worrying situation generated by COVID-19. Once winter comes, the low vaccination rate puts the health of Romanian citizens - of all ages and social categories - at risk. This risk also represents a barrier to the full recovery of Romania and the EU as a whole, the European Commissioner said, according to the Representation's release.According to the Brussels official, "Europe has provided safe and effective vaccines in record time - Romania has everything necessary to use them, to fight against the reluctance to vaccinate and to stop the spread of the virus." Thus, "the effort of all interested parties - Government, health professionals, NGOs and citizens - should be encouraged - I look forward to these productive meetings".The European Commissioner meets at 9:00 a.m. with the Acting Minister of Health, Cseke Attila, then with the Acting Minister of Defense, Nicolae Ciuca, at 10:00, and from 12:00 o'clock he will have a press conference with the DSU chief Raed Arafat and the coordinator of the vaccination campaign, Valeriu Gheorghita.At 13:00 he will be welcomed by president Klaus Iohannis, and at 14:00 he will be meeting with the joint Parliamentary Committees of Industry, European Affairs and Health.
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In northern Israel (Golan Heights) mine clearing efforts recently discovered an underground Syrian ammo bunker dating back to the 1960s, which went undiscovered by Israel after they captured the Golan Heights in 1967. The bunker contained hundreds of explosive items, including mortar shells, fuzes, flares, shotgun shells and various other types of small arms ammo. The entrance to the bunker was apparently covered over by the heavy artillery fire the area suffered in the 1967 war and the Syrians never gave the Israelis information on minefields or underground ammo bunkers they left behind. In 1967 it became apparent that there were a lot of explosive surprises hidden beneath the Golan Heights battlefield, which again saw heavy combat in 1973.

Israel began a major operation in 2012 to find and remove the last of these landmines and other undiscovered explosive items. In the last nine years nearly 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) have been scrutinized and cleared of remaining explosive items. This sort of thing is still a major problem in the Middle East, where there are always new conflicts, usually not involving Israel, that leave behind more unexploded munitions. Israeli neighbors Egypt and Jordan still have uncleared areas and the Libyan border with Egypt is another place where mines remain uncleared.

A recent example is Yemen, where a civil war has been going on for seven years. Even before the current conflict began in 2014, abandoned landmines from past conflicts had been a Yemen problem for decades. In early 2018 Saudi Arabia began another major effort to remove landmines and unexploded munitions from Yemen. Since then, over 190,000 mines and unexploded munitions have been removed. There is still a lot of work to do because the Yemen Shia rebels, whose 2014 rebellion triggered another civil war, have planted over half a million landmines since then and retrieved few of them when no longer needed.

The Shia rebels received Iranian technical advice and components to build their own anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines. In addition, the rebels have put dozens of Iranian naval mines into the Red Sea to disrupt ship traffic to Saudi ports and the Suez Canal. Mine clearance will go on for years after the fighting stops and there is no end in sight for the fighting because Iran continues to get weapons and advisors through to the Shia rebels.

The outbreak of the Shia rebellion in 2014 put an end to an existing 15-year mine-clearing effort. By the end of that effort in 2014 five of the 21 provinces were declared free of landmines and several more were nearly clear. During the civil wars of the 1990s the landscape was littered with over 500,000 landmines and unexploded munitions. In 1999, a clearing effort was started and by 2014 over 300,000 mines and other explosive items have been found and disposed of. Since 1999, mines and other explosive items have killed nearly 4,000 people. It was obvious that there was still a lot of work to do in 2014 because in 2013 over 700 people had been killed or wounded by mines (mostly) and other explosive items.

Even before the 2014 war broke out, rebel Shia tribesmen in the north were planting new mines to keep security forces and rival tribesmen at bay, while in the south al Qaeda used locally made mines to protect some of its rural hideouts. Since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings overthrew the Yemeni government, the perpetually troublesome Shia tribes up north became more violent, demanding a return of the autonomy they had enjoyed and abused, but lost in the 1960s. Al Qaeda became more active in Yemen after their expulsion from Saudi Arabia in 2004.

All the violence after 2011 disrupted clearing operations, in addition to putting new mines and other nasty stuff into the ground. Even before the current civil war broke out in 2014 it was estimated that it would take another decade of mine clearing effort before all the pre-2014 mines and explosives were found and cleared. Now the estimates are for two or three decades, depending on how much longer the current fighting continues.

This sort of thing was not supposed to happen because landmines were outlawed by the Ottawa Convention, an international treaty that went into force during 1999. There was a flaw in that effort because it mainly applied to nations that didn't have landmines or didn't have any reason to use them. Rebels and gangsters have not signed the international agreement and find the mines a cheap way to control civilian populations and slow down the movements of the security forces. It takes more time, money, and effort to remove these mines than to place them.

The most effective way to get the mine clearing done is by training local volunteers for part-time mine clearing teams. The government must provide training, pay, which should be good by local standards, and health and life insurance. When a new bunch of mines are found, usually by an animal coming across them, the team gets to work.

Despite efforts like this, it has not been a promising time for those seeking to enforce the ban on the use of landmines. Since 2010 Israel, Libya, Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar (Burma) planted new mines. In addition, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan are still manufacturing landmines. Arms dealers can still provide large quantities of Russian and Chinese landmines, many of them Cold War surplus. China, Russia, and other communist nations were major producers of landmines during the Cold War. The mines were produced not just for use against potential enemies but to aid in keeping the borders closed and prevent their own citizens from fleeing to some less nasty country.

A growing list of outlaw organizations have been ignoring the 1999 landmines ban. The Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan are manufacturing landmines in primitive workshops and using them against Pakistani troops and Afghans in general, foreign soldiers and anyone who refuses to support the Islamic terrorist group. This curse spread to Yemen in the 1990s. After 2014 landmine casualties in Yemen nearly doubled, to about 1,200 a year. That decreased once the Saudi mine clearing effort began, if only because during the initial stage of the Saudi effort a lot of data was collected on areas known to have mines and unexploded munitions. After 2014 the Saudi-led Arab coalition, which entered Yemen in 2015, added more unexploded munitions, but no mines, to the older ones.

Despite the 1999 treaty, landmines were still causing over 5,000 casualties a year worldwide before 2014 and over 6,000 since then. About 20 percent of the victims are killed and 90 percent of them are males. This is largely because men are more likely to be out in the bush or working farmlands that still contain mines. A third of the casualties are security personnel (police and soldiers). This is because in many countries rebels and criminals are still using landmines, either factory-made ones from countries that did not sign the Ottawa Convention or locally made models.

Landmines are simple to make and workshops are easily set up to do it. There's no shortage of mines out there, even though in the first few years after the 1999 Ottawa Convention over 25 million landmines, in the arsenals of over fifty nations, were destroyed. But most of these nations were not users and rarely sold them either. Those who want landmines find ways to obtain and use them. Yemen Shia rebels are the latest group to demonstrate this. Leftist rebels in Colombia have been making their own mines for years now, as have Islamic and communist rebels in the Philippines. There are believed to be over 100 million mines still in the ground and at least as many in military warehouses for future use.

The 1999 Ottawa Convention was supposed to have reduced landmine casualties among civilians. It hasn't worked because the owners of the largest landmine stockpiles, Russia, and China, refused to sign. Chinese landmines are still available on the international arms black market. China is believed to have the largest stockpile, mostly of anti-personnel mines. The old ones are often sold before they become dangerously unreliable. But even these mines, which go for $5-10 each, are too expensive for many of the criminal organizations that buy them. Land mines, competitive with the factory-built ones from China, can be built for less than three dollars each. You can find all the technical data you need on the Internet.

Anti-vehicle mines are increasingly popular and are particularly common in poor countries where there are still a lot of dirt roads traveled by buses and trucks, carrying dozens of passengers each. While these mines are usually intended for military vehicles, mines can't tell the difference. As a result, in this year or next, Yemen may have the largest number of annual mine casualties in the world.
November 18, 2021: Local officials in the northwest (Niger state) claim that more Boko Haram gunmen have been arriving and have taken control of five villages. A security task force is being organized to eliminate that Boko Haram problem. For over a decade Niger State has seen increasing tribal violence and banditry. Both usually involve Fulani tribesmen, who have been active in raiding throughout northern and central Nigeria for generations. The violence is mainly about land use disputes between the nomadic Fulani herders and local farmers. The banditry and raiding are often opportunistic, with locals taking advantage of the chaos, which keeps the security forces occupied, to steal cattle to raid a remote village of another tribe and carry off anything portable of value.

In the last five years the fatalities from this tribal violence have exceeded those caused by Boko Haram, which suffered obvious and massive defeats between 2015 and 2017. That eliminated Boko Haram control of any territory and the group has been surviving through banditry ever since. Boko Haram suffered even greater losses from internal battles. In 2015 a large portion of Boko Haram declared itself part of ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) as ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province). In 2018 a smaller ISIL group ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara) occasionally showed up in Borno.

Since 2016, declines in Islamic terrorist violence and growth of tribal violence made the tribal feuds more of a security problem than Islamic terrorism. That trend has continued and Boko Haram or ISWAP efforts to establish themselves anywhere in the country fail. In Borno State there continue to be a lot of surrenders by Boko Haram members who are starving and done with the outlaw life. A major cause of this is more effective military leadership in the northeast as well as more aerial surveillance and airstrikes provided by a re-energized air force. Boko Haram and ISWAP are still fighting each other as well as accusing each other of sabotaging the jihad (struggle) to defend Islam.

In northern and central Nigeria, tribal violence and attendant banditry have been present for centuries. This violence grows or declines depending on how the regional economy is doing, plus Islamic terrorist violence and continued government corruption and mismanagement limit economic progress and keep the tribal feuds going.

Islamic terrorists are most active in parts of the northeast where Boko Haram has driven away most of the population. This is especially true in northern Borno State, between the capital Maiduguri and Lake Chad. Most of the remaining population have armed militias and reliable police and soldiers nearby. Foreign and Nigerian economists agree that this area has suffered an economic collapse and that recovery has been slow because of the continued presence of Islamic terrorist raiders. Since 2018 the Lake Chad region, especially northern Borno but also portions of neighboring Adamawa and Kaduna states, have seen a 50 percent decline in economic activity since 2018. Northeastern areas where Boko Haram has not shown up have shown economic declines of 10-14 percent.

Boko Haram must travel farther to find a vulnerable place to raid and plunder, which often means outside of Borno. That keeps the remaining Boko Haram men busy most of the time, yet they still have local fans in the north, just not in the north.

A side effect of this is that millions of people still in the north near Lake Chad are not getting regular deliveries of food and other essentials. A growing number of people are going hungry and unless the government does something more people are going to flee their homes for areas where food is available.

Oil Production Disgrace

Because of declines in Nigerian production, Libya became the largest oil producer in Africa, with 1.24 million BPD (barrels per day) last month. Meanwhile Nigerian production fell by nearly 40 percent in the last 18 months to 1.23 million BPD in October. During the first three months of 2020 Nigerian oil production reached two million BPD. That was up a bit from the last three months of 2019. During 2019 production declined. Daily production in 2019 was 2.32 million BPD, up from 2018 (2.09 million BPD) and 2017 (2.03 million BPD). For 2020 production was expected to be a little lower (2.18 million BPD) to allow for needed oil field rehabilitation work to proceed. Those predictions did not consider covid19 and subsequent lower demand worldwide. For the rest of 2020 the worldwide economic impact of covid19 will probably hurt Nigeria with GDP shrinking by three percent or so.

Normally the largest producers in Africa are Nigeria, Angola and Libya. Angola suffers from some of the same corruption and internal violence problems as Nigeria and for October is in third place behind Libya and Nigeria.

Given the investments in oil production, mainly by foreign companies, Nigeria can produce 4 million BPD. That has not happened. The reasons are continuing problems with oil theft gangs and repair/maintenance backlogs, especially of the pipelines, in the Niger River Delta. Then there are the decades of government inability to deal with these problems. That led to a growing number of foreign oil companies selling their Nigerian assets and going elsewhere. In effect, it is more profitable to do business in other countries. For example, in 2020 it cost $23 per barrel to produce oil in Nigeria but without all the violence and corruption that could be $15 a barrel or less. The new oil production firms will demand better terms from Nigeria meaning less oil income for the government. The effort to explore for oil in the Moslem north is also crippled by the bad reputation Nigeria has when it comes to foreign oil companies.

November 16, 2021: In the southeast (Taraba State) armed Cameroonians crossed the border and attacked several villages, killing a local chief and several villagers and setting fire to the villages. The attackers were believed to be members of the Cameroonian separatist Ambazonia organization. It is unclear why the Ambazonia gunmen invaded Nigeria. Taraba state is not part of the separatist Biafra. This is important because back in 2018 that leaders of the separatist IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) group and a similar Ambazonia separatist organization across the border in Cameroon met and agreed to cooperate and support each other in their shared goals of more autonomy for Igbo in Nigeria and the minority English-speaking people in Cameroon, where most people use French as a common national language.

The close links between Igbo separatists and nearby like-minded Anglophone (English speaking) Cameroonian separatists has grown during the last decade as both separatist movements grew despite efforts of local political and military forces to shut down these increasingly violent movements.

The Nigerian Igbo want a separate Igbo state of Biafra, while the Cameroonians want a separate state of Ambazonia, consisting of terrain in southwest Cameroon dominated by the English-speaking minority of largely Francophone (French speaking) Cameroon. Unlike Biafra, which has never existed legally, Ambazonia was separate from French speaking Cameroon as one of the two former German colonies that France and Britain administered from 1919 (the end of World War I) until 1961 when it was agreed by Britain, France and the UN that the two Cameroons could either merge as one Cameroon or the smaller (and less economically developed) Ambazonia could choose to join either Nigeria or Cameroon as one of the federal states each nation was using for their new governments. Most Ambazonia would have preferred to be an independent state. Ambazonia was considered too small (42,000 square kilometers), poor and sparsely populated (under a million people) for independence. French Cameroon offered more autonomy and economic assistance and that persuaded most to vote for joining Cameroon. The language difference was not believed to be a problem because the English speakers tend to treat the language as a tool, not something more. The Ambazonians soon discovered that adopting the French language meant a more hostile attitude towards other languages, especially English. By 1972 the French speaking majority removed most of Ambazonias autonomy and were vigorously trying to get the Ambazonians to adopt French. That caused more resentment and by the 1980s the two million Ambazonians were getting more enthusiastic about regaining their autonomy, or even independence. Now there are nearly four million Ambazonians and they have a substantial separatist movement going.

November 15, 2021: In the southeast, local politicians told the federal government that the best, and most possible, solution to the Biafra and the Igbo separatist movement threat was to offer some autonomy instead. The Biafra (separatist) movement was revived in 2015 and at first the government ordered police to crack down. By 2016 nearly 200 Igbo had been killed by police attacks on demonstrators and anyone suspected of separatist activity. The violent response was obviously making it worse and after 2018 a gentler approach was tried.

The pro-Biafra separatists have been around and increasingly active since the 1990s. Back in the 1960s the Igbo (or Ibo) people of southeastern Nigeria considered establishing a separate Igbo state called Biafra. A brutal war followed before the separatist movement was crushed and the Igbo were warned not to try it again. Separatist attitudes were silenced but not extinguished. Pro-Biafra groups began to appear again in the late 1990s, trying to revive the separatist movement. Since then, over a thousand separatists have been killed, and many more imprisoned, while the government continues to insist that Biafra is gone forever. But as details of the extent of government corruption during the last few decades came out, Biafra again seemed like something worth fighting for. Senior government officials, including president Buhari, are paying attention, and seeking to work out a compromise with the Igbos. The Fulani are less amenable to any compromise, especially since the Fulani are Moslem and consider themselves defenders of Islam against non-believers like the Christian Igbo.

In response to the threats of violence, a major pro-Biafra organization IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) took the lead in protecting Igbo from anti-Biafra violence. In areas where peaceful defense measures do not work IPOB formed an armed security component, the ESN (Eastern Security Network), to defend Igbos in Imo State from Fulani and government violence. The government has responded by sending a battalion of infantry to an area thought to be a base for ESN members. This was unpopular with the locals as Nigerian soldiers are notorious for their violent behavior. These troops had been ordered to behave but that proved difficult for them to do so in the face of Igbo contempt and hostility.

November 13, 2021: In the northeast (Borno State) Brigadier General Zirkushi, who commanded a successful army task-force, was ambushed and killed, along with three soldiers, by ISWAP gunmen. This was believed to be a revenge attack because the task force had recently killed an ISWAP commander. More likely it was just a coincidence because Zirkushi was constantly moving about to check on operations. He was popular with his troops and senior political leaders for demonstrating what good leadership could accomplish. Thats one reason why the task force launched a search for those who killed Zirkushi and killed another ISWAP leader along with over two dozen other ISWAP members.

November 4, 2021: On the southern (Gulf of Guinea) coast the navy has concentrated 13 armed ships, two helicopters and 1,50o personnel for an anti-piracy exercise. Ocean going patrol vessels from Britain and France are also taking part. This exercise was already scheduled before the September announcement by International ship owners associations declaring the Gulf of Guinea a HRA (High Risk Area). In fact this is one of the largest HRAs in the world, with about 3.2 million square kilometers (910,000 square miles) involved. Within this HRA the piracy risk is rising, yet Nigeria reports that piracy incidents had declined 77 percent in 2021 compared to 2020. There have been sharp drops in piracy before, which did not last and the piracy returned. The new Gulf of Guinea HRA accounts for about a third of piracy incidents worldwide, including those that involve kidnapping senior crew and taking them ashore to hidden camps where they are held until a ransom is paid. If the piracy problem discourages enough foreign ships from using Gulf of Guinea ports, the nations involved, especially Nigeria, will have to cooperate with the growing number of nations sending patrol ships to operate in international waters to assist ships under attack by giving those ships another source of assistance when they send out a distress call.
Collaboration with Leading Authority on SOI Technologies Will Explore the Commercial Potential of Acorn Process Manufacturing Innovations in RF Applications

LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Acorn Technologies, a groundbreaking innovator in the semiconductor and telecommunications markets since 1998, today announced a research collaboration with Jean-Pierre Raskin, PhD, a full professor at the Universite catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium's largest French-speaking university. Acorn is funding a research project led by Professor Raskin to assess and quantify the performance potential of the companys Acorn Buried Stressor (ABS) technology for RF semiconductor manufacturing.

As todays system and circuit designers approach the limits of Moores Law, Acorn is addressing some of the semiconductor industrys most significant technology roadblocks through multiple commercialization programs. Acorns ABS is a proprietary semiconductor strain technology that boosts performance for both legacy and future fully depleted Silicon-on-Insulator (FD-SOI) devices.

FD-SOI technology is a planar process developed to shrink silicon geometries, improve performance and reduce power, thereby extending Moore's Law without requiring more complicated manufacturing processes. ABS extends the performance and efficiency of ultra-high frequency RF FD-SOI transistors that operate in the hundreds of gigahertz and are essential for 5G and future 6G communications devices. ABS can also be applied to Acorns patented germanium laser technology, which provides a silicon-compatible solution for monolithic photonics-on-a-chip to overcome performance-limiting interconnect bottlenecks that cause excessive power consumption.

Acorns ABS technology holds great promise for the semiconductor industry as a novel technique for enhancing the performance of FD-SOI devices, said Professor Jean-Pierre Raskin. I look forward to working closely with Acorns engineering team as we evaluate and quantify the capabilities of ABS for potential commercial use in a wide range of RF applications.

A world-renowned expert in RF and FD-SOI technologies, Professor Raskin has collaborated with many of the worlds top semiconductor companies in multiple research projects. He has pioneered important breakthroughs that have been adopted by the FD-SOI sector of the semiconductor industry as an alternative to FinFET technology, with a focus on low-power mobile chipsets used in smartphones and other mobile connected devices.

We are honored to collaborate with Professor Raskin as we explore the benefits of applying ABS to accelerate the performance of RF devices manufactured with FD-SOI technology, said Tom Horgan, CEO of Acorn. We believe Professor Raskin and his distinguished UCLouvain research team will add tremendous value to Acorns efforts to commercialize process manufacturing innovations for the benefit of the entire semiconductor industry.

ABS technology can provide a 15 to 25 percent performance boost for RF FD-SOI devices by increasing the electron mobility through strain. This is accomplished without performance trade-offs and without adverse effects such as yield-threatening semiconductor layer defects. As RF transistors are now reaching the limits of geometric scaling, further improvements will only come from materials enhancement technologies such as ABS, said Paul Clifton, VP of semiconductor technologies at Acorn. Our research project with Professor Raskin will provide invaluable insights as we expand the commercial application of ABS in FD-SOI for next-generation radio technologies including advanced 5G, mmWave and future 6G opportunities.

About Jean-Pierre Raskin

Jean-Pierre Raskin has contributed to groundbreaking scientific research demonstrating that Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology can enable affordable, high-performance mobile devices. His findings led to the advent of RF-SOI technology, which has been widely adopted by the global microelectronics industry. The author or co-author of more than 350 scientific articles, Professor Raskin is an IEEE Fellow, an EuMA associate member, and a member of the Research Center in Micro and Nanoscopic Materials and Electronic Devices at the Universite catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), where he has been a full professor since 2007. He received an industrial engineer degree from the Institut Superieur Industriel dArlon and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in applied sciences from UCLouvain.

About Acorn Technologies Inc.

Acorn Technologies is a product-oriented company that has been providing groundbreaking innovations for the semiconductor and telecom markets since 1998. Through its subsidiaries Acorn Semi and PHY Wireless, Acorn Technologies delivers innovative IP cores, algorithms, processes, and products that address the fundamental building blocks of high-performance mobile computing, wireless, and IoT semiconductor devices. www.acorntech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211116005903/en/

Media Contact:

Green Flash Media

Jeremy Hyatt

pr@gflashmedia.com

Source: Acorn Technologies Inc.
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atlas Salt (the Company or Atlas - TSXV: SALT) is pleased to provide an update on its 100%-owned Fischells Brook Salt Dome in western Newfoundland, approximately 15 km south of the Companys flagship Great Atlantic Salt Project.

Highlights:

Given the rapidly growing interest in green hydrogen, energy storage and the renewable energy sector in general, driven in part by supportive policy actions by provincial, state and federal governments, Atlas management is aggressively proceeding with a planned spinout of its 100%-owned Fischells Brook Salt Dome for its underground energy storage potential. In managements view, the location and volume potential of this salt dome combine to make it an advantaged asset in Atlantic Canada as the clean energy transition gathers momentum;

The proposed spinout is being strategized in a way that aims to maximize value for both the Company and shareholders (i.e., Atlas would be a significant shareholder of SPINCO while also providing a dividend for Atlas shareholders in the form of SPINCO shares on a Date of Record yet to be determined);

Atlas is nearing completion of a ground gravity survey at Fischells Brook. This program is a key step toward quantifying the technical characteristics of Fischells which will underpin a development strategy for the new company and solicitation of partnerships with entities operating in this industry. Atlas has added 75 square kilometres to its landholdings in the general vicinity of Fischell's Brook, as disclosed in May 13, 2021 news release, to cover other strategic ground that will complement this asset;

This program is a key step toward quantifying the technical characteristics of Fischells which will underpin a development strategy for the new company and solicitation of partnerships with entities operating in this industry. Atlas has added 75 square kilometres to its landholdings in the general vicinity of Fischell's Brook, as disclosed in May 13, 2021 news release, to cover other strategic ground that will complement this asset; Mr. Paul Larkin, who has an extensive background in the renewable energy sector, has joined a newly-created Atlas Advisory Board established to help unlock the full value of the Fischells Brook asset for Atlas and its shareholders;

Energy storage is a key component to deliver clean energy transition. With climate change and associated green environmental policies driving significant investment toward alternate energy sources and global carbon emission reduction, underground storage will play an important role in Canada's energy future.

Mr. Patrick Laracy, Atlas CEO, commented: Completion of the gravity survey at Fischells Brook is a major step forward with this spinout initiative and will accelerate the process. We eagerly anticipate the results of this survey as it will give us a valuable digital high-resolution dataset of the deposit whose limits have yet to be defined. Large salt domes provide a gravity signature which can be modelled three dimensionally in the subsurface. These data will underpin the geotechnical storage evaluation.

Mr. Laracy continued, We welcome Paul Larkin to our team. He is a great addition as we leverage the opportunity at Fischells Brook. His vast experience in the capital markets and the renewable energy sector will aid us immensely in strategizing this spinout and setting up this new company for success. Currently a director of a Vancouver-based renewable energy royalties company, Paul was a co-founder of U.S. Geothermal, a leading geothermal renewable energy company that was sold to Ormat Technologies in 2018 for $200 million (U.S.).

PRmediaNow Interview With Patrick Laracy

That is one huge potential storage opportunity: Atlas Salt CEO Patrick Laracy discusses this news release with PRmediaNows Cyndi Edwards - click on the link below to view.

Patrick Laracy Interview

Options Granted

Mr. Paul Larkin of the Atlas Advisory Board has been granted 100,000 incentive stock options, exercisable at $1.30, for a period of five years subject to TSXV approval.

Newfoundland & Labrador Hydrogen Potential

A recently completed study commissioned by the Offshore Energy Research Association (OERA) in partnership with Natural Resources Canada concluded that Newfoundland and Labrador bring unique energy resources to the mix that enables greater potential for hydrogen production than the other Atlantic provinces. Newfoundland and Labradors abundant hydroelectric power, wind, and oil and gas resources position it to become a major producer of hydrogen to serve domestic demand as well as other provinces in Canada and international markets with the most probable markets being the Northeast United States or Europe.

A map accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a74ba54-58c2-4951-b38d-e82af28860bd

Qualified Person

Patrick J. Laracy, P.Geo, and CEO is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical contents of this news release as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About Atlas Salt

Bringing the Power of SALT to Investors: Atlas Salt owns 100% of the Great Atlantic salt deposit strategically located in western Newfoundland in the middle of the robust eastern North America road salt market. The project features a large homogeneous high-grade resource. Atlas also owns the Fischells Brook Salt Dome with plans to spin out that asset into a separate company as a potential renewable energy storage opportunity.

We seek Safe Harbor.

For information, please contact:

Patrick J. Laracy, CEO MarketSmart Communications Inc. (709) 754-3186 Adrian Sydenham laracy@atlassalt.ca Toll-free: 1-877-261-4466 AtlasSalt.ca Email: info@marketsmart.ca

Not for release in the United States or to U.S. newswire services

The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ from the Companys expectations. Certain risk factors beyond the Companys control may affect the actual results achieved. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Fischells Brook Salt Dome Location Fischells Brook Salt Dome Location

Source: Atlas Salt Inc.
FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta and Facebook logo are placed on laptop keyboard in this illustration taken on November 2, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday that a federal court should allow an antitrust lawsuit it filed against Facebook to go forward as the company has "interfered with the competitive process by targeting nascent threats through exclusionary conduct."

In August the FTC refreshed its antitrust case against Facebook, now Meta Platforms, adding detail on the accusation the social media company crushed or bought rivals and asking a judge to force it to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.

The lawsuit represents one of the most significant challenges the FTC has brought against a tech company in decades, and is being closely watched as Washington aims to tackle Big Tech's extensive market power.

In a filing with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the FTC said that for more than a decade, Facebook's market share - for example, more than 70% of daily active users - exceed the levels needed to establish monopoly power.

It said that Facebook sought to maintain its monopoly position by buying photo-sharing app Instagram and secure messaging app WhatsApp.

Meta disagreed.

"The FTC has once again brought a monopolization case without a monopolist. Its claims ignore the reality that people have more choices than ever before in how they share, connect, and communicate, and its second complaint should be dismissed just like the first," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.

The FTC also argued that Facebook was wrong to ask that Chair Lina Khan be recused from voting to approve the amended complaint. The FTC said it was originally filed before she was nominated to the commission and it would be the court, not the commission, which decided the case.

Facebook had said that Khan prejudged the case because of her previous work.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz and Chris Sanders, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Grant McCool)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded Intuitive Machines of Houston a contract to deliver research, including science investigations and a technology demonstration, to the Moon in 2024. The commercial delivery is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and the Artemis program.

The investigations aboard Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander are destined for Reiner Gamma, one of the most distinctive and enigmatic natural features on the Moon. Known as a lunar swirl, Reiner Gamma is on the western edge of the Moon, as seen from Earth, and is one of the most visible lunar swirls. Scientists continue to learn what lunar swirls are, how they form, and their relationship to the Moon's magnetic field.

"This delivery to the Moon will help the U.S. expand our capabilities and learn more about this interesting region," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "Observing lunar swirls can give us information about the Moon's radiation environment and perhaps how to mitigate its effects. With more and more science and technology demonstrations on the lunar surface, we can help prepare for sustainable astronaut missions through Artemis."

Intuitive Machines will receive $77.5 million for the contract and is responsible for end-to-end delivery services, including payload integration, delivery from Earth to the surface of the Moon, and payload operations. This is Intuitive Machines' third task order award, the first of which is a delivery to Oceanus Procellarum on the Moon during the first quarter of 2022. This award is the seventh surface delivery task award issued to a CLPS partner.

"These investigations show how CLPS is capable of delivering payloads to the lunar surface that will address our primary scientific goals for lunar exploration and discovery," said Chris Culbert, manager of the CLPS initiative at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "We aim to learn more about lunar swirls and this payload manifest is designed to obtain data unique to the geographical feature of Reiner Gamma."

The four investigations Intuitive Machines will deliver to Reiner Gamma are collectively expected to be about 203 pounds (92 kg) in mass and include:

Lunar Vertex is among NASA's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) selections. It is a combination of stationary lander payloads and a rover that will make detailed measurements of the magnetic field, plasma environment and regolith properties. The lander and rover data will augment observations collected in orbit. Combined, the observations will help show how these mysterious lunar swirls form and evolve  and how they connect to local magnetic fields in the same regions. Lunar Vertex is funded through the agency's Science Mission Directorate and is led by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration (CADRE) consists of mobile robots programmed to work as an autonomous team to explore the lunar surface, collect data, and map different areas of the Moon in 3D. CADRE uses its inertial measurement unit, stereo cameras, and a Sun sensor to track the position of each robot as they explore the lunar surface. CADRE is funded by NASA's Game Changing Development program under the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate and is led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

MoonLIGHT retroreflector is a laser retroreflector, which reflects laser beams sent from Earth directly back from the Moon to receivers on Earth. This allows very precise measurement of the distances between the reflector and the ground station. This technique can be used to investigate relativity, the gravitational dynamics of the Earth-Moon system and the deep lunar interior. MoonLIGHT is managed by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Lunar Space Environment Monitor (LUSEM) uses a pair of apertures to detect high-energy particles on the lunar surface. LUSEM will monitor variations in the near-surface space environment when the Moon is inside and outside Earth's magnetotail  the trailing end of the magnetic fields surrounding our planet, which can serve as a buffer for incoming radiation. LUSEM is managed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) in South Korea.

As NASA continues plans for multiple commercial deliveries to the Moon, future payloads that may be delivered with CLPS could also include other rovers, power sources, and science experiments, including technology demonstrations to later be infused into the Artemis program.

Learn more about CLPS at:

https://www.nasa.gov/clps

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-selects-intuitive-machines-for-new-lunar-science-delivery-301427289.html

SOURCE NASA
TICKERS: MINE; IMC

Source: Streetwise Reports (11/18/21)

Microcap gold stocks offer investors exposure to golds upside in an inflationary environment while providing a bit of fun as your position rides the waves of investor confidence. An expert analyst has made Inomin Mines Inc. his latest pick. As long as you can stomach the risk, the ride could pay off with much more than what you put into it.



With inflation settling in for at least the foreseeable future, perhaps youre looking to expose your portfolio to golds inevitable upside in an inflationary environment. There are lots of ways to do that: gold ETFs, mutual funds, major and mid-tier gold producers, even physical gold. But none of those options offer investors the fun factorand some of that fun, admittedly, goes hand in hand with the riskof microcap gold stocks.

But if that microcap has decent fundamentals attractive projects, proven management, and enough news flow to keep retail investors interested, then the risk becomes more manageable and the fun factor increases considerably, especially the potential for extraordinary capital appreciation.

If youre seeking that kind of fun, at about $0.10 per share, Inomin Mines Inc. (MINE:TSX.V; IMC:FRA) may be worth a look.

Founder and editor of Struthers' Resource Stock Report , Ron Struthers just issued a new buy recommendation for Inomin.

This plucky microcap has no less than three projects with considerable potential to delineate substantial resources: the advanced-stage La Gitana gold-silver project in Oaxaca State, Mexico; the nearby Pena Blanca gold-silver project; and the BeaverLynx nickel-cobalt property in British Columbia.

Nickel-cobalt? What?

Hold your horses.

Beaver and Lynx are the first considerable properties that Inomin brought into the fold. These two properties (recently merged into one large 20,000 hectare property) are in south-central B.C., an established mining jurisdiction with paved roads and plenty of super-clean hydroelectricity.

One drill hole by a previous operator hit an interval of 21.2 meters running 0.28% nickel and 0.012% cobalt at about 40 ft. below surface. Another hole intersected a long 107 meter interval grading 0.18% nickel and 0.01% cobalt. All 25 drill holes hit relatively consistent grades at shallow depths, meaning the deposits could one day be mined via open pit methods  if the economics add up.

And the acquisition cost was, well, cheap.

How cheap?

Basically, the cost of staking, which is minimal, explains John Gomez, president and CEO of Inomin. I wanted to get both properties because I desired exposure to the battery metals sectors.

Yes, battery metals. The only kind of mined commodities that COP26 delegates get excited about. Nickel use in electric vehicle batteries currently represents about 4% of the nickel market, but that is expected to grow to 31% by 2026.

The global shift to electric vehicles and decarbonisation means the world will need a lot more nickel. BHP expects nickel demand to surge four-fold in the next 30 years. Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/global-need-copper-nickel-will-multiply-over-next-30-years-bhp-2021-11-17/

Gomez believes the sulphide nature of the nickel mineralization found at Beaver and Lynx will garner more interest from potential partners given that sulphide nickel, also known as Class 1 nickel, is the preferred type of nickel for lithium-ion batteries. Hes already signed confidentiality agreements with multiple parties.

I've had discussions with a few groups over the past six months. A lot of people are watching what we're doing and have expressed an interest. They want to see us advance the project, Gomez says. Everywhere the previous operator drilled at Beaver property they found nickel with cobalt.

Inomin has been drill testing a considerable 6 km long area at Beaver to determine the extent of nickel-cobalt mineralization on the eastern side of the property. In a Nov. 15 news release, Inomin announced the intersection of long intervals of favorable mineralization that ranged up to 190 meters in thickness.

With these favorable results, Inomin could bring in a partner to help fund further exploration and development, or spin its nickel-cobalt assets into a new company.

We're open to both options, obviously. Both scenarios would be good for our company and our shareholders, Gomez says.

The next step is to evaluate the drill results, samples of which have already been sent for testing. Results are currently pending.

Inomin has yet to drill at Lynx, which is about 10 km south of Beaver. This sizable area  roughly 12,000 hectares  is geologically similar to Beaver with multiple, large 2 to 3 km long nickel targets.

But what about the gold? Glad you finally asked.

La Gitana is a low-sulphidation gold-silver epithermal system. Thirty-eight holes were drilled into the Cerro Di Oro target at La Gitana by its previous owners, Chesapeake Gold (CKG:TSX.V) and Goldcorp [since consumed by Newmont (NEM:NYSE; NMC:TSX)]. Drilling outlined a mineralized zone about 500 meters long by 300 meters wide, with depths ranging from 50 to 300 meters.

The best drill intercept was an impressive 133.5 meters grading 1.78 grams per tonne gold and 100.7 grams per tonne silver (1.78 g/t gold and 100.7 g/t silver). Mineralization remains open along strike, laterally, and at depth.

Whats more, La Gitana is not far from Gold Resources (GORO:NYSE) Arista and Mirador gold-silver mines, as well as Fortuna Silver Mines (FSM:NYSE) San Jose gold-silver mine. All three mines are situated in the prolific Oaxaca gold-silver belt.

I have relationships with certain key individuals of both companies, Gomez tells Streetwise. Both of those companies are aware of what we're doing, and they're very interested in our projects.

A technical report filed on La Gitana reads: Using the existing information and results of the core drilling carried out in the Cerro Di Oro zone by Chesapeake Gold Corp., it is recommended to initiate a resource estimation. Inomin plans to compile a resource estimate on La Gitana once it finishes a drill program. The resource should be published by the end of next year.

Pena Blanca, meanwhile, is situated about 15 km northwest of La Gitana. Its an epithermal gold-silver system discovered by Chesapeake in 2005. Chesapeake mapped and sampled only about 1 sq. km of the large 9 sq. km of hydrothermal alteration at Pena Blanca, with some promising results.

Trenching from an outcrop on the NW zone includes 23.5 meters of 2.26 g/t gold and 178 g/t silver.

Inomin acquired its 100% interest in La Gitana and Pena Blanca from Gunpoint Exploration (GUN:TSX.V) in exchange for 1 million shares, $25,000 cash, and a 1.5% net smelter return royalty (NSR) payable to Gunpoint on Pena Blanca. Inomin assumed an existing 3% NSR on La Gitana.

Inomins board is strong for a company with a $3M market cap. Gomez started a gold company in Colombia and has been involved with a few publicly listed juniors, including Fjordland Exploration, and earlier Mar-West Resources that discovered a gold deposit in Honduras and was subsequently acquired by a major gold company.

Directors John Peters and Bill Yeomans are both geologists who have spent more than 30 years working on gold projects throughout the world, while the juniors advisory panel consists of veteran geologists Victor Jaramillo and Bruce Winfield. Management and insiders own about 18% of the company.

Inomin recently raised $400,000 in a non-brokered private placement of roughly 5.3 million shares at 7.5 each. It has enough cash to complete its current exploration work.

The junior has about 41 million shares outstanding fully diluted and trades in a 52-week range of $0.06 to $0.23.

[NLINSERT]

DISCLOSURES

1) Brian Sylvester compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He and members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. His company has a financial relationship with the following companies referred to in this article: None

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Inomin Mines Inc. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

3) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

4) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.

Cover photo: Lynx nickel project in British Columbia. (Image courtesy of Inomin Mines).
Buy Photo People wear masks at the food court at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany, on Sept. 29, 2020. Masks are again required in all common areas at the Armys garrison. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)

STUTTGART, Germany  Masks are again required in all common areas at the Armys garrison here, which had been mask-free for the vaccinated since the spring, when coronavirus rates were significantly lower.

For the military community, we are seeing some increased rates of transmission despite our high levels of vaccinations, Col. Matt Ziglar, Stuttgarts garrison commander, said Wednesday in a video message.

The return of on-post mask mandates took effect Thursday and applies to all common areas, such as commissaries, post exchanges and gyms, although they are not required while exercising. Masks also are not required outdoors.

Mask policies vary across military communities in Germany, with some posts having stricter rules than others. In Rheinland-Pfalz and at Ramstein Air Base, home to tens of thousands of U.S. personnel and their families, indoor masks have continued to be mandatory for much of the pandemic.

But in May, garrison officials in Stuttgart lifted the requirement in most base common areas for vaccinated members.

Now coronavirus case figures are soaring throughout Germany, and Stuttgart is no exception.

The seven-day average of new cases was 336 per 100,000 residents on Thursday, according to the Robert Koch Institute, Germanys disease control agency.

For comparison, a rate of 50 new cases per 100,000 residents was once considered a tipping point for imposing further restrictions.

The country has since changed how it considers assessing the need for restrictions by factoring in available hospital beds and intensive care capacity.

On Wednesday, new German restrictions for unvaccinated people went into effect in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, home to the garrison, as well as U.S. European and Africa commands, because of the increased load on hospitals.

Unvaccinated people are no longer permitted inside restaurants, museums and other indoor recreational venues. Previously, a recent negative test could be used to gain entry to such places.

There still are no restrictions on off-base grocery stores or other essential services such as public transportation and pharmacies for the unvaccinated. But retail stores deemed non-essential will require a negative quick test to gain entry for unvaccinated people.

Col. Matt Ziglar, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart commander, announces the return of a mask mandate for all common areas, including the exchange and commissary, in a video on the garrison's Facebook page, Nov. 17, 2021. (Facebook/USAGStuttgart)

Ziglar said the transmission rate on post is low when compared to the surrounding community, but there still has been an uptick in the garrison.

He did not provide exact numbers because commanders in the U.S. European Command area are restricted from publicly detailing case numbers.

That being said, we are starting to see the advent of some community transmission  vaccinations continue to be our best defense, Ziglar said.

The aim of requiring masks again is to reduce transmission and to make sure people know the environment is trending in the wrong direction, he said.

The U.S. military in Europe is now rolling out vaccination programs for children between the ages of 5 and 11. In Stuttgart, the effort kicks off at Stuttgart High School, where jabs will be administered between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday.
An Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 lifts off from the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams, Nov. 12, 2021. Marine Corps aircraft like Ospreys are part of a new approach to crisis response after the service quietly ended rotations of larger units that had begun in the wake of the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya. (Malachi Lakey/U.S. Navy)

DJIBOUTI  A medical evacuation in the Indian Ocean last week relied on Marine Corps aircraft recently sent to Africa after the service quietly dropped a crisis response approach born in the wake of the deadly 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya.

The MV-22 Ospreys that delivered Air Force pararescuemen to a cargo ship to save a British merchant mariner were from San Diego-based Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161, which deployed to Djibouti in September. So was a KC-130 tanker that provided aerial refueling along the way.

Previously, a Special Marine Air-Ground Task Force in Kuwait sent tilt-rotor detachments to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Osprey pilot Capt. Marc Meier said in an interview at the base in October.

But the Marine Corps quietly ended rotations of that task force, known as SPMAGTF-Crisis Response-Central Command. The new crisis response approach combines Marine airlift with Army ground forces.

Sailors conduct night operations with MV-22 Osprey aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 aboard the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel Woody Williams, Nov. 11, 2021. While the Marine Corps quietly ceased rotations of the task force known as SPMAGTF-Crisis Response-Central Command, Ospreys remain a vital part of the services crisis response plans. (Malachi Lakey/U.S. Navy)

The last rotation of the SPMAGTF-CR-CC redeployed last month, and will not be replaced by another permanent element, 1st Lt. Jack Coppola, a Marine spokesman in Tampa, Fla., said in an email.

Marine Corps officials said earlier this month that they would provide details on the unannounced decision to cease SPMAGTF rotations to the Middle East and Africa.

This week, a service official referred the question to the Pentagon, which did not immediately respond to a query Wednesday.

Commanded by a colonel, the specially tailored task force was made up of over 2,000 troops in command, air combat, logistics and ground combat elements.

There are still Marine Corps units in Central Command and elsewhere capable of rapidly deploying, Coppola said.

Marines will always provide rapid response capability and serve as Americas 911 force, he added.

A similar unit at Moron Air Base in Spain, SPMAGTF-CR-Africa Command, was not replaced after its last rotation, another spokesman confirmed by phone.

Buy Photo U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. William Kennedy, a weapons and tactics instructor and MV-22 Osprey crew chief deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, discusses his duties in the cargo bay of a hot Osprey on a runway, Oct. 27, 2021. (Chad Garland/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Capt. Marc Meier, an MV-22 Osprey pilot deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on a deployment with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161, discusses the squadrons mission and alert status inside a hangar Oct. 27, 2021, at the U.S. militarys only permanent base in Africa. (Chad Garland/Stars and Stripes)

Instead, a North Carolina-based tilt-rotor squadron was sent to support the Armys Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which serves as the North and West African response force.

The Marines Spain-based crisis response force was stood up in early 2013 to address security concerns in Africa.

That move came in the wake of the attack on the U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012 that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. The concept was later adopted in other regional commands.

The Corps was also ending rotations of a Southern Command SPMAGTF that had been headquartered at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, it said in budget documents released in June. That was expected to free up $3 million a year as the service refocuses on the Indo-Pacific region.

In Djibouti, the San Diego-based Osprey squadrons main customer is the Air Forces elite battlefield rescue and recovery mission, Meier said.

But its also an asset for the East Africa Response Force, currently made up of troops from the Army National Guards 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain). The squadron has six Ospreys and two KC-130 refuelers, which help extend the range of the tilt-rotor aircraft. The MV-22s can carry heavier loads and fly higher and faster than military helicopters, Meier said, important advantages on the vast African continent.

A screenshot from a video shows a rescue at sea by Air Force pararescuemen of a U.K. civilian mariner in distress, Nov. 13-14, 2021. The Osprey aircraft came from the San Diego-based Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161, which deployed to Djibouti in September. (U.S. Africa Command) Buy Photo Crews with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, perform maintenance on MV-22 Ospreys that are part of a new rotational deployment, Oct. 27, 2021, at the U.S. militarys only permanent base in Africa. Crews were put on alert during an unfolding coup about 750 miles away in Sudan. (Chad Garland/Stars and Stripes)

This place is huge, Meier said. You see it on a map, but  until youre flying around it in the seat, you dont realize (how big it is).

Just one day after the squadron reached full operational capability in late October, a coup broke out in Sudan, about 760 miles from Djibouti  about the distance from New York City to Milwaukee.

As U.S. military officials at Camp Lemonnier prepared for a potential mission in the wake of the unrest, they updated plans to account for capabilities the Ospreys offered. Crews were told to be ready to go within a few hours notice for a possible embassy evacuation.

Its a bit of a humbling experience, said Sgt. William Kennedy, an Osprey crew chief. What were doing out here is affecting someones life.

Chad Garland Chad is a Marine Corps veteran who covers the U.S. military in the Middle East, Afghanistan and sometimes elsewhere for Stars and Stripes. An Illinois native whos reported for news outlets in Washington, D.C., Arizona, Oregon and California, hes an alumnus of the Defense Language Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Arizona State University.
A Navy carry team transfers the remains of Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio, on Aug. 29, 2021, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Soviak was assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Jason Minto/U.S. Air Force)

WASHINGTON  The Navy has posthumously promoted the sailor killed nearly two weeks ago in an Islamic State attack as he helped with the U.S. evacuation mission at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, the service announced Tuesday.

Hospital Corpsman Maxton Max W. Soviak was given the rank of petty officer 3rd class and awarded the Purple Heart and Fleet Marine Force Corpsman warfare badge as a result of his brave actions in support of fellow service members, the Navy said in a statement.

Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio, was assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division when he and 12 other U.S. service members were killed Aug. 26 when an Islamic State suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest and ISIS gunmen fired on crowds near the Abbey gate of the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul four days before the U.S. mission in Afghanistan ended.

The U.S. troops were helping screen hopeful evacuees before entry into the airport where American and coalition forces were conducting airlifts out of the country in the final days of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Petty Officer Soviak gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said in the statement. While this promotion and the Fleet Marine Force Corpsman warfare badge are awarded posthumously, I have no doubt his dedication to this nation, his displayed skill as a hospital corpsman and devotion to the mission at hand warrant this recognition.

In total, U.S. and coalition forces evacuated more than 124,000 Americans, Afghans seeking special immigrant visas and other vulnerable Afghans out of Afghanistan starting in late July.

Soviaks remains are scheduled to arrive at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Wednesday with a public procession to follow, The Plain Dealer reported Monday.

Caitlin Doornbos Caitlin Doornbos covers the Pentagon for Stars and Stripes after covering the Navys 7th Fleet as Stripes Indo-Pacific correspondent at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Previously, she worked as a crime reporter in Lawrence, Kan., and Orlando, Fla., where she was part of the Orlando Sentinel team that placed as finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. Caitlin has a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Kansas and masters degree in defense and strategic studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.
The amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore arrives at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, its new homeport, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Jeremy Graham/U.S. Navy)

The latest vessel to be stationed at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, arrived this week as a replacement for its sister ship, which returned to the United States two months ago.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore steamed into Sasebo, on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, on Wednesday after a journey across the Pacific, according to a news release from the U.S. Navys 7th Fleet.

A spokesperson for Sasebo Naval Base did not return a phone request for comment on Thursday.

Formerly homeported in San Diego, the Rushmore has been in service since 1991. The Whidbey Island-class ship has served in numerous operations over the years, including Restore Hope and Support Hope in Africa in the early 1990s and Iraqi Freedom in 2005.

Rushmore and her Sailors look forward to continuing our service to the Navy and the Nation while forward deployed to the tip of the spear, said the ships skipper, Cmdr. Emily Royse, in the Wednesday news release. Our crew is ready to join the elite blue-green team of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, and to establish positive relationships with our new host country, and our partners and allies.

The strike groups blue team include vessels surrounding the amphibious assault ship USS America; the green team is the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The Rushmore arrives as a replacement for the USS Germantown, which left Sasebo in September and returned to San Diego after a decade of service in the Indo-Pacific region.

Rushmore has a fantastic reputation, and I am certain that the team will seamlessly pick up where Germantown left off, said Capt. Greg Baker, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 11, in the release. Commander Emily Royse brings a wealth of [forward-deployed naval forces] and Sasebo experience, and I am excited for her return to set an even higher bar of excellence as Rushmore operates with the ships, Sailors and Marines of the America Expeditionary Strike Group.

As an amphibious dock landing ship, the Rushmore can embark, launch and recover 500 Marines and their landing craft during missions in foreign territory or far from established bases.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore arrives at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, its new homeport, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Jeremy Graham/U.S. Navy)

Named for Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Rushmore holds a place in naval history as the first smart ship in the Navys arsenal.

In 1997, it was outfitted with updated technologies such as an electronic chart display and an integrated bridge system, effectively increasing the efficiency of the ships systems and crew.
Seaman Dayshia Hall vaccinates a sailor at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Aug. 30, 2021. U.S. naval bases in Italy, Spain and Greece are urging their communities to continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing and limit their contacts while traveling, as COVID-19 case numbers continue to remain high. (Nathaniel U. Corpuz/U.S. Navy)

U.S. naval bases in Italy, Spain and Greece are urging their communities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 during the upcoming holiday season, as numbers of new cases and deaths rise across Europe.

In separate but similar Facebook posts, bases in Naples, Rota and Souda Bay urged people to continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing and limit their contacts.

They also encouraged those eligible to consider getting a COVID-19 booster shot and to vaccinate their children.

Vulnerability to infection grows as travel continues to open and community activities return to a pre-pandemic regularity, said Capt. Jim Stewart, commanding officer of Naval Support Activity Naples.

COVID 19 remains a threat to our mission readiness and our day-to-day lives, Stewart said in a Wednesday post to the bases Facebook page.

Naval Air Station Sigonella is planning a similar post, said Lt. Drake Greer, a base spokesman.

The messages follow elevated concerns across Europe. Austria and Germany have put added restrictions focused on unvaccinated people in place as caseloads increase to record highs in some areas.

The Italian Health Ministry reported 10,172 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily total since early May, according to the ministrys website.

Italian officials are weighing new restrictions against the unvaccinated, such as barring access to restaurants, cinemas or stadiums even if a person has a negative test, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported Thursday.

Italy has steadily increased restrictions since July by requiring a person to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or proof of recovery from the virus to work or take part in other daily activities such as indoor dining or going out to a movie. The health ministry reports 84% of residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated.

Greek officials enacted restrictions earlier this month against the unvaccinated, barring them from non-essential services such as retail shops, restaurants, beauty salons and some other public places if they cannot show a negative COVID-19 test.

Naval Air Station Souda Bay doesnt have restaurants or other facilities that would be impacted by the restrictions, but officials there, like at Navy bases in Italy and Spain, say they follow local rules except in cases where Defense Department or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are stricter.

Our personnel are kept informed of the restrictions enacted by the Greek government and are held accountable for following them when they are in the local community, said Joel Diller, NSA Souda Bay spokesman.

Greece reported 6,682 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday and 87 deaths. Officials ordered private doctors in five regions to assist its health care system as the country grapples with a COVID-19 surge, Reuters reported Thursday.

While infection rates near Naval Station Rota remained low, base officials reminded people that travel to other regions in Spain where infection rates are high, such as Navarra and Pai Vasco, as well as other European countries, should be carefully evaluated.

Alison Bath Alison Bath reports on the U.S. Navy, including U.S. 6th Fleet, in Europe and Africa. She has reported for a variety of publications in Montana, Nevada and Louisiana, and served as editor of newspapers in Louisiana, Oregon and Washington.
Vehicle in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated, June 28, 1914, Museum of Military History. (Alan Behr/TNS)

I arrived at last at Vienna's Hotel Sacher 18 months late, with three Pfizer injections on my record and with relief for having finally gotten from there to here with body and spirit intact. I had postponed this business trip just days before the pandemic had sealed the borders as completely as might war. But here I was, lounging at a true Viennese breakfast, spoon-feeding myself the hotels signature pastry, Sachertorte, and washing it down with the house sparkling wine.

The staff delivered to my suite the three parcels I had sent to myself just before the lockdown began: a still-needed package of surgical masks, a box of German-to-Italian language flashcards (for future adventures) and, most important, the long-awaited three-piece, single-breasted dark gray worsted suit from my London tailor, Henry Poole & Co.

I had only recently spent long months variously either at liberty in a desolated Manhattan or quarantined, at once growing a beard and then shaving it off after my middle schooler said it made me look like an unemployed platypus. While staring with mannered enthusiasm into Zoom-coddled screens, I had not worn socks or shoes, let alone a bespoke suit cut by the tailors to Dickens, Disraeli and Churchill. And yet here I was, at breakfast in a grand hotel patronized by royalty, celebrities and the merely rich, looking quite the part. Only a paroled embezzler could have felt so implausibly grand.

The Hotel Sacher belongs to the Leading Hotels of the World, which recently opened the Leaders Club rewards program to members for free  and that explains how I got involved in a therapeutic treatment in the hotels spa that involved being coated in a chocolate cream that leaves your skin baby-bottom smooth. Afterward, it was time to get serious, after a fashion, with a visit to the Museum of Military History (its slogan is Wars belong in a Museum). It holds what I consider the most important automobile in history: the boxy, olive-green Graef & Stift convertible in which the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was seated when, in June 1914, he and his wife, Sophie, were fatally shot by a South Slav nationalist. That set into motion the chain of events that led to World War I and, in a dotted line, most of what followed in European history for the remainder of the century.

Dawn brought a fresh round of Sachertorte and sparkling wine, which may sound even more therapeutic than a spa, but I doubled down on all that with a visit to the recently renovated and expanded Sigmund Freud Museum. The museum is set up in the apartment, famously located at Berggasse 19, that had been both the office and residence of the founder of psychoanalysis. The exhibition spaces now encompass the living quarters and the office, and you can start your personal tour from either direction and take yourself through rooms containing videos explaining Freuds contributions. You'll also see some of his personal artifacts, ranging from his initialed doctors bag to a vitrine filled with selections from his prized collection of antiquities. The displays in the surprisingly airy and sunlit rooms are sensitively labeled in German and English.

It was a compelling way to engage as a tourist with the style of therapy with which I grew up. (Talking through your troubles was considered therapeutic until, in this century, it was replaced by shopping and litigation.)

I recalled that, on my first visit to Vienna decades before, I had called my grandmother and told her that when she had lived in Vienna as an adolescent, her apartment was a five-minute walk from Freud. Grandma, I asked her, Why didnt you go? It would have done you some good. I visited her former building now, and as with so much in the historic districts of Vienna, the facade had hardly changed.

Sigmund, a well-traveled comfort monkey, in the museum of the home of his namesake Sigmund Freud. (Alan Behr/TNS)

Vienna in my grandmothers time was renowned for its intellectual and artistic vigor. It was possible, at Cafe Central, to run into Dr. Freud, the pioneering Zionist Theodor Hertzl, the novelist Stefan Zweig, a young Leon Trotsky (already plotting to overthrow the Czar) and an even younger, resentful Adolf Hitler (already twice rejected admission to the Academy of Fine Arts). I refreshed myself there with a Grosser Brauner (analogous to a double espresso), which in Vienna is always served with Leitungswasser dazu (a glass of tap water on the side).

Sculpture of the poet Peter Altenberg (1859-1919), a memorable regular, Cafe Central. (Alan Behr/TNS)

As Grandma would have done, I spent the evening at the Volksoper for a German-language performance of the classic musical "My Fair Lady." Used here in place of the cockney dialect that the main character, Eliza Doolittle, was trained to put aside in both the distinctly Shavian play and its lighter musical adaptation was a thick Viennese dialect that I strained to follow. But both the translation and the production worked on all accounts.

With Austria being both the home and key exporter of many of the worlds great chefs, it was natural that I would see a variety of food at an indoor-outdoor gourmet festival, held at a refined Italian Renaissance concert hall, the Kursalon Huebner, in the Stadtpark (city park). My personal favorite find: a made-to-order marzipan see-no-evil monkey, from the local patisserie and confectionary maker Oberlaa.

I met with Robert Pukenhofer, who has done what in Vienna is highly respected: He carried on an important Austrian tradition. He has revived the watch brand of Carl Suchy & Soehne, once watchmakers to the royal family  and to Dr. Freud. The design of his first watch, the appropriately named Waltz No. 1, references the work of the Austrian modernist architect Adolf Loos. As I have repeated in legal texts, brand is story, and the skilled relaunch of Carl Suchy rides skillfully upon that essential point. The wristwatch is both contemporary and respectful of its history, as is the table clock that the brand launched the day after my departure and that Mr. Pukenhofer kindly showed me in sneak preview.

Robert Putenhofer of Carl Suchy & Soehne with historic pocket watch and images of the new Waltz No. 1 watch. (Alan Behr/TNS)

It had to happen, even in Vienna, but the business portion of my visit began the next day and it kept me fully occupied for the duration. Fortunately, one of my contacts suggested lunch at the sun-filled Steirereck, a restaurant in the City Park that, under the direction of Chef Heinz Reitbauer, holds two Michelin stars. I had a split fillet of lamb from the restaurants own farm and, for dessert, Java coffee  a chocolate pastry bordered by foam and garnished with coffee sauce. My colleague had Wiener schnitzel, the signature dish of Vienna that is on the menus of both the citys great and humble restaurants but that here was done to Michelin-star standards, with fluffy bread crumbs surrounding perfectly cooked milk-fed veal.

Although I try to avoid indulging in two gourmet meals in one day (Tums tourism, I call it), this would be my last night in town, and it would all have been incomplete for me if I did not, as I typically do, have my final dinner at the Rote Bar (Red Bar) in the Sacher. Despite its name, it is a full-service restaurant featuring Austrian cuisine  and home to some of the most enjoyable dinner piano music anywhere. The meal started with hearty venison and mellowed into a selection of house-made sorbet scoops. And that was it for Vienna  but not quite.

Mindful that I had once rerouted my air travel to avoid missing a final breakfast at the Sacher, I left plenty of time for it now. The hotel delivered to me the Sachertorte I had purchased for the trip home (packed, per tradition, in wooden boxes). They were loaded into a spare shoulder bag I had brought for the purpose, and it was goodbye Vienna for now.

I suggest that, when planning your trip that Vienna, you keep in mind that it is four times the size of Paris and nearly as populous. Indeed, the breadth and unapologetic grandeur of Vienna can be a surprise to new visitors: It is a former imperial capital in a small country more familiar in North America for earthy Alpine charm (which is real but happens at the other end of Austria). In short, whatever time you think you need for Vienna, add at least one more day or you may come away feeling you had cheated yourself.

However much the pandemic may, out of necessity, momentarily dampen the party-hearty Viennese spirit, it was delightful to see that fully on display once more. The new attitude, both optimistic and practical, is that science has accomplished what it can for now; lets pop a cork as we would have done before and get on with life. To go where you like in town, you do need to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test and wear a medical-grade mask. But this is Vienna, where Europe has long come to talk, drink, eat, play Mozart, bathe in chocolate and maybe plan a revolution. And so it happily remains.

The nave of the Stephansdom, the cathedral of Vienna. (Alan Behr/TNS)

Websites

Hotel Sacher: www.sacher.com or www.lhw.com.

Steirereck im Stadtpark: www.steirereck.at.

Cafe Central: www.cafecentral.wien.

Museum of Military History: www.hgm.at.

Sigmund Freud Museum: www.freud-museum.at.

Volksoper: www.volksoper.at.
Buy Photo A cappuccino with a milky heart along side a slice of apple cake was a great way to start out the morning earlier this month at Blank Roast coffee shop in Neustadt, Germany. The espresso in the cappuccino was strong and tasty. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, a small town in the middle of the Pfalz wine region, is most famous for its many wine taverns and thousands of acres of vineyards.

Wine, however, isnt the only beverage worth sipping when visiting Neustadt, about 25 miles southeast of Kaiserslautern on the German Wine Route. Anyone who loves coffee should stop at Blank Roast for a satisfying cup of joe that beats anything with caffeine from Barbarossa or McCafe.

As soon as you walk in the door, the aroma of coffee greets you. A hulking machine made in the 1930s and fitted with state-of-the-art controls hums loudly in the corner. The coffee beans are roasted and then cooled and spun in an open vat.

Buy Photo Coffee beans are roasted in a large vat inside Blank Roast coffee shop in Neustadt, Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Master roaster Holger K. Blank has been at the helm of the shops coffee-making since 2007. Blanks methods are unique; during the roasting process, he adds organic grapevines from the region, which add moisture and bring out more aroma from the beans, the coffee shops Facebook page says.

Vanilla, almond and cinnamon are among the flavor notes created during roasting, Blank Roast employee Helmut Lohre said. We are roasting the coffee beans very long, about 15 to 20 minutes, he said.

On a recent morning I saw Blank checking on the beans as they cooled. Customers get a front-row view of the cafes open workspace.

What this also means is that getting lost in ones thoughts or holding a conversation over a cup of coffee may be disrupted by the noise of the roaster firing up. But the tradeoff is enjoying the fragrant smell of roasting beans coupled with a hearty cappuccino.

Buy Photo A latte with two shots of espresso is a delicious morning beverage at Blank Roast coffee shop in Neustadt, Germany, Nov. 9, 2021. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Daily breakfast options are listed on a board, and its best to ask about those choices when ordering at the counter. A selection of cakes and pastries and pre-made sandwiches are available all day.

Buy Photo Fresh cake and pastries make a nice accompaniment to coffee at Blank Roast coffee shop in Neustadt, Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

The apple cake was especially good. You can order coffee by type of bean and aroma, as described on a chalkboard by the register. Also available are shots of two kinds of espresso, cappuccinos, latte macchiatos, mochaccinos, milk coffee and hot chocolate.

The cafe also sells coffee beans, whole or ground, by the bag. Other regional food items are for sale, from local wines and jams to cooking oils and holiday cookies.

Stars and Stripes reporter Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this report.

Buy Photo Blank Roast coffee shop in Neustadt is a must-stop for coffee lovers when touring Germanys Wine Route. The store roasts its own beans, a process customers can observe inside the shop, which is infused with rich coffee aroma. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Tall glass windows fronting the store allow for a lot of natural light inside Blank Roast coffee shop in Neustadt, Germany, Nov. 9, 2021. The shop roasts its own coffee beans, which it sells in many varieties. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Blank Roast

Location: Mussbacher Landstrasse 21, 67433 Neustadt an der Weinstrasse

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sundays. Breakfast from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Reservations encouraged but not required.

Prices: Coffee drinks cost from 2.50 euros to 3.80 euros (about $2.90 to $4.35), depending on the size of drink and type of bean. Large cappuccinos and latte macchiatos cost 4 euros. Other options such as cake and pastries start at about 1.50 euros.

English menu: No, but some English spoken.

Information: Phone: +49-(0)6321-93788-0; Email; info@blankroast.de; Online: blankroast.de; Facebook: search under Blank Roast Manufaktur.
Buy Photo Decorated clay pots for storing garlic (foreground) and onions wait for buyers in the Ernewein-Haas pottery store in Soufflenheim, France, on Nov. 8, 2021. In the background, baking molds for making traditional Alsatian gugelhupf cake are visible. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

Soufflenheim is one of those European villages youd miss if you blinked  and if you didnt know about the pottery thats made there.

Dubbed the village of potters, it sits in eastern France on the edge of the Hagenau Forest, the source of the clay that artisans have shaped, fired and hand-decorated for centuries.

Emperor Frederick I, also known as Barbarossa, or Red Beard, gave the people of Soufflenheim the right to extract and use clay from the forest in the 12th century, and theyve been doing so ever since.

Only about a dozen potters are still active in the village today, down from the heyday of the mid-1800s, when 55 potteries in and around Soufflenheim employed hundreds of people.

Today, many potters use a mix of clay from France and other European countries because the local clay, which is extracted once every 10 to 15 years and then stored until its used, has become costlier.

But the way they work the clay to make molds for the traditional Alsatian gugelhupf cake, terrines, tea sets, plates, bowls and other culinary items has remained largely unchanged for generations.

Soufflenheim is a 1-hour drive from Kaiserslautern, through woods, over hills and past an abandoned border crossing at Scheibenhard.

Once in the village, which is just minutes from the border, we stopped at the tourist office, next to the church, to pick up maps and a booklet about a do-it-yourself tour of the pottery workshops. Even when the office is closed, the pamphlets and maps are available outside.

We planned the itinerary for our tour but then made a coin-flip decision to walk toward a sign pointing to Siegfried-Burger and Sons.

Buy Photo Traditional Alsatian pottery, including gugelhupf cake molds, terrines and serving dishes, is displayed at the entrance to Siegfried-Burger and Sons atelier and shop in Soufflenheim, France, Nov. 8, 2021. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A potter fashions a dish out of clay in the workshop of Siegfried-Burger and Sons in Soufflenheim, France, on Nov. 8, 2021. The family has been in the pottery business since 1842. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

Minutes later, we entered a courtyard decorated with Alsatian pottery, and went up a few steps into the store.

There were terrines and gugelhupf molds of all sizes, tiny espresso cups, oversized teacups, dinner plates, Christmas ornaments, fluted pie dishes and more. All were stamped underneath to prove their made-in-Alsace authenticity.

The Siegfried-Burger family has been in the pottery business since 1842. At the back of the main display area is the workshop, where two men were creating large terrines.

Because of the pandemic, there were no workshop visits, but I stood and watched from a display area for slightly imperfect pottery as the men turned chunks of gray clay into bakeware, using some of the same methods that their ancestors did.

Buy Photo A potter works in the atelier of the Ignace Friedmann pottery shop in Soufflenheim, France, on Nov. 8, 2021. Nicknamed the village of potters, Soufflenheim is home to about 15 workshops that produce traditional Alsatian pottery. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

All of Soufflenheims potters close for lunch, but in the afternoon, we visited five more pottery workshops.

Beck was by far the biggest and had some innovative designs, including a Frida Kahlo collection.

Buy Photo Beck Pottery in Soufflenheim, France, offers Frida Kahlo and Day of the Dead collections in its store Nov. 8, 2021. Beck is one of more than a dozen pottery workshops and stores in the village near Germanys southwestern border. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A clay statue in the showroom of Beck Pottery in Soufflenheim, France, shows a person working with a potters wheel. Soufflenheim has been a hub of Alsatian pottery since the 12th century, when Emperor Frederick I granted the villages residents the right in perpetuity to extract and use clay from the nearby Hagenau Forest. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

Entering Ignace Friedmanns shop, we were greeted by a stunning stained glass window with images of Barbarossa and a potter. The Friedmann familys workshop is the oldest in Soufflenheim, established in 1802.

Buy Photo A stained glass window featuring key moments in the history of the pottery tradition in the village of Soufflenheim, France, has pride of place in the Ignace Friedmann pottery store and workshop. Soufflenheim has been a hub of Alsatian pottery manufacturing since the 12th century, when Emperor Frederick I, also known as Red Beard or Barbarossa, granted residents the right in perpetuity to extract and use the clay found in the nearby Hagenau Forest. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

The potters at Ernewein-Haas, we learned, invented a baking dish that they say will roast chicken and vegetables to juicy perfection.

Beer, wine, lemon juice or another liquid is poured into a spout in the middle of the dish, a chicken is placed over it, vegetables are arranged in the circular dish, and everything is baked for 1 hours, until roasted vegetables and chicken with the taste of whatever was in the spout are ready to be enjoyed.

Buy Photo A clay cooking dish invented by the potters at Ernewein-Haas in Soufflenheim, France, allows chefs to put beer, wine or any other liquid in the central spout, place a whole chicken over it, encircle with vegetables and bake. Clay bakeware produced by Soufflenheims potters is ovenproof, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

We didnt use the map from the tourist office but instead just followed signposts, strolling a few feet from one potter to the other and making a mental note of whose designs we liked most. Only Beck and Siegfried-Burger are not on Grand Rue.

We ended up going back to Siegfried-Burger, where the slightly imperfect section had affordable, easy-to-ship items. Even shopping on the cheap, we spent more than 100 euros between us.

Buy Photo These slightly imperfect terrines and gugelhupf cake molds at Siegfried-Burger and Sons pottery store in Soufflenheim, France, cost a total of about $40, a fraction of the normal price. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

But our holiday shopping is pretty much done. Everyones getting pottery from Soufflenheim.

Buy Photo A sign with a message in the Alsatian dialect hangs outside the Ignace Friedmann pottery workshop and store in Soufflenheim, France, on Nov. 8, 2021. Nicknamed the village of potters, Soufflenheim is home to around a dozen workshops that produce traditional Alsatian pottery. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A display of traditional Alsatian pottery, including terrines and gugelhupf cake molds, sits in what looks like a bus shelter on the main road through Soufflenheim, France, on Nov. 8, 2021. Dubbed the village of potters, Soufflenheim is home to more than a dozen artisanal pottery workshops and stores. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo The Ignace Friedmann workshop and store, seen here on Nov. 8, 2021, is one of more than a dozen Alsatian pottery ateliers in Soufflenheim, France. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A handpainted sign on a half-timbered building in Soufflenheim, France, indicates theres a pottery workshop 50 meters away on the left. Soufflenheim is known for its traditional Alsatian pottery. (Karin Zeitvogel/Stars and Stripes)

On the QT

Soufflenheim is 1 hours from Kaiserslautern or Stuttgart, an hour and 45 minutes from Ramstein, two hours from Wiesbaden and three hours from Spangdahlem. Bring passports and vaccination records.

The tourist office is next to St. Michaels Church at 20b Grand Rue. A pamphlet showing a suggested walking tour of Soufflenheims potters is available for free outside the office, which is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Parking: The lot diagonally across the street from the tourist office is free and well-placed to allow visits to at least half a dozen pottery-makers.

Hours: Most pottery workshops open at 9 or 10 a.m., close at noon for at least an hour and reopen in the afternoon until 5 or 6 p.m. A handful are open Sundays, but the best days to go are Tuesday through Friday.

Food: The village baker is open from 6 a.m.-noon. There are a few restaurants in Soufflenheim, including Au Boeuf, A LEsperance, A la Couronne and a creperie next to the parking lot. At the LeClerc supermarket, a short drive away, there is a pizzeria.

Information: A list in English of pottery workshops is available online at visit.alsace/en/277001670-the-potteries-of-soufflenheim.
Russian President Vladimir said Saturday that hell talk to Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko about gas flows to the European Union. (Alexey Druzhinin, SPUTNIK, AFP, Getty Images/TNS)

A Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine and the continuing refugee crisis on the Belarus-Polish border, in which the Kremlin has sided with Belarus, once again raise a perennial question: What is President Vladimir Putin up to? Could some kind of kinetic Russian power play be in the cards?

Given the Kremlins long-standing opacity and the concentration of power in Putins hands, answering that question often feels like a mind-reading exercise. This time around, however, putting the Kremlins foreign policy goals in order of priority might help lighten observers hearts, at least temporarily.

The U.S. appears genuinely worried about the possibility of a Russian attack on Ukraine. This concern is backed up by some credible analysis. Eugene Rumer and Andrew Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment recently published an article describing Ukraine as Putins unfinished business in the sense that he seeks the restoration of Russias dominion over key parts of its historic empire. No item on that agenda is more important - or more pivotal - than the return of Ukraine to the fold. Rumer and Weiss argue that Putins predictability is overrated, that he can act emotionally when provoked, that he feels the urge to cement his legacy as the restorer of Russian power and that the prerequisites for a strike on Ukraine - be it a limited one to make territorial gains in the countrys southeast or a full onslaught - are in place. These are persuasive arguments. Putin does consider the Crimea annexation one of his proudest achievements, and his policies toward and pronouncements about both Ukraine and Belarus have never left much doubt that he would like to see them reunited as one people. The older Putin gets, the less time he has to accomplish this.

The official Russian policy is one of strategic patience - as ex-President Dmitry Medvedev recently wrote, Russia knows how to wait. We are patient people. In Ukraine, this means waiting for successive anti-Russian governments to fail and for Ukrainians to become so disappointed with the lukewarm welcome they get from the European Union and the constant jerking around by flailing U.S. administrations that theyll want back into Russias fold. The waiting involves periodic tactical shows of force - as it bides its time, Russia aims to prevent the military integration of Ukraine into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, so any U.S. or NATO activity in the Black Sea or in Ukraine proper requires that Russia rattle its weapons in response.

In Belarus, strategic patience means waiting out Alexander Lukashenkos desperate, idiosyncratic dictatorship while taking care the country doesnt fall into the hands of the pro-Western opposition; the hope is that, post-Lukashenko, the careful application of economic and military pressure will complete Belaruss transformation into a de-facto part of Russia under the two nations union state deal.

Putin, however, doesnt appear to see a worthy successor among his closest allies, and hes clearly written off the Medvedev experiment of 2008-2012 as a failure. That means the strategic patience may well be limited by his perception of his own physical shape; he may feel the urge to move before its too late for him personally. That kind of emotional pressure could conceivably distort Putins calculations of the cost of action.

And yet Id argue that he doesnt take the plunge now. Putin is focused on another foreign policy priority, namely his natural gas project, in itself no less important for his legacy than the putative reunification of the Soviet Unions core Slav peoples. The new network of pipelines built under Putin - to Turkey, China and Germany - is meant to seal his regional alliances and keep open a German window on Europe. Its also a key element of the Slavic unification play: The current Ukrainian and Belarussian governments have too much leverage on Russia as guarantors of its westward gas exports, leverage that would always tempt local politicians to seek more independence from Moscow.

The gas project takes precedence now because one of its key parts, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to northeastern Germany, has been completed and awaits German regulators green light to start pumping gas to customers. Nord Stream 2, of course, would be scuppered if Russia undertook a full-scale attack on Ukraine; a smaller-scale operation in eastern Ukraine would probably not end it outright, but deadlines would move again, painstakingly built relationships would weaken, the U.S. would gain time and persuasive arguments in its currently almost-abandoned battle against the Russian pipeline.

To make sure Nord Stream 2 starts operating next year and becomes difficult to replace as it gains European customers, Putin must play a complex game, combining pressure and threats with a seemingly constructive stance.

Putins response to the recent jump in European gas prices and the subsequent pleas that Russia alleviate the crisis was pointedly lukewarm. Nor was he eager to slap Lukashenko on the wrist when he threatened to cut off gas transit in response to European Union sanctions. Putins real purpose - to make Europeans aware that direct pipelines are the way to go - shone through in his response (which also contained an apocryphal version of a previous gas supply crisis involving Ukraine).

He can probably do it. Thats hardly a good thing, and I will talk to him about it, of course, unless he just said it emotionally. But weve had this happen before, with Ukraine. In 2008, if I remember correctly, we had this crisis where, because of endless arguments over the gas price and transit fees we failed to agree with our Ukrainian friends on the main parameters of these contracts. And Ukraine ended up blocking our gas meant for Europe. Simply, as the experts say, shut off the valve and stopped the supply of Russian gas to Europe. It did happen.

Lukashenko has long thrown caution and diplomacy to the wind; Europeans dont see him as a rational actor, and neither, quite likely, does Putin - but the assist was just too good for the Russian leader to miss. To him, the border crisis and its consequences, the European gas markets troubles, even the Ukraine-related tensions can all be arguments in favor of Nord Stream 2. Its unclear to what extent hes creating these arguments - theres no doubt, however, that he uses them as best he can.

It may appear that Germany is becoming resistant to Putins brand of persuasion. On Nov. 16, the German Federal Network Agency, a regulator whose approval is necessary for Nord Stream 2 to operate, suspended the application. To the politically-minded, this might look like caretaker Chancellor Angela Merkels payback for the indignity of having had to call pariah Lukashenko, at Putins insistence, to attempt a resolution to the refugee crisis. Yet the German bureaucracy can be quite apolitical, and in this particular case, the reason for the suspension appears to be bureaucratic. The regulator wants the pipelines operator, now Swiss-registered, to transfer its assets and staff to Germany and incorporate under German law - a reasonable request of a pipeline with its endpoint in Germany.

Its not that a German company would be difficult for Gazprom, the Russian gas supplier, to set up - but the suspension likely means a considerable delay, which explains the subsequent jump in spot natural gas prices. While the process runs its course, Putin needs to walk the thin line between keeping up the pressure and alienating the German government - and that means he will likely refrain from any abrupt moves in the coming months. In a way, hes on the hook - at least as long as Nord Stream 2s coming online remains a highly likely outcome.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Leonid Bershidsky is a member of the Bloomberg News Automation team based in Berlin. He was previously Bloomberg Opinions Europe columnist.
Three C-130J Super Hercules from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, fly near Mount Fuji, May 11, 2020. (Yasuo Osakabe/U.S. Air Force)

TOKYO  Japan is set to increase funding for American troops stationed in the country starting in fiscal 2022 with an agreement possible next month, according to government sources quoted by the Kyodo news agency.

Washington and Tokyo extended an agreement in February on Japanese financial support for approximately 54,000 U.S. troops. The agreement was due to expire in March but was extended for a year.

Officials have not disclosed the amount of support requested by the U.S. government in future years but its likely less than former President Donald Trump had demanded, Kyodo reported Thursday, quoting an anonymous Japanese diplomat.

"Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will make a final decision," the diplomat said, according to Kyodo.

Trump wanted Japan to pay $8 billion a year for hosting U.S. troops in the country, former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in his memoir, The Room Where It Happened, published in June 2020.

This fiscal year, which ends in March, Japan is paying $1.76 billion to support utilities, wages for local national staff and training and relocation costs for U.S. forces, Kyodo reported.

Japan wants the U.S. to spend any additional funds on things such as the maintenance of facilities that U.S. forces share with the Japan Self-Defense Forces rather than the cost of base utilities, government sources told Kyodo.

Japan is looking at adding a clause in the cost-sharing agreement to stipulate that its increased contribution go toward joint training and other activities, according to the sources.

Japans new prime minister is eager to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance and increasing his countrys contribution to the cost of hosting American forces is an easy way to do that, Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, said in an email Thursday.

Tokyo slow-walked negotiations with the Trump administration in the hopes of securing a better deal, he said.

But the security environment in Asia remains tense, Kingston said, so Kishida is eager to demonstrate that Japan is a reliable partner and willing to shoulder expanded burden sharing.

The U.S. will have a strong say in how additional funding is spent, he said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi could sign the agreement during a meeting of the allies' defense and foreign ministers, Kyodo reported. That meeting was expected within the year but could be delayed until early 2022.

Hayashi said during a Nov. 12 news conference that negotiations on host-nation support are continuing based on the February agreement. No specific date was scheduled for two-plus-two meetings as of Nov. 12, Hayashi said.

Our policy is to continue taking appropriate measures in this negotiation based on the difficult economic situation our country is currently facing, Hayashi said, as well as the security situation in the region, which is growing increasingly severe.

Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
Airmen pose with packages inside the post office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, in December 2019. (U.S. Air Force)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  Post offices on military bases are calling for volunteers to help sort mail with thousands of holiday packages expected in coming weeks.

At the home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo, officials are looking to put five volunteers to work each day with package deliveries expected to peak in mid-December, 374th Airlift Wing spokesman Staff Sgt. Juan Torres said in a Nov. 16 email.

Having an adequate number of volunteers enables postal workers to process the packages while volunteers assist by delivering mail and sorting letters, he said.

Most months Yokotas mailroom receives between 15,000 and 17,000 packages, he said.

During the month of December, we see an increase in mail of up to 27,000 packages, he said. Due to this increase, we ask that customers remain patient as we work diligently to process your holiday mail for you and your loved ones.

The post office at Misawa Air Base, home of the 35th Fighter Wing in northeastern Japan, expects between 700 and 800 parcels per delivery through the holiday season, Misawa spokesman Tech. Sgt. Chris Jacobs said in an email Thursday.

The post office there will be soliciting mailroom volunteers for Dec. 1-14, he said.

As of yet, we do not have a solid number of how many volunteers will step up, but any organization that wants to volunteer more than 10 members at a time needs to arrange their volunteers through the local Post Office, he said.

At Camp Humphreys, home of the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea, postmaster Demetrius Palmer said the post office receives up to 8,000 packages per month from November to January. The facility employs about 50 volunteers to help out over the holidays, he said by phone Wednesday.

On Guam, Andersen Air Force Base is expecting 50,000 pounds of holiday mail for airmen living in dorms and is looking for 118 volunteers to work from Dec. 6-23, the 36th Wing public affair office said in an email Thursday.

Last month, the U.S. Postal Service told customers that new service standards will slow some deliveries.

We ask that patrons send their packages on time to ensure theyre delivered before the holidays, Torres said. The earlier a package is sent out, the better the chances of it arriving before the holidays.

The Postal Service recommends shipping retail ground mail by Wednesday, priority and first-class mail by Dec. 1 and express mail by Dec. 15, he said.

Seth Robson
Buy Photo Minoru Daddy Mike Yoneda, 91, who welcomed sailors and their families to Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, for more than 40 years, died of pneumonia on Nov. 3, 2021. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Minoru Daddy Mike Yoneda welcomed sailors and their families to Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, with the same warm smile, gentle demeanor and compassionate gaze for nearly four decades.

Yoneda, who died Nov. 3 at age 91, was a Navy veteran. He was a base ambassador, resident philosopher, historian and tour guide. He was a connoisseur of fine dining and an advocate for the children of military families.

Yonedas many contributions, from the sign outside the main gate to the Child Development Center (now the Teen Center), earned him the unofficial title of mayor of the naval base 30 miles north of Nagasaki.

Yoneda died of pneumonia, base spokesman Aki Nichols and MWR director Scott Poluhowich said in separate phone interviews with Stars and Stripes this month. The news was reported on base social media accounts on Nov. 5.

He leaves behind a wife, Shigeko, and two adult sons, Poluhowich said Wednesday. Services were held on Nov. 4-5.

Daddy Mike, as he was affectionately known around the base, considered everyone he met his shipmate, and over the decades touched the lives of countless Sailors, civilians, and family members through his warmth, charm, and sense of humor, said a message posted on the bases official Facebook page on Nov. 5 .

Yoneda, one of 16 children, was born in 1930 inside a log cabin in San Martin, Calif., he told Stars and Stripes in 2012. His father had entered the U.S. illegally, his mother was a naturalized citizen and a mail-order bride. He didnt own a pair of shoes until age 10.

The U.S. government interned his family along with many other Japanese for four years during World War II, he said. After the war, their home was shot at and their well dynamited.

In 1949, to prove his patriotism, Yoneda said he joined the Navy Reserve and persistently asked for an active-duty sea billet until he received one. More racist threats followed, including one that hed be tossed overboard for the sharks.

Im proud to be an American, he said. I dont hold grudges or anything else. I did it my way.

During his naval career, Yoneda served in ordnance, nuclear weapons and security and was eventually commissioned, he said. He traded some of the final rounds of the Korean War with communist forces in Wonsan, North Korea, in July 1953 and also did a stint in Vietnam.

Yoneda retired in 1982 and went to work for Sasebos Morale, Welfare and Recreation in various capacities, including duty manager at the base restaurant, the Harbor View Club, for nearly 40 years.

Buy Photo Minoru Daddy Mike Yoneda retired from the Navy in 1982 and went to work for Sasebos Morale, Welfare and Recreation in various capacities, including duty manager at the Harbor View Club, for nearly 40 years. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

His weekly bingo game was the hottest ticket in town for 25 years, Poluhowich said.

But most will remember him beaming as he welcomed guests at the entrance to the Harbor View Club, his hair perfectly coiffed to one side and his hands folded in front of him.

He knew admirals back when they were ensigns, Poluhowich said. He loved to take care of people and be around people having a good time.

Yoneda said he loved being around the military.

I love the Harbor View Club, he said in 2012. I listen to these kids, and I can swap stories since 49.

Yoneda retired a couple of times due to health concerns but always came back, Poluhowich said.

He stepped away for good in 2019, though he would often drop in to visit or regale customers with stories.

Former base commander Rear Adm. Charles Rock, now the commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, told Stars and Stripes in 2012 that having Yoneda welcome and assist service members and their families made their lives brighter and was nothing but a plus.

He's proven what many of us already know; you don't stop being a shipmate when you take off the uniform, Rock said.

One of the nicest function rooms at the Harbor View was named in his honor in 2009. A plaque also bears his name outside the Teen Center.

Many former base employees were saddened to hear of Yonedas passing.

He was very caring, said Navy veteran and Defense Department civilian employee Eric Campagna, now of Grafenwoehr, Germany. He was passionate about passing on Japanese culture. He spoke about things to do and food to try around the area.

Campagna said Yoneda would often relay historical aspects of the base and encourage him to try Japanese cuisine.

He was always smiling, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Calvin Warren, executive officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3. One of those guys you could really tell just loved what he was doing.

Yoneda will be best remembered for his dedication to the sailors and families that passed through the Harbor Views doors, Poluhowich said.

He was the Harbor View Club, Poluhowich said. He had a really incredible life.
Retired Navy admiral Harry Harris, seen here in November 2018, served as U.S. ambassador to South Korea from July 2018 to January 2021. (Benjamin Parsons/U.S. Army)

The former U.S. ambassador to South Korea on Wednesday said he was disappointed that his position remains unfilled since he stepped down in January.

Speaking at a panel hosted by The Korea Society in New York, Harry Harris, a retired admiral who once led U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Pacific Fleet, said he received calls or emails from our friends in Seoul regularly about the lack of a U.S. ambassador to South Korea.

We still dont have an ambassador nominated to replace me yet, Harris said during the panel discussion that also included retired Army Gen. Robert Abrams, the former commander of U.S. Forces Korea; retired Adm. Scott Swift, the former commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet; and retired Army Gen. Walter Sharp, a former USFK commander.

Harris served as the ambassador from July 2018 to January 2021. President Donald Trump nominated him to fill a 16-month vacancy, and the Senate confirmed him by voice vote.

President Joe Biden has not named a new ambassador to South Korea since his inauguration Jan. 20. Christopher Del Corso, a career diplomat and a former U.S. Marine, serves as charge daffaires ad interim.

Harris  the first Asian American to achieve four-star rank in the Navy  said he offered to remain as ambassador for six months until his replacement was nominated.

Its been over a year since our election, he told the panel. I tell my friends this is emblematic of the divided political landscape in America in the 2020s.

Harris described the absence of a nomination as legislative malpractice but added that the blame ought not to be directed at the Senate since the White House hasnt even nominated someone.

Im disappointed, he said. We need a nominee named and then confirmed quickly.

South Korean lawmakers last month said Kurt Campbell, the White Houses top Asia official, fully understands the need for a permanent U.S. ambassador, according to Yonhap News.

While the White House has yet to name Harris replacement, the U.S. continues to engage with Seoul on key issues. The two countries have held multiple diplomatic meetings in recent weeks to discuss the possibility of formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War, a topic South Korean President Moon Jae-in has pushed for throughout his tenure.

Several other ambassadorships remain unfilled, including those in the Philippines, Thailand, Italy and Saudi Arabia.

In August, Biden nominated career diplomat Nicholas Burns and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel for ambassadorships to China and Japan, respectively; the full Senate has yet to vote on their confirmations.
The USS Connecticut departs Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., Dec. 15, 2016. (Thiep Van Nguyen II/U.S. Navy)

Submarine crews have been ordered to review navigation safety as the U.S. Navy continues to investigate a nuclear-powered vessels undersea collision last month.

The commanders of U.S. Submarine Forces and Submarine Forces Pacific  Vice Adm. William Houston and Rear Adm. Jeffrey Jablon  sent a joint message to the Navys submarine crews on Wednesday declaring a navigation stand-down, Submarine Forces spokesman Cmdr. Paul Macapagal told Stars and Stripes in an email Thursday.

Unlike stand-downs issued to aviation crews, the order doesnt mean submariners will cease operations. Instead, the crews are slated to review navigational training and safety procedures, Macapagal said.

The message comes as the Navy continues to grapple with fast-attack submarine USS Connecticuts collision with a seamount, or undersea mountain, on Oct. 2.

Submarine crews will be reviewing the lessons learned from USS Connecticut and governing doctrine to reinforce sound navigation practices, Macapagal said. Submarine crews will review required procedures in navigation planning, operations, risk management and best practices as part of this training.

Macapagal said he couldnt release the original message to Stars and Stripes because portions of it contain classified information. He also couldnt specify a timetable for the stand-down, but he did say its a near-term situation rather than a long-term one.

Details on the Connecticuts collision have remained sparse, but Navy investigators revealed on Nov. 2 that the Seawolf-class submarine struck an uncharted seamount in international waters in the Indo-Pacific region.

The exact location of the incident was not publicly disclosed, but an unnamed defense official said it occurred in the South China Sea, according to an Oct. 8 report from U.S. Naval Institute News.

The collision, which resulted in minor injuries to about a dozen sailors, also led to the removal of the Connecticuts commander, executive officer and enlisted chief. Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, commander of 7th Fleet, relieved the three on Nov. 4, citing a loss of confidence in their leadership.

Alex Wilson
The Senate has unanimously approved legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 11 Marines, one sailor and one soldier who died in a suicide bombing Aug. 26 at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. 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)

The Senate has unanimously approved legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals to the 13 American service members killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport in the final days of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.

The Senates approval Wednesday night to award the highest congressional honor to the troops killed in an Islamic State attack Aug. 26 at Hamid Karzai International Airport sends the measure to President Joe Biden for his signature. The House passed the bill by voice vote in October.

Today, the United States Senate moved to recognize the courage, sacrifice and service of the 13 brave young men and women who were killed in Afghanistan, Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said in a statement. During a pivotal point for our nation, they gave the last full measure for our freedoms. I look forward to the president honoring these American heroes and swiftly signing this bill into law.

Eleven Marines, a soldier and a Navy corpsman were killed in the blast  the final American military deaths in Afghanistan during the war launched by the United States in the weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

The bill would award the Congressional Gold Medal to Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Max Soviak, 22; Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23; and Marines Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20; Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20; Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20; Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20; Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22; Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, 31; Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23; Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23; Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22; Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20, and Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25.

They were killed as they supported American-led efforts to evacuate thousands of Afghans and allies attempting to flee the Taliban in the days after the Islamist group swept back into power for the first time since 2001. The fallen troops were near a crowded airport gate when the blast went off, killing them, more than 160 Afghan civilians and wounding dozens more in one of the deadliest single incidents of the 20-year war.

Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., introduced the bipartisan legislation to honor the fallen troops on Aug. 31, just hours after the last American military troops left Afghanistan.

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 reads. The American service members exemplified extreme bravery and valor against armed enemy combatants [and]  members dedicated their lives and their heroism deserves great honor.

The Congressional Gold Medal dates back to American Revolution and serves as Congress highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions, according to a House description of the award. It has been awarded 173 times to individuals or groups of people.

The service and sacrifice of these 13 brave men and women will never be forgotten, McClain said in a statement on Thursday. Im proud this important legislation to award these heroes with Congress top honor is one step closer to becoming law.
A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules from the 39th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, performs low-level maneuvers during an exercise over Alaska, June 25, 2021. The Defense Department's latest regional center, focused on the Arctic, will be located in Anchorage. (Emily Farnsworth/U.S. Air Force)

A new Defense Department regional security center focusing on the Arctic will be established in Anchorage, Alaska, the Pentagon has decided.

The location choice was announced Wednesday in a DOD statement. The exact site of the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, named after the former U.S. senator from the state, is still undetermined, the statement said.

The strategic importance of the Arctic is growing, with Russia and China competing for resources and eyeing new potential shipping routes there.

The facility will be the DODs sixth center for security studies, which provide executive-level education and training for U.S. and foreign military officials, civilians and nongovernmental participants, the Pentagon said.

The first center was established in Germany in 1993 and focuses on Europe. Other centers focusing on Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia are all based in the United States.

Their ultimate aim is to advance U.S. national security priorities in the broader areas where they are located, a DOD statement in September said.

Anchorage is also home to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The base is the headquarters of Alaska Command, a joint subordinate unified command of U.S. Northern Command that is responsible for operations in and around the state.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who secured authorization and $10 million in funding for the facility, said in a separate statement Wednesday that DODs decision to locate the center in Alaska was incredibly welcomed news.

As a nexus for security cooperation, the center will soon play host to Americas global partners and allies along with a variety of federal and state authorities and academic institutions, also bringing economic benefit to the area, Murkowski said. I appreciate that the Department of Defense took our advice and made the right choice to locate the Center in Alaska.

In September, Air Force Maj. Gen. Randy Kee was tasked with overseeing the establishment of the center as part of his duties as senior adviser for security in the Arctic.

The opening date for the center has not yet been announced.
The probe, announced in a news release by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D), follows reports that the companys internal research suggested that its products negatively impact the mental health of young people, especially teen girls. The attorneys general say they are focusing on the techniques the social networking giant used to increase the frequency and duration of engagement by young users, as well as the harms caused by the continued interaction. (Patrick Sison/AP)

A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general on Thursday announced an investigation into Meta, focusing on whether Instagrams parent company Facebook violated consumer protection laws by promoting the app and other social networking products to children and teens.

The probe, announced in a news release by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D), follows reports that the companys internal research suggested that its products negatively impact the mental health of young people, especially teen girls. The attorneys general say they are focusing on the techniques the social networking giant used to increase the frequency and duration of engagement by young users, as well as the harms caused by the continued interaction.

Facebook, now Meta, has failed to protect young people on its platforms and instead chose to ignore or, in some cases, double down on known manipulations that pose a real threat to physical and mental health - exploiting children in the interest of profit, Healey said in the news release. Today I am co-leading a nationwide coalition to get to the bottom of this companys engagement with young users, identify any unlawful practices, and end these abuses for good. Meta can no longer ignore the threat that social media can pose to children for the benefit of their bottom line.

California, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont are also participating in the investigation.

The internal research of Instagrams negative impact on children and teens mental health was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The social network has faced increased regulatory scrutiny in the fallout of revelations from whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former employee who exposed internal company research.
Staff Sgt. Dena Levari, 27th Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron NCOIC of immunizations, vaccinates 2nd Lt. Jose Valadez, 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, with Gardasil at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., May 29, 2012. The vaccine protects against four types of HPV. Military doctors say a new vaccine mandate for active-duty troops would prevent most cervical cancer in women and stop the upward trend in male throat cancer. (Alexxis Pons Abascal/U.S. Air Force)

Military doctors and public health officers are advocating for a new vaccine mandate for active-duty troops that they say would prevent most cervical cancer in women and slow the growing threat of throat cancer in men.

Even amid resistance to the Pentagons COVID-19 vaccination mandate, they are urging all active-duty troops up to age 26 to be inoculated against HPV if they havent already taken the vaccine.

An editorial in the current issue of the journal Military Medicine lists some of the numerous vaccinations that are already required of service members. It argues that it is time for the military to add the HPV vaccine to the list.

With more than half of the 1.3 million service members in the catch-up vaccination age range of less than 26 years of age, we are poised to have a profound impact through mandatory active duty service member vaccination, the editorial states.

Maj. Erica Hope, a gynecological oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center who co-authored the editorial, said in an interview that mandating the vaccine would prevent a great deal of illness, suffering and its associated costs.

Australia mandated the HPV vaccine for schoolchildren in 2007. Theyre projected to fully eliminate cervical cancer in 20 years, Hope said. We could do the same.

A Military Medicine article from October, titled HPV-Related Cancers: A Growing Threat to U.S. Military Health and Readiness, noted that the number of cases of throat and anal cancers related to HPV had risen dramatically over the past 20 years, with throat cancers having overtaken cervical cancer to become the most common HPV-related cancer in the U.S.

The vast majority of HPV-related throat cancers are in white men, and some studies have shown that military veterans are at greater risk.

Certain strains of HPV cause more than 90% of cervical cancers and some 70% of throat cancers. Its estimated that 80% of adults will have the infection at some point.

The HPV vaccine became available 15 years ago and was first recommended for girls of middle school age, as it worked best before people became sexually active and exposed to the virus.

Some countries mandated the immunization for schoolchildren, as did the U.S. states of Hawaii, Rhode Island and Virginia as well as the District of Columbia. The vaccine is now recommended for people up to 45 years old.

But uptake has been low, despite the vaccines excellent safety and effectiveness profile.

Researchers using data from the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Surveys estimated that only 42% of women 18 to 21 had gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, which requires two shots, six months apart. Just 16% of men that age had received at least one dose.

Theres been this stigma around the vaccine, and theres also been a stigma for men, Hope said. They just think its a womens disease.

Service member HPV vaccination rates are lower than civilian rates, she said, with only 26% of active-duty women 17 to 26 years old reporting that they received one shot and less than half of those getting the second dose. Only 6% of active-duty men the same age reported getting even one shot.

The vaccination rate for women is low, Hope said. But for men, its abysmal. Thats obviously our big missing piece.

German virologist Harald zur Hausen, who was awarded a Nobel Prize for demonstrating the connection between HPV and cervical cancer and laid the groundwork for the vaccine, has argued that its at least equally vital for males to be vaccinated as females because they act as HPV superspreaders.

All over the world, young men between 15 and 45 have far more sexual partners than girls in the same age group. They transmit the infection relatively easily, zur Hausen told Germanys dw.com news outlet.

The HPV vaccine is one of only two cancer-preventive vaccines in existence. The other, the hepatitis-B vaccine, which prevents some forms of liver cancer, has been required for military recruits since 2002.

Its not only cancer that the vaccine mandates would address, Hope said, but also the time, trauma and expense in dealing with female troops pre-cancers found during routine checkups.

All these Pap-smear visits, the biopsies, it requires a lot of visits, and it costs a lot of money and a lot of time away from work, she said. Weve had numerous patients with abnormal Pap smears before deployment. It can delay deployment.

Nancy Montgomery Nancy is an Italy-based reporter for Stars and Stripes who writes about military health, legal and social issues. An upstate New York native who served three years in the U.S. Army before graduating from the University of Arizona, she previously worked at The Anchorage Daily News and The Seattle Times. Over her nearly 40-year journalism career shes won several regional and national awards for her stories and was part of a newsroom-wide team at the Anchorage Daily News that was awarded the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.
FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2019 file photo, the advertising label of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, shines at their headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The OPEC oil cartel and allied countries are meeting to decide on production. The meeting is being closely watched because oil markets are tight and the price of crude is just off a three-year high as the global economy bounces back from the pandemic. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File) (Ronald Zak/AP)

Some U.S. lawmakers are seizing on the energy price surge to revive long-standing legislation that would subject the OPEC oil cartel to the same antitrust laws used more than century ago to break up Standard Oils monopoly.

The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act -- known as NOPEC -- would allow the U.S. government to sue members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries for manipulating the energy market, potentially seeking billions of dollars in reparations.

The legislation faces difficult odds amid concerns about diplomatic fallout that has led the State Department to oppose it in the past. But the House Judiciary Committee did approve the latest iteration by a voice vote in April. A Senate version has attracted sponsors from across the political spectrum, from Iowas conservative Republican Chuck Grassley to Vermonts liberal Democrat Patrick Leahy. No floor votes have been scheduled.

Weve been talking to a number of members about it, Leahy said in an interview Wednesday. He said he intended to discuss the legislation in a floor speech.

While OPEC hasnt set prices since the 1980s, its members periodically agree to boost or cut production. The legislation could have widespread consequences.

We call it a nuclear weapon with a huge and uncertain impact, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official. The remedies in the NOPEC act range from a slap on your wrist to seize all your assets.

I think were the president to call for it it would pass, McNally said.

President Joe Biden hasnt expressed an opinion on the legislation but on Wednesday he urged the Federal Trade Commission to probe possible illegal conduct in U.S. gasoline markets. In a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan, Biden expressed concern about the difference between pump prices and the cost of wholesale fuel, while citing what he said was mounting evidence of anti-consumer behavior by oil and gas companies.

The White House didnt respond to a request for comment on whether Biden supports the measure. Biden, as a senator in 2000, co-signed a letter that called for legal and judicial action against OPEC, calling the cartels behavior in violation of U.S. antitrust laws. In 2007, he co-sponsored a version of NOPEC legislation.

Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk, in an interview with Bloomberg News earlier this month, acknowledged the legislation was an option that had been raised by members of Congress.

Were looking at the full range, and, of course, the president and secretary will make the decision and then well all execute it, Turk said.

The NOPEC legislation has been introduced several times over the past two decades as U.S. gasoline prices have risen -- and it passed both chambers of Congress in 2007 only to die amid a veto threat from President George W. Bush.

Last month, Grassley wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland invoking surging gasoline prices, saying that NOPEC has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan and bicameral support.

For sure its gaining support, Grassley said Wednesday in an interview. There is no doubt OPEC is violating our antitrust laws.

Grassley added that State Department opposition has made it a heavy lift in the past.

Asked about the prospect of bringing the bill to the floor for a vote, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was concentrating on getting Bidens social spending bill passed. We are focused on what we are doing right now, she said.

I think it could absolutely gain momentum, said Benjamin Salisbury, director of research with Height Capital Markets. I think in terms of becoming law there is probably not a window.

Under the legislation, the Justice Department would be able to bring lawsuits against oil cartel members for antitrust violations. Even if the Justice Department were never to act on its power to sue, the mere existence of this option might be enough to force the cartel to change its behavior.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer co-sponsored the original version in 2000, although his office declined to comment on his support this year. A crucial swing vote in the Senate, West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin, backed the 2011 version, saying on the Senate floor, We can no longer allow this nation and our hard-working families to be held hostage by high gas prices.

His office didnt respond to a query about his views on the current legislation.

In the House, legislation introduced by Republican Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio and backed by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, passed out of committee with little opposition.

American Petroleum Institute, a trade association for the oil industry, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have come out strongly against the bill in the past.

The result might be a flood of oil, said Kevin Book, managing director of research firm ClearView Energy Partners. It will crater the price of oil here.

Talk of reigning in OPEC seems to re-emerge whenever gasoline prices rise but it remains a counterproductive response, said Jeffrey Kupfer, a former Chevron Corp. policy adviser who served as an Energy Department official in the Bush administration from 2006 to 2008.

It would lead to more volatility in the oil market, lower levels of investment, trade disputes, Kupfer said, and ultimately higher prices for the American consumer.
The nations 16th president, deep fissures of suffering etched into his face after 31 months of civil war, declared himself unworthy of commemorating the dead. His tone and language were very similar to key parts of New York Times correspondent Samuel Wilkesons soul-searing dispatch on deadline from Gettysburg more than four months earlier. After researching Wilkesons career for a book on Gettysburgs awful aftermath, I believe that Lincoln heavily embedded the reporters story into the Nov. 19, 1863, Gettysburg Address. (Michigan National Guard)

GETTYSBURG-COMMENT 1060 words The journalist who inspired Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address Seven score and 18 years ago on Friday, Abraham Lincoln stood on the grounds of a new cemetery in battle-scarred Gettysburg, Pa., to honor the Union men who had given a last full measure of devotion.

The nations 16th president, deep fissures of suffering etched into his face after 31 months of civil war, declared himself unworthy of commemorating the dead. His tone and language were very similar to key parts of New York Times correspondent Samuel Wilkesons soul-searing dispatch on deadline from Gettysburg more than four months earlier. After researching Wilkesons career for a book on Gettysburgs awful aftermath, I believe that Lincoln heavily embedded the reporters story into the Nov. 19, 1863, Gettysburg Address.

Our republic has survived 245 years of civilization-fracturing trials, and in our loud and divisive era, the role of the free press is under attack from many quarters. But this story of leader and journalist coming to similar conclusions during one of the countrys darkest previous moments is a shining example of the constitutional roles of a president elected by the people and a press independent of the government. History itself is under fresh reexamination - and for good cause, as wrongs and inequities of our age have forced a reassessment of the acts and prejudices of Americas founders and those who followed. A free press must lead in these re-examinations. A republic cannot honestly survive without it.

Im not alone in connecting Lincoln and Wilkeson. Dickinson College historian Matthew Pinsker has written that it appears very likely that Lincoln was working at least in part from another mans text in the Gettysburg Address.

Wilkesons July 6, 1863, Times story, considered by historians to be one of the best battlefield dispatches ever written, was later distributed as a pamphlet across the country. It told in deep detail and broad sweep the story of a battle in which more than 7,000 men died and more than 44,000 were wounded, captured or missing.

Wilkeson wove intimate descriptions of the brutality of combat - he was in Union Gen. George Meades headquarters when it was bombarded before Picketts charge up Cemetery Ridge on July 3 - with a detailed account of the strategy, and with prophetic analysis about the significance of Gettysburg as a pivot point in history. Reading it evokes chills and awe 158 years later.

The reporter wrote it while sitting at the makeshift gravesite of his oldest son, Bayard, who was just 19 and had been the youngest artillery officer in the Union Army. Bayard, later memorialized by artist Alfred Waud, was severely wounded in the battles opening salvos when a superior Confederate force overran his exposed position northwest of town. The young man suffered cruelly for hours as two women of mercy - one Black, one White - soothed him into death in a dank basement of the Adams County poorhouse.

The commander of the Union 11th Corps, the one-armed Oliver Otis Howard (who later founded Howard University), credited Bayard Wilkeson and fellow soldiers with resisting the Confederates long enough for pieces of an arriving Union Army to hold the high ground of Cemetery Ridge and win the battle two days later.

Lincoln often crossed courses with the hard-charging abolitionist Wilkeson, who was married to suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stantons sister, Cate. Wilkeson initially was New York Tribune editor Horace Greeleys Washington bureau chief; he moved to the Times only weeks before the battle. He was tough on the war effort. Four months before Gettysburg, when Lincoln met Wilkeson and a companion at the White House, the president complained that Wilkeson had constantly attacked the way in which the war is carried on, and everything.

But they shared key themes and language to commemorate the brutal fighting at Gettysburg from July 1-3, 1863, that forced Robert E. Lees Confederate army back to Virginia.

I have found no evidence the two men met right after the battle. Lincoln, who so loved newspapers before the war that hed often read whole stories to his law partner, would sometimes summon reporters after big battles, as he had done with a Wilkeson colleague after the disastrous Union defeat at Fredericksburg, Va., the year before. But Sam Wilkeson, crushed by Bayards death, disappeared into mourning for months after he filed his story.

Who can write the history of a savagery that had both taken his sons life and possibly saved the Union, Wilkeson asked in his lead paragraph, written after dark on July 4, Independence Day, and published July 6. Wilkeson closed with an answer: You dead, whom at Gettysburg have baptized with your blood a second birth of freedom.

In his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln proclaimed that we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

Most significantly, Lincoln mirrored Wilkesons second birth of freedom with a declaration that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.

There is further evidence that, in the hours immediately after the battle, Lincoln and Wilkeson drew similar lines from the founders to the dead at Gettysburg. On the night of July 7, after Wilkesons Times story would have hit streets of the capital, Lincoln briefly addressed a crowd that gathered outside the White House to celebrate victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, Miss.

How long ago is it - eighty-odd years - since on the Fourth of July for the first time in the history of the world a nation by its representatives assembled and declared as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal? he asked.

By November, Lincoln had refined it to four score and seven years ago.

Miami University of Ohio historian Martin P. Johnson has determined that Lincoln only twice during the war publicly declared that all men are created equal: In that July 7 speech, and in the Gettysburg Address.

Words from the ages. And words we still struggle to live by.

Chuck Raasch is the author of Imperfect Union: A Fathers Search for His Son in the Aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg. He is a former Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and a former national correspondent and columnist for Gannett News Service.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with members of Congress, parents and caregiving advocates hold a press conference supporting Build Back Better investments in home care, childcare, paid leave and expanded CTC payments in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Oct. 21, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi, Getty Images for MomsRising Together/TNS)

WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  A proposal by Illinois Democrat Tammy Duckworth to create an independent commission to examine U.S. government failures over two decades of war in Afghanistan looks like it will be included in the Senates version of the annual defense policy bill.

Speaking with CQ Roll Call on Thursday, Duckworth, a retired Army pilot who lost both her legs when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq in 2004 and now serves on the Armed Services Committee, said her amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act appears on track to be included in a managers package.

The managers package is a group of amendments that comes with the approval of committee leaders and is likely to be adopted without any objection.

Duckworth said she is refiling her amendment to include some language suggested by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the ranking Republican on the Intelligence Committee.

Rubio wants to add requirements to the report that the Independent Afghanistan Commission would generate, she said, such as including the intelligence communitys assessment of the effects of the August withdrawal of American forces.

The stuff that hes asking for, I dont always agree with it, but I think its reasonable, Duckworth said. The issues that he raised I thought were legitimate.

A broad mandate

Duckworths proposal would create a 16-person panel to conduct a comprehensive review of the entirety of the Afghanistan War, with a mandate to look at all aspects of government involvement, including the State and Defense departments, U.S. Agency for International Development and Congress itself.

Twenty years of failed congressional oversight and failed executive branch oversight led to the results in Afghanistan, she said. Congress is also at fault here, and Congress needs to be investigated. And I dont think Congress should be solely responsible for investigating itself.

Congress after Congress refused to debate a new authorization for use of military force and give new instructions for what needed to be done, she said.

Duckworths proposal would exclude anyone who served in a decision-making capacity relating to Afghanistan from being eligible to serve on the commission. So it would include no generals who served in Afghanistan, no members of Congress who served in Washington during the conflict and no former Defense Department officials who were involved in the wars prosecution.

Under Duckworths amendment, the chair and ranking member of six committees (House and Senate Armed Services, Intelligence and foreign affairs committees) would each appoint one member, and so would the majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate, for a total of 16 commissioners.

I didnt want anybody to say, the Republicans stacked it, or the Democrats stacked it, Duckworth said. I wanted this to truly be a real commission thats not political that gets to the bottom of the lessons learned.

Duckworth wants a panel that is nonpartisan, not bipartisan. While a member of the House, she served on the Benghazi committee, and she witnessed it devolve into a partisan brawl.

Duckworth said shes not opposed to Congress creating its own committee to conduct its own retrospective of the war, but suspects such an effort might quickly become highly partisan.

I dont want to see that happen here. I want to get real lessons learned because thats what our troops deserve, she said.

When the House Armed Services Committee marked up its version of the NDAA, some lawmakers, including Mississippi Republican Trent Kelly, said members of the committee would be abdicating their own oversight responsibilities if they ceded the investigation to an outside body. Others, including Maryland Democrat Anthony G. Brown, argued that with all their other obligations, members couldnt give the issue the attention it deserves.

With contentious midterm elections looming, Duckworth says shes not concerned with the commissions findings being used as campaign fodder.

Americans need to know the truth about what went wrong in Afghanistan, she said, notwithstanding the political blame game.

Because you know what? Theres a future Afghanistan out there, she said. It may be in Ethiopia, it may be in Asia. We cant make those same mistakes. We cant go into a place to fight a terrorist enemy and end up trying to nation-build with a military force that was never trained to nation-build.

2021 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

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The Department of Homeland Security is asking the Defense Department to provide up to 4,500 troops to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the U.S. border with Mexico and to help operate blimps that provide surveillance from up to 10,000 feet in the air. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection )

The Department of Homeland Security is asking the Pentagon to send an additional 1,500 troops to the U.S. border with Mexico next year, in part to operate observation blimps previously used by forces in Afghanistan, said Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas.

The request is making its way through the Defense Department approval process and could authorize up to 4,500 service members deploy to the southwest border during fiscal 2022, which began Oct. 1. It would expand the border mission that began nearly four years ago and includes a mix of active-duty and National Guard troops providing support to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, known as CBP.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the request because it has not yet been approved.

The request calls for more troops to operate large blimps, also known as aerostats, said Cuellar, whose district includes a stretch of south Texas and the border town of Laredo. The surveillance equipment hovers at up 10,000 feet, accumulating data of the surrounding area.

CBP said in a statement that the request is to address a funding shortfall that will end the tactical aerostat program in December. The request to the Pentagon also asks for a potential loan of additional aerostats, according to the statement.

Cuellar said he supports the use of the blimps, which the agency refers to as the Tactical Aerostat System Program.

They were talking about getting rid of certain aerostats and I disagree, he said Wednesday during a call with reporters.

He first saw the blimps in use in Afghanistan during a congressional trip years ago and he thought they would be advantageous at the southern border, where there are vast, open stretches of land. He also said he supports additional cameras, drones and artificial intelligence to watch over these isolated areas.

The problem is that Homeland [Security] got into a contract with a private company, and they were paying them, some of them, up to $5.3 million a year just to run them, not for the equipment, Cuellar said.

The aerostats are still important to the mission, but need to be managed more affordably. Troops are one option, as is seeking a better contract, he said.

Blimps are not completely foreign to the military  troops used tactical aerostats in Afghanistan, according to CBP, which acquired some of those blimps from the Defense Department. Some of the blimps also have cameras that offer real-time imagery to agents on the ground.

The blimps use helium to hover in the air, but are moored to the ground with a nylon fiber cable, according to CBP. The unmanned, unarmed blimps can detect aircraft within about 200 miles, as well as ground and water traffic.

The aerostat program began more than 30 years ago under the U.S. Customs Service to track low-flying aircraft used by drug smugglers, according to CBP. The Air Force managed the program until it transferred the mission to CBP in 2013.

However, tactical aerostats were last funded in the fiscal 2020 budget for about $26.5 million, according to online budget documents. The Department of Homeland Security justified the cut in 2021, stating remote video surveillance systems could cover the job and not impact performance.

DHS did not ask for funding for the blimps in its proposed fiscal 2022 budget.

Each blimp cost about $8.9 million in 2014 and lasts about five years, according to CBP.

About 2,400 troops are now deployed to the southwest border, said Lt. Col. Chris Mitchell, a Pentagon spokesman. The troops are a mix of active-duty service members and National Guard troops from nearly two dozen states. Their work includes helping to identify, monitor and analyze patterns of unauthorized entry and alert Border Patrol agents.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin authorized up to 3,000 troops to serve in support of the Department of Homeland Security through Sept. 30, 2022, or the end of the fiscal year.

Former President Donald Trump first ordered National Guard troops to the border in April 2018, then added active-duty personnel about six months later. When President Joe Biden took office in January, he ended construction of a physical border wall initiated by Trump, but kept troops on the mission.

Rose Thayer Rose L. Thayer is based in Austin, Texas, and she has been covering the western region of the continental U.S. for Stars and Stripes since 2018. Before that she was a reporter for Killeen Daily Herald and a freelance journalist for publications including The Alcalde, Texas Highways and the Austin American-Statesman. She is the spouse of an Army veteran and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. Her awards include a 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Washington Dateline Award and an Honorable Mention from the Military Reporters and Editors Association for her coverage of crime at Fort Hood.
Members of the VFW Fowler Dix Park Chapter 5095 of East Hampton present the colors at a ceremony hosted by the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs and the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association at the State Veterans Cemetery in 2019 in Middletown. (Kassi Jackson, The Hartford Courant/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9929 in West Hartford usually fill the quorum of five needed to hold a monthly meeting, but sometimes they fall short.

Most of the membership moved away or failed to stay involved. Its a shame, post commander Nicholas Vendetta, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, said Tuesday.

The post sold its building at 83 South St. late last year as membership sank and bills mounted. Now the West Hartford veterans are preparing to merge with New Britains VFW Post 511.

Post consolidation is a key strategy for the VFWs long-term survival in Connecticut, said Ron Rusko Rusakiewicz, the organizations state adjutant quartermaster and judge advocate general of the national organization.

Dwindling membership and lack of funding has affected VFW, American Legion and other veterans organizations throughout the state and nation.

Obviously, COVID did not help us at all, Rusakiewicz, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, said.

The American Legion Post 68 in Berlin faces the threat of closure due to pressing building repairs, Auxiliary President Lisa Gagliardi said. Funds from the posts canteen and pasta suppers have not come close to the $100,000 needed for roof replacement and other repairs. Also, members cannot focus on serving veterans while constantly attending to building maintenance, she said.

VFW members in Manchester had to sell their building because they could not meet the cost of roof, siding and other repairs.

At least on paper, consolidation of the New Britain and West Hartford posts will raise membership to about 270, said Daniel Lutty, commander of the New Britain post on Veterans Drive, which faces a $150,000 bill to replace the heating and air conditioning system at the Veterans Drive hall.

Middletowns Post 583 is a consolidation completed this year of another city post and the Middlefield-Rockfall post, current Post 583 adjutant Michael Rogalsky said. The merger lifted membership from 32 at Post 583 to 113, Rogalsky said.

The post, which meets at the American Legion hall in Middletown, mostly consists of Vietnam veterans. A key problem, organization leaders throughout the state say, is that service members from more recent wars are not replacing the fading population of World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans.

In the past 20 years, the American Legions membership has declined by nearly 23 percent, and since 1992, the VFWs has declined by almost half, The Atlantic reported on Nov. 11.

It took me 20 years before I would get involved with any vets groups, Rogalsky, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, said. These guys from Iraq and Afghanistan, when they get back theyre trying to clear their heads and God bless em, I hope they do it better than we did.

Older veterans are ready to help their younger counterparts, connecting them to services or just listening and sharing experiences, Rogalsky said.

We have the connections and the knowledge, so we can steer them in the right direction, he said. Theres issues that are going to crop up.

Although younger members are in demand, the VFWs statewide and national leadership already reflect a change. Rusakiewicz said all but one of the state VFW district leaders are post-Vietnam War veterans. National Commander in Chief Matthew M. Fritz Mihelcic served in the Air National Guard from 1989 to 1999, including service in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The national organizations other two top leaders also are veterans of more recent wars.

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Julia Kabance, 111, the nations oldest living female World War II veteran and oldest living member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  Supercentenarian Julia Kabances independence may have been part of the reason she lived so long, she said.

Because she never married, I could do whatever I wanted, Kabance told a reporter two years ago.

Kabance, 111, the nations oldest living female World War II veteran and oldest living member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, died Tuesday, the tribe announced on its Facebook site.

Kabance, who turned 111 in August, lived at a Wamego nursing home. She was thought to be the oldest living person in Kansas, though the state doesnt keep records of that.

Americas oldest living person is Thelma Sutcliffe of Omaha, Neb., according to the AARP. She turned 115 last month. Lawrence Brooks, 112, of New Orleans, is the nations oldest male World War II vet, according to USA Today.

Kabance had hoped to live to be 112, the told the Manhattan Mercury during the April 2019 interview in which she attributed her longevity in part to her independence.

She had lived independently at St. Marys until moving to the nursing home at Wamego when she was 108, she said.

Kabance was born in 1910 on Jackson Countys Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation, the 11th of 12 children, the tribe said on its Facebook site.

She attended what is now Haskell Indian Nations University and later the University of Kansas, both at Lawrence, and served from 1943 to 1945 in the Womens Army Corps, that site said.

Kabance was employed after the war by the Air Force in Topeka, then studied accounting before working in the state of Washington and on the East Coast, she told the Mercury.

She also spent a lot of time volunteering with the VA and the Catholic Church, she said.

(c)2021 The Topeka Capital-Journal, Kan.

Visit The Topeka Capital-Journal at www.cjonline.com
Footage showing up to three bodies inside the Pike River mine is being described as cold comfort by some of the families.

While it was the thing the loved ones of the 29 men killed in the disaster had waited more than a decade for, it was coupled with the knowledge that none of the men would ever be recovered, now that the mine was sealed.

Kloe Nieper's husband Kane, was last known to be working roughly 200 metres from where the footage of the remains was gathered, in one of the furthest reaches of the mine.

The discovery of the men was tainted by the knowledge they would never be brought out and returned to their families, says Kloe.

"I just wish the government wasn't in such a hurry to close or to seal the mine for god only knows what reason. You know they should have just let the police do their thing and then after that maybe seal it."

Kloe Nieper with son Kalani. Photo: RNZ / Conan Young.

The head of the inquiry, Superintendent Peter Read, says the quality of the footage had improved markedly on that gathered during the first investigation.

Before, they could only see four metres ahead and the images were grainy. Now they were getting detailed images and could see up to 50 metres ahead.

However, Kloe says after nearly 11 years of getting her hopes up that the police would finally gather enough evidence to prosecute somebody, she had learned to rein in her expectations.

"Just because of all the disappointments we've had in the past. So it's really hard to kind of know whether or not we'll go ahead or what will happen. There should be [a prosecution], definitely, and I hope there is but again it's just one of those things. You get your hopes up and then all of a sudden you get knocked back down again."

For Anna Osborne, who had already made peace with the fact her husband Milton would never be returned to her, hearing the mens' bodies had been discovered left her in shock.

"I didn't know how to feel, it's a rollercoaster of emotions thinking is that Milt, who was that, do they know who it is, can they identify them. So a bit of shock and a bit of joy," says Anna.

While she was desperate for a successful police prosecution, any attempt to move further into the mine would only risk more lives, she says.

This was made clear to her two weeks ago when she was shown footage of the main workings from another one of the borehole cameras.

"It wasn't a nice clean roadway or anything like that. There were chains hanging off the roof and on the floor, there was pipe everywhere and rubble built up quite high, so quite a nasty looking place down there."

While the mine had now been sealed, further boreholes were planned between now and the end of the year, which Read says may produce further footage of other men in their final resting place.

So far the two or possibly three bodies found had yet to be identified, but that work continues.

Read says there is no date for the investigation to be completed by, but a pointer to the direction it was heading in was provided in an update to families last month.

Police say they have uncovered evidence of a build up of gas in the mine in the months before the explosion, and that management knew about it but deliberately ignored it.

On Wednesday the minister in charge of the recovery effort, Andrew Little, let his thoughts be known on who he held responsible.

"A lot of shortcuts taken and I think commercial imperatives took over. And there's no question in my mind the Pike River mine company was trying to get the quickest return on its investment, knowing that this was an incredibly difficult project to pull off, and people have paid for those judgements and misjudgements with their lives."

Friday marks 11 years since the first explosion rang through the Paparoa Ranges.

Kloe will not be going up to the portal this year.

Instead she will with her son, Kalani, who was only 19 months old when his dad died, and sit at a seat by the sea, which was made especially for Kane.

Eleven years on she had not achieved anything like closure, but was learning to deal with his loss without it completely overwhelming her.

Conan Young/RNZ.
A woman, originally from Katikati, is facing a desperate battle to receive an exemption to leave Managed Isolation in Auckland to visit her terminally ill sister in Omokoroa and now has a National MP fighting her corner.

Shelley Grierson returned to New Zealand from her new home in Canterbury in the United Kingdom late Monday night. She has been granted an emergency allocation at the Four Points by Sheraton MIQ facility in Auckland.

She had rushed to return to New Zealand, with her one-year-old son Leo, after receiving the devastating news last Thursday that her sister, Rebecca Spoerl, had potentially just days to live after a serious relapse in her treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Rebecca, who is 37-years-old and has two young children, was first diagnosed a year ago and, despite an initially promising prognosis following stem cell treatment in Auckland, is now receiving palliative care.

Despite being fully vaccinated, testing negative pre and post-arrival in MIQ and receiving the all-clear from a nurse, Shelley has now had numerous applications for compassionate exemption to leave MIQ before the seven-day isolation refused.

Having considered your circumstances and all of the information available, and balanced these against the risk to public health, I have determined, that unfortunately, your application must be declined, reads a letter signed by the Head of Managed Isolation and Quarantine, Brigadier Rose King.

You are therefore required to complete the remainder of your isolation period in one of our facilities.

Considering the rapid deterioration of her sisters condition, Shelley fears the seven-day wait may prove telling.

I do understand the purpose and circumstances around MIQ but they are not looking at the evidence they are just rejecting it because I have been here less than seven days, says Shelley.

But the next seven days is why I am here.

Shelleys case has been supported by a consultant hematologist at the Waikato District Health Board. In a letter, seen by SunLive, Rebeccas life expectancy is placed at very short (days to weeks at most) and advises that home isolation be approved for Shelley to be able to see her sister.

Rebecca Spoerl and her family. Supplied photo.

Shelley says she would be isolating at her parents house in rural Katikati and only leaving to visit her sister in Omokoroa.

This trip is to hold a bedside vigil, not wining and dining my way around 'the public', says Shelley.

I made it clear that I will be at one address the whole time and wearing a mask. Also, groceries are being arranged to be delivered contact-free, and I will not be visiting shops, anything like that.

The situation is far too pressing and upsetting for that in any case.

Shelleys British husband is now also trying to receive an emergency exemption to enter New Zealand to support Shelley and their young son, having been refused due to not being a New Zealand citizen.

National MP Scott Simpson, the MP for the Coromandel electorate in which both Omokoroa and Katikati reside, has now sent a letter supporting Shelleys application for an exemption due to exceptional circumstances from Managed Isolation.

Speaking to SunLive, Scott made his belief clear that Shelleys circumstances must meet the threshold for a compassionate exemption and also highlight how outdated the current MIQ system remains.

There is nothing kind about the situation this family finds themselves in, says Scott.

It is cruel, it is heartless and it is uncaring.

I am calling on the Government to make an equitable exception in this case, for obvious reasons, and if they have a heart they will do that.

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson. File Image. SunLive.

Scott also suggests this situation highlights the outdated nature of the current MIQ system.

This situation is a very good example of why the MIQ system now needs to be dismantled, says Scott.

I have had similar situations over the next few months and some heartbreaking examples of situations where families have been separated.

We have now got the ludicrous situation where we have people isolated in MIQ who are fully vaccinated, who dont have Covid, who are locked in the prison of MIQ. Meanwhile, we have literally hundreds of Covid positive people isolating at home.

I think it makes a mockery of the outdated MIQ system. I believe the time is now overdue to make changes.

For Shelley, she is hoping for a change in tact before Monday.

It would feel better if I was still in the UK and it was impossible to even get a flight back, she says.

It is so much more upsetting to have made it here but I am currently looking at the Sky Tower and I cant get any further.

It is so much worse.
Leaders in the Tauranga community are imploring residents to get tested if displaying symptoms of Covid-19 and to get vaccinated after the return of Covid-19 in the community yesterday.

Two positive cases were confirmed yesterday, one in Mount Maunganui and one in Pyes Pa, Tauranga.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Pete Chandler says it is probable that there are undetected cases still to be found and that current vaccination rates in the region are not yet high enough.

This is a final call, says Pete in relation to getting vaccinated.

If you dont go to the gate now, youll miss the plane.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says his office is there for residents who are impacted by this latest outbreak.

While this was inevitable at some point, it will still be concerning to locals, says Bridges.

Tauranga MP Simon Bridges. Photo. John Borren.

Those with symptoms should get tested, and those who arent yet should get vaccinated.

My electorate office and I are always available to help constituents affected in anyway - dont hesitate to get in contact.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board Covid-19 incident controller Trevor Richardson highlighted the symptoms of Covid-19 and says anyone suffering with them should get tested whilst again forcing home the importance of vaccinations.

Getting fully vaccinated will help protect you and the people you love against Covid-19 says Trevor.

Symptoms of Covid-19 can include: a new or worsening cough, sneezing and runny nose, fever, temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste, sore throat, and shortness of breath.

Tauranga City Council commission chair Anne Tolley, who revealed to Stuff yesterday that her brother-in-law had died of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom, highlighted the importance of vaccinations.

Tauranga City Council commission chair Anne Tolley. Photo. John Borren.

Unfortunately we do now have Covid in our community and that emphasises how important it is for everyone who has not already done so to get vaccinated, says Tolley.

The evidence is clear  vaccination hugely reduces the impact of Covid-19. People who have been fully vaccinated are less likely to catch the virus and theyre much less likely to need hospitalisation or to die as a result of infection.

She also pointed out the crucial measures such as wearing face coverings, social distancing, maintaining good hygiene and use of the NZ Covid-tracer app as ways to protect those around us.

Lets do everything we can to keep our whanau and friends safe, says Tolley.

Whilst not directly impacted, Western Bay of Plenty District Council are asking constituents who regularly travel through Tauranga to keep scanning and if feeling unwell to get a test.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley believes that this outbreak will see Tauranga enter the Governments new traffic light framework at red status in the coming weeks and is imploring employers in the area to do their bit.

Its not surprising to hear cases have arrived as our region is part of the Golden Triangle where Delta has established itself, says Cowley.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley. File Image.

It is likely that we will enter the Governments new traffic light framework under a red status in the next few weeks.

Taurangas case numbers will likely increase over the coming days. Employers should be anticipating that some of their staff may need to isolate at home and should be putting in steps to avoid Delta infecting whole teams and impacting their capacity to deliver.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Te Runanga o Ngati Ranginui iwi are calling on locals to protect kaumatua and whanau by getting tested if symptomatic.

Keep an eye on the locations of interest which are updated on the Ministry's website, says the statement.

Continue to scan, wear masks and wash your hands and if you haven't already done so, consider getting vaccinated. Evidence shows this is our best defence against Covid-19. Kia mataara.

They also pressed home the message of good hygiene.

With two confirmed cases of Covid-19 in our rohe here is an important reminder, good hygiene is one of the best defences against Covid-19! Be sure to wash your hands regularly and cough or sneeze into your elbow.

They also point toward hapori vaccination centres which can be found on keiakoe.nz or to visit karawhiua.nz for vaccination services in other areas.

Whanau, if you are not yet vaccinated for Covid-19, now is the time to sort that out.

In a statement on social media, the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence team has highlighted the importance of contact tracing in the fight to contain any outbreak.

Its not great news about Covid arriving in Tauranga but we knew it would happen sooner or later, reads a statement.

Its important for us all remember to keep track of wherever we go and to be aware of locations of interest- either through your tracer app or in a notebook.

As the virus spreads, contact tracers may not be able to get in touch with all contacts quickly, so it makes a big difference if we can isolate and get tested early.

Look after yourselves and each other.
Worker dies after fall while repairing roof in Malaga A colleague was seriously injured in the accident and transferred to the citys Regional Hospital

A worker has died and another was seriously injured after falling from a roof in Malaga city on Wednesday evening, according to the 112 Andalucia emergency services control room.

The accident happened at around 6.20pm when the two workers apparently fell from a roof they were repairing, at a height of around seven metres.

National Police, Local Police and healthcare services were alerted but the death of one of the workers was confirmed by police. An ambulance transferred the injured worker to the city's Regional Hospital.

Fragile and deteriorated

According to union sources, the second worker is in serious condition and claimed the fall happened because of the 'fragile and deteriorated' state of the roof on which the deceased man and his companion were working.

As a result of the incident, this Thursday (18 November) the CCOO and UGT unions gathered, at 12 noon, to denounce the death as a result of a work-related accident.
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Change of CEO for Concordia Maritime

Erik Lewenhaupt will take over as CEO of Concordia Maritime on 1 January 2022. Erik succeeds Kim Ullman, who has informed the Board of his wish to step down as CEO and retire.

Erik Lewenhaupt has a long track record in tanker shipping. He started his tanker career at Nordstrom & Thulin in 1996, and was later recruited to Stena Bulk, where he was tanker chartering manager in both Gothenburg and Singapore. His most recent position has been Head of Sustainability at Stena Line, where he has been instrumental in transforming Stena's ferry services into one of the transport sector's most sustainable operations. Erik takes over from Kim Ullman, who was involved in starting and establishing Stena's tanker shipping business, now Stena Bulk and Concordia Maritime. Kim Ullman has been both influential and instrumental in several crucial transactions. In addition to his position as Vice President of Stena Bulk for many years, Kim has also been CEO of Stentex, Head of Stena Bulk's Houston office and CEO of Stena LNG and Stena Weco. For the last eight years, he has been CEO of Concordia Maritime. "After 45 years in the shipping business, Kim Ullman has decided to retire. Kim is recognised in the market as a skilled and driven "shipping man" and as such has made important contributions in a cyclical and at times challenging market. We will miss Kim's drive, market insight and friendship," says Carl-Johan Hagman, Chairman of the Board of Concordia Maritime, who goes on to say: "It is really exciting to be able to welcome Erik Lewenhaupt back to tanker shipping. Erik has extensive experience in both tanker shipping and sustainability - two key areas as we look ahead. We wish him success in navigating the cyclical and volatile tanker market from his new position."




PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) Q3/9M results announcement

SCF grows its fixed income industrial business further. The conventional tanker market shows signs of an upturn.

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group, the Company; MOEX: FLOT), a global leader in marine energy transportation services, releases its Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the periods ended 30 September 2021. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS During 9M 2021, SCF grew its fixed income industrial business portfolio with nine new contracts  seven new contracts for LNG carrier new buildings and two new contracts for shuttle tankers. The Groups contract backlog rose by further USD 1.3 billion over the reporting period and the total contract backlog stood at USD 24 billion as of 30 September 2021.

Conventional tanker market began to show initial signs of recovery with a seasonal uplift in charter rates since October 2021.

Q3 2021 time-charter equivalent (TCE) revenue was USD 269.8 million (5.3 per cent decrease on Q2 2021). 9M 2021 revenue was USD 829.7 million (22.4 per cent down year-on-year).

Q3 2021 EBITDA was USD 170.1 million (6.2 per cent decrease on Q2 2021). The EBITDA margin remained flat at 63 per cent. 9M 2021 EBITDA declined 32.2 per cent year-on-year to USD 507.3 million.

Q3 2021 net income adjusted for impairment provisions, foreign exchange gains and losses and gains and losses related to the revaluation of financial assets reached USD 28.4 million (21.4 per cent decrease compared with Q2 2021). 9M 2021 adjusted net income was USD 87.4 million.

SCF Groups industrial business portfolio, comprising liquefied gas transportation (LNG and LPG vessels) and harsh environment offshore services (ice-class shuttle tankers and ice-breaking supply and stand-by vessels) accounted for 66 per cent of SCF Groups TCE revenue in 9M 2021 and continued to provide a long-term fixed income revenue stream. Industrial business segments contributed USD 544.3 million to 9M 2021 TCE revenue, delivering 8.6 per cent year-on-year growth due to the input from three new LNG carriers delivered in 2020 and 2021, which are employed under long-term contracts with Shell and Total Energies. Q3 2021 revenue for the industrial segment of USD 180.9 million remained unchanged comparing to Q2 2021. 9M 2021 (Net Earnings from Vessels Trading (NEVT) increased to USD 445.9 million (up 10.5 per cent year-on-year). In Q3 2021 NEVT reached USD 145.4 million (down 2.3 per cent on Q2 2021) due to scheduled maintenance in the gas segment.

portfolio, comprising liquefied gas transportation (LNG and LPG vessels) and harsh environment offshore services (ice-class shuttle tankers and ice-breaking supply and stand-by vessels) accounted for 66 per cent of SCF Groups TCE revenue in 9M 2021 and continued to provide a long-term fixed income revenue stream. SCF Groups conventional tanker business (crude and oil products transportation business segments) contributed 30 per cent to 9M 2021 TCE revenue.

(crude and oil products transportation business segments) contributed 30 per cent to 9M 2021 TCE revenue. 9M 2021 performance of the conventional tanker business remained under pressure, as spot tanker rates troughed at historical low levels during the reporting period. Revenue for the period declined to USD 252.5 million (52.5 per cent down year-on-year). Q3 2021 revenue was USD 72.3 million, a 19.7 per cent decline QoQ. Results were impacted not only by the depressed state of the tanker market but also by vessel disposals during 9M 2021 and scheduled maintenance.

9M 2021 NEVT in the conventional tanker business reached USD 103.6 million. Q3 2021 NEVT was USD 22.2 million, reflecting a decline in the segments revenue. OPERATIONAL UPDATE INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS SCF Group continued to grow its long-term industrial business portfolio, with a focus on implementation of advanced and environmentally sound technologies. As of 30 September 2021, SCF operated a fleet of 43 industrial vessels with one vessel  the LNG carrier SCF Timmerman  joined the fleet in January 2021. SCF Group focuses on the development of its liquefied gas transportation services. In January and July 2021 contracts for three newbuilding 174,000-cbm LNG carriers were concluded with TotalEnergies. The vessels will be chartered for a period of up to seven years and add USD 360 million to SCFs contract backlog. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for 2023 and 2024. In September 2021 SCF Group, through a joint venture with NYK, signed long-term time-charter contracts with NOVATEK Gas and Power Asia, a subsidiary of PAO NOVATEK, for four newbuildings 174,000-cbm Ice 1A LNG carriers. The vessels will be chartered for a period of up to fifteen years and SCFs share adds a further USD 700 million to its contract backlog. Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for 2023 and 2024. As a part of SCFs offshore business development, two LNG-fuelled tankers will be retrofitted to shuttle crude oil and serve the Sakhalin-2 project under up to thirteen years contracts (signed in June 2021) starting from 2024, providing an additional contract backlog of USD 215 million. CONVENTIONAL TANKER BUSINESS Q3 2021 continued to be challenging for SCFs conventional tanker business with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions impacting international trade and economies. SCF is cautiously optimistic that the market is coming through the trough of the cycle, as the Groups expectations of a seasonal uplift in rates begins to materialise. Demand for oil transportation is recovering as oil product consumption heads towards pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, high steel prices are both encouraging an increase in vessel demolitions and discouraging owners from adding further newbuildings to the supply side. As a part of SCFs ongoing fleet modernisation and optimisation programme, the Group disposed of some aging vessels. During 9M 2021, four oil products vessels (two of which were partly owned through equity-accounted JVs), four oil tankers and two Panamax dry bulk carriers were sold. By selling the two Panamax dry bulk carriers, Sovcomflot has completed its exit from this non-core segment. Total net sale proceeds of USD 132.6 million, arising from these disposals, will further strengthen the Groups liquidity position and will be applied towards financing SCFs new projects. CAPITAL AND FINANCING Three leading international rating agencies upgraded PAO Sovcomflots credit ratings to investment grade level during the reporting period: Fitch (BBB-/stable) and S&P Global (BBB-/stable) in April 2021 and Moodys (Baa3/stable) in June 2021. On 26 April 2021, PAO Sovcomflot completed a USD 430 million 7-year unsecured Reg S/144A Eurobond issue, with a coupon of 3.85 per cent. SCF utilized the proceeds to fund a concurrent tender offer for the Companys outstanding Eurobonds maturing in 2023. The deal was debt neutral for SCF Group, whilst allowing the smoothing out and extension of the Companys debt repayment profile and a reduction in the pricing of its unsecured debt. After the reporting period, in November 2021, Sovcomflot (SCF Group) signed a new USD 110 million credit facility, for ten years, with three leading international banks: ING BANK N.V., SMBC BANK EU AG and UNICREDIT BANK AG. The facility will be used towards financing two ice-class shuttle tankers to be delivered in Q1 2022 to serve the Sakhalin 1 project. Exxon Neftegas Ltd. (an affiliate of Exxon Mobil) is the projects operator and acts as the charterer of the vessels. In November 2021, Seatrade Maritime International Association in association with Lloyd's List recognised SCFs IPO on the Moscow Exchange in October 2020, as the Deal of the Year. The award-winning sizable transaction happened in an all-virtual format and was long awaited both by the industry and by the Russian capital market. The company successfully raised total gross proceeds of RUB 42.9 billion (equivalent to USD 550 million, as of the date of issue). Following the transaction, the Groups shares were included in the FTSE Global and MSCI Russia Small Cap international indices. DIVIDENDS UPDATE On 15 June 2021, SCFs Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) approved the payment of dividends on the ordinary registered shares of PAO Sovcomflot, based on the results of 2020, in the total amount of RUB 15.8 billion, or RUB 6.67 per share. The dividend was paid in full to shareholders in July 2021. SCF targets dividend payments of not less than 50 per cent of net profit adjusted for non-monetary items (impairment provisions, foreign exchange gains and losses and revaluation of financial assets)ii, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors and shareholders. Commenting on the 9M and Q3 2021 results, Igor Tonkovidov, President and Chief Executive Officer of PAO Sovcomflot, said: Our industrial business segment performed strongly, consistently and in line with previous guidance. New additions to SCFs contract backlog will further strengthen our industrial business, giving us confidence in the long-term visibility, stability and growth of cash flow from infrastructure projects. With the addition of new time-charter contracts with TotalEnergies and NOVATEK for LNG carriers and with Sakhalin Energy for shuttle tankers, the cumulative increase in our contract backlog in the first nine months of 2021 came at USD 1.3 billion. Following these new additions, our total contract backlog stood at USD 24 billion as of the reporting date. We continue to grow our business, considering all available innovative technologies to reinforcement of our fleets safety and efficiency, whilst reducing vessel emissions, as we have done with our recent orders, all of which will use LNG as their primary fuel  the most efficient fuel type currently available. We are also pleased to note that our assumptions of a recovery in the tanker market are starting to materialise. The combination of a rebound in demand and tightening supply should lead to an improvement in freight rates. Nikolay Kolesnikov, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PAO Sovcomflot added: The recent completion of a USD 110 million credit facility with three international banks allows us to address in full the Groups funding requirements for 2022 new vessel deliveries. Earlier in the year we accomplished a partial refinancing of bonds with 2023 maturity through a new unsecured USD 430 million 2028 bond issue. The Company is well capitalised with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 3.5 times as at the end of the reporting period and has no imminent financing or refinancing needs. On the first anniversary for Sovcomflots IPO, on 7 October 2021, with the support of the Moscow Exchange, we hosted the Companys first Capital Markets Day which was well attended by the investment community.




SCF concludes new international project financing for two shuttle tankers

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) has signed a new USD 110 million credit facility, for ten years, with three leading international banks: ING BANK N.V.; SMBC BANK EU AG and UNICREDIT BANK AG.

The facility will be used to finance two new ice-class shuttle tankers, to be delivered in Q1 2022, to serve the Sakhalin-1 project (oil and gas development in the Sea of Okhotsk, on the north-eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island, Russia). Exxon Neftegas Ltd. (an affiliate of Exxon Mobil) is the projects operator and acts as the charterer for the vessels. The new vessels will incorporate advanced design features that meet the latest environmental requirements, providing improved fuel efficiency and decreased CO2 emissions by at least 10% (when compared with previous generations of shuttle tankers). Delivery of the vessels will further enlarge SCF Groups industrial business portfolio, adding more than USD 300 million in value to Sovcomflots contract backlog. Nikolay Kolesnikov, Executive Vice-President & CFO of PAO Sovcomflot, said: We are grateful to our long-standing financial partners for their continued support of SCFs business. We are also pleased that this financing reflected the Poseidon Principles, an initiative by the banking community allowing control of GHG emissions of their shipping portfolios and aimed at decarbonisation of the shipping industry. This new loan agreement demonstrates the high level of interest and support of international lenders to SCF Group, as well as the companys uninterrupted access to diversified sources of capital amid the market cyclicality. The completion of this project credit facility allows us to address in full funding requirements for new vessel deliveries in 2022.




V.Group joins forces with Mrsk Mc-Kinney Mller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

GLOBAL ship management company V.Group has reinforced its commitment to decarbonisation of the shipping industry by launching a dedicated Sustainability & Decarbonization department and entering a strategic partnership with Mrsk Mc-Kinney Mller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (the Center).

Company commits to helping industry transition to net-zero future

Approach includes broad partnerships, innovation and data deployment

Customers and wider industry to benefit from partnership Launched in 2020 as an independent, not-for-profit organisation, the Center is undertaking intensive research and development to find practical ways to decarbonise the maritime industry through several global initiatives. As a partner, V.Group intends to support its customers in the use of transition fuels, including green ammonia and hydrogen, in anticipation of a stricter regulatory climate. The leading ship manager will make several of its marine specialists available to the Center in Copenhagen to provide insights about the operational practicality of proposed initiatives in a live setting. Rene Kofod-Olsen, CEO at V.Group said: We firmly believe that by pooling our resources, the maritime sector could play an exemplary role in bringing about fundamental change to protecting our planet. By establishing a dedicated function and joining forces with the Mrsk Mc-Kinney Mller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, we are demonstrating our commitment to driving this change in a very real and practical way. By supporting the use of pioneering new fuels, new technologies and digital practices, V.Group aims to remove barriers, close gaps and find solutions, and will thereby assist our customers and the industry towards lower carbon emissions. As well as informing our own practices, we believe that the dedicated approach and our involvement with the Center will be of significant benefit to our customers and the wider industry. We are committed to ensuring that operating procedures, safety management and crew training are kept in step with innovation. Crew, for instance, will have to know how to handle, store and manage new fuels and operate technically advanced propulsion and power generation equipment. In the coming years, the entire seafaring community will need to be trained or retrained to adapt to this new low carbon world. Our customers can rest assured that we are prepared for these major changes. Environmental credentials will soon become as important a consideration for vessel owners as health and safety, so it is imperative ship managers take the initiative. In welcoming V.Group to the Center Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, said: We are delighted to be joining forces with V.Group. Decarbonizing the maritime industry by 2050 calls for action now and together we will support the first movers that lead the way and demonstrate real climate action. This transformation is about much more than maturing new fuel pathways and developing new technologies. It is a systemic change to an entire business system and the implementation of the new solutions will impose significant challenges across all parts of the value chain. V.Group brings decades of operational experience, expertise and insights that will help inform best practices around safety, training and new operational standards.



Connecting the human element and best practises of safety management to the hard engineering will be critical for a successful industrial transition. V.Group will contribute with significant knowledge and expertise in this field. V.Groups partnership underlines the wider realisation that change is inevitable. The shipping industry currently accounts for three per cent of global CO2 emissions and has made numerous commitments to reduce these by 2050.




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What just happened? The US Department of Justice has been given the green light by a district judge to begin liquidating approximately $56 million in cryptocurrency sized from the number one promoter of BitConnect, a failed cryptocurrency that was linked to a Ponzi scheme a few years back.

Back in September, 44-year-old Glenn Arcaro of Los Angeles pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to defraud BitConnect investors. Arcaro said he and others knowingly mislead investors about BitConnects supposedly proprietary technology, which they claimed could generate substantial profits and guaranteed returns.

In truth, BitConnect operated a textbook Ponzi scheme by paying earlier BitConnect investors with money from later investors, the Justice Department said.

Investors collectively dumped over $2 billion into the scheme, making it the largest cryptocurrency fraud scheme ever charged criminally.

The governments goal with the liquidation is to make whole victims of the scheme through restitution. Those who lost money are invited to fill out a victim impact statement to identify themselves as potential victims. The government will sell off the crypto and hold the proceeds in US dollars before distributing it to victims.

It's unclear which cryptocurrency or cryptocurrencies the seized funds are in, but a good guess would be Bitcoin. The largest cryptocurrency by market cap is currently trading just south of $58,000 after hitting an all-time high earlier this month of nearly $69,000.

Arcaro, meanwhile, is scheduled to be sentenced early next year and is facing a maximum of 20 years in prison for his role as the top promoter of BitConnect in the US. Arcaro said he earned no less than $24 million from BitConnect, all of which must be paid back to investors.

Image credit Pixabay, Worldspectrum
(Photo : Campaign Creators from Unsplash) Mytaverse is the latest company to engage in a metaverse-focused platform. This time, the Miami startup created a virtual space for business meetings and interactions.

Mytaverse, a Miami-based startup, is the latest company to join the metaverse hype after launching its own 3D platform for business aviation.

For those people who frequently travel around the world, this creation would allow them to attend meetings using their avatars. Arranging a conference is now made easier through this virtual space.

Mytaverse Delivers Business Travel Platform

The idea of metaverse was popularized this year by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He believed that the virtual platform would allow people to explore more things than they could imagine.

Following this announcement about the Meta rebranding, several companies decided to dive into the metaverse bandwagon. One of them was Mytaverse.

According to a report by VentureBeat, the firm would make use of Unreal Engine to imitate the true-to-life graphics shared in a digital space. Moreover, this would let interactions between humans and their environment in an internet world. This would also mean that they could engage in their surroundings without wearing any VR or AR equipment.

Businessmen who often ride aboard an airplane would be free from jetlags thanks to the metaverse. They will no longer suffer from motion sickness and even free themselves from wearing expensive headsets.

For instance, Mytaverse's creation has something to do with people who remotely work for a living. Given the hardships brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, it's reasonable why many employees choose to stay at home rather than go to the physical workplace.

Related Article: Niantic to Launch 'Lightship' Focused on Building 'Real-World' Metaverse Apps | Major Update to Start in 2022

In an interview with GamesBeat, Mytaverse CEO Kenneth Landau described Zoom and other similar platforms as "woefully inadequate." He said that the company arrived with the idea of bringing a virtual space because of the current condition that the world is facing right now.

Mytaverse features a lot of virtual environments that people could engage in, including an auditorium, conference booths, meeting rooms, training simulations, and more. They could use 3D items and evaluate them from there.

The company added that participants could develop a hologram avatar to perform common tasks such as dancing, jumping, and others. Attendees are also welcomed in the virtual world, and they can save digital content in a "briefcase."

So far, Mytaverse has already worked with industry giants such as PepsiCo, Tekni-Plex, and Zaha Hadid Architects. The firm recently used its 3D platform during the 2021 Asia Sky Group Virtual Event conference.

Read Also: The Metaverse Explained: What It Is, and Why You Should Care

The Origin of Mytaverse

Together with Jaime Lopez, Landau established the GathR Virtual Studious startup last April 2020. From the very beginning, the two creators planned to make a 3D world that would resemble a real environment.

Landau said that the plan wasn't originally intended for building the metaverse but for a specific way to allow more interactions among people.

Besides avoiding contact with individuals during the pandemic, the project aims to reduce the carbon footprint generated from a physical meeting.

Metaverse Everywhere

In line with the popularity of metaverse, an Icelandic promotional video surfaced on Twitter to promote Iceland's tourism. The clip was rather comedic since it has been mocking Zuckerberg's "immersive world."

An actor mimicked the CEO's look and even his gestures in the video. He said that the "Icelandverse" would be the "next evolution of social connection" for the people.

In response to this, Zuckerberg saw the clip and said that he needed to make a trip to the "Icelandverse" soon. He praised the actor because he was wearing sunscreen, too, as reported by NDTV.

Besides Facebook (now Meta), Nvidia announced its plans about the Omniverse Avatar. According to Jensen Huang, the virtual agent would act like a real person who accommodates visitors in a store or at home.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/Nathana Reboucas) Google app

Apple and Google received a written notice from the United Kingdom's data protection watchdog. The watchdog wants details from the tech giants on how they assess apps to know the age ratings that they apply after an online child safety charity raised concerns about the process.

Apple and Google Questioned by Watchdog

The move follows after the Age Appropriate Design Code was implemented in the U.K. The Code will give tech companies requirements to follow to protect the safety and privacy of children who use their platforms.

Elizabeth Denham, the information commissioner, said in a statement that her office is conducting an evidence gathering process to identify conformance with the code, and thus compliance with the underlying data protection law.

The information commissioner was responding to a letter sent by 5Rights Foundation, a child safety charity in the U.K. which did the research about the Code and the compliance of the tech giants, according to TechCrunch.

Also Read: U.K. New Watchdog Will Police Anticompetitive Allegations Made to Big Companies

The charity claimed they found 12 breaches, including false advertisement of minimum ages for games on app stores, insufficient age assurance, the use of nudges and dark patterns, a routine failure to enforce community standards, data-driven recommendations that create risks for children, low default privacy settings, and a lot more.

Denham said that the Information Commissioner's Office, or the ICO, is now taking a systemic approach. The office is focusing its work on online services with poor compliance with the privacy requirements and a high risk of harm to children.

Denham wrote a reply to 5Rights Foundation. She added that as part of the work, the ICO had contacted Apple and Google to know how the risks linked with the processing of personal data are a factor when knowing the age rating for an app.

Both Apple and Google have app stores that apply age ratings to apps that can be downloaded. This feature is under the scope of U.K.'s Code, according to Financial Times.

The ICO is not only focusing on Apple and Google. The ICO said that it has written to 40 other companies across three tech sectors that it considers highest risk for children, according to California News Times.

These companies are focused on gaming, messaging, video streaming, music streaming, and social media apps. The ICO wants to determine the standards of conformance individually.

The office stated that it would write to nine other companies after the charity highlighting a raft of concerns, bringing the total number of digital services under regulatory review to 50.

The office has not published the list of tech companies targeted and wanted to ask about Code compliance questions. Nor does the 5Rights Foundation appear to have published the list of companies it is raising concerns about.

The charity's letter to the ICO also talked about Facebook's whistleblower, France Haugen. The letter referred to her testimony to lawmakers, which includes the toxicity of the platforms like Instagram for the developing brains of teenagers.

The U.K. watchdog filed a lawsuit against Facebook for not disclosing its acquisition of Giphy.

The ICO indicated that Facebook is also on the list and the social media app needs to hand over their process of accessing the age of their users.

The U.K. watchdog has been very strict with the tech giants. Earlier this year, Google was pushed to be more strict with its screening due to fraudulent ads.

Related Article: Google and Amazon Fake Reviews Efforts Face Probe in UK - Protection of Consumers Questioned

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Photo : Gambit Energy Storage)

The Tesla Megapack with 197 MWh of battery has sealed the deal with another client in the United Kingdom for its energy storage facilities that fall under the company's Autobidder AI platform. The focus of this venture is to bring energy storage into the needs of different companies, mainly focusing on storing power for when it is next needed.

Tesla Megapack Solds 197 MWh Battery Pack to UK Client

Tesla has received another order for its 197 MWh battery pack that would store energy in a facility, focusing on providing power whenever needed and when regular electricity supply is out. The focus of the venture is to bring a storage facility that can be used for whatever purpose it needs to serve, especially for the needs of the client.

The product is to be deployed to the United Kingdom that would soon power whatever the venture is intended for, including its capabilities to provide power to different energy storage facilities. It would be deployed to two locations, including Chapel Farm around Luton, England, and Jamesfield Farm, which is in the vicinity of Abernethy, England.

Read Also: Tesla Already Contributes a Lot to US Government Says Elon Musk, Fans Defend Unjust Taxes on Billionaire

What is Tesla Megapack, Autobidder Platform?

The clean energy company has into a more "energy-focused" platform that aims to store energy and bring its power to companies that require them under the Megapack venture of the company. It is more of a stationary facility that would bring power to nearby places which are under its distribution, also with the Autobidder AI platform that would help on its use.

Tesla's electric vehicles also have the same principle, a device that can hold power and use it whenever it is needed, only that it is used for transportation.

Tesla Ventures: Megapack and MORE

Tesla's ventures consist of a variety of different products from the company, and it does not stop on its popular electric vehicle lineup that has been one of the most attractive ones for customers worldwide. From the Model S up to the 2022 Tesla Roadster and Tesla Cybertruck, the clean energy company from Texas has a lot to offer on the EV end.

However, it does not stop there, as they're also are different ventures that revolve around energy, including Solar Roof or panels, the Powerwall, and the Megapack. It is known that Tesla's move to Texas has seen one of the worst winters the state has seen, with the power storage facility being one of the early ventures that have focused on storing energy in time for another hard season.

Initially, it was a venture with Gambit Energy Storage LLC and was a secret facility that has focused on a different name, not under the Tesla badge. Nevertheless, the company offers this venture and is primarily a business-to-business release. However, it has the potential to be built into communities, villages, subdivisions, and others for all power needs.

Related Article: Tesla Owners to Work With Australian University in a New EV Battery Study: Can It Power Energy Grids?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Isaiah Richard

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Tim Ireland/Xinhua via Getty Images) Photo taken on Nov. 13, 2021 shows the logo of Apple Inc. in London, Britain. Several chip-related companies have responded to an earlier request by the United States to supply confidential supply chain information in the name of better understanding the global chip shortage as the deadline expired on Nov. 8.

Apple surprised a lot of people when they announced their Self-Service Repair Program, which will finally allow people to perform DIY repairs on their devices.

The reception was quite stellar, especially from those who have long wanted Apple to honor user right-to-repair. One of these is the popular repair company iFixit, who says they're "excited" about the news, writes MacRumors.

Other right-to-repair advocates, while praising the decision, also told people to be wary. Among these is the Right To Repair Coalition, who posted this to Twitter:

Big cave by Apple, but the devil is in the details. This is far off the requirements of #righttorepair but proves that legislators are on the right track making similar requirements more broadly. https://t.co/Ms99LIgwcc  Right to Repair (@RepairCoalition) November 17, 2021

Either way, from here on out, Apple will now be sending company-approved parts, supplies, and tools to individual DIYers, starting with the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, according to an official press release.

It won't be just iPhones as well.

The Cupertino, California Big Tech giant plans to introduce self-service repair to Macs fitted with the new M1 chip next. As per the original press release, the service is scheduled to launch "early next year" for the supported Mac devices.

According to iFixit, this decision by Apple is "invalidating" a lot of the comments the company has previously made against the right-to-repair movement.

As recently as two years ago, the company was actively fighting right-to-repair settlements by claiming that users could "hurt themselves" if they try to fix their devices on their own, writes MacRumors.

With this news, some people might feel vindicated--perhaps including even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who weighed in on the right-to-repair movement and called on the company to "do the right thing."

Read also: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Thinks iPhone 13 Has No Big Difference From its Predecessors

No More 'Repair Trap' For iPhone 13

Tech Times recently reported on a so-called iPhone 13 "repair trap" that essentially prevents people from performing DIY screen replacements by locking FaceID.

While this FaceID bricking issue no longer exists in the iOS 15.2 beta release, the new Apple Self-Repair service basically makes sure that the issue is dead in the water. There are two main reasons for this.

One, it's about the screen. On the iOS 15.2 beta, the phone flashes a warning saying it "cannot verify" whether the replacement screen is a genuine Apple part. FaceID will still work, but the warning will still be there.

But with access to company-verified components, this will no longer be an issue for DIYers and third-party repair centers.

Two, the tools required to do DIY repairs will also be provided via the Apple Self-Repair service. This could make the fixes far easier to perform, more so for experienced third-party service providers.

Plus, these tools are going to come in handy when dealing with extremely tiny parts, which could be out of reach for more common tools. The best example would be the microcontroller that Apple put in iPhone 13 screens, which used to brick FaceID, as detailed in this famous teardown from iFixit:

What About Other Apple Devices?

There's no news about whether other devices not mentioned in the press release will be covered. For now, all that's confirmed are iPhone 12s, iPhone 13s, and M1-equipped Macs--be it Macbooks or iMacs.

Support for other devices could come in the future, but for now, take the news for what it is.

Related: Apple Self Service Repair to Arrive by 2022; iPhone, Mac Users To Receive Online Manuals, Gadget Components, and More

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Written by RJ Pierce

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Barbie has an electric vehicle and this is a legitimate car as it already has a prototype that debuted in the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show, focusing on a vehicle that has been given the glitz and glamour of the popular doll. No, this car is not for Ken, as it is a car that is intended for the popular doll, calling the vehicle the "Barbie Extra" that has the Fiat 500e underneath.

Barbie EV Debuts in 2021 LA Autoshow: What is It?

Mattel has joined the 2021 Los Angeles Autoshow and it has not brought a life-sized Hot Wheels replica of a real-world car; rather an electric vehicle that one of the most glamorous dolls in the world would drive. Yes, it is Barbie, and she brings a prototype of an electric vehicle that has her signature and style written all over it.

The Barbie Extra brings a roadster in the elements and manifestation of the popular doll that focuses on a convertible that would not harm the environment despite driving it all around the city. This is because underneath it is a Fiat 500e, an electric vehicle that features a clean energy motor.

The Barbie EV is a dream come true for all fans of the doll franchise, having the character's style and design all over the vehicle.

Life in electric, its fantastic

Read Also: Searching for the Best Gifts for Kids? Take Them to the Past with 90s Collectibles

Ready to ride in EXTRA style?#BarbieEXTRAGoesTurbo pic.twitter.com/w98w2F0BjU  Los Angeles Auto Show (@LAAutoShow) November 16, 2021

Barbie EV Prototype Debuts a Modded Fiat 500e

The Barbie EV is a prototype, and there was no announcement by Mattel or Fiat for a joint venture regarding it, to release the vehicle for production to fit this modern world. However, it is a good indication that brands like Barbie are moving forward into adopting the clean energy campaign of the world that focuses more on electric mobility.

The Fiat 500e focuses on a fully-electric motor that is capable of driving 155 miles of range and output 118 horsepower, enough for a stylish ride.

Barbie, Mattel, and the Glitter World

Mattel and its popular Barbie brand have been a popular toy and doll collection for decades now, with its first recipients in the 1960s having children or families now, embedding its presence on a global scale. Barbie has had a lot of vehicles to accompany her chic lifestyle throughout the years, including convertibles that are heavily slapped with pink colors or going futuristic with a hoverboard.

Barbie has also imbued itself on different media entities, bringing its glitters, glamour, and style to different characters in the film, video games, series, and more. One time, the popular Tomb Raider from the "Lara Croft" franchise was turned into a "Barbie Doll," having memorabilia of the character that people can play and go adventures with, on a more hands-on setup.

Mattel is also known for another venture focused on cars and it is with the Hot Wheels, but its life-sized adaptation of the modern electric vehicle was turned into something Barbie would drive. The LA Auto Show's display shows a promising mod that captures the soul of the popular doll in the car and if it is made available, would cater to a lot of Barbie fans and collectors worldwide.

Related Article: EV Vs. Hydrogen Cell Vehicles: Which One is the Best for You? Advantages, Differences, and More

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/ Mat Napo) Smallpox vaccination

The FBI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are currently investigating Merck & Co., a vaccine research facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after several vials labeled as smallpox were discovered in its freezers, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

FBI and CDC Investigates Research Facility

According to the unclassified "For Official Use Only" alert obtained by numerous media outlets and sent by the Department of Homeland Security, there were a total of 15 vials that were questionable, according to USA Today.

Five of them were labeled as smallpox, while the rest of them were labeled as vaccinia. The vials were immediately secured upon discovery, and the facility went into lockdown but has since been lifted.

The CDC said that there is no indication that anyone has been exposed to the small number of frozen vials.

The frozen vials labeled smallpox were incidentally discovered by a laboratory worker while cleaning out a freezer in a facility that conducts vaccine research in Pennsylvania.

Also Read: Smallpox Epidemiologist Donald Ainslie Henderson Dies At 87

The CDC, its Administration partners, and law enforcement are all investigating the matter, and the vials' contents are intact.

The CDC added that the laboratory worker who discovered the vials was wearing a face mask and gloves, and they would provide further details as they are available.

In 2014, the CDC revealed that vials of smallpox virus were discovered in a laboratory in Maryland, putting 84 scientists at risk.

In 2018, the FDA approved a new drug for smallpox that addresses bioterrorism risk.

Americans and Smallpox

Smallpox is a deadly and contagious virus, and it was declared eradicated in 1980 by the World Health Organization or WHO after a concerted global vaccination effort.

The virus had infected more than 15 million people a year and killed 30% of them. The last known outbreak in the United States was in 1947.

According to Live Science, only two laboratories in the world are authorized to store smallpox vaccine samples, including one in Russia and the other at the CDC office in Atlanta, Georgia.

The facility in Russia had an explosion in 2019, but no outbreaks came as a result. It is not clear how potential samples were allowed in the facility in Philadelphia.

Scientists have long debated whether to destroy any remaining samples, with some arguing against the danger because experts could need the samples to develop new vaccines in response to a new outbreak.

According to the CDC, most Americans are not vaccinated against smallpox.

According to Mayo Clinic, there is no treatment or cure for smallpox. A vaccine can only prevent it, and the vaccine's side effect risk is too high to justify routine vaccination in the country.

Smallpox mainly spreads by direct and fairly prolonged face-to-face contact between people. Patients became contagious once the first sores appeared in their throat and their mouth. They spread the virus when they sneeze, or cough and droplets from their nose or mouth spread to other people.

A person with smallpox goes through several stages as the disease progresses. Each stage has its signs and symptoms. The first symptoms include headaches, high fever, and vomiting.

Then, a rash starts as small red spots on the tongue and in the mouth. These spots change into sores that break open and spread large amounts of the virus into the mouth and throat.

Related Article: Forgotten vials of smallpox, dating back to '50s, found at NIH lab

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/ Solen Feyissa) TikTok challenge

TikTok is now trying to strengthen the detection and enforcement of rules against dangerous online challenges and hoaxes.

One in five teenagers has already participated in an online TikTok challenge, according to a survey commissioned by the platform.

TikTok to Stop Dangerous Challenges

The survey looked at teenagers' broad online experience, without focusing on any one platform. The survey also revealed that 1 in 50 teenagers already took part in a risky and dangerous challenge, while fewer than 1 in 300 took part in a really dangerous challenge.

There has been widespread concern about the proliferation of potentially harmful online challenges across numerous platforms. In 2020, the "skull-breaker" challenge that was shared on TikTok was linked to several severe injuries.

Earlier this year, doctors warned of the risk to life and limb of the viral "milk-crate challenge" on TikTok which invited people to climb pyramids of milk crates.

TikTok also banned the "dry scopping challenge" after doctors warned of its health risk.

Also Read: Tiktok 'Blackout' Challenge: Colorado Boy Dies After Doing it--Peer Pressure on the Rise in Social Media?

However, online challenges can be positive and it can promote causes, like the "ice-bucket challenge," which helped raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, according to Social Media Today.

Violating Content

The independent report titled "Exploring Effective Prevention Education Responses to Dangerous Online Challenges" stated that TikTok commissioned draws on a survey of parents, teachers and 5,400 teenagers between the ages of 13 to 19 years old in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Argentina.

In response to the findings, TikTok said technology that alerts their safety teams to sudden increases in violating content linked to hashtags would be expanded to also capture potentially dangerous behavior, according to BBC.

For example, if a hashtag like #foodchallenge is used to share recipes suddenly saw an increase in interest apparently connected to videos breaking the rules, the TikTok team would investigate.

TikTok already has a policy of removing content that promotes or glorifies dangerous acts, according to Newsbreak.

Self-harm Hoaxes

Experts contributing to the report noted that adolescence is a period that has always been associated with heightened risk-taking.

But it comes at a time of heightened public debate about the impact of social media on teenagers, after Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed Facebook research into the effect Instagram had on their mental health.

The TikTok research also looked at self-harm and suicide hoaxes. Some schools warned parents about Momo, a sinister character with bulging eyes setting children dangerous challenges such as harming themselves.

Even though experts said that it was a hoax, the survey still indicates that Momo affected children.

Alarmist Warnings

Of those to have seen a hoax on TikTok, 31% said that it had a negative impact while 63% of those said this had been on their mental health.

TikTok said that hoaxes like these usually have similar characteristics and in previous cases, false warnings have circulated suggests that children were being encouraged to take part in games which often resulted in self-harm.

The hoaxes spread through warning messages, further encouraging others to alert as many people as possible to avoid perceived negative consequences.

And as well as removing the hoaxes, it would now begin to remove alarmist warnings about them, as they could cause harm by treating the self-harm hoax as real.

Related Article: Viral TikTok Strangulation Challenge Kills Boy: Protecting Kids From Dangerous Trends

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(Photo : Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) MACCLESFIELD, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 15: Corporate logos are seen outside the Macclesfield factory of AstraZeneca on May 15, 2006, in Macclesfield, England. Anglo-Swedish drugs giant AstraZeneca has confirmed that it is to buy biotechnology firm Cambridge Antibody Technology for GBP702m.

(Photo : Photo by Jung Yeon-Je-Pool/Getty Images) A nurse fills a syringe with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Dobong health care center on February 26, 2021 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea started its Covid-19 coronavirus vaccination program today with AstraZeneca's vaccine for 785,000 medical workers and those who under the age of 65 at nursing homes.

Expensive AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines could arrive as the giant health firm said that it now wants to make more profit from its product.

Related Article: Wearable Device Detects Epileptic Seizures, Warning Patients Before Episodes Occur-Here's How it Works

One of its scientists even defended the decision of the vaccine creator, saying that it didn't make that much profit compared to other companies.

Of course, there could be some consumers who would be disappointed with AstraZeneca's price change, especially since the global COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing.

Right now, AstraZeneca is considered the second-largest vaccine manufacturer across the world. The giant health company was able to disperse around 2 billion doses.

However, it still falls short of Sinovac, a Chinese health firm, which was able to supply more than 2.1 billion vaccines to date.

Expensive AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine?

According to Gizmodo's latest report, AstraZeneca would soon make its COVID-19 vaccine pricier compared to its current cost. The U.K.-based health company announced that the majority of the medicines it would deliver before the year ends would be expensive.

Also Read: FBI and CDC are Currently Investigating a Facility in Pennsylvania That Store Smallpox Vaccines Illegaly

"We can only begin to say the pandemic is actually over once there is really wide, equitable, widespread access to vaccines all around the world," said Sandy Douglas, the health expert defending AstraZeneca.

He added that the giant vaccine developer hadn't made huge revenues from its medicine compared to other medical firms. But, Douglas did not disclose the names of the companies he was referring to.

While AstraZeneca's vaccine is about to become more expensive, Pfizer's COVID-19 pill would be cheaper, announced that a new licensing agreement would allow generic-drug makers to produce its product.

AstraZeneca's Vaccine Shows New Promising Performance

AstraZeneca is considered one of the most efficient COVID-19 vaccines provided in various countries across the globe.

Now, Channel News Asia reported that a new result showed that this health innovation could prevent the novel coronavirus in longer-term. You can visit this link to see more details.

In other news, some U.S. restrictions prevent people who received Sinovac, Sputnik V, and other COVID-19 vaccines from entering the country.

For more news updates about AstraZeneca and other vaccines, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Photo Illustration by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) In this photo illustration a visual representation of the digital currency Bitcoin sinks into water on August 15, 2018 in London, England. Most digital currencies including Bitcoin, (BTC) Ethereum, (ETH) Ripple (XRP) and Stella (XLM) have seen a dramatic fall in their prices throughout 2018 amid a 'mass sell-off'. In December 2017 the price of BTC hit $20,000 USD but has since fallen to around $6000 USD. (Photo : Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images) Physical imitation of Bitcoins are pictured at a cryptocurrency exchange branch near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul on October 20, 2021, a day after Bitcoin took another step closer to mainstream investing with the launch of a new security on Wall Street tied to futures of the cryptocurrency. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)



A new giant crypto theft was confirmed to be conducted by a teen residing in the United States. The Canadian police department announced that the malicious activity stole around $36.5 million worth of digital currencies.

Right now, criminals, including online attackers, are creating new ways and malicious tools to steal cryptocurrencies, especially since the blockchain market is growing rapidly.

As of the moment, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other big brands' values are increasing as more investors become interested. Tesla and other giant tech manufacturers already own crypto assets as they believe digital coins could have long-term benefits.

However, some companies are still hesitant when it comes to risking their finances since cryptocurrencies are still unstable. Recently, we reported that Twitter's crypto investment is still far from reality, which was confirmed by the social media giant's CFO.

New Giant Crypto Theft

According to Engadget's latest report, the Canadian police have already caught the teen behind one of the biggest crypto theft to date.

Also Read: New York-Based Investment Firm Says Top Crypto Will 'Easily Trade' at $500,000

They explained that the young thieves targeted a cryptocurrency owner that was already a victim using a SIM swap attack. Based on the investigation's results, the malicious actor breached his victim's smartphone using the said malicious technique.

After that, he was able to acquire the two-factor authentication requests sent to the individual's device. This is not the only massive blockchain theft that has happened ever since the crypto market boomed.

If you want to see more details about other giant crypto thefts, you can visit this link.

Do These if Your Crypto is Stolen

Since hackers and other criminals are now focusing on the blockchain market, more crypto thefts could happen in the near future.

Because of this, CNET provided some of the things you need to do if ever you fall as one of the victims:

Contact your crypto's customer service right away.

Make sure that the remaining digital coins are protected from a follow-up attack.

Don't forget to report the malicious activity to the police department or other authorities.

In other news, the crypto crackdown in China is now becoming more serious than ever.

For more news updates about crypto and other similar topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: 90 Million USDT Transferred from Unknown to Binance | Buy the Dip?

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A year of shutdowns and hurricanes threatened oil and gas production on the Gulf Coast, but economists with LSUs Center for Energy Studies predict an upswing in natural gas investments and refinement over the next several years. Oil investments, however, have a less-than-desirable outlook. (AP File Photo/Gerald Herbert)
If the declines in COVID cases continue, students and staff in East Baton Rouge Parish public schools will no longer have to wear masks when the spring semester starts in January.

The school system made the announcement late Wednesday. East Baton Rouge is one of the few school districts that continued with mask-wearing after Gov. John Bel Edwards lifted his statewide mandate on Oct. 26. Others that continued requiring masks, such as Jefferson Parish, have since lifted their local mandates.

In a statement, Superintendent Sito Narcisse said he decided to lift the mask mandate based on the advice of medical professionals who sit on the districts Health Advisory Committee, which was created soon after the coronavirus pandemic hit Louisiana in March 2020.

By working together, following the guidance of health care professionals and taking all possible precautions, we have continued to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Narcisse said. Our community has reached a point where that hard work is allowing us the opportunity to continue to relax some of the ongoing guidance and continue to return to a sense of normalcy.

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Mask-wearing will shift from required to optional Jan. 4, when students and staff return from Christmas break, unless cases increase and produce a positivity rate of 0.5% or greater over a 10- to 14-day period.

The district's positivity rate for the month of October was about 0.2%, meaning cases would have to increase at least 2 1/2 times what they were last month to prompt a return to mandatory mask-wearing.

Students throughout Louisiana who ride school buses, however, continue to have to wear masks, thanks to a presidential order.

Just 12 staff or students from eight East Baton Rouge Parish schools reported testing positive last week for COVID. Thats down from a peak of 151 students or staff from 47 schools who reported testing positive in late August.

Statewide, case counts have plateaued at just shy of 500 students and staff testing positive per week, according to the states most recent weekly report, released Wednesday. Thats still higher, though, than weekly rates in April and May.
A Girl Scouts chapters decision to sell a summer camp in Tangipahoa Parish led generations of girls in South Louisiana to lament the loss of a beloved summertime destination.

But the sale has also reverberated outside the local Girl Scouts community, raising questions among conservationists about what the sale means for the future of Camp Whispering Pines fragile and unique ecosystem. Recently, claims that selling the camp to a private landowner could harm the ecosystem triggered a lawsuit trying to stop the sale.

Now, court documents are shedding new light on how the camps significance as a hub for conservation are driving controversy over its sale  and why the Girl Scouts say people worried over the future of endangered pine forest on the property have nothing to fear.

The 85-page suit, filed in a Jefferson Parish court by advocacy group Friends of the Longleaf Pines, paints a dire picture of what could befall longleaf pine trees on the secluded property near Independence.

Whispering Pines feud: Girl Scouts ask federal judge to lift order blocking beloved camps sale A Girl Scouts chapter that wants to sell a cherished camp in Tangipahoa Parish went to federal court Friday and asked a judge to dissolve a st

To conservation professionals that study these forests, it is one of the last tracts that represents to any extent what the vast longleaf forests were like in the area, said Dr. Philip Stouffer, a conservation biology professor at LSU who has performed research at the camp, in an affidavit supporting the lawsuit.

It is my professional opinion, Stouffer continued, that the longleaf pine forest located at Camp Whispering Pines is in imminent danger of irreparable harm should the requested injunction not be granted.

Longleaf pine forest once covered some 90 million acres of land across the Deep South. But two centuries of logging  big business in the pine-forested swath of South Louisiana known as the Florida Parishes  shrunk their footprint to less than 5 million acres. Through reforestation, conservationists have since replanted some of what was lost.

Today, 300 acres of property at Camp Whispering Pines are home to longleaf pine forest. The tall spindly trees, whose health relies on a carefully prescribed burn regimen, offer pristine habitat for hundreds of animal species, including threatened gopher tortoises and Bachmans sparrows.

In court documents, academics who study Louisianas natural environments described the camp as a unique locus of conservation. And they expressed concern over the way the land has been managed after Hurricane Ida, whose winds decimated the pine forest along Louisianas Interstate 55 corridor.

It is my belief that the intensive land clearing recently performed following Hurricane Ida at Camp Whispering Pines is being conducted in such a manner as to cause an adverse impact on the natural and ecological features present there, wrote Dr. Susan Carr, an expert in wildlife ecology based in Florida, in another affidavit accompanying the lawsuit.

Girl Scouts Louisiana East put the property on the market this summer after trying to muster around $1 million needed for facility repairs, which fell short. The chapter decided on a buyer in September.

The chapter has described the purchaser as a private landowner interested in preserving the land in the same condition in which they bought it. They have remained anonymous, because they entered a non-disclosure agreement with the Girl Scouts chapter as part of the sale agreement.

Tangipahoa Parish land records show a final sale of the 600-acre site on La. 1054 has not been recorded.

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Sale of Camp Whispering Pines, beloved by local Girl Scouts, on hold after judge's order A judge temporarily blocked the sale of a cherished Girl Scout camp in Tangipahoa Parish after an advocacy group alleged a local scout chapter

In their affidavits, Carr, Stouffer and other conservation experts claimed varying stages of land-clearing are already underway on the property. But its unclear how they reached conclusions about that activity.

While he said in his affidavit that a portion of the forest was recently clear-cut of all longleaf pine, Stouffer in an interview said he learned of that development from third parties familiar with the sale, and declined to share further details.

Hes more concerned about what could befall the camps ecosystems in the future than with what has happened on the property to-date, he said.

I dont know whats going on on the ground right now, he said. But I know what was described to me, and the potential for it to be cut and for mechanical disturbance to the ground, and disruption to the burning regimen. Those are the things that Im concerned about.

Documents filed by Girl Scouts Louisiana Easts lawyers last week in federal court painted a different picture of the kind of work being undertaken on the camp property.

Camp Whispering Pines, beloved by local Girl Scouts, has an undisclosed buyer A local Girl Scout chapter has found a buyer for Camp Whispering Pines, where generations of scouts have fond memories of retreats in an endan

Claims of clear-cutting are false, lawyers for Phelps Dunbar, the firm representing the Scouts chapter, wrote repeatedly in a Nov. 12 filing.

Without saying who is in possession of the land, the chapter explained that both the buyer and the Scouts had agreed to maintain the forest through existing forestry management practices, including replanting trees that were torn from the ground by Idas powerful winds.

Indeed, GSLE has agreed to undertake its best efforts to remove and replant any trees on the property that were damaged by Hurricane Ida before the sale is finalized, the lawyers said.

Girl Scouts Louisiana East wants the case moved from the 24th Judicial District to federal court because it says the accusations of mistreatment of longleaf pine habitat fall under the federal Endangered Species Act. A judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana is expected to rule on that request in the next few days.

The camp property, tucked along the winding, two-lane highway an hours drive north and east of Louisianas capital city, was quiet Wednesday, with little sign of debris removal work visible from the road.

Near the camps entrance, a sign proclaiming the area a stewardship forest  in which the federal government works with landowners on conservation  lay askew next to another saying private property  no trespassing.

The rusty gate leading to the camp sat open and the tall, thin trees swayed in the wind. No one was visible down the camp's driveway.
Entergy Louisiana owes up to $4.4 billion for getting the lights back on after a string of storms and needs a $1 billion loan to meet those costs in the short-term, says the head of the utility that provides electricity to about half the states customers.

The utilitys customers may well see their bills increase about $15 per month just to pay for restoring power, but that amount could drop to $11 month if financing costs can be lowered.

Entergy serviced most, but not all, of the 1 million homes and businesses that lost power Aug. 29 because of Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 hurricane. Ida took out more poles, down more lines and destroyed more equipment than hurricanes Katrina and Rita combined. Traveling northeast as a tropical storm, another 200,000 customers in seven more states lost power.

But Entergys storm restoration fund is tapped out and the bills are arriving for the nearly 30,000 linemen and workers from all over the country who were brought in to restore power  in nine days for most, weeks for others and months for the hardest hit.

Louisiana experiences a dramatic 12% average increase in electricity bills during October This months bills for Louisianas two million or so electricity customers are $11.67 higher, on average, than they were in October 2020, acco

Those invoices continue to come in. This will help to pay for that and that will put us in a better financial position, Phillip R. May, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Louisiana LLP told the Public Service Commission on Wednesday.

Following the 2020 storm season we had approximately $2-$2.1 billion of damage from multiple storms. And this last hurricane season we had this devastating effect from Hurricane Ida that incurred an additional $2-to-$2.4 billion, May said. So, the company is essentially responsible for $4-$4.4 billion of costs without any recovery at this time.

Entergy Louisiana doesnt take in $4.4 billion in revenues for an entire year.

The PSC agreed to the loan, as long as the costs arent folded into what customers ultimately will have to pay for storm recovery. The five elected members of the PSC regulate utilities throughout most of the state but for a handful of municipalities, such as Lafayette and New Orleans.

Legally, the cost of getting the lights back on after a storm are paid by a utilitys customers. But the PSC analysis of what charges are prudent take time, so the official order that will add the amount onto monthly bills is still a year or two away.

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Interest on the utilitys unpaid balances as well as the restoration costs could become part of the formula that calculates the rates paid for electricity. Once the total cost of the storm is approved by the PSC, Entergy hopes to sell bonds for the entire amount, rather than incorporate the repayment in the electricity rates. The bonds would be secured by a monthly surcharge added to customer bills. The method, called securitization, lowers how much customers will have to repay.

Mark D. Kleehammer, Entergys vice president regulatory affairs, said the high-level estimates indicate customers would see monthly bills about $15 higher for about 15 years, if the restoration costs are included in the rates. We think that going through the securitization route, takes that to about $11, plus or minus, so it is absolutely a significant issue, Kleehammer said.

PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell, D-Bossier Parish, praised Entergy in getting power back on fast relative to previous storms.

Mark Ballard: What regulators can do to improve utility systems All we know is that someone or a group of someones hacked into a public Zoom meeting to throw up explicit scenes of people having sex when Lou

But everybody is not in love with yall, he added. Youre fixin to tattoo them $15 a month for 15 years. Thats a lot of money.

Campbell said the well-paid utility executives, lobbyists and lawyers who attend PSC meetings may grumble but they wont have much of a problem paying the increase. Most of the customers in Louisiana will.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has requested the federal government give Louisiana ratepayers $1.3 billion to help cover storm costs.

May noted that Congress doesnt often give money to privately owned companies. He and Kleehammer two weeks ago visited the states Congressional delegation and addressed appropriations committees in both chambers asking them to overcome their reluctance.

Given the number of low- and moderate-income customers we have, this relief is extremely important, May said. The aid would help the customers, not the company.

PSC Commissioner Lambert C. Boissiere III, D-New Orleans, said he wanted to hear May say that he understood that agreeing to allowing the loan wouldnt be seen by Entergy as an agreement to how much the storm restoration charges will be. May agreed.
Letters: Are those crossing our border some of the 'limited exceptions?'
MOSSVILLE  Ronald Carrier says he isnt going anywhere unless he is given what he sees as a fair deal. As his community vanishes around him, the result of a buyout to allow for a chemical plant expansion, he has stayed put.

If we wouldve had one public official around here that spoke on our behalf, wed have probably gotten treated better, said Carrier, 67, as he sat next to the shed behind his three-bedroom house on Monday in this community outside Lake Charles, founded by freed slaves.

Asked why that didnt happen, he didnt equivocate: Because it was a Black community. Thats why. It was a minority community. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

For activists, Mossville has become a case study in environmental justice. They have pointed to decades of emissions spewed from the dozen or so plants that surround it, and allege that the recent voluntary buyout of homes that has left Mossville on the verge of disappearing was unjust -- an assertion strongly denied by the company behind the expansion, the South African firm Sasol.

The communitys plight will receive attention from Washington this week when the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan, visits whats left of Mossville. Regan, the first Black man to lead the agency, will travel there on Thursday as part of a tour intended to highlight environmental justice issues.

Absolutely I'm encouraged, because to me, the thing that's different is that for the first time, they're getting support from the very highest levels, Kimberly Terrell, a staff scientist with Tulanes Environmental Law Clinic who has been working with Mossville residents, said of the visit.

Terrell and others contend that monitoring of the complex soup of pollutants in the area has been insufficient. Companies such as Sasol, meanwhile, say their emissions comply with federal regulations and tout their economic and charitable contributions to the region.

An extensive new report on the community and the buyout released Wednesday by the University Network for Human Rights, a nonprofit advocacy group, says that its data strongly suggest that the (voluntary buyout) was racially discriminatory. Sasol flatly disputes that and calls the buyout program the most generous of its kind ever executed.

A fair buyout?

Across the Calcasieu River from Lake Charles, Mossville is said to date back to the late 18th century, when it was founded by freed African-Americans. The new report describes it as five square miles with at least 375 households as of 2008.

It is located in an area that has over the years been enveloped by petrochemical plants. A 2008 petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights alleging severe health problems among residents said 14 facilities were operating near Mossville at the time.

Just beyond the Interstate 10 bridge, warrens of pipes, tanks and flares come into view, giant engines of industry, and residents say they have been subjected to toxic pollution over many years. They have, for instance, pointed to tests by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 2007 that found chemicals in residents' bodies that matched those emitted by some nearby industries.

Terrell says a particular concern is ethylene oxide emitted by Sasol. The company says its emissions are well below the permitted amount.

Major change came with a voluntary buyout Sasol announced in 2013 for both Mossville and the mostly White nearby area of Brentwood. The buyout was developed to make room for an expansion, including an ethane cracker and a gas-to-liquids project. The latter project was later canceled.

The company says the voluntary buyout saw an 85% participation rate, resulting in 584 purchases and 195 offers rejected as of July 2020. Mossville is now a shadow of what it once was, with many remaining houses surrounded by empty lots and bare slabs.

The new report criticizing the buyout alleges that property transaction amounts were, on average, about 88% higher in the Brentwood area than in Mossville.

The buyout program in both communities was based on nonnegotiable formulas, it said, though homeowners outside those zones were able to negotiate. The report says that in predominantly White areas outside the zone, transactions were on average 82% higher than in Mossville, but not significantly different from those in Brentwood.

When considered alongside social science literature on the contemporary housing appraisal system, these data strongly suggest that the (voluntary buyout) was racially discriminatory, the report says.

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Report co-author Ruhan Nagra said the study was not able to take into account factors such as size of the house or condition, and noted that one transaction may include several structures. She said, however, that since the aim of the program was to relocate families elsewhere, people have to be compensated enough money to be able to do that.

Sasol rejected the report, saying it misrepresents claims as facts while stressing it forced no one to leave.

We are proud of our engagement with our neighbors and have consistently worked with Mossville residents to keep them informed of our plans and solicit their input on how we can make a positive difference in their community, it said.

The company has also financed a Mossville oral history project through a grant to the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, which partnered with the T. Harry Williams Center for Oral History at LSU.

Didnt have a voice

To be sure, there are those who were pleased with the buyout. Lionel and Mary Thierry, who lead the Mossville Truth Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, are among them. After the buyout, the church moved across the river to their native Lake Charles.

Last Sunday, services were held back in its main hall for the first time since Hurricane Laura damaged it in August 2020, with around 30 people in attendance. But the number of people originally from Mossville who still attend the church has dwindled, they say.

Lionel worked for Sasol, while Mary worked for the PPG plant in the area, and the couple said they have experienced no adverse health effects as a result.

No Joy in Mossville Sixty-nine years ago, Edgar Mouton Jr. was born into a small town in southwest Louisiana where the houses alternated with rice and potato fiel

But asked about the historical practice of locating industrial plants in Black and poor neighborhoods, they said they hope that can change.

We werent around when the plants got there, said Mary. But (other families) have been there since right after slavery, some of them. So those plants came in and built up around them, and I guess they didn't have a voice back then.

Carrier isnt nearly as sanguine. He grew up in nearby Sulphur and said he moved to Mossville in the early 1990s, attracted by the prospect of having a spacious plot of land where his extended family could visit for crawfish boils and fish frys.

My home has always been the home where my family gathers, he said, describing how hed pull his grandchildren around in a wagon with his four-wheeler or take them berry-picking in the woods.

His wife recently died at 63, and while she suffered from serious diabetes, he wonders whether the pollution contributed to a skin infection. But the Air Force veteran who also worked at the nearby Olin chemical plant says he isnt concerned for himself: Im 67 years old. If its going to hurt me, it wouldve already hurt me.

He says he was not offered enough money for his property to find a similar home elsewhere. Asked whether he considered Mossville an example of the injustice the EPA head is seeking to highlight this week, he said: I know that was the case here.

They destroyed historical Black communities, cut and dried, he said.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has urged former United States president Donald Trump to move on from his loss at the 2020 US general election as he took a swing at tech platforms Google and Facebook for censoring conservative voices.

The billionaire executive chairman of News Corp told shareholders in the media giant in the US on Wednesday (EST) that Mr Trump was not helping conservatives focus on the future and contribute to public debate.

Rupert Murdoch: The past is the past

The current American political debate is profound, whether about education or welfare or economic opportunity, Mr Murdoch said. It is crucial that conservatives play an active, forceful role in that debate, but that will not happen if President Trump stays focused on the past.

News Corp owns a controlling stake in Australian pay TV platform Foxtel, as well as local newspapers such as The Australian, Sydneys Daily Telegraph, Melbournes Herald Sun, New York based The Wall Street Journal and London based The Times.
NORM AND AHMED

Lennox Theatre, November 16

Until November 20



This revival has Norm wearing a tee-shirt that looks just like Scott Morrisons mask, although Norms tee-shirt has Australia written on it, in case someones a bit slow with flags. Maybe Morrisons mask has Australia on it, too  tucked under his chin, like a senders address on the back of an envelope. In an eerie coincidence, Norm a church-goer with a hostile world view and a deep-rooted suspicion of foreigners, came to life in Alex Buzos first play the same year Morrison was born: 1968.

Ahmed dances around Norm verbally, almost bathing and purifying him in good manners. Credit:Becky Matthews

Buzo understood the nuts and bolts of Australian culture; a warts-and-all fascination tinged with fondness. Thats why Norm is such an enduring character: Buzo doesnt hate his racist, angry, thick-headed, pugnacious creation. He gives him a soft side and warm side and lets him amuse us with rabid colloquialisms, whereby an unloved tall bloke is a long, thin streak of pelican shit.

Norm needed a victim, and Buzo bequeathed him Ahmed, a Pakistani studying humanities. Justifiably wary, Ahmed dances around Norm verbally, almost bathing and purifying him in good manners, except Norm is beyond redemption, and Ahmed has his own agenda: to pick up an education, and then return to his native Pakistan as a vengeful scythe against privilege and corruption.
A former soldier who served with Ben Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan has indicated he is prepared to testify against the Victoria Cross recipient, who is suing three newspapers including this masthead for publishing allegations he was involved in war crimes.

The ex-soldier, known as person 56, was a member of Mr Roberts-Smiths patrol in 2012 and participated in missions in Darwan and Fasil. In allegations published in 2018, Mr Roberts-Smith is accused of being involved in the death of handcuffed farmer Ali Jan during the Darwan mission.

Its one of six unlawful killings that reports in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times accused Mr Roberts-Smith of involvement in. Mr Roberts-Smith, one of Australias most decorated war veterans, denies any wrongdoing.

Ben Roberts-Smith at an earlier court date in Sydney. Credit:Edwina Pickles

The news outlets are relying on a defence of truth to defend their claims, and have applied to the Federal Court to call Person 56 as a witness when the trial resumes next year.
Mr Clements said his client had operated three distinct businesses for the last seven years  a labour-hire business, which is the subject of most of the allegations, a business exporting fruits and vegetables to India with a man who happens to be a migration agent, and a cafe which no longer trades, which is also the subject of allegations. The lawyer said his client was described as being a facilitator in the visa scheme, with some contention about his exact involvement. He also questioned allegations Mr Thomson had been involved in forgery by placing someone else's electronic signature on documents. It is a very complicated matter, your honour, involving numerous different agencies, Mr Clements said. It will be a matter which will rely on expert reports. Mr Clements said Mr Thomson had been aware of the investigation since July this year, when he was interviewed by police, and had fully cooperated including participating in two voluntary interviews.

He said Mr Thomsons children were all he has left after separating from his wife and questioned why he would want to flee the jurisdiction, never to return when he is a well-known figure who could be easily placed on a watch list. All of the assets from the marriage are in his estranged wifes name, Mr Clements said. I understand hes recently applied for JobSeeker benefits ... he just doesnt have assets. Prosecutor Chelsea Brain opposed bail being granted. She said the facts of the case indicated Mr Thomson had a propensity towards dishonesty and the involvement in falsification of documents. Ms Brain said it would be alleged Mr Thomson and an accountant discussed the potential fabrication of evidence in the case as recently as October 2021, when amendments were made to a business activity statement from 2020. This was after Mr Thomsons police interview. She said the current charges related to 10 visa applicants, all said to have been sponsored by a business called Peppermint Grove. However, in total there were up to 130 visa applicants sponsored at 25 small businesses connected to Mr Thomson, she said.

As a result, there is a likelihood of more charges being laid, Ms Brain said. The prosecutor said Mr Thomson engaged in a pattern of conduct with the 10 visa applicants, including arranging for false documents to be lodged with authorities. Ms Brain said the common link between the applicants, the migration agents and the businesses in each case was Mr Thomson, and notwithstanding that he did not personally lodge the documents, he was the only person who could have caused them to be given to the migration agents who did. The prosecutor said the Crown case was circumstantial but it would be alleged that Mr Thomson was pivotal to a scheme in which those documents were lodged. Ms Brain tendered two facts documents to the court, running to 46 pages, as well as a nine-page document outlining the AFPs concerns if Mr Thomson was released on bail.

Magistrate Jennifer Price described the facts of the case as being somewhat complex. Loading Ms Price said financial records showed $970,000 was deposited into bank accounts associated with Mr Thomson relating to named visa applicants, with a further $1.5 million in deposits unable to be attributed to any names. She said if the offences were proven they would demonstrate a significant degree of planning and premeditation in the apparently sophisticated arrangements. Evidence in the case includes bank accounts, emails, text messages, business documents, witness statements, and recordings of Mr Thomson, which the magistrate said present a strong albeit circumstantial case.
The silence is what made William Tyrrells foster-mother realise he was gone.

I heard [a] roar, it sounded really loud and close like he was just around the corner, Williams foster-mother told police after his baffling disappearance from his foster-grandmothers property on the NSW Mid North Coast in 2014.

The former foster-mother of William Tyrrell leaves her home in Sydney on Thursday. Credit:Kate Geraghty

After a couple of minutes, I thought, Oh he is quiet, she said in a statement.

When she went to check on the little boy, who had gone around the side of the house as he played, he had vanished.
Unvaccinated primary school students in NSW will only have to self-isolate for the first seven days after being exposed to COVID-19 as long as they return negative rapid antigen tests for the following week.

It comes as Victoria scraps quarantine for unvaccinated students, and allows them to return to the classroom if they have had a negative PCR tests and take rapid antigen tests daily before school.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said on Thursday that NSWs rapid antigen home testing (RAHT) program, which has been trialled at a school in Albury, is being rolled out to the rest of the state. Tests are being supplied to any primary school that records a positive case.

Using [rapid antigen tests], our pilot at Albury North Public School has shown that tests are effective in reducing the amount of time close contacts spend learning from home, with 38 students able to return to the classroom after seven days, instead of the standard 14 for unvaccinated contacts, she said.
Two men will be sentenced over the killing of a man, whose body was dumped in a wheelie bin outside a Brisbane unit block in 2018, after pleading guilty to charges on Thursday.

The body of Kym Mitchell, 61, was found in a bin at a unit block on Yeronga Street in the riverside suburb of Yeronga about 7pm on Saturday, December 1, 2018.

The crime scene at the Yeronga Street unit block in December 2018. Credit:Felicity Caldwell

A resident reported a foul smell coming from the bin and the first officers to arrive were confronted by an extremely harrowing scene, Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said at the time.

It is alleged Mr Mitchell died on November 26, five days before his body was discovered, and did not live at the unit complex where his body was dumped.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has labelled comments by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that people in Brisbane should be able to get a coffee regardless of their vaccine status as reckless and seeking to undermine the states jab rollout.

The comments from Mr Morrison come after protesters against the state rules, to take effect from mid-December, marched on Parliament and the governments William Street headquarters on Wednesday and concern about escalating pandemic-related protests in Victoria.

Senior Queensland government members have railed against the Prime Ministers comments in state Parliament, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk labelling them incredibly disappointing and reckless. Credit:Matt Dennien

And while the Queensland LNP opposition has largely avoided outright criticism of the vaccine-related restrictions  in contrast to federal counterparts  state MPs have also decried the government coercing people.

Mr Morrison said on Thursday his government was against government-imposed vaccine mandates beyond the health workforce and acknowledged frustrations in the community about governments telling Australians what to do, but said recent threats and intimidation seen during the protests in Melbourne had no place in Australia.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has sought to ease concerns about COVID-19 testing requirements for new and returning residents travelling from hotspot areas, pointing to similar requirements in other jurisdictions.

Ms Palaszczuk has also declared schoolies celebrations are good to go with authorities confident they have contained two mystery cases of COVID-19 on the Gold Coast.

Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast are good to go.

The LNP opposition has seized on recent reports suggesting the thousands of people now able to begin entering the state via home quarantine from NSW, Victoria and the ACT could also be slugged with costs of $150 for PCR tests at private clinics.

Gold Coast-based federal Coalition MP Stuart Robert also jumped to criticise the state government, while Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive told 4BC the cost would be a disincentive to travel.
Warming weather, peaking vaccine effectiveness and falling case numbers all combine to make this the perfect time to ease restrictions in Victoria, epidemiologists say.

On Thursday morning the state government announced a further easing of restrictions that will take Victorians close to pre-COVID life, as the state prepared to hit the 90-per-cent double vaccinated milestone.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at a press conference in Parliament on Thursday 18 November 2021 Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

The Boxing Day Test and Australian Open will operate at full capacity, masks will no longer be required at work or in restaurants, there will be no limits on the number of guests allowed in a private home, and the government will stop publishing COVID-19 exposure sites.

Victorians have kept their end of the bargain and the government will do the same, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
A COVID-19 conspiracy theorist has been fined $200 but avoided a conviction after she was dragged from her car by police for failing to present her licence during Victorias second lockdown.

In July last year, Eugenia Limberiou, also known as Eve Black, filmed herself celebrating after refusing to give a police officer her details and being waved through a coronavirus checkpoint in Bunyip, south-east of Melbourne.

Screenshots of Eugenia Limberious interaction with a police officer in Bunyip last year. Credit:Screenshot

Her actions drew widespread condemnation at the time from the state government, police and the public, but six days later she was pulled over in Carlton and again refused to give her details to officers.

A summary read to Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday said that on July 29 last year in Rathdowne Street, Ms Limberiou was argumentative and unco-operative and wound up her car window, locked the door and refused to acknowledge police requests to provide her details.
Environmental groups have accused a major retailer of rebranding flimsy, plastic party plates as reusable in a bid to evade laws banning the sale of single-use plastic items.

Big W is currently spruiking a range of thin plastic plates as reusable and claims they can be put in the dishwasher for 95 cycles.

Big W says its plastic plates can be put in the dishwasher 95 times

Boomerang Alliance, a group of 53 environmental organisations working to stop plastic pollution, has hit out at the retailer and is pushing for a new standard that would ensure products are genuinely reusable.

Its concerned more retailers will relabel products as reusable to bypass bans on single-use plastics that are progressively being implemented across Australia.
This is a moment to celebrate. As of Friday, much of your life if you are fully vaccinated will look as it did before the pandemic. Density limits on home visits, sporting events, concerts, pubs, restaurants? All gone. Masks are required only in limited high-risk settings. Most quarantine requirements are also gone.

It was 20 months ago that the first state of emergency was announced in Victoria. The powers were initially used to limit crowd sizes to 500 and force those arriving in the country to quarantine. It has been a roller coaster ride of restrictions ever since.

Premier Daniel Andrews announces greater freedoms as Victoria closes in on having 90 per cent of eligible people fully vaccinated. Credit:Luis Ascui

While outwardly our lives will return to relative normality, there is no getting around the enormous impact the pandemic has had on every one of us. The long months of lockdown will not be forgotten easily, whether it be the scars of financial hardship or the effect on our mental health. It will also take some time for pre-pandemic routines to return. Most city offices sit largely free of workers, travel outside the state is still precarious and many are wary of public transport.

Premier Daniel Andrews was keen to emphasise the collective effort that got us to this point. For all the early concerns about vaccine hesitancy  in May nearly 30 per cent of Australians said they were not likely to get vaccinated  close to 90 per cent of eligible Victorians have twice rolled up their sleeves, whether voluntarily or through the pressure of a vaccine mandate.
Australians are less stressed about getting COVID-19, even though more people think its likely theyll catch the virus in the near future, but lockdowns and restrictions have taken a toll with increased psychological distress and loneliness.

That loneliness, exacerbated by the pandemic, is estimated to cost the economy about $2.7 billion a year.

Two new reports show Australians are less worried about catching COVID, but the negative effects of lockdowns have lingered. Credit:Wolter Peeters

A longitudinal survey of nearly 3500 people across the country found two in five people think theyre likely to catch COVID-19 in the next six months. In the Australian National University study, 40 per cent of respondents feared infection in October, a four-fold increase on the 10.7 per cent who were worried about catching the virus in April this year.

Professor Nicholas Biddle, associate director of ANUs centre for social research and methods, said while more people thought they were going to get infected, anxiety or worry about COVID had actually declined.
Its a little known fact that the majority of bills debated in Australian parliaments fly through with the support of the opposition. Its the rest, the controversial ones, that make headlines.

Given the ugly scenes on Spring Street this week, it might be difficult to imagine, but Parliament is often a boring place where deals are struck and agreement is sought away from the theatre inside the chamber.

Politicians dont always want you to know this because such solidarity is hardly going to inspire voters on election day.

From the outside politics is played like a sport. With politicians pitting complex legislative issues as having a right and wrong answer and mobilising supporters to join their side.
Bruzgi: Belarus authorities have cleared the main camps where migrants had huddled at the border with Poland, in what appeared to be a major development in a crisis that has spiralled in recent weeks into an East-West confrontation.

Belarus state news agency Belta said the migrants sheltering in the forest had been brought to a warehouse in Belarus away from the frontier on Thursday, local time. A spokesperson for Polish border guards confirmed the camps had been cleared.

A deserted migrant camp at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno. Credit:Belta via AP

These camps are now empty, the migrants have been taken most likely to the transport-logistics centre which is not far from the Bruzgi border crossing, the Polish spokesperson said.

There were no other such camps ... but there were groups appearing in other places trying to cross the border. Well see what happens in the next hours. ... There are still some people around, but its clearly emptying out.
Matthew Aucoin's Eurydice will have its Metropolitan Opera premiere on November 23, making Aucoin, at 31, the youngest composer to have a Met premiere since 1938. The run will include seven performances through December 16.

Eurydice, which reimagines the ancient Greek Orpheus myth by telling the story from Eurydice's perspective, features a libretto by Sarah Ruhl, based on her acclaimed 2003 play. Mary Zimmerman directs, with Met music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin on the podium and soprano Erin Morley starring in the title role.

Joining Morley will be baritone Joshua Hopkins as Orpheus, and countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski and bass-baritone Nathan Berg in their Met debuts as Orpheus's otherworldly alter ego and Eurydice's father, respectively. Tenor Barry Banks sings the role of Hades. Also in their Met debuts, countertenor John Holiday will sing the role of Orpheus's Double for the December 11 and 16 performances, and conductor Daniela Candillari will lead the December 8 performance.

Eurydice is a co-production of the Metropolitan Opera and LA Opera. The creative team includes set designer Daniel Ostling, costume designer Ana Kuzmanic, lighting designer T.J. Gerckens, projection designer S. Katy Tucker, and choreographer Denis Jones.

The performance of Eurydice on Saturday, December 4, will be transmitted live to cinemas around the globe as part of The Met: Live in HD series. The December 4 performance will also be the first Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast of the 202122 season, which will be broadcast over the Toll BrothersMetropolitan Opera International Radio Network. The November 23 performance of Eurydice will be broadcast live on Met Opera Radio on Sirius XM Channel 355, and audio will also be streamed live on the Met's website, metopera.org.
Erika Dickerson-Despenza's sprawling new play Cullud Wattah, finally making its off-Broadway premiere at the Public Theater, couldn't be more timely. On April 25, 2014, Flint officially started drawing its water from the Flint River  water that turned out to contain dangerously high levels of lead, despite state officials' insistence to the contrary. But while anger at government malfeasance and the senseless tragedies that resulted is a driving force of the play, Dickerson-Despenza couches it in the context of a portrait of a five-member family of Black women, all of whom have been marked by the water crisis in some way.

The 9-year-old Plum (Alicia Pilgrim) and 17-year-old Reesee (Lauren F. Walker) are the youngest of the five; Big Ma (Lizan Mitchell) is the oldest. Dickerson-Despenza gives all of them distinctive characteristics, scenes, and dramatic arcs. Plum figures into a handful of dream sequences in which she sleepwalks toward a bathtub. The spiritually yearning Reesee begins the play embracing a belief in Yemoja, the Yoruba water deity, but eventually finds her beliefs challenged by the events around her. As for Big Ma, though she's presented as a tough-talking voice of reason throughout much of the play, Dickerson-Despenza has written her a showstopping monologue at the beginning of Act 2 that not only fills in some of her personal history, but also offers a perspective on religious faith that inspires Reesee.

But the central conflict in Cullud Wattah is between Marion (Crystal Dickinson) and her older sister, Ainee (Andrea Patterson). An assembly-line worker at General Motors on the verge of a promotion, Marion, widowed mother of Plum and Reesee, has the closest proximity to one of the forces behind the water contamination, but feels she needs to stay in their good graces in order to provide for her family. By contrast, Ainee, a former drug addict who is about to become a mother herself, signs up to be a part of a class-action lawsuit against the state of Michigan, setting up a tension between Ainee's activist idealism and Marion's no-nonsense practicality. Though Marion and Ainee face off in a couple of electrifying arguments in the first act, Dickerson-Despenza gives each character's motivations their due, refusing to break them down into simplistic good-versus-evil binaries.

Andrea Patterson, Lizan Mitchell, and Crystal Dickinson in Cullud Wattah. Set design by Adam Rigg.

( Joan Marcus)

That empathy extends to the play's fairly loose structure. Dickerson-Despenza isn't afraid to include scenes that don't necessarily further the plot, but develop character and add texture to her patchwork quilt of Black life. Though naturalistic drama dominates, Cullud Wattah also includes elements of surrealism, music, and dance. It is, in short, a very ambitious work in story and style. Some of those ambitions are better realized than others: The characters, for one thing don't always escape the feeling of being mere mouthpieces for the playwright's themes rather than being fully realized people. Even at its shaggiest, though, there is a generosity of spirit to Dickerson-Dispenza's writing that is powerful enough to transcend its shortcomings.

Director Candis C. Jones furthers that wide-ranging spirit with an imaginative production. Most impressive of all is Adam Rigg's elaborate set, which surrounds a cross-section of the family home with myriad bottles of water lining the floors and hanging from the ceiling, while the black walls of the Martinson Theater are filled with chalk lines marking the days that the Flint water crisis has been going on. In some of the dream sequences, Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew lights the hanging water bottles in shades of green and brown, adding a surrealistic touch, while appropriately evoking times of day with spotlights on the house set during the dramatic scenes.

None of these striking visual elements, however, get in the way of the performances, with no weak links in the ensemble. Pilgrim and Walker fully embody adolescent innocence and curiosity as the two daughters. As Big Ma, Mitchell skillfully exudes motherly affection even at her most tough-talking. And Dickinson's world-weariness as Marion plays beautifully off Patterson's passionate stridency as Ainee.

As full of intimate detail and stylistic variety as Cullud Wattah is, you're likely to come away from the play feeling angry at how it is that Flint, more than seven years since the crisis began, still doesn't have fully clean water. Dickerson-Despenza drives this point home with a bold concluding flourish that refuses to let even us audience members off the hook. Even if the recently passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill helps resolve the immediate issues the Flint water crisis laid bare, Cullud Wattah shows how the disturbing larger structural and social implications of the crisis will still be with us long after we walk out of the theater.
2022 Nissan Pathfinder Review By Larry Nutson

2022 Nissan Pathfinder

Find your path

By Larry Nutson

Senior Editor and Bureau Chief

Chicago Bureau

THE AUTO CHANNEL

Nissans midsize three-row utility vehicle, the Pathfinder, has been around for 35 years. The original Pathfinder was introduced in 1987. After skipping a 2021 model, the Pathfinder is all-new for 2022.

Earlier this year I joined an online overview provided by Nissan to introduce the new 2022 Pathfinder to the automotive news media. This presentation was facilitated by the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), of which I am a member.

Vishnu Jayamohan, Nissans Senior Manager of Product Strategy and Planning, opened the presentation by sharing Nissans mission with the new Pathfinder, which was to fuse truck-like brawn and people-mover brains into an unbeatable product.

The Pathfinder is entirely new from the ground up and rides on a 114.2 inch wheelbase. Its 197.7 inches long and a touch under 71 inches high, two key dimensions to note for those who have a home garage. The exterior design is completely new and fresh. Its got a rugged and yet refined look.

Nissans signature V-Motion grille design is flanked by full C-shaped LED headlights. Sculpted body sides and a floating C-pillar lead to LED taillights and full-width Pathfinder badging across the rear hatch. LED fog lights are available. Depending on trim level 18- or 20-inch wheels are fitted.

All Pathfinders have a standard 3.5-L V6 producing 284-HP. The engine is equipped with an idle stop/start system that helps reduce both tailpipe emissions and fuel consumption. New on Pathfinder is a 9-speed automatic that transfers the power to the drive wheels.

Both front-wheel (2WD) and all-wheel (4WD) drive configurations are available. 2WD models feature Drive Mode Control with five settings: Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow and Tow. Intelligent 4WD models feature Drive + Terrain Mode Control with seven settings: Standard, Sport, Eco, Snow, Sand, Mud/Rut and Tow. The Pathfinder should be a decent soft-roader.

This new combination of the torquey (259 lb-ft) V6 and nine transmission gears deliver very smooth and responsive performance, quick acceleration from stop, and good response when powering out of a corner. Its a nice combo.

The new transmission has helped improve the Pathfinders EPA fuel economy ratings. The front-drive 2022 Pathfinder has EPA ratings of 21 city mpg and 26 highway mpg. The AWD versions are rated 21 city mpg and 27 highway mpg, except the Platinum trim is rated 20 and 25, respectively.

The hot topic these days is driving range---you know, EVs. The Pathfinder has an 18.5 gallon fuel tank which will theoretically give you just about 500 miles of highway driving. Remember, your mileage may (will) vary!

The Pathfinder is offered in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims. Seating is for eight or seven when equipped with second-row Captains chairs.

The cabin has been nicely refined and updated with quality materials, refined surfaces and touch points, metallic accents and an overall premium look and feel. An electronic shift-by-wire drive selector, available 10.8-inch Head-up Display, 12.3-inch digital dashboard, 9-inch. touchscreen, ProPILOT Assist with Navi-Link, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless charging all provide the technology to aid driving for todays busy parent.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 includes a complete suite of advanced driver-assist safety (ADAS) features. The cabin is nicely quite for conversation or listening to your favorite music genre on the 13-speaker Bose premium audio system.

The new Pathfinder has 10.6 cubic feet more interior space than the previous model. Behind the third row theres 16.6 cu.ft.; fold that 60/40 split seat down and you get 45.0 cu.ft. With the second row also folded the total is 80.5 cu.ft. Another benefit of the new 9-speed transmission is improved towing ability with capacity up to a maximum of 6,000 lbs.

More details on the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder can be found at www.nissanusa.com. Two premium packages are available, an SV Premium and SL Premium.

Prices start at $33,410 for the S 2WD and top out at $48,090 for the Platinum 4WD. For each trim 4WD costs an additional $1,900. Destination and handling charge is $1,150.

In the presentation about the Pathfinder Jayamohan said it was designed for the super-parent who needs the swiss-army knife of a three-row family hauler. Most buyers of three-row utility vehicles are doing so for the passenger room. If you have four children in the family you need three-rows. An plus with a three-row utility is more space behind the second row compared to a two-row utility.

My most recent drive in the Pathfinder was in a Platinum 4WD trim. I liked the Pathfinders overall design both in and out. The cabin design was especially to my liking. I was the chauffeur for my wife and another couple who also commented on the niceness of the interior.

Overall, the Pathfinder is dynamically enjoyable and satisfying to drive with comfortable ride, confident handling and smooth, responsive acceleration. At cruising speed the cabin noise level is comfortable for easy conversation and audio listening. The new 9-speed transmission makes the Pathfinder a viable consideration if you tow a trailer.

Ive had some decent driving time with the Pathfinder--a weeks time around my Chicago home; at a MAMA-produced Summer Drive event in the Chicago suburbs that also provided a Nissan presentation on the Pathfinder; and, at an early-October MAMA-produced Rally that took place in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Its great to test drive a new vehicle under varied road conditions to really get to know it.

Happy motoring!

 2021 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy
Morgan Plus Four makes its racing debut at Race of Remembrance

Two all-new Morgan Plus Four race cars successfully complete the Race of Remembrance

The 12-hour race at Anglesey Circuit marks first competitive event for the Morgan Plus Four

Mission Motorsport beneficiaries took the wheel and supported the cars, continuing Morgans support of the forces charity

An automatic Plus Four was fitted with hand controls, allowing drivers with disabilities to take the wheel

The cars were developed and supported by the University of Wolverhampton, as part of Morgans championing of education and training

Data and feedback collected from the race will feed directly into development of current and future vehicles

Malvern, 18 November 2021

The Morgan Motor Company has demonstrated the capability of the all-new Plus Four in its inaugural competitive event, the 2021 Race of Remembrance. Both the manual and automatic variants of the car  which have been kept as close to the road-going model as possible  were entered, completing the demanding 12-hour endurance race successfully.

Run by Mission Motorsport, the event  held at Anglesey Circuit in Wales  is the culmination of the charitys sporting year and raises awareness for the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations. A remembrance service as much as a race, it pauses on Remembrance Sunday for everyone involved to commemorate the fallen.

Morgans involvement in Race of Remembrance furthers its work supporting Mission Motorsport, Morgans nominated charity partner. Recently, three service leavers have been recruited by Morgan via Mission Motorsport, across its development and experiential business areas.

Reflecting the two transmission options on offer, two cars were entered. The manual Plus Four was driven by accomplished Morgan race drivers Shane Kelly, Tom Richards, and Tony Hirst, along with CAR Magazine journalist James Taylor. Finishing 14th from the 46 cars that took the chequered flag and the 53 that started, the result validated the inherent reliability and pace of the car against its race-bred competitors.

In the automatic variant, Mission Motorsport beneficiaries Lionel OConnor, Linda Noble and Steve Binns joined Superbike editor John Hogan. OConnor, a single leg amputee, proved the competency of the automatic transmission, setting lap times on par with the experienced drivers in the manual car. Binns made use of the bespoke hand controls  the first time such a system has been fitted to a Morgan.

The two Morgan Plus Four race cars were joined by a previous-generation Morgan Plus 4 Clubsport, driven by its owner John Richards, along with further Mission Motorsport beneficiaries and personnel Cliff Hall, Russell Anderson and Nick Wilson.

The cars were run by Mission Motorsport beneficiaries, the Morgan Motor Company, and students at the University of Wolverhampton (UoW), working in collaboration. It continues a five-year relationship between Morgan and UoW, with direct recruitment opportunities for graduates, and forms a crucial part of Morgans CSR (corporate social responsibility) programme, supporting education and training.

Morgans motorsport activity continues to provide an instrumental engineering tool, the data and feedback collected from the extreme environment directly shaping the development of current and future models.

Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO, Morgan Motor Company, said: The all-new Plus Four represents a huge leap forward for Morgan. For it to finish its first-ever race so successfully is brilliant to witness, even more so when we consider how closely related this race car is to the road-going vehicle. Its fantastic to support the work of Mission Motorsport, too, and the amazing event that is Race of Remembrance, but also for Morgan as a company to pay its respects to those whove served in the armed forces.

James Cameron, CEO, Mission Motorsport, said: Weve worked closely with Morgan over the last few years, including with the recent placing of three service leavers into the company. But the companys support of Race of Remembrance this year is something incredibly special. For the beneficiaries driving and supporting the Morgan cars in the Race of Remembrance, this will bring tangible and long lasting results on their road to recovery.

Shane Kelly, University of Wolverhampton, said: The race marks the culmination of months of work for students on the Motorsport Engineering course, converting a production Morgan Plus Four into a race-ready vehicle. Its testament to both the underlying capability of the car and the students hard work that we achieved such a positive result, and has brought on an even stronger sense of excitement for our plans to further develop and support the cars in 2022.

The Morgan Motor Company would like to thank the Adaptation Installation Company, Avon Tyres, Bauromat, FBC Manby Bowdler, Hadley Group, Hex, Intarace Communications, LaserProcess Fabrication, Makita, MyWorkwear, Ocenascan, PPG, Sercal, and Tungaloy, who made its support of Mission Motorsport in the 2021 Race of Remembrance possible.

Video for Morgan at Mission Motorsport Race of Remembrance 2021: https://youtu.be/Tq0GUkSDQVw

ENDS

About Morgan Motor Company

Morgan Motor Company is a British manufacturer of handcrafted sports cars. Located in Malvern Link, UK. The world-famous Morgan vehicles offer a unique blend of charisma, quality materials, craftsmanship and performance. Morgan has been handcrafting coach built traditional British sports cars that are thrilling to drive and unique within the marketplace since 1909. In March 2019, Investindustrial purchased a majority share of the company, and by doing so invested in the long-term future of the Morgan Motor Company building cars in Britain. The Morgan family retain a shareholding of the company and work alongside Investindustrial at board level. Morgan produces around 850 models annually, of which over 70% are exported. Its model range  comprising the Plus Four and Plus Six  is sold through 70 official dealerships in 30 countries.
2nd Lawsuit Filed Against Alec Baldwin Alleges Rust Actor Fired Gun Intentionally and Without Just Cause

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin did not have any reason to fire the gun that led to the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust last month, a new lawsuit filed on Wednesday claims.

Script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, who called emergency services after Baldwin shot Hutchins, filed the lawsuit (pdf) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accusing the actor of having fired the gun without any valid reason to do so.

Alec Baldwin intentionally, without just cause or excuse, cocked and fired the loaded gun even though the upcoming scene to be filmed did not call for the cocking and firing of the firearm, Mitchell said in the lawsuit. Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian Roulette with a loaded gun without checking it and without having the armorer do so.

There was nothing in the script about the gun being discharged by defendant Baldwin or by any other person, the lawsuit adds.

Hutchins, 42, was fatally shot on Oct. 21 when actor Baldwin, 63, pointed a .45 Long Colt revolver in the direction of the cinematographer and director Joel Souza while rehearsing a gunfight scene. The revolver discharged a suspected live round, killing Hutchins and wounding Souza, 48.

The latest legal action marks the second lawsuit against Baldwin and the producers of Rust. The films head of lighting, Serge Svetnoy, is also suing the actor and producers of the movie, accusing them of general negligence, in a suit (pdf), filed earlier this month in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Svetnoys lawsuit is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory and general damages against each of the defendants.

Mitchell, who claims she was standing in the line of fire when the gun went off, alleges assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and deliberate infliction of harm, and is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit.

The script supervisor said she was sitting less than four feet away from the actor when the gun was unexpectedly fired, creating a shocking and deafening sound, which was unlike anything she had ever heard in her life.

The lawsuit claims that the incident left Mitchell terrified and fearing for her life.

Alec Baldwin should have assumed that the gun in question was loaded unless and until it was demonstrated to him or checked by him that it was not loaded, Mitchell claimed. He had no right to rely upon some alleged statement by the assistant director that it was a cold gun. Mr. Baldwin cannot hide behind the assistant director to attempt to excuse the fact that he did not check the gun himself.

Alec Baldwin, without just cause, failed to check to see if the firearm was loaded, the lawsuit says, while also accusing Baldwin of ignoring gun safety protocols on set.

The fact that live ammunition was allowed on a movie set, that guns and ammunition were left unattended, that the gun in question was handed to Mr. Baldwin by the assistant director, who had no business doing so, the fact that safety bulletins were not promulgated or ignored, coupled with the fact that the scene in question did not call for a gun to be fired at all, makes this a case where injury or death was much more than just a possibility, the lawsuit said. It was a likely result.

Baldwin has said he is heartbroken and is cooperating with law enforcement. Production company Rust Movie Productions is conducting its own probe.

Attorneys representing the films armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed on Nov. 3 alleged that a disgruntled and unhappy individual may have intended to sabotage the set by replacing dummy rounds of ammunition with live rounds.

Officials investigating the fatal shooting havent ruled out charges for anyone involved.
A group of people thought to be illegal immigrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard the Dungeness Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel on Nov. 3, 2021. (Gareth Fuller/PA)

5 Small Boat Arrivals Returned to Europe This Year as Channel Crossing Number Triples

Only five illegal immigrants who arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats have been sent back to Europe this year, a minister told MPs.

Tom Pursglove, a minister for both the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, said there had been difficulties securing returns when he was questioned by the Commons Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

Pursglove told the committee there were 294 returns overall relating to small boat arrivals, but only five were returned this year to a European country.

He added later that there is not a returns agreement with the European Union in place at the moment.

Before Brexit, the UK was part of an EU returns deal known as the Dublin agreement.

When committee chair Yvette Cooper suggested returns are substantially worse since losing the agreement, Pursglove said, You will appreciate that there have been some difficulties around securing returns, not least as a consequence of COVID.

Questioned about his predecessors promise to prioritise a returns agreement with the French, Pursglove, who has only been in the job for two months, said the ambition remains to secure successful returns arrangements with our European friends and neighbours. And potentially with the European Union.

Pursglove told the committee that the overall number of asylum seekers in the year ending June 2021 was 31,1154 percent lower than the year beforewhile there has been a upward trend since June.

But the number of illegal immigrants arriving by small boats has increased from around 8,500 to more than 23,000 this year.

Pursglove told MPs that Channel crossing is becoming the route of choice for facilitations by evil criminal gangs.

A group of people thought to be illegal immigrants are brought in by Coastguard officers to Dover, Kent, England, on Nov. 11, 2021. (PA)

The smugglers are sending bigger boats and the stretch of coastline that the crossings originated from has quadrupled from around 50 kilometres (31 miles) to around 200 kilometres (124 miles).

Dan OMahoney, clandestine Channel threat commander at the Home Office, said about 60 percent of the crossings originated from outside of France, including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

OMahoney also said that the Channel crossing route is deepened and intensified, and has become so profitable for criminals because of travel restrictions during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

He cited an example of a boat crossing the Channel two weeks ago with 88 illegal immigrants on board.

Each one of those migrants might pay, say 4,000 euros [3,380, $4,530]  [therere] about 350,000 euros [296,000, $396,500] on that boat, OMahoney said.

So at a 50 percent interception rate, which is roughly what were seeing at the moment, criminals are always going to take that chance; even half of three 350,000 euros is a lot of money.

The committee was told that French police have intercepted 19,000 crossings this year. But its unclear how many of these people were intercepted repeatedly or how many ended up succeeding in crossing the Channel because the French arent taking fingerprints.

OMahoney said the UK is working really closely with the French, but a French law regarding privacy meant French police cant use aerial surveillance to monitor activities along the coastline.

Pursglove reiterated plans to render the route unviable, including toughening the punishment of human traffickers, and said there was not one single solution to this problem.

During the session, OMahoney also confirmed that previously reported plans by ministers to use giant wave machines to prevent illegal immigrant crossings were never considered, adding, I think its a bizarre idea.

Nets to snare boat propellers are also not being considered and officials ruled out using floating walls in the sea, he said, as he described a number of the ideas that made their way into the headlines as fanciful.

PA contributed to this report.
Residents stranded by high water due to flooding are rescued by a volunteer operating a boat, in Abbotsford, B.C., on Nov. 16, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

A Major Catastrophe: BC Storm Could Leave Lasting Impact

SURREY, British ColumbiaWhile torrential rain has stopped throughout British Columbias Lower Mainland, fallout from the storm threatens to leave a lasting impact on much of the province.

Mudslides continue to block major highways, and with extensive damage in some of the main arteries connecting the area to the rest of the country, there is no clear estimate as to when road access in many areas may be restored. Many communities are left isolated, and travellers and commercial truck drivers are stranded throughout B.C.

Floodwaters cover Highway 1 in Abbotsford, B.C., on Nov. 16, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)

RCMP recovered the body of a woman from a landslide near Lillooet, some 160 km northeast of Vancouver, on Nov. 16, while a search continues for others who are missing.

This is a major catastrophe, not only for this region in terms of the displacement of thousands of people and the impacts on people, property, and animals, but also the fact that this is one of the major bread baskets of the country, says David Leis, a vice president with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, who is a resident of Abbotsford, a city near the U.S. border about 70 km southeast of Vancouver.

We have major infrastructure failure. This also means that Canadas largest port, the Port of Vancouver, is highly limited in its activity, and that is a disaster for the whole country, particularly given the current supply chain challenges.

As of Nov. 17, main road and rail services to and from the port remained cut off. The port, which handles $1 out of every $3 of Canadas trade in goods outside of the continent, is crucial for Canadas supply chains, already in stress as part of a wider global pandemic-led disruption of supply links.

Isolation and Evacuations

On Nov. 16, Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun issued an urgent evacuation order for all residents of Sumas Prairie, an area south of the city, as a key pumping station fighting water levels in the region was on the brink of becoming inoperable with rising waters.

The low-lying area is home to major farming and agricultural operations.

I know its hard for farmers to leave their livestock, but peoples lives are more important to me than livestock and chickens. Well deal with the rest come morning, Braun said at a news conference.

Further north in the central interior, the residents of Merritt, with a population of 7,000 people, were evacuated on Nov. 15 because of flooding from the Coldwater River and from the collapse of the citys sewage treatment plant. Locals were forced to travel to Kamloops, Kelowna, and Salmon Arm for safety, with officials saying the evacuation may last at least one week or more.

A man drives a boat on a flooded road in Chilliwack, B.C., on Nov. 16, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)

In Hope, about 122 km east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, which became isolated from the rest of the province due to road damage, rescue crews earlier in the week airlifted to safety 275 people caught between two separate slides on Highway 7 west of the community.

Lorne Marchildon was on his way home from Osoyoos to Cloverdale, some 45 kilometres southeast of Vancouver, on Nov. 14 and has been stranded in Hope ever since.

Tonight will be my fourth night sleeping in my truck, Marchildon said in an interview on Nov. 17, adding that he didnt want to go to the shelters for stranded travellers so that theres more room for others who need it.

At the beginning, there was a lot of hope that theyre going to fix it, theyre going to get us through. But now, theres no one in the streets anymore. People are just waiting now because theyre exhausted.

Marchildon says he was in the area when the mudslides hit Highway 7 between Hope and Aggasiz on Nov. 14.

I saw the disaster. I saw the people running around screaming for their kids in the dark. It was just terrible.

Elsewhere in the province, stores with empty shelves are a common sight as panic buying and supply chain route disruptions deplete fresh food supplies. Segments of oil and gas pipelines were also shut off temporarily due to flooding and debris flows.

The province declared a state of emergency on Nov. 17, with Premier John Horgan saying it will give the province more options to respond to the natural disaster.

Bill Blair, the federal minister of emergency preparedness, said on Nov. 17 that the Canadian Forces will deploy air support personnel to assist with evacuation efforts, support supply chain routes, and protect residents against floods and landslides.

Uncertainty Creates a Lot of Stress

Ray Nickel, a board member with the BC Chicken Marketing Board, says his organization is following the developments closely.

From what we understand, our farm families are safe, so thats obviously our number one concern, Nickel said in an interview. And then, corresponding with that, obviously, were very concerned about our animals and the safety and welfare of those. You can imagine, the uncertainty creates a lot of stress, especially when youre threatened like this.

Search and rescue personnel help flood evacuees disembark from a helicopter in Agassiz, B.C., on Nov. 15, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward)

The BC Milk Marketing Board issued a statement to its producers on Nov. 16 saying that farms in many areas in the Fraser Valley, the Interior, and Northern B.C. will not have their milk picked up until further notice. The board asked the producers to dispose of their milk responsibly into their manure pit.

This exacerbates a milk shortage throughout the province where grocery stores outside of Greater Vancouver have already run out of dairy supplies because shipments were stalled from the highway closures.

Dave Earle, CEO of the BC Truckers Association, encouraged residents to remain calm and trust the industry to get food and supplies to them.

Whats really important for everybody to realize is the goods will get there. It just may take a little longer, they may cost a little more, but the goods will get there, Earle in an interview with CFJC Today in Kamloops.

Rob Fleming, B.C.s minister of transportation and infrastructure, said his department is focused on getting the roads repaired and supply chain routes cleared.

We fully recognize how important it is now in British Columbia to reopen the road connections from the Lower Mainland to the Interior to get supply chains moving again, Fleming said on Nov. 16.
A NSW SES flood rescue operator prepares to help launch a flood boat off the banks of the Lachlan River on November 17, 2021 in Forbes, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

A Very Resilient Community: NSW Premier Visited Flood Ravaged Town of Forbes

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet on Thursday morning has visited the central-western town of Forbes where the threat of rising floodwaters is likely to linger for days, with more rain forecast in the coming days.

He was joined by Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott to receive a briefing from State Emergency Service (SES) chiefs.

Hundreds of people have come back home after flood warnings were downgraded and local State Emergency Commander Rocky Walshaw says sandbagging properties and other preparations over the past week have paid off.

The premier commended locals who in the past four years have endured floods, drought, bushfires, a mouse plague, and the pandemic, only to be hit with more floods.

Theyre a very resilient community here and they are going to get through this difficult time as well, Perrottet said.

NSW SES flood rescue operators launch a flood boat off the banks of the Lachlan River on November 17, 2021 in Forbes, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

Over the past week around 300 SES volunteers and other emergency service workers have been assisting locals by sandbagging to protect properties from rising waters and doorknocking to evacuate people, as well as conducting 33 flood rescues.

That is the spirit that gets our state through these difficult times, the premier said.

The town has so far avoided the worst-case scenario that saw hundreds of houses inundated in 2016but the flood risk is far from over.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more rain in the area, leaving the town on a knifes edge.

Forbes Mayor Phyllis Miller said the flooded Lachlan River has been slowly rising through Wednesday as water makes its way through Forbes.

It has come through the town and made its way to the lake system but its nothing we cant handle, she told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.

Children play on the banks of the Lachlan River as it begins to spill ahead of expected major flooding later tonight on November 16, 2021 in Forbes, Australia. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

The floodwaters in the Lachlan River have wiped out the crops, pastures and cut off farms from Cowra to Forbes during the past week.

Farmers in the Lachlan Valley are bearing the brunt of the flood, with rain and flooding impacting an already-delayed crop.

Weve got crops that have been good as weve grown for 10 years or more that have been submerged and turned into a lake, said Cowra farmer Ed Fagan, whose 600 acres (243 hectares) at Mulyan, which runs along the Lachlan River, was flooded.

He said the timing of this flood could not have been worse for the Lachlan Valley region, with winter crops just weeks off from being harvested, while summer crops have just been planted.

Its a double whammy, he said.

Weve spent all the money on it. Thats the thing thats annoying Its not great for your psyche when youve been so excited to get a big crop through.

The flood five years ago is estimated to have cost the area more than $200 million in agricultural output.
Heath Freeman arrives to the Los Angeles premiere of "Jimi: All Is By My Side" at ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood, Calif., on Sept. 22, 2014. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Actor Heath Freeman, Who Played Serial Killer on Bones, Dead at 41

By Kate Feldman

From New York Daily News

Actor Heath Freeman, best known for playing the first serial killer on Bones, has died. He was 41.

A brilliant human being with an intense and soulful spirit, he leaves us with an indelible imprint in our hearts, his manager, Joe Montifiore, said in a statement to the Daily News. His life was filled with deep loyalty, affection, and generosity towards his family and friends, and an extraordinary zest for life. Montifiore did not have any further details, including a cause of death.

Freeman began his career on ER, then had appearances on shows including Tru Calling and NCIS before being hired on the Fox procedural Bones, on which he played Howard Epps.

Epps, who appeared in just three episodes, was a genius who killed young, blonde women after his mother trained him to believe females were impure.

Freeman later had roles in The Closer, Raising the Bar, and 12 Mighty Orphans.

He was recently cast in Michael Polishs Terror on the Prairie and wrapped production on Devils Fruit.

I was just giving you a big wrap party hug a week ago. I wanted to keep you for a lifetime and now I am going to carry you for a lifetime in my heart. I didnt know our journey would be cut this short and my heart is shattering, Gina Carano, who co-starred in Devils Fruit, wrote on Instagram.

I wanted so much more time to laugh, cry, create, live, love with your friends. Heath truly was so special, so fierce and precious, protective gentle, and brave. He made me feel safe. He took care of everyone around him. I am so blessed to know him for the time I did.

2021 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns attend a sit-in solidarity rally against the Chinese Communist Partys rule on Tibet, in the Indian capital city of New Delhi on Feb. 2, 2013. (Raveendran/AFP via Getty Images)

Anecdotal Evidence of Sexual Abuse of Tibetan Nuns While in Chinese Police Custody

The Chinese regimes sexual abuse of Uyghurs has been widely reported in recent years as more victims of this Muslim minority have stepped forward to expose the ongoing persecution in the Xinjiang region. The mass rape and torture of female Falun Gong practitioners have been extensively reported by Minghui.org in the last two decades.

Tibetan nuns also have been subjected to sexual torture at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but their stories are still lesser known. In 2018, the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) published a firsthand account of a monk witnessing nuns being sexually abused by the communist officials in the re-education center in Sog County, Nagchu prefecture, Tibet region.

Tenzin Sangmo, a researcher with the TCHRD, told The Epoch Times in an email that their 25 years of research have provided them with anecdotal evidence of sexual abuse suffered by Tibetan women and nuns.

This eyewitness account by the monk was obtained with great difficulty, she said. It is understood that the monk was detained in one of the many extra-legal political re-education centers with other monks and nuns.

Sangmo added that gathering such information from inside Tibet has become increasingly difficult after 2008, and even more so from 2016 to 2017 because of the massive ramping up of censorship and surveillance.

Contacting those inside Tibet is an exercise ridden with unbounded risk, she added.

Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns participate in a sit-in solidarity rally against the Chinese Communist Partys rule on Tibet, in the Indian capital city of New Delhi on Oct. 18, 2011. (Raveendran/AFP via Getty Images)

Sangmo said that the mass surveillance and censorship (pdf) methods like the Grid Management and Double-Linked Household systems threaten Chinese people to report on and betray one another. To add to the difficulty, the CCPs tool of collective punishment has forced Tibetans who were earlier willing to speak up to instead practice self-censorship to avoid endangering those around them.

The anonymous Tibetan monk, who was held in the political re-education center for four months, was studying in Qinghai Province. The communist officials forcibly took him back to his hometown in Sog County, and if he had refused, his family could have been arrested, according to a TCHRD report. He was then taken to a re-education center, where almost all detainees were monks or nuns.

Though an officer informed him that the center is a school, not a prison, the monk said in his personal account that he soon realized that place was nothing but a prison meant to brainwash and coerce Tibetan Buddhists.

The centers teaching style reminded him of the Cultural Revolution where people were forced to constantly criticize themselves. The detainees were also tortured and beaten with electric batons until some of them fainted. Every one of them, regardless of age, had to participate in military drills. During one of the drills, the monk witnessed the harassment and abuse of nuns.

Many nuns would lose consciousness during the [military] drills, the monk wrote, according to the TCHRD report. Sometimes officers would take unconscious nuns inside where I saw them fondle the nuns breasts and grope all over their body.  I have heard about some officers lying in the nuns bedroom pressing unconscious nuns underneath.

Sexual abuse is not the only method used to transform the Tibetans nuns. The TCHRDs 2016 Special Report on Prisoners of Conscience in Tibet detailed other torture methods like inflicting shocks with electric batons; deprivation of food, water, and sleep; pouring boiling water over prisoners; setting dogs onto prisoners; and branding with red-hot shovels, etc.

These methods are but a few of the over-100 routine torture methods employed by the Chinese communist regime to persecute prisoners of all faiths.

Sangmo said thousands of monks and nuns have been evicted from renowned Tibetan academies like Larung Gar and Yarchen Gar in Kardze, Tibet region, and then rounded up for political re-education to steer them away from spiritual pursuit as their path is deemed incompatible with the characteristics of a model Chinese citizen.

Like other monks and nuns who were forced out of their monasteries, the anonymous monk detained at the Sog County re-education center couldnt return to his monastery or continue with his monastic education after his release.

He was forced to disrobe after his release from the political re-education center, Sangmo said. Most of the monks and nuns evicted from these two prominent Tibetan Buddhist academies are subjected to similar restrictions.

Tibetan monks sitting on the hill and looking at Yarchen Gar Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Sichuan, China. (Phuong D. Nguyen/Shutterstock)

According to an International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) report, a Tibetan former nun, Tenzin, was raped by the Chinese armed police officers after she was arrested while trying to escape from Tibet in 2005. Tenzin, who was studying in India in a school run by the Tibetan government in exile, had gone back to Tibet to visit her ailing father. She eventually returned to India in early 2009 after enduring year-long detention and torture.

Tenzin recounted how the local authorities repeatedly visited her, asking her what she had been doing in India. The Chinese authorities are increasingly suspicious of Tibetans who attend Tibetan government in exile-run schools and religious institutes, as they consider them to have been influenced by ideas of separatism, she said, according to the ICT report.

Unable to stay in peace, Tenzin decided to leave home together with a group of Tibetans, including two children. However, five soldiers stopped her at a checkpoint and later took them to a military building where a Tibetan soldier asked if she is a nun, having seen her shaved head. When Tenzin said yes, the Tibetan soldier cursed at her and the rest of them hit her with batons and belts.

For the next few days, Tenzins arms and feet were cuffed to a wooden bed and she was locked in a room. One night, two prison guards came in and forced her to swallow some medicine, before raping her.

I sensed something bad was going to happen, I screamed as loud as I could in the hope that someone would come to stop them. But all was in vain, she said. Later I fell unconscious. I dont know if that was because of the medicine they gave me or out of fear. I could not feel anything, especially the lower part of my body.

Back in 1988, the BBC broadcasted a documentary of 12 Tibetans in which a nun turned emotional as she recounted how she was sexually abused at a police station, according to a UCA News report. They stepped on my face, tasered my chest, and kicked me, the nun said. Then they took off our clothes and three or four people raped us with a baton.

Another nun confirmed that they were constantly raped by seven or eight people and left naked after the ordeal.

Sangmo told The Epoch Times that nuns are subjected to the same level of torture as others, and physical torture is accompanied by psychological torture. She confirmed that there is no sign of relaxation in restrictions or persecution faced by the Tibetan people, rather the repression has only worsened.

It has worsened since 2008 and more so after the coming of Xi Jinping to power, she said. His consolidation of power and implementation of his vision of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era has meant more repression of Tibetans.

She added that the situation in Tibet cannot be assessed based on statistics alone because there is no research environment.

Information trickles out of Tibet, and statistics need a sufficient pool of information to support it. Therefore, any change in statistics is not indicative of a change in the situation. Using statistics in cases like this could deny the complexity surrounding the issue, Sangmo said.

Arshdeep Sarao contributed to this report.
An electric banner for the newly listed ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF is displayed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 19, 2021 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Around $57 Million in Seized Cryptocurrency to be Sold to Repay Investors

SAN DIEGOAround $57 million in cryptocurrency seized through the prosecution of a man who participated in a large-scale investment scheme will be sold to repay investors victimized by the fraud, federal prosecutors in San Diego said Nov. 16.

The liquidation, which the U.S. Attorneys Office called the largest single recovery of cryptocurrency for victims to date, stems from the investment scheme BitConnect, which prosecutors say defrauded investors out of more than $2 billion.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said it is believed to be the largest cryptocurrency fraud ever criminally charged.

Glenn Arcaro of Los Angeles, 44, pleaded guilty to federal charges earlier this year for his role in misleading investors by claiming BitConnect used proprietary technologyknown as the BitConnect Trading Bot and Volatility Softwareto turn investors money into huge returns.

Prosecutors say BitConnect actually operated like a Ponzi scheme, which used investor funds to repay other BitConnect investors.

Arcaro, who officials say was BitConnects top promoter in the United States, admitted to earning at least $24 million through the scheme, according to his plea agreement. His plea included an agreement to repay the defrauded investors, and a judge last week ordered the liquidation of Arcaros fraud proceeds to begin the process. Prosecutors say the proceeds are largely in the form of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dash, and several others.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said victims of the scheme can learn about their rights and submit a victim impact statement for Arcaros sentencing hearing by visiting www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/us-v-glenn-arcaro-21cr02542-twr.

Arcaro is set to be sentenced Jan. 7 in San Diego federal court.
Sailors stand on the deck of the new type 055 guide missile destroyer Nanchang of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as it participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLAN in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong Province on April 23, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images)

Assessing the Chinese Navys Numerical Superiority

News Analysis

The China-watching community has been going through a bit of a freak-out over the U.S. Defense Departments (DoD) latest report on the Chinese military. In particular, the reportan annual, congressionally mandated publicationstates that China now possesses the largest navy in the world.

In a nutshell, the DoD report asserts that The Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has numerically the largest navy in the world with an overall battle force of approximately 355 ships and submarines, including approximately more than 145 major surface combatants.

Moreover, the PLAN is expected to grow to 420 by 2025, and 460 ships by 2030. In comparison, the U.S. Navy (USN) operates just 305 ships of all types.

It may seem like the PLAN already has a huge advantage over the USN, and that it will only grow wider over the next decades. Simple numbers, however, still require a lot of unpacking.

Yes, China has more warships than the United States overall, that is undeniable. Moreover, the PLAN has a clear numerical superiority in the Pacific Ocean in several types of platforms. The PLAN possesses 38 modern destroyers, including the new 12,000-ton Type-055 Renhai-class heavy destroyer. In addition, the PLAN operates 50 frigates, 70 corvettes, and 60 modern Houbei-class patrol boats (a stealthy, high-speed catamaran bristling with anti-ship cruise missiles), as well as 50 modern attack submarines.

In comparison, the USNs Pacific fleet comprises only 48 large cruisers and modern destroyers, 24 attack submarines, and 13 frigate-sized Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).

Numbers can be deceptive, however. As pointed out by several analysts, the PLAN may have more hulls, but USN ships are, on average, much bigger.

The USN overall weighs in at around 4.5 million tons, more than twice the PLANs 2 million tons.

A U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyer displaces 9,700 tons; in comparison, Chinas Type-052C and Type-052D destroyersthe so-called backbone of the PLANs distant seas forcesweigh in at around 7,500 tons. The newest Virginia-class attack submarine displaces over 11,000 tons, while the PLANs Type-039 and Type-039A submarinewhich comprise the bulk of the PLANs attack submarine forcedisplaces only 3,600 tons.

Larger warships hold more armaments, steam longer distances, and are versatile weapons of war.

The USN also has numerical superiority where it counts. In particular, this means power projection and amphibious assault. The U.S. Pacific Fleet alone operates five nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, each equipped with around 75 combat aircraft. The USN has another five carriers deployed elsewhere around the world.

Three F/A-18E Super Hornets fly in formation over the aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and their strike groups along with ships from the Republic of Korea Navy as they transit the Western Pacific on Nov. 12, 2017. (Aaron B. Hicks/U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters)

In addition, the USN assigns four of its nine flat-deck amphibious assault vessels to the Pacific, each capable of acting as a mini-aircraft carrier (flying F-35s off its deck).

In comparison, the PLAN currently operates only two much smaller carriers, each capable of launching at most two dozen fighter jets, and just two (soon to be three) amphibious assault ships.

Large ships and aircraft carriers in particular are essential to creating a blue-water navy. A blue-water navy is defined as a maritime force capable of sustained operations across the deep waters of open oceans, according to the Defense Security Service. A true blue-water navy can project power far from home, while a smaller blue-water navy is able to dispatch a few vessels for short periods of time.

The PLAN is not yet a true blue-water navy. It has some impressive operational capability in Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, and, for the present, thats about it.

Finally, no comparison of the PLAN and the USN is complete without also factoring in Americas allies. Japan is increasingly concerned about the growing Chinese military threat, and it is crafting a sizable naval force that it could contribute to any Sino-American competition. These include 22 submarines, four large flat-deck helicopter assault shipstwo of which are being converted to fixed-wing aircraft carriersand 36 destroyers, and it is building 22 modern, multirole frigates.

Taiwan is also a likely partner, and it could offer its four destroyers, 22 frigates, and dozens of fast missile boats. In addition, it is presently constructing 12 Tuo Chiang-class corvettesstealthy, high-speed vessels that are intended for hit-and-run actions against Chinese aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships.

Throw in just these shipsand perhaps Australias three new destroyers and eight frigatesand USN/allied forces either roughly equal or outnumber the PLAN in terms of large warships and submarines. In addition, USN forces are better-trained, better-led, and more experienced than their Chinese counterparts.

Nevertheless, all this discussion of comparative numbers of warships or total displacement may be irrelevant where it counts most: the South China Sea and the waters around Taiwan. This is where any Sino-American clash is likely to occur and it also where China is likely to prevail, whatever the numbers.

In any fighting taking place close to mainland China, the PLA could have a critical home field advantage. In particular, the PLAN operates over 70 Type-056 corvettes and 60 high-speed Houbei-class missile boats, and these ships could dominate the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. In addition, PLAN forces would be protected by an extensive integrated air-defense system along the Chinese coast, consisting of radars, land-based aircraft, and surface-to-air missiles.

Chinese combat aircraft and anti-ship missiles based onshore could also attack enemy vessels, particularly utilizing anti-ship ballistic missiles (such as the DF-21D) and nascent hypersonic weaponsso-called carrier-killer munitions expressly intended to take out U.S. aircraft carriers.

U.S. forces, meanwhile, would have to sail several days from their ports in Hawaii, Guam, or Japan to reach this region, while U.S. air and naval bases in Japan and Guam would be vulnerable to Chinese missile strikes.

One final point is also worth noting. While U.S. naval forces age overall, due to fewer replacements and subsequently longer service times, the PLAN is relatively young. Almost all of its surface fleet is less than two decades old.

In the end, it may not matter whether the PLAN or the U.S. Navy is the larger of the two. Advantage accrues from where and how these forces are used. In the open waters of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, U.S. forces would probably prevail. On the other hand, the closer conflicts get to the Chinese mainlandparticularly in the South China Sea and around Taiwanthe more the PLANs numerical superiority in small ships does mattera lot.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In this handout provided by the Australian Department of Defence, Afghanistan evacuees board a flight to Australia from the Australian Defence Force's main operating base in the Middle East region. (LACW Jacqueline Forrester/Australian Department of Defence via Getty Images)

Australia Extends Temporary Afghan Humanitarian Visas

The Australian government will extend temporary humanitarian visas issued to Afghans who support Australian forces in Afghanistan.

The decision to provide an extension on an ongoing basis applies to visas issued to Locally Engaged Employees (LEE), or certified local workers, and their families from the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Australian Federal Police, as well as others who worked with the Australian government.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has said the Taliban should not obstruct the efforts of those who wish to leave the country.

Australia expects the Taliban to uphold its undertakings to allow Australians and Afghan visa holders to depart Afghanistan safely if they wish to do so. We continue to work with international partners to that end, Hawke said. Australia will also continue to utilise our close working relationship with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to identify those Afghans most in need.

British armed forces work with the U.S. military to evacuate eligible civilians and their families out of the country in Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 21, 2021. (British Ministry of Defense Crown Copyright via Getty Images)

Over 5,600 temporary humanitarian visas have been issued in response to the crisis in Afghanistan, of which 3,500 have begun their settlement journey in Australia.

However, temporary humanitarian visas granted to Afghans outside of the LEE program will expire.

These people will be given priority in Australias humanitarian and refugee intake program.

Australia allocated 3,000 humanitarian visas to Afghan refugees in response to the crisis.

A Senate inquiry into Australias engagement in Afghanistan revealed that none of the 3,000 visas have yet to be granted.

We havent granted protection visas to anyone whos just arrived, we are not at that point yet, Department of Home Affairs immigration program first assistant secretary David Wilden said. Theyre still on their 449s and they havent lodged their protection visas.

Just to be clear, the 499 visas, being the visa that helped the evacuation, arent places in the program.

Members of the Taliban patrol on a pickup truck in Kabul, on Sept. 30, 2021. (Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images)

Hawke said Afghans who seek Australias protection can apply under the Humanitarian Program, with priority given to vulnerable and persecuted minorities, women and child, and those with links to Australia.

Applicants must meet all visa criteria for character, security, and health.

The Government will continue to make announcements regarding Afghanistan and the evolving humanitarian situation in the near future, Hawke said.

AAP contributed to this article
A statue is seen outside the closed St Mary's Cathedral on April 12, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Australian Faith Based Schools To Have Discretionary Hiring Protections Under Religious Discrimination Bill

The revamped religious discrimination bill will allow schools to hire people on the basis of faith but will not shield employees from prosecution for making statements of belief that might offend others, Education Minister Alan Tudge said.

The bill would also not allow a school to reject a teacher based on their sexuality or other traits, and would not protect healthcare providers conscientious objection to providing treatment on religious grounds.

If a school has a set of religious values which they are imparting, then they should be able to employ teachers who have values consistent with those articulated principles, Tudge told Sky News on Wednesday.

This is a critical principle at stake here, because you cant be a Catholic school if you cant employ Catholic teachers, you cant be a Muslim school without employing Muslim teachers.

Tudge added the religious bill would override existing state and territory laws where necessary, but will not go so far as to allow a Catholic school to reject a gay teacher.

That wouldnt be lawful under our bill, Tudge said.

The bill, introduced to parliament on Wednesday, was an election promise by the Liberal-National coalition but has sat in the too-hard basket since then as conservatives and moderates disagree on how far it should go.

Although the government has yet to release the proposed legislation in full, it has allegedly briefed backbenchers that it would scuttle the contentious Folau clause, which would require medium to large businesses to prove financial damage in order to sack someone for making a religious statement.

Put forth by former Attorney-General Christian Porter, the clause was named after Australian professional rugby league player Israel Folau, who was dismissed by Rugby Australia in 2019 over social media posts saying drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolators were destined for hell.

Folau, who has refused to apologise for his belief, later received an apology from the body and a confidential settlement.

But the Bill has also attracted criticism from conservative politicians with NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham saying it was a weak version of the original proposed legislation.

Its a rather a defensive form of religious freedom rather than the positive form, NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham said. This is pretty disappointing for the Morrison government, its a real back down.

While conservatives and faith-based groups expressed their frustration at the Morrison government watering down the bill, some are raising concerns that legislating religious freedom may end up narrowing it.

As soon as you seek to codify what freedoms are available to people of religion you then run the risk, I guess, of having them weaponised, used against them, Australian conservative political commentator told Sky News host Paul Murray.

Youre also limiting freedoms which I think in some respects, because theyre codified, may actually have an adverse effect.

The bill has also suffered criticism from LGBTIQ+ advocate groups like Equality Australia which believe the religious freedom protections amount to support for hate speech and prejudice.

In fact, the Morrison governments bill licences more discrimination against all our communities, by overriding existing protections for women, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ people and even people of faith, said Equality Australia Chief Executive Anna Brown.

While conservative academic and the Director of the Centre for Independent Studies, Peter Kurti, said the intolerance shown by those determined to silence people of faith who voiced their beliefs in public demonstrated the necessity of having such a law.

For example, few would be surprised if an environmentalist group chose not to employ a confessed advocate of coal or other fossil fuels. Yet arms are thrown up in horror when a religious school asks its staff to be sympathetic to the creeds of the faith in question, Centre for Independent Studies Director Peter Kurti wrote in a commentary for The Epoch Times.

Accentuation of difference makes it harder for citizens of a secular, multicultural society to dissent from the new orthodoxies about gender, human sexuality, and the family.

Instead, dissent is weaponised and deployed as a form of alleged harm to shut down debate, he said.
Bank of America Initiates Pilot Program Separating Vaccinated From Unvaccinated Employees

Bank of America reportedly has begun a pilot program that aims to separate vaccinated from unvaccinated employees at an administration building in Jacksonville, Florida, according to a person who works with the bank.

The program, which began on Nov. 18, was initiated as a way to bring employees back to the office after a period of working remotely during the pandemic, the personwho spoke on condition of anonymitytold The Epoch Times. But the plan casts a dark shadow on our potential future society, the source said.

Its segregation, they said. Im blown away.

Shifts in Work Culture

Employees have trickled back to their abandoned offices this year at varying rates amid a multitude of experimental corporate policies, after the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus led to a worldwide work-from-home culture.

With the wider availability of vaccines, people began taking off their masks, and workplace policies became less restrictive.

Then fears over the Delta variant sent many back home and became the platform on which President Joe Biden announced his vaccine mandate policy in September, when he directed the Department of Labor to develop a rule requiring all employers with 100 or more workers to get vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022, or require unvaccinated employees to be tested weekly.

On Nov. 12, a U.S. appeals court rejected a challenge by the Biden administration and reasserted its decision to halt Bidens order. However, many businesses have initiated their own vaccination deadlines and policies as lawsuits have piled up against the Biden administration regarding the mandates.

While some businesses have chosen to mandate vaccines, leading to mass firings and resignations, others have not, leading to policies that require weekly testing and division that has appeared to some evocative of medical segregation.

Essentially, Theyre Discriminating

At Bank of America, vaccinated workers had already been returning to their offices. But while the corporation hasnt implemented a vaccine mandate overall, those who havent disclosed their vaccinated status, or have disclosed their status as unvaccinated, will only be allowed to return to work on a separate floor, the person said.

The unvaccinated will be stripped of their access and given access only to one floor, with offices and a restroom, but they cant go anywhere else, the person said. Essentially, theyre discriminating.

The source was told that the program was designed so the bank could gain feedback from employees. Meanwhile, access for the unvaccinated will be monitored to make sure they are kept in containment, so to speak, the person said.

But I cant partake in this, the person said, acknowledging that they may be fired or have to quit. Im not quiet and I dont keep my mouth shut. Im not going to partake in this program they are rolling out.

Bank of America has described itself on its website as having a diverse and inclusive workplace.

We firmly believe all employees should be treated with respect, live free of discrimination, and be able to bring their whole selves to work, its website states. This is the core to who we are as a company and how we drive responsible growth.

So youre inclusive of all people, but not the unvaccinated? the person said. No, youre just blatantly hypocritical.

Bank of Americas Response

In response to statements by the source, a Bank of America spokesperson told The Epoch Times that, relying on CDC guidance, the bank plans to prioritize the vaccinated when bringing employees back to the office.

A spokesman noted that the company is now taking the next step forward and beginning to return a limited number of teammates who have either not disclosed their status or are unvaccinated. These teammates will work in an environment where our health and safety protocols are aligned to the latest guidance from the CDC and other medical experts.

They will be required to use face coverings at all times, maintain physical distancing, and test weekly.

The company said that with a pandemic underway, there are going to be added measures the company must take on behalf of its employees to ensure their safety.
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Floral artist Barronelle Stutzman (L) speaks to members of the media in front of the U.S. Supreme Court as cake artist Jack Phillips (R) looks on December 5, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Barronelle Stutzman Settles Religious Freedom Suit, Sells Flower Shop to Employees

A nine-year battle in state and federal courts to uphold her First Amendment right to practice her faith in the workplace ended on Nov. 18 as Barronelle Stutzman announced her retirement and sale of the flower shop at the center of the case to its employees.

Stutzman, 77, from Richland, Washington, told reporters in a Washington, D.C., news conference that she has agreed to pay $5,000 to the plaintiffs and her attorneys will withdraw her request to the Supreme Court that it reconsider its rejection earlier this year of her appeal of a lower court decision.

Asked by a reporter how she feels after such a long legal battle, she said that it will be nice to get back to normal, though I am not sure what that is.

She added: You know the fight is not over, I will continue to support whoever I can. This is not just about Arlenes Flowers, its about each and every one of us. We are losing our liberties, one by one, and we have to keep fighting. We have a Constitution and religious freedom that need to be in the forefront.

Earlier in the news conference, Stutzman read a prepared statement in which she said, I wish the culmination of all that Ive been through could result in a new respect, culturally and legally, for freedom of conscience in our country.

Stutzman is represented by attorneys at the Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based public interest law firm that specializes in religious freedom litigation. The firm has won more than a dozen Supreme Court cases in recent years.

From the beginning, I have asked no more than the freedom to act in accordance with my religious beliefs and personal convictions. I have treated those who persecuted me with respect, and with the assurance that I want for them the same freedom that I ask for myself, she said in the statement.

Stutzmans legal odyssey began when Rob Ingersoll, a longtime customer of Arlenes Flowers and close personal friend, asked her to create floral arrangements to celebrate his marriage to another man.

Ingersoll asked me to do something Id done many times before: Design a unique, personalized arrangement of flowers to celebrate a special event in his life. I had always been delighted with those creative opportunities, just as Id always been happy to sell him bouquets of flowers, Stutzman said in her statement.

But this time, the special event he was celebrating was his marriage to another man. And that was a line I could not cross, even for friendship. I am a Christian, and I believe the Bible to be the Word of God.

That Word makes it clear that God loves all people so much that He sent His Son to die in their place. And it also teaches that He designed marriage to be only the union of one man and one woman. I could not take the artistic talents God Himself gave me and use them to contradict and dishonor His Word.

Stutzman gave Ingersoll references for other florists that she was confident would provide him great service, the two friends hugged, and he left the shop.

Not long afterward, Washington state Attorney General Robert Ferguson read about the situation on social media and filed suit against Stutzman, in both her capacity as owner of the flower shop and personally. Thus, the stakes for her and her husband, Darold, the potential loss of their business, substantial fines, and lawyers fees, were immense.

Then, Ingersoll and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued Stutzman in a second suit. Following two losses at the Washington state Supreme Court, Stutzman appealed to the Supreme Court.

Kristen Waggoner, Alliance Defending Freedoms general counsel, said the settlement applies in all of the litigation and protects Stutzman against future liabilities resulting from past actions.

I think [the settlement] demonstrates that its time for the courts to pay attention to what is happening in Washington state, Waggoner told The Epoch Times.

The Washington state Supreme Court is especially brazen in its disregard for the constitutional rights of its citizens. We are not only seeing these attacks that were unprecedented in the way they were suing Barronelle.

Waggoner pointed to another Washington state case in which the firm represents the Seattle Union Gospel Mission Church where the court has essentially rewritten Washington law to force churches to stop hiring people of a similar faith if its not a ministerial position. That is an egregious violation of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court will consider the Seattle Union Gospel Mission Churchs appeal in December.
Beijing Is Pressuring US Business to Lobby Congress Against the USICA and EAGLE Acts

The FBI should investigate anyone who follows CCP instructions

News Analysis

Beijing is pressuring Americans to reject legislation aimed at making the United States more competitive against China. The FBI should investigate them, but the legislation itself is toothless.

Over the last few weeks, the Chinese embassy in the United States boldly sent letters to, and met directly with, U.S. executives, businesses, and trade associations, to ask them to lobby against bills in Congress that seek to improve American competitiveness.

According to a Nov. 13 report by Reuters, Chinese officials warned companies they would risk losing market share or revenue in China if the legislation becomes law, according to a letter from the economic and commercial office of the embassy.

If Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials put that in writing, imagine what they say behind closed doors.

Reuters sources worry that complying with the Chinese letters would put them in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). They should worry, and the FARA legislation should be more thoroughly enforced against individuals and businesses that lobby for soft-on-China policies, or donate to soft-on-China groups such as the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), the Asia Society, the Committee of 100, or the China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC).

Such donations demonstrate to Beijing that a company is friends with China, and thus deserving of special privileges such as the granting of market share and other business opportunities in China.

The CCP controls business and foreign profits in China through stricter business laws, but also through CCP cells that businesses are required to maintain within their management structure. As Chinese investment in American and allied businesses increases, they seek board memberships in U.S.-headquartered corporations as well.

A Chinese embassy letter sent in November to at least four of Reuters business sources said, We sincerely hope you  will play a positive role in urging members of Congress to abandon the zero-sum mindset and ideological prejudice, stop touting negative China-related bills, delete negative provisions, so as to create favorable conditions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation before it is too late.

The letter continued: The result of those China-related bills with negative impacts will not be that the interests of U.S. companies will be protected while those of Chinese companies will suffer. It is only going to hurt everyone. Promoting a China-free supply chain will inevitably result in a decline in Chinas demand for U.S. products and American companies [sic] loss of market share and revenue in China.

But Chinese officials may be worrying about the wrong thing, or not worried at all. The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement (EAGLE) Act, both of which the embassy letter mentioned, are seen as tough on China, but both are full of loopholes.

They include, for example, over $240 billion in subsidies to boost technology at U.S. corporations and agencies whose cybersecurity is often penetrated by CCP-linked hackers. The new technology developed with U.S. taxpayer money can later be stolen or sold to China by the unscrupulous who put their own profit before the existential threat that the CCP poses to America and democracy globally.

As Walter Lohman from the Heritage Foundation noted, The USICA subsidies are the wrong way to make American businesses competitive with Chinese firms, but if they become law, we ought to at least make sure were not indirectly subsidizing American business operations in China itself.

If time is on Beijings sideand arguably it is due to the countrys exponential economic and military growth, and increasing political influence in the United States and among our allieswe should defeat the CCP with the technology we already have, before funding more tech that Beijing can steal anyway.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A large wooden cross is seen outside the closed Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Earlwood in Sydney, Australia, on April 12, 2020. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Catholic Leader Issues Vaccine Mandate Across Australian Diocese

The Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge has issued a strongly worded ultimatum for all catholic priests within his diocese to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 15.

Clergy failing to receive the jab will need to show cause or face immediate suspension, according to a letter obtained by The Australian.

Despite recognising that vaccination was a matter of personal choice the religious leader said it was outweighed by obligations to COVID-19-related public health directives, workplace health and safety laws, and a duty of care to parishioners.

Clergy engaged in parish ministry must be close to people. In the circumstances of the pandemic, clergy engaged in pastoral ministry who are not doubly vaccinated put the faithful of the parish at risk. They present a risk to the faithful to whom they minister, as well as to their families, Coleridge wrote in the letter.

Clergy not doubly vaccinated are failing in their duty of care for the faithful.

The Archdiocese of Brisbane covers a wide area across the south-east corner of the state of Queensland and includes over 112 parishes.

Exemptions were available to those with proper medical certification, but Coleridge warned that a medical contraindication against one COVID-19 vaccination does not necessarily translate to a contraindication against all vaccines.

I will not consider a conscientious objection to receiving the vaccination as a valid exception to the provisions set out here, he added.

I fully respect the right of conscience, especially when properly formed in the Catholic understanding. But I too have a conscience; and it is not just legal obligation but consciences which has led to my decision.

Augusto Zimmermann, head of law at Sheridan College and author of the Christian Foundations of the Common Law, said it was an irrational and illogical perspective to impose a mandate based on a duty of care to parishioners.

People who are not vaccinated are in theory taking the risk of not being jabbed. Because if the vaccine is supposed to be an effective measure to protect people, anybody who takes the jab should not have any concerns [of contracting the virus from an unvaccinated person], he told The Epoch Times.

Certainly, one of the things very important in the Catholic tradition is the idea of bodily autonomy and the right to lifethey are both derived from the values and traditional principles of natural law, he said.

Zimmermann warned that Coleridge could also face potential legal liability from clergy who experience adverse side-effects from the vaccine.

Around 10,000 Australians are planning to file compensation claims for injury or loss of income resulting from receiving one of the three approved COVID-19 vaccines.

Since Sept. 6, residents have begun registering their interest to make a claim under the federal governments no-fault COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme.
The dorsal surfaces of the hands of a monkeypox case patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1997. (CDC)

CDC Confirms 2nd Case of Monkeypox in US This Year

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other officials confirmed that a case of monkeypox was recently detected in Maryland, the second time the rare virus has been detected in the United States this year.

The infected individual, who recently traveled to Nigeria, is suffering from mild symptoms and is recovering in isolation, said the Maryland Department of Health this week.

Public health authorities have identified and continue to follow up with those who may have been in contact with the diagnosed individual, said Maryland Deputy Secretary for Public Health Dr. Jinlene Chan. Our response in close coordination with CDC officials demonstrates the importance of maintaining a strong public health infrastructure.

Monkeypox, which is in the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms, can be spread via contact with skin lesions or body fluids, or contaminated materials such as clothing. The virus can also be spread via large respiratory droplets at short distances.

Maryland health authorities said that the public doesnt need to take any special precautions.

Late yesterday, CDC laboratory scientists confirmed the patient had monkeypox and that the infection matches the strain that has been re-emerging in Nigeria since 2017. The person is currently in isolation in Maryland, the CDC confirmed in a Wednesday news release.

In elaborating, the federal health agency said that travelers on the flight to the United States were required to wear masks on the plane as well as in the U.S. airports due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of the COVID-19 protocols, the agency said that the risk of spreading the monkeypox virus on planes is low.

But the CDC is assessing potential risks to those who may have had close contact with the traveler on the plane and after their arrival in the United States, according to its statement.

Earlier this year, a case of monkeypox was reported in a man who had then recently visited Nigeria and returned to Texas. At the time, Texas and federal health officials determined the risk posed by the virus was low.

The disease was first reported in people in 1970 before several cases were discovered in the United States in 2003. Most of the identified cases were believed to have had contact with pet prairie dogs infected by African rodents, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Monkeypox has a total fatality rate of around 1 percent, WHO says, although the death rate in the Congo area is higher, killing up to 10 percent of infected people in that region.

U.S. health officials, in contrast, say that the death rate from smallpox is much higher, killing about three in 10 infected people.
A mobile phone can be seen displaying the logos for Chinese apps WeChat and TikTok in front of a monitor showing the flags of the United States and China on an internet page, in Beijing, on Sept. 22, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

China Exerts Influence in US Through TikTok and WeChat, Expert Says

The communist regime in Beijing is using the popular apps WeChat and TikTok to exert influence over Americans and the Chinese diaspora, a China expert told U.S. lawmakers on Nov. 17.

Its essential to remember that all Chinese tech companies are subject to the control of the Chinese Communist Party [CCP], Wang Yaqiu, a senior researcher at New York-based Human Rights Watch, said during a hearing hosted by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).

Wang said that TikTok, which announced in September that it had 1 billion active users worldwide, isnt a normal social media app and puts users at risk.

There is no way for outsiders to know what information is being suppressed or promoted on TikTok that is due to the Chinese governments influence, she said.

What you see on TikTok is not so much decided by who you follow, but by the companys algorithm.

If you search the hashtag Xinjiang, you will find many videos with smiling and dancing Uyghurs, but not so many videos that [are] about the camps and surveillance and human rights violations, Wang added. Why is this the case? We dont know.

More than 1 million ethnic Muslim minorities, including Uyghurs, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz people, are being detained in roughly 1,200 internment camps in Chinas northwestern region of Xinjiang, according to the U.S. State Departments 2019 Trafficking in Persons report. Beijing claims these camps are vocational training centers.

Inside these camps, the detainees are known to be subjected to human rights abuses, including forced sterilization, forced abortion, rape, torture, forced labor, and the removal of children from their families.

In January, the United States designated the suppression campaign in Xinjiang a genocide and crimes against humanity.

General view of the TikTok building in Culver City, Calif., on Nov. 17, 2020. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

Canberra-based think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) pointed to the oddity of TikToks video ranking in March, in its latest report on how Beijing uses U.S. social media to spread propaganda on Xinjiang.

The report found that a video with the caption Free Uyghur and 2,831 likes was ranked 129th on the Xinjiang hashtag page in March. Meanwhile, three videos showing Xinjiangs beautiful scenery were ranked in the top 10 and each one had fewer than 600 likes.

Theres a lot we dont know about what Chinese tech companies are doing in the U.S., what is being censored, promoted, and suppressed, and how data is being accessed, used, and shared, Wang said. And to what extent is the Chinese government  telling them to do these things.

In October, TikTok Vice President Michael Beckerman testified before Congress at a time when the companys privacy policy had come under scrutiny. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) asked Beckerman several questions on whether the vague language in the policy would give TikToks parent company, China-based ByteDance, and its affiliates, access to user data collected by TikTok.

Beckermans refusal to give a yes or no response to questions prompted Cruz to say that the TikTok executive was hiding something. The senator added that Beckerman dodged questions more than any witness hed ever seen in the Senate.

WeChat

Wang said mainland Chinese living in the United States are still heavily dependent on WeChat, Chinas most popular social media app. WeChat is owned by Chinese tech company Tencent.

It is impossible not to use WeChat to live your life, Wang said. This convenience provided by WeChat sucks us all into the system.

She said the app is being used for everything from information and communication to political organizing.

This heavy reliance on this one app for everything gives Beijing huge latitude to shape the [Chinese] diasporas views in ways more favorable to the CCP, Wang said.

It allows Beijing to know a lot about the people who have left China, down to things like who is meeting whom, and what time and where. It also allows Beijing to potentially mobilize an important demographic in the U.S.

In May 2020, Canada-based digital watchdog Citizen Lab revealed in its report that WeChat monitored communications between its users outside of China in order to improve its algorithm to censor its China-based accounts.

There are about 1.2 billion monthly active WeChat users around the world. According to Wangs written testimony (pdf), there are about 19 million daily active WeChat users in the United States.

An illustration picture showing the logo of the Chinese instant messaging application WeChat on the screen of a tablet, on July 24, 2019. (Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)

Wang alluded to a recent report by U.S. security firm Mandiant Threat Intelligence to warn how WeChat could similarly be exploited. That report found that pro-Beijing operatives used dozens of social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, in unsuccessful attempts to mobilize Asian Americans to protest against racial injustice in the United States.

We do not know whether similar schemes targeting the Chinese diaspora are happening on WeChat because its hard to do research, Wang said.

Whats more, WeChat potentially opens the door for the Chinese regime to tap into U.S. social movements, Wang warned, considering that the Chinese diaspora has been using WeChat to organize activities to support anti-affirmative action.

The idea that a very important civil rights movement in the United States, and that organizing of this movement is on a platform that is controlled by the Chinese government, that can be manipulated by the Chinese regime, is definitely a source of concern, she said.

Similarly, Wang expressed concerns about anti-Asian racism protests in New York City because some of these activities were known to be organized on WeChat. She offered some recommendations to the lawmakers, including passing laws to require tech companies operating in the United States to be more transparent.

I urge the U.S. government to invest in Chinese-language journalism and media. Making fact-based information available in our native language is one of the most effective ways to counter Beijings malign influence.

TikTok and Tencent officials didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment.
Lieutenant General John E. Hyten, Air Force Space Command vice commander, speaks about how cyber operations are a clear catalyst for change in the art and science of modern warfare during the Space Foundation's Cyber 1.3 luncheon at The Broadmoor hotel, Colorado Springs, Colo., April 8. (U.S. Air Force photo/Duncan Wood)

Chinas Hypersonic Weapon Could Be for Nuclear First-Use: Pentagon No. 2

The Chinese regimes fielding of a new hypersonic weapons system might indicate that the nation is shifting away from its pledge of not using nuclear weapons first in a potential conflict, according to the Pentagons second-highest-ranking officer.

They look like a first-use weapon, Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten said during an interview with CBS. Thats what those weapons look like to me.

The comments by Hyten, who is due to retire this week, referenced the test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle with an orbital bombardment system back in late July, which reportedly caught the U.S. intelligence community by surprise.

They launched a long-range missile, Hyten said. It went around the world, dropped off a hypersonic glide vehicle that glided all the way back to China, that impacted a target in China.

The system is of concern because the United States current early warning systems were designed to detect traditional intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and not hypersonic glide vehicles (HGVs).

We just dont know how we can defend against that technology, said U.S. disarmament ambassador Robert Wood at a press meeting in October.

Thats because ICBMs work by arcing out of and back into the atmosphere in a relatively straightforward parabolic trajectory.

HGVs, however, are fired into space by rockets or ballistic missiles and then released to glide to their target along the upper atmosphere. They fly at a lower altitude than ICBMs and can change their intended target and trajectory repeatedly during their flight, effectively thwarting current defense systems once in orbit.

Similar concerns that Beijings pursuit of hypersonics capability may signal a shift away from Chinas long-standing nuclear weapons policy of no first use were made by a report released earlier in the week.

The new report by the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission warned that the Chinese Communist Party could be covertly moving away from its long-held policy of no first use, which prescribes that the weapon would only be used in response to an aggressors first strike.

Some indicators that this may be the case, the report said, include debates within the Chinese military about the viability of first use, the regimes buildup of new nuclear weapons, and its recent adoption of launch-on-warning protocols, meaning that it will launch nuclear counterstrikes against suspected nuclear aggressors before verifying that a first strike actually occurred.

Chinas nuclear posture could also support a more ambitious nuclear strategy that envisions the limited first use of nuclear weapons as a legitimate means of achieving Chinas political objectives in the region, the report said.

Such a strategy would be consistent with important, if officially marginalized, Chinese intellectual debates that took place in the past over how China could use nuclear weapons to prevail in wars and whether it should discard the no-first-use policy.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin downplayed the threat posed by hypersonic weapons at a press conference on Nov. 17, saying that the U.S. military was moving as fast as it could and maintained its advantage over China.

We continue to move as fast as we can to develop capabilities, Austin said. And again, we look at a full range of capabilities and not just one specific capability as we look at our adversaries.

I believe we have robust capability across the board, Austin said.

Austins comments were in stark contrast to recent reports of declining U.S. military capabilities.

They were also in contrast to other remarks delivered by Hyten in late October, when he said that U.S. military efforts to counter China were hamstrung by a brutal bureaucracy at the Pentagon, which caused weapons platforms to take as long as 20 years to develop.

Hyten said at the time that the United States had been developing a similar hypersonic system in 2011, although risk-averse leadership scrapped the project.

In the decade since, China conducted hundreds of hypersonics tests, Hyten said. Meanwhile, the United States has carried out nine.

The pace [China is] moving and the trajectory that theyre on will surpass Russia and the United States if we dont do something to change it, Hyten said.

It will happen.
Crowds celebrate Australia Day on day seven of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Australia, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Wayne Taylor/Getty Images)

Defending Australian Values From Those Who Want to Tear It Down

Commentary

Theres a joke that, unlike a tub of yogurt, Australia hasnt developed any culture after 200 years in the sun.

The truth is that Australia has a distinct culture. Those who make such jokes just dont like it.

Its part of our national character as Australians to not take ourselves too seriously, but this poses a dilemma when were confronted with constant self-deprecation and even self-loathing.

When those who would tear down what we have built criticise Australia, we are often slow to defend our way of life lest it look like were taking things too seriously.

There is of course a place for critiquing ourselves and being honest about our past; there are undoubtedly some dark pages in the books of our history, and we do not always live up to the ideals of freedom and egalitarianism upon which Australia is based. But too often this is taken to an extreme by those who wish to cast Australia and Australians as fundamentally flawed.

The result is cultural cringe and self-doubt. But these are characteristics of a nation in decline, not a land of opportunity, prosperity, confidence, and hope.

Lifeguards on Bondi Beach take part in the John Glover Pillow Fight Challenge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2017. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

When faced with challenges and threats, both internal and external as we currently are, Australians must be united around our shared values and an understanding of our national story.

As historian Wilfred M. McClay wrote: Whenever any nation is faced with a deadly challenge to its institutions and its well-being, as we are today, it must find a way to draw upon its deepest sense of itself.

Many Australians are denied the opportunity to do this because they are deprived of the opportunity to properly understand our history and way of life.

This is what we have seen with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authoritys (ACARA) draft national curriculum.

As Bella DAbrera, the Director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs has documented extensively, the proposed national curriculum removed all positive references to Australia and its history and sought to teach students that the main features of western civilisation are imperialism, colonisation, and slavery.

This comes after a prolonged annual campaign by the media, led by the ABC, pushing a confected debate about changing the date of Australia Day, underpinned by the divisive narrative that Australia is structurally racist and that our national holiday should be renamed Invasion Day.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has taken note of our wavering self-confidence and are now using the language developed by our universities and self-loathing elites to divide us.

Earlier this year, the CCP accused Australia of being a part of an axis of white supremacy and argued that while the era of colonialism had long gone, racism and hegemonism continued to plague the world.

But while the CCP promotes cultural cringe among its strategic rivals, it reflects McClays message domestically.

A woman walks by the Australian Embassy in Beijing, China, on Jan. 24, 2019. (Andy Wong/AP Photo)

As one astute American Substacker has noted, Chinas media regulator issued a notice in April this year calling for participation in the CCPs Party history education campaign.

The statement noted that some [people with] ulterior motives had been spreading historical misrepresentations and distorting the history of the CCP to confuse people and destroy national self-confidence.

If someone wants to destroy a nation, the statement argued, the first thing they do is to destroy its history.

It is encouraging that the Minister for Education Alan Tudge has taken note of the potential implications of ACARAs draft national curriculum and argued that it risks creating a generation of Australians unwilling to defend their country in the same way their forebears had to.

It remains to be seen how far Tudge goes in encouraging a more positive and balanced view of Australia in the curriculum.

But the challenges to our culture are pervasive and require constant attention, and the political class too often fails to address them appropriately.

This requires a renewed sense of self-confidence, a commitment to our shared values of democracy, egalitarianism, and freedom in all its dimensions, and a deeper understanding of the Australian story.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at the Grand Beach Hotel Surfside in Surfside, Florida, on Aug. 10, 2021.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

DeSantis Signs Bills Countering Vaccine Mandates

BRANDON, Fla.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills into law on Thursday that will diminish the impact of federal CCP virus vaccine mandates in Florida.

Under one of the new laws, Florida businesses that mandate COVID-19 vaccines will be required to offer exemptions for medical and religious reasons as well as to pregnant women and people who have acquired natural immunity to the virus. Employers will be further required to offer workers exemptions based on regular testing and wearing employer-provided protective equipment.

Other provisions in the new law serve to protect workers ousted over vaccine mandates. The law lao prohibits school districts and officials from requiring students to wear masks.

Businesses that flout the requirement face fines ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per incident.

We are standing up for freedom and protecting Florida jobs. Vaccines are not preventing infection, DeSantis said at the signing ceremony.

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, is the pathogen that causes COVID-19.

Hosting the signing in Brandon, was no mistake, Christina Pushaw, the governors press secretary said.

There was a message sent, she said, in an apparent reference to the viral lets go Brandon slogan, which stands for an expletive jab at President Joe Biden. It was by design.

The second bill creates a public records exemption to shield private details from the investigations conducted by the attorney general into violations of vaccine mandate laws. Once the investigation is closed it will be available to view by the public except for an individuals religious or medical information.

The third bill directs the Florida government to formulate a plan to create a new agency to supersede the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The creation of such an agency could establish a legal basis for Florida to defy a federal vaccine mandate for private companies with over 100 employees. Implementation of the OSHA rule is currently on hold after a federal judge temporarily blocked it pending an appeal.

OSHA rule will crash and burn, DeSantis said. This is about power and control. Happy to say we are fighting that.

The last bill prohibits the Florida surgeon general from manding vaccinations during a public health crisis.

Florida lawmakers returned to Tallahassee on Nov. 15, under the governors executive order for a special session to consider bills addressing mask and vaccine mandates.

Now that the bills have been signed into law the governor is turning his attention to two pending federal court cases that will determine the future of two other federal vaccine mandates, one for healthcare employees and another for federal contractors.

DeSantis said at a press conference last week that if the courts sided with the federal government, he plans to ask private employers not to comply with the vaccine mandate.

My view would be dont comply and we would support the legislature taking some of the stimulus money and using it to pay off the fines for businesses, DeSantis said during a speech to the National Federation of Independent Business on Nov. 15.

Not all Florida lawmakers were on board with the legislation as many called the special session a political stunt that would further what many view as the governors White House ambitions.

I am sick and tired of having to be a pawn in Gov. Ron DeSantis political ambitions, Democrat Rep. Anna Eskamani said during the House committee meeting on Nov. 15.

Some Florida Senate democrats echoed these sentiments and said the governor should prioritize issues such as climate change, the rising costs of insurance, and affordable housing.

Does this session make us safer? No, it doesnt. Does it address the problems of everyday Floridians? Absolutely not, said state Rep. Kamia Brown (D). Two years ago we could only hope and pray for a vaccine  now here we are politicizing something we should be celebrating.

State Sen. Danny Burgess (R) said that the bills were necessary because common sense has disappeared faster than toilet paper on the shelves.

We have too many politicians acting like doctors and too many doctors acting like politicians, he said on the state Senate floor Wednesday night.
Detroit Public Schools to Move Friday Classes Online in December Due to Rising COVID-19 Cases

The public school district of Detroit, Michigan, said it will shift to online instruction for three Fridays in December, citing concerns over COVID-19 cases, mental health, and school cleanliness.

In a Nov. 17 statement announcing the change, the Detroit Public Schools said classes will move online on Dec. 3, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17. The district, which serves over 49,000 students, will begin winter recess on Dec. 20.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti said in the statement that he and the school board made the decision after listening and reflecting on the concerns of school-based leaders, teachers, support staff, students, and families regarding the need for mental health relief, rising COVID cases, and time to more thoroughly clean schools.

Vitti urged parents to make sure that their children show up online on those three days, otherwise the district may lose a portion of funding it receives from the state for failing to hit an attendance goal.

As a reminder, the state requires 180 days of instruction at 75 percent district-wide attendance or the district pays a funding penalty, he said. We have met this districtwide threshold each school day since the first day of school in September.

For students who rely on school meals, grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals will be made available at dismissal on the Thursdays before the remote school days, Vitti added.

Prior to the Detroit decision, some school districts in the Greater Detroit area have already revised their schedule because of staffing shortages. In Southfield Public Schools, located north of Detroit, students will learn remotely on Fridays until at least January 2022. In Novi Community School District, students have to find their own way to school on Fridays because bus services are suspended.

The announcement also comes as Michigan, where CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus infections have been on the rise since July, now leads the nation in terms of daily new cases. So far into November, the Great Lakes State has reported an average of more than 4,000 new cases each day, and the average number of new cases over the past two days, Nov. 16 and 17, has surpassed 7,200.

The surge in new COVID-19 cases comes as Michigan reached a 70 percent vaccination mark for residents 16 and older. According to data (pdf) released this Tuesday by Michigans health department, the period between Jan. 15 and Nov. 5 has seen a total of 77,985 breakthrough COVID-19 cases, or individuals tested positive for CCP virus 14 or more days after being fully vaccinated. Health officials also reported 2,009 breakthrough hospitalizations and 944 breakthrough deaths.

In addition, there have been 573,160 COVID-19 cases, 15,066 hospitalizations, and 6,760 deaths among individuals who were not fully vaccinated during that same period, according to the Michigan health officials.
The Disney Dream cruise ship makes its first public appearance in Papenburg, Germany, on Oct. 30, 2010. (Diana Zalucky/Disney via Getty Images)

Disney Cruise Line to Require Passengers Aged 5 and Older to Be Vaccinated for COVID-19

All passengers aged 5 and over will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to board Disney cruises, the cruise line announced Wednesday.

The vaccine mandate will go into effect on Jan. 13, 2022. It comes after federal regulators green-lighted the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children on Nov. 2 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before Jan. 13, children aged 5-11 who are not vaccinated need to test negative for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus and present with proof of the test result before boarding. The test must be paid for by the passenger, and be taken between 3 days and 24 hours before the sail date.

The test should be a NAAT test, rapid PCR test or lab-based PCR test. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted, Disney Cruise Line noted.

Children aged 4 and under must continue to present with negative COVID-19 test results before boarding.

The vaccine mandate will apply to U.S. and international passengers.

Disney Cruise Line will accept the following brands of vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Novavax, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

As we set sail again, the health and safety of our Guests, Cast Members, and Crew Members is a top priority, the cruise line said.

No-fee cancelations are available for guests who dont comply with the new mandate, reported Bloomberg.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in late October extended its conditional sailing order for cruise ships until at least Jan. 15. The order, first issued in October 2020, requires COVID-19 testing and other measures for crew members to take to enable cruise operations to resume in a phased approach.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference at the Tooheys Brewery in Sydney, Australia, Nov. 18, 2021. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)

Employers Are Looking for You: PM Encourages Aussies to Go Back to Work

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is encouraging Aussies to get out there and back into this economy as business recovers and employers look for staff.

There are thousands and thousands and thousands of jobs which employers around the country are now looking to fill as the recovery takes hold, Morrison told reporters. Id encourage Australians who have yet to get back into that workforcethose jobs are there, the employers are looking for you.

An analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data suggests there could be around 280,000 job vacancies to fill leading up to Christmas, with the majority in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria.

Online job directory Seek said that October recorded the highest number of monthly job ads posted in its 23-year history.

A combination of the lifting of restrictions in our two largest employment markets, NSW and Victoria, along with businesses getting ready for what will hopefully be a bumper holiday period has had a huge impact on this months job ad volumes, Seek ANZ managing director Kendra Banks said.

The National Skills Commission also revealed in its latest internet vacancy index that online job advertisements increased by 7.8 percent to a total of 250,900 in October.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert said it reflected how demand was screaming back as all employers were looking to hire. He also noted that many jobs available are never advertised.

There is no excuse now. Go out and get a job, Robert told 4BC radio. So the Internet Vacancy Index looks at 37 constructs or 37 areas of employment, and they all hiring.

Robert also said there were 94,000 young Australians aged 15 to 22 who werent working or training.

Theres no excuse why every single one of these young Australians shouldnt be out there working, he said.

Shoppers move through the QVB shopping area in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 8, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

The ABS also revealed that wages growth had reverted to its pre-pandemic pattern, as it rose 0.6 percent in the September quarter or 2.2 percent annually.

ANZ senior economist Catherine Birch said overall, Australian businesses were not responding to labour constraints by lifting wages faster than pre-pandemic rates, but expected wages growth to accelerate to 3 percent next year.

Commonwealth Bank senior economist Kristina Clifton said the recent lockdowns in the south-eastern states did not appear to have impacted wages growth.

Looking ahead, we expect wages to gather momentum. Prior to the most recent extended lockdowns, the labour market was tightening quickly, Clifton said. These lockdowns have ended, and the leading indicators of labour demand are very strong.

Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the fall of real wages by 0.8 percent under the Morrison government was leaving working families behind.

Working families are struggling to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living because the governments record on wages has been so appalling, he said.
Adem Somyurek is seen outside his home in Melbourne, Australia, on June 16, 2020. AAP Image/Daniel Pockett)

Estranged Labor MP Returns to Torpedo Victorias Controversial Pandemic Bill

Victorian government could be left without power to enforce public health orders

In a strange political twist, Adem Somyurek, estranged Labor MP and factional rival to the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will return to Parliament vowing to torpedo the controversial Pandemic Billwhich has sparked ongoing protests and opposition from senior legal figures in the state.

Debate is currently underway for the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill, which passed Victorias lower house in late October and is set for a final upper house vote on Nov. 19.

Currently, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has control of the lower house, but holds only 17 seats in the 40-seat upper house, meaning he requires support from crossbenchers or independents to pass new laws.

Negotiations with three crossbench members, the Greens Samantha Ratnam, the Reason Partys Fiona Patten, and the Animal Justice partys Andy Meddick, have been ongoing with their support secured earlier this week after the Labor government agreed to seven amendments to the Bill.

Somyureks return to Parliament, however, has thrown a spanner in the works.

Protestors are seen during a demonstration outside the Victorian State Parliament in Melbourne, on Nov. 15, 2021. (AAP Image/Con Chronis)

Somyurek, whos suspension from Parliament has been lifted after he provided proof of his COVID-19 vaccination status, will see his vote added to the count, and if he votes No it will see the upper house split 19-19.

This will restart the entire process and send the Bill back to the lower house.

However, the timing will be a problem for the Victorian government as the Pandemic Bill was introduced to replace ongoing State of Emergency (SOE) powers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act, which was due to expire in Dec. 15.

These SOE powers have underpinned much of the governments response to COVID-19 and have allowed authorities to implement a range of public health directives.

The new Pandemic Bill was supposed to set up a permanent structure for the government to deal with future outbreaks.

The consequences of the Pandemic Bill not passing however, is the state government could be left without the authority to enforce any more COVID-19 public health directions, including lockdowns, vaccine mandates, or border closures.

While the new law purports to offer more transparency around public health advice provided to government and additional protections to contact-tracing data, it also bestows expansive powers to the premier, health minister, and authorised officers.

One power is for police to enter private premises without a warrant to enforce public health directives.

Australians protesting against government-mandated health restrictions, increasing powers, and the Pandemic Bill in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 6, 2021. (Supplied)

Somyurek, a member of Victorian Labors Right factionthe major rival to Andrews Socialist Leftwarned that the Westminster parliamentary system was set up in a time when political party allegiances were not as entrenched and that it could not cope with the rise of a strong leader.

Commentators proclivity to sing the virtues of a strong leader in a system that was not designed to accommodate them has created autocratic leaders who have ruled by decree, undermining parliament as a mechanism to hold the government to account, he wrote in an op-ed in the Herald Sun on Nov. 17.

Because Labor has control of both houses and Parliament can no longer perform its scrutiny functions, internal scrutiny and collective decision making through cabinet and caucus is even more critical, he added.

But I have been in three Labor governments, and never has the caucus and cabinet been sidelined as much as during this term, he said. The three crossbenchers are likely to be consulted before caucus members and cabinet ministers. This leaves Andrews as the sole decision-maker, which is not acceptable in complex modern government.

I will not support this bill in its current form, and I would encourage the government to go back to the drawing board and consult more broadly.

His stance was met with scenes of jubilation by protestors outside Parliament.

In response, Reason Party MP Fiona Patten said, Who knew that parliament could be used for exacting revenge on former colleagues?

Now were in a very precarious situation that we may have no controls and no regulations during a global pandemic, she told reporters.

David Limbrick of the Liberal Democrats wrote in a post on Twitter, Wow. Will @AdemSomyurek really #killthebill?

Government Scrambling to Salvage Bill

A fourth crossbench MP, who was not privy to earlier discussions on the Pandemic Bill, is now being courted by the government, as Labor MPs delay debate around the Bill to buy more time.

Clifford Hayes, state MP of the Sustainable Australia party, revealed he was currently in discussions but said the problem was entirely of the Andrews governments making.

We will talk to the government, but we will make sure that anything that they come up with if they want our support it has to have proper checks and balances, he told reporters.

Its got to have proper parliamentary oversight, independent oversight as well.
The China Evergrande Center building sign is seen in Hong Kong, on Sept. 23, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Evergrande to Sell Entire Stake in HengTen to Ease Debt Burden

Cash-strapped China Evergrande Group will sell the rest of its stake in film and television streaming company HengTen Network Holdings for HK$2.13 billion ($273.5 million).

The worlds most indebted real estate developer is liquidating assets, even at a loss.

On the morning of Nov. 18, Evergrandes unit announced the agreement with Hong Kong-based Allied Resources Investment Holdings Ltd. to sell 1.66 billion HengTen shares at HK$1.28 per share, at a discount of 24 percent to its closing price (HK$1.94) a day ago.

The company, already dealing with more than $300 billion in liabilities, said it would lose HK$8.5 billion ($1.1 billion) from the sale of its stake in HengTen, according to a Hong Kong stock exchange filing (pdf).

Upon completion of the transaction, [China Evergrande Group] will no longer hold any shares of HangTen, the document reads.

In August, Evergrande agreed to sell its stake in HengTen, described as Chinas Netflix by Chinese media, which is worth $418 million; Earlier this month, the giant had raised around $145 million (HK$1.125 billion) in three consecutive trading days by selling shares in HengTen, according to HKEXnews.

Shares of HengTen jumped 23 percent in Hong Kong trading on Nov. 18. Evergrande dropped as much as 5.7 percent, extending its year-to-date slump to 84 percent.

The company has rushed several last-minute transfers since October, teetering on the brink of default.

Chinese authorities have urged its billionaire chairman, Hui Ka Yan, to tap some of his personal wealth to help pay bondholders and ease the credit crunch, sources close to the matter told Reuters last month.

Evergrande has not so far officially explained its defaults. It has new coupon payments totaling more than $255 million due on Dec. 28.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, at a Senate hearing in Washington, on May 11, 2021. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images)

Fauci: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rising Among Vaccinated People

White House pandemic adviser Anthony Fauci has acknowledged that COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising among those who are vaccinated and havent received the booster shot.

What were starting to see now is an uptick in hospitalizations among people whove been vaccinated but not boosted, Fauci said Tuesday during an NBC News interview. Its a significant proportion, but not the majority by any means.

And on Wednesday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky said during a briefing that her agency is seeing a decline in vaccine efficacy among elderly recipients and those who live in long-term care facilities.

That matches with CDC data released late last month.

Although the highest risk are those people who are unvaccinated, we are seeing an increase in emergency department visits among adults 65 and older, which are now again higher than they are for younger age groups, Walensky remarked.

Residents of long-term care facilities and individuals over age 65 were among the first to be eligible for vaccines last winter.

CDC data shows long-term care residents who got a booster had a markedly lower infection rate compared with those who did not, Walensky claimed Wednesday.

Also during the briefing, Fauci said that despite the waning effectiveness, COVID-19 vaccines are able to protect you, your family, and your community.

Governors in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Colorado have expanded booster doses to all adults without waiting for federal health agencies to act. About 31 million Americans have already obtained a dose beyond their original vaccination regimen, according to CDC data.

Weve got to start right now getting anybody whos eligible  to get them boosted, Fauci told NBC. In the same interview, he called for people, regardless of their vaccination status, to wear a mask.

The push to have people receive the booster shot comes as some officials have publicly mulled whether or not to deem anyone fully vaccinated if they havent received a booster dose.

In an interview with Axios this week, Fauci suggested that boosters are ultimately going to become a part of the standard regimen and not just a bonus, referring to an individuals vaccination status.

On Thursday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, declared that eligible people who havent received a booster within six months are not fully vaccinated.

If you were vaccinated more than six months ago, now is the time to get that booster, he said in a press conference. Get it before Thanksgiving, before Christmas, before all those holidays.

Meanwhile, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, suggested that people who were vaccinated six or more months ago may be responsible for the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state.

Israeli officials earlier this year stipulated that a person who hasnt received a booster dose after six months would not be able to use their COVID-19 green pass, or a type of vaccine passport used to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, and other establishments.

According to a government advisory released last month, the Green Pass will now only be available to Israelis who can show proof that theyve had a booster shot after six months, or who can show proof theyve recovered from the disease.
A 5-dose vial of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is held in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 21, 2021. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

FDA Asks Court for 55 Years to Fully Release Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Data

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked a federal judge on Nov. 15 to give it until the year 2076 to fully release the documents in its possession tied to the approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDAs request was made in a filing as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit by a medical transparency group. The government told the court it has 329,000 pages of documents responsive to the FOIA request and proposed releasing 500 pages per month to allow for redactions of exempt material. At that rate, the FDA would fully release the records in question in just under 55 years.

The plaintiff, Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency (PHMPT), is a group of doctors and scientists, including Harvey Risch, a professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health.

The group filed the lawsuit (pdf) after the FDA denied their request to expedite the release of the records. The plaintiff and the defendant, unable to reach an agreement on a disclosure schedule, are seeking a hearing to argue their cases before the judge, who may eventually make a decision in that regard.

The FDAs promise of transparency is, to put it mildly, a pile of illusions, Aaron Siri, whose firm is representing PHMPT in the lawsuit, wrote in a blog post on Nov. 17.

It took the FDA precisely 108 days from when Pfizer started producing the records for licensure to when the FDA licensed the Pfizer vaccine, Siri continued. Taking the FDA at its word, it conducted an intense, robust, thorough, and complete review and analysis of those documents in order to assure that the Pfizer vaccine was safe and effective for licensure. While it can conduct that intense review of Pfizers documents in 108 days, it now asks for over 20,000 days to make these documents available to the public.

The FDA did not respond to a request for comment.

The FDA licensed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine under the Comirnaty label on Aug. 23, 2021, less than four months after Pfizer began submitting documents for full approval of the drug. The FDA approval of the license in late August led to an avalanche of vaccine mandates in the private and public sectors.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

One of the companies involved in the trials of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this month said it was investigating alleged problems brought to light by a whistleblower who told the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that the trial was riddled with issues, including the falsification of data.

The whistleblower, Brook Jackson, alerted the FDA and was fired within hours. Jackson was working for Ventavia Research Group, which operated several of the Pfizer trial sites in the fall of 2020.

According to BMJ, one of the oldest medical journals in the world, the FDA did not inspect Ventavias trial sites, despite being alerted about the issues.

The FDA told The Epoch Times in an email earlier this month that while it cant comment on the Ventavia matter, it has full confidence in the data that were used to support the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine authorization and the Comirnaty approval.

As of Nov.14, more than 256 million doses of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the United States.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Film Review: Unsilenced: A Timely, Real-Life Thriller About the CCPs Campaign Against Falun Gong

1h 48min | 22 October 2021

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient, peaceful spiritual discipline from China that is practiced by a considerable number of peoplenot only the Chinese but also many other folkworldwide. Falun Gong has graceful exercises and meditation for health, but unlike tai chi or other forms of qigong, it teaches people how to be kinder and to lead more virtuous lives.

Indeed, Falun Gong seeks to cultivate its practitioners hearts in accordance with its core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Since the time of its humble introduction in the early 1990s by a man named Li Hongzhi, it has always been a peaceful movement and quickly experienced a meteoric rise in popularity.

People performing peaceful Falun Gong exercises in a park in China, in a scene from Unsilenced. (Flying Cloud Productions)

Directed by human rights maverick Leon Lee (who also directed 2014s Human Harvest about illegal organ harvesting), Unsilenced is a film that is based on the real-life events of two Chinese couples: Wang (Ting Wu) and Li (He Tao), and Jun (Shih Cheng-Hao) and Xia (Chen Ying-Yu).

Students watching the devastating news that Falun Gong, a practice to improve the mind and body, is being threatened by Chinas communist regime. (Flying Cloud Productions)

The film begins in 1999. The couples are students at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing. While Wang, Li, and Xia practice Falun Gong at a local park, Jun is resistant to joining them because of past run-ins that his family has had with the Chinese regime. In other words, he wants to stay out of trouble. But Wang believes that the regime is fine with Falun Gong, and his revelations of the practices numerous benefits convince Jun to join in.

As their group is practicing in the park, a limo carrying a couple of prominent Chinese Communist Party (CCP) membersDirector Zhu (James Yi) and his boss, Secretary Yang (Tzu-Chiang Wang)pulls up. The two believe that Falun Gongs exploding popularity is a direct threat to the CCP since, as Yang later points out, more people joining Falun Gong equals fewer members for the Party.

Film recordings of people practicing Falun Gong in parks are shown at a meeting of the CCPs higher-ups, which results in Yangs being tasked to come down hard on the nascent spiritual practice. Although as stone-faced as a psychopath, Yang dives into his mission with glee. He utilizes the full powers of the state (mainly the police and prison system) and encourages snitching (Stasi-like citizens tattling on each other) to round up proponents of Falun Gong and imprison them.

A brilliant engineering student, Wang is one of Tsinghua Universitys top students and a natural leader. When Wang, Li, Jun, and Xia show up at the next Falun Gong practice session, they discover that its been disrupted by the authorities. Wang suggests that they lodge complaints at the local government office.

After the students show up at the office and peacefully file their complaints, they conclude that the authorities merely made a mistake in their disrupting the Falun Gong sessions. But later, as they watch a news broadcast, they realize that they walked into a trapthe regime, through the mass media, describes the complaint filers as a violent mob who have threatened the authorities. From there, the infamous and formidable CCP propaganda machine kicks into high gear.

CCP Secretary Yang (Tzu-Chiang Wang) supervises the interrogation of a Falun Gong practitioner. (Flying Cloud Productions)

Meanwhile, Daniel Davis (Sam Trammell), an intrepid newspaper journalist stationed in China, catches wind of the regimes sudden oppression of Falun Gong. Similar to Wang, he believes in seeking the truth (in his case through journalism) and begins to dig deeper into the matter. But as Daniels investigations begin to uncover possible regime corruption, his new assistant Min Xu (Anastasia Lin) expresses her concern for him. She tells him that some things arent worth risking ones personal safety for.

Daniel Davis (Sam Trammell), an intrepid newspaper journalist stationed in China, catches wind of the regimes sudden oppression of Falun Gong. (Flying Cloud Productions)

As the CCPs vigorous roundup of Falun Gong practitioners reaches a feverish pitch, its propaganda techniques reach levels of true absurdity, such as when they record convicts unassociated with Falun Gong posing as practitioners, in order to discredit it through media outlets. Through fear, intimidation, and media manipulation, things begin to look increasingly dire for Falun Gong.

Will both Daniels investigations and Wang and his friends faith in truth and justice (and of course Falun Gong) be enough to see them through all of the rampant corruption and political persecution?

Wang (Ting Wu) in a prison cell after being tortured for practicing Falun Gong. (Flying Cloud Productions)

One of the things that impressed me the most about this film is its pacing. Sometimes films that are based on real events can drag or be recounted in lackluster ways. Not so with Unsilenced. It plays like a Tom Clancy thriller and engages the viewer to constantly anticipate its next scenes. It also encourages the curious to launch their own investigations into the rampant persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Unsilenced

Director: Leon Lee

Starring: Sam Trammell, James Yi, Anastasia Lin

Running Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Release Date: Oct. 22, 2021

Rated: 5 stars out of 5



Ian Kane is a filmmaker and author based out of Los Angeles. To learn more, visit DreamFlightEnt.com or contact him at Twitter.com/ImIanKane.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference at the Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Fla., on June 14, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Florida Legislature Approves Bills Limiting COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates

Florida Legislature on Wednesday passed sweeping legislation that seeks to protect unvaccinated workers from federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The four bills were approved largely along party lines during a three-day special legislative session convened by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The bills now head to the Republican governors desk to be signed into law.

If signed into law, Florida will become the first state that issues financial penalties for businesses that require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, according to CNN.

The Republican governor has been a vocal critic of the vaccine mandates pushed by President Joe Biden.

Among the measures, private businesses would be blocked from imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates unless they allow workers to opt out for medical reasons, religious beliefs, immunity based on a previous infection, regular testing, or an agreement to wear protective gear.

The state health department, which is led by Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who opposes mandates, will be tasked with defining standards for the exemptions.

It also prohibits Florida schools and governments from imposing mandates and allows parents to sue schools with masking requirements. Another bill would block the public release of records regarding state investigations of vaccine policies in businesses.

If you want to get a vaccine, you can get a vaccine. If you dont want to get a vaccine, you can choose not to get a vaccine, said Sen. Danny Burgess, a Republican. Thats the entire purpose of this bill, trusting Floridians and allowing us to make that choice for ourselves.

Its just mind-blowing most days to think that it is an acceptable position to hold that another person will get to make the health care decision about whether or not to be vaccinated, that an employer would get to make a health care decision for their employee, added GOP Rep. Erin Grall.

Democrats have criticized the legislation, arguing that they are not an attempt to keep Floridians safe but instead amount to political theater meant to serve DeSantis political ambitions

Does this bill truly attempt to keep Floridians safe, or was it crafted to kick off a presidential campaign for our governor? asked Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat.

DeSantis said in a statement on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon: I look forward to signing legislation that will protect their jobs and the jobs of all Floridians who are facing unjust termination due to heavy-handed mandates!

DeSantis on Oct. 28 announced that the state is suing Biden, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, and others over COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employees of federal contractors.

We have a responsibility to stand up to those requiring vaccine mandates, or new mandates will just keep coming, said DeSantis of the lawsuit, filed in a U.S. District Court.

Weve gone from 15 days to slow the spread, to three jabs to keep your job. Are you kidding me?

Weve been clear in the State of Florida that we want people to be able to work and provide for their families, the Republican governor said at a news conference at the Florida Air Museum. In Florida, you have an opportunity to earn a living, and it should not depend on these shots.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Independent candidate Craig Thomson stands out the front of Blue Haven polling booth in the electorate of Dobell on election day on September 7, 2013 in Gosford, Australia. (Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Former Australian Labor MP Craig Thomson Arrested Over Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Migration Fraud

Craig Thomson, the former Labor MP for Dobell, has been arrested after police alleged he was the primary organiser of a multi-million dollar migration fraud.

The former parliamentarian was arrested at his home in Terrigal on the central New South Wales coast after a long-running investigation which saw the Australian Federal Police search Thomsons residence in Wamberal in July.

Police allege that Thomson facilitated more than 130 fraudulent visa applications over four years, including providing false materials or misleading information and making more than AU$2 million in profits.

In a statement, Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed they arrested a man for allegedly being the primary facilitator of a multi-million-dollar migration fraud.

The joint agency investigation into Thomson, led by the AFP and comprising the Australian Border Force (ABF), AUSTRAC, the Australian Taxation Office and the Department of Home Affairs, was triggered by an ABF investigation into allegations of significant visa and migration fraud, dating to August 2019.

If convicted, Thomson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Thomson served as a federal Labor MP from 2007 until 2012 and as an independent following his expulsion from the Labor party in 2013 when he was accused of stealing from his former employer, the Health Services Union in his previous role as the HSUs national secretary. It was alleged he had misused the unions money on prostitutes and fine dining.

He was later found guilty of the accusation in 2014 by a Victorian court and sentenced to three months in jail, with a further nine months suspended. However, he appealed the ruling and avoided imprisonment and was fined $25,000.

Independent candidate Craig Thomson stands out the front of Blue Haven polling booth in the electorate of Dobell on election day on September 7, 2013 in Gosford, Australia. (Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Craig Bellis, AFP Commander of Investigations, Eastern Command, said the charges laid in this matter involved a serious breach of public trust.

The alleged offences in this matter involved the exploitation of Federal Government programs designed to assist Australian businesses, and it is incumbent on the AFP to investigate and prosecute instances of large-scale fraud against Australian taxpayers, he said.

Erin Dale, ABF Assistant Commissioner East and Port Operations, said the ABF takes a zero-tolerance approach to anyone trying to profit through the exploitation of vulnerable foreign workers.

This investigation demonstrates the unwavering resolve of the ABF and AFP in preventing the exploitation of foreign workers in Australia. Cash for visa schemes as they are often known, target vulnerable visa holders who may not be aware of Australian laws and workplace entitlements, she said.

Together, the ABF and AFP will continue to pursue facilitators of visa and migration fraud, while protecting foreign workers who play a vital role within the Australian community.
The U.S. Department of Justice is seen in Washington, on June 11, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Former Illinois Mayor Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges in Red-Light Camera Probe, Resigns From Role

A former Illinois mayor pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges on Nov. 17 and admitted he improperly sought cash payments from a representative at SafeSpeed, a red-light camera company, the Department of Justice announced.

Louis Presta, who reportedly has resigned as mayor of Crestwood, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in aid of bribery and official misconduct, as well as to filing a false income tax return.

He faces up to five years in federal prison for bribery and up to three years for the tax offense. Presta, 71, is set to be sentenced on Feb. 23, 2022.

Prestas guilty plea comes more than a year after he was charged in a federal indictment with bribery and official misconduct, lying to the FBI and IRS, and tax charges.

The indictment claims that Presta sought and received benefits from SafeSpeed representatives while the company sought to expand its services in Crestwood, which enabled the municipality to issue tickets to motorists for certain traffic violations.

During that time and while the company was attempting to provide additional services to Crestwood, Presta allegedly asked for and accepted benefits from representatives of the company, the indictment states.

The former mayor allegedly told the red-light camera companys representative that he would ensure that the percentage of red-light traffic violations that he approved would remain high or increase, in exchange for gifts and rewards.

Presta then allegedly lied to the FBI and IRS about his request and receipt of gifts, cash, or campaign contributions from the red-light camera company.

As per the August indictment, Presta was shown a recording from March 7, 2018, in which he met with the company representative and allegedly accepted an envelope containing $5,000 in cash. Presta allegedly denied to law enforcement officials that there was any money in the envelope and rejected claims that he asked for the $5,000 bribe.

During one recorded phone call with the companys representative before taking the bribe, Presta touted a recent increase in violations, saying: Were starting to get the numbers again. You got a new sheriff in town, according to the DOJ.

The guilty pleas came one day after Presta, who led southwest suburban Crestwood for nearly a decade, reportedly quit his position on Nov. 16. A village official emailed the Chicago Tribune a copy of Prestas resignation letter, which said he was resigning effective immediately.

It has been an honor serving the residents of our Village as a Trustee and as Mayor, the letter reads. I will make myself available to my successor to provide a smooth transition.

SafeSpeed officials and Presta didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Presta, a Democrat, was first elected mayor in 2013. Prior to that, he was president of Cicero News Agency and village trustee. In 2016, he received the Mayor of the Year Award from the Illinois Crime Commission.
The Southern Weekly at a newsstand in Guangzhou on Jan. 10, 2013. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Founder of Investigative Chinese News Outlet Passes Away

The founder of Chinas Southern Weekly, a Guangdong province-based paper known for its investigative journalism on social issues and its refusal to be a mere echo of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda, passed away earlier this month.

Zuo Fang died of illness at the age of 86 on Nov. 3, in Guangzhou City, according to Southern Weekly, where he was a former editor-in-chief.

Though Zuo was a member of the CCP, he believed that journalism should present readers with ideas like democracy and science, reported the New York Times on Nov. 11. Before the Southern Weekly, Chinese newspapers merely parroted the regimes line, ever since the CCP took the country over through violent revolution in 1949.

The Southern Weekly began in 1984 as a sister publication of the Nanfang Daily, a mouthpiece of the provincial committee of the CCP in Guangdong, where Zuo worked as an editor.

Despite the Southern Weekly being a state-run paper, it became popular as a liberal-leaning outlet with investigative reports on minorities, like migrants, protesters, and government petitioners.

The rise of the paper occurred during a time of positive reforms that took place in China during the 1990s. However, the Weekly was not fully independent, as it was constrained in its freedom of speechas are all Chinese publicly or privately-owned media outletsand did not directly question the regime.

Zuo later officially retired in 1995 but went on working for a couple of years after.

However, in 1999, the CCP began widespread persecution against spiritual beliefs and undermined its own political and judicial reforms.

Censorship increased in late 2012 when Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power and started to campaign for more centralized control over the media.

Even though Southern Weekly had been able to weather political circumstances in the past, it did not manage to resist tightening censorship.

In January 2013, Tuo Zhen, then director of the Propaganda Department of Guangdong Province, changed the New Years greeting in the Chinese newspaper Southern Weekly from Chinese Dream, Constitutional Dream to We Are Closer to Our Dream Than Ever.

Over 50 former editors and reporters of the Weekly protested Tuos action in an open letter, accusing him of making an unnecessary revision. The editorial staff then went on strike and many supporters gathered outside Southern Weeklys headquarters in Guangdong, calling for Tuos resignation.

This incident prompted authorities to suppress public opinion and proceeded to restructure the papers management.

Nowadays, the Southern Weekly is mainly operating as a CCP mouthpiece.
Migrants at a makeshift camp on the site of a former industrial complex east of Dunkirk, France, on Nov. 16, 2021. (PA)

France Disputes UK Account of Meeting on Channel Migrants

France has rejected a British claim that Home Secretary Priti Patel and her French counterpart Gerald Darmanin agreed to work to prevent 100 [percent] of crossings of the English Channel.

The Home Office issued a joint statement from the pair which said they had agreed on measures to stop the dangerous crossings of the deadly route.

But the French embassy in London said the 100 percent figure should not be presented as an agreed figure.

Patel and Darmanin held talks on Monday night with the UK and France involved in a long-running row over how to address the problem of illegal immigrants seeking to cross the Channel.

The joint statement issued afterward said: Both the Home Secretary and interior minister agreed to strengthen operational cooperation further.

More must be done to stop the dangerous crossings.

They agreed to accelerate the delivery of the commitments made in the joint agreement of July 2021 to deliver on their joint determination to prevent 100 [percent] of crossings and make this deadly route unviable.

But the French embassy said on Twitter: For the record, the 100 [percent] figure was not agreed between the Home Secretary and French interior minister @GDarmanin and should not be presented as an agreed commitment: it is not.

And it is not part of the joint statement.

However, in a press conference on Oct. 9, Darmanin said that with the correct resources and the support of the British authorities, 100 percent should be able to be reached.
Kent Wong, joined by his parents, receives his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1983. (Provided by Kent Wong)

From Escaping China to Renouncing the Party: Author Recounts Living Under Red Terror During Cultural Revolution

Half a century ago, at the peak of the Cultural Revolution, when Mao Zedongs cult of personality was the worst, that is, when the red terror was the worst  fear, suppression, [students going] to the mountains and the countryside; it was like firing a gunshot, a collective mobilizationslipping across borderbecame a mass movement, Kent Wong said.

Wong is the author of a new book release, Swimming to Freedom: My Untold Story of Escaping the Cultural Revolution.

He was a Chinese refugee who swam to Hong Kong from the Chinese border in the south during the Cultural Revolution. Hong Kong was a popular destination for those who longed for liberty in the 60s.

In a recent interview with the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times, Wong recounted his process of coming to terms with the nature of the Chinese Communist Party half a century ago.

The Great Escape

After his father was classified as a rightist, Wong, a hard-working student, was immediately was labeled as a member of the Black Camp, a bad element.

He witnessed how the so-called peoples enemies were executed.

He said, You dont know how fear would affect people. That night the entire villageeven the dog didnt barkwas as quiet as a dead person.

It was a time when the young generations were encouraged to go to the mountains and villages to learn from the farmers and workers, abandoning their education.

Gradually, people realized the cruelty of the communist regime, and a large-scale movement of escaping to Hong Kong quietly unfolded.

Wong said, It was not just supported by the parents. Even cadres at the local party committee didnt intervene. I believe many of them were deeply upset with the regime, because their children or relatives were also in the mountains or countryside.

According to Wong, the resistance was very obvious at that time. Basically, all the potentially illegal emigrants in Guangdong stopped going to the rural areas. With our parents support, we just gathered and talked about the escape plan every day, he said.

These potentially illegal emigrants developed their plan involving six routes, four steps, three code words, and one hint.

The four steps included passing the checkpoints of the police and militia, hiding in the daytime with someone to bring food over at night, climbing over the mountains, and finally crossing the sea to Hong Kong.

The one hint is a dish of chicken feet on the table, which means someone in the group is going to stow away. The one who got the most chicken feet on the plate is the one whos going to do it. If the police are going after the emigrant, it was said that the police are going after the chicken feet eater.

Wong remembered the six routes by heart. He said that the determination and the vast majority of people organizing and joining the great escape were too huge to believe.

The six routes Kent Wong remembers by heart in the 60s. (Courtesy of Kent Wong)

Wong said that the sentiment of rejecting the Cultural Revolution was very high, but the terror of traitors kept everyone on high alert and no one dared to talk about it.

According to Wong, the red terror was so severe that hundreds of thousands of people fled to Hong Kong, but rarely would anyone write about it. The terror overshadowed the rest of their lives. With much pain and regret, he said, Its unfortunate that they buried the pain in their heart. When they passed away, history was left with a blank.

The Rooftop Underground was a small group of his friends who joined the plan to escape. Rooftop referred to the gathering place on a rooftop of a building, and underground was meant for the stowaway who was kept secret for fear of getting exposed.

Voice of America was what they would listen to during the gatherings when they met to discuss the plan to escape. He said, After seeing the red terror, the stowaway really had nothing to fear about.

Wong said, When you are at your most difficult, painful, and disappointing [moment], you will think a lot, referring to how he had transformed during the first couple of years in the countryside.

He believed that only by awakening would people gain the strength to endure the unthinkable hardships.

The Second Cultural Revolution

Admiring the bravery of the younger generations, Wong believed their acts only told one fact: No matter what suppression tactics the regime would adopt, Peoples aspirations for freedom, equality, and opportunity will never be suppressed.

Since the book Xi Jinpings Quotations was made available in 2018, the regime demanded cadres to study the book, which was said to carry the essential philosophy of current party leader Xi Jinping. This reminded Wong of the time when the Chinese were required to study Chairman Maos Quotations during the Cultural Revolution more than half a century ago.

He said, They can force it, but they cant win the heart.

More than 386 million Chinese have departed from the Party by renouncing the CCP and its affiliated organizations since the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party (Nine Commentaries) was first published in November 2004 by the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times. This series details the CCPs propaganda, persecution, famine, massacre, tyranny, and censorship since its founding.

Liu Feilong was one of those who was inspired by the Nine Commentaries. He was shocked by the brutalities committed during the Partys history. I am determined to withdraw from this evil Party. I am ashamed of it, he said, Its sickening just thinking that I once raised my fist and vowed to devote my life to this evil organization, the Chinese Epoch Times reported.

Yi Liufei also withdrew from the Young Pioneers, the youth version of the CCP that children are forced to join. I hope that one day, all Chinese people are able to get rid of the cruel and authoritarian regime, he said.
February 6, 2020. Covid-19 testing in Wuhans "Fire Eye" lab. BGI Group, a genome sequencing company based in southern China, said it opened on Feb. 5 a lab in Wuhan able to test up to 10,000 people per day for the virus. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Genomic Testing to Determine If Link Between Katherine and Robinson River Outbreaks in NT

Northern Territory (NT) authorities have said they will know if the source of the Katherine outbreak is linked to the growing second cluster there and the one in Robinson River after the results of genomic testing come back on Thursday.

This comes after the original outbreak was seeded by a 21-year-old woman from Cairns, who spent one night with a defence force contractor in Darwin before he travelled back to Katherine, infecting his housemates. The woman was found to have lied to authorities about a recent trip to Victoria, a known hotspot for the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Australian reported.

Authorities believe she is also likely to be the source of the second Katherine cluster, as well as the Robinson River outbreak, collectively known as Katherine-Robinson River cluster 2, which now stands at 19.

We still dont have an established link between cluster 1 and cluster 2 yet. This is the most likely explanation, but we will keep investigating the genome result due tomorrow,  Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Wednesday.

How Genome Testing Works

Genomic sequencing has played a major role in helping map the transmission of COVID-19.

According to Queensland Genomics, genomic sequencing takes a genetic fingerprint of an organism and creates a map of how its DNA and RNA are ordered.

A researcher works at the Brinkman Lab at Simon Fraser University, part of the Canadian COVID-19 Genomics Network in Burnaby, B.C., in this undated handout photo. (Ho, Aleksa Nenadic, Canadian Covid-19 Genomics Network *Mandatory Credit* / The Canadian Press)

Because COVID-19 is an RNA virus, scientists can look at the genetic sequence of different cases and detect tiny differences in each new infection. This enables the creation of a genetic family tree and shows which COVID-19 cases are closely linked.

The more fingerprints that are taken, the easier it is to identify whether a person contracted the virus from a known cluster or case.

New Cases in Katherine and Robinson River

As of Wednesday NT Health said there had been eight new cases in 24 hours, three from Katherine and five from Robinson River.

The three Katherine cases, two Aboriginal men in their thirties and a 21-year-old Aboriginal woman, are all household contacts of previously recorded cases. The five from Robinson River are also household contacts of previous cases and include a three-week-old Aboriginal girl.

They are all currently isolating in the Centre for National Resilience (CNR) at the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

Contract tracing is in progress and 234 close contacts have been identified, 107 of whom are in isolation and have been tested.

People who have been to Robinson River since Nov.11 and have since left the area and are unvaccinated, are required to immediately get tested and self-isolate until receiving a negative test result. Fully vaccinated people who have done the same do not need to isolate but must get tested within three days.

The same requirements apply to anyone who has visited the Municipality of Katherine, including Tindal, since Nov. 7 and has now left the area.
Historical ruins scattered near the temple at Gurnal, an ancient site on an old trade route to India on July 24, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Historical Ruins of Ancient City in India Need Preservation: Expert

JAMMU, IndiaAn undated historical Himalayan site of ritualistic bath spaces and built springs, abandoned on an ancient trade route to India is at the peril of getting lost forever if the government of India doesnt pay attention.

The picturesque village of Gurnal, the site of ritualistic bath spaces and of hundreds of ancient springs called bowlis built on the banks of the stream Naj, a tributary of Ujh of the Indus system, was being constructed like the other sacred cities that exist on the banks and confluence of many historic rivers in India. However, for unknown reasons, it was abandoned before completion.

Sahana Singh, the author of the book, Revisiting the Education Heritage of India, told The Epoch Times that these ancient cities on the banks of rivers were often on ancient trade routes, were truly cosmopolitan, and were once the knowledge-centers of India since many great sages, poets, and musicians resided in them or spent at least a few years of their lives there and composed their masterpieces, which are studied to this day.

Gurnal literally means an abode of gurus or masters or wise ones on the banks of a stream (nala), which according to Indian historian Mahendra Pathak, an author of three books on Indias ancient history and culture, is indicative of the ancient Upanishad tradition of India.

A birds eye view of the main ritualistic bath space at Gurnal. (Venus Upadhayaya/The Epoch Times)

Entrance to the main ritualistic bath space at Gurnal. (Venus Upadhayaya/The Epoch Times)

Birth of civilizations has happened on river beds. Upanishad tradition mentions residence with gurus (masters) and attainment of gyan (knowledge). Ancient Saraswat literature mentions that in such ambiance even a lion and deer forget prey-predator instincts and drink water together, Pathak told The Epoch Times on phone.

The Sanskrit word Upanishad is derived from the root Sad (to sit) and two prefixes Upa (nearness) and Ni (totality)it thus means sitting nearby devotedly. Upanishads are late Vedic period Sanskrit texts and 108 of them are known.

The larger region of Jammu has folklore linked to a king setting up Jammu City after watching a lion and a deer drinking water together, which was indicative of a place with a peaceful future. There is an installation at a major public square in the Jammu City (72 miles from Gurnal) today commemorating the same.

Ancient ruins at Gurnal, a historical site of ritual baths and springs, 72 miles from Jammu City in north India on July 24, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Ancient ruins at Gurnal, a historical site of ritual baths and springs, 72 miles from Jammu City in north India on July 24, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Dr. Sindhu Kapoor, dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Cluster University of Jammu told The Epoch Times on the phone that Gurnal might help unfold many truths about the civilizational history and heritage of the Himalayas, if it is preserved.

There are many heritage sites in this region. They are either neglected or waiting to be discovered by the rest of the world. Well lose them if we dont take timely efforts to preserve and conserve them, said Kapoor requesting that the Indian government pay attention to the site.

Ancient Trade Route

Pathak said that the Gurnal site near the current township of Billawar was likely on the trade route from Kandahar to Delhi. Billawar, colloquially called Bilaur, is mentioned as an ancient town in many ancient records, including in Rajtarangini, the ancient history of Kashmir in Sanskrit, according to Prof. Shiv Datt Nirmohi, an author of 40 books on the history of Jammu.

Locals said en route to Delhi, a contingent of the army of Babur, who started the Mughal dynasty that ruled India for 235 years before the British took over the subcontinent, passed through this route.

B.R. Upadhayaya, a senior citizen from Billawar and a former divisional forest officer told The Epoch Times that about a mile from Gurnal theres a place called Babrey da nal (river crossing named for Babur) from where a portion of Baburs army passed en route to Delhi.

Babur took over Kandhar (todays Afghanistan) in 1507 and he conquered Delhi in 1526. Prof. Pathak said his army would have passed through this route to India.

Prof. Pathak, whos also an associate professor of ancient history at the Saket College in Ayodhya, talked about how Kandhar was at the entrance to the Indian subcontinent for 6000 years. While from Kandhar routes bifurcated to Central Asia and the Middle East, other trade routes came all the way to central India.

Upadhayaya said according to folklore, at Babrey da nal Baburs army suffered huge casualties due to infighting.

There are other ancient sites and historical sites extending within 100 miles from Gurnal. The closest is in Billawar town itself, on the opposite bank of Najan ancient temple built in Nagara or North Indian style of ancient Indian architecture which at places is also referred as Indo-Greek style.

The Billawar temple, where worship still takes place, is already protected by the Archeological Survey of India but is also in need of care. Billawar was also on an ancient route from Kashmir to Haridwar, a town on the bank of the Ganges where Hindus perform life and death rituals even to this day.

The ancient temple at Billawar, 72 miles from Jammu City in Northern India on Nov. 12, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Ruins at the historical temple site in Billawar, 72 miles from Jammu City in north India on Nov. 12, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Ruins at the historical temple site in Billawar, 72 miles from Jammu City in north India on Nov. 12, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Hundreds of Springs

At Gurnal some local accounts believe there are 108 springs, while others say there are more than 365. A book on Billawars history and culture written by Shiv Doblia, mentions 365 springs.

The Epoch Times had to wade through a wild stretch of vegetation and streams to reach the site that today consists of a few springs, big and small, all waiting for attention from historians and authorities.

The site is littered with ancient remainscarved stones that have oral lore linked with Mahabharata and post Mahabharata periods. Mahabharta is a Sanskrit epic of India that narrates the story of the struggle between two groups of cousins leading to a war of world war proportions.

An ancient perennial spring at Gurnal, on the banks of the stream Naj near Billawar town of Jammu in Northern India on July 24, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

The historicity of Mahabharta is disputed as some consider it to be mythology, nonetheless, many sites in the Himalayas, including Gurnal, have folklore linked to Mahabharta.

Whether or not one believes that the events of the Mahabharata happened, their stories are a part of Indic consciousness and especially for the rural Himalayans who have not been converted out of Hinduism, said Houston-based Singh.

Theres another temple at Gurnal built in Nagara style, two big springs, the first roofed and cemented in recent times is visited only by men and the other, intricately beautiful but almost in ruins, is visited only by women.

A temple in Nagara style of ancient architecture at Gurnal, near Billawar town in Jammu in North India on July 24, 2021. Unprotected it has been painted by locals recently. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

The one visited by women on special days has foundations of four pillars built for holding a citadel that doesnt exist now. The whole bath space is completely walled with a small door facing the stream.

Dr. Kapoor said that a noted expert on ancient Indian history, the late Prof. Y. B. Singh, had visited the site and based on his observations inferred the main bowli that women visit today to be of the Gupta period which makes it at least 1600 years old.

The main ritualistic bath space of Gurnal as on July 24, 2021. The built bath fed by a perennial spring according to Prof. Sindhu Kapoor could be 1600 years old. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Saraswati-Indus Valley Civilization

Freshwater streams run across Gurnal entering Naj stream while the whole site is littered with perennial springs. Prof. Pathak said that such sites are generally the origin of rivers and earmark geological history.

He said 1400 Saraswati-Indus Valley Civilization sites have been found in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab.

Saraswati-Indus Valley civilization popularly known as Harappan Valley Civilization was the largest ancient civilization extending in the plains of the Indus river system, in the plains of now-extinct Saraswati River, up till the Gangescovering larger regions in what is today Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Northern India.

The northernmost Harappan sites in Jammu are found in Akhnoor and Manda. Theres a greater likelihood of some Saraswati-Sindhu Valley Civilization site at Gurnal as well, he said. The distance between Akhnoor and Billawar is 82 miles.

Pathak said the culture of the bath at the holy springs (bowlis) of Gurnal signifies connection with Harappan Civilization as ritual bathing was also found at the Great Bath in Mohenjo-Daro site of Harappan Civilization in what is todays Pakistan.

The Great Bath at the Harappa Valley site signifies the importance that civilization gave to bathing places. Is it a coincidence that in Gurnal today theres a bowli for men and a separate bowli for women? At Least it demands an investigation, said Prof. Pathak, adding that the site could yield artifacts of various periods.

Government is requested to do a deep survey in concerned area in order to reveal our glorious past. Kashmir is land of Kalhana [author of Rajtarangini] the great historian, said Pathak, a lifetime member of the Epigraphic Society of India. There must be important historical facts.

The ancient site of Gurnal is at the base of the hill visible in this picture dated July 24, 2021. Its near the town of Billawar, 72 miles from Jammu City. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)

Historical ruins are scattered at the site of Gurnal on July 24, 2021. (Venus Upadhayaya/Epoch Times)
A locked gate is seen after the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park has been closed, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Ayaka Mcgill/AFP via Getty Images)

Hong Kong Disneyland Closes for One Day as Staff Take COVID-19 Tests

HONG KONGHong Kongs Disneyland will close for a day on Wednesday for staff to take compulsory COVID-19 tests after authorities found one person who visited the theme park over the weekend was infected with the coronavirus.

Disneyland, majority-owned by the city government with Walt Disney holding a minority stake, said in a statement the closure was out of an abundance of caution and advised visitors to reschedule.

Any person who visited the park, which had to close multiple times for prolonged periods since the start of the pandemic, on Nov. 14 between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. would also have to get tested by Thursday, the government said separately.

Despite barely recording any local coronavirus cases in recent months, authorities in the global financial hub have tightened up quarantine and patient discharge rules.

Hong Kong is following Beijings lead in retaining strict travel curbs, in contrast to a global trend of opening up and living with the coronavirus. The city government hopes the tighter rules would convince China, its main source of economic growth, to gradually open its border with Hong Kong.

At Shanghai Disneyland last month, guests who were already inside were told to undergo tests at the exit related to COVID-19 investigations linked to other Chinese provinces and cities.

International business lobby groups have warned Hong Kong could lose talent and investment, as well as competitive ground to rival finance hubs such as Singapore, unless it relaxes its restrictions on travel.

The president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said on Tuesday she is resigning as she cannot appeal to authorities to ease COVID-19 restrictions at the same time as having to undergo quarantine herself.

JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon, who was in Hong Kong on Monday and was exempt from quarantine under current rules for some executives, said the citys COVID-19 policy was making it tougher to retain staff.

By Twinnie Siu and Marius Zaharia
Hundreds of Los Angeles Murder Victims Families Abandoned by Gascon at Parole Hearings

Commentary

Michel and Ellen Shane recently attended the first parole hearing of the man who murdered their 13-year-old daughter, Emily. Notably absent from the parole hearing was a prosecutor from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office (LADA). This injustice was compliments of George Gascon.

Defendants who are convicted of murder usually receive a life sentence and are entitled to a parole hearing by the Parole Board to decide if/when they are suitable for release. At a parole hearing, the inmate is always represented by an attorney. Victims and their families (referred to as victims next of kin or VNOK) have an absolute right to attend and meaningfully participate in parole hearings.

The District Attorneys Office is the sole representative for the interests of the people at a parole hearing. The prosecutor has the responsibility to speak on the facts and give an opinion about whether parole is appropriate. Prosecutors ensure victims interests are represented because the victims rights align with the prosecutors role as guardian of public safety.

Each month there are approximately 200 parole hearings for inmates convicted of crimes committed in Los Angeles County. District Attorney Gascons policy forbids LADA prosecutors from attending parole hearings. The lack of a prosecutor attending a parole hearing means that NO ONE is representing the people of Los Angeles County. LADA prosecutors are forbidden from objecting to any currently dangerous criminal being released from prison. No other county in California has this void in representing the interests of the people in their county at parole hearings.

The California Department of Corrections and Board of Parole Hearings provides access to relevant documents for upcoming parole hearings to all California counties District Attorneys Offices. The information in these documents is what the Parole Board considers in deciding whether an inmate is suitable for parole and includes discipline actions, psychological evaluations, rehabilitative efforts, parole plans, and letters of remorse.

While the documents themselves are confidential, the information contained in the documents is discussed at the parole hearing, which is transcribed and publicly available. The inmate also expressly waives his or her right to confidentiality in the psychological interview and written evaluation.

Prosecutors throughout California discuss the contents of the inmates records with Victims/VNOKs to prepare them for what they will hear at the parole hearing. This minimizes the trauma and anxiety that Victims/VNOKs have and gives them critical information they need to meaningfully form and express their opinion on the inmates release.

As further evidence of his blatant violation of victims rights, Gascon has taken the unprecedented step of restricting Los Angeles County prosecutors access to any information from inmates records, resulting in Victims/VNOKs from Los Angeles County not being provided critical information to prepare for parole hearings. Victims/VNOKs from Los Angeles County are being treated differently than Victims/VNOKs in any other county, which is inequitable, unjust and violates victims rights to justice and due process, the bedrock of Marsys Law.

Gascons policies are a slap in the face for Emily Shanes parents. Although the parents have a pro bono attorney representing them, they have been deprived of information on how the convicted murderer has been progressing. No parent should ever have to go ALONE AND UNIFORMED to the parole hearing of the person who murdered their child. Common decency and the Constitution require that they be helped through the parole process.

Kathleen Cady is one of several former prosecutors who are providing pro bono assistance to crime victims in response to Gascons policies.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere gather at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, on Nov. 8, 2021. (Leonid Shcheglov/BelTA via AP)

Illegal Immigrants Trying to Cross Polish-Belarusian Border Increased, Officials Say

The number of illegal immigrants trying to cross the Polish-Belarusian border in an attempt to enter the European Union has increased, according to Polish authorities.

Polands border guard wrote on Twitter on Nov. 18 that there had been 501 attempts to cross the border the previous day, with one group consisting of around 500 people. That was an increase from previous days.

The increase came a day after Poland said hundreds of illegal immigrants camped near the border were moved to a nearby warehouse in Belarusian territory, according to Nov. 17 reports. Thousands of others remain on the frontier.

Many of the illegal immigrants, mostly from Iraq, who remain at the border have been barred either from entering Poland or returning to Belarus. A large group of migrants returned to Iraq on Nov. 18 on the first flight from the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Polands ministry of defense has also accused Belarusian forces of leading an attack by illegal immigrants stationed in Dubicze Cerkiewne in the northeast of the country on Nov. 17.

Tonight there was an attempt, led by ????????Belarusians, to illegally cross the border in Dubicze Cerkiewne. A group of about 100 migrants was detained by the ????????Polish services. https://t.co/XHIrydDCXC  Poland MOD ???????? (@Poland_MOD) November 18, 2021

Yesterdays attack of migrants in Dubicze Cerkiewne was led by soldiers of the ????????Belarusian Spetsnaz. https://t.co/IBuEVek9Rq  Poland MOD ???????? (@Poland_MOD) November 18, 2021

The attack led to 12 injuries, including seven Polish police officers, and about 100 arrests after people at the Belarusian side started throwing stones at Polish forces massed on their side of a wire-fenced barrier installed by troops earlier this year. Poland said Belarusians made contact first while also accusing them of damaging the barrier.

Video footage released by Polish authorities showed illegal immigrants using sticks to try to break through the barrier. They also threw bottles and logs across the border fence.

Belarusian services first made a reconnaissance. Most likely they damaged the fence, the defense ministry wrote on social media. Then, Belarusians forced the migrants to throw stones at Polish soldiers to distract them. An attempt to cross the border took place several hundred meters away.

European leaders accuse Belarus of mounting a hybrid attack by flying in migrants from countries such as Syria and Afghanistan and pushing them to cross illegally into EU member Poland. Minsk has repeatedly denied the accusation.

Since the beginning of this year, border guard authorities in Poland have recorded more than 34,000 attempts by migrants to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border. In August, the border guard stated that illegal border crossings had reached record heights.

In this photograph released by the Territorial Defence Forces, Polish soldiers and police watch illegal immigrants at the Poland/Belarus border near Kuznica, Poland, on Nov. 12, 2021. (Irek Dorozanski/DWOT/Handout via Reuters)

Lithuania and Latvia, which like Poland are members of NATO and the EU, have also reported a sharp increase in attempts to cross from Belarus since summer.

Meanwhile, Estonian authorities on Nov. 17 deployed more than 1,600 reserve military units in an unannounced exercise while also installing a temporary barrier in border areas that have previously been used by organized crime to facilitate illegal migration.

What is happening in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia also requires the strengthening of the border infrastructure in Estonia, said Chief of Police and border guard Elmar Vaher.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Incredibly Rare Elizabethan Wall Paintings From 16th Century Found in Pub in England

A Weatherspoons pub surviving from Elizabethan times has yielded a set of remarkable wall paintings from around 1580when the establishment was bought by Queen Elizabeth Is Chief Adviser William Cecil, also known as the Earl of Salisbury.

The series of six panels, showing significant wear, portray lavishly dressed figures donning the most fashionable couture of that era.

One painting portrays a woman previously thought to be Queen Elizabeth herselfthe likeness and garb bearing a striking similaritybut who was later determined not to be the monarch.

Conservator Mark Perry inspects a portrait of a woman previously thought to be Queen Elizabeth I. (Courtesy of Weatherspoons)

After Weatherspoons in 2014 took over The Star pub in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, the establishment underwent refurbishing. The chain hired conservator Mark Perry of The Perry Lithgow Partnership to inspect and conserve the panel paintings.

Although the works required significant removal of layers of dust, insect debris, and cobwebs, they were surprisingly well preserved.

Perry called the paintings an incredibly rare find because of their unusual subject matter and the fact that six of them (five being portraits) were found together.

Detail of the figure previously thought to portray Queen Elizabeth I. (Courtesy of Weatherspoons)

A portrait of Queen Elizabeth I from the mid to late 16th century. (Everett Collection/Shutterstock)

They have local and national significance, he told Metro. You get occasional single portraits like this but to get five, and there may have been more before, is very rare.

Another figure is a man clasping a bag of money initially thought to be the Queens Chief Advisor William Cecil, formally known as Lord Burghley, who was also Her Majestys High Treasurerwhich the moneybag would suggest.

Recently, this theory was rejected, Perry said.

Detail of the figure previously thought to portray William Cecil, High Councilor to Queen Elizabeth I. (Courtesy of Weatherspoons)

Detail of the figure previously thought to portray William Cecil holding a bag of money. (Courtesy of Weatherspoons)

The scheme is unlikely to be portraits of the Burghley family as has been suggested, Perry told The Epoch Times.

I was contacted early this week by the curator at Burghley House, Jon Culverhouse, who pointed out that Cecil is always portrayed with a full beardthis figure is clean-shaven.

In addition to the richly adorned figures, the conservator discovered Bible verses inscribed on the panels, pointing to another theory.

The figures may represent a moralistic theme such as the Virtues and Vices, the males (on red backgrounds) being the Vices, the females (on blue backgrounds) the Virtues, Perry told the newspaper.

The Star pub, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

A partially damaged portrait of a man. (Courtesy of The Perry Lithgow Partnership Ltd)

There are several elements supporting this theory: The male figure [thought to be Cecil initially] is holding weighing scales and a bag of money and could be seen as representing Avarice.

A Biblical verse accompanying the portrait reads: For the desire of money is the root of all evil.

Perry added, The female figure holding a lap dog could be read as Fidelity, as a lap dog was often portrayed as a symbol of fidelity in such schemes.

A portrait of a woman holding a lap dog. (Courtesy of The Perry Lithgow Partnership Ltd)

Detail of a woman holding a lap dog. (Courtesy of Weatherspoons)

One of the six panels bears a floral design believed to hark back 100 years earlierbefore the figures were rendered during the Cecil familys redecoration. This earlier scheme likely underlies the whole sequence of figurative panels.

Such schemes were common to this earlier period and often incorporated figures and hunting scenes, the conservator said.

Particularly in the lower parts, though, the once-richly rendered panels are marked by deterioration, and one of the heads was wiped out entirely during previous work.

Yet, to have survived as part of the pub for so long is remarkable.

Its incredibly unusual that this amount of painting has survived for 500 years or so in this kind of condition, especially with the numerous alterations to the building, Perry told Metro.

A floral design believed to hark back 100 years before the figures were rendered. (Courtesy of Claudia Fiochetti/The Perry Lithgow Partnership Ltd)

The wall paintings displayed behind a glass and timber frame. (Courtesy of Weatherspoons)

Its odd that its never been destroyed and that it hasnt been discovered before with the work that has taken place and the fact they are on an external wall, with the risk of damp and damage from the outside.

Its almost as if people knew the paintings were there and wanted to keep them.

The conservator is pleased with Weatherspoons curation and responsible protection of the pieces, adding that regular inspections will commence every 5 or 10 years.

Currently, the figures are displayed behind a glass and timber screen to commingle with pubgoers.

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
A Taliban fighter stands guard on the top of a mosque following a suicide bomber attack in the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Oct. 15, 2021. (Sidiqullah Khan/AP Photo)

ISIS Affiliate Now Appears Present in All Afghan Provinces: UN Envoy

An affiliate of the ISIS terrorist group is now present in nearly all 34 provinces in Afghanistan, the U.N. envoy to the country said on Nov. 17.

Addressing the U.N. Security Council, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said ISIS-K, also known as ISKP, has expanded dramatically in the country since its capital city of Kabul was seized by the Taliban terrorist group in August.

The Taliban took full control of Afghanistan on Aug. 15, after the U.S.-backed Afghan government had fled the country.

ISIS-K is the branch of the ISIS terrorist group thats active in Afghanistan. The group, which formerly had a presence in just a few Afghan provinces, now appears to have expanded to nearly all provinces, according to Lyons.

The Talibans response to the groups expansion appears to rely heavily on extrajudicial detentions and killings of suspected ISIS-K fighters, she said.

This is an area deserving more attention from the international community, Lyons told the U.N. Security Council.

Her comments came hours after the groupan ideological foe of the Talibanclaimed responsibility for two blasts that killed at least one person and wounded six others in a heavily Shiite Muslim neighborhood in Kabul.

Lyons said the Taliban has been unsuccessful in stemming ISIS-Ks expansion, noting that the group has become increasingly active. The number of attacks carried out by ISIS-K has increased to 334 in 2021 from 60 attacks in 2020, according to Lyons.

Her comments come weeks after a top Pentagon official warned that ISIS-K could launch international attacks in as soon as six months.

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Oct. 26, Defense Department Undersecretary for Policy Colin Kahl said ISIS-K and the al-Qaeda terrorist group both want to carry out international attacks, but currently dont have the capability to do so.

I think the intelligence community assesses that both ISIS-K and al-Qaeda have the intent to conduct external operations, including against the United States. But neither currently has the capability to do so, Kahl said. We could see ISIS-K generate that capability in somewhere between six or 12 months. I think the current assessments by the intelligence community is that al-Qaeda would take a year or two to reconstitute that capability.

Kahl said the goal is to be vigilant in disrupting ISIS and al-Qaeda so they cant develop the capability to attack the United States.

ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack at Kabuls International airport on Aug. 26 that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. troops and 170 Afghan civilians amid evacuation efforts. It has also since said it was behind a number of other attacks in Afghanistan, including several bombings that have killed dozens of civilians.

Mimi Nguyen Ly and Reuters contributed to this report.
Japan's new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi arrives at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official residence in Tokyo, on Nov. 10, 2021. (Issei Kato/Reuters)

Japan Foreign Minister Raises Serious Concerns Over Senkaku Islands in Call With Chinese Counterpart

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi voiced serious concerns about Chinese regime ships repeatedly entering Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in a phone conversation with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Nov. 18.

Hayashi was speaking with Wang, who is also a state councilor, for the first time since taking over as Japans top diplomat on Nov. 10.

The Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea have mostly been administered by Japan since 1895, but Beijing began asserting its rights over the islands in the 1970s. In China, the islands are called the Diaoyu Islands.

Japan has strongly protested repeated intrusions by Chinese vessels into the seas for decades.

On Nov. 19, four Chinese ships reportedly entered Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands, the 37th case of Chinese patrol vessels entered into the territorial waters of Japan this year.

Aside from the Senkaku Islands, Hayashi conveyed to Wang human rights concerns such as those related to Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region. Hayashi also highlighted the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, where tension between the self-ruled island of Taiwan and China has been rising, the ministry added.

The Chinese regime claims the island as its own, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution.

Hayashi had also mentioned in his interview on Fuji TV that Wang has invited him to visit China, but nothing has been decided yet.

Asked about U.S. President Joe Bidens proposed diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Hayashi said Japan will proceed based on its own situation and point of view.

Meanwhile, Hayashi met with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Tokyo on Nov. 17.

Following the meeting, both countries announced a new trade partnership to boost cooperation on labor, environmental, and digital trade issues, with an emphasis on third country concerns, a reference to Chinas state-driven economic policies.

Tai shared in a statement issued by her office in Washington that initial meetings of the U.S.-Japan Partnership on Trade would take place early in 2022, with periodic meetings on a regular basis.

The Japan-U.S. partnership will support the Biden-Harris Administrations economic framework for the Indo-Pacific and help create sustainable, resilient, inclusive, and competitive trade policies that lift up our people and economies, she added.

USTRs statement made no mention of the new forum as a body aimed at negotiating new trade agreements between the worlds largest and third-largest economies.

Hayashi told Tai at the start of talks in Tokyo that the aim was to further deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance and strengthen bilateral coordination to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Based on the strong Japan-U.S. economic relations, wed like to further deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and strengthen Japan-U.S. coordination for the achievement of a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said.

Reuters contributed to this article.
Striking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) picket at the Deere & Co. farm equipment plant before a visit by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Ankeny, Iowa, on Oct. 20, 2021. (Scott Morgan/Reuters)

John Deere Workers Approve New 6-Year Contract With Bonuses, Ending 5-Week-Long Strike

The five-week-long strike between Deere & Co. and more than 10,000 of its workers finally came to an end on Wednesday after United Auto Workers members approved a new six-year contract with the farm equipment maker on their third vote.

In a statement, the United Auto Workers union (UAW) said that 61 percent of its members approved the deal, which contained only modest modifications to an agreement put forward but ultimately rejected earlier this month.

The new agreement accepted on Wednesday would provide an $8,500 signing bonus; a 20 percent increase in wages over the lifetime of the contract with 10 percent this year; three 3 percent lump sum payments; enhanced options for retirement and enhanced CIPP performance benefits. In addition, it restored a cost-of-living adjustment to protect workers from increases in consumer prices.

Health care, meanwhile, remains the same for the life of the agreement. The new six-year collective bargaining agreement covers more than 10,000 workers at 14 facilities across the United States.

The biggest difference between the newly-accepted agreement and the second rejected one is that Deere tweaked the complicated formula it uses to determine which workers receive bonuses based on whether their team hits certain productivity goals. The new agreement simplifies this and could potentially make it easier for workers to qualify for the incentive pay.

Although, some workers at the company are not eligible for the bonuses based on the job they do in its factories and warehouses.

John C. May, chairman and chief executive officer for Deere, said he was pleased to see the companys highly skilled employees return to work following weeks of negotiations and strikes.

John Deeres success depends on the success of our people. Through our new collective bargaining agreements, were giving employees the opportunity to earn wages and benefits that are the best in our industries and are groundbreaking in many ways. We have faith that, in return, our employees will find new and better ways to improve our competitiveness and transform the way our customers do their work. Together, our future is bright, the CEO said.

He added that operations will resume on third shift tonight.

Thousands of workers have been on strike since Oct. 14 at Deeres 14 facilities, mostly located in the Midwest, in an effort to secure better benefits from the Moline, Illinois-based company, which made record annual profits of approximately $6 billion in 2021.

UAW President Ray Curry, on behalf of the International Executive Board, thanked the members and families of UAW John Deere for their willingness to sacrifice.

UAW John Deere members did not just unite themselves, they seemed to unite the nation in a struggle for fairness in the workplace. We could not be more proud of these UAW members and their families, Curry said in a statement.

Chuck Browning, vice president of the UAW and director of the UAW Agricultural Implement department, said union members had set a new precedent across the United States when it comes to fighting for a better standard of living.

Our members courageous willingness to strike in order to attain a better standard of living and a more secure retirement resulted in a groundbreaking contract and sets a new standard for workers not only within the UAW but throughout the country, Browning said.
RICHARD WAGNER

Despite having lived abroad for many years, Wagner had a singular love for his country, one that only grew stronger when the Ger- mans emerged victorious from the Fran- co-Prussian War. He composed the Kaiser- marsch (Imperial March) in 1871 to glorify the newly proclaimed emperor, Wilhelm I, who attended the pieces premiere. A tremen- dously powerful composition, it was origi- nally scored for military band with a choral finale. But Wagner was adamant that the hymn he wrote for the choral ending should be reserved for special occasions, and so he later wrote an orchestral arrangement to re- place the vocal parts.



Shen Yun Performing Arts is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music company.

Shen Yun Creations are available at ShenYunCreations.com.
Reporters are seen outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 2, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/Pool/Getty Images)

Kenosha Closes Schools as Protesters Appear Outside Courtroom

Five schools near the Kenosha County Courthouse have begun to close as protesters started to congregate outside the court in anticipation of a verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.

The Kenosha Unified School District announced in a statement that students will receive virtual instruction because activity surrounding the courthouse continues to grow.

While we have not been advised of any existing imminent danger, we feel this is the best course of action to protect our students and staff during an uncertain time. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to receive support as needed in the days and weeks ahead, the letter stated.

Outside the courtroom, Black Lives Matter demonstrators as well as individuals who support Rittenhouse have been chanting slogans as the jury deliberates the teens fate.

Rittenhouse faces charges in the shooting deaths of two people during riots and protests in Kenosha last year. Rittenhouse could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

Already, a 20-year-old man was arrested for battery and a 34-year-old woman was arrested for disorderly conduct outside the courtroom on Wednesday, said the Kenosha Police Department.

Charles Fonder is seen outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

The Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department fully recognize the importance of media coverage surrounding the trial. The media and the public have a responsibility to give space to law enforcement and allow them to perform their duties. Please do so, the department said in a statement.

Authorities said that the woman who was arrested outside the court was identified as Shaquita Cornelious. According to a Facebook profile, she describes herself as the co-chairperson of a Black Lives Matter chapter in Lake County, Illinois.

The other suspect, Anthony Chacon, was charged with felony bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping, battery, resisting, and disorderly conduct, a spokesperson for the Kenosha Sheriffs Department told Fox News.

On Thursday, Judge Bruce Schroeder banned MSNBC from the courthouse after police said they briefly detained a man who had followed the jury bus and may have tried to photograph jurors. The judge said the man claimed to be working for the network.

NBC News said in a statement that the man was a freelancer who received a citation for a traffic violation that took place near the jury vehicle, and he never photographed or intended to photograph them.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dozens of Health Groups Say Businesses Should Voluntarily Adopt OSHA Vaccine Mandate

Dozens of health organizations, including the American Medical Association, said that businesses should voluntarily implement President Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate even though the rule was temporarily blocked by a U.S. appeals court last week.

And earlier this week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)the agency enforcing the ruleconfirmed that it stopped enforcement of the mandate.

The health groups said in a joint statement, Wephysicians, nurses and advanced practice clinicians, health experts, and health care professional societiesfully support the requirement that workers at companies with over 100 workers be vaccinated or tested.

They argued that the mandate is reasonable and should be implemented on a voluntary basis to protect workers.

Earlier this month, OSHA issued the rule that requires businesses with 100 or more workers to implement a rule mandating that employees either get a COVID-19 vaccine or submit to weekly testing. Unvaccinated workers would be forced to wear masks indoors starting Dec. 4, and theyll have to undergo weekly testing if they remain unvaccinated by Jan. 4.

After it was unveiled, it sparked an avalanche of lawsuits from Republican states, senators, businesses, and other organizations arguing that the White House had exceeded its authority. The U.S. 5th Court of Appeals upheld its own stay of the rule last week, prompting OSHA to suspend enforcement of it.

In a statement on its website, OSHA wrote that the court told the agency to take no steps to implement or enforce the ETS [Emergency Temporary Standard] until further court order.'

While OSHA remains confident in its authority to protect workers in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities related to the implementation and enforcement of the ETS pending future developments in the litigation, the agency said.

Hundreds of Republican lawmakers, including all 50 GOP senators, announced this week that they would challenge it. The senators said they would attempt to force a vote on the mandate under the Congressional Review Act.

Other than the American Medical Association, those who signed the joint statement include the American College of Physicians, the National Hispanic Medical Association, the National League for Nursing, the National Medical Association, and the American Public Health Association.

Requiring masks for all unvaccinated workers by the December 5th deadline will be key to keeping customers and fellow workers safe during the holiday shopping and travel season, they wrote, without addressing widespread concerns about the legality or feasibility of mandatory vaccinations. From the first day of this pandemic, businesses have wanted to vanquish this virus.

According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 47 million U.S. COVID-19 cases and about 762,000 deaths have been reported so far since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. John Hopkins University estimates that the COVID-19 case-to-fatality ratio in the United States is about 1.6 percent.
Belarusian servicemen control the situation while migrants get humanitarian aid as they gather at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus on Nov. 12, 2021. (Ramil Nasibulin/BelTA pool photo via AP)

Lukashenko Hybrid Warfare on Polish, Baltic Borders Tests EU Resolve: Expert

Pressure is mounting on the European Union (EU) to deal with the alleged weaponization of migrants by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

Lukashenko and his regime ordered thousands of migrants from the Middle East to be shipped to the EU borders in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, threatening the cohesion and solidarity between the EU and its northern member states.

Lukashenko used migrants, who were encouraged to come to Belarus, as a weapon, Wojciech Lorenz, an analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs, told The Epoch Times.

Lorenz says Lukashenko is motivated by three things: the de facto international recognition of his regime, sanctions relief, and taking revenge on those who support the democratic opposition in Belarus.

Poland and the Baltic states were exceptionally active after the falsified presidential elections in Belarus last year and exerted pressure on the regime to limit the repressions against the opposition, Lorenz said. They also mobilize international public opinion and the EU to impose political and economic costs.

Lorenz pointed to only partial success when asked by The Epoch Times about whether Lukashenkos migrant ploy was yielding results.

Most of the EU states have not recognized the legitimacy of Lukashenko as president, and no Western leader has met with him since then, he said.

As German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided to talk to Lukashenko, he achieved at least one of those goals, which is a de facto recognition, although  this decision is somehow limited by the fact that Merkel is an outgoing chancellor.

EU support for Poland and the Baltic countries currently is holding, although that could change as the crisis deepens. Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU defense ministers this week, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance is deeply concerned about the way the Lukashenko regime is using vulnerable migrants as a hybrid tactic against other countries, and this is actually putting the life of migrants at risk.

Meanwhile, Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is in talks with Lithuania and Latvia on whether to invoke Article IV of the NATO charter. That prompts formal consultations if an alliance member perceives a threat or breach of territorial integrity, which Lorenz noted carries benefits and risks.

The question is whether to invoke Article IV to demonstrate that situation is so serious that NATO members in the region need some more substantial support, he said. In my opinion, such decision should be based mainly on the calculations, how the crisis can be used by both Belarus and Russia to escalate military tensions.

The tensions are real. Last week, Russia demonstrated military support for Lukashenkos regime, conducting joint paratrooper drills with Belarus near Poland and amassing around 90,000 troops in Yelnya near Russias border with Belarus.

Amid these tensions, Poland and the Baltic nations are holding the migrants back from the borders of the EU by declaring a state of emergency and restricting access to the border region while pushing the migrants back into Belarus, where they remain stranded.

However, there are serious concerns that the EU may not support the resolve shown by its member states, with the EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson last week indicating that the EU would still need to assess the situation.

Pushbacks should never be normalized, said Johansson said of the policy.

Referring to Poland, Lithuania, and Latvias strict border laws, Johansson said: We are still in assessment, but I think that we will ask for amendments in some of the legislation.

Moreover, this isnt the first time the EU has found itself in a tight spot over migration issues. In 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to flood Europe with millions of refugees unless he was paid off, ultimately receiving 6 billion euros (about $6.82 billion) in EU support for hosting migrants otherwise heading to Greece. Many of those same migrants are thought to now be flooding the EU anyway after being flown to Minsk from Istanbul.

But Lorenz believes that the EU has a strong incentive for solidarity given its experience of the migrant crisis in 2015, which severely tested the bonds between the EU and individual members.

I believe that the EU understands that during such crisis, its credibility is at stake. This is what most states expect from the EU, that it will be able to effectively deal with hybrid threats under the threshold of open warfare, he said.

However, while the EU moves slowly to decide the fate of these migrants, the human costs of the situation are mounting.

Last weekend, a Polish soldier serving on the Belarus border was killed in an accidental shooting involving a Polish weapon. Additionally, a 19-year-old Syrian man drowned while attempting a river crossing on the BelarusPoland border. Fears also persist that border violence will intensify as the migrants, mostly young men who are increasingly desperate to overcome the blockages as a freezing winter approaches, attempt to break down border barriers and storm into EU territory.

This week, Polish border guards responded with water cannons and tear gas after migrants began hurling stones and projectiles, injuring several police officers.
Mississippi Executes Man Who Killed Wife, Terrorized Family

PARCHMAN, Miss.A man who pleaded guilty to killing his estranged wife and sexually assaulting her young daughter as her mother lay dying was put to death Wednesday evening, becoming the first inmate executed in Mississippi in nine years.

David Neal Cox, 50, abandoned all appeals and filed court papers calling himself worthy of death before the state Supreme Court set his execution date. He appeared calm as he received a lethal injection. A coroner pronounced him dead at 6:12 p.m. CST at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.

Cox pleaded guilty in 2012 to capital murder for the May 2010 shooting death of his estranged wife, Kim Kirk Cox. He also pleaded guilty to multiple other charges, including sexual assault. A jury handed down the death sentence.

Cox wore a red prison jumpsuit and was covered by a white sheet during the execution. Wide leather straps held him down on a gurney.

I want my children to know that I love them very much and that I was a good man at one time, Cox said just before the injection started. Dont ever read anything but the King James Bible.

Cox thanked the state corrections commissioner, Burl Cain, for being very kind to me. And thats all I got to say.

Cox appeared to take several deep breaths after the lethal chemicals started flowing through a clear plastic tube into his body, and his mouth moved some. He was pronounced dead within a few minutes.

Among those who witnessed the execution was Coxs now 23-year-old stepdaughter. She was 12 when he sexually assaulted her three times in front of her wounded mother as he held them and one of her younger brothers hostage on the night of May 14 and May 15, 2010, in the small town of Sherman.

Mississippi carried out six executions in 2012. The state does not have any others scheduled among the more than 30 people currently on its death row.

States have had difficulty finding lethal injection drugs because pharmaceutical companies began blocking the use of their products to carry out death sentences.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections revealed in court papers earlier this year that it had acquired three drugs for the lethal injection protocol: midazolam, which is a sedative; vecuronium bromide, which paralyzes the muscles; and potassium chloride, which stops the heart.

Cain told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the drugs listed in the court records were the ones being used for the execution. He would not say where the department obtained them.

Cain, the onetime head of the Louisiana state penitentiary in Angola, witnessed several executions in that neighboring state before he took up his new role in Mississippi. He stood by Cox during the execution.

You couldnt make it more picture perfect than we had tonight, Cain told reporters afterward.

A group that opposes executions, Death Penalty Action, said earlier that killing an inmate who surrendered all appeals would amount to state-sponsored suicide. The group had petitioned Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to block the execution of Cox, but Reeves spokeswoman said the governor declined to intervene because Cox admitted to horrific crimes.

Attorneys from the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Counsel represented Cox in recent years. After the state Supreme Court set his execution date, Cox sent a handwritten statement strongly objecting to their continued involvement. The office director, Krissy C. Nobile, said Tuesday that after considerable and difficult deliberation, and out of respect for David Coxs autonomy and stated desire, the office did not plan any more appeals for him.

Kim Coxs father, retired law enforcement officer Benny Kirk, said David Cox called during the night of the attack and said he had shot Kim. Benny Kirk spoke on the phone with his daughter and she told him: Daddy, Im dying.

Police surrounded the house and tried to get David Cox to release his wife and the two children. Kim Cox was dead by the time the ordeal ended after more than eight hours.

The Associated Press does not usually identify victims of sexual assault but Coxs stepdaughter, Lindsey Kirk, agreed to be interviewed and talk about what happened to her. She told The Associated Press last week that David Cox had sexually assaulted her for a few years when her mother was out of the house, and that he threatened to kill them if she told anyone.

Lindsey Kirk looks at childhood photographs of herself and her late mother Kim Kirk Cox, in New Albany, Miss., on Nov. 13, 2021. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo)

Lindsey Kirk shows childhood photographs of herself and her late mother Kim Kirk Cox, in New Albany, Miss., on Nov. 13, 2021. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP Photo)

While staying with her grandparents in the summer of 2009, Kirk texted her mother and told her of the assaults by her stepfather. Soon after that, David Cox was arrested and charged with statutory rape, sexual battery, child abuse and possession of methamphetamine. He was released in April 2010 without standing trial. Kim Cox obtained a restraining order against him, and she moved to her sisters home.

Kim Coxs family did not issue a statement after the execution.

Questions remained about whether David Cox was responsible for the 2007 disappearance of his brothers wife, Felicia Cox, who was last seen in a neighboring county. Her daughter, Amber Miskelly, recently told WTVA-TV that David Cox was the last person to see her mother alive. After the execution, Cain said David Cox had not spoken about his sister-in-laws disappearance.

By Emily Wagster Pettus
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Sept. 28, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Mississippi Governor Calls for State Legislature to Ban Critical Race Theory From Taxpayer-Funded Schools

Mississippis governor is calling for the state Legislature to ban critical race theory and related ideologies from taxpayer-funded classrooms.

There has been a push from radical leftists across the nation to teach children a vicious lie: that this country is fundamentally racist and that your skin color makes you inherently racist, Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, wrote in his Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget Recommendation (pdf).

Reeves noted those two core principles comprise critical race theory, which is partially derived from the Marxist-inspired critical theory school of thought formed in the 1930s.

It runs contrary to basic history, Reeves wrote. It is purely propaganda for a group that wants to accumulate power by dividing American children into victims and oppressors. Elite power-seekers want to be seen as saviors, so they attempt to divide, humiliate, and indoctrinate our children.

While its fine to teach about basic American historyincluding failures and successesstate lawmakers should not allow the creeping influence of critical race theory to undermine our childrens educations, the governor added.

Critical race theory and associated worldviews such as diversity, equity, and inclusion training, as well as the anti-racist movement, have sparked debate across the United States as to whether it should be included in the classroom curriculum. Some parents have warned that the material is divisive and is designed to indoctrinate young children.

Some, including American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, have claimed that critical race theory isnt being taught in public school classrooms, arguing that its mainly confined to the halls of colleges and universities. However, others have said that it strongly influences the aforementioned diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings, which are often used in corporate settings.

Christopher Rufo, perhaps the foremost anti-critical race theory activist, has argued that in some school systems, the theory is everywhere.

They promote race essentialism, they promote collective guilt based on skin color and other inborn attributes, he told NTD earlier this year, and they also promote neo-segregation.

As the 2022 midterm elections approach, critical race theory will likely become thrust into the spotlight again. Some analysts argued that Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin was able to defeat Democrat Terry McAuliffe earlier this monthdespite Virginia having voted in favor of President Joe Biden in 2020by repeatedly focusing on public school curriculum and whether parents should have the right to determine what their children learn.

Earlier this month, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill that bars critical race theory in classrooms and instead would require factual, objective instruction for students.
A man waves a U.S. flag as he walks outside the Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City, Mo., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images)

Missouri AG Sues Public School District for Refusing to Turn Over Critical Race Training Records

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is suing Springfield Public Schools (SPS) for allegedly violating the states information transparency law, citing the school districts unwillingness to provide documents that his office requested on behalf of parents concerned about the teaching of critical race theory.

In a complaint (pdf) filed on Nov. 16, Schmitt alleged that critical race theory has been part of teacher training materials in SPS for at least two years and that the district has violated Missouris Sunshine Law to avoid being held accountable by concerned parents.

Springfield Public Schools provides outrageous, unlawful, and unaffordable fee estimates for Sunshine Law requests so that it does not have to produce records to members of the public, the complaint reads.

Schmitt said that in response to his request seeking records relating to critical race theory, the district demanded a payment of $35,700 to search for, research, and retrieve those records, including $727.50 to search the Staff Google Drive.

Under Missouris Sunshine Law, a government entity such as SPS isnt allowed to demand a deposit for items other than copies, and must produce the copies requested using methods that result in the lowest amount of charges. Schmitt is accusing the school district of violating both statutes in their cost estimates.

He also noted that the SPS has publicly acknowledged that theyre instructing teachers and staff on critical race theory. In a December 2020 report (pdf), the district said it had required many administrators and staff members to participate in a one-day Facing Racism training, with one of its objectives being to introduce the components of critical race theory from educational research with applications to the district.

An Oppression Matrix was used in a district-wide training at Springfield, Mo., Public Schools in fall 2020. (Springfield Public Schools/Missouri Attorney Generals Office)

According to the complaint, another training required teachers and staff at SPS to consult an oppression matrix and identify which privileged or oppressed social group they supposedly belong toa concept popularized by proponents of critical race theory. Yet another graphic that was presented to SPSs Executive Leadership Team at an October 2020 training stated that the phrase Make America Great Again, police murdering POC (People of Color), and celebration of Columbus Day are examples of covert white supremacy.

An Understanding White Supremacy graphic was used in an Executive Leadership Team training at Springfield, Mo., Public Schools on Oct. 6, 2020. (Springfield Public Schools/Missouri Attorney Generals Office)

Parents have every right to know exactly what is being taught to their children, especially when public school systems are implementing components of critical race theory and so-called antiracism teachings in teacher training and applying social justice scorecards to math and other core curriculum, Schmitt said in a statement announcing the legal action, which seeks a court order that would ensure that SPS releases all responsive records and pay a $1,000 fine for Sunshine Law violations.

In a statement released to the press, SPS condemned the lawsuit as a loud, divisive, and misguided distraction from the districts work to promote equity.

SPS is disappointed by the Attorney Generals decision to use the power of his office to attack public education, the district stated, arguing that the Sunshine Law request was extraordinarily broad in scope and could have diverted hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of district staff time to search and review thousands of pages of documents.

SPS has been very clear: Critical Race Theory [CRT] is not being taught in our classrooms. Our work is focused on equity, not CRT.

Critical race theory is an outgrowth from Marxism that views society through the lens of a power struggle between white and non-white people, who are labeled oppressors and oppressed, respectively. Critical race theorists see deeply embedded racism in all aspects of U.S. society, including in neutral systems such as constitutional law and standardized tests, and deem it to be the root cause of racial inequity, or different outcomes for different races.
The logo of Chinese gene firm BGI Group is seen at its building in Beijing, China, on March 25, 2021. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

Monkey-Brain Study With Link to Chinas Military Roils Top European University

SYDNEY/COPENHAGENA Chinese professor at the University of Copenhagen conducted genetic research with the Chinese military without disclosing the connection, the university told Reuters, in the latest example of how Chinas pursuit of military-civilian technology is tapping into Western academia in the strategically sensitive area of biotechnology.

The professor, Guojie Zhang, is also employed by Shenzhen-based genomics giant BGI Group, which funds dozens of researchers at the university and has its European headquarters on the university campus.

Zhang and a student he was supervising worked with a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) laboratory on research exposing monkeys to extreme altitude to study their brains and develop new drugs to prevent brain damagea priority the PLA has identified for Chinese troops operating on high plateau borders.

Zhang co-published that paper with a PLA major general in January 2020. At the time the study was published, the university was not familiar with the fact that the paper also included authors from Chinese military research institutions, Niels Kroer, head of its biology department, told Reuters in an email.

Zhang confirmed that he did not inform the university of the link because the university didnt require researchers to report co-authors on scientific papers to it, which the university confirmed. BGI said the study with the PLA lab was not carried out for military purposes and brain research is a critical area for understanding human diseases. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said the study had national defense and civilian benefits on the Tibetan plateau.

Concerns about Chinas fusion of military and civilian technology, and about universities transferring sensitive technology to China that could help its military, have grown in the United States in recent years. Washington agreed last month to work with the European Union on the issue under a new joint technology and trade council. A U.S. Department of Defense report on Chinas military power this month flagged concern over Beijing using biotechnology to enhance its soldiers performance.

The Danish incident, first reported by Reuters, shows how Chinas pursuit of biotechnology with a military use has also become an issue for universities in Europe.

The European Commission says it is developing guidelines on tackling foreign interference at higher education institutions. A 2020 report from the Leiden Asia Center, an independent group affiliated with Leiden University in the Netherlands, found at least five countries in Europe had concerns about the risks of research collaboration with China. Some universities, including Copenhagen, have long had close science ties to China.

Copenhagen university and two large Danish foundations that funded some of Zhangs work said they discovered Chinas military was involved only after one of the foundations saw it had been credited, incorrectly, with financing the monkey study. The work was funded by the Chinese government and military, the paper said.

A view of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, on Oct. 29, 2021. (Nikolaj Skydsgaard/Reuters)

The discovery came as Denmarks intelligence agency, PET, warned Danish universities in May of the national security risks of being unwittingly involved in foreign military research, citing a number of espionage activities and other foreign interference, and a student who co-authored research into 5G technology with an engineer from a Chinese military university. It declined to comment on specific cases.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences, where Zhang also has a genetics lab, said of the study at the time that brain damage and death caused by high altitude on the Tibetan plateau had severely hindered national defense construction.

Denmarks Ministry of Higher Education and Sciences declined to comment on the altitude study, but said export control rules apply to some technology that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. The Danish Business Authority said most types of gene technology are not on its export control list.

The ministry said it had launched a broad review of the risks of international research cooperation, led by top university heads, to conclude at the start of next year.

The University of Copenhagen expects the review of ethical and security policy limits for collaboration will result in new rules for universitiesand greater focus on the risks, its deputy director for research and innovation Kim Brinckmann told Reuters in an email.

We are very proud to have Prof. Zhang  as one of our very highly performing researchers, he said. The university did not respond to a question about how much funding BGI provides it.

Chinas foreign ministry said it urged Danish institutions to abandon ideological prejudice and end groundless accusations and smears, and treat their research cooperation rationally to accrue positive energy in the development of bilateral relations and practical cooperation.

Altitude

Zhang and the head of the PLA laboratory for high-altitude research, Major General Yuqi Gao, designed the study, which also lists BGI founders Wang Jian and Yang Huanming as co-authors. BGIs other joint research with Gao has involved soldiers in Tibet and Xinjiang, Reuters reported in January.

That report was cited by two U.S. senators who, in September, called for BGI to be sanctioned by the United States as a military-linked company. Gaos research has directly improved the ability of Chinas rapid-advance plateau troops to carry out training and combat missions, according to the Chinese militarys official news service.

Chinas Academy of Military Medical Sciences launched a four-year plan in 2012 for troops to acclimatize and adapt to the low-oxygen Tibetan plateau. That plan said BGI was working with Gaos lab to test soldiers arriving in Tibet and identify genes linked to altitude sickness, which does not affect Tibetans. It said preventing altitude sickness helped to manage border areas where ethnic minorities gather, and had far-reaching economic and political significance.

BGI told Reuters the research with the military university aimed to understand the health risk for all people traveling to and working at high altitudes.

The project using BGIs technology studied the changes of the pathophysiology and genomics of the human body at very high altitudes, a BGI spokesman said. In China, many military institutions  carry out both civilian and military research, he added.

Gao wrote in 2018 that high altitude disease is the main reason for reduced combat effectiveness and health damage of soldiers at high altitudes and influences the results of war on the highland plateau, and noted that drugs could be used in an emergency for the rapid deployment of soldiers.

Chinas military has recently increased live fire drills in Tibet after border clashes with India.

Deep Ties

The University of Copenhagen has one of Europes oldest genetics institutes, and it is BGIs biggest international research partner by count of science papers.

A view of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, on Oct. 29, 2021. (Nikolaj Skydsgaard/Reuters)

The ties run deep. Two former BGI chief executives, BGIs chairman, and the founder of its animal cloning program, previously studied or worked at Copenhagen. The university hosts more than two dozen BGI-funded researchers undertaking science and health doctorates.

Biology head Kroer told Reuters the university had been unaware of claims that BGI has connections with the PLA. The university said that other than Zhangs salary as a professor, no Danish money was spent on the study, which animal rights activists have argued subjected the animals to suffering and distress.

The student Zhang worked with was in China and employed by BGI, the university said. Zhangs research team was not involved in the animal experiments performed in China, but did analyze the genomic data generated from the experiments, it added.

The Lundbeck Foundation, which primarily funds brain research and was incorrectly listed as a funder of the monkey brain study, has not supported this area of his research, nor do we have any knowledge about it, a spokesman said of the monkey brain project. Lundbeck said Zhang had told them he was studying ants and genetics and how this could explain brain processes in humans.

The foundation said it asked Zhang this year to remove its name from the study. The Carlsberg Foundation, which controls the worlds third-largest brewer and said it gave Zhang a $623,000 fellowship in 2016, also told Reuters it had been incorrectly listed as funding the project.

The paper was published in a Chinese journal, Zoological Research, which declined to comment.

Zhang is on the journals editorial board. He told Reuters the two Danish foundations were mentioned in the paper by mistake. We did not spend any funding from the grants I received from these two foundations on this project, he added in an email. The journal published a correction removing the foundations names in March 2021.

Lundbeck declined to comment on what impact the discovery might have; Carlsberg has said animal experiments conducted overseas must comply with Danish regulations, but did not comment on the military involvement.

Internal Debate

In June 2020, the University of Copenhagen decided to close a think tank it had run with Shanghais Fudan University since 2013, saying it had adjusted its overall cooperation strategy.

The decision prompted a debate about China inside the university, documents obtained by Reuters under freedom of information rules show. The university held a meeting in August 2020 to discuss the closure of the Fudan program and review its collaboration with China.

China has engaged in a strategic civil-military fusion of research that often blurs the lines to the outsider, China Studies professor Jorgen Delman said in a note to the universitys head afterwards, recommending better screening of Chinese researchers and consultations with Danish military intelligence to advise on risks and no-go areas. He declined to comment further.

Genetic cloning technology was transferred to BGI after a researcher, Yutao Du, received her doctorate in 2007 with a team from Danish universities that created the worlds first pigs using a technique called handmade cloning. She was praised by the Chinese government for bringing the technology to China, which went on to clone genetically modified pigs for the study of human neurological illnesses.

Chinas national science program said cloned pigs were a stepping stone to chimeras, a controversial area where China wanted to lead the world. Chimeras are organisms composed of cells from two or more individuals that may be capable of growing organs for human transplantation.

Du is now vice president at BGI Genomics Ltd, and won promotion within the Chinese Communist Party, becoming a delegate to its national congress in 2017. She did not respond to a request for comment.

By Kirsty Needham and Stine Jacobsen
A help wanted sign hangs on the window of a nail salon in San Francisco on Dec. 7, 2012. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Nail Salons Suffer Financial Difficulties Due to Pandemic: UCLA

LOS ANGELESMost nail salon workers and owners were unable to find alternative employment during pandemic-related salon closures and continue to face financial difficulties after reopening, according to a University of CaliforniaLos Angeles (UCLA)-led study released Nov. 18.

The report finds that only 14 percent of owners are confident they can cover business expenses over the next month, including rent and payroll, and 83 percent of workers reported a reduction in earnings.

Most nail salons are small mom-and-pop businesses owned and staffed by immigrants and refugees who are worried about paying for food and basic necessities, even after reopening, Lucero Herrera, a senior research analyst at the UCLA Labor Center, said.

She added that 88 percent of owners said they did not have enough customers to meet business expenses, including rehiring workers, and most workers are now taking home less than $400 per week.

The study by the UCLA Labor Center and the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative examines nail salon reopenings in California, a major hub for the multibillion-dollar industry. Nail salons have been particularly upended by COVID-19, but there have been few studies on the pandemics impact.

Reopening During COVID-19: The Experience of Nail Salon Workers and Owners in California examines how nail salons are navigating reopening and recovery amid extended financial and emotional strain.

Researchers note that about half of nail salon workers and the majority of owners feel moderately to extremely anxious since reopening. Most workers state that health and safety is their main concern, while owners are primarily worried about having sufficient customers.

When nail salons first reopened, most workers felt that their employers were responsive in offering COVID-19 protections, such as masks, face shields, and gloves, Lisa Fu, executive director at the nail salon association, said. However, there is ongoing stress from anti-Asian racism during the pandemic, and the fact that most workers cant take time off.

Fu said that 62 percent of workers reported that they dont get paid sick leave or paid family leave, while workers also express concerns on prioritizing income over their own health and safety when customers dont wear masks.
NBC Producer Who Allegedly Told Underling to Follow Rittenhouse Jury Deletes Twitter, LinkedIn Accounts

The NBC producer who was accused of telling one of her workers to follow the Kyle Rittenhouse jury bus on Wednesday deleted her social media accounts a day later.

Irene Byons actions came after she was identified by name by Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, who read to the courtroom a police report detailing what happened.

James J. Morrison, the underling, was pulled over by police officers after running a red light. He told officers that he was directed by Byon to follow the bus.

Police, when they stopped him, because he was following at a distance of about a block and went through a red light, pulled him over and inquired of him what was going on. And he gave that information and stated that he had been instructed by him Ms. Byon in New York to follow the jury bus, Schroeder said.

Byon was listed on LinkedIn as an NBC booking producer. She started as a news producer for NBC in November 2016 and was based in San Diego, California, before shifting to being a booking producer based in New York in August, according to the profile. She holds a bachelors degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California. A message sent to her on the platform was not returned.

Byon did not list her job on Twitter but repeatedly posted pictures from NBC offices.

Her last post was about the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

She was following the Kenosha Police Department and at least seven accounts linked to NBC.

An archived version of Irene Byons LinkedIn account is seen as captured on Nov. 18, 2021. (The Epoch Times via archive.is)

Byon later took down her Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

Morrisons contact information and job details couldnt be located.

The Kenosha Police Department said in a statement that a person who is alleging to be affiliated with a national media outlet was briefly taken into custody and issued several traffic related citations.

Police suspect this person was trying to photograph jurors. This incident is being investigated much further, officials said.

An NBC spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that a freelancer received a traffic citation.

While the traffic violation took place near the jury van, the freelancer never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations, and never photographed or intended to photograph them. We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with the authorities on any investigation, the spokesperson said.

NBC did not respond when asked whether Morrison was directed by Byon to follow the bus.

Jurors identities have been shielded throughout the trial, which is being watched closely by people across the nation. The bus windows were covered to prevent them from seeing signs being held by people outside the courthouse, according to the judge.

I have instructed that no one from MSNBC News will be permitted in this building. For the duration of this trial. This is a very serious matter, and I dont know what the ultimate truth of it is, Schroeder said. That someone who is following the jury bus, that is a very its extremely serious matter and will be referred to the proper authorities for further action.
New Mexico Governor Says Fully Vaccinated Means 3 Doses

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham went beyond endorsing a COVID-19 vaccine booster for all adults, saying she believes being fully vaccinated now means a person should have three shots.

At a virtual pandemic briefing, she said the definition of fully vaccinated changing to three shots would reflect concerns that COVID-19 vaccines start losing their effectiveness after about six months.

Lujan Grisham, who is running for reelection, echoed sentiments she expressed several days ago that all adults in New Mexico should get a booster shot.

We know vaccinations are the most effective tool to both blunting the spread of the virus and to protecting ourself and our families, she said. So we are analyzing what we can do to create those incentivesand potentially mandatesfor making sure that people are fully vaccinated, which means three vaccines.

She blamed the unvaccinated for the ongoing pandemic but also acknowledged that the vaccinated can also contract and spread the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. She said those who are vaccinated often have only mild symptoms and dont end up in the hospital.

She suggested that people who were vaccinated earlyhaving received their last COVID-19 vaccine six or more months agomay be responsible for the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the state, which reported 1,530 new infections on Wednesday.

New Mexico Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. David Scrase, during the same briefing, said discussions are underway about changing the definition of what it means to be fully vaccinated and that he expects a new public health order in the coming weeks.

Booster doses of all three vaccine typesPfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnsonhave been cleared for use in the United States.

Nearly 74 percent of New Mexico adults are considered fully vaccinated under the current definition of two doses of the mRNA vaccinesPfizer and Modernaand one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

In the past week, more states have moved to endorse COVID-19 booster shots for all adults, bringing the total to at least seven states nationwide: Arkansas, California, Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and West Virginia.

Such an endorsement has not been reflected in federal policy. Current recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say anyone 65 or older who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago or a Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago should receive a booster shot.

However, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky has suggested the definition of fully vaccinated may change in the future.

Meanwhile, those aged 18 or older, may receive a booster shot at least six months after completing the primary series of shots if they have underlying medical conditions or are often in long-term care settings or high-risk settings, the CDC states.

Last week, Pfizer asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization for booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine for all adults. Moderna also sought similar FDA emergency use authorization on Wednesday. The FDA has yet to make a determination on either vaccine.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern answers a question during a press conference at Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand, on Oct. 11, 2021. (Robert Kitchin/Pool Photo via AP)

New Zealand to Open Auckland Domestic Border in Mid-December

New Zealand will open the domestic border around the city of Auckland in mid-December and allow separated Kiwis back home for a Christmas reunion.

Fully vaccinated people and those with a negative COVID-19 test result can enter Auckland starting on Dec. 15, by which time 90 percent of the countrys eligible population can be vaccinated, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Nov. 17.

Auckland, the countrys largest city, has been in lockdown since Aug. 17, after an outbreak of the Delta variant of COVID-19. The citys 1.7 million residents will regain their freedoms on Nov. 29, after which a vaccine certificate system will be adopted.

Aucklanders have faced restrictions for an extended period of time to keep the rest of New Zealand safe. But with increased rates of vaccination, its time to open up the ability to travel again, Ardern said. Aucklanders can now book summer travel and accommodation with confidence, and businesses inside Auckland and around the rest of the country can plan for summer travelers.

However, unvaccinated citizens who attempt to leave the city will be fined by police, who will take random spot checks similar to drunk-driving patrols. People breaking COVID-19-rules to enter the city will face an infringement fine of NZ$1,000 (US$700.24).

Protesters rally against COVID-19-related restrictions and vaccine mandates in Wellington, New Zealand, on Nov. 9, 2021. (Praveen Menon/Reuters)

The announcement comes after thousands of protestors rallied in Wellington, the countrys capital city, over the governments vaccination mandates on Nov. 9 after the Ardern government unveiled a No Jab, No Job policy for thousands of workers in October. She also said New Zealand will get rid of mass lockdowns and move into a traffic-light system in early December, with the specific date to be determined at a cabinet meeting on Nov. 29.

What remains unknown is when the country will open up to the rest of the world, a decision thats to be made in the next two weeks, a government spokesman told AAP.

The opposition National Party has accused the Ardern government of fear-mongering, as it says allowing overseas Kiwis back is opening the flood gates for the virus.

This is an awful situation for families  having Christmas dinner with an empty seat at the table waiting for a family member to come home, opposition leader Judith Collins said.

However, Ardern refuted the accusations.

No one is fear-mongering, she said. We are simply describing as the reality of what we will need to manage.

This is a considerable change in the way that we have managed COVID-19, and were ensuring that we step through these changes deliberately and carefully.
NewportMesa School District to Hold Public Presentation on Anti-Bias Training

On Nov. 18, the NewportMesa Unified School District (NMUSD) will hold a virtual presentation on teacher training and classroom materials developed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on the topic of implicit and explicit bias.

The presentation, called A World of Difference Anti-Bias Workshop, will review ADL training and classroom materials on recognizing bias and its harm on others, understanding and benefits of diversity, improving intergroup relations and confronting racism, anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.

NMUSD agreed to hold the workshop after a group of concerned parents and community leaders requested more information about the materials being used to train teachers but were told the materials were not available to be reviewed due to the proprietary nature of a contract signed by NMUSD and the ADL.

Anything that the teachers are going to be teaching, we have a right to see per the education code, parent Bill Dunlap told The Epoch Times.

Dunlap held a Zoom call with ADL representatives about his and other parents concerns.

I told them, Were parents, we want to know what youre teaching the teachers, who in turn will be teaching our children.

Dunlap and others asked for copies of the materials but were denied access to the training documents despite numerous requests to the ADL and NMUSD.

NMUSD began offering A World of Difference anti-bias courses in 2019 for secondary school employees and volunteer student peer leaders on the recommendation of a districtwide human relations task force formed in response to an anti-Semitic incident at Newport Harbor High School in March 2019.

However, once the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns began, the anti-bias training was put on hold.

In August of this year, the school board unanimously agreed to approve a $27,800 contract with ADL to continue anti-bias training but canceled a staff course designed to explore privilege, power dynamics, and oppression.

Another parent told The Epoch Times that she has been asking NMUSD since June to see the anti-bias teacher training materials and was told that they were unavailable. She said a Freedom of Information Act request took months, and the materials that were provided were heavily redacted and didnt provide the details of the training content.

Calls to the NMUSD for comment were not answered by press time.

Community members interested in attending the Thursday, Nov. 18 anti-bias training workshop can do so by joining the meeting link here from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Atlanta resident Norm Hatke (left), Jon Oudin (center), and Fran Diemer chat at the Ellijay Trump Store in Georgia on Aug. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

One Year On, Americas Trump Stores Are Still Winning

In many places in rural America, it seems the 2020 election never ended. Trump 2020 signs still dot the roadsides, Trump flags still flutter, and Trump hats are still in style.

Unlike previous presidential candidates who disappeared after a lost election, former President Donald Trump is still loved by his supporters.

Its not just a private sentiment; the market for Trump merchandise is still strong. Across the country, many mom-and-pop stores continue to sell Trump gear of all kinds.

The reasons for Trumps continued popularity are on full display in Ellijay, Georgia, a small mountain town with a population of 1,736. There, Alicia Dougherty and Jon Lock run the Ellijay Trump Store.

The store stands at the corner of a red brick strip mall beneath a fabric sign displaying Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump with an American flag. Dougherty said she was somewhat surprised customers still came in months after the election.

Were just winging it, she said. And we knew the election was going to be a cut-off point. And the inauguration was another cut-off point.

The Ellijay Trump Store isnt unusual. Across America, at least 20,000 similar small stores buy and sell Trump apparel, said Ron Solomon, the owner of nationwide Trump apparel company Maga Mall.

Trump Treasures

The walls of the Trump Store are packed with merchandise ranging from locally carved Trump cutting boards and wooden gun cases to Trump shirts, stickers, hats, and flags. The well-arranged displays show passion for Trump, patriotism, and faith.

Two life-sized cardboard cutouts of Trump are popular among customers for photo ops, Dougherty said.

The store boasts visitors from across America, she said. They come from Florida, Maine, California, and everywhere in between.

People still love Trump, she said. Every time someones in from out of town, they come in and get stuff for their family to take home.

Although sales died off somewhat in February, theyve risen since March, Dougherty said. A normal week nets the Trump Store 200 to 400 customers.

For many people, the store feels like a safe space to talk politics, share news, and spend time together, she said. Some customers spend hours talking with Trump Store employees.

Before the election, customer numbers were even higher, Dougherty said. Lines stretched around the mall. Although the store hasnt gotten these kinds of numbers since, business is still brisk.

According to Dougherty, Lock, and many of the stores customers, the 2020 election was stolen from Trump by a left-wing conspiracy. For them, the veracity of this seems beyond doubt.

We know Trump won the election because it was rigged, said local Kurt Awen.

The election was rigged, said local Carl Taylor.

Despite the certainty with which they pronounce the nationwide collapse of Americas electoral system, Trump Store customers seem surprisingly relaxed about the situation.

Solomon said that he and other Trump supporters believe the turnout in favor of Trump and pro-Trump Republicans will be so massive in the next two elections that it will overwhelm any future attempts at election fraud.

Solomon said he also thinks state changes to election laws will help prevent fraud. Hes very sure that Trump and pro-Trump Republicans will win next time.

Were going to take back the Senate, were going to take back the House, and if Trump runs, hes going to win, he said.

To many Trump Store visitors, Trump is more than a presidential candidate. They say hes a moral leader who has a quality that few Americans and fewer politicians have: He speaks his mind.

Many visitors also said Trumps wealth showed his moral character. Whatever the reason Trump ran for president, it wasnt to get rich.

Its got to be just because he relates. Hes not a career politician. Hes just a regular guy who loves America, Jon Oudin said. Does he speak basically, openly about everything? Yeah, and [that] irritates a lot of people. But I think rural America, especially towns like Ellijay, we needed that. Because were sick and tired of politics.

He relates to people and he loves this country, Atlanta resident Norm Hatke said. Hes in it for the people. Its his values, Im going to say its his family values. Hes got all the power that he can muster, and hes got all the money that he could ever want. So if you have both of those, why would you want to take on that role, unless you just love this country and love the people?

He stands for what he says, hes a man of faith, hes got real character, Awen said. Hes done the most for our country in a long time.

Somehow Trump seems to be everything at once to his supporters. But most importantly, he represents hope for change in an America where people dont trust each other anymore.

Despite their appreciation for a man who speaks his mind no matter the consequences, many Trump Store visitors said they felt unwilling to wear Trump apparel in some places because they could face attacks from political radicals.

The Trump Store has already faced discrimination from Google because of its politics, Lock said.

Google removed the Ellijay Trump Stores online business profile from its website, he said. Moments after he entered a code from Google to register as a business, he received an email telling him the store had been flagged for suspicious activity.

As of today, the store doesnt appear when Ellijay Trump Store is typed in Googles search engine or Google Maps.

In Atlanta, Oudin said he felt afraid to wear a MAGA hat in public because people might spit on him.

We know perfectly well if I wore this hat down in Midtown or Buckhead right now, thats exactly what would happen, he said.

He cited several famous incidents in which Trump fans were harassed or attacked in public.

I dont see any of my peers, for example, belittling a Biden supporter or trampling their sign, Oudin said. I think were more respectful toward our fellow citizens, regardless of their stances.

Trump fans fear harassment from people who dislike Trump, but the fear also goes the other way.

Linda, another local, who didnt want her last name published, said she didnt like the division Trump has caused or the continued insistence by his supporters that he won the election.

We honor people who adore him. We would never make someone feel bad because they supported Trump, she said. But we feel like we cant speak how we feel.

Linda said she felt that if she spoke against Trump, she would face repercussions in Ellijay and from those close to her.

Some of the cruder merchandise in the Trump store might bother people who disagree with Trump or like other politicians. The counter prominently displays an [expletive] Biden sticker. The shops best-selling item is toilet paper with Nancy Pelosis face on it, Dougherty said. Toilet paper with Joe Bidens face is a close second.

But at the end of the day, were nice people, Dougherty said, referring to the residents of Ellijay. Were respectful, and thats why everybody wants to move here.
Orange County Philanthropists Grant $200 Million in 2 Years, Setting New Record

Cynthia Esparza knows nothing of the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), even though it may have saved her and her childrens lives.

The 32-year-old mother of three had found herself on the verge of homelessness after a series of events that started in January 2020 when she walked out of her homeher children in towto escape an abusive relationship with her childrens father.

I told myself that Id rather sacrifice, Esparza told The Epoch Times. I want my children to see that mom was strong enough to stand on her two feet.

Cynthia Esparza and her three children. (Courtesy of the Illumination Foundation)

Eventually, Esparza and the children, aged 10, 1, and a newborn baby girl, landed in Riverside, California, where they lived in a one-bedroom rental. But after six months, the landlord didnt renew her lease.

I had no place to go, she said.

So she dialed 211.

That call led Esparza to a local nonprofit, which exists in part due to the OCCF.

The foundations philanthropic model is simple: individuals, families, organizations, or foundations looking for ways to make donations give cash, stocks, and even real estate to the foundation, which then finds local nonprofits in need of funds.

Since its inception in 1989, it has awarded nearly $830 million in grants and scholarships and ranks in the top 2 percent in grantmaking, according to the OCCF website.

This is a place for people, no matter their background, origins, early life experiences, they have the opportunity to rise, and to build a strong community, Shelley Hoss, the foundations CEO, told The Epoch Times.

In 2020, when so many lives were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation actually had a record year for donations, over $100 million, to be dispersed worldwide. That was an $18 million increase from the previous year.

The generosity was unbelievable, Hoss said. Its a testament to the energetic commitment to giving back that we find in Orange County.

Some of that funding helped to set up the OC Community Resilience Fund, a pool specifically for local COVID-19 response.

Locally, the foundation has given health clinics funding to help them adapt to COVID-19 needslike needing personal protection equipmentand to nonprofits, by the dozens, that in turn help those in need of rental assistance, medical aid, or food.

I think people are becoming attuned to vulnerable folks in our community and are wanting to make sure that they are going to have a long-term path, Hoss said.

One of 600 beneficiaries worldwide of the Orange County Community Foundations largesse is the Illumination Foundation, based in Orange, California.

There, Esparza and her children got a roof over their heads, but also so much more.

Esparzas oldest son was given a laptop for his classes. Both were provided counseling, and Esparza was able to work, as daycarecomplete with diaperswas provided for her little ones.

I cried when the daycare told me that I didnt have to worry about bringing them diapers, she said.

(Courtesy of the Illumination Foundation)

I dont know what she would have done, Paul Leon, co-founder of Illumination Foundation, told The Epoch Times. And then you had three young lives who would have been totally disrupted. Its those little nuggets and safety nets that people dont realize that you need that money coming in for that community support.

After spending six months at the Illumination Foundations emergency housing, Esparza moved into a new home in La Habra, California.

For the first time in years, she said she feels settledboth emotionally and physically.

I could never repay them for what they provided, and I will forever keep them in my heart, she said.

In total, the foundation has given out $200 million in grants worldwide since COVID-19 began.

This year, driven by a spike in donations due to the generosity of so many concerned about helping those affected by COVID-19, the organizationwhich is based out of Newport Beach, Californiahas brought in $4.5 million to be used exclusively for Orange County nonprofits.

When we think of what OCCF wants to initiate, its impact thats going to be able to be sustained over timeto bring folks together that have shared a philanthropic interest, and then help these nonprofits raise exponentially more than they could on their own, Hoss said.
Orange Countys Michelle Steel Introduces Bill to Expand Access to Telehealth

Orange County Rep. Michelle Steel, a Republican, introduced a bill into the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 16 that seeks to increase access to long-distant patient care services for Americans.

When the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law in March of 2020, it temporarily allowed Americans with Health Savings Accounts (HSA) to access telehealth services, a type of long-distance patient care over the phone or video chat, without needing to first meet their deductible. In addition, the provision allowed individuals to choose and purchase telehealth services outside of their health plan without impacting their eligibility for HSA services.

Telehealth has been life-changing for so many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Steel said in a statement. Increased access to telehealth has benefited a wide range of Americans, from seniors to high-risk patients, to those in rural areas. Congress must act to ensure that the millions of Americans to who have utilized this provision do not lose their access to telemedicine.

Steels bill, known as the Telehealth Expansion Act, a bipartisan bill co-authored with Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), would make the telehealth waiver of the CARES Act permanent, given that its currently set to end Dec. 31.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans were able to access health care through telehealth, Lee said in a statement. The pandemic pushed Congress to test out telehealth flexibilities that have proven to be effective in expanding access to quality, consistent, and affordable health care. However, these policies are set to expire. We cant afford to take a step backwards when it comes to expanding access to health care. Instead, we should ensure Nevadans and Americans across the country have every tool to access the health care they needand thats just what this bill does.

Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).
Oregon Middle School Halts In-Person Classes Due to Students Struggling With Socialization Skills

A middle school in Oregon is pausing in-person instruction for two weeks over classroom disruptions that officials say are caused by some students struggling with the socialization skills necessary for in-person learning.

It comes after the school was forced to provide distance learning over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in spring 2020. The school was able to provide some in-person instruction in the spring of 2021 but still continued with distance learning before recently shifting to full in-person learning.

The shifts in learning methods and isolation caused by COVID-19 closures and quarantines have taken a toll on the well-being of our students and staff, Superintendent Danna Diaz told families and staff. We are finding that some students are struggling with the socialization skills necessary for in-person learning, which is causing disruption in school for other students.

Steve Padilla, assistant director of public relations for the Reynolds School District, told The Oregonian, Its not just fighting, its disruptive behaviors as well. Students are disrupting other students, making it hard for them to learn.

Reynolds Middle School in Fairview will have distance learning for about two weeks starting Nov. 22. Students will have Nov. 18 and 19 off to allow teachers and support staff to prepare for the transition, Reynolds superintendent Danna Diaz announced.

During the planned two weeks of distance-learning, school administrators and staff will put in place operational safety procedures before the the school resumes in-person learning Dec. 7.

The measure is to ensure the school has the necessary social-emotional supports and safety protocols in place to provide a safe learning environment for all students.

The safety and security of our students, families, and staff is our highest priority, Diaz said.

Reynolds Middle School is one of three middle schools in the district, admitting students from parts of Gresham, Fairview, and Wood Village, and is the only one to have taken such actions due to disruptive behaviors. The school has 928 students.
A Qantas plane takes off from the Sydney International airport on May 6, 2021. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)

Over 50,000 People Call for Australia to Lift Travel Restrictions for Temporary Visa Holders

Migrants in Australia on temporary visas are calling on the government to remove discriminatory restrictions on them returning to the country, with a petition signed by over 50,000 people.

New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria have opened international travel to Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, temporary visa holders in Australia do not enjoy the same freedom even if they are fully vaccinated. Once they leave, they run the risk they may not be able to return as currently temporary visa holders need strong compassionate or compelling reasons or essential work requirements to be granted an exemption.

Scott Morrison [Prime Minister] announced that from November, AU borders will be open to international travellers, allowing those overseas to make it home for Christmas and Australian citizens to travel elsewhere, reads the petition, which was started by Katie Stenson, an Irish national who has been living in Sydney for nearly five years.

Unfortunately, he has excluded anyone living here who is not a citizen, from leaving and returning to Australia. Temporary visa holders still cannot leave to visit our loved ones, the petition declares.

We work here, pay our taxes, received double vaccinations and contribute to society. Its discriminatory to stop us from visiting our friends and families after almost two years apart.

There are over two million people in Australia on temporary visas now, which is a priority cohort for consideration in the current Phase C of Australias national reopening roadmap.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said in a statement to The Epoch Times that she understands the pandemic has separated many people in Australia.

Over the last two years Ive spoken with grandparents who have missed births, families who have missed funerals, and separated couples, Andrews said.

Thanks to the millions of Australians who have rolled up their sleeve to be vaccinated, however, were now able to progressively reduce and remove international border restrictions.

I look forward to restrictions easing further for other cohorts very soon. Temporary visa holders can be assured that were working on this as a priority.

As of Nov. 18, 2 p.m., the petition had garnered 51,870 signatures.
Paxlovid, Pfizer's COVID-19 pill, is seen manufactured in Ascoli, Italy, in an undated photograph. (Pfizer via Reuters)

Pfizer Secures $5 Billion From US Government for 10 Million Courses of COVID-19 Pill

U.S. government officials have reached an agreement with Pfizer that secures 10 million courses of the drugmakers COVID-19 pill.

The government is paying $5.3 billion, or $529 a course for the pill.

The price is due to the high committed volume of treatment courses being purchased through 2022, with similar agreements reached with several other countries, Pfizer said.

The deal is contingent on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granting emergency use authorization to the treatment, known as Paxlovid. The pill has not yet been authorized or approved anywhere in the world.

Pfizer asked the FDA on Tuesday for the authorization, pointing to an interim analysis of an ongoing trial that suggested it reduces the risk of hospitalization or death in COVID-19 patients.

This promising treatment could help accelerate our path out of this pandemic by offering another life-saving tool for people who get sick with COVID-19, Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

Getting vaccinated remains the most important action anyone can take to help protect themselves and others and end this pandemic, but for people who do get sick in the future and are at risk of severe outcomes, having pills they can take to keep them out of the hospital could be a lifesaver, he added.

It is encouraging to see a growing understanding of the valuable role that oral investigational therapies may play in combatting COVID-19, and we look forward to continuing discussions with governments around the world to help ensure broad access for people everywhere, Albert Bourla, Pfizers CEO, said in a statement.

The pill Paxlovid is part of a class of drugs called protease inhibitors. It works by blocking an enzyme that SARS-CoV-2 needs to replicate in humans.

SARS-CoV-2, or the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, is the virus that causes COVID-19.

Paxlovid is expected to be administered with ritonavir, a different drug that helps the treatment remain in the body for a longer period of time.

The Biden administration previously expanded a deal with Merck, another COVID-19 pill producer, that saw the government commit $2.2 billion for 3.1 million courses of the treatment. That comes out to about $709 a course25 percent higher than Pfizers.

The Merck deal is also contingent on the pill receiving regulatory clearance.

Merck asked for emergency use authorization but the FDA decided to delay a decision until the matter was taken up during an advisory panel meeting on Nov. 30. The pill was cleared by UK regulators earlier this month.

The FDA declined to comment on when it would clear or reject Pfizers pill.

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an arm of the Department of Health and Human Services, helped hammer out the agreement. It had invested over $49 billion in COVID-19 products like therapeutics, Dr. Gary Disbrow, head of the authority, told members of Congress this week.
The BRP Sierra Madre, a marooned transport ship which Philippine Marines live on as a military outpost, is pictured in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea March 30, 2014. (Erik De Castro/Reuters)

Philippines Tells China to Back Off in South China Sea

The Philippines has told China to back off from its territorial zone, reporting that three ships from the Chinese coastguard had blocked and used water cannons on two Filipino supply boats en route to a Philippine-occupied shoal in the disputed South China Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on Nov. 18 that the Filipino boats were transporting food supplies to military personnel stationed in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) on Nov. 16 when they were forced to abort the mission.

Second Thomas Shoal lies off western Palawan province in the Philippines internationally recognised exclusive economic zone. The Philippines has occupied the shoal since 1999 after intentionally grounding a navy ship on the reef.

Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which is an integral part of the Philippines, as well as the Philippines exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, Locsin wrote in a statement shared on social media by the foreign ministry.

The Philippine government also condemned the three Chinese coastguard vessels illegal actions, directing them to take the heed and back off, reminding China that a public vessel is covered under the Philippines-United States Mutual Defence Treaty.

Chinas failure to exercise self-restraint threatens the special relationship between the two countries, Locsin said, adding that he has conveyed in the strongest term to the Chinese ambassador to the Philippines outrage, condemnation and protest over the incident.

At the time of publication, Chinas foreign ministry had not released a statement on the incident.

No injuries have been reported from the incident.

Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. gestures during a senate hearing in Manila, Philippines, on Feb. 6, 2020. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

Prior to the incident, the Philippine government had previously lodged a diplomatic protest against Chinas repeated disruptive acts toward Philippine authorities patrolling the South China Sea.

The Filipino Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) claimed that its protest resulted from the unlawful issuance of over 200 radio challenges, sounding of sirens, and blowing of horns by Chinese government vessels.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague dismissed Beijings claims to much of the South China Sea in 2016, in favour of the Philippines and other nations in the region. It ruled that Chinas claims had no legal basis.

However, the verdict has had little impact on Chinas behaviour, with Beijing refusing to abide by it. The resulting territorial disputes are ongoing, with Beijing continuing to pursue its claims to vast swathes of the sea based on its so-called nine-dash line, which includes the reef.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam all having competing claims to China.

The office of President Rodrigo Duterte said it was aware of the incident at the shoal.

We will continue to assert our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, acting spokesperson Karlo Nograles said.

Before the incident, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said authorities had noticed an unusual presence of Chinese maritime militia near the atoll and Philippine-occupied Thitu island. China has denied operating a militia.

There were 19 vessels near Second Thomas Shoal last week, and 45 near Thitu Island, Esperon told reporters, describing those as very aggressive.

Reuters contributed to this article.
Kyle Rittenhouse looks back as attorneys discuss items in the motion for mistrial presented by his defense during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/Pool via Getty Images)

Residents Brace for Trouble Ahead of Rittenhouse Verdict

KENOSHA, Wis.While jurors debated behind closed doors for a third day over whether to acquit or convict Kyle Rittenhouse, residents of the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, are bracing for trouble.

I think a lot of it, just like last year, is people from out of town, Stacy Grulich, a local resident, told The Epoch Times. I think theres gonna be trouble.

Grulichs daughter attends Reuther Central High School, which moved classes online in preparation for potential unrest. If the school hadnt done so, Grulich would have pulled her daughter out.

The Kenosha Unified School District said in a statement that Reuther and four other schools were moving to remote learning out of an abundance of caution because of their proximity to the courthouse.

While we have not been advised of any existing imminent danger, we feel this is the best course of action to protect our students and staff during an uncertain time, the district stated. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement to receive support as needed in the days and weeks ahead.

Grulich said she recalls what happened in 2020, when Jacob Blake was shot by a police officer after resisting arrest and refusing to drop a knife that he was holding. Buildings near her home were among those burned down during the rioting that took place.

Stay home and lock the doors, another resident, who declined to be identified, told The Epoch Times. There were fights down there yesterday, referring to skirmishes near the Kenosha County Courthouse.

As jurors deliberated inside, fights broke out among those gathered near the courthouse doors on Nov. 17. Kenosha law enforcement officials said two people were arrested: A 20-year-old man was accused of battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest, while a 34-year-old woman was taken into custody after allegedly engaging in disorderly conduct.

On Nov. 18, it was relatively quiet and cold, near freezing. By 9:40 a.m., only 11 protesters were outside of the courthouse, two of whom appeared to support Rittenhouse. One of them, Ohio resident David Graham, has a knife. He said he often goes to events such as these.

Ive been here for a few days. It doesnt have to burn and people dont have to be trampled over by the judicial system, Graham told The Epoch Times outside of the courthouse.

He held a banner with Unity not Fracture and Truth written on it. He hopes for peace, but said that theres a chance for the town to be smoke tonight no matter what the verdict is.

David Graham holds a sign in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Brandon Lesco, from Los Angeles, said he flew to Kenosha to support Rittenhouse. He said Rittenhouse didnt go there for a fight.

He went there to defend Kenosha, Lesco said.

Opposing groups have descended upon the courthouse. Some support the teen, who shot three men near a car dealership on Aug. 25, 2020. Rittenhouse and his attorneys say that he acted in self-defense, with video footage and photographs indicating that all three men were attacking the teenager, with one pointing a gun at him.

The car dealership where Kyle Rittenhouse shot Joseph Rosenbaum is seen in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

A camera shop was burned to the ground in 2020 in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Others have shown support for the men, alleging that they did nothing wrong.

The jury has to make a decision: guilty or not guilty. The mans guilty, said Charles Fonder, a local who described himself as a friend of Joseph Rosenbaum, one of the men who was fatally shot by Rittenhouse. My cousins in prison right now for killing somebody.

Charles Fonder outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Some people who were clustered near the building have proven unfamiliar with all the facts of the case. Bishop Tavis Grant with the Rainbow Push Coalition, founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., falsely claimed that Rittenhouse was the only one on the streets with a gun during the incident.

Rittenhouse has been charged with first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. Jurors have no set timeline to decide on the charges.

The Kenosha County Sheriffs Department and Kenosha Police Department have said theyre in touch with local, state, and federal partners to make sure the city is safe after the verdict is announced.

At this time, we have no reason to facilitate road closures, enact curfews, or ask our communities to modify their daily routines, the agencies said in a joint statement on Nov. 16.

Businesses are boarded up in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers authorized the deployment of 500 National Guard troops earlier in the week. However, theyre not in Kenosha.

We stand ready to support our communities during times of need, Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsins adjutant general, said in a statement. In close coordination with the governor, we have assembled approximately 500 Soldiers to help keep the Kenosha community safe, should a request from our local partners come in.

Evers, a first-term Democrat, has urged people not from the area to consider not traveling there, stating that those who do should remain peaceful.

Kristine Rowley, who lives in Kenosha and drives for Lyft, told The Epoch Times that she was encouraged by the National Guard being ready to act, but felt that 60 miles away from Kenosha seemed too far.

Jackson Elliott Reporter Follow Jackson Elliott reports on small-town America for The Epoch Times. He learned to write and seek truth at Northwestern University. He believes that the most important actions are small and that as Dostoevsky says, everyone is responsible for everyone and for everything. When he isnt writing, he enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends. Contact Jackson by emailing jackson.elliott@epochtimes.us
Judge Bruce Schroeder alerts the attorneys that a man claiming to be with a major news network was arrested the previous night during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

MSNBC Banned From Rittenhouse Trial After Producer Followed Jurors: Judge

KENOSHA, WisconsinA bus containing jurors mulling over the fate of Kyle Rittenhouse was followed on the evening of Nov. 17, authorities announced Thursday.

The person who followed the jury bus identified himself as James J. Morrison and claimed he was a producer for NBC and MSNBC, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, who is presiding over the trial, said in the courtroom, reading from a police report.

He was instructed by a superior to follow the bus, said the judge, who added that hell decide what to do about the situation soon.

The courtroom was silent except for the hum of the air system while the stunning disclosure was revealed.

The superior was named as Irene Byon, who was said to be based in New York.

Byon is listed on LinkedIn as being an NBC booking producer. Her LinkedIn was deleted on Thursday.

Morrison was pulled over by the police after running a red light, according to the police report.

The person claimed to be affiliated with a national media outlet, according to a brief statement from the Kenosha Police Department, which did not name the outlet. The person was taken into custody and issued several traffic-related citations.

Police suspect this person was trying to photograph jurors. This incident is being investigated much further, the department said.

People gather outside the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 18, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

No photographs were obtained of jurors, police said. Jurors are not being sequestered; they have been allowed to leave the court each night and on weekends.

Schroeder said he is banning all MSNBC reporters from the courthouse due to what happened.

This is an extremely serious matter and will be referred to the proper authorities, he said.

An NBC spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that a freelancer received a traffic citation on Wednesday night.

While the traffic violation took place near the jury van, the freelancer never contacted or intended to contact the jurors during deliberations, and never photographed or intended to photograph them. We regret the incident and will fully cooperate with the authorities on any investigation, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department declined to comment, telling The Epoch Times in an email that the matter was behind handled by police. A spokesman for the police department did not pick up the phone or return a voicemail.

Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University Law School, said in a blog post that the seriousness of this incident cannot be overstated if true.

Being followed can add an intimidating element for a jury in a city that was previously subject to extensive violence and rioting, he said.

Jurors in Rittenhouses trial began deliberating Tuesday after closing arguments. The teenager faces up to life in prison on multiple homicide charges stemming from his shooting three men in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020.

Rittenhouse and his lawyers said the shootings were done in self-defense while prosecutors argued the teenager was negligent in traveling to the city and carrying a gun amidst the chaos there.

The possible interference in the trial comes after the defense entered a fresh motion for a mistrial. Lawyers said they received an inferior version of drone footage from the FBI that was captured on the night of the shootings. A prosecutor said he texted the video to the defense and blamed what happened on the type of phone they had.

Jackson Elliott Reporter Follow Jackson Elliott reports on small-town America for The Epoch Times. He learned to write and seek truth at Northwestern University. He believes that the most important actions are small and that as Dostoevsky says, everyone is responsible for everyone and for everything. When he isnt writing, he enjoys running, reading, and spending time with friends. Contact Jackson by emailing jackson.elliott@epochtimes.us

Zachary Stieber Reporter Follow Zachary Stieber covers U.S. news and stories relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is based in Maryland. zackstieber
Kyle Rittenhouse looks back as attorneys discuss items in the motion for mistrial presented by his defense during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/Pool via Getty Images)

Rittenhouse Jury Resumes Deliberating for a Third Day After Fresh Mistrial Effort

Jurors who will decide the fate of Kyle Rittenhouse started the third day of deliberations on Thursday after reviewing several videos of the teenager shooting and killing two men and injuring another during a violent night of unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020.

Rittenhouse, 18, was charged in the deaths of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and attempted homicide in the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, 28. For the most serious charge, Rittenhouse faces a mandatory life sentence in prison.

The jury, comprised of seven women and five men, has so far spent roughly 14 hours weighing two weeks of testimonyincluding considerable evidence in support of Rittenhouses claim that he only opened fire after he was attacked.

On Wednesday, the jury requested several videos, including drone footage that became the subject of a motion to mistrial that was submitted by Rittenhouses lawyers. They argued that prosecutors provided them with a lower quality video than what was submitted as evidence, although prosecutors denied their assertion.

The drone footage is a key component of prosecutors argument that Rittenhouse allegedly provoked the chain of events leading to the shooting. The footage, they contended, allegedly showed the teen pointing his rifle at protesters and rioters.

Rittenhouse attorney Corey Chirafisi told the judge that the defense would have approached the case differently if it had received better footage earlier in the case. But the lawyer said the request for a mistrial would be made without prejudice, meaning that the state could still try Rittenhouse a second time.

When viewing the footage that was presented by prosecutors, however, it is difficult to decipher whether Rittenhouse pointed his gun at anyone because of how far away the drone was. Rittenhouse testified last week that he did not point his weapon at anyone beforehand.

Last week, the defense asked for a mistrial with prejudice, meaning Rittenhouse could not be put on trial again. That request was prompted by what the defense said were improper questions asked by prosecutor Thomas Binger during his cross-examination of Rittenhouse.

Outside the courtroom, protesters started to gather, with some supporting Rittenhouse and others who ostensibly backed Black Lives Matter.

The Kenosha Sheriffs Department on Wednesday wrote that the media and the public have a responsibility to give space to law enforcement and allow them to perform their duties after two people were arrested after an incident that occurred on the courthouse steps.

A 20-year-old man was taken into custody for battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. A 34-year-old female was arrested for disorderly conduct, sheriffs officials confirmed.

During the arrests law enforcement needed to deploy several officers to keep crowds of citizens and media from interfering, the Kenosha Sheriffs Departments statement said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hamptons International Film Festival Chairman Alec Baldwin attends the World Premiere of National Geographic Documentary Films' 'The First Wave' at Hamptons International Film Festival in East Hampton, N.Y., on Oct. 7 , 2021. (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images for National Geographic)

Rust Script Never Called for Baldwin Gun to Be Fired, Lawsuit Alleges

LOS ANGELESA crew member working on the Western movie Rust said in a lawsuit on Wednesday that the script never called for a gun to be fired during a scene that Alec Baldwin was rehearsing when he killed a cinematographer last month.

Script supervisor Mamie Mitchell alleges Baldwin should have checked the gun himself for live ammunition rather than relying on the assistant directors assertion that the Colt .45 revolver was safe to use.

In our opinion, Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian Roulette when he fired a gun without checking it and without having the armorer do so in his presence, Mitchells attorney Gloria Allred told a news conference.

Mitchell, who said she was in the line of fire, alleges assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and deliberate infliction of harm and is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

I relive the shooting and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over again, said Mitchell, who made the emergency call to authorities immediately after the Oct. 21 incident.

The lawsuit, the second to be lodged over the incident, names Baldwin, the movies producers, assistant director Dave Halls and Hannah Gutierrez, the armorer who was in charge of the weapons used in the movie.

Representatives for Baldwin, the producers, and Halls did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Gutierrez said he had yet to see the lawsuit.

Baldwin has said he is heartbroken and is cooperating with the law enforcement investigation. Production company Rust Movie Productions is conducting its own probe.

Authorities in New Mexico have said they are investigating how a live bullet ended up in a gun Baldwin was using as he rehearsed a scene inside a church on Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe. No criminal charges have been filed.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when a gun Baldwin had been told was safe fired off a live bullet, investigators have said.

Other live rounds have also been found on the set.

The lawsuit said the Rust script called for three tight camera shots for the scene  one of Baldwins eyes, another of a bloodstain, and a third on Baldwins torso as he reached his hand down to the holster and removed the gun.

Baldwin intentionally, without just cause or excuse, cocked and fired the loaded gun even though the upcoming scene did not call for the cocking and firing of a firearm, the lawsuit asserts.

Allred said she believed Baldwins behavior on the set was reckless and alleged that other safety protocols had been flouted or ignored.

Last week, chief electrician Serge Svetnoy filed a negligence lawsuit against the producers.

By Jill Serjeant
San Diego Man Chokes to Death on Face Mask in Jail; Widow Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

SAN DIEGOThe widow of a man who died at the San Diego Central Jail earlier this year filed a lawsuit alleging jail staff failed to provide her husband with prompt medical attention and should have taken him to a hospital rather than booking him into custody.

Tammy Wilson alleges her husband, Omar Moreno Arroyo, 33, was clearly under the influence of drugs and had a heart condition that sheriffs deputies were aware of when he was arrested on the morning of Jan. 6, according to the lawsuit filed Nov. 16 in San Diego federal court.

While in a holding cell, Arroyo choked to death on a face mask less than a day after his arrest.

In a statement, sheriffs Lt. Amber Baggs said, The San Diego County Sheriffs Department strives to provide the safest care to people who come into our jails and we are saddened Mr. Arroyo died while being processed at our jail early this year. We send our sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mr. Arroyos wife and family.

Sheriffs officials did not respond to a request for comment regarding the lawsuit, which names San Diego County, Sheriff Bill Gore, a jail nurse, and the deputy who booked Arroyo into custody as defendants.

In March, the department issued a statement indicating the county Medical Examiners Office ruled Arroyo died from accidental asphyxiation, with acute methamphetamine intoxication as a contributing factor.

On the morning of Jan. 6, Wilson called 911 after Arroyo began exhibiting bizarre behavior. According to the lawsuit, he was under the influence of methamphetamine and was behaving in a paranoid and irrational way: looking under the bed, in the closet, and using a drill to make holes in the floor and walls of their home.

Wilson alleges that once Arroyo was transported to San Diego Central Jail, the arresting deputies did not inform intake staff that he had a heart condition requiring daily medication or that he was suspected of being under the influence of drugs.

Wilson further alleges that after Arroyo began choking and exhibiting seizure-like activity in the holding cell, jail personnel did not respond in a timely fashion to begin life-saving measures.

Though Arroyo was to be released from custody on Jan. 6, Wilson waited outside the jail to pick him up, but was not informed of his death until around 5 a.m. on Jan. 7, nearly six hours after he died, according to the lawsuit.

The sheriffs department has come under scrutiny regarding a high number of in-custody deaths at San Diego County jails, leading to numerous lawsuits filed over the past few years. Earlier this month, the San Diego County District Attorneys Office also announced criminal charges against a former nurse at the Las Colinas jail in Santee, who faces an involuntary manslaughter count for allegedly failing to provide appropriate medical aid to a 24-year-old woman who died at the jail in late 2019.
Liu Mingyuan, a student at Ontarios Sheridan College, speaks out against the Chinese regimes persecution of Falun Gong at a protest outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto on Nov. 18, 2021. The Chinese regime has recently detained her mother, Liu Yan, for her belief in the Falun Gong spiritual practice. (Michelle Hu/The Epoch Times)

Rescue My Mother: Toronto Student Seeks Help for Mother Persecuted in China

Liu Mingyuan says her mother was detained in September amid Beijing's ongoing persecution of Falun Gong adherents

A Toronto college student is speaking out against the Chinese regimes detention of her mother for her belief in Falun Gong.

Today, I am sharing the story about me and my family. But this is also the story of countless Falun Gong practitioners over the past 20 years, Liu Mingyuan said on Nov. 18 at a protest outside the Chinese Consulate to draw attention to her mothers plight under the communist regimes persecution of her faith.

On this land of freedom, I am able to use my voice, to call on the world to help rescue my mother.

Liu Mingyuans mother, Liu Yan, was arrested by Chinese authorities on Sept. 30 in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in southwest China, and has been detained there ever since.

Twenty-four-year-old Liu Mingyuan, who also goes by the name of Lucy, moved to Canada in August to study computer animation at Sheridan College.

From an early age, she has witnessed her family being torn apart multiple times by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for their practice of Falun Gong.

I only hope that we could raise more awareness and bring help from the international society to end this brutal persecution.

Liu Yan (L) with her husband and their daughter, Liu Mingyuan, in a file photo. Liu Yan was arrested by Chinese authorities on Sept. 30, 2021, for her belief in Falun Gong. (Courtesy of Liu Mingyuan)

Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese spiritual practice that consists of meditation exercises and moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. Also called Falun Dafa, the practice emerged in China in 1992, where it quickly spread due to its reported benefits to mental and physical health. By 1999, it had attracted 70 million to 100 million adherents across the country, according to Chinese government estimates.

However, former CCP leader Jiang Zemin perceived that popularity as a threat to the regimes authoritarian rule. On July 20, 1999, Jiang launched a Cultural Revolution-style hate campaign and violent suppression aimed at eradicating the practice.

He also established the 610 Office, a Gestapo-like extrajudicial body to spearhead the persecution of Falun Gong adherents nationwide, with the ability to operate outside the existing legal system and its potential restrictions. No legislation was passed establishing it. No provisions formally outlined its mandate, according to the New York-based Falun Dafa Information Center.

Born Into Persecution

Liu Yan began practising Falun Gong in 1994. Before her most recent arrest, she had already experienced detention and imprisonment for her belief. In 1999, the Chinese regime detained her along with her daughter, who was then just 2 years old, for refusing to give up her belief in Falun Gong.

Liu Yan was eventually released, and she later found a teaching position at Jilin UniversityLambton College in Chinas northeastern city of Changchun. The job, which made use of her area of expertise in the English language, brought her into close contact with Canadian academics, as the institution has a partnership with North American universities including the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

But in 2001, Liu Yans career at the college was ended when Jiang intensified his draconian campaign of persecution against Falun Gong adherents. The police once again targeted her, and she was forced into hiding.

At the time, in an attempt to lure out my mother, the police tried to take me hostage at my preschool, Liu Mingyuan said.

To escape further persecution, Liu Mingyuans father decided to move the family to another city. After relocating to Kunming, however, they were again targeted. Liu Mingyuans father and mother were detained in 2012 and 2015 respectively and sentenced to several years in prison.

Liu Mingyuan said her mother could face another three to four years in prison following her latest arrest.

Sun Qian, a Falun Dafa adherent who has been detained in China since February 2017, in an undated photo. (The Epoch Times/Handout)

Joel Chipkar, a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, said Liu Yan is among 12 other prisoners of conscience with Canadian ties who remain in custody in China due to their practice of the Falun Gong spiritual faith.

One of them is a Canadian citizen, Sun Qian, who was arrested in Beijing in February 2017. Chinese police forcibly entered her home, dragged her out, and took her to a detention centre. She was then subjected to torture with the aim of forcing her to renounce her faith. According to her lawyer, Li Jinsong, an arrest warrant that was issued was dated after her arrest.

In June 2020, more than three years after being arrested, Sun was sentenced to eight years in prison. She also renounced her Canadian citizenship while in detention, a move that her supporters believe was made under duress.

Chipkar noted that the CCP has a history of using interference, propaganda, and fake news in efforts to influence Canadian government officials, such as by demonizing the regimes victims in order to quell support for human rights in China.

The communist party is not just targeting Falun Gong, it is targeting Canadian values and the morality and conscience of all Canadian government officials and Canadian citizens, Chipkar said.
School Boards Should Reject Woke Diversity

Commentary

If you are looking for a growth industry to create a long-term career, become an equity officer or a diversity consultant. There are plenty of organizations that want to check off the diversity box when hiring new employees.

This is particularly true in school boards. For example, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has an entire Equity and Inclusive Schools team that is devoted to promoting diversity.

If we were to grade TDSBs commitment to diversity based on its outward appearance, we would have to give the board an A+. However, looks can be deceiving. High-minded declarations are one thing, but concrete action is another thing.

Suppose a school book club wanted to feature two books, one written by a successful female lawyer and the other by a Nobel prize-winner and human rights activist. One might think that TDSBs Equity and Inclusive Schools team would jump at an opportunity to highlight two female role models.

Sadly, that isnt what happened. The first book event was initially rejected because the author, Marie Henein, had defended someone accused of sexual assault during a high-profile trial. Even more bizarrely, the TDSB also refused to feature Nobel prize-winner Nadia Murads book criticizing the Islamic State because they mistakenly assumed it would foster Islamophobia.

When so-called equity officers cannot distinguish between the Islamic State and Islam, then we know things have gone off the rails. The fact that they fail to understand that everyone, even accused sex offenders, has the right to a lawyer and a fair trial, is even more disturbing.

To make matters worse, TDSB tolerates staff members who openly disseminate anti-Israel propaganda. Earlier this year, for example, one of its equity officers was temporarily suspended for disseminating material that accused Israel of apartheid and endorsed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Unfortunately, the suspension didnt last long, and the employee was reinstated without so much as a reprimand. Apparently, TDSB has no problem with its employees publicly attacking the nation of Israel during school hours. So much for promoting a safe and inclusive learning environment for everyone.

In September, a keynote speaker at a TDSB professional development session for teachers launched into a passionate attack against Israel and accused the country of engaging in settler colonialism. One can only imagine how Jewish teachers in the audience must have felt about TDSBs so-called commitment to diversity.

Earlier this month, a group of high school students from a TDSB school held a lunch-hour rally. During this rally they held up signs and chanted slogans such as Free Palestine and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. These statements are widely understood as calling for the destruction of Israel. Simply put, Israel would not exist as a Jewish state if the Free Palestine Movement had its way.

Sadly, instead of denouncing this event, the school whitewashed it by sending a letter home to parents saying that those expressions mean different things to different people. The letter went on to say that while some Jewish people were offended, some Palestinians use these slogans as a way of upholding their rights.

Clearly, it is contradictory to uphold diversity while turning a blind eye to incidents that blatantly target one group of people. True diversity is incompatible with this kind of hypocrisy.

However, organizations like TDSB do not see the hypocrisy because they do not actually believe in diversity. Instead, TDSB has embraced a woke version of diversity that sees everything through the lens of class warfare and divides people into categories of oppressed and oppressor.

As a result, we end up with the absurdity of cancelled book club events, blatant propaganda that attacks the only democracy in the Middle East, and lunch-hour protests that target one country but give a pass to neighbouring countries with much worse human rights records.

The sad reality of woke diversity is that it isnt diversity at all. In fact, its just another way of enforcing ideological conformity. Instead of bringing people together, it divides them and keeps them apart.

TDSB and other school boards need to take a good hard look in the mirror. If they truly want to promote diversity, they can start by using some common sense and showing basic courtesy to all people.

You dont need a bevy of overpriced diversity consultants to tell you how to do that.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 25, 2021. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Getty Images)

Senate Advances Defense Bill After Dispute Over USChina Competition Bill

The Senate on Wednesday advanced its annual defense policy bill after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) dropped efforts to merge it with legislation to boost U.S. technology competitiveness with China and semiconductor manufacturing.

Late on Wednesday, the Senate voted 8415 to advance debate on the National Defense Authorization Act, which could begin as soon as Thursday.

It comes months after the House passed its version of the of a $768 billion defense policy bill for the 2022 fiscal year.

The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, sets policy for the Pentagon on a number of areas including how many rifles and ships it should purchase, soldiers salaries, and to how best to approach geopolitical threats.

The Houses version directs defense and intelligence officials to detail how to protect Afghanistan against potential terrorist threats, now that the United States no longer has a presence in the country.

The Senates version of the defense policy bill for fiscal year 2022 was introduced by Sens. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking Republican committee member, in September.

While there are many areas of agreement on these legislative proposals between the two chambers, there are still a number of important unresolved issues, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement.

The pair added that the House and Senate will immediately begin a bipartisan process of reconciling the two chambers legislative proposals so that we can deliver a final piece of legislation to the presidents desk as soon as possible.

Schumer earlier said on Monday that he planned to add the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) to the NDAA, hoping to get it passed so President Joe Biden can sign it into law this year.

USICA includes $52 billion to increase U.S. semiconductor production and authorizes $190 billion to strengthen U.S. technology and research to compete with China.

The Senate passed USICA with bipartisan support in June. But the House of Representatives never took up the Senate-passed measure. House leaders said earlier they wanted to pass their own bill, but never did.

Schumer and Pelosi said they would now enter formal negotiations on USICA by going to conference.

Working with President Biden, the House and Senate have been crafting bipartisan legislation to bolster American manufacturing, fix our supply chains, and invest in the next generation of cutting-edge technology research, the two said, adding, There are still a number of important unresolved issues.

Democrats have said they hope to complete the defense bill before the Thanksgiving recess.

I think what we would like to do would be to finish the NDAA before Thanksgiving, so it could be later this week, it could be into Friday or Saturday, it could be early next week, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). The leader said he would really like to either get NDAA done before Thanksgiving or have it all done before a final passage vote.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) speaks during a Senate Special Committee of Aging hearing on The COVID-19 Pandemic and Seniors: A Look at Racial Health Disparities at the U.S. Capitol on July 21, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Senate Republicans Formally Challenge Biden Vaccine Mandate

Senate Republicans are formally challenging a rule put forward by the Biden administration that would require private-sector firms with at least 100 employees to mandate vaccination or weekly testing for COVID-19.

Biden introduced a sweeping vaccine mandate in September, telling the nation that our patience is wearing thin with the millions of Americans who have chosen to not get vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The mandates would apply to all federal employees, including military personnel and federal contractors. They would also extend into the private sector, requiring that all firms with 100 employees or more mandate weekly vaccination or testing.

To enact the mandates, Biden asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to declare an emergency temporary standard. In the past, such standards have been used to guard employees against dangerous chemicals or other similar toxins.

OSHA said in a statement to The Epoch Times that the emergency temporary standard would ensure [that a firms] workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work.

In total, Bidens mandate would extend to roughly 100 million Americans, nearly a third of all U.S. citizens.

President Joe Biden is seen in Washington during a briefing on Sept. 24, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

Firms that violate the mandate once its enacted by OSHA would be subject to heavy fines. And to further ensure that Bidens order is met, Democrats in Congress also have plans to increase these fines tenfold in their reconciliation bill.

However, Bidens effort to mass vaccinate Americans working in the private sector has hit a roadblock in the courts.

Referencing Bidens thinning patience, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt wrote that to protect our constitutional structure  the liberty of individuals to make intensely personal decisions according to their own convictionseven, or perhaps particularly, when those decisions frustrate government officials must be upheld.

Following this blistering condemnation of Bidens policy, OSHA announced a decision to suspend its implementation and enforcement of the policy.

Now, Republicans in the Senate are hoping to ride on this momentum to overturn the OSHA rule entirely. All 50 Republicans in the upper chamber have joined with Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to challenge the measure under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

The CRA, approved in the 1990s under Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, allows Congress to review and, if necessary, to overturn new federal regulations put into place by federal administrations such as OSHA. If a rule is overturned under this procedure, federal administrations are forbidden from issuing the same or a substantially similar rule.

Fortunately for these Republican critics, a CRA motion can be passed by a simple majority, without the risk of a filibuster. If a single Democrat joins with Republicans, the measure will be approved, ending the threat of mass firings for noncompliance.

Today, Senate Republicans will formally challenge the overreach of federal power that is President Bidens vaccine-or-test mandate for private businesses, and I urge the Senate to vote in favor of this disapproval resolution when it comes to the Floor for a filibuster-proof, simple-majority vote as soon as early December, Braun said in a statement posted to his website regarding the move.

Republicans are united against President Bidens vaccine-or-test mandate for businesses, but this federal overreach is not a partisan issue, and the consequences of this mandate are affecting Americans in all 50 states.

A CRA motion gives critics of the mandate a unique opportunity, given its ability to be approved by a simple majority.

Now that the motion has been introduced, it will spend the next few weeks in review by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. After 20 days, the measure will be eligible for a floor vote, which could see the motion be approved as soon as December.

Thus far, no Democrats have come out in support of the motion, and Republicans will need at least one Democratic ally to overturn Bidens mandate.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 2, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Sheriff Condemns Effort to Defund LA Transit Police

The Los Angeles County sheriff called the effort by the Los Angeles-area Metro Boards police advisory committee to remove law enforcement from public transit a scary proposition on Nov. 17.

The committee unanimously recommended canceling Metros policing contracts, at a meeting on Nov. 3.

The agency contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, and the Long Beach Police each year to provide law enforcement services on its trains and buses.

The group recommended shifting all armed policing to local agencies as part of an effort to reduce armed law enforcement.

If approved, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said transit riders would have to rely on the services of local law enforcement to deal with rapes, murders, and assaults that occur on the system.

That is a scary proposition for anyone who could be a potential victim of crime or in need of urgent law enforcement service, Villanueva told reporters during a press conference on Nov. 17. The callous disregard for the safety of passengers is alarming.

Villanueva pointed to several specific instances of sexual assaults, violent crime, assaults on elderly riders, stabbings, and the recent murder of a woman on the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood and Vine station in October.

This is the level of carnage that is occurring on the trains, Villanueva said.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys 1,433-mile service area includes 93 rail stations and about 14,000 bus stops.

The Los Angeles-area transit system receives the fourth-highest number of crime reports in the nation, behind New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, Villanueva said.

Chief Gene Harris, president of the Los Angeles Police Chiefs Association, called the decision a looming disaster.

He wanted to pass along information to the public about the decision.

We might as well imagine the carnage thats going to ensue, Harris said during the press conference.

The sheriffs department supervisor in charge of transit policing said it wasnt in the publics best interest to defund the transit police.

The group most adversely affected by the decision would be the underserved community, said Chief Jack Ewell, of the sheriffs Special Operations Division.

We want to work together to ensure that the public that is riding the transit is kept safe, Ewell said.

Metro decided to give an additional $36 million to law enforcement this year to aid a spike in crime. The funding boost still left law enforcement with $111 million less than was originally proposed for the year. This years funding is nearly $682 million.

The committees purpose is to develop a community-based approach to public safety on the transit system, according to its webpage. To do this, they plan to move resources from armed law enforcement by funding a transit ambassador program with staff at Metro facilities and on Metro vehicles.

The committee also plans to find alternatives to armed law enforcement response to nonviolent crimes and code-of-conduct violations, develop new programs, and expand outreach and services for the homeless, among taking other actions.

The Metro Board is expected to consider the recommendation at its 10 a.m. meeting on Dec. 2.
A 3D printed Google logo is placed on the Apple Macbook in this illustration, on April 12, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

South Korea Lawmaker Says Apple, Google Not Doing Enough to Comply With App Store Law

SEOULApple Inc and Alphabets Google are not doing enough to comply with a South Korean law that bars dominant app store operators from forcing app developers to use their payment systems, a lawmaker who spearheaded the amendment told Reuters.

South Korea, the first country to impose legislation curbing the tech companies payment policies, is expected to make public the initial details of what it takes to comply with the law on Wednesday, an official at the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said.

It amended the Telecommunication Business Act in August to try to curb the tech majors market dominance and stop the big app store operators charging commissions on in-app purchases.

The law went into effect in September but details of what would constitute compliance are being drafted by the KCC in an enforcement ordinance.

Apple had told the South Korean government that it was already complying and did not need to change its app store policy nL4N2RB0QK. Google said it planned to allow third-party nL1N2RV03J payment systems in South Korea, but will only reduce its service charge to developers by 4 percentage points when users choose an alternative billing system.

The tech companies charge developers as much as 30 percent of their sales in in-app transactions.

Frankly, we are not satisfied Apples claim that its already complying is nonsensical, lawmaker Jo Seoung-lae who spearheaded the amendment said.

Excessive fees take away developers chances for innovation  parliament is to be closely informed as the government drafts detailed regulations to make sure there is accountability, Jo said.

Apple and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

First in World

This is the first legislation worldwide with the chance to transform the market from a duopoly with Apple and Google, Tim Sweeney, CEO of Fortnite creator Epic Games and a vocal Apple critic told Reuters.

Last year, Fortnite was kicked off Apple and Googles app stores after Epic introduced a new payment system.

But even if Apple adopts a similar position to Google by imposing a fee while allowing outside payments, Epic Games would not accept the stance, as Apple and Google charging any fee or imposing control over competing payment services ruins the point of competition, he added.

The KCC is drafting finely woven regulatory details for the ordinance that will be reported to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday and put into practice by March next year, KCC Vice-Chairman Kim Hyun told a conference on app ecosystem fairness on Tuesday.

However, it is not clear what the penalties will be if the rules are breached.

An early draft of the enforcement ordinance seen by Reuters details a fine of up to 2 percent of revenue as a penalty for an infraction of the law by app market operators.

Weve seen in other jurisdictions that these monetary penalties actually dont deter companies like Apple and Google because to them, its a drop in the bucket, said Meghan DiMuzio, executive director of advisory group Coalition for App Fairness.

By Joyce Lee
Disinfection professionals wearing protective gear spray antiseptic solution to kill the CCP virus at a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

South Korea Sees Surging COVID-19 Cases Despite Nearly 90 Percent Vaccination Rate

South Korean authorities are now grappling with a surge in CCP virus cases less than a month after relaxing pandemic restrictions, with a record-high 3,292 new infections and 506 severe cases as of Nov. 18, according to the data released by the government.

This is despite more than 78.5 percent of its people having been fully vaccinated, including 90.7 percent who are aged 18 and above, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agencys (KDCA) figures show.

However, officials said the surge in CCP virus cases had been anticipated after more social distancing measures were lifted on Nov. 1, following the countrys success in vaccinating almost 80 percent of its 52 million residents.

The Ministry of Health and Welfares spokesman, Son Young-Rae, said at a press briefing in Seoul on Nov. 17 that it will be unnecessary for the country to go back to the stricter regulations, as the increase in cases are within the boundaries of what we expected.

Breakthrough and severe cases have been concentrated among the elderly, who were among the first in the country to get vaccinated, necessitating the need to accelerate booster doses, Son said.

The waning effect [of the vaccines efficacy] came more quickly than we anticipated, he said.

Researchers also found that while fully vaccinated individuals recovered more quickly than the unvaccinated, their peak viral load was comparable to that of unvaccinated persons, allowing them to easily spread the virus to others.

A study led by Imperial College London and the UK Health Security Agency published in The Lancet on Oct. 29 found that vaccinated populations are still susceptible to the Delta variant and can easily pass on COVID-19 within households.

Dr. Anika Singanayagam, a co-lead author of the study, said in a statement that the findings provided important insights into why the Delta variant is continuing to cause high COVID-19 case numbers even in countries with high immunization rates.

Continued public health and social measures to curb transmission thus remain important, even in vaccinated individuals, Singanayagam said.

Meanwhile, the KDCA said it has decided to shorten the dosing interval for booster shots from six months to four months for people aged 60 or older, as well as those who live or work at nursing homes and other vulnerable facilities.

Individuals in their 50s and workers such as police, firefighters, and soldiers can get another booster shot five months after their last dose.

Officials have also expressed concern about the countrys hospital capacity amid the increase in severe COVID-19 cases, as only about 30 percent of intensive care units (ICU) are left available as of Nov. 17.

Following that, the KDCA stated that it would consider issuing a circuit breaker on the relaxed distancing curbs if more than 75 percent of ICU beds are used nationwide, or if other factors pose high risks.
State-Linked Cyber Actors Could Face Counter-Attack From Australia: Intelligence Boss

Australia can 'undertake offensive cyber operations like no one else can'

The head of Australias security and intelligence agency has conveyed a clear messageand threatthat any criminals or state actors seeking to conduct cyber attacks on Australia should be wary of the nations counter-offensive capabilities.

Rachel Noble, director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)a government agency responsible for intelligence, cyber security, and offensive operationssaid that Australias ability to detect and retaliate against cyber attacks now posed a significant threat to malicious actors.

ASD is increasingly becoming the first and last line of digital defence that protects our country from cyber attacks  and we are right now fighting that battle with criminals, state actors and serious and organised crime, Noble said, reported the Australian Associated Press.

But we do want our adversaries to know that we are here.

We want them to calculate: Today is not the day.

Director-General of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) Rachel Noble speaks during a Parliamentary inquiry at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Jul. 29, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Noble said the strength of Australias offensive operations had grown to the point that the nation was now capable of shortening any war it got involved in.

Amid growing tensions over Taiwan and Chinas presence in the South China Sea, the formulation of the Australia-United Kingdom-United StatesAUKUSpact has recently seen Australia bolster its quantum technology development, alongside ambitions to enhance its cyber, artificial intelligence, and undersea capabilities.

Noble also said that a quarter of all cyberattacks on Australia had targeted energy, water, telecommunications, health services, and other critical infrastructure.

This included attempts from state actors to gather intelligence or implant bugs and malware capable of denying, degrading, or disrupting the vital services at their discretion.

She said that while Australia would never seek out conflict, its intelligence capabilities allowed the ASD to undertake offensive cyber operations as no one else can.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), a department of the ASD, has been Australias front line of defence against cyber incidents and has reportedly seen a 13 percent increase in cyber crime in the last 12 months.

In particular, concerns have been mounting as Australia, and other nations have experienced a growing number of attacks on government, hospitals, food producers, communications, media, and educational institutions.

While some of these involve independent ransomware attackers, others have seen offensive action from state-based actors, such as the Russia-linked SolarWinds attack and the China-linked Microsoft email server attack.

Discussions between former director of the United States National Security Agency (NSA), Keith Alexander, and ACSC Head Abigail Bradshaw highlighted that current offences taken against Australia and other countries had often gone unpunished.

We have to attribute whos doing it and make them pay a price right now, Alexander previously said. The ransomware guys, and Russia, predominantly get off pretty much free.

Former commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency (NSA) General Keith Alexander speaks during the fourth annual Cybersecurity Summit September 25 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Cyberespionage for economic gain is sapping intellectual property from U.S. businesses. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Imagine if we indicted [them] and put their picture up and said thats the guy, Alexander said. And if we can, we will arrest you. You cant move out of Russia, youre going to have to stay there for the rest of your life  we got you. We know who you are.

Alexander suggested a radar-like mechanism that would show cyber attacks across private and public industries that could be shared with allies to create a bigger picture and respond accordingly.

However, Alexander raised concern that, currently, attacks on the private sector were difficult to detect.

I think the biggest problem that I faced in government, and that we face today, is governmentsnot just ours, but yours as wellcant see attacks on the private sector. Yet the government is responsible for defending the private sector, Alexander said.

This is set to change in Australia with a new critical infrastructure bill that seeks to fortify Australias critical infrastructure against cyber attacks by mandating incident reporting for organisations.

While receiving positive feedback, an inquiry into the bill angered big tech as the new laws could, in some instances, see the government install their own cyber security software onto their systems.
Empty apartment buildings are reflected in a window in the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia, on Sept. 12, 2011. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)

Statistics Show Gloomier Outlook in Upward Mobility Among Chinas Poor

In China, it has been increasingly difficult for people from poor families to climb up the socioeconomic ladder than those from rich families. This condition is in direct correlation to the uneven distribution of wealth and a growing gap between the rich and the poor. This is the conclusion of a research project done by economists at National University of Singapore and Chinese University of Hong Kong.

By analyzing statistics on Chinese income from 1979 to 2016, the researchers were able to substantiate their findings with a mathematical formula. The results were published in the American Economic Journal in February 2021.

Since Chinas economic reform started in 1979, its GDP per capita has increased almost 20 times, according to the World Bank. However, over the same period, Chinas Gini coefficient rose by 50 percent from 0.31 to 0.47, the latest research said.

In economics, the Gini coefficient, with a value between 0 and 1, is a measurement of income distribution. An increasing Gini coefficient signifies unequal income distribution or wider gap between the rich and the poor.

The research found a direct correlation between Chinas Gini coefficient and its intergenerational income persistence, which measures the degree of difficulty for generations in the same family to rise in the socioeconomic ladder over time. Chinas intergenerational income persistence has also increased in China over the past 40 years.

In comparison, 9.8 percent of the poor children born between 1970 and 1980 actually ended up in the top quintile as adults. But this percentage dropped to 7.3 for the people born between 1980 and 1988.

That is to say, Chinas economic reform resulted in a higher level of income inequality and higher intergenerational income persistence, thus making it more difficult for people born poor to work their way up.

Education Is No Longer a Life Changer for the Poor

Education used to be the major life changer for poor children in China. If they could enter top tier universities, they would have a much better chance to move up in the social hierarchy.

In 1990, 22 percent of the students at Tsinghua University, one of Chinas Ivy League schools, were from low-income families. In 2016, it dropped to 10.2 percent.

High school students go through exam papers ahead of the annual Gaokao, or college entrance examinations, in Handan city, Hebei Province, China, on May 23, 2018. (AFP/Getty Images)

Chinas college entrance exam is a once-in-a-lifetime event for high school seniors. The score can decide a students future. A top scorer in the 2017 college entrance exam told the Chinese media that the reason he did well on the exam was because he grew up in a well-off family in Beijing and had access to many resources that are not available to others.

A Wall Street Journal report said that according to AXA Investment Managers, families in top-tier cities spend on average one-fourth of their incomes on child tutoring. This is unattainable for those with lower incomes.

Growing Income Gap

A report by Peking University said in 2015, one-third of Chinas wealth was owned by the top 1 percent of households, while 1 percent of the wealth belonged to the bottom 25 percent of the households. In 1987, Chinas top 10 percent owned 25 percent of the wealth and the bottom 50 percent of households owned 25 percent of the wealth.

In May 2020, Premier Li Keqiang revealed that China has 600 million people, about 40 percent of the population, whose monthly income is under $140.

The Hurun China Rich List 2020 saw the biggest wealth increase in the [entire] 22 years of the list, despite the pandemic. There are over 1,000 billionaires living in China; that is more than the combined number of billionaires in the United States, India, and Germany.

The Do-Nothing Movement

Feeling a loss of hope, Chinese youth started a do-nothing movement, translated literally as the lie-flat movement in the spring of 2021. The followers of the do-nothing movement believe that trying is pointless in China, so they no longer want to build a career, buy property, get married, have kids, or spend money. Instead of always being on the go in pursuit of things, they choose to lie down flat.

Mr. Xu, a law professional in China, told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that Chinese people are hard-working. But when your hard work does not bring you what you deserve, inevitably people will feel antagonistic.

In China, salaried workers have to adopt the 996 model, which means the workday begins at 9 a.m., ends at 9 p.m., and one has to work 6 days per week. Trapped in this model, ones upward mobility is close to none.

Real estate brokerage firm Colliers International compared the ratio of average home price to average household disposable income in major cities around the world and found that four Chinese cities have the highest ratio, namely Shenzhen, 27.8; Beijing, 24.5; Hong Kong, 20.4; and Shanghai, 20.3. A ratio above three is considered hard to afford. By comparison, Londons ratio is 7.7 and New York is 7.3.
A Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle is shown in this picture illustration taken in Moscow, on July 23, 2020. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters)

Tesla, Electric SUVs Get Poor Scores From Consumer Reports

Vehicles from Tesla Inc. and electric sport utilities from rival brands are among the least reliable models sold in the United States, a reflection of the risks of new technology, Consumer Reports said on Thursday.

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit organization that evaluates products and services, said Tesla, the worlds most valuable automaker, ranked 27th out of 28 brands, just ahead of Ford Motor Co.s Lincoln brand.

Electric SUVs as a vehicle category is the absolute bottom in terms of reliability, Consumer Reports director of vehicle testing Jake Fisher said Thursday during a presentation to the Detroit Automotive Press Association.

Among electric SUVs, Fisher said Ford Motor Co.s Mustang Mach-E is the only one with above-average reliability.

Consumer Reports recommends the Tesla Model 3 sedan and rates its reliability as average. But Fisher said the rest of Teslas vehicles are below average.

The popular Model Y SUV, Teslas best-selling vehicle, has problems with poorly fitting body panels, leaks, and issues with its climate control, Fisher said.

The larger Model X SUV still has problems with the falcon wing doors, Fisher said.

Consumer Reports has been critical of Teslas Autopilot and Full Self Driving automated driving systems. Fisher said Consumer Reports still has concerns that drivers will rely too much on technology that cannot safely take over driving, but that did not factor into the reliability scores.

Full Self Driving is not full self-driving at all, Fisher said. Its a convenience feature.

Electric vehicle drive systems, or powertrains, are not the main source of problems, Fisher said. The issues reported by owners are with other features.

Manufacturers are using EVs as a technological test bed, Fisher said. Those are the things that go wrong.

The top-ranked brand overall in the survey was Lexus, and eight of the ten top-scoring brands were Japanese. That continues a long-running trend.

By Joseph White
People sit in front of the Bangkok skyline on the observation deck of the King Power Mahanakhon skyscraper on Oct. 25, 2021. (Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Real Estate Buyers Now Investing More in Thailand Than US

The United States is a runner-up to Thailand as the most popular country for Chinese international real estate investments, according to an internal report from Juwai IQI Holdings, which provides one of the largest international property platforms in Asia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-based Juwai IQI is the technology group for Juwai.com, offering some 6 million property listings around the globe, with information presented in both Chinese and English.

Thailand has been at the top of our list for several years. Its the number one tourist destination for those living in China, and properties there are also a lot less expensive than the U.S., Juwai IQI spokesman Dave Platter told The Epoch Times.

Their international schools are excellent, and Thailand also attracts a lot of retirees. Plus, there are those Chinese buyers who are looking for second homes, which they often rent out to other vacationers.

A recent IQI report shows more than 5,250 condominium purchases by residents of mainland China in 2020, with Bangkok and Chonburi accounting for the largest share of foreign buyer transactions over the past two years, at 80 percent. Phuket, known for its beach resorts and more expensive properties, accounted for only about 4 percent of Chinese property purchases.

In Thailand, national law prohibits foreigners from owning houses or land, so nearly all foreign buyers purchase apartments. Buyers who are determined to own a house in Thailand must do so via a Thai company, Somsak Chutisilp, managing director of IQI Thailand, told The Epoch Times.

A new luxury condominium loft at Cloud Residences in Bangkok. The 70 units for sale range from Thai baht 5,789,000 ( $177,259) to 27,467,835 baht ($841,065). (Courtesy of IQI Thailand Real Estate)

The report also reveals that over 77 percent of these purchases are for less than 5 million Thai baht, which converts to just over $153,000. For that price, Chutisilp noted, buyers can purchase a detached townhome in a new development on the outskirts of Bangkok.

In downtown Bangkok, two- to three-story townhomes range in price from 10 million to 25 million Thai baht, which is equal to $300,000 to $760,000, he said. They find Bangkok to be a comfortable city with a very low cost of living, a great deal of cultural tourism, and natural attractions to enjoy.

Juwai IQI operates 36 offices in 15 countries, and its global network includes more than 21,000 real estate agents worldwide listing properties in 111 countries. The Juwai website averages about 13 million users each month.

Chinese Buyers Eyeing Florida

The third, fourth, and fifth most favored places for Chinese real estate investors are Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, respectively. Within the United States, Platter listed Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, Orlando, Florida, and New York as some of the most popular destinations for purchasing second homes or investment properties.

Florida is always a good investment because of the warm climate, beaches, and tourist attractions, Platter said. There are also a lot of good universities attracting Chinese students.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2021 report on top U.S. destinations by all foreign buyers, including China, showed Florida at 22 percent, California at 16 percent, Texas at 9 percent, Arizona at 5 percent, and New York at 4 percent. The NAR report noted total foreign investment in U.S. real estate was $54.4 billion from April 2020 to March 2021, with a median purchase price of $351,800.

While many of Juwais listings fall within the luxury categorywith price tags well over $5 millionthere are also a plethora of more affordable homes listed for $300,000 or less. Considering that China still mandates a $50,000 per person annual limit on overseas investments, purchasing property internationally could sometimes be tricky, Platter said.

In many cases, Chinese buyers already have money in overseas bank accounts, or they have income from earlier overseas investments, he said. Sometimes family members will pool their money to make purchases.

Ritu Rani, a realtor with Prime Realty in Coral Springs, Florida, has been dealing with buyers from mainland China for the past four years in both residential and commercial real estate. Rani currently serves on the Miami Board of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), and just completed a term as AREAA national commercial chair for 2021.

Most of these buyers are upper-middle-class business owners in China and often do cash deals, Rani told The Epoch Times. They can get a lot more for their money in Florida, as opposed to New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. For commercial properties, Florida also offers a much better return on their investments.

Newer single-family homes in developments in homeowners associations are among the most popular type of properties that her Chinese clients are seeking.

They also like the warm weather, but the beaches are not really a must-have for them, Rani said. Theyre more concerned about a great educational system in the elementary and secondary schools. Education is so important in the Chinese culture.

The Orlando area has been among the most popular for Chinese buyers, because of the number of new developments, as well as proximity to destination spots such as Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and others, Rani said.

They can have a very good quality of life here and its so much less expensive than in other major U.S. cities, she said.

Most of her Chinese buyers are fluent in English and for those who are not, she refers to her AREAA colleagues for translations. On the commercial side, her Chinese clients are most interested in purchasing apartment buildings or hotels.

Chinese investors, Platter says, remain the fastest-growing segment of global property, including luxury homes to modest condominiums. Chinese real estate purchases are predicted to top $220 billion by the end of the year. One of the reasons for Chinas rise in real estate transactions is the fact that China ranks first in nations with the most internet users.

According to the Juwai website, more than 904 million of Chinas estimated 1.38 billion population have online access.

A Juwai recent market study also predicts there will be more than 720 million middle-class Chinese by 2024 and 57 million affluent Chinese by the end of 2022.
A man passes an Interpol logo during the handing over ceremony of the new premises for Interpol's Global Complex for Innovation, a research and development facility, in Singapore on Sept. 30, 2014. (Edgar Su/Reuters)

Chinas Candidate to Interpol Meets Heavy Opposition

A top Chinese security official is seeking election into the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). However, his candidacy has sparked global opposition from lawmakers and human rights groups.

Hu Binchen, the deputy director-general of Chinas International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Public Security, will compete with two other candidates for two seats for Asia in Interpols 13-member Executive Committee at the 89th General Assembly session, which will be held from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25 in Istanbul.

A total of 50 legislatorsfrom 20 countries and who are part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)have expressed strong opposition to Hus candidacy in a joint letter, dated Nov. 15 and addressed to Interpol member states. They accused China of repeatedly abusing the Interpol Red Notice system to persecute dissidents in exile. The legislators said the Interpol General Assembly might grant a green light to Chinas continued misuse of the world organization and push overseas dissidents, including Uyghurs and Tibetans, to even graver risk.

The IPAC critics cited the case of Uyghur activist Idris Hasan (also known as Yidiresi Aishan) as an example. Following an Interpol Red Notice filed by China, Haran was detained in Morocco in July after arriving from Turkey, where he has lived since 2012. Hasan held Chinese nationality and a Turkish residency permit. In August, Interpol canceled the red notice after conducting a review.

Dolkun Isa, president of the World Uygur Congress, had a Red Notice for his arrest for 20 years until 2018. During that period, he was detained and faced possible extradition to China in at least five countries that he traveled to, including the United States, South Korea, and Italy.

On Nov. 15, 40 representatives of human rights groups expressed a similar concern in an appeal over Hus election bid. Given the vulnerability of activists in exile to Beijings persecution, the signatories feared that Hus election would produce grave consequences for the safety of human rights activists living outside of China, including Tibetan and Uyghur diasporas.

Gloria Fung, president of Canada-Hong Kong Link, noted Hus extensive record of civilian suppression in a Nov. 16 interview with The Epoch Times. She cited Hu as the organizer responsible for both the Skynet system and Fox Hunt, which use advanced technology to closely monitor Chinas civic society, including Hong Kong.

We can predict now if a candidate with such a background and on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] gets elected in the Interpol Executive Committee, big data in the international community, including highly sensitive information, will also fall into the CCPs hands, Fung said.

She also deemed Hus election as a huge threat to overseas rights groups critical of the CCP.

You can never tell when our secrets or data will be known to the CCP or what action it will take to arrest thousands of dissidents outside China, Fung said.

According to the activists in exile, Hu has served as the deputy director-general of the International Cooperation Department at Chinas Ministry of Public Security since 2014. During his term, he played a leading role in cementing Chinas ties with countries that have deported Uyghurs to China in recent years, including Malaysia, Turkey, and Cambodia.

Donna Ho contributed to this report.
Resorts along the Mexican coastline are considered relatively safe for tourists. Image of Dolphin Beach, Cancun, Mexico, on April 3, 2015. (Shutterstock)

Turf War Between Drug Cartels Casts Shadow Over Mexicos Tourism

Shots fired between rival drug cartels near the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun and Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun in the Mexican resort town of Puerto Morelos left guests shaken and administrative officials scrambling to do damage control in the state of Quintana Roo.

The Nov. 4 incident further damaged the image of a state already affected by another drug-related shooting that killed two tourists and injured three in Tulum on Oct. 21.

The common denominator between the incidents is a narcotics industry in Quintana Roo thats fed by foreign tourism and what Gov. Carlos Joaquin calls a culture of fear that cartels are trying to impose on all social groups to pressure the government.

Any incident of this type involving tourists is a threat to tourism, Joaquin told The Epoch Times.

In his state, Joaquin said tourism is an important generator of jobs, investments, contributions, and creates what he calls  virtuous economic circles.

Tourism revenue accounts for 8.7 percent of the nations gross domestic product and is projected to surpass $1 billion by Nov. 20, according to Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco Marques.

Meanwhile, splinter groups of the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels are fighting each other for a cut of the profits in Quintana Roo.

None of this is surprising, but it also hasnt stopped people from coming here, Trevor Niles, a digital nomad living in Tulum, told The Epoch Times.

Niles said hes had backpackers and fellow remote workers staying in the seaside paradise ask him where they can score some of this or that drug in the center of Tulum village, where many bars and cafes cater to foreign, English-speaking tourists.

He says the law of supply and demand is fueling the cartel rivalry in the famous Mexican Riviera, since tourists who want to get high on vacation need a place to buy their drugs.

Joaquin said, These groups are the ones that satisfy the demand for toxic substances for the consumers who have been used to getting them in certain points for several years.

The Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels are among the largest and most influential drug cartels in Mexico, according to a U.S. congressional report (pdf).

However, Joaquin said steps are being taken to eliminate the threat of violence to tourists.

In Quintana Roo, we are working in coordination with federal forces, such as the national guard, as well as with the ministry of public security and the state attorney generals office.

Additionally, he said the police force has been undergoing a process of modernization, which includes better salaries and tools to combat drug trafficking.

There is also an upgraded surveillance program that has already installed 2,000 security cameras.

I didnt feel unsafe for even a minute, Kevin Anderson, a U.S. tourist who recently visited Mexico, told The Epoch Times. He stayed at an Iberostar resort in Cancun with his family the week of the October shooting that killed the two tourists in Tulum.

Its sad what happened to them, but I also feel like you see a lot less of that kind of stuff [drug-related violence] in nicer resorts.

Quintana Roo businesses and resorts are bracing themselves for the onset of the tourist high season, which hits peak revenue around the holidays in December and January.

The flagship beach destination of Cancun has historically drawn up to 4 million U.S. tourists in a year.

Joaquin said there has been no lag in tourism.

The number of airline seats continues to increase. From Nov. 10 to Dec. 31, we have registered an offer of 2.4 million seats, 50.7 percent more than the same period of the previous year.

In Tulum, Niles continues to live and work in a Caribbean paradise amid the shadow of feuding cartels.

Its pretty safe to stay in the resorts, but this last one [shooting] rattled everyone since it broke the unspoken rule between the gangs: No messing with the resorts, Niles said.
The seal of the United States Department of Justice is seen on the building exterior of the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, N.Y., on Aug. 17, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

Two Iranians Charged With Interference in US 2020 Election: DOJ

The Department of Justice announced charges Thursday against two Iranian nationals who are accused of engaging in a campaign to intimidate voters and influence the 2020 election.

Between August and November of 2020, Iranian nationals Seyyed Mohammad Hosein Musa Kazemi and Sajjad Kashian allegedly targeted election websites in 11 states and obtained information from more than 100,000 American voters.

The pair then is alleged to have posed as members of the Proud Boys to send emails to Democrat voters, threatening them to vote for former President Donald Trump, according to an indictment.

Around the same time, Hosein and Kashian sent Facebook messages and emails while posing as Proud Boys to Trump administration officials, Republican Congress members, Trump campaign officials, and news organizations claiming that election infrastructure vulnerabilities were being exploited to change votes, according to the Justice Department.

When the incident was first reported in late October 2020, then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Chris Wray held a press conference announcing that Iran and Russia were identified as having taken actions to interfere in American elections. At the time, Ratcliffe said the move was designed to harm Trumps campaign.

According to the Department of Justice, the alleged conspirators engaged in an online voter intimidation campaign involving the dissemination of a threatening message that purported to be from the Proud Boys to tens of thousands of registered voters. Those emails were distributed to registered Democrats, who were threatened  with physical injury if they did not change their party affiliation and vote for President Trump, the agency said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Thursday that the Department of Justices actions demonstrates that we will hold state-sponsored actors to account for attempting to undermine public confidence in the electoral process and U.S. institutions.

Todays designations represent the collective efforts of the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Blinken continued to say. The U.S. government took decisive and disruptive action against those seeking to interfere with the sanctity of our elections, including the FBI warning the public of the attempts ahead of the 2020 elections.

Other than the indictments, the State Department said it is offering a $10 million reward for information on Kazemis and Kashians activities. The Department of Treasury also sanctioned the two individuals along with an Iranian cybersecurity firm.

Treasury will continue to counter efforts to undermine the integrity of our election systems, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said in the statement. Todays action underscores the U.S. governments commitment to hold state-sponsored actors accountable for attempting to undermine public confidence in the electoral process and U.S. institutions.
A group of people on board the Dover lifeboat following a small boat incident in the English Channel are brought in to Dover, Kent, England, on Nov. 11, 2021. (Gareth Fuller/PA)

UK Seeks to Process Illegal Immigrants Offshore, Deputy PM Confirms

The UK is trying to establish offshore hubs to process illegal immigrants who arrived in small boats across the English Channel, Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab confirmed on Thursday.

It follows reports that Albania has been approached as a potential destination for offshore processing, although the countrys minister for Europe and foreign affairs, Olta Xhacka, said on Twitter it was fake news.

Raab told Times Radio on Thursday that the UK is exploring the route as a deterrent to channel crossings, without mentioning specific countries.

We are looking at international partnerships that can take the processing out of the UK in order to try and reduce the pull factor which means people think they can successfully take advantage of these routes, Raab said.

Speaking to LBC Radio, Raab said the UK has looked at the Australian experience, and been talking with the Danes about this.

We want to make sure the processing, if its possibleand that will depend on the good will and co-operation of partnerscan be done elsewhere, he said.

Asked if this will include Albania and Rwanda, Raab said: Let me avoid talking about individual countries but just say, with international partners this is something were probing. Because we want to test the idea, because we will do everything we can to resolve this problem.

Downing Street also said that the ministers want to keep all options on the table.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the UK had been in talks with a number of countries, but declined to get into speculation about ongoing discussions with individually named countries.

A Home Office spokesperson said it is vital we do everything we can to prevent migrants from embarking on the perilous journey and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people.

People should claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in, the spokesperson said, adding its important to have a maritime deterrent in the channel and work with international partners to stop the crossings.

Migrants at a makeshift camp on the site of a former industrial complex east of Dunkirk, France, on Nov. 16, 2021. (PA)

On Wednesday, MPs in the Commons Home Affairs Committee heard that more than 23,000 illegal immigrants succeeded in crossing the channel this year, and the overall number of asylum seekers in the year ending June 2021 was 31,115.

Its unclear how many souls were lost at sea, but the channel crossing has become very lucrative for smugglers, partly because of travel restrictions during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

The MPs heard that with each immigrant paying around 4,000 euros (3,380, $4,530), a boat carrying 88 people two weeks ago would have about 350,000 euros (296,000, $396,500) on it.

Removing illegal immigrants has also been proven difficult as the UK currently doesnt have agreements with the European Union or most European countries regarding the return of illegal immigrants.

Only five small boat arrivals have been sent back to Europe this year, Tom Pursglove, a minister for both the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, told the committee.

According to new immigration rules (pdf), asylum claims are inadmissible if the person claiming asylum has been granted or has applied for asylum in a safe third country, or has passed through or has a connection in a safe third country, and therefore can get protection from that country.

But if the applicants are not removed from the UK within six months, their applications can then be heard in the UK.

Pursglove confirmed that 4,561 people have been served with notices of intent in terms of inadmissibility in the first 6 months of 2021, but according to charity the Refugee Council (pdf), only seven have been deemed inadmissible by September, and none had been transferred to another country.

Asked about the cost of offshore provisions and inadmissibility provisions, Pursglove said the economic impact assessment of the new Nationality and Borders Bill will be

published in due course.

According to Pursglove, the top five nationalities that arrived in the UK in 2019 are the Iranians (29 percent), the Iraqis (18 percent), the Syrians (9 percent), the Eritreans (7 percent), and the Sudanese (8 percent). There has been an increase in Albanian small boats arriving, which the government is still seeking to quantify.

The minister told MPs that the UK has managed to negotiate a returns agreement with Albania. He also said there is not necessarily a link between nationality and a claim for asylum being granted, citing the example of claims by Iraqi nationals in 2019 and 2020, the majority of which he said were refused.

PA contributed to this report.
Emergency workers in protective suits search around John Baker House Sanctuary Supported Living after a major incident was declared when a man and woman were exposed to the Novichok nerve agent on July 6, 2018 in Salisbury, England. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

UK to Hold Public Inquiry Into Novichok Death of Dawn Sturgess

A public inquiry will be held following the death of Dawn Sturgess, who was unwittingly poisoned by Novichok in 2018.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has granted permission for 44-year-old Ms Sturgesss inquest to be converted into a public inquiry to better examine any possible Russian involvement, amid allegations she died as an indirect result of Kremlin-sponsored poisoning.

In her letter to the coroner Baroness Heather Hallett, Ms Patel said: I hope this inquiry will bring comfort to (Ms Sturgesss family and others affected) through a greater understanding of the circumstances of Ms Sturgess death and recognise the bravery and resilience of those who responded.

The inquiry would be likely to be held in both Salisbury Guildhall and at venues in London, and be established as soon as is reasonably possible in 2022, Ms Patel said.

Lady Hallett, who will chair the inquiry, said: I am anxious to ensure that the inquiry can commence its substantive work and deliver answers to the questions the bereaved family and partner of Dawn Sturgess have about her death as soon as possible.

Ms Sturgess died in hospital on July 8 after she and her partner, Charlie Rowley, became seriously ill in Amesbury, Wiltshire, when they came into contact with Novichok on a discarded perfume bottle.

Dawn Sturgess, who died on July 8, 2018 after being exposed to the Novichok nerve agent following the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March 2018, is pictured in a file photo issued on by the Metropolitan Police on Sept. 21, 2021. (Metropolitan Police/PA)

It followed the attempted murder of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and ex-police officer Nick Bailey, who were poisoned in nearby Salisbury in March that year when members of a Russian military intelligence squad are believed to have smeared the deadly nerve agent on Mr Skripals door handle in Salisbury.

All three survived, as did Mr Rowley.

The Metropolitan Police have identified three suspects wanted in connection with the poisonings: Denis Sergeev, Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the aliases Sergey Fedotov, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov respectively while in the UK.

Police have appealed to the public for any information about how the bottle came to be found eight miles from Salisbury, and where it was stored between the departure of the would-be assassins from the UK in March and its discovery three months later.

They believe that the three suspects identified so far are in Russia, and with no extradition treaty with the country there is little chance of them being brought to the UK.

Ms Patel previously condemned the appalling attack, and told the House of Commons that the UK would take every possible step to detain and extradite them to face justice should the suspects ever leave Russia.

A further pre-inquest review is planned for next month.

In her letter to Lady Hallett, Ms Patel wrote: I am mindful of the time that has already passed since Ms Sturgess death and her familys understandable wish for the investigation to be completed as soon as the circumstances of a highly complex and sensitive investigation allow.

The coroner previously wrote to Ms Patel, pressing her case for a public inquiry on the basis that an inquestwhich is limited in scopecannot make any finding of civil or criminal liability against a named person, and it cannot attribute blame or impose any sanction or punishment.

Speaking at the last hearing in September at the Royal Courts of Justice, Lady Hallett said: I have firmly concluded that I cannot conduct a full, fair and effective inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess if these proceedings continue as an inquest.

Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement, with President Vladimir Putin claiming the suspects were civilians, and Petrov and Boshirov stating in an interview that they were tourists visiting Salisbury Cathedral.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a joint news conference at the Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, on Aug. 22, 2021. (Sergey Dolzhenko/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Ukraine Enacts Sanctions Against Dozens of Russian Special Service Employees

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed restrictive measures on dozens of employees of the Russian special services, according to a decree published on Nov. 18 on the presidential website.

[I hereby decree] to activate the Aug. 20, 2021 decision of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council [NSDC] on applying personal special economic and other restrictive measures, the decree said, Russian news agency TASS reported.

The individuals, which includes 23 Russian citizens and five Ukrainians, will be banned for three years from using their assets in the Eastern European nation, transferring capital, transiting goods, or taking part in privatization auctions, according to the decree.

According to an addendum to the decree obtained by TASS, the individuals on the list include a number of Ukrainians who are registered in the regions of self-proclaimed republics Donetsk and Lugansk, which are not under the control of Kiev.

Ukraine has already imposed sanctions on thousands of Russian entities since relations between Kiev and Moscow collapsed in 2014, after Russia annexed Crimea and backed separatist forces in eastern Ukraine. Concerns over Russian troop movements fueled recent tensions.

In mid-November, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced that a large number of Russian troops had been left behind near the Ukrainian border after Russia held a series of large-scale military drills. The Ukrainian president said on Nov. 13 that the number of Russian troops in the region totaled 100,000.

Zelensky signing the decree also came just several days after Russias president Vladimir Putin on Nov. 15 signed a decree on trade with the separatist-controlled areas, a move claimed by the countrys foreign ministry as gross interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine.

Boris Gryzlov, a Russian envoy, said on Nov. 18 that Putins decree on trade in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions contributes to overcoming the aggressive economic and humanitarian blockade of Donbass and stabilizing the social and economic situation in the region, TASS reported.

This is a purely humanitarian response to Kievs non-fulfillment of the Minsk accords, the economic and transport blockade of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions that has been in place since 2017, and the liberation of the regions residents from the economic stranglehold created by the Kiev regime, the envoy said.

Russian-backed separatists have fought since 2014 against Ukrainian forces in the Donbass, a conflict that Kiev says has killed 14,000 people.

The conflict erupted in the months after Russian forces seized Ukraines Crimea Peninsula in 2014. Ukraine and Western countries say Donbass separatists have been armed, led, funded, and aided by Russians, including active Russian troops. Moscow has denied interfering. While a ceasefire halted full-scale warfare in 2015, sporadic deadly fighting never ceased.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
A dose of AstraZeneca vaccine is prepared at COVID-19 vaccination centre in the Odeon Luxe Cinema in Maidstone, UK, on Feb. 10, 2021. (Andrew Couldridge/Reuters)

Vaccine Damage Payouts in UK Could Soar Next Year

NHS tender reveals number of claims could be 18 times higher

The number of claims for the UKs vaccine injury scheme is expected to be 18 times higher next year, according to a government-backed health body.

The number was revealed in a tender for a contract for Medical Assessments: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, published on Nov. 15, which runs until Dec. 16, 2022.

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) is a one-off tax-free payment of 120,000 ($160,000) if someone is proved to have been severely disabled as a result of vaccination from diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), swine flu, and more.

In December 2020, ministers agreed to add COVID-19 to the scheme, to demonstrate government confidence in the safety profile of any vaccine being used in the vaccination programme.

In the UK, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccines currently approved for use are the Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. All three have legal indemnity protecting companies from being sued for damages.

Historically, the average number of annual assessments for the scheme has been 100. It is now estimated that there will be 1,500 to 1,800 claims, according to the tender document. There are currently around 500 cases and, according to the National Health Service Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), that number is increasing by 20 per week.

According to the UK Coronavirus Dashboard, 110,206,709 vaccine doses have been administered in the country as of Nov. 17.

As new vaccinations are added, this is likely to increase the amount of claims made against the scheme. The estimated volume of claims has been calculated as a worst-case scenario projection on the basis of the new vaccinations being added to the scheme, a government spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

The NHSBSA is an arms length body of the Department of Health and Social Care. It manages over 35 billion ($47 billion) of NHS spend annually, delivering a range of services to NHS organisations, contractors, patients, and the public. It added the VDPS to its portfolio of work from Nov. 1, 2021.

Any existing claims have been automatically transferred over to the NHSBSA from the Department for Work and Pensions.

A vial of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University and UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca is checked as they arrive at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, England, on Jan. 2, 2021. (Gareth Fuller/Pool via AP)

VDPS aims to provide financial support to individuals where, on very rare occasions, vaccination has caused severe disablement. It is not a compensation scheme, as it does not preclude an individual from seeking damages through legal routes, said the government spokesperson.

The government did not say how many claims for vaccine damage payments after a COVID-19 vaccination have been paid out.

These are very new vaccines and the possible links between the vaccine and potential side effects are still being investigated. This means it will take longer before we can determine whether an individuals claim meets the first legal test of causation, said the spokesperson.

The system has been criticised as being slow and that it needs to be made easier to access. Affected families are often left with little support. The BBC reported in July that the government had received 145 claims for vaccine damage payments after a COVID-19 vaccination, but no payments had been made.

Duncan Fairgrieve, professor of comparative law at Paris Dauphine University in France, told The Epoch Times that the problems with the current VDPS are well-known and argued that a bespoke scheme should be set up for compensating adverse events from the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fairgrieve explained that the 120,000 was far too little to provide proper financial support for families who have suffered the death of a main wage-earner; and/or the impairment of a loved one who requires ongoing care and support.

The VDPS also requires that all eligible applicants in the UK must meet a 60 percent disablement criteria. This is a concept of percentage disablement derived from the Industrial Injuries and War Pension schemes dating from before World War II.

This criterion is antiquated, counterproductive, and unfair, Fairgrieve said. Many applicants will have significant injuries and may be disabled up to 59 percent and yet, on the basis of the current scheme, they will have no access to funds via the VDPS.

He added that other countries including France, Germany, the United States, and Nordic countries like Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark provide more substantive funds to those who suffer vaccine injury.
Veteran Pilot Killed Fighting Kruger Rock Fire in Colorado: Officials

A Colorado Army and Air Force veteran pilot fighting the Kruger Rock Fire was killed on Tuesday night when a single-engine air tanker crashed as he used a novel nighttime firefighting method, the Larimer County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) said.

Marc Thor Olson, who flew for Fort Morgan-based CO Fire Aviation, reported turbulent conditions before the crash, which was first reported at about 6:37 p.m. The crash site was found by crews at around 9:49 p.m., near the south end of Hermit Park, officials said.

The pilot had been tasked to carry out aerial drops over the Kruger Rock Fire, which broke out after high winds caused a tree to fall onto a power line early on Tuesday.

After conducting a water drop on Tuesday afternoon, the pilot had said that the wind at the time was not too bad at the fire, and made his way back to Loveland to prepare for a second aerial drop, according to LCSO.

About an hour later, the plane returned to the fire and the pilot told ground resources it was turbulent over the fire, conditions were not ideal to make a drop, and that he was going to make one more pass and then return to Loveland, the sheriffs office said. Moments later, at approximately 6:37 p.m., ground resources heard the plane crash.

Olson was the only person in the aircraft at the time of the crash, the sheriffs office clarified. He was identified on Thursday by his employer CO Fire Aviation in a Facebook post, who described him as one of our brothers.

Marc Thor Olson was a highly decorated veteran of both the Army and Air Force with 32 years of service to our country. During Thors 42 years of flight, he had amassed more than 8,000 total flight hours with an impressive 1,000 hours of NVG flight including in combat and civilian flight, the company said in a statement.

The company said it is working with authorities and partners as a probe is carried out. The National Transportation Safety Board has said it is investigating the crash.

While we are gravely aware of the inherent dangers of aerial fire fighting and the questions that remain; we ask that family and friends be given distance and time to process and heal as we grieve this loss. Your prayers are appreciated during this difficult time, the company added.
Glenn Youngkin, Virginia's governor-elect, is seen on election night in Chantilly, Va., on Nov. 2, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Virginia Governor-Elect Says He Wont Impose or Oppose Mask, Vaccine Mandates

Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin says he wont mandate masks or COVID-19 vaccines, but he also wont ban local authorities from imposing such mandates.

Localities are going to have to make decisions the way the law works and that is going to be up to individual decisions, but, again, from the governors office, you wont see mandates from me, Youngkin, a Republican, told WAVY-TV.

Republican governors in a number of states, including Texas and Florida, have banned mask and vaccine mandates. Meanwhile, many Democrat governors have imposed such mandates, including current Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, who Youngkin will succeed in January after defeating Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe.

Youngkin said he supports COVID-19 vaccines, noting that he has gotten one and so have his family members.

I think its the best way for people to protect themselves, Youngkin said.

While the vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 infection in the months following vaccination, their effectiveness declines as time goes on, studies and real-world data show. The waning potency has driven the push to get people who have received a vaccine to get a booster dose.

Youngkin has also declined to say whether he would challenge the vaccine mandates announced by President Joe Bidens administration, including one such directive for private employers with 100 or more workers.

I dont believe that President Biden has the authority to dictate to everyone that we have to take the vaccine, he said during a gubernatorial debate.

The courts have stayed the private business mandate for now.

Youngkins new comments have drawn rebukes from conservatives.

Youngkin signals he wont ban local vaccine and mask coercion like strong conservative governors, The Federalist said in an article.

Ned Ryun, a conservative who trains activists, also spoke out against the Virginia governor-elects position on vaccine and mask mandates

Youngkin should man up on the vaccine mandate stuff. But also, Youngkin demonstrating that hes absolutely NOT the model for future leadership in GOP, Ryun wrote on Twitter.

Youngkin said on the campaign trail that Northams school mask mandate was wrong.

We have to respect parents decisions about their own children. And I do believe if parents, teachers, and children want to wear a mask, then they canbut there should not be a schoolwide mask mandate, he said in August.

Representatives for Youngkins campaign didnt return a request for comment by press time.

Some bans on mandates have been stopped, at least temporarily, by judges. A Texas judge halted last week the school mask mandate ban issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, ruling that it violated the rights of disabled students.
WA Premier Mark McGowan addresses the media and guests in Perth, Australia, on Aug. 19, 2021. (Paul Kane/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

WA Electoral Reform: McGowans Trojan Horse for Total Control

Commentary

Despite repeatedly claiming it was not on the agenda during the last state election campaign, the McGowan government has steamrolled through the parliament electoral reform that will effectively disenfranchise regional voters in Western Australia (WA).

Up until now, each Legislative Council (upper house) region in WA, both city and regional, had six representatives.

This means that regional WA, even though it is more sparsely populated, has a weighted representation in the upper house.

Hence, vote reform in this regard is known as one vote, one value, and has been a battle-cry of the state Australian Labor Party (ALP) for over a century, to the extent of pursuing several failed High Court challenges.

As noted by Caroline Di Russo in a recent piece in The Spectator Australia, such an attitude is counter-intuitive since the Australian Constitution enshrines a minimum level of representation for each of our states in the Senate.

WA has 12 senatorsthe same as New South Wales and Victoriadespite a significantly lower population, yet the ALP makes no argument to reduce WAs Senate representation.

The reasons for the over-representation in the WA upper house are clear and justifiable, as Di Russo explained.

The six regions of the Western Australian Legislative Council (Maltonaj83)

The tyranny of distance is one of those things: the size of regional WA means its difficult to travel around to the various towns to engage with the community.

Additionally, many regional areas have acute social and economic issuessubstance abuse and suicide are rife in many parts. Regional WA is also home to most of WAs indigenous communities which have their own special needs.

Put simply, these vulnerable communities and social issues, together with limited services, means its imperative regional people are properly heard and helped by the politicians elected to serve them.

Finally, mining and agriculture are major contributors to our states wealth; its a lot of output produced by relatively few people.

The importance of those industries to our state, and particularly to otherwise isolated communities, means there should be an increased focus from our political class.

As Di Russo put it, in the remote town she grew up in.

The police rarely come to town, the doctor only comes on Thursday and kids still go to boarding school to complete their education, Russo said. Such is the story of regional Australia. The city is far away, infrastructure is minimal, services are limited and our representative voices, particularly in the upper house, are invaluable.

During the election campaign, when questioned if the ALP would pursue one vote, one value if re-elected, Premier Mark McGowans response was that enhanced regional representation would continue and this is just another smokescreen from the Liberals and Nationals.

Yet no longer had the new parliament been sworn in that McGowan backflipped on this statement and electoral reform was placed high up on his agenda, no doubt wanting to take full advantage of the extraordinary majority WA voters had foolishly given him at the March state election.

The pretext for this electoral reform U-turn was the election of a Daylight Saving Party member with fewer than 100 votes.

WA Attorney-General, John Quigley, said at the time: It wasnt on our agenda right through our election campaign and then we had the election, and some results were an absolute affront to so many Western Australians.

The Daylight Saving Party, which won a seat in the Legislative Council, their candidate got 98 votes or 0.2 per cent of the electorate.

It is anomalous, he said.

Reform to deal with vote harvesting by minor parties is one thing. Indeed, the Australian Senate and most state upper houses reformed their voting system years ago to address this issue and WA was long overdue to do the same.

But to use vote harvesting as a Trojan horse to institute one vote, one value reform is objectionable. That is, the real question is how our upper house representatives are elected, not how many.

Parliament of Western Australia in Perth, Australia on Dec. 2, 2020. (AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

The changes will come into effect after the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Equality) Bill 2021 passed the Legislative Council overnight.

Rather than Upper House MPs being chosen from six regions of varying size, the whole state will serve as a single electorate with 37 members elected under a one-vote, one-value system.

The effect of this will be devastating for regional communities.

As Liberal MLC for the South-west region, Steve Thomas said: The standard of your highways, your schools and your hospitals are dependent on the level of your representation and slashing that representation will inevitably impact badly on regional communities.

But what else would we expect from a government that has form on silencing dissenting voices?

For example, back in July, McGowan had to reverse his policy of banning organisations (in this case the Australian Christian Lobby) that do not agree with the views of the WA Government from hiring theatres operated by the Perth Theatre Trust.

It later emerged that an Uyghur organisation had also been prevented from hosting events at Perth theatres pursuant to the same policy.

In short this electoral reform is nothing more than a power grab from a government drunk on power.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
President Donald Trump greets the crowd at the "Stop The Steal" Rally in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Washington Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Release of Officers Names Who Attended Jan. 6 Stop the Steal Rally

The Washington Supreme Court denied for the time being a request to unmask the off-duty Seattle police officers who took intense political heat after the fact for attending the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally in the nations capital.

The huge rally in support of then-President Donald Trumps claim that the election was being stolen took place as Congress began the process of officially tallying votes from the Electoral College. Some individuals entered the U.S. Capitol building, causing physical damage and halting for hours the count that eventually confirmed Joe Bidens election as president.

The unidentified law enforcement officials sued to prevent public exposure of their identities, submitting sworn declarations credibly setting forth the bases for their fear of harm if their identities were prematurely disclosed, they stated in a brief filed with the court on May 6.

After oral argument on Nov. 9, the court unanimously ordered on Nov. 17 that a lower courts temporary restraining order prohibiting the disclosure of the police officers names be extended pending further proceedings in that court.

In March, King County Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan ruled against the six officers who filed suit against information requesters, finding that open records laws required that their information be made public. The order was stayed, keeping their identities secret while the officers appealed the ruling.

In August, Adrian Z. Diaz, chief of police for the Seattle Police Department (SPD), fired two of the six rally attendeesAlexander Everett and Caitlin Rochelle, a married coupleafter an investigation found, in the chiefs words, that they crossed the outdoor barriers established by the Capitol Police and were directly next to the Capitol Building.

It was beyond absurd for the two to claim they didnt know they werent supposed to be amidst what was already a violent, criminal riot that was an attack on our profession and on every officer across the country, Diaz said.

Make no mistake: as a result of the events on January 6th, five Capitol police officers have lost their lives, Diaz stated falsely. In fact, only one member of the U.S. Capitol Police, Brian Sicknick, who was on hand for the security breach, died, and his death was attributed to natural causes.

The SPD investigation found three other officers not guilty of unprofessional conduct or of breaking any laws. Evidence as to a fourth officer was deemed inconclusive.

Following the state Supreme Court ruling, Blair Russ and Aric Bomsztyk, lawyers retained by the Seattle Police Officers Guild to represent the unidentified officers, told The Seattle Times they appreciated the court giving due weight to the results of a formal administrative investigation clearing these officers of any wrongdoing.

Sam Sueoka, a left-wing Seattle University law student, is one of four individuals to request information about the police officers who attended the rally. Sueoka, who tried to have the conservative Federalist Society banned from campus, also is vice president of the Communist Party USA-affiliated National Lawyers Guild at his school.

Courthouse News reported that Sueoka sought the officers names because he worries about police activity in the streets when he exercises his First Amendment rights. One of his lawyers, Janet Thoman, said the student encountered violence during clashes with police during the summer 2020 riots.

Mr. Sueoka considered that to be one of the most terrifying experiences of his life, Thoman said.

Neil Fox, a lawyer who also represents Sueoka, told The Olympian that people want to know more about the police officers.

There is still a great public interest in lifting the veil of secrecy from former President Trumps attempt to interfere with the peaceful transition of power less than a year ago, Fox said.

The officers have to reveal their identities if they want to pursue their lawsuit, he added.

Fox didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for further comment.
Activists dressed as world leaders sit on a raft in the Forth and Clyde canal during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 9, 2021. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Winter 2022: A Season of Painful Enlightenment?

Commentary

There are times when politics resembles the theater of the absurd. This is one of those times. We just witnessed the spectacle of heads of state gathering in Glasgow trying to find ways to curtail the production and consumption of fossil fuels at the very time when the people they supposedly represent face a grim, potentially lethal winter due to shortages of those vital fuels.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average price of gasoline in the United States has risen more than 62 percent in the last 12 months, and the price of natural gas for heating homes will rise as much as 45 percent. Bank of America is predicting $120 a barrel of oil this winter. A harsher than average winter could trigger additional rises in the cost of heating our homesa development that would be especially harsh for the poorest among us. The last time natural gas prices were this high in the United States, one-third of American households already had difficulty  adequately heating and cooling their homesand one-fifth of households had to reduce or forego food, medicine and other necessities to pay energy bills, according to The Heartland Institute.

The situation is far direr overseas.

Due to drought, Brazil has lost its main source of electrical powerhydropower.

In China, the shortage of energy has resulted in cities turning off street lights and traffic lights; elevators in high-rise apartment buildings not working; and people suffering carbon monoxide poisoning when ventilation systems in a factory shut down. The shortage also is crippling production of foodstuffs and industrial metals. The negative consequences include higher food prices ahead, continued disruptions in supply chains, temporarily shuttered factories, and so on. Blackouts may become the new normal.

Similarly to China, India is facing critical shortages of fuel.

In Europe, where fracking has been banned, gas prices are up approximately sixfold from last year and even the price of coal has more than doubled in response to soaring demand. The energy shortage there was exacerbated by record low winds this year. Hoped-for energy from windmills fell short of expectations, stimulating a mad scramble for fossil fuels to keep the economy afloat. Natural gas prices in Europe have risen to as high as the equivalent of oil priced at $205 per barrel.

In Germany, not only have energy prices to homeowners risen to record highs, but their power grid has become increasingly unstable. One power plant in Germany had to close because of a lack of coalcoal being needed to compensate for the insufficient wind energy production. Germany faces a full-blown energy crisis this winter.

Schools, hospitals and clinics could also be much chillierand deadlier. At 11 per kilowatt-hour (average U.S. business rate), a 650,000-square-foot hospital would pay about $2.2 million annually for electricity. At 25 per kWh (UK), the annual cost jumps to $5 million; at 35 per kWh (Germany), to $7 million! Those soaring costs would likely result in employee layoffs, higher medical bills, reduced patient care, colder conditions, and more deaths, Paul Driessen wrote for The Heartland Institute.

In Britain, the host country for the U.N.s anti-fossil fuels confab, as many as 9,700 people typically die from cold in their homes each winter. There are fears that this winters death toll from cold (and from food shortages stemming from fertilizer shortages stemming from natural gas shortages) could be much larger. Several elder care homes have warned that crippling energy bills could force them to close, leaving their residents homeless.

The severity of this energy crisis is largely attributable to short-sighted government policies. Tilting at the windmills of an imaginary future global warming catastrophe, governments have impeded and restricted the production of fossil fuels. Im willing to grant the possibility that so-called renewable energy sources (more accurately, intermittent energy sources) may someday replace fossil fuels, but the policies that have been restricting fossil fuel production before intermittent sources have come online fast enough to meet the global demand for energy are inhumane.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, the Biden administration (or is it the third term of the Obama administration?) is proceeding full speed ahead with an anti-fossil fuels agenda. Earlier in the year, the president canceled the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline, banned drilling for oil in the Arctic, and greatly curtailed the issuance of leases for companies to develop fossil fuel resources on public land. Now, as winter approaches with energy prices surging and the world facing a severe energy crisis, Team Biden left Glasgow with a plan in place for the worlds major banks to restrict investment in companies that produce fossil fuels. The president also designated 1.87 million acres of federal land in Utah as a national monument, thereby putting it off-limits to oil and gas exploration. The administration also is reportedly considering the possible shutdown of another major pipeline, the Enbridge Line 5 that moves a half-million barrels of light oil and natural gas liquids today through Canada and Michigan.

The juxtaposition of the Biden administration reaffirming and ramping up its anti-fossil fuels agenda at the very time when the world is dangerously short of energy supplies is appalling. Team Biden seems totally oblivious and indifferent to the grim reality that low energy supplies are endangering peoples lives.

When a Bloomberg interviewer asked the straightforward question of what her plan was to increase oil production in America, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm responded with a belly laugh. I half expected her to cackle, Let them eat cake. Instead, she dodged the question by saying that she didnt have a magic wand to wave that would compel the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase production. Of course, nobody expects her to increase OPECs production. Shes the secretary of energy for the United States, not for foreign countries. But then, too, shes a liberal progressive, and, true to her ideology, she expects others to do the helpful things that she herself could do.

Its embarrassing to see the president of the United States, so soon after the shameful, incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan, implore OPEC to increase its production when our own country has the capacity to meet all our own and some of the worlds expanding energy needs. I wrote over a decade ago that the United States, by virtue of massive reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas, is the worlds energy superpower. There have been large additional discoveries since then, and President Donald Trumps policies led to energy independence for our countryan independence since torpedoed and jettisoned by the Biden administration.

Realizing that a major reason for his plummeting popularity is the rapidly rising cost of fossil fuels, President Joe Biden has adopted a pathetic public relations strategy: I have directed my National Economic Council to pursue means to try to further reduce these [rising energy] costs, and have asked the Federal Trade Commission to strike back at any market manipulation or price gouging in this sector.

How economically ignorant this president is! The reason energy costs are soaring is that the presidents own team has undercut energy supplies at every opportunity. If he really wants to discourage higher prices for fossil fuels, he doesnt need the FTC. All he has to do is back off and let American companies tap into our vast energy resources. If he did, supply would rise and prices would fall. Ah, if only progressives understood economics.

In closing, lets hope that the pain that Biden and the democratic heads of state in Britain and Europe are causing by their anti-fossil fuel policies will underscore and drive home two vital truths:

One, whatever role fossil fuels may play in humanitys future, theyre indispensable today.

Two, central economic planning by governments invariably leads to unnecessary impoverishment and suffering. Todays self-described American socialists are sadly oblivious to the destructiveness of their agenda, but the rest of us need to thwart their objectives before its too late.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu speaks during a ceremony in Manchester, N.H., on Sept. 2, 2020. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images for DraftKings)

Zero Tolerance of Vaccine Mandates Approved by New Hampshire Lawmakers

In a vote reminiscent of the states Live Free Or Die motto, New Hampshire lawmakers passed a legislative amendment on Nov. 17 that would prohibit any COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the New England state.

Reading the measure out loud at a hearing attended by hundreds of people, main sponsor Rep. Rick Ladd (R-NH) stated the amendment provides that no New Hampshire entity shall compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by anyone who objects to such vaccination for any reason.

Laura Telerski, a New Hampshire Democrat from Nashua opposed to the proposed ban, called it too broad and premature, especially given the states still growing positivity rate.

This is a medical crisis and to tell medical organizations, or businesses, they are now not allowed to require vaccineswhen its a life or death situation for manyI think its wrong, Telerski told The Epoch Times.

Ladd said the amendments main purpose was to block any federal directive establishing a mandatory vaccine work requirement, but he made it clear it would also protect against any state mandates.

This unnecessary mandate is trampling state powers and local private businesses; imposing new burden on employers when they can least afford itit is an infringement on personal rights and making life harder for the unvaccinated who want to work in an economy which already has too few workers, said Ladd.

The measure was passed by the NH Education Committee by an 11-to-8 vote, the same day state health officials reported nearly a 10 percent spike in active COVID-19 cases in New Hampshirethe states highest since testing for the virus began.

To become law, the unconditional COVID-19 vaccine ban has to win approval by the NH House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it in early January.

New Hampshire has one of the largest House of Reps in the U.S. government with 400 members. It is currently under Republican control. One Democrat on the NH Education Committee that approved the measure, voted in favor of it.

Telerski said she was especially concerned that the ban would effectively prohibit private entities like daycare centres from enacting their own safety measures regarding the virus.

She pointed out that while New Hampshires Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, has supported efforts to ban mandates for public employees, he too has expressed opposition to dictating policy to the private sector.

Last month, Sununu joined what is now up to 26 other state governors, both Republicans and Democrats, in a lawsuit against President Joe Bidens federal vaccine mandate.

However, Sununu also was embittered by his own NH Executive Councils vote the same week to reject $22 million worth of federal money to promote the vaccine in the Granite State.

You want the government to tell the employers who they can hire and fire  that is completely un-American, sir, Sununu said to an executive councillor who was questioning the use of the money to promote a vaccine being used to deny employment.

In a surprise twist, the council reversed its vote on Nov. 10 and voted to accept the federal monies in an unscheduled re-vote on the issue, with three of the four Republican councillors leading the change.

The councillors reversed the vote after Sununu agreed to include a nonbinding resolution that condemns vaccine mandates.

Councillor Ted Gatsas, who abstained from the re-vote, saw the resolution as only causing confusion to the states position on the issue.

More confusion comes from the University of New Hampshire, a state-run college that has a policy requiring all university employees to be vaccinated because the college is involved in federally-funded contracts. The college has not rescinded it.

Telerski believes it would have been more appropriate for the issue to be brought forward by the state House Labor Committee instead of the Education Committee, because the COVID-19 vaccine is only being mandated in the workplace.

She also noted that the measure was a last-minute amendment to a bill originally proposed to limit the liability of schools and businesses from personal injury related to exposure to COVD-19.

New Hampshire is a lone wolf in the northeast, being the only one of the six New England states to pass legislation against COVID-19 mandates and to also join other states in efforts to block the federally-imposed mandate.

It is the only New England state without a sales or income tax, a mandatory helmet or seatbelt law for adults, and does not mandate car insurance.

New Hampshire adopted its famous Live Free or Die motto in 1945, fashioned after a toast given by American Revolutionary War hero and New Hampshire native John Stark, whose full quote was, Live free or die; death is not the worst of evils.
A real estate sign advertising a home "Under Contract" is pictured in Vienna, Virginia, outside of Washington, on Oct. 20, 2014. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

Zillow Faces Shareholder Lawsuit Over Folded House Flipping Effort

Real estate company Zillow faces a federal lawsuit claiming the company misled investors, leading to financial losses as it ended its house flipping program.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle. The case is the first federal filing, joining two Boston-area firms in legal actions against the company.

The suit claims Zillow materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the companys business, operations, and prospects.

The group representing the lawsuit also noted the misleading information led to significant financial losses.

As a result of Defendants wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Companys securities, Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered significant losses and damages, the lawsuit added.

Two weeks ago, Zillow announced it would stop its practice of buying and reselling homes as its house flipping venture was becoming too unpredictable to continue.

Through its Zillow Offers program, the company bought homes directly from sellers and completed all of the necessary upgrades or repairs without the seller having to host open houses or showings. After buying a home, Zillow prepares it for sale.

But due to a shortage of labor and supplies, Zillow couldnt meet demands to close, renovate, and resell the homes fast enough.

Wacksman said the temporary pause on purchasing new homes will allow Zillow to focus on purchasing homes with already-signed contracts that have yet to close, and reduce its renovation pipeline.

Were operating within a labor- and supply-constrained economy inside a competitive real estate market, especially in the construction, renovation, and closing spaces, Wacksman said.

Pausing new contracts will enable us to focus on sellers already under contract with us and our current home inventory, he added.

Zillow purchased 3,805 homes in the second quarter this year, marking a record high for the company and more than double the number of homes it bought in the first quarter, CNN reported, citing a note to company shareholders.

The companys pause on its Zillow Offers program, also known as an iBuyer program, appears to be specific to Zillow, according to Mike DelPrete, an independent real estate technology strategist and scholar in residence at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Zillow just kept barreling down and now theyve hit this wall, he told CNN.

If youre trying to be number one in the market, slamming on the brakes is one of the worst things you can do, said DelPrete. You want to make some adjustments before you get to that pointslow down, switch gears. This is not the preferred outcome for Zillow.

Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.
BUFFALO, Mo. (AP)  Two men were charged with first-degree murder Wednesday after human remains found at a southwest Missouri home were identified as a missing woman who was photographed partially nude inside a cage, authorities said.

James Phelps and Timothy Norton were also charged with abandonment of a corpse after DNA tests positively identified the remains found at Phelps' home near Lebanon as 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater, Dallas County officials said.

Nortons lawyer, Brenden Twibell, told the Springfield News-Leader the charges were expected and Norton will plead not guilty.

Phelps' lawyer did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Norton and Phelps were also charged with abandoning a corpse in addition to the first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. Norton is set to appear in court next Tuesday, and Phelps this Friday.

Phelps and Norton have been jailed on a kidnapping charge since mid-September, when photos of Rainwater partially nude and in a cage were found on Phelps' phone, authorities said.

Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice said Wednesday in a Facebook post that the seven photos also showed Rainwater's body on a gantry crane, which is commonly used for deer processing, where she was disemboweled and dismembered before her body was placed in a bathtub. Some remains were found in a freezer, he said.

Rice said Norton told investigators Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater while she was staying at Phelps' home. He said he held Rainwater down while Phelps put a plastic bag over her head and strangled her, according to Rice.

Sheriff's deputies were contacted in August by a woman who said Rainwater hadn't been seen since July and Phelps was the last person she was seen with.

In September, Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left about a month ago and that she was going to Colorado, Rice said.

On Sept. 16, the FBI provided the photos of Rainwater to Dallas County detectives, who arrested Phelps. Norton was arrested on Sept. 20 after speaking to authorities.

Investigators searched Phelps' home for seven days and found the gantry device, cage and items in the freezer that appeared to be human remains, Rice said. Those items were dated July 24. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said.

Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said.

On Oct. 4, a fire that investigators have ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home. Officials investigating the fire found two explosive devices made with mortar tubes and balloon covers, with tripwires attached, near the home.

Investigators have no evidence to indicate that any other victims are associated with Phelps and Norton, the sheriff said.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has embraced  Let's go Brandon.

The Republican governor on Thursday picked the small Tampa suburb of Brandon as the site of a bill signing ceremony, trolling President Joe Biden with a reference to what has become a stand-in for swearing at the president.

The Let's Go Brandon line  code for F- Joe Biden"  has grown in popularity among Republicans who want to boost their conservative credentials.

The governor has waged a legal and media campaign against the president over White House vaccine mandates. Running for reelection and eyeing a potential 2024 presidential run, DeSantis has become one of the nations most prominent Republicans by opposing public health guidelines during the pandemic.

The DeSantis campaign said it picked Brandon as the place to sign a legislative package meant to hobble coronavirus vaccine mandates pushed by the Biden administration.

DeSantis sidestepped a question about the ceremony's location.

"I think that Brandon, Florida, is a great American city, DeSantis said, smiling as a Let's go Brandon chant broke out in the crowd.
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP)  Libyas former interior minister announced Thursday his bid to run for president in the much-anticipated elections next month, the latest candidate to join the race for the highest office in the oil-rich nation devastated by years of civil war.

Fathi Bashagha submitted his candidacy papers in the capital of Tripoli, and declared that his political platform envisages a new Libya" based on justice, respect for human rights and a market-led economy.

The 59-year-old is the fourth candidate to join the race, which has so far seen three controversial figures announce their bids, including a son of the countrys late dictator Moammar Gadhafi and a powerful military commander.

The vote faces growing uncertainty. Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled Gadhafi in 2011. The country had for years been split between a government in the east and a U.N.-supported administration in Tripoli, aided by western-based militias. Each side has also had the support of mercenaries and foreign forces from Turkey, Russia and Syria and different regional powers.

Libya will not go back to pre-2011. We will build a new Libya," Bashagha told reporters in announcing his bid. We will bring an end to suffering, tears and blood."

Libya will turn from a rentier state into a free-market economy," he added. We will be embracing reform, reconciliation and the reconstruction.

A former air force pilot and businessman, Bashagha served as interior minister from 2018 until earlier this year in the U.N.-supported government headed by Fayez Sarraj, establishing himself as a powerful figure in western Libya. He cultivated ties with Turkey, France and the United States, but also with Egypt and Russia, which backed his nominal rivals in the intra-Libyan conflict.

The presidential hopeful is believed to have links to armed militias in the western city of Misrata that played a key role in defending the capital against a 2019 military offensive from the east.

Sarrajs government stepped down after a new transitional government was elected by Libyan delegates in Geneva in February under U.N.-mediated talks. Bashagha was a contender for the post of prime minister but in the end, Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah was chosen to lead the transitional Cabinet.

The interim government's task is to steer Libya toward national reconciliation and lead the nation through general elections set for Dec. 24.

Bashagha survived an attack on his motorcade on a Tripoli highway in February, when gunmen opened fire on his motorcade. He was unhurt but at least one of his guards was wounded.

The race kicked off on Sunday, when Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and one-time heir apparent of the late dictator, filed his official candidacy papers in the southern town of Sabha. Seif al-Islam, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, spent recent years in hiding after he was released from a militia-run prison in the town of Zintan in June 2017.

On Tuesday, the commander of a self-styled army that answered to Libya's east-based administration, Khalifa Hifter, announced his bid. Hifter's forces launched the 2019 offensive, besieging Tripoli in a year-long campaign to try to capture the Libyan capital. The campaign ultimately failed and Hifter's forces pulled back. He is also a defendant in at least three separate federal lawsuits filed in a U.S. court where plaintiffs allege their loved ones were killed or tortured by his forces.

Libya's influential Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh joined the race late Wednesday. The 77-year-old has led the countrys House of Representatives that came to power in the 2014 elections, which ended up being contested. In the aftermath, Libya split further into rival administrations in the east and west, and the lawmaking body fled from Tripoli to the eastern city of Tobruk after a court ruled it was no longer legitimate.

The December elections also face other obstacles, including occasional infighting among armed groups, the deep rift that remains between Libyas east and west, and the presence of thousands of foreign fighters and troops.

Also on Thursday, Libya's High Election Commission said that more than 1 million out of the 2.8 million registered voters have already received their voting cards. To avoid vote rigging, the commission has made it obligatory for voters to receive a voting card with a QR code ahead of the polling, in order to be able to cast their ballots.

___

ElHennawy reported from Cairo.
NORWALK  Columbus Magnet School is not only changing its location. Its changing its name.

The Norwalk Board of Education approved Columbus Magnet Schools decision to rebrand as Concord Magnet School during its meeting on Tuesday. The board later approved the proposal for the school to relocate to the lower campus at Ponus Ridge School next school year.

The name change comes nearly a year and a half after the community called for the district to disassociate the school from Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. In July 2020, the city dismantled its Christopher Columbus statue, which originally sat in front of the elementary school for 43 years until it was relocated to the Heritage Wall area in 1983.

Within the last few years, the name Columbus has kind of fallen out of favor. We realized, given what was going on in the country, it was probably time for us to take the name Columbus out of our school, Columbus Magnet School Principal Medard Thomas told the board.

Thomas said the school wanted to retain the initials CMS as they are woven into the fabric of the school community and part of a school song.

The choice to rename it Concord was twofold.

The schools current location is at the end of Concord Street and a school previously located there was named Concord School; however, since the school is moving next fall that reason no longer applied. But the definition of the word concord  in accordance, community, harmony, peace  fit into the schools ideals, the principal said.

Those are definitions that definitely describe who we are and what we stand for, Thomas said.

Thomas and board Chair Colin Hosten reassured the public that the name change will not affect how the school teaches the history of Italian Americans.

Our school, were more than just a name, Thomas said. You can call us whatever you want, were still going to do what we do.

The board also approved name changes for Jefferson and Wolfpit elementary schools. The former will rebrand as Jefferson Marine Science Elementary, strengthening its partnership with the Maritime Aquarium. Wolfpit will highlight is arts theme with the name Wolfpit Integrated Arts Elementary School.

Working with the aquarium, Jefferson has created specialized programs aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and the units taught in Norwalks science curriculum. Students in each grade will have the opportunity to participate in field experiences which will be reinforced during science and STEAM lessons, according to Principal Cesar Nina.

Wolfpit has taken steps to integrate the arts into the everyday learning of its students, such as integrating theater strategies into every aspect of the curriculum, adding a full-time arts integration specialist to the faculty, teachers building an ensemble approach to instruction, and adding a certified dance teacher.

We are finally ready and very excited to offer these opportunities to all students of Norwalk, Wolfpit Principal Jackie Aarons said. We are not just performance arts, but we are integrated arts. Its a part of what we do in the classroom on a daily basis.

The name changes for all three schools will take effect for the 2022-23 school year.

emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com
WASHINGTON (AP)  An independent review has concluded that the Defense Department and its top leaders acted appropriately before and during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, despite sharp criticism from some local and congressional leaders that the military did not respond quick enough as protesters breached the building.

The Defense Department's Office of Inspector General, in a report released Wednesday, said military and defense leaders did not delay or obstruct the department's response. It said decisions made by two officials at the time, acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, were reasonable in light of the circumstances that existed on that day and requests from D.C. officials and the Capitol Police.

Criticism has centered on the fact that it took about three hours for members of the District of Columbia National Guard to respond to the Capitol  a timeline the Pentagon has defended as appropriate and necessary to determine the mission, equipment and riot preparedness of the citizen-soldiers and get new orders approved and delivered to commanders.

The IG report is one of a number of investigations and reviews of that tumultuous day, which saw a violent mob overrun police barricades, break into the Capitol and hunt for lawmakers, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, who had to be swiftly escorted out of harm's way.

The Pentagon inspector general, by law, is an independent authority that conducts audits, evaluations, and investigations of Pentagon activities.

The inspector general focused narrowly on the military response to the Jan. 6 riot, while other probes are looking more closely at the roles of then-President Donald Trump and his supporters, including whether they fueled the assault or planned it. Many gathered at a rally before the riot and then marched up to Capitol Hill.

More than 600 individuals have been arrested and charged in connection with the insurrection, Seven people died during or after the rioting, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbit, who was shot and killed while breaking into the House chamber.

Jacob Chansley, the spear-carrying rioter whose horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint made him one of the more recognizable figures in the assault on the Capitol, was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in prison. Chansley, who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of obstructing an official proceeding, was among the first rioters to enter the building.

The Pentagon inspector general found that the process followed by the military was appropriate, and noted that many of the Guard were not trained in law enforcement. It described a chaotic and confusing situation and said initial reports to the Defense Department were contradictory.

The report also said that McCarthy, the Army secretary at the time, was within his authority to require the D.C. Guard to lay out a mission plan before he would authorize their deployment. Others had questioned that decision, saying it delayed the troops' response.

Maj. Gen. William Walker, commanding general of the D.C. Guard, told senators in March that the chief of the Capitol Police at that time requested military support in a voice cracking with emotion in a 1:49 p.m. call as rioters began pushing toward the Capitol. Walker said he immediately relayed the request to the Army but did not learn until after 5 p.m. that the Defense Department had approved it.

The IG report found that defense officials correctly went through the approval process.

Military personnel are trained to respond to civilian emergency events, not by sending individuals into an uncertain situation as they become available, but by assembling and deploying a force capable of decisive operations, the report concluded. Military doctrine requires that commanders first determine essential details, conduct a mission analysis, and then develop a thorough plan.

The IG made several recommendations. It said the department should develop specific plans for a military response to a civil disturbance within the National Capital Region, including how federal agencies must request support. And it recommended the military train with federal and local agencies on how to better coordinate when large-scale events are planned.

It also recommended that Guard personnel should be given reliable radio and communications equipment.

The report dismissed suggestions that concerns about the optics of sending Guard forces to the Capitol while Congress was in session fueled any delay, saying that McCarthy asked Miller to approve sending troops within minutes after his call with Capitol officials. It said such concerns did not impact the Pentagon response.

___

AP National Security writer Robert Burns contributed to this report.
LYON, France (AP)  In China, she enjoyed the privileges that flowed from being married to a senior member of the governing elite. Her husband was a top police official in the security apparatus that keeps the Communist Party in power, so trusted that China sent him to France to take up a prestigious role at Interpol.

But Meng Hongwei, the former Interpol president, has now vanished into China's sprawling penal system, purged in a stunning fall from grace. And his wife is alone with their twin boys in France, a political refugee under round-the-clock French police protection following what she suspects was an attempt by Chinese agents to kidnap and deliver them to an uncertain fate.

From being an insider, Grace Meng has become an outsider looking in  and says she is horrified by what she sees.

So much so that she is now shedding her anonymity, potentially putting herself and her family at additional risk, to speak out against China's authoritarian government that her husband  a vice minister of public security  served before disappearing in 2018. He was later tried and imprisoned.

The monster is how Grace Meng now speaks of the government her husband worked for. "Because they eat their children.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Meng chose for the first time to show her face, agreeing to be filmed and photographed without the dark lighting and from-the-back camera angles that she previously insisted on, so she could speak openly and in unprecedented detail about her husband, herself and the cataclysm that tore them apart.

I have the responsibility to show my face, to tell the world what happened," she told The AP. "During the past three years, I learned  just like we know how to live with the COVID  I know how to live with the monster, the authority.

Among the global critics of China  many of them now mobilizing against the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing  Meng brings the unique perspective of a former insider who has walked through the looking glass and emerged with her views transformed. So profound is the change that she has largely stopped using her Chinese name, Gao Ge. She says she now feels more herself as Grace, her chosen name, with her husbands surname, Meng.

"I have died and been reborn, she says.

About Meng, his whereabouts and health as an imprisoned soon-to-be 68-year-old, she is entirely in the dark. Their last communication was two text messages he sent on Sept. 25, 2018, on a work trip to Beijing. The first said, wait for my call. That was followed four minutes later by an emoji of a kitchen knife, apparently signaling danger. She thinks he likely sent them from his office at the Ministry of Public Security.

Since then, she says she has had no contact with him and that multiple letters sent by her lawyers to Chinese authorities have gone unanswered. She is not even sure he is alive.

This has already saddened me beyond the point where I can be saddened further," she said. "Of course, its equally cruel to my children.

I dont want the children to have no father," she added, starting to cry. Whenever the children hear someone knocking on the door, they always go to look. I know that theyre hoping that the person coming inside will be their father. But each time, when they realize that it isnt, they silently lower their heads. They are extremely brave.

Official word about Meng's fate came out in dribs and drabs. A statement in October 2018, just moments after Grace Meng had first met reporters in Lyon, France, to sound the alarm about his disappearance, announced that he was being investigated for unspecified legal violations. That signaled that he was the latest high-ranking Chinese official to fall victim to a party purge.

Interpol announced that Meng had resigned as president, effective immediately. That still infuriates his wife, who says the Lyon-based police body was of no help at all. She argues that by not taking a firmer stand, the global organization that works on shared law enforcement issues has only encouraged authoritarian behavior from Beijing.

Can someone who has been forcibly disappeared write a resignation letter of their own free will? she asked. "Can a police organization turn a blind eye to a typical criminal offense like this?

In 2019, China announced that Meng had been stripped of his Communist Party membership. It said he abused his power to satisfy his familys extravagant lifestyle and allowed his wife to use his authority for personal benefit. In January 2020, a court announced he'd been sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison on charges of accepting more than $2 million in bribes. The court said he confessed guilt and expressed regret.

His wife has long maintained that the accusations were trumped up and that her husband was purged because he'd been using his high-profile position to push for change.

Its a fake case. Its an example of a political disagreement being turned into a criminal affair," she said. "The extent of corruption in China today is extremely serious. Its everywhere. But there are two different opinions about how to solve corruption. One is the method used now. The other is to move toward constitutional democracy, to solve the problem at its roots."

Grace Meng also has political connections through her own family. Her mother served on an advisory body to the Chinese legislature. And the family has previous experience of political trauma. After the Communist takeover in 1949, Grace Meng's grandfather was stripped of his business assets and later imprisoned in a labor camp, she said.

History, she says, is repeating itself.

Of course, this is a great tragedy in our family, a source of great suffering, she told the AP. "But I also know that very many families in China today are facing a similar fate to mine.
EDWARDSVILLE  Three Edwardsville police officers received different honors during the city council meeting and a new police officer took the oath of office before a packed audience Tuesday.



As Police Chief Michael Fillback stood at the lectern in the council chamber, he announced the names of his employees, who then came forward one-by-one to receive a certificate, applause and congratulations before photos were taken. Fillback then recited the situations involving each officer being recommended or nominated for each award.



First up was Officer Jacob Welch, who received the Meritorious Service Award.



On Aug. 6, 2021, Officer Welch responded to a residence reference a dangerous suspect from a domestic battery that occurred in Ballwin, Missouri (a west St. Louis County suburb). The suspect was wanted on a warrant for domestic battery, where the victim was seriously injured and hospitalized. The suspect was still in possession of the children that he and the victim shared, and he refused to return them.



Initial contact with the suspect was tense, adversarial and conducted through a locked door. Officer Welch took a tactical position outside the apartment and was able to engage the suspect in conversation. Over a 75-minute period, Officer Welch was able to verify the safety of the children and eventually talk the suspect into peacefully surrendering himself to officers.



Officer Welchs training and professionalism prevented a dangerous situation from escalating and avoided potential injuries to anyone involved. Officer Welchs actions reflect highly upon him and the Edwardsville Police Department.



Next was Dispatcher Chea Mueller, who earned the Chiefs Commendation.



On Sept. 1, 2021, Telecommunicator Chea Mueller handled a 9-1-1 call in reference to a subject actively choking on pills. TC Mueller calmly utilized her training to assess the situation and began the process of walking the caller step-by-step through the Heimlich Maneuver. Mueller provided clear and concise directions to the caller while dispatching ambulance and police personnel to the victims location to assist the patient. While emergency crews were responding, the caller was able to clear the airway of the choking victim by following Muellers directions.



Muellers actions during this call were instrumental in potentially preventing further harm to the victim. Her dedication to her craft and professionalism on a daily basis as a telecommunicator is a credit to both [she] and the Edwardsville Police Department.



Officer Greg Bauer received the Medal of Distinguished Service.



On Aug. 12, 2021, Officer Gregory Bauer confronted a subject armed with two knives. The subject was the driver of a vehicle which [rear-ended] an Edwardsville Police Department squad car [on East Schwarz Street]. The officer driving that squad car was taken by ambulance to a St. Louis-area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene on foot and eluded capture for more than four hours.



Information obtained during the manhunt indicated the driver was armed with knives and would fight police to the death. When confronted, the suspect pulled his knives and continued to approach Officer Bauer while ignoring commands to drop his weapons. Officer Bauer transitioned between his duty weapon Taser throughout this encounter, while providing clear direction to the subject. The subject continued to disobey commands and was eventually tased by Officer Bauer. Officer Bauers training and professionalism prevented further harm to the suspect and others and resulted in the capture of a dangerous person. Officer Bauers actions reflect highly upon him and the Edwardsville Police Department.



Finally, Luke Whalen was sworn in as the citys newest police officer. He had photos taken with the chief and other officers then brought family members up to join him in photographs.
3 1 of 3 Courtesy of the City of Edwardsville Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Charles Bolinger Show More Show Less 3 of 3





EDWARDSVILLE  Harry and Erica Parker, co-owners of Gulf Shores Restaurant and Grill, are the first recipients of the citys new Excellence in Edwardsville initiative.



The Parkers donated all of the Nov. 4 proceeds (dine-in and take-out) from their restaurant, or $12,000, to the family of fallen Pontoon Beach Police Officer Tyler Timmins. For this, they received the citys coin, which was presented Tuesday at a city council meeting in a hand-crafted, wooden box made by James Hengehold, the citys telecommunication supervisor. Hengehold made the box at the nearby FabLab on the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College.



James Arnold, the citys economic and community development director, delivered remarks before the presentation.



The Parker Family has a three-pronged mission  to support military members, both active-duty and veterans; to support first responders; and to support their local community," he said. "This effort exemplifies and embodies the true meaning of the Excellence in Edwardsville Award.



The Parkers also wanted to say a few words.



I wanted to say, thank you," Harry Parker began. When we decided that we wanted to do something like this [open a restaurant], of course, this was not what we had in mind. But to be shown that kind of appreciation and recognition means a lot to my wife and I.

We started this thing some 18 years ago when we came here. We decided that we wanted to take moms and dads recipes and do something with them. We worked in Corporate America for 30 years and we decided, Lets do what we really want to do.



After having a successful restaurant in Creve Coeur (a St. Louis County suburb where the original Gulf Shores is located), we tried to decide on [where to put] the second one. We came and looked at Edwardsville, not only did we love it enough to build a restaurant here; we love it enough to live here. So, for the last eight years, Edwardsville is our home.



In this particular case [Timmins], we wanted to be the conduit to connect a caring neighborhood to a fallen hero. Thats why we did it. And I gotta tell you, the biggest thing we always say, Show Up and Show Out. On that one day, we were able to raise $12,000 and give that to the family. Much has been given to us and when much is given, much is required, Parker said.

He closed by thanking the city for its support of their efforts.



Mayor Art Risavy crafted this initiative to recognize residents whose generous efforts, contributions and achievements, foster and enhance civic pride and responsibility, promote appreciation and embody the citys spirit to encourage public service through selflessness.



Risavy has asked city employees who interface with residents regularly to take note of those who are selflessly acting for the communitys betterment and/or neighbors via acts of kindness. He believes that the residents of this community are crucial to making it an ideal place to live and those who take ownership via selfless acts make Edwardsville enjoyable for each and every one of us.

City employees and elected officials have nominated and will continue to nominate a resident or residents when they witness positive and kind contributions. The details will later be shared with city administration and the winner(s) will be recognized at a future city council meeting.



In addition, the citys 2021 tax levy estimate is $13,056,695. The next city council meeting will be Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave.
EDWARDSVILLE  The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the usual student recruiting process at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, but thanks to some innovative adjustments by the SIUE Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the school continues to draw a steady stream of new students.

Last year, as every institution and every business did, we had to totally shift what we were doing and what had planned, said Todd Burrell, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at SIUE. We had our last in-person, large-group campus visit program in March right before everything was shut down.

We had a lot of our visit programs out of the way, but then we had to work through what we call yield season, which is yielding the students that have been admitted to actually enroll at SIUE. That had an impact because so many students were up in the air about what the fall semester was going to be like. They didnt want to make a decision if it was going to be all online, and in April or May, none of us knew what was coming.

For the fall 2020 semester, SIUE had around 1,550 freshman students, along with about 1,000 transfer students. The number of freshmen was smaller than usual, but Burrell and his staff were concerned that the total might be even lower.

To increase those numbers, SIUE did everything it could to connect with high school students on a virtual level, and the entire Admissions team played a part in helping to assist with new initiatives.

Part of our message to last years juniors was that were going to be there for them, and we planned a lot of virtual programming, Burrell said. We didnt do any travel, but our counseling team reached out to the high schools and set up virtual visits with their students. If a student didnt want to meet with a group of their high school peers, we could set up a one-one appointment with our counselors.

As we started to evolve out of the winter months around January or February of 2021, we started to see that our applicant pool was pretty strong. Some students came back for visits in the spring, but it was still limited compared to what we are seeing this fall.

Burrell and Kelley Brooks, who is the Assistant Director of Admissions, consulted with SIUEs administration about changes that could be made in the campus visit policy earlier this year, and they came up with a limit of three to five families per group.

If a student brings two parents or two other family members, were looking at nine to 15 people total, and they can be socially distanced in the room that we use, Burrell said. We had to make sure that we kept staff and the university community safe.

Prior to the pandemic, the groups for campus visits typically featured 40 to 45 people, including students and their parents.

The room we use is built to fit that many people comfortably and we would fill that room three times a day, so thats about 120 people a day, Burrell said. Were still not back to that number, but we have expanded to 20 to 25 people for this fall while still maintaining social distancing. Those presentations are pretty much full for the rest of the semester.

SIUE also planned for the freshman orientation for the fall of 2021 to be an on-ground event, as opposed to a virtual event.

We had to rethink how we would do it because prior to the pandemic, we would allow up to 160 students and their guests, which is 400 people sitting in theater-style seating in the Meridian Ballroom, Burrell said. We had to space it out, control where they went and track where they went throughout the whole day.

The leadership of our team led by Assistant Director of Admissions, Marissa Steimel, helped us to get the message out because many of these students had never seen the campus before in-person. The orientation program became the first real visit for them as a student and for their family members. The students were able to interact with other students and the parents were able to interact with other parents, both on a limited basis, but the social media for both groups really grew.

All of the work by the Office of Admissions eventually paid off, as around 1,930 freshmen enrolled for the fall 2021 semester.

Thats a big increase from 1,550 the year before, so we had a great first year class during a year that many people were wondering how the pandemic was going to affect enrollment, Burrell said. What we saw was a student group that was wanting to be engaged and to be on campus. They wanted to take part in activities and connect with other students.

Brooks, meanwhile, played a key role in many of the recruitment innovations that SIUE has adopted. Brooks manages the student tour ambassadors that conduct tours for prospective students and their families. She also manages the tours themselves as well as the large campus recruiting programs.

Kelley developed the idea of a self-guided tour where students and their families can come for a visit and walk around the campus, Burrell said. There are 10 stops on campus that we have identified, and you can pick up a brochure or look at it on your phone and follow those steps around campus, and youll be able to see everything.

You wont meet with us in person, but you can set up a virtual appointment with a counselor where you get your questions answered. Were going to keep that tour even after the pandemic. People might want to come for a visit on a Sunday, when our office isnt open, and you can still walk around and get to see the campus.

Another new program created by Brooks with much cooperation by staff within the various schools/colleges gives prospective students a better chance to meet with SIUE faculty and staff.

Before the pandemic, when high school students visited our campus, they wanted to meet with the professors and/or the advisors in their field of study, Burrell said. For instance, the staff in the School of Nursing might all be in class or other meetings when those students are here for a visit, and the students wouldnt be able to meet with them.

Kelley helped to set up a program where the staff would set aside 30 minutes or however much time they have to meet virtually with students, whether they live in Edwardsville or Chicago. We advertise the times that our faculty and staff are available, and students can sign up to get one-on-one expertise from them.

Also, through lessons learned from the pandemic, SIUE is scaling down the size of its orientation events for new students.

We used to have these really big orientation programs and it was kind of overwhelming for family members, Burrell said. We found out that with a smaller size group, we have more engagement from prospective students and their parents because they feel more comfortable in a smaller setting. We used to do 10 orientation sessions and now were doing around 20, and were going to keep that.

The pandemic has also resulted in changes in how SIUE awards scholarships to some of its incoming first year students.

We have our Meridian Scholarship competition for 20 full-ride scholarships and last year, that competition had to be virtual, Burrell said. A team of people from across the campus came together to build an interactive program to help engage these students.

Its an interview competition with a faculty member, a student and an alumnus, and we put it online and developed sessions where the students could connect with other students. It was a lot of work, but we invited 210 students to interview, and we yielded more than half of those students to enroll at SIUE.

Like the other programs that came out of the pandemic, SIUE plans to keep the virtual scholarship competition.

Its more accessible because some of those students would have to drive several hours or even fly here, Burrell said. Now they can save that money and just click on their computer for that one day and they wont miss anything else.

The diversity of the pool (of prospective scholarship recipients) increased greatly. For some students, it might be a cost challenge to get here, and for some of them, it may be a problem finding transportation. It worked wonderfully and its a concept that were going to keep.

While virtual programming has helped the Office of Admissions in a number of ways, Burrell believes there is no replacement for experiencing the atmosphere of the SIUE campus in person.

I think you could go to any university and talk to an admissions director, and they would tell you they have a higher chance to yield a student once they get on campus, Burrell said. Some families from Chicago or even the St. Louis area have never been to Edwardsville and they have never been to SIUE.

They didnt know the SIUE campus had this type of beauty and that it was this big. They didnt know that the city of Edwardsville and the village of Glen Carbon have so many resources for students, yet its 20 minutes away from the city of St. Louis. For us to get those students to visit, its a big win for us.
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP)  Taiwan opened a representation office in Lithuania's capital Vilnius Thursday, in a move set to anger Beijing.

The self-governing island and Lithuania agreed in July that the Vilnius office would bear the name Taiwan rather than Chinese Taipei  a term often used in other countries in order not to offend Beijing.

China says Taiwan is part of its territory and doesnt have the right to diplomatic recognition, although the island maintains informal ties with all major nations through trade offices that act as de facto embassies, including in the United States and Japan. Chinese pressure has reduced Taiwans formal diplomatic allies to just 15.

We seek closer relations with the entire Asian and the Indian-Pacific Ocean region. Lithuania opened an embassy in Australia recently, another one will open in South Korea, and also probably a representation office in Taipei in the future, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters on Thursday

No reaction has yet been received from China, according to Landsbergis.

Plans to open the Taiwan office in Vilnius led China this summer to recall its ambassador from Vilnius and demand that Lithuania withdraw its envoy to Beijing.
As health experts around the country, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, warn of a potential "winter surge" in COVID-19 cases, Madison County Public Health has seen an uptick in cases in the county over the last few weeks, echoing a similar uptick in other close markets including St. Louis.

St. Louis County was elevated to "high transmission" once again on Monday according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page warned in a press conference of potentially challenging times ahead. St. Louis County is now averaging 189 new COVID-19 cases per day, an increase of 56 cases over the week prior.

Page said the highest infection rates continued to be seen in 5- to 14-year-olds.

Amy Yeager, public information officer with the Madison County Health Department, said that this trend was expected, however, as having more people indoors increases the chance of spread, which increases the number of cases.

"Were not real surprised at the slow uptick," Yeager said. "If another variant like a delta pops, youll see a different uptick or spread, this one just appears to be from the nature of the time of the year. Its something were watching and doing surveillance on, but its where it would be, the trend line is as expected."

A jump in COVID-19 hospital patients in the Midwest and Northeast is fueling the increase in COVID-19 cases nationally, as the country reported a seven-day average of more than 82,000 cases on Nov. 14, up 11% from the week prior, according to CNBC. Average daily cases have jumped by 19% in the Midwest over the last week, with hospitalizations up 11%.

Madison County has seen an uptick in cases over the last few weeks, which has not been drastic but has been noticeable, Yeager said. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 4,989 daily cases of COVID-19 statewide on Nov. 17, the most since a week prior when there were 5,044. There were 144 cases per 100,000 residents of Madison County from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, well above the state's targeted goal of 50. However, the percentage of ICU beds available was 25.6%, above the targeted 20%.

"We have seen an uptick over the last few weeks, enough to note, enough to keep an eye on," Yeager said. "None of us can scale back yet on what we're doing in terms of preventative measures."

Yeager said the best preventative measure remains vaccines, and 68.48% of the Illinois population above the age of 18 is fully vaccinated. In Madison County, that rate falls to 52.08%.

"The vaccine is still the best tool in the toolbox to try and prevent hospitalizations and deaths and keep illness down from the virus," Yeager said. "With masks, most people don't like them, we have to wear them too, it's another tool to keep spread slower. As we move into colder weather and the holiday season, people are gathering indoors, get vaccinated, be protected and wear a mask."

Yeager also recommended keeping crowds smaller and discussing preferences with hosts and guests for the holidays, however, the virus "doesn't mean we can't live our lives," Yeager said.

"As public health, we've given people precautionary measures, cover your mouth and nose, keep your distances, clean surfaces and hands, get vaccinated. All we can do is give the community the best tools we can to protect themselves and the people they run into. More people are going out to eat, going to special events, shopping, we're around a lot more people and that increases opportunities for transmission."

Other recommendations from Yeager included knowing what you want for your house and family during the holiday season in regards to precautions with guests, shopping online instead of in-person for holiday gifts or shopping at off-peak hours if possible, and when traveling finding out what regulations and transmission rates are for where a person may be going as some states are different and sometimes it even varies by city.

"Consider different greetings other than handshakes or hugging," Yeager said. "Respect what people are comfortable with and communicate what youre comfortable with. Bring hand sanitizer with you and decrease potential exposure. Be respectful of servers, they're exposed to a lot of people all day, when they're taking your order, keep your masks on when interacting. If you're doing a buffet-style holiday food serving system, go a few at a time. Consider hosting activities virtually or hosting outside.

"This pandemic has brought a lot of emotional trials to people in different ways, thats important through the holidays as well, remember that and serve people with kindness."
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy with periods of freezing rain after midnight. Low -4C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of freezing rain after midnight. Low -6C. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 90%.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP)  San Diego lifeguards pulled two adults and a child from the ocean after it was reported that dozens of people were attempting to swim from Mexico into the United States, authorities said Wednesday.

Tijuana officials reported the crossing attempt to authorities in San Diego around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Union-Tribune reported.
Anheuser-Busch

More than 160 years ago, the flagship beer of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch wasn't Budweiser, but a beer known as "St. Louis Lager."

And now, for the first time since the turn of the 20th century, the company is brewing up the beer for everyone to try. It's only for a limited period of time at the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Biergarten located at the famed brewery now under the ownership of AB InBev. St. Louis still serves as headquarters for the North America division.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  The Canadian Pacific coast province of British Columbia declared a state of emergency Wednesday following floods and mudslides caused by extremely heavy rainfall, and officials said they expected to find more dead.

Every major route between the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, where Canada's third largest city of Vancouver is, and the interior of the province has been cut by washouts, flooding or landslides following record-breaking rain across southern British Columbia between Saturday and Monday. The body of a woman was recovered from one of the mudslides late Monday.

Torrential rains have led to terrible flooding that has disrupted the lives and taken lives of people across B.C. I want people to know that the federal government has been engaging with the local authorities, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Washington. We're sending resources like the Canadian Armed Forces to support people but also we'll be there for the cleanup and the rebuilding after impacts of these extreme weather events.

The federal government said it was sending the air force to assist with evacuations and to support supply lines.

Military helicopters already helped evacuate about 300 people from one highway where people were trapped in their cars Sunday night following a mudslide,

We expect to confirm even more fatalities in the coming days, British Columbia Premier John Horgan said.

Horgan called it a once in a 500 years event. He said the state of emergency will include travel restrictions so the transport of essential goods medical and emergency services will reach the communities that need them. He asked people not to hoard goods.

These are very challenging times. I've been at this dais for two years now talking about challenging times we have faced  unprecedented challenges with public health, wildfires, heat domes and now debilitating floods that we have never seen before, Horgan said.

Horgan said over the past six months there have been drought conditions in Merritt, where the river was at its lowest point in living memory and where people had to be evacuated because of wildfires in temperatures that were unprecedented. And now, he said, much of the community is under water.

We need to start preparing for a future that includes more events like this, Horgan said.

The weather events are all connected and can be attributed to climate change, said John Clague, a professor in the Earth Sciences Department at Simon Fraser University.

Scientists are now saying these particular events, theyre becoming more frequent, exacerbated or ramped up by climate change, he said.

The record temperatures in the summer set the stage for the wildfires, said Clague. The fires burned the ground in a way that prevents water from seeping into the soil. He said that resulted in the water from the torrential rains pouring more quickly into steams and rivers, causing floods.

The total number of people and vehicles unaccounted for had not yet been confirmed near the town of Lillooet. Investigators had received reports of two other people who were missing but added that other motorists might have been buried in a slide on Highway 99. 

Chelsey Hughes said she was thankful to have survived the slide that slammed into her car before it landed in a swamp as she was driving along the highway. Hughes was heading home Sunday when she saw a tree starting to fall as a slide shoved her car about a mile off the road and down an embankment.

Then the car stopped moving and I was just shocked. I was afraid to move because I didnt know if I was injured, she said after spending about five hours shivering on top of her car without a jacket next to another vehicle with four university students sharing one jacket atop their vehicle.

When Hughes finally connected with a 911 dispatcher, he helped her monitor one students condition after he had an asthma attack before they finally saw the lights of rescuers.

They spent an hour hiking out, she said of the traumatic events that unfolded Sunday night before nine of them were taken to hospital. She said she has been thinking about the family of a woman who died.

I think that could have been any one of us, and theres nothing that you can do. When we got hit by that landslide, we just had to surrender," she said.

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said thousands of animals had died and the province was rushing to get veterinarians to other animals that are in danger.

``I can also tell you that many farmers attempted to move animals and then had to walk away because the roads were disappearing beneath them, she said.

A trade expert said the loss of major transportation routes will hurt the movement of goods both in and out Canadas largest port in Vancouver.

Vancouver really has an outsized role to play in our Pacific trade, said Werner Antweiler, an associate professor at the UBC Sauder School of Business. Commodities will be impacted in a much more significant way because its coming by rail or coming by big trucks.

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Associated Press writer Jim Morris reported this story in Vancouver and AP writer Rob Gillies reported from Toronto.
Don't be a turkey (hoarder) this Thanksgiving. A run on birds hurts everyone

(ATTENTION EDITORS: 1 photo accompanies this column. FILENAME: OPED-THANKSGIVING-HOARDING-COMMENTARY-GET.jpg)

Karin Klein

Los Angeles Times

(TNS)



My friend  I'll call her Nellie, as in Nervous  wants her usual pasture-raised, organic turkey, on the small side, for Thanksgiving.

But her usual supplier has told her it's not clear that will be possible. Small turkeys of all kinds could be in short supply this year.

So Nellie bought a large frozen turkey from a local supermarket, the loss-leader version that sells for a half dollar per pound or so, and tossed it into the freezer just in case her trendier bird doesn't arrive in time. But now she has two worries: Maybe she won't get the turkey she wants  and maybe she will, in which case what's she to do with that gargantuan bird in the freezer?

There's been a lot of talk this year about a shortage of Thanksgiving turkeys and cranberries. And it's true that the now-familiar problems  labor shortages, an uncertain market and supply chain issues  have led to somewhat lower supply, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Demand is up this year from last, especially for smaller birds. People aren't traveling as much, thanks to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, so big birds for a huge crowd around the table are less appealing.

Still, this supposed dearth of turkeys smacks of the frenzy that led to the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020. And if it goes down the same route, you can thank turkey hoarders like Nellie, desperate to ensure their supply even at the expense of others. They're already buying up stock for Christmas. You would think after the TP debacle, we'd have learned better, especially at a time of year that is supposed to be about gratitude and sharing.

It doesn't help that the reports coming out are confusing and contradictory. There's a shortage, some say. There isn't a shortage, others say, though the birds will be more expensive and somewhat harder to find  so, they advise, get your turkey early to avoid the rush.

Some suppliers say people were ordering back in September to make sure they got out ahead of the crowd.

We all could do that, empty the shelves immediately to ensure we're not the ones left deprived. Or we graciously could leave plenty for others and remember that it's generally thought the Pilgrims weren't eating turkey at the first Thanksgiving anyhow. It is more likely that the men hunting "wildfowl" were bringing home water birds such as ducks and geese. Venison was a big part of the first feast, brought by the Wampanoag tribe. So were fish and eels, and probably mussels, which were easy to collect along the shore. None of these are exactly cheap, but they're authentic.

You know what also was believed to be a big part of the original meal that's actually less expensive and more abundant than turkey? Vegetables. Not potatoes, or sweet potatoes either. Those weren't available at the time. But onions, carrots, squash, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, chard and turnips likely made an appearance. Are you excited yet? There was no bread for stuffing; wheat wasn't around, either. Nor the sugar or maple syrup to make cranberry sauce. There was plenty of fruit, though.

In other words, unlike our meals of bread stuffing, heavily sugared berries, a single animal protein, marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes and heavy desserts, the first feasters were eating a healthful and varied meal that included both cruciferous and leafy green vegetables. Though they did a fair amount of meal planning for the first Thanksgiving, they ate what was available and didn't rush out to grab the last eels before some other Pilgrim could get there. So let's not do that, either.

And just in case you want to get really authentic  or if there's another run on toilet paper  it might help in a pinch to know that Colonial Americans generally used corn cobs after a visit to the outhouse.
The Illinois Supreme Court recently released its list of attorney regulation case summaries for the November 2021 term and included among those given discipline orders was Todd Sivia of Sivia Law, which operates offices in East Alton, Edwardsville and St. Louis.

"Mr. Sivia, who was licensed in 2005, was censured and ordered to complete the Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission Professionalism Seminar within one year of the entry of the Court's order," the Court wrote in summary. "He engaged in a conflict of interest when he represented clients with adverse interests in a small-claims action and he failed to explain the matter to one client to the extent reasonably necessary for that client to make informed decisions regarding the representation."

In response to the censure, Sivia issued a press release stating that he was charged with lack of communication of a conflict of interest on March 11, 2021 as he defended both an employer, Eliot Deters, and an employee, Dana Bourland, of the business The Mailbox Store. He wrote that he failed to obtain a written disclosure of the conflict of interest with the employee and he failed to protect the interests of both clients over the interests of the employer.

"Mr. Sivia made an offer to settle the cause of action for the benefit of the employer and not for the benefit of the employee," the press release stated. "Sivia went on to correct his actions by resolving the matter for the benefit of both the employer and the employee. But before this could be resolved with an offer in hand whereby the employer did pay the entire bill for the employee, the employee asked for Mr. Sivia to withdraw from representation."

"I am thoroughly disappointed in my behavior and would like to extend a public apology to Ms. Bourland and Mr. Deters," Sivia said in a statement. "My faults have ultimately taught me a hard lesson of growth and serves as a learning experience for cases to come. Our firm is grounded in our principle of integrity and I agree that I should be punished for my lapse of judgment. We must all atone for our mistakes, even attorneys."

The court acknowledged Sivia did not cause damage to the client because the client failed to appear at any hearing after Sivia withdrew from her representation, the press release stated. As a result of his actions, Sivia was disciplined with a censure, recognized as the lowest form of public discipline, which constitutes a formal and public ethical investigation and hearing.

"I support the accountability set forth by the state in which serving clients to the best of our ability should always be of top concern. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I am thankful for the lessons that this situation has taught," Sivia stated. "My actions should not be attributed to any of the wonderful attorneys and staff that work in my office. They are true professionals."

In addition to the discipline being imposed by the State of Illinois' governing body, the firm wrote in the press release, Sivia Law has since implemented policies that aim at preventing similar issues from arising. Those new policies relate to ensuring no conflict of interest exists prior to establishing an attorney-client relationship and ensuring every client signs a document if a potential conflict were to arise.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Belgium extended the use of facemasks and mandatory remote work on Wednesday in an attempt to contain a new surge of COVID-19 cases.

The alarm signals are flashing red, said Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The premier added that the mandatory use of facemasks in crowded places would now include those 10 and older and that remote work, when possible, would mandatory for 4 days in the 5-day workweek until Dec. 12.

Up to now, facemasks had been limited to those 12 and over and remote work had been a recommendation only, but not mandatory. Special rules adapted to fighting COVID-19 schools would be imposed imminently, he said.

The government also reinforced rules in nightclubs, restaurants and bars, adding that masks or a negative virus test would be needed in addition to a mandatory check of full vaccination status.

If we want to avoid another lockdown, we have to show a sense of responsibility, said De Croo.

The measures reflect similar actions taken across several European nations where the virus has raged again over the past week. The World Health Organization says Europe is the only region in the world where COVID-19 deaths are rising.

Coronavirus cases in Belgium, a nation of 11 million, increased 27% over the past week and reached over 10,000 a day. Hospitalizations increased 21% over the same period while the use of ICU beds shot up 28% to reach 557.

Belgium is again faced with coronavirus crisis even though 76.1% of the population has been vaccinated, including 88% of all adults, one of the highest rates in the 27-nation EU.

De Croo said all efforts would be made now to extend a booster vaccination campaign to the full population after it had been limited so far to vulnerable groups and medical workers.

To improve its vaccination drive, the government decided earlier this week to make vaccinations mandatory for health care workers as of next April.

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Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic.
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  The Louisiana inmate whose Supreme Court case was instrumental in extending the possibility of freedom to hundreds of people sentenced to life in prison without the opportunity for parole when they were juveniles was freed on parole Wednesday after spending nearly six decades behind bars.

Henry Montgomery, 75, was released from prison just hours after the parole board's decision and went to the offices of the Louisiana Parole Project, a nonprofit which is supporting him after his release. There he was embraced by tearful staff and former juvenile lifers who were freed as a result of the court case that bears Montgomery's name.

It feels so wonderful," said Montgomery during an interview with The Associated Press. When asked what he plans to do now that he is out of prison, Montgomery said he wanted to pay his respects to his mother and grandmother and other family members who died when he was behind bars.

Montgomery had been convicted in the 1963 killing of East Baton Rouge sheriffs deputy Charles Hurt, who caught him skipping school. Montgomery was 17 at the time. He was initially sentenced to death but the states Supreme Court threw out his conviction in 1966, saying he didnt get a fair trial. The case was retried, Montgomery convicted again but this time sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He served decades at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

A three-member board voted unanimously in favor of parole. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the meeting was held on Zoom with Montgomery appearing on camera at Angola.

Hes been in prison for 57 years. He has an excellent ... disciplinary record. He is a low risk by our assessment. Hes got good comments from the warden," said board member Tony Marabella as he voted to approve Montgomery's release with certain conditions including a curfew and that he have no contact with the victim's family.

Montgomery's release owes back to two specific Supreme Court cases. In 2012, the Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory sentencing of life without parole for juvenile offenders was cruel and unusual punishment. But it didnt settle the question of whether that decision applied retroactively or only to cases going forward.

In 2016, the Supreme Court settled the matter when it took up Montgomerys case and extended their decision on such sentences to people already in prison.

The decision ushered in a wave of new sentences and releases. Since the courts Montgomery decision, about 800 people who had been sentenced to life without parole as juveniles have been released, according to the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. But, until Wednesday, Montgomery remained in prison.

After the Supreme Court decision, he was resentenced in 2017 to life with parole and the state judge who resentenced Montgomery called him a model prisoner who appears to be rehabilitated. But then the parole board rejected his application two times, the most recent rejection coming in 2019.

Andrew Hundley is a former juvenile lifer who was released due to the Montgomery decision and went on to found the Parole Project in 2016 to assist people who have served long prison sentences reenter society. He said many former juvenile lifers who were released and were able to go on with their lives felt a collective sense of guilt that Montgomery  whose case made their releases possible  was still behind bars. For juvenile lifers still incarcerated, his release carries a different message, Hundley said.

For individuals who continue to be in prison, Henry gives them hope that they may be judged by who they are today and not the worst mistake they ever made," Hundley said.

The Parole Project will help Montgomery with housing, signing up for health care or medications, getting an ID card and learning how to navigate society. The reentry started with a cheeseburger, fries and an orange soda  his first meal out of prison  and his first cellphone which staff members said they would help him set up.

Montgomery also noted the huge changes that had taken place in Baton Rouge since he was incarcerated  freeways that didn't exist decades ago, for example  and said he didn't even recognize some places.

Shon Williams was on hand Wednesday to welcome Montgomery. He was a former juvenile lifer who served time in Angola with Montgomery. He recalled Montgomery taking a sign language class in prison that Williams taught despite his arthritis and Montgomery giving him advice in prison to never give up." Williams said he was holding back tears watching Montgomery on Wednesday.

If it wasnt for him Id still be in Angola," Williams said.

During the hearing, Hundley and others spoke of what Montgomery had accomplished in prison including his years of work at the prison's silk screen shop and the length of his stay. He was also instrumental in establishing a boxing team.

His release was not without opposition. Hurt, the sheriffs deputy who Montgomery killed, was married and had three children. Two of his daughters have met with Montgomery in prison and forgiven him, but family members have opposed his release. A prosecutor from the area where Montgomery's crime occurred spoke against his parole as did one of the deputy's daughters, Linda Hurt Woods.

I do not believe that he should be released at this time," said Woods, saying that the decision shows deep disrespect to law enforcement officers. He made a decision at 17 years old. You know right from wrong at 17. I did.

Montgomery himself said little during the roughly half-hour hearing. He is extremely hard of hearing, and his lawyer often had to repeat questions from the board members. At times Montgomery said he was struggling to find words to express himself.

Im really sorry that I, that this happened," Montgomery said. I am going to have to live with this all my life, the rest of my life. Speaking later to the AP he said: I destroyed my life, they life and the people that I hurt," referring to his own family and that of the slain deputy's.

___

Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The United States is warning pilots that planes operating at one of Africas busiest airports could be directly or indirectly exposed to ground weapons fire and/or surface-to-air fire as Ethiopias war nears the capital, Addis Ababa.

The Federal Aviation Administration advisory issued Wednesday cites the ongoing clashes between Ethiopian forces and fighters from the northern Tigray region, which have killed thousands of people in a year of war. The U.S. this week urged its citizens in Ethiopia to leave now, saying there should be no expectation of an Afghanistan-style evacuation.

Diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting have met resistance, but Kenya's president told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday that Ethiopia's prime minister in a meeting on Sunday gave the impression he was ready to consider several proposals to ease tensions and reduce violence, a senior State Department official said.

Those include opening humanitarian access to Tigray and restoring government services to the region. Such steps, combined with a ceasefire agreement, could set the stage for more comprehensive peace talks, the U.S. official said.

Diplomatic efforts by an African Union envoy, former Nigerian president Olesegun Obasanjo, and U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman continue. Ethiopias Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dina Mufti, told reporters that both are in Ethiopia but didnt give details.

The Addis Ababa international airport is the hub for the state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, a symbol of Ethiopia's former status as one of the world's most rapidly growing economies before the war. The airline in recent years became Africa's largest and best-managed carrier, turning Addis Ababa into the gateway to the continent. Addis Ababa is also the continent's diplomatic capital as home of the AU.

The FAA advisory notes no reports of disruptions at Bole International Airport and no indication of an intent to threaten civil aviation, but it says the risk to approaching and departing planes could increase if the Tigray fighters encircle the capital.

The Tigray fighters likely possess a variety of anti-aircraft capable weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, low-caliber anti-aircraft artillery, and man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS, which could reach up to 25,000 feet above ground level, the FAA advisory says.

In an acknowledgment of Bole airport's importance for onward travel for the African continent and beyond, the U.K. Minister for Africa Vicky Ford last week told reporters that Britain now advises against all travel to Ethiopia apart from the airport for departures and transfers.

The Tigray forces who had long dominated the national government before current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 have approached Addis Ababa in recent weeks and joined up with another armed group, the Oromo Liberation Army, with the aim of pressing Abiy to step aside.

The Tigray forces also say they are pressuring Ethiopias government to lift a months-long blockade on the Tigray region, which includes an Ethiopian government restriction on flights over Tigray. No food, medicine or other humanitarian aid has entered Tigray, a region of some 6 million people, for more than a month since Ethiopia's military resumed airstrikes there for the first time since June.

Ethiopian Airlines seized the world's attention in 2019 when the crash of a Boeing 737 Max shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa killed 157 people. That and the earlier crash of another brand-new 737 Max off the coast of Indonesia had far-reaching consequences for the aeronautics industry as it brought about the grounding of Boeing 737 Max jets until late last year.

___

Associated Press diplomatic writer Matt Lee contributed.
LESBOS, Greece (AP)  A group of 24 volunteers who took part in migrant rescue operations appeared in court Thursday on the Greek island of Lesbos on smuggling-related charges in a case that has been strongly criticized by international human rights groups.

Judicial officials said the misdemeanor court on Lesbos declared itself not competent to try the case and the defendants left without restrictions pending the scheduling of a new trial that would involve more senior judges.

The Greek and international volunteers include the Syrian-born competitive swimmer Sara Mardini, whose sister Ysra Mardini was part of the refugee swimming team at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo earlier this year. Mardini was not present at Thursdays hearing.

The defendants, including many who spent several months in pre-trial detention, face a range of charges including misdemeanor counts of espionage-related offenses, illegal access to state communications and assisting criminal activity.

They deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that they simply wanted to help save lives when the island of Lesbos was overwhelmed by refugee and migrant arrivals from nearby Turkey.

I feel very angry. Because we have to wait years more. Weve been waiting for years. We spent three and a half months in pre-trial (detention) and now we have to wait again, one of the defendants, Sean Binder, said.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups say the charges should be dropped.

The charges perversely misrepresent the groups search-and-rescue operations as a smuggling crime ring, Human Rights Watch said in a statement ahead of the trial.

Giorgos Kosmopoulos, an observer from Amnesty International at Thursdays hearing said he was very disappointed at the latest delay.

What we wanted to hear today was clearly that they are not guilty, that they are innocent. Instead of that we will have more and more trials, more and more time waiting while their lives hang in the balance, he said.

More than a million migrants and refugees, many escaping war in Iraq and Syria, traveled to Lesbos and other Greek islands from Turkey in 2015-16, with most moving on to Germany and other European Union countries.

The Greek government has taken a tougher line with illegal and irregular migration in recent years, intercepting boats at sea and extending a steel wall along its land border with Turkey. It denies frequent allegations by migrant advocacy groups that it carries out summary deportations, also known as pushbacks.

Greek officials say the countrys intelligence service has assisted in the investigation of a small number of non-profit organizations active on the islands, suspected of collaborating with smuggling rings, but have not made details of the probe public.

___ Gatopoulos reported from Athens.
WASHINGTON  Pressed to address gaping inequality in global COVID-19 vaccines, the Biden administration took steps Wednesday to make billions of dollars available to drugmakers to scale up domestic production to share with the world and prepare for the next pandemic.

Under the new initiative, the governments Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority is soliciting pharmaceutical companies with proven ability to make the more-effective mRNA vaccines to bid for U.S. investment in scaling up their manufacturing. Pfizer and Moderna produce the two U.S.-approved mRNA shots.

The White House hopes the move will build capacity to produce an additional 1 billion shots per year.

The initiative comes as the Biden White House has faced growing pressure at home and abroad over inequity in the global vaccine supply  as the U.S. moves toward approving booster shots for all adults while vulnerable people in poorer nations wait for their first dose of protection.

According to an analysis by the ONE Campaign, an international aid and advocacy organization, only 4.7% of people living in low-income countries have received a first dose. Wealthy nations administered more than 173 million booster shots, while lower-income countries have administered about 32 million first shots.

The Biden administration believes increasing capacity of COVID-19 shots will help ease a global shortage of doses, particularly in lower- and middle-income nations, stopping preventable death and limiting the development of potentially new, more dangerous variants of the virus.

The goal of this program is to expand existing capacity by an additional billion doses per year, with production starting by the second half of 2022, White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said.

On Wednesday, Zients announced that the U.S. has now donated 250 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally  the most of any nation  with a goal of sharing more than 1.1 billion shots by the end of 2022.

There are no firm agreements yet with Moderna or Pfizer to take up the U.S. on the investment, but the Biden administration hopes that the enhanced manufacturing capacity, through support for the companys facilities, equipment, staff or training, will by mid-2022 allow more COVID-19 doses to be shared overseas as well as help prepare for the next public health emergency.

The administration is prioritizing the mRNA vaccines, which have proven to be more effective against preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19 than the Johnson & Johnson viral vector vaccine, which uses a harmless virus that carries genetic material to stimulate the immune system. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made with a piece of genetic code called messenger RNA that tells the body to make harmless copies of the spike protein so its trained to recognize the virus.

Robbie Silverman, senior advocacy manager at Oxfam America, welcomed Bidens plan to invest into vaccine manufacturing capacity but said it was nowhere near sufficient.

What the world really needs is distributed regional manufacturing capacity of vaccines, and it sounds like this investment is focused on building U.S. capacity, he said. We desperately need the companies who have a monopoly over the COVID vaccines to transfer their technology, and we need the U.S. government to use its leverage.

Silverman estimated that without companies transferring their knowledge of how to make COVID-19 vaccines, it would take manufacturers elsewhere double the time needed to start making doses, noting that billions of vaccines against other diseases are routinely made in developing countries.

Silverman said that while the U.S. should have negotiated more provisions about vaccine equity when it was securing its own supply, it was not too late to act. He said the U.S. should support the proposed waiver that was drafted by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organization, calling for patents on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments to be suspended. And he said the U.S. could invoke the Defense Production Act to target critical ingredients for COVID-19 shots.

The U.S. government has lots of tools at its disposal to push pharmaceutical companies, he said, noting that it had invested billions of dollars into creating Modernas COVID-19 vaccine. The U.S. needs to make sure these companies, which they funded, are prioritizing public health rather than profits.

Ava Alkon, a senior policy and research officer at Doctors Without Borders, said that the billion doses that might be produced with the U.S. investment were still far from the figure needed to immunize the world. The World Health Organization has estimated that 11 billion doses are needed.

Alkon said that since any manufacturers newly drafted into making COVID-19 doses would not be able to produce any supplies for several months, a more immediate solution is needed. We believe that the U.S. can distribute many more doses than it already has on an ongoing basis, she said, calling for the U.S. to be more transparent about how many extra doses it has. She said some estimates suggest the U.S. could have at least 500 million surplus vaccines by the end of the year.

In a statement, Moderna said it hadnt yet reviewed the Biden administrations proposal, but that it looked forward to discussing it with the administration and understanding whether there is a role that we could play in supporting the governments efforts to address pandemic preparedness. Pfizer declined comment.

The New York Times first reported on the new initiative.



AP writers Maria Cheng in London and Lauran Neergaard in Washington contributed.
MANKATO, Minnesota (AP)  Charlie Kirk stood 80 miles from where George Floyd was murdered, faced an overwhelmingly white audience, and declared he was going to say things no one dares say out loud.

What followed was an avalanche of aspersions and debunked claims about Floyd, the Black man whose death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer set off a global reckoning over racial injustice and broad calls for change. But the white conservative agitator had a counter view: Floyd was a scumbag, he said, unworthy of the attention.

The insult lodged at Floyd  a 46-year-old father suspected of passing off a counterfeit $20 bill  was intended to be shocking. But anyone familiar with Kirk shouldnt be surprised. For years, the conservative provocateur and his group, Turning Point USA, have built a following inflaming racial divides and stoking outrage. Kirk thrived during President Donald Trumps tenure  landing speaking spots at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and 2020 and occasionally counseling Trump on campaign messaging and tactics.

Now the 28-year-old is expanding his reach, trying to rally a next generation of aggrieved white conservatives. On a tour of college towns, he blasts schools and local governments for teaching about racism, with a confrontational style some call dangerous. Yet Kirk is drawing large crowds of millennials and Gen Zers, millions of online followers and donor cash, often with little media attention.

Kirk is stoking fear among a group that is coming of age in a time of social restlessness, said Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights lawyer and activist.

Hes taking the discontent that some people may be experiencing and combining it with racial animus, which is a dangerous recipe in a country that is still in the midst of racial turmoil, she said.

Like many leading Republicans, including Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin and Trump, Kirk seizes on opposition to critical race theory. The once obscure academic framework has been transformed by conservatives into a catchall term for education about inclusion, diversity and systemic racism in the U.S.

Kirk's answer is a free K-12 alternative curriculum described as the key to a reliable, honest and quality America-first education, and is aimed primarily at homeschooling parents.

It's just one offering in Kirk's buzzing conservative content portal designed to meet young people where they live online. There's also an array of podcasts hosted by Kirk and other conservative figures, and a Professor Watchlist to label instructors "who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda.

Turning Point Live is a three-hour streaming talk show aimed at Gen Z and featuring 20-something host John Root. Recent guests include Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, both Republicans.

And theres plenty of swag: Buy merch. Save America, the site suggests.

Turning Point USA's online audience is large and growing. It averaged 83,000 monthly unique visitors over the past three years, but it grew to a monthly average of 111,000 in the past year, according to the digital intelligence firm Similarweb. That's more than three times the traffic for conservative radio host Laura Ingraham's website over the past year.

That traffic is driven in part by at least a dozen social media accounts across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that, combined, have more than 10 million followers online.

Money into Kirks nonprofit network has followed the traffic.

Turning Point USA is a 501c3 nonprofit, meaning contributions are tax-deductible and its donors are not disclosed. But in 2019, the most recent year for which tax records are public, Turning Point USA raised more than $28 million, according to Internal Revenue Service filings. Thats almost twice what it raised in 2014, its first-year as a tax-exempt charity.

Though Turning Point USA doesnt have to disclose its donors, some are foundations established by wealthy conservatives, which report their donations to the IRS in annual tax filings. A partial list reads like a roster of conservative megadonors, including foundations affiliated with the Charles and David Koch network, the late megadonor Foster Friess and the Uihlein and Bradley families, who also help finance leading conservative policy groups such as American Legislative Exchange Council, the Cato Institute and the Federalist Society.

Kirk also leads a fundraising group aimed specifically at political advocacy. That group, Turning Point Action, has endorsed several congressional candidates for 2022. The list includes Washington's Joe Kent, Illinois' Catalina Lauf, Florida's Anna Paulina Luna and Ohio's Max Miller, all candidates who ran to oppose GOP House members who voted for Trump's second impeachment.

Kirk has shown a knack for anticipating the outrage of the moment.

He was quick to assail shutdown orders at the dawn of the pandemic, and then claimed falsely that Trump won the 2020 election. He has attacked Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, blamed spiking violent crime on efforts to defund police departments and months before Youngkin was seizing on parental outrage in Virginia, Kirk had turned to critical race theory.

He works within the framework of the Trump movement. He is a good barometer of what the Republican right wing feels it can get away with, said Michael Hayden, a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit group that tracks far right figures and organizations.

Turning Point USA was listed among the 11 groups involved in the March to Save America rally that preceded the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Days before the rally, Kirk boasted on Twitter about sending buses full of patriots to DC to fight for this president. He later deleted the tweet.

Online contributions to Turning Points website spiked immediately after the riot, according to Similarweb, which can track frequency of online payments but not amounts.

Kirk is not among the more than a dozen rally organizers subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the Capitol siege. A committee spokesperson would not comment on whether Kirk has been interviewed or approached by the committee.

Lately Kirk, who did not respond to interview requests, has stayed out of the headlines. However, an event in Idaho drew attention last month when a man shouted from a crowd: How many elections are they going to steal before we kill these people?

Kirk answered by denouncing the comment, but blamed the left: They are trying to make you do something that will be violent, that will justify a takeover of your freedoms and liberties."

Raised in the upper-income Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Kirk became politically involved young, volunteering in middle school and high school on political campaigns. His quick rise began shortly after high school when he quit attending Harper College, a Chicago-area community college, to pursue political activism and co-founded Turning Point USA with Chicago-area tea party activist and mentor Bill Montgomery.

Kirks Exposing Critical Racism Theory tour has promoted recent stops in Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont. Last month, he packed a convention center ballroom in Mankato, Minnesota, with roughly 600 people  mostly teenagers and college students  on a Tuesday evening.

Once a prairie farming hub south of Minneapolis, Mankato has swelled into a diversifying mini-metro. Minnesota State University, food production plants and the Mayo Clinics satellite campus all have drawn African and Latin American immigrants, while the Black population has grown steadily.)

For 90 minutes, Kirk spoke directly to the virtually all-white crowd and told them radical leftists want them to feel ashamed.

Just because youre a white person does not mean you have to begin apologizing simply for how God made you, he said.

He repeated widely debunked claims about Floyd's criminal record and suggested that the cause of Floyd's death was a drug overdose, rather than homicide, as the medical examiner found.

Rep. Jim Hagedorn, the local Republican congressman, was in the audience and later said in a Facebook post that he enjoyed attending and hearing Kirk "discuss the need to stand up and defend America and our founding principles.

Riley Carlson, the campus coordinator for Turning Point USA at Minnesota State, said she didn't know much about critical race theory before the event.

Were just excited Charlie is here to explain it," said the senior from St. Michael, a Minneapolis suburb. Theres so many different ways you can look at it. And Im looking for where I stand on it.

Kirk's message is a hard sell to most young people. Roughly 60% of voters younger than 30 said they think racism is a very serious problem in the United States, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 110,000 voters in the 2020 election. Its the largest percentage of any age group surveyed.

Meanwhile, Trump lost younger voters by 30 percentage points last year, VoteCast shows.

Its a wedge issue to fire up a shrinking base," said John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics and an expert in young voters.

But it demonstrates Kirk's finger is on the pulse of conservative anger, said Peter Montgomery, a senior fellow with the liberal People for the American Way.

Fearmongering about critical race theory has really seemed to rise to the top of the messaging of the groups I watch, he said. There's been a pivot toward that and Kirk has been wise to the fundraising power it promises.

-

Hannah Fingerhut, Mary Clare Jalonick and Amanda Seitz contributed from Washington. Michelle Smith contributed from Providence, Rhode Island.
CHARIHO: Charihos girls and boys soccer teams both won Division II titles in dramatic fashion. The girls won in penalty kicks and the boys in the final two minutes of double overtime. The football team reached the D-III title game, as did the field hockey team. The girls volleyball team played in the D-II semifinals. Erin vonHousen was All-State in girls cross country.

STONINGTON: Stoningtons boys soccer team earned its second straight Class M state title, closing the season with 21 straight victories. The field hockey team lost in the Class S title game.

WESTERLY: Westerlys girls volleyball team reached the Division III semifinals, losing to eventual champion Scituate. The football team played in the D-II semifinals. The girls soccer team reached the D-III semifinals. Jake Serra and Kaya West were All-State in cross country.

WHEELER: Wheeler boys and girls soccer teams qualified for the Class S state tournament.

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The year's biggest shopping event, Black Friday, will soon be upon us once again.

Whilst many will use it as an opportunity to purchase cut price Christmas presents, it is also becoming a good time to lock in a low price on a new broadband deal.

A number of providers are offering some of their best value deals for not only new customers but existing consumers as well.

There are a number of Black Friday broadband deals available for new and existing customers

This will be good news for those looking for a cheaper deal but worried about switching providers at a time when internet at home is essential for many to work.

To help consumers get the best deal this Black Friday, This is Money takes a look at some of the greatest value broadband offerings currently available.

Best deals for new customers

A number of providers have put out Black Friday packages for new customers this year.

Plusnet is offering a number of deals for customers including its Unlimited Fibre package for just 21.95 a month on an 18 month contract with no activation fee. The deal is available until December 1.

Its also giving a reduced rate on its Unlimited Fibre Extra and Unlimited Fibre Extra & Phone Line plans which are both available for 23.95 a month on an 18 month contract.

Meanwhile, Virgin Media also has a number of deals available at reduced rates.

Its M100 Fibre Broadband deal, with average speeds of 108Mbps, is 24 a month for 18 months.

It also comes with a 75 Amazon voucher included when bought via This is Money's partner, Broadband Choices.

The voucher is also available when buying its M200 Fibre Broadband, M350 Fibre Broadband or M500 Fibre Broadband deals at a cost of 28, 32 and 36, respectively.

Customers clicking on the Virgin Media links below will be taken to Broadband Choices where they can switch provider and claim their 75 voucher.

TalkTalk is also offering a deal on its Fibre 65 plan with average download speeds of 67Mb/s for 22 a month.

Customers joining this package will receive a 100 voucher that can be used at a number of places including Amazon, Tesco and Marks & Spencer.

John Lewis, meanwhile, is reducing its Unlimited Fibre Extra Broadband with Weekend and Evening Calls plan to 27 a month for 12 months.

Sky is also offering its Superfast Broadband, with estimated download speeds of 43 to 59 Mb/s for 25 on an 18 month contract with no set up fees.

> Compare the best package for you with our partner Broadband Choices

BEST BROADBAND DEALS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS Provider Product Contract Length Monthly Fee Setup Fee Exclusive Virgin Media M100 Fibre Broadband only 18 months 24.00 0.00 75 voucher Virgin Media M200 Fibre Broadband only 18 months 28.00 0.00 75 voucher Virgin Media M350 Fibre Broadband only 18 months 32.00 0.00 75 voucher Virgin Media M500 Fibre Broadband only 18 months 36.00 0.00 75 voucher TalkTalk Fibre 65 18 months 22 0 100 voucher Plusnet Unlimited Fibre 18 months 21.95 0 n/a Plusnet Unlimited Fibre Extra 18 months 23.95 0 n/a Plusnet Unlimited Fibre Extra & Phone Line 18 months 23.95 0 n/a John Lewis Unlimited Fibre Extra Broadband with Weekend and Evening Calls 12 months 27 0 n/a Sky Superfast Broadband 18 months 25.00 0 n/a NOW Broadband Super Fibre & Anytime Calls 12 months 21 0 n/a Vodafone Superfast 2 24 months 20.00 0 n/a Source: Broadband Choices and Uswitch

Best deals for existing customers

There are also several Black Friday deals available for existing customers.

Existing customers with TalkTalk can take advantage of some good deals including its Fibre 65 plan giving customers average speeds of 67Mb and unlimited downloads of 25 a month on an 18 month contract.

It is also offering its Fibre 35 deal, which gives customers speeds of 38Mb for 23 a month  again on an 18 month plan.

Meanwhile, Sky is offering its Superfast broadband also to existing customers for 25 on an 18 month deal.

Plusnet's Fibre 40 and Fibre 80 plans, both on 18 month contracts, are also available for existing customers for 21.95 and 23.95 a month, respectively.

Customers who want to find a better deal with their existing provider should contact them in the first instance to see if they can negotiate either a cheaper price or a better range of services for the same price.
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Volvo has revealed its vision for ultra-green electric cars of the future that it says will be built from sustainable materials and produced in carbon neutral factories by a company that is 'climate-circular'.

Called the Concept Recharge, the five-door family estate car showcases the brand's 'future design language and product strategy' and is described as a 'manifesto for the next generation of all-electric Volvos'.

It has committed to put in place a series of ambitious measures to ensure development of its pure electric cars comes with the smallest overall carbon footprint, which it says will be 80 per cent lower than fossil fuel cars it sold in 2018.

Volvo says its electric cars of the future will not only have zero-emissions but be made from a range of sustainable products and feature green design to reduce their carbon footprint

Volvo has already outlined its intentions to sell only 100 per cent electric vehicles from 2030 and become a carbon-neutral business just a decade later by 2040.

The Concept Recharge is its look ahead to the models it could be producing in the next ten years, with the vehicle using sustainable materials in the cabin, tyres made from recycled rubber and bosting improved aerodynamics to increase driving range.

And the Swedish brand - which is now owned by mega Chinese business, Geely - says these cars will be built in ultra-green factories running on clean energy as part of its efforts to decarbonised the entire supply chain and manufacturing process.

This, combined with the low-pollution benefits of driving an electric cars, means the Concept Recharge's CO2 life cycle is 80 per cent less than a 2018 Volvo XC60.

'This would mean that the Concept Recharge would have an overall lifecycle CO2 impact below 10 tonnes, when charged with 100 per cent renewable energy,' the brand says.

To achieve this, the EV concept is made from a range of materials you've likely never heard about before.

The Volvo Concept Recharge was unveiled earlier this year, though details about its sustainable features have only just been revealed

Volvo has outlined its intentions to sell only 100% electric cars from 2030 and become a carbon-neutral business just a decade later by 2040. This is the sort of model it wants to make

Parts of the interior - including the seats - are made from recycled plastic and 'responsibly-sourced Swedish wool'

The interior is packed with recycled materials, including 'responsibly-sourced Swedish wool' for the seat backs and other soft-touch panels, such as the top of the dashboard, which is mixed with environmentally responsible textiles and lightweight composites created from natural sources.

The seat cushions and soft-touch surfaces on the doors are made from recycled plastic materials that are produced through a high water efficiency and energy-efficient process.

The interior is packed with recycled materials, including 'responsibly-sourced Swedish wool' for the seat backs

The seatbacks and headrests, as well as part of the steering wheel, use a new material created by Volvo Cars called Nordico - another soft material made from bio-based and recycled ingredients that come from sustainable forests in Sweden and Finland, providing a CO2 footprint that is 74 per cent lower than leather.

Harder surfaces inside the car - and used in the bumpers - are made from a material that consists of fibres made from linseed plants, which are mixed with other composites to provide a strong and lightweight single-piece mouldings.

The tyres, specially created for the Concept Recharge by Pirelli, are completely free from mineral oil and are made from 94 per cent fossil-free materials, including recycled and renewable materials such as natural rubber, bio-silica, rayon and bio-resin.

A new wheel design is said to provide additional aerodynamic benefits that could be seen across Volvo EVs launched in the future

The tyres, specially created for the Concept Recharge by Pirelli, are completely free from mineral oil and are made from 94 per cent fossil-free materials

The Swedish brand is exploring how exterior features of its EVs can 'smooth the airflow' to reduce resistance and therefore extend the driving range without having to fit bigger batteries

Other eco benefits are said to be achieved by big improvements to the car's aerodynamics, with exterior features that 'smooth the airflow' to reduce resistance and therefore extend the battery range.

A new wheel design, lower roof and more upright rear end also help to make it more efficient.

'As we enter the age of the electric car, how far you can drive on a full charge will be a key consideration,' added Owen Ready, head of brand design at Volvo Cars.

The easy approach is to add more batteries, but it is not the same as simply adding a bigger fuel tank today  batteries add weight and increase carbon footprint Owen Ready, Volvo head of brand Design

'The easy approach is to add more batteries, but it is not the same as simply adding a bigger fuel tank today  batteries add weight and increase carbon footprint.

'Instead, we have to increase overall efficiency to increase range.

'With Concept Recharge we explore the tension between the need for efficiency and the desire for the same space, convenience and driving experience as in todays SUVs.'

In terms of performance, by the time the Concept Recharge becomes a production model it could have batteries developed by Volvo in partnership with Swedish company Northvolt.

The two have pledged to develop lithium-ion battery packs that are 50 per cent more energy-dense than those used in electric cars, promising to offer double the range from the same size battery.

It means Volvo EVs could have ranges of up to 621 miles before 2030.

Charging times will also be cut in half by 2025 thanks to improvements in battery technology, electric cars software and charging technology, the auto maker says.

Details of Volvo's vision for more sustainable EVs in the future comes just weeks after it made the bold claim that emissions from the production of electric cars are far higher than a petrol equivalent.

In a report released at the beginning of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, the car maker called on world leaders and energy providers to significantly boost investments in green energy to reduce the carbon footprint of plug-in models.

It claimed that over a car's lifetime the electric version will become greener overall, though this will only be achieved after covering between 30,000 and 68,400 miles - taking between four and nine years for the average UK motorist.

The claims were made as part of a revolutionary new transparency approach adopted by the brand, which includes publishing 'Life Cycle Assessment' report for its pure-electric cars, detailing how green - or not green - they are to produce.
Barclays faces an investor backlash over the 2.5million pay still being handed to Jes Staley following his shock resignation over questions about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Staley left this month after the bank was shown the result early of an investigation by the City watchdog into his correspondence with the billionaire sex offender.

But his contract entitles him to receive his current fixed annual pay of 2.4million in cash and a pension allowance of 120,000 until October 31 next year. He will also get a relocation package so he can return to the US.

Paid up: Jes Staley (pictured with wife Debora) left Barclays after the bank was shown the result of a probe by the watchdog into his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

The deal has caused fury among investors, who have raised concerns over Staleys exit and are demanding answers from the bank.

A meeting is scheduled between Barclays and its top investors for next week.

The Investor Forum declined to comment.

Andrew Speke, spokesman at the High Pay Centre said: To pay such a huge sum to someone resigning on the basis of such serious allegations seems completely inappropriate. Such behaviour shows the public that its one rule for the rich and another for everybody else.

It will only create further mistrust from the public in the big banks and shows the need for a real change of culture in the way major companies are run.

Staley intends to contest the preliminary conclusions of the UK regulatory investigation. And Barclays said the probe makes no findings that Staley saw, or was aware of, Epsteins alleged crimes.

But it is not the first time that Staley has found himself in hot water. In 2018, he was ordered to hand over 1.1million for attempting to unmask a whistleblower.

Last week it emerged that Staley had exchanged 1,200 emails with Epstein over four years. He had told Barclays his relationship was purely professional having been Epsteins private banker at JP Morgan.

Many emails, dating from 2008 to 2012, were general in nature. But the chummy tone will raise eyebrows, as may the unexplained reference to snow white.

No conclusions have yet been drawn over the phrase by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority and the full report has not yet been published.
The future of the LV chairman has been thrown into doubt over his handling of its planned takeover by private equity.

Alan Cook was due to stay at the company for another two years  collecting over 400,000 in the process  following the sale to Bain Capital.

But the deal has faced a ferocious backlash from members and other critics, casting doubt on his future.

Doubts: Alan Cook was due to stay at LV for another two years  collecting over 400,000 in the process  following the sale to Bain Capital

Sources close to the deal have suggested he may even be replaced in an attempt to persuade members to approve the 530million takeover.

The Daily Mail understands that a move to bring in a senior figure from the insurance industry to restore faith in the firm has been mentioned.

If Cook is ousted, it could also raise questions over the future of LV chief executive Mark Hartigan. He has not yet signed a contract to keep his role under Bain.

LV declined to comment, but a source close to the company said Cooks departure was not something that is currently being discussed. Bain also declined to comment. Just weeks before Cook began the search for a buyer last year, he declared that the concept of mutuality and importance of membership is at the heart of LV.

His change of heart has sparked outrage among members  as has the 100 they have each been offered to sell out to Bain.

It was assumed that Cook would be staying on for two years, collecting his annual fee of 205,000.

Hartigan, who was paid 1.2million last year, was set to earn even more under private equity ownership.

The planned sale of LV is not the first time Cook has courted controversy.

He was managing director of the Post Office between 2006 and 2010, when around 200 of the men and women who ran local branches were wrongly prosecuted for wrongdoing. And he was chairman of Highways England between 2010 and 2013, when it had a key role in adjusting the design of smart motorways,

While there he oversaw a cut in the proposed number of life-saving refuge areas.

Despite his chequered career, Cook was welcomed to LV in 2017, as the life insurer was in the final stages of selling its chunky general insurance business to Allianz.

Following that transaction, LV had been ready to sell itself to Royal London, the Mail understands. But Cook insisted that he wanted to court other buyers, which resulted in the deal with Bain.

Customers are worried that LV will now shift from being owned by its members, and run for their benefit, to being milked for profit by a cash-hungry private equity firm.
SSE has resisted calls to split off its renewables business and doubled down on plans to become a major player in green energy.

The FTSE 100 company will spend an extra 1billion every year to 2026 as it ramps up investment in environmentally friendly projects such as wind farms. The move takes its spending plans over the next five years to 12.5billion.

It also means it has defied calls from aggressive activist investor Elliott Advisors to separate out its renewables arm, which is one of the worlds biggest developers of wind power.

Cleaning up: SSE will spend an extra 1bn every year to 2026 as it ramps up investment in environmentally friendly projects such as wind farms

By the end of the decade the company plans to run a quarter of the UKs offshore wind farms.

SSE, based in Perth, Scotland, said it had carefully considered a wide range of available strategic options, including a separation, but decided against it.

The turbocharged spending plans come almost two years after SSE sold its retail arm, which supplied energy to households, to rival Ovo for 500m.

Despite the new strategy, its shares slid 4.3 per cent, or 71p, to 1587p, after it said it would pay 60p per share as a dividend from 2023, which is almost a third lower than the City had expected. The company also plans to sell around a quarter of its networks business.

Profits more than doubled to 1.7billion in the first half  though the company warned that this would be cancelled out by losses on financial contracts that are not shown under its current accounting methodology.

Rolls-Royce is set to clinch funding of up to 100million from the state of Qatar for its mini nuclear power plant programme.

The engineer is developing small modular reactors that are quicker and cheaper to build than sprawling sites, such as at Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, that can each power one million homes.
Some home movers affected by the security incident among Simplify Group conveyancing firms are being told to consider abandoning the firm, as it admitted it 'could not say' when the issue would be fully fixed.

The firm's systems were shut down ten days ago after what appears to have been a cyber attack, leaving some unable to exchange, complete or move home.

When asked for an update, a Simplify spokesperson told This is Money: 'We are working round the clock to restore our normal operations as soon as possible.

Simplify Group conveyancing customers have experienced delays in their house purchases and sales, and have found it hard to get in touch following a 'security incident'

'This includes bringing systems online as part of a secure phased approach and finding solutions to complete transactions safely. This takes time, but please be assured we are taking this very seriously.

'We cannot yet say with certainty when all of these will be functioning as normal.'

The nature of the security breach is still not known, but Simplify has confirmed to This is Money that it is the subject of an 'ongoing criminal investigation'.

The incident has affected Premier Property Lawyers, JS Law, DC Law and Advantage Property Lawyers. These firms are recommended to home buyers by the likes of estate agents Purplebricks, Strike, Yopa and Fine & Country, among others.

Together, it is estimated that they are involved in around one in five property transactions in the UK  spelling disruption for those who are in chains with Simplify Group customers, as well as the customers themselves.

The impact on the UK property market is therefore expected to be significant.

Rob Hailstone, a former property conveyancer and chief executive of Bold Legal Group, which represents 700 legal firms who carry out conveyancing, said: 'Simplify firms carry out hundreds of thousands of transactions each year, along with their introducing partners. My estimate would be that they do around five per cent of all transactions, if not more.

'The chances are not all, but most, property chains will have been affected in some way by this.'

Many were unable to contact their conveyancer to find out the status of their sale or purchase

The breach led to clients being unable to complete or exchange their purchases, with some on the brink of completion saying they were stuck with all their possessions in a removal van and with nowhere to stay.

Readers have written in their droves to This is Money in droves to tell them about their experience.

One described how he was sleeping in his car, as he had to leave his old house and had been unable to complete on his new one.

Others said they had driven to Simplify's Leicester office from locations as far afield as London and Buckinghamshire in search of answers, but found none.

With websites down and phone lines congested, many were unable to contact their conveyancer to find out the status of their sale or purchase, and some have still not been able to do so.

One frustrated customer, who wanted to be anonymous as they were worried speaking out would push their case to the back of the queue, said: 'They have all my equity from selling my home, my personal details and bank statements.

'I am concerned they have my personal details which can ruin my mortgage with the other property I am buying.

'Its put me in a lot of financial hardship, as a mortgage payment came out of my bank when the transaction should have been completed. It has been one thing after another with this company and I am absolutely fed up.'

Customers have also taken to Twitter to voice their frustration about the situation.

Its beyond appalling! Was meant to exchange last week and complete last Friday after over three months of delays already from JS Law. Still being told to wait and the seller is refusing to change solicitors. No one (seller, JS Law or Purplebricks) cares that I am homeless!!!  Kayles (@KaayleighCooper) November 17, 2021

We are trying to be patient, but with no resolution date it is hard. We are so close to exchange and unable to give updates to our buyer or to the people we are buying from, it is causing sleepless nights and unnecessary stress. We are so worried our chain is going to collapse...  Sarah Brown (@SarahMarieBrown) November 17, 2021

No contact from our designated solicitor despite her saying she would contact us on Wednesday. About to become homeless - PPL has our funds. No ability to make decisions due to NO DATES GIVEN  Nettlesomefire (@nettlesomefire) November 18, 2021

Other than saying that those who switched conveyancers would not need to pay for Simplify's previous work, it has not made clear if any compensation will be available for customers who have seen their house purchases fall through.

Hailstone said that there was the possibility of legal recourse for those that had been affected.

'All contracts will provide for a situation where the completion is delayed, and buyers should be compensated for that through their lawyer's professional indemnity insurance.

'It depends on how Simplify Group want to manage the situation, but they could also offer some sort of compensation out of their own pockets if they wanted to. I think that would be the best way to go as far as their reputation and damage limitation is concerned.'

Simplify has now restored some of its systems in order to allow certain customers to move

Simplify said it had now restored some of its systems 'sufficiently' to allow some customers to move.

It said it had been contacting customers who had exchanged by phone to complete their transactions and enable them to move, and that those who had a fixed completion date between 8 and 12 November had now completed.

It said it was now contacting other customers in order of priority, and beginning to exchange contracts on files that were ready to exchange and complete.

Customers told to consider abandoning Simplify

But with systems still not back online, and a backlog of transactions to work through, regulator the Council for Licensed Conveyancers  which has been supervising Simplify's handling of the security incident - is urging those who have not exchanged to consider switching to a different conveyancing firm in order to progress.

A statement on its website reads: 'Clients who have not yet exchanged contracts with their seller or buyer must consider whether to wait to progress their transactions when Simplify's systems are running again or whether to instruct a different conveyancer.'

But it also said the technology shutdown meant Simplify could not pass on files to another conveyancing firm, which could slow the process  something it was 'pressing' Simplify to address.

'This could mean that you would need to start from the beginning, and this may result in your transaction taking longer,' the CLC said.

'You should consider how far advanced your transaction is  how much work has already been done on it  when you make your decision.

It said that clients who move to another conveyancer will not be charged for the work done by Simplify.

Other conveyancers posted on Twitter that this was the course of action they would recommend.

As a conveyancer with 17 years experience, my advice would be unless #PremierPropertyLawyers #prempropertylawyers or one of their other brands has confirmed they have your signed contract, mortgage deed, has requested and received mortgage monies and deposit then you should move  Anne Murray (@angelgrace2011) November 18, 2021

For those who have exchanged, the CLC said they were free to move  but that 'this could result in the transaction taking a longer period of time.'

Data concerns

Customers were initially concerned that money they had transferred to their solicitor may have been stolen by hackers, but Simplify Group and the CLC have since stated that all customer funds are safe.

However, there are still concerns about the safety of their personal data, as many had given over bank details, addresses and copies of driving licenses or passports.

This is Money asked a spokesperson for Simplify about the safety of its customers data, and it replied: 'While our investigations are at an early stage and are ongoing, we are not currently aware of any specific client's or colleague's personal data being compromised.'

With customers still worried that their data could be affected, we contacted Cifas, the fraud prevention body, to ask for advice on what to do.
ALBANY  Chobani, the upstate New York yogurt maker founded by Turkish immigrant Hamdi Ulukaya, is getting close to selling shares of the company in an initial public offering.

The company, which is headquartered about an hour southwest of Cooperstown in the town of New Berlin, is planning on listing its shares on the Nasdaq stock market under the symbol "CHO."

Chobani's initial filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not say how many shares will be sold and at what price. Typically, those details are updated as the company gets closer to the IPO launch.

Ulukaya grew up on a dairy farm in Turkey near the Euphrates River and immigrated to the United States in 1994. He took classes at the University at Albany in 1997 and two years later started a feta cheese company in Johnstown called Euphrates before starting Chobani in 2005.

That's when Ulukaya purchased a former Breyers yogurt factory that Kraft had decided to close in Chenango County to start his new Greek yogurt enterprise that would later be named Chobani.

Ulukaya started with just 5 of the 55 Kraft employees who had been kept on to help decommission the Kraft factory.

Today, Chobani has 2,000 employees in upstate New York, Idaho and Australia and sells nearly 20 percent of all the yogurt sold in the United States.

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Chobani is going to use some of the money it raises in the IPO to pay off a portion of the company's $1.4 billion in debt.

The company had $1.4 billion in sales in 2020, but posted a $58 million loss for the year as it has expanded operations amid its popularity among consumers.

Ulukaya gave away 10 percent of the company's stock to longtime employees who had helped him start the company. Based on the company's potential valuation, those early employees may hold shares that could be worth anywhere from $150,000 to $1 million, according to various news reports.
BETHLEHEM - Plug Power has a "really aggressive" construction timeline for its new fuel cell manufacturing complex planned for the Vista Technology Campus in Slingerlands that would employ nearly 700 people.

Representatives of Columbia Development, the Albany real estate development firm that created Vista and still owns 214 acres at the business park, told the Bethlehem Planning Board on Tuesday that the goal is to break ground on a 200,000-square-foot building that will house a fuel cell assembly plant by February.

Completion of the first building - Plug Power is planning to add another 100,000-square-foot testing facility and 50,000 square feet of office space for staff later - is expected by the end of July.

"It's even more exciting that such a clean technology firm that originated here in the Capital Region is going to be here at the Vista Tech Campus, which is exactly what was envisioned many, many years ago now back in 2007," Terresa Bakner, an attorney representing Columbia Development told the Planning Board Tuesday.

Columbia Development recently filed site plan documents with the town of Bethlehem for the project, which would be built behind a roundabout at the Vista tech park located behind the ShopRite supermarket. The building would be the first "technology" firm to locate at the park, which opened more than a decade ago with plans to attract technology manufacturing. Currently there are only retail businesses and doctors offices at the park.

Plug Power makes fuel cells branded under the GenDrive name that run on hydrogen and are currently used by companies like Walmart and Amazon for forklift trucks used in their warehouses.

However, the company has set its sights on expanding into other markets for road vehicles like delivery trucks and even airplanes and has been building its own hydrogen production plants that make so-called green hydrogen made from water using renewable energy sources.

The Slingerlands complex, which would make GenDrive fuel cells, would employ 670 people, about 360 of whom would relocate from the company's current headquarters and GenDrive assembly plant on Albany Shaker Road in Latham.

While Plug's headquarters would not move from Latham, moving its GenDrive manufacturing to Slingerlands would allow Plug Power to expand its GenDrive manufacturing capacity, which is constrained by the current Latham location. The move would also allow Plug Power to use the freed-up space in Latham for another one of its business units.

"They're operating at 100 percent of their (manufacturing) capacity in Latham," Brandon Stabler, a Columbia Development executive who spoke at the virtual meeting said of Plug Power. "Our hope is that we can break ground in the middle of February of 2022."

Columbia Development wants to complete the first building by the end of July and finish the two other buildings, all of which will be connected, by the end of 2022.

A Bethlehem Planning Board member called the project timeline "really aggressive."

In addition to making fuel cells, Plug Power is building new facilities across the country and abroad to make green hydrogen.

The Slingerlands complex will have 600 parking spaces for employees who will work in shifts and 26 loading docks for delivery trucks.

Plug Power is one of the leading fuel cell companies in the U.S. and is the biggest consumer of hydrogen in North America. Although the company has yet to turn a profit as its spends money on its expansion, it has $3 billion in cash to spend and is projecting nearly $1 billion in revenue by next year.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells are an extremely popular type of power source for vehicles as the world seeks to reduce the use of fossil fuels in vehicles, which release greenhouse gases known to cause climate change.

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Plug Power shipped 4,559 GenDrive fuel cells to customers during the third quarter of 2021.

Hydrogen fuel cells only emit water vapor and hot air, making them an ideal replacement for engines that run on oil or gas. The biggest hurdle is the lack hydrogen infrastructure, which is why Plug Power has also focused on building green hydrogen plants that make hydrogen from water.

Today, most hydrogen is made from methane, a fossil fuel. Plug Power's hydrogen plants will also use renewable energy, ensuring that its hydrogen fuel is 100 percent renewable.
ALBANY  The push to raze Interstate 787 is getting serious.

There's a new group in town, the Albany Riverfront Collaborative, that's attempting to build momentum for replacing the waterside highway with a boulevard that would open 92 acres for new parks and development. ARC is offering a detailed plan for a remade roadway, along with a report on the project's potential economic impacts.

The idea, then, is to turn the long-discussed dream of replacing the highway to something tangible  to give the region an idea of what Albany could be without a massive elevated highway dominating its riverfront. The hope is also to build the grassroots and political support needed to bring the plan to fruition.

To that end, ARC has compiled a list of more than 30 contributors  including elected officials, developers, business leaders and heads of nonprofits  and is releasing videos of community leaders reflecting on the highway's grim impact.

In one, for example, Alice Green of the Center for Law and Justice details how 787 hurt the South End and Arbor Hill neighborhoods. In another, Proctors CEO Philip Morris discusses what remaking the highway could mean.

"Certainly one of the features that hurts Albany is that the waterfront is not part of the city," Morris said, adding that 787 has prevented Albany from "redefining itself" as Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs have.

ARC is the brainchild of Troy-based architect Scott Townsend, who said the group's mission and plan was a largely volunteer effort developed during a series of meetings that started at the beginning of the year. "We really wanted to not just get the conversation started," he said, "but get it headed down the path."

Under the ARC plan, the highway built in the early 1970s would be narrowed to a boulevard south of the Patroon Island Bridge, with lower speed limits, stop lights and crosswalks. The boulevard would be built to the west of an existing railroad line, which would remain in place.

Meanwhile, the elevated South Mall Arterial and its spaghetti tangle of ramps would disappear, replaced with a ground-level roadway to carry cars toward Empire State Plaza. The Dunn Memorial Bridge would also be rebuilt and simplified, freeing land for development and parks on the Rensselaer side of the Hudson River.

Together, the moves would reconnect Albany to its riverfront and join the impoverished South End with downtown. The aim, Townsend said, "is to release all the potential that's been pent-up and strangled for so long."

The group hasn't established a cost for the project, but a fiscal impact report compiled by the MRB Group in Saratoga Springs estimates it would generate 3,100 construction-related jobs and a combined $302 million in sales and property tax revenues over 20 years.

The reconstruction would also bring 6.1 million square feet in new residential and commercial development, ARC predicts, while removing 73,000 tons of concrete and allowing for the planting of 6,500 trees on land that's now highway.

In short, the remake would transform downtown Albany in a way that perhaps no other project could.

As I've noted in prior columns, Albany wouldn't be doing anything unusual by razing 787. Cities around the country, including Syracuse and Rochester, have been tearing down poorly placed highways to reclaim valuable land. Cities such as San Francisco and St. Louis have removed or capped highways to regain waterfront access.

While those efforts are widely regarded as successes, I'm not sure any city could benefit from a highway remake more than Albany. That's because 787 is uncommonly monstrous in how it completely dominates the riverfront, with its 11 lanes of traffic (including arterials) and all those ridiculous ramps sucking up land and obliterating a resource.

In short, Interstate 787 is dramatically overbuilt for demand, which is why ARC believes a boulevard would have only a minimal impact on commute times. The highway is also incredibly expensive to maintain, and ARC contends that maintenance savings, along with projected tax revenue increases, will help recoup the admittedly substantial cost of the project.

With a press conference featuring elected officials planned for next week, the Albany Riverfront Collaborative is promoting its proposal just as the federal government is preparing to spend big on infrastructure, thanks to the trillion dollar package passed by Congress earlier this month. The timing is not entirely coincidental.

State Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy (D-Albany) and other advocates for remaking 787 have feared that the lack of a serious plan could result in the region missing out on the spending. Federal money, Fahy said, will go to well-considered projects with demonstrated local support.

ARC is hoping to show that remaking Interstate 787 has that local support, with a list of backers that includes George McNamee, chairman of Plug Power; Chet Opalka, cofounder of Albany Molecular Research; and Anthony Gaddy, head of the Upstate New York Black Chamber of Commerce.

The group is also trying to prove that getting rid of the highway isn't just empty talk and pipe dreams. Its plan could be the beginning of the end for Albany's disastrous highway.
ALBANY  Albany County received nearly $1.4 million in grant funding from the state that will go toward rehabbing homes in Albany's South End and supporting mental health services in the county.

County Executive Daniel McCoy said the grants will be directed to assist those hit hardest by the pandemic.

We need to take on the issues of mental health and affordable housing head on and New York state is a great partner in that effort, he said.

The $1 million grant will go toward rehabilitating three Second Avenue homes. The two-family buildings are owned by the Albany County Land Bank. The plan is to sell the homes to first-time homebuyers with low-to-moderate incomes. The Land Bank will also pair qualified buyers with financial and educational resources designed to help more low-income families and individuals become homeowners.

Legislator Carolyn McLaughlin, who represents the South End, said such investments were crucial to revitalizing neighborhoods.

Second Ave is a major thoroughfare in the historic South End of the city of Albany, she said. It deserves the attention these funds will bring to a community that has been marginalized for decades.

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Adam Zaranko, executive director of the Albany County Land Bank, said the grant will help create stability for the future homeowners and the neighborhood.

The $389,890 in mental health funding will support four programs to bolster the mental health system in the county.

That includes a dedicated social worker to work with people who are frequent users of emergency services, a case manager for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program, expanded mental health support in the countys rural communities and additional support for the new alternative mental health-related crisis response team.
WASHINGTON (AP)  American officials are unsure why Russian President Vladimir Putin is building up military forces near the border with eastern Ukraine but view it as another example of troubling military moves that demand Moscow's explanation, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday.

Well continue to call on Russia to act responsibly and be more transparent on the buildup of the forces around on the border of Ukraine, Austin told a Pentagon news conference, adding, Were not sure exactly what Mr. Putin is up to.

He said the troop buildup has the Pentagon's attention and that the Russians should be more transparent about what they're up to.

Austin also criticized Russia for using a missile to shoot down one of its old satellites on Monday, an action that created hundreds of pieces of space debris that U.S. officials have said will be a long-term hazard to space operations.

Whats most troubling about that is the danger that it creates for the international community, Austin said. It undermines strategic stability, and as you know, theres a debris field there now thatll be there forever. And its a safety concern. And so we would call upon Russia to act more responsibly going forward."

Austin's language on Russia's use of an anti-satellite missile was milder than that of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has called the move dangerous and irresponsible. Blinken on Monday said it showed Russia is willing to imperil the exploration and use of outer space by all nations.

Russias Defense Ministry on Tuesday confirmed destroying a defunct satellite that has been in orbit since 1982, but it insisted the U.S. knows for certain that the resulting fragments, in terms of test time and orbital parameters, did not and will not pose a threat to orbital stations, spacecraft and space activities. It called remarks by U.S. officials hypocritical.

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The Russian military buildup near Ukraine is of potentially bigger concern. Ukraines Defense Ministry said last week that about 90,000 Russian troops are stationed not far from the border and in rebel-controlled areas in Ukraines east.

Russia has supported a separatist insurgency in Ukraines east that erupted shortly after Moscows 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and has left more than 14,000 people dead.

Earlier this year, a massive buildup of Russian troops in the Russias west raised concern in Ukraine and in the West, fueling fears of an escalation of hostilities. Russian officials said the troops were deployed for training, casting them as part of measures to counter security threats posed by the deployment of NATO forces near Russian borders.
BUFFALO, Mo. (AP)  Two men were charged with first-degree murder Wednesday after human remains found at a southwest Missouri home were identified as a missing woman who was photographed partially nude inside a cage, authorities said.

James Phelps and Timothy Norton were also charged with abandonment of a corpse after DNA tests positively identified the remains found at Phelps' home near Lebanon as 33-year-old Cassidy Rainwater, Dallas County officials said.

Nortons lawyer, Brenden Twibell, told the Springfield News-Leader the charges were expected and Norton will plead not guilty.

Phelps' lawyer did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Norton and Phelps were also charged with abandoning a corpse in addition to the first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. Norton is set to appear in court next Tuesday, and Phelps this Friday.

Phelps and Norton have been jailed on a kidnapping charge since mid-September, when photos of Rainwater partially nude and in a cage were found on Phelps' phone, authorities said.

Dallas County Sheriff Scott Rice said Wednesday in a Facebook post that the seven photos also showed Rainwater's body on a gantry crane, which is commonly used for deer processing, where she was disemboweled and dismembered before her body was placed in a bathtub. Some remains were found in a freezer, he said.

Rice said Norton told investigators Phelps asked him to help kill Rainwater while she was staying at Phelps' home. He said he held Rainwater down while Phelps put a plastic bag over her head and strangled her, according to Rice.

Sheriff's deputies were contacted in August by a woman who said Rainwater hadn't been seen since July and Phelps was the last person she was seen with.

In September, Phelps twice told investigators that Rainwater was staying with him while she got on her feet, but he said he hadn't seen her since she left about a month ago and that she was going to Colorado, Rice said.

On Sept. 16, the FBI provided the photos of Rainwater to Dallas County detectives, who arrested Phelps. Norton was arrested on Sept. 20 after speaking to authorities.

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Investigators searched Phelps' home for seven days and found the gantry device, cage and items in the freezer that appeared to be human remains, Rice said. Those items were dated July 24. Digital evidence found at the scene revealed messages between Phelps and Norton planning Rainwater's death, the sheriff said.

Some skeletal remains believed to be Rainwater were located on the adjacent property, authorities said.

On Oct. 4, a fire that investigators have ruled an arson destroyed Phelps' home. Officials investigating the fire found two explosive devices made with mortar tubes and balloon covers, with tripwires attached, near the home.

Investigators have no evidence to indicate that any other victims are associated with Phelps and Norton, the sheriff said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Charges against a Black Lives Matter protester who was seen in a video being pulled away by city police from her two crying, young children, were dropped Thursday morning in city court.

Gabrielle Elliott, who was arrested with other Black Lives Matter protesters on Sept. 7, walked out of court relieved that her case had received an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, which means charges will be officially dropped in six months if Elliott is not charged with a new crime.

She was victimized by the police, her attorney Jasper Mills said. The Saratoga (County) DAs Office is seeing what it is, a pile of garbage. She should have never been arrested.

Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said that she "refutes the characterization" by Mills.

"We did not offer an ACOD in this case because we thought there were problems with the validity or substance of the charges filed against Ms. Elliott as her attorney Mr. Mills speculated," Heggen said in a statement. "ACOD was offered because she has no criminal history and it is an offer we make to many defendants similarly situated."

Regardless, Elliott said she is prepared to file a civil suit against city police for arresting her after she went to the police station that evening to see what was going on with the childrens father, the citys BLM leader Lexis Figuereo, who was also arrested that day for disorderly conduct.

Video of the encounter on Lake Avenue shows Elliott clinging to a stroller that carried her 2-year-old daughter. A 6-year-old boy could be seen beside her crying and screaming Mommy, mommy, mommy as they took her inside of the station, leaving the children outside.

The video, which contains harsh language, can be viewed here. The encounter begins around the 3:30 minute mark.

The police said at the time they arrested her for allegedly throwing a water bottle at them. They charged her with attempted assault, resisting arrest and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police charged for her endangering the welfare of a child for not wanting to leave her children alone on the side of the road and going to a police station, Mills said. Its my position, if anyone was endangering the welfare of a child, it was the Saratoga police department.

Elliott and Figuereo were among a dozen that city police arrested on warrants stemming from a July 14 protest. Police claim they blocked the streets and thus endangered the health of a man who said he needed to get home to take his heart medication.

Many of those arrested were detained for hours, one overnight, and arraigned in shackles on violations like disorderly conduct. The state's Attorney General is now investigating city police for violating protesters' civil rights.

Elliott, speaking outside of City Hall, said her arrest was traumatizing for her, her children and Figuereo.

Still to this day, my children talk about how the cops are bad because they hurt my mom and my dad, Elliott said. It has impacted all of us as a family.

Elliott said she was lucky Figuereos mother was there to care for the children afterwards.

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You just want to be there, she said. If their grandmother wasnt there, they would have been literally left on the side of the road for anybody. The cops never asked me, do they have a place to go, someone to take care of them. They actually asked someone else if they could go with them. It was not a family member, not even someone I knew. The way they handled it, they endangered the welfare of my child. I did not.

She also said the incident sent her to the hospital to be treated for contusions to her ribs and bruises all over her body.

Saratoga Springs police spokesman Lt. Robert Jillson said it was a Saratoga County sheriffs deputy, who had been assisting city police, who arrested her and that he cant comment on the possibility of a lawsuit.

I cant comment on something that has not happened, Jillson said.

Figuereo, who was also outside City Hall on Thursday, got emotional as well when talking about his children.

We fear for their lives, Figuereo said. If you look at the video, it brings tears to my eyes and gets me angry and fills me with rage.  To see your parents get arrested, me for a violation. It was not even a crime. You cant do that to people.

Elliott said she wants the police to understand that they handled all of the Black Lives Matter protesters' arrests badly.

They need to recognize they did things wrong, very wrong, multiple things wrong, Elliott said. Its morally and judicially wrong.
HAGUE  The remains of a Warren County man who fought in the Korean War were identified last month, 71 years after he was first reported missing, the U.S. Defense Department said Wednesday.

Army Sgt. Howard R. Belden, of Hague, was 19 when he was reported missing in action on Dec. 1, 1950, after his unit was attacked near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

The battle was a brutal, protracted fight in a mountainous area where temperatures dropped as low as minus 35 degrees, and casualties were high on both sides. Belden's body was lost in North Korea along with thousands of other combatants. He was finally accounted for on Oct. 14 of this year, the military said.

Belden will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a future date, according to the U.S. Army. He was a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.

Belden is at least the third Capital Region resident to have remains returned following the 2018 summit with North Korea. Army Cpl. Walter A. Smead, of Hadley, was identified in September of this year, and Army Pfc. John Martin, of Schuylerville, was laid to rest in November 2018. The fighting in Korea ended in 1953.

Belden's name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu alongside the others who remain missing from the Korean War.

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North Korea turned over 55 boxes purported to contain the remains of American troops killed in the war after a 2018 summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. They were taken for identification to the DPAA laboratory where scientists have been using anthropological and isotope analysis as well as circumstantial evidence to make identifications, including that of Belden.

A rosette will now be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for, according to the U.S. Army.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  A former Republican candidate for city office entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday morning in city court on charges that she mishandled her petitioning ballots.

Samantha Guerra, appearing in Saratoga Springs City Court with her attorneys, former Saratoga County public defender Oscar Schreiber and former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney, stood silently in front of Judge Jeffrey Wait who said that the case will be assigned to the Schenectady County District Attorneys office.

This is all about politics, Schreiber said of Guerra's two charges of misconduct in relation to petitions, an unclassified misdemeanor. This is about the election that just was had and a future election. Ms. Guerra did well in the election and she is a political newcomer. I think they are worried about her running again. In 37 years of practicing law, I have never seen this charge lodged against anybody."

Schreiber said hes waiting to hear from Schenectady County to learn who will be the prosecuting attorney.

Guerra, who was running for Commissioner of Accounts but lost, came under investigation by Saratoga Springs police and State Police after her opponent Democrat Dillon Moran claimed that some of the names of her petition ballots for an independent line looked forged.

An independent investigation by the Times Union found at least two individuals who appeared on the petition who said it was not their signature. The petitioning ballots also included a nonexistent address and signatures assigned to a vacant house.

Despite discrepancies and subsequent objections from Democrats, the Saratoga County Board of Elections validated Guerras petitions in April. In June, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen, also a Republican, was alerted to the questionable signatures by a trio of Saratogians. However, she never responded to their certified letter requesting that she investigate.

"A letter was sent to Ms. Heggen in June," Schreiber said. "My client was arrested in (November). I don't know what happened in between, I don't believe a crime was committed."

Moran then went to the press and police in September.

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Guerra was arrested on the Friday after Election Day even though State Police asked Schreiber to bring her in to the Malta barracks on the day before the election.

Schreiber said that Sweeney is assisting on the election law portion of the case. Sweeney often helps on legal work involving Republicans.

She will return to city court on Dec. 21.
To all of those who proclaim their right to self-determination with respect to wearing masks and getting vaccinated, consider the 1905 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Jacobson v. Massachusetts. In this case, the Rev. Henning Jacobson objected to the smallpox vaccination mandate issued by the city of Cambridge.

The Supreme Court upheld the Cambridge Board of Healths authority to require vaccination against smallpox during a smallpox epidemic, saying in the majority opinion, "...in every well-ordered society charged with the duty of conserving the safety of its members the rights of the individual in respect of his liberty may at times, under the pressure of great dangers, be subjected to such restraint, to be enforced by reasonable regulations, as the safety of the general public may demand....Real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others."
ALBANY  The Historic Albany Foundation (HAF) honored the owners of both single family homes and renovation projects that relied on millions of dollars of tax credits at its annual preservation awards in September.

The awards ceremony was held in the Kenmore Ballroom at 76 North Pearl St., where owner Redburn Development was recognized for adaptive reuse with tax credits.

Capital Repertory Theatre, also honored by the Preservation League of NYS recently, was recognized for adaptive reuse financed by tax credits as well. Home Leasing was a third tax-credit merit award winner for its $34 million investment in 70 buildings along Clinton Avenue and Ten Broeck Street. The project resulted in 210 affordable housing and mixed-income residential units made up of three studios, 123 one bedrooms, 68 two bedrooms, and 16 three bedrooms.

Additional winners:

368 Madison Ave. in Hudson Park South Historic District was originally built as a three-story brick building with a ground-floor commercial space with a residence above. Many Albanians recognized the boarded-up exterior as the former home of the Bottoms Up Grill." In 2018, Mark Parisi bought the debilitated building and hired Albany Artisans to do the work.

Historic Cherry Hill, 523 1/2 South Pearl St., was recognized for another phase of restoration work that has been going on since 2000. This phase included a restoration of the sites historic interiors; installation of a VESDA fire detection system; and critical building envelope repairs that will preserve the structure and protect the restored interiors. HAF recognized not only the work, but the nonprofit's ongoing stewardship of the one-time family home of Philip and Maria Van Rensselaer.

The owners of 261 State St., David Hinchen and Duane Barker, received a merit award for the rehabilitation of the building, which had been vacant for 20 years when they bought it in March, 2020. The work was not only the make the building livable again, but to restore its original look through salvage and matching.

73 Dove St., in Historic Center Square, is a two-story wood framed building on a stone foundation built in 1845, with a ground level commercial space and a residence above. Kelly McMurray and Chris St. Cyr bought the building in 2018 with the intention of relocating their design studio 2 Communique. HAF recognized the effort with a Preservation Initiative Award for Sensitive Reuse of Neighborhood Commercial Building.

Fran and Jordan Stern were honored for a historically sensitive renovation of 24 Ramsey Place.

Mary Ann Hess toured 13 Catherine St., across from the Schuyler Mansion, without knowing anything about its age or history, she just liked the look of it and the price. The pandemic made the renovation work much harder, and Hess faced supply shortages and had to learn a lot of things on her own. She reused everything she could and dedicated herself to keeping the circa-1804 character of the house she calls "Little Blue." Hess also learned along the way she is not the first Hess in the house. It was once owned by a Catherine Hess. HAF honored Mary Ann Hess with a certificate of recognition for renovation.

Kim Talavera-Brown and Wendall Brown were also acknowledged for the renovation work they did on 17 Ten Broeck St., They bought it in 2014 and finished in 2020. They used state and federal historic preservation tax credits for the work, which cost between $80,000 and $90,000.

Rhea Stathatos and York Funding LLC were recognized for the renovation work done to 166 Washington Ave.

Carpenter Julian Richards received the Architectural Parts Warehouse Award for his use of salvaged materials available for sale at the warehouse in his projects.

Kelsea Adams, nominated by the staff at Albany Artisans where she works, was recognized with the Katherine Onefur Young Preservationist Award.
ALBANY  Members of the state Assembly's Judiciary Committee on Thursday began reviewing a report prepared by private attorneys who have spent months probing multiple allegations against former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

The report is to be released "very soon" after the committee's 20 members have had a chance to study it, committee chairman Charles D. Lavine said outside of his office.

The Long Island lawmaker confirmed Cuomo did not testify, but he did not say whether the ex-governor's legal team provided materials requested by the committee. "That's something that will be dealt with in the report," Lavine said.

Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin said during a livestreamed appearance Thursday that she will ask the Assembly for underlying evidence it collected as well as an opportunity to look at the draft report before it's released to the public.

But Lavine said he does not anticipate providing Cuomo with the report ahead of time.

Attorneys from the law firm Davis, Polk & Wardwell followed the trail of the overlapping investigation overseen by the office of state Attorney General Letitia James that concluded with the Aug. 3 release of a report that said Cuomo had sexually harassed or acted inappropriately with multiple women. Cuomo announced a week later that he would resign from office.

But the Assembly's investigation, which began as a potential vehicle to remove Cuomo from office, has examined a broader set of allegations, including whether state employees improperly assisted the former governor with the production of his COVID-19 memoir "American Crisis," a project that earned him a $5.1 million deal with Crown Publishers.

Members of the committee are expected to review the report through Friday.

There is no rule on whether the committee needs to vote to approve and release the report prior to its publication, according to lawmakers  but the next steps are unclear, if not altogether unprecedented.

The in-person review is an apparent attempt by Lavine to prevent leaks. Members of the committee have generally been tight-lipped about the information they have received behind closed door from their attorneys, pledging to respect the integrity of the process and not undermine the investigation.

The Assembly's investigation is contracted to cost up to $5 million, but it's unclear whether the final report has any legal consequences for the former governor. The attorneys received information from the attorney general's office and also coordinated their efforts with law enforcement agencies, including the Albany County Sheriff's Office, which filed a criminal complaint on Oct. 29 charging Cuomo with forcibly touching a female aide at the Executive Mansion last year.

It's possible some of the Assembly's materials, including additional witness transcripts, could be useful for law enforcement agencies  or for Cuomo's defense attorneys. The report could also generate support for certain bills filed by lawmakers, such as a proposal that would prevent statewide elected officials from profiting off published work during their time in office.

"The materials underlying the report are what could go to investigators," said Assemblyman Phil Steck, D-Colonie, another committee member. "The report itself is non-consequential."

"Our obligation is to share all the evidence we've acquired with all investigative authorities," Lavine said.

Lavine said he has "no doubt" that evidence the attorneys gathered would be useful to law enforcement agencies. Asked whether he has been in conversation with law enforcement officials or district attorneys ahead of time, he said, "I'm not in a position to respond to that question."

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter.

Glavin said she is asking for the committee to not release materials related to open investigations. She specifically mentioned a federal investigation into the Cuomo administrations suppression of data revealing COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and a separate state attorney general probe into the production of the COVID memoir. Glavin said that if the Assembly report addresses those matters, as expected, the information could prejudice the ongoing criminal inquiries.

She also said she hopes the committee won't take the report released by James' office at face value.

The Assembly's investigators also had been tasked with examining secret VIP COVID-19 testing that had been provided to Cuomo's relatives and associates in the early days of the pandemic, when the tests were scarce. But that part of the investigation is not a central focus of the report, according to Assembly members.

The Times Union reported last month that many lawmakers and their staff had benefited from the priority testing. Glavin said if the committee does investigate the priority testing, it should also investigate the members themselves.

And if the report discusses Cuomos book and his use of volunteer government staff for the project, it should also consider state lawmakers practice of using government staff as voluntary labor for their political campaigns, she said.

Lawmakers need to take a mirror and take a hard look at the practices of themselves and the state, Glavin said.

The pace of the investigation has been criticized by Republicans. The committee hasn't met since early August, just after the release of the report from the attorney general's office.

Chris Bragg contributed.
Josh Cellars, a wine label launched in 2009 by Capital Region native and longtime resident Joseph Carr that has grown into the nation's top-selling wine at its price point, with more than 4 million cases annually, has been named American Winery of the Year by the influential magazine Wine Enthusiast.

The magazine's 2021 Wine Star Awards, given out in 16 categories, are officially being announced Thursday morning.

"It's an amazing accolade and not something I ever thought I'd be up for, much less win," said Carr, chatting on the phone Wednesday. He grew up in rural eastern Rensselaer County and was a sommelier at The Sagamore resort on Lake George in the mid-1980s before moving to Albany to work in fine dining and later going into the wine business.

Recalling those early years at The Sagamore, Carr said, "I would read the magazine cover to cover. ... It would take me to places I was serving wine from, like Bordeaux and Burgundy, but hadn't yet been to myself."

He said, "It's a privilege to be recognized by a magazine that is sophisticated but still consumer-friendly."

In its citation for the award, Wine Enthusiast writes, "Known for consistently producing well-balanced wines that are bold yet approachable, Josh Cellars has received seven 90+ scores from Wine Enthusiast since 2019." Carr's company was chosen American Winery of the Year over fellow nominees Duckhorn Vineyards, McBride Sisters and Newton Cellars, all of California, and McPherson Cellars of Texas.

Josh Cellars wines are made at two production facilities in California, in Paso Robles and Mendocino, and a third in Oregon. Its two proseccos are made in Italy. The head winemaker for the company is Wayne Donaldson, a three-decade industry veteran, though Carr consults on blending and tasting for the 11 varieties of Josh Cellars wines and four for Josh Cellars Reserve.

"It's still my name on the bottle," Carr said, adding that he believes the wines remain a faithful representation of his vision for Josh Cellars, named after his father.

The values my dad instilled in me are reflected in every bottle of Josh Cellars that we painstakingly make. Producing delicious wines takes a lot of hard work, but dad wouldnt have had it any other way, he said in a statement accompanying the awards announcement.

After taking a buyout from the Australian wine conglomerate he had been working for, Carr in 2002 made his first wine, a cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley grapes that was released in 2005 and peddled from the back of Carr's own vehicle. He sold 1,200 cases, because, as he often says, "That's all I could afford to make."

He lived in Albany and, later, Schodack Landing until moving to Cape Cod in 2012 with his wife, Deirdre Carr, with whom he ran the wine company. She died of brain cancer in 2018.

The Carrs built the Joseph Carr brand, introducing the lower-priced Josh Cellars four years later, and grew both until a lucrative 2011 deal put the Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits conglomerate in charge of sales, marketing and production. Carr remains the owner, chief pitchman and face of the company.

With Deutsch's resources, Josh Cellars exploded, growing from 130,000 cases in 2012 to 980,000 cases in 2015 and more than 4 million this year, Carr said. (The Joseph Carr wines, still made in Napa Valley and priced from about $16 to $30, sell approximately 60,000 cases a year, Carr said.)

The Josh Cellars brand's popularity moved to another level this past spring, when it was prominently featured in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch spoofing, among other things, suburban culture and the sharp in alcohol consumption by women during the coronavirus pandemic. In the sketch, a passive-aggressive mother, peeved that her family chose a different board game than the one she wanted to play, quaffs Josh and does increasingly loud housework. Im drunk, she finally says. I think I had too much Josh.

In addition to the winery holding the top slot nationwide for California wines in the $11 to $14.99 segment overall, six of its varieties are the best-selling of their kind and price point across the country, according to industry figures. Josh Cellars is also a top brand in Canada, Carr said, and has distribution throughout the Caribbean and in Mexico, the United Kingdom and even Japan.

"I never thought my wines would be available in Tokyo," Carr said. "That's still hard for me to believe."

The success of Josh Cellars has allowed Carr to support multiple charitable causes including World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres to feed people in disaster areas; the National Volunteer Fire Council and local firefighter charities, in honor of Carr's father, who was a volunteer firefighter; and Operation Gratitude, which fosters connections between the public and active duty service members, veterans and first responders.

"I'm only able to do that, and to meet the amazing people I've met, because of the growth we've had," Carr said. "It's an honor to give back."

He said he's excited to introduce a new member of the Josh Cellars Reserve line, a zinfandel aged in bourbon barrels, in the first half of 2022.
Tennessees Republican governor has sought to capitalize on rising law enforcement tensions with city leaders surrounding COVID-19 vaccine mandates, offering to help pay unvaccinated out-of-state officers to relocate and join the Tennessee Highway Patrol
Sarah Muir stands with the first pot of turkey for this years Thanksgiving feast. Muir and her team of volunteers have been making meals for anyone in the community without a place to go for years.
A physician testifying as an expert in a condemned Nevada inmates bid not to be put to death told a federal judge Thursday that execution by firing squad would be quick and relatively painless.
Police have arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed his 7-year-old niece and another man during a dispute between neighbors in Sacramento
Michigans largest school district will switch to online learning on Fridays in December in response to rising COVID-19 cases and the need for mental health relief
Livingstone College links Salisbury with West African country for sister-city venture Nov. 15, 2021, SALISBURY  Livingstone College joined the City of Salisbury in talks to form a sister city relationship with Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa. Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander met with Monrovia Mayor Jefferson Koijee on Nov. 11 at City Hall to discuss a relationship between the two municipalities. The Liberian Ambassador to the United States George S.W. Patten, Sr., was also in attendance, in addition to Livingstone Colleges Dr. Anthony Davis, chief operating officer; Dr. State Alexander, vice president of communications and public relations; and Kimberly Harrington, director of public relations. The mayor also invited Rod Crider, Rowan Countys economic development director, and Elaine Spalding, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce president, to the discussion. The historic meeting transpired after Alexander attended an international press conference Oct. 27 at Livingstone College featuring a Liberian teenager, via Zoom, who found and returned $50,000 to its rightful owner. Emmanuel Tuloe became an international hero who announced his desire to finish his education. Livingstone College was the first college to offer the teen a full scholarship. Alexander initiated a dialogue with Patten after the press conference about a potential sister city relationship with Monrovia because of the successful cultural, sister city relationship Salisbury shares with Salisbury, England.

I wanted this sister city relationship to be economic as well due to Livingstones partnership with the City of Salisbury through KIVA and the 1MBB program, Alexander said. KIVA is a nonprofit organization that provides loans to eligible women- and minority-owned businesses. 1MBB, or 1 Million Black Businesses Initiative, aims to give one million black entrepreneurs and small business owners the tools they need to succeed. This is a great opportunity for us to advance not only the cultural, but our commitment as a city for racial equity and inclusion, Alexander said. This could be the beginning of something really big. You have taken the bull by the horn to move forward, Koijee told Alexander, adding that on behalf of the City of Monrovia and its council members, he appreciates her sense of diversity and the environment she has created to provide for different types of people. The entities present, which also included Dr. James Hunder, chair, and Olu Browne, president, of the Winston-Salem-based Liberian Organization of the Piedmont (LOP), went over a draft memorandum of understanding for a cultural, educational and economic relationship between the two governments. Alexander will present the draft to current City Council members for their input and wisdom, but said it would be the new City Council that will vote on the partnership at its December meeting. This initiative speaks to your leadership  always inclusive and being very intentional in making sure everyone has a voice. We appreciate that, said Davis of Livingstone, who spoke on behalf of President Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr. That is the spirit in which this document was drafted. It goes beyond just a cultural experience, but perhaps an economic experience  a relationship that would be mutually beneficial. Livingstone College has relationships with institutions in Liberia, just as it does in India, said State Alexander. Mayor Alexander has already demonstrated this level of involvement with those institutions in India and this is the very kind of thing we want to grow and enhance in Liberia, he said. Just to think that a young man is the reason that I was there (at Livingstone) to celebrate, Mayor Alexander said. It just touched my heart that day. Here is an example of someone who is so young and yet has grasped the importance of character, where that when no one else is looking  except God  hes doing the right thing, and thats the way I grew up. It was just wonderful. The relationship between Liberia and America dates far back. The first freed American slaves who came to Liberia are believed to be from Winston-Salem, NC, and settled in what is today, Monrovia, named after Americas fifth president, James Monroe. Liberia is the only country in the world founded by free American slaves and is the first and oldest modern republic in Africa. We have a very unique history, Koijee said. Liberia is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial on next year, and Mayor Alexander and Livingstone College officials are hoping to attend. About Livingstone College

Livingstone College is a private historically black college that is secured by a strong commitment to quality instruction, academic excellence and student success. Through a Christian-based environment suitable for holistic learning, Livingstone provides excellent business, liberal arts, STEAM, teacher education and workforce development programs for students from all ethnic backgrounds designed to promote lifelong learning, and to develop student potential for leadership and service to a global community. For more information, visit www.livingstone.edu.
[November 18, 2021] AcreTrader Launches AcrePro: a Technology-Forward Land Brokerage to Modernize Land Sales Nationwide

AcreTrader, the technology company that connects investors, land, and farmers through fractional investing, today announced the public launch of AcrePro, a land brokerage platform offering best-in-class services for land sellers and buyers across the United States. AcrePro is led by President Geoff Lewis, a real estate industry veteran and former President of RE/MAX Holdings, and VP of Growth Jeff Corbett, former CRO of Better Real Estate, a subsidiary of Better.com. U.S. farm and ranch land is one of the largest real estate sectors, exceeding $3 trillion in value, but it has been difficult for buyers and sellers to efficiently access the market as communication, marketing and technology have evolved. While there are many great brokers and agents, the industry remains behind the times. AcrePro looks to work with top-tier land brokers and agents across the country who are looking to grow their businesses and improve outcomes for their customers. Leveraging proprietary technology, data and sophisticated digital marketing as well as the team's unique real estate leadership experience, AcrePro creates a transaction process that is timely and easy for all parties involved.



"Our team at AcrePro believes that land brokers, agents, sellers, and buyers deserve superior tools and a streamlined experience," said Geoff Lewis, President of AcrePro. "I am thrilled to be surrounded by an incredible team of real estate and land industry experts as we help provide better information and access to our brokers, agents, and their customers nationwide." Part of AcrePro's unique appeal within the industry is its technology platform, which provides buyers and sellers with expertly-handled, smooth transactions. Through the AcrePro platform, sellers gain exposure to potential buyers nationwide and comparable sales data from across the U.S. This sales data is compiled with other data sets such as historical performance, remote sensing, and soil surveys, in a proprietary tool that delivers a more precise analysis alongside expert local opinion. The platform is continuously updated by AcrePro's team of top data scientists and software engineers to provide clients with the real-time information they need.

"AcrePro provides sellers and buyers with the best opportunity to reap the benefits of this underappreciated asset class anywhere in the nation by making it easier to assess, sell, and purchase land," said Jeff Corbett, VP of Growth at AcrePro. "We look forward to working towards our vision of making buying and selling land common, transparent, and easy." At launch, AcrePro is working with land sellers, buyers, and brokers across Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Tennessee. AcrePro plans to expand to many other states in the coming months. About AcreTrader

AcreTrader is a farmland investing platform that removes traditional barriers to farmland ownership. The platform provides transparency, flexibility, and ease of use to people who want to invest in farmland. AcreTrader handles all aspects of administration and property management, from insurance and accounting to working with local farmers and improving soil sustainability. AcreTrader also works with farmers by providing new financing options to grow their operation. The platform is currently available to accredited investors throughout the U.S. For more details visit: https://www.acretrader.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005815/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Avaya to Host Financial Investor Meeting During Avaya ENGAGE in Orlando, Florida

Avaya (News - Alert) Holdings Corp. (NYSE:AVYA) today announced today that the company will host an Investor Day Meeting both in person and virtually on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, starting at 11am ET. It will be hosted in conjunction with Avaya ENGAGE, the premier event for the future of communications experience and its impact on digital transformation, hosted by Avaya and the International Avaya User Group (IAUG). Members of Avaya's executive leadership team will host the Investor Meeting, providing updates on Avaya's business strategy, technology development roadmap, growth opportunities, and updated long-term financial model. Both in-person and virtual attendees are asked to pre-register for the Investor Meeting at: https://investors.avaya.com/event/default.aspx. Once registered, in-person attendees will receive instructions for attending Avaya ENGAGE and virtual participants will receive instructions how to participate in the approximately three-hour meeting using Avaya Spaces, the all-in-one video collaboration platform for the digital workplace.



A replay will be available approximately three hours after the conclusion of the live event at https://investors.avaya.com/. About Avaya

Businesses are built by the experiences they provide, and everyday millions of those experiences are delivered by Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA). Avaya is shaping what's next for the future of work, with innovation and partnerships that deliver game-changing business benefits. Our cloud communications solutions and multi-cloud application ecosystem power personalized, intelligent, and effortless customer and employee experiences to help achieve strategic ambitions and desired outcomes. Together, we are committed to help grow your business by delivering Experiences that Matter. Learn more at http://www.avaya.com. Source (News - Alert): Avaya Newsroom View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006312/en/

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[November 18, 2021] BluWave-ai and City of Summerside Deliver First AI-Optimized Utility Smart Grid in North America

The Made-In-Canada Collaboration Provides the Path to Global Net Zero OTTAWA and SUMMERSIDE, PE, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - BluWave-ai and the City of Summerside have announced the first end-to-end AI-optimized smart grid in North America, the first industry proof point of a scalable system applicable to entire states and countries for moving their energy networks towards maximized use of renewable assets. While world leaders gathered for the COP26 in Glasgow to discuss the Climate Crisis, BluWave-ai has been applying solutions in real-time for over two years at Summerside Electric Utility under its living lab program, driving the global energy transition and the path to Net Zero. That month, BluWave-ai started streaming commands for controlling battery storage, completing the smart grid solution. The commands are based on solar models for the local PV array, building on previously live wind and load AI models operationalized over the last two years. The AI platform is now ready to onboard an additional 20 MW solar and 20MWh of battery storage in 2022. "In 2019, our utility ran North America's first AI-enabled energy dispatch. This year, as the world congregated for planning at COP26 to talk mitigating the climate crisis and global energy transition, Summerside with BluWave-ai have been leading implementation solutions," said Basil Stewart, Mayor of Summerside, "We invested early in wind, solar, and storage. Our investment in adopting artificial intelligence solutions with BluWave-ai has completed the full smart grid in our community, country, and continent and during the last two years we removed over 64 million kilograms of carbon from ou energy usage thanks to our industry leading smart grid."



BluWave-ai Edge and Center products are running around the clock on Microsoft Azure (MSFT) cloud platform, leveraging the data from Summerside's existing hardware. The BluWave-ai solution optimizes all of the key elements of the Summerside smart grid: wind turbines, solar panels, diesel generation backup, controllable loads, utility scale storage, and upper-grid connection to an independent local producer of wind energy source. BluWave-ai software continuously samples the electricity network to understand the generation and consumption patterns from all these assets, provisioning energy to minimize the cost and carbon footprint of Summerside's operations. "SDTC is proud to see BluWave-ai's AI smart grid technology is now live and operational," said SDTC President Leah Lawrence. "It is great to see this made in Canada solution deployed here at home, using AI to best use energy generated when the wind blows and sun shines and offset carbon emitting energy intelligently."

"Working with Summerside and operationalizing our AI software on all grid hardware proved the BluWave-ai solution's application in our home market," said Devashish Paul, CEO of BluWave-ai, "This has led to winning customers around the world in India, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. BluWave-ai smart grid and EV fleet products are now operational globally and have been operating around the clock during the pandemic enabling our customers to reduce their supplied cost of energy and offset millions of kilograms of carbon." BluWave-ai and Summerside will be giving a presentation on North America's first AI-optimized utility smart grid and the path to Net Zero at Electricity Transformation Canada on November 18th, 2021 in Toronto, Canada. About the City of Summerside Summerside has long presented a compelling case for business investment with easy market access, lower costs and sophisticated infrastructure, along with international partnerships, make Summerside's value proposition extremely attractive. The City has quietly created a unique environment in which local and international brands can access an experienced workforce, world-class infrastructure, and a supportive and engaging business community, along with pro-business government support. Underpinned by investments in low-carbon energy and technological innovation, Summerside's latest developer opportunities are founded on solid and secure ROI principles. About BluWave-ai

BluWave-ai is focused on driving the proliferation of renewable energy and electric transportation worldwide. Our solutions apply artificial intelligence to optimize the cost, availability, and reliability of different energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable, in real-time. This lets our customers  communities, corporations and utilities  improve their energy decisions for sustainability, reliability, and affordability. For more information please contact:

Brandon Paul, Marketing, BluWave-ai

[email protected]

City of Summerside

Mike Thususka

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluwave-ai-and-city-of-summerside-deliver-first-ai-optimized-utility-smart-grid-in-north-america-301427397.html SOURCE BluWave-ai

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[November 18, 2021] DDN Honored with Multiple Esteemed HPC Awards for Achievements in Supercomputing in Solving the Most Prominent Global Issues

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DDN, the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and multicloud data management solutions, today announced it has earned multiple accolades, including Editors' Choice in the Best HPC Storage Product category for the 11th consecutive year in the 19th annual HPCwire Readers' and Editors' Choice Awards, presented at the 2021 International Conference for High Performance Computing, Networking, Storage and Analysis (SC21)  the industry's premier supercomputing event, held in St. Louis, Missouri. Being honored with these awards for the past 16 years substantiate DDN as the storage vendor of choice among HPC customers, delivering the most robust systems and innovative intelligent technology to address the most demanding HPC, AI and analytics challenges. "Advancements in medical research and the rapid adoption of electronic health records continue to grow and have put storage infrastructure in the critical path. Gathering, accessing and processing this data quickly is imperative," said Dr. James Coomer, senior VP of products, DDN. "With EXAScaler and A3I, we're meeting the demanding and critical data-intensive workflows of our customers, providing powerful and dependable performance that scales easily and removes data management risks with efficiency and speed  regardless of the size of the challenge. Being recognized with accolades by the HPC community and a worldwide audience of end users is a testament to the innovation of DDN solutions that provide features and functionality that can't be found anywhere else."

DDN's 2021 HPCwire Readers' and Editors' Choice Awards include: Editors' Choice  Best HPC Storage Product or Technology: DDN EXAScaler

DDN EXAScaler is the most powerful file system for AI, analytics and HPC. DDN extends its leadership in parallel file systems with EXA6, the foundation for stronger security, enriched data services and end-to-end data management. Developed and optimized using the latest advances in filesystem software technology, EXA6 is fully-optimized to deliver data with high-throughput, low-latency and massive concurrency usig a shared parallel architecture that can scale flexibly, bringing dramatic performance and economic benefits.









DDN EXAScaler is the most powerful file system for AI, analytics and HPC. DDN extends its leadership in parallel file systems with EXA6, the foundation for stronger security, enriched data services and end-to-end data management. Developed and optimized using the latest advances in filesystem software technology, EXA6 is fully-optimized to deliver data with high-throughput, low-latency and massive concurrency usig a shared parallel architecture that can scale flexibly, bringing dramatic performance and economic benefits. Editors' Choice  Best Use of High Performance Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence: Researchers at University of Florida using DDN A 3 I and NVIDIA

The GatorTron research project at the University of Florida uses an academic hospital's clinical notes to train a Natural Language Processing (NLP) model to recognize medical terminology. Using DDN's A 3 I storage and NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD technology, it's the largest NLP trained model at this time.





The GatorTron research project at the uses an academic hospital's clinical notes to train a Natural Language Processing (NLP) model to recognize medical terminology. Using DDN's A I storage and NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD technology, it's the largest NLP trained model at this time. Readers' Choice - Best Use of HPC in Response to Societal Plights (Urgent Computing, COVID-19): COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium using DDN in partnership with Dell and Lenovo

The COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) is a national collaborative organization that delivers rapid, large-scale whole-genome virus sequencing to local NHS centers and the UK government. This data, when combined with epidemiological and clinical information, will inform critical interventions and policy decisions during the current UK COVID-19 epidemic. This year COG-UK expanded its CLIMB-COVID project, using hardware from DDN, Dell, Lenovo and others to sequence and aggregate over 675,000 coronavirus genomes and broadening the project to include samples from around the world. The coveted annual HPCwire Readers' and Editors' Choice Awards are determined through a nomination and voting process involving the global HPCwire community, as well as selections from HPCwire editors. The awards are an annual feature of the publication and constitute prestigious recognition from the HPC community and are revealed each year to kick off the annual supercomputing conference, which showcases high performance computing, networking, storage, and data analysis.

"Every year it is our pleasure to connect with and honor the HPC community through our Readers' and Editors' Choice Awards, and 2021 marked an exceptional showing of industry innovation," said Tom Tabor, CEO of Tabor Communications, publisher of HPCwire. "Between our worldwide readership of HPC experts and an unparalleled panel of editors, the Readers' and Editors' Choice Awards represent resounding recognition throughout the industry. Our congratulations go out to all of the winners."

More information on these awards can be found at the HPCwire website (http://www.HPCwire.com) or on Twitter through the following hashtag: #HPCwireAwards.

Supporting Resources More on DDN EXAScaler, A 3 I

I More on Twitter at the following hashtag #SC21, #HPC About DDN

DDN is the world's largest private data storage company and the leading provider of intelligent technology and infrastructure solutions for Enterprise At Scale, AI and analytics, HPC, government, and academia customers. Through its DDN and Tintri divisions, the company delivers AI, Data Management software and hardware solutions, and unified analytics frameworks to solve complex business challenges for data-intensive, global organizations. DDN provides its enterprise customers with the most flexible, efficient and reliable data storage solutions for on-premises and multi-cloud environments at any scale. Over the last two decades, DDN has established itself as the data management provider of choice for over 11,000 enterprises, government, and public-sector customers, including many of the world's leading financial services firms, life science organizations, manufacturing and energy companies, research facilities, and web and cloud service providers. About HPCwire

HPCwire is the #1 news and information resource covering the fastest computers in the world and the people who run them. With a legacy dating back to 1986, HPCwire has enjoyed a legacy of world-class editorial and journalism, making it the news source of choice selected by science, technology and business professionals interested in high performance and data-intensive computing. Visit HPCwire at www.hpcwire.com. Contact:

Press Relations at DDN

[email protected] Walt & Company, on behalf of DDN

Sharon Sumrit, 408.369.7200 x2981

[email protected] Tabor Communications

Lara Kisielewska

Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected] 2021 All rights reserved. DDN, A3I and EXAScaler are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by DataDirect Networks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ddn-honored-with-multiple-esteemed-hpc-awards-for-achievements-in-supercomputing-in-solving-the-most-prominent-global-issues-301428117.html SOURCE DataDirect Networks (DDN)

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[November 18, 2021] Ethos Asset Management Inc., USA Announces Major Deal in Mozambique with Thai Mozambique Logistica, S.A., to Finance the Building of the Macuse Port and Rail Infrastructure in the sum of $400 Million USD

ETHOS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC USA, announced a new long-term financing partnership with Thai Mozambique Logistica, Maputo, with a significant capital infusion of $400 Million USD, that will continue for several years. The project and investment by Ethos will ensure the construction of a multi-purpose port designed to handle export and import of dry bulk, agricultural products, general cargo and liquid bulk, to be implemented on the Macuse River, Mozambique. The Macuse Port was conceived in 2013 as part of The Moatize Macuse Rail and Port Project (the Project) to be developed as integrated logistics corridor. The Feasibility Report was completed in 2015 and updated in 2017. For Phase 1 which involves the port, the Project will handle a multi-product cargo such as wood chips, fertilizer, grain, and fuels, and be capable of accommodating vessels of 65,000 DWT capacity. Trucking to the port will be along a strong existing road network. With later development of the rail corridor in Phase 2, the port will be expanded to handle more bulk cargo such as other minerals from Tete and the Copperbelt region as well as passengers and other general cargos. Carlos Santos, President, and CEO of Ethos stated, "This is a very special and important moment for Mozambique, the people, the community, Thai Mozambique Logistica and the Mozambique government. I feel very proud and humbled to be a partner in such a critical and significant project that will make a huge difference to the country and to the lives of the people of Mozambique. I would like to personally thank the Ethos and Thai Mozambique Logistica teams that have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months throuh many challenges to reach this monumental point. I have great admiration for TML team members for working with us closely and step by step on this amazing journey to bring about a dream for the wonderful country of Mozambique. The Project is to be one of the largest infrastructure projects in Africa with an estimated total investment cost of approximately USD 3 billion. Given the size and geographic importance of the corridor, the Project will unquestionably be a key agent of social and economic change for the benefit of affected communities and for the country as a whole. The Macuse Port will provide trade access to and from land-locked neighbouring countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi. This is a great day for Mozambique, Thai Mozambique Logistica and Ethos."



Thai Mozambique Logistica Executive Director, Mr. Virat Kongmaneerat stated that all shareholders of TML which include ITD, CFM, and Codiza are pleased to have Ethos Asset Management as a long-term partner in the Project. Funding from Ethos is a vote of confidence not only in the viability of the Project but also in the investment climate in Mozambique for foreign investors. We look forward to working with Ethos to implement Phase 1 of the Project and Phase 2 to come. Mr. Virat confirmed that the development of the Project can continue to move forward with the resettlement and construction of the port. Ethos understands the important contribution the Project will have on TML and the country, creating employment, stimulating the local economy, and putting TML and Mozambique on the regional transportation map.

About Ethos Asset Management: Ethos Asset Management (Ethos) is an independent, US-based company with a global reach in resource mobilization and project financing. Providing financing to government and privately promoted projects in every continent and every sector, Ethos has developed a unique risk modulation model which allows them to provide financing in terms not available anywhere in traditional financial markets. Additionally, Ethos provides advice to structure projects and restructure debt. Ethos supports and develops their clients to navigate changing market environments to achieve their long-term goals with confidence. For more information about Ethos, please visit:

https://www.ethosasset.com/ About Thai Mozambique Logistica: Thai Mozambique Logistica (TML) is a concessionaire of two 30-year concession contracts for the Macuse Port Terminal and the Chitima-Macuse railway under a public private partnership program since 2013. TML is to build and operate the corridor between Chitima and a comercial port in Macuse. TML is 60% owned by ITD and 20% each by CFM and Codiza. For more information about Thai Mozambique Logistica, please visit:

http://www.tml.co.mz View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005757/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Indigenous Connectivity Summit Urges Stronger Government Support For Digital Equity, Identifies Critical Solutions To Expand Access

RESTON, Va., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet Society today issued its 2021 Indigenous Connectivity Summit Policy Recommendations, which lay the groundwork for addressing the barriers preventing Indigenous communities from accessing affordable and reliable Internet services. The new set of recommendations, developed during the fifth annual Indigenous Connectivity Summit in October, urge the United States and Canadian governments to broaden their efforts to engage Indigenous voices in policymaking decisions that affect broadband connectivity on tribal lands; to support funding initiatives for capacity building, data sovereignty and digital literacy; and to prioritize changes for effective, inclusive and accurate broadband mapping, among other recommendations. In Canada, the majority of First Nations on-reserve homes  more than two-thirds  do not have high-speed Internet. In the United States, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nearly 630,000 tribal households lack access to standard broadband, a rate more than four times that of the general population. Each year the Indigenous Connectivity Summit brings together a diverse group of stakeholders under a common goal: connecting Indigenous communities in North America to fast, affordable, sustainable Internet. The four-day Summit culminates in the presentation of the year's policy recommendations that, if adopted, could create an environment that enables Indigenous communities to drive their own connectivity solutions. The 2021 recommendations come on the heels of the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the United States, which allocates $2 billion for Tribal Broadband. "Community-driven connectivity solutions are essential for Indigenous community members to achieve accss on par with their non-Indigenous counterparts," said Mark Buell, Regional Vice President for North America at the Internet Society.



"Although both Canada and the United States have expressed their commitment to ending the digital divide for their Indigenous populations, too often these communities are left out of the policymaking process altogether. But Indigenous voices are critical parts of these ongoing conversations, as they are the ones directly affected by any policy outcomes," said Buell. "Our hope is that local, state and federal governments will take these recommendations  developed by the community for the community  into consideration as well as engage with Indigenous leaders to identify and develop policies that best serve users' needs and ensure that Indigenous communities have affordable, high-quality and sustainable Internet access." Since 2017, the Indigenous Connectivity Summit has issued nearly 90 policy recommendations, which have been reflected in such reports, policies and legislation as the 2019 Arctic Council's report Improving Connectivity in the Arctic, rural development strategies and funding criteria in government programs in Canada and the United States.

In the lead-up to this year's Summit, nearly 100 technical and policy experts and advocates from across North America  most of whom are members of Indigenous communities  met to outline the 2021 recommendations. Summit participants call for bold and rapid action aligned with policy recommendations in seven overarching categories: inclusivity, community consultation and engagement; spectrum rights and sovereignty; engaging local capacity in Indigenous communities; infrastructure and ownership; digital literacy, data sovereignty and sustainability; affordability; and effective and accurate mapping. Highlights include: Digital literacy, data sovereignty and sustainability , the newest category to the recommendations, urges the federal government to support communities using allocated funds towards digital literacy initiatives; to allow Indigenous communities to be the owners and stewards of their own data; to support extended timelines for deployment or completion of projects to provide Indigenous communities enough time to build a strong foundation in managing and sustaining a network long-term.

, the newest category to the recommendations, urges the federal government to support communities using allocated funds towards digital literacy initiatives; to allow Indigenous communities to be the owners and stewards of their own data; to support extended timelines for deployment or completion of projects to provide Indigenous communities enough time to build a strong foundation in managing and sustaining a network long-term. Effective and accurate mapping is key to connecting Indigenous communities, especially after the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but current broadband mapping data collection in both the United States and Canada requires significant improvement. The Summit recommends that the appropriate agencies immediately prioritize changes in the way data is collected and who is excluded from federal programs based on mapping challenges.

is key to connecting Indigenous communities, especially after the passage of the Investment and Jobs Act, but current broadband mapping data collection in both and requires significant improvement. The Summit recommends that the appropriate agencies immediately prioritize changes in the way data is collected and who is excluded from federal programs based on mapping challenges. Spectrum rights and sovereignty, which calls on federal regulators to ensure that Indigenous governments, Indigenous-owned entities and communities have first rights to spectrum over their lands. The 2021 policy recommendations, which build on those from 2019 and 2020, are available here. About the Internet Society

Founded in 1992 by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society (ISOC) is a global non-profit organization working to ensure the Internet remains a force for good for everyone. Through its community of members, special interest groups, and 130+ chapters around the world, the organization defends and promotes Internet policies, standards, and protocols that keep the Internet open, globally-connected, and secure. For more information, please visit: internetsociety.org. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indigenous-connectivity-summit-urges-stronger-government-support-for-digital-equity-identifies-critical-solutions-to-expand-access-301427296.html SOURCE The Internet Society

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[November 18, 2021] IntelliClear Selects Refugees International as its 2021 Clarity Trust Recipient

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IntelliClear today announced Refugees International (RI) as the selected 2021 recipient of its annual Clarity Trust donation. Under the yearly program, IntelliClear contributes 1% of its corporate profits to an outstanding charity as part of an on-going corporate commitment to support worldwide communities and charitable activities. "Global conflicts, sickness, climate change and other dynamics have dramatically increased the scores of the displaced, leaving tens of millions in need of basic necessities and the hope for a better life; Refugees International is committed to helping these individuals, many of which are children," says Alex Kalamarides, Ph.D., Managing Director and General Partner of IntelliClear. "Charity Navigator rates Refugees International four out of four stars for its excellence in operations, ensuring over 84 cents of every dollar donated reaches those in need," adds Eric Shuster, CEO of IntelliClear. "Today, there are more than 80 million people who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence and persecution, the highest number ever on record. With the generous support from IntelliClear's Clarity Trust, Refugees International can continue to investigate the challenges displaced people face, identify solutions, and advocate for change in the halls of power. Together, we are building a more welcoming world for those seeking safety," says Lisa Cantu-Parks, Vice President of Philanthropy at Refugees International. Past recipients ofthe IntelliClear Clarity Trust have included the American Refugee Committee, Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, HeartGift, Choice Humanitarian, SOS Children's Villages of Greece, Children's Aid Society of New York, Disabled American Veterans, the Global Orphan Project, the National Alliance for Mental Illness, and Save the Children. IntelliClear encourages companies of all sizes to exercise corporate responsibility in making regular charitable donations to worthy causes to collectively make the world a better place.



About Refugees International (www.refugeesinternational.org)

Refugees International (RI) focuses on the important refugee, displacement, humanitarian, and human rights issues that require urgent attention and action. Our advocates investigate first-hand the challenges displaced people face, create policy solutions, and demand action. Not accepting any form of government or UN funding, RI speaks freely and independently enabling humanitarian groups that respond to refugee and other displacement crises to view RI as a key ally toward delivering immediate relief and lifesaving solutions to refugees. About IntelliClear (www.intelliclear.com)

IntelliClear is a market research and business consulting firm committed to the delivery of actionable market intelligence to the global IT community. IntelliClear's mission is to bring clarity to IT market intelligence by delivering results-oriented research, responsive industry experience, and effective data synthesis - leading to confident go-to-market plans. IntelliClear leverages the experiences of seasoned IT and market research professionals, while utilizing its global network of industry consultants and research partners to execute projects across a broad spectrum of disciplines and geographies.

Media Contact:

Eric Shuster

(512) 862-3083

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intelliclear-selects-refugees-international-as-its-2021-clarity-trust-recipient-301426817.html SOURCE IntelliClear

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[November 18, 2021] Klevu Launches Real-Time Search Analytics, Boosting Sales and Customer Experience Ahead of Holiday Season

Ahead of what is predicted to be the biggest holiday season on record for ecommerce retailers, Klevu, the leading provider of artificial intelligence-powered search technology for retail e-commerce sites, has launched enhanced analytics tools designed to give ecommerce retailers a competitive advantage. The Klevu Merchant Center now features enhanced analytics tools, including Live View, Word Graph, and Filter Analytics. These three new tools allow retailers to optimize their marketing campaigns with actionable, real-time data based upon shopper behavior, ultimately boosting conversion and customer experience. ? Live View gives up to the minute information on searches and their origins-from a global heat map identifying where searches are originating to a ticker tape of live searches--showing retailers the number of searches and product clicks in the last minute. This granular level of information ultimately helps ecommerce retailers drive more revenue by fine tuning and geotargeting their marketing messaging. In addition, Live View displays long-tail searches, offering greater search analytics specificity. ? Word Graph, another Klevu analytics tool, helps retailers make connections between keywords that may otherwise go unnoticed. Using this tool, retailers can build out high-conversion product copy, find elusive longtail keywords for paid marketing, and discover products for cross-selling. ? Filter Analysis enables consumers to find what they are looking for more quickly with fewer clicks. Retailers can use this tool to identify highly-clicked filters on product listing pages and then make those products appear more prominently in search results. Nilay Oza, CEO and Co-Founder of Klevu, said, "Giving retailrs real-time actionable data and rich insights into their customers' on-site behavior leads to a more personalized customer journey, and, ultimately, higher conversion rates. Klevu allows brands to customize the entire search and discovery experience to drive sales and relevancy, while also gaining strategic data insights that can inform everything from merchandising and marketing to product development decisions."



The Klevu Merchant Center offers ecommerce retailers actionable insights from site-wide search, navigation, purchases, and even the customer's current session. These easy-to-use tools create a more enhanced customer experience. Research has shown that presenting hyper-relevant products to consumers has been shown to improve conversion rates by more than 25%. While average online conversion rates range from just 1%-3%, shoppers are three to five times more likely to convert when they can find in-stock and relevant products quickly. Klevu's marriage of natural language processing, machine learning, and search analytics accessible through the Klevu Merchant Center allows retailers to maximize their traffic and to reduce the number of poor customer experiences due to "no results" or out of stock or irrelevant product recommendations. It gives control to the retailer to optimize their product discovery without requiring manual manpower.

In its quest to democratize Artificial Intelligence for ecommerce sites of any size, Klevu's easy-to-use admin interface automates tasks that used to be both time and labor intensive. The Klevu Merchant Center acts as a campaign analytics console, giving up to the minute information. Klevu analytics provides valuable in-depth search data to help retailers apply shopper intent insights to their wider strategies, while also allowing them to customize campaigns, product listing pages, search terms, pricing, and more. ABOUT KLEVU Klevu captures e-commerce shoppers' intent and then leverages AI to provide highly relevant, personalized online search and discovery experiences that go well beyond keywords typed into the search box. The company's technology provides a seamless, fast search online experience that drives traffic, conversion and loyalty, while reducing bounce rates. The end-to-end discovery and search solution is easy to configure, optimize and maintain and fully integrates with major shopping platforms' technology in just hours. Klevu's proprietary technology is driving traffic, conversion and loyalty for more than 3,000 leading global brands, including Puma, Yamaha (News - Alert), Callaway, Toys "R" Us, Made.com and Jack Daniel's. Founded in Finland in 2013, Klevu has offices in the UK, the US, India, Australia, Finland and Sweden. For more information, please visit Klevu.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005946/en/

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[November 18, 2021]

MRHB DeFi backed by Polygon Technology to build new Decentralised Philanthropy Protocol DePhi in World's 1st Halal Ecosystem

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethereums biggest DeFi chain Polygon and ethical DeFi platform MRHB DeFi are leading the charge on the next big thing in DeFi  decentralized philanthropy  or DePhi for short, which is estimated at over $75bn each year in Muslim countries alone with around USD1.5 trillion in assets held by around 160,000 foundations globally.



Polygon has become one of the leading full-stack scaling solutions for Ethereum, given its speed and scalability, says Deniz Dalkilic , MRHB DeFi CTO. As Marhaba strives to achieve its end goal of building a comprehensive, secure and scalable ecosystem where liquidity is a priority, we are thrilled to announce our integration with Polygon. To expand our presence on Polygon we have received a grant from Polygon to optimise our solutions for their network.

The Polygon team has been enthusiastic in its support of the ethics-based startup, recognizing that MRHB DeFi is the first Islamic finance dApp. Polygon has agreed to support MRHB DeFis plan to develop a sidechain solution that opens up DeFi to millions globally. The two parties have recently signed an agreement which puts into writing their aim to bring philanthropy to the crypto space, stating that:

MRHB DeFi intends to build its DePhi (Decentralised philanthropy) protocol on Polygon technology, which would be a dedicated philanthropy protocol based on funding social initiatives for the benefit of the community, using the quadratic funding model.

With this solution, MRHB intends to catalyse the crypto philanthropy ecosystem, with focus on being the first mover in channelling the annual Zakat contributions of the Islamic World (est. USD 300 billion annually).

Quadratic funding is a technique that applies mathematics to ensure the optimal funding  more democratic, more scalable  of community and social, charitable initiatives.

Bringing Philanthropy - a Key Pillar of the Islamic Faith - to DeFi

DePhi forms a key part of MRHB DeFis strategic plans for its protocol. As part of MRHBs approach to supporting a more ethical and community focused approach to decentralized finance, DePhi seeks to bring a key pillar of the Islamic faith  charity or zakat  to what is still a sector driven by self-interest. Once the DePhi protocol is implemented, MRHB DeFi users will have the option to send a portion of their crypto asset wealth to charities which would be linked to the platform, thus fulfilling their voluntary or faith-driven obligations.

End users who wish to donate will be able to deposit funds and generate rewards via trading fees on liquidity pools created by MRHB DeFi. After depositing the donation, assets would be locked for 60 days before being distributed to one of pre-approved charities nominated by the donor.

In addition, MRHB DeFi will set aside five percent of its DAO treasury to be invested in these pools as a form of crypto endowment, as such, this will generate wealth in perpetuity for charitable causes.

CTO Dalkilic adds: Decentralized philanthropy represents a significant step forward in sharing the benefits of DeFi globally and allowing for community  and public good  focused initiatives to be supported from the cryptoverse. Polygon is one of the most respected projects in the crypto space, and were excited to align our vision of using DeFi for good causes, with theirs.

Being the first dApp on Islamic finance, we have received strong support from the Polygon team to bring the project to the community. Polygon is the latest in a long line of partnerships we are fostering and developing as we work to grow our vision of an ethics-first platform and project. 

MRHB DeFi recently partnered with Ethereum scaling and privacy engine zkSync, a leading ZK-Rollup solution for Ethereum. It has als received strategic investments and backing from Blockchain Australia , Mozaic , Contango Digital Assets , NewTribe Capital , Sheesha Finance , Acreditus Partners , EMGS Group , MKD Capital and Sinofy Group .







About MRHB DeFi

MRHB DeFi is a halal, decentralised finance platform built to embody the true spirit of an Ethical and Inclusive DeFi by following faith-based financial and business principles, where all excluded communities can benefit from the full empowerment potential of DeFi.

The diverse team is comprised of researchers, technocrats, influencers, Islamic fintech experts & business entrepreneurs, who came together to ensure that MRHB DeFi prevails in a manner that will impact society as a whole, essentially bridging the gap between the faith-conscious communities and the blockchain world.

MRHB DeFi Official Channels

Website: https://marhabadefi.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marhabadefi

Telegram: https://t.me/mdf_official

Telegram Announcements: https://t.me/marhabadefi_ANN

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHuvZG9DbS5ffeoqLX_bERg

Medium: https://medium.com/@mrhbdefi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marhabadefi

Telegram (Arabic): https://t.me/mdf_arabic

Telegram (Russian): https://t.me/marhabadefi_russia

Telegram (Turkish): https://t.me/MarhabaDefiTR

About Polygon

Polygon is the leading platform for Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development. Its growing suite of products offers developers easy access to all major scaling and infrastructure solutions: L2 solutions (ZK Rollups and Optimistic Rollups), sidechains, hybrid solutions, stand-alone and enterprise chains, data availability solutions, and more. Polygons scaling solutions have seen widespread adoption with 3000+ applications hosted, ~600M total transactions processed, ~60M unique user addresses, and $5B+ in assets secured.

If you're an Ethereum Developer, you're already a Polygon developer! Leverage Polygons fast and secure txns for your Dapp, get started here .

Website | Twitter | Ecosystem Twitter | Developer Twitter | Enterprise Twitter | Studios Twitter | Telegram | Reddit | Discord | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Media Contact

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
[November 17, 2021] NEC Thailand and Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital pioneers contactless registration process

BANGKOK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NEC Corporation (Thailand) Ltd., hereafter referred to as NEC Thailand, has supported Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital, Thailand's largest hospital, with the modernization of its registration process by facilitating contactless, face recognition-based registrations. This system was launched on 1 August 2021 and is in operation for patients using the hospital. Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital selected NEC Thailand to provide its world-leading face recognition technology across the facility's patient registration counters and various touchpoints in order to facilitate a faster and more accurate registration process. NEC's face recognition technology will also be used at the emergency room, where immediate treatment is required and a patient might not have their ID on hand. In addition to the face recognition registration system, NEC Thailand also upgraded Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital's CCTV system to enhance overall security and help healthcare workers quickly locate patients within the compounds. With this new solution from NEC, Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital expects to reduce registration response times and staff responsibilities. By providing contactless registrations for its patients, the medical team can administer treatment more quickly in a safer environment while freeing up additional resources.



A spokesperson from Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital said, "NEC's solution helps empower our security system during this pandemic and helps with our resource limitations. With NEC's expertise, we are able to leverage technology that we weren't able to deploy previously due to operational challenges. NEC's work, especially in integrating our existing solutions, was instrumental in supporting Smart Face Recognition and allowing for a faster and more accurate registration process."

Mr. Ichiro Kurihara, President, NEC Thailand, said, "We are delighted to have deployed NEC's latest face recognition solution for Siriraj Hospital. A state-of-the-art medical facility that is also one of the oldest and largest in Thailand, Siriraj Hospital hosts high profile visitors, including members of the royal family and many other public figures. NEC's solutions play a key role in supporting the safety and security of the hospital's staff and patients. By enabling contactless patient registrations, NEC aims to support safer and more secure environments by reducing in-person exposure, especially in environments such as hospitals where the risks of infection from COVID-19 and other diseases are higher. We will continue innovating and developing solutions that deliver greater social value to society." About NEC Corporation (Thailand) Ltd. NEC started official activity in Thailand in 1962 by establishing a liaison office, and established NEC Thailand and NEC Communications Thailand (NCOT) in 1987 and 1988 respectively. NEC Corporation (Thailand) Ltd. was formed in 2003 by merging these 3 entities to provide IT and network support in Thailand. We provide IT solutions in various industries, superior technical support and solutions in the areas of telephony, network, contact center, network communication, infrastructure, IT platform, and safety and security systems for the cyber world, enterprises and the community. In addition, retail solutions, display monitor solutions, systems integration, and network operations in logistics are also provided. NEC Corporation (Thailand) aims for a society that connects all people equally by helping eliminate the digital divide. For more information: https://th.nec.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/NECCorporationThailand/ About Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital, operating under the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, serves as a new alternative for patients. It is part of a project to develop Siriraj Hospital into an Excellent Medical Center of Southeast Asia under the name "Sayamindradhiraj Medical Institute." Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, representing His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, laid the cornerstone for "The Siriraj Building Project Initiative: Toward an Institute of Medical Excellence in Southeast Asia" near the Thon Buri train station in Bangkok Noi district on Monday, March 17, 2008. Her Royal Highness graciously granted the name "Piyamaharajkarun" to the building. On July 6, 2010, the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital of Mahidol University passed a resolution to establish Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital or SiPH, using the building. SOURCE NEC Corporation (Thailand)

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[November 18, 2021] Stoneridge to Present at the Stephens Annual Investment Conference

NOVI, Mich., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stoneridge, Inc. (NYSE: SRI) today announced that Jon DeGaynor, president and chief executive officer, and Matt Horvath, chief financial officer, will participate in the Stephens Annual Investment Conference with a presentation at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Details on how to join the presentation via webcast will be posted to the "Investors/Webcasts & Presentations" section of the Company's website (www.stoneridge.com) prior to the presentation.





About Stoneridge, Inc.

Stoneridge, Inc., headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic components, modules and systems principally for the automotive, commercial vehicle, motorcycle, agricultural and off-highway vehicle markets. Additional information about Stoneridge can be found at Stoneridge.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stoneridge-to-present-at-the-stephens-annual-investment-conference-301428643.html SOURCE Stoneridge, Inc.

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[November 17, 2021] Todos Medical Announces Addition of Semi-Quantitative Titer Claims to the Emergency Use Authorization for the cPass Neutralizing Antibody Test

 Reauthorization of EUA expands beyond initial qualitative detection claim

 CEO to appear on Cheddar News at 6:10pm tonight, November 17th, 2021 New York, NY, and Tel Aviv, ISRAEL, Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Todos Medical, Ltd. (OTCQB: TOMDF), a comprehensive medical diagnostics and related solutions company, today announced that the United States Food & Drug Administration has reauthorized the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the cPass neutralizing antibody test (cPass)*. The new indication for cPass now reads: Qualitative and semi-quantitative direct detection of total neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and dipotassium EDTA plasma. Intended for use as an aid in identifying individuals with an adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, indicating recent or prior infection. Emergency use of this test is limited to authorized laboratories. Concurrent with this announcement, the Company announced that CEO Gerald Commissiong is to appear on Cheddar News at 6:10pm tonight, November 17th, 2021. For more information, please visit www.todosmedical.com. For more information on the Companys CLIA/CAP certified lab Provista Diagnostics, Inc. please visit www.provistadx.com. * This test has not been FDA cleared or approved. This test has been authorized by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories. This test has been authorized only for the presence of total neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. This test is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C.  360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the authorization is terminated or revoked sooner. About Todos Medical Ltd. Founded in Rehovot, Israel with offices in New York City, Todos Medical Ltd. (OTCQB: TOMDF) engineers life-saving dagnostic solutions for the early detection of a variety of cancers. The Company's state-of-the-art and patented Todos Biochemical Infrared Analyses (TBIA) is a proprietary cancer-screening technology using peripheral blood analysis that deploys deep examination into cancer's influence on the immune system, looking for biochemical changes in blood mononuclear cells and plasma. Todos' two internally-developed cancer-screening tests, TMB-1 and TMB-2, have received a CE mark in Europe. Todos recently acquired U.S.-based medical diagnostics company Provista Diagnostics, Inc. to gain rights to its Alpharetta, Georgia-based CLIA/CAP certified lab currently performing PCR COVID testing and Provista's proprietary commercial-stage Videssa breast cancer blood test.



Todos is also developing blood tests for the early detection of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. The Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LymPro Test) is a diagnostic blood test that determines the ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and monocytes to withstand an exogenous mitogenic stimulation that induces them to enter the cell cycle. It is believed that certain diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease, are the result of compromised cellular machinery that leads to aberrant cell cycle re-entry by neurons, which then leads to apoptosis. LymPro is unique in the use of peripheral blood lymphocytes as a surrogate for neuronal cell function, suggesting a common relationship between PBLs and neurons in the brain. Todos has entered into distribution agreements with companies to distribute certain novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits. The agreements cover multiple international suppliers of PCR testing kits and related materials and supplies, as well as antibody testing kits from multiple manufacturers after completing validation of said testing kits and supplies in its partner CLIA/CAP certified laboratory in the United States. Additionally, Todos has entered into a joint venture with NLC Pharma to pursue the development of diagnostic tests targeting the 3CL protease, as well as 3CL protease inhibitors that target a fundamental reproductive mechanism of coronaviruses.

For more information, please visit https://www.todosmedical.com/. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. For example, forward-looking statements are used when discussing our expected clinical development programs and clinical trials. These forward-looking statements are based only on current expectations of management, and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the risks and uncertainties related to the progress, timing, cost, and results of clinical trials and product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval or patent protection for product candidates; competition from other biotechnology companies; and our ability to obtain additional funding required to conduct our research, development and commercialization activities. In addition, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; delays or obstacles in launching our clinical trials; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; lack of validation of our technology as we progress further and lack of acceptance of our methods by the scientific community; inability to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties that may develop with our process; greater cost of final product than anticipated; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition; and laboratory results that do not translate to equally good results in real settings, all of which could cause the actual results or performance to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Todos Medical does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Todos Medical, please refer to its reports filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Todos Corporate and Investor Contact: Richard Galterio Todos Medical 732-642-7770 [email protected]



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[November 17, 2021] Sweetgreen Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

Sweetgreen, Inc. (sweetgreen) today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of Class A common stock at the price to the public of $28 per share. Sweetgreen is offering 13,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock. The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange on November 18, 2021 under the symbol "SG" and the offering is expected to close on November 22, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and J.P. Morgan are acting as lead book-running managers and as representatives of the underwriters for the proposed offering. Allen & Company LLC and Morgan Stanley are acting as book-running managers. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Cowen and Company, LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., RBC Capital Markets, and William Blair are also acting as book-running managers. Amerivet Securities and Blaylock Van LLC are acting as co-managers for the proposed offering. A registration statement relating to this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 17, 2021. This offering is bein made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by email at [email protected]; or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by telephone at 866-803-9204 or by email at [email protected].



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 sweetgreen: Sweetgreen passionately believes that real food should be convenient and accessible to everyone. Every day, across its 140+ restaurants, their 5,000 team members create plant-forward, seasonal, and earth-friendly meals from fresh ingredients and produce that prioritizes organic, regenerative, and local sourcing. Sweetgreen strongly believes in harnessing the power of technology to enhance the customer experience, and leverages their app to create an omnichannel experience to meet their customers where they are. Sweetgreen's strong food ethos and investment in local communities have enabled them to grow into a national brand with a mission to build healthier communities by connecting people to real food.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006392/en/

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[November 17, 2021] DoubleVerify Announces Pricing of Secondary Offering

DoubleVerify Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DV) ("DoubleVerify") today announced the pricing of an underwritten secondary public offering of 8,000,000 shares of common stock by Providence VII U.S. Holdings L.P. ("Providence") and other existing stockholders of DoubleVerify at a price to the public of $31.25 per share. The offering is expected to close on November 22, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The underwriters will have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares of common stock from Providence and another selling stockholder. DoubleVerify will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in the offering. J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as joint lead bookrunning managers for the secondary offering. Barclays, RBC Capital Markets and Truist Securities are acting as joint bookrunning managers for the offering. William Blair, KeyBanc Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets, Canaccord Genuity, JMP Securities (News - Alert), Needham & Company and Loop Capital Markets are acting as co-managers for the offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from: J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (866) 803-904; or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: 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 these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction. About DoubleVerify

DoubleVerify is a leading software platform for digital media measurement and analytics. Our mission is to make the digital advertising ecosystem stronger, safer and more secure, thereby preserving the fair value exchange between buyers and sellers of digital media. Hundreds of Fortune 500 advertisers employ our unbiased data and analytics to drive campaign quality and effectiveness, and to maximize return on their digital advertising investments - globally. DoubleVerify is majority owned by Providence Equity Partners (News - Alert), a premier global private equity firm with approximately $45 billion in aggregate capital commitments. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed secondary offering. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "seek," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006409/en/

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[November 17, 2021] USD 2.38 Bn growth in Computer Assisted Coding Market | 3M Co., Artificial Medical Intelligence Inc., and athenahealth Inc. emerge as Dominant Players | Technavio

NEW YORK, Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The computer assisted coding market size is set to grow by USD 2.38 billion from 2020 to 2025, according to Technavio. Technavio's reports offer in-depth market insights that assist global businesses to obtain growth opportunities.

Read Free Sample Report to gain confidence. Factors such as increasing implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems and the growing regulatory requirements for patient data management will offer immense growth opportunities. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. The computer assisted coding market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. The report covers the following areas: Computer Assisted Coding Market size

Computer Assisted Coding Market trends

Computer Assisted Coding Market industry analysis Computer Assisted Coding Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Deployment

On-premise



Cloud

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



South America



MEA By deployment, the market generated maximum revenue in the on-premise segment in 2020. The market growth in the segment will be significant over the forecast period. In terms of geography, North America is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for players during the forecast period. The region currently holds 48% of the global market share. The US and Canada are the key markets for computer-assisted coding in North America. Get highlights on the top revenue-generating segments, regions, and key countries in the computer assisted coding market.

Download a Free Sample Report Computer Assisted Coding Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis and Scope Some of the major vendors of the computer assisted coding market include 3M Co., Artificial Medical Intelligence Inc., athenahealth Inc., Cerner Corp., Craneware plc, Dolbey Systems Inc., Nuance Communications Inc., Streamline Health Solutions Inc., The Coding Network LLC, and UnitedHealth Group. To help businesses improve their market position, Technavio's report provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the market. The computer assisted coding market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate. The increasing implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the high implementation and maintenance costs will hamper the market growth. Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000 . View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually! Computer Assisted Coding Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist computer assisted coding market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the computer assisted coding market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the computer assisted coding market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of computer assisted coding market vendors Related Reports:

Global Fintech Blockchain Market - Global fintech blockchain market is segmented by component (platform and services) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Coding and Marking Equipment Market - Global coding and marketing equipment market is segmented by technology (CIJ printing and coding, laser coding and marking, TIJ printing, DOD printing, and others), end-user (food and beverage, healthcare, industrial, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America).

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Computer Assisted Coding Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of over 11% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 2.38 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 10.23 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 48% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, Japan, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., Artificial Medical Intelligence Inc., athenahealth Inc., Cerner Corp., Craneware plc, Dolbey Systems Inc., Nuance Communications Inc., Streamline Health Solutions Inc., The Coding Network LLC, and UnitedHealth Group Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usd-2-38-bn-growth-in-computer-assisted-coding-market--3m-co-artificial-medical-intelligence-inc-and-athenahealth-inc-emerge-as-dominant-players--technavio-301425750.html SOURCE Technavio

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[November 17, 2021] Warner Robins Building Supply Adds Three Seasoned Business Leaders to its Management Team and Promotes Another

Three senior operations, finance, and human resources leaders have joined Warner Robins Building Supply (WRBS), strengthening the management foundation of one of the region's top building supply businesses, President Roger Farmer announced. The new leaders are: Building products and LBM operations leader Art Cassidy, named Vice President of Operations and Purchasing. He will work closely with Director of Purchasing Clay Wilson.

LBM finance executive Nick Witcher, who has been tapped to lead finance. He will work directly with long-time executive David Mahoney.

Tawana Muhammad, a veteran HR leader, who will be WRBS' Senior Human Resources Manager. In addition to these key hires, Kathy Chamblee has been promoted to serve as WRBS' Sales Manager. Chamblee previously led the Homework Division; her new charge is to drive exceptional customer service and responsiveness across the Sales team. All the leaders have deep roots in Georgia and collectively represent more than 60 years of building products and LBM industry experience. WRBS and its sister companies, Henson Building Materials and Mountain Building Supply, are the foundation stones of the recently launched Southeast Building Supply Interests (SBSI), which is growing a portfolio of LBM dealers across the Southeast in partnership with the business' employees. SBSI is sponsored by Building Industry Partners, the nation's only building industry-focused investment firm, and was creted with Farmer, who has led and grown market-leading LBM businesses for more than 25 years.



"We are laser focused on helping our customers and employees succeed," Farmer said. "These new additions to our management team represent a meaningful step towards establishing a culture of customer service and accountability. WRBS has been the leading building materials distributor in this community since 1947, and we are excited to attract such an experienced team to lead us forward." Cassidy has been involved in construction supply since 1988, most recently as Vice President of Operations and Strategy Development at a division of Oldcastle specializing in precast concrete. Earlier at Oldcastle, he served as Vice President of Operations at its Atlanta-based Meadow Burke Building Products division, driving substantial improvements in operations and financial performance. Before that, he was a Supply Chain VP at ProBuild (at one time the nation's biggest lumberyard chain), and a business leader at Marietta, GA-based Leeds Building Products and Hope Lumber.

Witcher's 20 years of experience as a financial executive includes 11 years spent as Corporate Controller at Robert Bowden Inc., the renowned Marietta, GA-based millwork dealer that is now part of Builders FirstSource. He also spent seven years at the CPA firm Grant Thornton (News - Alert) doing financial audits, and since August 2019 has directed all North American accounting and finance functions at Atlanta's Cable Management / Atkore International Group, a manufacturer. Muhammad has spent the past six years as a consultant to a number of manufacturing, distribution and service businesses, helping drive improvement in talent management/development, employee relations, performance management, and life and health benefits. From 2011 to 2015 she was BP America's Global Talent Advisor and Program Manager, redesigning programs to greatly improve employee retention and dramatically increase the conversion of interns into full-time staffers. All told, she has been engaged in human resources work for 23 years. "These new senior hires demonstrate the momentum and excitement at Warner Robins," said Nick Massengill, a longtime building material executive in Georgia who now is a member of WRBS' Board of Directors. "Kathy's promotion is a great example of the opportunities that will be presented to those committed to hard work and doing well by our customers and their fellow employees. I'm excited to see what this group will accomplish, and we look forward to adding even more experienced talent in the coming weeks and months." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211117006439/en/

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[November 17, 2021] Xoriant Continues its Great Place to Work Momentum in 2021

Building an empowering work culture with people-centric values and expanding into newer geographies with growth opportunities

MUMBAI, India, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoriant, a global product engineering, software development and technology services company headquartered in Silicon Valley, is featured for the fifth time in India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM by Great Place to Work Institute. Xoriant leadership credits its employees and their commitment in fostering camaraderie, a collaborative culture, and excellence in delivery for its status as one of India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM listed by the Great Place to Work Institute. The Institute is the 'Global Authority' for creating, sustaining, and identifying High-Trust, High-Performance Culture. Considered the gold standard in workplace culture assessment, Great Place o Work conducts a rigorous, independent assessment to identify Best Workplaces based solely on employee feedback and the quality of an organization's people practices.



"Being recognized as one of India's Best Workplaces in IT & IT-BPM five times is momentous! The dedication, professionalism, and support of our employees and their families was instrumental in achieving this recognition and for that, we are grateful. As we continue to expand across geographies and create opportunities for talented new hires, this recognition stands as a testament to who we are as a global company - an Employer of Choice and a Preferred Technology Partner for our customers," said Girish Gaitonde, Founder and CEO, Xoriant. In the last three quarters, Xoriant expanded operations in India, Mexico, and Dublin, setting up state-of-the-art infrastructures to bring modern digital workspaces and satellite offices closer to employees to better support global clients and customers. Fueled by strong economic growth, Xoriant aims to expand its footprint in the major Indian cities, ramping up talent acquisition across high-demand technology skillsets and engineering roles, while delivering maximum value to customers.

About Xoriant Xoriant is a Silicon Valley headquartered product engineering, software development and technology services firm with offices in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. For both technology companies and enterprises, from start-ups to the Fortune 100, we leverage our expertise in emerging technologies and our high-performing teams to deliver innovative solutions that accelerate time to market and keep our clients competitive. Across all our technology focus areas  Advanced Product Engineering, DevOps, Cloud, Infrastructure & Security, Big Data & Analytics, Data Management & Governance, Digital and IoT  every solution we develop benefits from our product engineering pedigree. For 30 years and counting, we have taken great pride in the long-lasting, deep relationships we have with our clients. Learn more at www.xoriant.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/449859/PRNE_Xoriant_Logo.jpg

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[November 18, 2021] KDDI & Supership to Launch Next-generation Digital Advertising Platform That Prioritizes Customer Privacy

TOKYO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KDDI CORPORATION (referred to as "KDDI" below), Supership Holdings Inc. (referred to as "Supership Holdings" below) and Supership Inc. (referred to as "Supership" below), all based in Tokyo, are jointly developing a next-generation digital advertising platform (referred to as "the platform" below) for scheduled launch in January 2022. The platform will prioritize data privacy while serving highly relevant advertising based on customer lifestyles. At the core, patented technology provided by Novatiq Ltd. (referred to as "Novatiq" below), headquartered in Wales, the UK, enables advertisers to activate audiences using only permission-based data. KDDI, Supership Holdings and Supership will integrate the platform with Supership's advertising platform to provide optimized digital marketing for advertisers. Overview of new digital advertising platform:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106894/202111123299/_prw_PI1fl_kSUCjIK7.jpg To date, using third-party data (*1) to reach audiences based on customer interests and needs across websites and apps has been a mainstream practice in digital marketing. However, from a data privacy protection viewpoint, this is globally becoming more problematic, as much of this third-party data originates from tracking customer behavior with cookies or advertising IDs (referred to as "ADID" below) without consent. This situation demands new marketing methods that don't rely on the utilization of such third-party data. The platform protects the customer's data privacy by generating a transient one-time token (referred to as "ad delivery ID" below) (*2) for each website or mobile app interaction combined with KDDI's permission-based attribution (e.g. gender, age group, etc.). It enables advertisers to serve highly relevant ads using only permission-based data, ensures that customer privacy is protected, and supports effective marketing. KDDI, Supership Holdings and Supership will utilize this new technology in their aim to spread the use of digital ad delivery that prioritizes pivacy.



For more information, please refer to the following: About the platform

1. Features (1) Privacy-first platform: - The platform serves highly effective digital advertising through the utilization of original ad delivery IDs that aren't dependent on cookies or ADIDs. - Ad delivery IDs are randomly generated when websites and apps are accessed to ensure ad delivery IDs aren't saved on customer devices such as smartphones and computers. In addition, customer action histories aren't tracked or collected across websites and apps. (2) Realization of digital ad delivery relevant to customer's lifestyle: - The platform connects permission-based first-party data (*3) from the KDDI Group to the ad delivery ID using IP addresses in an intermediate step. This cohort information (gender, age group, etc.) is used to determine which ad is delivered. - While taking data privacy into consideration, advertisers can reach audiences with highly relevant digital advertisements based on customer lifestyle. (3) Service provided via Supership's ad platform which sees 35bn monthly impressions: - The platform built on Novatiq's patented technology will be provided via Supership's DSP (ScaleOut) and SSP (Ad Generation). - SSP (Ad Generation) is a multifaceted platform centering around mobile apps. It boasts a wealth of inventory, and delivers ads to customers through premium media. - Supership Holdings entered into a capital and business alliance (*4) with Novatiq in June 2021. This agreement gives the Supership Group the exclusive rights to use Novatiq's patented technology in Asia. *Only permission-based data is utilized. Data handling complies with all relevant laws and regulations to ensure appropriate information security. In addition, any personally identifiable data such as the names of individuals, addresses including street numbers, telephone numbers, and email addresses are not utilized. For details regarding data usage or the ad delivery system, please refer to the privacy portal: https://www.kddi.com/corporate/kddi/public/privacy-portal/ 2. Launch date: January 2022 3. Fees: For inquiries regarding fees, please contact Supership Inc. 4. Contact information: Supership Inc.

Web inquires: https://supership.jp/business/cookieless-ads_en (Reference) About Novatiq Novatiq is a leading identity and audience activation platform empowering publishers, brands and telcos to reach their audiences at scale and provide better customer experiences -- all while prioritizing privacy. Using patented, privacy-first technology, Novatiq enables the creation of IDs based on pseudonymised first-party data, including fully consented customer intelligence from telco operators. This new approach to consented IDs puts privacy first, improves user-experience, drives better campaign performance, and enables a new generation of personalized digital services. The company has multiple patents, and is ISO 27001-certified and rigorously compliant with global privacy standards. https://novatiq.com/ Notes: (*1) Data provided by third parties that don't have a direct relationship with the customer. (*2) Ad delivery identifiers are randomly generated when ad spots with modules are displayed on the platform. The module generates or transmits ad identifiers by utilizing a program equipped with part of an ad spot provided by Supership. Apps and web services other than those provided by KDDI are also embedded. (*3) Data that businesses collect/store after receiving customer permission. (*4) Supership Holdings' news release (June 1, 2021): Supership Group and Novatiq Ltd. form Capital and Business Alliance to Develop Next-Generation Digital Advertising Platform for Cookie-less World https://supership-hd.jp/news/20210601/ SOURCE Supership Holdings Inc.

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[November 18, 2021] Industry Experts Map Out Retail Trends and Innovations

SINGAPORE, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Twelve retail industry experts spoke about critical relationships between digital transformation, consumer trends and sustainability at the Asia Retail Leaders Conference 2021, organised by Singapore Management University (SMU)'s Retail Centre of Excellence. Consumers are also beginning to consider a brand's sustainability values when making their purchasing decision. Nejla Matam-Finn, Co-founder of THE FIFTH COLLECTION said, "The adoption of the second-hand economy has the potential of becoming bigger tha fast fashion, as more people are going to be transacting higher values in second-hand clothing." She added, "Sustainability is not a choice anymore".



With the pandemic changing shopping behaviour, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence have altered how brands engage with consumers. "The shift to digital is here to stay and retailers should treat social channels like flagship stores. The role of store and online have blurred, which means retailers should bring the store experience online and the convenience of digital to stores More consumers want runway presentations, messaging, and even virtual appointments with sales associates, all in the comfort of their living room," said Via Abano, Product Marketing Manager, CPG and Retail, Facebook APAC. Supply chain disruptions have led to pivots in production and fulfilment operations. "We are seeing many brands having a higher degree of flexibility, which allows production in much smaller batches, while ensuring a higher level of proximity between the supply chain and the local market," highlighted Dr Shantanu H. Bhattacharya, Professor of Operations Management, SMU. He shared about how it has made planning and scheduling of inventory more dynamic when compared to static supply chain policies in the past and said, "Usage of text analytics and social media has converged with trending keywords and products linked to those keywords, identified and mapped in real time".

Beyond social media, retailers have expanded touch points to build trust and loyalty. "Digital commerce has rapidly accelerated and will continue to evolve and expand beyond what we can imagine as consumers continue to have a higher baseline expectation," said Peng Chun Hsien, Vice President, Merchant Sales & Acquiring, Asia Pacific, Visa Worldwide, "Businesses that go the extra mile by providing a delightful fulfilment experience, as well as a comprehensive loyalty programme will deliver something that customers all look for in the long run." SOURCE Singapore Management University

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[November 18, 2021] TAAL Announces Transition of Chief Executive Officer

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. (CSE: TAAL) (FWB: 9SQ1) (OTC: TAALF) ("TAAL" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated blockchain infrastructure and service provider for enterprise, today announces Stefan Matthews has advised the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") that he will be stepping down as Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2022. Mr. Matthews will remain as a director and as Executive Chairman of the Board. Succeeding Mr. Matthews as Chief Executive Officer will be Richard Baker. Mr. Baker currently acts as Lead Independent Director and Chairman of the Technology Committee. During his work with the Technology Committee Mr. Baker has gained invaluable insight into the business and operations of the Company and has led development of an overarching business strategy which will be implemented in 2022. Mr. Baker served as Chief Executive Officer to GeoSpock Limited, a Data Analytics software company based in Cambridge U.K., from November 2017 to February 2021. Mr. Baker also currently serves as Chairman and Director of TAB.U.K a Fintech data science company. Prior to this, Mr. Baker co-founded in June 2010 and ran Cleartrade Exchange, a fintech commodities futures exchange, for six years before exiting in 2016 to the European Energy Exchange, a Deutsche Bourse company. Mr. Matthews commented "I have worked closely with Richard, and I have every confidence he will be able to lead TAAL through its development and growth as a miner, transaction processor and blockchain as a service company. My commitment to the Board was that I would guide TAAL until Dec 2022 and in my capacity as Executive Chairman I will work closely with Richard throughout 2022 to ensure he has my full support and guidance, particularly in the minng, processing infrastructure and operations areas. This will ensure a very smooth transition and position the executive leadership of the business to deliver significant innovation into the blockchain sector. As Chairman of the Technology Committee, Richard has worked with me to establish a strategic vision for TAAL so his transition into the CEO role is a natural progression."



Mr. Baker commented "I am honored and excited to take on this responsibility and thank the Board for their support and Stefan for his trust and mentorship since I joined the board in late 2020. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with him closely in 2022 as we commence the next phase of development and accelerate TAAL's growth. TAAL has a critical role to play in assisting the maturing and adoption of BitcoinSV blockchain. As a market phase, this reminds me of my early career where I had the pleasure of working in the Telcom's industry in the early 1990's with Nortel Networks and Cable & Wireless during the build of extensive optical fibre networks around the world; this infrastructure became the backbone of the internet we know today and has enabled innovation that no one could forecast way back then. I firmly believe we are witness to the next big technological and economical evolution of data and money networks and unlocking, scaling and liberating accessibility to the unique capabilities of BitcoinSV is at the heart of my leadership journey with TAAL. We have a truly talented global team and an incredibly rich BSV eco-system of partners and I look forward to collaborating and building together compelling service propositions for our clients." We are also delighted to announce that Ms. Deborah Rosati has been appointed the new Lead Independent Director in Mr. Baker's place. Ms. Rosati and Mr. Baker became directors of the Company on December 10, 2020.

About TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc.

TAAL Distributed Information Technologies Inc. delivers value-added blockchain services, providing professional-grade, highly scalable blockchain infrastructure and transactional platforms to support businesses building solutions and applications on the BSV platform, and developing, operating, and managing distributed computing systems for enterprise users. BitcoinSV Blockchain is the world's largest public blockchain by all major utility metrics, data storage, daily transaction volume, scaling ability, and average block size.

Visit TAAL online at www.taal.com

The CSE, nor its Regulation Services Provider, accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements included in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "will", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information, although not all forward-looking information will contain these identifying words. Specific forward-looking information contained in this news release includes but is not limited to statements regarding: the number of machines that will be deployed, the dates of such deployment, and the number of BSV blocks that will be won through TAAL's operations in the future. These statements are based on factors and assumptions related to historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Since forward-looking information relates to future events and conditions, by its very nature it requires making assumptions and involves inherent risks and uncertainties. TAAL cautions that although it is believed that the assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, these risks and uncertainties give rise to the possibility that actual results may differ materially from expectations. Material risk factors include delays in equipment deliver, expected operation, network conditions in the future and other risks set out in TAAL's Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 dated April 30, 2021 under the heading Risk Factors and elsewhere in TAAL's continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Given these risks, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information contained herein. Other than as required by law, TAAL undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent or otherwise. SOURCE Taal Distributed Information Technologies Inc.

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[November 18, 2021] Weidai Ltd. to Hold Annual General Meeting on December 15, 2021

HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weidai Ltd. ("Weidai" or the "Company") (NYSE: WEI), a leading auto-backed financing solution provider in China, today announced that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders at Hongxin Science and Technology Park, No.668, Jianshe Third Road, Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, the People's Republic of China on December 15, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (local time). No proposals will be submitted for shareholder approval at the annual general meeting. Instead, the annual general meeting will serve as an open forum for shareholders to discuss the Company's affairs with management. The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on November 19, 2021 as the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the annual general meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Holders of record of the Company's ordinary shares at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to attend the annual general meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person. The notice of the annual general meeting is available on the Company's website at http://weidai.investorroom.com/. The Company filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 8, 2021, U.S. Eastern Time. The annual report can be accessed on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company will also provide a hard copy of its annual report containing its audited consolidated financial statements, free of charge, to its shareholders and American Depositary Share holders upon request. About Weidai Ltd. Weidai Ltd. is a pioneer and leading auto-backed financing solution provider in China supported by sophisticated and effective risk management system and technology. The Company transforms used automobiles, a type of "on-standard" collateral, into investable assets, to provide accessible credit for China's small and micro enterprises, and connects the borrowers with institutional funding partners through its platform.



For more information, please visit http://weidai.investorroom.com/ . Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "confident" and similar statements. Weidai may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Weidai's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited the following: Weidai's goal and strategies; Weidai's expansion plans; Weidai's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Weidai's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its solutions and services; Weidai's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with borrowers, investors and financial institutions and other platform participants; general economic and business conditions; Weidai's assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing regulations and governmental policies relating to the online consumer finance industry in China; and Weidai's ability to meet the standards necessary to maintain listing of its ADSs on the NYSE, including its ability to cure any non-compliance with the NYSE's continued listing criteria; litigation and negative publicity surroundings China-based companies listed in the U.S.; and the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the emergence of COVID variants, and its potential impact on the Company's business and financial performance. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Weidai does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Christensen

Mr. Rene Vanguestaine

Tel: +86-10-5900-1548

E-mail: [email protected] In US: Christensen

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Tel: +1-480-614-3004

E-mail: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/weidai-ltd-to-hold-annual-general-meeting-on-december-15-2021-301424875.html SOURCE Weidai Ltd.

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[November 18, 2021] Veeva CRM Innovations Power the New Hybrid Field Model

Field teams gain a tailored, multi-device experience for in-person and digital engagements BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today showcased its latest enhancements to Veeva CRM at the European Veeva Commercial and Medical Summit Connect. To meet evolving access dynamics and healthcare professional (HCP) preferences, Veeva has delivered a simplified experience to support engagement across in-person and digital channels. Field teams now gain a tailored experience on any device they choose as their work environments change. "Veeva has played a key role in providing us with the capabilities to blend physical and digital interactions throughout the customer journey," said Alex Day, innovation and business excellence director, AstraZeneca. "Veeva CRM provides critical insights that put our customer-facing teams in the driver's seat, so they can tailor each interaction and deliver valuable, relevant experiences." Device flexibility for where field teams work Veeva CRM has been fully optimized to improve productivity with the right experience on the right device. Faster, more intuitive workflows help teams take needed actions across browsers, on Windows, or on the iPad. Veeva will continue to deliver additional device-specific applications, with macOS coming in early 2022 and new connected iPhone and Android apps later in the year. Role-based applications for how field teams work Veeva CRM delivers a purpose-built library of applications tailored to specific roles. For example, medical teams can now find, assemble, present, and share scientific content as easily from their home office as in the field. Other Veeva CRM apps are available for key account managers, event coordinators, marketing operations, and pharmacy sales. "The hybrid approach requires more complete solutions that increase agility as field teams work remotely and in-person," said Arno Sosna, general manager, Veeva CRM. "We work closely with life sciences companies to help anticipate and adapt to changes in the commercial landscape, delivering key innovations that support the industry." Veeva CRM is used by 42 of the top 50 pharmaceutical companies, as well as growing biopharma innovators, to deliver best-in-class customer engagement. It provides the tracking, visibility, and insights life sciences organizations need to personalize both remote and in-person interactions with HCPs across channels. To learn more about Veeva CRM, life sciences industry professionals can register for today's Veeva Commercial and Medical Summit Connect Europe at veeva.com/eu/summit. Biopharma leaders from AstraZeneca, Astellas, Boehringer Ingelheim, and LEO Pharma will discuss how they are adapting to changing commercial models. Veeva also released news about new Veeva CRM Engage Connect capabilities at today's Summit. Additional Information

For more on Veeva CRM, visit: veeva.com/eu/CRM

Connect with Veeva on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/veeva-systems

Follow @veeva_eu on Twitter: twitter.com/veeva_eu

Like Veeva on Facebook: facebook.com/veevasystems About Veeva Systems

Veeva is the global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry. Committed to innovation, product excellence, and customer success, Veeva serves more than 1,000 customers, ranging from the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Veeva is committed to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the industries it serves. For more information, visit veeva.com/eu. Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including the market demand for and acceptance of Veeva's products and services, the results from use of Veeva's products and services, and general business conditions, particularly within the life sciences industry. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon Veeva's historical performance and its current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent Veeva's expectations as of the date of this press announcement. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and Veeva disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements in the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Veeva's financial results are included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in the company's filing on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2021. This is available on the company's website at veeva.com under the Investors section and on the SEC's website at sec.gov. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings Veeva makes with the SEC from time to time.







Contact:





Deivis Mercado Veeva Systems 925-226-8821 [email protected] Kiran May Veeva Systems +44-796-643-2912 [email protected]

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[November 18, 2021] Veeva Unveils Powerful New Digital Tools to Enable the Future of On Demand Physician Engagement

Veeva CRM Engage Connect adds new ways for seamless communication among healthcare providers and field teams BARCELONA, Spain, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Veeva Systems (NYSE: VEEV) today showcased the Veeva CRM Engage Connect compliant messaging and content sharing capabilities at its European Veeva Commercial and Medical Summit Connect event. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) will now have access to the information and resources they need from life sciences companies when they need them. Engage Connect will be available next month as part of the Veeva Engage app used by over one million HCPs for digital meetings. When HCPs need information, it's hard to know which field reps and companies to contact. Physicians want to easily search and send text requestswithout sharing their personal information. With compliant messaging, field teams can have more timely and purposeful exchanges in between meetings or events. "With Veeva Engage Connect, our field teams can quickly connect with HCPs in a more personal, convenient way through compliant texts, scheduling meetings, and most importantly, sharing patient resources," said Deborah Sullivan, director, field force automation, Sanofi. "The app allows us to personalize customer interactions while giving HCPs a one-stop-shop where they can proactively connect with reps from across the industry for support that ultimately helps improve patient's lives." Veeva Engage Connect makes chat-like messaging and content sharing simple and compliant. Field teams can more easily stay connected with HCPs via: Compliant, two-way messaging : Pharma reps and medical science liaisons (MSLs) can securely chat with HCP customers anytime, anywhere to deliver timely information on potential treatments.

: Pharma reps and medical science liaisons (MSLs) can securely chat with HCP customers anytime, anywhere to deliver timely information on potential treatments. On demand content and resources : HCPs can quickly find or request educational materials, samples, patient resources, or services.

: HCPs can quickly find or request educational materials, samples, patient resources, or services. Simple scheduling: HCPs can request in-person or remote meetings, show office hour preferences, view upcoming meetings, and launch video calls directly from the app. "Doctors prefer interacting with reps and MSLs on their terms and are asking for more convenient access to information and resources," said Bryce Davis, senior director, Veeva Engage strategy. "Veeva Engage Connect is helping deepen relationships between HCPs and life sciences companies by enabling simple two-way engagement across multiple companies and brands in a single appadvancing the industry toward a pharma on demand world." Engage Connect is part of the Veeva Engage platform that enables anytime, any channel engagement through video, phone calls, contactless in-person interactions, or chat. Initially introduced to early adopters as MyVeeva for Doctors, the new Veeva Engage Connect capabilities will be available for biopharma field teams next month. HCPs will be able to connect and meet with participating life science commercial teams using their existing Veeva Engage app, which is available in the Apple app store and Google Play. To learn more about the Veeva Engage platform, life sciences industry professionals can register for today's Veeva Commercial and Medical Summit Connect Europe at veeva.com/eu/summit. Veeva also released news about new innovations to Veeva CRM at today's Summit. Additional Information

For more on Veeva CRM Engage Connect, visit: veeva.com/eu/EngageConnect

Connect with Veeva on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/veeva-systems

Follow @veeva_eu on Twitter: twitter.com/veeva_eu

Like Veeva on Facebook: facebook.com/veevasystems About Veeva Systems

Veeva is the global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry. Committed to innovation, product excellence, and customer success, Veeva serves more than 1,000 customers, ranging from the world's largest pharmaceutical companies to emerging biotechs. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Veeva is committed to balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the industries it serves. For more information, visit veeva.com/eu. Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, including the market demand for and acceptance of Veeva's products and services, the results from use of Veeva's products and services, and general business conditions, particularly within the life sciences industry. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon Veeva's historical performance and its current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are not a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent Veeva's expectations as of the date of this press announcement. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and Veeva disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements in the future. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect Veeva's financial results are included under the captions, "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in the company's filing on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2021. This is available on the company's website at veeva.com under the Investors section and on the SEC's website at sec.gov. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings Veeva makes with the SEC from time to time.







Contact:



Deivis Mercado

Veeva Systems

925-226-8821

[email protected] Kiran May

Veeva Systems

+44-796-643-2912

[email protected]

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[November 18, 2021] Republic of Kazakhstan defeats Statis -- Belgium Court of Appeal conclusively determines Statis defrauded arbitral tribunal and "deliberately misled" Swedish annulment courts -- reverses recognition and enforcement of USD 530 million arbitral award

A ground-breaking victory has been achieved by the Republic of Kazakhstan in its long-running efforts to bring to justice the Moldovan oligarchs Anatolie Stati and Gabriel Stati ("Statis"). On 16 November 2021, the Belgian Appeal Court conclusively determined that the Statis engaged in a massive fraudulent scheme that defrauded not only the arbitral tribunal but also the Swedish courts during the prior annulment proceedings. This fraudulent scheme, the court held, had a direct impact on the arbitral tribunal's findings both on liability and damages. On that basis, the Court of Appeal completely reversed a lower court order that had granted recognition and enforcement to the Statis' USD 530 million arbitral award ("the Award"). The law firm of King & Spalding represented the Statis in the arbitral proceedings and is coordinating their global efforts to recognize and enforce the fraudulent arbitral award, including in Sweden and Belgium. As previously reported, the Statis obtained an ex parte order in December 2017 granting exequatur to the Award, which was subsequently confirmed by an order of the Belgium Court of First Instance in December 2019. However, both of these orders were based on a limited factual record which did not include the new evidence of the Statis' fraud. In November 2020, the Bussels Court of Appeal in Belgium ("the Court of Appeal") granted the Republic's request to present its full fraud case, over the Statis' objections.



Now, the Court of Appeal has validated the Republic's case and confirmed the Republic's long-standing position - that the Statis engaged in a massive fraudulent scheme, and that as a result the Award should not be recognized or enforced. This decision by the Court of Appeal will result in a lifting of the attachment that the Statis have obtained over $530 million belonging to the National Fund of Kazakhstan, which is held by The Bank of New York Mellon.

Kazakhstan's Minister of Justice Marat Beketayev commented as follows: "We welcome this landmark judgment in the Republic's favour against the Statis and their accomplices. After thoroughly analyzing all the available evidence, the Court of Appeal confirmed that the Statis committed fraud on our nation, their auditors (KPMG), the arbitral tribunal and the Swedish annulment courts. The judgment has grave implications not only for the Statis but also their professional advisers. It should serve as a point of 'no return' for those who are still aiding and abetting the Statis in their illegal schemes. The Ministry of Justice is committed to continue defending the Republic's interests against the Statis' fraudulent campaign." The full press release can be found here: https://kzarbitration.com/republic-of-kazakhstan-defeats-statis-belgium-court-of-appeal-conclusively-determines-statis-defrauded-arbitral-tribunal-and-deliberately-misled-swedish-annulment-courts/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005635/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Kandao Meeting S 180 Video Conferencing Camera Wins the CES 2022 Innovation Awards

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On 11th November, winners of the CES Innovation Awards 2022 were officially announced. Kandao Meeting S, a 180 Ultra-wide Angle intelligent video conferencing camera, wins the CES Innovation Awards 2022. This time with more than 1,800 innovative works hitting the stage, it is the most significant number ever. Kandao Meeting S  Meeting in Any Time, Anywhere, Anyway You Like Kandao Meeting S is an all-in-one intelligent video conferencing camera that features a 180 ultra-wide image via the 195 lens. The product is launched with the prospect of delivering an all-around satisfactory remote meeting  clear vision, surrounding sounds, and intelligent control. Our revolutionary AI 3.0 algorithm enables Kandao Meeting S to precisely locate and track the speaking person, and multiple modes and functions are pre-set to fit different scenarios. With the help of these hands-free features, you can set aside your controller and just focus on the meting.



A Full-duplex audio system with an eight-microphone array and Hi-Fi speaker is equipped to produce a fascinating astounding sound. Thanks to the premium audio acquisition technique, it achieves a five-meter pickup range, you'll be transformed into an ever enjoyable experience that would redefine your understanding of remote working. Kandao Meeting S comes with a powerful standalone mode. With a built-in Android operating system, it is compatible with many major online conferencing software, negating the need for an external computer.

Kandao Meeting S scores highly across all evaluation criteria, which includes innovation, engineering technology and functionality, aesthetic design, etc. Being approved by this prestigious award is a great affirmation of our innovative technology. So far, we have 6 products honored by the CES Innovation Awards. In 2017, we became the first Chinese company to be honored by CES Best Innovation Awards thanks to Kandao Obsidian R, a 3D VR panoramic camera. About Kandao Technology: Shenzhen Kandao Technology is a national high-tech enterprise. Adhering to the mission of "creating distinguished imaging products, enriching human life experience", and driven by the mutual development of hardware and software, Kandao is a pioneer in the field of VR technology, Ultra-HD cameras and video conferencing cameras. Kandao sets a new record for being the first Chinese company honored by the CES Innovation Awards in the digital imaging category, and the first Chinese company that won Japan Good Design Award Best 100 in the camera category. Over the years, Kandao have earned many international authoritative awards such as the CES Innovation Awards, iF Design Awards, Red Dot Design Award, IDEA Design Award, Japan Good Design Award, and German Design Award. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kandao-meeting-s-180-video-conferencing-camera-wins-the-ces-2022-innovation-awards-301427819.html SOURCE Kandao Technology Co., Ltd.

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[November 18, 2021] China Telecom Voted as "Overall Most Outstanding Company in Hong Kong" by Asiamoney

HONG KONG, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Telecom Corporation Limited ("China Telecom" or "the Company"; HKEx: 00728; SSE: 601728) is pleased to announce that the Company was voted as "Most Outstanding Company in Hong Kong  Telecommunication Services Sector" in Asiamoney's "Asia's Outstanding Companies Poll 2021" ("the Poll"). In addition, the Company was awarded "Overall Most Outstanding Company in Hong Kong" among all winners from different sectors in Hong Kong.



Organized by Asiamoney, a leading financial magazine, the Poll invited fund managers, buy-side analysts, as well as bankers and ratings agencies to nominate the most outstanding company. Voters are asked to consider a company's overall performance including its financial reporting, management team, investor relations and CSR initiatives. In total, 1,071 voters took part in the voting and over 5,787 votes were received for publicly listed companies across 13 markets in Asia this year. The results recognise 190 companies as being the most outstanding for their sectors and in their markets.

China Telecom would like to thank all investors for their continuous support and trust. The outstanding award and achievement reveal once again that investment managers, analysts and capital market participants affirm China Telecom's excellent execution capability and leading standard of corporate governance and transparency in Asia with outstanding management performance. SOURCE China Telecom Corporation Limited

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[November 18, 2021] British Columbia Selects D2L Brightspace to Help Every Student Succeed

Toronto, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- D2L Inc. (TSX:DTOL), a global learning technology leader, today announced that British Columbias Ministry of Education  in collaboration with its school districts  selected D2L Brightspace to help deliver exceptional, flexible learning experiences for up to 670,000 learners in K-12 across the province.

British Columbia is home to many different school districts and communities with highly specific needs. To address them, the provinces Ministry of Education was looking for a modern learning platform that delivered the very best experience for learners and educators, in the classroom and beyond. With D2L Brightspace, BC students, parents, educators, schools and districts will be fully supported through a learning innovation platform that is: Personaliz ed  with a suite of smart tools to help educators adopt new approaches to curriculum and assessment, including competency-based learning, and levate the learning experience of students across the province.

 with a suite of smart tools to help educators adopt new approaches to curriculum and assessment, including competency-based learning, and levate the learning experience of students across the province. Flexib le  with technology that adapts to current and changing circumstances, including support for virtual and hybrid learning, and ensures equity of access for all students, whether they live in urban, rural or remote communities.

 with technology that adapts to current and changing circumstances, including support for virtual and hybrid learning, and ensures equity of access for all students, whether they live in urban, rural or remote communities. Easy to adopt  with a partner to ensure a smooth transition to Brightspace and help educators to confidently use digital learning tools, gain new insights through data and help every student succeed.







D2L is looking forward to building a strong partnership with British Columbia to support students, teachers, parents, and leadership across all school districts in the province, says John Baker, President and CEO of D2L. Our learning innovation platform is designed to engage and inspire all students  and to help prepare them for the future. ABOUT D2L (TSX: DTOL)

D2L is transforming the way the world learns  helping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. We support millions of K-12 students on our Brightspace learning innovation platform, including the largest school districts in North America. Our more than 1,000 global employees are dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than where they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com.

D2L MEDIA CONTACT Tory Waldron Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, D2L Corporation [email protected] Twitter: @D2L

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[November 18, 2021]

OneTrust Hires Technology Finance Leader Guido Torrini as CFO

ATLANTA, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today OneTrust, the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust, announced Guido Torrini joined the company as its first Chief Financial Officer. Torrini brings over 20 years of experience building finance teams for category-defining enterprise technology companies. Most recently, Torrini served as the CFO of Celonis, a late-stage process mining technology company that tripled revenues1 and quadrupled valuation2 in less than two years during his leadership.

"OneTrust is uniquely positioned to define and own the Trust category of software." - Guido Torrini , OneTrust's new CFO

Torrini's career spans three decades, each focused on the category-defining enterprise technology of its time. His career began at Cisco and Dell, overseeing the explosion of the hardware and routing foundation that put computers and devices into the hands of consumers. He then led finance teams at companies like Groupon and Gympass, enabling businesses to engage directly with customers and transact online. Today, Torrini brings his most recent experience in machine learning, AI, and building category-defining companies to OneTrust.

"Privacy, security, and ESG are creating a massive total addressable market centered around Trust as a competitive advantage. OneTrust is uniquely positioned to define and own this new category of software. The company has built major separation from other players in the market with the broad platform approach, $920 million in funding, nearly 200 patents, and deep customer adoption with over 10,000 customers," said Guido Torrini, OneTrust's new CFO. "I'm proud to join this incredible team and build upon the next generation of growth for OneTrust as it builds and defines the trust category."

"Consumers and employees today want to work with companies they trust. This tectonic shift in decision making is creating an entirely new category of software that brings together privacy, secuity, ethics, and ESG that transforms compliance initiatives into trust as a competitive advantage. OneTrust's investments in our technology, customers, and community best positions us to define and lead the industry of trust software," said Kabir Barday, OneTrust CEO. "Bringing Guido's deep experience in category-defining global software companies into OneTrust represents a new milestone for our growth. As our CFO, Guido can help us capitalize on the way we innovate, scale and grow. I'm excited to welcome Guido to the team and deliver on our market opportunity to define and lead the new software category of trust."







For information on OneTrust or to request a demo, visit OneTrust.com.

OneTrust is a registered trademark or trademark of OneTrust LLC or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

1 Forbes, Celonis Raises $1 Billion At $11 Billion Valuation, Making It New York's And Germany's  Most Valuable Startup, June 2, 2021

2TechCrunch, Celonis snares $1B Series D on $11B valuation, June 2, 2021

About OneTrust

OneTrust is the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust. More than?10,000?customers, including half of the Fortune Global 500,?use OneTrust to make trust a competitive differentiator, implementing central agile workflows across privacy, security, data governance, GRC, third-party risk, ethics and compliance, and ESG programs.

The OneTrust platform is backed by 190 patents and powered by the OneTrust?Athena?AI and robotic automation engine, and capabilities include:

OneTrust?Privacy?- Privacy?Management Software

OneTrust DataDiscovery?-?AI-Powered Discovery and Classification

OneTrust DataGovernance?- Data?Intelligence Software

OneTrust?Vendorpedia?-?Third-Party Risk Exchange

OneTrust?GRC?-?Integrated Risk Management Software

OneTrust?Ethics?-?Ethics and Compliance Software

OneTrust?PreferenceChoice?-?Consent and Preference Management Software

OneTrust ESG  Environmental, Social & Governance Software

In 2020, OneTrust was named the #1 fastest-growing company in America on the Inc. 500 with a 48,000% three-year growth rate. According to the IDC Worldwide Data Privacy Management Software Market Shares Report, 2020, "OneTrust is leading the market outright and showing no signs of slowing down or stopping."

OneTrust has raised a total of $920 million in funding at a $5.3 billion valuation from Insight Partners, Coatue, TCV, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Franklin Templeton. OneTrust's fast-growing team of 2,000 employees is co-headquartered in Atlanta and London with additional offices in Bangalore, Melbourne, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, Sao Paulo, Munich, Paris, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.

To learn more, visit OneTrust.com or connect?on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Media Contact

Gabrielle Ferree

+1 770-294-4668

[email protected]

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SOURCE OneTrust
[November 18, 2021] EBlock Ranks as one of Fastest-Growing Companies in North America on the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 & one of Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 Program Winners

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - EBlock, a leader in the automotive auction industry and sub-brand of parent company, E INC (TSX: EINC), today announced it ranked No. 204 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 , a ranking of the fasting growing technology companies in North America, and No. 26 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 , Canada's leading tech awards program. The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 recognizes the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America. The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 award is presented to recipients for their rapid revenue growth, entrepreneurial spirit and bold innovation. This program recognizes Canada's 50 fastest-growing technology companies with the highest revenue-growth percentage over the past four years. "Our platform connects a massive network of buying and selling dealerships, so they can trade vehicles amongst each other in real time. EBlock reduces the amount of time it takes dealerships to buy, sell and manage their inventory, at a reduced cost and with less risk," said Jason McClenahan, President and CEO of E INC. "The team's relentless focus on the customer experience and developing the best-in-class products for automotive dealers underpins our success." "As we rise above another year of uncertainty,we are exceptionally proud to announce this year's Fast 50 winners," stated Anders McKenzie, partner and national leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada. "These innovative trailblazers have demonstrated resilience, true commitment to innovation, adaptability, and business leadership as we cope with an ever-changing new normal. The Fast 50 companies act as catalysts, driving growth of Canadian business."



To qualify for the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking, companies must have been in business for at least four years, have revenues of at least $5 million, be headquartered in Canada, own proprietary technology, conduct research and development activities in Canada and invest a minimum of five percent of gross revenues in R&D. About the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 500

Now in its 27th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies  both public and private  in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2017 to 2020.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered in North America. About the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 program is Canada's preeminent technology awards program. Celebrating business growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, the program features distinct categories, including the Technology Fast 50 ranking, Enterprise Fast 15, Clean Technology, and Companies-to-Watch. The program also recognizes companies within the North American Technology Fast 500 ranking, identifying technology companies in the United States and Canada. The 2021 program sponsors include Deloitte, RBC, EDC, Miller Thomson, Clarity Recruitment, and Lafond. For further information, visit www.fast50.ca. About EBlock

EBlock, an E INC brand, is a leader in the wholesale automotive market, providing sellers and buyers with a streamlined platform that combines the energy and immediacy of a physical auction together with the convenience and efficiency of a digital one. Find out more about EBlock at eblock.ca About E INC

E INC's mission is to optimize the online vehicle buying, selling, and management experience for automotive dealers and consumers. E INC has a digital platform (the "Platform") that provides automotive dealerships with access to an online wholesale auction marketplace where they can purchase or sell vehicles to other dealers, as well as access innovative software solutions to support dealers' digital retailing and inventory management. Access to E INC's Platform is complemented by ancillary service offerings to assist dealers with supplementary auction-related needs, along with driving consumer traffic to their digital properties and optimizing other business processes. E INC's digital wholesale marketplace goes to market under the brand EBlock, and E INC's digital suite of retail products goes to market under the brand EDealer. SOURCE E Inc.

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[November 18, 2021] BOC Group Positioned as a Leader in 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Architecture Tools Report

DUBLIN, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BOC Group, the leading manufacturer and global vendor of Enterprise Modelling Software in the domains of BPM, EA and GRC, announced today that they have been named a Leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Architecture Tools1, with their EA suite ADOIT. Christoph Moser, ADOIT Product Manager comments: "We believe we have re-affirmed ADOIT's role as an indispensable incubator for innovation and transformation for companies across various industries. In our view, this recognition as a Magic Quadrant Leader further solidifies BOC Group's position at the highest tier of the EA industry."1/p>



The Enterprise Architecture Suite ADOIT is a central EA collaboration hub and golden source of architecture data in an ecosystem of best-of-breed tools. Through combining key asset information, analysing organizational dependencies, and generating data-driven insights, ADOIT supports business and IT leaders in taking smart investment decisions when continuously re-designing their digital enterprise. BOC Group recommends to reach out to discuss your transformation challenges and how ADOIT could best support you.

1 Gartner," Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Architecture", Gilbert van der Heiden, Akshay Jhawar, Nolan Hart, November 9, 2021. Gartner Disclaimer GARTNER and MAGIC QUADRANT are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About BOC Group BOC Group crafts and markets state-of-the-art Enterprise Modelling Software for effective and extensive business management in the digital era. Our tools are based on interconnectivity. They are free to adapt to your needs and can collaborate with a wide-range of ecosystem applications. ADOIT global customers include Allianz, Dentsu Aegis, iHeart Media, PostFinance, the Vienna International Airport and many others. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1560841/BOC_Logo.jpg Contact

BOC Information Technologies Consulting GmbH

Ing. Enrique Lobo Cruz

Market Development Manager

+43 1 905 10 81 2250

[email protected]

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[November 18, 2021] Keyavi Data Wins Fast Company's First-Ever Next Big Things in Tech Award

Keyavi Data Corp., a cybersecurity trailblazer whose game-changing technology is stopping cybercriminals in their tracks and reshaping the very nature of the data security industry, announced today that it won Fast Company magazine's inaugural Next Big Things in Tech Award in the enterprise and productivity category. This award - the ninth industry award Keyavi has won this year - honors real-world technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future in the next five years. Winners were chosen from more than 1,200 entries by a panel of Fast Company editors and writers spanning an array of disciplines, from artificial intelligence and robotics to medical technology and consumer electronics. "Fast Company is thrilled to highlight cutting-edge technologies that are solving real-world problems in unexpected ways and that will certainly have a profound impact on the future," said Stephanie Mehta, the magazine's editor-in-chief. "Our goal was to identify emerging technology's potential to make an impact on the world, with plenty of room for even greater inroads in the years to come," wrote Harry McCracken, Fast Company's technology editor, in his congratulatory letter. "What an incredible honor," said Elliot Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Keyavi. "Years ago, I foresaw the devastating effect that unprotected 'data in the wild' resulting from an accidental leak or breach would have on people and organizations everywhere. When we launched our company last year, my team and I set out to shatter the cybersecurity industry's preconceived notions of what data security should be. Instead of trying to keep data contained, we made data its own fortress: self-protecting, intelligent and self-aware. "Our technology infuses data with so much intelligence that it automatically knows where it is and can keep itself protected if it's in an unauthorized place, secure itself from unauthorized users, stay continually aware of its surroundings and report its whereabouts to its owner - everywhere and anywhere it goes in the world. Now cybercriminals - including ransomware attackers - not only can't access it, but they can't control it, no matter where they attempt to take the data if it's wrapped in our patented technology. As a result, we're helping customers focus on their business instead of defending it and making our world a safer place fr everyone."



Watch video highlights of how Keyavi's revolutionary technology works: What If Your Data Could Protect Itself? (2 min. 54 sec.)

Keyavi Self-Protecting Data Demo (10 min. 23 sec.) Experience the power of Keyavi's self-protecting data technology for yourself at a live session.

About Keyavi Data Corp. Headquartered in Durango, Colorado, Keyavi's multi-award-winning, self-protecting, intelligent and self-aware cybersecurity technology enables an individual piece of data to think for itself; secure itself; control where, when and who is allowed to access it; refuse access to unauthorized users; stay continually aware of its surroundings and automatically report back to its owner - with all these capabilities built into the data itself. The company's API platform and a full suite of applications riding on that platform also provide data owners with powerful controls to allow, revoke or deny access to their information - no matter who has it, on any platform or device or where it's stored, or how many copies exist. Under development for years before launching in 2020, this multi-patented technology is so unique and innovative that leading industry analyst firm Omdia designated "self-protecting data solutions" as a new cybersecurity industry category, with Keyavi as the clear leader. Keyavi's easy-to-use yet robust solution delivers the ultimate in peace of mind for public and private organizations, their remote workforces and partner ecosystems in solving the security challenges of controlling confidential and intellectual property from data leaks, breaches and ransomware. To learn more about Keyavi and its breakthrough technology, visit https://keyavi.com/our-technology/. Follow Keyavi on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter using the @KeyaviData handle and hashtag #Keyavi. Keyavi DataTM and Intelligent DirectoryTM are trademarks of Keyavi Data Corp. All rights reserved. About Fast Company Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with its sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005387/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Carbon Streaming Closes MarVivo Blue Carbon Credit Stream Agreement

Carbon Streaming Corporation (NEO: NETZ) (FSE: M2Q) ("Carbon Streaming" or the "Company") is pleased to confirm that it has closed the previously announced blue carbon credit streaming agreement with MarVivo Corporation for the MarVivo Blue Carbon Conservation Project ("MarVivo Project") in Magdalena Bay, Mexico. This marks the third carbon credit stream across three continents, each in various stages of development, and exemplifies the kind of breadth the Company seeks in developing a diversified portfolio of high-quality carbon credits. Transaction Highlights: Upfront cash investment of US$6 million (" Upfront Deposit "), with US$2.0 million initial investment into MarVivo Corporation, paid in cash on closing, followed by four separate US$1.0 million investments at specific project milestones during development, implementation, validation and verification by Verra.

"), with US$2.0 million initial investment into MarVivo Corporation, paid in cash on closing, followed by four separate US$1.0 million investments at specific project milestones during development, implementation, validation and verification by Verra. Upon payment of the Upfront Deposit, Carbon Streaming will have the right to purchase the greater of 200,000 credits or 20% of the annual verified carbon credits from the MarVivo Project each year.

In addition to the Upfront Deposit, the Company will make ongoing payments to MarVivo Corporation for each carbon credit sold under the carbon stream.

The first delivery of carbon credits is expected to occur in the first half of 2023. "We are thrilled to have closed this investment into the exceptional MarVivo Project, our first of many blue carbon credit projects to come," explained Carbon Streaming's CEO Justin Cochrane. "We remain focused on executing our ambitious plans to move extraordinary carbon credit projects from pipeline to portfolio to production, protecting these beautiful marine ecosystems and the surrounding communities that depend upon them while fighting climate change." As detailed in the May 17, 2021 news release, the Company intends to invest US$6 million to implement the proposed MarVivo Project in Baja California Sur, Mexico, focused on the conservation of mangrove forests and their associated marine habitat. The project is anticipated to be one of the largest blue carbon conservation projects in the world and once implemented will reduce estimated emissions by 26 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 e) over 30 years by conserving and sustainably managing approximately 22,000 hectares of mangroves and 137,000 hectares of ts marine environment across Baja's largest mangrove forest.



More information on the MarVivo Blue Carbon Project can be found on the project's website here. About the MarVivo Blue Carbon Conservation Project

The MarVivo Blue Carbon Conservation Project is being developed by Fundacion MarVivo Mexico, A.C. and MarVivo Corporation in partnership with Mexico's National Commission for Protected Natural Areas (CONANP). The non-profit group NAKAWE Project and the local communities of San Carlos (population ~5,000) and Lopez Mateos (population ~3,000), are also involved in the project. It is anticipated that the project will be certified through the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCB) and the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SDVista), all of which are administered by Verra. About Carbon Streaming Corporation Carbon Streaming is a unique ESG principled investment vehicle offering investors exposure to carbon credits, a key instrument used by both governments and corporations to achieve their carbon neutral and net-zero climate goals. Our business model is focused on acquiring, managing and growing a high-quality and diversified portfolio of investments in projects and/or companies that generate or are actively involved, directly or indirectly, with voluntary and/or compliance carbon credits. The Company invests capital through carbon credit streaming arrangements with project developers and owners to accelerate the creation of carbon offset projects by bringing capital to projects that might not otherwise be developed. Many of these projects will have significant social and economic co-benefits in addition to their carbon reduction or removal potential. To receive corporate updates via e-mail as soon as they are published, please subscribe here. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, 'forward-looking information') within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements and figures with respect to the estimation of future carbon credit generation and GHG emission reductions at the MarVivo Project; expected certification standards; and future carbon investments) are forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: general economic, market and business conditions and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Information Form dated as of September 27, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005639/en/

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[November 18, 2021] American Millennials Most Likely to Engage in Trolling Behavior Finds Avast Foundation

EMERYVILLE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen Z Americans do not participate in trolling behavior as much as millennials, according to new research published today by the Avast Foundation. The study finds: Over two-thirds of American 2534-year-olds (64%) have engaged in trolling online (defined as leaving intentionally offensive messages or insulting someone on purpose online)

One in two (57%) acknowledge that others have been upset by their actions

Over a third (40%) believe themselves to be considered as confrontational. The study polled people across the U.S. between the ages of 16-55+ to understand the drivers of trolling and how activity differs across generations, locations, topics, and victims. With the number of social media users in the US increasing by 10 million from 2020-2021, the results point to the growing scale and complexity of internet discourse and the increasingly influential impacts of social platforms in enabling poor online behavior. "Our findings show that trolling behaviour is increasingly common among our youth with the lines between opinionated and hateful commentary blurring," says Shane Ryan, Global Executive Director of the Avast Foundation. "Today's young people have grown up with the internet and are absorbing the behaviours they see online and replicating them. Safe and secure access to the internet is a fundamental digital right in this day and age, and its abuse will hamper progress. Educating people on their responsibility as digital citizens goes hand in hand with empowering them to enjoy their digital freedom. In this way, we can make the internet a safer place for the next generation." The research points to a complex picture of trolling behavior across different generations. Key findings include: Lines Between Strong Opinions and Trolling Behavior Are Blurring

The results reveal that American social media users are most likely to engage in bad behavior online if they have strong opinions about people in the public eye or human rights: Standing up to people spewing hate (30%) and exercising freedom of speech (26%) are both considered valid reasons for saying something intentionally offensive online

One in four (24%) believe hat disagreeing with someone is a good enough reason to troll

One in two millennials are likely to target politicians with trolling behavior, with 58% using the need to hold politicians accountable to justify their actions

Politicians seen to give support for racist (40%) and anti LGBTQ+ (35%) policies are most likely to be trolled

Large corporations (51%) and outspoken people in the public eye (48%) are also common victims of this generation

Anger (39%) and having strong opinions (33%) are the top motivations for engaging in trolling. In the 25-34 age group, both factors top the list for 38% of respondents.



Trolling Becoming the Accepted Norm for Social Media

As the pandemic has changed the role social platforms play in our day to day lives, the findings suggest improper online behavior is becoming expected: Almost a third of people (28%) agree they are more likely to be aggressive online than offline

68% believe that people generally are more likely to be aggressive towards someone online than in real-life Over one in three (37%) respondents believe social media users are fair game when it comes to trolling, and (33%) that anyone on a social platform deserves any trolling behavior they experience.

The US-UK Divide

The results also highlight the differences between how US and UK citizens behave when online: Nearly half (44%) of American internet users admit to having engaged in intentionally offensive behavior online; this compares to 34% of UK respondents

Politicians are the biggest victims of trolling by Americans; one in five admit to going online to express their anger towards this group compared to under one in ten in the UK

People in the US are also two times more likely to troll friends than their British counterparts  14% of respondents compared to 7% in the UK

Residents of big cities are most likely to have engaged in trolling behavior. In the UK, London is the trolling capital of Britain (one in two admit to partaking in offensive activity online), and in the US, it is most prevalent in cities such as New York and LA (53% and 56%) To help it deliver on its long-term vision of digital freedom for all, the Avast Foundation recently announced a partnership with the Global Fund for Children. The program will invest in youth-led and youth-focused solutions tackling injustice and inequality and helping them to demonstrate good digital citizenship. This fund, whose first cohort of grant recipients will be identified by the end of this year, exemplifies how the foundation intends to work directly with communities at the grassroots level by identifying challenges and co-designing lasting solutions. What to do if you are being trolled: Block and report the troll's account(s)

Do not engage with the troll

Report to the social media platform

Report to the police

Take some time off from social media About the Avast Foundation The Avast Foundation envisions an ethical digital world that is inclusive, transparent, and safe. We work with people and communities to remove barriers to digital freedom and create empowered digital citizens across the globe. Learn more and follow the Avast Foundation at: foundation.avast.com Research Methodology The research was conducted by Censuswide between August 23rd  August 26th, covering a national representative panel of consumers across the UK (2013 respondents) and the US (2012.) Trolling was defined as insulting someone online on purpose and leaving intentionally offensive messages on the internet. Full data tables can be found here . Keep in touch with the Avast Foundation: Follow us on Twitter: @AvastFoundation

Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avastfoundation/ Media Contact:

Alex Cox

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +44 (0) 7385 396142 Sam Mohr

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: +44 (0) 7876 856446 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-millennials-most-likely-to-engage-in-trolling-behavior-finds-avast-foundation-301427912.html SOURCE Avast Foundation

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[November 18, 2021] XPDEL, LA-based eCommerce fulfillment network, launches operations in India

NEW DELHI, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- XPDEL, a fast-growing LA-based eCommerce Fulfillment center network, today announced its entry into the Indian markets. XPDEL plans to start with 3 markets - Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bengaluru wherein it will offer a wide range of technology enabled solutions for India's rapidly expanding e-commerce market. Subsequently, it plans to expand its footprint to 20 markets by end of 2023 to provide nationwide coverage. As part of its global expansion, the company aims to launch in Europe and Canada by 2022. Manish Kapoor, Founder and Global CEO of XPDEL, said, "We are thrilled to bring the global operations best practices and most advanced technology for eCommerce to India. This is close to my heart as it brings me back to my roots. The XPDEL launch in India will bring growth solutions for small and mid-sized retailers & new age eCommerce companies. We are solving their inventory, order fulfillment and logistics needs by providing a complete solution from order through delivery, with live tracking & visibility resulting in exceptional customer experience." India's eCommerce sector is expected to reach US$ 111.40 billion by 2025 from US$ 46.20 billion in 2020 signifying an annualized growth of 19.24%. Grocery is expected to be one of the key pillars of growth and it is predicted to reach US$ 18.2 billion in 2024 from US $1.9 billion in 2019, expanding at a CAGR of 57%. With its aggressive growth plans, robust technological architecture and focus on accurate and speedy deliveries, XPDEL will play a critical role in supporting this spurt in growth for eCommerce business in the country.



Ashish Chadha, Co-founder & CEO, XPDEL-APAC said, "The Indian eCommerce industry offers promising opportunity and we are addressing the key challenges related to logistics and inventory. Our first customers are from the automotive and personal care verticals who have taken the lead against competition by partnering with XPDEL. We will also be contributing significantly in employment generation by creating thousands of job opportunities. Furthermore, we plan to grow responsibly, as 50% of our nationwide fleet would consist of electric vehicles and our operations will be backed by sustainable, world-class technologies." Jon Johnson, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, said, "We are excited to bring the speed of delivery and best-in-class customer experience to the Indian consumers. We are building on XPDEL's success in the US that is engineered with customer density analytics, network design, efficient operations, optimized logistics and advanced technology."

The eCommerce giants are rapidly replacing retail and small businesses. On the other hand, XPDEL's core purpose is to help small and medium businesses succeed with eCommerce. XPDEL enables businesses to sell through retail and multiple marketplaces by providing multi-channel fulfillment and logistics services. About XPDEL Founded in 2018, XPDEL is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company offers a wide range of customer experience based fulfillment and logistics solutions for eCommerce, powered by industry-leading technology platforms. XPDEL clients benefit from live dashboards that allow proactive performance with actionable insights. The use of the advanced ecommerce Fulfillment Technology Platform has made it effortless for XPDEL's clients to integrate and improve speed to market. Media Contact:

Vineeta Tyagi

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xpdel-la-based-ecommerce-fulfillment-network-launches-operations-in-india-301427923.html SOURCE XPDEL, Inc.

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[November 18, 2021] Hosta.ai Announces $11.5 Million Series A Led by Eclipse Ventures to Revolutionize the Property Tech Industry

Hosta.ai, a new artificial intelligence property technology company, today announced that it has raised $11.5 million to bring their remote property assessment platform to insurers, contractors, and home improvement companies across North America. Eclipse Ventures, the venture firm that helps entrepreneurs build companies to boldly transform the industries that define and propel economies, led the round with participation from USAA, Brick & Mortar, Spider Capital, The Cincinnati Insurance Company, Motivate and Massive. This investment brings the company's total funding to $15 million. Matt Mulvey, Partner at Eclipse Ventures, will join the company's board.



There are 155 million buildings in the U.S. that all need to be inspected or assessed when they are sold, refinanced, damaged, remodeled, or repaired. And every time, banks or insurers must send out a contractor or assessor to evaluate the structure, collect all the detailed measurements, itemize all the materials, and document any damage or risks. But sending someone onsite to assess a property is costly and time consuming. Data is captured manually, and mistakes are inevitable. These in-person property assessments delay billions of dollars of work in the built-environment economy each year. Waiting for in-person assessments delay insurance quotes, delay new mortgages and refinancing, and delay home improvement projects. "We built Hosta.ai to accelerate every industry that needs fast and accurate data about the built environment," said Henriette Fleischmann, COO of Hosta.ai. "With A.I.-powered room assessments, companies don't need to send someone onsite and can instead get all the information they need from just a few photos uploaded by the homeowner or property manager."

"New computer vision and machine learning technologies will transform the property inspection process over the next few years," said Matt Mulvey, Partner at Eclipse Ventures. "We see clearly how Hosta.ai will accelerate the insurance, mortgage lending, and home improvement industries." "Sending someone onsite to assess property damage or get the data needed to underwrite a new insurance policy can be time consuming and expensive," said Michael Smith (News - Alert), AVP Corporate Development, USAA. "There's a compelling business case for insurers to improve the experience for policyholders while eliminating excess cost by leveraging A.I.-powered remote property assessments for claims and policies." Additional resources: Why Work at Hosta.ai

Re-thinking Onsite Property Assessments About Hosta.ai Established in 2020, Hosta is on a mission to empower people and businesses with fast, accessible, and trusted information about their built surroundings. Hosta helps companies that need fast and accurate data about the built environment accelerate their businesses with remote and automated property assessments. The Hosta A.I. Assessment Platform uses patent-pending A.I. spatial and material analysis to automate property assessments from just a few simple photos. To learn more about Hosta please visit www.hosta.ai. About Eclipse Ventures With over $2 billion in assets under management, 70 portfolio companies, and a team of investors with deep expertise in technology, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, healthcare and consumer products, Eclipse is one of the nation's leading venture capital organizations focused on digitally transforming essential industries. Its leadership team has the experience and deep expertise necessary to create and scale complex operations - with partners coming from industry giants, such as Flextronics, Tesla, Apple, Samsara, Microsoft (News - Alert), Intel and GE. Eclipse partners with entrepreneurs boldly transforming the essential industries that define and propel economies. For more information, visit www.eclipse.vc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005451/en/

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[November 18, 2021] EsoCap secures new funding

EsoCap successfully closes a private financing round, with investments from existing and new investors

The new funding was facilitated by EsoCap benefitting from a unique programme implemented by the Canton of Basel-Stadt, guaranteeing subordinated loans to support technology start-ups during the Covid-19 pandemic

The proceeds will be used for development and industrial scale-up of activities for EsoCaps targeted application technology, enabling effective local treatment of esophageal diseases for the first time

BASEL, Switzerland, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EsoCap AG, the Swiss biotech company dedicated to improving the lives of patients with serious diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract, announced that it has successfully completed a financing round raising new private funding. This funding involves private placement including existing and new investors with a strong entrepreneurial background. It was facilitated by a unique subordinated loan guarantee program by the Canton of Basel-Stadt, to which EsoCap has successfully applied, which provides special support to technology start-ups during the Covid-19 pandemic. We are delighted to have secured the financial resources to pursue our rapid development. We plan to use the proceeds to progress the ACESO phase II clinical study in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), to pursue the feasibility of its technology platform for other esophageal diseases with a high level of unmet medical need, including Barretts Disease and reflux disease, and to ramp up industrial scale-up, said Isabelle Racamier, EsoCap AG CEO. We are proud to have the confidence of the Canton of Basel-Stadt and private investors. EsoCap has established robust strategic colaborations with renowned academic institutions and leading industrial partners. The funding is instrumental, as it provides a solid financial position for implementation of key activities.



We are excited about the next phase of value creation, said Patrick Schacher, EsoCap AG CFO. This financing strengthens our position as we work to achieve important milestones with the ACESO clinical trial, manufacturing up-scaling and further feasibility work. About ACESO

The ACESO trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical Phase II trial evaluating the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of ESO-101 in adult patients with active EoE. Patients are treated once daily for 28 days. The primary objective of the trial is to evaluate efficacy based on histological response. Secondary objectives include efficacy based on further histology parameters, as well as clinical symptoms, clinical response assessed by patient-reported outcomes, efficacy based on endoscopic response, patient-reported treatment satisfaction, as well as evaluation of tolerability and safety. About EsoCap EsoCap AG is a privately funded company based in Basel, Switzerland. EsoCaps vision is to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract through development of a unique and innovative topical drug delivery platform. Effective topical treatment of the esophagus is extremely difficult to achieve due to the ultra-short drug contact time of one to two seconds from the mouth to the stomach with the current standard of care. The lead candidate ESO-101 has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA in the treatment of EoE and is in clinical development. EsoCap owns and develops a unique drug delivery platform allowing the efficient topical application of drug substances for the local treatment of diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. With a strong IP position, the EsoCap technology is widely protected. For more information, please visit www.esocapbiotech.com and follow EsoCap on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contacts: Isabelle Racamier, CEO

EsoCap AG

Malzgasse 9

4052 Basel

Switzerland

[email protected] Media Inquiries: MC Services AG

Katja Arnold, Andreas Jungfer

Phone: +49 89 210288-0

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[November 18, 2021] Independent Proxy Advisor ISS Recommends AgJunction Shareholders Vote FOR the Transaction

Leading proxy advisor Institutional Shareholders Services recommends AgJunction shareholders vote FOR the transaction at the upcoming Special Meeting of Shareholders

AgJunction shareholders are reminded to vote by no later than November 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (Scottsdale time)

AgJunction shareholders who require assistance with voting can contact Kingsdale Advisors at 1-800-749-9890 (toll-free)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgJunction Inc. (TSX: AJX) ("AgJunction" or the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that one of the leading independent proxy advisors, Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS"), has recommended that shareholders of AgJunction ("Shareholders") vote FOR a special resolution approving the Arrangement (the "Arrangement") between AgJunction and Kubota Corporation (Kubota"). In reaching its recommendation, ISS noted that: The proposed arrangement offers to the Corporation's shareholders immediate liquidity and certainty of value due to its all-cash structure, and provides a significant premium to the unaffected price of the Corporations shares. The transaction is supported by the largest shareholder of the Corporation. In addition, management has conducted a comprehensive transaction process. As an independent proxy advisory firm, ISS provides voting recommendations to some of the world's largest institutional investors. In welcoming ISS favourable recommendation, Brett McMickell, President and CEO of AgJunction, commented: We are pleased that ISS has recommended in favour of the Arrangement. We unanimously recommend that our Shareholders support this transaction with Kubota by voting FOR the Arrangement at the upcoming special meeting. Under the previously announced Arrangement, Kubota will acquire, by way of court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta), all of AgJunctions issued and outstanding common shares for cash consideration of CAD $0.75 per common share. The benefits of the transaction to AgJunction Shareholders include: Premium to AgJunction Shareholders. The consideration, being CAD $0.75 in cash per common share, ?to be received by the Shareholders under the Arrangement represents a premium ?of approximately 60% to the closing price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 7, ??2021, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Arrangement, and a 57% premium ?to the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of ?October 7, 2021.

The consideration, being CAD $0.75 in cash per common share, ?to be received by the Shareholders under the Arrangement represents a premium ?of approximately 60% to the closing price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on October 7, ??2021, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Arrangement, and a 57% premium ?to the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of ?October 7, 2021. Liquidity and Certainty of Value. The Arrangement provides Shareholders with immediate liquidity and certainty of value that is not ?subject to market fluctuations, and an ability for shareholders to redeploy such ?cash in alternative investments?.

The Arrangement provides Shareholders with immediate liquidity and certainty of value that is not ?subject to market fluctuations, and an ability for shareholders to redeploy such ?cash in alternative investments?. Strategic Alternatives and Business Objectives. While the Board remained positive with respect to the long-term prospects of the Corporation and its strategic business plan, management and target market, after a comprehensive review of the Corporations strategic alternatives, including remaining an independent publicly-traded company and continuing to pursue the Corporation's strategic plan on a stand-alone basis, and after contacting in excess of 40 potentially interested parties in pursuing a strategic transaction with AgJunction, the Board determined that the Arrangement is the best alternative available to the Corporation. In particular, to achieve the Corporations strategic plan, the Corporation requires significant available capital and potential access to additional capital on a go-forward basis. The Arrangement will provide the Corporation with an enhanced platform and support to enable the Corporation to execute on its strategic plan. Given the current market dynamics, should the Corporation not pursue the Arrangement and instead complete the financing necessary to pursue the Corporations strategic plan, such financing is very likely to be materially dilutive to shareholders andnot alleviate the natural execution risk that exists with any growth-oriented strategic plan.





The Corporation also announced today that it has entered into an amendment agreement to the arrangement agreement relating to the Arrangement, which introduces a technical change to the treatment of the holders of the Corporations restricted shares under the Arrangement, and to facilitate the assignment of the arrangement agreement by Kubota. The Corporation has been advised by Kubota that, as previously disclosed, Kubota intends to assign the arrangement agreement to one of its wholly-owned Canadian subsidiaries. In accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement, any such assignment will not relieve Kubota of its obligations under the arrangement agreement. HOW TO VOTE

AgJunction Shareholders are reminded that the deadline to vote by proxy is fast approaching. Shareholders must submit their votes by no later than 10:00 a.m. (Scottsdale time) on November 22, 2021. Your vote is important, regardless of how many shares you own. AgJunctions board of directors has unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of AgJunction Shareholders and unanimously recommends that AgJunction Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement. Voting is simple, and can be done via the methods below: Registered Shareholders Registered Shareholders can vote their shares by proxy over the internet, by entering the 15-digit control number printed on the form of proxy at www.investorvote.com. Alternatively, registered Shareholders can vote by phone, by entering the 15-digit control number printed on the form of proxy at 1-866-732-8683 (toll-free in North America) or 312-588-4290 (outside North America). Beneficial Shareholders Beneficial Shareholders who hold their shares through a broker or other intermediary, should follow the instructions on the voting instruction form provided to them by their broker or other intermediary in order to vote. Each intermediary may have a different voting process. SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONS Shareholders who have questions regarding the Arrangement or require assistance with voting may contact AgJunctions proxy solicitation agent, Kingsdale Advisors, by telephone at 1-800-749-9890 (toll-free in North America) or at 416-867-2272 (for collect calls outside of North America) or by email at [email protected]. About AgJunction AgJunction Inc. is a global leader of advanced guidance and autosteering solutions for precision agriculture applications. Its technologies are critical components in over 30 of the worlds leading precision Ag manufacturers and solution providers and it owns or licenses over 200 patents and patents pending. AgJunction markets its solutions under leading brand names including Novariant, Wheelman, Whirl and Handsfreefarm and is committed to advancing its vision by bringing affordable hands-free farming to every farm, regardless of terrain or size. AgJunction is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is listed on the TSX under the symbol "AJX." For more information, visit www.agjunction.com. Media Relations

Email: [email protected] Investor Relations

Gateway Investor Relations

Cody Slach or Cody Cree

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 1-949-574-3860

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws and is based on the expectations, estimates and projections of management of AgJunction as of the date of this press release, unless otherwise stated. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. In particular, this press release contains, without limitation, forward-looking information and statements pertaining to: the Transaction and the anticipated timing of required court and shareholder approvals; the anticipated benefits of the Transaction for AgJunction shareholders; the ability of the parties to satisfy the other conditions to, and to complete, the Transaction; and the anticipated timing for the closing of the Transaction. With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, AgJunction has made assumptions regarding, among other things, that the Transaction will be completed on the terms contemplated by the arrangement agreement; the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary court and shareholder approvals; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Transaction; and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Transaction. Although AgJunction believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are made, are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements included in this press release, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that forward-looking statements will not occur. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions which are typical for transactions of this nature, certain of which are outside the control of AgJunction, failure to satisfy any of these conditions, the emergence of a superior proposal or the failure to obtain approval of AgJunction's shareholders may result in the termination of the arrangement agreement. As a consequence, actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the forgoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) and at AgJunction's website (AgJunction.com). Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date of this press release and AgJunction does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. This release does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction. Shareholders are advised to review any documents filed with securities regulatory authorities and any subsequent announcements regarding the Transaction.



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[November 18, 2021] Leading Enterprises Turn to Magnet AXIOM Cyber to Investigate Critical Cybersecurity Incidents

Magnet Forensics, a developer of digital investigation solutions used by more than 4,000 public and private sector organizations in over 90 countries, is delivering meaningful results for leading enterprises in the technology, healthcare, financial and professional services sectors in the fight against cybercrime. Magnet AXIOM Cyber was purpose-built to empower enterprises to investigate and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Many of the world's largest corporations are now using AXIOM Cyber to investigate fraud, IP theft, employee misconduct and data breaches, including ransomware, business email compromise and insider data exfiltration. "What makes Magnet AXIOM Cyber so valuable to conducting post-incident analysis is its versatility," said Bill Odom, co-founder of eDiscovery firm Orbital Global and former senior manager of forensic investigation and dispute services with EY. Prior to joining the private sector, Odom served as a special agent with the FBI. "Magnet AXIOM Cyber gives us the ability to track the magnitude of the damage of a cyber attack by covertly and remotely connecting to compromised systems on or off corporate networks in multiple locations, acquire data from services like Microsoft (News - Alert) 365 and Google Workspace to identify threat vectors and move the evidence we recover into a legal environment for eDiscovery. Carrying out these functions helps us to keep businesses running and accelerate their recovery after they suffer cyber incidents." When cybercriminals breach heir defenses, enterprises are increasingly turning to digital forensics for post-incident analysis to reveal the origin of the incident, the methods used to carry it out and the damage done. Since launching Magnet AXIOM Cyber in early 2020, Magnet Forensics has continued to innovate and give corporate investigators the tools they need to protect enterprises. With Magnet AXIOM Cyber, enterprises are now:



Performing covert, remote acquisitions from Windows and Mac systems, even when they aren't connected to a corporate network

Collecting data from cloud-based communication services like Microsoft Teams and Slack and storage services such as Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (News - Alert)

Running digital forensic analyses in cloud-based environments

Recovering and analyzing digital evidence from Linux systems

Supporting eDiscovery review platforms such as Relativity and Concordance "Enterprises are permanently shifting to hybrid models that involve employees working from home and it's making them more vulnerable to cybercrime than ever before," said Magnet Forensics chief executive officer Adam Belsher. "Cyberattacks are no longer a possibility, they're an inevitability. Magnet AXIOM Cyber is helping corporations stop further damage and understand how their systems were breached so that they're well positioned to secure their assets and can focus on being better prepared to face the next attack." Magnet AXIOM Cyber has played a central role in helping investigators make a difference during post-incident analysis. A department store chain with 100,000 employees recently used Magnet AXIOM Cyber to identify where a phishing campaign, which resulted in a business email compromise, first breached the company's systems. An energy and defense corporation with 15,000 employees leveraged Magnet AXIOM Cyber to track a malware infection in its systems and identify what data was lost. A financial services company with 30,000 employees turned to Magnet AXIOM Cyber to remotely acquire explicit images that one employee sent to another to prove the legitimacy of a harassment complaint.

ABOUT MAGNET FORENSICS

Magnet Forensics is a developer of digital investigation software that acquires, analyzes, reports on, and manages evidence from computers, mobile devices, IoT devices and the cloud. The company's software is used by more than 4,000 public and private sector organizations in over 90 countries and has been helping investigators fight crime, protect assets and guard national security since 2011. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005331/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Convoy Opens Up Digital Freight Network to Truckload Brokerages

Convoy, the nation's leading digital freight network, today rolled out a new program that provides freight brokers with direct access to Convoy's network of owner-operators and small carriers, numbering more than 300,000 trucks. Convoy for Brokers enables brokerages to quickly find high-quality capacity while maintaining their relationships with carriers and the privacy of their data. Convoy's unique carrier compliance program helps ensure that brokers' loads are delivered safely and on time. And with zero upfront costs, brokers are only invoiced when loads are successfully booked through the program. Industry-leading freight providers, including USA Truck and AFS Logistics, are now using the new program to tap into Convoy's elastic capacity and expand their carrier bases. These and other brokerages can double their productivity while also improving service quality through the use of Convoy's technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005535/en/ Convoy for Brokers: How it Works (Graphic: Business Wire) Brokerages Need Easier Access to High-Quality Capacity There are more than 18,000 registered freight brokers across the United States. Each provides a critical supply chain service by arranging for trucking companies to haul shipments for businesses of all sizes. At least 43% of all truckload shipments are currently run through independent freight brokers or brokerage arms of asset-based carriers.1 Over the last 18 months, brokers have seen a surge in demand for their services as shippers have needed more flexible capacity to respond to market volatility and fluctuating demand. However, the process of manually brokering loads often requires hours of back-and-forth emails and phone calls with multiple carriers, limiting broker productivity and increasing truck costs as lead time is consumed by manual activity. In addition, brokers often operate with limited or outdated information about carrier safety and performance, increasing their risk of customer service issues and cargo claims. And as record demand continues to outpace supply in many industries, brokers are increasingly struggling to find trucks, resulting in a higher incidence of service failure. "In order to source more capacity in a shrinking market, brokers must digitize and automate the process of matching shipments to available trucks," according to a Gartner (News - Alert) report authored by Bart de Muynck, Vice President of Research, and Carly West, Research Director. The report further states, "the volume and demand is too great for manual processes to continue being effective and to allow brokers to be competitive." Convoy for Brokers Provides Instant Access to Vetted Carriers Convoy is uniquely positioned to address these issues. Over the last six years, the company has built one of the largest networks of small carriers and owner-operators in the US with a fleet numbering more than 300,000 trucks. By using technology and data to automate its own brokerage-including pricing, load matching, verifying carrier safety and peformance, scheduling appointments, real-time GPS tracking, automated backhauls, digital BOL and document management, and carrier payment-Convoy has created the most efficient way to secure elastic, high-quality capacity and manage truckload freight.



With today's announcement, Convoy is opening up its digital freight network, enabling brokers to access its fleet of carriers and improve productivity through brokerage automation. The program provides brokers with an online platform where they can manage their loads and incoming bids and TMS integrations that enable them to book and manage loads using their existing tools and processes. There are zero upfront costs for brokers to use the service, with invoices only being sent after loads are successfully booked. Brokers remain the broker of record on shipments, continuing to directly manage their shipper and carrier relationships, while Convoy's technology and digital freight network facilitate the process. Powering this new service are five innovations that save brokers time and enable them to provide better service quality to their customers and carriers:

Load matching at scale - Convoy enables brokers to quickly flex capacity as their customers' demand fluctuates. Brokers get control over carrier selection and can confirm loads in as little as three minutes.

- Convoy enables brokers to quickly flex capacity as their customers' demand fluctuates. Brokers get control over carrier selection and can confirm loads in as little as three minutes. Pre-qualified carrier network - Convoy's industry-leading carrier safety standards use data and machine learning models to ensure that every load is hauled by an extensively vetted, high-quality carrier. The result is a crash rate 16% lower than the industry and a cargo-claims rate 20x lower.

- Convoy's industry-leading carrier safety standards use data and machine learning models to ensure that every load is hauled by an extensively vetted, high-quality carrier. The result is a crash rate 16% lower than the industry and a cargo-claims rate 20x lower. Industry-leading visibility - With more than 95% of loads in Convoy's network consistently connected through the company's mobile app, brokers can see the precise location of their shipments on a map.

- With more than 95% of loads in Convoy's network consistently connected through the company's mobile app, brokers can see the precise location of their shipments on a map. Automated document management - Brokers can eliminate manual paperwork with online access to shipment documents, including BOLs, proof of delivery, and inventory photos, which can be uploaded directly from Convoy's app.

- Brokers can eliminate manual paperwork with online access to shipment documents, including BOLs, proof of delivery, and inventory photos, which can be uploaded directly from Convoy's app. Automated carrier payment - Through Convoy QuickPay, carriers can get automatically paid in two days with no hidden costs and no additional paperwork. "Today's announcement is the result of more than a year of hard work, including a tight collaboration between Convoy and the forward-thinking team at USA Truck," said Brooks McMahon, VP of Partnerships at Convoy. "Our partnership with USA Truck has been integral to the evolution of this new offering, and it's led to an acceleration of the program and collaboration with other partners like AFS Logistics. Our work together over the last year exemplifies how freight industry collaboration can benefit all parties - carriers, shippers, and brokers." "There's a lot of waste in the freight industry, and we believe much of it can be avoided with new approaches to capacity sourcing and shipment automation," said George Henry, Senior Vice President at USA Truck, Inc. "While there are some areas where we compete with Convoy, there's more opportunity for both of us when we work together. Convoy for Brokers complements our existing truckload offering-it's helped us support additional growth in our load volume and increase the productivity of our team by making it easier to access trucks through Convoy's digital freight network." "As a rapidly growing third-party logistics provider, we are constantly evaluating new approaches for sourcing flexible capacity as our domestic truckload business expands," said Andy Dyer, President of Transportation Management at AFS. "We are excited about Convoy for Brokers, as it provides incredibly efficient access to a large, pre-vetted carrier network with a unique pay-as-you-go pricing model that will scale with our growth." Carriers Benefit from Convoy for Brokers As part of Convoy's ongoing commitment to helping drivers earn more with less hassle, today's launch of Convoy for Brokers benefits the tens of thousands of carriers and owner-operators that have joined the digital freight network. As brokers add new shipment volume to Convoy's digital freight network, carriers gain access to additional quality loads, enabling them to more efficiently keep their schedules and their trucks full. And as carriers establish new relationships with the brokers joining Convoy's network, they also get the same benefits they've become accustomed to from Convoy, including payment in two days with free Convoy QuickPay, hassle-free detention, in-app feedback on their bids, and more. "There's a reason I run 100% of my loads with Convoy-they keep finding new ways to keep my truck full and increase my company's potential earnings," said Robert Key of Bizzyb Transport. "There isn't another company that comes close to matching Convoy's service quality and commitment to carriers. With 3rd-party loads now coming through the app, I have even more flexibility to drive my favorite lanes all while maintaining my Convoy experience." "Convoy's mission is to transport the world with endless capacity and zero waste. The only way to achieve that mission is by partnering with other freight companies and sharing the benefits of a digital freight network," said Dan Lewis, Convoy Co-founder and CEO. "With today's announcement, we're providing brokers with a new source of elastic capacity and the opportunity to build out their carrier base, while also expanding opportunities for carriers-providing more loads in the Convoy app so that they can fill their schedules, earn more money, and reduce empty miles." Starting today, Convoy for Brokers is available to freight brokerages nationwide. More information is available at convoy.com/brokers. About Convoy Convoy is the nation's leading digital freight network. We move thousands of truckloads around the country each day through our optimized, connected network of carriers, saving money for shippers, increasing earnings for drivers, and eliminating carbon waste for our planet. We use technology and data to solve problems of waste and inefficiency in the $800B trucking industry, which generates over 87 million metric tons of wasted CO2 emissions from empty trucks. Fortune 500 shippers like Anheuser-Busch, P&G, Niagara, and Unilever trust Convoy to lower costs, increase logistics efficiency, and achieve environmental sustainability targets. 1 Convoy analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census, 2017 industry revenue statistics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005535/en/

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[November 18, 2021] HPC-AI Advisory Council Announces the Winners of the 4th APAC HPC-AI Competition

The HPC-AI Advisory Council (HPCAIAC) and National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore today announced the university team winners of its annual HPC-AI challenge, the 4th APAC HPC-AI Competition. The annual APAC HPC-AI competition's mission is to bridge the gap between high-performance computing (HPC) and AI use, and its application potential as part of talent development for participants from universities and research centers. This year's competition consisted of 36 teams from 13 countries and regions in APAC. The winners of the competition were: 1 st Place and Overall Champion - Southern University of Science and Technology

Place and Overall Champion - Southern University of Science and Technology 2 nd Place - National Tsing Hua University-KW, National Cheng Kung University - DAGG

Place - National Tsing Hua University-KW, National Cheng Kung University - DAGG 3 rd Place - National Tsing Hua University- EM, Thammasat University Team (Lampang), Nanyang Technological University

Place - National Tsing Hua University- EM, Thammasat University Team (Lampang), Nanyang Technological University Merit Place - Thammasat University CSTU-Rangsit, National Cheng Kung University - APEX, Universiti Putra Malaysia

HPC Special Prize - National Tsing Hua University-KW

AI Special Prize - Southern University of Science and Technology With the continued support of NSCC Singapore, student competitors were provided with hands-on access to the Singapore-based advanced supercomputing resources. Teams were challenged with mastering one HPC task (GROMACS) and one AI task (DLRM), the same complex HPC and AI workloads that are integral to today's major applications. "This year's annual APAC HPC-AI competition has demonstrated the growth and development of the student eams from the region and how far they have come since the competition began four years ago," said Associate Professor Tan Tin Wee, Chief Executive at NSCC Singapore. "The overall technical prowess of the teams has matured significantly, with better and more creative solutions to the challenges posed. This augurs well for the future of the HPC and AI talent pool in one of the world's fastest growing economic regions. We congratulate this year's winners and all the 2021 student competitors for going above and beyond to deliver truly inspiring work and solutions."



"I would like to congratulate all the participants for their contribution to the HPC and AI communities; you should all be proud of your results, performance and particularly your accomplishment," said Gilad Shainer, HPC-AI Advisory Council chairman. "The competition not only instills a friendly competitive spirit, it also provides students with an opportunity to establish professional relationships early on, including lifelong camaraderie amongst competing cohorts and future colleagues." The 4th APAC HPC-AI Competition Award Ceremony will be held at the SupercomputingAsia 2022 (SCA22) hybrid conference in Singapore on 2 March, 2022.

About HPC-AI Advisory Council Founded in 2008, the HPC-AI Advisory Council (HPCAIAC) is a for community benefit organization with over 400 members committed to promoting HPC and AI through education and outreach. Find out more, become a member @ hpcadvisorycouncil.com About National Supercomputing Centre Singapore Established in 2015, the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore manages Singapore's first national Petascale facility providing high performance computing (HPC) resources. As a National Research Infrastructure, NSCC supports private and public sector research including commercial companies, government agencies as well as higher education and research institutes. Through the support of its stakeholders including the Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR (News - Alert)); Nanyang Technological University (NTU); National University of Singapore (NUS); Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD); the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS); and funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF), NSCC catalyses national research and development initiatives, attracts industrial research collaborations and enhances Singapore's research capabilities. For more information, please visit www.nscc.sg View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005524/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Arkose Labs Named AI and Data Winner in Fast Company's First-Ever List of the Next Big Things in Tech

Arkose Labs, the fraud prevention and account security company, today announced that it has been named an AI and Data Winner for foiling both human fraudsters and bots in Fast Company's inaugural Next Big Things in Tech list, honoring the technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future of their industries-from healthcare to agriculture to artificial intelligence and more. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005822/en/ The final list, which includes global giants, intrepid startups, and research that's fresh from the labs, recognizes 65 technologies that are making waves. While not all of the products, services, and technological developments are on the market yet, they're reaching key milestones in having a positive impact for consumers, businesses, and society at large in the next five years. Fast Company also recognized 33 honorable mentions. Arkose Labs provides long-term fraud prevention and account security by sabotaging fraudsters' return on investment. As long as there is profit to be made, fraudsters will persistently target user authentication points with increasingly sophiticated tactics to mimic real customers and circumvent front-line defenses. An intelligent combination of risk classification and targeted enforcement challenges ruin the ROI of attacks while allowing real users to authenticate with ease.



"The latest fraud statistics show that it's a combination of bots and human fraud farms that are perpetrating global attacks on companies at scale. To outpace bad actors, we take a different and better approach, making it so costly and time consuming for fraudsters to successfully execute an attack that they ultimately abandon their efforts. At the same time, we help create and ensure that consumers have a seamless experience when shopping or doing business online," said Arkose Labs Founder and CEO Kevin Gosschalk. "We are thankful to Fast Company for recognizing our innovative approach to fighting fraud." "Fast Company is thrilled to highlight cutting-edge technologies that are solving real-world problems in unexpected ways. From climate change and public health crises to machine learning and security, these technologies will certainly have a profound impact on the future, and we're honored to bring attention to them today," says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company.

Click here to see the final list. The Winter 2021/2022 issue of Fast Company is available online now and will hit newsstands on December 7. About Fast Company Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com. About Arkose Labs Arkose Labs bankrupts the business model of fraud. Recognized by Gartner (News - Alert) as a "Cool Vendor in Fraud and Authentication," the company offers an industry-first warranty on account protection. Its AI-powered platform combines powerful risk assessments with dynamic attack response that undermines the ROI behind attacks, while improving good user throughput. Based in San Francisco, CA (News - Alert) with offices in Brisbane, Australia and London, UK, the company was honored as the 195th fastest growing company in the United States on the 2021 Inc. 5000 list. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005822/en/

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[November 18, 2021] CS-Cart Payment Gateways for Online Smoke Shops Now Offered by Tasker Payment Gateways LLC

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tasker Payment Gateways LLC, a US-based e-commerce solutions provider, announces a new support program focusing on payment gateways for smoke shop website owners who use CS-Cart. According to Tasker Payment Gateways LLC, CS-Cart is an e-commerce platform that provides many merchants with the tools they need to manage their online business smoothly. CS-Cart is open-source, so it has a lot of flexibility, and it offers features like an automated tax calculator. It is compatible with online smoke shops that sell pipes, bongs, grinders, and other smoking accessories. However, Tasker Payment Gateways has worked with many people who discovered that using payment gateways that come built into their shopping cart can cause problems when the products they sell are high-risk. Online businesses that sell smoke shop items are considered "high-risk" because those items are part of a regulated industry. PayPal, Stripe, Square, and other major payment processors do not generally allow high-risk items, and they often power the payment gateways that come with shopping carts, even if they have different names. In business since 2002 and rated A+ by the BBB, Tasker Payment Gateways LLC is adding CS-Cart smoke shop support as one more way they can help online businesses accept redit card payments for products like pipes, bongs, and grinders.



Despite restrictions from most payment-processing providers, online merchants can still sell head shop items using CS-Cart. It just takes an integration with a high-risk-friendly payment gateway such as Authorize.Net  as long as that gateway is correctly connected on the back end to a pipe and glass merchant account. Tasker Payment Gateways LLC's president Matt Tasker says it this way: "We've been working with high-risk e-commerce clients for a long time and are always happy to help get people set up with a payment gateway and merchant account that are right for them and for the specific high-risk products they sell. With the right payment processor, CS-Cart can be the perfect platform for your online smoke shop. You won't have to worry about getting shut down and losing your ability to accept payments just because of the types of products you sell. You also don't need to switch to a different e-commerce platform just because of restrictions on high-risk items."

Even for CS-Cart website owners who are new to selling pipes and glassware online and have never faced a shutdown, high-risk-friendly payment processing will start a smoke shop business out on the right foot. Tasker Payment Gateways LLC advises that before launching an online smoke shop, it's important to seek legal advice from a qualified attorney. The rules for selling smoking items can be complex and vary by region, so new businesses will want to be very sure that their business is operating according to all applicable regulations before launching. It's important for an online smoke shop to be set up with not only a high-risk-friendly payment gateway, but also a high-risk-friendly merchant account which actually deposits their funds. Tasker Payment Gateways LLC can advise website owners on both so that all pieces of the payment solution will be aligned with their specific product type. All of this comes at no direct cost to the business owner, as Tasker is paid by the providers, not the website owners. Says Matt Tasker, "Selling smoke shop products online has its complexities, and like in all high-risk industries, there are many regulations to follow. For example, you must be careful with links and images on your site to make sure they're in compliance. The one thing you shouldn't have to worry about is the ability to accept payments for your products  this is too important to be left to chance. That's why Tasker Payment Gateways LLC takes pride in our area of expertise, which is finding high-risk-friendly payment solutions for you that work for your products and your e-commerce platform. Whether you sell pipes, glassware, bongs, premium cigars, or other smoking accessories, we want you to have the ability to sell those items on CS-Cart without payment-related hassles." You can learn more about Tasker Payment Gateways LLC's online smoke shop solution on their website at https://taskerpaymentgateways.com/merchant-accounts-payment-gateways-for-cs-cart-glass-and-pipe-sites/ Media Contact

Matt Tasker

207-772-8737

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cs-cart-payment-gateways-for-online-smoke-shops-now-offered-by-tasker-payment-gateways-llc-301427239.html SOURCE Tasker Payment Gateways LLC

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[November 18, 2021] ZOA Energy Hosts TikTok Live Event on World Kindness Day to Show What #KindnessCAN Do

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ZOA Energy, a brand rooted in positivity, partnered with TikTok influencers JT Laybourne and Ed Delmore, known for their inspirational and uplifting content, this month to showcase how #KindnessCAN change the world. Together, they culminated the campaign with a 3-hour TikTok LIVE event on World Kindness Day to raise awareness that a kind word or simple gesture has the power to change someone's day. The live charity event touted as "one of the most impressive non-sponsored charity lives" on the TikTok platform raised $55,700 for the Made of Millions Foundation, a global nonprofit on a mission to change how the world perceives mental health.

During the LIVE event on Laybourne's TikTok, the global community came together in celebration of World Kindness Day, including renowned TikTokers such as Sheena Melwani, The Real Indian Dad, Blitz The Seahawk, Louie (St. Louis Blues Mascot), and the Utah Jazz Bear. Individuals from all walks of life joined the conversation about the importance of kindness, with Melwani also joining in to sing bars from her upcoming new album.





ZOA's partnership with Laybourne and Delmore has encouraged everyday warriors to reflect on what #KindnessCAN do through the power of positive actions, words, deeds, and self-reflection. To show the world just how powerful #KindnessCAN be, the duo went on a month-long journey of random acts of kindness both virtually and in-person to encourage the world to find kindness within themselves and for others. Making multiple stops at iconic California locations (Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade, the LACMA Urban Light exhibit and the Hollywood Walk of Fame), the duo took to the streets with a freestanding mirror encouraging tourists and locals alike to find love for themselves with the request for the people to pay it forward with a ZOA challenge coin whenever the opportune moment presents itself.



Since then, the company took to social media to spotlight 12 everyday warriors with 12 Days of Kindness. ZOA featured the profiles of teachers, frontline workers, parents, and hardworking hands around the world to share stories of how kindness has impacted their daily lives. Every day, ZOA Energy posted a new profile on their website and social media leading up to World Kindness Day and the TikTok LIVE event on November 13.

"The World Kindness Day TikTok LIVE event was even more inspiring and humbling than I could've imagined," said Ed Delmore, ZOA partner and TikTok inspirator. "The entire kindness movement has been a life-changing experience and it was so incredible to hear the stories of the Everyday Warriors of our generation making a difference in their communities with true acts of kindness."

"ZOA is all about energy for a positive, healthy life. In these polarized times, the #KindnessCAN campaign has grown into a cultural movement, and we're proud to be part of the conversation," said Joen Choe, Chief Brand Officer at ZOA. "We're honored to have worked alongside the ZOA team, JT and Ed to help energize simple acts of #KindnessCAN in people's everyday lives."

For more information about #KindnessCAN, the TikTok LIVE event and ZOA Energy products please visit https://zoaenergy.com/ and follow the brand on Instagram @zoaenergy.

About ZOA Energy:

ZOA is the healthy energy drink created and developed by Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Dave Rienzi and John Shulman to bring more positive energy to everyday life. Created as a convenient, healthy solution for the unique challenges of today, ZOA was made to sustain with vitamins C for immunity, and vitamin B and natural caffeine for clean, enhanced energy. Follow the brand online at zoaenergy.com.

About Made of Millions

Made of Millions Foundation is a global mental health advocacy nonprofit on a mission to change how the world perceives mental health. Its platforms, events, campaigns and resources reach millions of sufferers around the world each year. For more information, please visit http://www.madeofmillions.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kristina Avena | Konnect Agency

646.453.7167

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zoa-energy-hosts-tiktok-live-event-on-world-kindness-day-to-show-what-kindnesscan-do-301427851.html SOURCE ZOA Energy

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Visual Lease Included in Deloitte Technology Fast 500 for Second Consecutive Year

Visual Lease, the #1 lease optimization software provider, today announced that it ranked No. 264 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a list of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech and energy tech companies in North America. Visual Lease's revenue grew by 493% over a three-year period, from 2017 to 2020, and this is the company's second consecutive year on the list.

"This recognition is an honor and reflects just how pivotal of a time it is for our organization," said Marc Betesh, founder and CEO of Visual Lease. "We realize that as companies face the pressures of the new lease accounting standards, as well as the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, it's never been more important that they accurately track, manage and report on their leases. Our team remains dedicated to providing the software and services they require to successfully achieve and maintain lease accounting compliance. As a result, we have sustained our high growth, steadily increasing our revenue, our network of customers and partners and our employee base."

To be eligible for the Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 US, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million US. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

This recognition comes on the heels of a record-breaking third quarter for Visual Lease, during which the organization announced it now helps more than 800 organizations achieve lease accounting compliance and improve the financial, legal and operational performance of their leases.







Earlier this year, Visual Lease was named a Best Place to Work in New Jersey by NJBIZ for the second year in a row. The business was also ranked in the top 20% of the 2021 Inc. 5000 list and among the Top 100 Software Companies of 2021 by The Software Report. The company was also honored with a Bronze Stevie Award in the Fastest Growing Company of the Year category in The 19th Annual American Business Awards and named a Top Workplace in New Jersey by NJ.com.

To keep up with news from Visual Lease, visit its newsroom.

For more information on Visual Lease's open positions, visit its career site.

About Visual Lease

Visual Lease is the #1 lease optimization software provider. We help organizations become compliant with FASB, IFRS and GASB lease accounting standards, while simultaneously improving the financial, legal and operational performance of their leases. Our easy-to-use SaaS (News - Alert) platform is embedded with more than three decades of best practices from major corporations and leading industry professionals. Our award-winning solutions are used by 800+ organizations to manage 500,000+ real estate, equipment and other leased assets. Committed to ongoing innovation and unparalleled customer service, Visual Lease helps organizations transform their lease compliance requirements into financial opportunities. For more information, visit visuallease.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005865/en/
[November 18, 2021] Prizeout--Premier Ad-Tech Platform--Launches Free Employee Perks Platform That Features Exclusive, Curated Gift Card Marketplace

Prizeout Corp. (Prizeout), a digital cashout marketplace that delivers withdrawal solutions to commercial partners across the ecommerce, retail, gaming, finance, neobank and payroll industries, today announced the launch of Prizeout Perks, a free recognition platform that allows any company to leverage Prizeout's storefront for employee engagement. Companies using Prizeout Perks can send funds to employees in bulk or individually, and employees are able to redeem those funds by choosing from the thousands of digital gift cards on Prizeout's marketplace. "With job dissatisfaction being at an all time high, there's no better time for us to debut this platform to the public," said David Metz, CEO of Prizeout. "Companies are looking for ways to engage their employees and make them feel appreciated, often on a tight budget. Our ad-tech model allows us to offer our platform at no-fee to employers which means they can spend their HR budget where it really matters: on their people." The launch of Prizeout Perks comes at a time of a hiring market dominated by grim statistics for employers. Between April and June of this year, 11.5 million workers quit their jobs. Millennials, who now account for more than ? of the workforce, cite dissatisfaction with pay and lack of appreciation as two of their top three reasons for leaving their jobs. Not to mention, the sheer amount of employees working remotely has thrown traditional methods of engagement and recognition for a loop. With the cost of replacing an employee estimated at 33% of a person's annual salary, the financial impact of the Great Resignation is certainly dire. Finding ways to express appreciation, incentivize performance, and shorten the hiring funnel are becoming increasingly important for people leaders.



Prizeout Perks will make the ad-tech platform's premier curated marketplace accessible to thousands of people for the first time, gaining them access to exclusive deals and promotions from top brands. Employees who receive rewards through Prizeout redeem their funds with the gift card(s) of their choice, whether it be their favorite sneaker retailer or crypto exchange. Because Prizeout Perks involves no technical integration, there is no up-front cost except for the money that goes directly into employees' pockets. Prior to this launch, Prizeout has been working with select partners on a case-by-case basis to develop rewards and incentives solutions. "Prizeout has simplified how we reward our employees significantly. We can't imagine running our sales contests without it," said Kevin Heron, an Operations Manager at Angi, who Prizeout has worked with to develop sales incentive, customer marketing, and employee engagement rewards programs.

For more information about Prizeout Perks, please visit: prizeout.com/perks ABOUT PRIZEOUT Prizeout is a first-in-class ad-tech company that works within the gaming, gig-economy, payroll, neobank, and finance industries to turn withdrawals into a growth solution for ecommerce & retail businesses. Operating as a digital cashout marketplace, Prizeout connects brands that are looking to acquire and retain customers with platforms that have users who are looking to withdraw funds. Through its exclusive partnerships, Prizeout offers users unprecedented access to bonus offers on popular and emerging brand favorites, while providing them with a fast, secure and curated experience. The company was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in New York City. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005883/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Big Data - Wikisoft's Big Vision

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wikisoft Corp. (the "Company," "we," and "our") (OTCQB: WSFT) -- In 2017, the fledgling Wikisoft had a big vision  help businesses large and small in a big way. Our founders goal was to create a company information database and then share the information to help small companies grow big. Since then, the company has grown, added world class executives to the C-level team and invested heavily into Big Data technology to fulfill the founders vision. It seems the strategy was well-chosen. Here are three facts to justify it: The global big data technology market size was $41.33 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $116.07 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 14.0% in forecast period according to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled Big Data Technology Market Size. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), worldwide spending on big data including business analytics (BDA) solutions is forecast to reach $215.7 billion this year and shows that BDA spending will gain strength over the next five years as the global economy recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for global BDA spending over the 2021-2025 forecast period will be 12.8%. In 2020 the European Commission renewed its Data strategy (Communication: A European strategy for data 2020) and identified Data as an essential resource for economic growth, competitiveness, innovation, job creation and societal progress. Former Dominos CEO, Carsten Falk who took over just over a year ago commented: The company has come a long way since the inception, in just the last year we have launched the Wikisoft investor site and relaunched our flagship Wikiprofile platform which uses big data to accelerate opportunities globally for businesses and business professionals. We followed that entering into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with White Lion Capital LLC for $20M and uplisted to OTCQB in August. We believe we are in the right business at the right time.



In an in depth recent interview Proactive Group, Carsten Falk, Wikisofts CEO discusses how the company use the power of big data. Wikiprofile.com has a company data set exceeding 175 million business profiles that are continuously updated. ABOUT WIKISOFT CORPORATION

In line with increasing globalization, we believe that there is a growing demand for access to credible company and employee information worldwide. Wikisoft's flagship online platform, Wikiprofile.com, aims to be a powerful solution with tools and resources for businesses and business professionals. Our vision is to create opportunity globally for business people and companies to make informed career and hiring decisions. Manifesting this vision requires scaling information technology with high data validity across the key pillars: business professionals, businesses, job opportunities and professional skills. By pursuing this vision, we believe Wikisoft Corp. can enable users to connect to business opportunities on a global scale. In line with increasing globalization, there is a growing demand for access to credible business and employee information worldwide.





FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature about the Company. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "future" or other similar expressions. The Company has based these forward-looking statements primarily on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect Company's financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. There is no assurance that the Company's current expectations and projections are accurate. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on the Company's information on the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor any solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.



CONTACT

WikiSoft Corp.

315 Montgomery Street, San Francisco,

CA 94104, USA

Phone: +1-800-706-0806

Email: [email protected]

Investor site: www.wikisoft.com

SOURCE: WikiSoft Corp.





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[November 18, 2021] Morgan Stanley at Work Unveils Inaugural State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study

Morgan Stanley at Work announced today the findings of its inaugural State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study exploring the attitudes and mindsets of employees and employers concerning workplace financial benefits. Amid the "Great Resignation," where employees are leaving their jobs in record numbers, the study reveals the power that holistic financial benefits, including wellness, can have in recruiting and retaining top talent: Employees and employers agree companies could do more. More than four in five employees and nine in 10 employers believe their companies should be more involved in helping employees understand how to maximize financial benefits amid the pandemic.

More than four in five employees and nine in 10 employers believe their companies should be more involved in helping employees understand how to maximize financial benefits amid the pandemic. Employees link financial benefits to retention. More than nine in 10 employees (91%) say they'd feel more invested in staying with their employer if offered financial benefits that met their needs.

More than nine in 10 employees (91%) say they'd feel more invested in staying with their employer if offered financial benefits that met their needs. Employees believe these financial benefits should be a priority-and employers plan to make it happen. In fact, 90% of employees say their company should prioritize re-evaluating its financial benefits package in 2022. Meanwhile, 95% of HR executives say their company's re-evaluation of their financial benefit package for 2022 is a priority.

In fact, 90% of employees say their company should prioritize re-evaluating its financial benefits package in 2022. Meanwhile, 95% of HR executives say their company's re-evaluation of their financial benefit package for 2022 is a priority. Employers see that there is more work to do. HR executives feel there is room for improvement to stay competitive, with 79% citing that lack of financial benefits will result in attrition.

HR executives feel there is room for improvement to stay competitive, with 79% citing that lack of financial benefits will result in attrition. Employees are paying more attention to their financial benefits. In fact, 61% of employees are now paying more attention to the financial benefits offered compared to a year ago. This is particularly true among Millennials, where 69% are more focused on reviewing these benefits. "The pandemic-fueled uncertainty has led many employers to focus ore attention on how to deliver financial benefits that meet their employees' needs," said Brian McDonald, Head of Morgan Stanley at Work. "Employees are now looking for employers to offer a full spectrum of financial benefits tools, and guidance to help them along the right path financially. As a result, those companies that offer a robust benefits package that includes retirement planning, equity compensation, student loan refinancing plans, and overall financial wellness benefits will differentiate themselves in the face of unprecedented competition for great talent."



Additional findings are available in Morgan Stanley at Work's State of the Workplace Study. Methodology: The data from the Morgan Stanley at Work State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study comes from a survey of 1,000 U.S. employed adults and 600 HR executives. Quotas were set for both audiences to match representative distributions, including for company size, benefits status and seniority. The survey was conducted on behalf of Morgan at Stanley at Work using an email invitation and an online survey between September 21st and September 28th, 2021 by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com).

About Morgan Stanley at Work Morgan Stanley at Work offers a suite of financial solutions, which spans Equity Compensation through Shareworks and E*TRADE Equity Edge Online, Retirement and Financial Wellness Solutions. Morgan Stanley at Work combines cutting-edge planning and Morgan Stanley intellectual capital and financial education delivered through multiple channels to enable employees to build a holistic plan to achieve their financial goals. Employee stock plan solutions, including Equity Edge Online, are part of the Morgan Stanley at Work solutions and are offered by E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, Inc. Morgan Stanley at Work currently has offices in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific. Wakefield Research is neither an employee of, nor affiliated with, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ("Morgan Stanley"). About Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and -investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services. About Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.  2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005308/en/

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[November 18, 2021] CODE (RED) Empowers People To Shop, Give And Game To Fight COVID-19 This Holiday Season

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of Giving Tuesday and World AIDS Day, (RED) , the global pandemic fighting organization co-founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver, is marking its 15th anniversary year by partnering with collaborators and industry leaders in gaming, financial services and retail to call a CODE (RED) on COVID-19, a first of its kind campaign to raise money to support urgent and equitable access to COVID relief in response to the devastating impact of the pandemic in the world's poorest countries. All money raised will be distributed to the Global Fund's COVID Response Mechanism and the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). Doubling the impact, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will generously match every dollar donated to the Global Fund, up to $2 million USD. "As life slowly begins to return to normal in the US, COVID continues to wreak havoc on the world's poorest countries. Right now, less than 5 percent of people in low-income countries have received a single vaccine dose," said Jennifer Lotito, President and COO of (RED). "This holiday season, we're bringing the biggest brands in gaming, shopping and financial services together to fight this pandemic and help save lives." THE (RED) CREATOR CUP BRINGS TOGETHER CREATORS TO FIGHT COVID

On December 1st, World AIDS Day, some of the world's most exciting content creators including Nihachu, GeeNelly, Loony, WillNE & Miaxmon, Dev1ce and many others will join forces for The (RED) Creator Cup, a global response rallying the gaming community on Twitch and YouTube to fight COVID. The tournament is a collaboration between (RED), Dexerto and Unsigned, and is generously supported by Merck (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada). Content creators will team up to play a special (RED) Minecraft world, and give fans and followers opportunities to donate via Tiltify. The (RED) Creator Cup will mobilize fans around the world to take action in the fight against COVID by featuring custom fundraising overlays that add unique viewer experiences, surprise donation incentives, and more, transforming gaming into a force to provide life-saving equitable access to COVID relief where it is needed most. Gaming fans will also be able to access (RED)'s Tiltify fundraising tools to host their own fundraising streams, whenever they like, wherever they are.



Watch and stay up to date on the latest streams from the (RED) Creator Cup here and here . (RED)EEM & PACK PURPOSE INTO REWARDS POINTS THIS HOLIDAY

This holiday season, eligible credit card customers can (RED)EEM rewards points towards a donation to help fight COVID and save lives. (RED) has brought together leaders in the financial services sector to call a CODE (RED) on the COVID pandemic, raising money to support urgent and equitable access to COVID relief in response to the ongoing and devastating impact of the virus in the world's poorest countries.

American Express Membership Rewards points and Citi ThankYou points can be used towards a donation to provide lifesaving COVID-19 support to those most in need. These rewards are donated with PayPal's Pay with Rewards feature to support the Fund for the Global Fund. Reward balances are automatically converted to an equivalent dollar donation amount to support the essential COVID-19 recovery effort. GIVE: JOIN BANK OF AMERICA & (RED) IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PANDEMICS

Bank of America will support CODE (RED) with a $3 Million (USD) commitment to the Global Fund, as part of their broader $35 Million pledge through 2025, and continue driving broad support of the Global Fund with messaging across its platforms, including their vast ATM and Financial Center network. For every dollar donated to (RED) through December 31st, Bank of America will triple your contribution. Visit red.org/donate-bankofamerica to donate. SHOP (RED) AND SAVE LIVES WITH STYLISH, USEFUL HOLIDAY GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK ON AMAZON

For the fifth consecutive year, (RED) and Amazon are teaming up to provide customers a single destination to shop one-of-a-kind gifts that give back at amazon.com/RED . With additional promotional support enabled by Merck (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), every purchase on amazon.com/RED supports the fight against global health emergencies like AIDS and COVID, and funds life-saving programs in communities most in need. New and noteworthy products for this year include: LARQ Bottle (PRODUCT) RED

(ANOVA) RED Precision Cookers collection

Precision Cookers collection (PRODUCT) RED Theragun PRO and mini

Theragun PRO and mini (TRUFF) RED Hotter Sauce

Hotter Sauce (VAHDAM) RED collection of teas and tea accessories

collection of teas and tea accessories (THE HONEY POT CO.)RED feminine care collection ABOUT (RED)

(RED), named for the color of emergency, was founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to turn companies into a cavalry to fight the AIDS pandemic. Today, that cavalry is also fighting the urgent threat of COVID and its devastating impact on the world's most vulnerable communities, answering the need for a truly global response. (RED) partners with the most iconic brands and people to create (RED) products and experiences  all of which raise money for the Global Fund, one of the world's largest funders of global health. (RED) partners include Amazon, Anova Culinary, Apple, Balmain, Bank of America, Beats by Dr. Dre, Buffalo Games, Claro, eos, Girl Skateboards, The Honey Pot Co., Louis Vuitton, Mavin Records, Montblanc, Primark, Salesforce, Starbucks, Stellantis, Telcel, Therabody, TRUFF, U-Mask, Vahdam India and Vespa. (RED) supporters include Merck and Roche. To date, (RED) has generated nearly $700 million for the Global Fund, helping more than 220 million people. The money raised by (RED)'s partners and campaigns goes directly to strengthen health systems and support life-saving programs in the communities where pandemics hit hardest. CONTACT: Sean Simons, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/code-red-empowers-people-to-shop-give-and-game-to-fight-covid-19-this-holiday-season-301428202.html SOURCE (RED)

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[November 18, 2021] Jobvite Announces 2021 Recruiter Nation Live Speaker Lineup

Jobvite (www.jobvite.com), the industry-leading talent acquisition suite provider, announced today the speaker lineup for its free 2021 Recruiter Nation Live (RNL) event taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Now in its 13th year, the event gives recruiters, talent acquisition (TA) leaders, and practitioners a half day of virtual education including best practices on candidate experience, recruitment automation, TA metrics, and other important strategies for successful recruiting in the new year. This year's RNL will also include inspiring keynotes from influencers and analysts in the recruitment space as well as TA leaders and practitioners, along with the latest from Jobvite, in addition to opportunities to engage in conversation with peers. Registrants can join virtually to hear from guest speakers including Hung Lee, Curator, Recruiting Brainfood; Jeanette Duffy, Chief Programs Officer, Dress for Success Worldwide; Keirsten Greggs, Founder & CEO, TRAP Recruiter, LLC; Madeline Laurano, Founder, Aptitude Research; Mary Faulkner, Principal, IA; Kimberly Jones, Senior Director, Enterprise Talent Strategy, University of California, Irvine; Tim Sackett, President, HRU Technical Resources; and Stacey Harris, Chief Research Officer & Managing Partner, Sapient Insights Group. It is with great excitement that Jobvite announces RNL's featured keynote speaker, Ginny Clarke. Her session, "Identifying 'Best Talent' in the New Age of Work," will take a look at what "best talent" looks like, not just when hiring, but throughout the employee lifecycle. Clarke is the former director of executive recruiting at Google (News - Alert), where she led the company's diversity, non-tech recruiting, and leadership internal mobility teams - finding and hiring senior leaders across the company. She is now the CEO of Ginny Clarke, LLC, her own talent and leadership consulting business, as well as the host of Fifth Dimensional Leadership, a podcast for leaders, thinkers, and future-makers covering topics like power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management. Clarke also serves as entrepreneur in residence for HearstLab, which provides cash investment and services to early-stage, women-led startups and aims to close the gap in venture capital funding for women. "It's harder to hre a recruiter today than it is an engineer. And recruiters are the front line of your employee experience," said Jobvite President Peter Clare. "Jobvite is committed to improving the recruiter user experience, giving recruiters the tools that they need to succeed, all while leading the industry with great events like Recruiter Nation Live, our comprehensive solutions, data insights, and our end-to-end services."



Jobvite is delivering on this commitment to recruiters through: 2021 Recruiter Nation Report: This survey of over 800 recruiters helps those practitioners and TA leaders learn from their peers, benchmark themselves, and identify new strategies and channels to hire top talent.

A complete end-to-end talent acquisition platform that includes recruitment marketing, applicant tracking, internal mobility, referrals, video, candidate texting, analytics, and more.

New Recruiter UX: Jobvite's commitment to prioritizing the recruiter experience over the next six months will include delivering continuous improvement to UX, furthering organizations' abilities to not only hire top talent, faster - but also to retain the recruiting talent responsible for propelling their businesses forward. RNL's leadership keynote will feature Jobvite President Peter Clare, Head of Product Dwaine Maltais, and VP of Partnerships Alison Tuomala, as well as Customer Success Managers, who will highlight some of the ways Jobvite has been able to help customers remain agile throughout 2021 with releases and enhancements of products such as:

Text-to-apply, which makes it easier for candidates to apply and helps increase applications for high-volume hiring. By using text messaging and intelligent career bot technology, text-to-apply is a quick and convenient way to deliver a better candidate experience and higher application volume. These capabilities are especially important for industries like retail, where Jobvite has experienced 43% year-over-year growth.

Connecting recruiters with candidates more easily from all major third-party sources including LinkedIn, Indeed, and coming soon, Facebook (News - Alert) job posting and apply.

Zero-Click Intelligent Sourcing solution, which automates sourcing efforts when a job requisition is first opened. The solution saves recruiters time while surfacing and activating qualified candidates from their Candidate Relationship Management (CRM) database. Click here to register for 2021 RNL, presented by Jobvite. To learn more about Jobvite, please visit www.jobvite.com. About Jobvite Jobvite is leading the next wave of talent acquisition innovation with a candidate-centric recruiting model that helps companies engage candidates with meaningful experiences at the right time, in the right way, from first look to first day. The Jobvite Talent Acquisition Suite weaves together automation and intelligence in order to increase recruiting speed, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Jobvite is proud to serve thousands of customers across a wide range of industries including Ingram Micro (News - Alert), Exelon, and Premise Health. The Jobvite, JazzHR, and NXTThing RPO brands, all part of the Jobvite family, are providing TA solutions and services for over 12,000 organizations around the globe. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005839/en/

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[November 18, 2021] As Megatrends Reshape Infrastructure Markets, Black & Veatch Announces New Client-Focused Structure

With sustainability-driven global megatrends such as electrification, decarbonization, digitization and resilience aggressively reshaping the critical human infrastructure markets, Black & Veatch (News - Alert) announces a new leadership team and operational structure designed to address the goals and issues of its expanding client portfolio. "Our new operating model will allow Black & Veatch to accelerate its development and delivery of integrated solutions that are grounded in innovation, ultimately delivering better solutions for our clients," said Steve Edwards (News - Alert), CEO of Black & Veatch. "This new structure will better serve our clients' broad infrastructure challenges by enabling our teams to access global talent more quickly and efficiently at any stage of a project's development." "This agility - paired with our deep market knowledge - will allow us to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that address our clients' goals and issues in a cost-, schedule- and safety-effective manner," Edwards added. Each market sector will be underpinned by a cross-company operations group to provide clients with seamless access to resources and expertise throughout the company, with a new global strategic growth organization centered on innovation, strategic advisory services and sustainability. The traditional core business also has been transformed into three global client-focused businesses - Connectivity and Commercial, Energy and Process Industries, and Governments and Environment - alongside an additional regional business for Asia Pacific and India to address this region's high-growth markets. Mario Azar is appointed president of the Energy and Process Industries global market sector, a new business sector that integrates Black & Veatch's energy and industrial-oriented business portfolio to serve power, oil and gas, mining and other process industry clients such as pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and food and beverage with integrated solutions. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Azar joined the company in 2018 as president of its global power business, just months before guiding the business through a strategic repositioning to align it towards growth in renewable electricity generation, grid modernization and resiliency.

Hoe Wai Cheong is named president of the Asia-Pacific and India regional market. With Southeast Asia as Black & Veatch's second largest market, this team will focus on providing market-specific solutions to clients in the region, capitalizing on the company's integrated solutions across the full portfolio. Cheong, who joined Black & Veatch in 2007, previously served as president of Black & Veatch's gas, fuels and chemicals business, responsble for global strategy, business development, and project acquisition and execution.

Dave Hallowell is appointed president of Connectivity and Commercial, a new business sector focused on the telecommunications and broadband markets, advanced transportation and sustainable data center development. With more than 29 years of service at Black & Veatch, Hallowell spent six years guiding the company's telecommunications public networks business before serving as leader of Black & Veatch's global renewable energy business.

John Janchar is named president of strategic growth, a new organization that will focus on strategy and solution innovation, client services and communications. Janchar, who joined Black & Veatch in 1990, has been president of the company's telecommunications business, including public and private networks, connected communities and transformative technologies lines.

Mike Orth is appointed president of the Government and Environment market sector, which focuses on serving the needs of government clients at the federal, state and municipal level as well as the growing field of environmental services. During his 32 years with Black & Veatch, Orth most recently served as executive vice president and managing director of the company's water business in the Americas, where he guided the company's growth in supply, storage, treatment and conveyance.

Laszlo von Lazar is named president of operations. Von Lazar served in the company's power business as leader of global project services, which housed the primary functions of engineering, procurement, construction, quality and business excellence. He has more than three decades of experience in the global energy industry.



Marty Travers, executive director. A 42-year Black & Veatch veteran and member of the company's board of directors since 2012, Travers has led the company's telecommunications, federal, data centers and management consulting business lines. He will be focused on enterprise-wide client and market growth.

Cindy Wallis-Lage, executive director. A 35-year veteran, Wallis-Lage served as president of Black & Veatch's water business and is a member of the board. An active champion of water's true value and its impact on sustainable communities, she will be focused on enterprise-wide client sustainability and resilience. "The pandemic illustrated how responsive and agile our employee-owners are when it comes to serving our clients, and transforming our operating model is only the next step in delivering greater levels of adaptability, service and value," Edwards said. "When it comes to infrastructure investments, our clients are actively pursuing solutions that deliver more sustainability, more resilience and greater adaptability in the future. This new operational structure will ensure that we continue to deliver these solutions safely, on a global basis."

Editor's Notes: The new operating model is designed to expand the company's client portfolio and broaden the depth of solutions accessible to existing clients.

To learn more about the megatrends reshaping global infrastructure markets, please visit http://www.bv.com/reports. About Black & Veatch Black & Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2020 exceeded US$3.0 billion. Follow us on https://www.bv.com and on social media. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005222/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Healthfirst ADVANCE Health Equity Approach Grounded in 30 Years of Experience

Healthfirst, one of the nation's first value-based health insurers, is sharing ?Healthfirst ADVANCE - its evidence-based approach to closing health equity gaps among members/patients. Based on programs Healthfirst has implemented in downstate New York for nearly 30 years, Healthfirst ADVANCE highlights a series of best practices shown to reduce issues of equity in the healthcare system. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005464/en/ ADVANCE encompasses the principles that guide Healthfirst's equity goals (Graphic: Business Wire) Healthfirst ADVANCE also serves as a call to action to other health insurers across the nation to be part of the movement to advance health equity and implement programs to address the long-standing gaps that the pandemic further exposed. Founded in 1993 by 15 leading New York hospital systems to align incentives around better health outcomes and greater access to quality care, Healthfirst has embedded health equity in its operational model. Today, the insurer serves 1 in 5 New York City residents, including more than one-third of the city's Medicaid population. Its membership is one of the most diverse among health plans in the United States, with members who speak more than 70 different languages. "After nearly 30 years in the business of fighting for health equity, we continue to see everything we do through that lens," said Pat Wang, president and CEO of Healthfirst. "Health insurance companies can be used as a force for good that can be mobilized to help in a deeper, more meaningful way. We work hard to keep our 1.7 million members healthy and ensure they all have access to high-quality care when they need it. No one should lack access to healthcare they need and deserve. All New Yorkers should have the opportunity to live their healthiest lives." According to Wang, Healthfirst is committed to continuing to share its learnings and best practices regarding health equity with the healthcare community. Healthfirst wil also continue to work closely with its hospital system sponsors and others in the industry and the community to create collaborative advancement to close the health equity gap.



Built on health equity Healthfirst ADVANCE calls on health insurers, hospitals, physicians, community organizations, and governments to work together towards healthcare that is:

Available to all people, with equal opportunity to access quality care

to all people, with equal opportunity to access quality care Data-informed to close gaps in care and support care continuity and coordination

to close gaps in care and support care continuity and coordination Value-driven through hospital, physician, and insurer alignment around optimal health outcomes

through hospital, physician, and insurer alignment around optimal health outcomes Accessible when and where help is needed, so everyone is surrounded with opportunities for healthcare access and continuous insurance with no gaps

when and where help is needed, so everyone is surrounded with opportunities for healthcare access and continuous insurance with no gaps Nurturing and human-centered so it is easy to engage with and navigate

and human-centered so it is easy to engage with and navigate Community-based with strong ties to services and resources that promote whole-person care and address social determinants of health

with strong ties to services and resources that promote whole-person care and address social determinants of health Evidence-based with the best available clinical expertise and research guiding every treatment plan, care decision, and public-health intervention Communicating evidence-based outcomes In support of its hospital system partners, providers, health agencies, and community organizations, Healthfirst is committed to sharing key learnings from programs that improve critical areas such as maternal health, senior care transitions, hypertension, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, asthma, behavioral health, and others. For instance, Healthfirst and Mount Sinai Health System developed a program to address racial disparities in maternal mortality. New moms with at least one risk factor for postpartum complications and/or poor long-term health outcomes receive educational materials, connections to community resources, ongoing outreach after delivery, and reimbursement for transportation. This bundle of support drove an 11% increase in the rate of postpartum visits, which is shown to positively impact the health of a new mom, and it was included in official recommendations for postpartum care in New York State in January 2021. Healthfirst Addresses Maternity and Infant Health - YouTube View case studies and learn more at ADVANCE | Healthfirst. About Healthfirst Healthfirst is the largest not-for-profit health insurer in New York Statei, earning the trust of 1.7 million members by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. Sponsored by downstate New York's leading hospital systems, Healthfirst's unique advantage is rooted in its mission to put members first by partnering closely with its broad network of providers on shared goals. Healthfirst is also a pioneer of the value-based care model, now recognized as a national best practice. For nearly 30 years, Healthfirst has worked with its partners to improve health outcomes through better access to care - especially in underserved communities adversely impacted by disease, health disparities, and socioeconomic barriers to optimal health. Healthfirst has built its reputation in the community for top-quality products and services New Yorkers can depend on. It offers market-leading products to fit every life stage, including Medicaid plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Long-Term Care plans, Qualified Health plans, Essential Plans, and individual and small group plans. Healthfirst serves members in New York City and on Long Island, as well as in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, and Orange (News - Alert) counties. For more information on Healthfirst, please visit healthfirst.org. i Based on reported revenue for calendar year 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005464/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Campfire Treats Adopts the Better Chicken Commitment to Raise the Bar for Farm Animal Welfare

All-natural dog treat manufacturer Campfire Treats pledges to adopt the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC (News - Alert)) alongside other forward-thinking food companies to drastically improve the lives of chickens farmed for food. This commitment makes Campfire Treats one of the first pet treat companies to join the BCC. "Animal welfare has always been close to our hearts, so joining the Better Chicken Commitment is a natural step to build our business in line with our beliefs," says Campfire Treats' President and Co-founder Marko Wittich. Dog owners are increasingly concerned about what goes into dog food and treats, where it comes from and how it was produced. Approximately 9 billion chickens are raised for food every year in the United States, making it the most popular meat for humans and dogs alike. The health and welfare issues resulting from crowded conditions on factory farms are well-documented. In 2016, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other leading animal welfare organizations agreed on a set of standards for chicken welfare called the Better Chicken Commitment. "From day one we've only used human-grade chicken sourced from American farms. This already sets us apart in an industry using mostly inferior feed-grade ingredients, often imported from overseas. But human-grade U.S. chicken wsn't enough for us. We want to publicly commit to the humane treatment of every chicken raised for use in Campfire Treats. By joining the Better Chicken Commitment we're helping to end factory farming and build a more humane, sustainable and fair food system," says Wittich.



"All animals deserve compassion. In making this animal welfare commitment, Campfire Treats is raising the bar for pet food companies to address how farm animals are treated," said Julia Anne Johnson, Manager of Corporate Policy, ASPCA Farm Animal Welfare. "With over 200 companies already committed to the Better Chicken Commitment, Campfire Treats has joined the movement to improve the lives of billions of birds." The BCC addresses the top concerns around the welfare of chickens raised for meat. Companies who sign onto the Better Chicken Commitment agree by 2024 to source only healthier breeds of chicken housed in higher-welfare environments, which are certified by Global Animal Partnership (GAP). For example, chickens must be given more space, better lighting, cleaner flooring and be processed without practices like live-shackling.

But Campfire Treats doesn't plan on stopping there. The company is dedicated to raising their own supplier standards, working with farm partners to improve humane handling practices and living conditions of the animals they raise. Not just for chickens, but for all animals used in Campfire Treats' all-natural dog treats and chews. More About Campfire Treats

Founded in 2017 in Rocklin, California, Campfire Treats offers one of the largest selections of all-natural, single-ingredient dog treats and chews made on the West Coast. Committed to the highest quality standards, the company procures all ingredients from U.S. farms and fisheries and does not use any additives or preservatives in their products. For more information about Campfire Treats and available products for purchase, visit CampfireTreats.com. You can also find Campfire Treats on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Images Chickens on pasture with BCC logo (horizontal) Chickens on pasture with BCC logo (square) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005537/en/

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[November 18, 2021] LIGHTSPEED COMMERCE SHAREHOLDER ALERT By Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Lightspeed Commerce, Inc. - LSPD

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until January 18, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lightspeed Commerce, Inc. (NYSE: LSPD), if they purchased the Company's securities between September 11, 2020 and September 28, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Lightspeed and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lspd/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by January 18, 2022.



About the Lawsuit Lightspeed and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On September 29, 2021, Spruce Point Capital Management reported a range of allegations regarding the Company, including but not limited to, that it overstated its customer count by 85% and its gross transaction volume by 10% in pre-IPO documents; that there was "[e]vidence of declining organic growth and business deterioration through Lightspeed's IPO, despite management's claims that Average Revenue Per User ('ARPU') is increasing"; and that the Company's "[r]ecent acquisition spree has come at escalating costs with no clear path to profitability, while management pursues aggressive revenue reporting practices." On this news, Lightspeed's shares fell $13.73 per share, or 12.2%, to close at $98.77 per share on September 29, 2021. The case is Nath v. Lightspeed Commerce Inc., et al., 21-cv-06365. 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 recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005928/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Envoy Welcomes Jeff Brecker as Managing Director Chicago

Connected customer experience consultancy strengthens strategic leadership in Chicago CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Envoy announced that Jeff Brecker has joined the connected customer experience consultancy, as managing director of its Chicago office. This appointment reflects the company's commitment to delivering best-in-class, digitally-led experiences for customers across six core practice areas including: brand and strategy, B2B and B2C websites, e-commerce platforms, digital products and environments, and marketing and media. For more than 20 years, Brecker has built, scaled and successfully operated multiple award-winning marketing organizations. Most recently he worked with an array of Fortune 500 brands and start-ups, helping them transform their internal creative, communications and design teams, thereby driving innovation and exponential business growth. Previously in his career, Brecker served as vice president at Kimberly-Clark where he led global creative, design and content development for all sectors and brands across 170 countries. His depth of agency experience includes managing director responsibilities at R/GA Chicago, where he launched multiple new PepsiCo brands and spearheaded the global Brand AI practice. In addition, Brecker has held senior leadership roles at Digital Kitchen, Leo Burnett, Ogilvy and DDB, and is a recognized leader with exceptional strengths in creative, technology and production, along with operations and structure. Recognized with some of the industry's highest honors, Brecker's work has garnered a host of awards and multiple gold Cannes Lions, notably the Cannes Lions Design Grand Prix for The Cosmopolitan ofLas Vegas' digitally infused interior design.



"Jeff is a trusted advisor and an innovative, strategic leader who has a solid track record of growing business by nurturing key client relationships and recruiting top talent," said Kevin Bauer, CEO, Envoy. "He has an impressive track record in aligning and scaling design thinking across all operations, from product development to marketing, with flawless optimization and delivery; Jeff's approach will give both Envoy and our clients a great competitive advantage." As managing director, Brecker will be responsible for strengthening, optimizing and scaling Envoy Chicago's team of 25, which services clients' end-to-end needs across three pillars: brand innovation, digital transformation and growth acceleration. Envoy's Chicago office, the heart of the agency's digital environments team (formerly Leviathan), transforms distinctive physical environments into exceptional experiences. By blending artful content, digital technology and physical space, the team designs destinations that engage audiences, changes perceptions and drives transactions for bold clients worldwide.

"I saw this as an incredible opportunity to join a highly creative, independently-held organization, full of some of the most talented creatives, technologists and strategists in our industry," said Brecker. "Envoy's enviable client and category expertise along with this team's deep understanding of true consumer engagement that goes way beyond marketing is what makes the agency so unique." The agency has experienced tremendous growth momentum this past year with the appointment of Caroline Murphy as chief growth officer for North America and the unification of its three agency brands: Envoy, Bulldog Drummond, and Leviathan, now operating under the Envoy name. Envoy's current portfolio includes: McDonald's, Acorns, Vizio, Arlo, TaylorMade, Verizon, Nike, HyperX, and Diageo. To learn more about Envoy and its current career opportunities, please visit https://www.weareenvoy.com/careers. ABOUT ENVOY

Envoy is an end-to-end digital consultancy that helps organizations accelerate growth through connected customer experiences. Trusted by iconic brands and tomorrow's category leaders, Envoy's multidisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and technologists deliver unprecedented levels of impact through brand building, ecommerce, and digital products. Headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in San Diego and Chicago, Envoy transforms experiences for clients such as T-Mobile, VIZIO, Arlo, Nike, and Diageo. To learn more, visit Envoy's website and follow the team on LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/envoy-welcomes-jeff-brecker-as-managing-director-chicago-301427391.html SOURCE Envoy

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[November 18, 2021] QC Ware Announces Q2B 2021: Practical Quantum Computing

PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QC Ware today announced its fifth annual Q2B Practical Quantum Computing conference to be held exclusively in-person at the Santa Clara Convention Center on December 7-9, 2021. Q2B is the world's largest gathering of the quantum computing community, focusing solely on quantum computing applications and driving the discourse on quantum advantage and commercialization. This year's sponsors which include Honeywell , AWS , IBM , IonQ , Keysight Technologies , Nvidia , and Quantum Machines have facilitated a three-day agenda packed with discussions about the latest hardware breakthroughs and applications in optimization, chemistry simulations, monte carlo methods, and machine learning. Business seminars and technical education initiatives in the form of workshops, presentations, and tutorials are featured on the Q2B 2021 agenda. Prominent speakers include academia's quantum computing pillars John Preskill, Scott Aaronson, Umesh Vazirani, and William Oliver. "With record investment and significant technology advancements in both hardware and software, 2021 has been a big year for quantum computing," said Matt Johnson, CEO, QC Ware. "We are looking forward to bringing together the entire quantum computing community -- including leading academics, Fortune 500 companies, vendors and venture capitalists -- to explore recent advancements and anticipated developments over the next few years." Q2B 2021 will showcase an increasing number of companies that are beginning to explore the impact of quantum computing on their operations, have continuing research collaborations with vendor companies, or have deployed full-scale organizations focused on advancing the implementation of quantum computing applications. Industry leaders from a range of domains will highlight their quantum computing ambitions, research collaborations, and progress in leveraging quantum computing to address their most complex challenges, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, and energy, as well as finance, and materials design. The list currently includes: BASF, BP, BMW Group, General Dynamics, Goldman Sachs, and US Airforce, among others. In addition, leading hardware and software businesses are likey to make major announcements at Q2B 2021.



"Honeywell Quantum Solutions is proud to be the platinum sponsor for the 2021 Q2B conference," said Tony Uttley, president of Honeywell Quantum Solutions. "Our organization has long supported and participated in this event and have watched it grow into one of the premier conferences for the quantum industry and those interested in exploring and investing in quantum-enabled solutions." Q2B 2021 Details:

Co-Located Events: QED-C and Women in Quantum: Q2B 2021 will also feature two co-located events this year:

Women in Quantum (WIQ) : On December 6 , QC Ware, Honeywell and IonQ will host its first in-person WIQ event which will feature a keynote, talks and other sessions, a networking cocktail hour, career fair, and the Women in Quantum awards session. Portions of WIQ (not Q2B) will be live streamed for free, RSVP here https://www.runtheworld.today/app/invitation/32221

On , QC Ware, Honeywell and IonQ will host its first in-person WIQ event which will feature a keynote, talks and other sessions, a networking cocktail hour, career fair, and the Women in Quantum awards session. Portions of WIQ (not Q2B) will be live streamed for free, RSVP here QED-C: Hosted by the Quantum Economic Development Consortium the co-hosted event will feature keynotes by senior U.S, government officials on the economic and national security importance of the quantum industry. BMW Group and AWS to Reveal Winner of BMW Group Quantum Computing Challenge During the conference, BMW and AWS will announce the results of the BMW Group Quantum Computing Challenge , which aims to investigate quantum computing technologies for industrial use. Launched in July 2021, The Quantum Computing Challenge invited the quantum community to apply innovations in quantum computing to real world problems in industrial applications. The use case problems presented in the challenge represent critical commercial applications that demonstrate the real-world value of quantum computing. "The technological landscape in the field of quantum computing is only just starting to take shape," said Peter Lehnert, Vice President BMW Group Research, New Technologies. "With our crowd-innovation approach, we have succeeded in activating additional innovative forces and getting them excited about automotive quantum applications. The Q2B conference is the perfect stage to announce the winners of our BMW Group Quantum Computing Challenge." Global Quantum Computing Market Report: Q2B together with QED-C and the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) has commissioned the generation of a market report to better understand and communicate the size and development of the quantum computing market. The results will be presented on Day 1 (December 7) at the 'Q2B 2021 Global Quantum Computing Market Size and Forecast' by Bob Sorensen from Hyperion Research. Social Panels and Roundtables: The conference will feature the popular social impact track which will include panels exploring quantum computing and ethics, women in quantum computing, the search for new sustainable materials, and epidemiology and health science. The agenda will also include a new Industry Analyst Roundtable which will feature notable industry analysts and their predictions for the race to practical quantum computing as well as a venture capital panel which will take a look at the rise of corporate venture capital funding in quantum computing startups. Startup Pitch Day: New to Q2B, the Q2B Pitch Day will connect a new cohort of quantum computing startups with strategic and traditional venture investors. The pitch day will feature a list of startups selected from the top incubators, Duality Accelerator, Creative Destruction Lab, and Quantum Startup Foundry among others. USRA Paper Competition: For the second year, Q2B will also feature the winning paper from USRA Q2B Applied NISQ Computing Paper 2021 Award . The competition led by The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and QC Ware and sponsor US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) highlights the work from papers focused on ANISQC experiments or algorithms that can be applied to advance the state-of-the-art in optimization, machine learning, quantum, or classical simulation. Quantum Chess Tournament: Back by popular demand, the Q2B Quantum Chess Tournament will see select sponsors try to unseat last year's champion, Aleksander Kubica from Amazon. Spiros Michalakis, Staff Researcher and the Manager of Outreach at the Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQM) at Caltech, and co-designer of Quantum Chess with Chris Cantwell of Quantum Realm Games said: "With the advancement of AI in regular chess over the last 20 years, humans can no longer compete at the level of computer chess engines. Quantum Chess leverages the complexity of quantum physics to level the playing field once again and give human players another chance." The tournament will be streamed live in collaboration with Chess.com, and will feature expert opinions on the challenges and opportunities of developing quantum games. Click here for more conference details and updates, and partnership opportunities. Click here to register. For media interested in covering Q2B, please email [email protected]. About QC Ware

QC Ware is a quantum software and services company focused on ensuring enterprises are prepared for the emerging quantum computing disruption. QC Ware specializes in the development of applications for near-term quantum computing hardware with a team composed of some of the industry's foremost experts in quantum computing. Its growing network of customers includes AFRL, Aisin Group, Airbus, BMW Group, Equinor, Goldman Sachs, and Total. QC Ware Forge, the company's flagship quantum computing cloud service, is built for data scientists with no quantum computing background. It provides unique, performant, turnkey quantum computing algorithms. QC Ware is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and supports its European customers through its subsidiary in Paris. QC Ware also organizes Q2B , the largest annual gathering of the international quantum computing community. Media contact

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qc-ware-announces-q2b-2021-practical-quantum-computing-301428252.html SOURCE QC Ware Corp.

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[November 18, 2021] Schulte Roth & Zabel Presents Its 12th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference

Schulte Roth & Zabel (SRZ), a market-leading law firm serving the financial services industry, is hosting its 12th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference today. The virtual event highlights prominent players in the shareholder activism space, including activist investors, advisers and proxy advisory firms. The speakers will engage in discussions around the current activist environment and major campaigns of the past year; the strategies behind successful activism campaigns; and emerging trends in the activism space. Ele Klein and Marc Weingarten, SRZ partners and co-chairs of the firm's global Shareholder Activism Group, will spearhead the annual event. Michael Swartz, co-chair of SRZ's Litigation Department, will provide introductory remarks, followed by a short overview of the state of the market and trends for the 2021-2022 proxy season led by SRZ associate Brandon Gold and featuring Josh Black of Insightia. Mr. Klein will moderate a panel entitled "Anatomy of a Campaign: Engine No. 1 & Exxon," diving into his leadership role in this year's pivotal Engine. No 1 shareholder activism campaign against Exxon, also featuring Scott Winter with Innisfree M&A Incorporated and Jonathan Gasthalter with Gasthalter & Co. John Mahon, a partner with SRZ's Investment Management Group, will moderate a discussion on the Engine No. 1 ETF, also featuring Michael O'Leary with Engine No. 1. Mr. Klein will also moderate a panel on "Proxy Advisory Firm Perspectives," with Jason McCandless with Glass Lewis and Cristiano Guerra with ISS. Additionally, Mr. Klein and Mr. Weingarten will lead discussions on "The State of Activism," featuring Geoffrey Sorbello with Elliott Management, Jeffrey Smith with Starboard Value, Scott Ostfeld with JANA Partners LLC, and Brian Baldwin with Trian Partners. Cara Lombardo of the Wall Street Journal will also moderate a panel on "Institutional Investors Employing the Activism Toolkit/ESG Trends," featuring Aeisha Mastagani of CalSTRS and Lauren Taylor Wolf of Impactive Capital. Additionally, the conference will spotlight the insights of the following SRZ attorneys on key activism-related issues: Michael Swartz on TCI's say-on-climate win; Adriana Schwartz/b> on the SEC's (News - Alert) increased involvement in activism matters; and Gayle Klein on activism campaigns in the cryptocurrency space.



"We are excited to present our 12th Annual Shareholder Activism Conference, especially as the global spotlight continues to shine on the activism space," said David Efron, SRZ co-managing partner and co-head of the Investment Management Group. "In the wake of a number of high-profile, successful campaigns this year, we are proud to offer timely, thoughtful discussions on the key issues impacting this space," added Marc Elovitz, SRZ co-managing partner and chair of the Investment Management Regulatory & Compliance Group. Mr. Klein said, "This year's conference will explore a number of topical issues in the activism space, bringing in a range of diverse perspectives, from proxy advisor firms to institutional investors. Looking ahead to what's likely to be another monumental year for activism campaigns, our event will feature in-depth and thoughtful conversations on some of the most significant trends impacting this space." Mr. Weingarten added, "We are also proud to offer discussions that provide a nuanced perspective on some of the emerging trends in the activism space, including increased attention from the SEC and the issues, like climate, that are gaining the most traction."

About Schulte Roth & Zabel's Global Shareholder Activism Group SRZ is widely regarded as the dominant global law firm for shareholder activism. We bring to each matter a sophisticated knowledge of market practices, vast experience and unparalleled expertise in all areas of law impacting activism. SRZ has more than 30 years of experience advising clients on more than 1,000 shareholder activism matters, making us one of the most experienced advisers to activists in the world. SRZ assists with all matters relating to activism, including campaign strategies, corporate governance, proxy rules, trading and affiliate rules, Sections 13 and 16 compliance, antitrust regulations, federal and state securities and corporate laws, tax and regulatory issues and litigation. Our lawyers work with clients on a variety of activist strategies, including behind-the-scenes long-term partnerships between activists and management, proxy contests, board and management changes, consent solicitations, special meetings and withhold campaigns, M&A activism, exempt solicitations, regulatory approvals, investigations and legislative hearings, corporate governance improvements, defensive and offensive litigation, spin-offs, split-offs, divestitures and buybacks and ESG. About Schulte Roth & Zabel Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP (www.srz.com) is a full-service law firm with offices in New York, Washington, DC and London. As one of the leading law firms serving the financial services industry, the firm regularly advises clients on corporate and transactional matters and provides counsel on regulatory, compliance, enforcement and investigative issues. The firm's practices include: bank regulatory; bankruptcy & creditors' rights litigation; blockchain technology & digital assets; broker-dealer regulatory & enforcement; business reorganization; complex commercial litigation; cybersecurity; distressed debt & claims trading; distressed investing; education law; employment & employee benefits; energy; environmental; environmental, social and governance; finance & derivatives; financial institutions; hedge funds; individual client services; insurance; intellectual property, sourcing & technology; investment management; litigation; litigation finance; mergers & acquisitions; PIPEs; private equity; real estate; real estate capital markets & REITs; real estate litigation; regulated funds; regulatory & compliance; securities & capital markets; securities enforcement; securities litigation; securitization; shareholder activism; tax; and white collar defense & government investigations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005943/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Bass, Berry & Sims Strengthens Leading Healthcare Practice with Addition of Seven Top Attorneys

Bass, Berry & Sims is enhancing its nationally-ranked healthcare regulatory practice by adding seven highly experienced attorneys. With practices that range across a variety of healthcare sectors and regulatory areas of focus, the expansion further broadens and deepens the firm's healthcare regulatory practice, and brings the firm's healthcare industry group to over 230 attorneys. "Our national Healthcare Practice combines deep knowledge and experience in regulatory, transactional, operational, and compliance and enforcement matters to help healthcare companies navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges as they drive efficiency in the industry," said Angela Humphreys, chair of the firm's Healthcare Practice and co-chair of its Healthcare Private Equity Team. "Adding these seven esteemed healthcare attorneys will enhance our ability to provide sophisticated counsel to healthcare organizations on an even broader array of issues." Bass, Berry & Sims is ranked the third largest healthcare law firm in the U.S. by the American Health Law Association for 2021, was recognized as one of Law360's "Practice Groups of the Year" in the Health Care category for 2020, and is ranked the No. 4 most active law firm in healthcare private equity for the second quarter of 2021 by Pitchbook. Adding Fraud & Abuse, Reimbursement, 340B and Government Experience The attorneys joining Bass, Berry & Sims bring complementary skills and experience to the firm's Healthcare Practice and are established industry leaders, including regular speakers before national and state industry groups and two attorneys who previously led healthcare law practices at national law firms. They routinely advise leading healthcare industry clients on their most sensitive regulatory matters, including those related to fraud and abuse and reimbursement. They are: Kristin M. Bohl (Member; Washington, D.C.): Bohl advises healthcare service providers in compliance and regulatory matters, including fraud and abuse, alternative payment models, and provider and physician alignment strategies. Before entering private practice, Bohl was the technical advisor in the Division of Technical Payment Policy at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), where she concentrated on Stark Law matters. Bohl previously was a shareholder in the Health Law Practice group at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.

Kristin Bohl is admitted to practice in Maryland. Her D.C. Bar application is pending. Jeffrey I. Davis (Member; Washington, D.C.): Davis advises healthcare organizations on Medicare and Medicaid billing and reimbursement issues, with a special focus on the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. He also counsels clients on emerging healthcare regulatory issues - including COVID-19 relief funding, surprise medical billing and hospital price transparency - and on public policy matters under consideration by the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, such as drug pricing policy. Davis previously was of counsel in the Health Law Practice group at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC and co-led the firm's Reimbursement Group. Leslie Demaree Goldsmith (Member; Washington, D.C.): Goldsmith has more than 30 years of experience grappling with Medicare payment and related compliance issues, including billing and claims matters, such as provider-based status, co-location, medical education payments and disproportionate share hospital (DSH) calculations. She counsels clients on potential overpayment issues and has represented many healthcare providers before the Provider Reimbursement Review Board (PRRB), CMS and the federal courts. Goldsmith previously was a shareholder in the Health Law Practice group at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC and co-led the firm's Reimbursement Group.







Travis G. Lloyd (Member; Nashville): Lloyd counsels healthcare companies on complex healthcare regulatory matters related to fraud and abuse, reimbursement, and health information privacy and security, as well as the licensure, certification and accreditation of healthcare facilities. He has served as regulatory counsel for some of the nation's premier healthcare companies in numerous high-profile deals, including public company mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and other transformative transactions. Lloyd previously served as chair of the Healthcare Practice Group at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. William T. Mathias (Member; Washington, D.C.): Mathias draws on over two decades of experience to help healthcare companies and investors mitigate legal and compliance risks in potential transactions. He advises healthcare companies on complex fraud and abuse and Stark Law issues, especially involving physician arrangements. Mathias previously was a shareholder and co-chair of the Health Law Practice group and the Fraud & Abuse Workgroup at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.

William Mathias is admitted to practice in Maryland. His D.C. Bar application is pending. Christine M. Morse (Member; Washington, D.C.): Morse advises healthcare companies on fraud and abuse claims and regulatory compliance. She advises provider organizations on key federal healthcare laws, such as the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the False Claims Act (FCA). Morse also has deep knowledge of regulatory issues in the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Morse previously was a shareholder in the Health Law Practice group at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.

Christine Morse is admitted to practice in Maryland. Her D.C. Bar application is pending. Laurence B. Russell (Counsel; Washington, D.C.): Russell has more than 35 years of experience, including as a legal advisor to state policy makers and regulators, with a wide range of regulatory issues. He has extensive experience with Medicare and Medicaid payment issues involving hospitals, physicians, pharmacies and other providers, and a deep knowledge of regulatory matters involving institutional and specialty pharmacies, and drug wholesalers and distributors. Russell previously was a shareholder in the Health Law Practice group at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.

Laurence Russell is admitted to practice in Maryland. His D.C. Bar application is pending. Growing Washington, D.C. Presence With Bohl joining Bass, Berry & Sims, the firm is now one of the only in the country to employ multiple former counsel in each of the following government agencies: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Counsel to the Inspector General's (OCIG) Industry Guidance Branch, CMS, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC (News - Alert)), and U.S. Attorneys' offices.

Six of the seven new attorneys have joined the firm's Washington, D.C., office, which has grown to 36 attorneys since the office opened in 2012. "The growth of the firm in our nation's capital mirrors the growth of Bass, Berry & Sims as a national law firm, both in size and in the breadth of experience with and knowledge of the legal issues our clients face," said Todd Rolapp, managing partner and chair of the firm's Executive Committee. "Our representation of healthcare companies and providers has propelled the firm into the national spotlight among some of the biggest firms in the U.S." About the Bass, Berry & Sims Healthcare Practice Marked by an integrated approach and unmatched regulatory knowledge, the healthcare practice of Bass, Berry & Sims is a team of more than 230 experienced attorneys who leverage their diverse strengths to meet the unique demands of our clients. Our team encompasses the multitude of legal specialties necessary to service one of the largest, most highly regulated industries in the U.S. Read more here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005948/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Accustem Sciences Limited Results of Shareholder Meetings

ACCUSTEM SCIENCES LIMITED (Accustem UK) and ACCUSTEM SCIENCES INC. (Accustem US) Interposition of new US holding company by means of a Scheme of Arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 LONDON, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Accustem UK is pleased to announce that at the Court Meeting and the General Meeting of Accustem UK Shareholders held earlier today to approve the terms of the interposition of a new US holding company be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme"), the resolutions proposed were duly passed. Full details of the resolutions are set out in the notices of the Court Meeting and the General Meeting contained in the circular to Accustem UK Shareholders dated 2 November 2021 (the "Scheme Document").

At the Court Meeting, a majority in number of Scheme Shareholders, who voted and were entitled to vote (either in person or by proxy on the virtual meeting platform) and who together represented over 75 per cent. by value of the votes cast, voted in favour of the resolution to approve the Scheme. The resolution was accordingly passed. At the General Meeting, the special resolutions to provide for the implementation of the Scheme and the amendments to Accustem UK's articles of association were also passed by the requisite majority on a poll. COURT MEETING The results for the resolution to approve the Scheme were as follows: Results of

the Court

Meeting Number of

Scheme

Shares voted % of

Scheme

Shares

voted Number of

Scheme

Shareholders

who voted % of Scheme

Shareholders

who voted Number of

Scheme Shares

voted as a

percentage of

issued ordinary

share capital

entitled to vote

on the Scheme FOR 80,793,623 99.62% 43 78.18% 39.57% AGAINST 307,323 0.38% 12 21.82% 0.15%



GENERAL MEETING The special resolutions to provide for the implementation of the Scheme and the requisite amendments to Accustem UK's articles of association were also passed by the requisite majority on a poll.

The number of votes received were as follows: For Against Total Withheld No. of

Accustem

Shares

voted % of

Accustem

Shares

voted No. of

Accustem

Shares

voted % of

Accustem

Shares

voted No. of

Accustem

Shares

voted No. of

Accustem

Shares Special Resolution 1 80,790,722 99.69% 251,380 0.31% 81,042,102 49,620 Special Resolution 2 80,790,036 99.69% 252,066 0.31% 81,042,102 49,620 Ordinary Resolution 3 80,770,596 99.67% 271,506 0.33% 81,042,102 49,620 Votes lodged to be cast at the Chairman's discretion have been included in the 'FOR' figures. Completion of the Scheme remains subject to the Court sanctioning the Scheme at the Court Hearing which is now expected to take place on 30 November 2021. Last time for dealings in, for registration of transfers of, and D&I disablement in CREST of UK Accustem Shares Close of business on 29 November 2021 Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme 30 November 2021 Scheme Record Time Close of business on 1 December 2021 Scheme Effective Date 8:00 a.m. on 2 December 2021 Despatch of share certificates of US Accustem Shares within 14 days of the Scheme Effective Date Longstop date 31 December 2021 Capitalised terms used in this announcement, unless otherwise defined shall have the same meanings as set out in the Scheme Document. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION For further enquiries:

Accustem Sciences Limited

Gabriele Cerrone +44 (0)20 7495 2379



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[November 18, 2021] Wurth Additive Group Signs Agreement To Globally Distribute Rapid Shape 3D Printers

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wurth Additive Group, a Wurth Industry North America company and the leader in physical and digital inventory, announced today that it has signed a global agreement with Rapid Shape GmbH, the leading technology company in the field of generative rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing systems. The agreement expands the group's suite of 3D printing technology offerings, introducing the first resin 3D printer with automated functions to allow lights-out manufacturing processes and supply users with medical precision on an industrial scale. Together, they have created a turnkey industrial-ready solution with Wurth special edition i30 and i50 models. The agreement broadens the Additive Group's ability to support production-level additive manufacturing through Rapid Shape's automated functions, including a proprietary Automatic Separation Module, a sharp katana-like blade, that enables direct cutting removal of the printed parts and automatic subsequent part processing. The same reliability, precision, and autonomous production capabilities that the medical field is benefitting from and demands are now available to our industrial customers in their own production facilities. "Rapid Shape's platform combines sophisticated workflows that allow it to keep up with the industrial demands of our customers," said AJ Strandquist, chief executive officer of Wurth Additive Group. "They are a perfect fit to support everyday c-parts with their inline system capable of producing hundreds of thousands of parts a year. We are excited to bring this technology to our suppliers and customers to help produce their parts in new ways." "The partnership between Wurth Additive Group and Rapid Shape is an exceptional example of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Wurth Group," said Dan Hill, chief executive officer for Wurth Industry North America, "Since its inception in 2020, the Additive Group has continuously pushed to grow and offer new and innovative additive services to our customers. Rapid Shapes impressive product line and capabilities make it an ideal expansion of our offerings." "Some competitors don't like highlighting their full workflow because it can be inefficient," says Andreas Schultheiss, chief executive officer of Rapid Shape GmbH. "By integrating a variety of smart systems, we increase production capacity, decrease human handling, and bring user saety to the forefront in resin production. We are thrilled to introduce this technology to Wurth Additive Group customers around the world."



About Wurth Industry North America

Wurth Industry North America (WINA) is a $1 billion division of the Wurth Group, the world's largest fastener distribution company. As a part of the Wurth Group, founded in 1945, WINA is a privately held, family-owned business that believes collaboration and partnerships make better business. They have strategically aligned market divisions: Industrial, MRO/Safety/Metalworking, Construction, and Specialty Markets, consisting of 100 locations across North America that allow industries to have better planning, parts management, and inventory accuracy. As industry solution drivers, WINA works together onsite by offering products and services such as 3D printing and additive services, digital Kanban, construction services, engineering assistance, quality control, inventory management, vending, safety supplies, kitting and assembly, structural fasteners, and MRO/industrial supplies. With over 420,000 parts in their international supply chain, WINA provides each customer with not only an extensive global reach but also a local feel from deep investment in its network of North American locations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For more information on Wurth Industry North America, visit wurthindustry.com and find Wurth Industry North America on LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Wurth Industry North America key facts:

100+ locations across North America , Mexico , and Brazil

, , and More than 2,300 employees

More than 420,000 standard parts

Part of the Wurth Group, $15B+, which operates 400 companies in more than 80 countries and has more than 80,000 employees About Wurth Additive Group

Wurth Additive Group, led by CEO AJ Strandquist, launched in April 2021 to provide expanded industrial 3D printing products and services, including financing and rental options. Wurth Industry North America began providing additive solutions to customers in late 2017 with rapid prototyping and printing production tools. It now offers complete digital Kanban solutions by integrating 3D printing technology in its existing vendor-managed inventory programs. The group aims to streamline customers' supply chain and increase adaptability through additive manufacturing and digital inventory. For more information on Wurth Additive Group, visit shop.wurthindustry.com and find Wurth Additive Group on Instagram. About Rapid Shape

Rapid Shape is a German company that specializes in the development and manufacture of high-end systems for additive printing. Rapid Shape has positioned itself as one of this industry's leaders through proprietary technology that has set new standards in speed, reliability and precision. Rapid Shape provides solutions for industrial, dental, hearing aid and jewellery markets. Precision, quality, and cooperation with sales, material and technology partners distinguishes this company from its competitors. For further information about Rapid Shapes 3D-printers please visit www.rapidshape.de. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wurth-additive-group-signs-agreement-to-globally-distribute-rapid-shape-3d-printers-301428306.html SOURCE Wurth Industry North America

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[November 18, 2021] EspriGas Announces New Chief Technology Officer

EspriGas, a technology driven industrial gas company, names Ryan Esparza as its Chief Technology Officer. Esparza joins the company to improve the customer and supply partner experience while driving innovation across the EspriGas platform and business offering. Building on his 20 years of experience driving growth strategy for technology companies, Esparza is focused on integrating and advancing EspriGas' technology platform. He is committed to driving innovation at EspriGas keeping the focus on the customer and supply partner experience. "We are all thrilled to have Esparza join the team," said Mike Walsh, CEO of EspriGas. "His leadership and experience in the technology space will undoubtedly strengthen our team and drive growth for our business. I am excited about the immense potential for growth and innovation for our company and confident that Esparza will drive EspriGas to new heights." "I am honored to join this team as Chief Technology Officer," said Esparza. "Thanks to its technology, EspriGas is in a unique position to really change how today's companies receive and manage ther gas supply, making the process simple and streamlined. I look forward to further driving innovation for the company while continuing its focus on the customer and supply partner experience."



Most recently, Esparza was Chief Information Officer at Jackson Healthcare, where he led innovation within the company. Prior to this role, he was Vice President of Software Engineering at The Weather Company. He's held leadership positions at other leading Atlanta brands, including Intercontinental Hotels Group, Cox (News - Alert) Enterprises and The Home Depot. As an active member of the Atlanta community, he currently serves on the board of Inspiredu and is a member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2022. Esparza holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and studied at Tecnologico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. As a licensed pilot and scuba diver, his hobbies include travel and adventure with his family.

About EspriGas

EspriGas is a technology driven beverage, medical, and industrial gas company. It brings a modern approach to the gas industry by utilizing a network business model to deliver products nationally. The company leverages its unique service and technology capabilities to handle the complex logistical needs of large, multi-site companies through a national network of gas supply partners. EspriGas has been servicing customers with numerous locations dispersed through the country for over 25 years. www.EspriGas.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005989/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Real Estate Investing Platform, Trelly, Launches In Tennessee to Help Investors Win In One of the Most Competitive US Markets

Following the launch of Trelly (https://www.trelly.com/), over 7,000 investors excitedly joined the free real estate investing platform, which enables them to buy and sell off-market residential investment properties directly from their phones, tablets, and computers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005995/en/ Trelly works like a B2B version of the MLS - a marketplace where sellers can list off-market properties for other investors to buy. These properties are exclusive to Trelly and cannot be found on the MLS - or anywhere else. (Photo: Business Wire) Now, the company is expanding into Tennessee to help local investors scale their businesses by streamlining the acquisition and disposition process. As part of this expansion, Trelly partnered with the 3,000+ member Tennessee Real Estate Investors Association (https://www.tnreia.com/) as well as Real House Deals (https://realhousedeals.com/), a prominent local real estate investing company.



Doug Betty, Founder & Director of Tennessee Real Estate Investors Association, says, "We're looking forward to our partnership with Trelly, we believe that it's going to bring a lot of value to our investor community and help a lot of people." For Trelly's founder, Josh DeShong, the decision to expand into Tennessee was an obvious one.

"There's tremendous opportunity to serve the real estate investing community in Tennessee, particularly Nashville because home prices have appreciated over 18% in the last year and the city faces the 3rd most competitive bidding war in the entire nation. This is great as a homeowner, but it makes things more difficult and costly for real estate investors. So I wanted to bring Trelly to investors here in Tennessee to help them run their businesses more efficiently and profitably," he explains. This is important because of the vital role investors play in a community. DeShong says, "Tennessee is truly an amazing state - it has a rich history and culture, and its capital, Nashville, is the epicenter of the music industry. By helping local real estate investors become more efficient and profitable, we help them preserve what's already great about the city, revitalize what needs improvement, and create countless new opportunities for other local businesses." Trelly's new features, along with a rapidly growing number of users and listings, will help investors to scale their real estate investing businesses larger and more quickly. This is essential because increased investor activity-especially from institutional investors like Blackstone and other multinational giants-is making it more difficult to acquire the properties investors need to scale their business and remain profitable. "We are super excited to have Trelly come to Tennessee and be able to have another tool under our belts to sell our properties quickly and efficiently," said Amanda Dean with Real House Deals. At its core, Trelly works like a B2B version of the MLS - a marketplace where sellers can list off-market properties for other investors to buy. These properties are exclusive to Trelly and cannot be found on the MLS - or anywhere else. This free platform provides a more efficient and less costly channel for acquisition and disposition because the platform has a user base of active investors looking to buy and sell, and no Realtors are involved in the transaction. Trelly can be accessed via the web at trelly.com, or through the Trelly app available on the iOS and Google (News - Alert) Play app stores. About Trelly Trelly is the culmination of 15 years of innovative real estate development by CEO Josh DeShong, and was developed as a platform to help investors scale their businesses more effectively. Over his career, DeShong has closed nearly $2 billion in real estate transactions. Josh is one of the top 50 real estate agents in the country and has received more than 100 production and volume awards. Trelly is based on his experience as a real estate investor, as well as feedback from other investors all across the country, and the company is on a mission to democratize real estate investing for everyone. The platform was developed under the guidance of Trelly's CTO, Stephen Chiang. Prior to joining the team, Chiang served as a project manager at Microsoft (News - Alert) and as a software engineer at Google, and he is also an active real estate investor himself. Since the platform's beta launch in just three test markets, Trelly has conducted more than well over 700 transactions with real estate investors for a total GMV (News - Alert) of over $170MM. This proves there is a considerable demand for the service among investors. DeShong says, "I'm excited about the impact Trelly will have for real estate investors who want to scale their businesses, but I'm even more excited about the ripple effect that will create in the economy as a whole for so many other people. The positive impact of the latter is incalculable." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005995/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Teledyne e2v HiRel Announces New Radiation Dosimeters for Space Applications

Teledyne e2v HiRel today announced availability of 3 new radiation dosimeter models that further broaden its popular range of radiation measurement devices. Aimed at high altitude aerospace applications and all space applications from GEO satellites and LEO constellations to scientific exploration, each new model occupies minimal volume and adds only 17g weight to any mission. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005148/en/ Teledyne HiRel NuDOS Microdosimeter (Photo: Busines Wire)



For many space and high altitude aerospace applications, it is of critical importance to know the amount of radiation that the platform has been subjected to. Teledyne's Microdosimeter NuDOS001, NuDOS002 and NuDOS003 measure the Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of Low-, Medium-, and High-LET (Linear Energy Transfer) radiation, and can be polled in real-time to monitor events as they happen. Deploying a system of all three models can provide spectral information about the environment.

"Customers have fully embraced our existing dosimeters, but asked that we deliver the same functionality in a smaller package," said Hector Rivera, GM of Integrated Solutions (News - Alert) at Teledyne HiRel. "We delivered with these new NuDOS models, each taking up a smaller volume, adding less weight, and requiring a lower supply voltage." Devices are available for ordering and shipment today, from Teledyne e2v HiRel or an authorized distributor, in commercial versions and with the option of Class H equivalent screening. They are shipped from our DoD Trusted Facility in Milpitas, California. ## ABOUT TELEDYNE e2v HIREL ELECTRONICS Teledyne HiRel's innovations lead developments in space, transportation, defense, and industrial markets. HiRel's unique approach involves listening to the market and application challenges of customers and partnering with them to provide innovative standard, semi-custom or fully-custom solutions, bringing increased value to their systems. For more information, visit http://www.tdehirel.com ABOUT TELEDYNE DEFENSE ELECTRONICS Serving Defense, Space and Commercial sectors worldwide, Teledyne Defense Electronics offers a comprehensive portfolio of highly engineered solutions that meet your most demanding requirements in the harshest environments. Manufacturing both custom and off-the-shelf product offerings, our diverse product lines meet emerging needs for key applications for avionics, energetics, electronic warfare, missiles, radar, satcom, space, and test and measurement. www.teledynedefelec.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005148/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Artmarket.com: Artprice Manifesto - The future of NFTs and the Metaverse

PARIS, Nov. 18, 2021 /CNW/ -- As announced in our previous press release of November 9, 2021, Artmarket.com hereby declares  with supporting studies and data  that Artprice's NFT Marketplace is perfectly positioned to generate a future annual turnover of several tens of millions of euros. https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/artmarket-com-perfectly-positioned-to-generate-enormous-revenue-from-its-nft-marketplace-on-artprice-nft-com-871911795.html Artprice Metaverse

 'Alchemical Fractal 1' (collection of 999 works), raw steel, NFT sculpture and algorithm by thierry Ehrmann.

Courtesy of Organe Museum / Abode of Chaos / La Demeure du Chaos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/home_of_chaos/albums/72157714573284962 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692202/Artprice_Metaverse.jpg artprice-nft.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1692203/Artprice_NFT_Bill.jpg

This prediction is based on the economic reality of the NFT medium as it is today and its almost unlimited potential in the rapidly emerging Multiverse of Metaverses. It is also based on the history, economic model, eco-responsible choices and disruptive philosophy that are part of the DNA of Artprice by Artmarket, which has always sought to place artists at the heart of the Art Market. In order to appreciate the dimensions and magnitude of what might loosely be termed the 'NFT phenomenon', one needs to start by digesting the following fact: by the end of the third quarter of 2021, NFTs had generated 45 billion dollars around the world! With its pioneering digital experience on the Internet for almost a quarter century and its leading position in the collection, exploitation and delivery of art market information, Artprice by Artmarket is perfectly positioned to capture a significant portion of this new market  at least several tens of millions of euros  because its clients are already key art market players all over the world. According to a Harris survey, 11% of American adults have already purchased an NFT. However what makes this figure so stunning is that they had never before bought an artwork. This suggests the existence of a colossal reservoir of new buyers who will inevitably generate new sources of income... and that's just in the USA. Financial analysts at Jefferies  a prestigious American investment bank  are expecting the NFT market to double in value in 2022 and believe it very likely to represent at least $80 billion in 2025. It is important to remember that the current non-digital secondary art market is worth approximately $10 billion a year. We are therefore looking at a massive new growth driver and a complete change in the dimension and structure of the global art market. (Jefferies is a highly influential broker on global financial markets and is listed as a Fortune 1000 company in the United States). Meanwhile, Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase (market cap of $73 billion) has speculated that sales of NFTs could overtake cryptocurrency trading. At the company's latest earnings conference call, he said that its future may soon lie in the NFT market. "We are very excited about NFTs, this is going to be a very large market for crypto going forward, and it is already happening today. It could be as big, if not bigger, than the company's cryptocurrency business" he said. Caty Tedman, Head of Partnerships at Dapper Labs and leader of the NBA's Top Shot digital collectibles project told CNBC, "NFTs are here to stay." According to a Reuters press dispatch dated November 17, 2021: 'On the biggest NFT marketplace, OpenSea, there were $2.6 billion of sales in October this year, a massive increase from the $4.8 million in October 2020'. These estimates and opinions all suggest that the NFT market has gone from a niche market to a multi-billion dollar market in just a few months. Artmarket.com therefore plans to use its key position in the art market to become a key player in the fine arts segment of the NFT universe/metaverse, which  far from peaking  is growing like wildfire. We firmly believe this sphere is now in its infancy and that Artprice by Artmarket will become one of the reference players in an industry already on track towards exponential growth. The choice of Artprice by Artmarket in the Blockchain Artprice by Artmarket will operate with the Ethereum platform and its native cryptocurrency, the Ether (ETH), the second largest cryptocurrency in the world by market value, and above all, the preferred cryptocurrency of the NFT digital art world. The world's major art vendors have all chosen Ethereum including Sotheby's, Christie's, Bonhams and Phillips. For a number of reasons  not the least of which are Artmarket's environmental concerns  Ethereum with Artmarket will function in staking mode (proof-of-stake). This will avoid both the wanton consumption of data mining energy and major investments in hardware. According to thierry Ehrmann: "the data mining activity, devoid of any ethical values, has turned its miners into a digital proletariat". Staking allows Ethers to be immobilized in an Artprice smart contract. In reality, Artprice's primary added-value will be in its certification of the authenticity of the artist and his/her works from its reference databases. Artprice already has an open community of 765,00 artists and 5.4 million involved and contributing members including 4.5 million art collectors and enthusiasts and 900,000 art professionals (auction houses, appraisers, institutions, art dealers, family offices and private banking, etc.).



Artprice's Metaverse community will effectively merge with the economic and virtuous ecosystems in the broader metaverse, and vice-versa, thus allowing exponential growth in full compliance with Metcalfe's famous law on network proliferation. At the same time, Artprice will allocate 'wallets' to its community.

The development of 'staking' will likely lower entry barriers into the cryptocurrency ecosystem. After numerous exchanges with NFTs platforms and marketplaces, Artmarket.com maintains the best contacts with two major NFTs operators, namely Opensea and Rarible. Artprice by Artmarket has decided to build its Metaverse with Ethereum 2.0 and the transition to proof-of-stake (POS). The developers of the Ethereum platform always wanted to change to the consensus system by moving to a proof-of-stake mechanism, known to offer better performances. Artprice by Artmarket is very sensitive to the ecological impact of its activities. Considering the energy consumption in proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining, this decision is also ecologically responsible. With proof-of-stake, miners are replaced by players called 'validation nodes'. In this mechanism, the latter must deposit, or stake, 32 ETH on an address to be able to validate and add transactions to the blockchain. Artprice is particularly motivated by the writings of Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the Ethereum network, who has been lauding the merits of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism since 2016. The transformation of Etherium towards 2.0 has indeed confirmed the maturity of his project. Vitalik Buterin's philosophical and political vision is in accordance with the values that thierry Ehrmann has carried through Artprice and Groupe Serveur since 1987, himself a pioneer of the Internet (cf. Time Magazine). Artprice's IT community, its members and crypto enthusiasts around the world are indeed very pleased with the news of the switch in early 2022 to Ethereum 2.0 (also called "Serenity") via an upgrade of the proof-of-stake platform. According to thierry Ehrmann  Artmarket.com's CEO, founder of Artprice and CEO of Server group, an "Internet pioneer" since 1987 and Artprice's reference shareholder  "In historic terms, the nearest thing to the impact of NFTs on the art world was the paradigm shift we now call the 'Renaissance'. Not since then has there been such a massive transfer of power into the hands of artists, because it was thanks to Johannes Gutenberg's printing press that artists were able to print editions of their work. The Renaissance allowed artists to generate incomes and to control their production independently in their workshops and factories. Today with NFTs, we are experiencing a similar paradigm shift." Artprice by Artmarket's Metaverse Manifesto Artprice's Metaverse will allow the emergence and liberation of artistic creativity, backed by 25 years of expertise in the economy of artistic creation. In order to be free in their 'FabLabs', artists need to overcome obstacles and technological barriers. The Metaverse is not a 2D or a 3D world. It is about the dematerialization of the physical world towards a new universe where once impossible experiences become possible. During the 21st century's Enlightenment, the art world will be reshaped around virtual creation and the virtual (but very real) economy, allowing the emergence of a genuinely boundless space for artists to express themselves. Even in the virtual world of the Metaverse, singularity will remain one of the most prized qualities. Artprice by Artmarket's Metaverse will allow the emergence of a creative interaction within an artistic community where collectors and artists will generate an entirely new narrative. The Metaverse will be the basis for a social 'immersion' generating precisely the interaction that artists seek, thus propelling the art market deeper into the Metaverse. We are in effect talking about a vast "push and pull" ecosystem where all the actors of the art market, including artists and collectors, will share a 'community content'. Artists will be at the center of the Metaverse. The artist's 'FabLab' will be open in real time to the community through the Metaverse. Experiences within the Artprice Metaverse will be increasingly immersive, with artists having access to all the necessary technologies both easily and cheaply, generating a virtuous economy. The Artprice Metaverse will support, among other things, art market events such as art fairs and exhibitions which, in their current format, have a seriously negative carbon impact. These events will thus be reborn in the Metaverse by being at last constantly present with their community of artists, gallery owners, collectors and enthusiasts. The organization of Artprice's clean rooms and its data clouds across continents is a question of space computing, allowing hybrid (i.e. real / virtual) computing, which ensures the permeability between the physical world and the Metaverse. The Metaverse of Artprice's head office is located deep within the Organe Museum of Contemporary Art which manages the Abode of Chaos. To create the Metaverse of this singular architecture and Total Artwork by thierry Ehrmann, the European group TT Geometres Experts and its 3D Lab conducted, from 2020 to 2021, a complete digitization of 6,300 artworks integrated into the buildings, outbuildings and perimeter walls over 7,555 m, thereby generating a digitized heritage of 1.2 Terra-Bytes. The Artprice Metaverse  currently under development  is being designed so that people can forget about rigid IT, a real obstacle to creation. Artprice by Artmarket's Research & Development has been working for five years on non-intrusive interfaces that allow people to access augmented and virtual realities. Clearly, 5G mobile networks  with their spectrum of miniscule frequencies  allow an opening towards the Metaverse and connection to the 'Internet of Things'. In the real world, we have a universe made up of millions of galaxies; in the virtual world  the next generation of Internet  we will have a multiverse made up of millions of metaverses. However, the most relevant Metaverse to Art History will be the one that is most relevant to artists and the art community: the Artprice Metaverse... The Artprice Metaverse Manifesto is quite simply an invitation to the new era of Enlightenment. #ArtMarket by #ARTPRICE $ PRC #NFT #CryptoArt #metaverse #DigitalArt #NFTs #MarketPlace #BTC #ETH #OpenSeaNFT #raribleNFT #Ethereum #Manifesto Images: https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2021/11/image1-artprice-metaverse-thierry-ehrmann-organ-museum-800.jpg https://www.flickr.com/photos/home_of_chaos/50015697223 https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2021/11/image2-artprice-NFT-bill.jpg Copyright 1987-2021 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com Don't hesitate to contact our Econometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: [email protected]

for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo

Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription About Artmarket: Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF. Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987. See certified biography in Who's who :

https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2021/06/Biographie_nov2020_WhosWho_thierryEhrmann.pdf Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 770,000 artists. Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform. Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians. Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 6300 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 5.4 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code). Artmarket with its Artprice department, has been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI) (for the second time in November 2018 for a new period of 3 years) which is supporting the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the market art. Artprice's 2020/21 Contemporary Art Market Report by Artmarket.com:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2021 Artprice by Artmarket's 2020 Global Art Market Report published in March 2021:

https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2020 Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department:

serveur.serveur.com/press_release/pressreleaseen.htm Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 5,4 million followers) twitter.com/artmarketdotcom twitter.com/artpricedotcom Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013 L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (4.4 million followers) https://vimeo.com/124643720 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1009603/Art_Market_logo.jpg



Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artmarketcom-artprice-manifesto---the-future-of-nfts-and-the-metaverse-301428347.html SOURCE Artmarket.com

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[November 18, 2021] WPUR EV Charging Expansion Energized By U.S. $1 Trillion Infrastructure Initiative That Includes $7.5 Billion For EV Charging Stations

Dallas, Texas, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WaterPure International, Inc. (OTC Pink: WPUR) today highlighted the recent passage of a $1 trillion dollar infrastructure bill into law that includes $7.5 billion for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations . WPUR points to the intended budget for EV charging stations as a clear indication that the companys expansion into EV charging represents a large opportunity. WPUR has recently announced its expansion into bring high-tech solutions the EV charging sector. WPUR is forecasting a recurring revenue model to begin generating and rapidly expanding revenue next year in 2022 by providing services in he electric utilities sector with an emphasis on the electric vehicle (EV) charging subsector, and the water technology sector with combined market values over $100 billion.



WPUR recently updated its decade old clean water operations and begun to trial new water delivery efficiencies and technologies in developing economic markets to be subsequently scaled for all global markets. WPUR also recently revealed plans to add the electric utilities market with a focus on electric vehicle charging to its current water utilities operations.

WPUR has revealed a pilot clean water project already implemented and operating at a dairy operation in Sub Sarah Africa. WPUR has also recently announced entering into an agreement to provide an electric vehicle (EV) charging solution for a special purpose electric vehicle operation in Sub-Sahara Africa. WPUR plans to trial, refine, and scale solutions for the water tech and EV charging markets to take global. WPUR recently announced the company is on track to make a strategic water technology acquisition prior to the end of this year, 2021. WPUR also recently confirmed the company is in negotiations to acquire an innovative, off grid, EV charging technology solution. Look for key updates with additional details on WPURs pending acquisitions and contracts coming soon. To learn more, visit https://www.wpurinc.com/ . Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.



Contact:

Sean Mathis

[email protected]

972-918-5256



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[November 18, 2021] Church Pension Group to Host Conversation on the Investor Response to Climate Change

The Church Pension Group (CPG), a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church, announced that it will host a virtual conversation on the investor response to climate change as part of its ongoing Insights & Ideas series of discussions on socially responsible investing (SRI (News - Alert)). Individuals interested in attending the event can register at cpg.org/Insights&Ideas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006049/en/ The Church Pension Group, a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church, announced that it will host a virtual conversation on the investor response to climate change as part of its ongoing Insights & Ideas series of discussions on socially responsible investing (SRI). Individuals interested in attending the event can register at cpg.org/Insights&Ideas. (Graphic: Business Wire) The virtual event will take place on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, from 12:30 to 1:45PM ET. It will feature a panel of experts on climate research and sustainability. The panel, which will be moderated by Mary Kate Wold, CEO and President of CPG, will discuss how industries and companies are navigating the current environment.



"As world governments and businesses ramp up their strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, the movement toward lower carbon economies will inevitably create opportunities and risks for investors," said Ms. Wold. "As fiduciaries, it's our job to ensure that we identify those opportunities and mitigate the risks so we remain well positioned to provide benefits to those who serve The Episcopal Church for decades to come. We are excited to host this event as part of our series of conversations on socially responsible investing and encourage those interested in learning more to join us on December 1." The panelists will include Chris Goolgasian, Senior Managing Director and Director, Climate Research, Wellington; James Magor, Director, Sustainability, Actis; and June Yearwood, Managing Director, Investments, Church Pension Group.

Videos and presentations from prior Insights & Ideas, which focused on shareholder engagement, investing in economically disadvantaged communities, faithful investing, positive impact investing, and sustainable investing, can be viewed at cpg.org/Insights&Ideas. Editor's Note: Individuals interested in learning more about CPG's SRI efforts and viewing videos related to CPG's positive impact investments can visit cpg.org/SRI. About the Church Pension Group The Church Pension Group (CPG) is a financial services organization that serves The Episcopal Church. It maintains three lines of business-benefits, insurance, and publishing. CPG provides retirement, health, life insurance, and related benefits for clergy and lay employees of The Episcopal Church, as well as property and casualty insurance and book and music publishing, including the official worship materials of the Church. Follow CPG on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. cpg.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006049/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Nebraska's Critical Access Hospitals Recognized for Outstanding Performance in Quality

The Chartis Center for Rural Health today joined the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in honoring outstanding performance in quality among the state's Critical Access Hospitals. Unveiled during this month's Nebraska Critical Access Hospitals and Rural Health Clinics Conference on Quality, the Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award recognizes performance excellence in quality utilizing the Hospital Strength INDEX framework. At the state level, Nebraska is among the top performers for Critical Access Hospital quality. In July, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) released its annual Top 10 State Quality Ranking at the 2021 Flex Program Reverse Site Visit conference, and Nebraska achieved a second-place national ranking. "Our Critical Access Hospitals place a tremendous amount of emphasis on delivering a high level of quality, and we are proud to recognize their efforts," said Nancy Jo Hansen, Flex and SHIP Program Manager, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. "The FORHP ranking and the individual Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award winners are a testament to the commitment to quality we see across Nebraska, the power of innovation and the belief that improving the care experience is always possible." The Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award utilizes the Chartis Ceter for Rural Health's Hospital Strength INDEX framework to analyze Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) measures for all Critical Access Hospitals in Nebraska. The analysis percentile-ranks performance for each facility across 22 equally weighted, core MBQIP metrics. Hospitals with the 10 highest scores are recognized with the Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award.



The 2021 Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award recipients (in alphabetical order) are: Callaway District Hospital (Callaway, NE)

Community Medical Center (Falls City, NE)

Crete Area Medical Center (Crete, NE)

Henderson Health Care Services (Henderson, NE)

Jefferson Community Health & Life (News - Alert) (Fairbury, NE)

Lexington Regional Health Center (Lexington, NE)

Memorial Community Health (Aurora, NE)

Memorial Health Care Systems (Seward, NE)

Rock County Hospital (Bassett, NE)

Saunders Medical Center (Wahoo, NE) "Each year, Critical Access Hospitals in Nebraska are among the nation's top performers across multiple facets of the INDEX," said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. "We are delighted to partner with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on the Rural Provider Excellence in Quality Award program and recognize outstanding performance in quality among the state's Critical Access Hospitals."

About The Chartis Group The Chartis Group (Chartis) provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the healthcare industry. It brings critical thinking and deep industry experience paired with cutting-edge data, analytics, and technology to deliver #NextIntelligence. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, health analytics, informatics and technology, digital and emerging technologies, clinical quality and operations, and strategic communications, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children's hospitals, and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results and build a healthier world. Chartis has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.chartis.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006006/en/

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[November 18, 2021] The PNS Trifecta: All Three SPRINT PNS System Abstracts Submitted to ASRA 2021 Pain Medicine Meeting Receive President's Choice Award

CLEVELAND, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPR Therapeutics has been honored with three Presidents Choice Abstract Awards at the 20th Annual ASRA Pain Medicine Meeting taking place November 18-20 in San Francisco. All three presentations feature studies that highlight the ongoing, successful application of percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) with the SPRINT PNS System for the treatment of chronic pain.

Only 26 of the 300 abstracts accepted were awarded Presidents Choice selections. With three selections, SPR Therapeutics studies account for over ten percent of all Presidents Choice honorees. The selected abstracts detail: Findings from a Prospective, Multicenter Study of Percutaneous Medial Branch PNS for the Treatment of Chronic Axial Low Back Pain





Real World Evidence of Sustained Improvements Following Percutaneous PNS: A Cross-sectional Follow-up Survey of 354 Patients





How 60-Day PNS Treatment May Improve Identification of Delayed Responders and Non-responders

Adoption of the SPRINT PNS System has more than doubled in the past year, having been used to treat over 7,000 patients to date by physicians seeking a pain management solution that does not rely on the use of opioids, tissue destruction, or require a permanent implant. SPR Therapeutics will be at the ASRA Fall meeting and hosting a live, moderate breakfast symposium entitled The Percutaneous PNS Trifecta: Clinician Experts, New Findings and Practical Applications on Saturday, November 20. The session will be moderated by Dr. David Dickerson in addition to Dr. Mehul Desai, Dr. Ramo Naidu and Dr. Matthew Pingree who will present study findings.



About the SPRINT PNS System

The SPRINT PNS System, by SPR Therapeutics, marks an innovative shift in the treatment of pain. Our breakthrough, restorative, 60-day treatment is a First-Line PNS option uniquely designed to recondition the central nervous system to provide significant and sustained relief from chronic pain  without a permanent implant, nerve destruction or the risk of addiction. The system has been studied extensively for low back pain, shoulder pain, post-amputation pain, and chronic and acute post-operative pain, and is cleared for use up to 60 days. Recognized by leading pain management centers, the breakthrough neuromodulation treatment offers a patient-preferred alternative to more invasive options. The SPRINT PNS System is indicated for up to 60 days for: Symptomatic relief of chronic, intractable pain, post-surgical and post-traumatic acute pain; Symptomatic relief of post-traumatic pain; Symptomatic relief of post-operative pain. The SPRINT PNS System is not intended to treat pain in the region innervated by the cranial and facial nerves.

For additional information regarding safety and efficacy, visit www.SprintPNS.com . About SPR Therapeutics, Inc.

SPR Therapeutics is a privately-held medical device company, providing patients with a non-opioid, minimally invasive pain treatment option. Our SPRINT PNS System fulfills a critical unmet need for a drug-free, surgery-free option for millions who suffer from chronic pain. Backed by the largest body of clinical evidence, SPR has demonstrated commercial demand in untapped peripheral (shoulder and knee) and back pain markets and built an incredibly strong foundation for commercial growth. Headquartered in Cleveland, OH with satellite offices in Chapel Hill, NC and Minneapolis, MN, SPRs Senior Management team includes experienced industry veterans with nearly 200 years of collective pain market and MedTech expertise, all driven by our purpose - to improve the quality of patients lives by providing them with a minimally-invasive, drug-free, surgery-free solution to manage their acute and chronic pain. More information can be found at www.SPRTherapeutics.com .

SPR Contacts: Mark Stultz Senior Vice President [email protected] 612.770.0390 Dave Folkens Public Relations Contact [email protected] 612.978.6547

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[November 18, 2021] Advisor360 Welcomes New Chief Financial Officer Sasa Zorovic

Advisor360, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS (News - Alert)) provider of integrated technology for the wealth management industry, is pleased to announce that Sasa Zorovic is joining the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Zorovic is an expert in leading and growing financial technology businesses. At Advisor360, he will oversee the company's accounting and finance teams, while working closely on business strategy with the senior executive management team, external partners and stakeholders. "Building technology companies requires capital, ideas and people to construct and sell great products. Sasa understands this principle and has a proven track record in SaaS companies that create value for investors, clients and companies," said Rich Napolitano, Chief Executive Officer of Advisor360. "His fintech expertise and entrepreneurial acumen make him a natural fit for our senior leadership team as we continue our high growth." Earlier this year, the Advisor360 platform went live with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), and the company was ranked the second largest fintech company in Massachusetts1. Today, more than 20,000 advisors and staff whose customers have $920 billion in assets under advisement have the privilege of making longevity sustainable for each generation with the integrated Advisor360 platform. /p>



News - Alert) DataConnect, a financial software and data company that he founded and sold to Bloomberg. Earlier in his career, Zorovic was a managing director and research analyst for Goldman Sachs, Janney Montgomery Scott and Oppenheimer. He has his Ph.D. in Engineering-Economic Systems and his M.B.A. from Stanford University, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. "Companies like Advisor360 are rare," said Zorovic. "Advisior360 is going to transform the way all of us consider wealth management, so I'm delighted to become a part of it."

Zorovic assumes the role from Thomas Lux, who is retiring from the position after three years with Advisor360. Lux will continue in an advisory capacity with the company. "We are deeply indebted to Tom for his service and leadership -- Advisor360 would not be what it is today without his commitment to building this organization," said Napolitano. "Tom is a true business partner and friend. We look forward to his insights in an advisory capacity in the years ahead." About Advisor360 Advisor360 is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider that builds and delivers integrated technology for wealth management firms. The company's proprietary Unified Data Fabric (UDF) synthesizes complex and disparate data streams into one platform for a highly sophisticated wealth planning solution. Today, 3 million households with $920 billion in assets under advisement benefit from the integrated Advisor360 experience. Whether the enterprise back office, the client-facing advisor or the individual investor, Advisor360 brings clarity to all stakeholders seeking a holistic approach to managing household wealth. Based in Weston, Massachusetts, Advisor360 launched as an independent company in 2019. To learn more, visit www.advisor360.com. 1 "Largest Fintech Companies in Massachusetts," Boston Business Journal, Sept. 2, 2021 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006123/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Wolters Kluwer Launches Data-Driven Enhancements to Arbitrator Tool within Kluwer Arbitration Practice Plus

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. today announced enhancements to the Arbitrator Tool and a new Relationship Assessment Tool within Kluwer Arbitration Practice Plus (KAPP). Integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning with Wolters Kluwer's arbitration expertise, the new features will provide arbitration professionals with valuable insights to assess arbitrators, properly advise their clients, and increase their rate of success. Launched in December 2019, KAPP is a practical extension to Kluwer Arbitration, the world's leading research solution for international arbitration. The Arbitrator Tool within KAPP will provide data-driven information about arbitrators and their experience. Drawn from a wide range of sources  including appointment data from core international institutes and Wolters Kluwer's rich collection of international awards  the information will assist practitioners in selecting an arbitrator. Additionally, the Relationship Assessment Tool will allow users to research the connections of arbitrators, expert witnesses, counsel, tribunal secretaries and other stakeholders to uncover potential conflicts of interest. Together, these two data-driven features will empower arbitration professionals to find, compare, or challenge arbitrators, helping them to minimize involved risks. "Choosing the right arbitrator for a case is an important and strategic decision, and due to confidentiality in commercial arbitration, it is hard for practitioners to assess potential conflicts of interest, current and past connections with other stakeholders, and other critical factors to get the full picture," said David Bartolone, Vice President and General Manager for the International Group within Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "The new features for te Arbitrator Tool within KAPP will expand its capabilities to provide a full workflow solution for arbitration practitioners, empowering our customers to confidently advise their clients and drive to the best possible outcomes during the arbitral process."



"In today's world, access to objective, data-driven information is ever more critical for transparency and understanding, yet it often remains a challenge to obtain such reliable data," said Jan K. Schafer, an arbitrator and Partner at King & Spalding, Frankfurt, head of dispute resolution in Germany. "The different tools developed by Wolters Kluwer are a timely and welcome contribution to enhance transparency in the field of international arbitration, allowing easy access to information that will help users make informed choices." The new enhancements, combined with the Arbitrator Tool's existing functionalities  such as linking an arbitrator with related publications and awards  will give a comprehensive assessment of an arbitrator to match the merits of a particular case and discover potential conflicts of interest. In addition, the data provided on each arbitrator will support the credibility of self-reported information, such as experience with arbitral institutes and their rules, sector, applicable laws, or language.

To learn more, visit: https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/solutions/kluwerarbitration/practiceplus About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,200 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY). For more information about Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. MEDIA CONTACT: Linda Gharib

Director, Brand & Communications

Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962

Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wolters-kluwer-launches-data-driven-enhancements-to-arbitrator-tool-within-kluwer-arbitration-practice-plus-301428439.html SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.

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[November 18, 2021] Starter to Host IDO of Ape Farmer, a Yield Aggregator Platform

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (via Blockchain Wire) -- Recently crowned #1 launchpad by average ROI, Starter (https://starter.xyz), today announced it will host the launch of $APEF, a Decentralized Finance (DeFi) token of ApeFarmer (https://apefarmer.com/), an advanced yield aggregator and optimizer, constructed on the Binance Smart Chain. Ape Farmer will offer "Safe Ape" and "Degen Ape'' sections allowing for increased yield farming profits on their already owned tokens. Deflationary measures will be implemented in the protocol to maintain a steadily increasing market cap, as it aims to be the go-to DeFi platform to offer increased yields for Binance Smart Chain, Cardano (TBA) and Polygon (TBA) enthusiasts. Unlike other projects that neither list their entry and exit fees, nor display where their fees are being allocated, the yield aggregator will list all entry, exit fees and their destinations. Additionally, while most pools implemented into decentralized exchanges require manual compounding, 99 percent of ApeFarmers vaults will auto compound- allowing increased yields when collecting rewards. The initial vaults will be handpicked by the ApeFarmer team and its partnes. With the addition of DAO, ApeFarmer holders will also be entitled to vote on adding and removing vaults.



DeFi is growing at a very rapid rate, with projections to grow tenfold in the next 5-10 years. During the quick growth spurt, more and more crypto holders will need a yield aggregator such as Ape Farmer that is suited to feed the holder and not just one specific project, siad Lionel Iruk, Special Counsel at Starter. Ape Farmer has created a protocol that captures the DeFi, NFT and governance sectors, is transparent, low cost uses time weighted average prices to mitigate flash loan attacks and other implementations to better benefit the end user. The ApeFarmer Token will have no maximum supply, however, will have auto-burning functions and underlying utilities, including yield farming, where $APEF holders can stake their to earn more Tokens and wrapped Binance coins. Users can also participate in the $APEF lottery every week to earn rewards, apart from using their tokens to trade limited edition Apefarmer.com NFTs. Also, holders staking $APEF token will be able to propose changes to the ApeFarmer protocol including emissions, burn rates, new pools, yield farms.

During the IDO, 250000 $BUSD tokens will be made available for purchase at $0.75 USD. ApeFarmers smart contracts automate yields in a cost-efficient manner while utilizing some of the largest DeFi players like Pancakeswap, BBQswap and Babyswap. Starters community has provided hassle-free funding to many well known IDO launches and now adds Ape Farmer to the list. For more details on Ape Farmers IDO launch with Starter, please visit https://starter.xyz/. About Ape Farmer

Apefarmer (https://apefarmer.com/) is a yield aggregator with extensive token utility including farming, NFT staking, a lottery and a governance model. The apes plan to automate yields in a cost-efficient method with smart contracts that utilize some of the biggest players in the DeFi industry.

About Starter

Starter (https://starter.xyz) is the leading IDO launchpad, incubator, and investor network for @0xPolygon, $ETH, $AVAX, $FTM, and #BSC, having raised over $25M for 40+ projects, including Cake Monster, Wall St Bets, Nasdex, and Enjinstarter. Starter provides projects access to funding opportunities without the hassle of bureaucratic hurdles or complex KYC requirements. Starters suite of products include a venture arm Starter.capital, launchpad Starter.xyz, and token vesting and liquidity locking StartVesting.xyz.



Transform Group [email protected]

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[November 18, 2021] HDT Global Announces Advisory Board Members

SOLON, Ohio, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HDT Global (HDT), the leading manufacturer of highly-engineered, mission-capable infrastructure solutions across defense, aerospace and government markets, announced the appointment of three members to its newly formed Board of Advisors. "We're excited to stand up a Board of Advisors with three members who will each help guide HDT in their next phase of growth," stated Vince Buffa, Chairman of the Board, Nexus Capital Management, LP, the private equity firm that acquired HDT Global in June 2021. "We have worked actively and thoughtfully to identify candidates with deep experience in the military, manufacturing, supply chain and logistics sectors, and all three members fit the bill perfectly." The Advisory Board members, Major General Peter J. Talleri (ret.), Vice Admiral Alan S. Thompson (ret.) and Lieutenant General Stephen M. Twitty (ret.), began their terms in November 2021. Maj. Gen. Talleri comes to HDT with over 30 years of experience leading information technology, logistics and supply chain organizations ranging in size from 50 to 11,000 personnel. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 2013, having served as Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations Pacific; Commander DLA - Distribution, as well as other logistics commands. Maj. Gen. Talleri currently is the President of Peter J. Talleri & Associates, LLC with clients that include AT&T, CACI, Tyto Anthene, Raytheon, BlackBerry, DynCorp, and Oracle. He currently holds board positions at DiviUp, LLC, Airborne Motorworks, LLC, the Clarion University Foundation, Inc., and Stellar Solutions, Inc. Vice Adm. Thompson is a formerDirector (CEO) of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) where he led a 27,000-person, $46 billion global supply chain and logistics enterprise supporting the U.S. armed forces, select other US federal agencies and several allied militaries. Previously, he served as the Commander of the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), the Navy's 25,000-person $10 billion global acquisition, supply chain and retail enterprise. After his Navy career, Vice Adm. Thompson held senior executive positions focused on the defense market with Honeywell International and KBR. Currently, he is the CEO of HomeSafe Alliance  the exclusive relocation manager for the armed forces and DOD civilians  a company that completes over 320,000 global relocations annually by inserting cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the moving industry. Vice Adm. Thompson has served on the board of directors of the National Defense Industrial Association the Professional Services Council. He is a graduate of UCLA, earned an MBA at the University of Florida, and completed the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Senior Executive Program.



Lt. Gen. Twitty brings extensive strategic, operational, and international experience and executive level leadership and management skills to HDT Global. He retired from the United States Army in 2020, where he served as Deputy Commander, United States European Command; Commanding General, 1st United States Army; Commanding General, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss; Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans, Training & Readiness, United States Forces Command; Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Communications, ISAF; and Deputy Commanding General, Chief of Staff as well as other roles of increasing responsibility. Lt. Gen. Twitty's senior leadership experience includes National Security Strategy, Strategic Communications, Military Operations, NATO, and Homeland Security and he has served as advisor and consultant to Valiant Integrated Services, Ernst & Young Global Limited and Deep Water Point. He holds a Master of Science degree focused in National Security Policy Studies from National Defense University. About HDT: Headquartered in Solon, Ohio, USA, HDT Global is widely recognized for its industry-leading production of state-of-the-art, fully integrated expeditionary solutions, including shelters, generators, heaters, air filtration devices, robotics, specialty transport vehicles and other engineered technologies, currently used by U.S. and allied military units worldwide, as well as civilian government and commercial customers. Proven solutions for extreme environments. We're there with you. For more information, visit www.hdtglobal.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hdt-global-announces-advisory-board-members-301428473.html SOURCE HDT Global

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[November 18, 2021] CBL Properties Completes Sale of JV Storage Portfolio

CBL Properties (NYSE: CBL) today announced the sale of its self-storage portfolio for a gross sales price of $42.0 million ($22.0 million at CBL's share). After repayment of approximately $25.7 million ($16.4 million at CBL's share) in recourse loans secured by the properties, the sale generated cash to CBL of approximately $8.5 million. The portfolio included self-storage facilities that CBL and its joint venture partner had developed on available land at CBL's Mid Rivers Mall in St. Charles, MO, Eastgate Mall in Cincinnati, OH, Parkdale Mall in Beaumont, TX and Hamilton Place in Chattanooga, TN. "The sale of this portfolio is a great example of the types of value creation opportunities we are pursuing across our portfolio," said Stephen Lebovitz, chief executive officer, CBL Properties. "We developd these assets with less than $300,000 of cash invested, utilizing existing land as our equity. Within three years of starting this program, we are able to take advantage of terrific pricing and monetize the assets to provide additional cash for the company."



About CBL Properties Headquartered in Chattanooga, TN, CBL Properties owns and manages a national portfolio of market-dominant properties located in dynamic and growing communities. CBL's portfolio is comprised of 99 properties totaling 63.0 million square feet across 24 states, including 61 high-quality enclosed, outlet and open-air retail centers and five properties managed for third parties. CBL seeks to continuously strengthen its company and portfolio through active management, aggressive leasing and profitable reinvestment in its properties. For more information visit cblproperties.com.

CBL_Corp View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006046/en/

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[November 18, 2021] medical leverage, a communications company Donates More Than 20 Hours of Community Service to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County

CARY, N.C., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its 20th birthday celebration this year, medical leverage, a communications company, gifted more than 20 hours of service to Habitat for Humanity of Wake County on Saturday, November 13, 2021. Eight medical leverage team members worked from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. building homes in the Maybrook Townhomes neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, more than doubling medical leverage's 20 hour service goal. Reflecting on how best to celebrate 20 years in business, founder and president of medical leverage, Dave Oury, says, "I believe we all have a responsibility to serve the community we live and work in every day, so we really wanted to give back to our community to celebrate 20 years of improving life through communications for our clients. We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity to fulfill itsmission to bring people together to build affordable homes, communities, and hope."



To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, visit www.habitatwake.org. To learn more about medical leverage, their work, and how they are helping achieve success for their clients, please visit www.medicalleverage.com. Further, follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/medical-leverage.

ABOUT - medical leverage is a medical communications company that provides full-service solutions to pharmaceutical, biotech, biopharmaceutical, medical device, and medical diagnostic companies. We elevate healthcare communications through education by partnering strategically with life science companies and providers. For 20 years, we have had the distinct honor of working with marketing, medical affairs, sales training, and market access teams within US and international companies. We know that behind every program there is a product and behind every healthcare professional there is a patient. We focus on our clients, so they can focus on healthcare professionals and, ultimately, their patients. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medical-leverage-a-communications-company-donates-more-than-20-hours-of-community-service-to-habitat-for-humanity-of-wake-county-301428501.html SOURCE Medical Leverage

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[November 18, 2021] Hero Digital Announces Strategic Investment from AEA Investors LP to expand its digital transformation capabilities, service offerings and geographic presence.

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hero Digital, a leading digital transformation services company, today announced it has partnered with AEA Investors LP ("AEA"), a leading global investment firm with over $15 billion in assets under management and a 50+ year legacy of partnering with leading middle-market companies to accelerate growth. The partnership will support strategic investments in new digital offerings, next-gen technology capabilities, and geographic expansion powering customer and business experience transformation. The Hero Digital management team will remain in their roles, with CEO David Kilimnik serving on the board of directors. Since its founding just over seven years ago, and with the help of its previous investment partner CI Capital over the last five years, Hero Digital has become a critical digital innovation and transformation partner to some of the world's leading brands. Hero Digital's success comes from helping leading companies transform themselves to create new value for people and business, all powered by a vibrant, diverse, and high-performing company culture. Hero Digital blends strategy, design, data, and technology to help fortune 1000 clients such as US Bank, Airbnb, Comcast, Jefferson Health, Salesforce, and AmeriGas invent ideas for new markets, transform customer experiences, and drive business performance through a connected customer-employee ecosystem. "We are thrilled to partner with AEA as we enter the next phase of our evolution and growth," said David Kilimnik



"We are excited to partner with Hero Digital to support the next phase of their strategic evolution," said John Almeida, Partner at AEA. "With its broad offering that connects brand experience to ecommerce, loyalty and business experience operations, Hero Digital has established itself as a trusted partner to a growing portfolio of market-leading clients. Hero Digital's innovative approach, combined with its best-in-class culture and management team, uniquely positions it to take advantage of new opportunities in an increasingly complex environment for customer and business digital experience solutions. We look forward to building on Hero's past success as we support the business on its next phase of growth." Hero Digital was advised by Canaccord Genuity and AEA was advised by Houlihan Lokey and Guggenheim Securities, LLC.

About Hero Digital Hero Digital is a leading independent customer experience company operating at the intersection of strategy, design, data and technology, solving the critical digital transformation needs of the Fortune 1000. Hero Digital's purpose is to bring moments of Truth & Beauty into people's lives by creating customer experiences that are good for people and good for business. Hero Digital's blended teams help Fortune 1000 companies like Comcast, U.S. Bank, Salesforce, Twitter, UnitedHealthcare, and TD Ameritrade Institutional invent, transform, and perform to deliver new business value. To work with Hero Digital or learn more, visit www.herodigital.com. Hero Digital Media Contact: Richie Roesner

Walker Sands

[email protected] About AEA Investors AEA Investors LP was founded in 1968 by the Rockefeller, Mellon and Harriman family interests and S.G. Warburg & Co. as a private investment vehicle for a select group of industrial family offices with substantial assets. AEA has an extraordinary global network built over many years which includes leading industrial families, business executives and leaders; many of whom invest with AEA as active individual investors and/or join its portfolio company boards or act in other advisory roles. Today, AEA's approximately 100 investment professionals operate globally with offices in New York, Stamford, San Francisco, London, Munich and Shanghai. The firm manages funds that have over $15 billion of invested and committed capital including the leveraged buyouts of middle-market and small business companies, growth capital and mezzanine and senior debt investments. AEA Media Contact: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Jon Keehner and Erik Carlson

+1 (212) 355-4449 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hero-digital-announces-strategic-investment-from-aea-investors-lp-to-expand-its-digital-transformation-capabilities-service-offerings-and-geographic-presence-301428513.html SOURCE Hero Digital

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[November 18, 2021] ROSEN, GLOBALLY RESPECTED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX Techedu Inc. Investors With Losses to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - GOTU, GSX

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Gaotu Techedu Inc. f/k/a GSX (News - Alert) Techedu Inc. (NYSE: GOTU, GSX) between March 22, 2021 and March 29, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important December 20, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Gaotu securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Gaotu class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2182.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than December 20, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareolder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.



DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. ("Goldman Sachs") and Morgan Stanley sold a large amount of Gaotu American Depository Shares (ADSs) during the Class Period while in possession of material non-public information about Archegos Capital Management (at the time a family office with $10 billion under management) and its need to fully liquidate its position in Gaotu because of margin call pressure. As a result of these sales, the defendants in the case, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, avoided billions in losses combined. To join the Gaotu class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2182.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn (News - Alert): https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter (News - Alert): https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook (News - Alert): https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006264/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Former White House Advisor Helps Local Cooks Make a Meaningful Income By Selling Homemade Food To Their Communities

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Shef, a platform that enables cooks to sell homemade meals to their local communities, today announced that it has expanded its fast growing business to Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV). Since its founding in 2019 by Obama White House Tech Advisor and Code.gov co-founder, Alvin Salehi, and two-time food startup entrepreneur, Joey Grassia, Shef has served over one million meals across the United States. Passionate and talented cooks around the country have found a world of hope and possibility on the platform, and now those across the DMV will have an opportunity to make a meaningful income while sharing their culture and authentic recipes with their neighbors. Maryland, Virginia and D.C. are host to a vibrant diaspora of cultures and Shef's cooks reflect thi diversity, with cuisines ranging from Northern Indian and Jamaican-American dishes to Turkish and Peruvian. For example, for the first time since arriving in the US, Kenyan cook Marni Muhati felt she could proudly share a meaningful part of her African heritage with friends and neighbors. Similarly, Carla Mantecon, a transplant from Guadalajara, Mexico, prepares the very family recipes that brought her own loved ones together around her family's dinner table; she hopes to bring that same authenticity to dinner tables across the region.



"As the sons of immigrants, Joey and I watched our parents work incredibly hard to build a better life for their kids," said Alvin Salehi, co-founder of Shef. "There are millions of people just like them looking for new opportunities to support their families, and we're excited to finally bring Shef to the DMV -- a beautiful region I had the privilege of calling home for many years." Currently, there are more than 16,000 applicants on the waitlist to cook and sell food on Shef. Local cooks can visit Shef.com to sign up and get started.

About Shef Founded in 2019 by first-generation Americans Alvin Salehi and Joey Grassia, Shef is a platform that enables cooks to sell homemade meals to their local communities. The service is currently available in several markets across the United States, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Chicago, Houston, Austin, Boston, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. To order food from a local cook in your area, or for more information on how to become a cook on the platform, visit www.shef.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/former-white-house-advisor-helps-local-cooks-make-a-meaningful-income-by-selling-homemade-food-to-their-communities-301428571.html SOURCE Shef

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[November 18, 2021] Pictet Asset Management and Finsemble Win WatersTechnology's 2021 Best Buy-Side Implementation Award

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosaic the workflow solution provider bringing smart desktop technology to the finance industry, has been awarded the 2021 WatersTechnology award for its implementation with Pictet Asset Management. The project brings Cosaic's Finsemble , the smart desktop platform, across Pictet's buy-side desks to increase efficiency and boost the performance of portfolio managers and traders. Pictet AM leads the pack when it comes to interoperability and buy-side innovation, with Finsemble at its project base. Banks and buy-sides suffering from application overload use Finsemble to connect and sync their applications to create automated workflows, decreasing error rate and improving efficiency. In fact, interoperability has become increasingly imperative in the finance industry, backed by the FDC3 open standards for application communication (see Trader Desktop Interoperability Comes of Age from A-Team Insights). With its implementation, Pictet Asset Management has become a leader in buy-side interoperability. "Pictet Asset Management is creating automated workflows never before seen at buy-side firms," says Cosaic CEO and co-founder Dan Schleifer. "Their innovation team has challenged the status quo and created use cases that are influencing other buy-sides implementing interoperability." Pictet Asset Management is an independently owned asset management company with assets under management of over 200 billion, offering multiple strategies across equity, multi-asset, FX and fixed income. Like most firms, cross-application workflows created complexity and inefficiencies. Automating workflows across different types of applicationsin-house, third-party, native etc.was the challenge. A technology team led by Carl James, Global Head of Fixed Income, selected Finsemble as their interoperability solution.



"When it comes to solving for the complications of cross-application workflow, Finsemble was the only solution that provided the infrastructure and extensive support our technology team needed to build out the automation we imagined," says James. "The traders have been able to collapse workflows, and reduce the time to access liquidity, and hence capture increased alpha for our clients." The results of automating these workflows are impressive. In one measurement, Pictet traders were able to save ten minutes a trade due to the automated workflows, such as:

Money Markets Workflow  A cumbersome, multi-step process has now been streamlined. Yield calculations are automated, including pricing future cash flows with currency exposure by automatically connecting to Bloomberg in order to price FX forwards. FX Pricer Workflow  A backend FIX gateway with connectivity to a number of liquidity providers feeds a database of spot prices. Traders get a real-time view of the best FX prices required to hedge a particular bond order with a single click in Charles River (their OMS), and can spawn historical Bloomberg charts for additional context. Credit and Axe Data Workflow  Axe data from specific counterparties and market aggregators is consolidated and made available from a single click inside Charles River, immediately showing the trader how liquid the issue is and what the current prices are. Traders can then collaborate with the fund manager to find alpha, by seeing the contents of existing portfolios, interested buyers, and being presented with similar bonds. Context is added using the Bloomberg API to calculate spreads, complemented by analytics shown using ChartIQ charts. To see a recorded demonstration of these workflows, visit cosaic.io/pictet-interoperability-journey. "Finsemble is different from other players in the market in that our product team provides support from POC to post-production," says Schleifer. "Our solutions engineers worked closely with Pictet Asset Management from the beginning of the ideation to the current project evolution. The Finsemble team and Pictet's technologists worked to answer the question: What can interoperability do for you?" Along with its extensive production support, Finsemble also provides industry-leading native support. Because the majority of buy-sides depend on native and legacy applications, the ability to include .NET and Java applications in automated workflows is a necessity. Learn more about Finsemble native support at https://cosaic.io/finsemble/industry-leading-native-support/. In addition to this implementation, Finsemble also won Waters' Technology's 2021 Best Sell-Side Implementation with Citi. As a measure of Pictet's innovation, they recently won Best Buy-Side Fixed Income Trading Desk at the European Markets Choice awards . About Cosaic

Cosaic provides state-of-the art software for firms that want to promote ingenuity, evolve intelligently, and improve end-user efficiency. Products include ChartIQ, the world-renowned financial charting software, and Finsemble, the world's first no-code smart desktop platform. As a workflow solutions provider, Cosaic is revolutionizing the way people work with over 300 global customers around the world, including Yahoo Finance, E*TRADE, Charles River, and Fidessa. Founded in 2012 as ChartIQ, Cosaic is a fast-growing firm based in Charlottesville, VA with offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit https://cosaic.io . About Pictet Asset Management

Pictet Asset Management is an independently owned asset management company with assets under management of over 200 billion. Pictet Asset Management offers multiple strategies across equity, multi-asset, FX and fixed income, with eighteen offices globally and 900 employeesof which over 400 are investment professionals. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pictet-asset-management-and-finsemble-win-waterstechnologys-2021-best-buy-side-implementation-award-301428591.html SOURCE Cosaic

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[November 18, 2021] Loomis Sayles Celebrates Anniversaries of Growth Equity Strategies Team's Large Cap Growth and All Cap Growth Offerings

Loomis, Sayles & Company Global Equity Strategies team:







80.7 136 1 BILLION IN ASSETS UNDER

MANAGEMENT COMBINED YEARS OF INVESTMENT

EXPERIENCE INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY GES Team

As of 9/30/21 GES Team As of 9/30/21 Supported by a seven-step research

framework

Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, celebrates the 15-year anniversary1 of the Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth and the Loomis Sayles All Cap Growth Strategies managed by the firm's Growth Equity Strategies (GES) team. The Large Cap Growth and All Cap Growth strategies are among a suite of equity products managed by Aziz V. Hamzaogullari, the chief investment officer and founder of the Loomis Sayles GES team. The team's $80.7 billion in assets under management also comprises global, international, and long/short growth equity strategies. The GES team's long-term, private equity approach is underpinned by a single investment philosophy and supported by a proprietary seven-step research framework. Through this differentiated approach, the team seeks to invest in those few high-quality businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and profitable growth when they trade at a discount to intrinsic value. Learn more about Loomis Sayles' Growth Equity Strategies team. "The GES team has achieved an impressive performance track record over the past 15 years for the firm's Large Cap Growth and All Cap Growth strategies, which reflects the team's commitment to disciplined investment decision-making with a long-term view that emphasizes deep fundamental research," said Kevin Charleston, chief executive officer and president of Loomis Sayles. "We are proud of the GES team's passion for delivering value for our investors by seeking to select those few high-quality businesses that can potentially generate durable and profitable long-term growth." Large Cap Growth Strategy $73.6 billion AUM Since inception in 2006, the Large Cap Growth Composite has generated an annualized gross return of 14.85%, outperforming the Russell 1000 Growth index by 1.47%, a return that ranks ahead of 92% of large cap growth peers. The strategy has generated 2.19% of alpha, ahead of 96% of peers.



The Large Cap Growth strategy seeks to produce long-term, excess returns vs. the Russell 1000 Growth Index on a risk-adjusted basis over a full market cycle (at least five years) through bottom-up stock selection. Inception 7/1/2006 All Cap Growth Strategy $4.2 billion AUM Since inception in 2006, the All Cap Growth Composite has generated an annualized gross return of 15.27%, outperforming the Russell 3000 Growth index by 2.12%, a return that ranks ahead of 82% of category peers. The strategy has generated 2.56% of alpha, ahead of 90% of peers.



The All Cap Growth strategy seeks to produce long-term, excess returns vs. the Russell 3000 Growth Index on a risk-adjusted basis over a full market cycle (at least five years) through bottom-up stock selection. Inception 7/1/2006 As 30 September 2021. Source (News - Alert): eASE Analytics System; eVestment Alliance is the ranking agency. (Ranking out of 180 observations; eVestment Alliance's Large Cap Growth Universe. Ranking out of 49 observations; eVestment Alliance's All Cap Growth Universe.) Annualized performance is calculated as the geometric mean of the product's returns with respect to one year. Returns-based data are gross of management fees and net of trading costs. Rankings are subject to change. Although we believe it is reliable, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of data from a third party source. This information cannot be copied or redistributed in any form. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. _______________________________________________ * The Manager for the Large Cap Growth and All Cap Growth Composites joined Loomis Sayles on May 19, 2010, and performance prior to that date was achieved at his prior firm. As required by GIPS, the prior performance information is being included as part of the Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth and All Cap Growth Composites. LOOMIS SAYLES LARGE CAP GROWTH COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE (%) AS OF 30 SEPTEMBER 2021 3Q 2021 YTD 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Inception (7/1/2006) Large Cap Growth (Gross) -1.97 11.84 21.71 20.38 19.97 19.82 14.85 Large Cap Growth (Net) -2.07 11.50 21.22 19.90 19.49 19.37 14.36 Russell 1000 Growth Index 1.16 14.30 27.32 22.00 22.84 19.68 13.38 S&P 500 Index 0.58 15.92 30.00 15.99 16.90 16.63 10.58 LOOMIS SAYLES ALL CAP GROWTH COMPOSITE PERFORMANCE (%) AS OF 30 SEPTEMBER 2021 3Q 2021 YTD 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years Since Inception (7/1/2006) All Cap Growth (Gross) -2.19 11.62 22.53 19.64 20.07 20.03 15.27 All Cap Growth (Net) -2.31 11.21 21.92 19.04 19.47 19.49 14.70 Russell 3000 Growth Index 0.69 13.49 27.57 21.27 22.30 19.40 13.15 S&P 500 Index 0.58 15.92 30.00 15.99 16.90 16.63 10.58 Past performance is no guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee that the investment objective will be realized or that the strategy will generate positive or excess return. Data Source: Loomis Sayles and the Frank Russell (News - Alert) Company. The benchmark for the Large Cap Growth Composite is the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Performance for the S&P 500 Index is shown as supplemental information. The benchmark for the All Cap Growth Composite is the Russell 3000 Growth Index. Performance for the S&P 500 Index is shown as supplemental information. Returns for multi-year periods are annualized. Indices are unmanaged and do not incur fees. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Returns may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Performance data shown represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than quoted. Returns are shown in US dollars and are annualized for one and multi-year periods. Gross returns are net of trading costs. Net returns are gross returns less effective management fees. For most recent month-end performance, visit www.loomissayles.com. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.("Loomis Sayles") is an independent advisory firm registered under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. For additional information on this and other Loomis Sayles strategies, please visit our website at www.loomissayles.com. About Risk Equity securities are volatile and can decline significantly in response to broad market and economic conditions. Foreign and emerging market securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit, currency and information risks. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than US securities due to varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Investments in small and mid-size companies can be more volatile than those of larger companies. Growth stocks may be more sensitive to market conditions than other equities as their prices strongly reflect future expectations. Currency exchange rates between the US dollar and foreign currencies may cause the value of the fund's investments to decline. 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 integrated 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). *Total strategy assets include all assets managed by the respective team. **Includes the assets of Loomis, Sayles & Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company, LP. ABOUT NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS Natixis Investment Managers' multi-affiliate approach connects clients to the independent thinking and focused expertise of more than 20 active managers. Ranked among the world's largest asset managers1 with more than $1.4 trillion assets under management2 (1,182.5 billion), Natixis Investment Managers delivers a diverse range of solutions across asset classes, styles, and vehicles. The firm is dedicated to advancing sustainable finance and developing innovative Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) products. Natixis Investment Managers consults and partners with its clients and offers insight on markets and assumptions to better align strategies with long-term goals. Headquartered in Paris and Boston, Natixis Investment Managers is wholly-owned by Natixis. Natixis is a subsidiary of BPCE, the second-largest banking group in France. Natixis Investment Managers' affiliated investment management firms include AEW; Alliance Entreprendre; AlphaSimplex Group; DNCA Investments;3 Dorval Asset Management; Flexstone Partners; Gateway (News - Alert) Investment Advisers; Harris Associates; Investors Mutual Limited; Loomis, Sayles & Company; Mirova; MV Credit; Naxicap Partners; Ossiam; Ostrum Asset Management; Seeyond; Seventure Partners; Thematics Asset Management; Vauban Infrastructure Partners; Vaughan Nelson Investment Management; and WCM Investment Management. Additionally, investment solutions are offered through Natixis Investment Managers Solutions and Natixis Advisors, LLC. Not all offerings available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers' website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn (News - Alert): linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers. Natixis Investment Managers' distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, LLC, a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various U.S. registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia. 1 Cerulli Quantitative Update: Global Markets 2021 ranked Natixis Investment Managers as the 15th largest asset manager in the world based on assets under management as of December 31, 2020. 2 Assets under management ("AUM") as of June 30, 2021 is $1,402.5 billion. AUM, as reported, may include notional assets, assets serviced, gross assets, assets of minority-owned affiliated entities and other types of non-regulatory AUM managed or serviced by firms affiliated with Natixis Investment Manager. Excluding H2O Asset Management. 3 A brand of DNCA Finance. Before investing, consider the fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please visit www.loomissayles.com or call 800-633-3330 for a prospectus and a summary prospectus, if available, containing this and other information. Read it carefully. Natixis Distribution LLC (fund distributor FINRA|SIPC) and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. are affiliated. MALR027978 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006284/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Immunomic Therapeutics Presents Clinical Data From ATTAC Studies in GBM at the 2021 Society for Neurology (SNO) Annual Meeting

Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. ('ITI'), a privately-held clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the study of nucleic acid immunotherapy platforms, today announced that Kristen Batich, MD, Ph.D. and a team from Duke University School of Medicine will present clinical data at the 2021 Society for Neurology (SNO) Annual Meeting being held in Boston, MA, November 18-21st, 2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006286/en/ The data to be presented at the SNO meeting are from three sequential clinical trials utilizing Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific dendritic cell vaccines that encode the chimeric CMV protein LAMP-pp65 in patients with primary Glioblastoma. The patients were given serial vaccination through adjuvant temozolomide cycles. The Phase II ATTAC study (NCT00639639) led to an expanded cohort trial (ATTAC-GM: NCT00693639) resulting in positive immunologic and clinical response. The larger confirmatory trial, ELEVATE (NCT02366728), revealed significantly longer overall survival (OS) in patients randomized to LAMP pp65 RNA loaded DC vaccines combined with tetanus-diphtheria booster. The results demonstrate that a CMV pp65-LAMP RNA-pulsed dendritic cell vaccination was associated with positive immunologic and clinical response in patients with glioblastoma (GBM). "The clinical data to be presented demonstrates the potential impact of our UNITE technology platform, powered by LAMP, and will help validate our therapeutic approach utilizing vaccines to treat difficult cancers like glioblastoma," said Dr. Teri Heiland, Chief Scientific Officer of Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. "We are encouraged by the immunological response shown with this patient goup and we look forward to Dr. Batich's presentation of these positive findings at the SNO meeting."



Abstract Session: Clinical Trials I Title: Reproducibility of clinical trials using CMV-targeted dendritic cell vaccines in patients with glioblastoma

Category: CTIM-10

Date and Time: Friday, November 19, 2021 4:45 PM - 4:50 PM EST

Location: Ballroom C, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA

Presenter: Kristen A. Batich, MD, PhD

Duke University Medical Center

Durham, United States About ITI-1000 and the Phase 2 (ATTAC-II) Study ITI-1000 is an investigational dendritic cell vaccine therapy currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial (ATTAC-II) for the treatment of GBM. ITI-1000 was developed using Immunomic's proprietary investigational lysosomal targeting technology, UNITE, in the context of cell therapy. In May 2017, Immunomic exclusively licensed a patent portfolio from Annias Immunotherapeutics for use in combination with UNITE and ITI-1000, allowing Immunomic to combine UNITE with a patented and proprietary CMV immunotherapy platform. The ATTAC-II study (NCT02465268) is a Phase II randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolling patients with newly diagnosed GBM that will explore whether dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, including ITI-1000, targeting the CMV antigen pp65 improve survival. This study is enrolling up to 120 subjects at 3 clinical sites in the United States. For more information on the ATTAC-II study, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov. About UNITE ITI's investigational UNITE platform, or UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression, works by fusing pathogenic antigens with the Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein 1 (LAMP-1), an endogenous protein in humans, for immune processing. In this way, ITI's vaccines (DNA or RNA) have the potential to utilize the body's natural biochemistry to develop a broad immune response including antibody production, cytokine release and critical immunological memory. This approach puts UNITE technology at the crossroads of immunotherapies in a number of illnesses, including cancer, allergy and infectious diseases. UNITE is currently being employed in a Phase II clinical trial as a cancer immunotherapy. ITI is also collaborating with academic centers and biotechnology companies to study the use of UNITE in cancer types of high mortality, including cases where there are limited treatment options like glioblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia. ITI believes that these early clinical studies may provide a proof of concept for UNITE therapy in cancer, and if successful, set the stage for future studies, including combinations in these tumor types and others. Preclinical data is currently being developed to explore whether LAMP-1 nucleic acid constructs may amplify and activate the immune response in highly immunogenic tumor types and be used to create immune responses to tumor types that otherwise do not provoke an immune response. About Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI) is a privately held, clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of vaccines through its investigational proprietary technology platform, UNiversal Intracellular Targeted Expression (UNITE), which is designed to utilize the body's natural biochemistry to develop vaccines that have the potential to generate broad immune responses. The UNITE platform has a robust history of applications in various therapeutic areas, including infectious diseases, oncology, allergy and autoimmune diseases. ITI is primarily focused on applying the UNITE platform to oncology, where it could potentially have broad applications, including targeting viral antigens, cancer antigens, and producing antigen-derived antibodies as biologics. In 2020, an investment of over $77M by HLB Co., LTD, a global pharmaceutical company, enabled ITI to accelerate application of its immuno-oncology platform, in particular to glioblastoma multiforme, and rapidly advance other key candidates in the pipeline. The Company has built a pipeline from UNITE with four wholly owned oncology programs, the lead of which is in a Phase 2 clinical study for Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). ITI has formed several academic collaborations with leading Immuno-oncology researchers at Duke University and the University of Florida. ITI maintains its headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.immunomix.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006286/en/

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The Chartis Center for Rural Health Celebrates Performance Leadership on National Rural Health Day

On National Rural Health Day, The Chartis Center for Rural Health today joined the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) in announcing the 2021 Performance Leadership Award recipients. Presented annually, this award program recognizes top quartile performance among rural hospitals in quality, outcomes or patient perspective.

"We are proud to mark this year's National Rural Health Day by recognizing rural hospitals' steadfast commitment to serving their communities and delivering high quality care," said Michael Topchik, National Leader, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. "In the face of tremendous challenges, these top quartile performers continue to exemplify the power of rural and create a blueprint for excellence in quality, outcomes and patint perspectives."







The Performance Leadership Awards utilize the results of the Hospital Strength INDEX, the industry's most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. INDEX data is trusted by rural hospitals, health systems with rural footprints, hospital associations and state offices of rural health across the country to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.

The complete list of recipients is available for all three award categories (Quality, Outcomes and Patient Perspective) HERE.

About The Chartis Group

The Chartis Group (Chartis) provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the healthcare industry. It brings critical thinking and deep industry experience paired with cutting-edge data, analytics, and technology to deliver #NextIntelligence. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, health analytics, informatics and technology, digital and emerging technologies, clinical quality and operations, and strategic communications, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children's hospitals, and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results and build a healthier world. Chartis has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.chartis.com.

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[November 18, 2021] The Westaim Corporation Reports 2021 Third Quarter Results

The Westaim Corporation ("Westaim" or the "Company") (TSXV: WED) today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Westaim recorded a net profit of $1.6 million ($0.01 earnings per diluted share) and a net profit of $21.6 million ($0.15 earnings per diluted share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to a net profit of $0.6 million ($0.00 earnings per diluted share) and a net loss of $20.0 million ($0.14 loss per diluted share) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. Westaim's adjusted earnings, excluding unusual items, was a net profit of $1.6 million ($0.01 earnings per diluted share) and a net profit of $22.3 million ($0.16 earnings per diluted share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively, compared to a net profit of $0.9 million ($0.01 earnings per diluted share) and a net profit of $0.1 million ($0.01 loss per diluted share) in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively. At September 30, 2021, Westaim's consolidated shareholders' equity was $342.1 million and the Company had 143,186,718 common shares ("Common Shares") outstanding. Book value per fully diluted share was $2.39 (C$3.02) at September 30, 2021, compared to $2.24 (C$2.85) at December 31, 2020, an increase of 6.7% YTD 2021. Key Results for the three months ended September 30, 2021 include: Skyward Specialty: Skyward Specialty reported net income of $7.7 million in Q3 2021 compared to $6.4 million in Q3 2020 (excluding unusual items, $6.7 million in Q3 2020). Westaim recorded net income from its share of Skyward Specialty of $3.0 million in the quarter compared to $3.3 million in Q3 2020. Q3 2021 catastrophe losses ("CAT") impacted the underwriting performance measured by a combined ratio of 96.4% in Q3 2021 compared to 95.9% in Q3 2020. Underwriting result improvements, primarily from strategic actions taken over the past year to re-underwrite the portfolio and improved industry market conditions, are reflected in the combined ratio excluding CATs of 91.6% in Q3 2021 compared to 92.6% in Q3 2020. Skyward Specialty's investment income continued to deliver consistent results in Q3 2021 at $6.8 million compared to $5.8 million in Q3 2020. The year-to-date result from investment income is notable at $32.4 million in 2021 compared to $1.5 million in 2020. Arena FINCOs: Arena FINCOs recorded a net loss of $0.8 million (-0.4% net return) for Q3 2021 compared to net income of $0.4 million (+0.2% net return) in Q3 2020. The year-to-date net income is $9.3 million (+5.8%) compared to a net loss in 2020 of $1.6 million (-0.9%). The Arena FINCOs were able to stay fully invested in attractive investments by utilizing available credit facilities to minimize cash balances and increase invested assets to $229.7 million from $212.6 million at Q2 2021 and $180.3 million at Q4 2020. Arena Investors: Arena Investors' net income was $2.0 million in Q3 2021 versus a loss of $0.7 million in Q3 2020. Westaim recorded its share of net income from Arena Investors of $1.0 million in the quarter compared to a net loss of $0.3 million in Q3 2020. Committed assets under management ("AUM") at September 30, 2021 of $2.6 billion was an increase from $2.0 billion at December 31, 2020. The increase in net income was primarily the result of an 76% increase in revenue in the quarter over the prior year due to stronger incentive fees from higher returns in the managed funds and stronger management and servicing fees from an increase in fee-paying AUM compared to Q3 2020. Fee-paying AUM at September 30, 2021 was $2.0 billion compared to $1.2 billion at September 30, 2020. "We are pleased to report continued quarterly earnings by following our strong performance in the first two quarters of 2021. We are supporting the continued strategic actions that the management teams at Skyward Specialty and Arena Investors are executing on." said Cameron MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Westaim. "With respect to Skyward Specialty, we are very encouraged by the growth and profitability of the continuing businesses, which excludes businesses exited by the company as its portfolio was repositioned over the past year. For example, 94% of Q3 2021 net written premium was related to continuing businesses and grew 43% over the prior year. We believe, these metrics are leading indicators of future margin expansion given the earnings profile of continuing businesses compared to those discontinued over the past year." "With respect to Arena FINCOs, investment income for Q3 2021 was solid, partially offset by unrealized investment losses in the quarter, a small retracement from substantial investment gains in the first half of the year. YTD 2021 performance continues to be strong, and with proper financing now in place, we are very comfortable with the positioning of the FINCOs portfolio as we move into Q4 2021 and 2022." "With respect to Arena Investors, the AUM pipeline remains strong with several product offerings marketing to a well diversified base of sophisticated investors from all constituents - insurance companies, pension funds, endowment funds, foundations and other investors - which combined with strong investment performance is key for Arena Investors to demonstrate operating leverage as the business grows." "We are encouraged by the positive business momentum and pipeline of opportunities at Skyward Specialty, Arena FINCOs and Arena Investors to continue to enhance shareholder value." Cameron MacDonald continued with comments about activity at Westaim, "As noted with our Q2 results release Westaim was approved to repurchase, on an opportunistic basis, up to 10% of the public float at the commencement of the NCIB (11,331,704 Common Shares). Following the close of the third quarter, Westaim repurchased and cancelled 500,000 Common Shares for approximately $1 million." "Finally, as in past quarters, details from each of Skyward Specialty, Arena FINCOs and Arena Investors are included for Westaim's shareholders' review in the Q3 2021 "Investor Presentation" posted on our website. I look forward to presenting the 2021 full year results to shareholders with our expected results release on March 24, 2022." This press release should be read in conjunction with Westaim's unaudited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 which were filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These documents and the Company's Q3 2021 Investor Presentation can be found and on the Company's website at www.westaim.com. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Westaim uses both International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and non-generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP") measures to assess performance. The Company cautions readers about non-GAAP measures that do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Book value per share, adjusted profit and comprehensive income excluding unusual items, and adjusted earnings per share - diluted are non-GAAP measures. Readers are urged to review Section 15 Non-GAAP Measures in Westaim's Management's Discussion and Analysis in respect of its audited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (the "MD&A") for additional disclosure regarding these measures. The financial information relating to Skyward Specialty, Arena Investors and Arena FINCOs contained in the MD&A is unaudited and has been derived from the financial statements of the related entities. Readers are cautioned that the Skyward Specialty financial information and certain Arena Investors and Arena FINCO financial information, including any non-GAAP measures contained therein, has not been reconciled to IFRS and so may not be comparable to the financial information of issuers that present their financial information in accordance with IFRS. About Westaim Westaim is a Canadian investment company specializing in providing long-term capital to businesses operating primarily within the global financial services industry. The Company invests, directly and indirectly, through acquisitions, joint ventures and other arrangements, with the objective of providing its shareholders with capital appreciation and real wealth preservation. Westaim's strategy is to pursue investment opportunities with a focus towards the financial services industry and grow shareholder value over the long term. Westaim's investments include significant interests in Skyward Specialty, Arena Investors and Arena FINCOs. Skyward Specialty, the HIIG Partnership, Arena FINCOs, and Arena Investors are defined in the notes to Westaim's unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the MD&A. Westaim's Common Shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol WED. For more information, contact:

J. Cameron MacDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer or

Robert T. Kittel, Chief Operating Officer

The Westaim Corporation

[email protected]

(416)969-3333 The Westaim Corporation

Financial Highlights

(millions of U.S. dollars except share and per share data)







Highlights Three months ended September 30 Nine months ended September 30 2021 2020 2021 2020 Revenue and net change in unrealized value of investments $ 3.8 $ 4.0 $ 27.0 $ (16.1) Net expenses (2.2) (3.4) (5.4) (3.8) Income tax expense - - - (0.1) GAAP profit (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) $ 1.6 $ 0.6 $ 21.6 $ (20.0) Adjusted profit and comprehensive income excluding unusual items1 $ 1.6 $ 0.9 $ 22.3 $ 0.1 GAAP earnings (loss) per share - basic and diluted $ 0.01 $ 0.00 $ 0.15 $ (0.14) Adjusted earnings (loss) per share - diluted1 $ 0.01 $ 0.01 $ 0.16 $ (0.01)

September 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Assets Cash $ 8.7 $ 8.7 Income tax receivable 0.1 0.1 Other assets 0.6 1.6 Investments 388.1 366.9 $ 397.5 $ 377.3 Liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 12.7 $ 11.0 Income tax payable - 0.3 Preferred securities 39.5 39.2 Derivative warrant liability 0.6 1.0 Site restoration provision 2.2 4.9 Deferred tax liability 0.4 0.4 55.4 56.8 Shareholders' equity 342.1 320.5 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 397.5 $ 377.3 Number of common shares outstanding2 143,186,718 143,186,718 Book value per fully diluted share - in US$1 $ 2.39 $ 2.24 Book value per fully diluted share - in C$1 $ 3.02 $ 2.85 1 Non-GAAP measure. See Section 15, Non-GAAP Measures of the MD&A for a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS figures.

2 At September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, an aggregate of 3,034,261 RSUs, 10,428,337 stock options and 14,285,715 warrants were also outstanding. Details regarding these RSUs, stock options and warrants are disclosed in the Company's public filings including its quarterly and annual financial statements which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Period end exchange rates: 1.26585 at September 30, 2021 and 1.27395 at December 31, 2020. Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, information in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements that involve various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors are "forward-looking statements". There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers of this press release are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these "forward-looking statements". Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Westaim expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The information provided herein does not constitute an offer or solicitation regarding any investment products offered by Arena Investors. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118006349/en/

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[November 18, 2021] RADIOMEDIX AWARDED $2.0 M NCI SBIR DIRECT-TO-PHASE II GRANT TO DEVELOP DRUG FOR TARGETED ALPHA-EMITTER THERAPY

Houston, TX, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RadioMedix, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing radiotheranostic drugs, announced that it has been awarded a $2.0M Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Cancer Institute at the US National Institutes of Health. The grant supports Phase I/II clinical development of innovative alpha-emitter labeled peptide, AlphaMedixTM, for therapy of somatostatin receptor-positive neuroendocrine tumors. RadioMedix successfully completed Phase I and Phase II NCI SBIR Contracts focused on the dose-escalation and safety studies of AlphaMedix in PRRT-naive neuroendocrine patients. The Phase II SBIR funding will be used to evaluate the additional safety and efficacy of this investigational drug and expanded clinical indications of AlphaMedix. These clinical studies are done in collaboration with our business partner, Orano Med. We witness the groundbreaking advances in nuclear medicine and targeted radiotherapy. RadioMedix is part of this movement and we have a strong commitment to introduce a new pipeline of alpha-emitter labeled drugs to the clinic, said RadioMedix CSO, Izabela Tworowska, Ph.D. and Principal Investigator of the grant. We would like to thank NCI SBIR for selection of this project for funding and continuation of their support of the targeted alpha-emitter therapy, added Dr. Tworowska. The NCI SBIR funding will have a significant impact on the accelerationof the clinical studies of AlphaMedix and commercialization of this investigational drug", said Ebrahim S Delpassand, MD, CEO of RadioMedix. We are seeking additional funding from investors and venture capital firms to accelerate clinical development of our platform of alpha-emitter labeled drugs. We firmly believe that targeted alpha-emitter therapy will be a game-changer in responding to numerous unmet needs in oncology, added Dr. Delpassand.



ABOUT RADIOMEDIX RadioMedix, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, based in Houston and Humble, Texas, focused on innovative targeted radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of cancer. The company is developing radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and therapy (alpha- and beta-labeled agents). RadioMedix established contract service facilities for academic and industrial partners including Drug discovery center for the early probe development, a Pre-clinical core facility for in vitro and in vivo evaluation of radiopharmaceuticals, cGMP and analytical suite for Phase I-III clinical trials, and the large scale post-approval commercial manufacturing facility, the Spica Center. To learn more, visit www.radiomedix.com.

ABOUT NCI SBIR The SBIR/STTR program is one of the nations largest sources of financing for technology innovation. The National Cancer Institutes SBIR Development Center provides funding, mentoring, and networking assistance to small businesses developing innovative cancer technologies. To learn more, visit https://sbir.cancer.gov . Research reported in this press release will be supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44CA265421. The content is solely the responsibility of RadioMedix and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Izabela Tworowska, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer RADIOMEDIX, Inc. 9701 Richmond Ave., suite 222 Houston, TX 77042 [email protected]

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[November 18, 2021] OneConnect Announces Third Quarter 2021 Unaudited Financial Results

OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. ("OneConnect" or the "Company") (NYSE: OCFT), a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights Revenue increased 20.8% year over year to RMB 1,065 million from RMB 881 million for the same period last year.

Gross margin was 35.5%, as compared to 42.7% for the same period last year; non-IFRS gross margin 1 was 42.2%, as compared to 51.2% for the same period last year.

was 42.2%, as compared to 51.2% for the same period last year. Operating margin was -26.6%, as compared to -28.4% for the same period last year.

Net loss attributable to shareholders was RMB 270 million, as compared to RMB 243 million for the same period last year.

Net loss per share, basic and diluted, was RMB 0.24, as compared to RMB 0.23 for the same period last year.







In RMB'000, except percentages and per share amounts Three Months Ended

Sept 30 YoY

Change Nine Months Ended

Sept 30 YoY

Change 2021 2020 2021 2020 Revenue Revenue from Ping An Group 600,998 491,023 22.4% 1,601,298 1,110,841 44.2% Revenue from Lufax 112,562 88,083 27.8% 277,200 266,657 4.0% Revenue from third-party customers2 351,021 302,341 16.1% 973,594 859,066 13.3% Total 1,064,581 881,447 20.8% 2,852,092 2,236,564 27.5% Gross profit 378,359 375,968 986,516 875,086 Gross margin 35.5% 42.7% 34.6% 39.1% Non-IFRS gross margin1 42.2% 51.2% 42.6% 48.6% Operating loss -283,078 -250,471 -1,024,567 -1,056,489 Operating margin -26.6% -28.4% -35.9% -47.2% Net loss to shareholders -269,658 -243,025 -923,340 -988,686 Net loss per share, basic and diluted -0.24 -0.23 -0.83 -0.94 Net loss ratio -25.3% -27.6% -32.4% -44.2%

1 For more details on this non-IFRS financial measure, please see the section entitled "Use of Unaudited Non-IFRS Financial Measures" and the table captioned "Reconciliations of IFRS and Non-IFRS Results (Unaudited)" set forth at the end of this press release. 2 Third-party customers refer to customers with revenue contribution of less than 5% of total. These customers are a key focus of the Company's diversification strategy. 3 Some numbers do not add up due to rounding. Chairman and CFO Comments "We achieved a solid result this quarter. Our revenue grew steadily, rose by 20.8% year over year to RMB 1,065 million. As we continued to deepen our relationships with customers, it is encouraging seeing early signs of 3rd party revenue starting to pick up. For example, third-party customers' revenue growth rate rose by 16.1% year-over-year to RMB 351 million in the third quarter. In the third quarter, the number of premium customer reached 601, rose by 29.5%, exceeding that in 2020 full year. Again, benefiting from our customer relationships deepen strategy, we are delighted to see the number of premium plus customers1 reached 150, rose by 24.0%, close to that in 2020 full year. The strong growth momentum of the numbers of premium and premium plus customers, demonstrated customer acknowledgement and market recognition of our products." said Ye Wangchun, chairman of OneConnect. "As we announced on OCFT's investor open day in September, we have now entered our second stage development, where we focus on strengthening products integration, deepening relationships with customers, and empowering other participants within our ecosystem. We firmly believe this will fuel the long term growth of our company." "We are delighted to see the progress in the third quarter in terms of a significantly broader base of solutions and customers," commented CFO Luo Yongtao. "While gross margin 35.5% held slightly better sequentially to the second quarter. With the scale and cost discipline, net loss ratio further narrowed, from 27.6% to 25.3% year over year in the quarter. 1 Premium plus customers refer to our customers that contribute annual revenue of at least RMB1 million, excluding Ping An Group and its subsidiaries, Lufax & phased out products. Revenue Breakdown In RMB'000, except percentages Three Months Ended

Sept 30 YoY

Change Nine Months Ended

Sept 30 YoY

Change 2021 2020 2021 2020 Implementation revenue 189,003 217,151 -13.0% 517,026 572,435 -9.7% Transaction-based and support revenue Business origination services 114,662 130,245 -12.0% 350,912 457,407 -23.3% Risk management services 112,585 95,239 18.2% 317,562 249,676 27.2% Operation support services 280,196 314,415 -10.9% 766,912 766,547 0.0% Cloud services platform 302,936 97,229 211.6% 745,496 123,819 502.1% Post-implementation support services 8,953 15,148 -40.9% 33,629 35,072 -4.1% Others 56,246 12,020 367.9% 120,555 31,608 281.4% Total 875,578 664,296 31.8% 2,335,066 1,664,129 40.3% Total 1,064,581 881,447 20.8% 2,852,092 2,236,564 27.5% Revenue for the third quarter of 2021 increased year over year by 20.8% to RMB 1,065 million from RMB 881 million and revenue of nine months ended Sept 30 increased year over year by 27.5% to RMB 2,852 million from RMB 2,237 million. Among our various solutions, the cloud services platform was the biggest driver of our revenue increase. Launched last year, cloud service platform now made up 28.5% of our total revenue in the quarter. Another major contributor of our revenue increase was revenue from risk management services, which increased 18.2% year over year to RMB 113 million from RMB 95 million, reflecting the growth of solutions. However, revenue from business origination services decreased to RMB 115 million from RMB 130 million, due to change of operating environment and product optimization. Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results Revenue Revenue for the third quarter of 2021 increased year over year by 20.8% to RMB 1,065 million from RMB 881 million and revenue of nine months ended Sept 30 increased year over year by 27.5% to RMB 2,852 million from RMB 2,237 million, mainly driven by cloud services platform and risk management services. Cost of Revenue Cost of revenue amounted to RMB 686 million, as compared to RMB 505 million for the same period last year, mainly attributable to an increase in technology service expenses related to the cloud services platform. Gross Profit Gross profit increased by 0.6% to RMB 378 million from RMB 376 million for the same period last year. Gross margin fell to 35.5% from 42.7%, following changes in the mix of solutions. Non-IFRS gross margin decreased year over year to 42.2% from 51.2% for the same reason. For a reconciliation of the Company's non-IFRS gross margin to IFRS gross margin, its most comparable IFRS measure, please refer to "Reconciliation of IFRS and Non-IFRS Results (Unaudited)." Operating Expenses and Loss from Operations Total operating expenses amounted to RMB 642 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to RMB 663 million for the same period last year. As a percentage of revenue, total operating expenses decreased to 60.3% from 75.3%. Research and Development expenses amounted to RMB 323 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to RMB 296 million for the same period last year, reflecting expenses relating to supporting the development of new solutions. As a percentage of revenue, R&D expenses decreased year over year to 30.4% from 33.5%. Selling and Marketing expenses amounted to RMB 131 million in the third quarter of 2021, as compared to RMB 154 million for the same period last year, primarily due to reduced spending on telecommunication and advertising. As a percentage of revenue, selling and marketing expenses decreased year over year to 12.3%, as compared to 17.5% previously. General and Administrative expenses amounted to RMB 170 million, as compared to RMB 201 million for the same period last year, reflecting consistent management resource optimization. As a percentage of revenue, general and administrative expenses decreased to 15.9% from 22.7%. Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2021 amounted to RMB 283 million, as compared to RMB 250 million for the same period last year. Operating loss margin was 26.6%, as compared to 28.4% for the same period last year. Net Loss Net loss attributable to OneConnect's shareholders amounted to RMB 270 million, as compared to RMB 243 million for the same period last year. Net loss attributable to OneConnect's shareholders per basic and diluted share amounted to RMB 0.24, as compared to RMB 0.23 for the same period last year. For the quarter ended September 30, 2021, the Company's weighted average number of shares used in calculating per share net loss was 1,109,081,051. The number of outstanding shares as of September 30, 2021 was 1,169,980,653. Cash Flow As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB 1,894 million and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB 1,361 million. For the quarter ended September 30, 2021, net cash generated in operating activities was RMB 333 million. Net cash generated in investing activities was RMB 657 million, mainly due to the purchase of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. Net cash used in financing activities was RMB 20 million. Conference Call Information Date/Time Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 9:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time Friday, November 19, 2021 at 9:00 a.m., Beijing Time Online registration http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/7195680 An archived recording and the transcript of the conference call will be available at OneConnect's investor relations website at ir.ocft.com. About OneConnect OneConnect Financial Technology Co. Ltd. is a technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions. The Company integrates extensive financial services industry expertise with market-leading technology to provide technology applications and technology-enabled business services to financial institutions. The integrated solutions and platform the Company provides include digital retail banking solution, digital commercial banking solution, digital insurance solution and Gamma Platform, which is a technology infrastructural platform for financial institutions. The Company's solutions enable its customers' digital transformations, which help them improve efficiency, enhance service quality, and reduce costs and risks. The Company has established long-term cooperation relationships with financial institutions to address their needs of digital transformation. The Company has also expanded its services to other participants in the value chain to support the digital transformation of financial services eco-system. In addition, the Company has successfully exported its technology solutions to overseas financial institutions. For more information, please visit ir.ocft.com. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "confident" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's limited operating history in the technology-as-a-service for financial institutions industry; its ability to achieve or sustain profitability; the tightening of laws, regulations or standards in the financial services industry; the Company's ability to comply with the evolving regulatory requirements in the PRC and other jurisdictions where it operates; its ability to comply with existing or future laws and regulations related to data protection or data security; its ability to maintain and enlarge the customer base or strengthen customer engagement; its ability to maintain its relationship with Ping An Group, which is its strategic partner, most important customer and largest supplier; its ability to compete effectively to serve China's financial institutions; the effectiveness of its technologies, its ability to maintain and improve technology infrastructure and security measures; its ability to protect its intellectual property and proprietary rights; risks of defaults by borrowers under the loans for which the Company provided credit enhancement under its legacy credit management business; its ability to maintain or expand relationship with its business partners and the failure of its partners to perform in accordance with expectations; its ability to protect or promote its brand and reputation; its ability to timely implement and deploy its solutions; its ability to obtain additional capital when desired; litigation and negative publicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the U.S.; disruptions in the financial markets and business and economic conditions; the Company's ability to pursue and achieve optimal results from acquisition or expansion opportunities; the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the emergence of COVID variants, and its potential impact on the Company's business and financial performance; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. Use of Unaudited Non-IFRS Financial Measures The unaudited consolidated financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Non-IFRS measures are used in gross profit and gross margin, adjusted to exclude non-cash items, which consist of amortization of intangible assets recognized in cost of revenue, depreciation of property and equipment recognized in cost of revenue, and share-based compensation expenses recognized in cost of revenue. OneConnect's management regularly review non-IFRS gross profit and non-IFRS gross margin to assess the performance of our business. By excluding non-cash items, these financial metrics allow OneConnect's management to evaluate the cash conversion of one dollar revenue on gross profit. OneConnect uses these non-IFRS financial to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. OneConnect believes that non-IFRS financial information, when taken collectively, is helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance, facilitates period-to-period comparisons of results of operations, and assists in comparisons with other companies, many of which use similar financial information. OneConnect also believes that presentation of the non-IFRS financial measures provides useful information to its investors regarding its results of operations because it allows investors greater transparency to the information used by OneConnect's management in its financial and operational decision making so that investors can see through the eyes of OneConnect's management regarding important financial metrics that the management uses to run the business as well as allowing investors to better understand OneConnect's performance. However, non-IFRS financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with IFRS and may be different from similarly-titled non-IFRS measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider non-IFRS financial measure in isolation from or as an alternative to the financial measure prepared in accordance with IFRS. Whenever OneConnect uses a non-IFRS financial measure, a reconciliation is provided to the most closely applicable financial measure stated in accordance with IFRS. You are encouraged to review the related IFRS financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-IFRS financial measures to their most directly comparable IFRS financial measures. For more information on non-IFRS financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of IFRS and non-IFRS results (Unaudited)" set forth at the end of this press release. ONECONNECT CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) Three Months Ended

Sept 30 Nine Months Ended

Sept 30 2021 2020 2021 2020 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 Revenue 1,064,581 881,447 2,852,092 2,236,564 Cost of revenue -686,222 -505,479 -1,865,576 -1,361,478 Gross profit 378,359 375,968 986,516 875,086 Research and development expenses -323,328 -295,552 -963,298 -824,067 Selling and marketing expenses -130,658 -154,043 -423,381 -475,081 General and administrative expenses -169,763 -200,509 -561,404 -587,267 Net impairment losses on financial and contract assets -18,374 -13,251 -63,274 -71,398 Other income, gains or loss-net -19,314 36,916 274 26,238 Operating loss -283,078 -250,471 -1,024,567 -1,056,489 Finance income 2,866 17,973 25,924 59,967 Finance costs -17,402 -33,337 -62,003 -117,751 Finance costs - net -14,536 -15,364 -36,079 -57,784 Share of losses of associate and joint venture 770 -1,254 10,832 -6,480 Loss before income tax -296,844 -267,089 -1,049,814 -1,120,753 Income tax benefit 26,870 18,267 82,470 93,515 Loss for the period -269,974 -248,822 -967,344 -1,027,238 Loss attributable to: - Owners of the Company -269,658 -243,025 -923,340 -988,686 - Non-controlling interests -316 -5,797 -44,004 -38,552 Other comprehensive income, net of tax Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss - Foreign currency translation differences 22,821 -325,549 -47,764 -212,895 - Changes in the fair value of debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income 0 4 1 -36 Total comprehensive loss for the period -247,153 -574,367 -1,015,107 -1,240,169 Total comprehensive loss attributable to: - Owners of the Company -246,837 -568,570 -971,103 -1,201,617 - Non-controlling interests -316 -5,797 -44,004 -38,552 Loss per share attributable to owners of the Company (expressed in RMB per share) - Basic and diluted -0.24 -0.23 -0.83 -0.94 ONECONNECT CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Sept 30 December 31 2021

(Unaudited) 2020

(Audited) RMB'000 RMB'000 ASSETS Non-current assets Property and equipment 243,273 224,284 Intangible assets 745,617 917,063 Deferred tax assets 656,136 564,562 Financial assets measured at amortized cost from banking operations 424,739 25,283 Investments accounted for using the equity method 186,236 175,733 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income 21,659 21,828 Contract assets 1,816 16,788 Total non-current assets 2,279,476 1,945,541 Current assets Trade receivables 1,377,393 838,690 Contract assets 311,740 257,830 Prepayments and other receivables 768,551 443,328 Financial assets measured at amortized cost from banking operations 574,528 576,305 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 1,361,436 1,487,871 Restricted cash 1,276,959 2,280,499 Cash and cash equivalents 1,893,693 3,055,194 Total current assets 7,564,300 8,939,717 Total assets 9,843,776 10,885,258 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Equity Share capital 78 78 Shares held for share option scheme -80,600 -87,714 Other reserves 10,608,658 10,639,931 Accumulated losses -6,280,266 -5,356,926 Equity attributable to equity owners of the Company 4,247,870 5,195,369 Non-controlling interests 45,910 89,914 Total equity 4,293,780 5,285,283 LIABILITIES Non-current liabilities Trade and other payables 352,215 395,514 Contract liabilities 22,576 17,683 Deferred tax liabilities 11,376 20,080 Total non-current liabilities 386,167 433,277 Current liabilities Trade and other payables 1,744,921 1,547,781 Payroll and welfare payables 535,866 625,330 Contract liabilities 119,412 138,547 Short-term borrowings 1,182,573 2,283,307 Customer deposits 1,426,992 405,853 Derivative financial liabilities 154,065 165,880 Total current liabilities 5,163,829 5,166,698 Total liabilities 5,549,996 5,599,975 Total equity and liabilities 9,843,776 10,885,258 ONECONNECT CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended

Sept 30 Nine Months Ended

Sept 30 2021 2020 2021 2020 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 Net cash generated from / (used in) operating activities 332,706 -310,618 -895,812 -1,431,703 Net cash generated from / (used in) investing activities 657,160 -527,324 969,587 714,549 Net cash generated from / (used in) financing activities -20,116 2,431,075 -1,223,432 1,758,978 Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 969,750 1,593,133 -1,149,657 1,041,824 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 920,826 535,122 3,055,194 1,077,875 Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 3,117 -47,863 -11,844 -39,307 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period 1,893,693 2,080,392 1,893,693 2,080,392 ONECONNECT RECONCILIATION OF IFRS AND NON-IFRS RESULTS (Unaudited) Three Months Ended

Sept 30 Nine Months Ended

Sept 30 2021 2020 2021 2020 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 RMB'000 Gross profit 378,359 375,968 986,516 875,086 Gross margin 35.5% 42.7% 34.6% 39.1% Non-IFRS adjustment Amortization of intangible assets recognized in cost of revenue 69,496 70,490 226,136 203,198 Depreciation of property and equipment recognized in cost of revenue 1,551 947 2,749 2,673 Share-based compensation expenses recognized in cost of revenue 47 4,020 338 5,335 Non-IFRS gross profit 449,453 451,425 1,215,739 1,086,292 Non-IFRS gross margin 42.2% 51.2% 42.6% 48.6% View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211118005791/en/

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[November 18, 2021] Rapid Robotics Named to Fast Company's First-Ever List of the Next Big Things in Tech

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rapid Robotics , creator of the first ready-to-work robotic machine operator, today announced that it has been named to Fast Companys inaugural Next Big Things in Tech list, honoring the technology breakthroughs that promise to shape the future of their industriesfrom healthcare to agriculture to artificial intelligence and more.

Rapid Robotics was recognized for the Rapid Machine Operator (RMO) , an all-in-one cobot that gives manufacturers an easy and affordable way to automate common machine tasks and solve their labor shortages. Unlike other cobots, the Rapid Machine Operator needs no integration or training and can be up and running in hours. For an OpEx-friendly all-inclusive subscription of $2,100 per month, the RMO performs a wide range of machine-tending tasks out of the box, such as injection molding, pad printing, heat stamping, pick-and-place and dozens of others across sectors including medical devices, electronics, CPG, automotive and more. Each RMO larns new skills through regular free updates and can be easily moved between tasks  no retraining required.



The Rapid Machine Operator is the first viable solution to Americas machine operator crisis, said Jordan Kretchmer, co-founder and CEO of Rapid Robotics. It brings automation within reach of facilities of every size, including ones that never thought they could afford it. It allows them to quickly ramp up production and take on new projects while upskilling existing staff. Its what American manufacturers need to win more business in a global marketplace. The Next Big Things in Tech list, which includes global giants, intrepid startups and research thats fresh from the labs, recognizes 65 technologies that are making waves. While not all of the products, services and technological developments are on the market yet, theyre reaching key milestones in having a positive impact for consumers, businesses and society at large in the next five years.

Fast Company is thrilled to highlight cutting-edge technologies that are solving real-world problems in unexpected ways. From climate change and public health crises to machine learning and security, these technologies will certainly have a profound impact on the future, and were honored to bring attention to them today, says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. Click here to see the final list. The Winter 2021/2022 issue of Fast Company is available online now and will hit newsstands on December 7. About Rapid Robotics Rapid Robotics is the creator of the first affordable robotic machine operator (RMO) designed for simple machine tasks. Available for just $25K a year and requiring absolutely no programming, systems integration, specialized hardware or robotics skills, the Rapid Machine Operator enables manufacturers to easily deploy a pre-trained cobot in hours, moving it between tasks as needed and seeing ROI in months. Rapid Robotics founding team combines robotics and manufacturing expertise with a SaaS business model to deliver affordable solutions to real-world industry problems. Investors include Tiger Global, Kleiner Perkins, NEA, Greycroft, Bee Partners and 468 Capital. Rapid Robotics is based in San Francisco, California. About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com. Media contact

Chris Ulbrich

[email protected]

415 848 9175



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[November 18, 2021] Kalkine Group Opines Abundant Opportunities for Critical Metals

SYDNEY, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Clean Energy Transmission provides a big investment opportunity for Rare and Critical Metals such as uranium, aluminium, rare earth, copper, lithium, and graphite. These metals are geologically rare and economically crucial with wide usage in batteries, electric vehicles, and low emission technologies. Ample Pay-off from Sustainable Investing The bewildering green initiatives by the advanced economies such as whopping US$1.75 trillion investments by the US government (New Jersey Business & Industry Association press release dated October 28, 2021) towards climate change and infrastructure, and EUR 1 trillion by the EU government (World Economic Forum press release dated July 13, 2021) towards the sustainable investment plan are hard-charging the clean energy space. The Australian market showcased ample natural resources with rare earth's share of the glbal output touching high single-digit. The government's big push with $2 billion liquidity support (as per the press release from the Prime Minister of Australia dated 28 September 2021) will lace up the production of critical metals.



The Uranium Frenzy The investor community elated the comeback of nuclear energy with an upswing in the number of nuclear power plants and reactors by developing countries to tackle the surge in demand and supply gaps in the green energy sector during the turbulent pandemic time.

Kalkine's recent observation in view of insights and research highlights the increased usage of praseodymium, neodymium, and dysprosium in low emission technologies. Thrilled by offtake from China and Europe, spending on electric vehicles may reach 30% annually by 2030 as per the International Energy Agency. Investments in graphite and lithium metals are expected to be under the limelight with a spurt in consumption by Asia and demand from automakers. Investments in strategic metals and battery materials hit the podium over the broader index. With the zero-emission push by regulators, the government stimulus and spurt in prices of nickel, spodumene, and uranium, the ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index posted returns of astonishing ~75.91% in the past 5 years versus ~39.60% returns by ASX 200 Index during the same period (Source: REFINITIV). S&P Global Clean Energy Index more than tripled in the past 5 years versus just ~13.34% return generated by S&P Global 1200 Index over the same period (Source: REFINITIV). Therefore, there seems to be immense potential through untapped reserves for globally sought-after critical minerals, supporting jobs, economies, and companies operating in the ecosystem across Australia, Europe, and the US. Given this backdrop, Kalkine provides deep research on opportunities around the Strategic Metals and Rare Earth Sector after carefully assessing the global demand and supply scenario, investment themes, company's valuation, technical trends, outlook, and risks, etc. Contact [email protected]

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Right now we consider the real world implications of forgiveness and second chances.

Remember . . .

For years progressive Kansas City politicos have encouraged local biz to hire felons and abandon employment restrictions.

Felony forgiveness is part of a nationwide movement . . .



A reference for the uninitiated offers the premise . . .

Ban the Box is the name of an American campaign by advocates for ex-offenders, aimed at removing the check box that asks if applicants have a criminal record from hiring applications. Its purpose is to enable ex-offenders to display their qualifications in the hiring process before being asked about their criminal records. The premise of the campaign is that anything that makes it harder for ex-offenders to find a job makes it likelier that they will re-offend, which is bad for society.



However, a recent story reveals that the worthwhile goal of reform also comes with challenges.

Check this recent news blast from local justice officials regarding a local concern . . .



Non-profit Agency Operator Indicted for Falsely Claiming to Hire Ex-Cons



KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Kansas City, Missouri, man who operates a non-profit agency has been indicted by a federal grand jury for falsely claiming to employ convicted felons who were on federal court supervised release.



Michael A. Green, 50, was charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Nov. 17.



According to the federal indictment, Green operates Kansas City Community Source, Inc., a non-profit corporation that purports to employ convicted felons after release from incarceration. Various individuals under court-ordered supervision reported KCCS as their employer in order to fulfill their employment obligations. These individuals provided federal probation officers with paystubs purporting to indicate wage earnings from employment at KCCS. The officers subsequently called the phone number provided for KCCS to conduct employment verification. Green told the officers that the various supervisees were in fact employed by KCCS.



KCCS did not in fact employ convicted felons, the indictment alleges. Green allegedly created fictitious employment verification documents, including paystubs, and provided these to individuals under court supervision for a fee. As part of the service provided for this fee, Green allegedly responded to calls and written inquiries from the federal probation officers, and falsely verified the supervisees employment with KCCS.



In addition, the indictment says, Green sold fraudulent documents and identifications, including fraudulent state drivers licenses.



Green is charged with three counts of making false statements to probation officers in relation to three separate individuals, one count of transferring a false identification document (a fraudulent drivers license) and one count of providing false documents to a probation officer.



The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.



This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Blackwood. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.



###

Developing . . .
In this quick TKC collection we take a glimpse at metro crime news, ongoing investigations and then finish with a bit of hope and police community outreach.

Check-it . . .



43-year-old woman dies in November 9 shooting in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department is attempting to locate a 41-year-old man who hasn't been seen in nearly three weeks. Police said Christopher Rahsaan Williams was last seen on Thursday, October 28, leaving a residence near N. 80th Street and Garfield Avenue around 1 p.m.

Olathe School District OKs $295K in case of girl stalked by teacher The Olathe School District secretly agreed earlier this year to pay $295,000 to the family of an elementary student who was stalked by a now-jailed former teacher. Olathe Public Schools finalized the settlement back in May to avoid a lawsuit by the family, but kept the settlement a secret until the Kansas City Star filed an open records request that revealed it.

Police request help locating missing Kansas City, Kansas, man KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department has requested help locating a man who was last seen on Oct. 28. Christopher Williams was last seen Thursday leaving his residence around 1 p.m. at 1903 80th St. in Kansas City, Kansas. Williams is 41 years old, about 5'5" and weighs 170 pounds.

KCK dad, determined to curb school violence, looks to start parent patrol KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- Exactly one week since a student at Schlagle High School stabbed another student with scissors at the start of the school day, leaders in education, law enforcement, mental health and more spilled into a KCK church at the invitation of one dad who wants to make a difference.

Cassidy Rainwater's remains found on accused kidnappers' property, court docs reveal DALLAS COUNTY, Mo.- According to court documents, Cassidy Rainwater's remains have been found on a property belonging to two men accused of kidnapping her and keeping her in a cage. James Phelps and Timothy Norton have been charged with first degree murder. They are also facing charges for abandonment of a corpse.

Police officer becomes driving instructor to help teens get their license One Kansas City, Kansas, police officer is taking community outreach to a whole new level, teaching teens how to drive.The stress of driver's license paperwork is, perhaps, considerably easier than being the passenger and supervisor of teens learning to drive."I've been in a lot of pursuits in my life and yeah, I'm a little nervous but I'll be okay," Officer Joseph Reyes said.

Lee's Summit Author Releases New Crime Book When people think of organized crime, the cities of Chicago, Las Vegas, and New York come to mind, but the state of Missouri has produced a long list of high profile criminals known across the nation. In fact, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie and Clyde, Machine Gun Kelly, and Fred "Killer" Burke-all high on the FBI's most wanted list-had ties to the state.

Developing . . .


The moderate Democratic Party leader steps away from the White House once again and offers a nuanced hot take away from LEGAL FAIL for the Biden Administration.



Here's the word . . .



On Wednesday, she again spoke out against the Biden mandate.



"This is the right decision by OSHA," Kelly said. "As Ive said before, states have been leading the fight against COVID-19  its too late to impose a federal standard, which is why I opposed the Biden Administrations mandate for private businesses."



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

'This is the right decision:' Gov. Kelly said she agrees with OSHA's decision to not enforce vaccine mandate TOPEKA, KS. (KCTV) --- Kansas Gov. Kelly said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's decision to temporarily not enforce the Covid-19 vaccine mandate was the right one. Kelly has expressed her opposition to President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandate for private businesses. On Wednesday, she again spoke out against the Biden mandate.

OSHA suspends implementation of Biden's COVID vaccine mandate until further court order The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has put on hold the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. employers with 100 employees or more, after being told by a court last week that it must do so.

Developing . . .
Big picture, a fact-checking site suffers fierce attacks from conservatives after a glaring mistake . . .

PolitiFact slammed for 'fact-check' on Rittenhouse legally owning gun PolitiFact has been slammed for a "fact-check" that claimed to readers that Kyle Rittenhouse's possession of a firearm was illegal - after the judge presiding over his murder trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, threw out the weapons charge against him.

PolitiFact doubles down on widely mocked 'fact-check' claiming Rittenhouse's possession of weapon wasn't legal PolitiFact doubled down on Tuesday after being roasted for a poorly aged "fact-check" claiming Kyle Rittenhouse's firearm possession was illegal by adding a long-winded explanation declaring the much-criticized piece remains unchanged. Judge Bruce Schroeder, who is overseeing the Rittenhouse murder trial, made headlines on Monday over his decision to throw out the sixth charge against the 18-year-old for having a dangerous weapon as a minor.

Accordingly, and possibly in order to regain their credibility, the site is highlighting more glaringly obvious Internets memes connected to this Cowtown . . . Check-it:

A photo of a Kansas City tourism agency sign purports to show a glaring typo that says 25 million visitors are welcomed anally instead of annually.



The image, which first began appearing on social media in 2018 and is cropping up again, is doctored, according to Visit KC, which shared the original image on Twitter.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .
Here's a comparison that's gaining traction . . .



OUTRAGE OVER THE ANTICS OF 'BANG-BANG' BINGER EVOKES LONGSTANDING FRUSTRATION WITH JACKSON COUNTY'S MEAN JEAN!!!

Here's the word from a top echelon TKC insider . . .



"What I've learned from this trial is that our justice system is far too politicized. In Kenosha there's a clown show underway and in Jackson County we're suffering a years-long feud between the police and the court house. The Rittenhouse trial shows us that voters need to get more involved in local elections get serious about who we put in office . . . What we've got now is a system that's failing because we're electing politicians and not people who really understand the law and its implications . . ."



Further reading via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . .

Rittenhouse defense requests mistrial, alleging prosecution withheld evidence Deliberations in Kyle Rittenhouse's homicide trial continued on Wednesday with a defense request to have charges tossed still looming over the high-profile Wisconsin trial. The case went to jury late Tuesday morning with Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder having not ruled on defense requests for a mistrial with prejudice - to have charges tossed without ability for prosecutors to re-file.

Kyle Rittenhouse lawyers accuse prosecution of withholding crucial drone video Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team is accusing prosecutors of withholding high-quality drone footage of the streets of Wisconsin from last summer that was critical to its case. Jury deliberations continued on Wednesday over Rittenhouse's fate, who faces first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Rittenhouse prosecutor 'very close' to violating 'golden rule' of law, criminal defense attorneys say Prosecutor Thomas Binger was "very close" to violating the "golden rule" of law during the Kyle Rittenhouse trial in Kenosha, , according to criminal defense attorney Ajay Pallegar. The golden rule is when a prosecutor or other party in a criminal defense makes a statement of an emotional nature to the jury, such as: "Put yourself in the victim's shoes."

Rittenhouse prosecutor claims defendant lost "right to self-defense" by bringing gun The lead prosecutor in the Kyle Rittenhouse case argued that the 18-year-old lost the "right to self-defense" by bringing an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to the protests in Kenosha last year. "You lose the right to self-defense when you're the one who brought the gun," assistant district attorney Thomas Binger told the jury in his closing arguments on Monday.

Rittenhouse prosecutor Binger led 'clown show' of firearm fallacies: Dana Loesch Kenosha County attorneys Thomas Binger and James Kraus were figures in a "clown show" of a prosecution against defendant Kyle Rittenhouse, most notably with their overt lack of basic understanding of firearms, gun rights advocate and radio host Dana Loesch said Monday.

You decide . . .
Even the progressive know that a "red wave" is taking hold across the nation and local leaders realize that the SUPER MINORITY PARTY isn't likely to garner much for their constituents from an increasingly hostile Jeff City.



Take a look . . .


Over the past day, the occupiers launched 14 attacks on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in eastern Ukraine.

Over the past day, November 17, 14 ceasefire violations by Russian-occupation troops, including nine with the use of the weapons banned under the Minsk agreements, were recorded, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine informs.

Towards Nevelske (18km north-west of Donetsk), the enemy opened fire from 120mm mortars.

In the area of Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk), the occupiers launched two attacks, using 82mm and 120mm mortars, as well as tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns.

Outside Zolote-4 (59km west of Luhansk), Russian mercenaries launched two attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, using 120mm mortars and tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns.

Near Kriakivka (38km north-west of Luhansk), the enemy forces fired 152mm artillery.

Outside Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk), three attacks, using 152mm artillery, 82mm mortars, tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, and heavy machine guns, were launched.

Towards Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk), the enemy fired 82mm mortars and tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns.

Ukrainian positions near Marinka (23km south-west of Donetsk) came under 82mm mortar fire.

Towards Lebedynske (16km east of Mariupol), the armed formations of the Russian Federation used grenade launchers of different systems.

In the area of Shumy (41km north of Donetsk), the occupiers fired tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns.

An UAV, possibly Orlan-10, was spotted flying over the contact line in Luhansk region.

Four Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the enemy shelling, another one got injured.

Without resorting to weapons prohibited under the Minsk agreements, Ukrainian defenders returned fire and forced the enemy to cease shelling.

As of 07:00, November 18, one ceasefire violation was recorded.

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The latest buildup of Russian troops near the Russo-Ukrainian state border suggests that the Kremlin is mulling various options, including a potential military invasion of Ukraine.

Thats according to a statement by Ukraine's Mission to the OSCE voiced during a meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna on Wednesday, Ukrinforms own correspondent reported.

This is more than just a military buildup, the Ukrainian delegation said, adding that there is deterioration in terms of Russia's demonstration of readiness to deploy troops and equipment along the Ukrainian border, as well as in terms of Russian leadership considering various options, including a potential military invasion of Ukraine.

It was pointed out that after completing in the second half of 2021 their large-scale exercises near the state border of Ukraine, Russia only claimed they withdrew their forces from the border areas.

It was only the servicemen who returned to their bases, the Ukrainian delegation stressed, adding that military hardware, such as tanks, armored vehicles, and Iskander missile systems, remained near the Ukrainian border.

Delegations of the OSCE participating States were informed that Russia had so far deployed more than 92,000 troops in areas close to the border with Ukraine.

Not only is Russia demonstrating military aggression, Russia's military exercises, energy crisis in Europe, and the use of migrants as weapons on Belarus's border with Poland and Lithuania should be seen as elements of Russia's hybrid war against Europe and the Euro-Atlantic community, the Ukrainian delegation stressed.

They also reaffirmed Ukraine's firm commitment to peace and security in Europe and their countrys readiness to jointly defend principles that are fundamental for Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic community.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, The Washington Post on October 30 broke the news on the buildup of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine. Citing sources in the United States and the EU, the newspaper wrote that some unusual movement of equipment and forces was recorded on Russias western flank. The publication also referred to videos posted on the internet showing Russian trains and convoys transporting military hardware to the countrys southern and western regions. Politico wrote that the photos were taken by Maxar Technologies on November 1.

In addition, citing data from the British publication Jane's, which specializes in military issues, the newspaper reported that the military hardware of Russias 4th Panzer Division was being moved closer to the border with Ukraine, to the areas near the cities of Kursk and Bryansk.

According to the Financial Times, Western intelligence officials said Russia was highly likely to go for another round of destabilization in Ukraine this winter after Moscow amassed more than 90,000 troops near its border.

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On November 18, Belarus will stop recently resumed electricity supplies to Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, Radio Svoboda reported this with reference to the Energy Ministry of Belarus.

"The electricity supplies to Ukraine will be ceased from November 18 according to the established procedure for cooperation as part of contractual relations," the press service of the Belarusian Energy Ministry said.

The ministry added that the Belarusian side will consider the possibility of further electricity supplies to Ukraine taking into account technical capabilities."

Earlier, the Belarusian Energy Ministry reported that the first power unit of the BelNPP was disconnected from the network by the automatic action. It is noted that specialists are carrying out diagnostics and analysis of the operation of technological systems.

As Ukrinform reported, on November 6, Ukraine resumed electricity imports from Belarus.

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Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko has met with Moldova's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spinu to discuss the synchronization of the two countries' power systems with the European network ENTSO-E, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry's press service has reported.

According to the report, both parties agreed on the process of preparation for the synchronization of the power systems of Ukraine and Moldova with the European continental network ENTSO-E.

"Synchronization is not only a technical process, but also a geopolitical issue, as it involves a complete disconnection from the energy systems of Russia and Belarus. Ukraine has experience in the electricity market, and we are ready to share this experience because integration with Europe also involves the introduction of new transparent market rules that will meet the requirements of European legislation," Galushchenko said.

The agenda of the meeting also included the issue of security of gas supply.

The participants in the meeting also discussed the concept of the Regional Energy Security Partnership (RESP), which Ukraine has proposed to European countries.

"We are actively discussing our proposal with the European Union and see interest in it. Ukraine can really ensure the energy security of the region. It is not only about Ukraine and Moldova, but about the whole European region, which consumes about 90 billion cubic meters of gas. We have the largest storage facilities in Europe. They can become a hub to ensure the physical availability of resources and strengthen energy security," Galushchenko said.

Spinu assured participants in the meeting that Moldova supports this concept and is ready to cooperate with Ukraine in communication with the European Commission on its implementation. He also thanked Ukraine for emergency assistance in gas and electricity supplies in October this year.

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Ukraine and the EU have agreed on the next steps to implement the Common Aviation Area Agreement and touched upon the removal of trade barriers.

This was discussed during the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna with European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean in Brussels, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Government portal.

The officials discussed Ukraines implementation of the agreement provisions, the inclusion of Ukrainian rivers in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), as well as the issue of permits for Ukrainian road hauliers.

"The parties agreed on the next steps to fulfill the Common Aviation Area Agreement and confirmed their intention to work together on its timely implementation," the statement reads.

Stefanishyna drew special attention to the obstacles to the development of trade between Ukraine and the EU, which contradict the Association Agreement and the Free Trade Area, namely the issue of lack of permits for road haulage in Poland.

"Artificial restrictions in the form of road haulage permits hinder the development of trade, and we believe that this violates the provisions of the Association Agreement. It also creates a number of problems for our partners from France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, as Ukrainian carriers cannot fulfill their contractual obligations, said the Deputy Prime Minister.

She underscored the importance of removing trade barriers by improving interconnections between Ukraine and the EU, as well as non-discrimination in the provision of export and transit services.

Stefanishyna also stressed that the full operation of the Trans-European Transport Network is possible only if Ukrainian waterways are included in it.

"We expect that the Dnieper and Southern Bug rivers will become part of the TEN-T regional network. This transport network is extremely important for the development of a compatible rail network throughout the EU and Ukraine, as well as the connection of the railway with terminals on inland rivers, airports and relevant road points. All this will allow us to implement the European green agenda faster, redirecting the transportation of goods from roads to rail, rivers, and seas," she said.

The European Commissioner, in turn, spoke about the EU's plans to implement the EU's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, which provides for the transformation of the European transport system so that transport emissions are reduced by 90% by 2050.

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed Ukraine's readiness to cooperate with the EU in this area and to contribute to achieving the Strategy goals, in particular emphasizing Ukraine's potential in the development of multimodal transportation, inland water transport, and digital transformation.

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The United Kingdom will continue to provide full support to Ukraine in the development of democracy, reform, and the Armed Forces.

This was discussed at a meeting between Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov and UKs Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Ministry of Defence.

"Ben Wallace stressed that the United Kingdom would continue to provide full support to Ukraine in the development of democracy, reform and capacity building of the Armed Forces, as well as the implementation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration," the statement reads.

During the meeting, the security situation in the occupied territories and on the border of Ukraine, cooperation with NATO, and bilateral cooperation were discussed.

In particular, the heads of delegations paid special attention to the issue of further use of hybrid methods of warfare by the Russian military and political leadership against Ukraine, the EU, and NATO, as well as the continued militarisation of the Azov-Black Sea region, and obstruction of free navigation.

"Members of both delegations pointed out the further aggravation of the security situation due to irresponsible and provocative actions of Russia. The parties stressed that Ukraine and the United Kingdom are strategic partners in the field of security and defense, who share a common vision to counter the present-day challenges and threats and are fully committed to ensuring peace and security in Europe, protecting common values and freedoms," the statement reads.

Much attention was paid to discussing issues of bilateral cooperation, in particular, the implementation of the intergovernmental framework agreement signed in London last week, which will allow to move to the practical implementation of projects to build the capacities of the Armed Forces.

Photo credit: mil.gov.ua

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Warsaw will not recognize any agreements reached on the normalization of the situation on the Belarusian-Polish border without its participation, including between Germanys acting Chancellor Angela Merkel and Alexander Lukashenko.

This was announced on Wednesday by Polish officials, including President Andrzej Duda and members of the Polish government, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

During a visit to Montenegro, President Duda said that in a telephone call with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he stressed Poland would not recognize any agreements that will be adopted without the Polish side. He noted that he meant Merkel's phone call with Lukashenko.

The president of the Republic of Poland stressed that Warsaw would only implement the agreements, in the elaboration of which the countrys government would take a direct part.

"We are a sovereign country that has the right to decide for itself and we will exercise this right without any conditions," Duda stressed.

Polish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lukasz Jasina told TVP Info on Wednesday that Polish authorities had decided not to negotiate with Russia on the ongoing crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border.

"Our government has decided not to hold such talks. Neither do I see any will on the part of Russia to hold such negotiations," Jasina said.

Polish government spokesman Piotr Muller said on Wednesday that Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had a phone call with Angela Merkel about the situation on Poland's border with Belarus.

Earlier, Polish officials said direct talks between Western leaders and Lukashenko were not a good solution.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday evening.

Ukrinform reports this with reference to the Ukrainian presidents press service.

The Head of State informed about the development of the security situation in the east of our country given the tensions around the Ukrainian border, as well as about Ukraines efforts aimed at a peaceful settlement, reads the report.

It is noted that Zelensky thanked for the unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in particular for the strong signals expressed by Ursula von der Leyen during her recent visit to Washington.

The parties discussed the aggravation of the situation on the European-Belarusian and Ukrainian-Belarusian borders. The interlocutors stated that this situation is a hybrid attack that requires joint efforts and cooperation, reads the report.

Zelensky informed the President of the European Commission about the steps taken by Ukraine to enhance security on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.

In this context, the ways of expanding cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union in the field of migration and the possibility of attracting EU assistance for the arrangement of the Ukrainian-Belarusian border were discussed, reads the report.

The parties also discussed the issue of Europe's energy security. In this regard, the President of Ukraine reiterated that the Nord Stream 2 project is primarily a security threat to the whole of Europe.

Zelensky also thanked the EU for the payment of the second tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of 600 million euros at the end of October as part of the agreements reached during the 23rd Ukraine-European Union Summit.

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Representatives of the Lublin Triangle countries have agreed to coordinate steps on border security, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported.

According to the report, an online meeting of the national coordinators of the Lublin Triangle countries was initiated by the Ukrainian side.

The deputy foreign ministers of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania, Mykola Tochytskyi, Marcin Przydacz and Mantas Adomenas, exchanged views on recent developments in the region and discussed the escalation of the migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border.

Tochytskyi informed his interlocutors about measures being taken by Ukraine to strengthen the security of its border with Belarus and about the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories and the eastern part of the Ukrainian border.

"The diplomats agreed to coordinate actions within the Lublin Triangle in order to effectively counter the existing risks and threats to the security of the three states and Europe as a whole," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

The migration crisis on the EU-Belarus border has been going on since late June. Poland and the Baltic states have accused Belarus and Russia of hybrid aggression by manufacturing a migrant crisis.

Several thousand migrants have set up camps on the Polish-Belarusian border and periodically try to break through the barriers.

Some 3,000-4,000 migrants currently stay on the Polish-Belarusian border, and there are up to 20,000 migrants in Belarus.

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Russia continues to use its military presence in the temporarily occupied Crimea to restrict freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait and gradually transform the Sea of Azov into its "inland lake."

This was stated by Ukraine's Mission to the OSCE during a meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna on Wednesday, Ukrinforms own correspondent reported.

The Russian Federation continues to block huge maritime areas in the Black Sea under the pretext of military exercises thus disrupting international trade and navigation. Using its military presence in the temporarily occupied Crime, the Russian Federation has been gradually transforming the Sea of Azov into its "internal lake," Ukrainian officials said.

The Ukrainian delegation members informed representatives of the OSCE participating States of the continued restrictions on freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait, imposed by Russia.

According to open sources, in October 2021, the average duration of Russia-imposed artificial delays facing vessels heading from the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, Mariupol and Berdyansk, was 34.5 hours. Vessels carrying export goods in the opposite direction were being detained by Russia while exiting from the Sea of Azov by an average of 37.9 hours, Ukrainian diplomats said.

They pointed out that in the period from December 2018 to December 2020 due to the threat of the so-called "Azov package" of international sanctions against Russian ports, a slight decrease was observed in the average duration of arbitrary delays vessels were subjected to before leaving the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. In 2018, the delay was 79.5 hours per vessel, while in 2019 it was 37.4 hours, and in 2020  nearly 29.6 hours. However, over the nine months of 2021, this figure increased  to 39.7 hours per vessel."

"We urge the Russian Federation to end its aggression against Ukraine, reverse its illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, de-occupy parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, through the Kerch Strait and in the Sea of Azov," the Ukrainian mission to the OSCE said.

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On November 17, the Third Committee of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly adopted by a majority of votes an updated text of the draft resolution of the UN General Assembly Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine.

Sixty-four countries voted in favor of the draft resolution, 20 countries voted against, 94 abstained, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from New York.

The document emphasizes that the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and a violation of international law, and these territories must be immediately returned to Ukraine.

The draft resolution authors underscore that the organs and officials of the Russian Federation established in the temporarily occupied Crimea are illegitimate and should be referred to as occupying authorities of the Russian Federation.

The draft resolution expresses concern about the fact of prosecution by the occupying authorities of the Russian Federation in Crimea for publication of the reports of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Crimea.

The authors of the document also express deep concern about politically motivated prosecutions, torture, arbitrary detentions and arrests, extrajudicial killings, abductions, enforced disappearances, mentioning such people as Emir-Usein Kuku, Halyna Dovhopola, Server Mustafayev, Vladyslav Yesypenko, Nariman Dzhelyal and many others.

The document also touches upon the restrictions faced by Ukrainians, including the

indigenous people of Crimea  the Crimean Tatars, in exercising their economic,

social and cultural rights, including the right to work, as well as the ability to maintain their identity and culture and to education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.

Destructions of cultural and natural heritage, illegal archaeological excavations, illicit transfer of cultural property and persecution of religious traditions are condemned.

The authors express concern about the militarization and assimilation of young people in Crimea by the Russian Federation, including combat training for Crimean children for military service in the Russian armed forces and the introduction of a military - patriotic education system.

The illegitimacy of conduct by the occupying power of an all-Russian population census in Crimea is highlighted.

It is underscored that the occupying power must ensure that safe drinking water is enjoyed by all residents of Crimea without discrimination and they are provided with access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use.

Presenting the draft resolution before the vote, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya noted that the resolution was based on the report of the UN Secretary-General on the human rights situation in Crimea, prepared in August.

Kyslytsya stressed that a number of essential elements were included in the draft resolution. The document, in particular, calls on the occupying power to provide Crimean people with fresh water; stop reprisals against indigenous peoples; lift bans on religious groups; stop the destruction of cultural and natural heritage; ensure the safety of journalists and other media workers; investigate enforced disappearances; release political hostages.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the adoption of the updated text of the draft resolution on the human rights situation in Crimea by the UN GA Third Committee.

I welcome the strong draft resolution on human rights in Crimea just passed by UNGAs 3rd committee. First mention of support to the Crimea Platform, calls on Russia to release Ukrainian political prisoners, protect the rights of indigenous Crimean Tatars among key highlights, the minister posted on Twitter.

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution in December.

The resolution was co-sponsored, in particular, by Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Moldova.

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The European Commission is ready to consult with Ukraine in the process of preparing an opinion on the draft decision of the German Federal Network Agency, Bundesnetzagentur, on the Nord Stream 2 certification.

The report came following a Thursday meeting of the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Galushchenko and the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the energy ministry.

It is noted that in this way Ukraine will become an active participant in the Nord Stream 2 certification process  not only in the political sense but also in a legal one. During the meeting, the parties also discussed security of gas shipments to Europe and possible options to reduce the impact of the energy crisis on the European region.

In addition, the Ukrainian side was invited to participate in the risk assessment group created in accordance with the Regulation on supply security, which consists exclusively of EU member states. The purpose of the meeting will be to hold consultations on energy security in Ukraine, development of joint decisions, and mutual assistance in crisis situations.

"We very much appreciate the support for Ukraine on the part of our European partners. "Ukraine's involvement in the preparation of the Commissions conclusion on the certification of Nord Stream 2 and the European risk group confirms that our country is an equal partner of Europe in the energy sector," said Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko.

As Ukrinform reported, the German regulator, Bundesnetzagentur (BNetzA), has suspended the certification process for Nord Stream 2 AG, and also granted the request of Gas TSO of Ukraine LLC to participate in the procedure.

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With their latest actions, including the leak of confidential diplomatic correspondence, Russia is finishing the Normandy format of talks on Donbas settlement and undermines whats left of international trust.

This was stated by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who spoke at an online briefing on Thursday, November 18, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I wanted to make a sarcastic joke or do a bit of trolling over the publication of diplomatic correspondence in the Normandy format, but the reality is that theres nothing good about it. With its actions, Russia is simply finishing the Normandy format, showing that it is not interested in its development, and, of course, theyre undermining whats left of trust in them," Kuleba said.

According to the top diplomat, the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Germany, and France agreed that "they will not offer Russia the luxury of destroying the Normandy format with someone elses hands."

"We will work to engage Russia in the negotiation process, in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. The thing is that after such a leak, even diplomats cant trust Russia, which will certainly further complicate our work. But we will keep working because Ukraine seeks peace, fair decisions, and security," Ukraines foreign minister stressed.

Commenting on the future of the Normandy Four platform in the wake of Russias recent moves, Kuleba noted that the only alternative to the diplomatic process is military action.

"Together with Germany and France, Ukraine will continue to insist that we need to move toward the implementation of the Minsk Agreements and continued work of the Normandy format," the diplomacy chief concluded.

On November 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry published what they said was confidential diplomatic correspondence between Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov his French and German counterparts, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Heiko Maas.

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Ukraine's key Euro-Atlantic partners are currently developing a comprehensive package to deter Russia from expanding aggression, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

He said this at an online briefing on Thursday, November 18, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

Kuleba noted that a large Ukrainian delegation visited Washington last week and he paid a working visit to Brussels this week.

"We have mobilized our key Euro-Atlantic partners in both capitals in support of Ukraine. Work is underway between various capitals and institutions to develop a comprehensive package to deter Russia. It includes political and diplomatic pressure, painful economic blows in the event of expanded aggression and a list of specific needs to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Kuleba said.

He recalled that during his visit to Brussels, he held talks with NATO and EU leaders, EU foreign ministers, the ministers of the Association Trio countries, Normandy Four countries, but without the Russian side, and took part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers and Eastern Partnership partners. "But, of course, the key topic was the security of Ukraine," Kuleba said.

He said that talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg were very important in this context. "We discussed the security situation and our joint fight against hybrid threats from Russia. The Secretary General invited me to take part in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers to be held in Riga from November 30 to December 1. This is an important sign of the Alliance's trust in Ukraine, the special status of our relations because we are one of NATO's closest partners in the Black Sea region," Kuleba said.

He also noted that Russia's aggression in both diplomatic and military areas has increased significantly in the past few weeks.

At the same time, Kuleba noted that Ukrainian diplomats, actively consolidating partners, are strengthening security in three areas - allies, sanctions, and weapons. He said that the issue concerned political support for Ukraine from key Euro-Atlantic partners, increasing diplomatic and sanctions pressure on the aggressor state and reaching agreements on the supply of additional defensive weapons for the Ukrainian army. "My talks in the United States last week and in the EU and NATO this week pursued this goal. And we have now returned with the necessary result," he said.

Ukraine's Mission to the OSCE said at a meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna on November 17 that Russia's military build-up near the Russian-Ukrainian border shows that the Kremlin is considering various options, including a potential military invasion of Ukraine.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba calls on NATO allies not to look at Ukraine through the prism of their relations with Russia, but to evaluate Ukraine according to its deserts.

In an interview with CNN, Kuleba noted that all official documents and comments of the Biden administration on Ukraine took note of recent successes, including the launch of judicial reform and ensuring macro-financial stability of the country.

The minister expressed confidence that the reforms would be continued and Ukraine would meet all the necessary criteria for joining NATO and the EU.

At the same time, you should not close your eyes to elephant in the room. Some NATO Allies still look at Ukraine through the prism of their relations with Russia. Addressing them, I once again emphasize: assess Ukraine according to its deserts, not through the prism of Russia, the Foreign Minister stressed.

If they change their approach, the situation will also change significantly for the benefit of Ukraine. And we are working towards this, Kuleba added.

As reported, on November 18, Kuleba said that during the talks in Washington and Brussels, Ukraine had mobilized key Euro-Atlantic partners in support of our country and was currently developing a comprehensive package to deter Russia from expanding its aggression.

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Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office Andriy Sybiha and Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Asaf Hajiyev, who is on a visit to Ukraine, have discussed the security situation in the east of the country, according to a statement posted on the president's website.

The meeting was also attended by MP Anna Purtova, head of Ukraine's permanent delegation to PABSEC, the statement said.

Sybiha informed Hajiyev about the security situation in eastern Ukraine and the Black Sea region. In this context, the initiatives developed by Ukraine together with international partners to restore a stable security situation and ensure a peaceful settlement were noted.

Participants in the meeting exchanged views on the situation on the EU-Belarus border. Sybiha spoke about measures being taken by Ukraine to properly protect the Ukrainian-Belarusian border.

Sybiha also talked about Ukraine's vision on the further development and institutionalization of the Crimea Platform, the inaugural summit of which took place in Kyiv in August. In this context, yesterday's adoption of a draft resolution of the UN General Assembly on the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea was noted.

The interlocutors paid special attention to topical issues of cooperation between Ukraine and PABSEC.

Sybiha thanked Hajiyev for PABSEC's continued support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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Aliyah (left), who faced access constraints in her home in Sarafand, Lebanon, after her leg was amputated, meets visitors from UNHCR and its partner to discuss renovation of the building.  UNHCR/Houssam Hariri

In the small town of Sarafand, halfway between the ancient Phoenician ports of Sidon and Tyre on Lebanons Mediterranean coast, Aliyah, a Lebanese single mother of four, felt powerless as the stable life she once knew crumbled around her  literally, in the case of her dilapidated home.

Aliyah became the familys sole provider after her husband died four years ago, selling small bracelets and necklaces that she made herself to scrape by.

But amid a crippling economic crisis in Lebanon that has sent the price of basics soaring and led to shortages of food, fuel and medicine, Aliyah lost even this small lifeline. Their only income was the meagre wages her eldest son Ali made working as a delivery boy for a nearby coffee shop, until he too recently lost his job.

I rely on the help of my neighbours, who provide me with medicines, food and money to survive, Aliyah said. My son Ali was the only provider in the family, but his income alone was not enough to make it.

"The house we live in is in a dire condition."

A medical condition affecting her circulation recently resulted in Aliyah having one leg amputated. Confined to a wheelchair, her mobility was severely restricted in the house, which  with no money for renovations  was hard to get around and fell into disrepair due to leaks and damp that caused parts of the walls and ceilings to collapse.

It is hard enough to struggle to put food on the table, but it is even harder when you dont feel safe in your own home, Aliyah said. The house we live in is in a dire condition with water leakages. Nothing in the house is a source of comfort.

As a result of Lebanons economic meltdown, which according to the World Bank ranks among the worst economic crises globally of modern times, the Lebanese currency lost more than 85 per cent of its value. Prices have skyrocketed, and survival has become out of reach for many families.

Mother of four Aliyah had to cope with the loss of her sole source of income as a result of Lebanon's economic crisis.  UNHCR/Houssam Hariri

As well as bringing suffering and misery to Lebanese families, the crisis has had a disastrous impact on more than 850,000 registered Syrian refugees hosted in the country.

The recent preliminary findings of a 2021 vulnerability assessment of Syrian refugees in the country found that 90 per cent are currently living in extreme poverty, unable to cover the full cost of food, medicine and other basics considered essential for survival.

This has led to a rise in food insecurity affecting half of all refugee households, while 60 per cent of Syrian families in Lebanon are now living in dangerous, overcrowded or substandard accommodation. The situation for Lebanese families is similarly desperate.

In response, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is providing a range of vital assistance to the most vulnerable Lebanese and refugee families in the country, including cash assistance and essential household items, as well as providing support at municipal and community level.

Since 2011, US$309 million has been invested in Lebanons institutions and infrastructure to help ministries deliver public services to a wider population, including Lebanese and refugees.

This has included projects that bring much-needed infrastructure and equipment to Lebanese communities to mitigate the impact of hosting large numbers of refugees, as well as supporting Lebanese institutions and communities to better respond to COVID-19 and the 2020 Beirut Blast.

As part of its response, UNHCR is working to rehabilitate sub-standard homes with its partners INTERSOS, CONCERN, MEDAIR and Save the Children. The scheme supports landlords to fix roofs and walls to prevent leaks, repair plumbing and electrical systems, and  in the case of Aliyahs home  make accessibility improvements to help her move around and be more independent.

"Lebanese and refugees in Lebanon are suffering immesely."

As well as making families safer and more secure in their homes and providing employment, the project also offers the building improvements free of charge to landlords in return for one-year rent-free guarantees for tenants, many of whom would otherwise be at risk of eviction.

After the rehabilitation of my house, everything is different, everything is better now, said a relieved Aliyah. Simple tasks such as washing her hands have been made easier thanks to being able to access the bathroom sink with her wheelchair.

Some 67,000 Lebanese and refugee families have benefitted from UNHCRs shelter support in 2020 and 2021. This assistance also includes weatherproofing shelters in informal settlements, distributing shelter kits to reinforce homes against the elements; and providing rental subsidies to families at risk of eviction.

Helping those most in need in having access to a safe home is a priority for UNHCR, said Ayaki Ito, UNHCR Representative in the country. Lebanese and refugees in Lebanon are suffering immensely and we must continue to stand by them in this very difficult time.


(Photo : Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay )

When visitors browse through your website looking for the information that they need, you can build trust through quality content. However, it can be frustrating when website content doesn't provide accurate information, is poorly written, or is difficult to understand. The topic of law is very complex, and the average person can often get confused about legal procedures. Some content writers are students, but not all students can write content for law firms unless they are educated on the topic. Legal content writing requires the writer to do in-depth research, and if they do not have some background in law they should make an effort to study the rules and regulations that pertain to the subject matter they are writing about.

Students Should Check The Right Resources

Even if students are knowledgeable in the legal industry, they should always have additional resources bookmarked to help them clarify specific topics. Great websites, such as Justia, can help writers pinpoint details and clarify laws that can be confusing, even for veterans. University websites are also another great way to discover highly educational resources; for example, Harvard Law provides in-depth information on their website.

Students Should Read About Law Topics

Law firm writers should check out websites that frequently publish accurate and updated information in the legal industry. Some of the most popular avenues for reputable information come from the Wall Street Journal Law Blog, American Lawyer Magazine, and the American Bar Association. It is critical for law firm students to stay on top of trends, new changes in laws, and also information that is specific to the geographic area of the law firm they are providing content for.

They Can Learn From Lawyers and Attorneys

If they are confused about certain topics, students can talk to a lawyer to get clarification. For example, if the student has questions about income requirements for child custody in a specific state, they can direct their questions to a lawyer, paralegal, or legal assistant. Some law firms have a chatbox that helps provide instant answers to questions posed by web visitors. This is helpful for content writers.

Students Can Get Insights from Case Studies

To get in-depth legal industry content, students can browse through case studies to get a more sophisticated understanding of how the legal process works. Case studies are unique cases that shine a light on how specific factors surrounding a case were handled by civil or criminal law.

Browsing Law Firm Blogs Can Help

Students can develop their writing style by reading other law firm blogs and understanding the correct tone of voice. In most cases, law firms will want content that is written in a professional manner that relays information quickly and clearly. This makes difficult topics easier to understand for readers who may have serious problems and are in desperate need of help. Not all law firm websites are the same, so the ones that use the most in-depth resources will have the most dependable information.

Other Reasons Law Knowledge Is Necessary Before Students Can Write

Student writers should make sure that they are well educated in the law firm web content that they are providing to help prevent confusion. This helps build trust between potential clients and the law firm and shows that they have authority in the legal industry.


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Starting and operating your own travel agency is an exciting and rewarding endeavor few people get to experience. The travel industry is one of the largest in the world and with profit margins running in the billions, it is easy to see why investing in the sector is such a draw. Like running any other business, travel agencies require hard work, unrelenting commitment, and a lot of passion.

Starting a travel agency is one thing and running a successful travel agency is another. Like starting any new business on your own, you must be certain that you love and believe in the idea. Things tend to get tough at the beginning and that is normal. With a little patience and discipline, initial drawbacks should not make you lose your initial enthusiasm.

When you love what you do, the passion will continually push you forward. Here is a summary of the most important things to remember before starting your business journey.

Create a business plan.

Irrespective of whatever industry you plan to venture into, a business plan is the single most important starting point. The business plan will act as a blueprint to your whole operation, making sure everything runs as it should. It will help you come up with budget estimates, funding sources, and help you estimate your business's initial expenses and plan for them.

Business plans often include all the paperwork you will need to obtain legal licenses to your business. Remember, the most important thing for your travel business or any other for that matter is writing a business plan. The best part? You will only need to write one, period.

The travel and tours industry is highly fragmented and a business plan will most certainly help you narrow in on what your business' goals are. A clear-cut niche and an accompanying plan help your travel agency stand out from the crowd. Amidst cut-throat competition and discerning clients, a good business plan will help you establish a clear, focused vision for your new agency going forward.

Nurture the Right Mindset.

The belief or faith in one's own abilities is an important ingredient when starting out on a new business venture. A travel agency demands all that self-motivation and more. Everything you can master. Sure, unplanned stressful occasions will always come up now and then and you will have to get used to the fact that you will be dealing with a great deal of uncertainty and pressure from your clients.

That said, remember that the pressure is part and parcel of the job and your clients expect nothing short of top-tier service. Soon enough, you will learn to consistently deliver and exceed your client's expectations and how you deal with the constant pressure will make all the difference.

Find your Niche.

So, you have the requisite passion, a shiny new business plan and some good old self-motivation, what now? Well, as it goes, a market opportunity, call it a niche to occupy is all that is left. This means making an effort to know your target market. What type of people do you plan to attract to your travel agency? For example, ajkenyasafaris.com and masaimarasafari.in are both travel agencies that focus on the African safari niche. You need to be aware of what your ideal customer is looking for and what is going to excite them. Research what your potential customer wants versus what your travel agency has to offer.

For instance, look at your host city or country. Is it a tourist destination? What trends are popular? Research. Know everything there is to know. See if there are market gaps and know the challenges that you would face in the industry. It is also important for you to know what you are going up against. Know your competition and what they are doing well. This way you know what they are doing wrong and hence the gaps you can exploit and infiltrate the market.

Find an Ingenious Marketing Strategy.

Advertising your business is a no-brainer, otherwise how will people know about your travel agency? Familiarize yourself with top marketing tips for travel businesses, how to properly execute marketing campaigns and stay up-to-the-minute with what is popular in the market. Get out there and talk to other people who share your dream.

Researching the market trends allows you to find out more on what your travel agency needs to get done to curve out its niche. Talking to other investors in this space puts you right up there with the big boys. Build networks, the more you know the better.

The perfect marketing strategy will mean the difference between an exciting new startup and a dream that fizzled out quickly. As far as crucial business decisions go, this is one you would not want to overlook.

Insure your Business.

A not so obvious strategy, taking out an insurance cover when starting a travel agency will shield your business from potential risks and unforeseen events. Entering a new market space comes with its share of inherent risks and uncertainties so it should be a high priority to actually insure your business. Unlike most retail or service-oriented businesses, travel agencies typically involve an aspect of uncertainty that cannot be overlooked.

For starters, the success of your new venture wildly depends on factors outside of your control such as the political atmosphere, exchange rates, geopolitical factors and so on.

Your agency will also at one time own a fleet of tourist vehicles such as minibuses, safari land cruisers, or self-drive vehicles such as the Subaru Legacy, Mercedes SUVs, Land Rovers and more. Make sure all your assets are insured and take insurance for your guest trips or request them to buy travel insurance on their own.

Your new travel agency needs time to earn trust and build a reputation for itself. Before then, make the smartest decision any smart business owner would, remove the gambling mechanics from your business equation.

Right from writing a business plan, to finding the perfect business location to booking your first client, starting a successful travel agency is like nurturing a child. While getting the proper licenses and finding the right industry partners will go a long way towards your new venture's success, investing in exceptional quality of service is sure to set you on the path to roaring success.
They call it the "Tres amigos" summit, but when President Joe Biden and the leaders of Canada and Mexico meet Thursday in the White House, trade and immigration tensions will dampen the friendly vibe

Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2021 ) :They call it the "Tres amigos" summit, but when President Joe Biden and the leaders of Canada and Mexico meet Thursday in the White House, trade and immigration tensions will dampen the friendly vibe.

Biden will hold separate talks with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, before all three join together.

Donald Trump dropped the previously regular trilateral summit, but Biden is working to smoothen relations between North America's three huge countries, which form the USMCA free trade block, just as he has in US ties with European and Asian allies.

It's "the culmination of 10 months of work to revitalize North America as a platform that is both critical to our domestic economic success, as well as a partnership that can play a critical role in resolving regional and global challenges," White House deputy press secretary Chris Meagher told reporters.

In addition to feuding publicly with Trudeau, Trump threatened to abandon the free trade agreement and imposed tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel.

But just because the tempestuous Trump presidency is over, that doesn't mean the issues he stirred up have gone away.

- Protectionism? - In an echo of Trump's "America first" ideology, Biden is trying to reinvigorate the stumbling US industrial base, especially in the rapidly emerging clean energy and electric vehicles market, and that is causing friction.

Both Mexico and Canada are alarmed at Biden's proposal for a tax credit encouraging US production of electric vehicles, like the powerful all-electric Hummer he test drove during a visit to General Motor's plant in Detroit on Wednesday.

Another sticking point is Biden's "Buy American" policy when the Federal government shops for its huge fleet of automobiles -- something Canada says is undisguised protectionism.

Meagher defended Biden's policy, saying he'd always campaigned on boosting union jobs and that "there's going to be ample opportunities" to work with Canada and Mexico on regional economic growth.

One growing regional problem where the White House is looking for cooperation is resolving crippling hiccups in the supply chain, a senior Biden administration official said.

To the south, Mexico is under pressure to help resolve a politically explosive immigration mess on the US southern border.

Where Trump turned the fight against illegal immigration into one of his most potent campaign messages, Biden has emphasized the need for a humane policy.

A senior administration official told reporters that the emphasis at Thursday's trilateral meeting would be on regional solutions.

Facing "unprecedented displacement," stoked by Covid-19 economic fallout and climate change, the United States wants to "lock arms together with Canada and Mexico" to "come up with a common approach," the official said.

Noting that Mexico was itself turning into a major destination for illegal migrants, the official said the search would be for solutions to the "root causes."
The Russian Defense Ministry has made proposals on the preparatory stage of demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday

YEREVAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2021) The Russian Defense Ministry has made proposals on the preparatory stage of demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday.

"I said yesterday that the Russian Federation came up with three proposals to start the process of border demarcation and delimitation. All these proposals were acceptable to us. After my statements, the Russian Defense Ministry came up with a proposal for preparatory work for the demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," Pashinyan told a government meeting, adding that he instructed the Armenian Defense Ministry to clarify the details of proposals with Moscow to start working on these proposals.
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The Polish army detained dozens of migrants who crossed the Belarus border and accused Belarusian special forces of masterminding the operation, as G7 foreign ministers on Thursday urged Minsk to end the migrant crisis

Sokolka, Poland, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2021 ) :The Polish army detained dozens of migrants who crossed the Belarus border and accused Belarusian special forces of masterminding the operation, as G7 foreign ministers on Thursday urged Minsk to end the migrant crisis.

Around 2,000 people, mainly from the middle East, are estimated to be living near the Poland-Belarus border in dire conditions and desperate to cross into the European Union.

The EU says Belarus engineered the crisis in retaliation for sanctions on the ex-Soviet country. Minsk and its main ally Russia have rejected the charges and criticised the EU for not taking in the migrants seeking to cross over.

"We call on the regime to cease immediately its aggressive and exploitative campaign," the EU and foreign ministers of the G7 global powers said.

But Belarus has said it wants to de-escalate the crisis.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's spokeswoman Natalya Eismont said on Thursday that there were currently around 7,000 migrants in the country.

She said Belarus will send 5,000 of the migrants home, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel will negotiate with the EU on creating "a humanitarian corridor to Germany" for the 2,000 on the border.

There was no immediate reaction from Germany.

A repatriation flight with between 200 and 300 migrants on board took off from Belarus on Thursday bound for Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad.

The flight travelling to Baghdad is carrying 431 people, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

- 200 migrants detained - In the latest border incident, the Polish defence ministry said that Belarusian forces had first carried out reconnaissance and "most likely" damaged the barbed wire fence along the border.

"Then the Belarusians forced the migrants to throw stones at Polish soldiers to distract them. The attempt to cross the border took place several hundred metres away," it said.

"Belarusian special forces led yesterday's attack," it said.

The border guard said a total of around 500 migrants took part in the attempted crossing and 200 of them were detained after crossing into Poland successfully.

It said a family of five people, including three children aged between seven and nine, had been injured in the incident and were taken to hospital.

Video footage released by the defence ministry appeared to show Polish soldiers surrounding a large group of migrants crouched down in a wooded area at night next to barbed wire.

The incident could not be independently verified as journalists are banned from the immediate border area on the Polish side.

- EU-Belarus 'technical talks' - Lukashenko, who has cracked down on political opponents and independent media for nearly three decades, has spoken twice to Merkel about the crisis in recent days.

Lukashenko's press service on Wednesday said the Belarus leader and Merkel "agreed that the problem as a whole will be brought up to the level of Belarus and the EU".

The Polish government has warned against any agreement on the crisis that might be struck "over our heads".

Poland's state-run TVP network also on Thursday began broadcasting a new English-language channel TVP World, bringing forward the launch to "show the whole world the truth" about the migrant crisis on the Poland-Belarus border.

Meanwhile British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Poland during a visit to a military base in northeast Poland that hosts a NATO battlegroup.

A squadron of British military engineers is expected in Poland later this month to help with border fencing and repairing roads in the area, Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said.

- Child's death reported - Aid groups say at least 11 migrants have died since the crisis began in the summer.

Polish medical workers said they had assisted a Syrian couple in the early hours of Thursday who had been in the forest for one and a half months.

"Their one-year-old child died in the forest," the Polish Center for International Aid said on Twitter.

In another incident, video footage released by Belarusian border guards showed a Lithuanian border guard dog biting a man lying on the ground in a sleeping bag.

Lithuania's boder guard admitted to the incident, saying that they were attempting to push back a group of migrants into Belarus and that the border guard did not see the migrant.

Charities have called for a de-escalation and a more humanitarian response to the problem.
Russia is a peace-loving state, the country's foreign policy concept will be a roadmap for the foreign ministry and other departments, Russian President Vladimir Putin said

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2021) Russia is a peace-loving state, the country's foreign policy concept will be a roadmap for the foreign ministry and other departments, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"It is important that our fundamental law enshrines such fundamental attitudes and values as loyalty to the Motherland, respect for the native language, history, culture, traditions of our ancestors. That is, everything that unites our people around common ideals determines the vector of development of a sovereign independent a peace-loving Russian state, an active member of the international community," Putin said at a meeting of the foreign ministry's board.

According to him, the specific directions of foreign policy in the difficult realities of the international situation "will also be fixed in the foreign policy concept that is being prepared in a new edition."

"This document, along with the national security strategy approved in the summer, will in fact be a roadmap for the foreign ministry and other ministries and departments," the president said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2021) Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will discuss bilateral relations and humanitarian cooperation in addition to Afghanistan-related issues during a meeting on Friday, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

"On November 19, talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will take place in Moscow. It is expected to discuss key issues of further development of Russian-Uzbek relations of strategic partnership and alliance with an emphasis on trade, investment and humanitarian cooperation, as well as topical international and regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan," the Kremlin said in a statement, adding that the sides intend to sign eight package of bilateral documents.
Russia's Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov frigate has successfully fired a Zircon hypersonic missile at a target in the White Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2021) Russia's Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov frigate has successfully fired a Zircon hypersonic missile at a target in the White Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"The crew of the Northern Fleet frigate Admiral of the Soviet Union Fleet Gorshkov, as part of the final cycle of tests of hypersonic missile weapons, fired another Zircon missile. A naval target position located in the waters of the White Sea was targeted," the ministry told reporters, adding that the target was "successfully hit."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed President Vladimir Putin on the successful test of the Zircon missile, the ministry added.
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Taipei announced on Thursday it had formally opened a representative office in Lithuania under name of Taiwan, a significant diplomatic departure that China had previously condemned

Taipei, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2021 ) :Taipei announced on Thursday it had formally opened a representative office in Lithuania under name of Taiwan, a significant diplomatic departure that China had previously condemned.

"The Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania officially commences its operation in Vilnius on November 18, 2021," the foreign ministry said, breaking with the island's tradition of calling such de facto embassies Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices.
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Three Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday to evacuate 380 citizens of Russia and other countries as ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the boarding of evacuees is underway

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2021) Three Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday to evacuate 380 citizens of Russia and other countries as ordered by President Vladimir Putin, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the boarding of evacuees is underway.

"The evacuation by military transport aircraft from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan of more than 380 citizens of the Russian Federation, the CSTO member states (Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia) Ukraine and Afghanistan is organized," the ministry told reporters.

The ministry added that each of the three aircraft delivered 36 tonnes of humanitarian aid for the Afghan population.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Nigeria on Thursday as persistent unrest and human rights concerns prompt calls for a rethink of the US relationship with Africa's most populous nation

Nairobi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2021 ) :Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to Nigeria on Thursday as persistent unrest and human rights concerns prompt calls for a rethink of the US relationship with Africa's most populous nation.

The top US diplomat is on his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa where he is looking to champion President Joe Biden's key priorities of promoting democracy and fighting both climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic.

On his first stop Wednesday in longtime ally Kenya, Blinken called for African-driven solutions to the continent's crises including the spiralling war in Ethiopia -- where Nigeria's former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has been leading mediation.

With 20 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's population and its largest economy, Nigeria is critical for any continent-wide strategy and successive US administrations have courted Nigerian leaders since the restoration of civilian rule in 1999.

But US views of Nigeria, already marred by years of violence and rampant corruption, hardened last year after security forces unleashed deadly violence during massive protests against police brutality.

Biden, in an unusually forceful statement as a candidate, voiced solidarity with the protesters and urged President Muhammadu Buhari -- whom Blinken will meet Thursday -- to rein in security forces.

Senator Bob Menendez, a member of Biden's Democratic Party who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, at a hearing with Blinken called for a "fundamental rethink of the framework of our overall engagement" with Nigeria.

Congressional objections have held up the sale of 12 US Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria amid calls to probe whether the military is doing enough to prevent civilian deaths as it battles the two-decade Boko Haram jihadist insurgency.

But Nigeria recently started receiving a separate shipment of Super Tocano warplanes after former president Donald Trump gave the green light to the sale that had been held up by the previous administration of Barack Obama following Nigeria's accidental strike on a refugee camp that killed more than 100 people.

On the eve of his visit, Blinken undid one Trump action by removing Nigeria from a US blacklist of nations that violate religious freedom.

Blinken's predecessor Mike Pompeo, who did not visit Nigeria, made the decision late in his term at the urging of evangelical Christians who say that attacks on the community in the religiously diverse nation are systematic.

Blinken, in Nairobi, also nudged close ally Kenya on ensuring free and safe elections next year -- and acknowledged that the United States was "hardly immune" to such concerns, a veiled allusion to the January 6 mob violence by Trump supporters who sought to overturn Biden's victory.

Oge Onubogu, West Africa director of the US Institute of Peace, said the Biden administration should see parallels between Nigeria and Ethiopia, where lingering ethnic conflict in a major nation has mushroomed into a devastating war that risks regional chaos.

Blinken, she said, can reinforce the message that "what happens in Nigeria doesn't only affect Nigeria, but it affects West Africa and the rest of the continent as well".

Onubogu said there should be no more "business as usual" and that the United States needed to deal more directly with the Nigerian people, not just the government.

State Department officials said Blinken would raise human rights in Nigeria and meet civil society groups throughout the trip, which will also take him to Senegal.

"That's what folks will be looking at. They will be saying, ok, the tone is changing, but they will want more assurances that things are actually changing in the right direction," Onubogu said.
The United Nations warned Thursday that a surge in container freight rates could mean higher prices for consumers next year unless pandemic-fuelled problems are untangled

Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2021 ) :The United Nations warned Thursday that a surge in container freight rates could mean higher prices for consumers next year unless pandemic-fuelled problems are untangled.

The UN's trade and development agency (UNCTAD) said global import price levels could increase by 11 percent and consumer price levels by 1.5 percent between now and 2023.

"Global consumer prices will rise significantly in the year ahead until shipping supply chain disruptions are unblocked and port constraints and terminal inefficiencies are tackled," UNCTAD said in its Review of Maritime Transport 2021 report.

Global supply chains faced unprecedented demand from the second half of 2020 onwards as consumers spent on goods rather than services during coronavirus lockdowns.

But the upswing in demand hit several practical constraints, including container ship carrying capacity, container shortages, labour shortages, congestion at ports and Covid-19 restrictions.

The mismatch led to record container freight rates "on practically all container trade routes", according to the report.

"The current surge in freight rates will have a profound impact on trade and undermine socioeconomic recovery, especially in developing countries, until maritime shipping operations return to normal," said Rebeca Grynspan, UNCTAD's secretary general.

"Returning to normal would entail investing in new solutions, including infrastructure, freight technology and digitalisation and trade facilitation measures," she said.

UNCTAD said the pandemic had magnified pre-existing industry challenges, particularly labour shortages and infrastructure gaps.

It also exposed vulnerabilities, such as when China's Yantian Port shut in May due to a coronavirus outbreak, causing significant delays, or when the giant container ship Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal in March, snarling global trade.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2021) A group of over 30 US lawmakers will send a letter to President Joe Biden expressing their concern over unauthorized military strikes in Syria and Iraq without Congressional approval.

"We write to express our serious concern with the pattern of unauthorized US military strikes and actions in Syria and Iraq," the lawmakers say in the letter, which was published on Thursday by Politico.

"We respectfully request clarification about your legal and policy positions regarding these matters, including by releasing a detailed, unclassified legal memo explaining the administration's legal justification for US military strikes in Syria and Iraq."

The lawmakers were reportedly planning to send the letter to Biden by the end of the day.
After 4 years and eight months in captivity, Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, a religious sister abducted in 2017 by jihadists in Mali, arrived Tuesday in her native country of Colombia.

By Paul Samasumo - Vatican City

The Colombian nun of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate was abducted in Mali from a village of Karangasso, near the town of Koutiala, in the southern region of Sikasso.

Following her release in Mali, on 9 October this year, Sister Gloria travelled to Rome, Italy. She met the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who blessed her.

Meeting the Pope was like being with a father

On Sunday this week, Fr Humberto Gonzalez Franco, a Colombian priest working in the Rome office of the Episcopal Conference of Latin America, better known as CELAM, visited Sr Gloria on the outskirts of Rome. This was a day before she was due to travel to Colombia. Since her release, she had been living with members of her religious community on the outskirts of Rome.

Sr Gloria told Fr Humberto of her joy of being released from nearly five years of captivity. She said meeting the Holy Father was like meeting ones father. She spoke also of her joy in going home to family in Colombia. Sr Gloria recalled her mother, who died while she was in captivity.

My mother died a year ago, but she was a woman of faith, who prayed a lot for me, for everyone. I am very happy that I will see my family again, she said.

Frequently moved from place to place

Looking back on her experience, Sr Gloria spoke of frequently being moved from one location to another during her captivity.

It was not safe for her captors to stay in one place, and a lot depended on what the armed groups thought would be safe, so they were constantly on the move. There was a lot of walking. She thanks God that she never had any serious illness in all her period of captivity, not even the common flu, she said. She attributed this to Gods grace.

On the days when we were stable, I would get up very early in the morning, watch the sunrise, write some reflections with charcoal in a notebook, expressing my trust in God, said Sr Gloria.

Allowed short walks

She was allowed short walks within a certain radius established by her captors. She spoke of seeing Camels from afar as villagers went fetch water.

I would walk a little because I couldnt get away from the camp. They would tell me you can go from here to here, dont stray so far, dont go farther than this point. This is your space, she recalled.

The beautiful night sky of moon and stars

Sr Gloria also spoke of her nights in captivity. At night, I would go to bed very early, around 6.30 p.m. Sometimes I would sit and contemplate the sky.

Sr Gloria said she found much consolation in the beauty of the moon and the brilliant stars in the sky. The empty desert and the wonders of nature helped her remain serene and calm in a difficult situation.

Footprints in the sand

Often, as I walked through the sand, I always saw in the footprints that God was showing me his love. He had chosen me, and I was sure that he was sustaining me throughout, said Sister Gloria.

Though she said she developed a respectful relationship with her kidnappers, it was clear that they resented her Christian faith.

Life before captivity

Before being kidnapped, Sr Gloria had lived in Mali for 12 years. Her religious community runs a health centre, literacy programme and an orphanage in Mali. She had also previously served as a teacher in Colombia, Mexico and Benin.

Asked by Fr Humberto what advice she would give to those who are in prison or find themselves in bondage, such as those suffering at the hands of human traffickers, Sr Gloria replied:

They need to hold on to their faith and pray. Pray a lot, she said.
A court in Cambodia on Wednesday denied the bail requests of 14 detained members of a dissolved opposition party who have been charged with treason for taking part in nonviolent political activities over the past several years.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court said it denied the requests from the former members of the disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party because their cases will come to trial soon, on Dec. 7 and 9, said Am Sam Ath, a representative of the local human rights group Licadho.

After an appeals court last week freed 18 activists from prison, including a prominent labor leader who has been a longtime critic of the government, there had been hope among friends and family of the 14 that they would be released.

But the denial of bail tamped down speculation that last weeks releases signaled a liberalizing trend for the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for 36 years and has often been accused of heading an authoritarian regime.

The 14 are charged with conspiracy to commit treason and incitement to commit a felony, and all have been in pre-trial detention for more than a year. Defense lawyer Sam Sokong said most of the defendants are accused of organizing a failed trip back to Cambodia in November 2019 by former opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

Sam Rainsy, the co-founder of the party, has been in exile since 2016 to avoid serving prison sentences on defamation and other charges. He says the cases against him are politically motivated, and his attempted return was blocked by the government.

Separately, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court announced this week it has ordered the sale of a building owned by Sam Rainsy that had been used as the party headquarters.

Money from the sale is to go to several top government officials and the government itself for legal judgments they won against Sam Rainsy.

As the sole opposition party in Parliament, the Cambodia National Rescue Party had been expected to present a strong challenge to Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party in the 2018 general election. But in late 2017, Hun Sen launched a sweeping crackdown on his opponents and the CNRP was forced by the high court to disband and its lawmakers were removed from Parliament. Many people believe the court acted to ensure that Hun Sens party won the polls. It ended up sweeping all the seats.

The wife of Kak Komphear, one of the defendants to stand trial next month, said the group pleaded at Wednesday's court hearing for their release on the grounds they are in poor health and their families are suffering because their money earners are in prison.

Prum Chantha, a member of Friday Wives, a group organized to support the defendants, said they also promised not to flee and to appear in court when summoned. Her husband has been in detention since May 2020.

Their 16-year-old son, Kak Sovannchhay, who is autistic, was convicted earlier this month of incitement to commit a felony and public insult for comments he made in a Telegram chat group defending his father, and for sharing Facebook posts criticizing Hun Sen.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison but released on Nov. 10 after his case drew international attention.
From Afghanistan to France, Chinese people have been attacked and even killed while living abroad. As security threats to Chinese companies, citizens, projects and investments along the Belt and Road development initiative continue, Chinese companies that used to hire local or Western private security companies have switched to employing more Chinese private security companies, experts said.

Niva Yau, researcher at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, told VOA that China's military reform in 2016 "pushed a lot of former military personnel into the private security sector."

As a result, according to Yau, Chinese private security companies in recent years are expanding to other countries along China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which builds infrastructure projects in Asia and Europe.

As Chinese investments overseas have increased, so has the footprint of Chinese private security companies, making it a multibillion RMB industry.

Yau said that Chinese companies in the BRI are "vulnerable in most of the participating countries where there is higher anti-China sentiment."

"Private security is definitely needed as a practical measure," Yau said. "But the choice to hire Chinese ones is a top-down decision from Beijing to keep its security business handled on its own without interference of third countries."

According to Yau, one factor is language and the ability to communicate between the security and company staff. Another reason is trust: whether the guards will take the Chinese side or the local people's when a conflict occurs.

How Chinese private security companies behave abroad is also changing, influenced by decision-makers in Beijing and the local tolerance of them, Yau added.

"In Kyrgyzstan, for example, they went from being quite high profile in advertising their services to becoming more low key due to public discussion about their work," Yau said. "In Kazakhstan, they have always had a low profile due to high sensitivity and distrust amongst locals."

Early Chinese private security

The first Chinese private security companies have been around at least since the 1990s and have grown since then, according to a report by the Jamestown Foundation.

In 2009, Beijing legalized Chinese private security companies by introducing a law called "Regulation on the Administration of Security and Guarding Services," which allowed the companies to use arms in some of their services.

Now, 5,200 Chinese private security companies employ more than 4 million security staff, mostly Chinese People's Liberation Army veterans. Some 20 to 30 of these companies operate in BRI countries across South and Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Chinese private security companies account for about 10% of the orders from Chinese companies operating overseas, according to a Zhejiang University report.

"Huge amounts of security expenses have flowed out to Western security companies," the 2019 report said.

According to Emil Avdaliani, director of Middle East Studies at the think tank Geocase, based in the country of Georgia, China has relied on private security companies in the past, but the companies' scope of activities and geographic expanse were limited.

"Threats to Chinese assets and nationals, too, were limited," Avdaliani told VOA. "Evacuation operations of Chinese nationals from Libya and Yemen were two cases that made Beijing look at potential threats which would be arising in the future."

In 2011 and 2015, Beijing used the Chinese People's Liberation Army to evacuate Chinese citizens from Libya and Yemen.

"Massive" Chinese international economic involvement since President Xi Jinping's launch of BRI in 2013 and recent attacks against Chinese workers overseas pushed Beijing to reconsider expanding internationally the role of Chinese private security companies, which operate mainly inside China, according to Avdaliani.

"Recent attacks against Chinese workers in Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are just a small number of cases from the last several years," Avdaliani said.

"Therefore, it is likely that (private security companies') rights to operate abroad with arms (will) be expanded to respond to various challenges."

Chinese private security companies abroad are also a good tool for Beijing to better position itself in the "ongoing great power competition" with the U.S., Avdaliani added.

"The companies will enable Beijing to take and hold initiative in the time when direct military clashes are rare," Avdaliani told VOA.
A Chinese envoy has lobbied Southeast Asian nations to let Myanmar's military ruler attend a regional summit being hosted by China's president next week but has met stiff opposition, diplomatic sources said Thursday.

Myanmar's standing as a member of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been thrown into the spotlight by a February 1 coup, when its military ousted the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking bloody turmoil.

Several ASEAN members, dismayed by the return of crisis and the suppression of democracy in Myanmar, have sought to press its generals by excluding them from ASEAN meetings.

In an unprecedented decision last month, ASEAN leaders blocked Myanmar's military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, from an ASEAN summit after he failed to honor pledges to allow an ASEAN envoy to meet lawmakers overthrown in the coup.

Instead, ASEAN leaders said a non-political figure from Myanmar should be asked to attend. In the end, Myanmar was not represented.

Four diplomatic and political sources in the region said Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore wanted Min Aung Hlaing to be banned from a November 22 China-ASEAN meeting being hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei have agreed to maintain the same position as the ASEAN summit," said a government source in an ASEAN country who declined to be identified, referring to the demand that Myanmar be represented by a non-political figure.

Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah, confirmed its unwavering stand on the non-political figure, referring to the "wisdom" shown by leaders before the October summit.

"Indonesia is consistent in its position on who should represent Myanmar in the forthcoming leader's summit," Faizasyah said.

Indonesia has been among the most outspoken of the ASEAN critics with its foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, stating that Myanmar should not be represented at the political level until it restores democracy.

Malaysia's foreign ministry declined to comment. The foreign ministries of Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment but on Tuesday, its spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said China supported all parties in Myanmar in seeking political settlement through dialog and would work with the international community on efforts to restore stability and resume democratic transformation.

Myanmar's military government did not respond to a request for comment.

'Maintain the principle'

A regional diplomat briefed on China's lobbying effort said its Special Envoy of Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang visited Singapore and Brunei last week but was told that Ming Aung Hlaing could not participate in the virtual summit.

Sun, faced with the ASEAN opposition, then told Min Aung Hlaing at a meeting in Myanmar's capital of Naypyidaw on the weekend that China had to accept the ASEAN stand.

China "would maintain the non-political representative principle applied by ASEAN," the regional diplomat said, citing Sun.

ASEAN has for decades been known for its policy of engagement and non-interference but Myanmar's coup has changed that.

In April, ASEAN brokered a five-point plan at a special leaders' summit, which Min Aung Hlaing attended, that included pledges to end violence and allow an ASEAN envoy to start dialog with "all parties," including ousted lawmakers.

Myanmar has not followed through, saying it has its own "road map" to new elections.

Myanmar's junta chief could still make an appearance at the summit.

Myanmar is China's coordinating country for ASEAN this year, meaning it helps facilitate its interactions with the bloc.

"Typically, the coordinating member will set up everything, such as the virtual links and so on," said one source. Myanmar, the source added, may use this role to "slot in" Min Aung Hlaing, even if other ASEAN countries objected.
The White House used a summit Thursday with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to discuss solutions to problems that affect all of North America  and beyond.

The leaders pledged to take concrete actions in support of our joint goals, to include: ending the COVID-19 pandemic and advancing global health; fostering competitiveness and creating the conditions for equitable growth, and coordinating a regional response to migration, the White House said late Thursday, after the summit ended after about three hours.

President Joe Biden met separately with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, before the three convened together for their first trilateral summit in five years.

Trudeau and Lopez Obrador also met separately with Vice President Kamala Harris. The White House said Harris and Lopez Obrador discussed issues including security, the economy, the pandemic and cooperation on space exploration. They also agreed to work to address the root causes of migration from Central America and the need for a regional approach to migration in the Western Hemisphere.

For Harris and Trudeau, discussions spanned the globe  the pair discussed Afghan refugee resettlement and unrest in Haiti and Ethiopia.

Trudeau, in brief comments, said the talks would prioritize pandemic recovery. Before the summit, Trudeau said he would push back against Bidens Buy American program, which Ottawa sees as protectionist. He underscored that Canadian workers should not be left out of any North American economic initiatives.

We're making sure that our integrated North American economy produces good jobs and supports the middle class in our three countries, he said. This will be underpinned by a world-class trade agreement that protects workers' rights.

Lopez Obrador framed economic progress as another way of countering China, which the U.S. sees as its main adversary.

Economic integration, in full respect for our sovereignty, is the best instrument to face the competition stemmed from growth in other regions of the world, especially the productive and commercial expansion of China, he said, speaking through a translator.

Biden, who is pushing a $1.75 trillion social spending bill that he believes will radically improve the lives of working-class Americans, emphasized his belief that equity should be at the center of economic growth.

"We're driving inclusive economic recovery together as two nations and meeting the climate crisis and standing up for democratic values, Biden said, sitting with Trudeau in the Oval Office. And I think we both think we're at our best when opportunity, equity and justice all coincide, and they're core values of Canadians and the United States. So this is one of the easiest relationships you can have as an American president, one of the best."

WATCH: Biden hosting leaders of Canada and Mexico

With Lopez Obrador, Biden emphasized that the United States and Mexico are on equal footing.

Mr. President, we no longer use language like our friends from the south, Biden said. You are an equal. We are equal countries.

Challenges include migration, Cuba, competition

The three also faced rocky terrain.

After taking office, Biden halted the Trump-era Migrant Protection Protocol, known as the Remain in Mexico program, but Texas and Missouri successfully sued the federal government to have it restarted. That is likely to happen in coming weeks.

The feeling of the United States that Mexico is not doing enough on security, I think will be a possible point of tension as well, said Ryan Berg, a senior fellow in the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Surely the leaders will discuss the Remain in Mexico program, the fact that Title 42, as well, is still on the books, the migratory flows, as well as how Mexico can help the United States in the Northern Triangle countries.

On migration, the triad agreed to a range of interventions, including a regional compact on migration for the Americas, and programs and funding that would create jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean -- thus reducing the appeal of economic migration. The group also said each country is expected to make new commitments to take in more refugees.

Beyond the borders

The three leaders were expected to discuss issues outside of their borders, such as recent protests in Cuba and the U.S.-led economic blockade on the island, over which Biden and Lopez Obrador disagree.

They were also expected to discuss what Biden has described as a sham election in Nicaragua that saw longtime leader Daniel Ortega jail opponents and brutally repress dissent to take a fourth consecutive term in the Central American nation.

I would assume that other critical issues across the hemisphere will be on the agenda as well, said Jason Marczak, senior director of the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. Very concerned about what was seen just recently in Nicaragua with Daniel Ortega ... imprisoning political prisoners, leading to a sham vote in Nicaragua just recently.

Both men alluded to that in their opening remarks, though the leaders did not commit to anything specific on this issue.

I know we both are committed to making sure our democracies deliver for our people, said Biden. Democracies in the last 20 years have actually shrunk.

Lopez Obrador praised America's 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, for his emphasis on freedom, including his concept of his four freedoms or liberties: the freedom of the manifestation of ideas or freedom of expression, the freedom of religion, and two very important ones, with the liberty for living free from fear and free from misery.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks Thursday in Abuja with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama and other officials to discuss furthering cooperation on global health security, expanding energy access and economic growth, and revitalizing democracy, according to the U.S. State Department.

Nigeria is the second of three African countries Blinken will visit over a five-day period. On Friday, the top U.S. diplomat will deliver a major speech in Nigeria on the Biden administration's Africa policy.

Democracy was a key topic of Blinken's first stop in Kenya on Wednesday, telling a group of human rights activists in Nairobi that the world is undergoing a "recession" of democracy. He warned that "even vibrant democracies like Kenya" have become increasingly vulnerable to misinformation, corruption, political violence and voter intimidation.

"The United States is hardly immune from this challenge," Blinken said in an apparent reference to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-president Donald Trump in an attempt to force lawmakers to disqualify Joe Biden's victory in last November's presidential election. "We've seen how fragile our own democracy can be."

Before Blinken's departure from Nairobi, he announced that the United States was removing Nigeria from a list of nations that violate religious freedom.

Blinken's African tour, which concludes with a visit to Senegal, is partially aimed at raising America's profile as a key player in the region as it competes with China.

Despite its large contributions of money and vaccines to contain COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the United States has had little success in gaining influence in the region.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
COVID-19 vaccines didnt become widely available in Senegal until the end of March 2021, months later than many other countries. Since then, Senegal has depended on outside donations to maintain its stock, which on several occasions has been depleted.

On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is to end his five-day visit to the continent in Senegal, highlighting Americas efforts to help the country manufacture its own vaccines.

Blinken is scheduled to visit Dakars Pasteur Institute, which has recently received tens of millions of dollars from foreign partners to help with vaccine production. The funds include a $3.3 million U.S. contribution.

Currently, Africa imports 99% of all its vaccines.

And critically, we want to support these companies so they can make vaccines, not only COVID vaccines, but other vaccines, in Africa for Africa, not only help to end the pandemic, but also to help build capacity to deal with future health challenges, says David Marchick, chief operating officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.

In addition to financial support, the U.S. plans to provide technical expertise, Marchick expressed. The hope is that Senegal will eventually produce vaccines for export to other countries, he said.

Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. has donated nearly 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Senegal and allocated nearly $10 million to help the country fight coronavirus misinformation and aid in vaccine distribution, among other efforts.

As of Wednesday, about 8% of Senegals population had been vaccinated against COVID-19, or more than 1,300,00 people, according to the Ministry of Health. In the U.S., about 60% of the population have been vaccinated, or more than 195 million according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Dr. Ousseynou Badiane, coordinator of the expanded immunization program with Senegals Ministry of Health says that if Senegal can manage to decentralize vaccine production and produce the vaccine locally, it would not only improve the availability of the vaccines but facilitate procurement and eliminate transportation costs.

Secretary Blinkens visit comes on the heels of the U.N. climate summit, known as COP26, where the U.S. pledged to move away from fossil fuels.

While in Senegal, a State Department statement said Blinken was to participate in business-related events, but it did not mention that he would be involved in climate-related discussions. The environment was on the agenda during his visit to Nairobi, the statement said.
Authorities in Cameroon say fewer than 300 of a targeted 300,000 state workers have agreed to be vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks into a campaign. Some civil servants who spoke to VOA hold a mistaken belief that the virus is no longer a threat in Cameroon. But health officials say vaccinations in the Central African state must be stepped up amid concerns about another wave of infections.

Several dozen people enter and leave Cameroons Public Service and Administrative Reform Ministry Thursday morning. At the ministrys courtyard is a new stand where civil servants can get COVID-19 vaccines free of charge.

Vaccination team member Roland Njalla said only 11 of the expected 400 ministry employees have volunteered to be vaccinated over the past 10 days.

People are not well informed and edified as to what the vaccine is going to bring as an advantage, as a plus. People are afraid, they dont know the side effects of the vaccine. I think that is the principal problem, he said.

Cameroon officially launched a one-month campaign to vaccinate at least half of its 600,000 active and retired government workers against COVID-19 November 10. Vaccinations started five days before the official launch.

The Public Health Ministry says it has vaccinated just 300 of the 300,000 expected active and former state workers.

Public Service and Administrative Reform Minister Joseph Le said he is pleading with workers to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.

This campaign is intended to ensure that the professional environment is not a place where the virus spreads, but a suitable environment for professional development for all of us. We will continue to emphasize that vaccination is the only way to protect ourselves from the devastating effects of this terrible pandemic, he said.

Cameroon announced last month that the COVID-19 Delta variant was present in the country and infection rates were increasing.

The health ministry is encouraging people to be vaccinated and continue to wear face masks, wash their hands regularly and keep at least a meter from each other.

Health Minister Manaouda Malachie said people are reluctant to take the vaccine because of lack of awareness, rumors and exposure to misinformation spread mainly on social networks.

Manaouda said 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, whom many Cameroonians consider their mentor, once called vaccinations the most powerful of all preventive health measures. He says the COVID-19 vaccine saves lives and reduces the risk of getting and spreading the virus.

The Cameroon Bar Association said last month that some government officials were blocking unvaccinated civilians from public offices.

Evaristus Morfaw Nkafu, president of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, said no law compels public service users to provide vaccination cards.

There are some authorities who have decided that those who are not inoculated will not enter into their premises. It means they are discriminating against Cameroonians. Rather than coercing, I think the government should educate the people. They should persuade the people and even give incentives, said Nkafu.

Nkafu said a campaign to raise awareness on COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to those who are hesitant by reaching out and providing crucial information where they live.

The government denied that it is compelling people to be vaccinated.

It is definitely encouraging the jabs.Only one-half percent of the targeted 12 million people were fully vaccinated as of October 30.
The leader of a Cuban dissident group who left the island for Spain said Thursday that the communist government was behaving like an abusive husband toward its people.

Activist and playwright Yunior Garcia Aguilera arrived Wednesday in Madrid with his wife, Dayana Prieto, two days after police surrounded his house in Havana to stop him from taking part in a national protest planned by an opposition group, which is demanding the release of imprisoned dissidents and greater freedoms for Cubans.

Leaders of Archipelago, the opposition organization, had announced it would stage a Civic March for Change, a mass demonstration Monday that the Cuban government described as counter-revolutionary and said was part of a U.S. interventionist plan.

At a news conference Thursday in Madrid, Garcia said, The relationship between the Cuban government and the people is like a marriage which has failed. The government is behaving like an abusive husband to the people.

This is a dictatorship and brutal tyranny, he said.

Harassment

On the eve of the planned demonstration, police and government supporters surrounded the home of Garcia and other activists and independent journalists to prevent them from leaving.

Garcia said Thursday that the Cuban government had cut his telephone and access to social media.

My house is watched continually by people. They left doves with their heads cut off outside my house to put me off taking part in the demonstration, he told journalists.

Garcia contends the Cuban government allowed him to leave the country only so that he would not become a symbol of resistance.

The regime needed to silence me, to convert me into a non-person, he told reporters.

He said he had come to Spain so he could be free to speak out against the Cuban government.

All I have is my voice. I could not stay silent. That is why I came to Spain, he said, adding that he wanted to return to the island in the future.

Archipelago blamed the failure of the demonstration on government coercion.

It said there were more than 100 activists under arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, acts of repudiation, violence, threats, coercion and hate speech.

Garcia said fear of reprisals had prevented people from joining the demonstration Monday.

The problem is the fear, but we have social media, which they cannot control, he said.

Call for condemnation of oppression

Garcia said the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba had helped the communist government, which he asserted used it for propaganda purposes.

He speculated that if opinion polls were allowed, however, they would show that the government has lost the support of the people.

He called on the international community to condemn what he said was repression in his home country.

What is important is that the international community stops looking the other way, Garcia said.

After Archipelago said it had been unable to contact Garcia, he reported on his Facebook page Wednesday that he had left Cuba and was in Spain with his wife.

While the protests were suppressed in Havana, Cuban expatriates were in the streets in Mexico City and other cities across Latin America in solidarity with their compatriots.

'Absolute failure'

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that Cuban opposition groups had failed in their efforts to organize Mondays demonstration.

It is clear that what I called a failed operation  a political communication operation organized and financed by the United States government with millionaire funds and the use of internal agents  was an absolute failure, Rodriguez said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press.

I wish they [the United States] would allow Americans their freedom to travel and that they could come to Cuba and see the reality firsthand and discover the deception to which they are frequently subjected, with the aim of sustaining an obsolete, genocidal policy that violates human rights and international law and causes suffering among the Cuban people, he added.

The arrival of Garcia in the Spanish capital means the Cuban dissident movement has largely moved to Madrid in much the same way as opposition leaders from Venezuela have done.

Venezuelan dissident Leopoldo Lopez has made Madrid his home since making a dramatic exit from Venezuela in 2020. He was living in the Spanish Embassy in Caracas before making a dash for Colombia, from which he headed to Spain.

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press.
The European Unions drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, said Thursday that unvaccinated individuals account for much of the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in the region and encouraged EU member nations to close the vaccination gap.

During its regular COVID-19 briefing at EMA headquarters in Amsterdam, EMA biological threats chief Marco Cavaleri told reporters that in EU states, unvaccinated people, particularly those over the age of 50, are most likely to be hospitalized with severe COVID-19, be placed in intensive care or die.

Cavaleri urged member nations, especially those with "unacceptably low" vaccination rates, to close this gap and make sure that as many people as possible will get vaccinated."

Cavaleri said the data they have collected continues to show, as expected, vaccine booster shots restore protection against infection and disease.

He said the EMA continues to recommend boosters be administered six months after full vaccination but that member states may offer the booster earlier.

The EMA chief said the agency will take up consideration Friday of Pfizers new COVID-19 treatment pill for emergency authorization. Last week, the agency said it would fast-track approval for Mercks oral COVID-19 treatment, as well.

Cavaleri said these different classes of medicines and approaches represent a range of options for treating COVID-19. But he stressed the need to continue implementing public health measures, such as social distancing, hygiene practices and the wearing of face masks, so that we protect ourselves and others."

Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday that six U.N. staff members had been released but five others, along with one of their dependents, remain in detention in Addis Ababa.

At least 16 U.N. staff and dependents were detained earlier this month amid reports of widespread arrests of ethnic Tigrayans.

"Further ethnic profiling can only deteriorate this serious dynamic and can lead to a situation for which we have alarming precedents," said Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the U.N. special adviser of the secretary-general on the prevention of genocide.

In a press release on Wednesday, Nderitu reiterated her concern over the "deteriorating situation" in Ethiopia and strongly condemned "the intensification of profiling and arbitrary arrests of ethnic Tigrayans, including United Nations staff."

"The region has experienced the evil of inter-ethnic violence spiraling down to the commission of genocide," she said. "All possible action must be taken as a matter of utmost urgency to prevent further escalation."

Police have denied making ethnically motivated arrests, contending they are only detaining backers of the rebel Tigrayan forces fighting the Ethiopian government.

Nderitu voiced her concerns the day before the U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, and the African Union's high representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, returned to Ethiopia with hopes of reviving peace talks and negotiating a cease-fire in the yearlong conflict.

Nderitu warned during an online event earlier this month of the risk of the war spilling across borders and "becoming something completely unmanageable." She also warned that ethnic-based militias are "so dangerous in this context."

The war began a year ago when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed deployed troops to the northern regional state of Tigray in response to the Tigray People's Liberation Front's seizure of military bases. The ensuing conflict has killed thousands of people, displaced several million from their homes and left 400,000 residents of Tigray facing famine, according to a July estimate by the U.N.

A joint investigation by the U.N. and the government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission published a report in early November concluding that all sides in the conflict have committed human rights violations, including torturing civilians, committing gang rapes and arresting people based on ethnicity.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has said some of those abuses may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Experts believe Beijing may come to see North Korea as leverage for challenging Washington's position on multiple issues, including the U.S. goal to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

"In light of the great power competition, China sees North Korea as leverage more than ever," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center.

If, for example, the U.S. wants China to support additional sanctions on North Korea, "China is unlikely to comply unless (the) U.S. reciprocates on some other fronts," she added.

Evans Revere, a former State Department official with extensive experience negotiating with North Korea, said, "Because of the downturn in U.S.-China relations, some in the PRC probably see the DPRK, which shares China's opposition to the U.S. military presence in the region, as a strategic asset, even if North Korea's nuclear status makes the Chinese nervous." DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and PRC stands for China's official name, the People's Republic of China.

Revere continued: "With the growth of Sino-U.S. rivalry, this view is likely to remain for the foreseeable future."

China, like North Korea, wants to maintain "the absence of U.S. forces near China's border," according to a Pentagon report released earlier this month on China. The U.S. has approximately 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.

Patrick Cronin, the Hudson Institute's Asia-Pacific Security chair, says he does not think Beijing views North Korea's nuclear weapons "as an asset," but it "seems happy to exploit" North Korea's existence to divert attention from itself and "keep the United States busy with multiple challenges."

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, told VOA's Korean Service in an email on Thursday that "China has all along been committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, realizing denuclearization, and resolving problems through dialogue and consultation."

The spokesman continued: "To settle the Peninsula issue requires a balanced solution to the legitimate concerns of all parties. Parties concerned should actively work for the two major goals of denuclearization of the Peninsula and the establishment of a peace mechanism on the Peninsula by following the dual-track approach and the principle of phased and synchronized actions.

"China will continue to work with all parties to make unremitting efforts to promote the political settlement of the Peninsula issue and achieve stability on the Peninsula in the long run."

US-China rivalry

Rivalry between Washington and Beijing has intensified as China expands its global influence. Beijing is "willing to confront the United States and other countries in areas where interest diverge," said the Pentagon report.

Countering China's military assertion in the Indo-Pacific region, decoupling global supply chains from Beijing, and preserving a rules-based international order have been Washington's top priorities as it seeks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first one-on-one virtual summit as the leaders of their countries on Monday.

"The two leaders discussed the complex nature of relations between our two countries and the importance of managing competition responsibly" in order "to ensure that competition does not veer into conflict," said the White House. The two also discussed "key regional challenges, including DPRK," according to the White House.

"I have no doubt that the U.S. made clear its determination to denuclearize the DPRK" during the Biden-Xi meeting, Revere said. "There is also no indication that Xi offered to cooperate on North Korea in exchange for U.S. concessions in other areas. Previous Chinese statements have implied trade-offs like this, and this kind of a 'deal' would not sit well with Washington."

Hours after the Biden-Xi virtual meeting, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. and China needed to coordinate closely on North Korea.

"We have seen a series of tests by North Korea," said Sullivan at a webinar on Tuesday hosted by the Brookings Institution. "The United States has indicated we're prepared to engage good faith in diplomacy if North Korea is prepared to do the same, so coordination around that issue is also very important."

North Korea has tested multiple missiles in recent months, including rail- and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Different positions on denuclearization

Experts also noted a diversion between Washington and Beijing on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

"China clearly does not share the same interest as the United States when it comes to denuclearization, Cronin said. And China's recent moves to expand its own nuclear arsenal suggests it has other priorities."

The Pentagon estimated China could have 700 nuclear warheads by 2027 and 1,000 by 2030, according to its report.

According to Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, Chinese priorities have been "no war" on the Korean Peninsula, "no collapse" of the North Korean regime that could trigger refugee inflow into China, and "no nukes." In contrast, U.S. priorities have been "no nukes, no war."

"Differing priorities illuminate the limits of cooperation and tactical differences in diplomacy toward denuclearization," said Manning.

China's push for sanctions relief

China, North Korea's most significant trading partner, has been pushing for sanctions relief for Pyongyang. The sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council target nuclear weapons proliferation activities and human rights violations.

Patricia Kim, a fellow with expertise in Chinese foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, said divergent U.S. and Chinese priorities on North Korea have resulted in the two having "different views on the sequencing of denuclearization and sanctions relief."

China's priority to maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula led it to focus "first on North Korea's political and economic integration into the region," Kim said.

China, with Russia, urged the U.N. Security Council to lift several economic sanctions on North Korea in a draft resolution submitted earlier in the month.

The diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang has been stalled since their October 2019 meeting in Stockholm.

The Biden administration has been offering talks with North Korea "without preconditions," but Pyongyang has largely resisted the offer.
Australian public health experts are making new efforts to curb the use of tobacco products, comparing its adverse effects on health to that of asbestos and lead paint.

Australia has led the world on tobacco control, with plain packaging laws introduced in 2012, higher taxes and graphic public health warnings.

But campaigners say those steps are not enough to stop people from smoking. Public health experts want to remove cigarettes from supermarket and convenience store shelves.

Fourteen percent of Australians smoke, according to the governments latest figures. In 1977, 37% of Australians smoked. In an article published Monday in The Medical Journal of Australia, researchers said tobacco use was declining too slowly.

Coral Gartner is the director of the National Health and Medical Research Councils Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, a government body.

She says the availability of tobacco in stores and supermarkets needs to be further restricted.

You know, it has been a very slow road that we have traveled to get to this point. We are at the point now where we think, you know, it is time to start thinking about how long is it really suitable to be just selling this product in a general retail environment. We are not talking about making it an illicit product or banning smoking as such, Gartner said.

Researchers have said that studies in Australia, England, Canada, and Hong Kong have shown that half of all adults want tobacco sales to be phased out. In April, the New Zealand government proposed several new measures that would sharply reduce the number of tobacco retail outlets.

Government health experts have said that smoking was the leading cause of preventable diseases and death in Australia.

The government said it would continue to explore a range of new evidence-based measures to further cut tobacco consumption.
German journalists Adrian Geiges and Stefan Aust published the biography "Xi Jinping  The Most Powerful Man in the World in July."

Geiges worked for many years as a foreign correspondent in Beijing for the German magazine Stern before undertaking the first Xi biography with Aust, publisher of the newspaper Die Welt.

Last month in Germany, groups affiliated with Beijing forced the cancellation of promotional events keyed to the book.

Geiges spoke with VOA's Mandarin Service reporter Bo Gu via online video on Nov. 13. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: Why do you think there were no Xi Jinping biographies before yours?

A: When we started to talk about the idea of the book, of course the first idea is you look at what exists already. And we found out nothing. There are books about China which have Xi Jinping in the title, but they're normal political books about China. So, for us, it's much more important to write this book because Xi Jinping is so important. On one hand, China is so important for the world now. On the other hand, Xi Jinping is the person who has so much power, much more power than any of the Chinese leaders before him.

Q: Why do you say the West knows little about Xi? China and Xi can be found daily in the international media.

A: Why do they know so little? One reason is, it's not so "sexy." In Western politics, when Donald Trump was president, for example, he tweeted crazily every day, crazy press conferences.  But in China, you have nothing like this. Xi Jinping is not giving any press conference; he's not giving interviews. ... He gives some statements, but you're not allowed to ask questions. He only tells what he likes to tell.

Q: Why do you think Xi and his predecessor, Hu Jintao, stopped accepting interview requests from Western reporters? Jiang Zemin, Deng Xiaoping and even Mao Zedong all had a history of accepting on-site interviews.

A: Stefan Aust, with whom I wrote the book, actually did an interview with Jiang Zemin. It was quite fascinating because it was scheduled only as a photo-op with written answers. But Jiang Zemin spoke absolutely freely, even recited some German poems. That was very different.

Why did it change? China is developing such a cult personality around Xi Jinping. He's not seen as a normal person anymore. He's seen (as) someone higher, like God. If you talked to him and he gave answers, it's stupid. (It would) destroy his image as someone who's superior to everybody.

Q: After doing so much research about Xi, how do you see him as a person?

A: He's smart in some ways, otherwise he wouldn't have achieved what he has achieved today. This week the Central Committee of (the Chinese Communist Party) issued this "historic resolution," which makes Xi the core of the (CCP) and the country. To achieve this, you must be smart.

(After Xi took power) he immediately started this anti-corruption campaign, which was not only against corruption but also (against) people who were competitors to him or even people who might have been competitors.

He succeeded in creating a climate in China which we compare (to) the climate under Stalin in the Soviet Union. Everybody is in fear. (People) are afraid of speaking out against him. Or even to speak out about anything he might not like, simply because they're afraid.

Q: Do you think Xi will become president of China for life?

A: I think so. First, it's his personality. He likes to have the grip on power.

Secondly, all that he has done in the last years ... he must have so many enemies inside the leadership of the Party, he's afraid of losing the power.

Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution was a power struggle. Mao wanted to keep the power.

With Xi Jinping, it's the same. He's afraid of giving up his power.

It's dangerous for the development of China. In the last few decades, there were smooth transitions of power.

At the end of the Jiang Zemin administration, we knew that Hu Jintao would be the successor. At the end of the Hu Jintao administration, we knew that Xi Jinping would be the successor. But now, if Xi has an accident or illness, if he dies, there's nobody who can be in his place.

A real power struggle or fight could happen in China, and that could be very dangerous.
Police in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday detained relatives of two civilians killed in a controversial gunfight after the families staged a protest in Srinagar demanding that local police return the bodies for traditional burial.

The two civilians were among four people killed in a shootout with government security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this week, and their families have accused those troops of lying about how the raid unfolded.

Police say the civilians died in the crossfire between government troops and rebels. But witnesses and families of the civilians say Indian troops used those civilians as human shields during the standoff.

On Tuesday, police in the disputed regions main city said that four people were killed in the raid.

The fight, according to police, left dead a foreign "terrorist," Hyder  whose alias, according to police, is Bilal Bhai  along with his "associate," Aamir Ahmad, and "two sympathizers," Mudasir Gul and Altaf Ahmad Bhat.

Vijay Kumar, police inspector general for the Muslim-majority Kashmir region, told reporters that police had information about the presence of militants in the area.

"The joint teams of police, central reserve police force and army set up a cordon and searched," he said, adding that when government forces knocked on the door of a room where the militants were hiding, militants shot at them, and in "self-defense, troops opened fire."

The gunfight took place inside a three-story shopping center owned by Bhat, who sold cement and hardware on the ground floor. Gul rented the first floor, where he operated a construction business and a call center where he employed Ahmad as a helper.

'Gunfight was staged'

"I believe the gunfight was staged," eyewitness Mohammad Shafi told VOA. "Police have constantly changed their statements."

Shafi disputed the police claim of killing four people, including a foreign militant.

"Following the gunfight, I saw only three bodies being taken out from the building before leaving the spot, he said. I wonder, who was the fourth one?"

Another eyewitness, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, said he knew the three people killed, especially Bhat, who was a "classmate and neighbor." He believes all three were innocent civilians.

The eyewitness told VOA that police first rounded up everyone on the premises and led them to a nearby showroom.

"Then a few policemen asked [Bhat] and [Gul] to accompany them inside Bhat's building, and they obeyed," he said.

Police went inside and came back out multiple times before taking Gul's worker Ahmad inside as well.

Soon after, bystanders heard gunshots.

A picture of Bhat's bloodied body started circulating on local Facebook pages. Later, police tweeted that militants had been killed in the encounter.

'Human shield'

Journalist Saima Bhat, Bhat's niece, accused police of using her uncle as a human shield.

"You killed my innocent uncle Mohammad Altaf Bhat in cold-blooded murder in Hyderpora [neighborhood], you used him as human shield and now saying he was OGW. Return us his body," she tweeted, using an acronym for "over ground workers," a regional colloquialism for people who provide logistical support to militants or terrorists.

Bhat's brother Abdul Majeed told VOA the authorities have falsely accused his brother of supporting militancy.

"I challenge the inspector general of police to prove that my brother was an OGW," Majeed said with tears in his eyes before criticizing police for risking the lives of ordinary citizens by including them in search operations.

"If [police and army] had information about the presence of militants, they should conduct their own searches without risking innocent lives," he said.

According to Majeed, Ahmad was a poor worker who did odd jobs for Gul.

"The first time government forces entered inside the building, they frisked [Ahmad] and asked him to wait downstairs, Majeed said. Had he been a militant, they would have nabbed him right then."

'At least return his body'

Gul, the third person killed in the fight, was a physician who had switched to the construction business. Police labelled him a "white-collar terrorist," but his family and friends called his killing "cold-blooded murder."

Gul's father, Ghulam Mohammad Rather, is calling for a judicial probe.

"My son had nothing to do with any militant organization," he said. "At least return his body so we can perform his last rites."

One of Gul's friends alleged that the police were "cooking up something" because they kept changing their statement.

Police account

Inspector Kumar says police approached the families of Gul and Bhat about participating in the burial.

"Since we have apprehensions of law-and-order problems, we cannot hand over bodies to families, he said. We took bodies to Handwara  some 90 kilometers from Srinagar  where burial took place."

In a statement, police said that two pistols were recovered from the site of the encounter, and that the call center in Bhat's building had been used for terrorist activities.

Police initially said both Bhat and Gul were injured and eventually killed by "terrorists firing," but later said that both men may have been caught in the crossfire between the alleged militants and police.

"I'm saying [Bhat] was killed in cross-firing, Kumar said. I'm not saying if he was killed by militants or if we fired at him. During the encounter, whose bullet hit him is a matter of investigation. If he was hit by a pistol bullet, then terrorists have killed him; if hit by AK rifle, then we can say he was hit by our bullet."

Demand for independent inquiry

The incident has sparked outrage across the valley, and various political parties have condemned it.

The former chief minister of Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, accused the Indian government of atrocities.

"Using innocent civilians as human shields, getting them killed in cross firing & then conveniently labelling them as OGWs is part of [the government of India's] rulebook now, Mufti tweeted. Imperative that a credible judicial enquiry is done to bring out the truth & put an end to this rampant culture of impunity."
Kenyan authorities say they have captured three convicted terrorists who escaped Monday from a maximum-security prison in Nairobi.

The three convicts were arrested in Kitui County, central Kenya, after residents reported suspicious-looking people to the local authorities.

The three convicts include: Musharaf Abdalla, who was convicted of attempting to attack the parliament in 2012; Joseph Juma Odhiambo, who was arrested in 2019 at the border between Kenya and Somalia for planning to join the Somali terror group al-Shabab; and Mohamed Ali Abikar, who was convicted for his role in al-Shababs attack on Garissa University in April 2015. That attack killed at least 148 people, most of them students.

Kenyan media reports the three men were trying to reach Somalia and had asked people for directions to Garissa.

Bob Mkangi, a constitutional lawyer, says the terror convicts will be treated like other prison escapees.

So, its a penal code that determines what the court can pronounce against you. It's treated as a misdemeanor, about 2-3 years sentence. Now when you go back to prison, the prison authorities [are] under the guidance of the Prison Act and how they treat different convicts. You foresee extra measures to ensure that they are secure.

Before their escape, the three men were housed with more ordinary criminals inside Kamiti prison.

The escape prompted Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to fire the head of prisons, Wycliffe Ogalo, on Wednesday.
Malawis Anti-Corruption Bureau says official graft continues to rise in the country, with complaints doubling in the past year. ACB Director Martha Chizuma, who took office in May, warns that if the trend continues, Malawi will never reach its development goals.

Chizuma was speaking Wednesday at the start of a two-day long national symposium aimed to find strategies of ending corruption in Malawi.

She told reporters it is worrying that people entrusted to fight corruption are those allowing it.

Sad to say is that people who have put in positions of public trust and they are ones who are abusing that trust and are committing corrupt acts. The way they are doing it, is quite sophisticated, said Chizuma.

She gave no further details as to which state institutions are committing corrupt acts, or what she meant by the corruption being sophisticated.

Chizuma said the complaints her bureau receives have almost doubled in the past year.

When you look at the actual statistics that we have in the office, we see that between 2019/2020 [fiscal year], we had 650 complaints. But now you see that in 2020/2021 we have 1,200 complaints, she said.

Chizuma warns if the trend continues Malawi will never reach its development goals.

Corruption takes away money for roads, money for schools. So basically, what we are saying is that the money that we are stealing through corruption right now, are literally, the aspiration in 2063, the 10 year plan, the 2030 Sustainable Goals. They are literally stealing that, she said.

President Lazarus Chakwera has long said his administration is committed to end corruption by arresting anyone involved.

In August, the ACB arrested three officials of the governing Tonse Alliance in connection with a fraudulent fuel supply contract at the National Oil Company.

Political analyst Vincent Kondowe told VOA that Chizumas statement shows the ACB is still struggling to bring corrupt officials under control.

For me that is indicative that there is corruption happening in this government and she is finding it difficult to deal with it. Otherwise, I couldnt have imagined that she could have complained about that. Because she has clearly indicated that there is gap between rhetoric and action, he said.

Participants at this weeks conference discussed the need to implement new strategies. One idea is to establish courts specifically designed to prosecute cases of corruption.

Rudolf Schwenk is acting resident coordinator of the U.N. Development Program in Malawi.

There is very good strategy has been designed. Behind all strategies, there has to be action. And there has to be genuine actions. So I do think there is hope for Malawi to have a more efficient governance mechanism it if takes concrete steps in the fight corruption in the country, said Schwenk.

The symposium ended Thursday with a call to all stakeholders to take a leading role in the fight against corruption in the country.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the November 7 assassination attempt on Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, but analysts say suspicion has widely fallen on Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias who were the biggest losers in last months parliamentary elections.

Middle East observer Khaled Abou Zahr writing in the Saudi Arab News daily says the voting results show that the Iraqi public reject the militias, while sending a clear message to Tehran: Deal with our state and do not interfere in our domestic affairs.

Abou Zahr argues that the only way for Iraq to keep its national sovereignty is to outlaw the militias immediately and have them surrender their weapons, saying Iraq will not survive if the militias are allowed to continue endangering and threatening every voice that calls for sovereignty.

He points out that 30 Iraqi activists who criticized the Iran-backed militias were assassinated in the past three years and asks: how many more killings and abductions are necessary before Iraqis stand united against this threat?

Senior analyst Nicholas Heras with the Newlines Institute in Washington sees the assassination attempt on al-Kadhimi indicating that Iran doesnt have complete control over these shadow militias and that should be a concern to U.S. policymakers. He believes that al-Kadhimi is trying to use a law-and-order approach to rein in the militias.

Iran has essentially created a hydra of militias inside Iraq. You cut off the head of one, another emerges in its place. That is the challenge that Prime Minister Kadhimi faces right now. He has taken a law enforcement approach to trying to investigate, identify and then root out these militias using the justification that they are illegal armed groups and that is against Iraqi law. The problem is there are multiple actors in Iraq who are part of the political system that have connections to these militias. So, Kadhimi is essentially trying to prosecute gunmen that are operating for a militia-mafia organization. Its very difficult.

Osama Al Sharif, a Middle East political commentator in Amman, views al-Kadhimi as a nonpartisan Iraqi nationalist trying to keep his country neutral in the ongoing U.S.-Iran showdown for influence. He points to al-Kadhimis efforts drawing Iraq back into the Arab fold with economic deals with Jordan and Egypt and mediation efforts between Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said these moves are anathema to the pro-Iran proxies.

Al Sharif, writing in the Jordan News online site, says al-Kadhimi has few choices if he is to survive politically and keep his country from sinking into a dark chapter of political assassinations and possible civil war. Al-Kadhimi must find a way to neutralize and contain the militias, he says, because Arabs are - in his words - sick and tired of Irans meddling and its disruptive regional agenda.
For more than a year, Russian-aligned troll factories overseeing thousands of social media accounts have been accused by Western countries and disinformation experts of spreading anti-vaccine messages in an aggressive campaign to spread conspiracy theories and cast doubt on Western coronavirus vaccines.

But the year-long offensive appears to have backfired.

Russian officials now worry that the anti-vaccine skepticism encouraged by the troll factories has spilled over and is partly responsible for the high level of vaccine hesitancy among Russians. Only 35% of the countrys population is fully vaccinated, despite the wide availability of the countrys home-grown Sputnik vaccine. Despite surging cases the uptake remains sluggish.

Social network analysis company Graphika reported last month how Russia-aligned troll factories have recently been focusing on mandatory vaccination campaigns in the West seeking to undermine the effort to cajole more people to get jabbed. The U.S. Department of State last year started to warn that Russia-based propagandists were using social media platforms to spread conspiracy theories and to promote doubts around vaccinations.

But anti-vaccination videos and postings on the Internet are attracting high traffic in Russia, too, with tens of thousands of views. Mistrust of vaccines is pervasive in Russia. A survey conducted earlier this month by the Levada Center, a leading pollster, found 45% of Russians are not prepared to get inoculated. And the pollster found 50% are not afraid of contracting the virus, although it did find the fear of contracting the virus increased from 43% in August to 48% now.

Infections rising

Russian health authorities have been reporting recently around 40,000 new coronavirus cases a day, despite a partial week-long shutdown earlier this month that required Russians to take paid leave in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. Russias low vaccination rate is especially dismaying considering that the country became the first in the world to register a COVID-19 vaccine with Russian health authorities approving Sputnik V, which was named for the satellite from half a century ago, in August last year.

While neighboring countries have sometimes scrambled to meet vaccine demand, especially earlier this year, Russia has been confronted with quite the opposite dilemma: plenty of vaccine supplies but resistance from a vaccine-skeptical population.

In the last few weeks, the number of recorded COVID-19 cases has risen inexorably, with records broken day after day. By ordering most state organizations and private businesses to stop work for a week, except for those involved in maintaining critical infrastructure, the Kremlin hoped the trend could be reversed. But since the involuntary public holiday ended there has been little let-up in the infection rates.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov admitted Wednesday to reporters in Moscow that the authorities had expected the pandemic to end quickly. At first we thought that the pandemic would end in six months  in a year. Now we see that we were wrong in our calculations. We will soon have two years of this pandemic, and so far, there is no end in sight, he said.

The Kremlin is planning to launch a new domestic information campaign which will stress that life can only return to normal, and pandemic restrictions lifted, when more Russians are inoculated, according to Kommersant newspaper. The information campaign will also seek to counter anti-vaccine messaging, presumably when it targets Russians, say officials.

The newspaper quotes two Kremlin sources as saying the new public service information campaign will be overseen by aides of Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy chief of staff of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Kiriyenko is frequently called on by Putin to manage major domestic political initiatives and he was entrusted with overseeing Kremlin operations for the 2018 presidential election.

Last month, deputy parliamentary speaker Pyotr Tolstoy, a Putin ally, said publicly he feared the Kremlin was losing the information battle. He critiqued the governments spotty information effort so far, saying on Russian television, Unfortunately, we conducted an entire information campaign about the coronavirus in Russia incorrectly and completely lost. Tolstoy added: People have no trust to go and get vaccinated, this is a fact.

Distrust

Some commentators have suggested the low vaccine uptake can be linked to rising public mistrust of Putin, but some Russian sociologists see a more complex dynamic at play and they say a variety of factors are involved, from conspiracy theories to widespread distrust of Russias hospitals and medical facilities.

In a recent panel discussion hosted by OpenDemocracy, a political website based in Britain, Anna Temkina, a sociology professor at the European University in St. Petersburg, said the relationship between vaccination attitudes and politics is not clear cut, noting anti-Putin protesters were among the first to get inoculated.

In Russia, many people are not vaccinated regardless of rumors, regardless of politics, but because they have had a traumatic experience of communicating with medical institutions, Temkina said. Many of us have such a negative experience of dealing with [Russian] medicine that we know that it is better not to go there at all. In addition, there is also an understanding that it is generally better not to approach any medical facility in an epidemic, since this is a source of infection, she added.

Other sociologists, including Ekaterina Borozdina, a colleague of Temkinas, says vaccine resistance has to be seen in an historical context. She says there has been a persistence bias against vaccines for decades. Russians are in no rush to get vaccinated, even when it comes to fighting a pandemic and getting back to normal everyday life, she said, speaking at the same panel discussion.

Borozdina says theres a mistrust of government institutions and bureaucracy in general. Even before the emergence of the pandemic about 45 percent of Russians failed to follow the recommended vaccination schedules for their children.

Kremlin spokesperson Peskov admitted midweek that the government has not done enough to explain the importance of getting inoculated. Putin last week urged lawmakers to promote vaccination, saying, People trust and listen to your advice and recommendations.
Here's a look at what U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other top diplomats have been doing this week:

Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal

Blinken is visiting Africa November 15-20, with stops in Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. He met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi on Wednesday to discuss urgent regional security, with pulling Ethiopia back from the brink of civil war high on the agenda. At a news conference in Nairobi, Blinken said he and Kenyatta discussed the crisis in Ethiopia and the African effort to resolve it, led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Blinken, in Kenya, Pushes for End to Ethiopia War

Blinken is set to start events in Nigeria on Thursday, where he is expected to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security issues and revitalizing democracies.

Nigerian Experts Have Big Expectations Ahead of Blinken's Visit Thursday

Blinken's last visit will be with Senegalese President Macky Sall in Dakar "to reaffirm the close partnership between our two countries."

Blinken's trip to Africa comes as the U.S. aims to boost an African Union-led initiative to end the fighting between the Ethiopian government and ethnic Tigrayans.

Blinken to Visit Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal to Discuss Ethiopian Crisis

Myanmar

American journalist Danny Fenster was released Monday after being held in Myanmar for 176 days. Bill Richardson, a former U.S. representative and ambassador to the United Nations, took part in negotiations with the Myanmar junta for Fenster's release, and he called for protection for journalists worldwide.

Journalist Held in Myanmar Back in US After Release

US, China

The United States and China will ease access restrictions on journalists from each other's countries. The State Department said the People's Republic of China was committed to extending visa validity for U.S. journalists to one year. In return, the U.S. committed to do the same for PRC journalists. The PRC also pledged to permit U.S. journalists already in the country to freely depart and return, which they had previously been unable to do, and the U.S. plans to do the same for Chinese journalists.

China, US Agree to Ease Restrictions on Journalists

The journalist reciprocity agreement discussed between working-level officials came before U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a virtual meeting Monday to ensure that the competition between the two countries "does not veer into conflict."

US, Chinese Officials Laud Progress in Inaugural Presidential Meeting

Blinken participated in the virtual meeting, where senior officials from the U.S. and China held "an extended discussion" on Taiwan. Biden clarified U.S. interests, ensuring there were "no unilateral changes to the status quo" across the Taiwan Strait. And, according to a senior U.S. administration official, Biden was "quite direct about his concerns about some of Beijing's behavior that he believes is at odds with" peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

US, Chinese Leaders Share Differing Interpretations on Taiwan

Religious freedom

Blinken designated China, Russia and eight other countries as violators of religious freedom. In a statement Wednesday, he said that the 10 countries "engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom." Other countries on this year's list are Myanmar, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Eritrea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. Nigeria, which was removed from the list this year, will host Blinken's visit this week.

US Designates China, Russia, 8 Others as Violators of Religious Freedom

Cambodia

The U.S. announced sanctions against two high-level Cambodian military officials last week, setting off a storm of invective from Phnom Penh and ratcheting up tensions related to Chinese development around the strategically located Ream Naval Base. In statements about the decision, the U.S. specifically cited corruption related to the naval base, which has become a geopolitical flashpoint between the superpowers as the U.S. worries it may become a Chinese military outpost in the Gulf of Thailand.

Phnom Penh Rebuffs US Sanctions of Cambodian Military Leaders

U.S., Qatar

Qatar will represent American interests in Afghanistan beginning December 31, Blinken announced last Friday during the U.S.-Qatar strategic dialogue. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul closed after last summer's withdrawal of U.S. and allied troops from Afghanistan, ending the country's 20-year war and leaving it under Taliban control.

Qatar to Represent US Interests in Afghanistan
The U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned the military crackdown on Sudanese protesters, a day after security forces killed 15 people in demonstrations against the country's October 25 military coup.

Wednesday was the deadliest day of violence since the takeover and increased the death toll during the recent pro-democracy protests to 39.

Witnesses said the security forces dispersed protests in Khartoum and other cities using live ammunition and tear gas.

The U.N.s Michelle Bachelet said in a statement Thursday that her office has repeatedly asked the countrys security forces and military refrain from the use of unnecessary and disproportionate against demonstrators.

Shooting into large crowds of unarmed demonstrators, leaving dozens dead and may more injured, is deplorable, clearly aimed at stifling the expression of public dissent, and amounts to gross violations of international human rights law, Bachelet said.

The U.N., citing reliable medical sources, said more than 100 demonstrators were wounded in Wednesdays protests, including 80 who were shot in their upper bodies and heads.

Police said 89 officers sustained injuries.

Reporting from Khartoum for VOA's South Sudan in Focus, Michael Atit said hospitals struggled to deal with scores of wounded people.

Because authorities cut telecommunications ahead of the protests, the administration of Al Dauli Hospital sought help from mosques to call for doctors and nurses to come help save lives, said Waliddeen Al Fekki, a member of the executive board of the Sudanese Doctors Association,

"They used the microphone of the mosque," Al Fekki said.

A group of neighborhood resistance committees coordinating the protest movement in east Khartoum announced Thursday in a statement that there will be an open escalation against the ruling junta until its overthrow.

Now we are making consultations among the resistance committees about upping the escalation against the coup, a senior member of the committees in the capital told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Protesters described the behavior of police on Wednesday as more aggressive than in the past, the latest sign that the military is looking to entrench its position. The military has said peaceful protests are allowed.

The protests were the latest marches held by Sudans pro-democracy movement since a joint civilian-military government was ousted in the military takeover.

The coup occurred after weeks of escalating tensions between military and civilian leaders over Sudans transition to democracy.

Sudans Army Chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said he dissolved the joint civilian-military council and the government due to "political quarrels that were threatening the security of the country.

The coup has threatened to derail the process that began after the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a 2019 popular uprising.

VOAs English to Africa Service contributed to this report. Some information in this report came from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
The United Nations said Wednesday that two of its staff members have been held incommunicado for more than a week by Houthi rebels in Yemen, and it called for their immediate release.

The secretary-general is deeply concerned about the arrests and detention of two U.N. staff members in Sanaa by the Houthis earlier this month, Antonio Guterres spokesman told reporters.

We call for their immediate release, Stephane Dujarric said.

The two male employees were separately detained on November 5 and November 7. One works in human rights and the other for UNESCO. Dujarric said no charges have been filed against them, nor has the U.N. received any explanation for their arrests.

The spokesman said that ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting last Thursday on Yemen, the U.N. had received assurances from the Houthis that the staffers would be released, and those assurances were conveyed to the Security Council.

However, as of today, the staff members remain in detention, in breach of U.N. privileges and immunities and in direct contravention to the assurances we received last week, Dujarric said.

On November 10, the Security Council designated three senior Houthi military leaders for international sanctions, including an asset freeze and travel ban.

Earlier detentions

This is the second time this month that U.N. staff members have been detained in a country where they are working. Earlier this month, the Ethiopian government arrested more than 20 U.N. national staff members and 70 subcontractor truck drivers. About half of each group has since been released.

The United States has had similar issues in Yemen. Some locally hired staff members at the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa have been detained after the embassy was breached by the Houthis.

Washingtons special envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, is in the region and the State Department said in a statement Tuesday that he would discuss these developments with the Houthis, who are the de facto authorities in Sanaa.

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have been fighting with the Saudi-backed government of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi for seven years. The war has pushed the regions poorest country to the brink.

More than 20 million Yemenis, in a population of around 30 million, need humanitarian assistance. The World Food Program says 16 million of them are marching towards starvation because of a combination of conflict and a crippling economic crisis.
The United Nations top diplomat in Afghanistan urged the international community on Wednesday to pay greater attention to the rise of the so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan, saying the terror group is taking advantage of continuing instability to expand its presence in the country.

Once limited to a few provinces and Kabul, ISIL-KP now seems to be present in nearly all provinces and increasingly active, U.N. envoy Deborah Lyons told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, using an acronym for the Islamic State Khorasan Province.

She said attacks are up significantly  334 this year, compared with 60 in 2020, all attributed to or claimed by IS Khorasan. Many of the attacks have targeted Shiites.

The Taliban insist that they are waging a concerted campaign against ISIL-KP, but this campaign is worrying as it appears to rely heavily on extrajudicial detentions and killings of suspected ISIL-KP members, Lyons said. This is an area deserving of more attention from the international community.

The terror group has intensified bombings and other attacks since the Taliban seized power in mid-August.

U.S. military officials have been warning for months that there is a danger of IS Khorasan and al-Qaida regrouping and reemerging in a weakened Afghanistan.

On engagement with the Taliban, Lyons said it has been generally useful and constructive and that the Taliban have assured the United Nations that they want it to stay and assist the population.

Humanitarian catastrophe

Afghanistan was in a humanitarian crisis before the government fell to the Taliban. Years of conflict, drought and corruption had left millions in poverty and displaced.

With the economy dependent on foreign development aid, which has been largely suspended while the international community assesses whether the Taliban can be a reliable partner, the humanitarian situation has steadily unraveled and the U.N. says 23 million people in a country of 38 million need some form of assistance.

We are on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, but we are on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe that is preventable, Lyons said.

While she did not explicitly call for the lifting of international sanctions or the unfreezing of funds, she pointed to their role in the gradual economic collapse.

An entire complex social and economic system is shutting down, in part due to the asset freeze, the suspension of non-humanitarian aid flows, and sanctions, the U.N. envoy said.

Russia and China urged the unfreezing of Afghanistans internationally held cash.

The frozen Afghan assets should be returned to the true owners as soon as possible, and cannot be used as bargaining chip or threat or for coercion, Chinas U.N. envoy Zhang Jun said.

US aid

The United States, which completed its withdrawal from the country in August, has contributed $474 million this year in humanitarian assistance.

And although we and many others are rightly seized with Afghanistans humanitarian needs, we continue to pay close attention to whether the Taliban is demonstrating compliance with its commitments on counterterrorism, respect for human rights, and inclusivity, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis told the council.

The Taliban government has not won any formal international recognition, and it is still represented at the United Nations by the previous governments envoy.

The situation in Afghanistan is extremely fragile, Ambassador Ghulam Isaczai said. It is only through an inclusive government we can safeguard against a new civil war along ethnic lines and the use of Afghan territory by foreign terrorist outfit, as well as making a transition from a perpetual state of humanitarian crisis to a more stable economy.

He expressed support for reviving the Doha peace process and the holding of an international peace conference.

On the humanitarian situation, he appealed for generous international support, but stressed funding should not go directly to the Taliban.

Iran, Tajikistan and Pakistan also addressed the council as concerned neighbors.

Pakistan, which has had a warm relationship with the Taliban, said the new authorities are responding positively to engagement with the international community.

The nightmare scenarios that were feared after 15 August have not come to pass, Ambassador Munir Akram told the council. There has been no widespread violence or violations of human rights in Afghanistan.

He said the security situation is vastly improved and girls schools are open except for secondary schools. He said the Taliban say that is because of a lack of teachers and their inability to find the cash to pay them.

The glass may yet be half full, yet engagement has yielded progress, Akram said.

The Pakistani diplomat also took a swipe at his Afghan counterpart, saying the council might benefit more from hearing from those actually ruling Kabul.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said China's hypersonic missile test over the summer drew "concerns" about Beijing's growing capability, but he said he did not compare it to Russia's launching of the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, in the 1950s.

"Those are terms that I wouldn't use, I don't personally use," Austin replied Wednesday to reporters asking whether the July 27 launch was a "Sputnik moment."

Austin called China the U.S. military's "pacing challenge" but added that the U.S. was focused on "robust capability across the board" rather than one specific capability such as hypersonic weapons.

Even though the Chinese weapon missed its target by several kilometers, according to the Financial Times, the test marked the first time any country had sent a hypersonic weapon fully around the Earth. Hypersonic weapons travel at more than five times the speed of sound and are incredibly difficult to track.

China has denied it carried out a hypersonic missile test, saying it was testing a reusable spacecraft.

In an interview with CBS News that aired this week, General John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, struck a more forceful tone when discussing the hypersonic test.

"It's a very significant capability that has the potential to change a lot of things," Hyten said.

Asked if he would compare the Chinese test to Sputnik, Hyten replied that "from a technology perspective, it's pretty impressive."

"But Sputnik created a sense of urgency in the United States," the second highest ranking general said. "The test on July 27 did not create that sense of urgency. I think it probably should create a sense of urgency."

China has already deployed one medium-range hypersonic weapon, according to Hyten, while the U.S. is still years away from fielding its first one.

Last month, General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also called the Chinese test "very concerning."

"I don't know if it's quite a Sputnik moment, but I think it's very close to that. It has all of our attention," Milley said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

Russia-Ukraine tensions

Earlier in the Pentagon briefing Wednesday, Austin called on Russia to be more transparent about its troop buildup on the border of Ukraine.

"We're not sure exactly what Mr. [Vladimir] Putin [Russia's president] is up to, but these movements certainly have our attention," he said.

In early November, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said about 90,000 Russian troops were close to the border and in rebel-controlled areas in Ukraine's east.

A buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine earlier this year heightened tensions with the West. Russian officials said the troops had been deployed for training to counter security threats posed by nearby NATO forces.

Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and has since been supporting a separatist insurgency in Ukraine's east.
For girls in Pakistan getting an education can be more difficult because schools are often located far from home. VOAs Muhammad Saqib brings us the story of a teacher who is trying to help her students solve that problem. Bezhan Hamdard narrates.
Zimbabwe's government says the COVID-19 pandemic is "under control" in the country, following several days with few or no reported deaths and few infections from the virus. But doctors are warning against complacency and say a fresh wave of infections is likely coming.

After this weeks cabinet meeting, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists that Zimbabwe was managing the COVID-19 situation.

The number of COVID-19 cases in schools is declining. The number of people in need of hospitalization for COVID-19 also decreased, with no patients under intensive care. In general, therefore, this indicates that the national response measures instituted by government continue to pay off and that the pandemic is being brought under control, Mutsvangwa said.

Dr. Norman Matara, the head of Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights, agrees with the governments assessment.

We do agree that at the present moment the COVID-19 pandemic has been brought control, as shown by the figures. The World Health Organization says that the COVID-19 pandemic, which is out of control, is signified by a positive rate of more than 5% and anything below 5% is a well-controlled pandemic. Our positivity rate for the past three-four weeks has been less than 2.5%, Matara said.

Matara warned Zimbabweans to maintain protective measures against the virus.

However, we need to guard against complacence. There is danger of another wave coming in, another strain coming in especially when we have not achieved a herd immunity, Matara said.

Zimbabwe has fully inoculated just above 2.7 million people since February when it began its vaccination program to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government has a target of vaccinating at least 10 million Zimbabweans  or 60% of the population  by the end of the year.

Dr. Cleophas Chimbetete, president of Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians, says its not time to relax until that is achieved.

We know that predictions are that we will have a fourth wave. So my advice to the government is that this is the time to continue to double efforts to make sure that more and more Zimbabweans get vaccinated. Furthermore, this is the time to strengthen our management pillar as we anticipate a fourth wave. It is important that we capacitate hospitals across the nation. Not just in our major cities and towns, but in every district in every province of the district, Chimbetete said.

Carlos Caceres, the International Monetary Fund resident representative in Zimbabwe, says his organization is happy with authorities swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonetheless, the pandemic took a severe toll on the economic and humanitarian situationwith Zimbabwes economy contracting cumulatively by about 11 percent during 2019-20 owing to the combined effects of the pandemic, Cyclone Idai, a protracted drought, and weakened policy buffers. Following a severe wave from June to August 2021, COVID-19 infection rates have slowed significantly, lockdown measures have been eased, and the vaccination program continues steadily, Caceres said.

Overall, Zimbabwe has 133,505 confirmed coronavirus infections and 4,698 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, which tracks the global outbreak.
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TODAY IN HISTORY ... Thousands of Zimbabwe protested in Harare praising the army for pressing then President Robert Mugabe to step down.
A Zimbabwean prophet, Tapiwa Freddy, appeared in court today for allegedly raping a disabled widow and was granted bail by a Harare magistrate.

According to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Freddy, who is the founding member of the Goodness and Mercy Ministries, allegedly raped the woman three months after the death of her husband.

The court heard that Freddy promised to look after her and her children. Her husband died from an undisclosed ailment.

The state-controlled broadcaster reports that court documents indicate that Freddy overpowered the disabled woman when he went to her house for the first time to pray for her.

The prosecution claims that while at the house, he proposed love to her but she turned him down, resulting in Freddy raping her. He allegedly told her after the sexual encounter that from now onwards you are my wife.

Freddy allegedly visited the 33-year-old woman several times and raped her until she informed her uncle.

The woman told the court that she did not report the matter to the police as she was fearing for her life.

He is expected to appear in court on December 6th.
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Kokopo / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vibration and rolling / 10-15 s : Woke up from sleep bed swaying house on posts swaying stood up on floor preparing to run out of house but eased after ten minutes no stuff or furniture fell but scary | 5 users found this interesting.

Kokopo, East New Britain (192 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s Light shaking. | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Arawa (226.6 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Telatu, Bougainville (96.3 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Severe shaking (MMI VIII) / complex motion difficult to describe / several minutes

Bialla, West New Britain, PNG (298.2 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Hutjena, Bougainville (104.8 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Rabaul, East New Britain (219.8 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

Buka, Bougainville (104.2 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 10-15 s

Rabaul, PNG (194 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 minutes

Lihir / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Tully / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Port Moresby / not felt

Madang, PapauNewGuinea / not felt

Kokopo / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / very short

Buka / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : Moderate shaking

Kokopau, Selau district, Bougainville / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Moderate shaking

Buka / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Buka Town / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s
The United States and Ukraine are the only two states to have voted against the UN General Assembly resolution against the glorification of Nazism.

The resolution was adopted on 12 November 2021 at the GA Third Committee meeting, with 121 votes in favor and 53 abstentions. The United Nations has 193 member states.

US diplomats denounced "Russias rewriting of history", while Ukrainians denounced "the rehabilitation of the criminal regime of dictator Stalin."

The Biden and Zelensky administrations are the only two governments in the world that consider that Ukraine was liberated by the Nazis.

Ukraine, with the help of the United States under the Obama administration, enlisted genuine Nazis in its government following the [1].
Photo: Jae C Hong/AP/Shutterstock

Chief electrician Serge Svetnoy is the first member of the Rust crew to take legal action concerning the on-set shooting on October 21. A gun that was thought to be cold, fired by Alec Baldwin during rehearsals, actually contained a live round. The bullet killed director of photography Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. In the lawsuit (obtained by the Los Angeles Times), Svetnoy claims the bullet nearly struck him as well. He felt a strange and terrifying whoosh of what felt like pressurized air as Baldwin fired the gun. Svetnoy was struck by discharge materials from the blast, the suit reads.

The lawsuit names the films producers, armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, first assistant director Dave Halls, prop master Sarah Zachry, and weapons provider Seth Kenney as defendants. Svetnoy claims that Baldwin, who is one of the films producers, shares responsibility for what happened on the Santa Fe set. The lawsuit says Baldwin was supposed to reach across his chest to draw the revolver and point it at the camera. The scene did not call for Defendant Baldwin to shoot the Colt Revolver, it reads.

The lawsuit details Svetnoys recollection of events, including that he noticed his hearing was muffled, right before realizing that Hutchins and Souza had been shot. Svetnoy cradled her head and spoke to her, trying to keep her calm, alert and conscious, the lawsuit states.

Hutchinss husband has retained the law firm Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi but has yet to file suit. The incident is still under investigation by the Santa Fe County sheriffs department.

Update, November 17: Script supervisor Mamie Mitchell, who made the 911 call after the fatal shooting, has also filed suit against Baldwin, Gutierrez-Reed, and others. According to People, Mitchell is claiming she was injured in the shooting and is suing for assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and deliberate infliction of harm.

I relive the shooting and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over again, Mitchell said at a press conference. Im depressed. I dont feel safe. I feel like, at any moment, anything can happen to me and to those that I care about standing close to me. I dont have a sense of guardrails in my life to keep me safe. I am frightened of the future.

Mitchells suit echoes Svetnoys claim that the script did not call for Baldwin to fire his weapon at all. Her attorney, Gloria Allred, said, In our opinion, Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian roulette when he fired a gun without checking it and without having the armorer do so in his presence. His behavior and that of the producers on Rust was reckless.
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Fort Clatsop has debuted a new temporary exhibit honoring Veterans Day in the park Visitor Center exhibit hall.

Men of Many Capabilities commemorates the 50th anniversary of when the US Army Special Forces Green Berets retraced the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Twenty-two men of the Special Forces 5th and 7th Groups from Fort Bragg, N.C. took part in the 1971 expedition. The expedition was led by Captains Michael Lewis of Spokane, Wash. and Bernard Haskins Jr. of El Cajon, Calif.

The 1971 expedition represented only the second US military expedition across North America and the first since Lewis and Clarks journey of 1804-1806.

All the men had recently returned from service in Vietnam, where the US was still actively engaged in combat. While officially a training exercise, the Green Berets retracing of the Lewis and Clark Expedition also served as an important source of goodwill ambassadorship at a time of growing dissolution over US military intervention in Vietnam.

Men of Many Capabilities features details of the 1971 expedition, including the Green Berets food and means of transportation. Original objects donated by Capt. Michael Lewis are on display, along with photos from the mens arrival at Fort Clatsop on Sept. 5, 1971. A matching game for children is also available. Military veterans are encouraged to share their reflections on teamwork and leadership from their service years on comment cards at the exhibit.

Men of Many Capabilities is on display now through Dec. 11 and is available during regular hours.

For more information, call the park at (503) 861-2471, check out http://www.nps.gov/lewi, or lewisandclarknps on Instagram, or Lewis and Clark National Historical Park on Facebook.
Man suspected of murdering his family before killing himself.

Five members of the same family were found dead in an apartment in Sassuolo, northern Italy, in what investigators believe to be a murder-suicide case.

Police are working on the theory that a 38-year-old man of Tunisian origin used a knife to murder his Italian partner, their two sons aged five and two, and his 64-year-old mother-in-law, before taking his own life.

An 11-year-old daughter that the woman had from a previous relationship escaped the massacre as she was at school.

The alarm was raised when nobody came to collect the girl and the school's phone calls to her parents went unanswered.

The killings are belived to have occurred between 15.00 and 16.00 on Wednesday afternoon in a residential area of the town, which is part of the Modena province in the Emilia-Romagna region.

The couple had separated about a month ago, according to local media, and the woman, 43, had taken her three children to live with her mother in whose house the killings took place.

News agency ANSA reports that there is an audio recording of the man, who was employed in a local supermarket, making a death threat against his former partner in recent weeks.

The dynamics of the incident are still being examined by investigators.

Photo Tgcom24
Zerocalcare leaps from the comic strip into animated television.

Netflix Italy takes a dive into the offbeat world of Rome cartoonist Michele Rech, better known as Zerocalcare, with a new animated mini-series called Tear Along the Dotted Line.

The show, whose original Italian title is Strappare lungo i bordi, has been launched in 190 countries around the world and is available in several languages including English.

Netflix describes the new series as "offbeat, irreverent", and introduces it like this: "A cartoonist in Rome with his armadillo-for-a-conscience reflects on his path in life and a would-be love as he and his friends travel outside the city."

The show was premiered at the Rome Film Festival last month and has received critical acclaim since it became available for streaming on Netflix.

The six episodes, each lasting about 15 minutes, are studded with flashbacks and anecdotes ranging from the artist's youth to the present day.

The animated series was written, directed and narrated by Zerocalcare who credited Netflix with giving him "absolute freedom" in the project.

"A few years ago I had the desire to try to tell a story not in comics but in cartoons" - Zerocalacare said at the Rome premiere - "because it is a more direct, more accessible language."

Fans say the series is "very Roman while also being universal", examining various Italian stereotypes as well as including social-political context, with Rome city life in the background.

The series sees the lead character confront themes such as meeting his friend Alice for the first time, briefly being the teacher's pet, the "nightmarish" experience of tutoring kids, the struggle of looking for work, consoling Alice after a breakup, and his struggles with grief.
Christmas tree in Piazza S. Pietro will come from Trentino.

This year the Vatican will display a Nativity Scene with figurines dressed in Andean costumes in what will be the first Christmas crib in St Peter's Square to come from the Americas.

Work is currently underway to install the crib, created by five artists from the Chopcca Nation of indigenous peoples in the Huancavelica region of Peru, ahead of its inauguration on Friday 10 December.

The more than 30 life-sized figurines, made of ceramic, maguey wood and fibreglass, will be dressed in traditional Chopcca costumes and the crib will feature alpacas, vicunas and the Andean condor, Perus national symbol.

Photo Catholic News Agency

Baby Jesus will be represented as a "Hilipuska" child, reports Vatican News, wrapped in a typical Huancavelica blanket tied with a "chumpi" or woven belt.

The Three Wise Men will carry traditional food including quinoa and other indigenous cereals, and they will be accompanied by llamas draped in the Peruvian flag.

In a statement the Vatican press office said the Nativity Scene represents a cross-section of the life of the peoples of the Andes and celebrates the bicentennial of Peru's independence.

The inauguration ceremony on 10 December will also see the Vatican switch on the lights on its Christmas tree, a red fir gifted from the north Italian region of Trentino.

The 28m-high tree is from a sustainable forestry management project in Andalo and the wooden decorations will also be provided by Trentino.

The Vatican will illuminate the Christmas tree with sustainable, low-energy lights, according to the Holy See press office.

Cover photo Voz de la Diaspora
Discontent, populism and politics pushed to extremes are not unique to Chile. The trouble is that adding to that mix the creation of a new constitution  drawn up by a gathering in which independents are heavily represented, after voters repudiated politics as usual  will not prove the institutional solution that some hope. Notwithstanding the problems with the previous iteration, with its roots in an autocratic regime, its unclear the benefits of starting afresh will outweigh the risks of a prolonged period of instability. In the near term, it will cast Chile into what Patricio Navia, political scientist and professor at New York University, described to me as a valley of despair. Writing a new charter, as he points out, comes with a high cost, given everything the country might lose.Once written, by delegates chosen by less than half of Chiles electorate, the document will have to be put to the public again.
But it also reflects Deutsche Banks restructuring under Chief Executive Officer Christian Sewing. Theres plenty to improve before it approaches an attractive return for shareholders: Costs are too high in the retail bank; it needs to finish unloading unwanted assets; and an additional restructuring charge last quarter was unwelcome. But Sewing has managed to cut underlying expenses and to rebuild capital to the point where it can talk about potentially buying back stock after 2022. That has been unthinkable for years.
The competitive threat from Amazon.com Inc. may be a dampener on what investors are willing to pay here. Who knows, perhaps Bol.com could command an enterprise value north of 10 billion euros. At this stage, its just guesswork. Few companies trade at the value of their component parts and the idea that the market is missing something hiding in plain sight is always a gamble. But a listing would settle the question once and for all.
Lukashenko has long thrown caution and diplomacy to the wind; Europeans dont see him as a rational actor, and neither, quite likely, does Putin  but the assist was just too good for the Russian leader to miss. To him, the border crisis and its consequences, the European gas markets troubles, even the Ukraine-related tensions can all be arguments in favor of Nord Stream 2. Its unclear to what extent hes creating these arguments  theres no doubt, however, that he uses them as best he can.It may appear that Germany is becoming resistant to Putins brand of persuasion. On Nov. 16, the German Federal Network Agency, a regulator whose approval is necessary for Nord Stream 2 to operate, suspended the application. To the politically-minded, this might look like caretaker Chancellor Angela Merkels payback for the indignity of having had to call pariah Lukashenko, at Putins insistence, to attempt a resolution to the refugee crisis. Yet the German bureaucracy can be quite apolitical, and in this particular case, the reason for the suspension appears to be bureaucratic. The regulator wants the pipelines operator, now Swiss-registered, to transfer its assets and staff to Germany and incorporate under German law  a reasonable request of a pipeline with its endpoint in Germany.Its not that a German company would be difficult for Gazprom, the Russian gas supplier, to set up  but the suspension likely means a considerable delay, which explains the subsequent jump in spot natural gas prices. While the process runs its course, Putin needs to walk the thin line between keeping up the pressure and alienating the German government  and that means he will likely refrain from any abrupt moves in the coming months. In a way, hes on the hook  at least as long as Nord Stream 2s coming online remains a highly likely outcome.
Russian gas producer Gazprom PJSC will need to restructure its Nord Stream 2 operations to comply with the requirements of the German energy watchdog BNetzA and EU law. Only then can the intricate approval process, which started in September and was suspended in mid-November, resume. The German regulator has up to four months to reach a preliminary conclusion and the EU, which has a more advisory role, can take another two to four months to express its opinion. BNetzA then has a further two months to make a final decision.
Global average ocean freight rates for a 40-foot container have now declined for eight straight weeks, according to data released Thursday from maritime advisory and research firm Drewry. Spot pricing for the busy Shanghai-to-Los Angeles trade route has bounced around more but is still down about 19% from its September peak. Meanwhile, the number of containers lingering for longer than nine days at the Port of Los Angeles has dropped by about a third since the hub announced a plan in October to start fining ocean carriers for excessive dwell times, Executive Director Gene Seroka said this week. The threat alone seems to have driven meaningful improvement, so the ports of L.A. and Long Beach have delayed the penalties (which start at $100 a day and rise in $100 increments) until at least later this month. An influx of additional sweeper ships used to pick up empty containers is also helping to clear dock space for new cargo, while local officials have agreed to temporarily increase the number of containers that can be vertically stacked in nearby warehouses and container yards.
Polls show the top contenders to be Gabriel Boric, a 35-year-old leftist former student leader, and Jose Antonio Kast, a 55-year-old conservative former lawmaker. Boric, who is allied with Chiles Communist Party, wants to do away with the nations market-based neoliberal model. He proposes to raise the minimum wage, as well as corporate and wealth taxes, to cut the maximum work week to 40 hours from 45, introduce workers participation in companies boards, and to create a new national development bank. Meanwhile, Kasts plan is broadly based on increasing investment incentives. He pledges cutting corporate and wealth taxes, reducing public spending, and suggested he would sell a stake in state-owned copper miner Codelco. Boric aims to make abortion free and widely available and supports a program of LGBTQ rights to end discrimination. In contrast, Kast opposes same-sex marriages and abortion, and promises to crack down on illegal immigration. Trailing in polls are candidates from the political parties that have dominated the scene for the last 30 years: Yasna Provoste, a senator from the Christian Democrat party, is running for a coalition from the center-left, made up of parties that helped unseat Pinochet. Sebastian Sichel represents the parties that back the incumbent president, Sebastian Pinera.
Talking to Wolfhard now, the candidness remains. His answers, even the ones that hint of rehearsed, PR-approved sound bites, lack the disquietingly poised delivery that many young stars learn to perfect. Instead, Wolfhard uses like with reckless teenage abandon and meanders off course with details and anecdotes that excite him. Theres a lengthy tale about a tipsy Rami Malek imparting advice at a 2016 Critics Choice Awards after-party  Did you really have fun tonight? the older star implored of Wolfhard. Because if youre doing any of this stuff and youre not having fun, you need to stop it immediately  and an apologetic f-bomb as Wolfhard marveled at how crazy it is that he will potentially be the same age in Stranger Things 5 as his older co-stars Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton were when they started the show.
Americas first official National Museum, AIB is a fitting place to think about the future. When the building opened in 1881, the Smithsonian primarily focused on research, and scholars had been using the Castle as storage. The second Smithsonian building, AIB, created additional space to keep animal specimens, nascent technologies, geological samples, musical instruments and other objects for research  all in a venue the public could visit. Ultimately, AIB became an incubator for new museums. Air and Space, American History, the Natural History Museum lived here before they found official, permanent homes on the Mall.
I should note here that genever is a complex spirit category. In 2008, the European Union granted it protected geographical indication, the same standard as Champagne and cognac. It established genever as a product that can be made only in Holland, Belgium and small regions of France and Germany. Today, E.U. law defines several styles of genever, including jonge (young) and oude (old). Dutch law further defines korenwijn, which can omit juniper altogether. Heres where it can get tricky: Jonge and oude arent indications of age, but of recipe. Oude, the Old World style, has to contain at least 15 percent malt wine but can contain more, while jonge, a newer style, can contain no more than 15 percent malt wine but often contains less. All genever must have some measure of juniper. It can be aged, but thats not a requirement. Today, an estimated 98 percent of genever sold is jonge. But traditional styles are making a comeback as smaller distilleries emerge.
In before-times, the city swelled by as much as 800,000 nonresident commuters every day. The commuter rate has been much lower during the pandemic, but were still a regional hub that gets plenty of visitors who dont care much for doing as the Washingtonians do. Example No. 1 is Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (a Republican representing Georgia, where just 49 percent of residents are fully vaccinated), who refuses to get a vaccine and has racked up $63,000 in fines for refusing to wear a mask while working in the House of Representatives.
The computer data dispute centers on an allegation that surfaced at the very end of the campaign  that a server tied to the Trump Organization was in repeated contact months earlier with a server for Russia-based Alfa Bank. The claim was based on records from the Domain Name System, or DNS, a kind of digital phone book that matches domain names  usually a jumble of words  to Internet protocol addresses, which are numbers. Such records show when one computer seeks out another, but the logs dont explain the substance of any communication.
Until recently, the efforts to gain Jeffs freedom were being undertaken quietly and out of the spotlight, so it didnt make sense to generate a lot of publicity, she said. But that situation has changed and Im now asking for help from my brothers and sisters in Christ, from the public, and from the governments of Mali and the United States.
On the day after the election, the pair allegedly also tried to break into the computer network of a company that provides content management systems to many U.S. news organizations, in an attempt to spread more disinformation. However, officials said, that attempt was unsuccessful because the FBI had already warned the firm about the alleged hackers previous entry into their system.
Biden took office determined to repair relationships with foreign allies and to declare to the world that America was back after four years of chaos under Trump. He made a point of scheduling his first virtual meeting with a foreign leader with Trudeau in February, and his second with Lopez Obrador in March. Vice President Harris also stopped in Mexico City on her first trip abroad in June.
But the senators have not yet secured 50 firm votes from fellow Democrats for that sweeping proposal, let alone the 60 bipartisan votes they would need to vault a likely Republican filibuster. And those advocating for swift passage of the narrower bill, known as the SAFE Banking Act, say that the time has come for Congress to start chipping away at the federal marijuana prohibition  starting with the places where there is bipartisan consensus to do so.
Censuring a House member, however, has not historically been this partisan. The last time a lawmaker was censured was in 2010, when Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) received a public scolding  also from Pelosi  for 11 ethics violations, including the misuse of congressional letterhead for fundraising and inaccurate financial reports and federal tax returns. Back then, the chamber voted overwhelmingly to censure Rangel, 333 to 79. Seventy-seven Democrats and two Republicans voted against the censure. And while Democrats close to Rangel had tried to downgrade the censure to a reprimand, other Democrats and Republicans rebuked that effort. A reprimand is a less severe form of punishment that, according to House rules, is somewhat less punitive because it does not require that the offending member be scolded before the House. Still, it registers the Houses disapproval of a members conduct.
Republicans, for their part, do not trust Democrats and accuse them of overstating the danger Gosar and his closest allies pose to the chamber, mocking his video as a mere cartoon that meant no harm. They nonetheless spent the past two days warning Democrats that Republicans will return the favor in 2023 if they win the House majority in the midterm elections, identifying Democrats whom they will probably try to oust from committees in the not-so-distant future for intemperate statements.
The bumped-out great room has been transformed into a combination mud room, kitchen and dining room. The homes existing kitchen had an island with seating for casual dining, a concept that was carried over into the new space. There are seats on both sides of the large rectangular island topped with soapstone, which was also used for the countertops. The refrigerator is by Sub-Zero, the dishwasher, oven and induction cooktop are all by Bosch. The cabinets are by Ikea with custom fronts, and the backsplash is glazed, terra cotta tile.
Supporters of Julian Assange outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Dec. 10 in London. (Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)

The WikiLeaks founder can still appeal to the Supreme Court.
Arshad Ali, 25, one of the about 30 people who arrived in the Iraqi capital, said he has a law degree but couldnt find a job in Iraq for more than five years. But the attempt to reach Europe proved to be dangerous. The moment we reached the border of Poland, the Belarus army arrested us and stole our phones, and left us stuck there for days, he said. I came back because now I have no other choice, but if I had a better chance I would try again.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar were among the biggest Arab supporters of the Syrian rebels during the revolt against Assads rule. Egypt, which could play a key role in ensuring Syrias full re-acceptance by the Arab world, never entirely severed diplomatic relations with Damascus and maintains regular contacts with Syrian government officials. But Cairo has stopped short of full re-engagement, while pressing, without result, for progress in the seven-year-old U.N.-sponsored negotiations over a political reform process in Syria.
Pelotons pricey exercise bikes were the hot product for fitness buffs in the early days of the pandemic. With jumbo screens and upbeat instructors, being on them mimicked the experience of an in-person spin class in their living rooms.

What happens now that they can get the real thing again?

Shares of companies like Peloton and Zoom Video, the online conference software that replaced face-to-face communications for countless schools and businesses, were darlings of the stock market for the better part of last year. But as the economic reopening gains speed  aided by rising vaccination numbers and promising new treatments for those who get sick  some of the stocks at the centre of the so-called stay-at-home trade collapsed.

One of the go-to stocks during lockdowns around the world, Zooms shares have fallen as countries reopened. Credit:iStock

The markets clearly sense the pandemic is over, said Ben Emons, managing director of global macro strategy for Medley Global Advisors. Were in a full reopening and were moving toward a normalised situation.
MacKenzie Scott stepped out of the long shadow of her former husband, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, by handing out billions of dollars in grants over the past two years to charities, community colleges, food banks and progressive non-profits led by people of colour.

Advising her was a team of consultants at a firm that is hardly known outside philanthropic circles but highly influential within them: The Bridgespan Group.

Th Bridgespan Group advises the likes of Mackenzie Scott Credit:AP

Spun out of the consulting firm Bain & Company as a nonprofit, Bridgespan is one of a host of groups that arose in the early 2000s as a new wave of giving led by tech billionaires was beginning to crest. Two decades later, the consultants working behind the scenes are more important than ever.

Scott pulled back the curtain a bit in June  when among the 286 groups receiving more than $US2.7 billion ($3.7 billion) in donations were a host of organisations that are basically the plumbing and wiring of the nonprofit world. Among them were the Centre for Effective Philanthropy, Charity Navigator and Bridgespan itself, which said it would use its gift mainly to pursue research meant to benefit the sector as a whole.
A German arms dealer celebrating their 50th birthday with a bacchanalian birthday party? Check. And a couple of Algerian in-charge-types in tan suits who are hiding something from everyone mentioned above? Check.

An exotic location that will have you googling Moroccan or Algerian blue on the Dulux paint website? Check. Same goes for the tiles? Check.

A sandy-haired security expert hero who could pass for Prince Harry in a badly lit bar? Check. A beautiful lawyer with a tragic childhood who is involved in a secret affair with said Prince Harry lookalike? Check.

Welcome to Algiers Confidential, a German spy thriller that desperately wants to be Bond  or The Night Manager at a pinch  but is so weighed down by its ambition that it loses any type of personal connection to its characters.

Ken Duken plays the Prince Harry lookalike, Ralf Eley, a German police investigator assigned to the German embassy in Algiers. He has the rugged looks of Daniel Craig, but not 007s swagger, even as he zooms through the casbah in an on-brand Volkswagen or pulls his lady love into an alley for a quick pash. But he does have a few languages up his sleeve  effortlessly switching between German, French, Arabic and English  and the permanently agitated look of an international spy.

He is also involved with Amel Samraoui (Hania Amar), a judge with the Algerian government who was raised by man-in-a-tan-suit No.1, General Soudani (Hammou Graia), and is feted by his sidekick, man-in-a-tan-suit No. 2, Abderrahmane Toumi (Dali Benssalah who, incidentally, keeps a close eye on 007 in the new Bond film, No Time to Die, as the villain Cyclops).

Eley is called in to General Soudanis office when a German arms dealer and his security expert are kidnapped from a supposed secure government villa. They are being held for $50 million ransom, but no one knows who the kidnappers are. Cue more German government involvement, a rival German arms dealer who may or may not be the kidnapper, and an Algerian terrorist group who want to intercept an arms shipment in Germany.

Eleys job is to untangle this mess  find out for the Germans who kidnapped the arms dealer, while also leading Soudani to the kidnappers and try to persuade his girlfriend to move back to Germany with him.
Yesterday, for just a fleeting moment, I missed lockdown. I would never wish for the suffering of those times to continue and it was probably just a case of transitional unease or re-entry exhaustion, but it hit me how difficult it is navigating this post-lockdown world.

It feels like everyone is trying to convince themselves that life is normal again  the past couple of years just some sort of bad dream. Click your fingers and everything will be as it was: workers back in offices, restaurants booked out, classes full. But its not normal and its now become an endless game of Russian roulette  every decision as to where to go and who to interact with a gamble. Lose, and its the very thing that matters the most that is lost  our health and the health of those we love.

Melburnians check in to the NGV via the QR code system. Credit:Scott McNaughton

People tell me this is the New Normal, living with COVID, but I hate the need for constant risk assessments  the weighing up of every activity and whether its worth the risk, or even just worth the worry about the possibility of the risk. I hate the anxiety that lurks after the activity  as to whether we have exposed ourselves, our unvaccinated children, our loved ones to this wretched virus. Whether we should visit our immune-compromised friend, that elderly relative, our newborn niece. And if so, whether we should take with us our child, the one who blew her nose once and sneezed twice but says she feels fine.

Say no to the restaurant invitation with friends and it feel like I am over-reacting, letting fear win and missing out. Say yes and end up in isolation, like I am now, after an encounter with at least three infected wait-staff at a local restaurant. At my childrens school, at least eight classes over six year levels are now in isolation after being identified as potential primary close contacts during a period of five days last week. Even if not directed to, many parents  half in many classes  chose to keep their unvaccinated children home yesterday and this will probably continue. More disruption and challenges for those who take that path and more worry and a feeling almost akin to guilt for those who send them off. These are hard decisions. There is no easy answer, no crystal ball.
My analysis of London and New York show the same thing; Manhattan was hollowed out basically. The researcher said a hollowing out of the workforce in Perth resulted in profound impacts on retail and recreation in the CBD, especially with a greater take-up of online trading and the expansion of suburban shopping centres to even include apartments. The resident worker population ... in terms of people that come into the CBD every day, which is 145,000 people ... those people are the people who are consuming the city in terms of everything from a coffee to buying a suit, Dr Maginn said. CBD retailers are competing with online and the big suburban shopping centres ... all the major shopping centres here have expanded their floor plans and invested heavily in its retail plus cinemas, food and beverage, theyve reconfigured their design as well.

Shopping centre developers have been applying to build apartments around major hubs like Karrinyup, Cockburn and Booragoon. Planning approval for the $1 billion Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre expansion was passed last month and Karrinyup has been able to attract destination stores like the states first official Lego shop. Australian Hotels Association WA chief executive Bradley Woods said Perths CBD had borne the brunt of the impacts form COVID-19 with state and international border closures and more jobs which could be done from home. Retail and hospitality precincts in suburban areas have grown as a result of the pandemic, he said. Perths CBD has, however, fared far better and is well ahead of other major cities where COVID-19 has kept entire economies closed for months on end.

When borders reopen and visitors return from interstate and overseas, this recovery will further accelerate. Committee for Perth chief executive Marion Fulker said it was uncertain if there would be a return to normal for the CBD. There were already warning signs, retail was already in decline, vacancy rates were already higher in the CBD than elsewhere, she said. One of the things for the CBD is, what should it be? Whats its role other than the central business district, it needs to have more residential population. But it has got some things that the suburban centres dont have, like the big cultural institutions for one ... were coming into festival frenzy, as I like to call it, theres reasons for people to come to the city, but we need to have it sort of 12 months of the year, not just at little points in time.

Real estate services company CBRE released a report earlier this year which showed 52 per cent of Perth commuters drove, which was the highest ratio in any Australian city. The CBRE study also noted Monday appeared to be the most popular work-from-home day with less CBD visitation than other weekdays. Green shoots in office leasing Although retail vacancies in Perth have stayed above 20 per cent for several years, there has been a recent uptick in commercial leasing.

The Perth CBD office vacancy rate dropped to 16.8 per cent in July, its lowest level since 2015, and Property Council WA executive director Sandra Brewer said demand for employees was strong across all sectors, creating an opportunity to grow the CBD workforce. City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas. When border restrictions can be safely eased, there are plenty of jobs available in the Perth CBD and plenty of workers looking to get back to the office, she said. Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said having some big firms bring their workers back into the CBD would make a big difference and called on the state government to move some of its larger departments into the city. They [state government] can really shore up some confidence in our CBD by choosing to move one, two or more of those large employee-based departments into the heart of the CBD. That would be a strong show of faith and confidence booster, he said.

Mr Zempilas said creating a safer city should also be part of the equation and renewed his calls for the state government to redirect $4.2 million being paid by ratepayers to cover the costs of the two-year inquiry into the local government back into safety initiatives for the CBD. The Lord Mayor said there were still encouraging signs for Perth, with new venues continuing to open over the past 12 months and a future promising to deliver a jump in population with the building of a new ECU university campus and other initiatives. I am very buoyant and bullish about the future of our CBD, I think we have bottomed out and what we have experienced through COVID is the worst ... and I think we are very much on the way up, he said. A big part of what our council is about is big events, events that attract people into the city. Thats why AFL grand final week was such a significant push for us because we realised the opportunity ... to show what the city looks like when we bring events into the heart of our capital.
WESTPORT  Libertarian first selectman candidate TJ Elgin has filed a lawsuit against the town, claiming he should be the rightful third selectman. The town attorney, though, says he isnt entitled to that seat.

Elgin, who filed the lawsuit in Bridgeport Superior Court on Nov. 16, ran for first selectman against Republican Jennifer Tooker and Democrat Jonathan Steinberg during the Nov. 2 election. In total, he garnered 64 votes and came in third place. Tooker and her running mate Andrea Moore won the top spots with 4,237 votes. Steinberg and his running mate Candice Savin received 4,168 votes.

Steinbergs vote total entitled him to be third selectman. But with him declining the role, Elgin argues the seat should be his. He said the town charter states the first selectman candidate to receive the next highest amount of votes gets the third seat on the board.

Elgin said that with Steinberg declining, he is the only viable option since he has the next highest amount of votes. He argues Savin ran as a second selectman candidate, and so this section of the town charter doesnt apply to her.

Elgins lawsuit comes amid controversy sparked over the interpretation of Westports town charter and Connecticut state statue.

It specifically centers on Section 9-188 of the state statute, which discusses the first selectman, selectmen, election procedure, dual candidacy prohibition, minority representation, restricted voting and a tie vote. It also invokes Section C4-1 of the town charter, which states that the defeated candidate for first selectman having the highest number of votes shall be elected a selectman.

However, Town Attorney Ira Bloom said that Elgin is not entitled to that position.

In a letter sent Nov. 12 to then First Selectman Jim Marpe, Bloom said, There is no provision in the Charter section that awards any other defeated candidate the office of Selectman. Rather, if the defeated candidate  having the highest number of votes declines service, as Mr. Steinberg has done, a vacancy is created in the Board of Selectmen.

Mr. Elgin has no claim to be a Selectman under this Charter section, Bloom wrote.

Bloom continued that Charter Section C38-3, which covers vacancies, is the correct section that is applicable to this situation.

Vacancies in elective boards are filled by appointment by the remaining members, in this case Ms. Jen Tooker and Ms. Andrea Moore, for the unexpired portion of the term. The appointed person must be a member of the same political party as the person vacating, Bloom explained in the letter.

This would mean the third selectman has to be a Democrat.

The Democratic Town Committee held a special meeting Wednesday night to decide who to nominate for the third selectman position. Savin has said she would accept the seat.

Tooker and Moore were expected to appoint the third selectman this week, though an exact date has not been announced.

Tookers office declined to comment.

Within Elgins lawsuit, which is directed to Town Clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton, it states that Steinberg was never sworn into the position, thus there is no vacancy.

On November 15, 2021, Defendant [Dunkerton] did not swear Plaintiff [Steinberg] in as third selectman, and to this date has not made any effort to do so, court documents said.

The complaint states Steinberg never assumed office; therefore, there is no vacancy, but rather the ordinance makes Elgin duly elected.

The lawsuit also asks the court to order Dunkerton to certify Elgins election to the Board of Selectmen and that he be reimbursed for all his legal expenses in the case.

Dunkerton could not be reached for comment.

Bloom is in the process of reviewing the situation, town officials said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Reviving three-way North American summitry after a five-year break, President Joe Biden on Thursday joined with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to declare their nations can work together and prove democracies can deliver even as they sort out differences on key issues.

But as Biden, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, spoke of their mutual respect, the three leaders also found themselves dealing with fresh strains on trade, immigration, climate change and other matters.

We can meet all the challenges if we just take the time to speak to one another, by working together, said Biden, who hosted the North American neighbors for what had been a near-annual tradition in the decade before President Donald Trump came to office.

It was a day of full-on diplomacy that required careful choreography as Trudeau and Lopez Obrador each met separately with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before gathering for a three-way conversation in the East Room that featured a language mix of English, French and Spanish.

The leaders issued a post-summit statement saying they had agreed to collaborate on addressing migration, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic  without specifying how they would resolve their differences.

As they played up the closeness of the alliance, points of tension were also clear.

They include differences between Washington and Ottawa over proposed tax incentives that would benefit U.S. electric car auto manufacturers; frustration from Lopez Obrador that the U.S. isn't moving to issue more temporary work visas even as American businesses complain they are suffering from a worker shortage; and disappointment by the U.S. and Canada that Mexico is not moving faster to address climate change.

Biden met first with Trudeau, calling the U.S.-Canada relationship one of the easiest in the early going of his presidency. Trudeau said his values are deeply aligned with Biden, but there are issues of disagreement.

As they sat down for talks, Biden confirmed their differences over proposed electric vehicle tax incentives in his massive social services and climate bill, and noted the legislation hadn't "even passed yet in the House.

The provision in Bidens proposed spending plan would offer American consumers a $7,500 tax credit if they buy electric vehicles through 2026. The following year, only purchases of electric vehicles made in the U.S. would qualify for the credit. The base credit would go up by $4,500 if the vehicle was made at a U.S. plant that operates under a union-negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

It doesnt recognize the level to which auto production has been incredibly integrated between our two countries over the past 50 years, Trudeau said after the meetings. Its possible for an auto part to crisscross the border six or seven times before it finally rolls off an assembly line in a completed vehicle.

Trudeau said the credit would pose quite a problem for vehicle production in Canada.

The Americans are very aware of Canadas position on this and our concerns around it, and quite frankly the threats it poses to over 50 years of integrated auto-making in our two countries which was mostly reaffirmed in the Canada, U.S., Mexico free trade agreement, the new NAFTA," Trudeau said.

Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday called the incentive a clear violation of an updated trade agreement among the three countries that aimed to protect U.S. jobs and products made in North America.

The union provision has also sparked pushback from some non-union shops and U.S. lawmakers. Still, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden is pretty committed to the bill providing good-paying union jobs.

Trump had an icy relationship with Lopez Obrador's predecessor, pressing Enrique Pena Nieto to never publicly say that Mexico wouldn't pay for a wall along its border with the southern U.S.

But Lopez Obrador appeared to reach a one-issue understanding with Trump: Mexico slowed the flow of Central American migrants trying to reach the U.S. border, and Trump often appeared to turn a blind eye to just about every other facet of the complicated relationship.

Lopez Obrador offered warm words for Biden when they appeared before the cameras Thursday. The two leaders discussed Mexico's relations with the U.S. under Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt before the portraits of both that Biden has displayed prominently in the Oval Office.

The Mexican president praised Biden for treating his government with respect, something he noted has not always been a given in the two countries' long history, and for including funding in his spending bill to overhaul the immigration system. But he also alluded to his desire to see the U.S. move quickly on temporary visas.

Lopez Obrador has mentioned on multiple occasions his interest in the U.S. government expanding its work visa program so more Mexicans and Central Americans can fill the demand for labor in the U.S. The temporary workers in turn could have access to the higher pay they seek in the U.S. without becoming part of the illegal immigration flow.

Why not study the workforce demand and open the migratory flow in an orderly manner? Lopez Obrador said.

After the meetings ended, Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard characterized the day as very successful, adding, There is an ideological, political affinity and good chemistry between the three and that is going to mean a new stage in the relationship."

Ebrard said the U.S. had agreed to put in motion a development program for Central America similar to what Mexico has proposed, but he did not specify what the program would entail. Mexico has pushed an expansion of one of Lopez Obradors signature social programs that pays farmers to plant trees on their land to relieve the economic pressure to migrate.

Thursday's meetings at the White House marked the first trilateral get-together for North American leaders since a June 2016 gathering of Trudeau, Barack Obama and Enrique Pena Nieto in Ottawa. The tradition of three-way meetings started when George W. Bush played host to Mexicos Vicente Fox and Canadas Paul Martin in 2005 at his ranch in Texas.

Mexicos priorities heading into the summit were to obtain concrete advances on immigration and more equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The U.S. and Canada have expressed frustration that Lopez Obrador has failed to get on board with global efforts to curb climate emissions. The Mexican president skipped this month's U.N. climate summit in Glasgow and has accused elite nations of demonstrating hypocrisy when it comes to environmentalism.

Trudeau and Biden also discussed the future of an oil pipeline that crosses part of the Great Lakes and is the subject of rising tension over whether it should be shut down. Biden is caught in a battle over Enbridges Line 5, a key segment of a pipeline network that carries Canadian oil across the U.S. Midwest.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat and Biden ally, has demanded closure of the 68-year-old line because of the potential for a catastrophic rupture along a 4-mile section (6.4 kilometers) in the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The Biden administration has not taken a position but is under increasing pressure to do so.

Canada last month invoked a 1977 treaty that guarantees the unimpeded transit of oil between the two nations.

___

Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report. Gillies reported from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Verza reported from Mexico City.
Jessica Mix is the Regional Director of Benchmark Family Services Therapeutic Foster Care, and a foster parent.

She has worked alongside foster children and parents for years and says the demand in Evansville is higher than the number of families on their list.

"There's a huge need for foster parents in this area," said Mix. "Vanderburgh County is one of the largest areas that is supplying referrals for placement for children."

As of October, there are roughly 4,763 children in foster homes throughout Southern Indiana Counties. At least 190 of those children are in need of a foster home in Vanderburgh County.

"What we are seeing is a large amount of children who are coming in that are either sibling sets that are harder to place," said Mix. "older youth, teenagers are a large number of referrals we are seeing and we are also seeing a lot of children who are diagnosed with autism."

Knowing this, the foster care service is asking the community to step up and help. The first step is to consider the opportunity and know the requirements.

"You have to be 21 or older and with a stable home, that can be either owned or rented it doesn't matter, and have some sort of stable income and have a clean background and CPS check," said Mix.

For those nervous or unsure with worries of getting too attached to welcoming foster children into their home, Mix said those people are the best fit to do the job.

A vital part in making a difference, to those children in need of a place to call home.

To find out more about becoming a foster parent with Benchmark Family Services Therapeutic Foster Car visit. https://benchmarkfamilyservices.org.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Increasing clouds and not as cold with a few showers possible overnight..

Tonight

Increasing clouds and not as cold with a few showers possible overnight.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Increasing clouds and not as cold with a few showers possible overnight..

Tonight

Increasing clouds and not as cold with a few showers possible overnight.
Programme Manager, Nairobi

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Kenya

City: Nairobi

Office: UNICEF Nairobi, Kenya

Closing date: Sunday, 28 November 2021

Programme Manager (Youth Agency Market-place - YOMA), P-4, Temporary Appointment for 364 days, Nairobi, Kenya (ESARO)

Job no: 546220

Position type: Temporary Appointment

Location: Kenya Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regnl(ESARO)

School/Unit: Regional Services Div (ESAR), Nairobi

Department/Office: Reg Serv - Prog Section, Nairobi Regnl

Categories: Innovation

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, future.

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to childrens rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. To achieve equity in the low resource environments prevailing in many African countries, it is increasingly vital for UNICEF to innovate, including use of emerging technologies, to achieving sustainable and scalable results for children amidst continuing and growing challenges.

The African Youth Agency Market Place (YOMA) is a market generating innovation, which is the development of an ecosystem that brings together the global demand for advancing the SDGs and the ability of young people to do so within their community.

The ecosystem places the youth at the center and surrounds them with tasks/activities (volunteering at the community level or by furthering him/herself through online/offline skills development) that they can undertake to acquire digital tokens (youth currency) The tokens can be redeemed in a market place for services such as mentorship or basic commodities. The underlying digital micro contracts allow the young person to build an alternative trust profile and demonstrate reliability and acquisition of skills, all of which enhance employability and allow for more informed matching with the labor market. The fulfillment of the smart contracts and acquisition of the youth currency are triangulated through self-assessment, peer/community assessment and in the future automated external data triangulation thus providing a seamless data trail necessary for impact investments. The yoma platform is currently operational and a mobile first application being developped. The countries engaged in Yoma are predominantly in ESAR and WCAR but other regions beyond Africa have also expressed interest.

Yoma won the BMZ/EU smart development hack in 2020 which resulted in a strong consortium involving UNICEF, GenU, BMZ and private sector partners. This provided Yoma with the initial funding base for its proof of concept. In 2021 Yoma has been awarded by UNICEF with significant set-aside funding through innovation scaling challenge allowing Yoma to expand to West Africa. Other requests for Yoma expansion are coming from Europe and the Caribbean. The main focus of those expansions will be to strengthen the linkages with UNICEF programmes. This position will support the management of the expansion and ensure its linkages with UNICEF country offices and programmes.

Under the general supervision of the Senior Programme Manager, the post is expected to lead the coordination for the expansion of Yoma, to manage the corresponding process, to support country offices, to enhance collaboration with the Office of Innovation and to ensure the programmatic relevance of YOMA for UNICEF.

Key strategies for achieving this purpose are as follows:

Proactively engaging with Country Offices to promote YOMA and assist them in assessing the possibility to adapt its to their country context. Strategies may include: 1) South-South exchange on the model of YOMA 2) reviewing programmatic priorities at country levels to identify entry points for youth agency through YOMA 3) develop templates, general costings and playbooks for easing adaptation and adoption of YOMA. While the actual implementation of YOMA remains the responsibility of the Country Office the Manager will promote YOMA, support the decision making and roll-out processes.

Facilitate administrative processes needed for the scaling of yoma by: Developing LTAs for yoma related services, managing regional and intra regional contractual arrangements and facilitating the recruitment of young talent where demanded.

Strengthening of strategic learning, evidence generation and evidence-based advocacy by: documenting lessons learned during the expansion of yoma and faciliating peer learning processes; compiling experiences gained at various levels; staying abreast of strategic developments in related areas (such as GIGA, learning to earning, etc.); keeping contact with the innovation fund and its awardees; also supporting the generation and dissemination of evidence on cost-effective approaches and models to youth engagement.

Monitoring the overall expansion of YOMA and the achievement of its objectives in terms of scaling and impact by: Keeping track of individual country requests and their action; Maintaining an overall dashboard containing disaggregated data compiling different initiatives.

Working closely with the Office of Innovation and other UNICEF actors engaged in the youth innovation portfolio to ensure that YOMA is linked to relevant organisation wide.

It is critical that the global YOMA keeps up with the demands and opportunities for enhancing youth engagement and ensuring its relevance for UNICEF programmes and priorities.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Senior Innovation Manager, the Programme Manager Yoma will provide advanced technical assistance, coordination/administrative support, quality assurance and knowledge generation/management and partnership building services to the scaling of yoma in Africa and beyond.

1.

Enhance the programmatic linkage between Yoma and UNICEF programming to facilitate relevance and scaling

within UNICEF

Engage with Country Offices to foster adoption and adaptation of the concept of Yoma to their country context.

Review programmatic priorities at country levels to identify entry points for youth agency through yoma and provide strategic orientation

Develop templates, general costings and playbooks for easing adaptation and adoption of Yoma. While the actual implementation of yoma remains the responsibility of the Country Office the Manager will support the decision making and roll-out processes.

Lead on the UNICEF internal management of processes aiming at facilitating country offices participation. This could include framework contracts, PCAs, Long Term Agreements, etc.

2. Provide support to monitoring, strategic learning and evidence generation

Lead the process of documenting lessons learned during the expansion of yoma and facilitating peer learning processes and compiling experiences gained at various levels;

Facilitate the dialogue around the strategic relevance of yoma for UNICEF programming and keep in contact with different relevant innovation initiatives.

Lead the promotion of evidence generated with respect to green Yoma (i.e. catalyzing youth agency around the environment) ensuring mutual learning with relevant global initiatives such as the OoIs work around youth and climate change

Manage programmes related to Yoma

Manage programmatic dimensions linked to the scaling of Yoma, including the facilitation of all administrative processes. Take a pro-active role to ensure that targets and timelines are met and that the interventions optimize benefits for youth.

Monitor the overall expansion of yoma and the achievement of its objectives in terms of scaling and impact by: Keeping track of individual country requests and their action; Maintaining an overall dashboard containing disaggregated data compiling different initiatives.

Lead on the preparation of funding proposals that allow for yoma scaling.

Ensure the linkage between operational research and implementation both in the conceptual and implementation stages. Make sure that lessons learned and documented and disseminated.

Strengthen dimensions related to the learning to earning agenda and coordinate closely with relevant colleagues and initiatives in UNICEF. Ensure that job readiness and entrepreneurial dimensions are catered for.

Contribute to the technical dimensions of green yoma, such as the establishment of appropriate and effective data oracles that allow an automated assessment of impact of youth climate action.

Establish data collection and monitoring frameworks that allow progressively to measure the contribution of Yoma to UNICEF programmatic activities.

Strengthen strategic learning and knowledge generation

Lead on efforts to generate knowledge and lessons learned.

Documenting lessons learned during the expansion of yoma and faciliating peer learning processes through compilation of experiences gained at various levels cy2IS67 Dh7qKS

Staying abreast of strategic developments in related areas (such as GIGA, learning to earning, etc.)

Keeping contact with the innovation fund and its awardees; also supporting the generation and dissemination of evidence on cost-effective approaches and models to youth engagement.

Provide event coordination and management support

Organize, facilitate or participate in meetings and workshops/seminars related to scaling of yoma

Support to regional office management processes and for other section duties, as agreed with the supervisor.

Key expected Results

Develop a strategy around programmatic alignment between Yoma and UNICEF (Q2) and contextualize it through national implementation plans in at least 3 countries (Q4). Playbook for expansion to a country is developed (Q3) and tested (Q4).

Management of Yoma contractual arrangements is streamlined and contractual needs of country offices are met by Q3 through at least 2 LTAs and 3 PCAs.

Metrics for programmatic alignment have been agreed with UNICEF stakeholders (Q2) and corresponding dashboard is functional (Q4).

Lessons learned are documented and disseminated by Q4.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

An advanced university degree in social studies, business management, engineering, or a related field (Master or above)

A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience in programme/project management at an international level, some of which in a developing country,

Proven track record in managing and administering resources and the contractual arrangements necessary to support implementation.

Track record in innovation and/or youth engagement an asset.

Strong fundraising ability and experience in partner management.

Experience of working with a UN organisation is an asset as is previous work experience with UNICEF

Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Fluency in English (verbal and written) required.

Good knowledge of French (verbal and written) an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Builds and maintains partnerships (1)

Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)

Drive to achieve results for impact (1)

Innovates and embraces change (1)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Things and acts strategically (1)

Works collaboratively with others (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEFs values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Advertised: Nov 15 2021 E. Africa Standard Time Application close: Nov 28 2021 E. Africa Standard Time

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1637013139567
Supply and Logistics Assistant, Tbilisi

Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Childrens Fund

Country: Georgia

City: Tbilisi

Office: UNICEF Tbilisi, Georgia

Closing date: Friday, 26 November 2021

Supply and Logistics Assistant GS5 - Temporary Appointment for 9 months in Tbilisi, Georgia (Open to Georgian Nationals only)

Job no: 546178

Position type: Temporary Appointment

Location: Georgia Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS

School/Unit: Georgia

Department/Office: Tblisi, Georgia

Categories: Supply/Logistics

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Education

The application portal will be

closed at 6 PM on 26 November and late submission will not be accepted.

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to childrens rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a societys most disadvantaged citizens addressing inequity not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Purpose for the job

The Supply and Logistics Assistant is responsible for assisting the uninterrupted supply of affordable and good quality supplies and services, adapted to the particular context and through compliance with UNICEFs policies, procedures and ethics standards.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Procurement/contracting:

Provide input to the formulation of the annual Supply Plan. Conduct data review and analysis for category management and assist in the development of procurement strategies. Support market research in relevant areas for UNICEF and assist in gathering evidence on the best approaches to sustainable and best value for money procurement.

Where relevant, support product innovation and market shaping initiatives for specific categories of supplies and services providing relevant data.

Liaise with colleagues from respective programme sections in planning procurement and contracting initiatives, supporting development of relevant specifications, terms of reference, and logistics arrangements and timelines. From lessons learnt, contribute with good practices to strengthen sustainability of supply chains.

Prepares documentation for the establishment of Long Term Arrangements (LTAs) and act on specific procurement requisitions as might be required. Prepare and process Request for Quotations (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), as might be requested by the Supervisor. Assists with bid openings, and technical and financial analysis of offers as might be required. Conduct clarifications with suppliers.

Prepare requests for award including submissions to Contract Review Committee. Prepare purchase orders and contracts in SAP (ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning system), and submit for relevant approvals, ensuring completeness of documentation in UNICEF systems.

Keep stakeholders/partners informed on the progress of procurement processes. Liaise with suppliers, ensuring timely follow-up on delivery schedules Implement appropriate vendor management practices e.g. supply performance reviews.

Regularly monitor dashboard reports and coordinate to ensure necessary supply action is taken in a timely manner in support of UNICEF Programmes.

Regularly extract reports on the status of the existing LTAs, contracts, Purchase Orders (POs) and take necessary action in coordination with the relevant Programme.

Conduct local market surveys on ongoing and regular basis for identification of potential suppliers to procure the goods and services at competitive costs.

In-country logistics:

Provide input on the logistics component of the supply plan, including advising on infrastructure constraints (e.g. customs clearance, port capacity, transport options and warehousing capacity) and different delivery mechanisms. Keep track of demurrages and detention charges. Negotiate with Airport/Port/Shipping Line for waiver of demurrage/detention charges whenever required. Calculate budget requirements for various delivery modalities and ensure establishment of budget with the colleagues from the respective programme sections.

Liaise with supply colleagues as well as colleagues from respective programme sections, use supply dashboards to ensure pipeline monitoring establishment of appropriate logistics capacity. Monitor progress of offshore and/or regional procurement and take action to ensure timely customs clearance of supplies entering the country. Perform research, collect data and conduct analysis, produce reports and ensure information accuracy in corporate systems to enable informed decision- making.

Provide support in logistics, following standard processes and contributing, directly or indirectly, to the effective delivery of programme supplies. Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to support logistics operations management and contribute to effective service delivery.

Review needs for contracting of logistics third party services (e.g. customs clearance, warehousing, transport, distribution) and transmit all supporting information for contracting of such service providers including establishment of KPIs and performance monitoring mechanisms.

Maintain and process documentation for execution of logistics operations (e.g. customs clearance, invoice verification), and take appropriate actions to resolve operational issues, escalating complex issues to the supervisor.

Warehousing and inventory management:

Following UNICEF policies and procedures, assess warehousing capacity including facilities, conditions of equipment, manpower, and processes. Propose corrective actions to supervisor. Assess new warehouse facilities when required. If necessary, assists the implementation of new warehouse facilities which may include installation and assembly of temporary warehouse structures (e.g. Wiik-Halls/Rub Halls type structures).

Support to the maintenance of appropriate warehousing and inventory management processes in support of the country programme implementation. Ensure accurate and complete accounting, reporting and internal control systems are in place, and relevant records are properly maintained

Assess availability of space and prepare stacking and storage plans to ensure appropriate storage and optimize use of space.

Supervise receipt of consignments and dispatch of supplies.

Prepare stock reports. Monitor inventory to track trends and account for the inventory status from source to beneficiary. Carry out regular physical counts of inventory in the warehouse. Prepare documentation for commodity disposal through Property Survey Board committee. Keep track of near to expiry supplies ensuring FIFO and FEFO approaches.

Alternative delivery mechanisms and procurement services:

Ensures continuous availability of data related to procurement, including forecasting, requisitions received, orders placed, incoming goods, actual delivery schedules. Prepares periodic reports, and ad-hoc reports as needed.

Support assessment of and collaboration with implementing partners including civil society, for establishment of Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs), and monitoring of supply components under Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT).

Assist in activities that lead to building partnerships and collaborative relations with UN organizations to support harmonized and collaborative procurement and logistics arrangements. cy2KCX4 Dh7qKS

Support Procurement Services (PS) transactions and projects in collaboration with programme sections and UNICEF Supply Division (SD). As appropriate, support partners on forecasting and costing of PS-channel supplies. Monitor the submission of requests, PS cost estimates, Purchase Orders (POs) and/or Copenhagen Warehouse Stock Transfer Orders on PS Sales Orders. Follow

up with SD and UNICEF freight forwarders as needed on timely delivery/shipment of PS orders. Support communications and follow up with programme colleagues and partners regarding partnership requests and negotiations as required.

Maintain up-to-date files for all Procurement Service transactions, including a system for monitoring the various stages of each transaction.

Monitor the incoming pipeline of PS shipments. If required based on the division of responsibilities agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cost Estimate (CE), assist the arrival, customs clearance, storage, packing and in-country distribution of PS commodities to the agreed delivery point.

Other duties/responsibilities:

In collaboration with supervisor, Supply Division, Regional Office and the global supply community, provide input to help ensure knowledge exchange and learning is prioritized to continuously build capacity of individuals and the team. Develop and facilitate training of newcomers, provide inputs towards establishment of processes or manuals to support effective workflows.

Impact of Results

The Supply & Logistic Assistants impact directly affects the quality and timeliness of the delivery of a range of different services for which the unit is accountable. The impact of these services indirectly affects the timely completion of other processes for clients and reflects directly on the overall reputation of the supply team in terms of quality and responsiveness to client needs.

The Supply and Logistic Assistants client interface focuses on the coordination and planning of routine supply chain activities, including the transportation of goods and materials, purchase orders, contracts, delivery and payments. These relationships are important to ensure that deadlines are met and that work results adhere to regulations, rules and guidelines.

UNICEF values and competency Required

Core Values

Care

Respect

Integrity

Trust

Accountability

ii) Core Competencies

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)

Works Collaboratively with others (2)

Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

Innovates and Embraces Change (2)

Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)

Drive to achieve impactful results (2)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Skills

Thorough knowledge of a range of specialized topics, including relevant supply chain processes, partnership mechanisms, rules and regulations related to public sector procurement.

Ability to interpret and apply specialized rules and regulations to the particular circumstances of individual cases.

Experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SAP and ability to learn other UNICEF office tools.

Demonstrated understanding of relevant supply chain processes and ability to consistently apply relevant policies, procedures and good practices in the daily work.

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor.

Ability to use supply related modules within UNICEF ERP system (SAP).

Ability to establish priorities and plan his/her own work and plan, coordinate and monitor the work of those under his/her supervision.

Ability to draft clear and concise reports or rationale for supply related decisions on key issues.

Recruitment

Qualifications:

Education: Completion of secondary education is required, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to supply chain, business administration, contract/commercial law, or another relevant technical field

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of relevant administrative experience in supply chain management or a commercial context is required. Understanding of development and humanitarian work is an advantage.

Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1637013552546
Williamson, WV (25661)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration took action Thursday to restore federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, undoing a Trump-era rule that was considered one of that administrations hallmark environmental rollbacks.

FILE - In this June 7, 2018, photo, a puddle blocks a path that leads into the Panther Island Mitigation Bank near Naples, Fla. The Biden administration on Nov. 18, 2021, moved to formally restore federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, undoing a Trump-era rule that was considered one of that administration's hallmark environmental rollbacks.(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration took action Thursday to restore federal protections for hundreds of thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways, undoing a Trump-era rule that was considered one of that administrations hallmark environmental rollbacks.

At issue is a regulation sometimes referred to as waters of the United States, or WOTUS, that defines the types of waterways qualifying for federal protection under the Clean Water Act. The regulation has long been a point of contention among environmental groups, farmers, homebuilders, lawmakers and the courts.

The announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army reinstates a rule in place before 2015 while the Biden administration arrives at its own, which is expected to be next year.

The administration had said in June that it planned to repeal the Trump-era water rule and issue new regulations defining which waterways are federally protected under the Clean Water Act. In August, a federal judge in Arizona threw out the Trump water rule and restored a 1986 standard. It was broader in scope than the Trump rule but narrower than what was established by the Obama administration, which brought federal protections to nearly 60% of the nations waterways.

The Trump-era rule was long sought by builders, oil and gas developers, farmers and others who complained about the federal overreach of Obama administration restrictions that they said stretched into gullies, creeks and ravines on farmland and other private property. They have frequently argued that broad federal protections for waterways make it difficult to do their work.

The agencys action Thursday formalizes steps it already has been taking since the court order.

Environmental groups and public health advocates say a strong federal rule is crucial to protect countless small streams, wetlands and other waterways that are vulnerable to pollution from development, industry and farms. The Trump-era rule resulted in an estimated 25% reduction in the number of streams and wetlands that are afforded federal protection, officials said.

Groups including the National Association of Home Builders and the American Farm Bureau Federation argued that the court should not have removed the Trump rule without deciding on the merits of legal challenges. The judge's ruling in August casts uncertainty over farmers and ranchers across the country and threatens the progress theyve made to responsibly manage water and natural resources, the farm bureau said at the time.

An EPA spokesman declined to comment on the legal appeal.

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In a statement, EPA Administrator Michael Regan acknowledged the uncertainty that has come to define the water rule. "The only constant with WOTUS has been change, creating a whiplash in how to best protect our waters in communities across America, he said.

EPA spokesman Nick Conger said Thursday's proposal included updates that reflect the latest science and Supreme Court rulings. The EPA also said long-standing clean water exemptions for farmers will continue.

Kelly Moser, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, which has pushed for stricter regulation, said the action shows that this administration is serious about quickly returning to a mode of protecting the quality of nations waters instead of dismantling them."

The agencies will accept public comments on the proposal through late January.

___

The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/environment
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Members of the Biden administration on Wednesday launched a series of events aimed at exploring the Arctic's potential to act as a living laboratory of clean energy innovation.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Members of the Biden administration on Wednesday launched a series of events aimed at exploring the Arctic's potential to act as a living laboratory of clean energy innovation.

Officials participating in the online event, billed as ArcticX, spoke of the challenges faced by remote communities in Alaskas Arctic region, such as high energy costs and impacts from climate change. During the event's broad discussions, they said they see opportunities for sustainable or renewable energy systems.

Wednesday's meeting was the first of four planned online events, with an in-person gathering set for May in Alaska. Among the speakers was U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. Offices that fall under the department co-hosted the event.

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We hope to combine the world-class expertise of our national labs, of our 17 national labs, with the know-how that Arctic communities have developed over centuries of innovation in the far north so together we can get new technologies out of the lab and into the field and onto the market and support communities in taking control of their own clean energy future, Granholm said.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable sources accounted for about 30% of Alaska's electricity generation in 2019. Many rural communities rely largely on diesel electric generators for power, the agency said.

David Turk, deputy secretary of the Energy Department, said there are unique challenges to commercializing technologies in the Arctic. He noted seasonal variability for certain clean energy resources, such as low-light in the winter, variable wind conditions and hydro sources freezing in the winter. He also cited changing conditions, such as thawing permafrost, and the potential for supply chain disruptions.

But he said there are opportunities for localized solutions. He said communities have different needs and many aren't connected to centralized infrastructure. New technologies will have to be adapted to climate change, he said.

Separately, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced the Department of Defense had selected Anchorage as the location for the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies.

The center, named for the late longtime Alaska senator, will be one of six regional centers for security studies under the department and the only one specifically focused on the Arctic, according to Murkowski's office.
CALGARY - While British Columbians in flood-affected communities continue to see lineups and sporadic outages at gas stations, experts say the province is not in any immediate danger of running out of fuel.

Construction of the Trans Mountain Pipeline is pictured near Hope, B.C., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. The precautionary shut down of the Trans Mountain pipeline continues, but British Columbia's gasoline supply is secure for now. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

CALGARY - While British Columbians in flood-affected communities continue to see lineups and sporadic outages at gas stations, experts say the province is not in any immediate danger of running out of fuel.

However, in the longer-term, B.C.'s gasoline supply is dependent on the resumption of operations of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which has been idled since Sunday as a precautionary measure due to flooding and extreme weather in parts of the province where it operates.

In the days since floods and washouts damaged rail lines and highways and severed access from parts of B.C. to the rest of the country, residents of the Western-most province have experienced long lines and in some cases a complete lack of product at gas stations in some communities.

Petroleum retailers are experiencing challenges obtaining stable fuel supply," said B.C.-based Peninsula Co-op on its website. "We are working hard to mitigate the outages but expect it will take several days to stabilize.

The Saanich Police Department said on social media Thursday that gas station lineups in the greater Victoria area were causing traffic disruptions to the point that B.C. Transit was having to divert its buses to alternate routes.

But Vijay Muralidharan  Calgary-based director of consulting with Kalibrate, formerly Kent Group Ltd.  said these issues are not the result of the pipeline shutdown or a lack of overall fuel supply in the province. While 40 per cent of B.C.'s gasoline arrives in the province as a refined product from Alberta through the Trans Mountain pipeline, B.C. also produces its own gasoline at a refinery in Burnaby owned by Parkland Corporation.

B.C. also imports gasoline from Washington state, he said.

"There is supply coming in," Muralidharan said, adding the interruptions at gas stations are instead the result of trucks having difficulties navigating flood-affected highways, and should be temporary. While the timeline for reopening some of the major trucking routes, such as the Coquihalla, is unknown, others should be passable sooner. The B.C. Department of Transportation said it hoped to have Highway 7, for example, open for traffic between Hope and Aggasiz by the end of Thursday.

"There will be some supply interruptions for a few days but the floodwaters are already receding in parts of B.C., so I think youre going to see some reprieve soon as the trucks start to move," Muralidharan said.

Muralidharan added the Burnaby refinery typically has at least two weeks' supply of crude oil in storage, so it can use its own stocks to maintain refinery operations in the immediate future. But in the longer-term, he said, it will be vital to get Trans Mountain back up and running.

"The big question is going to be how long is the pipeline going to be shut down," he said.

Parkland Corp. spokeswoman Larissa Mark said in an email that the Burnaby refinery is operating and the company is "effectively managing" its inventories of crude and other products.

"The broader supply chain for essential fuels is resilient and if needed, we have some optionality and contingencies to import fuel from the Pacific Northwest into the Lower Mainland," Mark said. "We are monitoring the temporary shutdown of the Trans Mountain pipeline and rail disruption closely."

In a statement posted on its website Thursday, Trans Mountain Corp.  the Crown corporation which operates the federally owned pipeline  said every effort is being made to safely restart the pipeline as promptly as possible.

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"Trans Mountain is in regular contact with its shippers and is working to mitigate potential impacts of the pipeline shut down on the region," the statement said.

According to the company, there has been no indication of any oil release from the pipeline and it remains "safely in a static condition." However, the company said there are areas where it will need to restore cover over the pipe or make other repairs to ensure integrity of the line where it has been exposed due to flooding. Right now, access to some areas is still hampered by debris and washed-out roads and bridges.

Suncor Energy Inc., which owns the Petro-Canada brand of retail gas stations, said Thursday it is not experiencing any significant supply impacts in B.C. due to the extreme weather situation.

"However, a few Petro-Canada locations have been closed and we are currently unable to service others as a result of road closures in areas directly impacted by the weather," said Suncor spokesman Leith Slade. "We will continue to monitor the situation over the coming days and we will look to reopen and resume service to all affected sites as quickly as possible."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:PKI, TSX:SU)
OTTAWA - The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to fulfil its promise to support health-care employees amid continuing online harassment of physicians and other workers.

Protesters gather at the Foothills Hospital to oppose COVID-19-related public health measures in Calgary on Sept. 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

OTTAWA - The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to fulfil its promise to support health-care employees amid continuing online harassment of physicians and other workers.

The medical association is also calling on social media companies to address harassment and threats made on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Online harassment against health-care workers has not only increased but also escalated in severity over recent weeks and months, said association president Dr. Katharine Smart.

The trend has emerged in parallel with the creation of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the coming vaccine rollout for children, she added.

Smart said she would like social media companies to recognize they play a part in improving the safety of the platforms where such harassment takes place.

"It's clear that the processes that are already in place  the terms and conditions and reporting mechanisms  are not enough," said Smart. "They're not flagging these violent things that health-care professionals are experiencing. They're also not flagging the racism and the misogyny in these comments."

Cam Gordon, head of communications for Twitter Canada, said in a statement that "harassment and hateful conduct have no place" on their platform.

"We recognize the concerns health practitioners have regarding social media, and we are committed to creating healthy experiences on Twitter," said Gordon.

YouTube spokesperson Lauren Skelly said in a statement that the platform has "clear policies" on harassment and hate, and removes videos in violation of those policies.

Kevin Chan, global director and head of public policy for Meta Canada, formerly known as Facebook Canada, said in a statement that the platform is "constantly working" to create policies and improve their ability to enforce them, while providing users with tools to report abuse.

Both Skelly and Chan expressed that they look forward to meeting with the association to discuss how to keep Canadian health-care workers safe.

LinkedIn and TikTok could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

The medical association has contacted social media outlets and will be meeting with representatives next week to discuss how online spaces can be made safer, Smart said.

"This type of behaviour emboldens people, and that leads to actual physical harm of people," she said. "And we've seen already health-care professionals that have been physically harmed, spit on, hit, accosted, and we can't have that type of increasing violence."

She also said the intimidation contributes to the already high levels of stress and burnout among health professionals, and could prompt workers to leave the field "at levels we've not seen before."

During the federal election campaign, the Liberals pledged to introduce new criminal sanctions for those who intimidate or harass health-care workers, as well as for anyone blocking access to vaccine clinics, hospitals, testing centres and abortion clinics.

The promises came as protesters gathered outside hospitals in opposition to proof-of-vaccination requirements and other public health measures.

Justice Minister David Lametti said in a statement that there is "absolutely no place for intimidation or threats" to Canadian health-care workers or those seeking health services.

Lametti said the federal government is considering "all options" to make their promises a reality "as soon as possible."

The association says that along with legislation and "responsible management" of social media platforms, the public's help is also needed to ensure the safety of health-care workers.

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Smart said this means encouraging the public to hold social media companies accountable. "By joining in with us and calling for this action, they can show their support for health-care workers, and help us create a space that we can all benefit from," said Smart.

"We want to be clear that this vicious cycle of online violence can't become the legacy of this pandemic," she added.

"We can't let these new norms that are harmful to physicians, health-care workers, scientists and other people, including journalists that are speaking out to educate people, become acceptable."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2021.



This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
TORONTO - When the COVID-19 pandemic sent droves of office workers home, it didn't take long for some to decide that their living rooms or spare bedrooms were in need of a makeover.

Partial Gallery's Tammy Yiu Coyne is photographed in Toronto, on Thursday November 4, 2021. When the COVID-19 pandemic sent droves of office workers home, it took little time for some to tire of staring at drab living rooms or spare bedrooms in need of a makeover. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO - When the COVID-19 pandemic sent droves of office workers home, it didn't take long for some to decide that their living rooms or spare bedrooms were in need of a makeover.

Many turned to a splash of paint or finally bought a desk, but Tammy Yiu Coyne also saw people yearning for something to hang on their walls.

The co-founder and chief executive of Torontos Partial had just the thing: an art rental service specializing in pieces that dont have multi-million dollar price tags.

Her business  like several others aimed at letting people try before they buy  saw a pandemic boom that pushed up revenues and taught a whole new audience that art rentals arent just for the wealthy.

Our favourite stories are people who've never bought art before, bought their first piece on Partial and then now are buying two or three pieces, said Yiu Coyne.

Partial, which launched in 2016 with about 20 pieces and has since grown to several thousand, focuses on Canadian art that costs less than $5,000. It offers three-month painting, sculpture and photograph rentals for as little as $25 and as much as $1,300.

The pieces can be bought outright at any time and if youve already rented the piece, the fees you paid will be subtracted from the purchase price.

So many people were drawn to these offerings during the pandemic that Yiu Coyne said the number of rentals increased by 125 per cent between 2019 and 2020 and this years on track for a 43 per cent increase. About three quarters of the people who rent later buy the pieces.

Art Rentals and Sales, a non-profit program operated by the Vancouver Art Gallery and focused on B.C. artists, was similarly busy.

Zoe Mackoff de Miranda, the programs manager, noticed companies that rent art returned it during the pandemic, but a wave of people who would typically spend money on travel or other pursuits gravitated towards her program for the first time.

Many told her they wanted to rent a piece to spice up their background for videoconferencing. She suspects some were also inspired by the recent movement encouraging people to support local business and she hopes that momentum will continue and take some of the fear factor out of art purchases.

Sometimes people are really intimidated by going into larger galleries because they feel like they have to know something about art or that they'll get looked down on if they don't know certain artists or genres, but rental removes a lot of that, she said.

Her program focuses on pieces, which can be purchased for up to $15,000, but their rentals range from $12 to $250 per month and can last as long as one desires. If you eventually decide to buy a piece, the program knocks the first three months of rental fees off the price.

For those considering their first rental, Mackoff de Miranda recommends focusing on pieces or styles you love and not worrying about commitments.

Even if it's totally outside of what you thought you might be interested in, just try it, she said.

Maybe you'll fall in love with it even more or you'll get totally sick of it after a month and you can bring it back.

Dont be afraid to go big or bold, Yiu Coyne adds.

A lot of new buyers think Im going to start small and hang this tiny piece over my couch, but you definitely want to go bigger, she said.

If youre unsure where to start, she recommends Partials sommelier. A consultation is free and can provide a professional opinion on what pieces would best fit and accentuate any space. Customers also get access to augmented reality software letting them virtually place a piece in their home.

Once youre settled on a piece, some programs like Mackoff de Mirandas offer delivery and installation services  a good choice for those worried about art being damaged during transport.

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Fretful renters can also look at whether their home content insurance will cover damage to the art once it has arrived, but Mackoff de Miranda said history bodes well for those without coverage.

You'd be surprised how rare it is that damage happens, she said. People are generally pretty, pretty careful.

Yiu Coyne agrees.

In all the years that we've been around, we've only ever had one instance where something happened, said Yiu Coyne.

No one intentionally goes out of their way to damage art.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2021.
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to claim a moral victory Thursday after his day at the White House did little to defuse an escalating continental dispute over President Joe Biden's plans to encourage Americans to buy more electric vehicles.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens to a question as he takes part in a forum at the Wilson Center, Wednesday, November 17, 2021 in Washington, D.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to claim a moral victory Thursday after his day at the White House did little to defuse an escalating continental dispute over President Joe Biden's plans to encourage Americans to buy more electric vehicles.

Trudeau and several senior cabinet ministers arrived in the U.S. capital hoping to convince Biden that his proposed tax incentive worth up to $12,500 to a prospective new-car buyer would kneecap Canada's auto industry.

They depart Friday with little to show for their efforts, leaving behind an administration that sounds unwilling to plot a different course and determined to focus its efforts on selling American-made cars and trucks built with U.S. union labour.

"In a relationship as big and as deep and as all-encompassing for so many of us, as is the relationship between Canada and the United States, there are always going to be challenges coming up," Trudeau said.

"As we solve some, new ones will arise, and what is most important is that we have strong, direct lines of communication and that we engage with them in constructive ways. That is exactly what we've done."

During their customary fireside photo op in the Oval Office, Biden offered little evidence he was in a conciliatory mood, offering the usual bilateral pleasantries but promptly shutting down questions about the burgeoning dispute.

"We're going to talk about that, to some extent," Biden said, noting that the measure  part of a $1.75-trillion climate change and social spending measure central to his Build Back Better agenda  was a long way from becoming the law of the land.

"There's a lot of complicating factors."

As the meeting continued far from the glare of TV cameras, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was herself taking questions about Canada's claim that the proposal violates NAFTA's continental trade successor, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

"We don't view it that way, I think its safe to say," Psaki said.

"The electric vehicles component of the package is something the president is personally very excited about because he believes it's an industry of the future, an industry that can help create good-paying union jobs.

"It will help consumers. It will help incentivize the purchasing of electric vehicles and the driving of electric vehicles  something that's good for our climate."

As if to punctuate the trip, the House of Representatives was debating the Build Back Better legislation throughout the evening, precisely as Trudeau was taking questions at the Canadian Embassy, with hopes high that it might pass before daybreak.

The bill will face a rougher ride in the evenly divided Senate, where passage is far from guaranteed, and West Virginia Sen. Joe Mancin  a moderate Democrat  has already expressed misgivings about the tax-credit measure.

The proposal is a major concern for automakers in both Canada and Mexico. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland on Wednesday warned it could become "the dominant issue" of the Canada-U.S. relationship.

But it wasn't the only sore spot: Trudeau said he directly raised concerns about the administration's strident Buy American protectionist policies, as well as the cross-border Line 5 oil pipeline, which Michigan is trying to shut down.

He made the remarks following what he called an "extremely effective" trilateral summit at the White House with Biden and his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador  the first so-called Three Amigos summit since 2016.

Trudeau was noncommittal when asked whether the federal government would consider a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, which Biden said earlier was something he was considering.

The trilateral summit between Trudeau, Biden and Lopez Obrador unfolded in the ornate East Room of the White House.

Seated at a large oval table with Biden on one side and Trudeau and Lopez Obrador safely physically distanced on the other, they each spoke of prioritizing the physical and economic health of their shared continent and respective residents.

"Our North American vision for the future draws on our shared strengths, as well as three vibrant democracies with dynamic populations and economies, wishing to work together," Biden said.

"We can meet today and we can meet all the challenges, if we just take the time to speak to one another, by working together."

Trudeau thanked Biden for playing host and described himself as being among friends with a shared priority of "ending" COVID-19 and ensuring strong supply chains between all three countries.

"We are three countries with extremely strong ties between our people, with our values and visions for the future strongly united," he said.

He described the USMCA as a "world-class" deal that protects workers' rights and allows all three countries to work together on the climate crisis.

Canada and Mexico agreed to redistribute millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses they received from the United States to other Western Hemisphere countries.

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Biden is also reviving a North American working group on violence against Indigenous women and girls, an initiative Trudeau announced with former U.S. president Barack Obama in Ottawa in 2016.

The three leaders also plan to strengthen their united effort to address the migration crisis that has seen millions of asylum seekers from Central America crashing Mexico's borders. Venezuela's economic and political crisis is expected to produce six million refugees by the end of the year.

Canada is expected to be added to the U.S.-Mexico supply chain working group to make it a North America-wide effort aimed at minimizing future disruptions for the continent. The new working group will look at defining essential industries, including critical minerals.

Trudeau used his first day in Washington on Wednesday to talk up Canada's competitive advantage on critical minerals, which are used in batteries for computers, cellphones, electric vehicles and other essential items.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the U.S. was planning a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
Ernest Rady has not lived in Winnipeg since 1966, but he grew up and earned business and law degrees from the University of Manitoba, and thanks to his philanthropy his familys name is prominently displayed in the city where he was raised.

Ernest Rady has not lived in Winnipeg since 1966, but he grew up and earned business and law degrees from the University of Manitoba, and thanks to his philanthropy his familys name is prominently displayed in the city where he was raised.

Rady, 84, was in Winnipeg this week to receive the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) from the Associates of the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba.

Rady is the current chairman and CEO of American Assets Trust, a San Diego-based real estate company with office and retail properties up and down the U.S. Pacific Coast worth about $4 billion. He is also chairman of the ICW Group, a property and casualty insurance company that he founded in 1972 thats worth about $3.6 billion.

In the mid-2000s he was on the Forbes 400 list of billionaires with assets listed at $2.1 billion in 2008. But he fell off the list when regulators forced the successful financial institution he founded, Westcorp  with assets of about $17 billion  to merge with a bank with the right kind of charter.

Rady chose Wachovia, which was caught in the collapse of the U.S. housing market; Rady lost a fortune.

"I dont sit around licking my wounds, though at the time it was very troublesome," he said in an interview with the Free Press.

"We have made a comeback, frankly. I made back the money I lost."

Even though he has not lived here for 55 years, he has made sure to honour the legacy of his parents, Dr. Max Rady, a Winnipeg obstetrician and gynecologist who suffered strokes and heart attacks and died at 68, and his mother Rose, who was a sister of Sam Bronfman of Seagram fame.

He has one surviving sister in Winnipeg, Marjorie Blankstein. His other sister, Mindel Olenik, died a few months ago at age 97.

His fathers health issues inspired young Ernest to take care of his health.

"I have exercised every day for 50 years, but I hate it," he said. "The best part of exercising is when its over."

In 2016, he provided the U of M with a $30-million gift and that was recognized by the university by naming its medical college the Max Rady College of Medicine  one of five colleges within the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

The Rady name is also uttered often by the thousands of people who enjoy the facilities at the Rose and Max Rady Jewish Community Centre.

Rady and Evelyn, his wife of 62 years, have also given hundreds of millions of dollars to hospitals and academic institutions in the San Diego area.

He has also contributed to the Salvation Army and expects that to continue.

For someone so successful and active in so many different businesses over the years, Rady remained under the radar until he started showing up on the Forbes list of billionaires.

Unfortunately, he believes that profile led to a harrowing home invasion in which he and his wife were bound and threatened with a knife and gun.

Asked why, after such a scare, he didnt start to make his donations anonymously, he said, "Its a choice between being known as a rich old hermit miser or someone who has done things to help others. I get vicarious pleasure out of helping others. I know its not without its risks and I am very wary."

Just as he has taken his lumps in the business world and carried on without becoming too emotional, he has never harboured a grudge against his intruder, who was never caught and with whom Rady became friendly before the ordeal was over.

Speaking before the IDEA dinner on Wednesday night, he said he was very nervous. A charming but self-deprecating man, Rady has often said he does not believe he is really that smart.

He professes to not really know just how the pandemic will affect the real estate market, let alone global economies.

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But in a way thats uncharacteristic of many octogenarians, he is hopeful about the kind of change technology provides.

"God bless the ingenuity of Americans and Canadians who came up with all the ways that have allowed us to continue to function in spite of the obstacles put in our way by the pandemic," he said.

He said that God bestowed two attributes to him that have allowed him to prosper: above-average common sense and a very good sense of people.

Rady joins an impressive cohort of IDEA recipients, including Sir Richard Branson, Paul Desmarais Sr., Akio Morita, Ross Perot, Heather Reisman & Gerald Schwartz, David Thomson and the 2019 (and most recent) recipient, Hartley Richardson.

In a video tribute produced for the event, Rady was asked by an interviewer what he thought was the most important element of a successful business. He answered like the real estate professional he is: "People, people and people."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
An employee at a Main Street hotel was stabbed Wednesday after telling an individual to follow COVID-19 public health restrictions.

An employee at a Main Street hotel was stabbed Wednesday after telling an individual to follow COVID-19 public health restrictions.

The man, who was working at the Northern Hotel beer vendor, was rushed to hospital in unstable condition after being stabbed at about 12:55 a.m., city police said.

Hotel owner Keith Horn said the employee, who has worked at the 826 Main St. business for about three years, was attacked simply because he was enforcing the province's public health order on people wearing masks indoors.

"He asked a woman to put a mask on, and a guy in the lobby took exception to what he was saying," said Horn. "When she refused, he told her you have to wait outside... (The other man) stabbed (the vendor) over the counter.

"We tell people hundreds of times a day to put on the mask. It is pretty much every day, but this is the first time someone has been stabbed."

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Horn said the employee was already home from hospital. "He texted my brother and said he'll be in tonight (to work)."

The business owner said the suspect who fled after the attack was wearing a mask.

"He is not a regular, but he was with a guy we know," Horn said. "We don't know who he is, but he said he had just got out of jail.

"Look, I get why we have to wear masks. You would think by now it would be commonsense and habit after all this time."

Winnipeg police are asking anyone with information to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
SICK children in Winnipeg received a boost of support thanks to a $2-million gift to the local Childrens Hospital Foundation from a co-founder of Shopify Inc.

SICK children in Winnipeg received a boost of support thanks to a $2-million gift to the local Childrens Hospital Foundation from a co-founder of Shopify Inc.

The Thistledown Foundation  a private charitable foundation created by Shopify chief executive officer Tobias Lutke and his wife, Fiona McKean  is donating a total of $26 million to 13 acute-care childrens hospitals ($2 million each) across the country.

"We are grateful to this donation and the power of the community to come together to help children who need childrens hospitals," Stefano Grande, president and CEO of the Childrens Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, said in a statement.

"It is more important than ever for us to be there for the children and families going through the most difficult times of their lives. This gift will help the kids we serve from Manitoba, northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut, to continue to get the best care possible."

In a statement, McKean, chairwoman of Thistledown, said: "Through this gift, our hope is that children across Canada will have the best possible care to enable them to feel better soon and get back to the important job of being kids."

Shopify, based in Ottawa, was founded in 2006, and is now the worlds largest e-commerce platform, assisting businesses big and small (including car maker Tesla) run online stores.

The Thistledown Foundation was created in late 2019 with a core mission to push forward technological solutions for reducing carbon.

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During the pandemic, the foundation expanded its focus to also help the countrys COVID-19 response by increasing the domestic supply of personal protective equipment and to accelerate academic research.

Jennifer Gillivan, chairwoman of Canadas Childrens Hospital Foundations, said: "The incredible generosity and power of this donation through the national network of childrens hospitals will create a positive impact and be felt in the smallest and largest communities throughout Canada. It is heartwarming to have these donors step up to put childrens needs first at a time when they need it the most."

Dr. Ronald Cohn, president and CEO of the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto), said the donations come at a perfect time.

"Our patients are counting on us more than ever before," said Cohn. "We must prioritize innovations in pediatric care as we start envisioning how our post-pandemic health-care institutions and systems will evolve."

The Childrens Hospital Foundation of Manitoba was founded in 1971, and has raised more than $150 million to help support programs to help sick children.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Winnipeg officials warn a delay in funding the $1.854-billion north end sewage treatment plant upgrade could thwart local development and force residents to pay higher water bills.

Winnipeg officials warn a delay in funding the $1.854-billion north end sewage treatment plant upgrade could thwart local development and force residents to pay higher water bills.

In a public service report, water and waste director Moira Geer notes the city is facing a Dec. 31 deadline to apply for federal funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for the projects second phase, which would create biosolids facilities.

Since the city and province have yet to agree on how much private influence should be involved in that work, Manitoba has not finalized the application, putting the city at risk of losing out on $368 million from the two senior governments toward the $552-million phase of upgrades, Geer notes.

"Failure to access this grant funding would have significant environmental, customer and economic impact."

The loss of the funding would result in increased water rates and could rule out new developments, while the risk of "sewage treatment failures" would rise if the current biosolids facility is forced to operate at maximum capacity, the report states.

Without the funding, the average annual water bill in Winnipeg is projected to rise to $1,380 in 2024 and $1,420 in 2025. That compares to $1,300 in 2024 and $1,332 in 2025, should the funding be granted on time, city spokesperson Adam Campbell confirmed in an emailed statement.

For months, the province has pushed the city to explore a model that would seek private interest to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the north Winnipeg project.

Unions and other critics lashed out against the potential for private operations, arguing it could spark layoffs and safety risks. Councils executive policy committee ultimately rejected the idea of private operations, though the city did study a public/private partnership on designing, building and financing the project.

The two governments have still not reached an agreement on the matter, so the province hasnt submitted a funding application to the federal government, according to the report.

Despite the significant risks, Coun. Brian Mayes, chairman of the water and waste committee, said "the stakes are so high" he expects the two levels of government to reach an agreement before the deadline.

"I dont really see the gain for the province saying it has to be all on our terms and we dont do this project Lets get this all worked out," Mayes said Wednesday.

The report links the development risk to the potential the city could run out of biosolids capacity, a key sewage sludge treatment, within the next five to nine years, unless phase two of the upgrade is completed first. Relying on the current facility for too long, if funding is delayed, could lead the city to consider suspending new residential and industrial development, which would cost the municipal government up to $88 million in lost revenue and prevent job growth, Geer writes.

Mayor Brian Bowman told media he hopes for an agreement soon.

"There is ongoing dialogue with the province of Manitoba, and theres obviously the hope that this file and the logjam on Broadway will end as a result of a new premier (who) is taking a much more collaborative approach," said Bowman.

In an emailed statement, a provincial spokesperson said the citys consideration of private involvement in the massive project falls short.

"It is the responsibility of the government of Manitoba to ensure that due diligence be undertaken on the citys funding request so this precedent-setting project is delivered in a way that achieves the best value for money for all Manitoban and Canadian taxpayers," the statement said.

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The province said it does not expect the Dec. 31 deadline to impede "the success of the upgrades."

Councils executive policy committee voted Wednesday to call on the province to immediately finalize the funding application for the project.

The three levels of government confirmed funding for the first phase of the project in July.

The city has not yet submitted an application to fund the upgrades $828-million third phase, which would reduce algae-promoting nutrients that flow out of the north end plant and wind up in Lake Winnipeg.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
A collaborative program between two Indigenous community organizations and the Manitoba government is ensuring people without a mailing address, health card or internet access have proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.

A collaborative program between two Indigenous community organizations and the Manitoba government is ensuring people without a mailing address, health card or internet access have proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.

People who need assistance getting their Manitoba COVID-19 vaccine card can now drop by either Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre or the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre in Winnipeg, where staff will be able to access their proof of vaccination and provide a laminated copy of the accompanying QR code.

"By them coming to our site, they have a trusted community member working with them so they know that were advocates for them," Ma Mawi operations manager Marion McKenzie said Wednesday.

McKenzie said community members were coming to the centre needing help navigating the provincial website to request QR codes or to address language and technology barriers. Others do not have fixed addresses to receive a physical copy of the immunization card by mail.

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The province has also provided Ma Mawi with access to a special identification number to allow it to process requests on behalf of others without sharing personal health information, McKenzie said.

A partnership between the two community service organizations and Manitoba Public Insurance has also been established to ensure people who need photo identification to accompany proof of vaccination can get an identity card.

McKenzie said the centre will be able to assist with paper work and then refer people to an MPI location downtown that has specially-trained customer service representatives that will expedite those identification card requests.

The identification cards will then be mailed to either Ma Mawi or the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre for pick up, if needed.

"We know our community, we know the best way to communicate with them and to be open to listening to them to hear what it is that they need and the challenges that they're facing in order for us to bring those to the table and find solutions," McKenzie said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
The provincial government is monitoring the fallout from flooding in British Columbia and expects the disaster will affect Manitoba's economy, Premier Heather Stefanson says.

The provincial government is monitoring the fallout from flooding in British Columbia and expects the disaster will affect Manitoba's economy, Premier Heather Stefanson says.

Stefanson spoke at the annual general meeting of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association Thursday. Thee flooding, which has taken out highways and rail lines, and cut off the vital shipping route from the Port of Vancouver to the rest of the country, shows the importance of infrastructure on Canada's economy, she said.

"I know what's happening in B.C.... will have significant impacts on all of us, certainly in Western Canada, indeed, across our country," said Stefanson.

"This is something we are going to have to work together as provinces to ensure we can get out of this and help our neighbours out in B.C. get through this devastating time."

Stefanson said she has spoken to B.C. Premier John Horgan.

Her speech to association members at the meeting, which was held virtually, touched on the Tory government's infrastructure budget, including $500 million for highways and airport infrastructure. She left before the customary question and answer session with delegates following her speech.

"I want to acknowledge, as well, that your scheduling conflicts prevent a Q and A. That happens, we understand," said Manitoba Heavy Construction Association president Chris Lorenc. "We will be able to put those questions to (Infrastructure) Minister (Ron) Schuler."

Stefanson responded: "I look forward to future opportunities where we will have that dialogue and that Q and A moving forward."

In recent days, the new premier has been criticized for making few public appearances and failing to tell the media about them so they can interview her.

The Free Press asked the premier's office to explain why Stefanson left the association's virtual meeting without taking questions from its members.

A spokeswoman for the premier later said Stefanson had to meet with the Winnipeg Police Association, the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union, and prepare for a meeting with the provinces grand chiefs on Friday.

Later, Schuler told representatives of the heavy construction industry that the Lake Manitoba-Lake St. Martin channel outlet project is still moving forward, albeit slowly.

The recent federal cabinet shuffle and the Sept. 20 federal election put discussions on hold, but "we can now get back to having conversations with the federal government," he said.

"We just went through a year of drought and two years before that we had a one-in-1,000-year rain event. Now is the time to build these climate resiliency projects... we don't want to have happen what's happening in British Columbia."

The outlet is the last major work to be done stemming from the 1950 flood and its aftermath, Schuler said.

"Over 50 or 60 years, we have built all kinds of structures, the floodway, etc. This is the last piece that comes under the 1950 flood... and then we have to go back and start updating what we have built and bring it up to one in 1,000."

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In addition, it is a provincial priority to have the Perimeter Highway around Winnipeg upgraded to freeway status by the time the city has one million people, he said.

"Modern cities across the world have it and it is time for Manitoba to get on board," he said.

The next step will be to upgrade the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 75 to freeway status, Schuler said.

"Next year, you will hear a little bit more about that," he said.

"I suspect... it will not happen in my lifetime, but we should start planning for it."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
A multi-year funding formula aimed at making policing costs sustainable and predictable wont be ready until long after next years city budget is approved.

A multi-year funding formula aimed at making policing costs "sustainable and predictable" wont be ready until long after next years city budget is approved.

When council ordered the formula for the Winnipeg Police Service in December 2020, it set a deadline of the end of this year.

Instead, councils executive policy committee approved a public service request on Wednesday to extend the deadline by four months, primarily to provide more time for public consultation.

That means no changes will be considered until after the city unveils its 2022 budget on Nov. 26.

Catherine Kloepfer, the citys chief financial officer, said six public engagement events are planned for mid-January.

WPS received about $301 million in this years budget, which accounts for about 27 per cent of the citys total operating budget.

Mayor Brian Bowman has long argued the police budget has grown at an unsustainable pace and blames the police pension for much of the cost.

"It is a very lucrative pension and it is a very high-cost pension," he said. "We recognize its not sustainable."

Council had ordered an overhaul of the pension to save millions each year, but an arbitrator ruled the unilateral move violated the collective bargaining agreement. So, the changes were cancelled. As a result, WPS was ordered to find $5.1 million of in-year savings to compensate for the lost savings in the 2021 budget.

Bowman said the Winnipeg Police Association has not shown "any appetite to reduce the entitlements in the pension."

Police recently asked the city to cover as much as $7.3 million of cost overruns this year, due to the savings target and an actuarial assessment that found the pension plan is short $5.8 million.

The head of the Winnipeg Police Association said shortfalls in the pension fund are a direct result of the citys decision to draw surpluses out of the pension plan years ago.

"Quite honestly, it shouldnt be in the police budget because (the city) used those surpluses back in the day. It should be coming out of the citys pocket," said president Moe Sabourin.

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Sabourin rejected the mayors claim that the union is unwilling to consider changes to the police pension plan, calling that a "flat-out lie."

"They tried to arbitrarily change the whole pension plan when we had agreed to sit down and negotiate... We are agreeable to changes to the pension plan, but you cant (just) take them," he said.

Sabourin said hes concerned the multi-year funding formula will result in cuts just as calls for police service increase.

Winnipeg Police Service public affairs manager Kelly Dehn said it would be "premature" for police to comment on the funding formula while it is being developed.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Two men face drug charges after police pulled over a truck carrying the psychoactive stimulant cathine.

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Mounties found 18.9 kilograms of cathine, also known as khat, when they stopped a semi trailer on the Trans-Canada Highway in the Rural Municipality of Reynolds, near Highway 11 on Nov. 15.

RCMP On November 15, 2021, officers with the RCMP Traffic Services Roving Patrol unit conducted a traffic stop on a commercial semi-trailer on Highway 1, located near Highway 11, in the RM of Reynolds. The traffic stop led to a search of the trailer, where officers located approximately 18.9 kilograms of Cathine, also known as khat, a Schedule IV substance under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The plant is common in parts of Africa, where people chew its leaves to get a buzz. It's illegal in Canada and uncommon in Manitoba; there have been seizures of it here, but so infrequently that Manitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre acknowledged he, too, was unfamiliar with the drug until Wednesday.

This is likely the largest quantity Manitoba police have seized. Officers found it while checking the truck driver's logbook. The required information provided about the commercial cargo was too generic, so officers conducted an inspection of the semi-trailer, Manaigre said.

"It's not very common here," he said.

The substance is sold in the U.S. for roughly US$1,000 per kilogram, so RCMP estimate this quantity could have a street value of $25,000, depending on demand in the area where it was destined to be sold. The truck was coming from Ontario, but RCMP don't know where it was headed.

The 21-year-old driver from Winnipeg and 28-year-old passenger from Edmonton were arrested and released pending a February 28, 2022 court date in Winnipeg. Both men face a charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Some faculty members at the University of Manitoba who went on strike earlier this month have ditched the picket lines and returned to work amid an ongoing stalemate in negotiations.

Some faculty members at the University of Manitoba who went on strike earlier this month have ditched the picket lines and returned to work amid an ongoing stalemate in negotiations.

"I have heard from a lot of students who are wondering, Is the strike over? Are classes back?" said Brendan Scott, president of the undergraduate students union, which represents more than 26,000 students at the Winnipeg-based school.

Scott said many classes that were put on hold Nov. 2, when hundreds of instructors went on strike in protest of wages and related concerns about recruitment and retention, have resumed after reading week.

There were no courses, tests or assignment due dates at the university between Nov. 8 and 12.

Liv Valmestad joined a handful of members of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association to picket in front of the Manitoba Legislative Building on Wednesday. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

Scotts best guess is some professors returned after that period because they missed teaching and felt job action was greatly interfering with their courses.

With a deal yet to be finalized, the final instructional day for courses that have been interrupted by the strike has already been extended until at least Dec. 23. Exams for these classes have also been pushed back until after students return from a winter break in early 2022.

Approximately 2,340 courses, including labs, tutorials, studios and seminars, continue to take place between U of Ms virtual and in-person campuses. Some of these courses are taught by members of the faculty association currently on strike; others are taught by contract academics.

Combined, U of M has around 2,200 teaching staff. The faculty association, which has a total membership of more than 1,200, represents professors, instructors and librarians.

The university did not provide details Wednesday on either the total number of academics on strike or total courses that have been disrupted.

Strike captain Michael Minor leads a group of UMFA members in a song about solidarity in front of the legislative building on Wednesday. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

Arts and science courses have been primarily disrupted in recent weeks, said Scott, adding many business, engineering and law classes are carrying on as usual.

Few, if any, members of the law faculty are on strike  in part, because of tensions related to the unions bargaining approach.

Before contract talks got underway with the U of M in the summertime, there was a dispute within the union about its wage proposal. Fewer than two weeks after taking on executive positions, the former president and vice-president of the faculty association, both of whom work at Robson Hall, quit their positions. Both men cited workplace bullying.

Sean Buchanan, an assistant professor of business administration, acknowledged Wednesday he is one of few educators at the Asper School of Business on the picket lines.

"Because were training managers, theres just this sort of idea that were managers, too, even though were not  we're academics," said Buchanan, who indicated he is taking job action because he worries the school will keep losing talented staff if it does not address its low salaries in comparison to other research schools in Canada.

UMFA members, students and supporters rally at the University of Manitoba on Nov. 5. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Asked about the growing number of members returning to work as the strike continues, the union provided a generic statement that touted the record number of faculty members who have been participating in overall job action in 2021.

There have been virtual pickets, in addition to protests outside the U of M campuses and the Manitoba legislature.

Premier responds to calls to meet with striking faculty Academics on strike at the University of Manitoba have been repeatedly requesting meetings with the newly appointed premier and other provincial officials to discuss a wage mandate. The faculty association claims professor, instructor and librarian wages have remained stagnant over the last five years because of government interference. click to read more Academics on strike at the University of Manitoba have been repeatedly requesting meetings with the newly appointed premier and other provincial officials to discuss a wage mandate. The faculty association claims professor, instructor and librarian wages have remained stagnant over the last five years because of government interference. Since before a strike began, the union has been calling on the province to withdraw the mandate it gave its employer. The province says overarching mandates are within its scope as a key funder of public education and steward of public funds. Premier Heather Stefanson addressed the situation during a news conference Wednesday. When asked why she is committed to listening to Manitobans but wont sit down and listen to UMFA members whove been picketing outside the legislature and in her constituency, Stefanson noted the union has been saying it does not want the province to interfere in bargaining. I think that would be inappropriate at this stage," she said. "I think we need to allow them to have those discussions with the employer. Thats the appropriate way to handle this process." Close

"Our picket lines have remained stable and strong over the last three weeks and have been bolstered by student and community support," said Orvie Dingwall, president of the faculty association.

"We would all rather be teaching students and we encourage the administration to accept our reasonable offer that prioritizes student learning and faculty working conditions."

The U of M recently tabled a three-year deal that includes general salary hikes each year, a minimum of increase of seven per cent to floors and ceilings for nearly all ranks, and the downsizing of 15 annual performance wage increases to 12.

Despite ongoing disruptions, which Scott said have affected the vast majority of students in one way or another, the undergraduate students union continues to back professors' calls for higher wages.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
This province cannot talk about reconciliation without also addressing the issue of homelessness.

Opinion

This province cannot talk about reconciliation without also addressing the issue of homelessness.

Winter is here, and earlier this week, a bus shelter at the corner of Osborne Street and Broadway was engulfed in flames, with evidence that people had used it as a temporary living shelter. Increasingly, bus shelters across the city are being utilized as temporary homes, as those who are homeless try to find a safe and warm place to sleep while COVID-19 makes it difficult to find a space in transitional housing.

Many of them are Indigenous. Many of them are dealing with addictions or mental-health issues. This needs to be where we implement our truth and reconciliation ideals as a province.

Homelessness can be defined as a lack of stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability to acquire it. It is the result of systemic or societal barriers, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing.

Indigenous scholar Jesse Thistle goes further in his definition of homelessness for Indigenous people: Unlike the common colonialist definition of homelessness, Indigenous homelessness is not defined as lacking a structure of habitation; rather, it is more fully described and understood through a composite lens of Indigenous worldviews. These include: individuals, families and communities isolated from their relationships to land, water, place, family, kin, each other, animals, cultures, languages and identities.

For Indigenous people who are living on the streets of Winnipeg, struggling to find a safe place to sleep, this is truly an isolationist space.

The latest street census, published this month, shows more than 1,100 Winnipeggers are homeless, the majority of whom are Indigenous (66 per cent). The census was based on data collected over a 24-hour period on April 21-22, 2021. It recorded 1,127 people who were experiencing homeless in Winnipeg, including 370 who were unsheltered, 54 at encampments, 300 staying at emergency shelters, 229 at 24-7 safe spaces and 174 in transitional housing.

Unlike what many of us may imagine, homeless people are not predominantly young. In fact, most of those staying in transitional housing or safe spaces were adults over the age of 25. Four per cent were over the age of 65. Most of them are men.

Unfortunately, many of the homeless are also invisible. They are the people the census cant count, because they arent living in homeless shelters or outside, but they still dont have permanent housing and may be either living on a friends couch or in a hotel room or are precariously housed. They, too, need a permanent and reliable solution to homelessness.

In the meantime, there have been initiatives announced that involve funding from all three levels of government for new housing to be built. The federal government has approved $12.5 million to build 79 small homes for Winnipegs housing-challenged population. Operating costs now have to be funded.

At the same time, however, the provincial government has been selling off Manitoba Housing properties since 2016.

In March of this year, the wait list to get into Manitobas social housing was at 4,600. Thats down from 9,000 from the year previous, but thats only because 2,000 people who had been on the list from the year before had stopped waiting. Meanwhile, documents obtained by the Manitoba Liberals in 2019 showed the province had sold off 94 properties owned by Manitoba Housing since 2016.

Then-families minister Heather Stefanson said when the Progressive Conservatives took government in the spring of 2016, many public housing buildings were in such bad shape people couldnt live inside them. So instead, they were sold to private developers.

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Why is this important? Other than it being a decent and right thing to do, research shows that providing housing first to individuals struggling with addictions, mental-health issues and the effects of decolonization is less expensive than leaving them living on the street.

A McGill study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatric Services, suggests it costs as much as $75,000 a year to manage a person struggling with homelessness and severe mental illness  compared to approximately $51,000 for people with less severe needs. Health services, emergency shelters and policing are the primary costs.

Once an individual gets housing, the research shows they can then access medical and other types of treatment, find employment or training and become members of their community.

Housing should be an integral part of Manitobas truth and reconciliation goals, with a commitment to supporting social housing thats already built and a push for new housing.

Shannon Sampert is a Winnipeg-based political scientist and the former politics and perspectives editor of the Winnipeg Free Press.

shannon@mediadiva.ca
Premier Heather Stefanson addressed the media on Wednesday as part of an announcement regarding the next phase of Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine campaign. She faced only a few questions, mostly related to the pandemic-focused matter at hand. Most inquiries were directed to Health Minister Audrey Gordon or vaccine task force medical lead Dr. Joss Reimer.

Premier Heather Stefanson addressed the media on Wednesday as part of an announcement regarding the next phase of Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine campaign. She faced only a few questions, mostly related to the pandemic-focused matter at hand. Most inquiries were directed to Health Minister Audrey Gordon or vaccine task force medical lead Dr. Joss Reimer.

New premier 'very, very busy' in lead-up to new legislative session Click to Expand MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Heather Stefanson. Posted: 7:00 PM Nov. 16, 2021 Premier Heather Stefanson has apologized for not making herself available to answer questions from reporters but says, however, she is not hiding. It's been more than two weeks since she was sworn in as premier and held a news conference  and for good reason, she said Tuesday after a Manitoba Metis Federation event in Winnipeg. Read Full Story

Thats a bit surprising, given the new premiers relative public invisibility and almost-complete media inaccessibility since being sworn in on Nov. 2. Irrespective of her assertion on Tuesday that she has been "very, very busy  in back-to-back meetings and out at events and things like that," Ms. Stefansons unwillingness or inability to make herself available to publicly address urgent issues affecting Manitobans has cast a cloud over her first weeks in office.

The premier has offered scant explanation  either directly, or through her newly assembled communications staff  for her very limited number of public appearances, or for not providing prior media notification for those that she has made, including at a ceremony Tuesday to commemorate the 136th anniversary of Manitoba founder Louis Riels execution.

And when asked Tuesday by a Free Press reporter why she has not been available to answer media questions about such issues as the provinces pandemic response or the ongoing labour dispute at the University of Manitoba, but was willing to make time for an interview with a local radio host with a history of racist and misogynist on-air behaviour, the premiers response was to sigh and instruct, "You know what? Please work through our staff."

Despite that, Ms. Stefanson seemed satisfied Tuesday that her presence at the Manitoba Metis Federation event was evidence that "Were not trying to be hiding or anything like that."

When she first threw her figurative hat into the political-leadership ring, indicating a desire to succeed Brian Pallister as Manitobas premier, Ms. Stefanson signalled an intention to be a more open, collaborative and publicly accountable leader than the person she hoped to replace.

The majority of the Progressive Conservative caucus, and most of Mr. Pallisters cabinet, lined up in support of Ms. Stefansons bid. All seemed eager  perhaps for the first time since 2016  to distance themselves from Mr. Pallisters combative style and some of his less-popular policy initiatives.

Matt Goerzen / The Brandon Sun Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson

Upon winning the PC partys leadership by a narrower-than-expected margin  a result being challenged in court by rival Shelly Glover later this week  Ms. Stefanson used her acceptance speech to reach out to First Nations and Metis people, labour and business, and ethnic and cultural groups who "didnt necessarily feel comfortable being part of our party."

"Hello, Manitoba  welcome to the new PC party," she said. And then, for all intents and purposes, promptly disappeared. If she is to be taken at her word, she has been fully occupied by behind-the-scenes tasks in preparation for the upcoming legislative session.

Brandon University political science professor Kelly Saunders suggested this week that if Ms. Stefanson is intent on differentiating herself from her predecessor and showing leadership in a time of crisis, "ducking and hiding is not the way you get that message across."

On Wednesday, at least, finally, she faced a few questions that had been begging for answers since the beginning of her nascent term as premier. Such appearances should quickly become the rule rather than the exception.

A day earlier, as she looked ahead to her governments speech from the throne on Nov. 23, Ms. Stefanson advised those listening to "Stay tuned and youll see a lot more of me, I promise, in the days and months and years ahead."

One can only hope.
The family of a personal care home resident in rural Manitoba is concerned there could be another COVID-19 "disaster" in congregate settings, despite vaccinations, boosters and the best efforts of staff.

The family of a personal care home resident in rural Manitoba is concerned there could be another COVID-19 "disaster" in congregate settings, despite vaccinations, boosters and the best efforts of staff.

"I just think this is a bit of a disaster waiting to happen despite staff's best efforts all the time," said Heather Stone, who found out Nov. 5 about an outbreak at Gladstone's Third Crossing Manor where her mother, Roberta Stone, 86, lives.

SUPPLIED Roberta Stone, 86, is a resident of Third Crossing Manor personal care home in Gladstone. Shes fully vaccinated, with a booster and a flu shot, but is isolating in her room after a COVID-19 outbreak infected 70 residents and staff at the facility.

Of the 70 cases of COVID-19 at the home, which is in the Southern Health region, 37 involve residents and 33 involve staffers.

Stone, who is fully vaccinated, has had the COVID-19 booster and a flu shot. She is self-isolating along with other residents of the home, including the mother of MLA Eileen Clarke, who represents the area.

"Im happy to say my mom is recovering and doing much better, as are other residents and staff," the former Progressive Conservative minister of Indigenous and northern affairs posted on Facebook.

"I cant stress enough the need to be cautious about the spread of the COVID virus and the need to be vaccinated. These outbreaks are avoidable," Clarke said.

Southern Health said "a number" of those who tested positive were fully vaccinated and the source of the initial transmission had not been identified.

"However, increased COVID-19 activity in the community and province is seen as likely to have played a role" it said. It shows the ongoing risk associated with highly transmissible COVID-19 variants in congregate settings "and the need for ongoing vigilance."

Stone said staff at the home has been vigilant, but policies made by the province have been wanting. She pointed to designated caregivers not being required to show proof of vaccination until recently and low vaccine uptake in the area.

Roberta Stone, who uses a wheelchair and has arthritis and cognitive issues, has been watching Christmas movies and eating her meals alone in her room. The extrovert who loves being around people taught teachers how to teach music, and is the sister of former NDP cabinet minister Nancy Allan.

She wasn't able to have visitors prior to the COVID-19 outbreak at Third Crossing Manor because of a respiratory virus outbreak, said her daughter, who is a designated caregiver and had been visiting her twice a week.

"Here's my mother, sitting there confined to her room, and because of this combination of unvaccinated people and loose policy, she's deprived of visitation and authentic interaction with her family," said Stone, a retired high school English teacher who lives on a nearby farm with her husband who is also a designated caregiver.

"I think the staff there are incredible," she said of the Gladstone care home. "They were doing everything they possibly could, given the situation." Stone said she's worried about her mom.

"I'm hoping they have enough staff to do essential things," she said. "They can get people from other regions, but they have to be overstretched."

Even with outbreaks at care homes and close to 100 health-care employees in the Southern Health region on unpaid leave because they refuse to get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19, Health Minister Audrey Gordon said Wednesday that the province doesn't need to ask the Canadian Armed Forces or the Red Cross for staffing help.

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"What we've implemented already is a provincial approach to a local issue," Gordon said. "We're moving staff around," she said.

They're redeploying nurses and other staff across several regions to where they're needed, she said. They have internationally educated nurses, as well as volunteers in some communities, willing to help.

Rather than shifting the burden from one area to another, the health minister said they're able to level the load "to ensure services are there for COVID and non-COVID cases. We're certainly not compromising non-COVID care," she said. "We're ensuring care is applied equally and equitably across the region. It's been working very well."

In a statement, NDP Leader Wab Kinew said outbreaks at care homes in Gladstone, Benito and Arborg are tragic and worrisome.

"Twenty months into this pandemic, the province should be hiring more staff to work in rural care homes and working on a long-term plan for staffing in rural health care."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
NEW YORK (AP)  More than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated Thursday after decades of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icons death.

The room that was Malcolm X's office is seen at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, formerly the Audubon Ballroom, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in New York. Two of the three men convicted in the assassination of Malcolm X are set to be cleared Thursday, after insisting on their innocence since the 1965 killing. Lawyers and the Innocence Project said Wednesday that a new investigation found authorities withheld evidence favorable to the defense in the trial of Muhammad Aziz, now 83, and the late Khalil Islam. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP)  More than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated Thursday after decades of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icons death.

Manhattan judge Ellen Biben dismissed the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and the late Khalil Islam, after prosecutors and the mens lawyers said a renewed investigation found new evidence that the men were not involved with the killing and determined that authorities withheld some of what they knew.

FILE - This photo, released by WCBS-TV, shows Thomas Hagan, 22, struggling with police who take him from the scene outside the ballroom where Malcolm X was shot and killed in New York, Feb. 21,1965. Two men convicted in the assassination of Malcolm X are set to be cleared after more than half a century, with prosecutors now saying authorities withheld evidence in the civil rights leader's killing, according to a news report Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/WCBS-TV News, File)

"The event that has brought us to court today should never have occurred," Aziz, 83, told the court.

He and Islam, who maintained their innocence from the start in the 1965 killing at Harlems Audubon Ballroom, were paroled in the 1980s. Islam died in 2009.

Malcolm X gained national prominence as the voice of the Nation of Islam, exhorting Black people to claim their civil rights "by any means necessary." His autobiography, written with Alex Haley, remains a classic work of modern American literature.

Near the end of Malcolm Xs life, he split with the Black Muslim organization and, after a trip to Mecca, started speaking about the potential for racial unity. It earned him the ire of some in the Nation of Islam, who saw him as a traitor.

He was shot to death while beginning a speech on Feb. 21, 1965. He was 39.

FILE  Malcolm X's widow, Betty Shabazz, leaves the Faith Temple of God in Christ, in New York's Harlem neighborhood, Feb. 27, 1965, after funeral services for her husband. Two of the three men convicted in the assassination of Malcolm X are set to be cleared Thursday after insisting on their innocence since the 1965 killing of one of the United States' most formidable fighters for civil rights, Manhattan's top prosecutor said Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo, File)

Aziz and Islam, then known as Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson, and a third man were convicted of murder in March 1966. They were sentenced to life in prison.

The third man, Mujahid Abdul Halim  also known as Talmadge Hayer and Thomas Hagan  admitted to shooting Malcolm X but said neither Aziz nor Islam was involved. The two offered alibis, and no physical evidence linked them to the crime.

Halim was paroled in 2010. Through a relative, he declined to comment Thursday. He identified some other men as accomplices, but no one else has ever been held accountable for the crime.

The recent investigation found information in FBI files about witnesses who couldn't identify Islam and implicated other suspects, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. told the court. The files showed that the late FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover ordered agents to tell witnesses not to reveal that they were informants when talking with police and prosecutors, Vance said.

Aaron Page, left, and Kalyani Thampi inspect the mural by Daniel Galvez titled "Homage to Malcolm X" with their 6 week old son Sury Thampi-Paige at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, formerly the Audubon Ballroom, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in New York. Two of the three men convicted in the assassination of Malcolm X are set to be cleared Thursday, after insisting on their innocence since the 1965 killing. Lawyers and the Innocence Project said Wednesday that a new investigation found authorities withheld evidence favorable to the defense in the trial of Muhammad Aziz, now 83, and the late Khalil Islam. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

"I apologize for what were serious, unacceptable violations of law and the public trust," he said. "There is one ultimate conclusion: Mr. Aziz and Mr. Islam were wrongfully convicted of this crime."

Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck, one of the lawyers for Aziz and for Islams family, said the review also found the FBI and police hid evidence from prosecutors, as what he called part of a plot to disrupt the Black civil rights movement.

The FBI and New York Police Department had evidence of Aziz's and Islam's death within hours but ignored and suppressed it, said another of their attorneys, Deborah Francois, who works with civil rights attorney David Shanies.

Biben said the case "cries out for fundamental justice."

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The NYPD and the FBI said Wednesday that they had cooperated fully with the re-investigation. They declined to comment further.

NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes said Thursday she felt for Malcolm Xs family and for Aziz and Islam "if we are responsible for withholding information."

"I hope that we never revisit a scenario like this again," she added.

Attorneys, scholars and others have long raised questions about the convictions, and alternate theories and accusations have swirled around the case. After Netflix aired the documentary series "Who Killed Malcom X?" early last year, Vances office said it was taking a fresh look at the case.

As news of the exonerations reverberated, even New York Citys mayor said the public deserved more answers.

"I hope this doesnt end the discussion," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. "For millions and millions of Americans, we still need to know who killed Malcolm X and who ordered it."
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The jury at Kyle Rittenhouses murder trial deliberated for a third full day without reaching a verdict Thursday, while the judge banned MSNBC from the courthouse after a freelancer for the network was accused of following the jurors in their bus.

Protesters confront each other outside the Kenosha County Courthouse, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Kenosha, Wis., during the Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The jury at Kyle Rittenhouses murder trial deliberated for a third full day without reaching a verdict Thursday, while the judge banned MSNBC from the courthouse after a freelancer for the network was accused of following the jurors in their bus.

The jury members will return on Friday morning to resume their work. Unlike on previous days, they had no questions and no requests to review any evidence Thursday in the politically and racially fraught case.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for killing two men and wounding a third with a rifle during a turbulent night of protests that erupted in Kenosha in the summer of 2020 after a Black man, Jacob Blake, was shot by a white police officer.

Even as the jury weighed the evidence, two mistrial requests from the defense hung over the case, with the potential to upend the verdict if the panel were to convict Rittenhouse. One of those requests asks the judge to go even further and bar prosecutors from retrying him.

Also Thursday, Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder banned MSNBC after police said they briefly detained a man who had followed the jury bus and may have tried to photograph jurors.

Natalie Wisco, an attorney for Kyle Rittenhouse, looks through a laptop that may be used for the jury to view evidence videos while they deliberate in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

NBC News said in a statement that the man was a freelancer who received a citation for a traffic violation that took place near the jury vehicle, and he "never photographed or intended to photograph them."

Before the jurors retired around 4 p.m. at what the judge said was their own request, one of them asked if she could take the jury instructions home, and the judge said yes but told her she couldn't talk to anyone about them. Before deliberations, Schroeder read the jury some 36 pages of instructions on the charges and the laws of self-defense.

After the jury departed, Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards told the judge he feared that letting members take home instructions would lead to jurors looking things up in the dictionary or doing their own research.

Judge Bruce Schroeder listens as attorneys argue about items that could be considered for a mistrial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

Tom Grieve, a Milwaukee attorney and former prosecutor not involved in the case, called the move "definitely unusual in my experience." "The natural issue is that it will precipitate armchair research and table discussion," he said.

At the end of the day, jurors looked tired, but no more than they did at the end of their first day. No one seemed visibly upset. Two jurors spoke genially to each other as they walked out the door.

Rittenhouse was a 17-year-old former police youth cadet when he went to Kenosha in what he said was an effort to protect property after rioters set fires and ransacked businesses on previous nights.

Judge Bruce Schroeder speaks to the attorneys about how the jury will view evidence as they deliberate during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

He shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, now 28. Rittenhouse is white, as were those he shot.

Rittenhouse said he acted in self-defense after coming under attack, while prosecutors argued he instigated the bloodshed.

The case has exposed deep divides among Americans over guns, racial injustice, vigilantism and self-defense in the U.S.

Judge Bruce Schroeder talks about why he let the jury take home the jury instructions at the end of the day in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool)

To some civil rights activists, the shootings were an attack on the movement for racial justice, and some have complained of a racial double standard in the way Rittenhouse was treated by law enforcement that night.

The defense has twice asked the judge to declare a mistrial, alleging that they were given an inferior copy of a potentially crucial video and that the prosecution asked improper questions of Rittenhouse during cross-examination.

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Schroeder has said the mistrial bid will have to be addressed if there is a guilty verdict. If Rittenhouse is acquitted, the dispute wont matter. But if he is convicted and the judge then declares a mistrial, that would void the verdict.

Rittenhouse could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

___

Forliti reported from Minneapolis, Bauer from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writers Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, and Todd Richmond in Madison contributed to this story.

___

Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
President awards Witsies National Orders

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has awarded four Witsies his offices highest honour for their services to South Africa.

President Ramaphosa today awarded National Orders to citizens and foreign nationals who have made outstanding contributions towards the betterment of the country.

In his address the President said that the individuals deserved the recognition and had defied the odds and made immense sacrifices not only for us to attain our freedom but so that such freedom becomes meaningful and is enjoyed by all. The outstanding individuals are in different ways champions of freedom, champions of peace, of human rights, social justice as well as equality.

The President said that the National Order recipients have honoured and upheld the values which, when put together, represent the highest ideals of humanity.

Witsies Sibusiso Nyembezi (posthumous), Raymond Louw (posthumous), Justice Edwin Cameron, and Max Coleman were amongst those honoured today.

Professor Sibusiso Nyembezi, who was an academic at the then Department of Bantu Languages at Wits, received the Order of Ikhamanga (gold), which is awarded to individuals who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport. Nyembezi, who passed away in 2000, was a Zulu novelist, poet, scholar, teacher and editor. He is the third member of this former Department to receive National Orders, after Professor B.W Vilakazi and Dr Robert Sobukwe. The Department played a tremendous role in defying apartheid and continues  as the African Languages Department of its to contribute to the development and preservation of South African languages. The University awarded Nyembezi an honorary doctorate in 1982.

Mr Raymond Louw, a multi-decorated journalist and editor who wielded his pen against apartheid and fought for media freedom, also received the Order of Ikhamanga (gold). Louw, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 93, received an honorary doctorate from Wits University in 2015. As the editor of the Rand Daily Mail, Louw is credited for taking the paper to its peak as it stood out for its commitment to fine, critical and independent journalism  and that it was at its best and its strongest during Rays 11-year editorship, says media professor Anton Harber.

Justice Edwin Cameron was bestowed the Order of the Baobab (gold), awarded to exceptional citizens who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. A former judge in the Constitutional Court, Camerons heroism in and out of the court is well documented. He served as a labour and human rights lawyer in defence of African National Congress activists charged with treason; defended conscientious and religious objectors to conscription; dealt with land tenure issues and forced removals; protected freedom fighters, the Sharpeville Six from capital punishment; and fought for gay and lesbian rights. He was one of the HIV/Aids activists leading the charge against the post-democracy government to provide treatment and care to HIV/AIDS patients. Cameron has a long relationship with Wits University dating from 1978 when he was a lecturer in the School of Law. He is the former Chair of the Wits Council, the highest decision making body of the University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University is 2010.

Max and Audrey Coleman were bestowed the Order of Luthuli (silver), conferred on those who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice and peace, and conflict resolution. Wits alumus Max Coleman served as the Human Rights Commissioner. He was the founding member of the Detainees Parents Support Committee (DPSC), established to provide food, clothing and legal assistance to detainees under apartheid, as well as to monitor and publicise state repression. Coleman earned his first degree at Wits University, a BSc Engineering.

Other Witsies who previously received National Orders include Professor Yosuf (Joe) Veriava; Professor Thokozani Majozi; Emeritus Professor James David Lewis-Williams; Journalism student, Doug Anderson; Wits alumni Justice Yvonne Mokgoro; William Frankel, Chair of the Wits Foundation in the UK; Professor Benedict Wallet Vilakazi (Father of Zulu poetry); Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng (Mathematics Education); Professor Helen Rees (internationally renowned expert in HIV prevention, reproductive health and vaccines), and Wits alumna, Sylvia Magogo Glasser (choreographer).

2019 - Wits academics bestowed with National Orders

2016 - National Orders for four Witsies

2015 - National Orders for Witsies
SACTJ Calls for Reform of National Preventive Mechanism

The South African Transitional Justice Coalition calls for changes to the National Preventive Mechanism in South Africa

Torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment and punishment were routinely and widely practised during the Apartheid era in South Africa. These human rights abuses are still rife in the country and need to be combated in a variety of ways.

South Africa is obliged to take steps to eradicate torture and these other types of violations, in accordance with our Constitution (especially Section 12 of the Bill of Rights) as well as the country's international obligations. In 2019, South Africa ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) which requires the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) to monitor all sites of confinement, detention, or incarceration, that deprive people of their liberty in all forms.

The South African Human Rights Commission is at the helm of this oversight work. A draft discussion paper on 'The Role of Civil Society in The Work of The National Preventive Mechanism (NPM)' was circulated by the SAHRC for public input. In response to the discussion paper, the South African Coalition for Transitional Justice (SACTJ) notes several concerns and limitations regarding the creation and functioning of the NPM, and the involvement of civil society in its work. The SACTJ calls for changes to the architecture and working methodology of the NPM in South Africa. These calls are outlined in a Memorandum prepared by Professor Jeremy Sarkin on behalf of the SACTJ.

Some of the specific issues raised include the need for the NPM to be more democratic, the need for more resources for the NPM, and the need for legislative reform to ensure that the process is more democratic, open, transparent, and fit to deal with the matters under its umbrella. The SACTJ also recommends that the NPM process be more inclusive of various stakeholders, including institutions currently playing a role in monitoring and dealing with places affected by the acts of torture and other abuses. It is essential that the NPM draw on existing expertise of organisations, institutions, and civil society actors with experience and knowledge on monitoring places of detention. The SACTJ also raises flags on issues of non-disclosure and liability of people working for the NPM. The Memorandum addresses these issues and makes recommendations to ensure that the NPM is effectively equipped to fulfil its mandate as a mechanism to prevent torture and to combat the culture of impunity for such abuses in places of detention and confinement in South Africa.

The Memorandum has been delivered to the coordinating process of the NPM to raise these concerns regarding the creation of the NPM and its modus operandi. While the SACTJ has received acknowledgement of the Memorandum, we have not heard confirmation that it has been shared with the NPM partners or will be discussed.

The SACTJ calls for the Memorandum to serve at the upcoming meeting of the NPM partners on 7 December 2021. A functioning NPM is fundamental to the work of monitoring places of detention and confinement and for the prevention of the scourge of torture that occurs in in these places. Therefore, it is crucial that the NPM operates properly and effectively to ensure the safety and protection of persons deprived of their liberty. The SACTJ wishes to play a constructive role and stands ready to engage on these issues and the work of the NPM.

The full Memorandum written by Professor Jeremy Sarkin is available for those who wish to obtain it.

For media enquiries, contact:

Jemma Blacklaw at jemmablacklaw@gmail.com

Endorsed by:
ROCHESTER, Ind. (AP)  A northern Indiana school district paid nearly $3.5 million to the families of three children who died and a fourth child who was seriously injured in 2018 when a pickup truck plowed into them as they crossed a rural highway to board a school bus.

The settlement with the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. was signed in June 2019, less than seven months after the truck hit and killed 9-year-old Alivia Stahl and the girls 6-year-old twin half brothers, Xzavier and Mason Ingle, in Fulton County, the South Bend Tribune reported Wednesday.

A copy of the settlement recently obtained by the newspaper shows the district paid $2.575 million to the parents of the three deceased children, with about $1.24 million going to an estate created in the childrens names.

About $206,000 went to Alivia Stahl's father, while the mother of all three deceased children, Brittany Ingle, and her husband Shane Ingle, received a little over $1.13 million.

The district also paid $900,000 to the family of Maverick Lowe, who was 11 when he was severely injured in the Oct. 30, 2018, crash, which occurred as he and the three others crossed two-lane State Road 25 in Rochester to board a school bus.

Representatives from the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. provided a copy of the settlement after the South Bend Tribune submitted a records request, but did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment on the agreement.

The pickup truck's driver, Alyssa Shepherd, was sentenced in 2019 to four years in prison after being convicted of three counts of reckless homicide, criminal recklessness and passing a school bus, causing injury.

However, she could be released as early as Dec. 20 due to Indianas jail time credits and her completion of a Bible study course while in prison.

Fulton County Prosecutor Michael Marrs and the crash victims' relatives have opposed Shepherds early release into a community transition program. A judge could rule on her release by the end of the month.

Shepherd told authorities she didnt realize that she was approaching a stopped school bus, despite its activated stop arm and flashing lights.

The National Transportation Safety Board said in April 2020 that the school district was partially to blame for the deadly crash, finding that its inadequate safety assessment of school bus routes resulted in a prevalence of bus stops that required students to cross high-speed roadways.
BUNKER HILL, Ind. (WLFI)  On Wednesday, Indiana State Police Detective initiated an investigation at the request of the Miami Correctional Facility into the death of inmate Leo Cullen.

According to ISP, around 10:00 a.m., correction officers found Cullen severely injured in the N Housing Unit Dayroom. Cullen succumbed to his injuries despite medical assistance.

Investigators suspect foul play and are treating the death as a homicide. An autopsy will be conducted.

As News 18 reported back in 2017, Cullen was sentenced to 20 years in prison for an armed robbery at a gas station near Dayton.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Make way! Thanksgiving's biggest stars are finally here.

The 2021 Presidential Turkeys arrived in Washington DC yesterday for the annual pardoning ceremony.

The pair received their official names today, Peanut Butter and Jelly.



As we've reported, this year's turkey's were raised right here in the Hoosier state.

After their presidential pardon, the birds will return back to Indiana and live out the rest of their days at Purdue University.
The Umayyad Caliphate was an Islamic Empire that ruled North Africa, the Middle East, and even significant parts of Europe and the Indian Subcontinent for nearly a century, between 661 CE and 750 CE. It was named for its ruling family, the Ummayads, who were named after their common ancestor, Umayya ibn Abd Shams, a member of the Quraysh tribe in Mecca, Islams holiest city. The Umayyads took power following the first Muslim civil war, or fitnah. After gaining control of the Muslim Caliphate, they began expanding it. During their rule, the Umayyad Dynasty oversaw the construction of several important buildings, some of which still hold great significance today. But due to the overextension of the empire, financial difficulties, and internal strife, the Umayyad Dynasty saw its rule come to an end, replaced by the Abbasid Caliphate.

Birth of the Umayyad Caliphate

Following the death of Islams founder, the Prophet Mohammed, in 632 CE, his successor, Abu Bakr, became the first of four caliphs to control what was called the Rashidun Caliphate. During the Rashidun era, Muslim armies launched invasions into the Fertile Crescent region (modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip), Iran, the islands of the Greek archipelago, Egypt, and other parts of North Africa. In 656, the Third Caliph, named Uthman, was murdered. His successor, Ali, was not welcomed by some in the empire. One person that opposed him was the governor of Syria, Muawiya, who was a cousin of Uthman. The power struggle between Ali and Muawiya was the catalyst for the first Muslim civil war, known as the First Fitnah, which raged between the years 656 and 661. The war ended when Ali was murdered in 661 by an extremist group called the Kharjites, who also tried to kill Muawiya, but failed. Alis death allowed Muawiya to become the first Caliph of the Umayyad Dynasty.

Consolidation and Expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate

Pilgrims at the Umayyad Mosque in Syria, Damascus. Editorial credit: Orhan Cam / Shutterstock.com

Muawiya I, would rule the Islamic Caliphate for 19 years, from 661 to 680. During his reign, he moved the capital of the Caliphate to Damascus, the present-day capital of Syria, as Syria was where much of his support base came from. Muawiya I also undertook significant administrative reforms, such as the creation of a police network known as the Shurta and bureaus called diwans, which were each tasked with responsibility for managing certain facets of the Caliphate. One example of these diwans was the diwan al-bareed, or postal service, which made communication throughout the vast Islamic empire more efficient. Furthermore, in order to secure the loyalty of his fellow Arabs, Muawiya utilized two institutions that were pillars of Arab society at the time: the shura and the wufud. The former of these was a council of notables that acted as advisors to the Caliph, while the latter were envoys sent by Arab tribes to inform the Caliph of their interests.

Muawiya I was also successful in expanding the borders of the Islamic Caliphate. His forces conquered the entire North African coast, all the way to the Atlantic coast of present-day Morocco. In addition, Muslim forces managed to seize more territory in Central Asia, all the way to the Amu Darya River, which passes through present-day Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. Muawiya I also managed to retake territory that was previously taken by the Byzantine Empire.

Within some of the territories conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate were communities of religious minorities. Being aware of this, Muawiya I strived to enact a policy of tolerance towards these non-Muslim communities. Among his policies was to allow non-Muslims, at least those who were also monotheists, the right to continue practicing their religions as they pleased. Muaniya I also gave non-Muslims jobs in the Caliphates administration. For example, many of his top officials, who held posts such as secretary of state and minister of finance, were Christians, as were some provincial governors. Even Muawiya Is wife, Maysun bint Bahdal al-Kalbiyyah, was reputedly a Christian.

The Umayyad Caliphate at its Height

The Amra Desert Castle (Qasr Amra) built in 8th century by the Umayyad Caliph Walid II near Amman, Jordan.

Following the death of Muawiya I in 680, his son Yazid I took the title of Caliph. Arabs were not accustomed to dynastic rule, so Yazid Is accession was met by significant resentment. Among those who disagreed with this hereditary succession was Husayn ibn Ali. Encouraged by his followers, Husayn hatched a plan to attack Damascus and overthrow Yazid I. But Yazids forces intercepted him in the city of Karbala, now located in present-day Iraq. They subsequently beheaded him. This event, which is still commemorated by Shiite Muslims to this day, triggered the outbreak of the Second Fitnah. This new civil war would end with the Umayyad Dynasty retaining power. Moreover, the period that followed the Second Fitnah would see the Umayyad Caliphate reach the peak of its power.

The Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount in Old City of Jerusalem, was constructed by the order of Umayyad Caliph Abd Al-Malik and tiled by Sultan Suleiman. Editorial credit: Renata Sedmakova / Shutterstock.com

The man credited for putting the Caliphate back together after the Second Fitnah was Abd al-Malik, who ruled from 685 to 705. He vanquished his rivals and reunited the Caliphate. He then set about centralizing rule. Unlike Muawiya I, Abd Al-Malik was more authoritarian, and preferred making decisions himself rather than consulting with members of bodies like the aforementioned shura and wufud. He conducted a campaign of Arabization, making Arabic the official language of the entire Islamic realm. He also established an official currency for the Caliphate. Furthermore, Abd Al-Malik commissioned the building of some of Islams greatest architectural wonders. These include the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The latter is regarded as the third holiest mosque in Islam. Abd Al-Malik also undertook public works projects, such as the construction of roads, canals, and dams. The stability of his rule allowed trade to flourish, and also allowed people to move freely throughout the Islamic world.

Qasr Mshatta or Al Mshatta palace is the ruin of an Umayyad winter palace located south of Amman, Jordan, probably commissioned by Caliph Al-Walid during his brief reign.

In the years during and after Abd Al-Maliks rule, the Islamic world that the Umayyad Dynasty ruled got a lot bigger. Umayyad rule was re-established in North Africa, this time, beyond the coastal regions. The regions native Berber population came to accept Islam. It was these Berbers who helped carry Islam into Europe during the conquest of Spain, which began under Abd Al-Maliks successor, his son, Al Walid. At the same time, the Umayyad Caliphate also expanded eastward, subjugating parts of present-day Pakistan and Central Asia. After Al-Walids death, however, the Caliphate began to decline.

Decline and Fall of the Umayyad Caliphate

The village of Anjar, Lebanon at the border with Syria is famous for its Umayyad Caliphate ruins.

Between the years 715 and 724, the Umayyad Caliphate had three different rulers. The first, Sulayman, had many of the talented governors and generals that were appointed by his predecessor killed. He also launched a campaign to conquer Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which ended in disaster. After only two years, Sulayman died and was succeeded by Umar II, who was poisoned by his own family after ruling for only three years. The Caliphate was then ruled for just four years by Yazid II, whose inept governors lost control of the vast Islamic Empire.

Ruins of Medina Azahara - vast, fortified Andalus palace, built by Abd-ar-Rahman III, the first Umayyad Caliph of Cordoba.

Things turned around, however, when Hisham became the Caliph in 724. During his twenty year rule, he managed to restore order in the Caliphate. But he too suffered significant defeats. In 732, the Umayyad Caliphates attempt to invade the rest of Europe from Spain was halted in France, at the historic Battle of Tours, in which the forces of the Frankish Kingdoms defeated those of the Caliphate. In 739, the Berbers of Morocco revolted, and eventually forced the Caliphate out. When Hisham died in 743, the Islamic Caliphate again descended into civil war. This civil war, called the Third Fitnah ended with the victory of the Abbasids over the Umayyads. In 750, the first Abbasid ruler, Abu Abbas, became Caliph, marking the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate.
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Health minister says public response to covid passes has been quite positive as their use in pubs before Christmas not ruled out

The First Minister has suggested COVID passes could be introduced for pubs and restaurants in Wales over Christmas.

No decision has been taken yet but Mark Drakeford has hinted its being considered as a way of keeping hospitality businesses open over the festive period.

Restrictions will be reviewed in three weeks time ahead of what will be a busy time for the hospitality industry with the run-up to the Christmas period.

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said: Three weeks ago we were facing a very serious situation in Wales, but everyone has pulled together and cases have fallen back from those record-high levels.

I want to thank everyone for their hard work and the steps they have taken to protect themselves and their loved ones.

As we start to plan for Christmas we need to keep on working together to bring coronavirus under control.

The pandemic hasnt gone away  a fourth wave is sweeping across Europe, with many countries introducing stricter restrictions once again.

We will do everything we can to keep Wales open and to keep Wales safe.

This means keeping the option of extending the use of the Covid Pass if cases rise again and pandemic pressures on the NHS increase, to help keep the hospitality sector open and trading through the busy festive period.

We will continue to monitor the public health situation and we will work with the hospitality sector as we prepare for Christmas.

Lets keep working together to keep each other safe  so we can all enjoy Christmas together.

Asked if we will have a normal Christmas this year, health minister Eluned Morgan said it was too early to tell.

Speaking to BBC Wales Breakfast, Ms Morgan said: The good news is that for this (three-week review) period we will not be introducing the COVID passes because the people of Wales have responded positively.

Theyve really been respectful of the protection measures weve put in place and weve seen our rates come down from over 700 to under 500 (per 100,000 over a 7 day period, a key Covid infection benchmark).

The health minister said that rates are creeping up again, so we are going to have to keep an eye on the situation.

The last thing any of us want is to see the kind of Christmas that we saw last year.

She said: I think its probably worth pointing out though but 86% of the public in Wales over 16 have had double vaccination so that would be eligible for a pass.

The public, in general, is with us and certainly the response to the introduction of Covid passes generally, for major events, cinemas and theatres has been quite positive and has given people the confidence to go to these venues.

Asked: What needs to happen with the case rates to make sure people can have a Christmas party.

Ms Morgan said: As always, our measuring stick is about the impact on the NHS and what we know is almost 10% now about beds in hospital are taken up by people who are suffering from the virus.

We have got to keep an eye on that, the NHS is under significant pressure from other issues as well.

NHS workers are absolutely exhausted, I would ask the public to be very careful in the way that they use the NHS and seek alternatives than going to A&E in particular.

Asked about the effectiveness of Covid passes and what is evidence is there to support their use, Ms Morgan said: The virus spreads in confined places where people stay for a long time so theres plenty of evidence to support that, Its really important that people understand this and take the measures seriously.

Frankly given the number of emails Ive had from people saying it has given them the confidence to go out, knowing that the people around them are also protected, I do think that we have to make sure that were listening to the voice of the majority here.

86% of the population have had their double vaccination, Id be very surprised if there are many people who are still really in a situation where they think that the voice and the rights of the minority (those who choose not to have the vaccine) overwhelm the voice of the majority .

We have got to be sensitive of course, weve got to understand that there will be people who cant have the vaccine and thats why it is not a vaccine passport, its vaccine pass, which means that you can take a lateral flow test to prove that you dont have the virus.

Despite criticism that the Covid pass doesnt stop anyone from spreading or catching the virus, Ms Morgan said the system is tried and tested.

It is very common on the continent, there are many, many European countries where in order to get access to venues, where you eat and drink, you do need to have the COVID pass.

So this is not something thats unusual, It is something that where were taking the advice from scientists who are saying go early, all of these tiny little measures add up to additional protection and thats what were doing, heeding the advice of the experts.

Rather confusingly, Ms Morgan then referred to the Covid pass as a passport, she said, I think the vaccine passport is something that actually the vast majority of the Welsh public want, we know, weve done lots of investigation on this, actually they are happy with the situation.

So thats where were at (and) actually the majority of the public is with us on this.

Were very keen to make sure that we keep the public onside because at the end of the day we can only beat this virus if we all come together if we all take our responsibility seriously, and particularly go into those Christmas times, those Christmas parties, that we all take our responsibility seriously.

Asked what Welsh Governments Christmas party plans are this year? Ms Morgan said: I dont think well be having major Christmas parties here, I must say.

We will be taking things very seriously and I think its really important that people understand, mixing in groups inside is a risky business at the moment.

This virus is not going away, were in a very different situation compared to last winter when we didnt have the vaccine.

Commenting on the latest three week review, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said: The First Minister is trying to portray a picture where no new restrictions are being introduced, but this is the week when coercive, ineffective, and anti-business vaccine passports have been expanded.

This has come in tandem with the threat to bring them in to even more settings such as the hospitality sector that has already suffered significantly during the pandemic, yet might be lumbered with extra costs to implement the passport system.

Vaccine passports are bad law: there is no evidence they work, whether that be limiting the spread of the virus or increasing uptake of the vaccine, and conditions for their withdrawal should be set out by the Labour Government.

If ministers are concerned about coronavirus spikes this winter, then they should implement our proposals to establish walk-in centres for eligible people to get their booster jabs because we know vaccines, not passports, are what is keeping us safe.



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Latest Welsh NHS performance figures show unsustainable pressures on health system

The latest Welsh NHS performance figures demonstrate the unsustainable pressures the health system is being faced with, leading figures have said.

Data published today shows the worst ever performance for ambulance and emergency department waiting times was recorded across Wales in October.

In north Wales, just under 53 per cent of the 14,304 patients who attended A&E spent less than the four hour target time to be seen, compared to around 65 per cent nationally.

The emergency department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital recorded the worst figures with just 41.6 per cent seen during that timescale, compared to 54.8 per cent at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and 63.5 per cent at Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Although the average daily attendances at emergency departments decreased across Wales in October, the performance against both the four and 12 hour targets were again the worst on record.

The average time spent in emergency departments also reached a new record high at three hours and seven minutes.

The Welsh Ambulance Service also responded to less than half (47.3 per cent) of immediately life-threatening calls in the region within the eight minute target time, compared to 50 per cent at an all-Wales level.

More calls were made than in any other October since comparable data has been collected. An average of 132 immediately life-threatening (red) calls were made each day, the highest since comparable red call data was first available in May 2019, and the fifth month in a row where on average there were more than 100 calls made each day.

The average (median) response time to immediately life-threatening (red) calls was over 8 minutes (8 minutes and 1 second) for the first time, since comparable red call data was first available in May 2019.

The Welsh NHS Confederation said it was a sign of the continuing high demand being encountered by frontline staff.

Director Darren Hughes said: The NHS in Wales is currently facing unsustainable pressures, from all angles  problems facing social care, the ongoing impact of Covid-19, increasing demand for urgent and emergency care, as well as primary care, staff shortages and of course, the backlog of treatment.

These statistics show the unrelenting high levels of demand the ambulance service and emergency departments are facing, with October seeing the highest number of immediately life-threatening (red) calls made to the ambulance service since records began.

We welcome the Welsh Governments announcement of investment in diagnostic equipment, but without addressing staffing problems and wider system issues at play, there is only so much the NHS can do to address waiting times.

Its critical that funding and resources are focused on alleviating pressures facing the social care sector to assist in reducing the bottleneck, ensuring medically fit patients can safely be discharged into the community, freeing up much-needed capacity in the NHS.

However, we need to be honest with the public that winter is going to be extremely difficult. The whole system is working together to find solutions to solve the problems, improve patient flow, manage high demand and keep people out of hospital where possible, but the pressure on the system is higher than at any other point during the pandemic.

NHS leaders are very mindful that behind these statistics are people, both patients and the staff who are working day-in, day-out to do all they can to keep patients safe. We cannot thank them enough.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said: After two decades of poor decisions and management, the Labour-run NHS is at breaking point. Todays stark figures reveal the worst ever performance figures in the history of the Welsh NHS and behind each of these appalling statistics are patients and families who are suffering.

Longstanding issues such as bed cuts of 30% over 22 years and 3,000 current staff vacancies cannot all be blamed on the pandemic, as a number of systemic failures over the years have led the Welsh NHS to breaking point.

The ambulance service is in crisis and to address it we need to solve problems in other areas of the NHS, which means a campaign to increase knowledge and encourage use of minor injury units as well as finally acting on our long-term calls for regional surgical hubs to address the huge NHS backlog.

Wales is once again heading into winter with a health service on the brink. Labour ministers must finally act and address a problem that has become endemic in our public services over the last 22 years.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: The latest data shows pressure on our health and care system continues to grow. But our hardworking health and social care staff continue to deliver high quality care when people need it.

It is encouraging the number of patients newly diagnosed with cancer starting their first definitive treatment and the number of patients informed they did not have cancer have both increased on the previous month.

In a boost to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, the Health Minister today announced more than 51m is to be invested in replacing ageing diagnostic imaging equipment across NHS Wales.

This will significantly improve image quality, often resulting in earlier and more accurate diagnosis.

We have invested an extra 248m this year to transform the delivery of services and tackle waiting times, but because of the ongoing pressures and effects of the pandemic we dont expect to see real progress before the spring.

The ambulance service in Wales, like the rest of the UK, continues to be under great strain. The number of red calls, which are classed as life-threatening, in October were the highest ever on record. The number of calls in October were also 24% higher than October last year.

Earlier this year we provided an additional 25m to go towards supporting the transformation of urgent and emergency care services to deliver the right care in the right place, first time.

The ambulance service have also received funding for the recruitment of the equivalent of 120 staff.

We encourage people to consider the best options for care, and not necessarily head to their local emergency department. To get the right care, first time people can also use the online 111 service and their local pharmacist where appropriate.



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Offas Dyke 50th anniversary and work of women in the armed forces raised by local MPs in PMQs

Wrexhams and Clwyd Souths MP both had a chance to quiz the Prime Minister during Prime Ministers Questions yesterday in the House of Commons.

Simon Baynes MP asked: Will the Prime Minister join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary this year of the formation of the 177-mile path for walkers along Offas Dyke, which runs through Clwyd South, and give his support to the recently launched Offas Dyke rescue fund to repair and preserve this monument and nature reserve for future generations?

PM Johnson replied: I had the good fortune to walk Offas Dyke very recently.

I am delighted that English and Welsh organisations are working together to protect that fantastic national monument, and Historic England has committed to give almost 300,000 more to that great cause.

In the rare double header of two local representatives asking during the session, Wrexhams MP Sarah Atherton was also on the call list, who asked, Over 4,200 servicewomen and veterans used a democratic process to contribute to the Defence Committees inquiry into women in the armed forces.

A formal response is still awaited from the Ministry of Defence. While the majority of women enjoy a fulfilling career in the military, shocking issues were raised around sexual assault, bullying and harassment.

I know that the Prime Minister agrees that our armed forces are the best in the world. Would he also agree that we need to make sure that the British Army is the best place to serve as a woman?

The Prime Minister replied: I thank my Honourable Friend, she is campaigning on a very important issue. Too often, we find that our armed forces fail to provide the wonderful women in our armed forces with the support they deserve.

That is why I am pleased that my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary has secured a parliamentary inquiry into this for the first time. It is vital that we support and encourage women in our armed forces, who make a massive difference to those services.



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Welsh Ambulance Service facing one of the busiest winters in years, says chief executive

The chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service has warned the trust is facing its busiest winter in several years as the pressures posed by covid and an increased demand continue to grow.

Figures released earlier this month revealed the trust experienced its third highest average of daily calls, with over 4,500 emergency calls made in September alone.

The current number of 999 calls being made to the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAST) is around 20 to 30 per cent higher some days than what is normally expected to be seen for the time of year.

Speaking at a meeting of Wrexham Councils safeguarding, communities and well-being scrutiny committee on Monday (15 November), Jason Killens, chief executive of WAST explained that this is a phenomenon being seen across the UK.

He cited the high community prevalence of coronavirus as one of the reasons that the number of 999 and 111 calls had increased.

Mr Killens said: The winter forecast this year. taking into account covid, flu and other respiratory viruses that are in the community and things like adverse weather, indicates that so well be busier than the winter of 17/18 which is held out as one of the most difficult winters in recent memory.

Were expecting a particularly difficult winter this year, essentially more work and more activity on top of that.

Mr Killens had been invited to speak to the committee amid concerns on the pressures trust and how these are being addressed.

In a series of slides shown to councillors Mr Killens noted that the trust was seeing twice as much red activity then we had pre pandemic.

A red call is described as being immediately life-threatening  with a target of responding to 65 per cent of these calls within eight minutes.

Concerns about the response time to such calls and handover delays between the ambulance service and the Wrexham Maelor Hospital were raised by Cllr Kevin Hughes, who raised concerns from residents in his constituency of Ponciau over the time taken to attend an emergency situation.

He added whether additional recruitment had taken place in an attempt to ease some of the pressures facing the trust.

Mr Killens explained that the handover delays impact the response times to other patients, stating that the fleet is dispersed and therefore consequently has a longer distance and therefore time to respond to patients in the community.

Referencing a slide on lost time due to handover delays in Wrexham, Mr Killens said: You can see the increase in lost capacity in recent months and particularly for your area for Wrexham, with with Betsi Cadwaladr there is a sharp increase in capacity which were losing as a result of delays in emergency department handover.

The eight minute response time target for those immediately life threatening patients which Ive just described, remembering that the target here is to arrive on scene in 65% of occasions within eight minute. What you can see for BCU is that that position has decayed quite sharply since the spring of this year and continues to to remain under stress, although we have seen a slight improvement in in the last four weeks.

He added: Theres a range of complex issues that result in the handover of the patient being delayed from the ambulance at the emergency department. All of them are outside of our control.

We do lobby hard and and seek to ask health board colleagues to tackle these issues. Theres been some very direct and robust conversations in recent weeks on this.

You will have seen potentially released a report nationally across the UK which is looking at the impact of delayed handover of care emergency departments. So theres theres lots of work on this.

In terms of recruitment Mr Killens said that nearly 300 new recruits had been added to the frontline service in the last 12 months and that additional posts are expected to be created next year.

The trust has also been receiving support from the commercial arm of St Johns Ambulance and more recently, the military.

Mr Killens said: Regrettably at the moment, those more ambulances pick up a patient and they go and join a queue at the emergency department so this isnt a fix.

More ambulances in the short term isnt the solution to the problem.

But what it does do from our perspective is, if I could describe it, as a least worst option, because what essentially it means is that those patients which would otherwise be waiting in the community for some level of care, do have care provided to them because theyve got the ambulance with them.

The overall patient experience may not be as good as we would want it to be, but I would offer to you that it would be better in those circumstances rather than having no care and no ambulance which was would otherwise be the case.

Questions were also asked over the use of the military after more than 90 soldiers were enlisted to drive ambulances.

Last week however GMB Union has raised concerns on behalf of ambulance crews that they are providing very little assistance and are not sufficiently trained to deal with medical emergencies.

Cllr Andy Williams, who is also a community first responder, asked for clarity on what training has been provided to the soliders and asked for reassurance that they are as well trained as what they should be.

Mr Killen said: This is the third time weve had the military with us. The deployment regime that we have for the military, and the training that theyre receiving is the same as it was in the first wave, the second wave, and now the third wave.

They receive a two day familiarisation course, delivered by our training team  so clinical education team -and they are prepared through that two day familiarisation package to work alongside under the direction of our paramedic or an EMT.

They will work with next to, in a team with one of our clinicians.

They drive the ambulance not under emergency conditions, because theyre not trained to do that, that in itself is a four week course.

Cllr Joan Lowe questioned the work being undertaken to create a new long-term strategy and when this is expected to be implemented.

Estelle Hitchon, director of partnerships and engagement at WAST, explained that work needs to be carried with the public to help them understand that services are not going to be delivered in the same way as they were pre pandemic across the board.

One option currently being explored in South Wales at introducing a social worker into the control room and use more third sector organisations to help people  particularly the elderly and vulnerable  who need help, but dont require being taken to the emergency department.

She explained: We have to get to a position I think where were greater than the sum of our parts in terms of the way we use both our community resources  and there is scope here for community agency  as well statutory bodies to be able to support this type of work,

Its the best thing for the patient, never-mind the system., it is the best thing for the patient. Patients who have a better experience tend to have a better quality of life and less illness if theyre better supported,

What we need to try and do stitch it all together, particularly with us and our teams, that they have access to those sorts of services to be able to refer and get a patient the right care rather than simply convey them.

Ms Hitchon added: I likened it this morning in a conversation to being bit like postwar, things wont be the same as they were. That doesnt mean therell be worse that just means therell be different.

But we have to work with the public too to almost unpick 70 years of NHS experience into how services are traditionally delivered. because if were all really honest, we havent moved significantly from some traditional patterns of care for a long, long time.



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Wrexham public encouraged to take part in this years Christmas Shoebox Appeal

Residents across Wrexham are being encouraged to support disadvantaged children around the world by taking part in this years Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

Each year the charity runs a nationwide shoebox appeal to provide Christmas gifts to vulnerable children and families who are unlikely to receive any presents.

People are asked to find an old shoebox, wrap it in Christmas paper and fill it with useful gifts. Essential items include toys, educational supplies such as colouring books and pencils, and hygiene provisions such as toothbrushes and combs.

When completed, the shoeboxes should be dropped off at the Teams4U warehouse in Llay before the deadline of Friday 3 December.

This year, your shoebox gifts will travel to orphanages in Belarus and to deprived communities in Bosnia, Georgia, Romania and Moldova. Decades of conflict and discrimination have taken its toll, with people forced to flee their homes and many children either losing their parents or being abandoned.

The famous shoebox gift concept was started in Wrexham over 25 years ago by Teams4U founder, Dave Cooke. The appeal is still going strong and the power of the shoebox has never faded.

Wrexhams Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths is a long-time supporter of Teams4U and recently visited their headquarters on the Llay Industrial Estate.

After her visit, Lesley Griffiths MS said: The Shoebox Appeal is such a worthy cause and I am proud this local initiative continues to have such a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children across the world.

The work Dave and his team do is commendable. Many people in desperate situations are worse off due to the pandemic and the difference the shoeboxes make to the lives of children and parents cannot be overstated.

Ultimately, the key reason for its prolonged success is due to the generosity of local residents and I hope people in Wrexham continue to help Teams4U spread joy to children in difficult situations.



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At least 900 people in Plaquemines Parish Louisiana are about to lose their jobs as one of the biggest oil refineries in the region is set to shut down shortly into the New Year. The Alliance Refinery, owned by Houston-based energy company Philips 66, will be shut down and turned into a fuel storage terminal according to reports.

Philips 66 had been planning since August to sell the facility, which covers about 2,400 acres on the west bank of the Mississippi River, but damage from Hurricane Ida and other economic factors made the refinery too expensive to operate according to a statement from Philips 66 CEO Greg Garland. We made this decision after exploring several options and considering the investment needed to repair the refinery following Hurricane Ida, Garland said in a statement released to the press. Our decision was a difficult one, and we understand it has a profound impact on our employees, contractors and the broader Belle Chasse community.

The Phillips 66 Lake Charles refinery (Credit: Phillips 66)

The loss of this refinery will have a massive negative impact in the region, already severely affected by the economic fallout from the devastation of Hurricane Ida and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. During the hurricane, a levee wall was broken and storm waters flooded the facility up to five feet. Company executives claim the floodwaters damaged the facilitys electrical system, thereby decreasing its value from about $500 million to $200 million.

This drop in value was unacceptable to the companys bottom line, thus the decision to shut down the facility outright and change it from a refinery to a storage center. Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine spoke to reporters on the impact the closing will have. After yesterday, it was just kind of a gut punch, Lepine said, If you know anyone in Plaquemines Parish, theyve had someone affiliated with Phillips 66, a brother a cousin, a dad, my brother is personally retired from Phillips 66.

The refinery has been a major employer in the region for nearly 50 years. A company spokesperson, Tristan Babin, mentioned to reporters that Alliance employees were not told until Monday of last week that the refinery would be shutting down and were not told how many jobs would remain in the new role of the refinery as a storage station. A local grocery store owner, Joe Balestra, spoke on the impact this will have on everyone in the area, Its going to hurt everybody to a certain extent, Balestra said. Everybody feels it. A lot of the people, they live here. This is where they shop, you know.

This closure comes amid several similar refinery closings in recent years, with the massive energy companies blaming the shift from oil to renewable energy and an overabundance of oil refineries in the country. In November of last year Royal Dutch Shell closed a refinery of similar size in St James Parish. The closing of that refinery, which had been in operation since the late 1960s in the town of Convent, led to a loss of some 1,000 jobs in the area. Shell, for their part, cite a shift to renewable energy as the reason for shutting down refineries such as these, even while governments and energy companies fight against any measures to mitigate climate change across the world. Industry analysts also blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and the dramatic decrease in travel that resulted from the deadly virus devastating the US population.

Analysts at the Wood Mackenzie consultancy firm released a report recently claiming that the nations oil refineries are operating at around 73 percent capacity across the US as fuel production remains well below levels reached in 2019. Even as more and more COVID restrictions are lifted, travel in general remains below the years prior to the pandemic. Wood Mackenzie analysts also warn that as many as 20 refineries across the United States could face shutdowns in the next few years, dropping oil production capacity down by about 3 million barrels a day. According to the report, six refineries were closed last year, including the one in St. James Parish. In addition to the loss of jobs, the refineries bring in tax revenue to local governments, the loss of which will also have a longstanding negative impact.

This loss will be particularly felt in Plaquemines Parish, where job numbers have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, and the city council recently voted on various budget cuts, including ambulance services in the area. Parish Assessor Belinda Hazel recently spoke on the situation with Alliance refinery, saying that the loss of tax revenue will be deeply felt and calling them the biggest single source of property tax revenue. Official figures put the tax revenue from the facility at $7.4 million out of a total tax revenue of $60 million for Plaquemines Parish.

The loss of jobs will have an immediate impact, as several local businesses rely on the refinery and the workers there to stay afloat, such as mechanics shops and groceries. One city council member, who also works as an adviser to Shell, Beau Black, said he expects a massive loss of jobs following the shutdown, I would be surprised if there were more than 50 jobs left for the oil terminal, said Black, This is going to be devastating to the local community.

David Dismukes of the Center for Energy Studies at LSU remarked that while the refinery shutdown is in line with industry trends, the fallout will be devastating for the local community. Finding something that can replace that big piece of infrastructure at that level of employment isn't easy to come by, he said. I cant tell you that there is anything too promising out there for Plaquemines Parish.
Following the tragic death of Phillipa Day, a vulnerable 27-year-old, for the first time an agent of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been forced to settle a legal claim resulting from their errors.

Phillipa was found at home in August 2019 after taking an overdose following her disability benefits being stopped. She died two months later in hospital.

In May, Phillipa's family issued a claim for negligence to both the DWP and Capita, the government contractor who had been dealing with her case at the time, Capita carries out assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a benefit providing extra financial support to claimants with health conditions.

Phillippa (left) and her sister Imogen Day (Image: Imogen Day Familiy Handout)

Capita agreed to settle out of court and paid what the family were asking for. The money will be used to provide for Phillipa's family and her surviving son.

Phillipa had been claiming PIP until it was stopped by the DWP. An inquest into her death held in January this year found that there had been 28 instances where systematic errors by both the DWP and Capita had led to failures in the handling of Day's claim to benefit. The coroner ruled that although he was unable to conclude she intended to take her own life, the failures were a stressor in her decision to take the overdose.

Following her PIP being stopped Phillipas weekly income fell from 228 to 60 a week. At the inquest, a telephone recording was played of Philippa pleading with a benefits official for help. She can be heard crying telling the official, I've been waiting for six months now. I'm literally starving, I cant survive for much longer. She added, [I'm in] 5,000 debt. Nothing to eat. I've lost all my [benefit] premiums... I cannot survive... without any money. I need something to live for.

Imogen Day, Phillipa's sister said, Our family has always maintained that my sister's treatment by Capita, on behalf of the DWP, directly impacted her mental state and in the end the reason for her death. Capita's wall of bureaucracy, with no consideration for Phillipa's mental state, exacerbated her despair at her debt and poverty. She was met with cold, uncaring call operators who would not listen to her cries for help.

The original draft internal process review (IPR) into Philippas death had not been intended to go into the public domain and was only brought to the public's attention when the Disability News Service (DNS) mounted a legal challenge, following government lawyers attempts to block its release.

The IPR was released to the coroner by the DNS. This was to outline the catastrophic failings that had taken place over a period from late 2018 till her death in October 2019.

Philippa had a long history of suffering with mental health problems and type 1 diabetes, which she had suffered with since childhood and had been claiming disability benefits for originally. She had a history of self-harm, suicide attempts and had had numerous admissions to psychiatric hospital because of her mental health problems.

Philippa had her benefits stopped because she was struggling to get to the PIP assessment. Capita were fully aware that Philippa had a long history of mental health problems, including inpatient psychiatric admission, significant mental distress and importantly the fact she struggled with getting out of the house due to agoraphobia.

At the time Capita's own chief medical officer, Dr Shah Faisal admitted that with the benefit of hindsight there had been sufficient medical evidence available to decide Philippas claim through a paper-based review, without having the need to put her through a face to face assessment.

At the inquest the coroner said that throughout the 11-month period when she had not been paid, Philippa had been entitled to PIP paid at the highest rates for both parts of this benefit, and the DWP had the information it needed to ensure she received those benefits.

There have been long-standing criticisms of the DWPs PIP assessment process and of Capita, who were awarded a new contract in 2019 to make PIP assessments.

Companies like Capita make a killing from lucrative contracts overseeing the governments brutal welfare cuts against the unemployed and disabled. In 2020, Capita were appointed to the DWPs renewed and enhanced Commercial Agreement for Employment and Health Related Services employment and health (CAEHRS) framework. This framework will provide opportunities for suppliers to bid for 7.5 billion of work over five years. Capita is the only new supplier to have been successfully appointed to all seven regional lots as well as the national lot.

The Disability News Service recently reported that families of bereaved benefit claimants were outraged at the DWP's decision to award its own disability benefits team an outstanding contribution award just weeks after the coroner had criticised the DWP in Philippa Day's case.

The award was made by the cross government Operational Delivery Profession (ODP), headed by Peter Schofield, permanent secretary of the DWP. ODP supports civil servants who run frontline services such as the processing driving licenses, passports, and the benefits system.

The awards were made in an online ceremony in March. The decision to award the DWP's Disability Services Customer Experience and Safeguarding Team was described by Imogen Day, Philippa Day's sister as sickening and abhorrent. Imogen said they DWP were patting themselves on the back just six weeks after she and her parents had had to listen to Gordon Clow, assistant coroner for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, detail the 28 separate mistakes by DWP and Capita that led to her sisters death.

Alison Burton, who has been leading the campaign for justice for Errol Graham, her father-in-law who starved to death after the DWP wrongly stopped his benefits, said the award was disgusting and ignorant and should be revoked. Joy Dove, whose daughter Jodey Whiting took her own life after her benefits were stopped for not attending a work capability, said, It's upsetting, it's like killing them again.

In 2019, Capita threatened court action in an attempt to reverse the reputational damage it said it had incurred following the death of 33-year-old Victoria Smith in 2018. She died months after her PIP was stopped following a Capita assessment where she had not scored a single point.

Victoria was agoraphobic and suffered with fibromyalgia that left her experiencing constant pain throughout her body.

Her mother Susan Kemlo pursued legal action against Capita and they were ordered to pay 10,000 for maladministration over how they had handled her disability claim, including making inaccurate statements about her.

A week after Victorias death, a Social Security Tribunal appeal found that she had been eligible for the benefit and the original decision had been wrong. Capita decided to drop the case before it could reach Telford County Court where they were seeking to set the original decision aside.

That many people are in similar situations reflects the government callousness and indifference as to the plight of benefit claimants.

The death of Phillipa Day follows the social murder of over 131,000 people due to austerity measures from 2012 to 2019. The Institute for Public Policy Research noted how a decade of austerity has resulted in cuts to public health, prevention and mental health budgets in the NHS [National Health Service], and wider national and local government services which help drive better health.

Since then, the ruling elite has only intensified its sadistic assault on the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

Therese Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, speaking in 2020, told the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee that the DWP has no duty of care to benefit claimants, and the duty should be left to the local councils, the social services, the doctors and other people. This year Coffey suggested that Universal Credit benefit claimants who have lost the 20 a week uplift in payments, the largest one-off benefit cut in British history, should work more hours to make up the difference.

The Parliamentary Standards Authority records that Coffey claimed on top of her MPs salary and ministers salary (combined over 140,000), over 201,000 in parliamentary expenses during 2019-20.
In an extraordinary outburst, the Western press has seized on the killing of a pet Corgi by epidemic prevention workers in the Chinese city of Shangrao to vilify the Chinese governments efforts to suppress outbreaks of COVID-19.

Articles vilifying China over the killing of a pet Corgi

The minor incident, while no doubt distressing to the pets owner, has been inflated out of all proportion in the blanket coverage in the American and international media. It would be farcical if it were not for the fact that none of the stories even touch on the real tragedies occurring on a daily basis as the pandemic is allowed to run rife around the world.

If one simply glanced at the headlines, one would be forgiven for believing that the crime of decade had just occurred in China. The Wall Street Journal blared out: China left in shock following brutal killing of Corgi during Covid-19 disinfection. The Washington Post declared: Chinese health workers killed a corgi while its owner was in Covid quarantine, sparking widespread anger.

The confected outrage over the Corgi killing ran through US media like wildfirethe New York Times, Fortune, Bloomberg and NBC published lurid stories of the horrorsthen moved on to Europe where it was taken up by prominent news outletsDeutsche Welle and France 24as well as the British yellow press, the Daily Mail.

The facts of the case. The pets owner, known only as Ms Fu, had to leave her Corgi, Chaofen, in her flat after going into quarantine during a COVID-19 outbreak in Shangrao, a midsize city in Jiangxi province. A security camera in the flat showed two hazmat-suited epidemic prevention workers entering the flat and chasing the cowering dog. The murder takes place off screen but the local government authority acknowledged that the workers safely disposed of the dog.

The widespread anger. Ms Fu posted the video of the ill-fated Corgi on social media last Friday. A Weibo hashtag was viewed some 240 million times, provoking more than 68,000 comments. While many expressed shock and anger over the incident, others defended the governments zero-COVID policy or declared that of more concern were the health and lives of people amid dangerous outbreaks of the highly-infectious Delta variant in many of the countrys provinces.

Overwhelmingly, the expressions of outrage came from wealthier sections of Chinas middle and upper classesthe only ones who can afford to buy and keep pets. In 2019, there were only around 100 million pet cats and dogs in Chinaa country of 1.4 billion people. As the Wall Street Journal noted: Pet dogs, especially expensive breeds such as corgis, have grown in popularity as status symbols and companions among Chinas middle class and wealthy urbanites.

These well-heeled social strata are also primarily responsible for the social media posts criticising the infringement on their personal liberties by the COVID-19 restrictions that have largely suppressed the epidemic in China. It is to these layers in China and around the world that the media is appealing.

The official response. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime is clearly sensitive to the sensitivities of the wealthier layers of society. An article in the state-owned Global Times referred to the imperfect behaviour of the anti-epidemic workers but called for more understanding toward the front-line workers who are working tirelessly to curb the epidemic.

The same article reported that the workers involved had been told to apologise to the pets owner and removed from their posts.

The grossly-inflated international attention paid to the incident would appear ridiculous, indeed inexplicable, unless one understands the context. In recent weeks, the Western media has mounted an escalating campaign to vilify Chinas zero-COVID policy and pressure Beijing to abandon it. CNN, in its analysis of the issue, linked the issues in its headline: The killing of a corgi shows how government power has grown unchecked in China in the name of Covid prevention.

Really! The World Socialist Web Site has well-known and fundamental political differences with the Chinese Communist Party, which has betrayed the socialist and internationalist principles on which it was founded. We have exposed and opposed its police-state methods, which are directed, above all, at suppressing the working class. But its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of any bureaucratic excesses, is not one of its crimes.

The real criminals are the governments around the world and their media accomplices. They have implemented the murderous policies of herd immunity and living with the virus that have cost millions of lives. Now they are pushing for China to adopt the same criminal policyall in the name of boosting the economy and businesses, that is the profits of the wealthy few.

An editorial last weekend in the British-based Financial Times, entitled Zero-Covid countries have run out of road is the latest shot in the campaign. Its argument is that Covid elimination is simply not possible and therefore China and other Asian countries will eventually be compelled to lift restrictions.

It is simply false to say that elimination is impossible. The record of China demonstrates that it is possible to suppress the virus by implementing rigorous public health measures, combined with a comprehensive vaccination campaign. The continuing outbreaks in China make clear that elimination will be successful only as an internationally coordinated strategy.

The latest figures from the World Health Organisation speak volumes:

In the past 24 hours, the United States experienced over 150,000 new cases and 1,157 deaths. The cumulative total of cases was nearly 47 million and deaths totalled over 750,000.

In the same 24 hours, the United Kingdom had nearly 37,000 cases and 214 deaths, with total cases nearing 10 million and total deaths exceeding 143,000.

By contrast, China recorded 34 cases and no deaths. Total cases were over 127,000 and total deaths slightly less than 5,700.

The vast majority of cases and deaths in China took place in early 2020 when Chinese authorities were grappling with what was then an unknown, deadly and highly-infectious disease. The total death toll in China is less than the number of people dying each week in the US.

If China had adopted the COVID policies of the Trump and Biden administrations, at a rough estimate, allowing for population differences, its total case numbers would be 200 million, with deaths of 3 million. If the Financial Times and other media mouthpieces for the corporate elite have their way, China would become part of the new normal and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people would face death.

In implementing COVID-19 policy, who are the real criminals? To ask the question is to answer it.
The United Auto Workers union announced Wednesday evening that its contract re-vote at John Deere passed by a margin of 61 to 39 percent, in a sham election marred by widespread intimidation and legitimate fears of ballot-rigging.

In spite of the all-out efforts by the UAW, management and the corporate media to get the deal passed, there remained substantial hostility to the contract. Workers in Waterloo, Iowa, the center of opposition to each of the UAW-company agreements, defied concerted attempts by the union to break their resistance, rejecting the contract by a margin of 56 to 44 percent. Waterloo is the site of the largest local at Deere, with 3,000 workers out of the 10,000 nationwide.

Striking Deere workers (UAW Local 838)

The Deere workers have carried out a courageous struggle for five weeks, their first strike in 35 years. They twice defied the UAW and rejected its backroom deals with the company, the first time by 90 percent, widely viewing the proposals as grossly inadequate and insulting. With the company making record profits and experiencing a labor shortage, workers fought with a rediscovered determination and assertiveness, demanding major raises to make up for decades of wage stagnation, and the restoration of retiree health benefits and other concessions previously given up by the UAW.

Summing up the feelings of many, a worker at the parts distribution center in Milan, Illinois, told the WSWS, They said we got everything we asked for. Far from it.

Many others expressed their disgust with the UAW and the contract in comments on Facebook. Heres goodbye to all my free time, my weekends, my friends and loved ones, a worker in Waterloo commented. Another pointed to the impact of the union starving workers on the picket lines with grossly inadequate strike pay, saying they were positive it only passed since so many couldnt live off $275 a week let alone get another job to help make ends meet until they got a decent contract.

A third Waterloo worker said simply: We were sold out.

Earlier in the evening, more information came to light revealing the gangster methods employed by the UAW in its efforts to ram through the contract.

The elections chairman for Local 281 in Davenport, Iowa, Phil Gonterman, threatened to use his position as an inspector at the plant to retaliate against workers who vocally opposed the contract, in comments in a Facebook group shared with the WSWS by a worker.

UAW Local 281 Elections Chair Phil Gonterman threatening workers with retaliation for opposing the contract

I hope any welder-machinist that talked big and bad about how they were voting it down based on their stupid hampster [sic] wheel brain understanding, doesnt hate red, Gonterman wrote after the UAWs second agreement with Deere was defeated on November 2. Because Im going to f**k their lights out for every quality issue. Yeah, you all know who you are.

In another vile comment, Local 281 Vice President Brian Ripple said he hoped Deere would shift work from its Waterloo, Iowa, plants to Mexico. Ripples statement came in reply to a post by Gonterman seeking to whip up reactionary nationalist divisions and scare workers with threats of outsourcing should the contract again be rejected. Whos coming to visit me in Mexico when Im making Deere equipment in 3 years? Gonterman wrote.

Ripple replied, Id say Waterloo might be a better candidate to ship out.

UAW Local 281 Vice President Brian Ripple calling for work at Waterloo to be outsourced

Workers reported an overall atmosphere of intimidation and pressure in the lead-up to the vote, with union officials using scare tactics to convince workers that nothing more could be won and that another contract rejection would only lead to disaster.

No contract ratified under these conditionsif indeed a majority even actually voted for itcan be accepted as legitimate or legally binding. The very fact that the UAW forced workers to vote again on a deal they already rejected, together with threats of retaliation if they voted it down again, should make the agreement null and void.

Shortly after locals began to announce ratification, the UAWs headquarters released a statement which had clearly been prepared well in advance. Even for the UAW, two of whose last four presidents are behind bars for embezzling workers dues, the statement set a new low for lying cynicism and hypocrisy.

UAW John Deere members did not just unite themselves, they seemed to unite the nation in a struggle for fairness in the workplace. We could not be more proud of these UAW members and their families, stated UAW President Ray Curry, who was recently revealed to have been under investigation for accepting high-value gifts from a vendor.

Our members courageous willingness to strike in order to attain a better standard of living and a more secure retirement resulted in a groundbreaking contract and sets a new standard for workers not only within the UAW but throughout the country, said Chuck Browning, UAW vice president and director of its agricultural implement department.

UAW President Ray Curry gets his marching orders (James Tatsch/WSWS)

Such brazen hypocrisy from these company hacks is not so much intended for consumption by workers, who widely despise the union executives and view them as criminals. Rather, they are intended for a pliant corporate media, which will now dutifully pick up and spin the narrative that the UAW apparatus had led the fight for a better standard of living and a more secure retirementwhen the reality is that the pro-corporate union bureaucracy stood as the main obstacle to workers achieving their demands every step of the way.

Both Deere and the UAW have sought to carry out a divide-and-conquer strategy, attempting to pit workers at different plants, in different departments, or in different generations against each other.

In the first tentative agreement, Deere and the union tried to eliminate pensions for new hires, before backing off in the face of a near-unanimous no vote. In the modifications to the most recent deal, they touted relatively higher performance-based pay from the regressive CIPP incentive program, which will be dependent upon speedup and exhausting production goals.

At the same time, the UAW kept up a total information blackout throughout the year, telling workers nothing about what it was discussing with the company while censoring workers comments on social media, in an attempt to keep the broad-based opposition out of sight and prevent workers from communicating with each other.

While the UAW and management will continue to try to foment divisions, workers have already begun to push back and appeal for unity. Im not happy but there is nothing gained by being angry and bashing the yes voters, a worker in Waterloo, Iowa, told the WSWS. They voted their own conscience, and the UAW fed their fears and anxiety. I say we strive for a better outcome. We should continue to build the John Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee.

The fight at Deere is far from over, as the company and UAW both will seek to enforce brutal levels of speedup and overtime in order to make up for lost production, sparking renewed resistance and struggles sooner rather than later.

The outcome, for now, of the entire undemocratic contract bargaining process underscores what the WSWS has repeatedly warned: The UAW bureaucracy, from the local level on up to the top, functions as paid enforcers for management, tasked with ramming through the companys terms and suppressing opposition among workers.

The necessary conclusions must be drawn.

First, workers must expand the John Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee throughout every plant and warehouse, developing it as their fighting organization. Over the last month and a half, the committee played a critical role in solidifying the opposition to the UAW-company conspiracy, countering their propaganda and articulating a strategy to win workers demands.

Second, the strike at Deere is only one battle in a broader offensive which is building up in the working class internationally. So far, the ruling class has relied on the trade unions to block or contain workers struggles, preventing strikes at Kaiser Permanente, the TV and film industry, Dana Inc. and Amcor, or sabotaging them and ramming the corporations demands through, as at Volvo, Deere, Frito-Lay, Nabisco and elsewhere.

But the unions ability to suppress the class struggle is wearing out, and they are sitting on a social powder keg whose fuse has been lit.

For the next struggles which emerge to be successful, workers must assimilate the lessons of the experiences at John Deere and construct a new leadership linking workers across industries and in different countries, basing themselves on workers needs and interests, not corporate profits.

Deere workers: Join the Deere Workers Rank-and-File Committee to carry forward the fight! Email deerewrfc@gmail.com, or text (484) 514-9797 to find out more about getting involved.
Students and teachers at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit walked out of class on Wednesday to protest the administrations response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The walkout began at noon and lasted for 20 minutes. Students and teachers said that the number of COVID-19 cases were being underreported, that social distancing was a failed policy, and there is no deep cleaning being done at the school.

Students reported that at least seven teachers and many students had been infected with the virus and were staying home from school in recent days amid a surge in cases throughout the city and state of Michigan.

Map of Covid-19 outbreaks in Michigan's K-12 schools (Map data  2021 Google)

Detroit public school teacher Kat told the World Socialist Web Site that the students led the walkout at King High School because they are fed up with the lack of information adding, Every principal at each school is doing something different. They arent telling the truth about the cases. Everything is hush-hush.

Kat said, The teachers decided to stand behind the students today.

Teachers have been meeting over Facebook and taking votes to call in sick to demand a change in policy. There have been votes of 97 percent in favor of sickouts at multiple schools, and on Monday and Tuesday of this week there were 40 or 50 teachers that called in sick.

Kat continued, Teachers are fed up and ready to walk. The buildings arent being cleaned. Now they are going virtual for the next three Fridays to clean the buildings. But at my school last Tuesday we had absolutely no heat. At Diane Banks School the toilets are backing up.

People are afraid for their lives. Living with death is not acceptable.

The decision of the school district to move classes online on Friday is an attempt to divert growing anger among teachers and students. It will have no effect on the spread of the virus, which is airborne and is not transmitted primarily on surfaces.

The Detroit Free Press spoke with Lyferra Turner, a tenth grader at King High School, who participated in the walkout. Ms. Turner said, You come out and protest, you have to be strong, especially for what you feel like is your safety.

Although the school is reporting zero cases for the week, Ms. Turner said many of her teachers were not in school due to COVID-19 infections.

King High School students have been circulating a petition calling for the removal of school principal Damian Perry for a long list of reasons, among them his failure to accurately report COVID-19 cases each day and his refusal to shut down the school to protect the health of students.

The Free Press also spoke with the mother of a student from Detroits Cass Technical High School who said that she is receiving constant notifications about new cases at her sons school. Melissa Redman called for the school to be shut down at least temporarily. The numbers are still too high, she said. For me, one student is enough because you cant pinpoint everywhere that student went.

On Wednesday, Detroits Renaissance High School also announced that it was closing and returning to online learning in response to a coronavirus outbreak. The shutdown will be in effect through the Thanksgiving holidays.

The seven-day average number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan on Wednesday was 7,353, the highest number since the start of the pandemic 20 months ago, surpassing the previous record of 7,270 set one year ago during the deadly third wave of the health crisis.

Along with increasing case counts, the number of deaths in Detroit and in 77 of Michigans 83 counties is climbing also. On Wednesday, state health officials reported 242 additional deaths from the virus since Monday.

The pandemic is surging among young people in Michigan, with 201,000 cases confirmed in people aged 19 and younger, and more than 450 children under the age of 12 are becoming infected with the virus each day.

Meanwhile, at the University of Michigan, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a large and sudden outbreak of the flu among students. The university reported on Monday that there have been 528 cases of the flu, with 77 percent affecting students on campus, since October.

Detroit Federation of Teachers President Terrence Martin, who has opposed any organized opposition to the reopening of the schools by teachers and parents, responded to the walkout by emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and sanitation of school buildings. However, cleaning school buildings with outdated ventilation systems during the coronavirus pandemic is meaningless when the pandemic is spreading through the air and into the respiratory systems of teachers, students and school staff members.

The return to in-school learning in Detroit and other districts throughout the state followed the lifting of all COVID-19 restrictionsincluding any restrictions on gatherings, at restaurants and bars and removing any mask mandatesby Democratic Party Governor Gretchen Whitmer on June 22.

On August 10, Michigans Board of Education approved a resolution that allowed local school districts to make scientifically informed decisions about whether to require masks for students, teachers and visitors.

The walkout at Martin Luther King High School is the first in the US this fall and is part of broad-based and growing opposition among parents, teachers and students to the policy of returning to school while the pandemic continues to spread.

The school walkout follows the #SchoolStrike2021 protests organized by Lisa Diaz and supported globally, including in Michigan, on October 1 and 15. Like the beginning of the pandemicwhen auto workers in Detroit sparked a movement to shut down nonessential industry against the insistence by employers that everyone stay on the jobthe working class must take matters into its own hands to defeat the pandemic.

Teachers and students in Michigan should mobilize and demand the immediate and complete shutdown of schools to in-person learning, combined with the provision of resources and income to parents to allow them to take care of their children while they are home. The continuation of in-person learning amidst the massive spike in cases guarantees a further spike in infections and death.

To organize this fight, the World Socialist Web Site calls on teachers, students and parents to form rank-and-file committees at each school and in the neighborhoods.
More than 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States during the 12-month period ending April 2021, according to new provisional data published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This staggering number, a dismal record for human misery, coincides roughly with the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 killed about 509,000 people during that same timeframe, from May 2020 to April 2021.

The drug overdose death toll jumped 29.5 percent from the same period a year earlier and has nearly doubled over the past five years. Synthetic opioids, mainly fentanyl, caused 64 percent of these overdose deaths, up nearly 50 percent from the year before, according to the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics.

Sue Howland, right, a member of the Quick Response Team which visits everyone who overdoses to offer help, checks in on Betty Thompson, 65, who struggles with alcohol addiction, at her apartment in Huntington, W.Va., Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Fentanyl was introduced in the 1960s as an intravenous anesthetic. Cheaper, legally or illegally produced fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs like heroin, cocaine or marijuana by drug dealers and sold to users who may not be aware of its presence.

Increases in overdose death counts were almost universal across states, while varying in magnitude. Year-over-year increases of 50 percent were seen in California, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and Kentucky. Increases in deaths in the range of 40 percent were seen in Washington state, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, Alaska, Nebraska, Virginia and the Carolinas.

Although the numbers were small, cases in Vermont increased by 85 percent during the year studied. Only New Hampshire, New Jersey and South Dakota saw overdose deaths drop.

Overdose deaths from methamphetamine and other psychostimulants also increased dramatically, up 48 percent in the year ending April 2021 compared to the year before, accounting for more than a quarter of all overdose deaths in the 12-month period studied. While previously fentanyl had been more widely used on the East Coast and methamphetamines on the West Coast, both drugs are now proliferating nationwide. Deaths from cocaine and prescription pain medication have also increased, although not as drastically.

The latest data from the CDC suggests that drug overdose deaths now kill slightly less than Alzheimers disease, which claimed about 121,000 lives in 2019, and slightly more than diabetes, about 88,000 lives. Heart disease was the leading cause of death in 2019, killing nearly 660,000 people, while cancer killed nearly 600,000.

Referring to the coming together of the COVID-19 pandemic and drug overdose deaths, Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, told CNN, In a crisis of this magnitude, those already taking drugs may take higher amounts and those in recovery may relapse. Its a phenomenon weve seen and perhaps could have predicted. The rise of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is as much as 100 times more powerful than morphine, has exacerbated this deadly explosion of opioid deaths.

The death toll of 100,000 Americans from overdoses was more than deaths from car crashes and guns combined. This number was up almost 30 percent from the 78,000 deaths the previous year and more than double since 2015. Most of these deaths occurred among people aged 25 to 55, the so-called prime of life.

By contrast, of the more than 787,500 who have died from COVID-19 to date in the US according to Worldometer, three-quarters have been over the age of 65. It is likely that among American adults under 50 years of age, more died from opioids last year than from the worst pandemic the world has seen in a century.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a perfect storm for the proliferation of drug overdose deaths. In the early stages of the pandemic, when lockdowns, school and business closures, and mask mandates were put in place in many states, resources to treat substance abuse were scaled back. Many suffering from addiction, particularly young adults, were isolated from their support systems and unable to access treatment. Many were left to overdose alone with no one with them to administer Narcan (naloxone) or call for help.

However, the loosening of restrictionswhich has allowed the coronavirus to spread and killhas not resulted in an improvement in access to care for substance abuse. Even if COVID went away tomorrow, wed still have a problem. What will have an impact is dramatic improvement to access to treatment, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, medical director of opioid policy research at the Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management, told CNN. These are deaths in people with a preventable, treatable condition, he said The United States continues to fail on both fronts, both on preventing opioid addiction and treating addiction.

Due to the chaotic, unplanned character of the for-profit health care system and lack of resources, there is also no coordinated program to distribute naloxone (Narcan) widely and at no cost to health departments nationwide. This is also the case with fentanyl test strips, which can tell a user if the deadly opioid is present.

Substance abuse continues to be stigmatized in the US. Those suffering from addiction are chastised by the right and those in authority for their moral failings while programs and treatments are starved for cash. Presidential candidate Biden pledged to Hold accountable big pharmaceutical companies, executives and others responsible for their role in triggering the opioid crisis, but this was just hot air.

Lawsuits against such legal drug dealers have yielded a slap on the wrist or less. Earlier this month, a California judge said he would rule against several large counties in the state that accused four drug makersJohnson & Johnson, Teva, Endo International and AbbVieof fueling the US opioid epidemic, saying they failed to prove their $59 billion case.

In August, a bankruptcy judge approved a settlement by OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family that the company values at more than $10 billiona drop in the bucket for the mega-wealthy drug company owners and cold comfort for the millions of Americans who have suffered due to their marketing of deadly opioids.

Over the past three years, the Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration, has invested a paltry $384 million in community-based grants and technical assistance on prevention, treatment and recovery services in rural communities to fight opioid use and other substance abuse disorders.

Speaking on the release of the new overdose death figures, President Biden claimed, We are strengthening prevention, promoting harm reduction, expanding treatment, and supporting people in recovery, as well as reducing the supply of harmful substances in our communities. And we wont let up. He added, Together we will turn the tide on this epidemic.

Bidens false and cynical statements cannot hide the reality. The United States will no more turn the tide in opioid deaths than on COVID-19 deaths, although in both cases, there are practical solutions at hand, if the necessary resources were provided.

Instead, the White House turns a blind eye to the enormity of the crisis. Anne Milgram, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said, This year alone, DEA has seen enough fentanyl to provide every member of the United States population with a lethal dose and we are still seizing more fentanyl each and every day.

In a call with reporters Wednesday, in support of his anti-China campaign Biden attempted to shift the blame for the opioid crisis from the US to Mexican drug cartels sourcing drug-making chemicals from China.

Contrary to suggestions that the surging overdose deaths have come because health care resources have been diverted from substance abuse treatment to the pandemic, the US ruling elite and the profit-based health care system are responsible for both catastrophes. Those dying from drug overdoses and those cut down by COVID-19 are both victims of the homicidal policies of corporate America and its political representatives.
With a crisis federal election looming, the anti-democratic calculations behind the party deregistration laws rammed through Australias parliament by the Liberal-National Coalition government and the Labor Party in August have been further laid bare.

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a November 11 letter from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) rejected the Socialist Equality Partys (SEP) request for a six-week extension of the abrupt December 2 deadline set by the laws to submit the names and details of 1,500 members.

If the SEP fails to meet that requirementa tripling of the previous 500-member ruleit will be deregistered and barred from having its party name on ballot papers alongside its candidates for the election, which must be held by May.

Voters cast their ballots at Sydney Town Hall in May 18, 2019 federal election. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

That would deprive voters of the basic democratic right to vote for candidates identified as socialists under conditions of deepening hostility toward all the parties of the parliamentary establishment.

This is a naked bid to shore up the increasingly discredited major parties as opposition mounts to the deadly corporate-driven live with the virus policy of Coalition and Labor governments alike, accompanied by soaring social inequality, the worsening climate change crisis and the rising danger of war.

In its letter, the AEC said it could not grant an extension because a federal election is due to be held in the first half of 2022. That makes plain the connection between the new anti-democratic election laws and the intent to try to stifle working-class dissent in the 2022 election.

This rejection reversed a precedent set by the AEC. Because of the widespread movement restrictions and acute dangers to public health during the pandemic, the AEC had granted the SEP a three-month extension during a previous re-registration period in mid-2020.

The AECs November 11 letter said the 2020 review of party registration eligibility had been conducted during a different phase of the electoral cycle which afforded the AEC more flexibility to grant extensions.

The SEP formally requested the latest extension because of the greatest health crisis in 100 years in which for more than half the specified period the inhabitants of the most populous states in Australia have been in lockdown therefore, by law, unable to physically campaign for the 1,000 new members.

The SEPs November 2 application, made by SEP national secretary Cheryl Crisp, pointed out that the pandemic had seriously worsened since the extension granted by the AEC in 2020, which it still had the power to do under the Electoral Act.

Crisp wrote: On July 30, 2020 in NSW a total of 3,737 cases of COVID-19 had been recorded with 18 cases on that day. In Victoria, which was in the midst of the worse outbreak to that date, there were 9,998 cases recorded, with 694 cases on that day.

On October 25, 2021, the date of the latest application for a three-month extension, in NSW there were 73,785 total infections with 285 on that dayalmost 16 times greater than July 30, 2020. In Victoria, 80,152 cases had been recorded, with 1,389 on that daymore than double the infections of July 30, 2020.

The fact that governments have responded to these vastly increased infection rates with opposite policies by opening up the borders, travel and the entire economy does not make it safer.

Crisp asked: Are you declaring that members of minor parties, including the SEP, must be placed at serious risk of infection, possible long-term illness or death to reach the arbitrary number of members determined by the new Act?

In its November 11 reply, the AEC did not answer that question. Nevertheless, it baldly insisted that organisations have been required to adapt to these circumstances over the last 18 months.

This was the AECs second rejection of a similar extension request by the SEP, the first onefor three monthshaving been made on October 15. Yet the SEP has been responding to an invitation by the AEC itself for such requests! On October 8, in formally notifying the SEP of the new laws, the AEC stated: Requests for extension of the Specified Period should be made in writing and provide reasons why further time is required.

The AECs stand confirms the necessity for the determined campaign being conducted by the SEP against the new laws. As we explained in our September 2 statement launching the campaign:

The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened the opposition and anger in the working class to the two parties of big businessthe Coalition and Laborthat have put profit ahead of health and lives. The concern in ruling circles is that this hostility will be expressed in the next election in votes for other political parties, further destabilising the two-party system of rule on which the capitalist class has long depended.

Since then, this political crisis has intensified.

* Even according to the medias own opinion polls, Prime Minister Scott Morrisons government faces a landslide election defeat, with its only hope for survival being that support for Labor remains at near-record lows. Combined backing for the two ruling parties is just 75 percent, and there is rising support for other parties. Morrisons Newspoll net approval rating has slumped to -8, his lowest since the 201920 bushfire catastrophe, but Labor leader Anthony Albaneses rating has fallen to -11.

This raises the prospect of another hung parliament and minority government, extending the instability that has wracked the political establishment since the massive defeat suffered by the Howard Coalition government in 2007.

* The global COVID disaster is again spiralling out of control due to the live with the virus demand of the corporate elite. Infection and death rates are resurging in Europe and the US. This is a dire warning of what is to come in Australia, especially as the majority of states which have avoided large outbreaks, reopen their borders over the next month. That will expose their vulnerable populations to the highly-transmissible Delta variant.

Even now, more than 1,000 infections are being reported daily in the two most affected states, Victoria and New South Wales. Schools have become pandemic epicentres, with hundreds having to close for periods due to infections among children. Chronically-underfunded public hospital systems are already under stress. Despite the government and media hype about high vaccination rates, less than 70 percent of the population, counting children, has been double-dosed. Immunity is waning, yet almost no one has been tripled-dosed.

* For all the talk of economic recovery, an estimated 2.5 million workers remain unemployed or under-employed. Those with jobs face declining real wages, and escalating attacks on working conditions and job security, with young workers especially hit by the employers gig economy.

Even by the vastly understated Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, the unemployment rate jumped by 0.6 percentage points to 5.2 percent in October. By the more realistic Roy Morgan surveys, 1.32 million workers were unemployed in October, up 55,000 on September, for an unemployment rate of 9.2 percent, and under-employment was up 0.6 percent points to 8.6 percent, or 1.23 million workers.

Working-class households also confront rising prices, sky-rocketing housing costs and record levels of debt, creating the conditions for explosive class struggles.

* Despite deep popular concern, especially among young people, both the Coalition government and the Labor opposition have refused to agree to any measures to reduce carbon emissions by anywhere near-enough by 2030 to avert climate disaster. Moreover, the 26th international climate gathering of capitalist government leaders in Glasgow has ended in another abject failure to even phase out fossil fuels.

* By signing the AUKUS pact with the US and UK, featuring the acquisition of nuclear attack submarines, the Coalition government, backed by Labor, has stepped up the ruling elites commitment to what would be a cataclysmic US-led war against China. Despite barrages of anti-China propaganda, deep anti-war sentiment remains. There is no support for a conflict that could cost millions of lives in China, the US and Australia.

* Over the same months, Labors support for the party deregistration laws has encouraged the government to go further. It is attacking the right to vote itself by introducing voter ID laws designed to disenfranchise many working-class voters.

Under these conditions, the working class urgently requires a new leadership. Above all, that is what the ruling class and its political servants are seeking to stifle. The opposition to the dictates of big business must be guided by a socialist program that puts the social needs of working peoplefirst and foremost their health and livesahead of the private profits of the wealthy few. The SEP alone fights for this perspective, together with our sister parties internationally.

We therefore appeal to all our electoral members, our readers, members of rank-and-file committees and all working people, students and youth. Regardless of the AECs deadline, help us recruit the extra 1,000 electoral members that we need to retain our party registration and take forward the fight for a genuine socialist alternative.
Floodwaters described as once in a century and catastrophic have engulfed wide swathes of southwestern British Columbia since Sunday night as the result of a record rainfall, attributable to an atmospheric river. Many Fraser Valley communities saw a months worth of precipitation fall in just two days.

Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes, and damage to highway and rail networks has left Greater Vancouver, with a population of over 2.5 million, effectively cut off from the rest of Canada by land.

BC Premier John Horgan declared a 14-day state of emergency at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, noting that he expects the death toll to rise over the coming days. Horgan also requested federal assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to provide services to thousands of evacuees and restore drinking water to communities whose supplies have been contaminated by the floods.

Abbotsford, BC inundated by flood waters on Tuesday (Credit: City of Abbotsford)

The floods are the product of climate change, which is at the root of a series of extreme weather events and other disasters that have devastated western Canada, and especially BC, in recent months.

An unprecedented heat dome in late June led to the deaths of over 600 BC residents. High temperatures and drought subsequently contributed to one of the provinces worst wildfire seasons ever. All of these natural disasters have been exacerbated by the utter failure of the provincial New Democratic Party and federal Liberal governments to take preventive measures and invest in crumbling infrastructure.

The current official death toll of one, a woman crushed in her car by a mudslide, is likely to increase considerably. Two other people are officially reported missing. Several areas of the province are only accessible by helicopter, making it likely that further casualties are yet to be discovered. Merritt (population 7,000) is largely underwater after authorities ordered all residents to leave because the towns water plant has been inundated with flood waters. A gas line providing heat to residents in Princeton was cut, with utility FortisBC declaring that it will not be up and running again before the weekend.

Although the exact number of evacuees across the province is unknown, at least 20 evacuation centres have been set up. The city of Hope is hosting 1,100 evacuees alone.

The four highways linking the Lower Mainland to the BC Interior have been blocked by landslides, which trapped over 270 people in their cars Monday night. The provincial New Democratic Party government announced late Tuesday that a lane for emergency services traffic was open on Highway 7, which runs parallel to the Trans-Canada Highway. Two rail lines used to transport goods to the Port of Vancouver have also been severed, with one blocked by a derailed CN Rail train. While CN Rail and CP Rail say they hope to re-establish services within days, some of the highway damage could take months to repair. Pictures are already circulating of empty shelves in supermarkets across the province, driven primarily by panic buying.

A woman cleans out her flood-damaged home Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Sumas, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

City authorities in Abbotsford, which lies in the Fraser Valley about 70 kilometers east of Vancouver, issued an urgent evacuation order late Tuesday for residents in Sumas Prairie, a major agricultural area close to the US border. The low-lying region is threatened with inundation due to the imminent failure of the Barrowtown pump station, which is struggling to keep floodwaters from the Fraser River out of the Sumas Lake Canal. The pump station would most likely have already failed were it not for the efforts of 300 local volunteers and emergency services personnel, who built a 25-meter-long dam to protect the site.

Over 180 people were rescued overnight by air and water from Sumas Prairie. The region, where at least 300 people remained stranded as of Wednesday morning, accounts for about half of BCs dairy and poultry products.

Gareth, a farmer from BC, told the World Socialist Web Site, In September, we get on average two inches of rain, but this year we got six. The west coast of Canada will have drier summers and wetter winters due to the ice melting, jet streams slowing, and weather systems not moving through because of our ever-increasing emissions of green house gases and the resulting hotter temperatures.

That was certainly the case as we experienced an unprecedented heat dome with record highs. This fall, in my 50 years, I have never seen rain this hard or for this long. As a farmer, these extremes are going to make growing food much more difficult.

The floods and landslides were triggered by unprecedented rainfall that began on Saturday. Some areas, including Hope, recorded as much rain within three days as they typically see throughout the entire month of November. In Vancouver, a sea barge ran aground at English Bay due to high winds.

The unprecedented rainfall was caused by an atmospheric river, a dense column of water vapour that carries moisture from the tropics towards the poles. As it travels, the moisture falls as rain. Although atmospheric rivers are not unprecedented, climate change is increasing their sizes and making them more likely to dump large quantities of water over brief periods of time.

Criticism of the NDP government is building, which failed to send out an emergency warning to residents in the affected areas despite forecasts having projected the impending storm. BC is the only Canadian province never to have used the Alert Ready system, a nationwide emergency service that allows governments to send messages directly to cell phones. The Northwest Territories, which has less than 1 percent of BCs population, has used the Alert Ready system four times this year alone, including for flash floods. All that BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth could offer as an excuse Monday was, It is in place for tsunamis. We have publicly said its in place for next seasons fire season.

Beyond the lack of a coordinated response in the face of an atmospheric river that was forecasted, scientists have attacked the political establishment for its failure to listen to their repeated warnings about the likelihood of such extreme events becoming ever more common.

Peter Wood, a scientist who produced a recent report on the link between clearcut logging and community damage due to floods and wildfires, told the Guardian, This is exactly what the best available science has predicted for years. We know the outcome when you log steep slopesYou reach sort of a tipping point where the forest is no longer able to provide that moderating service of controlling flow of water. Wood added, Over the last couple days, Ive been looking at the areas that have been particularly hard hit, and it happens to coincide with some of the communities that have been logged the heaviest.

Repeated warnings have also gone unheeded regarding the governments failure to take precautionary measures against wildfires and the risk of flooding. Controlled burns of shrubs and vegetation can help limit forest fires and conserve older, larger trees, which can in turn act as a barrier against water flowing off slopes. But many of these programs were slashed during the austerity budgets imposed by the BC Liberal governments of Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark.

The NDP, which returned to power in 2017, has retained and even boasted about its commitment to a no less rigorous regime of fiscal discipline. The NDPs callous indifference towards the plight faced by the population due to increasingly erratic weather patterns was underscored during last summers heat dome, when Premier Horgan notoriously declared that the hundreds of deaths were a part of life and that everyone ought to take personal responsibility when extreme weather events occur.

The fate of the area around Lytton, a small town in the Interior that made headlines around the world during the summer when it was almost burned to the ground by a wildfire, illustrates the close connection between out-of-control forest fires and an increased danger of flooding. A section of the Trans-Canada Highway was washed away by the Thompson River east of Lytton Monday.

The refusal to invest in basic infrastructure and preventative measures is being graphically exposed by the disaster unfolding near Abbotsford. The danger posed by flooding to the provinces prime agricultural region was identified in a March 2021 report from the Fraser Basin Council, which warned that the dyke system protecting the Sumas Prairie from the Fraser River was at risk of failure. The Council estimated the cost of an inundation of the region to be anywhere from $20 billion to $30 billion.

The devastation wrought across Canadas third most populous province over recent days, and the crisis it is producing for the supply of foodstuffs and other basic necessities, provides a dire warning as to the urgency of a comprehensive international program to tackle climate change, and invest in infrastructure to protect people in Canada and around the world from ever more extreme natural disasters.

The last year alone has witnessed horrendous flooding in Europe, which claimed over 200 lives in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands; massive wildfires in Siberia which sent smoke to the North Pole for the first time on record; devastating flooding in New York City and New Jersey that drowned workers in their apartments; and the Texas winter storm which knocked out the states power grid and killed hundreds more.

But the ruling elite in every country has shown itself entirely unwilling and incapable of taking any measures that challenge the prerogative of the super-rich and big business to acquire vast profits. The globally coordinated strategy necessary to tackle climate change is inconceivable under conditions in which the ruling class in every country stokes geopolitical rivalries and military tensions, as was shown at the recently-concluded COP26 summit in Glasgow.

Everything depends on the development of a mass political movement of the working class in Canada, the United States, and internationally to enforce a science-based and globally-coordinated policy to combat climate change and secure safe living conditions for all.
The World Socialist Web Site has previously reported on the passage of the congressional infrastructure bill signed into law by the Biden administration Monday. After months of protracted negotiations, the final infrastructure bill devoted $1 trillion over the course of ten years towards fixing the dilapidated infrastructure across the US, a woefully inadequate sum considering the countrys actual infrastructure needs.

The bill, which only provides $100 billion per year in infrastructure funding, is 78 times less than the Pentagons annual budget in a typical year. It slashes the Biden administrations originally proposed $2.25 trillion infrastructure package by more than half.

President Joe Biden speaks about infrastructure negotiations, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, June 24, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The latest infrastructure bill, in addition to removing corporate tax increases, did the same to $100 billion for school modernization earmarked in the original spending bill. Specifically, this called for new school construction and upgrades to existing buildings. It would have included $50 billion in school infrastructure grants and $50 billion in school infrastructure bonds should it have been passed.

The $100 billion, part of the Biden administrations Build Back Better agenda, was initially reduced to $82 billion in September. Once congressional Democrats and Republicans agreed to remove corporate tax provisions, which would have been used to fund the remaining $82 billion, the school infrastructure funding was reduced to zero as part of the budget reconciliation process. As it stands, the only school infrastructure upgrades in the bill will come indirectly via $15 billion in funding for lead pipe replacement. This amounts to only a third of the funding originally proposed and a fourth of the $60 billion needed to fully replace lead pipes nationwide according to the most conservative estimates.

Earlier this year, $125 billion in education funding was passed in the American Rescue Plan of 2021. However, this is to be spread out over two-and-a-half years, averaging to only $50 billion annually, which will barely put a dent in the countrys school infrastructure needs.

A 2013 estimate of the US Department of Education found that the total cost of repairing schools was $200 billion, a number that has since grown far higher. A December 2020 study by the Learning Policy Institute found that $72 billion was needed to upgrade school ventilation systems alone as school sites have become the nations primary source of coronavirus infections.

Acceptable uses of the funding include assistance for students with disabilities, educational technology, mental health services, repair and improvements, public health protocols, among others. In other words, the plan contained no guarantees whatsoever to repair public school infrastructure.

Recent studies have found that the repair of infrastructure is not a luxury for students but in fact a vital necessity. Upgraded and repaired school infrastructure plays a significant role in student learning. Students overwhelmingly benefit when school buildings have fully functioning bathrooms and water fountains, HVAC systems, lighting, audio visual and computer equipment. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic and the drive by the Biden administration and the teachers unions to force children back into unsafe classrooms has only served to exacerbate the situation.

This has also led to hundreds of thousands of teachers and other education workers voluntarily leaving the profession, adding to the more than 600,000 laid off during the first three months of the pandemic alone. According to recent surveys, one in four teachers said they were planning on quitting their jobs, up from one in six prior to the pandemic. Elizabeth D. Steiner, co-author of one such study released by the RAND corporation, stated, Teachers were almost twice as likely to report that they were experiencing frequent job-related stress as the general employed adult population. And about three times as many teachers said that they were experiencing symptoms of depression as the general adult population.

Such issues are not solely due to the pandemic, however, but also are the outcome of a decades-long campaign to defund public education and underpay teachers. These figures also come on top of a teacher strike wave from 20182019, which was quickly shut down by the teachers unions. The local teachers unions, led by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and National Education Association (NEA), worked with districts to prevent their members from achieving adequate staffing levels and even modest wage and benefit improvements.

The attacks on public education have been carried out under both Democratic and Republican administrations alike. Between 20082018, school capital spending declined by $12 billion, from approximately $81 billion in 2008 to $69 billion in 2018, a 15 percent drop. Over that same period, the lowest annual spending levels occurred during the second term of the Obama administration, when the much touted economic recovery from the 20082009 financial crash saw the lowest school capital spending levels of approximately $50 billion per year nationwide, a 38 percent drop from the 2008 level.

According to estimates from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, schools with the highest infrastructure needs are in the most impoverished districts. Among schools with less than 35 percent of students requiring free or reduced priced lunches, 48 percent require urgent repairs; for schools with 35 to 49 percent of students requiring free or reduced price lunches, the repair percent rises to 51 percent; for 50 to 74 percent of students, 52 percent of schools; and for 75 percent or more, 60 percent.

Overall, an estimated 54 percent of public school districts need to update or replace multiple building systems or features in their schools according to a 2020 Government Accountability Office survey. HVAC systems need replacement in at least half of the schools in 41 percent of districts for a total of 36,000 schools nationwide. The report also found that 29 percent of interior light fixtures need repairs or replacements, 28 percent of school roofing need repairs, 27 percent need improvements to safety and security, and most alarming of all, 13 percent of schools had severe structural integrity issues that needed to be urgently dealt with. On top of these urgent needs, about 16 percent of US school districts had not assessed their building needs in more than 10 years.

Another alarming issue is the presence of lead in school drinking water. An estimated 43 percent of all school districts, which together serve 35 million students, tested positive for lead in drinking water in 2016 and 2017. In the city of Detroit alone, water had to be shut off to more than 100 schools in 2018 after elevated levels of lead and copper were found in 16 out of 24 schools tested.

To give another example of the devastation of public schools in the US, after the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 the island of Puerto Rico needed more than $11 billion to bring its schools up to code. In 2020, Federal Emergency Management Agency grants provided $2 billion for repairs due to the hurricanes and also the islands January 2020 earthquake. The islands schools have received no federal funding since then.

These figures only serve to underscore the immense hostility of both the Democrats and Republicans to the basic needs of schoolchildren, especially those from working class and impoverished backgrounds. While the ruling elite sends its children to exclusive private schools with small student-to-teacher ratios and all the conditions necessary for a prosperous learning environment, children of the working class are made to suffer in overcrowded classrooms in which not only their ability to learn but even their very lives and those of their families are at stake.
Anger continues to roll in from southern California health care workers over the cancellation of a strike by 32,000 nurses at Kaiser Permanente over the weekend. Despite their powerful position and widespread support, the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Healthcare Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) announced Saturday morning they had reached an eleventh-hour deal with the health care giant to avert a strike which amounts to a four-year decline in real wages, in exchange for millions of dollars in corporate funding for the unions.

The nurses main concernsstaffing, nurse retention and overall working conditionshave been left unchanged under the tentative agreement, but this has not stopped the UNAC/UHCP from falsely declaring victory.

The calling off of the Kaiser strike proved to be the beginning of a general counteroffensive by the pro-corporate union bureaucracy across the country against a growing movement by workers for strike action, rendering critical assistance to the capitalist ruling class in a period in which it is extremely vulnerable.

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center in 2014 (Source: Ted Eytan via Flickr)

Yesterday the UC-American Federation of Teachers called off a strike by 6,000 lecturers throughout the nine-campus University of California higher education system just hours before it was to begin, calling the deal historic. Also Wednesday night, the United Auto Workers ended a strike by 10,000 John Deere workers after ramming through a contract which workers had already voted to reject two weeks before.

As of this writing, two one-day sympathy strikes in support of 700 Kaiser stationary engineers in Northern California are still scheduled for Thursday and Friday. However, the union is reportedly in negotiations with management to end the engineers strike. If this happens, the sympathy strikes, which would involve 36,000 workers in the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and thousands more in the California Nurses Association would also be called off. On Monday, the SEIU had called off the sympathy strike planned for southern California in the wake of the Kaiser deal.

I was upset that the strike was called off, one nurse told the World Socialist Web Site, noting that nurses had been preparing and were excited to fight back against the understaffing and wage stagnation. We were going to strike30,000! It doesnt feel right that the agreement was reached. The union should have asked for more; we felt that we could have won. This was my only chance to express my true feelings about Kaiser. My voice, my power was taken away by the union. She added that the language around staffing in the TA was vague. Theres no real solution The union doesnt advocate for us. This is the most important part of any union. This was the time.

In addition to the cuts in real wages, there is also concern among nurses about staffing shortages. The nurse said that in the three years shes worked for Kaiser, Nothing has happened to make up for these shortages, and that Kaiser stopped hiring once the pandemic hit. If someone retired or resigned, they were not replaced right away. Im working two jobs. One as a CNA and one as a nurse, because we dont have enough staff on the floor, which, she said, places patients in unsafe conditions.

Our bodies are breaking down from the burnout, they want to work you to the bone. There is no accountability, no penalty for abusing the nurses. Nothing is going to improve our conditions.

Another traveling nurse told the WSWS, This isnt my first time. I had the same experience at St. Francis Hospital and a similar problem with the union. We voted to strike but the union made a deal with the hospital, even though we wanted to strike. Most staff in the hospital quit and I became a contract nurse. I became a contract nurse so I didnt have to deal with the management. She added, I feel bad for the nurses. The union agreed with Kaiser without talking to the nurses. Its unfair to them.

The traveling nurse said that unbeknownst to them, she and many others had been hired by Kaiser as strikebreakers. They did not discover the real purpose of their contract, which was set to begin on the first day of the strike, until their orientation last week.

Another nurse, Louise, said, Theres a lot of anger. And just like what your articles say, they are pushing us out, they took the wind out of our sails to take our momentum. We were so ready to get out there. We deserve what we deserve. What the union put together is infuriating!

Louise added that the union has been unresponsive to nurses questions, telling them instead to be patient and wait for a ratification meeting. In the meantime, the union leadership has been responding aggressively to workers who post WSWS articles about the contract on social media, deleting posts and banning members from Facebook groups and declaring the WSWS articles, without substantiation, inaccurate rumormongering.

Louise added, This contract is a slap in the face. I listened to every town hall leading up to this. They kept saying 4 percent, no less than 4 percent, for almost three years. Louise noted that even 4 percent is far too little.

She continued, In October 2020, our wage increase with our last contract was 2 percent. So, youre telling me after working through this pandemic were not worth any more than that? And every time we get a raise, the union bureaucrats get one, too. In 2019, our union dues were 66 dollars a paycheck (every two weeks). In 2020, it went to 70.20. Multiply that by all the employees, thats millions of dollars. Where is this money? Where is our strike fund?

In reference to the unions claims that the contract contains major improvements to staffing ratios, Louise stated, We already have a staffing committee. Its the same rhetoric in every single contract and it never works. They are just proposing another committee which will get nothing done and will spend the meeting talking about what to do at the next meeting.

In the last contract I think they actually set ratios, she added, And they were pretty good I believe. But of course, it never happened in the whole contract.

Louise also discussed the temporary nurses who were hired months ago with a start date coincidentally set for the same day the union set for the strike date. There was lots of stuff online from these nurses about how they didnt know they were hired as strikebreakers. We all knew what was going on. I know people were trying to refuse to train them, but their managers said they couldnt decline.

Im really upset we didnt strike. We have the leverage now! What will happen in four years, what if they set our contracts to all expire at different times? Turning to the struggle of the Kaiser engineers, Louise added, Its sad because since we didnt strike, they wont have anyone behind them to help.

The World Socialist Web Site is helping Kaiser workers build a rank-and-file committee to mobilize opposition to the unions sellout contract. For more information, contact us today by filling out the form below.
In this Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020 photo, an early voter wears a mask and shield while waiting in line for to cast a ballot in Durham, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

In the state of North Carolina, as in the rest of the United States, the proportion of confirmed cases of COVID-19 attributable to children rose sharply in August and September. The number of new cases in children has remained high into October and November in spite of newly available vaccines for younger children.

While case rates have diminished in the South as summer heat has given way to milder temperatures that have allowed people to resume outdoor activities, there are early indications in colder areas of the US that winter weather will likely bring with it a resurgence of high case rates throughout the country. Already, North Carolina has seen cases plateau at around 1,800 confirmed infections per day and the fall in hospitalizations seen since the beginning of September has bottomed out at a seven-day average of 1,158. An average of 18 people are dying every day across the state from COVID-19.

More than 1.5 million people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state of North Carolina since the beginning of the pandemic and there have been a total of 18,482 confirmed deaths.

Neither North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper nor the states Republican-dominated legislature have taken any significant action to protect the lives of the population from COVID-19. Lockdown measures imposed in March 2020 were lifted within months and many workplaces, including meatpacking plants, were never closed in the first place.

The states miserably inadequate COVID-19 vaccination program has utterly failed to stem the tide of coronavirus deaths. September of this year was the third deadliest month of the pandemic with 2,056 recorded deaths, surpassed only by the 2,090 deaths in December 2020 and 3,024 deaths in January this year. Only 53 percent of the states residents are considered fully vaccinated, and many residents with waning immunity remain ineligible for a booster by CDC and FDA criteria.

Schools and factories remain the major transmission hubs for the virus. The latest report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) states that there have been 2,132 cases and three deaths at child care facilities, and K-12 schools have seen 6,629 cases of COVID-19 and one death. In K-12 schools, there have been 185 clusters, defined as a minimum of five cases with illness onset or initial positive results within 14 days. In child care facilities there have been 11 clusters. Children under five are still ineligible to be vaccinated.

Throughout the state, the country, and the world, the long-term consequences of the disease in those who recover remain unknown. However, preliminary evidence suggests that a significant proportion of the population that has been wantonly exposed to the virus through the criminal policies pursued by the political establishment may suffer life-long disability due to a syndrome that has come to be known as Long COVID, which includes a range of symptoms resulting from the debilitating effects of COVID-19 on multiple organ systems. Moreover, preliminary research suggests that even many of those who have suffered only relatively mild symptoms during their initial illness, and who may not yet be aware of any lasting effects, are left with cognitive deficits, measurably decreased grey matter in the brain, and diminished kidney function. They may never recover.

A 12-year-old girl named Wednesday Lynch is one tragic example of the growing toll that Long COVID is taking on North Carolinians. Lynch, who is being treated at a University of North Carolina COVID-19 recovery clinic, has been battling symptoms of Long COVID for a full year. Her mother Melisa told CBS 17 News that that she was a straight-A student and an all-star cheerleader, always bouncing off the walls and bouncing off the trampoline.

In September 2020, when Wednesday was 11 years old, she contracted COVID-19. At that time, there were no vaccines available yet. Her initial mild symptoms quickly gave way to a high fever and seizures.

As a consequence of her illness, Lynch now suffers from Tachycardia, Dysautonomia, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. She also experiences brain fog, confusion, memory loss, and cognitive loss with learning, according to her mother. Because of these difficulties, Wednesday was tested for accommodations and it turned out she was performing at 31 percent and two grade levels behind.

Part of what makes the continuing loss of life and health so tragic is that it is almost entirely avoidable, and its future consequences remain incalculable. It is not the virus alone that is to blame but the criminal reopening policies of the political representatives of the ruling class, which have allowed the virus to spread. Governments at every level have consistently placed the profit interests of private corporations before human life, demanding that children return to unsafe schools and daycares so that their parents can return to work.

Moreover, as immunologist Dr. Anthony Leonardi recently told the WSWS, emerging research raises the terrifying possibility that the cognitive deficits associated with Long COVID might not only persist but worsen significantly over time.

The policies of Governor Cooper and the North Carolina state legislature are in line with those of the Biden administration, which has, in all essential respects, continued and deepened the anti-science, homicidal policies pursued by the Trump administration.

While North Carolina schools have been provided with $5.5 billion in COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government, most of this money remains unspent. Outdated air conditioning units and filtration or ventilation systems have not been replaced. Nor has the infrastructure for remote learning been revamped and improved. Instead, the ruling class and its political representatives have simply herded teachers, students and staff back into unsafe schools so that parents could be forced back into unsafe workplaces.

Many educators have voiced their frustrations with the dangerous policies of their school districts on the Facebook group North Carolina Teachers United. A teacher named Wendy said that she was retiring early because of the lack of pay, respect, appreciation, parent involvement, etc. Many other teachers say they are retiring early as well because of the impossible working conditions. The reckless indifference to human life exhibited by the ruling elite has created a situation in which it is all but impossible for teachers to concentrate on developing young minds for the future. Instead, they are faced with hazard after hazard and complete disregard for safety.

In response to the recent decline in case counts, a number of school districts have loosened contact tracing and quarantine protocols, preparing the way for another surge. For example, the board of education in Union County southeast of Charlotte voted on September 13 to do away with the Districts COVID-19 contact tracing and allow students and staff in quarantine to return if they do not test positive for the virus.

Another educator, Ellen, expressed concern on the North Carolina Teachers United group over the optional masking in her district, remarking we had three schools with clusters just last week. Its difficult to comprehend. Other teachers responded and pointed to the fact that the winter holidays are just around the corner and increased travel and gatherings will compound the spread caused by these reckless policies.

The growing frustrations of educators are entirely justified. Twenty months into the pandemic the time is long overdue for an end to the criminal and homicidal policies of the ruling class and its political representatives in local, state and national government. However, both the Democrats and the Republicans are fundamentally incapable of changing course because their entire function is the defense of the profits of the large corporations and financial speculators.

Conversely, human lives, not corporate profits, are the first priority of the working class. It therefore falls to teachers and other workers themselves to fight for an alternative. North Carolina teachers and other workers must build rank-and-file safety committees in their schools and workplaces as part of the global initiative of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees to eliminate COVID-19 and end the pandemic.
On Tuesday, the Washington Post published an editorial endorsing the creation of a 9/11-commission-style national panel that would examine the pandemic and help prepare the future. In fact, the proposed panel, comprised of leading representatives of the US state apparatus, would serve to cover up the real causes of and responsibility for a pandemic that has killed more than one million people in the United States and 15 million globally.

A bill to create the panel was introduced on November 4 by four senators: Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Kirsten Gillibrand and Republicans Roger Marshall and Joni Ernst. The commission would consist of 10 members, five Democrats and five Republicans.

Explaining the themes of the commission, the Post wrote, One vital area of inquiry is public health systems, which were overwhelmed during the pandemic. The commission would examine the structure, coordination [and] management of all levels of government, scrutinizing performance in a host of areas.

A patient carried on a stretcher in Rome, Italy (Photo: Alessandra Tarantino / AP)

Another part of the investigation would focus on the virus origins, including, according to the language of the bill, the possibility of a laboratory-associated incident involving experimentation, animal handling, or sampling by the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

In other words, the inquiry will have two purposes: Covering up the criminal actions of US politicians and blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the Post, the second part is particularly important. With blood on its hands, and facing growing social unrest at home, the American ruling class is desperate to scapegoat China, on the basis of lying and disproven claims that the virus originated in the Wuhan lab. The Post has taken up the task of promoting these lies as aggressively as possible.

It laments that a recent US intelligence community report on the virus origins was inconclusive. The intelligence report was inconclusive only to the extent that it did not arrive at the conclusions favored by the Post because evidence for this conclusion could not be manufactured. Four out of five US intelligence agencies concluded that COVID-19 was not developed as a biological weapon and not genetically engineered.

However, the Post goes on, A commission with time and resources could get closer to the truth. In other words, it will have more time to concoct a narrative that conforms to the interests of the American ruling class.

The entire framework of the commission is aimed at avoiding any examination of the social and political forces actually responsible for mass death, as this would point to the capitalist ruling elites in the United States and their political servants in both the Democratic and Republican parties.

To this end, absent from the bill or the Post editorial is any reference to the policy of herd immunity, under which Trump administration officials deliberately promoted the mass infection of the population with the aim of minimizing the impact of the pandemic on the stock market.

Likewise excluded is any discussion of the financial interests that led the White House, Congress and the media to attempt to play down the COVID-19 pandemic in January and February of 2020 in the hopes of avoiding a stock market sell-off. The bill and the Post editorial exclude any mention of the sale of stock by members of Congress who were briefed about the dangers of the pandemic. (Feinstein was herself one of the members of Congress who sold stock ahead of the March 2020 market crash.)

Regardless of the origins of the pandemic, it was the American ruling class and its political representatives that decided to reopen factories and workplaces, fueling the spread of the pandemic. It was they who declared that the cure cant be worse than the disease. And it was they who orchestrated a massive, multitrillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street that continues to this day.

Democratic members of Congress, no less than their Republican counterparts, failed to warn the public about the looming disaster, and Democratic governors throughout the country abandoned social distancing measures even more rapidly than suggested by guidelines adopted by the Trump White House. The Biden administration has completed the return of US schools to in-person instruction and has sought to ensure that workers stay on the job even as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads unchecked.

An investigation that excludes these massive crimes is nothing more than a cover-up. And this investigation would be delivered in some two years, by which time the death toll will by far eclipse one million.

The Democrats and their fascistic colleagues in the Republican Party are preparing this cover-up as they dismantle all remaining restraints on the spread of the pandemic, while tens of thousands of Americans are dying every month.

The model for the commission is itself revealing. The Post called for the commission to base itself on the work of the Covid Commission Planning Group, headed by Philip David Zelikow, the former executive director of the 9/11 Commission. The New York Times has likewise published two articles, on June 2 and June 16, endorsing the formation of a commission of inquiry based around Zelikows group.

Zelikow, a former aide to Bushs National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, held secret back-channel discussions with Bush administration officials during the 9/11 inquiry and based much of the conclusions findings on evidence extracted through torture. Its conclusions have been overwhelmingly contradicted by subsequently released material.

The commission proposed by the Post would be a commission comprised and directed by those who are actually responsible for the disaster they are supposedly investigating.

A serious inquiry into the policies that led to mass deaths in the COVID-19 pandemic, which is absolutely necessary, will be possible only to the extent that it is led by the international working class and conducted independently of and in opposition to the Democratic and Republican parties.
State prosecutors in the murder trial of Ahmaud Arberys killers rested their case Tuesday after calling 23 witnesses over eight days of testimony.

Gregory McMichael, 67, his son Travis McMichael, 35, and their neighbor William Roddie Bryan, 52, three white men, are accused of chasing down and fatally shooting Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, last February in the Satilla Shores neighborhood just outside Brunswick, Georgia. They each face charges of murder, aggravated assault and false imprisonment, which could bring them life in prison if convicted. All three have pleaded not guilty.

The state called several experts from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) on Tuesday to explain the evidence stacked against the defendants.

A woman wears a face covering of Ahmaud Arbery printed on it during a rally to protest Arbery's killing Friday, May 8, 2020, in Brunswick Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Richard Dial, the lead GBI investigator in the case, testified on the timeline of events leading up to Arberys death. State attorneys presented maps showing where Arbery and the defendants traveled on the day of the shooting, and Dial walked jurors through drone footage as it played in court.

GBI forensic pathologist Dr. Edmund Donoghue, the man who performed Arberys autopsy in April 2020, detailed his injuries and cause of death. Donoghues original autopsy did not detail the order in which Arberys gunshot wounds happened. However, after viewing a cell phone video captured by Bryan, Donoghue testified he could provide a better account of the shooting.

Arbery can be seen wrestling with Travis McMichael, who was armed with a shotgun, before three shots are heard. According to Donoghue, the first shot grazed Arberys wrist, severing an artery and causing severe bleeding, and then struck him in the center of the chest. The second shot missed, but the third struck him in his left chest, hitting his axillary vein and axillary artery. Nothing could be done to save Arberys life after either of the torso injuries, Donoghue testified.

The final shot effectively paralyzed Arberys left arm because it injured a complex of nerves. Donoghue pointed to a video of his hand, which had rotated to a position that indicates Erbs Palsy, the type of nerve injury Donoghue said Arbery suffered.

State attorney Linda Dunikoski asked Donoghue if Arberys injuries could be consistent with someone pushing a shotgun away from them or consistent with someone maybe grabbing the shotgun.

It could be, yes, Donoghue replied to both questions.

Donoghues original autopsy estimated Arberys body was 3 to 4 feet away from the gun when he was shot. With the knowledge of the video, Donoghue said he now believes the distance was 3 to 20 inches, or close-range to near-contact. This follows testimony from Monday, when a firearms examiner testified Arbery was shot at close range.

The autopsy report, which lists the manner of death as homicide, showed Arbery died of multiple shotgun wounds sustained during a struggle for the shotgun. Thirteen shotgun pellets exited Arberys back, and 11 more were recovered from his wounds.

When cross-examining Donoghue, the defense team attempted to portray the McMichaels as being in immediate danger. After being shown still frames taken from the video, Donoghue testified he could see Arberys hand on the shotgun. Furthermore, Arbery was able to hold onto the gun with one hand after the first shot wounded him, he testified.

But the events leading up to Arberys slaying contradict this narrative.

After they spotted him running in their neighborhood, the McMichaels grabbed their guns, got into their pickup truck and chased Arbery for more than four minutes. Bryan joined the chase with his own vehicle, while recording the incident. Prosecutors state he struck Arbery with his vehicle during the pursuit and the men trapped him like a rat with their trucks.

The defense has maintained that the McMichaels and Bryan suspected that Arbery was responsible for a string of burglaries and were trying to perform a citizens arrest, detaining Arbery until police arrived. Travis McMichael was only forced to shoot in self-defense, they claimed.
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka will hold an online public meeting on Sunday, November 28, to discuss the socialist program the working class needs to fight the 2022 budget of President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government.

Presented to parliament by Finance Minister Basil Rajapakse, the budget freezes wages and imposes higher taxes on the masses while unleashing full-scale attacks on the public sector and social services.

This is historys most challenging period, the finance minister demagogically declared, while ruthlessly imposing the burden of the economic crisis, exacerbated by COVID-19, on working people and the rural poor. Rajapakse has also targeted Sri Lankas 1.4 million public sector workers, vowing to discipline the sector and slash state funding. The public sector, he arrogantly told the media, is an unbearable burden on the public purse.

Thousands of teachers demonstrate in Kandy earlier this month [WSWS media]

The budget will slash billions in funding for social services, such as health, Samurdhi (welfare allowances), water supply, women and child development and rural housing, while boosting allocations for the military and police.

Notwithstanding Rajapakses proclamations about Sri Lankas strength to manage the economy, the financial crisis is deepening. With the country teetering on the brink of a debt default, Moodys recently downgraded Sri Lankas rating to that of Ethiopia, Laos and the Republic of Congo. A few days after the finance ministers budget speech, Sri Lankas only oil refinery was shut down because the country did not have enough foreign currency to pay for crude oil imports.

The governments austerity measures have already been challenged by the working class amid increasingly desperate attempts by the trade unions to contain workers anger. Throughout this year, health, education, railway and state administration sector employees and plantation workers have taken action against the governments austerity measures. This month electricity, petroleum and port workers held nationwide anti-privatisation demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands of farmers have protested demanding desperately needed fertiliser and other necessities for cultivation.

While workers have demonstrated their willingness and determination to fight, the major problem confronting the working class is the lack of political and programmatic clarity on how to defeat the government attacks. The trade unions are playing a central role in politically strangling this movement, systematically working to trap the rising opposition within the safe channels of parliamentary protest to protect the capitalist system.

The SEP public meeting will discuss the necessary revolutionary perspective of building an independent working-class leadership based on a socialist and internationalist program to fight the Rajapakse governments austerity measures. We urge workers, youth, intellectuals and WSWS readers to attend this important meeting.

Date and time: Sunday, November 28, 4 p.m. (Sri Lankan time).

Please register for the meeting here.
An indefinite strike by up to 1,000 Toll warehouse workers at seven distribution centres in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia was brought to an abrupt conclusion yesterday by the United Workers Union (UWU).

While the union hailed this as a victory for workers, it can only be viewed as a sell-out of a workforce that was clearly ready to undertake a protracted struggle.

Toll operates the sites under contract for major brands including Kmart, Nike, Mondelez, Treasury Wine Estates and Optus.

Toll workers outside the Truganina warehouse (Photo: Facebook/UWU)

On Monday, the first day of the protected industrial action, UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy vowed to remain on strike until we get a fair deal.

Reports in the corporate media portrayed an air of immense hostility between Toll and the UWU. According to the Australian Financial Review, the union was pursuing an 8 percent per annum wage rise, although Kennedy refused to nominate a figure, saying we dont negotiate out in the street. Toll, meanwhile, responded to the establishment of picket lines at the seven sites by calling the police and threatening legal action to break up this supposedly illegal conduct.

Under Australias draconian industrial relations laws, workers are only allowed to strike over pay and conditions during the narrow window in which their enterprise agreement is being negotiated, and only union members covered by the agreement are allowed to take part. These restrictions on industrial action were introduced by the union-backed Rudd Labor government in 2009, building upon anti-strike laws brought in under Hawke and Keating in the 1980s and 90s. They have been consistently enforced by the unions ever since.

While the striking workers were undertaking so-called protected industrial action in compliance with these Fair Work laws, the company alleged that union officials were intimidating casual workersnot legally allowed to participate in the strike who were attempting to cross the picket line.

The UWU has form in this regard. At General Mills in June, the union drove a wedge between permanent and casual staff, denouncing casual labour hire workers as f***ing us over for continuing to work, even while upholding the laws that barred them from participating.

Toll warned that the reckless, illegal action of workers and the UWU would disrupt the lives of our employees, our valued customers and Australian working families who have purchased products from those customers.

Yet, by late Tuesday night, management and the union had hammered out a deal in closed-door negotiations.

By Wednesday afternoon, the UWU had declared the strike over, claiming that the membership had voted in favour of the union-management agreement.

Among the few details of the deal highlighted by the union was a wage rise of 3 percent per year over three years, a marginal increase over the 2 percent and 2.5 percent figures rejected by workers because, according to Kennedy, that will not change their life.

Far from a life-altering windfall, the 3 percent figure is likely to amount to a pay cut in real terms. The most recent official figures put annual Consumer Price Index growth at 3 percent, and figures released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed that the Wage Price Index had increased by 0.6 percent in the September quarter and 2.2 percent in the past year. The Reserve Bank has stated that it expects wage growth to top 3 percent by late 2023.

On Monday, Kennedy described the circumstances of workers at the Kmart distribution centre in the working-class Melbourne suburb of Truganina. In 2010, the cut-price department store chain outsourced operations at the warehouse to Toll, slashing workers wages from $32.65 per hour to $17 an hour. In the eleven years since, the hourly rate has risen to just $27.53. The median hourly wage in Australia was $36, according to ABS figures from August 2020.

The 3 percent pay rise heralded as a win by the UWU means that, at the conclusion of this three-year agreement, workers at the Kmart facility will still be earning more than $2.50 an hour less in nominal dollar terms than they were in 2010.

One of the key demands of workers in the dispute was for greater job security. The UWU declaration of victory noted that Toll would create more than 100 new permanent jobs, a small fraction of the approximately 400 new casuals hired in the last year at the Truganina facility alone to deal with surging volume during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 202021, Kmart Group posted earnings before tax of $693 million, an increase of almost 70 percent over the previous financial year.

The new agreement will cover any new Toll warehouses, where it will impose a minimum starter rate of $25 an hour.

The new agreement reportedly contains (unspecified) improvements to redundancy payments and a guarantee that if workers are moved to a new Toll distribution centre their wages and redundancy provisions will be maintained. All this really means for workers is that they will continue to receive below-average wages while being shunted from one warehouse to another until they are finally thrown on the scrapheap as the industry moves rapidly towards automation.

Almost half of the 32,000 square metre footprint of Tolls flagship Prestons Advanced Retail and eCommerce Fulfilment Centre in south-west Sydney, which opened in 2017, is taken up by automated equipment. The facility, where more than 95 percent of volume is handled by machines, including driverless forklifts and automatic carton optimising machines, has the capacity to pick and pack up to 175,000 items per day with just 200 workers.

The unions, which are completely committed to capitalism, uphold the logic of the market when it comes to automation, i.e., developments in productivity must be used to slash jobs, wages and conditions. The UWU and its counterparts are bitterly hostile to the fight for socialism, under which automation would be used to lighten the workload of warehouse employees and other sections of the working class, with no reduction of wages.

The UWUs reference to redundancy provisions is a warning. It has already enforced the closure of Coles Smeaton Grange warehouse, with a sell-out agreement earlier this year that was widely opposed by workers. It is preparing the same at other Coles and Woolworths warehouses, and will seek to inflict the same job cuts on Toll staff as demanded by the company.

The swift conclusion of the strike makes clear that any animosity between Toll and the UWU was largely for show. In a period in which workers throughout the supply chain, including truck drivers at Toll itself, have demanded industrial action more stridently than they have for decades, the UWU called the limited stoppage to let off steam while it worked out a sell-out deal with management.

The UWUs declaration of victory is designed to afford it the credibility it needs in order to resume the role it shares with the rest of the trade union bureaucracy as the enforcer of management dictates and suppressor of workers discontent.

The unions, as the servants of big business and the government, have ensured that, despite common issues of job security, wage stagnation and rampant casualisation throughout the working class, each dispute has been carefully isolated and timed to avoid any significant disruption to the supply chain.

UWU members at a Country Road warehouse just five kilometres away from the Kmart distribution centre are currently striking over pay and job security concerns. Far from calling for a unified struggle of workers at even these two nearby workplaces, the union made only a few token references on Monday to the Country Road dispute.

Two of the seven sites involved on Monday are Mondelez confectionery factories, where hundreds of workers covered by the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union are currently involved in a pay dispute that has involved multiple 24-hour strikes over recent months. Again, no effort has been made by either union to expand the struggle to different groups of workers within a single facility, let alone to the working class more broadly.

The current global supply chain crisis has exposed the vital role played by workers throughout the transport and warehousing sectors and places them in a position where there is the potential to exert tremendous power. This cannot be realised while workers remain straitjacketed by the unions.

Workers at Country Road, in particular, must learn sharp lessons from the Toll sell-out, make an immediate break with the UWU, and form independent rank-and-file committees to carry out a genuine struggle to defend their jobs and improve their pay and conditions. This struggle must be connected to a socialist perspective, aimed at placing warehousing and logistics under public ownership and democratic workers control, the only means of halting the incessant, pro-business restructuring of the sector.
Public health legislation in the state of Victoria has been seized upon by powerful sections of the Australian establishment to whip a right-wing anti-lockdown milieu into an hysterical frenzy that is clearly heading towards political violence.

The proposed bill, which has yet to pass the upper house of state parliament, would give the Victorian Labor government the power to declare pandemics in the future and to institute public health measures. The laws mirror similar policies in other states and are in line with emergency powers that have already been activated during the COVID crisis. Amendments earlier this week removed aspects of the bill that had been criticised by civil liberties and lawyers organisations.

Reading the statements of senior Liberal Party figures, sections of the corporate press and a right-wing rabble they are mobilising in daily protests, however, one would think that the legislation provided for the immediate imposition of a permanent dictatorship.

A photo from one of the protests last week promoted by Liberal MP Bernie Finn (Credit: Facebook)

Every day, the most politically disoriented sections of the population, animated by a grab-bag of individualistic libertarianism, anti-scientific hostility to vaccines and conspiracy theories, are being told the public health laws threaten them with the worst tyranny. One does not need a crystal ball to recognise the trajectory of this right-wing propaganda. It is a clear incitement to political violence against state Labor parliamentarians, supporters of public health measures and medical professionals, such as doctors and nurses, involved in the vaccination program.

The outsized reaction to the bill is shot through with a number of contradictions. The right-wing forces are hysterically agitating against lockdowns, under conditions in which the Victorian Labor government has ended the state lockdown amid significant COVID transmission and has openly embraced the homicidal live with the virus mantra.

The state Liberal opposition is egging-on the protesters, even though one of their primary sentiments is opposition to COVID vaccines. The Liberal Party, at the state and federal levels, however, hails vaccinations, falsely presenting them as a silver-bullet that justifies the pro-business lifting of all other pandemic safety measures.

The seeming paradoxes demonstrate that a broader political agenda is at work. Throughout the pandemic, sections of the ruling elite have cultivated and promoted the anti-lockdown movement, as a battering ram against any public health measures.

With the current protests, this milieu is being openly integrated into the political establishment. The purpose is to shift official politics even further to the right, and to build a base that can be mobilised against mounting social and political opposition in the working class, including to the dangerous reopening of the economy.

Those who have orchestrated the right-wing protests, including senior Liberal Party members, are clearly drawing inspiration from former American President Donald Trump, and the unsuccessful fascist coup attempt he led on January 6. Trumps insurrection followed several trial runs at the state level, including a plot by an extreme-right-wing group to kidnap and execute Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, who had instituted limited lockdown measures in response to demands from auto workers and other sections of the working class.

As in the US, the Victorian anti-lockdown protests are being encouraged by right-wing sections of the political establishment. Their constituency has been cultivated through agitation against public health measures. Fascist groups are prominent in them. And they are being held outside the Victorian parliament, as it is debating the pandemic legislation, in a parallel with Trumps January 6 mobilisation, which was aimed at pressuring Congress to block the certification of Joe Biden, or if that failed, forcefully preventing it.

The iconography of the Victorian protests is deliberately Trumpian, most obviously in the Trump flags and caps that adorn a number of the demonstrators.

As at the January 6 attack, a large gallows with several nooses has been a fixture at the Victorian protests. Earlier this week, the fascists attempted a mock hanging of a blow-up doll that resembled Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews. Social media video has shown multiple protesters, including those with megaphones, speaking of their wish to see Andrews dead. Journalists covering the protest have been set upon and forced to leave.

According to Age reporter Paul Sakkal, as many as one in five state Liberal MPs have either addressed or attended protests that have featured nooses and death threats.

Those who have attended protests at the Victorian parliament over recent weeks include senior MPs, such as shadow treasurer David Davis and shadow ministers Nick Wakeling and Roma Britnell.

Liberal MP Bernie Finn posted a selfie from one of the rallies, describing participants as a couple of thousand of my closest friends. Liberal spokesman for community recovery Craig Ondarchie posted a photo, captioned: Out thanking these wonderful Victorians, outside their housethe Peoples House, who have had a gut full of Daniel Andrews controlling their lives, their happiness, their freedom.

Victorian Liberal leader Matthew Guy and federal government representatives have over recent days condemned some of the more violent rhetoric at the protests, while presenting it as the work of a few bad apples, in an otherwise legitimate and just movement.

Craig Kelly was a featured speaker at the Saturday protest. He was in the federal Liberal-National government until earlier this year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended his promotion of quack remedies for COVID as an exercise in free speech. Kelly only left the government as it began invoking vaccinations to justify the reopening. Still a federal MP, Kelly has joined the United Australia Party, headed by mining magnate Clive Palmer.

Alongside these representatives of the political establishment, the protests have been attended by members of the Proud Boys, as well as other fascist groups. This includes the National Socialist Network (NSN), a neo-Nazi group that reveres Brenton Tarrant, the fascist terrorist who massacred more than fifty worshippers at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Anti-fascist group, White Rose, alleged on social media that Kellys security guard at the Saturday protest was a known associate of the NSN and provided a photo appearing to show the two in close physical proximity. There is no suggestion that Kelly was aware of the mans alleged political affiliation. When asked about the claims by the Guardian, the federal parliamentarian said he did not know the mans politics or his name, before adding: As far as I know he was qualified, he did a good job, he was efficient and professional and thats all that should matter.

The direction of the protests was indicated by an article in the Age today. It revealed that one man had already been charged by counter-terror officers, after posting calls online for fellow protestors to take guns to the demonstrations and to kill Andrews, while others were facing investigation for similar alleged offences.

Western Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan, whose government previously warned that the federal reopening policies were too rapid, yesterday closed his parliamentary office, after reporting threats of violence against staff. In a bizarre incident, a man had also allegedly sought to have an armoured vehicle delivered to the office, before being arrested by police.

The far-right protesters are widely reviled by the majority of working people. The lockdown measures Andrews instituted earlier in the pandemic were the result of determined demands from the working class, including health staff and teachers. Almost 90 percent of the states adult population is fully vaccinated.

The protesters are emboldened by two factors: the encouragement they have received from sections of the political establishment, and the cowardice of Labor.

Andrews has criticised the Liberals for promoting the demonstrations. But his comments have had the character of a complaint that the protests, and their hostility to vaccinations, will set back the drive to lift all COVID safety measures. In large measure, Andrews is already carrying out the program demanded by the rallies, lifting safety restrictions at breakneck speed, regardless of infections and deaths.

More broadly, Labor has played a key role in creating a political environment that strengthens the far right. It has supported or carried out incessant attacks on refugees, blamed migration for job losses and a social crisis, and feverishly promoted nationalist militarism. Labor and the unions, moreover, have rendered sections of the population vulnerable to the appeals of right-wing populists, dispensing with their earlier program of social-reformism decades ago, and imposing the demands of the corporate elite for incessant attacks on jobs, wages and conditions.

The official cultivation of the far-right is a warning to the working class. As is the case internationally, amid an unprecedented capitalist crisis on every front, and widespread social anger, the ruling elite is turning towards authoritarianism and dictatorship. The defence of democratic rights and the fight against the far right, requires a socialist movement of the working class, directed against the entire political establishment and the capitalist system.
The opening session was moderated by Ambassador Zhanar Aitzanova of Kazakhstan, the co-host of the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) to take place in Geneva on 30 November  3 December. Ambassador Aitzanova reminded participants that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a change of venue for MC12, which had initially been scheduled to take place in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, in June 2020. This Trade for Peace Week, which the Government of Kazakhstan considers as a pre-event or side event of the WTO Ministerial Conference, is intended to bring some Eurasian flavours to Geneva on the topics which we feel very strongly about as we are about to celebrate 30 years of independence  trade and integration, on the one hand, and peace and security on the other.

The opening panel also included: Ambassador Xiangchen Zhang, WTO Deputy Director-General; Akan Rakhmetullin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan; Paul Tate, Head of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to the United Nations Office in Geneva; and Dr Paul R. Williams, co-founder of Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG).

DDG Zhang said greater interdependence between countries as a result of globalization has not been accompanied by sufficient adjustments in the global governance regime to keep pace with the changing nature of security threats and stressed the key role the WTO must play in addressing the new challenges.

The multilateral trading system can and must do more to help us tackle pressing challenges, from our oceans to our climate, to ensuring inclusive participation in the digital economy. National policies are designed to benefit individual countries, not the rest of the world, and are likely to fall far short of global goals. Ultimately, there needs to be a multilateral approach if we are going to have meaningful results, DDG Zhang said. It is time to recognize that the multilateral trading system has a role to play as we look to counter the security threats of the 21st century. His full remarks are here.

Speaking on behalf of Mawine G. Diggs, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Liberia, Mr Tate conveyed Liberia's objectives as a fragile and conflict-affected state that recently acceded to the WTO: Liberia is one of the latest WTO members. Our path to WTO membership has not been easy  not to mention the Ebola epidemic that devastated the country at the time of accession. Now that we are a fully-fledged WTO member, we believe it is crucial that we help open the door for those that are outside the system facing similar challenges in addition to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.

He further noted that Liberia and Timor-Leste, as co-coordinators of the g7+ WTO Accessions Group, are working with WTO members to explore the possibility of establishing a dedicated work programme on trade for peace that the General Council will review with a view to making recommendations at the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference.

Mr Rakhmetullin said that Kazakhstan attaches great importance to developing close trade and economic relations among countries. He noted that the issues of global and regional stability and security are at the core of Kazakhstan's foreign policy. Obtaining the status of WTO member was one of our top foreign policy priorities over the last 25 years, he said. He also highlighted the key initiatives undertaken by Kazakhstan in recent times in the field of disarmament, security and peace, including the voluntary abandonment of the nuclear weapon stockpile inherited from the Soviet Union in 1991, the launch of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2010 and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2011.

Dr Williams shed light on how a trade regime can underpin durable peace. It is illegal and illegitimate trade that drive conflict. A way to turn it from a driver of conflict to a driver of durable peace is through the rule of law, which is what the WTO stands for  bringing countries into a legal regime that governs trade, that is the regularization of trade, he said. He made three recommendations to achieve durable peace: capacity building for the various international teams mediating conflicts to improve understanding of the value of a regularized trade regime; secondment of trade negotiators to peace negotiations; and harmonization of the language in peace agreements relating to trade.

The second edition of the Trade for Peace Week will further build on the discussions and partnerships established between the trade and peace communities since the launch of the 1st Trade for Peace Week in December 2020. The event will feature another four panels focusing on the Eurasian region and on the role of Eurasian countries in achieving peace through trade and WTO reform.
Kristi Noem and her daughter Kassidy Peters

Kassidy Peters/ instagram Gov. Kristi Noem (left) and Kassidy Peters

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's daughter will quit her job as a real estate appraiser and give up her license  saying the scrutiny of her position had become toxic and overbearing  as lawmakers push for more information on whether her mom may have inappropriately boosted her career.

"I'm writing to you today to express my disappointment and anger that my good name and professional reputation continue to be damaged," Kassidy Peters said in a letter to South Dakota's Labor Secretary Marcia Hultman on Tuesday, according to Dakota News Now. "It is clear that none of this will stop until my reputation and that of my young family are destroyed."

Noem, a Republican, has said she did nothing wrong. Peters wrote in her letter that she was "proud that I was able to complete the certification under the stringent standards established by the Program."

The saga of Peters' real estate appraiser license began in July 2020, when her application to be certified was originally denied. Days later, Noem held a meeting at the governor's mansion with Sherry Bren, the state employee who ran the agency that rejected her daughter's application, as well as Bren's supervisor and others. Peters also attended the meeting.

Her license was eventually granted in November 2020. Shortly after, Bren was allegedly pressured by the labor secretary to retire from her position as Executive Director of the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program, which she held for decades.

RELATED: Governor Slams 'Disgusting Lie' She Was Involved with Trump Aide as Separate Woman Accuses Him of Harassment

Bren filed an age discrimination complaint with the agency but ultimately left her job in March after the state paid her $200,000 to withdraw the complaint, the Associated Press reported in September.

Noem defended herself and her daughter in a video she tweeted on Oct. 1. "I never once asked for special treatment for Kassidy. She is my daughter and I'm proud of her," she said then. "I raised her to accomplish things on her own just like my parents raised me."

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The governor also addressed Bren's tenure at the certifying agency. "I'll be honest, my administration started fixing that process and it was way too difficult. Appraisers weren't getting certified and South Dakotans were having to wait much longer to buy a home than in other states. This system had been broken for decades," she said. "It was designed to benefit those who were already certified and keep others out. The person in charge of the appraisal certification process had been in that role for 40 years."

Kristi Noem

Brandon Bell/Getty Gov. Kristi Noem

This week, lawmakers finalized a subpoena to compel Bren to testify before the Government Operations and Audit Committee as part of their inquiry into the matter of how the governor's daughter got her license after initially being denied certification.

"It's important that we make sure we're protecting the employees of our state," Rep. Chris Karr, a Republican committee member, told the AP, indicating that at least part of the investigation focuses on why Bren was asked to leave her position. "We're trying to sort out all the facts."

RELATED: South Dakota Governor Says People Will 'Not Be Social Distancing' at Trump Mt. Rushmore Event

In her letter to Secretary Hultman, Peters wrote that "the entire inquiry and media pressure have done irreparable damage to my business. My business is finished and the years I spent working to become licensed amount to nothing. So, I've decided I will no longer accept new appraisal orders and will wrap up the few pending orders I do have. I will plan to turn in my license and dissolve my business by the end of the year."

The investigating committee also reportedly expressed its interest in an agreement that was signed a week after the July 2020 meeting, allowing Peters another opportunity to pursue the license. That agreement  which the committee intended to subpoena  was also published by Dakota News Now on Tuesday.

Hultman had testified in October that the agreement was reached before the meeting at the governor's mansion, even though it was signed after.

RELATED: South Dakota's $500K Anti-Meth Campaign Says 'We're On It'  and Draws Major Criticism Online

"I believe a key piece of the issue is the timing of the agreement between the Appraiser Certification Program and Kassidy Peters," South Dakota Republican Sen. David Wheeler told the AP. "Secretary Hultman said an agreement has already been made before the meeting at the residence. I simply want to confirm that."

In her letter, Peters implied that she wants the scrutiny to end.

"I know as the Governor's daughter I am always going to be in the public eye," she wrote. "I can't stop these attacks, but I can choose whether to keep being hurt by the fallout."
Animation

With Disneys Encanto (November 24, in theaters), Lin-Manuel Miranda finally got to work on his first animated musical from the ground up after getting a taste with Disneys Moana (featuring his Oscar-nominated song How Far Ill Go) and Sony/Netflixs Vivo. In fact, its the latest milestone in what has been an incredible year for the very hot Miranda, following the release of Vivo, as well as the adaptation of his Broadway musical, In the Heights, and his directorial debut about Rent creator Jonathan Larson, Tick Tick Boom.

I remember saying to Tom Macdougall [president of Disney Music], I want to be in on the ground floor for the next one, and if you guys are ever making a Latino-themed animated musical, Im your guy, Miranda said. And so to work with the dream team  [directors] Byron Howard and Jared Bush and [co-director] Charise Castro Smith  and really start to work together with an original story around the theme of a Latino family was special.

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Indeed, Encanto represents a departure as Disneys 60th animated feature, not only because of its embrace of Latino culture and magical realism, but also because it departs from the traditional heros journey. Encanto concerns the magical Madrigal family, who live in an enchanted house in the mountains of Colombia. They all possess special powers for strength, healing, controlling nature, and shape-shifting. That is, except Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz from In the Heights), whose quirky ordinariness makes her seem like an outsider, but whose tenacity helps rescue the family from a dark secret that threatens its magic.

Encanto - Credit: Disney

Disney

So often, when youre making a movie, its about the individual character and the quest, and the other characters fall by the wayside as you work on the quest and the stakes, Miranda continued. And we wondered if we could actually get an inter-generational Latino family up on that screen, have 12 major characters, and make the relationships between [them] be the stuff we make the movie about. So to get to write [eight original] songs about how my family sees me versus how I see myself was [unique]. Or how Im frozen in this role within the family thats both a blessing and a curse, or to write a gossip number and how that spreads through a family. What we talk about in private versus what we talk about at the dinner table. That all felt like needy stuff that we hadnt seen in a Disney movie before, and so I was very proud of being a part of it.

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Crucially, the Encanto research trip to Colombia was more extensive than usual, with Miranda and his father joining the Disney filmmakers. We went from town to town and each had a vibrancy and a difference among the people with their fun sense of play and conflicts, said Howard. That sparring is something that we really wanted to pay attention to, and what a perfect place for this diverse family to be set. And the advantage of song and dance and working with Lin was using the inner monologues to help drive the character arcs.

In this regard, Miranda was greatly influenced by legendary Disney lyricist and shadow director Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin), who redefined the Disney animated musical with Broadway theater mechanics and empowering themes about identity and liberation. Howard Ashman looms large, not only for his incredible storytelling gifts and his lyrical gifts, but because I really believe hes responsible more than anyone else for the second golden age of Disney animation, Miranda said.

Encanto - Credit: Disney

Disney

He came from New York and said, Listen guys, heres what musicals can do in an animated space. And he saw an opportunity that he wasnt experiencing back in his stage work with [composer] Alan Menken. While working on Moana, I watched this incredible hour-long conversation he had with the animators where hes breaking down musical theater structure and why every song in Little Mermaid exists.

With the first song, Family Madrigal, in which Mirabel acquaints us with her relatives, Miranda reveals what he learned from Ashmans opener, Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. I wrote this before the movie had a second or a third act, he added. I said, I know this song is gonna change and the characters names and the powers will change over the course of development, but we have to let the audience know who everyone is and how theyre related to each other and what their gifts are.

And it also demonstrates Mirabels incredible pride in being a part of this family. She goes: This is my Abuela, look what she did. These are her kids, these are who they married. These are their kids, these are my incredible cousins. And then we have the delicious turn, which again, I compare to the reprise of Belle, with the kids going, Yeah, OK, but what about you? Whats your gift? And she goes, I dont want to talk about that. And the music gets twice as fast, and we do a double beat. She actually recaps everyones powers again, but at three times the tempo. I really look to Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Thats a masterclass in introducing everyone in your world and then setting the story into motion.

Encanto - Credit: Disney

Disney

By contrast, Miranda was more innovative with We Dont Talk About Bruno, about the black sheep of the family whose gift for prophecy has forced him into hiding. I was really excited about Bruno, which we hadnt seen in a Disney musical before, he said. Its a complicated family number and it introduces themes from characters that we dont have time to go into with their own song. I looked to A Weekend in the Country from A Little Night Music, and Its Beginning to Snow from Rent. Weve got lots of different characters going in different directions.

But with Dos Oruguitas, which delves into the tragic story of Mirabels grandparents fleeing their home, Miranda got to write his first song totally in Spanish. I wanted to write a song that felt like it always existeda moment where a character is going to sing to us what happened in real time, he said. The family history that is revealed in that animated sequence is so painful that I thought it will go down better with a folk song.

Again, this is a result of the give and take of being there early [in Colombia]. And I was inspired by the butterfly motif over the course of the movie. The way the candle flame turns into a butterfly. And so the song is called Dos Oruguitas because its about two caterpillars who are in love and scared to let each other go. But, of course, they have to let each other go to become their next selves, and that was such a beautiful nature metaphor for what the family is going through. They love each other, but theyre hanging on too tight, and theyre not seeing each other more fully because theyre too scared of going into that next moment. And so the contrast between that lyrical content and what were seeing is really exciting and new. And I was really far out of my comfort zone writing that much in Spanish.

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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Peanut Butter and Jelly, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate, are shown to members of the press during a news conference held by the National Turkey Federation November 18, 2021 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. The two turkeys from Jasper, Indiana will be pardoned during by President Joe Biden during a Friday ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Feast your eyes on these two turkeys, the lucky animals who will be pardoned at the White House by President Joe Biden this Friday, Nov. 19, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The 40 lb., Southern Indiana natives  now named Peanut Butter and Jelly  arrived in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, where they met fans before retreating to their room at the city's swank Willard InterContinental Hotel. Hotel staff rolled out a red carpet for the pair, who spent the day on Zoom calls ahead of a meal of corn and soybeans and a rest on the property's plush beds.

According to Time, turkeys have been living it up at the five-star D.C. property since 2014. Handlers spend an hour prepping the room ahead of the guest of honors' arrival, covering baseboards with brown paper to protect from pecks and adding pine shavings to the floor to make cleaning messes a breeze. The National Turkey Federation  the organization that provides the animals to the White House each year  foots the bill.

Though two turkeys come to Washington every year, only one gets the official pardon from the president, while the other serves as an alternate. However, neither will see a dinner table.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 18: Peanut Butter and Jelly, the National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate, are shown to members of the press during a news conference held by the National Turkey Federation November 18, 2021 at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. The two turkeys from Jasper, Indiana will be pardoned during by President Joe Biden during a Friday ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Drew Angerer/Getty

Instead, after Friday's ceremony, Peanut Butter and Jelly will head back to Indiana, where they will live out their lives at Purdue University under the care of faculty and students in the Department of Animal Sciences.

RELATED PHOTOS: See Past U.S. Presidents with the Turkeys They've 'Pardoned'

Earlier this fall, a handful of celebrities teamed with Farm Sanctuary to ask President Biden to instead send the turkeys to one of Farm Sanctuary's facilities after the pardon.

In a petition signed by 12 celebrities, Farm Sanctuary asked the president "to truly honor these birds," giving them "the opportunity to dust bathe, feel grass beneath their feet, enjoy a robust social life, and receive personalized care." The plan to return to Indiana, however, remains in place.

The history of the turkey pardon dates back to 1863 and President Abraham Lincoln, according to White House history, though photos didn't happen until 1960, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower greeted a bird at the White House. In the years since, all presidents have participated in the annual tradition.
Meghan Markle offered a new glimpse at her son Archie  and his "chick inn."

As part of the Duchess of Sussex's appearance on pal Ellen DeGeneres' talk show on Thursday, Meghan shared a new photo of her 2-year-old son. Taken from behind (and showing off his reddish hair, just like dad Prince Harry!), the shot shows Archie standing in the family's chicken coop that was first seen during the couple's interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired in March.

Archie looks at the hens as they eat off a miniature picnic table while holding a basket, presumably to help collect eggs.

"He's so sweet with the chickens, too," said DeGeneres, who is neighbors with Meghan and Harry in Montecito and often visits with the family. "Archie is just such a gentle soul."

Meghan smiled and replied, "Aww, thank you."

Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

The Ellen Degeneres Show Archie Mountbatten-Windsor

The toddler is even wearing a nod to his U.K. roots in the photo  his Hunter rain boots feature Peppa Pig, the popular British cartoon character. (Prince William previously told BBC Radio 1 that his son, Prince George, was a huge Peppa Pig fan before moving onto Fireman Sam.)

RELATED: Meghan Markle Reveals Archie and Lili's Halloween Costumes  But Admits the Kids Were 'Not Into It'

Meghan Markle on Ellen

Michael Rozman/Warner Bros. Meghan Markle and Ellen DeGeneres

Meghan, 40, and Prince Harry, 37, revealed during their Oprah interview that they had rescued the hens from a factory farm as part of their new "down to basics" life after relocating to California last year.

Inside the chicken coop was a sign that read "Archie's Chick Inn  established 2021," after the couple's firstborn.

Archie Mountbatten-Windsor 1st birthday

The Duke of Sussex/@SaveChildrenUK Meghan Markle and Archie

In addition to revealing Archie's Halloween costume (he was a dinosaur for "about five minutes" before taking off the costume), Meghan shared that her son knew that he was featured in her children's book, The Bench.

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"He does," Meghan said, adding that the toddler also spotted the family's two dogs (a beagle named Guy and a black Labrador named Pula), who appear in the book.

"On that first page you open and you see our dogs and he goes, 'That's Pula! That's Guy!' " she added.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Meghan, who wore a cream top with voluminous sleeves and cutouts paired with black pants and matching pumps, also had her trusted glam team with her. Longtime friend and makeup artist Daniel Martin helped get her camera-ready alongside hairstylist Jason Low.

"We were backstage the entire time," Martin tells PEOPLE. "It's really fun and Ellen really pulled out Meghan's goofy, funny side, which everyone will be able to finally see."
Disney Cruise Line will require all children five years old and older to be fully vaccinated before embarking on a ship next year, the company announced this week.

The new mandate will go into effect on Jan. 13, 2022, according to the company. Currently, the cruise line requires all passengers 12 and up to be fully vaccinated to sail.

"While our cruise experience may have changed a bit, we've come up with new and exciting offerings to create magical memories together  tailored to our times and presented with all the care you've come to expect from Disney Cruise Line," the company wrote on its website. "As we set sail again, the health and safety of our guests, cast members, and crew members is a top priority. Our focus remains on operating our ships in a responsible way that continues to create magic for all on board."

When the updated policy goes into effect, children who are four years old and under will still be allowed to board, but will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken between three days and 24 hours of sailing. Those who board a cruise that lasts five nights or longer will also have to take another test on the ship before disembarking.

The Disney Dream docks at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, reserved exclusively for Disney Cruise Line guests

David Roark/Disney

Disney said it would accept either the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Novavax, Sinopharm, or Sinovac vaccines.

Disney first started mandating vaccines in August after the Bahamas implemented a vaccine policy requiring all cruise passengers 12 and older to show proof of vaccination in order for a ship to dock, including on a cruise line's private island.

In addition to vaccines, Disney Cruise Line  voted best mega-ship ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure's 2021 World's Best Awards  requires all guests to take a COVID-19 test at the terminal before boarding. Plus, all passengers two and up must wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

Several cruise companies have implemented strict vaccination policies this year, including Norwegian Cruise Line, which has fought to defend its policy in court.

Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
As Americans sit down to a table full of food this Thanksgiving Day, many may retell a story they learned in elementary school, about the Pilgrims who befriended the local Indians after the Mayflower dropped its anchor in Cape Cod Bay in 1620. It's that story that has endured in mythology, the image of European settlers giving thanks with Native Americans.

But 401 years after the establishment of the famed Pilgrim colony in what's now called Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Wampanoag, the people the English Protestants encountered after fleeing religious oppression in their homeland, want the real story of the fateful landing and the events that followed told.

It's a story of friendship betrayed by greed and intolerance, of a nation's lands, economy and religion whittled away in the name of manifest destiny. A story of that nation's long road to recovering its sovereignty and dignity and one of its most important cultural and historic artifacts: its national wampum belt.

And it's a story Indigenous people say has parallels as settlers moved across the continent in search of new lands and sources of wealth.

"It never ceases to amaze me that year after year Americans need to be reminded every 'Thanksgiving' about the critical role that the Wampanoag played in saving the settlers at Plymouth Colony," said David Martinez, associate professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University.

The story of how the Wampanoag helped settlers through their first months on the continent, only to be subjected to land theft, attacks and even sexual assault, has been repeated many times, said Martinez, who is Akimel Oodham and Hia-Ced O'odham.

His own tribes water was stolen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries after aiding early settlers with food and protection from other tribes.

"In spite of generations of Indian leaders reminding the whites what Indian people have done for Americans, beginning with the Wampanoag, they keep forgetting, year after year, always acting like this is the first time they have ever heard of this history."

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First people meet new people

When the English colonists known as the Pilgrims stepped on the shores of whats called Plymouth on Nov.16, 1620, they found what they considered paradise, overflowing with wildlife, rich soils, cleared fields and a sheltered location on a hillside. They also found a ghost town, with human skeletons strewn about.

The seaside Wampanoag village of Patuxet was once home to about 2,000 people. It was one of 69 settlements throughout southeastern Massachusetts and parts of modern Rhode Island as well as Nantucket Island and Marthas Vineyard.

After inhabiting their lands and coastal waters for more than 12,000 years, the Wampanoag, or People of the First Light, were masterful stewards. They managed their lands and waters to provide a good life for themselves and other species. They knew how to plant their crops for maximum yields while keeping pests at bay, and to sustain the soils that gave life to corn, beans and squash along with other squashes like pumpkin and zucchini.

They supplemented their diets with deer, moose, beaver, raccoon and other animal meats. A thrifty people, the Wampanoag used every part of the animal bodies they brought home for clothing, sewing and small tools.

They also fished freshwater and seawater species, including the famed quahog shellfish, a source of one of their most important and revered cultural materials: wampum. Handmade tubular beads from the shells of both quahog and whelk shells, with their brilliant whites and lush purple shades, were used to create wampum belts. Those belts provided historical records and marked important events such as intertribal treaties, marriages and other significant events. The shells were also traded for valuable items like furs.

Their highly developed social structure and healthy diets had long served them well. Mashpee Wampanoag Councilman Brian Weeden said it was not uncommon for Wampanoags to live to age 90 or 100, amazing colonists who had left a country where the average life expectancy was 40, with few living past age 59.

But they were no match for an unexpected foe new to the continent, a virulent disease for which they had no immunity. During the Great Dying of 1616 to 1619, a smallpox-like plague brought by early European traders spread like wildfire, leaving few to deal with the masses of their dead.

The colonists considered it Gods blessing. William Bradford, the elected leader of the Pilgrims, wrote that the devastation of large swaths of Native communities provided the setting for "the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work."

This sketch depicts a meeting between Massasoit Ousamequin, Grand Sachem of the Wampanoag, and Pilgrim leader Gov. William Bradford. The pair negotiated an agreement that allowed the Pilgrims to settle in Patuxet, now Plymouth.

Another colony founder, Thomas Morton, was more blunt. He supported what Wampanoag historian Paula Peters called the ethnic cleansing of New England Natives to make the region "much the more fit for the English Nation to inhabit in, and erect in it Temples to the glory of God."

The Pilgrims and other colonists also regarded the Native peoples as lesser humans. The month before disembarking the Mayflower at Patuxet, later to be called Plymouth, the colonists had dug up graves and food caches on nearby Cape Cod, taking whatever they deemed was valuable.

That action foreshadowed more such deeds by the Pilgrims and other English colonists, who considered themselves higher, more favored humans than the first peoples of New England.

'Welcome, Englishmen'

After losing about half their people during the harsh winter months, the colonists in 1621 finally received a visit from Samoset, a visiting Abenaki sachem, or leader, who happened to speak English.

"Welcome, Englishmen," Samoset told the Pilgrims. After establishing relations, he left and brought back the Wampanoag named Tisquantum, known commonly as Squanto, who spoke more fluent English.

Squanto was a Patuxet native who was in England when the plague swept through. He had been kidnapped by another English explorer with other Wampanoag men and taken to Great Britain to be sold into slavery.

The wooden head likeness of Squanto, the only surviving piece of the wooden pediment that was installed on the Pilgrim Hall Museum building in 1880.

He managed to get back to Patuxet only to find his village was gone, wiped out by disease. He resided for a time in the community of the Grand Sachem Massasoit, who sent the young Wampanoag man to serve as an ambassador and translator to the Pilgrims.

Squanto attempted to teach the colonists the best way to grow the "three sisters," corn, beans and squash, by planting a fish head as fertilizer, then planting the corn with bean and squash seeds in a mound around the corn, said Peters. The corn provides a climbing pole for the beans, while the squash meanders along the ground, keeping weeds at bay.

The Pilgrims, Peters said, soon returned to their practice of row crops.

The Wampanoags continued to welcome their new neighbors, Weeden said. "They didn't know how to survive out here in the wintertime, so the Wampanoag really helped them out."

That first gathering

The true story of the first Thanksgiving, held in 1621, is not in history books.

"It wasnt this big old get together like everyone thinks it is," Weeden said. "We were never invited to the first Thanksgiving."

At that time, the Wampanoag and the English colonists had a mutual protection agreement.

"Massasoit made this alliance with the English because they had guns, which was a new form of weapons," he said. The agreement said that the colony governor would call upon the Wampanoag for assistance and vice versa.

"When the English got their first harvest, they were shooting off their muskets and practicing and celebrating their first harvest and that they had made it through the winter," Weeden said.

Massasoit, hearing of the gunshots, rushed to Plymouth with 90 warriors ready to do battle with invaders. Because the Wampanoag believed they were going to battle, they left their women and children safe at home, Weeden said.

"Once they got there and found out what was going on, that's when they partook in the celebration," he said. Massasoit sent out his men for deer and other food items to sustain the three-day celebration.

But relations soon soured between the Wampanoag and the English colonists. The agreement that was negotiated in good faith turned out to be a bad bargain for the tribe. English law prevailed over Wampanoag government, a similar form to the Iroquois Confederacy that some scholars say served as the model for the U.S. federal system. Wampanoag people were subject to heavy fines for the smallest cases, which were to be paid in land.

Their belief system was reviled as devilish worship, and the colonists were quick to force Christianity on Native people. Peters wrote in the essay "On Patuxet" that the Pilgrims believed in religious freedom, but only for themselves.

Even the colonists' domestic animals proved to have more rights than the Indigenous people, as the English refused to prevent their cattle and pigs from ravaging Wampanoag fields or trampling shell beds.

These and other encroachments on Native rights, including eliminating traditional food sources such as game, shellfish beds and other sources, finally drove Massasoit's successor and son, Metacom, known to the English as King Philip, to the breaking point. He refused to take his complaints to the colonial court. As Peters reports, Massasoit told a colonial official, "by arbitration they had much wrong; many miles of land so taken from them, for English would have English arbitrators."

Soon, one of the bloodiest wars in American history, King Philip's War, broke out. By the time the war ended in 1678, at least 2,500 colonists lay dead and at least 40% of the Wampanoag were slain.

Massasoit, who was assassinated in 1676, was drawn and quartered, and his head was placed on a pike, where it remained for 25 years.

Over the following centuries, the Wampanoag Nation shriveled from 69 communities to three. After Massachusetts disestablished the Mashpee reservation in 1870 and forced Wampanoag and other Indians to become citizens of the commonwealth, it opened up the town to non-Natives and allotted former reservation land to tribal families.

The pressure put on Native people to assimilate and give up their identity as the People of the First Light was intense. Wampanoag kids were taken from homes and sent to Indian boarding schools in the early 20th century. The federal government finally recognized the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), located on Martha's Vineyard, in 1987 and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in 2007.

There's also a non-recognized tribe, the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe in Plymouth, and some smaller bands.

A new wampum belt may help locate an older one

Peters, the Wampanoag historian, was part of a collaboration of tribal artists and cultural people who created a new wampum belt that they hope will help locate an older one lost in the 17th century, while also commemorating the events that led to the upheavals of their nation.

"The Wampanoag have been asking about and seeking out our historic wampum belt that would have belonged to Metacom, who was King Philip to the English king," said Peters.

After King Philips War ended in 1678, the English "took a 9-foot-long wampum belt that was essentially the history of our people because it was a community belt," she said. "It was the collected stories of the people, obviously over generations, and more than likely had belonged to his father Massasoit, who made the initial alliance with the Pilgrims." People added stories to the belt in the form of symbols through the decades.

"It would be to the Wampanoag as valuable as the crown jewels are to the people of the United Kingdom," Peters said.

The belt disappeared.

But with the 400th anniversary approaching, the Wampanoag people decided it was time to take their 50-year search for the belt a notch further. While Peters was meeting with other people in London to discuss the anniversary commemorations, the lost belt was mentioned. Soon, she said, a foundation stepped forward to support the creation of a new belt, the centerpiece of a traveling exhibit in the United Kingdom that was on display from 2020 through September.

The two federally recognized tribes held community meetings, Peters said.

But we also had private meetings and we reached out to people to inform us on what they wanted their wampum belt to say.

A group of about 100 Wampanoag artisans made the beads and wove the belt.

"The only piece of it that was not made by a Wampanoag tribe member was the warp of the belt, which was made from brain-tanned deer hide made by a Nipmuc who specializes in hide tanning in the traditional sense," she said.

The new belt was featured in an exhibit that traveled through Great Britain in 2020 and 2021. "Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America" also included historic Wampanoag artifacts taken from their homeland to England.

Wampum beaded belt presented to Pennsylvania founder William Penn by the Lenape tribe to cement their friendship.

"The overarching theme of the exhibit is wampum and what it means to Indigenous people," Peters said. The exhibit also featured pieces from the British Museum's collection, which Peters said the tribes would someday like to see come home.

"The big picture here is that for all these years we've been looking for Metacom's belt in a place where people have no idea what wampum is, let alone a wampum belt," said Peters in 2020. "So now this display is going out to cities and museums in the United Kingdom and will give the people an idea of what we're looking for.

"If you see it, this is what we're looking for, it looks like this."

In September, the wampum belt returned home to Wampanoag territory.

Metacom's belt has yet to be found.

'It's been there all the time'

The events that started with the English settlers' arrival 400 years ago aren't told in the story most people have heard over the years, but the true account isn't a bid to rewrite history books. It's an attempt to correct the record.

"Its a shameful story," said Peters. "But who wants to look back at a period of time when there was such incredible intolerance for Indigenous people who were at least initially, nothing but kind of welcoming when those people came?"

When those people realized they'd been duped and fought for their lands and rights, she said, they were demonized.

Peters said although some people call the Wampanoags work to raise awareness of the true story revisionist history, "Its been there the whole time." Recognizing what happens when a community was forced to sacrifice to benefit another community is important, she said.

There also is some movement from non-Native groups to support the Wampanoags efforts to raise awareness of the complete story of the interactions between them and the colonists, and later, the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States.

Michele Pecoraro, executive director of Plymouth 400, the nonprofit group that organized the Plymouth commemoration, said her board made it a priority to include the Native peoples in the event. Plymouth 400 has had a member of one of the Wampanoag tribes on the board since about 2009, she said. Peters was one of the Native people included on the board, Pecoraro said.

The group also created an advisory committee from representatives of the Wampanoag communities.

"Any question I have, I run by my board member and the Wampanoag and the advisory committee so that we're not doing the wrong thing," she said. "I find that sometimes there's differing opinions on what the right thing is, but we are having those conversations."

Plymouth 400 and its British counterpart, Plymouth 400 UK, also hosted an ongoing virtual exhibit called "'Our'" Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History" which featured both videos and live webcasts spotlighting the often turbulent history of the Wampanoag and the European nations that disrupted their nation.

On Thanksgiving Day 2020, one of the best-known Thanksgiving Day events paid homage to the Wampanoag and other Indigenous peoples of the East Coast and New England.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade invited representatives of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, along with Lenape, Metis, Tsalagi (Cherokee), Ojibwe, Oneida and Shinnecock tribal members, to offer a land acknowledgement with hand drum accompaniment, a blessing of thanks in the Wampanoag language, and a traditional rattle song during the first hour of the parade.

"We're blessed to have the show move forward, and we wanted to celebrate Indigenous voices this year," said Wesley Whatley, the parade's creative producer for performances, in 2020. "With the history of Thanksgiving and given that the Wampanoag were the first people in contact with settlers, it felt right to program something that's authentic and honest and special for this parade."

In 1970, on the 350th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing, Aquinnah Wampanoag elder Frank "Wamsutta" James was invited to speak at the commemoration. But when the organizers read James' speech, they canceled the invitation. James instead gave his speech on Cole's Hill in Plymouth on what is now an annual event called the "Day of Mourning" on Thanksgiving Day.

For 2021, the Day of Mourning will unfold with a march onsite, an event that will be livestreamed in a nod to pandemic concerns. The online version will include additional content, according to the United American Indians of New England, the organization that holds the event.

"What has happened cannot be changed, but today we must work towards a more humane America, a more Indian America, where men and nature once again are important," James said, "where the Indian values of honor, truth, and brotherhood prevail. You the white man are celebrating an anniversary. We the Wampanoags will help you celebrate in the concept of a beginning. It was the beginning of a new life for the Pilgrims. Now, 350 years later it is a beginning of a new determination for the original American: the American Indian."

Debra Krol covers issues related to Indigenous communities in Arizona and the intermountain West. Reach the reporter at debra.krol@AZCentral.com or at 602-444-8490. Follow her on Twitter at @debkrol.

Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation and the Water Funder Initiative.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: First Thanksgiving: Native people reflect on real story
Each day, constituents of Alabamas 4th Congressional District reach out to me with issues and causes they find important. They want my staff and me to hear them out and take action on these things they find so important.

In my years in Congress, a lot of issues have come across my desk. I always try to help in any way I can with issues that constituents call to my attention. When it comes to local issues, I try to help, but I dont usually get directly involved as I want local officials to decide what is best. I dont see my role in Washington as trying to influence one group or another when it comes to local issues.

However, this issue regarding the proposed rendering plant on airport property in Gadsden has been an exception.

My office was contacted initially because the Federal Aviation Administration has regulatory authority over any major changes having to do with the airport. As this project unfolded, it became clear that this project was more than controversial. In fact, I began to receive more and more complaints signaling widespread opposition to the project.

There have been few, if any, as adamant, as strong, or as organized as the opposition from people in Etowah County to the proposed rendering plant at the airport in Gadsden. State Sen. Andrew Jones and state Rep. Craig Lipscomb made their opposition clear to me. Advance Etowah, led by Christie Knowles, has very effectively worked non-stop to raise awareness and organize the opposition.

When my office and I have heard this widespread concern, I contacted the FAA to press officials there about these worries about a rendering plant being located at the airport. Our latest conversation with the FAA took place Tuesday morning. We brought in the stakeholders, those in favor and those opposed, so they could hear from the FAA and to ask FAA officials questions.

During this most recent meeting, the FAA seemed clear that any use of airport property for a non-aeronautical purpose must first receive its approval, which has not occurred up to this point.

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There has been some confusion related to a recent letter from the FAA [regarding the agencys Aeronautical Study Number 2021-ASO-4634-NRA] and that this somehow indicated the FAAs approval of the plant to go forward. However, from the meeting, the FAA made it plain that this was simply an approval of the height of the proposed plant and what impact it could have on airport glide paths. It was not an approval of what the building would be used for. The FAA officials reiterated their concern for how this proposed plant could attract wildlife that could be a hazard to aviation.

The FAA officials also seemed clear in their comments that if the property is sold or leased without FAA approval, this will lead to an immediate investigation. Any unapproved sale or lease could be found to be in conflict with FAA rules, thereby jeopardizing future federal grant funding to the Gadsden Airport Authority. In my opinion, it would be a travesty for the city and surrounding area if future airport grants were denied or if expensive and time-consuming litigation were to follow.

One of my primary concerns throughout this process has been how this proposal has continued in spite of the widespread opposition. To be honest, during my years of public service, Ive never seen a community effort of this magnitude in opposition to a local proposal.

The reasons for the opposition are clear. People who live nearby are, of course, worried about loss of property values and possible bad odors that would be emitted. From the aviation perspective, there is concern about what a plant like this, that could attract wild animals, might mean for the safety of planes taking off and landing. Others are concerned that this rendering plant will discourage other economic development in the community.

Pilgrims Pride is a major employer across North Alabama and I have no ill will toward them. In fact, I want them to succeed because their success would ultimately lead to jobs and economic growth. And I certainly understand the need for a rendering plant, if properly situated.

However, this proposal is missing too many of the elements I think are needed for ultimate success for all those concerned. At the top of that list is clearly the widespread opposition from the community to this proposed plant and location.

Late Wednesday, Etowah County Circuit Judge George Day granted a restraining order preventing the Gadsden Airport Authority from signing any official papers, even if the airport authority were to vote to move forward with a sale or lease, without prior FAA approval.

I dont believe this plant is the right fit for the proposed location. While it might meet the needs of Pilgrims, it does not meet the needs of the community where it would be located. Thats why its time to end this proposal once and for all. I hope the meeting with the FAA helped to make it clear to everyone involved, this project does not have a clear path forward.

Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, represents Alabamas 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Aderholt says it's time to pull plug on rendering plant
BEIJING and DURHAM, N.C., Nov. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brii Biosciences Limited ("Brii Bio" or the "Company", stock code: 2137.HK) a multi-national company developing innovative therapies for diseases with significant unmet medical needs and large public health burdens, today announced it has received the "R&D Achievement of the Year" Award, sponsored by BayHelix, at the 2021 BioCentury China Healthcare Summit in Shanghai, China. The recognition is for the R&D achievements of Brii Bio's investigational monoclonal neutralizing antibody combination therapy, BRII-196/BRII-198 ("combination BRII-196/BRII-198"), for the treatment of COVID-19.

Logo

"We are truly honored to receive this award from BioCentury and BayHelix, as it recognizes our scientific achievements and our ability to deliver innovative therapeutics to tackle global public health challenges for outpatients with COVID-19," said Qing Zhu, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Head of Biopharmaceutical Research of Brii Bio. "We have achieved this milestone working in coordination with our partners, Tsinghua University and the 3rd People's Hospital of Shenzhen, who discovered these neutralizing antibody leads; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), who sponsored the global ACTIV-2 trial; and the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG), who led the ACTIV-2 trial."

In less than 18 months, Brii Bio progressed combination BRII-196/BRII-198 from discovery to completion of Phase 3 in the global ACTIV-2 trial, in which the combination therapy demonstrated a statistically significant 78% reduction of hospitalization and death and improved safety over placebo in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk of clinical progression to severe diseases and death. In October 2021, the Company also initiated and subsequently completed the filing of an emergency use authorization (EUA) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for combination BRII-196/BRII-198. In parallel, the company has submitted the Phase 3 interim data to China Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

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"As we continue to grapple with the global impact of this pandemic, we will work closely with regulatory authorities to bring this potential new treatment as quickly as possible to a broad range of COVID-19 outpatients at high risk of clinical progression," Qing added.

The BioCentury-Bayhelix China Healthcare Awards celebrate outstanding individuals and companies for their achievement and contribution to the local healthcare ecosystem. This year, the awards were presented in six categories: R&D Achievement of the Year; Deal of the Year; Commercial Achievement of the Year; Company of the Year; Person of the Year; and Woman Leader of the Year. R&D Achievement of the Year recognizes one company for a scientific discovery in China with direct impact to drug R&D or a significant achievement in pharmaceutical development milestones.

About BRII-196 and BRII-198

BRII-196 and BRII-198 are non-competing SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal neutralizing antibodies derived from convalesced COVID-19 patients developed in collaboration with Tsinghua University and the 3rd People's Hospital of Shenzhen. They have been specifically engineered to reduce the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement and prolong the plasma half-lives for potentially more durable treatment effect. Interim results from Phase 3 of the NIH-sponsored ACTIV-2 trial recently demonstrated that combination BRII-196/BRII-198 achieved a statistically significant reduction, 78%, of relative risk in the combined endpoint of hospitalization and death in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk of clinical progression. Current in vitro pseudovirus testing data suggests that combination BRII-196/BRII-198 retains activity against major SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the following commonly identified variants, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), B.1.617.2 (Delta), B.1.429 (Epsilon), P.1 (Gamma), C.37 (Lambda), and B.1.621 (Mu).

The Phase 2 clinical trial in China was initiated in July 2021 and is being conducted at clinical centers in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, and the 3rd People's Hospital of Shenzhen. In response to the recent emergence of COVID-19 cases in China, including cases caused by the Delta variant, Brii Bio has cooperated with governmental agencies and hospitals to donate nearly 3,000 doses of BRII-196/BRII-198 for emergency use in Guangdong, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Hunan, Henan, Fujian, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Qinghai, Guizhou and Liaoning provinces. More than 800 patients have received the treatment.

About Brii Bio

Brii Biosciences Limited ("Brii Bio", or the "Company", stock code: 2137.HK) is a biotechnology company based in China and the United States committed to advancing therapies for significant infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, multi-drug resistant (MDR) or extensive drug resistant (XDR) gram-negative infections, and other illnesses, such as the central nervous system (CNS) diseases, which have significant public health burdens in China and worldwide. For more information, visit www.briibio.com.

Media Inquiry:

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+86-135-2191-1607

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+1-919-360-3039

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brii-bio-receives-the-biocentury-bayhelix-rd-achievement-of-the-year-award-at-the-2021-biocentury-china-healthcare-summit-301426467.html

SOURCE Brii Biosciences Limited
At-large Delaware City Council member Carolyn Kay Riggle (left) is congratulated by city attorney Natalia Harris Nov. 15 after being sworn in as mayor. Riggle was chosen by a vote of the seven-person council to serve her fifth term as mayor.

After receiving the most votes in a field of six for three at-large Delaware City Council seats Nov. 2, Carolyn Kay Riggle was elected to her fifth term as mayor Nov. 15.

Delaware's city charter calls for the mayor and vice mayor to be elected by City Council every two years. The city's three at-large members  elected by the entire city  are eligible. Ward council members are elected only by voters in their respective wards.

Riggle was elected to her first term as mayor in 2013 and earlier served two terms as vice mayor. She has been a council member for 19 years.

"I want to thank all of the council members for the support that you've given me to represent you as your mayor again, and I want to thank all the voters for their votes," Riggle said. "I really, really appreciate it. It made me feel really good that people care enough that I should (run) one more time."

Her tenure as mayor exceeds that of her two immediate predecessors. Gary Milner served as mayor from 2009-13, and Windell Wheeler was mayor from 2002-09.

Council member Kent Shafer  also reelected to his at-large council seat Nov. 2  was elected to another term as vice mayor Nov. 15. Both Riggle and Shafer were the only ones nominated for their respective positions and received unanimous votes.

"I think we've got a great team here," Shafter said. "We've got a lot of challenges coming up in the years ahead."

Catlin Frazier

Also at the meeting, new at-large council member Catlin Frazier and Ward 1 council member Stephen Tackett took the oath of office.

Frazier begins a four-year term.

Tackett ran Nov. 2 for the unexpired term of Chris Jones, who resigned in May. Tackett was appointed to the seat in July as an interim step preceding the election.

Noting that she has been talking to residents for a year and a half, Frazier thanked the city's voters and the city administration staff for welcoming her since the election.

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"I'm so grateful for you to put your confidence in me," she said, adding that she looks forward to working with council and the city administration.

On its Facebook page, the Delaware African American Heritage Council said Frazier is the first African American woman to hold an at-large Delaware City Council seat.

"It's an honor to be mayor in a city that's growing as fast as we're growing and to have as much positivity coming out of that," Riggle said after the meeting.

Delaware has received a number of awards, she said, including being named the best hometown in central Ohio.

"It's an honor to watch this grow and to know that I'm a small part of it," Riggle said. "I may be the leader of council, but it takes a lot of people to make Delaware what it is today."

She said her fellow council members and all city employees are dedicated to serving the public.

"We have the best staff in my opinion, outside of anybody," Riggle said. "Our employees, all I do is get positive responses" commending workers, such as city tree-trimmers and trash collectors.

"I just get comments all the time about the positivity that comes out of our staff. I believe that we have some of the best," she added.

One aspect of the mayor's job, Riggle said, keeps her busy but gets little public attention.

Since becoming mayor, she said, she has presided at about 550 weddings.

"I have two more scheduled Friday on my lunch hour," Riggle said. "So I work a full-time job, and I try to do these on my lunch hour, or right after work or before a meeting. And sometimes I do them on the weekends, too.

"It's the best part of my job. To do weddings. Are you kidding? Everybody's happy!" she added with a laugh.

editorial@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekNews

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Delaware City Council's Carolyn Kay Riggle considers five-time mayoral role 'an honor'
The fighting in the north has forced two million from their homes and many more in need of food aid

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is travelling to Kenya, where he will be discussing the conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia.

US and UK citizens have been told to leave Ethiopia "while commercial flights are readily available", in the words of a British minister.

This alarming advice, with echoes of Kabul in August, was issued as a rebel force from the northern Tigray region looked like it could be making a move on the capital, Addis Ababa.

A year into the civil war, which has left a humanitarian crisis in its wake, the chorus of outside concern is getting louder.

African and US diplomatic pressure is increasing as what happens in Ethiopia has huge implications for the rest of the region and the wider world.

Why does it matter?

The numbers on their own are shocking.

At least 400,000 people are facing famine-like conditions in the north, 80% of essential medication is not available and more than two million people have been forced from their homes.

The federal government has been accused of deliberately preventing aid from reaching Tigray, which it denies.

In addition, there is evidence of unlawful killings, torture and sexual violence committed by both sides.

But there are also strategic interests.

Ethiopia, with a population of 110 million - the second largest on the continent, had been a key, stable Western ally in a volatile region.

There are concerns that the current fighting could trigger wider violence in this multi-ethnic nation that could even lead to it breaking up. If millions of people were to flee a heightened conflict, its neighbours would find it difficult to cope.

Landlocked Ethiopia borders six countries, two of which are already experiencing conflict - South Sudan and Somalia - and one other, Sudan, has just seen a military takeover.

It has troops in the joint African Union-UN mission fighting Islamist militants in Somalia and there are fears they could be withdrawn if they were needed back home.

Before leaving for his Africa tour, Mr Blinken warned that out-and-out conflict would be "disastrous for the Ethiopian people and also for others in the region".

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Troops from Eritrea are already fighting in Ethiopia and a prolonged crisis could suck in other neighbours.

But countries further afield have also been reportedly drawn in.

Earlier this month, tens of thousands turned out in Addis Ababa to back the government in the war against the TPLF

Last month, the Reuters news agency said that Turkey had agreed to sell Ethiopia military drones. This deal threatened Turkey's relationship with Egypt, which has its own argument with Ethiopia over a massive dam on the Nile, the report added.

Ethiopia has also purchased Chinese and Iranian weapons, and flights taking off from the United Arab Emirates are being used to transport them, the defence website Oryx reports.

From a US perspective, Ethiopia has long been seen as a reliable ally, especially during the so-called War on Terror.

It has fought against Islamist militants in Somalia on the frontline of that conflict and offered the US use of its airspace during the Iraq war. It was one of a few African countries to join the US' "coalition of the willing".

Stable government in Ethiopia has been vital to that relationship. The US has backed it up financially, handing over $4.2bn (3.1bn) in aid between 2016 and 2020.

But the US envoy to the region, Jeffrey Feltman, has not shied away from criticising the federal government saying that its policies have resulted in mass starvation, and compared it to the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Is the capital under threat?

After a series of advances by fighters for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) along a main highway leading from the north into Addis Ababa, the tension cranked up.

The US issued the evacuation call to its citizens and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced a state of emergency and asked for more military recruits.

The Addis Ababa authorities called on people to register weapons.

Another rebel group allied to the TPLF said they were also getting closer to the capital.

The multi-ethnic nature of the city has added to tensions there, with some accusing the authorities of targeting Tigrayans in a series of arrests.

But the Tigrayan forces are still more than 300km from the city - around the town of Kombolcha.

Map of Ethiopia

"It's not the Taliban marching through Afghanistan and taking town after town without firing a bullet," Tibor Nagy, the former US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, told the BBC.

"Where the TPLF is operating now, there is huge resistance and it would be a horrendously bloody battle for Addis Ababa."

He believes that taking the capital is being used as a threat in the same way that a nuclear power might use the possibility of launching its weapons.

The TPLF has said that what it really wants is to enable aid supplies to get through to Tigray.

"We will continue to march [towards Addis Ababa] but it's not so much about Addis Ababa as our intention to arm-twist Abiy to lift the blockade," spokesperson Getachew Reda told BBC Focus on Africa.

The Ethiopian government has designated the TPLF as a terrorist organisation and the prime minister has vowed to fight on.

"We will bury this enemy with our blood and bones and make the glory of Ethiopia high again," Mr Abiy said earlier this month.

Are there any peace talks?

The concern now is that the conflict is entering a new phase and it will become increasingly difficult for either side to step back.

There are also fears the fighting could spread across the country.

The TPLF has allied itself with a series of groups also opposed to the government in a new coalition seeking the end of Mr Abiy's premiership.

The African Union envoy to the region, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, has spoken about a small "window of opportunity".

"Time is short for any intervention," he told the UN security council after he talking to both sides during a recent visit to Ethiopia.

He is calling for dialogue and a political solution, though has not yet described how that could be achieved.

The response by Ethiopia's UN ambassador, Taye Atske Selassie, encapsulated the difficulties mediators will face. He said he respected the call for dialogue but then went on to describe the TPLF as "a criminal group".

Tigrayans living in the US marched in Washington DC on the first anniversary of the outbreak of the war

TPLF spokesman Mr Getachew, meanwhile, tweeted that "most 'peace initiatives' are mainly about saving [Prime Minister] Abiy, not about addressing the most critical political challenges in the country".

Of course, negotiations to end wars are by their nature between seemingly implacable foes.

One way to get the two sides to sit down together would be for both the US and China, as well as others countries such as Turkey, to act together, the former US diplomat Mr Nagy argues.

"Abiy would not be able to resist the US and China saying the same thing."

He says the first thing would be to get the fighting to end and make sure aid can be delivered and then gradually explore political options.

What is the war about?

At the root of the conflict is a disagreement between Prime Minister Abiy and the TPLF, which for almost 27 years dominated the whole country, not just Tigray.

Mr Abiy came to power in 2018 on the back of a wave of protests by members of the Oromo ethnic group.

The Oromos - Ethiopia's largest group - long felt marginalised. Mr Abiy, himself an Oromo and part of the ruling coalition, was seen as the man who could resolve the problem.

In a whirlwind of reform, in which he liberalised politics and made peace with long-time foe Eritrea, the TPLF was sidelined.

The simmering dispute between the TPLF and Mr Abiy then erupted into war 12 months ago when Tigrayan forces were accused of attacking army bases to steal weapons and the federal government responded.

More on the Tigray crisis:
Gregor Townsend has warned Scotland they cannot afford to treat Japan lightly if they wish to get back on the victory trail at Murrayfield this weekend.

Due to the impact of Covid, the Brave Blossoms have played only five matches in the last two years and have lost four of them, with their only win in that time coming against Portugal last weekend.

However, Townsend  who saw Japan at close quarters when they lost 28-10 to the British & Irish Lions at Murrayfield in June  believes they will have benefitted from getting three matches under their belts over the past month.

"Over the last couple of years we've shown a lot of progress."@GrantGilchrist previews Saturday's game and discusses the journey the Scotland team have been on since their last meeting against Japan. pic.twitter.com/0YT4pb3PnD  Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 18, 2021

The Scotland head coach is also mindful of the fact his side suffered a costly defeat in their last meeting with Japan at the 2019 World Cup.

He said: I expect a similar challenge to the one they presented us two years ago. I coached the team that day and I was part of the Lions coaching staff in the summer and they played very well the more they got into the game, especially in the second half.

The following week they scored over 30 points against Ireland so we know what a dangerous team they can be, especially when theyve spent time together.

I think youve got to look past that result (a 60-5 defeat) they had against Ireland a couple of weeks ago because that was their second match after a few months gap, not just from international rugby but also from club rugby.

Theyll be better for having spent time together and having had three Test matches over the past month. Were going to see their best performance of the campaign, thats for sure. Its up to us to deliver our best performance on the other side.

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Townsend feels his own team have improved significantly since losing to Japan at the World Cup and is hoping they can vindicate that belief by bouncing back from last weekends disappointing 30-15 defeat by world champions South Africa.

He said: Weve improved in a number of areas since 2019. Weve been tougher to beat up until last weekend. Most of our results since 2019 have either been victories or defeats within a score, so that was disappointing last weekend.

But we know we got ourselves in a position where if wed executed things better, we could have kicked on into that final quarter. I feel were a team that can score a try at any point in the game, like we showed with our try in the first half last weekend.

Jamie Bhatti will make his first Scotland start since 2019 (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Townsend has made seven changes to his starting XV for the Japan game, with Baths Josh Bayliss making his maiden start at number eight and Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti handed a first start since summer 2019.

The head coach explained that he has had to balance giving game time to as many of his squad as possible, with gearing his team towards the Six Nations opener in February.

He said: Weve got one eye on the next tournament, which comes round very quickly. Were playing England at home, which is a very big challenge for us, so it is important that players that are currently in the mix to play in that game get an opportunity to build on the momentum from last years Six Nations and throughout the autumn.
A five-week strike of Deere & Co. ended Wednesday as United Auto Workers members approved a new six-year contract with the agricultural and construction equipment maker and prepared to report for evening shifts.

About 61% of voters approved the agreement, which boosts hourly wages by 10% and increases retirement benefits. The company also will maintain its health insurance program, in which workers do not pay premiums.

The 10,100 Deere workers in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas had rejected two previous contracts, setting off the first strike against the company since 1986.

More: Following John Deere contract ratification, Des Moines UAW bargaining chair dies of COVID-19

The labor action came in a year when thousands of other workers also have gone on strike and millions quit their jobs, sending employers scrambling to find replacements in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

At least in Iowa, the strikers had wide public support. A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll conducted Nov. 7-10 shows 58% of Iowa adults mostly sided with the workers, with just 16% mostly siding with Deere. Support cut across political, age, gender, income, educational, urban and rural divides.

"UAW John Deere members did not just unite themselves," UAW international President Ray Curry said in a statement. "They seemed to unite the nation in a struggle for fairness in the workplace. We could not be more proud."

In his own statement, Deere CEO John May said, Im pleased our highly skilled employees are back to work building and supporting the industry-leading products which make our customers more profitable and sustainable."

The contract approved Wednesday was broadly the same as an agreement that 55% of members voted down Nov. 2. After that vote, company officials said they would not offer any further wage or benefit increases.

Some union members said in advance of Wednesday's vote that they believed co-workers who had previously opposed the contract would change their minds, facing a winter of picketing duty with only $275 a week in strike pay from the union.

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More: Head of largest U.S. labor group tells striking John Deere workers: 'The nation is watching'

The number of workers approving the contract Wednesday increased from the Nov. 2 tally at all of the five Iowa Deere plants, including the Des Moines Works in Ankeny. But none saw a greater swing than Dubuque, where 68% of workers approved the contract Wednesday. Just 36% of members at the construction and forestry equipment plant voted in favor of the first contract.

In Waterloo, the largest local, with about 3,000 members, 44% of members approved the contract Wednesday. While still in the minority, the "yes" votes were up from 29% Nov. 2.

Among the other Iowa locals:

In Ankeny, 64% approved the contract, up from 51%.

In Davenport, 77% approved the contract, up from 64%

In Ottumwa, 75% approved the contract, up from 61%

UAW Local 450, which represents the workers in Ankeny, told them to resume their normal shifts at 10:30 pm. Wednesday.

UAW members come and go from the Adventureland Palace Theatre, where they voted on a third proposed contract with Deere & Co. Wednesday.

Quieter tone prevails in voting on third contract, workers say

The approval comes after company and union officials met Nov. 11 and 12 to hammer out a third contract. They reached an agreement almost identical to the second contract except for amendments to the company's incentive program. Union leaders said they expect the changes to make performance targets more attainable for employees, boosting the size of weekly paychecks.

UAW members told the Des Moines Register that ratification meetings across Iowa on Wednesday were more subdued than those before the first two votes, when some employees admonished union leaders for failing to extract more concessions from the company.

More: UAW members weigh consequences as they consider whether to reject John Deere's third offer

In Dubuque, Local 94 President Chad Kaiser told members that Deere might shift production to nonunion factories or hire strikebreakers if employees didn't approve the latest proposal. He drew applause when he added that changes to the incentive program should help employees, as well.

Leadership at Local 838 in Waterloo, meanwhile, did not hold a ratification meeting. The group instead assigned workers in alphabetical order to hour-long voting blocs throughout the day.

At the hall, members said, leaders met individually with any concerned voters to answer questions about the contract. Gone were the heated speeches against the union and the contract that were a hallmark of the first two ratification meeting, held in large, rented venues.

In Ankeny, both supporters and opponents spoke out during a meeting Wednesday. In a video provided to the Register, one member told UAW leaders that the latest changes weren't enough to sway him.

"Do you think it's a good plan for you?" the man asked, addressing the audience.

"No," some members shouted back.

Abe Elam, the sergeant-at-arms at Local 74 in Ottumwa, told workers that the contract was a step in the right direction. He said he didn't believe the union could win greater wage increases or better benefits even if workers stayed out for months.

"This is it," he said. "We've pushed them to that line, and they're not going to give anything else."

Big profits; big concessions

The strike began as Deere celebrated the prospect of record profits, with executives projecting in August that the company would earn $5.7 billion to $5.9 billion for the fiscal year that ended Nov. 1  a 62% bump over 2013 earnings, the company's previous record year.

Executives will reveal whether they actually hit those targets Nov. 24, when they host an investor call.

May earned $15.6 million in 2020, a 160% increase over his 2019 pay. The raise coincided with his promotion to the top spot but was still lower than the $21.7 million that then-CEO Samuel Allen received the year before.

Nevertheless, May's pay bump was a rallying point among UAW members, with some displaying signs calling for their own 160% raise. Employees also said they were willing to hold out for more money because they had worked through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and because managers were struggling to hire new workers.

More: Union leaders say members lost work at John Deere plant in solidarity with striking UAW

In the first contract introduced in early October, Deere offered 5% and 6% pay increases and reintroduced quarterly cost-of-living adjustments, a feature of previous Deere-UAW contracts that the company had eliminated in 2015. Deere also offered workers $3,500 bonuses if they ratified the contract.

The company proposed a boost to the pension program that would have given a 25-year employee about $100 extra each month in retirement. Deere also offered lump-sum payments of $20,000 to $50,000 for workers when they retire, depending on their length of service. At the same time, the company proposed to eliminate the pension program for workers hired after Nov. 1.

UAW members come and go from the Adventureland Palace Theatre, where they voted on a third proposed contract with Deere & Co. Wednesday.

After members rejected that contract, Deere upped its offer. Employees would get 10% pay bumps and ratification bonuses of $8,500. The company also promised to preserve the pension program for future workers and boost payments to retiring employees, giving a 25-year worker about $250 extra every month.

The company threw in a second lump-sum payment for those workers: $2,000 for each year at the company as of 2021. Union leaders told employees that the money is supposed to pay for health insurance until they qualify for Medicare.

The third contract offer retained those terms, adding only the modified production incentives. With its approval Wednesday, workers on the lowest end of the pay grade, such as those in foundry support, will see an hourly wage increase to $22.13 from $20.12. The skilled trades positions at the top of the pay grade, like electricians, will see hourly boosts to $33.05 from $30.04.

Members were split on what to do

Outside of the Palace Theatre at Adventureland Park, where Des Moines Works employees voted Wednesday, members were divided on whether to extend the strike.

Chuck Smith, a welder, declined to say which way he voted. But he told the Register that the company could afford to pay rank-and-file workers better, even though a Deere spokesperson said the company had "economically exhausted" its offers.

More: Timeline shows key dates in the John Deere strike

Smith pointed out that even in 2015, a down year by Deere's standards, the company earned a profit of $1.9 billion.

"Look at what they're paying executives," he said. "Look at what they're giving their CEO. It's corporate greed."

But Bob Loney, a maintenance welder, warned that employees would regret a longer strike. Loney has been with the company since before October 1997, when the union and Deere agreed to cut benefits and wages for new hires. That means he is in line for a better retirement plan than most employees at Des Moines Works.

"They're going to push too hard," Loney said of workers. "And Deere's going to push back harder."

More: Polk County judge rejects Deere's request for injunction against Ankeny plant strikers

Dustin Garland, a machinist on the line that manufactures cotton pickers, voted for the contract because he was pleased that Deere preserved the health insurance program.

Garland picked up a part-time job at Amazon.com's Bondurant fulfillment center during the strike, a job he doesn't like as much as his work at Deere.

Forklift driver Randy Oldham, meanwhile, said he approved the contract Wednesday as he thought about the misery of strike duty in December and January.

"I'm an old man," he said. "And I don't want to be picketing in the cold."

Tyler Jett covers jobs and the economy for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at tjett@registermedia.com, 515-284-8215, or on Twitter at @LetsJett.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: John Deere workers approve new contract proposal; UAW ends strike
The awkward moment that Georgia Democrats have dreaded all year is finally here.

The state's Republican-controlled legislature revealed a new congressional map on Wednesday that will claw back one of the two seats the party lost over the past three years, leaving only a single district for both of the delegation's Democratic rising stars.

That marks the start of several weeks of uncomfortable tension and maneuvering for Rep. Lucy McBath, a gun-violence advocate who ousted then-GOP Rep. Karen Handel in 2018 a year after Handel won a blockbuster special election, and Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux, the only Democratic candidate to flip a swing seat in an otherwise disappointing 2020 election for her party.

In an attempt to contain the explosion of Democratic-leaning communities of color in the northern Atlanta suburbs, the GOP proposal transformed Bourdeaux's turf into something heavily Democratic, while making McBath's seat much more Republican-friendly. Their goal: Take two Democratic-trending swing seats, and instead create one red district and one blue district.

The most likely outcome in Georgia after the next election would be a one-seat gain for Republicans, who currently control eight of the state's 14 seats. But in the immediate term, it could create a primary next spring between two incumbents angling for prominence in a state trending toward Democrats.

"Members being pitted against each other  It's an unfortunate consequence of redistricting, said Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson, who represents a majority-Black district southeast of Atlanta. It could happen in Georgia."

Their predicament is a classic redistricting math problem  two incumbents, one seat  but its also a little more complicated. GOP mapmakers placed the blue seat in Gwinnett County, a rapidly diversifying region that largely overlaps Bourdeauxs current district, giving her a clear geographic advantage, though the congresswomans home now just narrowly falls in a different seat. But McBath, who's in her second term to Bourdeaux's first, has a larger political profile in Washington, D.C., and the Atlanta market, and she's been a stronger fundraiser.

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Bourdeaux made clear in a statement on Wednesday that she would be seeking reelection in the new 7th District, which the campaign estimates includes roughly 60 percent of her current turf.

"Over the past year, it has been an honor to represent Georgias 7th District in Washington," she said. "The newly released congressional district map represents a majority of my current constituency. I look forward to being a voice for everyone in this new district as I continue serving our community."

The 7th District also contains a slice of McBath's current seat  but not her home in eastern Cobb County. In a statement Wednesday, her campaign slammed the "the NRA, and the Republican Party" who have made "eliminating Lucy McBath from Congress their top priority" in a "remarkably undemocratic process."

McBath herself wrote in a tweet that the map "only strengthens my resolve to stay in Congress," but she did not specify in which district she would run.

And the prospect of a clash looms.

McBaths district has been transformed into one that former President Donald Trump would have carried by double-digits in 2020, stretching into the deep-red counties of Cherokee and Forsyth. If she wants to return to Congress in 2022, she will likely have to run against Bourdeaux in the new 7th District.

I can't comment on what she is going to do, said Democratic state Rep. Bee Nguyen, who represents DeKalb County and is vice chair for constituency groups in the state party. But what I will say is she is a well respected and well-liked congresswoman in Georgia. And when she won that 6th Congressional District, she made history, and she made herself a household name. So I see that she is going to continue to have a future in politics. It's not going to be easy to get rid of her.

McBath's home in Marietta is about an hour's drive from the nearest border of the 7th District, leaving her open to carpetbagging attacks if she ran there. But as a Black woman with a compelling personal story, she would be well poised in Democratic primary in a very diverse district like the new 7th.

A two-time breast cancer survivor, McBath became a national leader in the gun-control movement after her son Jordan was murdered in Florida in 2012 by a man who complained her son was playing music too loudly from his car. Fighting for federal gun-control laws has been a central tenet of her campaigns.

Next week marks 9 years since my son was murdered, she wrote in a tweet. Today, Republicans released another draft map to draw me out of congress. This only strengthens my resolve to stay in Congress and fight for my son & those lost too soon.

Regardless of what McBath decides to do, Bourdeaux is unlikely to escape a primary challenge from the left, in part, because she spent her first year in office burnishing her reputation as an outspoken centrist after beating her GOP opponent by only 3 percentage points last year.

Bourdeaux joined several other moderate Democrats in withholding support of House Democrats budget in August without a vote on the infrastructure bill. The move drew the ire of a number of progressive organizations and immigrant rights groups, who felt the congresswoman was standing in the way of vital funding to prove a political point.

Democrats in Georgia are, across the board, I would say, from progressive organizations to voters on the ground, very disappointed with Carolyn Bourdeaux, said Nabilah Islam, a Democratic strategist and former DNC fundraiser who finished third in a 2020 primary against Bourdeaux. She said earlier this week that she hasnt ruled out a rematch in 2022.

The new map is hard for Democrats to stomach because the districts won by McBath and Bourdeaux were a testament to the changing suburban population that won them the House in 2018 and helped them keep it 2020.

Ten years ago, Republicans cracked Democratic voters north of Atlanta between Bourdeauxs 7th District and McBaths 6th District, pairing them each with other red counties. But some strategists worried they wouldnt remain reliably Republican throughout the decade  and ultimately, they were right.

Mitt Romney carried both seats by over 20 points in 2012. By 2020, now-President Joe Biden won both, and Democrats bested Republicans at the congressional level as well. The restraint shown by Republican mapmakers in this redistricting  that they are ceding one seat to Democrats instead of trying to eliminate more blue seats  is a sign of the power of Black and Asian voters and the demographic destiny of the state.

There was consideration paid to 2028 and 2030, said Brian Robinson, a longtime Georgia GOP operative. They wanted to create one that will last.

Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties are the Atlanta metro areas most populous and were key to Democrats success in 2020. The new maps in the region, particularly in Cobb and Gwinnett counties, extend into more Republican-friendly areas, a move that some on the left say dilutes the political power of key Democratic constituencies.

Members of Congress dont need to reside in the district they represent. McBath moved to Georgia in 1990 and has lived in Marietta since 2008, which is in Cobb County. Bordeaux moved to her Gwinnett County home in Suwanee ahead of her first run in 2017 against then-GOP Rep. Rob Woodall, securing a house in the district shortly before she filed her candidacy.

Still, Bourdeaux, a policy wonk who served as the budget director for the Georgia state Senate, has now run twice in the district and won multiple hard-fought primary contests.

In 2018 she beat Democrat David Kim twice in a primary and a runoff for the nomination to take on Woodall. She lost the general election by fewer than 500 votes before reversing that fate after Woodall retired rather than face her again. McBath, meanwhile, easily bested Handel again in a 2020 rematch.

I wish them the best, Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) said earlier this week when asked about their 2022 prospects. Theyre good members.
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U.S. President Joe Biden recently signed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill promoting both road safety and use of electric vehicles. As part of a nationwide White House tour promoting the law, Biden visited the General Motors Co electric vehicle assembly plant in Detroit, the largest city in Michigan. To promote the use of electric vehicles, President Joe Biden climbed behind the wheel of an electric Hummer SUV and sped off with a screeching of tyres.

"Anyone want to jump in the back, or on the roof?" Biden asked reporters after taking a few laps at a General Motors plant. "These suckers are something else!" In Detroit, Biden lavished praise on Detroit's Big Three automakers, especially GM, for embracing EVs.

Also read: This startup plans to install 1 lakh EV charging stations

"In the auto industry, Detroit's leading the world in electric vehicles," Biden said. He did not mention Tesla Inc, the U.S. automaker that accounts for nearly 80% of U.S. EV sales, but is not unionized. "You know, up until now, China has been leading in this race," Biden said, speaking about EV manufacturing. "That's about to change" because of infrastructure law, he said.

The law provides $7.5 billion in funding to build out the nation's electric vehicle charging network, investments the industry says will inspire more Americans to buy electric vehicles, and manufacturers to produce them. Electric vehicle sales accounted for just 1.8% of the U.S. new vehicle market in 2020.

Watch video here

President Biden drives electric Hummer @GM: "Anybody want to jump in the back? On the roof? This sucker's something else." pic.twitter.com/3WbEwArRJW  CSPAN (@cspan) November 17, 2021

The GM plant that Biden visited was slated to be closed in 2018 as the automaker tried to shed excess factory capacity to build sedans as buyers shifted toward SUVs and trucks. But the plant, which built cars with internal combustion engines since it opened in 1985, was rescued a year later and designated Factory Zero to build zero-emissions electric vehicles.

Next year it will start making a Hummer electric SUV. The plant will start cranking out the Origin, an electric vehicle for GMs Cruise autonomous vehicle subsidiary, in 2023, and an electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup at an unspecified date.

The plant wont see much direct impact from the infrastructure spending, but it will benefit from $7.5 billion designated to help build an electric vehicle charging network.

With inputs from agencies

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Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the UAEs newest budget carrier and the first out of the capital Abu Dhabi, has announced a new service to New Delhi starting November 24. Travellers from the UAE will now be able to fly direct to the Indian capital four times a week with scheduled flights to depart Abu Dhabi every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10.35 am, arriving in Delhi at 3.20 pm Indian Standard Time (IST).

The return flights will depart Delhi on the same days at 4 pm IST and arrive back in the UAE capital at 6.40 pm UAE time. Long-time Indian expats living in the UAE said that this announcement has come at the right time with the UAE in the midst of a festive season.

"This new service means more options for people like us while planning our travel to and back in a busy holiday period," said long-time Dubai resident Kritika Mathur, whose extended family lives in Delhi.

Another Indian resident said that he hoped the new service will help keep airfares low during the upcoming holiday season. "We were planning a visit this winter break and I think this new flight will give me more room to choose, especially while returning with my family members, who are also keen to see Expo 2020 Dubai," said Partho Mondal, also a Delhi resident, who lives and works in Abu Dhabi.

Also read: Top things to know about Akasa Air backed by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

The new service has sprung hope among many other Indian expats from Delhi`s neighbouring cities and states. "For years, we have struggled to find the right flight and often had to fly via Lucknow because of expensive tickets to Delhi at peak seasons. We hope to reach our home quicker using this service," said Faisal Javed, who hails from Aligarh, about 160 km from Delhi.

Customers can book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Delhi by visiting Air Arabia`s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. With services to Cochin, Calicut and Trivandrum, this will be the 16th route for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi since the launch of the carrier`s service from the Abu Dhabi International Airport last July.

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Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday urged all democratic to work together on on cryptocurrency.

The PM urged to ensure cryptocurrency "does not end up in wrong hands, which can spoil our youth," during his speech at the Sydney Dialogue. The Central government is still considering a regulatory framework required to manage and oversee investments made by millions of Indians in the digital currency.

Last week Modi chaired a meeting to discuss the future of cryptocurrencies amid concerns that unregulated crypto markets could become avenues for money laundering and terror financing, sources had told Reuters.

Meanwhile,

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Tuesday expressed his concerns over cryptocurrencies, saying there are "far deeper issues" involved in virtual currencies that could pose a threat to the country's economic and financial stability.

The statement comes within a few days of the Prime Minister holding a meeting on the cryptocurrencies amid worries over misleading claims of huge returns on cryptocurrency investment.

With Reuters inputs

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New Delhi: A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) working group has suggested the enactment of separate legislation to prevent illegal digital lending through apps. The panel also made several other suggestions to regulate digital lending.

One of the suggestions made by the group subjects digital lending apps to a verification process by a nodal agency and establishing a Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) covering the participants in the digital lending ecosystem.

"The thrust of the report has been on enhancing customer protection and making the digital lending ecosystem safe and sound while encouraging innovation," RBI said in a release.

The working group was constituted by RBI in January 2021 under the chairmanship of Executive Director Jayant Kumar Dash. The group was tasked with issues related to digital lending, including lending through online platforms and mobile apps.

The main of the committee was to study all aspects of digital lending activities in the regulated financial sector as well as by unregulated players so that an appropriate regulatory approach can be put in place, reported PTI.

RBI constituted the working group in the backdrop of business conduct and customer protection concerns that gained traction after several illegal digital lending activities came to the forefront. Also Read: Does Googles Sundar Pichai own cryptocurrency? Check what he has to say

RBI has asked the stakeholders to submit their reports by December 31. The group has also suggested development of certain baseline technology standards and compliance with those standards as a pre-condition for offering digital lending solutions, PTI reported. Also Read: IRCTC launches urbanpods affordable stays at Mumbai station: Check tariff, photos
Gurugram: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that the state government is planning to implement the odd-even scheme for vehicles to check air pollution.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said, "Haryana Govt is planning to implement the odd-even scheme for vehicles. We have also prepared a committee of engineers, Gurugram Municipal Corporation commissioner and DC to look for alternatives to reduce pollution."

Khattar further said, "The directions given to us by the Supreme Court yesterday like closing the schools, colleges and industries for a few days, and closure of some thermal plants os also being considered."

Khattar has also said that a committee has been formed to control pollution in 4 districts of NCR in the state. The committee will include engineers and the commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), besides officers of the concerned departments.

This committee will brainstorm on how to reduce pollution and suggest measures for it. Apart from this, Supreme Court directions related to air pollution will be strictly followed.

The Chief Minister was interacting with media representatives after presiding over the monthly meeting of the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee in Gurugram on Wednesday.

In this meeting, 16 complaints were placed before the Chief Minister, out of which 14 were disposed of on the spot. Regarding the advertisement being put up illegally in Gurugram city, the CM said that the MCG has launched a campaign to remove illegal advertisements in the last 15 days.

He informed that there are about Rs 400 crore of advertisement dues on behalf of many companies but these cases are pending in court. After the decision of the court, that amount will be recovered.

The Chief Minister also informed that the Municipal Corporation is taking over the colonies of the builder area in a phased manner. Eight colonies of Gurugram city were to be transferred to the Municipal Corporation, out of which 5 have been done.

"DLF Phase-3 is also to be transferred in this episode but till the transfer is not done, DLF Phase-3 residents will have to pay the maintenance charges to DLF itself. DLF will have time to complete the infrastructure and basic facilities in this colony by December 31, 2021. After that, if there is any shortcoming, then the Municipal Corporation will get it assessed and work will be completed whose cost will be taken from DLF, he said.

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Gurugram: Days after Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti (SHSS), a Hindu group comprising several right-wing outfits such as Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini, objected to namaz in the open spaces in Gurugram, the citys Gurdwara body has opened their doors for the Muslims.

The Gurdwara association of Sadar Bazar in Gurugram has offered their premises for Friday prayers to the Muslims.

It`s `Guru Ghar`, open for all communities with no discrimination. There shouldn`t be any politics here. Basement is now open for Muslim brothers who want to offer `Jumme ki namaz`, Sherdil Singh Sidhu, President, Gurudwara Guru Singh Sabha, Sadar Bazar, was quoted as saying by ANI.

This comes after the Gurugram administration withdrew permission to offer namaz at eight out of 37 designated sites following a complaint by SHSS members.

As per an official statement from the district administration, the permission was cancelled after an objection from local people and RWA.

Sidhu asserted that Muslims should be allowed to offer namaz and appealed to the people to not quarrel over petty issues.

If there`s an open space, Muslims should be allowed to offer namaz. We shouldn`t fight over such petty issues. People who were offering namaz in open sought administration`s permission and those who had problems should have approached the administration before attacking them," he said.

Members of the Hindu outfits have been protesting against offering namaz in open spaces in the city. Two weeks ago on Friday, SHSS had organised Govardhan Puja rituals in a piece of land in Sector 12, where previously namaz gatherings used to take place. The event was attended by BJP leader Kapil Mishra among other leaders of several right-wing outfits.

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Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being involved in the Amravati violence and said that the party leaders have "lost their minds" after losing power in Maharashtra.

The NCP chief said, "Riots broke out in Amravati, Nanded, and Malegaon over an incident that occurred in another state. Some bad people were involved in these riots. Police will investigate it and the truth will come out."

"But in response to these riots, people belonging to the ideology of the party that is ruling the country (BJP) carried out another kind of riot. They attacked shops and forcibly shut down small enterprises in Amravati. This is a proof that BJP has lost their mind after losing power in the state," Pawar said.

Last week, the BJP, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal and other right-wing organisations called for a bandh in Amravati on November 13 and gathered at Rajkamal chowk for the protest at 12 pm. Later, the mob went on a rampage in nearby areas like Itwara bazaar and Namuna area, pelting the shops with stones and damaging properties.

Following this, the police had resorted to lathi-charge and firing teargas shells to disperse the protesters. Later, the police imposed Section 144 in the city for the next four days.

Meanwhile, the police had arrested BJP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Dr Anil Bonde, Amravati Mayor Chetan Gawande, BJP Amravati Rural president Nivedita Chaudhari, and Amravati Municipal Corporation leader of house Tushar Bharatiya. Incidents of stone-pelting were reported on Friday from Nanded, Malegaon and Amaravati in the backdrop of protests staged against the violence that took place in Panisagar in Tripura on October 27.

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New Delhi: Amid protests by chief Jammu and Kashmir parties, the bodies of two civilians killed in the Hyderpora encounter were reportedly exhumed on Thursday (November 18).

The bodies of Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Mudasir Gul will be handed over to their families, PTI cited an official as saying.

Bodies of two persons, Mohammad Altaf Bhat and Mudasir Gul, killed in the Hyderpora encounter have been exhumed, will be handed over to their families J&K Govt has ordered an inquiry by Srinagar ADM into the encounter  ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2021

Four people, including two civilians, were killed in a gunfight by security forces during an anti-terror operation on Monday evening. As per the J&K police, Haider, a Pakistani terrorist, and his local associate Mohammad Amir, along with two civilians - Altaf Bhat and Mudassir Gul - were killed in an encounter in Srinagar's Hyderpora locality, where an illegal call centre and a terror hideout were allegedly being run.

On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had ordered a magisterial probe into the Hyderpora killings. The probe was ordered amid protests by kin of three of the four persons--Mohammad Altaf Bhat (building owner), Mudasir Gul (tenant) and Amir Magray (Gul's office boy)--killed in the encounter. Bhat and Gul's families had been camping at Press Colony since Wednesday morning demanding the bodies back which were buried on Monday night at Handwara in North Kashmir.

"A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter. Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner. JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians & it will ensure there is no injustice," Sinha had tweeted.

Hours after Sinha's order, Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar Muhammad Aijaz Asad appointed additional district magistrate Khurshid Ahmad Shah as inquiry officer.

Several opposition parties pressed for the mortal remains of the civilians to be returned to their families. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday staged a protest, seeking the return of the bodies of the slain civilians in the Hyderpora encounter. "Jammu and Kashmir police has also accepted that the civilians were killed in cross-firing. I just want the bodies of civilians to be returned," the NC leader said.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday had held a protest to demand the handover of the civilians' bodies.

While senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday demanded a judicial inquiry in the matter.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday (November 18, 2021) set aside the Bombay High Court judgment which held that groping a minor's breast without "skin to skin contact" can't be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Supreme Court sets aside the Bombay High Court judgment that held that groping a minor's breast without "skin to skin contact" can't be termed as sexual assault as defined under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. pic.twitter.com/1tBO6vbbNU  ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2021

"Purpose of the law cannot be to allow the offender to escape the meshes of the law," the apex court said.

A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit and comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi, quashed the high court judgment and said that the most important part of constituting sexual assault is sexual intent and not skin-to-skin with the child. Adding that the purpose of the law cannot be to allow the offender to escape the meshes of the law.

"We have held that when the legislature has expressed clear intention, the courts cannot create ambiguity in the provision. It is right that courts cannot be overzealous in creating ambiguity," the bench said.

The top court, which was hearing separate appeals of Attorney General and the National Commission for women (NCW), had on January 27 stayed the order which had acquitted a man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act saying groping a minor's breast without 'skin to skin contact' cannot be termed as sexual assault .

The sessions court had sentenced the man to three years of imprisonment for the offences under the POCSO Act as also under IPC section 354. The sentences were to run concurrently.

The high court, however, acquitted him under the POCSO Act while upholding his conviction under IPC section 354.

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi: A freshly-revamped war memorial in Ladakh's Rezang La, which was built to honour the 13 Kumaon regiment that defeated the Chinese Army during the 1962 war, will be inaugurated today by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The inaugration will coincide with the 59th anniversary of the Rezang La battle.

"The Rezang La war memorial in Eastern Ladakh sector was a small one and it has now been expanded. It will now be much bigger than before and will be pasted on the tourist map of the Ladakh union territory," said the Indian Army officials. Now the general public, including the tourists, will be allowed to go to the memorial and border areas which will further popularise the legendary battle.

Official sources said after inaugurating the memorial, the defence minister will also carry out a review of the security situation with top Army commanders in the backdrop of the lingering border row with China along the Line of Actual Control in the region. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat is also set to accompany the defence minister during his Ladakh visit. Army Chief Gen MM Naravane will not be able to attend the event at Rezang La as he is on a five-day visit to Israel.

The Indian Army had occupied a number of mountain peaks in Rezang La region in August last year following China's aggressive posturing and failed attempt to intimidate Indian troops.

The Defence Minister will also be visiting Leh on November 18, and from there, he may visit Jhansi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be taking part in the closing ceremony of the Rashtriya Raksha Samarpan Parva on the 193rd birth anniversary of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi.

The move to inaugurate the revamped war memorial in Rezang La is seen as India`s show of strength in the area which is very close to the Chinese territory and is visible from the other side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: Even after repeated promises by the politicians, Delhiites continue to suffer owing to the polluted water supply they get in their homes. An investigation by Zee News  Operation Ganda Jal - has found out that most areas in the city, including some of the posh locations, get water that is inadequate for consumption.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Thursday (November 18) raised the issue of toxic water supply in Delhi which is putting the lives of people at risk.

A Zee News team collected water samples from 11 places in the national capital and got them tested at an independent lab. Nine out of the 11 samples failed to meet the prescribed standard. This means that 80 per cent of the water supplied in the homes of Delhiites is not fit for consumption

The places from where samples were collected even include posh areas of South Delhi where people having properties worth crores reside. We also tested sample from North Avenue, which is just three kilometers away from the Parliament. In both samples, the amount of TDS (Total dissolved solids) was found to be over 1000. Even taking a bath using this water could be dangerous, let alone drinking it.

According to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the amount of TDS in one liter of water should not be more than 500 for it to be safe for consumption. As per the World Health Organization, if the TDS is more than 300, it is not good for health.

Water with high TDS can cause diarrhoea, kidney infection, stomach infection, fever, vomiting, and several skin infections. Drinking such water for a long time can even cause diseases like cancer.

In Delhi, nine out of 11 areas failed the test as the TDS was found to be over 500. At four of these places, the water was found to be dirtier and more poisonous than water from the Yamuna river.

Despite lakhs of crores of rupees being spent every year to provide clean water, many people are not getting it. Be it Delhi or any other part of the country, no one deserves air with AQI of 999 and water with TDS of 1000. The government must figure out a solution to this.

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Chandigarh: A fresh tussle erupted in Punjab Congress following the exclusion of State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu from Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led delegation comprising of state cabinet ministers that is scheduled to visit the Kartarpur Sahib on Thursday (November18). Some Congress MLAs and officials are also likely to be a part of the 'jatha' (group) led by Channi.

Following Sidhu's exclusion from the delegation, Sidhu's media advisor Surendra Dalal informed that the Punjab Congress chief will now visit Kartarpur Sahib on November 20. Speaking to ANI, Sidhu's media advisor Surendra Dalal said, "We had submitted all the papers to the Punjab Government yesterday. He was to visit Kartarpur Sahib along with the cabinet today. Now we do not know why Navjot Singh Sidhu has been told by the Punjab government that he can go on November 20 while the whole cabinet is going today."

"Guru Nanak Jayanti is on November 19, but what was the reason that Navjot Singh Sidhu was made to leave behind. Only the Punjab government has the answer because there is no issue from the Union Home Ministry's side. So, whatever is the mistake, it seems to be from the Punjab government's side," he added. In a major decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government decided to re-open the Kartarpur corridor from November 17. It was shut in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long corridor joins the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

It became operational in 2019. Pakistan had issued around 3000 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev from November 17-26.The move came keeping in view the significance of the upcoming occasion of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, and the sentiments associated with the religious festival. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima. This year the day falls on November 19.

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Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday (November 18) ordered a time-bound magisterial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter in which four persons were killed.

LG Manoj Sinha said that the administration will ensure there is no injustice.

A magisterial inquiry by officer of ADM rank has been ordered in Hyderpora encounter. Govt will take suitable action as soon as report is submitted in a time-bound manner. JK admin reiterates commitment of protecting lives of innocent civilians and it will ensure there is no injustice, the office of LG tweeted.

Several questions have been raised in the Hyderpora encounter with the families of three out of the four slain persons claiming that they had no terror links. They have been demanding return of the dead bodies and an enquiry into the encounter.

Yesterday, families of Dr Mudasir and Altaf Ahmad Dar who were among the killed persons in Hyderpora encounter staged a peaceful protest in Srinagar press colony demanding return of dead bodies till midnight. However, during the night police removed the protesting families and sent them home back.

All regional political parties of Kashmir have demanded LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and probe the encounter and return the bodies to the families who are raising the questions on operation.

National conference president and MP Dr Farooq Abdullah talked to the LG on phone, said party spokesperson.

Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah has spoken to LG Manoj Sinha and reiterated his demand for an impartial probe into the civilian killings. He also sought LGs intervention in handing over bodies to their kin. LG has assured to look into the demands of victim families, said the spokesperson.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah in a series of tweets said, LG should reach out to these families, hear them in person and then give them the bodies of their loved ones. Its the only right thing to do, its the only humane thing to do.

LG @manojsinha_ should reach out to these families, hear them in person & then give them the bodies of their loved ones. Its the only right thing to do, its the only humane thing to do.  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 18, 2021

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, who was supposed to join the protesting family, was put under house arrest, claimed PDP spokesperson.

Their narrative right from the start was based on lies to escape accountability. They dont want to be held accountable for their actions & thats why they are muzzling voices that speak up against such injustice & atrocities.  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) November 18, 2021

Police IG Vijay Kumar on Tuesday in a press conference said, Four people got killed in Hyderpora encounter which includes two terrorists including a Pakistani terrorist and a hybrid terrorist.

He said, Dr Mudasir, the tenet of the building where the operation was done, was a terror associate and Altaf Ahmad Dar (Bhat), the building owner, died in crossfire. All four people were buried in North Kashmirs Handwara area.

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Noida: The Noida Traffic Police on Wednesday (November 17) issued an advisory, prohibiting entry of heavy and medium category of goods vehicles into Delhi, and suggesting alternative routes for those moving elsewhere via the Peripheral Expressway. The advisory comes in the wake of high pollution levels in Delhi and the NCR, as schools and colleges were shut down till further orders and construction activities stopped except in some cases in the national capital.

The Noida Traffic Police said the general public is informed that in compliance with instructions of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the NCR and adjoining areas, heavy and medium goods vehicles (except those carrying essential items) issued till November 21 shall be strictly prohibited from entering Delhi.

Diversions of heavy and medium goods vehicles from Chilla, DND, Kalindi Kunj, Ashok Nagar and Jhandupura borders to other places via Delhi have been changed. "Heavy and medium goods vehicles going elsewhere via Delhi from the Yamuna Expressway will be able to go to their destination via the Peripheral Expressway from Zero Point through Pari Chowk," the traffic police said.

"Heavy and medium goods vehicles going from Noida via the DND border through Delhi will be able to reach their destination via the Peripheral Expressway by taking a U-turn from the DND toll plaza," it stated.

According to the advisory, all such vehicles going from Noida to Delhi via the Chilla border will be able to go to their destination via the Peripheral route by taking a U-turn at the Chilla red light.

All such freight vehicles going from Noida to Delhi via Kalindi Kunj will be able to go to their destination via the Peripheral Expressway by taking a U-turn from the Gaushala roundabout at the end of the Mahamaya flyover, it stated.

Also read: Haryana likely to implement odd-even scheme to check air pollution

"Heavy and medium cargo vehicles going from Noida to New Ashok Nagar towards Delhi will be able to go to their destination by the Peripheral Expressway by taking a U-turn from the New Ashok Nagar border," the advisory stated.

"Heavy and medium goods vehicles going from Noida to Jhandupura towards Delhi will be able to take a U-turn from Jhandupura border to reach their destination via the Peripheral route," it added.

The traffic police asked commuters to use alternative routes to avoid inconvenience and sought cooperation of all drivers to ensure implementation of the orders related to controlling pollution in the NCR.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the First Global Innovation Summit of the Pharmaceuticals sector on Thursday (November 18, 2021). A press release from the Prime Minister Office (PMO) stated that the event will take place at 4 PM via video conferencing.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also attend the event. The First Global Innovation Summit is a distinctive initiative that aims to bring together key Indian and international stakeholders from the government, industry, academia, investors, and researchers to discuss and strategize priorities to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem in the pharmaceuticals industry in India.

As per the PMO release the event will also highlight the opportunities in the Indian pharma industry that has huge growth potential.

The First Global Innovation Summit of the Pharmaceuticals sector will be a two-day affair with 12 Sessions and over 40 national and international speakers deliberating on a range of subjects including the regulatory environment, funding for innovation, industry-academia collaboration, and innovation infrastructure.

The summit will also witness the participation of leading members from domestic and global Pharma Industries, officials, investors and researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, John Hopkins Institute, IIM Ahmedabad and other eminent institutes.

Additionally, on Thursday, PM Narendra Modi will also deliver the keynote address at The Sydney Dialogue and speak on the theme of India`s technology evolution and revolution, with the address being preceded by introductory remarks by the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The Sydney Dialogue is being held from November 17-19. It is an initiative of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

The dialogue will bring together political, business and government leaders to debate, generate new ideas and work towards common understandings of the opportunities and challenges posed by emerging and critical technologies.

Former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe will also deliver a keynote address at the event.

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New Delhi: During his visit to Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch and dedicate to the nation multiple initiatives of the Defence sector at 'Rashtra Raksha Samparpan Parv', which is being held in Jhansi from November 17-19 as part of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahaotsav' celebrations.

"To give a thrust to Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector, the Prime Minister will formally hand over indigenously designed and developed equipments to Armed forces Service Chiefs. These include handing over of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) to Chief of the Air Staff; drones/UAVs designed and developed by Indian startups to Chief of the Army Staff; and DRDO designed and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactured Advanced Electronic Warfare suite for naval ships to the Chief of Naval Staff. The LCH incorporates advanced technologies and stealth features for effective combat roles. The deployment of Indian UAVs by Indian Armed Forces is also a proof of the growing maturity of the Indian drone industry ecosystem. The Advanced EW suite will be used in different naval ships including destroyers, frigates etc," read an official press release.

The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Rs 400 crore project at Jhansi node of UP Defence Industrial Corridor. The project is being executed by Bharat Dynamics Ltd for setting up a plant to produce propulsion systems for Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. He will launch the NCC Alumni Association with the objective to provide a formal platform to enable NCC Alumni to reconnect with NCC. The Association will further the aims of NCC and assist in nation-building. It will witness enrolling the Prime Minister, a former NCC cadet, as the first member of the Association. PM will also launch the National programme of Simulation Training for NCC cadets with the aim to scale up simulation training facilities for all three wings of NCC. It includes setting up of Rifle Firing Simulators for the Army Wing of NCC, Microlight flying simulators for Air Wing and Rowing simulators for Naval wing.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation augmented reality powered electronic kiosks at the National War Memorial which will enable visitors to pay floral homage to martyrs through the simple click of the button.

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By Siddharth MP and Jaipal Sharma

Kochi: The Palarivattom Police on Wednesday (November 17, 2021) arrested six people, including a hotel owner, in connection with the death of former Miss South India and Miss Kerala 2019 Ansi Kabeer, 25, Miss Kerala 2019 first runner-up Anjana Shajan, 26 and one other on November 1.

According to the police, Roy Vayalat, owner of the No. 18 Hotel at Fort Kochi, along with five of his employees had allegedly destroyed a hard disk of CCTV footage at the hotel. The five employees have been identified as Melwin, Vishu, Linson, Shijulal and Anil.

The development came to light when the police were investigating the death of former Kerala Miss India Ansi Kabeer, her colleague and first runner-up in 2019 Miss Kerala contest Anjana Shajan and Thrissur native Mohammad Ashiq who died in a car accident at Chakkarapparambu in Kochi on November 1 late night. While Ancy Kabeer, 25, and Anjana Shajan, 24, had died instantly in the crash, Ashiq, succumbed to his injuries a few days later, leaving Abdul Rahman, who drove the car, the only witness.

Following the accident, Rahman was booked for drunken driving under the relevant sections of the Motor Vehicle Act and the IPC. The police have arrested him under charges of 'involuntary manslaughter'.

The police quizzed Roy Vayalat for 11 hours on Tuesday. Then he was summoned again on Wednesday to the Ernakulam ACP office. In a latest development, a special team of the Crime Branch headed by S.P. Biji George will reportedly probe the car crash.

(With Agency inputs)

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A case has been registered against four people, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's personal secretary Sandeep Singh, at the Hussainganj police station in Lucknow in an alleged assault case.

As per information shared by the police, an FIR was filed based on a complaint lodged by a man named Prashant who has alleged that the four accused invaded his privacy as they were loitering around his house in the middle of the night.

"The victim further said that the accused thrashed and threatened him when he tried to stop them," said the police.

READ | Suno Draupadi, shastra utha lo: Priyanka Gandhi appeals to women in Uttar Pradesh

"The four accused also include Congress leaders Yogesh Kumar Dixit and Shiv Pandey," the police added.Further investigation into the case is underway.

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Chandigarh: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu will not be a part of the 'jatha' which is going to pay obeisance at the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan on Thursday (November 18). On Wednesday night, Sidhu's media adviser Surinder Dalla claimed that Sidhu has been officially intimated that he could go on November 20 instead of November 18. "Sidhu saab had made all preparations for going to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara tomorrow," said Dalla, adding that he was supposed to go with the Punjab Cabinet ministers. Sidhu had submitted his application on Tuesday for travelling to the historic shrine in Pakistan to offer prayers, he added.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, along with his ministers, will be part of the 'jatha' (group) which will visit the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara on Thursday, officials said. Some MLAs and a few officials will also accompany Channi, they said.

The Kartarpur Corridor, which links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district, reopened on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs from Punjab will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan on Friday on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti. According to the party, all 11 MLAs will visit Kartarpur Sahib along with Punjab AAP chief and party MP Bhagwant Mann.

Pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara was suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs. The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima. This year the day falls on November 19.The visa-free 4.7-kilometre long corridor joins the Indian border to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. It became operational in 2019.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday junked a plea filed by former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh seeking records, including file notings and internal correspondence, of the preliminary enquiry (PE) report in the corruption case, saying "should we entertain this because he has been a minister".

A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul dismissed Deshmukh's plea and said he can argue on this before the competent court and they have the liberty to do so.

"The petition under 32 is based on the premise that the orders passed by the court on the rationale that the PE may have been material against the petition. But as per certain newspaper reports, the petitioner is stated to have been given clean chit in the enquiry.

"The prayer is to call for all the records to look into the PE. We are not inclined to exercise our jurisdiction under Article 32. In the given scenario it is always open to the petitioner to plead before the competent court," said the bench also comprising Justice M M Sundresh.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Deshmukh, submitted that the court had earlier said that let the PE be completed as the commissioner of police has made these allegations.

"Now the commissioner of police is going to be declared an absconder. They said in FIR that a PE report says a cognisable offence is made out. India Today has assessed the report. As per certain reports, the petitioner is given a clean chit.

"The PE on the orders of the Bombay High Court has recorded statements of many key players. If this is true then it takes the whole basis of the record. Then there is political motivation in this. All family members, servants are being called everyday to admit that you are leaking this report," Sibal submitted.

The court, however, said, "We don't know how much credence can be given to all this material. Should we entertain this because he has been a minister.The investigation can carry on. Why should this court entertain this petition under Article 32. Competent courts are already looking into this. We are not inclined."

A special PMLA court here on Monday had sent Deshmukh to 14-day judicial custody as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not seek his further remand in connection with a multi-crore money laundering case.

Deshmukh (71) was arrested by the ED on November 1 after questioning in the case, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED had initiated a probe against Deshmukh and his associates after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed its FIR against the NCP leader on April 21 this year on charges of corruption and misuse of official position.

The money laundering case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

The ED case is that Deshmukh, while serving as the state's home minister, misused his official position and through dismissed police officer Sachin Waze collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

Deshmukh has refuted these allegations saying the agency's whole case was based on malicious statements made by a tainted cop (Waze).

The agency had also submitted its prosecution complaint (equivalent to a charge sheet) against the duo before a special court.

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Kashmir: The Jammu and Kashmir Police in Kupwara has apprehended three youth who were in pursuit of crossing over to the Line of Control to POK for arms training to join back militancy in Kashmir.

SSP Kupwara Yougal Manhas said, Following a specific information, police apprehended the trio, all in their teenage from hideout in Kupwara.

He further said that the teenagers, all residents of Meej in South Kashmirs Pulwama district had established contact with a terrorist commander posing himself as Tayab Farroqi operating from Pakistan and were on their way to cross the LoC via Kupwara to meet him and take illegal training in handling of arms to join back terrorism in Kashmir .

The trio, all residents of village Meej Pampore of district Pulwama, has been identified as Furqan Sultan Khanday, Furqan Nazir Khanday and Kamran Sajad Sheikh, all aged 16 and students of Class 10.

On questioning, Police found that these youth from South Kashmir have been radicalised and motivated by terrorist Tayab Farooqi operating from Pakistan through social media platforms who constantly fed them with radical Islamic literature.

Relevantly, the parents of the youths were called and after discussion and counselling, the teenagers were handed over to them.

ALSO READ: Five terrorists including TRF commander killed in twin encounters in Jammu and Kashmir

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New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda on Thursday held a meeting in the national capital regarding the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and decided to organise a "Vijay Sankalp Yatra" from four parts of the state.

In the meeting, Uttar Pradesh`s election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, state BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh and other party members were also present.

"The party has decided to organise a `Vijay Sankalp Yatra` from four parts of Uttar Pradesh. In-charges have also been appointed for them," state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh told reporters after the meeting.

According to the information, these rallies will be concluded in Lucknow which may also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The date and route of these yatras have not been decided yet," it said.

"The programmes of the BJP which are going on and which will take place in future have been discussed in the party. It has also been decided that the booth presidents will hold a conference in the six areas of the state in which systematic registration should be there," he added.

Singh also informed, "Nadda is going to Gorakhpur and Kanpur, Rajnath Singh is going to Awadh and Kashi whereas Amit Shah is going to Braj and west parts of the state for these booth conferences."

The Uttar Pradesh BJP President also said that the political, social and organizational activities which are going on have also been discussed in the meeting.

"The BJP National President directed all the members to be attentive towards the organisational activities of the party," he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, BJP Manifesto Committee also held its first meeting in Lucknow to discuss the outline of the manifesto, sources said.

Uttar Pradesh assembly polls are scheduled to take place next year.

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NEW DELHI: Several Indian states are sitting on more than 200 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines due to a reluctance among people to get inoculated, the chief executive of top vaccine maker - Serum Institute of India (SII)  has said.

"The vaccine industry has worked tirelessly to provide enough stocks for the nation," SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said on Twitter on Wednesday.

The vaccine industry has worked tirelessly to provide enough stocks for the nation. Today there are over 200 million doses available with states. I urge all adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic.  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) November 17, 2021

Poonawallas family-owned company is preparing to resume exports to the COVAX international vaccine sharing program for the first time since April.

"Today there are over 200 million doses available with states. I urge all adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccine hesitancy is now the greatest threat in overcoming this pandemic," he said.

A version of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by SII accounts for nearly 90% of the 1.24 billion doses administered in India.

Despite the ample supply, only 41% of India`s 944 million adults have been fully vaccinated as many skip their second dose amid a decrease in infections. Some 80% of the adults have received at least one dose, while vaccination has not begun for those under age 18.

The government this month launched a door-to-door vaccination campaign to cover all adults with at least the first dose by next month and ensure people also take their second shots.

India has reported about 34.5 million infections, the most after the United States, and more than 464,000 deaths.

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The Delhi government has decided to allow opening of liquor vends in 'non-conforming' areas like unapproved markets in the city, according to an Excise department document. Meanwhile, most of the 850 privatised liquor stores scheduled to begin retail from November 17, could not open second consecutive day of the new excise regime. They were either being revamped in accordance with the guidelines or were found shut, even as people complained of 'supply shortage'.

The Delhi excise department in a circular issued on Wednesday specified conditions for opening of liquor shops in 'non-conforming' areas that are largely unauthorised colonies. It stated that the Delhi Cabinet in its meeting on November 5 decided opening of liquor stores in these areas.

The circular issued by the department said that applications for the grant of L-7V licence (authorising retail sale of Indian and foreign liquor) may be considered provided the 'non-conforming' area exists in that particular ward in which the licensee plans to open the store.

The circular added that two vends may be permitted to be opened in wards which have 'non-conforming' areas.

"The opening of two mandatory vends may be permitted based on an affidavit to be furnished by the L-7Z (meant for retail sale of Indian liquor) licensee that there is a 'non-conforming' area in the ward. In case any municipal ward is found to be having a 'conforming' area, the L-7Z licensee shall be bound to shift his vend to a conforming area within 30 days of the issue of notice by the department," read the circular.

READ | Delhi's new liquor shops reopen today; check revised prices, timings and other details

The minimum carpet area of stores in these ?non-conforming' areas should be 500 square feet, it said.

The opening of retail vends in non-conforming area is subject to obtaining of requisite approval from the DDA and the concerned civic body by the licensee as applicable according to rules.

The department has already communicated the process that needs to be followed by the licensee for grant of L-7V license. The process for grant of L-7V licence in non-conforming areas will be the same.

The zonal retail licensees are requested to promptly apply for the grant of the L-7V license for the vends that come under the municipal wards that have a non-conforming area.

The applicant will need to submit a physical copy of the application form along with all documents, the circular said.

Meanwhile, the day two of the new liquor regime in the city witnessed a 'shortage of liquor supply' with many people struggling to get their booze. Under the new policy, 849 swanky mall-like liquor stores with walk-in facilities, where people can pick their choice of liquor, are to be opened.

Shops were being revamped in areas like INA, South Extension, Alaknanda near Tara Apartment, and Mayur Vihar, and were not open for business. However, sale of liquor was registered at some shops in areas like Dwarka, Loni, Govind Puri etc.

"I have no stock left as I had received stock of only one whiskey brand on Wednesday evening which is sold out. There is a shortage of supply and it is likely to continue for a few days," a liquor dealer in Dwarka sector 12 told PTI.

People had to return empty handed from many shops as they weren't stocked. "Dealers don't have stock so people are returning from shops without the liquor. I could purchase alcohol only after visiting 5-6 shops in different areas. The government should have made adequate arrangements," Gaurav Verma, who had come to buy liquor at shop in Govind Puri, said.

Another consumer Alok Kaushik in South Extension shared a similar experience.

"I visited a few shops in South Extension, INA but all are still being revamped. All this work should have been done beforehand," Kaushik said.

According to government officials, provisional licences have been given to around 350 shops and registration of over 200 brands have been done with 10 wholesale licensees.

Wholesale licensees have procured nine lakh litres of liquor of various brands, they said.

The new excise policy allows opening of five super-premium retail stores for whole of Delhi, each with an area of 2500 square feet. Liquor tasting facility will also be developed at these super-premium retail vends.

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Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who held a 'Vijay Rath Yatra' on the Purvanchal Expressway that was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that he can sense a "wave of change" in Uttar Pradesh that will "wipe out" the BJP in the 2022 Assembly polls.

Addressing people in Ghazipur on Wednesday, the SP chief said, "I see a wave of change in the state... The BJP will be wiped out. I can assure you that in the coming days, Uttar Pradesh will see a change and that will be for peace. There will definitely be a change in 2022 (assembly polls)."

He also claimed that the 341-km-long expressway was initiated by the Samajwadi Party when it was in power in the state, alleging that the Purvanchal Expressway is still "incomplete". "It was the Samajwadi Party's dream of building the Purvanchal Expressway to reduce travelling time between Lucknow and Delhi. It was to be an expressway of prosperity," Akhilesh Yadav added.

"We have to take this expressway to Ballia and connect it with Bihar. When the Samajwadi Party forms government, it will provide a better road, mandis and employment opportunities for the youth," the Samajwadi Party chief said.

In a dig at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he claimed that it was "bulls and bulldozers that were moving around in the state" and asked the people would not they "wipe out bulls and bulldozers". He was referring to the problem of stray cattle in the state and the chief minister's claim of bulldozers demolishing unauthorised properties.

The SP chief attacked the BJP-led government in Uttar Pradesh on rising prices of petroleum products saying, "These are the very people who had said that poor with slippers will travel by air. But the way the prices of diesel and petrol have gone up, riding a motorcycle has become difficult."

Referring to the promises the BJP made to the people, Yadav said, "Unemployed youths waited for jobs for five years. Where are the jobs? Will the youth not bring a change? All sections of the society, be it farmers, labourers and youths, are ready to bring a change in the state."

Buoyed by the surging crowd, Akhilesh Yadav said, "This is the beginning, the BJP will be wiped out. A historical rally will be held here soon."

Referring to the different shades of flags of his alliance partners in the crowds, he said, "I can see red, yellow, green and blue. It is a rainbow of all colours. The Samajwadi Party takes all the colours along." He took a dig at the ruling party, accusing it of being "of one hue and they cannot take the state on the path of prosperity."

The SP's alliance partner, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar said, "the government will not change till we all fight together against it" and asked people not to rest till the BJP is voted out of power.

SP chief should change his name to Akhilesh Ali Jinnah: KP Maurya

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has hit out at the Samajwadi Party chief and said he should change his name to Akhilesh Ali Jinnah. Addressing the media in Barabanki on Wednesday, Maurya said, "The politics of appeasement of the Samajwadi Party has brought Jinnah. That`s why I tell Akhilesh Yadav that he should change his name to Akhilesh Ali Jinnah. And he should change the name of his party to Jinnahwadi Party."

#WATCH | Deputy CM KP Maurya says, (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav should change his name to 'Akhilesh Ali Jinnah' and his party's name to 'Jinnahwadi Party'. But neither (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah nor Atiq Ahmed or (Mukhtar) Ansari could help him win in this election. pic.twitter.com/JFqkqf9yQR  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 17, 2021

The deputy CM further warned the Samajwadi party that Jinnah would not win them elections and added that the people of the state have chosen the Bharatiya Janata Party.

He further said, "Neither (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah nor Atiq Ahmed or (Mukhtar) Ansari could help him win in this election The people of UP have chosen lotus (BJP). The advantage is reaching the people of the state with honesty. There were mafia and goons here, those have ended and the people are in peace."

Maurya added, "Samajwadi Party is in panic. They have lost 3 elections, going to lose the fourth. We are aware of the ground reality as we have an organisation that is spread to the booth. But the Samajwadi party knows too, they have goons, criminals and mafia."

(With Agency Inputs)

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Srinagar: Former J&K chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has been placed under house arrest at her residence in Srinagar, the sources said on Wednesday.

They said she was going to participate in a protest in Press Colony in the city. The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, earlier in the day, protested in Jammu against the alleged killing of civilians in the Hyderpora encounter.

Peoples Democratic Party chief & former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti was put under house arrest at her residence in Srinagar today. She was going to participate in a protest in Press Colony in the city: Sources (File photo) pic.twitter.com/27axI6h2tW  ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2021

"I am protesting because this government kills civilians in the name of militancy. Nobody knows if militants are being killed. Three civilians have been killed recently. The government refuses to hand over their dead bodies to the families despite the latters demand," Mufti had told media persons.

The demonstration was held outside the PDP office. She claimed that three civilians have been killed in the encounter that took place on Monday. She has also demanded a judicial inquiry into the Hyderpora encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.

An encounter between security forces and terrorists had broken out in the Hyderpora area of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on November 15 after input was received by police regarding the presence of terrorists in an illegal call centre in a private building in the area.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said that two terrorists identified as Haider, a foreign Pakistani terrorist and his associate Amir Ahmad resident of Banihal (a hybrid terrorist), were killed in the encounter.

It said the owner of the building, Altaf Ahmad, as well as tenant, Mudasir Ahmad, were also called to accompany the search party. However, in the encounter with terrorists, both received critical gunshot injuries and succumbed to their injuries.

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Mumbai: A magistrate's court has declared former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh a "proclaimed offender" in an extortion case registered against him and some other police officers in the city.

Singh, currently posted as Director General of Home Guards, attended his office last in May, after which he went on leave. The state police had told the Bombay High Court in October that his whereabouts were not known.

The crime branch of Mumbai Police, which is probing the extortion case, had sought the proclamation against him, saying that the IPS officer could not be traced even after the issuance of a non-bailable warrant.

Under section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a court can publish a proclamation requiring an accused to appear if a warrant issued against him or her cannot be executed.

As per section 83, after issuing such a proclamation the court can also order attachment of the proclaimed offender's properties. Former assistant police inspector Sachin Waze is also an accused in the case, registered at the Goregaon police station in the city.

Besides Param Bir Singh, co-accused Vinay Singh and Riyaz Bhatti were also declared as proclaimed offenders by additional chief metropolitan magistrate S B Bhajipale on Wednesday.

Bimal Agrawal, a real estate developer and hotelier, had alleged that the accused extorted Rs 9 lakh from him for not conducting raid on two bars and restaurants which he ran in partnership, and also forced him to buy two smartphones worth around Rs 2.92 lakh for them.

The incidents occurred between January 2020 and March 2021, he had claimed. Following his complaint, a case was filed under Indian Penal Code sections 384 and 385 (both pertaining to extortion) and 34 (common intention) against six accused. Singh is facing an extortion case in Thane too.

The IPS officer was shunted out from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in March 2021 after Waze was arrested in the case of the SUV with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's south Mumbai residence `Antilia' and the subsequent death of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.

Singh was then appointed as Director-General, Home Guards, following which he accused then Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption, a charge the latter denied.

Deshmukh later stepped down as minister and the CBI registered a case against him based on Singh's allegations. Singh was last seen in public on April 7, when he appeared before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) here to record statements in the Antilia bomb scare case.

The CBI also recorded his statement in the Deshmukh case. He last attended office on May 4, following which he went on leave citing health issues, a senior official said. Singh then sought an extension of leave claiming he had undergone surgery.

In August he requested one more extension. On October 20, the police told the Bombay High Court that he was "not traceable", and therefore they cannot continue an earlier assurance not to arrest him in a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by Singh seeking to quash the FIR in the case, registered on the complaint of harassment filed by police inspector Bhimrao Ghadge.

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New Delhi: Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra kept himself away from the public glare after his involvement in a porn racket case in which he faced arrest. Almost a week back, the couple flew to Himachal Pradesh to visit the famous Baglamukhi Temple in Himachal Pradesh.

The couple were seen offering their prayers at the temple. Both Raj and Shilpa were seen in matching yellow outfits as they arrived at the temple. Well, the goddess Baglamukhi is also known as Maa Pitambara and she is shown wearing yellow. This is why devotees come to her temple dressed in yellow clothes. S

While Shilpa shared pictures and stories from her visit on her Instagram, she refrained from posting any pictures with her husband Raj Kundra. However, their pictures from the temple were shared widely on social media. This was the first time Shilpa and Raj were seen together since his arrest in the pornography case.

Meanwhile, the goddess Baglamukhi is part of the Mahavidyas. She is someone who is also known as Pitambaradevi, Shatrubuddhivinashini and Brahmastra Roopini. People from across the country visit the temple to seek respite from their enemies. Another interesting fact is that people who are burdened with legal cases, and want protection from evil-minded people and black magic, also seek her benevolence.

People closely associated with the temple say famous personalities such as the late PM Indira Gandhi and the late President Pranab Mukherjee have also visited the temple and sought their blessings.

Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have been at the centre of the controversy with their names in an alleged pornography case in which Raj also spent a month in jail after being accused of the production of pornography content through a mobile app.
Chennai: Amid the Jai Bhim row, actor Suriya has taken to social media to thank his fans for their support for the film. On Monday, the Vanniyar Sangam had issued a legal notice to actor Suriya and director TJ Gnanavel, demanding an unconditional apology from the makers of the film Jai Bhim for portraying the community in a bad light. Several fans have posted messages on social media, supporting the Tamil star by sharing the trending hashtag #WestandWithSuriya.

Taking to his Twitter handle on Wednesday, the actor thanked his fans for the overwhelming support.

"Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. Ive never witnessed this before! Cant express in words how thankful I am for the trust and reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us," he tweeted.

Dear all, this love for #Jaibhim is overwhelming. Ive never witnessed this before! Cant express in words how thankful I am for the trust & reassurance you all have given us. Heartfelt thanks for standing by us  Suriya Sivakumar (@Suriya_offl) November 17, 2021

On Wednesday, armed security personnel were deployed at the Suriyas T Nagar residence in Chennai, following a threat call by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Mayiladuthurai district secretary Palanisamy for allegedly tarnishing the reputation of the Vanniyar community in Jai Bhim movie.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu police also booked Paatali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary Palanisamy who allegedly announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for attacking the actor.

As per the police, Palanisamy is booked under sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (1) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Vanniyar is a Most Backward Community which is the predominant community in northern districts of Tamil Nadu.

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Amazon.com Inc will stop accepting Visa credit cards issued in the United Kingdom from next year because of high transaction fees, the e-commerce giant said on Wednesday, escalating its fight with the credit card company.

Separately, Amazon confirmed it was in talks with several payment networks including Mastercard Inc, American Express Co and Visa as part of its "standard process" for reviewing its U.S. co-branded credit card.

Bloomberg earlier on Wednesday reported that Amazon was looking to move its co-branded credit card from Visa to Mastercard.

In recent months, Amazon has introduced surcharges on customers using Visa credit cards in Singapore and Australia, citing high fees.

Amazon said the UK decision take will take effect on Jan. 19, 2022. In a statement, it said such charges should be "going down over time with technological advancements, but instead they continue to stay high or even rise."

Shares of Visa closed 4.7% lower on Wednesday and shares of rival Mastercard dropped 2.8%. Amazon shares rose 0.2%. American Express shares closed 0.7% lower.

Visa last month began charging 1.5% of the transaction value for credit card payments made online or over the phone between the UK and EU, and 1.15% for debit card transactions, up from 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively.

The British Retail Consortium said other retailers in the United Kingdom faced higher charges for cross-border payments, following Britain`s departure from the European Union.

Historically, retailers have accepted Visa`s charges as the cost of access to its huge network of card users, analysts said, but that could be changing.

The move marks an "important turning point in the payments industry," said Laura Hoy, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, adding Amazon may hope to drive more customers to its own payments system.

"Ultimately, we think Amazon has the edge in this game of chicken - whether customers adopt its own payment system or Visa gives in and lowers its fees, either is a win for the retail giant," Hoy said.

In the past other big retailers have settled fee disputes with Visa after announcing they were going to quit taking Visa credit cards in narrow segments of their businesses.

Walmart Inc`s unit in Canada, for example, said in 2016 it would stop accepting Visa credit cards after being unable to reach an agreement on fees. Seven months later the companies said they had settled the matter after about 20 stores stopped taking Visa cards.

Amazon customers can still use Visa debit cards, Mastercard and Amex credit cards, and Eurocard, Amazon said in a note to customers.

Visa said in a statement it was "disappointed that Amazon is threatening to restrict consumer choice."

"We continue to work toward a resolution, so our cardholders can use their preferred Visa credit cards at Amazon UK without Amazon-imposed restrictions come January 2022," Visa added.

A Visa spokesperson declined to comment further.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report it may switch its co-branded credit card to Mastercard.

Since Britain`s exit from the European Union, an EU-enforced cap on fees charged by card issuers is no longer in place in the UK, meaning providers are free to hike charges.

Following the Amazon announcement, the UK Trade Commission urged the British government to improve the UK-EU trade agreement.

The group, comprising 10 lawmakers as well as several business leaders and economists, was set up in April to provide independent scrutiny of Britain`s trade deals with Europe and the rest of the world.

"If Amazon can`t make it work, with all their resources and ability to navigate legislation to avoid costs, then small businesses have no chance and so the government must improve the UK-EU trade and cooperation agreement to keep British businesses competitive," the Commission said in a statement.

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New Delhi: Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram on Thursday announced that it has begun testing the ability for people to add music to their feed posts, in three countries, including India. The other two countries, where this feature will first be tested, are Brazil and Turkey.

"With this test, Instagram hopes to give its community a way to add a soundtrack to their Feed photos, like they can with Reels and Stories already. If a user clicks on the song, they will be taken to an audio page that showcases all Feed posts that have used that song," the company said in a statement.

This feature is being tested with a small percentage of Instagram`s global community and expanded based on the learning and feedback from the Instagram community.

Meanwhile, Instagram head Adam Mosseri on Wednesday said that the company has added two new features to improve user experience, including a "rage shake" that will let users report a problem more quickly.

The Verge reported that this feature will give Instagram feedback that will help it prioritise bug fixes.

The other new feature Instagram shipped on Wednesday is what Mosseri called a "finally" feature -- the ability to delete a single image from a photo carousel. Also Read: PM Kisan Yojana: Farmers can get 3 more benefits with 10th instalment, heres how

At the moment, the carousel feature is only available for iOS users in US. Also Read: India's most popular password isn't '123456', but THIS
Barabanki: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and said he should change his name to Akhilesh Ali Jinnah.

"The politics of appeasement of the Samajwadi Party has brought Jinnah. Thats why I tell Akhilesh Yadav that he should change his name to Akhilesh Ali Jinnah. And he should change the name of his party to Jinnahwadi Party," Maurya said while addressing the media on Wednesday.

The deputy CM further warned the Samajwadi party that Jinnah would not win them elections and added that the people of the state have chosen the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"Neither (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah nor Atiq Ahmed or (Mukhtar) Ansari could help him win in this election. The people of UP have chosen lotus (BJP). The advantage is reaching the people of the state with honesty. There were mafia and goons here, the reign of terror has been finished and the people are in peace now," he said.

#WATCH | Deputy CM KP Maurya says, (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav should change his name to 'Akhilesh Ali Jinnah' and his party's name to 'Jinnahwadi Party'. But neither (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah nor Atiq Ahmed or (Mukhtar) Ansari could help him win in this election. pic.twitter.com/JFqkqf9yQR  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 17, 2021

Maurya further said that the party is in panic after having lost three elections and claimed that they are going to lose the third.

"Samajwadi Party is in panic. They have lost 3 elections, going to lose the fourth. We are aware of the ground reality since we have an organisation that is spread to the booth. But the Samajwadi party knows too, they have goons, criminals and mafia," he said.

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New Delhi: In a move that will surely shake up the world and set a positive precedence for the future, a federal jury in Cincinnati has found a Chinese intelligence officer guilty of conspiring to and attempting to commit economic espionage and stealing trade secrets. The Chinese intelligence officer named Yanjun Xu is a deputy director of a foreign intelligence branch of China's Ministry of State Security and was the first Chinese intelligence officer to be extradited to the US and convicted. Xu was extradited from Belgium in 2018 and his trial began on October 19, 2021.

It has long been speculated and known that the Chinese government carries out espionage operations to gain trade secrets, technology, and expertise from other advanced countries like the US and European countries. Huawei, a telecom giant from China has repeatedly been exposed for using underhanded means for gaining access to restricted technology and is one of the reasons why Huawei and ZTE have been blacklisted by many nations across the globe.

The reason that this arrest and conviction was such a hallmark is that this is the first Chinese intelligence official to be extradited to the United States for trial and convicted and also this arrest directly ties the Chinese government to espionage operations and will likely be used for decades as proof of the Chinese Communist Party's approach to steal technology from other nations.

The case against Xu goes back to 2013. According to official records Xu used multiple aliases to try and acquire company secrets from multiple companies across the world that are recognized as leaders in the field of aviation.

Following what US courts described as typical Chinese espionage behavior, Xu would identify individuals who worked for aviation companies and try to convince them to come to China on the pretense of giving a presentation at a university. These individuals were paid by Xu, on top of their travel being covered. Finally, Xu's attempt to steal technology from GE Aviation about their composite aircraft engine fan was what led to his downfall and subsequent arrest.

As per US court documents, Xu planned to coax a GE employee to come to China so that he could steal GE technology but ultimately Xu decided to meet the employee in Belgium in 2018 and that is when Xu was ultimately arrested.

In the last couple of years, Chinese espionage against the US increased by a significant amount and this arrest has sent both the US and China into a flurry of activity. According to experts, there exists the possibility that the US will be able to extract crucial information from Xu during his incarceration, on the flip side, the Chinese government will want to get Xu back and this might lead to them imprisoning US citizens in China under false allegations to negotiate with the US. This is something that China has done previously with the arrest of Canadian citizens Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig in an attempt to get Canada to release Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou and prevent her extradition to the US.

While testifying to the Senate Intelligence Committee, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that China represents one of the most severe threats to the globe in terms of economic security and democratic values. Until this conviction, US intelligence agencies struggled to provide concrete evidence to US policymakers, but this arrest changes that and unquestioningly ties the Chinese Communist Party to global attempts to steal technology from other nations.

The Chinese intelligence community is also likely to be very jarring. The arrest is an indication that tried and tested methods of Chinese espionage will not work anymore and will be paranoid that the next scientist or researcher they try to recruit will be the Chinese intelligence services have been thrown into disarray and will try to devise new methods through which they can get similar espionage results. The Chinese government has already come out and has denied the claims that Xu was trying to steal trade secrets, and instead calls the accusations pure fabrications. But the case against Xu is simply just too strong and evidence is damning, China has thus till now not fought too hard for a reversal of the judgment cause that might lead to further publicity and embarrassment.

For years it has been known that the Chinese use espionage tactics to steal technology and state secrets. The goal of Chinese espionage is the development of China's industries and the theft of foreign wealth. To achieve that goal, the Chinese Communist Party employs government agencies, organizations, commercial entities, individual entrepreneurs, Chinese expatriates, Chinese and foreign researchers to fulfill its goals.

The foundation of Chinese intelligence operations uses the whole of society as a foundation and instead of relying on standard spy-fare, (encrypted communication, dead drops, etc.) it relies on its sheer volume of espionage operations conducted by all manner of citizen and private enterprises like Huawei. Chinese law itself supports espionage, private companies and individuals are required by law to provide information and assistance to Chinese intelligence operations and could face severe punishment if they do not help.

But the arrest of Xu marks a turning point, as it will help the US and other countries to understand the techniques, the tactics, the capabilities, the intent, and the tradecraft of the Chinese spies and hopefully identify and stop the theft of secrets and technology globally.

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